Soutersmith blog

Fast forwarding from ca 1000 AD until 2005 showing Europe's shifting borders, alliances, unions, territories, occupied land etc.
Software: Centennia
Music: Inception OST

Apparently they are daily visitors to a fast food vendor. Smart ducks!

...So why do voters hope to solve the crisis by accelerating the policies which led to it? Much of the blame must attach to the Centre-Right parties currently in office in most national capitals. Though they talk of fiscal prudence, many of them are in reality locked into Euro-corporatism. With a handful of honourable exceptions, they have presided over crony capitalism, more spending, more taxes and more debt.

Daniel Hannan, writing in the Daily Telegraph

A while back I used a picture of the Yamal district to illustrate a short talk on the AGW nonsense.


Now, the University of East Anglia (UAE) have been accused of lying about their use of Yamal data in producing the notorious 'hockey stick' graphs.

The underlying work that led to this was done by the sterling Steve McIntyre, and published here.

For a simple take in it, without having to read all the background material, consider this graph:

The black line is the UAE interpretation of the data, the green line was plotted by Steve McIntyre after an FOI request to get all the data.

Speaks for itself, really.

Source

You may recall an attempt by the Portuguese authorities to extradite UK citizen Graham Mitchell using an EAW (see below). The case was taken up by Anna Raccoon, here, here, here and here.

This attempted extradition was clearly nonsense, and quite an outrage that due process should be so misused by the Portuguese. What did the British government do?

You guessed, sweet fanny adams. So, I thought I would join the campaign to ask our Home Secretary to intervene, and get some common sense applied to the case.

I've just received a reply, a month later, from a minion:

Dear Mr Souter,

Thank you for your e-mail to the Home Secretary of 28 March 2012 regarding your concerns the European Arrest Warrant (EAW) and the case of Graham Mitchell. I have carefully noted the concerns raised in your letter, which has been forwarded to the section responsible for extradition.

You may be aware that the EAW is administered by the Judicial Authorities of Member States; as such there is no Ministerial involvement in its operation. The Home Secretary therefore has no power to intervene in EAW cases.

In addition, given Mr. Mitchell’s case is currently before the courts, you will appreciate that it would be inappropriate for me to comment on the case.

However, the UK is committed to safeguarding the rights of persons subject to extradition requests, (including UK citizens). As you may be aware, at the extradition hearing in the UK, the District Judge must consider whether any of the safeguards contained in Part 1 of the Extradition Act 2003 apply. The District Judge must also consider whether extradition is compatible with the Human Rights Act 1998. The courts are able, if necessary, to call for evidence or information if there are concerns that an extradition request has been submitted for extraneous reasons.

As you may also be aware, Sir Scott Baker’s independent review of the UK’s extradition arrangements was published on 18 October 2011. The report makes a number of recommendations to improve the UK’s extradition arrangements both with the European Union and its wider extradition partners. The findings of the report can be found at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/police/operational-policing/extradition-review

It is important to note that these are the findings of the panel, which the Home Secretary has not yet accepted. The Government is now carefully examining the review panel’s findings and will announce what action it will take shortly.

I am sorry I can be of no further assistance in this matter.

Yours sincerely,

D. Kumar
Extradition section

No "further assistance"? You were of no assistance whatsover. I wonder what his primary job purpose is, and whether it is worth paying him more than the minimum wage?

One phone call from the Home Secretary to her opposite number in Portugal would probably have resulted in the use of some common sense. Did it happen? What do you think.....

It really makes you despair of our government, doesn't it? And who signed up to the EWA in the first place?

On a snowy morning during Fall finals, at the beginning of the week that the first Lord Of The Rings movie was to be released, a "gold" ring with red Elvish script appeared around the Great Dome. (at MIT)

Made me smile.

Couldn't resist reposting this:

If I wanted Britain to fail …

To follow, not lead; to suffer, not prosper; to despair, not dream.

I would start with energy.

I’d cut off Britain’s supply of cheap, abundant energy. I couldn’t take it by force. So, I’d make the British feel guilty for using the energy that heats their homes, fuels their cars, runs their businesses, and powers their economy.

I’d make cheap energy expensive, so that expensive energy would seem cheap.

I would empower unelected bureaucrats to all-but-outlaw Britain’s most abundant sources of energy. And after banning its use in Britain, I’d make it illegal for Biritish companies to ship it overseas.

If I wanted Britain to fail …

I’d use our schools to teach one generation of British that our factories and our cars will cause a new Ice Age, and I’d muster a straight face so I could teach the next generation that they’re causing Global Warming.

And when it’s cold out, I’d call it Climate Change instead.

