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Tory MP Douglas Carswell. He's on the list to put a question to the PM and on Twitter he's inviting people to contact him with suggestions.We've got PMQs today. Last week Ed Miliband did rather well with a questions about the welfare bill and its impact on people recovering from cancer. It's not obvious what subject he will choose this afternoon. But if you do want to raise something with David Cameron, try contacting the
As for the rest of the day, here's the diary.
9am: Liam Byrne, the shadow work and pensions secretary, speaks at the Association of British Insurers conference.
9.30am: John Healey, the shadow health secretary, delivers a speech to the IPPR on care for the elderly.
9.45am: Alistair Buchanan, the chief executive to Ofgem, gives evidence to the Commons energy committee about Ofgem's energy review.
10.15am: Jenny Watson, the chair of the Electoral Commission, gives evidence to the Lords constitution committee.
10.30am: The Office for National Statistics publishes a report on pension trends.
12pm: David Cameron and Ed Miliband clash at PMQs.
12.30pm: MPs start debating a Labour motion criticising the government's handling of the economy.
2pm: Vince Cable, the business secretary, speaks at the Association of British Insurers conference.
As usual, I'll be covering all the breaking political news, as well as looking at the papers and bringing you the best politics from the web. I'll post a lunchtime summary at around 1pm, and another in the afternoon.
Decision Time which goes out tonight - it's about how decisions are made behind the scenes in Whitehall - and, in a discussion on employment legislation, Tebbit told him that he wasn't at this stage in favour of toughening the anti-strike laws.Lord Tebbit (left) never ceases to surprise. Nick Robinson has interviewed him for his Radio 4 programme
I'd use caution. We have had a employment law structure which has worked for the last 30 years, which truly informed industrial relations in this country, so I would say hold on just a little, make sure we have got public support, that the public see there is a real problem and that they want something done about it and so do some of the union members.
According to PoliticsHome, Tebbit also said that ministers should be making contingency plans to amend the law in this area - just in case. If he were a minister today, "I would be getting my people to prepare legislation that could deal with the mischief if the mischief arrives."
the latest YouGov GB polling figures.For the record, here are
Labour: 42% (up 12 points since the general election)
Conservatives: 37% (no change)
Lib Dems: 8% (down 16)
Labour lead: 5 points
Government approval: -28
a report showing what voters think about the government's decision to increase the aid budget. Put crudely, many of them hate it. The findings will make grim reading in Downing Street. But they will also provide David Cameron with some protection against the charge that he's a serial U-turner. Cameron must know this policy polls badly, but he has been willing to defend it robustly in the face of tabloid criticism.And while we're on the subject of polling, YouGov@Cambridge (a new division of YouGov) have put out
Here are the key findings.
• Increasing aid is unpopular. Some 56% of people say their view of this policy is unfavourable (31% very unfavourable, 25% somewhat unfavourable) and only 24% say their view is favourable (9% very favourable, 15% somewhat favourable).
• Conservative voters (particularly poorer Conservative voters) and poorer Labour voters are particularly opposed to Cameron's aid policy.
• The policy doesn't seem to win Cameron much support. Among those strongly in favour of the policy, only 10% say this policy makes them much more favourable to Cameron. But among those strongly opposed to the policy, 52% say the policy makes them much less favourable towards Cameron. In other words, the political losses easily seem to outweigh the political gains.
• Voters aren't convinced that international aid reduces international terrorism - a key "self-interest" argument used by Cameron. When people are asked if they agree or disagree with this, those disagree outnumber those agreeing by 38 points. (In other words, there's a net score of -38.) The only arguments that people accept are that international aid is a moral responsibility (+5) and that aid improves diplomatic relations with countries whose support we made need in future (+19).
• Voters think aid is wasted by corrupt governments. Of all the arguments against aid, this attracts most agreement (+62).
• A quarter of voters say that increasing the aid budget makes them less likely to give to an overseas charity.
Commenting on the figures, Mark Gettleson, Head of Research at PoliticsHome, said: "Our ground-breaking study shows that voters are wholly unconvinced of the case for increasing aid at a time of cuts - and the politics doesn't work at all: those who deeply dislike the policy are far more likely to care about it than those who really like it."
William Hague, the foreign secretary, has announced that the Foreign Office will contribute an extra £2.2m a year to the BBC's World Service to enable it to maintain its current level of investment in the Arabic service. Hague agreed to review the World Service's settlement in the light of the uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa.
He also said that up to £1.65m could be available over the next two years to fund specific BBC projects to develop the media and civic society in the Middle East and North Africa. And the BBC itself has found an extra £9m for the World Service over three years, which should help safeguard the Hindi shortwave service, Hague said.
here. And all the politics stories filed yesterday, including some in today's paper, are here.You can read all today's Guardian politics stories
As for the rest of the papers, here are some stories and articles that are particularly interesting.
• Benedict Brogan in the Daily Telegraph says that Boris Johnson has got his eyes on beating George Osborne in the race to succeed David Cameron.
[Johnson's] friends point out that if he wins [next year's mayoral election], he will be top of the premier league of British politics. He will have two convincing majorities under his belt and the biggest electoral mandate of any politician. With a candour that will unnerve the Chancellor in particular, they then sketch out how, after a successful run as mayor, he might find himself "the obvious choice to succeed David Cameron". They expect Mr Cameron to step aside some time in a second term to pursue other interests.
What's more, they are confident that they can make a convincing case that it is Boris rather than the Chancellor who has the talent necessary to take on the biggest job in the land: "George won't get it because he is a charisma-free zone and the party knows it. By then, Boris will have answered all the questions about him. To those who ask, 'Is he serious enough?' he will be able to point to a distinguished and committed record as mayor."
Their confidence is breathtaking, and overlooks the unresolved questions of his private life and his appeal beyond the Home Counties. But success in politics requires audacity. The show may be only in preview, but book your seats now: Boris is coming for George.
• Andrew Grice in the Independent says Labour has decided to oppose the government's plans for Lords reform.
In a heated Lords debate, Baroness Royall of Blaisdon, Labour's leader in the Lords, said: "We are united in seeing this Bill as a bad Bill – not a unity of papering over the cracks, as the Coalition parties will no doubt seek to do... This House, this Parliament, our politics and our constitution merit more than this Bill. Reform should mean proper reform."
Baroness Boothroyd, the former Commons Speaker, was cheered by peers from all parties after launching a stinging attack on the Government's proposals. She said: "Never in my experience has an institution at the heart of the British constitution been marked down for destruction on such spurious grounds. If this draft Bill becomes law in any shape or form it will wreck this place as a deliberative assembly and tear up the roots that make it the most effective revising chamber in the world. Worse still, the balance between our two Houses, on which our democracy and rule of law depends, will be lost for ever."
• James Kirkup in the Daily Telegraph says General Sir Peter Wall, the head of the army, has questioned whether David Cameron will be able to achieve his goal of ending combat operations in Afghanistan by 2015.
In a documentary to be broadcast tonight, Gen Wall suggests that time frame could yet change. "Whether or not it turns out to be an absolute timeline or more conditions-based approach nearer the time, we shall find out," he says in an interview for Afghanistan: War Without End? to be shown on BBC Two.
• Oliver Wright in the Independent says the European Parliament will today order the release of a secret report about the abuse of MEPs' expenses.
A meeting of senior MEPs is expected to accept a European Court of Justice ruling that there is an "overriding public interest in disclosure".
The decision could have far-reaching consequences for transparency within the European Parliament and wider European Union institutions. It will increase pressure on the parliament to publish more details of the expenses claims of MEPs including their travel expenditure, attendance records and the highly controversial €4,300 (£3,800) "go anywhere" budget given to members.
• Alistair Darling in the Times (paywall) says imposing an austerity programme on Greece isn't the answer and that the richer countries in the eurozone must accept that they have to help the poorer ones.
If the eurozone carries on with its patch-and-mend approach, it is doomed to fail.
It has a choice. It can carry on treating Greece, Portugal and Ireland as bad boys, imposing tough conditions on them that will never work and that will result in further bailouts. Alternatively it must face the fact that, as with any other single currency, the stronger parts of the economy have to help the weaker parts to make the reforms they need, so strengthening their economies.
America, a federal country, has long accepted that the richer part must help the poorer states financially. That does not mean that Greece need not do its bit; its economy desperately needs reform, in or out of the euro. But convergence was never going to be achieved through a set of rules.
So far, the eurozone has practised the first, punitive approach — and even then it has taken too long to come up with a package, making a bad situation worse. What's more, the delays and agonising over what to do is now causing concern well beyond Europe.
• Jim Pickard and Kate Burgess in the Financial Times (subscription) say that Vince Cable will use a speech today to launch a review of Britain's stock markets.
Mr Cable has appointed John Kay, an economist and Financial Times columnist, to chair the review, which follows a wider study of corporate governance launched in October.
The business secretary will tell the Association of British Insurers that the financial crisis raised "justifiable concerns" about whether there were "systemic flaws" in the way companies were owned and managed.
Not only were management sometimes incentivised to pursue strategies "not in the long term interest of their shareholders" but they allowed takeovers that destroyed value, he will say. "At times, it seems like the ultimate owners of the assets were powerless to intervene, because of the complexity of the investment chain," Mr Cable will argue.
Dilnot has suggested that individuals should have to contribute to the cost of their care, perhaps by moving to a smaller property, but that a cap should be placed on the amount people are expected to contribute personally.John Healey (left), the shadow health secretary, told the IPPR this morning that Labour would give a "fair wind" to the report coming out shortly from a commission chaired by Andrew Dilnot about the future of long-term care.
In his speech, Healey said that the Tories "played politcs" with this issue before the election - remember the "death tax" row? - and that he hoped this would not happen again.
We want to give Dilnot a fair wind, and look forward to his conclusions ... If the government demonstrates that they are determined to see a better long-term system of social care put in place for elderly people in our country then Labour are willing to talk and work with them and all other parties to do so. This is a big test for David Cameron. If he fails to rise to this challenge he will let down older people now and in the generations to come.
Healey also said the current system was unfair on those in the "squeezed middle".
At present, the system works best for those able to use accountants and lawyers to switch the ownership of their assets and avoid means testing, or those with a big cushion of savings to fund their care. It also seems to many to reward those who make no provision for their own future and to penalise those who have put savings aside for their older age ...
Too many families and individuals make their contributions but get little or nothing back. Means-tested out of care support when they need it themselves, they can find their modest equity or savings rapidly swallowed up by care bills. So any new system needs to offer a new settlement not just for those with million pound properties but those millions of people in the hard pressed middle.
Ministers are going to change the law to stop people who cause serious harm to children or vulnerable adults escaping justice because they were acting in a small group and prosecutors could not prove who actually committed the injury.
The law has already been changed in this respect in relation to the murder of a child or vulnerable adult. Labour passed a law making it an offence to "cause or allow" a death and it is used when police cannot be sure which individual in a small group actually committed the deed. This law was used to prosecute those responsible for the death of Baby P.
The Labour law (section 5 of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004) does not cover causing serious harm. The Tory MP Sir Paul Beresford has got a private member's bill that would ensure that the "allowing or causing" offence also covers serious harm and today the Ministry of Justice has said that it is backing the bill (which almost certainly means it will become law). According to the MoJ, there were 20 cases of serious harm caused to children in 2010, and three involving harm to vulnerable adults, which could not be prosecuted under existing rules but could if the Beresford law had been in force.
Making the announcement, Crispin Blunt, the justice minister, issued this statement.
The government intends to close the gap in the law which allows those who harm children and vulnerable adults to escape unpunished. We want to do everything possible to ensure that the most vulnerable members of society are kept safe in their homes and those that abuse their power do not evade justice.
10.14am) and, on its website, the story originally ran under the headline: "Massive U-turn on BBC World Service Funding." Tim Montgomerie has posted a picture on Twitter.Yesterday David Cameron argued that making a U-turn was a sign of strength. At the Foreign Office, someone has taken this advice to heart. The Foreign Office has announced extra money for the World Service (see
an article for LabourList. Like the anonymous Foreign Office website writer (see 11.35am), Balls has also taken an interest in Cameron's U-turn doctrine.Ed Balls (left) will be opening the opposition day debate on the economy at 12.30pm. If you want a preview of what he's going to say, he's written
"The weak thing to do is just to keep ploughing on and say 'I can't possibly change because I might have a difficult time at a press conference'. The tough, strong thing to do is say 'yes, we can make these plans better'."
