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[Cain]

You know, I have to say - the Telegraph is really getting it's teeth into Parliamentary corruption.  I have to give them credit.  Partnering with the BBC would, if you ever read the Telegraph blog section, be seen as akin to partnering with Stalin.  Admittedly, Labour peers were the targets in this case but, for instance, with the whole MPs expenses scandal, everyone came out of that smelling of shit, and they were working with the BBC on Patrick Mercer too.

They're still a bunch of loonies with a few notable exceptions (Oborne, Evans-Pritchard), but credit where credit is due.

[Junkenstein]

True, but I suspect less than laudable motives. One of the few things uniting the press at the moment is Leveson. I'd guess there's an informal agreement that any regulation is bad for all so lets embarrass as many as required until the whole thing goes away or becomes much more favourable to us.

At 11: more calls for openness and transparency. Moves towards anything resembling this expected never.

[Cain]

Oh yes, they're not being altruistic about this.  As much as the press may pose as indifferent observers of the Great Game, they're players, just as much as the politicians, if not more so.

But a few less corrupt peers may encourage the others, of which I have no doubt there are many, of accepting bribes in the future.  At least a little hesitation, when the question of payment comes up, if nothing else.

[Junkenstein]

Nigel, this would look like your wheelhouse:
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2013/05/the-controversial-topics-of-wikipedia/

Over on the arXiv there's a draft of a forthcoming book chapter entitled "The most controversial topics in Wikipedia: A multilingual and geographical analysis" which aims to answer this question. The researchers looked at multiple different language versions of Wikipedia in order to see if there are any commonalities for controversy. Using a metric based on "reverts (when an editor completely undoes the work of another editor), they measured an article's "controversiality."

Below is a word cloud derived from the titles of the 1,000 most controversial articles:

I doubt it's possible to draw any solid conclusions here, but if a breakdown by country was possible I bet that'd be quite revealing.

[Junkenstein]

More HA HA HA
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-22749803

Anti-sleaze reforms will go ahead, the deputy PM has said after three peers and an MP were accused of agreeing to do parliamentary work for payment.

Critics say the coalition is taking too long to bring in a statutory register of lobbyists despite a pledge to do so.

Nick Clegg, writing in the Daily Telegraph, said he and the PM were "determined" it should go ahead.

Lord Cunningham, Lord Mackenzie of Framwellgate and Lord Laird, and MP Patrick Mercer all deny wrongdoing.

On Sunday Lord Laird resigned the Ulster Unionist party whip and Labour suspended the other two peers pending an investigation. Patrick Mercer resigned the Tory whip on Friday.

'Groundhog Day'
Mr Clegg said newspapers had been filled with "the murkier side of British politics" over the weekend and that the latest "unsettling but not surprising" allegations were symptomatic of a political system "long crying out for head-to-toe reform".

"It's the political equivalent of Groundhog Day: MPs accused of abusing their position; businesses of getting too close," he wrote.

But he added: "I know that the absence of the [statutory lobbyists'] register from last month's Queen's Speech raised some concerns.

"So let me be clear: it will happen.

"Having consulted on the proposal, the detail is being looked at thoroughly in government."

There are 2 lies in the above quote. Points for spotting both.

Conservative MP Robert Buckland, a member of the Commons Standards and Privileges Committee, said "robust and fair advocacy" on behalf of constituents should be allowed but MPs must use their common sense as to what was acceptable.

"When it comes to offer of money, I think it is sheer horse sense for many MPs to smell a rat and to know what to do," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

Yeah, if they offer a sack of cash, bail. Everyone knows that bribes are done in Gifts, hospitality and fact-finding tours. The briefcase of cash is just so 80's.

Jonathan Tonge, professor of politics at the University of Liverpool, told BBC Breakfast that a register of lobbyists would not solve the problem and the rules on paid lobbying were already very clear.

"What would really solve the problem would be to make it a criminal offence for any lobby group to offer cash," he said.

