Israel Enforces 3-Year Quarantine of Hamas Stronghold
Activists' Attempt to Break Through Blockade Claims 9 Lives
The extremists of the Arab world, who danced on the streets when thousands of Americans were killed in the September 11 [2001] terrorist acts, are lamenting now over the death of some activists on board of vessels that have been directed by Hamas in an attempt to break the naval blockade of the Hamas controlled Gaza Strip. The blockade has been imposed after Iranian weapons were smuggled into Gaza in circumvention of UN resolutions some 36 months ago.
The flotilla of six vessels, 3 under US and three under Turkish flag was partly organised by a group closely affiliated with Hamas. The US-flagged ships turned away after prompted to do so by the approaching Israeli naval force. Israel has offered to tow the other vessels, with some 700 people on board, into an Israeli harbour and let any 'humanitarian aid' be transported into Gaza over land. Obviously, there was not much room for any "aid of goods" as the vessels were filled to capacity with activists. When Israeli police and military boarded one ship that refused to abort its journey towards Gaza, they were received with an agitated mob of knife and ax wielding hysterics. When first Israeli commandos were injured the force opened fire.
Principally, it is Israel's right and declared policy to defend itself against the threat of a re-armed Hamas terrorist organisation. The knowledge of the naval blockade is known around the world, as is Israel's determination to maintain its tight grip on the terrorist strip of land. The Israeli commandos acted in self-defence and all responsibility for the loss of life lies within the organisers of the law defying flotilla. On board of the three vessels was not a load of "10,000 tons of goods" as claimed by Hamas, but - according to independent observers from 5 countries - a maximum of 15 tons of goods. In the past such 'humanitarian aid' consisted of materials to build missiles, ammunition and explosives.
Hamas are happy with the result of their misdeed to kill yet again. They did not intend to help the civilians that they entrap in Gaza Strip but to "break the blockade as a publicity stunt" according to their own spokesman. It cost nine people their lives. The same Hamas that forced rival Palestinians to jump off buildings to their deaths three years ago feign compassion for the victims of an operation they themselves concocted.
In Britain the BBC spearheads the media blitz to condemn Israel with paradoxal drivel, culminating this morning in an interview of the Israeli Ambassador with newsreader John Humphrys on Radio4, in which an agitated John exclaimed, "but a knife is not a weapon, Mr Ambassador!" How curious, broadcasting from a British city where on average 18 juveniles a year get stabbed to death with non-weaponry such as knives and daggers...
I join Israel in its condemnation of the cynical plot of Hamas to maim and kill, the expressed regret over the loss of life, and especially in praise to maintain Israel's safety and integrity.
Monday 31 May 2010
Sunday 30 May 2010
Toss l'Ecosse!
Je vais aller en Ecosse, ce matin:
Where the weather is boring...
... and the locals are rodents.
The fishy government of Scotland under First Minister Salmon put forward to voters proposed changes to the school curriculum for 6-12 year olds, to add 3 hours of English lessons per week. If passed, the change would mean a 30% increase of time spent in schools for the youngsters, adding English to the currently taught classes in Tribal Lingo, Survival, Tribal History, Food & Feed and Adding & Subtracting.
The government's plan met fierce opposition from parents, who insisted that their offspring have to spend already 11 hours a week away from caves, where they are needed for bat control, wall drawings and work on the potato patches. Eighty-four percent of the electorate voted against the change.
The fishy government of Scotland under First Minister Salmon put forward to voters proposed changes to the school curriculum for 6-12 year olds, to add 3 hours of English lessons per week. If passed, the change would mean a 30% increase of time spent in schools for the youngsters, adding English to the currently taught classes in Tribal Lingo, Survival, Tribal History, Food & Feed and Adding & Subtracting.
The government's plan met fierce opposition from parents, who insisted that their offspring have to spend already 11 hours a week away from caves, where they are needed for bat control, wall drawings and work on the potato patches. Eighty-four percent of the electorate voted against the change.
Saturday 29 May 2010
Randomly Miscellaneous
First off, I had a good lunch yesterday with the Eurostar arrival, at the bank's expense, which made it double-sweet. To be fair I split the bill: bank paid for meals, I paid for drinks. During lunch Emily flashed 2 tickets to Oslo, which was kinda annoying because there was no way I could get off work before 5pm, and the flight was at 3:30. I was miffed over the lack of planning and the last minute ambush. It soured my mood enough to make even the parting shots of Sambuca taste like vinegar. Emily ("E-II") is part of the French entourage at the Eurovision Song Contest, the annual global barfing ritual. Oslo is a nice place to visit, I have always enjoyed trips there; but for the Eurovision? AS IF!
Next surprise this morning: courtesy of E-II, E-I will now be in Edinburgh for Sunday and the Bank Holiday. Reunions in enemy hinterland are supposed to be especially enchanting; we shall see.
---
Today is shopping day, and I will hit the mall shortly [Westfield London SC at Sheperds Bush]. Optimist that I am, I will shop for summer wardrobe items, despite being in London. To use an analogy from the financial markets: I'm a contrarian, with a refreshing tad of Tourette's symptoms. Bloody hell.
Current Music (Spotify linked): Ian Brown – Just Like You
Friday 28 May 2010
Predictable: Chaos at Football Friendly
It was supposed to be a trial run for the opening ceremony on June 11th: a match featuring home team South Africa, fondly dubbed Bafana Bafana by locals, against a formidable foe in front of an excited home crowd. But this is South Africa, and things work out differently here, if at all.
The sports value of a friendly between the world's #92 and #34 teams was zero. The match dragged on without much skill, imagination and technique; consequently all three goals were the results of pre-arranged penalty kicks, allowing the SA side to edge Colombia 2-1.
Crowd control in the stadium, with 73,000 in attendance, was mediocre. Many of the fans reached their seats well into playing time, and were stuck by slow moving queues up to three hours after the game. Even worse, at halftime electricity failed, plunging parts of Soccer (how ironic!) City Stadium into darkness. It also ended the nation-wide TV coverage for the whole second half.
Around the stadium three killings and about 200 robberies have been reported by police by this morning. Among the victims were the Colombian football players, robbed of money and personal items in their hotel room. With strikes looming by Eskom (the energy provider), Cosatu (transport and trade) and police in the month of June, it is easy to foresee the anarchy awaiting sports enthusiasts next month.
Current Music (Spotify linked): Marcy Playground – Comin' Up From Behind (Soundtrack Version)
Travel Advisory for South Africa Issued
A travel alert issued Wednesday warns of a "heightened risk that extremist groups will conduct terrorist acts within South Africa in the near future," but adds that "while a number of terrorist threats against the World Cup have appeared in recent weeks and months, the U.S. Government has no information on any specific threat.
