Monty Python - Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition! (or the Spanish revolution...)

Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!
In the early years of the 16th century, to combat the rising tide of religious unorthodoxy, the Pope gave Cardinal Ximinez of Spain leave to move without let or hindrance throughout the land, in a reign of violence, terror and torture that makes a smashing film. This was the Spanish Inquisition...

Ximinez: Now, old woman -- you are accused of heresy on three counts -- heresy by thought, heresy by word, heresy by deed, and heresy by action -- *four* counts. Do you confess?
Wilde: I don't understand what I'm accused of.
Ximinez: Ha! Then we'll make you understand! Biggles! Fetch...THE CUSHIONS!

Biggles: Here they are, lord.
Ximinez: Now, old lady -- you have one last chance. Confess the heinous sin of heresy, reject the works of the ungodly -- *two* last chances. And you shall be free -- *three* last chances. You have three last chances, the nature of which I have divulged in my previous utterance.
Wilde: I don't know what you're talking about.
Ximinez: Right! If that's the way you want it -- Cardinal! Poke her with the soft cushions!

Ximinez: Confess! Confess! Confess!
Biggles: It doesn't seem to be hurting her, lord.
Ximinez: Have you got all the stuffing up one end?
Biggles: Yes, lord.
Ximinez Hm! She is made of harder stuff! Cardinal Fang! Fetch...THE COMFY CHAIR!

Fang: The...Comfy Chair?

Ximinez: So you think you are strong because you can survive the soft cushions. Well, we shall see. Biggles! Put her in the Comfy Chair!

Ximinez: Now -- you will stay in the Comfy Chair until lunch time, with only a cup of coffee at eleven. Is that really all it is?
Biggles: Yes, lord.
Ximinez: I see. I suppose we make it worse by shouting a lot, do we? Confess, woman. Confess! Confess! Confess! Confess
Biggles: I confess!
Ximinez: Not you!

Spain wants true democracy

Wadah Khanfar: A historic moment in the Arab world

As a democratic revolution led by tech-empowered young people sweeps the Arab world, Wadah Khanfar, the head of Al Jazeera, shares a profoundly optimistic view of what's happening in Egypt, Tunisia, Libya and beyond -- at this powerful moment when people realized they could step out of their houses and ask for change.

This hour has 22 minutes - Canine Whisperer

The Canine Whisperer with Cesar Millan (Shaun Majumder) assessed the nature of Transport Minister John Baird's (Mark Critch) aggression. Also with Fiona (Cathy Jones) and Liberal MP (Geri Hall).

Francois Pienaar on Mandela

Francois Pienaar was the captain and flanker for the South African Springboks national rugby team who won the World Cup Championship during Nelson Mandela's post-apartheid presidency.

South Africa 20 years after Mandela's release

Martin Luther King Jr Day

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a United States holiday marking the birthdate of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., observed on the third Monday of January each year, around the time of King's birthday, January 15. It is one of four United States federal holidays to commemorate an individual person.


King was the chief spokesman for nonviolent activism in the civil rights movement, which successfully protested racial discrimination in federal and state law. He was assassinated in 1968.


The campaign for a federal holiday in King's honor began soon after his assassination. Ronald Reagan signed the holiday into law in 1983, and it was first observed in 1986. At first, some states resisted observing the holiday as such, giving it alternative names or combining it with other holidays. It was officially observed in all 50 states for the first time in 2000.

Obama is sworn in as the 44th president of the US

Here's the transcript:
ROBERTS: Are you prepared to take the oath, Senator?
OBAMA: I am.
ROBERTS: I, Barack Hussein Obama...
OBAMA: I, Barack...
ROBERTS: ... do solemnly swear...
OBAMA: I, Barack Hussein Obama, do solemnly swear...
ROBERTS: ... that I will execute the office of president to the United States faithfully...
OBAMA: ... that I will execute...
ROBERTS: ... faithfully the office of president of the United States...
OBAMA: ... the office of president of the United States faithfully...
ROBERTS: ... and will to the best of my ability...
OBAMA: ... and will to the best of my ability...
ROBERTS: ... preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.
OBAMA: ... preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.
ROBERTS: So help you God?
OBAMA: So help me God.
ROBERTS: Congratulations, Mr. President.

The search for First Dog

O'Bama is Irish!

