Football and Doughnuts

As the only news on radio and television seems to be football, and my interest in the subject is zero, I have assumed that nothing else is happening in the world.

Well I have noticed something important, the rising price of doughnuts!

I am always reluctant to visit supermarkets, but Mrs EP doesn't like supermarket carparks and usually needs some help to load the shopping into the car. The one consolation, apart from ensuring she buys my favourite biscuits and an adequate quantity of beer, is that the doughnuts at both Sainsbury and Tesco are excellent if you buy them before mid-morning. Now, for quite a long while, in both Tesco and Sainsbury, they cost about12p or so, but suddenly, and more or less simultaneously, they shot up to 17p about a couple of months ago. Worst to come, yesterday in Tesco, they had suddenly gone up to 20p. This represents an inflation rate of 67% in quite a short period!

We haven't been into Sainsbury since (next Tuesday is scheduled), but if their doughnuts have gone up as well, surely this is prima facie evidence of a cartel which should be investigated by the monopolies commission.

A Regulator for Football - Yet another Quango

According to today's Sunday Telegraph, the Government is considering appointing a regulator to oversee football.
This has apparently been brought about by the recent string of financial crises which have occurred in some leading clubs. The proposal is that the game would effectively be run under licence from a government appointed regulator in a similar manner to the privatised utilities.
What on earth has a sport got to do with the government? I never understood why we had to have a Minister for Sport, this is an even more ridiculous proposal. If the clubs are formally constituted as companies, they should be dealt with under company law; no special arrangements should be necessary.
It is claimed that there is "a great deal of anger over what has happened recently", but this is hardly a reason for interfering. As far as I can see, the anger is mainly confined to the Revenue to whom Portsmouth owe £7.4 million in tax, and to the Portsmouth fans who object to their club being forced into bankruptcy by the Revenue. It is perhaps reasonable to ask why the Revenue allowed such a large debt to accumulate.
But Quangos can't resist expanding their remit. What about racial equality - do we have enough white players in the major teams? And they'd better keep an eye on school football (where it still exists); have the child protection laws been met?
How long before it starts to look at other sports such a Rugby and Cricket?
How do I apply for the job as Chairman?