so someone else I know has dipped their toes into the cold and murky waters of blogging, and are far more likely to do a better job of it than I have. An ex-journalist (though as he’s started blogging so soon I wonder how big an ex that is) and all round good chap, I commend A Compendium of Mallin Miscellany for your delectation.
Not much there yet but I suspect this is one to watch for a feet firmly on ground no tin foil in sight perspective.
Amongst all the talk of what can or can’t be cut, there has been mention of cutting “unnecessary programmes“. Which I certainly haven’t been alone in wondering why we’re spending on anything unnecessary in the first place and why cutting back on waste isn’t just an on going process.
Still it’s ever so nice to see the ever erudite Frank Field asking the same thing.
I can’t believe I’m different from the average voter. If there are unnecessary programmes what the hell are we doing providing them?
(Go read the whole article, you know you want to, he also feels that there will have to be “mega cuts”).
And on a related topic it seems that our troughing MPs not only aren’t being quite so prompt to pay back money they owe as perhaps other people would be expected to (No surprise there I know), but also aren’t even terribly good at settling their tabs in the subsidised bars and restaurants within the palace. Which just makes me wonder why the fee’s office doesn’t take the same approach as most universities (who withhold your degree whilst you owe them money) and not allow MP’s with outstanding tabs to return after any of parliaments breaks. Or if that’s felt as being too harsh I’d almost settle for MP’s with money owed to the fee’s office (and by extension to their constituents and tax payers generally) being barred from standing for re-election.
This just in via FitWatch, the Met have updated their guidelines for stopping and searching terrorists photographers, to clarify that they can only see your photographs if they suspect you of being a terrorist and also that they have no right to delete digital photographs or destroy film. They actually state that twice, with regards to two different sections.
There is also a Home office circular giving clarification. The hesdline of which is:
Important: Section 43 does not prohibit the taking of photographs, film or digital images in a public place and members of the public and the press should not be prevented from doing so in exercise of the powers conferred by section 43.
A police officer can only stop and search a person they reasonably suspect to be a terrorist under this power.
Both the circular and the Met guidelines are quite short so do take the time to read them, then save a copy in case it changes/vanishes and then make sure to tell other people.
Update: The people over at “I’m a photographer not a terrorist” are putting together a rather dandy map of “authorised” areas.
Official UK Threat Level
"a youngster trying to defend from a moral standpoint themselves living an immoral existence." - Harbringer
