Quintin Jardine's blog

Entire global economic system depended on America not electing mad king | The Daily Mash
— Read on www.thedailymash.co.uk/politics/entire-global-economic-system-depended-on-america-not-electing-mad-king-20250331255975

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/29/what-is-the-smithsonian-institution

I have never understood why bedbugs should be seen as crazy, as the saying goes. POTUSes, on the other hand, that’s obvious.

This might seem odd, but I look back on lockdown with fondness. In 2020, Eileen’s condition was such that we had been living a cloistered life, to an extent. With the constraints, things happened that worked in our favour, best of all the home deliveries that kept me out of socially distanced queues and the like. Exercise was no problem either in a place like Gullane, easier in a way with fewer people around as I pushed the wheelchair.

We had a carer, for a few hours every week, the sort of person who lights up everywhere she goes. My Friday evenings with the guys went on too, onscreen using Zoom.

We were happy, blessed and very lucky in comparison with the misery of millions. And every Thursday we clapped

There is a growing practice among TV drama producers to include a shot of a character reading a text on a phone. Usually they contain relevant information. Usually they are on screen for only a couple of seconds.

I have a Godzilla sized TV and good vision, but the only way I can read such images is by going back and freezing the frame, hardly conducive to an enjoyable experience.

Think on, folks.

Anyone who believes in Nordic secrets to happiness hasn’t met anyone Nordic | The Daily Mash
— Read on www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/lifestyle/anyone-who-believes-in-nordic-secrets-to-happiness-hasnt-met-anyone-nordic-20250318255639

www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c62zwy0nex0o

How does one become an ‘expert’ in sexual strangulation? How does one research? Brings me back to the old adage, ‘Those who can do those who can’t…’

EU announces 100 per cent tariff on shite American TV | The Daily Mash
— Read on www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/international/eu-announces-100-per-cent-tariff-on-shite-american-tv-20250312255482

Reform suffering consequences of all being mad bastards | The Daily Mash
— Read on www.thedailymash.co.uk/politics/reform-suffering-consequences-of-all-being-mad-bastards-20250310255438

I am feeling quite pleased with myself. Apparently this year’s overnight success, someone called (labelled?) Charli XCX is 32 years old and I had never heard of her until she won some awards.

I have a 14 year-old granddaughter. My goal in life is to show her that there is more to music than Charli and Camilla Cabella. So far, I’ve got as far as David Guetta.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0rzvrjkklko

I watch a fair amount of Sky Sports and TNT. That means I see far more ads than is the case on other channels. I don’t like that, not last because I am paying for them. But what I dislike even more is the declining quality of the commercials that are shown, and in many cases their sheer bad taste.

Few people will be unoffended by the image of a woman sat on the toilet allegedly struggling with a bowel movement, (sorry, stubborn stool) or by the awful Peptobismol chorus. Then there’s the guy in the incontinence pants.

But it’s not just the subject matter that hacks me off. If you’re an advertiser surely you demonstrate your faith in the quality of your product through the quality of your advertising. On the other hand if your ads are crap (back to Peptobismol) and obviously made with minimal effort and cost, surely potential customers will draw the obvious conclusion.

And most of them are, shite.

I’m a big fan of Death in Paradise, always have been. Nevertheless I am asking myself if the writers give a stuff whether or not the plots of the current series contain the faintest traces of logicality and common sense,

If they do, I haven’t spotted any. And I’m reasonably good at that sort of thing. File under taking the piss.

Today, Mia found my blog on this forum, announcing her birth. She told me that it almost made her cry. I went all the way, kid.

I told her that she’s lit up my life every day since then. She’ll be 15 in June, and she’s more guapa than ever.

Would you invest with a fund manager that produces tv advertising as unashamedly crass as that of AJ Bell?

Fans of Astrid and the UK offshoot Patience may be interested in a new Disney series called High Potential. It’s the same in principle but it approaches the concept in a more basic way. As a result it’s completely lacking in subtlety and nuance.

No wonder it’s a big US hit.