Benjamin Gray

A cheeky hack is trying to have a card vote on abolishing card votes. #nusconf

Mar 31st

Turkeys have voted to retain Christmas #nusconf

Mar 31st

Oh the humour of the hack. #nusconf

Mar 31st

Well that was wierd hack banter #nusconf

Mar 31st

I think you’d have to be here to understand this joke #nusconf

Mar 31st

Well that was the wierdest procedural motion ever #nusconf

Mar 31st

Go Bubble! #nusconf

Mar 31st

Wierd technical wonk stuff about term limits #nusconf

Mar 31st

Look at me everyone! #nusconf

Mar 31st

It’s not about _what_ you’re saying, but _how_ you say it. #nusconf

Mar 31st

Ooh alliteration #nusconf

Mar 31st

Got slightly worried when they called Ben Gray (NEC) to speak on something. Fortunately the moment...

Mar 31st

Ooh Trots trying to fight steering. #nusconf

Mar 31st

Occupations voted not a legitimate tactic #nusconf

Mar 31st

I could do the research for @nusuk on this motion: it’s pretty much identical to my...

Mar 31st

Still got the result though. #nusconf

Mar 31st

This is wierd chairing. Very confusing. #nusconf

Mar 31st

One of our guys slamming campus occupations! Woo! #nusconf

Mar 31st

Getting free massages from @laurapurll

Mar 31st

Boring trot speech. #nusconf

Mar 31st

Oh come on: defence spending is the lowest it’s been since the early 1930s. It’s not...

Mar 31st

Woohoo! Sensible funding motion passed! #nusconf

Mar 31st

Well that’s the break over. Next session 30 mins late #nusconf

Mar 31st

http://twitpic.com/2ncb7 - Oh the Irony

Mar 31st

Dancing on#nusconf floor

Mar 31st

Report says none of the NEC did anything naughty. Resign! #nusconf

Mar 31st

Turn up at restaurant in time to watch President Obama arrive at Stansted.

Mar 31st

The Trots are now getting the piss ripped out of them #nusconf

Mar 31st

The big, filthy Trot motion coming right up #nusconf

Mar 31st

http://twitpic.com/2n5vv - Collecting stickers #nusconf

Mar 31st

We should get one of those podiums with adjustable heights. #nusconf

Mar 31st

Flagship Trot motion defeated #nusconf

Mar 31st

Stick it to the Trots! #nusconf

Mar 31st

Argh just got mistaken for a selected delegate. Hopes crushed #nusconf

Mar 31st

Ooh a secret surprise motion #nusconf

Mar 31st

That was an appalling Mexican Wave #nusconf

Mar 31st

Oh FFS Rob, remove your hand from your stubble when you speak #nusconf

Mar 31st

Happy Birthday to that delegate… #nusconf

Mar 31st

RT @jencurrigan Dave’s facts are great #nusconf @davelewistwit

Mar 31st

Occupations slammed! Hooray! #nusconf

Mar 31st

Urgh, Trot-in-chief blathering on #nusconf

Mar 31st

Well that’s one speech ready #nusconf

Mar 31st

It’s a much calmer atmosphere than last year. Almost relaxed #nusconf

Mar 31st

Right, now into the substantive stuff #nusconf

Mar 31st

Oh joy, motions are getting hacked to pieces #nusconf

Mar 31st

He’s framing the HE Funding Debate. Taking down the “Free Education” lot #nusconf

Mar 31st

Who’s up for a #nusconf Twitter caucus during one of the breaks? @nusuk

Mar 31st

Fraternal Greetings are being given by Matthew Collins, a reformed ex-National Front man #nusconf

Mar 31st

Now the opening remarks from @wesstreeting #nusconf

Mar 31st

London region giving the biggest cheer #nusconf

Mar 31st

Ok, actually I’m quite excited #nusconf

Mar 31st

http://twitpic.com/2mx37 - Doors open, hall filling up

Mar 31st

http://twitpic.com/2mxb2 - The official programme

Mar 31st

Dropped baby delegates off at crèche/training, hall filling up. Brief moment to relax before it goes...

Mar 31st

Well that’s the freebie zone done. Not much on offer this year other than some pens. #nusconf

Mar 31st

Oh wait, there’s another queue #nusconf

Mar 31st

What is it with Trots and garishly-coloured T-shirts?

