As he prepares for the launch of X Factor USA, Simon Cowell must be relieved how well the latest UK series has been accepted. The fickle world of showbusiness has proved true once again. It is as if the "old" panel of judges never existed, as audiences take to Gary Barlow, Kelly Rowland, Tulisa Contostavios and veteran Louis Walsh.
There has been some criticism of Gary Barlow being a little "boring", but I don't think this is true. He obviously takes the job as Head Judge seriously and is looking for a real talent amongst the contestants, which could prove his downfall. As Louis Walsh has observed, Gary may be a great singer-songwriter, but he has yet to fully grasp the reality of the show.
At the end of the day it is not really about the final winner, but the "entertainment" provided by those on the way to getting there. The slick television production and the chemistry between the judging panel is what it is really all about, with the contestants just disposable fodder, like those poor folk thrown to the lions. Mr Barlow is a professional and will quickly learn, but meanwhile I think he has handled the job well, with a nice line in deadpan quips.
However, it has got to be said, it is Kelly Rowland who is quickly emerging as the star of the judging panel, but all four have a chance to develop and prove their worth when the auditions end and the Boot Camp, plus "live" shows, begin.
The singing talent is a good enough mixture to satisfy the rest of the media and keep the show on the front pages. Derry Mensah, the 20 year-old, who got Kelly all a-flutter, has form as they say, having served a jail sentence for mugging. However, according to his family, he has changed his ways and had been working at Burger King prior to winning his place in Boot Camp. His "evil" past has provided the required saturation tabloid coverage.
The big surprise on Saturday was Johnny Robinson, who hasn't got the most appealing looks and with a speaking voice on the camp side of Kenneth Williams, but who wowed everyone when he sang the Etta James hit "At Last". The 45 year-old declared "I know I look ugly" before his performance. The British love an underdog and it wouldn't surprise me if he went all the way in the competition. The Link to Johnny's audition is below:-
Meanwhile, both Simon and Louis have been bitching a little about Cheryl Cole, to the extent that you would think they had co-ordinated their attacks (!), but according to Katie Hind, the Showbusiness Editor of The Sunday People, the Girls Aloud singer will be returning to TV next year, having signed a deal with ITV, who also broadcast X Factor.
Cheryl needs to do something if she wants to avoid the fickle finger of fate that can turn a successful artist into a nobody. Ms Cole's whole persona as "The Nation's Sweetheart" was built around her weekly appearances on X Factor and she needs another vehicle quickly to maintain her star profile. Otherwise, the very paparazzi she now spends time avoiding may no longer find her interesting - and that is the fate that haunts most celebrities.
Monday, 29 August 2011
Saturday, 27 August 2011
Education & The Looters: Barely string a sentence together....
The UK education system is in a mess - you just had to witness recent TV interviews with rioting looters to realise that most could barely string a sentence together. There is a definite breakdown in society here in the UK, with a growing underclass, uneducated, almost feral and totally distant from the rest of society.
The recent rioting in British cities was a wake-up call for the rest of us, but there is no pity for those looters now been handed tough sentences in our courts, but a reminder that we need to take measures to protect what belongs to us. We can't all live in gated communities, but had the riots continued and become more widespread, it was likely that a new breed of vigilante would have emerged and prepared to defend their communities.
It was a sobering time for the government too, who needed the police to take firm action, before ordinary law-abiding citizens did the job for them. The seriousness of the rioting and looting is reflected in the Courts handing out what appear to be harsh jail sentences. However, looters are not just being jailed for robbing a Mars bar, or taking an ice-cream, but the circumstances surrounding their illegal activities.
Homes, shops, cars, jobs and sadly, lives, were lost during those few days of civil disorder and it happened in a country famed for its reserve and good manners. The police have said they will spend the next two-years sifting through CCTV footage in order to identify those who took part in the looting. So, there will be young people in communities who still have the knock on the door to face, their lives ruined by moments of stupidity.
Too many young people are leaving school hardly able to read or write and lacking even the most basic of skills necessary to get through a job interview. Much of the blame has to be laid at the door of successive governments, but the teaching profession itself must take a large proportion of the blame, with too many joining their ranks not because they have a desire, a passion, to educate the young of the country, but to provide themselves with better pensions and benefits.
Over recent years education has become a secondary requirement for many, especially those children of the underclass, brought up on a diet of the Jeremy Kyle show and reality TV that promises fame without effort. It makes you wonder if there are those amongst this tribe who, given the opportunity, have the potential to be the great, the good, the innovators of tomorrow's world? Even educators themselves, given half a chance.
The recent rioting in British cities was a wake-up call for the rest of us, but there is no pity for those looters now been handed tough sentences in our courts, but a reminder that we need to take measures to protect what belongs to us. We can't all live in gated communities, but had the riots continued and become more widespread, it was likely that a new breed of vigilante would have emerged and prepared to defend their communities.
It was a sobering time for the government too, who needed the police to take firm action, before ordinary law-abiding citizens did the job for them. The seriousness of the rioting and looting is reflected in the Courts handing out what appear to be harsh jail sentences. However, looters are not just being jailed for robbing a Mars bar, or taking an ice-cream, but the circumstances surrounding their illegal activities.
