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February 24, 2010
Refreshed
Sorry didn't blog yeaterday as you'll understand it had been a particularly exhausting time, I haven't referenced this brilliant review in the Guardian:
But in Hare's taut lines, and especially David Tennant's gripping performance as the not-always-likable Murray, this was the sort of radio you just had to sit and listen to until it was over. Right from the start, it all felt entirely credible, especially its dark heart: the British and American governments using torture to source information supporting their legally dubious actions.http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/2010/feb/22/saturday-play-murder-in-samarkand
Which is the kind of cheering up I need. Cameron loves the book - he finds it both tasty and chewy.
Now David Hare is looking at the possibility of a stage play, as he said on Front Row, but that depends on getting the stage rights back from Paramount. I have a meeting with Julien Temple on Thursday to look at progress on the film.
Someone told me that David Tennant's fun G&S rendition from the play was on youtube. In looking for it I found this from the Norwich hustings.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SFXQyi5SVs
Which explains why I will never stand for parliament again - no matter how good you are as an independent, any clueless idiot with a party rosette will beat you. I think I am right in saying that independents in living memory have only won when at least one major party stood down in their favour - in effect giving them some of the support of a party candidate.
Posted by craig on February 24, 2010 11:42 AM in the category The Book
Comments
Craig,
I'm glad you liked the play. I thought it was good too. It was lucky for me that I was in London and able to hear it.
I do think it's telling though, that it was framed as a comedy, which allows it licence and space, like the licence given to the fool at court. On the other hand this framing inside the safety of "humour", does mean that one doesn't take the content as seriously as it deserves, with all that that implies.
Still, that is far, far, better than nothing. You're right to feel pleased
Posted by: writerman at February 24, 2010 12:03 PM
Hi Craig,
I read Murder in Samarkand last summer and was applied at the behaviour of our government and their treatment of you. I have also bought the Catholic Orangemen of Togo but have yet to read it. I'm keeping it for the holidays! I think I might need some strong drink to get me through it without exploding!!
I have installed the radio Downloader suggested in an earlier thread and it has worked well, putting it straight onto iTunes so I can enjoy the play on my iPod.
Keep up the good work, never let the B****ds grind you down!!
CraigE
Posted by: CraigE at February 24, 2010 12:25 PM
Re Independent MPs: I assume you're restricting yourself to Westminster here, as Margo Macdonald has been twice elected as an Independent to the Scottish Parliament. Albeit not in the 1st past the post section (which maybe makes it more extraordinary)
Posted by: Martin Burns at February 24, 2010 12:30 PM
Excellent news. Many people I know heard it and all said it was good. Not many knew of what you have exposed Craig and what you stood up for. If only there were people like you in the HoC.
I have just been watching PMQ. Brown doesn't seem to be bawling so much today and has his Darling alongside to display what good friends they are. What hypocrites they all are.
Behind Ms Harperson is sitting a lump of NuLabour lard whose gut is so large it is resting on his thighs. Repellent.
PS Brown is now saying sorry to the child migrants to Australia. More electioneering hypocrisy to show us his 'soft' side. How about the Chagos Islanders and many other native peoples and nations displaced by the eM-Pyre?
Posted by: mary at February 24, 2010 12:32 PM
Meant to put up the You Tube link for the G&S piece. Hilarious.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4e77qysDSA
Posted by: mary at February 24, 2010 12:40 PM
As a professional actor since 1997 and regular commentator here, may I throw my hat into the ring for possible roles in any stage play?
Posted by: Daniel Hoffmann-Gill at February 24, 2010 1:42 PM
Craig,
my heart sank when you announced you'd be running for Norwich North. It's the voting system... Guessing from your personality, when you vote, you just vote for who you believe in. I don't - I vote tactically. Most people, I suspect, don't even go that far; politics in the media is framed as Labour vs Conservative (or one of those vs LibDem in certain places), and that's all that most voters ever think of.
I would have liked to come and help with the campaign, but my circumstances didn't allow this. I would have done so, fully expecting a peroid of depression following the vote. I watched the bookies' odds hopefully, and as it turned out you secured a decent number of votes. You were very disappointed, as I'd expected, and I was very glad when you cheered up.
In the end, structure is more important than individuals. "Macrocosm dominates microcosm". The cells in our bodies moderate their reproduction because otherwise our immune systems will kill them. Politicians become corrupt because the system includes no effective mechanisms to prevent and punish corruption.
