@Steen Hive

"...when civil servants and spooks were actively destabilising the Wilson government? Or the Police being used as a militia against British people so the traitor Thatcher could sell the country to her foreign friends during the miners' strike?..."

Either I'll have a pint of what you've been drinking, or perhaps ypur email address really is a.campbell (or p.mandelson) @labourparty.org.uk.

Although ".....labourparty.org.ru" would be more honest.

*Mine's the aluminium one with the import tariff agreement in the pocket together with a bank deposit slip for loadsaEuros.

@ dervheid & Sceptical

Dervheid,

Unfortunately old son, the majority of the NuLab-supporting voters (love the word "sheeple") STILL see Keir Hardie, and not Stalin-in-a-frock when scratching their "x" on a ballot form.

And this is despite the evidence of their own eyes when in the late twenties/early thirties, the Labour Party ceased to be a party of and for the working class, having been hijacked by self-proclaimed "intellectual liberals" and others, so aptly described by Comrade Lenin as "useful idiots".

the situation has not changed at all in the following eighty years. Your comment re regular reminding is totally appropriate, and I favour Sceptical's rope-and-a-lampost manner of reminding.

Sceptical, you also have my admiration and approval for cutting through the camouflage and associated crap, making your point succinctly and convincingly.

Please, no more career politicos/failed barristers whose motto is "L'etat, c'st moi".

All we need is a latter-day Charlotte Corday.

One for the moderatrix, peut-etre?

@Neil Barnes

"Fortunately I live in the UK, where I'm innocent unless I am proven guilty.".....

"innocent unless I am proven guilty"???

Don't count on it, Neil old Son!

I can only assume you've missed the last 10 years of NuLab - and of course, the gorgeous, pouting Jacqui - natural successor to one Felix Dzerzhinsky

It's simple

Political activism = supporting/working for NuLab

Terrorism = supporting/working for anyone lse.

Simple, really.

@Jimmy Floyd

Well said, Sir. Couldn't have put it better myself.

@ Phillip

Don't apologise - just 'cos he's American doesn't mean that he's your fault...

After all, we Brits have Blair, Brown and Mandelson (and loads more of that ilk) but since I never voted for any of 'em - and counselled stridently against anyone else doing so - I don't feel too ashamed.

Surpressed, dehumanised, marginalised, despairing, ignored - well yes.

But not ashamed.

Mine's the one with a copy of "Insurrection for the middle-aged" in the pocket....

@Shakje

"The difference between a Vaio and a Macbook is that you can choose to get a model without as much style for less, with a Mac you're stuck paying the extra..."

Absolute bollocks, old Son.

The really important difference is that with the Sony you're provided with Vista Home Premium. With the Mac you receive OSX Leopard.

That alone is worth the difference in price - and then you can start looking at unquantifiables such as build quality etc.,

@Greg

For even more hilarity, and even more misplaced enthusiasm old chap, might I refer you to the numerous videos of one Mr Ballmer showing his almost carnal lusting for Microsoft?

Oh yeah?

And to what degree would you be utterly stuffed in the event of a screen/camera failure?

Good job I don't fly - not in commercial flights, anyway.

I warn you though, that should I be struck by some future Airbus whose pilot has lost his screen/switched channels/is watching naughty films, that I shall have left instructions to m'learned friends to sue the bastards.

@Most of you

The problem is not a specific UK or US problem. Examples of such crass idiocy can be found everywhere in the legislative world. It's indicative of the general standard of pillock who seeks (and unfortunately gains) authoritative office.

The "party machine" in pretty well ALL so-called democratic countries suborns most with political ambitions, and parties are such entrenched behemoths that the old cliche "Resistance is futile - you will be assimilated" was never truer.

We (of a certain age) only have ourselves to blame as we were the ones who fell for and have apparently perpetuated the politically-correct liberal intelligentsia since the 1960's. Believe me, there ain't nobody more fascist & draconian than a "liberal" given power.

We can't prise their fingers from power - maybe it's time we contemplated breaking their fingers if that's what it needs?

I gots to say it...

Bummer!

Grump

Can we have an edict saying EU fat cats & bureaucrats are to be user-replaceable, please? And preferably with mandatory recycling via a furnace.

Modern manufacturing

Everyone manufacturing in electronics buys in items, or subcontracts them to the far east. The manufacturer of these faulty items undoubtedly also supplies Dell, Acer, etc., and probably a host of others who use mains transformers. It keeps prices down - if all was manufactured in the USA or the UK, with stringent quality control, prices would double or more.

