With energy and raw material costs skyrocketing, already a race to secure new resources is developing. As Andrew Osborn reported in yesterday's Independent, Russia is seriously considering the possibility of building a mine on the moon. Meanwhile, Stephen Harper, the new Prime Minister of its neighbour near and far, Canada, is sending military icebreakers to the Arctic to protect Canada's 'right' to exploit the polar region once, as seems likely thanks to global warming, the Northwest Passage becomes navigable and a new 'gold rush' ensues. As well as Canada, the US, Denmark, Norway and Russia are all claiming a piece of the action. Rather than ending the geopolitical uncertainties that have helped drive the price of oil and of natural gas skyward - Iraq, Iran's standoff with the West, Venezuela's socialist government, Russia's attempts to bring its neighbours back into its sphere of influence - these new opportunities seem likely to exacerbate global tensions: opportunities leading to threats, shows of strength, exploitation of weakness.
The top film in Finland right now is Matti, a biopic of the colourful life and times of Matti Nykänen, the country's most notorious sports star. From a four-time Olympic gold medallist with a memorable turn of phrase, Nykänen's post ski-jumping career has seen him intersperse spells as a pop star, stripper and tabloid regular with repeated brushes with the law, culminating in a recent spell behind bars for aggravated assault. Married five times, Nykänen has also had his financial problems. When visiting Helsinki's Olympic Museum a couple of years ago, the guide pointed to a case full of Nykänen's medals and explained that he had had to sell them but that the museum allowed him in for private viewings of his haul whenever he asked. As one Finnish acquaintance puts it: "Everyone in Finland has an opinion on Matti."
Good to see the New York Times returning to its tradition of investigative journalism with this piece from Edmund L. Andrews about how companies extracting natural gas from publicly-owned land and waters in the US paid less into federal coffers last year than in 2001, despite prices almost doubling over that period. If royalty payments had matched prices, the US government would have raked some $700 million extra in 2005.
It's often the small details that make you feel good about a place. In the case of Finland, where I've spent the last three days, these include: trains that run on time in -20 Celsius; a railway company that sells true e-tickets (no need to collect from the station after purchasing online, the printout is the ticket); mixed gender teams shovelling snow at 3am; shops that sell Mountain Dew. Add the dramatic climate and a people who have invented such bizarre sports as wife carrying, swamp football, winter swimming (a 25-metre race in icy water) and, of course, the air guitar world championship and you have a heady blend indeed.
Sadly, the London Whale story didn't have a happy ending. But the poor creature's journey up the River Thames did at least bring the mystery of nature to the heart of the city and will hopefully ensure that a new generation grows up determined to ensure that these majestic creatures survive and thrive in the wild. I still vividly recall at the age of 10, going to see the body of a pilot whale that had beached at Aberthaw, a few miles up the South Wales coast from my hometown. Aside from its size, the thing I remember most was the texture of its skin, not unlike vinyl. As an addendum to this whale's tale, it has been widely reported that this is the first member of the species to be seen in central London since records began a century ago. However, I recall reading on a notice board at Deptford Strand that whales were frequently seen in the river a few centuries ago. That board may now be gone - I was last down Deptford Strand five years ago when it was the only stretch of Thames waterfront west of Woolwich that had not been gentrified. That, alas, is no longer the case: now it's yuppie flats all the way.
Throwing logs on the ornamental fireplace while Rome burns
Wigan Athletic FC Chairman Dave Whelan has become the latest football industry rentaquote to pontificate on the Sven Eriksson 'fake sheikh' affair. Despite the fact that the weight of public opinion is that the England football coach did absolutely nothing wrong other than be a little gullible, and that the News of the World has been both grossly unfair and irresponsible in publishing this piece of nonsense, plenty of people in the mainstream media and the football world seem to be going out of their way to make a mountain out of a molehill. Yesterday, for instance, Aston Villa manager David O'Leary was laying into Eriksson, saying, "It is not acceptable for the national coach to speak publicly about replacing another manager." Quite right, except that Eriksson was SPEAKING PRIVATELY. A point which also seemed to be lost on Terry Butcher. Eriksson, with his cat-like ability to get out of danger, will probably ride out this storm in a teacup. Mike Newell, however, looks like being left to face the whirlwind by himself. The Luton manager is now looking at the prospect of a lawsuit from the Football Agents' Association for his assertion that he has been offered bribes to sell players and that this practice is widespread, a so-called 'bung culture'. Where are the £100,000 tabloid sting operations to test whether or not such allegations hold water? Well, we ain't seen nothing yet! As Brian Reade astutely observes, too many people in and around the football business are doing very nicely thank you very much to want to upset this applecart. If Newell's allegations prove unfounded (or more likely cannot be proven), it will be interesting to see whether the agents' association does sue for defamation. Since, as Reade points out, agents are considered 'a necessary evil' by at least one Premiership manager, they may be hard pressed to win any defamation action: Mark Hughes's comment implies both that they have no reputation to defend and that they would not suffer any financial loss as a result of Newell's remarks.
