The High Court has ruled about the so-called 'kettling' of demonstrators. There will be an appeal, we hear, but let's get back to first principles:-
I have no problem with the police restraining parts of crowds to protect officers, civilians, and property.
Any interference with the public's freedom needs to be necessary and proportionate.
It also needs to be imposed for the shortest possible time.
What appears to have outraged many people was the prolonged containment of so many, including well behaved bystanders, for hours, while refusing appeals from the unwell, the elderly, and even those desperate to use a lavatory.
The appeal will proceed. If the judgment is upheld, the civil claims will pour in to the Met.
Common sense is more British, and is also a lot cheaper than bungled confrontation
Saturday, 16 April 2011
Thursday, 7 April 2011
Angry boy is now nice boy
Ah............Wayne Rooney scored a fine goal for Manchester
United against Chelsea last night, and was all smiles afterwards - no swearing into the lens this time!
Jolly good show, old bean.
And his 2 match ban has been confirmed by the Premier League. After which, Rooney has now told the press that he is being victimised - lots of players swear during the game, so why me?
Listen, son.
A bit of agricultural language happens during the cut and thrust of the match. However, after scoring, if you dash towards a TV camera lens and give it loads right in front of the watching nation, then that's a bit different.
You are a successful millionaire with a beautiful wife and fantastic life.
So all this anger doesn't wash with us ordinary folk who have to work hard for a living with much less reward than you.
Don't you understand that we are not stupid?
Get a grip, count your blessings and chill.
Plonker.
United against Chelsea last night, and was all smiles afterwards - no swearing into the lens this time!
Jolly good show, old bean.
And his 2 match ban has been confirmed by the Premier League. After which, Rooney has now told the press that he is being victimised - lots of players swear during the game, so why me?
Listen, son.
A bit of agricultural language happens during the cut and thrust of the match. However, after scoring, if you dash towards a TV camera lens and give it loads right in front of the watching nation, then that's a bit different.
You are a successful millionaire with a beautiful wife and fantastic life.
So all this anger doesn't wash with us ordinary folk who have to work hard for a living with much less reward than you.
Don't you understand that we are not stupid?
Get a grip, count your blessings and chill.
Plonker.
Saturday, 2 April 2011
Shooting yerself in the [left] foot?
Emailed this morning from Everton FC on their mailing list, and the headline was - find out who wants to bid for Leighton Baines. The link is into the Daily Mail piece alleging that Arsene Wenger is preparing a ten million pound bid for Baines this summer, as his current left back won't sign a new deal......
Now, the Daily Mail can speculate about this stuff as much as they like [they often get it totally wrong, but that's by the bye] but why on Earth does Everton FC want to add publicity for this highly speculative bit of nonsense - on match day as well?
The half wit who made this decision must be blessed with the judgement of retarded fruit fly.
Apropos of today's game, there is a bit of breeze but it is sunny and bright here on Merseyside. Villa won't be after parking the bus across their penalty box, so I expect a few goals - at both ends. Hoping for a win for the Blues, but most importantly that the luncheon is satisfactory in the hospitality area.
Champagne at 12.15 - hurrah!
Now, the Daily Mail can speculate about this stuff as much as they like [they often get it totally wrong, but that's by the bye] but why on Earth does Everton FC want to add publicity for this highly speculative bit of nonsense - on match day as well?
The half wit who made this decision must be blessed with the judgement of retarded fruit fly.
Apropos of today's game, there is a bit of breeze but it is sunny and bright here on Merseyside. Villa won't be after parking the bus across their penalty box, so I expect a few goals - at both ends. Hoping for a win for the Blues, but most importantly that the luncheon is satisfactory in the hospitality area.
Champagne at 12.15 - hurrah!
Friday, 1 April 2011
Stat of the week
Everton have not beaten Aston Villa for nine matches, apparently.
Bets for tomorrow?
Everton to win, Tony Hibbert to score.
Collect you winnings Monday morning. Thousands of pounds.
Bets for tomorrow?
Everton to win, Tony Hibbert to score.
Collect you winnings Monday morning. Thousands of pounds.
Tuesday, 29 March 2011
Another England
Tuned in to the England game this evening, as Leighton Baines and Phil Jagielka were due to play.
I have to admit, England friendly matches can be somewhat boring - but tonight's game with Ghana was terrific - both sides having a go and plenty of meaty challenges as well.
Everton content: Jagielka clearly drew number 13 in the raffle on the team bus. First half, out of position at left centre back to accommodate Cahill, who can only play on the right. Second half, at right full back to accommodate Lescott. Okay - bit of a surprise here - Jags did not have a good night here.
As for Leighton Baines, first half was excellent going forward but second half the Ghana coach paid him the compliment of having him virtually man-marked when going forward.
Ashley Young had a productive match in midfield, showing guile and skill, although Wilshere produced little of value. Barry was combative and organised in a holding role, and Johnson had a decent half before being subbed.
I thought Ghana were worth a draw, and Leighton Baines was very good indeed.
And - here's a thing: an England side without Terry, Cole and Ferdinand [two serial shaggers and a drug test dude] played really well and entertained over 80,000 fans.
Over to you, Fabio.
I have to admit, England friendly matches can be somewhat boring - but tonight's game with Ghana was terrific - both sides having a go and plenty of meaty challenges as well.
Everton content: Jagielka clearly drew number 13 in the raffle on the team bus. First half, out of position at left centre back to accommodate Cahill, who can only play on the right. Second half, at right full back to accommodate Lescott. Okay - bit of a surprise here - Jags did not have a good night here.
