Bouncing Hedgehog

Archive for January, 2009

I was talking with my wife the other day about successful authors and a vague memory surfaced. I remember many years ago (1980’s maybe) the Daily Mirror (pretty sure it was them – though I guess it might have been the Sunday Mirror) running an article on a very successful author (whose name completely escapes me) whose works of fiction worked out at about $100 per written word or some such figure like that. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s almost Superbowl time again which prompted a thought regarding the infamous (at least in American eyes – the rest of the world couldn’t give a damn) wardrobe malfunction whereby a naked nipple was missed – sorry - I mean seen by almost everyone. The resultant uproar was laughable. I dare say most people would have ignored it but were they allowed to? Read the rest of this entry »

For years now we have all been exhorted to drink at least eight glasses of water a day if we wish to remain healthy. So-called “health” magazines in particular and various TV programs have pushed this particular need. Personally I am not a great fan of drinking water – I much prefer juice. And coffee. Read the rest of this entry »

A California mom gave birth to live octuplets yesterday. In less than five minutes she had six boys and two girls. Congratulations to both mom and dad and best wishes for the future. What a handful! Very little has been released about the parents so I have no idea if they’re wealthy or not. If they’re not then hopefully there will be a few sponsorship deals in the offing. Read the rest of this entry »

Cowardice asks the question, “Is it safe?” Expediency asks the question, “Is it politic?” Vanity asks the question, “Is it popular?” But, conscience asks the question, “Is it right?” And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but one must take it because one’s conscience tells one that it is right. ~ Martin Luther King Jr.

A 14 year old teenager in Chicago recently turned up at a station house wearing a cop’s uniform and not only got through the station security unchallenged but was allowed to go out on patrol. I’m glad the boys in blue are on the ball up there otherwise a 14 year old turning up at a station house, getting into a secure area and being sent out on patrol would give me grave cause for concern. Read the rest of this entry »

You can always trust the Americans. In the end they will do the right thing, after they have eliminated all the other possibilities. ~ Winston Churchill.

Whilst having a random browse round the Internet I came across a reference to something called sharking. “WTF is sharking?” I asked myself. It turns out that sharking is not connected with fishing in any way at all but is one of those peculiarly Japanese “sports” that involves embarrassing women. Read the rest of this entry »

Number Six (US born but British raised actor Patrick McGoohan) has died at the age of eighty. He starred in a cult British TV series “The Prisoner” which also aired in the US in 1967 I believe. The show was an original concept back then and remains so to this day. I can’t think of anything offhand even remotely similar. Read the rest of this entry »

Johannes Mehserle – the (now former) BART cop who was caught on video by several people on New Year’s Eve shooting an unarmed man in the back whilst another cop was kneeling on him – has finally been arrested. I wonder why it took them so long to arrest him? I mean really… an unarmed man, being knelt on by another cop, shot in the back, caught on video? It shouldn’t have taken two days let alone two weeks to have decided that under those circumstances charges should be brought. They’re sure as hell quick enough when it’s a member of the public. John Doe would have been locked up in seconds. Read the rest of this entry »