Brett-Butler

Whilst I doubt it is her intention, it would be ironic if this ended up giving additional funding to Reform and soon to be Reform-led councils, and away from Labour and Lib Dem ones.

I’ve semi-jokingly called myself a “Catholic Centrist” a few times on here, and probably is still as good a descriptor of where I generally sit on the spectrum, in that I’m largely centre-left on economics (in favour of decent state spending, expansion of social housing, and a supportive welfare state that acts as a trampoline rather than a safety net), and would be considered more conservative on social issues (although I could make left-wing arguments for some of them). It doesn’t slot me easily into the usual left/right political spectrum, but I’m somewhere around the middle.

Yeah, I’m not going to cry many tears about lost tour income. By all rights his career should have ended in 2011 when those photos came out, and it’s a travesty that he became even more of an international star after that. It feels like a “getting Capone on tax evasion” moment (not that I’m dismissing the extent of his alleged crime), but if this is what finally leads to his career ending, I’m not going to complain.

Because she’s going to be swimming in love from Europe after that performance.

Denmark feels like a winner.

This staging feels like they’ve tried to cater for both the gays and the straights, and failed on both counts.

I liked the Lithuanian song, although I got somewhat distracted by Popery whilst watching it.

The UK are coming bottom, unfortunately.

That’s probably the only time she could crowd surf and not get felt up.

Have I wandered Into a Vegan Soy Wax Candle Shop?

Well, given that Norway once won the contest be ripping off Ireland, seems only fair they send one of their own to babysit Eurovision for us this year. The chorus is incredibly flat, probably will be touch and go if this will qualify.

One thing that’s improved from prior year - it’s now only shot in film during the performances. It really threw me off last year.

Why does Italy have subtitles when other foreign language songs don’t? Are they worried people won’t like it if they don’t know what it’s about? Quite like this song, it’s a lovely 70s esque soft rock number.

Sweden spend 430 hours and all their oil revenues each year choosing their entrant, and THAT’S what they came up with?

Labour came 2nd in this seat in 2024, albeit their candidate was suspended prior the campaign due to a betting scandal. Currently Reform are currently favourites in the most recent model I’ve seen.

The last Pope called Leo, as you would all be familiar with, was the author of “Rerum Novarum”, which is a brilliant defence of the rights of workers, which has gained a bit of traction among some in recent years. Let’s see if that will be what he will be focusing on.

Cardinal Prevost elected Pope Leo XIV, first pope from the USA. Now that’s a message.

Think it will be a Pius this time around. Also, as today now is officially New Pope Day, as per tradition, every member of Buzzjack must gift Buzzjack’s Catholic, Brett-Butler, the princely sum of One Battenberg.

WHITE SMOKE!

The conclave begins today. There’ll be one vote today, followed by two daily until a pope is elected with a 2/3 majority. I will guess that by Friday evening we will have a new pope The last two popes elected were ones that I was unfamiliar with before the conclave, so although there are a few names bandied around in the Cathlosphere, I doubt it’ll be a frontrunner. I’m rooting for Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa.

Ed Davey has taken a break from his extended gap year joviality to announce Lib Dem plans to introduce legislation to fine anyone who plays music on public transport without headphones. I will let the below to sum up my feelings on this -

I was 15 when John Paul II died, although it happened during a half-term Easter holiday, so by the time I’d come back the shock had passed, although my RE teacher (who used to be in the IRA, but that’s another story) was still really shook by it.

And even more unusually, none are Irish, the only current Irish cardinal is too old, although there a few Irish-American candidates.

There’ll be a conclave in the next few weeks, where all cardinals below the age of 80 meets up to elect the new pope. The cardinals will vote until one candidate gets a 2/3 majority of the votes. The number of cardinals in the conclave should be capped at 120, but given at the moment there are more that 130 “papible” cardianals, I’m note sure if that means that some of these will not take part in the vote.

As Buzzjack’s Catholic, absolutely devastating news for me to wake up to. My cousin and her girlfriend were in Rome for Francis’ Easter Sunday address, so will have been some of the last people to see the current Pope in person. When it comes to Popes, it usually won’t be until years and decades later until we can take in his full impact on the world, but for now he’ll be known for his focus on the poor, being the first non-European pope in a millennia, and making political leaders all across the political spectrum reflect on their actions. There’ll be a conclave in a few weeks to decide the new pope, which I will be following with great interest.