tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82854252012-01-13T10:35:04.851ZTowards a Free WorldMy thoughts on democracy, freedom, human rights and international law.John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.comBlogger821100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1122415548438090072005-07-27T21:46:00.000+01:002005-07-27T21:46:59.976+01:00Moving HomeI am moving my blog to a new home at http://towardsafreeworld.comPlease update your book marks. I will leave the archives here, as well as transporting them across to the new blog when I get the time.John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1122327187006212282005-07-25T22:06:00.000+01:002005-07-25T22:33:07.036+01:00Why we should not now be talking of leaving IraqCaleb Carr has some strong opinions on the matter. He feels that talking aloud about abandoning the Iraqis to Zarqawi & Co. encourages them to mount attacks in our countries:" ... Of paramount interest is the fact that each nation had recently exhibited a weakening public determination to aggressively meet the rising challenge of Islamist terrorism. Consider the U.S. of 2001: The Clinton John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1122142846180715262005-07-23T19:37:00.000+01:002005-07-23T19:20:46.186+01:00Al-Qaeda murder Egyptian civilians and touristsAl-Qaeda yesterday murdered 90+ Egyptians and tourists at the resort town of Sharm al-Sheikh.The bombers struck without warning, blowing up a hotel and, more devatatingly, a cafe in the centre of the old town. A popular night time gathering place for workers who have finished their shifts looking to relax a little before going home. This bombing seems to me to bring back memories of the Bali John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1122140898592747162005-07-23T18:39:00.000+01:002005-07-23T18:48:18.596+01:00Police shot wrong man in London tube incidentThe Metropolitan Police have issued a statement that they shot and killed an innocent man, though under strained circumstances. He was followed froma house under Police surviellance, when challenged, he ran off, Police feared he might be wearing a suicide bomb jacket underneath his large coat. When he ran onto the Tube train felt they could not take any risks, shooting him dead.Many Muslim John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1122052588071616122005-07-22T18:16:00.000+01:002005-07-23T23:12:54.953+01:00More disruption in London and man shot dead by PoliceAnother serious incident took place in London this morning. A man was shot dead by Police at the Stockwell Tube station.The man, not yet named, ran from police when challenged, attempted to board a tube train, and was wrestled to the ground and shot between three and five times (eyewitness accounts vary.Some witnesses reported that the man, who was of Asian appearance, appeared to have a suicide John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1121968902048378322005-07-21T18:41:00.000+01:002005-07-21T19:01:42.053+01:00London attack foiled by terrorists own stupidityA second group of would-be suicide bombers have today attempted to reprise the 7/7 attack on London's transport system. They failed.The detonators detonated but the explosives they had failed to explode. In all probability, this is due to the chemical explosives having become inert after exposure to air.According to eyewitnesses from the Warren Street incident, an Asian man was holding a rucksackJohn H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1121884829553740142005-07-20T19:37:00.000+01:002005-07-20T19:40:29.553+01:00Syria doing its best to thwart Lebanese democracyThe Mad Tech has an article about the current efforts of the Syrian government to hobble the Lebanese Government:' ... Lebanon now facing a growing economic crisis thanks to Syrian in large part. Lebanon shares borders with Israel and Syrian and since the border with Israel has been closed for the past 57 years, the only land route is through Syria. On a regular day, almost 300 truckloads of John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1121884392074262872005-07-20T19:24:00.000+01:002005-07-20T21:46:26.116+01:00Golden RulesChancellor Gordon Brown yesterday announced that the current UK economic cycle began in 1995, not 1997 as had previously been believed and, conveniently, that the borrowing targets for Government spending that would have been missed if 1997 had been the start date, would, infact, now be met and give an extra £13 Billion leeway. In other news Big Brother announced that boot production was up 22% John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1121703590728312702005-07-18T17:10:00.000+01:002005-07-21T18:44:02.746+01:00Unite Against Terror'Communities United Against TerrorTerrorist attacks against Londoners on July 7th killed at least 54 people. The suicide bombers who struck in Netanya, Israel, on July 12 ended five lives, including two 16 year old girls. And on July 13, in Iraq, suicide bombers slaughtered 24 children. We stand in solidarity with all these strangers, hand holding hand, from London to Netanya to Baghdad: John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1121705867941200162005-07-18T16:45:00.000+01:002005-07-18T17:57:47.956+01:00Iran and Iraq are