The news that our increasingly authoritarian government is turning to the use of lie detectors to winkle our fraudulent claims at the Department of Work and Pensions shouldn't be much of a surprise. This is after all a government that prefers to put it's money into the hands of consultancies selling dubious technological fixes to all manner of problems. Lie detectors are just another weapon in that grim armoury of CCTV, ID cards, huge centralised databases and so on.
Of course, the rest of us in the general population have our own lie detectors when it comes to the government. If their lips are moving chances are they're lying...
Thursday, April 05, 2007
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
Gordon Brown - Pensions and Britishness
More from Gordon Brown's secret campaign meetings:
Gordy: Let me repeat once more just how concerned I am at this ugly turn of events.
Anon1: Which one is that, sir?
Gordy: The budget.
Anon2: Which one, sir? The last one or your first one?
Gordy: This whole pensions thing is a bit of a surprise I must admit. Isn't there a statute of limitations on theft anyhow?
Anon1: We'll investigate, sir.
Gordy: Good. As I've said before, I take full responsibility. I kept quiet for about it for 10 years. I would say that's a true mark of statesmanship. But all this is beside the point. We need to win back some popular support. What do we have in the suggestions box today?
Anon1: Well...
Anon2: To be honest...
Gordy: Well?
Anon1: Nothing, sir.
Gordy: In that case we'll have to revert to Plan A.
Anon2: Britishness again, sir?
Gordy: Exactly. Never fails to win some support. So, let's have another round of Britishness. Where did we get to last time?
Anon2: All migrants should be tattooed and implanted with micro-chips and tracking devices.
Anon1: I thought we were saving that one until the end of the first hundred days as PM.
Gordy: So we are.
Anon2: In that case we're onto 'make migrants do service to the community'.
Gordy: An excellent suggestion, even if I do say so myself. One of my better ideas I think.
Anon1: Do you want us to develop it further, sir?
Gordy: Yes. I've had some thoughts myself. Firstly we need to make sure that these migrants take part in traditionally British past times...
Anon2: Getting drunk, fighting and puking in the gutters?
Gordy: While I appreciate that any uplift in receipts from duty on alcohol is to be applauded, I was thinking of more socially useful activities...
Anon1: Got it. How about migrants will provide visits to the elderly when they're in hospital?
Anon2: Good idea. Lack of English won't be a barrier. The old dears won't be able to hear and the migrants can mumble all they like in exchange for a cup of tea and a scone.
Gordy: Make sure it's only one tea and scone per visit, mind.
Anon2: Got it. How about trying to engage these migrants with the British political process?
Anon1: You mean you want them to set their dogs on us when we go canvassing as well?
Gordy: We don't want to encourage apathy...
Anon2: No, sir. I was thinking of leafleting, canvassing, attending meetings and so on.
Gordy: I see where this is going...
Anon1: You mean you want them to fully engage with the political process by canvassing for a political party?
Anon2: Not just any political party...
Gordy: Excellent. It's the Celtic fringe model applied to the migrants. Excellent indeed.
Gordy: Let me repeat once more just how concerned I am at this ugly turn of events.
Anon1: Which one is that, sir?
Gordy: The budget.
Anon2: Which one, sir? The last one or your first one?
Gordy: This whole pensions thing is a bit of a surprise I must admit. Isn't there a statute of limitations on theft anyhow?
Anon1: We'll investigate, sir.
Gordy: Good. As I've said before, I take full responsibility. I kept quiet for about it for 10 years. I would say that's a true mark of statesmanship. But all this is beside the point. We need to win back some popular support. What do we have in the suggestions box today?
Anon1: Well...
Anon2: To be honest...
Gordy: Well?
Anon1: Nothing, sir.
Gordy: In that case we'll have to revert to Plan A.
Anon2: Britishness again, sir?
Gordy: Exactly. Never fails to win some support. So, let's have another round of Britishness. Where did we get to last time?
Anon2: All migrants should be tattooed and implanted with micro-chips and tracking devices.
Anon1: I thought we were saving that one until the end of the first hundred days as PM.
Gordy: So we are.
Anon2: In that case we're onto 'make migrants do service to the community'.
Gordy: An excellent suggestion, even if I do say so myself. One of my better ideas I think.
Anon1: Do you want us to develop it further, sir?
