2006-12-03

winterbadger: (bugger!)
2006-12-03 11:02 am
Entry tags:

Blair once again strikes the wrong note

You would think the man was tone-deaf.

from The Times
The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, has expressed his anger at Britain’s failure to gag Alexander Litvinenko in the final hours of his life, the cabinet has been told.

Margaret Beckett, the foreign secretary, told ministers that the Russian government had “taken exception” to the poisoned former spy’s deathbed letter accusing the Putin regime of murdering him.

...

Beckett, who spoke to her Russian counterpart before Thursday’s cabinet meeting, said the Russians had “seemingly failed to understand” that Litvinenko was under police supervision rather than in custody.

Amid signs that his death could cause a diplomatic row, Tony Blair concluded the cabinet meeting by saying “the most important issue” was likely to be Britain’s long-term relationship with Moscow.


That's a wonderful misleading modifier too, isn't it? Would Blair's death cause a diplomatic row? Surely not.

But the larger issue is, why does it strike the PM that the most important thing right now is sucking up to a Russian bully and dictator, rather than discovering the truth about the murder of a British citizen in the middle of London?
winterbadger: (books2)
2006-12-03 12:07 pm
Entry tags:

(no subject)

I'm just about to start another class in my M.A. course, so I probably won't have as much time for 'fun' reading over the next two months. That said, I finished a good book today, and I figured I would start chronicling the books that I've read over the last year. I know a number of people have signed up for the 'fifty-book challenge', and while I rarely need any encouragement to read, I thought it might be amusing to see how many I have read and whether I've come close to fifty, come short, or blown way over it. Read more... )
winterbadger: (books)
2006-12-03 01:13 pm
Entry tags:

(no subject)

So more on my book project. I thought I might try to ebay stuff this morning, but I remembered I will be out of town next weekend, so I had better wait until I'm back.

So, books I might have read this year, or maybe last...Read more... )
winterbadger: (bike)
2006-12-03 10:45 pm
Entry tags:

Sunday afternoon and more books

Had a very nice time at the Union Street Public House chatting with K. She seems very nice; hopefully she feels the same and we'll have another date.

I had a short ride around the neighborhood when I got back, then had the leftovers from last night's dinner and some salad. Hung with with les filles for a little while watching a Rick Steves program on Xmas in Europe with them.

Last book list tomorrow, I think. Just time for a cup of tea before bed...