sandwellboyinwales

It's still all about the Will..

2010-11-17T04:56:00.000-08:00

Ok a royal wedding next year? Yup we've got it thanks for the coverage, can we now move on?
Seriously there was major flooding in Cornwall, Ireland is about to bring the eurozone to its knees, oh and Wales and Scotland are announcing their new budgets for the next three years...

It's all about the Will...

2010-11-16T09:14:00.000-08:00

Sadly not a wry reference to the upcoming Green Lantern film, but more a passing comment to the excitement that has been generated by the fact that Prince William and Kate Middleton are marrying next year and settling in Wales.

It must seem like Xmas and birthday combination for the Western Mail; but really who cares? Personally I think there should be an X-Factor type vote as to where they should live, although the moon is awfully far away...

Swansea Council considering the unthinkable?

2010-11-16T08:30:00.000-08:00

Swansea Council have put their head above the parapet and are potentially opening the door to private companies to run vital services for the most vulnerable people across Swansea.

Priviatisation by the back door is how Andrew Davies AM is defining it. The Conservatives in WAG are clearly defining their position, money is tight, the Labour led coalition has asked Councils to think the unthinkable, when they do they slammed by the very members who asking them in the first place.

Betsan's Blog
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/betsanpowys/
Has a more sardonic view to this debate.

My original home Sandwell has been floating the idea for months of a social enterprise model for social services - one I might add that was abandoned almost as quickly as it was conceived but Swansea council are taking things a step further and through a series of nudges and winks that would make any codebreaker confused, are testing the water ona potential sell off.

What is not being alluded to however, is the reason that Swansea is the first local authority to actually consider this as an option.
The reason is simply; the Council have mismanaged their finances and services to such an extent that (I repeat the leader Chris Holley's assertion) the Council is broke!

The waste of money between 2004 -2007 was and still is staggering. Tens of millions wasted on a failed IT project, a new road network that no one wanted and so on.
Swansea were the first Council to make a real cuts within the education sector -a full year before most local authorities even considered the idea.

Let's be charitable; some of this was down to inexperience. A lack of understanding of basic economics also was an early problem for the Lib-Dem led coalition in Swansea. However that cannot excuse the failure to address some of the core problems at the heart of Swansea and the incessant whining 'that it's not our fault', 'we blame the Assembly', 'we blame central government' (although strangely the latter has abated of late) is tiresome at best.

It's easy now to get on the bandwaggon that everyone is facing cuts, they are. Swansea however is starting from a distinct disadvantage, we spent more than we had in the good times, maxed out the credit card to such an extent that when the bad times hit and we were facing real and undeniable problems, there was no money left.

That is the issue that is being forgotten in the argument about privitisation by the backdoor.
We shouldn't be in this predicament in the first place!
This is the start of some seismic and generation changing decisions being made from Swansea Council and all bets are off.

For more comments regarding this issue see the press release from Andrew Davies AM at:
http://andrewdaviesam.com/news.php?id=25

Lest we forget..

2010-11-12T07:40:00.000-08:00

A heartening sight yesterday to see many students, side by side with academics noting the minute of silence to mark the ending of the Great War, and for many to remember those that have fallen in more recent conflicts. A quiet dignity was felt across the campus and we are all the better for it.

The honeymoon is over are we going Back to the Future?

2010-11-11T09:31:00.000-08:00

How apt perhaps that in the same month that the 25th Anniversary for Back to the Future is released into the cinemas in the UK, then we have scenes yesterday rather reminiscent of the 1980's. I speak of course of the violence that erupted on the streets of London during a usual peaceful student demonstration.

No one condones violence and it is clear that those perpetratng the crimes will be punished, the police will also examine their handling of the situation. However I think this does emphasise the beginning of a more turbulent, dare I say traditional form of politics. The angry demonstration synonymous with the anti-Thatcher anger of the 1980's was on display for the first time in many years.
Certainly the heady mix, of occupied buildings, fires, mass placade waving and destruction of property had more in common with the poll tax riots of the early 90's than the anti-war demos of the last decade?

It must be a very interesting dynamic for Nick Clegg at the moment to be on the inspiration of effigies rather than leading the charge of demonstrators who tradionally burn them. The anger is real; although as NUS President Aaron Porter highlighted, yesterday won the student movement no fans. Why so angry? Is it based on the hypocrisy of the Lib-Dems switiching their anti-fees stance, one that defined them until May of this year to get into bed with a more conservative government than any really thought possible?

I should make the point of course that Clegg was never really against tuition fees / top-up fees, in fact he was minded to dump that election promise in March of this year, but was talked out of it by many in his party.

So the frustration and aggravation of students was on show yesterday, that was merely the swig of water before the starter is chosen, things will get much, much worse...

A new type of politics?
The contrary Mr Clegg a rather old type of politics is at work.

Your country needs you?

2010-10-06T10:01:00.000-07:00

Does it really? perhaps...

I've had a long battling argument with my good friend Crispin lewis about this very point?
Crispin eloquently argues that Uk citizens should start being defined not by their worldly weath or worldly posessions but by a sense of pulling together, community work, supporting your neighbours, working for charities...either Crispin is a Tory - perhaps? Or DC has snatched the centre ground from Labour?

I'm back and it's about time...

2010-09-29T09:29:00.001-07:00

Well it's taken me a while but a couple of people have encouraged me to start a fresh, so let the political blogging of an International Officer and a local Labour Councillor begin in earnest again...

The hot topic of conversation right now is the Milliband saga dominating the TV and newspapers. 'Red' Ed vs Blairite David.
One as leader, one as a quiet backbench MP. I've been defending Ed milliband quite a bit on the blogs sphere and on Facebook, but ultimately there is really no need. His success or apparent failure will not be known for several months yet. Until that point all the speculation in the world won't change a thing. Let's remember Ed's leadership speech could have been given virtually word for word by David, with the noted exception of the comment on Iraq.
I for one was an ardent supporter of Ed who wobbled to David at the last possible moment. I'm now facing a conundrum, would David have been ultimately better, have we gifted the Con-Dems an easy ride? Is Ed a pushover, will he make the tough decisions.

As yet he's untested but he does have to have a certain taste for making hard decisions, his dmolition of his brother is a good example of this...

Should he stay or should he go?

2009-05-19T03:12:00.000-07:00

The expenses row now it's overblown second week (I mean really aren't we in the midst of the worst recession since 1945, or so the newspapers tell us?) is targeting Michael Martin the speaker of the house for his foolish handling of this continuing crisis the answer?

Maybe.

There is no doubt he has handled the affair with all the grace and common sense of a hedgehod crossing a motorway but is he the vilified demonic gatekeeper that some politicians and media outlets are portraying him as?

I fear as the crisis rolls on politicians from all sides are desperate; to have something; anything to draw a line in the sand.
Would a forced resignation force the media to move on to the next story? Probably, although lest us not forget that the Telegraph is enjoying it's best circulation figures in years.

The public are angry, however how much of this is being recycled by the media machine is for discussion, but what is clear is that the story needs to move on not just for the weary MPs; but for democacy in the UK as a whole.

The resignation of Michael Martin maybe the beginning of some sort of catharsis for all voters in the UK.

It's been a while...

2009-05-18T13:45:00.001-07:00

Well it's been a long time since I last commented on anything, to busy being a councillor and travelling the world with my job. I feel I had to finally have my say on the expenses row especially as our local candidate Geraint Davies has now been drawn in...

The row has completely destroyed the public trust in politicians, but I do think the media is enjoying this a little too much especially the BNP angle..
More tomorrow..

Fiddling while Labour burned...

2008-09-16T08:53:00.000-07:00

Well, what a summer, new (exciting) job, more floods, West Brom winning first home game in the Premier League, the economy sliding downhill fast and one of the biggest investment banks going into liquidation, highest inflation in 16 years oh and the Labour Party ripping itself apart.

It feels like the early 90's all over again except this time it's the Labour party turning on itself at the vert itme it need to be showing some leadership. i am no fan of the PM but I am gravitating towards him as crisis (s) grow.

Know one else is better positioned to safeguard the economy in quite the same way as GB.
Now is not the time for a change in leader Lets hope Cairns is the last or conference is going to be very interesting indeed...

Gay Abandon...

2008-06-19T03:34:00.000-07:00

A great post from the writing genius of Peter David:

It is amusing that some people fulminate about so-called activist judges, and yet when judges in California legalize gay marriage by a strict reading of the Constitution, conservatives rush to get a referendum on the ballot for November that would restrict marriage to a man and a woman.

Food for thought: a mere forty one years ago, the marriage of Senator Obama's parents would not have been recognized in sixteen states, because there were strict laws against a mixed race marriage...until some gosh-darned activist judges ruled that law unconstitutional.

When are those who are busy minding other peoples' business going to tumble to the fact that any two people who wish to marry are the same race--the human race--whether they have different skin or like gender? There cannot be different grades of equality.

Marriage, which once was something strictly arranged by parents, typically for financial gain, is in a constantly state of change and gay marriage is simply the next logical step in its evolution...presuming that critics of gay marriage believe in evolution.
PAD

Just brilliant Peter, brilliant.

Civil Liberties and the mysterious case of the laddish Tory..

2008-06-16T13:06:00.000-07:00

I feel I have to justify everthing i say on this blog, in my last post I was criticised about not tackling the issue of civil liberties, despite referencing it several times in the past.

For the record 42 days is unecessary because it infringes on the rights that we work hard to protect. There is no necessity for an increase, it will act as a recruiting ground for terrorists and it is the beginning of something far more distasteful. This coming for an unapolegitic New Labour Blairite who favoured many of his more critically damaging policies.
Done, it was wrong i oppose it, moving on...

Italy a great country, fantastic people, so what possessed a certain Tory to spk his mind on a footie sport show.

A moment of madness, oh no wait that's old Ron's line isn't it and when the only defender you have in public is Ron Davies, you know you're in trouble...

Tory suspended as party candidate

The Conservatives have suspended Welsh assembly member Alun Cairns as a general election candidate.
A spokesman said an investigation was pending by the party chairman, and follows a row over a comment about Italians on a BBC radio programme.
Two Labour MPs have called on Mr Cairns to step down as a candidate for the Labour-held Vale of Glamorgan seat.
Mr Cairns quit his assembly education spokesman post and apologised for his "inappropriate" comments.
He likened Italians to "greasy wops" in a radio discussion on Euro 2008.
Mr Cairns, who is a South Wales West AM, also resigned as chair of the assembly's finance committee.
The Conservatives confirmed that Mr Cairns had been suspended as a candidate yesterday "pending an investigation by the party chairman".
Earlier, Caerphilly MP Wayne David said it was "a sensible and logical thing" for Mr Cairns to step down.
But Mr David, while welcoming the apology, said it was only partial if he remained a candidate in the Vale of Glamorgan.
"It's not the worst but nevertheless such terms are unacceptable," he told the BBC Wales Politics Show.

"If David Cameron wants to draw a line under it, it's very important for him to be absolutely clear that Alun Cairns isn't only stepping down from the two positions he holds but from the position he aspires to."

His comments were echoed by former Europe minister Denis MacShane MP, who added: "Xenophobic language against Italians is the same as other racism."
Mr Cairns apologised immediately for the comments made during BBC Radio Cymru's Dau o'r Bae discussion programme on Friday.

Contributors had been asked to say who they would be supporting during the Euro 2008 tournament.
When another contributor said she had written "nice food" next to Italy in the list, Mr Cairns said: "I've written greasy wops."
In a statement on Saturday afternoon, Mr Cairns, said: "I very much regret the remarks and wish to apologise once again for the offence they may have caused.

"I have the utmost respect for Italy and Italian people but accept that my comments, no matter how inadvertent, were unacceptable. "

Welsh Conservative leader Nick Bourne AM, who faces reshuffling his shadow cabinet in the assembly this week, said: "While his comments were completely out of character they were unacceptable."
Former Caerphilly MP Ron Davies, who is now the director of the Valleys Race Equality Council, said Mr Cairns had accepted his invitation to join their annual meeting next month, adding "I know there isn't a racist bone in his body.
"These comments he has made are inexcusable but we have to put them in the context of what was a light-hearted discussion around football and was meant, I'm sure, as laddish humour."

Another file lost...and the focus shifts again

2008-06-15T13:57:00.000-07:00

David Davies resigns in protest at the 42 day detention and i'm genuinely torn. Having considered the resignation over a couple of days I have come to the conclusion that I admire his libertarian values but I'm not sure triggering a bi-election was the way to go.

He's certainly a man of principle but is it an empty gesture? Won't he just win his seat back?
Is this bad for the Tories? Nick Robinson has an interesting take on why it may be bad for the Conservatives...

The BBC has been inundated with calls, texts, e-mails and blog comments praising David Davis' decision yesterday and some have questioned why I have suggested it may be a nightmare for the Conservative Party.
So here are ten reasons:

1) It will pit the Tories against the paper whose support they most want to win - The Sun

2) David Davis might lose the by-election, robbing the Tories of a talented politician

3) Davis may win big, emphasising his status as a potential rival for David Cameron

4) The by-election may be a damp squib in which no major party runs and is seen by many as a waste of tax payers' money

5) David Davis wins and gets back into the shadow cabinet where no-one knows what he'll do next and is therefore a divisive force

6) David Davis stays on the backbenches and becomes a focus of discontent with David Cameron and a divisive force

7) The Conservative Party is forced to have the divisive debate between libertarianism and authoritarianism

8) The Conservatives are diverted from their strategy of focusing on schools, welfare and family policies

9) David Cameron does not look in control of his top team

10) For the first time in months Gordon Brown is helped to avoid dreadful headlines which today would have read ("I did no deal, honest")

An interesting and thoughtful take.....

Then this all shifts again when it is announced that yet more top secret files have been left on a train. The Government don't seem to be able to catch a break, but they must do something to stop theses breaches in security, it's making them look very foolish.

A humiliating victory...and don't we all feel safer?

2008-06-12T03:41:00.000-07:00

Brown wins by the skin of his teeth relying on the DUP to save his sorry leadership for another month.
Sigh... 42 days, why?

There is no evidence to support the extension form 28 days, none.
There is no doubt that the general public want it extended and that the tories are playing politial football to gain points to attack the government.

I appreciate we're in dangerous times but I think it ironic that on Wednesday we are espousing the rights of 42 days without charge to make the country safer. On Thursday we are dealing with reports that classified documents about Terrorism and Iraq have been left on a train in Surrey, which if delivered into the worng hands would give terrorist organisation a heads up on our strategic plans.
Brilliant.

Still at least we ok locally it's not as if they are closing post offices across the country.... wait a moment.

Seriously though I would be the first to defend much of what is going on but our image is tarnished and we're in real danger of losing completely. We need focus and clear guidance to regain any momentum. James Purnell had the right idea in free swimming ( Wales have been doing it for years) a clear obvious benefical policy that the Tories would never implement.
At least there are some diamonds in the rough...

I AM LABOUR:- The last Labour Councillor on Earth and he's not alone.

2008-05-14T07:47:00.000-07:00

Well a 12% swing to Labour in Townhill while the rest of the country is being wiped out... wow!

Not bad and probably the most elated I've felt in a while.
Big tributes to Mr Angus who was a marvel in a completley non-political way of course. As ever I will be in his debt. Down from 32 seats to 30 not brilliant but not a Cardiff style massacre.

The rest of the country took quite the drubbing when the annihilation word beckons you have to worry, but still pretty terrible results. What's the future for GB now the 10p tax has been put to bed... well lets see how the bi-election goes first shall we? Will be 90 or 95 for our dear PM?

West Brom promoted - did I ever doubt Mowbray the Magnificent? Of course I did but then I am a Baggies fan. Boing Boing! Of course our promotion was made all the sweeter by the relegation of Birmingham and the poor showing of Wolves!
Boing Boing!!

Ferrets in a sack fighting? Or is that Canaries refusing to sing?

2008-04-21T05:51:00.000-07:00

Nick Robinson at the BBC - spot on sir...

Canaries, you no doubt recall, used to be taken down pits to detect noxious gases. If the miners' yellow long feathered friends so much as twitched, trouble lay ahead. If they fell off their perches and dropped to the bottom of their cage, the miners knew they were done for if they didn't get out fast.
The Labour Party now has its own canaries who work in a somewhat different way to those in the mines. To test the health of the party you look at how and whether they can survive together. The odd squabble and pulling out of feathers, means everything's OK. If, however, they peck each other to death, the party looks doomed.
Given the behaviour of Labour's canaries over the last few days, the party ought to be worried.
The canaries in question are:
The backbench MP who has described the 10p tax revolt as his party's "poll tax moment" - Ian Gibson.
The minister who's warned about the "indulgent nonsense" of "private briefings against the Labour leader" - Ed Balls.
And the former minister who, in today's Times, warns Balls that his actions "take us back to the days of faction fighting and party-within-a-party that were so damaging in the 1980s" - Charles Clarke.
Why do I pick out these three? Because, despite their differences, they can often be found together watching their favourite football team, Norwich City - known to its fans as the Canaries. I, for one, will be watching hard in the next few days to see whether they can bring themselves to behave as if they're on the same side.

So I was right after all...

2008-04-14T03:50:00.000-07:00

Last August I wrote this on my blog...