Gordy: Yes. I've had some thoughts myself. Firstly we need to make sure that these migrants take part in traditionally British past times...
Anon2: Getting drunk, fighting and puking in the gutters?
Gordy: While I appreciate that any uplift in receipts from duty on alcohol is to be applauded, I was thinking of more socially useful activities...
Anon1: Got it. How about migrants will provide visits to the elderly when they're in hospital?
Anon2: Good idea. Lack of English won't be a barrier. The old dears won't be able to hear and the migrants can mumble all they like in exchange for a cup of tea and a scone.
Gordy: Make sure it's only one tea and scone per visit, mind.
Anon2: Got it. How about trying to engage these migrants with the British political process?
Anon1: You mean you want them to set their dogs on us when we go canvassing as well?
Gordy: We don't want to encourage apathy...
Anon2: No, sir. I was thinking of leafleting, canvassing, attending meetings and so on.
Gordy: I see where this is going...
Anon1: You mean you want them to fully engage with the political process by canvassing for a political party?
Anon2: Not just any political party...
Gordy: Excellent. It's the Celtic fringe model applied to the migrants. Excellent indeed.
Monday, April 02, 2007
The UK Indymedia swamp
I must have a masochistic streak a mile-wide. That's the only way I can explain my compulsion to visit the UK indymedia site. It used to be that I'd like to find out what was going on in the non-Trotskyist, vaguely anarcho Left. Of course I'd find plenty to irritate, but there'd also be stuff that was interesting, challenging and worth following up. Increasingly these days I find nothing but conspiracy theorists, apologists for dictators (Mugabe, Castro etc), Islamist fellow travellers and those self-flagellating Leftists who vie to out-PC each other.
Anyone who dares to question the Leftist orthodoxy on race is instantly a white racist; anyone who dares to question man-made global warming is assumed to be in the pay of oil companies and so on and on and on ad nauseum.
It's a sorry state of affairs, it really is.
Anyone who dares to question the Leftist orthodoxy on race is instantly a white racist; anyone who dares to question man-made global warming is assumed to be in the pay of oil companies and so on and on and on ad nauseum.
It's a sorry state of affairs, it really is.
Monday, March 26, 2007
Apologising for slavery...
There's a brace of pieces on the orgy of breast-beating about slavery over at spiked. As you would expect Mick Hume and co find the spectacle faintly nauseating and not a little bit racist. But it's not just the official 'anti-racist' line that is sickeningly racist in perpetuating victimhood, it's also the self-perpetuated wallowing in it from many black commentators.
As someone who grew up in the 70s in London, I can remember what real racism was like. Vicious, pervasive and oppressive. To pretend that we are still in the same place now is delusional. And to blame every ill suffered by black communities on enduring racism and the by-products of slavery is insulting to those who really suffered racism in the pas. It's also a convenient way of avoiding the hard questions about black culture that need to be addressed if things are ever going to change.
The fact is that crime and economic under-achievement are related to economic factors. Working class kids - white, Afro-Caribbean, Bangladeshi - do worse than their middle class counter-parts. Race is almost incidental when the norm is that working class kids (and their families) see little value in education or hard-work. The 'respect or else' culture is endemic to many communities, black and white, and it's bugger all to do with the heritage of slavery.
As someone who grew up in the 70s in London, I can remember what real racism was like. Vicious, pervasive and oppressive. To pretend that we are still in the same place now is delusional. And to blame every ill suffered by black communities on enduring racism and the by-products of slavery is insulting to those who really suffered racism in the pas. It's also a convenient way of avoiding the hard questions about black culture that need to be addressed if things are ever going to change.
The fact is that crime and economic under-achievement are related to economic factors. Working class kids - white, Afro-Caribbean, Bangladeshi - do worse than their middle class counter-parts. Race is almost incidental when the norm is that working class kids (and their families) see little value in education or hard-work. The 'respect or else' culture is endemic to many communities, black and white, and it's bugger all to do with the heritage of slavery.
Monday, March 19, 2007
Gordon Brown - no to food wastage
More from the secret campaign meetings held in 11 Downing Street by Gordon Brown and his team:
----------------------
Gordon: I'm still concerned that the public don't have the correct impression of me. The 'I'm cute and cuddly Gordy' campaign isn't working yet. We need to do more.
