WrAnTz

If Simon Cowell gets a knighthood and Bruce Forsyth doesn’t that will be a travesty.

Brucie has been entertaining the UK for over 70 years.

What has Simon Cowell done ?

Well he, Cowell has blighted UK television for a start. X-Factor, Britain’s Got Talent and so forth all prime examples of how money and hype can sway public opinions.

I like a talent show as much as the next person. But the Cowell touch is just too much. These programs are oversold, the acts are over produced. We don’t actually see the natural talent shining through.

I for one am gagging as a result of being force-fed these shows. It’s almost 24/7. There is no let up. You turn on the TV and no matter what show you watch they have to have a guest appearance of the latest Cowell protegé. You can turn from ITV to BBC and see the same folks performing the same songs within an hour or so.

There is so little news that our papers are filled with latest Cowell celebrity “news” to the extent that it precedes real news.

In contrast, Bruce has appeared on our screens for many decades. He elicits real warmth of feeling from the public despite his trademark corny, recycled, jokes. Although every now and agin he does produce a real gem. And he has real talent and charisma, proven by how long he has survived. Also remarkable is the fact, that in an increasingly ageist profession, he is able to continue working.

What is amazing is the fact that he has not yet been nominated for a knighthood.

And why is that ? Is it because he doesn’t line the pockets of our government ministers or more specifically their party coffers.

Over the years it has become increasingly obvious how our governments have become more susceptible to the spin, hype and celebrity promotion of business.

Is this the real reason that the likes of Cowell will be rewarded and Brucie won’t.

Who’s Got Talent ? ….. Brucies Got Talent !!!

Do you ? Because I don’t.

Assange and WikiLeaks are the worst face of our society today where it seems some people think that it is the publics right to know everything about everyone and beggar the consequences.

What did he expect when he started WikiLeaks ? A pat on the back, awards for journalistic excellence ?

If you run amuck stamping people’s toes you must expect there to be consequences. Or to put it another way, you reap what you sow.

Mr Assange seems keen to propagate the theory that the allegations being made against him by two women in Sweden are part of a smear campaign. Perhaps part of a wider conspiracy that will see him extradited to the US where, perhaps quite rightly, he is scared he will end up.

Recently, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, has indicated that the actions of WikiLeaks and Julian Assange have made it difficult to conduct business with friends and allies .

I’m glad that I am not the only one saying this. You would think that the Ministry Of Defence would take an unbiased view at what this country needs. But once again it seems as if our armed forces are doing what they do best which is bicker amongst themselves. They are all jostling to make sure that get the biggest slices of the ever shrinking cake that is the Defence Budget. And he that shouts loudest and longest gets the biggest slice. Never mind if it makes tactical or logistical sense.

And so here we are about to expose Britain once again to the possibility of military action, just like dropping your trousers, bending over and inviting all comers to take a swing with their hobnail boots.

Ever since the announcement that the Harriers were to be retired (scrapped) the press has been full of voices saying this is a mistake. And the latest has exposed the truth of it. The RAF once again trumpeting their ability to provide air cover for Great Britain’s assets.

Prime Minister David Cameron was today warned he was a ‘victim of bad and biased briefing’ in his decision to scrap Harrier jump jets.

“In a letter to the prime minister, Lord Alan West hints heavy lobbying by RAF chiefs during the defence review led to the wrong call being made.
He urges Mr Cameron to ‘take a last look’ at his decision to axe the navy’s Harriers and keep hold of the air force’s Tornado jets.”

This is exactly the foolhardy actions that made us the sitting target that the Argentine military thought we were and led to the Falklands conflict.

The RAF had lobbied hard and sold misled the then government on the premise that the RAF could provide whatever air support was necessary. They were proven wrong then and if the government proceeds along the path they are on now we will find ourselves at the mercy of some tin pot military action the other side of the planet. And once again we will have to commit unnatural acts to get ourselves out of the mire.

And don’t think that our “friends” will help us out. They didn’t back then and they won’t the next time either. Due to all the politicking that goes on around the planet, they were unable to openly support us as they might step on somebody else toes. A someone who isn’t quite as friendly with us.

So come on Cameron, don’t let the RAF pull the wool over your eyes. Keep the Harriers and put some money into keeping a carrier fleet that is able to fly planes as well as helicopters.

Here we go again  !!!

A student ends up in hospital and its all the polices fault or so says his mother who wasn’t actually with him when he received his injury.

Who’s to say that he didn’t receive his injury from something thrown by one of his fellow protesters ?

Whilst I sympathise with him regarding his injury at the same time I find myself exasperated. Surely, given the recent media coverage of recent protests, is there anyone who doesn’t understand the risks of being involved in such an event.

Anyone who attends one of these protests, after what has previously occurred over last couple of weeks,  surely does so at their own risk.

He may well be  one of the majority of peaceful protesters but once again I say they are culpable if they don’t stop the anarchic minority from causing mayhem. It  is unfair to automatically blaim the police every time someone gets hurt.

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OK so you disagree with the fee hikes and peaceful protests are your right but you don’t have the right to scare innocent people, you don’t have the right to damage private property and you certainly don’t have the right to attack the police.

I know it’s a minority that typically start the violence, throwing missiles at the police, damaging private property, burning workman’s huts and so forth. However, the majority stand by while the minority do these things. That, in my mind, makes you culpable. Shows that you support these violent acts and therefore you have no rights to complain about the police actions.

As a tax payer I have, through my taxes, subsidised your education for the last 40 plus years. I think you have gotten off lightly. This country is broke so its only fair that you pay a reasonable rate for your education. If that means that the fees have to go up so be it.

I attended college way back but it was on a day release basis. Two and a half days each week finishing at 21:00 in the evening. My employer paid for this and I had to work the other two and a half days. I also had to prove my attendance and show satisfactory progress for that funding to continue.

So let me tell you, protesting is all fine and dandy but rioting, vandalism and thuggery is not.

You aren’t winning any friends with your actions.

A few days ago I posted about my disquiet brought about by the governments decommissioning of the Ark Royal and also the imminent scrapping of the Harrier Jump Jet.

Not wishing to say “I told you so” but it appears I’m not the only one to have serious misgivings about our governments decision to axe these wonderful planes.

It seems that just maybe the government is being swayed by the same old song that the RAF sang before about their planes being most able to provide the air cover that we need for the future. They say the Tornados are better suited for use in Afghanistan. This ignores the fact that should a crisis like the Falklands come about the Tornado will be bloody useless.

They cannot get there !!!

Naval commanders who led Britain to victory in the 1980s conflict have sent a strongly-worded letter to Prime Minister David Cameron urging him to revisit his decision to do away with Harrier jump jets.”

So It’s Not Just Me Then !!!