A TANGLED WEB

SHE NEVER MEANT THAT MUCH TO ME...

Anyone know who THIS is? Clue: She was a winner who became...

THE SADDEST SIGHT....

I came across this little quote relating back to 9/11....

"The image of 9/11, I remember most is of a woman who jumped from the first tower. On the way to her death she was trying to keep her dignity by holding her skirt down. THAT SIGHT will remain in my head forever, yet I have never seen it again. What happened to that video piece?"

God rest her soul - what else can you say...NEVER forget.

OH CARROLL...

The UK media was full of celebration at the release from captivity of US journalist Jill abu Carroll.  So it's kinda interesting to get a little insight into Jill....here's what the Jordan Times has to say about her.....

The kidnappers who abducted her could not have chosen a more wrong target. True, Jill is a US citizen. But she is also more critical of US policies towards the Middle East than many Arabs. . . . Jill has been from day one opposed to the war, to the invasion and occupation of Iraq. More than just being sympathetic with average Iraqis under war and occupation, Jill is a true believer in Arab causes.

i think we're clear on Jill, another useful fool.

GIVE WAR A CHANCE...

So, another day, another four dead Jews, killed by a Hamas terrorist. Meet  two of the four Israelis killed included an elderly couple - Rafi and Helena Halevy - who lived in the settlement of Kedumim for 20 years. Their funeral was scheduled to be held in Kedumim on Sunday. They are survived by their four children. The other two victims of Palestinian barbarism were Reut Feldman a 20 year old girl and Shaked Laskara a 16 year old boy. Young lives cruelly extinguished by representatives of the world most oppressed people. Bet you won't get a UN resolution condemning Hamas! I am sick to death of the pusillanimous desire that far too many people have to APPEASE Hamas. These murdering Palestinian vermin need exterminated - you either crush terror or it crushes you.

HEALING THROUGH VOMITING?

I thought I would vomit at the news that  a special report has been launched putting  forward the idea of an annual 'Day of Reflection' in Northern Ireland which would acknowledge and recognise the suffering arising from conflict!

"Healing Through Remembering" - a gormless group subsidised by Government if ever I encountered one - will unveil their earth shattering report on one of the key issues of dealing with the past, entitled 'International Experiences of Days of Remembrance and Reflection.' It is suggested that an annual day of reflection would serve as a gesture of reconciliation, acknowledgement and recognition. Compiled by Maria Truno I Salvado and Kathleen Ensor, the report documents 13 international days of remembrance and reflection ranging from Chile's National Unity Day, South Africa's Day of Reconciliation and Guatemala's National Day for Victims' Dignity to more worldwide recognised events including Human Rights Day and Holocaust Memorial Day. The report highlights lessons that could be learned and brought to bear in any consideration of a day of reflection locally.

What a lot of nonsense. I know our dear friends on the liberal left do so love these pointless "special days", but they can shove their event - ALL we need is JUSTICE - and that is the singular factor missing from the entire equation.

X-RATED BACHARACH!

I love the music of Burt Bacarach, but poor old Burt has gone barmy! It's reported that his "X-rated" version of his political protest song "Who Are These People?" includes an expletive not heard on the album!

Apparently the co-author of the song, Elvis Costello, was very upset when the expletive at the end of the song was edited out of the version on the Grammy-winning album, "At This Time," at the behest of Columbia executives, Bacharach told the Los Angeles Daily News.  "There were mixed feelings in the record company about me, of all people, having something X-rated," Bacharach said. "And the feeling was, 'You're already saying so much about your feelings, why keep the record out of Wal-Mart because of that line?' Not that it's in Wal-Mart."

OK - so WHAT was the word? And really, truly, does it matter a damn? Burt was at his best writing love songs - not that I want to patronise such a great artist BUT he needs to grow up and stop the fifth form politics that Mr. Costello so enjoys.

Wha the world needs now....

AN INICKIQUITY

Today, I have mostly been listening to one of MY musical icons - Mister Nick Lowe. I've been a fan for almost thirty years and consider him to be almost on a par with Costello, though wittier and with a better sense of melody!

Songs about silent era Holywood actresses being eaten alive by their pet dachshund ("Marie Prevost"), amusing attacks on Rick Astley ("All men are liars"), good time rock and roll "I Know the Bride(when she used to rock and roll") - you name it, Nick's written about it. He has never made it big, but as far as I am concerned, his talent outshines that of virtually everyone else. He's a wordsmith who loves a good pun, he's got a great self deprecating sense of humour, and you need to listen to him sing "True Love travels on a gravel road" to understand that soul singers really can come from England.

DOUBLETIME STRIKERS...

I hear that Belfast City Council has allegedly paid DOUBLE TIME wages to those of its Bin-men who went on strike the other day and then had to catch up with the work that they had not done. Isn't that an outrage? So Public sector....

GALLIAGH GROTESQUERIES

It goes to show how dysfunctional certain parts of Northern Ireland are when a gang of Republican terrorists - the INLA - get to act as if they were the law in the Galliagh area of Londonderry and no one thinks this is bizarre and an affront to the rule of law! After claiming to have broken up a cocaine ring and handing a haul of drugs over to a priest, members of the paramilitary organisation dressed in balaclavas carried out the raids in the Galliagh area of the city on Wednesday night.

Where, may I ask, is the PSNI? Why are they not arresting known drug dealers, why are they not arresting INLA hoods? Is this what policing now means - leave it to the gangsters?

 

Three Lions, Four Nations

I couldn't really care less whether England makes it to the quarter finals of the World Cup or not.  I have no great liking for a team I perceive to be vastly over-hyped in the talent league.  What I do find reassuring, however, is this poll commissioned by Auntie Beeb giving cold comfort to those whose raw anti-British/English nationalism comes to the fore whenever the Beautiful Game is played.  If its findings are accurate and reflective (and I see no reason to believe otherwise) the cretins in those smaller parts of the Union who take solace in cheering on everyone bar the English are in a rather small minority.

When it comes to football 67% of Scots, 76% of Ulstermen and 83% of the Welsh will be happily cheering on Sven's boys when the tournament begins in Germany in three months time.  The figures rose even further when it came to supporting England over traditional 'foe' Germany.  By contrast the statistics take a nosedive if the scenario involves my team Brazil (I'll be one of those cheering for the yellow side, as I have always done in international matches since I was a teenager).

When it came to the prospect of London hosting the Olympics in 2012 the commonality of British solidarity was also a pleasure to behold.  Three quarters of mainlanders backed the idea; in Ulster it was more than eight-in-ten.  Competing under the pride of the Union Flag also elicited majority support in all four constituent parts of our country.

In an era when Labour has done its utmost to politically fragment the United Kingdom, it is pleasing to read tit-bits of reassurance that what unites us (including a camaraderie on the sporting field) is immeasurably more important than what divides us.  Whatever our political differences, we are British under one Sovereign and one flag.