"Another thing is to stop parliamentarians ever being allowed back - they are allowed back into the House of Lords even if they have served time in prison for the way they have acted within Parliament."

Good luck getting a vote on that. Ever.

Highest rated comment:

3. rideforever
2 HOURS AGO
CORRUPTION

It's not sleeze, it's CORRUPTION.

Calling it sleeze is a way for the BBC to help the power elite damage the country.

Which is a fair point. Any time the political elite fuckup here, it ends up sounding like a fucking benny hill sketch. Part of the story here is that there are people so embedded in corruption being offered deals like this doesn't even register as a bit iffy. That would indicate a cultural problem to me, and I doubt many would want to honestly assess the reality. If you're in a position to do something about it, you're probably in a position to profit too. No doubt many, many, have. Just like expenses, it's probably the whole barrel that is rotten.

[Junkenstein]

More "Stupid Wingnut" but hey:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-22751349

Hollywood actor Michael Douglas says oral sex caused his throat cancer.

He made the revelation to The Guardian newspaper, three years after he was diagnosed with the disease.

When asked whether he now regretted his years of smoking and drinking - common causes of oral cancer - the 68-year-old replied "No.

"Because without wanting to get too specific, this particular cancer is caused by HPV which actually comes about from cunnilingus," he said.

Not just him being slow, the BBC isn't exactly on form today:

You're more likely to become infected with HPV if you start having sex at a younger age and if you have a lot of sexual partners, especially if you're having sex without using a barrier method of contraception.

At 11 - Why you should avoid nuts if you have a nut allergy.

[Cain]

I doubt it's possible to draw any solid conclusions here, but if a breakdown by country was possible I bet that'd be quite revealing.

Some of those languages are pretty state-specific.  I mean, fr. obviously relates mostly to France, and while French is spoken elsewhere, that's where it is most prolific.  .cs refers to the Czech language, I believe, which is very specific to central Europe, and .hu is Hungary, and if you know anything about Hungarian, you'll know how distinct and unique a language it is.  fa. is Farsi I believe, and .he is Hebrew, so....actually, you can draw some rather state specific conclusions.

[Junkenstein]

I was a little wary of that, mainly due to ex-pat populations around the world. I'm also quite concious that it's wikipedia and so half the edit wars are probably from very opposing view points. Taking some of the biggest:

Israel
War
Iran
Islam

for example, I doubt there's much disagreements within the native country, but others are probably going to disagree. A lot.

So it's not so much about what is controversial within your own borders, but what other perceive to be controversial about you?

There's a point here but being lost in shit.

[Junkenstein]

More curious cases of BBC language:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-22754580

A judge has been assaulted during a sentencing hearing at Ipswich Crown Court.

Judge John Devaux was attacked by a man who stripped to his vest and raced from the public gallery, eyewitnesses said.

The plucky judge, who had sentenced a man to 30 months in prison for driving offences, returned to court minutes later and said he was "unharmed".

Suffolk police said a man was being held in custody on suspicion of contempt of court.

Witnesses said the judge's robes and wig were pulled off during the drama.

Jaimie Budd, who was in the public gallery, described seeing the man take off his top to reveal a black vest.

"We thought that he was going to reveal some sort of statement or tribute, but instead he got up and ran to the judge's bench," she said.

"He ran up the steps and started battering the hell out of the judge."

She added: "He pulled his robes, his wig came off. It was extremely horrific."

John Weston, who was also in court, said: "I looked into the court and saw a couple of chairs had been turned over.

"Plucky"
"Battering the hell"
"Couple of chairs turned over"

Guy cited for contempt of court. I assume this is being underplayed as he is currently being subject to all manner of things while awaiting his contempt hearing.

Judge Devaux returned to court minutes after the assault to hear the next listed case.

He told the court: "I think we're all unharmed."

I'd love to see what the victims of crime compensation payout looks like for this one.