Anon1: It's that bastard Cameron, sir, his team just seems to be fast off the mark. The moment there's a whiff of something in the air he's there.
Anon2: He's out-greened the lot of us in the last few months...
Gordon: That's the trouble, I think. People still have the impression that I'm too cautious. They think I can't do off-the-cuff, spontaneous stuff.
Anon1: We tried with the ad-libs, sir, really we did. We still don't know how the press got hold of the scripts...
Gordon: Well, it's time we hit back. How about some off-the-cuff thinking right now. Come on, let's do what Tony does and make it up as we go along. It can't be that hard, surely...
Anon2: OK...What issue?
Gordon: How I single-handedly stopped us going into the Euro?
Anon1: Does that resonate with the public at the moment, sir?
Gordon: Surely it does.
Anon2: But it's not the sexiest issue of the minute, sir.
Gordon: I see. What is it you suggest?
Anon1: Something green, sir.
Gordon: How about how I will single-handedly reverse global warming?
Anon2: What about this food thing?
Gordon: Haggis?
Anon1: No, sir. The report that over a third of the food on our tables goes to waste.
Anon2: There's a lot of fuss about this one.
Gordon: Has Cameron won this one?
Anon2: Not yet, sir. We've still got a chance.
Gordon: OK. How about this, we'll add an extra tax on every kilo of wasted food...
Anon1: Surely that's one for putting into practice rather than using to score points...
Gordon: Very true. What do you suggest?
Anon2: If we could link climate change and obesity into this we'd be on Cameron territory.
Gordon: I have it. In a bid to reduce this food wastage we'll bus homeless people around to eat the scraps going to waste.
Anon1: Wow! That's good.
Anon2: Well... It's good apart from the bussing around. We'll be attacked because of the carbon footprint.
Gordon: You may have a point there.
Anon1: Besides, I'm not sure how well it will play with the public. Do we really want druggies that smell of pee dropping round to eat our left-overs?
Gordon: You say that won't be popular?
Anon2: That bastard Cameron would probably offer to come round and eat the scraps himself...
Anon1: Got it! Anorexic girls. We could bus them round to eat the scraps. It's a win-win situation - we tackle food waste and eating disorders at the same time.
Gordon: Excellent! And the carbon footprint? Can we supply these girls with bicycles?
Anon2: How about we get obese teenagers to carry the anorexics? No carbon footprint and we tackle childhood obesity. A triple win!
Gordon: Excellent. Now, if you can script some ad-libs I'll make another speech to the city...
----------------------
Gordon: I'm still concerned that the public don't have the correct impression of me. The 'I'm cute and cuddly Gordy' campaign isn't working yet. We need to do more.
Anon1: It's that bastard Cameron, sir, his team just seems to be fast off the mark. The moment there's a whiff of something in the air he's there.
Anon2: He's out-greened the lot of us in the last few months...
Gordon: That's the trouble, I think. People still have the impression that I'm too cautious. They think I can't do off-the-cuff, spontaneous stuff.
Anon1: We tried with the ad-libs, sir, really we did. We still don't know how the press got hold of the scripts...
Gordon: Well, it's time we hit back. How about some off-the-cuff thinking right now. Come on, let's do what Tony does and make it up as we go along. It can't be that hard, surely...
Anon2: OK...What issue?
Gordon: How I single-handedly stopped us going into the Euro?
Anon1: Does that resonate with the public at the moment, sir?
Gordon: Surely it does.
Anon2: But it's not the sexiest issue of the minute, sir.
Gordon: I see. What is it you suggest?
Anon1: Something green, sir.
Gordon: How about how I will single-handedly reverse global warming?
Anon2: What about this food thing?
Gordon: Haggis?
Anon1: No, sir. The report that over a third of the food on our tables goes to waste.
Anon2: There's a lot of fuss about this one.
Gordon: Has Cameron won this one?
Anon2: Not yet, sir. We've still got a chance.
Gordon: OK. How about this, we'll add an extra tax on every kilo of wasted food...
Anon1: Surely that's one for putting into practice rather than using to score points...
Gordon: Very true. What do you suggest?
Anon2: If we could link climate change and obesity into this we'd be on Cameron territory.
