jwdd27 4 life

Arsenal's Spotty Trouble

2011-01-26T22:13:00.004Z

Football stats... not much to see here.

According to my "calculations" (courtesy of the always excellent www.soccerbase.com, my memory and the internet), the Mighty Gunners have been awarded 13 penalties so far this season, which have been taken by five different players, with four of those players missing one of their efforts. The tally is as follows:

Andrei Arshavin started the season in the chair, putting away a spot kick in the 6-0 thrashing of Blackpool in August. A few weeks later his effort was saved in Belgrade although a goal from AA in open play helped the Gunners to a 3-1 victory. 1 out of 2 [v Blackpool, Partizan(x)]

Cesc Fabregas Has been the regular taker in the absence of RvP, and can usually handle the pressure, as shown by his last-minute equaliser against Leeds, which kept Arsenal in the FA Cup they were to go on to win* His only miss came against Man City at Eastlands, which didn't prove crucial as Arsenal demolished their "title rivals" 3-0. Indeed Cesc gained the rare distinction of being named man of the match having missed a penalty. 3 out of 4 [v Braga, Shakhtar, Man City (x), Leeds]

Tomas Rosicky The only taker not to score, and the only man whose miss notionally cost Arsenal points. Missed the chance to put the Gunners 2-0 up at Sunderland, apparently stepping up after Chamakh and Nasri had declined. Mercenaries' Mercenary Darren Bent then scored a sickening 93rd minute equaliser. Is yet to score this season from open play. 0 out of 1 [v Sunderland (x)]

Samir Nasri No doubt the player of the season and promises much for the future. Also has a 100% record for Arsenal, including a double against Spurs in the League Cup. Awesome. 3 out of 3 [v Spurs, Spurs, Birmingham]

Robin van Persie Notionally the no.1 penalty taker at the club, but injuries and rotation have given plenty of others the chance as shown above. Missed against Wigan, but went on to claim aht-trick anyway. 2 out of 3 [v Partizan, West Ham, Wigan (x)]

Send three and fourpence, we're going to a dance...

2011-01-19T16:42:00.004Z

Or, a full-scale Twitter panic.

A pretty young woman called Candice Bailey [@candicecbailey] tweeted innocently about some fashion photography taking place in Central London this lunchtime. Something called "Street Style", which is I guess is one of those photo spreads where they stop people in the street and ask them what they're wearing, then publish the prettiest (or best dressed). Apparently it was for ASOS and Diet Coke, suggesting a young, female demographic.

However, in trying to publicise this, Candice (only in double digits for followers, bizarrely), instead of using "photoshoot" (or the even more Twitter-friendly "shoot"), chose "shooting". As in "We are shooting in Oxford Circus". She said:

@candicecbailey Street style shooting in Oxford Circus for ASOS and Diet Coke. Let me know if you're around!!

Now, if you read the first six words, especially with the lower case 's' on style, you imagine someone has been shot in Oxford Circus, and they've been done "street style", which one could imagine as a variant of "execution style" gangland murders. A street style shooting reads like something your Daily Mail reading neighbours would get scared about. "Street" also means "urban", which means "black" or "foreign" to DM-reading imbeciles.

However, read the whole tweet and it's soon clear what is happening. The only problem isthat someone didn't read it, mentioned a shooting in Oxford Circus, which got picked up by their followers etc etc. By then end of this excellent timeline from the ever-useful Exquisite Tweets, there is a gunman on the loose, people are being warned to stay indoors, and Sky News and BBC News 24 are being berated for not reporting this huge event. Then when the truth is revealed the perpetrators of the "hoax" (which it wasn't) are being criticised for wasting everyone's time.

Amusing, but also slightly disturbing and proof that a lie (or in this case a misunderstanding) can be several times around the world before the truth is even thinking about getting out of bed. Also strange the absurd pleasure people get from their "stay safe" messages, as they see a news incident begin to unfold before their eyes. As if their friends were the types to go and investigate when they hear a gunman is on the loose. Twitter is fast sinking to the same levels Facebook now operates at, as a kingdom of the ignorant, where stupidity reigns because there are simply more of them. Idiocracy. I'll keep using it though.

*Title is reference to a famous mis-hearing, probably from some music hall act, years ago. "Send reinforcements, we're going to advance" is the military message apparently misconstrued.

Lazarus

2011-01-19T16:32:00.000Z

A walk in the park with the dog suggests to me it's time to resurrect the blog. Like Lazarus.

Or Lacatus... he was a decent player. Much overlooked in favour of Hagi when discussing the great Steau Bucuresti and Romania teams of the late 80s.

So expect more stuff here about football, cricket, cooking, bit of politics... well, you know what a blog is ffs.

Later.

Premier League Verbal XI

2010-02-14T14:48:00.003Z

Or, how to fill the time while watching Bolton and Spurs slug it out (actually quite an exciting game as it happens, but you get the point).

A Premier League team, all with surnames that are also verbs. Had to be common verbs with the correct spelling (no homophones), with no third person or past participles allowed. I did pretty well, although had to beef up the numbers with a couple of squad players I don't know.

4-4-2 lineup

Ben FOSTER (Man Utd)

Gareth BALE (Spurs)
Wayne BRIDGE (Man City)
Tom CRUISE (Arsenal)
Zat KNIGHT (Bolton)

Stephen HUNT (Hull)
Ji-Sung PARK (Man Utd)
Stephen WARD (Wolves)
Alan JUDGE (Blackburn)

Peter CROUCH (Spurs)
Louis MOULT (Stoke)

Subs
David BUTTON (Spurs, GK), George FRIEND, James SPRAY (both Wolves), Wes BROWN (Man Utd), Chris HERD (Aston Villa), Sam COX (Spurs), Daniel FOX (Burnley).

Swedish Sultana Bread

2009-11-22T22:36:00.006Z

A lightly sweetened fruit bread that is delicious served warm. Also excellent toasted topped with low fat spread.

This recipe is from "The Ultimate Low Fat Baking Cookbook" (Hermes House, 1998/2001, ed. Linda Fraser). Quantities are helpfully given in imperial, metric and American, so everyone should be happy, but please only follow one system as they are not interchangeable.
Serves 8-10.

INGREDIENTS

150ml / 1/4 pint / 2/3 cup warm water
5ml / 1 tsp dried yeast
15ml / 1 tbsp clear honey
225g / 8oz / 2 cups wholemeal flour
225g / 8oz / 2 cups strong white flour
5ml / 1 tsp salt
115g / 4oz / 2/3 cup sultanas
50g / 2oz / 1/2 cup walnuts, finely chopped
175ml / 6fl.oz / 3/4 cup skimmed milk (plus extra for glazing)

METHOD

1. Put the water in a small jug. Sprinkle the yeast on top. Add a few drops of honey to help activate the yeast, mix well and leave to stand for 10 minutes.

2. Put the flours in a mixing bowl with the salt and sultanas. Set aside 1tbsp of the walnuts and add the rest to the bowl. Mix together lightly and make a well in the centre.

3. Add the yeast and honey mixture to the flour mixture with the milk and remaining honey. Gradually incorporate the flour, mixing to a soft dough. Add a little extra water if the dough seems too dry to work with. (I added more flour as the dough was too wet to work with.)

4. Turn the dough on to a floured surface and knead for five minutes until smooth and elastic. Return to the clean bowl (This confused me. Was I supposed to have cleaned it? How did the bowl get clean? I hadn't been told to clean it...). Cover with a damp tea towel and leave in a warm place to rise for about two hours until doubled in bulk (mine didn't get close to double the size in nearly three hours, but it was big enough). Grease a baking sheet.

5. Turn the dough on to a floured surface and form into a 28cm/11" long sausage shape. Place on the baking sheet. Make some diagonal cuts down the whole length of the loaf. (I forgot the diagonal cuts).

6. Brush the loaf with milk, sprinkle with the reserved walnuts and leave to rise for about 40 minutes. (Mine just spread out rather than rising). Preheat the oven to 220c / 425f / Gas mark 7. Bake for 10 minutes. lower the temperature to 200c / 400f / Gas mark 6 and bake for a further 20 minutes, or until the loaf sounds hollow when tapped.

ALTERNATIVES

For Apple and Hazelnut Bread, replace the sultanas with two chopped eating apples and use chopped toasted hazelnuts instead of walnuts. Add 1 tsp ground cinnamon to the flour.

Delicious - and just 273 kcal per serving (4.86g fat, 0.57g saturated fat, 0.39mg cholesterol, 3.83g fibre), according to the book.

John and Edward's fashion inspiration?

2009-10-24T21:56:00.002+01:00

Tomato, Onion and Basil Salad

2009-10-15T13:04:00.003+01:00

This is a quick, easy and delicious salad. There are endless variations - try adding feta cheese or black olives. All quantities can be increased or decreased according to taste.

INGREDIENTS:

5 or 6 tomatoes

1 medium onion

Handful of fresh basil, shredded

2 cloves garlic

Olive oil

Balsamic vinegar

Salt, pepper

METHOD

Rub the base of a shallow salad bowl with a garlic clove.

