Rachel from north London

2010-05-08T08:43:00.008+01:00

I stopped blogging last year, for various reasons.The main one was that a member of my family became suddenly and seriously ill. They did not want their illness made generally well-known and public. Since this blog at one time had a lot of readers, including people who know, or who know of my family, that meant I could not mention what was happening to my family here.As I have always been honest

7/7 The Untold Story: The Big Issue

2009-08-02T14:03:00.001+01:00

The Big Issue has a piece out about the lack of an inquiry into 7/7.

Business Guys on Business Trips

2009-07-18T17:33:00.003+01:00

hat-tip, urban75

Inside British Intelligence

2009-07-11T11:42:00.005+01:00

I'm reading a big fat hardback book at the moment, which means I am reading it slowly, since it is too heavy to carry on the bus to work without wrecking my handbag, and reading it at night makes my wrist ache.I saw this feature in today's Guardian, and thought 'I bet Richard Norton Taylor has already finished his copy'. The book is 'Inside British Intelligence' by Gordon Thomas and covers 100

The neo-Nazi 'asylum seekers'

2009-07-10T16:24:00.006+01:00

Interesting BBC report on the jailing of two men who are the first men in Britain to be convicted of inciting racial hatred online. I wonder if this news will unsettle prominent '7/7 Truth' 'researcher Nick 'Swimming Pools of Auschwitz' Kollerstrom, (who was one of the founders of the 'J7 Truth' campaign) - or any of the other antisemitic creeps, liars and deniers associated with the '9/11 and

On torture and terror

2009-07-10T10:52:00.005+01:00

The real question is: How much truth can I stand?- Friedrich NietzscheWhat madness seized our leaders, after the carnage and horror of the September 11th attacks? The 'rules of the game' changed, the 'gloves came off' - but at what terrible, bloody cost?'MI5 is not like Spooks. In Spooks everything is solved by half a dozen people who

Home Affairs Select Committee announces 'biggest inquiry into 7/7 & terrorists incidents in Britain'

2009-07-08T20:26:00.004+01:00

Britain's anti-terrorist police face budget cuts for the first time since the July 7 attacks, Scotland Yard's head of counter terrorism has warned.John Yates, assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, admitted that having to make savings was "inevitable" despite the risks associated with staging the 2012 Olympic Games in London.His warning came as the most extensive inquiry yet in to the

Anniversary

2009-07-06T20:55:00.002+01:00

Links round up

2009-07-05T12:23:00.004+01:00

Noticed online this week...Sarah Palin resigns! Gosh darn it! Like millions of people all over the world I was completely agog at the bizarrely-entertaining but actually-quite-scary Sarah Palin soap opera of a campaign last summer and autumn. And now, post a triumphantly rabid Pro-Life redmeat tour in the US, covered in a hard-hitting Vanity Fair article which apparently caused senior Republican

Andy Hayman's book, 7/7 conspiracy theories and the campaign for a 7/7 inquiry

2009-07-04T11:37:00.015+01:00

On June 20th, Andy Hayman, CBE, QPM, who was in overall charge of the Counter-terrorism Command and Special Branch at the time of the London 7/7 bombings, and was the UK's National Counter-terrorism Co-ordinator, sensationally came out in favour of an independent public inquiry, in the media as he pre-promoted his new book 'The Terrorist Hunters', serialised in the Times and the subject of a

Luke Jackson: Goodbye London

2009-06-30T09:27:00.003+01:00

via email from Luke Jackson

Refugee Week

2009-06-10T21:29:00.000+01:00

Refugee Week June 15-21 When brutality and terror and abuse are government tools, used against people whose only crime is to want to come to this country for a better life, it’s a vital time to fight for the rights of refugees. It’s Refugee Week from June 15 - 21. There’s loads happening. Perhaps a simple act is in order. Pass it on.Thanks Chicken Yogurt

Rest in peace, Poons

2009-06-08T13:31:00.003+01:00

I was very, very sorry to hear that Dave 'Poons Howling Spoons' has died. Dave was a commenter on my blog and a lovely, sensitive person whom I enjoyed being in intermittent email contact with. He enjoyed writing, and music, and politics, he was kind and thoughtful and life hurt him very badly at times. He tried very hard to overcome depression and alcoholism. My condolences to his friends and

The BNP. Not in my name.

