As IF Times

link Stephen Fry: Women don’t really like sex. What would he know, ask feminists | Mail Online.

As they say, opinions are like, well, you know, the thing that everyone has one of.  I won’t pretend to vouch for the veracity of Mr. Fry’s comments since of course, I don’t really know.  While it’s certainly possible that being gay confers upon him some special insight on the wants and needs of women, notably in the area of fashion, it’s a stretch in the area of sexual pleasure.  Certainly, it’s hard to argue against his views in the case of say,  Michael Moore or Mick Jagger.  However Warren Beatty or George Clooney may have divergent views and perhaps we should hear their opioions.   What’s most interesting about this article is, who cares what Stephen Fry thinks and how does his opinion get any press?

In a world of 3 billion plus people, how does an effete whatever he is manage to grab the attention of media which then broadcasts his wisdom for all to consume?  Has this person attained some great feat of discovery?  Does he have a history of providing grist to the collective  intellectual mill.  How did he manage to attain such sage status with his pronouncements that people would stand up and take notice?  Apart from his circle of merry men, who has even heard of this guy before?

The article describes Mr. Fry as ” the cleverest man in Britain” and “one of the country’s most famous homosexuals”  !!! 

Really? How does one get to such an exalted position in society?  Was there a contest or was it simply by selection of his peers? Are there courses you can take in school to prepare yourself for the running for such a position? How does one rise from the pool of merely clever men to the being the cleverest?  Not just the cleverest, but the most famous homosexual as well! 

How does the media decide that such a story is even newsworthy?  Like most newsrooms, I imagine that meetings are held in the mornings to discuss the contents for the coming day.  The war in Afghanistan.  Earthquake in Haiti.  Volcano in Indonesia.  Elections in the U.S.  Riots in France.  But wait!! There’s a proclamation by Stephen Fry! Stop the presses! 

Historians will one day dig up old archives representing glimpses of our society hundreds of years from now.  Among the pieces of old newspapers will be stories of Stephen Fry, one of the sages of his time whose pronouncements were heeded by all.  Da Vinci, Ben Franklin, Marconi, Gandhi and Mother Teresa, mere footnotes in the archives of history.  The evidence will show that the really avant garde thinkers of our time were gay since their opinions were sought after on every aspect of daily living.  Come to think of it, he compelled me write about him.  Boy he IS clever.

link Internet Reception Reaches Summit of Mount Everest.

It’s just not the same.  When Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay accomplished the conquest back in 1953, it was considered one of the most serious challenges to the obstacles of nature by man.  After all, Edmund did get knighted for the deed and Tenzig, well, he got a mention in a George Clooney movie decades later.

According to historical records, the pair attained the summit at 11:53 am local time on May 29th of that year.  To more finely illustrate how far we’ve come since 1953, it actually took until June the 2nd, days later before news got to the Queen of England.  For this feat, Edmund was knighted and henceforth became known as Sir Edmund.  Although these two climbers were not the first to climb Everest, they were the first to mount the summit successfully.  Over the years, 1300 some odd others have replicated the feat and now we hear that Internet connectivity is now available there.  Is nothing sacred?

There are rumors now that the mayor of Vancouver, Gregor The Green is proposing a plan to construct a bicycle path on the south face in order to accomodate the day trippers.  While the cost is nominally not excessive given the venue, the associated add ons are apparently cost issues.  Things such as recycling containers every 20 feet in elevation can add up when there’s 28,000 feet to cover.   As well,  daycare stations for moms who want to make the trip add unexpected costs to the construction.    Some of this will be privately funded by enterprises that spring up selling sweaters, buttons and memorabilia on the way to the top. 

But once you get to the top, a panoramic view awaits and there is a post next to which you can stand for the kodak moment commemorating your arrival.  And now, you can tweet or announce on Facebook that you’ve followed in Sir Edmund’s steps.  Oh the humanity.