Slice the tomatoes. Thinly slice the onion and separate in to rings. Crush the garlic.

Now layer the salad – tomatoes, onions and basil, with a generous covering of olive oil, a splash of balsamic, garlic and salt and pepper between each layer. Repeat until you run out of ingredients.

Delicious with pitta bread, but have a napkin handy as it’s a dribbly sort of delicious.

French Apple Chutney

2009-09-25T16:26:00.005+01:00

This is a very tasty, sweet chutney, and a fairly mild one because of the lack of vinegar. The red pepper gives it a more pleasing appearance then other dark brown chutneys. It goes with just about anything, especially cold meats or cheese and biscuits.

Should keep for a couple of years in a cool dark pantry.

This recipe is lifted from a book called A Harvest of Apples by Ruth Ward (Penguin, 1988), which I assumed would be out of print but can actually be found on Amazon.

INGREDIENTS

1½ lb (700g) dessert apples

Juice of 1 lemon

1 lb (450g) onions

2 red peppers

Small piece root ginger

1 lb (450g) brown sugar

1 tbsp salt

3 tsp powdered mustard

6 oz (175g) raisins

METHOD

Peel and core the apples, then grate them or shred finely in a food processor. Sprinkle immediately with the lemon juice and put in a preserving pan [large saucepan].

Peel and finely chop the onions. De-seed and chop the peppers. Bruise the ginger to release the flavour. Add to the apples along with all the other remaining ingredients.

Bring to the boil, then turn down the heat and simmer for about an hour until the chutney is thick and dark in colour. Stir it occasionally with a wooden spoon.

Pot and leave until cold, then seal and label.

COMMENTS

Try and fish out the piece of ginger when you are putting it in the jars. You’ll need clean jars with tight-fitting, rustproof lids. Warm them in a low oven for 10-15 minutes so they don’t crack when the hot chutney is poured in. This also sterilises them.

Why oh Y - Pointless List no. 94

2009-09-24T11:35:00.004+01:00

Here, for absolutely no reason, is a badly formatted list of all post-war England international footballers whose surname ends in a y. This is the type of thing that passes the time.

Tom Finney is the most capped (76) and presently top scorer (30), although both records are within Wayne Rooney's reach.
Sources: Playfair Football Annual 2004-05; the internet.

Name (Clubs, years)		Caps
Gary Bailey (Man Utd, 1985)		2
Mike Bailey (Charlton, 1964-65)		2
Eddie Baily (Spurs, 1950-53)		9
David Bardsley (QPR, 1993)		2
Nick Barmby (Spurs, Middlesbrough, Everton, Liverpool, 1995-2002)		23
Gareth Barry (Aston Villa, Man City, 2000-*)		33*
David Batty (Leeds, Blackburn, Newcastle, Leeds, 1991-2000)		42
Peter Beardsley (Newcastle, Liverpool, Newcastle, 1986-96)		59
David Bentley (Blackburn, 2007-*)		9*
Roy Bentley (Chelsea, 1949-55)		12
Johnny Berry (Man Utd, 1953-56)		4
Jeff Blockley (Arsenal, 1973)		1
Warren Bradley (Man Utd, 1959)		3

Ray Charnley (Blackpool, 1963)		1
Trevor Cherry (Leeds, 1976-80)		27
John Connelly (Burnley, Man Utd, 1960-66)		20

Tony Daley (Aston Villa, 1992)		7
Norman Deeley (Wolves, 1959)		2
Mike Duxbury (Man Utd, 1984-85)		10

Bill Eckersley (Blackburn, 1950-54)		17

Tom Finney (Preston, 1947-59)		76

Andy Gray (Crystal Palace, 1992)		1
Michael Gray (Sunderand, 1999)		3
John Gregory (QPR, 1983-84)		6
Steve Guppy (Leicester, 2000)		1

Colin Harvey (Everton, 1971)		1
Mark Hateley (Portsmouth, Milan, Monaco, Rangers, 1984-92)		32
Ron Henry (Spurs, 1963)		1
Emile Heskey (Leicester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Wigan, Aston Villa, 1999-*)		56*
Eddie Holliday (Middlesbrough, 1960)		3
Steve Howey (Newcastle, 1995-96)		4

Tony Kay (Everton, 1963)		1
Alan Kennedy (Liverpool, 1984)		2
Ray Kennedy (Liverpool, 1976-80)		17
Paul Konchesky (Charlton, West Ham, 2003-*)		2*

Jim Langley (Fulham, 1958)		3
Alec Lindsay (Liverpool, 1974)		4

Paul Madeley (Leeds, 1971-77)		24
Bill McGarry (Huddersfield, 1954-56)		4
Les Medley (Spurs, 1951-52)		6
Tony Morley (Aston Villa, 1982-83)		6
Bert Mozley (Derby, 1950)		3
Alan Mullery (Spurs, 1965-72)		35
Danny Murphy (Liverpool, 2001-03)		9

Mick O’Grady (Huddersfield, Leeds, 1963-69)		2

Ray Parry (Blackpool, 1960)		2
Bill Perry (Blackpool, 1956)		3

Alf Ramsey (Southampton, Spurs, 1949-54)		32
Paul Reaney (Leeds, 1969-71)		3
Stan Rickaby (West Brom, 1954)		1
Stuart Ripley (Blackburn, 1994-97)		2
Wayne Rooney (Everton, Man Utd, 2003-*)		55*
Jack Rowley (Man Utd, 1949-52)		6

Nicky Shorey (Reading, 2007)		2
Alex Stepney (Man Utd, 1968)		1
Peter Storey (Arsenal, 1971-73)		19

John Terry (Chelsea, 2003-*)		56*

Gujerati Carrot Salad

2009-09-23T20:18:00.004+01:00

This is a great little salad, and not as complicated or as exotic as its "Gujerati" tag suggests. Based on a recipe by the great Madhur Jaffrey.

INGREDIENTS

1 lb carrots, peeled, coarsely grated
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 heaped tablespoon mustard seed
1 heaped tablespoon sultanas
3-4 tablespoons vegetable oil
1-2 tablespoons lemon juice, to taste

METHOD

First place the sultanas in hot water to plump them up. Peel and grate the carrots (I use a food processor), and place in a bowl. Mix with the salt.
Heat the oil in a small frying pan. When hot, put in the mustard seeds. When they begin to pop (should be about 10 seconds), pour all the contents of the pan, oil and mustard seeds, on the carrots. Mix well.
Add the lemon juice. Add the (drained) sultanas.
Mix well.

Easy peasy. Keeps well in the fridge for a few days.

Jwdd27's England World Cup Squad, part one

2009-09-11T13:01:00.005+01:00

To celebrate England’s impressive qualification for the FIFA World Cup 2010, over the next few days I’ll take a look at the players I think should be on the plane.

Obviously a couple of these will get injured, one or two might lose form and/or their club place, and there’ll be a couple of players who come from nowhere to grab a place on the plane.

But it’s still a fun exercise.

Part One: GOALKEEPERS

David James (Portsmouth)

Robert Green (West Ham United)

Joe Hart (Birmingham City)

David James will turn 40 a couple of weeks after the tournament, but he’s still the best goalkeeper in the country. I’d rather there wasn’t an old man in goal. Although Peter Shilton made some fine saves as a 40 year old at Italia 90, his helpless, slow-motion back pedalling to try and reach the Germans’ deflected free kick, and his failure to get near a penalty in the shoot-out also stick in the mind. Similarly, 38-year-old David Seaman’s back-pedalling was also found wanting against Ronaldinho in 2002. However, times have changed, and James looks fitter (and leaner) than those two did. And he’s taller, so perhaps won’t need to back-pedal.

Green seems to be in possession at the moment, and is yet to make a major error for England, although like James he is prone to them at club level. He looks like one from the Southall school – slightly scruffy and eccentric, but a great keeper.

Hart has shown impressive consistency and he was unfortunate to be replaced at Man City by Shay Given, who is an inferior keeper in my opinion. He also merits a place for his U21 performances – it would be nice to see a few more players graduate from the junior set ups than do at present.

Missing out:

Ben Foster (Manchester United)

Paul Robinson (Blackburn Rovers)

Scott Carson (West Bromwich Albion)

Chris Kirkland (Wigan Athletic)

Carlo Cudicini (Tottenham Hotspur)

Manuel Almunia (Arsenal)

Ben Foster is 26, but has played just 99 league games in his career – just 36 of those in the Premier League. He doesn’t have the level of experience required for a major tournament, and although undoubtedly a fine keeper, has shown uncertainty since getting a run in the United first team. Robinson’s days as first choice seem quite far off now and both he and Carson have made high-profile howlers in England jerseys. Kirkland is a decent enough keeper but perhaps the fact he plays in the Premier league backwater that is Wigan Athletic is counting against him.

The last two are of course a joke. It would be destructive for squad morale to fast-track either of them to British citizenship, and Almunia has acknowledged as much recently. Even as an Arsenal fan, I’m not sure I’d pick Almunia ahead of James. Or Cudicini.

