Lee for Vendetta

If you thought British politics was childish, consider yourself lucky. If you want an idea of what domestic politics is like in Taiwan, think of Taiwan's legislature (parliament) as a huge pram afloat on a sea of spat-out dummies. Under the current administration, antagonism between parties is such that legislators can be counted on to vote for or against any bill depending on who proposed it. Saves a lot of time reading boring documents I guess.

But there are times when mindless gainsaying just isn't enough. Step forward Lee Ao. Lee is an independent legislator (MP) and chronic self-publicist, a combination which frequently leads to colourful acts of look-at-me drama. Last week in a vote on a government-proposed arms bill, Lee entered the voting chamber in a V for Vendetta Guy Fawkes mask, brandished a stun baton and set off a can of tear gas. "I'm an old man and can risk my life," said Lee, "let's see who dares to vote on the bill now!"

Later in the week Lee switched sides and went to vote in favour of a government-proposed bill attacking dubious assets held by the opposition. He held up his banner, did a little song and dance and then pressed the wrong button and voted against the bill by mistake.

I defy you to find a looser cannon in world politics. To think the best we have is Boris Johnson. Will things be this much fun if China takes over? Somehow I doubt it.

Hammond Trumps Expectations

Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond spoke today for the first time about his 300mph crash last month. According to doctors, the brain injury he sustained in the accident had caused Hammond to "regress to a childlike state, where he was obsessed with the card game Top Trumps."

Regress? Obviously these doctors don't watch Top Gear or they would have realised Hammond was well on his way to a full recovery. Jeremy Clarkson has been stuck in a persistent childlike state for over 40 years...

People My Brother Jim Looks Like #7

Ah yes, it's been a while, but finally another is unearthed in the form of actor Eric Balfour, aka Milo from 24.

My finger ever on the pulse of popular culture five years after the event, I'm just getting round now to watching the first series. I was in my first year of university when it was originally shown and we had a clear house rule: no talking in the TV room when 24 was on. This was - correctly - to avoid incessant questions along the lines of "Who's he again? What's he doing? Well, why's he doing that?" which would have led to the questioner suffering an impromptu assassination attempt on the spot. So I missed a couple of episodes and never caught up.