I spent last night as a guest at Selwyn College’s Cripps Feast, which was simply splendid. I would never have thought of a well-aged Rioja with the venison, but it worked extremely well.
As it’s the weekend, here’s a BBC interview with Nadira – in Uzbek. It reminds me that I am a remarkably fortunate individual.
Aidan Burley[2] (born 22 January 1979) is a British Conservative Party politician. He was elected Member of Parliament for Cannock Chase in 2010.
.
Early life
Burley was born in Auckland, New Zealand to British parents, living there for several months before moving to the United Kingdom.[3] He was educated at West House School, Birmingham, King Edward’s School, Edgbaston and St John’s College, Oxford.[3] He went on to work with government departments as a management consultant and worked for Philip Hammond before joining Management Consultants.[3] He was an officer of OUCA. He stood as a Conservative in 1997 in his school mock election. He went on to work with the Home Office and the NHS as a management consultant, and also worked for Philip Hammond and Nick Herbert when they were shadow ministers. He was also a Conservative Councillor in Hammersmith and Fulham.
.
Parliamentary career
Burley was elected to the House of Commons as Member of Parliament for Cannock Chase in the 2010 general election with a majority of 3,195.[4]
.
He has been a member of the Home Affairs Select Committee since 2010.[5] Mr Burley was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Rt. Hon Philip Hammond MP, who was then Secretary of State for Transport, on 12 January 2011. Having previously given an undertaking to support the contentious backbencher motion for a referendum with regard to the UK’s continuing membership of the EU, he performed a volte face at the time of the vote having met an American businessman who represented a ‘major employer in my constituency’ earlier that day.[6]
.
Note that he was straight on to a committee and a job as a PPS to Hammond, now Greening’s job. Will his antics abroad be tolerated or will he get the push? The former I guess.
.
Above his wikipedia page. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aidan_Burley
Anyone else find the BBC’s coverage of the Russian protests a little hard to swallow? With a pop of 140 million, the BBC is all excited about a turnout of 30,000. Whereas when 1 million Brits protest in London, it doesn’t really matter, the war must go on!
CheebaCow, BBC recently admitted their role in toppling up nationalist government of Iran in 1952, long after CIA released their records re their own role. I know in Iran majority believe BBC had a huge role in bringing the government of Shah down, to the point that they would broadcast rumors as fact (Shah’s wife one said if you lift a beard of Mulla , underneath it written “made in Britain”, only thing is this time the event went horribly wrong and in the opposite directions of what UK wanted Iran to go!). so to sum up, BBC is the organ of the government of UK, and they will say what is approved even if it is a wink and nod approval! and we suckers have to pay the licence fee..
I note that Aidan Burley received ‘Hospitality at Test Match Cricket at the Oval, value £579 plus VAT Date of receipt of donation: July 2011’ from Japan Tobacco International. I have seen the name Japan Tonacco International very often in other Registers of Interest of MPs.
{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_Tobacco}
.
They certainly get mentioned in debates and questions.
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/search/?s=japan+tobacco+international
.
These two good journalists Miles Goslett and Keith Gladdis have followed through the connections.
{http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2064483/Car-smoking-ban-Japan-Tobacco-International-spent-thousands-MPs-opposed-bill.html}
Azra..[BBC recently admitted their role in toppling up nationalist government of Iran in 1952]
‘
‘
‘
Certainly took them long enough,about 60 years.
He’s sorry now. But only for the ‘inappropriate behaviour of fellow guests’. What a type.
Skimpy BBC report.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-16130936
“Mr Burley, 32, a senior aide to Transport Secretary Justine Greening, was filmed in a mountain restaurant during a stag do, sitting next to another party goer dressed in a black SS uniform and cap.
The MP, who was elected in 2010, sipped wine as one of the party goaded a French waiter, asking: ‘You are from Germany? No, you must be from Austria, then?’ and ‘Are you insulting his Reich?’
