Famous pair face Big Brother boot (BBC News)

I thought Jackie was ineligible for nomination this week?

And another thing that annoys me about Big Brother: Why do they insist on saying “Please give the name of your first nomination?”. Why would anyone give their nominations names? Why, oh why, can’t they simply say “Please give the name of your first nominee?”

I want to go in the house just to say “My nomination is called Sebastian. I would like to nominate John”.

But maybe that’s just me.

Suddenly, we’re generous to a fault (Guardian)

This is a very interesting piece, seemingly suggesting that many people have donated to the various charities supporting those caught in the Asian Tsunami are doing so for the glory and pride of doing so, rather than to actually support the people.

A new Populus poll for the Times has suggested such widespread eagerness to appear generous that avowals of altruism occasionally precede the actual act. Over the weekend 83% of the British public claimed that their household had made a donation to the earthquake appeal, the average sum being £33.28. Which, if true, would have added up to more than £800m. In fact, the sum raised by last Friday was a respectable, but more modest, £100m.

I certainly think that there is an element of this going on, though I suspect that it was bound to happen as soon as the celebrities got involved. Once one pop group support the charities, another looks bad unless they do the same. I’ve not seen this happen on a person-to-person level in the community, but perhaps that’s just me.

I personally worry about the amount of money given to this one campaign, and the money that has been diverted from other charitable campaigns. I think it would make more sense to highlight charities that are working in the areas and not have special campaigns, since this would mean that those on the front line in different emergencies can use the money most appropriately. That way, the money donated to this campaign could also be directed to the people dying of HIV and AIDS in Africa. But would people be as likely to donate? Probably not. Or maybe I’m just being cynical.

Royal family caught up in Nazi row (Guardian)

An unfortunate headline: The royal family weren’t so much ‘caught up’ in a Nazi row as they were causing it.

Up to now, I’ve been fairly supportive of Prince Harry, because I think that any young person caught up in the paparazzi, for example, would have difficulty not getting fed up with it and lashing out. And he is unfairly criticised for underage drinking: When the majority of young people in the country do this, it’s wrong to single him out in the way that the tabloids have.

But wearing a Nazi uniform to a party is taking this one step too far. For me, it’s nothing to do with the fact that Prince Harry is third in line to the throne: I’d disapprove of anybody being so very insensitive, especially in the run-up to the memorial day at Auschwitz. The unfortunate thing for Harry is that this will haunt him for a very long time to come, far more so than the other minor indiscretions that have been highlighted in the past. He’s unlikely to ever live this one down.

If we accept that he’s third in line to the throne, a more worrying problem occurs to me: What the heck was he, and the second-in-line to the throne, doing attending a ‘Natives and Colonials’ fancy dress party? If ‘Natives and Colonials’ isn’t a perjorative theme for a party, I’m not entirely sure what is.

Immobilise Phone Crime

This is a fantastic idea, and it’s good to see the Police using such innovative ideas to fight crime. I stronly urge you to go there NOW and register your phone details, so that your phone can be blocked if it is stolen, and then returned to you whether stolen or lost.

Don’t you love the fact that Mr Bush has pictures of Presidents he really admires on his walls?

Boris Johnson’s Website

Whilst browing this, I came across this photograph. The similarity to his current political situation provided much amusement. But I still like the bloke.

Will the first naked street make drivers slow down? (Times)

This is a fascinating idea that just might work. Obviously, it’s not suitable for all roads, and the more reckless drivers may decide to be rather silly, but it would certainly make me more aware of my surroundings and make me slow down. Though, actually, I’d probably tend to avoid the area in practice, since it would feel rather like driving through a pedestrianised area.

I suspect that, as the British, we’ll tend to ignore the lack of signs anyway, and make our own ‘natural’ pavements at the sides of the central ‘road’, so it might not work as well as planned after all. But then, I suppose, that’s what trials are all about.

Seems very much like something worth trying out, it you ask me.

Greer walks out of ‘bullying’ Big Brother (Guardian)

This is the first time I’ve respected someone for walking out of Big Brother. Prof Greer probably expected a media bashing for walking out, but to walk out because of a firmly held principle (rather than because “I’m bored”) is something I personally respect. Especially since she did it with such decisiveness, and minimum fuss.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Go Germaine!

A whole lot of B for the Bang (Guardian)

I’ve been watching the ‘story’ of this over the past few months on Newsnight, and I really rather like it. A lot of comparisons have been made between The B of the Bang and the Angel of the North, but I think that The B is far more attractive and modern, and conveys a much greater sense of daring and ambition. I like it a lot.

Woman ‘tore off ex-lover’s testicle’ (Guardian)

You have to feel sorry for poor Geoffrey. My favourite quote from this item is this:

Monti initially tried to hide the testicle by putting it in her mouth

Great plan.