Mar 31st

Registration then more speechwriting and shaking hands until mine or someone else’s drop off....

Mar 31st

Cue lots of queuing #nusconf

Mar 31st

I joined one queue to get in another queue to join another queue before getting into a final queue....

Mar 31st

First full day of #nusconf. For the uninitiated that means 0900-2300. Bring it.

Mar 31st

Fun at NUS Annual Conference

Mar 30th

Finally arrived in Blackpool for #nusconf. Nice and overcast.

Mar 30th

New Post: Fun at NUS Annual Conference http://tinyurl.com/cr5d7u

Mar 30th

Writing speeches #nusconf

Mar 30th

“Networking” (read: drinking) very seriously on the eve of #nusconf

Mar 30th

In the bar for pre-conference drinks. The calm before the storm. #nusconf

Mar 30th

All political conferences seem to mandate a journey via Euston Station.

Mar 30th

RT @technicalfault #nusconf a list of social reporters (Twitter users!) at NUS Annual Conference...

Mar 30th

Against cultural fantasies http://viigo.im/cAc

Mar 30th

Fact of the Day: the first President of the NUS was an Army Officer #nusconf @nusuk

Mar 30th

Off to #nusconf today, wondering if free time is just something that happens to other people…

Mar 30th

NUS Q&A Response

Mar 29th

Charlie Brooker explains once again why too much coverage of nutters is a bad thing:...

Mar 29th

New Post: NUS Q&A Response http://tinyurl.com/cnkm6b

Mar 29th

I didn’t know you could make Science GCSEs any easier. My Chemistry one had no...

Mar 29th

The BBC has misunderstood its role in the age of networked news: http://tinyurl.com/dhnomb

Mar 29th

Thatcherism/Reaganism is no longer a matter for politicians, but historians:...

Mar 29th

Watched Valkyrie this afternoon. No idea why the critics were so iffy about it. It was very good, in...

Mar 29th

Writing up my Q&A response. Gaah it sounds so candidatey. #nusconf

Mar 29th

Just won “Best Political Twitterer 2009” over at TRS http://tinyurl.com/dx5hde

Mar 29th

If I win a place on the Block, can I also claim porn on expenses? @wesstreeting @nusuk

Mar 29th

East Timor’s First Female Dictator Hailed as Step Forward for Women http://tinyurl.com/babguu

Mar 29th

Criminalisation is a poor substitute for criticism http://tinyurl.com/cp9v3u

Mar 29th

f(x) goes into a bar and asks for a drink. “I’m sorry,” the barman says. “We...

Mar 29th

RT @guardiantech: Anastasia de Waal: Stop Twittering, learn Latin http://bit.ly/J1ca

Mar 29th

Organising and generally preparing for #nusconf 2009

Mar 29th

If I’d known you could claim this on expenses, I’d have stood for Parliament:...

Mar 29th

I’ve been nominated for “Best Political Twitterer 2009” on The Right Student:...

Mar 29th

The Charity Commission needs a kick up the backside. http://viigo.im/cb8

Mar 28th

Small, good things http://viigo.im/cb1

Mar 28th

Making messages and missives for my minions’ missions at #nusconf

Mar 28th

Am shattered, will post my responses to online hustings tomorrow.

Mar 28th

UNwise Council http://viigo.im/c8U

Mar 28th

MSM coverage of Hannan’s speech would have been problematic. http://viigo.im/c93

Mar 28th

The price of victory http://viigo.im/bRT

Mar 27th

Free at last!

Mar 27th

Last day to send me questions online @nusuk #AC09 http://viigo.im/bS1

Mar 27th

I’m not impressed by people who “say what everyone else is thinking”. I prefer...

Mar 27th

Looking forward to a weekend of freedom and alcohol abuse once this b’stard...

Mar 27th

Networked terrorism and insurgency are not monoliths, and can be split: http://tinyurl.com/ccsz5b

Mar 26th

Right, got to stop winding up the cyber-libertarians on @tomharrismp ‘s blog and get back to...

Mar 26th

“Do original research”, they said; “it will be rewarding and stimulating”....

Mar 26th

City University ISOC are hosting a Jihadist preacher at its annual dinner. FFS.

