My blog will be updated daily, so make sure you come back! If you would like to add or reply to a comment on one of the articles below just send me your comment and, if it's reasonably decent and not libellous or anything like that, I'll add it to the article (don't forget to include the date and title of the article).
04.11.12
Stuck in the middle with EU
EMBATTLED David Cameron was under siege from all sides over the EU last night after a fresh double attack from Tory MPs AND his deputy Nick Clegg. Despite a defeat by 53 rebellious backbenchers, Downing Street steadfastly refused to bow to the Commons demand to push for a Brussels spending cut.
That drove furious Conservatives to brand the PM a “dictator”. And Lib Dem leader Mr Clegg opened up a withering new front on Mr Cameron by labelling his pledge to bring back powers as dishonest.
In extraordinary timing, the Deputy PM chose the morning after the rebellion to assault Mr Cameron’s strategy to reform the EU in Britain’s interests.
The PM will formally unveil his renegotiation bid — which he will put to the country in a referendum — in a major speech next month.
Mr Clegg said: “A grand, unilateral repatriation of powers might sound appealing. But in reality it is a false promise wrapped in a Union Jack.”
Branding it a “nonsensical” and doomed plan, he asked: “What kind of club gives you a full pass, with all the perks, but doesn’t expect you to pay the full membership fee or abide by all the rules?”
No 10 sources last night admitted Mr Clegg’s virulent opposition to the PM’s renegotiation plan meant it could not happen until after 2015. Mr Clegg also incensed Tory rebels by telling them to “grow up” and act in the national interest as the EU budget cut they are demanding would never happen.
Mr Cameron responded to Wednesday’s landmark vote by saying he would “listen carefully to Parliament”.
But he refused to commit to anything more than pushing for a real-terms freeze — a rise equal to inflation — during crunch talks this month.
Tory backbencher Mark Pritchard, one of the revolt leaders, said: “If the Government ignores the voice of the people through their elected representatives it will confirm that Britain is effectively run by an elected dictatorship.”
vicious.sid: Love the headline, that made me titter! Cameron is such a privileged liar, he deserves everything he gets!!
04.11.12
Rodgers: Every team has a Suarez
BRENDAN RODGERS has told all those putting the boot in on Luis Suarez to get their own house in order first. The Kop striker has been labelled a cheat and a diver for constantly going to ground, with things coming to a head before last week’s Merseyside derby.
Yet Rodgers has launched a fierce defence of Liverpool’s star man — and insisted every club has players throwing themselves around to get the upper hand.
He blasted: “I believe this will be the ongoing debate, and now people will see that diving is an issue which is at every club — it is widespread within the game.
“It is ridiculous to single out one man, because every single club has an issue.”
Rodgers certainly has a point. Last week Goodison chief David Moyes claimed Suarez’s diving would drive fans away from the game — only for Everton skipper Phil Neville to be booked for a laughable tumble in the 2-2 draw.
The Kop boss added: “Just look at last weekend, and two players you would deem to be great professionals — Angel Rangel and Neville — almost above criticism.
“Rangel was booked against Manchester City for diving but I worked with him for two years at Swansea and he’s one of the most honest, genuine people I’ve come across in my life. But he got booked for diving. Neville is 35 and over the years you would consider him to be a really honest guy, an impeccable professional.
“But then he gets booked for diving after his manager has read the riot act to his players by all accounts. Then you have Fernando Torres booked for diving.
“So managers have made a criticism of Luis, but I can guarantee you they will have players who are criticised for diving.”
vicious.sid: Er, excuse me! Change that statement to "Every PREMIER LEAGUE Team . . ." You won't see many nancyboy divers in the real men's league, the Championship.
04.11.12
Becks is as thick as bats*** says New Zealand’s PM
NEW Zealand's Prime Minister has branded David Beckham "as thick as bats***", reports said yesterday. John Key made the stinging remarks - reported on Radio New Zealand - to a group of schoolchildren in the city of Dunedin yesterday.
He told the youngsters that his own son had spent 45 minutes with the former England skipper when he played an exhibition match for an invitational side in Auckland in 2008.
