Strangely Perfect

Coroner and Law I’m often struck when reading the papers or news, to see the coroner’s verdict on someone’s death as: Ending his own life while the balance of his mind was disturbed Well they have to say something, it’s their job, but the phrase is very peculiar. Take this couple, the Milners, who were [...]

Honi soit qui mal y pense – “Evil be to him who evil thinks”  While fishing around the exploded stomach contents purporting to be news, FoxNews.com, on a totally different topic I might add, I came across this headline, part of a poll for AP. Poll: More Than Half of Americans Say Torture OK This [...]

Two items in the news concurrently today, and when I saw them, for each one the phrase that popped into my head was; Well that’s the Pot calling the Kettle Black! Firstly: The Pope warns of the Misuse of Religion Here, the pope has made a speech in an Amman mosque, and yes, it’s all [...]

Bishop Richard Williamson says No Gas Cambers existed.. As time passes and memories of mass slaughter diminish, many people start to doubt that people could do such ghastly things to others.  They think, ‘can it really be true?  Surely not?’.  And so it is with the nutty Bishop. Don’t let his bumbling aristocratic ramblings fool [...]

Tony Blair to get US Medal of Freedom ..is one of today’s news items. This is given personally by the US President and is supposed to be the highest civilian award in that country.  One would expect it to be for people that work towards freedom as it’s a kind-of in the name sort-of-a-thing… So [...]

Amadeus Meets His Nemesis in the Land of Make-Believe Photo Details These were all taken on my recently repaired Fuji Finepix F30.  Everything was on auto and with virtually no flash used.  It’s a shame it doesn’t have variable zoom and aperture when in video mode.  I could have done with that. Hopefully, you’ll get [...]

While watching John Barrowman’s fascinating documentary on BBC TV last night (“The Making of Me”, BBC One), I noticed the remarkable change in his accent when he talked to his parents and was reminded of my own Geordie twang and how it becomes stronger when I occasionally return to my cultural roots in pitmatic Ashington! [...]

I thought we’d got rid of all the stupid flagellant stuff from the Middle Ages when people were primitive and bestial, trusting in a primordial god-figure to save themselves from the wrath of hell. But no. So called civilised people are getting themselves crucified as a form of penance, but, being the modern world, it’s [...]