Homes, shops, cars, jobs and sadly, lives, were lost during those few days of civil disorder and it happened in a country famed for its reserve and good manners. The police have said they will spend the next two-years sifting through CCTV footage in order to identify those who took part in the looting. So, there will be young people in communities who still have the knock on the door to face, their lives ruined by moments of stupidity.
Too many young people are leaving school hardly able to read or write and lacking even the most basic of skills necessary to get through a job interview. Much of the blame has to be laid at the door of successive governments, but the teaching profession itself must take a large proportion of the blame, with too many joining their ranks not because they have a desire, a passion, to educate the young of the country, but to provide themselves with better pensions and benefits.
Over recent years education has become a secondary requirement for many, especially those children of the underclass, brought up on a diet of the Jeremy Kyle show and reality TV that promises fame without effort. It makes you wonder if there are those amongst this tribe who, given the opportunity, have the potential to be the great, the good, the innovators of tomorrow's world? Even educators themselves, given half a chance.
Friday, 26 August 2011
Anne Hathaway: One Day accent off the mark....
Anne Hathaway has failed to score in her new movie "One Day" because her Yorkshire accent is causing more laughs than cries, which was never the intention. The film, based on the best-selling book about a couple who met, parted and met again over two decades, is supposed to make you sniff a little, if not cry, but alas Miss Hathaway's accent doesn't make the grade with UK audiences who concentrate more on her utterings than the film itself.
It got me thinking about all those other stars who didn't quite get the accent right. Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins was a cockney accent too far and whenever it is shown on TV still creates a crescendo of laughter in households across the land. Keanu Reeves mangled the British accent in Bram Stoker's Dracula, but as he has also failed to act in any of his roles, that can be forgiven.
Of course, Sean Connery speaks in his usual Scottish burr no matter the part he plays. Kevin Costner in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves didn't quite hit the mark with his British attempt, but realism was not a feature of that film, having moved Hadrian's Wall from one part of the UK to another.
The British are quite snobby about accents, instantly recognising your status in life from the moment you open your mouth. I don't know if it is the same in America.
It got me thinking about all those other stars who didn't quite get the accent right. Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins was a cockney accent too far and whenever it is shown on TV still creates a crescendo of laughter in households across the land. Keanu Reeves mangled the British accent in Bram Stoker's Dracula, but as he has also failed to act in any of his roles, that can be forgiven.
Of course, Sean Connery speaks in his usual Scottish burr no matter the part he plays. Kevin Costner in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves didn't quite hit the mark with his British attempt, but realism was not a feature of that film, having moved Hadrian's Wall from one part of the UK to another.
The British are quite snobby about accents, instantly recognising your status in life from the moment you open your mouth. I don't know if it is the same in America.
Simon Cowell: From guilt to anger...Simon bitches about Cheryl Cole
Back in the good old days on X Factor UK it was obvious that Simon Cowell had a soft spot for fellow judge Cheryl Cole. It made for great chemistry and it was natural for him to believe they could duplicate that on the US version of the show. Alas, as we all know, it didn't work out and a hurt Cheryl has refused to accept his telephone calls ever since.
It seems that his guilt over dumping her has turned into anger as she continues to snub him and he has hit out in a US magazine interview. He is reported to have said she could not cope with being unknown in America.
"She was like Princess Diana when she would walk out in England and I accepted the fact that people didn't know her here. But I think it did have an effect on her".
Cowell also reports that she failed to meet deadlines when considering her future, which says as much for her management team under Will.i.am as it does the star herself. I did write a while back that she should have swallowed her pride and returned to X Factor UK and I still don't think she is being particularly well advised by those around her. Snubbing Simon Cowell, one of the most influential men in music and TV, is not a good career move and, like a man scorned, he has finally let rip.
It seems that his guilt over dumping her has turned into anger as she continues to snub him and he has hit out in a US magazine interview. He is reported to have said she could not cope with being unknown in America.
"She was like Princess Diana when she would walk out in England and I accepted the fact that people didn't know her here. But I think it did have an effect on her".
Cowell also reports that she failed to meet deadlines when considering her future, which says as much for her management team under Will.i.am as it does the star herself. I did write a while back that she should have swallowed her pride and returned to X Factor UK and I still don't think she is being particularly well advised by those around her. Snubbing Simon Cowell, one of the most influential men in music and TV, is not a good career move and, like a man scorned, he has finally let rip.
Libya: Hunting for Gaddafi.....will tribal differences threaten the new country?
With the rebels in control of most of Libya, it must be remembered that there are still pockets of the country fighting on Gaddafi's side, either out of loyalty to the mad Colonel or in fear for their own lives should they surrender or be caught.
Evidence of recent human rights abuses by the regime has already being uncovered, but there is concern that in some areas the rebels have indulged in their own reprisals, settling scores and raising doubts that such a diverse group can successfully put aside tribal differences in the interests of a new Libya. The Libyan National Transitional Council has a job on its hands to meet the expectations of the people and the political agendas of the rebel tribal groups. The task will not be helped by the arsenal of weapons in the hands of the freedom fighters and general population.
The West would not be happy if television pictures showed the new liberators in acts against humanity and, in the euphoria surrounding the occupation of Tripoli, there must be a worry that the lack of a single unifying figure amongst the rebels could hinder the democratic process within the country.
