tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55581922011-08-31T01:59:24.977ZA Brit commenting on the USA (and England, Europe, and whatever else happens to seem interesting)Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.comBlogger5651100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1124822085978170332005-08-23T18:22:00.000Z2005-08-23T18:34:46.000Z

Moving OverA while ago I mentioned that I would be abandoning Blogger for what I imagine is a sprinkling of the usual reasons. Well, that moment has come, and I will henceforth be blogging over at Typepad. Still using the moniker From Across the Pond. I've been posting in both places the last few weeks so there is some continuity at least. Its not quite as I'd like it, and it will need time to

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1124389987711222612005-08-18T18:13:00.000Z2005-08-18T18:33:07.746Z

Using the vetoJoseph Britt posting over at Daniel Drezner's site while the latter is away posted this interesting piece on whether George Bush is a strong President. I don't really have much to comment on the substance of the post, but rather a reflection on one consideration of it. Britt writes:Consider the veto, used by every President since Garfield to block enactment of legislation the

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1124388705137962522005-08-18T18:06:00.000Z2005-08-18T18:11:45.146Z

Reading about Biden?I do not particularly know why I clicked to read this article by Bill Whelan via Real Clear Politics on the possibility of Joe Biden standing in 2008. I suppose it has something to do with the fact one of the books I am currently reading is Andrew Marr's My Trade: A short history of British journalism which mentioned the plaigerism that sank Biden way back when. Anyway, read

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1124229266046291302005-08-16T21:51:00.000Z2005-08-16T21:54:26.046Z

A failed stateAccording to this short BBC article the South African deputy foreign minister does not want Zimbabwe to become a failed state.Since South African support is one reason why Mugabe's predations continue to go on perhaps he should look in the mirror for some of the causes of the current tragedy unfolding?

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1124228595519463182005-08-16T21:35:00.000Z2005-08-16T21:44:15.630Z

Ashes 1-1Yesterday's cricket was truly heart-stopping. Norm Geras has it aright again, this series is hotting up. It deserves to go down as one of the classics. Amazing that, rain allowed four, five days after the start it all came down again to the outcome of just one ball. This time Australia won the bowl, though instead of a win they saved a draw. How sweet to see the Aussies fighting for the

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1124227681971943452005-08-16T21:20:00.000Z2005-08-16T21:28:01.980Z

Review: Flash by L E Modesitt JrAnother offering from Modesitt, this one in a near future universe that I think is the same timeline as in Archform: Beauty and Octagonal Raven. The form of this story follows more or less the standard Modesitt script: a hard-working man who wants to nothing so much as be left alone isn't, and all hell results. There are two subplot innovations into this well-worn,

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1124140621146673252005-08-15T21:00:00.000Z2005-08-15T21:17:01.166Z

Cindy SheehanI have not been following this ruckus particularly closely. Ultimately I think its worthless. Minds are generally too set now to change. In addition, with respect, Mrs Sheehan is just one mother. There are, unfortunately, over a thousand more who have had to say a final goodbye, and many thousands more who doubtless have a restless night wondering if there is going to be that fateful

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1124046190819572722005-08-14T18:58:00.000Z2005-08-14T19:03:10.826Z

Appreciating pitchingWhen I first starting watching baseball, a little over two years ago, watching pitching was pretty much a mystery to me. Of course back then I didn't really know much about the difference from a sinker to a change-up, so that can be excused. Last year though I could not really appreciate a good pitching AB. More or less I had to rely on the commentators to tell me what was

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1123786308951557912005-08-11T18:23:00.000Z2005-08-11T18:51:49.010Z

The Perils of prevaricationIt is almost depressing when considering how people of today are so apt at repeating the same mistakes of the people of yesteryear. It is like a bad run of TV repeats. This week's offering: Munich 1938. Of course, its actually be running for quite some time now, but this week it has actually managed to penetrate the headlines a little more. I speak of course of this

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1123784556899982912005-08-11T18:14:00.000Z2005-08-11T18:22:36.906Z

Counter-IntuitivePosting on Instapundit yesterday Michael Totten wrote of this piece:Marcus Cicero remembers the Cold War and wonders if, somewhat counter-intuitively, we’re in more danger now than we were then.To which I have to wonder, what is so counter-intuitive about that. My father pronouced to me back in 1991 that the world was becoming a more dangerous place, and really its obvious. MAD

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1123700066181455842005-08-10T18:32:00.000Z2005-08-10T18:54:26.246Z

Treason - the crime that dares not speak its nameThere has been some talk in the news recently over here about whether we in the UK should use treason laws to deal with various people who preach war against this country while living in it. I don't know when the last person in the UK was prosecuted for treason, though the last execution was Lord Haw-Haw in the aftermath of WW2. Undoubtedly treason

