The Irish keep gatecrashing

What a glorious victory for common sense from an unlikely quarter in unlikely circumstances (all the main parties were for the treaty). Of course, European bureaucrats are already thinking of ways to ignore the vote, just as they always do. Our own Foreign Minister says we must press on with ratification.

But for now the people have spoken: we don't want a common Europe. Free trade yes, more politics and bureaucracy, a firm no.

Blimey...it's Obama, apparently

I read with surprise that Obama is virtually now assured of the Democratic nomination.

Surprise because I had no idea this was the case, in fact from my hurried scans of last weekend's papers it seemed that Clinton was in fact favourite, especially given these 'revelations' about Jeremiah Wright.

Perhaps I was distracted by charts showing that against McCain, Clinton was well behind, and Obama still behind but less so. Anyway, it appears Obama will be the Democratic candidate.

I think I'm pleased, I don't really know why. I think it's because I want people to like America again, an only Obama can do that, in my view. I can't bring myself to fully trust Clinton. She looks and sounds a bit shifty, and definitely desperate. And she likes Heather Mills.

The Curse of Powerpoint

For years I've railed against Powerpoint - I was doing it when it wasn't even trendy, like it is now. But this slide pack on the brilliant Presentation Zen blog does the job so much better than me. Hilarious.

| View | Upload your own

Now here's the real thing. Enjoy.

Students

Now, I love being a student, and I love many things about students. But some of them are monumentally stupid and / or detached from reality.

Today I listened to some students at Strathclyde University responding to the Budget on radio 5. One was doing a Phd in Accountancy and he argued that it was merely tinkering at the edges and that:

1. Instead we should look at stopping 'imperialist wars'.
2. We should look at the 'prevailing culture of unemployment'.
3. Students are living in poverty and would stop drinking if the prices go up.

No doubt he also wants an 'end to all wars' and 'money for jobs'. Anyway, truly ludicrous on all counts.