Thursday, July 16, 2009
Kim Jong-il : 8-9 months ?
North Korea's Kim Jong-il not likely to survive much longer if pancreatic cancer reports are true, according to oncologists at the Duke University Medical Center. That is based on how he looks on videos and similar outside information, brief details here.
IMO: No man is an island, every person's death diminishes us all.
IMO: No man is an island, every person's death diminishes us all.
Sir Ian Blair
An independent investigation examined whether Sir Ian had influenced the Met's decision to hand lucrative IT work to a company owned by his friend and skiing partner Andy Miller.
Metropolitan Police Authority does not accept Flanagan's report. The MPA statement said:"The Authority now wishes it to be made explicit that its decision, as recorded in the minutes of its exempt meeting, does not amount to an exoneration of Sir Ian Blair's conduct."
Metropolitan Police Authority does not accept Flanagan's report. The MPA statement said:"The Authority now wishes it to be made explicit that its decision, as recorded in the minutes of its exempt meeting, does not amount to an exoneration of Sir Ian Blair's conduct."
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
New Al Qaida manual
“As soon as the mujahidin get secretly into an area on a dark night, they are confronted by the Cross forces and their helpers. Many are killed or captured.” Full manual in English here, and in Arabic here.
IMO: You can't really blame Al Qaida, Goldman Sach's profits speak for themselves. I do not give Obama much chance of straightening out US health services either. And of course Hamas blame the Jews for dumping aphrodisiac chewing gum in Gaza, to corrupt Arab youth. Not only that, but Gordon Brown has done nothing on Lord Sutherland's report after 10 years. Many of us are now of the "hurry up and die" generation (a Jap term) and will have no option but to 'catch the bus to Zurich' to die painlessly, lets just hope that the criminal filth who run the UK will not legalise euthanasia, they won't want the country clogged up with old corpses. And the poofters who run the UK churches aren't likely to help, the vile old reprobates that they are.
IMO: You can't really blame Al Qaida, Goldman Sach's profits speak for themselves. I do not give Obama much chance of straightening out US health services either. And of course Hamas blame the Jews for dumping aphrodisiac chewing gum in Gaza, to corrupt Arab youth. Not only that, but Gordon Brown has done nothing on Lord Sutherland's report after 10 years. Many of us are now of the "hurry up and die" generation (a Jap term) and will have no option but to 'catch the bus to Zurich' to die painlessly, lets just hope that the criminal filth who run the UK will not legalise euthanasia, they won't want the country clogged up with old corpses. And the poofters who run the UK churches aren't likely to help, the vile old reprobates that they are.
UK Daily Telegraph is now nationalised
The Barclay Brothers overpaid £665 million for the newspaper in 2004. They are in hock up to their offshore eyeballs to RBS and HBOS, both nationalised banks. So in a sense Gordon Brown is now their chief creditor.
IMO: A lot of people have not realised that - yet. More to the point, will they ever realise it with present Labor leadership ?
IMO: A lot of people have not realised that - yet. More to the point, will they ever realise it with present Labor leadership ?
Monday, July 13, 2009
Homosexual marriage threatens Anglican unity
Writing on behalf of the Church of England, two bishops warned the Church of Sweden that its potential use of gender-neutral marriage ceremonies would “undermine the fragile unity of the Anglican Communion.”
Despite a similar plea from Archbishop Rowan Williams-- the worldwide leader of the Anglican Communion-- the consensus is continuing to develop among Episcopal Church leaders in the United States that support for homosexuality is of greater value than Anglican unity.
Dr. William Stayton pushes the logic to the extent that he advocates liberalising laws on pederasty and bestiality.
IMO: It does seem to me that gay marriage was not regarded as even a sane idea until quite recently. In practice the so-called 'marriages' are likely to turn into little more than a home base for cottaging. What should be done ? Surely the C.of E. should have looked at the matter sensibly, rather than allowing it to be used as a campaigning issue. I can remember my old army sergeant saying many years ago (the RCs apparently doing it already, even now the Irish Govt have to pay 90% of the victim's compensation claims) "next they will be buggering the choir boys on the altar during the service". Maybe it is getting close to that point now, I would not wish to set a foot inside their immoral establishments.
Despite a similar plea from Archbishop Rowan Williams-- the worldwide leader of the Anglican Communion-- the consensus is continuing to develop among Episcopal Church leaders in the United States that support for homosexuality is of greater value than Anglican unity.
Dr. William Stayton pushes the logic to the extent that he advocates liberalising laws on pederasty and bestiality.
IMO: It does seem to me that gay marriage was not regarded as even a sane idea until quite recently. In practice the so-called 'marriages' are likely to turn into little more than a home base for cottaging. What should be done ? Surely the C.of E. should have looked at the matter sensibly, rather than allowing it to be used as a campaigning issue. I can remember my old army sergeant saying many years ago (the RCs apparently doing it already, even now the Irish Govt have to pay 90% of the victim's compensation claims) "next they will be buggering the choir boys on the altar during the service". Maybe it is getting close to that point now, I would not wish to set a foot inside their immoral establishments.
Clean NSG waiver - Mukherjee
'We have a clean waiver from the NSG. We have an India-specific safeguards agreement with the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency). We are not concerned over what position the G8 takes (on nuclear commerce with India),' Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee declared during zero hour in the Rajya Sabha.
'Every individual country (that is a member of the NSG) can trade with us. Is G8 the right forum for discussing the terms of nuclear trade with India? It is not the relevant and appropriate authority.
IMO: Seems fair enough. Nobody takes any notice of the G8 posturings. It is certainly true that the EU, Russia, USA and China are large polluters and they clearly are doing extremely little about that, for all their politician's lies at G8. They are basically obliged to pay India for the damage they are doing to it - but they will simply try to take money from India, as they have foolishly done for centuries.