But, as South Africa gears up for this month's launch of the FIFA World Cup, the U.S. State Dept. is strongly cautioning Americans to keep their eyes on more than the ball.
Crime fears have dogged the World Cup since South Africa won the right to host the matches, and the State Dept. advises visiting drivers to "keep doors locked and windows closed, avoid having purses, phones, bags and luggage in plain view, and when stopping at intersections at night or in isolated locations, leave enough space in front of your vehicle for a quick exit. Be wary of street vendors at traffic lights, planted obstacles and staged 'accidents' that may be traps for unsuspecting motorists."
The alert also mentions that "extreme shortages of hotel rooms are likely," particularly in smaller cities. But despite strong interest from U.S. fans, who've bought more tickets than soccer-crazed Germany and England combined, the number of foreign visitors is down dramatically from original estimates. FIFA announced today that another 90,000 tickets will have to be released May 28 for all 64 matches, including the opening, final and two semi-finals. Prices are coming down by 50% for both hotel rooms and airline tickets: According to a spokeswoman for South African Airways, flexible fans can find seats from the East Coast to Johannesburg during the World Cup for as little as $1,480 round-trip, down from $3,000 a few months ago.
Thursday 27 May 2010
Amnesty International Slams SA
Situation Worse Than During Apartheid Regime - Report
In its report on South Africa, published earlier today, Amnesty International slams the ANC schemes of nepotism, corruption and incitement of xenophobia. The report points out that in many regards South Africans today are worse off than in the waning days of the Apartheid regime, and the worst in twenty years.
"Corruption and nepotism impeded community access to housing and services, and led to the collapse of some municipal governments and to widespread protests among affected communities," read a report by Amnesty International on human rights in South Africa. Some of the policies imposed on black South Africans by the ANC regime hurt and impede coloured people more than under the most stringent rules under apartheid, a commentator added.
"Persistent poverty, rising levels of unemployment, and violent crime, together with the crisis in the public health sector, posed continuously significant challenges for the reluctant ANC government. Errant political developments continued to affect the independence and integrity of the administration of justice on all levels," read the report.
Death of a Tenor
Siphiwo Ntshebe dead at age 34
"Pavarotti of South Africa" was to open WC2010
The curse over this year's Soccer World Cup in South Africa continues. On Tuesday evening the nation's foremost tenor - often compared to a young Italian opera megastar Pavarotti - has died from an acute meningitis. The 34-year old Siphiwo Ntshebe died while at work for his new album and was supposed to sing the song "Hope" at the opening ceremony of WC2010 in Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg on June 11th. He died where he was born, in the coastal town of Port Elizabeth.
The song "Hope" [ oh the irony!] included a 'message of peace and compassion' from former ANC activist Nelson Mandela. FIFA officials have expressed their 'shock' over the untimely passing of Ntshebe, which comes after numerous catastrophes that have afflicted the run-up to the World Cup.
Wednesday 26 May 2010
How Dangerous Is SA?
Should Football Fans Fear for Their Lives?
Just How Dangerous is South Africa?
With a multitude of tourists heading to South Africa for the World Cup, a question hangs on many lips: how dangerous is the country?
South Africa is a place where a lot of violent crime happens. That much is hard to dispute. Each day an average of nearly 50 people are murdered. In addition to these 18,000 murders each year, there are another 18,000 attempted murders.
Murder is a staple of the news. In April, it was white supremacist Eugene Terreblanche. Earlier this month, it was Lolly Jackson, the flamboyant owner of the Teazers strip club chain, killed at a house in Kempton Park, just outside Johannesburg.
In the run-up to the World Cup, global newspapers have been awash with painting a terrifying picture of South Africa. One recently told its readers about "Cape Town's culture of gangsters, drugs, rape, robbery and a murder every 25 minutes". Sadly, while voyeuristic by design, the report itself was no exaggeration.
So should football fans fear for their lives at the World Cup? It's a complicated picture, says Johan Burger, senior researcher in the crime and justice programme at South Africa's Institute for Security Studies. The first thing is that the South African murder rate is going down and not up, albeit from frighteningly high levels. "Contrary to what many people think, the murder rate, while still extremely high, is down by about 44% since 1995. That's a huge decrease." But not much of consolation for the unaware tourist.
The geographical and social spread of murder might be relevant to visitors. "What is important to understand about our high crime rate is that we know from research that approximately 80% of our murders happen within a very specific social context, mostly between people that know one another. "There is something wrong within some of our communities in terms of the social interaction and the social conditions." Basically, stay out of black neighbourhoods - which make up for 92% of South Africa's land mass.
In blunt terms, areas with problems have murder levels that can be wildly above the national average of 50 murders a day. Kwa Mashu, a township outside Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, has the unfortunate honour of being dubbed South Africa's murder capital, with 300 killings last year. It took the unwanted honour from Nyanga, a township outside Cape Town.
Just How Dangerous is South Africa?
South Africa is a place where a lot of violent crime happens. That much is hard to dispute. Each day an average of nearly 50 people are murdered. In addition to these 18,000 murders each year, there are another 18,000 attempted murders.
Murder is a staple of the news. In April, it was white supremacist Eugene Terreblanche. Earlier this month, it was Lolly Jackson, the flamboyant owner of the Teazers strip club chain, killed at a house in Kempton Park, just outside Johannesburg.
In the run-up to the World Cup, global newspapers have been awash with painting a terrifying picture of South Africa. One recently told its readers about "Cape Town's culture of gangsters, drugs, rape, robbery and a murder every 25 minutes". Sadly, while voyeuristic by design, the report itself was no exaggeration.
So should football fans fear for their lives at the World Cup? It's a complicated picture, says Johan Burger, senior researcher in the crime and justice programme at South Africa's Institute for Security Studies. The first thing is that the South African murder rate is going down and not up, albeit from frighteningly high levels. "Contrary to what many people think, the murder rate, while still extremely high, is down by about 44% since 1995. That's a huge decrease." But not much of consolation for the unaware tourist.
The geographical and social spread of murder might be relevant to visitors. "What is important to understand about our high crime rate is that we know from research that approximately 80% of our murders happen within a very specific social context, mostly between people that know one another. "There is something wrong within some of our communities in terms of the social interaction and the social conditions." Basically, stay out of black neighbourhoods - which make up for 92% of South Africa's land mass.
