Why I hate international breaks

I hate international breaks. There’s a complete dearth of genuinely interesting football stories which means in a bid to fill some space on websites and in the papers we see stories like ‘Wayne Rooney had pasta for lunch today’ or ‘Darren Bent beats Rio Ferdinand at Fifa‘.
As the Premier League machine takes a break, we’re [...]

By Simon Rice | Sport | Tuesday, 12 October 2010 at 12:57 pm

Will today mark the end of unrealistic election pledges?

Mike Smithson at Political Betting asks number 396 in my series of Questions to Which the Answer is No.
He refers to the pledge signed by 54 of the 57 Liberal Democrat MPs before the election (right):
I pledge TO VOTE AGAINST ANY INCREASE IN FEES in the next Parliament and to pressure the government to introduce [...]

By John Rentoul | Eagle Eye | Tuesday, 12 October 2010 at 9:31 am

Should evidence always dictate policy?

Oversimplification is generally a bad idea. But blogging is all about breaking rules… So I hereby introduce three caricatures for your consideration: the obsessive scientist, the soulless civil servant and the dastardly politician. We’ll come back to them.
The Battle of Ideas discussion I am speaking at will ask whether, in the field of public health, [...]

By Chris Tyler | Battle of Ideas, Eagle Eye | Tuesday, 12 October 2010 at 12:01 am

Labour’s Clause B2Bii Moment

Before Labour’s annual conference recedes into the mist of history, to be recalled possibly only for David Miliband’s deadly accurate question, “Why are you clapping?”, let us note two small but significant constitutional rule changes that were agreed in Manchester.
One was to clarify the leadership election rules. The old clause B2Bii
Where there is no vacancy, [...]

By John Rentoul | Eagle Eye | Monday, 11 October 2010 at 8:34 pm

Ann Widdecombe: the latest victim of the Sergeant effect?

When you hear the name John Sergeant, it’s likely you picture him in Strictly Come Dancing 2008, dragging dance partner Kristina Rihanoff across the floor in a triumphant Paso Doble. In two years’ time it is just as likely you’ll remember Anton du Beke lifting and spinning a rather limp Ann Widdecombe on top of [...]

By Ellie Edmunds | Arts | Monday, 11 October 2010 at 6:07 pm

Will Barack Obama stand for re-election?

Ian Leslie, author of the magnificent Marbury blog, asks: Do you do Questions to Which the Answer is Yes? Once again, this is a question that answers itself.
As is the above, from Daniel Hannan, the Conservative MEP.

By John Rentoul | Eagle Eye | Monday, 11 October 2010 at 4:08 pm

Must watch: Perhaps the worst corner kick ever seen

Just when Northern Ireland thought they had done enough to be taken seriously on the international stage…

Steven Davis’ corner kick aside, an excellent draw for Nigel Worthington’s team against the mighty Italians.

By Simon Rice | Sport | Monday, 11 October 2010 at 4:02 pm

Culture Club: Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps

Money never sleeps, so the title goes, but you might just find yourself nodding off during Gordon Gekko’s second outing, at least if Anthony Quinn’s review from Friday’s paper is to be believed.
“The film dithers over how his destiny should play out, offering us the regretful father, the post-crash moralist, and the lizard king with [...]

By Jack Riley | Arts | Monday, 11 October 2010 at 2:53 pm

Must Watch: Banksy takes over The Simpsons title sequence

Street artist Banksy has turned director for the controversial opening sequence of a new episode of The Simpsons episode, MoneyBart, which features in an Asian sweatshop.

By Ellie Edmunds | Arts | Monday, 11 October 2010 at 1:02 pm

Jonathan Miller’s Pub-lic opera

Where is the audience? It’s a question that eats at every art institution in this age of austerity.

By Angus Kennedy | Battle of Ideas, Eagle Eye | Monday, 11 October 2010 at 12:01 am