2009-06-08T13:28:00.004+01:00

Please pass around and if anyone has any good ideas besides signing petitions, then let's hear them.

The Mandelson-Draper emails in full.

2009-06-07T13:24:00.001+01:00

For those with the appetite for it.'...this is not a substitute for policy formulation and taking well prepared, well ordered decisions that the government collectively owns.'Yeah. You said it, Peter Mandelson.

A sorry show

2009-06-07T11:25:00.009+01:00

There is still a very great deal I could say about the ISC report, which was published last month. As there's legal proceedings going on, however, I'm not going to go into great detail on this blog, not yet, as I don't see why I should publish everything I now know and thus help the other side. Suffice to say this has not gone away, nor will it, and there will be more soon, so wait and

The 2nd ISC report is out - and here's the questions they're unlikely to answer

2009-05-18T22:14:00.012+01:00

Back in 2007, you may remember, there was a major terrorist trial into several men who had been under surveillance as they planned to make a huge fertiliser bomb and kill civilians in the UK - probably 'slags dancing around' in the Ministry of Sound and shoppers in Bluewater. 'Operation Crevice', it was called. It was a major police and security service success and well done to them for it.The

Meanwhile, elsewhere...

2009-05-11T21:43:00.008+01:00

Noted during my limited surfing this week...1. 'The police wanted a riot'. A depressing and frightening post from Liberal Conspiracy guest blogger John Q Publican2.' British victim of Mumbai terror tells of official neglect back in the UK.I raised this issue of people being victims of terrorism in countries other than their own at the UN Symposium on Victims of Terrorism; so did several other

The courage to talk to the other side

2009-05-07T06:57:00.002+01:00

Last year, I met the amazing Robi Damelin. Robi is in London on Friday and appearing at Regent's Park Mosque. If you can make this, I strongly urge you to go along, it's free and all are welcome .The City Circle is pleased to support the following event this week. Women Without Borders and SAVE (Sisters Against Violent Extremism) invite you to: THE COURAGE TO TALK TO THE OTHER SIDE Speakers

2009-05-05T23:15:00.003+01:00

Jonathan Myerson says Jacqui Smith can keep his DNA for as long as he likes. Daft article, great comments. Which is why I've linked it here.

Adventures in Watercolour

2009-05-04T14:03:00.002+01:00

Adventures in Watercolour, which offers water colour painting tuition courses abroad and in the UK - for both beginners and more advanced students - has some course places available in 2009. Please view the attached flyer or click here for further information http://www.adventuresinwatercolour.com/courses/courses1.htm. Should you know anyone who would like an interesting birthday present or

7/7 Conspiracy Theories: the TRUTH at last

2009-05-02T18:46:00.007+01:00

UPDATE NOTE: the collection of conspiracy theories below is SATIRE. It has been posted because after three years of seeing utter rubbish disseminated on the internet through blogs, forums, home-made 'truth documentaries' and 'truth research', which are nothing more than paranoid speculation, I believe it is time to show this stuff up for what it really is. The sane, clear-eyed calls for a 7/7

'A hole in the road means M15'

2009-05-02T13:44:00.002+01:00

The Telegraph's Neil Tweedie and Duncan Gardham in a fascinating article on paranoia and suspicion in Beeston, where the three men whose trial ended this week, and three of their friends, the 7/7 /2005 suicide bombers hailed from.

CIF:'To understand 7/7 we need an official account'

2009-05-02T11:42:00.007+01:00

It's good to see the issue of an independent inquiry into 7/7 getting support from across the board. On Newsnight, Keith Vaz seemed to be suggesting a Home Affairs Select Committee might consider looking at the matter. The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have both come out in support of an inquiry, with, for example, Shadow Home Secretary Chris Grayling is known to support a judicial

'This is about the coming of spring'

2009-05-01T22:50:00.002+01:00

Sing along (warning: SWEARING, sorry Dad)

7/7 CCTV has been released

2009-05-01T18:43:00.008+01:00

After a three year Freedom of Information battle, the Press Association has got hold of the CCTV referred to in the 2006 Report of the Official Account of the Bombings in London on 7th July 2005, which slim 38-page publication, authored by an anonymous civil servant, along with the 45 page utterly discredited ISC report released on the same day three years ago is all the government has so far

No justice, no truth...yet

2009-04-28T16:45:00.005+01:00

The jury at Kingston Crown Court has today returned a verdict of not guilty in the retrial of three men accused of conspiring with the London bombers to cause explosions. Two of the men were found guilty of attempting to go to a terrorist training camp in Pakistan.I respect the jury's decision, and having watched much of this trial the first time around, it was clear that this was always a

The Times, the crimes....