'Every individual country (that is a member of the NSG) can trade with us. Is G8 the right forum for discussing the terms of nuclear trade with India? It is not the relevant and appropriate authority.
IMO: Seems fair enough. Nobody takes any notice of the G8 posturings. It is certainly true that the EU, Russia, USA and China are large polluters and they clearly are doing extremely little about that, for all their politician's lies at G8. They are basically obliged to pay India for the damage they are doing to it - but they will simply try to take money from India, as they have foolishly done for centuries.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Afghanistan
UK politicians seem to claim that 5 million more Afghan children are being educated because of the UK offensives yet BBC radio has informed us that the schools are there, but boarded up and there are no teachers. Hence this suggests political lying, common in UK as elsewhere.
Further, many roadside bombs and deaths seem not due to a Taliban roadside offensive, but bombs left years ago by the Russians. These must have been known of before the UK attacked using cheap trucks, easily bombed.
Pakistan continues to have ties with the Taliban and would happily get them to negotiate with the Americans if the US could promise to get the Indians out of Afghanistan. But if the western coalition is not “convinced”, Pakistan can turn “ugly” on India again.
IMO: I thought the Paks had just tried to negotiate with the Taliban and this had led to deaths of Paks, beating, death and intimidation of the Paks. In fact Indians are already trying to help the Afghans to carry out construction work in Afghanistan. Six Indian construction workers at least recently killed by the Taliban. India would help Pakistan too if Pak did not have even more crooked politicians than the UK, all making a lot of money at the expense of the rest of the world. The Taliban also reportedly distributed pamphlets in Gardez, the capital of Paktia province, which warned the militants would carry out more attacks on Indian firms "involved in anti-Islamic activities in Afghanistan and Pakistan," the channel said.
New Delhi has expressed frustration with Islamabad, accusing it of not doing enough to prosecute those deemed responsible for planning the Mumbai attack. Indian officials are closely monitoring Pakistan's crackdown on insurgents, especially the ongoing military operation against the Taliban. Indian Defense Minister Arackaparambil Kurian Antony says that has ramifications on this side of the border. "The situation in Pakistan is still turmoil. It's a matter of great concern to us," Antony said.
Further, many roadside bombs and deaths seem not due to a Taliban roadside offensive, but bombs left years ago by the Russians. These must have been known of before the UK attacked using cheap trucks, easily bombed.
Pakistan continues to have ties with the Taliban and would happily get them to negotiate with the Americans if the US could promise to get the Indians out of Afghanistan. But if the western coalition is not “convinced”, Pakistan can turn “ugly” on India again.
IMO: I thought the Paks had just tried to negotiate with the Taliban and this had led to deaths of Paks, beating, death and intimidation of the Paks. In fact Indians are already trying to help the Afghans to carry out construction work in Afghanistan. Six Indian construction workers at least recently killed by the Taliban. India would help Pakistan too if Pak did not have even more crooked politicians than the UK, all making a lot of money at the expense of the rest of the world. The Taliban also reportedly distributed pamphlets in Gardez, the capital of Paktia province, which warned the militants would carry out more attacks on Indian firms "involved in anti-Islamic activities in Afghanistan and Pakistan," the channel said.
New Delhi has expressed frustration with Islamabad, accusing it of not doing enough to prosecute those deemed responsible for planning the Mumbai attack. Indian officials are closely monitoring Pakistan's crackdown on insurgents, especially the ongoing military operation against the Taliban. Indian Defense Minister Arackaparambil Kurian Antony says that has ramifications on this side of the border. "The situation in Pakistan is still turmoil. It's a matter of great concern to us," Antony said.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Hooch
Illegal liquor is usually sold in 200ml plastic pouches for 10 rupees each. The majority of the consumers are poor, daily wage workers. Hooch is made with jaggery, alum and aluminium chloride. After brewing, some flavour is added to the liquor. Brewery owners usually spike the liquor with ethyl alcohol to give it a kick. Things begin going wrong when they add methyl alcohol - a potent industrial alcohol- which can easily lead to death if consumed.
Consumers of illegal liquor say that they cannot work or sleep without having the brew. It is a part of their lives, they are addicted to it. They will keep drinking whatever illegal brew is available.
One estimate suggests that some 440 people have died after drinking illegal toxic liquor in Gujarat between 1977 and 1990. There have been similar tragedies in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Rajasthan in recent years. In all the cases, illegally brewed liquor had been spiked with methyl alcohol and other industrial spirits.
IMO: In the UK it is largely legal to make beer at home. That beer can be strong enough for genuine addicts without further additions but they are often too drunk to make beer themselves. For alcohol addicts, digestion is often partially destroyed which is why they may not need so much alcohol to get drunk. Best to stick to moral Hindu or Muslim law about this matter and not to drink alcohol at all. Addiction can be prompted by the beer companies so they can make more money, and often is.
Consumers of illegal liquor say that they cannot work or sleep without having the brew. It is a part of their lives, they are addicted to it. They will keep drinking whatever illegal brew is available.
One estimate suggests that some 440 people have died after drinking illegal toxic liquor in Gujarat between 1977 and 1990. There have been similar tragedies in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Rajasthan in recent years. In all the cases, illegally brewed liquor had been spiked with methyl alcohol and other industrial spirits.
IMO: In the UK it is largely legal to make beer at home. That beer can be strong enough for genuine addicts without further additions but they are often too drunk to make beer themselves. For alcohol addicts, digestion is often partially destroyed which is why they may not need so much alcohol to get drunk. Best to stick to moral Hindu or Muslim law about this matter and not to drink alcohol at all. Addiction can be prompted by the beer companies so they can make more money, and often is.
