Under the headline The Moment That Cheered Up Britain the Daily Mail published a photo of Lord Mandelson being doused in green custard.
Although I detest this deceitful and useless government I could not disagree more with the Daily Mail's opinion.
What actually happened was a government minister was the victim of an assault, and the assailant got away without arrest. She later tried to justify her assault by saying When democracy is failing you have to resort to any means necessary as long as it is peaceful and does not harm other human beings. Her actions were neither peaceful nor harmless, and our democratically elected leaders can be influenced in other ways, like through the ballot box.
The assailant, Leila Deen, has actually put back her cause by several years, and she will have made it more difficult for the sensible majority to have such easy access to those in power.
Saturday, 7 March 2009
Friday, 20 February 2009
Midnight Blue...
Usually, my infrequent posts have been about political injustice, but tonight I feel the need to write about something different.
Growing up in the 1970s & 80s my favourite band was ELO, and I was therefore saddened to read today of Kelly Groucutt's death at only 63. Although the band had several bass players throughout their existence, Kelly was in the group during their most successful years. I remember seeing them for the first (and as ELO) only time in December 1991 on a very snowy night at the NEC in Birmingham. Kelly actually walked through the auditorium before the concert started, only feet from me!
In later years I also had the pleasure of seeing Kelly as part of ELO Part II, in smaller venues as their audience dwindled.
Kelly is, I think, the first ELO member from the glory years to pass away, and it makes me feel a little sadder tonight.
RIP Kelly
Growing up in the 1970s & 80s my favourite band was ELO, and I was therefore saddened to read today of Kelly Groucutt's death at only 63. Although the band had several bass players throughout their existence, Kelly was in the group during their most successful years. I remember seeing them for the first (and as ELO) only time in December 1991 on a very snowy night at the NEC in Birmingham. Kelly actually walked through the auditorium before the concert started, only feet from me!
In later years I also had the pleasure of seeing Kelly as part of ELO Part II, in smaller venues as their audience dwindled.
Kelly is, I think, the first ELO member from the glory years to pass away, and it makes me feel a little sadder tonight.
RIP Kelly
Sunday, 26 October 2008
Andrew Sachs & Jonathan Ross
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.
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.
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?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