becoming fast friendsThe Tehran Times has an article describing the visit of the Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari and his on going discussions with the President of Iran.Over the past month, Iran and Iraq have steadily been increasing their political, military and economic ties with a series of bilateral agreements.It seems to me, that Mr al-Jaafari is looking beyond the current US led occupation and seeing John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1121627384057556032005-07-17T18:23:00.000+01:002005-07-17T20:09:44.106+01:00A change of focus for the terrorists in IraqLooking at the numbers of Iraqis killed by terrorists over the past 18 months, a continuous upward trend is visible. Approximately 750 Iraqis die each month as a direct result of terrorist action. The Iraqi security forces are doing their best to clamp down.Yet even good results, such as those achieved on the 14th of this month in Baghdad when the Iraqi police shot and killed one suicide bomber John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1121545832215751532005-07-16T21:23:00.000+01:002005-07-16T21:30:32.216+01:00Iraqi's celebrate the first football championships since the fall of Saddam15,000 Iraqis crowded into the Baghdad City Stadium to watch Al-Quwa Jawiya, the Iraqi Airforce team, defeat the Basra Port Authority team, Al-Meena, 2-0 in a dramatic finale to the Iraqi national football championship.John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1121532189925062472005-07-16T17:32:00.000+01:002005-07-17T13:11:42.736+01:00The Principals of Islamist Fundamentalism.Over the past few years I have been, like many others, trying to figure out what the causes of Islamist violence has been.I have read parts of the Koran, talked with Muslims with whom I have worked and got to know, read the musings of Ayman al-Zawahiri, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, Osama Bin Laden and the Palestinian/Arabian terror organisations such as Hamas and Islamic Jihad. I have also been making aJohn H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1121501936087028962005-07-16T09:08:00.000+01:002005-07-16T09:18:56.086+01:00More London Boming arrests and police widen their searchAn Egyptian, Magdi el-Nashar, a 33 year old Biochemist was arrested in Cairo yesterday, his name is apparently on the lease of the property in Leeds, where Police found chemical explosives earlier this week.Mohammad Sidique Khan's Hamara youth access point in Beeston, Leeds was raided and six computer hard disks removed.The police have also raided and sealed off the "Iqra Learning Centre, an John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1121500615933768142005-07-16T08:38:00.000+01:002005-07-18T17:26:37.746+01:00Pakistani Islamist organisations and the London bombingsB. Raman at the South Asia Analysis Group has put together a thoughtful look at the groups who could be behind the London bombing, their links with Caribbean communities including the possiblity of links with Jamaican-born Germaine Lindsay, one of the four London Bombers, and the death of Journalist Daniel Pearl who was trying to investigate them.Pearl had been looking to meet the leaders of John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1121270794338848862005-07-13T16:53:00.000+01:002005-07-13T17:42:27.016+01:00You cut that beard and we will cut your throatAl Mendhar in Iraq is covering a series of threats made to Baghdad barbers who have been cashing in on the popularity of 'Marine' haircuts amongst Baghdad youths.In a series of Taliban style notices, barbers were warned not to cut beards and not to offer crew cut hairstyles unless they want 'swords over their necks'.Not surprisingly, barbers have begun to put up signs saying that taboo haircuts John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1121183901410752742005-07-12T16:56:00.000+01:002005-07-12T16:58:21.410+01:00Arrests and controlled explosionsFollowing the police determining the identity of the bus bomber, the West Yorkshire police have raided a number of properties in the city of Leeds.600 homes were evacuated and controlled explosions were carried out.A number of people have since been arrested.John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1121183769577722942005-07-12T16:54:00.000+01:002005-07-12T16:56:09.583+01:00All four bombers died in London attacksReuters have posted an article on the Bombings.Sky News reporters are claiming that all the bombs claimed the lives of the bombers.John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1121107835741647822005-07-11T19:45:00.000+01:002005-07-11T19:50:35.750+01:00The MIT Blogger SurveyI have just finished filling out the MIT survey, and it was an interesting five minutes diversion.The people at MIT are trying to figure out what makes webloggers tick.If you think you can help them then click above and have fun.John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1120914060340127832005-07-09T13:58:00.000+01:002005-07-09T15:21:34.960+01:00Latest from my MP Mr David ChaytorMr David Chaytor has invited me to meet with him to discuss the issue of the Religious Hatred act at one his local surgeries:"Thank you for your very detailed response to my reply to your email, which ranges over several