Galileo may have discovered Neptune
David Jamieson, the head of the University of Melbourne School of Physics, made the astonishing claim, after studying in great details the work that Galileo left behind. Galileo may indeed have formed the hypothesis that he had seen a new planet which had moved right across the field of view during his observations of Jupiter over the month of January 1613. If this is correct Galileo observed Neptune 234 years before its official discovery. Galileo was in the habit of sending a scrambled sentence, an anagram, to his colleagues to establish his priority for the sensational discoveries he made with his new telescope. He did this when he discovered the phases of Venus and the rings of Saturn. So perhaps somewhere he wrote an as-yet undecoded anagram that reveals he knew he discovered a new planet.
IMO: The moral is that it is helpful to leave clear notes. I wish it was more common. The problem is that this can lead to execution or jail, even today. O tempora ! O mores !
IMO: The moral is that it is helpful to leave clear notes. I wish it was more common. The problem is that this can lead to execution or jail, even today. O tempora ! O mores !
Hooch death toll 107; Congress seeks Modi resignation
AHMEDABAD: The Congress has demanded the resignation of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and Minister of State for Home Amit Shah on moral grounds, even as the death toll in the hooch tragedy here went up to 107. The deaths were caused by drinking alcoholic beverages.
Demonstrations were organised in various parts of the State, and effigies of the Chief Minister and the Home Minister were burnt.
IMO: This clearly shows the damage of drinking alcohol, a habit not approved of by serious Hindus or Muslims. Legally prepared alcohol is usually better, but also causes mental and physical deterioration.
Demonstrations were organised in various parts of the State, and effigies of the Chief Minister and the Home Minister were burnt.
IMO: This clearly shows the damage of drinking alcohol, a habit not approved of by serious Hindus or Muslims. Legally prepared alcohol is usually better, but also causes mental and physical deterioration.
Thursday, July 09, 2009
Chinese at it again
We have had Tibet stolen from Tibetans by Han Chinese. Now there appear internationally the problems with Han Chinese hijacking part of the alleged Caliphate from Muslim Uighurs. The Han Chinese also supported the Singhalese in Sri Lanka, leading to at least 1400 Tamils still dying every week in Sri Lanka. New Zealanders, when I was there recently, wished all Han Chinese dead but tended to be too polite to say so. Now, because Australia does not want to sell its iron ore industry to the Han Chinese, Chinese police have detained an Australian Rio Tinto executive.
EL&C Baillieu senior research analyst Ivor Ries told BusinessDaily there was "no doubt" that Chinese authorities were trying to punish Australian iron ore producers. "It's a stupid game - taking people hostage is a dumb, dumb game," he said. "It's not the way commercial negotiations are conducted."
IMO: The Han Chinese are asking to be eliminated from the face of the earth, not my problem.
EL&C Baillieu senior research analyst Ivor Ries told BusinessDaily there was "no doubt" that Chinese authorities were trying to punish Australian iron ore producers. "It's a stupid game - taking people hostage is a dumb, dumb game," he said. "It's not the way commercial negotiations are conducted."
IMO: The Han Chinese are asking to be eliminated from the face of the earth, not my problem.
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
Financial crisis could shoot suicide rates
Financial crisis may turn out to be a major killer, and could send suicide and homicide rates soaring, says a new Lancet study.
Researchers at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Oxford University headed the study to examine the possibility that health might suffer as a result of the market crashes.
IMO: Suicide, murder, torture rates are very high now, particularly in rural areas. There is possibly likely to be an increase in fragging and suicide bombing, all mainly due to such as John McCain and Bill Clinton at source. I mention for example the repealing of the Glass-Steagal Act.
Researchers at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Oxford University headed the study to examine the possibility that health might suffer as a result of the market crashes.
IMO: Suicide, murder, torture rates are very high now, particularly in rural areas. There is possibly likely to be an increase in fragging and suicide bombing, all mainly due to such as John McCain and Bill Clinton at source. I mention for example the repealing of the Glass-Steagal Act.
Google Chrome announced today
The creation of still more operating systems seems just a needless problem to people who don't even want Vista, XP being quite enough with maybe some use of Linuxes.
Seems Chrome will be 'free'. Pundits say this will upset Microsoft's business model.
IMO: Google is a business organisation, it will need to make a profit from the customers somewhere. Possibly at the end of the day this will be by selling other people's information, in a way like Phorm. Who knows ? It appears that Google said for years that they were not going to make a new OS.
According to the UK Guardian "what we've really got here is an example of Google pulling a Microsoft: Creating an unnecessary me-too product that they can use for product tie-ins. All of the features here are present in exisiting browsers, all of them. So what does Google really bring to the table?"
IMO: Chrome looks like becoming a needless way of wasting the customer's valuable time.
Seems Chrome will be 'free'. Pundits say this will upset Microsoft's business model.
IMO: Google is a business organisation, it will need to make a profit from the customers somewhere. Possibly at the end of the day this will be by selling other people's information, in a way like Phorm. Who knows ? It appears that Google said for years that they were not going to make a new OS.
According to the UK Guardian "what we've really got here is an example of Google pulling a Microsoft: Creating an unnecessary me-too product that they can use for product tie-ins. All of the features here are present in exisiting browsers, all of them. So what does Google really bring to the table?"
IMO: Chrome looks like becoming a needless way of wasting the customer's valuable time.
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
Politics...
In a UK Times article Ecclestone said Thatcher was more of a democrat than either Blair or Brown have been.