Posted by: Clark at February 24, 2010 1:49 PM
Came across a relatively recent post by Charles Crawford, in which he mocks you for the radio play:
http://charlescrawford.biz/blog/craig-murray-drama-queen
It's a curious mixture of inane argument and invective, so much so indeed that it alerted me to the possibility that Mr Crawford had felt himself rumbled on the rather more substantive point about which he had blogged in August 2009, namely "complicity in torture".
In that piece Mr Crawford argued, using what he describes as, "the best available formal legal pronouncement upon the subject", that the UK govt cannot have been complicit in torture:
http://charlescrawford.biz/blog/complicity-or-not-in-torture
It's probably worthwhile revisiting his definition with the further information we now have to hand, especially given that he seems unwilling or unable to do so himself, preferring indeed to remain strangely silent on the matter.
According to The Hague, the following elements are required to show evidence of complicity in torture:
(1) knowledge that torture is taking place
(2) a contribution by way of assistance, which
(3) has a substantial effect on the perpetration of the crime of torture itself
We know that the UK govt and its agents were aware that torture was taking place so the first element is satisfied.
We further know that UK govt agents were present and provided questions to be asked of those being tortured. In providing these questions to be answered the UK govt agents will have a reasonable expectation that the answers will be extracted under torture. Indeed in this context each question posed is itself an invitation to torture and a further aggravation of this complicity, thereby satisfying the second and third elements of the Hague definition of complicity in torture.
So you see, it's not altogether unsurprising that Mr Crawford prefers not to revist this matter, about which he was so confident in August 2009. He's reduced to scrabbling about in the muck, mocking a radio play.
It's either silence, distraction or even advocacy of torture, in the manner of Bruce Anderson and others. That's all they have left when rumbled.
Perhaps he now feels rather diminished by the whole affair. He could always apologise of course, but then that would demand character and integrity; a character and integrity so rare in public life, but amply conveyed by David Tennant in a recent radio play, funnily enough.
Posted by: Herbie at February 24, 2010 2:05 PM
Margo McDonald, under the Scottish voting system, of course.
Posted by: Bugger (the Panda) at February 24, 2010 2:09 PM
Ooops, sorry, should read the posts before posting myself.
Bugger!
Posted by: Bugger (the Paqda) at February 24, 2010 2:12 PM
Re: Herbie's points above:
"(2) a contribution by way of assistance, which
(3) has a substantial effect on the perpetration of the crime of torture itself"
Stiching up an inconveniently critical ambassador surely falls into this category. Ironically, the government may have been technically innocent of complicity in Uzbek torture until they framed Craig.
Posted by: Clark at February 24, 2010 2:18 PM
Stirling performance by the New Labour candidate on the youtube video at Norwich. He should go far.
Whilst he appears to be able to talk complete and utter nonsensical bollocks whilst sober, it takes me around 10 pints of speckled hen.
Completely astonishing results
Chloe Smith (C) 13,591 (39.54%, +6.29%)
Chris Ostrowski (Lab) 6,243 (18.16%, -26.70%)
April Pond (LD) 4,803 (13.97%, -2.22%)
Glenn Tingle (UKIP) 4,068 (11.83%, +9.45%)
Rupert Read (Green) 3,350 (9.74%, +7.08%)
Craig Murray (Honest) 953 (2.77%)
I will hang my head in shame now, and disappear and annoy people elsewhere when pissed - well try to - unless Larry turns up.
I have been alcohol free all week, though this may only last for another few hours.
Sorry. Maybe I should do Youtube videos and join the Labour Party.
Tony
Posted by: tony_opmoc at February 24, 2010 2:53 PM
Quite right Craig you know who you are and so do I. But I wonder if the Tet terrorists knew who they were?
Posted by: Mark Golding - Children of Iraq at February 24, 2010 4:12 PM
On the Norwich youtube vid, particularly the question on Afghanistan...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2znXyOks5YA
...i cringed at Ostrowski's party-line bullshit spewing forth. Noticed that you Craig were leaning on your hand which looked like it doubled as a clamp that was restraining you from ripping apart his non-argument. Although he seemed to be ripping apart his own words ok all by himself.
Then for Ostrowski to come across as a blithering fool and still come second with 18% of the vote, well i can see how one can become disheartened with the electoral process.
