Offbeat option...

Didn't see or hear any of Eurovision (unlike 105 million others!!!) except the Spanish version that had been assailing the TV, media and airwaves for the past few months...thank God it's over: I don't hate many tunes but the only emotion I got from the annoying 'chiki-chiki' was a wish to smash the guy in the face (apologies to actor David Fernandez); this was an emotion I can't remember having since Joe Dolce with 'Shaddup Your Face' prevented Midge Ure's Ultravox becoming Number One with 'Vienna' - unbelievable. Anyway, the only reason I posted this - and the offbeat option of the title - was Alcuin's 'Whatever' blog and his comments; also fantastic alternative Eurovision entries in his first reply, one of which - the suggestion for the German entry - I post HERE. Turn the volume up all you headbangers and Lego lovers!

Offbeat option...

Didn't see or hear any of Eurovision (unlike 105 million others!!!) except the Spanish version that had been assailing the TV, media and airwaves for the past few months...thank God it's over: I don't hate many tunes but the only emotion I got from the annoying 'chiki-chiki' was a wish to smash the guy in the face (apologies to actor David Fernandez); this was an emotion I can't remember having since Joe Dolce with 'Shaddup Your Face' prevented Midge Ure's Ultravox becoming Number One with 'Vienna' - unbelievable. Anyway, the only reason I posted this - and the offbeat option of the title - was Alcuin's 'Whatever' blog and his comments; also fantastic alternative Eurovision entries in his first reply, one of which - the suggestion for the German entry - I post HERE. Turn the volume up all you headbangers and Lego lovers!

Overtly opposing oppression...

Continuing the demon tax theme: fighting tax oppression is something many people today would sympathise with but how many, in a demonstration of defiance, would get their tits out and parade themselves through the streets?...no need to answer that as I suspect many would and some do...but without the opposing high taxes bit!!

Apart from World Tobacco Day (see previous post) 31st May is also Godiva Day - Godiva was a well endowed (rich!) Anglo Saxon landowner and noblewoman who rode naked through the streets of the English city Coventry opposing an oppressive toll imposed by her husband -apparently: some are of the opinion that the Lady Godiva episode didn't happen; Octavia Randolph does and has written a full and convincing history HERE.

It occured in the 11th Century before the Norman Invasion - Godiva is the Latinised version of the Old English Godgifu/Godgyfu (God's/good gift). Of course the tale has been heavily elebaorated on over the years because - as Octavia points out - Coventry, at that time, was a village of less than 70 families and more interestingly Godiva owned it!

"But by far the most vital fact ignored in these retellings is that Godgyfu possessed the village of Coventry outright. She need not ask Leofric [The Earl of Mercia and her husband] or anyone else to suspend or repeal any tax or toll upon it, as she controlled the collection of these herself. The sole exception was the heregeld, an onerous levy instituted by Cnut to pay for the king's personal body-guard. Until revoked by Edward the Confessor in 1051, it was a national tax, required of all. Godgyfu would not have been able to suspend it - but she certainly could have paid it from her own purse."

Quite so. The only possibility left i.e. the only thing that the tenants would have had to pay outside of Godiva's control was a national, oppressive tax called the Heregeld, paid to the then king Cnut...that's Cnut, OK? It makes interesting reading as Octavia goes on to explain why the "tale became sentimentalized and ever-more erotically charged". As a slight out-of-character change I have decided not to post gratuitous pictures of some lovely lady's breasts - apologies to those adversely and emotionally affected by this.

Overtly opposing oppression...

Continuing the demon tax theme: fighting tax oppression is something many people today would sympathise with but how many, in a demonstration of defiance, would get their tits out and parade themselves through the streets?...no need to answer that as I suspect many would and some do...but without the opposing high taxes bit!!

Apart from World Tobacco Day (see previous post) 31st May is also Godiva Day - Godiva was a well endowed (rich!) Anglo Saxon landowner and noblewoman who rode naked through the streets of the English city Coventry opposing an oppressive toll imposed by her husband -apparently: some are of the opinion that the Lady Godiva episode didn't happen; Octavia Randolph does and has written a full and convincing history HERE.

