This series has been an amazing journey of dramas and egos, amongst the judges and the contestants. Poor Frankie Cocozza attracted most of the bile from the tabloids who both condemned and relished his wicked ways. He is a sleaze bag, but at eighteen years-old with the names of seven women he has slept with tattooed on his butt, what would you expect? I think his tabloid headline days are close to ending and it may be that he will develop into a UK Justin Bieber, without the bad attitude! Joking!
Meanwhile, Janet Devlin, the Irish singer with a fantastic unique voice, was unceremoniously kicked off this weekend, when her own mentor Kelly Rowland sealed her fate by refusing to choose between her and Misha B. It was a dramatic and cowardly gesture from Miss Rowland, as both Louis Walsh and Tulisa Constostavlos had voted to retain Misha B and the result rested on the majority decision anyway. Gary Barlow confirmed later he would also have voted off Devlin.
The right decision was made. Janet has the potential to be a recording star within a niche market, but she failed to deliver on the show when it really counted, twice forgetting words and with several performances below par.
I don't know what it is about Misha B. but I just can't warm to the girl. There is something fake about her humility on camera and more reports are emerging of her stroppy behaviour behind the scenes, with the production crew tired of her demands. I suspect the stories are true, but one has to acknowledge she is an amazing artist on stage and deserves a place in the finals. Is it possible that the negative gossip is being deliberately leaked to limit her appeal?
As the show enters its last weeks, both Marcus Collins and the girl-band Little Mix, continue to deliver confident performances. Marcus, the only man left standing could very well take the prize, but win or lose, he needs to establish himself as a credible artist. That means ignoring the Cowell music machine, more comfortable with novelty acts. It might be worth Marcus seeking the advice of Will Young, who insisted on doing things his way and emerged as a recording artist of distinction. Sadly, others who relied on Simon Cowell to establish them beyond the show, failed in their careers.
As for the judges, I think Tulisa has matured and offers good solid advice, Louis has become predictable with the same two or three stock phrases, Kelly is frankly irritating and Mr Barlow's ego has become bigger, but not necessarily, better than Simon Cowell's, the man he is trying to emulate.
It is obvious that if the show is to survive it will need a total overhaul and the presence of Cowell. He may decide to suspend it for a year, but it is more likely that it will return with him at the helm, both Tulisa and Gary beside him, but without Kelly or Louis.
Tuesday, 29 November 2011
Monday, 28 November 2011
UK Economy: It will be a bad day for George Osborne.....
Tomorrow (Tuesday), the Chancellor George Osborne, will deliver his Autumn Statement and while his own side have reason to bow their heads, Labour will no doubt be smirking with delight at his discomfort.
It will be a bad day for him. Experts have forecast that the UK is on the verge of a double-dip recession and unlikely to recover until Spring next year. His "Plan A", an austerity package of measures with deep cuts in spending, is not working, with growth in the economy stunted and unemployment reaching new heights.
Even those on his own side are now calling for a less savage approach to reducing the country's debt, but it could be more than a little awkward for the Chancellor to backtrack on his original, ultra-macho, plan. If he shows any signs of discarding it, the City institutions will punish him and the government so harshly that he would feel less pain being placed in a drum of oil and slowly boiled.
He is going to have to walk a tightrope between putting some life in the economy, without backing down from his crusade to cut expenditure and public sector jobs. It will not be an easy task, especially with a growing number of his own supporters urging a less aggressive policy.
As for the opposition, Labour needs to be careful not to be seen to be too smug. The majority in the country still hold it responsible for the mess we are in and Mr Miliband and Mr Balls have yet to convince us otherwise.
It will be a bad day for him. Experts have forecast that the UK is on the verge of a double-dip recession and unlikely to recover until Spring next year. His "Plan A", an austerity package of measures with deep cuts in spending, is not working, with growth in the economy stunted and unemployment reaching new heights.
Even those on his own side are now calling for a less savage approach to reducing the country's debt, but it could be more than a little awkward for the Chancellor to backtrack on his original, ultra-macho, plan. If he shows any signs of discarding it, the City institutions will punish him and the government so harshly that he would feel less pain being placed in a drum of oil and slowly boiled.
He is going to have to walk a tightrope between putting some life in the economy, without backing down from his crusade to cut expenditure and public sector jobs. It will not be an easy task, especially with a growing number of his own supporters urging a less aggressive policy.
As for the opposition, Labour needs to be careful not to be seen to be too smug. The majority in the country still hold it responsible for the mess we are in and Mr Miliband and Mr Balls have yet to convince us otherwise.
Gary Speed, Footballer & Manager: For once the tabloids behave....
Perhaps it is because the Leveson Inquiry into press standards is in full swing, but with the tragic death of Gary Speed, the tabloids have reported his shocking suicide with dignity and sympathy.
Speed, 42, the Welsh football manager, was found hanged at his home in Chester on Sunday. Mystery surrounds the reason behind his suicide because, in his role as a pundit, he appeared on TV the day before, looking relaxed and happy, showing no signs of stress.
What has been incredible is the emotional response from the sport's professionals and the fans, who are obviously stunned by his death and have paid tribute to him on Twitter and in stadiums across the country.
I am sure, at some time in the future, more will emerge about the reasons for this tragedy, but it is good to see the press behave with restraint and respect for a man who everyone thought was living the dream, but for some unknown reason, wasn't.
Speed, 42, the Welsh football manager, was found hanged at his home in Chester on Sunday. Mystery surrounds the reason behind his suicide because, in his role as a pundit, he appeared on TV the day before, looking relaxed and happy, showing no signs of stress.
What has been incredible is the emotional response from the sport's professionals and the fans, who are obviously stunned by his death and have paid tribute to him on Twitter and in stadiums across the country.
I am sure, at some time in the future, more will emerge about the reasons for this tragedy, but it is good to see the press behave with restraint and respect for a man who everyone thought was living the dream, but for some unknown reason, wasn't.
Thursday, 24 November 2011
UK Press Standards: Leveson inquiry down in the gutter....
Lord Leveson's inquiry into press standards, brought about following the News of the World phone-hacking scandal, has seen a string of people, some celebrities, others just ordinary people dragged into the media spotlight because of events, accuse the great British media of some very underhand behaviour.
On Wednesday, it was the turn of Gerry and Kate McCann, who actively co-operated with the media following the disappearance of their daughter. They wanted help in getting Madeleine back, while the press itself saw an opportunity to shift more newspapers.
Following Madeleine's disappearance from a holiday complex in Portugal in 2007, the McCanns were subject to varying press reports, from out and out sympathy to wild speculation and innuendo that they were somehow involved in Madeleine's kidnap. The couple won an action against Express Newspapers who published an article suggesting involvement in their daughter's death.
The pain was made worse when the News of the World obtained a copy of Kate's diary from Portugese police and published her heartbreaking private account of living through the nightmare of Madeleine's disappearance.
