Whilst it may have seemed fairly minor news when it was announced that John Selwyn-Gummer is to stand down as MP for Suffolk Coastal at the next general election, it does raise some questions about the Tories Green credentials and the future of Cameron's claims that the Tories can be trusted on the Green agenda.
Gummer is standing down to be a a campaigner on environmental matters, very noble. But when only 40 of David Cameron's MPs even voted to support the climate change bill, and with many of the possible new intake of Tory hopefuls being even more ardent global warming deniers, it must be ablow to Cameron that one of the few Tories who would support Camerons greener policies is to go.
12/30/2009
12/29/2009
Who will defend the Chinese government and at the same time attack the Labour Party ? Step forward the Daily Mail
You can always rely on the dictators friend, the Daily Mail to seek to blame the ills of the world on either the BBC, Europe, Immigrants or "liberals". Today, when dealing with the sad events concerning the execution of Akmal Sheikh, Leo McKinstry in the Daily Scum has managed seemingly to me have a dig at liberals, the government and an immigrants lack of links to the UK all at the same time.
In a ludicrous article where he ignores China's history of murdering tens of thousands of its own population, forgets the murders of journalists and those dissidents who dare to talk about corruption in the Chinese state, turns a blind eye to the murder of thousands of students in Tianamen Square in 1990, Leo McKinstry uses such quotes as
He goes even further when he writes
So nice to know that when it comes to dictatorships, one newspaper can be guaranteed to believe every figure, statistic and piece of propaganda that comes from their propaganda ministry. We shouldn't be surprised of course. it was the Daily Mail that similarly swallowed Hitler's lies up to 1939, so the paper does have good form.
It does make me wonder though what the Daily Mail would have said had Mr Akmal Shaikh been called Adrian Smith, been white, not been muslim and lived in Tunbridge Wells.
I think we know the answer to this don't we.
The fact that the Daily Mail can seemingly support the putting to death of a man with delusional mental health problems ought to to shock us all. But to read what Mr McKinstry has written he ought to show a little bit more gratitude that he lives in a country where spouting bilious hate fuelled rubbish gets you no more than the wrath of a minor political blogger. If Mr McKinstrys lived in China, my opinion of his delusional mental problems would not save him from the from a fate many Chinese face very day. That of summary execution, torture, forced labour or death.
In a ludicrous article where he ignores China's history of murdering tens of thousands of its own population, forgets the murders of journalists and those dissidents who dare to talk about corruption in the Chinese state, turns a blind eye to the murder of thousands of students in Tianamen Square in 1990, Leo McKinstry uses such quotes as
In contrast to New Labour's policy of appeasement and surrender, the Chinese Government acts vigorously to defend its people from the misery caused by the drugs trade.Oh yes, Mr McKinstry, the Chinese really do care about their population. All those little girls left to die in hospitals, they care for them too don't they ?
He goes even further when he writes
In China, the death penalty can be invoked against anyone carrying more than 50g of drugs - and that is one obvious reason why China, proportionally, has nothing like the drugs problem that we have in Britain.Oh, so its nothing to do with the relative poverty of China then ? Nothing to do with China doctoring figures and statistics so as to leave the impression that their one party dictatorship actually does care ?
So nice to know that when it comes to dictatorships, one newspaper can be guaranteed to believe every figure, statistic and piece of propaganda that comes from their propaganda ministry. We shouldn't be surprised of course. it was the Daily Mail that similarly swallowed Hitler's lies up to 1939, so the paper does have good form.
It does make me wonder though what the Daily Mail would have said had Mr Akmal Shaikh been called Adrian Smith, been white, not been muslim and lived in Tunbridge Wells.
I think we know the answer to this don't we.
The fact that the Daily Mail can seemingly support the putting to death of a man with delusional mental health problems ought to to shock us all. But to read what Mr McKinstry has written he ought to show a little bit more gratitude that he lives in a country where spouting bilious hate fuelled rubbish gets you no more than the wrath of a minor political blogger. If Mr McKinstrys lived in China, my opinion of his delusional mental problems would not save him from the from a fate many Chinese face very day. That of summary execution, torture, forced labour or death.
How to deal with idiots who phone 999 for no good reason
I don't think it takes an enormous amount of intelligence to know the difference between a good reason and a bad reason to phone 999.
The answer for people like THIS who phoned up 999 over Christmas because her cat was overly playful and was "doing her head in", is simply to send a police car round, arrest her for wasting police time, and then see how many other people think that the emergency services should be phoned for such trivial matters.
Sadly, the police release stories like this every few months, but until firm action is taken, it will get worse and worse.
The answer for people like THIS who phoned up 999 over Christmas because her cat was overly playful and was "doing her head in", is simply to send a police car round, arrest her for wasting police time, and then see how many other people think that the emergency services should be phoned for such trivial matters.
Sadly, the police release stories like this every few months, but until firm action is taken, it will get worse and worse.
12/28/2009
I am, apparently, the number one Lib Dem blogger
Many thanks to those people mad enough to vote for me as number one Lib Dem blogger in Iain Dale's end of year poll. I suspect I may have been helped by a couple of notable bloggers either quitting blogging or leaving the party, but thanks all the same.
I go through regular bouts of wanting to give up blogging, indeed I did give up earlier in the year (just as the local media were starting to take an interest, so I told them I had quit and they went away ), but I have kept going through lean times. Hopefully, with the election coming, I will be full of ideas and opinions.
Many thanks again to all the readers. Now I must go and see to my son who is two, still full of flu, and is more deserving of my time than even you dear reader !
I go through regular bouts of wanting to give up blogging, indeed I did give up earlier in the year (just as the local media were starting to take an interest, so I told them I had quit and they went away ), but I have kept going through lean times. Hopefully, with the election coming, I will be full of ideas and opinions.
