Friday 11 May 2007

As the western work week comes to an end, I thought I’d share some really huge news from the last few days as reported in the UK. For those of you reading this overseas somewhere, the UK is situated in northern Europe, just above France (fill in your own jokes related to centuries of Anglo-French rivalry) and, thanks to global warming, has a sub-tropical climate, this week featuring rain.

The REALLY HUGE NEWS this week is:

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Tony Blair has announced his resignation and, with the speed of action that has typified his ten years in power, will stop being prime minister in seven weeks time.

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The Eurovision Song Contest is with us once again. It is being held in Helsinki and Thursday brought the semi-final and success for Belarus, Macedonia, Slovenia, Hungary, Georgia, Latvia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Turkey and Moldova. Also success for the viewing and listening public who, thanks to the rules that give Germany, France, Spain and the UK an automatic place in Saturday’s final, did not have to listen to the UK’s entry Flying The Flag sung by Scooch.

For those wondering what Scooch stands for:

Sorry
Continental Europe
Oh it’s so embarrassing that this song is representing the UK, my life force is ebbing away, I can’t go on ……
Oh no, they’re still singing
Can’t
Hear anymore

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Very, very many apologies for the quality of the UK entry. Even so, I’m not sure I hanker after the old days when there were songs such as Boom Bang a Bang, Ding-A-Dong, and Diggi-loo diggy-ley.

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Cezanne’s Water Melon sold for £12.8M (US$25M). Makes it bloody expensive to achieve your five a day.

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London cyclists will no longer need a special permit to cycle along canal towpaths in London. Anglers, however, still need to purchase a license during the shopping trolley fishing season.

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Knights of the realm Sir Tom Jones and Sir Elton John will perform at the memorial concert for Princess Diana on 1 July. Money raised by the concert will go to admirable charities including Centrepoint, the UK’s leading youth homelessness charity, and Sentabale which helps vulnerable and young children in Lesotho. No mention of any money going to Jimmy Saville to revive his Clunk-Click campaign.

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Google Earth may soon contain not only images of the globe but also the relevant sounds. Whatever you do, avoid using Google Earth to zoom-in on Helsinki on Saturday night.

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To mark the start of Lara Croft’s second decade, the original game is being re-worked and will be available on 27 June when she moves from No 11 to No 10 Downing Street. … Um … No that’s Gordon Brown becoming prime minister. I wonder where these politicians get their ideas? (Probably best not to conjure up an image of Gordon Brown dressed up as Lara Croft).

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Scientists have linked oral sex to throat cancer. Some experts find that somewhat hard to swallow.

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Bill Clinton announced an important arrangement to provide less expensive HIV/Aids drugs to developing countries. His other related initiative received less publicity – he once again promised to stay faithful to Hillary.

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A nine-year-old boy has hatched a chick from an egg his mother bought at a local supermarket. He’s now hoping that his new Hush Puppies will bring him the pet he really wanted.

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Paris Hilton will go to jail for 45 days. Some reports suggested that she expressed concern because of her huge fan base, the pleasure she provides millions and because her public needs her. (I’m not sure the transcript is wholly accurate or if any of the words have been spelled incorrectly). Petitions have sprung up on this important social issue. Exercise your conscience as follows:

Petition to keep Paris Hilton out of jail

Petition to send Paris Hilton to jail

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