Obama's orphan...

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[Edited: 'dead' video/image removed]
...and it's four Pinocchios** (i.e. whoppers, scroll down here for scale): "As the saying goes, success has a thousand fathers, while failure is an orphan. And if there ever is an orphan in Washington these days, it is that odd duck known as 'sequestration.'" [WP]. More about this and tub Mardell lying (again) from David Preiser over at BBBC: "Mark Mardell is lying. I say he’s lying and not merely reporting something when he’s misinformed, or making a claim based on false information for which he’s not responsible. I’m saying Mardell is lying because he knows what he’s saying is not true."



** A wooden puppet that tells lies...hey! And P.S. They don't like it up 'em.



Update 28th Feb: word is spreading. "A nasty, brutish, imperial presidency", Nile Gardiner in the DT today. "The threats being dished out to Woodward, Davis and others are extremely disturbing in a free society, and are a reflection of an imperial presidency that acts with impunity and is highly intolerant of dissent."

Obama's orphan...

---

[Edited: 'dead' video/image removed] ...and it's four Pinocchios** (i.e. whoppers, scroll down here for scale): "As the saying goes, success has a thousand fathers, while failure is an orphan. And if there ever is an orphan in Washington these days, it is that odd duck known as 'sequestration.'" [WP]. More about this and tub Mardell lying (again) from David Preiser over at BBBC: "Mark Mardell is lying. I say he’s lying and not merely reporting something when he’s misinformed, or making a claim based on false information for which he’s not responsible. I’m saying Mardell is lying because he knows what he’s saying is not true."

** A wooden puppet that tells lies...hey! And P.S. They don't like it up 'em.

Update 28th Feb: word is spreading. "A nasty, brutish, imperial presidency", Nile Gardiner in the DT today. "The threats being dished out to Woodward, Davis and others are extremely disturbing in a free society, and are a reflection of an imperial presidency that acts with impunity and is highly intolerant of dissent."

Obama's orphan...

---

...and it's four Pinocchios** (i.e. whoppers, scroll down here for scale): "As the saying goes, success has a thousand fathers, while failure is an orphan. And if there ever is an orphan in Washington these days, it is that odd duck known as 'sequestration.'" [WP]. More about this and tub Mardell lying (again) from David Preiser over at BBBC: "Mark Mardell is lying. I say he’s lying and not merely reporting something when he’s misinformed, or making a claim based on false information for which he’s not responsible. I’m saying Mardell is lying because he knows what he’s saying is not true."

** A wooden puppet that tells lies...hey! And P.S. They don't like it up 'em.

Update 28th Feb: word is spreading. "A nasty, brutish, imperial presidency", Nile Gardiner in the DT today. "The threats being dished out to Woodward, Davis and others are extremely disturbing in a free society, and are a reflection of an imperial presidency that acts with impunity and is highly intolerant of dissent."

Overcrowding obstriction...

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Question: what do you call THIS? Answer: a good start.

Overcrowding obstriction...

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Question: what do you call THIS? Answer: a good start.

Overly overcast...

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"Germany Weathers Darkest Winter in 43 Years" from Speigel Online. Is it just me or is the UK going through something similar? "The days may be getting longer, but there’s still not a hint of springtime sunshine in Germany. Weather data shows that this winter has been the gloomiest in 43 years. If the sun doesn't start shining soon, it will be the darkest winter on record". Now, I'm not typically a sad bastard (bitter and twisted yes, sad no) and we know that 'light deprivation can have a serious effect on the human body, leading to what is known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD)' but at the moment it seems overcast all day every day...light grey, not sun, snow or rain...just grey. More from Speigel: "To make matters worse, the weather has become progressively gloomier since winter began. While sunshine levels nationwide were 10 percent below average in December, they dropped to 50 percent in December and are between 60 and 70 percent so far for February." Hat-tip to WUWT.

Overly overcast...

