Rag Reader

Gareth Bale - football as art

2011-03-16T10:21:00.000Z

If anyone ever doubted that great football is an art form, watch this.

The clip is taken from the Run of Play football blog - 'a blog about the wonder and terror of soccer'.

Joe Jordan makes Rino Gattuso look very small indeed

2011-02-16T11:56:00.000Z

Joe Jordan is from mining stock just south of Glasgow.
I'm not sure he would even call this a headbutt.

The Palin map - Giffords' chilling prediction

2011-01-10T07:10:00.002Z

The Independent's Jonathan Raban writes:

Gabrielle Giffords made great sense when, in March 2010, she discussed the Palin map with a TV interviewer, saying: "Sarah Palin has the cross-hairs of a gunsight over our district – and when people do that, they've got to realise there are consequences to that action."

We don't know exactly what she was getting at but it's a chilling quote.
Hopefully she'll soon be able to tell us.

Santa 2.0

2010-12-20T12:40:00.000Z

Nice piece by Brian Campbell in today's Wall Street Journal.

He's saying that Santa needs upgrading and outsourcing. He thinks we need a Santa who: 'runs triathlons and talks about them on Twitter'.
Should somebody tell him? Where's Julian Assange when you need him.

Rubberbandits - pure genius

2010-12-14T11:52:00.002Z

I can only describe this as undescribable.

Surely this should romp home as Christmas No1.

Sepp Blatter's gay PR disaster

2010-12-14T10:31:00.001Z

This anti-gay comment could be more damaging to Sepp Blatter than the dodgy World Cup decisions.

He's not just head of an organisation that, to put it generously, requires a little more transparency, he's also proved himself to be a political dinosaur. He needs some quality PR.
Sepp Blatter is 74.

Embarrassing Times

2010-12-07T08:51:00.000Z

Now they've got a pay wall so here's an extract from the second leader in today's Times:
'There is a dangerous nihilism in the refusal to distinguish between information that embarasses the powerful, and information that potentially puts lives at risk.'
There but for the grace goes everyone who publishes words, so I refuse to gloat.
But, that is embarassing, or should that be embarrassing, for a paper with the highest standards of all.

Cameron's happy index

2010-11-25T12:07:00.000Z

David Cameron is launching a £2m project to work out how happy we all are.
I suggest he puts the cash back in the Treasury and visits a few pubs and just asks around.
He'll find out soon enough what irks the nation.
"To those who say that all this sounds like a distraction from the serious business of government, I say finding out what will really improve lives and acting on it is the serious business of government," he will say, says the BBC.
I am one of those who will say that, when he says that.
I suspect I will not be alone.

New Zealand miners RIP

2010-11-24T13:51:00.001Z

The deaths of 29 miners in New Zealand is an awful tragedy and seems all the worse for its proximity to the dramatic Chilean rescue story.
Mining can never be an entirely safe business but steps must be taken to keep these accidents to a minimum.
Our thoughts go out to the families involved.

Proud of the BBC

2010-11-24T08:24:00.000Z

Musical comedian Mitch Benn has released an homage to the BBC, who pay his wages as Now Show singer songwriter. I'm Proud of the BBC is very reminiscent of Billy Joel's We Didn't Light The Fire apology for the USA.
In the light of constant attacks on the Beeb, which resolutely refuses to defend itself, by the Daily Mail et al this serves to balance things up a bit.

Cantona wants a run on the banks

2010-11-23T09:44:00.000Z

Eric Cantona, the kung fu kicking philosopher footballer turned actor, is proposing a run on the banks to alleviate social strife.
He thinks the banking system is the root of all our problems and if we all withdrew our money simultaneously the banks would collapse and everything would be fine.
He says: "We must go to the bank. In this case there would be a real revolution. It's not complicated; instead of going on the streets and driving kilometres by car you simply go to the bank in your country and withdraw your money, and if there are a lot of people withdrawing their money the system collapses. No weapons, no blood, or anything like that."

There are so many holes in this argument it's difficult to know where to start.
What do you do with your money if you take it out?
Criminals must be rubbing their hands with glee at the prospect of people roaming the streets pockets stuffed full of cash.
What happens to the people who can't get their money out?
They lose it because their bank will have collapsed. Banks do not have enough cash to give everyone their money. It's the banking business model.
The banks owe billions to the taxpayer, if they collapse they won't be able to pay it back, ever.
Banking panics cause recessions, they don't cure them.
This is a time for calm not panic.
Eric is suffering from delusions of grandeur. Just because he could kick a ball, and a fan, does not mean his social solutions have any value at all. Most of us are intelligent enough to realise that - the rest of society will be at the cashpoints on December 7.

Sarah Palin - grim reality

2010-11-22T11:23:00.001Z

If I was to say that the person who could be the next leader of the free world has just launched a reality TV show on a channel called TLC you might think I was pulling your leg.
Not so.
Sarah Palin's Alaska shows the Tea Party queen hunting, shooting and fishing in the wilderness state in a thinly-disguised bid to show voters that she's just an ordinary mom.

And in an illuminating piece in today's International Herald Tribune Frank Rich points out that 'her amateurism and liabilities are badges of honor'.
Perhaps she's not as stupid as we thought she was.
But should we be worried that she could be the next president of the United States?
Barack Obama's ineffectiveness, despite going into the job with the best of intentions, suggests the office is one that is dogged by inertia, so maybe not.
The US has a track record of electing presidents not overburdened with intelligence.
As it stands Palin is a shoo-in for 2012.