2009-04-21T23:27:00.002+01:00

The Times has started a new crimeblog.Sean O'Neill really knows his stuff and has a wealth of smart and cynical experience to share.Well worth keeping an eye on and comments are most welcome, so get in there, and get argumentative.

Torture

2009-04-17T17:56:00.002+01:00

Anyone who is wondering about Obama's decision to be open about torture and to stop using it, who disagrees and thinks torture is useful should read this

New post-mortem on Ian Tomlinson says haemmorrhage not heart attack.

2009-04-17T15:27:00.004+01:00

'Natural causes'? 'No contact with police?' That was how the police deliberately briefed the media in the aftermath.Unbelievable.UPDATE: Officer who struck Tomlinson interviewed under caution on suspicion of manslaughter

2009-04-16T23:09:00.000+01:00

Hell yeah!

'Considerable damage to national security'

2009-04-16T18:59:00.018+01:00

It is getting kind of tiresome now, how frequently it seems to happen. Something embarrassing happens to a senior person in government and all of a sudden it's OMG! QUICK! LOOK OVER THERE! A THREAT TO NATIONAL SECURITY! 1111!!!The latest headlines concern the scathing parliamentary report in which it is stated that the threat to national security had been grossly exaggerated just before the Crown

Photographing protests in the UK: a guide

2009-04-15T23:44:00.004+01:00

http://www.urban75.org/photos/photographing-protests.html. See alsohttp://www.urban75.org/photos/photographers-rights-and-the-law.htmlPlease pass around.ta and good luck.

Remembering Hillsborough

2009-04-15T22:02:00.001+01:00

Shame on you

2009-04-14T21:09:00.006+01:00

'Just let me leave', the black man says to the police. 'It's only me', he adds, making it clear that he wants to leave the protest and go on his way. It's not clear if he is even a protester.'And I'm telling you, you're not [leaving]' says a white female police officer.Two other police officers shove him, then a third. They're all white as well, not that this makes a difference.'What are you

''Oi!''

2009-04-12T13:12:00.003+01:00

A police officer tries to restrain the police medic who is brandishing his baton with what looks like the intention to bring it down hard. We don't know if he managed to restrain him, only that he knocked the medic's hat off. Photos copyright of LittleRichardJohn and used under creative commons non-commercial licence, as yet without explicit originator permission. via JustinFITwatch blogs are

Amanda Platell's Mail Column: truly repulsive

2009-04-11T18:34:00.004+01:00

Amanda Platell, writing in the Mail on Saturday accuses the bereaved family of Ian Tomlinson of a 'tawdry lust for fame'.Yes, really. She concedes that the video of the police officer striking him on the thigh, then throwing him to the ground as he walks past with his hands in his pockets is 'disturbing' - but then writes'...another unpleasant insight into modern Britain and it concerns the way

Beef stew with leeks and mushrooms and things

2009-04-11T18:08:00.007+01:00

I am taking a short break from worrying about everything going to hell in a handcart to make beef stew for tomorrow, when cultured gourmands Hendo and Ms T, (fresh back from Greece), my friend the dissolute reprobate and soppy cat-sitter Russell, and possibly my glamorous yet bonkers sister are expected.The stew is supposed to be a credit-crunch supper, but a kilo of good braising steak still

The dark side of Dubai

2009-04-11T12:29:00.002+01:00

J and I have friends in Dubai. J has been to stay with them, twice. I didn't go, partly because I had to work, partly because Dubai spooks me. It is the last place I would want to go and live.Anyway, this is Johann Hari's excellent piece on it. I hope our friends come home soon.

'This is not a riot!'

