I am deeply disappointed in 'Vlad the Impaler', in fact more than that, I am insulted! According to Bloomberg News, Russian authorities are insisting that all popular bloggers must be registered. Well, that's fair enough if your country is led by a creepy, bisexual thug with deep insecurities who privately dissolves into tears at even a glimpse of criticism, but what I want to know is where is my demand for registration? I mean, let's be honest, there can be few blogs more popular than this one which is understandable given its erudite content and elegant prose to say nothing of its originality of thought and ... (that's enough puffery - Ed!) Also, of course, I do have readers in Russia, er, only two, I admit, and one of them is English, still from little acorns and all that sort of thing. Also my daily readership is equal to the minimum requirements of the Russian authorities who are "requiring those with at least 3,000 daily readers to register" . . . ooops! . . . sorry! . . . slight error . . . I thought it said 300 not 3,000, and 300 a day is my average. Not my fault, of course, it's you bloody readers not clicking on enough, honestly, you just can't rely on some people!
Mind you, that little snippet of news serves as a useful reminder. We, well, me, mostly, spend an inordinate amount of time moaning and groaning about our wretched politicians and the dire state our country has fallen into and yet . . . and yet . . . I simply cannot imagine living in a totalitarian dump like Russia or any of the other autocracies that constitute the majority of other countries. The thought of having to obey the orders of a jumped-up little ex-KGB apparat with delusions of grandeur makes me feel ill. I am not much given to flag waving but I will say this - thank God for England, and English common law and English liberty and genuinely free elections every five years.
Also, of course, I do have readers in Russia, er, only two, I admit, and one of them is English, still from little acorns and all that sort of thing.
My bad. I left the place. Sorry about that.
Posted by: Tim Newman | Wednesday, 20 August 2014 at 09:31
Very poor form, Newman, but still, I suppose Mrs. Newman counts as a Russian reader - er, she does read D&N, doesn't she? Oh no, say it ain't so!
Posted by: David Duff | Wednesday, 20 August 2014 at 11:26
"I am not much given to flag waving but I will say this - thank God for England, and English common law and English liberty and genuinely free elections every five years". Now you understand the deep appreciation some of us in the "colonies" have for D&N....well, that and the unmatched puffery within.
Posted by: Whitewall | Wednesday, 20 August 2014 at 14:13
Are you suggesting that Putin is bisexual, too? Or was that just a snide remark at our own deviant?
Posted by: Michael Adams | Wednesday, 20 August 2014 at 14:37
Absolutely, Whitewall, you will not find a better class of puffery than that which embellishes this blog!
I am shocked, Michael, shocked! All I once said was that your glorious leader has a very, er, odd way of trotting down the steps of Air Force One with his limp wrists held in front of him. Personally, I refuse to join the chorus of innuendo - even if I have my suspicions! (Taps side of nose and winks slowly!)
Posted by: David Duff | Wednesday, 20 August 2014 at 14:48
Don't know about Vlad being bi, but after all the staged photos trying so hard to be seen as a hetero macho man of him bare chested fishing, wrestling with bears, dancing with horses or whatever, makes me feel he is definitely a friend of Dorothy and, no doubt, has the full collection of Judy Garland records.
Posted by: Penseivat | Wednesday, 20 August 2014 at 18:53
And here I thought the old boy was having a late mid life crisis.
Posted by: Whitewall | Wednesday, 20 August 2014 at 19:11
300 hits a day? I reckon you've added at least one nought to that figure.
Putin is definitely in denial about his fagdom, hence the over the top macho posing.
Posted by: Andra | Wednesday, 20 August 2014 at 20:32
Penseivat, you summon up and enticing image!
"A late mid life crisis", more like post-menstrual syndrome!
Quite right, Andra, you never see real He-men, like, er, me, actually, posing - unless it's in my Long Johns, of course!
Posted by: David Duff | Wednesday, 20 August 2014 at 20:49
Oh, you sexy beast. You know I swoon at the mere thought of you in your Long Johns.
You must stop tempting me this way. I'm only human!!
Posted by: Andra | Thursday, 21 August 2014 at 10:12
Andra! Woman restrain thyself!
Posted by: Whitewall | Thursday, 21 August 2014 at 12:23
It's no good, Whitewall, she's insatiable, er, I mean, incorrigible!
Posted by: David Duff | Thursday, 21 August 2014 at 15:41
Very poor form, Newman, but still, I suppose Mrs. Newman counts as a Russian reader - er, she does read D&N, doesn't she? Oh no, say it ain't so!
Alas, I can't even get her to read my own blog!!
Posted by: Tim Newman | Thursday, 21 August 2014 at 15:48
Funny that, Tim, the 'Memsahib' is the same, reckons I'm boring enough without having to read it all as well!
Posted by: David Duff | Thursday, 21 August 2014 at 16:09