Posted by: algernon at February 24, 2010 4:22 PM
Yes, I agree, Mary, this saccharine and lachrymose business of governments constantly saying sorry makes me want to throw up. It's more stupid soap opera generated by tabloid politics and this is a dynamic into which nearly all politicians seem to have bought. It's garbage. Oh, we shot your son in the head: Sorry. Oh, we tortured your son to death: Sorry. It' makes it all okay, right? No, of course it doesn't. History is history: it happened. If the govt is accepting legal liability, then they should compensate the injured party and makes sure whatever it is doesn't happen again. That's it.
Posted by: Suhayl Saadi at February 24, 2010 6:57 PM
.biz sites are of no consequence. This .top level domain has been ruined by spammers.
The radio adaption was a nice introduction for the many who don't read books on a weekly basis.
Posted by: Bananas in the Falklands at February 24, 2010 7:40 PM
thanks for the links Craig. Hey, I thought this was a good interview too:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXWBVbRLwoU&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZJc3Rp9bgQ&feature=player_embedded
Posted by: pete at February 24, 2010 8:15 PM
Letter in the Morning Star -
Let's hope the warmongers take note of these BBC treats
Tuesday 23 February 2010
The BBC broadcast two memorable plays last weekend.
First, on Saturday afternoon, was Murder in Samarkand about the British diplomat Craig Murray who was the first to unmask the use of such countries as Uzbekistan - to which he was British ambassador - by the governments of the USA and UK in their "war on terror" to institutionalise torture in the treatment of "terror suspects" arrested anywhere across the world.
Then on Sunday evening was I'm Still the Same Paul, a tribute to Paul Robeson - with Lenny Henry playing the part of Paul - and recordings of Paul's inimitable singing of the freedom songs playing an equal part.
Much of the BBC equivocation with the warmongers can be forgiven when they produce a weekend like this. And though the Robeson play had to have some section on the terrors of Stalin, the best line of the play was Essen Robeson's commiseration to Paul that "perhaps the next revolution will be better - this one was just a trial run."
Paddy Apling
Norwich
Posted by: mary at February 24, 2010 11:13 PM
Another travesty of British justice.
Cooking the Bloody Sunday report
Wednesday February 24 2010
Eamonn McCann
The Northern Ireland secretary Shaun Woodward has asked the Bloody Sunday families to trust his proposed arrangements for publication of the report of the inquiry into the killing of 13 civil rights marchers by paratroopers in Derry in 1972. In meetings with the families, Woodward has said he intends to retain the report for up to 14 days after it is handed to his department
The Northern Ireland secretary Shaun Woodward has asked the Bloody Sunday families to trust his proposed arrangements for publication of the (...)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/feb/24/bloody-sunday-report-retained
NB 4,500 pages of report @ £200 million (estimated cost of enquiry) = £440,000 per page
Posted by: mary at February 24, 2010 11:55 PM
Craig: could you possibly upload that MP3 of the play to rapidshare again? The download limit has been reached for that type of account. Thanks.
Posted by: MJ at February 25, 2010 12:30 AM
That Guardian review is excellent, it really does hit the important core of what the play establishes. I thought the play was excellent and I really enjoyed it.It wasn't perfect, but I imagine (having not read the book yet) that in terms of transferring the book to a one and a half hour radio play that Hare did a magnificently skilled job, and I'll admit that the bit with the guy at the end with the flowers made me cry.Tennant is an excellent actor. As to the Labour guy answering questions on I.D cards you link to, thats hilarious ' I personally would like to pay 30 pounds for and I.D.card' that isn't compulsory?. I know they ran or were planning to run a test of it in Manchester. Which is their favourite test ground for this type of thing, including the scanners in the airports, which were being tested long before the very very dubious 'UNDERPANT BOMBER', a suggested biometric pub and club entrance scheme and a recent crackdown operation on the Manchester streets last week which included making people walk through metal detectors on their night out, because thats what you want on your night out isn't it, a good scanning?.
Posted by: Titus at February 25, 2010 2:50 AM
MJ -
Wasn't me that uploaded the MP3 - Perish the thought, I have a contract with the BBC!
Posted by: Craig at February 25, 2010 10:44 AM
Mary,
Indeed a travesty of British Justice
Next month MPs will vote on legislation to renew (or repeal) control orders under the 2005 Prevention of Terrorism Act. The issue will be voted on in parliament on Monday 1 March.