He raised his glass in a toast before another guest, sitting beside the MP at the restaurant in the ski resort of Val Thorens, was caught on film making a speech in which he said: ‘Let’s raise a toast to Tom for organising the stag do, and if we’re perfectly honest, to the ideology and thought process of the Third Reich.’
.
How insensitive and offensive can you get? Truly disgusting.
I noticed CheebaCow – again I felt the need to write to the BBC Trustees about such bias. The standard reply from John Hamer, BBC Trust Unit, goes something like, ‘nothing to do with me Guv…” or words to that effect. i.e.
.
“..I should explain that the role of the BBC Trust is distinct from that of the BBC’s management and it has no role in day to day editorial matters. The Trust’s role is to set the overall framework, the BBC’s Editorial Guidelines, which set out the values and standards that all BBC output should meet. Responsibility for the BBC’s editorial content within these Editorial Guidelines rests ultimately with the Director-General, as Editor-in-Chief.”
.
My argument is the ‘overall framework’ is now biased and constrained by ‘an agreement between her Majesty’s Secretary of State for Culture,Media and Sport and the British Broadcasting Corporation.’
.
The agreement states that the meaning of “current affairs” must be agreed; the meaning of “news” must be agreed. However the agreement fails to define the agreed meanings except by stating the BBC output should be impartial, accurate and high quality.
.
The BBC World Service is paid out of the public purse. The BBC must consult and co-operate with the Foreign Secretary William Hague, a Zionist and member of CFI and obtain from him such information regarding—
.
(a) international developments,
(b) conditions in countries outside the UK, and
(c) the policies of Her Majesty’s Government in its international relations
.
When we map BBC World News to internal BBC News 24 we notice an interesting correlation which over a period of time forms a pattern whose source is government direction and control and is certainly lacking in impartiality and not without government bias.
.
Another route of government control exists through OfCom where:
.
(1) The BBC must comply with requirements notified to it from time to time by Ofcom under and International clause.
.
(3) For that purpose, an international obligation of the United Kingdom is relevant if it has been notified to Ofcom by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this clause.
.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/assets/files/pdf/about/how_we_govern/agreement.pdf
Addendum
.
Who is/were the ‘Secretaries of State’ that notified(s) Ofcom?
.
Confusingly there are a number of ‘Secretaries of State,’ each formally titled “Her Majesty’s Principal Secretary of State for …”. Legislation generally only refers to “The Secretary of State” without specifying which one; by virtue of the Interpretation Act 1978 this phrase means “one of Her Majesty’s Principal Secretaries of State”.[1] These positions can be created without primary legislation, nowadays at the behest of the Prime Minister agent Cameron.
.
We can assume the interface with Ofcom is the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, a new position conjured by the government in 2010.
.
Deary me the Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport was Ivan Lewis MP, a member of, and formerly Vice-Chair of Labour Friends of Israel and trustee of the Holocaust Educational Trust. He was a strong supporter of the Israeli military offensive in Gaza in January 2009, defending the Israeli military’s campaign in several speeches.
.
From October 2010 it just happens to be the Rt. Hon. Harriet Harman QC MP. Nuff said.
.
For the coalition the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport is of course the son of a decent Royal Naval man, Jeremy Richard Streynsham Hunt, who failed to disclose a lodger and then agreed his house was at best ‘disorganised’ – he agreed to pay back over £10,000 to the public purse.
.
Before Hunt was George Galloway’s arch rival, ex BBC reporter and “Politician of the Year,”(2009) Ben Bradshaw whose partner Neal Dalgleish was a BBC producer. Ummm? the position seems to have an awful smell about it.
.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmselect/cmstnprv/157/15702.htm
John Goss: Good on you. Haven’t been veggie for quite so long myself (only 20-odd years), but perhaps you have a few years on me. You could add to your comments that athletes (eg, iron man competitions, heavyweight boxers, competitors in all areas – right up to and including Sumo wrestlers!) the top of their fields are vegetarians.
.
