There’s plenty of scaremongering about immigration these days but, even allowing for a proper degree of skepticism, this constitutes a clear and present danger to our way of life: The curry industry will die if action is not taken to address tough new immigration laws, restaurant bosses have warned the Scottish Parliament. They claim food
In a whimsical Facebook moment I suggested that life would be more bearable if everything were as fine and reliable as a good pork pie. Too true, you may feel like saying and I wouldn’t blame you. Need it really be said that the ready availability of quality pork pies is one of the great
From commenter JSN at Daily Kos: Proximity does not equal ability. Saying that Hillary has Executive Branch experience is like saying Yoko Ono was a Beatle. [Hat-tip: Mark Steyn]
Higher borrowing, higher taxes, higher inflation and lower growth. Sounds like an encouraging forecast for the future doesn’t it? Still, good to know that Alastair Darling promises record tractor production: “By 2011, every school will be an improving school.” I liked Mr Eugenides’ line too: Time for a cup of coffee, a nap, then another
Fraser Nelson again (emphasis added): The biggest story in today’s Budget – ie, what will hit the public immediately – is the booze hikes. From 6pm tonight, they take effect. An extra 4p on a pint of beer, 3p on a glass of wine (touchingly, the Red Book says 175ml is typical – has anyone
I’ve mentioned CLR James’ Beyond A Boundary before now, but searching a moment ago for something else I came across this 1984 review in the The New York Times. The author asks: It is… hard to tell how much of what Mr. James says is playful hyperbole and how much is passionate advocacy. Can he
I’ll have more to say about this video discussion at National Review in due course. The summary, mind you, gives you a decent flavour of the thesis: The Decline and Fall of Europe: Chapter 3 of 5 Prof. Thornton discusses how a bureaucratic European Union “super state” is undermining the old nation-states of England, France,
I’m indebted to an old college buddy for alerting me to this description of David Irving’s recent appearance on Irish TV’s venerable The Late, Late Show. As the programme’s website put it (emphasis added): In 2006 David Irving was jailed for denying the holocaust ever happened. Despite being branded an anti-semitic, active holocaust denier in
Arizona Congressman Jeff Flake on the worst bills passing through Congress Economic Stimulus Package: “Any time Republicans and Democrats can so easily agree on legislation as expensive as this, it’s not a good sign.” Quite. Also, a reminder of hos the sausage is made. To wit, the Omnibus Appropriations Bill: Congress rolled 11 appropriations bills
Tyler Cowen’s father wanted to name him Tyrone; my father was keen on calling me Trajan (at the time my parents were living around the corner from Trajan’s Forum in Rome…) But do kids with unusual names really suffer as much as their mothers might imagine? It seems not. “Researchers have studied men with cross-gender
Some stories are made for tabloid journalism. Eliot Spitzer’s disgrace is obviously one of them. Congratulations, then, to the New York Post sub-editor responsible for today’s cracking front page:
It’s years since I was last much of a petrol-head, but I see that at least Patrick Head is thinking of ways to reinvigorate Formula One and win back lapsed fans: A radical idea to improve the spectacle of Formula One and make overtaking easier has been proposed by Williams team co-owner Patrick Head. The
Mike Kinsley famously defined a “gaffe” in Washington as an accidental, inadvertent moment of truth-telling. Well by that standard Geraldine Ferraro, Mondale’s 1984 Vice-Presidential pick who is supporting Hillary Clinton, has committed a gaffe. She seems to have caused a minor-rumpus with these comments: “If Obama was a white man, he would not be in
November I suggested that Hillary Clinton’s own autobiography provides no evidence to support her on-the-trail assertions that she was a foreign policy player during her husband’s administration: The book is not a policy manifesto of course. But even making that allowance it is striking how much of Hillary’s memoir is taken up with fluff –
Megan finally gets to see The Pogues live and, happily, it’s worth the wait: Did I mention that for the actual last song, at the end of the second encore, Spider Stacy did his signature “bashing a beer tray against my head” percussion act? I mean, it really doesn’t get much better than that.
After the great success of the first installment of our alphabetical cricket teams, it’s only natural that we move on to, yes, The B Team. As always, have your say in the comments. THE B TEAM 1. Geoffrey Boycott (ENG)2. Sid Barnes (AUS)3. Donald Bradman (AUS)4. Ken Barrington (ENG)5. Allan Border (AUS)6. Ian Botham (ENG)7. Richie
Samantha Power is currently in the UK, promoting her new book. Somehow I don’t think this is quite the sort of message the Obama campaign is likely to find especially helpful: Ms Power told The Scotsman Mrs Clinton was stopping at nothing to try to seize the lead from Mr Obama. “We f***** up in
If it weren’t for the redoubtable Mr Poulos I might have missed this, the best headline of the year. Congratulations to the Washington Post sub-editor who came up with it.
Which footballer offers his club the best value-for-money? Easy. It’s Lionel Messi. Why? According to this Portuguese calculation he’s not one of the 50 best-paid footballers in the world. Lucky Barcelona. Here’s the top five (the first figure is their monthly salary in euros, the second their annual remuneration). You’ll notice that two of these
Good grief. Here’s Kevin Drum: Hillary said today that presidential candidates need to pass a “commander-in-chief threshold.” And who’s done that? “I believe that I’ve done that,” she said. “Certainly, Sen. McCain has done that and you’ll have to ask Sen. Obama with respect to his candidacy.” Bingo! Instant TV material for McCain this fall.