Painting The World Pink

We may not have the opportunity to chose the President of Europe, but we can still be thankful that those doing the appointing have made millions of Europeans happy by rejecting smug, war-loving, Tory-Lite twat Tony Blair's bid for the job. Doesn't quite make up for the fact that we can't vote for this, but it keeps us pacified.

According to a nice BBC comparison thing, whoever it is will earn more than President Obama. Who's has the most political power again?

Moving on.

The "Offended By Anything" Brigade (not an organised grouping, just muppets who are easily manipulated. Occasionally by the Daily Mail) have complained that an M&S Christmas Advert is sexist and offensive. Now, M&S ads may be offensive for the obscene amount of preening D-List celebs they contain, but this isn't the complaint. This is;

The Advertising Standards Authority is looking into eight complaints from viewers about the "Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without..." ad.

Glenister, who played chauvinist DCI Gene Hunt in the BBC show, says: "That girl prancing around in her underwear."

That is sexist?! I know his character is a chauvinist, but really? There are far worse ways he could have said that, which would have been offensive. (Substitute "girl" for "tart", or any other word to describe the world's oldest profession) As it is, it's the most inoffensive way M&S could have delivered the line. I'm a woman, and I do not find that offensive - should I be?

And finally.

Surprisingly to the rest of the world, cocktail stick Kate Moss swears by the statement;

"Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels."

As skinny usually feels like it's been deprived of something important (like fat), I'm sure that skinny feels bad. So if that's the case, does everything else in this world taste awful Kate? No, she's been misquoted. Where's original quote then?

Oh, here it is;

WWD: Do you have a motto?
KM: There are loads. There’s “Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels.” That’s one of them. You try and remember, but it never works.

How were you "misrepresented" again?

Apparently the smug, Old Etonian, Tory Twat called Cameron is in a stronger position for winning the next election than Gordon Broom.

I'm assuming the ICM people didn't ask anyone in South West Norfolk in the past week. Although they are towing the line now and accepting Cameron's candidate. No need to call them "Turnip Taliban" - it's a slur against country people, that would not be tolerated if used against any other group of people.

Moving on.

The Guardian go all Red Top Sensationalist over the irresponsible parent on a drinking binge story that I told you about yesterday.

I won't dwell on that - my two readers know my views on the subject.

Next.

News from a town very close to the home farm, of anti social behaviour and intimidation in a kiddies play area. The local councillors opinion "just call the gardai".

In other Asbo-ite behaviour, Israel has decided to extend one of it's illegally planted West Bank settlements by 900 homes. This despite everyone, including America, telling them not to. Does this mean, that Israel is an international rebel and can now expect an invasion or restraining order from the UN.

Probably not actually, but there we go. That's all for this evening's spews - I'm very tired now.

I was thinking last week (worry not, my poor little head didn't hurt) after writing a one and a half/two page letter to my Grandma.

It wasn't meant to be that long, I just couldn't stop writing!

The thoughts that came to mind afterwards.
1. Ouch! My elbow hurts.
2. That was very satisfying.
3. If it brings a smile to her face, it will be worth it. (And I'm sure it will - she's just moved to new accomodation)
4. I should do this more often!

It's something I go on about I know, but sometimes it's worth it to sit down and write to someone who you haven't seen for ages. You may not want to because there are books to read, facebook to play with, jobs to apply for, etc. I know how that feels - I only wrote to Grandma because I copied her address from a scrap of paper to my address book, and thought "what the heck, I might as well write now."

Now, I'm just itching to write to other people or design postcard type things to send to them. I've got a writing handwritten letters bug - hope it's catching!

It may well turn into a long list after I've browsed the Beeb's news site.

1. Parents who can't understand their responsibility. I don't care if you're 22, 37 or 53 - if you've got young kids, they need more attention (due to being incapable of looking after themselves) so accept responsibility and get a babysitter. If you can't understand that, then what the heck are you doing with kids anyway?!

2. Accusing the guy you went to war against of crimes against humanity, then doing exactly the same thing against the people you claimed you were saving. Hmmm. Hypocrisy.

Actually that's all that's made me angry news-wise today. But there's a general annoyance that I have to mention.

3. To all Evening Standard vendors - don't poke that cheap, nasty paper in front of me! You may want to carry on the London Lite tradition, but Londoners hate it so stop it!

Complain about X Factor's negative influence on music all you want Guardian, but don't forget that X Factor is not about music at all.

