No one can legislate for the loony with a gun and a grudge. We can weep for the loss of so many lives in Norway but nothing will stop such tragedies happening. So the knee-jerk reaction we are bound to see will have little effect.
The whole thing is beyond horror. Dum-dum bullets and a slayer who laughs as he goes about his grisly business. What will the Norwegians do with him? Headcases like him usually shoot themselves. This one is alive and determined to justify himself. He wants his day in court.
Does anyone have to listen? Does he really have the right? Our society says he does - despite knowing he despises us for the rights we give to each individual, including him. The maximum sentence is 21 years - as long as he is found to pose no risk to society. That will never happen. Was there ever a greater need to lock the door and throw away the key?
Monday 25 July 2011
Wednesday 20 July 2011
That's My Wife Wendi!
Tiger Wife Wendi! Who cares if the whole world hates you, with her at your side? No wonder Murdoch was smiling as he left Westminster. That flying tackle was totally instinctive. She was quicker than any hired bodyguard.
Which shows up the sloppy security. Shocking to see how easy it was for a guy with a grudge to get into the seat of Government. With an aerosol - unless he waltzed in with a paper plate of foam like a posh waiter. That aerosol could have contained anything. That's why we still can't carry them on planes. You can't even take a bottle of water through airport security.
Yet you can bring anything you like into a select committee hearing. Do you feel let down? The papers behaved badly, no doubt about it, but the shady coppers who took the cash and luxury breaks really make me gag. Never expected pristine standards of the News of the World, but top policemen earning megga bucks with gold-plated pensions really should know better.
Which shows up the sloppy security. Shocking to see how easy it was for a guy with a grudge to get into the seat of Government. With an aerosol - unless he waltzed in with a paper plate of foam like a posh waiter. That aerosol could have contained anything. That's why we still can't carry them on planes. You can't even take a bottle of water through airport security.
Yet you can bring anything you like into a select committee hearing. Do you feel let down? The papers behaved badly, no doubt about it, but the shady coppers who took the cash and luxury breaks really make me gag. Never expected pristine standards of the News of the World, but top policemen earning megga bucks with gold-plated pensions really should know better.
Saturday 16 July 2011
Rebekah Brooks Down the Pan
So the Ginga's gone then! Rebekah Brooks that is. Bit disrespectful that, who cares about the colour of her hair after all, but she is hardly one to make a person fall about in fawning adoration is she?
Except that they do, for the daftest things. Piers Morgan delights in the tale of how Rebekah dressed as a cleaner and hid in a toilet for two hours to snatch a copy of The Sunday Times, so that she could rush it back to the News of the World and they could steal the story.
A scoop that someone else worked hard to get. Researched and wrote. All she did was hide in the loos - in the same building - and nick it. I would have admired her a little bit if she had somehow managed to get it from a rival, the Sunday Mirror say, but in the same building? Hardly front-line journalism is it?
People have said for years that she was out of her depth, but some are being kind to her now in her darkest hour. She has said: " I had absolutely no awareness" of the phone hacking and the rest. How not? Was she hiding in a toilet the whole time or is she just lying through her teeth? We may find out, but don't hold your breath.
Except that they do, for the daftest things. Piers Morgan delights in the tale of how Rebekah dressed as a cleaner and hid in a toilet for two hours to snatch a copy of The Sunday Times, so that she could rush it back to the News of the World and they could steal the story.
A scoop that someone else worked hard to get. Researched and wrote. All she did was hide in the loos - in the same building - and nick it. I would have admired her a little bit if she had somehow managed to get it from a rival, the Sunday Mirror say, but in the same building? Hardly front-line journalism is it?
People have said for years that she was out of her depth, but some are being kind to her now in her darkest hour. She has said: " I had absolutely no awareness" of the phone hacking and the rest. How not? Was she hiding in a toilet the whole time or is she just lying through her teeth? We may find out, but don't hold your breath.
Wednesday 13 July 2011
Black Swan Star and Scott the Brave Marine
Bagged the bird didn't her? Well done that Marine! He asked out Hollywood's hottest actress and she said yes. Just like that. Black Swan actress Mila will go to the ball. Well why not? He's big, brave, up for a laugh and scared of nobody. What more could any girl want?
Sergeant Scott Moore will be take Hollywood's hottest star Mila Kunis to a posh ball in November after gunning for a date via You Tube. He stood sweating in the searing heat, bald head gleaming in the sun while wearing his fattest flak-jacket and just asked nicely. Gorgeous Mila, one of the most beautiful women in the world and an Oscar winner, happily said: "I'll go"
She knows she'll have a brilliant night. All of those handsome young men of the Marine Corps will be falling all over her while the whole world says what a great sport she is. Take heart all you ordinary guys! All any girl wants is a good time in fun company, and that's true whether she's a huge Hollywood star or a hairdresser.
Sergeant Scott Moore will be take Hollywood's hottest star Mila Kunis to a posh ball in November after gunning for a date via You Tube. He stood sweating in the searing heat, bald head gleaming in the sun while wearing his fattest flak-jacket and just asked nicely. Gorgeous Mila, one of the most beautiful women in the world and an Oscar winner, happily said: "I'll go"
She knows she'll have a brilliant night. All of those handsome young men of the Marine Corps will be falling all over her while the whole world says what a great sport she is. Take heart all you ordinary guys! All any girl wants is a good time in fun company, and that's true whether she's a huge Hollywood star or a hairdresser.
