BW Christopher's Blog

The Mayan Legend: The year 2012 will end without the expected apocalypse...

2012-12-07T23:58:00.000Z

In a few days time the legend that the world will end on 21^st December will be seen as a falsehood, a piece of folklore attributed to the Mayan of long ago, but now said to be the work of others for reasons unknown. Unless something dreadful happens in the coming days, the year 2012 will end without the expected apocalypse.

Even in these so-called sophisticated times, we are still drawn to the mysteries of the ancients and while established religions are on a downward trend, the world of the supernatural has also been embraced, with films, TV shows and books satisfying a worldwide audience. The interest in unworldly phenomenon crosses age, race and the class divide, but why is it that today it is only the truly faithful who accept the miracles of Jesus as fact, while the rest of us treat them with cynicism , but will readily accept the existence of alien beings from Outer Space?

Are there beings out there that not only know of our existence, but have visited us, even move amongst us? Could there really be an outer world order that controls us? I haven’t a clue and I am not aware that any evidence exists of such a conspiracy. As for December 21^st......well, there’s no harm in packing a few sandwiches and replacing the torch batteries, just in case!

Leveson & The British Press: Tick Tock.....for journo-spivs....

2012-12-05T01:14:00.000Z

The Prime Minister David Cameron is in an awkward situation. His instinct is to back his media chums and refrain from any attempt to control the press through statutory regulation. That view is also shared with the majority of his party's MPs, despite the supposed clamour from the general public that the press be controlled by legal means.

The Prime Minister has told newspaper proprietors that they must act quickly to appoint a press Overlord who will satisfy their need for independence and the public's apparent mood for some primeval vengeance against the media.

Disgust was rightly expressed over some of the phone-hacking activity, in particular that relating to murder victim Milly Dowler and the underhand attacks on missing Madeleine McCann's parents, but in reality is it really the vast majority of the public clamouring for legal control of the media, or a coalition of hacked-off celebrity victims with their own egotistical agenda, combined with the understandably angry "ordinary" victims like the McCann and Dowler families?

Britain is rightly proud of its press, even if some of the headlines often reflect that of owners with self-interest rather than free speech in mind. However, while there is justifiable concern at the arrogance of parts of the media, is it too easy for us to demand statutory action without understanding what that entails?

Do we really want the Civil Service, with its political masters, interfering in what is acceptable and not acceptable for the press to publish? How would we know that an intervention was for the right reasons and not just because it safeguarded the reputation of an individual with friends in high places?

Lives have been destroyed by the disgraceful behaviour of journo-spivs. But important stories have also been uncovered by journalists working on the edge of legality. Is it not better for the press to have a quasi-independent regulatory body, with the powers to really bite the hand that feeds it, rather than a statutory system that could ultimately squeeze the life out of free expression.

Kate & William: Eat your hearts out now suckers!

2012-12-04T23:47:00.001Z

While my first reaction to the announcement that Kate Middleton and Prince William were expecting their first child, was "another royal mouth for taxpayers to feed", it was tinged with a sense of joy for the couple. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge come across like decent folk and she has become a fantastic asset to the Royal Family. It is striking that the Duchess has more class than any of the current crop of blue-blood royals.

Her mother and father may be products of the maligned solid middle-class, but they have brought her up well and must be proud of their daughter who will be Queen. No doubt they will also overflow with love for their future grandchild who, boy or girl, will become King or Queen in their own right.

When the Duchess is alone with her parents I wonder do they hug and squeal with delight that they have reached the highest echelons of British society, despite the snobbery and jealousy their rise up the ladder has attracted - including within the Royal fold and amongst the upper-class friends of Prince William, who used to mock her middle-class origins. Eat your hearts out now suckers!

UK Politics: A sniff of the Little Englander......

2012-11-26T23:13:00.000Z

I'm watching BBC2's The Dark Charisma of Adolf Hitler and I shudder at the very thought that a man like that monster could have so enchanted a whole nation. What environment creates a mind-set that allows a people to welcome such evil? Could such a man ever find a place in the UK? I like to think not, but it is true that we have become disillusioned with our mainstream politicians and the political system, hence the low turnout at the ballot box.

We have two mainstream parties, Labour and the Conservatives, who may appear poles apart in ideology at the despatch box, but when in government are effectively interchangeable, the majority of the population still voting in accordance with family tradition and prejudice, rather than any expectation of real change. In fact too much change would probably frighten most of us.