NEXT TIME: Full backs

Music I hate should be available to me

2009-09-08T11:26:00.007+01:00

[via BBC News]
Mason said that Pink Floyd has not ruled out working on a Rock Band or Guitar Hero-style game in the future.
"I think we'd consider it," he told the BBC. "I think everyone's looking at new ways of selling the music because the business of selling records has almost disappeared.
"I'm of the old guard who are really sad about that, because I always liked the concept of the album - rather than just cherry-picking tracks - and also the business of the art work that went with it."

Then put your dull, overwrought hippie crap on Spotify - that might help keep the cash rolling in. You can put whole albums up there, and you make money from it. Don't know about the artwork - that's not been relevant since vinyl. A bit like Pink Floyd.

Same for you, Metallica and AC/DC. I mostly hate your music, but I'd love it to be available for people who don't. Spotify is changing the world. Some bands are being left in the past, to be laughed at.

And The Beatles. Whole generations (including myself) grow up not hearing their music because it's not played on the radio a lot (they charge too much), and the lawyers and accountants representing them (or their estates) know the cost of everything and the value of nothing, so they eschew all new media, thinking they're "protecting" something.

Crap Movie Clichés No. 94 - Wet Funeral

2009-09-03T10:29:00.004+01:00

One of the characters has died. The hack director wants to convey that this is a sad occasion, so the funeral takes place in pouring rain. It's a burial - cremations seem to be rare in movieland.

Lots of black umbrellas around the grave. In reality, there would be a couple of bright green or blue golf umbrellas, emblazoned with an insurance company's logo.
As the priest drones away, the camera pans back to show our hero, the cop or detective working the case. He stands well back from the crowd, under his own black umbrella. He's watching.

Then, as the relatives file away, he approaches the grieving widow, or widower. They say something like "Please leave me alone!", or "I have nothing to say to you!". Our hero asks an awkward question, or reveals some information he has discovered. The widow shoots a look of hatred towards him as she is helped into the car.

In the next scene, it is sunny.

In praise of... Spotify

2009-08-31T13:27:00.009+01:00

It’s not often an application comes along which brings about a change in the way you live your life. Spotify is just such an application.
Other streaming music services such as last.fm always seemed to complex to operate, with a fairy narrow choice of music, and scratchy performance.
With Spotify, you literally can pick any piece of music*, any album, any artist, and you’re a double click away from listening to it. Drag albums or tracks you like into your playlists and they’re right there on your computer to listen to whenever you feel like it. For free, legally.

The Shock of the “New”

Like many people my age, Radio 1 or other “new” music stations are far too youth-oriented for me to listen to. Other than watching the likes of Later with Jools Holland, or TV coverage of the festivals, my exposure to new music was practically zero.

Now, if you hear a “new” artist mentioned, checking them out on Spotify is simple. So you can feel hip no matter how old you are. The 30 second samples on iTunes, or dubious quality, copyright-minefield clips on YouTube don’t compare to listening to a whole album. Or the five most popular tracks by a particular artist, helpfully listed in the Spotify search to save you even more time.

I’ve become more of a fan of Kasabian and Kings of Leon in this way by adding their most recent albums to my playlists. It was impressive for me to watch KoL’s Reading Festival performance on Friday and find that I knew all the songs, whereas a month ago I knew “Sex On Fire” and that was about it. Other decent indie fare includes The Enemy and The View, both bands who I thought had a decent sound when they launched a couple of years ago, without being inspired to buy any of their material.

The devil take your stereo and your record collection

My first albums were vinyl. And cassette. CDs became popular as I entered adolescence and my tastes changed – few albums made the format jump. As time went on, CDs were lent out and not returned, stolen in burglaries, lost in house moves. Then came the iTunes, MP3 and iPod shift. Again, only the very best made the leap from CD to computer. So what should be a collection of 300 albums and singles is down to about 50.

Spotify solves that problem almost instantly. My Prince albums, in storage on vinyl god knows where, are back with me. Purple Rain and Sign O The Times remain classics, although the latter suffers from Prince’s inability to edit out the weaker tracks. All of Radiohead’s work is back with me. Likewise PJ Harvey, early Manic Street Preachers and The Charlatans.

The Stone Roses were the only act to survive all format jumps, but this completist is glad he didn’t fork out for the 20^th anniversary edition of the album, featuring as it does some god-awful demo versions of the tracks. [Producer] John Leckie deserves even more credit than he already gets. But I do “own” the tracks now.

I’m tempted to make U2 my next re-discovery, especially The Unforgettable Fire/Under A Blood Red Sky era stuff, but also whichever of their most recent albums was the good one I thought about buying.

So, top marks to Spotify for reconstructing my record collection. Being able to once again listen to tracks that used to be a daily part of my life is priceless.

1001 Albums you should own

Or Top 100 albums ever! 100 songs you should hear before you DIE! The undisputed classics. You’ve all seen the lists, re-produced several times a year by magazines short of an idea.

Except you don’t own them and have never heard them. Now you can, with no obligation to buy, or even to like it. Instantly accessible. If you’re like me, having an opinion on every recording artist who ever lived is very important. Now you can.

I’ve been using Spotify to boost my jazz cool, especially Miles Davis. I doubt if jazz will ever be anything but mellow background music to me, but to have at least experienced all of the major players improves my life.

Ditto with classical. I’m planning an A-Z project with composers, which will involve Spotify and a separate blog.

Are you sure this is legal?

Yes. The free version has adverts roughly every 30 minutes, i.e. not as often as on commercial radio or television. People who complain about adverts baffle me, especially in something as awesome as Spotify is. They are intrusive, yes, and can upset the mood, but they’re generally for other music to check out, and they’re funding all the awesome music you’re listening to. Anyway, the paid version is cheap if you really can’t stomach the idea of being sold to.

The record companies are on board with this, and they’re making money – just months after the launch, Universal makes more money from Spotify in Sweden (where it comes from) than from iTunes. If it makes money, it will be a global success. It will also remove the need to download music “illegally”.

*The Usual Suspects

Artists not currently on Spotify, who I guess feel that you can never be too rich, include The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Metallica and AC/DC. These artists (or their representatives) have a history of distrust for new media and a seeming reluctance for people to hear their music. Eventually their accountants will realise it’s worth their while financially. Artistic considerations no longer matter to this group of multi-millionaires.

Catch it if you can

Spotify is currently available in Sweden, Norway, Finland, the UK, France and Spain. It’s a source of smug pride to me that something as revolutionary as this is currently only available to a select group of European countries. It will cross to the USA eventually, and it will really tear things apart when it does.

I’m not enthusiastic about things as a rule, but this application is one of the best things ever, and will change the world. In years to come, access to all music ever recorded, instantly, wirelessly and for free will be the accepted norm. And it will be Spotify that started to make that possible. Go for it.

No compassion for an innocent man?

2009-08-13T14:21:00.003+01:00

Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi. I love typing or saying the name, but I hate having to do so. I usually shorten it to "Innocent Megrahi". He is the man wrongly convicted of the bombing of Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie in 1988. His conviction was a gross miscarriage of justice, brought about with the probable collusion of the American, British, Syrian and Libyan governments, with many clumsy (but successful) attempts to pervert the course of "justice".
Now there is talk of his early release to Libya "on compassionate grounds" - Mr Megrahi has terminal cancer - which would be a convenient way to sweep the unsafe conviction under the carpet. Of course I support his release on the grounds that he is innocent as well as unwell.

What prompted this post was the bile being spewed on the BBC's Have Your Say page. Ill-informed, viciously hawkish, borderline racist, it was all there. Select the most recommended tab for the worst of the worst. It seems that for a lot of people the question of his innocence is not relevant, as long as there is someone with a foreign name and dark skin being punished. Quite a few people bracket it in with the "War on Terror", which it predated by quite a few years - Reagan was still officially President when it happened. A few of the dumbest posts are from Americans, but there is a great deal of Daily Mail style trash talking as well.

I hate that people have a closed mind about this case when the evidence is overwhelming. But idiots always seem to have the loudest voice. They ask "What compassion did the terrorists show?". They showed none, which is why we should show some to an innocent man. Showing compassion is a sign of human decency.

One day the truth will out, thanks to excellent early groundwork by the late Paul Foot, and the excellent campaigning of Prof Robert Black and Dr Jim Swire. Both their sites are worth a look, as is the Justice for Megrahi site.

Newcastle not worthy to host Robson tributes

2009-08-01T14:46:00.003+01:00

Sir Bobby Robson was a very good football manager, and a very good man. The game of football will be the poorer for his permanent absence.

Having said that, do we really need such public grief? St James' Park has become a shrine, with the fans flocking to pay their tributes and sign the book of condolence. Why? And why Newcastle? He may have supported them as a child, but like all professional footballers, his playing commitments will have soon put paid to any chance of actually going to matches and really supporting his team. He managed them for just five years at the very end of his career. Like nearly every Newcastle manager, he failed to win anything, although he did lead them to three top six finishes. And he was SACKED by this club, which will be playing in the Championship when it all kicks off again in a week's time (YAY). They don't deserve to be hosting such a mawkish festival. Ipswich Town, West Bromwich Albion and Fulham all have greater claims to Sir Bobby's memory. And in terms of trophies, Barcelona, PSV Eindhoven and Porto have more to thank him for.

