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Over at The 1909 Group, I've got an essay up on the new National Housing and Planning Advisory Unit, and its rather poor prospects for success if it doesn't get to grips with land and monetary reform, rather than just pushing new additional housing on often unwilling communities.

It's spawned a whole industry playing on fear of drink spiking, school children creating tamper-proof bottle tops (they shouldn't be drinking anyway), knee-jerk Blunkett raising GHB to Class A and so on but new evidence suggests that most "victims" of date rape drugs are, in fact, merely bladdered, mullahed, out of their trees on....alcohol, that most dangerous, but paradoxically legal and socially celebrated, drug:

Date-rape drugs 'not widespread'

Use of Rohypnol is not "widespread", said report

Research suggests date-rape drugs may not be as prevalent as first thought.

A study commissioned by the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo), suggests many victims of sexual assault may have just been extremely drunk.

Quelle surprise.

Incidentally I noticed the other day polling evidence on attitudes to alcohol that suggested that up to 5.7 million people in the UK I think it was "drink to get drunk" - so let's have none of this bleating about it more often being about good taste and social oiling. People who "drink to get drunk" are no better than the heroin junkie wanting to get out of it. By contrast, the casual dope smoker having a spliff to unwind is more like a dinner party wine drinker - right down to the connoisseur style of critique of the subtlety of different "brands".

The future of diplomacy?

BBC NEWS | Scotland | Glasgow and West | Primary school wins 'blog' award:

A primary school has won an award for its innovative international links with schools over the internet.

Staff and children at Woodhill Primary School in Bishopbriggs have set up blogs on subjects including French language and healthy lifestyles.

Technorati Tags: internet

"Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway" is one of those lifestyle/motivational books that several colleagues about fifteen years ago swore by but to which I gave a wide berth. But maybe I should have read it...I've been out canvassing tonight, something about which I have an irrational phobia.

I don't think Lib Dem colleagues actually understand what I mean when I say that - they think I'm joking, making light of it. But I really am not. The thought of ringing strangers' doorbells and asking them what even I consider to be a pretty personal question about who they are likely to vote for puts me on the edge of a panic attack.

I can't explain it - I guess that's why it's an irrational fear. It makes me feel guilty afterwards too as I never get as much done as others out with me. But if anyone knows of an instant cure I'd be grateful to hear about it!