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1123535071108978702005-08-08T20:54:00.000Z2005-08-08T21:04:31.116Z

Test cricketI very much like watching/listening to cricket, especially Test cricket. The recent Edgbaston Test is really the reason why. People ask how a game that can potentially last five days be exciting, and this was the game to demonstrate how. This post by Norm Geras is very good. All in all this is shaping up to be a very memorable Ashes series. The second-closest victory in Test cricket (

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1123426199236939372005-08-07T14:41:00.000Z2005-08-07T14:51:15.746Z

Robin CookRobin Cook has died rather suddenly, and this will have all sorts of short- and long-term implications for British politics. Undoubtedly he died before his time, and there was still a great deal he could have done. One only speaks good of the dead, so it is said. Unfortunately I do not think that is entirely possible here. While certainly there are many good things that could be said

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1122589902317642792005-07-28T22:23:00.000Z2005-07-28T22:31:42.326Z

The IRA StatementThis has the potential to be big. More - it has the potential to be real. If it is real, and if the IRA openly gives up its weapons (read: public destruction of the same) and truly abandons its war (read: cease criminal and espionage activities) then this is a very good thing. It would remain a very good thing even if quite a number of current members now drift to the other

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1121953709649746072005-07-21T13:47:00.000Z2005-07-21T13:48:30.806Z

More bombingsTim Worstall has the round-up. Sounds like a copycat attack, and one that hasn't really worked. Time will tell precisely what was going on.

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1121948678736118712005-07-21T12:15:00.000Z2005-07-21T12:24:38.743Z

A good morningAustralia down 5 wickets, and not yet even managed to get 100 runs. It is pretty difficult to imagine a better beginnings to the Ashes series for England. All in all, it's a good thing being on holiday just now.

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1121636696282752022005-07-17T21:25:00.000Z2005-07-17T21:44:56.356Z

Going to LondonI am heading to London for a few days to see my grandparents, and hopefully to meet up with an old school-friend. Depending on how things work out I hope to visit the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich because of all the Trafalger stuff they are supposed to have there this year. Blogging will depend on my Nan's internet connection behaving. Cross fingers it should, seeing as she

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1121615328636564912005-07-17T15:29:00.000Z2005-07-17T15:48:48.726Z

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (no spoilers)Well I read this book today, and my initial impression is more or less what I expected. The short version: a good book, a good story that I am more than happy to have bought, but naturally not upto the hype. There are several dozen books I think are better in various ways, but it is all the same very good, and a very good addition to the

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1121464716671964582005-07-15T21:44:00.000Z2005-07-15T21:58:36.680Z

Harry PotterIt seems that there are three sorts of people when it comes to Harry Potter: those who are passionate supporters, those who are passionate opponents, and those who are passionate ignorers of it all. Although, on the basis that I have a copy pre-ordered from Amazon that will hopefully pop through my letterbox tomorrow, I am a member of the first group I do ask myself is it really worth

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1121371558676167542005-07-14T19:49:00.000Z2005-07-17T21:54:07.436Z

Two different momentsSomewhat inevitably, given their similar timings, slight overlap in characters and commentators, and the superficial similarity in their rhetoric the American and French Revolutions get compared. What is really interesting about these two events though is how fundamentally different they were. This can, among many other things, be seen in their chosen day of celebration. In

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1121290698072045782005-07-13T21:33:00.000Z2005-07-13T21:38:18.080Z

All-Star 2005Just finished watching a delayed showing of the All-Star game having somehow successfully managed to avoid reading any info about it. A minor miracle in and of itself. I wouldn't blog about it at all, apart from the very nice touch in the opening ceremonies when a brass band played God Save the Queen - and there seemed to be a big Union Jack there as well - preceeded by a moment's

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1121206278934044962005-07-12T22:03:00.000Z2005-07-12T22:11:18.943Z

Home-grown suicide bombersWhich is increasingly look like the people immediately responsible for the attacks last Thursday were (BBC article). There are obviously a number of ramifications to this, not least is that hopefully it will be a kick up the backside of the Muslim community in this cuontry to the problem in their own midst. Hope is a cardinal virtue they say, perhaps because it is so

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1121118829513684732005-07-11T21:52:00.000Z2005-07-11T21:53:49.523Z

FEd up with bloggerJust a housekeeping note that I am, in all probability, going to shift over to Typepad sometime in the next month. My patience with Blogger is finally at an end.