I'm not wanting to crap on Robson's memory, I just think it's disingenuous of Newcastle, and deluded of the people to take part in such a "spontaneous" event. I like it in the North East, in fact I had a few good nights in Robson's birthplace of Langley Park. So I'd hate the Geordies (and Mackems) to become like the Scousers, the masters of overwrought grief and fake emotion.

Sir Bobby Robson, 1933-2009

Strewth mate what a bunch of mongrels, etc etc

2009-07-30T14:42:00.002+01:00

Men At Work have been accused of plagiarism over their hit "Down Under". That's right, the one from 1984. The plaintiff is a publishing firm called Larrikin, which is hilariously Australian. From what I can gather from the usual BBC muddle, they bought the rights to a 1934 Girl Guides song and are now, in 2009, claiming that Men At Work ripped off the flute solo.

I'd be surprised if Men At Work have got that much money left, however big a hit "Down Under" was. I was a big fan as a 12-year-old and even bought their follow up single, "Overkill", but they've hardly been at the top of the business since then. Things might be different back in Oz, although I doubt it.

Here it is, contested flute solo included. Shameless.

Lewis suffers god's wrath!

2009-07-29T10:32:00.006+01:00

A tornado has hit Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis. The stories reporting it tried very hard, and succeeded, to not link it to recent events on the island.

But I bet a few of the 19th century dwelling religious nut jobs on the island aren't quite so coy. It all adds up - a Sunday ferry service to the mainland, and then a same sex civil partnership ceremony...

And His vengeance was swift. HA!

Double jeopardy, double incompetence

2009-07-28T17:07:00.004+01:00

Wendell Baker is likely to escape prosecution for rape, as police have lost the case file. The fact that no one is in any doubt that he committed this horrific crime shouldn't overshadow the fact that it was incompetence that got us here in the first place.

He was originally charged on the basis of illegally held DNA. Evidence from a crime he was not convicted of, and so should have been disposed of. Under new rules blogged about here previously, the samples would now be able to be kept. But not then, so it was a monumental screw up. And now the case file is lost, so they don't get a re-trial under another change in the rules, the double jeopardy re-jig of 2005.

What this case illustrates is that a functioning justice system relies on competent and professional police and prosecution work. If that is in place, there is no need for changes in the rules which discriminate against people found innocent of a crime. Of course Mr Baker does not come into this category, but there are many who will suffer because of changes brought about to cover up police incompetence.

Rantzen rant

2009-07-28T12:00:00.002+01:00

Esther Rantzen has announced she will run for parliament in Luton South next year (or whenever the election is. OK, next year). Margaret McDonough is the sitting MP, and was one of the most high-profile offenders in the expenses "scandal". She claimed for a residence in London, and a second home in Southampton, 100 miles away.

She'll win of course, because she's FAMOUS and is off the telly (although most of her TV work was 20+ years ago). Joanna Lumley should consider it as well, although perhaps PM of Nepal would suit her better.

Let's just elect a whole parliament of celebrities, as these are the only people that seem to hold the interest of a slack-jawed population.

Not sure of Esther's motivation here. She must be pushing 70, although the anti-ageist BBC doesn't give her age (I was right. She's 69). I've got a feeling she'll regret it once she's settled into the daily grind at Westminster.

I remember when That's Life! was absolutely huge in the 1980s. I'm sure if I watched an episode today I'd be appalled at how crappy it was. In the same way that as a kid you could never pick out obvious gays on TV, I didn't realise Esther was Jewish until adulthood, even though it's glaringly obvious. Her religion isn't important though.
Was this the worst blog post ever? I mean, you can't even tell if I support her or not... ach well.

Image tutorial

2009-07-27T21:03:00.006+01:00

Disregard

Cool flags of the world #94: Kyrgyzstan

2009-07-23T12:54:00.005+01:00

I noticed in the news that the Kyrgyz are having presidential elections today (although it's not going smoothly), and in the course of researching the country came across their brilliant flag.

The 40-ray sun signifies the 40 tribes unified by epic hero Manas to form the Kyrgyz. It would look great on a t-shirt, I know that.

Source for Kyrgyz info, as always, was Wikipedia. Remember when people used to mock it?

Sven to Notts County???!!!

2009-07-22T11:59:00.008+01:00

According to his great friend David Davies (well, they shagged the same secretary) Sven Goran Eriksson has accepted the job at Notts County because he wants to be involved in football, NOT for the money. Yeah, right. So a man who has consistently followed the money, earning huge wages and getting enormous pay-offs for failure, has changed his spots? I doubt it.

I feel a tiny bit sorry for Notts County. Phrases like "Middle East investors" "cash injection" and "Sven Goran Eriksson" suggest to me it's not going to end well.

Why the hell would they choose Notts County anyway? They're a decent enough club with quite a nice stadium, but they're a lower league club. Not a bottom half of League Two club, but maybe League One is their level. They were in the top division for a while in the 1980s under the legendary Jimmy Sirrel* and Howard Wilkinson and again for a year in the early 90s under Neil Warnock (relegated the year before the Premier League. D'oh!), but otherwise they've just kicked around the lower leagues, usually overshadowed by Forest, unless they themselves were going through one of their bad patches.

Because of their antiquity (1862) and status as founder members of the Football League, they are sometimes portrayed as one of the legendary "sleeping giants", but they're nothing of the sort. Victory in the tinpot Anglo-Italian cup in 1995, the FA Cup in 1894, and various lower league championships are all they have to show for their 137 years.
Indeed, one of their previous times in the headlines was a similar story to the Eriksson one. In 1947 they signed Tommy Lawton, the best striker in the country, who dropped from First Division Chelsea to join County in the Third. It was an amazing decision by Lawton, probably on a par with the present-day County signing Rooney. That move ended up a remarkable success (103 goals in 166 games); one hopes the same will be said of the Eriksson move, but I'm not holding my breath.

* In his entertaining Brian Clough book (Provided You Don't Kiss Me - 20 Years with Brian Clough), Duncan Hamilton recounts the joys of his previous role dealing with Jimmy Sirrel at County.

"Nice day today Jim" "Aye, but not if you're dead, is it?" or "Nice Day, Jim" "If you think so, you write that!" As a child I can remember Sirrel's craggy, ancient-looking face scaring me as it stared out of my Panini albums. A few years after this shot I would think.

Life is Tweet

2009-07-21T17:25:00.004+01:00

I bet that headline's been used before. I estimate that Twitter is just about becoming unfashionable, so I joined.

jwdd27 is my imaginative Twitter name if you want to see the 10 messages a day I'll post for the next two days before falling silent forever.

Fake Adam Smith quote?

2009-07-21T15:56:00.009+01:00

"The robot is going to lose. Not by much. But when the final score is tallied, flesh and blood is going to beat the damn monster." ~ Adam Smith

I was sent this quote yesterday, and thought it a bit odd, as Adam Smith was dead by 1790, so definitely couldn't have been talking of electronic robots - was he referring to steam powered machines?

The quote is repeated on numerous quotation sites across the internet, so it must be true, right?

Then I remembered (OK, I looked it up, then remembered that I knew it) that "robot" was coined by the Czech writer Karel Capek in his play R.U.R., in 1920. Although he gave his brother credit for inventing the word.

So Adam Smith definitely never said "robot", as the word didn't exist. I wonder if this is a totally fabricated quote, or if he used some other word like automaton, and "robot" has been subbed in for the modern audience?

Who said young people are lazy?

2009-05-21T14:00:00.002+01:00

This 15 year old seems to have shown some entrepreneurial spirit.
When I was that age, I certainly didn't have the get-up-and-go to cultivate £750,000 worth of cannabis.
Having said that, I always knock a zero off the police's values in cases like this.

Et tu, Elliot? Scunthorpe's day of shame

2009-05-14T21:46:00.008+01:00

It's becoming impossible to ignore the expenses story, especially as my local MP Elliot Morley has become the story of the day, and looks like losing his job as a result. It felt quite strange to hear local accents on the TV and radio all day expressing their disgust with his £16,000 in false claims for a mortgage he'd already paid off.

My reaction is utter dismay rather than disgust. He's been MP here for 22 years, since I was just 15, so he's pretty much all I've ever known, Richard Hickmet being a dim memory. In that time, he's proven himself to be an excellent MP, working hard for local people and raising local issues in parliament. His lifelong commitment to the environment meant he was a highly respected and effective minister at MAFF and later DEFRA, while still maintaining his constituency commitments. This was a man who appeared to be in politics for all the right reasons, to help make a difference and to represent the interests of the people.

He has always appeared "a pretty straight kind of guy", and I'd find it difficult to believe that the erroneous claims were anything other than a dreadful mistake.
It really is a horrendous error to make and he'll have to live the consequences of his carelessness, especially as it has come to light at such a hysterical time in British politics. At another time, it might have been a case of 'red faces all round, but he's paid it back so let's move on'. But at the end of a week of this (literal) horseshit, I fear Inspector Knacker will soon be at his door to provide the public with the prosecution the media have made them feel entitled to.