Mrs McCann told the inquiry: "I felt totally violated. You know, I'd written these words and thoughts at the most desperate time in my life," she said."Most people won't have to experience that and it was my only way of communicating with Madeleine."
On the previous day, the parents of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler told of their anguish when they heard that their daughter's phone had been hacked into by the News of The World.
I cannot extend the same sympathy to the stars and so-called celebrities who have also been attending the inquiry, although they too deserve to be protected from muck-raking media. But the lines are blurred because it was they who originally sought press exposure, wheather it be to promote a film, a play, a book or use marriage to a footballer to advance a career.
However, never satisfied, journalists and private detectives searched bins and published extracts from telephone conversations, which persumably could only have been available through phone hacking. This behaviour over-stepped the relationship between press and those in the public eye.
It is incredible that the very media who exposed so much about others, was quietly breaking the law, behaving like judge, jury and low-life scum, at home in the gutter.
On Wednesday, it was the turn of Gerry and Kate McCann, who actively co-operated with the media following the disappearance of their daughter. They wanted help in getting Madeleine back, while the press itself saw an opportunity to shift more newspapers.
Following Madeleine's disappearance from a holiday complex in Portugal in 2007, the McCanns were subject to varying press reports, from out and out sympathy to wild speculation and innuendo that they were somehow involved in Madeleine's kidnap. The couple won an action against Express Newspapers who published an article suggesting involvement in their daughter's death.
The pain was made worse when the News of the World obtained a copy of Kate's diary from Portugese police and published her heartbreaking private account of living through the nightmare of Madeleine's disappearance.
Mrs McCann told the inquiry: "I felt totally violated. You know, I'd written these words and thoughts at the most desperate time in my life," she said."Most people won't have to experience that and it was my only way of communicating with Madeleine."
On the previous day, the parents of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler told of their anguish when they heard that their daughter's phone had been hacked into by the News of The World.
I cannot extend the same sympathy to the stars and so-called celebrities who have also been attending the inquiry, although they too deserve to be protected from muck-raking media. But the lines are blurred because it was they who originally sought press exposure, wheather it be to promote a film, a play, a book or use marriage to a footballer to advance a career.
However, never satisfied, journalists and private detectives searched bins and published extracts from telephone conversations, which persumably could only have been available through phone hacking. This behaviour over-stepped the relationship between press and those in the public eye.
It is incredible that the very media who exposed so much about others, was quietly breaking the law, behaving like judge, jury and low-life scum, at home in the gutter.
Monday, 21 November 2011
Ireland: A model citizen of Europe....
It was a humiliating experience for the Irish people when, due to the incompetence of the previous government and, it must be said, their own greed, they had to go cap in hand to Europe and the IMF to seek a bailout or face defaulting on the country's debts.
The Celtic Tiger had fallen foul of its own success urged on by unprincipled bankers, who have never been called to account for their unethical behaviour that bordered on the criminal. With a new government came tough austerity measures that have heaped pain on the ordinary citizens of Ireland, with job losses or big wage reductions. Benefits have been drastically cut and once expensive houses now stand unfinished, empty or inhabited by squatters.
Worse, a whole generation of well-educated young have left to seek jobs abroad and if history is anything to go by, the majority are unlikely to return. Yet, the country is seeing an upturn in exports and large companies continue to move their operations there. Thanks to John Arlidge of The Sunday Times, we learn that the world's Botox is produced in Ireland. As are enough quantities of Viagra to make bishops reach for a stiff drink, no longer able to preach abstinence due to the behaviour of their own clergy.
Unless the Eurozone collapses, bringing the world to its knees, Ireland is on the rocky road to recovery, doing what its financial masters demand and hailed in Brussels as a model citizen of Europe. But it is paying a terrible price for the sins of the past.
The Celtic Tiger had fallen foul of its own success urged on by unprincipled bankers, who have never been called to account for their unethical behaviour that bordered on the criminal. With a new government came tough austerity measures that have heaped pain on the ordinary citizens of Ireland, with job losses or big wage reductions. Benefits have been drastically cut and once expensive houses now stand unfinished, empty or inhabited by squatters.
Worse, a whole generation of well-educated young have left to seek jobs abroad and if history is anything to go by, the majority are unlikely to return. Yet, the country is seeing an upturn in exports and large companies continue to move their operations there. Thanks to John Arlidge of The Sunday Times, we learn that the world's Botox is produced in Ireland. As are enough quantities of Viagra to make bishops reach for a stiff drink, no longer able to preach abstinence due to the behaviour of their own clergy.
Unless the Eurozone collapses, bringing the world to its knees, Ireland is on the rocky road to recovery, doing what its financial masters demand and hailed in Brussels as a model citizen of Europe. But it is paying a terrible price for the sins of the past.
Saif Al Islam Gaddafi: Do you want to know a secret?
The capture of Gaddafi's second son and heir apparent, Saif Al Islam Gaddafi, may well be cause for celebration in Libya, but could prove very embarrassing for some people in the West, who were quite eager to meet, greet and be entertained by the Gaddafi family.
Saif will know all the secrets and could spill the beans at his trial, likely to take place in Libya, despite attempts by the International Criminal Courts in The Hague to extradite him for "crimes against humanity".
Tony Blair, the ex-Prime Minister, may regret his dealings with the Gaddafi clan, although these days as he busily squirrels away even more millions, it is unlikely he has the time to feel even a tinge of embarrassment about anything. Mr Blair made several visits to Libya to discuss business deals on behalf of British companies. Did he personally benefit from his relationship with Saif and daddy, Muammar? There have been suggestions that he did act as an adviser to Colonel Gaddafi, but Mr Blair has denied this. Saif Gaddafi would know the truth.
Prince Andrew is also named as someone who eagerly embraced his relationship with Libya, in his role as Trade Ambassador. He, according to reports, entertained Saif at several royal homes and it would be fascinating to know what was discussed. Was it around the time he was hawking that monstrosity of a house, Sunninghill Park, which he once shared with the Duchess? Did he produce the estate agent's details over the coffee? You may remember it was eventually sold to another rich acquaintance for several million above the asking price and we are still asking "why?"!
A man always mentioned when there is even a whiff of an alleged scandal in high places is Lord Mandelson. He admitted that when Business Secretary in the last Labour government, he dined with Saif and discussed the fate of the Lockerbie bomber, Al Megrahi, later released from a Scottish jail and returned to Libya. Labour has always denied the bomber was released in exchange for favourable business contracts and who are we to doubt the integrity of that particular government?
Lord Mandelson moves in influential and very rich circles and is back in the news having just bought a £7.5 million property in London, money no doubt hard-earned from his various consultancies across the globe.
People in high places have a different moral code than the rest of us. While in the company of the Gaddafis, did these illustrious dignitaries ever smell the fear and pain of those tortured and killed by that evil regime?
It is important for its emerging democracy that Libya is seen to embrace a civilised system of justice and the manner in which the trial of Saif Gaddafi is conducted will say much for its new leaders. For others, the quicker he is dispatched, the less secrets he can divulge.
