Will they change three lions on England badge to three domestic cats!?

There is a bit (big 🙄) of a furore about the Football Association (FA) deciding to alter the flag of England which is the St George's Cross by changing the red cross against a white background to a purple and blue cross against a dark blue background on the back of the collar of the new football shirt for England players.

High profile football professionals have criticised the move. A former British goalkeeper, the very well known David Seaman, asks "will they change three lions to three cats?" See below for the story behind the three lions on the badge.

Furore over change to St George's Cross on football shirts. Image: Nike/X.

He is very critical of the change to the England flag albeit for a bit of fun. It seems to be a reflection of woke Britain because the colours appear to be the usual colours of the LBGT movement.

The reference to the three lions being changed to three cats is a way of sarcastically belittling the change in the colours of the cross.

It's been revealed that Nike altered the St George's Cross using purple and blue horizontal stripes in a playful update to the shirt ahead of Euro 2024.

A lot of people don't see it as playful but as disrespectful. I don't think you would see Nike changing the American flag which is afforded a lot of respect in the United States for playful fun reasons. 

We should have the same respect for the England flag in England. It's a very well-known flag which goes back probably thousands of years.

England fans have decided to boycott Nike. And another thing: the shirt costs a rip-off £125! For a polyester shirt for Christ's sake. The fans are consistently ripped off in the UK where prices are known to be too high. We are sick of being ripped off by big business. And often it is foreign countries which think the UK is 'Treasure Island'! 😒

Below is a section about England's three lions and how they became part of the badge worn by sportsmen and sportswomen playing for England.

Keir Starmer, the opposition leader, said the same thing by the way. That's the mood in the country.

The Three Lions

The three lions on the England badge have a historical significance that dates back almost a thousand years. The symbol originated with King Henry I, known as the Lion of England, who had a lion on his coat of arms. When he married Adeliza of Louvain, he added a second lion to honor her father, Godfrey I, Count of Louvain. The third lion was added by Henry II after marrying Eleanor of Aquitaine, as her family also had a lion on their crest.

Image in public domain.

The three lions became associated with the English monarchy and were later adopted by the Football Association when it was formed in 1863. The badge has been a symbol of the national side ever since and is even referenced in the famous song by Baddiel, Skinner, and the Lightning Seeds.

Additionally, the England badge features ten roses, which are Tudor roses representing the traditional floral heraldic emblem of England. These were introduced to the badge in 1948-49 to represent the ten divisions of Football Association members at the time

What is the meaning of the three lions on the England badge?

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

Russian 'corpse' in body bag smoking. More Russian propaganda.

Putin lies so much I don't think he knows the difference between fact and fiction. Here's a video from Russia of a bunch or 'corpses' in black body bags with one of them dragging on a fag 😎🤢. We are not told what is happening but my imagination tells me Putin's cronies were setting up some sort of scammy propaganda news feed to further pull the wool over the eyes of naive Russian citizens (usually the died in the wool elderly who love the man). It is all Kremlin pantomime. The Kremlin is a theatre of lies.

Update! The Full Fact website claims that "The clip was filmed during the production of a music video for a Russian rapper, in at least 2020." Fine. This sounds reasonable but it does not change the fact that Putin is an inveterate liar on a gargantuan scale and is constantly involved in spreading propaganda to pull the wool over the eyes of Russian citizens.

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

Attempted aggravated burglary with a firearm to steal a cat

NEWS AND VIEWS: In Britain this would be aggravated burglary and/or 'armed robbery' which is defined as 'the crime of stealing from somewhere or someone using weapons. It can result in a 16 years prison sentence on conviction. Aggravated burglary is entering someone's home (trespass) and using a weapon to threaten the occupier to steal possessions from them.

Generic illustration, This is neither the burglar nor the cat concerned.

This story takes place in the US.