topics. I agree with you completely that it is extremely distressing that religious and racial groups have to suffer this kind of hatred and prejudice.Precisely because of this John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1120896867932640482005-07-09T08:51:00.000+01:002005-07-09T09:18:33.876+01:00BlameEven before the dust had settled, people have been rushing to apportion blame.Tariq Ali, linked above, has decided that what the bombers want is Britain immediately to pull out of Afghanistan, Iraq and Palestine, not that I am aware that Britain presently occupies, and so is capable of leaving, Palestine, but that is undoubtedly my failure not Mr Ali's.I thought that the bombers and their ilk John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1120839014397096532005-07-08T16:51:00.000+01:002005-07-08T18:19:42.936+01:00ResolutionI heard from my Brother in Law that our friend, Chris Snook, had indeed been in the centre of London during the attacks. He was apparently near the Aldgate station when the bombs went off, and rapidly made his way to the nearest hospital, I am not sure which at the moment, but he spent the whole day and much of the night treating those who had been injured by the attacks.It is the resolution of John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1120747172185332462005-07-07T15:29:00.000+01:002005-07-07T15:58:48.030+01:00LondonIt seems that this morning the agents of Jihadism struck at the heart of London.I watched on BBC news as the horror of what had happened unfolded. It initialy seemed that a power surge had caused problems with the underground system, but within minutes it became clear that this was not the case.And as Sky news interviewed an eyewitness they discovered that he had seen a bus blown apart by an John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1120500158745352832005-07-04T19:03:00.000+01:002005-07-04T23:27:53.193+01:00Hoon knows how to combat apathetic votersGeoff Hoon, former Minister of Defence, has outlined a few proposals for combating voter apathy.Mr Hoon wants to see mandatory voting, as is in place in Australia, Belgium and pre war Iraq (where 99% turnouts were not uncommon).He would like a system where those who do not vote are fined, or failing that, those who do vote are given a discount on their council tax.The former option being a milderJohn H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1120396143092019212005-07-03T13:58:00.000+01:002005-07-03T14:26:09.840+01:00Iraqi Army takes control of the Green ZoneIraqi news site, Al-Mendhar, has an interesting article on the recent changing of the guard in Baghdad.The Iraqi Army 6th Division has replaced the US 3rd Division in guarding the fortified Green Zone.This is an important development for the Iraqi people as finally, their Government's security is under its own control. As this area of control has expanded and Iraqi troops now guard Iraqi cities John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1120325259513070132005-07-02T18:09:00.000+01:002005-07-02T18:27:39.520+01:00G8, live8 and AfricaOver the past few months, Sir Bob Geldof has worked tirelessly, to both praise and damnation, to bring together a coalition of the interested.The purpose of this coalition is to let the most powerful political figures in the world, the heads of the G8 nations that a huge number of people are watching, and have very high expectations.In my opinion, not all of the demands that the live8 movement John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1120323619737467002005-07-02T17:56:00.000+01:002005-07-02T18:00:19.743+01:00Can we persuade our MPs to reject the Proposed Religious Hatred Act?"I will write repeatedly to my MP, to protest about the proposed Religious Hatred Act but only if 20 other people will too."— John Holroyd, Social LibertarianDeadline: 1st August 2005. You can sign up at the above link and help to bring down a silly proposal that threatens our free speech and expression.John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1120077029702589502005-06-29T21:25:00.000+01:002005-06-29T21:30:29.703+01:00New Hitchens article on IranHitch has produced another highly interesting and, as usual, timely and controversial article.This follows his journey across Iran, meeting people and Mullahs, including Grand Ayatollah Khomeini’s grandson and their discussions on the nature of democracy and it’s potential application to Iran.I’ll admit, it left me feeling a strange sense of melancholy for the people trapped in that pressure John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1120076272666056002005-06-29T21:17:00.000+01:002005-07-02T18:04:58.936+01:00Another letter to my MPDear Mr Chaytor,Thank you for your kind reply, I do have one or two problems with yourreply, I do hope you will indulge me by considering them.> As I am sure you are aware, the Law against inciting hatred currently> protects Judaism and the Sikh religion but not Christians and Muslims.