A Rather Revealing Picture…

from skynews

Cheap Points...

Morning,

As I am getting ready for another day in paradise, pictures are coming in from Calais where the local Gendarme and CRS are invading 'the Jungle' where some 150 Asylum seekers, including some extremely young people having set up home for the past few months.

The pictures have not looked particularly great for the Sarkozy government, seeing young boys and girls being marched off in tears - to the credit of anti-fascist groups, such as No Borders, they have also turned up in numbers to show their support for the immigrants and have shown their disdain to the pigs who are doing Sarkozy's dirty work.

We need to continue to make governments realise that their policies on illegal immigrants are doomed to failure - the protesters are on the mark here.

No Borders, No Nations, No Repatriations...

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

At Last…Some Truths…

Evening,

I am writing this whilst watching the Dirty Mancs, no doubt to their utmost to connive some result over in Istanbul, the weather over there is apparently humid and hot unlike over here where the first significant rain of the autumn have somewhat dampened the atmosphere down here in Deepest Kent. 

Meanwhile, up in Liverpool, Chairman Brown finally said the word that the country knew had to be said.  And no, it wasn’t a admission of guilt on his part…

Chairman Brown said that there was going to have to be some form of cuts in some way of form.  Brown being concise, he did not say where these cuts were going to be but nevertheless there would be hard times coming for us poor people.  Whereas the only time the speculators and risk-takers should be doing, is some jail-time…

In fact Chairman Brown’s exact language was…

"cut costs, cut inefficiencies, cut unnecessary programmes and cut lower priority budgets"

In which case, what is inefficient?  What is unnecessary and what is lower priority?  That is the sort of language that normally ends up being played out on the streets of St Paul's', Brixton and Toxteth…

There can be no doubt that there will be the need for some form of cost reduction programme in the not-too-distant future.  Britain seems to be heading out of recession, probably by the end of this quarter, which will be good news and bad news, as once out of this quagmire, the real problems begin as no doubt whoever comes will have to raise taxes.  Talk about being given pig-sty to sort out…no wonder Brown is doing his utmost to lose the coming election, he knows just how bad the books are…

So, with cuts in public spending almost a given, is the clouds of doom rising above us, and are we going to be heading towards another showdown, circa 1978 between the Unions and the Labour Party.  And we all know, where that left us…

When Will Labour Learn?

Afternoon,

I thought that Labour had learnt from the past that you can not tar an entire group with the proverbial brush otherwise you cause even more resentment.  Go tell that to Communities Minister, John Denham who has had the following to say about right-wing deadheads the EDL…

“…if you look at the types of demonstrations they have organised, the language used and the targets chosen, it looks pretty clear that it’s a tactic designed to provoke, to get a response and create violence…”

Of course, such language as the above will make those people who actually support the motives of the EDL and other right-wing groups even more determined to stick it to the very same people who have destroyed what they perceived to be their country and their country alone.  The perception that these same working-class, traditionally Labour-supporting people, are fascists is quite interesting, considering that amongst the flags shown at recent marches, include the Indian and Star of David.  Of course, two countries which are not exactly top of the Muslims favourites’ list… saying that, could it be that these are just badges of convenience?

The minister compared the groups to Oswald Mosley’s British Union of Fascists which was formed in the 1930s, the most infamous march that the BUF held was the ‘Battle of Cable Street’ in 1936 when Mosley’s brown shirts attempted to lead his supporters through a Jewish area of the East End of London, leading to violent clashes.

Although I completely agree with the minister’s concerns, and they should be real, I cannot help but ask where was the concern, when Islamic extremists (because that is what they were) tried and succeeded in inciting disorder in Luton, when troops paraded back in the spring – where was the criticism of such fascist organisations such as Islam4UK (formerly known as Al-Muhajaroon) who openly want bloodshed against kuaffirs (infidels). 

