Bed sharing 'drains men's brains'

BBC NEWS | Health | Bed sharing 'drains men's brains'

Ahhh....that explains it - I was worried it was old age.

health humour

Here Is The (Christian) News

There has been a small debate running in some of the Christian sites and blogs over the gradual loss of the "religious" section in newspapers and magazines.

For example, from Christianity Today

Religion Sections Deleted

Now, over here (in the UK), this is unlikely to cause much of a fuss. Whatever, the details of any particular column being dropped, the underlying reason will be the secularisation of the culture...here, sadly, we lead America by a distance.

And that's probably a shame.

But might it not be better if, instead of wishing to consign ourselves to a news ghetto - or to only appearing in the mainstream media after the next sex scandal or infighting within one denomination or the other - we were to force our way into the headlines by enlarging our involvement in society.

It's a safe bet that if they had been around two hundred years ago, the blogs, the radio and the TV would have been full of stories about Wilberforce.


christianity news press media

Snoop and Diddy Cancel UK Shows

BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Snoop and Diddy cancel UK shows

Just occasionally we resist the cries of the pop pr machine and do the right thing.

US rappers Snoop Dogg and P Diddy have been forced to cancel a joint UK tour after Snoop Dogg was denied a visa.

The musicians were "incredibly disappointed and devastated"

Well, yes, they can see a few pound and dollar signs fading away there...

"I cannot control my past - me being an ex-gang member, ex-drug dealer - but I know how to do what's right, how to turn my life around."

Well, yes, everybody deserves a chance to "turn...(their)...life around"

But as the BBC article reminds us...

The 35-year-old musician is currently facing weapons and drugs charges in the US stemming from three separate arrests in 2006.

Earlier this month, he was held overnight by police in Sweden on suspicion of using drugs.

He was cautioned by UK police last year after being arrested on suspicion of violent disorder and affray at Heathrow Airport.

Perhaps getting your collar felt by the old bill five times in around a year made the authorities a tiny bit sceptical...

A google search discovered that this story had been picked up in the USA.
Here, the comment is made...

Now, if only the Brits could have similar guts in denying entry to the far more dangerous Islamists they constantly welcome to their shores . . .

Unfortunately, she may have a point...

music visa snoop entry uk usa

Bullying: calls for national inquiry

Bullying: calls for national inquiry | News crumb | EducationGuardian.co.uk

A national inquiry into the scale of bullying should be undertaken by ministers because of fears that the problem is being downplayed by schools seeking to protect their reputations, a report demands today. New guidance is also needed to ensure that victims who dare to fight back are not suspended or expelled.

Bullying exposes one of the worst aspects of human nature...only the very callus; or Colonel Blimp types ("Bullying made me the man I am today...hrumph"; or perhaps bullies themselves can have too much of a problem with anything that might reduce its scale or help its victims.

However, in the midst of the articles and reports doing the rounds today are a number of interesting points...

the problem is being downplayed by schools seeking to protect their reputations

Do we have any evidence to that effect...or is it just another round of teacher bashing?

Government advice says that bullying includes name-calling, taunting, mocking, making offensive comments, kicking, hitting, pushing, taking belongings and "inappropriate text messaging and emailing" or sending offensive or degrading images by phone or internet. But the MPs called for additional guidance on "difficult issues" such as the use of homophobic language and subtle forms of bullying.

Does that mean that all (for example) name-calling is bullying? And why is name-calling in reference to someones sexuality a "difficult issue" whereas (presumably) calling someone "four-eyes" is simple? And if so, could they explain the difference...

And from the BBCs reporting of the same...

There had been "very little evidence" underpinning current guidance - and the lack of accurate, reliable data was a barrier to more effective work, the report said.

The problem is, of course, that these days "bullying" has become one of those words with a flexible definition. It all depends on who is using it.

It is used by pupils trying to get out of punishments because of their own behaviour, it is used by savvy parents who have discovered that its use will get the ear of the headteacher and it is used by interest groups to get their particular issue publicised.

It remains a hugely difficult subject to either analyse or confront.

One thing is certain, though. In a world where teachers are already drowning in a sea of administration this...

The Department for Education and Skills should require schools to record all incidents, said the report into bullying from the House of Commons Education Select Committee.

