The death of Anthony Barber, British Finance Minister between 1970 and 1974. He was promoted from the junior Treasury team following the death of Iain Macleod shortly after the 1970 election. His three-and-a-half-year reign saw a major liberalisation of policy - the pound was allowed to float freely on the markets, the banking system was allowed to lend as it wished, the selective employment tax (which penalised some service sector workers) and purchase tax were abolished, the latter replaced by VAT.

Mr Barber's economy was wrecked by a speculative bubble, caused by the banks over-extending their borrowing, which led to rising unemployment, rising inflation, and falling growth. His recovery package - government-dictated prices and incomes policies - attempted to tell people how much they could charge, and how much they could pay their employees. The faltering steps along the road to stability were derailed by the oil crisis on 1973, and killed off when the Heath government fell in 1974. Stability wouldn't return until Ken Clarke took over the ministry twenty years later.

By then, the concept of incomes- and prices-policies would become completely discredited, and it's now hard to believe that any government - still less a Conservative government - would attempt to dictate prices to businesses. Ultimately, history will record Mr Barber as the forgotten deregulator - his reforms became part of the accepted political culture almost at once, yet the pace of change was so quick that the economy suffered. Had he adopted a slower pace, the UK economy might well have been in better shape to survive the oil shock; it might also have been too strong to entrench his liberalisation.

In modern political news, John Prescott is foaming at the mouth. Well, this is hardly news, is it. Mr Prescott has broken cabinet solidarity by attacking Mister Blair's education reforms. And he's not exactly beaten around the bush: "I'm not totally convinced major reform is necessary" really doesn't leave any wiggle-room.

Mr Prescott is clearly still fighting the class wars of Barber's era. For instance such sound-bites as, "If you set up a school and it becomes a good school, the great danger is that's the place they [the middle-classes] want to go to" come from a completely forgotten era. He'll be proposing an incomes policy next.

Will Mister Blair's reforms improve the lot of working-class pupils? They might; they might not. Will they improve middle-class children? Very probably, so the class divide will widen. Will Labour's Trotsky-ite mania for change see a net improvement to middle-class youngsters? Perhaps not; there was significant damage in year zero, with the abolition of the assisted places scheme. The middle-classes have been on a losing tip ever since.

Mr Prescott's vitriol continued with a baffling attack on the new Conservative leader Dave Cameron. "I see a bit of 'class' is coming back now with Cameron and his outfit. The Eton Mafia. We [Labour] are always better against class. When it's a class issue. It's the Eton mob isn't it? They used to fight their wars on the Eton playing fields. Now they win elections on the Eton playing fields. I always feel better fighting class anyway - bring the spirit back into the Labour Party." And if you can understand that, you're doing very well.

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posted 19 Dec 2005, 19.15 +0000

Test. The Nation. The Annual. National. Test. Of the Year. I got to question 14 before thinking, "Hang on, this is just a piece of BBC promotion", turning over, and watching a new episode of Gilmore Girls, episode π (to 3sf). Hey, Jess, met any friendly swans lately...

Which reminds me, there's another episode next Sunday. By my reckoning, that'll be the first decent television show to air on any 25 December since 8.24am in 2003, when Ishal took two letters out from The Surely Impossible Way of the Warrior.

Anyway, I finished the Test The Nation test without really concentrating (gotta love these text-only versions) and got 55/70. Which is about the same as last year.

Now, there are big changes on CNBC Europe at the moment. NBC has bought out Dow Jones' stake in the pan-European finance channel, and has introduced a live global programme. London, New Amsterdam, and Tokyo all get their turn in the picture, with at least some attempt at cross-world chatter. It's a better go than the Channel 4 Daily's broom-cupboard efforts from 1989, though that's to be expected. Sixteen years of communications advances and a vastly greater budget will do that.

The other major development: 10% fewer graphics with no reduction in data. Compare the before and after pictures.