Many thanks again to all the readers. Now I must go and see to my son who is two, still full of flu, and is more deserving of my time than even you dear reader !
Is almost everything about Cameron spin and falsehood ?
David Cameron, it appears, is worried about the Tories chances of having a working majority at the next election. Why else would he have made such an overt attempt to woo Lib Dem voters in his new Year statement yesterday if he wasn't confident ? The problem is, his statement is so hollow in the context of everything we know about the Tories and his motives.
Whilst he says that differences between the Lib Dems and Tories are much less obvious than they were before, that is only because the Tories have not had the opportunity to support illegal wars started by the Labour government. In truth, yawning gaps exist between the Lib Dems and the Tories on many issues, and Cameron knows this. So why did he make his statement ?
The truth is it is not about removing differences between parties, as Cameron claimed. It was about a cynical attempt to woo voters from the Lib Dems on a false premise that the Tories stand for the same things that the Tories stand for. Dishonest ? Of course, but when it comes to sanctimonious rubbish dressed up as proper political discourse, Cameron is truly the heir to Blair.
I know people in the Tories who have met or know Cameron, and finding one of them in private to say anything positive about him as a person is a real struggle. One ultra loyal Tory I know did a good job once of defending him. When I listed some of the things I had been told about Cameron, the reply I got was "I don't think he means anything by it. It's just his style". Some defence !
For me Lib Dem MP Dany Alexander summed up the difference between the Lib Dems and Tories best of all
Whilst he says that differences between the Lib Dems and Tories are much less obvious than they were before, that is only because the Tories have not had the opportunity to support illegal wars started by the Labour government. In truth, yawning gaps exist between the Lib Dems and the Tories on many issues, and Cameron knows this. So why did he make his statement ?
The truth is it is not about removing differences between parties, as Cameron claimed. It was about a cynical attempt to woo voters from the Lib Dems on a false premise that the Tories stand for the same things that the Tories stand for. Dishonest ? Of course, but when it comes to sanctimonious rubbish dressed up as proper political discourse, Cameron is truly the heir to Blair.
I know people in the Tories who have met or know Cameron, and finding one of them in private to say anything positive about him as a person is a real struggle. One ultra loyal Tory I know did a good job once of defending him. When I listed some of the things I had been told about Cameron, the reply I got was "I don't think he means anything by it. It's just his style". Some defence !
For me Lib Dem MP Dany Alexander summed up the difference between the Lib Dems and Tories best of all
"David Cameron seems to be confused about what a fairer Britain means. For the Liberal Democrats it means cutting taxes for the lowest paid, for him it means cutting them for millionaires."Lib Dems shouldn't be fooled by Cameron. If you want an unfair Tory government whose priorities are to give money to the rich, cut from the poor and legalise fox hunting, then vote Tory. If you want a fairer Britain, the only way you will get that is by voting Lib Dem. The Tories offer only a fake liberalism.
12/27/2009
I refer you to my post of two years ago
Two years ago I wrote about the lies peddled by the Countryside Alliance regarding hunting.
It appears two years on nothing has changed, indeed they CSA laim to have more support than ever for hunting. Can we assume therefore that their claims of doom, job losses, the mass culling of hounds and us all being overun by foxes were lies ?
The fact is, as I proved HERE, the Countryside Alliance are little more than a Tory front anyway. They actively campaigned against MPs who did not even support the hunting ban in 2005, highlighting that fact that they are a political orgnaisation more than a lobbying organisation whilst their claims to speak on behalf of the countryside are like me officially declaring that I speak on behalf of the people of India because I like a take away.
It appears two years on nothing has changed, indeed they CSA laim to have more support than ever for hunting. Can we assume therefore that their claims of doom, job losses, the mass culling of hounds and us all being overun by foxes were lies ?
The fact is, as I proved HERE, the Countryside Alliance are little more than a Tory front anyway. They actively campaigned against MPs who did not even support the hunting ban in 2005, highlighting that fact that they are a political orgnaisation more than a lobbying organisation whilst their claims to speak on behalf of the countryside are like me officially declaring that I speak on behalf of the people of India because I like a take away.
12/24/2009
Swine Flu on Christmas Eve
I have, since swine flu first appeared last April, been highly critical of the government's preparations and plans for dealing with the pandemic. If you are unaware of my regular posting on the subject, click HERE to read the link to them.
So now having had to phone the pandemic flu line for my son who, on Christmas Eve, late in the evening, appears to have all the symptoms of swine flu (many thanks to the parent who sent their child to nursery with flu and gave it to my son), I am aware even more of the inadequacy of the service.
Phoning the main pandemic flu number involved listening to about 10 minutes of chatter and advice which was all very obvious before then being given another number to ring. Then I rang the other number (0800 1513100), only to be put through to a person, who never actually picked the call up. After having the phone ring off dead twice when they were "connecting me", I eventually went through the internet method of registering for Tamiflu. Now we have to wait 12 hours for a place in Norwich to open so we can get his Tamiflu.
I know it is Christmas Eve and we should make allowances. But for the national phone helpline to simply fail to connect callers and leave them with a dead phone line really is taking the mickey, especially when you are trying to deal with an asthmatic two year old who is running a temperature of 38.7c and is throwing up and coughing.
Of course, I hear you say, "But if he is a two year old with Asthma, he will have been entitled to a vaccine". The answer to that is no, he isn't. Because he takes a non steroid based inhaler, the government deem his asthma not to be asthma, so he does not get a jab. There must be tens of thousands of at risk patients across the UK who fall in to this boat who cannot receive a jab either because of very odd government rules.
Now I must get back to my son.
