So theres three big news stories for me this week. Obviously the tragic campus killer in Virginia, the politicians playing with the freedom of information act, and the first lady football commentator.

The thing in Virginia was tragic, obviously absolutely devestating for all and without question the sympathies and thoughts of all go out to them. In the coverage since two things have struck me. Firstly it's got to raise the issue of gun control surely, the press over here seem to be inferring that the issue hasnt really been raised in America and that strikes me as a bit odd. But i'm not gonna get into that, as the 60% of Americans who are anti gun will tell you. Rules written when the wild frontier is still open and you've just thrown off a foreign rule can not apply to a world of a thousand TV channels, the internet and one remaining superpower. Otherwise i'd be off to Chester to shoot welshmen found within the city wall after midnight, and anyone caught moving sheep across London Bridge would be in jail. The law changes with the society, it's imperative. The main thing that has really really irritated me about this is the fact that on the front page of two (allbeit right wing) papers, has been the image from the idiots (you do something that stupid you are an idiot) video next to an image from a film called Oldboy, with a tagline and story suggesting that the film with its graphic depictions of violence were an influence to him. Firstly - rubbish - anyone disturbed enough to do that doesnt need any outside influence for stylistc points. Secondly, and this is more about the papers than anything else, if you're gonna blame a film watch it first. Oldboy has little use of guns in it, in fact (and this is purely semantics) the most graphic scene in the film that i recall involves a hammer. No, the reason the picture was used and the film is being blamed (cause we have to blame someone, and it's definitely not the disturbed human or the guns) is that on the front of these right wing papers the picture of two asian faces holding guns in a similar pose, makes good copy to the fascist soup stirrers who run them. Makes me seeth.

A few years ago in Britain an act was introduced called the Feedom of Information act that guaranteed us access to any documents held about us (medical files, reports, criminal records, etc) that did not compromise national security. It also made all government agencies and their internal runnings open to the public so we can check where the taxes go etc. Today a piece of legislation is coming to the House of Commons that gives MPs exemption from that. MPs (the only people outside of the board room who can award themselves pay rises, and generally the most corruptable of the corruptable) are trying to give themselves the chance to hide expenses, dealings, voting records etc, despite everyone else having to comply. Not surprising but still unbelievable, write to your MP (if you know who yours is, they're very good at remaining faceless in between elections) and tell them No! then bang them on the nose with a newspaper. And then watch as they pass it anyway =(

Finally the BBC FINALLY has it's first lady football commentator. Hurray! Another bastion of mysoginistic narrow minded blathering comes tumbling. I was listening on the radio and they had two people one of whom was manager Dave Basset saying how the commentary box has always been a male dominated atmosphere and that's how it should be. I was telling my radio that Dave Basset was a relic with an obselete opinion and that he should sit down and be quiet. except i wasnt that polite. Talking with Tage about it and we reckon that as it's been so long as just blokes it will admittedly sound strange to start with but by the end of the first match you'll stop even noticing. Wait for the jokes in the paper tomorrow with the lady commentator talking about the blokes nice legs. Do me a lemon.

That is all for now i feel better. Bring on the weekend.

Oh one final thought.  The day after the horrific loss of 32 people and one idiot in america, over 160 people died in Iraq from bombs and sectarian violence and it continued again the next day and the next. Any photos of the bombers on your TV or newspapers? and What films do you suppose they've been watching?

Take care of yourselves and each other.