That's what David Cameron said yesterday to explain his u-turns on sentencing policy and the NHS. But the Conservative-led government does not yet seem willing to apply this principle to the economy - insisting that any change of course would be disastrous, even when the evidence is growing that their plan isn't working.
this - Alistair Darling refusing to endorse Ed Balls's call for a VAT cut.PMQs is about to start. I don't know what Ed Miliband will raise. But I would be very surprised if David Cameron doesn't find a way of bringing up
David Cameron pays tribute to three soldiers killed in Afghanistan.
Labour's Kerry McCarthy says George Osborne delivered his first budget a year ago today. Will Cameron watch the BBC documentary Poor Kids to find out how the other half live?
Cameron says he will watch the programme. But his government has put more money into tax credits and frozen the council tax budget. He is dealing with the "mess" left by Labour in a way that protects families.
Cameron says that Britain will not contribute to the next Greek bailout, other than through Britain's membership of the IMF.
Ed Miliband starts with his own tribute to the three dead soldiers.
It is Armed Forces day on Saturday, he says. It is a moment to recognise the service the armed forces provide.
On Libya, Miliband says the head of the Royal Navy and the head of RAF combat operations have cast doubt on Britain's ability to keep the Libya mission going. Can it keep going?
Cameron says he has had assurances from the head of the military, General Sir David Richards, that Britain can keep the operation going for as long as it takes.
Miliband says he is "with the prime minister" on the need to keep up the pressure on the Libyan regime. But don't the concerns expressed highlight the need to look again at the defence review. William Hague has described the Arab Spring as more important than 9/11. Isn't it right to look again?
Cameron says the national security council looks at this all the time. The strategic defence review did put in place mechanisms for dealing with two conflicts at one time. It seems strange, having not had one for 10 years, to have two in one year. If anything, he would like to speed up the implementation of the defence review.
Miliband says that if there has been a review of the defence review, it should be published. When military chiefs raise legitimate concerns, isn't it wrong to say "you do the fighting, I do the talking". Wasn't that crass?
Cameron says he has huge respect for the armed forces. But the point he was trying to make was that political leaders and military leaders should think carefully about what they say.
Labour's Mary Glindon asks about the number of U-turns Cameron has performed.
Cameron says he did not hear the rest of question. (Tory MPs were jeering very loudly, I think because they thought Glindon's question had been written for her by the Labour whips.)
Cameron says she wanted to ask about women's pensions. The government is taking difficult decisions, he says.
Iain Stewart, a Conservative, asks about homophobia in football.
Cameron says he is hosting a party for members of Britain's lesbian, gay and transgender community in Downing Street later.
Labour's Jessica Morden asks why single parents are being asked to contribute to the costs of the Child Support Agency.
Cameron says it is fair to ask those who benefit from the agency to make some contribution.
Ed Miliband asks if Cameron will change his mind on his plan to stop the police holding the DNA of those arrested, but not charged, for rape.
Cameron says he will look at this. But the government inherited a bad system, with too much DNA being retained.
Miliband says this law is already in the Commons. Some of those arrested but not charged subsequently commit offences. Why is it right to discard their DNA?
Cameron says in his government people talk to each other. (Miliband complained Cameron was asking the home secretary for advice.) Labour shadow ministers do not talk to each other. Cameron starts to mention this story, about Ed Balls not consulting the shadow cabinet fully on his VAT plan. The Speaker intervenes because he is not addressing the question.
Miliband quotes from a campaigner saying the government's policy is wrong.
Cameron says the police can apply to keep DNA on the computer.
Snap Verdict: Another win for Miliband secured with a precise question about legislation going through parliament. And an interesting example of Labour attacking the government from the right on law and order. More later.
Andrew George, a Lib Dem, suggests Britain should give the Elgin Marbles back to Greece. This would regenerate Greece's economy, he says.
Cameron says he doesn't agree. On marbles, the short answer is "were not going to lose them", he says.
Cameron defends his government's policy on housing benefit. It is not good Labour saying it is in favour of welfare reform, but opposing all measures in the welfare bill.
Greg Mulholland, a Lib Dem MP, asks about the provision of wheelchairs for young people. Cameron agrees to a meeting on this subject.
Labour's John Mann says there have been 10 mistakes in the setting of exam papers so far.
Cameron says this is unacceptable. He has discussed it with Michael Gove, and Gove is taking it up with Ofqual.
Cameron says the Hutton report on public sector pensions is about making good quality pensions available for public sector workers for the long term.
Labour's Catherine McKinnell says a constituent has been told he has to wait 10 months for a knee operation.
Cameron says he will look into this. He has not changed the 18 week waiting time target set by Labour, he says.
Douglas Carswell, a Conservative, asks about Britain's membership of the EU financial stability mechanism.
Cameron says his government has got Britain out of this. Britain won't have to contribute after 2013.
Labour's Dan Jarvis asks about the defence review. Cameron says it would be wrong to re-open it.
Stuart Andrew, a Conservative, asks Cameron to confirm that High Speed Rail will go to Yorkshire. Cameron says he can confirm that.
Labour's Wayne David says Cheryl Gillan, the Welsh secretary, has said she is prepared to be sacked over her opposition to High Speed Rail. Will Cameron take her up on this offer.
Cameron says Gillan has secured the electrification of the rail line to Cardiff - something her Labour predecessors failed to achieve.
Paul Uppal, a Conservartive, asks about multiculturalism. Does Cameron agree that Britons could learn from their Indian friends, who define themselves first by national identity, rather than religious identity.
Cameron says it is important to support national identity.
As the Guardian reports today, almost all Tory MEPs are going to vote against 30%, even though it is British government policy.Labour's Luciana Berger asks Cameron if he will ensure Tory MEPs vote in favour of cutting EU carbon emissions by 30% by 2020.
Cameron says he supports the 30% target. He will sort out his MEPs if Berger can sort out Labour MEPs. Labour MEPs have voted for new EU taxes. They even voted to carry on giving MEPs first class air travel, he says.
Verdict: It took a while, but Ed Miliband has finally found a way to breach David Cameron's defences at PMQs. Let's call it the small print strategy. Opposition leaders often get to Wednesday and choose an issued that has been in the papers, but for the last two weeks Miliband has managed to get the better of Cameron by choosing technical aspects of government legislation that have not received much publicity and asking about them in a tone of matter-of-fact seriousness that makes it hard for Cameron to resort to partisan banter. I don't know how long he's going to be able to keep this trick going, but at the moment it works a treat.
It is worth noting, though, that Miliband also won today by again following the Sun/Mail agenda on law and order. In his party conference speech last year Miliband portrayed himself as a civil libertarian. "We must always remember that British liberties were hard fought and hard won over hundreds of years," he said. "We should always take the greatest care in protecting them. And too often we seemed casual about them." Today performance at PMQs didn't contradict anything he said in his conference speech. But it certainly struck a different tone.
Here's a lunchtime summary.
• Ed Miliband has urged David Cameron to drop government plans for the DNA of people who are arrested, but not charged, on suspicion of committing sexual offences to be destroyed. At PMQs Miliband said Rape Crisis had warned that DNA evidence was "vital" in catching rapists. He went on: "Around 5,000 people each year are arrested on suspicion of rape and not charged. In certain cases, these individuals have gone on to commit further offences and been convicted as a result of the DNA held on the national database. But your proposal is that for those arrested and not charged, the DNA will be disposed of straight away." Cameron said that the government inherited rules on the retention of DNA that were "unacceptable" and that the police could always apply to keep a suspect's DNA on the database if they wanted.
• Miliband has accused Cameron of engaging in a "crass" attempt to silence members of the armed forces. Referring to a comment Cameron made at his press conference yesterday, when Cameron was asked about the latest example of a senior military figure being quoted casting doubt on the Libya strategy, Miliband said: "When our military chiefs raise concerns and raise legitimate concerns about the conduct of our operations, surely it's not the right thing to say 'You do the fighting and I'll do the talking'. In retrospect, wasn't that very crass and high-handed?" Cameron said he had huge respect for senior military figures. "The only point I have tried to make in recent days is when you are at war, and we are in both Afghanistan and Libya, I think it is very important, whether you are a political leader or a military leader, to think very carefully about what you are about to say," Cameron said.
• Cameron has said that Ofqual, the exams watchdog, will be taking the "toughest possible action" to prevent mistakes in exam papers. At PMQs the Labour MP John Mann said there had been 10 mistakes in school examination papers this year. Cameron said this situation was "not acceptable". He went on: "I've discussed it with the education secretary [Michael Gove] this morning who in turn has discussed it with Ofqual who are taking the toughest possible action to root out this failure and make sure it doesn't happen."
• William Hague, the foreign secretary, has agreed to increase World Service funding by an extra £2.2m a year to prevent cuts in the Arabic service. Its settlement was reviewed in the light of the Arab Spring. Internal BBC savings have also released another £9m over three years for the World Service, which should safeguard the Hindi shortwave service. (See 10.14am and 11.35am.)
• Christopher Graham, the information commissioner, has ruled that civil servants and quango bosses who earn more than the prime minister have no right to keep their salaries secret. As the Press Association reports, Graham's ruling came as he ordered the publication of the identities of 24 people who tried to avoid being named, under a new transparency drive. The Cabinet Office last year published lists showing that 332 civil servants and quango chiefs have salaries of more than £150,000. Of these, 49 were paid over £200,000, with the largest package of £390,000 going to David Higgins, the chief executive of the Olympic Delivery Authority. The names of 24 people receiving taxpayer-funded salaries of more than £150,000 were withheld from the list after the individuals involved refused permission to reveal their identities. Today Graham said: "If you are earning over £150,000 working for a body that is funded by the public purse, then there is now a legitimate expectation that your name and salary details will be disclosed. Being open and transparent is an integral part of being accountable to the taxpayer and, like it or not, this level of disclosure goes with the territory."
• Alistair Darling, the Labour former chancellor, has refused to endorse Ed Balls's call for a cut in VAT. Darling repeatedly sidestepped the question when Andrew Neil asked him on the Daily Politics show to say that he agreed with Balls's call for VAT to be temporarily cut to 17.5%. Michael Fallon, the Conservative deputy chairman, said: "Alistair Darling's refusal to back Ed Balls' unfunded VAT cut has revealed deep splits in the Labour party over whether to stick to the Darling plan. This comes on the day we learn that the shadow cabinet were not even consulted on a £51 billion spending commitment. It shows that Ed Miliband is a weak leader of a divided party."
• Crispin Blunt, the justice minister, has said that the government will legislate to stop people who cause serious harm to children or vulnerable adults with others escaping justice because prosecutors cannot identify who actually committed the injury. (See 11.19am.)
• The Office of National Statistics has said that the number of people paying into a private pension scheme has gone down. Some 39% of men and 28% of women belonged to a private sector pension scheme in 2010, compared with 52% and 37% respectively in 1997.
• Alex Salmond, Scotland's first minister, has demanded an apology from a Labour MP who described the Scottish National Party as "neo-fascist". Ian Davidson, who chairs the Scottish affairs committee, used the description during a debate on the Scotland bill last night. As SNP MPs heckled him Davidson said: "I notice the way in which efforts have been made to shout me down. That's what's happened traditionally in Scotland when people challenge the nationalists. Those of us who want to challenge the narrow, neo-fascism of the nationalists." Today Salmond, the SNP leader, said: "Ian Davidson is an experienced member of the House of Commons. He's the chairman of a select committee. He's not some young whippersnapper who forgot himself. He should really take a think about whether someone of his experience should be engaging in such talk and take the opportunity now to apologise. "
• Unison delegates have urged the union to call strikes to coincide with the Conservative party conference in the autumn.
For various reasons, I'm winding up early today. Ed Balls and George Osborne have been debating the economy in the chamber. From what I heard, it didn't tell us anything particularly revealing, but it was a sparkling exchange. Here's a summary of what's new since I posted at lunchtime.
• Ed Balls has accused George Osborne of being "economically illiterate". Opening a debate on the economy, the shadow chancellor said the budget Osborne delivered a year ago did not produce economic recovery. "The chancellor made the economically illiterate and preposterous claim that Britain, like Greece, was on the brink of bankruptcy," Balls said. In his speech Osborne said that Balls's proposal to cut VAT amounted to "a £51bn unfunded commitment on tax". At one stage Balls was challenged over reports quoting unnamed Labour frontbenchers complaining that Balls did not consult colleagues over his VAT policy. "I do my politics on the record," Balls replied, prompting laughter from Tory MPs.
• Peers have renewed their attack on the government's plans for Lords reform. In the second day of a two-day debate on Lords reform, Lord Forsyth of Drumlean, the Tory former cabinet minister, said there was "no way" the legislation was going to get through the Lords. "I see on the front page of the Daily Telegraph today, if I can be a candid friend to the prime minister, he's quoted as saying, 'I'll do the talking, you do the fighting'," Forsyth said. "Well, if I can give him a bit of advice, a bit of listening might be in order here or some of us may start doing a bit of fighting." Lord Armstrong of Illminister, the former head of the civil service, said the disputes between an elected Lords and the Commons would make the current arguments between the two Houses look like a "vicarage tea party". He went on: "I foresee serious breakdowns in the relationship between the Commons and the Lords and the River Thames running under Westminster Bridge with much blood."
That's it for today. Thanks for the comments.


