“Writing is not necessarily something to be ashamed of, but do it in private and wash your hands afterwards.”
Robert A. Heinlein. Sackloads of other quotes by the great man here.
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November 14th, 2005 | 10 comments - (Comments are closed)
 When you spend as much time reading think-tank proposals as some libertarians do, there is a danger of losing all sense of proportion. For instance, there is a proposal to “reform” the state pension system, because it is due to become bankrupt in the next twenty years. Unfortunately, it may cost more to implement the changes (and bankrupt the system anyway). There is the call for “social justice”, using the term in exactly the opposite way that it is understood to mean, in the hope of confusing your opponents into voting for you. Instead, they call you a liar and your normally loyal supporters stay at home. Then there is railway privatisation. Instead of allowing train operators to own the track themselves, we end up with the shambles of “National Rail” (and no doubt more subsidies wasted in the long run). I have been looking for a term to describe such cunningly silly policy-making. So here goes:
David Willetts is by no means the only culprit, and his policy proposals are not always wrong, but with a nickname like “Two Brains”, you’re asking for trouble. November 7th, 2005 | 7 comments - (Comments are closed)
After returning from a few free drinks at an opening, care of a new venture of Slugger O’Toole (News and photos at 11… er tomorrow) I have returned and done some random reading. I highly suggest these two lampoons, another alternate history report set in 1944 from Rand Simberg and the Attack of the Blog by Iowahawk. Enjoy! October 28th, 2005 | One comment - (Comments are closed)
Stephen Green, of Vodkapundit, making a wonderful line in the course of an article where he writes about learning about individuality from Cary Grant. (The article is in the latest edition of the Objectivist publication, the New Individualist. Not yet on the web, as far as I can tell. Cary Grant is the patron saint of all well-dressed guys the world over). October 23rd, 2005 | 11 comments - (Comments are closed)
The great Peter Briffa speculates on who should lead the Tory Party. He has three suggestions. Which one should we go for? October 22nd, 2005 | 5 comments - (Comments are closed)
I promise only mild amusement, but sometimes mild amusement is what one needs. And there’s a subtle mordancy underneath. The latest splendid animation from Will Flash for Cash Productions in aid of the UK campaign against ID cards is here, and will explain the title of the post. For those who missed it, their earlier biting attack on Mr Secretary Clarke and the glorious scheme using a cute musical puppy is here. Welcome to a strange world. Sound, and familiarity with British political figures, most definitely an advantage. September 3rd, 2005 | Comments are closed
August 11th, 2005 | 14 comments - (Comments are closed)
I was sorry to hear that Robin Cook croaked. When he was alive I wanted to toss him into a vat of hot tar, to make him howl; but now he’s a stiff I realise what a loss he is to our nation. August 8th, 2005 | 14 comments - (Comments are closed)
After watching this I just had to do a hatchet job on an old standard:
August 2nd, 2005 | 7 comments - (Comments are closed)
A powerful tornado has swept through the city of Birmingham in the West Midlands. The twister struck earlier today, cutting a swathe of devastation through the districts of Kings Heath, Moseley, Quinton, Balsall Heath and Sparkbrook. Mercifully, there are no reports of any fatalities but initial estimates put the cost of the damage as high as £7.50. July 29th, 2005 | 28 comments - (Comments are closed)
The Sage of Edmonton has been listening to the cricket, and has stumbled on Australia’s dirty little secret:
Most Australians will deny it, but Colby Cosh is right on the money. In my own case, I never had a chance; not only am I Australian, but I am descended from Germans. I could not tell a funny joke to win the Ashes. This is not to say that Australians do not have a sense of humour. Comedy is a big thing here, but Australian humour does not translate well, being full of allusions that only the locals understand. And I sadly suspect, the quality is not that good either. Why is it so? Or is it obvious, and, me being Australian, I missed the punchline? July 25th, 2005 | 26 comments - (Comments are closed)
Could this be linked to anything?
And so another unfortunate spoke is added to the growing cycle of violence. But beneath the predictable roar of indignant outcry, it behoves us all to take the time and trouble to examine the plight of the native British working-classes; a plight which is all too often trodden underfoot in the wholesale rush to judgement. Over the last few decades, the British working-classes have had to endure the indignity of watching their homelands colonised by foreign settlers, while oppressive “zero-tolerance” policing and so-called ‘anti-social behaviour orders’ have made them virtual prisoners in the few, dwindling communities that remain to them. At the same time, their jobs have been exported abroad, while the trade unions that used to promote their interests have been politically neutered. Thus despised, impoverished and persecuted, is it any wonder that some of their activists have taken it into their hands to strike back? Nor should it be forgotten that they have no guns, no helicopters, no batons, no dogs, no infra-red detectors, no CS gas sprays, no tazers or other quasi-military means of defending themselves. Instead, they are forced to use what few pitiful resources they do have in a despairing bid to restore some dignity to their lives. Of course, violence should not be condoned because it actually further damages the patriotic cause. But the victims of that violence would learn a great deal from an honest reflection of what role they may have played in driving these patriotic campaigners to such desperate measures. Few, it seems, are prepared to face up to the simple truth, let alone articulate it. Instead, there is likely to be a chorus of demand for more security measures such as surveillance cameras, ID cards and oppressive police powers, all of which will merely add fuel to the fires that rage within the activists, reinforce their sense of hopelessness and humiliation and virtually guarantee further patriotic operations in the future. We can all agree that the violence has to stop but in order to achieve that end we must urgently and sincerely address the legitimate grievances of the patriotic community. July 15th, 2005 | 114 comments - (Comments are closed)
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