Saif will know all the secrets and could spill the beans at his trial, likely to take place in Libya, despite attempts by the International Criminal Courts in The Hague to extradite him for "crimes against humanity".
Tony Blair, the ex-Prime Minister, may regret his dealings with the Gaddafi clan, although these days as he busily squirrels away even more millions, it is unlikely he has the time to feel even a tinge of embarrassment about anything. Mr Blair made several visits to Libya to discuss business deals on behalf of British companies. Did he personally benefit from his relationship with Saif and daddy, Muammar? There have been suggestions that he did act as an adviser to Colonel Gaddafi, but Mr Blair has denied this. Saif Gaddafi would know the truth.
Prince Andrew is also named as someone who eagerly embraced his relationship with Libya, in his role as Trade Ambassador. He, according to reports, entertained Saif at several royal homes and it would be fascinating to know what was discussed. Was it around the time he was hawking that monstrosity of a house, Sunninghill Park, which he once shared with the Duchess? Did he produce the estate agent's details over the coffee? You may remember it was eventually sold to another rich acquaintance for several million above the asking price and we are still asking "why?"!
A man always mentioned when there is even a whiff of an alleged scandal in high places is Lord Mandelson. He admitted that when Business Secretary in the last Labour government, he dined with Saif and discussed the fate of the Lockerbie bomber, Al Megrahi, later released from a Scottish jail and returned to Libya. Labour has always denied the bomber was released in exchange for favourable business contracts and who are we to doubt the integrity of that particular government?
Lord Mandelson moves in influential and very rich circles and is back in the news having just bought a £7.5 million property in London, money no doubt hard-earned from his various consultancies across the globe.
People in high places have a different moral code than the rest of us. While in the company of the Gaddafis, did these illustrious dignitaries ever smell the fear and pain of those tortured and killed by that evil regime?
It is important for its emerging democracy that Libya is seen to embrace a civilised system of justice and the manner in which the trial of Saif Gaddafi is conducted will say much for its new leaders. For others, the quicker he is dispatched, the less secrets he can divulge.
Daybreak: Adrian Chiles and Christine Bleakley about to get a lie-in...
Surely it is no surprise that Adrian Chiles and Christine Bleakley are to be replaced on the Daybreak morning sofa? Poached from the BBC, where they both successfully presented The One Show, their partnership on Daybreak has not been a success and Christine wouldn't be human if she did not occasionally resent her co-host for suggesting she join him in the first place.
Let's face it, it was not a good decision to hire grumpy Adrian for a morning show. He has a face and a persona to sour the breakfast pinta and he and Christine were unable to connect with the Daybreak audience. Despite their massive salaries, the show rarely achieved ratings higher than the show it replaced and the bonhomie between the pair appeared faked. Christine's high-profile life with Chelsea footballer Frank Lampard is said to have distanced her from the typical Daybreak audience, who could not relate to her glamorous lifestyle, other than feel envious.
Both will continue to work for ITV with Christine being announced as a co-host for the next series of Dancing On Ice. However, Chiles and herself are said to be furious that the news of their sacking has become public knowledge. It seems it was agreed that "a wish to pursue other projects" would be the excuse used to announce their eventual departure, the usual line no one ever believes. Someone at Daybreak obviously had it in for the pair and leaked the news with great gusto.
There will now be a fight to replace them on the sofa, but my impression of the daily show is that it needs to be a little more upbeat in its presentation and less patronising in the way it presents news and magazine pieces. Disappointed advertisers will be hoping that a new team will be able to rescue the show and one wonders if it could signal the return of Eamonn Holmes who is currently doing a superb job for Sky. Perhaps he and Anthea Turner could bury the hatchet (but not in each other!) to front a re-launch?!
Let's face it, it was not a good decision to hire grumpy Adrian for a morning show. He has a face and a persona to sour the breakfast pinta and he and Christine were unable to connect with the Daybreak audience. Despite their massive salaries, the show rarely achieved ratings higher than the show it replaced and the bonhomie between the pair appeared faked. Christine's high-profile life with Chelsea footballer Frank Lampard is said to have distanced her from the typical Daybreak audience, who could not relate to her glamorous lifestyle, other than feel envious.
Both will continue to work for ITV with Christine being announced as a co-host for the next series of Dancing On Ice. However, Chiles and herself are said to be furious that the news of their sacking has become public knowledge. It seems it was agreed that "a wish to pursue other projects" would be the excuse used to announce their eventual departure, the usual line no one ever believes. Someone at Daybreak obviously had it in for the pair and leaked the news with great gusto.
There will now be a fight to replace them on the sofa, but my impression of the daily show is that it needs to be a little more upbeat in its presentation and less patronising in the way it presents news and magazine pieces. Disappointed advertisers will be hoping that a new team will be able to rescue the show and one wonders if it could signal the return of Eamonn Holmes who is currently doing a superb job for Sky. Perhaps he and Anthea Turner could bury the hatchet (but not in each other!) to front a re-launch?!
Saturday, 19 November 2011
Angela Merkel & David Cameron: Agree to disagree....while the vultures circle
The British Prime Minister, David Cameron met Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, in Berlin yesterday and agreed to disagree on the way forward for Europe. Although there is much talking going on, there is little in the way of concrete action taking place to solve the issues of the Eurozone.
While Ms Merkel has taken the role of boss of bosses within the EU, she is reluctant to upset her own tax-paying voters by dishing out their money to other less fortunate countries within the Eurozone. But the markets are tiring of the talk and want a bail-out plan to be activated, preferably before the sound of sleigh bells.
The Chancellor does not want the European Central Bank (ECB) to be the lender of monies to ailing nations, but her reluctance to dip into German reserves, could start a landslide into oblivion for the Euro as we know it. There may already be a plan hatched by Ms Merkel and France's Nicolas Sarkozy to rid the Eurozone of countries like Greece and Portugal, but it would be a major gamble and the consequences could mean a disastrous slide into recession across the globe.
We may not like it, but the reality is that economic recovery in the United Kingdom depends on a healthy Europe. Mr Cameron knows that, even if some of his deluded Tory MPs don't. However the prime minister's statements on the Eurozone crisis have upset European leaders who see him as a nosey neighbour poking his nose in from the sidelines.
Ms Merkel wants to use the current crisis to introduce new measures requiring changes to the treaty and the consent of member nations. This would create major problems for Mr Cameron, cause a rift within the Conservatives and even make it untenable for the Coalition to continue in government. It would be no easier for Labour, with its own EU sceptics waiting to pounce when required.
It could be said the markets are behaving in a most irresponsible manner, almost coaxing disaster, but with Eurozone leaders dragging their feet, Germany in particular, then the vultures are going to circle.
While Ms Merkel has taken the role of boss of bosses within the EU, she is reluctant to upset her own tax-paying voters by dishing out their money to other less fortunate countries within the Eurozone. But the markets are tiring of the talk and want a bail-out plan to be activated, preferably before the sound of sleigh bells.