Danny MacAskill's back

2010-11-19T13:25:00.000Z

There's a new video by the extraordinary Danny MacAskill.
This guy is obviously technically brilliant but the most remarkable thing about his stunts is the level of creativity and imagination involved.
And the scenery has got me pining for the glens.

Freed on appeal - your turn to judge

2010-11-18T12:29:00.000Z

This policeman, Sgt Mark Andrews of Wiltshire Police, has been cleared on appeal of assault. I'll let you be the judge of whether or not he used excessive force when he put this woman in the cell.

Thames voted worst river

2010-11-17T12:18:00.000Z

Something called Our Rivers has conducted a poll that concludes that the Thames is the worst river in England and Wales.
It's certainly got them some publicity and picking on the country's major river is guaranteed to get them plenty more than some rural backwater.

This'll make you smile

2010-06-03T08:18:00.002+01:00

On a day like this it's cathartic to turn to things that make us smile.

Enjoy.

Israel release weaponry pictures but not peace envoys

2010-06-01T15:53:00.000+01:00

The Israel Defence Force has released pictures of the weaponry they faced but not any of the peace envoys.
But surely this stuff is all improvised.
If they really had murderous intent and thought it was going to kick off they would have brought some serious kit not this boy scout stuff.

Israeli raid on Gaza convoy - the video

2010-06-01T10:17:00.001+01:00

I've watched this a few times and I still can't make out what's going on. But suffice to say it's not good.

Israel deputy foreigm minister Danny Ayalon claims they found weapons on the ships. Fair enough, the video does show a pole and a catapult.

Wembley warning

2010-05-24T13:26:00.000+01:00

It seems extraordinary that England captain Rio Ferdinand is frightened of playing at the national stadium because of the state of the pitch.
The Wembley pitch has been relaid 11 times since 2007.
Other countries manage to stage events at their top grounds, so why can't we?
If any of them gets injured tonight against Mexico we will have paid a high price for a few nice seats.

Spoof movie trailer

2010-03-08T08:50:00.000Z

Here's the trailer for every Oscar-winning movie - ever.

A Trailer for Every Academy Award Winning Movie Ever -- powered by Cracked.com

Bill McLaren RIP

2010-01-20T09:54:00.000Z

Sad news about the death of Bill McLaren.
I was lucky enough to speak to him a few times and he was decent, self-effacing man with a real passion for rugby.

FIFA fudge over Henry handball

2010-01-19T09:25:00.000Z

FIFA have refused to punish Thierry Henry for the handball that gave France a World Cup place in the play-off against Ireland.
They say there was 'no legal foundation for the committee to consider the case because handling the ball cannot be regarded as a serious infringement'.
It's time FIFA rewrote their code of conduct to encompass such flagrant cheating.
What happens if this happens again - and again and again. Football will die.

Jonathan Ross quits the BBC

2010-01-07T10:58:00.000Z

The Daily Mail are gonna love this.
Wossy insists he's not leaving in the summer because of financial reasons.
Will he now sign up for I'm a Celebrity?
Ant and Dec must be getting twitchy.

Whale war

2010-01-07T10:25:00.000Z

This is pretty shocking behaviour from the Japanese whalers who rammed the whale protest boat Ady Gil. The anti-whalers were stationary at the time.

BUT - The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society can, will and should make huge political capital of an ill-judged act of almost homicidal aggression.

Pomagne supernova

2010-01-06T11:15:00.000Z

The Daily Telegraph claims that the earth could 'soon be wiped out by the explosion of a star more than 3,000 light years away'.
Let's have a closer look at this outlandish story about the 'imminent' supernova soon to befall T Pyxidis that also appears in today's Sun.
'Although the star is thought to be around 3,260 light-years away – a fairly short distance in galactic terms – the blast from the thermonuclear explosion could strip away the Earth's ozone layer, the scientists said,' writes the Tele.
So should we be worried?
Well, bearing in mind that this supernova is unlikely to blow for at least ten million years I wouldn't lose any sleep over it.

Majestic Wine - in vino veritas

2010-01-06T08:43:00.000Z

Majestic Wine has seen sales rise nearly 12 per cent over last year's figure.
The company reduced the minimum purchase from 12 to six bottles back in September after years of standing firm on the 'case-only' proviso.
While the board must be pleased, they must also be wondering why they didn't do this years ago.

Middle Class Blues

2010-01-04T11:31:00.001Z

I've written a song called Middle Class Blues and my musical guru Tim Ball has been kind enough to 'get it down' digitally.
It's on my Myspace page.
I think it may be the only song that features Fred Goodwin, Labradors (Coco, left) Volvo, Aga and school fees in the lyrics.
Singing it made me feel better and I hope it does you too.
I'd like to get it on to You Tube with a video. If anyone can help that would be great - there's no money in it of course.
Contact me if you fancy it.

Hats off to Danny MacAskill

2009-12-31T12:39:00.000Z

There's something marvellously inspirational and optimistic about this Danny MacAskill trick-riding video. Great music by Band of Horses too.

No surprise that his talent has been recognised and he is now to feature in a Hollywood movie. He's not just fantastically athletic but displays extraordinary creativity in planning his stunts.
Well done Danny.
Happy New Year everyone.

What will we call the next decade?

2009-12-28T10:28:00.000Z

The noughties seems to have been coined for the decade that's just about to end but what of the next?
The 'tennies', the 'teenies', the 'twenty tens' are all unsatisfactory.
Any thoughts?

Hitchhikers' guide to murder

2009-12-24T11:14:00.000Z

I've been wondering why you don't see many hitchhikers these days and the statistics in this video explain why.

