Formerly "Black Dog Blog". I changed the name since these pages are not aimed at dog-lovers and there are many "Black Dog Blogs". This blog is intended to offer odds and ends of information that I hope will be interesting and amusing. Perhaps less amusing will be my occasional rants and metaphorical sighs about and at the world we live in, its governance and population.
Why this Blog?
A place where I can lament the changing times; for eccentric comments on current affairs and for unfashionable views, expressed I hope, in cogent style; also occasional cris de coeur largely concerned, I regret to say, with myself.
Comments
I welcome your comments, so do please write. Please note however that all comments are moderated prior to publication. Whilst I fully appreciate that life can be frustrating, nevertheless, abuse, SMS language and illiteracy will not be tolerated!
Today, the BBC tells us that Mrs Charlie Brooks, currently up before the beak as a consequence of the phone-hacking revelations, has had recourse to advice from the Great Panjandrum himself, Mr Tony Bliar, conspicuous for having made an enormous pile of money, for his exceptional capacity for economy with the actualité, and for his outstanding achievements as Middle East Peace Envoy.
With Bliar on side, then it must be a definite "Not Guilty" surely?
As the Eye loves to add in such circumstances, "Trebles all round!"
On its television coverage, the BBC as usual, reported on the traditional Boxing Day meets, accompanied by some fine footage of the normal spendid sight of horses, riders and hounds assembling for a meet. And inevitably, with its usual left-wing bias, the BBC was quick to remind us that (apparently) a majority of the population is in favour of a continued ban on the sport, a ban introduced by the loathsome Tony Blair supported by his repellent wife (who was reportedly shocked at the sight of a (dead) fox being 'torn apart' by the hounds). Of course the hounds 'tore apart' the fox; that's their job - duh!
I have seen the result of fox activity - the bastard vermin got my chickens in France...
No doubt the Blairs (and I suppose the BBC) would be highly supportive of the scheme to re-introduce wolves into rural France in the interests of conservation. Has Mrs Blair seen a sheep torn apart by wolves? I doubt it. And the furious shepherds are of course not allowed to shoot the vicious predators which damage their livlihoods.
The world is bloody-well upside down and I for one hate it. Until the next time - and if you think that this post is "reactionary," just wait for my end of year special - ha-ha!
As I wrote last week, thousands of words will be written and spoken on this subject. I have raised it solely because I was pleased to see that the Viscount Carrington was present.
I mentioned him in a post here in 2008; (I am sorry that half the text in the original has disappeared; blame it on HTML. The second gentleman in this article
was a French banker who though entirely innocent, resigned immediately
following the appalling acts of certain of his staff).
Lord Carrington was for me, the epitome of the disinterested aristocrat, a type which thanks to disastrous experiments with taxation, democracy and socialism, now is more or less extinct. Look on, Mandelson, Blair & co. and weep.
Sic transit gloria I say.
Afterthought: I noticed that Mrs Blair has finally found some manners and managed to wear a hat.
Well, well, I see that it has been announced today that Israel has authorised further building of illegal settlements in the occupied territories and in East Jerusalem, the day after the overwhelming majority vote in the UN in favour of Palestine's status. Is there a limit to the extent of the arrogance of the Israelis?
Meanwhile there is fierce fighting in the vicinity of the airport at Damascus, with the rebels now having possession of what are reported to be "heavy weapons" plus shoulder-launched ground-to-air missiles.
And in Cairo, Tahrir Square is once again the scene of vigorous protests.
Is it my imagination or is it fact that there was once a Middle-East Peace Envoy in the person of that slippery fellow Blair?
If fact it was, where is this all-powerful factotum, this peace-wallah? Has he perhaps decided to take a back seat and spend a little more time with his money?
At least I never voted for him, just as I never voted for his now-prosperous wind-baggy predecessor!
I have taken the liberty of using Her Majesty's Royal Standard to head this posting; I trust that the occasion of the celebration of her Diamond Jubilee will be seen as justification for this solecism.
It is normal on such occasions to look back over the past sixty years; many have done so and like to point to progress etc., etc.
Typically the "progress" since 1952 is - at least in my view - mixed. I doubt that people in general are any happier than they were then. And it seems that our politicians and major public figures are no better - if as good - as they were then.
Only the Queen continues above it all.
That appalling creepy liar Blair, destroyed the House of Lords, a wonderful institution with 800 years of tradition. I hope that any interference with our constitutional monarchy occurs long after I am gone from this vale of tears!
Long live the Monarchy - and a health unto Her Majesty!
Or perhaps not: I wrote the other day about an inquiry taking place in Israel concerning the Israeli military's assault on the Gaza Flotilla, which took place in international waters.
Today, the New York Times reports that the inquiry has found that the raid was legal; once again "quelle surprise". The NYT's article includes the following quote from one Alan Baker, formerly legal advisor to Israel's Foreign Ministry:
"Whether this will persuade Turkey is doubtful. Whether this will persuade the Arab countries is very doubtful. I think the serious countries will take it very seriously because of the people who were involved and because of the international observers."
Well, Mr Baker, I am certainly not persuaded, and if you read this blog you will have noticed that I predicted the outcome of the inquiry; how could I possibly be so prescient? And yes I did take the inquiry very seriously!
So many prominent people have "Front" - sometimes referred to as "Neck" more positively perhaps described as the ability to "tough it out".
"He's got more front than Brighton Beach" a friend of mine would say when confronted by this aspect of human behaviour.
So of whom am I thinking when raising this topic?
Well there's Tony Blair for a start: as another friend would remark, here's a bloke who could fall down a lavatory and come up smelling of roses; the bastard will probably get away with it. And then there's his old pal Peter (now Lord) Mandelson; he's fallen into the khasi on a few occasions and each time popped up again, richer and even more influential.
And what about Eric Cantona? The ex-footballer given to making bizarre statements, who recently tried to organise a run on the banks in France, of course without success. Now he has popped up as "Director of Football" (whatever that means) at an American club called "Cosmos".
Here's a video showing "Front" in action:
I am always in awe at the incredible self-belief of these people, and even more in awe at their lack of shame. I suppose one of the most outrageous examples at the present time (though it is not always easy to choose) must be Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi. The New York Times, in an entertaining piece describes recent events as a "soap opera" which I suppose it is, despite what could be unpleasant consequences for the Italian State, its population, political institutions and economy. Despite apparently incontrovertible evidence from wire-taps and witnesses, Berlusconi continues, loudly, to protest his innocence. It is important to bear in mind that he has a track record in a variety of scandals and so far has got away with everything. Indeed, some people think that he might even get away with the current scandal.
If he does, he will deserve an award for "Front of the Decade"!
A smoker for over 40 years, I am, contrary to all the statistics the nanny government feeds us, still here, and, as I have been for the past thirty years, still grumbling about so-called democratic governments interfering in our personal lives. And if you are worried about "passive smoking" don't bother complaining: I don't believe the data! The same applies to the outrageous rubbish spouted about "global warming" which of course is a lie.
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