2,500 years of oppression is no laughing matter
This is not, apparently, an April Fool. Ireland's Eurovision entry, Dustin the Turkey, has been asked to alter the lyrics of his entry in case his reference to Macedonia upsets the Greeks (via politics.ie)
The EBU reference group have requested that the official name of the country "FYR Macedonia" be used rather than just "Macedonia" in the lyrics of the song Irelande douze pointe for all Eurovision Song Contest related performances.
This does illustrate something which could well be developed into a good rule of international affairs. No matter the causes and length of a dispute, the more people start taking offence at incredibly petty things like this, the harder it will be to resolve.
It's hardly worth bothering with April Fools when you get such glorious absurdity from people who should know better. Two other recent examples:
Exhibit A: Nick "Shagger" Clegg - I've slept with 30 women, and am okay in bed. I was once arrested for setting fire to a collection of rare cacti in Germany. (He's got a long way to go before he lives up to Lloyd George's standards).
Exhibit B: Son of famous fascist caught in five-hour Nazi orgy with five hookers. (Note to journalism students. If you can get "Nazi", "orgy" and/or "hookers" in the headline, it really doesn't matter what else is in the story, people will read it. Throw in whips and some unintentional comedy – "He converses in German with one girl throughout the torture, loving every minute of death camp role-play, while the other girl pleads: 'I don't know what you are saying, so I don't know what to do'." – and you have the perfect tabloid story. ) Ve hav vays of making you torque.
Besides, these pranks rapidly get so complex it would be far easier to arrange a Moseley-style blow-out. Here's an example, involving one my favourite politicians, Jackie Healy-Rae – a man who renders satire redundant – and the formation of the Kerry Independence Party. (Actually, Kerry politicians in the main make satire redundant). That the story was originally 'broken' on a wesbite on March 31 and subsequently lifted and carried without any checks by one of the main independent news stations – scooping Radio Kerry's tongue in cheek variant on the day itself – draws the whole thing into an Alice In Wonderland world.
UPDATE: Another thing which looks like a parody. George Galloway's website which would be the perfect send-up of a meglomaniac who has lost all touch with reality had Craig Brown or the like published it. It includes gems such as this photo, comments like "having shaken up the US Senate, with your help, I can do the same in City Hall", oh and his bank details available for all to read.
The EBU reference group have requested that the official name of the country "FYR Macedonia" be used rather than just "Macedonia" in the lyrics of the song Irelande douze pointe for all Eurovision Song Contest related performances.
This does illustrate something which could well be developed into a good rule of international affairs. No matter the causes and length of a dispute, the more people start taking offence at incredibly petty things like this, the harder it will be to resolve.
It's hardly worth bothering with April Fools when you get such glorious absurdity from people who should know better. Two other recent examples:
Exhibit A: Nick "Shagger" Clegg - I've slept with 30 women, and am okay in bed. I was once arrested for setting fire to a collection of rare cacti in Germany. (He's got a long way to go before he lives up to Lloyd George's standards).
Exhibit B: Son of famous fascist caught in five-hour Nazi orgy with five hookers. (Note to journalism students. If you can get "Nazi", "orgy" and/or "hookers" in the headline, it really doesn't matter what else is in the story, people will read it. Throw in whips and some unintentional comedy – "He converses in German with one girl throughout the torture, loving every minute of death camp role-play, while the other girl pleads: 'I don't know what you are saying, so I don't know what to do'." – and you have the perfect tabloid story. ) Ve hav vays of making you torque.
Besides, these pranks rapidly get so complex it would be far easier to arrange a Moseley-style blow-out. Here's an example, involving one my favourite politicians, Jackie Healy-Rae – a man who renders satire redundant – and the formation of the Kerry Independence Party. (Actually, Kerry politicians in the main make satire redundant). That the story was originally 'broken' on a wesbite on March 31 and subsequently lifted and carried without any checks by one of the main independent news stations – scooping Radio Kerry's tongue in cheek variant on the day itself – draws the whole thing into an Alice In Wonderland world.
UPDATE: Another thing which looks like a parody. George Galloway's website which would be the perfect send-up of a meglomaniac who has lost all touch with reality had Craig Brown or the like published it. It includes gems such as this photo, comments like "having shaken up the US Senate, with your help, I can do the same in City Hall", oh and his bank details available for all to read.
Labels: Ireland, national stereotypes, quality journalism, ultra petty nationalism
posted by buff and blue at 12:29 pm
3 Comments:
That News of the Screws article is a masterclass in salacious tabloid journalism - it deserves an award.
Puss
It does, Puss. However, five hookers for five hours at the age of 68? That deserves some recognition, just as soon as we've all stopped laughing.
Too true, but while we're about it, earning £2,500 for five hours work is pretty good going, too. I'm in the wrong business.
Puss
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