Finally had time to fully dive into a post from you and comment, as it's been a busy summer! Thank you so much for putting all this info together and sharing. Good on Sir Alexander for pushing back against the censorship. And shame, shame on those underreporting the situation for women in Afghanistan and the ongoing plight of women in Iran. Oh that's right, we are supposed to somehow feel sorry for Iran and so we mustn't muddy the waters with the horrible oppression of women there and of course if we notice the terror against women in Afghanistan then we might make the connection to the horrible things the Taliban in Iran has done forever.
First and foremost -- hooray that you are here. I have missed your posts!
I have friends who are of Iranian descent. One cut her hair in protest at the current regime back when the women's protests started. The Iranian people are going to have to get themselves out that mess but I hope and pray that some day they do as the current regime oppresses them and seeks to impose a v narrow view of the world. The Taliban seek to impose an even narrower view.
I've been listening to Elica Le Bon, an Iranian American Lawyer. Her take is that the people of Iran were all set to overthrow the regime when Obama/Biden released all those billions to the Iranian government and shored the whole mess up. It's disgusting the double speak around all that.
Don't know if you are aware but a bunch of Iranian regime baddies were welcomed into Canada with open arms. Thankfully the Iranian Canadian citizens kicked up a big fuss and a few of the baddies have been deported. However there are apparently hundreds of these assholes in Canada now that are probably there to stay. I am not far from Vancouver BC where these baddies were flying in. So I have had some concerns about them getting into the US as the Canadian border is pretty loosely goosey now.
Yeah well ask the folks in New York about that. I hear they are pouring in over there from Canada now. We haven't seen that yet here tho. Hopefully we won't. Our border here was seriously OVER defended for years after 9/11. Now it's back to under defended again. Those folks need to read Goldilocks and Three Bears or something, so they can get the border defense just right!
I didn't. I voted for the incumbent as I thought he was a good MP. Among other things he answered my emails. The new MP has not done so far. I will keep writing to him though.
I think the new MP and I may share a dog trainer -- I know my trainer was going to meet the dog a few weeks ago with a view towards training it but I have not heard anything since.
Thanks. The story about the farm-to-market-British-goods-only pub was interesting. Seems a hunger for local and fresh is world wide (at least Britain and the US).
I am a hard line Free Speech absolutist (meaning despite what one of the US VP candidates thinks) whatever "hate-speech" is it must not be forbidden by authorities (and is protected by the US 1st Amendment"). But "non-crime hate"??? What is that? Were I to stand in Hyde Park and exclaime - with citations to evidence [Afghan women anyone? Iran? Etc .] - that Islam is a 7th Century Death Cult, is that "hate speech" or simply truth-based opinion? So if a copper were about and even though I'd committed no crime - wrote a report about me and what I'd said. What are the consequences of such a report? No crime ... so what? [Obviously, if I did do that, some of the whacks that inhabit some parts of Britain now might come head hunting for me.] But what consequences? Indeed, I'd be inclined to make repeated statements so as to amplify my points. Thoughts?
This may rub the wrong way, but the women of Afghanistan were in a world of hurt before the Western Powers decided to embark on their idiotic misadventure there. It seems things have returned more or less to status quo ante. Of course it is horrendous. So too are practices in Iran, in India and Pakistan ("honor" killings of women; Sikhs murdered for disagreeing). Does anyone think the existence of Western concepts of freedom are ever going to take root in a muslim country? Certainly the death of thousands of US, British, and other coalition soldiers there were not a recipe for Western style democracy. Respectfully, I do not think the opprobrium of English or American society is going to do anything for those women.
To a certain extent I agree with you but even in the US, threats to kill or blackmail are a crime for example. I also think you don't draw out the poison as it were if you leave it to fester and people don't have their ideas tested.
Hate speech are aggravating features to a crime -- for example abusive language while robbing someone. They can increase the length of a sentence if convicted of it. It is hard to get a conviction though.
The non crime hate incidents come from the MacPherson report into policing during the Blair era. They are insidious and take up a lot of time. It was supposed to be about detecting patterns of behaviour before crime actually happens. They can turn up if someone is being vetted for say a caretaker at a high school or a teacher. They were also being abused. Harry Miller has won several cases on this subject and while I don't always agree with how he goes about it, I do agree with his general attitude and perseverance.