> At the moment, it is an offence to publish material that is threatening,> abusive or insulting with the John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1120075629817474632005-06-29T21:06:00.000+01:002005-06-29T21:08:20.320+01:00David Chaytor repliesDear Mr HolroydThank you for your email of the 26th June regarding the Religious HatredBill.As I am sure you are aware, the Law against inciting hatred currentlyprotects Judaism and the Sikh religion but not Christians and Muslims.At the moment, it is an offence to publish material that is threatening,abusive or insulting with the intention or likelihood that racial hatredwould be stirred up. John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1119793587102949922005-06-26T14:45:00.000+01:002005-06-26T14:46:27.113+01:00My letter to MP David Chaytor on the Religous Hatred billDear David Chaytor, I am writing to ask you to vote against the proposed outlawing of religious hatred, the Racial and Religious Hatred Bill, currently proposed by the Government of which you are part. It is my opinion that such a law, is not needed and is in fact dangerous. The terms of this proposed law are overbroad and lend themselves to misinterpretation and mischief. I John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1118863724017142332005-06-23T21:40:00.000+01:002005-06-23T21:47:49.803+01:00Book Review: Love, Poverty and WarFollowing a large amount of vitriol sent in his direction by his former friends on the left, accusing him of turning his back on them and becoming a NeoCon hawk, Christopher Hitchens has released this quite wonderful collection of articles reviews and forewords he has had published over the past 15 years.They show a remarkable consistency though they may have been chosen for this reason.As well John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1119384542234248042005-06-21T20:24:00.000+01:002005-06-23T21:51:14.756+01:00I hate religion and would also like you to hate it.The UK Government, in the person of Charles Clarke, has again submitted proposals to outlaw the incitement to religious hatred to the House of Commons.This proposed law will make it an offence punishable by up to seven years imprisonment, (though only for those of us lucky enough to live in England and Wales) to promote "hatred against a group of persons defined by reference to religious belief John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1118862768402869502005-06-15T19:46:00.000+01:002005-06-15T20:17:17.653+01:00How Tony Blair won my respect.As a former member of the Conservative Party of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, who buggered off after Hague threw the towel in to be replaced by the useless IDS, it is with some degree of surprise that I can say that I am finding a sort of admiration and respect for 'Tony'.You see, Tony has recently been very busy, in Europe, the USA, all over the world with the G8 thingamy and here at John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1118603784066022112005-06-12T19:57:00.000+01:002005-06-12T20:23:31.026+01:00Africa hits the newsThe Observer newspaper in the UK, has a couple of interesting articles on the G7 agreement to cancel a number of third world nations debt.The nature of this cancellation, in that it rewards good governance by excluding tinpot tyrants and human rights abusers like Mugabe, is a victory for democracy and democratic principles. But it does need following up.These 18 nations, including the four South John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1118601591698809492005-06-12T19:37:00.000+01:002005-06-12T20:23:46.690+01:00Slight returnHaving been inactive on the blogging front for a while due to other interests, I will be posting news and opinions again shortly.Regards,John H.John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1099432059719175512004-11-02T21:45:00.000Z2004-11-02T21:47:39.720ZGood luck USAThe USA, land of the free and home of the brave has gone to the polls to choose its new president.
Pre vote polls show a dead heat, maybe we can expect some legal heat if the result is really close, but hopefully that won't happen twice.
John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1099157906656547272004-10-30T18:37:00.000+01:002004-10-30T18:38:26.656+01:00Guess whos back, back again, Osama's back, tell a friendSorry for the corny Eminem referrence, everybody is reporting that Osama Bin Laden has put out a videotape message to the US electorate, advising them that he may or may not attack them again and mocking President Bush for his handling of the 911 crisis.
Lets all hope that the boys in green catch up with Mr Bin Laden and bring him to justice.John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1099157141409559282004-10-30T18:25:00.000+01:002004-10-30T18:44:18.510+01:00IHT article on muslim relations with the westThe International Herald Tribune has an interesting article looking at western support for corrupt dictators in the various muslim states.
Husain Haqqani argues that it is this support for barbarous and autoritarian regimes, which gives groups like Al Quaida support and a veneer of respectability. People in nations ruled by dictators tend to see only one truth, that which is pumped out by the John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1098989280323095142004-10-28T19:48:00.000+01:002004-10-28T19:52:53.390+01:00How can we prevent nuclear proliferationABC's John Allen Paulos has posted an interesting review of Graham Allison's new book Nuclear Terrorism: The Ultimate Preventable Catastrophe.
