The Virtual Stoa

Tony Blair, according to today’s BBC, is about to take a stand:

Prime Minister Tony Blair is expected to say that the government will not back down in its drive to modernise public services. He is likely to join other ministers in representing this as a battle between “reformers and wreckers”, in his speech at Labour’s spring conference in Cardiff on Sunday.

These seniments aren’t too distant from Stalin’s own attittudes to public sector reform, captured in this slogan of 1930:

“The Five Year Plan Will Not Be Derailed! Break the Paw of the Wrecker and the Interventionist!”

Forward with Uncle Tony!Nick wrote [5.2.2002]: From today’s Grauniad letters page: “With the apparent schism in the party, are we likely to see mods and wreckers meeting at a seaside resort every October for a punch-up?” (Nick Hearn, Brighton).

You’re one hundred and twenty today, on the second day of the second month of the second year of the new millennium, which makes this day also the eightieth anniversary of the publication of your Ulysses. A fine, fine anniversary.

Katy writes [3.2.2002]: I think he’d have enjoyed the almost palindromic date. Did you know he insisted on publishing Ulysses on his 40th birthday, hence the cackhanded and corrupt 1922 edition? And then, he was too flushed with success and booze to ever get round to correcting a second edition? Fine man.

The wise words of Raj Patel are beginning to be translated into the world’s major languages, starting with Italian. Here’s how one recent article begins, in Gabriella Turek’s translation over at the Italian edition of ZNet.

“Sapere é potere” non � solo uno slogan bandito da conservatori postmoderni. É il motto del capitale internazionale. Ne desiderate prova? Questo mese, la Banca Mondiale lancer� il prototipo di un website; che dimostra ampiamente che la loro mira sia di controllare il terzo mondo attraverso il controllo di quello che �, o non �, ufficialmente concepibile…

For the original text in boring old English (not, sadly, Old English), try here.

Nick wrote [3.2.2002]: Your mention of Old English reminded me of this.

Raj writes [3.2.2002]: Bugger!

Here’s the excellent Bob Marshall-Andrews, Labour MP for Medway, in his Camp X-Ray clothes: “This is the new outfit for New Labour backbenchers”, he told the audience at the Parliamentary Variety Show. From yesterday’s Guardian.

The media’s romance with Rory’s trek across Central Asia knows no bounds. Here’s Palash, quoted in The Scotsman:

An Eton friend, Palash Davé, said if anyone is equipped to deal with the dangers, is it Mr Stewart. He said: ” When it comes to the diplomacy of dealing with tough locals, I can’t imagine a better person. “He’s always had romantic ideas but he’s been very level-headed about dealing with them.”

They have another fine photo, too.

Palash reports another media sighting, this time in Sunday’s Observer.