Was Sir Michael Parkinson Right About Jade Goody?

There's a proverb that's common in many languages. Non si deve profanare il sonno dei morti.ṯὸν ṯɛθνηκόṯα μή κακολογɛῖν,de mortuis nil nisi bonum. All of which roughly translate as "never speak ill of the dead". And that's why I was surprised yesterday to read that Sir Michael Parkinson described Jade Goody as representing "all that it wretched about Britain today" just a few days after her funeral. He added " She was brought up on a sink estate, as a child came to know both drugs and crime, was barely educated, ignorant and puerile." I don't pretend to have been a fan of Jade but if that is the criticism leveled at her the argument does not stack up. I would have thought that somebody who was "brought up on a sink estate, as a child came to know both drugs and crime and was barely educated" was a victim rather than somebody worthy of such post mortem denigration. And indeed Sir Michael (who's entire career was built on the cult of celebrity) did carry on to make that very point in his Radio Times interview. That she went on to become wealthy despite the humble background and went on to exploit the very media that exploited her surely warrants some respect. Even if the bulk of the criticism was directed at those who created the circus that she became, Sir Michael's linking of childhood deprivation with a headline grabbing attack on a popular young woman after her death was out of order. The proverb has been traced back to the Spartans in the 6th Century BC and will probably remain in use for many centuries after Parky is forgotten.

Here at Instanta I am getting news that head of metalwork Kev Marshall's partner Nikki has just given birth to a healthy baby girl.Sophie weighed in at 8lbs 7oz after a difficult labour for Nikki. I reckon that's 6-0 to the girls in the last two years for Instanta staff.Kev has promised me a photo and I will get that on the blog as soon as I get one.



We are making good progress on the sous vide literature. Photos are all ready and we just need to sort out the copy now. We are still well on target for launch at the end of the month.



Spare a thought for poor Ian Tomlinson who died during the G20 protests last week. Initial reports from police claimed that he died of natural causes. This may well be true but I think many people with dodgy hearts could suffer a cardiac arrest if thrown violently to the ground as seen in a newly released video. Shame on the police. I do worry that, after experiences at Anfield last month, the police are getting out of control in this country. I came across this video yesterday which shows a crowd's response to police brutality at a soccer match. Power to the people.Ignore the title to this video , the game was in Switzerland and was a "friendly" between Benfica and Carouge. When you watch a second time (which you surely will), concentrate on the cop doing all the beating and watch him the whole way through.



And if , like me, you've never experimented with drugs but would like to know what it's like, watch this. It really works. Don't worry. The effects are only short lasting.