IMO: True, unfortunately. It shows what a rotten corrupt lot of politicians have been elected recently. Not a decent Tory leader since Eden (who certainly had his faults) or a decent Labor leader since John Smith.
Ecclestone talked about his preference for "strong leaders," including people like former UK prime minister Margaret Thatcher and Max Mosely. Bringing up talk of Adolf Hitler in such contexts is generally frowned upon, particularly when saying things like "he got things done," but "In the end he got lost, so he wasn't a very good dictator."
IMO: I've got an idea. How about the late Michael Jackson for UK prime minister, a corpse could not be worse than the present crowd, and at least he won't need a second homes allowance. Video testimonial here.
IMO: True, unfortunately. It shows what a rotten corrupt lot of politicians have been elected recently. Not a decent Tory leader since Eden (who certainly had his faults) or a decent Labor leader since John Smith.
Ecclestone talked about his preference for "strong leaders," including people like former UK prime minister Margaret Thatcher and Max Mosely. Bringing up talk of Adolf Hitler in such contexts is generally frowned upon, particularly when saying things like "he got things done," but "In the end he got lost, so he wasn't a very good dictator."
IMO: I've got an idea. How about the late Michael Jackson for UK prime minister, a corpse could not be worse than the present crowd, and at least he won't need a second homes allowance. Video testimonial here.
No religious names for Goa liquor bars
Goa has about 6,500 licensed liquor bars and it is not uncommon to find them named after gods, goddesses and saints.
By adding sub-rule 11 to rule 90 of the Goa excise duty rules, the finance department has said: "No licensee having a licence for retail sale of India-made foreign liquor and country liquor and/or foreign liquor for consumption on premises shall carry out the business in the name and style which denotes any religious name."
IMO: Praise the Lord Ganesh. Even Goan Christians will not be able to drink in bars with names like "Jesus Bar". In fact they should bring down the number of bars, as 6500 seems a lot for a small state like Goa. Alcohol is a health hazard and has obvious other problems associated with it, including for example the fact that it is even more addictive than some banned narcotics. It also is contrary to Indian tradition and drinks up the money, sometimes leading to poverty, destitution and organised crime.
By adding sub-rule 11 to rule 90 of the Goa excise duty rules, the finance department has said: "No licensee having a licence for retail sale of India-made foreign liquor and country liquor and/or foreign liquor for consumption on premises shall carry out the business in the name and style which denotes any religious name."
IMO: Praise the Lord Ganesh. Even Goan Christians will not be able to drink in bars with names like "Jesus Bar". In fact they should bring down the number of bars, as 6500 seems a lot for a small state like Goa. Alcohol is a health hazard and has obvious other problems associated with it, including for example the fact that it is even more addictive than some banned narcotics. It also is contrary to Indian tradition and drinks up the money, sometimes leading to poverty, destitution and organised crime.
Simon Singh and the libel laws
I think many sensible people (including me) signed the Singh petition, and so did some people not too sensible (like Richard Dawkins). Over the years I have seen many like Dawkins and the first name that comes to mind there is L. Ron Hubbard, whose first pseudo-factual paper in Astounding Science Fiction looked like a real breakthrough, just as so much brilliant stuff was often published during the John W. Campbell years. Hubbard, though, had more pioneering imagination than Dawkins and Dawkins's atheist Sunday Schools cannot be taken seriously - fortunately.
More seriously we must remember that freedom in the UK has always been limited (I think for example of the Official Secrets Act) . Interestingly enough Mr. Justice Eady himself, as mentioned in Private Eye 26th June, page 29, seems to rule that servants of the UK criminal justice system cannot have their privacy protected when they breach regulations. I'm not going to suggest that that is a flawed ruling but the article later goes on to point out that misbehaving judges apparently must be shielded, even in cases of falling asleep in court, public sexual offences etc. I am wondering what the EU will have to say about these shenanigans, probably little.
More seriously we must remember that freedom in the UK has always been limited (I think for example of the Official Secrets Act) . Interestingly enough Mr. Justice Eady himself, as mentioned in Private Eye 26th June, page 29, seems to rule that servants of the UK criminal justice system cannot have their privacy protected when they breach regulations. I'm not going to suggest that that is a flawed ruling but the article later goes on to point out that misbehaving judges apparently must be shielded, even in cases of falling asleep in court, public sexual offences etc. I am wondering what the EU will have to say about these shenanigans, probably little.
Monday, July 06, 2009
Oldest Christian bible digitized for free access
About half of the Old Testament and Apocrypha are absent, and the New Testament books are in a different order (putting, for example, “Acts of the Apostles” between “the Pastoral” and “Catholic Epistles”). It also includes two additional early Christian writings, allegedly by Hermas (a second-century Roman) and the apostle Barnabas—as well as a smattering of corrections inserted throughout the centuries after its creation.
Bugatti Veyron
This is now said to be "the most ridiculous car in the world".
IMO: Don't blame me, I'd only like a Type 35 Bugatti.
"That same cash-filled briefcase (needed to buy the Veyron) could buy seven Ferrari 599s or every single 2009 model Mercedes. You could snap up a top-shelf Maybach and employ a chauffeur until well past the apocalypse. ... the cost is probably enough to make you a one-man special-interest group with some serious Washington clout."
Top Gear said "At this speed, the tires will disintegrate in 15 minutes - That's ok, we've only got enough fuel for 12".
Apparently when they are featured on a show or test track, supercar makers box them up like ancient relics and ship them there. That's what the alleged Stig apparently did for a recent Ferrari test.
The Veyron seemingly does 0-60 mph in 2.5 seconds, but after that not such good acceleration times. From a practical point of view, a standard road car (say top range oldish Ford Capri) is OK and easy enough to drive at around 150-160 mph on the M4 but most people find that a bit fast. At the end of the day, it is not all down to performance or top speed.
