Blog

  • The old Blackfriars

    The old Blackfriars

    A surprising sight walking down to Southwark tube the other day. A
    quick shot on my phone in the rain doesn’t really do it justice, but
    underneath the railway viaduct is the huge (original?) sign for
    Blackfriars station – a small station on the London Bridge – Charing
    Cross line that was open at this site for a few years in the 19th
    century. The question is – who took the trouble to restore the old
    station entrance and sign, and why?

  • Bishops use web to refute Da Vinci Code

    To coincide with the film launch, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops have launched a web site, Jesus Decoded, which (in the words of its rather precious front page) “provides information for anyone who wishes to know more about Jesus Christ due to claims that appear in current popular media”.

    Still in doubt about what the USCCB thinks about the Da Vinci Code? Here’s the opening line:

    Causing people to see something they never saw before in a five-hundred-year-old work of art which is among the most famous and reproduced of all time is an accomplishment of genius, if that “something” is a valid new insight. If it is not, then this kind of achievement usually goes by other names.

    Catfight!

  • Victimisation

    I see that John Reid has a suitably sinister photograph on the BBC News website, to illustrate a story about victims being given more rights over what happens to offenders. Next up: Modern Lynchings.

  • Beckham speaks

    Speaking to the BBC, David Beckham says:

    “It’s impossible to trust people for me. And I don’t like it being like that, I’m not that sort of person. But I’ve been made into that sort of person because there’s been so many things and so many people, not let me down but just sold lies on me, and I think that’s the tough part to do.”

    Say no more, David, say no more.

  • Eurovision in Europe

    An interesting discussion on MetaTalk about how it’s not just us clever, witty Brits who don’t take Eurovision seriously.

  • Talkin’ World War II blues, part 1

    Amazing that no-one has yet noticed the crassness of David Beckham’s pre-World Cup party, where the RAF will stage a fly past of … three WWII military planes. What a way to see the team off to Germany! Remember, lads, it’s an invasion of hostile Europe. Stick one to the Hun! What in the name of God are the RAF doing pandering to the stupid jingoism and WWII fixation of the Daily Mail brigade?

    I guess we can be grateful it wasn’t ten German bombers.

    Update: Even non-Brits just can’t seem to get over it. Terry Wogan has just referred to a German TV presenter, as Lord Haw-Haw on a horse. Ho, ho, Terry. Very witty.

    Update 2: Apparently the fly-past is now not going to happen, at the Beckhams’ request.

  • 10 Things I Hate About Commandments

    Sorry to be so stereotypically blogger, but: heh, funny YouTube video.

  • Hassocks commuters are doing it for themselves

    Commuters in Hassocks, near Hurstpierpoint, are trying to raise £2.5m to refurbish their dilapidated 70s-era station, the BBC reports.

  • Ekas s’kcuf rof

    70th most popular name for US girls is Heaven spelled backwards.

  • Eric Forth, RIP

    Eric Forth, the right-wing MP for Bromley & Chislehurst has died. I didn’t follow his politics, but his performances in the House of Commons were always very witty and vigorous.