Gordon: I have it. In a bid to reduce this food wastage we'll bus homeless people around to eat the scraps going to waste.
Anon1: Wow! That's good.
Anon2: Well... It's good apart from the bussing around. We'll be attacked because of the carbon footprint.
Gordon: You may have a point there.
Anon1: Besides, I'm not sure how well it will play with the public. Do we really want druggies that smell of pee dropping round to eat our left-overs?
Gordon: You say that won't be popular?
Anon2: That bastard Cameron would probably offer to come round and eat the scraps himself...
Anon1: Got it! Anorexic girls. We could bus them round to eat the scraps. It's a win-win situation - we tackle food waste and eating disorders at the same time.
Gordon: Excellent! And the carbon footprint? Can we supply these girls with bicycles?
Anon2: How about we get obese teenagers to carry the anorexics? No carbon footprint and we tackle childhood obesity. A triple win!
Gordon: Excellent. Now, if you can script some ad-libs I'll make another speech to the city...
Thursday, March 15, 2007
The Great Global Warming Swindle
Anyone who missed the 'Great Global Warming Swindle' documentary on Channel 4 (and later repeated on More4), should know that there are plenty of copies of it already out on the web.
It's a great polemical piece, though judging by the furore surrounding the film (which dares to question the consensus that global warming is caused by man-made CO2 emissions) you would think that the film was advocating compulsory euthanasia o something. Whether you agree with the central thesis of the film or not, the fact is that the science isn't all done and dusted. The film includes interviews with many eminent scientists who've dared to voice doubts or to put forward alternatives. Given how tackling climate change is now a central part of the platform of politicians right across the spectrum, it's depressing to see the extent to which the subject has been made taboo...
It's a great polemical piece, though judging by the furore surrounding the film (which dares to question the consensus that global warming is caused by man-made CO2 emissions) you would think that the film was advocating compulsory euthanasia o something. Whether you agree with the central thesis of the film or not, the fact is that the science isn't all done and dusted. The film includes interviews with many eminent scientists who've dared to voice doubts or to put forward alternatives. Given how tackling climate change is now a central part of the platform of politicians right across the spectrum, it's depressing to see the extent to which the subject has been made taboo...
Monday, March 12, 2007
Silence on Zimbabwe
Yet again there is grim news from Zimbabwe as we witness the latest round of violence and repression from Mugabe's regime. We also see silence from South Africa and most other African governments. The occasion of Ghana's 50th year of independence would have been an ideal opportunity for African governments to make a strong statement on Zimbabwe. But the fact is if attendance had been restricted to heads of state with clean hands then Accra would have been host to very few heads of government. It's one of the tragedies of Africa that its leaders have exploited, repressed and stolen from the population continuously for the last 50 years.
And in the West we've abandoned the people of Africa to this exploitation by turning a blind eye to it, focusing exclusively on colonialism or supporting various 'progressive' leaders on the basis of which superpower they bought their arms from.
And in the West we've abandoned the people of Africa to this exploitation by turning a blind eye to it, focusing exclusively on colonialism or supporting various 'progressive' leaders on the basis of which superpower they bought their arms from.
Monday, February 26, 2007
Gordy Brown - Man of the People
Deep in the entrails of 11 Downing Street, Gordon Brown has summoned a meeting of his top secret campaign team. Our mole has managed to smuggle out this verbatim extract from the meeting exclusively for the Progressive Contrarian:
Gordon: The polls don't look too healthy at the moment. I'm worried that this Meacher thing isn't going to wash with Joe Public. Therefore I want us to switch to plan B.
Anon1: Plan B?
Gordon: Yes, we've got to do something about Cameron.
Anon2: What did you have in mind, sir?
Gordon: We'll have no more of that for starters. Joe Public needs to know that I'm no stuffed shirt. I'm a real human being. I can be relaxed. I can be informal. I'm a man of the people just as much as the next chap. We need to meet the Dave factor head-on.
Anon1: You mean we convince the public that there's more to Gordon Brown than meets the eye?
Gordon: Yes, that's it precisely.
Anon2: So, er, how should we address you, sir?
Gordon: If David is too formal for Cameron, then Gordon's too formal for me. So how about we go for GB?
Anon1: GB? As in Great Britain?
Anon2: You don't think that's a teensy bit presumptuous, sir?