[Junkenstein]

More "Stupid Wingnut" but hey:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-22751349

Hollywood actor Michael Douglas says oral sex caused his throat cancer.

He made the revelation to The Guardian newspaper, three years after he was diagnosed with the disease.

When asked whether he now regretted his years of smoking and drinking - common causes of oral cancer - the 68-year-old replied "No.

"Because without wanting to get too specific, this particular cancer is caused by HPV which actually comes about from cunnilingus," he said.

Not just him being slow, the BBC isn't exactly on form today:

You're more likely to become infected with HPV if you start having sex at a younger age and if you have a lot of sexual partners, especially if you're having sex without using a barrier method of contraception.

At 11 - Why you should avoid nuts if you have a nut allergy.

Inevitable update:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-22762555

In his emailed statement on Monday, Mr Burry said: "No. He did not say oral sex was the cause of his cancer."

The publicist referred to medical evidence linking oral sex to head neck cancer, adding "but [Douglas] did not say it was the cause to his specific cancer".

It's just strongly implied now that he's read the interview back to himself. Also, that his wife has HPV or he's been having an affair. Lessons to be learnt in interview technique here. 

[Junkenstein]

Things increasingly associated with India - Gang Rape. Depressingly.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-22763734

Indian police say that a 30-year-old American woman has been gang-raped in the northern state of Himachal Pradesh.

Police said that the woman had been attacked after she accepted a lift by three men in a truck in Manali, a resort town in the state.

No arrests have been made but police have set up roadblocks and are searching for the suspects.

Scrutiny of sexual violence in India has grown since the rape and murder of a student on a Delhi bus in December.

The gang rape of the student sparked widespread protests and prompted the government to alter laws relating to rape in India.

Five men and one juvenile have been charged with the rape. One of the men has since hanged himself in prison, officials say.

In the Manali case, police say the three men drove the woman to a secluded spot where they raped her and robbed her.

After arriving in Manali on Monday she had been on a visit to Vashisth, a nearby tourist area popular with foreigners, but was delayed and had been looking for a taxi in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

"Because it happened at night, she couldn't read the truck number. At around 7am, we put up checkpoints everywhere and we've been looking for the suspects," senior local police official Vinod Dhawan told BBC Hindi.

There seems to be at least 1 high profile (I.e - Makes it into western media) case every month. The real numbers here are probably horrific. There seems to be something very fucked within Indian Culture. Between "Eve-teasing", incidents like this and the corruption issues.... It seems to be a fucking mess with good advertisting regarding outsourcing.

[Junkenstein]

Short piece regarding infant mortality and Finland, possibly of interest to those with spawn:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22751415

What stands out for me is how cost-effective this seems to be. Making something like this part of your culture seems quite smart to me. Shame this isn't expanded more at other key life stages.

For 75 years, Finland's expectant mothers have been given a box by the state. It's like a starter kit of clothes, sheets and toys that can even be used as a bed. And some say it helped Finland achieve one of the world's lowest infant mortality rates.

It's a tradition that dates back to the 1930s and it's designed to give all children in Finland, no matter what background they're from, an equal start in life.

The maternity package - a gift from the government - is available to all expectant mothers.

It contains bodysuits, a sleeping bag, outdoor gear, bathing products for the baby, as well as nappies, bedding and a small mattress.

With the mattress in the bottom, the box becomes a baby's first bed. Many children, from all social backgrounds, have their first naps within the safety of the box's four cardboard walls.
Mothers have a choice between taking the box, or a cash grant, currently set at 140 euros, but 95% opt for the box as it's worth much more.

The tradition dates back to 1938. To begin with, the scheme was only available to families on low incomes, but that changed in 1949.

"Not only was it offered to all mothers-to-be but new legislation meant in order to get the grant, or maternity box, they had to visit a doctor or municipal pre-natal clinic before their fourth month of pregnancy," says Heidi Liesivesi, who works at Kela - the Social Insurance Institution of Finland.

