This is a series of observations I would have posted earlier if I’d had time. Some of it might be past its use-by date, but what the hell.
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What a dilemma, whether to watch Newsnight with Kirsty Wark (afraid of missing something after last week’s spat with Tommy Robinson) or succumb to a nagging desire to watch Question Time. (afraid of missing something) You have to keep an eye on these things.
Switching back and forth between them, I stumbled upon a bizarre exchange between Ann Coulter and Laurie Penny, in some ways chalk and cheese, and in other ways cheese and cheese.
A surprise location switch found Ms. Coulter in the studio with Kirsty and Laurie Penny in the US against a backdrop of the Hollywood sign, culturally appropriating LA speech patterns and saying “right now” instead of “at the moment". The interview concerned Fake News, a subject close to the hearts of these interviewees with their diametrically opposed interpretations of what is ‘news’ and what is fake.
Ms. Penny was convinced that journalists (like her) were the sole purveyors of truth, while Ms. Coulter said decisively
“The internet is the only place you can get the truth.”
The discourse became increasingly ludicrous, but Kirsty eclipsed both guests by calling people who doubted the absolute integrity and honesty of the BBC “despots”
“Aren’t you aiding the despots who say “it’s all about fake news from CNN even the BBC, so we won’t believe it?” You are aiding people by undermining the probity of the mainstream media?”
Ms. Coulter, never known to be lost for words, was in full flow, when Kirsty turned to Ms. Penny.
“Are you finished!” said Laurie Penny. “May I speak now? Are you finished?”
she said menacingly in her tiny penetrating voice.
“Now Miss Coulter is a troll, with no credibility, and so is her president”
said she, looking suspiciously troll-like herself.
This must have been desperate attempt to boost the ratings, as Newsnight must have known there was no conceivable prospect of meaningful dialogue between these particularly outspoken, ideologically opposed polemicists, specially when there was no time to progress beyond a slanging match and with a host whose speech is so slurred and nasal you have to wonder why she is a host.
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Continuing ITBB’s popular series of posts dedicated to hair. (Episode 3)
I spotted “Next: hair.” at the top of the screen as I watched The Daily Politics this afternoon. (The other day, now) Naturally I was excited and I knew immediately where they got the idea. (here!)
The discussion was strictly confined to politicians’ hair, but I suspect Jo Coburn surreptitiously plumped up hers, which had been looking rather flat, while the cameras were focussing on celebrity hairdresser Nicky Clarke as he slid into the studio to explain Donald Trump, which he was unable to do.
Even the comedians on programmes like Mock the Weak Week sound bored with Trump while wearily churning out their tedious Trumpisms.
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| extreme short back and sides |
Images of obvious hair-centric politicians, Boris and both Michaels Heseltine and Fabricant were shown, as well as (for some reason) Tony Blair and Gordon Brown while real man of the moment, hair-wise, Kim Jong Un, was conspicuously absent. After all, his extreme haircut has conquered the world with the trend for short back and sides. Celebrity hairdresser Nicky Clarke, modelling a fetching Lauren Bacall style, is about the only man-about-town with whom this fashion hasn’t caught on. Luckily for Andrew Neil, he wasn’t present, or there may have been some sniggering in the background. He seemed to be sporting a new toupee when I last saw him discussing PMQs with Laura Kuenssberg.
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| Lauren Bacall |
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Oh dear what shall I do with my Saturday evenings now that Spiral has finished? The series ended on an enigmatic note, and will be returning when we’ve all forgotten how we left it.
One thing I do know; if that baby continues to grow at the rate she’s ballooned since birth, she’s gonna be massive by then.
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Has anyone else noticed the way the BBC’s man in Jerusalem, Tom Bateman, has been prefacing or appending information that comes from Israeli sources with “Israel says” even when reporting something it seems Israel didn’t exactly say. Oh yes, BBC Watch has noticed, and more besides.
This sounds almost as if Bateman is terrified - either for himself, for the BBC in general or on behalf of the puffed-up Middle East Editor — of sounding like an “Israeli shill”, which is the boilerplate term Israel-haters are inclined to throw at the BBC to intimidate them, and and make them stop sounding as though they ‘believe’, or heaven forbid, approve of anything an Israeli spokesperson might utter.
I’m no particular fan of Sky, but their man on the spot doesn’t seem to need to use caution-laden qualifiers in that way.
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I once knew a sexually voracious and predatory chap who worked for Oxfam. Young girls were slightly in awe of him, which made him feel important. I believe he was ‘let go’ from his post. Huge charities nearly always turn out to be rabidly political, like War on Want and Amnesty International etc etc. and I am wary of them all.
I have a feeling that this kind of sexually predatory behaviour has been going on in these circles for a very very long time but I don’t know how long the antisemitism has been part of the remit.
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I watched the replay of this debate that took place in Westminster Hall on 7th. It was shown on the Parliament channel this morning. Children in detention. (In Israel)
All the usual anti-Israel MPs had their say, as did the small number of pro-Israel MPs, most notably Matthew Offord.
You wouldn’t get a sense of this from Hansard, but there was some disturbing background noise, including some whoops and cheering from the public gallery. The debate was brought by Sarah Champion who was looking very pleased with herself.
Ahed Tamimi has a strong fan base in the Labour Party, and the degree of animosity towards “Israel” (if that’s how they want us to see it) is based on superficial (mis)understanding of history. This is Gathering Storm territory. Goebbels would be proud.