The usual clownish comments along the lines of, “But meat tastes good! (chuckle, snark, snicker)” are to be expected. Deriving pleasure from some practice is hardly a moral argument. One can think of many examples in that regard. But it’s safe to say that whatever enjoyment is derived from eating another creature, it is far outweighed by the terror, pain and despair of the creature being eaten. Not to mention the lifelong misery of a factory-farm existence.
.
Clownish comments are all you’ll ever hear, though, because there are no serious arguments in favour of the practice of eating dead animals in the face of plentiful vegetarian alternatives. Apart from monetary arguments from traders, of course. I’m staggered that we consider this a nation of animal lovers, don’t want animals exploited in circuses, don’t like cruelty to pets, yet inflict horrors on vast numbers of animals in meat production. It’s such an incredible disconnect.
Glenn, John Gross,
I am a vegetarian myself but not on moral grounds. Anybody who attempts to make fun, I will put one question to them “have you been to a chicken/meat farm”, do you know what they inject these, or feed these creatures with? ” it is disgusting, the way they are rared, what they are fed (antibiotics, hormones, remains of other creatures treated and made into feed for animals). and if you want to talk about organic and free range, quite often these are cons, so thanks but no thanks, I respect my body too much to fill it up with garbage.
You are fortunate indeed, to have Nadira. Good for you!
I too am veggie and have been for a long time. Interesting comment from an omnivore friend whilst discussing vegetarianism – and when she was losing the argument…..”but if we were all veggie what would we do with the cows and sheep?”!!
The vid is nicely shot and Nadia is Majestic
I think ive only ever tried venison cheeseburger and it was too cheesy to inform. Its rather exclusive or pricey. I advise eat as much as possible as its, too many deer that the forest board have used – to stop wild forest growing. seriously, kinda.
I was a vegetarian for around 4 years. It was a moral choice, I didn’t feel I could justify ending another animals life to fill my belly. The choice was made while travelling through South East Asia, and then India. While in India, it was incredibly easy to be a vegetarian, little meat is served, the little that is served often isn’t so hygienic and Indians are clearly the best vegetarian cooks in the world. Returning to Australia made being a vego difficult for me. BBQs are a way of life, and it does isolate you from others when you can’t participate like everyone else. Worst of all however, is most vegetarian cuisine in Australia is the ultra healthy no fat and salad type. Strangely I also found myself feeling envious when watching lions do their thing on nature documentaries =P Yes, I know, very petty. After 3 and a half years of craving meat every single day, I caved and got a kebab, perhaps one of the greatest meals of my life. I’m jealous of my family members who genuinely don’t crave meat and don’t actually like the taste. These days I don’t feel immoral eating meat as such, but I still have a big problem with the meat industry. If I could hunt or raise my own animals I would have no moral problems.
.
What you eat is a very personal choice, I don’t like vego’s that get all self righteous about it, just as I don’t like those who give vegetarians a hard time for their choices. I think Immortal Technique sums it up best on his track ‘Beef and Broccoli’ (youtube.com/watch?v=i5vSia_tLeI)
Pee:
“but if we were all veggie what would we do with the cows and sheep?”
.
Touche!
.
But seriously, I can’t help but find it deeply ironic that farmed animals are in no danger of extinction while many in the wild that are not mass consumed are the most under threat.
@John Goss:
Thanks for the reminder: the Komodo is the biggest reptile, indeed. And we are obligate carnivores. Nor are we kind to our prey.
.
Without meat, there would be nothing to drink Rioja (or any decent red) with.
.
Quorn is revolting. If I want to eat fungus products, I buy shiitake. They have a flavour.
.
Reasons I did not convert to Islam include: (1) Rioja and (2) pork. There were philosophical considerations as well, but the issue was still in doubt….
I’m not a vegetarian, but I tried to be once, for six month. The accompanying ad-talk by fellow veggies, telling me how bad meat was for me at least once every day, develops a sort of adversity to meat, to the extend that I felt sick walking past a Butchers and smelling the raw meat.
