One is a well respected and admired comic performer, loved by the nation for his good humour and triumphs over adversity, and is an integral part of one of our country's favourite programmes, which is enjoyed by millions.
The other is Jonathan Ross.
After his crude, puerile & offensive radio piece (together with his chum Russell Bland) it is now time that the BBC board sacked him without ceremony and saved us all a small fortune.
I've thought long and hard about both individuals, and come to the conclusion that it's a sad reflection on our society that anyone watches or listens to either of them, and that we all, as owners of the BBC, don't demand that they be taken off the airwaves.
Sunday, 26 October 2008
Saturday, 21 June 2008
Harold MacMillan He Ain't
Tom Harris, the Transport Minister, has questioned why Britons are 'so bloody miserable', in yet another example of why Brown's government is the worst in living memory.
Harris states that we're all buying huge numbers of HDTVs and loads of new clothes; so bloody what!
Could it be that over 50% of our earnings goes in direct or indirect taxation?
Could be that of the little that's left over we're spending more and more on our basic human needs of shelter, heating, food, clothing?
Could it be crime and anti-social behaviour, or the ever increasing amounts of petty bureaucracy that we have to suffer on a daily basis?
Could it be that his government measures everything but improves nothing?
Could it be that, apart from isolated pockets, our DVDs & satellite televisions have managed to help to destroy society?
As a Transport Minister he should be aware of the damage that rising fuel costs are having on the haulage industry.
I have some advice for Mr Harris; nations usually feel happier when they win football matches or wars. Oh sorry, I forgot, we can't do that either.
Harris states that we're all buying huge numbers of HDTVs and loads of new clothes; so bloody what!
Could it be that over 50% of our earnings goes in direct or indirect taxation?
Could be that of the little that's left over we're spending more and more on our basic human needs of shelter, heating, food, clothing?
Could it be crime and anti-social behaviour, or the ever increasing amounts of petty bureaucracy that we have to suffer on a daily basis?
Could it be that his government measures everything but improves nothing?
Could it be that, apart from isolated pockets, our DVDs & satellite televisions have managed to help to destroy society?
As a Transport Minister he should be aware of the damage that rising fuel costs are having on the haulage industry.
I have some advice for Mr Harris; nations usually feel happier when they win football matches or wars. Oh sorry, I forgot, we can't do that either.
Ireland 1-0 EU
The people of Ireland have voted not to accept the EU Constitution (sorry, Treaty of Lisbon), and, apparantly, the eurocrats have given the Irish government 4 months to resolve the situation.
This, in a nutshell, is why the ordinary people, don't like or trust the EU: for its leaders no only means no when we want it to.
This, in a nutshell, is why the ordinary people, don't like or trust the EU: for its leaders no only means no when we want it to.
Naomi Campbell - A Role Model For Saturday Nights
How many young women in towns across the land will tonight assault police officers, spit at them, behave in a disorderly way and use threatening words and behaviour towards them?
Having been arrested and convicted of this behaviour I wonder how many will then be given a custodial sentence. If they are they can count themselves very unlucky, given that Campbell escaped with community service despite having been arrested and convicted of assault on several previous occasions, and having attended anger management classes after one such conviction.
Is it her ability to buy herself out of trouble that has kept her out of prison, or (like that other waste of space Pete Doherty) is it her fame that helps guarantee her liberty?
Perhaps the next time Ms Campbell is in a public place needing protection from the paparazzi, the police should decline to assist, citing the likelihood of their safety being compromised.
Having been arrested and convicted of this behaviour I wonder how many will then be given a custodial sentence. If they are they can count themselves very unlucky, given that Campbell escaped with community service despite having been arrested and convicted of assault on several previous occasions, and having attended anger management classes after one such conviction.
Is it her ability to buy herself out of trouble that has kept her out of prison, or (like that other waste of space Pete Doherty) is it her fame that helps guarantee her liberty?
Perhaps the next time Ms Campbell is in a public place needing protection from the paparazzi, the police should decline to assist, citing the likelihood of their safety being compromised.
From Afghanistan To Zimbabwe
At long last Gordon Brown has said some harsh words about the evil Robert Mugabe, referring to his government as a 'cabal of criminals', suggesting that these elections 'make a mockery of free and fair elections' and that the current levels of violence are 'unacceptable' !!!