The current Coalition is no more radical that the previous Labour or Conservative governments and is likely to implode leading up to the next General Election. If David Cameron or Ed Miliband reach out the hand of friendship to the Liberal Democrats next time round, it will be because of a great need for its support and with pinched nostrils to dispel the smell. Nick Clegg may be a balancing power for good in the current government, but the public cares little for the man or his party who are seen as selling their principled souls for chauffeured cars.

The Tories would like to win the next election outright, but are fearful that UKip, may spoil voting patterns in those marginal seats where Cameron and Miliband will be wrestling for each and every ballot paper.

So does that mean, as suggested, that Cameron's Conservatives will appeal to the anti-EU lobby by doing a deal with UKip, the party led by Nigel Farage, that nice and reasonable man, who isn't at all against foreigners entering the country, but just one at a time through a revolving door? At least I think that's what he means? I'm not sure to be honest.

Mr Farage does come across like a personable man, but isn't it a worry that a party on the fringe could end up with a disproportionate influence on the political process? UKip has softened its hard-edged image which, perhaps unfairly, once upon a time made me think of the BNP, but it remains fiercely anti-Europe and there's more than a sniff of the Little Englander surrounding the party. In fact, it reeks of a certain type of nationalism and, being a simple soul, that makes me nervous. But I do like Mr Farage.

A Free Press: Politicians less enthusiastic about climbing into bed with the nearest red-top...

2012-11-26T20:51:00.000Z

The report on the future of the press will be published this week and Lord Leveson, its author, can't win. If he backs state regulation the press will bash him with words of condemnation and if he opts for self-control then the rest of the world will howl in anguish and accuse him of being weak. Meanwhile, what to do about the prime minister's dilemma? Whatever the report's conclusion, Mr Cameron will have to decide to go softly-softly with the media, or play hard-ball and insist on external regulation.

The Prime Minister won't want a hostile media on his back come the next General Election, but the mood in the country is that the press should be punished in some way for its hacking misdeeds, even if that includes publications free of any involvement in the recent scandals.

The British press has served the country well. It has exposed corruption in high places and campaigned on a score of issues which would otherwise have been ignored by our politicians, but parts of it has behaved badly, with the repercussions for News International still being played out in the courts.

A free press is vital in a democracy, but its barons need to be less arrogant and appreciate they are not above the law....and perhaps our leaders, the politicians and their cronies, should be a little less enthusiastic about climbing into bed with the nearest red-top, or broadsheet for that matter.

Anne the Elephant: Bobby Roberts should hang his head in shame....

2012-11-24T21:34:00.000Z

Anne, Europe's oldest Elephant, now recovering

Circus owner, Bobby Roberts, should hang his head in shame for allowing the terrible abuse of Anne, the 60 year-old Elephant, who served him well and made him money over 58 years of exploitation. The awful cruelty towards her, at the hands of her keeper, Nicolai Nitu, was not a one-off incident and while he escaped back to his native Romania, Roberts, found guilty of animal cruelty, walked away from the court with a three-year conditional discharge.

Anne's treatment was secretly filmed by Animal Defenders International, which showed her chained, kicked and beaten with a pitchfork. The majestic animal, who suffers from arthritis, now lives at Longleat Safari Park and is said to be thriving.

Mr Roberts had a duty of care for all the animals in his charge and he was aware that Anne was held in chains, but did nothing about it. The district judge who passed sentence on him should also be ashamed that he has failed in his own duty to send a message that cruelty to animals will be punished.

Bobby Roberts reputation is in ruins, but he really should have taken care of Anne.

I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here! Brian Conley ducks out....

2012-11-21T20:16:00.000Z

Let's face it, you only appear on I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here! if your star has faded and you are in need of a panto, you are an ex-soap star in need of a panto, a sleazy Z-lister who thinks they could do a panto, an ageing but affable queen with panto potential, or a politician with grand plans and who believes life is a panto. I'm not sure where actor and singer Brian Conley fitted in when he agreed to take part in the current series of this ITV reality show that's well past its sell-by date.

Conley collapsed ten days into the show and is now in a Queensland hospital, with accusations flying about that ITV should have seen it coming and failed to take care of him. The show producers do insist that would-be contestants have psychiatric assessments prior to appearing in the jungle, but let's face it how could you tell who is mad or bad, when you consider some of the participants, past and present.