"Back and it's about time...
Well it's been nearly 6 weeks since I last updated my blog and in that time GB has roared past David Camera On leading him by over 10 points.Well that is something I wasn't expecting nor was his expert handling of terrorist attacks, massive flooding and returning foot and mouth. I stand corrected Mr Brown you've surprised me absolutely.Good job GB."

I stand corrected huh! Should have gone with my gut instinct after all, what is interesting is to watch politicans on the Labour benches who had been desperate to rid the country of Blair now squirm when faced witht the disappointment of Brown. It may a local Swansea Candidate or even Diane Abbot on This Week, but there is no denying that the predicitons from the Blairites amongst us are coming to pass. Ironic that the Blairites are now the politicos defending Blair against the rest of the party and electorate.

Jamie Angus summed it up a couple of weeks ago when he said "This is going exactly as I expected and predicted".
The backroom boy who couldn't be PM. Por old Brown.

Locally however we are plugging away at the Lib-Dems in Swansea, I think we increase our vote in Townhill - if there is any justice as we are working the ward hard. It's difficult to predict elsewhere we may steal a couple in Uplands (they're certainly working hard) and maybe a couple in Cockett **

A stressful time again but I'm enjoying it nonetheless.

** I may amend that on May 2nd with some other thoughts

He goes down.......

2008-04-14T03:41:00.000-07:00

In a weekend that has seen the polls plummet for our Great Leader; Nick Robinson over at the Beeb has some thoughtful comments about the political market place.
Are we facing an economic crisis as big and severe as the Great Depression of 1929? I doubt it but then I'm not the PM who is resting his entire political fortune on that prediction...

Sell. Sell Browns. Sell them now. The message coming from the political trading floor couldn't be clearer. Shares in the prime minister are falling about as fast as shares once did in Northern Rock.
Staff working for Brown and Company are said to be revolting - ministers are reported to have been threatening to punch one another, MPs to have defied the boss to his face and his own team don't get along. That new man in PR - Carter's the name - has been upsetting the old guard who don't like who he's hired and fired and don't know what on earth he knows about their business anyway.

What's more, the shareholders - for the purpose of this extended metaphor, that's you and me - are soon to get a chance to vote on how things are going (at least you are if you live in the large parts of England and all of Wales where there are soon to be local elections). In the political marketplace, the results have already been discounted. Thus, the buyers and sellers of political fortunes have already begun to discuss what will happen WHEN not IF Labour loses. And thus, the papers are already filling with talk of stalking horses and runners and riders for a leadership race which has not and, almost certainly will not, begin.

This frenzy of gossip and speculation in the political marketplace is, of course, being driven by the mood in the REAL marketplace which is reeling from what's now officially described as "the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression'. The gloomier the economic news has become, the more Brown's ratings have slid and the more the talk of a crisis for him has grown.
And how has he responded? With a massive gamble. Gordon Brown is betting his house - or at least the one he currently occupies at No 10 - on his belief that things aren't as bad as they seem or as many predict they will be. As evidence, he points to last week's little reported prediction by the IMF that even though economic growth will slow in Britain, it will be higher than in all the other industrialised economies. He believes that there's time between now and the next time voters get to choose a government to be proved right and that those who've gambled on bust following boom will, once again, be proved wrong.

And, who knows, he may well be right but he may, also, be too late. For in the political world, just as in the financial, markets can take on a life of their own. Or, as one senior cabinet figure put it to me, "the danger we face is that we are just too damaged to recover". Even Gordon Brown's own allies are now restlessly waiting for him to do something to halt the slide. Imminent and avoidable rows on scrapping the 10p tax rate and extending detention without trial to 42 days will hardly help. They will not wait for ever.

Lax blogger = thoughtful politico

2008-04-02T07:48:00.000-07:00

My blogging continues to be lax, I note it has been nearly to months since I was last writing about my life. The pressure on me regarding the local elections is tremendous, I find it both frustrating and equally satisfying. I do no doubt work best when I'm under pressure to deliver.

I haven't for a while mentioned the Baggies who are still in contention for both the F.A. Cup and promotion we'll see how long that lasts, and Secret Invasion kicks off tomorrow which I'm jazzed about.

In Swansea it's an interesting prospect regarding the local elections. I think we'll hold Townhill and Castle, we may take a seat or two in Cockett (although my gut disagrees), as for Uplands that is impossible to tell from the amount of work both sides are now putting in. P.M is out for himself and that may help as he marginalises the others in his output.

I think the Tories may benefit in Sketty as much of the Liberal Vote is soft - May 1st 11pm onwards will certainly be an exciting time.

One last quick mention to my fave movie at the moment, 'There Will Be Blood' is just superb Daniel Day-Lewis is deservedly the Oscar winner of a powerful masterpiece has to be seen to be believed...

The funniest You tube video ever

2008-02-03T14:48:00.000-08:00

I'm fuckin Matt Damon

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=4KUowJzpgxs

Brilliant the funniest ever!!

Another month, another year and two aliens races trying to kill each other...

2008-01-20T08:04:00.000-08:00

Well over a month since my last post and i am determined to get back into a routine...
Christmas was a blast much needed and very relaxing. Who was fun and better that last year by far...

So as the countdown to my own election begins I am going to keep a detailed diary of events on the election trail. Last week I delivered my presentation on leaflets and campaigning. Not sure how it went down but some of the questions I was asked privately by existing councillors or former councillors who are candidates again were frightening in their ignorance.

Anyway i went to see Aliens vs Predator 2: Requiem, described by most reviewers as a terrible nasty little movie. I would essentially disagree certainly no masterpiece and with a clearly smaller budget than the prequel or indeed and of the other franchise movies.

However the fights are decents, the violence intense with some cool death scenes something the prequel sorely lacked. In short this is vicious and deadly with some good death scenes. The dialogue is cheesy and predictable, the characters are poorly sketched but on a basic monster movie premise the film is enjoyable and has clear balls
Next week Sweeney Todd...

Oh and the baggies are still top, boing boing!!

Christmas is coming..

2007-12-09T13:52:00.000-08:00

How time flies eh?
Nearly a month since I last wrote how things have changed...
Ian's birthday was a blast failed to seduce Charlie but still a lot of fun :-)

Brown has been going through the wringer losing identities, financial scandals, but here in Swansea the fight goes on. to be honest we're in pretty good shape, more organised, better prepared the fight will continue.

i've put my Xmas lights up today with some help from Stewart and my house is looking good - if only my bank balance was !

I'm looking forward to Christmas and New Year had magic all over it.
Nick, Ian, Charlie and Ricky - c'mon gonna be great.....

Another fantastic birthday bash....

2007-11-15T09:04:00.000-08:00

Well another year another birthday bash in Cardiff.
it was good to see ian, Nicky, Tim, Nick L, Jonathon and everybody else.

So many highlights but I especially enjoyed Ian dealing with his many drunken women...

Jonathon buying champagne for five people just to show he wasn't bothered by his ex and finally J boy again eating singlet man alive while rolling around the fllor outside whilst the poor blokes boyf looks on.... brill.

I also met Ian Ross' boyfriend Matt, wow he was tall (and a bit ugly) don't fancy taking him in a fight. Maybe i'll creep up behind him and gag, bag and chuck him in the sea.

Great fun and shaggy was good company as well.

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery...

2007-10-10T06:56:00.000-07:00

Well the Tories must be feeling pretty flattered increasing inheritence tax threshold to £600,000 targeting those tax exempt nationals.
Still Brown took another bruising in the commons today I'm confident he can shake it off but there is no doubt now that last weekend and the nearly election was a total shambles.

Favourite quote still goes to Liberal Democrat treasury spokesman, Vincent Cable, told BBC News 24 that Labour had actually stolen their ideas, rather than Conservative ideas.
He said: "I mean for the Tories to be bellyaching about it, it's like a gang of thieves complaining about their houses being burgled."

Bit of a balls up...

2007-10-09T03:04:00.000-07:00

Well the election didn't happen, but I really thought it might for a few days there.
Still it did motivate the activists in Swansea West for a little while and we are definately more finally tuned than three years ago. (not saying much)

For some reason I'm really optimistic about Labour and Brown. I know the honeymoon is over but Cameron is still not PM material yet.

I think providing Brown can continue to mix strategy with honesty he'll be ok.
He needs to swipe some Tory policies while he's at it.
Plus lets not forget 2500 troops are coming home can't be a bad thing can it?

Autumn Election??

2007-09-25T06:56:00.000-07:00

Great conference, great speech, election this October/November?
May 1st is my guess - better opportunity missed than being a trivial pursuit question.

Conference season is upon us...

2007-09-20T05:55:00.000-07:00

This time of year is a strange one for all political parties. A lot can be measured on the success or relative failure of a party conference.

Take the Libs this week, despite attempting to create a dynamic innivative approach to distinguish themselves from the " cosy consensus", instead they have once again become mired in leadership wobbles following Nick Clegg announing he would stand if there wasa vacancy. Isn't that what Ming said weeks before Charlie K was dropped?

Certainly the situation is not the same ageism vs alcoholism, the old man wins every time, but there is a feeling of the wounded buffalo struggling on about Ming and the party and that won't go away anytime soon.

This conference season will be about expectation and disappointment who is on the receiving end of both those feelings is still a mystery but having continually underestimate our PM I think he has some more tricks up his sleeve.

His handling of the many crisisthis year have been exceptional even with the troubled Northern Rock voters are still confident.

Brown (and I freely admit I never used to be a fan) is full of intelligent, steady policy announcements. Since being made leader he has warmed the middle England vote, frustrated, annoyed and reassured the Labour vote and caused waves amongst the Tory faithful.

If last week was about annoying the Tories with his invitation to Thatcher then this week he was reasurring the party faithful and middle England (no easy task) with the condemnation of Mugabe. His refusal to attend a summit that the Zimbabwae leader might attend is clever and more importantly right. Or as a colleague of mine said today, "Everyone thinks Mugabe is a bastard so how can he go wrong?" Quite so...

Wolves 1 - 3 Morcambe SWEET!!!

2007-08-28T15:38:00.000-07:00

Wolves 1-3 Morecambe

Morecambe claimed a famous victory to reach the Carling Cup third round.
Craig Stanley hit the bar for the Shrimps before Carl Baker put them ahead from the spot after Wolves keeper Graham Stack fouled Michael Twiss.

Andy Keogh levelled with another penalty to take the tie into extra-time after he was fouled by Baker.

But Stack allowed the Shrimps to regain the lead when he let a Jon Newby shot to creep under his body and Garry Thompson's chip sealed Morecambe's win.

The best news this month - PERIOD!

Rampant Gun Crime?

2007-08-24T04:30:00.000-07:00

A really interesting BBC analysis on Gun Crime and the truth behind the media hysteria.

Analysis: UK gun crime figures

By Dominic Casciani Home affairs, BBC News

Another shooting, and more fears of guns on the streets of Britain - but what do we really know about the extent of gun crime in England and Wales?

Since the start of 2007, eight young people have lost their lives in shootings - six in London, one in Manchester and now the killing of 11-year-old Rhys Jones in Liverpool.

According to provisional Home Office figures, there were 58 firearms-related homicides in 2006-07 compared with 49 in the previous year. That is an increase of 18% in just one year. If we include airguns, the number of homicides in 2006-07 rises to 61. There were 413 firearms incidents that resulted in serious injury - more than one a day.
But at the same time, the trend in gun crime overall has been going down.

Overall firearms offences fell 13% in 2006-07 to 9,608 incidents - the lowest number in seven years. Firearms robberies, handgun offences and serious injuries from firearms are also down.

Just over half of all firearms offences occurred in just three major forces - the Metropolitan Police in London, Greater Manchester and West Midlands.
Drilling down into the national figures up to the end of April 2006 shows that West Midlands, Merseyside and Greater Manchester Police have all experienced drops in firearms offences whereas London has seen an increase.

The Metropolitan Police says that in the 12 months to July 2007 it saw a 3.5% rise in firearms offences - up from 3,485 to 3,607 incidents.
Nottingham is another city that has struggled with a guns label after a number of killings in 2004, including schoolgirl Danielle Beccan - but its police chiefs say public perception is at odds with reality because the city witnesses far fewer incidents per resident than other so-called gun hotspots. Figures show Nottinghamshire Police recorded one firearms-related death in 2006 and none as of August 2007.

While there has been substantial concern in recent years over the use of imitation weapons in gang incidents - not least because some can be converted into real guns - the figures show there has also been a decrease here.

Further detailed research on firearms crimes on a regional basis will be published in 2008.
What all of this means is that we cannot draw any simple nationwide conclusions about gun crime. What we can say with certainty is that gun crime is a problem that remains closely focused in some cities that have witnessed some terrible deaths.
The figures do not show that gun crime is prolific or widespread in England and Wales.
Knife crime
In fact, the most common weapon used in a violent crime in England and Wales is not a gun - but a knife.

CRIME FIGURES IN FULL
Crime in England and Wales 2006-07 [2.7MB]

There are almost four times more knife-related killings as firearms-related killings, according to recent figures.
Of the 18 violent teenager deaths in London since the beginning of 2007, 12 have been stabbings.
The Centre for Crime and Justice Studies at King's College London recently conducted some deeper analysis of the available Home Office's statistics.

It concluded that between 22,000 and 57,900 young people could have been victims of knife crime in 2004. However, it says without better official data it is impossible to know for sure - and that we need that data to improve the public debate.

The Home Office has pledged to change the way crime figures are presented to help the public better understand the impact on their area. One of the key changes is going to be separate knife crimes figures from 2008.

The question of youth
Figures show the number of young people killed year-on-year in violent crime is relatively small and volatile - apparently dramatic changes can be statistically misleading.
HOMICIDE VICTIMS AGED 5-16
1995: 44
98/99: 25
02/03: 33
05/06: 20
Source: Home Office

In 1995, 44 people between five and 16-years-old were victims of homicide. In 2005-06 the number was less than half of that - and during the in-between years it varied wildly. Crucially, four out of 10 child victims are killed by a parent.

So what about perpetrators of crime? We don't have a figure for the total number of violent youth offenders because of the way data is collected. But we do know a little about where violence figures in youth crime overall.

Almost a fifth of all crimes committed by under-18s are violent offences, second only to theft - and the number of violent crimes has risen consecutively for four years.
The vast majority are minor assaults - frightening for the victim but usually dealt with by warnings from the police.

Of last year's crimes, 39,000 offences were committed by young men and 15,000 by young women. The number of offenders will be lower because one person is very often found to have assaulted more than one victim.

Only 1,500 resulted in some form of detention - nine involved a life detention order

Back and it's about time...

2007-08-21T08:35:00.000-07:00

Well it's been nearly 6 weeks since I last updated my blog and in that time GB has roared past David Camera On leading him by over 10 points.

Well that is something I wasn't expecting nor was his expert handling of terrorist attacks, massive flooding and returning foot and mouth. I stand corrected Mr Brown you've surprised me absolutely.

Good job GB.

The summer is over lets have some slugging...

Despite terrible weather, dissapointing movies and the wonderful discovery of Facebook my summer has been relatively quiet. WBA look in decent form and I think we're going to giv ethose dirty Golden turds a run for their money....

Boing Boing!!!

I should also mention the selection of Geraint davies as the Swansea West MP candidate in the end the best person for the job and he'll breath new life into the party. Well if he can't there really is no hope.

Good night Tony you will me missed.

2007-06-27T04:29:00.000-07:00

There can be no true Labour Party member who didn't feel at least a twinge of sadness when Tony said his final farewell.

Personally I was quite choked up a great PMQ's with some great tributes.

Good bye Tony, if your sucessor can achieve half of what you did, we'll be a very fortunate party indeed.

A sad day.

Heir to Blair

2007-06-19T10:25:00.000-07:00

Nick Alexander BBC poltical correspondent made me laugh out loud at this...

After a year being described as the "heir to Blair" - with or without his encouragement - Tory leader David Cameron has launched a concerted attempt to throw off the label in the face of an apparent backlash from party members and not a few MPs.

Mr Cameron insists he is not copying New LabourSo, Mr Cameron and shadow ministers such as David Davis and William Hague are out and about stressing that the idea they are copying New Labour is patent nonsense.

They are, they insist, simply learning from New Labour's mistakes.

They would never, for example, find themselves stealing slogans such as "traditional values in a modern setting", would they?

Of course not. In fact, according to their latest press release, they have a shiny new slogan all of their own.

"Conservatives are applying our traditional values to new challenges," it declares.

So, look out for "tough on crime, equally robust on the causes of crime", perhaps.

So Close and yet...

2007-05-25T01:42:00.000-07:00

A difficult week in welsh Politics to be sure, for the first time in 8 years there was a very real prospect of a rainbow coalition.

I was preparing my office for the arrival of my boss the former Minister of EIN and then those lovely Libs pulled out of talks.

Poor old Mike misreading his Lib - party yet again and causing untold embarrassment to Ieuan Wyn Jones. Brilliant.

Best quote of the week form Lord Carlisle - former Welsh lib-dem leader berating his colleagues for attempting to form a coalition said:
Ieuan Wyn Jones would have been the bride, Nick Bourne the groom, but who remembers the ushers? - Indeed!!

