bookmark_borderBBC News

I WAS going to write about the article on Jacqueline Gold and discuss whether her Ann Summers shops were adding to the objectification of women, or whether they were helping women become more confident, empowered and… something else that fits the feminist checklist.

I WAS going to write about whether being normal was a good thing, or not and at what point ‘being normal’ becomes extraordinary.

I WAS going to tackle, as I said I would, the situation in the Middle East, hopefully offering some suggestions as to what (if I had the power) I would do to help rectify things but, in balance, I’m not sure there is much anyone can do. The simple fact, in that situation, is that there are two diametrically opposed groups, both of which are armed. The only solution is to disarm both. And that’s never going happen.

Instead I’m going to talk about one website that I visit every single day, usually more than once, and which has slowly been evolving.

In particular I want to mention the new ‘Show and Hide’ sections that have been added recently and, specifically the section that will supply “Local news, weather and sport”. It’s a great idea. I really like it but there is a tiny problem.

It loads AFTER the rest of the page!!

Previously when visiting the BBC News website, I only had to pause for a second to let things load and I could start clicking onto stories that caught my eye. Now?

Now I have to pause for a second then, just as I go to click on an interesting article in the top half of the screen… IT MOVES! The “Local news, weather and sport” section starts to load, causing the entire screen to shuffle to accomodate it.

This is REALLY beginning to piss me off, so much so that I even considered switching to another news source, something like FOX News maybe?

So, rather than switch to an entertainment channel like FOX, I decided to just delete the BBC News cookie from my machine so it would forget the local information I’d supplied. Now I can get the news I want, when I want, and where (on the screen) I think it’s gonna be!

bookmark_borderAarrgh

The attack of the ‘just back from a break and lost will to blog’ has just hit me. Sort of (obviously can’t to be too bad as I’m typing this aren’t I? Or am I really plumbing the depths here…).

So instead of witty social commentary on a current news item like this one, I’ll just give you some random links of varying nature. Sorry it’s all I can manage…

Polynomial time deterministic algorithm found (chuck in a number it’ll tell you if it’s a prime number or not)

Is destabilising the Middle East the way to move things forward?

Can professional wine tasters tell the difference between red and white wine? (Under specific circumstances obviously…)

I do not mistreat my laptop. Honest.

bookmark_borderSpeechless

I’ve not commented at all on the current ‘disturbances’ (war?) in the Middle East. Suffice to say it shocks, confuses, and angers me. Same emotions as you, I would imagine dear reader, underlined with the same question – WHY?

bookmark_borderNewsworthyless

Nephew is doing well, sense of humour has survived, mind you it looks like he has gone 13 rounds with Tyson.

Tidy house, no film watching but a productive weekend nevertheless. Slightly disturbing news – the Queen Mother stumbled (stumbled, she didn’t fall) coming out of somewhere. She then, later, made it into her car unaided. This was sandwiched between riots in the Middle East and the current Kumbh Mela festival. Disturbing that this made the news at all. Sheesh!

bookmark_borderFarcical

Mass hysteria, mobs prowling the street with banners, wrongfully targetting lawful citizens. Where am I? The Middle East?

Try Florida, U.S. of A.

Personally I’m taking two approaches.
1. Agreeing with American friends that the whole situation is awful, and must be concluded (as long as [insert candidate] wins).
2. Quietly, smugly enjoying those damn yanks getting a little of their own medicine. i.e. the whole world pointing at them and discussing the farce that is their democratic process. Might be easier to get a dictator in, at least the matter would be settled.