Mmm x2

Since my last post, Bliar has given up one PM role only to take on another though I'm not sure if the Palestinians on the street view him as a Peace Mediator or a Provcative Mediator (one to add to the oxymoron list) given his not so closeted closeness to the Bushman and the Israelis. Once again, I feel his delusional sincerity coming to the fore.

Brown, Bliar's successor has said it's time for change, it remains to be seen what form this change will take. However his plans for change have had to be put on the backburner for the timebeing given the recent events in London and Glasgow. Bliar believes that those behind the events have a false sense of grievance regarding what is going on in Iraq and Afghanistan. Portugal has not had any similar events, but then again, they aren't part of the so called coalition of the willing - coincidence, I think not.

The DoJ (Dept of Justice) in the US is looking into whether BAE was in compliance with anti-bribery laws regarding the Saudi arms deal, but that hasn't stopped the latter winning US defense contracts - there really is no such thing as bad publicity in the world of arms dealing. The UK's SFO (Serious Fraud Office) is going to question BAE executives, under caution, with regard to other deals in Europe and Africa.

At least one US newsreader has cojones. Faced with what she considered to be a trivial news story, she went against her producer wishes and eventually shredded the story. But then again, she's a serious journalist who's father was Jimmy Carter's National Security Advisor.

I wonder what was the thinking behind the CIA's decision to divulge its covert operations between the 1950s and 1970s. The current CIA director said "....unflattering but part of CIA history" as if covert operations are no longer part of their modus operandi.

The scramble for Africa's oil is well under way with the US wanting to setup military bases to safeguard their interests. Africa is projected to provide a quarter of the US imports within a decade. Fortunately, all the countries that were asked, have said no.

Thierry Titi Henry has gone to his spiritual home and he will don the number 14 shirt, in homage to the player he admires most. Au revoir Titi, buena suerte and thanks for the memories.

It's a mark of the standards that Lewis Hamilton has set in his fledgling Formula 1 career that his 3rd place finish at Magny Cours was regarded with something approaching disappointment in the British media. Expect him to be on top of podium at his home Grand Prix this weekend.

It would appear that our summer occured in the month of April as it's been rainy and quite cool since summer officially started on June 21. The rain has wreaked havoc at the so called world's best tennis tournament. Venus has done what she needs to do in the matches she has played so far, relying on her experience and mental strength, but she will really have to step it up against Maria Sharapova as her serve and forehand have been consistent in their inconsistency. Serena injured her calf in her 4th round match so it looks as if their sister act in the doubles will have to be abandoned. Her incredible mental strength was on display as she limped to a quarter final meeting with Justine Henin. The Swiss Maestro is not only making serene progress, winning all his matches in three sets, but his 4th round opponent has pulled out so he's already in the quarter finals. El Pirata is in the 5th set of his 3rd round match which has been abandoned because of the elements. He should win the match, but he faces having to play matches on consecutive days which should test even his much vaunted fitness levels.

Tyson Gay looks like the man to beat at next month's World Athletics Championships after posting the fastest times of 2007 in the 100m & 200m, at the US trials. He ran 200m in 19.62s, the 2nd fastest time after Michael Johnson's 200m world record of 19.32s. His time for the 100m was 9.84s.

Stay dry.