Get a grip on reality - and fair play to Apple for their public announcement and recall.

Most of the gloating idiots complaining about ANY company issuing a recall almost certainly couldn't run a whelk stall, or organise festivities in a place of ale production, so we are fully entitled to completely ignore them.

If there is any hope...

it lies in the proles...

But the proles cannot rebel until they become aware, and they cannot become aware until they have rebelled.

Seems that there's more than NuLab who have adopted 1984 as a guidebook.

Orwell's real name was Blair. Coincidence, or what?

He's learning...

So he did (more or less) what brokers & traders have done for years by false rumour, planting of stories etc.

Except they don't get prosecuted.....

AND they get to keep the money.....

Mine's the designer coat with the Porsche keys in the pocket.

Prepare to meet thy doom...

It was a cock-up under PA Consulting, so now the Home Office are taking it in-house.

Why am I not overwhelmed with feelings of confidence?

Prepare for the mother of all cock-ups...

Paris - very experienced if there's a cock-up in the offing...

Someone has to say it...

Shortage of batteries?

So that's why the charge is increasing...

Coat & cab please - quick.

Good stuff

Glad the child saw sense and is (hopefully) no longer p'ed off with Mum and Dad. Whilst I'm normally anti-surveillance, I think in this instance Ma & Pa were right.

I'm just surprised that NuLab's tame Plod passed up on the chance to arrest & crucify the parents (par for the course).

I'm sure Cherie's beloved-by-all Human Rights Act contains a multitude of provisions under which they could have acted, with a little effort & initiative.

@I'm no expert

Neither am I, but I don't think polishing said missiles is necessary:-

Taking into account the US forces' legendary target identification skills and pinpoint accuracy (as experienced by HM forces during a multitude of conflicts), anything & everything within 20 or 30 miles of these missiles will probably be black & crispy anyway - whilst missile remains pristine...

Mine's the orange one, with "Gitmo Bay" on the bavk...

@SNAFU

Situation normal:

A government formed from the soi-disant "liberal elite" will always perpetuate its own quangocracy, and treat the rest of us as the ungrateful hoi-polloi that we are:- ungrateful that is, for their munificence in deigning to rule us in every way and in every aspect of our lives, professional and personal, since they are the only ones who can understand all the complex issues which are far too much for our little brains to possibly comprehend.

We just have to stand back and let Nanny decide, 'cos Nanny knows best.

It is no accident that we are ever increasingly subject to petty irritations - bin police, musn't smoke anywhere, can't bring up your own children your own way etc. - petty rules similar in concept to these have been used in the military for eons.

Why?

Because they inculcate a culture which discourages initiative and fosters unthinking obedience. We are just little sheep whose only value is as taxable labour units who are given the illusion of democracy at election times. Our system ensures we can only appear to choose which nanny, rather than whether to have a nanny...

See you in 42 days, but of course in the spirit of the Doctor's re-suspension, after 30 seconds of freedom I will probably be subject to another 42 days spent "assisting" the nannies...

The Muppet Show (again)

".....Hanson told BBC Radio 5 that this was "a historical loss which I do not believe will ultimately compromise the safety and security of those who work for us"....."

Translation:- "We haven't got a clue where it is, but we're certain that wherever that somewhere is, it's perfectly safe".

Real meaning:- "We haven't got a clue".

All else is superfluous.

@Daniel

"well i picture an amorphous blob..."

Methinks you'll find it's already here, and it's called "Prescott".

Mine's the leather one with "Hell's Curmudgeons" on the back...

@Freetard

"More people should cycle as it benefits all, motorists included (less cars on the road)."

Are cycles going to magically remove some wings, bumpers or wheels from other traffic? - or is that "fewer" cars on the road?

Yours pedantically but grammatically,

the semi-resident grouch.

Paris because I'm not THAT grouchy...

Manzatwat

And then we appoint Jade Goody to his job, 'cos she's better qualified.....?

Eyel get mi kote - as any fule kno

Balanced response

Nope, I wouldn't buy one either:-

1) I'm a Mac person (fanboy, even)

2) It wouldn't suit my needs

But then, I wouldn't buy a MacBook Air - for reason 2) either.

However, I can accept that this (and the Air) are machines designed to address a specific market area. I would not denigrate them just because I happen to be outside that area.

They're both good machines - if they address your specific needs: if they don't - then don't knock them, but buy what does.

@ The other Steve

Steve,

Please report for duty as Home Secretary at once. You have succinctly, if colloquially, put the salient points.

