Intel to spend a hundreds of thousands campaigning for a yes vote in Ireland

Which has to be an extraordinarily expensive form of Stockholm syndrome. After all it was only a few short months ago that the EU hit them with a fine of 1.06 billion euros.

"I believe (in) business standing up and ... saying that it matters for business for growth ... playing a full role at the heart of Europe," General Manager Jim O'Hara told a news conference.

They are not the first group to join the growing 'Yes' bandwagon. Previous cheerleaders include the Irish Business and Employers Confederation and the American Chamber of Commerce. Its a fair fight of course given that the State TV station has decided that equal coverage of the two sides would be undemocratic. Since that balanced decision Noel Dorr former Irish Foreign Minister has outlined how to make things even less.

Mr Dorr said it should move away from what he described as the standard format involving a single presenter dealing with a heated and confusing tit-for-tat argument between the Yes and No sides. “Instead, it should organise three structured debates in which a panel of three would forensically question a platform of three from each side of the debate before a small studio audience.” He said experience in previous referendums had shown that the tit-for-tat format generated heat rather than light “and this leaves the viewer confused”.

Or read, "the Bastards won the last vote. We can stack the panel".

David Lloyd, I salute you.

David Lloyd, a fine cricketer is obviously a fine man to boot. This is his suggestion for the next few days,

“Get behind England. Drop the prices to 2005 levels when we last won it and don’t let the Chancellor of the Exchequer in. It is quite right he is banned from a lot of pubs — why is he always putting up duty? He is a lousy man.

“Keep the Aussie bar staff in — helps the banter.”

The European Year of What?

The European Commission is having a Consultation on whether it should be,
"Designating 2012 as Potential European Year for Active Ageing and Intergenerational Solidarity".

Not sure if it should personally should, but I would love to know what active ageing and intergenerational solidarity are.

Going round to Gran's for tea counts? and active ageing? As opposed to just sitting there and getting old? A geront Olympics only open to people with bus passes?

Or maybe a cover to spend taxpayer's money persuading old people (those most likely to vote after all) that the EU cares?

You decide.

This is executive advice: Go and watch the cricket

Glorious email just landed in my European Parliament inbox,

To all staff

Very high maximum temperatures are forecast for today.
Measures designed to reduce the discomfort of working in buildings without air conditioning have been in place since Monday, 17 August.
All staff, including those working in the buildings that do have air conditioning,
are asked to be aware of the dangers and to adjust their pace of work if necessary.

As a friend suggested, that gives everybody license to pop across the road to Fat Boys and watch the cricket.

So what are you waiting for?

Thinks
Is publishing this internal memo going to get me into trouble again? Is it a breach of staff regulations? Probably.