Lowering the standards required for housing so that people can rent these lower grade properties to people hardly looks like a forward thinking policy, instead it seems like a return to allowing slum landlords to provide poor accommodation for sky high rents. Surely nobody could believe this is a good idea ?
Oh, apparently its a Tory idea.
2/13/2009
Glorifying Teenage Pregnancy - Thanks to "The Sun"
Today's headlines in "The Sun" glorifying the 13 year old father of a child really does send out the wrong message.
The Sun has an "exclusive" on this story and the baby's teenage parents have, apparently, been behind closed doors with representatives of "The Sun" all day. Putting two and two together you would have to assume that "The Sun" are not providing this support out of the kindness of Rupert Murdoch's heart and they have paid the teenagers a handsome sum in return for the exclusivity of this story.
At a time when people bemoan the obsession teenagers have with fame and a lack of willingness amongst some youths to get qualified and get a job, is "The Sun" paying these children to report their law breaking really sending out the right message ?
There are supposed to be laws that prevent people from profiteering from breaking the law yet "The Sun" tries to offer these people money, fame and a shoulder to cry on.
What an example to set.
The Sun has an "exclusive" on this story and the baby's teenage parents have, apparently, been behind closed doors with representatives of "The Sun" all day. Putting two and two together you would have to assume that "The Sun" are not providing this support out of the kindness of Rupert Murdoch's heart and they have paid the teenagers a handsome sum in return for the exclusivity of this story.
At a time when people bemoan the obsession teenagers have with fame and a lack of willingness amongst some youths to get qualified and get a job, is "The Sun" paying these children to report their law breaking really sending out the right message ?
There are supposed to be laws that prevent people from profiteering from breaking the law yet "The Sun" tries to offer these people money, fame and a shoulder to cry on.
What an example to set.
2/12/2009
Tories rewriting history
We shouldn't be so shocked that a Tory employee attempted to change an historical fact on Wikipedia , instead we should be more worried about the Tories attempt to whitewash their past and claim the oral high ground in the wake of the credit crunch.
on BBC Radio Five Live this morning George Osborne simply ignored Nicky Campbells questions regarding Tory leader David Cameron speeches from less than two years ago when he criticised attempts to regulate the City of London and the banks. The presenter seemed to have a list of speeches and dates from Mr Cameron which Osborne had absolutely no answer for other than to say "but we do want proper regulation". It seems clear that the Tories are desperately hoping that nobody examines their "light touch" policy on The City in too much depth.
Osborne tried to justify the Tories high moral line by arguing that under Tory governments in the past no banks went under. Sadly it seems that someone who wants to be the Chancellor of the Exchequer has never heard of the Bank of Credit & Commerce International (BCCI), a large bank which although foreign owned, was based firmly in London which under a Tory government (and virtually no monitoring or regulation, as is the Tory was) went bust. Though no HBOS, BCCI went under in relatively bening times and without the Tory government having a clue that it would happen.
the Tories would be much better off holding their hands up and saying "We were wrong on regulation and we now see the need for it" rather than denying their guilty secrets and making us all suspicious of whether we can believe them about anything.
on BBC Radio Five Live this morning George Osborne simply ignored Nicky Campbells questions regarding Tory leader David Cameron speeches from less than two years ago when he criticised attempts to regulate the City of London and the banks. The presenter seemed to have a list of speeches and dates from Mr Cameron which Osborne had absolutely no answer for other than to say "but we do want proper regulation". It seems clear that the Tories are desperately hoping that nobody examines their "light touch" policy on The City in too much depth.
Osborne tried to justify the Tories high moral line by arguing that under Tory governments in the past no banks went under. Sadly it seems that someone who wants to be the Chancellor of the Exchequer has never heard of the Bank of Credit & Commerce International (BCCI), a large bank which although foreign owned, was based firmly in London which under a Tory government (and virtually no monitoring or regulation, as is the Tory was) went bust. Though no HBOS, BCCI went under in relatively bening times and without the Tory government having a clue that it would happen.
the Tories would be much better off holding their hands up and saying "We were wrong on regulation and we now see the need for it" rather than denying their guilty secrets and making us all suspicious of whether we can believe them about anything.
2/10/2009
More bank stupidity
Oh dear, and in Norwich too.
At least this bank error does not require billions of pounds in government bail out funds.