I read Michener's book on Afghanistan back in high school. I have also read Dalrymple on the subject of the Afghan Wars. Yes there were problems. No, women were not treated like this. Back in the 16th century, women in Muslim countries were possibly freer than women in Britain. I think the Western coalition should have done things differently and have been prepared for the long hard slog of several generations -- a v unfashionable liberal imperialism approach I know, but they made a ton of promises and then bailed. And no I don't think Western women being cross are going to do anything, but if it gives someone courage to stand up who might be able to then it will be worth it. It also exposes what a sham this sort of Islam is -- the burka is not traditional dress for Afghan women. It is as you know the same sort of Islam which is practiced by Hamas, a current favourite of the omni-cause adherents.
One can argue about if the creation of Pakistan was a huge mistake, particularly given the sheer number of dead and if Mountbatten hurried things along too much. Britain was completely spent (they were before WW2 but that is another story) They knew back certainly during the WW2 that there was going to be huge trouble once they were gone. Should Britain ever have gone into Afghanistan in the first place or was it a reaction in many ways to the whole Jacobite myth?
I’m looking forward to the new book! I’ll check Barnes & Noble for it and let you know.
If we had pulled out of Afghanistan better and left a presence I wonder if this would have happened. The women have it worse than ever before. No protests here, which is not shocking.
Springer puppies are adorable. Happy anniversary to Paddy!
I think Avril Harriman (a Democrat) was also responsible for a good many of them.
And then there is Vietnam particularly under Johnson. Of course the Bay of Pigs is under Kennedy. Or indeed the Iran hostage crisis under Carter. And then there is Libya and Syria under Obama. The US has a long and ignoble history of messing up whoever is in charge. Part of the trouble is ensuring a viable regime when the old regime is badly or fatally flawed to the extent that it can no longer govern, particularly when the regime is no longer hereditary in nature and there is no good way of determining how the next rulers will develop.
To be fair, I don't think Biden is exactly stupid. He is stubbornly arrogant and wedded to certain courses of actions because he thinks he knows best. I found George Packer's The Unwinding enlightening on the subject of Biden and the various Biden unexploded bombs people have to tread around.
I think Biden is of middling intelligence. But ambitious, without a core set of beliefs or principles. He has a good index finger for determining wind direction. But as the winds change, so do his positions. I do agree that more than intelligence, he has a self belief that leads him astray and for others to clean up. BTW, I'd not heard of The Unwinding. I just downloaded it and look forward to reading it. I am in the midst of Selena Zito's "The Great Revolt" and Thomas Frank's "The People, No": But Unwinding will come next after them.
My eldest told me back in 2020 that it was the best book he'd read on the American political situation. I found it v interesting for a number of reasons. I look forward to hearing what you think. I could not vote for Biden after reading it and he turned out to be about what I thought he would be.
Not to mention the amount of equipment we just left there for the Taliban to have and sell. It’s absurd.
As for Biden, no one acts alone and those advising him and in charge of the logistics need to be held accountable, but as Commander in Chief, he owns it. Although you wouldn’t know that from his constant blaming of Trump for everything. He should read Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink.
The blaming of the previous regime is a tried and tested technique. You can see this with Labour now. The Conservatives particularly under Cameron blamed Blair and Brown etc. It is the whole -- it is not our fault, it is the other guy's. You could see this with Harris trying to distance herself and then suddenly she couldn't.
And the Trump haters will believe absolutely anything bad about him because they want to believe it. Biden reversed all of Trump’s boarder policies on his first day.
Hello Northumberland! Good to see Ya again. Hope I'm better to be late, than never.
Another fine roundup of articles You present to us.
I agree the police have enough crime to deal with, that they don't need to spend time on non-crimes. Of course the policy would stifle free speech. That's the intent of it. And, although I'm an ex-smoker, I'd hate to see smoking outdoors become banned.
I didn't know some British universities had campuses in China. And I agree with those who said there was a cover-up on the reasons for them to want to quash the free speech law. They wouldn't want the real reasons to be aired, so I'm glad they are being aired.
The plight of the Afghani women is simply deplorable. Figures.
And I gotta say: I'm looking forward to Your book coming out. And I'm glad to hear the new book is coming along nicely. Also good to see Paddy, and hear he's doing so well.
Here, today is the last day of heat at 96° (35.6° C). Thank heavens!
Yes some British universities have a huge presence in China. Lancaster is one. Durham and Newcastle are others. St Andrews oddly does a lot of their overseas recruiting in the States (they are 4 years and have a 2 semester system). The unis invested heavily in overseas money and built the accommodation etc for it.
I do hope you enjoy my book. And you must read Mick Heron. I am currently reading the third (there are eight books) in his Slow Horses. He can really write. Some things which shouldn't work really work. His Jackson Lamb character (brilliantly played by Gary Oldfield in the tv series btw) is one for the ages. Totally non pc but with a lot of hidden heart for his little flock of misfits.
