No-one can ever complain about anything ever again

I saw this show on the biography channel yesterday about this Ukranian kid called Igor. At the time of filming he was six.

He lived close to Chernobyl, that popular tourist spot and location of the world's worst nuclear accident. Anyway, the radiation had obvioulsy fucked his DNA and as a result, he was born with no leg bones and only one arm.

Now, I know it's easy TV (put a disabled kid on and say they are brave) but this kid was a total inspiration, in terms of the courage and fortitude he showed. He didn't want to take simple pain relieving medicine (like ibuprofen) because of the cost, and had virtually nothing in terms of possessions.

Anyway, if he can overcome massive disability, utter poverty, very poor health care options (that's why he came to Britain) then no-one can ever complain if they live in the West, ever again.

He wanted to be a fireman, and whilst rescuing people from a burning building might be difficult, if he got to stay in the West, I'm sure he could have had a fire fighting involvement (from the technical side for example).

It was quite incredible, and you realise just how lucky you are, right now, today, just being healthy, comparatively wealthy, and having access to almost anything with legal protection, health care, free speech more or less etc.

I hope it worked out for him, next episode is next week.

Salary cap for pro-sports

In this case football (soccer to the Americans).

Now I see the logic in this, as pro-sports are really just a business like anything else, except with huge brand loyalty. And it's true that the richer clubs get, the more money they tend to pay players. So from a commercial standpoint, they would be wise to find a way of keeping salaries under control. Maybe some kind of europe wide agreement goverened by UEFA is the way.

What really puzzles me however, is why Richard Caborn (UK sports minster) is getting involved? He's on about legislating ?? First, what the hell has a players salary got to do with the government; second, say they pass a law saying "no more than say £10M a year" and a club breaches it. Do we really want to start jailing people for earning or paying "too much" I sure don't want to pay taxes for that

It's symptomatic of the governments need to

(a) seem popular by faking an interest in football and
(b) meddle in absolutely everything

Really guys, this is probably a good idea for it's own sake and for the sound financial governance of sports clubs, but it really doesn't need to government to be involved.

I need a son

or daughter, to justify my playing with toys!

I got this great radio controlled aircraft for xmas, and it is such fun, but I do feel just a bit weird without the obligatory small child to stand with you, (and NOT let have a go, in the way of most fathers)

Well, maybe soon

Now if only I can rig up some kind of bombing or still better torpedo mechanism, to buzz the ducks in the canal ???

And yes Meghan, thnat was a joke, I do not torture or otherwise harm animals (unless they are delicious lemon chickens, who have foolishly rolled in Garlic, mmm.....)

Why not the death penalty?

Young mother Rachel Hudson was murdered by her in-laws who showed "a total disregard for human life"

Five members of the "family from hell" were given life sentences for her murder.

Rachel's father-in-law, Ronald Hudson, 49, and wife Trudi, 44, are beginning minimum 20-year jail terms for their part in the murder of the mother-of -two, whose "spirit and body were broken" by the catalogue of abuse. Rachel's nightmare began when she married husband Craig Hudson and moved in with the family in the Stockhill area of Nottingham in November 2003. 20-year-old Rachel was tortured, insulted and humiliated, before being tortured, imprisoned and killed.

Craig, 21, was jailed for a minimum 14 years and his brother Ronald Junior for 17 years for their parts in the months of cruel beatings and psychological torture at the family home in Overdale Road.

Her battered body was found face down in mud in the grounds of a stately home just 17 months after her wedding.

She had suffered more than 60 untreated injuries at their hands in the weeks before she died. The coroner said it was the worst he has ever seen.

These motherfuckers should all be put to immediate death.

David Cameron

Yes, I want to win again

Yes, he does have the presentational skills

But so did Blair, and look how he turned out

What does DC really believe in? Modern Conservatism is a slogan, it's "politics lite" I really fear this chap is a fellow traveller, who could return us to the days of Heath and consensus. I hope I'm wrong, but in the dash to the centre ground, we musn't dump our principles to make the journey easier.

And the whole drugs thing ! It was like listening to Clinton.

Time will tell, so let's reserve judgement and see what policies he comes up with. The presentational stuff is just so much smoke and waffle

Calm down all you zany english soccer fans

Yes, your team isn't bad.

Yes, they are capable of some good results (though be honest, two late goals against Argentina, you weren't the best side)

But there are horrible moments of inconsistency, viz one nil Northern Ireland, and you'll have a game like that. Lampard is always better for Chelsea, and similarly Gerrard for Liverpool. The munchkin wunderkind is to easy to wind up and don't even talk to me about Rio Ferdinand, even Man Utd fans know what he's about.

The group stage isn't bad, and if you win the group, probably Poland, you'll beat them, but then Argentina or in the semis Brazil?

Not gonna happen, so calm down, enjoy the tournament and don't get all "I am so shocked" when England are eliminated (or to use annoying tabloid speak "crash out")