Mar 25th

Lashkar-e-Taiba leader discovered in Tooting http://tinyurl.com/dk83oz

Mar 25th

After this business I’ll be glad to see the back of academia.

Mar 25th

Remember you can ask me questions in advance of #AC09 on my blog. www.benjamin-gray.com

Mar 25th

Please post NEC Campaign questions to my blog. The more the merrier. http://tinyurl.com/dn8o2x

Mar 25th

http://twitpic.com/2flll - Light over the Thames

Mar 25th

There is nothing “radical” about joining a Marxist group at university. It’s about...

Mar 25th

RT @nusuk: Extraodinary Conference protest - a response http://tinyurl.com/cltb2b

Mar 25th

What do people think of my blog’s theme? Is it worth updating/changing it?

Mar 25th

Deeply annoying that I can’t go round rebutting the hysteria over facebook monitoring.

Mar 25th

Critique of Caryl Churchill http://tinyurl.com/dnk35m

Mar 25th

Actually, I think proper government monitoring of social networking sites is an essential...

Mar 25th

Translation sorted, thanks for all the help.

Mar 24th

URGENT: I need an arabic speaker to help me with something.

Mar 24th

It’s going to be a long night, but I’m getting there, at last.

Mar 24th

http://twitpic.com/2ehwp - Campaign T-shirts are in.

Mar 24th

Campaign t-shirts just arrived. Let me know if you want one.

Mar 24th

Keep religion out of it http://viigo.im/aFr

Mar 24th

My thoughts exactly: there was no real contradiction in the two statements http://tinyurl.com/cnuyu6

Mar 23rd

Is it really democratic? http://tinyurl.com/dh98m5

Mar 23rd

Proof that the Conservative Party needs to engage with the Trade Union movement:...

Mar 23rd

My TweetStats! http://tweetstats.com/graphs/benjaminfgray

Mar 23rd

We ought to ditch the assumption that being wealthy is synonymous with being a wealth creator.

Mar 22nd

Wishes people good luck with compositing and happy Mother’s Day

Mar 22nd

Galloway banned from Canada for his actions, not his thoughts. http://viigo.im/a3d

Mar 22nd

Can’t come to compositing today but wishes people good luck with it.

Mar 22nd

NUS Candidate Q&A

Mar 21st

Interestingly, none of these are Kosher. http://viigo.im/9YW

Mar 21st

Communitarianism contra Libertarianism, or why it’s more than the economy, stupid....

Mar 21st

Communitarianism contra Libertarianism, or why it’s more than the economy, stupid....

Mar 21st

The God of the common good or the God of sectarian conflict and division? http://viigo.im/9YK

Mar 21st

Just got a lovely bunch of flowers.

Mar 21st

Why China Will Survive http://viigo.im/9TX

Mar 21st

Ask me questions about my candidacy: http://viigo.im/9U2

Mar 21st

Just got a lovely bunch of flowers.

Mar 21st

Trends, Threats, and Expectations http://viigo.im/9U7

Mar 21st

A Problem With Sanctions http://viigo.im/9U0

Mar 21st

http://twitpic.com/2b5qu - Head of the River

Mar 21st

New Post: NUS Candidate Q&A http://tinyurl.com/cryx7n

Mar 21st

Forced into hijab: a response to Katharine Quarmby http://viigo.im/9Pg

Mar 21st

I’m probably going to do a Q&A about my candidacy on my blog soon. Reply or Message me...

Mar 21st

The AIG bonuses http://viigo.im/9Oz

Mar 21st

Religion deserves no particular protection from criticism or insult. http://viigo.im/9OE

Mar 21st

New Post: Test http://tinyurl.com/c6mcv7

Mar 20th

Where Has the Preventing Violent Extremism Cash Gone? http://viigo.im/9zI

Mar 20th

An objection to The Occupation http://viigo.im/9zJ

Mar 20th

Afghanistan and the Future of NATO on the Battlefield http://viigo.im/9Dv

Mar 20th

Rather pleased that proper BB blogging clients are now starting to come out.

Mar 20th

Hatred In Walthamstow http://viigo.im/9E2

Mar 20th

Amusing fact of the day: al-Qaeda training manuals have a “don’t try this at...