Looks like an interesting read.John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1098986368699105062004-10-28T18:59:00.000+01:002004-10-28T19:31:47.160+01:00Missing ballots in Florida alreadyIt seems that some careless person has lost 58,000 absentee ballot papers in Broward County, Florida. The police have set up an investigation but so far have no evidence of criminal wongdoing.
67% of Broward County voters gave their vote to the Democratic party in the 2000 elections.John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1098728498494514662004-10-25T19:21:00.000+01:002004-10-25T19:21:38.493+01:00HMX explosives missing in IraqThe Guardian is reporting that 340 tonnes of HMX and RDX explosives have gone missing from a military base south of Baghdad.
The IAEA catalogued the explosives as part of its examination into Iraqs nuclear program, and warned the US Government to keep track of the explosives.
Given that HMX is a highly dangerous explosive, five times more powerful than TNT by weight, safe to transport and is John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1098653841231040292004-10-24T22:35:00.000+01:002004-10-24T22:37:21.233+01:00(The Observer) Abu Ghraib team bids to run UK prisons " Antony Barnett, Martin Bright and Solomon Hughes
Sunday October 24, 2004
The Observer
The American prison company whose director set up Iraq's infamous Abu Ghraib jail for use by the US military is bidding to run a number of prisons in Britain.
The Utah-based Management and Training Corporation (MTC) has set up a London headquarters and is in advanced negotiations to operate at least one John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1098653660756646142004-10-24T22:28:00.000+01:002004-10-24T22:34:20.756+01:00Karzai favourite to win Afghan electionsThe BBC is reporting that Hamed Kharzai is set to win an extention to his term of office, following the first free elections to be held in Afghanistan, two weeks ago.
Mr Kharzai is reported to have gained 56% of the ballots cast, which relieves him of the burden of a run off with the second placed candidate.
The election results have still to be certified by the UN following complaints by otherJohn H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1098653032702914602004-10-24T22:23:00.000+01:002004-10-24T22:27:26.053+01:00Rat brained jet fightersSlashdot has a discussion going on about a University of Florida experiment with rat neurons, which has resulted in a rat brain based fighter autopilot.
The neurons were grown in a dish and connected to a custom designed interface, and can control the simulated F-22 fighter. So far they have leared to keep the jet airborne and steady in many weather conditions.
On first reading I thought this isJohn H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1098481542106942782004-10-22T22:45:00.000+01:002004-10-22T22:45:42.106+01:00Russia ratifies Kyoto protocol The BBC is reporting that the Russian Duma has voted to ratify the Kyoto protocol. The UN required the agreement of Russia to enable the treaty to come into force.
Final approval is pending, but Russian president Vladamir Putin is expected to sign the protocol into Russian law by the end of this month.John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1098299920414184182004-10-20T20:18:00.000+01:002004-10-20T20:18:40.413+01:00The universal off remoteSlashdot has a classic discussion goin on about a new gadget. A key fob with the ability to turn off most TVs, designed for the discerning shopper who hates being bombarded by noise and visual polution whilst out and about town.John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1098297385736473662004-10-20T19:36:00.000+01:002004-10-20T19:36:25.736+01:00No for KilroyThe Express is reporting that ex Labour MP and television celebrity Robert Kilroy-Silk, has today discovered that he will not be able to challange for the leadership of the United Kingdom Independance Party (UKIP). As it's body of 161 chairmen do not want a leadership election at the present time.
Mr Kilroy-Silk enjoys a lot of personal support in the party grassroots but faces an uphill John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1098295930892025852004-10-20T19:09:00.000+01:002004-10-20T19:17:52.230+01:00Electoral poll addiction examinedSalon are taking a light hearted look at the electoral polls going on all around the US, and those, like me, who have to look at least once a day to see where the main contenders are, and who exactly is ahead in Florida at the moment.
Funny stuff as usual.
p.s. Kerry leads bush 291-247 over at the electoral vote calculator John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1098295547918536692004-10-20T19:05:00.000+01:002004-10-20T19:05:47.916+01:00Links back on :)Sorry about the mix up, links to articles are now back up.John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1098131413923135112004-10-18T21:25:00.000+01:002004-10-18T21:30:14.050+01:00Happy to work hard for no reward? You soon may be.The Times is reporting that The American National Institute of Mental Health has created a drug which switches off part of the brain which regulates expectation of reward in Rhesus monkeys.
