Graeme (one of the few worthwhile politics blogs out there): The rot at the centre of Canada's political culture

A new Council of Europe treaty will make a real difference to abuse sufferers – so why is our government so reluctant to sign?

by Gauri van Gulik

May 19, 2011

Ministers from countries all across Europe gathered in Istanbul today to sign a new Council of Europe convention on domestic violence at the Istanbul summit of the committee of ministers. Incredibly, the UK wasn't one of the signatories. The British government so far has not commented on its reasoning...the government is nibbling away determinedly at those services that are needed to fight violence, such as legal aid and protection for female asylum seekers who suffered domestic violence in their home country. And now it is reluctant to sign a groundbreaking new treaty that will truly make a difference throughout the European region.

here.

the government probably has one eye on asylum and refugee claims.

lots of things in Europe come down to a vile, miserable calculation about the marginalised and the Other, after all.

even if the UK signs this tomorrow (as they should), their pause will have been noted.

Why Are 25 Hedge Fund Managers Worth 658,000 Teachers?

I'm so fast that last night I turned off the light switch in my hotel room and got into bed before the room was dark

i've banged on about this one elsewhere online but my love for this one is real.

vital tech-house eudaimonia, how do i love you?

let me count the ways.

if a DJ dropped this at say 6 am during an all-nighter i'm afraid i would go fucking mental.

love how the two vocal samples play off, and the expanding feeling of whole-hearted euphoria.

And who is insisting on these human sacrifices but the high priests of banking and finance whose blow-out created the problem in the first place and who continue to claim heroic levels of "compensation" when they are villains not heroes?

- Robin Blackburn