From Howard as a flying pig to Howard as Fagin

Now another Labour election poster has emerged showing Michael Howard’s head on Fagin, Dickens’ anti-semitic portrayal of an evil Jewish criminal in Oliver Twist. Dear Mandy (expert electoral strategist and Jewish background via father – see posts passim): please sort this out asap. Any Jewish people in the ad agency, in the Labour steering committee and in the Labour party generally should make sure these ads are never deployed. Note to Tony: the last UK candidate to openly exploit anti-semitism in a campaign was the openly fascist Oswald Mosley.

Democracy

Israel is no longer the only democracy in the Middle East but what really matters is what difference it makes.

Chris Smith, HIV positive for 17 years, is inspired by Mandela to go public

I wish I was as courageous as he is.

Labour designs an anti-Jewish poster

A Labour election poster in development shows the heads of Tory leader Michael Howard and Shadow Chancellor Oliver Letwin superimposed on flying pigs with the caption “the day Tory sums add up”. Yeah yeah when pigs fly, very droll.

It’s irrelevant whether the poster’s originators were merely having a punch-up with the opposition UK-election style, thought they were just being clever, or were overtly and consciously conveying their anti-semitism. The result is the same and makes the point yet again that in the UK some of the most virulent (hidden or out) anti-semitism comes not from conservatives and nationalists but from those who describe themselves as Labour, left, progressive or similar.

Just as with the Harry swastika affair, surely someone should have pointed out to the Labour campaign team factors such as 1) both Howard and Letwin are Jewish 2) Jews who keep kosher do not eat pork and consider pigs unclean animals 3) pork and pigs have been used in anti-Jewish propaganda down the centuries especially by Germans 4) regardless of whether individual Jews are religious or kosher the poster is bound to cause at least some concern and at most offence and 5) regardless of intention, it would be very likely to be read by Jew-haters as some sort of Labour anti-Jewish statement.

Let’s hope the poster does indeed remain a concept and is not deployed. It is not good enough for Labour to merely make a statement that the poster is not anti-semitic. After all, it would never have seen the light of day if both the people concerned were Muslims.

Global Warming

There are still some flat earthers out there who thing it's all a conspiracy to destroy the USA as we know it. Ponder this:

And it is a view shared by thousands of other climatologists, from every country in the world, each funded by separate organisations or governments and under no common umbrella group that could be said to be influencing their views. In a review of the 924 climate change articles the journal Science published between 1993 and 2003, every paper supported the idea that man is to blame for global warming.

but also....

Yet the gainsayers are undaunted. The Danish economist Bjorn Lomberg and London University's Emeritus Professor of Biogeography, Philip Stott, argue the evidence for man-made global warming is still unconvincing; David Bellamy, ecologist and broadcaster, claims climate change alarmists are backed by manufacturers who want to cover the nation with wind farms; and in his latest novel, State of Fear, Michael Crichton dismisses climate warnings as the 'yammering of fearmongers'. This group gets short shrift from Lawton. 'They are flat-earthers,' he said. 'Bellamy is a botanist, not a climatologist.'

Building Israel

It may not be earth shaking like the expected "cease fire" coming our way but to us, it's just as important. We planted two roses in the garden today, our first plants for the garden to be.

Here's one guy who lifted more than a finger

A round of applause for King Mohammed V, grandfather of the current King of Morocco. He refused to make Moroccan jews wear the yellow star or be deported. That took some courage.

Tsunami fund 'hacking' is probed

Not what it seems. Now read this story. Thanks to the Politech mailing list for the story. I wish the police would operate as efficiently against spammers.

Britain 'sliding into police state'

An exaggeration surely. Whilst I am always worried about arbitrary police powers , Israel , which has similar laws has managed to walk to tightrope between security and liberty very well. I am confident the UK can manage it as well.

P-p-pick up a Penguin – if you can find one

If it makes Adrian feel a little better (on the other hand it may just confirm our shared scepticism about technology implementation), large-scale cock-ups of large-scale IT projects are not limited to the public sector. Pearson, the parent company of Penguin Books and other imprints such as Viking and Pearson Education, is still having trouble with its massive state-of-the-art, all bells-and-whistles, high-tech book distribution centre near Rugby nearly a year after it opened. The operating system crashed, stayed down for months and still does not work properly. Deliveries are still patchy. Penguin authors have been up in arms about lost royalties, booksellers have been complaining about unfulfilled orders and lost sales and both groups are calling for compensation. So far Pearson has said no en masse but it would consider individual cases. Lawyers: quills and pink ribbons to the ready.

Sharon: World didn't lift a finger to stop the Holocaust

Except for defeating Nazi Germany and occupying every square centimeter of land they occupied that is. His world view is seen through different spectacles than mine. So why did 18,587,000 Allied personnallied forces die for then? Berlin fashions? I would like to point out that total WWII deaths were around 55,000,000. Not exactly 'a finger'.

