If we had a truly impartial media, would they boo a political figure regardless of his or her opinions? According to The Wrap, Donald Trump received such Bronx cheers from so-called journalists when he arrived at Saturday's White House Correspondents' Association dinner (video follows with commentary): Trump arrived on the red carpet at Washington’s Hilton Hotel with his wife, Melania, shortly at 7:00 p.m. (ET). After giving a brief interview with a group of several of media outlets, Trump — who was invited to the event as a guest of the Washington Post — walked away to a chorus of audible boos from the media members on the press line. (And it wasn't because they wanted to hear Trump talk more.) Isn't it nice to know that folks who will be covering the upcoming presidential race have no qualms about publicly expressing their displeasure for one of the possible candidates? Makes you proud to be an American, doesn't it?
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David Sokol says he is saddened by investment guru’s ‘disparaging’ comments at Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting The former heir apparent to Warren Buffett has accused the investment guru of scapegoating him and says he is “deeply saddened” by Buffett’s decision to publicly “disparage” him over a controversial share deal. In a statement, lawyers for David Sokol, a former director of Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway investment firm, said Sokol had considered Buffett a “friend and mentor”. Sokol resigned earlier this month after Berkshire disclosed he had invested $10m (£6m) in Lubrizol, a chemical firm that he later advised Buffett to buy. Sokol made $3m profit on the deal. Speaking this weekend, Buffett called Sokol’s behaviour “inexcusable and incomprehensible”. But in a statement at the time of the resignation Buffett had said: “Neither Dave nor I feel his Lubrizol purchases were in any way unlawful.” Buffett had also described Sokol’s contribution to the company as “extraordinary” and said the resignation had been a “total surprise.” Sokol had run several Berkshire subsidiaries, including MidAmerican Energy and NetJets, which sells fractional ownerships of private jets. At his annual meeting, Buffett said he had made a “big mistake” in not quizzing his former potential heir about the controversial share deal. He said he had paid Sokol $24m last year; Sokol is believed to be worth more than $100m. Buffett said Sokol once volunteered to give up $12.5m of a bonus compensation to Greg Abel, his colleague in Berkshire-owned energy firm MidAmerican, because he thought the money should be shared. Last year Sokol was a hit with shareholders, who wanted their photo taken with a man tipped as Buffett’s likely successor. Buffett said he would never understand why Sokol made the Lubrizol deal. His business partner Charlie Munger blamed “hubris”. Buffett’s most fancied successor is now Ajit Jain, head of Berkshire’s reinsurance businesses. “To an extraordinary degree, he thinks about Berkshire first,” Buffett told shareholders. Last week, Berkshire issued a damning report from its audit committee accusing Sokol of violating company policy and withholding information. It said the director could be subject to legal action. The sale is now the subject of a regulatory inquiry and a shareholder lawsuit. Through his lawyers Sokol said: “It is alarming that Mr Buffett would be advised to so completely flip-flop and resort to transparent scapegoatism. After 11 years of dedicated and hugely successful service to various Berkshire Hathaway subsidiaries, Mr Sokol would have expected to be treated fairly. That would have been in Berkshire’s interest.” Sokol’s lawyers said neither Buffett nor the audit committee had asked to speak nor had spoken to Sokol since his resignation was made public. “Mr Buffett drafted the March 30th press release announcing Mr Sokol’s resignation in cooperation with Mr Charlie Munger and Mr Ronald Olson, both of whom are Berkshire Board Members. They know the law and they know the Berkshire policies. In that context, Mr Buffett correctly declared Mr Sokol’s conduct lawful and indeed was effusive of his praise of him,” said the statement. “There is no new information or new fact which has become available to them since that press release was issued on March 30th. At no time did Mr Sokol attempt to withhold information from Mr Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway or the Audit Committee. Every question asked of Mr Sokol on or prior to March 30th and any information requested of him has been provided. The Audit Committee report, which was prepared by the law firm of Munger Tolles & Olson contains errors and omissions, both of which could have been avoided if the Audit Committee had inquired of Mr Sokol.” Sokol’s lawyers said their client had not broken the the law or any Berkshire policy. “At no time did Mr Sokol intend to personally profit at the expense of Berkshire or its shareholders. At no time did Mr Sokol mislead or deceive. Such a conclusion would be wholly out of character and the Berkshire Board is keenly aware of that. At all times he faithfully discharged his fiduciary duties to Berkshire, a company he heroically served and continues to regard with reverence.” After the weekend meeting shareholders seemed satisfied with Buffett’s account. Shrini Ganediwal, a software consultant from Florida, said: “He explained himself very well … He did what he thought was right. Buffett is a very nice person who doesn’t like to criticise people.” Warren Buffett Investing Financial sector Dominic Rushe guardian.co.uk