1. Write to your MP and ask them to vote against control orders next month:
Contact your MP using: w+w+w.writetothem.com
2. Please sign the online petition from Liberty calling for an end to control orders:
w+w+w.liberty-human-rights.org.uk/issues/2-terrorism/control-orders/petition-to-end-control-orders.php
More information
Will Parliament Rid Us of the Cruel and Unjust Control Order Regime? By Andy Worthington
w+w+w.andyworthington.co.uk/2010/02/19/will-parliament-rid-us-of-the-cruel-and-unjust-control-order-regime/
Five years of control orders by lawyer Frances Webber
w+w+w.irr.org.uk/2010/february/ha000031.html
Also see: w+w+w.coalitionagainstsecretevidence.com
Posted by: Mark Golding - Children of Iraq at February 25, 2010 12:58 PM
JAILED FOR PROTESTING AGAINST ISRAELI WAR CRIMES
Young people who took part in the mass demonstrations against
Israel's attack on Gaza in January 2009 are being handed down
jail sentences for minor offences. A protest has been called
this Friday 26 February at Isleworth Crown Court and there
will be a public meeting, open to all, in Parliament next
Tuesday 2 March (details below).
Friday's protest and Tuesday's public meeting will be in
support of those now being treated so harshly by the courts,
and to defend our democratic right of protest.
Israel's barbarism -- which devastated Gaza and left 1400 dead
-- brought tens of thousands on to London's streets, including
the demonstration of over 100,000 on 10 January 2009.
Numerous complaints were made about police aggressive
behaviour on the Gaza demonstrations. Thousands of protestors
were 'kettled' -- illegally held for hours and only released
after the police had obtained their names and addresses.
In the months that followed the demonstrations, over 90
protestors were arrested -- most of them Muslims, many of them
teenagers, often in intimidating dawn raids. More than seventy
of those arrested were charged with disorder offences.
The courts are now hearing these cases. The defendants
pleading guilty are being tried first and the sentences have
been draconian. The judge has made clear that he is issuing
deterrent sentences.
We are seeing first-time offenders receiving two and a half
years imprisonment for minor offences which would not normally
face custodial sentences.
It is hard not to conclude that this is a concerted attempt by
the police and judiciary to criminalise protest, intimidating
in particular young Muslims.
Meanwhile, there has been no investigation into the aggressive
and often violent policing on the Gaza demonstrations, despite
the high level of complaints.
And while these young people are facing years in prison for
protesting against Israel's war crimes, no one is being held
to account for those crimes, which have been fully documented
by reports from the United Nations, Amnesty International,
Human Rights Watch and others.
FOR MORE BACKGROUND TO THE COURT CASES, GO TO:
http://bit.ly/daqyC7
Posted by: Mark Golding - Children of Iraq at February 25, 2010 1:02 PM
"Cameron loves the book - he finds it both tasty and chewy."
"Murder in Samarkand, now available in strawberry and Ghanaian-chocolate flavoured editions".
Posted by: Richard Robinson at February 25, 2010 3:16 PM
Off topic. @Craig, today you are referenced in a Media Alert from Media Lens, who are on form as usual - see link.
---- quote ---
Craig Murray, former British ambassador to Uzbekistan, reviewed Frank Gardner’s performance:
"Yet again his grave but reassuring features have been delivering smooth propaganda, this time from the comic opera re-re-re-re-re-re-re-reinvasion of parts of Helmand - an operation which is costing the UK taxpayer £2 billion this month, and the US taxpayer very much more...
"One of Gardner’s favourite tricks is to call ordinary Afghan courtyard houses ‘Taliban compounds’. It is not a compound, it is a house. Perhaps Afghans don't live in things we would recognise in Acacia Drive - but they are their homes.” (Murray, Weblog, February 15, 2010; http://www.craigmurray.org.uk/weblog.html)
---- end quote ---
Posted by: Jon at February 25, 2010 4:34 PM
Craig Some time ago I belive you said you were going to write a biography of Alexander Burnes. I know you have been very busy on many fronts but I wonder if it is a work-in-progress.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Burnes
Posted by: mary at February 25, 2010 5:13 PM
Comrades - I do have a rapidshare account. If someone could provide me with the mp3, I could upload it and it would have unlimited downloads. Best way would be to put it on the 10-limit share, but make sure I'm one of the 10!