Merry Christmas to you all, accept for the health minister who set the rules that mean my son who is a high risk patient did not get a jab because of spurious and illogical rules. I hope the minister personally has a rotten Christmas and that he/she loses her seat in the new year.
So now having had to phone the pandemic flu line for my son who, on Christmas Eve, late in the evening, appears to have all the symptoms of swine flu (many thanks to the parent who sent their child to nursery with flu and gave it to my son), I am aware even more of the inadequacy of the service.
Phoning the main pandemic flu number involved listening to about 10 minutes of chatter and advice which was all very obvious before then being given another number to ring. Then I rang the other number (0800 1513100), only to be put through to a person, who never actually picked the call up. After having the phone ring off dead twice when they were "connecting me", I eventually went through the internet method of registering for Tamiflu. Now we have to wait 12 hours for a place in Norwich to open so we can get his Tamiflu.
I know it is Christmas Eve and we should make allowances. But for the national phone helpline to simply fail to connect callers and leave them with a dead phone line really is taking the mickey, especially when you are trying to deal with an asthmatic two year old who is running a temperature of 38.7c and is throwing up and coughing.
Of course, I hear you say, "But if he is a two year old with Asthma, he will have been entitled to a vaccine". The answer to that is no, he isn't. Because he takes a non steroid based inhaler, the government deem his asthma not to be asthma, so he does not get a jab. There must be tens of thousands of at risk patients across the UK who fall in to this boat who cannot receive a jab either because of very odd government rules.
Now I must get back to my son.
Merry Christmas to you all, accept for the health minister who set the rules that mean my son who is a high risk patient did not get a jab because of spurious and illogical rules. I hope the minister personally has a rotten Christmas and that he/she loses her seat in the new year.
Shame on you pay day loans companies
My son is watching the Childrens TV channel Cartoonito this morning. So of all the companies advertising on Christmas Eve on a children's channel, what is being advertised ? A "Pay Day" loan company offering to loan people money that would be in their account by 2.30 this afternoon, repayable at an interest rate of 2356% APR !
Talk about a shameful way to behave. Knowing that many parents will be finding it very hard this year to afford to buy gifts for their children and saying to those parents "We can give you some money ... at a price".
These companies that rip of vulnerable people (and lets face it, you have to be in a vulnerable mental or financial state to take out one of these loans) should be outlawed. They prey on other people's misery and make them worse.
Can I sust say who ever is behind the company advertising on Cartoonito today, I wish you misery and shame on you.
Update - Even worse, they are saying they will give "25% off" to people who apply today. This is not what you might feel to be 25% off though. For me and you 35% 25% means a quarter. But to this Pay Day loan company it means "25% off the 2356% interest rate" giving people only 2331% APR instead !
Talk about a shameful way to behave. Knowing that many parents will be finding it very hard this year to afford to buy gifts for their children and saying to those parents "We can give you some money ... at a price".
These companies that rip of vulnerable people (and lets face it, you have to be in a vulnerable mental or financial state to take out one of these loans) should be outlawed. They prey on other people's misery and make them worse.
Can I sust say who ever is behind the company advertising on Cartoonito today, I wish you misery and shame on you.
Update - Even worse, they are saying they will give "25% off" to people who apply today. This is not what you might feel to be 25% off though. For me and you 35% 25% means a quarter. But to this Pay Day loan company it means "25% off the 2356% interest rate" giving people only 2331% APR instead !
How accurate are the weather forecasters ?
Last Friday I checked the weather forecast before work. According to the Met Offce, Norwich International Airport (2 miles from where I work), should have been having a heavy snow shower. The weather was bright sunshine !
On Saturday, according to the weather forecast on TV, there was, by teatime,no snow in Norfolk. This is contrary to the fact that it had been snowing here (two miles from Norwich International Airport which gets its own forecast on the BBC Weather website) for three hours hours. The weather forecaster even told us that the East of Angland would be "dry,k with no snow sleet or rain". Totally wrong.
So I check the weather this morning. According to the Met Office it has been raining here in Norwich since 6am. Having got up at 6.30 I can categorically say it is not raining here, but look at the satellite images on the BBC weather website, and they are saying something completely different from what is the reality.
People are constantly criticised for choosing to go on journey rather than staying at home in this bad weather. But the truth is people do not trust the weather forecasts the Met Office give because they are so consistenly wrong.
On Saturday, according to the weather forecast on TV, there was, by teatime,no snow in Norfolk. This is contrary to the fact that it had been snowing here (two miles from Norwich International Airport which gets its own forecast on the BBC Weather website) for three hours hours. The weather forecaster even told us that the East of Angland would be "dry,k with no snow sleet or rain". Totally wrong.
So I check the weather this morning. According to the Met Office it has been raining here in Norwich since 6am. Having got up at 6.30 I can categorically say it is not raining here, but look at the satellite images on the BBC weather website, and they are saying something completely different from what is the reality.
People are constantly criticised for choosing to go on journey rather than staying at home in this bad weather. But the truth is people do not trust the weather forecasts the Met Office give because they are so consistenly wrong.
This is the corrent forecast for now. So where is the rain ?
12/21/2009
Mebwyon Kermow to protest over leadership debates ?
The Cornish Nationalists Mebwyon Kernow are set to mount a legal challenge to the plans by SKY, UTV and the BBC to hold leadership debates in the general election.
Despite the fact that they are not fielding candidates across the country and whilst it is clear they could never form a government, a spokesman for MK said "I cannot accept that we have been excluded. I know we could never form a government and I know that we get plenty of coverage in elections in Cornwall, but we want to get well known in other parts of the country too where we field no candidates and where we have no political concerns."