In blunt terms, areas with problems have murder levels that can be wildly above the national average of 50 murders a day. Kwa Mashu, a township outside Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, has the unfortunate honour of being dubbed South Africa's murder capital, with 300 killings last year. It took the unwanted honour from Nyanga, a township outside Cape Town.
SA Economy Inches Forward
Anemic Growth as ANC
Fails to Provide Stimulus
New figures released by the SA Central Bank yesterday show the lapidated state of the economy and the damage caused by a reckless spending spree of the ANC regime, fleeced public coffers and the quicksand of high debt of the public sector.
South Africa's GDP rose by a weak 1.6% from a year ago, falling far short to compensate for the 8.3% contraction of the economy from mid-2008 to late 2009. Even this pathetic increase was distorted by the 4.6% expansion in the first Quarter of 2010, solely boosted by the mining sector (+15.4%) due to foreign demand. If the mining industry and the construction sector, which was helped by activities around the WC2010 projects and will cease in June, are subtracted from the growth figure, the economy actually continued its downward spiral, posting a continuation of the ANC induced recession. As a result the unemployment numbers will go up for another 4-6 months, especially in the northern tier states Limpopo, Mpuma-Langa, North-West, Gauteng and Kwazulu-Natal. Already the ANC Government has fallen short of its trumpeted (or better, Vuvuzela-ed) goal to create 440,000 new jobs by now, bearing responsibility for the loss of nearly 600,000 jobs instead.
Tuesday 25 May 2010
Foreigners, Stay Away From WC2010
ANC Calls For Destruction of Cape Town
Negroes take Scorched Earth campaign into Whites' Heartland
The ruling ANC's powerful Youth League has called on the youth to vandalise the City of Cape Town over what they call "poor service delivery."
"We are going to destroy everything and make the city ungovernable," ANCYL Dullah Omar region secretary Loyiso Nkohla said on Tuesday. "We are calling on all SA youth to do this [vandalise the city], especially those living in informal settlements."
Nkohla 's deputy Chumile Sali said the ANCYL was doing this to "expose those parts of the city where the (governing) DA had failed to deliver services."
On Monday, ANCYL members and community leaders led residents in the destruction of toilet enclosures the city council had erected hours earlier. They taunted Cape Town Mayor Dan Plato,DA to arrest them. "The African [coloured] people's dignity has been undermined by the DA. It is time to take action," said Sali, daftly denying that the ANCYL was promoting violence. Regional treasurer Andile Lili said the ANCYL "did not intend being violent, but was being forced to by the city." "Our complaint is based on the reality that African people residing in Makhaza, Khayelitsha, are forced to shit in full view of the public," the ANCYL delicately wrote in a paper to the ANC government.
"This satanic action by the city council is tantamount to gross human rights violations and undermines the people's right for their dignity to be protected as stipulated in section 10 of the Constitution." City officials first laughed off the inane diatribe by the black government body before realising that the ANC was serious.
(The ANCYL said that in 2007 the city built a toilet for each household in the Makhaza area which each household had to enclose itself. However, since 2008, about 50 Makhaza families had been relieving themselves in full view of the public.)
Charming! Now the ANCYL said it was unhappy with the corrugated metal sheets the city had used to build enclosures around the toilets and wanted concrete instead. Mayor Plato told the Cape Times on Monday that he had recently met with the ANCYL and community leaders and they had agreed to tell residents that open toilets would be enclosed. He said the corrugated metal sheets used to enclose them were not inferior to the material people had used to build the homes they were living in and that if people wanted to destroy new structures he would "walk away".
Authorities have warned foreigners to stay away from World Cup venues as conflict looms large, with thousands of ANC hoodlums descending on WC2010 sites to wreak havoc and a trail of destruction.
Negroes take Scorched Earth campaign into Whites' Heartland
The ruling ANC's powerful Youth League has called on the youth to vandalise the City of Cape Town over what they call "poor service delivery."
"We are going to destroy everything and make the city ungovernable," ANCYL Dullah Omar region secretary Loyiso Nkohla said on Tuesday. "We are calling on all SA youth to do this [vandalise the city], especially those living in informal settlements."
Nkohla 's deputy Chumile Sali said the ANCYL was doing this to "expose those parts of the city where the (governing) DA had failed to deliver services."
On Monday, ANCYL members and community leaders led residents in the destruction of toilet enclosures the city council had erected hours earlier. They taunted Cape Town Mayor Dan Plato,DA to arrest them. "The African [coloured] people's dignity has been undermined by the DA. It is time to take action," said Sali, daftly denying that the ANCYL was promoting violence. Regional treasurer Andile Lili said the ANCYL "did not intend being violent, but was being forced to by the city." "Our complaint is based on the reality that African people residing in Makhaza, Khayelitsha, are forced to shit in full view of the public," the ANCYL delicately wrote in a paper to the ANC government.
"This satanic action by the city council is tantamount to gross human rights violations and undermines the people's right for their dignity to be protected as stipulated in section 10 of the Constitution." City officials first laughed off the inane diatribe by the black government body before realising that the ANC was serious.
(The ANCYL said that in 2007 the city built a toilet for each household in the Makhaza area which each household had to enclose itself. However, since 2008, about 50 Makhaza families had been relieving themselves in full view of the public.)
Charming! Now the ANCYL said it was unhappy with the corrugated metal sheets the city had used to build enclosures around the toilets and wanted concrete instead. Mayor Plato told the Cape Times on Monday that he had recently met with the ANCYL and community leaders and they had agreed to tell residents that open toilets would be enclosed. He said the corrugated metal sheets used to enclose them were not inferior to the material people had used to build the homes they were living in and that if people wanted to destroy new structures he would "walk away".
Authorities have warned foreigners to stay away from World Cup venues as conflict looms large, with thousands of ANC hoodlums descending on WC2010 sites to wreak havoc and a trail of destruction.
Monday 24 May 2010
Thugs vs Thugs in SA
Police Get Ready for England Hooligans
Authorities in Cape Town, site of England's second match in next month's World Cup, say that's what awaits soccer hooligans in their town: tear gas, water cannons, rubber bullets, tasers, summary trials, cattle cars as mass holding cells - freezing temperatures guaranteed! The hope is that the advance warning will keep everyone on their best behaviour. "People might say we are treating them like cattle, but if they behave like animals then we will give no quarter," Rob Young, the police chief in Cape Town said.
"The message I send to any England fans thinking about starting trouble is simple," Young told British newspapers. "We police the Third World every single day. Do you think we are intimidated by a bunch of drunken boys in football jerseys?"
British thugs are the only ones on South Africa's radar. But Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, the host country's home affairs minister, said screening programmes are already in place to identify potential malicious troublemakers from Germany, Denmark and Netherlands which, along with England are the nations whose fans are expected to pose the greatest threat to the peace.