I don't know him personally, but this constituent thinks he is a very good, hardworking MP, and a nice man as well. If he has to go, it will be a sad loss for parliament and politics.

But...

And it's a fairly big 'but', as you can see. He lost my vote in 2003 by his continuous voting in favour of the Iraq war. Like many "lifelong" Labour voters, this was the final straw between me and New Labour. "Not in my name" was the slogan of the time, but Elliot voted for the government rather than with his constituents.

And ever since then we've been on opposing sides. Mr Morley has also, the wonderful theyworkforyou.com tells me, voted strongly with the government on ridiculous anti-terrorism legislation, and ID cards, which will prove equally harmful to civil liberties.

Excellent local MP and all-round good guy he may be, but these votes tell me he does not represent my views in parliament, so does not get my vote. It's a shame that while he has my sympathies at this time, he'll never get my vote again after his decision on Iraq.

Rude plants #1

2009-05-13T10:33:00.004+01:00

Some people (mainly women, it has to be said) thought this image of a poppy in my garden is rude. I didn't see it myself at first, but they may have a point.

And poppies can it seems imitate either sex:

I feel like Esther Rantzen. Or Doc Cox/Cyril Fletcher. And now I have the That's Life theme tune in my head. Doc.

Stephen Fry not twittering here

2009-05-12T22:19:00.003+01:00

I can't yet embed Stephen Fry's comment on the MPs' expenses row, but I will when it's been broadcast, because it's vital I should when two great minds think alike. That's mine and his, in case that's not clear.

Well said Sir Stephen.

Hogg by name...

2009-05-11T23:29:00.003+01:00

Although my position on the MP expenses row is one of boredom and frustration rather than outrage, I'd like to thank Douglas Hogg (left) for raising a laugh with what he wanted the taxpayer to pay for.
This man of the people asked us to fund alterations to his stables, piano tuning and clearance of his moat. Yes, his moat. I'm sure we can all sympathise there - no one likes their moat clogged up, or an out of tune piano. And I always keep my stables in tip-top shape.
It seems that the Tories getting caught out for frivolous things like swimming pool or tennis court repairs, or horse manure, are starting to pay the money back - obviously the message from Cameron and let's hope the other parties follow suit.
Opinion polls show drop in Labour and Tory support in favour of Lib Dems (yet to be featured in The Telegraph's leaks), as well as UKIP and the BNP. I fear these revelations will play in to the hands of the lunatic, single issue parties, who despite all their madness and sordid pasts are untainted by political sleaze. Let's hope not.

Garfield - Garfield = Genius

2009-05-09T18:44:00.009+01:00

www.garfieldminusgarfield.net

"Garfield Minus Garfield is a site dedicated to removing Garfield from the Garfield comic strips in order to reveal the existential angst of a certain young Mr. Jon Arbuckle. It is a journey deep into the mind of an isolated young everyman as he fights a losing battle against loneliness and depression in a quiet American suburb."

I love it, having always found Garfield about the least funny thing on the planet, and regarded fans of the cartoon as total lame-brains. Some of them don't work, but some are hilarious, although you can't quite work out why.

I'm number one! In a field of one!

2009-05-09T15:49:00.004+01:00

I was quite proud to see my review listed by Amazon as the "most helpful critical review" of Jeff Stelling's book. Then I realised it's the only critical review. I think FML is the right phrase here.

I've got to go, Jeff Stelling is on the TV right now. I enjoyed his quip last week when a player called Keddie was sent off. "The ref said 'Ready Keddie? Go!". I do love Jeff, I wish I loved his book as much.

The politics of greed, or nothing to report?

2009-05-09T11:19:00.007+01:00

The leak of high-profile MPs' expenses is proving a great source of outrage, disgust and laughter in equal measure. What is clear is that everybody exploited the system to its limits to top up their salaries, claiming money from the taxpayer for what most would perceive as luxury items (Jacqui smith's patio heater, John Prescott's mock Tudor beams, and all manner of designer kitchens and bathrooms, replete with marble and gold). The shuffling of second homes to make a profit on the property market is the most galling, with some ministers changing the designation several times a month, in effect having a free makeover of all their properties, thereby enhancing the future sale value. Hazel Blears must have had itchy feet (perhaps that's why she's so perky?), apparently moving house three times in a year, each time of course being helped out with expenses by the generous system.
Then there are the rich taking from the poor. Multi-millionaire Shaun Woodward asked his butler to ask the taxpayer to pay the mortgage interest on his "second home", which was one of his seven houses. Barbara Follett asked for £6,000 a year for security patrols outside the home she shares with multi-millionaire author Ken Follett. Keith Vaz, for whom it seems appearances in lists like this are compulsory, claimed £72,ooo help in buying a flat 12 miles from his £1.1m home.
All of the above make our MPs and ministers, our representatives, appear greedy and grabbing, out to line their pockets, with their noses in the trough, not even able to pay for a Kit Kat out of their own pocket. Is this really the case? And is this really a story?

Hang on, he's going to support them!

Not exactly support, but empathise a tiny bit. Consider a few things.

How long has this been going on?
These rules were introduced in the 1970s, by Michael Foot. At the time economic circumstances meant a pay rise for MPs was out of the question (sound familiar?). So the expenses system and MPs' enthusiasm for it, is nothing new. Indeed, given the relatively low pay, it is regarded as part of the salary, in the same way jobs nowadays are advertised as £xx,xxx + bonuses + car + benefits. The only thing new in this story is that the details are now published.

He (or she) who is without sin...
Can anyone honestly say they have protested on being told "Keep the receipt, you can claim for it" or "I'll pay, I can claim for it."? The fact is, in almost every job there is a system to recompense employees for out-of-pocket expenses, and human nature means that in every job this system is tested to the absolute limit. It's happened in every job I've worked, all the time. When you ask a taxi driver for a receipt, a common question is "how much for?", because he knows everyone has their hands out, including him, who will gain a bit extra in the tip.
The only feeling these revelations should give is of slight relief. MPs are human, and are just like us.

Is this all the news there is?
Didn't some British soldiers die yesterday fighting in Afghanistan? Why are we still fighting there? Are our soldiers properly equipped at least? Where's Osama bin Laden? What's going on in Pakistan, who have nuclear weapons? How's it going with the British woman in Laos? The largest steel works in the country is set to close, with 2,000 job losses, tearing the heart out of the region? How's the economy, will I still have a job in 6 months? I have a stake in RBS now, what are its figures, is it being run properly? Any news from that coup in Georgia? What's happening in Palestine? Sri Lanka? Africa? Spain? Scotland?

Just a selection of stories that are more important than my MP legitimately claiming for a Kit Kat. Don't get distracted by trivial rubbish, when lives and livelihoods are being lost in this country and all over the world.

The rules are changing anyway
There's not much that can actually be done about any of this. All ministers and MPs have pointed out that what they have done was within the rules. Not exactly within the spirit of the rules, but still legitimate. These rules are under review and will change, just not as quickly as a panicky Gordon Brown, ever fearful of the next Mail or Express headline, would wish. So what's the point of complaining? These are historic expenses claims, the like of which we will not, or should not see again. No rules have been broken.

Don't give up our Freedom
These figures, prematurely leaked, were to be published under the Freedom of Information act (FOI). Whichever politician dreamt it up should be given a couple of peerages and perhaps a sainthood. It's thanks to the FOI that we know more about the workings of the government, the House of Commons and other public institutions than ever before. It has meant that our servants are for the first time truly accountable for their actions, and can be confronted over incompetence or mismanagement. FOI truly is a wonderful thing for the general public, but the government are constantly seeking to evade it, deeming requests "not in the public interest", or citing "commercial confidentiality". They don't want us to know what's going on. An exaggerated, hysterical reaction to a non-story like this makes avoidance of the FOI more likely, and makes it more likely that Bills will be introduced tweaking it, so that the juicy stuff remains hidden. Don't get carried away with crap like this, or we'll never get to the good stuff, which actually means something. So on that note I should end this blog.

Mainstream Media at it again...

2009-05-09T11:16:00.001+01:00

This piece is yet another example of the MSM's biased liberal/right-wing/Christian/atheist agenda. Thank goodness for the blogosphere ;-)

DNA go away

2009-05-07T14:53:00.006+01:00

The government has reacted to the ruling that it is illegal for them to keep the 850,000 DNA samples it holds of innocent people.

By deciding that they'll keep them anyway, just not for quite as long. I'll just type the word again. Innocent. Meaning not guilty, in fact quite often not even close to getting charged.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith's "compromise", means samples will be destroyed after six years, or 12 years if the crime (which to remind you yet again, this person did not commit) was serious. Which means they'll keep on breaking European law, just not quite as much. So, if incompetent police work, or bad luck, leads you to be questioned in relation to a serious offence, you'll be on a database of suspected and convicted rapists and murderers for 12 years.

