I have a guilty political secret. I do not detest Gordon Brown. That is such an unfashionable opinion that I don’t really expect any comments at all to agree with it. And yes, I do realise that he went along with the Iraq War and all the other horrors of the Blair era. Interestingly, I don’t remember the question of what Gordon Brown really thought about Iraq ever being discussed; he deserves condemnation for having not tried to stop it, and perhaps he was indeed an enthusiast. And I am well aware that the Private Finance Initiative is a terrible disaster, and that he oversaw creeping privatisation in the health services, and – worst of all – the introduction of tuition fees.
And yet I cannot dislike him. Probably because I just know too many people who have known him through decades, who are themselves good people, and who like him. Around Edinburgh and Fife you will find it hard to find people who actually know him who share the hatred and contempt he seems to arouse among the political and media classes of London.
As a general rule I do not like or dislike people according to their politics, but rather according to the sincerity of their political beliefs and the goodwill with which they hold them. I am sure Anders Breivik is sincere in his political beliefs, but those are lacking in goodwill. Sincerity is not enough – humanity and inclusiveness are also important.
There are one nation Tories who seem to me perfectly decent people, genuinely trying to do good. I don’t hate them because their political conclusions on the best way to do good are different to mine. Gordon Brown I put rather in the same category – I feel he was trying to do good for ordinary people, he just got it wrong.
Blair is in a whole different category again – insincere, absolutely focused on attaining personal power, and with a Messianic belief that what is good for him must be good for the World. The Guardian is publishing some emails around the Blair Brown rivalry this week. I don’t care and won’t read them. But while I see Blair as quite properly damned for eternity to the seventh pit of hell, I don’t think Brown deserves anything worse than North Queensferry.
I have been in Ghana the last 20 days living in a house with no internet connection and working (extremely hard) in an office with virtually no internet connection – not enough to load WordPress. I hope to get more chance to blog shortly.
@Daniel Rich, 10.31am
“If not, what does a murder scene specifically need to be or become a real murder scene, according to you?”
If you don’t mind me offering a comment Daniel, a murder scene needs a corpse, or a missing person who is reasonably suspected to be deceased, with forensic evidence supporting a reasonable suspicion that the scene you described is the place where the person is believed to have been deliberately killed. Otherwise you’re describing my lounge room as I write.
The Belgians are getting a bit shirty about GCHQ spying on their citizens – more to come from Glenn Greenwald.
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/sep/23/various-items-nsa-india-belgium
“Typical Britnat response from Fred.”
At least what I say is true. I don’t just make it up as I go along like you do.
@ Jemand,
Q: If you don’t mind me offering a comment Daniel…
R: Au contraire, mon Ami. I appreciate thoughtful, open and honest contributions. I don’t seek agreement per se. I hope that counter arguments help me in looking at subjects/topics from various angles. What might look like a square on my end might appear to be elliptical on your end. Only through dialogue will we find out
a) why such utter opposing views
b) figure out a way how to overcome those differences
c) find mutual ground to either a- or disagree.
In war their are no winners, only more billionaires.
@ NR
If the total value of RM 67 billion could be collected @ a nearby bank I would be of them [billionaires]. Unfortunately the value is real, but on 1922/1923 German stamps.
Saw this on another site, thought I would put it on here.
“Jeremy (misspelled surname) Hunt idea to sell off our medical records to private companies. A website called medconfidential.org has been writing about this and have produced an opt out letter in PDF and MS word format.
From what I can tell this only affects patients in England at the moment. Opt out forms here..”
http://medconfidential.org/how-to-opt-out/
Jemand I still would like to know WHY do you link to such a strange website? http://whywontgodhealamputees.com/
Someone It’s already happened. The practice I have used for many years has just put all its software over to EMIS. It is one of 2,500 practices according to their boast. EMIS have access to 39m patient records!
http://www.emis-online.com/
Mary
Thanks for that!!!.
