Weekender Special on Climategate

The Weekender. Climategate. The gift that won't stop giving!

(EDITOR: Apparently the defence is that they did not mean 'trick' as a way to tamper with the data, but in the meaning of 'trick' as a way to tamper with the data. Oh. I see. You say tomato, I say tomato...)

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/geraldwarner/100018034/climategate-%20%20e-mails-sweep-america-may-scuttle-barack-obamas-cap-and-trade-laws/

“Climategate e-mails sweep America, may scuttle Barack Obama's Cap and Trade laws”

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/jamesdelingpole/100018003/climategate-five-aussie-mps-lead-the-way-by-resigning-in-disgust-over-carbon-tax/

“Climategate: five Aussie MPs lead the way by resigning in disgust over carbon tax”

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/geraldwarner/100017954/us-congress-investigates-climategate-e-mails-this-could-be-the-beginning-of-the-end-for-agw/

“US Congress investigates Climategate e-mails: this could be the beginning of the end for AGW”

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/jamesdelingpole/100018192/climategate-the-ipcc-is-over-says-uea-climate-scientist/

“Climategate: the IPCC is over says UEA climate scientist”

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703499404574559630382048494.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_sections_opinion

“Rigging a Climate 'Consensus' About those emails and 'peer review.'”

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/jamesdelingpole/100018144/climategate-the-whitewash-begins/

“Climategate: the whitewash begins”

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/cool-heads-needed-to-turn-climate-change-heat-into-light/story-e6frg6zo-1225804731779

“...It is climate-change alarmists who live on conspiracy theories. They tell stories of hidden forces that are sinisterly subverting the real science. They use the language of the Inquisition to stigmatise their opponents, labelling them deniers, suggesting they are lying about something they actually know to be true...”

http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2009/11/27/climategate-scientists-report-congress-white-house

“Scientists involved in the growing ClimateGate scandal were cited in an October climate change report prepared for the White House and Congress.”

http://trueslant.com/level/2009/11/27/with-climategate-some-republicans-embrace-thug-politics-global-warming-e-mails-east-anglia-cru-climate-research-unit-hacked-stolen-leaked/

“As much as climatologists in America may have hoped the ‘ClimateGate’ scandal would go away during the Thanksgiving holiday, it’s here to stay”

http://oregoncatalyst.com/index.php/archives/2848-Climate-change-scandal-grows.html

“Climate change scandal grows”

http://www2.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/comment/story.html?id=7788f326-43b9-402a-81bf-aa72c80e64f2

“Andrew Weaver is apparently attempting to divert attention from explosive and shameful reports of extensive malfeasance by scientists at the Climatic Research Unit at the University of East Anglia.”

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/georgemonbiot/2009/nov/25/monbiot-climate-leak-crisis-response

“No one has been as badly let down by the revelations in these emails as those of us who have championed the science. We should be the first to demand that it is unimpeachable, not the last”

http://www.dakotavoice.com/2009/11/socialists-in-a-panic-over-climategate-to-pass-un-climate-treaty/

“...But that was before the ClimateGate release of emails from a key global warming group in Britain which showed global warming fanatics talking to one another about how to manipulate the scientific data so that it appeared to back up their outrageous claims about anthropogenic global warming.”

http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fpcomment/archive/2009/11/26/lawrence-solomon-new-zealand-s-climategate.aspx

“An agency of the New Zealand government has been cooking the books to create a warming trend where none exists, according to a joint research project by global warming skeptics at the Climate Conversation Group and the New Zealand Climate Science Coalition. The chief cook? Dr. Jim Salinger, considered one of the country's top scientists, who began the graph in the 1980s when he was at the Climatic Research Unit at the University of East Anglia in the UK. CRU, of course, has become ground zero of Climategate at Dr. Salinger has maintained close relations with CRU since, as seen in the Climategate emails. What do the uncooked books show? Rather than warming over the last hundred years, New Zealand's temperature has been steady.”

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/jamesdelingpole/100017987/climategate-what-gores-useful-idiot-ed-begley-jr-doesnt-get-about-the-peer-review-process/

“Climategate: what Gore's useful idiot Ed Begley Jr doesn't get about the 'peer review' process”

(EDITOR: Ed Begley Jr reveals himself to be an ignoramus, and a shrill, loud-mouth, insulting liar)

http://voices.kansascity.com/node/6691

“Global Warming, Climategate, and other Government Conspiracies...I'm not sure you can feel totally sorry for the Global Warming political groups, though. Their rhetoric and actions (and now emails) have done little to endear the public to their agenda.”

