World Cup ball gets excuses rolling
Every time the World Cup comes around, we expect a load of balls to be talked. Particularly if the pundits are talking up England’s chances. But this year (just like last time(, we are being asked to believe that the ball will be a problem. The engineers who have designed the official [...]
May 25, 2010Cockroaches are good food critics
At a time when we are facing a plague of cooking programmes, I was intrigued to see that cockroaches recommend good food sources to each other by communicating in chemicals, according to scientists.
The much-maligned insects appear to make a collective decision about the best food source. Who needs a good food guide when you can [...]
In praise of the Philippines
Like virtually everybody else in the UK outside the nursing profession, I knew next to nothing about the Philippines. Then I went on a diving holiday in the Philippines - a chain of around 7,000 beautiful islands and the Republic is the only predominantly Christian country in Asia. I had landed in paradise - [...]
May 17, 2010Who invented mobile phone upgrades?
This year, just like last year, I got offered an ‘upgrade’ by my mobile service provider. I can’t think of any other service where you are happy with what you have got (apart from the price of the service) when you get offered something different.
I mean – anyone would think that you are not happy [...]
Caneron is go
We nay not have a proper government at the moment – but at least David Cameron is making the right noises. It’s almost as though he actually cares! Take obscene overspending for example. David Cameron has announced an audit of the government’s books after finding examples of “crazy” spending decisions in [...]
May 15, 2010Space Shuttle is no more
The US space shuttle Atlantis has launched from Florida on what is expected to be its final outing. That is kind of historic I guess. I mean, from now on there will be no reusable spacecraft dipping into and out of space
The orbiter soared into blue skies above the Kennedy Space Center, leaving [...]
Hollywood propped up by Boobs
The famous Hollywood sign has been saved from being spoiled by property development by a last-minute donation from Playboy mogul Hugh Hefner. Call me churlish but I wasn’t aware it was worth saving.
The soft-porn magnate gave $900,000 (£580,000) to the fund which was set up to stop the site being developed. I’m [...]
Rich pickings
Hmm. Well how exciting. The Sunday Times today was blowing its own trumpet by publishing its annual tribute to the most successful tax dodgers in the country. Or as you and I know it – the Sunday Times Rich List.
Now forgive me for being remarkably uninterested in people who were either born with [...]
Ukraine’s politicians show ours how to fight
Interesting film of political debate Ukranian style on the news today. We might think that our politicians make good television with those stage-managed debates – But Ukraine trumped that with a spectacular fist fight and bombarded their speaker with eggs.
So how come Ukraine’s Parliament descended into chaos today as smoke bombs were set off [...]
Are perks at work perks?
Listening to the politicians (and the bigots on phone ins) you begin to think it is the solemn duty of all of us to work. I have to say I don’t share that conviction. If you don’t want to work you shouldn’t have to. But similarly I don’t think that you should [...]