Do you sleep soundly at night...

...secure in the knowledge that the good Mr. Blunkett is using all the powers at his disposal to protect us from the menace of international terrorism?

Read this and quiver.

Via White Rose.

An actuarial joke

I believe this is quite an old one.

An actuary is someone who, given the age distribution, employment histories, family histories and other lifestyle data of a population, will, on the basis of a complicated probability calculation using Bayesian statistics, tell you how many people will die within a given period of time.

A Sicilian actuary will tell you their names and addresses.

Why doesn't railway fragmentation work?

I have a post up at Transport Blog about the economics of railway fragmentation.

Better petticoats for wimmin! - the rallying cry of Victorian feminism

After a slightly cynical post on improving voter turnout, I decided to embark on a few seconds of research into the history of voting and what a gem I uncovered. There's nothing like a piece of impassioned and moving poetry to bring to life the struggles of times past. This beautifully crafted masterpiece was written by the late, great William Topaz McGonagall, surely the greatest poet and tragedian that ever the boards did tread.

Women's Suffrage

Fellow men! why should the lords try to despise
And prohibit women from having the benefit of the parliamentary Franchise?
When they pay the same taxes as you and me,
I consider they ought to have the same liberty.

And I consider if they are not allowed the same liberty,
From taxation every one of them should be set free;
And if they are not, it is really very unfair,
And an act of injustice I most solemnly declare.

Women, farmers, have no protection as the law now stands;
And many of them have lost their property and lands,
And have been turned out of their beautiful farms
By the unjust laws of the land and the sheriffs' alarms.

And in my opinion, such treatment is very cruel;
And fair play, 'tis said, is a precious jewel;
But such treatment causes women to fret and to dote,
Because they are deprived of the parliamentary Franchise vote.

In my opinion, what a man pays for he certainly should get;
And if he does not, he will certainly fret;
And why wouldn't women do the very same?
Therefore, to demand the parliamentary Franchise they are not to blame.

Therefore let them gather, and demand the parliamentary Franchise;
And I'm sure no reasonable man will their actions despise,
For trying to obtain the privileges most unjustly withheld from them;
Which Mr. Gladstone will certainly encourage and never condemn.

And as for the working women, many are driven to the point of starvation,
All through the tendency of the legislation;
Besides, upon members of parliament they have no claim
As a deputation, which is a very great shame.

Yes, the Home Secretary of the present day,
Against working women's deputations, has always said- nay;
Because they haven't got the parliamentary Franchise-,
That is the reason why he does them despise.

And that, in my opinion, is really very unjust;
But the time is not far distant, I most earnestly trust,
When women will have a parliamentary vote,
And many of them, I hope, will wear a better petticoat.

And I hope that God will aid them in this enterprise,
And enable them to obtain the parliamentary Franchise;
And rally together, and make a bold stand,
And demand the parliamentary Franchise throughout Scotland.

And do not rest day nor night-
Because your demands are only right
In the eyes of reasonable men, and God's eyesight;
And Heaven, I'm sure, will defend the right.

Therefore go on brave women! and never fear,
Although your case may seem dark and drear,
And put your trust in God, for He is strong;
And ye will gain the parliamentary Franchise before very long.