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just got this email so i thought i would share it with you all.these are not my views or ideas, just thought it would make for an interesting discussion. Enjoy
Last night in the Clackamas Town Center Mall in Portand, Oregon a masked gunman opened fire in the food court killing two and then killing himself. The police have not yet released the identity of the gunman as they sort out the details behind the murders.
This hit particularly close to home since the wife of a friend was in that exact location only minutes before.
Active shooters and mass killings are now a part of everyday life. They happen more and more and as long as there are people willing to kill without any apparent reason other than a psychological defect YOU are going to have to be better AWARE of your surroundings. The police and mall security can not be everywhere. You need to wake up and pay attention or suffer the consequences.
If you refuse to take notice and take action you will be a victim. In this particular case the gunman was wearing a mask, which should be your first clue to take action. But even if the suspect is not wearing body armor, a mask or has a visible weapon there are a few things you can look for to spot someone carrying a concealed firearm.
Like "tells" in poker, people carrying a weapon will subconsciously let you know if they are armed.
1. The "Security Check"
This is when they will touch, or feel the weapon with their arm or hand. The arm will appear to be a little stiffer. Remember that 88% of the world is right handed so chances are their right hand will be doing the checking.
2. The "Weapon Dance"
These body movements are because the subject is concerned with the weapon falling out or slipping out of position and into view so they are constantly checking it. The result is in some or all of the following:
•Stiffer arm on gun side
•Touching or holding the gun over the clothes
•Bending toward the weapon slightly
•Bravado in their walk
•Running or moving quickly from police presence
•Turning from view to adjust the weapon
•Pulling shirt or jacket over the weapon•Shorter arm and leg swing on gun side
•Hand(s) in pocket
•Turning and holding gun in crowds
•Looking down at gun
•Arm or part of arm holding gun snug next to body
•Security hold with elbow
•Thumb drag (along the bottom of the shirt as if to access the weapon)
3. Are they "Gun Fashionable"
What they wear dictates if they can even conceal a weapon or not. It's harder to conceal a weapon in your swim suit than it is in your ski suit.
•Does the clothing match the season or weather
•Does the clothing match
•Is the clothing loose or baggy
•In cold weather, is the subject's coat open?
•Look for subjects only wearing one glove (Insert Michael Jackson Joke here)
•When concealed in a jacket pocket, hoodie or bag there will be a sag, FIREARMS HAVE WEIGHT!
•Shirt- tucked in or worn out?
•Do shoes, boots match clothing and conditions.
•Does work outfit match conditions
•Pants with out loops, but subject is wearing a belt
4. Ways firearms are concealed
•Waistband (front side or crook of back)
•Pants (pockets or cuffs)
•Jacket or hoodie pockets
•Hats and hoods
•Shoes, boots
•Radios, cameras, video recorders (with the way technology is, anyone with a BOOM BOX should probably be arrested on sight.)
•Grocery bags, boxes, shopping bags, etc.
•Hollow books, newspapers, cigarette cartons
•Holsters (bought, made or stolen - all types)
•Bikes and motorcycles
So what do you do if your faced with an Active Shooter?
The answer is simple, BUT NOT EASY.
If you can escape, use cover and GO FAST. If cover is not an option move away at an angle. This forces the gunman to make two adjustments for distance and lateral position. Zig zagging is NOT recommended because you will cross the weapon's path multiple times with ev change of direction. Chances are you'll only have to move several feet before you can find cover.
If you can't escape the building, find some place to hide and hold up until help arrives or the threat is gone. A utility closet or office are good because they can be locked. Take cover and try to call for help.
Sometimes running away is not an option. If your life or the lives of others are in danger you can use deadly force. If you don't have a firearm, or you have a firearm and it does not stop the threat, you need to be able to systematically dismantle your target.
The Self Defense Training System shows you how to eliminate any threat in seconds. With your bare hands or even improvised weapons, like chair or a ball point pen. You need to be able to channel your will to survive and be able to adapt your will to your current physical and environmental conditions.
Look, if you want to hang your hat on hope- go right ahead, but if you want an option when some human waste of life decides to take innocent lives before he takes his own, than I offer you an option HERE.
The "call 9-1-1" answer doesn't work. Never has, never will. The response time is way too long. 5 minutes in the world of REAL violence is like 5 minutes underwater.
Let the other guy take chances, you know better.
No B.S. just...
Train Honestly,
Damian Ross, The Self Defense Company
The Self Defense Training System
Guardian Police Combatvies Program
Family Safe Program
Self Defense Company Instructor and Business Building Program
60 Minute Self Defense
Free Training Forum
The SDTS on Facebook