IMO: Don't blame me, I'd only like a Type 35 Bugatti.
"That same cash-filled briefcase (needed to buy the Veyron) could buy seven Ferrari 599s or every single 2009 model Mercedes. You could snap up a top-shelf Maybach and employ a chauffeur until well past the apocalypse. ... the cost is probably enough to make you a one-man special-interest group with some serious Washington clout."
Top Gear said "At this speed, the tires will disintegrate in 15 minutes - That's ok, we've only got enough fuel for 12".
Apparently when they are featured on a show or test track, supercar makers box them up like ancient relics and ship them there. That's what the alleged Stig apparently did for a recent Ferrari test.
The Veyron seemingly does 0-60 mph in 2.5 seconds, but after that not such good acceleration times. From a practical point of view, a standard road car (say top range oldish Ford Capri) is OK and easy enough to drive at around 150-160 mph on the M4 but most people find that a bit fast. At the end of the day, it is not all down to performance or top speed.
Sunday, July 05, 2009
Sawers
Sawers shown as Santa Claus in Facebook - by his wife.
IMO: Advertising free giveaways of classified information maybe, Concordski-style I would have hoped.
Terrorists and hostile intelligence services could trawl through Facebook and Twitter websites to uncover personal details of diplomats and civil servants who might end up in highly sensitive jobs. All members of the Armed Forces are warned about Facebook and other social networking sights. Although they are not banned from the website, they have been told not to include details that could compromise their security. The same warning has been issued at MI5, MI6 and GCHQ, the Government’s eavesdropping centre in Cheltenham. Personnel will be reminded of it in a new circular this week in the wake of Lady Sawers’ Facebook entries.
Dame Stella Rimington was once photographed shopping near her home in London after she had been appointed Director-General of MI5 in 1991. She was advised to leave her family home for her personal safety and moved to a new address.
IMO: Interesting and quite droll. The Rimington case is understandable as at about that time, the Govt idea was to provide faux-transparency and by then the poor woman had retired anyway. Can't have made a lot of 'dash' if she still has to buy her own food at supermarkets, I suppose. Sawers less clear, but Iran seems over-confident at least at lower echelons, usually simplest to take such matters at face value nonetheless. Sawers may now have to relocate, either way.
IMO: Advertising free giveaways of classified information maybe, Concordski-style I would have hoped.
Terrorists and hostile intelligence services could trawl through Facebook and Twitter websites to uncover personal details of diplomats and civil servants who might end up in highly sensitive jobs. All members of the Armed Forces are warned about Facebook and other social networking sights. Although they are not banned from the website, they have been told not to include details that could compromise their security. The same warning has been issued at MI5, MI6 and GCHQ, the Government’s eavesdropping centre in Cheltenham. Personnel will be reminded of it in a new circular this week in the wake of Lady Sawers’ Facebook entries.
Dame Stella Rimington was once photographed shopping near her home in London after she had been appointed Director-General of MI5 in 1991. She was advised to leave her family home for her personal safety and moved to a new address.
IMO: Interesting and quite droll. The Rimington case is understandable as at about that time, the Govt idea was to provide faux-transparency and by then the poor woman had retired anyway. Can't have made a lot of 'dash' if she still has to buy her own food at supermarkets, I suppose. Sawers less clear, but Iran seems over-confident at least at lower echelons, usually simplest to take such matters at face value nonetheless. Sawers may now have to relocate, either way.
Monsoon 05/07/2009
Plenty of rain at the moment, over 4 inches in 9 hours at Mumbai airport on Saturday, typical monsoon photo here. Air traffic still OK though but visibility below 500 metres.
No undue 'plastic bag' drain blockages yet. Sometimes the rain comes up to the car seat level. That's the time to pray to Lord Ganesh, all right. After all, it is a common saying that Lord Ganesh has to be submerged in the water to see his mother.
No undue 'plastic bag' drain blockages yet. Sometimes the rain comes up to the car seat level. That's the time to pray to Lord Ganesh, all right. After all, it is a common saying that Lord Ganesh has to be submerged in the water to see his mother.
Friday, July 03, 2009
Fragging in Afghanistan
During the Vietnam conflict, the fragging rate (assaulting a superior officer using a fragmentation grenade or other explosive) rose from 1 incident per 3,300 servicemen in 1969 to a peak of 1 per 572 servicemen in 1971.
Of course opinions differ but fragging appears to have begun in Afghanistan/Pakistan.
IMO: All the more reason to use advanced drones. There have been strong suggestions that some alleged drone strikes were actually carried out by Pakistani F-16 jets. It may be much more politically convenient for the Pakistani government to point the finger at the U.S. when it comes to killing its own people. The Autonomous Rotorcraft Sniper System is also really quite cheap, can be only $4 per trigger pull rather than about $100,000 for a Hellfire.
Of course opinions differ but fragging appears to have begun in Afghanistan/Pakistan.
IMO: All the more reason to use advanced drones. There have been strong suggestions that some alleged drone strikes were actually carried out by Pakistani F-16 jets. It may be much more politically convenient for the Pakistani government to point the finger at the U.S. when it comes to killing its own people. The Autonomous Rotorcraft Sniper System is also really quite cheap, can be only $4 per trigger pull rather than about $100,000 for a Hellfire.
Is HC's gay ruling applicable to all states?
The decriminalisation of homosexuality issue may have to await a ruling from the Supreme Court to clear the jurisdictional confusion over the applicability of the Delhi High Court judgment.
