Wednesday 21 November 2012
Your New Favourite Coffee Shop Pays its Taxes
Monday 25 January 2010
My Party Manifesto
Economy Reform one of the 'nationalised' banks (probably RBS) so it becomes a National Bank of Sustainability, investing wholly in the new, green economy. Develop new indices/measures of national economic wellbeing which takes enhanced account of the social and environmental dimension in the national 'bottom line'. These would become primary tools to guide economic policy rather than old, outdated notions of 'economic growth', which are based almost exclusively upon unsustainable growth in consumption.
Environment All tools of Government and to be geared towards the UK reducing its CO2 emissions by 50% by 2020 and 90% by 2030 at the latest. This policy overrides all other policy considerations, and is at the heart of the Government programme. George Monbiot appointed as Chancellor. Comprehensive, unbiased review of nuclear power, with main consideration being can it make a cost effective contribution to the low carbon economy that policy demands.
Transport Aviation fuel to be taxed. Significant investment in coach, trams and train. New high speed rail links creating genuine north/south/east/west network. Expansion in air travel to be curtailed. No new runways or airports.
Constitutional Change Roy Jenkins Commission recommendations on electoral reform to be enacted. House of Lords to become wholly elected
Defence Trident to be axed.
Overseas Aid
Overseas aid to be increased to 1% of GDP.
Do I get your vote?
Me and my Kodak Zi8
I recently bought myself a Kodak Zi8 camera, and it rapidly became my new favourite gadget. I’ve never been one for carrying a camera around in my pocket, but I’ve quickly taken to shoving the Zi8 in my pocket whenever I leave the house. All the worthwhile fruits from my shoots will end up at www.youtube.com/palefoxrecords . Hey! Why not take a look now and subscribe to my channel…. that’d make me happy.
Sunday 6 December 2009
The Brussels Son et Lumiere festival show – Grand Place
We just got back from a week away travelling the Low Countries by train. Had a great time in Leiden, Antwerp, Ghent and Brussels. How it is that people say Belgium is boring I do not know…. mad bars, fantastic beers,good food, a vibrant cultural scene coupled with pleasant people and wonderful architecture are all good in my book. Is it the lower change of being glassed on a night out that renders it boring?
Anyway, a video from the heart of Brussels:
And a few photos:
Leiden, Netherlands
Antwerp
The Christmas Market and ice rink at St Catherine’s, Brussels, as seen from
the seasonal Ferris wheel.
Saturday 21 November 2009
More floods, and musings on 6 degrees
Wednesday 23 September 2009
Are Pandas Worth It?
Now. I think that pandas may indeed by outdated, unsuited to the modern world and a bit pointless. But then again, so are, for example, churches, antique works of art and most things preserved as 'sacred' by the heritage industries. Look at the Cutty Sark for example. When that burnt to a crisp, was there a debate (outside this forum that is) about whether to 'rebuild', even though pretty much all of the original ship timber was unsalvagable, rendering whatever eventually becomes known as 'Cutty Sark' in future about as authentic as The Sugababes. No there wasn't. So the decision was immediately made that the ship should be 'rebuilt' (for which, read ' a new one should be built that we can hang the preserved decorations from the old one on) for the nation. So I say this: If the cutty sark and Mona Lisa are worth preserving because of what they represent or because of their timeless beauty, then so is the panda.
Friday 4 September 2009
beigels
I adore a perfect, chewy-fleshed beigel. A real pleasure. Therefore I cannot bloody stand it when you buy something that pretends to be a beigel and it isn't... its just a bread roll with a hole in! Completely different mouthfeel and taste.
My other half will tell you of many times I have sulked for a good half hour or so after being landed with such a pathetic lie of a foodstuff. A chief culprit is Bagel Factory, which has outlets in railway stations and stuff. AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE. Their pathetic little offerings are not fit to lick the boots of proper beigels....the sort you might find at, say the Brick Lane beigel shop, or the Finsbury Park Beigelarium. These places serve the food of gods in comparison.