Gordon: Possibly. How about Gordy?
Anon1: Gordy?
Gordon: Yes, that sounds very matey to me. Very nice indeed. Now, there's one other thing. I notice that there's a compound effect with Cameron. He has surrounded himself with other Davids. Why, his entire party seems peopled with them. I want the same effect here.
Anon1: But there aren't many Gordon's to choose from...
Gordon: Nonsense. We've got to defeat Cameron on his home ground. I'll need at least another half dozen Gordy's on my team.
Anon2: I'll see who we've got. Anything else er, Gordy?
Gordon: Splendid. See how easy that was? Why, we almost sounded matey then.
Anon1: Yes, sir, I mean Gordy. Anything else?
Gordon: Yes. I want you to get on to London Zoo immediately. I need to get a skunk.
Anon1 and Anon2: A skunk, sir?
Gordon: This drugs business has done Cameron no end of good. Sipping a single malt doesn't have the same resonance with the public. I've looked into this cannabis thing and it seems that young people are smoking skunks. I can't say it appeals to me, but if I need to smoke a skunk than London Zoo should have the necessary. If they cut up rough remind them of the plan for my new Rare and Exotic Animals Tax.
Anon1: But...
Gordon: And another thing, his bog habits have been a hit to. If Cameron has a web bog I can have one too. Rig up the cameras as soon as possible. Use the gents downstairs if you must. Bogging is the way to win hearts and minds, I can tell you.
Anon2: But...
Gordon: By the way, that pen you're using...
Anon2: You mean this...
Gordon: Is it a Cross or a Mont Blanc?
Anon2: Mont Blanc. It was a present from...
Gordon: Did you pay the Luxury Writing Implement Duty?
Anon2: I'm not sure that I've ever heard...
Gordon: I'll tell you what. Why don't you leave the pen with me and we'll say no more about it?
Anon2: Yes, Gordy...
Gordon: Wonderful. Off you go now, if we can get that skunk while I'm on the bog that'll be grand.
Gordon: The polls don't look too healthy at the moment. I'm worried that this Meacher thing isn't going to wash with Joe Public. Therefore I want us to switch to plan B.
Anon1: Plan B?
Gordon: Yes, we've got to do something about Cameron.
Anon2: What did you have in mind, sir?
Gordon: We'll have no more of that for starters. Joe Public needs to know that I'm no stuffed shirt. I'm a real human being. I can be relaxed. I can be informal. I'm a man of the people just as much as the next chap. We need to meet the Dave factor head-on.
Anon1: You mean we convince the public that there's more to Gordon Brown than meets the eye?
Gordon: Yes, that's it precisely.
Anon2: So, er, how should we address you, sir?
Gordon: If David is too formal for Cameron, then Gordon's too formal for me. So how about we go for GB?
Anon1: GB? As in Great Britain?
Anon2: You don't think that's a teensy bit presumptuous, sir?
Gordon: Possibly. How about Gordy?
Anon1: Gordy?
Gordon: Yes, that sounds very matey to me. Very nice indeed. Now, there's one other thing. I notice that there's a compound effect with Cameron. He has surrounded himself with other Davids. Why, his entire party seems peopled with them. I want the same effect here.
Anon1: But there aren't many Gordon's to choose from...
Gordon: Nonsense. We've got to defeat Cameron on his home ground. I'll need at least another half dozen Gordy's on my team.
Anon2: I'll see who we've got. Anything else er, Gordy?
Gordon
Anon1: Yes, sir, I mean Gordy. Anything else?
Gordon: Yes. I want you to get on to London Zoo immediately. I need to get a skunk.
Anon1 and Anon2: A skunk, sir?
Gordon: This drugs business has done Cameron no end of good. Sipping a single malt doesn't have the same resonance with the public. I've looked into this cannabis thing and it seems that young people are smoking skunks. I can't say it appeals to me, but if I need to smoke a skunk than London Zoo should have the necessary. If they cut up rough remind them of the plan for my new Rare and Exotic Animals Tax.
Anon1: But...
Gordon: And another thing, his bog habits have been a hit to. If Cameron has a web bog I can have one too. Rig up the cameras as soon as possible. Use the gents downstairs if you must. Bogging is the way to win hearts and minds, I can tell you.
Anon2: But...
