Iran hostages should donate cash to charity

Posted by on Apr 12, 2007 in Uncategorized | 38 comments The service personnel who pocketed cash for their stories after returning from Iran should donate the money to charity, it is the only way they can retain the credibility and respect of their peers – and that is priceless. They were faced in a difficult situation, they have had no media training and were made cash offers they couldn’t refuse. It was a terrible position for them to...
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Who pays £5,000 for a bottle of red?

Posted by on Apr 12, 2007 in updates | 28 comments I enjoy a glass of red wine, but I couldn’t if I knew it had cost £5,000, I would be thinking what else I could have spent the money on. That’s the price charged at The Dochester Grill for a 1964 Petrus Pomerol Bordeaux, while Gordon Ramsey charges less than half for the same wine. A Dorchester spokesman expressed surprise when told of the price...
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Govt accused of abusing criminal justice system

Posted by on Apr 12, 2007 in Uncategorized | 3 comments Unless you come before the beak, you are unlikely to know that your court appearance will result in you becoming a victim yourself – of a new government stealth tax introduced 1 April. And Ely magistrate Alan Williams has resigned in disgust, describing it as “immoral”, accusing the government of abusing the criminal justice system. He was one of the first magistrates in the...
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Did clairvoyants see this coming?

Posted by on Apr 11, 2007 in updates | 18 comments Even Sylvia Brown the Clown has signed this Downing Street petition to revise the Fraudulent Medium Act. I see Doris Stokes has also added her name. I must admit I have my tarot cards read once a year, she is about 80% accurate. It’s just a bit of fun, I don’t live my life by what I hear.  But I did once insist on a refund from a charlatan...
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Google Earth films Darfur horrors

Posted by on Apr 11, 2007 in updates | 14 comments Who can fail to be impressed by the stunning satellite imagery of Google Earth, which has recently filmed close-up shots of Darfur, showing villages which have been destroyed by ethnic cleansing. The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum hope it will help people understand the crisis and be more willing to respond. At least 200,000 people have been killed and two million displaced during...
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The busker with the $3.5 million Stradivarius

Posted by on Apr 11, 2007 in updates | 17 comments   Next time you see a busker, do pay special attention, it could be someone world famous playing incognito. The Washington Post carried out an experiment with world famous violinist Joshua Bell serenading commuters in a metro station near government offices. His performance normally sends shivers down the spines of his appreciate audiences. But, out of context, would his virtuoso...
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The ethics of embryos

Posted by on Apr 10, 2007 in updates | 41 comments I’m with Natalie Evans, hoping she wins her mammoth court battle to give birth to her own child on the grounds that it is her last chance, I can understand her overpowering yearning for motherhood, how she is clinging for hope with the European court’s decision later today. Rather than set a precedent, each case should be treated on its merits, though of course, it’s...
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Ronnie Knight sells sex aids

Posted by on Apr 10, 2007 in updates | 27 comments An intriguing comment was posted when I wrote about Ronnie Knight living in Cambridge alerting me to what he was really up to – and it’s not playing dominoes. He has a new online sex business called Ronnies Naughties which he runs with his niece – the reason for his big smile. This is what it says: “Thanks for looking at this site, as some of you probably know, my crooks...
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The £17 wonder wrinkle cream

Posted by on Apr 9, 2007 in updates | 17 comments I must admit I sent my husband off to scour a few Boots stores for its astounding £17 wrinkle wonder cream. Only, hundreds of others had the same idea following media reports that this miracle cream could perform wonders and it had sold out. Twenty four hours after  an independent study said it really reduced wrinkles,  there wasn’t a single jar of...
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Every man has his price

Posted by on Apr 9, 2007 in updates | 13 comments I thought the Chinese might know how to twist an arm, but it appears not. Developers have been unable to persuade the owner of this home to move out so the area can be turned into a £40m ‘Broadway’ square, including apartments and a shopping mall. His asking price to pack his bags is 20 million yuan – the equivalent of £1.3 million. I wonder where...
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French elections fought in blogosphere

Posted by on Apr 6, 2007 in Uncategorized | 19 comments I met the charming Guillaume Du Gardier at the blogging conference this week and asked him about the French presidential election. He has just recorded his views on video about how influential the internet has been and the different online tactics used by leading contenders Nicolas Sarkozy and Segolene Royal for David Brain. It’s worth listening to, and you can enjoy his sexy French...
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Defra and the hedgehogs

Posted by on Apr 5, 2007 in Uncategorized | 19 comments I know we are a nation of animal lovers, but isn’t this taking things a bit too far? Defra is prosecuting Great Yarmouth Borough Council following the death of two hedgehogs who ate rat poison. Defra has pursued the case for three years, even though the RSPCA, Health and Safety Executive and police all dropped it. Costs have escalated to £10,000 on the council’s side – and...
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Music is the food of love for Marina

Posted by on Apr 5, 2007 in updates | 15 comments I love a romantic story, see if you can beat this. The divine opera singer Marina Poplavskaya, a stunning Russian doll with the voice of an angel, is instantly swept off her feet after being crushed in the arms of the internationally renowned bass-baritone Robert Hale, despite him being 40 years older, who she marries. Marina, 29, now has three stepsons...
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FoI climbdown by government

Posted by on Apr 5, 2007 in Uncategorized | 3 comments I was over the moon to learn that the government has in effect climbed down over plans which could have seriously restricted the Freedom of Information Act. Access to information from our government and local authorities is core to our democracy, but I really didn’t think we stood a chance in changing the minds of the powers that be over this. However, the...
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The end of a blogging day

Posted by on Apr 4, 2007 in updates | 12 comments It’s been a long, but stimulating day, and I shall feel guilty if I don’t write up on the Blogging4 Business conference as others who went have already produced live blogging reports, like Rob Andrews, Guillaume du Gardier, Lloyd Davies and Robin Hamman. I always enjoy checking out the delegates list at these events, and it included a fascinating mix, such as The Welsh Whiskey...
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Blogging calls…

Posted by on Apr 3, 2007 in updates | 13 comments     I have an excellent day in store tomorrow at this Blogging4Business conference in London. I shall look forward to meeting ace bloggers Antony Mayfield and Euan Semple, as well as many other excellent speakers. I went along last year and much concern was expressed from the PR guys about how businesses would be able to handle negative comments. Let’s see what...
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Penny for her thoughts

Posted by on Apr 3, 2007 in Uncategorized | 14 comments Interesting body language here, with Barack Obama appearing relaxed and in control, staring directly at Hillary Clinton who averts her full gaze and seems edgy. Or is she the one in control and he is trying to win her approval? What does this pic say to you? What is Barack saying to Hillary, and what is on her mind? The Greek Goddess sets the scene. Update: 6 April....
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French justice and La Petite Anglaise

Posted by on Apr 3, 2007 in updates | 16 comments I remember the shockwaves that went through blogosphere when La Petite Anglaise was fired by her Paris-based accountancy firm for writing her blog at work.  Sacré bleu, how many other bloggers would be sacked for doing the same thing? However, French justice has reigned supreme and le blog celebre has won an industrial tribunal case, awarding bi-lingual secretary...
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Iran’s muddy waters

Posted by on Apr 2, 2007 in Uncategorized | 23 comments While the fate of our captives in Iran remains uncertain among conflicting reports about where they were picked up, a local newspaper has tracked down former Suffolk MP Sir Eldon Griffiths to his home in Orange County, California for his advice. He is an expert on Iran,  having chaired the Iran-British committee of the House of Commons, and published a book last year entitled Turbulent...
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