anodyne.org.uk

Waterford Wedgwood call in administrators

editor — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 10:03:59 +0000

Is it any wonder! In the current economic climate, purveyors of dust gathering clutter are bound to be among the victims. No doubt some consider their merchandise an adornment to their homes, but financial stringency can induce a more rational attitude. If you already have a number of china figurines, additional purchases are unlikely to add much even for the most devoted fans.

Tragic resumption of conflict on Gaza border

editor — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 22:06:26 +0000

The Palestinians in Gaza announced the end of their cease fire and like turning on a tap, the firing of rockets and mortars into civilian areas of Israel immediately resumed. The Israeli Government was unable to tolerate this situation and has attacked Hamas areas and supply tunnels which are believed to be the routes used to smuggle arms into the Gaza strip.
The loss of life on either side is a tragedy but how can the Hamas militants believe what they are doing will make headway with the Israeli Goverment. It can only make the situation worse.
Progress can only be made towards a fully functioning and independent Palestinian State while the two sides are talking, and no productive talks can take place while what is in effect a state of war exists.

Harold Pinter dies

editor — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 22:10:14 +0000

Telegraph, London: Nobel Laureate playwright Harold Pinter dies

Harold Pinter, the Nobel Prize-winning playwright and political activist, has died of liver cancer aged 78. The writer and poet penned more than 30 plays, including The Caretaker and The Birthday Party.

Insanity in Zimbabwe goes on

editor — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 21:39:41 +0000

On Thursday Robert Mugabe was claiming that the spread of cholera had been halted. The death toll from the outbreak has reached 792. The WHO has warned that the total number of cases could reach 60,000 unless the epidemic is stopped. Hospitals in Harare remain closed, there is no rubbish collection and people are drinking from sewers.

Information Minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu has said the cholera outbreak in Zimbabwe was caused by the UK. Mr Ndlovu is an ally of “President” Mugabe. He went on to described the outbreak as a “genocidal onslaught on the people of Zimbabwe by the British”.

As previously blogged, President Mugabe’s ruling Zanu-PF party and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) have been deadlocked in power-sharing negotiations for several months. There is no sign that this situation will change. Mugabe continues his refusal to relinquish anything more than token positions in the Government.

40th Anniversary of Computer Mouse

editor — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 22:16:11 +0000

The humble computer mouse celebrates its 40th anniversary today.

On 9 December 1968 hi-tech visionary Douglas Engelbart first used one to demonstrate novel ways of working with computers.

BBC story on anniversary

Oliver Postgate dies

editor — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 14:28:52 +0000

This is really sad news. I always liken it to losing a piece of the jigsaw when you thought you had them all.

Click here to see what they are saying on the PM blog

And here to see the BBC news page on the story.

I always loved the really intimate atmosphere he created. You could snuggle up and believe he was telling the story to just you.

My (and Your) Share of National Debt

editor — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 23:29:02 +0000

This value is calculated and updated in real time.

Blog spamming

editor — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 22:29:01 +0000

Unscrupulous people trying to improve the search engine ranking of their sometimes disreputable web sites are attempting to post comments to blogs like this. The comments contain little other than links to their sites. On this site all comments are moderated before publication so none of them actually appear on the site, but each one needs to be deleted along with the email generated to inform me about the comment and it’s content. I am now using an automated process to screen comments, since I installed it on Thursday it has trapped 21 spam comments which will be deleted automatically unless I approve them.

DON’T SPAM HERE

Mumbai

editor — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 22:08:33 +0000

Rabbi Gavriel and Rivkah Holtzberg were killed in one of the worst terrorist attacks in Indian history.

At least 195 lives have been lost in the terrorist attacks in Mumbai which started on Wednesday. India has blamed “elements with links to Pakistan”. I just want to say how sad this has made me, that people going about their normal peaceful business, in a democratic country not actively in conflict with any other nation should have their lives and bodies ripped apart by people with as yet undefined grievances. Let us all pray for their souls.

So little urge to write

editor — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 21:42:22 +0000

Today is Saturday, 29th November and this is my first posting since the 11th.

Since then Barak Obama has been putting hs team together but I have had no urge to write, nothing of any consequence (apart from the loss of 360 lives to cholera) has happened in Zimbabwe to change the outlook there, and we have had the Ross / Brand furore involving these overpaid no talent scum bags insulting Andrew Sachs, a man held in huge affection by the British Public. That covers all I want to say on these subjects at present.