---

"Germany Weathers Darkest Winter in 43 Years" from Speigel Online. Is it just me or is the UK going through something similar? "The days may be getting longer, but there’s still not a hint of springtime sunshine in Germany. Weather data shows that this winter has been the gloomiest in 43 years. If the sun doesn't start shining soon, it will be the darkest winter on record". Now, I'm not typically a sad bastard (bitter and twisted yes, sad no) and we know that 'light deprivation can have a serious effect on the human body, leading to what is known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD)' but at the moment it seems overcast all day every day...light grey, not sun, snow or rain...just grey. More from Speigel: "To make matters worse, the weather has become progressively gloomier since winter began. While sunshine levels nationwide were 10 percent below average in December, they dropped to 50 percent in December and are between 60 and 70 percent so far for February." Hat-tip to WUWT.

Odds-on options...

---

I would say the Eastleigh householder with this notice on his door has it down about right. The town was home to Benny Hill (Rennard's kin, surely!); imagine the hustings chase! The image (click to enlarge) from The Slog where one comment suggests that out of 14 "useless" candidates, eventually it came down (for them) to a hard decision between Elvis Loves Pets Party and Beer, Baccy and Crumpet Party. Anyway, not sure how things will go but James Landale has some thoughts, among them: "The Lib Dems are totally bedded in. One Tory MP who knows the patch very well told me that the Lib Dems not only hold all the council seats in the constituency, they also hold all the parish councils. Chris Rennard - to pluck a name from nowhere [snigger] - whipped the party into shape for the 1994 by-election and council elections and they have dug in hard ever since".

Odds-on options...

---

I would say the Eastleigh householder with this notice on his door has it down about right. The town was home to Benny Hill (Rennard's kin, surely!); imagine the hustings chase! The image (click to enlarge) from The Slog where one comment suggests that out of 14 "useless" candidates, eventually it came down (for them) to a hard decision between Elvis Loves Pets Party and Beer, Baccy and Crumpet Party. Anyway, not sure how things will go but James Landale has some thoughts, among them: "The Lib Dems are totally bedded in. One Tory MP who knows the patch very well told me that the Lib Dems not only hold all the council seats in the constituency, they also hold all the parish councils. Chris Rennard - to pluck a name from nowhere [snigger] - whipped the party into shape for the 1994 by-election and council elections and they have dug in hard ever since".

Obvious omerta...

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Harrow Road, London, 1953 Photo: Press Association

Is a human life worth more than horse meat? Clearly not. What everyone has been saying all week: Peter Oborne asks "How to explain, then, the contrast between the recent, obsessive interest in horse meat and the near omertà surrounding Stafford?" You know...the people, the ones that politicians are elected to serve (pah!): we've been asking "Why the silence, why the omission, why the cover-up"? Horse meat, horse meat...hey, look over there another horse meat story, you'll Findus in the freezer, it's nothing new 'this sordid trade'! Irony of ironies, Staffordshire County Council has been among those shouting first and loudest (plus Labour twats of course).

"What we have here, I believe, is a conspiracy of silence, just as we had a conspiracy of silence over phone hacking and over MPs’ expenses. None of the mainstream parties want to admit the blindingly obvious fact that there is something very wrong with the NHS, as Stafford demonstrates in the most tragic and horrifying way."

One shining light - on the horse meat side at least - is Owen Paterson; as Christopher Booker writes, [hat-tip EU Referendum] "What Mr Paterson recognised from the start, unlike any other politician in Britain, was that the root of the problem lay in what had followed when, a decade ago, the EU took over all “competence” to make food law from national governments." Good, this puts the blame firmly where it belongs: Labour and the EU. Now, what about all those dead? BBC are you going to tell us? As there's going to be no blame, no scapegoats, no prosecutions, no fines, no sackings no press-pillorying over all those NHS deaths surely we can at least get a good tarring and feathering over the horse-meat hoohah? Start with Miliband minor and Ms. aghh Creagh as they seem so out of touch with what has happened and why.

Obvious omerta...

---

Harrow Road, London, 1953 Photo: Press Association

Is a human life worth more than horse meat? Clearly not. What everyone has been saying all week: Peter Oborne asks "How to explain, then, the contrast between the recent, obsessive interest in horse meat and the near omertà surrounding Stafford?" You know...the people, the ones that politicians are elected to serve (pah!): we've been asking "Why the silence, why the omission, why the cover-up"? Horse meat, horse meat...hey, look over there another horse meat story, you'll Findus in the freezer, it's nothing new 'this sordid trade'! Irony of ironies, Staffordshire County Council has been among those shouting first and loudest (plus Labour twats of course).