Gordon: By the way, that pen you're using...
Anon2
Gordon: Is it a Cross or a Mont Blanc?
Anon2: Mont Blanc. It was a present from...
Gordon: Did you pay the Luxury Writing Implement Duty?
Anon2: I'm not sure that I've ever heard...
Gordon: I'll tell you what. Why don't you leave the pen with me and we'll say no more about it?
Anon2: Yes, Gordy...
Gordon: Wonderful. Off you go now, if we can get that skunk while I'm on the bog that'll be grand.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
ID Card Successes
The Progressive Contrarian is pleased to announce details of the latest Home Office briefing on ID cards. Obviously we're not going to share such privileged information with just anybody who drops by. Instead here are some excerpts to give you all a taster...
"As has been made clear by Her Majesty's Government, ID Cards are an essential weapon in the war against terror, against identity theft, for helping clear up unsolved crimes and for controlling immigration. These successes are all the more startling given the fact that ID cards are not in place yet. We should all feel proud of these successes.
However, we must make clear to those few who retain doubts that ID cards will prove to be even more effective in the following areas:
Her Majesty's Government fully intends to push forward with ID cards to tackle all of these problems. After all, only a fanatic would claim that civil liberties are more important than addressing the issue of climate change."
"As has been made clear by Her Majesty's Government, ID Cards are an essential weapon in the war against terror, against identity theft, for helping clear up unsolved crimes and for controlling immigration. These successes are all the more startling given the fact that ID cards are not in place yet. We should all feel proud of these successes.
However, we must make clear to those few who retain doubts that ID cards will prove to be even more effective in the following areas:
- Childhood obesity
- Global warming
- Gun crime
- Hoodies
- Teenage pregnancy
- Eating disorders
- Community cohesion
- Road pricing
- Iraq
- Third world poverty
- Sustainable development
Her Majesty's Government fully intends to push forward with ID cards to tackle all of these problems. After all, only a fanatic would claim that civil liberties are more important than addressing the issue of climate change."
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Zimbabwe Vigil - London
Notably absent from this Saturday's picket of the Zimbabwean embassy in London were the massed ranks of the SWP and other leftists. Where were the piles of newspapers to force onto passers-by? Where were the placards announcing solidarity and advertising the Party? In contrast to the anti-apatheid days, the Left were notably absent, leaving the picket mostly to Zimbabweans (black and white).
The people of Zimbabwe need solidarity as much now as they did under the days of Ian Smith. Surely nobody on the Left can claim that the Mugabe regime is anything but a corrupt and authoritarian regime making war on its own people.
Anyone interested in joining future protests please take a look at: http://www.zimvigil.co.uk/index.asp
The people of Zimbabwe need solidarity as much now as they did under the days of Ian Smith. Surely nobody on the Left can claim that the Mugabe regime is anything but a corrupt and authoritarian regime making war on its own people.
Anyone interested in joining future protests please take a look at: http://www.zimvigil.co.uk/index.asp
Thursday, February 08, 2007
Police State For Muslims
According to one of the men arrested (and released) in the Birmingham anti-terror raids, the UK is a police state for Muslims. Unlike Saudi Arabia, Iran, Pakistan, Libya, Malaysia, Algeria, Sudan and those other Islamic states which are beacons of freedom and democracy.
Whatever the rights and wrongs of this case, you can bet that all of those arrested were accorded the right to legal help, medical assistance, religious worship and so on. In contrast to the police practices in many of the Islamic republics, there will have been no attaching of electrodes to gonads, no beatings, there will have been no fake drownings or pretend shootings.
Those bleating about this being a police state have obviously forgotten what used to happen to the Irish in this country in the 1970's...
Whatever the rights and wrongs of this case, you can bet that all of those arrested were accorded the right to legal help, medical assistance, religious worship and so on. In contrast to the police practices in many of the Islamic republics, there will have been no attaching of electrodes to gonads, no beatings, there will have been no fake drownings or pretend shootings.
Those bleating about this being a police state have obviously forgotten what used to happen to the Irish in this country in the 1970's...