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1121117771899985182005-07-11T21:21:00.000Z2005-07-11T21:36:11.926Z

Remembering SrebrenicaIt is the 10th anniversary of the massacre at Srebrenica. Once more, an organisation founded on the principle of "Never Again" placidly allowed it to happen, all over again. It would be some years yet before the Western World - principally the Western European part of it - would develop enough bottle to confront Milosevic and the demons he had unleashed, and by that time it

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1121029467321486472005-07-10T21:04:00.000Z2005-07-10T21:04:27.330Z

Book review: The Black Company series by Glen CookThese are The Black Company, Shadows Linger, and White Rose. I have been recommended these books a number of times, and finally I have gotten around to reading them. They are excellent.These are fantasy novels set around the Black Company, a mercenary outfit with a pretty fearsome reputation. The main character, and sometimes narrator, is the

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1121028540531815412005-07-10T20:37:00.000Z2005-07-10T20:49:00.603Z

The Battle of the EastsJust looking at the MLB standings right now, it is amazing how similar to the two leagues are shaping up. Both Central Divisions basically seem decided, barring a catastrophe on the part of either the White Sox or the Cardinals. Both West Divisions see teams with solid leads, but still within reach. And in the East divisions things are interesting. In the NL of course all

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1120945623197744852005-07-09T21:38:00.000Z2005-07-09T21:52:43.480Z

John Derbyshire in the CornerAnyone who has read much of The NRO Corner the last couple of days will have seen John Derbyshire, imo, make an utter fool of himself. I know us Brits can be of a somewhat gloomy disposition, but he is really going for a record. He seems so convinced that we in the UK will fall to this evil that he has already convinced himself that nothing can stop it. It almost

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1120931385529154852005-07-09T17:11:00.000Z2005-07-09T17:49:45.573Z

Just evil part IIOver at Hear the Hurd Al offers some thoughts on my decision below. I suppose I just want to elaborate, since I don't actually disagree with anything Al writes in his thoughtful (and somewhat lengthy) comment. The fact that the terrorist evil that we face takes the guise of Islam does require addressing - in particular by the Muslim community itself. I personally believe that we

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1120856815010159612005-07-08T19:43:00.000Z2005-07-08T21:06:55.056Z

Just evilThe last 24 hours I have done some serious thinking, and I have made a definite decision to conciously try never again to refer to these terrorists as being 'Islamic' or 'Muslim'. I know that is how they identify themselves, but that does not matter. To allow them force us to mis-use the name of Islam, just at the IRA forced a mis-use of the term 'Catholic' - is to grant them a power

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1120851540727457892005-07-08T19:25:00.000Z2005-07-08T19:39:00.736Z

Fear and panic, or not as the case may beIt may be recalled that press release from the organisation apparently claiming responsibility had a little line that read:And this is Britain now burning from fear and panic from the north to the south, from the east to the west.Well Taunton, which is really South-West (but it is too much to expect terrorists to understand geographical nuance when their

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1120774633412816062005-07-07T21:48:00.000Z2005-07-07T22:17:13.420Z

Further thoughtsThe terrorists struck, I would imagine, because of this summit. It is I think no co-incidence. For the first time in a very long time there is an international summit that actually looks likely of being able to do some good on the global scale. Not the pointless leaps of faith like Kyoto, but small certain steps. These small steps will, in time, be our surest and most successful

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1120772914336550442005-07-07T21:30:00.000Z2005-07-07T21:48:34.356Z

George GallowayGeorge Galloway is nothing if not consistent. That's alright. He is not the first, and certainly will not be the last, member of Parliament who aids and comforts our enemies in this country's history. Besides, freedom of speech (and the freedom to be a total twit) is one of those things that makes us different from the creatures who committed these acts today. While I am sure Mr

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1120743821558665062005-07-07T13:37:00.000Z2005-07-07T13:43:41.566Z

This EnglandThese words of the Bard himself seem a relevant reflection today:This royal throne of kings, this scepter'd isle, This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars, This other Eden, demi-paradise, This fortress built by Nature for herself Against infection and the hand of war, This happy breed of men, this little world, This precious stone set in the silver sea,

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1120741379135164232005-07-07T12:46:00.000Z2005-07-07T13:02:59.163Z

Bombs in LondonRegrettably the stream of bullets that we have been dodging for so many years seems now to have finally found some marks. We have been fortunate, but fortune does not last. We are looking now into the face of the same evil we have looked at many times before. And I have no doubt that we will face it down as we have done so before. It would be easy to be angry at the bombers

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1120681358009128142005-07-06T20:09:00.000Z2005-07-06T20:22:38.020Z

Not seeing War of the WorldsThis review by Donald Sensing over at One Hand Clapping has pretty much confirmed my desire not go and see Steven Speilburg's version of this tale I love so well. I do think he contradicts himself at the beginning by saying that the movie's fealty to the book is detrimental, and then lists a couple of ways in which by not sticking the book weakens the movie. But