subset: commoncrawl


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Even those politicians giving Maria Miller their public support know that the controversy engulfing her has reopened the wound of the 2009 scandal over MPs' expenses.
Trust is hard to win and easy to lose. Yet there were tentative signs that the public's view of politicians was improving a little from the nadir of the expenses affair.
Polling for the Committee on Standards in Public Life has shown a slight improvement in the reputation of MPs. Although it is still lower than it was before 2009, the anti-sleaze watchdog believes the recent trend shows it is possible to rebuild confidence – if politicians stop behaving badly. However, the recovery process is bound to be set back by the crop of damaging headlines about the Culture Secretary.
Few voters will care that the controversy could not happen under the current system because MPs can no longer claim for their second homes, the subject of the original complaint against Ms Miller. She has prolonged this saga but making an inadequate "apology" to the Commons. If she had shown contrition, she would be in a stronger position now.
Some colleagues believe Ms Miller is a target for Conservative-supporting newspapers because of her departmental role in press regulation following the Leveson inquiry into phone hacking. That is a bit rich: privately, some senior MPs admit they were keen on statutory controls of the press as revenge for the way the papers covered the parliamentary expenses scandal. Now the wheel has turned full circle: the Cabinet minister in charge of implementing Leveson is in trouble over her expenses.
A further loss of trust would be bad news for the three main parties, as local and European Parliament elections loom next month. And the main beneficiary will be the anti-politics candidate – Ukip's Nigel Farage. You just can't keep him out of it.Reuse content


text: Are you fed up with airline add-on fees? Have you ever booked a discount fare online only to be tagged with additional fees then or at the ticket counter for: a) your checked bags; b) carry-on bags; c) earphones; d) blanket; e) airline "food"; f) early boarding; or g) seat selection? Well, the federal government has got your back on this one, fellow traveler. Traveling public blindsided by fees Billions in fees escape air safety and security excise taxes …Read More Leave a Comment


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Location: Arthropod-borne Animal Diseases ResearchTitle: Distribution (presence / absence) of Culicoides Sonorensis (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Nebraska, South Dakota, and North Dakota: Clarifying the Epidemiology of Bluetongue Disease in the North-Central United States Author
|Schmidtmann, Edward
|Herrero, M
|Green, A
|Dargatz, D
|Walton, T
Submitted to: Journal of Medical Entomology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/1/2010
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary:
Technical Abstract: The presence or absence of the biting midge, Culicoides sonorensis, a primary vector of bluetongue viruses (BTV) in North America, was assessed on ranches and farms across the north-central region of the United States (U.S.), specifically the states of Nebraska, South Dakota, and North Dakota, as part of a two-year regional study of BTV exposure among cattle. Black light/suction trap samples totaling 280 two-night intervals were taken at 140 aquatic sites (potential larval habitat for C. sonorensis) on 82 livestock operations (ranches and farms) that span a south to north gradient of expected decreasing risk for exposure to BTV. In Nebraska, C. sonorensis populations were common and widespread, present at 15 of 18 operations. Of 32 operations sampled in South Dakota, seven of which were sampled in successive years, 18 were positive for C. sonorensis. Thirteen of 14 operations located west of the Missouri River were positive, whereas 13 of 18 operations east of the river were negative. Of 32 operations sampled in North Dakota, seven of which were sampled both years, 12 were positive for C. sonorensis. Six of eight operations located west and south of the Missouri River were positive, whereas 18 of 24 operations east and north of the river were negative for C. sonorensis. These data illustrate a well-defined pattern of C. sonorensis spatial distribution, with populations consistently present across Nebraska, western South Dakota, and western North Dakota; western South Dakota and North Dakota encompass the Northwestern Plains Ecoregion where soils are non-glaciated and evaporation exceeds precipitation. In contrast, C. sonorensis populations were largely absent east of the Missouri River in South Dakota and North Dakota; this area comprises the Northwestern Glaciated Plains Ecoregion and Northern Glaciated Plains Ecoregion where surface soils reflect Wisconsinan glaciation and precipitation exceeds evaporation. In defining a well-demarcated pattern of population presence or absence on a regional scale, the data suggest that bio-geographic factors regulate the distribution of C. sonorensis and in turn BTV exposure. These factors, ostensibly climate and soil type as they affect the suitability of larval habitat, may explain the absence of C. sonorensis, hence limited risk for exposure to BTV, across the eastern Northern Plains, upper Midwest, and possibly Northeast, regions of the U.S.


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Nov. 26, 2011
Recap | Box Score | Photo Gallery
With the win, Michigan improves to 7-0 on the season. U-M is now 20-13 in Thanksgiving tournaments and 52-36 in regular-season tourneys.
By going 3-0 in the Paradise Jam Tournament, the Wolverines won the Reef Division. Jenny Ryan and Courtney Boylan were named to the all-tournament team, with Boylan receiving MVP honors.
Michigan trailed a team for a combined 2:12 through the entire tournament and only trailed its first opponent of the tourney -- Prairie View A&M.
The 7-0 mark is U-M's best start under coach Kevin Borseth. This team matches Michigan's 1999-2000 squad for the best start in the program's history.
Tonight's game was the seventh meeting between Michigan and Marquette, with the Wolverines now holding a 4-3 all-time edge over the Golden Eagles. The win is U-M's first since a 67-50 win on Nov. 16, 2009, at Crisler Arena.
The Wolverines move to 31-20 all-time and 2-0 on the season when facing teams currently in the Big East Conference. U-M also beat Seton Hall, 51-47, earlier this season.
U-M extended its three-point shooting streak to 165 consecutive games. The last time Michigan did not hit a three-pointer was during the 2005-2006 season.
Overall, Michigan shot 46.4 percent (26-of-56) from the field. U-M shot 38.9 percent (7-of-18) from three-point range and 75 percent (12-of-16) from the free throw line.
As a team, U-M recorded 13 steals on the night. This marks the second time this season the Maize and Blue has had double-digit steals, and on the season, the team is averaging (9.4) steals per game.
Courtney Boylan led the Wolverines for the second consecutive night in scoring with 16 points on 6-of-10 (60 percent) shooting, including 3-of-4 (75 percent) from the free throw line. She has tallied double figures in scoring in all seven games this season.
Jenny Ryan led U-M with 10 rebounds, which matches her career high. Ryan's previous career high occurred against Prairie View A&M earlier this season. Additionally, she leads U-M in rebounding on the season, averaging 6.0 rebounds per game. Ryan also added 13 points, posting the first double-double by a U-M player this season.
Senior Carmen Reynolds posted seven points in tonight's game. Reynolds now needs 44 points for 1,000 career points.
For the first time this season, Sam Arnold led U-M's reserves by scoring nine points -- shooting (4-of-7) from the floor.
Freshman Brenae Harris saw action for a third consecutive game. She also set a career high for points with six on 3-of-6 shooting for the night.
Michigan went with the starting lineup of Courtney Boylan, Nicole Elmblad, Jenny Ryan, Carmen Reynolds and Rachel Sheffer. This was the seventh consecutive game U-M began with this combination.
» Learn about Michigan women's basketball season tickets for the 2017-18 season.