Note - This is al made up rubbish but perhaps Alex Salmond, who enjoys the privilege the MK don not have in the Scottish elections would like to make note. I don't believe for one moment that MK would be that childish as they are showing more maturity that the SNP.
Note to Alex
Despite the fact that they are not fielding candidates across the country and whilst it is clear they could never form a government, a spokesman for MK said "I cannot accept that we have been excluded. I know we could never form a government and I know that we get plenty of coverage in elections in Cornwall, but we want to get well known in other parts of the country too where we field no candidates and where we have no political concerns."
Note - This is al made up rubbish but perhaps Alex Salmond, who enjoys the privilege the MK don not have in the Scottish elections would like to make note. I don't believe for one moment that MK would be that childish as they are showing more maturity that the SNP.
Note to Alex
Iranians hack Twitter but don't know how to use Babelfish
A group almost certainly controlled by the Iranian government hacked Twitter a few days ago (which I missed at the time), according to reports.
Their text read like this
Which begs one question. If you have the know how and intellect to be able to hack Twitter, why can't they learn to use the translation website Babelfish ?
Their text read like this
THIS SITE HAS BEEN HACKED BY IRANIAN CYBER ARMY
iRANiAN.CYBER.ARMY@GMAIL.COM
U.S.A. Think They Controlling And Managing Internet By Their Access, But THey Don't, We Control And Manage Internet By Our Power, So Do Not Try To Stimulation Iranian Peoples To....
NOW WHICH COUNTRY IN EMBARGO LIST? IRAN? USA?
WE PUSH THEM IN EMBARGO LIST
Take Care.
Which begs one question. If you have the know how and intellect to be able to hack Twitter, why can't they learn to use the translation website Babelfish ?
12/20/2009
X Factor winner is not the Christmas number 1
Funny that the internet campaign to stop the X Factor winner automatically getting the Christmas number one has succeeded.
It's just sad that the vehicle for this project was a real dirge of a song by Rage Against the Machine that has the same record label that Simon Cowell is also linked to. Talk about self defeating !
It's just sad that the vehicle for this project was a real dirge of a song by Rage Against the Machine that has the same record label that Simon Cowell is also linked to. Talk about self defeating !
Two Tory views on the #Kerryout online campaign
The supposedly independent #Kerryout campaign to see the Labour MP for Bristol East to lose a the next election has been written about by two Tory bloggers today.
The website, which ludicrously suggests it is an independent campaign (despite being set up and backed by known Tories) is a pretty low piece of work by any standards. To flagrantly bandy the word "independent" around is something the Tories like to do, particularly in local elections, but to claim in any way shape or form that this is an independent campaign stretches the idea of clean politics beyond what most people would call acceptable.
Still, Iain Dale eulogises about the campaign on his blog today, and bizarrely, decides to attack the Lib Dems in to the bargain. Let me explain it in context. The Tories set up an so called "independent" campaign, which they then use to raise money for the Tory candidate, and then from this level of dishonesty they attack the Lib Dems. You couldn't make it up !
Still, for a much more balanced view, and one which will strike a chord with many decent Tories and those who are genuinely independent, another Tory blogger, Andrew Allison points out that this type of personal negative campaigning using front groups to do the nasty work of the Tories does politics and the Conservative Party absolutely no favours at all.
If Iain Dale thinks this is a success then heaven help political discourse and clean campaigning.
The website, which ludicrously suggests it is an independent campaign (despite being set up and backed by known Tories) is a pretty low piece of work by any standards. To flagrantly bandy the word "independent" around is something the Tories like to do, particularly in local elections, but to claim in any way shape or form that this is an independent campaign stretches the idea of clean politics beyond what most people would call acceptable.
Still, Iain Dale eulogises about the campaign on his blog today, and bizarrely, decides to attack the Lib Dems in to the bargain. Let me explain it in context. The Tories set up an so called "independent" campaign, which they then use to raise money for the Tory candidate, and then from this level of dishonesty they attack the Lib Dems. You couldn't make it up !
Still, for a much more balanced view, and one which will strike a chord with many decent Tories and those who are genuinely independent, another Tory blogger, Andrew Allison points out that this type of personal negative campaigning using front groups to do the nasty work of the Tories does politics and the Conservative Party absolutely no favours at all.
If Iain Dale thinks this is a success then heaven help political discourse and clean campaigning.
Be careful who you make friends with Africa
In the wake of the failure to get any sort of agreement in Copenhagen, African countries are reportedly very angry that no legally binding treaty has been agreed. It appears also that China was the main culprit in preventing a real deal being made.
So isn't it odd that African nations, who have readily accepted Chinese grants for building stadiums and "showpiece" buildings in return for access to the natural resources these countries have, are moaning.
If they are so very angry, we can assume that these African nations will sever their links with China ? Of course not. Africa is angry because they expected more. But will a one party dicatorship who murder thousand of their own population each year ever give a damn about anyone other than themselves ? Of course not.
Africa should be careful where they make friends.
So isn't it odd that African nations, who have readily accepted Chinese grants for building stadiums and "showpiece" buildings in return for access to the natural resources these countries have, are moaning.
If they are so very angry, we can assume that these African nations will sever their links with China ? Of course not. Africa is angry because they expected more. But will a one party dicatorship who murder thousand of their own population each year ever give a damn about anyone other than themselves ? Of course not.
Africa should be careful where they make friends.
12/19/2009
A letter to my 16 year old self
Iain Dale has tagged me to write a letter to my 16 year old self giving myself 3 pieces of advice. So here I go.
Dear Nich,
Here is some advice for you.
