David Caldwell › Comments

The committee which has led the fight to achieve justice for Kirsty MacColl has agreed to cease campaigning. It will disband and stop collecting money to fund its activities. The remaining funds will be distributed to charities of which Kirsty would have approved. So it once more seems in the hugely corrupt kleptocracy which is modern Mexico money not only talks but it makes Justice fall silent. - David Caldwell

"So it once more seems in the hugely corrupt kleptocracy which is modern Mexico money not only talks but it makes Justice fall silent. Kirsty MacColl was killed by a power boat at the age of 41 whilst scuba diving with her sons in a restricted diving area off Cozumel, México on 18th December 2000. A boat came tearing in right towards her and her son. She pushed her son out of its path and got hit and killed instantly. All these years later, no-one has been made accountable to the satisfaction of her family and friends. Her mother Jean has for many years sought justice for Kirsty's tragic and untimely death." - David Caldwell

Folk legend Liam Clancy died yesterday at the age of 74 after a long battle with a respiratory illness. The singer and musician, famously described by Bob Dylan as "the best ballad singer I'd ever heard in my life", was the last surviving member of the famous Clancy Brothers. - David Caldwell

I don’t spend every evening at a function mixing with an eclectic collection including Sir Hugh Orde the President of APCO, Sir Ian Blair, Lord David Ramsbottom, the good and the great and well, me! However the Longford Trust which was set up to continue the work of the late Lord Longford in promoting prison reform and acting as an advocate for the outcasts in society has a unique way of bringing a disparate but committed group of people together. - David Caldwell

"However the Longford Trust which was set up to continue the work of the late Lord Longford in promoting prison reform and acting as an advocate for the outcasts in society has a unique way of bringing a disparate but committed group of people together. Indeed so diverse is the roll call of benefactors of the Longford Trust that it includes uber- financier George Soros as well as well as the noble Lords Archer and Black — both of whom have what might be described as an intimate inside knowledge of prison life." - David Caldwell

One of the great unrequited (almost) love stories in literature is of the poet William Butler Yeats and Maud Gonne McBride. In 1889, Yeats met Maud Gonne, then a 23-year-old heiress and ardent Nationalist. - David Caldwell

The most historic and iconic Underground line in London (and the first Underground Line in the world) will undergo a radical revamp in operations where the Line known as the Circle will become a T-Cup or Lasso depending on your preference! The Circle line will be extended to Hammersmith from 13th December 2009 and will almost double the frequency of trains between Hammersmith and Edgware Road. On the Tube map the Circle line is shown as a single line. However it shares tracks with the District, Hammersmith & City (H & C) and Metropolitan lines and any disruption on these lines can cause delays to the Circle. As Circle line trains currently move around the line without a fixed terminus any delays are compounded over time, and make it harder to offer a regular or reliable service. - David Caldwell

WINE comes in at the mouth And love comes in at the eye; - David Caldwell

"Switzerland’s popular democracy with the right to call referenda looked far less attractive today as it descended into racism and intolerance. The country voted to ban the construction of new minarets, in a surprise result certain to embarrass the neutral government and which the justice minister said could affect Swiss exports and tourism. The Swiss news agency ATS and other media said about 57.5 percent of voters and all but four of the 26 cantons approved the proposal in the nationwide referendum, which was backed by the right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP)." - David Caldwell

Switzerland’s popular democracy with the right to call referenda looked far less attractive today as it descended into racism and intolerance. The country voted to ban the construction of new minarets, in a surprise result certain to embarrass the neutral government and which the justice minister said could affect Swiss exports and tourism. The Swiss news agency ATS and other media said about 57.5 percent of voters and all but four of the 26 cantons approved the proposal in the nationwide referendum, which was backed by the right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP). - David Caldwell

"Some journeys are the hardest to make and some words are the hardest to write. This time last year on the plane from London to Dublin my head was in a swirl as I tried to take in that Conor my friend of over 35 years was gone. His death, just after his 52nd birthday, was unexpected. Compared to the rest of us most of the time Conor was whippet like and was physically active enjoying the outdoors and bringing his big and boisterous Alaskan Malamutes for a walk or a run most nights. He had told me a couple of years earlier that a health screen they had picked up on his blood pressure but he was on tablets for it and watching his cholesterol so I thought no more of it. His work responsibilities in the computer industry were heavy and when our paths crossed I was sometimes astonished at the travelling he did but Conor had done much in his career and was riding the Celtic Tiger." - David Caldwell

Some journeys are the hardest to make and some words are the hardest to write. This time last year on the plane from London to Dublin my head was in a swirl as I tried to take in that Conor my friend of over 35 years was gone. His death, just after his 52nd birthday, was unexpected. Compared to the rest of us most of the time Conor was whippet like and was physically active enjoying the outdoors and bringing his big and boisterous Alaskan Malamutes for a walk or a run most nights. He had told me a couple of years earlier that a health screen they had picked up on his blood pressure but he was on tablets for it and watching his cholesterol so I thought no more of it. His work responsibilities in the computer industry were heavy and when our paths crossed I was sometimes astonished at the travelling he did but Conor had done much in his career and was riding the Celtic Tiger. - David Caldwell