Friday morning update

Friday Morning update

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/hacker-loses-final-appeal-against-extradition-to-us-1828749.html

“Hacker loses final appeal against extradition to US Home Secretary turns down Asperger's sufferer who broke into military computers”

(EDITOR: So there's no difference between Brown and Blair and Obama and Bush?)

http://news.scotsman.com/politics/Commons-anger-over--200aday.5863566.jp

“Commons anger over £200-a-day attendance fee for Lords”

(EDITOR: Commons 'anger'? Pot, meet kettle)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/6667420/Ed-Balls-comes-out-fighting---for-racist-Islamic-schools.html

“Ed Balls comes out fighting - for 'racist' Islamic schools A trustee of one of the schools which Ed Balls is defending has written in a Hizb ut Tahrir journal condemning the "corrupt western concepts of materialism and freedom," observes Andrew Gilligan”

(EDITOR: Nice friends Balls selects)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1231057/The-jail-raffle--day-freedom-prize.html

“The jail raffle ...with a day of freedom as first prize”

(EDITOR: Welcome to Gordon Brown's Mad Britain. Please leave your credulity at the door)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/6665044/Couple-accuse-social-services-of-kidnapping-daughter.html

“Couple accuse social services of 'kidnapping' daughter A couple have accused social services of "kidnapping" their nine week-old daughter for adoption. They allege that police and council staff forced their way into their home and took the baby away while they were physically restrained. They claim they were not allowed to cuddle the child or say goodbye.”

(EDITOR: If this is true, then Britain is in trouble)

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article6934245.ece

“‘Day of shame’ taunt as Labour scuppers minimum pricing for alcohol The Labour Party was facing a wave of criticism last night from health professionals, anti-alcohol campaigners and the police after it was confirmed that its MSPs are to block minimum pricing for drink in Scotland.”

(EDITOR: Why? What is their game, after trying to tax the Scotch industry out of existence?)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/6663529/Security-minister-Lord-West-stopped-and-searched-in-profiling-row.html

“Security minister Lord West stopped and searched in profiling row Police used controversial stop and search powers against the government’s own security minister it has emerged.”

(EDITOR: Unless, of course, they reasoned that as an associate of Gordon Brown, he may well have helped spread misery and terror throughout the country?)

Thursday Update

Thursday Update

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Kt4-W1XMNw

“Brown challenged over Cumbria Help”

(EDITOR: What Cumbria help?)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/6657185/Ed-Balls-creates-smokescreen-over-extremist-school-funding.html

“Ed Balls, the Schools Secretary, is creating a thick screen of purest smoke after David Cameron's statement that the Government has paid money to schools run by leading members or activists of the anti-Western, extremist group Hizb ut Tahrir (HT).”

(EDITOR: This sounds like the purest Balls)

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6932597.ece

“Blair 'knew Saddam did not have WMD before war started'”

(EDITOR: If that is so, why did we go into Iraq? Why are we in Afghanistan?)

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article6932548.ece

“G20 tactics ‘have undermined integrity of policing’, report says”

(EDITOR: Time for heads to roll?)

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/tories-election-war-chest-gets-1635m-boost-1827620.html

“The conservatives raised more than £5m for their election war chest in just three months – far more than all the other political parties put together.”

(EDITOR: perhaps people want a Tory win? And are willing to help fund it?)

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6932391.ece

“Baroness Ashton of Upholland’s past came back to haunt her yesterday when the European Union’s new foreign affairs chief was forced to deny taking funds from the Soviet Union during her days as treasurer for the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. Lady Ashton, a surprise choice for her post, was challenged to deny that she had contact with Russian sources while she was in charge of its accounts at the height of the Cold War.”

(EDITOR: Be careful. Or your past could find you out)

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/142506/Gordon-Brown-pledges-to-update-monarchy

“GORDON Brown risked a new row with Buckingham Palace last night by pledging to press ahead with a massive overhaul of the monarchy”

(EDITOR: No matter what Gordon Brown proposes, for good or ill, usually ends up as an utter disaster. Just look at his plans to solve youth unemployment. Or his Working Tax Credit scheme. Bot unmitigated disasters)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/nov/25/wales-first-minister-labour-election

“Next Welsh first minister could lead Labour's post-election resistanceCarwyn Jones is odds-on favourite for post that would make him party's big hitter in power if Tories form next government”

(EDITOR: That'll be interesting)

http://news.scotsman.com/scotland/337-pay-rise-demanded-by.5858863.jp

“3% pay rise demanded by council workers is branded 'outrageous'”

(EDITOR: Don't they know there's a war?)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/8378341.stm

“Domestic violence lessons: are they a step too far?”

