.Another Day, Another Senseless Death...

Star Lane in Canning Town was shut in both directions between Manor Road and Durham Road at around 5am on Wednesday, September 9, with forensic teams seen working at the scene. A shopkeeper claimed the incident involved an elderly man who died after being bitten on the hand by a dog.

And yet, unlike the incident in Yorkshire, which quickly generated police appeals to the public and has resulted in a man being charges in short order, there's been little in the news - the 'Mail' has found a juicier story to worry like a bone from across the pond. 

He said: "A customer had a large dog which went for the man’s small dog.

It will be interesting to find out the breed, when - or if - he's evetually caught. 

Another shopkeeper said the man had been walking his small dog home from the park when the incident occurred.

A lot of shopkeepers in this area - did no-one have a suggrstion as to who the mystery man might bre, perhaps a regular customer?  Even Facebook has no commentd on th teo stories they have up. 

Hsve we become so used to the threat it's no longer newsworthy? 

When You Gotta Go..?

An Essex library has temporarily closed due to a "significant sanitation issue" within the building. Brentwood Library has been closed since Thursday (July 23) due to the issue.

And was due to reopen Saturday - what took so long? And it's not just a library, either, because of course not, this is 2026!

The library serves as a base for appointment registration services, such as births, deaths and marriages. There is also a Barclays Local hub within the bank.

So quite a loss to the community of Brentwood. 

A notice on the door, shared by Cllr Russell Quirk (Reform UK) on social media said: "Unfortunately the library is temporarily closed due to a significant issue within the building. We apologise for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience and understanding. Please check our website or contact the library for updates regarding reopening."

Why so coy about what the issue was?  

The deputy leader of Essex County Council added: "Lots of people are asking why it closed. I’m informed that a person defecated in several places around the library and it’s had to be thoroughly cleaned throughout. Unbelievable."

If only it was 'unbeliveable'. And there's no mention of an arrest, so the Phantom  Defecator of Brentwood is presumably roaming the streets looking for his next target.

All Part Of Life In A Big City, Eh, Sadiq?

Tributes have poured in from stars of the music industry to singer-songwriter Talay Riley, after he was stabbed to death in London. Riley, 35, was found at an address in Silvertown, east London, at around 9am on Friday having suffered stab wounds, and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Ah the glamourous life of a singer-songwriter, getting shanked by wannabe gangstas in exotic locales! Does Andrew Lloyd Webber know what fate may have in store?

Still, I’m sure the Met Police have things well in hand…

A man in his 20s was also taken to hospital with multiple stab wounds and remains in hospital, with injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening or life-changing. Three people were arrested on suspicion of murder on Friday. 

A 27-year-old man has been released on bail pending further enquiries, while a second man, 24, and woman, 25, have been released with no further action.

Oh… 

The day after the incident, two men were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder following a large fight in Barking on Saturday night. The incident occurred around 11.20pm on River Road, where three men, aged 28, 23 and 22, were discovered by emergency crews with stab wounds.

Another glamorous locale, another 'benefit of diversity', I have no doubt... 

 

I Thought This Was A Parody, But It's So Hard To Tell Nowadays

A search is under way for two lesbian grandmothers who inspired a new children’s book after a chance encounter with a pantomime dame at Blackpool Pride.

It appears to be a real article, despite sounding like a parody… 

The women, whose names are not known, attended a reading by the popular performer Mama G in 2021, complaining to her about the lack of diversity in young literature. Mama G said she had been reading books to children at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens when the women asked if there were any featuring lesbian grandmothers.

Note the pronouns used… 

The question left her stumped. “I was like, erm, no. I don’t actually think I’ve ever seen lesbian grandmothers in a story, not even as a subsidiary character,” she said. One of the women, clearly disappointed, told her it was “so hard to find yourself represented in books”.

And yet, this is no female! 

The conversation prompted Mama G, whose real name is Robert Pearce, to write a children’s picture book where two older queer women are “front and centre for a change”.

I can remember when drag queens were acknowledged as men in make up and dresses, and confined to working men’s clubs and panto! Far less to be found in libraries reading to children.