I’d imply that Britain’s cities and factories could run on wind power and wishes. I’d teach children how to ignore the hypocrisy of condemning logging, mining and farming — while having roofs over their heads, heat in their homes and food on their tables. I would never teach children that the free market is the only force in human history to uplift the poor, establish the middle class and create lasting prosperity.

Instead, I’d demonize prosperity itself, so that they will not miss what they will never have.

If I wanted Britain to fail …

I would create countless new regulations and seldom cancel old ones. They would be so complicated that only bureaucrats, lawyers and lobbyists could understand them. That way small businesses with big ideas wouldn’t stand a chance – and I would never have to worry about another Thomas Edison, Henry Ford or Steve Jobs.

I would ridicule as “Flat Earthers” those who urge us to lower energy costs by increasing supply. And when the evangelists of commonsense try to remind people about the law of supply and demand, I’d enlist a sympathetic media to drown them out.

If I wanted Britain to fail …

I would empower unaccountable bureaucracies seated in a distant country to bully Britains out of their dreams and their property rights. I’d send agents to raid market stalls for using the wrong weights and measures; I’d force homeowners to tear down the homes they built on their own land.

I’d make it almost impossible for farmers to farm, miners to mine, loggers to log, and builders to build.

And because I don’t believe in free markets, I’d invent false ones. I’d devise fictitious products—like carbon credits—and trade them in imaginary markets. I’d convince people that this would create jobs and be good for the economy.

If I wanted Britain to fail …

For every concern, I’d invent a crisis; and for every crisis, I’d invent the cause; Like shutting down entire industries and killing tens of thousands of jobs in the name of saving spotted owls. And when everyone learned the stunning irony that the owls were victims of their larger cousins—and not people—it would already be decades too late.

If I wanted Britain to fail …

I’d make it easier to stop commerce than start it – easier to kill jobs than create them – more fashionable to resent success than to seek it.

When industries seek to create jobs, I’d file lawsuits to stop them. And then I’d make taxpayers pay for my lawyers.

If I wanted Britain to fail …

I would transform the environmental agenda from a document of conservation to an economic suicide pact. I would concede entire industries to our economic rivals by imposing regulations that cost trillions. I would celebrate those who preach environmental austerity in public while indulging a lavish lifestyle in private.

I’d convince Britain that Europe has it right, and Britain has it wrong.

If I wanted Britain to fail …

I would prey on the goodness and decency of ordinary British people.

I would only need to convince them … that all of this is for the greater good.

If I wanted Britain to fail, I suppose I wouldn’t change a thing.

Just read this wonderful quote:

The biggest problem I can think of with human nature is the tendency in many humans to want a leader or to want to boss others around. It really would be nice if these people could find each other without involving me.

The context of this remark is a blog post about misunderstanding libertarians. Well worth reading.

A bronze sculpture of Mongolian warrior Genghis Khan has been unveiled at Marble Arch in central London. The 16ft tall (5m) statue captures the legendary leader wearing Mongolian armour on his steed. The sculpture by artist Dashi Namdakov will stand next to Cumberland Gate until early September. The artist, who had an interest in the nomadic tribes of Mongolia, wanted to honour the warrior on the 850th anniversary of his birth. He said:

If I wanted to show him as a warrior I would have shown him as a warrior, but he is a thinker in this case. He is a divine figure in my country.

More here.

We took a short break in Sorrento in March 2012, you can see all the photos here.

We had a really good time, helped in particular by two really good guides:
- Lucia at Pompeii - (contact by email)
- Giovanni for Capri - (contact by email)

We warmly recommend both of them, if you ever find yourself with the opportunity.

A highlight for me was seeing the famous mosaic of Alexander the Great at the battle of Guagamala inside a villa at Pompeii. Click the photo below for a link to the real mosaic in the museum in Naples.


Food and drink in Italy is always nice, and we really enjoyed buying olives and local produce on Capri at Gusto & Sapori (thanks Enzo!) in Anacapri. There is a fantastic little bar/pasticceria in Sorrento called Bar Rita which we also loved: great Italian savory snacks & sandwiches, cakes and coffee.


We drank lots of lovely local (Campania) wine, and can recommend:
- De Angelis Lacrima Christi Del Vesuvio (DOCC 2010)
- Campi Flegrei Falanghina (2010)

We found some really nice restaurants, and would like to single out these two:
- Inn Bufalito: great value taverna in Sorrento's historic district - with excellent service from Michele and Gaetano

- L'Antica Trattoria: a quite upmarket but superb restaurant in Sorrento - fine dining Italian style!

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