Volvo bought by Chinese

2009-12-23T11:31:00.000Z

Ford has agreed the sale of Volvo to Chinese firm Geely.
It was bad enough when Ford bought Volvo but this is surely not going to see a return to the high production values and attention to detail that made the marque one of the greats.
After the news about the demise of Saab earlier in the week the Swedes must be suicidal - although apparently that's an urban myth.
I've had a Volvo 360, 740s, 760, 850s, T5s, XC90 and V70s but this is it. I'm off to Mercedes, a 90s S-class, unless there's an old V70R around of course.

Schumacher comeback

2009-12-23T09:05:00.000Z

Michael Schumacher is making a well-predicted return to Formula One.
But should he?
Will he win the title again like a latter-day Niki Lauda or will he be well off the pace after four years out?
I'm not sure he should but if the Mercedes (Brawn) is competitive he may return to the podium. His team-mate Nico Rosberg is unlikely to show him up either.
Whatever happens it can't be as bad as Nigel Mansell's comeback with McLaren in 1995. The portly former world champion could not fit in the car and, despite his storming time at Ferrari and Williams, that remains the lasting memory of Mansell.
The sadly departed Observer Sport Monthly once compiled a list of the greatest sporting comebacks of all time and I was lucky enough to be at No8 - when France beat New Zealand 43-31 in the Rugby World Cup semi-final at Twickenham in 1999.
Two-try Jonah Lomu looked shellshocked after the game.
Can Schumi join the pantheon of comeback kings? An interesting season awaits.

Auschwitz sign returned

2009-12-21T09:19:00.000Z

The theft of the sign from the Auschwitz concentration camp reflected badly on the whole human race and it is an enormous relief that it has been found.
We must stay vigilant against extremism in all its forms. This sorry episode serves as a salient reminder of that.

Eurostar showing its age

2009-12-20T11:37:00.001Z

It's important to remember that the Eurostar trains brought to a halt in the Channel Tunnel by electrical problems are now 15 years old.
The styling means they may still look pretty high-tech but this rolling stock was built between 1992 and 1996.
In 2003 Eurostar announced plans for a facelift but no real engineering upgrades have ever taken place.
In the light of more extreme weather on the way isn't it about time they undertook a root and branch appraisal of the trains?

Gareth Thomas comes out

2009-12-19T13:12:00.000Z

Hats off to former Lions skipper Gareth Thomas for outing himself as a gay man in The Daily Mail of all places.
It's a shame that he didn't feel comfortable doing so earlier in his career.
I am positive that the vast majority of rugby crowds would have treated him with respect. Let's see the reaction he gets as a Cardiff Blues player now.
There'll be banter, sure, but I'll be very surprised if it descends into abuse.
I don't think the same could be said of football.
It will be interesting to find out what prompted Thomas to tell the world now. The Mail piece says: 'It's his choice. No one has forced his hand.'
We'll see. I'll reserve judgement on that one for now.

Cleopatra's palace

2009-12-18T09:51:00.001Z

Archaeologists have raised a red granite pillar from Alexandria harbour that they believe was part of Cleopatra's palace.
The Egyptian authorities have, very, ambitious plans to make the harbour an underwater museum at a cost of $140m.

Why kids should avoid alcohol

2009-12-17T08:57:00.000Z

Does the chief medical officer Sir Liam Donaldson really think people don't know that 'drinking, particularly at a young age, a lack of parental supervision, exposing children to drink-fuelled events and failing to engage with them as they grow up are the root causes from which our country's serious alcohol problem has developed'.
How much did this report cost and what is he paid to come up with this sanctimonious, blindingly obvious drivel.
No doubt Sir Liam will come and pat any parent on the head who doesn't slip a six-pack of Special Brew into their eight-year-old's stocking on Christmas Eve.
He's retiring in May and will be able to draw upon a £2.2m pension pot that he's built up over 15 years in the job.

Snow predictable

2009-12-16T16:45:00.000Z

Brace yourself for the travel chaos stories that will come in the wake of this week's snowfall.
Expect to hear stuff like 'why aren't we more prepared for snow'. Of course it's because it doesn't happen very often we don't waste money on keeping snowploughs in mothballs for most of the year or build trains with heaters.
The Highways Agency advises:

Do not travel in severe weather unless your journey is essential
Check local and national weather forecasts before setting out and take warm clothes, food, water, boots, a torch and spade
Drive with care even after roads are salt treated and keep your distance - it can take 10 times longer to stop in icy conditions

I wonder what percentage of people comply with No2?

Gazza arrested again

2009-12-16T14:19:00.000Z

Paul Gascoigne has been arrested and fined for being drunk and disorderly.
A 42-year-old drunk with plenty of previous and a history of domestic violence should not elicit sympathy but he does. His mental health problems are well documented and help to paint him as a victim of fame but mostly it's what he used to do that makes us feel sorry for him.
For those who enjoyed the 1990 World Cup and saw him play, Gascoigne is frozen in time as the cheeky chappy with the lightning-fast feet and creative genius.
But, sadly, it seems he is destined never to change despite plenty of declarations that his bad days are behind him. Where are the hangers-on and celebrity pals now?

BA steward's side of strike story

2009-12-16T13:27:00.001Z

Daniel Finkelstein has posted a BA steward's side of the strike story on The Times' Comment Central website.
The cabin crew veteran is 'furious with BA for putting us all in this position'.
It is a cogent yet impassioned response to criticism levelled at cabin crew from all sides over the past few days.
Well worth a read.
Contrasts markedly with all the Willie Walsh hand-wringing.
The difference? Multi-million pound PR on one side and not much of a contribution from Unite to put their side of the story.

