Mandelson’s textiles U-turn

From the Guardian: Mandelson’s textiles U-turn Honestly! “Rationing”? When did clothes become one of life’s essentials? And if we’re talking about clothes from China, 1. they’ve probably been made by poorly paid, badly treated workers, and 2. they’re probably more tat that we would do well to stop buying. Who’s been twisting Mandy’s arm anyway?

From BBC news: Hoon ponders new passport checks (via curious hamster). Lordy lord. What now? Will the UK be turned into a police state? Will all inhabitants be microchipped/tagged? My experience with the US Dept of Homeland Security’s OTT measures has not been good so far, what with being stopped at the check-in gate in […]

appalled

I’m appalled. Marin Alsop is an excellent conductor, and we’ve gone to many of the concerts where she was conducting the RSNO (Royal Scottish National Orchestra. And yes, it has both Royal and National in its name). And we’ve always come away greatly impressed. I’ve also heard she gives fantastic pre-concert talks, and is extremely […]

From the Guardian: Foreign scientists barred amid terror fears. Meant to write a few thoughts about this last night, but was too eager to go to the pub to watch some *real* football. Unfortunately, it was Real Madrid vs LA Galaxy. Yawn. Anyway. I wonder if that’s why, for YEARS, the Home Office held on […]