Thursday, March 15, 2007

Cat-007 [Big Boss Cuts] Take-5 <☆>
Heard the one about the politician's sex life, the gas guzzler and the Pope?

Barroso: Not usually one to blow a gasket Shortly before last week's big summit to cut carbon emissions, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso uncharacteristically blew his gasket. He was being questioned about his choice of vehicle - a monstrous 4X4 which pumps out three times as much CO2 as a proposed new EU law would allow. The hacks were just doing their job: to most journalists the very whiff of political hypocrisy is like blood in the water to sharks.

But the Portuguese politician wasn't going to play by these rules. He said: "If we start now creating the idea that for every person we establish a certificate of good behaviour there is a risk that tomorrow it is not only ecological behaviour, it is family behaviour, sexual behaviour." Should we scoff or accept there is a genuine cultural argument here?
THE OLIVE OIL / BUTTER LINE
Just before this, someone close to Mr B was telling me of his boss's frustration at those in the media who were busily checking which commissioner drives what car. The gist of it was that he could not see why politicians - technical experts at designing the best possible laws - should have to behave in a certain moral fashion before any such law is introduced.

My contact claims this is a line through Europe, much more wobbly and patchy but just as real as the olive oil / butter line. It is the political line between Catholic and Protestant Europe. He thinks it is very Protestant to expect politicians to be secular saints who lead by example.

According to this theory, most Catholic nations accept flawed human nature for what it is and know that preachers may stumble in practice without affecting the truth of their doctrine, or indeed the wisdom of their laws. The flaw in this argument is that in resolutely Catholic Belgium it has been a great sport for the press comparing what monstrous cars ministers drive ...

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Thursday, March 08, 2007

Cat-007 [Big Boss Cuts] Take-5 <☆>
Royal couple visits seaside City Brighton ...
☆March-08-2007 - The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh have visited the seaside city of Brighton for the first time since 2001. The royal party watched performing arts students in a concert marking the 200th anniversary of the Theatre Royal. Afterwards, the Queen visited the Jubilee Library and the duke saw a workshop at the Pavilion Theatre. The couple attended a reception at the Dome followed by lunch at Brighton Racecourse. They were visiting community projects in the afternoon. The concert at the Theatre Royal was given by students from Brighton and Hove Music and Performing Arts who performed songs from the last 200 years, joined by American soul singer Carleen Anderson for two of the ensembles. Representatives from voluntary, sporting and arts organisations were meeting the couple at the pre-lunch reception. General manager of Brighton Racecourse, Matt Hudson, said the course was "incredibly honoured" to welcome the Queen back in person. Since Her Majesty was last here in 2001, great things have been happening, Phyllida Stewart-Roberts, He said: "Her Majesty runs horses here on a regular basis. "Her last winner was Hunting Tower on the final day of the 2006 season ..."

After lunch, the Queen was unveiling a plaque at the Roundabout Children's Centre, which provides services to children under five and their families. The duke was visiting the Crew Club, a community clubhouse providing activities and clubs for young people on the Whitehawk estate, which has a computer and music suite, a training kitchen and a multi-purpose hall. Mayor of Brighton and Hove, Councillor David Smith, said: "We are proud to be giving them a snapshot of the many cultural highlights the city has to offer, as well as the fantastic work being done locally for children and young people." Phyllida Stewart-Roberts, the Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex, said: "Since Her Majesty was last here in 2001, great things have been happening.
"This visit will give Her Majesty and His Royal Highness the opportunity to experience the essence of the city - modern development in an historic setting ..."

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