Vanessa George madness

2009-12-16T10:28:00.000Z

Can anyone explain why Vanessa George, the Little Ted's Nursery paedophile, has received an indeterminate sentence but may be considered for release in seven years?
Possibly with a new ID in deference to her human rights. What about the rights of the children she abused and the families torn apart by anguish.
How did we get here?

Chinook order reveals lack of planning

2009-12-15T17:37:00.000Z

Ordering 22 more Chinooks to help out in Afghanistan is long overdue but the fact that the helicopters won't be ready until 2012 at the earliest is ridiculous and extremely worrying.
Are we really still going to be losing lives in Afghanistan in three years' time?
This really is an extraordinary admission of incompetence, both in terms of equipment deficiency and the lack of any exit strategy.
We could be there for decades.

BA cabin crew's high life

2009-12-15T09:55:00.000Z

Simon Calder points out in today's Independent some shocking facts about the easy life enjoyed by BA cabin crew.
He says: 'Never mind another country: some of their counterparts in other airlines accuse BA cabin crew of living on another planet. When easyJet flies from Gatwick to Sharm el Sheikh in Egypt, its cabin crew stay for no more than an hour before coming back; when BA flies the same route, the crew get two or three nights, on full pay and while staying in a five-star hotel, to enjoy the Red Sea coast.'
The strike vote is not quite in the 'turkeys voting for Christmas' category but the timing was hardly designed to get public support for their cause.

Mirror's Santa blooper

2009-12-14T10:21:00.000Z

The Daily Mirror speculates whether or not Santa is buried in an Irish grave.
Of course, he can't be or he wouldn't be able to deliver all the gifts on the 24th.
Why did nobody at Canary Wharf pick this up?

Tiger Woods and Accenture

2009-12-14T08:46:00.000Z

You know you're in trouble when management consultants no longer want anything to do with you.
Accenture have ended their sponsorship with serial shagger Tiger Woods as he is no 'longer the right representative for its advertising'.
If you understand what management consultants do you might enjoy these gags over at SpendMatters.
Any suggestions for new commercial liaisons for the new raunchy Tiger?
How about lad mag Loaded or Wii sports - with all fixtures to be played away.

Tiger off the menu

2009-12-12T14:09:00.001Z

"It's tragic. I think this whole thing is tragic. I am in touch with his wife Elin Nordegren now and then. Me and my husband Mike have been out dining with Elin and Tiger on a few occasions. Perhaps it won't happen as often now."
Former top-ranked women's golfer Annika Sorenstam gets to the real heart of the matter.
Who will she and Mike have dinner with now?
Here's his tearful statement in full.

Why Dean Ashton must not sue

2009-12-11T14:03:00.002Z

Sad, but not unexpected, news about the retirement of West ham forward Dean Ashton at the age of 26.
The ankle he broke when on England duty has never healed properly and he has decided to call it a day instead of risking permananet disability if he carries on.
But any talk of him taking legal action against Shaun Wright-Philips, Chelsea, the FA or West Ham must be merely that - talk.
Nothing is to be gained by football failing to clean up its own mess. The player is due compensation but the court is not the place to do it. If he does go to law the floodgates of litigation will well and truly be open.
The FA must take the lead and co-ordinate his payout with help from the players' union, the PFA.

Donald Trump's hair

2009-12-11T09:44:00.000Z

Either Donald Trump's got a terrific sense of humour or perception problems.
In today's FT he lists his hair as one of his best features.
I'll let you be the judge.

Baron Cohen sued for $110m

2009-12-10T15:54:00.000Z

Sacha Baron Cohen is being sued for $110m by a Palestinian he branded a terrorist in his latest movie Bruno.
Abu Aita has engaged m'learned friends and someone has come up with the figure of $110m. Yes $110m.
Aita's lawyer in the US is Joseph Peter Drennan.
"This is an important lawsuit because it is about the dignity of a specific person. It is about his reputation, about his standing in the community," Drennan said.
But $110m? I daresay that would improve his standing in the community considerably. He'd certainly be my friend.

Nationalist Geographic

2009-12-10T15:15:00.000Z

National Geographic have listed their top 10 archaeological finds of the year.
No1 is a ship that sank in 1901. The vessel carried gold rush prospectors and was found in a lake in the Yukon remarkably well preserved.
At No2 is the Staffordshire Hoard.
At the risk of sounding nationally biased myself I would humbly suggest they have these about face.
A 100-year-old paddle steamer or 5kg of gold that can tell us an awful lot about seventh century Britain?

Carlos Alberto's all wrong

2009-12-10T14:56:00.001Z

There's something very weird about seeing this Carlos Alberto classic from the 'wrong' side. It doesn't seem quite as good.

Dear Amy, please help

2009-12-10T14:45:00.000Z

Amy Winteridge, 10, wrote a letter to the burglar who robbed her home and asked him why he did it.
The burglar was moved and may now think twice about reoffending.
Can Amy please write one to the MPs and bankers who don't have any problem with ripping us off again and again.

Daytime telly on expenses

2009-12-10T14:32:00.001Z

Forget the bell tower, at least that was worth claiming for at £5k.
But £2 for a hamburger maker and from Labour MP Phil Hope and £43.56 for three "four piece garlic peelers", from Tory MP James Arbuthnot.
The most shocking aspect about Arbie's claim is that he bought the items from shopping channel QVC.
Daytime telly watcher? Surely not.

Bin Laden shocker

2009-12-09T10:27:00.000Z

The US has finally caught on to the fact that they should really find Osama Bin Laden.
They think it may improve security. What do you know.
The world's most wanted man has been on the run for eight years living on the Pakistan/Afghanistan border, they think.
Surely they could chuck some special forces in there and root him out? There must be units gagging at the chance to have a go.
Or run a competition to find him?

