Union Jack

Meet the New House - Same as the Old House?

Sun, 03 Dec 2006 23:57:11 -0500

They say the road to Hell is paved with good intentions. If so, you’ll probably find me there trying to work on blog entries, one day. The combination of work and life projects left me woefully unable to keep up with the intricacies of November’s elections - which was probably good for my mood, really. Despite John Kerry’s stalwart last-ditch attempt to lose the election for the Democrats, we now have a Democratic House, and a technically Democratic Senate - what can we expect?

Nation Building 101

Tue, 19 Sep 2006 20:16:42 -0500

Well, so much for weekly updates! I blame work. If I got paid for this, you could get daily updates instead of these infrequent episodes (be thankful I have a day job). Speaking of jobs, wouldn't it be nice to have a well-paying job? Maybe even one where you didn't have to be asked awkward questions about qualifications and ability? Where the only criteria for hiring was political fealty? Working on a political campaign? Not exactly - unless that's how you define Operation Iraqi Freedom...

We Drew the Line

Mon, 24 Jul 2006 17:44:38 -0500

If you've looked at some countries on a map (particularly in the Middle East) you'll find the borders of those countries are surprisingly ... regular. They don't follow mountain ranges or rivers or other natural features, and instead cut across the desert like a knife. Did you ever wonder who was responsible?

Absentee Ballot Blues

Wed, 19 Jul 2006 18:42:32 -0500

When is a runner not a runner? When he's Tom Delay!

Ken Lay - Gone Today

Wed, 05 Jul 2006 18:47:39 -0500

One of those stories you have to read twice to be sure it's not a phony, but it's true; Ken Lay, former Enron CEO died in his sleep today of natural causes. While I do extend my sympathies to his family who are no doubt grieving, it did leave me feeling.. oddly cheated. Ken will never see the inside of a prison cell now. While his obituaries will probably make much of Lay's fall from grace, it would not add up to the sight of him in handcuffs, escorted off to start sentence.

Perhaps Ken had the last laugh after all.

The Glorious Fourth

Tue, 04 Jul 2006 13:27:03 -0500

Since coming over here to live, Independence day has always aroused somewhat mixed feelings in me. After all, it has its roots in the Revolutionary war. While I do believe America would have achieved its independence without a war sooner or later, and that the British were not that bad (compared to other conquering empires, that is) America did fight and win its freedom back in those early days. So it is quite right to celebrate independence; in fact, among the results of the war was the US Constitution and Bill of Rights, which I think still stand as two of the most world-changing political documents ever written.

Time flies!

Sat, 24 Jun 2006 09:40:42 -0500

Are we done with Spring yet? I hope so. Flash flooding and heavy rain for days on end. It almost made me feel homesick. As you may have suspected, it has been an uncommonly busy spring for me, which is why the lack of updates. Well, that plus that the news has been, not to put too fine a point on it, rather depressing. There's only so many times you can discuss Iraq or Katrina's after effects or Wal-Mart without it getting a little tired. So in the best traditions of spring cleaning, there will be a slightly different format over the summer months! Shorter articles! Bite size and yet not fattening. Of course, as the November elections loom, I reserve my right to run away at the mouth. So what has happened over the past six weeks (ish) that caught my eye?

Gas Grief

Tue, 25 Apr 2006 18:57:55 -0500

Now is the winter of our discontent; made glorious summer by this sun of York...

Well, Shakespeare was almost right – he just got the seasons reversed. That is if you’re looking at this quotation through the lens of someone having to buy gas this summer, which should be most of us. I first came over to the States in 1997. At that time, a gallon of regular was going for around about $1.00 a gallon, give or take. While it’s scary to me to consider that was almost ten years ago (time flies!) looking at the prices this morning made me blink anew – in today’s dollars, it hasn’t been as expensive in this country since the early 1980s. And the price isn’t forecast to go anywhere but up. Can America ever wean itself off of oil? Of course – if by ‘wean’ you mean ‘wun out’.

DeLay, Away. Disarray.. Hooray!