Mar 20th

Don’t like streetview. Do Google just want to give criminals as much OSInt as possible?

Mar 20th

On the misuse of the term “Islamophobia”. http://viigo.im/9E7

Mar 20th

Can’t quite believe David Cameron has hinted at defence cuts. We’re at war FFS and...

Mar 20th

Avigdor Lieberman: Fascist. http://viigo.im/9eR

Mar 19th

Iraq, Afghanistan and British Strategy http://viigo.im/9er

Mar 19th

Iraq, Afghanistan and British Strategy http://viigo.im/9eq

Mar 19th

Defence procurement must be re-politicised. Scrutiny and accountability save lives....

Mar 19th

http://twitpic.com/28w8o - Afternoon Photo 19-3-09

Mar 19th

Talking to Arabs, Big and Small. An unfairly marginalised voice in the debate. http://viigo.im/9am

Mar 19th

Rageh Omaar on #pakistan http://tinyurl.com/dx4as3

Mar 19th

Adventures in tea: time to try Assam.

Mar 19th

“When I say “Assam”, you say “lovely”“: excellent tea -...

Mar 19th

Normblog discredits further the case for “engagement” with Hizballah http://viigo.im/98p

Mar 19th

The Republicans need Meghan McCain http://viigo.im/98l

Mar 19th

Never said it: 10 famously inaccurate quotes http://viigo.im/98m

Mar 19th

I need someone to design a logo for me. Any takers?

Mar 19th

Ken Livingstone on the “Malign Conspiracy” of the Civil Service http://viigo.im/98i

Mar 19th

Debunking the myths of occupations. http://viigo.im/90C

Mar 19th

Brainstorm done. Didn’t quite realise how much I knew about the Internet & extremism. Yes...

Mar 18th

By contrast, I rather like most of the other NUS NEC candidates, at least at a personal level...

Mar 18th

RT @nusuk @Politics_co_uk NUS vows to continue tuition fee fight http://tinyurl.com/cfuubo #uukfees...

Mar 18th

When Bin Laden is neutralised I intend to start a TV series based on a successful franchise:...

Mar 18th

My habit of staring out of train windows makes me look like a lunatic when I’m on the tube.

Mar 18th

Hizballah are not partners for peace. http://viigo.im/8MZ

Mar 18th

Books vs. Blogs http://viigo.im/8N9

Mar 18th

Hizballah are not partners for peace. http://viigo.im/8N0

Mar 18th

Got a mention on the BBC about fees http://snipr.com/e22h8 @nusuk #uukfees

Mar 18th

The first (and biggest) lie http://viigo.im/8AR

Mar 18th

Got a mention on the BBC’s site this morning. Unable to attend National Lobby as dissertation...

Mar 18th

A cosmopolitan analysis of war http://viigo.im/8Du

Mar 18th

Raising Fees is not the Answer

Mar 17th

A war student to “free education”: rollback only possible after containment. Long-term...

Mar 17th

Awards season is approaching: kclsu.org/awards09

Mar 17th

http://twitpic.com/26qtd - The Afternoon View

Mar 17th

“Societies cannot survive on liberalism alone” http://viigo.im/8wU

Mar 17th

Interesting discussion about Slaughterhouse 5 on Radio 4

Mar 17th

Post comments on fees over at BBC News http://tinyurl.com/cthhjc and Daily Mail...

Mar 17th

Have written a blog post on fees. http://snipr.com/dzt1j #uukfees

Mar 17th

New Post: Raising Fees is not the Answer http://tinyurl.com/ca2ht4

Mar 17th

New Post: Tea Break http://tinyurl.com/cyx56z

Mar 17th

Oh joy! A commenter on my blog after so much silence!

Mar 17th

RT @militaryupdates: looks like “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” may be falling...

Mar 17th

Bloody UCU forcing me to blog when I should be doing research @wesstreeting

Mar 17th

Daud Abdullah is an anti-semitic, disloyal extremist. He must resign. http://viigo.im/8qS

Mar 17th

Tea Break

Mar 16th

Afternoonriver: The Thames at 3:15

Mar 16th

http://twitpic.com/25mch - Afternoon on the Thames

Mar 16th

Michael White agrees, the “Jury Team” is a load of nonsense http://snipr.com/dx5kr

Mar 16th

To restate: price fixing won’t stop people drinking heavily. Price is not the issue. In fact,...