Brian Conley was a big star, with a big talent just a few short years ago and it is sad to see him so vulnerable and exposed. He has always come across as a nice bloke, so let's hope he gets well enough soon to consider those job offers.

Church of England: Back to the flower-arranging ladies!

2012-11-21T16:15:00.000Z

As you know from previous posts I am not a member of any religious sect, but it was sad to watch TV and see the look of anguish on the faces of those members of the Church of England who failed in their bid to carry the vote for women bishops.

Religion has done much over the centuries to keep down the general populace and to propagate the superior role of men. It did appear that this particular Church really wanted equality within its ranks, but sadly were defeated by the few who cling on to the idea that God only wants the male gender to serve him at the highest levels.

Both sides seem sincere in their wishes for the well-being of the Church they profess to love, but boy, in this day and age, the message that women are inferior has been shouted load and clear from the pews. As with a previous post, I can only ask the question, who wants to be a member of a club that doen't want you? Back to the flower-arranging ladies!

What's all this gay christian marriage thing about?

2012-11-18T09:47:00.000Z

I am not a practising Christian and only visit churches for weddings and funerals. I have never had a desire to be married in one and I have left instructions that religion play no part in my final farewell, even if the pope himself was to offer his services at a reduced rate.

I therefore do not understand why gay people would want to marry within an institution that fails to recognise the validity of their right to a relationship within a Christian marriage. Christians ram that message down our gay throats at every opportunity, so are we so needy that we still desire to embrace their symbols and ceremonies? Why would anyone want to be a member of an organisation that fails to recognise the diversity and value of all human life? But so be it, it is their belief.

When Adrian Smith, read a report about gay marriages in church he wrote on his Facebook private page that it was "An equality too far". It was the view of a Christian man, written without rancour or homophobic rants, even if it suggests that we are not all equal in the eyes of God. A bit like the slaves who worked those nice Christian-owned plantations.

In response to a colleague Mr Smith went on to explain his view: ".....I don't understand why people who have no faith and don't believe in Christ would want to get hitched in Church. The bible is quite specific that marriage is for men and women. If the State wants to offer civil marriages to the same sex then that is up to the State; but the State shouldn't impose its rules on places of faith and conscience".

Now, I know a number of gays who believe in Christ, but I agree with the rest of his statement and the truth is same sex marriage is not high on the list of priorities for most gay people, happy with the current system of civil partnerships.

Following a complaint from a gay colleague who hadn't actually read the comments on the private Facebook page, Mr Smith's employers downgraded him, reducing his salary in the process. He went to court and basically a judge upheld his right to express his views. Mr Smith himself said he had no issues with civil partnerships. Frankly I agree he should be allowed to express his views, just as I can express mine about religion.

But isn't it sad that in this day and age, some doors remain closed to us?

Lord McAlpine: Guilty by innuendo....

2012-11-16T00:40:00.000Z

Lord McAlpine was obviously hurt by the allegations against him when he was dragged into the scandal surrounding child abuse in North Wales. The Newsnight programme which didn't name him directly, resulted in trial by Twitter and forced him into a public denial.

His accuser withdrew his allegation, admitting he got the wrong man, but the saga resulted in the departure of the BBC's Director-General and the credibility of Newsnight in tatters. Lord McAlpine has settled with the BBC for a sum of £185,000 and those who named him on Twitter could find themselves being pursued by his lawyers. I hope that doesn't happen. His reputation and integrity are no longer in question and he has gained the sympathy of the public, who share his horror that his name was dragged into the scandal in such a shoddy manner.

The sadness is that terrible abuse did take place in North Wales and there are people out there who know the truth. Justice is not best served by accusations against innocent men like Lord McAlpine and the media has a duty of care to fully investigate allegations before falsely naming alleged predators, even if only by innuendo.

Steve Messham the man who wrongly identified Lord McAlpine as one of his abusers and apologised, appears to be having a tough time. He has been on Twitter saying he is in hiding from the media. There is no doubt that he was abused in the most horrible way when in care, but his value as a witness has been questioned on several occasions. Sadly, although he made an awful mistake over Lord McAlpine, it does not mean he is wrong about others.

The Twilight Saga.....end of an era

2012-11-15T23:17:00.000Z

The last in the five-part Twilight movie saga has arrived on our screens with all the usual hype, helped by the real-life drama surrounding the relationship of stars Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart. In case you didn't know she cheated on him and he forgave her. It brought both tons of media coverage leading up to the release of the The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2 and appears to have made Miss Stewart a more interesting prospect for future roles. I am not suggesting that the pain caused by her cheating ways was not real and sincere.