As I assume you could do the gorgeous, pouting Jacqui's job twice as well in half the time, would you be interested in taking over from the boy Milliband as well?

Not again...

"..extradition friendly.."?

How about "supine", or "desperate to be screwed in the ass" as a better description of NuLab's terrific extradition policy with the Rumsfelds of this world?

I don't remember Uncle Sam being so hot on "Terror" when our Fenian friends were blowing up civilians, or murdering off-duty squaddies, and then skulking off to the Home of the Brave to hide...

The US legals all became misty-eyed sons of Erin, supporting their noble "freedom fighters" like extras in a 3rd-rate Caffrey's commercial.

Couldn't be because they were scared to offend the Paddy vote in the US, could it? Surely they would never be that cynical?

Pah! A plague on their houses - especially the White one on Pennsylvania Avenue.

(I'll be back in 42 days...)

@AC XIV (or thereabouts)

"Jails will then be fuller for longer. But that's another can of worms. :)"

Meaning I suppose, that as most jails are already at about 150% of capacity, many more thugs, muggers, blaggers, terrorists & burglars etc., will be released early to make room for those found with naughty pictures.

Still, I suppose they will be company for the ultra-dangerous subversive OAP prisoners who've said "Stuff your council tax"...

Alien because there are obviously no intelligent life forms within the confines of Downing Street...

@ Mike Richards

Mike, your imagination is worrying.

The image you bring to mind is so disturbing I can't stay up to browse El Reg any longer, but have to retire to a darkened room to seek oblivion.

Please reply with your full name & address so my solicitors can sue you for damages for the mental trauma you have caused me to suffer.

More crap

If I can't opt out, or automatically restrict accepted callers to those whose number is stored in my phone, then it's bye-bye mobile.

Fun while it lasted.

No way will I ever, EVER accept termination charges. They're not specified in my contract now so as far as I'm concerned, they're invalid.

Ned Ludd rules...

Despite being a Mac-based designer-cum-techie for twenty years, I'm glad that certain of my Luddite tendencies hold. Yes, I love Nikon gear and have a fair collection of lenses, flashguns, F4s bodies, F801s bodies (& an F50 for the missus), and I use my Nikon Coolscan which gives me 55MB files when I need some Photoshoppery. I have a small (4MPixel) digi-compact which I use for happy-quick-snaps, and pics for eBay - but for serious photography, I can't see the combination of Nikon gear & Fuji reversal film can be equaled yet.

I can't see that the involvement of Microsoft can do anything other than to extend the life of film usage....

Thanks Mr Ballmer - for once, I mean it!

Where's Webster?

I thought Mr Phreaky would take a moment or two off from his anti-Apple diatribes, and possibly stand up for an OS he believes to be vastly superior.

Maybe his nurse (or that nice B-I-I-G young man dressed all in white) won't let him come out to play today...

Mine's the Mac...

The voice of experience

Nobody - but NOBODY is as fascist, authoritarian and downright dictatorial as the left, once they come into power.

Maggie (amongst others - not least Reagan) had the wonderful idea that "Small government is best".

How they were vilified, and subject to character assassination by the left through the most outrageous, cynical and blatant untruths and most of the rest of us, led by the superior, condescending liberal twats at the BBC just accepted it.

In the same way, Broon thinks that if he chants "Prudence" at us often enough, it will stick in our minds and the word will automatically be associated with him.

I'm hoping that those of us who were never fooled will coalesce with those upon whom realisation is dawning, and ensure that these idiots who take "1984" for an instruction guide are removed ASAP, and these Stasi-like controls and restrictions are consigned to the dustbin.

Alas, I feel that it may be too late even for another Maggie, and perhaps another Wat Tyler (with greater success this time) is needed.

Mine's the one that's been in the cloakroom for the last 42 days...

The voice of experience

On the surface, it seems a good and sensible move.

HOWEVER, experience shows that new legislation by a government is rarely good and frequently not sensible.

Whether this is due to inherent flaws or subsequent misapplication is a moot point - but let's wait awhile, keep our powder dry and see what happens.

@ Bruce from NZ

Jacqui Smith isn't real:- it's all a big front......

Hat, coat & 42-day disappearance.....

'S obvious, innit?

We're ALL guilty - it's just that some of us haven't been convicted yet.

I know this is true - the delectable Jacqui told me......

Broon

So Broon (and his Darling little puppet) are now going to work out how to punitively tax Hydrogen, water and solar power for a home hydrogen station.

Still, that would expose his green taxes as being the two-faced scam that they are.