"The United Campaign against Police Violence would like to encourage all our supporters to come along to this vigil for Ian Tomlinson on Tuesday. It has been called by the Ian Tomlinson Family Campaign. It is important that we keep Ian’s memory alive and continue the fight for justice, I hope as many people can come as possible. Speakers include: Ian’s family Samantha Rigg David - Sean Rigg Justice & Change Campaign Deborah Coles – INQUEST John McDonnell MP" - David Caldwell

There will be a Candlelight vigil to remember Ian Tomlinson at Royal Exchange by Threadneedle Street, London, EC3V 3LL on Tuesday 1st December 6pm - 7.15pm. The United Campaign against Police Violence would like to encourage all our supporters to come along to this vigil for Ian Tomlinson on Tuesday. It has been called by the Ian Tomlinson Family Campaign. It is important that we keep Ian’s memory alive and continue the fight for justice, I hope as many people can come as possible. - David Caldwell

The Sage has previously chronicled the dolorous tale of one of his local pubs burning down resulting in a 50% reduction in drinking outlets in Stoke Mandeville, the drawback of living in a small village. The Woolpack burnt down in the small hours of Saturday morning 25th April 2009. Apparently a tumble drier was left on a timer after the pub was locked up for the night and the fluff / lint caught fire. An object lesson for all of us, always make sure you de-fluff first and never go to bed leaving your one spinning away. - David Caldwell

"Apparently a tumble drier was left on a timer after the pub was locked up for the night and the fluff / lint caught fire. An object lesson for all of us, always make sure you de-fluff first and never go to bed leaving your one spinning away. http://daithaic.blogspot.com/2009... ..." - David Caldwell

As that strangest of creatures, an Irish Atheist, I’ve often wondered how the Nazarenes take the history of the Jewish people (aka The Bible and the Apocrypha) and call it their “Old Testament” and then claim it is the literal word of god when they cannot even agree amongst themselves what should be in it. However for fundamentalist Christians it has a certain fetish quality with a whole “Bible Study” industry tracing it back to the original Hebrew and particular attention paid to fascinating areas such as End Time warnings, Pretenders , Hypocrites, Spirit of Babylon, etc; Indeed, an excellent roadmap for the 21st Century. - David Caldwell

"? One who has done so is Dr Laura Schlesinger, (A potty conservative radio talk show host), after remarking that homosexuality is an abomination according to the Bible Leviticus 18:22, and cannot be condoned under any circumstances. Dr. Schlesinger is one of these airbrushed manicured motivational Telly People you get in America who is such a refreshing contrast to the hard bitten alcoholic harridans of the British Press who so enjoy wallowing in their own bile whilst telling us the world is going to Hell. (N.B. No concept of Hell in Judaism but of course that doesn’t stop the Harridans). So I am most grateful to Trevor McCarthy for his letter to Dr. Schlesinger, the Bible expert, seeking clarification on some issues which trouble him." - David Caldwell

It is acknowledged that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery so by any standards the world’s most flattered mapmaker must be Harry Beck who devised the famous diagrammatic London Underground Tube Map. - David Caldwell

"As for Mr. Beck and his map? Well, as these examples show the map devised and then lovingly nurtured (by hand before the days of computers) in his spare time for over 30 years has made this simple draughtsman in London Underground’s Signals Department one of the world’s most influential and most imitated cartographers." - David Caldwell

After France won their World Cup qualifier last Wednesday at the Stade de Fraud with Thierry Henry’s handball the cry went up around France’s former Republican ally “Liberté, égalité, fraternité et replay!” But it’s all over for Ireland in World Cup 2010. FIFA has refused a replay against France so the country will now have to return to discussing its bankrupt economy and incompetent dishonest politicians. Pity, they could have done with the distraction. - David Caldwell

"Depression about being cheated out of a place in World Cup 2010 by the French Handball team means I'm back on the drink! Still, we must now look for the positives, think of all the Irish fans who now won't get murdered in South Africa!" - David Caldwell

Today in Ireland the mood is grim with calls to boycott French Fries, French Batons and even calls to outlaw French Kissing! It is safe to assume that Thierry Henry is not going on holiday in Ireland any time soon. My personal favourite is the reworking of the 1916 Declaration of Independence which a wag has put on the Facebook protest site “Hands up who think Ireland deserve the place in the 2010 World Cup.” - David Caldwell