Tue, 11 Apr 2006 20:54:24 -0500

At the best of times it's pretty hard for me to feel sorry for a politician of any stripe who is forced to step aside due to allegations of dirty deeds. The protestations of innocence are always the same, as is the lack of credibility. So when Tom DeLay finally had to read the writing (in ten foot high blazing pink neon letters) on the wall that it was time to go, I didn't feel too bad about it. Maybe a little gleeful, even. Few people have personified the current face of Republicanism - ruthless, brazen, hard edged and hypocritical - as the man from the Texas. Newt Gingrich beats him, I suppose - it's a constant surprise to me as to how Newt gets away with espousing family values as he does - but when it comes to all out ball-crushing intensity on crushing your political opponents to goo, Tom Delay should be someone to study for years to come (Note to Democrats : LEARN).

Immigratiationation

Tue, 28 Mar 2006 22:34:05 -0500

I don't know about you, but I hate immigrants. Coming over here, taking our jobs and our women and our Starbucks coupons. Who do they think they are, anyway? They all smell of weird ethnic foods, they live ten to a room, and they're always on street corners looking for work or picking cotton or something. Oh, and they're lazy too. They just come over here to get free healthcare and breed like rabbits. If it was up to me, I'd build a big wall. That'll show em. Speaking as an American, I-- wait, what? I'm not American? I'm an immigrant? Oh. Well then. Immigrants? They're awesome. They should totally all get citizenship. Oh, and their choice of happy meal.

Arabs, Republicans and Ports, Oh My

Tue, 14 Mar 2006 19:48:46 -0500

I really must apologize for the gap in posts of late to my readers (all three of you). Work has a way of grabbing you by the throat. Hopefully this will ease up in the weeks ahead! Speaking of things grabbing you, all of the Senate and Congress appear to have been grabbed by the collective urge to be seen to be Speaking Out On National Security Matters That Affect This Great Nation. Also known as We Don't Want No Filthy Arabs Controlling Our Ports, depending on which spin you want to believe.

Pass The Parcel and other legal games

Fri, 24 Feb 2006 15:11:40 -0500

The trial of Enron executives Ken Lay and Jeff Skilling is just beginning in Houston. I don't envy the jury involved - or the prosecution team - given the Byzantine nature of the scandal. White collar financial crime doesn't always leave a convenient body or fingerprints. Speaking as someone who can barely balance a checkbook, having to keep track of who did and said what and tracing multiple shell companies who transfer holdings back and forward would make my head spin. While Lay and Skilling have been given plenty of press, there was a development in the Enron case this week that didn't make the front page here - though it certainly raised a lot of hackles in Britain. What does Britain have to do with Enron? I didn't know either, so I did some reading.

An Apostle, a Rabbi and a Prophet walk into a Bar...

Tue, 14 Feb 2006 18:27:40 -0500

Sometimes I read a story and think it will be of momentary interest, perhaps worth mentioning in passing to somebody, and then am taken completely by surprise at its unfolding direction. If you've been following news from Europe, you will have heard about the cartoons published by Danish newspaper Udland Jyllands-Posten that depict the Muslim Prophet and the ensuing furor. Is this conflict about cartoons or is it a symptom of a deeper gulf between societies? Should freedom of speech supercede respect for the beliefs of your fellow citizens? Should people of faith learn to tolerate those outside their religion speeking freely?

Do You Hear What I Hear...

Sun, 29 Jan 2006 10:01:41 -0500

Since the story about the National Security Agency's surveillance broke several weeks ago, the Bush Administration has been on the defensive. While traditionally a strong GOP issue, national security concerns are an area in which the Democrats have been trying hard to make inroads. This can make for some uncomfortable jostling for position when civil liberties are also high on your traditional list of interests. For the Republican side at least it appears such wishy washy worries are safely discarded - after all, if you're against eavesdropping, then you're for the terrorists and should promptly die in a fire. It's nice when life is simple!

New Year, New Lobby

Sat, 14 Jan 2006 12:54:48 -0500

A happy new year to all! I hope your celebrations were safe and happy, and did not involve digging for a diamond earring in heavy snow atop a roof in downtown Portsmouth, as mine did (we found the earring though - perhaps that is a good omen). This year is shaping up to be full of interesting times, in the sense of that ancient chinese saying. Bird flu, a shaky Middle East peace process (not that this is new, really), forecasters saying bigger and badder hurricanes, a new and probably bitter Supreme Court nomination fight, Iraq, and now, on top of it all, lobbyists have been found to be influencing the political process! Quelle surprise.