Knowing and Making

There's a cute article in the Evening Standard today about the Conservative plans to bring in US-style elected police chiefs. Whatever the merits of the idea, there's a very odd statement from shadow home secretary Chris Grayling. "We envisage the Mayor of London being the elected police commissioner." Now this could mean that they expect the current Mayor of London (Boris Johnson) to also run for the post of police commissioner, and just happen to win. But it doesn't mean that. It might even mean that they expect the Mayor of London to be the temporary holder of the police commissioner role until an election can be held - though it would be a very strange way to say it. But it doesn't mean that, either. What it means is that the Mayor of London has at some point in the past been elected ; and that he will become police commissioner by virtue of his position . I don't really think that is what anyone thinks they meant by "elected police com...

It seems it is not too presumptuous now to celebrate: Iowa : Obama New Mexico: Obama Pennsylvania : Obana Ohio : Obama Virginia : Obama Colorado : Obama Congratulations to President Barack Obama - the next leader of the most influential, unusual, innovative, and democratic nation humanity has had.

VOTING INSTRUCTIONS (US citizens only): 1. Go to the polling booth 2. Vote DRINKING INSTRUCTIONS (everyone else - Americans also allowed): Obtain one bottle of Kentucky bourbon (try and find one with a red neck). If you don't drink bourbon (you elitist), a bottle of "Mac"allan will do; if you don't like whisky at all, you can drink cachaca as it is made from sugar (Mc)cane. You then need six bottles of champagne or Cava (preferably with blue labels and not "too European"). Make paper caps for them, marked: Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Florida, Missouri, North Carolina. If you feel especially confident (and thirsty) you can add bottles for Georgia, Indiana and North Dakota (if you're an Obama fan) or Colorado, New Mexico and New Hampshire (if you're a McCain fan). These are known as the 'swig states'. Whenever a swig state is declared officially - or if the result is called by the TV channel you're watching - it's time to have a dri...