Freedom of speech?

You may remember that, some ten years ago, I posted about a street preacher - I think it was in Wolverhampton - who was arrested for telling his audience that the Bible says that homosexuality is a sin.  And the point of that post was that he was simply telling the truth - that's what the Bible says.  And now we have an Australian rugby player who has been disciplined for saying much the same thing on a social media site, and an English rugby player who has been censured for simply "liking" the Australian's post.  So, what's the problem?  Both the Australian and English rugby authorities consider that what these players have done brings the game into disrepute, and therefore they are within their rights in disciplining them.  But as far as I can see, neither person did what they did as rugby players, but simply as devout Christians (who happened to be rugby players) with an unquestioning belief in the Bible as the word of God.  And therein lies the problem - the Bible says.  I for one do not accept the Bible - particularly the New Testament - as the word of God.  It is very much the work of men who wished to promote a particular narrative, for whatever reason, and carefully chose what they would include and what they would exclude.  But that's me - I have no problem with those who see it differently.  So should these rugby players have been disciplined?  Difficult, but on balance I think not.

Tiger Woods

I don't really follow golf, and can't get excited about the way American sportsmen dominate this and other sports, but remembering the shitty (and I really do think that is the appropriate word) way the media treated him during his "troubles", I think he's entitled to his moment of glory.

Words

I always thought "feral" meant "wild" but apparently not so.  A wild animal is wild, is wild, and evermore shall be so.  A feral animal, on the other hand, is living wild, but can become domesticated.  Anybody who has been on holiday in Spain or the Balearics has almost certainly come across those scrawny cats that tend to congregate in the grounds of hotels and complexes and beg for food and, perhaps to a lesser extent, affection.  Well, they're feral. Anybody though of putting one in their bag and bringing it back home? I have.

Quids In!

So Tiger Roll did the bizzie and came home at 4/1.  Looking back, this is the 9th year I've given you my silly system pick for the National, and we've had two winners - Ballabriggs (14/1 in 2011) and yesterday's Tiger Roll.  So at a level £1 bet that puts us £11 to the good.  Not bad.

Grand National

Afraid my silly system has rather disappointed this year.  It's come up with Tiger Roll, who was last year's winner and looks like starting as a short priced favourite.  Is it worth a punt?  Down to you.