2009-04-11T10:29:00.008+01:00

I'm assuming everyone's seen this already, but if you haven't...And now read this report.The history of the 'this is not a riot' tactic can be found here - a great round up of links.UPDATE: via Avaaz: 4000 signatures alreadyBystander Ian Tomlinson was hit by a policeman and died during G20 protests last week. The right to peaceful protest is a vital part of our democracy -- tell the Home

Sir Robert Peel's Nine Points of Policing

2009-04-11T10:22:00.002+01:00

PICTURE: A POLICE MEDIC AT THE G20 PROTESTS 2009Credit to Flickr user AmJamJazz ( thanks GirlOneTrack)* The basic mission for which the police exist is to prevent crime and disorder.* The ability of the police to perform their duties is dependent upon public approval of police actions.* Police must secure the willing co-operation of the public in voluntary observance of the law to be able to

The Quick And The Dead

2009-04-09T20:47:00.004+01:00

Three appalling police news stories in a week. It's been a terrible week for the police. And it's been a worse week for the family of a schoolgirl crossing the road, when she was hit by a police car which was travelling at over 70mph without lights or siren on,for the UK's most senior counter-terrorism officer, who accidentally flashed a secret file about an imminent operation whilst walking to

'If you've nothing to hide, you've nothing to fear'

2009-04-07T22:34:00.002+01:00

The Guardian obtained this footage of Ian Tomlinson at a G20 protest in London shortly before he died. It shows Tomlinson, who was not part of the demonstration, being assaulted from behind and pushed to the ground by baton-wielding policeRead the full story of Ian Tomlinson's death at the G20 protestsupdate: from Girl Rachel, I hope you don't mind my adding to this thread, that people are

1:10

2009-03-05T13:43:00.004Z

Amnesty are asking people to draw attention to a shocking statistic: ‘Each year, around 1 in 10 women in Britain experience rape or other violence. One in four local authorities leave female victims of violence without the specialised support they need’. Amnesty want to persuade thousands of people on Facebook, Myspace and Twitter to update their avatars and statuses at 1:10 on Friday 6th March.

On prisoner suffrage and the euro-elections

2009-03-04T21:15:00.003Z

Dizzy Thinks...are the euro-elections validity going to be legally challenged?Jailhouse Lawyer aka John Hirst has been working for prisoner suffrage for a very long time. Let's see if this gets anywhere.And before people appear in the comments to have a go at me for linking to John: I am quite aware of John's past, and it has always been my opinion that people who commit horrendous crimes should

'I was told that it had been decided that as a matter of War on Terror policy we should now obtain intelligence from torture...'

2009-03-04T20:49:00.004Z

(via Justin)Former Ambassador Craig Murray needs your help. Craig writes...'On Tuesday 10 March the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights will discuss whether or not to hear my evidence on the UK government's policy of using intelligence from torture. They discussed whether to hear my evidence on 3 March but failed to reach a conclusion. The government is lobbying hard for my exclusion.

If I was in charge of things...

2009-03-03T08:05:00.003Z

...Fred Goodwin could keep his bloody bonus - but only on the following condition. He spends eight hours a day, five days a week, saying sorry, in person, or via a handwritten letter which he has to go and hand-deliver himself, personally, to every single person badly affected by his utterly disastrous trashing of RBS, until he is allowed to retire at 75. He can have 20 days off a year, plus bank

..there can never be perfect security

2009-03-01T14:18:00.003Z

Noticed this, an extract from a contribution on Comment is Free, by 'peitha''...there can never be perfect security.Tell me, would you accept more deaths on London Tube trains or more surveillance etc to stop them (or some of them anyway)?The classic mistake that mass surveillance is effective in stopping such attacks.Take the example of a Tube (suicide) bomber.When, exactly, are you going to

Yesterday at the convention and conference

2009-03-01T00:21:00.010Z

Arrived late, after getting lost walking out of Russell Square station and found halls heaving with people, stalls with literature, cartons of orange juice piled high, and shambolic, good natured queues to register, and speakers I wanted to hear going on all over the place across 8 floors. Got approached on the stairs by two '9/11 Truthers' who tried to press a DVD upon me, which combined with

Today's speech on liberties

2009-02-28T23:34:00.004Z

Hello, I've just rushed here from up the road where the Convention on Modern Liberty is taking place and would like to thank you for inviting me here today to speak. I've been asked to talk on 'Why did we lose the argument on liberty versus security?'This is pretty defeatist stiff, isn't it? We are having the argument, we have lost much but we have not lost everything yet. The very fact that

