It’ll take more than cheese and ceramics to reunite our divided country says the ever funny Stewart Lee. Worth a read if you need something to make you smile today.
Me Elsewhere
Sheldon Rocks!
Jim Parsons, the Big Bang Theory’s Sheldon Cooper, plays a huge succession of different characters in this cancer charity video. Joyful, absolutely joyful.
Homeopathy is Nonsense
A nice little article about tomorrow’s planned protest against companies like Boots selling this snake oil despite stating that they have no evidence that it works.
Homeopathy does not work beyond placebo, it is a menace to public health and a drain on the limited resource of the NHS. It is an 18th century quack medicine consisting of magical rituals practised by deluded, cargo-cult “doctors” that has no place in government thinking, and it should not be endorsed by the registered pharmacists who are at the frontline of public health in the UK.
Hear, hear!
A Bit of an Overreaction
‘Lying down’ NHS staff suspended. Is it me or does this seem to be an overreaction to a bit of harmless enjoyment. Somebody in management has clearly had a sense of humour failure. Besides, things like this are generally good for morale and, if there’s no danger to patients as a result, why shouldn’t staff let off a bit of steam and have a little fun?
Public Wellbeing
‘Public wellbeing’: the new approach to mental health. The government’s New Horizons strategy is the next bold step for mental health policy. What is changing, and will politics allow it to work?
Interesting. I shall be keeping an eye on this to see how it all works out.
One in Four
Great article about Mark Brown, editor of One in Four magazine, a lifestyle magazine aimed at people with mental health issues. Although, as he says, a lot of what they publish is useful for everyone. This definitely looks to be an endeavour that’s worth supporting.
Putting it Into Perspective
NewsBiscuit: Refugees from Congo Civil War ‘more angry about Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand’. Nothing I’ve seen or heard puts the current furore over Ross and Brand into perspective better than this. The prank was stupid and they should have known better but there are more important things happening in the world. Besides, the sheer quantity of coverage of this has become deeply irritating, at least to me. Can we forget this and go and solve some real problems now? It’s not as if there aren’t plenty of them.
A Plethora of Nick Jordans
I know it’s not uncommon for other people to share one’s name but I thought it might be fun to list a few that I’ve been aware of for a while, both real and fictional.
- A US Republican Senator (Kansas)
- An English guy living in Canada who also rides motorbikes
- An artist from Manchester, UK
- A surgeon in the BBC dramas Casualty and Holby City
- A French comic-book secret agent (how cool is that?)
I know there are others, but these are my favourites. Does anyone interesting share your name?