Strangely Perfect

Is This the Worst Science Project Ever? The Daily Telegraph, short of stories this summer now that the expenses scandal is dead, has published a picture of Angelina Jolie under the heading: Women getting more beautiful, say scientists: (see link) According to some work done by  Finnish Philosopher/Psychologist Markus Jokela, …attractive women have more children [...]

Everyone, it seems, both in the East and West, even China, is now aware of the huge forgery that gave last week’s Iranian election result to the cross-eyed one. However, when talking about the brave people marching through Tehran’s streets, saying “everyone deserves freedom” etc etc, we should cast our minds back only a few [...]

The Day Today What a precient show that was, The Day Today, well over a dozen years ago now.  Chris Morris spotted the rampant change in the tide of news, both in  presentation and editorial content.  Check nearly every news show now – well, it’s hard to spot any difference from this over-the-top spoof, is [...]

A Week is a Long Time in.. Q.  In What? In prison – yes obviously In politics – yes In a relationship – well yes, especially the past week for me In Between News Items…. Yes! That’s the one! Last week it was announced to the world that 196 convicted French prisoners are going to [...]

I kid ye not! Prime Minister Gordon Brown plans to make it part of the next Labour manifesto, he said yesterday. But what’s really going on? Brown chose to make his announcement in the gaudily extreme and populist Murdoch title, The News of the World.  (see Kids’ charity call-up: Brown planning to force 50 hours work [...]

This morning’s news from “The Independent” will of course shake gasps of angst from those affected and that don’t know, but for the folks at the sharp chalky end, the Teachers, and for the Children pushing through life, this will come as no surprise. Schools hire bouncers for classroom ‘crowd control’ Teaching union in warning [...]

Watch the above video of part of the G20 protests.  At around 1:30, green jacketed police attack the crowd in a phalanx formation – a bit like an open-topped Roman testudo.  Flailing their batons, they press on down their own  protected right flank (by some container-type hoardings) into the crowd of protesters. Amazingly, our young [...]

Initial Story First Part Initial reports from the demos were that a middle-aged man had died.  “Aha!” I thought.  “Heart attack”.  Just like the Great North Run. Second Part Then it turned out that he’d been hit by a bottle and died as police medics were protecting him from the crowd. Third Part Later news [...]

Highlighting the Differences in Public Health provision, the Attitudes to Death and Responsibilities of the State and the Individual to Public Welfare. The title is the biggest bit – trust me. Introduction This takes us from today’s news from America and the Duffy’s Cut project to a tiny hamlet in Northumberland, England, called Throckrington. Duffy’s [...]

Computer Shopper Interview with Home Office Dawinderpal Sahota at ‘Computer Shopper’ magazine, part of the Dennis Publishing organisation, has published a fascinating interview that the magazine had with a UK Home Office rep on the subject of the government’s policy towards tackling child abuse websites. ‘Computer Shopper’ gave all questions in advance so that the [...]

Data, and Trust in Science The Burden of Proof is on Science but ’twas ever thus…. The arguments from climate change sceptics ultimately hinge around the general perception of aloofness and intangibility that hang round science and scientists.  The trouble is that some people are basically innumerate and no amount of trying will make them [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

Palin hits back at ‘jerk’ critics Whilst agreeing with her sentiment about ignoring the voices of anonymous people (I’ve mentioned several times, on this website, my dislike of people that shout abuse while hidden in a crowd), Sarah Palin is again being disingenuous with the facts…   In a few hours we’ll know the names [...]