The Cast of "24" Season Eight - the best ever!

What a breathtaking start to what should be Jack’s last day!

He *really* doesn’t want to be there, but we’re glad that he is as this season surpasses even the last, making it the best so far. When he says “I hate this place!” we don’t doubt that he means it, but we also know that he cannot turn his back on his country.

As always, the action is matched by the depth of the character analysis; the impact of the previous events on some of the key players is clear:

Jack’s redheaded sidekick from ‘Season 7′ has clearly fallen to the dark-side and has absorbed all of Jack’s worst traits and is just bubbling with a certain buxom evilness what clearly isn’t sustainable…

Chloe’s confidence is shot to pieces and we’re left wondering if she could even put together a PowerPoint presentation, let alone decrypt data in time to save the world…

President Taylor seems to have had her moral compass re-calibrated as a result of the destruction of her family in ‘Season 7′, but is she a better leader for it as result?

CTU’s budgets have clearly gone through the roof, but they seem to have spent all the money on new technology and flashy gadgets at the expense of good personnel.

Of one thing we can be certain – even if Jack doesn’t make it to the end of this day, his return to our screens is welcome – and scintillating.

“24″ remains TV’s pièce de résistance, and seems better than ever for those who can keep up with the pace!

Personally, I wouldn’t ever dream of sleeping on the Tube for fear of someone painting some obscenity on my forehead!

(Actually, I once saw a photographer taking pictures of sleeping commuters on the Victoria Line. I didn’t stop him, as he looked like he was on official business.)

However, it does make me wonder if some people are actually building sleeping time and beauty time into their commute? If so, perhaps London Underground should make the seats a little more comfortable? Or even consider installing sleeping carriages for those who really that extra 45 minutes of REM?

I had previously assumed that these incidents were opportunistic, but having seen one woman sleep in the same seat over a period of a couple of months, I realise that these are not random occurences!

I think that the productivity gains to be had from letting people have a little power-nap on the way to work could be significant; surely there’s a piece of research waiting to be done?

As a chronic insomniac who has survived on about four hours sleep since my teens, I’m slightly envious of those who can fall asleep on command, and actually build it into their routine. A very useful skill in certain professions, I’m sure!

While I admire those who use their commuting time so effectively, I will stick to watching over my sleeping fellow passengers, in some admiration of those women who manage to apply a full face of make-up despite the bumpy ride and fascinated audience.

Arsenal 4 – 2 Bolton

via BBC Sport – Football – Arsenal 4-2 Bolton.

When I heard that we were 0:2 against Bolton, I should have panicked and worried, but my faith in the Arsenal is so strong that I just knew something would change.

However, not even I could have predicted that we would turn it around so comprehensively to secure a famous victory that has put as at the top of the table.

Whilst Liverpool and Spurs scrap it out for fourth place, there is a real belief amongst us Arsenal fans that Wenger’s Young Guns are now coming good, and that silverware is not far away.

It’s not just about winning cups and titles, though – as an Arsenal fan, one has come to appreciate the beauty of Wenger’s team’s football and the importance of doing things the right way.

Sometimes it is frustrating to watch our players attempt to walk the ball right into the net, seemingly passing-up simple shooting opportunities, but when it works – as it did for our final goal – no other team in the world can match it (great finish by Arshavin).

Whatever our position at the end of the season, I’ll be proud to be a Gooner!

His friend says: “Wow, that is the most thoughtful and touching thing I have ever seen. You truly are a kind man.”

The man then replies: “Yeah, well we were married 35 years.”

Firstly, whilst this is definitely the longest, coldest period in my living memory, I haven’t found it quite as debilitating as some others seem to have; I made it into the office every day last week (with some minor delays) and expect to do the same this week.

I wonder how many of the (estimated) 44% of our British workforce who didn’t make it to work last Monday really weren’t able to get it?

Secondly, I cannot help but be amazed by the people whose reaction to seeing the snow is: “So much for Global Warming!” This does highlight the fact that those who have taken a leadership position in educating the rest of us about the Environment really do have a long way to go to get the the message across. They should be talking ‘Climate Change’ and extreme weather, rather than Global Warming, because it clearly doesn’t compute for some who cannot grasp that the warming of the globe could mean more snow.

Third, where does the media find these hilarious experts who – at the first sign of any unusual event – come out of the woodwork to declare that the end is nigh. Believe it or not, on 11 January, The Times claimed that (unattributed) experts have suggested that the cold snap could lead to as many as 90,000 extra deaths. Did someone say scaremongering?!

Beautiful Britain in the snow! Sawbridgeworth, Herts by Graham Canny

Fourth, why oh why do people still go to walk on lakes, ponds and rivers when they are frozen over? Every year, people tragically lose their lives by not following this simplest of rules: “Do not go on frozen bodies of water, no matter how safe they look!”

People walking on a frozen lake in Germany

Fifth in my list is this: In March 2009, the Met Office took delivery of the UK’s most powerful supercomputer from IBM, so how come they still cannot predict the weather accurately, even 12 hours ahead? If the weather really has become that unpredictable, what exactly is the purpose of these forecasts and should we be spending so much money on them?