Rhodri for First Minister!

Nice but hopeless, the Lib Dems should call it a day?

2007-05-14T04:47:00.000-07:00

This lamentable party cannot even master the electoral system to which it has hitched its wagon. Surely it's time to disband.

Simon Jenkins Wednesday May 9, 2007 The Guardian

What are Liberal Democrats for?
They are the flotsam of 20th-century politics drifting on into the 21st, coagulated from ancient clubs, cabals, splits and defections from other parties.
Not since the 19th century have they cohered round any great interest. They represent no mass movement, no breaking of the political mould.
Ask a Liberal Democrat what he or she is for and you get only a susurration of platitudes. Yet thanks to proportional representation this party gets to choose the governments of Scotland and Wales. It is Nero for a day.

Westminster commentators have always given the Lib Dems a free pass, as over cash for honours, because they are both hopeless and nice.
Most parties that have won no power for almost a century and are a political subsidiary of another party, New Labour, would disband. But Britain's patronage state keeps the Lib Dems going, that and the hope that their one distinctive, self-interested policy, proportional representation, might give them blocking power at Westminster.

When Charles Kennedy resisted the temptation - some might say golden opportunity - to take his party left of New Labour early in this decade, he ensured his would never be a ruling party but, at best, king-makers of coalition. Yet what sort of coalition? Local leaders gave no indication before the election which other parties they might prefer.

A Lib Dem vote was a blind vote, a diluted other-party vote to be realised only after the election.

In Scotland the Lib Dem leader, Nicol Stephen, has decided it would be inappropriate to maintain Labour in power yet has told Alex Salmond's nationalists he will not coalesce with him. He cannot tolerate a referendum on independence.

That the party of Irish home rule should reject so liberal a proposal as territorial self-determination is odd. Nor was Salmond demanding support for independence, merely for a vote on it. Under PR there is a majoritarian argument against almost any controversial decision. So what do the Lib Dems fear? Instead they have exchanged responsibility without power for power without responsibility, and are retiring to carp from the backbenches. They will smoke potency but not inhale.

In Wales the party is in equal confusion. Confronted with the predicted scenario of backing a Labour-led coalition or going into a "rainbow coalition", it is undecided. The party leader, Mike German, declared at the weekend: "I am not going to engage in megaphone negotiations". He wants to keep his options open. But to whom do his options belong? Surely a democrat shares his options with his voters.

The party has duly split. German has been told to resign by one of his senior colleagues, form a coalition with Labour by another and not to do so by a third. There is no great policy at stake. There is certainly no prospect of stability. As the established church of old Labour crumbles across Wales, its nonconformist rivals are apeing their forebears. They are setting up feuding chapels in every corner of the Welsh political village.

Coalition, the natural consequence of PR, removes the outcome of an election from the hustings to the private deal of corridors, cabals and careerism. In the case of the Lib Dems, students of really bad government should read an account of the shortlived 1977 Lib-Lab pact. Again before the 1997 election, Paddy Ashdown and Roy Jenkins held secret meetings with Tony Blair on the shape of a coalition should parliament be hung. This included an offer by Blair of cabinet posts to Lib Dems. None of this selling the party down the river for top jobs was revealed to the electorate.

Lib Dems claim a bizarre interpretation of democracy, that the share of votes should be reflected in a share in power. This confuses quite different concepts: executive government and assembly representation. The first requires a coherent team, a declared programme and some mechanism to account for its delivery to the electorate. To this end, France and the US directly elect presidents, governors and mayors. They are checked by a second concept, that of a separately elected assembly, in which PR is both fair and just.

Forcing executive power to be shared with political rivals in a coalition makes it diluted, unstable and unaccountable. Indeed, the purer the proportionality the more unstable it tends to be, as in Israel. Power sharing rarely engenders harmony.

The invocation of "history" to hallow yesterday's fourth attempt at power sharing in Northern Ireland was naive. It cannot last. It suppresses opposition and pretends consensus. The new Stormont regime, its mouth stuffed with money, will never withstand a real delegation of political and fiscal power. Such coalitions seem to work only when, as with English local councils, there is no power to be shared.

It is a tragedy that in Scotland and Wales the executive is chosen from the parliament, as at Westminster, but from one composed by PR, thus virtually ensuring rolling coalitions. This was instead of the London option of a separate executive and assembly, which is the constitutional basis of devolved government almost everywhere. Scotland and Wales should have had directly elected first ministers, with proportionately elected assemblies to check them. This would have met the requirement for a strong government in Edinburgh and Cardiff and for proportional representation in the balancing parliament/assembly.

Instead we have Lib Dem members flying about like £10 notes thrown into the wind. They carry no content, no programme, no sense of direction. They merely confer on the holder a golden share to hire or fire the electoral blocks of Labour and nationalism.

There is no perfect form of democracy. But since cowardice and indecision are its besetting sins, a constitution that empowers a stable cabinet subject to an external check - a separately elected assembly - is preferable to one that internalises that check within a rolling coalition, where it is vulnerable to the whim of minority parties.

The Lib Dems are proving that they cannot work a system to which they have hitched their wagon for half a century. There is much talk that the next general election may yield a quirk rare under the first-past-the-post system of a hung parliament, with the Lib Dems again as king-makers. On the basis of 1977, 1997 and now 2007, it will mean not democracy but chaos. It is surely time for the Lib Dems to fold their tent and go.

Boing Boing 3-2

2007-05-14T01:42:00.001-07:00

Once again the mighty Baggies annihilated the dirty Wanderers on their home turf - it's becoming something of a habit.
Roll on Wednesday.

Blair the most successful post-war Prime Minister? Discuss.

2007-05-14T01:42:00.000-07:00

A long time since 1997 and it easy to get bogged down in the Iraq war, the erosion of civil liberties, and the hype around spin.

The PM is right though if you really think, remember 1997 the transformation in this country undeniable.

We have the strongest economy in Europe with the highest employment and lowest unemployment for a generation. The minimum wage has ensured that everybody gets a decent standard of living but it would be wrongThe NHS is massively improved, just visit your local hospital, waiting list for minor operations are down to 18weeeks from 18months and significantly less for major ops. our cities stand transformed and not just London but Swansea is having million of investment pumped into it.

Pensioners have never been so well off, Gay couples can essentially marry, fox hunting is banned, access to museums is free, school class sizes are down, nurses, doctors, teachers are better paid, we have some of the best maternity cover in Europe, Northern Ireland is at peace, crime is down and continuing to fall and much of this is down to Blair. - You will be missed.

I had a tear in my eye for this triumphant Blair speech..

2007-05-10T07:07:00.000-07:00

Transcript of Tony Blair MP's speech

Trimdon Labour Club, Sedgefield

Monday 10 May 2007

It's a great privilege to be here with you again today and to thank all of you too for such a wonderful and warm welcome.

I'd just like to say also if I might and just a special word of thanks to John Burton. John has been my agent here for many years now. He's still the best political adviser that I've got. He's...he's all the years I've known him he's been steadfast in his loyalty to me, to the Labour Party and to Sunderland Football Club, not necessarily in that order.

You know it's been my great good fortune at certain points in my life to meet exceptional people and he is one very exceptional person. And also if I may refer to another exceptional person who's my wife, friend and partner, Cherie.

And the children of course. Euan and Nicky and Katherine and Leo who make me never forget my failings...but give me great love and support.

So, I've come back here to Sedgefield, to my constituency, where my political journey began and where it's fitting that it should end. Today I announce my decision to stand down from the leadership of the Labour Party. The party will now select a new leader. On the 27th June I will tender my resignation from the office of Prime Minister to the Queen.

I've been Prime Minister of this country for just over 10 years. In this job, in the world of today, I think that's long enough, for me, but more especially for the country. And sometimes the only way you conquer the pool of power is to set it down.

I can only describe what I think has been done over these last ten years and perhaps more important why I tried to do it, and I never quite put it in this way before. I was born almost a decade after the Second World War. I was a young man in the social revolution of the 60s and the 70s. I reached political maturity as the cold war was ending and the world was going through a political and an economic and a technological revolution. And I looked at my own country. A great country with a great history and magnificent traditions, proud of its past. But strangely uncertain of its future. Uncertain about the future, almost old fashioned.

And all that was curiously symbolised you know in the politics of the time. You, you had choices, you stood for individual aspiration and getting on in life, or a social compassion of helping others. You were liberal in your values, or conservative. You believed in the power of the state or the efforts of the individual. Spending more money on the public realm was the answer, or it was the problem. And none of it made sense to me. It was twentieth century ideology in a world approaching a new millennium.

Of course people want the best for themselves and their families, but in an age when human capital is a nation's greatest asset, they also know it's just and sensible to extend opportunities, to develop the potential to succeed for all our people not just an elite at the top. And people today are open minded about race and sexuality. They're averse to prejudice. And yet deeply, rightly, conservative with a small 'c' when it comes to good manners, respect for others, treating people courteously.

They acknowledge the need for the state and the responsibility of the individual. And they know spending money on our public services matters and they know it's not enough. How they are run and organised matters too.

So 1997 was a moment for a new beginning. The sweeping away of all the detritus of the past. And expectations were so high. Too high probably. Too high in a way for either of us. And now in 2007 you could easily point to the challenges or these things that are wrong or the grievances that fester.

But go back to 1997. Think back, no really think back. Think about your own living standards then in May 1997 and now. Visit your local school - any of them round here or anywhere in modern Britain. Ask when you last had to wait a year or more on a hospital waiting list or heard of pensioners freezing to death in the winter unable to heat their homes.

There is only one government since 1945 that can say all of the following: more jobs, fewer unemployed, better health and education results, lower crime and economic growth in every quarter. Only one government. This one

But we don't need statistics. There's something bigger than what can be measured in waiting lists or GCSE results or the latest crime or jobs figures. Look at the British economy: at ease with globalisation. London, the world's financial centre. Visit ou8r great cities in this country and compare them with 10 years ago. No country attracts overseas investment like we do.
And think about the culture in Britain in the year 2007. I don't just mean our arts that are thriving - I mean our values. The minimum wage. Paid holidays as a right. Amongst the best maternity pay and leave today in Europe. Equality for gay people.

Or look at the debates that reverberate around the word today - the global movement to support Africa in its struggle against poverty. Climate change, then fight against terrorism. Britain is not a follower today - Britain is a leader.

It gets the essential characteristic of today's world. It's interdependent. This is a country today that fort all its faults, form all the myriad of unresolved problems and fresh challenges, it is a country comfortable in the twenty-first century. At home in its own skin, able not just to be proud of its past but also confident of its future. You know I don't think Northern Ireland would have been changed unless Britain had changed. Or the Olympics won if we were still the Britain of 1997.

And as for my own leadership, throughout these ten years where the predictable has competed with the utterly unpredicted, right at the outset one thing was clear to me. Without the Labour Party allowing me to lead it nothing could ever have been done. But I also knew my duty was to put the country first. That much was obvious to me when just under 13 years ago I became Labour's Leader.

What I had to learn, however, as Prime Minister was what putting the country first really meant. Decision-making is hard. You know everyone always says in politics: listen to the people. And the trouble is they don't always agree.

When you are in Opposition, you meet this group and they say 'why can't you do this?' And you say: 'it's really a good question. Thank you'. And they go away and say: 'it's great, he really listened'. And then you meet that other group and they say: 'why can't you do that?' And you say: 'it's a really good question. Thank you'. And they go away happy that you listened.

In Government you have to give the answer, not an answer, the answer. And, in time, you realise that putting the country first doesn't mean doing the right thing according to conventional wisdom or the prevailing consensus or the latest snapshot of opinion. It means doing what you genuinely believe to be right; that your duty as prime minister is to act according to your conviction. And all of that can get contorted so that people think that you act according to some messianic zeal. Doubt, hesitation, reflection, consideration, reconsideration; these are all the good companions of proper decision-making but the ultimate obligation is to decide.

And sometimes the decisions are accepted quite quickly; Bank of England independence was one, which gave us our economic stability. Sometimes, like tuition fees or trying to break up old, monolithic public services, the changes are deeply controversial, hellish, hard to do. But you can see we're moving with the grain of change around the world. And sometimes, like with Europe, where I believe Britain should keep its position strong, you know you are fighting opinion but you're kind of content in doing so. And sometimes, as with the completely unexpected, you are alone with your own instinct.

In Sierra Leone and to stop ethnic cleansing in Kosovo I took the decision to make our country one that intervened, that did not pass by or keep out of the thick of it. And then came the utterly unanticipated and dramatic September the 11th 2001 and the death of 3000 or more on the streets on New York. And I decided we should stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our oldest ally and I did so out of belief. And so Afghanistan and then Iraq, the latter bitterly controversial. And removing Saddam and his sons from power, as with removing the Taliban, was over with relative ease, but the blowback since from global terrorism and those elements that support it has been fierce and unrelenting and costly. And for many it simply isn't and can't be worth it. For me, I think we must see it through.
They the terrorists who threaten us here and around the world will never give up if we give up. It is a test of will and of belief. And we can't fail it.

So: some things I knew I would be dealing with. Some I thought I might be. Some never occurred to me, or to you, on that morning of 2 May 1997 when I came into Downing Street for the first time.

Great expectations not fulfilled in every part, for sure. Occasionally people say, as I said earlier, the expectations were too high, you should have lowered them. But, to be frank, I would not have wanted it any other way. I was, and remain, as a person and as a Prime Minister an optimist. Politics may be the art of the possible; but at least in life, give the impossible a go.
So of course the visions are painted in the colours of the rainbow; and the reality is sketched in the duller tones of black, white and grey.

But I ask you to accept one thing. Hand on heart, I did what I thought was right. I may have been wrong, that's your call. But believe one thing, if nothing else. I did what I thought was right for our country. And I came into office with high hopes for Britain's future and, you know, I leave it with even higher hopes for Britain's future. This is a country that can today be excited by the opportunities, not constantly fretful of the dangers.

And people say to me it's a tough job, not really. A tough life is the life led by the young, severely disabled children and their parents who visited me in Parliament the other week. Tough is the life my Dad had; his whole career cut short at the age of 40 by a stroke.

Actually, I've been very lucky and very blessed and this country is a blessed nation. The British are special. The world knows it; in our innermost thoughts we know it. This is the greatest nation on Earth.

So it has been an honour to serve it. I give my thanks to you the British people for the times that I have succeeded and my apologies to you for the times I've fallen short.
But good luck.

Tony you'll be missed more than the British public realise..

Britain is not a follower today but a leader.

2007-05-10T04:13:00.000-07:00

Blair is currently giving his fairwell speech after announcing his resignation.
What a speech; he is so right things have got so much better since '97.

It is with a real sadness I see him go.
I'll be posting his speech later today.

Winning is what counts.

2007-05-08T06:31:00.000-07:00

Following what has been the most difficult month in some time Andrew Davies successfully won his Swansea West seat - jubilation followed. More on the elecion tomorrow. Perhaps we'll have managed to form a government by then...

In the context of winners and winning I must just mention the 7-0 victory over Barnsley by West Brom.
Boing bloody boing!! We're coming for the yellow belly wolves side.

A night out on the tiles with Angus..

2007-04-29T05:41:00.000-07:00

Good of my mate Ian to come down and help with the campaigning for the election this Thursday, as the pressure mounts we're all beginning to feel the strain. However this entry is not about the harding working members of the labour party no this is about the booze tolerence of Mr Angus.

3.30pm we started with lunch and a pint followed by four more and then a nice meal. (both Wolves and west Brom won so there was no fighting)
This was until about 9.15pm when Ian started puffing and blowing like a knackered steam train.
He was then trying not to be sick as we walked to a taxi.
5 pints and by match of the day Ian was sound asleep on the sofa complaining sbout his stiff joints, the very time I was gearing up to go out clubbing...

He awoke at 9.15am this morning after 11+ hrs sleep feeling better - my grandad has more stamina.
Gone is the rugged fit, charasmatic young man i used to know instead he's been replaced by his father. 28 - going on 70 shame on you Mr Angus. Shame on you.
I'll have a hot water bottle and a pair of warm slippers for you next time....

Baggies Bounce out and 9 days of campaiging to go..

2007-04-24T11:07:00.000-07:00

A brief one today, lets to get it out the way. The Baggies last night were shocking, terrible, awful they do no deserve promotion!! Happy Ian?

Now onto the important stuff - 9 days to the election, I'm just shattered. We have finally finished stuffing and labelling 60,000 leaflets - best not to ask why we are doing this manually and not through printers.

Went to a hustings last night AD was exceptionally good but Peter May the Lib-Dem was horrendous, just awful like a poorly briefed 12 year old. Atrocious!! The last question about the economy and environmental impact he responded - I'm tired it's late, I don't know :-(
Poor poor Peter quit while you're ahead mate cos we're coming for you :-) and your (alleged) illegal activities.

Still the response on the doorstep is good the other political parties are looking desperate and nothing, nothing would give me greater satisfaction than to see Plaid slide to the third party in Wales.

When I'm asked why Welsh Labour - it's easy.

Free Prescriptions for all.

Free bus travel for all pensioners across Wales.

The lowest unemployment for a generation across Swansea and Wales.

Free school breakfasts for all primary school children.

