Archive for February, 2006

The TV and newspapers have been full of the probable influx of ’sex workers’ during this year’s World Cup in Germany this year.

Probable ?

Definitely.

Maybe they should be more candid.

I believe the correct terminology is “Footballers Wives”.

Link

“At a recent meeting with the Women’s National Commission, which is organising the campaign, Jowell said she was “horrified” when told how many sex workers were expected to descend on the finals. The commission is based at the Department of Trade and Industry.

Jowell said last night: “The concern is that where there are big global sporting events, large numbers of women are made available for large numbers of visitors. I support the call to the Football Association FA] and German authorities for vigilance to protect women from exploitation.””

A few problems with the Wordpress theme I was using before so I’ve changed to a less adventurous one.

The top pic has shown up today in The FT of all places…

and a version of the new olympics 2012 logo here - link

I thought it a bit under reported that the proposed UN resolution regarding Iran’s nuclear program now includes a reference to a nuclear-free region i.e. A nuclear free Middle East :

From Aljazeera.net : “The move came after Washington compromised on a US-Egyptian dispute over linking fears about Tehran’s atomic programme to a Middle East nuclear-free zone, and so indirectly to Israel.”

Read more :

Link

However, sources say that Israel may well be excluded from this region by using a loophole stating that it is, in fact, part of Europe, qualifying for membership due to the country’s regular appearances in The Eurovision Song Contest.

(click post title for full post if in archives)

Lives In The Balance - The words seem to apply to any decade.

‘I’ve been waiting for something to happen
For a week or a month or a year
With the blood in the ink of the headlines
And the sound of the crowd in my ear
You might ask what it takes to remember
When you know that you’ve seen it before
Where a government lies to a people
And a country is drifting to war’

One change though. The lines :

‘How the U.S.A. stands for freedom
And we come to the aid of a friend
But who are the ones that we call our friends–
These governments killing their own? ‘

Maybe it should now be

‘How the U.S and U.K stand for freedom’

(click post title for full post if in archives)
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What the hell have I done ?

I’m going to write a blog. What a dickhead !

I’ve been sitting on my arse for too long, searching for work - mostly failing, then expanding my ‘work skills’ into areas that have little chance of sustaining me.

Well, the least I can do is propagate my frustrations (in many different arenas) and hope I can drag you all down with me.

If you can’t beat them, get them to join you.

Having thought about blogging and uploading the necessary software, I’ve previously lifted my arse off my Argos purchased ‘work’ seat only long enough to sit down on my hands so my blogging ability was acutely compromised.

Maybe, subconsciously, I intended to put as little effort into this attempt as I had done before.

But that bloody Tim at www.bloggerheads.com is a persuasive bugger either directly or, by his enthusiasm for this medium, indirectly - and then he’s just mentioned on his website that I’m going to start blogging.

So, I’m obligated to take this seriously and I shall.

It won’t try to emulate what Tim and other political blogs are doing - a recipe for an inferiority complex.

I like to think I can make a few salient points, mix it up with a few of my juvenile and superficial gags (sometimes pointed) and music recommendations. Hopefully, my musical preferences won’t put you off the rest of the blog.

I appreciate the tone of the site might, in some minds, devalue my political beliefs but it is a chance I am prepared to take (laziness or belief in the format ?). Maybe I shall be typing into thin ether but at least I’ll be typing - without the instruction of Mavis Beacon.

Short term goal - to get another image to go wildly viral. (to satisfy my ego-driven, pat-on-the back mentality)
Long term - to put something together in flash or broadcast quality video (if there’s anyone out there to help) to show how close the written word is to it’s consequences. For example, how a sentence can be changed (in the comfort of one’s own office) to reinforce public/political opinion and how it’s desired interpretation leads to the death and mutilation of innocents in a country so far away that distance provides a convenient buffer from reality and, while the pool of blood doesn’t travel far from the bodies, the trail of blood leads directly back to the wordsmith.