The PM said Becks, 37, had been very friendly, but then cruelly claimed that the LA Galaxy star wasn't particularly bright.
Becks’ brainpower has been called into question on a number of occasions in the past. And some of his own comments haven’t helped his cause.
He once said: "My parents have been there for me, ever since I was about seven."
Asked another time whether he was a volatile player, he said: "Well, I can play in the centre, on the right, and occasionally on the left side."
Speaking on faith, he said: "We're definitely going to get Brooklyn christened but we don't know into which religion."
Even his missus Victoria told him in a 2000 telly documentary: "You make yourself sound stupid and you're not."
vicious.sid: Come on, Becks would be the first to admit that he's not the brightest light on the christmas tree, but how many people (apart from other footballers, of course) are as thick as him AND as rich as him? Good luck to the man, even if he did play for Manure.
04.11.12
'My job is particularly mysterious and baffling'
VETERAN Tory Ken Clarke has admitted he doesn’t know what his new Government job is. Ken, 72, was sacked as Justice Secretary two months ago and appointed Minister without Portfolio. But he described the role — for which taxpayers pay him £98,740 a year — as “particularly mysterious and baffling”.
Friends of Mr Clarke last night insisted the extraordinary comment was meant as a “tongue in cheek” joke. But critics said it revealed his bitterness after David Cameron sacked him as justice boss for being too soft.
The PM’s official spokesman was forced to correct Mr Clarke last night, saying: “It’s very clear what Mr Clarke’s job is. Minister without Portfolio enables him to bring his particular expertise across a range of issues. I think you’ll find he knows that.”
Mr Clarke’s senior moment came just days after fellow Cabinet veteran Vince Cable, 69, forgot that he had attended two meetings of the Government’s key growth committee.
vicious.sid: Clarke must have said that exact same sentence every single time in every job he's ever had. Do any of them really know what they are doing? I don't think they can see past "What's in it for me?".
04.11.12
Babysitter, 33, killed girlfriend's baby by dropping him on the floor and smashing his head against a wall because he wouldn't stop crying
A man who murdered his girlfriend's 18-month-old son because he was crying has been jailed for life.
Scott Hepburn, 33, told partner Samantha Knox that her baby boy was asleep to try to cover up his crime.
But little Ashley Johnson had been attacked by Hepburn as he babysat for Miss Knox for one hour on the evening of January 27 this year.
Hepburn threw Ashley on the floor from a height of three feet and smashed him against a wall twice before arranging the semi-conscious child in his cot, as if he were sleeping.
He then went downstairs to watch television. Miss Knox, his girlfriend of four months, arrived back at her home in Meir, Stoke-on-Trent, and found her son unconscious when she went to give him a goodnight kiss.
Hepburn pretended he had 'no idea' how Ashley had sustained extensive skull fractures and a broken leg and continued to watch TV.
Ashley was taken to hospital but died after suffering extensive fractures to his skull, causing a 'catastrophic' brain injury.
Today Hepburn was jailed for life and ordered to serve a minimum of 15 years behind bars by a judge at Stafford Crown Court.
He had denied the murder charge and was due to face trial in January 2013, but changed his plea to guilty.
vicious.sid: Just one look at him and I wouldn't let him near my dog, let alone a child. What is happening to this world?
04.11.12
Sorry, I'm berry, berry drunk: Blackbirds intoxicated and unsteady on their feet after eating fermented berries
Falling over and feeling disorientated after drinking too much is not just a human frailty, it seems.
Animal health experts found that birds become intoxicated on fermented berries causing them to be unsteady and injure themselves in flight.
Scientists made the discovery when they were called to a playground in Cumbria where there were 12 dead blackbirds, many with trauma injuries.
A post mortem showed that one bird had high levels of ethanol, pure alcohol, in its liver. All of them had eaten berries from a nearby rowan tree.
The berries in the birds' guts smelled of fermentation - the chemical process of sugars breaking down into alcohol.
One bird found alive that was cared for at a local wildlife sanctuary was described as unsteady on its feet, using its wings to support itself and leaning on the walls of its enclosure.
It made a full recovery and was released after two weeks.
