Reports, Bin Laden moral dilemma and painting whales

At last, a day which was bereft of major distractions, other than those that procrastination could supply. Even that was thrust to one side, permitting me to go through the notes of My business tavels with Mr Ebert and complete a detailed visit report.

The two main items exercising the news pundits are the referendum on the adoption of alernative voting and the morality of the killing of Osama Bin Laden yesterday.

The weeks leading up to the referendum have been remarkable in the quiet voice of the Yes to Alternative Voting camp and the robust, extrememly personal, vitriolic No to Alternative Voting side. Exit polls are currently predicting a retention of the status quo, "First past the Poll" voting system.

The US conducted a daring helicopter raid into Pakistan a day or two ago, on a fortified large house and compound containing the face of Al Quida, Osama Bin Laden. The latter was shot and killed whilst resisting arrest, though unarmed, his body spirited away and buried at sea.

The initial public response has been delight at the success of the mission and the speedy removal of the demonised figure head, believed to be responsible for planning a number of terrorist acts including the bombing of the Twin Toweers in New York. The burial at sea preventing a physical grave that could act as a focus for martyrdom worship.

Today, undercurrents of disquiet were emerging; was this an execution? Was this action a violation of Pakistan's sovereignty? Should the body have been returned to the family for a proper burial?

The arguments were placed in stark relief on tonights Question Time, with Mr Douglas Murray bluntly taking the view that this was the right action and result and Lord Ashdown and Mrs Alibhai-Brown arguing that the true test of a democratic lawful state is to adhere to the law, even if it appears inconvenient in the short term.

My sympathies are with the latter view, no matter how heinous the crimes commited by a criminal are, as the Law should be paramount. In my opinion, if a state believes it can proceed without complying to the law in an extreme case such as this, what is there to prevent non-adherence to law in other situations.

The debate on moral issues on the television formed a backdrop to a lighter side, practicing Chinese brush painting of roses and sunflowers. Mrs T. requested an image of a small whale to use as a gift label as a further exercise.