(EDITOR: Probably)

Wednesday Update

Wednesday Update

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/iraq-invasion-discussed-in-2001-ndash-but-was-dismissed-as-illegal-1826918.html

“Iraq invasion discussed in 2001 – but was dismissed as illegal Long-awaited inquiry into toppling of Saddam begins with first witnesses recalling 'drum beat' of war even before 9/11 attacks”

(EDITOR: So what changed? If anything?)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/nov/25/editorial-complicity-torture-uk-pakistan

“Complicity in torture: Looking the other way”

(EDITOR: Like the good little Labourites they are)

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article6930709.ece

“Watchdog Lord Carlile attacks Gordon Brown comment on April 2009 raid The Prime Minister has been criticised by his independent reviewer of terrorism legislation for comments he made about an anti-terrorist raid.”

(EDITOR: Brown could regret having installed a genuinely independent reviewer)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1230670/Nine-councils-failing-protect-vulnerable-children.html

“At least one child a day is dying or suffering serious injury due to abuse or neglect, Ofsted warned yesterday”

(EDITOR: I thought the government had made all sorts of pledges!)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-1230680/What-kind-country-arrests-innocent-people-boost-DNA-database.html

“What kind of country arrests innocent people to boost its DNA database?”

(EDITOR: Gordon Brown's Britain)

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/5352853a-d931-11de-b2d5-00144feabdc0.html

“Giving more power to MPs would not be everyone’s plan to restore faith in UK political life after the Westminster expenses scandal”

(EDITOR: People would, right enough!)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/nov/25/payouts-unfair-compensation

“Why are payouts so unfair? The £100,000 compensation awarded to the family of Jean Charles de Menezes pales beside the £4m being claimed in a current sexual harrassment case. Why the huge difference?”

(EDITOR: And in this, Gordon Brown's fairness superstate?)

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/campaigns/our_boys/2744165/Fallen-hero-is-brought-home.html

“Fallen hero is brought home”

(EDITOR: Another name for Gordon Brown's Wall of shame)

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article6930577.ece

“George Osborne waves carrots not sticks in pitch for green mantle”

http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/1497732?UserKey=

“Crusaders accuse councils of using drivers as ‘cash cows’”

(An interesting article)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/8373757.stm

“A helpline for victims of domestic abuse in Cornwall is relaunched after it stopped for six months due to a lack of funding”

(EDITOR: So that's the level of commitment from Labour to looking after abused women?)

http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/scotland/Cost-of-free-care-up.5854138.jp

“Cost of free care up 11% but Holyrood saves £838m”

(EDITOR: This will be watched with interest in the rest of the UK)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1230499/Schoolgirl-14-dies-taking-dangerous-new-drug-house-party.html

“Schoolgirl, 14, dies 'after taking dangerous new drug meow meow' at house party: Police arrested a woman, 39, and a 17-year-old boy on suspicion of supplying drugs at the party in Brighton.”

(EDITOR: Welcome to Brown's Britain)

http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/Leeds-Recycling-boost-as-bin.5852618.jp

“Waste recycling rates in Leeds are expected to be given a significant boost under the deal struck to end the city's bin strike”

(EDITOR: Pity it took so long)

http://order-order.com/2009/11/24/dolly-draper-allowed-to-practise-psychotherapy

"Dolly Draper Allowed to practice psychotherapy"

(EDITOR: Really? This is disgusting, seeing as he thought that attacking the mental health of the wife of an opposition figure was a 'good idea.')

Healthy visa options for emigrating nurses

High demand for trained nurses in Australia, New Zealand and Canada means they will receive priority processing and a good chance of immediate employment.

UK-trained registered nurses and midwives are being actively sought out by the Australian, New Zealand and Canadian governments, with priority processing or special visa considerations as well as excellent wages and career opportunities to entice them to emigrate.

The critical shortages of registered nurses and midwives in Australia has seen such high demands for overseas-trained professionals to fill job positions that the Australian Government has placed many nurse occupations on the Critical Skills List, giving them priority visa processing and the chance to have their application processed within months of lodgement.

In addition to having their visas priority processed by Australian immigration, registered nurses and midwives who emigrate to Australia have the potential to take advantage of excellent career opportunities and salaries.