Those causing problems will be herded on to train cars specially fitted with cells - but not heat, despite the fact freezing temperatures are predicted. Held 10 prisoners to a cell, many will be tried on the spot and then transported overnight to other parts of the country.
In addition to acting as a deterrent, South African authorities concede the draconian crackdown could also prevent overcrowding in a prison system that already houses nearly 165,000 inmates in facilities designed for less than 116,000. And it will also prevent foreigners initially from being confined in prisons where HIV and gang rape are said to be common. If convicted to more than 30 days in jail, however, foreign criminals will not enjoy such preferential treatment.
In Rustenburg, near where the England team will be housed, South Africa will have two "justice buses" - mobile police stations with holding cells and on-board magistrates courts - on patrol. Suspects rounded up will be tried and could be convicted within minutes after their arrest.
South African police have also purchased 40 extra helicopters, 100 high-speed BMW police cars and large water cannons from the U.S. while the French gendarmerie have been training local police in crowd-control techniques. Undercover British police will help gauge the mood of the English trash.
But South Africa's main deterrent, Young said, will be brute force and rubber bullets. "Football hooligans might come here thinking they are tough, but we are the toughest gang in town," he said. "If you stare us down you will face plastic bullets and water cannons. If that doesn't stop you we will haul you into prison trains. "Look out the window here in Cape Town across to some of the most violent communities on earth. That is our beat, our back yard. That should tell you how tough we are."
Friday 21 May 2010
My turn...
It's my turn to go; Paris, that is. Off to the bi-weekly routine of alternate travel travais via Eurostar this early afternoon, return on Monday evening. From Bedford Gardens to 5ème Arrondissement (Rue Pierre et Marie Curie) near the Jardin Luxembourg, a glorious weekend with bright sunshine and warm temperatures is in store.
Have a safe weekend all (except if you live in the Chicago area: there I wish for a 9.2 quake, a force-5 hurricane, 301 twisters and a deluge with 60 inches of rain within 5 hours - all at once, if possible).
Current Music (Spotify enhanced): Arielle Dombasle – Extraterrestre
Have a safe weekend all (except if you live in the Chicago area: there I wish for a 9.2 quake, a force-5 hurricane, 301 twisters and a deluge with 60 inches of rain within 5 hours - all at once, if possible).
Current Music (Spotify enhanced): Arielle Dombasle – Extraterrestre
Buffoona Buffoona, Jacob Zuma!
SA President: "Behave, just for four weeks!"
He called on citizens to welcome international visitors, expected to stream into the country, with open arms (and he did not mean machine guns, grenades, axes, knives, ropes, burning tyres, hammers, spears, etc). "Let us forget our own problems for a moment [sweep them under the rug and keep ou heads in the sand] and make other people at home in our country."
Zuma thanked the Free State for setting an example for the country, and said "it was indeed a prayer for the country". Indeed, only devine intervention can save us from ANC rule. Bless!
Among a loud cacophony of vuvuzelas from the crowd, Zuma blew on his own white vuvuzela before he was showered with gifts – some of which he had to give to the national soccer squad, others to his four (known) wives. Zuma accepted a large hand-drawn card from the Zamdela Ministers' Association to present to Bafana Bafana, and they also gave him a shield and spear (Buffoona, Buffoona, open arms, eh?).
Earlier Free State Premier Ace Magashule was welcomed with Afrikaans cheers. The crowd was led by a master of ceremonies who shouted over the PA system: Haak Vrystaat, haak, (Go Free State, go) to which the crowd responded repeatedly in unison "Haak". The phrase was made popular by Afrikaans entertainer Leon Schuster in the 1980s through his popular rugby song Haak Vrystaat, haak.
Like Zuma, Magashule was ushered into the stadium by a large group of bodyguards wearing scarves in the colours of the South African flag. People danced and waved South African and ANC flags (!), while blowing vuvuzelas. The crowd, from mainly Free State churches of all denominations, shouted "Halala, Bafana Bafana, halala" and "Good luck, Bafana Bafana”. Hail Hail, Buffoona Buffoona!
Current Music (Spotify enhanced): Greyhound – Black And White
Thursday 20 May 2010
Paki Whackie
Dirty and thin skinned Pakistani officials have banned the US based social sites for their refusal to remove images of the late murderer, sex offender and child abuser Muhammad, who is revered by muslims as their prophet of behaviour and morality.
I try to help here Google to hold up the flame of free speech and thought, and to defend free press against the onslaught of dictatorship such as communist China and the extremists of the Arab world. The Wanted Poster of the depraved Muhammad will be the litmus test against the Axis of Evil...
Muslims, known for their irrational hysteria, garlic spitting habits and delusional worship of their hate-mongering imams, flash some of their insane scribbles at a Karachi gathering this morning.
Foreigners Warned of WC2010
Terrorism Anticipated During WC2010 as
Authorities Play Down Specific Threats
South African authorities yesterday sought to dispel fears over terrorism threats to World Cup visitors, saying police would ensure the safety of all foreigners visiting the country during next month’s Fifa tournament. An extra 44,000 police officers have been recruited specially for the tournament. The international police agency Interpol is also sending 200 experts to assist local authorities.
Even though deputy police minister Fikile Mbalula told reporters the authorities were ready for "any eventuality", serious doubts remain over the tame and dismissive State's reaction to specific threats levelled against some stadia, cities, teams and foreign fans.
"The troublesome fact is that the SA government is ignorant of the threat level which international terrorism poses for the World Cup. Even more gravely, the home-grown violence from freely marauding gangs numbering more than 30,000 members, often better armed than police and with stockpiles of police and military uniforms at their disposal, poses the biggest threat to life and property now," a high ranking Interpol official said.
Specific targets of al-Qaeda and their African copy-cat wannabe's, which operate from Mauritania, Sudan, Zimbabwe and Algeria, are the stadia in Rastenburg, Jo'burg, Pretoria and Durban. The officials also expressed privately their dismay over the suspected collusion between the ANC leaders in South Africa and the Zimbabwe regime of strongman Mugabe, allowing for unchecked cross-border trafficking of arms and presumed terrorists across their border. A number of "Zim refugees" in South Africa have been identified as Somali terrorist group members, who have filtered into SA in the past six months and pose currently as 'sleepers'.
Teams most vulnerable are those from England, Denmark and the US. But the greatest danger comes from the vast underground of black activists who plan to rob and kill white tourists in all parts of South Africa, according to a confidential study from a US security firm sent to FIFA.