His compound over-run, his villas invaded, one wonders where Gaddafi, his family and henchmen have gone to ground? Special Forces from Nato are sure to be helping in the search for him, but meanwhile he is still able to deliver messages of defiance to his supporters.
The new Libya needs Gaddafi found, alive or dead, the latter preferable to the rebel leadership and their International supporters, before it can hope to come to some form of accommodation with those loyal to the ex-Leader. It would be a terrible thing if tribal differences and acts against humanity were to sour the hopes of a nation, free at last from a cruel regime.
The West would not be happy if television pictures showed the new liberators in acts against humanity and, in the euphoria surrounding the occupation of Tripoli, there must be a worry that the lack of a single unifying figure amongst the rebels could hinder the democratic process within the country.
His compound over-run, his villas invaded, one wonders where Gaddafi, his family and henchmen have gone to ground? Special Forces from Nato are sure to be helping in the search for him, but meanwhile he is still able to deliver messages of defiance to his supporters.
The new Libya needs Gaddafi found, alive or dead, the latter preferable to the rebel leadership and their International supporters, before it can hope to come to some form of accommodation with those loyal to the ex-Leader. It would be a terrible thing if tribal differences and acts against humanity were to sour the hopes of a nation, free at last from a cruel regime.
Sunday, 21 August 2011
Libya: Colonel Gaddafi alive or dead?
The rebels have now entered Tripoli and the big question is if Colonel Gaddafi will leave the Capital city alive or dead at the hands of his enemies, or take to the skies in a bid for freedom and exile? This will also be a nervous time for those Western nations, including the UK, who have supported the rebels and hope that the surrender of Tripoli will not lead to a bloodbath of crime and violence against the population.
Colonel Gaddafi, like so many despots, has happily allowed his people to be maimed and killed as he battled to remain in power, but his hours as dictator are numbered and the future of the country will be decided on the behaviour of the rebels in the coming days and which amongst them emerges as leader.
The revolution that has swept across the Arab world has been amazing to watch, but one still wonders if the ordinary citizens of the countries involved, including Egypt, will get to experience real democracy and a share in the wealth of their nations? Sadly, one suspects that once Gaddafi is defeated the Western powers will sigh with relief and remove themselves from any further involvement in these countries. Look at Syria, where the people are being left to die at the hands of Assad and his henchmen.
Colonel Gaddafi, like so many despots, has happily allowed his people to be maimed and killed as he battled to remain in power, but his hours as dictator are numbered and the future of the country will be decided on the behaviour of the rebels in the coming days and which amongst them emerges as leader.
The revolution that has swept across the Arab world has been amazing to watch, but one still wonders if the ordinary citizens of the countries involved, including Egypt, will get to experience real democracy and a share in the wealth of their nations? Sadly, one suspects that once Gaddafi is defeated the Western powers will sigh with relief and remove themselves from any further involvement in these countries. Look at Syria, where the people are being left to die at the hands of Assad and his henchmen.
X Factor UK: Gary Barlow starring as Dr No....
I must admit I never saw Take That star Gary Barlow as a hardman, although I always recognised his talent as a singer-songwriter, but on the new X Factor he has obviously been primed to take the Alpha position on the judging panel, with a string of putdowns and "No" verdicts for devastated contestants.
My first impression of the new series, launched last night, was that the refreshed panel of judges acquitted themselves well and that Simon Cowell's absence was not a death knell for the show. Last night featured a talented 16 year-old from Northern Ireland called Janet Devlin and a self-possessed 27 year-old Kitty Brucknell, who sang well but irritated the hell out of everyone. 18 year-old Frankie Cocozza, is a precocious young lad with the names of seven lover's already tattooed on his butt, but he may be a little too cheeky for his own good.
As always, the production values have remained high and the series is bound to produce the required scandal, heartache and bust-ups to feed our interest over the coming weeks.
My first impression of the new series, launched last night, was that the refreshed panel of judges acquitted themselves well and that Simon Cowell's absence was not a death knell for the show. Last night featured a talented 16 year-old from Northern Ireland called Janet Devlin and a self-possessed 27 year-old Kitty Brucknell, who sang well but irritated the hell out of everyone. 18 year-old Frankie Cocozza, is a precocious young lad with the names of seven lover's already tattooed on his butt, but he may be a little too cheeky for his own good.
As always, the production values have remained high and the series is bound to produce the required scandal, heartache and bust-ups to feed our interest over the coming weeks.
Thursday, 18 August 2011
Rick Perry....part of a plot hatched by the Democrats?!
In a previous piece on the Republican nominees, I questioned the sanity of those who would vote for Michele Bachmann, but having read the utterings in recent days of Rick Perry, I am beginning to smell a plot hatched by the Democrats. Yes, I think it is possible Bachmann and Perry have been cloned and planted by the other side to ensure the re-election of Barack Obama!
It seems that at a gathering of the faithful in Iowa, Mr Perry relaxed a little too much and threatened the boss of the Federal Reserve, Ben Bernanke, with a certain type of Texas hospitality should he carry out "treasonous" quantative easing to kick-start the economy. As Mr Perry is, I'm told, as eager as a Roman Emperor to give the thumbs-up to executions in the name of the state, it was a bad joke, as was his remarks that cast doubt on President Obama's love for America.