Gibiru
“You must use Firefox browser for this application to work.”
http://gibiru.com/index.php/proxy-search-engine
The many tentacles of the US military empire. How much longer can and will it last?
Links to maps and type of base
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/09/us-military-bases-africa
http://antiwar.com/blog/2011/12/06/u-s-military-bases-in-the-middle-east/
http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/10/28/graphic-mapping-a-superpower-sized-military/
Jemand pontificates;
Indeed how fantastic it should be to be so mighty, powerful, all seeing, and all knowing!
Alas creeping Henry Fordism holds that amputees are anomalies that ought to be healed (regardless of experiencing life in a differing state of existence), despite the fact that our current science and knowledge does not extend that far. Although there are exogenous scaffolding of pigs bladder cells that are used to facilitate the growth/reattachment of severed addendum/limbs.
Unreason masquerading as reason is the irony that is going missing, as per the dogmatic anti religious “belief”.
====
Someone, thank you for the data.
Mary,
WHAT is so strange about a website that questions the superstition of religion? And secondly, WHY are you interested in knowing “WHY” I link to something that is self-explanatory?
Mary points the finger and a Passing thug volunteers his muscle –
“Indeed how fantastic it should be to be so mighty, powerful, all seeing, and all knowing!”
Like a mythical God? Yes it would be, if it were so.
“Unreason masquerading as reason is the irony that is going missing, as per the dogmatic anti religious “belief”.”
A typically arrogant retort of the religious against atheists, in defence of something that is inherently absent of reason.
It’s funny how atheism is dogmatic and religion is not.
To Guano: The ruination of Syria isn’t solely Assad’s fault and I suspect the 2.5 million Christians living there are hoping he stays around a while longer yet.
Your description of a dictators mind isn’t unique to dictators , it’s prevalent in most ‘successful’ businessmen and politicians. There is no strategy with regards the rebels . or indeed wider political Islam. The bogus rebels are out for their own benefit , looting slaughtering and raping. Lets not forget the great support from US/UK/Israel,Saudi and Qatar amongst others(not exactly sending building supplies and brickies, are they?). The only benefactor from this war is of course Israel , who you fail to mention , seemingly preferring to condemn Assad (who I suspect if he wanted to go out with a bang would have clung on to his CW’s)
Gadaffi was a self obsessed dictator…But he was right about many things. I suppose the destruction of Libya was his fault just as Syria’s demise is Assad’s?
rarely watch MSM, but just checked all channels available on my cable. sky UK started with Nairobi but it was surreal. lengthy, fairly meaningless video footage with no narrator inside the mall; still bringing up the “widow”, NO MENTION WHATSOEVER OF THE BRIT DETAINED WHILE FLEEING TO TURKEY, OR THE FACT ALMOST ALL SUSPECTS WE KNOW OF ARE FOREIGNERS, WHO WOULD HARDLY HAVE ENTERED KENYA VIA SOMALIA. checked other channels & found them all just as silent on all interesting reports out of kenya.
btw there’s a growing attempt to pretend christians in syria are anti-assad & with the rebels, so that it can’t be said West is with AQ and against christians. USA Today has been linked on some alternative sites, with the following:
Syrian Christians may get pulled into civil war
Stephen Starr / USA Today | Sep 24, 2013
Some Syrian Christians say the regime is causing the worst of the attacks to force the Christians to choose sides decisively for the regime. Some even blame the regime for the terrorists being in Syria in the first place.
“I think that the regime is very accomplished in promoting sectarianism,” said Osama Edward, 35, a Syrian Christian who runs the Assyrian Network for Human Rights and is currently based in Stockholm. “The incident at Maaloula proves that beyond a reasonable doubt.”
http://www.religionnews.com/2013/09/24/syrian-christians-may-get-pulled-civil-war/
the guy is not only with the rebels, he’s demanding the West intervene BY ALL MEANS. almost no-one at his rally:
Youtube: Osama Edward – Assyrian Human Rights Network – Stockholm 15/9/2012
We want you to intervene by all means, by all means…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1z0FMW1JVbU
total psyops.
