The 2006 Histomat Awards

Karl Marx talks somewhere about 'rural idiocy' - and it is hard to get more idiotesque (an invented word, but I like it) than rural Suffolk in England. Still, I suppose at least now when I say I am from Ipswich, people know where I mean...

Anyway, if people were wondering why this blog had gone kind of quiet recently, it was not because I had met a grisly end at the hands of a psychopath (well, not at the time of writing) but because in general everything kind of moves somewhat slower outside of a city (contrary to much media coverage, Ipswich is a town - not a city, hence Ipswich Town Football Club...)

This post is just to wish Histomat readers seasonal greetings and good wishes for the new year, as well as to hand out my end of year awards, (a new feature, partly inspired by Morbo):

2006 Histomat International Hero of the Year: Gary Younge (a Guardian journalist based in America - almost always bang on the money and consistently a voice for the voiceless) (Runner Up: Hugo Chavez)

2006 Histomat International Idiot of the Year: Tony Blair (I know this blog seems to have developed an unhealthy obsession with him - I promise I will move onto Gordon Brown next year) (Runner up: Donald Rumsfeld)

2006 Histomat National Hero(ine) of the Year: Salma Yaqoob (Respect Councillor) (Runner up: Tony Benn, President of the Stop the War Coalition).

2006 Histomat National Idiot of the Year: Jack Straw (Runner up: Billy Bragg's idiotesque 'New England' campaign)

2006 Histomat Socialist History Blogger of the Year: Dave Renton (a UK bias, I know, apologies) (Runner Up: If there is hope...)

2006 Histomat Most Idiotesque Blogger of the Year: The collective at Harry's Place. (Runner up: The Monarchist Blog - has to be seen to be believed)