As for Leighton Baines, first half was excellent going forward but second half the Ghana coach paid him the compliment of having him virtually man-marked when going forward.
Ashley Young had a productive match in midfield, showing guile and skill, although Wilshere produced little of value. Barry was combative and organised in a holding role, and Johnson had a decent half before being subbed.
I thought Ghana were worth a draw, and Leighton Baines was very good indeed.
And - here's a thing: an England side without Terry, Cole and Ferdinand [two serial shaggers and a drug test dude] played really well and entertained over 80,000 fans.
Over to you, Fabio.
Tuesday, 22 March 2011
Courtesy of John Cleese [apparently]
ALERTS TO DOMESTIC THREATS IN 2011 EUROPE : (BY JOHN CLEESE)
The English are feeling the pinch in relation to recent terrorist threats and have therefore raised their security level from "Miffed" to "Peeved." Soon, though, security levels may be raised yet again to "Irritated" or even "A Bit Cross." The English have not been "A Bit Cross" since the blitz in 1940 when tea supplies nearly ran out. Terrorists have been re-categorized from "Tiresome" to "A Bloody Nuisance." The last time the British issued a "Bloody Nuisance" warning level was in 1588, when threatened by the Spanish Armada.
The Scots have raised their threat level from "Pissed Off" to "Let's get the Bastards." They don't have any other levels. This is the reason they have been used on the front line of the British army for the last 300 years.
The French government announced yesterday that it has raised its terror alert level from "Run" to "Hide." The only two higher levels in France are "Collaborate" and "Surrender." The rise was precipitated by a recent fire that destroyed France 's white flag factory, effectively paralyzing the country's military capability.
Italy has increased the alert level from "Shout Loudly and Excitedly" to "Elaborate Military Posturing." Two more levels remain: "Ineffective Combat Operations" and "Change Sides."
The Germans have increased their alert state from "Disdainful Arrogance" to "Dress in Uniform and Sing Marching Songs." They also have two higher levels: "Invade a Neighbor" and "Lose."
Belgians, on the other hand, are all on holiday as usual; the only threat they are worried about is NATO pulling out of Brussels .
The Spanish are all excited to see their new submarines ready to deploy. These beautifully designed subs have glass bottoms so the new Spanish navy can get a really good look at the old Spanish navy.
Australia , meanwhile, has raised its security level from "No worries" to "She'll be alright, Mate." Two more escalation levels remain: "Crikey! I think we'll need to cancel the barbie this weekend!" and "The barbie is canceled." So far no situation has ever warranted use of the final escalation level.
-- John Cleese - British writer, actor and tall person
The English are feeling the pinch in relation to recent terrorist threats and have therefore raised their security level from "Miffed" to "Peeved." Soon, though, security levels may be raised yet again to "Irritated" or even "A Bit Cross." The English have not been "A Bit Cross" since the blitz in 1940 when tea supplies nearly ran out. Terrorists have been re-categorized from "Tiresome" to "A Bloody Nuisance." The last time the British issued a "Bloody Nuisance" warning level was in 1588, when threatened by the Spanish Armada.
The Scots have raised their threat level from "Pissed Off" to "Let's get the Bastards." They don't have any other levels. This is the reason they have been used on the front line of the British army for the last 300 years.
The French government announced yesterday that it has raised its terror alert level from "Run" to "Hide." The only two higher levels in France are "Collaborate" and "Surrender." The rise was precipitated by a recent fire that destroyed France 's white flag factory, effectively paralyzing the country's military capability.
Italy has increased the alert level from "Shout Loudly and Excitedly" to "Elaborate Military Posturing." Two more levels remain: "Ineffective Combat Operations" and "Change Sides."
The Germans have increased their alert state from "Disdainful Arrogance" to "Dress in Uniform and Sing Marching Songs." They also have two higher levels: "Invade a Neighbor" and "Lose."
Belgians, on the other hand, are all on holiday as usual; the only threat they are worried about is NATO pulling out of Brussels .
The Spanish are all excited to see their new submarines ready to deploy. These beautifully designed subs have glass bottoms so the new Spanish navy can get a really good look at the old Spanish navy.
Australia , meanwhile, has raised its security level from "No worries" to "She'll be alright, Mate." Two more escalation levels remain: "Crikey! I think we'll need to cancel the barbie this weekend!" and "The barbie is canceled." So far no situation has ever warranted use of the final escalation level.
-- John Cleese - British writer, actor and tall person
Friday, 18 March 2011
Things not to do
One: when you cease to have any use for the outer casing [about three feet tall and a foot square] of an old kitchen pedal bin, do not leave it outside in the garden, on the patio area, in the Autumn.
Two: do not on any account place in said pedal bin casing the remains of the canopy of a gazebo destroyed by a particularly windy day in October.
Three: do not leave said gazebo cover in said bin casing for the whole winter, so it fills up with water.
Because there will be a day of reckoning. A day when you have to get all of the water out of the casing, then transfer the dripping wet gazebo cover into the wheely bin, and then finally take said pedal bin casing to the tip - where it should have gone last year.
That day of reckoning, alas, is tomorrow.
Two: do not on any account place in said pedal bin casing the remains of the canopy of a gazebo destroyed by a particularly windy day in October.
Three: do not leave said gazebo cover in said bin casing for the whole winter, so it fills up with water.
Because there will be a day of reckoning. A day when you have to get all of the water out of the casing, then transfer the dripping wet gazebo cover into the wheely bin, and then finally take said pedal bin casing to the tip - where it should have gone last year.
That day of reckoning, alas, is tomorrow.
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