The Chancellor does not want the European Central Bank (ECB) to be the lender of monies to ailing nations, but her reluctance to dip into German reserves, could start a landslide into oblivion for the Euro as we know it. There may already be a plan hatched by Ms Merkel and France's Nicolas Sarkozy to rid the Eurozone of countries like Greece and Portugal, but it would be a major gamble and the consequences could mean a disastrous slide into recession across the globe.
We may not like it, but the reality is that economic recovery in the United Kingdom depends on a healthy Europe. Mr Cameron knows that, even if some of his deluded Tory MPs don't. However the prime minister's statements on the Eurozone crisis have upset European leaders who see him as a nosey neighbour poking his nose in from the sidelines.
Ms Merkel wants to use the current crisis to introduce new measures requiring changes to the treaty and the consent of member nations. This would create major problems for Mr Cameron, cause a rift within the Conservatives and even make it untenable for the Coalition to continue in government. It would be no easier for Labour, with its own EU sceptics waiting to pounce when required.
It could be said the markets are behaving in a most irresponsible manner, almost coaxing disaster, but with Eurozone leaders dragging their feet, Germany in particular, then the vultures are going to circle.
Friday, 18 November 2011
Justin Bieber: Who's the daddy?
No one actually believed that Justin Bieber had it in him to impregnate a disillusioned gold-digger who claims she had his baby. Although Mariah Yeater has withdrawn her legal action against the singer, she still maintains that he is the daddy, but her reputation has been shot to pieces.
I am generations away from the market he attracts and the majority of his fans are young girls still clutching their Barbies, but on those few occasions I have seen him on TV shows I thought his music bland enough for the targeted audience and his personality ice-cold. He comes across like a spoilt brat and there have been several incidents recently where it is reported he has been rude to airline and television employees.
He is under a lot of pressure for a 17 year-old with a Brand to protect, but behaving like a nasty little s*** will not serve him well when his fan base grows up and tires of him and he decides he wants to be a credible artist.
Are the stories true? I don't know, but there are too many of them going the rounds not to have some truth in them. It's time his mother told him the facts of life....made him aware of his short shelf-life... and taught him to behave like a grateful young gentleman.
I am generations away from the market he attracts and the majority of his fans are young girls still clutching their Barbies, but on those few occasions I have seen him on TV shows I thought his music bland enough for the targeted audience and his personality ice-cold. He comes across like a spoilt brat and there have been several incidents recently where it is reported he has been rude to airline and television employees.
He is under a lot of pressure for a 17 year-old with a Brand to protect, but behaving like a nasty little s*** will not serve him well when his fan base grows up and tires of him and he decides he wants to be a credible artist.
Are the stories true? I don't know, but there are too many of them going the rounds not to have some truth in them. It's time his mother told him the facts of life....made him aware of his short shelf-life... and taught him to behave like a grateful young gentleman.
Sepp Blatter: The man is an idiot....
Sepp Blatter is an idiot. He can't help but make a fool of himself every time he opens his mouth. As president of FIFA, he has presided over an organisation where it has been acceptable to feast off the table of corruption and he has done little to address that particular issue. His latest lament that racist abuse on the football pitch should be settled by a handshake once a game is over, has resulted in calls for him to resign.
His remarks have incensed those in the sport who work hard to eliminate the racial abuse that over the years has demeaned the so-called "beautiful game". But, Blatter is a man without principle and is likely to just shrug off any attempt to unseat him. How can football deal with the problem if the man at the top so readily dismisses such abuse? By his words he has given solace to the bigots in the sport and those on the terraces and the only right thing is for him to go.
FIFA has lost its way and the blame can be laid at the door of Sepp Blatter. His organisation is a den of avarice and dirties the very game it is supposed to promote.
His remarks have incensed those in the sport who work hard to eliminate the racial abuse that over the years has demeaned the so-called "beautiful game". But, Blatter is a man without principle and is likely to just shrug off any attempt to unseat him. How can football deal with the problem if the man at the top so readily dismisses such abuse? By his words he has given solace to the bigots in the sport and those on the terraces and the only right thing is for him to go.
FIFA has lost its way and the blame can be laid at the door of Sepp Blatter. His organisation is a den of avarice and dirties the very game it is supposed to promote.
Wednesday, 16 November 2011
I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here!: Fatima Whitbread already a winner....
I have never spent much time watching I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here!, a reality TV show which sends so-called celebrities into a jungle and use their need for cash and fame to humiliate them in the battle for ratings. Within a couple of days of this year's series starting, one of the contestants, the comedian Freddie Starr was forced to leave due to ill-health. Sinitta, Simon Cowell's sidekick and Pat Sharp, one-time kid's presenter, were on stand-by to join the current crop of camp-dwellers.
One of those in the jungle is Fatima Whitbread, a muscled former world champion javelin thrower, who has made no secret that she is in the jungle because she needs the money. Now 50, Fatima, is an Olympic medallist, Sports Personality of The Year and a holder of the MBE. She is also one of life's great survivors and I will be rooting for her to win!
Although, a major sports star in her time, she has struggled financially since her husband died, leaving her to bring up her son, now 13, alone. She had an awful beginning in life, suffering malnutrition and a childhood in care homes. Her mother was a worthless woman who held a knife to her throat as one of her boyfriend's raped the fourteen-year old Fatima. She was eventually rescued and adopted by a couple called Whitbread, who gave her the love and support to achieve her ambitions as a world-class athlete. It is only recently that her horrendous past has become public knowledge and it is said she was "heartbroken" to leave her son behind as she entered the jungle.
It would be fantastic if she won the show, but in the eyes of many she is already a winner!
One of those in the jungle is Fatima Whitbread, a muscled former world champion javelin thrower, who has made no secret that she is in the jungle because she needs the money. Now 50, Fatima, is an Olympic medallist, Sports Personality of The Year and a holder of the MBE. She is also one of life's great survivors and I will be rooting for her to win!
Although, a major sports star in her time, she has struggled financially since her husband died, leaving her to bring up her son, now 13, alone. She had an awful beginning in life, suffering malnutrition and a childhood in care homes. Her mother was a worthless woman who held a knife to her throat as one of her boyfriend's raped the fourteen-year old Fatima. She was eventually rescued and adopted by a couple called Whitbread, who gave her the love and support to achieve her ambitions as a world-class athlete. It is only recently that her horrendous past has become public knowledge and it is said she was "heartbroken" to leave her son behind as she entered the jungle.
It would be fantastic if she won the show, but in the eyes of many she is already a winner!
Eurozone & World Economy: Is democracy in the danger zone?
The Eurozone is dangerously close to falling off the cliff edge, which would send the world economy into catastrophic meltdown. What is most worrying is that the markets have got it in mind that it is they who really are the Masters of the Universe and can control who does and doesn't lead the governments of the Eurozone.
