
The really suspicious thing behind conspiracy theories
'You know what makes me really suspicious,' said the barman. 'Why there's so many conspiracy theories. Someone's got to be behind it all…'
Ropey behaviour
Retired PE teacher John Leigh recalls a rule-breaking pupil.
This errant youth once exhibited his love of classic movies by swinging on a rope one-handed while yodelling like Tarzan.
All was going well until the boy, very unlike Tarzan, lost his grip and thumped to the floor.
John rushed to the dazed and confused scamp, with the intention of pretending to show concern for the briefest of moments before inflicting a jolly good scolding.
'So what have you learned, laddie?' growled John, fully expecting the trounced teen Tarzan to explain in great detail that he now understood why it's always wrong to behave foolishly in class and ignore safety precautions.
Instead the boy merely said: 'The lesson I learned from doing that is not to do that.'
Ann Burnett sends us conclusive evidence that the liquidy stuff that squirts out of a cow's udders can be adapted into something you can spread on toast. (Image: Contributed)
Brekky badinage
Sometimes it's hard to enjoy a meal, especially when you're sitting opposite your mortal enemy, ie the person to whom you happen to be married.
Alice Watkins was attempting to munch her bacon and eggs at breakfast, but instead ended up having a tiff with hubby.
At one point her old fella raised his fork and glared through it meaningfully at his wife.
'What on earth are you doing?' hissed Alice.
'Looking through this fork and pretending you're banged-up in jail,' said hubby. 'It gives me the happy ever after I'm looking for.'
Brought to book
We mentioned a chap with an impressive library.
Keith Sanders also has a pal who owns oodles of books, all stored in the living room.
'Ever read 'em?' inquired Keith.
'Nah,' said the pal. 'But it's great having so many bookshelves. It means never having to change the wallpaper.'
Cold-shouldered
The Diary is discussing the couple caught cuddling on camera at a Coldplay gig.
'Imagine living with the shame and embarrassment of being seen at a Coldplay concert,' shudders Peter Wright from West Kilbride. 'What would your friends and colleagues think?'
Dead funny
A grim joke of the reaperish kind from reader Jim Sharp, who asks: 'What do you call a deceased Finnish man?'
The answer, of course, is… 'Finnished.'

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time Out
4 hours ago
- Time Out
Mega Space Molly: Hello, Moon Exhibition
POP Mart's iconic Mega Space Molly character is getting her time to shine at ION Art Gallery. Mega Space Molly: Hello, Moon exhibition is a whimsical look into the adorable toy's world of exploration and imagination – and an opportunity for die-hard fans to cop some event-exclusive merch too. Some standouts: a 1000% Hello, Moon figurine complete with a glowing moon orb, and a ball-jointed Molly Hello, Moon 1/8 Action Figure wrapped in a furry spacesuit. There are also lifestyle items like lamps, rugs and multi-functional lanyards, all available for pre-order. Don't forget to check out the Space Molly wall art and archival pieces, featuring beloved series like Smitten Love, Jon Burgerman, and Pantone. Of course, buy a blind box home and keep your fingers crossed for a secret figurine. Besides the blind boxes, look forward to a Singapore-exclusive: a Vanda Miss Joaquim-themed Mega Space Molly doll in honour of our national flower. This goes on sale on July 30 at ION Art Gallery. There's also a special anniversary collection dropping on August 1 at ION Art Gallery called the Mega Space Molly 100% Anniversary Series 4 – take a sneak peek here. See the Hello, Moon exhibition in other parts of Asia The MEGA SPACE MOLLY: Hello, Moon Exhibition is free and open to walk-ins at ION Art Gallery on Level 4 of ION Orchard. It runs from July 30 until August 24, from 10am to 9pm daily. This same exhibition will also be running in other parts of Asia – here are the dates and locations:


BBC News
4 hours ago
- BBC News
Coldplay award-winning director inspired by Hull
An award-winning filmmaker, who directed two of Coldplay's early music videos, said making student films in his bedroom in Hull was pivotal to his Thraves, who studied at Humberside Polytechnic in the late 1980s after he "fell in love with Hull", praised his tutors for encouraging him to experiment in his creative work."They allowed you to try different things out. I just hired the cameras out of the student cupboard and learned how to use them and learned how to light. I went off and made short films in my bedroom."Mr Thraves went on to direct the videos to Coldplay's God Put A Smile On Your Face and The Scientist, which won three MTV Video Music Awards in 2003. Mr Thraves, 56, told BBC Radio Humberside he was inspired by the "unique" city of Hull and his tutors when he studied at the Art School between 1988 and 1991. The Scientist video has become well known for showing the storyline in reverse and frontman Chris Martin had to learn to sing backwards."He phoned me up just before the shoot and sang the song backwards to me over the phone. I didn't know if it was right or not, but it sounded right," Mr Thraves said. "He worked really really hard on that, to make sure he got it right, and it was very impressive."Coldplay are performing at Craven Park in Hull on 18 and 19 August before they play 10 shows at Wembley Stadium. Mr Thraves has gone on to direct music videos for artists including Radiohead, Blur, The Verve, James Blunt, Neneh Cherry and Sam Smith. "When I left home to go to university I was a very insecure, anxious person," he said. "I left university feeling full of hope, grateful to be alive. I was euphoric because I discovered my passion for filmmaking. "I will always be grateful to the city of Hull for that." Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android devices


BBC News
4 hours ago
- BBC News
Wembley gig goers could face tourism and ticket taxes
Wembley gigs could get pricier as the council seeks to introduce ticket and visitor a meeting earlier in July, Brent Council passed a motion to introduce a tax on visitors staying overnight to fund improvements in the north-west London authority wants to use the growing events scene - acts like Coldplay and Oasis are at Wembley stadium this summer - to generate funds to benefit to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, council leader Muhammed Butt has written to the UK government to explore the possibility of adding a levy to support grassroots music and cultural institutions. It was announced last year a £1.25 per night tourism tax could start in Wales from 2027. In a letter sent to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Angela Rayner, Mr Butt urged the government to give the council legal powers to add a "fair and modest" charge to hotel and short-stay is also asking for it to explore the possibility of adding a fee to ticket Butt hopes such a fee would "create the next generation of acts to fill our stadiums".Brent Council wants "further devolution of fiscal powers" so it is able to invest locally raised revenue back into the community. In the letter, the council claims residents report they "do not see a proportionate share of the benefits from Wembley's success" and there is a "critical funding gap" to meet the costs of hosting events while maintaining residents' quality of life. The council suggests while the rising number of events is "cause for celebration", it puts pressure on services, such as waste management and environmental letter adds: "Brent Council believes that a locally collected, ring-fenced visitor levy - as successfully implemented across much of Europe – is a fair and progressive way to ensure tourism and high-footfall events contribute sustainably to the communities that host them."In England, local councils currently do not have the power to introduce a tourist tax. Legislation would be needed to allow it - although an Accommodation Business Improvement District, like those in Manchester and Liverpool, could be created as a legal workaround.