Flowery

Running early in the morning I undertook a 15 minute impromptu cycling survey on Lothian Road, which is going to lead to a more full-on hour long survey later in the week I think. The benefit of taking a photo of every cyclist who passes is that I can analyse properly.

It's also reminded me to get back to reading up properly on the helmet piece I'd promised a while back now.

Following on from my Amy Winehouse words at the weekend I found it hilarious to see Melanie Phillips in the Daily Wail had found fit to comment on the death of the singer. This being Ms Phillips who declared that Stephen Gately's untimely demise was essentially down to his louche homosexual lifestyle. Interestingly Winehouse's troubles weren't linked at all to her sexuality (funny that), but she did find time to expound this particular nugget:

"But, for some people, self-destruction has its own fascination and glamour. They shared vicariously in her torment, lapping up news of her latest excesses - assuming, in the fantasy world they appear to inhabit, that she would eventually vanquish her demons.

Those fantasies are promoted by the entertainment world in which she lived and died, and which positively lionises and encourages the self-destructive behaviour that brings in such handsome rewards."

This from someone writing for the Daily Wail, a publication completely and utterly hooked on selling us stories of the good the bacd and the ugly of celebrity-hood. And they print this stuff with no sense of irony. I loved one headline today, "Bruce Jenner's fury as he discovers young Kendall, 15, on birth control in Keeping up with the Kardashians," before going on to ask in the sub-heading (and honestly, I'm not making this up), "Is nothing private?"

Erm... No... Not with you lot around (I have to admit here that I have no knowledge whatsoever of who any of these people are...). Other top stories include Christie Brinkley looking young; Anne Hathaway wearing a turquoise swimsuit; and Cameron Diaz on a shopping trip showing off her legs. Important stuff I tihnk you'll agree.

Oh, and within the Winehouse article mentioned earlier, to highlight the drinking culture that helped take the singer from the world, is a picture of some lads in a pub drinking with the tagline, "Deregulated: The culture of 24 hour drinking introduced under Labour is seemingly intent on turned an entire generation to alcoholism (stock picture)." So Labour killed Amy Winehouse. Or something.