There's an occasional debate on whether photography is allowed on the Tube, generally sparked when a staff member harrasses someone for doing it. The answer is crystal clear: photography is indeed permitted on the Tube without express permission, as long as you don't do anything dangerous like using a flash, or sell the pictures you … Continue reading Photography on London Underground is permitted
Banditry
A surprisingly large number of commentators seem to believe that Northern Rock's shareholders should be eligible for some kind of compensation, following the bank's nationalisation. To me, this seems utterly bizarre. According to the Merril/Citi/Blackstone plan to sell Northern Rock in October 2007 (which was leaked by Bad People, and which certainly can't be found … Continue reading Am I missing something here?
In perhaps my proudest moment ever, this blog is the top Google result for "what food do working class people eat?" (it now seems to be showing as second, which is odd since it was showing as first five minutes ago. Google is perplexing. Although not as perplexing as the original question...)
Happy St Cyril's Day, everybody. And bah, humbug to all other saints (yes, even you, Methodius...) Update: this is excellent stuff...
Fine 18th century invective from Captain Christopher Middleton, directed against a random idiot who was talking rubbish on the Pamphletnet - a snip at £2,000. A REJOINDER TO MR. DOBB’S REPLY TO CAPTAIN MIDDLETON; IN WHICH IS EXPOS’D, BOTH HIS WILFUL AND REAL IGNORANCE OF TIDES; &C. HIS JESUITICAL PREVARICATIONS, EVASIONS, FALSITIES, AND FALSE REASONING; … Continue reading …and people criticise me for *my* rhetorical style
If someone had told my 15-year-old self that in the year 2008, I'd be a high-powered professional, up at twenty to one on a Tuesday night in the heart of the big city, eating fried chicken and exploring the innermost parts of models, then I'd've been quite pleased about the way my life was going … Continue reading I tell my mum I play piano in a brothel
From Flat Earth News by Nick Davies: I spoke to a man who had worked for the Daily Mail for some years as a senior news reporter. He said: 'They phoned me early one morning and told me to drive about three hundred miles to cover a murder. It was a woman and two children … Continue reading How journalism works, part N
Would you abolish the current right under English law of Orthodox Jews to have civil cases heard in the Beth Din with the agreement of both parties? If so, why haven't you protested about the Beth Din previously? If not, then why on earth don't you think that Muslims should be granted the same rights … Continue reading Question to people who are cross with Rowan Williams
Tim has an excellent summary of why nearly all discussions about trade miss the point: "Imports are what make us richer... exports are just the dreary shite we have to do to be able to buy the imports." This is also why protectionists should be lined up against a wall and shot.
There's a criminal trial going on at the moment that's interesting on three levels: 1) 'pensioner dies in attack on home' - the usual tabloid-friendly, 'you're not safe from hoodlums even in your own house' story of an old man who was tracked down and harrassed after a road rage incident by the other party's … Continue reading Juvenile senile delinquents