...will do nothing other than give teachers even less time to actually do something about the problem

government education bullying schools

Go green or else!

BBC NEWS | Programmes | Panorama | Go green or else!: "Go green or else!
Justin Rowlatt

Justin ponders what can a family do to reduce their carbon footprint
We are told climate change is the biggest threat facing the world but is there anything the average family can do about it?

On Monday we find out. The BBC has forced one of its reporters and his family to 'go green' for an entire year.

Their challenge? To make as big a cut in the family's carbon footprint as they can.

But their efforts didn't just affect the environment."

So you (the reporter and the BBC, one supposes) were "told" that "climate change is the biggest threat facing the world".

Did anyone bother to actually find out? For most people, it is almost impossible to fight through the propaganda of the interest groups that surround the climate warming "debate". (What debate?) But you would think that the BBC, with it's enormous pile of resources might actually investigate a bit here. Perhaps then we might know!

But no...not only do they uncritically accept the party line but they even attempt to foster guilt on their viewers and readers - "Ethical man", my foot!

However, this makes our Justin look like a rampant polluter.

As the blog I found it on says- it's beyond parody.


green global+warming bbc ethical science

8 Questions That Need An Answer

1. Why..... Did anyone think we needed a biography of Colleen Mcloughlin?

We all know that fame is cheap these days but what possible interest could her life hold for anyone outside family and friends. And could we not wait until she has actually had a life?

2. Who..... Cares that Elton John is 60?

'nuff said.

3. What..... Kind of idiot is Frank Albrecht?

If it wasn't so unpleasant, this quote...

"The zoo must kill the bear," said spokesman Frank Albrecht. "Feeding by hand is not species-appropriate but a gross violation of animal protection laws."

...would be genuinely funny.

4. Will..... Lily Allen please stop it?

...singing, that is...and talking...or writing...and whining...please!!!!

5. Was..... Jane Austin a minger?

"I know you are not supposed to judge a book by its cover. Sadly people do. If you look more attractive, you just stand out more," said Ms Trayler.

If that's what will decide whether you buy the book or not...then don't bother, you'll only be disappointed when you find it contains words of more than two syllables.

6. Where..... Can I sign up?

McDonald's seeks 'McJob' rewrite

Any takers on whether they get into three figures?

7. When..... Will we learn to ignore the hype?

The European launch of the PlayStation 3 has been met by both cheers and indifference across the continent.

Maybe, just maybe we are starting to...there are pile of them left at the local HMV.

8. Which..... Witch?

White witch 'sacked for days off'

Clearly, her "witchy powers" don't run to seeing into the future otherwise she might have worked out that her employers were going to be hacked off with her missing 21 days in a six month probation period. Of course she could have been genuinely ill...obviously the healing potions didn't work.





lily+allen elton+john Colleen+Mcloughlin polar+bear ps3 mcdonald's witch wicca

Why Are Peace Activists So Warlike?

It really is a puzzle. How can those who claim they are the ones standing for peace, so often use tactics that border on, or actually are, violent?

And you do have to wonder what they think they are teaching their children!





















(click photo for link- Michelle Malkin)



And then this (warning - language)

Whatever you may think about the war, the troops deserve more than this!

Go figure

iraq war troops peace protest

Come On You Spurs

BBC Radio Five Live can be a childish, amateur production. (In fact more than often it is)

But occasionally, it comes up with the odd gem. This morning, Thursday 22nd March, it found one. The "phone, text, email" segment was based around...

..."How has following your (football) team affected your life?"

Now I think, I'm a pretty good example of a supporter that too often falls the wrong side of the obsession line.

But I realise I have nothing on some of the callers.

We had those who had run up credit card debt in following their team; at least one who had lost his job; another who had lost his girlfriend; even one who had believe watching his team was better than sex. (This becomes even more crazy sounding when you realise he supports Middlesborough!)

Now of course we also had some callers who went down the "what an idiot" road...

... but I kind of understand (well maybe not the "sex" comment!).

I was thinking back over my support for God's own team, Tottenham.

I don't see them "in the flesh" as often these days, having moved away (pah - excuses!) but there were many years when I followed them home and away, rain or shine, win or lose. I would hate to add up the money I spent at the time.