Contrary to what you might think now about your future, you will actually go on to learn and be educated and you will realise it is what you were meant to do. I know you loathe school, can't wait to leave, and as a result have no desire to do A levels. But don't be too depressed when after two months at Norwich Union you realsie you have made a terrible mistake and wish you had gone on to further education. You will go to University and there you will meet some of the most amazing people you will ever meet, you will make the very closest of friendships, and you will not regret for one moment that you chose this delayed path in to education.
Accept that you cannot be popular with everyone and accept that some of those you count as friends really and truly are selfish arseholes. You know the only child who has everything handed too him on a plate ? You know to whom I refer. He will dump an you and your friends, play you off against each other and in general arse you around. You don't need his friendship or the friendship of his clique he will develop this year (you'll soon see the clique appear). Oh, but stay in touch with Andy. He's a bit misguided sometimes and yes, he will make a couple of monumental errors in his dealings with you over the coming years, but he'll always prove to be a good friend. You'll make many friends because for all your fears about wanting to be liked, people do genuinely like you when you don't try too hard !
Finally, you will really like yourself when you are my age (nearly 39), in fact, from the age of acout 25, you will really and truthfully have grown in to yourself. You will know that you don't have to always be the life and soul of the party, people will trust you implicitly, it's okay to be a little down sometimes, but the grey cloud that is over your head right now (and will be there until the age of 25) will go and be virtually banished accept on bad days. You grow in to yourself and in to your looks and you'll be tremendously happy in your late thirties, and so SO much calmer.
Oh, and to break a rule and offer a fourth and fifth piece of advice, don't get used to Everton winning league titles as this year (1987) will be their last for many many years and you will learn, despite all your hopes, that politics changes nothing. Absolutely nothing.
Cheers
Nich
Dear Nich,
Here is some advice for you.
Contrary to what you might think now about your future, you will actually go on to learn and be educated and you will realise it is what you were meant to do. I know you loathe school, can't wait to leave, and as a result have no desire to do A levels. But don't be too depressed when after two months at Norwich Union you realsie you have made a terrible mistake and wish you had gone on to further education. You will go to University and there you will meet some of the most amazing people you will ever meet, you will make the very closest of friendships, and you will not regret for one moment that you chose this delayed path in to education.
Accept that you cannot be popular with everyone and accept that some of those you count as friends really and truly are selfish arseholes. You know the only child who has everything handed too him on a plate ? You know to whom I refer. He will dump an you and your friends, play you off against each other and in general arse you around. You don't need his friendship or the friendship of his clique he will develop this year (you'll soon see the clique appear). Oh, but stay in touch with Andy. He's a bit misguided sometimes and yes, he will make a couple of monumental errors in his dealings with you over the coming years, but he'll always prove to be a good friend. You'll make many friends because for all your fears about wanting to be liked, people do genuinely like you when you don't try too hard !
Finally, you will really like yourself when you are my age (nearly 39), in fact, from the age of acout 25, you will really and truthfully have grown in to yourself. You will know that you don't have to always be the life and soul of the party, people will trust you implicitly, it's okay to be a little down sometimes, but the grey cloud that is over your head right now (and will be there until the age of 25) will go and be virtually banished accept on bad days. You grow in to yourself and in to your looks and you'll be tremendously happy in your late thirties, and so SO much calmer.
Oh, and to break a rule and offer a fourth and fifth piece of advice, don't get used to Everton winning league titles as this year (1987) will be their last for many many years and you will learn, despite all your hopes, that politics changes nothing. Absolutely nothing.
Cheers
Nich
12/18/2009
Strange bed fellows
It appears the Global Warming deniers may get want they want and the Copenhagen summit might produce a fudged agreement that will do nothing to save the planet.
Strange that it should be the Chinese governmentment that is doing the global warming deniers a favour.
Strange bed fellows. It must be thrilling for them to know that the Chinese and the extreme right wing in this country have so much in common.
Strange that it should be the Chinese governmentment that is doing the global warming deniers a favour.
Strange bed fellows. It must be thrilling for them to know that the Chinese and the extreme right wing in this country have so much in common.
Sick to death of DJs eulogising about snow
If you tune in to local radio almost anywhere at the moment you seem to be greeted by an imbecilic DJs spouting on about how wonderful the snow is. What joke.
Snow is a miserable thing. It causes accidents, deaths, slow journeys, wasted fuel, events to be missed, plans to be canelled, and in general an enoprmous amount of disruption for anyone who has a life. Whilst I accept that childrens might like snow, for most of us it is the last thing we look forward to in the winter.
So why do local DJs seem to think we like it ? Because the average local radio DJ is extremely dim.
Snow is a miserable thing. It causes accidents, deaths, slow journeys, wasted fuel, events to be missed, plans to be canelled, and in general an enoprmous amount of disruption for anyone who has a life. Whilst I accept that childrens might like snow, for most of us it is the last thing we look forward to in the winter.
So why do local DJs seem to think we like it ? Because the average local radio DJ is extremely dim.
12/17/2009
Green Christmas Hypocrisy
I noticed a house which sported a "Vote Green" poster in the recent Norwich North by-election has shown its owners up to be true to the values of the Green Party. In true "Do as I say, not as I do" style, the house is festooned with Christmas lights outside it.
Presumably the lights are all powered by someone inside the house on an exercise bike with a dynamo ?
Presumably the lights are all powered by someone inside the house on an exercise bike with a dynamo ?
I am fed up with hearing about how they deal with snow in cold countries
Listening to Radio 5Live in the way home from work consisted of travel and wqeather updates followed by them reading out stacks of emails from people in Canada, people who have family in Russia or people who live in Scandinavia telling us how we are so pathetic because they can cope with snow really well.
