Even given the nature of the videos that were charged to the taxpayer via Jacqui Smith (although she must bear some responsibility since it was her expenses that were used) what puzzled me was that "entertainment" was considered to be an acceptable item for the taxpayer to pick up. Now I can understand news channels - although all of them are free-to-air I believe - but why the hell should the taxpayer pick up entertainment?

Of all kinds.

Heffer talk out of his backside

Simon Heffer in today's Telegraph makes a case for jailing Gordon Brown: "Simply losing the next general election is, frankly, not enough of a punishment for a man who has inflicted such damage on our country that people won't even buy government bonds any more. An example needs to be made of him. I want him behind bars."

Heffer is of course talking out of his backside if he thinks that what Labour has done is criminal. Stupid, crass, idiotic yes … criminal no.

Irrespective of how we feel about the numpties in power, the law of the land is clear. We must not resort to the court of public opinion.

oh hang on … where have I heard that before?

Any man's death diminishes me

I am trying not to be a hypocrite when I write this, but John Donne's words came to mind during the last couple of days, when the news - especially the popular news - has been dominated by the death of Jade Goody.



I didn't like her when she was alive but, apart from the fact that I wouldn't wish a lingering death from cervical cancer upon any woman, I feel that most of her afflictions were not her fault. She was of the media, used the media and finally died with the media.



Her original fame was from being catapulted into Big Brother - no doubt she was cynically chosen by Endemol precisely because of those parts of her character that made her later notorious and, to be honest, a laughing stock - and afterwards she was manipulated, probably willingly (she earned an estimated £8m), by the media (as well as by Max Clifford) and, had she lived, would have probably carried on in the same way.

I am afraid to say that her only benefit to cervical cancer was to make the very salient point that you don't ignore warning letters that are sent to you.

She didn't deserve her fate but Pygmalion she wasn't.

Talking about not speaking ill of the dead

Ouch!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/5031343/Jade-Goody.html

Lovely comment on the rugby:

From the International Herald Tribune: "Gatland had also said that his players "disliked" Ireland more than any other Six Nations foe. Many in the Welsh media had publicly squirmed at the suggestion, which was certainly rather slighting to the English, who have spent 1,000 years working hard to ensure a monopoly of Welsh odium."

That was exciting

At its very best, rugby is one of the most nerve jangling sports in the world. After all of those matches, after all those hours of rugby it came down to the final kick of the match ... Shear sporting perfection.

Oh to be in Dublin tonight ......

Pecunia non olet

Apparently someone in the States is going round setting fire to portable toilets. A reward of $5,000 has been offered for the capture of the arse-onist.




The title? Vespasian imposed a tax on urine collected from the public loos in ancient Rome where it was collected and used for cleaning and dyeing togas. His son, Titus, complained about the source of the money. Vespasian took some money, sniffed it and said "pecunia non olet "

Money does not smell .....