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1120664904027072712005-07-06T15:42:00.000Z2005-07-06T15:48:24.033Z

London 2012So it looks as if the Olympics will be heading this way next decade. I doubt it will be long before our wonderful political parties start fighting over it. You can depend on them.I am though quite pleased. I am, of course, especially pleased that we beat France. In many respects beating France was more important than winning the Games themselves. Who says this 900+ year antagonism

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1120554018795378112005-07-05T08:47:00.000Z2005-07-05T09:00:18.803Z

Being pointless at the G8In the last few weeks I have read several times that the G8 Meeting is technically described as a conversation between the countries involved. I suppose it could also be described as a conversation between the G8 and everyone else. Conversations rarely produce great action, and certainly not immediately. The very word 'conversation' conveys something rather more sedate

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1120491400411958642005-07-04T15:07:00.000Z2005-07-04T15:36:40.456Z

July 4th, 1776I do not know much about the detail of these early days of revolution, that I freely admit, but I do wonder what the atmosphere would have been like in Philadelphia, and around the Thirteen Colonies as the news spread, a few days later, when the heady euphoria began to fade and the the scale of the task become clear. Any who thought it would be an easy war were surely quickly

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1117662419110427102005-06-01T21:30:00.000Z2005-06-01T21:46:59.143Z

A reflection on the French and Dutch No votesJust heard that the Dutch have voted by an even larger margin than the French to reject the Constitutional Treaty. For the EU this means we are now in utterly uncharted waters. The next few days, weeks, and months promise to me very interesting. History is happening here - it is happening around us all the time if we but have the eyes to see it occur.

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1117584331000305902005-05-31T23:51:00.000Z2005-06-01T00:05:31.006Z

Raw SpiritI am currently reading this excellent book by Iain Banks regarding my favourite (alcoholic) drink - single malt whisky. It is a book about whisky, but also about this pre-eminent British (Scottish) author, a semi-autobiography. It is certianly not a conventional book, more of a conversational ramble. For pro-war people like me his occasional diatribes against GWB or Tony Blair are

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1116893862247075472005-05-23T23:23:00.000Z2005-05-29T12:00:50.953Z

A complete lifeOn last Saturday evening, that is the 21st, at about twenty to eleven, my grandmother died. My mother looked up from me at the other side of the bed, set in a little side-room in the hospital, and said that she thought I ought to get a nurse as Granny's hands were going very white very quickly. The nurse came in, and could feel a faint pulse. He went to take Gran's blood-sugar

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1116633770801437062005-05-20T23:48:00.000Z2005-05-21T00:02:50.820Z

Episode IIIWell, as the title suggests I have now seen Episode III. This is a short post as it is 1am over here, and I need to go to bed!!!My overall impression is that the whole story arc I-III is, in many respects, a grander and more compelling story than the one told in IV-VI. Alas, it seems that Lucas only had one masterpiece in him. I very much enjoyed the film, but moments that would have

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1116454198674856822005-05-18T22:03:00.000Z2005-05-18T22:09:58.680Z

Manchester UnitedI have something of an antipathy to soccer, and so the stories of outraged Manchester United fans protesting at the takeover by Malcolm Glazer brought a nice glowing feeling to my stomach.However, as I have read, the English aren't necessarily opposed to foreign owners. Ramon Abromovich seems to have won the hearts of Chelsea fans - if only because at matches he looks the role of

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1116449262769114762005-05-18T20:35:00.000Z2005-05-18T20:47:42.786Z

A good exampleAs British readers will doubtless remember a few days into the election campaign Abigail Witchalls was left paralysed after being attacked and stabbed with a knife. Today there are two articles on her, the first saying that she has began to regain some feeling - a very hopeful sign. As for the second article, let me just except the first line:The husband of stabbing victim Abigail

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1116445386680199482005-05-18T19:41:00.000Z2005-05-18T19:43:06.680Z

Hating BloggerOK it's only taken me 24 hours to realise that the post I had the French somehow only got half-posted. No idea why, but I've deleted it now. I may or may not get around to re-writing out something similar, but I though a half-post just looked stupid.

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1116367909896580822005-05-17T22:08:00.000Z2005-05-17T22:11:49.903Z

The BBC riles the SNPThis story about how the BBC's new weather map has gotten the SNP's collective back-up is just priceless. It's a damn weather map after all. Besides, in a faux-democracy of course more attention is going to be paid to England, 'cause there are more people there (10 times more people, or thereabouts).Well, at least it'll keep the SNP happy.

