Liberal Burblings

Archive for August, 2009

A couple of straws in the wind regarding Esther Rantzen:

Linda Jack tweeted at the weekend thus:

At Love Luton Hate Racism – Esther Rantzen spoke – vry short sed nothing at all, not even 2 condemn fascism!

And from last night’s Jam and Jersualem comedy drama, spoken by David Mitchell as Dr James Vine (who is a budding Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate in the story):

If the only alternative to politicians is Esther Rantzen then God help us all.

There is a disadvantage to going on a camping holiday to the most beautiful place on earth (Fowey, since you ask). Or perhaps I should rephrase that. There is a disadvantage as a Vodafone subscriber going on holiday to the…. One likes to keep up with the news. But with Vodafone, one finds oneself holding up one’s phone just to get one bar for two minutes to surf the interweb thingey. Then you go into the local garage and the girl behind the counter says: “Oh no, you need Orange for Cornwall”. And you go into the Fishing tackle shop and the bloke behind the counter says “Oh no, you need 3 here”. And as you leave their premises you can hear their snorts of derision..”Another Emmet who thinks Vodafone will do in Cornwall”.

This is by way of an extended apology for missing Jo Swinson’s excellent article on “Real Women” on LibDem Voice. Jo has provided all the argument and links to evidence (mainly from GirlguidingUK) which I need to now wholeheartedly support the ‘Real Women’ proposal to “Protect children from body image pressure by preventing the use of altered and enhanced images in advertising aimed at under 16s, through changes to Advertising Standards Authority rules. We would work with industry regulators and professionals to find ways to ensure that children have access to more realistic portrayals of women (and men) in advertising.”

Many congratulations to the England cricket team on winning back the Ashes! I can hardly believe it! I had to ignore this particular match because I was afraid of disappointment. Special mention must go to Andrew Strauss who has proved himself as a superb captain. Also well done Monty Panesaar for his last stand at Cardiff which was perhaps the most crucial point of the series.

Many congratulations to Danyl Johnson from Arborfield, who is a teacher in Reading, on his breathtaking debut on X Factor this evening. It’s not often that the words “Arborfield” and “Showbiz” go together, but on this occasion they indubitably do. Mr Johnson looks like he’ll be the biggest thing out of Reading since the A329(M) Ricky Gervais. Here is his fantastic audition and below:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3m2g5NlmNds&hl=en&fs=1&]

I preface this with the usual disclaimer. I did not buy the Daily Mail today but I did read it using a free copy helpfully provided at the excellent Victoria Park cafe in Newbury. Say what you like about the Mail’s political rantings, its coverage of celebrity nonsense is without paralell. Today I became engrossed in a report of the minutiae of X Factor, several juicy bits of which I read out to my fellow cafeists.

This was the clincher:

Simon also requires lots of mirrors. Louis says: ‘He has mirrors everywhere, and he looks at himself, and he’s making eyes at himself, and he’s frowning at himself.’

You’d have to have a heart of stone not to laugh.