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Maureen Lipman says royal wedding news provides ‘great week to hide injunction story’ The journalist Andrew Marr must have longed, if not for a gagging order, at least for an actual gag, as guests on his own television show tormented him over the superinjunction whose existence he publicly admitted last week. “It’s a great week to hide an injunction story, say one wanted to,” mused the actor Maureen Lipman, one of the guests invited to review the Sunday papers on the BBC1 news programme, as she surveyed the acreage of royal wedding coverage crowding out almost all other topics. “You cheeky woman … yes, this is true,” Marr responded. It was his first show since he revealed the existence of the injunction, which barred any coverage of his affair with another journalist and the child he believed was his own, or of the existence of the injunction. Marr said he had become “uneasy” as a journalist at having obtained it. Chris Bryant, former Labour Europe minister, told the Observer the controversy would “hobble” his capacity as a journalist, as politicians and other interviewees could use it as an excuse to evade any probing questions. Bryant said: “People will certainly look askance at him. He is not going to be able to ask the personal questions without people, including politicians, sticking their tongues out at him and saying ‘superinjunction’ and refusing to answer.” In the event Marr seemed more acutely embarrassed than hobbled as he returned to the screen five days after admitting that he had taken out the superinjunction. Another of his guests, the historian Simon Schama, discussed with Lipman the profile in the Sunday Times headed “Old Jug Ears, daddy of the super-secret”. Marr conceded that “the superinjunction issue is not going to go away”. But he also described the Sunday Times profile as “a slightly disobliging piece but the worrying thing is the picture is both rather unpleasant and also entirely accurate, so there we go”. Schama said the issue of balancing the right to privacy against free speech was a big one: “It’s obviously going to be something, presumably, parliament has got to consider.” Marr agreed: “It’s something clearly parliament is going to have to look at again. MPs are going to have to look at this.” While the Andrew Marr Show focuses on parliamentary and policy issues, in recent years Marr has posed questions about the vexed personal lives of several prominent guests. When John Prescott went on the show at the end of his career as an MP, Marr referred explicitly to the affair the former deputy prime minister conducted with a colleague. When the foreign secretary, William Hague, was prompted to deny publicly rumours that he was having an “improper relationship” with a male aide and went on to reveal that his wife Ffion had suffered several miscarriages, Marr raised the issue on the show with one of Hague’s cabinet colleagues, education secretary Michael Gove. Andrew Marr Privacy & the media Superinjunctions Privacy Maev Kennedy guardian.co.uk
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• Hit F5 for the latest or select our auto-refresh button below • Follow Birmingham v Wolves updates with our match centre • Stats centre: the latest Premier League table and more • Email your thoughts to rob.bagchi@guardian.co.uk 45 min: ALmost had a Gilbert O’Sullivan reference to Carol back there. I might have gotten away with it if it hadn’t been for those pesky kids. Mark Gillies writes: “Newcastle fans were singing One Greedy Bastard at Michael Owen last week, now they’re singing it at Carroll. This would suggest they can’t count, or have very short memories.” Very good, Mark. 42 min: Enrique goes down in a tackle and Liverpool use the gap up the left, or Kuyt does, to set up Meireles. The Dutchman squeezes his pass through Coloccini’s legs and Meireles has to stretch to make a lunging shot which Krul gets down to save. “Can’t believe all the guff I’ve read this weekend on how well NUFC have done without Carroll,” writes Simon Lindsay. “In fact, we’ve won twice since he left in January.” 