As Dennis Healey said of Geoffrey Howe, it's 'like being savaged by a dead sheep'.
I would imagine that Brown's forceful words have made Mugabe reconsider his approach to democracy.
Why doesn't Brown intervene and send troops, as he seems to do so readily elsewhere. Is it that Zimbabwe has no oil reserves, or that George Bush hasn't told him to yet?
As Dennis Healey said of Geoffrey Howe, it's 'like being savaged by a dead sheep'.
I would imagine that Brown's forceful words have made Mugabe reconsider his approach to democracy.
Why doesn't Brown intervene and send troops, as he seems to do so readily elsewhere. Is it that Zimbabwe has no oil reserves, or that George Bush hasn't told him to yet?
Thursday, 8 May 2008
Wakefield Is Changing...
Thursday 1st May 2008 might be regarded as the day that heralded a seismic change in local government in Wakefield.
Labour, which has governed the city since the forming of the MDC in 1974 (?), came within 33 votes of losing overall control.
Given that any dominant political party of whatever colour, will rule in its own interests, it must be a good thing for local residents that this domination has nearly ended, as decisions will now be made in their interests, as councillors will rely on their support for re-election. Or am I being incredibly naive???
By the way, I'm now one of those councillors!
Labour, which has governed the city since the forming of the MDC in 1974 (?), came within 33 votes of losing overall control.
Given that any dominant political party of whatever colour, will rule in its own interests, it must be a good thing for local residents that this domination has nearly ended, as decisions will now be made in their interests, as councillors will rely on their support for re-election. Or am I being incredibly naive???
By the way, I'm now one of those councillors!
Monday, 18 February 2008
Cutting Edge Journalism...Or Not
It's often said that everyone wants to write one book. Well, nowadays it seems that every govenment agency wants to publish at least one pointless newspaper, full only of positive propaganda!
My local authority, Wakefield MDC, publishes something called 'The Citizen', costing tens of thousands of pounds every year & funded in part by increased council tax.
And last week 'Your Wakefield', the West Yorkshire Police Newspaper for the People of West Yorkshire (it says here!), landed on my doormat. It's packed with pretty pictures of police officers posing with mobile phones or head cameras, and interesting articles including one telling me that I can benefit from 'a dramatically improved neighbourhood policing team website' - very useful should I be lying in a gutter having been mugged, I can look them up on my 3G mobile!
Call me old-fashioned, but I'd much rather learn West Yorkshire Police's message from my local copper & not from some marketing led organisation, as this seems to be.
My local authority, Wakefield MDC, publishes something called 'The Citizen', costing tens of thousands of pounds every year & funded in part by increased council tax.
And last week 'Your Wakefield', the West Yorkshire Police Newspaper for the People of West Yorkshire (it says here!), landed on my doormat. It's packed with pretty pictures of police officers posing with mobile phones or head cameras, and interesting articles including one telling me that I can benefit from 'a dramatically improved neighbourhood policing team website' - very useful should I be lying in a gutter having been mugged, I can look them up on my 3G mobile!
Call me old-fashioned, but I'd much rather learn West Yorkshire Police's message from my local copper & not from some marketing led organisation, as this seems to be.
Sunday, 6 January 2008
Will They See The Light?
There are reports this weekend from various medical sources that low energy light bulbs can, amongst other conditions, worsen certain types of skin complaint, increase the risk of migraines, and increase the risk of seizures in some epilepsy sufferers.
Oh, and should you break a bulb, don't vacuum up the dust, or even breathe in its vicinity, as it will contain mercury! You can't therefore put a spent long-life bulb in your dustbin either, as the mercury it contains could be released into the atmosphere.
Wow.
It seems that, in its headlong rush towards being 'green', the government is sponsoring initiatives that can potentially cause more damage to the environment but also increase the health risks of its citizens.
Happy New Year!
Oh, and should you break a bulb, don't vacuum up the dust, or even breathe in its vicinity, as it will contain mercury! You can't therefore put a spent long-life bulb in your dustbin either, as the mercury it contains could be released into the atmosphere.
Wow.
It seems that, in its headlong rush towards being 'green', the government is sponsoring initiatives that can potentially cause more damage to the environment but also increase the health risks of its citizens.
Happy New Year!
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