Sky in ‘not falling’ shock

Here is a table showing projected growth in real GDP per capita [*] for 2007-08, according to IMF data released this month: 2007-082008-092009-10 Canada0.0%0.6%2.0% France0.8%0.7%2.0% Germany1.5%1.1%1.9% Italy-0.1%-0.1%0.4% Japan1.4%1.6%1.8% United Kingdom1.3%1.4%2.1% United States-0.5%-0.4%1.9% In other words, credible independent people who understand economic forecasting (note: not people who couldn't tell GDP from a CDR but who think … Continue reading Sky in ‘not falling’ shock

I’d defend to the death your right to say anything… err, except for that

A question for the multiplicity of blogging non-bigots [*] who support the Ham & High's decision to run an advert for the BNP ahead of the current London elections on Voltaire-ish 'free speech for all, however disgraceful' grounds: would you have supported the H&H on the same grounds had it run an advert advocating the … Continue reading I’d defend to the death your right to say anything… err, except for that

Life is, indeed, skittles and beer

Tom Lehrer is 80 today. Which is nice, since when I saw references to him on other blogs I assumed he'd died. Sheer genius. I'm entertained by this comment from CT: The world really needs more like him – brilliant math teachers who are brilliant parodists and public intellectuals on the side. Yes, this is … Continue reading Life is, indeed, skittles and beer

From the department of ‘couldn’t make it up’

It's reasonably silly that you can get a qualification as a homeopath, given the complete lack of potential for an unlicensed homeopath to do any harm or for a licensed one to do any good ("you've been struck off the homeopath's register for actually giving someone a traceable amount of medicine", etc). But it's absolutely … Continue reading From the department of ‘couldn’t make it up’