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Thatcher’s funeral

Neither Thatcher, her party nor her policies were voted in or generally supported in Scotland. Geographical distinctions in reactions to the news of her death are noteworthy. Some may argue that we’re one UK and that in a general election the will of the majority counts. Of course.

But if you remember back, the resentment [...]

Huhne guilty

International reaction is positive to the news of Chris Huhne’s impending imprisonment.

This poem also applies: William Congreve, in The Mourning Bride, 1697:

As you’ll answer it, take heed This Slave commit no Violence upon Himself. I’ve been deceiv’d. The Publick Safety Requires he should be more confin’d; and none, No not the Princes [...]

Let there be light?

Why is it so difficult to buy an ordinary light bulb?

I don’t want a euro-eco bulb that saves the planet. I don’t want halogen, stick bayonets, small spotlights, small candles, large spotlights, large candles, mini-globes, G4s, R39s, or a “soft lite” mega globe low-energy bulb.

I want a good old-fashioned, 40W, bayonet, light bulb, [...]

Poker schmoker

Another reason why playing poker these days is less and less part of my fun activities.

That’s me with the flopped quads, or a 99.8879% percentage of winning – on the turn his odds were still a paltry 2.3% of winning. Guess what? For fucks sake.

Atheism increases

The 2011 census includes many fascinating statistics, doubtless troubling to many. I did however find this one very encouraging.

The number of those who said they had no religious affiliation increased by 10 percentage points from 15% (7.7 million) in 2001 to 25% (14.1 million) in 2011.

That statistic should be quoted back every time [...]

McAlpine – Greedy Tory Bastard

Lord McAlpine – what a greedy Tory!

Let’s agree:

a) that what happened to him was totally unjustified. b) that Newsnight and the BBC management dropped a massive bollock in not checking the facts. c) everyone is responsible for whatever they say on a public on-line social media outlet.

But… true character will out….

Lord [...]

Honeyed words

I’ve begun reading Museum Without Walls, the latest book from national treasure, Jonathan Meades. I’ve not even completed the first chapter but I’ve been entranced, again, by his vocabulary, wit and wisdom. Some quotes will hopefully elucidate my enjoyment.

While discussing taxonomy and football:

A buzzard is an avian analogue of the even squeakier David [...]

Irony cubed

Irony was running amok today.

First, the UN, an organisation dedicated to saving humanity when confronted by the powerful whims of nature, sent cholera riddled Nepalese soldiers to Haiti following the disastrous 2010 earthquake. So far the cholera epidemic they spread has killed over 7,000 Haitians. A UN report has said that “no group or [...]