Why, still after pretty much every other western democracy has outlawed Hitz-u-Tahir that Britain still sees it as a legal organisation, when it is proven to have recruited supporters for terrorist missions in Pakistan and Afghanistan.  Not exactly, defending the troops that well…

There is however a bottom line to all this.  People have had enough of this pandering to the terrorist vote.  There are images in the mainstream media of a black Hamas flag being flown amongst the UAF/Muslim demonstrators in Harrow, yesterday.  That does them, nor us any good at all, as it stokes up the fear – that these demonstrators are by de facto terrorist sympathisers, by flying the Hamas flag.  The same flag which was shown in those suicide videos that those found guilty in the recent liquid bombs trials had done prior to their so-called fucking martyrdom.  Lovely…

By continuing to tar those who are scared and anxious of the way this country is going as scare-mongering and small-minded, whilst openly ignoring those Islamic fundamentalists who flout the same laws, we are pushing them into the hands of the fascists who want open conflict.  Labour, recruiting sergeant for fundamentalists and fascists…

 

The Melting Pot...

Evening,

I see on the newswires, further confrontations tonight between right-wing thugs and what seems to be an amalgamation of left-wing anti-fascists and Muslim activists in the London borough of Harrow.

The demonstration from the "Stop Islamification of Europe" actually saw only a dozen or so deadheads converge on a mosque which is going to potentially be able to hold some 35,000 pilgrims eventually and facing up to some 1,000 local Muslims who were none too happy of outsiders making their feelings known.

My views on religion and religious buildings is clear.

Ban it and them. It always ends in claret being spilt. Twats.

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

I am a Adult, not a fucking Child...

Morning,

Really low and down today, got to get into work early this morning as
I've agreed to do some overtime - however it just seems to me that the
slightest error I make whether that is at work or at home gets a
greater scrutiny than anyone else.

Now, that could be because of the situation that I find myself - being
still at home and been pressured by the family to be a little more
frugal in my lifestyle rather than the lazzierz-faire lifestyle that I
have grown accustomed to - arguments are going on between Mother and
Sister as I write. It is almost similar to the last days of my old
man being at home before he walked out - however I do not see such a
easy and clear-cut way out this time around and certainly not any time
soon.

Meanwhile, at work I am under investigation for the standard of call
quality that I am delivering right now - it's the third time this has
happened in recent months and considering that I get asked to deal
with calls that my manager would rather not deal with - and some of
the mistakes that are made and have to be subsequently remedied by us
are beyond belief. The standard of customer service in general
dropped like the proverbial stone in the time that I left to go
upstairs to work in the Internet department for 18 months and since
I've come back (reluctantly). Agents are talking back to managers in
a way that I could never think they would - the respect not just for
managers but also for those who have been here for years is not there.

All the above things are making me have to consider all potential
options at the moment - it feels like I am in a parallel universe with
school. Really, work right now really does feel like a fucking school
- it really does not feel like a workplace like it was upstairs. I
have implored time and again that the company need to make agents more
self-disciplined or else you need to get rid of them. The department
where I am right now has lost a lot of senior advisors in recent
months and this has not helped at all.

Seriously, people need to start acting their age and the company has
to force this upon them because if they don't they will lose the very
people they need right now.

No Control

Evening,

I think we need to comment on the latest falling out from Westminster concerning the government’s involvement in the release of the Lockerbie bomber – with news stories this morning suggesting that the Foreign Office had advised the Prime Minister to dissuade IRA victims suing Libya due to their connection in supplying weapons to the Provos – in order to protect business interests in North Africa.  So in one swift movement the accusation that we are in Afghanistan to protect business links rather than the War on Terror becomes that bit more pertinent… whoops…haven’t we been here before now…

Thought so, and yet it still seems like that the government has not learnt how to news-manage the narrative, so when the Tories announced through their Defence spokesman that if they were re-elected they would reopen negotiations with Libya over such payments being paid towards the IRA’s victims families, Chairman Brown had no alternative to follow the Conservatives’ lead and say that he would support campaigners demanding similar recompense as the American victims did.  In fact one of the cogs in America welcoming Libya back into the from the cold was the understanding that Libya would compensate American victims of attacks by the IRA.