Clear red water indeed (oh and wales is already no-smoking)
Beat that boys, beat that.

Wolves, humiliated and destroyed at home..

2007-04-03T02:16:00.000-07:00

Still busy in the whole election thang...

Just time to drop a massive thankyou to Wolves for there humiliating, horrendouse display at the weekend.....

Wolves 0
Southhampton 6

Brilliant... and West brom bounced back to a superb victory :-)

Take it away Mick...

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy:
"There is not a lot we can do, other than take this on the chin. I think 'stunned' sums up my reaction.
"In the early part of the game we were bang at it but gave away the first too easily, then there was an own goal and their third was a world-class finish.
"In the second half we tried to get on as many forwards as we could - it might as well be 6-0 as 3-0." - yea right Mick

Whooo!!
Oh and the Baggies won did i mention that?

Baggies are fading fast..

2007-03-16T05:12:00.000-07:00

I've been very remiss of late in updating my blog - a little thing called an election is a aproaching at an incredible pace, only 7 weeks to go. Argh it's intense.

Well what can I say about the baggies they haven't won in 4, Curtis Davies is out for the rest of the season their aquad is not big enough - the chairman knew this in January and should have done something about it. I can live with WBA not going up, however if Wolves are successful that's another story.

Below is a link to 7 mins fo Spidy 3 - looks awsome ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LKsdU_nKO8

Baggies Blues

2007-02-28T05:16:00.000-08:00

They were terrific last night but unfotunatley penalties were too much to bear and the baggies went out of the F.A. cup once again, to add salt in the wound Blues movesd above us in the Championship. Grrrr!!!

Still at least some of our key players were rested in readiness for the might of an on form Sunderland for Saturday we have to keep up our current form.

The results

2007-02-28T04:59:00.000-08:00

Best picture: The Departed (0/1) I said the Queen

Best director: Martin Scorsese, The Departed (1/2)

Best actor: Forest Whitaker, The Last King of Scotland (2/3)

Best actress: Helen Mirren, The Queen (3/4)

Best supporting actor: Alan Arkin, (3/5) I said Eddie M

Best supporting actress: Jennifer Hudson (4/6) knew it!

Best foreign language film Das Leben der Anderen (aka The Lives of Others), (4/7)

Best animated feature film: Happy Feet (5/8)

Best adapted screenplay: The Departed (5/9)

Best original screenplay: Little Miss Sunshine (6/9) knew it would have a consolation Oscar.

Achievement in Cinematography: Pans Labyrinth (7/10)

7 out of 10 - Not a bad score at all.

The Millionairess, the Teenager, the Divorcee, the Lapdancer and the friend.

2007-02-20T01:34:00.000-08:00

You couldn't make this up my mate RB is wooing so many women that he is literally juggling his own life to accomodate.
He literally changes his persona with every girl / boy? friend he has.
He reminds me of old dog Angus when he was at University, although Red is a fair bit older and should know better. You have to amire the sheer audacity.

Ian and I might just take him out for a beer when he next comes to Swansea, although I'm sure my better half would not approve - might give me some ideas.

Election Fever

2007-02-19T08:22:00.000-08:00

Ok I knew that it would be busy and tough on the countdown to the election but this is incredible - the silly season is in full swing.

Canvassing, leafletting, interviews, visits, 7 day work weeks, it's started.. oh boy.

Reaction on the doorstep had been good, the AD brand is strong and Welsh Labour had bought in some strong successful policies, free buses for the elderly and disabled, free prescriptions from april 1st for all, free school breakfasts.

I could go on but I won't bore anybody...

Valentines came and went with the obvious juggling that occurs at that time of year. I know RB had much the same problem.

When I have time I'll do a quick run down of the Bafta's - everyting went per my Oscar predictions witht the exception of Eddie murphy losing best supporting nod and Greengrass receiving the director nod.

Finally saw Hot Fuzz at the weekend (a review we'll be appearing here shortly) with Nick - most enjoyable movie in ages.

Off to get ready for welsh party conference in North Wales ...... can hardly wait.

Francis Urquhurt... "You may think that but I couldn't possibly comment" - R.I.P.

2007-02-09T04:51:00.000-08:00

Genuinely one of my fave actors and shows, you will be missed Ian..

Actor Ian Richardson, best known for his role as scheming chief whip Francis Urquhart in the BBC's House of Cards, has died suddenly at the age of 72.
The stage and TV veteran had not been ill and had been due to begin filming an episode of ITV's Midsomer Murders next week, according to his agent.
Born in Edinburgh in 1934, he was an honorary associate artist of the Royal Shakespeare Company.
He recently appeared in the BBC's Bleak House and Sky One's Hogfather.
Famous for his sonorous voice and stern demeanour, he was made a CBE in 1989.
You may very well think that; I couldn't possibly comment
Francis Urquhart's famous one-liner from House of Cards Richardson won a Bafta award for his role as the Machiavellian Urquhart in 1990's House of Cards.
He went on to be nominated for both its sequels, To Play the King and The Final Cut, as well as the 1992 drama An Ungentlemanly Act.
Other TV roles included Sherlock Holmes, Lord Groan in Gormenghast and Sir Godber Evans in Porterhouse Blue.
His many films included Terry Gilliam's Brazil and Jane Austen biopic Becoming Jane, due for release next month.
But it is for the deliciously devious Urquhart - a character he based on Richard III - that he remains best known.

He was recently seen as the Chancellor in the BBC's Bleak HouseThe Tory politician's famous one-liner - "You may very well think that; I couldn't possibly comment" - has since passed into Westminster parlance.
"I'm grateful for the part as it put me on the map," he said in 2005.
"The only trouble is getting rid of it. So many people seem to think that I am like him,"
Richardson died in his sleep at his London home in the early hours of Friday morning.
He is survived by his wife, Maroussia, and two sons.
Author Michael Dobbs, who wrote the novel on which House of Cards was based, described him as "a superb actor" who was "very careful not to let the fame get in the way of his personal integrity".

Miserable Failure

2007-02-08T06:22:00.000-08:00

Type the words "miserable failure" into Google's search engine and it will take you directly to the White House's biography of George W. Bush - brilliant

Boyfriends and Dreamgirls

2007-02-05T06:31:00.000-08:00

Thursday was a great night out with the gang for C's 30th birthday. The bindy creature was also present looking as awful as ever, still much fun had by all.

An interesting weekend that began with the Golden wedding of Gordon Carrithers and culminated in a musical extravaganza.

We launched AD's campaign Saturday and had a good response in Townhill, this was followed by an enjoyable English Rugby match. Although I fear the headlines Jonny B God are overestimating Wilko's presence in the match.

The evening was spent in the delightful company of CO who whilst proving once again he is charming, delightful company and a delightful companion.
Nevertheless he does where the most God awful clothes that I ahve ever seen - named goods they maybe but Primark or Officers Club they appear. Still we had a rather enjoyable night even if after 3 pints of stella he feels dizzy and sick.

Yesterday following the Welsh defeat and they played well there is no doubt about that, I watched Dreamgirls.

A cracking little musical with Oscar worthy performances from Eddie "little richard" Murphy and former American Idol finalist Jennifer hudson.
It was fun, energetic and enteraining. I predicted the above 2 would receive Oscar nods and now I'm certain.
The story follows a trio known as the Dreams (read that Supremes) throught their motown roots into their disco diva final days. Beyonce does an admirable job as the Diana Ross character but really the supporting turn from Jennifer Hudson is nothing short of incredible....she'll go far.

and finally... is anybody else suspicious of why Tony was in suffolk last week with a couple of sickly turkeys? - and I don't mean Reid and Brown

The Oscars ... my Predictions

2007-01-30T06:33:00.000-08:00

Feb 25th is the 79th Annual Oscar ceremony. As a bit of a film pundit I'm making my predictions before the lobbying begins for individual movies. Shame Rocky Balboa wasn't in the best picture. "It's not how hard you hit but how hard you can get hit" - line of the year in any movie.

The Crucial List Of Nominations:

Best Picture:
Babel
The Departed
Letters From Iwo Jima
Little Miss Sunshine
The Queen - It shouldn't but it will (please let it be Ms Sunshine)

Best Supporting Actress
Rinko Kikuchi - Babel
Cate Blanchett – Notes on a Scandal
Abigail Breslin – Little Miss Sunshine
Jennifer Hudson – Dreamgirls - Oscar loves musicals it worked for Zeta Jones
Adriana Barraza - Babel

Best Supporting Actor
Alan Arkin – Little Miss Sunshine
Jackie Earle Haley - Little Children
Djimon Hounsou – Blood Diamond
Eddie Murphy – Dreamgirls - Eddie it's going to be Eddie
Mark Wahlberg – The Departed

Best Actress
Penelope Cruz – Volver
Judi Dench – Notes on a Scandal
Helen Mirren – The Queen - I think this is as certain as you can get.
Meryl Streep – The Devil Wears Prada
Kate Winslet – Little Children

Best Actor
Leonardo DiCaprio – Blood Diamond
Ryan Gosling – Half Nelson
Peter O’Toole – Venus
Will Smith – The Pursuit of Happyness
Forest Whitaker – Last King of Scotland - Legendary performance

Best Director
Alejandro González Iñárritu – Babel
Martin Scorsese – The Departed - If he doesn't win it he never will, Marty! Marty!
Clint Eastwood – Letters From Iwo jima
Stephen Frears - The Queen
Paul Greengrass – United 93

Best Original Screenplay
Babel
Letters From Iwo Jima
Little Miss Sunshine Great movie worth a consolation Oscar?
Pan’s Labyrinth
The Queen

Best Adapted Screenplay
Borat
Children of Men See above
The Departed
Little Children
Notes on a Scandal

Best Animated Film
Cars
Happy Feet It's got singing and tapdancing penguins
Monster House

Achievement In Cinematography
The Black Dahlia
Children Of Men
The Illusionist
Pan's Labyrinth Beautiful simply beautiful
The Prestige

Foreign Language Film Of The Year
After The Wedding Days Of Glory
The Lives Of Others
Pan's Labyrinth A masterpiece
Water

Death, interns and super Casino's

2007-01-30T05:51:00.000-08:00

I must make mention of the passing of the former MEP David Morris (Dai), I won't pretend I liked him, indeed I opposed most of his motions and views that he bought to the GC.
We did agree on one thing though and that was getting young members into the party.
Since his passing I've heard a lot of really positive things that Dai has contributed to the party over the years that I was totally unaware of, that was my fault and I regret not getting to know the man better.

Interns what can you say they're trouble, I appreciate the warmth I have received from the Conservative intern Stephen Spaulding. I don't agree with nearly all his views he is a scary Neo Con. Nuke iran? yup, Nuke Iraq? Yup, follow Dubya anywhere? Yup?
Scary.. still nice lad :-) On social legislation I seem to be winning him around.
Had drunken fun last night with the interns, htey're a good laugh :-)

It's been announced today that Swansea is to be allocated a mini-super casino. I'm against this in principle Swansea already has 2 casinos we certainly don't need a third regardless of the limited jobs it will create. This the wrong kind of investment for Swansea.

A bright Afternoon in Wolverhampton

2007-01-29T03:34:00.000-08:00

What can I say when two age old rivals meet each other in a tense cup game...
Yesterday I was recieving messages that said
"You dirty sandwell boys are going down. The city is bouncing, there could be trouble today"

Followed quickly by:
"My god this is crazy. Cmon!"

Yet strangely after the third West Brom goal went in past the flat, insipid defence (I'm being kind) the text message I recieved read:
"Don't even talk to me".

Another West Brom game against the Wolves another victory, I would like to say it was fair fight, a good game, evenly matched with rare displays of skill on both sides.

It wasn't ... West Brom destroyed them.
Wolves were poor, beleagured, bitter, weak, slow, boring, inadequate and outclassed.

It also equalled our widest margin of victory in a quarter of a century. Sweet!!

Still at least the home fans had a pie and pint courtesy of jez Moxey.

I cannot begin to tell you how smug I am.

A matter of Principle

2007-01-24T05:23:00.000-08:00

I'm quite as avid reader of Nick Robinson's Blog and I often disagree with his comments but I have to highlight his recent entry and emphasises what is incresingly beocming clear that Blair is allowing religious opinion influence a basic call for equality, I'm becoming increasingly disappointed in Tony.

The Church versus the State, gay rights versus religious rights, Tony Blair versus most of his Cabinet... The row about adoption is a combustible mix. The curiosity is that it's been coming for months and that it's been allowed to reach this pitch.

When the Equality Bill was first being drafted the prime minister proposed an exemption for Catholic adoption agencies. The minister then in charge, Alan Johnson, resisted. A reshuffle led Ruth Kelly to take over control of the Bill. She joined Tony Blair in pushing for an exemption. Johnson now found himself responsible for adoption agencies as education secretary. He continued to resist. He was joined by Lord Falconer who - as the minister in charge of the law - argued that you simply couldn't have a law banning discrimination which allowed some people to go ahead and discriminate.

Peter Hain, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, also joined in as he was facing down protests in the Lords and Northern Ireland over their own version of anti-discrimination legislation (he has not, it should be noted, yet tabled specific proposals for adoption agencies). Others, including Jack Straw, joined the fray. Many around the Cabinet table see this as a core test of principle. Just as there could be no exceptions to laws banning signs declaring "no blacks" (or, indeed, Catholics) they argue that there should be no tolerance of policies which declare "no gays".

Downing Street now says the PM is looking for a "way through". There is no legal "way through" which I can see which does not risk either a Catholic or a Cabinet revolt. The government either has a ban on anti-gay discrimination or it does not.
So, what is he up to?

Ruth Kelly is looking for a practical way to avoid the loss of adoption services on April 6th when the Equality Act comes into force. She believes that the Catholic adoption agencies want to find a way through and are desperate to stay in business finding homes for some of the hardest children to place (although they only handle 4% of new cases, I'm told that they take on around a third of all the toughest cases). She is examining a long transition period to allow Catholic adoption agencies to change policy, merge with other non-Catholic agencies or to close in an orderly way.

What's striking about this row is how it is driven by a clash of principles and not by practical problems. There are relatively few gay adopters and only a tiny number choose to go to Catholic agencies (more, of course, might come forward if they were confident that they wouldn't be discriminated against).
However, both sides are determined to assert their rights and to go straight to the courts to test them. What's more, a newly-assertive church is, I sense, planning other stands to defend its rights.

The tension between religious views and political principles is embodied in the prime minister himself. It is a sign of how serious this argument has become that he is being condemned by some for putting his own beliefs and those of his Catholic wife, Cherie, before Labour's commitment to equality.

It's a sign too - yet another one - that he no longer provokes fear or loyalty in a growing section of his party.

Nick Robinson

Board Free - The Mighty Dave Cornthwaite

2007-01-23T04:32:00.000-08:00

Skateboarder sets epic Oz record

Dave Cornthwaite reached the finishing line after almost five months A man from Swansea has skateboarded his way into the record books by rolling his way right across Australia.
Dave Cornthwaite, 27, reached Brisbane the end of his marathon 3,638 miles (5,820 km) foot-propelled trek in Brisbane early on Monday.

In five months boarding across the continent, Cornthwaite has become an unlikely celebrity Down Under.

After crossing the finishing line to a rapturous reception, he said he was "elated but exhausted".
He said: "I've not really had any time to myself to really realise what has happened.
Cornthwaite only started skateboarding in March 2005, commuting to his job as a graphic designer in Swansea.

"It's an unusual idea but the Australian people see this normal bloke like me pushing myself to the limit for good causes "

But the craze soon got to him and he gave up his nine-to-five job to raise money for charity.
He first skateboarded the length of Britain - from Land's End to John O'Groats
On Monday more than 200 well wishers the British High Commissioner to welcome Cornthwaite on his battered skateboard Elsa across the finishing line.

His Australian marathon started out in Perth, Western Australia on 30 August last year.
Since then he has skateboarded through Adelaide, along the scenic Great Ocean Road, through Melbourne in Victoria and Sydney in New South Wales to finally reach Brisbane.

Along the way he has smashed the record for a skateboard journey, set in 2003 by an American who skated 4,830 km.
During his Australian journey Cornthwaite has notched up an average of 40 miles (60 km) a day and so far raised £16,400 for three children's charities.
He has set up a website charting his trek and aims to reach £50,000 eventually.

Cornthwaite skateboarded an average of 40 miles (60 km) each day.

During his voyage he has become so well known with the Australian public that even coach travellers would wave when they overtook him and his board.

After crossing the finishing line, he said; "Since the end of August I've just been so focused on reaching Brisbane and now I've finally done it, I can't quite believe it.
"Since I started in Perth it really has snowballed as I travelled across the country, and it could only have happened in Australia.

"It's an unusual idea but the Australian people see this normal bloke like me pushing myself to the limit for good causes and they've run with it."

The skateboard said crossing Australia's vast Nullarbor Plain was one of his greatest challenges.
He said he was now looking forward to the day he was able to walk without the pain of "more blisters than most people get in their lifetime."

Cornthwaite now plans to write a book but he also said Australia will not be his last adventure.
"The website is called Boardfree , so whether that means a surfboard, snowboard or perhaps back on a skateboard, I don't know."

Go Dave!!!

