Bitch Smarties!

 

Last night’s edition of the BBC’s Question Time was interesting. One of the questions brought up the topic of Midget Gems. These sweets (candy), basically firmer Wine Gums, were popular in the 1950s and are apparently still sold by Maynards and various supermarkets. The question was whether they should be renamed, as the word “midget” is rather offensive to those of reduced stature.

Jess Phillips argued that the word is offensive, so they should be renamed:

“You wouldn’t eat a chocolate bar that had racist slurs written on them. You just wouldn’t, and you wouldn’t have, like y’know, sort of… BITCH SMARTIES!”

Jess Phillips MP
https://twitter.com/JesusBabyItsMe/status/1481779551093067779

This point was hotly contested by a number of people who suggested that they absolutely would buy Bitch Smarties. I felt my creative juices stir, moved to envisage the marketing of such a brand. Behold the end result of my efforts:

Bitch Smarties
Bitch Smarties, by Jesslé.

Alleyways of Reading

 

If you’re unlucky enough to walk through Reading, you might notice the vast number of alleyways that exist between the town’s beautifully architectured buildings. Some contain thriving independent boutiques, others nothing more than refuse recepticles, rats, and the ever unwelcome scent of semi-dried urine. This photo journal is intended to give you a taste (if not a smell) of Reading’s underappreciated alleyways. Smelly Alley not included, as it’s far too obvious.

Read more “Alleyways of Reading”

Reflections of Reading

 

As well as being the largest town in England, Reading is famous for being home to such notable celebrities as:

  • Irritating children’s TV presenter, Justin Fletcher
  • Nasty Nick actor, John Altman
  • Game show host and drink-driver, Chris Tarrant
  • TV presenter and antichrist, Jeremy Kyle

This photo essay shows the buildings of the town distorted by the surface of its waterways.

Read more “Reflections of Reading”