Brooker on Murdoch II

Sort of like a pop-culture Reply of the Zaporozhian Cossaks. And he’s right as well.

There are no death panels at the QE

Having been seriously ill since the end of April and having spent much of my time since then in hospital*, it’s a little strange to observe the “debate” over healthcare going on in the United States at the moment, even stranger to read of the many lies, untruths and distortions spread about the NHS by the Republican Party (which recieves rather a lot of money from the private healthcare industry; gross corruption on a scale to make the greediest of our suddenly demonised MP’s look saintly) is a fact of life in American politics) and their allies – all of which goes to prove that Orwell’s wonderful little rant on political language hasn’t really dated much.

One thing I know for certain; an American version of myself* would never have recieved the level of care that I got (and needed!) over the past few months. The NHS is not perfect, no healthcare system is and no healthcare system can be, but it does its job rather well, all told.

*First at the Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor, then (after about a week outside hospital) at the RSH in Shrewsbury, and then twice at the QE in Birmingham. My experience at the RSH was perhaps less than wonderful, but I’ve nothing but good things to say of the QE, and Bangor wasn’t bad either.

**Of course, an American version of myself (if such a thing were possible) would most likely have never been born in the first place or would be dead already.

May Day

Almost a little too late but, meh, I’m ill. But all hail the glorious Workers day all the same.

This and that

A very good article can be found here. FWIW, the man who wrote it is a (Labour) councillor for a rural ward in Lancashire.

On a slightly different note, I have once again been able to observe that not eating anything (not out of choice, must add) makes you fuzzy.

Couple of things…

The results of the Icelandic election were overwhelmingly positive; not only did Samfylkingin slay the monster that was Sjalfstaedhisflokkurinn, but the fascists of Frjalslynda were kicked out of the Althing. The only downside is that Vinstrihreyfing-Graent Frambodh didn’t knock Sjalfstaedhisflokkurinn into third, but you can’t have everything. I’ve used the Icelandic names for the parties because Icelandic is a beautiful language. Other parties include Borgarahreyfingen and Framsoknarflokkurinn. And it should not be forgotten that Samfylkingin was originally (and quite a while ago now) formed out of Althydhubandalagith (well, parts of it), Althydhuflokkurinn and Samtok um Kvennalista. A great language.

Also, some interesting stuff on the South African election can be found here.

Pathetic

Want to laugh and get very angry at the same time? If your answer is “yes”, then take a look at this set of irony-free sob stories.

I’m not sure what the worst part is; that the BBC seems keen to churn out propaganda for plutocrats (beyond the obvious moral concerns, surely there are demarcation issues here? Isn’t churning out plutocratic propaganda the role of the rest of the media? That’s certainly what they’re doing anyways…), or the nauseating self-regard that these overpaid whiners have.

Quote of the year or decade or something

Spotted elsewhere on the internets, re-posting it here for posterity…

“Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said that Lalu Prasad’s remarks were nothing but a move to create trouble in a peaceful state like Bihar.

Irony is good

The video over here has attracted a certain amount of controversy. Personally, I think it’s hilarious. If you’re going to do attack-ads of any sort, irony is an excellent thing. Though… the clown hats part (so bad it’s almost brilliant) was much funnier than Bourne-as-Vampire.

Strange Happenings in Anglesey

Over the bridge from here, things are starting to get somewhat disturbing.

Shocking News

In news that will doubtless come as a huge shock to anyone who knows Bangor at all, O’Sheas, that utterly salubrious Irish-themed drinking establishment on the High Street, has been caught selling drinks to kids and was shut down (for six weeks) by the county council on Thursday.

The BBC have helpfully provided a photograph of the place, apparently in order to confirm any stereotypes readers might have:

Obviously not the sort of place you'd expect to sell drinks to kids

Shocking. This news is so, so shocking.