Then one day, after walking past the butchers, something made me walk in buy a bloddy big steak and after preparing it with lots of onions, adding some fibre in the guise of beans, garnishing it with grilled tomatoes and woofing it down like a starving beast, I was feeling much better.
Why is that?
I do now and then consume the aptly named, vegetarian sausages, burgers, fake bacon, fake chicken with real looking skin, however, I grovel at the self deception thesem products resemble. By using these meat terms and references, vegetarians might try and attract meat eaters, but they are a poor replacement and the reasoning behind calling them after meat products, although a crutch to some, is somewhat pathetic.
Can they not call it different names?
How about calling them after well known vegetarians and give them a name that reflects the vegetarian nature of the products rather than using these fake terms, I suggest buttercup flatmeal, fairy sizzlers, quorn from heaven, cause it surely is manufactured in a vat, it would be much motre suitable to those who are so vehemently opposed to our past diet.
Most of my meat now is wild, unadulterated by hormones and antibiotics of any kind, I eat squirrel, muntjack, greylag and pinkfoot geese, all shot by shooters who’s wife can’t face gutting this great resource, so why waste it. I get rabbits in return for planting trees and there is nothing better than a fresh crayfish risotto, with lots of parsley.
“How about calling them after well known vegetarians…”
.
George Bernard Shawburgers?
Hitler Ham
“It’s Kosher!”
.
I’m truly sorry, I know that’s terrible.
That’s antimarmitic (1). How dare you.
.
(1) Or antivegemitic…
To troll, or not to troll? Heck this is far too much of a good opportunity to have dig at the bloody vegetarians,
,
1- Hitler was a vegetarian, and therefore all vegetarians are only celebrating Hitler, and all are; moustachioed, mad, bad, goose steeping, stuka flying, panzer driving, invaders!!!!
,
2- If I didn’t eat meat, the world would be ran over by heifers, bison, sheep, cows, lambs, sheep, and all manner off other tasty lovely critters, prancing around the place, and further think of all those unemployed; butchers, abattoir workers, farmers, shepherds, cowboys (these will all become Mr. prezeident of the US).
,
3- Nature, at least the version we are associated with, is really cruel, and regardless of how much we defy it, she will get up to new tricks, and find other ways of killing, maiming and destroying.
Two of us anyway Glenn. You’re right about the athletes – not just Sumo wrestlers either. George Hackenshmidt, the ‘Russian Lion’ was several times world wresting champion and a vegetarian. Even into his eighties he could jump over a chair from a standing jump. Meat, of course, is a toxin. It’s bound to slow you down.
.
Animals who are born meat-eaters (carnivores) have a short intestine so that when they have absorbed the protein that sends them to sleep they can quickly get the poison out of their system, unlike humans who have long intestines where the poison accumulates leading to a high incidence of bowel cancer.
.
What about Linda McCartney burgers for a name?
.
Komodo, I know you’re probably not one of them but I hear some of your kind eat their babies. Nasty!
.
Finally, Passerby, on your third point, whether vegetarians, omnivores or carnivores, there is only one species which manufactures weapons to kill for the sake of killing. Barnes Wallace, inventor of the bouncing bomb was a vegetarian. He gave a very good reason why. He could not bring himself to kill an animal ant therefore should not ask others to do it on his behalf. Think about it!
There may well have been some famous sumo wrestlers who were vegetarian but from what I understand most of them eat chankonabe which includes chicken and fish:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chankonabe
.
The best sumo wrestler that I have ever seen is Asashoryu, a Mongolian wrestler, who I am sure was not a vegetarian. Just saying…
Asashoryu…
.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKCMkwCHSwc
John I honestly can’t tell if your being serious or not.
.
“You’re right about the athletes – not just Sumo wrestlers either.”
.
Sumos life expectancy is 10 years shorter than the avg Japanese male.
.
“…leading to a high incidence of bowel cancer.