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1116366894155998932005-05-17T21:45:00.000Z2005-05-17T22:15:45.200Z

Labour minority?One of the future pub quiz's questions will most likely be "In which election did a government get into power with the smallest share of the vote?" The answer is of course 2005 with 36.3% for the Labour Party (unless it gets beaten next time around of course). This has caused a great deal of hot air, and calls for Proportional Representation. To which I basically say "tosh".If

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1116281916486546442005-05-16T22:12:00.000Z2005-05-16T22:18:36.486Z

Baseball bloggingAnd a final post for tonight, just to note that the Baltimore Orioles tied the recent 4-game series against the White Sox, winning the last 2 games. What makes this of note is that they are two front-men down at the moment. Oh, and the White Sox also happen to be the hottest team in baseball at the moment. This means we are again 11 games above .500, and we will have a chance to

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1116281427217791192005-05-16T21:52:00.000Z2005-05-16T22:10:27.226Z

Right to LifeOn the Today Programme this morning I heard a little about this case where the General Medical Council is appealing against a decision in which a man with a brain disorder won the right to prevent doctors deciding whether it was time to stop any possible future nutrition. He originally went to court because he foresaw a time when he would be needing nutrition - but not life support -

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1116279669753416012005-05-16T21:26:00.000Z2005-05-16T21:41:09.786Z

Catholic-Anglican agreement on MaryVia The Corner it appears that the Catholic Church and Anglican Communion have come to an understanding about the role of Mary, in a document called Mary: Grace and Hope in Christ, which in a cursory look on the web I cannot at the moment find. At particular issue here are the Catholic doctrines of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, and the Assumption of the

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1116195532331949202005-05-15T21:54:00.000Z2005-05-15T22:18:52.360Z

Answer to a questionIn a comment to a post below Rythin asks me:At CIA Factbook, under 'Religion' headline they wrote: Anglican and Roman Catholic 40 million I am wondering how many of them are Catholics and how many Anglicans? Do you have such info?Now, I'm making an educated guess Rythin means the UK entry in the CIA factbook, where the full breakdown religion breakdown reads:Anglican and Roman

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1116058600237291482005-05-14T07:55:00.000Z2005-05-14T08:16:40.296Z

John Paul the Great on the path to beatificationBenedict XVI has agreed to allow the process of beatifying John Paul the Great on the to begin.For most the history of the Church saints were not proclaimed by councils or cardinals, but by popular acclamation. Though John Paul the Great, if he is in fact proclaimed Blessed, will go through the modern system nonetheless this harks back to earlier

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1115936642729702702005-05-12T21:45:00.000Z2005-05-12T22:24:02.740Z

The second election contestBack at the start of the election campaign I blogged about how I felt this was really a two contest election. The headline one between the Tories and Labour, and the second one between the Lib Dems and the Tories. With a week since the result I am more convinced that this second contest is indeed more important than the main one. I wrote back then:Why is this contest

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1115836345757209622005-05-11T18:21:00.000Z2005-05-11T18:32:26.053Z

YaltaLots of noise being made about President's Bush's comments on Yalta. Yalta is, along with Versailles, one of the most disasterous interntional summits in human history, for just as Versailles led to Hitler Yalta was the foundation of the Cold War and the post-WW2 Soviet Empire.For Britain (since France was out of the picture at that point) Yalta represents the purest form form betrayal. We

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1115763390459981052005-05-10T21:57:00.000Z2005-05-10T22:16:30.743Z

A few Benedict XVI thoughts - more or lessLooking on the Vatican website I note that the first public Letter that Benedict XVI has written is "to Rabbi Elio Toaff on the occasion of his birthday." I can't imagine a more prosaic, yet more profound statement of the legacy of John Paul the Great, and others. Also, in his address to the Sri Lankan bishops on their Ad limina apostolorum visit included

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1115759825205644752005-05-10T21:04:00.000Z2005-05-10T21:17:05.496Z

Labour will miss Tony Blair when he is goneThat is the title of an article in the Guardian (via RCP) by Martin Kettle, and it is a very good piece of opinion at that, and I agree with the basic argument. In this, as in so many other things, the parallels between Tony Blair and Margaret Thatcher are almost scarily similar. Thatcher was, of course, in her way just as controversial a reformer of the

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1115755564981901742005-05-10T19:57:00.000Z2005-05-10T20:10:57.916Z

Slightly interesting statisticLooking at the standings in the NL West right now (that is before any games played today) three teams - the Padres, Diamondbacks, and Giants - all of which are over .500, also all have had more runs scored against them than they themselves have scored. As of this moment they seem to be the only major league teams to be in that amusing situation, and for some reason