Of course they cope well with snow. They are guaranteed to have snow in Canada, Russia, Poland, Scandinavia, etc, and as a result, people know to fit studded tires (which would destroy our roads because they are only suitable for roads that have snow on them), the central and local government can confidently predict that spending hundreds of millions of pounds on snow clearing equipment will not be a pointless investment due to guaranteed snow. In the UK we can go several years without any serious snow. Any such investment in the UK could be one of the most expensive follys ever.
So who don't these people in cold places just keep their opinions on how we deal with snow to their own countries. We deal with snow badly because, to put it simply, we don't have snow very often. We live in a temperate climate that ranges from very warm for small perios of time to very cold for small periods of time with most of our weather simply being mild, miserable and cool.
Of course they cope well with snow. They are guaranteed to have snow in Canada, Russia, Poland, Scandinavia, etc, and as a result, people know to fit studded tires (which would destroy our roads because they are only suitable for roads that have snow on them), the central and local government can confidently predict that spending hundreds of millions of pounds on snow clearing equipment will not be a pointless investment due to guaranteed snow. In the UK we can go several years without any serious snow. Any such investment in the UK could be one of the most expensive follys ever.
So who don't these people in cold places just keep their opinions on how we deal with snow to their own countries. We deal with snow badly because, to put it simply, we don't have snow very often. We live in a temperate climate that ranges from very warm for small perios of time to very cold for small periods of time with most of our weather simply being mild, miserable and cool.
12/14/2009
Turkeys vote for Christmas
BA, whose average staff costs are apparently nearly double those of any other UK airline, are faced with 12 days of strikes thanks to the UNITE union's decision to oppose reforms that would give BA a fighting chance of surviving the recession and actually staying in business.
It seems that Turkeys really do vote for Christmas.
It seems that Turkeys really do vote for Christmas.
12/13/2009
What's the delay Dave ?
David Cameron announced today that a Tory government would introduce a law preventing anyone who does not pay UK from sitting in parliament in the UK.
So here's a question or two.
1) Why does he not make it a rule for Tory candidates and MPs now ?
2) Why, dsepite repeated reminders at press conferences an in TV interviews ove the last three years, has he never sought to tell Lord Ashcroft (The Tory party's largest donor) that he needs to be registered for tax in the UK ?
It's all very well telling us what you would do, but how about acting on it first within your own ranks Dave ?
So here's a question or two.
1) Why does he not make it a rule for Tory candidates and MPs now ?
2) Why, dsepite repeated reminders at press conferences an in TV interviews ove the last three years, has he never sought to tell Lord Ashcroft (The Tory party's largest donor) that he needs to be registered for tax in the UK ?
It's all very well telling us what you would do, but how about acting on it first within your own ranks Dave ?
12/10/2009
Taking Labour's Bitter Pill Will Not Make Us Better
To hear Labour big guns being rolled out to speak to the press over and over again over the last two days since the pre budget report has been a lesson in how to sound if you have run out of ideas.
In the last 24 hours I have heard Alistair Darling, Jack Straw and the quite awful Ed Balls all defending the PBR on the simple basis that "the Tories would be worse". This quite pathetic defence just highlight how vaccuous Labour are now and how utterly bankrupt they are in the ideas department.
So what will the polls make of it ? I cannot see anoything other than a decline in Labour's support on the basis that the PBR was not good for most people and it actually fails to address the urgent needs of the country.
People an accept a bitter pill if it will make you better. But as the BBC reports tonight, Labour's measures will do nothing to solve the crisis in the public finances whilst everyone will be feeling the pinch.
In the last 24 hours I have heard Alistair Darling, Jack Straw and the quite awful Ed Balls all defending the PBR on the simple basis that "the Tories would be worse". This quite pathetic defence just highlight how vaccuous Labour are now and how utterly bankrupt they are in the ideas department.
So what will the polls make of it ? I cannot see anoything other than a decline in Labour's support on the basis that the PBR was not good for most people and it actually fails to address the urgent needs of the country.
People an accept a bitter pill if it will make you better. But as the BBC reports tonight, Labour's measures will do nothing to solve the crisis in the public finances whilst everyone will be feeling the pinch.
12/09/2009
What has Roger Federer done ?
Since then, Thierry Henry has become known worldwide not for his style, verve and footballing skills, but for his cheating handball exploits eliminating Ireland from the World Cup.
Then Tiger Woods, it appears, decided to have extra marital relations with more or less anyone who fancied a go with the world's number one golfer.
I guess the question is now what has Roger Federer done ? The clean cut and rather affable Swiss tennis player is the only one of the three not to have done something that would spoil his image.
12/08/2009
Why did you become a doctor ?
I would imagine that the main reason to be a doctor is that you want to save people's lives and make the ill healthy, but it appears I am wrong.
It seems the BMA think that the profession is made up largely of people who are worried about not receiving hefty performance bonuses on top of their £100,000 a year salaries.
I wonder how proud the medical profession will be of themselves when we find out in six months time how many under fives died of swine flu needlessly because they were worried about their bonuses ?
It seems the BMA think that the profession is made up largely of people who are worried about not receiving hefty performance bonuses on top of their £100,000 a year salaries.
I wonder how proud the medical profession will be of themselves when we find out in six months time how many under fives died of swine flu needlessly because they were worried about their bonuses ?
12/07/2009
Where were all the celebrity Tory PPCs in 1997 and 2001 ?
Isn't odd that in 1997 and 2001, all these ex Generals and sons/daughters/brothers/sisters of the glitterati, TV presenters and celebrity journalists were able to keep themselves as far from a Tory rosette as was humanly possible. But as soon as the Tories start doing well in the polls, there is suddenly a deluge of people with "names" or "medals" who trot themselves out as Tories, seemingly without ever done a days canvassing or delivering in a no hope ward in their lives.