41 min: “I get the sense Jose Enrique is having a good audition,” writes Linda Howard. He’s playing well, Linda. Guitierrez then hits a cross towards the penalty spot from the left and it goes to Ameobi at an awkward height. He lifts his leg high to shoot and shins it off back whence it came. 39 min: A pair of Newcastle free-kicks in what has been a better spell from them. The second is awarded when Barton, much to the Kop’s delight, wears a boot in his face. They win a corner when the cross is blocked, taken by Barton. Out it flies to the left wing where Tiote scarpers over to retrieve and win a throw. 37 min: Super strength from Suarez to win a header on the left and set up Meireles who completely miskicks it and the ball almost goes behind him. But Liverpool recover and cross from the right where Lucas heads and Krul saves. 34 min: Barton takes a corner for the second time after Meireles gets too close the first time. He blocks the second again from about six yards, having charged the corner but the ref lets him get away from it. Then Flanagan is tested by Gutierrez again and hand balls. He’s going to be off if he’s not careful. The free kick from Barton fizzes across the box and Johnson makes a good defensive header from a very dangerous centre. Newcastle cut the corner back to Nolan running in from the edge of the box and he scoops his shot over. 32 min: Andy Carroll starts warming up and gets a predictable response from both sets of supporters of the “One Andy Carroll” and “One greedy ba$tard” variety. 29 min: Flanagan floors Gutierrez as the Argentinian tries to skip past him and the full-back is booked. A minute later he has another run at him and Speariung comes back to help. He thinks he’s saved the ball from rolling out for a corner but the ref reckons it crossed the line. Barton swings it in to Ameobi who connects well but can’t get his header through the massed traffic in the box. 27 min: Lucas fouls Nolan and Newcastle get a chance to build. Their passing has been rather harum scarum so far, trying to get rid too soon. They may need to rejig their formation, perhaps go with one upfront. “Today marks Jamie Carragher’s 665th appearance for Liverpool, that’s a long time in the same job,” writes Johnny Mac. Aye, salutes were given by KK and Steve McMananaman on ESPN. 24 min: Gutierrez crossed from the left, having beaten Flanagan, but he hit it too early and didn’t make the angle difficult for Reina who comes out to claim it off Ameobi at the far post. 21 min: Jeremy “maxi-man” says the goal is Maxi’s too. Fine. They’ve just replayed it and it was on target. I thought his shot would have hit the post from first viewing but I was wrong. Newcastle were having a better spell but then they let Spearing shoot from 25 yards, a low, powerful shot to Krul’s right. The keeper dives and manages to hold on but Kuyt and Suarez were inches away from pouncing on a potential rebound and no Newcastle players tracked their runs. 19 min: Tioté and Lucas challenge each other in the air to the right of the centre circle and Newcastle get the free kick though Lucas will have the larger egg on his temple. Simpson then gets up the right and has a fine opportunity to find Ameobi after good work from Barton puts the full back into the optimum position, but his cross is low and poor and Johnson clears for a throw. 17 min: “You can give the goal to whomever you choose, but if the shot was on target then it is awarded to the attacking player regardless of which way the keeper is diving,” writes John Dove. “So the key issue here, is whether the shot was on target.” It was, John. Suitably chastened I will give it to Maxi then. I’m sure he’ll be relieved. 14 min: The ball actually struck Simpson on the left hand, which was down by his side, so ESPN reckon Maxi should have the goal because it would have been a penalty had it not gone in. Hmm. Not sure. Anyway Liverpool are fizzing the ball about, using the right flank to have a charge at Jose Enrique, perhaps trying to test whether it’s worth making a bid in the summer. 12 min: Some thoughts on Newcastle’s unfamiliar kit. “Must wear white shirts because of a contractual obligation? To whom? White polyester manufacturers? Black dye boycotters? Masochistic Spurs fans? What a strange arrangement,” writes Robin Hazelhurst. To Real Madrid or Don Revie, I suspect. Ryan Dunne reckons: “Surely it’s even worse when teams bring out a kit, loyal punters snap it up, and then it’s hardly ever worn? For example, I think Everton’s pink number is fabulous, and would love to see the Glorious Glasgow Rangers rocking a similar away look, but it’s hardly been worn this season, presumably because the off-cream nomin ally third strip is butcher. Rip-off.The ASA should step in.” It’s a scandal, Ryan. Call Anne Robinson. GOAL!! Liverpool 1-0 Newcastle (Simpson og) I’m giving it to Simpson rather than Maxi because the deflection took it past Krul. It came from an excellent cross by Flanagan on the right that Williamson managed to head out, not very convincingly, and Maxi’s shot clipped Simpson’s foot and went into the middle of the goal while Krul was diving in the initial direction to his right. 