THERE'S NO ONE AS IRISH AS BARACK O'BAMA

by The Corrigan Brothers

O'Leary, O'Reilly, O'Hare and O'Hara

There's no one as Irish as Barack O'Bama

You don't believe me, I hear you say

But Barack's as Irish as was JFK

His granddaddy's daddy came from Moneygall

A small Irish village, well known to you all

Toor a loo, toor a loo, toor a loo, toor a lama

There's no one as Irish as Barack O'Bama

He's as Irish as bacon and cabbage and stew

He's Hawaiian, he's Kenyan, American too

He’s in the White House,

He took his chance

Now let’s see Barack do Riverdance

Toor a loo, toor a loo, toor a loo, toor a lama

There's no one as Irish as Barack O'Bama

From Kerry and Cork to old Donegal

Let’s hear it for Barack from old Moneygall

From the lakes of Killarney to old Connemara

There’s no one as Irish as Barack O’Bama

O'Leary, O'Reilly, O'Hare and O'Hara

There's no one as Irish as Barack O'Bama

From the old Blarney Stone to the great Hill of Tara

There's no one as Irish as Barack O'Bama

2008 the White House is green,

They're cheering in Mayo and in Skibereen.

The Irish in Kenya, and in Yokahama,

Are cheering for President Barack O’Bama

O'Leary, O'Reilly, O'Hare and O'Hara

There's no one as Irish as Barack O'Bama

The Hockey Mom's gone, and so is McCain

They are cheering in Texas and in Borrisokane,

In Moneygall town, the greatest of drama,

For our famous President Barack O' Bama

Toor a loo, toor a loo, toor a loo, toor a lama

There's no one as Irish as Barack O'Bama

The great Stephen Neill, a great man of God,

He proved that Barack was from the Auld Sod

They came by bus and they came by car,

To celebrate Barack in Ollie Hayes’s Bar

O'Leary, O'Reilly, O'Hare and O'Hara

There's no one as Irish as Barack O'Bama

NOTES

JFK are the initials of US President John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Riverdance is traditional Irish dancing, with rapid leg movements while body and arms don't move.

The Blarney Stone is a block of bluestone built into the battlements of Blarney Castle, about 8 km from Cork, Ireland. According to legend, kissing the stone endows the kisser with the gift of gab (great eloquence).

Hockey Mom is a term widely used in Canada and USA, where mothers (and fathers) often take their children to ice hockey rinks. Sarah Palin described herself as a hockey mom.

Canon Stephen Neill is the Church of Ireland rector.

Auld Sod is an affectionate name for Ireland, meaning "the old country".

Bye bye, George

While large corners of the world are busy celebrating Obama's presidential victory there will be some people feeling slightly deflated to see George Bush step down as US president. Over the past eight years Bush has provided us with endless amusement as a result of his faux pas or ‘Bushisms' as they've been dubbed. Here are some of them:

"Those who enter the country illegally violate the law." - Nov. 28, 2005

"We don't believe in planners and deciders making the decisions on behalf of Americans." - Sept. 6, 2000

"I think we agree, the past is over." - May 10, 2000

"I want everybody to hear loud and clear that I'm going to be the president of everybody." - Jan. 18, 2001

"One of the great things about books is sometimes there are some fantastic pictures." - Jan. 3, 2000

"I just want you to know that when we talk about war, we're really talking about peace." - June 18, 2002

"I'm honored to shake the hand of a brave Iraqi citizen who had his hand cut off by Saddam Hussein." - May 25, 2004

"There's an old saying in Tennessee - I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee - that says, fool me once, shame on - shame on you. Fool me - you can't get fooled again." - Sept. 17, 2002

"I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully." - Sept. 29, 2000

"Rarely is the questioned asked: Is our children learning?" - Jan. 11, 2000

"It is white" — after being asked by a child in Britain what the White House was like. - July 19, 2001

"They misunderestimated me." - Nov. 6, 2000

"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we." - Aug. 5, 2004

Barack Obama's victory speech

Interactive video and transcript of Barack Obama's victory speech:

http://elections.nytimes.com/2008/results/president/speeches/obama-victory-speech.html

Palin caught out by 'President Sarkozy'

Canadian radio comedian persuades Republican vice-presidential hopeful he is French leader in prank phone call

Perhaps Sarah Palin should have realised something was amiss when the caller purporting to be France's president, Nicolas Sarkozy, referred to "my special American adviser, Johnny Halliday".

Later in the call, maybe, she could have guessed that even the real Sarkozy would be unlikely to refer to his wife, Carla Bruni, as "so hot in bed" or talk about a supposed mutual love of hunting by saying "to take away a life, that is so fun".

The would-be vice president was, of course, speaking to Canadian comedian Marc-Antoine Audette, part of a radio duo who have made prank calls to a series of world leaders over the years.

Palin didn't give away anything of real note – except perhaps an ambition to be president herself "maybe in eight years" – or suffer any real embarrassments.

It is interesting, however, to hear Palin's eager tone of voice and exaggerated politeness ("We love you! Thanks you for talking to me!") which seemed to go beyond courtesy into sheer fandom.

Maybe Palin – like many others - still can't believe the position she's in right now.

Source: The Guardian (November,2)

Elections ... the American way

http://learning.loc.gov/learn/features/election/home.html

A useful tool to understand the American voting system.