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Ideal for Students and Teachers!The Yamaha Arius YDP-162 brings together true piano sound and feel, for an outstanding playing experience. In fact, if you're familiar with playing or practicing on a old school acoustic piano, you may not even be able to tell the difference! Yamaha incorporated their high-tech sampling system, so you get the full sound of a concert grand piano that reacts to everything from the softest pianissimo to the strongest fortissimo.
Taking lessons? You'll appreciate the built-in 2-track recorder. You can even play plus a metronome to help stay in time and practice playing at different tempos.
All in all, with a sweet look that fits into any home decor, the Yamaha Arius YDP-162 is an excellent pick for the home owner wanting to start lessons or any school, church, or venue wanting an instrument that looks amazing on the main stage, while sounding incredible in the process!
Yamaha Arius YDP-162 88-key Digital Home Piano Features:
- High-quality, spacious, stereo grand piano sound
- Elegant black walnut finish
- Graded action, with a heavier touch in the low end and a lighter touch in the high end
- Beautiful, traditional-looking dark black walnut cabinet finish
- High-quality, spacious, stereo grand piano sound
- Full set of pedals damper, sostenuto, and soft pedals
- Onboard one-song recorder
- Built-in metronome


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- The Poetry Foundation's blog for poetry and related news.
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Poetry News
Kenneth Goldsmith + Stephen Colbert = Happy Disaster
The always entertaining Kenneth Goldsmith, poet laureate at the Museum of Modern Art decked out in disarming pink and contrasting stripes, stopped by The Colbert Report last night to discuss his latest book: Seven American Deaths and Disasters.
The book explores the poetic qualities of the transcriptions from national television and radio broadcasts that aired during seven national disasters (the deaths of John F. Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, John Lennon, and Michael Jackson; the explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger, the Columbine school shootings, and the 2001 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center).
While the subject matter may sound macabre, Colbert lightens the mood as only he could by, quite impressively, reciting "Oh! Susanna," forcing us all to "put on a happy face!"
Watch the full video here.
Tags: Kenneth Goldsmith, Seven American Deaths and Disasters, Stephen Colbert
Posted in Poetry News on Wednesday, July 24th, 2013 by Harriet Staff.


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He was joined for the interactive debate by former International Development Secretary Clare Short MP, Shadow International Development Secretary Alan Duncan MP, Liberal Democrat elections strategist Lord Razzall, Director of Oxfam UK Barbara Stocking and journalist and broadcaster David Aaronovitch.
Title: Former International Development Secretary
Career: Clare Short wants the UN to lead the international relief effort for victims of the Asian tsunami.
She is one of the country's most plain-speaking politicians, having resigned from the Labour frontbench three times, most recently over Iraq.
Never afraid to take on the Labour leadership, she called on Tony Blair to resign over the war in Iraq and last year accused Britain of routinely bugging UN officials.
Title: Shadow International Development Secretary
Career: Alan Duncan has encouraged the government and British people to support victims of the tsunami.
He is openly gay and has urged his colleagues in the party to join him in supporting the rights of gay couples.
Title: Liberal Democrat Election Strategist
Career: Lord Razzall is a key Liberal Democrat election strategist and directed their 2001 election campaign.
He is Liberal Democrat spokesman on Trade and Industry in the House of Lords and was a successful lawyer and businessmen before entering politics.
His daughter, Katie was on honeymoon in Sri Lanka and witnessed the Asian tsunami which struck two weeks ago. She was forced to run to high ground for safety.
Title: Director, Oxfam UK
Career: Barbara Stocking is the first female director of Oxfam, one of 12 charities forming the Disasters Emergency Committee.
She has said the Asian tsunami crisis reinforces the need for the world to double aid spending, cut the debt of poorest nations and help them break out of poverty.
Before joining Oxfam, she worked for the NHS and the World Health Organisation in Africa. She has been awarded the CBE for her work.
Title: Journalist and Broadcaster
Career: David Aaronovitch is a columnist and sketch writer for the Guardian.
He has appeared on numerous radio and television programmes since his television debut as a contestant on University Challenge in 1975.
He was sympathetic to the war in Iraq which left him at odds with many of his fellow left wing commentators.
BBC One's Question Time is broadcast on Thursdays at 2235 GMT.


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I've going back and forth over buying a nicely modified used or buying a newer model with less miles but stock. Both will end up about costing the same, I know. But I know mods can get expensive, which I will want to do some day. Here is a list of a car with some upgrades. I talked with the guy who owns it. Seems to be an intelligent person with-eeeck- some common sense. I think the car has been well cared for and not abused. But I'm sure it has been driven, otherwise would you modify one?! Let me know what you all think and possible questions forthe current owner. Thanks in advance.
Deadbolt ZILLA(TM) TD06H-20G, Oil and water cooled
1st Generation Vishnu Stainless Steel Turboback Exhaust. (downpipe to muffler) intercooler
Perrin 816cc fuel injectors
Perrin turbo inlet hose
Perrin big maf intake
Walboro fuel pump
Ecutek with custom dyno tune
Greddy 52mm etg gauge and turbo boost gauge with pillar pod
Perrin EBCS
Kartboy short throw shifter w/ bushing
Prodrive-GC-05F 18x8 British Black (They are part of the Prodrive GC series, which are made by Rays Engineering (makers of Volk) and designed by Prodrive. They come standard with carbon fiber center caps and steel valve stems. For the ultimate in racer look these are the best. Forged aluminum and lightweight at 17lbs.) Rims are in mint condition.
Tires are kumho ecsta mx 235/40/18. They have about 90% of tread remaining. The tires have less than 4500 miles on them.
Ohlin fixed perch strut / 25 clicks for adjustment (The improvement in ride quality vs. the stock '04 STi inverted strut is huge. The ratio of bump to rebound damping feels enormously better then stock. All the front to rear pitch that the stock suspension had over bumps is gone, the handling is not compromised in anyway.)
STi Impreza Lowering Spring Set
STi GroupN Hardened Strut Top Mount front and rear
Cobb front and rear sway bars
Perrin front and rear sway bar endlinks
Gt spec underarm brace
STI Aluminum Rear Strut Brace
McGard spine drive lugs


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Advertisement JEE main 2017 online free test series : JEE Main 2017 is the exam conducted by CBSE. The high score in JEE Main allows the student to join in IITs, NITs, etc for engineering or architecture. The online test series is designed for the JEE candidates. It offers various mock tests for the aspirants which is same as the ... Read More »
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Considering what we heard about Reggie Bush 's knee injury earlier this week, this makes sense. A league source tells Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio that Bush has a "50-50 chance" of playing Sunday versus the Redskins. Bush is currently trying to get over a minor left knee injury. Joique Bell would get the wide majority of the touches if Bush sits in Week 3.
Fantasy Analysis:
This has game-time decision written all over it. Thankfully, the Lions-Redskins is an early kickoff, so you will know if Bush is active or inactive before your lineups lock. You definitely need to have Bell on hand in case Bush doesn't suit up. Both players have high upsides this week against Washington's putrid defense.


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Contact us 24/7: +1 877 678 9627
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- - Fits true to size, take your normal size
- - Italian sizing
Heel measures approximately 30mm/ 1 inch with a 15mm/ 0.5 inch platform. A cool pair of biker boots is an off-duty essential. We love Marc Jacobs' quilted black leather style. Expertly crafted in Italy and fully lined for comfort, they'll make a smart investment for years to come.
Shown here with: Maje top, Alexander McQueen bracelet, Joseph pants, Jérôme Dreyfuss bag.
- - Heel measures approximately 30mm/ 1 inch with a 15mm/ 0.5 inch platform
- - Black leather
- - Quilted panels, two buckle-fastening straps, leather lining, round toe, rubber sole
- - Pull on
Product Code: 364668
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Product Code: 364668


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I just got bit by the prop bug so hurried up and I bought a re-cast of a don post off of ebay. In hind sight I wish I would have bought a sgt fang, but maybe the next one.
Anyway, my question is this. I saw a picture of an original don post and it has the same deformation around the back of the neck as the re-cast that I bought. Is this the way that the helmet was released? Should I send back my re-cast? Whats the deal?
Thanks for the help.


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Looking for a way to save time and money but still work up a good sweat? Using technology is a great way to do just that. Online workout videos can be streamed from anywhere (as long as you have a computer, tablet, or smartphone), which cuts out the middleman entirely, meaning you don't need to leave the house, drive anywhere or pay extra just to get in a workout.
These eight programs offer reasonable membership rates (some are free!) and provide a wide range of different workouts, including yoga, Pilates and high-intensity interval training. One thing's for sure – after trying one of these workouts, you'll never want to see the inside of a gym again.
1. Barre3
A monthly streaming membership to Barre3, which is a combination of barre, Pilates and Yoga, is $15 a month and provides unlimited access to hundreds of body-shaping workouts. The programs vary in length from 10 minutes to an hour, so you can do a workout based on how much time you have. Barre workouts include "components of Pilates, yoga, and ballet," Kate Albarelli, a barre instructor, explains to Teen Vogue. "The moves are considered ballet-based but only because they're derived from the Lotte Berk Method. Lotte was a ballet dancer, so she used some of her dance moves when creating the workout, but what we see as today's barre classes have gone through so many tweaks over the years."
Barre3 also gives you access to great seasonal recipes and meal ideas, along with customized workout schedules and programs, such as 28 to Great and 7 Day Body Blast, all created by Barre3 founder Sadie Lincoln.