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1115670715886763642005-05-09T20:13:00.000Z2005-05-09T20:31:56.160Z

More than just the warOne of the rather irritating things about the media is they way they try to reduce complicated events to just one headline. It is a seductive theory of current events, as it is a seductive theory of history, the One Big Thing. In both realms it is probably one of the best signs that the editors/writers are of inferior quality. Iraq was not the torpedo that sunk the HMS Tony

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1115588273346637492005-05-08T21:27:00.000Z2005-05-08T21:37:53.653Z

The 60th anniversaryToday of course is the 60th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day. But what, I wonder, does it mean today when a man like George Galloway gets elected? A man who would, on the basis of his current actions, have opposed the war against Hitler with equal fervour, and who would have denied the reality of the concentration camps.Of course, there were many such in Britain in 1939,

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1115554311883420382005-05-08T12:10:00.000Z2005-05-08T12:11:51.900Z

Horrible SaturdaysWashing machine broke, kitchen flooded twice, new washing machine, and to top it all over had some boiling water sprayed over me (not serious).All in all, yesterday was not a good day.

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1115399843302554052005-05-06T17:08:00.000Z2005-05-06T17:17:23.330Z

A brief round-upI do intend some more detailed posts over the next few days, but now that it is almost over bar the shouting (some Northern Ireland seats still coming in, and it looks like 2 English seats are not yet declared). Labour have a reduced majority, the Tories and the Lib Dems did some horse-trading to the Tories' net gain, and there was a lot of regional variation. The Scottish

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1115348428673896262005-05-06T02:58:00.000Z2005-05-06T03:00:28.680Z

Signing OffNeed to get a couple of hours of sleep before tomorrow. I may well not have a post up tomorrow - might well be sleeping - but I'll try to post something vaguely intelligent on Saturday.

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1115347527910549542005-05-06T02:38:00.000Z2005-05-06T02:45:27.920Z

My constituencyTaunton has been won by the Lib Dems. So it looks like the LDs and Tories might well do a little bit of horse-trading. A very small swing to the LDs - they have a majority of about just 1%. My guess is that there was a better ground game from the LDs, and that they managed to persuade just enough Labour voters to vote their way. Irritated though I am at the thought of being

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1115347123155797682005-05-06T02:30:00.000Z2005-05-06T02:38:43.163Z

starting to flagWell in the last half-hour I have started to feel really tired. I haven't heard anything yet of Taunton, whether there is a recount or anything. Unless matters change I am going to stay up for another half-hour, and then hit the sack. Got to go to work tomorrow after all!Currently Labour have 289 seats, and the BBC is predicted a majority in the 70s, with about 200 Tory MPs and

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1115346180056720012005-05-06T02:19:00.000Z2005-05-06T02:23:00.060Z

LondonOne of the stories of the night so far are the Tory gains from Labour in the London area. They have picked up 5 seats from Labour there so far, and the average swings are far higher than in the rest of the country.

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1115345907370454062005-05-06T02:17:00.000Z2005-05-06T02:19:24.256Z

Tory hold in SomersetIn Bridgwater. A safe Tory seat, now with an increased majority. LD lost 7% share of vote. This is the consistuency that shares a huge border with my own. Hopefully it will not be long until Taunton.

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1115345421985493532005-05-06T02:07:00.000Z2005-05-06T02:10:21.990Z

Tory gain in SomersetWeston super Mare is a gain from the LDs. I await news of my own seat with interest.

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1115345234200201752005-05-06T02:02:00.000Z2005-05-06T02:07:14.206Z

Second Somerset seatSomerton & Frome a LD hold. It was a top Tory target. Virtually no change in share of vote from 2001. Without a doubt a good hold the LDs, and again in contradiction with the Torbay swing. In other south-west news they also held onto Teignbridge in Devon, a seat they picked up from the Tories in 2001.

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1115344892868160432005-05-06T01:57:00.000Z2005-05-06T02:01:32.876Z

Tories in WalesThe Tories have taken Monmouth in Wales, which I think is their first Welsh seat since 1997, and ensures that there will be at least one non-English UK seat!

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1115344615862155112005-05-06T01:54:00.000Z2005-05-06T01:56:55.866Z

Wyre ForestAn independent won this seat in 2001, he has held onto it in tonight. I think this is a very good result. It will mean there are a number of other independents in this Parliament.

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1115344447522951622005-05-06T01:52:00.000Z2005-05-06T01:54:07.526Z

Voting LD, getting ToryShrewsbury and Atcham a perfect example of this. The Tory vote barely changes, Labour loses 10%, the LD gets 10%, the Tories can the seat from Labour.