Survivors and leaders travel to Auschwitz to mark anniversary of its liberation

This family for one, will never forget.

The A-Z is one of Londoners' best-loved books

The character development is minimal, the dialogue non-existent and the plot frankly rubbish: however it is a bestseller, and the one book no Londoner or visitor can afford to be without. The London A-Z street atlas, first published in 1936, yesterday beat volumes by Virginia Woolf, Evelyn Waugh, Joseph Conrad, Zadie Smith and Peter Ackroyd to come in at number five in a poll of Londoners’ 30 best-loved London books.

I heartily agree. The A-Z(note to yanks: pronounced 'zed') never ceases to be fascinating browsing and there is always something more to learn about London even after 25 years here – and of course the continuing need to use it to find unfamiliar streets. I use the A-Z Master Atlas of Greater London covering the M25 and beyond and at the other end of the scale A-Z Motorist’s London Atlas in super-scale (so you can clearly see the smallest passageways and cut-throughs) which also shows all parking meter spaces and car parks in town.

Letter withdrawn

I don't care what they call it. It's anti-semitism yet again.

President Vladimir Putin will join other world leaders at Thursday's commemoration of the Jan. 27, 1945, liberation by Soviet troops of the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp in Poland. He has in the past called anti-Semitism unacceptable. "It's in the hands of the government to bring a case against them [the deputies] and not allow them to serve in the Duma," Rabbi Lazar said. "Any kind of anti-Semitic propaganda by government officials should be outlawed and these people should be brought to justice."

The timing was very sensitive. I see Muslim leaders in the UK didn't turn up and any services, claiming "this should be for all genocide".

Russian MPs withdraw support for 'blood libel' letter

I don't care what they call it. It's anti-semitism yet again.

President Vladimir Putin will join other world leaders at Thursday's commemoration of the Jan. 27, 1945, liberation by Soviet troops of the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp in Poland. He has in the past called anti-Semitism unacceptable. "It's in the hands of the government to bring a case against them [the deputies] and not allow them to serve in the Duma," Rabbi Lazar said. "Any kind of anti-Semitic propaganda by government officials should be outlawed and these people should be brought to justice."

Meanwhile: Not what IT's cracked up to be

Yet more sad tales from the horrible world of large scale it projects. This article makes dismal reading. I think I'll give up software engineering and realise my dream of being a piano player in a brothel.

UN to mark 60th anniversary of Auschwitz liberation Monday

Well, well, well. We're moving beyond the bad old days when Arafat turned up there.

However, the determination of the secretary general and the U.S., in addition to quiet diplomacy on Israel's part, eventually led to a majority of 138 members out of 191 supporting the decision. Some of the Arab countries also joined the supporters of the move. Nasser al-Kidwa, known for never missing a chance to needle and isolate Israel, telephoned ambassador Dan Gillerman to announce he was supporting the session, a possible indication of his desire to join the new spirit between Israel and the PA following the death of Yasser Arafat.

During the night, I heard, much to my surprise, an Arab intellectual (in exile of course) roundly condemming Arab Governments for blaming the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for all their woes. He said they have it the wrong way round and he's right. I wish I had caught his name.

RSS Feed link

For those of you who like RSS, the feed link is in the title. I've just finsihed setting up Thunderbird inside of my old email client. Now I can manage to see my favourite blogs in summary, manage my email accounts with one inbox and read newsgroups all with the same excellent application. Runs on Linux as well which will be my next home project. it can't do hotmail or the equivalents though.

Words as political tools

Shades of Northern Ireland 10 years ago. On BBC Radio4’s Broadcasting House programme this morning the news reader reported progress that Israel and the Palestinians are moving closer to a ceasefire:

"Hamas and Islamic jihad have promised to suspend attacks after talks with the new Palestinian president [sic] Mahmoud Abbas. The Palestinian groups have denied agreeing to a formal truce but said they could accept what they called a period of calm.”

Getting it right and wrong.

I have mentioned friends of ours who started a new vegetarian restaurant not far from where we used to live. All was going well until recently when they we're visited by someone from the Minister of the Interior. It would appear that the land they were using which belonged to the Kibbutz did not have permission to use it for non agricultural purposes. I will spare you the details but it's closed now and the lawyers are back. Just goes to show, when it comes to land use and ownership in Israel, I'd rather walk blindfold through a minefield.

This is the last of my free days until I start my new job. My only perk will be filling my car up at the Kibbutz garage and lunch.

IE Continues to Lose Grip on Market

Excellent. Move to Firefox now.

