BRENDA'S BIN (out of granthamnewtown@blogspot.com)

This is so difficult to write because it is speaking of the dead and it will ruffle the feathers of teachers - the easiest of feathers to ruffle - but a sense of perspective IS needed. Tragically, head teacher Ruth Perry committed suicide after an Ofsted report downgraded her Caversham Primary School in Reading to "inadequate". As a journalist of 30 years standing I know that, in the wake of most deaths, somebody HAS to be to blame. Those deaths can't ever be treated as blameless, just a tragedy which happened. Grieving is a terrible process to have to undergo but, if you have a hook on which to hang all your emotions, finding a "culprit" makes that process easier. In Ruth's case, a coroner found that the offending Ofsted inspection "contributed" to her decision to take her own life. I believe every right-minded person would agree. How could they not? The key point is, was that inspection THE REASON for her death? The answer is "No". Ever...

Ever thought the gods might be trying to tell you something? (Click on Read More to watch the video.Credit The Telegraph).  

You know how on crime documentaries you often hear people say "He just didn't look like a murderer"? Well, meet Ethan Crumbley. He was just 15 when he shot dead four fellow pupils and injured several others at Oxford High School in Michigan. Despite having a decidedly un-serial-killer-like name and the scariest mugshot since Myra Hindley, another interesting facet of this case is how this kid came to lay his hands on the Sig Sauer handgun used in the spree shooting. It's the USA so, obviously............his dad bought it for him four days before as a Christmas present! Ethan got life without parole while his parents have also been charged for.......for........well, for being shit parents.

So, the United Nations has voted AGAINST demanding an immediate ceasefire to end the bloodshed in Gaza. On the face of it, if the world's umbrella, peace-seeking organisation said "No" then "No" it has to be. They must have weighed all the pros and cons and decided it was best for the world if there was no ceasefire. Trouble is, that doesn't really tell the whole story. There were 13 VOTES IN FAVOUR OF THE CEASEFIRE, with   just one abstention (guess fucking who?), but the motion got binned because  JUST ONE FUCKING COUNTRY VOTED AGAINST! Yup, the U fucking S fucking A. Well done, you dipshits. Why? Well, the Yanks wouldn't be able to keep flogging the Israelis weapons if the fighting stopped, would they! Be realistic. Also, the Presidency might lose the Jewish vote if it sided with cessation against slaughter, despite, as I've said repeatefly, Zionism and Judaism are different! Trouble is, these idiots prompt anti-Semitic violence with their support...

Ever wondered what happened to The Hood from Thunderbirds? No? Shame on you. Mysteries like that plague my waking hours - and even my dreams. I mean, where is Lady Penelope these days? Lapdancing in Bradford? Shacked up in some lovenest paid for in Knightsbridge by Jeffrey Archer? What about Brains? Well, he's sure as fuck not working for this Government! Then there are the lads - Scott, Virgil, Alan, Gordon and John (in Thunderbird order, you notice)? I heard a rumour they were running a plumbing business in Southall but I can't confirm that. Still, back to The Hood. The mystery is solved, thanks to Inspector Pither. Turns out that after he gave up trying to take over the world, the original Hoody decided that, in true "if you can't beat them, join them" style, he would take up a job offer from the best tyrannical madman of them all - Rupert Murdoch. After a couple of years bumming around the world, fronting Murdoch's take over of virtually every media outlet...

There are many, many times in life when you have to accept someone says something far better, far more insightefully, more in depth and more conclusively than you ever could. We all know Trump is barmy but why and just how dangerous is he TO THE WORLD? If you ever get an hour to spare, cut and paste this into your browser and watch it. It's excellent!  https://youtu.be/PKxON_ICAWY?si=NmGWTCoFUB68rHY_

I don't think anyone should be sent to Rwanda against their will..........except advertisers! I have long railed against these reptiles and every day they come up with fresh examples of why they should be minibused to Heathrow. My latest fave is an advert for Aerial Platinum washing liquid. Our heroine in this one is some pre-pubescent girl who has a party to go to so rushes out to buy a new outfit for the occasion. Unfortunately, this dumb klutz gets the clothes home only to spill chocolate milkshake on her top. Oh no! Horror! The consequences are almost too terrible to think about! Luckily, Aerial Platinum is to hand and having washed said top in it (or more likely having got mummy to wash it) the stain is gone and the outfit is once again in party condition. A thrilling story which has you gripped at every turn. A bit like the detergent version of Psycho or Jaws. But the knuckle-draggers behind the advert aren't happy with just leaving you dizzy with this tale of extraordina...