8 min: Kuyt and Suarez switch positions with the Dutchman hogging the trouchline on the right and Suarez wandering infield. Nice chipped pass from Kuyt finds the Uruguayan on the edge of the area who offloads first time for Spearing to run on to and shoot from 25 yards. He slices it wide. 6 min: Spearing hits a ball 60 yards or so up for Maxi to run on to and Krul decides to rush out of his area to deal with it and makes a bit of a hash of it so Liverpool get the throw, from which Meireles scuffs a shot wide. 4 min: Newcastle corner after Gutierrez gives Flanagan a test and the young full-back goes safety first. Barton hits a near post centre that Reina comes to claim, drops it and Lovenkrands almost turns on it but Reina gets down sharpish to gather second time. 2 min: Late switch for Newcastle on the bench, Perch injured in the warm-up and Tavernier included at the last minute. Lucas, Kuyt and Suarez team up on the right and the Uruguayan turns sharply and runs outside José Enrique who recovers well to shepherd the ball out for another goalkick. And we’re off: Liverpool kick off and knock it back to Flanagan who gives Suarez a run against Coloccini with an overhit chipped pass up the right touchline that skips out for a goalkick. The problems with modern football #1,224: Newcastle are wearing an all-white strip because of a contractual obligation that they would wear this particular one at least twice this season. Ridiculous. Stanley Victor Collymore: I see we’ve been furnished with the definitive picture from the epic 4-3 in April 1996. Didn’t he finish that beautifully? I doubt Kevin Keegan, one of ESPN’s punditry team, will need reminding of that. I’ll never forget him slapping the advertising hoardings after it went in nor the scenes of the incredibly dignified old Newcastle supporter, Sky’s go-to picture target for much of that traumatic run-in. ESPN have just pointed out that Kenny Dalglish played his last ever match for Liverpool 21 years ago against Derby. That makes me feel old. Afternoon all: On a glorious day when this part of London is thronging with Arsenal and Manchester United fans en route to the Emirates. History suggests that this match at Anfield is a banker for Liverpool. Newcastle haven’t won there since Andy Cole and Rob Lee scored in a 2-0 victory in March 1995 and the Reds have won 14 and drawn one of the past 15 meetings at Anfield. This is a hard-working Newcastle team, though, with Lovenkrands, Barton, Tioté and Nolan having excellent seasons and the unsung defence coping far better than many had expected. Kenny Dalglish’s rejuvenation of Liverpool has been remarkable and Dirk Kuyt and Luis Suarez are bound to give the Toon’s back four the stiffest test. I’ve enjoyed watching both sides, Liverpool more since January than before and we may just get a cracker. Teams Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Flanagan, Carragher, Skrtel, Lucas, Spearing, Maxi, Meireles, Kuyt, Suarez. Subs: Gulacsi, Kyrgiakos, Robinson, Shelvey, Cole, Ngog, Carroll. Newcastle: Krul, Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Enrique, Barton, Nolan, Tiote, Gutierrez, Ameobi, Lovenkrands. Subs: Harper, R Taylor, S Taylor, Perch, Ferguson, Kuqi, Ranger. Referee: Peter Walton Premier League Liverpool Newcastle United Rob Bagchi guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …• Hit F5 for the latest or select our auto-refresh button below • Follow Birmingham v Wolves updates with our match centre • Stats centre: the latest Premier League table and more • Email your thoughts to rob.bagchi@guardian.co.uk 45 min: ALmost had a Gilbert O’Sullivan reference to Carol back there. I might have gotten away with it if it hadn’t been for those pesky kids. Mark Gillies writes: “Newcastle fans were singing One Greedy Bastard at Michael Owen last week, now they’re singing it at Carroll. This would suggest they can’t count, or have very short memories.” Very good, Mark. 42 min: Enrique goes down in a tackle and Liverpool use the gap up the left, or Kuyt does, to set up Meireles. The Dutchman squeezes his pass through Coloccini’s legs and Meireles has to stretch to make a lunging shot which Krul gets down to save. “Can’t believe all the guff I’ve read this weekend on how well NUFC have done without Carroll,” writes Simon Lindsay. “In fact, we’ve won twice since he left in January.” 41 min: “I get the sense Jose Enrique is having a good audition,” writes Linda Howard. He’s playing well, Linda. Guitierrez then hits a cross towards the penalty spot from the left and it goes to Ameobi at an awkward height. He lifts his leg high to shoot and shins it off back whence it came. 39 min: A pair of Newcastle free-kicks in what has been a better spell from them. The second is awarded when Barton, much to the Kop’s delight, wears a boot in his face. They win a corner when the cross is blocked, taken by Barton. Out it flies to the left wing where Tiote scarpers over to retrieve and win a throw. 