The monkeys, who previously would only indulge in repetitive tasks if they thought a reward was due, would happily bash away at the follow the lights game they had been trained to play for hours without John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1098129835152584302004-10-18T21:03:00.000+01:002004-10-18T21:04:41.163+01:00British liberal newspaper meddles in US electionsIt seems the Guardian newspaper has decided that the US elections are too important to be left to americans to decide.
It has embarked on a campaign to persuade unafflilliated US voters to vote one way or another, by providing the details of a Clark County, Ohio voter. So that a Guardian reader may inform them how to use their vote.
As a Brit with an interest in the US elections, I must admit I John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1097860598903127522004-10-15T18:16:00.000+01:002004-10-15T18:16:38.903+01:00Morgan Tsvangirai cleared on treason chargesZimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has been cleared by a Zimbabwean court of plotting to kill President Robert Mugabe.
In giving his judgemnet, Judge Paddington Garwe said that "The state has not been able to prove high treason beyond reasonable doubt."
John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1097607223633562222004-10-12T19:53:00.000+01:002004-10-12T19:53:43.633+01:00Goodbye Christopher ReeveChristopher Reeve, filmstar and disabled rights activist sadly passed away on Sunday the 10th of October.
He suffered a heart attack brought on by complications from a pressure wound and never regained conciousness.
I recently saw an interview with him, and he talked about not letting his anxieties and moods get in the way of allowing him to live life as fully as he could.
He might be paralysedJohn H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1097530406481731622004-10-11T22:33:00.000+01:002004-10-11T22:33:26.480+01:00Libya able to buy EU weaponryThanks to Italian pressure the EU has revoked its arms embargo against Libya.
The embargo which dates back to 1986 had remained following the resumption of trade earlier this year.
Italy justified its pressure on the basis of selling and giving equipment to Libya to help the Libyans police their borders, under the sanctions regime items as innocent as binoculars were prohibited.
UK foreign John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1097529303579951912004-10-11T22:15:00.000+01:002004-10-11T22:15:03.580+01:00Polls show Kerry slightly ahead in US election raceThe Electoral College vote predictor site has been showing Kerry ahead for several days now, following the first Presidential debate.
I watched the full second debate on CNN here in the UK, interesting but Kerry failed to get Bush into any kind of choke hold, perhaps he is waiting for Wednesday.John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1097528890466834802004-10-11T22:08:00.000+01:002004-10-11T22:08:10.466+01:00Afghan elections under investigationThe BBC has an interesting examination of the problems following the Afghan presidential vote.
The UN has stepped in after several of the candidates accused the incumbent president, Hamed Karzai, of electoral fraud.
Problems with indelible ink, designed to be applied to the thumb of individuals to show they had voted, being too easily removed, led to claims of multiple voting.
Over the past John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1097449805738245692004-10-11T00:10:00.000+01:002004-10-11T00:10:05.736+01:00Poor Richard's wisdomFrom Ben Franklins Poor Richard's almanac.
"Take this remark from Richard, poor and lame
What'er's begun in anger ends in shame."John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1097353445051997982004-10-09T21:24:00.000+01:002004-10-09T21:24:05.050+01:00My friend Ian out of dangerI have just been to see him in hospital, he has suffered a two inch deep gash to his right calf and a broken tibia in his left leg. He is bearing up well, and receiving lots of visitors.
Ian had been travelling to work when a van driver pulled out from behind a bus without checking his mirror, and shunted Ian into oncoming traffic.John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1097353050602373482004-10-09T21:17:00.000+01:002004-10-09T21:17:30.603+01:00(Reuters) Bigley escaped before being killed"BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Hostage Kenneth Bigley escaped briefly from his captors shortly before they beheaded him in Iraq, insurgent sources have said.
They said Bigley managed to get away for about half an hour with the help of one of his captors before he was caught in farmland near the town of Latifiya, southwest of Baghdad.
Bigley was beheaded in the same area soon after his desperate bid for John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1097263102223724352004-10-08T20:14:00.000+01:002004-10-08T20:18:22.223+01:00So, I'm JFKI have just spent a few moments popping radio boxes on a 45 question quiz which purports to tell me which famous political leader my personality matches closest: What Famous Leader Are You?personality tests by similarminds.com
I wouldn't have picked JFK, as I don't think I share many of his traits. Interestingly though, I was named after him.John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1097255129375392742004-10-08T18:05:00.000+01:002004-10-08T18:05:29.376+01:00Ken Bigley murderedThe BBC, amongst others, are reporting that British hostage Ken Bigley has been murdered.