Before, a fairly hefty two-line ticker down the bottom of the screen, with a "stack" giving stock, commodity, and currency prices at the bottom right.

After, the ticker has shrunk remarkably, and - in the words of Guy Johnson this morning - all the information that was down there (waggles hands bottom right) is now up there (runs his hands along the top of shot.)

The result is a much cleaner picture, one that doesn't squash the talking heads into 80% of the screen width - a particular problem when there are two or three commentators at once. The rival day-traders' channel Bloomberg must surely take another look at its eye-boggling overload of data, compressing the actual picture into barely 45% of the screen.

(CNBC "after" cap taken from to-day's output; CNBC "before" taken from the 2004 BBC drama The Man Who Broke Britain.)

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posted 19 Dec 2005, 19.16 +0000

Australia 258 & 528-8 dec drew with South Africa 296 & 287-5

It looked like this would end up in a swift victory for one side, after South Africa finished their first innings slightly ahead before the end of the second day. But Australia batted through, with Brad Hodge reaching a double-centuy, before declaring. South Africa survived the four-session chase, thanks to a 52-over stand between Justin Kemp and Brad Rudolph for the fifth wicket.

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posted 20 Dec 2005, 20.31 +0000

A bizarre column from George Monbiot in to-day's Grauniad. Mr Monbiot correctly calls the car lobby anti-social, and rightly points out that their plot is to atomise travel at the expense of both society and sustainable travel. But why are these automatically seen as policies of Labour? Why does Mr Monbiot lazily assume that the Conservatives will always side with the individual, and will work against the greater interest. Lest we forget, it was a Conservative government that imposed the fuel duty escalator, where the tax on petrol rose faster than inflation. And it was a Labour chancellor - this Labour chancellor - that broke the escalator when he allowed himself to be brow-beaten by a few shrill voices.

It will be very interesting to see if Mr Cameron's policy review is serious about limiting the power of the car. It will be even more interesting to see Mr Monbiot's screed if that happens.

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posted 20 Dec 2005, 20.37 +0000

The Last Posting Dates Chart for domestic post from 1996 (the earliest date to have information stored on the internet - years up to 1995 have fallen into The Memory Hole) to present.

Two dates are given, corresponding to 1st and 2nd class mail.

(W) 1996: 20th and 18th
(Th) 1997: 21st and 18th
(F) 1998: 22nd and 19th
(Sa) 1999: 22nd and 18th
(M) 2000: 21st and 18th
(Tu) 2001: 21st and 17th
(W) 2002: 21st and 18th
(Th) 2003: 20th and 18th
(Sa) 2004: 21st and 18th
(Su) 2005: 20th and 17th

This is all reasonably predictable; with Sunday a non-working day, these dates are 3 and 6 working days before the 24th, except for 1998 (2 and 5) and 1999 (2 and 6). With the Christmas next year falling on a Monday, last deliveries will be on the 23rd. It will be interesting to see if the Royal Mail can keep the 21st and 18th, as they did in 2000.

The dates for international airmail have remained reasonably constant over the years, until this year:
Most of the world: 6 Dec
Japan, North America, East Europe: 10 Dec
West Europe: 13 Dec
The change this year saw North America move to 12 December, barely ahead of Western Europe.

Anyway, here's the chart you've all been looking forward to.

Yes, those really are tiddly little versions of the stamps. I think I've got all the stamps in the right year, though 99's 2nd class stamp is complete guesswork, and I've a suspicion the robins were 1999 and not 2001.

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posted 21 Dec 2005, 21.59 +0000

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Well, here's a turn-up for the books. Someone's stolen Blair's report card, and his self-assessment of the year.

Mathematics: Blair has made significant progress in this subject, but is prone to hand-waving waffle when asked to complete proofs beyond his capability. Still relies too heavily on other's work. B-.

English: Blair remains a master of the spoken word. He will benefit from a greater mastery of the underlying texts. Written work is adequate. B+

History: Blair's place in this class is secure, much as he wishes to change it. A-.