Met Office supercomputer; will it improve their forecasts? The chap in the picture looks like he is still trying to find the 'on' switch!

Next is this – why are so many people in Britain so insistent that every other country copes fine with snow, when practically the whole of the Northern Hemisphere from East Coast America to Russia is struggling to handle the worst winter for 100 years, and coping much worse than we are in Britain?

Major cities in America, China, France, Germany, India, Russia and Spain are all struggling to cope with the snow too and some have been brought to a complete standstill, so where do people get the idea that somehow everyone else takes it in their stride?

On the contrary, the response of our public services has been fantastic, and we should be proud of their efforts and how well they have kept the wheels of UK Plc turning in these difficult times.

And finally, whatever happened to the great British stoicism that once defined this nation? It seems to be in short supply in some areas where people have bleated and whined about ‘the authorities’ not doing enough to help them, when in times gone by they would have done more to help themselves!

If the cold  spell continues, I would encourage people to do just one thing:

Keep Calm and Carry On!

We are British, after all!

At 39, Anjem Choudary should be a symbol of success for his peers. Born into the working-class family of a market trader in Welling on the outskirts of London, he has risen – thanks to the opportunities offered by the British education system – to become a qualified lawyer.

But it is unlikely his old school will be inviting him to be guest speaker on prize-giving day. Their former pupil is not famous for his elegant oratory in court.

Instead, the articulate Mr Choudary preaches hatred and murder in the streets of Britain to the next generation of young, impressionable Muslims.

via The unholy past of the Muslim cleric demanding the Pope’s execution| News | This is London.

We must protect our society from people like this:

• He doesn’t represent true Muslims, the overwhelming majority of whom are law-abiding, hard-working people who have no interest in his extreme views.
• He mustn’t be allowed to hide his illegal and odious activities under the guise of ‘freedom of speech’ when the nightmare version of Britain that he would like to see would remove our cherished right.
• His complete disrespect for the memories – and the families of – those brave men and women who gave their lives to defend the very principles that he is now twisting and perverting to support his campaign of hate.

The authorities must act to ban his organisation and similar ones that do nothing but undermine community relations here in the UK and support the radicalisation of large numbers of young, disaffected men who may live here, but simply do not love our country.

This is not a simple issue about Freedom of Speech, but one about the protection of values that we hold dear in this country, the loss of which would change Britain for the worst.

The threatened march in Wootton Bassett must be stopped at all costs.

Two ex-cabinet ministers are calling for a secret ballot on Gordon Brown’s leadership, only months before a general election must be called.

I am absolutely amazed to hear that senior Labour Party figures are trying to oust their leader just months before a General Election, in what is a clear sign of desperation.

To attempt a change of leader at this late stage is not only a recipe for electoral disaster, but also bad for our country – we need stability at this time of economic turmoil, and the British people will simply not accept another unelected Prime Minster.

The way to resolve this issue is simple – call the General Election.

If senior Labour figures do not have confidence in their own leader, then how can they expect the rest of the country to?

The country is ready for change, and the Conservatives are ready to bring the changes that people need; we do not have time for Labour to focus on its internal difficulties at a time when the country needs strong leadership.

FA CUP: West Ham United 1-2 Arsenal – Report | Fixtures & Reports | Fixtures | Arsenal.com.

Arsenal came from behind to beat the Hammers 1:2 at Upton Park in demonstration of the kind of resilience that makes Arsenal special.

West Ham went ahead late in the second-half after a lacklustre performance by Arsenal, who looked like they were saving themselves for the next Premiership game.

However, when the Professor brought on Nasri and Diaby, the change was immediate and Ramsey soon equalised (on 78 minutes) with Eduardo heading beautifully in the 83rd to put the Hammers out.

I did feel a little sorry for West Ham who fought with spirit and energy, but quality shows at this level and the result was never in doubt.

We’re off to Stoke in the next round, and I’m not looking forward to it as they always cause trouble with their dodgy tackles and those extraordinary throws, but I plan on being there to make some noise in the Britannia Stadium – if only to protest the on-pitch thuggery!

via BBC Sport – Football – Manchester Utd 0-1 Leeds United.

I have just watched some of the fantastic game between Manchester United and Leeds United, a game that demonstrated that the magic of the FA Cup is not diminished.

Premiership royalty versus Premiership rejects, few could have predicted that Leeds would stun the Old Trafford faithful into silence in the 19th minute after Jermaine Beckford scored a wonderful goal to put Leeds ahead.

Leeds played with a passion and a vigour that would put some Premiership sides to shame. The laziness of expensive Manchester United players like Berbatov (who looked like he needed a mobility scooter by the end of the game) was thrown into stark contrast by the urgency and enthusiasm with which Leeds played.

It was clear that they really wanted this win and that they were simply not intimidated by playing in Old Trafford.

Simon Grayson should be very proud of his side – not just for an outstanding giant-killing performance, but for injecting some much needed romance back into football.

The FA Cup is far from irrelevant and I am looking forward to Arsenal’s clash with West Ham in 20 minutes, which I hope goes according to the script!