Clarkson on Strike

So Jeremy Clarkson has upset a few people by saying on TV the public sector strikers should be shot in front of their families. OK, its a rather sick thing to say, but anyone with half a brain cell must realise he was joking - which, of course he was! Unison, on the other hand were seeking urgent legal advice to see what action they could take against him, but are now reported to have accepted his apology. Just as well, as they would only be demonstrating how ridiculous and absurd they are. I have seen many on line comments from strikers deriding the union as they fully realise it was just a joke.

Anyway, what about this strike? Given that we are living through a time of high and rapidly increasing unemployment in the midst of the worst financial crisis in living memory, should the strikers not be grateful they have a job in the first place? What makes them so special that they feel they need to cause massive inconvenience and loss to others, most of whom do not have the option of their generous pensions - even allowing for the proposed changes?  If they think they are hard done by they  should visit Africa where they will see real poverty in every direction, making even the worst paid public servant over here look rich in comparison. They should stop whinging and show some gratitude for what they have, rather than moaning about what they think they think they won't have. Let's also not forget our servicemen who are risking and losing their lives daily and do not have the luxury of the right to strike. It's time for a reality check.

I'm Misha B'd off!

Last night I was fuming when Misha B and Janet Devlin were at the bottom of the heap on the X - Factor Results Show. The reason I was feeling this way was because I just KNEW Janet Devlin would be voted off. In fact, as far as I was concerned they might as well have not even bothered with the "Sing - Off" - it was a foregone conclusion which way the judges would take it.

As far as I am concerned Janet Devlin is a much better singer than Misha B. Shock horror.....!!! - How can I possibly say that?????  Well, I'll tell you why and it is this. Misha B is just plain boring. Yes, she has a good, powerful voice, but there is nothing special or unique about it. Its like a million other voices I have heard like that - and instantly forgettable. Janet Devlin, on the other hand, has a very quirky and distinctive voice, and one which is memorable. She has her own distinctive style,  somewhat ethereal,  unique and original, and one which sets her apart from the other contestants - and certainly from Misha B.

I found it particularly annoying that the judges did not vote her off purely on the basis of the sing - off, which is what I thought the sing - off was for. Its a bit like a jury finding someone guilty on the basis of something other than the evidence which was presented at the trial, and that just sucks. The songs which each of them sang were completely different in both genre, tone and style, with Janet Devlin singing a very controlled, atmospheric and emotional song, while Misha B sang an entirely predictable song which entirely relied upon the power of her voice to make it's mark. The judges followed their unspoken agenda, and duly gave Janet her marching orders. There is no way Misha B is not going to make it to the finals because the judges seem to think she will sell millions of records which she won't because she is unoriginal with nothing to define her from all the others who sound just like her. The judges will always save her because they have no imagination or appreciation of true creativity.

Bible Study

Because I am an atheist, I have decided to do the right thing and read my Bible every day - as all good atheists should. Of course, being very devout I have already read the Bible through from beginning to end, but that was the Revised Standard Version. This time I decided to read the real Holy Version - you know the one - The King James Authorised Version. If it wasn't the real pucker Holy Bible it wouldn't be "authorised" would it, I mean you wouldn't authorize one that wasn't Holy would you? Of course, when you read it and you read all the "thees, thys and verilys", you just know its Holy; with language like that, well it just couldn't be anything else, could it?

Well, I 've not read a great deal yet, I'm about two thirds of the way through Exodus. Of course, everything I have read so far all makes perfect sense, like God killing all the Egyptian's cattle and livestock, and then killing them all again with hail mixed in with fire. Given they were all dead already, it takes a really Holy God to kill them all again. To be twice dead must surely be a great miracle. Strange that you don't read about the RSPCA getting involved, but then if they all decided the mass murder of all these dead already cattle was the work of a Holy God, then I suppose they would have decided to take a back seat on this one!

Of course, the Holy God of the Holy Bible is really very kind and loving - the same yesterday, today and forever - Helleluia!! He really showed his loving kindness to Pharaoh as every time he seemed minded to let the Israelites go, God hardened his heart and changed his mind again - just so that He could punish him and his poor hapless people all the more (and kill all the cattle twice), so that after a variety of plagues, God deploys His mastercard of killing all the first born of Egypt, not just people mind, oh no, but the cattle as well (offspring of twice-dead cattle - another miracle!). This loving kindness of God is staggering. Of course, if it was God who "hardened the heart" of Pharaoh, then it wasn't really Pharaoh's fault. He was just unfortunate in that by a cruel accident of birth he was not born into the chosen people of the Israelites. He couldn't help himself, and neither would any of us with such a kind and loving God pulling our strings and making us bad!

Oh well, I suppose God moves in mysterious ways.......Good job it's only fiction!