ICAP, the firm belonging to Michael Spencer, ex Tory chairman, treasurer and donor is fined £55m for LIBOR irregularities.
Libor Scandal: ICAP Fined Amid Criminal Probe
Three former British-based employees of interdealer brokerage ICAP face charges, US authorities say.http://news.sky.com/story/1146297/libor-scandal-icap-fined-amid-criminal-probe
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Spencer
Spencer stood down as treasurer and member of the board of the Conservative Party in October 2010.
On 26 March, 2012, Spencer was named as a donor to the Conservative Party who has had a private dinner with the Prime Minister David Cameron. Peter Cruddas, the then Tory co-treasurer was filmed boasting that large donations to the party could secure access to the prime minister. Spencer along with business partner David Rowland were revealed to have donated more than £2m to the party in 2010.
Spencer has homes in Holland Park, London, Suffolk and Manhattan.
Spencer is an art collector with a twentieth century and contemporary collection, including the work of Lucian Freud and Scottish artist Jack Vettriano. He is a shareholder and an associate director of Ipswich Town Football Club, but has little interest in football.
Threat to Edward Snowden still “very real”. His lawyer talks with Sophie & Co.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=E9a5mWOHsHE
WORKING TO SET UP A BANK ACCOUNT FOR DONATIONS.
Incapable Jemand retorts;
You are quiet incapable of any kind of civilised discourse are you not?
Evidently incapable of comprehension too.
There is no point to engage with you any further, dog poo on the side walk principle applying; I shall side step your “contributions”
Passing thug, thanks for the “civilised discourse”. 🙂
Tony Martin easily won the world time-trial championship for the third year running. Bradley Wiggins took silver, and improvement on last year. I knew you cycling fans would want to know.
FBU strike today. MP Brendan lewis is castigating fire fighters for refusing that over 60 year old members should still be going into the worst scenario’s of fire.
Well, looking at the pay and pension arrangements and comparing them to that of an MP with a 77k basic salary with adjustments, with pension paid on top, travel expenses on top, accommodation arrangements and house flipping on top, then I think the fire fighters have a point.
They are the first on the scene in most terror incidents, accidents, and most important they deal with fires, cats on trees, flooding and no other, private, fire brigade exist.
Compare that to an MP, with regular vacuous hot air expelled, the vested interest politics displayed, the lack of candour when constituents of another hue want resolve, and much more.
Just by looking at the value of these two civil servants, I know who I trust to be there when it counts most and who deserves to strike for better conditions.
Hmmm 1962 Cuba sounds a little like Syria 2013
See doc 5
http://www.indiana.edu/~oah/nl/98feb/jfk.html
should have sent my previous post off this morning. Just come back from the FBU picket line at Trowse in Norwich. Lost of horns being sounded for their right to strike.
Apparently a Surrey fire chief, rather than accepting his men 4 hours strike (indeed 4 hrs only) he has invited in an outfit that had 17hrs. training for the whole day.
So Surrey fire’s are going to be served by an inferior and second hand outfit. Now I know that insurance companies look at the compensation they pay out, it is in their, as well as in Surrey voters, interest that the damage is kept to a minimum and that as many assets are rescued as possible.
Now I find such fire chiefs attitude dangerous and irresponsible, he has no argument or proof that his second rate outfit is able and trained until they have to fight a fire. All he has shown today is that he can shove the Tory policies deeply up his arse, he should resign.
Wiggins did enter the world time trail championship last year so not really an improvement given he did beat Martin in the same event in the Olympics. Cannot wait until the World championships are held in the Surrey lanes – although in the meantime the Tour de France will be coming to Hebden Bridge and taking on Cragg Vale which will rather put Box Hill in the shade.
Cycle clubs in the UK have a long tradition connecting themselves with working class organisations, which is probably why many of their members take no little pleasure in getting up the noses of the Chelsea tractor brigade in Surrey.