At least this bank error does not require billions of pounds in government bail out funds.
Lib Dems raise concerns about threat to retained firemen
One of the spin offs of Britain no longer having an opt out from the EU's working time directive is that it could directly affect fire services across the UK as many retained firemen will already have worked their full allowance of hours in their normal jobs and it could mean they may not be able to attend to emergencies for fear of sanctions under EU rules.
Many rural areas are reliant on the volunteers who serve as retained firemen. I know from my brother in law who is a retained foreman that recruitment is difficult enough at the moment with fewer people living and working within the designated distance required from the fire station, so the last thing firefighters want the EU to be doing is interfering.
So well done to the Lib Dems who have secured a debate on this issue in the House of Commons and let us hope some common sense can be brought to this issue.
Many rural areas are reliant on the volunteers who serve as retained firemen. I know from my brother in law who is a retained foreman that recruitment is difficult enough at the moment with fewer people living and working within the designated distance required from the fire station, so the last thing firefighters want the EU to be doing is interfering.
So well done to the Lib Dems who have secured a debate on this issue in the House of Commons and let us hope some common sense can be brought to this issue.
2/09/2009
Bonus arguments show bogus logic
The fact that the head of Barclays Bank thinks bank bonuses are a good thing that should remain should come as no shock to anyone. It is like asking the head of Cadbury's if people should buy chocolate or a Premiership footballer if he thinks footballers are overpaid. But the argument she gives just do not hold water.
The most often used argument from those who support bonuses for the fat cats in the city is that "if you don't pay them the going rate, these people will go elsewhere", but this argument holds no water at all now as bonuses around the world have been slashed. Very few companies, if any, will be paying massive bonuses to its fat cat executives so how can they maintain this as an argument.
Then there is the argument that "banks will not get out of this mess if they lose all their best people", but as I have already pointed out, other banks are not paying bonuses so there is little chance of these people leaving to go elsewhere.
And finally, there is the argument that "success should be rewarded", which might be true were it not for the fact that the "success" these banks talked off were the very things that later put the banks in to such a sorry financial state. So many executives received benefits last year and in previous years for their investments in sub prime. If banks cannot differentiate between good work and bad, then bonus payments make no sense other than being a way for banks to reward themselves, not success.
We all know that the city has no morals and no ethics and we should not be surprised as bankers greed. The saddest thing is though that the government seem so toothless to stop the city and we, the taxpayer, are paying the price.
The most often used argument from those who support bonuses for the fat cats in the city is that "if you don't pay them the going rate, these people will go elsewhere", but this argument holds no water at all now as bonuses around the world have been slashed. Very few companies, if any, will be paying massive bonuses to its fat cat executives so how can they maintain this as an argument.
Then there is the argument that "banks will not get out of this mess if they lose all their best people", but as I have already pointed out, other banks are not paying bonuses so there is little chance of these people leaving to go elsewhere.
And finally, there is the argument that "success should be rewarded", which might be true were it not for the fact that the "success" these banks talked off were the very things that later put the banks in to such a sorry financial state. So many executives received benefits last year and in previous years for their investments in sub prime. If banks cannot differentiate between good work and bad, then bonus payments make no sense other than being a way for banks to reward themselves, not success.
We all know that the city has no morals and no ethics and we should not be surprised as bankers greed. The saddest thing is though that the government seem so toothless to stop the city and we, the taxpayer, are paying the price.
2/07/2009
It may sound cruel, but some would argue that if you are THAT stupid, you deserve to be ripped off
The BBC were featuring a story today about "work from home" scams where people are told they can earn £300 a day for stuffing envelopes in return for a one off £35 fee.
Now lets start by doing the maths. £300 per day is £1500 a week which equates to £78000 a year. Does anyone honestly believe you can earn £78000 a year stuffing envelopes ?
It may sound incredibly cruel, but if you honestly believe you can earn more than a doctor, an MP, a head teacher, a senior policeman, a bank manager, a solicitor or an accountant by stuffing envelopes you really do need a reality check. Why would anyone go to university or train to do one of those highly skilled jobs if they could sit at home drinking tea stuffing envelopes with Jeremy Kyle on the telly ?
Perhaps £35 is a cheap price to pay for a reality check.
