Poor likkle kiddiewinkies: I refer, of course, to the students of Cambridge University although, to be fair, it looks as though the infants are in charge of the 'skool'. Some total prat of a professor - or more likely, a 'herd' of professors (I can think of no more suitable collective noun!) - has decided to warn their undergraduates that the evil Master William Shakespeare in his play Titus Andronicus introduces themes of sexual violence - shockin', shockin'! They might have done better to have issued a restaurant critique given that at one stage a lady eats a specially prepared meat pie which she later finds out contained the flesh of her dead children. 'Cor, that old Bill Shakespeare, wot a larf'!
A reminder to all you Yankee-doodle-dandies: Later today, (Sir) Lewis Hamilton is gracing your shores in order to win the American Grand Prix and I trust you have all made arrangements to watch him. I have warned him that any attempt on his part to kneel when your National Anthem is played will definitely not amuse 'Her Maj' so his knighthood could be at risk! The result of the race, of course, is a foregone conclusion, er, unless that damned Hun barges him off the track at the first corner!
And talking of Mr. Douglas Murray: As I was in the previous post, he has popped up again at The Coffee House with a carafe of pure acid which he has poured over the head of Mr. Tariq Ramadan, the grandson of the founder of the Muslim Brotherhood. He describes Mr. Ramadan as "one of my closest enemies"! Apparently, whilst taking part in a TV debate in France this disciple of the Muslim Brotherhood could not bring himself to denounce the Muslim punishment of stoning adulterers to death, he merely suggested a 'moratorium' on the practice. Now, the news has broken in France that a Muslim but secularist lady has accused him of rape and sexual assault. Mr. Ramadan denies this so we shall have to wait to see what we shall see! However, Mr. Murray points out that under Sharia law his accuser's word would only be worth half of his so the chances are that he would be let off. On the other hand, if the evidence in a French court is conclusive against him, at least he will not be stoned to death. Do you think he will be grateful?
Now the Italians join in: This slipped below my radar but according to a report at Zero Hedge, the two relatively rich northern provinces of Lombardy and Veneto are due to vote today on moves to gain greater freedom, especially financial freedom, from the Central government in Rome. Now, what's the Italian for "Watch this space"?
Back to 'Today' tomorrow: And no, I haven't been at the gin, how dare you! I was for years a dedicated listener to the BBC morning programme "Today". I simply could not start my day without hearing the likes of Jack de Manio and his ilk but then, of course, he was eased out because of his somewhat sceptical take on the EU and ever since the programme has gurgled down the BBC drain of PC, global warming and constant hurrahs for Brussels. I skipped to BBC Radio5 Live but, alas, recently they seem to have handed the whole thing over to a 'cocky Jock' who drives me nuts. So, in the end I was forced to the depths of 'TOOOOORKSPOOOOOORT'. That name is best pronounced in a throaty working-class accent to summon up the feel of it. Actually, I have quite enjoyed it because listening to A1 crashers going on and on about 'footie', about which I care nothing, is marginally less tedious than the BBC. However, two good reasons have been offered to me by Mr. Charles Moore at The Coffee House which have induced me to return to the 'Today' programme. Here is one of them:
Ms. Sarah Sands
Dammit, she's attractive! She is also the new editor and Mr. Moore, for whom she once worked as an Assistant Editor at The Telegraph cannot speak too highly of her.
Jolly good show, (Sir) Lewis: Yes, by Jove, he did it although I held my breath in that first corner when that damned Hun pushed through to take the lead. But (Sir) Lewis held his nerve, let his tyres settle down and then took back the lead and never let it go. I assume the Freedom of Austin, Texas is only a matter of time!
No more Rumbles today
Trigger warnings for Master William at a leading university...the West continues to rot it seems.
Posted by: Whitewall | Sunday, 22 October 2017 at 15:26
Most Americans that like auto racing have probably never heard of Sir Lewis Hamilton. I'm just glad the damn Yankees aren't in the World Series. It makes up for the Cubs getting spanked by LA.
Posted by: Bob | Sunday, 22 October 2017 at 15:54
Bob, you are a very naughty boy and you will go straight to the back of the grid! I am always careful to place brackets round the title of 'Sir' so as not to upset Her Maj and thus prejudice (Sir) Lewis's chances! She always reads this blog, you know! Oh, and what is all this "World Series" you're talking about?
Posted by: David Duff | Sunday, 22 October 2017 at 17:10
In my youth (back in the stone age, when the Yankees, Dodgers, and Giants were all playing baseball in New York City) the Yankees were, indeed, damned to me. I was a Brooklyn Dodgers fan (Brooklyn is one of the 5 boroughs of NYC). I stopped following baseball when the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles.
Now, however, lo these many decades later, it would have been nostalgic to witness another Yankees/Dodgers World Series. Sigh ...
Posted by: TheBigHenry | Sunday, 22 October 2017 at 17:36
David, please allow me to address Her Majesty while repeatedly rotating my upraised palm between zero and forty degrees: Hellooooooooo!
Posted by: Bob | Sunday, 22 October 2017 at 17:51
Henry, you saved me from making a fool of myself (yes, a considerable feat), if asked I would have assumed "the World Series" was that boring-snoring, start-stop game which is neither rugby nor football!
It'll be the Tower for you, Bob, if you're not careful!
Posted by: David Duff | Sunday, 22 October 2017 at 17:55
I read Titus Andronicus, and watched a video production, a few years ago when my eldest son studied it for A level. Apart from it having little of Shakespeare's usual poetry and discernment, I thought that it only made sense as a piss-take of the entire revenge play genre. Not so much tongue-in-cheek, as tongue-ripped-out-and-nailed-to-your-forehead-while-they-violate-your-sister.
Posted by: Whyaxye | Monday, 23 October 2017 at 00:39
Not so much tongue-in-cheek, as tongue-ripped-out-and-nailed-to-your-forehead-while-they-violate-your-sister.
Whyaxye that is as fair a review of Titus as I have ever seen.
Posted by: AussieD | Monday, 23 October 2017 at 01:12
David,
Baseball can be boring if you are not familiar with all the intricacies of the game. It is true, however, that the most difficult accomplishment in any sport is to hit a major-league curveball for a home run. It takes incredible hand-eye coordination combined with great power -- in the blink of an eye.
Now, about that cricket thing you Brits go on about. How embarrassing can it be for the lady spectators when one of those chaps in the field gets a sticky wicket?
Posted by: TheBigHenry | Monday, 23 October 2017 at 05:30
Shalom TBH
Cricket is the game played in Heaven for six months of the year. The other six months is spent playing Rugby Union.
A cricketer getting a sticky wicket is usually the result of fraternizing with one of the ladies in the stand.
Posted by: AussieD | Monday, 23 October 2017 at 09:42
Shalom AD,
Most men get a sticky wicket by fraternizing with the ladies, but usually not on the playing field (unless a timeout is called first :)
Posted by: TheBigHenry | Monday, 23 October 2017 at 14:19