Mr Perry is leading the field of three for the Republican nomination, with Mitt Romney second and Bachmann a close third. There is still time for another candidate to join the race and many senior members of the party are hoping for divine intervention. There was talk of Chris Christie, the Govenor of New Jersey, being begged to put his name forward, but he too has a questionable stance on issues like taxation, especially his lack of enthusiasm for asking the rich to contribute a little more.
President Obama has not had an easy time of it during his first-term as President and, it must be said, he has been a disappointment to those of us, who hoped his actions could transcend his inspirational words. With the world's economy on its ass and protest and famine across the globe, was it ever possible for him to deliver the miracles we sought? Alas, even some of his recent speeches have been rather pedestrian, reflecting the reality of the current world and his own position in the ratings, although surely he will still be given the opportunity to serve a second-term?
It seems that at a gathering of the faithful in Iowa, Mr Perry relaxed a little too much and threatened the boss of the Federal Reserve, Ben Bernanke, with a certain type of Texas hospitality should he carry out "treasonous" quantative easing to kick-start the economy. As Mr Perry is, I'm told, as eager as a Roman Emperor to give the thumbs-up to executions in the name of the state, it was a bad joke, as was his remarks that cast doubt on President Obama's love for America.
Mr Perry is leading the field of three for the Republican nomination, with Mitt Romney second and Bachmann a close third. There is still time for another candidate to join the race and many senior members of the party are hoping for divine intervention. There was talk of Chris Christie, the Govenor of New Jersey, being begged to put his name forward, but he too has a questionable stance on issues like taxation, especially his lack of enthusiasm for asking the rich to contribute a little more.
President Obama has not had an easy time of it during his first-term as President and, it must be said, he has been a disappointment to those of us, who hoped his actions could transcend his inspirational words. With the world's economy on its ass and protest and famine across the globe, was it ever possible for him to deliver the miracles we sought? Alas, even some of his recent speeches have been rather pedestrian, reflecting the reality of the current world and his own position in the ratings, although surely he will still be given the opportunity to serve a second-term?
Wednesday, 17 August 2011
UK Riots: Revenge on the looters.....justice in court?
There have been murmurs of disquiet over the harshness of the sentences some Courts are handing out to those who looted during the recent riots on the streets of London and elsewhere in the UK. Bleeding hearts have been awash with sympathy for the youth of the country who went wild for a few days, committing acts of wanton vandalism and violence with joyful abandon, before heading home to Mum.
However, if you were one of those who lost their homes in the fires, or a business through theft, you would want the perpetrators strung up, never mind locked up and it is right that the Courts are taking tough action. But judges and magistrates should not act under political pressure or for want of a media headline.
Some of the sentences have been on the side of extreme, although even seemingly small acts of larceny like the removal of a bottle of water, or some chewing gum, were done on vandalised premises. Those responsible for meting out justice have to consider the circumstances surrounding each charge and sentence accordingly.
The demand for vengeance from those directly hurt by the shocking behaviour over those few days is understandable and it is important that the consequences of such brutal acts of criminality are met with strong action, if we are to avoid a repeat performance.
It is a credit to the police that they have already arrested suspects for the deaths of the three Asian men in Birmingham and the 68 year-old man who died from a single punch in Ealing, London, but whatever the provocation, it is important that the rule of law is maintained and that corners are not cut in the pursuit of justice.
Sadly, for many of those who took part in the rioting, a criminal conviction will have absolutely no negative impact on their futures, already set in the ways of the perpetual underclass, while others will forever be haunted by that single mad act of disgraceful behaviour.
However, if you were one of those who lost their homes in the fires, or a business through theft, you would want the perpetrators strung up, never mind locked up and it is right that the Courts are taking tough action. But judges and magistrates should not act under political pressure or for want of a media headline.
Some of the sentences have been on the side of extreme, although even seemingly small acts of larceny like the removal of a bottle of water, or some chewing gum, were done on vandalised premises. Those responsible for meting out justice have to consider the circumstances surrounding each charge and sentence accordingly.
The demand for vengeance from those directly hurt by the shocking behaviour over those few days is understandable and it is important that the consequences of such brutal acts of criminality are met with strong action, if we are to avoid a repeat performance.
It is a credit to the police that they have already arrested suspects for the deaths of the three Asian men in Birmingham and the 68 year-old man who died from a single punch in Ealing, London, but whatever the provocation, it is important that the rule of law is maintained and that corners are not cut in the pursuit of justice.
Sadly, for many of those who took part in the rioting, a criminal conviction will have absolutely no negative impact on their futures, already set in the ways of the perpetual underclass, while others will forever be haunted by that single mad act of disgraceful behaviour.
Monday, 15 August 2011
Michele Bachmann: Would sane people really vote for her?
So, Tim Pawlenty, is out of the race for the Republican nomination leaving a list of three to run against Barack Obama, unless Sarah Palin graces the stage with her presence. She behaves as if she can't decide between making ridiculous amounts of money, or running the United States of America. Decisions, decisions!
Being as I am an outsider, I depend on other commentators to acquaint me with the candidates and I can't help but feel I am been spun a line when they declare that Michele Bachmann is a serious contender for the nomination. Could that be so? Would sane people really vote for a woman who is closely related to the more extreme elements of American society, one so full of intolerance and hate?
Would someone enlighten me...is she for real, or just a ghastly manifestation of a bad nightmare that, God forbid, could turn into reality? America you are beginning to worry me!
