All entries for Saturday 08 July 2006

Two good to be true

Writing about web page http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/5161446.stm

Poland's President Lech Kaczynski has a new Prime Minister today.

His twin brother, Jaroslaw.

Can you imagine it happening anywhere else? Imagine if the Speaker of the House in the U.S. was Jeb Bush, or if Cherie Blair was the Chancellor?

And they're TWINS! Identical ones! The puns have unlimited potential!

Only in Poland, I guess. Truly bizarre.

: 08 Jul 2006 21:39 |  Tags: Humour Lech Kaczynski Poland Politics |  Comments (2) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Jeremy Bowen on Gaza

The BBC's Jeremy Bowen has written a sensible and rational piece on the motives of Israel and Palestine for the current crisis in Gaza, and it's well worth a read.

He writes:

…in the 39 years since Israel occupied the West Bank and Gaza, history has delivered a few fundamental lessons, which neither side at the moment is in any mood to absorb.

The Gaza crisis is doomed to run its course, in the same way that Palestinians and Israelis are doomed to live alongside each other.

For those who criticise the BBC for being pro–Palestine, read this article from their Middle East Editor. Perhaps the same rationality isn't displayed in every broadcast, but it's clear from Bowen's article why the story is a hard one to cover: both sides believe passionately that they are right and will fight endlessly to prove it. Complete objectivity in such an environment must be virtually impossible when so many innocents are caught in the crossfire (on both sides).

Not only is Bowen's article essential reading for anyone trying to understand the reasons for the current crisis, it would also be highly useful for those engaged in it.

Read Jeremy's article here

: 08 Jul 2006 15:28 |  Tags: BBC Gaza Israel Jeremy Bowen Journalism News Palestine |  Comments (1) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Joe Cole leaving Chelsea!!!

Paparazzi photographs suggest that Joe Cole has decided to leave Chelsea – in fact football – behind for a new career. He's set to take on the Abramoviches of the world and give the Russian's money to poor people up and down the land. Here is the evidence:

Actually, it's not Joe Cole, it's Jonas Armstrong who's playing Robin Hood in a new BBC adaptation that's supposed to be very good (i.e. it's expensive and if it's not good, heads will roll).

But I prefer the idea that it's Joe Cole.

More details about the BBC's Robin Hood

: 08 Jul 2006 12:21 |  Tags: BBC Chelsea Football Humour Joe Cole Robin Hood Television TV |  Comments (1) |  Close comments |  Report a problem