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Apricot Sour Cream Cake
125g butter, softened
3/4 cup (165g) caster sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
1 1/3 cups (320g) sour cream
400g can apricot halves, drained and chopped
2 1/4 cups ( 335g) self-raising flour, sifted
1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda, sifted
1 cup (200g) white Choc Bits
Preheat oven to 180C (160C fan-forced)
Grease a 24cm bundt or baba pan.
Beat butter, sugar and vanilla in a small bowl with an electric mixer until pale and fluffy.
Add the eggs, one at a time, beating until combined after each addition.
Fold in 1 cup (240g) of the sour cream and all of the apricots, then the sifted flour and soda.
The batter will be quite thick.
Spoon mixture into the prepared pan; smooth the top.
Bake for about 40 minutes, or until golden and springy to touch and comes away from the sides of the pan.
Turn onto a wire rack to cool completely before icing.
Combine the remaining sour cream and chocolate in a bowl.
Microwave on high for 1 minute or until melted, stirring halfway through cooking time.
allow to cool a little and thicken.
Drizzle the warm icing over the cooled cake.
Un-iced cake can be frozen.
Recipe from the Aust Womens Weekly


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Is it just possible you could quit hoping for approval, begging for business, apologizing for your rates, or worrying about whether you're providing enough value? Is it possible that you are, in fact, much smarter, cooler, and more valuable than you realize? An interesting little mindset dance . . .
read more | digg story
You may already be an expert
Is it just possible you could quit hoping for approval, begging for business, apologizing for your rates, or worrying about whether you're providing enough value? Is it possible that you are, in fact, much smarter, cooler, and more valuable than you realize? An interesting little mindset dance . . .
If everything were sold like iPods
"How much is that leather couch?" "Six hundred dollars for sitting." "Ha, I'll probably just end up napping on it." "Eight hundred for napping, actually. And another six hundred if you still plan to sit as well." "Okay, $1400 and everyone can sit and nap." "Up to four people." "I think I could fit five." "Five would be piracy."
read more | digg story
Gripping your reader
I found an excellent new blog today,
skelliewag.com (Oops, sorry, it's skelliewag.org.)
I liked this post on creating gripping content and design, but everything I've clicked on has been good. She gives specifics on what to do, links to solid examples, and provides direction for how to fix stuff that isn't working. I'll be reading skelliewag regularly.
"If your site isn't gripping, your other actions are wasted. Your articles might be top-notch, but if few visitors are gripped enough to read them from start to finish, you'll never see the rewards those articles deserve."
(Hmmm, what can I fix here at remarkable communication?)
Just how evil is Bill Gates?
A month or two ago, Seth Godin linked to this brutally embarrassing video of Bill Gates hanging out with Napoleon Dynamite.
Bill Gates is an interesting guy.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has pledged more than $3.2 billion to improving health in the developing world. According to a speech Melinda Gates gave recently, "The reality is this: Every year, more than 10 million children die before they turn five, most of them from conditions we know how to prevent or treat."
(Maybe it's Melinda who's the real hero—the person who suggested a different compelling problem for Bill to spend his energy solving. Since I don't know the Gateses, I'm making that story up. Kind of convincing, though, isn't it?)
The Gates Foundation gets a lot of pushback from other players in the nonprofit community for a hard-nosed, rather cold attitude. But they're also trying very hard to stop 3 million child deaths caused every year by preventable stuff like tetanus, measles, diarrhea, and hepatitis. And you know, they might succeed.
So Bill Gates is very probably the most universally hated person ever to try and save the lives of 3 million children a year. And, while they're at it, fix education for the underclass in the U.S., develop an AIDS vaccine, and lift 2.5 billion people out of poverty. After the launch of Vista, that should be pretty easy.
So close . . .
The thing that fascinates me about this video is that it almost works. It has a completely believable premise. Based on Bill Gates's public persona and mannerisms, it's very easy to think that he's basically a Napoleon Dynamite guy. A person with a grating lack of social skills who happens to be preternaturally good at something. (For Napoleon, it's dancing; for Bill, it's ruling the universe.) No one likes Napoleon Dynamite, but we figure he can't help it.
The ten-car-pileup happens, as they so often do, in a matter of seconds. In the middle of this excruciating hymn to dorkdom, Bill takes a moment to update a character's version of the Microsoft Office suite.
All of of a sudden we see the little man behind the curtain. We see that unappetizing moment of corporate self-interest, when so far we've been buying the story that Bill is just a lame goofball with a surprising talent.
I believe in what the Gates Foundation is doing (and how nice of them not to need my money to do it), and I applaud them for it. I think it might be easier for them to do their work if Bill Gates wasn't a synonym for arrogance and evil. Which is why this video makes me sad and not just disgusted.
Know what you're trying to say, and why you're trying to say it. Don't let anything get in the way of that.
Make yourself easy to find
I'm in the middle of trying to make a connection with a woman who has an amazing nonprofit project. Her project offers tremendous benefit to people who really need it, and I would love to help her get the word out. (I hope I can make a posting here tomorrow.)
Unfortunately, the only connection I've been able to make so far is on a MySpace page (for which I had to create a new account). There's contact information here and there, but none of it quite works.
Remember that if you're asking for help, especially for help on behalf of others, you need to make it incredibly easy. Make yourself easy to find. (This would be a great use for a gmail account.) Check your email pretty regularly. Create a simple single Web page that gives folks the basic information–what they can do to help and where they should send a check. Deliver a good old-fashioned call to action (for example, "Please send a check today to Johnny DoGood, at XYZ address . . . ").
You don't have to spend a lot of money or a lot of time on this–there are a million great services that can help. I found this project on Squidoo, which is a terrific spot for it. Tumblr would also be excellent. Just make sure that you're not putting up any barriers to letting others give you exactly what you want.
Donna, if you're out there, I'd really love to reach you!
Tending your Web presence garden
Flickr Creative Commons image by Sukanto_Debnath
"The greatest fertilizer is the shadow of the gardener."
I've been a passionate gardener for many years. I heard that quote a long time ago, and it's the mantra I live by for my garden. The more attention I put into it, the better results I get. It's not a question of hovering–the seeds germinate and the plants develop at their own pace. But daily attention lets me capture small problems before they get big, notice my successes so I can create more of them, and create the right environment for my garden to flourish.
Can you sense a metaphor coming on? (Gardening is one of those great uber-metaphors–it works for everything.) The same daily attention that lets my garden flourish also helps my Web presence to grow organically.
(OK, metaphor veering into bad pun territory, sorry.)
Start with the soil
You won't be able to grow anything more interesting than dandelions if you don't understand your soil. Know (and fix) its deficiencies whenever you can. Understand what it's going to grow well and what it will probably never be able to support.
To translate this to your Web presence, your "soil" is probably your understanding of your market. This doesn't have to be commercial–your market could be your customers, your nonprofit donors, your church, your PTA–whoever it is that you want to influence and create a relationship with.
Notice that it's your understanding of those folks that matters. You need to know what they want, what they worry about, what they value. If you don't have that, any other work you do will be hit-or-miss, with more misses than hits.
That said, there's not a gardener worth his salt who will wait until the soil is perfect before he starts planting. Soil is never perfect, and neither is understanding. Know when to get them to "good enough" to get started, and then keep amending.
Remember, too, that different soil is good for different plants. If you have alkaline clay and brutal sun, like we do here in most of Colorado, your desire for rhododendrons is going to be a painful and labor-intensive one. Try and communicate with folks you already have a feeling for. I'm never going to excel at the mass market or the ultra technical. That's completely fine. I can reach millions of people with the messages that come most naturally to me.
Don't plant a monocrop
Creating different Web points of contact is like planting different plants. There are dozens if not hundreds of options now. Blogs, e-newsletters, static Web pages, Squidoo lenses, HubPages, ezine articles, Gather articles, Facebook, Tumblelogs. Create a nice assortment to get the cross-pollination you need.
Remember not to create more sites or touchpoints than you can take care of. Each little content corner you create should be visited regularly, spruced up as needed, tested for broken links, and generally given some love and attention.
Different content types have different needs. Once your ezine (or Gather, or any of the other similar sites) article is written and published, you need to check it for errors that were introduced in the process, and then it will pretty much live on its own. You might check it every six months or so for broken links, but that should do it. On the other hand, to stay effective, you need to keep feeding your favorite article sites with new content, to build and maintain a reputation as a worthy authority on your subject.
(On that subject, I don't recommend submitting the same article to multiple sites. Google discounts duplicated content. You can write dozens of articles on the same subject—just develop new examples and new metaphors. You can borrow the gardening analogy any time you like.)
Squidoo lenses do best with a fertilize-and-prune every couple of weeks. Add a content module, consider removing one that's not performing, or update some of your links with fresher, more exciting stuff.
Contributing to social sites like Facebook or forums depends on developing trust with your friends–you probably want to check in at least once or twice a day. Twitter, of course, practically begs for a dozen-times-a-day updates.
And opinions differ about how often you should post on your blog, but once a week is probably the minimum, and most successful bloggers post at least once daily.
Always have a flat of seedlings to plant
I got this particular method from Ed Dale over at Thirty Day Challenge: create Google News, Google Blogs, and Technorati watches on the subjects you like to write about. Subscribe to all of these in an RSS reader. When an interesting story comes up, clip the most relevant points into a product like Backpack or Google Notes. I like to create a text file with 3-5 possible points I want to cover, and any juicy quotes or connections.
You're a lot less likely to get shut down by writer's block if you have plenty of irresistible idea seeds just waiting to be grown into solid content. Dale uses these to create tiny articles–just a few paragraphs–but the idea works just as well if you're long-winded like I am.
For another source of ideas to develop, make a habit of tucking a few blank 3×5 cards into every book you read, whether for work or for pleasure. Copy down quotes (and identify them as such with very clear quote marks and a page number–you don't want to become an accidental plagiarist). Scribble ideas, especially any connection you can make to something else. Every day, take your 3×5 cards for the day and transcribe them into your online tool. Paper is magnificent, but bytes win this one hands down.
And always credit the book where you originally found the idea–it's just good manners, and it enhances your credibility. No one expects you, especially in the 21st century, to grow all your own ideas from the ground up.
Related viewing:
Darren Rowse's nice video post on how blogging is like growing a lawn.
Do you make these common Web design mistakes?
I found this fabulous set of Web design mistakes over at Dosh Dosh. In addition to being a rant that gets the exact right level of sputter, it summarizes just about everything that doesn't work on 95% of Web sites.
Each of these mistakes comes down to forgetting that your Web site isn't about you, it's about the people whose behavior you want to influence.
If any of this resonates at all, I have a homework assignment for you. Steve Krug's Don't Make Me Think outlines everything you need to understand (and act on) to make your site work the way it should.
Whether you're selling anything, buying anything, processing anything, selling anything bought or processed, buying anything sold or processed, processing anything sold, bought or processed, or repairing anything sold, bought or processed, you need Krug's book.
Profuse apologies to John Cusack.
How to tell a story
Stories lie at the core of human nature. They're as important to our humanity as language and opposable thumbs. Storytelling doesn't belong to an exclusive group of novelists and screenwriters. We all tell stories, but some of them work better than others.
Persuasive stories have a long history. In the 70s, soap operas emphasizing family planning were broadcast in Mexico—leading to lower birth rates in the areas where they were shown. Similar soap operas have been produced around the world to promote birth control, AIDs awareness, the status of women, and better treatment of children. In the 80s, U.S. television writers were asked to work anti-drug storylines into sitcoms and dramas. And in the 21st century, Rupert Murdoch will be asking writers for his television shows to think about storylines that warn against global warming. Many writers hate didactic fiction, but it's probably as old as human language—certainly predating the bible and Aesop.
Today I thought I'd unpack a couple of tools used by professional writers to create stories that are memorable, engaging, and satisfying.
You probably know that the protagonist is the actor in your story. More specifically, the story happens as a result of the actions he takes. Readers in the English-speaking West have virtually no patience for protagonists who don't take concrete action.
Whether you're writing an ad, a 600-page novel, or an interesting blog post, the reader must empathize with the protagonist of your story. Typically the protagonist of an ad is some version of the customer. Very often in a story told by a nonprofit organization, the protagonist is the client—the person helped by the organization. But the reader still has to put himself in the shoes of that protagonist. This gets challenging when your typical donor is a multimillionaire and your typical client is a mentally ill homeless person wrestling with addiction. Stories are, in fact, probably the only vehicle powerful enough to make that kind of psychological transition.
There, but for the grace of god
Your protagonist does not, despite what many people think, need to be likeable. The reader needs to be able to empathize with the protagonist, but might not like him.
A tremendous example of this is found in the movie Monster. While you probably wouldn't want to invite Aileen Wuornos to a dinner party, the filmmaker constructs the story so that you can understand how she got there. If you have an unlikeable protagonist, you need to work out the "there but for the grace of god" factor. Find the storyline that we can relate to, even if our lives are very different.
Protagonists don't act until they want something. There is a gap between what they really, really want and what they actually have. The actions of the story move them closer or farther away from the object of that desire.
Taut, exciting stories usually spend a good chunk of time keeping the protagonist tantalizingly close to reaching her desire, then moving it just a little farther away. Stories tend to be most satisfying when the protagonist's strengths move her toward her desire and her weaknesses move her away from it.
To create the archetypal happy ending, your protagonist should achieve her heart's desire when her central strength overcomes her central weakness. Again, it's all a matter of empathy. Aren't those the most triumphant moments of your own life?
More resources
The craft of telling stories takes time to learn; the art takes a lifetime. Here are four exceptional resources if you want to explore more:
- Robert McKee's Story: Substance, Structure, Style and The Principles of Screenwriting is probably the most important storytelling manifesto you'll find today. (You might remember McKee as the writing guru in the movie Adaptation. I would say "fictionalized writing guru," but in fact the character was spookily spot-on.) McKee has exhaustively analyzed how good movies work, and boiled the important factors down for thousands of wannabe and successful screenwriters alike.
- Christopher Vogler's The Writer's Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers. This is a close second to McKee, outlining elements from myths and fairy tales that endure in popular stories of all kinds. Special bonus: you'll be able to annoy your friends while watching DVDs as you call out the by-now inevitable steps on the hero's journey. "Look, he's Refusing the Call! Hey, why are you throwing Doritos at me?"
- Seth Godin's All Marketers Are Liars: The Power of Telling Authentic Stories in a Low-Trust World. Godin provocatively uses "lies" for "stories," which probably sold ten times as many copies of the book. He walks you through how stories can be used in a marketing context. My favorite quote from the book: "Fraud is marketing with side effects."
- Chip Heath and Dan Heath's Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die, an amazing list that describes what makes some stories (like urban legends) so much more likely to be passed around and remembered.
If you found this post useful, subscribe to my free email class on creating better content!
Do any of you ever look at your own tag clouds?
It's like taking stock of what's on the conveyer belt at the grocery store. Sometimes it's fresh fruits & veggies and I feel virtuous; sometimes it's a big pile of pop tarts.
I really like my cloud today.
It's a remarkable day in the neighborhood
Maureen pointed me to Steve Pavlina, who blogged about an amazing video of Fred Rogers addressing the U.S. Senate in 1969.
(Note, too, a good commentary at humorpower.com, also referenced by Pavlina.)
Pavlina uses it to show the power of tremendous authenticity. And yes, it's that, but it's much more than that. Tommy Lee is authentic–an authentic chucklehead.
Authenticity alone will not take you all the way to remarkable.
If you want to learn what it means to speak from a place of perfect integrity, passion, and sanity, make a study of this video. Take special note of the way Rogers effortlessly cuts through the environment of irony and cynicism.
I have to confess, my family wasn't big on Mr. Rogers when I was growing up. He was too square, too buttoned-up. We were more a Sesame Street & Electric Company household–urban and sophisticated. Plus, Lady Elaine Fairchilde gave me the serious willies.
Now that he's gone, I wish we still had Fred Rogers around. We really need him.