All change

I see that the "coalition of the willing," has gone. the USA and uk are now looking for an early exit which I don't think can happen. Still, the latest moves in Israel look promising although these have more to do with the demise of Arafat rather than the Iraq fiasco. With no WMDs to be found in Iraq, there doesn't appear to be any great enthusiasm for sorting Iran out. I also note that Egypt as well as Saudi Arabia has been toying with the idea of nukes. Not good at all. Please don't get the impression that this is all about Israel. Saudi Arabia does not like what is happening in Iran any more than the rest of the world does.

Peace Now : Activities > Countrywide Activities

Now that we're settling in, thoughts turn to politics again. Peace Now activists were up and about today handing out leaflets and stickers. i'm, trying for a graphic of the latest one.

Hamas recognizes 1967 borders for first time

Is this supposed to be real? Amazing if true.

Article six of the document says "the elections in the Palestinian territories will be the main instrument for deciding all the main political issues that face the Palestinians." The article is similar in essence to Abbas' promise to bring any future agreement with Israel to a national referendum.

Israel might hit first

Vice President Dick Cheney said on Thursday that Iran was at the top of the administration's list of world trouble spots and expressed concern that Israel "might well decide to act first" to eliminate any nuclear threat from Tehran.

Here we go again. This time, Israel and the USA will be alone.

Work

Well, one job offer has come up. it's on a religious kibbutz quite some ways from here and no quite the offer I was looking for. So, wait for better or take what I have?

Flagship NHS project in danger

Another UK large scale IT project runs into trouble. I am not suprised.

Things that make the neigbours stare.

We have become well known locally, mainly for the new roof. Recently, having our own internal computer network and compost bin/heap has excited comment. Still, our neighbour's son does like juggling and his evening street performances (weather permitting) draws an appreciative crowd , especially from our hard working community police force. They always applaud.

Phat phuc

This place in Chelsea gets my award for London’s best-named Vietnamese caff.

Israeli doctors in Thailand

Here’s something positive for Hat. This shouldn’t be noteworthy but - as the BBC too often comes across as biased against Israel or politicises Israelis - it is. (Flipsidedly similar to how, say, black men pushing prams in London shouldn’t be noteworthy but it is). Today the Beeb has a photo feature on Israeli doctors working in Thailand to recover and identify people around the world who died in the tsunami. Nothing more, nothing less, just good solid reporting about an expert forensics team travelling long distances doing an excellent job in difficult circumstances.

They come in clumps

Weeks go by without a sniff of a job then two almost offers turn up within 24 hours of each other. Here, chez Egghead it's been raining as in most of Israel. The local scenery reminds me very strongly of England especially the dripping vegetation and the ankle deep mud. We have a neighbour whom the Eggheads have differing views. It's a large IDF airbase so the mornings and evenings are punctuated by afterburner noise. For myself, I don't mind, the 'Sound of Freedom' and all that. As my brother and Father both served in the RAF and I have designed various bits of aircraft and ordnance in my time, I can't complain.

New Palestinian leader faces multiple crises

I wish the Beeb would stop calling him 'President'. Abbas is the new Chairman of the Palestinian Authority and, as far as Sharon is concerned, heading for the same lock down as Arafat.

Non fumarsi per favore

The ball keeps on rolling for the human right of smokers to smoke in sealed privacy and the human right of non-smokers not to smoke and not to inhale smoke.

Italy has just banned smoking in all public places that do not have a specially constructed dedicated sealed smoking room with smoke-extractor and automatic closing doors. Proprietors, not just smokers, face large fees for non-compliance. The fine is doubled if someone lights up in front of children or pregnant women. Ninety thousand Italians die each year from lung cancer.

Other bans implemented since my last no-smoking posts include:

• Norway: extended a ban on workplace smoking to include bars and restaurants.
  
• New Zealand: extended its ban on smoking in offices, shops and public buildings to include pubs, clubs, restaurants, and school grounds.
  
• Bhutan: banned smoking in public and prohibited tobacco sales.

Recently announced bans in the pipeline include:

• Portugal: just about to go down a similar ‘sealed room’ route to Italy.
  
• Hong Kong: plans to extend a ban on smoking to bars, restaurants and offices.
  
• Australia: to ban smoking on Sydney’s Bondi beach.
  
• Quebec: intends a complete ban on smoking in all public places within a year.

The Fool's Page

Welcome to another Israeli blogger. The Dunk's a damn good pub as well.

Thatcher flies to London after plea deal clinches freedom

Nice one. Slap on the wrist and with one bound he's free. Now spare a thought for the 40 or so mugs who joined up as 'security' and are spending time in Zimbabwe or Congo. I am gratified that nobody has tried to involve Israel with all this.

Law PhD to the next level

I had a very stimulating thesis proposal meeting yesterday. My supervising professor enthused over it. She thinks it is excellent work and with a few edits will now be ready to submit it for formal registration. It is superb to be back in an environment where cleverness, intelligence and thinking are encouraged and appreciated rather than looked down upon.

