iPad Latest Feature: Running a Country

Air traffic has been shut down almost all over Europe due to the humongous volcanic ash cloud originating from Iceland. Among the millions of passengers stranded as result of the canceled flights is Jens Stoltenberg, Prime Minister of Norway, who remains stuck in New York City where he took part in the Nuclear Summit.

Still, the governmental affairs at home in Oslo suffer no delays thanks to the iPad Mr. Stoltenberg is using to keep up with the latest developments.

More on this story here and here.

Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg on the airport in New York. (via Official Flickr account of the Office of the Norwegian Prime Minister)

Now I wonder how our leaders would have coped with a similar situation, if they were to run the country’s agenda remotely. I mean, Read the rest of this entry »

90 Minutes of Brit Politics

Last night BBC World News transmitted the first ever televised UK electoral debate. It was the first of the three previously announced debates before the general elections to be held on 6 May. Leaders of Britain’s three main parties – Gordon Brown for the Labour Party, David Cameron representing the Conservatives and Nick Clegg of the Liberal Democrats – made their best to accommodate own electoral platform to the rigid format of the show organized by ITV.

Brown seemed rather uncomfortable with the situation and he responded to criticisms with unneeded details. He aced the economic questions, but generally failed to provide the audience with a strong enough reason to go out and vote for his party. A more vigorous argumentation, especially concerning internal law enforcement and NHS, was that of David Cameron. Nevertheless, his rhetoric was seriously damaged by Clegg’s pretension to be the candidate of change.

On the other hand, the Lib Dem leader went for a classical discourse of the underdog and managed to Read the rest of this entry »