Mama G, who is performing at Edinburgh fringe this summer, said the lack of diversity in children’s books was still a problem, despite the efforts of a number of authors and smaller publishers.

I think it’s a ‘problem’ we can well live with. What say you, Reader? 

Expecting People To Exercise A Little Self-Control In 2026 - Is That Futile?

'I have a thing with the broadcast,' she said in her press conference shortly after the loss. 'I feel like certain moments - the same thing happened to Aryna (Sabalenka) after I played her in the final of the US Open - they don't need to be broadcast.

 Well, don't do them then. Is that so hard? 

'I tried to go somewhere where I thought there wasn't a camera, because I don't like breaking rackets. I broke one racket at the French Open and I said I would never do it again on court, because I don't feel like that's a good representation. 

Well, you’re right, it isn’t. This isn’t the 70s anymore, we got over the John McEnroe era, and decided to push good sportsmanship instead. 

'I went somewhere where I thought they wouldn't broadcast it, but obviously they did. Maybe some conversations can be had, because I feel like at this tournament the only private place we have is the locker room.'

 So you're fully aware of how it looks, yet you can't possibly control yourself?

She was then asked about the benefits of letting her frustrations out on the racket, revealing it calmed down her emotions ahead of speaking to her team. 

'Yeah, definitely,' she said. 'I think for me, I know myself. I don’t want to lash out on my team. They’re good people. They don’t deserve that. I know I’m emotional. 

'I just took the minute to go and do that. I don’t think it’s a bad thing.'

Well, if you don't want people to see you do it, you clearly realise that it is.  Are you a moron?

She is world No 3 and despite her young age, has spoken confidently and passionately about various cultural and political controversies, always handling them delicately and professionally. Therefore, it came as a shock to see her red mist descend after the quarterfinal loss, which saw her dumped out at the hands of the 12th seed Svitolina.

Did it really? 

Don't We Have Enough Real Problems In Society That We Have To Imagine More?

One in four people think there is nothing wrong with creating and sharing sexual deepfakes, or they feel neutral about it, even when the person depicted has not consented, according to a police-commissioned survey.

Unfortunate, when the point of the survey was not to find out if it was a real problem after all, but, like so many other worthless studies, to provide cover for what activists want to do anyway. 

The survey of 1,700 people commissioned by the office of the police chief scientific adviser found 13% felt there was nothing wrong with creating and sharing sexual or intimate deepfakes – digitally altered content made using AI without consent. A further 12% felt neutral about the moral and legal acceptability of making and sharing such deepfakes.

What to do, what to do? The answer's obvious - push on regardless. 

Det Ch Supt Claire Hammond, from the national centre for VAWG and public protection, reminded the public that “sharing intimate images of someone without their consent, whether they are real images or not, is deeply violating”.

How very dare you ignorant peasants disagree!  I’ll tell you worthless subjects what you should think!

Commenting on the survey findings, she said: “The rise of AI technology is accelerating the epidemic of violence against women and girls across the world. Technology companies are complicit in this abuse and have made creating and sharing abusive material as simple as clicking a button, and they have to act now to stop it.”

Blaming technology companies for men harassing women is like blaming car companies for enabling getaway drivers. 

She urged victims of deepfakes to report any images to the police. Hammond said: “This is a serious crime, and we will support you. No one should suffer in silence or shame.”

But if you mention a racial or homophobic slur in your texts, don’t expect us not to notice, after all, a hate crime is a tick in the box! 

More Killer Kids...

A woman who died inside her home has been named by police after a 13-year-old girl arrested on suspicion of her murder was released on bail. The woman who died in Swindon on Friday was 55-year-old Sarah Forrester, Wiltshire Police have confirmed.

Can't name the suspect, of course. She's a 'child' and so must be protected.

The 13-year-old girl was later arrested on suspicion of murder and taken into custody for questioning. She has since been bailed while enquiries continue.

Bail for murder? Are there any clues that might show if murder by a child was a likely event in this lady's life? 

Ms Forrester worked as a counsellor at The Kelly Foundation, a Swindon charity which supports individuals with severe anxiety, depression and other mental health issues.