Being as I am an outsider, I depend on other commentators to acquaint me with the candidates and I can't help but feel I am been spun a line when they declare that Michele Bachmann is a serious contender for the nomination. Could that be so? Would sane people really vote for a woman who is closely related to the more extreme elements of American society, one so full of intolerance and hate?
Would someone enlighten me...is she for real, or just a ghastly manifestation of a bad nightmare that, God forbid, could turn into reality? America you are beginning to worry me!
X Factor UK: And the publicity machine is hotting up....bad behaviour encouraged!
With the new series of X Factor starting this Saturday on ITV, the show's publicity machine has been hotting up, with all sorts of stories, from Louis Walsh calling his male cat after fellow new judge Tulisa, to cameras in the contestants bedrooms filming their drunken hanky-panky.
With Simon gearing up for X Factor USA, he is due to make only sporadic appearances on the UK show, so plans are afoot to cover his absence with more behind-the-scenes footage of bad behaviour during the boot camp stages.
According to The Sun, producers want scandal, sex and breakups and the tabloid also reports that nightly pool parties will be encouraged. So what happened to family entertainment then? If all that is reported takes place then the show will become as tacky as the once-popular Big Brother, which went from entertaining to seedy and in the end lost its mass audience.
Simon Cowell is too astute to allow X Factor descend into a sex and scandal show. It will still go out pre-watershed and advertisers would howl in protest if the action got too risque! But do expect lots of heat between the judges, with Louis Walsh at his bitchiest best!
With Simon gearing up for X Factor USA, he is due to make only sporadic appearances on the UK show, so plans are afoot to cover his absence with more behind-the-scenes footage of bad behaviour during the boot camp stages.
According to The Sun, producers want scandal, sex and breakups and the tabloid also reports that nightly pool parties will be encouraged. So what happened to family entertainment then? If all that is reported takes place then the show will become as tacky as the once-popular Big Brother, which went from entertaining to seedy and in the end lost its mass audience.
Simon Cowell is too astute to allow X Factor descend into a sex and scandal show. It will still go out pre-watershed and advertisers would howl in protest if the action got too risque! But do expect lots of heat between the judges, with Louis Walsh at his bitchiest best!
Norwegian Killer: Reliving his killing spree.....
It disturbed me on seeing the pictures of Norwegian killer, Anders Breivik, reliving his killing spree on the island of Utoya, where he cold-bloodedly shot to death 69 people.
The 32 year-old right-wing extremist was filmed on the island during a step-by-step reconstruction of his murder spree, which the prosecution say will be shown at his trial. Now, there may be sound reasons for the visit, but the pictures showed a man clearly enjoying himself as he re-created his actions during each murder. As the whole world knows he did it, why allow him the joy of reliving those moments of obvious pleasure for him, but agonies of pain for his victims families?
The prosecutor says that Breivik showed no remorse as he retraced his steps and there was something obscene about the pictures as he smirked and strutted about the island. Was the return trip, on the same ferry he took on the day of the massacre, really necessary for a conviction?
The 32 year-old right-wing extremist was filmed on the island during a step-by-step reconstruction of his murder spree, which the prosecution say will be shown at his trial. Now, there may be sound reasons for the visit, but the pictures showed a man clearly enjoying himself as he re-created his actions during each murder. As the whole world knows he did it, why allow him the joy of reliving those moments of obvious pleasure for him, but agonies of pain for his victims families?
The prosecutor says that Breivik showed no remorse as he retraced his steps and there was something obscene about the pictures as he smirked and strutted about the island. Was the return trip, on the same ferry he took on the day of the massacre, really necessary for a conviction?
Sunday, 14 August 2011
UK Riot Yobs: Is it right to throw family out of social housing?
The yobs who caused so much damage on the streets of London and other cities in the UK deserve punishment. Their behaviour was disgraceful and there is nothing that can be said to justify it. However, the Prime Minister is backing a campaign to evict from social housing the families of those charged with criminality during the riots, which strikes me as not exactly helpful in fixing broken Britain. Or fair.
The perpetrators of these crimes must face the full force of the law and I do believe that parents of under-aged yobs be held responsible for their children's actions, but to throw them out of their homes is a harsh punishment that doesn't sit comfortably within the framework of UK justice. It is the action of a police state, or one that wants to control its population by threat and fear. What next? Do as we want or your mother will be homeless?
The scenes in our cities were shocking, lives have been lost and most of us are still angry over the senseless criminality we witnessed, but on these occasions it is the Prime Minister's responsibility to calm the country. The masses want revenge and it is right that the vandals and thieves who committed these crimes be deprived of their freedom through the courts. But is it justice that their families should be thrown on the streets?
The perpetrators of these crimes must face the full force of the law and I do believe that parents of under-aged yobs be held responsible for their children's actions, but to throw them out of their homes is a harsh punishment that doesn't sit comfortably within the framework of UK justice. It is the action of a police state, or one that wants to control its population by threat and fear. What next? Do as we want or your mother will be homeless?
The scenes in our cities were shocking, lives have been lost and most of us are still angry over the senseless criminality we witnessed, but on these occasions it is the Prime Minister's responsibility to calm the country. The masses want revenge and it is right that the vandals and thieves who committed these crimes be deprived of their freedom through the courts. But is it justice that their families should be thrown on the streets?