Following the success of "Strictly Come Dancing" in the UK and the global success of the 'celebs competing at ballroom dancing' format (there are currently two different versions of it on Flemish TV), perhaps British TV execs should look at revamping some other popular shows of yesteryear that hover on the cusp between sport and pastime. Just think of the possibilities: Lost sheep - Chris Eubank hosts a celebrity version of "One man and his dog". Freddie Flintoff's Indoor League - Darts, pool and tenpin bowling from a pub just off the A4. After the break Gazza takes on Charles Kennedy at dominoes. Paddles Up! - Matthew Pinsent and Ellen MacArthur introduce canoe racing from the national watersports centre in Holme Pierpont, Nottinghamshire. Coming up: heat one of the slalom, featuring Ainsley Harriott, Keeley Hazell and Dick'n'Dom. Kick Start - Motocross trials presented by Billy Idol. Watch has-beens try to kick start their careers. Celebrity Strongman - Ross Kemp hosts trials of strength in the Outer Hebrides. Who can push a Vauxhall Nova further: Graeme Norton or Dean Gaffney?
Laura Barton's Guardian article on the British love affair with crisps, not only touched on a subject close to my heart, it also got me thinking how, if they had followed the same trajectory as the Earl of Sandwich's meat between two slices of bread, crisps (or pototo chips) could very easily have ended up known as Crums or Vanderbilts instead. One of the best resources for finding out how popular recipes and foodstuffs named after people or places came to be so called is JJ Schnebel's 'Who cooked that up?' website. Here you can read about the origins of such items as Peach Melba, Pavlova, Philly Cheese Steak, Waldorf salad, Melba toast, Cobb salad, Caesar's salad, Sacher Torte and Vichysoisse. And if that has whetted your appetite, read about Buffalo wings, Beef Stroganoff and Welsh rarebit over at Wikipedia.
Well he may not be able to run for the leadership of his party, but Paddy Ashdown should certainly have a big influence on who succeeds Charles Kennedy. Would anyone bet against Sir Menzies Campbell now?
An interesting post from Neeka Khokhlova on the symbolism of the new logo for Yulia Timoshenko's Bloc. I have a heart-shaped cushion from the company Fom (that 'o' should have a trema over it) that would make a perfect promotional tool for Timo and her followers: soft, stress-relieving and a highly sought-after Western good!
A court in Antwerp is considering accusations of racism against the LA Gym in Antwerp. The investigation follows a complaint made by an ex-employee to the CGKR, Belgium's centre for equal opportunities and the fight against racism. The gym is alleged to have had two different price lists: one for 'natives' and one for 'foreigners'. Special promotions and reductions were only offered to those clients 'of Flemish appearance', it is claimed.
Following Charles Kennedy's decision to test the Liberal Democrats' faith in his leadership, political pundits have been quick to identify his potential challengers for the leadership of the UK's third party. Unfortunately for those who would like to see a genuine three-way contest at the next general election, the one true heavyweight the party possesses is missing from the list. Paddy Ashdown is the one LibDem politician with the experience (running Bosnia after his many years in the Westminster bearpit), the profile and the ability to give Blair and Cameron sleepless nights. In Sir Reg Empey the Ulster Unionists elected a leader who was not an MP. Will Ashdown run and will the LibDems have the courage to elect him as leader a second time? Probably not, but it would be an opportunity missed.
Has anyone else noticed the remarkable musical similarity between Super Furry Animals' 2003 single 'Slow Life' and 'O green world' from the Gorillaz mega-smash 'Demon Days'? And it's not just the tune - the instrumentation of the latter is uncannily reminiscent of the SFA track. Should keep the lawyers busy.
Mitchell Brothers - Alone with the TV The Rakes - Work work work (pub club sleep) Hard-Fi - Living for the weekend Arctic Monkeys - I bet you look good on the dancefloor Kaiser Chiefs - I predict a riot The Libertines - Time for heroes Hard-Fi - Feltham is singing out Bloc Party - Banquet (The Streets Mix) Dizzee Rascal - Jus a rascal The Libertines - Up the bracket The Killers - Somebody told me Franz Ferdinand - What you meant Editors - All sparks.
Happy New Year! Watch out for the first 'Different Day' podcasts sometime early in 2006. In the meantime, here is a U2-free playlist of great New Year's Day songs:
Roxy Music - Mother of Pearl Pink Floyd - Time The National Trust - See no evil The Beloved - The sun rising Nina Simone - Feeling good Simple Minds - Glittering prize The Icicle Works - Love is a wonderful colour The La's - Timeless melody Dexy Midnight Runners- Tell me when my light turns green The Clash - I'm not down John Cale - Changes made Mary Margaret O'Hara - A new day Teenage Fanclub - Everything flows Scissor Sisters - It can't come quickly enough Tuff Little Unit - Join the future.