Mar 16th

Turns out the “Petraeus for President” business the result of a poorly-crafted joke....

Mar 16th

Micropayments won’t support news. Better advertising and investment will. http://viigo.im/86c

Mar 16th

Where Has Preventing Violent Extremism Cash Gone? http://viigo.im/86x

Mar 16th

Mullah Omar talks about Afghan peace. This should not be used as an excuse to cut & run....

Mar 16th

Fact of the Day: The Post Office was established as a means of intercepting correspondence.

Mar 16th

Why The Newspapers Died http://viigo.im/85R

Mar 16th

Ken Loach: now officially a dick. http://viigo.im/7YK

Mar 16th

We don’t all live in a police state http://viigo.im/7YO

Mar 16th

More on Ken Loach, apologist for racism. By his logic we are entitled to persecute Muslims for 9/11....

Mar 16th

Stop pulling legislative levers and start changing minds: LEAD.

Mar 16th

Elders of Zion to Retire http://viigo.im/7U8

Mar 15th

The logic underlying “Preventing Violent Extremism” is akin to “Preventing Violent...

Mar 15th

Lovely sunny afternoon and now off to an audition.

Mar 15th

Marx should have been shot for crimes against prose.

Mar 15th

Received a rather splendid set of Fortnum and Mason teas today. Now that’s gratitude.

Mar 15th

The politics of client groups http://viigo.im/7Qo

Mar 15th

Petraeus for President? Not as unlikely as it sounds. http://viigo.im/7Qp

Mar 15th

The Islamic world is not, and never has been, a monolith. Huntingdon and the Islamists are both...

Mar 15th

Not sure quite how to react to so many candidates using the “Students First” banner....

Mar 14th

Ignore the Luton Loonies

Mar 14th

Teehee, I’m getting non-smears thrown at me on ednet. Evidently I’m doing something...

Mar 14th

The financial crisis as the product of risk-aversion? It would fit with a critique of contemporary...

Mar 14th

How the fuck is a coin toss remotely constitutional or legitimate?

Mar 14th

New Post: Ignore the Luton Loonies http://tinyurl.com/d3wdmn

Mar 14th

Noe on Lebanon Policy http://viigo.im/7zj

Mar 14th

Anyone up for seeing this? http://viigo.im/7yY

Mar 14th

Like many EU issues, leaving the EPP is a red herring. http://viigo.im/7z4

Mar 14th

Rousseau was a Prat. Discuss.

Mar 14th

I can’t see any particular reason why the UK government needs to have an official channel with...

Mar 14th

Oliver Kamm on appropriate financial regulatory responses. http://viigo.im/7yW

Mar 14th

Some good op-eds in yesterday’s Guardian about decentralisation and delegation. I’ll try...

Mar 14th

Excellent results at KCLSU. Well done everyone. Not a trot in sight either. Why “Another...

Mar 14th

Voltaire’s “I detest what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say...

Mar 13th

I don’t see the point of these youtube manifestos for NEC candidates. Strikes me as little...

Mar 13th

I have a large number of International Relations and military/strategic studies textbooks for sale....

Mar 12th

Iraq merely in the eye of the storm? http://viigo.im/74I

Mar 12th

Lebanon is an enigma.

Mar 12th

Writing about the Middle East covers MS Word in red spellcheck ink. Tower of Babel has a lot to...

Mar 11th

Anyone know when Waltz with Bashir comes out on DVD?

Mar 11th

Cranmer continues the critique of the cranks http://viigo.im/6x7

Mar 10th

New Post: Stop Slamming Twitter http://tinyurl.com/ce9ksv

Mar 10th

Grauniad fawns over racist. Claims it’s “provocative” art. (was Michael Stone a...

Mar 10th

Why didn’t Ganley just endorse the Tories? It would make more tactical sense....

Mar 10th

Stop Slamming Twitter

Mar 10th

I now have a vested interest in the War on Terror. If it ends I won’t have to write any more...

Mar 10th

My afternoon has been filled with more jargon and abbreviation than usual.