Thursday, 11 August 2011
Amy Winehouse: Used even after death...
Amy Winehouse's family has reported that since her death numerous items have been stolen from her home in North London. It includes lyric sheets, her favourite guitar and other personal possessions. As only twenty people had access to the house, her father Mitch is fuming over the betrayal of someone she and they trusted and is determined to find the culprit.
During her life, the talented singer and songwriter became a drug and alcohol addict and was a meal-ticket for a number of people including those who, for a price, were happy to feed her addiction. It is sad that, although she can no longer feel the pain, someone close to her and her family has behaved in this way.
During her life, the talented singer and songwriter became a drug and alcohol addict and was a meal-ticket for a number of people including those who, for a price, were happy to feed her addiction. It is sad that, although she can no longer feel the pain, someone close to her and her family has behaved in this way.
UK riots: "What did you do in the riots, Daddy?"
The riots that started in London and spread across other UK cities, were not in protest over social injustices, but utter greed and criminality. The shocking behaviour was not just confined to the growing feral class that appears to inhabit areas of the country, for amongst those arrested for looting are teachers, a postman and the daughter of a millionaire.
The death of three Asian men, deliberately knocked down by a car, while they attempted to protect property in their neighborhood, has been roundly condemned and the scenes of violence and mayhem on the streets of Britain has angered ordinary law-abiding citizens who, should it happen again, may not be so restrained in their response. There is a sense in communities that the police can't be relied upon for protection and that further instances would see the rise in vigilantism.
And what of the looters, many of them facing court justice, their pictures displayed across the media? Most won't give a damn. Others will forever regret their behaviour and in years to come may well dread that question: "What did you do in the riots, Daddy?"
It wasn't as if they took part in public protest over human rights. What many did do was display greed, envy and a wanton disregard for others. They may have gained a free plasma TV or new pair of trainers, but their behaviour disgusts the rest of us.
Tuesday, 9 August 2011
Yobs on rampage as London burns....
The Prime Minister, David Cameron, is returning to London from his holiday in Tuscany, following three nights of mob rage that has resulted in several areas of the Capital being burnt and plundered.
It follows a peaceful march on Saturday in protest against the killing of a man by police in Tottenham, North London, that quickly developed into an orgy of violence, with shops and homes being targeted and burnt. The violence has spread across the Capital making it difficult for police to quell the escalating mayhem, as young children, gangsters and anarchists take advantage of the chaos. It is obvious that the police have lost control of the situation and there is fear that copycat behaviour will spread across the country, with reports that looting is taking place in Birmingham tonight.
It is difficult to watch familiar streets, buildings burning, as rioters loot local shops and set family cars on fire. It is like watching a disaster film unfold and hard to imagine how it will end. Innocent people are being caught up in the violence, or locked in their homes, with reports that looters are attempting to enter private property.
It is frightening how quickly a major city can descend into a place of sheer terror and unless the police take control soon, ordinary people will be tempted to make their own arrangements to protect their families and property. That is the nightmare scenario facing the returning David Cameron.
It follows a peaceful march on Saturday in protest against the killing of a man by police in Tottenham, North London, that quickly developed into an orgy of violence, with shops and homes being targeted and burnt. The violence has spread across the Capital making it difficult for police to quell the escalating mayhem, as young children, gangsters and anarchists take advantage of the chaos. It is obvious that the police have lost control of the situation and there is fear that copycat behaviour will spread across the country, with reports that looting is taking place in Birmingham tonight.
It is difficult to watch familiar streets, buildings burning, as rioters loot local shops and set family cars on fire. It is like watching a disaster film unfold and hard to imagine how it will end. Innocent people are being caught up in the violence, or locked in their homes, with reports that looters are attempting to enter private property.
It is frightening how quickly a major city can descend into a place of sheer terror and unless the police take control soon, ordinary people will be tempted to make their own arrangements to protect their families and property. That is the nightmare scenario facing the returning David Cameron.
Saturday, 6 August 2011
Financial Crisis: Where have all the leaders gone?
The world is on the verge of financial meltdown and there appears to be no political leader capable of meeting the challenge of calming the markets. Barack Obama made a lukewarm attempt with his "We are going to get through this", before climbing into a helicopter for a weekend at Camp David.
Here in the UK, No.10 has a "gone away" sign and next door the Chancellor's office is deserted, with the titleholder on holiday in the USA. But for now the UK is on the outside looking in, although problems in Europe and the US will drag the country further into the turmoil. The Italian PM, Silvio Berlusconi, is a corrupt liar, with no credibility, while the French and German leaders appear to have pulled the blankets over their heads. Separate beds of course.
These are dangerous times for the world economies, with the impact being felt by all of us. It is not helped by rating agencies like Standard & Poor's who downgrade a country's credit rating at the drop of a hat, but without any responsibility or consequence for their actions. Even those countries desperately attempting to crawl out of a financial mess find themselves clobbered by these firms.
The USA will not be happy with the lecture from the Chinese to get a grip, but as its biggest lender it believes it has every right. World domination costs money and China has plenty. Shouldn't World leaders be meeting to find a way forward? Bad political leadership and mismanagement of financial institutions has led to this newest calamity and there is a big danger that recovery will be a long time in coming.
