| The asylum alternatives: proposals for reform
Measures to deal with human rights abuses and persecution in countries of origin are vital. We must recognise that it is not Britain or Europe, but poor countries, which receive the vast majority of the world's displaced people, and that they need concrete assistance." Neil Gerrard, Labour MP for Walthamstow, Chair, All Party Parliamentary Group on Refugees 'Pragmatically, asylum policy cannot be too far ahead of the public's attitudes. However, the current balance between control and integration, emphasizing the former at the expense of the latter, is counter-productive. In reality, very many applicants will in any case stay, and this should be accepted. Energy and resources spent on locating and expelling unsuccessful applicants, for example, or on selective incarceration, could be better used improving applicants' social and economic integration: eg.
Dixie in Ruston welcomes 'Hank and My Honky Tonk Heroes'
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Sam Rauch: Oberlin Grad, Williamsburg Loft-Dweller
As a total fucking cliche who attented both Trinity School (gasp!) and Oberlin College (where I majored in art history! And cinema studies! Oh no!) and who now lives in... wait for it... a bougie Williamsburg loft (for which my parents pay the rent, naturally), I must insist that you cease making fun of Oberlin immediately. Just because we're a bunch of pretentious, entitled, politically-correct, self-satisfied, bleeding-heart, postmodern burlesque and street art enthusiast douchenozzley fags doesn't mean we don't have feelings. If anything, we have far too many feelings. Feelings we have learned to express thanks to four years of professors who humored us when we raised our hands to start a sentence with "I kinda feel like..." But really. If you cut us, do we not bleed?* If you insult us, do we not cry ourselves to sleep while gently caressing our diplomas and our limited-edition Supreme hoodies? ** I cannot bear this abuse any longer.
Mike Greenberg: Admission to S.A. performing arts, museums is a real ...
As everyone knows, classical music and opera are elitist art forms, just for rich people playing dress-up. Popular music is . . . well, popular, for regular dudes in casual duds. Unless you do the math. The cheapest tickets to the San Antonio Symphony's concerts on Friday and Saturday cost $11.50, including the required facility charge for the Majestic Theatre. San Antonio Opera tickets start at $20. But tonight the masses will gather at the AT&T Center to hear loudspeakers relaying the voice of the popular Mexican singer-songwriter Juan Gabriel for a $35 minimum. At the same time, popular American singer-songwriter Lyle Lovett will perform at the Majestic for a minimum of $39 a ticket. If you want to see the Police next month at the AT&T Center, you'll pay at least $50.
Readers get behind us for shaming litter louts
It's about time litter louts faced up to their behaviour and changed it. "There is absolutely no excuse for dropping litter and I believe naming and shaming those responsible is an extremely effective tool." The list of shame was obtained from Glasgow City Council which also plans to publish it on their website as part of their £4million Clean Glasgow campaign. Every person on the list has admitted their guilt by paying a £50 fine issued for dropping litter, discarding a cigarette end, allowing their dog to foul the streets or fly-tipping. More than 6000 fines have been issued - mostly by litter wardens - since February. There was also support for our campaign on the streets. Pensioner John Berry, 63, from Dennistoun, said: "I'm right behind the Evening Times people who drop litter should be ashamed." Laurence Johnstone, 52, of Muirhead, said: "Hopefully by having their names printed these people will now think twice before dumping litter." Jean Ferguson of the city centre said: "More people should be fined and publicly shamed.
The Green Kitchen: Risotto under pressure
Vent the steam immediately, remove lid. Stir. Leave with lid slightly ajar to finish cooking for 2-3 minutes. Tough, eh? Sometimes, saving fossil-fuel energy means saving your own energy, too. If you think that bit of verdancy is easy, check out this. Ages ago, my friend and colleague Aggie MacKenzie told me you can cook pasta as follows. Bring water to the boil, put in pasta, stir and bring back to the boil, cover the pot and turn the heat off. The pasta, she said, would be ready in the time specified on the packet. I didn’t get round to trying Aggie’s method till my hands fell upon a copy of a new book called 50 Ways to Save Water & Energy by Siân Berry (Kyle Cathie, £5.99). Ms Berry uses the same method, and that reminded me to try it on some penne.
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