Everyone loves an Intern

2007-01-23T04:08:00.000-08:00

The interns are back in the Assembly and they're a good bunch. my particular fave is a guy called Stephen, the most right wing repressed, outrageously shocking politicio I've met - yum!
Seriously though he has some seriously hard core views, indeed his genuine belief is that Iraq and Iran should be Nuked.

Scary but he has a level of charisma that is appealing that's what's really frightening.
We won't even go into his views on immigration, and the Democrats.

I see Blair is wobbling on the gay legislation issue allowing possible opts outs for religious groups.

Do that Tony and you're done in my eyes.

Brown and the BB debacle

2007-01-18T08:26:00.000-08:00

Earlier in the week Gordon (I want to be PM so bad it hurts) Brown sets off to India, he has a shopping list of issues: meet Manmohan Singh, discuss improving relations with Pakistan, trade talks, oh and Celebrity Big Brother!?!

It would be funny if not so sad and serious - I'm not sure what irritates and concerns me more. The fact that their is clear ignorance, racist undercurrents, on a primetime T.V. show that is watched by millions. That the show is getting worldwide publicity, or that Channel 4 are rubbing their hands with glee at increased ratings. Argh!!

If it were up to me I'd have the show removed permanently, trash T.V. at it's worst.

I feel sorry for Brown his big chance to shine abroad and they are burning effigies of Channel 4 producers in the streets. At least when they were doing that with Blair it was over an ill-faited invasion.

The PM must be grinning from ear to ear at Brown's predicament, in fact I half expect Tony to come bursting out of the fat suit of Jade Goody.... maybe then I'd tune in.

Great new for Wales with the creation of over 5,000 jobs

2007-01-17T04:14:00.000-08:00

Well it's not every day that I can honestly say that Wales has something to really, really shout about but as I write this Des Browne is about to announce that St Athan has won the contract for the Defence Academy. I cannot over emphasise how big this is....

It will create in the region of 5,000 high skilled high paid jobs, it will be the single biggest investment ever in Wales and create in the region of £58million per year for the local economy.
In scale it's about twice the size of the Olympix London bid.

I also have to acknowledge that my boss AD and his department are responsible for delivering the project. congratualtions all around.

An amazing achievement.

If the neocons think 24 is working for them, they don't know Jack.

2007-01-16T05:33:00.000-08:00

A great article from Time about Jack Bauer and the series 24 which is often ctiticised for being republican in nature (despite the fact they've had a black President and an evil Republican President).
One of the best television shows anywhere and will be looked upon in decades hence as genre defining.

Jack's about to have another very bad day....

The Evolution of Jack Bauer
By James Poniewozik

Last June in Washington, the conservative HeritageÂ Foundation held a forum on terrorism with a panel of august authorities. There was Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff. There was a pair of think-tank terrorism experts. And naturally, there were Chloe, Tony and the evil President from 24.

The panel--"24 and America's Image in Fighting Terrorism: Fact, Fiction or Does It Matter?"--was not exactly Foreign Affairs journal material. Moderator Rush Limbaugh planted a full-on mouth kiss on actress Mary Lynn Rajskub (a.k.a. tech geek Chloe), and actors and producers took softball questions as audience members cheered what Limbaugh called the show's "pro-America" stance. (Among the crowd were pundit Laura Ingraham and Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.)
The weird spectacle put a point on a raging question in pop culture: Is 24 just a TV show or right-wing propaganda? Or, to turn Jack Bauer's frequent refrain on him: Who are you working for?

Certainly 24, which debuted just weeks after 9/11 and returns Jan. 14, comes as close as anything has to being the Official Cultural Product of the War on Terrorism.

Co-creator Joel Surnow is a rare Hollywood Republican, and John McCain has done a cameo. Dick Cheney is a big fan too, and you can understand the Administration's wanting to associate itself with Bauer's badass competence. (He nabs nuclear masterminds; we get Jose Padilla.) Most damningly to critics on the left, Bauer's means of gathering intel (grab terrorist's finger, snap, repeat) make 24 a weekly rationalization of the "ticking time bomb" defense of torture.
So is 24 a conservative show?

Yes, in the sense that the thriller is a conservative genre.
Ticking time bombs and pure-evil bad guys make for exciting TV. Working patiently to improve America's image in the Muslim world--not so much. (Maybe Aaron Sorkin could spice it up with an office romance and lots of walk-and-talks.) Muddy a terrorism thriller with liberal concern over root causes and you get Syriana, whose plot audiences couldn't follow with a GPS device. "The politics of the show," says executive producer Howard Gordon (a registered Democrat), "are narrative politics."

But beyond that, things get more complicated. As the war has dragged on and become less black-and-white, so has 24. In 2003 it featured a conspiracy to provoke a Middle East invasion using bogus WMD evidence. (Yellowcake, anyone?) Last year's villain was the President, who had his predecessor assassinated. In the new season, a string of suicide bombings has led, chillingly, to federal "detention centers" for Muslims, much like in the liberal pre-9/11 movie The Siege.

Then there's Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland), who has seen his wife killed, executed an innocent man to stop an attack, tortured people (sometimes mistakenly), been tortured and spent two years in a Chinese prison. Unlike James Bond, who just gets younger and tougher, by the new season Bauer is tired, disillusioned and wondering how much longer he can fight the Long War. His scars are not only physical; his work has cost him relationships and perhaps some part of his humanity. He has been changed and damaged by every compromise he has had to make. By extension, he forces us to ask if we have too.

He keeps fighting, of course (he has 24 episodes to fill), but for people, not politics. 24's ideology--Jack Bauerism, if you will--is not so much in between left and right as it is outside them, impatient with both A.C.L.U. niceties and Bushian moral absolutes.

This season, Bauer allies with Hamri al-Assad, a (putatively) reformed terrorist leader, to stop an attack. He thus displays a better grasp of realpolitik than has the Bush Administration, which resisted the Iraq Study Group's recommendation to work with Iran and Syria. A fellow agent asks Bauer if it matters that al-Assad has murdered hundreds of people. "I don't know what means anything anymore," he answers. "The playing field has changed."

That playing field can change again, and probably will. On 24, there are a few very good people, a few very bad ones and in between, a lot of question marks who can upend the plot (and the political analogies).

That may be the biggest lesson of 24 in the Iraq era: don't stubbornly hang on to your preconceptions when the facts on the ground change. Undoubtedly, Bauer will continue to give liberals and libertarians conniptions before his latest day is over.

But if conservatives and neocons think 24 is working for them, they don't know Jack.

Pan's Labyrinth a review...

2007-01-15T07:16:00.000-08:00

On Saturday following a return to Birmingham I saw the film Pan's Labyrinth, recommended to me by a number of people here's my review...

In the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War, young Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) travels with her pregnant mother (Ariadna Gil) to stay with her new stepfather Captain Vidal (Sergi López). As Vidal hunts diehard anti-fascist rebels, Ofelia discovers a magical labyrinth in the forest and is given a series of tasks by mysterious faun Pan (Doug Jones)...

A young girl draws a magic chalk door on her bedroom wall and pushes it open. She steps into a banquet hall, where a slumbering monster sits at a table loaded with food. The Pale Man (for that is his name)doesn’t notice her; his deformed, domed head has no eyes, just a bloody mouth and two gaping nostrils. The little girl approaches, terrified but brave. Forgetting every warning, she steals a morsel of food. The Pale Man jerks awake, picking up his eyeballs from the plate in front of him. He inserts the peepers into the palms of his hands and chases her through the corridors...

Guillermo del Toro has created his masterpiece of cinema, Grimm for grown-ups, even us big lugs need bedtime stories..

The film is a disturbing mature movie of two distinct parts - a fantasy consisiting of truly evil, monsters, bewitched trees, repulsive toads and fairies and a brutal depiction of the burning embers of the Spanish Civil War.

Imagine Return to Oz mixed with Alice in Wonderland, spinkled effortlessly with Tim Burton and David Cronenberg. The director known for more recent Hollywood fare as Hellboy, Blade 2 and Mimc has returned to his passion, the Spanish civil War first encapsulated in his original spanish movie the Devil's Backbone.

Viewing the bloody aftermath of the war from the point of the child heroine Ofelia , del Toro splits the action between reality and fantasy.
When she is lead to an abandoned labyrinth hidden in the forest, by a cricket turned fairy.Ofelia finds a faun, Pan, who tells her she’s a princess from the underworld. Like any self-respecting fawn (hello Mr Tumnus I'm talking about you), he can’t be completely trusted – his attentions laced with threat and menace.
Ofelia accepts the series of tasks he gives her to complete.

The fantasy world created is simply astonishing and you're left at the end with a sense of bewilderment much like the fantasy world Ofelia inhabits. Every moment of the fantasy world is dripping with vivid, intoxicating colour, slime and a rich depth that is unsurpassed.

Pan’s world is a dark malevolent fantasy, but it’s nowhere near as dark and disturbing as the world Ofelia’s trying to escape from.

There, her stepfather Captain Vidal rules his military post with vicious violence as he tries to stamp out left-wing guerrillas hiding in the woods. The irony being that in a world construted of monsters, creatures and predators, the true monster is set firmly in reality a fascist ogre stamping on anyone or anything in his way.
You are left with the question who is the most vile of creatures? Which world is the most horrific? Spain under the guise of fascism, or the underworld manipulated by the guise of Pan?

The FX and fantasy are superb but it's the politcal conscience of the real world as seen by Ofelia that is the central conceit.

I was expecting more Labyrinth and less historical dissection but on reflection the film's strength lies in the evil that men do.

Stark, disturbing a fairy tail for adults with a delight in the macabre. Its provocative vision of the monsters of fascism and a childhood imagination is chilling.
While not quite essential viewing it's close and lingers in the mnd longer than most.

Pan's Labyrinth Trailer

Gay rights laws challenge fails

2007-01-10T02:59:00.000-08:00

An update on my previous post - something I'm sure won't be credited to the Government but a good victory all the same...

The rules force a choice between church and state, peers heardNew rules outlawing businesses from discriminating against homosexuals have been upheld in the House of Lords.
A challenge led by Lord Morrow of the Democratic Unionist Party failed by a margin of three to one.
He had argued that the rules forced people to choose between obedience to God and obedience to the state.
But Northern Ireland Minister Lord Rooker said it would be "quite wrong" to elevate the rights of one group above those of another.
Demonstration
Lord Morrow's call to annul the regulations, which have applied in Northern Ireland since 1 January and are due to be implemented across the UK by April, was defeated by 199 votes to 68.
The Sexual Orientation Regulations have been criticised by some religious groups who say people will not be allowed to act according to faith.
Christians...cannot and must not be forced to actively condone and promote sexual practices which the Bible teaches are wrong

Hundreds of Christians demonstrated outside Parliament, but gay rights groups say no mainstream religious groups supported the protest.
Critics say the new rules mean hotels cannot refuse to provide rooms for gay couples, and religious groups would be obliged to rent out halls for "gay wedding" receptions.
They also argue a Christian, Jewish or Muslim printer could be forced to print a flyer for a gay night club, or a teacher would have to break the law to promote heterosexual marriage over homosexual civil partnership.

Tory peers were allowed a free vote but the Liberal Democrats supported the government, whose Labour supporters were whipped to attend and vote.

Lord Morrow told peers: "The regulations make it possible for homosexual activists to sue people who disagree with a homosexual lifestyle because of their religious beliefs.

"They require religious organisations to choose between obedience to God and obedience to the state."

He added: "The regulations threaten to override the conscience and free speech of Christians and others who object to homosexual practice."
Conservative Lord Tebbit said: "Black is about being. Sexual orientation is about being.
"And we would not wish to discriminate against people for being black nor on grounds of their sexual orientation.

"The concerns which are being expressed this evening are primarily about sodomy rather than about sexual orientation - that is doing, not being."
But Labour's Lord Smith said: "I am somewhat puzzled by the arguments that have been advanced.

"It seems to me, in my simplistic way, that what they (the opponents of the regulations) are arguing for is quite simply the right to discriminate and the right to harass.
"And those arguments are being made in the name of Christianity."

One of those taking part in the demonstration outside Parliament, Ralph Brockman, a Baptist from London said: "I'm concerned that the Biblical laws should be upheld.
"People may have different orientations but we need to have laws that will fence in our behaviour, as it were."
John Studley, a Christian from London, said: "This government is placing sexual rights over religious rights."
But Neil Partridge, a gay Christian man, said: "Everyone has a right to their faith but is it fair to say to someone 'you can't share a bed in our hotel because you are gay'.
"A hotel is a business, surely. I just think some of the people at this demonstration need to listen to the other side of the argument."

He added: "Recently British Airways was criticised for not allowing staff to wear crucifixes and now some Christians are advocating this policy. I think the recent law is a good thing."
Supporters of the regulations say they simply extend to gay people the same rights that had been granted to people of different faiths in 1998.

Ruth Kelly from victim to villain??

2007-01-10T02:30:00.000-08:00

I was all ready yesterday to ride to the defence of Ruth Kelly over Dyslexogate and slam some Labour MPs for their approach and attack on Ms Kelly. My views on private education are well known amongst my friends and it would be hypocritical of me to have any other in light of my education.

I will repeat the above comment I was going to defend Ruth Kelly, pah!! must have been having an off day. It has been her delaying tactics on the sexual orientation regulation which mean it might not get approval form the Commons and lords in time for the planned introduction on April 6th. The reason given is the volume of responses to a consultaion form last March, she
has just three months to publish her department’s formal response, release the regulations in draft form and secure the approval from the Commons and Lords in time - responses to consultation I know what that is code for.

The Beeb ran with this story yesterday and for once I completely agree with former MP Peter Tatchell...

"The Sexual Orientation Regulations have been criticised by some religious groups who say people will not be allowed to act according to faith.

They are planning a rally later outside Parliament when a peer makes an attempt in the Lords to scrap the regulations.
But gay rights group Outrage's Peter Tatchell said no mainstream religious groups were supporting the protest.

The regulations came into force in Northern Ireland on 1 January and the government is planning to introduce them in England, Wales and Scotland, by April.

Critics say the regulations would mean hotels could not refuse to provide rooms for gay couples, and religious groups would be obliged to rent out halls for gay wedding receptions.
Some also argue a Christian, Jewish or Muslim printer could be legally forced to print a flyer for a gay night club, or a teacher would have to break the law to promote heterosexual marriage over homosexual civil partnership.

Christians...cannot and must not be forced to actively condone and promote sexual practices which the Bible teaches are wrong Thomas Cordrey Lawyer's Christian Fellowship
Democratic Unionist peer Lord Morrow has put forward a motion calling for the Northern Ireland regulations to be annulled and amended - to be discussed in an hour-long "dinner debate" in the House of Lords on Tuesday evening.

Barrister Thomas Cordrey, from the Lawyers' Christian Fellowship, which has organised the rally, denied the group was homophobic, saying the regulations did not "strike the correct balance".

He said: "Christians have no desire to discriminate unjustly on the grounds of sexual orientation, but they cannot and must not be forced to actively condone and promote sexual practices which the Bible teaches are wrong."
He is backed by Bishop Michael Reid, founder of the Christian Congress for Traditional Values, who said discrimination was wrong, but so was discrimination against Christian values.
Religious freedom

But supporters of the regulations say they simply extend to gay people the same rights that had been granted to people of different faiths in 1998.
Labour MP and Equality Act campaigner Angela Eagle told the BBC's Today programme: "We're not curtailing religious freedom, people can argue against the practice of homosexuality if they must.

"What this law does is say it's wrong to put a sign outside a pub or a hotel saying 'no gays'...That is right, proper and moderate."
Some of the things that we've come across are where schools aren't tackling homophobic bullying properly, where people have been struck off by GPs because they were gay. Alan Wardle Stonewall

The National Secular Society accused religious groups of "gross exaggeration" to get the law annulled. President Terry Sanderson said: "Parliament must not pander to their bigotry."

And Alan Wardle, spokesman for gay rights group Stonewall, told BBC News: "Some of the things that we've come across are where schools aren't tackling homophobic bullying properly, where people have been struck off by GPs because they were gay.

"These laws will prevent that kind of discrimination - not some of the lurid things that have been said about forcing people to promote a gay lifestyle."
In a statement on Tuesday, the Board of Deputies of British Jews distanced itself from the protest, saying the regulations would "provide a further platform to combat discrimination in this country".

But it said it hoped the regulations would be "framed in such a way that allows for both the effective combating of discrimination in the provision of goods and services whilst respecting freedom of conscience and conviction".

A High Court judicial review against the regulations in Northern Ireland, brought by the Christian Institute, will be heard in March."

I'm surprised Ms Kelly was not outside Parliament herself...

Superheroes and homosexuals..

2007-01-09T03:06:00.000-08:00

Interesting insight into how the media and specifically comic books are dealing with developing social culture.. below is an interview with Chuck Dixon a comic book writer who had written nearly every major superhero and thn some:

Beginning in March, Wildstorm Universe mainstays Midnighter (The Authority) and Grifter (Wildcats) team-up (or is that face-off, or both?) in the six-issue limited series Grifter and Midnighter, by writer Chuck Dixon and artist Ryan Benjamin.