Here in the UK, No.10 has a "gone away" sign and next door the Chancellor's office is deserted, with the titleholder on holiday in the USA. But for now the UK is on the outside looking in, although problems in Europe and the US will drag the country further into the turmoil. The Italian PM, Silvio Berlusconi, is a corrupt liar, with no credibility, while the French and German leaders appear to have pulled the blankets over their heads. Separate beds of course.
These are dangerous times for the world economies, with the impact being felt by all of us. It is not helped by rating agencies like Standard & Poor's who downgrade a country's credit rating at the drop of a hat, but without any responsibility or consequence for their actions. Even those countries desperately attempting to crawl out of a financial mess find themselves clobbered by these firms.
The USA will not be happy with the lecture from the Chinese to get a grip, but as its biggest lender it believes it has every right. World domination costs money and China has plenty. Shouldn't World leaders be meeting to find a way forward? Bad political leadership and mismanagement of financial institutions has led to this newest calamity and there is a big danger that recovery will be a long time in coming.
Victoria Beckham: Fighting the flab.....
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| David & Daughter |
In fairness, she could afford to have paid a surrogate mum to do the heavy work, but Victoria is an old-fashioned girl and was willing and happy to undergo the pleasure and the pain to produce her latest child. It also says a lot for her discipline - and vanity - that she will emerge svelte and groomed when next she unveils herself to the public, reflecting her status as a fashion Icon, model mum and wife to David.
The Beckhams have managed to stay together, produce four children and increase their brand value over the years. Her clothes are worn by A-listers and he is about to launch his own underwear label. They remain a staple of media focus here in the UK, while living more or less permanently in the USA, where the boys attend school. If any couple are living the dream it must be them.
Katie Price aka Jordon: Is she past it?
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| Leandro Penna |
However, Miss Price has a razor-sharp business brain and an ability to bed men for the publicity it brings. The man now sharing her bed, following her split from cagefighter Alex Reid, is an Argentinian called Leandro Penna. He's 25 years old model who barely speaks English and as she doesn't speak Spanish, one can only imagine how they communicate.
With no real talent to speak off, other than her breasts, she has managed to make millions over the years, but is her time in the spotlight coming to an end? Her recent TV shows have failed to attract big audiences and she is no longer guaranteed saturation coverage in the tabloids. Katie is being replaced by younger, more attractive "role models" and the papers have found their new Princess Diana in the shape of Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge.
Katie Price will not give up her place in the limelight without a fight, so we are guaranteed future moments of sleeze, indiscretions and paid stories in the magazines. But for how long? She has had more than fifteen-minutes of fame and Leandro must be a disappointment, failing to help her generate the publicity of her previous partners.
A new generation of wags and wannabes are emerging and sadly Katie will wake up one morning to find she's past it. Whether Leandro, he of the large endowment, will still be beside her is another story. No doubt she will attempt to sell it, but will anyone want to buy it?
Thursday, 4 August 2011
Hosni Mubarak: Trial more about humiliation and less about justice....
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| Mubarak and old friends |
Don't get me wrong, it is right and proper that he answer the charges laid before him, but seeing him on a bed, caged, seemed to be more about humiliation and less about justice and somehow demeans the nation of Egypt. For years those same officials, now in control in Cairo, willingly carried out his orders and the International community not only ignored his disregard for human rights, but used his facilities for deeds of their own, including torture.
Mubarak would never have retained his position for so long without the support of the military and it still holds the reins of power today, reluctant to advance the cause of democracy, but happy to surrender the former leader to a show trial. The military - and the judiciary - in the land of the Pharaohs, are as steeped in the blood of the innocent as Mubarak himself. Better they had left him to rot in his villa in Sharm el-Sheikh, than use him to pay lip service to the democratic demands of the Egyptian people.
To accuse Mubarak of corruption, while the military and its friends still possess big villas and vast overseas bank accounts, is laughable. What is very sad is that many of those presiding over his trial, or at least those controlling it behind the scenes, should be in the dock beside him. On the surface they may have changed allegiance and spout words the people want to hear, but do they really believe in power to the people? Sadly, I don't think so.
Phone Hacking: Piers Morgan being dragged into the scandal....
I like Piers Morgan, although I can understand those people who find him supercilious, arrogant and so up himself that it is surprising we can still see him. But besides all that, even he recognises why others feel that way about him and he acknowledges their loathing with great humour.
In a previous existence, Piers was editor of the Daily Mirror and these are dangerous times for such men, what with the phone hacking scandal and all. So far, it has been the News of the World and its executives in the frame for such practises, but there was always an understanding that other papers were prone to a little hacking of their own.
There were suspicions on previous occasions that the Daily Mirror had acquired information about celebrities and others through the hacking of voicemail, but until now no one has directly accused the paper of such tactics, which it has always denied. However, Heather Mills, the former wife of Sir Paul McCartney, has said that a senior journalist on the Daily Mirror admitted hacking her phone during the trials and tribulations of her marriage to the former Beatle. Piers Morgan was the editor of the paper at the time and had previously written that he had heard a recording, but has denied he was aware of phone hacking during his editorial watch.
It has been confirmed that the journalist Miss Mills refers to is not Morgan, but further investigations will once again raise questions about what those in senior positions knew about the practise of using illegal means to gain information for stories. As it concerns a time when Piers Morgan was Editor, such allegations could prove embarrassing for him and his relationship with CNN in the States.