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1115344335242763782005-05-06T01:50:00.000Z2005-05-06T01:52:15.246Z

More south-westCheltenham with an interesting result. The LD vote went down by 6% and there is an independent with 6% of the vote. I don't know what that is about, but I find it interesting.

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1115344091063024352005-05-06T01:45:00.000Z2005-05-06T01:48:21.253Z

Tory northern gainAt Shipley. What is interesting the Tory share decreased from 2001 by 2%, just the Labour share decreased by nearly 6%. The LD's share went up by 4%, but the BNP went up by 4% as well. An interesting result. Close result, and I think the first Tory gain in the North.

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1115343720186333432005-05-06T01:40:00.000Z2005-05-06T01:42:00.193Z

Manchester LD gainA second Manchester LD gain at Rochdale, from Labour.

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1115343608759708552005-05-06T01:37:00.000Z2005-05-06T01:45:30.766Z

Reliving 1997One of the most iconic moments of 1997 was the defeat of Michael Portillo in Enfield South. Well, it looks as if the Tories have the seat back. It was held by Stephen Twigg, the Schools Minister. That might be the first proper scalp. It does look like London is being its own region. Tories doing very well.

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1115343333280334882005-05-06T01:33:00.000Z2005-05-06T01:35:58.160Z

BatterseaLabour has just held onto Battersea with a majority of 163 unless my maths is completely out. Also Labour is now apparently saying they think Oona King has lost to George Galloway. That is a sad day for British democracy. Hitler, and bin Laden, will be proud.

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1115343051141382572005-05-06T01:24:00.000Z2005-05-06T01:30:51.146Z

LD gains from LabourBirmingham Yardley - this is probably the fallout of the collapse of Rover.Manchester Withington with a huge swing to the LDs. I would guess an anti-war vote, but that is a guess.Cardiff Central - this was a LD target, no.4 on their list, so 'should' have fallen on the basis of what is happening elsewhere, and has. On the basis of these I think it is plain that the LDs should

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1115342568100290042005-05-06T01:19:00.000Z2005-05-06T01:22:48.106Z

YeovilYeovil has been held by the Lib Dems with an increased majority. A fairly safe LD seat, this is I think the first Somerset result. The Tory vote share reduced slightly, it looks like the LDs picked up a lot of votes from the Labour party. This is in contradiction to the earlier Torbay result. So, the west country is still an open book. Oh, and Tony Blair just got elected again in Sedgefield.

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1115342346146682612005-05-06T01:15:00.000Z2005-05-06T01:19:06.153Z

Plaid CymruPlaid Cymru is the nationalist party in Wales. So far not a good particularly good night. They failed to take Ynys Mon, one of their targets, and have now lost Ceredigion to the Lib Dems. What makes this interesting is that in Scotland the SNP are doing seemingly ok. Usually these two parties walk in tandem. Looks like nationalism is for the moment a dubious proposition in Wales.

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1115342140485318312005-05-06T01:13:00.000Z2005-05-06T01:15:40.490Z

A very interesting resultBlaenau Gwent, a ridiculously safe Labour seat where the national Party tried to impose an all-woman shortlist. The local party rebelled, set up a rival candidate, who has swept the floor. A victory for the forces against political correct snubbiness.

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1115341763896081912005-05-06T01:05:00.000Z2005-05-06T01:09:23.903Z

Second BBC ForecastLabour majority 76, so nudged up slightly.

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1115341449355325002005-05-06T00:57:00.000Z2005-05-06T01:04:09.363Z

Misdirected LD strategy?Anthony King has just pointed out something interesting on the BBC. The Lib Dems really targeted the Tories, but seemingly have failed to make headway there so far. In contrast they are doing well against the Labour party. If they redirected resources who knows about how things might have turned out. Of course, I live in a seat they were targetting so my view is perhaps

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1115340747404622942005-05-06T00:51:00.000Z2005-05-06T00:52:27.410Z

BBC ForecastThe BBC first forecast based on results for far. LD: 59Con: 201Lab: 357For a Labour majority of 68, so just about in line with the exit poll

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1115340658040291912005-05-06T00:49:00.000Z2005-05-06T00:50:58.046Z

Scotland: LD gain from LabDunbartonshire East is a gain for the Lib Dems.It does look like the LDs are doing well in Scotland.

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1115340157493415542005-05-06T00:37:00.000Z2005-05-06T00:42:37.500Z

RecountsIn Battersea - a London seat - they are onto their second recount. That is interesting, beceause it means its close, a hopeful sign for the Tories. Also rumour of a Lab-LD recount in Manchester - bad sign for Labour.

