What did you do when the Olympic Torch passed by?

[Flyfisher]

Of course there's a difference of scale but why is that relevant? Is it not possible for both alleged crimes to be dealt with by the law? Why do we have to choose one or the other? I don't recall anyone saying the US government should avoid having to answer for it's actions, but it seems strange to believe that process will be assisted by letting Assange escape having to answer for his.

 

[LadyArowana]

The USA is accused of war crimes, .................

In many conflicts rape is also a war crime that is directed almost exclusively at the civilian female population. Whilst my cursory knowledge of the facts of the case against Assange lead me to believe he is probably innocent, I do think the women involved should be granted due process if that is reasonably practical. However for the UK to be wasting an immense ammount of resources on this seems out of proportion. My favorite scenario would have him escape disguised as the Ecuadorian Ambassador in a ballgown whilst a double complete with applied full face mask is inside the embassy conducting a live interview with the BBC. I may just have watched too many Hollywood offerings, although

all I think we need is better makeup and some designer sunglasses ...................

 

[biffvernon]

Of course there's a difference of scale but why is that relevant? Is it not possible for both alleged crimes to be dealt with by the law? Why do we have to choose one or the other?

We don't. That's why Assange was willing to be questioned by the police whilst in Sweden but they did not want to and allowed him to leave. He continues to be willing to be questioned now in the UK. He has made no attempt to escape justice. His European arrest warrant was issued when Wikileaks released the 'cablegate' files.

However, put the thing in context:

With the world watching the case of Wikileaks Julian Assange, Russia Today sat down with American author Naomi Wolf to discuss why journalists are finding it increasingly difficult to publish information the US government doesn’t want them to. Indeed, the Pentagon has been ordered to begin monitoring major news stations in the US to see if any media outlets are disclosing classified information. With the entire government now over-classifying everything, it's a heavy-handed attempt to silence truth tellers and whistleblowers with threats of imprisonment, or worse. Wolf's reaction is: "My immediate take is a profound feeling of nausea and a sense that somehow, the United States has collapsed into the Soviet Union circa the mid-1930s. This was horribly foreseeable, but I can’t believe it’s come to this."

more at http://lewrockwell.com/orig11/wolf-n7.1.1.html

 

[Flyfisher]

My favorite scenario would have him escape disguised as the Ecuadorian Ambassador in a ballgown whilst a double complete with applied full face mask is inside the embassy conducting a live interview with the BBC.

LadyA for the win. :lol:

 

[biffvernon]

Glen Greenwald has a pretty devastating critique of the New Statesman piece in the Guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/aug/24/new-statesman-error-assange-swedish-extradition

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Stunning opening ceremony to the Paralympics.

#ProudToBeBritish again!

 

[biffvernon]

Excellent that science was centre stage in a popular mass media event.

I always did like Ian Drury. Remind me why the BBC banned Spasticus Autisticus. Is that part of our Proud British Heritage?

Spasticus Autisticus
Dury's 1981 song "Spasticus Autisticus"—written to show his disdain for that year's International Year of Disabled Persons, which he saw as patronising and counter-productive—was banned by the BBC. Dury was a disabled person himself, having been left crippled by childhood polio. The lyrics were uncompromising:
So place your hard-earned peanuts in my tin
And thank the Creator you're not in the state I'm in
So long have I been languished on the shelf
I must give all proceedings to myself
The song's refrain, "I'm spasticus, autisticus" was inspired by the response of the rebellious Roman gladiators in the film Spartacus, who, when instructed to identify their leader, all answered, "I am Spartacus", to protect him. According to Professor George McKay, in a 2009 article in Popular Music called 'Crippled with nerves' (an early Dury song title):
Ian Dury, that ‘flaw of the jungle’, produced a remarkable and sustained body of work that explored issues of disability, in both personal and social contexts, institutionalisation, and to a lesser extent the pop cultural tradition of disability. He also, with the single ‘Spasticus Autisticus’ (1981), produced one of the outstanding protest songs about the place of disabled people in what he called ‘normal land’.
Dury described the song as "a war cry" on Desert Island Discs.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_Dury

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Well, we're in the Olympic Park having a fantastic day. We're just about to see Pistorius do his superhuman magic.

But before that we're going to have a McDonalds in Biff's honour. :lol:

Its the most reasonably priced food here - same as high street price. Elsewhere its six quid for a jacket potato.

 

[Alex]

FamilyWiggs, you are so lucky to be there, enjoy yourselves.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

FamilyWiggs, you are so lucky to be there, enjoy yourselves.

Alex - we were indeed. Its been an unforgettable day and we've seen some truly inspirational sport. The David Weir T54 5k win was one of the most exciting moments of my life.

The architecture of the park is very impressive on site and the view walking out into the stadium is utterly jaw dropping.

And I have to say the whole thing is flawlessly executed. I've queued far longer in my local library!

 

[Nigel Watts]

Well, we're in the Olympic Park having a fantastic day. We're just about to see Pistorius do his superhuman magic.

We were there too, block 240 about a third of the way up.

The David Weir T54 5k win was one of the most exciting moments of my life.

but we missed this bit as we left at about 10 pm.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Well, we're in the Olympic Park having a fantastic day. We're just about to see Pistorius do his superhuman magic.

We were there too, block 240 about a third of the way up.

The David Weir T54 5k win was one of the most exciting moments of my life.

but we missed this bit as we left at about 10 pm.

Block 254 row 65. A shame you left, it was an incredible race. I've never heard noise like it, the roar circling the stadium in a deafening wave as Weir passed.

 

[biffvernon]

Nice bit of spectator participation from the Paralympics:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqM0Ube0oLs&feature=player_embedded

 

[FamilyWiggs]

In the interests of political balance, I considered posting that this morning, but then decided I knew you wouldn't be able to resist doing it yourself! :wink:

 

[vicky whitworth]

What fun! Oh and while we're at it let's change the planning laws again, and again, and again... The bulldozer arrived on the last field in Chardstock this week - make way sheepikins - we have four houses going up - the parish council who didn't want the houses at all asked the developer Jameson Homes if the estate could be called Cook's Field after the field they were trashing. Jameson Homes which is the most arrogant, souless, morality-free organisation I have come across in while has refused and called them Chardstone Mews instead. What's a 'chardstone'? Forgot to say that Jameson Homes are also specialists in made-up names.
They paved paradise and put up a parking lot. Vicky

 

[LadyArowana]

What fun! Oh and while we're at it let's change the planning laws again, and again, and again... The bulldozer arrived on the last field in Chardstock this week - make way sheepikins - we have four houses going up - the parish council who didn't want the houses at all asked the developer Jameson Homes if the estate could be called Cook's Field after the field they were trashing. Jameson Homes which is the most arrogant, souless, morality-free organisation I have come across in while has refused and called them Chardstone Mews instead. What's a 'chardstone'? Forgot to say that Jameson Homes are also specialists in made-up names.
They paved paradise and put up a parking lot. Vicky

Chard Stone Ltd,...... Seems they do concrete products, not inspiring.

 

[biffvernon]

I liked the fish.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

I liked the fish.

I think its proper name is Filet-o-fish, Biff.

Did you have it on its own, or as part of a Happy Meal?

 

[biffvernon]

:roll:

 

[Johnboy]

Looks like something the baddies would be using on Stingray!