For example, in Queensland new nursing graduates receive an average salary of over AU$52,089 per annum with experienced nurses earning around AU$60,000 to AU$85,000, plus penalty rates for night shift work . In addition, nurses who choose to take up rural or regional positions could be eligible for further entitlements.

Guy Bradley, Director of the Australian Visa Bureau, said registered nurses and midwives are in an enviable position.

“Most states and territories in Australia already have a shortage of registered nurses, and with the average current age of nurses in Australia 45 years it is predicted that some 90,000 nurses will retire between now and 2020.”

Mr Bradley continued: “The Health Care and Social Assistance industry is the second largest industry in Australia, employing 1,146 300 people, or 10.6 per cent of the total workforce, as of February 2009. With projected employment in this industry to grow at a rate of three per cent per annum this means around 181,600 new jobs will be created in the next five years.

“This means employment opportunities and career development for nurses and midwives on top of Australia’s strong economy and enviable lifestyle.”

“Anecdotally we have seen that Australia offers nurses a much better lifestyle and life/work balance, and that is one of the major attractions for emigrating, but Australia also faces stiff competition from the Canadian and New Zealand governments who are just as determined to garner trained nurses,” Mr Bradley said.

Registered nurses and midwives are also in high demand for New Zealand immigration, with the New Zealand government actively encouraging skilled nurses to come and work in the country. Registered nurses and midwives who wish to emigrate to New Zealand may be able to qualify quickly for a skilled visa, even without a job offer.

Hospital nurses in New Zealand can earn between NZ$40,000 and $55,000, with higher salaries for senior positions and penalty rates for overtime and shift work .

Career progression is also excellent in New Zealand, with many nurses entering into specialised positions or progressing into research, management or education roles. Postgraduate study can lead to opportunities to become nurse practitioners.

Nurses are also given special consideration by Canadian immigration, and are one of a very limited number of occupations which Canada is still actively seeking. Nurses are exempt from needing a pre-arranged offer of employment before applying for a Canadian skilled worker visa and nurses can also be sponsored by a Canadian province under the Provincial Nominee Program and have their applications fast-tracked.

Newly graduated registered nurses in Canada start with a salary of C$53,956, and nurses can expect a salary increase every year for eight years after that, as well as an increase to C$78,000 once they reach 25 years’ experience .

How to emigrate to Australia

To be eligible to emigrate to Australia, you must be under the age of 45 years of age, and meet health, character, English language and occupational requirements. To determine eligibility for migration to Australia nurses can take a free online assessment at http://www.visabureau.com/australia/assessment/skilled/defau... or by visiting Australian Visa Bureau.

How to emigrate to New Zealand

To be eligible to emigrate to New Zealand you must be under the age of 56 years, and meet health, character and English language requirements. Take a free online assessment for your eligibility at https://www.visabureau.com/newzealand/assessment/skilled/def... or visit New Zealand Visa Bureau.

How to emigrate to Canada

To be eligible to emigrate to Canada, there are a number of minimum requirements that an applicant must meet to qualify, including education, language ability and work experience. To get a better idea of your Canadian migration options, you can take a free online assessment at https://www.visabureau.com/canada/assessment/general/default... or the Canadian Visa Bureauwebsite.

FACT FILE:

Visa Bureau is an independent immigration advisory company specialising in visas and immigration to Australia, New Zealand, the USA and Canada. Based in central London, the company offers a range of services and free online assessments for individuals and families considering a new life abroad. Visit http://www.visabureau.com for up-to-date news, information and free online visa assessments.

Schillings grows family department to meet increasing client demand

Schillings, the leading law firm protecting the rights and reputations of corporate organisations, high-profile individuals and those in the public eye, has increased its family department to meet the growing demand from its clients, particularly those who want to ensure their family and matrimonial matters are not publicised by the media.

Schillings has recently recruited Davina Hay to join its family law department alongside Keith Schilling, Rachel Atkins and David Greer. A litigator with expertise in family law, Davina advises on separation, divorce and ancillary relief, jurisdictional disputes, multi-jurisdictional divorce cases involving significant assets and enforcement issues. Before she joined Schillings, Davina trained and qualified at a City law firm where she spent six years acting for a number of well known actors, successful entrepreneurs and international clients. She brings with her extensive experience as a litigator and enhances the firm's provision of advice to high net-worth and high profile individuals in all aspects of divorce, relationship breakdown, ancillary relief, pre- and post-nuptial agreements and private children matters.