Staff from the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) published their results in the Veterinary Record.
Tim Harrison, development officer of the British Trust for Ornithology's Garden BirdWatch, told the BBC: 'Generally speaking, birds that have a lot of fruit in their diet are more efficient at metabolising alcohol and are better adapted at eating fruit that has higher alcohol concentrations.
'There are anecdotal reports of birds acting "drunk" but these tend to be very rare.'
Scientists believe the birds feasted on damaged berries on the ground which would have began fermenting and producing alcohol..
In 1999 a group of redwings, which had been feeding on holly berries that were fermenting following a frost, displayed similar symptoms.
vicious.sid: We used to have a couple of apple trees in our garden a few years ago. I admit I was a bit lazy and didn't clear the apples up very quickly. After a time of rotting they began fermenting and it was hilarious! The birds would eat them and start falling over! Next door had a vicious cat and I watched a drunken blackbird actually keep hopping at the cat and shouting and pecking at it and the cat eventually ran off!!! I enjoyed the spectacle for eight or nine years, I wonder if they're still meeting at the Apple Tree Bar every year!!!
04.11.12
New treatment for crystal meth addicts after scientists develop a vaccine that blocks the drug's effect on the brain
A vaccine to treat crystal meth addicts is a step closer to fruition after scientists discovered how to block the drug's effect on the brain.
Tests on rats have shown the vaccine stops them being affected by the drug, which is taken by 25 million people worldwide.
If it works on humans it would be the first specific vaccine for methamphetamine addition, reports the journal Biological Psychiatry.
The popularity of crystal meth has soared in the last 20 years and the drug is particularly addictive
Professor Michael Taffe, from the Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) where the research was carried out, said: 'This is an early-stage study, but its results are comparable to those for other drug vaccines that have then gone to clinical trials.'
The popularity of crystal meth has soared in the last 20 years and the drug is particularly addictive. Indeed, methamphetamine has become one of the most common drugs of abuse around the world.
But developing effective vaccines has proved problematic until now.
Just as traditional vaccines evoke antibody responses against viruses or bacteria, anti-drug antibodies are meant to grab hold of drug molecules and keep them from getting into the brain -- preventing the drug from giving the user a high and removing the incentive for taking the drug.
The vaccine is thought to work by stopping drug molecules from getting into brain, so users can't feel their effects
Two years ago researcher Kim Jands and his colleagues developed six possible meth vaccines including one, MH6, that blocked the effects of the drug.
For the new study they looked at MH6 in greater detail, and found it prevented a rise in body temperature and burst of hyperactivity that occur after meth exposure.
Underlying these promising effects on behavioural measures was a robust antibody response, which in vaccinated rats kept more of the drug in the bloodstream and out of the nervous system, compared to control rats.
'These are encouraging results that we'd like to follow up with further animal tests, and, we hope, with clinical tests in humans some day,' said co-researcher Michelle Miller.
Dr Janda said: 'I think this vaccine has all the right features to allow it to move forward in development.
'It certainly works better than the other active vaccines for meth that have been reported so far.'
vicious.sid: How about: "You know that as soon as you put this substance into your system, you will be addicted and the rest of your life will be taken over by the drug and you and your loved ones will suffer immensely - you have got to be some kind of idiot to do it". That's another thing in this crazy world that I don't understand - knowing the above sentence, they still do it!!! Huh???
04.11.12
Yob in a fankini
THE soccer yob facing a police quiz over monkey taunts dons a MANKINI. The snap of Gavin Kirkham, 28, emerged as the Chelsea supporter confessed to The Sun he had “no explanation” for his seemingly racist crowd antics.
Kirkham is said to have targeted Man United’s black England ace Danny Welbeck during Wednesday’s cup thriller, which the Blues won 5-4.
Last night an outraged United supporter who was at Stamford Bridge offered to be a witness in the Scotland Yard probe.
He said the Chelsea fan screamed foul-mouthed abuse all through the game — adding: “It was always to the coloured players in the Man U team.”
Shamefaced Kirkham, of Letchworth, Herts, was identified on social network websites after he was pictured raising his hands to his armpits.