In recent days the prime ministers of Greece and Italy have been thrown out of office, not through the ballot box, but the vagaries of the markets, who wouldn't settle for less. Which country is next to experience the flexed muscles of the money men? Spain? France? One wonders if democracy is also in the danger zone?
Meanwhile, while the politicians fail to show any solid leadership, the world economy is slipping out of control, while newly-released UK unemployment figures show the pain being borne by a generation unable to obtain jobs. The level of jobless young people in the UK is now over 1million and there is not even a hint of "green shoots" to suggest recovery is on the horizon.
The government talks of new incentives to encourage young people into a work environment, but what is the point of training if there is no real job available at the end of an apprenticeship? And what of the higher education students now chasing jobs they once considered menial? The bright sparks of youth are demoralised and angered by a society that no longer has a worthwhile place for them and sooner or later their call to action may not be to our liking.
The situation in the Eurozone has a direct impact on the UK. While we may congratulate ourselves on remaining outside the Euro currency, we rely on Europe for 40% of our exports, so our futures are very much linked. It is in the interest of the United Kingdom to fully support our European partners, with financial help if need be.
In recent days the prime ministers of Greece and Italy have been thrown out of office, not through the ballot box, but the vagaries of the markets, who wouldn't settle for less. Which country is next to experience the flexed muscles of the money men? Spain? France? One wonders if democracy is also in the danger zone?
Meanwhile, while the politicians fail to show any solid leadership, the world economy is slipping out of control, while newly-released UK unemployment figures show the pain being borne by a generation unable to obtain jobs. The level of jobless young people in the UK is now over 1million and there is not even a hint of "green shoots" to suggest recovery is on the horizon.
The government talks of new incentives to encourage young people into a work environment, but what is the point of training if there is no real job available at the end of an apprenticeship? And what of the higher education students now chasing jobs they once considered menial? The bright sparks of youth are demoralised and angered by a society that no longer has a worthwhile place for them and sooner or later their call to action may not be to our liking.
The situation in the Eurozone has a direct impact on the UK. While we may congratulate ourselves on remaining outside the Euro currency, we rely on Europe for 40% of our exports, so our futures are very much linked. It is in the interest of the United Kingdom to fully support our European partners, with financial help if need be.
Stephen Lawrence: In I993 he was killed because he was black...
The death in I993 of 18 year-old student Stephen Lawrence in a London suburb shocked the majority in the country. He and a friend were set upon by five white thugs, with Stephen being beaten and fatally stabbed. The five were subsequently cleared of his murder in a notorious trial and the police who carried out the initial investigation were later heavily criticised.
Then and now, it was considered a crime of hate, with the shy student targeted just because he was black, but over the years it seemed less and less likely that his killers would be brought to justice. However, because of advances in science and DNA testing, two men have been charged with murder, eighteen years after the terrible crime.
His parents, now separated, were in court today to watch Gary Dobson and David Norris answer charges that they killed their son. Both deny the murder of the teenager who had ambitions to be an architect and would be aged thirty-six had he lived.
Then and now, it was considered a crime of hate, with the shy student targeted just because he was black, but over the years it seemed less and less likely that his killers would be brought to justice. However, because of advances in science and DNA testing, two men have been charged with murder, eighteen years after the terrible crime.
His parents, now separated, were in court today to watch Gary Dobson and David Norris answer charges that they killed their son. Both deny the murder of the teenager who had ambitions to be an architect and would be aged thirty-six had he lived.
Monday, 14 November 2011
X Factor UK: Kitty goes out....Louis threatens to quit...
Kitty Brucknell was voted off X Factor last night, despite a moving rendition of Over The Rainbow, but then she was up against Misha B. A talented performer she may be, but Kitty just never connected with the great British public who just could not take to her odd personality.
In the sing-off, Misha B gave a superb performance of Jessie J's Who You Are and although there is something about the girl I don't like, by any standard she is is a fantastic performer and worthy of a place in the finals. The fact that she was in the bottom two suggests that the public may have reservations and she is being judged on her past as a self-confessed school bully, rather than her obvious talent as a performer. I must admit I perceive her as a stroppy, but very talented, Diva in the making.
I enjoy the show, but there is an element of a shambles about it, with the judging panel becoming just a little too obnoxious towards each other. Louis Walsh was all over the weekend papers threatening to quit the show, criticising Gary Barlow in the process.
His threat is presumably to save face because it is believed he will not be asked back next series, so he will go before being pushed. However, it would be a shame if he went because he, of all the panel, understands the X Factor is first and foremost an entertaining television show and who gives a damn if a contestant makes it or not.
Gary Barlow is a brilliant songwriter and singer, but his performance as a judge is somewhat suspect. One does get the impression that on the show he is armed with a script of one-liners to be spewed out no matter what. He seems to be too serious, lacking in humour, charm or humility.
Kelly Rowland started off well, but then decided to team with Gary and since her return from her "sick-bed" has become somewhat irritating. Those Southern belle sayings are now sounding like an affectation, patronising and insincere. On the other hand, Tulisa has grown in stature and seems genuinely interested in what happens to Little Mix, her only group now in the contest. If I was Simon I would definitely ask her back next series.
It may be that Cowell will skip next year and return in 2013 with a revamped X Factor. This year the show attracted massive tabloid coverage, but it was the wrong kind for a family show and would not have pleased some of ITV's advertisers. There must also be concern about the dwindling audience figures, which at times meant Strictly Come Dancing beat it in the ratings.
X Factor still attracts an audience of 10million or so, which makes it an important weekend television vehicle, but ITV are likely to demand Simon Cowell's full-time involvement next time around.
In the sing-off, Misha B gave a superb performance of Jessie J's Who You Are and although there is something about the girl I don't like, by any standard she is is a fantastic performer and worthy of a place in the finals. The fact that she was in the bottom two suggests that the public may have reservations and she is being judged on her past as a self-confessed school bully, rather than her obvious talent as a performer. I must admit I perceive her as a stroppy, but very talented, Diva in the making.
I enjoy the show, but there is an element of a shambles about it, with the judging panel becoming just a little too obnoxious towards each other. Louis Walsh was all over the weekend papers threatening to quit the show, criticising Gary Barlow in the process.
His threat is presumably to save face because it is believed he will not be asked back next series, so he will go before being pushed. However, it would be a shame if he went because he, of all the panel, understands the X Factor is first and foremost an entertaining television show and who gives a damn if a contestant makes it or not.
Gary Barlow is a brilliant songwriter and singer, but his performance as a judge is somewhat suspect. One does get the impression that on the show he is armed with a script of one-liners to be spewed out no matter what. He seems to be too serious, lacking in humour, charm or humility.
Kelly Rowland started off well, but then decided to team with Gary and since her return from her "sick-bed" has become somewhat irritating. Those Southern belle sayings are now sounding like an affectation, patronising and insincere. On the other hand, Tulisa has grown in stature and seems genuinely interested in what happens to Little Mix, her only group now in the contest. If I was Simon I would definitely ask her back next series.
