Pondlife

Is there a lower form of pondlife on the planet than Richard Perle. I've just listned to the Zionist, right-wing reactionary on the BBC (why is he still allowed airspace?) putting up a robust defence of Ahmed Chalabi, the hawks' own choice to replace Saddam until his fingers were found to be very sticky, and very near the till. Not that this would present a problem to Perle, whose own dealings make Jeffrey Archer look like Snow White.

The executioner's face is always well hidden

The first US Ambassador to Iraq after Operation Iraqi Liberation (OIL) is the delightful John D. Negroponte, a man who was as widely feared in Central America as Saddam was in Iraq. Negraponte has pledged to wage war on the insurgents in Iraq... presumably under the auspices of the 'sovereign' Iraqi Government, of course. If his past performance of promoting death squads in Central America is any measure of what can be expected, it is more than just the 'insurgents' who have got something to worry about.

Don't think twice.. It's alright

Byker is back from Glastonbury, muddied, knackered and happy. And why not? Personally I think I'd rather have my private parts fried in chip fat than spend all weekend up to my neck in muck in order to listen to McCartney sing his back catalogue (if ever there was a lucky bloke on this planet it was him the day he met John Lennon) and Morrisey, Oasis or most of the others on show. But I find it totally depressing and nauseating to read all those posers and yoghurt-weaving hippies who are upset because the masses have discovered "their" festival and are ruining it for them. If they don't like it, shove off and find another festival of your own to go to, where no-one will bother you... and we don't have to put up with your whining. Me... I'd go to WOMAD or Cambridge anyday, and if you want a real festival... this is THE one.

On this day...

Thanks to New Links for this dead cool feature. If you now click on 'Click it' next to the date above each post it tells you all sorts of things that happened on this day in the past. For instance today would be Queen Victoria's 174th anniversary as queen if she had only lived to see it, Innocent IV became Pope in 1243, it's Jean Jacques Rousseau's birthday, only 226 to-day, and Franz Ferdinand got himself shot in 1914... the consequences of which led to millions of other people getting shot over the next thirty odd years.... and much, much, more besides.

Oooh dear...

Just back from Stechford Ward in Hodge Hill. Lib Dem supporters in the local elections seem pretty upset that their vote has resulted in a Tory Council, and they give every indication of voting Labour in the by-election.

Sometimes even the President of the United States has got to stand naked

Well, not quite, but Dubya in Ireland took the opportunity of doing his Ralph C Nesbitt impersonation in his vest... but the Irish Government banned publication. Well, this site goes one better and has a clip of George strutting his stuff in his boxers.

Should Denmark find themselves involved in a penalty shoot-out tonight, I suspect Aston Villa players Martin Laursen and Tommy Sorensen will be tossing a coin to see who takes the 10th and 11th penalties.

A real warm brummie greeting

Liberal Democrat candidate in the Hodge Hill, Birmingham by-election, Nicola (Nokia) Davies is a lobbyist for the mobile phone industry. Nicola defends the mobile industry against residents who are opposing the siting of masts near hospitals and schools. Thanks to Lib Dem Watch for the pictures of the generous reception given to Nokia's boss when he visited Lib Dem HQ in Hodge Hill.

Charlie looks uncomfortable as he meets Hodge Hill residents.

A troubled mind

So, for all of those of you who suggested unkindly that the lad couldn't score in a brothel... he proves you wrong.

We all liberals now!

Thanks to Underblog for the reference to this very funny site.

Deja vu

England were knocked out of Euro '96 when Aston Villa player Gareth Southgate missed a penalty. Last night, Villa striker Darius Vassell found out what it feels like. But at least he stood up... which is more than you can say for the Ugly brothers, both of whom have over 50 international caps. I missed the whole thing myself. I went to a concert by one of the greatest living Irishmen... and he was magnificent!

Bloody good question... bloody lousy answer

Mr. David Amess (Southend, West) (Con): When the Prime Minister next discusses working-class issues with his Health Secretary, will he consider the widespread concern around the country about the siting of telecommunications masts? Will the Government consider altering the planning laws, so that applicants will have a duty to prove that there is a need for a mast, and that there are no associated health risks?