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ModelWorkz Grfx Digital Artist
_Fetish_Model Female Long Beach, California, US
My Website: Follow Me Follow YouMy MM URL: http://www.modelmayhem.com/UrFetish
Mayhem # 1779337
About MeHi There MM! Long time no see! Well I am back and I am a whole new person now with way different style to what I will and wont shoot. I am down to earth and very fun to work with (dont worry I know there is a time and place for everything time cant be wasted) so be ready for some laughs and smiles.
If you need to see any updated pics send me a email or message and I will send you some.
Have you worked with _Fetish_? Add Credits for _Fetish_! >>
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Valenda Newell
October 26, 2016 | Indianapolis, IN
In Memory Of
October 26, 2016 | Indianapolis, IN
November 20, 2012
"condolence to the REX HUNT family,look to God for your strength at at this time.He will never turn you away,he binds up broken hearts.-~----~
November 19, 2012
"Fond memories of a super boss in Ankara. Condolences to Mavis.
November 19, 2012 | OH
"May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
November 18, 2012
"....one of the most significant Old Coathamiams of the last century. RIP walky
November 18, 2012 | Gastonia, NC
"Sir Hunt it Ben a life have you you help the world to be free.Sir hunt the you wood like to stop you did the bests.that you can keep up the good work may god bless you of the work that you have done.It time
November 16, 2012
Michelle, Becky & I are thinking of you, we were sad to hear about your dad.
Take care,
Kelly,Michelle & Becky
November 16, 2012
"please accept my condolence,I'm sorry for your loss."Happy are those that mourn since they will be comforted."...matt.5:4...dgm
November 16, 2012
"I am so sorry for your loss. Will keep you all in my prayers.
Rex Hunt passed away. Obit is featured in Legacy.


