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Tame Political Blogs

Official New Labour Blogs The US has got used to the political bloggers, but the Uk's Labour party is now accepting applications from bloggers to be an official blogger at their Annual Conference. They're offering access to all the key speeches and events at Conference and you’ll be blogging from the floor about your experiences and 'special access'. Would a blogger be compromised by this?
posted to MetaFilter by quarsan at 11:08 AM on August 9, 2006 (13 comments)

of goats and the law

Should we think goat when it comes to saving important data? As part of a modernisation campaign the UK Parliament may ditch vellum for computerised records. But what will last the longest?
posted to MetaFilter by quarsan at 1:02 AM on January 3, 2003 (20 comments)

Local Heroes

There's one man that represents where I was brought up in Lancashire. Steeplejack Fred Dibnah. His interests include industrial archeology, traction engines and wearing flat caps. Recently he has been making history programmes for the BBC where his enthusiasm and interest in what other people are saying is given a fresh twist by his working class perspective and respect for the builders of castles, mills etc. A great man with his own way with words. So, who are your local heroes?
posted to MetaFilter by quarsan at 2:24 AM on December 18, 2002 (8 comments)

to discuss the EU and Asia one year on, in the...

I'm off to a conference today to discuss the EU and Asia one year on, in the European Parliament which should be very interesting indeed. Almost every Asian and Middle East ambassador will be present . What are you going to do today?
posted to MetaFilter by quarsan at 10:23 PM on September 10, 2002 (10 comments)

the choice of dr rowan williams as the new...

the choice of dr rowan williams as the new archbishop of canterbury is inspired and his acceptence speech filled me with hope. so, i am hoping that the new archbish will bring some sense of moral guidance to the country and remind us of what the church is for. the guardian has an illuminating introduction to the man and his beliefs: the head of the anglican church in his own words has extracts from his many books. here is a short quote from Writing in the Dust: reflections on 11th september: "Last words. We have had the chance to read the messages sent by passengers on the planes to their spouses and families in the desperate last minutes; and we have seen the spiritual advice apparently given to the terrorists by one of their number, the thoughts that should have been in their minds as they approached their death they had chosen (for themselves and for others). Something of the chill of 11 September lies in the contrast. The religious words are, in the cold light of day, the words that murderers are saying to themselves to make a martyr's drama out of a crime. The non-religious words are testimony to what religious language is supposed to be about - the triumph of pointless, gratuitous love, the affirming of faithfulness even when there is nothing to be done or salvaged." there is a larger extract online: part one and part two
posted to MetaFilter by quarsan at 1:01 AM on July 25, 2002 (6 comments)

This approach has got to be better than calling...

eu seeks closer ties to iran This approach has got to be better than calling states 'evil'. This is the same as the US keeping links with China, a less than perfect regime, and one that could be called a sponsor of terrorism. " Mr Patten told the BBC: "It can't seriously be anybody's idea of a good way of promoting stability in the region to think that we should isolate and cut Iran off for ever." He said there should be recognition of the strength of the reform movement and be aware that there were other elements which were far less friendly to the West. "If you don't talk to the reasonable people, you fetch up with fewer reasonable people to talk to." it's been over a decade since i was in Iran (1992) and the reformers/moderates ahve gained very significant ground since then. The Axis of Evil speech did tremendous harm for moderate Iranians, as it seemed to justify the hardliners stance on the west. your thoughts.....
posted to MetaFilter by quarsan at 10:51 PM on June 17, 2002 (13 comments)

the world needs people like him....

spike milligan dies the world needs people like him.
posted to MetaFilter by quarsan at 2:58 AM on February 27, 2002 (28 comments)

the guardian newspaper asked various people, like...

what will 2002 bring? the guardian newspaper asked various people, like the british tiolet association, for their thoughts on the new year. the result is an interesting portrait of britain today
posted to MetaFilter by quarsan at 3:11 PM on January 1, 2002 (2 comments)

chinese news media's flash tribute for the WTC...

this is very odd indeed chinese news media's flash tribute for the WTC tragedy rough translation for the song: elderly american goes to work
was very frightened someone drove a plane into the building and it fell down but he was very fit so he ran down 937 stairs and got away the news people asked him to say a few words that was all he could say he said someone crashed a plane into the building they were terrorists this is bad because it affects ordinary people
posted to MetaFilter by quarsan at 12:21 AM on December 10, 2001 (15 comments)

and hosts a detailed website, that gives chapter...

