Much Ado About...

Liz's long reign:

We celebrate Elizabeth II becoming Britain's longest-serving monarch

And she has at least one fan:

William's 'worries over social change' message in tribute to Grandma: He writes of 'challenges to communities' in heartfelt homage to the Queen to mark her longest -ever reign (but adds she is such fun, too)

Prince William Praises His Granny the Queen's 'Love of Family and Home'

Prince William pays glowing tribute to grandmother Queen Elizabeth II

Duke of Cambridge praises Queen's life of service in new biography

But perhaps there's more important issues to muse over:

What Does Queen Elizabeth II Carry in Her Purse?

The Brits do have a fascination with minute details of royal life, too:

Queen Elizabeth II to become Britain's longest reigning monarch: The many things the Queen can do that the rest of us can’t

"Here are the things that the Queen can do that you can’t, not that she’s showing off or anything:

If you’re the Queen of England acquiring a driving license like every other British 17-year-old is not necessary. The Queen is the only person in Britain who can drive without a licence. Because they are issued in the Queen’s name, it would be unnecessary for her to give herself a license. But that doesn’t mean she can’t drive – Elizabeth operated a first-aid truck for the Women’s Auxillary Territorial Service during WWII.

As well as not having to have a licence, she also does not have to bother with a registration plate for her car.

The Queen can travel abroad without any travel documents or a passport, since these are issued in her own name. This is something that even other members of the Royal Family can’t get away with, so passports at the ready Charles et al.

Her majesty is entitled to two birthdays per year. While her actual proper legit birthday is on 21 April, her ‘official’ Queen’s birthday is celebrated on a Saturday in June.

Here are the things that the Queen can do that you can’t, not that she’s showing off or anything:

"If you’re the Queen of England acquiring a driving license like every other British 17-year-old is not necessary. The Queen is the only person in Britain who can drive without a licence. Because they are issued in the Queen’s name, it would be unnecessary for her to give herself a license. But that doesn’t mean she can’t drive – Elizabeth operated a first-aid truck for the Women’s Auxillary Territorial Service during WWII.

As well as not having to have a licence, she also does not have to bother with a registration plate for her car.

The Queen can travel abroad without any travel documents or a passport, since these are issued in her own name. This is something that even other members of the Royal Family can’t get away with, so passports at the ready Charles et al.

Her majesty is entitled to two birthdays per year. While her actual proper legit birthday is on 21 April, her ‘official’ Queen’s birthday is celebrated on a Saturday in June."

Not everyone agrees, though:
Do you believe them? Elizabeth II is NOT our greatest monarch, say historians

Well, it may be the wrong Elizabeth, too. Seems there's some dispute over not just the longevity bit, but also how great her reign has been:

Do you believe them? Elizabeth II is NOT our greatest monarch, say historians


ROBERT HARDMAN: Queen Victoria a greater monarch than Elizabeth II? Twaddle! She was a workshy recluse

Queen Elizabeth crowned 'the greatest ever monarch' - but which one?

Liz I or Liz II?

As you can tell, I'm a fan of Queen Liz. She assumed the throne when I was three years old and a actually saw her once, when I was about six or seven years old. She and Prince Phillip were touring Canada, and their train stopped in my home town and they did a brief walkabout. From what I remember, practically the whole town turned out. I remember very clearly what I was wearing, too. I had on a peach coloured dress with white trim, which I loved.

While Liz may be the longest serving and most loved monarch, there's no dispute over who was the worst monarch:
Henry VIII voted worst monarch in history

And here's why (from the article):

"King John I may forever be known as a Bad King following that seminal history textbook 1066 and All That, but according to history authors, it is Henry VIII who should bear the title of the worst monarch in history.

More than 60 writers were surveyed by the Historical Writers Association (HWA), with Henry VIII taking 20% of the vote to find the worst monarch and criticised for a wide range of crimes: he was “obsessive”, “syphilitic” and a “self-indulgent wife murderer and tyrant”, according to respondents.

Robert Wilton, the author of The Spider of Sarajevo, called the Tudor king “a gross man-child, wilfully and capriciously dangerous to everything around him including the country”, adding that psychologically, Henry “barely made it out of infancy, let alone adolescence, and ruled with little more policy than petulant self-gratification”."

Can't A Girl Get A Break?

Kate Middleton Rudely Called Out for First 'Girl Mom' Mistake

"When Kate Middleton left the hospital with baby Charlotte last week, the majority of people could only focus on how insanely adorable the new princess is -- and of course, how insanely gorgeous the Duchess looked. Some keen-eyed people noticed that the little bonnet Princess Charlotte was wearing was on backwards! Hey, cut the Duchess some slack -- she's used to having a boy! Unless you have a hat like this, it's hard to tell that it's on "wrong." I actually have one of these hats -- a pixie hat -- for my daughter, and when I first got it, I put it on the exact same way. It's hard to tell! Here, check out Kate's first "style slip up," as the Daily Mail, called it with her new baby."

