I am sorry that writing a book (at least the way I do it) requires periods when all else is blotted out and you only come out of that immersion as though for a gasp of air. I am still mostly researching Alexander Burnes, though I have just started jotting down the odd phrase and papragraph that will probably feature in the final version. I can’t get the phraseology on this right:
The clash of Burnes and Vitkevich, pushing the respective British and Russian interests in Kabul, is the moment which, more than many other, encapsulates the entire romance and intrigue of the Great Game. Within four years, the events now unfolding would result in the violent deaths of both of them.
Should that last phrase rather be “in the violent death of each of them?”.
I am sorry this preoccupation has precluded me blogging about the appalling marketisation of univerisites, with students seen as consumers and education as a commodity, rather than a university being an academic community in pursuit of knowledge.
The physical sabotage of the propellor shaft of the Swedish Gaza peace flotilla ship is only the start. I would strongly advise all the convoy ships in harbour to run their props in very short bursts at random but not infrequent intervals. That might deter other Israeli Buster Crabbes.
Thought this might interest you in the light of the Fukushima disaster where it is now found that children have received doses of radiation.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jun/30/fukushima-children-radiation-tests-caesium
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Lord Hutton of Furness, not content with ‘shafting’ his brothers and sisters in the public sector in collusion with his pals in the KOALITION as I call it, is pushing the interests of the nuclear industry in the UK as Chairmand of the NIA (Nuclear Industry Assocation). {http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/jun/30/british-government-plan-play-down-fukushima}
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It turns out that he is on the board of Hyperion Power Generation. {http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperion_Power_Generation}
‘…..is a privately held company formed to commercialize a small modular nuclear reactor designed by Los Alamos National Laboratory (“LANL”) scientists leveraging forty years of technological advancement. The reactor, known as the Hyperion Power Module (“HPM”), designed to fill a previously unmet need for a transportable power source that is safe, clean, sustainable, and cost-efficient.’
Fridge size nuclear reactors sound rather a dangerous idea to me!
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Later career – In June 2010, it was announced that Hutton had joined the board of U.S. nuclear power company Hyperion Power Generation. The Advisory Committee on Business Appointments stipulated that he should not lobby his former department for 12 months.
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It was also announced in June 2010, that the Conservative – Lib Dem coalition had invited him to head a commission into public sector pensions. His initial report was published in October 2010.{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hutton,_Baron_Hutton_of_Furness}
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{http://www.niauk.org/our-members.html} Not all of the members of the NIA are making nuclear reactors of course. I see they even have DLA Piper the global legal firm on the list. Mrs Cleggover (Miriam Gonzalez) is one of the partners.
“Government officials launched a PR campaign to ensure the accident at the Fukushima nuclear facility in Japan did not derail plans for new nuclear power stations in the UK” (Thursday)
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http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/jun/30/british-government-plan-play-down-fukushima?CMP=EMCGT_010711&
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No wonder the whole thing disappeared off the airwaves, despite the news from Fukushima getting worse and worse.
@dreoilin – I know what you mean about taking a break. That’s why my commenting here tends to go in cycles – I am either fervently believing in social change or sick of public indifference to capitalist corruption and superpower militarism. I am a sine-wave between these two poles 🙂
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Interesting article about the gold dinar, btw – thanks. The article seems to think that Hussein was *planning* to switch the Iraqi oil trading platform to Euros – my understanding was that he in fact did, in 2000. It wasn’t until the invasion of 2003 that the Americans were able to correct this “error”; switching the bourse currency back to dollars was one of the first things they did, I believe.
The latest from Bill Blum
http://killinghope.org/bblum6/aer95.html
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Libya: Unending American hostility
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If I could publicly ask our beloved president one question, it would be this: “Mr. President, in your short time in office you’ve waged war against six countries — Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, Yemen and Libya. This makes me wonder something. With all due respect: What is wrong with you?”
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The US are using drones in Somalia I read earlier.
Independent Americas
US expands drone war against al-Qa’ida
Friday, 1 July 2011
Rupert Cornwell: The strikes in Somalia bring to six the number of countries where the drones have been used.
Jon,
I only saw your comment now. Yes, Hussein *had* switched to euros. Iran has done the same, or is in the process of switching. I’m not well versed in economics or currency matters, I can only quote those who are. But the whole petro-dollar/reserve currency thing is of huge importance to the USA.
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Will you not be moderating anymore? (I read Craig on another thread.) I thought you were doing a great job – and I don’t only mean with Herbie, obviously. You’ve done a lot since you began.
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I’m off for another break. This whole Greece/flotilla thing has me … I was going to say depressed, but it’s more a case of angry and frustrated.
Tony, I’d always assumed that Hari was openly gay. I must’ve missed something, clearly
Hi Craig, instead of your two versions, I would write “would