Mr. Bigley had been captured on the 16th of September along with two American colleagues, Eugene Armstrong and Jack Hensley who were murdered within days of their capture.
The group who captured them, Tawid and Jihad, led a cynical media campaign over the past weeks to build up and dash the hopes of those John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1097183348425772242004-10-07T22:05:00.000+01:002004-10-07T22:09:08.426+01:00My friend Ian in a motorcycle accident.This morning on his way to work, he began to overtake a van, which pulled out, forcing him under the wheels of an oncoming car.
I heard at around 11.30am, what had happened but not about his condition.
His right leg is a mess and he was undergoing surgery this evening at Fairfield General Hospital.
Hope it goes well.John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1097178122534698802004-10-07T20:42:00.000+01:002004-10-07T20:42:02.533+01:00It finally comes to this for Mr. BlairThe Herald is reporting on the head story across the media at the moment, the failure of the Iraq Survey Goup to find any WMDs.John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1097177635481417842004-10-07T20:33:00.000+01:002004-10-07T20:33:55.480+01:00EU neighbourhood pact, generates controversy.Reuters are reporting that the EU's proposed neighbourhood pact is drawing fire from critics due to its inclusion of Israel and the Palestinian authority on its list of candidate states.
EU ambassadors, have been arguing amongst themselves as to whether it is right to admit two parties seemingly at war, when one would benefit a great deal, despite its "disproportionate use of force."
The EU John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1097090508345413452004-10-06T20:21:00.000+01:002004-10-06T20:21:48.346+01:00Prison without trial, on trial.The House of Lords has been hearing from the Attorney General Lord Goldsmith QC his and the governments opinion on detention without trial for terrorism suspects.
The BBC is reporting that Lord Goldsmith told the law lords that jailing suspects without trial is an "appropriate response" to the post-11 September terrorist threat.
Lord Goldsmith also added that "The government believes it was a John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1096316142437457802004-09-27T21:13:00.000+01:002004-09-27T21:15:42.436+01:00This week I am blackFor the purposes of any ethnic tick boxes I have to fill out this week, I am black.
Tune in this time next week to see which ethnic group I will belong to then. John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1096067187282250322004-09-25T00:01:00.000+01:002004-09-25T00:06:27.283+01:00Three Party Politics on the UK agenda for liberalsThe UK is notionaly a multi-party democracy, but in reality it has been a largely two party affair.
Since the first world war, Labour and the Conservatives have shaped the political landscape, with the Liberal party shrinking to a tiny rump. In the past 20 years though, the Liberals, now Liberal Democrats, have begun an impressive fightback and feel confident about stepping up the pressure on theJohn H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1095510828030320402004-09-18T13:17:00.000+01:002004-09-18T13:59:00.220+01:00Multifarious softwareWaffle Iron over at Slashdot Posted this marvelous indictment of what is wrong with current legislation for dealing with software based intellectual property.[Software is] a miracle commodity: It's copyrightable like a book.
It's patentable like a mouse trap.
It can hold trade secrets, like a glass of Coca Cola.
The consumer has to "sign" a contract to use it, like a cellphone account.
John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1095360770806965072004-09-16T19:42:00.000+01:002004-09-16T19:52:50.806+01:00Hamid Karzai escapes assassination attemptReuters is reporting that Afgan President Hamid Karzi, has escaped unhurt following a rocket attack on his helicopter.John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1095359880378366442004-09-16T19:30:00.000+01:002004-10-08T19:00:08.620+01:00Ralph Nader leader of a non existant partySlashdot is pointing to a story on the Talahasee Democrat website, that deals with the removal of Ralph Nader from the Florida ballot.
The Democratic party succeeded in persuading Leon County circuit Judge Kevin Davey to rule against Mr Nader being included on the ballot because his party did not meet the minimum legal requirements.
"I've never seen, in 40 years, a more pell-mell kangaroo courtJohn H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1095286426717734422004-09-15T23:09:00.000+01:002004-09-15T23:13:46.716+01:00Fox hunting to be banned?A good piece from the Guardian on a contentious issue.
More on the anti-ban lobby.
More on the pro-ban lobby.John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1095190672884469422004-09-14T19:57:00.000+01:002004-09-14T20:37:52.883+01:00Can Islam change?The New Statesman has an interesting article on the gathering pace of social reforms in the worlds Islamic nations.
