[blogfocus wednesday] grouped by theme

Blogger of the week for his NHS commentary

This evening’s Bumper Issue Blogfocus loosely groups bloggers according to themes and the problem is now acute of how to get round everyone and adequately represent them. Old hands will nod and mutter, ‘Wondered how long it would take him to wake up to that,’ and yet ... and yet. So, to the first topic, National politics and Tom Paine kicks off here: Link: Guardian Unlimited The Guardian Cameron's approval ratings slide. This is sad, but not surprising. The British people just don't need another Tony Blair. More bloggers here.

[heart attack] moderate drinking reduces men's risk

I have to post this in its original form: Even as studies have consistently found an association between moderate alcohol consumption and reduced heart attack risk in men, an important question has persisted: What if the men who drank in moderation were the same individuals who maintained good eating habits, didn't smoke, exercised and watched their weight? How would you know that their reduced risk of myocardial infarction wasn't the result of one or more of these other healthy habits? Full report here.

[foreigners] £1000 fines for illegal workers

Romanians and Bulgarians caught working illegally in Britain after their countries join the European Union will face a £1,000 on-the-spot fine, it was revealed today. The Home Office's threat of tough penalties was part of a package designed to reassure the public that a vast new wave of immigration will not be triggered by January 1's EU expansion. Naturally, those two countries have threatened reprisals. Exact details of the new laws here.

[olly north] the 80s make a comeback

Good to see Oliver North back in Nicaragua to give the Liberal Party's Jose Rizo a bunk up. The issue is that Daniel Ortega, of Sandinista fame, could be returned to power in November, if the opinion polls can be relied on. Keep your eye now on Iran in the 80s roadshow which won't go away. [Photo courtesy The Age]

[highway patrol] curbing speeding or making money

Colin Campbell has a piece which might just make you chuckle, on how four young men in Australia had a scam going, causing the traffic police to send speeding fines to themselves. Now the law-abiding amongst you will see this as outrageous, as you will no doubt feel about radar detectors and the like, almost mandatory over here where we live. The question which seriously needs answering is whether the efforts of the police are for the curbing of speeding and thereby saving lives or whether it’s all about creating revenue.

[faith schools] minette marrin misses the point

Minette Marrin, whom I greatly respect, is not right here: Even those who would much prefer a secular system, as I would, still feel they owe a lot to the great ethical and aesthetic traditions of faith schools. And there’s some evidence that religious state schools are better than others, both academically and pastorally. But faith schools are a British anomaly. It should be possible to agree that for various reasons, many of which are politically embarrassing, the time of state-funded faith schools is past. Why? The state-sanctioned religion is Christianity and in particular the C of E. Any religions outside of this with attendant schools, of whatever hue, are faith schools. The C of E schools are the state and therefore, of course, they must remain.