In the light of the recent meeting that took place between HM The Queen and Martin McGuinness, I thought this short film added a certain poignancy to the event.
Category: Chips on Shoulders
Golden Balls lose their lustre
With admirable pragmatism Stuart Pearce has not picked 37-year-old Beckham for Olympic football honours. And now the pundits are doing their accustomed ritual dance, which is more about sycophantic sentiment than sense. Continue reading “Golden Balls lose their lustre”
A knotty problem?
Both the British and Danish gubmints are still getting in a lather about same-sex couples wanting to be ‘married’, often in buildings dedicated to supernatural events.
IMHO the problem arises because Western politicians can’t throw off the mantle of their ancient predecessors for whom entrails (sometimes of animals) had to be read before decisions could be made. In modern parlance the Cabinet has a Holy Insurance Policy issued by the Pascal Wager Company, which invokes forces beyond their understanding whenever a tricky question is posed – like whether a war is just or a marriage allowable. Continue reading “A knotty problem?”
English as she is spoke
After my trip back home last week I wrote to easyJet, complaining that all the cabin announcements were gabbled in Estuary English at high speed and unlikely to be understood by anybody at all, with obvious implications for passenger safety. I received this reply:
“Thank you for contacting us.
I can understand the level of discontent you have experienced onboard. Please accept my sincere apologies for the inconvenience caused.
Please note that each staff at easyJet is provided with special training before we gets into actual operations. I can sense that our endeavours towards training programme does not ended up in your favour. I extend my apologies for the same.
I acknowledge that the announcement were made onboard was badly spoken and did not understand it properly. For this I have noted your comments and assure that corrective actions will taken by our relevant department.
We pride ourselves on delivering the best customer service and would like to prove this to you. I respect your association and assure that you will receive a warm welcome on your future flights. I hope my email some way pacify your thought whilst choosing our services in the future. ”
Smiley thing – or should it be tears?
A marvelous website
Why on earth not?
The GCSE exam concerned was Religious Studies. One question was: “Why are some people prejudiced against Jews?” But the Education Secretary, challenged by the Jewish Chronicle, said, “To suggest that anti-Semitism can ever be explained, rather than condemned, is insensitive and, frankly, bizarre.”
The envy of less happier lands
By way of recognition, nay celebration of the hegemony of this royal throne of kings, this scepter’d isle, this earth of majesty, this seat of Mars, this other Eden, demi-paradise, this fortress built by Nature for herself against infection and the hand of war, this happy breed of men, this little world, this precious stone set in the silver sea (etc.), some wonderfully prescient people in the Politecnico di Milano have decided to adopt our language for the purposes of teaching.
This is but the beginning, in Jubilee and Olympic year, of Britain’s Big Comeback. (No, not flatulence, you fool.) Our Renaissance, our call from the bench of civilisation in extra time, with the World Cup of Cups itself at stake.
Would that the Argentinians and the Spanish might abandon their forlorn attempts to claim our sovereign territories and bow down to a superior race of men (and a few girls these days too).
(The organ sounds a crescendo of chords to lead us in Jerusalem, swell to great, no less.)
For art’s sake!
The eye of the beholder and all that but could a cherished culturalist advise me what it is about this painting that makes it the most ‘remarkable’ ever? IMHO it is technically mediocre – more nightschool than old master and owes more to Roswell-type mythology than psychic revelations. But $120 million? Munch on that, all you aficionados!
The true embodiment?
I won’t trouble you with the details but suffice to say I am the plaintiff in a Court case here.
I asked that it be conducted in English, given my linguistic imitations but the Judge unceremoniously referred me to the Court rules – with chapter and verse references – and refused my request. The very same rules, it turns out, state categorically that any plaintiff who is not competent in Danish may demand an interpreter and may also submit written evidence in his native language. But the Judge doesn’t want to know. Continue reading “The true embodiment?”
Yer gorra laff
I don’t know about you but I’m no oil-painting, as my Mum used to say. Sparing you the details lest I frighten the horses, when you’re stuck with two faces it’s hard to pretend you’re the Adonis of the West Midlands, however firm the biceps. But, on an average day, I hardly think about it – which means, apparently that I’ve sublimated my negative body image. Imagine that. But the trusty Grauniad, in the comely form of Susie Orbach, reckons lots of people can’t so there’s now serious help available – if you can call a reception at the House of Commons serious, that is. I hope you don’t need it.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/apr/20/body-confidence-new-line-on-beauty
Boadicea's Chariot 
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