On Valentine's Day - something for the birds

I love puffins, even ate some smoked puffin once!

Iain Dale has lost all grip on reality

For Valentine's Day Iain Dale has posted this entitled The Talk Radio Top Totty List 2013. I fear for Iain Dale's sanity as included in the 20 are Richard Bacon, Shelagh Fogarty, the 'vile VD' herself - Victoria Derbyshire and Rachel Burden. Yeek.

The only three ones in his 20 with any talent as well as 'talent' are Joanne Good, Julia Hartley-Brewer and Emma Barnett.

Aisha Taylor doesn't get what she wants for Valentines Day and thinks most people don't

No diamonds for her and no blow-job for him...

WEA RLC: Saudi Arabia Arrests 53 Ethiopian Christians at Private Worship Service

'Saudi authorities on Feb. 8 arrested 53 Ethiopian Christians, mostly women, who were attending a worship service in the private, rented home of an Ethiopian believer in Dammam, the capital of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia '

http://worldea.org/news/4178/wea-rlc-saudi-arabia-arrests-53-ethiopian-christians-at-private-worship-service

But Israel's the apartheid state?

I await the BBC's coverage of this story... Jeremy Bowen, Jon Donnison etc. any interest at all? Would you be more interested in reporting the story if it was Israel rather than Saudi Arabia? Why would that be the case?

Now that's interesting and quite potentially quite cheery news

The BBC report that:

'The estate of Jimmy Savile and the BBC are being sued by alleged sex abuse victims of the late DJ and presenter.

Solicitor Alan Collins, of law firm Pannone, said a writ had been issued at the High Court on behalf of 31 alleged victims.

All claimants were taking action against Savile's estate, while up to eight were also suing the BBC, he said.

...

Mr Collins said that the number of people getting in touch with Pannone over alleged abuse still "grows on a daily basis".

He said: "The purpose of issuing the writ is to protect our clients' position and to seek management directions from the court to ensure the claims are administered as efficiently as possible.

"At this stage we are unable to expand in detail on the nature of the cases or the allegations that have been made, which range in seriousness from inappropriate behaviour to serious sexual abuse."
In statement, the BBC said: "We're unable to comment on any legal claims of this nature made against the corporation."

...

Savile, who died in 2011 aged 84, was a Radio 1 DJ and the presenter of the Jim'll Fix It show on BBC One'

I think that I might enjoy watching this one develop.

Why is Jeremy Hardy a BBC favourite?

Why is Jeremy Hardy a BBC favourite? I know it's a puzzler isn't it.

Here's a clue, it's from Red Pepper - which is some sort of left-wing magazine

Jeremy Hardy thinks… about hating the Tories

The Tories have taken on human form, which is when they’re at their most dangerous

Something weird is going on. People don’t hate the Tories as much as they should. They do hate the Liberal Democrats, or rather Clegg...

Generally, the Liberal Democrats have become a stab-vest for the Tories. This fact alone, however, can’t fully explain the fact that the Conservatives are not more widely loathed. Maybe people have fallen for the newness. The Tories have taken on human form, which is when they’re at their most dangerous.

Even some progressive commentators are toying with the idea that they might be on some kind of journey. John Harris in the Guardian suggested that the ‘big society’ should not be dismissed too readily by ‘the tired old left’. I don’t consider either of those adjectives to be an insult, by the way.

Of course, Conservatives are actually human and, aside from a fear of the unwashed and a simpleton’s optimism about markets, they’re not always rigidly ideological. They might easily smile on the odd co-op if they thought it an amusing wheeze.

Cameron and chums seem to be in politics mostly for their own entertainment. It’s no wonder Dave gets on so well with Prince William. They both treat Britain as their play-thing, and perhaps Britain has mistaken their cavalier attitude to it as a refreshing informality that humanises serious men who have a profound sense of duty and a poshness that’s almost a burden. I fear Britain has not shaken off a deference that borders on masochism, and which helped to keep Thatcher in power for a very long time.

Jeremy Hardy is a comedian and writer who regularly appears on BBC Radio 4's The News Quiz and I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue.