It was Piers Morgan who introduced Sir Paul to Heather Mills, something he has openly regretted. The marriage of Paul and Heather was a stormy one. On the occasion when her voicemail was hacked, Miss Mills had gone to India following a row with Sir Paul, who it is said is heard on the tape pleading for her to return. If the claim is true, then it confirms the widespread belief that phone hacking was not just confined to the Murdoch empire and Piers Morgan will have some explaining to do to prove his ignorance of such activity.
For a man who likes everyone to believe he is personally involved in everything that matters, it will be painful for him to deny such knowledge, no matter how true that might be.
In a previous existence, Piers was editor of the Daily Mirror and these are dangerous times for such men, what with the phone hacking scandal and all. So far, it has been the News of the World and its executives in the frame for such practises, but there was always an understanding that other papers were prone to a little hacking of their own.
There were suspicions on previous occasions that the Daily Mirror had acquired information about celebrities and others through the hacking of voicemail, but until now no one has directly accused the paper of such tactics, which it has always denied. However, Heather Mills, the former wife of Sir Paul McCartney, has said that a senior journalist on the Daily Mirror admitted hacking her phone during the trials and tribulations of her marriage to the former Beatle. Piers Morgan was the editor of the paper at the time and had previously written that he had heard a recording, but has denied he was aware of phone hacking during his editorial watch.
It has been confirmed that the journalist Miss Mills refers to is not Morgan, but further investigations will once again raise questions about what those in senior positions knew about the practise of using illegal means to gain information for stories. As it concerns a time when Piers Morgan was Editor, such allegations could prove embarrassing for him and his relationship with CNN in the States.
It was Piers Morgan who introduced Sir Paul to Heather Mills, something he has openly regretted. The marriage of Paul and Heather was a stormy one. On the occasion when her voicemail was hacked, Miss Mills had gone to India following a row with Sir Paul, who it is said is heard on the tape pleading for her to return. If the claim is true, then it confirms the widespread belief that phone hacking was not just confined to the Murdoch empire and Piers Morgan will have some explaining to do to prove his ignorance of such activity.
For a man who likes everyone to believe he is personally involved in everything that matters, it will be painful for him to deny such knowledge, no matter how true that might be.
Monday, 1 August 2011
The USA Debt Ceiling: Going to the wire...political agenda ahead of the country's welfare?
As I write this here in the UK, we are waiting for Congress to finally vote through the $16.7 trillion dollar debt ceiling, with neither the Democrats or the Republicans happy with the deal, but anxious to avoid a default. It is feared that even if both Houses pass the bill, it will not be enough to save the USA from losing its Triple A credit rating.
It has been a dangerous game of one-upmanship, with the Tea Party being proportioned a large part of the blame for creating the environment where politicians have put a political agenda ahead of the country's welfare. Any instability in the USA economy, the largest in the world, has impact across the globe, but extreme right-wing Republicans appear immune to the dangers, in a blind attempt to unsettle the Obama presidency. It must be noted that there are those Democrats who feel the bill is a betrayal, a step too far in accommodating Republican demands, but will they vote against it?
We keep hearing that the Tea Party represent a small minority within the States, but if that is so then why has its representatives managed to acquire such enormous power? Why are moderate Republicans running scared at the very mention of the TP, too frightened to oppose its homespun isolationist agenda? Is it because more Americans support its Bachmann-ite dogma than the liberal media want to admit?
Of course, the President and his party must also share in the blame for such a late agreement, taking a high-minded attitude when perhaps more cross-party dialogue was required. Much of the grand-standing is due to the Presidential election taking place next year, with Mr Obama and his potential rivals anxious to be seen to be on the side perceived to have gained most from the deal. Perhaps the bill, satisfying at least some of the concerns of all sides, is the right approach in dealing with the economy, but did it have to go to the wire?
What is of concern to the rest of us is that on this occasion America has behaved as if it is purely a domestic issue, when the reality is that a default would have sent the whole world scurrying for the shelters.
It has been a dangerous game of one-upmanship, with the Tea Party being proportioned a large part of the blame for creating the environment where politicians have put a political agenda ahead of the country's welfare. Any instability in the USA economy, the largest in the world, has impact across the globe, but extreme right-wing Republicans appear immune to the dangers, in a blind attempt to unsettle the Obama presidency. It must be noted that there are those Democrats who feel the bill is a betrayal, a step too far in accommodating Republican demands, but will they vote against it?
We keep hearing that the Tea Party represent a small minority within the States, but if that is so then why has its representatives managed to acquire such enormous power? Why are moderate Republicans running scared at the very mention of the TP, too frightened to oppose its homespun isolationist agenda? Is it because more Americans support its Bachmann-ite dogma than the liberal media want to admit?
Of course, the President and his party must also share in the blame for such a late agreement, taking a high-minded attitude when perhaps more cross-party dialogue was required. Much of the grand-standing is due to the Presidential election taking place next year, with Mr Obama and his potential rivals anxious to be seen to be on the side perceived to have gained most from the deal. Perhaps the bill, satisfying at least some of the concerns of all sides, is the right approach in dealing with the economy, but did it have to go to the wire?
What is of concern to the rest of us is that on this occasion America has behaved as if it is purely a domestic issue, when the reality is that a default would have sent the whole world scurrying for the shelters.
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