Oh and because you like Terry Pratchett -- my eldest recently went to the village where his house is. He reported that you can really tell how the chalk valleys inspired some of his creations particularly the whole wee free men. Lovely part of the world.
To a certain extent I agree with you, and there are scandalous doings coming out tomorrow and Sunday or so I am told by 'sources'. It is more the sudden way in which it has been handled that causes problems. Should some of the people who benefited from the largesse previously have sponsored their own programmes/given back? Perhaps they should.
There have always been patrons of the Arts but if you are going to have the State as patron you often end up with something you didn't intend.
And I thank you for being restrained in not bringing up your Cassandra declamations prior to the election. I had hoped for competency but this is basically pandering to the unions from the get go. My one consolation is that I didn't vote for them.
Re the SOuthport girls -- the youth is in custody and will be tried at a later date.
The trials of the rioters are on going.
Yesterday saw the conclusion of the trial of the youth who murdered the girl in Hexham back in January. I was undecided about whether or not to put it in. He was convicted of murder. His defence appeared to be diminished responsibility/just didn't remember so it should b manslaughter. The jury had none of it and convicted him which was the right verdict. The poor mother let her go into Hexham and put off her meeting the police about the stalking and then this. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13793609/Holly-Newton-meet-police-stalker-begged-town-instead-day-murder-mother.html
I am pleased you like my write ups. I know the news in the US isn't v international and yet the international news is interesting as it were.
I am sorry about your Progressive mayor who is showing their totalitarian tendencies. Hopefully soon you will be able to VtBO.
Finally had time to fully dive into a post from you and comment, as it's been a busy summer! Thank you so much for putting all this info together and sharing. Good on Sir Alexander for pushing back against the censorship. And shame, shame on those underreporting the situation for women in Afghanistan and the ongoing plight of women in Iran. Oh that's right, we are supposed to somehow feel sorry for Iran and so we mustn't muddy the waters with the horrible oppression of women there and of course if we notice the terror against women in Afghanistan then we might make the connection to the horrible things the Taliban in Iran has done forever.
First and foremost -- hooray that you are here. I have missed your posts!
I have friends who are of Iranian descent. One cut her hair in protest at the current regime back when the women's protests started. The Iranian people are going to have to get themselves out that mess but I hope and pray that some day they do as the current regime oppresses them and seeks to impose a v narrow view of the world. The Taliban seek to impose an even narrower view.
I've been listening to Elica Le Bon, an Iranian American Lawyer. Her take is that the people of Iran were all set to overthrow the regime when Obama/Biden released all those billions to the Iranian government and shored the whole mess up. It's disgusting the double speak around all that.
That sounds like a decent take.
The double speak is disgusting.
And what happened to the Iranian people was not what they thought was going to happen when they overthrew the Shah.
Don't know if you are aware but a bunch of Iranian regime baddies were welcomed into Canada with open arms. Thankfully the Iranian Canadian citizens kicked up a big fuss and a few of the baddies have been deported. However there are apparently hundreds of these assholes in Canada now that are probably there to stay. I am not far from Vancouver BC where these baddies were flying in. So I have had some concerns about them getting into the US as the Canadian border is pretty loosely goosey now.
Yeah well ask the folks in New York about that. I hear they are pouring in over there from Canada now. We haven't seen that yet here tho. Hopefully we won't. Our border here was seriously OVER defended for years after 9/11. Now it's back to under defended again. Those folks need to read Goldilocks and Three Bears or something, so they can get the border defense just right!
Jesus, I didn't vote Labour in order to be banned from having a cheeky ciggie outside a bleedin' pub!
I know. Of all the things they could have done, this was not on my bingo card as the saying goes.
Agree, though one might ask why you voted for Labour at all since that sort of social control is bread and butter for Socialism ...
I didn't. I voted for the incumbent as I thought he was a good MP. Among other things he answered my emails. The new MP has not done so far. I will keep writing to him though.
I think the new MP and I may share a dog trainer -- I know my trainer was going to meet the dog a few weeks ago with a view towards training it but I have not heard anything since.
{I was putting that question to Martin. I kinda suspected where your vote went 😊}
I enjoy reading yr weekly summaries so-o-o-o much. Thank you for writing them.
You are v welcome. It saves me shouting to an empty room!
Thanks. The story about the farm-to-market-British-goods-only pub was interesting. Seems a hunger for local and fresh is world wide (at least Britain and the US).
