Good to see you back Craig.

Great to see you back and stirring the pot.

Something must be working.

Fasthosts appear to have taken down their blog (http://www.fasthosts.co.uk/blog/) on which they had been boasting of all their awards for being the ideal host.

I suggested elsewhere leaving some uncomplimentary comments on that blog, which I had done myself, and would be gratified to think that in some small way I contributed to putting that brick through that shop window.

Welcome back, Craig.

And how delicious is it that the shenanigans with Schillings brought even more attention to the issue?

More power to your elbow.

LOL

I've just re-read what I wrote and imagined saying, "how delicious is it that the shenanigans with Schillings" after I'd had a few pints. Doesn't bear thinking about.

Oulwan: may your elocution never fail you.

I think I feel a Limerick coming on:

A mercenary lawfirm called Schillings
were keen to proclaim their great billings.
They posted a blog
which had bloggers agog
at the size of their 404 fillings.

Welcome back, Craig.

Congratulations to everyone involved in getting Craig back online. Great article from the Times - I'm sure there are plenty more secrets tucked away in Alisher's attic... (musical interlude: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FxuODvTvwE)

Just did some digging on the Finsbury PR agency, who (according to the Times) Alisher has now taken on, presumably in the hope that they can clean up the mess that Shillings have created.

According to Sourcewatch, Finsbury also represent those indispensible servants of humanity, Shell Oil and British Nuclear Fuel (BFNL):

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Finsbury

Better still, last year they took on a rather special office intern to do some "work experience" with them - Tony Blair's son, Euan:

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/labour/story/0,,1874561,00.html

Finsbury is run by the amusingly named Roland Rudd (and no, that's not his "pornstar name"). Roland Rudd is a close friend of European Trade Commissioner Peter Mandleson.

Seems like the Neo-Labour cohorts just can't keep away from the dirt...

Here's another one for you, Craig: Alisher Usmanov is now using the same PR agency as was taken on in 2004 to spend taxpayer's money promoting and defending university top-up fees:

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/education/story/0,,1125631,00.html

Alisher Usmanov's new PR firm also defended Railtrack during 2002, according to the Guardian piece.

And here's Roland Rudd's Comment is Free page: http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/roland_rudd/index.html

Good to see you are back.

I always smile when I read: “My parents did not bring up a gangster and a racketeer.” It's almost certainly true. But is it really any consolation to know that Usmanov is a self-made crook?

This firm has a very long list of heavyweight British and European commercial clients. Finsbury's "reputation management" services must be most influential amongst its own client list and discrete relations. It would seem Usmanov has moved to buy himself into an expensive club to bolster his status in response to the Scandal Craig has triggered. Is it significant that Finsbury have +accepted+ Usmanov as a client? They have their own reputation to protect too no? Im wondering about this as a layperson. Thanks in advance for any experienced comment on these matters.

Glad to see you back in the swing! - JayV/dutchfox

"Is it significant that Finsbury have +accepted+ Usmanov as a client?"

Here's my take on it, andy:
http://b-heads.blogspot.com/2007/10/alisher-usmanov-and-finsbury-pr.html

Thanks for that Tim, you treat me :D
I read you don't think Finsbury will be concerned of the chances of usmanov being revealed as a serious fiend in a court, im still suspicious he has to be paying top rate to join this Neo-Lab loving 'corporate confidence club'

To: Mr Murray
from: Moses
subject: Alisher Usmonov

Hi, my name is Muzaffar, i'm Uzbek and I have a comment on your views about ALisher Usmanov.

Being a BSW(social work) student and most of all, a resident of Uzbekitan, I strongly disagree with most of your points since they're all biased and even fabricated, you don't seem to have any credible arguments or facts agains Mr Usmanov. NOW, Just think about it - the whole world is just like that, i mean everything is all about business, take the US 4xample; the war in Iraq is all about geopolitical influence and oil in the first place. And DO YOU KNOW that some of the HUGE US corporation leaders have always had ties with MAFIA, they still do, and will always influence US policies overseas, right. Chelsea for example, is now of the finest world clubs due to Russian investments. Every other UK resident wants to greet Mr. Abramamovich in person. As for our country however, we have had tremendous changes by now brought about by foreign investments and particularly due to Alisher Usmonov's policies. The situation is way better since the time you, SIR, were kicked out of this country because of your immoral behaviour with Uzbekistani prostitutes. how can you claim he is a criminal if you can't even prove his guilt, what you said above are just nothing but rumors.
You, Mr. Murray, are the one to be refered to as criminal and charged with SEXUAL DEPRAVITY or even a harrasment since you were hanging out with underage non adult females at Tashkent nightclubs, namely SKY CLUB, while you were working as a British ambassador in Uzbekistan. You organized round table with bunch of idiots whose minds you could easily manipulate with your democracy propoganda and lost your job as a result. why don't you think broadly about Central Asia from now on. P.S. life never stays the same and people like Alisher Usmanov are the ones to make a REAL DIFFERENCE, but never people like you SIR !!!!

Happy New year once again

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