Sarah Palin - grim reality

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.