It may be that Cowell will skip next year and return in 2013 with a revamped X Factor. This year the show attracted massive tabloid coverage, but it was the wrong kind for a family show and would not have pleased some of ITV's advertisers. There must also be concern about the dwindling audience figures, which at times meant Strictly Come Dancing beat it in the ratings.
X Factor still attracts an audience of 10million or so, which makes it an important weekend television vehicle, but ITV are likely to demand Simon Cowell's full-time involvement next time around.
Sunday, 13 November 2011
Pippa Middleton: Sister of Duchess....rid of long-term boyfriend! Meanwhile Prince Andrew....
Pippa Middleton, the sister of the Duchess of Cambridge and owner of the most famous posterior in the world, has rid herself of her long-term boyfriend. Her ex Alex Loudon, a city banker, is said to be jealous of her new-found fame which led to some serious rows in recent months. They briefly split earlier this year, but this time it seems the romance is over for good.
Thanks to her sister, Pippa is enjoying the high-life without the restrictions of being a royal, but the whole Middleton family must live in fear of upsetting Catherine's in-laws. It must grate on some of them that the Middletons have taken to the fame game like a duck takes to water and, it must be said, with more grace and dignity than some of the younger royals.
Whenever she can spare the time, Pippa works for the family firm Party Pieces, but how much time she actually spends there is debatable. However, at least she does work and is not dependent on the state for support, which is exactly what Prince Andrew wants for his two daughters Beatrice and Eugenie. Already both cost the taxpayer large sums for unnecessary security, but their father wants them to undertake royal duties in the future, which would entitle them to financial support from the money The Queen gets from the state.
Prince Andrew has a high opinion of his own role within the royal family and obviously wants his daughters to benefit from the perks it brings. While his daughters appear to be nice human beings, surely they should be encouraged to get out into the real world and earn a living like the rest of us mortals. The Prince of York has abused his position over the years and it is a shame that he now wants to add his daughters to the list of royal freeloaders.
Thanks to her sister, Pippa is enjoying the high-life without the restrictions of being a royal, but the whole Middleton family must live in fear of upsetting Catherine's in-laws. It must grate on some of them that the Middletons have taken to the fame game like a duck takes to water and, it must be said, with more grace and dignity than some of the younger royals.
Whenever she can spare the time, Pippa works for the family firm Party Pieces, but how much time she actually spends there is debatable. However, at least she does work and is not dependent on the state for support, which is exactly what Prince Andrew wants for his two daughters Beatrice and Eugenie. Already both cost the taxpayer large sums for unnecessary security, but their father wants them to undertake royal duties in the future, which would entitle them to financial support from the money The Queen gets from the state.
Prince Andrew has a high opinion of his own role within the royal family and obviously wants his daughters to benefit from the perks it brings. While his daughters appear to be nice human beings, surely they should be encouraged to get out into the real world and earn a living like the rest of us mortals. The Prince of York has abused his position over the years and it is a shame that he now wants to add his daughters to the list of royal freeloaders.
Michael Jackson: It wasn't just the Doctor....
Michael Jackson had a life in two parts, one of glitter, the other sheer misery. One of the world's biggest stars, his life ended in a horrible way, his carefully crafted image torn asunder, his amazing music now secondary to the scandals that surrounded him. He was sick and tired yet had agreed, seemingly under duress, to undertake 50 shows in London, when he must have known that he hadn't the stamina to complete them.
His bedroom resembled a hospital room, full of equipment and enough drugs to tranquilise a city, yet he sought even stronger potions to give him sleep and a little respite from his earthly nightmares. Towards the end, the man who wanted so much to be Peter Pan was going blind, bald and infected with a flesh-eating fungus. How awful it must have been for him to present to the world any resemblance to the star he once was.
In the weeks leading up to his death, Dr Conrad Murray may have supplied Michael Jackson with the powerful drug Propofol, but he did not introduce him to it. It is clear that Murray's actions were unprofessional and he deserved the verdict of "involuntary manslaughter", but because of his carelessness rather than a desire to harm the star.
What I found nauseating throughout the trial was the actions of the Jackson Family, turning up each day at the court as if it was a command performance. Where were they all when their brother was in difficulty, when he was so thin that the paramedics who took him to hospital on the day he died, thought he was a hospice patient?
This week members of the Jackson family lined up, along with Michael's son Prince, to sign replica jackets that were being sold for £1500 each. They may have loved their brother, but they failed to be there for him in life. But, oh boy, you can bet they will make the most of his death to publicise their own special projects.
And what of those sad fans who turned up each day outside the court? With nothing better to do with their lives, they gathered each day of Dr Murray's trial and behaved like a baying mob of vigilantes, seeking revenge not justice.
Michael Jackson was the architect of his own downfall. He laid the foundations for all that was wrong in his life and it was such a shame. Maybe in years to come, it will be his music and performances that will be remembered and not the scandals. I hope so, because he was a brilliant entertainer.
His bedroom resembled a hospital room, full of equipment and enough drugs to tranquilise a city, yet he sought even stronger potions to give him sleep and a little respite from his earthly nightmares. Towards the end, the man who wanted so much to be Peter Pan was going blind, bald and infected with a flesh-eating fungus. How awful it must have been for him to present to the world any resemblance to the star he once was.
In the weeks leading up to his death, Dr Conrad Murray may have supplied Michael Jackson with the powerful drug Propofol, but he did not introduce him to it. It is clear that Murray's actions were unprofessional and he deserved the verdict of "involuntary manslaughter", but because of his carelessness rather than a desire to harm the star.
What I found nauseating throughout the trial was the actions of the Jackson Family, turning up each day at the court as if it was a command performance. Where were they all when their brother was in difficulty, when he was so thin that the paramedics who took him to hospital on the day he died, thought he was a hospice patient?
This week members of the Jackson family lined up, along with Michael's son Prince, to sign replica jackets that were being sold for £1500 each. They may have loved their brother, but they failed to be there for him in life. But, oh boy, you can bet they will make the most of his death to publicise their own special projects.
And what of those sad fans who turned up each day outside the court? With nothing better to do with their lives, they gathered each day of Dr Murray's trial and behaved like a baying mob of vigilantes, seeking revenge not justice.
Michael Jackson was the architect of his own downfall. He laid the foundations for all that was wrong in his life and it was such a shame. Maybe in years to come, it will be his music and performances that will be remembered and not the scandals. I hope so, because he was a brilliant entertainer.
Remembrance Sunday: Honouring the war dead....
Watching the annual laying of wreaths at the Cenotaph in Whitehall is always a moving experience and today's service was no exception. The Queen and other members of the Royal Family led tributes in remembrance of the service men and women who died in 2 World Wars and several since, including those in Iraq and currently Afghanistan.
It is a ceremony that must continue to be held each year in perpetuity and the wearing of the poppy and its significance should be on the curriculum of every school and college in the land. Each war has its victims, not just the soldier who dies, but also the family he or she leaves behind, their lives forever more changed by external events, not of their making.
