A very common language

I'm aware of most of the differences between British English (yuck, but it's the least ambiguous term I can think of) and US English, and I'm pretty aware of what's going on in US politics, at least on a national level. Australian English and politics can still leave me baffled, however: PM: I suspected Iraq … Continue reading A very common language

Healthy eating != bruschetta-eating

Julie Bindel has a comment piece in the Guardian about the class snobbery that permeates the healthy eating debate, and particularly about the way that fair-trade liberals sneer at the poor for eating badly. It's nearly sensible, but it falls down on a crucial point: Encouraging a healthy diet has far more to do with … Continue reading Healthy eating != bruschetta-eating

Let the inept subsidise me

I'm a great fan of governments and companies making their money from voluntary, rather than compulsory, charges. The lottery is an excellent example. Another, outside of the government sphere, is personal banking. There are generally no charges for holding a UK current account or credit card, and you can usually get the kind of quality … Continue reading Let the inept subsidise me

Oh my god, they defamed Kenny

I'm not normally a fan of people who bring libel suits, although I have no intention of saying anything unpleasant about them [*]. All I will say is that if you fancy joining a club that includes James Goldsmith, Robert Maxwell, Jeffrey Archer and (Mrs Ripper) Sonia Sutcliffe, your social preferences are a little different … Continue reading Oh my god, they defamed Kenny