Friday, February 02, 2007
Celebrity Big Brother - Racism Row
Having thought deeply on the subject, here's a modest proposal for addressing the underlying issues of racism, class difference and social cohesion that have arisen from the most recent series of Celebrity Big Brother:
1. Arrest all the alleged racists - Jade and co - and lock them in a room
2. Arrest the alleged victim and lock her in that room
3. Arrest all of the commentators who've pontificated endlessly about CBB, racism, celebrity culture etc and lock them in the same room
4. Arrest all of the politicians who've commented on CBB and lock them in the room
5. Arrest the police bosses wasting police time interviewing people about CBB racism and put them in the same room as the others
6. Arrest the people who make CBB or who are in any way associated with the production and broadcast of the program, and lock them in the same room
7. Get some Russians in to administer polonium enemas to all those locked in the room. Vaseline not required for this operation.
8. Now shut the fuck up about CBB
1. Arrest all the alleged racists - Jade and co - and lock them in a room
2. Arrest the alleged victim and lock her in that room
3. Arrest all of the commentators who've pontificated endlessly about CBB, racism, celebrity culture etc and lock them in the same room
4. Arrest all of the politicians who've commented on CBB and lock them in the room
5. Arrest the police bosses wasting police time interviewing people about CBB racism and put them in the same room as the others
6. Arrest the people who make CBB or who are in any way associated with the production and broadcast of the program, and lock them in the same room
7. Get some Russians in to administer polonium enemas to all those locked in the room. Vaseline not required for this operation.
8. Now shut the fuck up about CBB
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
All spikey on organics
Good piece in spiked-online today discussing the science (or lack of) organic food production. Does a nice job of getting to the heart of the matter - the tuth about organic food is that there are no really scientifically proven merits for eating organic. People go to organic food because of perception issues with modern farming techniques. Commerically of course, there are sound arguments in favour of organic produce - it acts as a differentiator between consumers who aren't driven primarily by pricing. Buying organic tells the supermarket or manufacturer that you'll pay more than those who don't.
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Zimbabwe - The other African story
While there's a lot of attention rightly focused on Darfur and Sudan (a country that has been at war continuously since independence - and for much of the time before that too), let's not forget that life in Zimbabwe isn't getting any better either.
Mugabe continues to exemplify the 'hero of the independence struggle' who turns out to be a vicious authoritarian, corrupt and corrupting and clinging to power at all costs. Unfortunately it's a familiar story - and there are few signs that his kind are disappearing.
Mugabe continues to exemplify the 'hero of the independence struggle' who turns out to be a vicious authoritarian, corrupt and corrupting and clinging to power at all costs. Unfortunately it's a familiar story - and there are few signs that his kind are disappearing.
Friday, December 08, 2006
Saving the world through technology
OK, so I exaggerated. The link above is to a site that lists all kinds of technical innovations to do with energy conservation, renewables, pollution-reductions etc. There's a lot of interesting stuff on display. Despite the prevailing anti-technology and anti-science atmosphere that hides behind a lot of the concern about climate change, there's a lot of good work being done out there...
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Apologising for slavery
Nice article on spiked-online following Tony Blair's nauseating hand-wringing on slavery.
As for those who demand reparations, the idiocy is astounding. What about the blacks who profited from slavery (including the small group of black slave-owners in the US)? What about the Arabs, will they make reparations too? And can we trace the white victims of slavery, and arrange to pay-off their descendants too?
I would suggest that a more pressing concern, (other than Iraq, the NHS, education and the other horrors inflicted on us by new Labour), is those poor souls in Mauritania who remain slaves hundreds of years after it has been abolished in the West.
As for those who demand reparations, the idiocy is astounding. What about the blacks who profited from slavery (including the small group of black slave-owners in the US)? What about the Arabs, will they make reparations too? And can we trace the white victims of slavery, and arrange to pay-off their descendants too?
I would suggest that a more pressing concern, (other than Iraq, the NHS, education and the other horrors inflicted on us by new Labour), is those poor souls in Mauritania who remain slaves hundreds of years after it has been abolished in the West.
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Environmental Fundamentalists
It should be no surprise that the announcement of ITER project to build an experimental fusion reactor has been met with criticism from the likes of Greenpeace and other 'environmentalists'. While it's one thing to have doubts about the efficacy of huge international bureaucracies running the show, or doubts about the engineering approach adopted for the proposed reactor, it's clear that the doubts from Greenpeace and the like are very different in nature.