No, it's a three month advertising campaign designed to sew up the Christmas number one for whoever the winner may be (does it matter who?) and increase the bank balance of Simon Cowell.

As John and Edward have proved, you don't need to be able to sing or dance - just have dodgy hair and people willing to keep you in just to see which song you're going to murder next.

If it's about anything other than marketing, then entertainment show could describe it best. It's certainly not about music or talent (note to singers and musicians, save your vocal chords and don't apply to this one).

Now that's cleared up, let's end with a rallying call from the article;

"I think X Factor might be good for alternative music, giving kids something to push against," says Billy Bragg. "Don't just complain about it – get out there and do something challenging that proves you don't need any input from people like Simon Cowell to be successful."

Now, I'm off to think about a short story about record companies cloning their popstars.

1. Have you ever taken part in a demonstration?
Yes. A demonstration against Top Up fees three years ago.

2. Is there an issue you'd protest against now?
No. I have blog and pen and paper to complain now.

3. Through-out history there has been an event that has lead to every day at one point or another being called "Bloody." What's the worst day of the week for you?
Depends on the week.

4. There have actually been eleven Bloody Sunday events around the world, the last one (1972) leading to a song by U2. Which world wide event would you like to see a song written for?
A few recession songs or poems would be good.

5. The one person I'd like to see in prison is …………………… for the crime of … ?
[Resisting the urge to nominate football players]
Tony Blair and George Bush for launching a dodgy war on lies.

Someone is clearly having a laugh here - although the Irish responses do seem very typical of the Irish, I just can't believe the French would be that sensitive.

Anyway, after the match Mr Sarkozy may wish he didn't have a box to stand on - especially after the pounding the men in green are going to dish out!

My Great Grandfather was probably in a Prisoner of War camp somewhere in Germany. There's a family story about him working in a sugar factory, and eating the sugar because he was hungry.

He came home very plump.

What kind of sad, screw up of a planet are we living on if a girl can be humiliated and expelled for wearing a mini skirt to University?!

Can I first point out that by twenty, we really should have been able to choose our own outfit for at least five years.

Second, does it matter whether she dresses in jeans, dresses or full length burqa - she's at university because she wants to learn. Let her learn - how we dress should not be a barrier to education.

According to the university, she

disrespected "ethical principles and academic dignity and morality"

How? All she did was wear a mini skirt to a lecture - not like she was having sex in the library!

As for the complaint that she was wearing inadequate clothing - come on, it's not like she'd gone to university naked! The private areas were covered, what more do you want?

If a mini skirt is a distraction, then that's the problem of the person looking at her, not the fault of the wearer. She shouldn't have her choice of clothing dictated by authoritarian twats and their idea of "morality"!

All this talk of a company organising drinking nights for undergrads is news to me - never heard of them while I was studying. But then at my uni the students didn't need help from outside influences, they were capable of getting bladdered all by themselves (especially the rugby team).

Carnage would have only been used to describe the scene on Wednesday nights in the bar. Or the sports teams after a few go's with that funnel thing.

Anyway, this news of an undergraduate who relieved himself on a war memorial (tasteful, really. Not) during one of these events has bought out moralists calling for this company to be banned from organising these binges.

Fair enough, they've got to accept social responsibility. Not sure it will stop young students going out on drinking binges and pissing in places they shouldn't be pissing in. I knew two people at uni who, after getting alkie-numbed, decided to go to the toilet by the side wall of the local mosque (very respectful, not!). That was without a company organising their binge!

So what can they do? This behaviour will still go on without the presence of Carnage or any other company.

Getting rid of cheap drinks and promotions will only punish the responsible - the one's who want to binge will find more expensive ways to do so.

Lecturing young people by saying "don't do this, it's bad for you" won't stop anyone. They're young and they still have plenty of mistakes to make - getting so drunk that they forget what a public toilet looks like is generally regarded as a mistake. And you know what the wonderful thing about mistakes is? They are experiences you learn from.

Like, the room spinning is not a nice experience.

Tequila after wine, cava and vodka is probably going to make you ill.

Doing stupid things when we are young is an important part of growing up. If we all did exactly what we were told, and were always very sensible then we'd be very dull grown ups with no stories to tell.

These are people who have just reached adulthood and are finding their way in the world. Okay, they're bumping around a fair bit but how else do you find your way?