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1115339758157834472005-05-06T00:31:00.000Z2005-05-06T00:35:58.163Z

2 Tory-LDThe Tories have gained Newbury, and the LDs hold Cheadle. The Tories hoped to gain Cheadle. I guess a regional reason here - Cheadle is in the North East where the LDs are doing well, and Newbury is in the south. So - developing.

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1115339429850619102005-05-06T00:27:00.000Z2005-05-06T00:30:29.856Z

Second Tory gainPeterborough with a swing to the Tories of 7%. This could turn into an interesting night of this sort of result is repeated across the English Con-Lab marginals. On the swingometer this is roughly the region of swing needed for a hung parliament - that is when there is no party with an overall majority. I personally do not think this could happen, but it certainly has to be

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1115339096953852562005-05-06T00:22:00.000Z2005-05-06T00:26:55.673Z

SNP GainThe SNP has taken the Western Isles from Labour. A good sign for Alex Salmond.

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1115338828200407682005-05-06T00:19:00.000Z2005-05-06T00:20:28.206Z

LD claimsThe BBC keep reporting that the LDs are claiming various seats, but the Tories in comparison are not. An interesting difference, I think.

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1115338404493984752005-05-06T00:08:00.000Z2005-05-06T00:13:24.500Z

Second Tory-LD seatTorbay a Lib Dem hold, but with a narrowed majority. The LD vote went down 10%, UKIP went up 5%, Labour went up 5%. I suspect this means LD votes went Con, and some Con votes went UKIP. The Labour rise is interesting and bucks the trend so far. This one interests me as the first south-west result. We'll need a few more to see if there is a sout-west regional flavour to this

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1115338120355220422005-05-06T00:07:00.000Z2005-05-06T00:08:40.363Z

Note to Jeremy PaxmanHaving just said to Malcom Rifkind it's "just a collapse of the Labour vote" perhaps we might also say on 1997 that is was not an endorsement of Labour but a collapse of the Tory vote. The man is an imbecile (Paxman, not Rifkind).

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1115337983405016122005-05-06T00:04:00.000Z2005-05-06T00:06:23.410Z

Early analysisLots of safe Labour seats showing a 4-6% swing to the LDs. In the last few days there has been a lot of talk about how a swing like this would get seats for the Tories. It appears that people are happy to give Labour a bloody nose.Listening to Gordon Brown giving his victory speech. He is speaking very positively.

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1115337721838214562005-05-05T23:57:00.000Z2005-05-06T00:02:01.843Z

SNP holdonto Angus, one of the top Tory targets in Scotland. The Tories lost 2% of the vote, looks mostly to the LDs. So it looks like there will not be a Tory revival in Scotland. Not at all surprising, I have to say.

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1115337228206909732005-05-05T23:51:00.000Z2005-05-05T23:54:59.046Z

First LD-Con seatIn Southport a LD hold, a small swing to the LDs.

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1115337025902176672005-05-05T23:49:00.000Z2005-05-05T23:50:25.906Z

My old seatNorth East Fife has just returned Menzies Campell (LD) to Westminster. I was living in this constituency back in 2001. Completely expected result.

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1115336948298618872005-05-05T23:47:00.000Z2005-05-05T23:49:08.303Z

Early TurnoutLooks mostly like a 1-3% increase in the early going, with some variation.

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1115336656518006832005-05-05T23:40:00.000Z2005-05-05T23:44:16.523Z

More on PutneyA further observation now I can see the figures is that UKIP went nowhere compared to 2001. The Tories picked up about half the Labour fall in share, the Lib Dems and Green party each got about a quarter. For a Con-Lab marginal this is a very good result for the Tories and a bad one for the Lib Dems. However, it's only one seat, and a London seat, so to pretend it might be

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1115336255184399372005-05-05T23:33:00.000Z2005-05-05T23:37:35.190Z

First Tory gainIt looks as if Putney is the first Tory gain, and an encouraging one for the Tories. It was target 52, and a 6% swing to the Tories. Importantly they got more of the Lab vote than the LD.(There have been a couple more safe Labour holds)

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1115335939125790272005-05-05T23:30:00.000Z2005-05-05T23:32:19.133Z

Three more safe LaboursThree more safe Labour seats, all showing a reasonable swing to the Lib Dems. If this holds the Tories benefit. Hull West & HessleVauxhallRotherham

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558192.post-1115335196526362572005-05-05T23:16:00.000Z2005-05-05T23:19:56.533Z

Another seatBarnsley Central is another safe Labour hold. A 4% swing to the Tories, though the BNP did semi-well. Labour vote down, but unlike in Scotland the Lib Dems were not the main beneficiars (though they are technically second in this seat - at 16% compared to Labours 61%).Still waiting for something resembling a marginal.

Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051226040430891321noreply@blogger.com0