The BBC’s Big Read is on. Of the hundred, I’ve read 70, which would be 71 but I never managed to finish “Tess Of The D’Urbervilles”. But I ask you, can I really be expected to read “The Clan Of The Cave Bear” or “Memoirs Of A Geisha”?

Apropos of nothing, Winston Churchill:
“The mood and temper of the public in regard to the treatment of crime and criminals is one of the most unfailing tests of the civilization of any country. A calm dispassionate recognition of the rights of the accused, and even of the convicted criminal, against the State-a constant heart-searching by all charged with the duty of punishment-a desire and eagerness to rehabilitate in the world of industry those who have paid their due in the hard coinage of punishment: tireless efforts towards discovery of curative and regenerative processes: unfailing faith that there is a treasure, if you can only find it, in the heart of every man. These are the symbols, which, in the treatment of crime and criminal, mark and measure the stored-up strength of a nation, and are sign and proof of the living virtue in it.”

Searching for Brian Sewell brought me this. I wish you joy.

And bah to James who makes only an oblique culturally specific reference to window lickers yet chastises me for failing to mention our crude humour. Maybe I’ll blog them directly when I get my new phone, that’ll show him.

Sign of the times at DMOZ?
“The requested category Business > Venture Capital > Resources for Entrepreneurs > Seed Stage Venture Capitalists could not be found. It is likely that this category has been moved to another location within the directory.”

It’s IgNoble time. I liked the Physics award but the Biology ones really scares me.

Sounds entirely fair to me… they should be allowed to move to the countries that are responsible for climate changes. Maybe that would make the US see sense on environmental issues.
“People forced to flee by climate change or other disasters caused by human activities deserve recognition as refugees, a UK campaign group argues.
It says people affected by rising temperatures should be given a special status as “environmental refugees”.
The foundation says there are tens of millions of these refugees already.” (BBC)
My Onion horoscope: “You have grown fat on the blood of the innocent, which, as it turns out, is the main ingredient in that white cream inside Twinkies.”
Possibly more real power than your average politician, even the VP, gets:
“Former US Vice President Al Gore is close to a buying a cable TV channel, putting him in a position to launch a liberal news outlet to counteract the increased popularity of conservative stations like the Fox News Channel, a source familiar with the matter said today.” (Age)
Speaking of politics, “A high school student has the right to wear a t-shirt to school with the face of President George W Bush and the words “International Terrorist” on the front, a US federal judge ruled today.” (Age)
“Advertising authorities in Moscow have banned a poster campaign showing the euro having sex with the US dollar.” (Ananova)
How freaked out would you be if you saw this?