Schillings' family department is led by Keith Schilling, the founder and senior partner of the firm, who represented Shan Lambert in her successful appeal in 2002, achieving the first 50/50 split of assets in a "big money" divorce.

Working alongside Mr Schilling is Partner Rachel Atkins who earlier this year, together with Associate David Greer, acted for a celebrity father in a test case following the introduction of new rules allowing media attendance in family proceedings, and succeeded in application to exclude the media from attending court hearings concerning his child.

When speaking about the growing family department Keith Schilling said, "In the last few years we have seen a significant increase in the demand for advice from high net worth and high profile individuals in connection with matters relating to divorce, often involving multiple jurisdictions, children and most notably pre- and post-nuptial agreements."

Mr Schilling went on to say, "High net worth individuals and those in the public eye regularly discover their privacy has been invaded or their reputation defamed when details of their personal lives or the breakdown of their relationship are leaked to the press and publicised. It is logical, therefore, to respond to the demand from our clients by strengthening our team and combining our family and matrimonial advice with the firm's pre-eminent experience in the area of reputation protection, so that we can ensure that press interest is managed to our client's advantage."

Speaking about the press interest surrounding high net worth individuals and those in the public eye Davina Hay said, "Clients, even those without a high public profile, are increasingly finding themselves the subject of intrusive press interest following relationship breakdown or in the event of disputes involving children. Aside from the unwanted emotional strain at an already stressful time, the financial consequences of the resulting reputational damage can be devastating. However, it is possible to manage such threats and give clients the space to resolve family issues free from unwanted media scrutiny."

Tuesday Update

Tuesday Update

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/6638477/Civilian-detectives-investigating-rapes-and-murders.html

“'Civilian detectives' investigating rapes and murders Civilians working for police forces across the country are being used to investigate serious crimes including rape and murder in a cost-cutting initiative: Police leaders and politicians have voiced their concern after discovering that some of the “civilian investigators” have come from jobs at supermarkets like Tesco and Marks & Spencer, or straight from college, having received as little as six months training.”

(EDITOR: This does seem a worrying development. Strange how Sir Hugh Orde is keeping silent on this? Unless, of course, ACPO approve of this money saving scam?)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/8375380.stm

“Local government leaders have accused Ofsted of "feeding people's fears" over child safety, rather than improving child protection in England. The watchdog was more interested in "protecting its own reputation" than providing a "calm, measured voice", the Local Government Association said.

An Ofsted spokeswoman said: "There can be no hiding place for poor practice."”

(EDITOR: Unless it is Ofsted indulging in a bit of poor practice?)

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/leading-articles/leading-article-the-crucial-questions-that-the-iraq-inquiry-must-answer-1826459.html

“Iraq inquiry wait finally over”

(EDITOR: Worth the wait?)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/nov/24/dna-database-inquiry

“Police routinely arresting people to get DNA, inquiry claims”

(EDITOR: I can't get excited about this one)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/nov/23/mps-expenses-police-mps-peers

“MPs' expenses: police send files on four MPs and peers to CPS”

(EDITOR: Only four?)

http://itn.co.uk/4b8ee03c7feba5f7a448da89c7d181c7.html

“A major cross-party committee is urging MPs to be put back in charge of the House of Commons to restore the public's faith in Parliament in the aftermath of the expenses scandal”

(EDITOR: Would it be better? The same? Worse?)

http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE5AN00W20091124

“MPs call for parliamentary petitions to go online”

(EDITOR: What a good idea!)

http://itn.co.uk/ce1f5ae1e5531922106c273fd27df76f.html

“Householders could earn shopping vouchers worth £130 per year as a reward for recycling, under a scheme planned by the Conservatives. Shadow chancellor George Osborne describes the idea as a sharp contrast to Labour's "indifferent" approach to the green agenda. It will build on a pilot scheme in Tory-controlled Windsor and Maidenhead which offers vouchers for retailers such as Marks & Spencer which is claimed to have boosted recycling by almost a third.”

(EDITOR: An interesting idea. Most Labour Councils have never been really keen on green issues, although they can often talk up a green storm, they rarely follow through with positive action)

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2009/11/24/through-the-roof-115875-21845251/

“TORY CASH - THE TRUTH: A MIRROR INVESTIGATION”

(EDITOR: A slightly hysterical piece by one James Lyons. His name seems quite fitting)

http://news.scotsman.com/politics/Thatcher-back-in-Downing-Street.5850561.jp

“FORMER prime minister Margaret Thatcher returned to No10 yesterday to attend the unveiling of her portrait.”

http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=44681&c=1

“Culture secretary Ben Bradshaw has accused the Conservative Party of sub-contracting its media policy to News International and condemned the company’s 'rapacious' proprietor, Rupert Murdoch.”

