URL: Latest posts
Why citizens should lower their expectations of Europe
"Maybe we need to go through this damaging experience so that next time we get true democracy in Europe." The comments of a German professor this week about the impending apathy due to strike the elections for European parliamentarians next...
Science v Ethics
When I read the following article, I struggled to believe it. The increased availability of prenatal ultrasounds in Vietnam appears to be behind an increase in male births, as parents choose abortions on the basis of gender. A curious and uncomfortab...
NASA, Bear Sterns, the Iraq War and you'd still get change...
Whilst it may be several months old, this fantastically effective graphic illustrates the otherwise incomprehensible amount of money spent on the Wall Street bailout last year. Via a more recent series by FlowingData of visualisations of the financi...
The New Chrysler Bankrupt
Quote of the day today comes from Barack Obama on the dire state of Chrysler's finances: "I don't want to run auto companies, and I don't want to run banks. I've got two wars I've got to run already - I've got more than enough to do."...
Christianity in the Constitution
The 'push' to finalise the main features of the European Constitution before the German presidency ends in June has once again stumbled. Angela Merkel has announced that it is unlikely there will be a reference to the European Christian heritage in t...
An embarassing admission
I had never considered that the logo to celebrate the EU's fiftieth year of togetherness would appear differently in each language. In hindsight, it makes a great deal of sense ofcourse. How embarassing.But in case, like me, you haven't seen how the...
What does Eurovision say about Europe?
If Eurovision symbolises European unity, then it is interesting how it is so divisive. For one night every year, the entire continent is transfixed by this cringeworthy spectacle. It never fails to disappoint, whether it is the curious cultural video...
A victorious loser
If you are unlucky enough to meet a politician in a campaign mindset, I pity you. It is likely you will suffer a simply horrific experience. The reason is that they believe any news can be spun to be good, even if it is anything but. Elections are pr...
More dubious birthday 'perks'
I know it's old news now, but Time produced a little slideshow about the EU's birthday which I missed. It's worth a read. As well as the usual major acheivements (such as freedom of movement, low cost airlines, etc.) it highlights some rather bizarre...
The state of European terrorism
So Europol tells us the threat from terrorism on our doorstep has never been more serious. It's surprising that following the major efforts by the Spanish PM Zapatero to bring peace to the Basque region, ETA remains one of the most threatening.ETA wa...
How to get the EU noticed
Christian Bulzomi at BlogEuropa has proposed a fantastic way to celebrate the 50 years of the EU...and it's guaranteed to make people appreciate it.A 'non-EU day' would undo the work of the European Community just for one day and would probably be th...
le supertren francais
As the traditional Easter weekend engineering mess beckons for Britains rail network, it seems an appropriate time to discuss trains. As the French manage to get their train to travel so fast it arrived before it had left, you'll be lucky to get a tr...
Go where the grass is greener
Aren't borders just ridiculous. On the ground they are invisible lines that establish whether you are legal or illegal, a citizen or a tourist, a worker or an immigrant. Stand either side of a border and you are likely to feel very little difference.
The iTunes strudel
Apple is not unfamiliar to lawsuits. If you're The Beatles, an mp3 player with a wheel on, or anything white with an 'i' in its name, it's quite likely you're being sued right now.Today the Commission has announced the way iTunes sells its music coul...
Europe confronts Iran shennanigans
As the 15 captured British sailors being held in Iran face legal action for their 'mistake' I discovered this rather concerning article speculating to the exact date the US plans to attack Iran. In a week when diplomacy has entered 'a different phase...
EU podcast
I feel a word about the link to Let's Talk Europe is necessary. Started back in September by myself (a cynical europhile) and my housemate (a humble Mac owner) our lovechild was a weekly EU podcast.Each of the seven weekly episodes dealt with some of...
Independent highlights Eurosceptic failures
The Independent's front page has provided some important revision topics for the 'what has the EU ever done for me' question, which is bound to pop up over the next week or so.My favourite, number 50 - 'Lists like this drive the Eurosceptics mad.'The...
Reasons to be cheerful
Moravcsik (via Kosmopolit) writes this article about Europe's big five-o.I find the phrase "Europeans are from Venus, Americans from Mars" in relation to the differences in military spending quite neat.Ofcourse, Trident should go some way t...
