House of Lords: Reform

It is indeed high time that the House of Lords were reformed. While there were still many landed, hereditary peers allowed to sit, there was at least some territorial basis for the constitution of an unelected chamber. There should be an elected second chamber with 'senators'; life baronies would cease to have any purpose and they should all be completely abolished and the uppity little pushers and convicts (think Archer) who have them should be sent away for good. So there.

A Nice Souvenir

Click to enlarge.

Christopher Hitchens

Whether one agreed with his actual opinions or not, the world needed Christopher Hitchens and needs more like him. Once we had the late Robin Day and the late Bernard Levin, Jeremy Paxman is in a similar mould: uncompromising investigators of the truth and fearless exposers of humbug, lies and hypocrisy. Interestingly, Brazil's premier broadsheet, O Globo, featured a half page obituary to Hitchens in yesterday's edition, demonstrating that his characteristics are broadly appreciated and admired.

Come on, Britannia, it's time to get back on the prow of that ship and face the world again. Men such as Hitchens give us hope that she will arise again.

The Girl From Ipanema

They all mispronounce 'Ipanema' but this is probably my fav recording of this number:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1xj0mYtRHo&feature=endscreen&NR=1

What a natural entertainer NKC was.

And Her Mother Came Too

Listen to this medley. Great Stuff. What a difference from modern 'entertainers'.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jd1UggUmqV8&feature=endscreen&NR=1

Leaving The EU

There is now a real prospect that the UK might leave the EU and if the government has the guts for it, I should raise an unusual cheer for abandoning that total shambles of an 'organization'.

The Eccentric Club

The Eccentric Club has been revived in a real way (Patron HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, who attends functions) and there is everything that you need to know about it here: http://www.eccentricclub.co.uk/

Application for membership is open to all, subject to proposal and seconding and granting membership (domestic and overseas), is up to the club in the usual way. The first point of contact should be the club secretary, Imants von Wenden.

The club has a magazine and stages functions, including dinners at various venues in clubland, while the club finds its own West End premises.

I urge my readers to give consideration to joining the club which is more about valuing individualism than insanity and it also has a charitable objective.