It is times like today when the Royal Family adds gravitas to a sombre occasion and it is heartening to see the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in attendance, representing a generation who have not suffered the indignities and heartbreak of a world at war.
It is a ceremony that must continue to be held each year in perpetuity and the wearing of the poppy and its significance should be on the curriculum of every school and college in the land. Each war has its victims, not just the soldier who dies, but also the family he or she leaves behind, their lives forever more changed by external events, not of their making.
It is times like today when the Royal Family adds gravitas to a sombre occasion and it is heartening to see the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in attendance, representing a generation who have not suffered the indignities and heartbreak of a world at war.
Friday, 11 November 2011
Prince William & The Duchess: A humble little palace....
Much has been made of the fact that he and his wife, the Duchess of Cambridge, live simply, without servants, while she even trawls the local supermarket for bargains. However, it has now been announced that after a refit, costing several million, the pair will move into the poshest apartment on the Kensington Palace estate, once the home of the late Princess Margaret, the haughty only sibling of The Queen.
It is a 20-room palatial apartment, next door to the one where the late Princess of Wales resided and who was not particularly liked by her neighbour. It is said that Princess Margaret was fully aware and totally disapproved of Diana's penchant for smuggling male friends into Kensington Palace in the boot of her car.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will not be able to move into their new abode for a couple of years, while it is being renovated, but such a grand apartment will require upkeep and it is likely these modern royals will conform by hiring a large household worthy of a future King and Queen.
Prince William has emerged as a man fully indoctrinated within the traditions of the Royal Family and, it would seem, much more conservative than his late mother. While he may enjoy the simple life in North Wales, he will have no problem settling into the pampered existence that awaits him in his new home.
What the Royal Family have to be careful about is any signs of indulgence at the taxpayer's expense. In these times of economic difficulty, the public have not been happy to learn that while Princess Anne's daughter Zara Phillips's wedding was billed as a "private" affair, the taxpayer foot the £400,000 security bill.
X Factor: Frankie Cocozza...used his only real asset.....
Isn't the optimism of youth wonderful?! Frankie Cocozza was probably the least talent contestant X Factor UK has ever had on the show, but he was selected because the producers saw in him a rebel with attitude who definitely couldn't sing, but who would attract loads of publicity for the show.
He is only 18 years-old and has used his only real asset to bed numerous willing young ladies, some of whom have their names permanently tattooed on his bum. Last week he was expected to go out of the show after another disastrous performance, but instead the honour went to The Risk, a group everyone thought had a chance of winning.
Sadly, Frankie failed to heed the warnings of his mentor Gary Barlow and instead of early nights in with a hot cocoa, he headed for the bright lights of London and, if the stories are true, one or two car-parks where he indulged in his taste for some really classy women. His wild nights also included some drug-taking, which he boasted about back at the X Factor house, leading to his dismissal from this family-orientated show.
In his statement following his departure, he appeared contrite and humbled, but since then has been quoted in the papers as saying he would be a star without the X Factor. The truth is he may well make a living on the pub and club circuit for a bit, but those engagements will eventually disappear. For one so young he has already got a sad and seedy air about him.
X Factor gave him an opportunity which he squandered. But one thing he did do well was keep himself and the show on the front-pages, which must have delighted Simon Cowell and his publicity machine. That is until the issue of drugs surfaced. It will be interesting to see if the programme makers just cast him adrift or help this 18 year-old back into the real world. Whatever he now does in life will be tainted by his youthful excesses and that's a shame, but it is the way of this modern media age.
Of course, if he does achieve his ambition to be a ROCK STAR, then everything that has happened will enhance his credibility. I just hope someone sits him down soon and tells him that drugs are for losers and that often rebels die young.
Monday, 7 November 2011
The Eurozone: To lose one Prime Minister is unfortunate... to lose two is careless....
The tragedy that is the Eurozone, with dire consequences for the rest of us, has resulted in the Greek Prime Minister, George Papandreou being sacrificed on the alter of national unity, the only way to ensure Athens is the recipient of huge amounts of money from the IMF and the Eurozone begging fund for struggling nations.
Meanwhile, the Italian PM, Silvio Berlusconi, has no doubt cancelled a party or two in an effort to fight off growing pressure for him to do the decent thing. He has denied it, of course, but it does appear that this arrogant man, who has disgraced his country on too many occasions, is up against a groundswell of opinion that he should resign his office at the earliest opportunity. The Italian people have finally snapped, hating it that the man who leads their country has become a laughing stock amongst European and G20 leaders.
At the summit in Cannes he was a lonely, sad figure, humbled by the dire financial situation in his country, which really could bring down the Eurozone and cause a meltdown in world markets. It seems Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy can no longer bear to be in his company and their officials are letting it be known that he should say "Arrivederci".
That a man like him should be running a big country like Italy has always been a source of wonder, but his ownership of much of the Italian media has been a major weapon in his ability to stifle the opposition and prevent public airings of his misdeeds. However, it does appear that his days are numbered as Prime Minister and that soon he will be able to have as many uninterrupted parties as he likes, with as many girls as he likes, whatever their ages.
Meanwhile, the Italian PM, Silvio Berlusconi, has no doubt cancelled a party or two in an effort to fight off growing pressure for him to do the decent thing. He has denied it, of course, but it does appear that this arrogant man, who has disgraced his country on too many occasions, is up against a groundswell of opinion that he should resign his office at the earliest opportunity. The Italian people have finally snapped, hating it that the man who leads their country has become a laughing stock amongst European and G20 leaders.
At the summit in Cannes he was a lonely, sad figure, humbled by the dire financial situation in his country, which really could bring down the Eurozone and cause a meltdown in world markets. It seems Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy can no longer bear to be in his company and their officials are letting it be known that he should say "Arrivederci".
That a man like him should be running a big country like Italy has always been a source of wonder, but his ownership of much of the Italian media has been a major weapon in his ability to stifle the opposition and prevent public airings of his misdeeds. However, it does appear that his days are numbered as Prime Minister and that soon he will be able to have as many uninterrupted parties as he likes, with as many girls as he likes, whatever their ages.
Downton Abbey: Just like the good old days on TV.....
The final episode in the second series of Downton Abbey was shown on Sunday, with Lavinia, Matthew's fiancee, considerate enough to die of Spanish flu, leaving the way open for him to renew his romance with Mary. There has been criticism of this second series, focused on some of the historical gaffs in language, but most has been centred around too many advertising breaks and a rather rushed presentation of events, which never developed beyond the one-dimensional.
However, overall the series has been welcomed, even if there have been moments of unintentional laughter, like that Glee-like episode when Matthew, returning from the war, joined in a duet with the fragrant Lady Mary. Absolutely wonderful television, that made me chuckle like no comedy series has for ages.
What is great about Downton Abbey, as with X Factor and Strictly Come Dancing, is that whatever the criticism, these programmes have brought back weekend family viewing and have returned television to being a prime topic for conversation every Monday, in offices, shops and factories across the land.
