View from the Shire: News you might have missed

From young Prime Ministers to protests in Venezuela, celebrities coming out and dog brain scans, also with ABBA outfits and rugby thighs for entertainment.

Here's the news you might have missed in the last month...

Political

House of Lords is no longer a place for fine dining, peers gripe http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/house-of-lords-is-no-longer-a-place-for-fine-dining-peers-gripe-9102580.html

My heart bleeds --> One impassioned Lord complained of a 15-minute wait to be seated, which they said lost “some of the finesse of the afternoon” and left their guests unable to “eat the beautiful cake selection” in time.

Tim Armstrong blames “distressed babies” for AOL benefit cuts. He’s talking about my daughter.
http://www.slate.com/articles/double_x/doublex/2014/02/tim_armstrong_blames_distressed_babies_for_aol_benefit_cuts_he_s_talking.html

This story reminds me why i support the NHS and not employer-based healthcare - sick babies should not affect company pensions

Italy president asks Matteo Renzi to be next PM
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26222179

Proposed Italian PM is 39 - I feel like an underachiever!

Missouri gun murders 'rose after law repeal'
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-26222578

Abolishing background checks resulted in an additional 60 murders per year - yet i doubt the law will be reinstated

Government ministers must seize back power from 'special advisers' and politically correct civil servants
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/normantebbit/100260189/government-ministers-must-seize-back-power-from-special-advisers-and-politically-correct-civil-servants/

Norman Tebbit - "Who would feel safer if just before take-off the pilot of the airliner told the passengers that she had been promoted to command because they needed more transsexual Muslim captains to meet the airline's inclusivity target?" - WTF????

Nigel Farage 'can hardly wait' to debate EU with Nick Clegg
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-26287197

I expect that both sides will say they won the debate, however it goes!

This revolution will not be televised
http://viewfromtheshire.blogspot.com/2014/02/this-revolution-will-not-be-televised.html?spref=fb

New from me--> Why aren't the Venezuelan protests on TV?

BBC to host Nick Clegg and Nigel Farage TV debate
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-26443312

Time to buy popcorn...

LGBT

Scotland's same-sex marriage bill is passed
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-25960225

Woop woop!

This drag queen’s brilliant response to homophobia will move you to tears
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2014/02/03/this-drag-queens-brilliant-response-to-homophobia-will-move-you-to-tears/

Why wasn't the RTE story a bigger deal over here?

Ellen Page coming out speech: Juno star makes her sexuality public.
http://www.slate.com/blogs/outward/2014/02/14/ellen_page_coming_out_speech_juno_star_makes_her_sexuality_public.html

Her speech is way more than just a coming out video

What The Hell Just Happened In Kansas?
http://dish.andrewsullivan.com/2014/02/14/what-the-hell-just-happened-in-kansas/

USA - the land of two steps forward (Virginia) and one step back (Kansas) for equality

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni signs anti-gay bill
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-26320102

Sad news

Arizona passes law allowing shopkeepers to refuse to serve gay people
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/10654957/Arizona-passes-law-allowing-shopkeepers-to-refuse-to-serve-gay-people.html?fb

Wrong on so many levels

We will continue to make history - LGBT history month 2014
http://www.nhsemployers.org/EmploymentPolicyAndPractice/EqualityAndDiversity/atest-e-and-d-news/Pages/Wewillcontinuetomakehistory-LGBThistorymonth2014.aspx#.Uw5LP7Hn8Ic.facebook

"Not all our heroes have to be famous ones" - a lovely blog for LGBT History Month

Arizona Governor vetoes bill that would sanction homophobic discrimination
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2014/02/27/arizona-governor-vetoes-bill-sanction-homophobic-discrimination/

The right decision (eventually)

Traveling while gay: Should tourists in homophobic countries keep their sexuality secret?
http://www.slate.com/blogs/outward/2014/02/28/traveling_while_gay_should_tourists_in_homophobic_countries_keep_their_sexuality.html

Entertainment

Aiming toys at just boys or girls hurts economy - minister
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-26064302

Science

Dogs' brain scans reveal vocal responses
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-26276660

"There were 12 sessions of preparatory training, then seven sessions in the scanner room, then these dogs were able to lie motionless for as long as eight minutes. Once they were trained, they were so happy, I wouldn't have believed it if I didn't see it."

Our dogs can lie motionless for more than 8 minutes - it's taken years of practice...

Optic Nerve: millions of Yahoo webcam images intercepted by GCHQ http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/27/gchq-nsa-webcam-images-internet-yahoo

"Unfortunately … it would appear that a surprising number of people use webcam conversations to show intimate parts of their body to the other person." I think the phrase is "No shit Sherlock"!

In praise of procrastination: five reasons why it pays to wait http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/shortcuts/2014/mar/03/procrastination-wait-work-jennifer-saunders-hypnotherapy

This is totally me...

And finally…

Journalists at Sochi are live-tweeting their hilarious and gross hotel experiences
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2014/02/04/journalists-at-sochi-are-live-tweeting-their-hilarious-and-gross-hotel-experiences/

Such fun! --> "Also on the bright side: I just washed my face with Evian, like I'm a Kardashian or something."

Olympic snowboarding commentary draws complaints
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-26116848

I enjoyed the commentary - even though it was not quite balanced

Edinburgh recycling bin explodes with pizza dough
http://www.scotsman.com/news/odd/edinburgh-recycling-bin-explodes-with-pizza-dough-1-3302035

Headline of the day!

Mother-of-four who spends more money on her dog than her children: She blows £10,000 a YEAR on treats and treatments for her Maltese
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2557497/Mother-four-spends-money-dog-children-She-blows-10-000-YEAR-treats-treatments-Maltese.html

Story is from the Daily Mail so might be exaggerated...

Abba 'looked nuts' on stage to avoid tax
http://www.thelocal.se/page/view/abba-looked-nuts-on-stage-to-avoid-tax