Newsarama recently chatted with Dixon to discuss the series, and the action-packed adventure he has planned, as well as his views on his starring characters. Dixon’s attachment to this series has raised some eyebrows in fandom because of public comments the writer made in the past regarding the portrayal of homosexual characters in comic books, and the fact one-half of this series’ main cast is in fact, homosexual. Dixon handles the topic head on, as well as discusses Midnighter’s “left wing rage”.

What can you tell us about this adventure?Chuck Dixon: First off, it’s a crossover and, to my way of thinking, has to have certain elements that readers expect in a crossover. Then it has to exceed those expectations. The first issue establishes who Midnighter and Grifter are for those who are fans of either or neither and sets up the adventure to follow.

NRAMA: Would you consider this more of a team-up? A face-off? Or an old school face-off leads to a team-up?

CD: I’m not gonna blow smoke here. It’s old school. Both of these characters have a long history of expedient violence and I’m not going to hold back on showing them go mano y mano when they first meet. Given the twisted and Byzantine backgrounds for these two it’s no kind of contrivance to have them start out at odds. And Midnighter did kill Grifter once. So there’s some payback involved.

NRAMA: Give us a short description of each of your main characters here? What about them appeals to Chuck Dixon and led to you thinking of teaming them or putting them together in this story?

CD: Grifter is a covert operative for a shadowy intelligence organization known as IO as well as being a founding member of WildCATS. He’s got all kinds of wild psi-powers from when he was purposely exposed to DNA-altering elements back when he was a part of the para-military unit Team Seven. He’s a soldier who often questions his orders.Midnighter is a tough, street-level brawler with astounding healing powers and extra-human levels of physical strength along with other abilities that make him a dangerous fighter. He’s a former StormWatch member and now forms part of the core of The Authority. He’s the significant other of Apollo, a god-like super-being who also belongs to the same team.

The best way to describe his personality is that he embodies left wing rage.

NRAMA: Ooh, that begs for some follow-up… can you give us more insight into that particular element of his character? What is “left-wing rage”?

CD: That’s my read on the character. There are scenes in his own book and in Authority where he’s seen murdering right wing caricatures. He also seems very frustrated with social injustice. But rather than hold a sign in front of an embassy or organize a boycott, Midnighter tears someone a new one. There’s a lot of liberal wish-fulfillment wrapped up in the character.

NRAMA: So pardon the phraseology, but as you’ve identified yourself as clearly not coming from the left, do you think you can present Midnighter’s views in a “fair and balanced” manner?

CD: I absolutely can. I’m neither gay nor a liberal. I’ve never fought crime on the rooftops of a major city or traveled to distant worlds to battle aliens. But a big part of my job is to put myself in the place of the characters I’m writing. To me, that means being true to the character’s established personality and not bringing them into line with my beliefs. I’ve written anti-gun screeds for Batman.
I wrote Oliver Queen as a stone McGovernite. I wrote an anti-death penalty story even though my views are the polar opposite. Why? Because it made for a great story for that character.
While I’m extremely (and often unwisely) vocal about my views on my website I don’t present those views in my work. When I’m writing Connor Hawke or Alien Legion, the folks that buy it aren’t picking it up to hear my opinion on school lunch programs. Their not even picking it for me. They want to read stories about the title character.
That said, Midnighter wears his politics on his sleeve. By “liberal wish fulfillment” I mean that he does what a good liberal could never do but probably wishes he could. Midnighter embodies the rage and fury I see coming from the anti-Bush crowd.
There’s no denying this. No one who’s written him this way would try and distant themselves from that description any more than I would deny the Punisher serving the same purpose on the opposite of the scale.And there’s nothing fair or balanced about Midnighter’s views. He’s a sociopath.

NRAMA: So you think it’s your job to write the characters as you would a non-fiction biography? No creative interpretation involved/allowed?

CD: I’m going to write him exactly as he’s been presented up till now. I have no desire to change him. Don’t look for Midnighter to be reading National Review in the quiet moments. If I wrote any quiet moments for him.Any changes I might make to that part of his character are not a matter of interpretation. Any changes would be wrong and a disservice to the writers that came before me and the readers who enjoy Midnighter’s antics.

NRAMA: A few years back you were publicly critical of not only Marvel’s handling of their Rawhide Kid character in the series Slap Leather, but you reputedly were critical of other writers – namely Judd Winick and Grant Morrison – as well for using familiar characters as platforms to present homosexuality in comic books.
We say reputedly because the message board your comments were posted to no longer exists, and we’re going by second hand accounts of your comments at that time.We could ask a million and one detailed questions about this, but maybe it’s best and more fair to simply ask you to speak to the fact that Midnighter is homosexual, how you feel about that, and if your earlier thoughts have any effect on your regard and approach to this character?

CD: Midnighter will indeed be presented as gay. After all the mis-quotes, hate posts, and misrepresentations of my opinions, you bet your ass I won’t be shying away from that aspect.I was critical of Marvel’s presentation of Rawhide Kid as a homosexual.
I thought that the limited series was done as a stunt and wound up demeaning both the Kid (a childhood favorite of mine) and the homosexual community. I committed some unforgivable sin by suggesting that perhaps a Howard Stern staff writer would not the ideal candidate for a sensitive portrayal of a gay western hero and that it was a mistake to retro-fit an established character rather than create a new one.
The Perpetually Outraged instantly labeled me as a homophobe and the label became permanent when I weighed in on Judd Winick’s introduction of an openly gay character in Green Lantern. My suggestion was that superhero comics are, whether die-hard fans like it or not, ostensibly children’s comics and perhaps not the forum to be informing children of homosexuality, heterosexuality, or sexually transmitted diseases. I think I incensed some people by saying that I didn’t want my kids receiving their sex ed from Judd Winick in the pages of a superhero comic book. I still don’t.
I’ve never backed away from my disdain for agenda-driven comics in what should be the medium’s primary escapist, mass appeal genre. Stand on your soap box all day long. But don’t stand on the shoulders of household-name icons. Write the characters in character and don’t write your world-view through them.And the introduction and retro-fitting of gay characters into established series has become an instant cliché. It’s done in a cynical manner strictly for marketing purposes in a way that should offend everyone.I don’t recall criticizing Grant Morrison on this particular issue.

NRAMA: So noted. You say you don’t want comics to be a forum to be informing children of homosexuality or heterosexuality. There is the POV that things like Bruce Wayne’s Billionaire playboy bachelorism, and the relationships between Lois and Clark, Peter and Mary Jane, Reed and Sue, their weddings (all turned into respective events in their series), and the relatively innocent but at times quite obvious sexual banter between these characters is “informing” readers of their heterosexuality. Do you agree?CD: I’m no more in favor of a frank sexual discussion between Reed and Sue or Lois and Clark than I would be were it Gay Character A and his partner.When I was writing Dick Grayson and Barbara Gordon’s romance I stayed away from stating that they were in any kind of sexual relationship. You could absolutely imply it. But you could just as easily tell yourself they were saving it for marriage. Is this method naïve? In movies made before the 60s it was the norm to present characters as romantically involved and then leave clear indicators that they were getting it on between scenes. Clark Gable and Jon Crawford go into a hot kiss and we fade to black. Cut to next morning and she’s making him breakfast and dressed in a different nightgown. Now they could have kissed one and then played Monopoly until dawn. The audience was left to choose what they wanted to believe and there was no need to explain the facts of life to the kids after a Cary Grant movie. We used to call them “air force” scenes. Whoosh! Right over the kid's heads.So Clark and Lois can be seen kissing and being affectionate and there’s no need to explain it. The sexual aspect of their relationship doesn’t have to be explored. But if Wonder Woman and Supergirl are seen kissing then that does call for an explanation. The sexual aspect of a relationship like that will call forth questions from the kiddies.Maggie Sawyer, in Superman, was obviously being portrayed as a lesbian. But there was a level of deniability because she wasn’t always being shown in romantic clinches with her girlfriend. Astute readers picked up on it. Others either didn’t notice or chose not to. Maggie even appeared on the cartoons with her girlfriend. I much prefer this kind of characterization over Northstar’s “I’M GAY!”The important thing, for story purposes, was that Maggie was a good, three-dimensional character first and a lesbian second.

NRAMA: That all said, Sue Richards has been pregnant three times. That could certainly lead to a life/sex discussion among kids. To play devil’s advocate, one could argue kissing and hand-holding and marriage – i.e. romantic love – does not necessarily equate to explaining a sex act of a homosexual character any more than it would a heterosexual character.And to go a step further, certainly some people would argue explaining to a child why a woman and woman would kiss should be no more extraordinary than explaining why a man and a woman would. Little girls often say they want to marry their fathers. The difference between love, romance, and sex is learned for everyone. Couldn’t one argue that the path for romance between same sex characters to be something that children do not regard as unusual and intrusive to the story is for society to become more accepting of it?

CD: You bring up issues that carry us away from my initial opinion. It’s all about context. There are a million different ways that the issue of sexuality of any kind can be introduced to children. But why can’t some comic creators resist the urge to do so in the pages of a superhero comic? It’s a genre where people wear capes and masks and have magic rings and lift buildings up over their heads. And no matter how much you wish the genre could grow old with you, these are still characters for children. They’re on pajamas and backpacks. They’re Legos, for God’s sake.Sure, your kids might see two dogs screwing on the sidewalk and you have to either brush it aside or have a “talk” about it. But that’s up to you as a parent. I really wish that superhero comics could be left to be about adventure and heroism and suspense. Why does Ant-Man have to be a wife-beater? Were the writers that much at a loss for a story?And does anyone really suppose that the first time a child sees a pregnant woman is in a comic book? I’ve never proposed sheltering children from real life. But let them have the funnybooks, okay?Will the inclusion of gay characters in mainstream comics make homosexuality more acceptable? I haven’t seen a mainstream comic story yet with a gay character that wasn’t loaded with stereotypes and clichés. A wise editor I used to work with cautioned his writers, “don’t write about human relationships unless you’ve had one.” Most of what I’ve seen of the conscious-raising variety of comics on this subject has been dismal and pandering. Loaded with mock outrage and received wisdom and very little honest human interaction. It’s dealt with an in-your-face issue rather than a story.They’re no different than the embarrassing attempts at inclusiveness in 70’s comics. All those white-guilt driven stories about battling The Man. Ugh.Having it all laid out in that kind of ham-handed way is far more harmful than the kids wondering why Uncle Jimmy never got married.My opinions on this have never come from a position of intolerance. It’s all a matter of context. Sure, the kids are gonna have to learn about love and sex and relationships. But why can’t that be outside the pages of a superhero comic? Why do comic writers have to take on the mantle of social engineer? I haven’t met a comic book writer yet I’d let talk to my kids about sex. Why would I want them doing it as part of a story about super-powered men and women in tights?

NRAMA: And on the topic of introducing and retro-fitting gay characters into established series, again, to play devil’s advocate, you mentioned the attempts at inclusiveness in the 70’s. Arguably the biggest comic book success story of all time was when Marvel completely re-invented on a dime what was a team of all white characters by instantly replacing them with cast of multi-racial characters, which at the time was very uncommon and arguably influenced by and promoting a social agenda.Do you regard the introduction of the All-New, All Different X-Men as you do the introduction of a gay character in the pages of Green Lantern?

CD: That’s not the same issue at all. Marvel was just following a trend that started with Sgt. Fury and the Howling Commandos and that found its source more in Kirby’s old kid gang stories than it did any kind of ideas of social engineering. The new X-Men line-up wasn’t the first time racial diversity had been introduced to comics. Saturday morning cartoons had long become integrated. And re-casting X-Men was probably done for reasons rooted in Marvel’s tried-and-true tradition of throwing things against the wall and seeing if they’ll stick. The X-Men was a loser title that was always at the bottom of the sales numbers. Shaking it up with a new cast and making that cast diverse turned out to be a smart move. I’m not convinced it was done to advance civil rights and heal the racial divide. After all, we have a Canadian, a German, and an Irish guy added to the cast. If anything, it was an effort to make the cast more international to appeal to a broader global audience. The only actual American minority in the group got kakked in the opening issues.And had one of the new X-Men been presented as gay (like that could have happened in the 70’s), at least he or she would have been created as gay rather than outted later to create buzz.In any case, the equating of sexual preference with race always strikes me as reaching.NRAMA: So just to be crystal clear, will Midnighter’s sexual orientation play a role in your story in any significant way?CD: Sure will.Midnighter was firmly established as having a homosexual relationship with Apollo and that’s the way I’m writing him. The Authority was always a mature readers book and I don’t have any problem with the frank presentation of sexual relationships there any more than I would in a movie or television show intended for the same audience.

NRAMA: So just t be sure to represent your position clearly, you objected to Slap Leather because even though it was a MAX title was and audience appropriate, it “retro-fit” a character. Grifter and Midnighter on the other hand is audience appropriate and it is consistent with the origin and established profile of the characters?

CD: It’s the retro-fit that bothers me. The MAX versions of Nick Fury or Luke Cage were just as annoying to me. Particularly the implications that Luke Cage’s story could now be properly told without restrictions. That’s insulting as well as being artistically bankrupt.I’m sure you could get a lot of press with a Donald Duck book that showed sex, drug abuse, and domestic violence. But, in the long run, you’d have poisoned that franchise forever. Some publicity is bad publicity. And you can go broke underestimating the taste of the American public.Let’s be honest, “maturing” an established character is a hedge against poor sales. X-rated Nick Fury will sell a few thousand more copies than X-rated Double-0 Generic Spyguy. Creating a new womanizing super-spy or gay western hero is harder than re-jiggering an old one. It requires marketing and creativity and a level of earnestness that no one was willing to bring to it. Better to titillate hardcore fans or turn it all into a cynical joke.Look at Vertigo’s success with creating brand new mature reader characters. Preacher and Constantine and the others populate the line with new, vital creations rather than simply doing a dirty version of Batman. In the long run this has paid off with a strong backlist of trade paperbacks, movie deals, and TV deals that could not have happened by simply making mature imprint doppelgangers of DCU’s icon characters.Everyone says that the future of comics is in the bookstores and libraries. It’s of paramount practical concern that the comic companies guard and shepherd their franchises even more carefully than before. They’re being seen more and more by audiences of casual readers who have an expectation of who these characters are. This is no longer the sub-culture hobby that it was even ten years ago.NRAMA: Okay then. Finally, in general, any last thoughts or first impressions you want to leave readers with over the next couple of months while they await issue #1?

CD: Despite all of the brouhaha over me writing the limited series, this is the kind of story I’m known for; visually-driven, fast paced and violent with a few laughs thrown in. Ryan Benjamin has been around for a while but he really shines on this project and I predict he’ll soon be too damned good to answer my emails.

Interesting take from a good writer I pretty much disagree with his point of view, a) comics are not just for kids. b) by including homosexual characters, hell for that matter latino characters or disabled characters, the comics industry is just trying to make itself socially responsible and relevant. Society moves on but taking CD's view then every television programme, movie, comic book would consist of white middle aged men in every role.

Peter Parker vs George W. Bush

2007-01-04T07:07:00.000-08:00

Loved this...

Spider-Man lassos White House in his web

It’s hard not to think of the Bush administration when thumbing through the latest “The Amazing Spider-Man” comic (#536).

First, some background (and you probably don’t need to be a rocket scientist to see the parallels):
In Marvel Comics’ — ahem — “Civil War” story arc, the U.S. government passes the “Superhuman Registration Act” after hundreds of innocent American men, women and children become collateral damage in a superhero-related tragedy (the president of the United States even swings by the disaster site to assess the damage).
The act mandates registration of all superheroes with the government. Spider-Man initially supports the act but then grows suspicious after discovering that unregistered captives are being held without civil rights at an off-shore prison called “the Negative Zone”.
Detainees will remain there for life if they don’t register.

Now, to the present: In this latest Spider-Man comic, America’s favorite swinging web-slinger takes to New York City’s airwaves to publicly denounce the act.

“I’ve seen the very concept of justice destroyed,” Spidey begins (as written by J. Michael Straczynski).
“I’ve seen heroes and bad guys alike — dangerous guys, no mistake, but still born in this country for the most part, denied due process, and imprisoned, potentially for the rest of their lives. … But there’s a point where the ends don’t justify the means, if the means require us to give up not just our identities, but who and what we are as a country.”

David Cassel, a Spider-Man fan and editor of 10zenmonkeys.com, said in response, “In thirty years of reading Spider-Man, I’ve never seen an attack so direct.”

No word yet if the Bush administration is actively courting the Batman vote in response.

January Blues and a Bonkers ex..

2007-01-04T05:17:00.000-08:00

The two weeks holiday have flown by and I find myself on day 2 of the countdown to May 3rd.
I had a great Xmas, one of the better in recent memory, probably because I needed the break that much more.

The excellent Christmas was followed by a very quiet but very drunken New Years Eve with Ian in Birmingham. The atmosphere was bizarre, i have never seen Brum so quiet, there was just no one around. Nevertheless Ian and myself had an excellent time, and saw the New Year In courtesy of the Tap and Spile next to the canals.

By 2.30am we were truly hammered and following a brief foray into the wilderness of "Missing" :-) we caught a Taxi home.

New Years Day was punctuated with games of Trivial Pursuit with my parents and a quiet evening chilling out. The result by the Baggies was horrendous and you'll no excuses for their performance on this blog. Mowbray needs to kick their asses, to lose to the bottom team of the table is inexcusable. they should have their wages docked.

