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FROM THE DESK OF TEAM BARRIESINGLETON

I have an exciting line up of two hemispheres today. I shall be putting the question: "What are you doing?" Also scheduled: "Why are you doing this - again?" I am faced with incomprehensible renderings of Kumbayah from the right and enraged invective from the left. However, Mein Host: Corpus Calosum ('Corps' as we know him) will be here (as ever: necktied to kill) ensconced 'in-cranium' to mediate skilfully between the two, so I hope to post an engaging and 'worthwhile' output, blogside, Thursdaywise.

While covering different aspects of the ongoing Georgian crisis, one awaits as to when the rich and well-qualified perspectives of experts such as Jonathan Wheatley and Anatol Lieven respected for their candid insights on the region
will appear on the Newsnight.

1. can someone examine the reality behind this govt spin. That russia will not turn off the gas because it needs the money. This belief seems the basis of uk govt policy. Anyone who knows the slav mindset would not trot out such stupidity. These are people who would measure road construction projects in the number of slave labour lives lost per kilometre.


The calculation is can russia survive for longer during a winter than a uk govt can without gas? After a month of freezing lets see 'who is the stronger'.

Perhaps the place to start is how much energy storage does the uk have? 90 days as recommended? or is it less than 10? [excluding that on the high seas that maybe diverted elsewhere].

2. can someone ask how energy companies can lock in prices 3 years in the future for some but not for all? The same mechanism of hedging works for all energy customers. So those who do not have direct debit must pay a premium.

3. Russia. The basic reality russia has to face is that countries given the choice want to join nato and the eu and not the russian federation. Why do they not love russia? Is it because of firsthand experience?

On Russia is it a myth that this is to do with Nato membership?

Nobody disputes that Crimea, South Ossetia and Abkhazia, having largely ethic Russian populations want to be in with them rather than Nato. Russia has said that whilst they don't like Nato on their borders they won't interfere.

I think in Chechnya the situation is very different and there I think the Russians should give way.

But if South Ossetians having lost thousands of lives to an orchestrated artillery bombardment by a future Nato ally want independence frankly I don't blame them. There have been atrocities against Georgians but I think the numbers being stacked up in deaths roughly 10:1 tells you a lot.

As has been identified Ukraine and Crimea is going to be a real flash point but the signs are that Ukraine won't bomb civilians.

I have not heard any expression of regret or sympathy to the Russians for the loss of life by Nato.

Hopefully the OCSE will identify at some point what happened and just who did start shooting first.

..Nobody disputes that Crimea, South Ossetia and Abkhazia, having largely ethic Russian populations want to be in with them rather than Nato...

on what evidence? In the week since they have been 'independent' has there been a referendum?

people should also be aware of the russian passport scam where people are pressured to take them. It s an old russian practice going back at least 60 years. They did it during ww2 along with mass deportations to ethnically cleanse places like belarus.

so people do not love or trust russia because of the ugly things they do?

HE'S JUST MY BILL, BUT NO ORDINARY GUY

I have just seen Bill Clinton being sincere about his relationship with Obama. I remember seeing Bill being sincere about a relationship before. Poor Barack, he does not deserve such loyalty.

TITIAN COMPETITION

Is Britain still turning out the finest forgers in the world? If so, there should be a competition with a tempting but sensible prize-money, for replacement paintings.
Perhaps a TV program hosted by Rolfie: 'Strictly Come Painting'? A room full of British forgers - priceless!
The originals should be sold, top dollar, and the money used to heat and feed Britain's poor.
Then, instead of having to look at the work of 'damned foreigners' we can visit the gallery and view honest British forgeries! Twice the value, all the pleasure and - using Gordon Brown maths - half the price.

bookhimdano (#3) But give young (in mind) people (and other animals) the choice between a relatively small (but immediate) reward and a larger, but delayed, reward.... The same goes for there being a longer term cost to this, hence the rise in obesity, alcoholism, drug addiction and much else recently.

Yet try to regulate this in people's longer term best interests and one won't be popular with many, (see children). And there's the problem surely? The 'younger' the people (physically and/or cognitively), and the more there are of them, the greater this problem, and the firmer authority needs to be to manage the conseqences. Offer freedom and say that the right to choose is a human right, and expect problems, including abrogation of government.