Authorities Play Down Specific Threats
Even though deputy police minister Fikile Mbalula told reporters the authorities were ready for "any eventuality", serious doubts remain over the tame and dismissive State's reaction to specific threats levelled against some stadia, cities, teams and foreign fans.
"The troublesome fact is that the SA government is ignorant of the threat level which international terrorism poses for the World Cup. Even more gravely, the home-grown violence from freely marauding gangs numbering more than 30,000 members, often better armed than police and with stockpiles of police and military uniforms at their disposal, poses the biggest threat to life and property now," a high ranking Interpol official said.
Specific targets of al-Qaeda and their African copy-cat wannabe's, which operate from Mauritania, Sudan, Zimbabwe and Algeria, are the stadia in Rastenburg, Jo'burg, Pretoria and Durban. The officials also expressed privately their dismay over the suspected collusion between the ANC leaders in South Africa and the Zimbabwe regime of strongman Mugabe, allowing for unchecked cross-border trafficking of arms and presumed terrorists across their border. A number of "Zim refugees" in South Africa have been identified as Somali terrorist group members, who have filtered into SA in the past six months and pose currently as 'sleepers'.
Teams most vulnerable are those from England, Denmark and the US. But the greatest danger comes from the vast underground of black activists who plan to rob and kill white tourists in all parts of South Africa, according to a confidential study from a US security firm sent to FIFA.
Wednesday 19 May 2010
The Specter of Old Age
Voters Crucify Republican Democrat Senator:
Specter Loses in Pennsylvania Democratic Primary
80-year old Sen Arlen Specter's 30 year career as sleepwalker in the halls of the US Senate have come to an end. The disgusting old man has lost the Democratic Party's primary yesterday despite - or because - of the explicit support from US President Muhammad Obama.
For three decades the senile Specter has occupied the Republican seat for Pennsylvania in the US Senate without causing much attention or note-worthy achievement there. It was an act of infamy that pushed Arlen into the spotlight last year:
Faced with inevitable defeat in this year's mid-term elections in November, Arlen decided that it was time to abandon the Republican Party after 52 years of membership and switch over to the Democrats. After lengthy and secret horse-trading with the Democratic leadership, orchestrated by the Obama White House, Mr Specter was assured full backing for this year's election in exchange of providing the Democrats with the crucial 60th Senate seat. With the 60-40 majority in the Senate the Democrats hoped to stop any fillibuster effort by Republicans to stall new legislation.
The plot failed for both sides, I am happy to say. Voters have been disgusted for too long with the pork-belly bullshit trades in government and use any opportunity to tell those in power. The Democrats lost another Senate seat late last year to fall back below the 60-seat threshold. And the stupid traitor has now lost the right to even stand for re-election in November.
It beats me why some 80-year old fart believes in his deluded arrogance that he can still serve the people and bring indispensible talent and coherence into the political arena. Whatever next, Arlen? Wanna run for president? Oh wait, you lost that race already twice before too. Just die, already!
10:43PM
Vote to End Senate Debate on
Financial Regulation Bill Falls Short
Republicans have succeeded in blocking a final Senate vote on a massive financial regulation bill. The vote was 57-42 to cut off debate and move toward final passage; Democrats needed 60 votes to accomplish that.
Specter Loses in Pennsylvania Democratic Primary
For three decades the senile Specter has occupied the Republican seat for Pennsylvania in the US Senate without causing much attention or note-worthy achievement there. It was an act of infamy that pushed Arlen into the spotlight last year:
Faced with inevitable defeat in this year's mid-term elections in November, Arlen decided that it was time to abandon the Republican Party after 52 years of membership and switch over to the Democrats. After lengthy and secret horse-trading with the Democratic leadership, orchestrated by the Obama White House, Mr Specter was assured full backing for this year's election in exchange of providing the Democrats with the crucial 60th Senate seat. With the 60-40 majority in the Senate the Democrats hoped to stop any fillibuster effort by Republicans to stall new legislation.
The plot failed for both sides, I am happy to say. Voters have been disgusted for too long with the pork-belly bullshit trades in government and use any opportunity to tell those in power. The Democrats lost another Senate seat late last year to fall back below the 60-seat threshold. And the stupid traitor has now lost the right to even stand for re-election in November.
It beats me why some 80-year old fart believes in his deluded arrogance that he can still serve the people and bring indispensible talent and coherence into the political arena. Whatever next, Arlen? Wanna run for president? Oh wait, you lost that race already twice before too. Just die, already!
Vote to End Senate Debate on
Financial Regulation Bill Falls Short
Republicans have succeeded in blocking a final Senate vote on a massive financial regulation bill. The vote was 57-42 to cut off debate and move toward final passage; Democrats needed 60 votes to accomplish that.
Tuesday 18 May 2010
Euro on Life Support
Broken and Lost Promises of a Strange Currency
The dream of monetary union across Europe has turned into a real nightmare. Led by France and Germany, European countries have decided to spend colossal sums of taxpayers’ money they cannot afford, to heal mounting internal disparities they cannot conceal, to shore up an edifice many believe cannot survive. Today, that skepticism briefly pulled the value of the euro down to a four-year low against the dollar at $1.2185.
A little over a week ago, European Union leaders approved a rescue package worth 750 billion euros (nearly $1 trillion) for weaker members like Greece, Portugal and Spain, backed by the International Monetary Fund and the American government. The present crisis extends well beyond its immediate causes: bad decisions in Athens, lack of European leadership and a poor economy throughout the eurozone. These are but the latest twists in a drama that began more than two decades ago. I can proudly attest, "I was there, from conception to realisation to Last Rites."
The underlying story of how 16 diverse European currencies were fused into the euro combines the contorted fortunes of two powerful German (naturally!) politicians who sought to tame Europe’s past and shape its future, along with a French president who wished to fasten economic shackles around the might of an unwanted yet reunified Germany. Ultimately, too, it is the story of how the Old Continent struggled to break free from the uncertain political and economic embrace of the United States.
The pivotal moment in the formation of Europe’s monetary union came in December 1991 at a meeting in Maastricht in the southern Netherlands. Two years after the untimely fall of the Berlin Wall, European leaders set a political path toward a Europe-wide currency — a holy grail that had been pursued since the Roman Empire. That historical precedent and comparison alone made megalomaniac Germans squirm.
A little over a week ago, European Union leaders approved a rescue package worth 750 billion euros (nearly $1 trillion) for weaker members like Greece, Portugal and Spain, backed by the International Monetary Fund and the American government. The present crisis extends well beyond its immediate causes: bad decisions in Athens, lack of European leadership and a poor economy throughout the eurozone. These are but the latest twists in a drama that began more than two decades ago. I can proudly attest, "I was there, from conception to realisation to Last Rites."
