Been away all day but have had the misfortune to catch several BBC news stories. It struck me that green shoots of recovery are everywhere today if we listen to the State Broadcaster. The housing market is on the up, new car sales are on the rise and…unemployment is also rocketing up. Sorry, scrap that last one. Even better, the Bank of England pumps more cash into the economy because, … Continue reading
I have just had a chance to have a read through the comments on the “Housekeeping” thread from the other day and wanted to try and explain the way things work around here from my perspective. I am libertarian minded (on the topic of commenting here anyway!) and that’s why I simply requested you might all respect my wish to keep the language moderated on the site as it makes … Continue reading
Worldwide opinion is so fond of condemning all Israel’s actions as ‘disproportionate’, you’d think at some point they’d realise that their favourite word far more accurately describes the outrage that follows almost every single thing Israel does, period.Furthermore, anything offered in Israel’s defence is boomeranged back twisted and rebranded as synonymous with the ridiculous sentiment: ‘Israel can do no wrong.’I have to say that I’m beginning to be overwhelmed by … Continue reading
Just a quick word to remind all who like to comment here that this is not a “sweary” blog and there should be enough words in the English language to convey opinion without resulting to vulgarity! I don’t want to seem a prude and I do understand how passionate debate can become but I have noticed far too much crudity in recent times and I would appreciate your support in … Continue reading
It was entirely predictable that the BBC would present Bill Clinton’s North Korean visit in glowing terms. Have a listen here to what is seven minutes of one sided opinion. The perfectly reasonable view that Clinton’s visit merely gives legitimacy to the tinpot tyrant Dear Leader is absent. I suppose since it was Clinton who when President facilitated the Dear Leader getting nukes in the first place it is appropriate … Continue reading
Ann Owers, Chief Inspector of Prisons, is a BBC favourite. Her liberal values resonate with the State Broadcaster and she was on this morning criticising Cookham Wood Young Offenders institute. For good value, universal Francis Crooke from the Howard League for Penal Abolition was also given a scathing quote on the “brutality” of the prison regime. The BBC meme is always the same – if we must send young criminals … Continue reading
There’s concern about the number of prisoners released early from prison on license who go on to kill or commit serious crime while still under ‘supervision’ : Criminals on probation committed more than 1,000 serious crimes over the last two years, including nearly one murder a week in England and Wales. The government figures give details of the 1,167 offences committed by people being supervised by probation officers. The total … Continue reading
Few will doubt the calibre of person the BBC employs. A BBC television presenter who left a teenager scarred for life after attacking him with a 3ft wooden pole is facing jail. Former Watchdog and Holiday reporter Ashley Blake admitted his career was in ruins after he tried to cover up the confrontation at a bar he owned. Blake, a host on regional news show Midlands Today, swung the patio … Continue reading
Lubna Hussein may be the first trouser martyr. She is getting lots of publicity from the BBC for her noble fight in trying to get the law in Northern Sudan changed to allow women to wear trousers lest they fall foul of Sharia and get 40 lashes for wearing such garments. Fair enough, I suppose, although I was intrigued by Ms Hussein’s suggestion that “I want to change this law, … Continue reading
After the non-State subsidised Banks dared to release decent financial profits yesterday, look out here comes Northern Rock and a 3/4’s of a BILLION loss. What a shrewd investment by Mr Brown to bail them out with our cash. The ghost of the oddly spoken Peston was on followed by Universal Vince who offered his opinion and we can only hope that universal McFall will also be given media time … Continue reading