Worried by walking on ice? Fearful of falling over on the icy pavement?

I found myself walking on an icy pavement yesterday, yes even in London there's ice around. It was slippery and even in rubber soled shoes I felt unsure of my tread, then I remembered this and all was fine...

Now you need never be lost for something to post on The Guardian comments pages

Tom Forth has created The Guardian Comment Generator and it is right on the money.

Here's a couple of examples that I generated, they makes at least as much sense as many that I read on the Guardian's comment pages:

I love Israeli fruit in the Winter but does it not taste bitter knowing what's going on in Palestine? It's absurd we haven't yet reached full equality for all ethno-sexual persuasions. It's time to recognise that animal rights now are as important as women's rights last century.

Last Saturday, as I was weeding my organic foxglove bed, it struck me! Judging children's abilities by standardised exams denies them their unique individuality and the expression of their culturally distinct identities. We should have never let Clegg into government!

Marvellous!

'The poor are paying the price'

The Labour/BBC alliance continually push the narrative that the poor are paying the price for the bankers crimes and that the rich are not paying a fair share of the costs. Is that true?

Of course it's not. As a general rule if the Labour party and BBC are pushing a narrative, it's a lie, or at least a distortion of the truth.

The one hundred and seventy sixth weekly "No shit, Sherlock" award

This week's award goes to the venerable journalist Simon Jenkins for this Comment is Free piece

'Whether it's North Korea or Iran, sanctions won't work'

No shit, Sherlock.  Sanctions won't work, but then neither will appeasement nor an invasion. So what is the solution? I'm not convinced by Simon Jenkins solution:

'Iran is a proud nation of 80 million mostly Muslim people, one of many Asian and African states struggling between theocracy and democracy, tradition and modernity. These are agonising struggles among and within peoples, to which the west has contributed nothing but hostility and belligerence. Under the cloak of "counter-terror", it has been as crass as it was during the Crusades. Of course no one wants to see nuclear weapons spread. Russia tried to stop China getting them. China tried to stop North Korea. The west tried to stop India and Pakistan, while hypocritically tolerating Israel and the replenished arsenals of France and Britain. No pressure made the slightest difference to anyone.

If Iran really wants a nuclear weapon, it will get one – the more so when it is threatened with dire retribution if it does. That is how such states react to pressure. Ever since the dodgy election of 2009, threats and sanctions have not weakened the regime's determination to proceed, but rather weakened opposition to it. If ever there was a country unlikely to respond to diplomatic bullying, it is Iran. If ever there was a country that might respond to constructive engagement, to commercial, governmental and cultural intercourse, it is also Iran. Why the west should want to make it another North Korea passes comprehension.'

Once again a liberal western journalist uses the 'crusades' as an example of crassness without noting why the crusades happened. The crusades were about taking back 'Christian' lands that had been conquered, with much loss of blood, by Islam.

Rihanna - Gratuitous nudity alert - NSFW - Rule 5 Tuesday

Rihanna - Gratuitous nudity alert - in the video for her new single 'Stay' which seems to have been shot in one take in the bath.

There is a another version of the video and here's that one with Mikky Ekko in the bathroom along with Rihana.

Did Pope Benedict read The Telegraph on Saturday?

We only have a few rituals in the Notasheep household and one of them is doing The Saturday Telegraph's  Pub quiz. Before lights out Mrs NotaSheep asks the questions and I try to answer. I've never managed 20/20, highest score is 18, usually get 15 or 16.

This Saturday, question 14 was:

Celestine V, in 1294, is the only man in history to abdicate which title?

I got the answer right, POPE, I wonder if Pope Benedict XVI did as well...

Another of those rare occasions

Only rarely are the BBC's left-wing, anti-Israel prejudices challenged on 'entertainment' shows. I have provided two examples before:

First from 2009 when Marcus Brigstocke dared to criticise Islam:

'Do you want to hear a Radio 4 audience clench its collective sphincters?

