Beware the Leopard

Impressive by any measure.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/nickrobinson/2009/09/the_axe_begins.html

174. At 5:28pm on 18 Sep 2009

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I guess in some sectors the day does indeed end at 5.30pm

Beware the Leopard.

http://www.planetclaire.org/quotes/hitchhikers/

The Vogons would approve.

Where's Robbie when you need him?

Newsnight

'..to hear people's views and its not good news for Gordon Brown.'

Not sure, but I think you'll find that going out anywhere, and not just marginal constituencies, might just end up with the same result.

I just worry the bloke is so bad folk are growing to need him for comic relief, like Dr. Zachary Smith in Lost in Space (an oddly apt metaphor there, too): http://www.heptune.com/lis/smith.html

Trouble is, he is still at the controls, not just trying to sabotage them

Quango! - Is it a bird, is it...

David Cameron: quangos and politicians for the chop

Odds on Dave will form a quango to discuss quangos

I rather fear that, once in power, the discussion paper for the Gloucester Old Spot Airborne Appreciation Board will soon be dug out to see just how many can be popped in on £200k + perks + index-lined + expenses + comms budget, to provide all necessary hands-off deniability or fake ‘independence’ to point out when a bit of dodgy policy needs some research to support it, that a new administration could wish for.

Yet still Yamato Brown blunders on

Brown rocked as aide quits over war

On his solo, symbolic suicide mission to satisfy Emperor Hubris with few on board save a 'loyal' senior GOAT herd of senior officers who really have no place else to go.

Plus, unfortunately, the press-ganged crew of the rest of the country who the guys upstairs in the driving seat have barely given a second's thought to as they aim for final pay offs, directorships and cushy lecture circuit fees.

If Mr. Brown gets rocked much more he will be spinning in place.

Ordinary Joe vs. the volcano

Following on form the last post on competence over perception.

Totnes Primary: now, how big is Sarah Wollaston's house?

It’s simply a fact of life, as there seems no ‘better’ way: the gatekeepers control the game because they own the pitch and the ball.

The players my change a tad, and the scores may vary, but running the game and its rewards is still theirs.

It’s true from anything from local awards juries to debating panel selections… to how ‘we’ get to ‘choose’ our leaders.

But, I have to say, this seems a tad better than before, and hence a direction to be applauded and supported.

If only for this: ‘…The career politicians out there should take note.’

And I could give a rat’s pitootie for what an MP’s house size is so long as they are paying for it honestly whilst doing the job they are meant to do, and well.

WUVI-journos, of all hues, take note.

The right person for the job is the right person

The problem for Harriet Harman…

…to assume that [this] balance* can best be achieved by a tick box quota…
*Plus, IMHO, most else.

However, in today’s world, and especially its governance, this seems pretty much to be the way things are ‘run’.

Which might explain our current, and future, predicaments.

However, in just a few areas, those of lifetime job security, unwarranted pay awards, index-linked salaries, etc, in just a few sectors, this policy does at least still seem more than rewarding.

Oddly.

Whipped into shape

Labour discipline is breaking down

There does seem to be a fine line between laudable discipline and rampant self-delusion, especially when it comes to governing/serving your country. That would be a democratic, freedom of speech-appreciating one that in theory elects proxy representatives and not tribal party rulers with Whipping boys and girls as their unacceptable 'fronts'.

Days of the Jackals

Gordon Brown in the firing line

Just watched the clip.

As far as I could ascertain, every question posed was met with an evasion, a damned evasion or a pointless statistic, skipping from meaningless totals to equally sly percentages, and from specific instances to broad timeframes depending on which might seem less awful. The clown even tried to cite an opposition concession on the facts of one incident to try and apply to the totality of the overall conflict provision.

I don't know if our troops are being led by donkeys, but at the very top the decisions on where they get sent, why and with what, seems to be in the hands of bean-counting, box-ticking jackals.

A bit like the rest of the country's interests. I was going to say that at least our lives are not at stake, but even then in some areas one has to wonder what such self-serving ineptitude will inflict.

I hope they enjoy their hol... sabbatical.

We've dug up something from our Berlin correspondent...

... along with him:

The biggest media story in years - so why the silence?

I rather suspect they are in the process of answering their own question.

Junkketeer
13 Jul 09, 12:19pm (1 minute ago)

...the story went to the top of the BBC's bulletins and website. Andrew Neil, former editor of the Sunday Times...

And now presenter with...?

Not sure that quoting the heft accorded by another complementary media source works any better than trying to make a story out of something a bloke told you another bloke might have said.

Mind you, we might end up with Aunty quoting you quoting them so that, in the end, if it gets repeated enough it ends up true.

It has worked before.

Light vs. fire

The Press TV pantomime

In a world dominated by US news organisations terrified of upsetting the Israeli government, particularly TV (not to mention our own timid BBC) it is hard to work up much angst in the case of Press TV.

Hence the BBC seeing no real problem in wheeling on Press TV 'employees/commentators' to act as 'balance' I guess.