So the box provided mothers with what they needed to look after their baby, but it also helped steer pregnant women into the arms of the doctors and nurses of Finland's nascent welfare state.

In the 1930s Finland was a poor country and infant mortality was high - 65 out of 1,000 babies died. But the figures improved rapidly in the decades that followed.

Mika Gissler, a professor at the National Institute for Health and Welfare in Helsinki, gives several reasons for this - the maternity box and pre-natal care for all women in the 1940s, followed in the 60s by a national health insurance system and the central hospital network.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

Short piece regarding infant mortality and Finland, possibly of interest to those with spawn:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22751415

What stands out for me is how cost-effective this seems to be. Making something like this part of your culture seems quite smart to me. Shame this isn't expanded more at other key life stages.

For 75 years, Finland's expectant mothers have been given a box by the state. It's like a starter kit of clothes, sheets and toys that can even be used as a bed. And some say it helped Finland achieve one of the world's lowest infant mortality rates.

It's a tradition that dates back to the 1930s and it's designed to give all children in Finland, no matter what background they're from, an equal start in life.

The maternity package - a gift from the government - is available to all expectant mothers.

It contains bodysuits, a sleeping bag, outdoor gear, bathing products for the baby, as well as nappies, bedding and a small mattress.

With the mattress in the bottom, the box becomes a baby's first bed. Many children, from all social backgrounds, have their first naps within the safety of the box's four cardboard walls.
Mothers have a choice between taking the box, or a cash grant, currently set at 140 euros, but 95% opt for the box as it's worth much more.

The tradition dates back to 1938. To begin with, the scheme was only available to families on low incomes, but that changed in 1949.

"Not only was it offered to all mothers-to-be but new legislation meant in order to get the grant, or maternity box, they had to visit a doctor or municipal pre-natal clinic before their fourth month of pregnancy," says Heidi Liesivesi, who works at Kela - the Social Insurance Institution of Finland.

So the box provided mothers with what they needed to look after their baby, but it also helped steer pregnant women into the arms of the doctors and nurses of Finland's nascent welfare state.

In the 1930s Finland was a poor country and infant mortality was high - 65 out of 1,000 babies died. But the figures improved rapidly in the decades that followed.

Mika Gissler, a professor at the National Institute for Health and Welfare in Helsinki, gives several reasons for this - the maternity box and pre-natal care for all women in the 1940s, followed in the 60s by a national health insurance system and the central hospital network.

SOCIALISM! 

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

Next you'll be suggesting we take care of people when they're sick or old.

It's UNAMERICAN.

[Junkenstein]

Indeed, stay away from filthy socialism. I was having an idiot moment. Must be sunstroke.

In other news, How to make friends and influence people part 424hh/q/q3
http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/06/04/new-jersey-dad-shows-up-in-court-in-full-nazi-uniform-to-fight-for-right-to-see-children-including-adolf-and-heinrich/

A New Jersey white supremacist who is trying to convince a judge that he is a good father arrived in court Monday wearing a full Nazi uniform.

Heath Campbell, 40, is the father of four children and is fighting for the right to see his youngest son, a two-year-old boy he named Heinrich Hons.

Heath and his now-estranged wife Deborah Campbell lost custody of their four children amid allegations of domestic violence.

Heath Campbell is a self-proclaimed Nazi but says he has never abused any of his children and said wearing the uniform shouldn't affect his case.

"The world needs to see who I am. I'm not a bad person. It's not what is on the outside, it's what is on the inside," he told the media outside of the courtroom before the court appearance, his swastika neck tattoo visible.

"I'm going to tell the judge, I love my children. I wanna be a father, let me be it," he said.

"Let me prove to the world that I am a good father."

He has not seen his children in two years and the eldest three have been adopted. He named them Adolf Hitler Campbell, JoyceLynn Aryan Nation Campbell, and Honzlynn Jeannie Campbell.

Heath Campbell said he hasn't seen Heinrich since he was 16-hours old.

Horrormirth. Horrormirth everywhere.