“The official platform for the Republican Party of Maine is now a mix of right-wing fringe policies, libertarian buzzwords and outright conspiracy theories.

The document calls for the elimination of the Department of Education and the Federal Reserve, demands an investigation of “collusion between government and industry in the global warming myth,” suggests the adoption of “Austrian Economics,” declares that “'Freedom of Religion' does not mean 'freedom from religion'” (which I guess makes atheism illegal), insists that “healthcare is not a right,” calls for the abrogation of the “UN Treaty on Rights of the Child” and the “Law Of The Sea Treaty” and declares that we must resist “efforts to create a one world government.”

Maine Republicans Adopt Tea Party Platform | Maine Politics.

First, I need to say that I’m not impartial. I worked at Harrods in the early 90s on the shop floor selling jeans. What a saw was a company trading on an old name to rip off tourists. Therefore, I’m biased.

BBC News – Mohammed Al Fayed sells Harrods store to Qatar Holdings.

So he’s sold it. After a quarter of a century of playing with the toy he’s moved on. I have to say that I’m surprised. I thought that he basically saw himself as inseparable from the shop.

There are some very odd parts to the Al Fayed palace. Including the memorial to Diana and Dodi and I wonder if they’ll stay. However, there is a bigger question; was it a good investment?

From the BBC article…

“Our reporter added that Mr Al Fayed’s motivation for selling was unclear, but the price tag was not inconsiderable in a post-recessionary market.”

Actually, that looks very cheap to me. Remember, there a massive bit of London real-estate in that price.

So from the same article…

“A colourful and controversial figure, Mr Al Fayed acquired Harrods in 1985 following a £615m takeover bid.”

What’s that in todays money?

“70% of Americans say they have faced one or more job or financial-related problems in the past year”

Daily Number: Economic Woes – Pew Research Center.

70%. But the media has been saying that it’s all over and we’re on the mend.

Translate Text Using Google Goggles

Election Day Special – All the papers | Daily Mail Watch.

…and the scars are still there.

“The first election I was eligible to vote in was the 1983 general election, and I came of political age under Thatcher. The experience has left me with a permanent aversion to the Conservative party, whose centralizing instincts, polarizing disdain for opposition, instinct for class warfare, bigotry, xenophobia and homophobia were a stain on the politics of the 1980s and 1990s. I have no great aversion to the conservative political philosophy of Edmund Burke, but the praxis of his latter-day inheritors gave us a range of happy fun experiences including mass unemployment, Section 28 (of the 1988 Local Government Act), the Brixton riots, the Miners' strike, the Poll tax and subsequent tax rebellion, the Westminster bribes scandal, and … well, I think I'm going to stop there and lie down for a while. Thatcher's ideology was a stalking horse for bigotry, intolerance, and xenophobia — and a clampdown on civil rights exemplified by initiatives such as the Criminal Justice Act (1994).”

Party Election Broadcast – Charlie’s Diary.

Michael Lewis is a fantastic author, Moneyball and The Blind Side are the best books I’ve read about sport with the possible exception of Fever Pitch.

Anyway, after the disappointing Panic, Lewis is back on form.

The Big Short is a fantastic read.

The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine: Amazon.fr: Michael Lewis: Livres en anglais.

The last chapter should be enforced reading for everyone.

I wonder which product this will end up in…

Google Buys BumpTop, 3D Desktop

For the first time in over five years I won’t be going to LeWeb.

Each year is slightly less fun and slightly more money. This is where I stop. It’s too much money and I’m far from sure that I’d enjoy it.

I wrote to Loïc a couple of years ago with suggestions on how to improve the conference and to give more options (at the moment it’s two days in December or nothing). He thanked me for my email but has not implemented a single suggestion.

Another chapter finishes.

LeWeb’10

“One estimate earlier this month predicted that Apple is selling $372,000 worth of iPad applications every day. That forecast suggested Apple could hit $1 billion in annual sales within two years.”

AppleInsider | Developer says iPad downloads are 5% of iPhone share on App Store

I don’t understand why Apple doesn’t have a App emulator for Macs and PCs. That would really cause issues for Flash apps on the internet.