The underlying story of how 16 diverse European currencies were fused into the euro combines the contorted fortunes of two powerful German (naturally!) politicians who sought to tame Europe’s past and shape its future, along with a French president who wished to fasten economic shackles around the might of an unwanted yet reunified Germany. Ultimately, too, it is the story of how the Old Continent struggled to break free from the uncertain political and economic embrace of the United States.
The pivotal moment in the formation of Europe’s monetary union came in December 1991 at a meeting in Maastricht in the southern Netherlands. Two years after the untimely fall of the Berlin Wall, European leaders set a political path toward a Europe-wide currency — a holy grail that had been pursued since the Roman Empire. That historical precedent and comparison alone made megalomaniac Germans squirm.
Mum & Franschoek Literary Festival
Whites in SA have all reasons to moan
Mum attended this year's Franschoek Literary Festival last weekend, held in beautiful early autumn weather. The lovely city in picturesque wine country is always a delight to visit for us, but the festival itself - while a full success - brought to the surface some surprisingly acerbic confrontations and heated debates that not even the mellowest Riesling or most beautiful sunset could gloss over.
The event was held to the backdrop of increased tensions between a radical ANC government and the productive white part of the nation, the threat of a wide-spread, Mugabe-style land grab policy to be unleashed against white farmers in the country, an unabated campaign of murder and attacks against white farmers and businesses and the danger of seeing unprecedented terrorist attacks during the World Cup. South African police are on high alert to monitor known black gangs, and intelligence suggest a pending wave of attacks on foreigners to commence in June.
Mummsie wasn't fazed by all these perils and made the short trip from Cape Town with 2 friends, fully enjoying the spirited exchanges but, most of all, the wine. Good to see that the Old Lady hasn't lost any of her feisty stamina to debate and for gulping down professionally fermented grape juice.
At the event itself, writer and musician Rian Malan and writer/poet Antjie Krog were involved in a heated discussion at one point. "I’m not disillusioned, I’m fucking furious! All I see is darkness," said Malan after the discussion where Krog tackled him, and other whites in South Africa, "who sit on the sidelines and only complain and don’t get involved in solutions."
The event was held to the backdrop of increased tensions between a radical ANC government and the productive white part of the nation, the threat of a wide-spread, Mugabe-style land grab policy to be unleashed against white farmers in the country, an unabated campaign of murder and attacks against white farmers and businesses and the danger of seeing unprecedented terrorist attacks during the World Cup. South African police are on high alert to monitor known black gangs, and intelligence suggest a pending wave of attacks on foreigners to commence in June.
Mummsie wasn't fazed by all these perils and made the short trip from Cape Town with 2 friends, fully enjoying the spirited exchanges but, most of all, the wine. Good to see that the Old Lady hasn't lost any of her feisty stamina to debate and for gulping down professionally fermented grape juice.
At the event itself, writer and musician Rian Malan and writer/poet Antjie Krog were involved in a heated discussion at one point. "I’m not disillusioned, I’m fucking furious! All I see is darkness," said Malan after the discussion where Krog tackled him, and other whites in South Africa, "who sit on the sidelines and only complain and don’t get involved in solutions."
Monday 17 May 2010
Saving the constitution from ANC hoodlums
Ahead of the DA's National Congress:
Stop the ANC From Destroying the Constitution
Whatever goes wrong, the ANC blame apartheid and play the race card. When they cannot deliver, they say it’s because the constitution was designed to protect whites. Real, progressive change is what the DA must bring about where we govern. The more we succeed, the more we will show that their choice for the future is not a choice between race groups, nor a choice between the ANC and apartheid.
Stop the ANC From Destroying the Constitution
Whatever goes wrong, the ANC blame apartheid and play the race card. When they cannot deliver, they say it’s because the constitution was designed to protect whites. Real, progressive change is what the DA must bring about where we govern. The more we succeed, the more we will show that their choice for the future is not a choice between race groups, nor a choice between the ANC and apartheid.
Sunday 16 May 2010
Weekend/-2
::Rubbing eyes:: Yawn, just got up... lol
Last night was a blast; delicious Spanish dinner, live music, lots of vino and fun. Shortly after midnight we went to the Tate Modern before strolling to other museums (among them Churchill's war room) until the sun came up. I fixed us a nice breakfast (eggs, ham, tomatoes and herbs) at six. Then bubbles and bubblies in bath, and we finally made it into bed around 8. We plan to be out later this evening for some more events at several museums, shopping for some giant art posters for Emily's studio. I feel like Thai food tonight, but we'll see.
Chelsea won the double last night and I was totally oblivious of their success until a few minutes ago. Well done chaps, you just underscored what has always been my opinion: Britain outside London is irrelevant.
Well, and that Special One down in Milan made also the 'double': Jose Mourinho won the Italian championship with Internazionale Milano, after winning the Italian Cup already on Wednesday. Hope they will get the 3rd prize they strive for too: beating some Hun club next week to win the Champions League too.
Busy week ahead, with lots of publications due (some will be summarised here). But for now, the fun prevails. Tara!
Current Music (Spotify enabled): Tiffany Page – Walk Away Slow
Last night was a blast; delicious Spanish dinner, live music, lots of vino and fun. Shortly after midnight we went to the Tate Modern before strolling to other museums (among them Churchill's war room) until the sun came up. I fixed us a nice breakfast (eggs, ham, tomatoes and herbs) at six. Then bubbles and bubblies in bath, and we finally made it into bed around 8. We plan to be out later this evening for some more events at several museums, shopping for some giant art posters for Emily's studio. I feel like Thai food tonight, but we'll see.
Chelsea won the double last night and I was totally oblivious of their success until a few minutes ago. Well done chaps, you just underscored what has always been my opinion: Britain outside London is irrelevant.
Well, and that Special One down in Milan made also the 'double': Jose Mourinho won the Italian championship with Internazionale Milano, after winning the Italian Cup already on Wednesday. Hope they will get the 3rd prize they strive for too: beating some Hun club next week to win the Champions League too.
Busy week ahead, with lots of publications due (some will be summarised here). But for now, the fun prevails. Tara!
