Are you still here?

December 12th, 2008 § 2 comments § permalink

BBC:

Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni has sparked controversy by saying a Palestinian state would provide “a national solution” for Israel’s Arabs.

Politicians from the minority Arab community have demanded she clarify if it means that Arabs citizens will face loss of rights in Israel or expulsion.

Israeli politicians have long grappled with the issue of a growing proportion of ethnic Arabs in the Jewish state.
[…]
In remarks to school children broadcast on Israeli radio, Ms Livni’s said her solution for maintaining a Jewish and democratic state of Israel was “to have two distinct national entities”.

“Among other things I will also be able to approach the Palestinian residents of Israel… and tell them: ‘Your national aspirations lie elsewhere.'”

Translation: Fuck Off

Whatever way you look at it, it is a clear message to the Arab-Israelis that they are not wanted.
We think we’ve got problems with [anti-]immigration minister Woolas. At least he only wants to stop people coming in. All the top Israeli politicians want to get rid of a large swathe of existing members of the country. And nearly all of those can claim to be more native than the Israelis wanting to get rid of them.

I hope they die of lung cancer*

December 11th, 2008 § 0 comments § permalink

BBC:

Two solicitors who took millions of pounds from compensation payouts given to sick miners have been struck off.

Jim Beresford and Douglas Smith, of Doncaster-based Beresfords Solicitors, had denied 11 counts of serious professional misconduct.

The Solicitors’ Disciplinary Tribunal heard the men acted “unacceptably” by charging clients even though the government was paying their fees.

It found eight of the 11 allegations against the lawyers proven.

Inadequate advice

The law firm argued there was “absolutely nothing wrong” with earning substantial fees from its business conduct.

Beresford, 58, said last year to be Britain’s highest-earning solicitor, and Smith, 52, made millions of pounds from personal injury claims for miners under the government’s coal health compensation scheme.

Tribunal chairman David Leverton said: “If ever there was a group of persons who needed the full care and attention from solicitors, it was these miners.

“Mr Beresford described himself as an entrepreneur. Unfortunately, his attitude allowed himself and Mr Smith to put commercial goals before his clients’ best interests.”

What complete cunts.

Also see: Chicken Yoghurt – The Pits

*I know it’s not nice to wish death on someone, but hey, fuck ’em

A fitting tribute to Universal Human Rights

December 11th, 2008 § 3 comments § permalink

Haaretz:

The President of the United Nations General Assembly tried to prevent Israel’s ambassador, Professor Gabriela Shalev, from speaking at a special commemorative plenary session marking 60 years since the UN adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, scheduled for Wednesday.

The General Assembly President, Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann, tried to cancel speeches that were to be given by representatives of the unofficial regional group known as “Western European and others,” after he learned that Israel’s ambassador was to represent the group as its rotating chairman.

*Applauds Mr Brockmann* Ooh, hang on. What does it mean ‘tried’?

However, European representatives rejected the motion to cancel the meeting, and voiced outrage at his attempt to prevent the address.

Oh, so the Europeans are ok with a representative of a country that has continously flouted human rights, and in fact its’ very existence is predicated on the abuse of those rights, to speak at the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Once again, the Palestinians are shown to be sub-human. Way to go Europe.

Via

Without merit

December 9th, 2008 § 0 comments § permalink

From D-Notice.

Yahoo News:

Christian campaigners have lost their High Court challenge over university researchers being allowed to create human-animal embryos for research purposes. Skip related content

The Christian Legal Centre (CLC) and Comment on Reproductive Ethics (Core) were refused permission to bring a test case application for judicial review. Mrs Justice Dobbs, sitting at the High Court in London, ruled that the application was “totally without merit”.

The campaigners wanted to overturn a decision of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) in January this year, granting research licences to scientists at Newcastle University and King’s College London.

Heh.

On fags

December 9th, 2008 § 2 comments § permalink

So, in another ‘looking after the children’ move, fags are going the same way as dodgy pr0n: under the counter.
And the reason?
The Guardian:

[Health Secretary Alan Johnson said] “When they [children] see a point of sale display and as a result of seeing of it they take up smoking … it’s the key evidence as to why 200,000 11-15 year-olds are smoking,” said Johnson.