That's a pretty big one, eh, Reader? The police churn out the usual predictable boilerplate:  

Ch Supt Guy Elkins, from Wiltshire Police, said: "Our thoughts are with Sarah's friends and family at this awful time.

"An investigation into her death is being led by our major crime investigation team and local residents will continue to see increased policing activity in the area."

He said police are not looking for anyone else in connection with Ms Forrester's death.

And of course, that favoured phrase of the oh-so-modern copper:  

"We continue to urge people not to speculate on the incident," he added.

Urge away, Guy. Me, I'll speculate all I want. It is, after all, still a free country. Despite the best efforts of this wretched government.. 

Really, 'Mail'?

 No, not really. The actual answer is 'big angry herbivores':

Deaths on safari are on the rise, with several reports in the last 18 months alone. The most recent case of this was in July 2025, when a British tourist and her friend from New Zealand were killed by a charging elephant during a 'sunrise safari walk' in Zambia. In July 2024, a Spanish tourist was horrifically crushed to death in front of his screaming fiancee by an angry herd of elephants after he got out of his car to take photographs in a South African game reserve.

*sigh* 

Two months prior to that, Lisa Manders, 70, from the US state of Connecticut, was killed by a hippo in Zambia, while out on a ‘bush walk’ during a dream safari trip with her husband Craig. And in April last year, a crazed bull elephant attacked tourists on safari in Zambia, leaving an American woman dead, after chasing a safari truck for more than half a mile through a national park.

I guess not having any weapons for self-defence on these trips (and the men able to wield them) is asking for trouble. 

In the past three months, even safari workers have faced with aggressive wildlife.

Well, pretty sure it'll be in the job description... 

'African safaris have become extremely popular, and many top destinations are sold out months in advance. ‘This has led to a proliferation of many smaller operators, lodges, and even artificial safari parks or “game reserves”, closer to urban populations. ‘Some tourists unfortunately take shortcuts and book with less reputable operators, or choose cheaper options on the outskirts of recognised game reserves, where human-wildlife interaction is more prevalent and safari activities are perhaps more risky.’

Couple that with the modern generation's stunningly blase attitides to risk, and it's a recipe for disaster: 

'There’s also the fact that safari lodges have become increasingly luxurious and glamorous, which could potentially dull a visitor's sense of danger. 'Social media likely plays a role too, by exposing people more regularly to the idea of what's out there.'

The social media images of an enraged 6 ton jumbo crushing a vehicle as if it were a beer can don't seem to have been viewed often enough then.

Chipping Away Bit By Bit...

 ...at every aspect of history.

Barristers have won the right to go without their famous and historically significant wigs in court after campaigners branded them 'culturally insensitive'. Revised guidance from The Bar Council now allows lawyers to ditch their wigs for criminal cases if it is 'uncomfortable, or impractical'. It comes after black barristers complained the Georgian-style hairpieces - which have been a legal tradition since 1685 - were designed for white people's hair.

*sighs* 

Leslie Thomas KC has called for the wigs to be scrapped and said they look 'ridiculous' on black advocates and are 'fashioned for Caucasian hair'. The senior barrister - who has worked on many high-profile cases, including representing families of victims in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry and Mark Duggan's family in the inquest into his death - branded the wigs as 'culturally insensitive'.

Typical lefty lawyer, as soon as he gets his foot in the door he wants to change things! 

There were already religious exceptions, including for lawyers in headscarves or turbans.

But of course, that wasn’t enough - this is the real ‘Metoo’ movement! 

However, ex-Justice Secretary and former barrister Sir Robert Buckland yesterday slammed the decision. He told The Sun: 'This is a nonsense argument that we have heard many times before and which should not be pandered to. Just like school uniforms, wigs are a great leveller.

'They give young barristers the same status in the eyes of court users as more senior colleagues and are also a great way of helping with the security of barristers as few people recognise them outside court without their wigs on.'

None of that matters to the real reason they are pushing for this, of course, eh Reader? 

 

If Only We The Public Could Make Such A Request...

 ...and have it immediately honoured by the State, by having him deported.

