BBC Radio 4's Book of the Week - The Etymologicon

Regular readers will know of my love for etymology. Now my favourite radio station has chosen a recently published book that describes itself as A Circular Stroll through the Hidden Connections of the English Language, as its Book of the Week. Starting today, extracts will be read from an abridged version till Friday by one of my favourite comedians, Hugh Dennis. Pure heaven!

LINKS:
The Etymologicon: A Circular Stroll through the Hidden Connections of the English Language [Amazon UK]
Inky Fool Blog

Мои твиты

• Пн, 08:52: RT @robinbogg: Kim Jong-il is trending. Has he said something stupid on Twitter?
• Пн, 08:54: RT @helenlewis: Oh great, there's now a dictator of a nuclear power the same age as me. More ammunition for my mother this Christmas.
• Пн, 21:45: BBC News - Transport spending 'skewed towards London' http://t.co/H3RjludQ
• Вт, 01:50: While at #LFC, nobody scored more goals than Torres in the Premier League. During his time at Chelsea, 37 have outscored him. Bosh! #fw

Dad with Nero

My sister arrived in Oman a few days ago and is having lots of fun with our puppy. I can't wait to join them at the end of the week!

What happens to the voting slips used in British elections after they have been counted?

Judging by these letters written to the Guardian some years ago, we have every right to question whether the practice of using numbered ballots has been abused by the authorities (ie spooks) in such a way as to deny us a secret ballot during elections.

Мои твиты

• Пн, 21:45: BBC News - Transport spending 'skewed towards London' http://t.co/H3RjludQ
• Вт, 01:50: While at #LFC, nobody scored more goals than Torres in the Premier League. During his time at Chelsea, 37 have outscored him. Bosh! #fw
• Вт, 10:53: My week on twitter: 8 retweets received, 7 new followers, 14 mentions. Via: http://t.co/csfpXfxQ
• Вт, 12:26: RT @IndiaRealTime: Bhagavad Gita ‘Extremist’ Label Riles Lawmakers http://t.co/c4DKlZSq

Hitchens vs Hitchens

Radio 4's Today presenter James Naughtie interviewed the late Christopher Hitchens and his equally feisty brother Peter at the 2005 Hay Literary Festival about their controversial views, the Iraq war and religion. Listen here. There's also a transcript of another interview with the two from the same Festival. And below is an interview with a cancer-stricken Hitchens from last year.