37 min: Super strength from Suarez to win a header on the left and set up Meireles who completely miskicks it and the ball almost goes behind him. But Liverpool recover and cross from the right where Lucas heads and Krul saves. 34 min: Barton takes a corner for the second time after Meireles gets too close the first time. He blocks the second again from about six yards, having charged the corner but the ref lets him get away from it. Then Flanagan is tested by Gutierrez again and hand balls. He’s going to be off if he’s not careful. The free kick from Barton fizzes across the box and Johnson makes a good defensive header from a very dangerous centre. Newcastle cut the corner back to Nolan running in from the edge of the box and he scoops his shot over. 32 min: Andy Carroll starts warming up and gets a predictable response from both sets of supporters of the “One Andy Carroll” and “One greedy ba$tard” variety. 29 min: Flanagan floors Gutierrez as the Argentinian tries to skip past him and the full-back is booked. A minute later he has another run at him and Speariung comes back to help. He thinks he’s saved the ball from rolling out for a corner but the ref reckons it crossed the line. Barton swings it in to Ameobi who connects well but can’t get his header through the massed traffic in the box. 27 min: Lucas fouls Nolan and Newcastle get a chance to build. Their passing has been rather harum scarum so far, trying to get rid too soon. They may need to rejig their formation, perhaps go with one upfront. “Today marks Jamie Carragher’s 665th appearance for Liverpool, that’s a long time in the same job,” writes Johnny Mac. Aye, salutes were given by KK and Steve McMananaman on ESPN. 24 min: Gutierrez crossed from the left, having beaten Flanagan, but he hit it too early and didn’t make the angle difficult for Reina who comes out to claim it off Ameobi at the far post. 21 min: Jeremy “maxi-man” says the goal is Maxi’s too. Fine. They’ve just replayed it and it was on target. I thought his shot would have hit the post from first viewing but I was wrong. Newcastle were having a better spell but then they let Spearing shoot from 25 yards, a low, powerful shot to Krul’s right. The keeper dives and manages to hold on but Kuyt and Suarez were inches away from pouncing on a potential rebound and no Newcastle players tracked their runs. 19 min: Tioté and Lucas challenge each other in the air to the right of the centre circle and Newcastle get the free kick though Lucas will have the larger egg on his temple. Simpson then gets up the right and has a fine opportunity to find Ameobi after good work from Barton puts the full back into the optimum position, but his cross is low and poor and Johnson clears for a throw. 17 min: “You can give the goal to whomever you choose, but if the shot was on target then it is awarded to the attacking player regardless of which way the keeper is diving,” writes John Dove. “So the key issue here, is whether the shot was on target.” It was, John. Suitably chastened I will give it to Maxi then. I’m sure he’ll be relieved. 14 min: The ball actually struck Simpson on the left hand, which was down by his side, so ESPN reckon Maxi should have the goal because it would have been a penalty had it not gone in. Hmm. Not sure. Anyway Liverpool are fizzing the ball about, using the right flank to have a charge at Jose Enrique, perhaps trying to test whether it’s worth making a bid in the summer. 12 min: Some thoughts on Newcastle’s unfamiliar kit. “Must wear white shirts because of a contractual obligation? To whom? White polyester manufacturers? Black dye boycotters? Masochistic Spurs fans? What a strange arrangement,” writes Robin Hazelhurst. To Real Madrid or Don Revie, I suspect. Ryan Dunne reckons: “Surely it’s even worse when teams bring out a kit, loyal punters snap it up, and then it’s hardly ever worn? For example, I think Everton’s pink number is fabulous, and would love to see the Glorious Glasgow Rangers rocking a similar away look, but it’s hardly been worn this season, presumably because the off-cream nomin ally third strip is butcher. Rip-off.The ASA should step in.” It’s a scandal, Ryan. Call Anne Robinson. GOAL!! Liverpool 1-0 Newcastle (Simpson og) I’m giving it to Simpson rather than Maxi because the deflection took it past Krul. It came from an excellent cross by Flanagan on the right that Williamson managed to head out, not very convincingly, and Maxi’s shot clipped Simpson’s foot and went into the middle of the goal while Krul was diving in the initial direction to his right. 