To the tune of £10million…

In spite of the knowledge that the Scottish executive did take the ultimate decision to release al-Megrahi It has tarnished Britain's reputation abroad, because there is ever-increasing evidence, that the British Government had, at the very least, a powerfully compelling role in the decision.

Across the world, there is little doubt that the British Government is perceived as responsible for the Megrahi affair. Diplomatic relations with America have been strained, because Britain has broken a promise given to the US government that the Libyan would not be released before he had served his minimum tariff of 20 years. Worse, Britain is now identified with a policy of preferring money to justice, and being prepared to sell criminals in exchange for trade deals and concessions. That sets an worrying precedent.  The Americans will not want us to find Bin Laden…

Seriously, Chairman Brown has to get hold of the narrative and control it.  It is as simple as that.  That is why he bought Randy Mandy back in from Brussels, because he had lost it back then, and he has still not regained it – and to be blunt he probably will not be able to, certainly not this side of the Party Conference.  By which time, it will probably be too late.

Because of the fucking hap-hazard way that this Prime Minister has dealt with the above, his time as Prime Minister is going to come to a very brutal end.  Labour’s dillydallying has probably absolved them of any power south of Hadrian’s Wall for another 19 years…

They had so many chances to get rid of Brown and they fucked up every single time, and we’re the ones who are going to suffer…

Well Done!

A Taste Of Your Own Medicine…

Evening,

Saw this brilliant defacing of a fence on the way to the gym, this afternoon.

Been hoping that someone would deface that fascist drivel.

Good to see some other open-minded people here in Deepest Kent…

Clocking On...

Morning, all.

I must be as mad as a Japanese Kamikaze pilot heading into Pearl Harbor, as I am heading into work this morning for four hours - but it's not all bad news. It's double time today and so I'm going to be earning this morning what I would earn in an entire day!

Every Little Helps...

Think the idea has to be to do as many Sundays as possible when they are being offered to us - worked it out that if we were to do every Sunday this month, along with the odd extra hour here and there, I could quite easily pick up an extra £300 in my pocket come October, which will help quite nicely towards Christmas Shopping...

All good here. Do think that I need to start repairing my friendships that I have done my best to break in recent months. There is no point in mumbling on previous arguments just for the sake of my ego...

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

The G20 – Some Relevant Facts…

With attention being focused on the G20 meeting in London, I thought it’d be a good time to share some interesting facts about the G20.

Let’s meet them all…

1. Argentina
2. Australia
3. Brazil
4. Canada
5. China
6. France
7. Germany
8. India
9. Indonesia
10. Italy
11. Japan
12. Mexico
13. Russia
14. Saudi Arabia
15. South Africa
16. South Korea
17. Turkey
18. United Kingdom
19. United States

The 20th member of the G20 is the European Union, comprised of the following countries:

1. Austria
2. Belgium
3. Bulgaria
4. Cyprus
5. Czech Republic
6. Denmark
7. Estonia
8. Finland
9. France
10. Germany
11. Greece
12. Hungary
13. Ireland
14. Italy
15. Latvia
16. Lithuania
17. Luxembourg
18. Malta
19. Netherlands
20. Poland
21. Portugal
22. Romania
23. Slovakia
24. Slovenia
25. Spain
26. Sweden
27. United Kingdom

Notice that the usual suspects of Britain, France, Germany and Italy are in essence represented twice.  Punching above their weight, some things will never change.

Surprising in their absence is such countries as Colombia (Narcotics), Israel (Amerika’s chief military exporter), Malaysia (one of the fastest yet volatile economies in the whole of Asia), New Zealand, Norway (second richest country in Europe, in terms of GDP), Switzerland (tax-haven!) and Venezuela (fastest growing oil supplier in the world – oh and the country that gave us Hugo Chavez).

So a total of 42 nations are represented, either directly or through the EU.  These nations account for 67% of the world’s population and 46% of its land mass, not including Antarctica.