The Prime Minister: What we should do is make sure that we proceed carefully, according to the scientific evidence. Experts in the field prepare reports and reviews for the Government, and we must take account of them, but it would be foolish for us to make a decision that was not based on the scientific evidence. Therefore, I will proceed very carefully—as the Government are doing—but the decision that we reach will be in the interests of all the community, and it will be based on proper scientific knowledge and expertise.

The Governor

"The Continental Op first hear Personville called Poisonville by Hickey Dewey. But since Dewey also called a shirt a shoit, he didn't think anything of it. Until he went there and his client, the only honest man in Poisonville, was murdered." The opening lines of Dashiell Hammet's first book, Red Harvest, written in 1929. The summer holidays are coming... and I'm stocking up on pulp crime fiction. But I bet no-one will drag me into a story better than Hammett with those fantastic opening words.

Southampton(H), Albion(A), Charlton (A), Newcastle(H). It looks like the lads will be top going in to September. (Somehow I feel these words may be taken down and used in evidence against me at a later date).

Whoops!

My old mate Dave Hallam has got in to a spot of bother over a website he has designed. Dave is a methodist lay preacher and he has set up a site related to Francis Asbury, who emigrated from the UK to to America in 1771 and was influential in the development of the Methodist Church over there. Unfortunately, David mentioned the Black Country delicacy of faggots on his site and various search engines in the US picked it up and interpreted it slightly differently.

Voters of Hodge Hill beware - Vote Lib-Dem = Vote Tory

If the electorate of Hodge Hill needed any further warnings after John 'give-us-a-seat' Hemming's decision to join a Tory Cabinet, Lib Dem Watch reveals:

May 2004: Lib Dem councillor and London Assembly candidate in Barnet and Camden Jonathan Simpson says: "It is a campaign we are fighting to win. The electorate want to get rid of what they see as a right-wing liability. Brian Coleman’s various comments prove he is not fit for public office."

June 2004: The Lib Dems agree a deal to run the GLA with the Tories and help to get the very same Brian Coleman - deemed "not fit for public office" - elected Chair of the Assembly.

Something fishy

Maggie Thatcher's underpants do not appear to have been changed for nearly a fortnight. What's up there then?

The Last Goodbye

Tim signs off from Bloggerheads with this magnificent Parting Shot

Steve Bell shows Labour united around the leadership over Europe.

Hodge Hill, Birmingham and Leicester South are now both set for parliamentary byelections. Labour are defending relatively large majorities in both seats and they are likely to provide a greater indication of where the party is heading than the June 10th elections where multi-seat voting and the Euro elections led to everyone claiming virtually everyone but UKIP had lost. The Abbey Ward leafletting team will be soaking their feet in warm milk (and drinking warm beer)in preparation for the task ahead.

Rest assured... Our day will come.

Over at Bloggerheads, Tim is laying down his mighty sword for a while. Easily the most entertaining and informative Blog on the block, he will be sorely missed during his sabbatical. The sheer volume of material he has directed people towards to inform them about the Bush-Blair axis has been phenomenal, and there are many bloggers out their who have been inspired by Bloggerheads.

Principles... who needs 'em

Remember this...

Well those radical Liberals are at it again.
Just look who they are getting into bed with now.

Come writers and critics who prophesize with your pen...

According to this column in the Guardian, "Politicians lie for a simple reason: they want to keep their jobs." And journalists do it for what... money?

"If the great Phil Ochs were to come back from the dead tonight he'd probably be hailed as the new David Rovics."

Next weekend is Glastonbury. Having done my share of muddy fields and foul toilets, I don't particularly envy those who are going. Apart from the fact that David Rovics is appearing (according to his website, although he's not listed in the Glastonbury one). Rovics is my favourite American on the planet (except my sister-in-law Lisa who doesn't count). He is currently on tour in the UK with Attila the Stockbroker - go see them if they're in a town near you. David Rovics also has a pretty nifty blogsite too (access via his website) and he is currently blogging around Britain on his tour. If you are going to Glastonbury, go see David in the Leftfield.