A few random memories...

Going to Norwich City, sometime in the 1980s, in freezing weather and being frisked roughly by the police (my wife too) before being crushed inside a metal cage. Then watching the match to the sound of the "clink" of the coins thrown by the Norwich fans as they bounced off the cage. (The coins, that is, not the fans) Followed by being held back by the cops for about an hour - and then being forced to walk away from the car for about half an hour.

Away at Watford, deciding I really didn't need the loo at half time - when I saw the river of urine running down the slope from the toilet. Having said that, I also saw Hoddle score one of the best goals ever that day!

Finding myself in "the wrong end" at QPR when we scored...trying to hide my elation...but then the feeling of relief when hundreds of Spurs fans surrounding me started cheering!

And of course, the worse thing about being a Spurs fan, having David Pleat as manager (four times!)

But despite this, I was back the next week.

If your reaction to this is, like some of the callers to Five Live, "stupid" then you won't get it, whatever I or anyone else says.

As someone once said "If you have to ask, you won't understand."

football tottenham spurs fans obsession

Go To The Bottom Of The Class

In which crazy world could this possibly work?

Learning drop-outs could be fined

Teenagers who drop out of school at 16 and refuse any further education will face fines or prosecution under new plans to raise the leaving age.

Education Secretary Alan Johnson said that by 2015, all youngsters in England would have to be in school or some form of training until their 18th birthday.

Now, of course, any initiative that encourages or extends access to education, is to be welcomed.

But let us remember who we are talking about here. These so called drop-outs have been in education for eleven or so years by this time.

If, in that time, all the system has done is to get them to a point where they cannot wait to leave, does Alan Johnson really think that forcing them into two more years is suddenly going to turn them around?

Of course, this is not the only time that this approach has been proposed. In the '90s a Modern Foreign Language was made a compulsory subject at KS4. It was hoped that the government had admitted the failure of this tactic when they announced the reversal of the policy three years ago. But no, the latest idea dreamt up in Lord Dearing's bath is to force seven-year-olds to study them.

Why, oh why, do they never ask "why?"

Why do pupils want to leave school at 16? Why do pupils not wish to learn French or Spanish or...?

Why do girls not like Physics?

Because it is not just Blair's government. Going back further, before science was compulsory at what we now call key stage 4, there was an abysmal take up of the physical sciences by girls. Rather than asking why girls disliked the subject, the "answer" was to force all pupils to take it to sixteen.

There are two reasons why governments take this approach.

First, there is the "something must be done...this is something...let's do this" approach. At least they look busy!

Second, is that if they actually asked why things weren't working, they might get an uncomfortable answer; and then they might really have to do something.

education school alan+johnson teaching blair school+leaving+age

The Gospel According To Archer

Jesus was no miracle worker: the gospel of Jeffrey Archer

Jesus did not turn water into wine, nor did he calm the storm on the Sea of Galilee or walk on water, according to a “gospel” published with Vatican approval and co-written by Jeffrey Archer.

The Gospel According to Judas, introduced yesterday at a press conference chaired by the head of the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome, also denies that Judas accepted 30 pieces of silver to betray Jesus. The book will be launched in London today at Westminster Cathedral.

Well now. we can believe this totally - seeing as how it is written by such a reliable author!

jeffrey+archer christianity gospel jesus religion

Not the sharpest tool in the box

...but a tool nevertheless

OK let's play spot the idiot...

Your team loses against the Russians. But you decide to climb onto the pitch and go after one of opposition players.
So now, not only are you not in the semi-final but you're now banned for life and there's a good chance that the club will get fined (the FA being one for knee jerk reactions).

And as you went after Lampard rather than Terry, the whole of football knows you're a bit girly!

...Idiot

chelsea spurs football hooligan

Equality - but for who?

Gay adoption rules 'rail-roaded'

The government has been accused of "rail-roading" through gay equality laws that, Catholic adoption agencies argue, will force them to close.

Some Tory MPs criticised the "unseemly haste" with which ministers sought to pass regulations through Parliament.

But an attempt to get them thrown out was defeated, by 310 votes to 100.