DNA has vastly improved crime detection, and eased the heartache of families by solving a lot of "cold cases". But that DNA is only needed for the processes of elimination, in that crime. To hang on to a sample indefinitely, or for 6 years or 12, suggests that the government does not trust its own judicial system when it finds someone NOT guilty, or thinks that being questioned in relation to an enquiry means you are a criminal - "let's hang on to the sample for when they commit another crime".
Prof Sir Alec Jefferys, who invented the DNA fingerprinting process, sums it up perfectly: "There should be a presumption of innocence, not of future guilt".
Mark Thomas writes in the Guardian that Labour have created a "third way" in criminal justice: neither guilty or innocent, but innocent-ish. He also reminds us that Jacqui Smith's husband's DNA can presumably be found on the living room carpet after he has watched his porn paid for by the taxpayer. A cheap shot, but funny.

This attempt to pre-empt the criminal justice system is a step towards total state control, with its sister policy of ID cards another string to the bow. What the police and government would like most is for everyone to be on the database with an ID card and DNA sample, regardless. Then they would be able to control people. But they're not brave enough to campaign for a national database just yet. They'll just keep gathering the samples, untilt hey've got so many that they might as well put everyone on there, there's only a few million left, and what have they got to hide?

What have you got to hide?

That's the time-worn argument. It used to be used when we tried to protest against CCTV cameras everywhere. Now we're the most watched country on earth, and other nations are amazed that this level of personal intrusion goes on, and say "Why don't you kick up more of a fuss?".
What do I have to hide? Well, probably not that much, but I have got something to protect, which is my personal freedom to do as I wish within the law, without interference. This civil liberty should be important to everyone, even if they're unimaginative enough to have "nothing to hide".
This is also a privacy issue, as well as one of fairness and justice. DNA data can reveal information about your paternity, and also predeliction to certain diseases. The government will then have this information, even if you yourself are not aware of the facts.

The worst TV programme ever is...

2009-05-05T14:55:00.001+01:00

Diagnosis Murder.

Terrible script, lousy acting, the most stereotypical characters, with the already very simple plot explained and re-explained, because they must think people watching are the dumbest ever.
Dick van Dyke. And his douche son, who really is his son, who plays the cop. With added Scott Baio. My favourite episode was one where Dick van Dyke got punched. Hard.
I really don't know how they ended up making so many, or why I watch it every afternoon...

A pandemic of hysteria

2009-04-30T11:47:00.001+01:00

It's been something of a slow news cycle recently, which has helped propel the "swine flu" outbreak to the forefront of people's minds. The British government, keen to do all it can to distract from the crumbling economy and soaring jobless figures, is doing its bit as well. Or at least being seen to be doing its bit. There's an ad campaign and a leaflet to be dropped through every door.

The advice being given is insultingly basic: cover your face when you cough or sneeze, wash your hands, and if you feel ill stay home and get medical advice. Well, duh! At least the chief medical officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, was quick to rubbish the use of face masks, which firstly have pores too wide to prevent the virus getting in, and secondly get damp and provide incubation for the virus. I've got a feeling the government wanted to be sending us all a face mask through the post to heighten the sense of excitement, and again distract from how they're messing up badly everywhere else. Sir Liam also impressed when he was asked if major events over the summer would have to be cancelled: "Well, I hope not, I'm a big Bruce Springsteen fan and have tickets for his shows". It's good to have him at the helm rather than someone more easily swayed by how the government wants to spin it.

The fact is there's very little that can be done about a new influenza virus such as this. The Tamiflu "vaccine" is next to worthless, no matter how many doses get stockpiled. It'll just boost the already vast profits of Roche. We've just got to wait for the outbreak to run its course, and at this time it seems that deaths in Mexico, which are officially only in single figures as yet, are down to the poor standard of health care there, with opportunistic infections finishing off a patient weakened by flu. People being treated elsewhere seem to be recovering quickly.

The use of the word "pandemic" by the WHO is also causing hysteria in the media, who just love a "WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE" story. Pandemic conjures up thoughts of old history lessons and millions of deaths: the black death in Europe in the 14th century, cholera in Russia in the 19th century, and Spanish flu in 1918, without which I wouldn't be here typing this post*.
But a pandemic is simply "an infectious disease which affects populations across a wide area". Mexico and the southern USA is a wide area, and this disease is infectious. Pandemic doesn't refer to the amount of people who die.

The use of "swine flu", which correctly attributes the origin of the disease, is sure to confuse the stupid and stop them buying pork produced in the UK or elsewhere. Influenza is a respiratory disease, there's little or no chance of a diseased pig passing anything on through its meat. But I bet sales go down. Hopefully the stores will have to cut the price of my favourite pork loin.

So my advice, most of which you should know if you're over 3 years old:
• coughs and sneezes spread diseases - use a tissue
• wash your hands
• don't believe the hype - turn off the news when they "go live" to the Devon school where ONE girl has a MILD case and is recovering well, but they've shut the place down for two weeks (lazy teachers say what?)
• if you feel ill, stay at home and wait to get better. If you don't get better, see a doctor.

This story really does annoy, especially so soon after the avian flu which killed us all three years ago.

* My great-grandfather lost his wife to the 1918 flu outbreak, then met and married my great-grandmother, a Great War widow with two children. They then had one further child, my grandmother. So the Spanish flu outbreak led to my birth 54 years later.

Not guilty by association

2009-04-28T17:19:00.006+01:00

Not guilty: Waheed Ali, Sadeer Saleem, and Mohammed Shakil. Pic: Met Police

The three Leeds men accused of plotting with the 7/7 bombers have been found not guilty in their second trial, following the biggest criminal investigation in British history. No big surprise there, given the flimsiness of the evidence.

The trial wasted millions of pounds of taxpayers' money as the police, the CPS and no doubt the government pushed to prosecute these three guys, whose only crime was to be of Pakistani origin, to have known some of the 7/7 bombers and to have visited London. The second jury believed that that trip, which included visits to the London Eye and the Natural History Museum, both later not bombed, was just a day out, not a reconnaissance mission.
I was surprised when the first jury couldn't reach a verdict.

One consolation for the government was the conviction of Ali and Shakil for "conspiracy to attend a place used for terrorist training", a crime I hadn't heard of before, but which sounds vague enough for an easy conviction. Those two were arrested "attempting to flee" to Pakistan, and I can't say I blame them if they got wind of what a stitch-up was about to happen.

So, yet another embarrassment for the CPS, the police and the government's "war on terror". First they fail to stop the bombings, having disregarded the bombers in favour of the Bluewater fertiliser plotters. Then they repeatedly fail to secure a conviction of anyone in connection with 7/7. And of course, the recent farcical release without charge of all the innocent men arrested as part of the "major terrorist" operation which Bob Quick let slip on his visit to No 10. Oh, and the guys who went to watch a Manchester United game, as 70,000 people do every week, and were suspected of plotting to blow up Old Trafford. The ticket stubs were the "evidence".

I think the 7/7 relatives deserve a new inquiry into what the hell is going on with our police and security services, to find out why this attack wasn't stopped and why they persist with pushing through ridiculous and frankly racist prosecutions against British citizens, who are suspected of being terrorists because they are brown-skinned and Moslem.

Hero of the day - Krystian Zimerman

2009-04-28T11:23:00.003+01:00

Stopped his show for a rant against America's missile defence shield, which will use Poland as a convenient location for WMDs. Unbelievably, some people walked out shouting obscenities. Are they really that sensitive to any criticism of the land of the free?

Come to the UK and say what you want, Krystian. He does seem to be a bit of an oddball (not that his concerns about American military posturing are in any way eccentric), and travels everywhere with his own piano. Already had one destroyed by US customs because "the glue smelled funny", and gets the others seized and impounded regularly. Keep fighting Krystian.

Keep it down, love - ASBO craziness

2009-04-27T21:11:00.004+01:00

A woman has been jailed for breaching an ASBO put in place after neighbours complained about her loud sex sessions. Unbelievable. We're becoming one of those countries featured in "just fancy that" stories elsewhere. I imagine podcasters in the US are already licking their lips (behave) over this one.

Washington, Tyne & Wear, is not the most salubrious of areas (although I'm sure it has its nice parts), so she really must have been shouting (and banging her head against the wall, the report says) for the neighbours to take notice. Or maybe she wasn't, and like a lot of these stories it's an unpopular neighbour being humiliated by her community having not committed a crime, as the ASBO "police" will pretty much take your word for it (hearsay evidence permitted).

In the meantime, everyone gets a laugh at this woman's sex life (with her age, 48, no doubt being further cause for merriment), and ignore Britain's broken social policy and ineffective criminal justice system.

Screeching Peacock

2009-04-26T15:53:00.004+01:00

It didn't turn out the best pic, because of the plant in the way, but I tracked this bird on the wall for 20 minutes before it screeched on camera.

Many more pics on my Flickr site

And now, some musical theatre...

2009-04-25T15:12:00.003+01:00

Here's my friend Kacie (theworldisatyourfingertips.blogspot.com) performing "My New Philosophy" as Sally in "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown".