For them the promise of almost unlimited energy from fusion is a nightmare. Forget that fusion energy is relatively carbon-neutral and that the fuel is plentiful and cheap. The nightmare for them is that if it works it will power the world to continue to accelerate economic development. For the green movement anything that promotes consumption is bad. That's the bottom line for them. Cutting back on energy usage, reducing consumption and economic development, these are what Monbiot and co are after.
Technologies like thorium power, fusion and so on are a huge threat to environmental fundamentalists.
For them the promise of almost unlimited energy from fusion is a nightmare. Forget that fusion energy is relatively carbon-neutral and that the fuel is plentiful and cheap. The nightmare for them is that if it works it will power the world to continue to accelerate economic development. For the green movement anything that promotes consumption is bad. That's the bottom line for them. Cutting back on energy usage, reducing consumption and economic development, these are what Monbiot and co are after.
Technologies like thorium power, fusion and so on are a huge threat to environmental fundamentalists.
Monday, November 20, 2006
Petition against faith schools
Online petition of the Prime Minister against faith schools:
We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to Abolish all faith schools and prohibit the teaching of creationism and other religious mythology in all UK schools
We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to Abolish all faith schools and prohibit the teaching of creationism and other religious mythology in all UK schools
Monday, November 06, 2006
Closing speeches in Kriss Donald Trial
More from the BBC web site. Don't bother looking on the Guardian, Indymedia, Socialist Worker etc, you won't find anything...
Crime and Punishment (Part 2)
To date there's been little formal response to the innovative Progressive Contrarian crime and punishment policies previously outlined on this web site. The silence from politicians (left, right and centre) has been deafening. However, not to be discouraged, here is the promised second tranche of new policies that the Home Secretary is welcome to nick for himself:
1. Gun crime. First offenders will be sent to Iraq or Afghanistan to complete a tour of duty. There will be no exceptions. Repeat offenders will complete a second tour of duty, though this time they will not be issued with ammunition.
2. Alcohol-induced violence. Those found guilty will be sent to a clinic where they will have vodka administered intravenously. This will be done in an isolation room so that there is no possible social pleasure derived from the experience. Once a mammoth hang-over has been induced the offender will be forced to complete a six-mile cross-country run. Failure to complete the run will cause additional intravenous vodka, stomach-pumping and then another attempt at a run.
3. Knife crime. Male offenders convicted of knife crime will have half an inch of penis surgically removed for a first offence. Subsequent offences will cause the loss of a full inch. The most persistent offenders will also be sentenced to breast enhancement surgery. How macho will these guys feel with no knob and pendulous boobs?
4. Joy-riders will be supplied with roller-skates and then tied to the back of their victim's vehicle. The driver will be free to drive at speed on any public road for a period of half an hour. A second offender will only be issued with one skate. There are no skates issued for subsequent offences, though in the interests of fairness the victims of the joy-rider will only be allowed to drive their cars for 15 minutes.
It is to be hoped that this time politicians take notice. More Progressive Contrarian policies are in the pipe-line...
1. Gun crime. First offenders will be sent to Iraq or Afghanistan to complete a tour of duty. There will be no exceptions. Repeat offenders will complete a second tour of duty, though this time they will not be issued with ammunition.
2. Alcohol-induced violence. Those found guilty will be sent to a clinic where they will have vodka administered intravenously. This will be done in an isolation room so that there is no possible social pleasure derived from the experience. Once a mammoth hang-over has been induced the offender will be forced to complete a six-mile cross-country run. Failure to complete the run will cause additional intravenous vodka, stomach-pumping and then another attempt at a run.
3. Knife crime. Male offenders convicted of knife crime will have half an inch of penis surgically removed for a first offence. Subsequent offences will cause the loss of a full inch. The most persistent offenders will also be sentenced to breast enhancement surgery. How macho will these guys feel with no knob and pendulous boobs?
4. Joy-riders will be supplied with roller-skates and then tied to the back of their victim's vehicle. The driver will be free to drive at speed on any public road for a period of half an hour. A second offender will only be issued with one skate. There are no skates issued for subsequent offences, though in the interests of fairness the victims of the joy-rider will only be allowed to drive their cars for 15 minutes.
It is to be hoped that this time politicians take notice. More Progressive Contrarian policies are in the pipe-line...
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