"What we have here, I believe, is a conspiracy of silence, just as we had a conspiracy of silence over phone hacking and over MPs’ expenses. None of the mainstream parties want to admit the blindingly obvious fact that there is something very wrong with the NHS, as Stafford demonstrates in the most tragic and horrifying way."

One shining light - on the horse meat side at least - is Owen Paterson; as Christopher Booker writes, [hat-tip EU Referendum] "What Mr Paterson recognised from the start, unlike any other politician in Britain, was that the root of the problem lay in what had followed when, a decade ago, the EU took over all “competence” to make food law from national governments." Good, this puts the blame firmly where it belongs: Labour and the EU. Now, what about all those dead? BBC are you going to tell us? As there's going to be no blame, no scapegoats, no prosecutions, no fines, no sackings no press-pillorying over all those NHS deaths surely we can at least get a good tarring and feathering over the horse-meat hoohah? Start with Miliband minor and Ms. aghh Creagh as they seem so out of touch with what has happened and why.

Olympian Oscar...

---

So much bad news; so many famous names falling from on high: the latest is Oscar Pistorius, reaching the height of his fame at the London Olympics last year, surely the pinnacle of an amazing life. Now however, he has fallen, heavily, and judging by the evidence he doesn't have much going for him: and as I said to my son when he told me the news as it broke on St. Valentine's Day, it seems Oscar doesn't have a leg to stand on...oops.



Owsblog will continue to be quiet for a week as Ows himself undergoes bodily reparations; nothing like Krusty though (Madame Tussaud was spotted on a flight to Cuba...coincidence?).

Olympian Oscar...

---

So much bad news; so many famous names falling from on high: the latest is Oscar Pistorius, reaching the height of his fame at the London Olympics last year, surely the pinnacle of an amazing life. Now however, he has fallen, heavily, and judging by the evidence he doesn't have much going for him: and as I said to my son when he told me the news as it broke on St. Valentine's Day, it seems Oscar doesn't have a leg to stand on...oops.

Owsblog will continue to be quiet for a week as Ows himself undergoes bodily reparations; nothing like Krusty though (Madame Tussaud was spotted on a flight to Cuba...coincidence?).

Offensive or Overreaction III?...

---

Sports Illustrated's 2013 Swimsuit Issue; Katie Upton is on the cover again but another issue is if they are "perpetuating racial stereotypes by drawing power and class lines between the Westernized models and the 'primitive locals'" as Jezebel Mag Hag argues....hmmm, there are a few pictures on the Yahoo!News link (fast heading toward eleven thousand comments!) but the Jezebel website has far more: surely adding to the exploitation if any existed.  "People are not props", they say, 'Why not?' I ask and they tend to shoot themselves in the foot by adding "Using people of color as background or extras is a popular fashion trope... ...But although it's prevalent, it's very distasteful". Eh? People of colour? Half the models are people of colour and is it OK if the 'props' are white people? Anyway, the hat-tipee Weasel Zippers makes a good point about Yahoo!News' saying that the "reaction has been mixed, even among the men who are supposed to be titillated": "Someone needs to tell Yahoo! News the men who comment on liberal feminist blogs are not even remotely representative...".



Interesting factoid: The swimsuit edition 'has become one of Time Inc.’s biggest revenue drivers over the years, bringing in more than $1 billion' [Forbes] Wow.

Offensive or Overreaction III?...

---

Sports Illustrated's 2013 Swimsuit Issue; Katie Upton is on the cover again but another issue is if they are "perpetuating racial stereotypes by drawing power and class lines between the Westernized models and the 'primitive locals'" as Jezebel Mag Hag argues....hmmm, there are a few pictures on the Yahoo!News link (fast heading toward eleven thousand comments!) but the Jezebel website has far more: surely adding to the exploitation if any existed.  "People are not props", they say, 'Why not?' I ask and they tend to shoot themselves in the foot by adding "Using people of color as background or extras is a popular fashion trope... ...But although it's prevalent, it's very distasteful". Eh? People of colour? Half the models are people of colour and is it OK if the 'props' are white people? Anyway, the hat-tipee Weasel Zippers makes a good point about Yahoo!News' saying that the "reaction has been mixed, even among the men who are supposed to be titillated": "Someone needs to tell Yahoo! News the men who comment on liberal feminist blogs are not even remotely representative...".