Current Music (Spotify enabled): Tiffany Page – Walk Away Slow
Saturday 15 May 2010
Weekend
Taking the Eurostar is always a bit chancy, associated with some degree of suspense and doubt, "is it running or not today?" Thankfully Emily arrived last night. Had it been this morning, as originally planned, she would have been stuck in the tunnel - as before - after a false fire alarm. The last minute change of heart to come early last night was most welcome, and the wine flowed freely at Ikkyusan restaurant, for some sushi galore. Lots of reasons to celebrate too: the one-way bet all week against the euro in currency markets paid off handsomely: it was one of the best weeks ever for the employer, a nice parting present from me, eh? It means I basically will sit through the time until I actually leave in July. No more pressure to produce, I will use the time to familiarise myself with the job at hand, come September.
Tonight is museum night for us: the annual Museums at Night 2010 event, when numerous places will be open all night. Highlights for us will be the Tate Modern (10th birthday for them) and Jazz Night at the Coliseum; but all in all we intend to see nine different venues, interrupted by a seafood dinner at Leicester Square at 9PM. Next year we plan to visit the Paris venues as part of the across Europe experience of Nuit des Musées.
Have a great one, you lot!
Current Music (Spotify linked): Lorie – Ensorcelée
Tonight is museum night for us: the annual Museums at Night 2010 event, when numerous places will be open all night. Highlights for us will be the Tate Modern (10th birthday for them) and Jazz Night at the Coliseum; but all in all we intend to see nine different venues, interrupted by a seafood dinner at Leicester Square at 9PM. Next year we plan to visit the Paris venues as part of the across Europe experience of Nuit des Musées.
Have a great one, you lot!
Current Music (Spotify linked): Lorie – Ensorcelée
Euro: Pounded, Sold, Discarded
Eurozone: Gloom and Doom Without Respite
Not even a $1 Trillion rescue package can save the euro
When I wrote my dissertation in 1991 - ironically commissioned by the then still powerful German Bundesbank - I started out quite optimistically for the pan-European common currency, to be imposed on selected member states in 1999. In the wake of global (involving travels to Asian and American nations who operated under Currency Boards at the time) research and close scrutiny for my dissertation, however, I became more and more a euro sceptic. The final product earned me a PhD in economics, DM10,000 from a growling Bundesbank and its scorn ever since: I had come to the conclusion that the euro is unsustainable and cannot last. Shortly afterwards I became a director of the British Conservative think tank and public activist group Keep the Pound (member #4), which emerged as an essential election platform within the Tories by 1994 (at its peak the campaign had 992,000 members in 1999) and ever since.
Events in the past 3 weeks have proved me right. A common currency for incompatible economies such as the Greek, Portuguese, Spanish cannot work in unison with Northern European countries. Robbed of the past 'safety valve' of having individual currencies, which fluctuate according to economic developments and reflect adverse factors such as exploding state budget deficits, sovereign debt, trade and inflation, miserable economic performance tears the whole eurozone apart now. Greece's economic disaster is not a localised trouble anymore, it affects the 16 members of the eurozone.
In a last-ditch effort, rife of desperation and denial of reality, the unelected EU Commission imposed drastic punitive action on European taxpayers, pouring good money - and money it doesn't even have (=new debt) after bad. This in an effort to reverse the downward spiral of the euro on international currency markets and to conceal the criminal neglect committed by irresponsible politicians - from German chancellor Kohl to EU commissioners Delors, Prodi and Barroso - who admitted Greece into the eurozone, well aware that the country tricked itself into the euro by deceipt, fraud and extortion. Too bad we don't have Chinese-style trials for economic crimes as colossal as the creation of the expanded eurozone in 2004. In China, dozens of European leaders, government officials, whole EU commissions and the Greek government would be summarily executed.
After the "rescue package"
Not even a $1 Trillion rescue package can save the euro
When I wrote my dissertation in 1991 - ironically commissioned by the then still powerful German Bundesbank - I started out quite optimistically for the pan-European common currency, to be imposed on selected member states in 1999. In the wake of global (involving travels to Asian and American nations who operated under Currency Boards at the time) research and close scrutiny for my dissertation, however, I became more and more a euro sceptic. The final product earned me a PhD in economics, DM10,000 from a growling Bundesbank and its scorn ever since: I had come to the conclusion that the euro is unsustainable and cannot last. Shortly afterwards I became a director of the British Conservative think tank and public activist group Keep the Pound (member #4), which emerged as an essential election platform within the Tories by 1994 (at its peak the campaign had 992,000 members in 1999) and ever since.
Events in the past 3 weeks have proved me right. A common currency for incompatible economies such as the Greek, Portuguese, Spanish cannot work in unison with Northern European countries. Robbed of the past 'safety valve' of having individual currencies, which fluctuate according to economic developments and reflect adverse factors such as exploding state budget deficits, sovereign debt, trade and inflation, miserable economic performance tears the whole eurozone apart now. Greece's economic disaster is not a localised trouble anymore, it affects the 16 members of the eurozone.
In a last-ditch effort, rife of desperation and denial of reality, the unelected EU Commission imposed drastic punitive action on European taxpayers, pouring good money - and money it doesn't even have (=new debt) after bad. This in an effort to reverse the downward spiral of the euro on international currency markets and to conceal the criminal neglect committed by irresponsible politicians - from German chancellor Kohl to EU commissioners Delors, Prodi and Barroso - who admitted Greece into the eurozone, well aware that the country tricked itself into the euro by deceipt, fraud and extortion. Too bad we don't have Chinese-style trials for economic crimes as colossal as the creation of the expanded eurozone in 2004. In China, dozens of European leaders, government officials, whole EU commissions and the Greek government would be summarily executed.
After the "rescue package"
Thursday 13 May 2010
Tweedle, Tweedy Tweedy Bum
Armed Robbery Latest Offence of Crime Family
Cheryl Cole's brother, Andrew Tweedy, has been arrested following an armed robbery. The unemployed 29-year-old thug, whose favourite attire is a T-shirt sporting "Vicious" on the chest and whose body is plastered with tattooes linking him with several notorious Tyneside crime gangs, was among nine people held following a raid on a post office in Newcastle's Longbenton district on Monday, during which two men held up the premises with a gun and a machete.
Northumbria Police said they could not reveal the identity of the arrested people but a source confirmed that Tweedy, a numerously convicted criminal, was one of those being held for questioning. The force said three men and a woman remained in custody while five other men had been released on police bail. The gangsters struck at the Hailsham Avenue Post Office at around 4pm and escaped with the shop takings.
Tweedy has described himself in the past as "the black sheep" of his close-knit family. His sister said in an interview last year that she hoped fatherhood would help her older brother change his ways.
