Friday, October 03, 2003
Finally getting through to them...
The Advertiser: Bush to enter eye of British storm [29sep03]:
"UNITED States President George W. Bush will face a series of embarrassing snubs and potentially violent protests when he makes his first full State visit to Britain, prompting fresh humiliation for British Prime Minister Tony Blair over Iraq.
Downing Street has already begun a damage limitation exercise ahead of the planned trip in November.
Officials have vetoed proposals for Mr Bush to address Parliament, fearing he would face a mass boycott from Labour MPs.
Former presidents Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan gave speeches to MPs and peers during official visits, but undoubtedly such a move in the present climate would result in an embarrassing rejection by parliamentarians.
Lavish State banquets planned for the President at Buckingham Palace and Guildhall in London will be another source of controversy.
Traditionally these events attract the cream of the British establishment, but many politicians and celebrities are likely to turn down invitations to meet Mr Bush because he has become such an unpopular figure in Britain. "
"UNITED States President George W. Bush will face a series of embarrassing snubs and potentially violent protests when he makes his first full State visit to Britain, prompting fresh humiliation for British Prime Minister Tony Blair over Iraq.
Downing Street has already begun a damage limitation exercise ahead of the planned trip in November.
Officials have vetoed proposals for Mr Bush to address Parliament, fearing he would face a mass boycott from Labour MPs.
Former presidents Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan gave speeches to MPs and peers during official visits, but undoubtedly such a move in the present climate would result in an embarrassing rejection by parliamentarians.
Lavish State banquets planned for the President at Buckingham Palace and Guildhall in London will be another source of controversy.
Traditionally these events attract the cream of the British establishment, but many politicians and celebrities are likely to turn down invitations to meet Mr Bush because he has become such an unpopular figure in Britain. "
Thursday, October 02, 2003
Fantastic quote from Paxman...
From the Newsnight Newsletter which i get e-mailed daily..
"Politics is the business of promising a better tomorrow".
How true, how true...
"Politics is the business of promising a better tomorrow".
How true, how true...
Blunkett vows to curb gun crime
BBC NEWS | Politics | Blunkett vows to curb gun crime
Just like they vowed after Dunblane, look how well that worked.
You *cannot* curb gun crime. It doesn't work. Even if you raise the penalty for possesion of a firearm to the death sentence, it won't stop them. These people deal with the threat of execution every day, and they don't get due process.
Stop giving out "we're gonna stop them" soundbites David and do some fucking work.
Just like they vowed after Dunblane, look how well that worked.
You *cannot* curb gun crime. It doesn't work. Even if you raise the penalty for possesion of a firearm to the death sentence, it won't stop them. These people deal with the threat of execution every day, and they don't get due process.
Stop giving out "we're gonna stop them" soundbites David and do some fucking work.
Half-Life 2 News for PC at GameSpot
Half-Life 2 Q&A - Half-Life 2 News for PC at GameSpot:
"I hate release dates because no matter how hard we try, we screw them up. We held back talking about our release date going into September 30 because I wanted to have a much clearer idea of what day we were going to ship on. "
Bullshit Gabe. You guys were touting Sept 30th everywhere. You must have known that this was going to be the biggest game for years and anything you said would be published all over the net. Now you have maybe 2 million gamers who have just learnt that you can't trust Valve on release dates just like everyone else.
They had a great opportunity to show that they were different from other developers. What a shame. Now they are talking about Christmas time, which means they might end up going head-to-head with Doom III.
"I hate release dates because no matter how hard we try, we screw them up. We held back talking about our release date going into September 30 because I wanted to have a much clearer idea of what day we were going to ship on. "
Bullshit Gabe. You guys were touting Sept 30th everywhere. You must have known that this was going to be the biggest game for years and anything you said would be published all over the net. Now you have maybe 2 million gamers who have just learnt that you can't trust Valve on release dates just like everyone else.
They had a great opportunity to show that they were different from other developers. What a shame. Now they are talking about Christmas time, which means they might end up going head-to-head with Doom III.
Wednesday, October 01, 2003
Blair defiant ahead of Iraq debate
BBC NEWS | Politics | Blair defiant ahead of Iraq debate:
"
Tony Blair has pledged to push on to tackle 'repressive states' having weapons of mass destruction as his party prepares to debate the Iraq conflict. "
Repressive states which have WMDs? Let us know when you find one Tony.
Of course, you could just *say* they have them and steamroller your way across the world. If America lets you of course.
"
Tony Blair has pledged to push on to tackle 'repressive states' having weapons of mass destruction as his party prepares to debate the Iraq conflict. "
Repressive states which have WMDs? Let us know when you find one Tony.
Of course, you could just *say* they have them and steamroller your way across the world. If America lets you of course.
Tuesday, September 30, 2003
BBC NEWS | Education | 'Fees are fair' says Clarke
BBC NEWS | Education | 'Fees are fair' says Clarke:
"And he told the conference 'to look at the real facts' which showed that already the taxpayer was paying £5,300 each year for every university student - compared to only £3,200 for a primary school pupil. "
Soooo, I can have some of that back then can I charlie? I mean, if the taxpayer no longer has to foot the bill, I'll be expecting my share back through the post...
"And he told the conference 'to look at the real facts' which showed that already the taxpayer was paying £5,300 each year for every university student - compared to only £3,200 for a primary school pupil. "
Soooo, I can have some of that back then can I charlie? I mean, if the taxpayer no longer has to foot the bill, I'll be expecting my share back through the post...
Policeman destroyed notes relating to restraint death
Guardian Unlimited | The Guardian | Policeman destroyed notes relating to restraint death:
"Mr Smyth said the decision to bring a charge was 'political' and that tests had supported the officer's claim that there was no sinister reason for the pages being ripped out by him. "
What tests exactly? By the way, this is basically about how a fit and healthy 30 yr old man died while being restrained by 8 police officers. For 'restrained' read 'beaten'.
No-one has been prosecuted.
"Mr Smyth said the decision to bring a charge was 'political' and that tests had supported the officer's claim that there was no sinister reason for the pages being ripped out by him. "
What tests exactly? By the way, this is basically about how a fit and healthy 30 yr old man died while being restrained by 8 police officers. For 'restrained' read 'beaten'.
No-one has been prosecuted.
Clarke defends tuition fees
BBC NEWS | Education | Clarke defends tuition fees:
"Tuition fees are the only 'realistic' option for funding higher education, says the Education Secretary Charles Clarke. "
Apart from not spending £1bn a month in Iraq and spending it on education instead. Educating people rather than killing them.
Another wanker then. The Labour Party seems rife.
"Tuition fees are the only 'realistic' option for funding higher education, says the Education Secretary Charles Clarke. "
Apart from not spending £1bn a month in Iraq and spending it on education instead. Educating people rather than killing them.
Another wanker then. The Labour Party seems rife.
Blunkett pressing on with ID cards
BBC NEWS | Politics | Blunkett pressing on with ID cards:
"On why he did not know how many illegal immigrants were currently in the UK, Mr Blunkett said it was precisely because there was no ID card system. "
But getting all legitimate residents to carry around an ID card won't tell you how many people *don't* have one. It will only tell you how many *do* have one.
Unless you count *everyone* and subtract the people who *do* have cards.
Fuck me! Blind *and* stupid.
"On why he did not know how many illegal immigrants were currently in the UK, Mr Blunkett said it was precisely because there was no ID card system. "
But getting all legitimate residents to carry around an ID card won't tell you how many people *don't* have one. It will only tell you how many *do* have one.
Unless you count *everyone* and subtract the people who *do* have cards.
Fuck me! Blind *and* stupid.