The Convention on Modern Liberty/6 Billion Ways

2009-02-28T10:25:00.003Z

It's today. It's completely sold out. All the action can be watched live, here.Right, I'm off, I'm running incredibly late, it started at 9.45am and is expected to be rammed. It's going to be great. Might try liveblogging it, if I can find space.Later on, I'll be at 6 Billion Ways, speaking at 5.30pm as part of the civil liberties/terrorism panel.Amazing that we have 2 mega-events on the same day

Happy Birthday Liberty

2009-02-23T22:35:00.005Z

75 years of fighting to protect civil liberties, defending human rights.Liberty is a small team of cheerful, committed, clever, generous, dedicated, passionate, brave people, crammed uncomplainingly into a far-too-small, messily over-crowded office in Southwark. They do everything on a shoe-string, they garner enormous respect for what they do, they work bloody hard as a team - and they deserve

Liberty, justice, torture and bollocks

2009-02-21T11:04:00.013Z

"We never used to accept that our foreign policy ever had any effect on terrorism...Well, that was clearly bollocks."Lord West, security adviser to PM Gordon Brown, 27 January 2009For the last three years I have been saying, on this blog and elsewhere, that there is a bloody obvious direct link between the growth of extremism in the UK, with the attendant danger of terrorist attacks from a tiny

Barack Obama's inaugaration

2009-01-20T20:27:00.004Z

'The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness. 'Amen.'As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals.

Not the worst day of the year

2009-01-19T19:36:00.002Z

The BBC says today is 'the most depressing day of the year'. 'Weather, debt, time since Christmas, time since failing our New Year's resolutions, low motivational levels and the feeling of a need to take action' are the culprits apparently.It took me nearly 2 hours to get to work, and I arrived with cold wet feet and a headache after Northern line chaos and then had to get all my stuff out of a

Marching...

2009-01-17T11:29:00.005Z

It is not anti-Semitic to hate the actions of the IDF in Gaza and to feel incandescent with anger at the bombing and maiming, the traumatising and starving of the desperate people of Gaza.But the anti-Semites, the conspiracy theorists, the stirrers, the haters, the bottle-throwers and swastika-daubers, the flag-burners, the extremists, those who fan the flames and hand out the leaflets calling

'Mr Chairman, no one is above the law'

2009-01-17T11:15:00.001Z

Video via Neil from AmnestyMeanwhile, via Democracy Now, some righteous signs to be hopeful about...JUAN GONZALEZ: President-elect Barack Obama’s nominee to be attorney general, Eric Holder, has declared waterboarding to be a form of torture and has vowed to shut down Guantanamo Bay. At his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Holder also pledged to restore credibility to

Hicham Yezza

2009-01-06T20:36:00.004Z

Sorry I'm late with this. I really can't believe that this politically-motivated shabby little Home Office stitch-up is still going on. Charge or release. Charge or release, god dammit. Remember, the comprehensive thrashing the government got over 42 days? You'd think they might get a grip, but no, no, no.Here we have the sorry saga of the Home Office's attempts latest attempts to shamefacedly

Gaza: the aid worker's diary

2009-01-04T19:56:00.003Z

For those who have not already found it, this diary of an aid worker is compelling, terrible reading.The first entry was 27 December, and ended'I used to describe what was going on in Gaza as a catastrophe, now I have no words. I received news that the brother of one of my work colleagues has been killed in the attacks. They had been looking for him all day and discovered him under the ruins of a

Encounter Point

2009-01-03T13:40:00.010Z

At the end of November, I went to Vienna to be part of the launch of SAVE, an initiative from Women Without Borders. One of the first incredible people I met, in three days and sleepless nights of meeting incredible people, was Robi Damelin, who is originally from South Africa.Robi had been active in the anti-apartheid movement. When 'it was getting very pressured and ugly', she came to Israel as

A cherry short of a Schwarzwalderkirschtorte?...