(EDITOR: How strange! Right up until The Sun decided to withdraw its support from Brown, Ben Bradshaw seemed to have no problem with Mr Murdoch. Now, suddenly, Ben Bradshaw has found his voice of criticism. Ben Bradshaw. Hypocrite!)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8375313.stm

“Jack Straw to look at changing 'unbalanced' libel laws There has been growing concern at the rise of "no-win, no-fee" cases in the courts threatening freedom of speech.”

(EDITOR: Jack straw wants a return to the bad old days when only the rich had the full protection of the law? What kind of a Socialist is he?)

http://www.regen.net/news/ByDiscipline/Business/968980/DCLG-pledges-10m-tackle-anti-social-behaviour/

“The Government has launched a new £10 million scheme to support front-line staff tackling anti-social behaviour. The cash, which has already been allocated and will be shared among 130 local authorities, will pay for 10,000 community safety workers, police officers and housing workers to be trained in how to deal with anti-social behaviour, the Department of Communities and Local Government said.”

(EDITOR: Birmingham, as the Second City, is a large authority. According to reports in the press it will receive about £54,000. Big deal)

Monday Morning update

Monday Morning update

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/defence/6631239/Hostility-between-British-and-American-military-leaders-revealed.html

“The deep hostility of Britain’s senior military commanders in Iraq towards their American allies has been revealed in classified Government documents leaked to the Daily Telegraph.”

(EDITOR: Does this show how badly Tone and Gord planned things from the start?)

http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/latestnews/SNP-hails-Cameron-hint-over.5847345.jp

“DAVID Cameron has revived SNP hopes of wielding more power at Westminster by admitting that a hung parliament would be better for the UK than another five years of a Labour government.”

(EDITOR: An interesting take on this?)

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/university-accused--of-16336m-student-scam-1825909.html

“University accused of £36m student scam The body which funds English universities has taken the unprecedented step of calling for the mass resignation of governors at a university accused of misusing public money. A letter seen by The Independent from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (Hefce) to the chairman of governors at London Metropolitan University calls on members of the governing body and senior staff to "consider their position".”

(EDITOR: Is this as bad as an MP 'forgetting' they were claiming for a mortgage that had been paid off several years previously?)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/eu/6622886/Herman-Van-Rompuy-Europes-first-president-to-push-for-Euro-tax.html

“Herman Van Rompuy: Europe's first president to push for 'Euro tax' Herman Van Rompuy, Europe's first president, is to join forces with the European Commission to push for sweeping new tax raising powers for Brussels.”

(EDITOR: so an unelected president wants to raise taxes from the people who didn't get the chance to vote for their new president? I don't think so.)

http://thatsrealestate.blogspot.com/2009/11/new-members-join-mayors-design-panel.html

“The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has announced that Sir Nicholas Serota, Director of Tate, has become a member of his Design Advisory Panel.”

(EDITOR: Let's hope they help the designs for the future of our capital)

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/customers-in-line-for-bank-charge-windfall-worth-billions-1825924.html

“Customers in line for bank charge windfall worth billions Supreme Court to rule on test case that challenges fairness of overdraft fees”

(EDITOR: You would have thought this would all have been dealt with by the government some time during the past 12 years...)

However, the Daily Mail have a different take on this story

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1230126/Banks-charge-using-cash-machines.html

“Banks could charge customers to take out money from a cash machine, campaigners fear. They believe the banks will introduce new 'rip-off' charges if they lose a long-running court battle this week with the Office of Fair Trading. It could signal the end of the free banking currently enjoyed by millions whose accounts never go into the red.”

(EDITOR: This would not be a surprise)

http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE5AM00B20091123

“Brown urges Europe to go for growth”

(EDITOR: And as Brown's policies have been such a rip-roaring success, everyone is sure to do exactly what he says)

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Foreign-Trade/Drug-seizure-Govt-to-drag-EU-to-WTO-/articleshow/5258843.cms

“Drug seizure: Govt to drag EU to WTO: NEW DELHI: India is preparing to file a case against the European Union at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) for “wrongful” seizure of high quality Indian drugs at its ports while in transit to other destinations”

(EDITOR: The EU found out for being operated like a set of protectionist gangsters? No shock there...)

http://www.reuters.com/article/governmentFilingsNews/idUSGEE5AL0E520091122

“LONDON, Nov 22 (Reuters) - The British government could face trade sanctions if it is found guilty of protectionism as a result of the bank bail out, Pascal Lamy, director general of the World Trade Organisation, told the Sunday Telegraph.”