The wealthiest of these nations is, by far, Luxembourg, with per capita purchasing power parity (PPP) of $85,100.  They are followed by the U.S. with per capita PPP of $48,000 and Ireland at $47,800.  The poorest, by far, is India at only $2,900 followed closely by Indonesia at $3,900.  Mexico’s is $14,400.  Among the rest of our major trading partners, China is the poorest at $6,100.  The rest are relatively wealthy with Canada at $40,300, Australia at $39,300, Germany at $34,800, Japan at $35,300, and South Korea at $26,000.

The most densely populated nations are Malta (3,295 people per square mile), South Korea (1,257), the Netherlands (1,010), Belgium (883), Japan (878) and India (869).  The least densely populated are Australia (7), Canada (8), Russia (22), Saudi Arabia (30) and Finland (40).  For reference, the U.S. has 85 people per square mile.

With the twelve nations less densely populated than the U.S., we had a trade surplus in manufactured goods of $30.9 billion in 2007.  With the 29 nations more densely populated, we had a trade deficit in manufactured goods of $466 billion in 2007.  (This is proof positive of the effect of population density in driving global trade imbalances.)

In per capita terms, the worst trade deficits in manufactured goods were with Ireland (-$4,306), followed by Estonia (-$2,132), Sweden (-$860) and Japan (-$778).  In per capita terms, our biggest trade surpluses in manufactured goods were with the Netherlands ($1,078), followed by Belgium ($896),  Australia ($622), Canada ($510) and Saudi Arabia ($270).

The large trade surpluses with the Netherlands and Belgium are an anomaly due to the Netherlands having the only deep-water port on the Atlantic coast of Europe (except for the Baltic states) and Belgium being right next door, both of them tiny countries at the cross-roads of EU commerce.  The unusually large deficit with Ireland is due almost entirely to pharmaceutical manufacturing by American companies taking advantage of enormous tax breaks offered by Ireland.

The G20 financial meeting is yet another of those glorified banquets focused on fixing the global financial crisis and economic melt-down.  Which as Chairman Brown cannot help to remind us, started in America.  Saying that though, most of the world blames America, though funnily enough no one complained about the enormous, persistent U.S. trade deficit that has propped up their own economies.  The G20 is dividing into two camps – the trade surplus nations and the trade deficit nations.  Both camps say they want to avoid protectionism.  Both camps agree that global trade imbalances lie at the root of the economic collapse.  The U.S. hopes to restore a balance by demanding that other nations like Japan, China and Germany boost their domestic consumption, making them less dependent on exports to the U.S.  But the EU fears the consequences of deficit spending.  The meeting promises to be a slug-fest, likely to end with nothing more than vague agreements and splits along the surplus/deficit line.  But agreeing on one thing…they’ll meet again for another banquet in six months…by which time, Chairman Brown might have been put out of his misery…

What’s The Latest From Westminster, Motty?

Saw this excellent piece from one of the people at PoliticalBetting, and for that its over to John Motson, at Westminster.

This time last year, Gordon’s team were 3-0 down but there were still 30 minutes left to play. The fans were chanting for the Board to remove him before the game was even finished.

Since then, GB stunned everyone and silenced his critics by bringing on his £250 billion signing - and a style of play that would save football from imminent collapse. But even spending that much has failed to score a goal. And the Germans and the French are muttering it was a pretty crap system and they are going back to their old style of play.

Then fans started hearing on their radios about player’s salaries - and what their season ticket money was being spent on - twin Swedish au pairs, dodgy second Cheshire mansions, duck ponds in Ferraris, the works. Uproar on the terraces, their players being spat at by their own fans - chaos. No-one seemed very interested in the game for a while. Then the work-horse they got from Norwich yonks ago was told he was going to be substituted, so in a hissy fit punched the referee. He got sent for an early bath.

Oh, and possible future player-manager Purnell? He walked off the pitch. He seemed to be beckoning to a couple of the other players, but they all needed to tie their laces, so couldn’t quite see him…

Late in the game, Tories United brought out their controversial new signing, Cuts (even though there was some doubt he was fit to play - and even whether their manager wanted him on the field at all) - who promptly ran on and scored a 35 yard screamer of a volley. And who is now peppering Labour City’s goal with shot after shot. Gordon has been heard to mutter “I wanted to invest in Cuts too…”

And the sorry episode of the Libyan signing won’t go away, even though the injured Megrahi has gone back to his old club now. The shoddy shirt-sponsorship deal remains deeply unpopular (although wearing “We love Colonel G! Libyan Oil for us” on the shirt was never going to help sell many replica kits). Gordon has managed what he thinks is the canny trick of saying nothing about it, whilst blaming some Scottish bloke. Many in the press, near and far, have not been convinced though.