Monday 11 July 2011
News of the World Taints Us All
Bought the News of the World this week. It seemed like the least I could do, to support sacked fellow journalists, innocent but tainted by the dreadful activities of others. It seems most of the staff at the NoW have been hired in the last three years .
Still, I never would work for the Screws as we called it, despite having the chance many years ago. It was a personal decision, but it always seemed to me that even among tabloids they would take everything just that one step further than I wanted to go. Rummaging through dustbins was not my style.
The last paper looks good, full of the many successes. Sara Payne says thank you for the support she received. The Fake Sheik did excellent work exposing the shady dealings of the rich and famous. Then there it is, for me, the step too far. The picture of Ian Huntley, a monster who murdered two little girls, sitting in his prison cell. It won Front Page Of The Year at the British Press Awards.
It's a striking picture, clearly a first, so that has been recognised. I want Ian Huntley to rot in prison. I have no interest in seeing him sitting in his cell. The headline read "How the Hell Were We Able to Take this Photo? I've no idea, but I can bet it involved skulduggery. That's how they operate.
No one in their right mind would have messed with Milly Dowler's phone. No one with any compassion intercepts the messages of bereaved families. Journalists generally are degraded by all of this, so if I'm not as sympathetic as I should be, that's why.
Still, I never would work for the Screws as we called it, despite having the chance many years ago. It was a personal decision, but it always seemed to me that even among tabloids they would take everything just that one step further than I wanted to go. Rummaging through dustbins was not my style.
The last paper looks good, full of the many successes. Sara Payne says thank you for the support she received. The Fake Sheik did excellent work exposing the shady dealings of the rich and famous. Then there it is, for me, the step too far. The picture of Ian Huntley, a monster who murdered two little girls, sitting in his prison cell. It won Front Page Of The Year at the British Press Awards.
It's a striking picture, clearly a first, so that has been recognised. I want Ian Huntley to rot in prison. I have no interest in seeing him sitting in his cell. The headline read "How the Hell Were We Able to Take this Photo? I've no idea, but I can bet it involved skulduggery. That's how they operate.
No one in their right mind would have messed with Milly Dowler's phone. No one with any compassion intercepts the messages of bereaved families. Journalists generally are degraded by all of this, so if I'm not as sympathetic as I should be, that's why.
Monday 4 July 2011
All About The Boys
Tom Bickerby's baby Alex is going home soon. He has Downs syndrome and the future is scary. Just one look at the Sunday Times magazine this week could change a lot of that.
Two brothers talk of their lives together. One is musical protege Benjamin Grosvenor, who at 18 will be the youngest soloist ever to perform at the opening night of the proms. He is a pianist of exceptional talent.
His brother is Jonathan, 21, who has Downs. He goes to all Ben's concerts but he writes: "The problem with Ben's music is it hasn't got a beat. I like Westlife and JLS. Even when Benjamin isn't practising his piano he's doing it in his head. I can tell.
"I like to write stories. The main character is mainly me. I'm a normal human with Downs syndrome." Get that? He writes. With perception, even if his taste in music is a bit iffy.
Benjamin says: "It must have been very difficult for mum when I started overtaking Jono in development. The GP kept saying, 'think low." She obviously didn't take his advice. Both boys are achieving at the very peak of their potential. It's what all parents want, but not all of us get to see. Alex is moving forward. Who knows what lies in store?
Two brothers talk of their lives together. One is musical protege Benjamin Grosvenor, who at 18 will be the youngest soloist ever to perform at the opening night of the proms. He is a pianist of exceptional talent.
His brother is Jonathan, 21, who has Downs. He goes to all Ben's concerts but he writes: "The problem with Ben's music is it hasn't got a beat. I like Westlife and JLS. Even when Benjamin isn't practising his piano he's doing it in his head. I can tell.
"I like to write stories. The main character is mainly me. I'm a normal human with Downs syndrome." Get that? He writes. With perception, even if his taste in music is a bit iffy.
Benjamin says: "It must have been very difficult for mum when I started overtaking Jono in development. The GP kept saying, 'think low." She obviously didn't take his advice. Both boys are achieving at the very peak of their potential. It's what all parents want, but not all of us get to see. Alex is moving forward. Who knows what lies in store?
Saturday 2 July 2011
Love All Kate and Charlene?
"It's in his kiss!" as the old song says, and looking at the newly-weds it hits you like a hammer. Kate Moss may be onto a winner but poor Princess Charlene definitely isn't. Should've made that break girl! To be fair, Prince Albert of Monaco must have thought he was kissing an ironing board except that she lacked the heat, but nobody watching would give the nuptials five minutes.
What was that all about? Talk of seizing her passport so she couldn't leg it somehow rings true. Swimmer Charlene is out of her depth here, all the money in Monaco won't make up for this sham of a do.
Kate almost swallowed Jamie Hince. Apparently he had a fag in his other hand. How classy is that? Still, it looked like passion. Kate's fond of the old smoke herself, so ashtray breath clearly isn't a deal-breaker. Good luck to them, can't help but wish them all every chance of happiness but sometimes you do wonder.
What was that all about? Talk of seizing her passport so she couldn't leg it somehow rings true. Swimmer Charlene is out of her depth here, all the money in Monaco won't make up for this sham of a do.
Kate almost swallowed Jamie Hince. Apparently he had a fag in his other hand. How classy is that? Still, it looked like passion. Kate's fond of the old smoke herself, so ashtray breath clearly isn't a deal-breaker. Good luck to them, can't help but wish them all every chance of happiness but sometimes you do wonder.
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