The Scent of a Rodent?

There was a piece published in today's Sunday Times which claimed that the cost of converting households to DTT (Digital Terrestrial TV) or Freeview, in other words, could be as much as £955! Given that I bought a box for 55 quid, plugged it in and that was all I needed, this rather surprised me.

Of course, the penny rapidly dropped: The Sunday Times is owned by Rupert Murdoch, who of course also happens to have Sky TV - which is rather suffering in terms of new subscriptions to its rather expensive offerings, thanks largely to Freeview I suspect - in his rather extensive media holdings.

Quality journalism - don't think so...

Love One Another?

As some of my recent posts have indicated, I'm getting more and more fed up with the antics and mouthings of some of the country's more demented religious fundamentalists. Chief nutcase of these is one Stephen Green - director of "Christian Voice".

Mr Green, did not the son of your god call upon you to love one another? If he did, and I'm sure this is mentioned somewhere or other in the collection of fairy stories that you spout on about, could you please explain your organisation's stance on the Hindu festival of Diwali?

Your article appears to say that Hinduism is Satanic, which not only fails to show the "love thy neighbour" attitude but, I suspect, could possibly be classed as Incitement to Racial Hatred. This is illegal in this country under the Race Relations Act 1976.

Christian Voice? More like the British National Party at prayer I reckon.

60K for a Sparrow on a Stick?

I usually defend the BBC, but this is challenging me a bit! I'm not sure that £60000 for this particular artwork is what you could really call value for money...

Who The Hell Do These People Think They Are?

I'm absolutely furious to have discovered that a lunactic christian (?) pressure group have managed to stop a £3000 donation to a cancer charity. If that's what christianity's about, then we'd be better off without it.

Infallibility? Don't Think So

The Pope has apparently, in his latest book, compared abortion to the Holocaust. This is plain ridiculous and leads me to wonder exactly what right, save I suppose that of free speech, this elderly celibate cleric has to pronounce that what must be one of the most agonising decisions any woman can face is in any way comparable to genocide.

Am I Certifiable?

It's rather cold outside at the moment, there's a light dusting of snow on the ground and the wind's blowing straight from Siberia and has a sharp edge to it. Despite all this, I think it's rather nice outside...though you wouldn't want to stand still for long!

Just Say No

Apparently George W appears to have tried marijuana. Well, there you have it - proof that drugs really do screw you up...

Vulture

Last Friday saw a tower crane collapse on a building site at a school not far from where I live which, sadly, caused two fatalities. Yesterday evening I went past the scene and it is an unpleasant sight - the carne involved was still there and looks as if its jib was made of spaghetti.

To my disgust, one woman was standing over the road looking at it all and busily taking photographs. Judging from the kit she was using, she wasn't a press photographer, so I can only assume the pictures were intended as some kind of macabre souvenir. Sick...

Fine, now give them a break

I've just heard that Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles are going to marry in a couple of months' time. Personally, I've no particular feelings about this one way or the other, but I can't help thinking how nice it would be if the reptiles of the press could keep their tabloid noses out of the marriage.

Fat chance...

What a Difference a Week Makes

I've been off work for most of the last week with a short-lived, but particularly virulent, form of 'flu. Today I've gone back to earning a living, which will have pleased my dog as it means that he gets a quick walk around the local park before I slip along to the salt-mine.

I was delighted to see that, before we finished the walk, daylight had began to appear. It makes life so much easier when you can actually see what your faithful hound's up to...