Stephenie Meyer's series of books have been a great success on the screen and unleashed a string of vampire-based TV shows, followed by a mainly young fan base. Having not read the books, I don't know if the films did them justice, but they brought a whole new young audience into cinemas and made millionaires of their young stars. Whether Pattinson, Stewart or Taylor Lautner have the ability to prolong their screen careers beyond the Twilight years is a matter for debate. Pattinson appears uneasy in the spotlight, but has had a couple of successes outside of the Twilight franchise, while Stewart has yet to convince as an actress. Taylor Lautner looks great shirtless.

One Direction: Real stars emerge from X Factor.....

2012-11-13T20:52:00.000Z

One Direction, the Simon Cowell manufactured band, who failed to win X Factor, have a second album out. It has attracted respectable reviews and to coincide with its release, heaps of media coverage for the five lads, Zayn, Liam, Louis, Niall and Harry. The latter is the 18 year-old with a penchant for older women, giving the group a fan base from pre-teen to cougar age. They have even broken into the USA market, something more original UK talent failed to do.

As individuals they were X Factor rejects, until Cowell recalled them and turned them into a five-piece group and multi-millionaires to boot. Niall Horan, the boy from Ireland, is the one who has grabbed the "cute" tag in the USA, while it is Harry who attracts the night-life paparazzi here in the UK.

"Little Things" is the title of their new single and along with the newly-released album Take Me Home, is already a hit. One Direction have emerged as a group with the ability to stay the course and they have given a boost to a stale record industry. Their success must also give Simon Cowell a level of pride, especially at a time when his TV projects are in trouble.

Abu Qatada, radical cleric: Quite happily have his balls roasted....

2012-11-13T19:46:00.000Z

Isn't British justice just grand?! Here we have someone, said to have been Obama bin Laden's right-hand man in Europe, been allowed to stay in the United Kingdom, rather than be shoved on a plane to his native Jordon for a retrial on terror charges. Abu Qatada had already been sentenced for life in his absence and the UK judges agree that evidence to be used against him could very well be obtained under torture and therefore the poor lamb would not get a fair trial.

This is a man who arrived in the UK under a false passport and was later arrested for involvement in a plot to bomb the famous Strasbourg Christmas market. The UK government has spent years trying to remove him from the country, but his human rights seem to have priority over the citizens of a country he would quite happily have murdered in their beds.

In the UK even some of the most liberal of us would quite happily have his balls roasted over a slow fire, so it is frustrating for government and people that such a man is protected by the legal system. Of course, it also says much for it that even a wicked person like Abu Qatada has the same rights as the rest of us and that external pressure has not swayed the appeals commission. It's just that his use of the system makes me sick.

BBC News - Profile: Abu Qatada

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16584923

George Entwistle Director-General of BBC goes..

2012-11-10T21:50:00.001Z

George Entwistle

It was only a matter of time before George Entwistle, the newly-appointed Director-General of the BBC had to go and he did so in a statement of resignation tonight, with Lord Patten, the Chairman of the BBC Trust standing beside him, as if to make sure he went through with it.

It has been unfortunate for Mr Entwistle to be appointed just as the Jimmy Savile scandal emerged, but he really didn't help himself by coming across like he was totally unaware of what was happening at the Beeb and this was confirmed when no one thought of telling him about the Newsnight report on the child abuse allegations in North Wales.

Lord McAlpine, the senior Conservative, was forced into a strong denial that he was involved in the scandal and he was backed by the victim of abuse, Steve Messham, who confirmed that he was mistaken in his belief that he was the man who abused him.

The BBC is now in turmoil, but surely others involved in the Newsnight report should also go? It was bad journalism, with no attempt to confirm any of the allegations. And wouldn't you think that following the Jimmy Savile debacle, that someone would have picked up the telephone and informed Entwistle that they were planning to broadcast the report?

However, wouldn't you also think that a Director-General with any sense would have ensured that everyone knew he be kept informed?

The new Archbishop of Canterbury has a fight on his hands.....

2012-11-09T20:00:00.001Z

The new Archbishop of Canterbury

The appointment of a new Archbishop of Canterbury still makes the headlines, despite the diminishing influence of religion in the everyday lives of most of us. The Rt. Rev Justin Welby, Bishop of Durham and the man appointed, will have the task of leading 77 million Anglicans, a Christian community that can’t agree on women in the church, or gays just about anywhere.

