Definitely Provocative Proposition

And there was me fearing all government appointments were mere mouthpieces and hand puppets… not so, it seems.

The Curse of the Jade Ignorance

In relation to the Celebrity Big Brother racism debate : can anyone really be surprised that ignorance sits so readily with racism?

Fishin' a-barrel

All right, so if you live in London, this makes a bit of sense, but if you don't... well, how surreal an image does this conjure up?

Ban This Sick Filth Now*

Over at The Writing Factory, my friend and fellow blogster has recently taken a turn for the downright filthy and foul-mouthed.

As I know him, though, I can confirm it's very much in character.

Oh my goodness yes.

*I’m entitling this post thusly because I know it’s always been an aim of his to be referred to with this phrase. Granted, I’m not the Daily Mail, so it's not quite the fulfilment of a dream, but I don’t think we need another Daily Mail, do we? Let's face it, we didn't need the first one.

Welcome to Stray Thoughts (Population 51,201)

1. Yes, it's been a while. And many of you will already know the sort of things I've been up to in that while - and thanks for the kind words. It's good, and me like.

2. Not a fan of the death penalty, so haven't been joining in with the frankly unseemly hand-rubbing and grins of glee about Saddam Hussein being executed. And I think that the recent 'outcry' about how he was mocked as he was led to the gallows is just weaselling by politicians who were involved in the whole thing and may be experiencing a twinge of conscience. Maybe it's just me, but if I knew I was about to be killed, someone calling me nasty names would be a side issue.

3. And let's remember, the avowed reason for Gulf War 2 was because Saddam allegedly had 'weapons of mass destruction', not because he was a brutal leader and killed people and so on. It was because he had bombs... which he didn't. I know history will probably be rewritten to suggest it was all about liberating Iraq, but that wasn't the premise given, and let's try to bear that in mind, eh ?

4. Do any of you know much about rugby? If so, and you're willing for look at some digital photos, please drop me a line at oddlyshapedballs@johnsoanes.co.uk , as I have a signed England rugby shirt which a friend won in a raffle, but we can't identify the signatures. Ta.

5. The usual paucity of Christmas television, as far as I'm concerned; The specials of The Thick Of It and Doctor Who didn't really capture my attention, though I did enjoy the Vicar of Dibley finale(s). Not cutting edge by any stretch of the imagination, and overly reliant on Dawn French's likeability, but pleasant and amusing enough.

6. This may well be one of the greatest items I've ever seen. What a fab idea.

Let's All Meet Up In The Year 2007

Ah, that's very decent of you - decided to keep the appointment we made this time last year, eh ? Smashing.

Have to admit, though, I haven't done my homework, as I haven't yet had a chance to sit down and figure out how many (if any) of my 2006 goals I've fulfilled. I'll try to get to it, but you know how it is - busy at this time of year...

And as it's 'this time of year', I'll just take the opportunity to wish you a Very Happy 2007, and to promise to post more when I get the chance. May the year bring you all the things you could want, and a few which take you by surprise.