I was never a Charlie Brown/Peanuts/Snoopy fan, in fact I still don't get it, but I like this. :-)

Fair Play, Frank

2009-04-25T14:54:00.003+01:00

I'm not a fan of Frank Lampard. His attitude on, and sometimes off the field, the club he plays for, his often disappointing England performances - all evidence for the prosecution. But yesterday he did what "celebrities" (can you remember when sportsmen weren't "celebrities"?) should do more of. He heard himself being slated about a family matter by a loudmouth radio presenter, so he rang up and put him straight.

Fair play to you, Frank. And the excellent season he's just had should have seen him on the shortlist for PFA Player of the Year. He could replace any of Giggs, Van der Sar or Ferdinand.

It's a shame though, that the outburst came 24 hours before Chelsea go to west Ham, whose supporters will have been up all night composing some tasteless, vicious songs to serenade Frank with.

Plane naive?

2009-04-25T14:33:00.004+01:00

Juliana Napier, Tilly Gifford and Dan Glass of Plane Stupid. Photo: Murdo McLeod/Guardian

Plane Stupid (above) are all over the media this morning after one of their number managed to record a Strathclyde detective trying to recruit her as an informant.
I think it's pretty naive of Tilly and Plane Stupid (and of the media reporting it) not to be expecting something like this. I'm no fan of the police, but everything here was done in line with the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA), and there is no wrongdoing - the police were trying to gain intelligence about an organisation that has in the past staged several successful disruptive demonstrations, which often involved commiting a crime (such as trespass).
I'm sure Tilly and the rest would applaud if the police managed to infiltrate a far-right group intent on a similar, possibly less criminal actions, or if they used an informant to break up a gang trafficking women for prostitution. That the same methods get used on them shouldn't come as a surprise and they shouldn't be running to the press when it does.
I'm neither for or against Plane Stupid - I'm concerned about the environment, but I also like air travel. But I don't like to see them getting free publicity for what is to my mind a non-story. They get a lot of press coverage already, due to good contacts and, it has to be said, some rather photogenic young female members, but today's story was met with a big "so what?" here.

Selling out!

2009-04-23T19:38:00.003+01:00

Oooh, I finally have nice shiny adverts. I notice that they've picked up that quite a lot of the previous content, before Jimmy the Gent went off on his own, was related to betting and gambling.
But Jimmy was denied Adsense when he applied separately, because doesn't like putting ads on sites do with gambling or casinos. I wonder.

And the ones about meeting the Pope are way off line.

What a surprise!

2009-04-22T14:40:00.003+01:00

In case you can't tell, I'm being ironic.

All of the men arrested during the "major anti-terrorist operation", suspected of a "major terrorist plot" (Gordon Brown, speaking before any charges were brought) have been released without charge. In other words, they're innocent of any wrong-doing. Didn't even use up the full 28 days. Bob Quick lost his job for nothing. Remember, don't be scared, there is no major terrorist threat.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8011341.stm

Finally, the campaign gathers momentum

2009-04-22T14:18:00.003+01:00

^^^My name is jwdd27, and I approve this message.^^^

Jimmy!

2009-04-22T11:03:00.000+01:00

www.jimmythegent.co.uk for all your betting tips.

Come on, who doesn't like losing?

More bets! 20/4/09

2009-04-20T16:16:00.004+01:00

Advanced came in at 2-1 SP, although I got it at 3s, so well done me.

Pick of the bunch at Kempton is You're the Top in the first race (4.25). It's evens generally, but already slipping into odds-on with some, so get on it soonest.

Burnley take on Sheffield United in tonight's football. A close one to call, but I'd go for Burnley's season-long form and team spirit to see off the in-form Blades. Best price is 8/5 with Ladbrokes and Extrabet, with 6/4 the norm elsewhere.

Late bets

2009-04-20T14:56:00.003+01:00

Yikes, too busy with birthday festivities to put anything up.

Let's go for Advanced (3.10) to edge ahead of Obe Gold at Pontefract. And Mango Music to prove the top female in the 3.20 at Wolverhampton.

I'll have a look at the evening card at Kempton to see what catches the eye.

"Jimmy the Gent"

Rio Ferdinand, comedian

2009-04-20T12:44:00.003+01:00

Try and read this without laughing.

Rio Ferdinand, of Manchester United, complaining about MIKE RILEY not giving Man United a penalty. This is the same Mike Riley who has won about 10 points a season for them for the last six or seven years, by repeatedly giving penalties to United and denying them to the opposition.

Stop, Rio, I think my sides will split. This is funnier than your "World Cup wind-ups". But then, everything is.

And even if you did get a penalty, you'd probably have missed, Rio... (and Dimitar).

Man United need to learn to lose, they're going to get a lot of practice.

Guardian Crossword 24,677

2009-04-20T12:30:00.003+01:00

That was a tough one, Paul.

16/24 down was the last clue I solved:

"Temple on this austere policy, following princess"
(8,4)

I thought I was looking for a temple, then I thought I was looking for a diet (which is an austere policy, and includes the "Di" which I was sure the princess referred to).

Then I got it. An austere policy is a "strict line" and if that follows Di, you get District Line, which is one of the lines on the London Underground, which has a station called Temple.

Second toughest clue was "Milton's time-consuming instrument", which led to much brain-racking for Milton poems. But it's oboe, consuming "t", which gives us Obote. Milton Obote.

This goes in the post today, maybe I'll win (another) dictionary. Good luck to you if you somehow find this blog in time to send your entry in ;-)

Treble winner

2009-04-19T11:12:00.005+01:00

Yes! Stoke, Sunderland and Wednesday did the business - it worked out at about 4.5/1. All the horses lost though.

Wolves are up to the Premier League, so well done to Mick "it's my arse in the bacon slicer" McCarthy. Scunthorpe United also get a £250,000 windfall as part of the Andy Keogh (above right, with goalscorer Ebanks-Blake) transfer, which is good news for them.
Charlton go down, but I'm sure they'll bounce back soon. Southampton look even more doomed than before.
Leicester are in the Championship, so well done them, perhaps they should try hanging on to their manager for a while, see how that works out.
Hereford go down to League 2, but the mighty Cheltenham live to fight another day.

No bets today!

Bets 18/04/09

2009-04-18T10:30:00.003+01:00

The FA cup semi final between Arsenal and Chelsea has tempting odds on both sides, which means I'll steer clear and not let heart rule head.

In the Premiership, Stoke City (7/5) continue to be listed as odds against at home, which is ridiculous considering their form, especially with today's visitors being a poor Blackburn side. Last Saturday only a late Andy Carroll goal denied me a win, but with few attacking options, I can't see Blackburn being a threat. Next on the list are Sunderland (5/6) who need the points to clamber clear of danger, and have a good chance against a Hull side still on the slide. They will have gained heart from a good showing against Manchester United last weekend.
My third S comes in the Championship, where Sheffield Wednesday (7/5) are well-equipped to hammer another nail in Southampton's coffin. Tasty odds as well. I've got this on a 0.45 per line Lucky 15 (big spender!), which returns £11.20 or something if it all comes in.

The horses have been against me this week, but I expect to get more of a result today with my selections at Ayr, I'msingingtheblues (2.20), and at Newbury, where I'm on Tastahil (2.05) and Squadron (5.05). So cross those off your list, they've not got a chance based on my form this week. /sadface

Bets of the day 17/4/09

2009-04-17T11:26:00.002+01:00

Just one e/w win yesterday. :-(

Two selections today, both at Newbury: Sonny Red (2.40) and Father Time (3.15).

Bets of the day 16/4/09

2009-04-16T12:11:00.002+01:00

Hmm. Let's keep it simple today.

Four bets in the four big races.

At Cheltenham Argento Luna in the 3.20 and Gala Evening (e/w) in the 3.55.

Newmarket - Edge Closer (3.00) and Glass Harmonium (3.35).

Done.

Bets of the day 15/4/09

2009-04-15T11:59:00.002+01:00

I'll keep quiet about yesterday's poor showing with the horses and push straight ahead with today's tips, with some decent fields at Cheltenham and Newmarket.
Torphichen (2.10) looks a short-priced winner for AP McCoy in the opener at Cheltenham. A competitive field in the 2.45, with Le Duc perhaps the pick in a field looking to rediscover some form. Dave's Dream is top weight in the 3.20, so may struggle to reproduce his best form. I think that Hernando Royal, aided by Rhys Flint's 5lb allowance, should just edge out Seven Is My Number and Dave's Dream. A rested Atouchbetweenacara is tipped to better her fine second at Haydock last time.
Over at Newmarket, I'll go with Rockhampton (3.00) with Art Connoisseur (3.35) a strong tip in the next.

The other Champions League quarter-finals are a potential minefield for the punter, as I proved yesterday. But due to patriotic pro-United betting, there is real value in backing Porto to complete the job with a win, at an impressive 13/5 generally. You'd be a fool not to.

Bet of the day is Porto to win, 13/5.

Racing bets 14/4/09

2009-04-14T13:45:00.000+01:00

Fairyhouse once again has the quality racing, although big fields (and yesterday's long-priced successes) make winners hard to pick out. Roberto Goldback (2.55), however, looks a likely short-priced winner. Meanwhile I find French Accordion (3.25) an interesting longer-priced each way shot, with Clopf and Sesenta likewise fitting the bill in the 4.00.

