GCHQ become hackers themselves!

More revelations about GCHQ & their gross abuses https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2014/07/14/manipulating-online-polls-ways-british-spies-seek-control-internet//

And if you're British, remember, you're paying for it with your taxes!

Richard Seymour on national identity and the Right

Worthy talk here, by Richard Seymour, on the 'national identity' stuff and the exploitation by the Right. The centre-left has a lot of recent blame too, which Richard covers as well.

Letter to Owen Jones

Dear Owen hasn't replied to the letter I mailed him while he was still at The Independent. Bah, I hope he read it, It was quite positive;

Owen Jones,

The Independent Print Ltd

2 Derry Street, London

W8 5HF, United Kingdom

December 4^th, 2013,

Dear Owen,

Your book ‘Chavs’ has arrived to my home so I am very grateful for your authorship, Owen. Rest assured I will read your Tweets on Twitter and your upcoming new book with high regard for your intellectual facility and quality.

If you ever require help north of the Scottish/English border, Mr. ***** **** in Edinburgh will assist you with dedication; *email address*, *post address* Whether professionally, or to bunk up if necessary.

Your most grateful and obedient humble servant,

Independence of Speaker Bronwyn Bishop again compromised

Independence of Speaker Bronwyn Bishop again compromised after she takes direction from Christopher Pyne

The independence of the Speaker has again been compromised after the government was caught directing her to bring applause for Bill Shorten's budget reply speech to an end.

A video circulated on Thursday night by Labor showed the manager of government business Christopher Pyne explicitly directing Speaker Bronwyn Bishop to rise to her feet, which is the parliamentary signal for members to fall silent.

It's the second time in less than a week that Mr Pyne has embarrassed the government, after first being caught on tape delivering an insult to the Opposition Leader which some interpreted as a four-letter profanity, but which the government insisted was the word "grub".(1)

One of the first things the ALP needs to do when next in government is elect a new Speaker, esp. if this biased one is still there.


Footnote:


(1) http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/independence-of-speaker-bronwyn-bishop-again-compromised-after-she-takes-direction-from-christopher-pyne-20140516-38ee8.html#ixzz31ye9pw81

Question on Ehud Yarri article

"The road not taken by Kerry, a transition agreement, would have led the U.S. to seek a broad understanding between the parties that would temporarily bypass the insoluble core issues yet allow for the speedy establishment of a Palestinian state over 70 percent to 90 percent of the West Bank. Such a transition agreement would allow Israel and the Palestinians to dramatically change the political landscape while temporarily setting aside the most difficult issues that have prevented an agreement for the past 20 years that have elapsed since the signing of the Oslo Accords."(1)

While retaining the most important portion in eastern Jerusalem & Greater Jerusalem of the major settlement blocks? 

That's hardly reasonable. Nor unreasonable to reject. 

If The US State of New York is to secede from the US, but the US retain New York City, that'd plunge the new nation-state of New York into recession.

The same would be likely for a Palestinian state without the most important portion.

I have never been served a birthday cake on my birthdays without the icing layer, that'd be absurd. But unfortunately the Israeli governments wants the cake and to eat it too!

Footnote:
(1) http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/john-kerry-doomed-the-israeli-palestinian-talks-by-refusing-to-consider-a-t 

Lord Norton on SSM Act passage

One of the most notable features of the passage of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act last year was the large majority it achieved in the House of Lords.  It received a Second Reading by 390 votes to 148, with every grouping in the House – Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats and cross-benchers – producing a majority in support of the measure.  The scale of support, especially on the Conservative side, was greater than that in the House of Commons.

Why the large majority?  Such an outcome would have been unthinkable twenty years ago.  As Michael McManus points out in his book Tory Pride and Prejudice, there was little support in the Lords for lowering the age of consent or getting rid of Section 28, especially on the Conservative benches.  Those of us on the Conservative side arguing in support of change were in a tiny minority. (1)

Note:

(1) http://nortonview.wordpress.com/2014/04/16/why-did-the-house-of-lords-vote-for-same-sex-marriage/

AFGHANISTAN: 13 YEARS ON

Over a decade since the US invaded Afghanistan, what is the result?

With Afghan elections ongoing this week I find myself wondering, what has a 13 year occupation brought about? During the 19th century Afghanistan was at the centre of Russian and British rivalry in Asia, part of the so called ‘Great Game‘. Then during the Cold War of the 20th century, a Soviet occupation turned it once again into a key battleground for global dominance. What about in the 21st?(1)

A worthy article by Reuben McKeown 

(1) http://reubenmckeown.wordpress.com/