Royal family Nazi shock (not)

So the number two in line to the throne thinks he can use the excuse of a fancy-dress party to yawol-mein-furher it up. What a pillock. The theme of the party was ‘native and colonial’, not ‘fascist and jew-hating’.

Anyway, nu what’s new? He is after all continuing the proud traditions of the Royal Family’s German roots (they only changed their German surnames from Saxe-Coburg-Gotha and Battenburg to Windsor and Mountbatten during WW1) and support of Hitler and Nazi policies (eg King Edward VIII and Princess Michael of Kent's father). Mum Brenda is most likely Not Amused especially as the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz is being commemorated this month and she will soon be meeting with survivors.

On the other hand if you’re an out and proud anti-semite lunatic like David Ick(e) of course you know that Hitler was actually a Rothschild…

Blogger sacked for sounding off

What a brave new world we live in. Samuel Pepys would have been fired from his Navy job and Britannia would never have ruled the wavelets.

Israel and wildlife

I hope cat lovers will forgive me for saying that feral cats are not an asset. The Eggheads will not let me purchase a .22 for local culling or even a catapult. The damage they do to the wildlife is enormous. For further information on how you can help and be better informed clink here.

Getting things done.

I'm sure this house will be finished one day. For those who need to do this, do not buy doors from Interlock. We still have curtains instead of interior doors. They don't appear to have a web site for Israel. Other than that, we're done. What gives with the Brown - Blair thing? Are they friends again?

Microsoft browser bugs 'extremely critical'

You're still using Explorer? Tut tut. Move to Mozilla right now.

A New Government

So Israel has a new cabinet and Government. There were 13 Likud rebels who voted against their own party and should , by rights, have been booted out. I find some aspects of Israeli political life strange. Still, the disengagement plan is on a roll now.

He's back

Yes, Bezeq finally admitted defeat and connected the Eggheads to the outside world. We are in our new snug house with an attached collection of churned up mud and various trees feeling bashful in their new found winter clothing. I will spare you the gory details except to point out that moving house in Israel requires a nearby ATM, a fixed smile and someone to hold your arms when the homicidal urges get too much. Having a partner helps, we take turns. All hail to Cathy for doing so well in keeping the blog going.

Naked road in Kensington shock

Now this is more like it. F*ck the humps and bumps that really piss me off. Get rid of all signs, markings, lights and crossings. Make it imperative for drivers hone their skills in order to avoid pedestrians who are crossing everywhere and often looking the wrong way - Exhibition Road is home to top tourist attractions such as the V&A, Science and Natural History Museums. And anyway we motorists know to avoid this road in favour of the more fun one nearby. All this is part of the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea better streets policy.

Will he or won’t he…

Speculation is rife in the UK media about when the Labour government will set the next general election date. All pundits agree it will be this year (even though Blair actually has until May 2006) with many such as this punting for the mellifluous oh-five-oh-five-oh-five but hedging their bets just the same. Interestingly in private the NW3-N6 chattering classes are whispering for a February snap election. We shall see.

The Abu Hamza poor show

Our star islamic terrorist prisoner is at it again taking the piss out of the English legal system. Today all Hookie had to do was step in front of a camera in the prison to make a video link appearance in court. He said his toenails were too long to move even though he’d been walking around just fine. The judge (what a sense of humour) set the UK trial date for 4th of July – no doubt making a point that Handsfree is also facing extradition proceedings to the US.

Jewish girl has bat mitzvah on the slopes

A ski-in ski-out bat mitzva in a rustic cabin at 9000 feet - now this makes a nice change! Definitely worth considering something like this when I finally get around to having mine.

Books in bed

New year e-resolution no 1: get my blog image hosting sorted. Here's the first go.

Having just added two more books to the ever-growing queue of books on my ‘to read’ bookcase, this image - courtesy of my favourite SF Bay Area bookshop - is a lovely aspiration.

Google as the next Microsoft?

Food for thought. Following on from one of those after-dinner conversations musing on what would have happened had Apple licensed/made open its Mac technology thereby becoming PC industry standard (good universe: we would all be much happier and there would be much less computer rage; bad universe: Apple and Apple products would have become just as lazy, bloated and dangerous as Microsoft.) John Naughton speculates what could happen in the bad universe if Google’s full market power is unleashed:

We've been watching the growth spurt of a giant. Google still has the sparkiness, élan and in-your-face cheekiness of its high-IQ founders. But it's set to become a very rich and powerful company that aspires to structure all the world's information. And as it grows and extends its tentacles into every niche of online life, it will get to know an awful lot about most of us. Under different management, and with more pressure from Wall Street, Google could turn into a nightmarish menace on a par with Microsoft.

Please Google do not cut off this blog.

Blog break

The computer powers off shortly and there will be a blog break until such time it reconnects . Please talk amongs yourselves for a while.