Four-down nine-man Labour City now have just nine minutes of play left - with no chance of extra time. Gordon’s used all his subs. Many of the fans seem to be heading for the exits. A few are raising their spirits by singing “We’re shit - and we know we are!”, but mostly the terraces are silent. Next season, eh? With a new manager. At least we’ll definitely be in Europe then…

Gordon’s last best hope? Floodlight failure…

Brown is in need of some divine intervention…not going to happen, might be an early bath after all the fanfare.

Night, Night.

 

Bob :)

As I Suspected…

Morning,

It seems that I was correct in my analysis regarding the release of the Lockerbie bomber back to Libya, with reports being leaked
to the Times this morning suggestive of that it was in Britain's best interest for Megrahi not to stand in the way of a prospective oil deal between the UK and Libya.

Letters were sent two years ago by Jack Straw, the justice secretary, to Kenny MacAskill, his equivalent in Scotland, who has been extensively derided for taking the formal pronouncement to authorize Megrahi's release.

The correspondence makes it simple that the key decision to include Megrahi in a deal with Libya to allow prisoners to return home was, in fact, taken in London for British national interests.

So there it is, if you're a state, who supports terrorism, get someone to bomb innocents on a street in London or Glasgow, then offer the country unfettered access to your natural resources, and in exchange your agent is allowed home.

They do say everyone has a price…

Whoops...

Auntie is reporting that Jade Goody's widower Jack Tweed is to be going to be in court later this morning on a accusation of rape...

Oh Saintly Jade will not be impressed with young Jack's activities.

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

A Treasured Life

The great Massachusetts statesman Teddy Kennedy succumbed to his brain tumour this morning at the age of 77.

Although in the shadow of his two more illustrious brothers, it can be argued long into the night that Teddy has had a greater influence on the America that is today, than either of his murdered brothers back in the time when they were in power.

It can be argued that many of the reforms that have been undertaken in previous administrations would have seen the light of day were it not for the support of Senator Kennedy - the way that he went across the floor to help Dubya get the 'Not One Left Behind' initiative running - even if he was admittedly screwed over eventually showed that his pragmatism was always at the forefront of his mind ahead of partisanship.

It will be argued forever for the events that one night in Chappadewink, that he would have become an eventual President.

He showed support and solidarity with the people of Northern Ireland as they struggled to peace and prosperity, that cannot be forgotten.

His greatest legacy, no doubt will be his way and will to get things done on his terms, no doubt that support of Kennedy towards Barack Obama elevated Obama to the Democratic ticket and eventual history.

The America we see today, has been in no small part shaped by Edward Kennedy. That is his legacy.

[Posted From The iPhone]

Back To Reality

Morning,

Went back to work for the first time yesterday and it dawned on me that with all the stress both at work and at home that I do not need all the grief that is coming my way from all sides.

The way that I am being treated as some form of slave driver by my family is getting on my back a lot and I do fear that I need to choose between my career, whether that is at my current employers or elsewhere or continue with the status quo, something that does not fill me with joy!

I cannot help that this decision is going to be somewhat assisted by the mnner in which I am being somewhat being sidelined by friends and my employers which makes me think that they are almost helping me make my choice.

Don't need this anymore, feel like I'm being screwed over anyone and everyone and as everyone knows, a animal is at it's most dangerous when it is wounded...

[Posted From The iPhone]

…and still the fallout goes on…

Evening, all

Hope you like the new layout, it’s not much similar to what it was, but as you can see the masthead has been changed somewhat!