What about Linda McCartney burgers for a name?”
.
I woman who died of cancer….
.
“Barnes Wallace, inventor of the bouncing bomb was a vegetarian. He gave a very good reason why. He could not bring himself to kill an animal ant therefore should not ask others to do it on his behalf. Think about it!”
.
I simply don’t know what to make of that.
What freaks me out altogether is vivisection. There are some anti-vivisection sites on the web that have posted videos secretly taken inside research facilities, and I was upset for days after watching them.
.
People tend not to have much sympathy for the poor rats (white rats bred for research) but take a look at the monkeys with helmet-type affairs on their heads and wires going into their brains … or the lovely little beagles that have never walked on grass or seen the sky. All of the above caged, and 100% at the mercy of their torturers/killers.
.
I tried to go vegetarian but got bored (probably didn’t collect enough recipes) so I have gone back on chicken (free range from a local butcher) and fish. But I eat virtually no red meat any more.
Interesting how many vegetarians are here.
.
“there is only one species which manufactures weapons to kill for the sake of killing”
.
or tortures its own kind?
.
There used to be a balance in Nature. Overpopulation by humans has destroyed that balance – and I often think that Nature will ‘retaliate’. One way or another. I realise that’s a bit fanciful, but nevertheless.
John Goss,
There is a surprise, another mass murdering bastard turns out to be a vegetarian, and he talks about not being able to kill an animal, but darn well goes and invents a bomb to kill thousands. The link is there for all to see, being a vegetarian only leads to latent aggression.!
,
However, you have forwarded a contention; “only one species which manufactures weapons to kill for the sake of killing”.
,
Sadly that sober thought is enough to send shivers down the spines of any sentient beings. The needless slaughter of hundreds of thousands of human beings in the way of securing some abstract advantage, that is usually concocted to garner the aid of the plebeians to reinforce the status quo. This is basically designed for securing the rule of plutocrats, and oligarchs, by ridding these from their perceived enemies, real or imaginary.
,
The painful fact is, human beings despite their wonderful talent, and nature, are so easily led into behaving in the most barbaric ways.
,
I was just winding you up, John, I am proud to be debating with someone like yourself and the other human beings who care about their fellow man, fellow earthly creatures, fully realising there is only one lifetime, and there is only one Earth in this vast expanse of dark space we are currently residing in. There are far too few human beings, considering the vast expanse of the universe, which our little is planet meandering in: a path that as yet we have not fathomed out. We must look after each other,and not kill each other.
Most amusing, Passerby – but why didn’t you go for at least some originality, along the lines of “I love animals but could never eat a whole one” – that’s one of my favourites. Going after vegetarians is pretty brave, though, I have to admit – none of this soft target nonsense.
.
As predicted, we’ve only got clownish arguments in justification of eating dead animals, but I’m impressed with the number of veggies here. Maybe those concerned about human rights really do tend towards ecological and ethical concerns generally.
.
All the same, I’m not for making a religion out of it. Left my zealotry for going veggie back in my 20’s. It’s disappointing that it hasn’t caught on more, considering the ethical, medical and environmental concerns. But then, smoking, drinking to excess, becoming obese and destroying the environment is just as popular as ever, despite alarming evidence of their negative effects.
Glenn, I think all caring people, and most on this blog, are vegetarians at heart. If you gave them a cleaver and told them to slaughter a cow they would shy away from the task especially if they looked into its big brown vegetarian eyes. And before anyone goes off on one, yes, it is love, but not what you’re thinking. I bet Passerby, whose first two points I ignored because I thought he was winding me up, is really a closet vegetarian. I became a vegetarian when I was in my late twenties. My parents had a health food store and I kept reading The Vegetarian Magazine. The more I read it the more I realised that the arguments are sound. But I agree, we should not make a religion out of it. I’ve stopped trying to convert people. To make a life-changing decision is not easy. You’ve reminded me of how I need to cut back on my drinking.