He seems a nice enough man, but there is such un-Christian attitudes pervading within the established religions, that one suspects membership of the US Republican party is compulsory. The Catholic Church is in turmoil, with Pope Benedict in declining health and his holy colleagues knifing each other in the back in a bid to replace him.

Sadly, for the Roman church and the Anglicans, the extreme views of their African brothers have to be considered, which means women, gays and anyone who fails to uphold their ultra-conservative bigoted teachings are considered partners of the devil. In places like Uganda homosexuals are being slaughtered with nodding agreement from local clergy.

It is sad, because many of us are seeking a spiritual existence, but without the hypocrisy and skulduggery attached to the established churches. The new Archbishop of Canterbury has a fight on his hands if he wants to introduce equality and humanity into a community that appears not to want either.

http://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofEngland/Archbishops-of-Canterbury/

New York! New York!

2012-11-09T13:49:00.000Z

One of the best holidays I ever had was five-days in New York. It snowed throughout the visit and the only problem was that having happily queued for hours to get to the top of the Empire State Building, on the way down I lost the photograph to prove I'd ever been there!

Of course, as a visitor, I didn't stray far from Midtown Manhatten and I didn't go to Ground Zero, because back then I felt New York was still struggling with the pain and it just didn't seem right to turn a tragic place into a sightseeing spectacle. It was how I felt then, but next time I visit I am likely to go and pay my respects.

Looking at the damage caused by Sandy and the sad images of New Yorkers, their homes lost, their lives in ruin, having to queue for gas, is a reminder of how vunerable we all are in the face of disaster.

Now that the election is over, it is hoped that President Barak Obama does not forget his promises to the people hard-hit by recent events and makes every effort to help them through the misery.

Phillip Schofield....stupid "stunt" harms truth of child abuse

2012-11-09T11:42:00.000Z

Phillip Schofield apologies for "stunt"

The nice heterosexual Phillip Schofield was once the subject of silly rumours about him and that other heterosexual Jason Donovan, back in the days when both were young and pretty. So, he should have known better than to pull that stunt with the Prime Minister, handing him, on live TV, a list of four Tories mentioned on the Internet as part of the child abuse scandal.

There is no evidence against anyone on the list that they are paedophiles. If evidence is produced against them fair enough, they deserve to be punished, but it should be done through the due processes of the law and not trial by Internet. And certainly not by a TV presenter on live television.

The current allegations are based on gossip without facts, dragging people into the frame who will forever be wrongly associated with the vile allegations. So many are now being named that it threatens the credibility of those who, when young, were the victims of the most horrific abuse. Children should always be listened to, but their stories should also be tested for truth and that is the job for the police.

The Prime Minister is said to be angered by the "stunt" pulled by Schofield on the This Morning programme and his response was off-the-cuff and understandable, even if his warning of a "witch-hunt" against gays may have done more harm than good. It is right that Phillip Schofield has apologised for his behaviour, but the programme-makers may still be held to account.

Nadine Dorries....Who the hell is she?

2012-11-07T21:03:00.000Z

Recognise this woman?

Nadine Dorries, MP for Mid-Bedfordshire, has achieved her aim for nationwide media attention by signing-up for the latest I'm a celebrity...get me out of here! It is her total contempt for her constituents which has gained her all this publicity, because prior to the last few days, the majority of us would have been asking "Who the hell is she?"

Of course, dig a little deeper and one discovers that she is a self-seeking publicist, who has treated the Conservative Party and the people who voted for her, as a platform for self-advancement. Recently, she achieved some notoriety for calling the Prime Minister and the Chancellor "posh boys" and the rumours are that she wants the Conservatives to throw her out, so she can take up a position with UKIP and no doubt feature in double-page spreads accusing the Prime Minister of being "sexist" and running the government "like a boys club" etc. etc. You can already see the headlines!

The fact that she will be missing from the UK for over a month, unable to address issues in her constituency, or back the government in Parliament, has caused the Chief Whip to suspend her, but her behaviour has drawn attention to the self-interests of those now representing us in the House of Commons. Of course, in truth, most backbenchers are just fodder, required to turn up and vote as the party requires, obviously an unacceptable situation for the ambitious Nadine, who has a touch of the self-important and delusional Edwina Curry about her. ,

Barak Obama: Four More Years....