I am a hard line Free Speech absolutist (meaning despite what one of the US VP candidates thinks) whatever "hate-speech" is it must not be forbidden by authorities (and is protected by the US 1st Amendment"). But "non-crime hate"??? What is that? Were I to stand in Hyde Park and exclaime - with citations to evidence [Afghan women anyone? Iran? Etc .] - that Islam is a 7th Century Death Cult, is that "hate speech" or simply truth-based opinion? So if a copper were about and even though I'd committed no crime - wrote a report about me and what I'd said. What are the consequences of such a report? No crime ... so what? [Obviously, if I did do that, some of the whacks that inhabit some parts of Britain now might come head hunting for me.] But what consequences? Indeed, I'd be inclined to make repeated statements so as to amplify my points. Thoughts?
This may rub the wrong way, but the women of Afghanistan were in a world of hurt before the Western Powers decided to embark on their idiotic misadventure there. It seems things have returned more or less to status quo ante. Of course it is horrendous. So too are practices in Iran, in India and Pakistan ("honor" killings of women; Sikhs murdered for disagreeing). Does anyone think the existence of Western concepts of freedom are ever going to take root in a muslim country? Certainly the death of thousands of US, British, and other coalition soldiers there were not a recipe for Western style democracy. Respectfully, I do not think the opprobrium of English or American society is going to do anything for those women.
To a certain extent I agree with you but even in the US, threats to kill or blackmail are a crime for example. I also think you don't draw out the poison as it were if you leave it to fester and people don't have their ideas tested.
Hate speech are aggravating features to a crime -- for example abusive language while robbing someone. They can increase the length of a sentence if convicted of it. It is hard to get a conviction though.
The non crime hate incidents come from the MacPherson report into policing during the Blair era. They are insidious and take up a lot of time. It was supposed to be about detecting patterns of behaviour before crime actually happens. They can turn up if someone is being vetted for say a caretaker at a high school or a teacher. They were also being abused. Harry Miller has won several cases on this subject and while I don't always agree with how he goes about it, I do agree with his general attitude and perseverance.
I read Michener's book on Afghanistan back in high school. I have also read Dalrymple on the subject of the Afghan Wars. Yes there were problems. No, women were not treated like this. Back in the 16th century, women in Muslim countries were possibly freer than women in Britain. I think the Western coalition should have done things differently and have been prepared for the long hard slog of several generations -- a v unfashionable liberal imperialism approach I know, but they made a ton of promises and then bailed. And no I don't think Western women being cross are going to do anything, but if it gives someone courage to stand up who might be able to then it will be worth it. It also exposes what a sham this sort of Islam is -- the burka is not traditional dress for Afghan women. It is as you know the same sort of Islam which is practiced by Hamas, a current favourite of the omni-cause adherents.
One can argue about if the creation of Pakistan was a huge mistake, particularly given the sheer number of dead and if Mountbatten hurried things along too much. Britain was completely spent (they were before WW2 but that is another story) They knew back certainly during the WW2 that there was going to be huge trouble once they were gone. Should Britain ever have gone into Afghanistan in the first place or was it a reaction in many ways to the whole Jacobite myth?
I’m looking forward to the new book! I’ll check Barnes & Noble for it and let you know.
If we had pulled out of Afghanistan better and left a presence I wonder if this would have happened. The women have it worse than ever before. No protests here, which is not shocking.
Springer puppies are adorable. Happy anniversary to Paddy!
I too wish we had pulled out of Afghanistan better -- the way Biden chose to do it was the worst way.
I'd almost bet on there being no protests beyond a few mutterings. It is not part of the omni-cause cannon as it were.
He was adorable but horrible in his sprockerdile nipping the hands stage.
I think Avril Harriman (a Democrat) was also responsible for a good many of them.
And then there is Vietnam particularly under Johnson. Of course the Bay of Pigs is under Kennedy. Or indeed the Iran hostage crisis under Carter. And then there is Libya and Syria under Obama. The US has a long and ignoble history of messing up whoever is in charge. Part of the trouble is ensuring a viable regime when the old regime is badly or fatally flawed to the extent that it can no longer govern, particularly when the regime is no longer hereditary in nature and there is no good way of determining how the next rulers will develop.
To be fair, I don't think Biden is exactly stupid. He is stubbornly arrogant and wedded to certain courses of actions because he thinks he knows best. I found George Packer's The Unwinding enlightening on the subject of Biden and the various Biden unexploded bombs people have to tread around.
I think Biden is of middling intelligence. But ambitious, without a core set of beliefs or principles. He has a good index finger for determining wind direction. But as the winds change, so do his positions. I do agree that more than intelligence, he has a self belief that leads him astray and for others to clean up. BTW, I'd not heard of The Unwinding. I just downloaded it and look forward to reading it. I am in the midst of Selena Zito's "The Great Revolt" and Thomas Frank's "The People, No": But Unwinding will come next after them.