It is just the latest public relation headache for Cheryl Cole, who is currently embroiled in the acrimonous legal process to shed the canine "Cole" part of her name. Cheryl was herself on a tailspin and destined to become a slum chav before her singing career took off, with several brushes with the law for offences such as rioting, disturbing the peace, aggravated assault of a public toilet lady, shop-lifting, etc... Now a multi-millionaire, Cheryl could afford to place the Ex-factor on hubby Ashley and avoid to be drawn back to her past of ineptitude and being destitute.
Back to the roots?
The chavette, without bling and ring but with massive hair extensions and Primark clothes and the smaller of her two dogs on her lap (Ashley is too busy pursuing other females, presumably wifes of Chelsea FC team mates; we have class, after all, and want to excel where mate Terry fell short).
About her brother she mumbles: "I haven't actually spoken to him for a year, but he's got a baby and I'm hoping that will be his turning point," she said.
Make babies to become civil? As if that ever works in Britain's inner cities!
Current Music (Spotify linked): Pulp – Disco 2000 - 7" Mix
About her brother she mumbles: "I haven't actually spoken to him for a year, but he's got a baby and I'm hoping that will be his turning point," she said.
Make babies to become civil? As if that ever works in Britain's inner cities!
Current Music (Spotify linked): Pulp – Disco 2000 - 7" Mix
Wednesday 12 May 2010
Pristine Sausages With Tory Meat
Future boss in a message that swayed the LibDems and shut up BBC:
Oh I love the man! Back to bed with a severe case of jetlag and sleep deprivation. Good night, good sleep! Remember: Britain is back on track to deserve the "Great" again.
Current Music (Spotify linked): Tiffany Page – 7 Years Too Late
Oh I love the man! Back to bed with a severe case of jetlag and sleep deprivation. Good night, good sleep! Remember: Britain is back on track to deserve the "Great" again.
Current Music (Spotify linked): Tiffany Page – 7 Years Too Late
After a Brown-Out, a Tory Takeover
Great Expectations
Hard labour ahead: pregnant wife Samantha at his side, new Prime Minister
David Cameron heads a coalition government to undo 13 years of Labour damage
It was entertaining to watch the acerbic exchanges among the regressive Labour leaders, disagreeing whether the loss of 91 seats and absolute majority constitutes a defeat or not, or whether falling 2 million votes behind the progressive Conservatives after a 800,000 surplus in 2005 is meaningful; and what to do with its thuggish Scot leader and how to prostitute themselves to lure the LibDems into a cohabitation agreement at the Downing Street brothel.
In the end, all Party rancour failed and the will of the electorate prevailed: Brown was pushed out as Labour leader first, attacked and derided by Party elders like Peter Mandelson, Ed Balls, Harriet Harman, David Miliband (together with his brother and fellow cabinet member) and Jack Straw next. "In the interest of Britain" the power-hungry and autocratic Scottish hoodlum at Number 10 clinged desperately to his job, offering the LibDems even to stand down after four more months in power until he would finally hand power over to the next Labour leader in autumn. The impertinent arrogance of Mr Brown, to equate "in the interest of the British people" with the power usurping benefit for himself and Labour, unnerved not only the - yet again - betrayed voters but also financial markets: Sterling began to plummet, UK government bonds decreased in value (making it more expensive for Britain to borrow new funds to finance its debt and deficits).
Financial markets pundits welcome the change: Sterling, LSE and Gilts are rising
Finally, last night, a deal between the bolstered Conservative Party and the Liberal Democrats was struck: a formal coalition government - Britain's first in 70 years - to last until late May 2015, reduced Gordon Brown to a private citizen, disgraced and behated, chased out of Number 10, London, government and England (in that order).
David Cameron, Tory leader and new prime minister, forged the coalition with LibDem leader Nick Clegg. Both sides compromised on some issues without betraying their voters and supporters. Ruling out eurozone membership for at least another 8 years is the compromise between our stand of a categorical "NO for all times" and the LibDems' stand of "membership now." I would be very surprised if the euro even exists at that future point.
Both parties are united to tackle the bulging deficits and the dire financial outlook after 13 years of mismanagement and incompetence, and to embark on an ambitious job creation plan, to increase the zero-tax allowance for low income earners (from currently £7,500 to £10,000). The infamous ID scheme of Labour is history: less government and Big Brother is the aim, not a nanny state according to Labour's plots.
William Hague has been appointed as new Foreign Secretary, assuring that the rift between the US and the UK will be closed while the gap of the English Channel between us and them, over in Europe, will become just a bit wider. George Osborne takes over as new Chancellor of the Exchequer, trying to steer Britain out of the Labour created fiscal hole and economic stalemate.
And so, normality returns to Britain at last; the youngest PM in 200 years has taken the reigns of the country, after our Party had the biggest gains of seats since 1915 (+96), while Labour suffered their biggest loss in 50 years (you wouldn't think so if you listened to the Labour leaders proclaiming victory just because the Tories just fell short of an outright majority of 326 MPs). Still, the 315 seats of Tories and allied Ulster unionists were convincing enough for the 57 LibDems to provide a solid majority in the new Commons. "In the interest of the country," Labour are forced to eat humble pie on the opposition benches, sorting out their fractured leadership troika and regrouping to become a serious contender in 2015 - maybe. Their arrogance and denial of reality after the elections was a delectable feast to watch, and the party stands today down on its knees, mocked by voters and humiliated by the Conservative Party. Job well done, guys!
As planned, after this decisive election victory, I will be leaving the banking industry on July 15th, followed by a lengthy vacation until I take up my new post on September 1st.
Tuesday 4 May 2010
End of the Campaign
My personal involvement with the election campaign has come to an abrupt end overnight. My son suffered a severe car accident, and I have lost all motivation to be on the trail smiling at potential voters.
I will be back after Election Day.
I will be back after Election Day.
Sunday 2 May 2010
The Check Is in the Mail
Needless to say, the British Greens didn't get my precious vote. I also had to point out the differences between the daft British Greens and the flamboyantly bourgeoise Greens in France under such socialite as Daniel Cohn-Bendit. Vive la différence, mon cher, but the British Green infantilistas are unelectable!
"57" is the magic number I will anxiously await on Election Day. No, it's not the spot to tap on Heinz Ketchup bottle to allow its content to ooze out; it is the number of newly gained Conservative MPs necessary for me to make the most drastic change in my career. Once the 57th seat beyond the current 210 MPs in the Commons is won, I will end my banking career and switch over to politics. It will also mean turbulent times ahead at home, with my Green-ish fan... I got a taste of what's coming earlier today when Emily suggested that the BP top brass should be expelled to China, for only there would they be executed for polluting the environment so severely along America' southern seaboard.
Current Music (Spotify linked): Les Rita Mitsouko – Ma Vieille Ville
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