Back here in the Assembly, I think it is an understatement to say many support staff are dreading the May election, understandably the atmosphere has already started to become suitably more tense than last term. These four months cannot be over quick enough as far as I'm concerned.

Welsh Labour needs to come out strongly this term, building on the demolition job that the opposition inflicted on each other last term over the budget. It is essential we take the fight to them and highlight the massive achievements that Welsh Labour has had in Swansea and Wales.

Finally had a good chat with my friend Nic last night about the instability of a former Mrs Bradley. I unfortunately uncorked the insanity just before Christmas and it seem that big B has really gone loopy - indeed so much so that he believed the reason I had a Muppet Xmas Carol movie on when he visited was to imply that I still loved him.

yes - or I could just have had the Xmas movie playing on Channel 5 in the background.

Bonkers!! - I think my time has come to leave well alone and I know 'Oh my god Nic' would be grateful.

Jase the Ace Koumas Kicks ASS...

2006-12-30T11:58:00.000-08:00

Back from the fortress known as the Hawthorns today. It was a game of 2 halves. The first hakf Albion were dreadful, the worst I've seen in years, their passing was atrocious, their mid-field non existent and their defence had more holes than one of my cover stories.
That said as good ole' Tom Ross pointed out on the phone in, Ipswich never really looked dangerous, I'm sure that was their ineptitude rather than our skill.

The second half was a different tale, we played wide cutting deep into their midfield and defence and allowing Kamara to cut loose (athough he has played better) and successfully netting a penalty. But it was Koumas who scored the winner which he picked up and sent in from 25 yards. Outstanding goal!! Boing Boing !!!!

We're in prime position but I hope our beloved chairman decides to specualte to accumulate in January because we;re not home and dry. Still we're grinding out the results and that's the main thing. I also enjoyed chanting "stand up if you hate the wolves" and "shit on the wanderers" especially going 2 - 0 down. Ouch gotta hurt :-)

New Years Eve tomorrow looking forward to seeing my mate Ian for one of our famous sessions should be the stuff of legends.
I've also cleaned up my blog site a little as it may have been a trifle critical of politicians and aquaintances and I wouldn't want to get myself or anybody else into trouble.

I must also remind any welsh colleagues who are reading this (and I know some of you will be Rachael, Nick, AL) to go over to Ian's blog site
http://ianangus.spaces.live.com/

It's the beginnings of a fascinating look into his recent tour of Bangladesh with his football team.
Awsome reading and a fine site to boot.

The Doctor .. disappoints and Boxing Day blues

2006-12-26T09:49:00.000-08:00

I write this with quite the hangover from lunch, I ate far too much and drank a bottle of wine to myself.. never a good thing in the middle of the afternoon.

Still it's been an improving Xmas, my parents seem to have got over their respective tantrums from yesterday, Kel's mum is improving - which is a relief for all concerned, she's had three massive operations in a week and is still poorly, but improving enough to be out of intensive care.

My thoughts are also with Martin's family who are trying to have a good Xmas despite their sudden loss. It perhaps explains my Dad's erratic behaviour, never easy losing one of your best mates, especially at Christmas.

All said I'm enjoying the break, especially as from next year it'll be a difficult few months at work

It's nice not to have done anything at all over the last couple of days although undoubtedly I'll venture into the sales tomorrow.
I watched the good Doctor and I was probably in the wrong mood for the comedic episode although it appears to have gone down very well with the masses. I liked it but wasn't as impressed as last years superior episode.

I can't sign off without mentioning the Baggies 5th game unbeaten and 4th win, especially as Preston are a tough team to beat, the only slight disappointment was that Blues and the Wolves also won, lets hope relegation takes hold of the Wolverhampton boys :-)

Christmas Day

2006-12-25T08:59:00.000-08:00

The lunch is mere leftovers, the family are asleep, Potter or Pixar is on the television, the Queen has said her speech, the buttons are pullling on clothes everywhere and children (and parents) await the good Doctor at 7pm.

The more things change the more things stay the same and don't we all just love it.

Merry Xmas

It's Christmas.........time

2006-12-20T04:15:00.000-08:00

As I write this I'm preparing to head to London in thick fog. The last day of work for 2 whole weeks..........
Since I last wrote it has been an eventful week, Ibecame re-aquainted with JK las t Wednesday following a successful budget. This was followed by quiet but highly enjoyable weekend in Narbeth with NJ. I kicked his ass in all sorts of ways on Star Wars Battlefront 2 - sad but highly satisfying.
We also watched a terrible movie about time travel with Sir Ben Kingsley.

Sunday featured my first house party - unsuccessful isn't the word. I imagined that 4 - 9pm mean't most people would turn up early evening. - not at 4pm. Old people quarreled, young people freaked out, politicos were dull and I became very drunk very quickly.
I successfully spilled mulled wine, burnt Pizzas, slipped on Mince Pies, broke wine glasses and giggled at old people and politicians, especially when they were telling dull anecdotes.
Awkward for everyone but me.

Ho Ho Ho

The Party, The budget and the hangover

2006-12-14T05:21:00.001-08:00

The Tuesday night Labour bash lived up to expectations in every way possible. Drunken beahviour all around -
I particularly liked my colleague MD doing the splits in front of various cabinet Ministers. The state we were in of course was not ideal especially as we had the final budget discussion on Wed.

Reassuring to see that Plaid saw sense and backed down allowing the budget through, however what was far more entertaining was watching the 3 opposition parties launch into scathing attacks on each other. Brilliant! Plaid made a tactical mistake and they know it, by co-operating and working with the Tories on such massive issues they are alienating their core vote.
Now however not only do they politically confused they also look very weak indeed.

Good for us and good for the Tories.

I write this in something of a blur as my hangover kicks up a gear and I have another social tonight . argh :-(

The Tinsel is Up and Xmas is nearly here and Take That are back..........whooo

2006-12-12T06:45:00.000-08:00

I can't help it, Xmas is nearly upon us and I'm getting all girlie excited. over the weekend Al and myself bought out tree and decorated it, draped tinsel around pictures and hung cheesy ornaments above doors, all whilst listening to the new Take That album, whicjh is much better than anticipated.

I've just finished Gary Barlow's autobiography which was highly enjoyable in a trashy pop celeb kinda way (thanks Kel), interesting reading and brutally honest, Gary doesn't come out as clean cut as I'd always believed. His anecdotes are self deprecating and funny especially when he eats the record producers breakfast by mistake, followed by his bagels.

I read the bulk of it on my way down to London last Thursday to see CO, we ended up in a very nice chinese restaurant followed by a few drinks in the friendly soc - a very pleasant evening.

Anyway I thought the lyrics were appropriate to me at the moment:

Just have a little patience

I'm still hurting from a love I lost,
I'm feeling your frustration.
Any minute all the pain will stop.
Just hold me close inside your arms tonight,
don't be too hard on my emotions
Cause I need time.
My heart has no feeling.
So while I'm still healing,
Just try and have a little patience.
I really wanna start over again,
I know you wanna be my salvation.
The one that I can always depend.
I'll try to be strong. Believe me, I'm trying to move on,
It's complicated but understand me.

Cause I need time,
My heart is numb has no feeling,
So while I'm still healing,
Just try and have a little patience,

Yeah, have a little patience, Yeah
Cause these scars run so deep, It's been hard, But I have to believe in me.
Have a little patience, Have a little patience,
Woah, Cause I, I just need time,
My heart is numb has no feeling,
So while I'm still healing, just try, and have a little patience,
Have a little patience,
My heart is numb has no feeling,
So while I'm still healing just try and have a little... Patience

patience take thatLove the album, love the single the boys are back at number 1, just like the mid - nineties all over again.

X-men-3 The Last Standing Ovation

2006-12-12T06:39:00.000-08:00

A very quick post this video made me laugh out loud.
For all you geeks out there, simply brilliant:

X-Men-3:The Last Standing Ovation Trailer

Genie out of the bottle... oh and Paris

2006-12-05T07:04:00.000-08:00

Interesting day in the WWW (West Wing of Wales). The opposition have effectively released the genie - they have acknowledged that they are willing to form a cohesive (fat chance) alliance / co-alition against Labour. This is quite extraudinary that Tories, Plaid, Libs and Independants are willing to work together to get Labour out. Idiots. Are Plaid so desperate for power that they are willing to bed down with the Tories?? that of course is a cmpletely rhetorical question because of course they are.

So the question is who will blink first over the budget??

I had a good time in Paris over this last weekend, did a lot of walking around the city with Paul (an unexpected guest), had a couple of good meals and a terrible one. My steak was blue and twitching...ugh!

The city itself was more interesting at Xmas and I visited my usual bookshop and purchased a book on Karl Rove, the sequel to the 'Presidents Brain' and a book on London Queer History. All good.

Ian has departed for foreign parts something he is more than familiar with if last Wednesday is anything to go by..

I'm off to London on Thursday for a quiet meeting with a new friend :-)

Thoughts are with Brown ...

2006-11-30T02:25:00.000-08:00

Ok I'm not the biggest Brown fan at all but you have to feel sympathy for him and his wife Sarah: (I want to say it won't harm his electability either but I'm not that callous)

From the Beeb
Chancellor Gordon Brown says he is upbeat about his son's future after revealing four-month-old Fraser has been diagnosed with cystic fibrosis.
Mr Brown received messages of support from political allies and opponents, with Tory leader David Cameron among the first to offer his best wishes.
In a positive statement Mr Brown and his wife Sarah said their son was "fit and healthy".
They lost their daughter Jennifer Jane in 2002 after she was born prematurely.
A spokesman for the couple - who have one other son, John - said they were told in late July that Fraser may have the genetic disease and tests had now confirmed it.
'Helping others'
The spokesman said Fraser was "fit, healthy and making all the progress that you would expect any little boy to make".
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a life-threatening inherited disease that disrupts the way the digestive and respiratory systems work.

Mr Brown's spokesman said: "Thousands of other parents are in the same position.
"They are confident that the advice and treatments available, including proper exercise and, later, sporting activity will keep him fit and healthy.
"The NHS is doing a great job, and Gordon and Sarah are very optimistic that the advances being made in medicine will help him and many others, and they hope to be able to play their part in doing what they can to help others."

Messages of support were issued soon after Fraser's condition was made public.
Conservative leader David Cameron, whose four-year-old son Ivan has cerebral palsy, said: "Sam and I are thinking of Gordon and Sarah and their family at this time and we send them our best wishes for the future."

Housing minister Yvette Cooper, a close friend of the Browns along with her husband, Economic Secretary Ed Balls, told the BBC Fraser was a "happy and healthy little boy".
She added: "They are a very strong and happy family, so whilst obviously, it is the same for any parent, it's not the kind of thing you ever want to happen - but they are very optimistic."
Ed Owen, a friend of Mr Brown's and former political adviser whose four-year-old daughter has cystic fibrosis, explained the treatment Fraser would receive.
A child diagnosed at birth and treated immediately should remain quite well
Rosie BarnesCystic Fibrosis Trust
Cystic fibrosis
"It's a pretty rigorous, heavy duty regime of medication, physiotherapy, regular hospital trips, but within that and alongside that, kids can enjoy a relatively happy lifestyle, and there's every prospect that Gordon and Sarah's son will have that for years to come," he told BBC's Newsnight programme.

Mr Brown, who is widely tipped as the favourite to succeed Tony Blair when he steps down as prime minister, said after Fraser's birth in July: "I love being a dad. It's great fun and there's nothing more important and there's nothing I enjoy better. "
Advances
Cystic Fibrosis Trust chief executive Rosie Barnes said while the disease remained a "very serious medical condition", advances meant the future was much more optimistic than it used to be.

Interseting than now both potential leaders of the main parties have disabled children. I wonder how many spin doctors in the westminster village were salivating over those prospects. Probably those with out a beating heart - pretty much all of them in all parties then.

Robinson has gone - and we all breath a sigh of relief..

2006-11-29T08:51:00.000-08:00

However better news for Rugby - Robinson has finally jumped before he was pushed.... to the ground and told never to darken twickenham's ground again.
To the future...

Boing, boing Bah!

2006-11-29T08:22:00.000-08:00

Tuesday result:

Sheff Wed 3-1 West Brom
Sheffield Wednesday claimed a deserved win over struggling West Brom to give boss Brian Laws his first home victory.
The home side scored twice in the opening 15 minutes with Glenn Whelan heading home and Madjid Bougherra doing the same from Kenny Lunt's cross.
Albion improved after the break and Jason Koumas' strike in the 88th minute gave his side hope.
But a late penalty from Steve MacLean condemned West Brom to their sixth defeat in nine games.

West Brom manager Tony Mowbray"I will take responsibility for this result.
"I wouldn't question my footballers' desire. This group of players are determined to put it right and I've got broad enough shoulders to take responsibility - blame is the wrong word - for these results.
"Football is a confidence game and when you've got a group of footballers whose main strength is their passing - when that starts to ebb away, it becomes difficult."

We have potentially the best side in the division, bring back Robo I say, there is no bloody excuse for that defeat.

ITV Grade A+, BBC Grade F-

2006-11-28T04:12:00.000-08:00

Michael Grade has resigned as BBC chairman and is to join ITV, the corporation's main terrestrial rival.
ITV, which has been struggling with falling advertising and ratings, said the appointment was a "real coup".
Mr Grade said his first priority would be to improve programming at ITV, which he will join early next year.
Analysts say it is a major blow to the BBC, where Mr Grade was steering it through complex licence fee negotiations with the government.

I was genuinely a little disappointed to see Michael Grade leaving the BBC this morning he has been steering the ship throughout a turbulent time. It's also interesting to note that his relationship with Tessa Jowell whilst warm, was decidely icy with the big 2.
I make no apologies for liking the BBC, an inportant British institution. You only have to look at how poor the quality of programming on commercial stations is to apprecaite the quality and impotance of Auntie.

This often put me at loggerheads with fellow Labour colleagues, who criticise the license fee as an unnecessary tax. i completely disagree, when visiting Canada/ America I was always alarmed at the complete control advertisers had over the viewing public. They dictated whether programs should air, be cancelled, be moved, be censored. Frightening stuff when a Toy manufacture can dicate whether an educational programme is suitable for children depending purely on how many Power Ranger figures it can sell. An extreme example but the influence is frighteningly real.

The beeb for all its faults (I'm looking at you Lawrence Lewellyn Bowen) has undoubtedly the best unbiased news coverage (WMD's included), the best lineup of television programmes, great sport coverage, great current affairs programs and of course the jewel in the crown: Neighbours. - gotta love having a TV in the office.

Which is why it's a shame that Grade has gone, especially to ITV, the channel to give us the excitement that is Celebrity wrestling, the current affairs that is - ? oh wait a minute they don't do that kind of show anymore and if they did it would undoubtedly be hosted by Ant and Dec.

Baggies and the Birmingham birthday bash

2006-11-27T06:48:00.000-08:00

Quite a weekend, firstly England were destroyed at Twickenham by South Africa. Robinson in on his bike their can be no doubt - Martin Johnson is an untested talent and I have massive reservations about him taking over. That said in the immortal words of Yazz 'the only way is up'.

Likewise both West Brom and the England cricket team were soundly beaten, perhaps it's unfair to compare the two when clearly West Brom have 'champions' written all over them but in both respects there is hope. 'England have a young relatively inexprienced team, burdoned by injury woes the quality is sporadic' not my quote but from Jonathon Agnew last year following England's first defeat in the Ashes which they went on to win.

Regarding the Baggies, if they can maintain their nerve, gain some confidence then their bi-polar display should straighten out.

The hightlight of my weekend as I was predicting last week Ian's birthday bash. I had a lot of fun (cough cough) and it was great seeing Charlie, Ricky and gn himself who is becoming more flamboyant every time we meet. Apparently he has finally entered or is that 'been entered by?' the gay world It certainly doesn't apparently stop the musing and wanderings of that said gentleman at other times of the late hour.

I enjoyed the flagrant hostility towards Chris who I had been likened to by a number of individuals, his arrogance and pretentions of grandiose design made me balk, but then I suppose he's me with money . As predicted we pretty much took an immediate dislike to each other bordering on the feral, it wasn't helped by one of Ian's brothers friends an unlikely Queen called Tom who alongside GN (for ever he will be known, the wanderer makes him sound like a shepherd) teased Chris with gay abandon. He didn't like the quip about his blazer and pumps insisting they cost him more that out net annual income. They still looked like they were from the bargain bin at Primark.
Still money does make the world go around and I like a hearty challenge.

In fairness behind the veneer of pomp and pretention I did warm to him a little as the night continued, made easier by the quips about Charlie and his magical scarf. Ed was also on good form and made some biting quips about Chris, much to my delight.

Just for the record I would like to state that tom is in no way Gay, not even slightly, he might look it, sound it and act it but categorically he likes women, I know this because he wanted to go to a strip bar with da boys grrrrrr! and he's trying to grow stubble.
Glad we cleared that up. I also found that Chris was witty, intelligent and interesting after eight pints and I thank him for his hospitality, tea and conversations about David Cameron in the rather beautiful Radisson hotel before embarking on my night of rest.