IMO: India has many problems and this matter looks a bit trivial in comparison. But this is evidence that India is still freeing itself from former UK imperialism, the "anti-gay" legislation having been imposed by the Raj over a century ago. At the same time the HC ruling may well have a further and undesirable pro-Western effect. There is already too much beer, cigarettes and gambling, never mind buggery as well. But the most perverse effect of the present ruling seems to be in an implicit acceptance of the current Western mindset, which can change like the wind. At the same time, reasoned tolerance of other traditions is a virtue, within reason. So, on the whole India seems to have too many problems for this blogger to lose much sleep over the matter, either way.
IMO: India has many problems and this matter looks a bit trivial in comparison. But this is evidence that India is still freeing itself from former UK imperialism, the "anti-gay" legislation having been imposed by the Raj over a century ago. At the same time the HC ruling may well have a further and undesirable pro-Western effect. There is already too much beer, cigarettes and gambling, never mind buggery as well. But the most perverse effect of the present ruling seems to be in an implicit acceptance of the current Western mindset, which can change like the wind. At the same time, reasoned tolerance of other traditions is a virtue, within reason. So, on the whole India seems to have too many problems for this blogger to lose much sleep over the matter, either way.
Cardinal Newman
The Pope has placed Cardinal John Henry Newman on the path to possible sainthood by approving a miracle attributed to his intercession. Newman, an influential 19th-century Anglican convert, can now be beatified. A second miracle is necessary for him to be declared a saint – making him the first English-born saint since the Reformation. The miracle approved yesterday by Pope Benedict XVI concerns the medically inexplicable (??) cure of an American, John Sullivan, who suffered from debilitating back pain for years, but was cured after praying to Cardinal Newman.
IMO: Hm, I can see that the RC church would clearly approve of Newman. I wonder to what extent this "miracle" idea is becoming a kind of formality, more shadow than substance. The Anglican Church went through a phase of this sort of thing before its current decline, with its 'God of the Gaps'. Sainthood seems rather like knighthoods or peerages in the UK for those who have bribed MPs. This sounds quite different to the old ideas of wealthy Catholics 'buying' their way to heaven and so on, times having changed so much, and even your average Iranian is nowadays on Facebook, Google, and possibly Twitter... In Newman's case he seems to have been of genuine merit to society in some vague sense, unlike modern peers. As for me, I'll stick with Ganpathy.
IMO: Hm, I can see that the RC church would clearly approve of Newman. I wonder to what extent this "miracle" idea is becoming a kind of formality, more shadow than substance. The Anglican Church went through a phase of this sort of thing before its current decline, with its 'God of the Gaps'. Sainthood seems rather like knighthoods or peerages in the UK for those who have bribed MPs. This sounds quite different to the old ideas of wealthy Catholics 'buying' their way to heaven and so on, times having changed so much, and even your average Iranian is nowadays on Facebook, Google, and possibly Twitter... In Newman's case he seems to have been of genuine merit to society in some vague sense, unlike modern peers. As for me, I'll stick with Ganpathy.
Thursday, July 02, 2009
EU finances murder of British, US
Though EU representatives politely said the EU would continue to provide developmental aid to Pakistan, EU officials further said that they have no option but to augment aid to ensure the “forces of jihad do not overrun the country” Diplomatic sources admitted that there were worries within the EU countries about the aid being misused but that worry was overshadowed by the fear of the collapse of the Pakistani state.
IMO: There really seems to be no reason why the EU cannot provide the aid indirectly in a way it cannot be misused, unless senior EU officials are taking large bribes, which in view of past experience seems most likely. In short, just like they did in the Falklands, the EU are financing British deaths for personal gain. UK should have had a referendum on EU membership.
IMO: There really seems to be no reason why the EU cannot provide the aid indirectly in a way it cannot be misused, unless senior EU officials are taking large bribes, which in view of past experience seems most likely. In short, just like they did in the Falklands, the EU are financing British deaths for personal gain. UK should have had a referendum on EU membership.
Swine Flu
40 people will die of swine flu in Britain every day by September if the current fatality rate remains the same and infection levels rise as expected.
IMO: The alleged end of Sodom and Gemorrah must have been more of a surprise to the inhabitants. Today, few will find solace in Dawkins's hilarious summer camps, where 'the really clever Ditchkins schtick is to declare: “Look kids! Atheism can be every bit as cheesy and naff as the cheesy and naff bits of religion!”'
IMO: The alleged end of Sodom and Gemorrah must have been more of a surprise to the inhabitants. Today, few will find solace in Dawkins's hilarious summer camps, where 'the really clever Ditchkins schtick is to declare: “Look kids! Atheism can be every bit as cheesy and naff as the cheesy and naff bits of religion!”'
George Osborne
On the police investigation into Osborne, Guido Fawkes says "Surely it is not beyond the wit of a man who hopes to be Chancellor to arrange for a mortgage to be on the right property?"
IMO: I think that whether the answer is "Yes" or "No", the country has real need to worry about Westminster. I do think the points made in the 2009 Reith Lecture are fair. I believe that any Chancellor should be able to answer these points and deal with them. Both major parties can cope with these problems - I know I could - but all these MPs are more concerned with their personal finances, none of which seem to be honestly or fairly organised. What a shame for the UK !
IMO: I think that whether the answer is "Yes" or "No", the country has real need to worry about Westminster. I do think the points made in the 2009 Reith Lecture are fair. I believe that any Chancellor should be able to answer these points and deal with them. Both major parties can cope with these problems - I know I could - but all these MPs are more concerned with their personal finances, none of which seem to be honestly or fairly organised. What a shame for the UK !
Call for public inquiry into 7/7 from former head of counter-terrorism
Survivors of the UK July 7 bombings and families of the victims are taking High Court action over the refusal to grant them an independent inquiry. A key issue for any inquiry could be why Khan, 30, who had been photographed, followed and bugged by surveillance officers because of his links with known terrorists, was left free to carry out the attacks. Much more in this blog.