It occured in the 11th Century before the Norman Invasion - Godiva is the Latinised version of the Old English Godgifu/Godgyfu (God's/good gift). Of course the tale has been heavily elebaorated on over the years because - as Octavia points out - Coventry, at that time, was a village of less than 70 families and more interestingly Godiva owned it!

"But by far the most vital fact ignored in these retellings is that Godgyfu possessed the village of Coventry outright. She need not ask Leofric [The Earl of Mercia and her husband] or anyone else to suspend or repeal any tax or toll upon it, as she controlled the collection of these herself. The sole exception was the heregeld, an onerous levy instituted by Cnut to pay for the king's personal body-guard. Until revoked by Edward the Confessor in 1051, it was a national tax, required of all. Godgyfu would not have been able to suspend it - but she certainly could have paid it from her own purse."

Quite so. The only possibility left i.e. the only thing that the tenants would have had to pay outside of Godiva's control was a national, oppressive tax called the Heregeld, paid to the then king Cnut...that's Cnut, OK? It makes interesting reading as Octavia goes on to explain why the "tale became sentimentalized and ever-more erotically charged". As a slight out-of-character change I have decided not to post gratuitous pictures of some lovely lady's breasts - apologies to those adversely and emotionally affected by this.

From the World Health Organisation Tobacco Free Initiative (click image for link to this years theme: Tobacco-Free Youth) "World No Tobacco Day is celebrated around the world every year on 31 May"

"Tobacco is the single most preventable cause of death in the world. It is the only legal consumer product that can harm everyone exposed to it... ...with its victims dying on average 15 years prematurely."

"This year, tobacco will kill more than five million people - more than tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and malaria combined."

Some steps are already being taken: the BBC reports today that cigarette vending machines and packets of 10 may be outlawed under new plans aimed at preventing children and young people smoking - the UK government doing something right; The Independent (amongst others) reports that ciggies could soon come in just plain white boxes i.e. no attractive packaging.

...and by coincidence, earlier this week much of the foreign press had reports (Breitbart.com) that the British government had clear early warning of the health risks of smoking - including a direct link to lung cancer - but decided against telling the public; they had a good reason of course: it would adversely effect tax revenue!...nice.

From the World Health Organisation Tobacco Free Initiative (click image for link to this years theme: Tobacco-Free Youth) "World No Tobacco Day is celebrated around the world every year on 31 May"

"Tobacco is the single most preventable cause of death in the world. It is the only legal consumer product that can harm everyone exposed to it... ...with its victims dying on average 15 years prematurely."

"This year, tobacco will kill more than five million people - more than tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and malaria combined."

Some steps are already being taken: the BBC reports today that cigarette vending machines and packets of 10 may be outlawed under new plans aimed at preventing children and young people smoking - the UK government doing something right; The Independent (amongst others) reports that ciggies could soon come in just plain white boxes i.e. no attractive packaging.

...and by coincidence, earlier this week much of the foreign press had reports (Breitbart.com) that the British government had clear early warning of the health risks of smoking - including a direct link to lung cancer - but decided against telling the public; they had a good reason of course: it would adversely effect tax revenue!...nice.

Ostras: overdose of oysters...

I’ve woken everyday this week to breakfast looking at the rising sun glinting off blue and clear waters surrounding Florianopolis …this is the city with the best quality of life in Brazil: the best and the safest; the island has to be one of the choicest places on earth to live; beautiful people, beautiful climate, fantastic food, gob-smacking scenery, beaches to die for and lots and lots of oysters! [Owsblog orgasmic obsession...]Basically it’s a haven for the locals, tourists, surfers, nature lovers etc and guys like me that are forced to come here - having to endure all this - for the sake of work :-)

The oyster farming here began 20-odd years ago in a bid to save the livelihoods of the local fishermen. Crassostrea gigas is not only tasty but produces a good yield and is 'environmentally friendly': "molluscs, as filter-feeders, reduce the cloudiness of water, increasing the penetration of light and thus boosting the productivity of that area,"

"[The activity also] strengthens biodiversity, because the oyster culture structures host a variety of small invertebrates and a chain of animals that develop together,"

...says Claudio Blacher, oceanographer: Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC)

More simply put (by a local oyster farmer):"This is good because it’s something that does not pollute nature. On the contrary, you have a fresh oyster, just harvested from the sea. The oyster is nutritional and can only do you good."