Other highlights of the night include Ian's brother Al and friends steadfastly refusing to believe that Tom could be gay, despite his clear preferance for Ian which I think is an absolute pre-requisite for being homosexual in the United Kingdom. Also of course that fact that Tom was camper than Dale Winton at Xmas should have provided some hint.

A good night bordering on the great which will be remembered for all the wrong reasons and the terrible hangoverthe next morning.

Yesterday I spent some quality time with Paul and watched the film Elf with Will Ferrell, dreading it but it seduced me into the Christams Spirit. That was followed by another trip to see Bond with my Dad who thoroughly enjoyed it as did I.

I have been accused by a few friends of being a cinema fascist that is to say people making noise checking phones etc annoys me. Perhaps I am but when a couple sit right next to me and continue to kiss, then as far as I'm concerned they should be stoned then beheaded. The slurping and gurgling noises I made everytime they embraced soon put a stop to that behaviour. I also carefully, subtly dropped ice into her open bag; that'll learn her.

The Assembly is buzzing as Xmas approaches and that means more crazy hours at work. It was nice to speak to Jamie Angus on Saturday who has had similar experiences working in the Labour Party to me, perhaps I should set up a support group for disaffected support staff and manual. I would call it 'passion can only carry you so far'.

Lost .. I certainly am

2006-11-23T03:54:00.000-08:00

So the new series of Lost begins in earnest with a double episode on Sky One.
The trouble with T.V shows such as this one, 24, Alias etc is that you really do need to invest a lot of time in the whole show. To completely understand lost ( and really who does) you really need to watch the whole of the first 2 years before last Sunday night. - c'mon now that's uneccessary.

Last night thanks to the marvels of Sky digital I watched the first 2 episodes of Lost Series 3, yes again it was well acted, intelligently written and with more questions than answers.
However I've decided to leave it there, enough is enough firstly I barely watch any T.V. these days and when I do there is much better fayre than Lost, secondly I don't have the committment for another 4 years. sorry JJ Abrahams but that is that.

Actually having just reviewed my telly waching, it appears that all I really watch is the news, Dragon's eye, Question Time and This week - perhaps I too am lost.

Work pressure continues to increase and the news is not all good, with the announcement of Alcoa closing, manufacturing is at an all time low in Wales despite record employment.
However with the big MOD announcement next week news should be better and coverage for AD will also be v good.

I'm off to Birmingham this weekend to see Ian (bandy legs) Angus for his birthday. An early start of 5.30pm should gurantee an excellent night when anything can and often does happen.
I wonder if a ginger nut will be cracked?

Good news, bad news

2006-11-21T08:08:00.000-08:00

It really is becoming a job of extremes, today we had the second performance of 'From Cars to Mars' a joint production between Dragon Arts and Swansea City Opera.
It was a very successful event, interactive and very well attended. Over 120 people in the Senedd were there to watch the performance - impressive.

It was certainly a varied explosion of colour and creativity that went down very well. Perosnally I'm glad it's over as it took a huge amount of work to get everyhing ready for the performance not to mention the chaos with sound and lighting.

This was followed by the news of ****** closing in Swansea which is a massive blow to families in the area.

In the space of one hour we've gone from one extreme to the other.

Baggies are bouncing, Torchwood is terrifying and England are exciting....(for ten minutes)

2006-11-20T06:17:00.000-08:00

A good weekend for the Baggies with a rejuvenated Koumas leading West Brom to a decisive victory over rival promotion hopefuls Burnley. 3 - 0 at home was very nice thankyou, lets hope this is the start of the Mowbray effect.

Watching the first Sixty minutes of England at Twickenham was like watching your ex-girlfriend trying to pull another fella. Desperate, sad with a little glimmer of passsion that attracted you to them in the first place. England managed to win 23 - 21. The last 20 minutes was all about heart and little skill, their kicking over the game was atrocious and their is no excuse against a second team SA side.
That all said the last quarter was very exciting and they pulled it off, however the stay of execution for Robinson belies the fact that even former fans like Martin Johnson are now calling for him to quit. I tis after all only 10months until the Rugby World Cup.

Finally as an avid critic of torchwood the Dr Who spin off I have to say I loved last nights episode
it was Texas Chainsaw Massacre in the Brecon Beacons. Brilliant!!!

Oh and finally - interesting to note that Wolves are for sale at the cut price cost of £20million, I may go in with an offer of £2.50 and a bag of maltesers, who knows they may consider it??

Review of Casino Royale

2006-11-20T06:09:00.000-08:00

A slight departure today, my good friend Nick L has written a definitive review of Casino Royale which I agree with on every level. All I would add is that the superb title sequence is reminiscent of the 60's introductions and the Bond song is not nearly as bad as some were predicting.
over to you Nick...

A review of Casino Royale (2006)

Over the course of 21 films and 40 years, each new cinematic visitation of secret agent 007 has been heralded with the proclamation that “Bond is Back’. Casino Royale, the latest film in the series, begs the question as to whether previously he was ever there at all, for Daniel Craig, the latest actor in the role, has made the part his own, even overshadowing the nonchalant, iconic brutality of Sean Connery’s 60s portrayal.Casino Royale is shorn of all the cinematic devices that have made such an unpalatable character the established family Boxing Day hero of yore. No overelaborate secret bases staffed by lackeys in hardhats and colour-co-ordinated boiler suits, no submersible sports cars, no campy exchanges or Carry On double entendres. Craig’s Bond has been hardboiled, all impurities burnt away, the audience captivated by his cold, merciless basilisk stare, injecting a genuine sense of drama into what had increasingly become a self-parodic, self-indulgent routine of ritual.

This is not to say the film is unrecognisable from what has gone before. The disapproving boss, Bond’s disregard for authority while remaining resolutely of the Establishment, the consumerist fetishism, the fast cars, the easy women, the exotic locales, the physically disfigured villains are all present and correct, but then again, they were in Ian Fleming’s original novels. Casino Royale transposes with surprising ease Fleming’s tropes of a Club-land infused 1950s to a post 9/11 environment of international terrorism, and the back to basics approach of the film makes this transition easier. It is easier to imagine Bond being set upon with a machete than being cut in half in an over-elaborate setup involving lasers that can punch holes in the moon or being fed to sharks in the secretarial pool underneath the villain’s lavish offices (transported there by trapdoor, naturally).In an era where we have all now become James Bond ourselves with our GPS tracking systems, iPods, minute digital cameras and laser-marker pens, the audience has now reached a parity with Bond in terms of his gadgets. Whereas in more recent entries in the franchise had led the filmmakers to stretch the techno-fetishism to breaking point (invisible car, anyone?), 007’s toys in the new film are believable to the extent that you would expect them to be most middle-aged man’s Christmas stocking by 2008. This allows the filmmakers to focus solely on the look, narrative and performances of the film, with one or two indulgent action scenes being dispensed with quite earlier on in the film (although deftly executed) so they can get on with telling what is, at its heart, a genuinely gripping thriller.

Martin Campbell, the director of Casino Royale who was also responsible for the post-Cold War riposte of the series Goldeneye, has accomplished what he has set out to do – make James Bond a credible twenty first century character who can hold his own against the faux ultra-realism of Jason Bourne and Jack Ryan.Ably supported by a great supporting cast (Eva Green is especially good as the best Bond girl since Diana Rigg in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service over 30 years ago), Daniel Craig makes the film his own, with an intense performance coupled with a physicality that even Connery lacked. The action sequences recall the bare knuckle clashes of Raiders of the Lost Ark or more adult fare, and this helps the drama no end by making you believe that not only can Bond inflict serious physical damage on an opponent but that he too is vulnerable, easily wounded and at high risk of being snubbed out at any moment.The defining moment of Casino Royale is a quiet scene involving just Craig. Bond has just killed two men with his bare hands, he is literally drenched in blood, his face is lacerated, and he has returned to his luxurious hotel room, propping himself up against the sink in the bathroom, downing shots of whisky as he just stares at himself in sheer disbelief and barely contained horror at the realisation of what he is capable of. Previous Bond films would have tried to denude the brutality of a killing by having it done by gadget or by a mordant post-kill quip (“I think he got the point”). Casino Royale, however, like Bond, forces the audience to stare the film’s consequences in the face, and is more gripping and shocking as a result. Casino Royale, like its protagonist, is a killer.
Official Site:www.casinoroyalemovie.com

Killer review (pun intended)

Bond is back and it's about time.

2006-11-16T08:23:00.000-08:00

I was fortunate to see the Welsh Premier of Casino Royale last night in Swansea.
Wow, Daniel Craig really is James Bond. I’ve always been a Roger Moore fan ‘I’m attempting re-entry sir” and I had a lot of love for Mr Brosnan and Mr Dalton, but simply Craig is Bond.

I loved it; it’s a mix of From Russia with Love, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service and Licence to Kill.

It’s brutal, emotional, witty (without bad puns), the enemy is believable and it has a cool twist.

When I heard they were rebooting the franchise I was a little nervous, I like the quasi – continuity, but Barbara and Michael have done it. Cubby would be proud.

When the credits rolled and it played the music I cheered inside, a sad fanboy moment.

Definitely off to see it again.

Birthday escapades

2006-11-13T04:35:00.000-08:00

Well it's been a very busy 2 weeks, I had a brilliant time in Amsterdam with A.L. chilling eating, smoking and drinking. Boom Chicago as ever was funny, as were the men in the clubs :-)

It's definitely been a rollarcoaster of a fortnight, the highs my birthday celebration whichwas fun. Good to see all my work colleagues as well as Nic, Rachel, Ian and my interns.

Nick Lewis was sober but on ace form his comments were sharp, pithy and too the excruciating point especially to Ian and his choice of nursery age ..toys.. (sorry mate i know you're going to be reading this).

The old rivalry for the affection of old dog Angus was on display i particualry liked Nic and Sandy sizing each other up (pun intended).

Bethan was her usual bubbly and tipsy self her comments inappropriate as always. Moment of the night however must go to Nic showing nude pictures of herself to Nick Lewis and then promptly forgetting which exact ones she had revealed. Mr Lewis's response too rude for here - involved comments about grooming and not just the dogs in her care. priceless

Was bollocked on friday by boss man AD for not following his instructions clearly - I am very much not looking forward to the debate tomorrow as it could cause problems. I personally still feel his current view is the correct one, otherwise he would be massacred at election time. Still he's a man under pressure in his current role and the busiest man in Wales.

Disturbed to see Englandbeing demolished by Argentina (robinson quit now) and the baggies failing to capitalise again... is that bring back RobboI here on the terraces??

Rugby, Aberavon and those damn homosexuals.

2006-10-30T07:25:00.000-08:00

An entertaining weekend consisiting of two annual dinners and more interesting chit chat than a catch up in the group office. Friday was the much heralded Aberavon Annual dinner which I attended with Paul. We were as far back from the main table as was possible but we had some delightful company in the shape of Greg and Tammy, who were just fantastic. David Philipps was also very good company.

Andrew Davies AM rocked the house with a good speech but the most amusing moment came from an elderly couple sitting to our right who were bemoaning Labour. (this was a party dinner!!).
Paul rightly asked what issue was causing the demise of the party, Iraq? Blair? Percieved privitisation of public services? No "it was those damn homosexuals taking over the party". Brilliant. Genuinely the funniest moment of the night, Paul looked mortified then was hysterical with laughter, I giggled and went up to dance to S Club 7 .

Following a rather hungover morning I arrived in Birmingham in readiness for the Woodrush 40th annual dinner. I have to say I was dreading it but Dad was great company and the speakers including the chair of the RFU Bob Rogers and especially Lions winger John Bentley were superb. His crack about comiung from Yorkshire and sitting amongst the cast of Last of the Summer Wine was especially funny - and true. A good night.

I read with interest the 'green debate' is there a consensus from the main parties on how to proceed with 'green taxes' unlikely but interesting to watch nevertheless..

R.I.P. Alan Baker

2006-10-30T07:19:00.000-08:00

Some sad news this week Labour Party member Alan Baker passed away this weekend after a short illness.
The GC meetings will be significantly less entertaining without Alan. Cantankerous, sexist and his dislike for Blair was absolute, nevertheless nearly all who knew him held him in great affection and despite the party troubles and his venom for New Labour he never once considered leaving.

Alan you'll be missed and Tony Blair's ears won't burn quite so brightly without you around.

TFI Peter and Andrew

2006-10-27T06:40:00.000-07:00

An unusually long working week this one perhaps more so because the 'da boss' has been away ill. Peter Hain has become immersed in a debate about creating 2 tiers of AMs. The first past the post AM and proportional rep (of sorts) AM.

The latter would have less allowances as they would not have to run specific constituency offices and organise specific constituency business. I can see Peter's point, my only concern however is that following next May AMs will all have to work harder and if you start targeting AMs in regional seats, inevitably the focus will fall on those AMs who are directly elected and do nothing. We all know they exist in every party, they see the Assembly as a glorified Council and operate as though it's a town council. - having re-read that last sentence perhaps the attention on these AMs might spur them into action? Actually Mr Hain on reflection I think your completely correct.

So off to the Aberavon annual dinner tonight, I can hardly wait. The guest speaker will I'm sure be good and charasmatic :-)
Although having watched Dragon's eye last night I thought he had a glimmer of real promotion about him? This week he has been far more than a safe pair of hands, he's everywhere and as I was recently told by the editor of a Welsh newspaper - AD is going places he's one of the only professional politicians currently in Wales.

Budget blues

2006-10-25T05:14:00.000-07:00

So we lost the Government budget by 1 vote as the opposition parties voted it down. Not unexpected but nevertheless Trish Law should be ashamed of herself for supporting the Tories over Labour. She represents a traditional Labour heartland that was decimated by the Conservatives during the 1980's, she is however more than happy to agree with them. Nye Bevan would be turning in his grave.

As expected West Brom were soundly beaten by Arsenal, although it still hurts that the gunners were a second team squad and we looked poor at best. Good to note Villa see off Leicester as well - they'll do well this season.

My house mate took a break from the grunting and puffing to come for dinner with me, the conversation was good, the wine excellent, the food magnificent and the company as always intelligent. Although I did learn some thing about A.L. that shocked me... I never realised she had such an open mind (amongst other things).

I have the excitement of a Labour student visiting me this afternnon IR is by far the most enthusiastic lad I know, need more of them in the party, a real credit. He's the only person who would come for a tour of the Assembly as a birthday treat.

I read today with interest what Canon Kenyon Wright said

English people have a "sovereign right" to a Parliament of their own if they want one, an architect of Scottish devolution has said.
Canon Kenyon Wright said it was "undemocratic" that Scottish MPs could vote on England-only issues but not vice versa.
He said he wanted to see "a strong English Parliament" and a strengthened Welsh legislature.
Opponents say they fear the break-up of the United Kingdom.
But Canon Wright said creating an English Parliament would strengthen the union and "may well save it".
He said he had changed his mind on the issue after English regional assemblies - originally planned to correct the alleged power deficit created by Welsh and Scottish devolution - had been overwhelmingly rejected by voters in the North East.
"I have become convinced that England has a growing sense of national identity, every bit as strong as ours, and there should be an English parliament if people want it.
"It is as much our right as it is yours," he told a meeting of the English Constitutional Convention (ECC) in Westminster.

I personally find the idea of an English Parliament pointless, the idea of devoltution was to spread the wealth a little ,allow a small country like wales to thrive, to shine the spotlight on areas or regions that are forgotten or dismissed by Westminster. However not for the first time this year I find myself in the unenviable position of agreeing with the Tories on one issue. I don't think it can be fair that Scottish and welsh MP's can vote on legislation that will have absolutely no impact on ther own constituencies. I find it unsettling and I'm sure a lot of swing voters see it as an injustice as the Labour Party having their cake and eating it to.

Big Day in the West Wing of Wales.

2006-10-24T06:50:00.000-07:00

Big day in the West Wing of Wales (WWW) as it's budget day. The excitement is palpable (no really) and it all seem to hinge on whether John Marek will be allowed to vote or whether he will be forced to act in his role as Deputy Presiding officer.

I hear on the grapevine that a cetain Swansea Lib-dem councillor recently took his children and wife to a theme park and insisted that his son pretend to be disabled in order to obtain a wheelchair, so they could push to the front of all the lines for the rides. Next he'll be cannabalising council letters and calling his son satan... wait a moment.

The supposed feud between councillors and cnadidates selected has been once again been whipped up by the opposition. Pointless, pointless, sigh, politics happens people get pissed off. Live with it.

My rather loud housemate (she likes to give herself and bed a good work out) are going out this evening for her birthday. Good food and wine assured.

the big game tonight Arsenal vs WBA at Hawthorns, we beat them last year under Robsen lets see whether Mowbray can pull the same trick. On current gunners form I reckon they'll beat us 3 -1.

Final thought for the day - no matter my age i always get suckered in by players especially good looking players. Sometimes I'm dumb as a bag of hammers.

First post

2006-10-23T08:10:00.000-07:00

Well this is my first post so be gentle.. it seems everybody has an opinion at the moment and I thought I'd share mine on everything from the latest Scorcese - the Departed, (magnificient by the way) to politics and the futility of the Lib-dem cause.

So begins the open diary of a former Sandwell boy in the second city of Wales.....