8 min: Kuyt and Suarez switch positions with the Dutchman hogging the trouchline on the right and Suarez wandering infield. Nice chipped pass from Kuyt finds the Uruguayan on the edge of the area who offloads first time for Spearing to run on to and shoot from 25 yards. He slices it wide. 6 min: Spearing hits a ball 60 yards or so up for Maxi to run on to and Krul decides to rush out of his area to deal with it and makes a bit of a hash of it so Liverpool get the throw, from which Meireles scuffs a shot wide. 4 min: Newcastle corner after Gutierrez gives Flanagan a test and the young full-back goes safety first. Barton hits a near post centre that Reina comes to claim, drops it and Lovenkrands almost turns on it but Reina gets down sharpish to gather second time. 2 min: Late switch for Newcastle on the bench, Perch injured in the warm-up and Tavernier included at the last minute. Lucas, Kuyt and Suarez team up on the right and the Uruguayan turns sharply and runs outside José Enrique who recovers well to shepherd the ball out for another goalkick. And we’re off: Liverpool kick off and knock it back to Flanagan who gives Suarez a run against Coloccini with an overhit chipped pass up the right touchline that skips out for a goalkick. The problems with modern football #1,224: Newcastle are wearing an all-white strip because of a contractual obligation that they would wear this particular one at least twice this season. Ridiculous. Stanley Victor Collymore: I see we’ve been furnished with the definitive picture from the epic 4-3 in April 1996. Didn’t he finish that beautifully? I doubt Kevin Keegan, one of ESPN’s punditry team, will need reminding of that. I’ll never forget him slapping the advertising hoardings after it went in nor the scenes of the incredibly dignified old Newcastle supporter, Sky’s go-to picture target for much of that traumatic run-in. ESPN have just pointed out that Kenny Dalglish played his last ever match for Liverpool 21 years ago against Derby. That makes me feel old. Afternoon all: On a glorious day when this part of London is thronging with Arsenal and Manchester United fans en route to the Emirates. History suggests that this match at Anfield is a banker for Liverpool. Newcastle haven’t won there since Andy Cole and Rob Lee scored in a 2-0 victory in March 1995 and the Reds have won 14 and drawn one of the past 15 meetings at Anfield. This is a hard-working Newcastle team, though, with Lovenkrands, Barton, Tioté and Nolan having excellent seasons and the unsung defence coping far better than many had expected. Kenny Dalglish’s rejuvenation of Liverpool has been remarkable and Dirk Kuyt and Luis Suarez are bound to give the Toon’s back four the stiffest test. I’ve enjoyed watching both sides, Liverpool more since January than before and we may just get a cracker. Teams Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Flanagan, Carragher, Skrtel, Lucas, Spearing, Maxi, Meireles, Kuyt, Suarez. Subs: Gulacsi, Kyrgiakos, Robinson, Shelvey, Cole, Ngog, Carroll. Newcastle: Krul, Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Enrique, Barton, Nolan, Tiote, Gutierrez, Ameobi, Lovenkrands. Subs: Harper, R Taylor, S Taylor, Perch, Ferguson, Kuqi, Ranger. Referee: Peter Walton Premier League Liverpool Newcastle United Rob Bagchi guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …The Washington Post knows how to ruin a Christian's Sunday morning. Jason Edward Kaufman, a regular Sunday art reviewer for the Post (even if he's described by the paper merely as a “freelance writer”), was apparently assigned to review a new exhibit at the Philadelphia Museum of Art that looks back on the “so-called culture wars of the late 70s through the 90s, when social conservatives sought to prevent tax money from supporting art that dealt with homosexuality, feminism, racism, or other contentious issues.” It's obvious from the start that the reviewer is being dishonest in suggest the conservatives are political, but the artists and their supporters aren't political, they're just for freedom of expression. The exhibit is “a chance for younger viewers to learn about previous clashes between religious conservatives and advocates of freedom of expression in the arts.”
Continue reading …The Washington Post knows how to ruin a Christian's Sunday morning. Jason Edward Kaufman, a regular Sunday art reviewer for the Post (even if he's described by the paper merely as a “freelance writer”), was apparently assigned to review a new exhibit at the Philadelphia Museum of Art that looks back on the “so-called culture wars of the late 70s through the 90s, when social conservatives sought to prevent tax money from supporting art that dealt with homosexuality, feminism, racism, or other contentious issues.” It's obvious from the start that the reviewer is being dishonest in suggest the conservatives are political, but the artists and their supporters aren't political, they're just for freedom of expression. The exhibit is “a chance for younger viewers to learn about previous clashes between religious conservatives and advocates of freedom of expression in the arts.”
