Tim Worstall

Two at the ASI. Is it possible to be too cynical? Prosecuted for handing in a petition? Haven’t these people ever heard of the Bill of Rights?

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This is one of the problems we have with teaming up with Johnny Foreigner in all of these international organisations: South Africa’s police chief faces a warrant for his arrest as a bitter struggle at the top of the country’s ruling African National Congress threatens to plunge the country into chaos. The warrant against Jackie [...]

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Guardian Leader: …no matter how seriously President Bush now talks about global warming, his economy depends on consumption of natural resources. I’m sure that one will be written down in the annals of amazing economic insights.

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An interesting little detail in this story about the Greek fires this summer: In the absence of a land registry and forest maps, Greeks invariably have been able to build with impunity in areas that would normally be protected. So at least part of the cause of the fires was the absence of clearly delineated [...]

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This headline:   Tories must do or die in Blackpool It’s a party conference they’re having, not a rerun of Zulu. They’re going there to talk to fellow minded people, get drunk with them and if the past is any guide, screw a few of them (both physically and metaphorically). A tad over the top, [...]

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Interesting little note here (yes, I know the survey was sponsored by the manufacturer of an energy drink): It says: "Thirtysomething women today are on their knees suffering debilitating tiredness because there are simply not enough hours in their days to build in any relaxation time." Eighty-five per cent of thirtysomething women say they frequently [...]

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So the OECD says that the UK school system isn’t very good, that it doesn’t educate people and that all the extra money that’s been fire hosed in isn’t actually getting to the places that need it. The response? Jim Knight, the schools minister, said the education system was "performing strongly" but admitted more needed [...]

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There’s a few points to be made about this announcement from Hilary Benn: The traditional lightbulb will disappear from shops under a two year timetable announced by Hilary Benn, the Environment Secretary. The first is that it’s not really a big decision. As the article notes we’re signed up to an EU regulation that bans [...]

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Two at the Anorak. More Northern Rock and if they can check us for lying, why can’t we check them?

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Two at The Business. Are we sure we want to change the taxation of carried interest and game theory and economics.  

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You mean Amanda can indeed write and be witty? So what’s her excuse the rest of the time?  

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Yeeeehah! El Gordo is toast. At least, that’s the implication of this research by Daniel Finkelstein (pbuh). How could I have missed this? The heavy influence of Bob Shrum on Gordon Brown’s speech. How could I have missed it? First of all there are plenty of phrases pretty directly lifted from speeches made by Shrum [...]

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Good God! Has this man no manners? A decision by Rudy Giuliani to answer a mobile phone call from his wife while delivering a presidential campaign speech threatens to damage his bid for the White House. Or is it that there’s one rule for Rudy and another for the hoi polloi? You can, for example, [...]

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The dividing line between an escort agency and the control of prostitution is a pretty thin one, I think we’re all aware of that. However, this line from the court report of a trial did raise a smile: The barrister said that while there was no suggestion that any of the prostitutes were coerced, they [...]

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Giles Fraser’s philosophy classes must be interesting, eh? No: the struggle for the full inclusion of lesbian and gay people in the life of the church is a frontline battle in the war against global religious fascism. Lessee, supporting the traditional teachings of the Christian churches, that sex may only unsinfully take place within marriage [...]

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Err: Gordon Brown’s should capitalise on his popularity among women and put female cabinet ministers centre stage. So because El Gordo is popular with women he should stand aside and make way for female ministers, who may or may not be popular with women? Fun logic, eh?

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Seriously: Last week the city announced it was closing down a third of its infamous brothels, and in April, its "coffee shops" were forced to choose between serving alcohol or dealing in officially-tolerated marijuana. Most chose the weed, but from next summer the Dutch will ban smoking in all public outlets. How exactly this will [...]

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Set aside, for a moment, the back story, and look only at these specific words: They predicted that Mr Bush, who is to address the meeting tomorrow, will stress the need to make technological advances that can help combat climate change but will reject mandatory caps on emissions. Without any reading between the lines or [...]

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The Mayor of London: "It’s quite clear we have deliberate manipulation or total neglect or wilful incompetence on the part of the owners and drivers," Mr Livingstone said. "The Cab Drivers Club is a small reactionary clique who have opposed everything I have done as Mayor for six years. If they want to chance their [...]

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So, why are we having a new look at the laws on self-defense, citizens arrests and so on? But Mr Straw is understood to have decided new laws were necessary after he was involved in four "have-a go" incidents, which included chasing and restraining muggers near his south London home. "I know from personal experience [...]

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