Geography: There's much to commend Blair's in-depth study of Eastern Europe, and his proposals for reconstruction are worth consideration. When he applies himself to the rest of the syllabus, he will do tremendously. B+

German: Good progress, especially given the turmoil in the department this term. Blair has warmed to new tutor, Frau Merkel. B+

French: M Chirac does not see how Blair can ever become any good in this foreign language. He does not understand the first principles. D-

Environmental science: I remain perplexed by Blair's presence in this subject, for he has scarcely attended any lessons and there is no evidence he has learned anything. E.

Domestic science: Blair has some aptitude for this subject, but must stretch himself beyond turkey twizzlers and baked beans. His work with Mr Oliver in the spring showed promise, which he would do well to maintain. C+

Philosophy of learning: Blair makes some worthwhile contributions in class. His major project has attracted much interest, and it will be interesting to see how he defends it next term. B

Community service: Blair has spent much of his free time with the village idiot, and it's clear that Dubba appreciates his attention. His afternoon each week at the secondary modern has been less successful, we've heard bad reports from project co-ordinator Prescott.

CCF: Blair was relieved as commander following his foolish actions on Euphrates Plain. I will not tolerate his lack of planning and reliance on fairy-stories.

Student's personal statement: Of course it's going to be tough. I don't want to be in the comfort zone, because I have never been more confident that my plans are right. I want to enable myself, and not be directed or controlled. This is not an agenda that can be done without the support of my lieutenant Gordy.

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posted 21 Dec 2005, 22.04 +0000

...a bit too good to remain under lock and key.

Merry Christmas It's Midwinter, Everyone - Shakin' Stevens

Santa Claus A Bloke In A Red Suit Is Coming To Town - Bruce Springsteen

Rocking Robin Sparrow - The Jacksons

God Pat Robertson Rest Ye Merry Happy Gentlemen People - trad

The First Noel Edmonds Holiday Special (refrain: Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel. Born is the king of gratuitous links into breaks.)

"Good King Inkatha last looked out on the feast of Kwanzaa"

Once in Royal David's City the occupied West Bank - trad (est 1967)

Do They Know It's Christmas Politics? - Bob Geldof and Bono

Last Christmas Hallowe'en - Wham! featuring Andrew Ridgeley

Jihad Yourself a Merry Little Ramadan - Yousef Hussain Crosby

Your Christmas Smurfing Wish - The Smurfs

Chocolate Salty Balls - Chef. Oh, hang on, this is all too plausible.

The Twelve Nine Days of Christmas Hannukah - trad

Christmas Store Sales Time (Don't Let the Bells End) - Darkness

Mistletoe and Wine - Cliff Richard Ronan Keating. Oh, sorry, we were looking to make these less offensive...

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posted 23 Dec 2005, 16.15 +0000

Ahmedabad: India (398 and 316-9d) beat Sri Lanka (206 and 249) by 259 runs

2-0 in the series to India, then, thanks mostly to the spin work of Kumble (5-for in the second innings) and Harbhajan Singh (7-for in the first). Laxman's first innings century shored up an otherwise flaky performance, and a solid lower-order put the second innings back on track from 100/5.

India now moves up to second in the official Test rankings, displacing England. These sides will meet in India next month, and in England next summer.

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posted 23 Dec 2005, 16.19 +0000

Not much happening in the European charts, the main item of note is the alarming success of The Annoying Thing, with a double eh-sided record. One side, Jingle bells gets killed; on the other, Last Christmas is quietly murdered. In Germany, of course, the Wham! original is making its annual return to the top 20.