Posted by: glenn at February 25, 2010 6:58 PM
Craig
The width of your Umida photo is driving your print off the right of the screen both there and in your main blog.
Makes it very difficult to read.
You might try reducing the size of the photo.
Posted by: Póló at February 25, 2010 8:39 PM
Protesters about Gaza saw, on AlJazeera, a reality of UKUSIS violence which they were not exposed to in the Iraq war. Similarly, the systematic depletion of UK plc's finances by bankers, was not exposed before. One can assume that in both cases the lifting of the lid was intentional and planned.
If the Zionist policy has changed from the covert to the overt, it suggests to me that they want to acquire some glory for restoring things to normal now that Iraq and the UK have been tamed for the next two generations. The promises they made to Blair about Iraq and to Brown about the economy will be fulfilled, so that future generations can be fooled into seeing them as our saviours.
Their ultimate goal after all is to be restored to the position of being 'the chosen people'. For now the whole world is being 'kettled' while they achieve their material goals. The whole world is being given a draconian sentence for not realising their 'supremacy'.
Then, when Jesus pbuh returns, inshallah, the sufferings they have caused the world for two thousand years will be condemned by one raised finger of censure from their rejected prophet, inshallah. Every single one of them alive will believe in him at that time. Anyone who is fooled by their apparent power either to destroy or restore, is going to get a very nasty surprise.
Quis custodet ipsos custodes? Judges and politicians beware!
Posted by: anno at February 25, 2010 11:16 PM
I have heard the opinion expressed more than once on Radio 4 by young politicians of I know not what persuasion, that the fruit of the monstrous splurge of violence against Muslims of the last few years is that the west has the best opportunity ever to set the agenda and shape world values for centuries to come.
Oh? We're still educating the benighted natives, are we? Is this what they teach them at the friends of Israel night schools for aspiring politicians? Oh! and what if the natives are too stupid or too dark-skinned to understand the benefits of the world view we are clubbing into their Muslim skulls?
Which reminds me of Craig's topic. He was working very hard championing an unpopular cause in Ghana - and in my opinion it is very exhausting working away from home. Unlike many people I sympathise with politicians who have to work on the hoof and divide their lives between two homes. I respect them for performing this arduous duty and I do not begrudge them a first-class ticket for their pains.
Talking of politicians, maybe I should apologise for being rude about Hilary Benn. If you listen to Radio 4's Farming Today you get the impression that this government is quite keen on farmer bashing. I quite admire farmers for their extremely hard work and long hours. The price of land has risen from about £3,000 to £10,000 in the last ten years. So maybe there's more profit from farming than they're letting on. So often we hear only one side of the story and our judgements are wrong. So my apologies go to Hilary Benn.
Posted by: anno at February 26, 2010 4:56 AM
Binyam Mohamed - The Court of Appeal has just ruled that the controversial paragraph 1a? should be published.
Posted by: mary at February 26, 2010 9:40 AM
I have just listened to the play on iPlayer. It was gripping, and challenging and encouraging all at the same time. Congratulations, and keep up the good work. I am just about to comment to the BBC that they should do more of the same. Perhaps even adapt your Ghanaian experiences?
Posted by: Smartie at February 26, 2010 10:30 AM
Re Mary at 9:40 AM
"[The record of MI6 officials] regrettably, but inevitably, must raise the question of whether any statement in the certificates on an issue concerning such treatment can be relied on ... Not only is there an obvious reason for distrusting any UK government assurance based on SyS [MI6] advice and information, because of previous 'form' but the foreign office and the SyS have an interest in the suppression of such information."
From
"Torture ruling passages critical of MI5 must be restored"
Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/feb/26/torture-ruling-passages-mi5-restored
Wow, is this relevant to Craig or what??
Posted by: dreoilin at February 26, 2010 11:43 AM
Hmmm
"In the statement the judges took the unprecedented step of waiving confidentiality and reading out previously unpublished remarks about the conduct of MI5.
"Significantly, the verdict clarified the judges' views of the responsibility of the foreign secretary in Mohamed's case.
"The statement said: "The good faith of the foreign secretary is not in question, but he prepared the certificates partly, possibly largely, on the basis of information and advice provided by SyS personnel."
(same URL as above)
Posted by: dreoilin at February 26, 2010 11:46 AM
What does this "SyS" usage mean ? I've not seen it before.
