In Your Face

Biden's Munich Agreement - Don't Let Appeasement Cause Another World War!

2021-12-10T03:33:00.001-08:00

It would appear that Biden is proposing Munich #2 wrt The Ukraine.

A lesson that we should have learned from history is that appeasement does give rise to peace, but is the precursor to war!

The Carpers Who Hate The Singapore Summit

2018-06-18T01:35:00.004-07:00

The naysayers and Trump haters, in their criticisms of the Singapore Summit, are wilfully ignoring the point that Summit was just a part of the process of detailed negotiations going on between USA and North Korea, and ROK and North Korea.

They also ignore the fact that no other president would have met Kim Jong-un, without North Korea first meeting conditions that would be in effect have meant the unconditional surrender of North Korea.

There is a seachange of attitude from North Korea wrt its interactions with the rest of the world. This is a once in a generation opportunity to heal a decades old sore.

Like it or not, Trump is part of this process!

Fun Untrue "Facts" - The Fake Meme About North Korean Nuclear Promises

2018-06-14T04:32:00.002-07:00

Germany Is Terrified of Brexit

2016-06-11T01:26:00.004-07:00

Der Spiegel will have an extra 23 pages in English this week. #Brexit https://t.co/8Q9CFf6ZCw pic.twitter.com/BOOM1gfm1I
— Christian Odendahl (@COdendahl) June 10, 2016

Germany is terrified of a Brexit vote as it knows it will cause other "Northern" members (eg Netherlands and Denmark) to leave, thus causing an imbalance between Germany and France/Southern European countries that are economically weaker and have a different view as to how to run an economy.

The EU Referendum - Which Way To Vote?

2016-06-06T02:44:00.001-07:00

The real issue in the EU referendum, one that neither side has really focussed on, is where the EU is actually going wrt a political and monetary union, and whether that will actually work without causing complete chaos.

Look at Greece as an example of what happens in the euro when things go wrong (50% plus youth unemployment etc).

If we vote to remain we will be confronted some years ahead with having to decide on full integration, or being on the periphery (in effect side lining ourselves). This is the real issue that no one wants to/seems able to discuss. It will be then that we realise what we have actually got ourselves into.

To that end, the decision as to which way to vote EU referendum will be best decided by your guts, as the statistics that both sides are throwing about (financial, immigration etc) are all bollocks.

Step back on the day and ask yourself, does the eu/euro model feel right and will it work?

That will give you the answer.

Ukraine Spot The Difference

2014-02-28T01:08:00.000-08:00

Armed protesters taking over government buildings in Kiev - GOOD

Armed protesters taking over government buildings in Crimea - BAD

Out Of The Mouths of Fools

2014-02-26T02:29:00.000-08:00

"Even though I didn't know it was illegal, I absolutely felt it was in the category of a serious breach of privacy."

Rebekah Brooks (source BBC).

A Critique of US Foreign Policy

2014-02-25T01:15:00.001-08:00

The Source of Creative Inspiration

2012-10-26T06:41:00.002-07:00

At TEDIndia, Hollywood/Bollywood director Shekhar Kapur ("Elizabeth," "Mr. India") pinpoints his source of creativity: sheer, utter panic. He shares a powerful way to unleash your inner storyteller.

Shekhar Kapur is a visionary filmmaker and storyteller who works at the intersection of art, myth and activism.

New Sex Scandal Rocks BBC

2012-10-15T03:55:00.000-07:00

The Irony of The EU Nobel Prize

2012-10-13T04:22:00.000-07:00

It is "ironic" that the EU has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, given that whilst the EU may strive for peace outwith its borders, its financial policies are creating chaos and violence within its borders.

Body Language - How It Shapes What You Are

2012-10-01T08:20:00.003-07:00

An excellent lecture by Amy Cuddy on how body language shapes what you are.

Body language affects how others see us, but it may also change how we see ourselves. Social psychologist Amy Cuddy shows how “power posing” -- standing in a posture of confidence, even when we don’t feel confident -- can affect testosterone and cortisol levels in the brain, and might even have an impact on our chances for success.

Amy Cuddy’s research on body language reveals that we can change other people’s perceptions — and even our own body chemistry — simply by changing body positions.

The Linkedin Password Hack

2012-06-07T03:59:00.004-07:00

It seems that the recent security breach at Linkedin, whereby millions of passwords have been reportedly compromised, may be worse than originally reported.

Accountancy Age reports that the original figure of 6.5 million passwords being breached may be far short of the mark, and that the figure could be considerably higher.

The security firm Imperva claims that even though only around 6.5 million encrypted passwords have been posted online, it is likely that the unknown hacker has far more data.

Therefore those of you who have a Linkedin account are strongly advised to change your passwords to new, more secure and unique ones.

Linkedin have yet to tell its members about the breach, or advise them as to what they should do.

This is not an example of effective crisis management, and will damage the brand, reputation and share value of the company.

Growing Together - EU Advert Withdrawn

2012-03-06T07:13:00.001-08:00

The EU's video advert "Growing Together" was hastily withdrawn by the EU today, following a barrage of abuse.

