You're my hero, too

An American newsreader refused to read the news when she realised that the leading story concerned a dimwit socialite's early release from prison for drunk driving and violating her parole, when there was far more pressing news to be heard.

That's heroic in anyone's book, surely? Paris Hilton - I write about her far too much - has partied and pissed and sneered her way through an irrelevant 26 years, and yet still is supposedly a 'role model' for many women. This is pretty insulting to the intelligence of the women who actually think a gormless, stinking rich, drunken bimbo could be a role model for anyone. Perhaps people could choose their role models more wisely in future. And we could stop talking about her until she does something of substance with her staggering wealth.

www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/

What's god got to do with it?

People often see the light, or have an epiphany. I have them all the time; little nods of encouragement I have about my life and direction it goes in, ideas about books and short stories on the go. And when I err sometimes  I'm usually there to put things right. Some friends have helped along the way, sometimes. Usually it's me doing the thinking and the legwork.

But Paris? Oh Paris, we're here again, as the girl's been released from jail after 24 days, having said she's been shown a better path, away from frivolity. She's even talked of doing her bit for the poor and the homeless, and that was all thanks to God; He did it, He put her there to teach her a lesson.

Now of course that's not the case; she put herself there first of all by drink driving, that most selfish and abysmal of everyday crimes. Then she violated her parole agreement by driving again and again. Yes, Paris, you did it to yourself. The Big Cheese had nothing to do with it.

I remember some Moslem guy who took his sick daughter to Britain where she had an expensive, life saving operation she couldn't have elsewhere. And what did he do after her life was saved? He praised God for being merciful. Wrong answer, asshole. Thank the doctors whose experience and dedication saved your daughter. God had nothing to do with it.

And perhaps Paris will learn one day that it's her herself that has the power to change her ways, and her alone. Some friends may influence her, but it's mostly her who will drive her forward into something more significant, or lead her further down the path of idiocy. Your move.

BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Paris Hilton released from jail

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Iraq's pity: read it and weep

Here are two books which show up the US dismal and astonishing lack of planning for post-war Iraq. They detail very precisely why the country is now in such a mess. Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld and Wolfowitz should all be in prison, along with Blair for starting the war and overseeing such destruction. They are truly abysmal people who should not be allowed anywhere near the highest offices of state.



Futile, fraudulent or worse | Review | Guardian Unlimited Books



Read it and weep.

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We're screwed - only it's closer than we think

It's a truly bleak irony that people like George Bush not only inhabit our world but have such appallingly important roles in where we as a planet are going. As anyone with an inkling for the future knows, oil is running out. Only now that places like China and India are growing out of all apparent control demographically can we see the end of oil. But it's not the end we should worry about - it's far before then. When supplies dipped by 5% in the 1970s, oil prices went up 400% bringing a global crisis and recession for years. Britain was near bankrupt. Now imagine supplies dipping 10% or 15%, which will happen in 10 or 15 years, then we can clearly see how bad things are about to get.



World oil supplies are set to run out faster than expected, warn scientists - Independent Online Edition > Sci_Tech



So, what to do? Radical changes that are implemented in a rolling style. Starting immediately we have simply got to wise up to how much we have to change, how much we have to give up if we are to survive as a species in any way similar to now. We could start with appalling waste of resources such as Formula1, in fact all car and motorbike racing should instantly be banned for our own good, for it will wake us up to the destructiveness of our modern ways. We will look back in a short number of years and laugh at the frivolous and destructive waste we allowed to go on, just for our entertainment.



Then we need to begin to live more localized lives. We need to travel less, buy less, make things last, use more natural energy. Learning to live with less might be the only hope we have left.

Finally, we cannot keep voting imbeciles into high offices of state. The world simply does not have enough time left to follow foolish, short-sighted policies that lead us up the creek. We deserve better, so we should vote with greater foresight and intelligence, rather than simply voting for someone more telegenic. Time's nearly up.

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I always get a kick out of Paris

IN this day and age there aren't many things that make you jump up and down and shout yeeehaaa! But Paris Hilton being led kicking and screaming (literally) from the court back into jail (to serve all of 40 days, bless her) brings a warm glow to my heart.



BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Paris Hilton must return to court



Of course I am not a vicious person, but someone who deserves to be punished, should be punished, and the thought that her fame and wealth were about to get her released early made a lot of people mad. Justice is being served, and this dopey git who keeps breaking the law with impunity might finally learn something. Well, I won't hold my breath.

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