TOP 100 NEWSPAPER SITES
| |||
|
| |||
| |||
|
| |||
| Hugh Muir's diary They've got the doubts, they've got the list, and now they say they've got AlanThough understandably our focus has switched to Alistair Darling and further questionable claims from others at Westminster, the work in Copenhagen continues. The warnings about a warming planet are being heeded, and not before time. That said, the sceptics are also in their own way gaining traction. There is, Melanie Phillips, wrote earlier this week in the Spectator, a list of 700 experts determined to resist the liberal view of global warming, and thanks to the website liberalconspiracy, we see that the list – compiled by a Republican senator – includes economists, journalists and a fair few TV weathermen. For completeness we might add that it also includes the TV presenter, gardener and novelist Alan Titchmarsh, by dint of a few sceptical remarks he made two years ago to the Telegraph. So there it is. Nicholas Stern or Alan Titchmarsh (pictured)? You decide.No immediate sighting on Phillips' list of Viscount Monckton, who has lectured on the "Overheated Hype Behind Global Warming". From our check, he certainly fails to make the top 400. But that can't possibly be the situation for very long because, just in time, the former Thatcherite adviser, a familiar sight back then in his bowler hat, is re-entering public life as the climate change talisman for the climate change-sceptical Ukip. A boon engineered by his friend and Ukip's new leader, Lord Pearson of Rannoch. "I have been a friend and an admirer of Lord Pearson of Rannoch. Now that he has become the leader of Ukip, the nation will take our party very seriously indeed", declares Monckton. Very seriously indeed. Don't laugh.For we have always taken Ukip seriously; think Ashley Mote, Tom Wise, Godfrey "eight pints" Bloom; and over the years we have always treated Monckton with the utmost seriousness. Our favourite Monckton moment involved his invention of the Eternity puzzle, a board game he proclaimed to be so fiendishly challenging that he offered £1m to the first person to solve it. Within 16 months, two mathematicians from Cambridge had taken his money. I'll have to sell my castle to pay for it, he had claimed, but later the Scotsman newspaper quoted him – without subsequent challenge – admitting that there was, in fact, no panic sale; the desperate claim was just a ruse to get publicity. "History is full of stories that aren't actually true," he said.Meanwhile, as time runs out for the status quo at Westminster, signs that tempers are frayed and things are starting to unravel. The parliamentary under-secretary of state for communities and local government, Barbara Follett, steps up to the dispatch box during a debate on council funding. This is what she says. "I wish that I could say that this had been an interesting and wide-ranging examination of the local government finance settlement, but it has not. With one or two honourable exceptions, on both sides of the house, this has been just the sort of blustering, grandstanding, smug, 'We know better than you and just wait until our side gets in' kind of exchange that puts most normal people off politics and, frankly, puts me off listening to you all." The MPs take this scolding from Supernanny badly. John Redwood gives them voice. "She comes to the house, insults those of us who did participate in the debate, and gives us absolutely nothing in the way of argument, fact or consideration in the light of the many powerful points that have been made today. I hope that she will reflect on that and apologise." But nanny never apologises. They sulk. They vote.Finally, a soft chime heralds an email, and it is from our former colleague Duncan Campbell, wondering why Funnyosities, the new pocket-sized book celebrating the world as it was seen by Chic Murray, is not one of our Christmas gift suggestions. Why should it be, we ask? He offers justification. "You're the wine waiter. You recommend me a good wine." "Well, why not try the Macon, sir?" "What? Are you going to pour it over me?" Typical Duncan. Vintage Chic.Hugh Muirguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
'Dozens killed' in Yemen strike An air strike by Saudi Arabian planes in northern Yemen has killed at least 54 people, Houthi rebels say. news.bbc.co.uk |
Six die as freezing weather grips Britain Three climbers died in two separate avalanches as freezing weather continued to grip Britain. telegraph.co.uk |
Bizarre new cricket species caught on camera A new species of cricket is caught on camera for the first time - and its bizarre behaviour has surprised scientists. news.bbc.co.uk |
Aid Workers: Progress Being Made in Getting Relief to Haiti Workers say more aid is starting to get into the nation, with improving roads and boat traffic www1.voanews.com |