I think this is going to be a fairly varied collection of posts on stuff to do with art, science, culture, geekery and science communication. But we'll see, eh?
rather than the best. Minimising, not maximising, if you like.
I’m trying, I really am, to engage with the Mayorial elections. I’ve read the London Elects booklet, I’ve read Nature Network’s own City Hall and Science series, and I’ve even looked at a couple of videos on Youtube of the party political broadcasts (even those of the English Democrats ).
But I’m just not excited, this time round. It feels like I’m trying to pick the least worst candidate, rather than the best.
On the train home the other day, I heard two older men talking about the elections, and they said exactly the same thing – so at least I know it is not just me. I’m a fairly floating voter, with mainly middle-left (Labour, Liberal, Green) tendencies. I’ve voted Conservative once, in the last London Assembly elections, mainly as I felt quite sorry for the woman concerned.
But none of the candidates are out-and-out winners to me. Ken’s been pretty good, and his science, innovation and culture policies seem pretty reasonable, but there’s definitely an air of him getting too staid or maybe too big for his own boots. Brian Paddick sounds good on paper, but then I read his Time Out interview and… something just doesn’t add up. As for Boris… well, he’s in my reject bin with the English Democrats, UKIP, BNP, Christian Choice, former Veritas candidate Winston McKenzie and the Left List.
Which leaves Green Sian, who seems lovely and is where I appear to be veering. But again, I have some irksome niggles, mainly about their much more left-ish past.
Where’s my perfect candidate? Unfortunately, the mathematics of optimisation) is much help here… What’s a boy to do?
Last updated: Sunday, 20 Apr 2008 - 18:14 GMT
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I’d vote for Boris. He’s the only one who hasn’t good a metaphorical broomstick shoved up his back passage. Happily for you, I don’t live in London so I’m
illegibleineligible.Broomsticks, Henry? I thought you’d like the witches taking over? Or is that the wrong fantasy series?
Oh tut, Scott. The witches ride on the broomsticks. But seriously, just because you dislike Boris, does that mean that in your view I do not have the right to support him? I think he’d make a very good mayor, and so do quite a lot of other people. He’ll give the newt-fancier a run for his money.
Oh, you do hav ethe right to support him, it is what democracy is all about. I just can’t see him being a decent mayor. I’d love to have him as a dinner guest or work colleague, but I just worry we’ll end up with Liverpool declaring war on London, or something like that, because of a Boris faux-pas. A shame, as he seems a man with very genuine concerns for the things that concern me too.
That Liverpool thing: I read the Spectator article concerned, and felt that Boris should never have been made to apologise. Indeed, his quite inoffensive remarks about an alleged Liverpudlian culture of victimhood were amply justified by the furor that followed. If Liverpool wants to declare war on London, what’s their best shot? Heather Mills, Kate McCann and Paul MacCartney, with only five decent legs between them. (I can say these things because I live in Norfolk).
My wife is a journalist and interviewed Boris when he was Shadow for Higher Education. I asked her later on if Boris had that irresistible sex appeal that seems to have charmed the pants off several otherwise clear-headed inividuals. No, she said – as well as having an irresistible compulsion to say controversial things, and being much sharper than he lets on, Boris projected an aura of needing to be mothered. “He was talking to me, but all I wanted to do was comb his hair”, she said.
If Liverpool wants to declare war on London, what’s their best shot?
Resurrecting Brookside? =shudder=
That mothering appeal is a form of sexual charm. It starts with hair combing and next thing you know, she’s picking lice from his back hair and trading sexual favors for food.
Sorry, visited the zoo yesterday to see the baby bonobo. It is fun to sit outside the exhibit and watch people flee in shame.
Now, Boris is Mayor, so Henry’s hypothesis is to be put to the test.
Where’s the control London, that we can compare it with?