Mar 10th

World War Two made understandable: http://snurl.com/dir43

Mar 10th

Anti-racism from the Right http://viigo.im/6n1

Mar 10th

What a surprise: “Viva Palestina” money goes straight to Hamas. http://viigo.im/6n8

Mar 10th

Not quite sure what to make of the new U2 album. Some great tracks, but feels largely hit-and-miss.

Mar 9th

I’m endorsing Ashley Brown for President of Imperial College Union. Because it might just...

Mar 9th

Hmm… facebook seems to have crashed.

Mar 9th

I never thought I’d say it, but I’m starting to dislike Earl Grey. Time to find a...

Mar 9th

Party Politics

Mar 9th

New Post: Party Politics http://tinyurl.com/87gaav

Mar 9th

Look at item 4 for something interesting on censorship and offence in Leebanon http://viigo.im/64a

Mar 9th

Why Faith Needs Doubt. “Israel” (as in people not state) means “struggle with...

Mar 9th

People shouldn’t really give PressTV any legitimacy: http://snurl.com/debh5...

Mar 8th

I’m going out to run about in the thunderstorm. This should be fun (I am not being sarcastic).

Mar 8th

Writing a critique of the Human Rights Act and Libertarianism. Affixing helmet and expecting...

Mar 8th

The Jury Team - a political party calling for honest politics and politicians. It starts this by...

Mar 8th

The problem with the “community cohesion” theory of censorship and inaction is that it...

Mar 8th

My previous Post was the progeny of a drunken in-joke. New blogging software on my phone...

Mar 8th

New Post: Don’t Ask http://tinyurl.com/bv2u7h

Mar 7th

Don’t Ask

Mar 7th

Israel is not an apartheid state http://viigo.im/5O3

Mar 7th

test post

Mar 7th

New Post: test post http://tinyurl.com/ao3wwt

Mar 7th

The “say sorry Gordon” site is a cheap stunt and a waste of time. The party should be...

Mar 7th

Cranmer raises a rather valid objection to Bishop Williamson’s church attendance ban....

Mar 7th

More on Pakistan descending into a failed state. A real strategic nightmare, especially when you...

Mar 7th

www.benjamin4block.com

Mar 7th

New Post: Unconscious Racism http://tinyurl.com/ade5j5

Mar 7th

Unconscious Racism

Mar 7th

The Eichmann complex rears its head once more. Professionalism is meaningless without values....

Mar 7th

War on Terror downgrade. Doubt wishing enemies away viable. If need to change tactics, do so; but be...

Mar 7th

Pakistan: emergent failed state? http://viigo.im/5J8

Mar 7th

Plane Stupid and the Suffrage movement are not comparable. Only the latter were democrats...

Mar 7th

Our only guaranteed defence against evil is frivolity.

Mar 6th

Right, back to strategy and being extremely cunning.

Mar 6th

6am restart. Lovely.

Mar 6th

Eight Jewish Children http://viigo.im/4dN

Mar 5th

UKNDA gets defence priorities wrong. Backs boondoggles over Urgent Operational Requirements...

Mar 4th

For some reason on 22nd February 504 Californians visited my blog. I hadn’t even written...

Mar 4th

I’d love to do a biography of General Petraeus.

Mar 4th

Cheeky question I know, but is anyone going to the Afghanistan Strategy lecture tonight, and if so,...

Mar 4th

Sod You Obama. See how well you do in Helmand without us: http://is.gd/lJBf

Mar 4th

New Post: Just Call it the “War on Terror” http://tinyurl.com/arvo33

Mar 4th

Just Call it the “War on Terror”

Mar 4th

I think I’ve just found my blogging passion: ignorance about war. Time to become a warblogger.

Mar 4th

Closing the borders wouldn’t make a jot of difference to the terrorism threat to the UK.....

Mar 4th

General George S. Patton: the funniest President we never had?

Mar 4th

The key to a “surge” is not the act of increasing troop numbers; it’s the will to...

Mar 4th

Closing the UK’s borders would only worsen the terrorist threat. It’s just a cover for...

Mar 4th

Beer + Straws = Fun

Mar 4th

Research just raised a chilling question: if Hiroshima and Nagasaki weren’t nuked, would we...

Mar 3rd

Have handed out more fliers than the trots so far, and mine are for comic opera.

Mar 3rd

All flyering done, in record time. Bring on the Dress!

Mar 3rd