[blogfocus saturday] early posting before falling asleep

As threatened, this is a cut down version of Blogfocus this evening, due to a bit of weariness and I’m really sorry, fellow bloggers but the e-mailing might have to be tomorrow now. Will you forgive me this second time?


1 The theme this evening is rather poor actually. It simply comprises posts which either made me chuckle when I read them or stopped me in my tracks or both. So pour yourself a whisky and let’s start with freedom loving David Farrer, on the non-history he’s just read:

I recently finished reading the Roy Jenkins biography of Gladstone and what an excellent book it was. But perhaps I've been conned. How do I know that this "Gladstone" character actually existed? For that matter, was there really a Palmerston, a Disraeli or even a Queen Victoria? And this "London" place - is it real? I think I've been there, but what does that prove?

The reason I'm asking these seemingly bizarre questions is that my current reading matter is the Killing of History by Australian academic Keith Windschuttle. The author is angry that history departments down under have been taken over by practitioners of "cultural relativism", "semiotics", "structuralism", "post-structuralism", "discourse theory", "postmodernism", "hermeneutics" and much more of the same.


2 I never realized the Englishman was such a naughty boy but the proof is in the post:

1. June 15: Took 24 boxes of condoms and randomly put them in people's trolleys when they weren't looking. 2. July 2: Set all the alarm clocks in Housewares to go off at 5-minute intervals. 3. July 7: Made a trail of tomato juice on the floor leading to feminine products aisle. 4. July 19: Walked up to an employee and told her in an official tone, "Code 3" in housewares..... and watched what happened. 5. August 14: Moved a 'CAUTION - WET FLOOR' sign to a carpeted area.

There are a whole lot more where they came from.

3 James Cleverly has been categorizing cyclists who overtake him on the road. Here is the first category but you’ll have to go there to read the others:

1. Those who I am fairly happy to be overtaken by, these include: # Anyone who has a bicycle that has carbon-fibre bits. # Anyone who has those clip on shoe/peddle things. # Anyone that has cycling legs # Anyone who can do that balancing thing at traffic lights ...

Eight more bloggers plus the Mystery Blogger here.

[orange snow] the question is - why orange

We’ve something you haven’t, nyah, nyah, nyah! Our snow is orange and yours is just boring old white:

"A chemical test unit will be sent to Omsk ... it's main task will be to investigate pollution in the region and establish the degree of danger represented by the anomalous snow fall," the ITAR-TASS quoted an unnamed official from the ministry as saying. "Residents are advised not to use snow for their household or technical needs and to limit walking, either by people or their pets, in this area."

Snow ranging in colour from light yellow to orange and carrying a distinctive "musty" odour was observed yesterday in five districts of Omsk province, which lies in western Siberia and borders Kazakhstan.

[perfect day] the sun shines down on a winter wonderland

This is one of those times where, if I don’t post now, the moment will be lost, when Russia is at its very, very best. The before dawn, blizzard paths have cleared, to reveal a pure white picture book landscape, the sun’s shining and it’s a clear, fresh minus 20 degrees out there. Maybe 5 degrees warmer would have allowed a longer walk outside on the scrunchy, hard-packed snow paths.

I’ve just been paid and have bought some ketya [scrummy red fish], which I’ve just eaten on toast, with smyetana [sour cream] on top; there’s a thick meaty soup waiting, followed by some little delicacies the Russians and indigenous people here are famous for. Simple pleasures.

Now, just add one beautiful girl with rosy cheeks and a winning smile, her face encircled by a furry hood and the picture is complete. It’s not for everyone but for me, the simple pleasures are the best. It took me decades to finally wake up to this. Stephen Pollard please note.

[middle-east] intelligence report makes one think

The picture is bleak, in that the sectarian violence appears to be self-sustaining. I shan’t add: “They’ve had long enough to get it this way.”

Reading between the lines, does that mean the US can’t ever go home? Bush’s warning seems to indicate this.

One Christian scenario places a power, possibly the US, right where they are and things go from bad to worse. This would also seem to agree with Bush’s motive in allowing the release of this report. Let’s hope this particular Christian scenario isn’t right.

[leunacy] france and turkey may swap prison populations

If the European Union threat to Britain weren’t so dire, one could smile at this:

The happy result of this could be that the entire population of France could be lifted and placed, Midnight Express like in Turkish prisons. Of course the entire population of Turkey could then find itself extradited to France and imprisoned there.

From Stephen Pollard, commenting on Tim Worstall’s post.

[nu labour trolls] first photos just through

Seen escaping Westminster after the Dale death ray was utilized for the first time. Stay tuned.