The BBC World Service is 80 today

If it's ever been your lifeline back to home you'll know what a wonderful thing the BBC World Service is. I remember how it was our link back to the football when I went travelling.

It was sitting on top of a roof in Jodphur in India that we heard Wayne Rooney's first goal for Everton against Arsenal. Happy memories of being huddled round that little shortwave radio waiting for the news or the football coverage to start each week.

Angela Merkel gets beer poured on here but takes it in her stride

Have to say Angela Merkel handles this accidental soaking brilliantly :

Clumsy waiter pours beer over German Chancellor Angela Merkel

A sardonic shrug and raising a glass is probably the coolest way possible to deal with that sort of thing. Prost!

Richard Dawkins gets hoisted by his own petard

It is a good'n this



Poor Christopher Hitchens must be spinning in his grave.

Looking down on the city

Loving the view from The Panoramic restaurant.

Rangers go into administration

It really is staggering that the Scottish champions have gone bust. I suppose Celtic can argue that if they had lived beyond their means in the way Rangers had then they might have won more of those titles instead of their arch rivals.

It shows how ridiculous the whole business of football is and how an implosion could be just round the corner.

It also shows how totally uncompetitive the SPL is given that even with the 10 point penalty Rangers are still 9 points clear of 3rd place.

Should I go for mayor of Liverpool

Ha ha, worst idea ever surely....me being mayor I mean, the banning of liverpool fc (or at least making them change their name) on day one might upset a few people for starters.

All in all I think the idea of a mayor of Liverpool is a pretty pointless endeavour. Add in a devolution of power plus 130 million pound extra for the city and it's pretty much a no brainer.

I wish whoever does decide to run for mayor luck, it'll be a pretty much thankless task in a country who's population seems to have collectively adopted an "iconoclast uber alles" personality.

Where for art thou Everton

Why are Everton simply brilliant against City and Chelsea but so lacking cohesion and belief against Wigan and Bolton?

It really is weird...we've been a joy to watch in these big, big wins recently...everything you love about Moyes' Everton.

And finally, finally

What an abject object lesson in how not to handle a mess....liverpool fc have been a disaster area for weeks. Dalglish's obstinate refusal to acknowledge any wrong by his player has plunge that club deeper and deeper into ignominy.

It finally come to a head on Saturday when a player who'd previously been racially abused by Suarez tried to put in all behind them by offering a handshake and still Suarez tried to play the wounded, wronged party and refused.

Dalglish rallied to defend Suarez yet again and even up until Sunday the likes of Aldridge were still trying to refuse to acknowledge any blame on the part of the liverpool player. Only when negative press began to surface in the New York Times did Fenway Group step and and force apologies.

At last.

Stevie P, oh Stevie P. Oh Stevie P Oh Stevie P

Can't tell you proud I am of Everton today. A supposed top 4 side and we took them to the cleaners. Denis, who we all know is a limited footballer, caused MAYHEM against their weird, lopsided 3-5-2 formation with Cole as a left winger and Luis as a left half.

Everton by comparison knew what they were about from the off, set the tempo and got in amongst them at every turn........the only question remains were the f*ck has that Everton been pre-Christmas....we look so accomplished at the moment. The confidence running throughout the side is like a short in the arm to players like Denis and Donovan. A joy to behold. Went to the game with my Dad today. Pints before in the Black Horse before and after.....days don't get better

Campaigning in South Liverpool

No-one can ever accuse Liverpool Labour of only turning up in May when we want people to vote for us. We've been traipsing the streets for months contacting residents and letting them know what we are about.

It's about making sure we are doing as much as possible to let people know the problems the city is facing and, more importantly, finding out the problems they facing. It's difficult but that's why we are Labour.

Tom Watson on the NHS and the Drop the Bill campaign

Got this mailshot for MP Tom Watson

Ed Miliband calls really early. Too early. These days I have to set my alarm for 6am in order to be fully awake before he starts chasing me.

Before Ed's calls, I listen to the depressing daily news on the Today programme. Unemployment sky rocketing, the economy flat-lining, more arrests at News International. By the time Ed rings I'm usually ready to explode.

The final straw came at 6.54am last Friday morning.

Interviewed on Today, Clare Gerada, the Chair of the Royal College of GPs, was asked about Lansley's Health Bill. I don't know Clare Gerada, but she was authoritative, calm, thorough, and therefore devastating in her analysis.

As the first coffee of the day was brewing, Clare patiently said the following words:

"I think the essence is this Bill is a burden. It makes no sense. It’s incoherent to anybody other than the lawyers. It won’t deal with the big issues that we have to deal with such as the aging population and dementia. It will result in a very expensive health service and it will also result in a health service that certainly will never match the health service that we have at the moment or at least had 12 months ago."

I couldn't stomach any more of this miserable truth about Cameron, Osborne and Lansley's Britain. I'm sick of starting every day like this. I re-tuned to Smooth Radio.

But re-tuning the radio isn't enough. What makes us Labour is that we don't just look away. We've got to stop them. We've got to stop this Bill. It really will wreck the NHS in a way that hasn't been fully understood. It's a fight that patients can't afford for us to lose.

Cameron is determined to force these measures through. To defeat him, we have to build a coalition against the Bill that has never been seen before.

Sign the Drop the Bill petition here

The 6 Nations catches fire

Have to say the game this afternoon between Ireland and Wales was an absolute classic. It was a joy to watch two brilliant teams go all out for the win

For the record I thought Wales deserved it but the brilliance of the win was tainted somewhat by a really nasty spear-tackle in the second half. I imagine the citing committee will be involved because there was real intent in that and could have done some serious damage.

This was balanced, almost, by a ridiculous decision not to give Wales a try in the first half despite the ball clearly going down and there being no demonstrable evidence that it had been held up.

Anyway classic encounters always have their talking points...both teams deserve immense credit for really getting 6 Nations going for us...a joy to watch

The 6 Nations is back

Icy Saturdays are meant to be enjoyed in nice warm houses with pints of lovely beer abd the telly on. Waterloo's home game was cancelled so that left us free to do just that. There are few more beautiful trophies in world sport than the Calcutta Cup, it was great to see a young, inexperienced side lift it although really Scotland were the better side.

A Grand old Team

As hinted at in last night's post it felt like a good night to be a blue from the word go.

City always seem to fall foul of Everton's superior workrate and commitment. Players like Aguero, Villa and Nasri have added real class to go along with the brawn but where is the steel that side will need to win a title? Playing in the African Cup of Nations you might suggest. You can admire their talent but Everton's team spirit counted for more.

Cahill was a warrior, Denis & Donovan gave everything, Heitinga and Hibbert were immense whilst Fellaini and Gibson battled all night. Moyes out-thought Mancini with the inspired decision to bring in Hibbert to help do a job on Dzeko......yeah all in all a great night to be a blue

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