[---]

"The part that surrounds the face should be on the neck."

And this qualifies as news?

They're Just Like The Rest Of Us!!!

Prince William enduring 'sleepless nights' with Princess Charlotte

Prince William's Daughter Princess Charlotte Keeping Him Up at Night, Gets Baby Gift From Women's Soccer Team

A few 'sleepless nights' courtesy of baby Charlotte: William reveals his new daughter is keeping him up at night during visit to the England Lionesses football team

Royal baby: Queen meets great-granddaughter

Or maybe not:

Queen meets great-granddaughter

We don't all get a visit from the Queen.

It's A Girl!!!

A baby sister for George. No news yet whether he's jealous.

The Press...

...is going gaga again concerning the pending arrival of the royal spare:

Pregnant Kate goes shopping for Prince George and the new royal baby

Photos That Prove Prince George Won't Be Outdone By The New Royal Baby

How Prince George may react to his new sibling in 10 cute photos

The Great Kate Wait: Counting down to Royal Baby No. 2



Kate Middleton pregnant: the difficulties of being the royal 'spare'

Well, I thought I'd get in on the act. All the cool kids are doing it.

Well...

...I guess the old lady with the silly hats is not so bad after all:

Queen salutes Canadian regiments in First World War commemoration

Hmmmm

I'm down with this. I don't want Chucky-Pooh either.

Camilla shouldn't be Queen, say public: And four in ten say Charles should step aside and let William be king

His Mommy Must Have...

...had a few words with him:

Charles tells UK Muslims to abide by our values: Prince says if you come to live in Britain you must respect us

Reburial Of Richard The IIIrd's Remains...

...took place yesterday:

"Benedict Cumberbatch, the actor, will read a 14-line poem at the service.

Cumberbatch is Richard III's third cousin 16 times removed, according to researchers at the University of Leicester who said around 13 million others share that connection with the fallen monarch."

Third cousin 16 times removed? Get your head around that one. If he was anything like most monarchs of those days, he also has millions of descendants through all the illegitimate children he fathered.

Too Bad,...

...So sad:

As a child, Prince William dreamed of being an astronaut — or a fire breather

"When he was a child, Prince William dreamed about becoming an astronaut or a policeman.

But as he grew into adulthood, he realized he would have to settle for becoming King of England instead."

Good!!

Supreme Court won’t hear oath to Queen challenge

BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Queen Elizabeth II once terrorized King Abdullah — by driving him around

Coulda been what killed him.

The Royals

I Never Thought Of That

The Franklin discovery’s not about what, but where

"...discovering one of the ships would enhance Canada’s claim to the Arctic, at least symbolically. Several countries, including the United States, challenge this country’s claim to ownership of the Northwest Passage. They argue that it is an international strait.

While the two Franklin ships have already been designated as national historic sites no matter their location, the actual discovery of a ship would increase Canada’s chances of having UNESCO declare its location a World Heritage Site."

And Queen Liz is happy about this.

"Queen Elizabeth sent a message for Canadians to the Governor General on Tuesday following the discovery.

"I was greatly interested to learn of the discovery of one of the long-lost ships of Captain Sir John Franklin. Prince Philip joins me in sending congratulations and good wishes to all those who played a part in this historic achievement," she said in a statement."

From The Family Photo Album...

...the royal family, that is.

Hip-Hip Hooray!!

Why are the French so obsessed with our Royal Family?

Except in Quebec, of course.

"If you head over to France for your summer holidays, you'd be forgiven for assuming they care not one jot for royals - particularly those from British shores. But for a people which rabbits on about republicanism as if they invented the thing, the French are obsessed with royalty - and, most notably, ours."

[---]

"Magazines like Gala and Paris Match burst forth with pretty much weekly bulletins on not only William and Kate, but also Harry and Cressida - and, unless I'm much mistaken, the 20-year-old go-go dancer who is said to have replaced Cressida. The Queen is revered sufficiently to suggest that, were she to emulate her predecessor Edward III and claim the throne of France, there'd be a decent vote in favour."

[---]

"You may, therefore, imagine the effervescence gripping the nation right now as HMQ arrives for her fifth state visit to France, to tie in with the 70th-anniversary of D-Day. There have naturally been problems. Traffic anarchy generated by the royal visit to the Arc-de-Triomphe and tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Thursday afternoon was bound to annoy many Parisians. (Others retorted by telling them to belt up: if you live in Paris, get used to it.)"

[---]

"Far more important has been the "psychodrama of the hats". On discovering that the roof of the presidential Citroën DS5 was unlikely to be high enough to accommodate both the Queen and her hat, alarmed French protocol chaps sought an alternative. Dismissing the suggestion of a people carrier ("For the Queen??"), they bagged a Renault VelSatis which, though not very good at motoring, will allow the Queen to sit up straight, be-hatted. It will also be an interesting change from the new Diamond Jubilee state coach she used to get to the opening of Parliament - underlining many of the essential differences between a monarchy and a republic."