Well there's a surprise! But to those currently getting their knickers in a twist about this issue - where have you been for ten years? It could be argued that the legacy of the Blair years will be just as much about the curtailing of genuine debate as it will be about Iraq.

This piece of legislation is, of course, part of the Equality Act (pdf here).

Now, the idea that we should not refuse goods and services on the basis of race, religion, gender or disability and now sexual orientation is one that I hope most people would find it hard to disagree with.

To quote the PM himself...

There is no place in our society for discrimination.

But hold on one moment. That's not quite true, is it Tony?

There are exceptions in the Act, some of which cover religion; and they would seem to allow a religious body to withhold services precisely for the reasons that the catholic church is putting forward. Surely this means that the law has actually agreed that it is right and proper for there to be some "discrimination".

And we know why this is; for example a church can refuse to appoint someone as it's leader who doesn't hold to the beliefs of the church. Apart from the loony end of the humanist movement, most people would see the sense in this.

So is what the government is saying is that they want us to all be equal but they want some to be more equal than others? (To misquote Snowball)

That may be unfair; perhaps it is better just to say they do recognise that, in some situations, one person's human rights overrule another's. In this instance they are saying that a gay person's "right" to adopt overrules a catholic's right to believe that a particular lifestyle is harmful for children to be brought up within.

If we have a society containing differing views, ideas and standards they will sometimes compete. The question is; how can we best fit these together - and which "rights" come first? Do some need to be legislated away completely?

Now clearly some rights need to supersede others. My right to life needs to come before the "right" of someone to kill me - whether it be because of the colour of my skin, my sexuality, my religion or just that I was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

But what about self defence? There, we would argue that someone could lose his right to life because of his action in trying to kill me. Or what about a rapist? Would we not argue that a woman (or man) was hardly acting unreasonably when they grabbed the gun of their attacker and killed him.

Now this is not philosophy for philosophy's sake. the point is we make value judgements about people and their actions all the time; and we act upon those value judgements (and sometimes enshrine them in law).

We would expect, even demand, that adoption agencies make such value judgements; to make moral decisions about which families will make good parents. In fact if they did not, if they allowed adoption at random, to anyone, we would soon have outrage (no pun intended) in the press and parliament.

To use an extreme case, would we not expect an adoption agency to refuse to place a child with someone on the sex offenders register?

And that is where the debate should be; what are the "qualities" that we believe make people suitable to adopt. Which lifestyle choices are going to help, or harm?

One can hardly have missed that it is just a few days to the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade in Britain. We now regard the slave trade with abhorrence; but clearly this was not the case 200 years ago. Our "moral compass" has shifted (and thank God - and Wilberforce - for that!) But it took debate to get the slave trade outlawed - and one of the good things about debate is that you can change people's minds! And if you change their minds, the legislation, if needed at all, becomes only a "back up" for cases of those who cannot be persuaded.

But the problem is that there is no debate here!!!

We are supposed to simply accept whatever the current fashion of the "liberal" elite and popular media happens to be. And if we don't agree - well they'll bring in a law to force us to "behave".
And God help you if you dissent; you will find yourself shouted down and probably given the "hater" label. So, to use the current subject if you were brave (foolish) enough to voice opposition to such legislation, "homophobe" will be the cry. Well, maybe, but maybe not. Maybe it is just a different moral position - and are we not supposed to live in a country that espouses free speech? Or is that only when your speech agrees with the prevailing view?

Now I can only think of one reason for not debating - because you don't have a credible argument to put forward!

labour equality debate equality+act adoption christianity

Sir, he's bullying me!

I missed this at the time...

Labour MP (West Bromwich East) Tom Watson discovered a figure that suggests one in four OFSTED employees feel that they have been harassed or bullied at work.

Quite right too Mr Watson, that you should be "genuinely taken aback".

I trust that you will be similarly vigilant in finding out how many schoolteachers have felt harassed or bullied by OFSTED.

Sunday

OK...I have to confess...I am a real newbie to all this. I've read the help files; and other blogs, of course, but I'm not yet sure where I'm going with this.

But one thing I thought is that one day a week, Sunday, I'd just post links to some stuff that I found funny or unusual......or whatever.

So...

This is cool...

