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  1. Science & Tech
30 December 2011updated 01 Jul 2021 12:14pm

“See ya later, ex dictator“: a year in Twitmericks

"There was an old man from the Nile / Of odious crocodile smile"

By Jon Bernstein

Among all the year end reviews, here’s something a little bit different. Mick Hodgkin has been tweeting the news each day in the form of a limerick – and naturally within the 140 word character limit.

Mick is a programme editor for Al Jazeera, a former colleague, an Arsenal fan (oh, yes) and clearly a talented and dedicated limerick writer. Here’s a selection — and there are more over here. Happy New Year!

 

SEE YA LATER, EX-DICTATOR
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — –
There was an old man from the Nile
Of odious crocodile smile
But as every dictator
Should sooner or later
Mubarak is now standing trial.

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THANK YOU

 

MOBILE HACKERS CAUGHT BY THE KNACKERS
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — –
News International’s Rebekah
Ended up as a newspaper wrecker
A media vandal
At fault in the scandal
But so were those failing to check ‘er.

 

LIAM FOX TAKES SOME KNOCKS
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Pseudo Fox aide Adam Werritty
Acted the part with dexterity
But it takes cash to fly
Every month to Dubai
So who was behind his prosperity?

 

SEPP BLATTER, MAD AS A HATTER?
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — –
That funny old man Mr Blatter
Says racist abuse doesn’t matter
Shake hands, it’s a game
Nobody’s to blame
But fans want his head on a platter.

 

 

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Topics in this article :
Select and enter your email address Your weekly guide to the best writing on ideas, politics, books and culture every Saturday. The best way to sign up for The Saturday Read is via saturdayread.substack.com The New Statesman's quick and essential guide to the news and politics of the day. The best way to sign up for Morning Call is via morningcall.substack.com Our Thursday ideas newsletter, delving into philosophy, criticism, and intellectual history. The best way to sign up for The Salvo is via thesalvo.substack.com Stay up to date with NS events, subscription offers & updates. Weekly analysis of the shift to a new economy from the New Statesman's Spotlight on Policy team. The best way to sign up for The Green Transition is via spotlightonpolicy.substack.com
  • Administration / Office
  • Arts and Culture
  • Board Member
  • Business / Corporate Services
  • Client / Customer Services
  • Communications
  • Construction, Works, Engineering
  • Education, Curriculum and Teaching
  • Environment, Conservation and NRM
  • Facility / Grounds Management and Maintenance
  • Finance Management
  • Health - Medical and Nursing Management
  • HR, Training and Organisational Development
  • Information and Communications Technology
  • Information Services, Statistics, Records, Archives
  • Infrastructure Management - Transport, Utilities
  • Legal Officers and Practitioners
  • Librarians and Library Management
  • Management
  • Marketing
  • OH&S, Risk Management
  • Operations Management
  • Planning, Policy, Strategy
  • Printing, Design, Publishing, Web
  • Projects, Programs and Advisors
  • Property, Assets and Fleet Management
  • Public Relations and Media
  • Purchasing and Procurement
  • Quality Management
  • Science and Technical Research and Development
  • Security and Law Enforcement
  • Service Delivery
  • Sport and Recreation
  • Travel, Accommodation, Tourism
  • Wellbeing, Community / Social Services
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
THANK YOU