Space for Nasa

2009-12-09T09:56:00.000Z

Beardie Branson's spaceship seems to have arrived at just the wrong moment for the private traveller with more money than sense.
It looks great though but it's just not 'of the moment'.
It may be able to help the lads at Nasa though who are undergoing something of a funding crisis to keep projects like the Hubble telescope going.

Put steelworkers in banks

2009-12-04T15:38:00.000Z

Steelmaker Corus is halting production at its Teesside Cast Products factory, putting 1,700 people out of work.
Will they be subject to a £850bn government bailout?
Apparently it was justifiable to spend all the money we haven't got on the bankers but the steelworkers are unlikely to get the same treatment. I'm sure there will be a few retraining courses though.
Perhaps they can go into banking.

RIP Richard Todd

2009-12-04T15:27:00.000Z

Here's a bit of The Dambusters to remind us what a great actor he was.

Beware fire gnomes

2009-12-02T06:54:00.000Z

Now gnomes are a fire hazard. The evill little so-and-sos were ready to trip up unsuspecting tenants fleeing from their burning homes.
Well done Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council. Taxpayers money well spent.

New kit, old lie

2009-11-30T06:54:00.000Z

The government are ready to announce that the new kit for troops in Afghanistan is ready to use.
Can we really believe this when so many lies have been told before?
This smacks of the worst kind of political expediency.

Why should we pay when news is free?

2009-11-30T06:46:00.000Z

After years of free news one of the UK's biggest regional newspaper firms is to start charging for content.
Of course, they should have done this from the outset but now the move is doomed to failure.
A whole generation has been brought up to expect this content for nothing and pereceptions cannot be reverse-engineered. Blogging will rise in the area and community news sites will thrive.
I'm sure Rupert Murdoch will be watching the Whitby Gazette with interest in the coming weeks.

Hari on the money

2009-11-27T09:32:00.000Z

Excellent piece by Johann Hari about the moral bankruptcy of Dubai in today's Inde.
Spot on.
Shame on us for allowing it to get this far.

Raise a glass to world's strongest beer

2009-11-27T08:36:00.000Z

What is the point of a 32 per cent alcohol beer?
Other than as a publicity stunt of course. Where it fits the bill perfectly.
Hats off to Edinburgh-based BrewDog who boast that their 'beers are in no way commercial or mainstream.'
They say Tactical Nuclear Penguin is: 'about pushing the boundaries, it is about taking innovation in beer to a whole new level. It is about achieving something which has never before been done and putting Scotland firmly on the map for progressive, craft beers.
'This beer is bold, irreverent and uncompromising. A beer with a soul and a purpose. A statement of intent. A modern day rebellion for the craft beer proletariat in our struggle to over throw the faceless bourgeoisie oppression of corporate, soulless beer.’
Priceless stuff.
But here's the rub.
'Of the 500 330ml bottles released, 250 will be available for £30 with a further 250 available for £250 – the latter will include a share in the BrewDog company as part of its ‘Equity for Punks’ campaign which is aiming to raise £2.3m to build a new eco-friendly, carbon-neutral brewery in Aberdeen.'
Good luck BrewDog, no one can accuse you of not having a go. Just don't ask me to taste it.

Greatest guitar riffs lack idiocy

2009-11-27T08:25:00.000Z

Jimi Hendrix's Voodo Chile has been voted greatest guitar riff of all time by musicradar.com. Fair play.
But Day Tripper's at No8 which destroys the list's credibility for me.
And how any rating system can ignore the talent's of Billie Joe Armstrong's rip-snorting attack in American Idiot is beyond me. What do you think?

Staffs hoard valued at £3.2m

2009-11-26T11:05:00.000Z

The Staffordshire Hoard has been valued at £3.2m. That cash will be split between the landowner and the finder.
There is 5kg of Anglo-Saxon gold in the find and 1.5kg of silver.
The Guardian reports: Professor Norman Palmer, chair of the Treasure Valuation Committee, whose members pored over 1800 gold, silver and jewelled objects in a session at British Museum said: "It was breathtaking – we all agreed that it was not only a challenge but a privilege to be dealing with material of such quantity, quality and beauty. It was hard to stop our imaginations running away with us."
Can't wait to see it, wherever it goes.

Free logo please

2009-11-26T08:46:00.000Z

There's a great e-mail exchange here that will ring true to a lot of graphic designers and creatives of my acquaintance.
The same principle applies to creative writing as well. Enjoy.

BBC back in time and back on track

2009-11-26T08:41:00.000Z

The BBC are set to broadcast A History Of The World In 100 Objects with artefacts from the British Museum on Radio 4 in January.
Written by the museum's director Neil MacGregor this should be a compelling and accessible look at the broad spectrum of human history.
It also represents what the BBC does best - good quality public service broadcasting - and what they should concentrate on.

What a surprise - the banks win

2009-11-25T10:56:00.000Z

The banks have won their case against refunding overdraft charges.
Since these banks are owned by us it means we don't have to give us our own money back.
The winners: the bankers of course.

Why don't Google remove Michelle Obama image?

2009-11-25T08:56:00.000Z

What possible reason can Google have for not removing this crudely manipulated picture of Michelle Obama from their images search page.
They are aware it is there but decline to act.
It is childishly racist and should be taken down.
"It's offensive to many people, but that alone is not a reason to remove it from our search index," Google Inc. spokesman Scott Rubin said. "We have, in general, a bias toward free speech."
Free speech, pah! The company says nothing is removed unless the content is illegal or violates the company's webmaster guidelines.
Surely it's time they had another look at those 'webmaster guidelines'.