Former Asst. Commissioner Andy Hayman has just written a book "The Terrorist Hunters" which has promptly been banned by the UK Govt. (Baroness Scotland) without good and detailed reasons.
IMO: Many years ago I got a copy of Wright's "Spycatcher", earlier banned in much the same way, very easily in the Bahamas. I expect the blogosphere will fill us in on "The Terrorist Hunters" in due course. Unless, of course, we are all denied access to the blogosphere. We may well need to know the facts on these matters. 52 ordinary UK citizens at least have died already and there will certainly be more trouble.
Former Asst. Commissioner Andy Hayman has just written a book "The Terrorist Hunters" which has promptly been banned by the UK Govt. (Baroness Scotland) without good and detailed reasons.
IMO: Many years ago I got a copy of Wright's "Spycatcher", earlier banned in much the same way, very easily in the Bahamas. I expect the blogosphere will fill us in on "The Terrorist Hunters" in due course. Unless, of course, we are all denied access to the blogosphere. We may well need to know the facts on these matters. 52 ordinary UK citizens at least have died already and there will certainly be more trouble.
Russia closes casinos
Casinos and slot-machine halls shut down across Russia as a new law took effect that put sweeping new restrictions on the country's formerly boisterous gaming industry.
IMO: If Russia can do it, why not UK and USA ? After all gaming and Meyer Lansky's other activities were probably a major cause of the problems between USA and Cuba. Or are UK and USA already too deeply entrenched in corruption involving criminal gangs, casino operators, drug pushers and other criminals like corrupt Members of Parliament and bankers ? Others say: UK casinos have to close.
IMO: If Russia can do it, why not UK and USA ? After all gaming and Meyer Lansky's other activities were probably a major cause of the problems between USA and Cuba. Or are UK and USA already too deeply entrenched in corruption involving criminal gangs, casino operators, drug pushers and other criminals like corrupt Members of Parliament and bankers ? Others say: UK casinos have to close.
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
California broke
The Governator of California has apparently started paying some workers IOUs instead of dollars, as the State of California seems unable to meet its comitments.
IMO: Oddly enough, the Governator seems to have been at my wedding breakfast some 15 years ago although I can't remember whether either of us realised it at the time, possibly not. Now his State of California has gone broke but my "Institute for Fundamental Studies", which has had Associates in over 32 countries and having had several Nobel prizewinners as associates hasn't. In fact in a minor way, the "Institute for Fundamental Studies" is flourishing.
On the Reith lectures this year, Michael Sandel, Harvard Professor of Government, delivered four lectures about the prospects of a new politics of the common good.
IMO: I heard Sandel's lectures but unfortunately do not see his ideas working in practice yet, to put it mildly. His comment about Philip Morris' way of saving Czechoslovakia money (smoke cigarettes, and thus less people stay alive to draw a pension) seems strangely reminiscent of the neoliberal Gordon Brown's Public-Private-Partnerships. But with Brown's position on the banks, Brown placed the UK Govt in a perfect position to explore some of Sandel's views but seemingly, Brown has too much political fear or understanding to do so. Maybe John Prescott would do a better job as Prime Minister, probably not what some would want. We can only hope that, from the other side of party politics, the Governator can do more in California - but I'm equally gloomy about that.
IMO: Oddly enough, the Governator seems to have been at my wedding breakfast some 15 years ago although I can't remember whether either of us realised it at the time, possibly not. Now his State of California has gone broke but my "Institute for Fundamental Studies", which has had Associates in over 32 countries and having had several Nobel prizewinners as associates hasn't. In fact in a minor way, the "Institute for Fundamental Studies" is flourishing.
On the Reith lectures this year, Michael Sandel, Harvard Professor of Government, delivered four lectures about the prospects of a new politics of the common good.
IMO: I heard Sandel's lectures but unfortunately do not see his ideas working in practice yet, to put it mildly. His comment about Philip Morris' way of saving Czechoslovakia money (smoke cigarettes, and thus less people stay alive to draw a pension) seems strangely reminiscent of the neoliberal Gordon Brown's Public-Private-Partnerships. But with Brown's position on the banks, Brown placed the UK Govt in a perfect position to explore some of Sandel's views but seemingly, Brown has too much political fear or understanding to do so. Maybe John Prescott would do a better job as Prime Minister, probably not what some would want. We can only hope that, from the other side of party politics, the Governator can do more in California - but I'm equally gloomy about that.
F-22 Raptor Stealth tech is allegedy 'defective'
According to former engineer. Low-quality stealth coatings have not only supposedly worsened the radar and infrared visibility of the F-22, but that they have been a factor in dangerous and expensive accidents - as when a piece of coating broke off and was sucked into an F-22 engine last year, causing over a million dollars of damage. The Raptor's stealth protection has supposedly not been remedied through the present date.
IMO: Looks like substantial further evidence to strengthen Obama's hand in cancelling further Raptor production - and presumably add more drones.
IMO: Looks like substantial further evidence to strengthen Obama's hand in cancelling further Raptor production - and presumably add more drones.
US to consult India on goals in Pak, Afghan
Describing the militancy-infested Pakistan and Afghanistan as "a strategic priority" for the US, a top Obama administration official has said Washington intends to consult India "very closely" on meeting its goals in the region.
