Football: not coming home

The 2018 World Cup has been awarded to Russia, and 2022 to Qatar. Enjoy those 40C + temperatures and the ban on alcohol outside a few licenced hotels in '22. Oh, and homosexuals: sorry. The Russians don't like you and the Qataris have a legal ban on homosexuality. You'll have to get your kicks (sorry) elsewhere. Straights are in trouble too: kissing in public is illegal. I'm quite looking forward to footballers being arrested for overly-demonstrative goal-celebrations.

Good. The Panorama programme a few days ago proved fairly conclusively what we already knew: that FIFA (like many international sport governing bodies) is riddled with corruption, and that any country wishing to host an event has to agree to exploitation and fraud: FIFA's demands included exemption from minimum-wage, taxation and money-laundering laws.

If you've read even a small part of the Wikileaks reports on Russia, you'll recognise that a country with no distinction between the mafia and the ruling class and government is the ideal location for a corrupt, arrogant and exclusive event. All those ticket scams, construction rackets, prostitution rings, and on and on ad infinitum. They're suited to each other.

And on top of all that, David Cameron looks extremely stupid, flying to Switzerland to apologise for the BBC's journalism, flying back for PMQs, then out to Switzerland for more lobbying and schmoozing.

FIFA of course have done nothing about the corruption evidence. Their ethics committee says that no official has been convicted of bribery, neatly overlooking the fact that bribery wasn't a criminal offence in Switzerland (predictably) at the time. Who's the head of the ethics committee? Why, it's that former Tory Scum MP Sebastian Coe!

Perhaps significantly, Russia is 140th and Qatar 120th on the Index of Press Freedom. I wonder if Panorama did sway the voting to some extent! No pesky investigations in these countries!

What we can learn from Baroness Verma

Oooh, a real Baroness coming to talk to the Business School. She's a Tory peer (appointed, obviously - failed to get elected in Hull and Wolverhampton) and shadow minister for Children, Schools and Families. What will she talk about?

'Achieving in Business and Education'.

Excellent. I wonder if she'll share the same kind of insights that the BBC investigative programme, Panorama, found when they investigated her string of care homes? Complaints upheld by the Care Commission…

Should be fascinating.

More old news

From the Times, August 7th 1858

BIRMINGHAM TRIENNIAL MUSICAL FESTIVAL, August 31, Sept. 1, 2, and 3, 1858–Detailed PROGRAMMES are now ready, and may be had on application to the Secretary, Mr. Henry Howell, 34, Bennett's-hill, Birmingham.

BURFORD'S LUCKNOW and DELHI PANORAMAS.–Now OPEN, these splendid VIEWS showing all the interesting features of the recent terrific conflicts. The Right Kulm and a portion of Switzerland at Sunrise are also open. Admission 1s. to each view. Daily from 10 till dusk.–Leicester-square.

We could, however, think about emigration - there are well over a hundred adverts for passage to Australia, India, the United States and further.

ELLEN STUART for MELBOURNE.–Black Ball Line of packets.–The magnificent Liverpool-built clipper ship ELLEN STUART, 1,388 tons register, 4,000 tons burtdn, Capt. ROBERT BROWN, will sail from Liverpool on Sept. 5. This splendid ship was built in Liverpool for the owners of the Black Ball Line, under their immediate supervision, and having been designed expressly for their Australian packet service, and no expense spared in her construction, she is allowed to be the most perfect passenger ship in port. She has a full poop, and the chief cabin is a beautiful apartment, with an after saloon for ladies. The state rooms are furnished with bedding, towels &c. The second cabin, intermediate, and steerage are thoroughly lighted and ventilated. Apply to James Baines and Co., Tower-buildings, Liverpool ; or to T. M. Mackay and Co., 2, Moorgate-street, London, E.C.

STEAM (under 60 days) to AUSTRALIA.–Passage £14 and upwards.–The Liverpool and Australian Navigation Company's celebrated auxiliary steam clippers, in conjunction with the Eagle Line of packets, are despatched on the 15th of each month to the consignment of Bright, Brothers and Co., Melbourne, forwarding passengers to all parts of Australia. RESOLUTE, WALLACE, 3,000 tons, 15th August. These clipper ships are guaranteed to sail to the day, and are famed for the superiority of the provisioning and passenger accommodation. Packet of 15th August, the new A 1 clipper ship Resolute, 1, 112 tons register, 3, 000 tons burden. The saloon accommodation is unsurpassed by any ship afloat ; she is fitted with baths, closets &c., and everything necessary for comfort during the voyage. The fore cabin and 'tween deck arrangements are most excellent. Apply to Gibbs, Bright, and Co., 1, North John-street, Liverpool ; or to Roberts and Irving, 9, Cornhill, London.

Though you may want to stay closer to home:

YARMOUTH and BACK, 8s.––The General Steam Navigation Company's STEAM-SHIPS leave London-bridge-wharf for YARMOUTH every Wednesday and Saturday, at 4 afternoon. Saloon, 8s., ; fore, 5s. ; return tickets 12s., or 8s.

Sheepy goodness

It's raining heavily so I'm a happy rodent.

Last night Neal and I had another in our now regular series of quality meals on Monday - they've come about because it's convenient for Neal to stay at mine and the boy can cook. Anybody looking for a house-husband? Last night consisted of fine vegetables supporting slow-cooked tender lamb chops marinaded and crusted with minted Greek yogurt. Then Neal got disgracefully drunk on very little beer, though he behaved rather better than Radford Sallow did a few weeks ago…

We watched Torchwood which was much better than its previous incarnations, then watched Panorama's exposé of the police's vendetta against environmentalists: the senior cops came across as shifty, badly-informed and occasionally dishonest. Watch it here if you're in the UK.