This is what happens when you don't invest in nuclear power

Independent: Consumers to pay ‘dirty’ coal power subsidies for years
Britain’s dirtiest coal power stations are to be allowed to bid for hundreds of millions of pounds’ worth of subsidies that could allow them to stay open well into the 2020s. Senior ministers are so worried about the possibility that the UK could suffer electricity blackouts over the next few years they have agreed to let Britain’s coal stations bid for “capacity payment” handouts – paid for through people’s energy bills – which could allow them to upgrade their facilities. If successful, the money would help make coal generation economic well into the 2020s – but significantly reduce the UK’s ability to cut its carbon emissions.

Advent

According to my calculations, the Archangel Gabriel should be appearing to Princess Duchess Kate right about… NOW!

Gran-Lit

Overheard at Jen's family bash the other week, and entirely forgotten about until now (beer might have been involved):

“What did you think of those Shades of Grey books I loaned you, Nanna?”
“Very good!”

Sublety and subterfuge

Have you seen there's a new book out claiming that Bruce Springsteen brought down the Berlin Wall?

I like Bruce, but that's taking things a bit far. It took more than Cadillac Ranch to bring an end to communism. Yes, it will have helped, but winning the Cold War required more subtlety and subterfuge than that. Some of us were working unnoticed, behind the scenes, prodding here, pulling the right string there.

I can't go into details, obviously, but I can reveal that I did once sign a petition. Gorbachev was big on petitions. The biro is mightier than the Fender, remember that.

And, while we're at it, who do you think it was who leaked that Murdoch tape this week? I couldn't possibly comment, but work it out. It's not exactly Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy).

Sporting injuries

BBC: Tsonga and Azarenka among seven to pull out of Wimbledon
Seven players have been forced to pull out of Wimbledon on Wednesday in the most injury-hit second round in the competition's history...

Organisers rejected Azarenka's claims that the courts were of poor quality, describing them as "excellent". But Maria Sharapova, who lost to Michelle Larcher De Brito on court two, referred to the surface as "dangerous".

Watching Wimbledon? Me neither.

Here's a suggestion how to make tennis more interesting—by which, I mean, here's a suggestion how to make tennis even vaguely interesting: any player who has to retire injured after a fall should be shot like a racehorse. That would make them think twice before saying they'd twisted their poor, little ankle. More to the point, it would make them think several hundred times before going on to the stupid court in the first place.

Then we wouldn't have to put up with even shittier telly than normal for most on June.

(I am so not a tennis person.)