These two links should give all freedom lovers an itchy rash in funny places and since I've already quoted Orwell's The Road To Wigan Pier, and since Burmese Days is invoked in a round about way, the title of this post makes perfect sense.

Damian Green or Britain as Banana Republic
Our Friends in Bombay (Slate)

Labels: england

EU wipes England off map
England has been wiped off a map of Europe drawn up by Brussels bureaucrats as part of a scheme that the Tories claim threatens to undermine the country's national identity...

Will there always be an England? The Anchoress says it's starting to look a little doubtful.

Labels: end times, england

Where's Sven?
The last time England played the U.S. MNT in an international friendly Sven-Goran Eriksson was their manager. The U.S. was led by Bruce Arena, who now manages the Red Bulls (no word on whether or not his pants are still involved in the sport). His MLS club is at the bottom of the Eastern Standings.

Meanwhile, Sven is managing Manchester City in the English Premier League. His club is 15-10-11 and in 9th overall (9 of 20).

The U.S. MNT will play England at Wembley on Wednesday, May 28th. They last met on the same date in 2005 in Chicago, IL before a crowd of 47,637. The U.S. lost 2-1.

I went to the match with my brother and it was equaled only by the NFC Championship between the New York Football Giants and the Minnesota Vikings. There's a photograph of Sven I took in this set on Flickr.

The English will play Trinidad and Tobago a couple of days later at Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain. This match is notable for Bermuda who will play the Caribbean titans in their campaign to reach the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

***UPDATE 1***
I just learned that Bruce Arena is NO longer with the Red Bulls. He (and his pants) will miss the opening of Red Bull Park which is scheduled for 2009.

***UPDATE 2***

Ball: City's players united behind Eriksson

Manchester City's players are uniting behind manager Sven-Goran Eriksson to try to quell uncertainty over the Swede's future.

Eriksson met City's Thai owner Thaksin Shinawatra twice over the weekend but speculation over his position refuses to die down.

City's 3-2 home defeat by relegation strugglers Fulham on Saturday did nothing to help Eriksson's cause, especially as Thaksin was at the game.

Labels: england, soccer, weekend

From Balaguet there cometh an Emir;
His form is noble, his eyes are bold and clear,
When on his horse he's mounted in career
He bears him bravely armed in his battle-gear,
And for his courage he's famous far and near;
Were he but Christian, right knightly he'd appear.
Before Marsile he cries for all to hear:
"To Roncevaux", saith he, "my course I'll steer;
If I find Roland, then death shall be his weird,
And Oliver's, and all of the Twelve Peers!
The French shall die the death in shame and tears.
King Charlemayne, the dotard old and blear,
Will soon be sick of waging warfare here!
Spain shall be ours in peace this many a year!"
The King Marsile pours thanks into his ears.

Labels: england, playmobil, toys, weekend

I am continuing to channel Glenn Reynolds (although, I plan on posting some original photographs later in the day). This post could have been alternatively titled: "God Save the Queen" or "Vera! Vera! What has become of you?" Is this the England Roger wanted?

(1) Muslims 'to outnumber traditional churchgoers' - Maybe Tony Blair will stun the world again by applying for U.S. Citizenship.

(2) 196,000 out, 574,000 in: Record numbers leaving Britain for new life abroad - as immigration to UK soars - America Alone by Mark Steyn remains an important and prolific book.

(3) 'Special relationship' dies under Gordon Brown - British diplomats in Washington have quietly dropped the use of the phrase "special relationship" in what some see as a symbol of the drift in relations with the US under Gordon Brown...

Labels: england