Interesting factoid: The swimsuit edition 'has become one of Time Inc.’s biggest revenue drivers over the years, bringing in more than $1 billion' [Forbes] Wow.

Obama's oratory...

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Or not as the case may be. I mentioned last month in Obamaworship about the "load of banal piffle" that Obama was reading out; and "the winning entry from a primary school competition about who can write the most cringe-worthy pap about pink fluffy clouds and jam for everybody" however he hasn't improved much and it appears that in yesterday's State of the Union address

"President Obama's chief speechwriter has been replaced by a cliché-generator circa 1960. His erstwhile oratory was a melee of cringe-inducing lines ripped straight from a sit-in."

So says Kirsten Powers in 'Same old, same old from Obama':USA TODAY.

Obama's oratory...

---

Or not as the case may be. I mentioned last month in Obamaworship about the "load of banal piffle" that Obama was reading out; and "the winning entry from a primary school competition about who can write the most cringe-worthy pap about pink fluffy clouds and jam for everybody" however he hasn't improved much and it appears that in yesterday's State of the Union address

"President Obama's chief speechwriter has been replaced by a cliché-generator circa 1960. His erstwhile oratory was a melee of cringe-inducing lines ripped straight from a sit-in."

So says Kirsten Powers in 'Same old, same old from Obama':USA TODAY.

Outrage oblivious...

---

Where's the outrage? asks James Forsyth at The Spectator; linking to Charles Moore's excellent piece: "Stafford scandal: Let’s face the truth about our uncaring, selfish and cruel NHS". Please, he, you, I and everyone in the country knows that there are hundreds of thousands of good stories and we know that most receive adequate to good often outstanding and wonderful treatment, especially in such a big organisation [wow, it's that big?] dealing with people's health, but he is right:

"The truth is the exact opposite of what we keep telling ourselves. The NHS is the least caring and most selfishly run important institution in this country. Until we recognise this, there will be plenty more Staffords."

And no, that doesn't mean he is slagging off nurses but that's what lefties will say. Needless to say I am still spitting feathers about the whole issue being brushed under the carpet on the BBC's website within 24 hours. Maybe it's because they're another 'much loved' UK national institution with some 'uncomfortable to hear' truths coming home to roost.

Outrage oblivious...

---

Where's the outrage? asks James Forsyth at The Spectator; linking to Charles Moore's excellent piece: "Stafford scandal: Let’s face the truth about our uncaring, selfish and cruel NHS". Please, he, you, I and everyone in the country knows that there are hundreds of thousands of good stories and we know that most receive adequate to good often outstanding and wonderful treatment, especially in such a big organisation [wow, it's that big?] dealing with people's health, but he is right:

"The truth is the exact opposite of what we keep telling ourselves. The NHS is the least caring and most selfishly run important institution in this country. Until we recognise this, there will be plenty more Staffords."

And no, that doesn't mean he is slagging off nurses but that's what lefties will say. Needless to say I am still spitting feathers about the whole issue being brushed under the carpet on the BBC's website within 24 hours. Maybe it's because they're another 'much loved' UK national institution with some 'uncomfortable to hear' truths coming home to roost.

Orinoco oblatration...

---

The long-suffering Venezuelan people are poorer today, again. No surprise to hear that Venezuela has announced a (totally expected) currency devaluation (about 32%). Ah well, 22.2 percent [inflation] in January, increased foot shortages, verging on war-zone-like murder rates, gangster's paradise prisons...I could go on, the oil and gas industry producing less with far more employees; petrol and diesel are now being imported (wtf?!) yet oil now represents 96% of all exports; steel, aluminum, iron and bauxite industries on their knees. Corruption like you wouldn't believe (ironically the latest charges are against the opposition), not so good for business; oh and nepotism of course: Argenis Chavez (brother) is President of Corpoelec, the National Electric Corportation: Adan Chavez Frías is the governor of Barinas state in western Venezuela, and was Minister of Education (red education). Krusty's father Hugo de los Reyes Chavez was the previous governor of Barinas. Aníbal Jose Chavez is the current mayor of Sabaneta, Barinas; Krusty's cousin Asdrubal Chavez is Vice President of Refining for state oil company PDVSA...blah blah blah. And all the Chavernment sock puppet can do is waffle on like a child about the tricolour hat being his not Capriles'.