Ireland produced one of the greatest victories in cricket's rich history by beating Pakistan on St Patrick's Day amid unbelievable tension in Jamaica.

Led by their brilliant wicket-keeper batsman Niall O'Brien, they reached a rain-adjusted target of 128 with three wickets remaining in near darkness.

Ireland's fans, who had been there to witness the tie against Zimbabwe, could barely contain themselves afterwards.

So it still is possible for the little guy to beat the big one!!! Full Story.

And another sporty story.

Tottenham keeper Paul Robinson scored a remarkable goal from fully 80 yards as the hosts moved up to sixth with a fine win that piled the pressure on Watford.

Robinson lined up a free-kick from five yards outside his own penalty area, but his hoof floated over the defence, bounced over Foster, and drifted into the corner.

Hahahaha - full story here.


And there's a good chance you've seen this already...but just in case (and especially if you like pancakes)


And the funniest thing I've read for a while can be found here or watched here.


MrTinkles

Games turn kids into killers...

...Or never let the facts get in the way of the chance to hang blame on someone.

Despite the paranoia of the tabloids, the chances of getting shot, stabbed or even blown up when popping down the shops, is still very small. The UK remains a relatively safe place to live. For example, the number or deaths due to stabbing has remained relatively constant for the last ten years.

However, that must be small comfort to the family of Kodjo Yenga as they grieve for their son. And it is natural for the “general public” (whoever they are) to be shocked by such stories and also to wish for someone to come up with both an explanation and an answer.

But no one is helped by apportioning blame where it doesn’t lie or by suggesting quick fix solutions that won’t work.

Radio Four’s “Mr News”, John Humphreys, conducted an interview (listen) this morning, with an expert on knife crime. What made him an expert was of course never really explained – he had “written” on the subject, we were told.

And as you would expect, he trotted out the usual material. These youths carry knives because – they are concerned for their safety or there is nothing for them to do or they live in deprived areas or poor parenting or… well, you get the idea.

However, our John had other ideas; it’s down to violent video games, says he. And surely we can do something about them! What he means, of course, is ban them.

Now, OK, if a half hour on Battlefield 2142 or Counterstike could be shown to cause kids to pick up their Scar 11 or AK47s and hit the streets, perhaps there is a debate to be had over this. Mind you, then we would also have to ban The Sims – good grief, all that woohoo going on!!!

But what Mr Humphreys conveniently forgets to mention (as did his expert guest) is that there is no clear evidence of any such link. On top of that, do we know if the group now charged with the crime even have a computer or games consol let alone whether they are “obsessed” with games, violent or not? Of course we don’t but that won’t worry the BBC. If it turns out that copies of the games that work him into such a frenzy are found at these kids’ houses, you can bet John will report it. On the other hand if it turns out that they pass the time reading Jane Austin and playing the violin, will he withdraw his accusation.

If this rubbish were being spouted in a pub, it wouldn’t matter, but this is being broadcast to millions of people – repeatedly. Say it enough times and of course people believe it.

Of course, politicians are no better.

Witness David (call me Dave) Cameron’s wacky idea to force absent fathers to live with their children and ex-partners. As if that will foster good parenting!

Despite its (thankfully) rarity, such crime is so shocking that we need to look at whether we can do anything to make it even less common.

But, for heavens sake, let us have a proper debate on the subject. Let us find out if there is anything we can do.

I guess the problem is that if we did so, the answers won’t be so conveniently simple and those who the real blame lies with might not be a nice convenient group such as gamers or even absent fathers.

God forbid that any responsibility might lie with successive governments or even the media!!

gamers games knives politicians bbc crime

Everybody's Doing it

Blogging, that is..

So why shouldn't I?

It seems that these days, the web is bursting at the seams with blogs...everyone wants to share their opinions on just about every topic imaginable.

It's a bit like an evening down the pub...but without the beer, or the smoke...oh wait I have some beer...and I don't smoke anyway!

- Neither will anybody else in a pub in just a short time, in any case! ;p

Some (a few, to be honest) are interesting, fewer still thought provoking, while perhaps a larger number are (at least occasionally) amusing.

So, how much longer can I resist joining this great movement of web free speech...clearly no longer.......

I'm betting this will all end in tears...or boredom...or both...but we will see


MrTinkles