(EDITOR: But how can this be? Surely Mr Brown, Mr Darling and Lord Mandelson actually took the necessary steps to clear their plans for the bank bailout? Oh-oh. On second thoughts, it's very unlikely that they never bothered. And how would this impact on the possibility of Mandelson becoming Foreign Secretary?)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/nov/23/labour-economic-policy-general-eelction

“Don't despair – Gordon Brown may be on a winner Labour has good progressive policies but they need to be delivered with conviction”

(EDITOR: This 'article' In The Guardian is in the business section and is one of The Guardian's protected articles: I.E., Readers cannot comment on it. And by progressive we must presume the author, Larry Elliot, means Gordon's Brown's version of internment without trial, ID cards for all, wholesale plundering of pension funds, duff economic policies, etc., etc., etc. Mr Elliot is the paper's economics editor. Which could explain a great deal)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8373562.stm

“A second member of the MPs' standards committee is facing questions over his expenses amid reports he claimed £65,000 for second homes in London. Labour MP Andrew Dismore is reported to have "flipped" his second home designation from west to north London.”

(EDITOR: What a flippin' carry-on. Who would have thought that Expensesgate would still be providing copy all these months later?)

The Weekender, including more on the Hacktavist

The Weekender

including more on the Hacktavist release of dodgy climate change data:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1229740/Hackers-expose-global-warming-Claims-leaked-emails-reveal-research-centre-massaged-temperature-data.html

“Hackers 'expose global warming con': Sceptics claim that leaked emails reveal research centre massaged temperature data”

(EDITOR: This story will run for a while, yet. A spokesman said: “This information has been obtained and published without our permission and we took immediate action to remove the server in question from operation.” And that makes data manipulation acceptable, does it?)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/defence/6625534/Iraq-report-Secret-plans-for-war-no-plans-for-peace.html

“Iraq report: Secret plans for war, no plans for peace In the bitter aftermath of the Iraq invasion, Tony Blair was many times accused of sending British troops to war on a deceit”

(EDITOR: This will reflect badly on not only Blair but on Brown, too)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/6622814/Sir-Hugh-Orde-is-wrong-about-elected-police-chiefs.html

“Sir Hugh Orde is wrong about elected police chiefs Local accountability will not undermine police chiefs' operational independence, insists Neil O'Brien.”

(EDITOR: As a former police officer, why does what Sir Hugh Orde say have such impact? He's the chairman of ACPO? But that's not a police constabulary, so what gives? Is it time ACPO was stripped of the powers it has accrued to itself in recent years? And retired police offciers like Sir Hugh relegated to telling people how good they were in their day in the Police Social Club?)

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6927014.ece

“COUPLES who squabble outside the school gates could be advised to take relationship counselling under a government initiative to stop parents arguing in front of their children. Social workers, teachers and child health visitors will be told to regard dissent in the household as a sign of poor parenting and to direct argumentative couples to special classes to teach them how to behave.”

(EDITOR: This is creepy. Besides which, what if the bickering were caused by -for example- the fact that they are upset that a close relation has been killed by Gordon Brown's Afghan war and that the husband has just lost his job because of government economic policies? Who would be in need of counselling, then? The couple? Gordon Brown for special classes to teach him how to govern?)

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2740321/Harriet-Harman-looks-grim-despite-PMs-backing-over-driving-prosecution.html

“HARRIET Harman looks worried and grim - despite winning Gordon Brown's backing over her driving prosecution.”

(EDITOR: He shouldn't have done that. He should have made her stand down until the result of the case became known)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/6616525/Gordon-Brown-should-demand-Lockerbie-bomber-is-returned-says-US-Senator.html

“Gordon Brown should demand the “immediate” return of the Lockerbie bomber to serve his sentence in a Scottish jail – because he is still alive exactly three months after his controversial release, according to an American senator.”

(EDITOR: Perhaps Senator Charles Schumer -for it is he- might like to consider that constantly butting in to other state's affairs is what gets America in to so much trouble in the first place?)

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6927012.ece

“Afghan pullout is ‘election ploy’ by Gordon Brown”

(EDITOR: Would Gordon Brown stoop this low? Yes, he would)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8371208.stm

“Easyjet has apologised after fashion photographs shot at the Holocaust Memorial in Berlin were published in its in-flight magazine.”

