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28 Jan 2011 20:09

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Politics: The Guardian: Assessing the diplomatic damage in Egypt

  • The revolution threatens not only Hosni Mubarak’s regime but the strategy the US and Britain have constructed in the Middle East. The hesitancy with which President Mubarak reacted last night was matched only by the perceptible shift in the emphasis of the statements by the U.S. secretary of state, Hillary Clinton.
  • An editorial by The Guardian regarding Egypt • In an editorial about Egypt which we thinks relates well to a question we just answered on Tumblr not that long ago. The Guardian makes their point pretty well, we’d say: “Faced with the conflicting needs to keep an Arab partner of Israel afloat and to respond to demands for democratic reform, the U.S. would choose the first every time.” The Guardian makes three points: First, a regime change would possibly damage long-term diplomatic goals; second, if Mubarak has any chance of leaving office peacefully, he’s going to have to free Mohamed ElBaradei and other prisoners, and open up the Interwebs; and finally, this juggernaut may be too difficult to stop at this point. source

15 Dec 2010 11:02

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Tech: Random legal issue brought up by Wikileaks: Tweeting in court

  • The sky did not fall in as a result of yesterday’s tweeting, so why not allow it again? For the decision to gain wider acceptance we really need a crown court judge or high court judge to follow suit.
  • The Guardian columnist and media law expert David Banks • Discussing the legal implications of letting Twitter in the courtroom, as the district judge deciding Julian Assange’s case did. Banks’ argument? It’s very much a good thing, but journalists need to be given guidelines about what they can and can’t do to protect from libel and other issues, that citizen journalists might report things that they aren’t allowed to, and the constant danger that a journalist might want to use their camera phone since it’s right there. All of which are interesting angles. See? Julian Assange is a journalism trailblazer even when he’s not actively trying to be. source

14 Dec 2010 10:32

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World: Did Julian Assange get bailed out of British prison today?

  • YES the Wikidude will be able to leave jail for a while source

10 Dec 2010 11:32

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World: Prince Charles should’ve rode in the Bentley, not the Rolls Royce

  • It was the sheer conspicuousness of this vehicle in a busy street in the wake of this demonstration that caused the problem.
  • Former royal protection officer Ken Wharfe • Suggesting that the reason that the Royals (Prince Charles and Camilla) were caught up in yesterday’s tuition protests was because they were riding around a very public area in a shiny Rolls Royce limousine, when they should’ve gone with something more modest. “From my own experience, it is a vehicle that is very difficult to manoeuvre in any area, let alone a congested street at Christmas time,” he said. “I do think this was the classic example where the Prince of Wales should have been using his armoured Bentley – it’s far less conspicuous.” Because we all know how much poor people hate rich people who flaunt their overwhelming wealth right in front of them. source

09 Dec 2010 21:23

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World: Rich people caught among commoners don’t know what hit them

“These college kids ruined our nice day, Charles!” “I know, dear … driver, do we have one of those Popemobiles in our fleet? If so, we need one!” source

07 Dec 2010 10:44

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World: Will Julian Assange be getting bailed out of jail anytime soon?

  • NO he will have to stay in custody until at least December 14 source

02 Nov 2010 10:53

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World: Britain is screwed: They entered a security agreement WITH FRANCE.

  • Today we open a new chapter in a long history of co-operation on defence and security between Britain and France. The result will make our citizens safer, more secure and better protected in the global age of uncertainty in which we now live.
  • British Prime Minister David Cameron • Announcing a new security deal between his country and France. The deal includes cooperation on certain military resources, including aircraft carriers, submarines, nuclear technology and ground forces. You may think this is a good idea now, David, but you’ll be eating your hat the second that France surrenders. Just you wait, Davey boy. source
 

20 Oct 2010 10:15

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World: The word of the day in Britain is “austerity.” Hey, budget cuts!

  • Hear that sound? That’s the sound of a bunch of Brits taking in the government’s new austerity measures, a tour that’s hit many other European nations already. (In some countries, such as France and Greece, the reaction has been harsh and violent.) They have a plan to decrease their spending within a few years, and much of the cut is going to come directly from their welfare state. They’re cutting in other places, too, but this is where the average person will feel it most:
  • 19% in overall spending cuts over the next four years
  • 2015 the year British finance minister George Osbourne says they want have the budget balanced
  • 490k the number of public sector job cuts Osbourne says they expect to make due to austerity measures source
  • 66 the new retirement age (by year 2020) – and France is bitching about retiring at 62
  • 24 the minimum number of hours that couples need to work to receive the Working Tax Credit
  • £7B the amount the government says it could save each year with new welfare cuts source
  • » Where they’re still heavily focused: The country is making great efforts towards green energy, investing in wind energy and cutting carbon. Still, it’s worth emphasizing that these are coming during a period where they’re making some of the harshest cuts since World War II.

11 Oct 2010 11:00

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World: When rescues go wrong: Linda Norgrove’s death accidental?

  • bad Linda Norgrove, a British aid worker being held hostage in Afghanistan, was killed on Friday during a failed rescue attempt.
  • worse U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron says that she may have been accidentally killed by her rescuers. Yikes. source

03 Oct 2010 10:25

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Offbeat: Druidry officially recognized as a religion in Britain

Why the hell not? They let atheists walk all over the Church of England all the time. At least these dudes are gonna stick around Stonehenge and not bother anyone. source