The EU's nudist commissioner, his naked aide and the beach pictures

The Times ^ | December 8, 2006 | Roger Boyes

[Robert A Cook PE]

No?

it's ILLEGAL (threatened and jailed) for EVEN a historical (non-metric) scale to be kept visible in an English butcher shop.

It's illegal to sell a dozen eggs. That's "freedom" and non-interference in minute details?

EU is pure socialism and hand-wringing interference at a scale that puts the Soviet Union to shame. Control BY the bureaucrats FOR the bureaucrats.

[Night Hides Not]

At least there's a silver lining to this cloud:

He wasn't wearing a Speedo!

[Mr. Silverback]

In all seriousness, if they hadn't been holding hands, I might buy his story. After all, a nude beach is a nude beach, and two nude people of the opposite sex being naked on a nude beach together is very different from them being naked in bed together.

I hope these pictures never see daylight, because besides the VP, there's the fact that his gal pal is 48, and women of that age who should be seen nude are very, very rare. [shudder!]

[Mr. Silverback]

Please, please do not take this as a slam on Germans. It's a slam on the Baker commission:

“Given the specific lineup [of the Iraq Study Group] the most conspicuous absence is that of supermodel Heidi Klum. Sure, she has no relevant experience in foreign policy, nor any real knowledge of Iraq -- but neither do commissioners Sandra Day O'Connor, Vernon Jordan, Alan Simpson, or Edwin Meese. What Klum does have to offer is a lesson completely lost on the commission, one taught each week on her hit reality show ‘Project Runway’: you're either in, or you're out. When it comes to Iraq, it's good advice.”--Spencer Ackerman, The American Prospect magazine

Heidi for American Ambassador to the UN! :-)

[untenured]

Easily the most shocking aspect of this article is that there is a nude beach in Lithuania, whose capital lies north of Winnipeg.

[Mr. Silverback]

I think the point is that the guy was naked and HOLDING HANDS with his assistant while his wife was in another city.

Plus, it's interesting to watch all those Europeans (who we were told would never care about Monicagate) caring about this guy's morals.

[GVnana]

europeans who go in speedos.

[Mr. Silverback]

Um...I'm gonna guess Rocco is the odd one out. What do I win?

[reagan_fanatic]

Wow. Somebody fell out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down, didn't they?

[GVnana]

I'm a bit hazy on the whole 'walking around naked in public but expecting it to be private' thing

You and me, both. The other part I don't get...is it or is it not socially acceptable to frequent a nude beach? We have them in CA, but the politicians don't go.

[Oberon]

What do I win?

My undying admiration.

While the other people mentioned actually committed wrongdoing of one kind or another, Rocco only holds unpopular views.

Interesting that these should be reported as equivalent. Hmmm...

[dljordan]

Boy, he didn't pull any punches.

[Mr. Silverback]

My undying admiration.

I had hoped for cold, hard cash, but admiration is even better. :-)

Interesting that these should be reported as equivalent. Hmmm...

Probably the paper was following a regulation in the European Parliament's Thoughtcrimes Reporting Act of 2001.

[Night Hides Not]

Easily the most shocking aspect of this article is that there is a nude beach in Lithuania, whose capital lies north of Winnipeg.

Reminds me of the nude beach just outside the anti-aircraft range at Todendorf, Germany, which overlooks the Baltic Sea. Even during the summer, I doubt that the water temperature ever exceeded 50 degrees.

My first visit was (ahem!) uncomfortable for about the first 10 minutes, and my (German) girlfriend was kidding me about my hesitancy to disrobe. At that point, I noticed an older gentleman who was 5'8" and 300+ lbs. At that point, I said "what the heck".

I never got more than knee deep in that water though!

[Lurker]

We have them in CA, but the politicians don't go.

Having seen some of your politicians I think you should be very grateful for that. The last thing in the world I want to see is Di Fi strolling along some beach .......shudder.

L

[ASOC]

Good day Ivan

I see now why England and the Germans had the unplesentness years ago.

Seems the rest of Euroope missed the chance to learn.

North America has it's share of "All for one, my way" types here as well.

Perhaps we will get lucky and the voters will wake up - but, more likely, not.

Enjoy while you may.

[George W. Bush]

Interesting GooTube vid.

I can't stand you uppity Brits. You're all so smug just because your leaders speak in complete sentences and paragraphs, fully convey their subject matter and generally make sense even if you don't happen to agree with them. This high level of competence is insufferable.

Oh, well, we can still make fun of that bunch of inbred royal pets you've got at Buckingham.

[MHGinTN]

Secular Humanism has no moral boundaries. This is Europe, bro. Move across the water for maybe fifteen years ... before it sewers this nation too under democrap leadership.

[DugwayDuke]

"I can't say no to my naked wife either..."

You gotta do what you gotta do.

[TXnMA]

I refuse to be told by Frenchmen, Germans, Belgians, etc that this is how my country has to be run. My response to that is a huge "f*** you".

Ivan, as one who proudly traces his roots back to the Isles, let me say that you do all of us proud by showing that there are at some fine examples of ba!!s still there!!

Nicely done!!!