Spent yesterday afternoon travelling down much of the west coast of the island (from Sambaqui down to beyond Caieira da Barra do Sul for those that know where I mean) - much of the journey on cobbled roads - where, as this guide says, there are many "fisherman villages that seem to have stopped in time" (really they're just strips of small houses and huts along the roadside sitting right on the water's edge). Lovely...

Ostras: overdose of oysters...

I’ve woken everyday this week to breakfast looking at the rising sun glinting off blue and clear waters surrounding Florianopolis …this is the city with the best quality of life in Brazil: the best and the safest; the island has to be one of the choicest places on earth to live; beautiful people, beautiful climate, fantastic food, gob-smacking scenery, beaches to die for and lots and lots of oysters! [Owsblog orgasmic obsession...]Basically it’s a haven for the locals, tourists, surfers, nature lovers etc and guys like me that are forced to come here - having to endure all this - for the sake of work :-)

The oyster farming here began 20-odd years ago in a bid to save the livelihoods of the local fishermen. Crassostrea gigas is not only tasty but produces a good yield and is 'environmentally friendly': "molluscs, as filter-feeders, reduce the cloudiness of water, increasing the penetration of light and thus boosting the productivity of that area,"

"[The activity also] strengthens biodiversity, because the oyster culture structures host a variety of small invertebrates and a chain of animals that develop together,"

...says Claudio Blacher, oceanographer: Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC)

More simply put (by a local oyster farmer):"This is good because it’s something that does not pollute nature. On the contrary, you have a fresh oyster, just harvested from the sea. The oyster is nutritional and can only do you good."

Spent yesterday afternoon travelling down much of the west coast of the island (from Sambaqui down to beyond Caieira da Barra do Sul for those that know where I mean) - much of the journey on cobbled roads - where, as this guide says, there are many "fisherman villages that seem to have stopped in time" (really they're just strips of small houses and huts along the roadside sitting right on the water's edge). Lovely...

Observations of optimistic outlook…

With both a historic FA Cup final and historic Champions League Final almost upon us, I’d just like to raise a few points re Arsenal this season in response to many anti-Wenger comments that I’ve read in various papers and forums. As an almost life-long gooner I am happy with AW and with his record at the club; of course silverware every year would be nice but sometimes putting things in perspective is necessary: his record speaks for itself and to average 2nd place in the Premier League over the 12 seasons in charge is quite good, no? ...better than all other clubs, bar one [grrrrr]

This season – which started so well and in which, if a turning point was needed, it was probably the Taylor/Eduardo incident and the injury-time penalty in the same game against Birmingham - they led the League for 80% of the season and...

...they ended the season with a much better home record than Chelsea and a better away record than Manchester United

(Yes they did; check it out); all this when they were supposed to cave in after Thierry Henry left and to be honest most of the season I had fingers crossed because it was so hard not to secretly feel it would end in tears/it couldn't last/ too many bad decisions going against (yeah, yeah, yeah)/missed too many chances...

Observations of optimistic outlook…

With both a historic FA Cup final and historic Champions League Final almost upon us, I’d just like to raise a few points re Arsenal this season in response to many anti-Wenger comments that I’ve read in various papers and forums. As an almost life-long gooner I am happy with AW and with his record at the club; of course silverware every year would be nice but sometimes putting things in perspective is necessary: his record speaks for itself and to average 2nd place in the Premier League over the 12 seasons in charge is quite good, no? ...better than all other clubs, bar one [grrrrr]

This season – which started so well and in which, if a turning point was needed, it was probably the Taylor/Eduardo incident and the injury-time penalty in the same game against Birmingham - they led the League for 80% of the season and...

...they ended the season with a much better home record than Chelsea and a better away record than Manchester United

(Yes they did; check it out); all this when they were supposed to cave in after Thierry Henry left and to be honest most of the season I had fingers crossed because it was so hard not to secretly feel it would end in tears/it couldn't last/ too many bad decisions going against (yeah, yeah, yeah)/missed too many chances...