(EDITOR: Of course, it is blaming the editorial firm that it uses to produce the magazine. Doesn't EasyJet have to sign off the magazine befor it is sent off to print? After all, that's what REAL companies do...)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/nov/20/sikh-man-bnp-member

“Sikh campaigner for BNP set to become party's first non-white member Rajinder Singh says he supports far-right party's anti-Islam stance”

(EDITOR: This is what happens when certain trendy types in New Labour suck up to Muslims and marginalise Sikhs, Hindus and other ethnic groups and leave them feeling vulnerable and frightened)

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6927006.ece

“Lord Mandelson tells Gordon Brown: make me foreign secretary”

(EDITOR: And alienate the Miliband bothers, Balls and co? Yes. That's a great idea)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1229630/Police-EVERY-crime-victim-says-Home-Secretary-Alan-Johnson.html

“The failure of police to visit all victims of minor crimes is wrong, the Home Secretary said last night.”

(EDITOR: Mr Johnson, this failure is YOUR failure! The failure of your government over the past 12 years. Don't just dump the blame on the police!)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/eu/6617478/Gordon-Brown-accused-of-taking-wrong-EU-job.html

“Gordon Brown accused of taking 'wrong' EU job Gordon Brown has been accused of putting Britain's economic interest at risk by accepting the "wrong" European Union job.”

(EDITOR: Some might consider that Gordon Brown is in the wrong job)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1229695/BBC-dispatches-35-staff-climate-talks--creating-carbon-African-village-does-year.html

BBC dispatches 35 staff to climate talks - creating as much carbon as an African village does in a year

(EDITOR: Ecocrites?)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/defence/6617358/Tories-to-pull-British-forces-out-of-Germany.html

“British forces will pull out of Germany for good, nearly 70 years after the Allied victory in World War Two, as part of a Tory defence "revolution" being drawn up by Dr Liam Fox.”

(EDITOR: It's a thought, isn't it?)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1229912/Speakers-wife-lost-job-Oxford-degree-wasnt.html

“The wife of Commons Speaker John Bercow was sacked from a leading City firm after it claimed she had lied about having a degree from Oxford University. Sally Bercow was dismissed by public relations business Consolidated Communications after it contacted the Oxford authorities and discovered they had not granted her a degree...The disclosure is doubly embarrassing for the Bercows. It comes after Left-wing Mrs Bercow announced she will stand as a Labour candidate in next year's elections for Westminster City Council.”

(EDITOR: And this makes her an ideal Labour election candidate, does it?)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8372839.stm

“Conservative leader David Cameron has told the BBC he plans to hold an emergency budget within 50 days if his party wins the next general election”

(EDITOR: Sounds perfectly reasonable, given the circumstances)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/defence/6628792/The-Iraq-war-files.html

“The Iraq war files On the eve of the Chilcot inquiry into Britain’s involvement in the 2003 invasion and its aftermath, The Sunday Telegraph has obtained hundreds of pages of secret Government reports on “lessons learnt” which shed new light on “significant shortcomings” at all levels.”

(EDITOR: “lessons learnt”? That would be a first for Gordon Brown)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/nov/22/eu-ashton-trade-talks-weakened

“Trade commissioner Baroness Ashton will take up her duties as Europe's new foreign policy chief on 1 December, halfway through a critical summit of world trade ministers in Geneva, and will be without a permanent replacement until February, it emerged this weekend – dealing a further blow to fragile hopes of resuscitating the failing Doha round of international trade talks.”

(EDITOR: Exactly how useless is Gordon Brown? Dangerously so, this would seem to indicate. Unless, of course, Brown is not that interested in Intentional trade?)

http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/politics/international_politics/was+cathy+ashton+the+best+choice/3431302?track=sitemap

“Was Cathy Ashton the best choice? Baroness Ashton has never been elected, is a relative unknown and has risen from chairing Hertfordshire Health Authority to the EU's top foreign policy job in just eight years.”

(EDITOR: Oh my God. This will all end in tears)

http://www.labour.org.uk/anti-social-behaviour-proposals,2009-11-20

“The Labour government has announced extra help to tackle anti-social behaviour”

(EDITOR: But you have had twelve years to do something about this problem. Apart from statements like: “tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime” the reality has been: “tough on nothing, tough on the causes of nothing.” Empty policy statements and pretending to spend money on a problem is NOT tackling anything)