It looks at family law reform in Morocco, where arbitrary verbal divorces have recently been banned, and examines how the changes were brought about.
A good read.John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1095106319474416042004-09-13T21:07:00.000+01:002004-09-13T21:11:59.473+01:00N. Korea Blast PlannedSEOUL (Reuters) - A huge explosion in North Korea last week was a deliberate blast to pave the way for a hydro-electric dam, Pyongyang said Monday.
Nice of our Korean friends to let everybody know in advance that they planned to blow a mountain up.John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1095014668967165762004-09-12T19:35:00.000+01:002004-09-12T19:44:28.966+01:00Powell's opinion on N. Korean BlastColin Powell has aired his, and the US Governments, thoughts about the North Korean incident on US Fox channels 'Fox News Sunday.'
"We have seen reports of this explosion, but based on all the information that we have, it was not any type of nuclear event," he said. "We are trying to find out more about it, and what exactly it was, if anything, but it does not appear to be a nuclear event."
John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1095006433712805952004-09-12T19:04:00.000+01:002004-09-13T18:56:32.623+01:00Book Review: Waging Modern WarI have recently put down retired US General Wesley K. Clark's memoirs of the Kosovo conflict: Waging Modern War: Bosnia, Kosovo and the Future of Combat.
The book, and the man who wrote it, are particularly important given the events of the past two years.
Gen Clark himself was unceremoniously dumped by the US Army, after succeeding in fighting a war they did not want to get involved in fearing John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1094983006594633622004-09-12T10:48:00.000+01:002004-09-13T19:03:10.623+01:00Seismographic conclusions?According to isolation over at slashdot HMC's Seismo Lab in California have some interesting data relating to the North Korean explosion.
The question now is did any military satellites pick up a gamma burst from the explosion? If so will our governments announce this or will they keep it to themselves as they try to solve this problem diplomatically?
I know I'm going to quickly remind myself John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1094981985382560132004-09-12T10:44:00.000+01:002004-09-12T10:42:28.273+01:00North Korean Mushroom CloudIt is being widely reported that a huge explosion, leaving a crater visable from space, has rocked North Korea. A 4km (2 Mile) Mushroom cloud hid the scene of the explosion in Yanggang province, near the Chinese border.
There is wide though unconfirmed speculation that it is the result of an unintended nuclear blast, probably at the Yongjori Missile Base.
An interesting method of seeing North John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1094932915226305192004-09-11T21:09:00.000+01:002004-09-11T21:05:12.356+01:00Samantha SmithYesterday evening I was talking with Anna, about Wes Clarke, (the former NATO SACEUR) and commenting on how he had won a war without support from those who gave him the task.
I mentioned how he reminded me of Lord Kitchener, in that he recognised you have to fight the war you have, not the war you would like to have.
It was, and is, my opinion that people who recognise real world problems and John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1094927749035700532004-09-11T18:19:00.000+01:002004-09-11T19:48:09.876+01:00Gennaro's PCsThis afternoon, one of my brother-in-laws paid me a visit with a couple of PCs he wanted me to look at.
One was a generic AMD K6/2 box, and after a little tinkering was up and running without problems.
The other was an original Pentium based box, FP error included, which was running Windows 95 on 8mb Ram.
The unit had been maltreated by a previous owner, including pushing its serial ports John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1094902598962151642004-09-11T17:40:00.000+01:002004-09-11T17:35:45.800+01:00The bald frog with the wigWhen setting up my blog Blogger asked me the following random question:
Random Question:
The children are waiting! Please tell them the story about the bald frog with the wig:
So I wrote a nice story, sadly too long for the 150 character limit.
Why not post it here I thought.
The Bald Frog with the Wig.
Once upon a time, as all good fairy tales must begin, there was a small green frogJohn H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285425.post-1094904866148112482004-09-11T13:53:00.000+01:002004-09-11T17:39:38.663+01:00My Black ArmbandToday is, to my mind, one of the saddest days in the calendar. It is the anniversary of the day three years ago that Osama's henchmen carried out their barbaric assault on the USA and the Free World.
I remember the people who lost their lives that day by wearing a black armband on this day.
It is something which has earned me strange looks, questions, disdain, abuse and kindness in equal John H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08153286177056557866noreply@blogger.com0