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Need Help With Tire Size for 1/4 Mile Run
I had 195/60R15's
Then I moved up 10 215/50R17's
Now I want to change to 215/35R17's. My thinking is that I will be lowering the gear ratio for a faster 1/4 mile time with a lower trap speed. I'm aware that this is alot under the stock diameter, and the 50 series tire on the 17 inch rim is oversized. Just trying to get into the 14 sec zone in the quarter mile. Right now with the 215/50R17's im running about email@example.com secs. Any thoughs or experience with this?
No, i'm interested in slicks and what not. Just the tire size question. thaniks in advance.
Im not sure if 17's would be the best for a drag race wheel/tire.
Always read stiff or short sidewalls hurt straight line traction. The 50 series 17's were really tall. the stock SVT size (215/45/17) is already taller than the stock 16" tire size (205/50/16). I would go with a smaller wheel, 15's would give you a really nice selection of tires and would/could weigh a bit less than the 17's. a 16 will be a nice middleground and you can find cheap aftermarket wheels in 16x7 that weigh 16-17lbs (rota, etc.)
If I could fit 15's on the svtf for drag that would with a nice, then a good grippy tire. easily 2.0 or less 60 ft.
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Condensation all over floor at furnace
Hi. I'm a townhouse owner in humid northern virginia with a carrier weathermaker 9200 gas furace that was installed about 6 years ago. It replaced an electric heat pump. The a/c part of the heat pump is still operational and used to cool the house. About 3 weeks ago I noticed a puddle of water coming from under the furnace. After changing the filter, the puddle didn't return until today. After changing the air filter and mop up today I noticed a dripping sound coming from inside the furnace. I checked the 3/4-inch pvc condensation drain and it's working fine (unlike a year or two ago when it was found to be plugged up). I'm stumped as to where this condensation dripping/build-up is coming from or how to prevent it. I'm not familiar with furnaces per se, but I do have a manual, so please use laymans terms in your replies. thanks for any help.
It sounds like your evaporator coil drain pan might have hole or leak. You say the PVC drain line is clear but you might want to check where it enters the coil housing to make sure it isn't plugged there causing the drain pan to overflow. Also, was it raining hard when this happened? Reason I ask is because if you have an 80% furnace that is vented through the roof, you can have a problem with the rain cap or vent pipe that lets rain down into the furnace, hence onto the floor.
I looked closer. The air filter access is in the intake air duct work about 8 inches from the unit. The drip was observed running along a duct work seam inside the supply air duct between the air filter and unit. There is little condensate exiting the condensate drain.
I don't know where the evaporator coil drain pan is located. All I've ever done is remove the front panel of the unit. I also removed the front panel on the top part of the unit which allowed me to see up the exhaust air duct and some coils.
We have had a lot of rain lately, but all the piping is horizontal leading out the back of the house.
Probably help if you can post some pics. Others will chime in for sure....
Check the hose inside that feeds the cpvc pipe. I had a similar problem with my furnace and turned out I just had to tighten it with a hose clamp where it transitions from rubber to cpvc.
here's a link to some pics http://i715.photobucket.com/albums/w...psbd7ba3f5.jpg
The coil drain pan (?) in the top part of the unit is mostly dry. Not overflowing. Nothings plugged. I couldn't see any holes, but it it corroded. Unit was installed in 2001.
There's water seeping out from the back of the lower unit into the front area where the black fan is located. Everything's still working though.
here's 4 pics
Larry, I live in the MD burbs... lovely humidity around here, too! Your water could be from several sources, condensation or rain. Referring to the pics tells us where exactly you are seeing signs of the water.
Also, it is easier for folks to view pics here in the forum instead of having to visit external sites. For PhotoBucket just go to your album, then click on the picture, then click on the <img> code to copy, then paste that inline in a forum message like this:
The water is seeping out from the back half of the unit behind the divide just behind the black blower. I took a close up of it, but it didn't turn out well. I'm not authorized to paste attachements. to
The staining that is seen in the pic above is not water, it's oily stain. The dripping is inside the air duct to the left of the unit just right of the aluminum tape.
There is no overflow from the coil pan which is out of picture above the unit. And little water dripping from the condensate drain.
I don't know how rain water would enter this unit. The only piping (intake and exhaust for furnace) leading outside is run horizontally to the back of the house. And the dripping occurred when it was not raining for some time.
You don't have to post attachments, you simply cut and paste the <img> code for each pic you want to post from PhotoBucket's sharing selections.
I can't tell what the soruce is from here. Maybe some of the pros will eventually chime in. One possibility is the air intake pipe, especially if it is a long run in conditioned space. Humid outside air will seep into the pipe, and the pipe is cold from being in conditioned space, and you can get condensate forming inside. This will run back to your furnace. The furnace manuals that I have seen recommend that a drain be placed in this line to capture and drain off any such condensate (or rain that might get into this pipe). I have seen many installs that do not have such a drain but I put one in mine when I installed my furnace.
But the obvious and most common thing would be a leak or overflow from the evap coil. But you say the line isn't clogged... <scratching head>.
Got to photobucket, click on the individual pic, then there will be 4 boxes to the right, one labeled img code. Just do one left click in that box and it will automatically copy it to the clipboard. Then just right click in a DIY Forum message and paste.
I poured water into the condensate drain pan above the unit. All of the water drained properly through the pvc drain. No dripping heard with water in the pan.
The water is seeping out from the back half of the unit behind the divide just behind the black blower.
anyone have a suggestion?
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Laura and Filippo welcome you to Ancora del Chianti!
In 2001, our challenge was creating a small complex in harmony with nature and running it with full respect for the environment for our family and for our guests. Ancora del Chianti is more than a peaceful, comfortable and clean B&B in Tuscany with a spectacular view. As described on our website and reported by TripAdvisor Reviews, here you will meet passionate and enthusiastic people ready to make you experience the best of Tuscany and happy to fulfill your dreams with activities on demand for individuals, couples or small groups. Now we can provide B&B and a studio for activities in young and friendly atmophere. The scented garden surrounds the property and it is at guests disposal.
Laura will take care of you during your stay. Every morning she serves a rich buffet breakfast on the shaded terrace overlooking the garden. She has decorated the rooms herself and loves painting the flowers in the garden with watercolours. Filippo has devotes himself to the organic production of Chianti wine and olive oil.
Laura and Filippo await for you with pleasure to "Ancora del Chianti"!


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The Hamptons may be on Long Island, but the stereotypical suburban sensibility that the island just off Manhattan is known for and the posh glamour of the Hamptons are oceans apart. On the eastern end of Long Island, you'll discover this enclave of the rich and the famous, who flock to this little world apart every summer to party, dine and enjoy the pristine Atlantic coast. Of course, you don't have to hail from this exclusive set to enjoy the Hamptons.
Take, for instance, the natural beauty: the sunsets over the undulating reed-covered marshy fields, those misty fall mornings that are always accompanied by the seasonal honking of the Canadian geese and that strong, briny smell of the Atlantic. And then there's the gorgeous natural light — one of the many reasons why artists and writers flocked to the East End of Long Island during the second half of the 20th century. Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning, Fairfield Porter and Frank O'Hara, among many others, made their home in the eastside villages, imported chic bohemia and opened themselves up to the unique golden sunlight, allowing it to shine into their work. While you may not find many artists today, the natural inspiration that drew them here still remains.
Local cuisine ranges from clam shacks by the shore to chic and stylish kitchens from celebrity chefs. Of course, the local seafood remains one of the stars, but also try the local produce, Long Island duck and wines from the North Fork wineries along the wine trail.
The good news about hanging out in the Hamptons is that you don't need to travel far to experience a whole slew of leisure activities. There are beaches to sit on, vineyards in which to sip wine, restaurants to tantalize the taste buds and, of course, seas to sail on. Access to sports from golf to tennis abounds, and accommodations run the gamut: from the historic and posh Huntting Inn in East Hampton to the woodsy and cozy Hampton Maid.
Wherever you choose to rest your head, wake up early to start your day. Grab breakfast in town at Babette's. The omelets are huge and they come with a choice of tasty sides, like oatmeal or sweet potato fries. With your belly full, set out for some sightseeing.
Take the Montauk Highway all the way to the end of the island to gorgeous Montauk, and keep driving until you hit the Montauk Point Light House, which was built in 1796 (making it the oldest lighthouse in New York State). There, a small museum tells the rich past of the Montaukett Indians and the local fishermen's century-old struggle against the sea. Climb nearly 130 steps for an unforgettable panorama and a geography lesson: Block Island, Connecticut and even the distant coast of Rhode Island are actually visible on a clear day (children under 12 are not allowed to climb).
Spend the afternoon in town, strolling through Newtown Lane for an afternoon of serious shopping. Tory Burch, the classic New York designer, has opened a boutique where she sells her elegant flats and timeless tunics. Catherine Malandrino's sexy French dresses and petite blouses will make heads turn on both sides of the Atlantic, and at Mecox Gardens you'll find unique objects and furniture, all of which sport an eye-catching mix of high design and warm colors. At John Varvatos' elegant shop, men will find a mix of bohemian and stylish clothing. Grab an afternoon snack or a picnic at Citarella, or an old-fashioned Dreesen doughnut at Scoop du Jour, and get ready to browse BookHampton, an independent bookstore where the sales staff can steer you towards some unsung local writers.
Lose yourself in the small lanes behind the boutiques and visit the Vered Gallery's quirky selection of modern and contemporary art. History buffs will enjoy the Clinton Academy (built in 1784) and the modest Mulford Farm, which was built in 1680 and is widely considered to be America's most significant English Colonial farmstead. Check out the featured artists across the street at Guild Hall, which is an important cultural center with indoor and outdoor exhibit space.
Art fans will also want to head to the Springs neighborhood, about a 20-minute drive away from the town, where Jackson Pollock — the leader of the Abstract Expressionists movement — and his wife, artist Lee Krasner, lived and worked. A walk through the house, exhibits and their studio is a worthwhile journey through the life and art of Pollock and his wife. Pause around the corner at the Springs General Store, where Pollock used to exchange art for food.
For dinner, don't pass up a chance to dine at the 1770 House, which serves up elevated American fare in a comfortable, rustic environment. The seafood on the menu is (naturally) the way to go, especially the seared Montauk scallops paired with the luscious pork belly or the local striped bass sashimi. If you're there around summer, go for a nightcap at the Lily Pond Club (a few minute's drive from Downtown East Hampton), which packs them in until the wee hours of the night for superior drinks and a wicked mix of house and rock music.
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