Oyster oversight; obvious overeaction...

I do despair sometimes: the Daily Telegraph reports today that an aide to an Archbishop is to be prosecuted for 20p oversight...."Rachel McKenzie, 54, offered to pay the difference when an inspector said she did not have enough credit on her Oyster pre-pay card, but was told she would be prosecuted... ...If convicted, she may have to pay a fine of up to £1,000 plus legal costs." All this despite it being only 20p, despite the fact that it was almost certainly an innocent mistake, despite offering to pay the difference and more importantly, despite not being challenged by the driver of the bus, she has been given a summons and must appear before Sutton magistrates later this month. I wonder, had the inspector been faced by a thug who hadn't paid anything and refused to pay anything would he be so...so...fucking petty? I truly hope the magistrate kicks this complete and utter waste of time and money out of court without a nanosecond's hesitation and with no qualifying remarks in support of the inspector re only doing his job.

Oyster oversight; obvious overeaction...

I do despair sometimes: the Daily Telegraph reports today that an aide to an Archbishop is to be prosecuted for 20p oversight...."Rachel McKenzie, 54, offered to pay the difference when an inspector said she did not have enough credit on her Oyster pre-pay card, but was told she would be prosecuted... ...If convicted, she may have to pay a fine of up to £1,000 plus legal costs." All this despite it being only 20p, despite the fact that it was almost certainly an innocent mistake, despite offering to pay the difference and more importantly, despite not being challenged by the driver of the bus, she has been given a summons and must appear before Sutton magistrates later this month. I wonder, had the inspector been faced by a thug who hadn't paid anything and refused to pay anything would he be so...so...fucking petty? I truly hope the magistrate kicks this complete and utter waste of time and money out of court without a nanosecond's hesitation and with no qualifying remarks in support of the inspector re only doing his job.

Oreo objicient...

The BBC online Magazine asks: "Can Oreo win over British biscuit lovers?" Well there's a simply answer to that, NO! Certainly not. In fact if they do then I have to say that they aren't really biscuit lovers at all. As the report says:

"...any Brit who has compared a Hershey's bar with a bar of Dairy Milk, will know, the American sweet tooth has a different pitch."

I'll say so...yuck. However, Jocelyn McNulty (Director of UK Biscuits from Kraft Foods) is reported as saying that the reaction in Britain has so far been positive...well, that may well be but I don't agree with her when she says:

Oreo is a bit different. It's dark-coloured because of the high percentage of cocoa in the biscuit and consumers may look at it and think 'That looks different'."

I certainly agree re the looking different but the taste in no way indicates a high percentage of cocoa...why do I say that?...because they're black and they don't taste of cocoa! I can think of literally dozens of better bickies presently on the shelves in UK shops. Still, that's my opinion, maybe you'll like them; they're not bad...they're just...not good enough! Still, it may help farmers and childrens' health if the habit of drinking milk with your Oreos is taken up.

Objicient: n. - objector.

Oreo objicient...

The BBC online Magazine asks: "Can Oreo win over British biscuit lovers?" Well there's a simply answer to that, NO! Certainly not. In fact if they do then I have to say that they aren't really biscuit lovers at all. As the report says:

"...any Brit who has compared a Hershey's bar with a bar of Dairy Milk, will know, the American sweet tooth has a different pitch."

I'll say so...yuck. However, Jocelyn McNulty (Director of UK Biscuits from Kraft Foods) is reported as saying that the reaction in Britain has so far been positive...well, that may well be but I don't agree with her when she says:

Oreo is a bit different. It's dark-coloured because of the high percentage of cocoa in the biscuit and consumers may look at it and think 'That looks different'."

I certainly agree re the looking different but the taste in no way indicates a high percentage of cocoa...why do I say that?...because they're black and they don't taste of cocoa! I can think of literally dozens of better bickies presently on the shelves in UK shops. Still, that's my opinion, maybe you'll like them; they're not bad...they're just...not good enough! Still, it may help farmers and childrens' health if the habit of drinking milk with your Oreos is taken up.

Objicient: n. - objector.