Better late than never

There's been some cautious rejoicing this week over the news that the Provisional IRA has decided to give up what it calls the "armed struggle", a phrase that always reminds me of the line from Monty Python's Life of Brian: "it's symbolic of his struggle against reality".

I can't help wondering if the IRA is giving up violence because it's finally realised that it wil not achieve its goals that way, or just because it can't compete against real evil bastards like Al Qaeda.

Rabid Fox redux

Just to belatedly add a few more points to the recent post: a couple of weeks ago I had the misfortune to tune in to Bill O'Reilly who was claiming that the BBC had a policy of banning the word "terrorist" from its news broadcasts.

Bull......shit.

If it wasn't disgusting enough that Fox should be using the London bombings try to score points off a rival broadcaster, it's also a filthy lie. One of many, I'm sure.

The more I see of Fox News the more I hate it. Not only do their graphics give me serious migraines, but their opinions are often both offensive and, from a British perspective, just fucking weird. It's like they're broadcasting from a different planet. It sure ain't the one I'm living on.

The BBC has indeed referred, and continues to refer, to the London bombers and likewise the Egyptian bombers, as terrorists. It also frequently refers to them as suicide bombers, a phrase which can in no sense be regarded as politically correct. But don't take my word for it.

If you don't have direct access to BBC broadcasts, go to http://www.bbc.co.uk/ and follow the relevant links to News and Radio. BBC Radio 4 has a half-hour bulletin at 6PM on weekdays (1PM Eastern, 10 AM Pacific) and Radio 5 Live has continuous news and sports coverage. Just click on Listen Live. Alternatively, watch the BBC News bulletins on BBC World TV or BBC America. Listen to what the BBC is actually saying, not what Fox wants you to believe it's saying.

(Incidentally, BBC America, which the BBC only part-owns, is basically a piece of crap, cutting British shows to fit commercial timeslots, compressing the sound to buggery, screwing with the closing credits, and totally lacking the style and warmth of a real BBC channel. The news is really the only decent thing about it.)

The rabid Fox is yapping again

Once again the unfair and imbalanced Fox News is bleating about BBC bias over the so-called War on Terror and Iraq. I just heard Bill O'Reilly (aka Mr Spin) claim that Fox was going to take on the BBC. In your dreams, pal. The British broadcasting regulator Ofcom called Fox out for lying about the BBC before and they'll do it again if need be.

Personally I'd love to see Fox "take on" Auntie because the BBC would wipe the floor with them, except that they're far too dignified ever to dignify Fox's obnoxious lies with a response. I just wish Fox would do something so outrageous that Ofcom withdraws their British broadcasting licence. Then listen to them whine.

PS I know "too dignified to dignify" is a bit of an awkward construction, but right now I can't think of a better expression.

7/7

I've tried to think of something profound to say about the recent attacks in London. About the best I can come up with so far is something I once read about people getting bored with the newspapers when they don't publish juicy stories about war, famine, disaster and human misery.

I hope the newspapers stay boring for a very long time after this.