Poly ticks

It would appear that a "Libertarian Party" has been formed in the UK; I've been toying with this idea, the basic premise of course being that libertarians oppose governance, which is impractical.

What I had in mind was a party with Liberal social policies, Libertarian ideals, and what I'd think of traditionally as "conservative" economic policies - the LPUK does not seem to reflect what I had seen as "realistic" goals, advocating the abolition of income tax, lack of subsidies for transport (I advocate nationalised transport infrastructure) and so forth. It's very true to the ideals of libertarian politics, but it's not really workable.

At the core of it, it seems as though there are a group of people. I am sure I know many groups of people that share my interpretation of where the Government (Administration would be my preferred term) should be. Forming a political party does not seem impossible, or even particularly expensive - what of running one and representing it in local elections?

Naturally in my own mind, "my" party manifesto sounds good. How does it play out for ( you? )

A challenge

Name one bit of esoteric knowledge that you have held since childhood, and then try to recall where you learned it from.

Mine is: The relationship between the Ford Lima and Pinto engines. Both SOHC engines, the Lima uses a different head design, particularly with regard to lubrication. I've known this since... I guess the early 80s. And I learned it by reading a Ford Capri Haynes manual; the USA-market Capri being powered by the 2.3 Lima engine.

Why is this odd? Well, OHC Ford engines - the Pinto - were massively discussed when I was first driving, as everyone thought they were good transplants into things. Yet no-one knew what a Lima engine was, and most people thought the 2.3 engine in US Fords of that era must be the same as the 2.3 V6 fitted to European Fords.

This

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7976868.stm

Says more about Brown than almost anything else, I feel.