In the interests of freedom of speech I have found a copy of the forbidden advert (please see above).

Here is the snivelling and pathetic statement from the Director General of European Enlargement, announcing the withdrawal of the advert:

"Statement on the recent video clip released by DG Enlargement

We have received a lot of feedback on our latest video clip, including from people concerned about the message it was sending.

It was a viral clip targeting, through social networks and new media, a young audience (16-24) who understand the plots and themes of martial arts films and video games. The reactions of these target audiences to the clip have in fact been positive, as had those of the focus groups on whom the concept had been tested.

The clip featured typical characters for the martial arts genre: kung fu, capoeira and kalaripayattu masters; it started with demonstration of their skills and ended with all characters showing their mutual respect, concluding in a position of peace and harmony. The genre was chosen to attract young people and to raise their curiosity on an important EU policy.

The clip was absolutely not intended to be racist and we obviously regret that it has been perceived in this way. We apologise to anyone who may have felt offended. Given these controversies, we have decided to stop the campaign immediately and to withdraw the video.

Stefano Sannino, Director General of DG Enlargement"

#Horsegate Explained

2012-03-03T03:15:00.001-08:00

Advice To Network Rail

2012-02-15T04:08:00.003-08:00

I see that today, yet again, commuters on Southern Rail are facing serious and ongoing delays between Brighton and London.

This is therefore an opportune moment to offer some friendly advice to Network Rail re its "customer information".

Last week I had the misfortune of having to travel by rail from Brighton to London, on another day when commuters on the London/Brighton route were facing serious delays and cancellations.

One train, in the midst of the chaos, appeared to still be operating (the 11:34 Bedford train). At 11:29 the "customer information" showed "on time".

However, at 11:30 it showed "cancelled".

Clearly, given the ongoing disruption that day, Network Rail knew full well (before 11:30) that the train was not going to depart.

Why therefore did it wait until 11:30 to inform the hapless customers?

Lying to the customers does not endear Network Rail to its customers.

I then asked a member of staff as to when the next train to London would leave (the "information" board showed nothing other than "delay" or "cancelled").

He gave me an honest reply:

"I don't know".

At present Network Rail offers three specific messages wrt train departures:

- on time
- delayed
- cancelled

May I suggest that they add a fourth?

"We are fucking clueless".

That at least is an honest message!

In The Navy!

2012-01-25T07:18:00.000-08:00

How reassuring that the world's shipping lanes are being patrolled and protected by such a professional navy!

There Was A Young Man Called Ed

2012-01-12T02:57:00.000-08:00

Spike Milligan clearly was very being very perceptive about the future of Labour when he wrote this:

"There was a young man called Ed sir
Who was always found in bed sir
One day at one
They fired the gun
And Ed sir in bed sir was dead sir"

Bye Bye Ed

2012-01-10T03:50:00.000-08:00

Heaven Preserve Us!

2011-06-09T03:49:00.001-07:00

Heaven (if you believe in such things) preserve us from the possibility of Tony Blair (ex PM and current leader of the "Faith Foundation") from become president of the EU!

Linked In April Fool

2011-04-01T04:05:00.000-07:00

It seems that today (1st April) Linked In, the business networking site, has gained a sudden influx of famous (yet dead) new members eg:

-Einstein
-Tolkien
-Hemingway
-Groucho Marx
-Robin Hood etc

Clearly an April Fool joke, but the question is "in house" or external prankster?

A Waste of Space

2011-03-05T02:15:00.000-08:00

Baroness Ashton is to spend £8.5 million polishing the image of her new EU diplomatic service despite having four spin doctors of her own and the free use of the European Commission's 1,000-strong communications staff.

Criminal Waste

2011-03-04T03:08:00.000-08:00

The reputations of the MOD, and the previous Labour administration, have plumbed new depths as it has been revealed that MOD contracts set up under Labour have resulted in light bulbs (worth 65p) being bought for £22 each and screws worth £2.60 being bought for £103.

This comes at a time when the MOD faces significant and damaging cuts in its budget and operational capabilities.

Liam Fox, the Defence Secretary, has publicly claimed to be very angry. However will anyone actually be sacked for this?

Don't hold your breath!

Israel's Blockade of Gaza

2010-06-02T04:39:00.000-07:00

The remarkably inept interdiction at sea by Israel of an aid convoy headed for Gaza, has highlighted a number of issues wrt the blockade and their handling of the interdiction.

1 The 20 mile sea cordon sanitaire around Gaza is not recognised by anyone other than Israel.

2 When intercepting a ship at sea the rules of the game are that you contact the captain and, if he refuses, the country that "flagged" the ship (in this case it is some flag of convenience). Israel did not do that.

3 The interception took places 40 miles outside Gaza (ie in international waters, outwith the Israel cordon).

In short, aside from the loss of life, Israel has not handled this well and will suffer serious "blowback".

Conundrum

2010-05-11T02:47:00.000-07:00

Question: When is a resignation not a resignation?

Answer: When it is Gordon Brown resigning from leadership of the Labour Party, but not from the office of Prime Minister.