Intelligence

It was announced today that the British domestic intelligence agency MI5 is to appoint a scientific adviser (a new Q, if you like) who will provide ideas on how to use science and technology to help agents in the field combat terrorism.

The MI5's website requires applicants have "world-class" scientific expertise and communication skills. One would presume that in line with UK law there's an equivalent advert in the job centre.

What he will do precisely, MI5 is keeping secret of course, but they can assure the public that MI5 are no longer using divining rods, phrenology and calculator watches to detect terrorist activities.

Spectre vs Rector Part 2

The jury has finally returned from to deliberating the second verdict of Phil Spector after a 10-2 guilty verdict last year. California law requires a unanimous verdict for murder. And this time they were certain - guilty in the first degree, carrying a sentenced of 18 years to life.

It was good to see he dressed appropriately this time. His return to the Ronnie Wood wig - leaving the yellow Judy Dench bob and Annita Dobson fright-wig behind - imbued the occasion with a fittingly sombre tone. One presumes the red kerchief in his jacket pocket was a tribute to the splatter of Larna Clarkson's blood on his vestibule floor.

There were surprisingly few puns that could be generated from all this. The best the BBC came up with was "A spect-acular fall." Weak. Not even

In other pop news, Nadja Benaissa, a singer from the German Popstars prefabbed girl group No Angels has been arrested moments before a solo gig on suspicion of infecting three people with HIV.
Girls Aloud.... jog on.