Fair enough, but it was rather odd t'other day to have a lady (I think Ms. Ridley) pretty much ranting in a debate, but with her status not billed as such by the national broadcaster who invited her on, and only having thus 'outed' by another guest... to much subsequent finger pointing all round as if two biases make things objective.

Is it not possible for major media to attract quality commentary more for illumination than the ratings of flames?

Sums

Culling the quangos (again)

Seems to me there are fewer and fewer folk actually generating money.

And more and more consuming it.

Now supplemented by a whole new bunch, also paid from the shrinking income generation sector, almost exclusively servicing the needs, demands, pay, perks and pensions of those consuming already. With near zero accountability imposed from any direction, especially when many voters do not bear fiscal responsibility for their actions. And of those that do, I defy most to understand, and hence affect what goes on in their names, and with their money, until it is too late.

Hard to see how this will end well.

Especially when we're already on tick for the next two generations.

Aunty, Irony and Me

Newsnight discusses quangos

"Cut the number of unelected quangos to save money and increase accountability"

These would be entities funded by the government and paid for by us (often via supplementary fees above and beyond various tax mechanisms), but with out of control empire-building aspirations, vast property empires, huge, expanding senior executive levels on vast, self-awarded pay packages, and less than clear, in theory objective remits, but often designed mainly to serve certain narrow interests, with secret internal reviews and near total deniability at every level, who can't even be voted out every few years as one can the representatives we choose to represent us on matters of life and death in Parliament... right?

Wonder who might get mentioned?

And who, as with their funding, may remain... unique.

Does Ofcom deserve it?

I am seeing a spirited defence of OFCOM in many quarters, often quoting its officers.

Quite right if only in response to questions solicited by the media.

Ironic if part of a well funded ad/PR budget.

I can't speak for OFCOM, but in the environmental sector I have serious issues, bordering on suspicions of conflict of interest, when public money is used on quango comms budgets that drive 'targets' that in turn reward bonus structures of boards signing off on the very comms efforts driving those bonuses.

Every quango in Britain

Political reporting reaches new levels

In convenience Speakership exchange

If there is a joke in here somewhere, it's perhaps not the one intended.

Though 'Tales from the Urinal Gutter' does seem a promising avenue for political reporting from within Westminster.

One driver, or two?

In reply to:

Why ministers must never upset their drivers

And a few other political revelations, I have rather let fly:

I'd say that Ministers, and those that consort with them, might still be better advised not to upset a rather larger, and more critical collection of folk: the electorate.

Looking at the latest revelations, that doesn't seem too likely.

It's no wonder these guys are so keen to avoid paying tax to the state; they have first hand knowledge of how such money is squandered... hourly.

I'd be keen to know what this latest new job creation scheme was going to save... or cost the taxpayer.

Though it does pass through one's mind as to the calibre of Dom Jolyesque train-traveling, mobile-spouting, laptop-leaving numpties we entrust the competent governance of this country to who would ignore the compromises to self and national security of blabbing in the back seat in front of relatively junior civil servants, no matter how well cleared.

And...

Sorry to single out but one of many, but having seen the much-vaunted HoC FOI blacked-out 'releases', I suggest they are about as much use as, and hence can simply be shredded and used as just so much kitty litter.

Mind you, whilst the WUVis get excited on the inability to detect 'flipping', which is indeed as serious (if 'nuffink wrong') as it gets, as one just flashed by I am getting to grips with just how clean these guys homes must be for all we have been taken to their cleaners for.

How 'clean' they are as public servants... is another matter.

Fun with words

I do confess, I am enjoying playing with this...

Newsnight neologisms needed

'Proxymoron' went down well, though 'enviROI' and 'helicopter environmentalists' passed without trace.

So I have lobbed a few more into the literary frag pit to see what might get flushed.

'Revoltaire' - New era democratic rallying concept, often supported and even promoted by soem who know what's best for us in the MSM ; 'We may not agree with what you say, but we will sort of tolerate it... so long as you are not an Israeli/BNP/[insert folk that you really... really don't agree with and hence reckon need silencing here]'.

Which is an odd caveat from those seeking to be seen as credible libertarians. But usually they are those as dogmatic and convinced of their rectitude as those they oppose.

So, to 'a little bit pregnant' I guess we need to add 'freeishdom of speech'.
complain about this comment

'Enhancing the narrative'
'Interpreting events'
'Emerging truths'

The first two are mechanisms by which objective facts can be passed through a special process managed by those who 'know better' to ensure 'news' is shared in a way that those it gets presented to get to think 'more correctly' about it all.

Often, when it really rather flies in the face of clear evidence, and may in fact be unsupportable, it can still be assisted to the point that it becomes an 'emerging truth'.

Poohbahood - the act of seeking, conferring and/or being conferred with ever longer and more daft un-earned, unwarranted titles in an attempt to confer long lost respectability and reverence, but which actually fools, and impresses few outside a very small world. And probably just makes things worse.

As in...

The Right Honourable Baron Mandelson of Foy in the County of Herefordshire and Hartlepool in the County of Durham, First Secretary of State, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and Lord President of the Council.

NKorean leader's son is 'Brilliant Comrade'

"Grandiose titles are part of a tradition to stimulate public support in a nation where the media is tightly controlled and little information about the inner workings of the government is available."

