Humour has gotten the better of me on this one.

I quote: -

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“Thousands of monkeys roam the capital, mostly around government offices, and are considered a public nuisance.“

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We’ve got similar problems at the British House of Commons – especially around lunch time

Rest of the article is here.

Pop star Madonna has adopted a one-year-old boy in Malawi, according to reports. 

The boy’s father, Yohane Banda, told the Associated Press: “I know he will be very happy in America.”

Speculation the singer was planning to adopt began when she flew into Malawi and visited several orphanages.

Am I loosing it completely?
This child appears to have a family (already) – at the very least, a father.
Granted (sadly) the child has lost his mother and comes from a very poor village but… *shrug & sigh*, I just don’t get it.

I look forward to the explanation. *baffled*

Of course, I would grin if it was announced that the reports of adoption were inaccurate… any publicity is good publicity…?

Oh Lourdes Lord, I’m becoming so cynical!

Most of those quoted in this article are psychologists - not psychiatrists.

Oh, and to help some of you along, click here for the generalised definition of schizophrenia.

Example – good lord, I’ve lost count – of an unbalanced (biased?..)  report.

So says TIME magazine.

The BBC however, seem more fascinated about the cartoons ridiculing the Prophet Muhammed and therefore only report on North Koreans test as

North Korea claim Nuclear Test.

I love the slant news gets from around the World.
Even within the Western World the agenda by  media headlines is  embarrassingly obvious.

Now, this next bit is where my ignorance needs helping out… It’s been believed for yonks that North Korea has had nuclear strength.
Why is this one test causing such an uproar?
Is it simply because it’s proof?

I have a passing appreciation of Star Trek but am certainly not a huge fan yet this attention grabbing headline certainly pulled me in.

I’ll bet you something however – the reporter who had to write the article is no Star Trek fan

The full article is here.

I bet Christies is relieved the article isn’t entitled,

“Christies underestimate Star Trek” – because they did.

Well done Scotland and dear Colin Moffat, hurrah for your enthusiasm

From BBC Sport: -

“Scotland sit proudly at the top of Euro 2008 qualifying Group B after a fabulous win over France at Hampden.

Thierry Henry hit the post as France dominated the first 45 minutes but Scotland improved after the interval.

And Gary Caldwell, who was outstanding in defence, turned goal hero when he stabbed the ball home from a Paul Hartley corner kick on 67 minutes.

France enjoyed the bulk of possession but Walter Smith’s well-organised team worked hard for a famous victory.”

An entertaining read – an emotive one at that too

Below is an editted version – emotive phraseology removed.

“Scotland sit at the top of Euro 2008 qualifying Group B after a win over France at Hampden.

Thierry Henry hit the post as France dominated the first 45 minutes but Scotland improved after the interval.

And Gary Caldwell, who was in defence, scored a goal when he kicked the ball home from a Paul Hartley corner kick on 67 minutes.

France enjoyed the bulk of possession but Walter Smith’s well-organised team worked hard for a victory.”

Not quite as thrilling, eh?

The ethics committee of the US House of Representatives has opened an inquiry into a scandal over a former Republican congressman’s explicit e-mails.

(For the whole article, click here.)

Please note, I am not making light of Foleys alleged behaviour but I am hi-lighting how it is further sensationalised.

I’m even amused by the article title.
It’s wonderfully generalised, ensuring that  those of us who had absolutely sod all interest in Foley, might read the article nonetheless because  huge numbers of us have email : -

US Congress begins e mail probe.

Yikes!

Bugger being paranoid in Tehran – headlines like this are liable to have a few Americans worrying

So says an article in Time – Paranoid in Tehran.

I started to read it with some interest, looking for the political slant.
I didn’t have to get any further than the opening line.

” The U.S. talks about regime change and promoting democracy, but all it’s done is turned Iran into an even more oppressive police state.”

So… what be the difference between a regime and a government – barr the emotional connotations?

Blair promises ‘more for troops ‘

(What is ‘more‘?)

Addressing military personnel on the fifth anniversary of operations in the country, Tony Blair pledged “every support and every protection“.

Thank you, Prime Minister.
Now, please qualify ‘every’.
Those overdue body armour jackets, per chance?
More support from other Nato Nations, maybe?
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The commander of British forces in Afghanistan, Brigadier Ed Butler, responded to the prime minister’s offer of more resources by requesting helicopters.

and just a paragraph or two further down….
Kim Howells,Foreign Office Minister responsible for Afganistan: -

.” said that while British commanders felt they had all of the equipment they needed, they would like more support from some other Nato countries which were not “punching their weight”.

Oh. Cancel the helicopters then…
We must have misunderstood.

Today, one of the BBC Top 10 World Headlines is an interview of Nigel Farage – newly elected leader of the UKIP (United Kingdom Independence Party)

He is quoted as saying,

Mr Farage told the BBC: “We’ve got three social democratic parties in Britain – Labour, Lib Dem and Conservative are virtually indistinguishable from each other on nearly all the main issues,” he said.

“Frankly, you can’t put a cigarette paper between them and that is why there are nine million people who don’t vote now in general elections that did back in 1992.”

Let’s just look at that for a moment – especially the three pieces I’ve placed in bold.

What on earth does ‘nearly’ mean?

And how can Nigel be assured that it is because of this – alledged – lack of difference between the three main parties that 9 million people chose not to vote?

As to the cigarette paper comment – now there’s a fallacy but an effective one!

In fact, Nigel is such an empath that he knows this: -

He said that “a lot of people… feel like me that we’re not being given a choice, we’re being given no opportunity, that there is no real voice of opposition in British politics – that is what UKIP is here to provide”.

What is ‘alot’, Nigel?
10 people?
7 people, maybe?
12 million?

Tsk.