July 2005

Julian Beever's Pavement Art

Wow, take a look at this. Julian Beever's pavement art is astonishing:





Footnote, August 11th: The Sun had a two page spread about Julian's art today.

Why didn't I think of that?

Well, actually, I did... When I was at the Download Festival in June, it occurred to me it would be a good idea to add a GPS locator to mobile phones with a simple "where is my friend?" functionality to be able to easily find your buddies in a crowd. This week, I discovered that someone else had beaten me to it with their Sazo device. Clever stuff!

Unrequited?

You are not mine
And never will be
But I am thine
For eternity

Despite first appearances, this is not a verse about unrequited love. It's just me musing once again on the subject of possessive love.

© 2005 Phil Randal

Post 7/7 Brave New World

The Times today has an interesting article entitled "Extremist clerics face prosecution for backing terror", which discusses proposed new legislation, including a new crime of "glorifying or condoning" terrorist activity. Fair enough, you might think, but the good old thunderer is more of a whinger these days and has come up with this gem. Well, it's not exactly a gem, but more something deeply disturbing to anyone who still holds on to the misguided idea that we live in a liberal democracy. What The Times did was ask a QC to comment on whether certain Muslim clerics' statements would make them guilty of "glorifying or condoning acts of terror".

This brought me to the verge of condoning acts of terror against The Times' editor:

'Dr Azzam Tamimi, of the Muslim Association of Britain, writing in the Jakarta Post on suicide bombers "To them, the eventual destiny of their short trip to Tel Aviv, Natanya or other Zionist-infested Palestinian towns is eternal life in a world of divine bliss"

QC Clearly glorifying suicide bombers and terror'

What? I beg your pardon? Dr Tamimi was merely describing the terrorists' world-view, not inciting violence himself. Very disturbing indeed, The Times.