IMO: "Education, education and education" is the answer, in both Pakistan and India. India also hopes to start 1500 new universities which will benefit the subcontinent and the USA but even basic education in Pakistan is sadly lacking. Pakistan, particularly, needs substantial improvement. Decent education in Pakistan is essential for any "war on terror". Learning the Koran by heart or working in a suicide bomb factory is not the answer. Desperate parents are sometimes paid for their children's schooling in such places, as the training is short and supposedly ends quickly in Paradise. In Afghanistan, a lot of narcotics is peddled due to corruption, although cash crops would sell abroad.
IMO: "Education, education and education" is the answer, in both Pakistan and India. India also hopes to start 1500 new universities which will benefit the subcontinent and the USA but even basic education in Pakistan is sadly lacking. Pakistan, particularly, needs substantial improvement. Decent education in Pakistan is essential for any "war on terror". Learning the Koran by heart or working in a suicide bomb factory is not the answer. Desperate parents are sometimes paid for their children's schooling in such places, as the training is short and supposedly ends quickly in Paradise. In Afghanistan, a lot of narcotics is peddled due to corruption, although cash crops would sell abroad.
Yemen airline's safety questioned
Some say Yemenia are even worse than Thomas Cook.
The BBC say Yemenia treat people like cattle, they pile them in, they don't respect timetables, there are always technical problems. The flights were often overcrowded and even some passengers lacked seatbelts. It is said that the seats on the crashed flight were not even fastened down, they would move around the plane.
In the old days, big passenger planes used to have to have four engines to fly distances over water. Then it went down to two. The crash plane was believed by some to be flying on one engine some of the time, and they certainly did not return to the EU where all that could have been checked.
IMO: All this might suit carriers like Thomas Cook who want to use passengers as human ballast. Moving seats could mean that the seats as well as the passengers would be moveable to different parts of the plane during the flight, and flying on one engine could increase fuel economy. It sounds rather like the neoliberals use of PPPs in the UK NHS and trains (75 requirements still unfulfilled 10 years after Clapham accident).
The BBC say Yemenia treat people like cattle, they pile them in, they don't respect timetables, there are always technical problems. The flights were often overcrowded and even some passengers lacked seatbelts. It is said that the seats on the crashed flight were not even fastened down, they would move around the plane.
In the old days, big passenger planes used to have to have four engines to fly distances over water. Then it went down to two. The crash plane was believed by some to be flying on one engine some of the time, and they certainly did not return to the EU where all that could have been checked.
IMO: All this might suit carriers like Thomas Cook who want to use passengers as human ballast. Moving seats could mean that the seats as well as the passengers would be moveable to different parts of the plane during the flight, and flying on one engine could increase fuel economy. It sounds rather like the neoliberals use of PPPs in the UK NHS and trains (75 requirements still unfulfilled 10 years after Clapham accident).
Sunday, June 28, 2009
UK now a legal bear garden
Dozens of sharia courts in the UK are regularly giving illegal advice on issues including marriage and divorce, a report published today claims. Decisions concerning marriages not recognised under English law, polygamy, and disputes regarding children are being made by at least 85 sharia courts, according to the report by the thinktank Civitas.
"Some of these courts are advising illegal actions," said Denis MacEoin, a former lecturer in Arabic and Islamic studies who wrote the report. "And others transgress human rights standards."
"Imams and mosques are performing marriage ceremonies that are not registered under English law," Addison added. "They are not the only religion that are doing it … Hindus and Sikhs have registered their temples under the Marriages Act."
IMO: The trouble is the Brits have made their system such a mess with their red tape. I know this for a fact. Will they ever put things right ? I doubt it. UK politicians simply fill their pockets with taxpayer's money and let the law and the country go to hell.
"Some of these courts are advising illegal actions," said Denis MacEoin, a former lecturer in Arabic and Islamic studies who wrote the report. "And others transgress human rights standards."
"Imams and mosques are performing marriage ceremonies that are not registered under English law," Addison added. "They are not the only religion that are doing it … Hindus and Sikhs have registered their temples under the Marriages Act."
IMO: The trouble is the Brits have made their system such a mess with their red tape. I know this for a fact. Will they ever put things right ? I doubt it. UK politicians simply fill their pockets with taxpayer's money and let the law and the country go to hell.
Balls admits contact with ex-spin doctor
Observer 29 June: 'Ed Balls has become the first senior Labour politician to admit being in touch with Damian McBride, the disgraced spin doctor, following his resignation over attempts to smear senior Tories'.
IMO: As I have suggested earlier, 'where there's smoke there's fire' is not a possibility to be ignored. All the MPs seem to be totally suspect by now. And none of them really seem to want to give the UK a referendum over the constitution. Obviously, Iran seems in the UK to have become a world disgrace in democratic terms, but the UK should bear in mind John Ch8v7 in this regard. Iran will not have forgotten Moussadeq and can't the UK politicans at least clean up their own house and allow the electorate a referendum over Brussels.
Someone added: And all the pubs at the Westminster Parliament should be closed. MPs often seem drunk and mentally unbalanced even on TV commons broadcasts. Half the public seem to be drunks or cocaine addicts (186,000 women cocaine users in London alone) but some want decent conduct and justice.
IMO: As I have suggested earlier, 'where there's smoke there's fire' is not a possibility to be ignored. All the MPs seem to be totally suspect by now. And none of them really seem to want to give the UK a referendum over the constitution. Obviously, Iran seems in the UK to have become a world disgrace in democratic terms, but the UK should bear in mind John Ch8v7 in this regard. Iran will not have forgotten Moussadeq and can't the UK politicans at least clean up their own house and allow the electorate a referendum over Brussels.
Someone added: And all the pubs at the Westminster Parliament should be closed. MPs often seem drunk and mentally unbalanced even on TV commons broadcasts. Half the public seem to be drunks or cocaine addicts (186,000 women cocaine users in London alone) but some want decent conduct and justice.
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