You what? Is Mr Johnson seriously trying to tell me that spotty youths are going about their business, of buying football cards and Special Brew, spy this:
[[popup:fags.jpg:(thumbnail)::1:center]]
and suddenly, they are stood there, jaw open, dribble running down their chin, staring, mesmerised by the beauty of the cigarette display. The only thought running through their heads is “Pretty packets. Gotta have”.

That can’t be right, can it? If it is, then surely the logic follows that if you hide the spirits and booze, that’ll be the end of Binge Drink Britian.
It’s a good job kids don’t spend much time in pharmacists, their shelves are positively sexy.

Suggestion Box

December 9th, 2008 § 0 comments § permalink

Press Complaints Commission:

The Editors’ Code of Practice Committee, which writes and revises the voluntary code of standards overseen by the Press Complaints Commission, is undertaking its annual review of the Code.

It welcomes suggestions from the public, civil society and the industry on how the Code might be revised to improve the system of self-regulation of the press, of which it is an essential component.

Suggestions should be sent as soon as possible, but no later than 31 January, 2009 to:

Ian Beales, Code Committee Secretary,
PO Box 235, Stonehouse,
Glos
GL10 3UF.

Or by email to: ianbeales@mac.com

Here’s a suggestion for starters, how about having non-industry people on the commitee so that the commitee can be and be seen to be a little more independent.
I don’t know about you, but if I had to submit a serious complaint to the PCC, I wouldn’t be especially confident it’s neutrality.

Here’s why:

The Editors’ Code committee members are:

  • Chairman, Paul Dacre, Daily Mail
  • Neil Benson, Trinity Mirror’s regional newspapers
  • Adrian Faber, Express and Star, Wolverhampton
  • Mike Gilson, The Scotsman
  • Douglas Melloy, Rotherham and South Yorkshire Advertiser
  • Ian Murray, Southern Evening Echo
  • David Pollington, The Sunday Post
  • Jonathan Grun, Press Association
  • Alan Rusbridger, The Guardian
  • June Smith-Sheppard, Pick Me Up magazine
  • Neil Wallis, News of the World
  • Harriet Wilson, Conde Nast magazines
  • John Witherow, Sunday Times.

Whatever turns you on

December 8th, 2008 § 2 comments § permalink

Did no one at Chorley FM really not think the strap line “coming in your ears” is just a little bit, well, dirty?

[[image:dirty_ears.gif:Chorley FM. Hmm, nice:center:0]]
(Sorry for the quality of the picture. It’s taken with a shit phone on full zoom)

God save the Queen

December 6th, 2008 § 1 comment § permalink

Via

Ban the bomb!

December 4th, 2008 § 0 comments § permalink

CommonDreams.org:

Governments from around the world today began signing an international convention banning the production of cluster bombs…There will, however, be a number of notable absentees, including the US, China, Russia, India and Pakistan as well as Israel, which fired many cluster bombs during the 2006 Lebanon war

It’s a start…

Via

Spare some change, guv?

December 3rd, 2008 § 0 comments § permalink

Alex Hilton is in the shit and asking for help.

I sold Labourhome in July, though I still run it and with no interference from the new owner.

However, last year, someone started a defamation action against me over a Labourhome article and the expenses are bourne by me, they were not transferred to Progressive Media, the new owner.

So far this legal case has cost me £4,022 and it is still on-going. This is my plea to Labourhome readers for contributions towards my legal costs.

Harrys’ Place:

What you can do – and what I am doing – is giving some money to Alex. He’d do the same for us, if we were in the same boat.

This is a matter of principle.

No he wouldn’t (that’s just one example and didn’t even involve giving money) so fuck him. And I’m skint.

Although I do think that it is a bit off not accepting the offer of the right of reply.

Dave Osler (also being sued by this person):

It’s not time to launch a ‘Free the Osler One’ campaign just yet. I am mounting a defence of justification and fair comment, and like Alex, I am confident of victory.

Via

« Older Entries

Newer Entries »