A psychiatrist who treated Axel Rudakubana asked to stop being his doctor because she did not feel safe around his "intimidating and disrespectful" dad. Dr Lakshmi Ramasubramanian, a highly experienced consultant psychiatrist at Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust who treated the Southport killer between July 2021 and June 2022, said she requested to stop being his doctor following an "unprecedented incident".

You'll note that absolutely no consequences accrued to him for this behaviour.  

Dr Ramasubramanian said during an appointment on May 23, 2022 Rudakubana's dad Alphonse was "intimidating and disrespectful". The doctor did not confirm the details of what happened during the meeting, but added: "This was the very first time in my entire career as a doctor where I have had to request a change of psychiatrist because of how I was made to feel by a parent.

"It is quite unprecedented in my opinion and I vividly remember the level of distress I went through at the end of the appointment."

Yes, she's the real victim here, not the three little girls the bastards' spawn murdered. God, I'd be ashamed to say something like this. 

The decision was made by the Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) to move Rudakubana's care to a male psychiatrist because Dr Ramasubramanian did not feel safe to work with the family.

Was a referral to the police never sought?  

The ongoing inquiry is examining his contact with state agencies including the police, schools and social services to see if there were missed opportunities to prevent the attack.

Waste of time - yes, there were, we all know it, and we all know why, because of the softly softly approach to ethnic minority crime and threat evidenced here.

Guilty Pleasures…

 One of mine is the ‘Gor’ novels of John Norman.. trashy sci-fi to trivial sword and sandal epics to some, deeply misogynistic tracts to others, I love them, even if they are the literature equivalent of Vesta meals - which I also have a fondness for! - I was delighted to find, just the other day, two new ‘Gor’ novels available on Kindle. So glad to have been proved wrong! So of course, I bought them. Though it has to be said, the cover art is sadly no longer as good as the older books. 

And in catching up with Tarl Cabot's quest to resue his kidnapped old flame, I was swiftly reminded that the author is a philosophy professor writing under a pseudonym and has something to observe about modern politics, even in the pages of trashy sci-fi:

Even at the verable age of 94, he's keenly aware of what is going on in the world today, and doesn't pass up the chance to comment on it on his magnum opus.

What Happened To The Classic Englishman Explorer?

I’ve been in situations where I’ve heard the bear pump-priming itself with oxygen as it prepares to launch itself for the kill – the heavy breathing sounds like a London tube train. That’s when you’ve got to use your firearm to maximum effect – holding your nerve and firing immediately above its head.

Ummm, dude, I really don't think you understand what 'maximum effect' means... 

This Is Not Justice, And Will Not Help Recruitment Of Teaching Staff

A schoolgirl has been detained for 15 years for attempting to murder two teachers and a pupil by stabbing them with a blade at a school in south Wales. The girl, who was 13 at the time, attacked Fiona Elias and Liz Hopkin and the pupil during a breaktime at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman in Ammanford, Carmarthenshire. She had admitted three counts of wounding with intent and a further count of possession of a bladed article at a school but denied the attempted murders. However, she was found guilty of the offences by a jury at Swansea crown court.

It doesn't appear to have been a tough decision for the jury... 

The girl, who cannot be named, will be eligible for release on licence after serving half of the sentence but the judge, Paul Thomas KC, told her she could be recalled to custody if she behaved badly again once freed.

'Behaved badly'..? She's not been found guilty of playing knock down ginger or scrumping apples, has she? 

After the stabbing, the teenager told police officers: “That’s one way to be a celebrity,” adding: “I’m pretty sure this is going to be on the news, so more eyes are going to be looking at me.”

And her rampage didn't stop once she was caught. 

Thomas said the girl had made a “serious threat” to someone while being held in custody after the attacks and accepted she would pose a “potential risk” when she was finally released. He said: “A lot depends on how you change and mature and that can’t be predicted at the moment.”

Then why take the chance? Oh, but you aren't, are you? You're going to let the public take it, as always. 

Caroline Rees KC, defending, said the girl had difficulty expressing emotions but had expressed remorse. She said she was a “very complicated” child who had suffered “significant adversity” and had “slipped through the net”. But Rees said: “She is so young there is a possibility for change.”

Is there really?