Link: Harry Potter Book Disguises. (via MeFi)
Blog
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At the table, or eating the crumbs?
An interesting article in today’s FT (here for those with FT.com subscriptions), which should be posted to every UKIP member in the country. In summary, it says that the EU is becoming an important rule-maker for the rest of the world, because of the size and influence of the EU’s single marketplace.
The EU’s emergence as a global rulemaker has been driven by a number of factors, but none more important than the sheer size and regulatory sophistication of the Union’s home market. The rapid expansion of the economic bloc to 27 nations with a total of more than 480m largely affluent consumers has turned the Union into the world’s biggest and most lucrative import market. At the same time, the drive to create a borderless pan-European market for goods, services, capital and labour has triggered a hugely ambitious programme of regulatory and legislative convergence among national regimes. […]
As Henrik Selin and Stacy VanDeveer, two US-based academics, point out in a recent paper that examines the global impact of three recent EU laws on chemicals, electronic waste and hazardous substances: “The EU is increasingly replacing the United States as the de facto setter of global product standards and the centre of much global regulatory standard setting is shifting from Washington DC to Brussels.”
If you want a notable example, Arnold Schwarzenegger is currently pursuing negotations on California joining the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, while Japan has copied a batch of EU environmental laws wholesale.
So the choice is, be in the EU and at the table while these rules are being drafted, or leave the EU and have to obey the rules anyway.
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Impressions from the Tour
The caravan has come through now, and there’s a big crowd waiting for the riders. It’s odd to see UKIP stronghold Tunbridge Wells with gendarmes roaring through the streets (the French police are in control of the race route). There’ll be a few people sulking in their houses today.
The locals, including the MP, are really milking the tourism angle. The compere has just been exhorting people to spend money in the town, and saying how much better Tunbridge Wells is than Brighton. Yeah, ok.
One other odd thing: both CGT and Force Ouvrière, big trade unions, one of them aligned with the communists, have big advertising presence in the caravan publicitaire.
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National Gallery, reimagined at B3ta
A great B3TA image challenge: updating the pictures at the National Gallery, here.
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Blackboys Inn
The Blackboys inn, in the village of the same name near Uckfield, has spruced itself up. As well as a very gastropub menu, there are new tables and chairs outside, palm trees and assorted greenery. Most strikingly, a double garage has been converted into a rather louche-looking boudoir in a faintly arabian style. Still has well-kept Harveys, though.
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Can’t disagree with this Grauniad review
Haweli
509 Hagley Road, Birmingham, 0121-434 5717Birmingham is blessed with many fine curry houses – this is one of the finest. The food is consistently great, particularly the karahi and naan bread that’s perfectly light and puffy. Many of the regulars are Asian, which is testament to the quality of the food. The decor is simple and welcoming, and the staff, whether fabulously moustachioed or studying for a PhD on a spare table, are genuinely charming. The bill, accompanied by jelly beans, will leave you with a wallet as full as your stomach.
Charlie King
Bearwood, West Midlands -
Brindleyplace, Birmingham
I know it’s been said before, but the bit of Brum behind the ICC is really a spectacular bit of regeneration. Not always perfect, but when you consider what was there before…
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Shriti Vadera
Congratulations to Shriti Vadera, Gordon Brown’s no-nonsense special advisor, who makes in into the Lords, and into a junior ministerial office at DfID.
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A map of countries that have not yet adopted the metric system
Link. via Innocent Newsletter.