Posted by: Richard Robinson at February 26, 2010 12:05 PM
I believe SyS is just an abbreviation for 'Security Service'.
Posted by: Jon at February 26, 2010 12:13 PM
Yeah they couldn't have SS could they - a bit too near the mark.
Just heard Mgt Becket getting waspish on WATO, she one time chairman of the Intelligence and Security Committee.
Like Dreolin says - Craig rules. 'They' must hate his guts for shining the searchlight into their murky and vile doings.
Posted by: mary at February 26, 2010 1:17 PM
Ah, thanks, could be. They used to be SIS, the Secret Intelligence Service. Insert remarks about lack of intelligence, to taste
Posted by: Richard Robinson at February 26, 2010 1:36 PM
Interesting use of the term " previous 'form' " by The Master of The Rolls when referring to the UK Government and their Intelligence Servants.
I can only assume that he meant the very first definition
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=form
1. Previous convictions
He's got form - two sentences for assault and one for burglary.
Somewhat damning?
Is One of the most senior judges in the land strongly implying that we are being ruled by Criminals?
Or maybe I am misunderstanding what he meant?
Tony
Posted by: tony_opmoc at February 26, 2010 3:15 PM
This is a comment from a thread on Medialens' message board on the same subject
Re: Great news (nm)
Posted by pete f on February 26, 2010, 12:40 pm, in reply to "Great news (nm)"
yes, as far as it goes, and for using the rule of law to protect democracy - poor it may be but absolutely vital to prevent sleepwalking into fascism. Obviously they haven't seen enough evidence yet to confirm government complicity in torture, which is why he's lifted the ref to the FO. But Craig Murray has detailed ample evidence of government complicity in torture, both in terms of creating market demand for the information and turning a blind eye, even when they know some intelligence is the product of torture. So there's still some way to go but it is a vital verdict along the way in protecting all of us from the 'right' and the 'duty' of state agents to torture anyone, that Roger Alton and Bruce Anderson argued for in The Independent.
With an election pending the government is fighting tooth-and-nail to prevent its own complicity in torture being exposed. Retaining power is crucial to avoid litigation for criminal culpability as the state - taxpayers - are funding the best lawyers money can buy to protect their hides.
(www.craigmurray.org.uk/)
plus
I should add:
"The truth about the government's complicity in torture is becoming established beyond doubt. I am still shocked about the virtual media blackout on my own evidence to the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights."
( www.youtube.com/watch?v=LF9spgagSHI )
Craig Details Blair/Straw's complicity in torture, and his constructive dismissal by same, in his book 'Murder in Samarkand'. Sir Michael Wood's 'legal advice' on 'turning a blind eye' to evidence from torture (and therefore direct complicity with) has yet to be tested in the law courts. It's most important that it is, because it wont bear scrutiny. Either that, or independent public inquiry. See UNCat, article 4:
( www.hrweb.org/legal/cat.html )
There is a danger that this is steered into the old argument of a 'few bad apples' in the security services, when the policy came from the top of government: Tony Blair, and they are all complicit in it; Straw, Blair, Brown, Miliband, all of them.
Posted by: mary at February 26, 2010 4:06 PM
"the old argument of a 'few bad apples'"
A picky little point, but not completely irrelevant - this usage infuriates me. When I was growing up, I learnt the full phrase as "a few bad apples spoil the whole barrel". It would be good, and constructive, if we could reclaim this, with all the implications.
I've never tried keeping apples in a barrel, but the experiment can be done in a small way in any fruit bowl, if anybody cares to find out for themself.
Posted by: Richard Robinson at February 26, 2010 5:26 PM
Not if it's a supermarket Granny Smith, surely. Those things are indestructible.
But otherwise, yes, and other things my gran used to say. "Don't despair, just repair" works for me, too.
Posted by: technicolour at February 26, 2010 5:48 PM
"Those things are indestructible."
Apple pies of mass indestructability, ready to be cooked for 45 minutes.
Also, the difference between "You break it, you pay for it" (again, what I grew up with) and "You break it, you own it", as part of the discussion of an attempt to own other peoples' countries.
Posted by: Richard Robinson at February 26, 2010 7:11 PM
I believed as a child that if you walked over a wooden bridge and had lied, the bridge would give way.
Made me very truthful. I suppose it could have made me avoid wooden bridges.