Should Mossad plant car bombs?

2009-11-25T08:40:00.000Z

Should Mossad be training spies to plant car bombs?
According to the Mossad Charter the organisation is devoted to 'uphold the values of justice, integrity, morality ....'.
Where does planting car bombs fit into that framework?

Why Bloodhound SSC is child's play

2009-11-24T08:30:00.001Z

The Team at the Bloodhound SSC project have produced a fun video to publicise the world land speed bid by their rocket-powered car.
Part of their brief is to engage children with engineering and it's certainly working in my house. And the big kids too.

Informative piece about Bloodhound in The Times reveals that: 'The Bloodhound project recently surpassed the Met Office in terms of computing power.'
Can this explain our ill-preparedness for flooding?

Irish cleaners snub Henry

2009-11-23T10:40:00.000Z

This is my favourite story of the day.
The Sun says that cleaners in Ireland are snubbing their Henry vacuum cleaners because of their, loose, association with handball cheat Thierry.

Iraq War inquiry - whitewash on the way?

2009-11-23T09:09:00.000Z

Sir John Chilcot is promising that the Iraq War Inquiry will not be a 'whitewash'.
Does anybody other than Sir John seriously believe this?

El Nino or god?

2009-11-23T07:01:00.000Z

Some evidence here to support the 'act of god' hypothesis about the cause of the Cumbrian floods.
But the El Nino effect - warming of the ocean - is present in the Pacific and could be causing this chaos.
Any extreme weather event raises suspicions of climate change but weather patterns are so hard to pin down it is impossible to say what caused something until it's too late to change the causes.
Forecasting is such an important area maybe it's time we pumped some more money into research to improve its accuracy.

Even Henry thinks it should be replayed

2009-11-20T14:59:00.002Z

Thierry Henry believes a replay of France's controversial World Cup play-off victory over Ireland would be fair.
Handball Henry said: 'Of course the fairest solution would be to replay the game but it is not in my control.'
But remember when Arsenal beat Sheffield United in the FA Cup in 1999 after scoring when the opposition expected them to return the ball?
Arsenal agreed to replay the game without any FA involvement.
Why can't the FFF do the same?
FIFA's Fair Play Code reads like a very hollow statement in the light of their intransigence over this blatant piece of cheating.
Football will die if it carries on like this.

After the flood

2009-11-20T08:38:00.000Z

The terrible floods in Cockermouth recall memories of the devastation caused to Hull and the poor level of support for local people in the aftermath.
We must put in place effective measures to deal with post-flood recovery as wetter conditions are something we are going to have to get used to.
A study by Lancaster University after Hull produced a submission to DEFRA's consultation on the Draft Flood and Water Management Bill.
One of the findings says: 'It is vital for the government to rethink the recovery process to ensure that better, more long-term support is available for residents affected by flooding. The draft bill makes very little reference to this longer-term process and yet learning how to provide better support for people during flood recovery must form a vital part of managing flood and coastal erosion risks successfully.'
Their recommendation seems ever more relevant.

Replay call after Henry handball

2009-11-19T10:25:00.002Z

If ever there was a case for a match to be replayed on the basis of video evidence then this was it. Thierry Henry handles the ball before crossing to William Gallas.
This act of cheating put France into the 2010 World Cup at Ireland's expense.
Let's remind ourselves what Henry said after Arsenal's Champions League final defeat by Barcelona in 2006: 'I expected the referee to do his job. I don't think he did.'
What will Uefa president, and former France captain, Michel Platini make of this? He usually has plenty to say. Let's wait and see.

Bribery bill

2009-11-18T16:52:00.002Z

Is it not already illegal to bribe foreign officials?
And how will our arms trade sell any cluster bombs?
These Queen's Speech proposals would have far-reaching implications in an ideal world.
But I'm sure all companies doing business with countries and industries where 'brown envelope' culture persists realise that this measure is completely unenforceable.

Facebook risks button backlash

2009-11-18T08:50:00.000Z

There could be an anti-Facebook backlash for their refusal to stick child protection help buttons on their site.
This would seem to be a thoroughly useful and practical initiative in the battle against online predators.
Facebook's line about seeing how it works at Bebo is likely to drive people on to their rival.

Sarkozy falls short at Croke Park

2009-11-17T09:02:00.002Z

We all know how sensitive little Nicolas Sarkozy is about his lack of height.
Well Irish Soccer Insider has taken the ball and ran with that to produce a great spoof exchange of letters between Sarko and the FAI.
Enjoy.
Check out the address of the Consulat General de France.

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Steve Fleming
Copywriter

Mercedes buy Brawn to team up Lewis and Jenson

2009-11-16T12:30:00.000Z

Mercedes have bought Brawn so Jenson Button is likely to join up with Lewis Hamilton at McLaren.
Great news for Jenson, out of the fading Brawn, but not so good for Lewis who won't have a second-rate team-mate to compete with/against.
Interesting contrast of driving styles - Lewis aggressive, Jenson smooth - is likely to mean very different set-ups for the two team cars. But who will get the best out of the 2010 McLaren?
Good news for F1 generally in a troubled climate.

Why Clegg's commonsense politics will be ignored

2009-11-16T08:39:00.000Z

Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg has called for the Queen's Speech to be scrapped as there will be no time to implement any of the measures before the next election.
Speaking in The Independent he says the time would be better spent on an emergency programme of reform designed to "clean up politics once and for all".
Here's just two reasons, from the main parties' perspective, why this wholly sensible proposal will be ignored.
Labour: It would be another sign of weakness from the party of power and a virtual admission of imminent defeat.
Conservative: Any proposals outlined will give the Tories more ammunition to shoot down this dying duck of a government and its implementation would legitimise the Lib Dem challenge.
As usual the losers are the people of this country.

