Lightbody Live: News and politics

Fortress Britain

Sat, 17 Nov 2007 13:50:03 GMT

Fortress Britain - Fascinating, Depressing article at Times Online

Religion & Politics

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 20:34:08 GMT

My friend Dave sent me this also, and it also makes it onto my blog :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GpauCMf5D8

US Energy Research spending vs Iraq War

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 20:25:18 GMT

My friend Dave sent me this.

http://www.solarpowerrocks.com/solar-trends/a-sick-graph-2/

MP Says Dr. David Kelly was Assassinated

Sat, 20 Oct 2007 22:29:50 GMT

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=488662&in_page_id=1770&ct=5

George Galloway says this is going to be Britain's Watergate.

I challenge you to read this, and not be very concerned indeed about the future.

Sat, 08 Sep 2007 11:54:28 GMT

"The ice is moving at two metres an hour on a front 5km [3 miles] long and 1,500 metres deep"

and

"the island, which has an ice cap 3km thick containing enough water to raise worldwide sea levels by seven metres"

and

"...the estimates of sea level rise in the IPCC report were conservative and based on data two years old. The predicted rise this century was 20cm to 60cm, but it would be at the upper end of this range at least, he said, and some believed it could be two metres. This would be catastrophic for European coastlines. "

and

"The glacier is now moving at 15km a year into the sea although in surges it moves even faster. He measured one surge at 5km in 90 minutes - an extraordinary event. "

Link to the full story here :-

http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,2164776,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=networkfront

are we to conclude that "never again" applies only to white people?

Mon, 27 Aug 2007 19:58:07 GMT

I read this article, written by Mia Farrow, over my lunch, and suddenly all my worries seemed terribly, terribly trivial.

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/africa/article2898438.ece

I urge you to read this.

Glasgow's Answer to Jack Bauer

Mon, 02 Jul 2007 21:39:48 GMT

As the Jeep’s engine revved and the passenger started chucking the petrol containers out the windows like he was Santa in Shettleston, one man stepped in to help The Law take control.

Little did he know, as he happily dragged on his fag, that two crazed al-Qaeda operatives were preparing to meet their maker. But they didn’t meet their maker. Instead they met BAA’s answer to Jack Bauer.

Those hapless al-Qaeda boys were to find out that Glasgow has no respect for international terrorism. Nobody gets between 10,000 Weegies and a £99 week in Ibiza booked on Thursday night through Barrhead Travel.

www.johnsmeaton.com

QE2 to retire, in her 39th year

Mon, 18 Jun 2007 17:46:48 GMT

Shocking news (for me) today.... news that I'd dreaded to hear.

QE2, the world's most famous liner, the world's fastest liner, last true transatlantic liner and the last liner built on the Clyde... is to retire... to Dubai of all places!

I can't help imagining how superb it would have been to have her back in her home in Clydebank. It would have transformed that town and brought people from all over.

I'm trying frantically to book at least one cruise on her as I type this... hang the expense... this is in the 'once in a lifetime' category.

American politics - sound bites without any truth

Sat, 09 Jun 2007 10:22:32 GMT

Great article:-

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/060807F.shtml

Iran's misjudgement

Sun, 01 Apr 2007 15:40:53 GMT

Nobody I've met has agreed with the Iraq war and what Tony Blair and George Bush did, nobody. Tony Blair has been seriously weakened by the Iraq war.

However the Iranian's have just managed to put everybody in the UK back on Tony Blair's side. The government now, suddenly, has the UK population's support, purely due to Iran's actions in the past couple of weeks.

I realised this while visiting HMS Mersey today, which is visiting the Clyde. She looked awesome and I suddenly felt very humbled by what the people on board have to do.

I don't want Scottish Independence

Sun, 14 Jan 2007 11:35:38 GMT

What I DO want, however, is an English assembly (In addition to the UK Parliament in westminster)

This will solve the ridiculous problem of Sccotish MP's voting on England-specific policies which is understandably pissing off many English people and making them want us to become independent.

By introducing a Scottish and Welsh parliament/assembly, and NOT introducing an English one, its almost as if the government actually WANTS to force Scotland to become independent.

This is why I won't be visiting my American friends any time soon.

Sun, 07 Jan 2007 13:31:21 GMT

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/world/story/0,,1984496,00.html

20 ways in which the world could end

Wed, 03 Jan 2007 18:23:55 GMT

Now THIS is MY kind of website!!!

http://www.discover.com/issues/oct-00/features/featworld/

Another Glasgow tenement starts to crumble...

Sun, 31 Dec 2006 15:10:34 GMT

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/6220075.stm

And in other news.... We're DOOMED!

Sat, 30 Dec 2006 13:38:26 GMT

A HUGE ice shelf, bigger than Manhatten, has broken off.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6218333.stm

On the BBC news site, its listed lower down than "Rod and Zara top New Year Honours" and next to "Indiana Jones to Return in 2008" but at least they did carry the item i suppose...

