Virtual Abuse of Nick Griffin
Oct0
Since 99% of the world will never be able to see Nick Griffin in person and convey their feelings, the internet has once more sprung to the rescue with a variety of blog posts, online columns, forums and general communication kicking his already somewhat sore backside (following his roasting on Question Time) even further our of civilised society.
There are also games. Here are a couple of my favourites. You can now vote with the back of your hand and Slap Nick Griffin (sound warning!), or for the more puerile amongst you there’s an opportunity to take advantage of the Dick Griffin witticism.
Don’t you love the internet?
BNP on Question Time? Oh noes!
Oct1
The BBC is once again the target of a bit of a fuss over the revelation that the BNP leader, Nick Griffin, will appear on Question Time. To which my response has to be a very bored sounding “yes, so?”.
Question Time is principally a platform for political parties to engage in televised debate and (as the name implies) answering of questions from the general public. The BNP, like it or not, is a political party in this country.
Now, don’t confuse this support for their appearance on the show with support for what the BNP stand for. As far as I am concerned (and which the evidence tends to support) they are lying, racist white supremacists. However, I will defend their right to argue their point in an open venue, because I suspect they’ll come out of the other side feeling a bit more bruised than they expect.
Knowing what David Dimbleby has been like in the past with ‘fringe’ political parties Mr. Griffin will get very, very little leeway in pushing an agenda outside of the questions he is asked to field. I suspect that the BNP’s policies will be called into question by other panel members and then ripped apart by the reactions of the studio audience. All on live TV, with the whole of Britain watching.
Sure they’ll get a bit of airtime as a ‘genuine’ political party, but unlike most ‘genuine’ political parties the BNP probably won’t have much in the way of policy with which to respond.
Incidentally if you’re into this sort of thing you can follow Question Time on Twitter (@bbcquestiontime).
When should you use Comic Sans?
Oct1
Thanks to The Next Web. The same flowchart also applies to Papyrus and Curlz.
Hair Straighteners for Changing Rooms?
Sep0
Apparently some schools in West Dunbartonshire have fitted hair straighteners in the female changing rooms. “Hair straighteners?” I hear you cry. “Why?”.
I quote from the article:
…teenage girls said they worried about “bad hair” after sports classes.
I have a much cheaper solution to their problem – it’s called shut up and get over it. In my days of compulsory PE after a lesson the entirety of the boys would be able to turn up at the changing rooms 5 minutes after the girls did, covered in mud from playing rugby, shower, dry, get changed and get out before half of the girls had managed to recover from rounders. Hair straighteners will only mean we have to sit around for another 20 minutes whilst the girls take turns at ironing their locks.
Alternatively, we take the approach from the other end. I have long hair, why can’t I get straighteners in the male changing area? Perhaps the lads are worried about bad hair after sport as well. Could we maybe get a steam room fitted for each changing room, because we’re worried about the dirt getting stuck in our pores? If the girls are worried about bad hair, why not are they worried that they should have to fix their makeup? Clearly they should be provided with mirrors and dressing tables.
Come on West Dunbartonshire, stop pandering to this nonsense and put your foot down. I did PE, I didn’t always enjoy it, but I sure as hell didn’t refuse to have a go because it might mess my hair up.
£5 Notes in Cash Machines, Yay!
Aug2
The BBC is carrying an article today about how HSBC is putting more £5 notes in its cash machines. Claire and I noticed this at the HSBC in Lincoln a couple of days ago, which dispensed two fivers when we asked for £10 (to much excitement). As a student, a £5 note or the ability to withdraw only £5 at a time is far more useful than £10, given that things over £5 tend to be put straight on plastic anyway.
There’s an interesting paragraph in the post, which could do with more discussion.
However, owing to the regularity of use, a £5 note only lasts in circulation for a year before being too damaged to use. The lifespan of a £50 note is usually five years or more.
Easy solution – the next time the £5 note is redesigned, replace it with a polymer banknote such as those used in Australia. They’re harder to tear, resistant to fold damage, waterproof, washproof and generally all-round tougher. Same with the £10, £20 and £50 when they’re replaced.
Either that or finally do away with the archaic notion of physical money and just enforce cheap, efficient and universal cashless economy based around debit or prepay smart cards.