Re other countries: good connection. Apparently the Vikings used to sort of sidle in and get on with trading (I couldn't quite believe this). Anyway, I wonder if Blair, or anyone, has heard of the Spanish proverb: "'Take what you want, but pay for it' says God".
Also stayed with me: 'do as you would be done by' (why not) and 'honi soit qui mal y pense' (honey, your silk stocking's falling down).
Posted by: at February 26, 2010 7:29 PM
that was me
Posted by: technicolour at February 26, 2010 7:42 PM
All of which leads me to conclude; it would be good if Craig stood for parliament again. (I also support Kinky Friedman for Texas). Is there not a constituency crying for a decent representative? Redditch (Jacci Smith) springs to mind.
Posted by: technicolour at February 26, 2010 7:55 PM
Sorry, far too many 'I's' in those posts. Should be on facebook. But interesting thread on Peter Hain post in CiF, by the way.
Posted by: technicolour at February 26, 2010 10:27 PM
technicolour,
His history is interesting, some of his ideas are crazy - particularly on energy - but on this he gets my vote - or might if I lived in Texas
"We've got to clear some of the room out of the prisons so we can put the bad guys in there, like the pedophiles and the politicians."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinky_Friedman
Tony
Posted by: tony_opmoc at February 26, 2010 11:30 PM
"Apparently the Vikings used to sort of sidle in and get on with trading (I couldn't quite believe this)."
Oh, they did, in a big way. They also did the pillaging raping and looting thing, but I'm not sure that made them unique, for the time. Except that they did by sea, and were better at it.
I went round the 'Jorvik' thing (York), once. They had a few old-fashioned display cases of what the excavators had dug up; 'damask' silk, woven in Damascus, gold coins from Samarkand.
They went pretty much everywhere, and did what there was to do. Sometimes they just ended up living places.
Posted by: Richard Robinson at February 27, 2010 1:15 AM
Tony: Kinky's a nice comedy thriller writer and a fine musician (you can youtube his 'They don't make Jews like Jesus Anymore'). His policies are pretty funny, but then, this is Texas.
"Politics is the only field in which the more experience you have, the worse you get," says Friedman. "And I think musicians can better run this state than politicians. And, hell, beauticians can better run the state than politicians."
When he was reminded that musicians are not known for their excellent work habits, Friedman replied, "OK, so we're not gonna get a lot done early in the mornings. All right?"
Posted by: technicolour at February 27, 2010 2:01 PM
RR: That's interesting, thanks - I've apologised to the person I doubted :) And a great Viking philosophy there, apart from the pillaging etc. Mind you, Thor was always a top superhero.
Can't see many Brits settling happily in Iraq now; what a fearful web they've woven.
Posted by: technicolour at February 27, 2010 2:20 PM
I heard the play last night on the BBC website. The episode of the orchard being cut down was unexpected, and I was so grateful for Craig's speech to the woman's neighbors. There's something about trees. They're like a dog whistle to humans that governments and militaries just can't hear. I read a recent story about all the old plane trees in the Tashkent Public Garden being cut down "at the President's order." I wonder if Craig has said anything about them? I could do with a memorial sermon. Grief, just grief.
me in us
http://enews.ferghana.ru/article.php?id=2590
http://www.neweurasia.net/politics-and-society/civic-activism-indicators/
Posted by: me in us at February 28, 2010 3:26 AM
Due to the complexity of life and stuff (we all know about stuff), I missed listening to the play on Iplayer. However...it would appear that David Tennant's site is providing a download of it gratis. Here's the link -
http://www.team-tennant.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/murderinsamarkand.mp3
Dont know how long it will last, and be warned that it is 159 MB in size, hmm, a bit chunky. I`ll be settling down to listen to it once I've finished reading the book; only a coupla chapters to go and it is gripping.
Posted by: mike cobley at February 28, 2010 11:47 AM
It must have been hard to squeeze that much material into the play. I liked it very much, despite my fear that important sections would be missed out due to the volume of material.
Youy reminder of the awefull bias that were under in Norwich made me wretch. I am as much turned off by the daily lies and ghastly 'bollitics' than you are.
I have had a nsty virus attack over the last two eeks and are still struggling to control that little bastard within my wires.
Posted by: ingo at February 28, 2010 12:42 PM
hrrwpm
http://002evolves.blogspot.com
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