Monthly Archives: August 2009

A great  response to the “What Gordon should have said” competition. It’s interesting that people generally do seem to recognise it is a diicult spot when asked to walk in his shoes. I thought this effort from Vino’s political blog … Continued

As I mentioned yesterday, I am a sad person who has invented my very own political game to while away the long empty hours between elections. The essence of the game is that you put yourself in the shoes of … Continued

I’m a bit sick of this summer’s politics and the coverage thereof. Chris Grayling’s Wire based idiocy is the most recent example of facepalm inspiring stupidity, but there’s been a lots around.  I’ve found the coverage of what the Prime … Continued

The death of Senator Edward Kennedy has, naturally, led to a great piling up of encomiums and tributes. For myself, I suggest that anyone interested in political rhetoric should read Kennedy’s 1980 convention concession speech. The speech is most famous … Continued

I spent much of my free time in the last two weeks writing and delivering leaflets and direct mails. How I hate you, dogs that jump up and land on the other side of the letter box with your paws, slamming … Continued

So, Chris Grayling thinks Britain is turning into the Wire. Well, they’ve both got cynical, ambitious politicians using selective crime stats to help propel them into office, so he got that bit right. On a side note, David Simon talks … Continued

From our on the spot reporter, Waterstone’s books, Newcastle. If you ascend to the heights of the first floor of Waterstone’s Newcastle, which is home to the Crime, Science Fiction and “Mind, Body and Spirit” book departments  (I conclude that … Continued

As you may have noticed, I’ve changed the name of the blog. It’s now no longer “A blog from the back room” but a bare, unadorned assertion of ownership and authorship and so forth.  Welcome everybody, to Hopi Sen. (Pron. … Continued

As  Japan has also now left recession,  I would like to blatantly steal the work of Tom Freeman, and reproduce the following graph, which shows GDP progression over the last year for the G7.  It’s a subject I’m interested in … Continued

I see Kerry McCarthy has been appointed Labour New Media spokespoerson. This is a good thing, not least because Kerry is a paid up member of the “nice people” faction, of which, membership of said faction often decides my attitude … Continued