My eldest told me back in 2020 that it was the best book he'd read on the American political situation. I found it v interesting for a number of reasons. I look forward to hearing what you think. I could not vote for Biden after reading it and he turned out to be about what I thought he would be.
Not to mention the amount of equipment we just left there for the Taliban to have and sell. It’s absurd.
As for Biden, no one acts alone and those advising him and in charge of the logistics need to be held accountable, but as Commander in Chief, he owns it. Although you wouldn’t know that from his constant blaming of Trump for everything. He should read Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink.
The blaming of the previous regime is a tried and tested technique. You can see this with Labour now. The Conservatives particularly under Cameron blamed Blair and Brown etc. It is the whole -- it is not our fault, it is the other guy's. You could see this with Harris trying to distance herself and then suddenly she couldn't.
And the Trump haters will believe absolutely anything bad about him because they want to believe it. Biden reversed all of Trump’s boarder policies on his first day.
Hello Northumberland! Good to see Ya again. Hope I'm better to be late, than never.
Another fine roundup of articles You present to us.
I agree the police have enough crime to deal with, that they don't need to spend time on non-crimes. Of course the policy would stifle free speech. That's the intent of it. And, although I'm an ex-smoker, I'd hate to see smoking outdoors become banned.
I didn't know some British universities had campuses in China. And I agree with those who said there was a cover-up on the reasons for them to want to quash the free speech law. They wouldn't want the real reasons to be aired, so I'm glad they are being aired.
The plight of the Afghani women is simply deplorable. Figures.
And I gotta say: I'm looking forward to Your book coming out. And I'm glad to hear the new book is coming along nicely. Also good to see Paddy, and hear he's doing so well.
Here, today is the last day of heat at 96° (35.6° C). Thank heavens!
And thank You, Michelle, as always.
And thank you for commenting as always.
Yes some British universities have a huge presence in China. Lancaster is one. Durham and Newcastle are others. St Andrews oddly does a lot of their overseas recruiting in the States (they are 4 years and have a 2 semester system). The unis invested heavily in overseas money and built the accommodation etc for it.
I do hope you enjoy my book. And you must read Mick Heron. I am currently reading the third (there are eight books) in his Slow Horses. He can really write. Some things which shouldn't work really work. His Jackson Lamb character (brilliantly played by Gary Oldfield in the tv series btw) is one for the ages. Totally non pc but with a lot of hidden heart for his little flock of misfits.
Thank You. I added them to my list.
And because I know you are interested in scandal and indeed people behaving badly, this is fairly jaw dropping https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13797829/Wokery-witchcraft-hard-core-porn-Scotlands-96million-arts-quango-lost-plot.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawE_HJ9leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHVqa5SMbzzNiIpl3s70jy9B5C1VslzgcEdd60WVoQvTUdFCe0hHEiPWcDQ_aem_jzANt9WH3rPP0P5Jo1V0Nw
I know and like Jenny Lindsay (indeed I have read Hounding which is v good)
Yeah, jaw dropping. Will it ever cease?
TY again.
Let me know what you think.
Oh and because you like Terry Pratchett -- my eldest recently went to the village where his house is. He reported that you can really tell how the chalk valleys inspired some of his creations particularly the whole wee free men. Lovely part of the world.
Interesting. Thanks.
To a certain extent I agree with you, and there are scandalous doings coming out tomorrow and Sunday or so I am told by 'sources'. It is more the sudden way in which it has been handled that causes problems. Should some of the people who benefited from the largesse previously have sponsored their own programmes/given back? Perhaps they should.
There have always been patrons of the Arts but if you are going to have the State as patron you often end up with something you didn't intend.
And I thank you for being restrained in not bringing up your Cassandra declamations prior to the election. I had hoped for competency but this is basically pandering to the unions from the get go. My one consolation is that I didn't vote for them.
Re the SOuthport girls -- the youth is in custody and will be tried at a later date.
The trials of the rioters are on going.
Yesterday saw the conclusion of the trial of the youth who murdered the girl in Hexham back in January. I was undecided about whether or not to put it in. He was convicted of murder. His defence appeared to be diminished responsibility/just didn't remember so it should b manslaughter. The jury had none of it and convicted him which was the right verdict. The poor mother let her go into Hexham and put off her meeting the police about the stalking and then this. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13793609/Holly-Newton-meet-police-stalker-begged-town-instead-day-murder-mother.html
I am pleased you like my write ups. I know the news in the US isn't v international and yet the international news is interesting as it were.
I am sorry about your Progressive mayor who is showing their totalitarian tendencies. Hopefully soon you will be able to VtBO.