[weekend] attacks and blockages

The new e-mail appears to be working fine - please don't use the oasis address as it's now confirmed that it's blocked by 'them' and I absolutely refuse to play their game. There was also another attack yesterday - hence no posting until this morning but we'll press on. Thank you and sorry to anyone who checked in yesterday and found nothing. I hope to make up for it now.

[sunday blogfocus] the power of positive thinking

Who is this blogger?

The self-imposed task this week was to track down the ‘positive’ things bloggers had posted, as in ‘things which raised the spirits’, ‘things we could learn from’ and so on. Right from the start, under the latter heading, came Cleanthes admonition as to what constituted ‘readability’: However, it is not mere Blogfocus plugs that will bring your name into the conversation around the mantelpiece here at the Select Society. Begging might even count against you … No: you must produce analysis of consequence, coupled with lightness of prose, wit and erudition, if your goal is to be the talk of the great thinkers here at the Society. Surely advice one ignores at one’s peril … more here.

[brazil] babes and blackmail

Time to lower the tone a little. Well, quite a lot really. Brazilian cleaner Roselane Driza [not pictured] was today given a 33-month jail sentence and recommended for deportation for blackmailing an immigration judge and stealing sexy videos from another judge - her lover. The two judges involved in the case are being investigated by the Department of Constitutional affairs and Driza's defence team say they have new information about the judges that they will use on appeal. Puts new meaning into the term Barely Legal.

[usa] losing the plot at international level

Was there ever such a demonstration of the waning leverage of the US as a world arbitrator? A third of my friends are American and I have no wish to offend them but they’d better face up to the fact that their politicos have lost the plot in various theatres of action, just as Britain once had to face up to the loss of its own empire. China is the new measuring stick: Kim Jong-Il has apologised and reassured China that he has no plans to conduct further nuclear tests … Kim was quoted as telling a senior Chinese envoy on Thursday that he was prepared to return to the negotiating table and compromise with the United States. Is that leverage or is that leverage? No one is smugly smiling about it – it’s simply the new reality.

[europe] eu leaders wine and dine putin

Rafael Epstein’s article sums up the actuality at this moment. Two hours ago I ran it past the Trade Minister [returned from the London Summit] and he did not demur on any of the points reproduced here: There's a rather unusual meeting taking place in Finland. On the sidelines of the European Union meeting in Helsinki, leaders will wine and dine Russian President Vladimir Putin. Each European leader is simultaneously nervous about its neighbours potential to secure exclusive energy deals with Russia, and worried that Russia could use its massive energy reserves to restore the country's status as a global superpower. Read more here.

[half-term] go to it rightly and may scallops rock yer tadger

Half-term over there - I wonder to which corner of the globe you will bicycle. Either way, good luck and stay safe. Do you think bloggers will shut up shop or will blog more intensely during next week?

[total] prosecution a modern french farce

Not so pretty but is he corrupt?

Call me corrupt if you like but I can’t see the problem with this Total business. What is a kickback anyway? Just a payment to gain an advantage for your company and which CEO or Deputy wouldn’t do all he can, of a financial nature, for his company? It’s the greatest hypocrisy to prosecute the briber when the taker is the real criminal. Business is business – do we want a free market or an over- regulated, fair market? That is the question or so it seems to me. [HT: Oil & Gas Topix]

[sao paulo] schumacher's swansong

For those not aware of it, this is Michael Schumacher’s swan-song at Sao Paulo on Sunday and he’s well placed to take out his final race. With seven already under his belt and the Ferrari firing, it’s anyone’s race vs. his competitive spirit and I should think there’ll be over a billion people checking in to the coverage from time to time. "I am not here this weekend to think too much about my own title," said Schumacher [37]. "I am coming here for the constructors' title. I expressed after the Suzuka race that the title fight for the drivers' is finished.

[aishah] last time on this, hopefully

I’ve just read the Telegraph piece on the issue and the comments on it and the anonymous comment on my earlier piece. Someone drew the parallel of the kippah worn by Jews. How can anyone say it’s the same issue? That’s ridiculous. Another commenter said we can’t walk down the street in balaclavas these days [can’t remember ever doing so actually]. This blog concludes that the woman was way out of line and is trying to milk the issue for all it’s worth. What’s more, she wishes to become a teacher. Really? Who would employ her? Yesterday, one of my girls [Muslim] asked why this Aishah didn’t just go to a Muslim school if she feels so strongly about the veil.

[olives] latest news from the front line

Photo lifted direct from L'Ombre's site

The news from the Olive Front is not so good: Rain soaked rotten over-ripe olives fallen to the ground and lying on our driveway. Just hoping most of them stay on the trees for another week or 10 days. Getting critical now. Keep your fingers crossed.