Update 9th Feb: another non-surprise: two months after he left: Krusty will not return...

Orinoco oblatration...

---

The long-suffering Venezuelan people are poorer today, again. No surprise to hear that Venezuela has announced a (totally expected) currency devaluation (about 32%). Ah well, 22.2 percent [inflation] in January, increased foot shortages, verging on war-zone-like murder rates, gangster's paradise prisons...I could go on, the oil and gas industry producing less with far more employees; petrol and diesel are now being imported (wtf?!) yet oil now represents 96% of all exports; steel, aluminum, iron and bauxite industries on their knees. Corruption like you wouldn't believe (ironically the latest charges are against the opposition), not so good for business; oh and nepotism of course: Argenis Chavez (brother) is President of Corpoelec, the National Electric Corportation: Adan Chavez Frías is the governor of Barinas state in western Venezuela, and was Minister of Education (red education). Krusty's father Hugo de los Reyes Chavez was the previous governor of Barinas. Aníbal Jose Chavez is the current mayor of Sabaneta, Barinas; Krusty's cousin Asdrubal Chavez is Vice President of Refining for state oil company PDVSA...blah blah blah. And all the Chavernment sock puppet can do is waffle on like a child about the tricolour hat being his not Capriles'.

Update 9th Feb: another non-surprise: two months after he left: Krusty will not return...

Overt omission...

---

Sorry to go about the same thing but this is just obscene. My update in the post below is driving me mad. Barely a day has gone by and already the BBC are wiping the story from it's pages: hardly any mention or links to the stories about the NHS on the BBC webpages for News, UK news, England News etc. The only link is the features sidebar with such heavyweight news issues as "How you can make lunch at your desk that bit nicer". Gross and partisan bias by omission, white-washing any possible cloud to darken the Labour horizon with this true multiple death causing scandal...and especially while they pound the Coalition and trumpet 'a humiliating U-turn/climb-down' (would you rather Gove ploughed on and forced his better idea upon you Twigg? You cunt) re exams etc and of course the hugely important Huhne affair still merits multiple links and reams of pages. Do NOT trust the BBC.

Overt omission...

---

Sorry to go about the same thing but this is just obscene. My update in the post below is driving me mad. Barely a day has gone by and already the BBC are wiping the story from it's pages: hardly any mention or links to the stories about the NHS on the BBC webpages for News, UK news, England News etc. The only link is the features sidebar with such heavyweight news issues as "How you can make lunch at your desk that bit nicer". Gross and partisan bias by omission, white-washing any possible cloud to darken the Labour horizon with this true multiple death causing scandal...and especially while they pound the Coalition and trumpet 'a humiliating U-turn/climb-down' (would you rather Gove ploughed on and forced his better idea upon you Twigg? You cunt) re exams etc and of course the hugely important Huhne affair still merits multiple links and reams of pages. Do NOT trust the BBC.

Obvious outcome IV...

---

'24 hours to save the NHS'...how did that work out for you? ...Oops. In 2007the writing was on the wall; as in education, it was the introduction of 'high visibility' targets that could be 'easily' reached and then ticked off and waved triumphantly at the public as major achievements that sowed the seeds for the current unfolding" NHS disaster. Those government targets - including those for waiting and A&E treatment - were and are attacked for 'distorting clinical priorities'. Maybe you'll think it in poor taste and too partisan but if the Conservatives had been in power the Beeb would be screaming with every minute of news on every channel and radio station yet nowhere - at least in the BBC entire online coverage - is any mention of Labour, New Labour, Frank Dobson, Alan Milburn, John Reid, Patricia Hewitt, Alan Johnson and Andy Burnham* (in case you didn't know this is the motley crew who were all Secretary of State for Health between 1997 and 2010. No mention of Blair or Brown either (well they never mention Brown anyway, funny that).

