Little Storping-in-the-Swuff

The best comment so far on the current economic situation is, of course, to be found in her Last Night’s TV column: “Iceland melts and the air is filled with the sound of pips squeaking.” The woman is a national treasure.

Great story: the actor who played naked Judith in Life of Brian has discovered, following her election as mayor of Aberystwyth, that the film is banned there…

I know these are two-a-penny, but… A well respected journalist of many years’ standing wrote last week in the Guardian that “as we all know, many Wikipedia entries are just rubbish”. I won’t dispute this (though “as we all know” is lazy). What tickles me is the implication that whilst it is “grappling with an underlying and often inflammatory problem…that of quality control” papers like the Guardian have got this sorted, and would never allow a journalist’s ignorant assertion that “the best known Linux application is Wikipedia” to go to print.

Oops.

So John Sweeney has been ticked off for yelling at a scientologist, reports his former paper.

One of the things I loved about Sweeney’s superb account of the 1997 election in Tatton, Purple Homicide, was the quote on the back where he justified how he, as a supposedly impartial reporter, supported Martin Bell: “I am a journalist, but I am a human being first”.

Shouting at scientologists is a perfectly normal human reaction. I’d be suspicious of the people who don’t.

There’s a video here and the Panaroma goes out tomorrow.

The original political blogger, (ex-)defence minister Tom Watson has posted his dignified resignation letter, and the Prime Minister’s (I’m afraid to say) less dignified response on his blog. Having given his backing to the 2001 intake’s letter calling for the PM’s resignation, it’s no surprise. But I’m left in no doubt now, the Blair government is over.

I was delighted when Michael O’Leary threatened to sue the government last week over their absurd security measures. No politician is going to criticise the new regime, because it will rebound on them so badly if there is another attack, regardless of whether mothers sucking baby milk would have prevented it. By contrast, there is political milage to be gained on all sides from an ongoing security crisis, even if it is a perceived rather than a real one.

I’m not saying O’Leary is any less objectionable than the politicians, only more honest. He’s clear that the “safety measures” are losing him money (as they would be even if they were necessary/effective). But at least he’s honest about that.

And at least Ryanair have a sense of humour, announcing: New Airport Security Measures (although the Register picked up on their belated attack of modesty).

The BBC are just reporting the sound stage used for Casino Royale has been completely destroyed in a fire. But is this the work of SMERSH or SPECTRE?

A replica of Venice before the fire, according to the BBC report the set was being dismantled. Fire crews were called at 11.38 this morning, and at least 8 engines attended.

Why do they have to put them on at once?

Yesterday we had…

England v. Portugal

Murray v. Roddick
and
Show ▼

…and they all overlapped. Thankfully, I was able to use my time machine to propel the Doctor into the future, and the BBC’s live, online Wimbledon coverage to watch the Murray’s tense first set during extra time.

Well, the football was a bit disappointing all round, really. But the tennis? Probably the match of this tournament - Murray is brilliant. Straight sets, I couldn’t believe it! Some incredible rallies… And the last clash - well, I’m on the edge of my seat. (Unfortunatly, next Saturday, my cousin has decided to get married… on the day of the Ladies’ Singles Final, the semi-final losers and Doomsday!)

Hull council, now under the control of the Lib Dems, have announced they will resume charging for the healthy school meals that were introduced as free in a pilot under the previous Labour administration in 2004.

95% of children are eating school meals in Hull and 24,000 pieces of fresh and veg are served up daily. The scheme is being phased out before the pilot stage is completed on the grounds of cost.

This is exactly what schools should be doing nationwide. Teachers have, unsurprisingly, remarked on the increase in concentration; also Hull has one of the highest rates of obesity in Britain. If the political will was there, this would be continuing, and reflected in other cities across the UK.

Yes, £3.8m is a lot of money, but can anyone think of something better to spend it than on putting fresh healthy food into our kids?

5 days ago the Universities and Colleges Union was formed, from the Association of University Teachers and the National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education. Today they ended their strike over pay in Universities with a deal worth 13.1% over three years (so about 4.3% a year?) Quick work!