2008-12-05T17:48:00.013Z

Hello to anyone still reading; sorry for the radio silence since the glorious Obama-dawn broke in America. I needed a break from the internet after the election madness, it all got a bit OCD, poll-checking every half hour, and I've started a new contract job. And in my spare time I've been over in Vienna with 35 amazing women who've been launching a new global anti-extremism network initiative,

Behind the scenes at the US elections

2008-11-07T15:00:00.002Z

Newsweek has a fascinating series of in-depth pieces on life in the McCain, Clinton and Obama camps, written by reporters who promised not to publish until after the election. It starts here.

Freedom US 08

2008-11-04T08:52:00.002Z

Dear American readers, If you are lucky enough to have a vote in the US elections, please use it. Even though the lines may be long, the system chaotic, the weather bad, your feet sore, the pollsters telling you that you don't need to, he'll win anyway...please vote. Thank you. Really, thank you. And I hope that you have a great day.

More than a righteous wind

2008-11-03T10:41:00.004Z

Some speeches electrify their listeners, others only gas them.- AnonIt was February 2007 when I first blogged about Senator Barack Obama, the young politician who had electrified the crowds at the 2004 Democratic convention with his surging, hopeful rhetoric. The speech he gave on that cold February day in Springfield got this UK blogger energised and optimistic about politics again, about

Blairwatch Exclusive: Why the Economist backed Barack

2008-10-31T13:11:00.003Z

Quarsan has the Economist's David Rennie on MP3 explaining the Economist's endoresemt of Obama, followed by Gerald Loftus, Democrat Abroad with campaign insights and what Obama will do in office, if elected.

Well, here it is: the Obama 30 min ad

2008-10-30T00:35:00.005Z

I'll review it, and update response to it when I've watched it.update: rippling corn, long roads, anxious yet smiling faces in crowds, flags waving, kids, parents...woman who can't afford healthcare...and the ad keeps stopping. Argh. Obama in suit, making speech at DNC, talking about waitresses dependent on tips who need to take day off to care for sick child... cut to him in West Wing-looking

This Obama 30 min primetime informercial....

2008-10-29T12:28:00.008Z

...is really worrying me. ( See HuffPo for latest details, or ABC Newsblog)It's total overkill. For starters, it's delaying ball game coverage for half an hour, which is going to really irritate sports fans on principle, Obama fans or not. I can just see it playing in sports bars, and fans jeeringly chucking peanuts at the screen ( and Fox gleefully filming it all). It cost millions, when money

If I were President...

2008-10-29T10:43:00.004Z

The American Civil Liberties Union has released a document today called Actions For Restoring America. It is a set of detailed recommendations on steps that the new president should take to 'clean house,' renew freedom, and restore the nation's reputation, actions that the executive branch could take on its own.''On Day One, the next president should, by executive order, direct all agencies to

October surprise: attack Syria?

2008-10-27T16:55:00.003Z

If it is supposed to be 'a message', it is rather hard to work out what the message is supposed to be. A parting shot by the White House, toys, prams, and so on? Juan Cole, who I always rush to look at when something like this happens thinks it might be to prevent an Al Qaeda in Iraq assasination or bombing 'spectacular' that would hurt McCain and help Obama, ( me: did they think they'd got a

2008-10-27T12:09:00.003Z

Troy Davis has had a last-minute execution reprieve. His attourneys have 15 days to prove they can meet stringent requirements to continue his appeal process.The US Election may yet be stolen by the Republicans with vote-suppression tactics. It is starting to make US mainstream media with CNN covering instances of voting problems.I have now been ill for eight days and am sick to death of it.

McCain vs. Obama - DANCE OFF

2008-10-25T15:21:00.000+01:00

wassup? 2008

2008-10-25T02:01:00.000+01:00

Reasons why McCain should have picked Paris Hilton

2008-10-23T23:13:00.002+01:00

She's smarter.She's prettier.She's a highly-effective businesswoman.She already has clothes.

URGENT: Worldwide day of action for Troy Davies

2008-10-23T16:24:00.004+01:00

Have you got 5 minutes to try to stop a death row execution? If so, thank you and please read on.Troy Davis is scheduled to be executed in Georgia at 7pm local time on 27 October. He has been on death row for 17 years for a murder he maintains he did not commit.The Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles has already rejected clemency for Troy Davis, and has indicated that it will not reconsider its

Hurray for Sir Ken and Dame Stella

2008-10-22T21:01:00.002+01:00

'We must not degrade our liberties in the name of defending them' writes the outgoing Director of Public Prosecutions, decrying the giant database plan as the paraphenalia of paranoia. The Telegraph is in full agreement.More reporting from the Times and elsewhereAs the Independent blogger Archie Bland points out' ... the really startling chorus of opposition to the raft of illiberal policies

True Americans

2008-10-22T19:48:00.002+01:00

A thoughtful, interesting site, worth checking out.