*This prime twat is Shadow Department for Health, looking forward to his grilling on the BBC political programmes...  ...tumbleweed...

 


Update 2pm: unbelievably there is now, already, barely any mention or links to the stories about the NHS on the BBC webpages for News, UK news, England News etc. The only link is the features sidebar with such heavyweight news issues as "How you can make lunch at your desk that bit nicer". Do NOT trust the BBC,

Obvious outcome IV...

---

'24 hours to save the NHS'...how did that work out for you? ...Oops. In 2007the writing was on the wall; as in education, it was the introduction of 'high visibility' targets that could be 'easily' reached and then ticked off and waved triumphantly at the public as major achievements that sowed the seeds for the current unfolding" NHS disaster. Those government targets - including those for waiting and A&E treatment - were and are attacked for 'distorting clinical priorities'. Maybe you'll think it in poor taste and too partisan but if the Conservatives had been in power the Beeb would be screaming with every minute of news on every channel and radio station yet nowhere - at least in the BBC entire online coverage - is any mention of Labour, New Labour, Frank Dobson, Alan Milburn, John Reid, Patricia Hewitt, Alan Johnson and Andy Burnham* (in case you didn't know this is the motley crew who were all Secretary of State for Health between 1997 and 2010. No mention of Blair or Brown either (well they never mention Brown anyway, funny that). *This prime twat is Shadow Department for Health, looking forward to his grilling on the BBC political programmes...  ...tumbleweed...

 
Update 2pm: unbelievably there is now, already, barely any mention or links to the stories about the NHS on the BBC webpages for News, UK news, England News etc. The only link is the features sidebar with such heavyweight news issues as "How you can make lunch at your desk that bit nicer". Do NOT trust the BBC,

Obvious outcome IV...

---

'24 hours to save the NHS'...how did that work out for you? Oops.  In 2007 the writing was on the wall; as in education, it was the introduction of 'high visibility' targets that could be 'easily' reached and then ticked off and waved triumphantly at the public as major achievements that sowed the seeds for the current unfolding NHS disaster. Those government targets - including those for waiting and A&E treatment - were and are attacked for 'distorting clinical priorities'. Maybe you'll think it in poor taste and too partisan but if the Conservatives had been in power the Beeb would be screaming with every minute of news on every channel and radio station yet nowhere - at least in the BBC entire online coverage - is any mention of Labour, New Labour, Frank Dobson, Alan Milburn, John Reid, Patricia Hewitt, Alan Johnson and Andy Burnham* (in case you didn't know this is the motley crew who were all Secretary of State for Health between 1997 and 2010. No mention of Blair or Brown either (well they never mention Brown anyway, funny that). *This prime twat is Shadow Department for Health, looking forward to his grilling on the BBC political programmes...  ...tumbleweed...

Update 2pm: unbelievably there is now, already, barely any mention or links to the stories about the NHS on the BBC webpages for News, UK news, England News etc. The only link is the features sidebar with such heavyweight news issues as "How you can make lunch at your desk that bit nicer". Do NOT trust the BBC.

Operational oversight...

---

Posting light, travelling (Mexico at present) and loads of work. Anyway, thank God, in that case, for psychopathic tendencies: "Mrs Thatcher had oversights when it came to thousands of people"..."she didn't operate in the way others did."..." As well as being such an intelligent woman, I would say she had psychopathic tendencies." The BBC [edit] are going to be all over this.



In other news, Huhne the hoon: James has it right: "There are some very bad dangerous people in politics right now. But it's their policies I want them nailed on, not their personalities [or minor crimes]".

Operational oversight...

---

Posting light, travelling (Mexico at present) and loads of work. Anyway, thank God, in that case, for psychopathic tendencies: "Mrs Thatcher had oversights when it came to thousands of people"..."she didn't operate in the way others did."..." As well as being such an intelligent woman, I would say she had psychopathic tendencies." The BBC [edit] are going to be all over this.

In other news, Huhne the hoon: James has it right: "There are some very bad dangerous people in politics right now. But it's their policies I want them nailed on, not their personalities [or minor crimes]".