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November 18, 2005

Esprit de l'escalier

The wit of the staircase. We've all done it, but Scott Adams (of Dilbert fame) does it best.

Posted by James at 11:45 | Comments (0)
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November 11, 2005

Duelling Davids
He pledged England-only votes in the House of Commons - but ruled out a separate English Parliament. "Only English MPs could vote, let's say, on English education policies or English health policies," he said.

I agree with Mr Davis, given that MPs have no influence on Scottish education policy (which is decided by MSPs), that representatives of the Scottish electorate should equivalently not have influence over English education policy. However, I have to wonder about Davis's reasons for supporting this — after all, it's not as if his party currently has any Scottish MPs...

Asked that most intimate of sartorial questions - what kind of underpants they prefer - David Davis and David Cameron revealed a crucial difference.

It's always nice to see the serious issues being addressed in these campaigns. Don't worry about the legalisation of ecstasy, or constitutional reform, let's ask them about their favourite bands and underwear preferences.

(Incidentally, both Davids said they like Coldplay more than the Scissor Sisters, which I think proves that Coldplay are pants, as I've said all along.)

Posted by James at 15:09 | Comments (1)
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November 08, 2005

Don't get angry, get photos
Witnesses said the women were having sex in a stall with each other, angering patrons waiting in line to get into the restroom at the club in the Channelside district.

Folks, please. Next time this happens to you, don't get angry, get photos. Sheesh!

Posted by James at 02:06 | Comments (0)
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Somewhat reassuring
The accident happened just minutes into a display which was being watched by some 15,000 people at Wicksteed Park near Kettering in Northamptonshire. A spokesman for Kettering General Hospital said two children and an adult remain in hospital. One child may be transferred to a specialist burns unit.

It may seem counter-intuitive, but, I find the appearance of stories like this about organised displays somewhat reassuring. The fact that a single stray firework injuring 11 people at a display is newsworthy means that, of the probably hundreds of thousands, maybe millions of people attending organised firework displays last weekend, really rather few were injured by stray fireworks. Of course, it's sad that 11 people have been hurt, and I wish the 3 who remain hospitalised a speedy recovery.

According to statistics published this May, last firework season over 50% of firework related injuries occurred at private firework parties, with only 8% of injuries occurring at large public displays. Of course, the nature of statistics says that these charts could be used to show that indoors is the safest place to use fireworks, with only 1% of injuries being sustained indoors, but this is actually because nobody is stupid enough to use fireworks indoors. With, apparently, about a dozen exceptions, in the 2004 firework season.

As it happens, this year I missed both the big organised local display, and the little display/party put on by a local pub, since I was at work every night of the bonfire weekend; but then, once you've "ooooh!"ed and "aaaah!"ed at one set of fireworks, they're all the same, right?

Anyway, remember kids, organised displays are safer, and way more spectacular than setting off a bunch of rockets in your back garden will ever be. Also, setting rockets off along the street outside the local bus station isn't big, hard or clever. Thanks.

Posted by James at 01:45 | Comments (5)
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