Guest conspiracy theory of the month, Admiral Mullen's busy diary and whither the 'October Surprise'?

2008-10-22T10:06:00.009+01:00

And that's my longest blog post header ever. Pre-election jitters, October surprises, it's speculation time so here is my guest conspiracy theory, the third in an occasional series. Props to me if I'm right but I'd much, much rather not be.I note that, over the weekend, Admiral Mike Mullen - Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff - had a secretive meeting in Lake Placid with Europe's military

ACORN - the truth

2008-10-21T23:57:00.005+01:00

Much huffing and puffing about 'voter fraud' as McCain's campaign falls over. For those interested....Now watch this. Republicans are demonising ACORN - but the real vote suppression culprits are not ACORN at all. Steal Back Your Vote! from Greg Palast on Vimeo.Newsweek has an analysis from factcheck.org'The McCain-Palin campaign accuses ACORN, a community activist group that operates

Passports needed to buy mobile phones....

2008-10-21T18:23:00.003+01:00

...and 248 Times readers pile in to point out why this is a stupid idea. Ha.Caring about the erosion of civil liberties, voicing angry dissent at State intrusiveness, everyone's at it these days. No wonder the Home Office want to police the internet.On the subject of citizens making their thoughts known and challenging politicians pronouncements, check Huffington Post on why the internet is

Cleeseblog

2008-10-20T15:37:00.002+01:00

John Cleese has got a blog! Hurrah!Well worth popping over to hear his thoughts on Palin the parrot and read about silly interviewers.

The US elections in pictures, and words, an occasional series

2008-10-19T23:58:00.009+01:00

PICTURE FROM OHIO REPUBLICAN RALLY OCTOBER 2008Excerpt follows from Colin Powell interview transcript, October 19, 2008'Now, I understand what politics is all about. I know how you can go after one another, and that's good. But I think this goes too far. And I think it has made the McCain campaign look a little narrow. It's not what the American people are looking for. And I look at these kinds

Told ya

2008-10-19T20:20:00.002+01:00

said so on Wednesdaynearly right eh? 4 days out. Powell 4 Obama/Biden O8

100,000 strong - Obama breaks records in St Louis

2008-10-18T23:10:00.006+01:00

Native son Chuck Berry seems appropriate: you can't catch me.I will write a post soon on why this election is so god damn personal, why I dream about this election most nights, why I have never been so obsessed with an election in my god damn life. But for now. Cheers. And God bless St Louis. ( 'world turned upsidedown' - NYT)

Saturday night doomed romance

2008-10-18T21:48:00.003+01:00

J has arranged to go out and watch the rugby with his best mate, then hit the pub. I have a sore throat so I leapt at the chance to stay in and watch dance all night long. Can't remember when I last had a chance to have the TV to myself on a Saturday night. I have been indulging myself watching Carlos Acosta, the best male dancer of the last decade, in the best Romeo and Juliet since Alessandra

Seven years and one day ago.....

2008-10-18T12:20:00.005+01:00

...history might have taken a very diferent direction.

Paedo-jihadi-facebook-terror!

2008-10-17T15:27:00.011+01:00

Paedo terrorist rapist jihadists are using teh internetz to spread filth and evil! OMG WTF!!11 !!Or How the Internet Must be Controlled, by Jacqui Smith and Geoff Hoon.After last week's humiliating failure of the government's latest 'anti-terror' strategy, which resulted in them dropping their plans to hold people for 42 days without charging them, and to hold secret inquests in State-implicated

The US elections in pictures, an occasional series

2008-10-16T14:32:00.003+01:00

Pictures from last minute of the final Presidential debate ( different angles, same moment) And check out this amazing clip which shows exactly where McCain campaign insiders have been getting all their tactics and strategies from. Spooky!

Over to the Guardian for Presidenty-live-bloggy-fun....