BBC Panorama exposes far right group and hosts a detailed website, that gives chapter and verse. well, that the BNP are a bunch of nazi's is no real expose, but as someone who fought against these fools in the 70's and 80's, we need to remain vigilant
posted to MetaFilter by quarsan at 4:40 AM on November 26, 2001 (4 comments)

interesing piece form the uk guardian's...

house of saud close to collapse interesing piece form the uk guardian's investigative editor david leigh, it seems the saudi govern,ent's recent pr blitz has failed and is symptomatic of a deeper malaise
posted to MetaFilter by quarsan at 1:05 PM on November 21, 2001 (9 comments)

"There will come a day when the Government...

Blair's Road to Nemesis "There will come a day when the Government commits suicide" Columist of the year, Andrew Rawnsley's devastating critique of new labour is also supported by the BBC's Mark Mardell "Blair will get bored of just being the British PM soon". Ex-labour deputy leader Roy Hattersley says He must be stopped
posted to MetaFilter by quarsan at 1:57 AM on November 18, 2001 (8 comments)

until 2005, despite being a labour party pledge...

blair postpones freedom of information act until 2005, despite being a labour party pledge for 25 years...... after the undemocratic anti-terrorism legislation forced through parliament on monday, what hope for real civil liberties in the uk?
posted to MetaFilter by quarsan at 11:40 AM on November 16, 2001 (5 comments)

there is some scary stuff included in these...

blair to declare state of emergency, suspend human rights there is some scary stuff included in these proposals. including internment without trial there are serious implications here, and i find it frightening.
posted to MetaFilter by quarsan at 12:46 AM on November 14, 2001 (46 comments)

reports on the attacks from inside Afghanistan. i...

BBC's John Simpson reports on the attacks from inside Afghanistan. i rate his reporting and am a great admirer of hir work and books
posted to MetaFilter by quarsan at 12:41 PM on October 7, 2001 (4 comments)

there is a god, and his name is Michael...

England 5 Germany 1 there is a god, and his name is Michael Owen
posted to MetaFilter by quarsan at 12:59 PM on September 1, 2001 (37 comments)

security forces banned from football tourney -...

stopping football holigans in the gambia security forces banned from football tourney - "the beating of some of the footballers, team officials and supporters of the opposing team which resulted in the admission to hospital of a footabller and the serious wounding of some supporters is a total violation of fair play and can no longer be entertained by the committee." well you've got to draw the line somewhere
posted to MetaFilter by quarsan at 7:48 AM on August 26, 2001 (7 comments)

, of course the word here is that they bribed...

Tanzania 9th most corrupt country , of course the word here is that they bribed transparency international to place them above kenya....... according to the director "HIV AIDS is killing millions of Africans, and in many of the countries where AIDS is at its deadliest the problem is compounded by the fact that corruption levels are seen to be very high. While it is imperative that richer countries provide the fruits of medical research at an affordable price to address this human tragedy, it is also essential that corrupt governments do not steal from their own people. This is now an urgent priority if lives are to be saved." local traditions don't help either. what this story does not say is that 4,000 girls will be circumsised at this ceremony and the govt/police won't interfere.
posted to MetaFilter by quarsan at 10:34 PM on July 16, 2001 (5 comments)

it's not easy being an african wine lover....

it's not easy being an african wine lover.
posted to MetaFilter by quarsan at 12:56 AM on June 23, 2001 (6 comments)

moral of the story: if an undercover cop asks you...

anguish of a drug war judge moral of the story: if an undercover cop asks you to sell crack opposite the white house, just say no. wrong answer gets you framed for 10 years
posted to MetaFilter by quarsan at 12:51 AM on June 22, 2001 (3 comments)

have found a novel, if unethical way, to avoid...

catholic priests in africa have found a novel, if unethical way, to avoid catching aids. they rape nuns. the foundation for democracy in africa have a frightening report on the epidemic.
posted to MetaFilter by quarsan at 1:11 AM on June 18, 2001 (8 comments)

- I lived in this small community under Tanzania's...

Bermi Village - I lived in this small community under Tanzania's Rift Valley for two years. After talks with village leaders, we started to build the site. I'm about to return to the village to develop it further. There's precious little written by Africans on the net and this seems to be the only site by a rural African community. Have you any thoughts or advice for me?
posted to MetaFilter by quarsan at 3:50 AM on April 3, 2001 (23 comments)

say the lake district is "completely open". oh no...

cumbria tourist board say the lake district is "completely open". oh no it's not
posted to MetaFilter by quarsan at 2:44 PM on March 30, 2001 (2 comments)

the arrival of foot and mouth in the centre of the...

the arrival of foot and mouth in the centre of the lake district national park is horrific. One thing is clear; the Lake District will never be the same again.
posted to MetaFilter by quarsan at 4:29 AM on March 26, 2001 (11 comments)