It must be galling for many Tories who remained loyal in the lean years up to Cameron's leadership election in 2005 that they should be punished and in some cases be tarnished (and I particularly feel for Iain Dale in the case) with not having had a good result in difficult circumstances, only for a newcomer who doesn't have the nerve or the passion to fight a no hope seat waltz in waving a Tory membership card and get selected for plum seats.
The first question I would be asking of these political celebs is where were they in 1997 and 2001. Where were they in the darker days of the IDS leadership when the Tories were languishing in the polls ? Were they out campaigning for the Tories and if they weren't why not !
It must be galling for many Tories who remained loyal in the lean years up to Cameron's leadership election in 2005 that they should be punished and in some cases be tarnished (and I particularly feel for Iain Dale in the case) with not having had a good result in difficult circumstances, only for a newcomer who doesn't have the nerve or the passion to fight a no hope seat waltz in waving a Tory membership card and get selected for plum seats.
The first question I would be asking of these political celebs is where were they in 1997 and 2001. Where were they in the darker days of the IDS leadership when the Tories were languishing in the polls ? Were they out campaigning for the Tories and if they weren't why not !
Wanted : One Term MP
Orpington Tories are selecting a new Tory candidate for the seat held currently by the Tories.
Anyone who knows politics will be aware that an enormous amount of Ashcroft money was spent in Orpington in recent years to keep it in the blu column and with a little bit more luck the Lib Dems might have picked the seat up in 1997 and 2001. Given the Lib Dem strength there are the fact that the Lib Dems are still within a reasonable striking range of winning in Orpington, I think the Tories are advertising for a one term MP.
Anyone who knows politics will be aware that an enormous amount of Ashcroft money was spent in Orpington in recent years to keep it in the blu column and with a little bit more luck the Lib Dems might have picked the seat up in 1997 and 2001. Given the Lib Dem strength there are the fact that the Lib Dems are still within a reasonable striking range of winning in Orpington, I think the Tories are advertising for a one term MP.
12/06/2009
Global Warming Denial and Football Fan Excuses
I tweeted on twitter last night to someone last night that the arguments given by those who deny global warming are akin to those given by a football fan to justify their continued thoughts that their team still are the best, even after a heavy defeat.
Despite the weight of evidence, the melting of the North Pole, rising temperatures, freak weather patterns, flooding, more extreme hurricanes and cyclones, and a host of other evidence from a vast range of sources from across the globe, there remains this hardcore of mainly right wing groups, more obsessed with dollars that justice, who cling to fragments to justify their opposition to any thoughts that global warming is happening or that it is a bad thing.
The fuss over a few e-mails from one university in the UK (the University of East Anglia in Norwich) are being used to try and taint the evidence from thousands of researchers and scientists around the world. Yet when "The Great Global Warming Scandal" was debunked when a number of those whose contributions were taken out of context complained that the programme did not accurately represent what they said or felt about global warming, the Global Warming deniers don't see that as evidence that it taints "all" their arguments in the same way as some emails from the UEA supposedly does.
Then there are those who seem to think that global warming might be a good thing. Witness Nigel Lawson on Andrew Marr's programme this morning who seemed to be trying to justify his view that most people in this country are not that worried about a small rise in temperatures. Forget that a small rise in the UK means a small rise in Africa, leading to further drought.
For global warming deniers to claim that the emails from the UEA prove that the whole global warming argument is without foundation is like a losing football fan claiming that the 5th goal in a seven nil defeat was actually offside.
Despite the weight of evidence, the melting of the North Pole, rising temperatures, freak weather patterns, flooding, more extreme hurricanes and cyclones, and a host of other evidence from a vast range of sources from across the globe, there remains this hardcore of mainly right wing groups, more obsessed with dollars that justice, who cling to fragments to justify their opposition to any thoughts that global warming is happening or that it is a bad thing.
The fuss over a few e-mails from one university in the UK (the University of East Anglia in Norwich) are being used to try and taint the evidence from thousands of researchers and scientists around the world. Yet when "The Great Global Warming Scandal" was debunked when a number of those whose contributions were taken out of context complained that the programme did not accurately represent what they said or felt about global warming, the Global Warming deniers don't see that as evidence that it taints "all" their arguments in the same way as some emails from the UEA supposedly does.
Then there are those who seem to think that global warming might be a good thing. Witness Nigel Lawson on Andrew Marr's programme this morning who seemed to be trying to justify his view that most people in this country are not that worried about a small rise in temperatures. Forget that a small rise in the UK means a small rise in Africa, leading to further drought.
For global warming deniers to claim that the emails from the UEA prove that the whole global warming argument is without foundation is like a losing football fan claiming that the 5th goal in a seven nil defeat was actually offside.
12/05/2009
All the money in the world cannot but you innocence when you are guilty in Italy
How galling for the rich family of Amanda Knox, now convicted of the murder or British student Meredith Kercher, that running an expensive media campaign and spending over a million dollars during her defence, to find that the Italian legal system is not as flawed as the US system, and that money and fame does not ensure a not guilty verdict.
Now let's hope that the family of Meredith Kercher can get some peace, for despite all the fuss caused by Knox's family, it is poor murdered Meredith and her family who seem to have gone unmentioned in all this.
Now let's hope that the family of Meredith Kercher can get some peace, for despite all the fuss caused by Knox's family, it is poor murdered Meredith and her family who seem to have gone unmentioned in all this.
12/04/2009
Weekly Flu Questions
Based on the report from Liam Donaldson on the weekly swine flu figures, there are almost as many questions as answers given the government's dreadful response to swine flu.
The government are apparently worried about the continued flow of under fives in to hospital because of their extreme reaction to swine flu.
