Mancini

So Mancini has been sacked. I was a Man City fan and growing up in the 1990s, Man City was not the easiest team to support. So if you told me one day we would have a manager who would, in three seasons, win the Premiership, FA Cup and Charity Shield, only to sack him, I would have been stunned. But that's what has happened. Including FA Cup Semi-finals, City have been to Wembley six times in three seasons. I remember scrambling for a ticket to the 1999 third flight play off final against Gillingham, because I thought that would be the only time I would see them there. How times change.

Pope Francis

In my last blog, I predicted that the next Pope would be from the global south. I also said the Italian cardinals would want an Italian to 'win back' the papacy that they dominated for 400 years but then lost twice in a row in 1978 and 2005. As it turns out, the new Pope pleased everyone - he is from the global south, and is an ethnic Italian. And they say you can't please everyone?

Pope Resigns: Who will succeed him?

Today it was announced that the Pope had resigned, becoming the first pope to do so since the Middle Ages. The big question everyone is asking now is, who will replace him? My belief is that one of three things will happen.

Firstly, Italians had a 'lock' on the papacy, and for 400 years, only Italian cardinals were elected Pope. That changed with the election of John Paul II in 1978, and the Italians lost out again when at the end of his unusually long pontificate in 2005, another non-Italian, Benedict XVI, was elected. It is possible the Italian cardinals want to regain the highest office in Catholicism by electing one of their own. Several Italian Cardinals are already being tipped. The problem is Italians don't dominate the College of Cardinals in the way they once did so even if they all voted as one, that wont be enough to win. Furthermore, there are lots of Italians who could be 'papibile', and thus the vote would be split anyway.

Secondly, it is possible yet another non-Italian will be elected, and that is where the smart money is. However, he probably wont be a European. The RC church recognises that in its traditional stronghold of Europe, Catholicism is weak. This is in sharp contrast with the way the RC church is booming in Africa and other parts of the global south. Already attention is turning to two prominent black Africans: Cardinal Francis Arizne of Nigeria, and Cardinal Peter Turkson of Ghana. Whilst men born on the African continent have held the papacy before, they haven't done so for over 1,000 years and these men were North Africans, not black Africans. The election of a black Pope could send a powerful message that the RC church is serious about Africa.

The third possibility, albeit a wild-card, is an Arab Pope. There are Cardinals from Muslim and Arab countries, and the RC Church has shown an interest in 'dialogue' with Muslims. Also, the bulk of the Arab world's dwindling Christian population are Catholic, and the RC Church may see a Pope from a Muslim country as a means to both strengthen the morale of Catholics in Muslim countries, and as a way of getting someone familiar with Islam at the head of their 'dialogue'.

We shall soon see!

Death Star petition fails

A few years ago, Star Wars fans in the UK successfully managed to get hundreds of thousands of people to say that 'Jedi' was their official religion. It appears their mischief knows no limits, as this time they have called on the Obama Administration to build a Death Star at the cost of a mere $850 quadrillion. The Administration politely declined.

Lions and Labradoodles

You probably remember the silly story last year about the Essex Lion. Gosh that was fund. I used to work at Blackpool Zoo (summer job in 1998), working on the cats section. Consequently, I take an interest in stories related to the big cats. It appears a labrador-poodle cross has led some people to conclude a lion is in our midst. Aww lawdcy! More at the link below http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/labradoodle-dog-shaved-to-look-like-1528742

New Years

Happy New Year everyone!

Great poem from Invictus

Great film Invictus. The apartheid system was as evil as it was inhuman and this scene from the movie is easily the best http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FozhZHuAcCs

Jared Diamond: Great Author!

Jared Diamond is an awesome author, and I really enjoyed his book 'Collapse'. I have also been reading his book 'Guns, Germs and Steel', and found it to be just as enjoyable as his last offering. It is a shame that his books are seen airport novels, and as a keen traveller, I see his stuff on offer a lot. Note: Please do not confuse Jared DIAMOND with Jared Taylor, who is an extremist author I wouldn't give the time of day to. Some people seem to have mixed up which Jared I am a fan of, and you'd better believe its Diamond and not Taylor.

African puppets song

Most of you have seen the African puppets dancing in the street viral video. Most people want to know the song in the background. You're welcome http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8XnNMjAgjo&feature=relmfu

World Trade Centre being rebuilt

Good to see progress is coming along nicely on the new World Trade Center. I look forward to standing on it one day http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/september-11-attacks/9536698/Webcams-capture-two-years-of-World-Trade-Center-reconstruction.html

South Africa

I'd quite like to visit there one day. However I am concerned about the crime situation. However, at least the inhuman and immoral system of apartheid is gone. One thing I'll say about South Africa is they produce great music, such as the offering below.

This never gets old...

America: you have done the world a great service

African Food

Had African food for the first time ever in the Matonge district of Brussels last night. Little bit heavy on the lemon, but otherwise an ok meal.

Happy St George's Day

Just wanted to wish everyone a Happy St George's Day!

Possum raids a bakery

I remember reading that the police in Australia often have trouble with criminals, because koalas have almost identical fingerprints to humans. I wonder if that applies to possums too. This is because this story tells of how a possum raided a bakery and then gorged itself on cakes, pastries and tarts. As one does.

Batman helps Brazilian police

Crime is a major issue in many countries, especially poorer ones. Brazil is a fabulous country that is sadly scarred by violence, and the police in Brazil are in danger of constant violent attack. It would appear that the Brazilian police have a new helper: Batman. Or as this story explains, a retired policeman who goes around in a batman costume. Those drug gangs better watch out.

Long hair

I used to have reasonably long hair. It was motivated by two things: firstly, I was very into heavy metal, and it went with that scene. Secondly, at university I could never afford a haircut. Needless to say, my hair is a much more manageable length now.

I was reading this story that a BOY has finally been given permission by his parents to have a haircut. One thing I'll give my parents, they always insisted I look presentable. I waited until I went to uni to have the outrageous appearance phase.

Monsieur la Cravatte

I bought some brightly coloured ties on amazon.co.uk the other day. Marvelous stuff, very bright, with a pocket handkerchief to match. Now by bright, I mean bright. So bright you could probably use them to guide aircraft in to land at night. The other night I had a meal in the splendid 'Sapin au Rocher' restaurant near Homme de Fer station in Strasbourg, which I had been in the previous month. Apparently the staff their recognised me, and know me as "Monsieur la Cravatte" (Mister Tie) on the grounds my ties are so bright/offensive.

I don't think I have ever been so proud!

Titanic: sunk by unusual moon behaviour and tides?

The sinking of the Titanic was undoubtedly one of the greatest human tragedies of the 20th century. I remember reading a book a few years ago that suggested a cursed Egyptian pharaoh mummy was being carried in the hold cargo causing it to sink, but I suspect this may be an urban legend. Today, another culprit was suggested: the moon. Apparently, according to this article, the moon caused higher tides than usual, allowing ice bergs of an unusually deadly type to flow into the shipping lanes. The captain of the Titanic was the most experienced skipper in the White Star Line, so it has always puzzled researchers as to how he ended up hitting an iceberg. Maybe the moon created conditions no one could have predicted.

Shark feeding frenzy

There is something about the words 'shark feeding frenzy' in a headline that has the ability to make you reconsider that beach holiday you were planning, isn't there? Anyway, this story shows the sight of sharks feeding on mass, captured on camera. Damn nature, you scary!