Bath dig in Roman Great Drain

2009-11-15T13:54:00.002Z

Fascinating story in The Times about an archaeological investigation of the main Roman drain in Bath.
What will be revealed by sifting through the detritus of two millennia is anybody's guess.
Previous 'digs' have uncovered '33 carved cameo gemstones and a mysterious tin mask'.
The drain is in great condition but the local council need to inspect it to make sure it stays that way and that opens the way for the archaeologists.

Talk to Blair and talk to the Taleban

2009-11-13T09:28:00.000Z

Tony Blair will be called to give evidence to the Iraq War inquiry next year.
Sir John Chilcot says: 'We will ask them to explain the main decisions and tasks, and their involvement.'
This seems pretty clear but they have to get to the bottom of this for the sake of the lives lost and to move forward toward resolution.
The dodgy dossier lies at the heart of this and Blair's interpretation of the erroneous findings.
An unrepentant man, two years ago he said: 'The enemy that we are fighting I am afraid has learnt . . . that our stomach for this fight is limited and I believe they think they can wait us out. Our determination has got to match theirs and our will has got to be stronger than theirs and at the moment I think it is probably not.'
Armed with this knowledge why didn't the strategy change?
The nation's support for these 'wars against terror' was wavering then, it's at rock bottom now and we must try another tack - dialogue.

Medals for the MoD

2009-11-12T08:20:00.001Z

MoD officials get performance bonuses!
For failing to deliver enough equipment to the frontline troops?
For doing such a bad job that the mothers of soldiers have to send out basics like underwear?
Do troops serving in Afghanistan, who could be on as much as £17k, get performance bonuses?
No, they get a nice piece of ribbon and a lump of gun metal.
But are bonuses enough, why don't we give the MoD lads medals as well?

Harry shames The Sun

2009-11-11T11:03:00.000Z

Nice observation here at Harry's Place.
Is this symptomatic of a lack of respect for the fallen or just an error?

DNA database - the dangers

2009-11-11T10:43:00.000Z

The national DNA database, the world's largest at five million profiles, is to have a six-year retention limit placed upon it in line with EU law.
DNA fingerprinting is an enormously powerful tool in the battle against crime but the great danger is its perceived infallibility.
The CSI factor plays a big part in our faith in the system but the facts show that less than one per cent of crime is solved by the use of DNA.
As with all science the most likely errors are caused by humans. While that is always going to be the case, we must treat DNA evidence as just part of an investigation and not a golden bullet of justice.
The danger of having a database any older than a few years is that collection techniques may not match the quality of matching techniques.

Korea's war of words

2009-11-10T09:34:00.002Z

The North and South Koreans have clashed at sea.
The South (goodies) opened fire on the North's (baddies) vessel when it strayed into their waters.
Unbowed the North retaliated, causing the South's ships to be 'flurried', according to their official news agency KCNA.
Say what you like about the North Koreans but they certainly talk the florid talk.
Here's a warning to the USA after a missile test near Hawaii.
'They had better behave prudently, bearing in mind that their adventurous scenario for a preemptive attack on the DPRK is nothing but a foolish one bringing them self-destruction.'

PM phone call to Mrs Janes

2009-11-10T08:46:00.000Z

If you're wondering where to find the audio of Gordon Brown's phone call to the mother of Jamie Janes it's here.
She challenges him more effectively on equipment shortages than anybody before.
You can't help feeling sorry for both of them.
If this doesn't persuade Gordon Brown to get the boys out, or equip them properly, then nothing will.

Nuclear power - the losers

2009-11-09T17:31:00.001Z

Dungeness in Kent has been rejected as the site for a new nuclear power plant.
Ed Miliband told the House of Commons that this was because, 'the Government does not believe ... that a new nuclear power station can be built there without causing an adverse effect on the integrity of the internationally unique eco-system.'
But can any nuclear plant be built without having negative environmental or social effects?
Kirksanton in Cumbria will have a brand new power station on a nice beach.

The beach is a tourist attraction that will disappear under concrete. For local people like Maggie and Imtaz, who have spent five years lovingly renovating and converting Manor Farm 'to create a cosy holiday destination for those with disabilities along with their families or carers', this is not such good news.

Brown's letter clouds the issue

2009-11-09T15:23:00.001Z

If Gordon Brown's letter to Jamie Janes' mother had been beautifully handwritten would it really have made a difference to this poor grieving woman.
Her reaction is understandable but I'm sure this is not the first time that he has mis-spelled something in a personal letter to a bereaved relative.

Interestingly this is the first time someone has complained in public. Again, her anger is understandable but it's clear it is not really about the letter. It's about the tragic loss of her son.
Brown's real crime is not his handwriting or spelling - it's the fact that he is unwilling to bring the boys back home or give them the equipment to do the job properly.
Let's not lose sight of that.

Naughty Top Gear ad - what do you think?

2009-11-09T13:42:00.003Z

The Top Gear spoof ad for VW has been condemned by Ofcom.
'Ludicrous and obviously comic' or 'potentially disturbing'?
Let's judge for ourselves.

I may quit, says bitter Sugar

2009-11-09T09:52:00.004Z

At last some good news.
Sir Alan Sugar may fire himself as government business tsar.
Last week he described small businessmen who struggle to get loans as 'moaners'.
He's worried about the negative publicity and says he is giving his time free of charge.
He fails to mention the enormous boost to his not inconsiderable ego he received when asked to fulfil this role.
What we need to know is:
What has he done?
Has he achieved anything?
How much did it cost?
Is he the Chauncey Gardiner of business tsars?

