[grass is greener] here at home

Our own problems with the Blogpower polls and allegations of their surreptitious stacking by the strong-arm boys pale into insignificance beside Egypt:

One person has been killed in violence outside a polling station in Egypt's northern Nile Delta region, as Egyptians go to the polls in parliamentary elections. A number of opposition groups boycotted Monday's election, the first held under constitutional amendments approved by a referendum in March, but the Muslim Brotherhood participated.

The constitutional amendments [which gave rise to the election] give greater powers to the upper house but impose wider restrictions on the Muslim Brotherhood, the ruling National Democratic party's main challenger. The elections are also a test of a new law banning the use of religious symbols and slogans, a move seen as an attempt to drive Islamist groups, such as the Muslim Brotherhood, out of mainstream politics.

Members of the National Democratic party had petitioned the commission to eliminate the Brotherhood candidates, alleging they had broken the law by campaigning under religious slogans. But the Supreme Administrative Court ruled on Sunday that there was no conclusive evidence that the candidates or their supporters had used religious slogans.

One could almost smile if it weren't so serious. Meanwhile, we also have an expulsion on the agenda. Read about it at Blogpower [banner top left].

[add your caption] in the comments

[country profiles] ten more for your delectation and frustration

Don't forget to take the Science Quiz. Thousands have [forgotten].

Now to the Country Quiz:

1] One and one-half times the size of Texas, second ethnicity Berber; the Wafd Party forced Britain to relinquish its claims on the country.

2] Real name Köztársaság [2nd word], devastating invasion by the Mongols killed half of its population in 1241, current policy “reform without austerity”.

3] Currently under blighted rule, the remains of early humans, dating back 500,000 years, have been discovered, in March 2002, suspended from C of N.

4] Hosting a multinational force right now, the Hindu Kush mountain range dominates, 36% literacy rate.

5] Malvinas.

6] Ring of mountains encircles the Bohemian Plateau, monetary unit the Koruna, literacy rate 100%, joined NATO in March 1999.

7] Lord Mountbatten [not India].

8] Main language only spoken by 30%, in May 1975, the kingdom of Sikkim became a full-fledged state within the country, has a problem with Maoist insurgents.

9] Most often the winner of the Eurovision.

10] Voodoo, Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

Answers here.

[political blogging] the rough with the smooth

I like this photo of the Tunbridge Wells man

One thing I admire about Iain Dale is that while he gives plenty of stick, he also accepts a lot in the rough and tumble of political blogging. I know this because three times he has written to me, once after I posted a scurrilous post about the Dale 100 Awards and he was more than gracious every time.

In fact he was a gentleman. Plus he almost always keeps his comments open. That's sheer class in my book.

Sometimes though, the low-lifes who also infest the net get under the guard and that's the case with his Louise Bagshaw post. One can only go off and lick one's wounds, then come back fighting again.

But it's not only Iain. Another who has had the rough end of the stick, whilst being a bit willing himself, is the inimitable Mutleythedogsdayout, [pity there's no big pic of the dog], who had someone impersonate a blogfriend of his and abuse him in a not entirely articulate way.

So far, I've only been lucky enough to score the one piece of abuse and it went straight into my Testimonials in the sidebar. I'm hopeful there'll be some more from certain very disgruntled quarters after Wednesday evening.

In fact I'm predicting something's going to be posted about me [I think they have something up their sleeve] which will shame me in your eyes forever. You see, behind the scenes I'm playing hardball right now and it's only fair they get their shot later. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. If they don't do it, I'll tell you about it anyway.

You have to take the rough with the smooth.

[human rights] are there negative rights

The ongoing discussion on rights over at Free Jersey might be interesting for any libertarian. Charles Robertson says:

...some basis for negative rights - my right not to be assaulted by you, for example...

and:

...It's the positive rights - the rights to something - which places an obligation on someone else to provide something...

We're clearly in broad agreement here. However, on the "right not to be assaulted", I'm not so sure.

I certainly want mechanisms in place to prevent such things, e.g. well lit streets, Bobbies on patrol etc., but to legislate that the other has no right to assault you - surely that could be handled by a group of peers who convene to discuss the matter.

Where this breaks down now is on the question of punishment. I haven't thought that one through yet. Any ideas?

[zevon] ain't that pretty at all

Were there ever such savage lyrics set to such harmonious music as those of Warren Zevon, already mentioned earlier today? Was there ever a muso's muso unknown to the public at large?

Most know him as the gravel voice behind the classic Werewolves of London but his songs were myriad and often very, very strange: “Roland The Headless Thompson Gunner”, “I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead” and “Tenderness On The Block”, about teenage love on the street, were three of note.

On the idealism of the young which turns to disappointment and then resignation:

“Looking For The Next Best Thing”

I worked hard, but not for the money

Did my best to please

I used to think it was funny

'Till I realized it was just a tease

So I'm looking for the next best thing

Looking for the next best thing

I appreciate the best

But I'm settling for less

'Cause I'm looking for the next best thing

On visiting much lauded sites and not seeing what all the fuss was about:

"Ain't that Pretty at All"

I've been to Paris

And it ain't that pretty at all

I'd like to go back to Paris someday and visit the Louvre Museum

Get a good running start and hurl myself at the wall

'Cause I'd rather feel bad than feel nothing at all

On the modern malaise which threatens to destroy relationships:

"Nobody's in Love this Year"

We keep walking away for no reason at all

And no one says a word

We were always so busy protecting ourselves

We never would have heard

And the rate of attrition for lovers like us

Is steadily on the rise

Nobody's in love this year

Not even you and I

Due to lack of commitment on both of our parts

We're going our separate ways

This show of indifference is breaking our hearts

It's making us crazy, yeah

You sit back and wait for your love to accrue

You'll be waiting a long, long time

Nobody's in love this year

Not even you and I

The lyrics only do partial justice to Zevon, who died in 2003, aged 56. Try to find the albums if you can.