...  the end of Marcus Brigstocke's spot in tonight's Now Show. Marcus Brigstoke takes a "satirical" swipe at God, the Bible and Christianity and his audience are happy to laugh along. Then he says that people ask him if he would say similar about Islam and he says he would and has and then points out some home-truths about the Koran and the audience is almost silent, silent that is apart from the sound of sphincters being clenched.

...  From the Christianity section of Marcus Brigstocke's spot re the 10 Commandments: "God spent the first four flattering himself and being jealous..... Good grief, he's like a paranoid, menopausal housewife with an adulterous husband..." (laughter and joy from the audience)... Then Marcus Brigstoke says "And in case you'd wondering... would you say all of that about Islam? Er yes, yes I would (nervous titter) ... including all of the details of the beheadings, the under-age sex, the misogyny and the fact that Mohammed was illiterate (some very nervous laughs and sphincter clenching) It's all right, don't be scared for me, I've done this before (relieved laughter).'

 Secondly from 2011 again the Now Show:

'Radio 4's Now Show is generally a safe place for lefty types. The humour is safely aimed at Conservatives and those further to the right, the NHS is sacred, the Daily Mail worthy only of disdain and so on. So I was somewhat shocked last night to hear John Holmes's rant on yesterday's show. It's target was The Guardian and its hypocrisy. The Now Show audience seemed a trifle nonplussed by the attack on one of the good guys and so the laughs were sparse and a little forced. I hope it did the audience good and that this is the start of a less leftist viewpoint on BBC Radio 4 satirical shows, although somehow I doubt it.'

Yesterday I heard another example, on Desert Island Discs of all places. The castaway was Julie Burchill  and you can hear the programme here. One of the eight pieces of music chosen by Julie Burchill was Hatikvah - The Israeli National Anthem - and Julie explained why. Julie Burchill even chose that piece of music as the one she would have if she was allowed only one, rather than eight records. Unusually Kirsty Young did not ask about that choice of music.

When I heard this yesterday, I thought that I could also hear the sound of beeboid heads exploding. This morning I turned to the Desert Islands Disks section of the BBC website and what do I see?

Well it's still up there but I can still hear BBC teeth being clenched!

The 2 state solution won't work but this is something that would

Dry Bones right on the money as usual.

Saudi Arabia beheading nearly two people per week this year | Amnesty International USA

Saudi Arabia killing citizens but this Amnesty International report will get little publicity.

' Saudi Arabia applies the death penalty for a wide range of crimes, including drug offences, apostasy, sorcery and witchcraft. Such offences do not fall into the category of "most serious crimes" embodied in international standards, which require that the scope of crimes punishable by death must be limited to those involving intentional killing.

Offences such as apostasy, sorcery and witchcraft have been used to punish people for the legitimate exercise of their human rights, including the rights to freedom of conscience, religion, belief and expression.'

http://www.amnestyusa.org/news/news-item/saudi-arabia-beheading-nearly-two-people-per-week-this-year
Where are the cries from The Guardian and BBC? Imagine their outcry if was Israel instead...

John Prescott on the Posh Boy Tax - John Prescott - Mirror Online

'So that means every single taxpayer pays about £3.30 a year to effectively sponsor a public school boy. Yes, we have all been paying a Posh Boy Tax!'

If this was removed, their parents would have to pay only an extra £225 per child each year.'
How about the places at State Schools that parents fund through taxes but don't use? Inconvenient fact for John Prescott?
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/john-prescott-on-the-posh-boy-tax-1647546

Sorry for quoting from The Mirror, I try not to come into contact with that rag.

Women and alcohol...

Kung hei fat choi

Kung hei fat choi or happy new year to all my Chinese speaking readers.



Yes I know Chinese isn't a langauge but I believe the above is Cantonese and pretty similar to the Mandarin which is Gong Xi Fa Cai.

Now that's what I call simulacrum

I used to be a regular reader of the Fortean Times and one of their sections was devoted to simulacra, seeing faces or other patterns in natural objects or where there was no such pattern. The above is of a 'face' forming part of the International Space Station.

The finest escape from a snooker ever?

Ronnie O'Sullivan from 2008. The second escape is also pretty good.