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National Association of Head Teachers on course for first-ever national strike in protest at cuts to public sector pensions Headteachers have voted overwhelmingly for a ballot over whether to hold their first ever national strike. Members of Britain’s biggest headteachers’ union – the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) – agreed to vote over whether to take industrial action in protest at proposed changes to their pensions at their annual conference in Brighton. From 386 votes, 99.6% wanted a ballot, while 0.4% abstained. The NAHT said it was “highly likely” that heads would now ballot for a strike – a move that would close thousands of primary and secondary schools in England and Wales. The proposed pension changes have set headteachers and teachers on a collision course with government. Last month, two of the country’s main teaching unions voted to ballot members for a national strike over the reforms. The National Union of Teachers and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers are likely to strike in June and again in autumn. Lecturers staged a walkout over the same issue in March . A government-commissioned report in March by the former Labour minister Lord Hutton called for final salary pension schemes to be scrapped and replaced by career averages. He recommended that teachers should pay higher monthly contributions and a rise in the retirement age to 68. At the moment, most heads retire aged between 60 and 65. The government has forecast that the cost of teachers’ pensions will rise from about £5bn in 2005 to almost £10bn by 2015, as more staff retire and life expectancy increases. Russell Hobby, the NAHT’s general secretary, said the proposed pension reforms would amount to a “major pay cut” and encouraged his 28,000 members to vote in favour of a strike. He said it was essential the career average pension remained and predicted a “mass exodus” from the profession, if it did not. Last time the teachers’ pension scheme was changed, in 2007, there was a spike in the number of retirements. Chris Howard, headteacher of Lewis secondary school in Caerphilly, said a pension was an “integral part of the pay bargain that every public sector worker makes with the government”. “We do jobs that other people don’t want to do. The bargain we make is that we give ourselves and our service as public servants for our life and in the end we expect some time where we can accrue public benefit for that. If the government proceeds down this path of pension changes then the bargain will be broken and our society will be the poorer for it.” Chris Hill, headteacher of Hounslow Town primary in London, said that if the pension changes go ahead, heads should look into refusing to cooperate with the government over new initiatives. “We can be very effective in getting our way,” he said. David Fann, headteacher of Sherwood primary in Preston, Lancashire, said teachers pensions were “not gold-plated”. He said heads on £50,000 would have to increase their pension contributions by £1,700 a month and if they retired at 55, they would lose 42% of their pension. Stephen Kirkpatrick, a 36-year-old deputy headteacher in Salford in Greater Manchester, said that although he loved teaching, he would be prepared to quit if the reforms go ahead. “That is a mindset common to people who are young in the profession.” The government is expected to announced its proposals for pensions in June following negotiations with the Trades Union Congress. A spokesman from the Department for Education said no decisions had been taken on changes to the teacher pension scheme, but that the Hutton report “made it clear that pensions reform was needed”. “A major factor is that people are living longer,” he said. “In the early 1970s, the life expectancy of a 60-year-old was around 18 years, now it is around 28 years. The government will set out proposals in the autumn that are affordable, sustainable and fair to both the public sector workforce and taxpayers.” Meanwhile, the NAHT voted overwhelmingly to ballot its membership over whether to repeat last year’s boycott of national exams for 10 and 11-year-olds unless the government radically reform the tests. The government is conducting a review of the tests in maths and English, known as Sats, and will publish its findings next month. Heads said that unless the government changed the tests so that teachers marked their pupils’ papers, they would repeat the boycott. At the moment, external markers correct the tests, rather than pupils’ teachers. Some 99.2% of delegates voted to ballot the membership over a boycott. Teaching Public sector pensions Education policy Public sector cuts Public services policy Public finance Public sector pay Cuts and closures Jessica Shepherd guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …National Association of Head Teachers on course for first-ever national strike in protest at cuts to public sector pensions Headteachers have voted overwhelmingly for a ballot over whether to hold their first ever national strike. Members of Britain’s biggest headteachers’ union – the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) – agreed to vote over whether to take industrial action in protest at proposed changes to their pensions at their annual conference in Brighton. From 386 votes, 99.6% wanted a ballot, while 0.4% abstained. The NAHT said it was “highly likely” that heads would now ballot for a strike – a move that would close thousands of primary and secondary schools in England and Wales. The proposed pension changes have set headteachers and teachers on a collision course with government. Last month, two of the country’s main teaching unions voted to ballot members for a national strike over the reforms. The National Union of Teachers and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers are likely to strike in June and again in autumn. Lecturers staged a walkout over the same issue in March . A government-commissioned report in March by the former Labour minister Lord Hutton called for final salary pension schemes to be scrapped and replaced by career averages. He recommended that teachers should pay higher monthly contributions and a rise in the retirement age to 68. At the moment, most heads retire aged between 60 and 65. The government has forecast that the cost of teachers’ pensions will rise from about £5bn in 2005 to almost £10bn by 2015, as more staff retire and life expectancy increases. Russell Hobby, the NAHT’s general secretary, said the proposed pension reforms would amount to a “major pay cut” and encouraged his 28,000 members to vote in favour of a strike. He said it was