 20 17 Kelly Clarkson - Because of you
 19  7 Arctic Monkeys - I bet you look good on the dancefloor
 18 re Son of Dork - Ticket out of loserville
 17 18 Katie Meluargh - Nine million bicycles
*16 NE Annoying Thing - Jingle bells
 15 15 Star Academy V - Santiano
 14 11 DHT - Listen to your heart
*13 14 Juanes - La camisa negra
*12 19 Sugababes - Ugly
 11 12 Tatu - All about us
 10  9 K T Tunstall - Suddenly I see
* 9 16 Melanie C - First day of my life
  8  5 Bert Bills - Tripping
* 7  8 Kaiser Chiefs - Modern way
  6  6 Depeche Mode - Precious
* 5 10 Mattafix - Big city life
* 4  4 Black Eyed Peas - My humps
  3  3 James Blunt - You're beautiful
* 2  2 Madonna - Hung up
* 1  1 Sugababes - Push the button

In the UK, top honours go to Shayne Ward. Who? Apparently, he's the latest Simon Cowell project, and after taking hours of the ITV peak-time schedule, finally shoved out a single last Sunday. It was download-only until Wednesday, which led to questions being asked of ROPRA as to whether those sales should count. ROPRA's barking rules, as we've explained earlier, prevent singles from charting unless there's a physical version available. All this came to nought, as Mr Ward shifted something over 750,000 copies of his single, to become the week's biggest seller, and outpip another Annoying Thing to become the second-largest seller of the year. It's worth remembering that three other ITV-promoted acts - Steve Brookstein, Michelle McManus, and Heraset - all sold more than half their career total of singles in one week. Mr Ward will almost certainly join those serried ranks.

Last year, we noted that the entire yuletide top three was over 20 years old. It's not the case this year - Mr Ward's single is written by the same team of Swedes who were responsible for Evergreen, and last week's winners, Nizlopi, finish at number 2 with their self-penned song. In third place comes Fairytale of New Amsterdam, the original version performed by the Pogues and Kirsty MacColl. The song originally finished second in 1987, behind the Pet Shop Boys, and remains the biggest hit for either act. A 1991 re-release stalled at number 36, some positions behind Diana Ross's solo record, When you tell me that I'm rubbish. Turnabout is fair play, and Ms Ross and the Pestside cretins finish in fourth place. Eminem and Coldplay both have new entries with new songs in the top ten; the Council Estate Slappers are also in the top ten, but their See the day is a limp cover of D C Lee's towering 1985 original.

James Blunt puts Goodbye my lover into number 11, helping to push his aged You're beautiful out of the 40, at least for this week. Mariah Cantsing should be in the top 20 with All I want for christmas is you, but ROPRA has excluded her for not having a physical single. That rule's going to be thoroughly embarrassing next year, when Fairytale... is excluded for the festive chart, probably from a top 20 place. Brian Kennedy's tribute to George Best is number 21, followed by the Choirboys' cover of Tears in heaven. How this manages to be even more anaemic than the original is not clear.

The third-biggest festive single this year, and second highest-charting, is Under the tree, performed by the Water Babies. It beats Is this the way to Santa's grotto by three places. The latter is a cheap cash-in; the former probably should become part of the yuletide canon. Missing from the chart entirely is G4, another of Simon Cowell's pet projects; they should be just outside the top 40, but Fony told ROPRA to ignore the single, presumably because it was being too small a hit. James Blunt retains the biggest selling album, in a week when there's not a single new entry in the top 75.

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posted 25 Dec 2005, 13.41 +0000

The high pressure on the continent stayed far enough away to keep most of the UK under westerly winds, so it was mild.

19 Mo cloud, sun           2/ 8,  0.7
20 Tu cloud                0/ 7,  0.0
21 We cloud                6/10,  0.0
22 Th cloud                5/10,  0.0
23 Fr cloud                7/11,  0.0
24 Sa showers early        5/ 9,  0.8
25 Su fog to sun           1/ 6,  0.0

26½ degree heating days this week, the winter's total is up to 228½. Last year's score: 197½/677½.

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posted 25 Dec 2005, 13.42 +0000

older writing... write to