2012-11-07T20:13:00.000Z

So, Barak Obama did it! He won the Presidential Election of 2012, despite the hard fought efforts of his Republican opponent, Mitt Romney. He now has four more years to work on leaving a legacy to be proud of, not the insipid disappointment of his first term.

It was never going to be easy for the first black president of the USA. He inherited the financial
meltdown of the Bush era and the aftermath of a disastrous foreign policy, that still threatens us. It is heartening that he managed to obtain the majority of the popular vote, although not by a big margin.

The Republican Party has moved further to the right, with extreme views allowed a platform, but the danger is that Obama has won due to the black and Hispanic vote, while a large percentage of white males supported Romney, a worrying sign that the demographics of the USA have split the political base along race lines. Or has that always been so, it was just that the white population used to have the upper-hand?

If the President is to succeed he needs to reach out to the disenfranchised, while his opponents have to rid themselves of the "nasty" label and accept that the negative stance on gays and women is no longer acceptable to the majority. Can the current crop of Republican leaders adapt to change, or does the party need to seek a new kind of leadership? America has a challenge on its hands and at a time when its long-term position as the superpower is in doubt.

It was interesting to watch the television broadcasts last night, especially Fox News, which went into meltdown for a bit, when Karl Rove, one of its own commentators, questioned the station's decision to proclaim Obama the winner. It brought home how serious was the belief that Romney was going to take the presidency and one wonders at what stage in the campaign did people decide to back Obama over his rival? Did Sandy do it for the President and how long has he got to meet the expectations of a nation and the world beyond?

Downton Abbey, gays and a living wage......

2012-11-05T15:21:00.000Z

Don’t tell anyone, but I love Downton Abbey and with the latest series ending last night, I am already experiencing the withdrawal symptoms of the true fanatic. Oh Lord! I’ll be buying the souvenir tea-towels next! I don’t know what snob-ridden substance Julian Fellowes has been inhaling, but the past few Sundays - Series 3 - has produced some cracking storylines, with the issue of Thomas’s homosexuality handled with great sensitivity, and superb acting. And an unlikely ending that wouldn’t have happened in real life, but who knows? It is hard to believe that it is only a few decades since gays were shunned by family and friends, lost jobs, were blackmailed or sent to prison for being “queer”. In some parts of the world bad things still happen.

While enjoying the whole “upstairs, downstairs” experience of Downton, I can’t help but be reminded how awful the situation must have been back then in the real world, with the "haves" eating cake while the "have-nots" struggled to put a loaf of bread on their family table. It reminded me of reading somewhere that it was never in the interest of the establishment to over-educate the working-classes because, my God, who would empty the bins and work in the factories?!

People still live in grand houses and are waited on hand and foot by the lower-classes, but I don’t know, should we be resentful of their privileged lives, or grateful for the jobs they provide?

Which brings me to the announcement today that over five million people earn less than the living wage in the UK, a sum set at £8.30 for London and £7.20 elsewhere in the UK. The minimum wage demanded by the government is £6.19. Workers in the hotel, bar and restaraunt trade struggle the most, so no wonder the service in some establishments is so bad!

Presumably, employers rely on staff tips to subsidise the low-wages and the argument is that many establishments would close if overheads were higher. The same applies to the USA where workers in the fast-food industry struggle to survive, as do the likes of farm-workers, often transient labour, with no choice but to take any job on offer.

A far cry from the world of Downton, although there are people who still live like that, proud of their heritage and with a strong belief that the country, its land and its tradition is for them to uphold, with low-paid help from the little people. Just look at our Royals.

Simon Cowell.....losing the X Factor?

2012-11-04T22:55:00.000Z

I don't think it is an exaggeration to say that Simon Cowell rescued television and the gutter tabloids from the doldrums. He has been rewarded well with riches galore and, for a long long time, a media that worshipped at his feet.

X Factor revived weekend family entertainment and the tabloids jumped on the bandwagon, buying in to the whole drama of bitchy judges, flaky contestants and spectacular fall-outs. Mr Cowell's ego soared along with the ratings and the advertising revenue. Contestants became instant celebrities and the judges basked in the public adulation, their new careers giving them kudos, makeovers and not a little wealth.

Britain's Got Talent, Cowell's other vehicle discovered Susan Boyle and in America his ability to deliver expertly timed and well-rehearsed put-downs made him a star on American Idol. Despite the fact he owns a record company, it has never been about the music, but the televised show itself and one thing Cowell understood was that to retain success the production values had to be high. He could never be accused of stinting on investment in the shows and, X Factor in particular, benefited from the glossy, extravagant productions.

