Microtrends: Broad Church Division
Good news for libertarian Wiccans: it’s now safe to vote for Bob Barr.
Alex Massie
Thursday
Alea Iacta Est
Yesterday I wondered if David Miliband was aiming to be Labour’s William Hague. Today it seems that he’s more likely to be the second coming of Michael Portillo. His bizarre appearance on Jeremy Vine’s radio show this afternoon during which he said, inter alia, that “I’ve always wanted to support Gordon as leader” leaves him
Question of the Day | 31 July 2008
Courtesy of the BBC: It’s the stuff of science fiction, but could mirrors in space or sea water sprayed in the air be shortcuts to halt global warming? What do you think?
Wednesday
Greece is the place
OK, so I’m back. I can confirm that anyone wishing a delightful week, free of the grimey concerns of everyday life, could do an awful lot worse than spend it aboard a yacht pottering around the Ionian Sea. Blissful. Alas, it could not last. and so here we are: returned to Scotland, wet and grey
Brown’s Downfall
Obviously, there’s lots to say about the Glasgow East by-election result. We’ll get there eventually. But in the meantime here, via Iain Dale, is an updated version of Gordon Brown in his bunker. Most amusing. Warning: the sub-titles contain strong language.
Cricketing Replay
Regular readers may not be surprised that I’m sceptical of the benefits of the new referral system being trialled in the Sri Lanka-India series. This morning’s events at Edgbaston demonstrate why. Kevin Pietersen was given out caught in the gully off Jacques Kallis. Replays and the “Snickometer” suggested that he’d hit his pad, not the
Miliband’s Moment?
No, I don’t think so. Do you? Really? On the other hand, Danny Finkelstein thinks that David Miliband’s piece in the Guardian this morning signals his determination to be a candidate to succeed Gordon Brown. Rosa Prince agrees. And there was me thinking that Miliband is the intelligent one. Doesn’t he remember William Hague’s example,
Obama: Saviour of the World?
I suppose it must irritate liberals that the press has picked up on the conservative claim – or meme – that Barack Obama is, even by the lofty standards of Presidential candidates, rather more pleased with himself than is seemly. Here, for instance, the Washington Post’s sketch-writer (actually, he’s America’s only sketch-writer) Dana Millbank today:
Blogging Orwell
This is really rather splendid: starting next month, George Orwell’s diaries will be published on the web, one day at a time, 70 years after they were written. Harry’s Place has more. [Via, Andrew]
What is wrong with England?
A dismal day at Edgbaston that took one back to the grim, hapless days of the late 1980s and almost the entire 1990s. Yes, England really were that bad. Batting first on a calm track they subsided to 231 all out. In reply, South Africa have ambled to 38-1. Now you may say that this
Thursday
Hague on Blair (and Brown)
It’s possible I have posted this before, but William Hague’s riff on Tony Blair becoming “President of Europe” also bears another viewing:
Wednesday
Facebook fun
A wee reminder: Facebook now permits you to sign up as a “fan” of this blog. It’s not altogether clear what the point of this is but it seems certain that there must be one. Perhaps you can sign up and be entered into a draw to win exciting Debatable Land merchandise. Or something. Anyway,
Department of Appalling Self-Promotion
Iain Dale wants you to vote for your favourite political blogs (written by Britons or furriners resident in the United Kingdom). Obviously this means you can vote for this one. All you need to do is go here or (better) email Iain here and leave your list of ten blogs in the comments section. What
Tuesday
Disaster in the Land of the Long White Cloud
Yes, I know I have posted this before, But, dang it, I’m sailing around Corfu. And anyway, Left Arm Chinaman’s blu-tak recreation of England’s horror-show in New Zealand last winter deserves a fresh airing:
Monday
Onwards and upwards to the Ryder Cup!
OK, one more golf comment… No-one anticipated Europe’s crushing victory at Oakland Hills in 2004 and precious few more thought that the 2006 edition of the Ryder Cup at the K Club in Ireland would also end ina European blow-out victory. Time after time hotly fancied American sides have been found wanting even if the
Gone sailing
Blogging will be light this week. In fact, apart from a few things I’ve prepared to keep the place ticking over, it will be non-existent. I’m sailing around Corfu, courtesy of some kind friends who have a boat. Since I’ve not been on a non-ferry sea-going vessel of any description in, oh, at least 15
Lessons in Journalism
This is how you do not interview Hollywood actresses. Newsweek meets Gillian Anderson: I’ve got to confess. I don’t know anything about “The X-Files.” OK. Why is it such a big deal? Ohmygod. You’re not going to do this to me, are you? Tell me you’re not going to do this. Oh come on! It’s
Sunday
Shark Attack
American golf writers are a rum bunch. Here, for instance, is Damon Hack, late of the New York Times and currently berthed at Sports Illustrated: Norman could be on the verge of turning the sports world upside down and righting a dozen wrongs from his career. A Norman win would arguably top Tiger Woods’s U.S.
Department of Regulation
Matthew Yglesias, libertarian? Well, sort of. (He’s right of course.)
Congratulations Padraig!
So the old Claret Jug is staying in Ireland for another year. The list of people since 1945 who have retained the Open Championship is: Bobby Locke, Peter Thomson, Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, Tom Watson, Tiger Woods. You can add Padraig Harrington to that list. A remarkable feat, achieved in testing conditions on two of