The most shocking aspect of the allegedly outrageous behaviour of my noble Lord Sewel is that some people are actually shocked that a peer of the realm could conduct himself in such a shocking fashion. Such behaviour comes, as they say, with the territory and the poor man has merely suffered ignominy because he was stupid enough to fall for the entrapment set up by the vilest “newspaper” on the planet. It is difficult to decide who to despise most. (more…)
Number 10 syndrome
Trend analysis is not an exact science or, indeed, an actual science but when a former Prime Minister is quoted it does not require Heisenberg`s uncertainty principle to deduce a high probability that the speaker has gone stark, raving bonkers. Although by no means conclusively true, it would appear that the highest office of state carries the risk of sending the post holder round the bend. A quick trend analysis of British Prime Ministers since Suez offers a salutary warning to those ambitious for power. (more…)
According to common western perception, Confucius said a great many things. He did not, however, ever say that we are cursed to live in interesting times. This ironic aphorism is not an ancient Chinese curse uttered by the inscrutable philosopher but is a more modern and more western invention cooked up by the British ambassador to China in the uncertain 1930`s. With the Chinese stock market in apparent free fall, the current British ambassador might well be issuing dispatches describing a communist experiment with capitalism as “interesting”. (more…)
Via Edgar Degas 1834 – 1917
The thousand yard stare usually associated with unfortunate souls enslaved by addiction and substance abuse would appear to be increasingly evident on the benches of the House of Commons. Instead of derelicts and drunks, the people staring blankly into the middle distance belong to what was once known as Her Majesty`s Most Loyal Opposition. Addicted to unobtainable power, their behaviour has gone from erratic to unpleasantly anti-social.
The parliamentary Labour Party seem incapable of learning from past mistakes. The interminable process to elect a new leader is still set to rumble on for months exposing further internal divisions, acrimony and nastiness. (more…)
Via imemc.org
There now follows an important message from the Department for Foreign Affairs issued by the Tunisian Government on Friday 10th July 2015.
“Citizens of Tunisia; your democratically elected government has been made aware of credible and serious threats to the safety and lives of the Tunisian people. Therefore, it is vital that any nationals currently residing in the United Kingdom should return home with immediate effect. Do not collect belongings or talk to your neighbours and make your way to the nearest airport. (more…)
The Plastic Hippo 