Today, Simon Cowell, must be a disappointed man. X Factor USA has not done the expected business and here in the UK the latest series has been a disappointment, compared to previous years. Even the tabloids have reduced coverage, with the public more and more bored with the manufactured drama surrounding each and every series.

Part of the problem has been the lack of real credible winners to go on and be big International successes. Leona Lewis has been the most successful X Factor winner, but her album sales have declined. It has been left to One Direction, who didn't win the show, to follow in her footsteps and it has to be said they have been brilliantly managed, with success both sides of the Atlantic. However how much influence Cowell has had over their subsequent careers is debatable.

The public's fascination with Cowell was his own self-confidence, his belief that he was always right, but the spat with Cheryl Cole, proved him vulnerable and deceitful. It allowed the public too much insight into the machinations that go on behind the scenes and they didn't like it that Cheryl, the nation's sweetheart, had her heart broken.

The biography by Tom Bower didn't enhance the Cowell reputation either and his recent appearance on the Jay Leno show, where his puffy face suggested a cosmetic filler overload, or a tendency to eat all the pies, caused concern for his well-being. Is the well-oiled PR machine falling apart, or worse, is the man himself finding the pressure too much?

It has been reported that the next series of X Factor UK - the tenth - will be the last. It will be interesting to see if Simon Cowell retains his enthusiasm to go on and produce more lavish light entertainment vehicles in the future, or will he fade in our memories, just like most of the contestants he has paraded before us over the past few years?

Jimmy Savile: Uneasy about the whole affair....

2012-11-02T22:31:00.000Z

Loads of people were aware that Jimmy Savile was weird. An eccentric, with a bad dress sense and a presenting style verging on the ridiculous. However, for many years he was a high-profile star of the BBC and glorified for his charity endeavours, which earned him plaudits from Royalty, the political establishment and the very media now devouring every detail of the allegations against him.

He is dead, so cannot defend himself and the likelihood is he would have no defence against the awfulness of his behaviour. That he was prolific in his abuse of young girls (and so far, one boy) appears to be borne out by the number of victims who have come forward in recent weeks. The catalogue of his abuse grows by the day, as do the number of those lining up to sue his estate for their past trauma.

However, some things make me uneasy about the whole affair. The BBC has come in for much criticism and the accusations are flying about that those at the higher echelons of the broadcaster were aware and failed to act. The press media and rival broadcasters are taking great pleasure in sticking the knife in. Of course people knew that Savile liked young girls, but how come in over 30 years not one media source acted to expose him? How come papers like the now discredited News Of The World didn't produce their own exposé? Over the years surely the tabloids made efforts to investigate him? Was he protected by his influential friends? Was there a lack of credible evidence? Were they scared that alive he would have sued and possibly won?

The media now appears eager to accept that every single allegation is true without question and the police seem very active in feeding information for public consumption, without any real investigation into individual complaints against him. Over 300 victims have come forward, but one can't help but suspect that some are out for the main chance, which sadly taints those who are genuine and who did fall prey to the worse excesses of his despicable behaviour.

Savile is said to have operated over a 30 year period and, it is no excuse, but times past were different. In a time when sexual exploitation was rarely, if ever, discussed, he and other celebrities would have taken advantage of what was on offer. Some openly boasted of it. And the question is, did he, like many others, take advantage of the situation and use his celebrity for sex, or did he force himself upon his victims as alleged? We may not like it, but there is a difference. Likewise, the implication is that his victims were under-age, but many of those who have come forward, were older than sixteen at the time.

Other "names" are now being dragged into the affair and more arrests will undoubtedly be made. There are a number of stars frightened of being tainted by the allegations, not that they would deny sleeping with "young" girls, but who would strongly deny "child abuse". They would, of course, also have to admit that they never asked to see evidence of a girl's age.

I am not defending Savile's alleged behaviour, but the right to innocence until proven guilty. If only one case was true about Savile, then he deserves his fall from grace and if he really was a serial paedophile then others must have known and should be called on to explain their lack of action. To allow him to continue was criminal. But the investigation needs to be undertaken correctly and not through the front-pages of the tabloids.