Should be “did not” after Wiggins.
‘It is in the public interest to prosecute Caroline Lucas MP over her stance to stand up against fracking’
WTF is going on, do they want to criminalise her for standing up against this pollution outfit of Lord Brown Inc.?
This is clearly a signal to try and deter others, and/or its a declaration of war on the country. Fracking fluids kill fish, not just in one place, because ‘spilling accidents/incidents’ seem to have occurred all over the US, from an unconcerned and unsafe industry.
http://www.nofracking.com/blog/drilling-water-may-be-cause-of-fish-kill-pittsburgh-post-gazette/
Is it in the public interest to prosecute Ian Dale Toryboy, for his violent attack on an innocent protester?
here the Guardian article
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/sep/25/caroline-lucas-charged-anti-fracking-protest
I see that Accra is getting one of these abominations, aka temples to Western style consumerism.
Ghana’s $93m Mall Ready By October 2014
May 28, 2013
An artists impression of the West Hills Mall Entrance
VENTURES AFRICA – A new $93million first class shopping mall- The West Hills Mall- under construction in west Accra is expected to be ready by October 2014.
Conducting journalists on a tour of the project site, the Board Chairman of the company, Mr. Kofi Sekyere said the $93 million-project, which started in December 2012, was on course for its scheduled completion date of October 2014.
The project is a joint venture between Delico Property Developments Limited, an investment company incorporated in Mauritius and controlled by South Africa’s Atterbury Africa, and Ghana’s pension fund, the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT).
/..
http://www.ventures-africa.com/2013/05/ghanas-93m-mall-ready-by-october-2014/
Mr Sekyere had better get some high level security laid on.
Anon, that’s a good hill in Hebden Bridge I’ve been up it. Former poet laureate Ted Hughes used to live up the top I think at Heptonstall with Sylvia Plath. I’ve seen it snowing in April up there. Yes that will test them. Is the Tour de France going there next year?
Nevermind I wrote to the Surrey firemen in October last year. I have deleted names, titles, and email addresses. It is a shocking Tory attack on decent men and women who serve the community. I have a dreadful fear of fire ever since I saw a neighbour’s house go up. They also deal with the aftermath of the slaughter on our roads.
RE: Specialist Group International
Thank you for your supportive email Mary, it is appreciated.
We were not aware of this company until last week. There’s clearly been a lot of planning for some considerable time which has been kept out of everyone’s sight.
We are very much aware that this is a small step to possibly a much bigger privatisation plan. Fight we will.
Thank you for the link, I have someone looking into the details of these companies to see if they really are the puppets from Thunderbirds.
I’ll pass on your support to our members, it’s encouraging to hear Surrey residents can see the dangers in such deals which use public money to build profits rather than services.
Regards
…..
…………….
…………….
Fire Brigades Union, Surrey
From: ……….
Sent: 26 October 2012 14:45
To: ……….
Subject: Specialist Group International
Dear ……. and the Members of the Surrey FBU
Like you, I am appalled at this news of plans for further privatisation of our public services. The NHS is being dismantled, destabilized and destroyed. Fight like tigers to oppose this. Your jobs and our lives are at stake.
I will write to our councillors to register my opposition. I heard nothing about this nor was there any public consultation as far as I know. I did know that Boris Johnson is closing fire stations in London and hence there will be job losses.
You might be interested in this info on Mr Faulding. See how many other companies he is running.
http://company-director-check.co.uk/director/904489516
In support
……..
PS The name reminds me of Lady Penelope and that children’s TV programme Thunderbirds and Rescue International!!
~~~~~~
Surrey fire specialist rescue support deal criticised
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-20067465
Anon 4.08
Not everyone in Surrey is stinking rich or drives a 4×4.
The endless cycle racing means that
– ordinary people are kettled in their homes.
– emergency vehicles have been prevented from getting through. — businesses have had to close and receive no rebate on their business rates
There were 80 road closures last w/e.
Would you like it?