Tenements falling down in Glasgow's West End

Wed, 20 Dec 2006 13:21:00 GMT

EEk!

Due to all the rain we've had recently, the back wall of a block of luxury tenements (even nicer than mine!) fell down, rendering the building unsafe until its repaired.

Have a look here - "Clarence Drive is Falling Down"

http://www.flickr.com/photos/scallopboy/326099910/

Now these are expensive flats - each one must be £250k absolute minimum, so the block itself is worth many millions. It looks to me as if there are 2 doorways/cupboards where there shouldnt be - actually placed into the inner wall which presumably should be solid all the way up. But apprently there are also problems with modern builders not knowing how to deal with the beautiful old sandstone blocks properly - they need pointed correctly with old-fashioned lime.

Britain's warmest year since records began... in 1659.

Thu, 14 Dec 2006 01:22:04 GMT

"Temperatures in central England have been recorded since 1659, the world's longest climate record, and they indicate the trend towards warming weather across Britain as a whole."

"The record year has astounded scientists. "What's phenomenal about this year is that some of these months have broken records by incredible amounts. This year it was 0.8C warmer in autumn and 0.5C warmer between April and October than the previous warmest years. Normally these records are broken by around one tenth of a degree or so," said Prof Jones."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/frontpage/story/0,,1971723,00.html

Are you afraid? I am...

Meanwhile here in Scotland...

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2502619,00.html

Scotland has suffered the wettest November on record, and there is more bad weather to come. Worst hit has been Glasgow, which has endured the highest levels of rainfall on record since the First World War. The city recorded 342mm of rain last month, double the expected average, while Scotland was drenched by 244mm of rain, significantly higher than the average 166mm November total. Continuing torrential downpours have already delivered 141.5mm of rain this month, about 91 per cent of the total average for December. "

"A Met Office spokesman said: “It has rained every day in Scotland for more than 40 days and so far every day in December has brought wet weather. It’s not going to get any better.”"

The Richard Dawkins Phenomenon

Sat, 25 Nov 2006 14:07:03 GMT

I've been following Richard Dawkins since the release of his recent book 'The God Delusion'. I find him an amazing clear thinker and someone who is able to articulate what others are thinking.

People are scared of the religious establishment. They are scared to say no. They are brainwashed - especially children. The occasional people who see reason, are angry at being forced to waste time on this nonsense.

I don't believe in man-made religion.

I might believe in 'God' or there being 'something else' but i'm still thinking about it.

Watch this and, if you have time, part 1 too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qR_z85O0P2M

Big news story about Al Qaeda plot today - what a coincidence...

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 14:32:56 GMT

Big news story about Al Qaeda plot today - what a coincidence that this story is so big today, on the day of the mid-term elections.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6123236.stm

I despair.

Be afraid. Be very afraid. And hope they vote Democrat before it really is too late for any hope to remain.

Mon, 06 Nov 2006 21:00:47 GMT

Read this.

http://www.consortiumnews.com/2006/110606.html

Twice.

it just MUST be a conspiracy because....

Wed, 11 Oct 2006 21:32:12 GMT

Today's date (in american format) - is 9/11/01 upside down...

The REAL story behind the premature death of Concorde

Wed, 11 Oct 2006 15:21:56 GMT

Very sad story.

http://www.concorde-spirit-tours.com/concorde.htm

Powerful stuff... freedom of speech in America.

Tue, 10 Oct 2006 12:04:22 GMT

Watch the video too...

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/15159762/

Five Years Later

Tue, 19 Sep 2006 13:32:44 GMT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdD6op0l2jk

Menzies Campbell on our bad foreign policy

Sun, 20 Aug 2006 14:07:36 GMT

Couldn't agree more.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,1854344,00.html

Today's major UK terrorist alert

Thu, 10 Aug 2006 08:19:28 GMT

After going into Iraq with no good reason and disastrous results...

After helping Israel to prolong a crazed over-reaction...

Its hardly surprising that someone wants to blow us all up!

The fact that many/most people don't agree with what their government has been doing, makes the sort of heroic strength that our public displayed in World War 2 will not be forthcoming.

Ireland said No to the Bombs, so Prestwick said yes

Sun, 30 Jul 2006 00:25:00 GMT

This is just unbelievable.

I think I'll move to Ireland.

http://news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=1104532006

UK Cabinet, including Jack Straw, in revolt over Israel

Sun, 30 Jul 2006 00:13:08 GMT

Jack Straw says that while he grieved for the innocent Israelis killed, he also mourned the '10 times as many innocent Lebanese men, women and children killed by Israeli fire'.

Sounds about right to me.

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/labour/story/0,,1833542,00.html

The Prestwick Airport scandal

Fri, 28 Jul 2006 13:25:15 GMT

I've taken the unusual step of writing to both my MSP (Transport is a devolved matter) and MP (Defence is a UK matter) to complain in the strongest possible terms about Prestwick Airport in Scotland being used to transport American Bombs to Israel.

