The Yorkshire Ranter

A Step at a Time quotes French philosopher Andre Glucksmann: “Et j’ai vérifié cela très vite par la suite, parce qu’en Yougoslavie, l’ancien chef communiste, Milosevic, a gardé le pouvoir, et a organisé des épurations ethniques, c’est-à-dire qu’il a fait des guerres qui ont fait 200 000 morts au moins. Il a martyrisé, torturé, exercé…

I write about, mostly, the abuse of power in a variety of forms. I’m pretty sure I’ll never run out. But that isn’t enough. You look at the title of this blog, and the strapline, and the link as to what the original Ranters were after. But I don’t think it’s clear enough what I’m…

Well, despite my repeated statements that we are going to win, the ID Cards Bill got through its second reading by 31 votes after some 40 MPs either abstained or didn’t show up. Fix on that: they didn’t bother to turn up. Gape at the depth of crapness. And write to them. Remind them that…

Read this now. The London Review of Books on epic corruption in Iraq, including the apparent disappearance of Iraqi Airways: “‘A complainant alleged that Iraqi Airlines was sold at a reduced price to an influential family with ties to the former regime. The investigation revealed that Iraqi Airlines was essentially dissolved, and there was no…

Well, it’s IDDay tomorrow as the ID Cards Bill heads for a second reading in the Commons. Gratifying signs of impending failure are breaking out all over it, what with the London School of Economics study, the card’s possible rejection by two major trade unions, and a wave of hostile press comment. If you want…

Anyone who puts their money into this must be either a fool or a hero: INTREPID gold explorers have extended their search for the precious metal to Iran, a country largely untouched by Western mining companies. A small mining play whose field of operation is, ahem, Iran. One for my Completely Crazed Business Ventures list,…

Phil Carter of the outstanding Intel Dump has been mobilised into the 101st Airborne Division. This represents a considerable improvement, I think, in the US Army’s capabilities. Phil is a former paratrooper (or more accurately, now he is again), Civil Affairs specialist and Military Police officer turned lawyer, whose coverage of the US Army’s manpower…

John B. has an interesting post up about British and English identity. His premise is that, in effect, England doesn’t exist. Or at least, there are parts of the geographical entity of that name that do represent the stereotype “England”, but they should not obscure the parts of England that don’t. Now, I’ve been known…

Looking up those Sharjah Airport departure boards yesterday, I thought it might be an idea to collate the Boutcos as a psuedo-timetable. So here goes. SHARJAH (SHJ) ARRIVALS 23/06/05 0900 TEB1102 Kabul (“Tenir Airlines”) 1500 PHW051 Hyderabad (Phoenix Avn) 1545 TKY118 Baghdad (“Thai Sky” – a new one on me) 1600 AWZ202 Khartoum (Airwest/East West…