essential the career average pension remained and predicted a “mass exodus” from the profession, if it did not. Last time the teachers’ pension scheme was changed, in 2007, there was a spike in the number of retirements. Chris Howard, headteacher of Lewis secondary school in Caerphilly, said a pension was an “integral part of the pay bargain that every public sector worker makes with the government”. “We do jobs that other people don’t want to do. The bargain we make is that we give ourselves and our service as public servants for our life and in the end we expect some time where we can accrue public benefit for that. If the government proceeds down this path of pension changes then the bargain will be broken and our society will be the poorer for it.” Chris Hill, headteacher of Hounslow Town primary in London, said that if the pension changes go ahead, heads should look into refusing to cooperate with the government over new initiatives. “We can be very effective in getting our way,” he said. David Fann, headteacher of Sherwood primary in Preston, Lancashire, said teachers pensions were “not gold-plated”. He said heads on £50,000 would have to increase their pension contributions by £1,700 a month and if they retired at 55, they would lose 42% of their pension. Stephen Kirkpatrick, a 36-year-old deputy headteacher in Salford in Greater Manchester, said that although he loved teaching, he would be prepared to quit if the reforms go ahead. “That is a mindset common to people who are young in the profession.” The government is expected to announced its proposals for pensions in June following negotiations with the Trades Union Congress. A spokesman from the Department for Education said no decisions had been taken on changes to the teacher pension scheme, but that the Hutton report “made it clear that pensions reform was needed”. “A major factor is that people are living longer,” he said. “In the early 1970s, the life expectancy of a 60-year-old was around 18 years, now it is around 28 years. The government will set out proposals in the autumn that are affordable, sustainable and fair to both the public sector workforce and taxpayers.” Meanwhile, the NAHT voted overwhelmingly to ballot its membership over whether to repeat last year’s boycott of national exams for 10 and 11-year-olds unless the government radically reform the tests. The government is conducting a review of the tests in maths and English, known as Sats, and will publish its findings next month. Heads said that unless the government changed the tests so that teachers marked their pupils’ papers, they would repeat the boycott. At the moment, external markers correct the tests, rather than pupils’ teachers. Some 99.2% of delegates voted to ballot the membership over a boycott. Teaching Public sector pensions Education policy Public sector cuts Public services policy Public finance Public sector pay Cuts and closures Jessica Shepherd guardian.co.uk
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Stranglehold on southern city at the heart of uprising tightens after storming of key mosque and death toll rises to 535 Syrian army tanks have shelled the old quarter of Deraa, the southern city at the heart of the six-week-old uprising, said a witness on Sunday. Daraa has been without water, fuel or electricity since Monday, when the regime sent in troops backed by tanks and snipers to crush protests seeking an end to President Bashar al-Assad’s authoritarian rule. Tanks and armoured personnel vehicles have cut off neighbourhoods, and snipers on rooftops throughout the city have kept residents pinned in their homes. Other areas of the country have also come under military control, but Deraa has come under the most serious stranglehold as the death toll has soared to 535. Tanks fired shells into the heart of Deraa’s ancient Roman quarter, said a resident who lives on the outskirts of the city. He said he could identify the weaponry because he was a former soldier. Men were forbidden to leave their homes but women were allowed out in the early morning to search for bread, he said, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear that Syrian forces would identify him. Residents have responded to the crackdown by shouting the traditional rallying cry “God is great!” from their homes over the past several evenings, he said. “It was like a wave from quarter to quarter, it raises our spirits,” he said. “Our houses are close to each other, so even though we can’t go outside, we stand by the windows and chant it. Our neighbours can hear us and they respond.” The witness’s account could not be independently verified. Syria has banned nearly all foreign media and restricted access to trouble spots, making it almost impossible to confirm the dramatic events shaking one of the most authoritarian regimes in the Arab world. On Saturday, Syrian troops killed four people while storming a mosque that has become a focal point for protesters in Deraa, and security forces in Damascus kept dozens of women from marching on parliament to urge Assad to end his crackdown. The military raid on the Omari mosque came a day after 65 people were killed, most of them in Deraa, near the border with Jordan. Friday was the second deadliest day since the uprising began in mid-March in Deraa, sparked by the arrest of a group of teenagers who scrawled anti-government graffiti on a wall. The protest movement quickly spread and is now posing the gravest threat to the 40-year rule of the Assad family. The president has responded with overtures of reform coupled with a brutal crackdown , although in the past week, the regime has intensified its attempts to crush the revolt by force. David Cameron has condemned the Syrian government’s “completely disgraceful and unacceptable” crackdown. The prime minister said international pressure on Assad’s regime needed to be stepped up. Speaking on BBC1′s Andrew Marr Show, Cameron said: “It is a completely disgraceful and unacceptable situation, to see the regime killing so many of its own people.” Pressed on why the UK and international allies had intervened in Libya but were not taking action against Syria, Cameron said: “There are some differences. In Libya we were asked by the Arab League to go into that country, we were asked by the Libyan people, we were backed by a United Nations resolution. Clearly in Syria we need to do more to step up the pressure on that regime to show, internationally, that is not acceptable. We have started that process in the European Union but I think we have further to go and more to do.” Syria Arab and Middle East unrest Middle East Bashar Al-Assad guardian.co.uk
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