This disgusts me and makes me ashamed to be Scottish. If Scotland stood up and said a very loud NO I'd be immensely proud.

I wonder if either of them will reply to me...

Our hard-faught-for freedoms are being removed piece by piece

Sat, 01 Jul 2006 11:40:11 GMT

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/article1129827.ece

Churchill - ""If you will not fight for the right, when you can easily win without bloodshed, if you will not fight when your victory will be sure and not so costly, you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all the odds against you and only a precarious chance for survival. There may be a worse case. You may have to fight when there is no chance of victory, because it is better to perish than to live as slaves."

Who killed the electric car?

Mon, 05 Jun 2006 21:00:28 GMT

Nothing particularly surprising to see here - but at least somebody's made a film about it!

Things are changing. S-L-O-W-L-Y !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSBykAngDpY

Beating internet censorship

Sun, 04 Jun 2006 17:50:51 GMT

I've added this to every page of my website. Its a marvellous initiative which aims to put censored material on websites all over the internet, thereby making it impossible for countries to censor the internet.

The Death Penalty and the 9/11 wannae terrorist

Thu, 04 May 2006 21:26:37 GMT

I am SO glad that they didn't give him the death penalty. In fact it gives me hope, on lots of fronts. It sends a strong signal that death is never an answer. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth is not a good rule to live by. America is better than that... and they've just shown the world.

Well done America.

Fuel Price & how it affects us & me.

Tue, 25 Apr 2006 13:10:28 GMT

At $3 a gallon the Americans are squealing, but thats only 37p a litre. Just slightly more than a THIRD of what we pay here just now.

High oil prices are GOOD. They force more efficient use of fuel. They force an American family to consider that they don't actually need a 4.7 litre V8 to propel them across country for a vacation, but that an efficient diesel would do the same job for a fraction of the cost.

You don't have to stop using your cars. Yet. But you do have to be more intelligent about it now. Hybrids, clever turbo-diesels, public transport, trains.

The worst thing, still, is the fact that there is NO AIR FUEL TAX. This just has to stop.

While polishing my treasured MINI Cooper yesterday I realised that when I replace it, it will just have to be with something far, far more efficient. I hope MINI bring something out that fits my needs, or I'll have to look elsewhere. My enjoyment of the car is curtailed by knowing I could be driving something far more efficient and "green". Personal expenditure also comes into it - my MINI now costs £50 to fill up! I'll be looking for an average of 65mpg instead of 35mpg.

Click for Times Article

Click for Daily Telegraph article.

The worst president in history

Thu, 20 Apr 2006 10:52:20 GMT

One of America's leading historians assesses George W Bush

Click to read Rolling Stone article

And another one bites the dust...

Tue, 18 Apr 2006 16:07:31 GMT

Peugeot is to close its car plant at Ryton near Coventry with the loss of 2,300 jobs, it has been announced.

Click to read BBC News article

Today's cheery facts about the state of Britain

Mon, 17 Apr 2006 12:33:08 GMT

Unemployment has risen for 13 out of the past 14 months and the increase is getting bigger each month.
Fuel price is rising by 1p a litre a week
Gas bills are rising by 20%, 10 times the rate of inflation.
Record personal debts

Worth a read : Click for Business Guardian article

Britain is no longer self-sufficient

Sat, 15 Apr 2006 11:04:57 GMT

Easter Sunday - the day we start living off the rest of the world

UK uses more than three times its share of global resources. It only used 1 times in 1961.
Britain 'one of least self-sufficient developed countries'

Link to Guardian story

Eek! Bird Flu in Scotland! Read this from the Guardian

Fri, 07 Apr 2006 11:44:02 GMT

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,1748867,00.html

Unexpected Warming in Antarctica

Sun, 02 Apr 2006 12:10:57 GMT

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4857832.stm

Winter air temperatures over Antarctica have risen by more than 2C in the last 30 years, a new study shows. The warming is seen across the whole of the continent and much of the Southern Ocean.

Scientists are keen to understand the change in temperatures over the continent as the region holds enough water in its ice to raise sea levels by 60 metres.

Blaze on cruise ship

Sun, 26 Mar 2006 16:23:39 GMT

This is scary (see video below). It seems that nobody ever thought about the balconies on new-style cruise ships catching fire. The fire spread from balcony to balcony but whenever it entered a cabin, the sprinkler would suppress the fire and stop it spreading internally. This is why so few injuries or deaths occurred. You have to think that they need to do a rethink to stop this happening again though.

Quote

Blaze on Caribbean cruise ship kills one

March 24: A fire, possibly started by a cigarette, breaks out aboard a cruise ship sailing through the Caribbean, leaving one passenger dead and 11 people injured. NBC's Kerry Sanders reports.

Smoking ban in Scotland

Sun, 26 Mar 2006 01:10:39 GMT

Well thats it!

Smoking is now banned in all public places in Scotland!

So to celebrate the last night of smokey pubs, Rob, Bob, Andy and I all had cigars in McPhabbs :)