Downton Abbey will have a Christmas Special and a third series next year. It is a pity that the writer and creator Julian Fellowes was pressured into delivering a second series so soon after the surprise success of the exquisite first.
However, it managed to retain an audience of over 10 million for each episode, providing great entertainment, tears and laughter, even if the latter was often not intentional. Great stuff, can't wait for the next series!
However, overall the series has been welcomed, even if there have been moments of unintentional laughter, like that Glee-like episode when Matthew, returning from the war, joined in a duet with the fragrant Lady Mary. Absolutely wonderful television, that made me chuckle like no comedy series has for ages.
What is great about Downton Abbey, as with X Factor and Strictly Come Dancing, is that whatever the criticism, these programmes have brought back weekend family viewing and have returned television to being a prime topic for conversation every Monday, in offices, shops and factories across the land.
Downton Abbey will have a Christmas Special and a third series next year. It is a pity that the writer and creator Julian Fellowes was pressured into delivering a second series so soon after the surprise success of the exquisite first.
However, it managed to retain an audience of over 10 million for each episode, providing great entertainment, tears and laughter, even if the latter was often not intentional. Great stuff, can't wait for the next series!
Thursday, 3 November 2011
St Paul's Cathedral & The Protesters: Clergy bunch of cowardly custards...
Protesters against the financial fat cats based in the City of London have set up their own tent city outside the cathedral. Their presence resulted in the cathedral being closed, followed by the resignation of Canon Giles Fraser, Chancellor of St Paul's, who rather liked the squatters and objected to any efforts to evict them. He resigned, when one would have thought he should have stood his ground and fought for his beliefs.
Over the past few days two more of St Paul's senior clerics have also resigned. The Dean, Graeme Knowles, was the man who took the decision to close the cathedral for "health and safety" reasons when the tents first appeared and was fully behind efforts to get rid of the tent people. However, the rest of the clergy didn't want a fight and off he went in a huff. The third resignation came from a chaplain, who probably couldn't stand the strain.
The aim of the protesters is to topple the bad financial men of the City of London, but instead they have created turmoil within the church and specifically St Paul's. It is not as if the occupiers of the tents are particularly rowdy. They all sound very posh when being interviewed on the TV and, in fact, it was revealed that most desert the tents at night to return to their bijou apartments across London, presumably for a shower and to watch themselves on the news programmes.
Pardon me if I appear cynical, but as someone who has to work for a living, I am suspicious of protesters who can afford to do it as a career. I am never sure if they are being subsidised by a trust fund or benefits and if the latter then I am paying for it!
However, the majority in the country would fully support the protesters aims, which is to question the morality of financial institutions who did much to create the economic chaos across the world, but who have carried on doing business as usual, while raking in big fat bonuses.
It is sad that St Paul's felt forced to close its doors for the first time in living memory and it is unfortunate that those responsible for this beautiful cathedral felt unable to stand their ground instead of running away at the first sign of trouble.
Cathedral & History - St Paul's Cathedral, London, UK
Wednesday, 2 November 2011
Race Slurs: Pardon me, but since when has it become fashionable?
There appears to be an increase in instances where celebrities, footballers and would-be wannabes like Kitty Brucknell on X Factor, are being accused of racial slurs against black colleagues. Is it a new fashion thing or hip activity, like the young freely using the word "gay" in place of "bad"?
John Terry, the Chelsea defender and Captain of the England football team, has been accused of a racial slur against an opposition player Anton Ferdinand.The police are now investigating the incident, which could lead to Terry's arrest and suspension from the England team. He denies the charge and says he responded in an aggressive manner on the pitch to deny the allegation.
I hope it is the case that he is innocent, because such behaviour is just not acceptable, although it still occurs on football terraces across the country and we expect those on the pitch to take the lead in stamping it out.
It is just not right to use negative language against people of a different colour, or creed or sexual orientation. It is sad that in this century it still occurs. When celebrities do it, the morons of the world start to believe it is cool to copy.
John Terry, the Chelsea defender and Captain of the England football team, has been accused of a racial slur against an opposition player Anton Ferdinand.The police are now investigating the incident, which could lead to Terry's arrest and suspension from the England team. He denies the charge and says he responded in an aggressive manner on the pitch to deny the allegation.
I hope it is the case that he is innocent, because such behaviour is just not acceptable, although it still occurs on football terraces across the country and we expect those on the pitch to take the lead in stamping it out.
It is just not right to use negative language against people of a different colour, or creed or sexual orientation. It is sad that in this century it still occurs. When celebrities do it, the morons of the world start to believe it is cool to copy.
Eurozone: Bad Greek Leadership.....tragedy for the rest of us!
At the very moment when Greece needed a strong leader, its Prime Minister George Papandreou behaved like a coward. In calling for a referendum on the carefully constructed bailout, he has put his own political future ahead of his country and ultimately, the world economy.
He betrayed Germany, France and the rest of the Eurozone, who worked hard to produce a bailout package that would assist Greece and pacify the nervous markets. It nearly worked, until Mr Papandreou made his decision. The question is what will the referendum ask the Greek people? Used to tax avoidance, corruption, early retirement and living way beyond their means, the people of Athens will not be inclined to enthusiasm for anything that hints of an austerity package!
If the question is "Should the country stay in the Eurozone?" then it may have a chance of support, but if it is "Do you approve of the austerity package to save Greece, despite the fact you may have to pay a little more in tax and have a few less glasses of Ouzo?" then it is quite likely that the answer would be an astounding "No!". That is why the Prime Minister, who agreed the bailout conditions last week, should have behaved like a strong leader and taken responsibility for his country's future prospects. Instead he has placed Greece and the world economy in a position where financial meltdown is possible.
Tonight, European leaders are meeting in Cannes and Mr Papandreou will get a rough reception. So angry are Germany's Angela Merkel and President Sarkozy of France, that the Greek Prime Minister may well find his head in contact with a few plates!
He betrayed Germany, France and the rest of the Eurozone, who worked hard to produce a bailout package that would assist Greece and pacify the nervous markets. It nearly worked, until Mr Papandreou made his decision. The question is what will the referendum ask the Greek people? Used to tax avoidance, corruption, early retirement and living way beyond their means, the people of Athens will not be inclined to enthusiasm for anything that hints of an austerity package!
If the question is "Should the country stay in the Eurozone?" then it may have a chance of support, but if it is "Do you approve of the austerity package to save Greece, despite the fact you may have to pay a little more in tax and have a few less glasses of Ouzo?" then it is quite likely that the answer would be an astounding "No!". That is why the Prime Minister, who agreed the bailout conditions last week, should have behaved like a strong leader and taken responsibility for his country's future prospects. Instead he has placed Greece and the world economy in a position where financial meltdown is possible.
Tonight, European leaders are meeting in Cannes and Mr Papandreou will get a rough reception. So angry are Germany's Angela Merkel and President Sarkozy of France, that the Greek Prime Minister may well find his head in contact with a few plates!
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