[---]

"...when the Queen joins 19 other heads of state in Normandy - and back in Paris on Saturday, when she visits the Flower Market on the Ile-de-la-Cité. Henceforth, the market will be known as Le Marché Aux Fleurs Reine Elizabeth II;"

[---]

"The welcome extended to the Queen isn't simply that accorded to a celebrity, though certain French commentators claim there's little difference. Nor is the interest only ironic, as smarter folk like to pretend. Whatever these people say, it's obvious that the Queen, especially, has real status in France. Of course, she has entertainment value but she's also an embodiment of so many of the things which the French admire in the British - the spirit of "fair-play" (for which there's no French word), restraint, elegance and resolution under stress and a frankly outrageous taste in headgear."

[---]

"...somehow, her very presence and bearing suggests that Britain is a country worthy of respect. Certainly - listen up, British republicans - she generates a warmth and fascination within France which is experienced by no other nation. It goes without saying that the British also exasperate the French, as vice versa. But it's the exasperation of close-ish relatives. As the Queen herself has said in the past, we may drive on different sides of the road, but we're going in the same direction.

Vitally, this time, the Queen is a living link with the past being commemorated. France's current ambassador to the UK, Bernard Emié, put it best: "With Queen Elizabeth II, we meet our own history, but also our liberty. For it's to her people, to her father George VI, to the man who became her prime-minister, Winston Churchill that we owe the welcome extended to General de Gaulle and the Free French in London - and then, with the Allies, the liberation of France."

Same goes for the Yanks.

Luv It

Those Russians!!

I like a manly man, but this is a bit much:

The manliest of Men

And then there's Cassinova!

And the Georgians: Human evolution, from tree to braid

More good stuff: Blow to multiple human species idea

Mystery early human revealed by DNA data

Never Put Your Dignity On The Negotiating Table

It's been a long time since a royal was assassinated. Perhaps they should be grateful they are so irrelevant.

Christmas Roundup

Thank you, Madam:

Sikh MP wishes ‘Merry Christmas’, slams political correctness



First snow in Egypt in 112 years. Well, they said it was "climate change", not global warming, ya know.

Funny, they just had the annual gathering of the warmanistas nearby, too. Pretty soon there won't be any place they'll be able to hold it. Perhaps somewhere along the equator. Maybe Zaire.

I guess it's too late to hold it in Rome:

Study: Earth was warmer in Roman, Medieval times

"A Swedish study found that the planet was warmer in ancient Roman times and the Middle Ages than today, challenging the mainstream idea that man-made greenhouse gas emissions are the main drivers of global warming.

The study, by scientist Leif Kullman, analyzed 455 “radiocarbon-dated mega-fossils” in the Scandes mountains and found that tree lines for different species of trees were higher during the Roman and Medieval times than they are today. Not only that, but the temperatures were higher as well."

RTWT

Nasty, brutish and short, as well as twisted, sick and inbred.

PS: Looks like there was snow all over the Middle East.

Sunday Afternoon Round-Up

Air force pilots' remains recovered in Ontario lake 72 years after plane crash

Kinda reminds me of my late Uncle John: Shot down over France. Captured by the Germans. Spent the rest of WWII as a prisoner of war.

I'm glad they recovered the remains of these two men, so many years after the war. They had laid there for a long, long time.

The Ig Nobels are at it again: Shrew eating, penis amputation studies earn Ig Nobel prize

As you can see, there's a Canadian angle:

"The work of a Canadian anthropologist who studied how a shrew would look after being eaten, digested and defecated by a human has been honoured with an Ig Nobel prize, alongside research on penis amputations and how drunkenness affects perceptions of attractiveness."

Well done, Canada! I've always wanted to know how a shew would look after being eaten and turned into poop!

More here:



And, in case you'd forgotten there are other royals in Europe: Swedish king, 40 years on throne, invites everyone to dance

Ahhh. How romantic. I wonder if he steps on her feet, and would she say anything if he did?

Another washed up old star trying to find a way to get some attention again:

A far cry from 'Hiroshima'

"Only a mind-yodelling vacuous lyricist could dredge up this tasteless analogy — comparing a Canadian city and its inhabitants with a radioactive ruin".

Earth Gains A Record Amount Of Sea ice In 2013 - 'Earth has gained 19,000 Manhattans of sea ice since this date last year, the largest increase on record'

Well, let's say that's just about it, ladies and gentlemen. It will be very hard for the warministas to continue this folly much longer, and I'm certainly done with it.

Speaking of "done with it" I've been meaning to start another blog for some time now, on a different subject entirely, one that I have only briefly touched on here from time to time, so stay tuned. But I hereby declare the global warming climate change fiasco to be kaput and I don't care how the warministas deal with it. I feel certain some of them will have grown up a bit and learned from this experience. The rest are just a lost cause and I don't even feel sorry for them.

It is too bad so much money was spent on this non-sense. I hope some heads roll, but they probably wont.