Comments on: New Light on Acton’s Trick

By: The Strata-Sphere » UK Investigation Completely Debunks Global Warming Science

Sun, 12 Sep 2010 16:33:02 +0000

[...] Other important posts on the hearings can be found at Harmless Sky and Climate Audit (here and here). [...]

By: apl

apl — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 16:48:19 +0000

PJB
What you describe as ‘Blinders’ are known in England as ‘Blinkers’

By: hide the decline

hide the decline — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 01:20:38 +0000

There is a lot of dog-whistling here with respect to the context of the sentence. The sentence states: “Much appreciated the hard work put into the review [pause] general view is a blinder played.” – The sentence is in two parts, with the first part being the subject and primary part of the text: “work put into the review” – The second part: “blinder played” is subordinate to the first part however directly relevant to the first part. There is no football, golf or any other “Games” played here it is simply that the referred “Review” was a “Blinder” according to Beddington.

By: OldUnixHead

OldUnixHead — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 20:53:29 +0000

TimM,

Of course, Beddington’s blinder reference could have some interesting subsequent fallout if it was meant at all in a context similar to Pres. GWB’s post-Katrina “Brownie, you’re doing a heck of a job!” comment.

By: PhilJourdan

PhilJourdan — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 14:46:56 +0000

Fascinating analysis of the mis-direction!

And many thanks to the many Brits for explaining some of your idioms.

By: Dave

Dave — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 13:37:12 +0000

To ‘play a blinder’ is to blind the onlookers with brilliance. No negative connotation, although it does seem an ironic choice of phrase.

By: PJB

PJB — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 12:06:58 +0000

Blinders are used to keep a horse from seeing something that will frighten or excite it. It keeps the field of vision narrow.
Keeping someone from seeing what you are up to such that you outplay, outwit or deceive them usually results in winning whatever contest you are undertaking.
There, once again, appear to have been some brilliant plays being made by the “team” as they recruit more members.

By: dearieme

dearieme — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 10:41:51 +0000

“In the UK does the word generally have a connotation of craftiness”: no, none at all. Perhaps your thought arises from the American use of “blinder” for horses. In Britain those devices are called “blinkers”. A “blinder” means just a very successful performance. Which is, no doubt, what Oxburgh pulled off for his chums.

By: JohnH

JohnH — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 07:23:08 +0000

In the UK the inquiry does not normally set its own terms of ref, this of course means that when they finally report their findings if the amount of whitewash applied is excessive you end up with another inquiry. The Iraq war is on its 3rd inquiry and this 3rd one has its widest terms of ref.

The UAE has played a blinder by having several inquiries running at the same time so critics of one can be diverted to another.

PS Pun intended

By: TimM

TimM — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 03:55:43 +0000

Playing a blinder means you played blindingly well. In this context blindingly means dazzlingly. So brilliant you were blinding.

The simple interpretation is (as Chris S said) Beddington was very happy with the outcome. My inference is that the two are (and were from the outset) on the same team playing against an opposition team. So much for an independent review.