The English racing is at Exeter, Yarmouth and Market Rasen, and although there is little to get the pulse going, there are plenty of short-priced winners to be found, with a lot of races only seeming to have two or three serious contenders. At Exeter, I'll be on Presenting Express (3.10), Jigsaw Dancer (4.10) and Oopsmylord (4.40).
At Yarmouth, King of Defence (3.20) and Kokokilla (4.20) get my backing.

Good luck.

Football bet of the day 14/4/09

2009-04-14T12:29:00.000+01:00

Liverpool (21/10 tonight) and Bayern München (15/8) both have mountains to climb in their second leg Champions League quarter-finals against Chelsea and Barcelona (both 11/8). These "dead rubber" matches can often be tight affairs, as the side with the lead is reluctant to take chances with team selection and adventurous tactics, while the first leg losers are keen to restore pride with an improved defensive performance and can easily become disheartened going forward if an early breakthrough is not achieved.
The series of tight, fairly dire Chelsea-Liverpool games in recent seasons resulted in few goals, and last week's game kicked off at odds of 1-2 for under 2.5 goals. Last week's game has led to a generous-looking 8/11 now being generally on offer, which is too good to resist.
Although Barca once again went goal-crazy in the first leg, Bayern have a formidable home record, with just two conceded in four CL games this season, one of those a consolation in the 7-1 win against Sporting Lisbon. Barca looked sluggish at the weekend against a determined Recreativo defence, needing a second-half own goal to extend their lead to 2-0. I'm taking on the odds of 5-4 for under 2.5 in this one as well.

The two results double up to a handsome 3-1 payout.

But the main bet is £5 on Chelsea v Liverpool to be under 2.5 goals @ 8/11

Prison wall of sound

2009-04-14T12:14:00.000+01:00

So Phil Spector's long history of waving guns around and playing drunken Russian roulette with women counted against him. Many would think he should have been in an institution many years ago, what with being batshit crazy all these years.
Although he created some truly memorable tunes with his wall of sound all those years ago, I've never heard anyone interviewed who had a good word for him. And now he'll die in jail.
Unless he can emulate Sideshow Bob in more than just his hairstyle.

Break-even blues

2009-04-13T17:51:00.000+01:00

A last-minute Ipswich equaliser dashed Bristol City's hopes of a win, while Coventry failed to break down Charlton. So just the one leg of the treble came off.
On the track, wins for Russian Around and Know The Law (and for Negotiation at Yarmouth, not mentioned here earlier) meant I ended the day about 20 pence up, which is always annoying when you've wagered about £30 on the day. At least I didn't lose.
Winker Watson was easily defeated by the 12-1 outsider Plum Pudding despite going off an 8-15 favourite - glad I steered clear there.

Over at Fairyhouse the Irish National followed the English trend with 33-1 outsider Niche Market landing the win.

Tomorrow is another day.

Never in doubt

2009-04-13T14:45:00.000+01:00

Super Steve Howard (pictured) powered in with 15 seconds of injury time remaining to net the first part of our treble. I was always confident (despite what my two in-play bets on the draw might suggest). Now it's up to Bristol City and Coventry to bring home the money :-)

Bets of the Day 13/4/09

2009-04-13T09:12:00.000+01:00

We have the usual bumper bank holiday programme of racing, although the big race of the day is across the water, with the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse (3.55). The general advice is to bet late on this one, as both top weights, Notre Pere and Wichita Lineman, look doubtful runners this morning, with the course thought too dry for them. Their withdrawal would put a lot of weight on the rest of the field, making it an even harder race to call, and a big bet from me unlikely.
The two that stand out for me are Garde Champetre, an impressive Cheltenham winner and a bold jumper with regular companion Nina Carberry able to bring the best out of him. Emma Jane is the pick of Willie Mullins' trio, with Paul Townend riding, looking to make up for his Cheltenham disappointments. Ruby Walsh opts for Pomme Tiepy which may start as favourite, but the six year old may find inexperience lets him down.

Back on the mainland there are cards at (breath) Chepstow, Fakenham, Huntingdon, Plumpton, Redcar, Warwick and Yarmouth. Although I'm sure they're all nice courses, that line up does have rather a lower division feel.

Two horses stand out at Chepstow - Russian Around (3.35) is the pick of a small field, with Liam Treadwell looking to get his teeth (ha!) into another victory. In the next race Harouet (4.10) is an unexposed Nicholls horse making its handicap debut, the reliable Sam Thomas riding, and its 1 stone advantage over the favourite Forty Five could make the difference.
Down at my lucky course, Plumpton, I'm tempted by Digger Gets Lucky (3.40), a horse from Norman Gifford's stable with potential to improve. Odds should be around 6-1.
At Huntingdon Know The Law (4.30) should justify favouritism and put last time's disappointing fifth place finish behind him, having learned a tactical lesson.
On the flat at Warwick the marvellously named Winker Watson (4.05) makes his seasonal debut and looks the pick of the field, although the odds (4/7 as I write) make it less of a temptation. Dream Eater at 2/1 may pull off a shock.

There's a full Football League programme today, and once again I'll look to the Championship to provide a multiple bet winner.
Coventry (10/11) had a nightmare at Plymouth on Saturday, four down within half an hour, and that showing will have improved their odds against doomed Charlton. I'm backing them to bounce back comfortably. Bristol City (6/5) and Ipswich are both maddening teams to back with their inconsistency, but home advantage should see City home.
It's not often I back a draw but Doncaster v Preston at 9/4 looks a prime candidate for a small wager, both teams play quality football and are difficult to beat.

I'll dip down to League One for the third leg of a treble, with the big game being the lunchtime kick-off between Leicester and Leeds. Leicester (6/5) are struggling over the finish line somewhat, but should have enough to dispose of a Leeds team which generally struggles away - the positive odds are definitely worth going for.

My big bet of the day then is a patent (7 bets - 3 singles, 3 doubles, 1 treble) on Leicester, Coventry and Bristol City to win - the treble pays out at around 8.25/1.

Good luck!

When polar bears attack

2009-04-12T16:57:00.001+01:00

Pic: BZA/HSS/WENN.com
Exciting/disturbing images from Berlin Zoo of an intruder being attacked after jumping into the polar bear enclosure at feeding time.
Useful information to remember if you're drunk, high, or mentally ill; don't do it at feeding time and don't do it with polar bears. It looks painful.
Thankfully, celebrity polar bear Knut was not involved in the attack, although he was in the enclosure at the time.
More pics here.

Bet of the day 12/4/09

2009-04-12T13:30:00.000+01:00

I'll try and come up with one a day. I'll start off with £27 in the bank because that's how much I've actually got in there. Then I'll update how we do. That's a royal we.

Two premiership games today.
Villa v Everton and City v Fulham. No obvious winner stands out in those games. Villa (11/8) had a good game against United, so maybe their slump is over. Everton (11/5) are on form, although Wigan also conceded four yesterday. City (evs) had a disappointing result in Europe which might affect their usual home supremacy. Fulham (16/5) are on a good run, but are habitually awful away so it depends who turns up. Results wise, a small wager on the draws would appeal most - 11/5 at Villa and 12/5 at City.

But I'll go for some goals at Villa Park. Villa have been dodgy at the back (perhaps the excellent Friedel is finally showing his age?), but have the players to create chances at the other end. Everton seem to be getting decent performances out of the weird-looking Jo (pictured), although he always looks a dreadful player whenever I've seen him play.

I'm putting just £2 on over 2.5 goals at Villa Park, at Bet365's eccentric odds of 43/40.

The Pope is a dope

2009-04-12T13:04:00.000+01:00

Watched a bit of the Pope's Easter address at my mother's. She seemed to be quite enjoying the spectacle and was perhaps dismayed at my outbursts. Although she's not in any way devout, or practising, she still retains sympathy to her church.

Firstly, things I liked: photogenic nuns smiling, jumping up and down, waving flags - it's nice to see some emotion; the pope himself looked up and smiled a few times, and seemed to cope with the language well. The previous pope would just sit hunched over while he mechanically ploughed through all of his different Easter messages.

Now, stuff which made me shout at the TV: When he mentioned fast-tracking Pope John Paul II's beatification. Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought a saint had to live a fairly blameless life. I don't think a saint would sit idle while members of his organisation rape children. Then only act to cover up the crimes. There's much more I can mention, but that for me is a straight fail on the sainthood test.

Next, Africa. Calling on the developed world to cancel African debt is of course a noble cause. But I'd target AIDS as the number one problem Africa faces now. And that could be drastically improved by access to contraception and sex education. Which the Catholic church is dead against. He then accused the West of "exploiting" Africa. True, but we're not killing nearly as many as the Vatican-sponsored AIDS epidemic is. You're number one.

That was all I watched of the Pope's Easter address. But it was enough.

Why not?

2009-04-12T12:53:00.000+01:00

Actually I can think of plenty of reasons.

The idea is a mix of news, politics, sport, betting, movies, and whatever else buzzes into my mind.

This will probably be the only post ever.

Happy Easter, if you celebrate it.