Onto tonight’s thoughts and firstly the obligatory congratulations to Strauss’ boys for beating an equally brave and resilient Australian team – having said that I do think that if they were short of a Warney or a Glenn McGrath away from beating England.  It would be great to try and get out over to Melbourne for the Boxing Day test next December.

Back however to the moment at hand and the ever-continuing fallout surrounding the release of the Lockerbie bomber, with politicians both in Washington and London not being able to help themselves but criticise the Scottish government over the way the authorities in Edinburgh handled the affair.

There is a thought beginning to come about in certain circles, that Labour are considering launching a ‘No Confidence’ vote in the Scottish Justice Minister, Kenny Macaskill, whose somewhat ‘higher thou authoritarian’ speech to the awaiting journalists on Thursday has been widely ridiculed, by the right-wing gutter press.  If such a vote, was to go against the Scottish Administration, then it would seen plausible that Alex Salmond, First Minister of Scotland would tend his resignation, and then they could be looking at what would be termed to be a Extraordinary Scottish General Election.  Now that would be interesting to see.  However, as much as both the Scottish government and Lord Mandleson would like to protest, there has to be more to this than meets the eye.

Why the fuck is a letter being released now, from Chairman Brown to Colonel Gaddafi addressed to "Dear Muammar" and signed off by wishing him a happy Ramadan, suggests that the decision was well enough advanced and Brown well enough briefed to set terms for a homecoming – albeit unsuccessfully.  Brown knew what was going on, and tried to cover his tracks, as per normal.

Whilst this letter has been released, details are emerging of a second letter written by the Foreign Office minister Ivan Lewis to MacAskill, confirming that there were no legal reasons not to let Megrahi go and concluding: "I hope on this basis you will now feel able to consider the Libyan application."

Although the Foreign Office said it was not intended to make representations either way, the leaking of the letter suggests that representations were made not just by the Libyans, but by London itself.  That causes into question what Mandleson said yesterday afternoon, alluding that those who suggested that a quid-pro-quo for oil in return for Megrahi was ‘offensive’.

Of course, Mandelson does have previous in lying to protect his own interests…

A Simple Solution

Morning,

I'm currently at the gym on the weights and have been flicking through the web for the latest news and analysis, when I have come across with this interesting bit of polling information.

Conservatives 41%(-1)
Labour 24%(nc)
Lib Dems 18% (nc)

You would have thought that with the NHS being top of the headlines in recent weeks that Labour would have clawed some of that lead back...

But alas, that is not the case, which really must cause some real angst if their #welovethenhs campaign on Twitter is not working, perhaps #getbrownout might be more successful.

NB: I will be sitting down at some point today to do a Sunday Essay, haven't decided what specifically it'll be on, but no doubt the above will certainly be mentioned...

[Posted From The iPhone]

Compassion Or Business?

That is the brutally frank question that those in the media and in government has to be asking themselves tonight following the controversial ruling by the Scottish Justice Secretary to release the only man found guilty by the authorities over the Lockerbie Massacre some 20 years ago, Abdel Basetali al-Megrahi.

There is the argument which was put forward by the minister concerned that even though the crime which al-Megrahi was found guilty was heinous without precedence, certainly at the time of the calamity, there was the sense that they should not forget their moral responsibility - hence allowing him out to pass away back in Libya.

Saying that, Libya has quite a lot of oil doesn't it and BP are in the region trying to make more money for the ailing British economy...

Night, Night

Rob

[Posted From The iPhone]

Fox News: Utterly Fucked Up Logic...

Evening all,

Thanks to the guys at RAWK for showing this ridiculous yet chilling video from the loonies at Fox News.

National Healthcare: Breeding ground for Terrorists?

Warped up nonsense.

more about "Fox News: Utterly Fucked Up Logic...", posted with vodpod

Questions And Answers.

Morning,

As I head out of the door this morning on the way to Paradise for another nine hour slog, I have to wonder whether or not I am as inclined to be as courteous to some people as I am normally. There has been a sense within myself in recent months that although there has been no major arguments or tiffs with anyone, that there is a sustained attempt to make life so uncomfortable for me to walk away....

[Posted On The Mobile...]