BBC Trust promotes then demotes (almost) the Working Definition of Antisemitism
Jews sans frontieres

I like Simon Kelner's belated suggestion for a title for Alex Ferguson's autobiography -
"Adding Insult to Injury Time".

Last week, the energy giants came under criticism after independent supplier Co-operative Energy said it was take on half the extra costs itself, presenting customers with a 4.5 per cent rise in January.
The mutual’s boss Ramsay Dunning, told The Independent: “The profitability level we require is less than, for instance, British Gas’s 5 per cent.”

Independent
It looks like the Co-op's 4.5 per cent rise is going to be the best there's going to be.

... and neither does the government.

Here's a comment from Dylan Jeavons' "Photoshop Politics" -


The government's reaction, Switch suppliers, but not to the one which has signalled its intention to slap on an even bigger increase. Try to find one that's only going to raise prices by eight per cent. There's sure to be one. That will be less out of your zero per cent pay increase.
Keep voting for the Global Capitalism Party folks. It's the only one allowed in our democracy.

As I zip through the television stations, moving quickly from unwatchable programme to unwatchable programme, my eyes sometimes light for a second or two on the talentless Keith Lemon, and I'm reminded of ... Jimmy Savile.

The facebook group called Republicans Against Biased BBC Coverage Of Royal News And Trivia
has written a letter of complaint to the BBC, viz. -

There are an estimated 15 million supporters of the UK republican movement, hardly a fringe group/audience I am sure you would agree ?!!! Bearing this in mind the Public Accounts Committee will be asking senior Buckingham Palace aides questions about royal spending. Just recently you covered quite substantially on your main TV news bulletins the fact that Prince Charles read out one of his favourite poems, you even went to the cringeworthy lengths of showing him reading it out. As you will appreciate the majority of the UK population (not just republicans) would find this royal trivia not newsworthy in anyway whatsoever. As you may (or may not as it would seem !!!!) be aware there are a number of ongoing issues with the royal finances, in particular the tax dodging that both the Queen and Prince Charles engage in and also the creaming off of profits from public assets (the Duchies) that they also engage in, however the main issue being the overall cost of the upkeep of the monarch and her taxpayer funded family. The BBC are quite clearly in the pockets of the palace PR machine because never are the more negative news items about the royal finances featured in your main news bulletins, they are usually (if at all) hidden away on your online news pages. Could you kindly explain why the BBC favour giving coverage to royal trivia as opposed to the more negative real news items about these royals? Will you also be covering the PAC questioning and findings?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/

The One Big Union, now open for business in Iceland.
Welcome to the IWW, Fellow Workers.

There's this kid called Adnan Januzai; born Belgium, Kosovan Albanan father, Turkish mother. Apparently he qualifies to play for England under the desperation rule. As there are less and less English-born Premier League players, and nobody in the England set-up can be bothered to do anything about it, it seems that a new rule is needed - play in England, qualify for England.

Carlos Latuff pinxit

"... the pondlife who own the Mail are in no position to slag off anybody's ancestors."
Quite so, Ray.

Here's a literal translation of a poem called I nGarrán na Bhile (In Garnavilla), by one 'Pleasant' Ned Lysaght. I don't know the author of the original, I've seen a name, but will settle for 'Anon.' until convinced. The point is that a literal translation can stand against a fancy reworking.

IN GARNAVILLA
(Edward Lysaght)

Have you ever been in Garnavilla,
Or have you seen in Garnavilla
The gay young girl of the golden locks,
My sweetheart, Kate of Garnavilla?

She's whiter than the swan on the pool,
Or the snow on the crest of the bending bow;
Her kiss is sweeter than the dew on the rose,
My sweetheart, Kate of Garnavilla.

Her song is more tuneful than the blackbird or thrush,
Or the nightingale on the willow bough;
Like a ship in sail on the mistless wave
I see my sweet in Garnavilla.

The original with another English version is here.