Interestingly though, under fives are equally prone to hospitalisation from normal seasonal flu, so it is a mystery why under fives are not routinely offered the seasonal flu vaccine. I know someone whose three year old has been admitted to hospital in each of the last two years because of seasonal flu and still this child cannot get a seasonal flu jab because he is not in an "at risk" group.
Anyone with any knowledge of health issues (and they know this in the US) knows that under fives are at risk from any flu bug irrespective of their general medical condition.
The second issue is why there is still no agreement with GPs for immunising all children between six months and under five years. This is supposedly a priority for the government, but they have not even agreed a deal more than two weeks after announcing it !
The government are apparently worried about the continued flow of under fives in to hospital because of their extreme reaction to swine flu.
Interestingly though, under fives are equally prone to hospitalisation from normal seasonal flu, so it is a mystery why under fives are not routinely offered the seasonal flu vaccine. I know someone whose three year old has been admitted to hospital in each of the last two years because of seasonal flu and still this child cannot get a seasonal flu jab because he is not in an "at risk" group.
Anyone with any knowledge of health issues (and they know this in the US) knows that under fives are at risk from any flu bug irrespective of their general medical condition.
The second issue is why there is still no agreement with GPs for immunising all children between six months and under five years. This is supposedly a priority for the government, but they have not even agreed a deal more than two weeks after announcing it !
12/03/2009
The simple and obvious point that city bankers cannot understand
We are constantly told that if city bankers are not given bonuses, they will leave and work elsewhere. This is their justification for their greed and arrogance, and seemingly the world has bought in to this lie because nobody has bothered to question it. The problem is, the whole argument fails to hold water.
The argument goes that if we do not pay these people millions they will leave, and they may go abroad. The problem is with this argument that they live in the UK, most are UK citizens, and most really do not have the urge to work abroad. The opportunities to work abroad already exist for them so this argument is bankrupt.
So what if they left and went to work in Europe ? Well the problem is that they deal with UK banking, that is their area of expertise. They work in the London markets and although the markets are "world" markets, working from London has its advantages.
So what if they go and work for another UK bank ? Well does another UK bank have the capacity and money to take on all these extra bankers ? The answer is almost certainly no.
There is an argument for Wayne Rooney to be paid a vast sum of money. He has a unique talent that cannot be taught. Likewise some businessmen take calculated risks with their own money and makes deserved healthy returns. Whilst anyone moaning about the sums that Take That makes simply lack the ability to be singers and songwriters. But what do bankers do that is that unique ?
You are not born "a banker". Everything they do is trained and taught. Presumably, if bonuses were not there and they all left, a new generation of bankers could be taught the job ?
The problem is that there is no academic qualification to be a banker. No degree in banking, it is simply a job that actually many people could do, if they were given the opportunity. I am not saying that everyone would be good at it, but neither are all bankers (as we have seen).
Please don't for one moment think I am saying being a banker is an easy job. I'm sure it isn't. But then again, neither is being a nurse, a teacher, a doctor, a fireman, or in the armed forces. But anyone who thinks that sitting behind a desk playing with other people's money, means they should be entitles to earn premier league footballer wages really is living on another planet.
In simple terms, bankers are not unique, they do not posess unique skills that only they have. They are just lucky, have the right school tie or the family contacts that got them a lucrative job.
The argument goes that if we do not pay these people millions they will leave, and they may go abroad. The problem is with this argument that they live in the UK, most are UK citizens, and most really do not have the urge to work abroad. The opportunities to work abroad already exist for them so this argument is bankrupt.
So what if they left and went to work in Europe ? Well the problem is that they deal with UK banking, that is their area of expertise. They work in the London markets and although the markets are "world" markets, working from London has its advantages.
So what if they go and work for another UK bank ? Well does another UK bank have the capacity and money to take on all these extra bankers ? The answer is almost certainly no.
There is an argument for Wayne Rooney to be paid a vast sum of money. He has a unique talent that cannot be taught. Likewise some businessmen take calculated risks with their own money and makes deserved healthy returns. Whilst anyone moaning about the sums that Take That makes simply lack the ability to be singers and songwriters. But what do bankers do that is that unique ?
You are not born "a banker". Everything they do is trained and taught. Presumably, if bonuses were not there and they all left, a new generation of bankers could be taught the job ?
The problem is that there is no academic qualification to be a banker. No degree in banking, it is simply a job that actually many people could do, if they were given the opportunity. I am not saying that everyone would be good at it, but neither are all bankers (as we have seen).
Please don't for one moment think I am saying being a banker is an easy job. I'm sure it isn't. But then again, neither is being a nurse, a teacher, a doctor, a fireman, or in the armed forces. But anyone who thinks that sitting behind a desk playing with other people's money, means they should be entitles to earn premier league footballer wages really is living on another planet.
In simple terms, bankers are not unique, they do not posess unique skills that only they have. They are just lucky, have the right school tie or the family contacts that got them a lucrative job.
12/01/2009
Reason enough not to get elected to parliament
Looking at pictures of the new leader of the Labour Party in Wales, it makes me even more sure that attempting to get in to parliament is not for me.
Apparently Carwyn Jones is 42 years of age. I am turning 39 next month. If politics makes you look that old, that quickly, then I'm better off staying in the teaching profession !
Why aren't dangerous dogs treated as a lethal weapon ?
Following another tragic death of a young child at the hands of a dangerous dog, kept illegally, in the full knowledge of the fact that these dogs are killers, one wonders how many children will die before the Dangerous Dogs Act, a rushed and very poor piece of legislation, is amended or replaced.
It seems clear that what is needed is proper legislation that puts the onus on the police to take action, and where people who breed and keep dangerous dogs are not merely threatened with the dog being destroyed, but face a prison sentence that is commensurate with possessing a lethal weapon.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
