BBC – Baffling British Cabbies

I don’t normally lend this site over to humour, but I though I might make an exception here today. The British Broadcasting Corporation made an utter fool of itself by inviting a cabbie on as an expert in computer technology.

The cabbie seemed to handle the situation quite well, after the initial shock of being introduced as a computer expert. (Of course, it might have been even funnier if he had explained the real situation on air.)

Whilst the situation itself is quite humourous, a larger question does arise. That is, how does the BBC verify its experts? Any global warming nutter, or a rabid anti-WTO protester with no real argument can worm their way onto the small screen. Indeed, the whole leftist agenda is based on sound bites, and if a cabbie can impersonate a computer expert (with no prior notice), so too can many other people.

The whole lesson shows that when people appear as so called experts on television, they are usually getting a very easy ride. Many statements they make, no matter how false, are left unchallenged.

Kennedy and McKinney

The American media has reported that United States Democratic Congressman Patrick Kennedy crashed his car, and police suspected him of driving under the influence. At first, it appears there was some sort of preferential treatment given to the congressman. Instead of undergoing the usual sobriety tests that police officers give to potential offenders, he was supposedly driven home. The story is that other more senior police officers gave the order that he not be tested.

This comes after another recent instance, where another prominent Democrat, Cynthia McKinney is alleged to have hit a police officer trying to check her credentials for entry into a government building. She is now under a Grand Jury investigation.

Were it not for a free press, these stories would have never appeared. After his initial denials of drinking, Congressman Kennedy claimed that he could not remember anything of the incident, and blamed an addiction to pain killers.

What is particularly disgusting is that both these congressmen have tried to run rough-shot over the very people that are charged with protecting them. It would be sad if either or both of these congressmen were re-elected.

At the same time, America should be thankful for a free press, guaranteed under its constitution. There are plenty of dictatorships that survive because they are able to suppress the press, and stop true horrors from being reported. A free press and unfettered free speech is something that we should all cherish.

Atlas Shrugged Movie Update

Variety magazine recently reported that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are interested in starring in Ayn Rand’s epic novel, Atlas Shrugged. Both Pitt and Jolie are reported to be fans of Ayn Rand’s works. (Brad Pitt has expressed previous interest in starring as Howard Roark in The Fountainhead – also by Ayn Rand.)