The Perfect Storm for President Obama

2012-11-02T16:07:00.001Z

Like most non-Americans, I find the diverse politics of that land fascinating. Of course, the election of a US president is of great importance to the rest of us. We also wonder if, with the rise of China and countries like India, how long America can remain the one and only superpower. It has to be acknowledged that America can no longer claim a moral guardianship of the world. Brutality in Iran and places like Guantanamo Bay make claims for that title defunct and that fact is not something to celebrate. Right now, there is no country with the strength or authority to police the world in the cause of righteousness, allowing countries like Russia to return to squalid dictatorship, with hardly a murmur from the outside world.

And yet....there is something familiar and wonderful about the good old USA. Watching on TV the horrendous batterings New Jersey and New York took from vengeful Sandy, was like seeing one of those disaster movies, where bad things happen, but there is never any doubt that all will be right in the end. The good can and will be victorious!

For President Obama, Sandy arrived with perfect timing. He has been able to display leadership,sincerity and dignity during the crisis, which may have saved his presidency. Certainly, outside the US, most of us whooped and hollered in celebration, when Barack Obama occupied the White House. He inspired a nation and the world during his first campaign, but the reality of the job may have been much greater than he appreciated.

Frankly, once in the job he disappointed, his communication skills second-rate and unemotional, displaying a lack of empathy for those struggling to survive during the financial mess he inherited. Sandy presented him with a platform to display his humanity. In the days leading up to the election there has been more good news about the US economy. This should favour the president, while leaving Mr Romney frustrated and cursing the same Sandy.

However, if I was Mr Obama I would be on the telephone to Mayor Bloomberg in New York. Those long queues for water and anger over continued power-cuts don't make for good television, especially for the man who would be president in a few days time. The Perfect Storm could prove a curse.

The Church & Gays: The hypocrisy of the churches....

2012-03-15T01:49:00.000Z

The Catholic Church and the Church of England have ganged up alongside every homophobe in the world to condemn the UK government's proposal that gays should be allowed to get "married", a step beyond the current arrangement of "civil partnership".

To be honest, I am not sure why the gay community, of which I am one, is being so forceful in its fight for "marriage", an institution which heterosexuals have been deserting in record numbers over the years. But I guess it is a matter of equality and choice for those who desire it and I am all for individual freedom, so long as it doesn't frighten the horses.

The hypocrisy of the churches on this issue is sickening. Their argument is that marriage is there for men and women to procreate, with hardly a mention of commitment, partnership or loving relationships. I wonder what childless couples must think that because of their inability to produce children, they are in effect deemed to be in a worthless union?

The Catholic Church has been responsible for so much grief in the world and, in recent times, it has behaved disgracefully in matters of morals, showing contempt for common decency and compassion towards members of its own congregation and beyond. It is sad that the church of today has to continue to parade its prejudice against sections of any community and it is even sadder that those within the church, who themselves are gay, help to foster such anti-human sentiment.

The current pope, Benedict, is said to be seriously ill, prompting senior churchmen (no women!) to start their own campaigns for elevation to the great office of St Peter. Isn't it such a pity that an institution, like the Catholic Church, cannot be a force for good, rather than the vile, depraved, prejudiced, organisation it seems proud to be.

David & Barack: Strutting their stuff....

2012-03-15T00:51:00.001Z

I love seeing British and American politicians fall over each other to enforce this whole concept of a "special relationship" between the two countries. The present Prime Minister David Cameron and the current US President Barack Obama are no exception. Brokeback Mountain it ain't, but both men go out of their way to demonstrate a close personal friendship.

While the wives dine together, the men are being seen to do manly things like attend a basketball game, shown on TV across the United States. Why, the President even invited David to join him on Air Force One, that big penile symbol of a great superpower. No doubt Mr Cameron was suitably impressed.

It is said that the Obama's want to repay Mr Cameron and his wife for their royal treatment when they visited the UK last year. In this year of US elections it is no bad thing for President Obama to be seen in an easy relationship with a conservative Prime Minister. Likewise, Mr Cameron's strutting his stuff in the USA, raises his profile as an international statesman. You can bet Sarkozy of France will be beside himself with rage that it wasn't him on board Air Force One!

Do visits like this help the political prospects of politicians? Will Mr Obama's presidential hopes be helped by pictures of him snogging, sorry I mean, in deep conversation with Dave? Certainly, it must help the relationship between countries if those at the top get on, but I am not sure that mainstream voters are swayed either way.

Once again, the First Lady and the Prime Minister's wife are pictured together, the media making efforts to set them against each other in the fashion stakes. It is an image that must frustrate both.