Boxtickocracy, Beancounterhood & Targetmeetering - All complementing versions of the same, less than startlingly successful form of nu-governance whereby anything tangible and/or possibly useful is suborned to simply looking like things are going to be done, being done and will be done as opposed to dedicating any funds or personnel to actually just doing a good job in the first place.

Interestingly, it seems that these systems all seem to cost a lot more to implement and run, and despite this are actually self-generating by virtue of limitless funds on tap (if now on the 'never never' - thanks, kids) and a culture of zero accountability, no responsibility and 'Whocaresaboutability?' (oo, another one) so long as the right boxes are ticked, targets are met and ... you get the picture.

Having fun with words

And I have...

Newsnight neologisms needed

proxymoron - derived from 'proxy' - 'a person authorized to act for another - which one could argue is what the person you give your vote to is... er... was. Our beloved MPs.

The second part - oxymoron - is also relevant in more than a few contexts: 'a figure of speech that combines two normally contradictory terms'

There may well be other allusions, but I could not imagine what:)

Celebrity/Cabinet Recall Afterwards Preservation site

Or CCRAP site. Inspired by:

Order Order

378. Mr Ned says:
June 5, 2009 at 11:08 am

He was on the BBC today saying Gordon Brown is the best thing since sliced bread. With judgement like that at the helm,

I think there is a case for a sidebar, separate site or whatever, just logging the various ‘great, good and all round goofy’ who seem to think going on record as saying stuff like that in what have seemed/seems a good idea then/now, and then available to call up in evidence from their own mouths in the future when been interviewed of judged for office, etc.

A bit like a FaceBook picture, six sheets to the wind, mooning a nun at the office party. Only a tad more damning as booze cannot be used as mitigation for such howlingly poor judgement.

For the people, of the people, slipped by the people

Newsnight

7. At 6:45pm on 02 Jun 2009, ginadean wrote:
Please could someone explain how Mandleson who is not elected nor an MP could possible be put forward for a top job as forgien secretary in a reshuffle of the cabinet, again not elected?

Very good question. However, the answer might be a tad 'unique' for some in the MSM to feel like asking, much less answering.

Money is not everything

As it is also a telling tale on population and economy vs. environment, this could as easily be over at Junkk Male RE:view.

Singapore’s population crisis in a nutshell

Having lived there for a decade, and still visiting since my family's departure a decade ago, the 'world in miniature' aspect of this once great city state is too important not to learn from.

I treasure (fading) memories of Singapore Slings at the original long bar in the original Raffles, to drives to Punggol for chili crab in lean-tos on shoreline shanties set into the jungle.

On our last visit, I am pretty sure that's where one of the several hundred 26 storey HDBs my brother in law and his family live in now stand. Not sure a family meal at Jack's Place in Parkway Parade had quite the same sense of cultural bonding.

Progress? There is a finite land area (well, they are trying to prove Mark Twain wrong daily, but international sea limits will eventually require either going down, or higher up as the only options). Maybe the era of Blade Runner-like living is not so far away.

All to 'sustain economic growth'. And then, when the last square inch of grass has been concreted over? What quality of life will those who have got to this point enjoy, now that the shark that needs to swim to survive has stalled and is gasping for more air?

Ironically, my 12 year olds have been written to to require they get ready for National Service when they are 18, and we are required to stump up $75k bond each should they not feel so disposed.

As I replied to someone who asked me if I was ever tempted to return: 'there has to be more to life than living in an a/c box from which you commute in an a/c box to work in an a/c box to earn enough to blow at nights and weekends in another a/c box. And I think my kids deserve better.'

So unless the govt. revises its policies a tad, they'll be missing out on 6 years' worth of tourist money and, who knows, the chance of two 18 year olds opting to do their bit for a few years in a Taiwanese swamp to get their chance at living in a... albeit potentially well-appointed... a/c box.

Governments would do well to remember that human beings don't respond well to coercion and can, surprisingly, even opt not to be bribed with trinkets.

Still, I'm sure the SDU (Social Development Unit (bless), better known as 'Single, Desperate and Ugly' with the humour I still take strength from knowing flourishes there) is finding its ad budget enhanced.

Lead by donkeys

Having watched our Dear Leader just now on the Andrew Marr show, I think we can home in on more specific body parts from that animal (which oddly suggests an alternative name immediately).

As I wrote to them:

Well, that was... er... vague.

Might one suggest that when a politician answers a question they don't fancy with 'The real question that needs to be asked is...' and rambles off on self-serving waffle ending with yet more 'looking at this', a big hook comes in from stage left and hoiks 'em off? And presuming to know 'what people want' should mean open season with the rotten fruit and veg from the stalls.

Any system that has operated so disastrously for over a decade really has little credibility left to be allowed to 'sort it out' or, worse, turning their dead hands to 'getting on with the job', 'dealing with the issues at hand'... and especially on the 'big issues'.

If Mr. Brown thinks he is the answer, then I dare not imagine the question.

I am not sure that even a cross in a ballot once every few years is now enough.

Telegraph - Brown alive, appears in public, nation breathes sigh of relief