Poetical Monday Morning- thanks to Daniel. Though there may be many critical events and issues out there, take a moment or two to enjoy this retrospective view of the Gilligan affair, as Dyke's disaster meets that stirring account of a dark day for the British Empire, the Charge of the Light Brigade. (you can compare to the original here)

Half a truth, half a lie,
Half an editorial onward,

All to defame 10 Downing
Rode Dear Leader Dyke's six hundred.

"Forward, BBC!
"Charge for the guns!" Dyke said,

All to defame 10 Downing
Rode Dear Leader Dyke's six hundred.


"Forward, BBC!"
Was there a presenter dismay'd?
Not tho' the denier knew
Gilligan had blunder'd:
Their's not to make reply,
Their's not to reason why,
Their's but to lie and lie:

All to defame 10 Downing
Rode Dear Leader Dyke's six hundred.

Labour to right of them,
Only Castro to left of them,
Lord Hutton in front of them
Volley'd and thunder'd;

Drown'd by every skeptical swell,
Boldly they did dissemble and well
Into the jaws of ignominy
Into the mouth of license fee Hell
Rode Dear Leader Dyke's six hundred.

Flash'd all their disreputable reportorial wares
Flash'd as they turn'd despite incredulous stares
Disabling their foes with snug self-righteous snares
Defaming 10 Downing, while
All the world wonder'd:
Plunged in the media smoke they'd stoke'd
Right thro' late Mr. Kelly they broke;
Truth and Integrity
Reel'd from every mendacious stroke
Shatter'd and sunder'd.

Then they rode back, but not
Not the six hundred.

Labour to right of them,
Only Castro to left of them,
Lord Hutton in front of them
Volley'd and thunder'd;
Drowned by every skeptical swell,
While Gilligan and Dear Leader fell,
They that had denied so well

Came thro' the jaws of ignominy
Back from the mouth of license fee hell,
All that was left of them,
Left of Dear Leader Dyke's six hundred.

When will their infamy fade?
O the wild charges they made!
All the world wondered.
Dishonor the charges they made,
Dishonor Dear Leader's Brigade,
Ignoble six hundred.