2008-10-16T01:57:00.003+01:00

Thank God this is the last one. My nerves are shredded. Here we are, liveblogging and commenting. Go Oliver Burkeman! Hi Creekwhore!As we're on the final furlong, it's going to have to be the posh red wine.SHOWTIME!

Monday's speech

2008-10-16T01:14:00.003+01:00

'Thank you very much to Kate Allen, Director of Amnesty International, and to all the Amnesty team for the invitation to speak tonight at this protest against the government's latest counter-terrorism bill which includes the plans to detain terrorism suspects for up to 42 days without charge. It's a privilege and an honour to be here, and it is great to see how many people have come out on a cold

A prediction

2008-10-15T17:01:00.002+01:00

Colin Powell will endorse Obama tomorrow, after the third and final Presidential debate.And Obama will ask him to serve in his cabinet.Anyone else want to talk crystal balls in the comments? Cool picture from the Guardian

The '7/7 conspiracy to cause explosions' retrial starts 13th January 2009

2008-10-14T14:40:00.002+01:00

Just in case anyone was wondering.

Secret inquests dropped as well.

2008-10-14T14:18:00.002+01:00

Hurrah! Hurrah!Hurray! Hurray!

42 days: government loses the argument

2008-10-14T08:46:00.006+01:00

Hurrah for the House of Lords who threw out 42 days last night. Resoundingly, and thumpingly, in one of the biggest votes against the government ever. Normally this would be big news, especially after all the political capital invested in it by Gordon Brown but Bankmageddon drew the fire. UPDATE: Great piece from Shami who has done more than perhaps anyone else to nail this.I was up in Leeds

The economic crisis in pictures, an occasional series

2008-10-13T12:18:00.004+01:00

Apologies for the language, but I had to share it. Via several people, via email.

SLEEPWALK AGAINST 42 DAYS

2008-10-13T09:00:00.006+01:00

BBC news, Yorkshire Post, Independent, Indie leading article, InTheNewsAmnesty press release and see also PROTECTTHEHUMAN.COMThe ‘mass sleepwalk’ starts at 7.15pm on 13 October at the Unitarian Chapel on City Square, Leeds and the film screening is at the Hi Fi Club, Central Road at around 7.45pm.Wear pyjamas/dressing gowns/carry pillows. More detail on march here. Sign the petition here.Blog

Freedom reading

2008-10-12T11:37:00.005+01:00

Tomorrow, 42 days and the anti-terror bill is to be debated in the House of Lords. Liberty asked 42 writers, including Philip Pullman, Julian Barnes, Monica Ali, Ian Rankin, Alain de Botton, Ali Smith and AL Kennedy for their thoughts. See 42 authors slam 42 days ( Observer) , Huffington PostYou can read all 42 contributions here on the Liberty site.Meanwhile over at the Telegraph, Shadow Home

Are we all suspected terrorists now?

2008-10-11T15:09:00.012+01:00

This week we learned that if you've ever had professional contact with someone who had a radical past - such as a direct-action anti-Vietnam-war protester who used explosives to attack government buildings in the 1960s - then you can be called a 'terrorist' yourself and an angry mob can call for you to be beheaded, blown up or otherwise killed, whilst someone who is running for the position of US

Inside Palin's Church

2008-10-10T18:54:00.004+01:00

I wrote about the hate-mongering liar, religious extremist Governor Sarah Palin last week. The 'spiritual warfare' against 'demons', 'evil spirits' and 'witches'. The charging for rape kits to victims, the ban on abortion and the morning after pill even for victims of rape and incest, and all the rest of it. Think it all sounds too unbelievable to be true?Here is a video, shot in Alaska, at her

42 days - Liberty film 'Imagine'

2008-10-10T17:15:00.004+01:00

LIBERTY has more information. See also post below for the SLEEPWALK protest in Leeds organised by Amnesty. Petition here.

42 days - get ready for Monday - SLEEPWALK

2008-10-10T16:29:00.006+01:00

42 days has been reported as, if not a dead parrot, certainly a very poorly one.Monday sees the House of Lords, our unelected saviours of democracy, debating the bill. And ripping it up into little bits and jumping on it, one hopes.However, it is not dead yet and it is both a moral duty and a pleasure to point out to the government what a disgraceful thing it is, that they should even think about