I hope my MI5 file's amongst all the "temporarily mislaid" gov't records, but if not then I guess I'll be away for a while. At least 42 days.....

Alien, cos I reckon Darling's definitive proof of life(-ish) that is "not of this world"...

Kelly's Hero...

All your monies are belong to us.

NuLab 2008

Frogs

Whilst I hate to give them credit, I must point out that in dealing with a hopelessly incompetent & corrupt government, our old betes-noirs, the French, did come up with a singularly good process.

It involved the ingenious device of Dr. Guillotin, and several tumbrils.....

Paris - because she has French connections - and many other sorts of connections, too.

It's all bo££ocks....

What's the point of the taxpayer paying a huge fine to er..um.. the taxpayer?

Wouldn't it be just a teensy bit more effective to make some of these (mis-)managers face their responsibilities and quit - or be fired?

There MUST also be a provision that they don't simply move to a similar job in the department next door.

It is prohibited to discriminate on grounds of race, religion, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, gender or age. Are we now expected to add intellectual capacity and competence to the PC-list of no-go areas?

Pah! A plague on all their houses!

Beaten again.....

After all the effort I've put in to my 6502-assisted Sopwith Camel, too! Damn Yankees!

Mine's the leather one with "RFC" badges...

Sad but true

It really is a sad comment that politicians have so enthralled the general public that the tremendous outbreak of apathy is virtually pandemic.

They have only themselves to blame, and as they've surrendered their duties to some unelected committee in Brussels, they only thing they have left to occupy their tiny minds is to perpetuate the trough in which their porcine snouts are generally to be found.

Bring back tumbrils!

@ Mike Richards

"New Labour's Poison Dwarf."???

I thought Harridan Harperson was of average height...

The road to Damascus...

I have spent a long time wondering how on earth the current load of congenital idiots were voted into power not once, not twice, but three times.

Reading some of the comments here which so intelligently resort to anglo-saxon terminology of four letters in their description(s) of David Davis has made the scales fall from my eyes.

I am amazed that there are sufficient numbers ostensibly from the higher part of the bell-shaped curve of intellectual ability - indicated by their reading El Reg - who come out with the tired old cliches of class warfare which actually ceased to be valid decades ago.

Their vituperative character assassination speaks volumes for their small minds - and it is exactly their mindset which permits the criminalising and imprisoning of dissidents solely for having a different viewpoint.

Reid, Straw & co are all ex-card carrying communists. Why is it that the left and their fellow-travelers become so dictatorially authoritarian if they achieve power?

There is a definite lesson to be learned.....(If I can use Gov't/Civil Service answer #42 here)

Principles....

...are nice to see. Whatever the outcome, it is good to see that if an individual thinks officialdom is wrong, biased, corrupt or just plain dumb (or all four in the UK), they will commence their own actions to seek redress.

Yes, I'm a Mac user & a Mac fan - but whatever the outcome of this, it's good to see the individual refusing to be steamrollered by the state.

@dervheid

Absolutely spot on.

If you found a way of running a car on bird-droppings, it would only be a very short time until Smiling Jock introduced a crap tax.

That would actually be quite fitting; it would go with his:-

crap laws

crap cabinet

crap ideas

crap personality

crap political party

I could continue, but I might be accused of just going through the motions...

@ Graham Marsden

In just the way Cleggie's kiddies let the Euro Constitution through?

In just the way the LibDems backed 42 days, the right of the gov't to replace coroners & their juries at whim etc?

Thus showing all the balls (and spine) of a jellyfish - sophistry doesn't come into it.

Methinks you're a graduate of Dr Goebells' school of propaganda.

Be realistic

as any UK plod indulging in activities other than filling forms, jumping on motorists, arresting pensioners etc., would IMMEDIATELY arouse the suspicion of the public - that is, those who can remember what a plod looks like.

The one woth the taser target on the back, please

'human rights' for great apes??

Would that be more rights for the European Commissioners, then?

Mine's the one with the label saying "Devil's Island via Dartmoor". It's been there for 42 days...

@Crap

So, the politically-correct liberals are sooo upset that the public - for once - voted for a paid-up member of the human race (with the imperfections that implies) that they insist on bringing the full force of UN resolutions & Ian/Tony Bliar's best plods to deal with it.

If that ain't a prime indication of what a lot of pathetic mealy-mouthed, tiny-minded tossers they are, then I'll join the esteemed Mr Hislop and declare myself to be a banana.

Mine's the one with the assorted bootmarks/truncheon marks/cs gas stains/taser scorchmarks and bullet holes in it - but it's been there for 42 days...