On Sunday, in East Haven, Connecticut, two armed suspects entered a home (burglary) with the intent to steal a cat valued at a high dollar amount. The incident occurred around 3:45 p.m. at a residence on Thompson Street. 

The suspects tried to enter through a sliding door at the back of the house. Despite the residents’ efforts to prevent entry, one suspect kicked through the glass door. 

Once inside, they brandished a firearm (making this aggravated burglary and armed robbery) and demanded the cat. However, a resident managed to fend off the intruders, who then fled in a blue BMW without the cat. 

The vehicle was later found in Hamden and seized for evidence. The police believe this was a targeted attack, as the intruders seemed to know the residents. No injuries were reported, and the investigation is ongoing.

Comment: I think this is the first time in reading 'cat news' for 17 years that I have encountered a story of a couple of criminals trying to steal a cat from someone's home by force. A very serious crime because the gun was used in combination with theft or attempted theft and trespass.

We are not told anything about the cat but the most valuable cats out there at the moment are F1 Savannah cats which can fetch something in the order of $20,000 to $30,000.

On a risk reward basis for these criminals to commit such a serious crime the cat would have to be more than a regular purebred cat costing $3,000-$5,000.

P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

British King, Queen and future queen all have cancer

Chemo. generic picture.

Just a quick note. Three top Royals have cancer. You might not be aware of this as Kate Middleton has recently disclosed her cancer diagnosis.

King Charles: unspecified cancer but discovered when he had his prostate shrunk. Possible discovered bladder cancer but I am speculating. Source: all over the news media.

Queen Camilla: breast cancer as reported in Jan 2024. Possible mastectomy (as reported in news media). Source: Press Reader.

Princess of Wales (Kate): just revealed that cancer was discovered when she was in hospital for abdominal surgery. She is undergoing chemo at present. Source: The Independent.

In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London and at the time, it was thought that my condition was non-cancerous. The surgery was successful. However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present. My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy and I am now in the early stages of that treatment. - Kate Middleton.

As you might expect, the news of Kate Middleton having cancer is all over the news media websites today. She says that she is going to be okay and tells us in an emotional video of major surgery and chemotherapy. The King talks of her as his "beloved daughter in law".

The Princess of Wales is undergoing treatment for cancer. She said: "I am well and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal; in my mind, body and spirit."

We don't know what type of cancer it is. The King said that he was "so proud of Catherine for her courage in speaking as she did".

Rishi Sunak led politicians in support of the Princess saying that she had "shown tremendous bravery" and he wished her a speedy recovery.

How do I secure my pet in the car?

Securing your pet in the car is crucial for their safety, your safety, and it’s also a legal requirement. Here are some methods to ensure your pet is safely restrained during car travel:

• Pet Seat Belts: These can prevent your pet from moving around and causing distractions.
• Harnesses: A good harness can keep your pet secure while allowing some movement.
• Crates and Carriers: Ideal for smaller pets, these can be secured to the car to prevent movement.
• Boot/Luggage Guards: These are more for protecting passengers but won’t protect your pet in an accident.

It’s important to note that unlike human safety devices, pet safety products are not legally required to be crash-tested. However, some products have been certified by the Centre for Pet Safety, such as the SleepyPod Clickit Support Harness and the Gunner Kennel.

Cat in a harness attached to a seat belt anchor. Image: Zooplus.

Remember, at 30mph, an unrestrained 20kg dog can be thrown forward with a force equivalent to the weight of a small moose, posing a serious risk to everyone in the vehicle. Always ensure your pet is suitably restrained whenever you’re driving.

It is a legal requirement in the UK to restrain pets in a vehicle. According to the Highway Code, drivers must ensure that dogs and other animals are suitably restrained in a car. Failure to do so can be considered careless driving, which carries a fine of up to £5,000. Not properly restraining your pet can also invalidate your car insurance and pet insurance, and in the event of an accident, it could be counted as dangerous driving. Always make sure your pet is safely secured whenever you’re traveling with them in a vehicle.

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.