Congratulations and solidarity across the Blogosphere to Dr. Brooke Magnanti who has outed herself as the blogger and former Escort girl “Belle de Jour.” Magnanti has said in her coming out interview with The Times, the former paper of record, that she has an ‘ex-boyfriend with a big mouth’ and that she had decided to go public before the decision was forced on her. Presumably this is “The Boy” who made frequent appearances in her Blog. Again, let’s assume that the ex-boyfriend hadn’t already contacted the Sunday Times. What we do know is that her “outing” was not entirely consensual. Last Friday police had to be called to her workplace at Bristol University to remove “journalists” from the Daily Mail. Good to see that the standards for which the Daily Heil is famous are being maintained. - David Caldwell

"Magnanti has said in her coming out interview with The Times, the former paper of record, that she has an ‘ex-boyfriend with a big mouth’ and that she had decided to go public before the decision was forced on her. Presumably this is “The Boy” who made frequent appearances in her Blog. Again, let’s assume that the ex-boyfriend hadn’t already contacted the Sunday Times. What we do know is that her “outing” was not entirely consensual. Last Friday police had to be called to her workplace at Bristol University to remove “journalists” from the Daily Mail. Good to see that the standards for which the Daily Heil is famous are being maintained. Nor does the Times seem a good choice of a paper to spill the beans to as it has a disgraceful reputation at harassing anonymous bloggers having shabbily outed Zoe Margolis as “Girl with a one track mind” (http://girlwithaonetrackmind.blogspot.com/ ) and Richard Horton as the policeman Blogger “Night Jack.”..." - David Caldwell

"Ninety-one years after the guns fell silent at 11am on 11th November, 1918, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh joined Gordon Brown, senior politicians and the heads of the armed forces in the solemn ceremony which commemorated the passing of the final three veterans of the war living in Britain, who all died this year. William Stone died in January, aged 108, followed in July by Henry Allingham, 113, and Harry Patch, 111. The only remaining British-born survivor of the war, former seaman Claude Choules, who is 108 now lives in Australia." - David Caldwell

The passing of the First World War generation was marked by a special memorial service at Westminster Abbey today as millions of people across Britain and Europe observed the two-minute Armistice Day silence. Ninety-one years after the guns fell silent at 11am on 11th November, 1918, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh joined Gordon Brown, senior politicians and the heads of the armed forces in the solemn ceremony which commemorated the passing of the final three veterans of the war living in Britain, who all died this year. William Stone died in January, aged 108, followed in July by Henry Allingham, 113, and Harry Patch, 111. The only remaining British-born survivor of the war, former seaman Claude Choules, who is 108 now lives in Australia. - David Caldwell

"Prague is one of the oldest Jewish Centres in Central Europe and the Jewish Community has over one thousand years of history. Most of the Jewish sites of Prague are in the Josefov, The Jewish Quarter. The 17th century is considered the Golden Age of Jewish Prague. The Jewish community of Prague numbered some 15,000 people (approx. 30 per cent of the entire population), making it the largest Ashkenazic community in the world and the second largest Jewish community in Europe after Thessaloniki. In the years 1597 to 1609, the Maharal (Judah Loew ben Bezalel) served as Prague's Chief Rabbi. He is considered the greatest of Jewish scholars in Prague's history, his tomb in the Old Jewish Cemetery eventually becoming a pilgrimage site." - David Caldwell

Prague is one of the oldest Jewish Centres in Central Europe and the Jewish Community has over one thousand years of history. Most of the Jewish sites of Prague are in the Josefov, The Jewish Quarter. When this was redeveloped in the 1890’s it had deteriorated into an insanitary slum with only 20% of the population being still Jewish as rising prosperity and legal changes had allowed successful Jewish families to move to other parts of Prague. It was still the cultural centre of the community containing the Jewish Town Hall, Synagogues and old buildings and the Old Jewish Cemetery although burials were now held at the New Cemetery. For most of its history Prague had been a multiethnic city with important Czech, German, and (mostly Czech- and/ or German-speaking) Jewish populations. From 1939, when the country was occupied by Nazi Germany, and during World War II, most Jews either fled the city or were killed in the Holocaust. - David Caldwell

Since the collapse of the Iron Curtain in 1991, Prague has become one of Europe’s - and the worlds - most popular tourist destinations. As in London, Paris, and Rome, visitors flock to the gorgeous buildings and monuments that grace the streets of Prague, entranced by structures ranging from Gothic and baroque to cubist and neoclassical. And while hundreds of thousands stroll over the Charles Bridge and gaze up at the St. Vitus Cathedral each year, far fewer venture away from the crowds to seek out the countless gems of art nouveau peppered throughout Prague. Significant Art Nouveau sites include the Municipal House, the Wilson Railway Station, the Grand Hotel Europa, and works by sculptors František Bílek, Ladislav Šaloun, and Stanislav Sucharda. There are large numbers of remarkable buildings in Art Nouveau style in Prague that remain unknown to the tourists since they pay attention mostly only to the Castle and the Charles Bridge. - David Caldwell