Baguette stops Large Hadron Collider

2009-11-08T08:17:00.003Z

A baguette is being blamed for a short circuit that prevented Cern from probing the physics in place just after the Big Bang and confirmation of the Higgs Boson.
The operation of the Large Hadron Collider was halted after the malfunction.
The bread was dropped by a bird and bizarrely gives some credence to a wacky theory that future Higgs Boson-producing machines are preventing the discovery of the elusive particle today.
Physicists Holger B Nielsen and Masao Ninomiya speculate in that these future machines are preventing us from finding the Higgs Boson.
Of course, there is a serious paradox issue here.
How will we go on to develop the technology to produce machines that emit Higgs Bosons in order to prevent their discovery in the first place?

One law for Chelsea, Arsenal and Man Utd

2009-11-06T17:17:00.004Z

What is the point of imposing sanctions on football clubs when they cannot be enforced?
Time and again big clubs are punished only to appeal and get off.
Chelsea's crime was to poach a young player. They induced him into breaking his contract against Fifa rules.
Predictably, the transfer embargo was lifted on appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
True, it may be reimposed but how likely is that?
The punishment here would have worked as a real deterrent to big clubs, who rely on buying success, and served to encourage smaller ones to develop talent.
In that way they could level the playing field and one day become a big club.
If not, they would get a decent price for a talented player to buy in a replacement or reinvest in youth.
Arsenal's appeal for Eduardo's dive is another example of big clubs avoiding sanction when clear offences have been committed.
And now Alex Ferguson weighs in with another rant at the referee in the knowledge that he cannot be touched.
Young players are taught by the FA to respect the referee and respect the rules.
But where is the example to follow?

Brown's Afghanistan fudge

2009-11-06T15:23:00.003Z

Gordon Brown's statement about the war in Afghanistan only serves to confirm that our troops will be there for a long time yet.
His goal seems to be, not that he says so, the complete eradication of an Al-Qaeda terrorist threat.
That seems impossible with the current strategy of bomb, burn and kill.
And what do we do if Hamid Karzai's government fails to pass his five tests of 'security, governance, reconciliation, economic development and engagement with its neighbours'.
He's already said we won't leave.
We've been there for eight years and we could be there for 80 and nothing positive would be achieved.
We need a dialogue with the terrorists to work towards peace. Communication is the key.
Northern Ireland's example should set the tone.

Is this the bravest woman in Britain?

2009-11-06T09:30:00.003Z

This picture from today's Sun shows the widow of staff sergeant Olaf Schmid. He died instantly when a bomb he was trying to disarm blew up.
Christina applauded her husband's coffin as it rolled past in Wootton Bassett. He had disarmed more than 60 bombs, saving countless lives and his wife's courage yesterday matched his.
RIP Sgt Schmid.

Bring troops back, says poll

2009-11-05T14:42:00.003Z

A YouGov poll for Channel4 reveals that 73 per cent of people want British soldiers to return home from Afghanistan.
Paddy Ashdown wrote in today's Times: 'Afghanistan must become the nation’s No1 priority or the people will withdraw their support.'
It now looks like they already have.

Why Cameron insults our intelligence

2009-11-05T10:54:00.004Z

The Conservative party have vowed to repatriate powers from Brussels after a humiliating climbdown over the Lisbon Treaty.
Remember their promise that there would be a referendum on the treaty?
David Cameron vowed to Sun readers there would be a referendum.
Today he explains why he will break that promise and makes three other promises that he will break.
He says: 'First, bringing back powers over social and employment laws. While businesses struggle through this recession, it is outrageous that rules from Brussels add to their burden. And we can't afford the NHS to be mucked about by EU working time rules either.
'Second, we want a guarantee that the Charter of Fundamental Rights will not be used by EU judges to add to EU law affecting the UK. Third, we want to pull back powers so that EU judges can't gain creeping control over the British criminal justice system.
'And finally, we will enshrine Britain's independence in law by taking a Sovereignty Bill through Parliament. This would guarantee that the final word on our laws is here in the UK.'
Cameron knows none of these things are possible - EU law is tightly framed and any changes of this nature would take years to implement.
Even members of his own party don't believe him. It is merely tub-thumping to hold on to his share of the vote - shameless electioneering.
As Elmar Brook points out in The Independent: 'The biggest transfers of British sovereignty to the EU were made with the Single European Act and the Maastricht treaty – under the Conservative leaders John Major, and Margaret Thatcher.'
Don't insult our intelligence Dave.

Dead and alive

2009-11-05T08:17:00.005Z

Wacky stories from around the world have a habit of turning up on our shores.
This tale of 'man turns up at own funeral' is a classic after the family identified a disfigured car crash victim as their kin.
The whole picture falls into place when we hear that the unfortunate Brazilian brickie Ademir Jorge Goncalves had spent the previous evening drinking pinga, a spirit made from distilled sugar cane, with friends.
I'm sure we've all had nights like that but walking into your own funeral must have been the ultimate sobering experience.

Funding key to Nutt's plan

2009-11-04T15:52:00.004Z

Professor David Nutt is saying he will establish a new drug advisory body if the current one is disbanded.
The key here is who will be funding it as its independence and credibility depend upon it.
Nutt refuses to say where the money is coming from but any hint of cash from pharmaceutical sources will scupper this plan.
The BBC reckon the present Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs costs £150,000 per year to run.