The roofer yesterday insisted police had not contacted him — adding: “I’m very busy. I can’t really talk about it any more.”
Pal Kevin Cleverly, 43 — his landlord — said: “He’s a bit ashamed of himself. I think he wishes it hadn’t happened.
“He isn’t a bad lad — he just got wrapped up in the match.
“He has brought the game into disrepute a bit.”
Kirkham’s sister Zoe, 22, who lives in Skegness, Lincs, insisted: “He’s not a racist. It’s all been blown out of proportion.” Police confirmed they had not arrested anyone.
vicious.sid: A black Playboy pillow case. Oh, lordy - I think we should feel sorry for him. At least we now have an idea of his brainpower and why he's like he is. Sigh . . .
04.11.12
Man Utd 2 Arsenal 1
ROBIN VAN PERSIE took just three minutes to score against his old team as Manchester United powered past 10-man Arsenal. The Dutch striker, who left the Gunners for Old Trafford in the summer for £24million, capitalised on some poor defending from Thomas Vermaelen to put United a goal up early on.
United dominated the game and should have made it 2-0 a minute before the break when Ashley Young’s cross struck Santi Cazorla’s hand and a penalty was given.
However, Wayne Rooney skewed the spot-kick wide to the relief of the visitors.
Andre Santos, who had an extremely poor game at left-back, incurred the wrath of the Arsenal fans when he swapped shirts with Van Persie at half-time.
United finally doubled their lead in the 69th minute when Rooney’s cross was headed home by Patrice Evra, before Arsenal’s task was made even harder when Jack Wilshere was sent off for a second bookable offence.
Santi Cazorla did manage a consolation in the final minute of injury time with curling effort, but it went no way to hiding the gulf in class between the two sides.
England midfielder Wilshere had been making only his second appearance for the Gunners after a 14-month injury lay-off.
United were superior in almost every department against a side they fought out a bitter rivalry with in the last decade.
The sight of Van Persie in their ranks will have hurt, and the Arsenal fans made clear from the moment his name was first read out what they now thought of their former hero.
Van Persie’s eight year stint in north London culminated in last season’s magnificent 37-goal campaign but he was cheered when he slipped in the opening minute.
But the 29-year-old needed little time to remind the Gunners of what they lost when he left the Emirates Stadium.
vicious.sid: OMG! Hilarious! The first time Young touched the ball and someone came in to tackle he went up in their air as though he had trodden on a land mine!! What is the matter with him? Does he never learn or is it just so built in that he can't help it? And then something so ironic! Young could have made it 2-0 if he did a diving header but he didn't dive for it! Ok, he was offside, but he didn't know.
04.11.12
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Arsenal to test Palace's resolve with £9m move for wonderkid Zaha in January
Arsenal will launch a £9million move to land Crystal Palace whizkid Wilfried Zaha in January.
The club have watched the 19-year-old, who grew up as an Arsenal supporter, on several occasions this season.
And Arsenal’s interest in Zaha took a step forward last weekend when chief scout Steve Rowley watched the teenager put in a scintillating display against Leicester.
The winger is settled in London and is no hurry to leave Selhurst Park, but it is understood the youngster would find it difficult to turned down a switch to a top Premier League club.
Arsenal are likely to start their bidding with a deal worth £9m, an offer which will comprise of a number of performance-related add-ons.
But Palace, who were continuing with their attempts to name Blackpool manager Ian Holloway as their next manager, will not let their teenage sensation leave Selhurst Park without a fight.
Financially, the club are under no pressure to sell Zaha in January, while chairman Steve Parish has publicly insisted it would take a £20million offer for Palace to part with their Ivory-Coast born forward.
The south London club remained determined to keep hold of Zaha, particularly if they remain in the hunt for promotion at the turn of the year, and will inform their incoming manager their are no plans to sell the forward in January.
But that will not stop Arsenal testing Palace’s resolve. It is highly unlikely Palace will accept an £9million offer - but the the Gunners are determined to land the youngster.
An improved bid between £12m-£15m could leave Parish with a serious question to answer.
vicious.sid: Don't do it Wilfried!!! That is DEFINITELY a step down!!!