The Sheeping News

The world's richest people enjoy smug predictions that our huge, biased and therefore untrustworthy global media empires will soon be toppled - and perhaps not before time.  Our 'Legacy Media' is apparently fated to be over-run by social media news platforms streaming live content produced by the users, for the users and above all, enshrining the user's freedom of speech.  This will give everyone A Voice and of course, access to The Truth. ""You hear that Mr Murdoch ?  That is the sound of inevitability.  It is the sound of your death." It is no secret that in the last 40 years, 90% of the global film, TV and print media we consume has been consolidated under just 6 owners. This global accretion is similarly mirrored on national levels .  Local newspapers in the US have folded faster than any time previously while the UK's distinctive local radio stations have fallen prey to ever-hungry national networks. One after another the UK has seen local radio ...

A decade away from home leaves you with some serious catching-up to do when you finally return.  Things subtly moved on while you were away and are not quite the same as you remember.  At some point dogs became welcome in shops and pubs, where drinkers now snort gas from silver cylinders while enjoying their pint.  And everywhere we go and in everything we do, we not only have to include everybody - but we have to consider their feelings too.    In today's ever-changing social landscape it really is essential to ensure we leave nobody feeling left behind, left out or indeed feeling too left wing by our bold opinions. We need to give everyone a chance to be heard so we do not accidentally favour those with the loudest voices. The policies of equality, diversity and inclusion are important in all aspects of how we conduct ourselves; which includes fairly apportioning how we give offence. We must ensure that we offend all people equally to ensure none feel overl...

Not long ago Britain was almost unknown to the civilised world and by early accounts, it had to be seen to be believed.  Rare descriptions of its people noted; "They wear their hair long and shave all their bodies except their heads and upper lip.  Wives are shared between groups of ten or twelve men; especially between brothers, fathers and sons.   T hey dye their bodies with woad which produces a blue colour, making them appear daunting in battle."   Such accounts tempted people to leave the comforts of cities as far away as Rome to come to see for themselves.  And so a long history of unwelcome boats crossing the channel was about to begin .... "Oi !  Clear Awwff " The city was hot, the air was heavy, the Tiber stank. Caesar was anxiously pacing the cool marble floor barefoot around his pool.  Calpurnia entered from their bedchamber, pulling a toga around her otherwise naked body as something of an afterthought. "Husband ?  You cannot slee...

Two decades of working abroad teach you many ways to negotiate the language barrier.  But nothing quite prepares you for setting up home in the West Country, only to find you cannot understand the locals.  The Severn Bridge and the Prince of Wales Bridge spanning the Severn Estuary: connecting the West Counrty to Wales Me: "I say!" Her: "'Hello my luvely, what can I do for you today ?" "Woud you by any chance know how to get to Down ?" "Well yes I should say I do, thank you." "Er well, could you perhaps tell me how to get to Down ?" "Well yes, it's jolly easy really, I'm sure most folks around here could probably tell you." "Ah well quite.  I'm sorry to say I'm not from around here, so would you please be so kind as to tell me just how easy it is ?" "Well now, which Down are you looking for exactly ?  Upper Down or Lower Down ?" "Ah, now that's a good question to be fair.  Is th...