Now lets start by doing the maths. £300 per day is £1500 a week which equates to £78000 a year. Does anyone honestly believe you can earn £78000 a year stuffing envelopes ?
It may sound incredibly cruel, but if you honestly believe you can earn more than a doctor, an MP, a head teacher, a senior policeman, a bank manager, a solicitor or an accountant by stuffing envelopes you really do need a reality check. Why would anyone go to university or train to do one of those highly skilled jobs if they could sit at home drinking tea stuffing envelopes with Jeremy Kyle on the telly ?
Perhaps £35 is a cheap price to pay for a reality check.
Ice, snow, and those who deny global warming
The last few days of snow has seen radio and TV shows reporting a rise in emails and texts from people rather triumphantly claiming that the current weather proves there is no global warming.
To answer in short, what a bunch of idiots.
In any weather cycle, we have extremes, varying from the very hot to the very cold, and as one meteorologist made clear yesterday, the snow we have had this week was, 30 years ago, a once in every five years event. Now we only get it every 20 years.
Then there is the issue of temperatures, which despite the relative cold of this week, still show the mean average rising year on year. Even last summer, a dull and rather uninspiring cloudy 3 months, average temperatures rose compared to previous years.
And finally, you only have to look on the internet for a few minutes for current evidence that shows how looking at the weather in one small part of the world (the UK) cannot prove anything. Take for example Australia, which is currently suffering a long heatwave unprecedented in recent years leading to wild fires.
No, it does stun me just how ignorant the global warming deniers are. They might disagree about the causes, bu the evidence of climate change is overwhelming.
Update :
In order to make the point cleare and after a host of anonymous, semi abusive posters sent me almost identical links seemingly from a "We don't think Climate Change Exists" website, I'll post the following piece of evidence from the Met Office Website.
It states, as some have pointed out, that 2008 was slightly cooler (over 12 months) than in 2007, but was still one of the top ten warmest years on record. It also explains why 2008 was cooler, with the facts not really suiting the deniers arguments.
By the way, we can all report one crank report from one obscure university but this is not really going to impress me.
The right wing really have got to ask themselves why they alone want to be so against the climate change agenda.
To answer in short, what a bunch of idiots.
In any weather cycle, we have extremes, varying from the very hot to the very cold, and as one meteorologist made clear yesterday, the snow we have had this week was, 30 years ago, a once in every five years event. Now we only get it every 20 years.
Then there is the issue of temperatures, which despite the relative cold of this week, still show the mean average rising year on year. Even last summer, a dull and rather uninspiring cloudy 3 months, average temperatures rose compared to previous years.
And finally, you only have to look on the internet for a few minutes for current evidence that shows how looking at the weather in one small part of the world (the UK) cannot prove anything. Take for example Australia, which is currently suffering a long heatwave unprecedented in recent years leading to wild fires.
No, it does stun me just how ignorant the global warming deniers are. They might disagree about the causes, bu the evidence of climate change is overwhelming.
Update :
In order to make the point cleare and after a host of anonymous, semi abusive posters sent me almost identical links seemingly from a "We don't think Climate Change Exists" website, I'll post the following piece of evidence from the Met Office Website.
It states, as some have pointed out, that 2008 was slightly cooler (over 12 months) than in 2007, but was still one of the top ten warmest years on record. It also explains why 2008 was cooler, with the facts not really suiting the deniers arguments.
By the way, we can all report one crank report from one obscure university but this is not really going to impress me.
The right wing really have got to ask themselves why they alone want to be so against the climate change agenda.
A mixed message from Leicestershire County Council ?
On Thursday night I listened to Radio Five on the way home from work. On the show they were interviewing the Tory leader of Leicestershire County Council who, in what seemed to me an attempt to win populist support, had said teachers who cannot make it to school because of the bad snow should go unpaid for those days unless they have made a "reasonable attempt" to get to school. This typical "teacher bashing" comment might win votes from people angry that their local school is closed because of bad weather, but the Council leader's statement failed to properly quantify what a "reasonable attempt" was.
Given the leader of the council was making such a strong statement about teachers, one might imagine that Leicestershire County Council was itself making a "reasonable attempt" to keep all its roads open. However, a Leicestershire County Councillor was on the radio yesterday morning complaining that Leicestershire County Council was itself asking for efficiency savings from its road gritting department which would mean cuts in its budget for gritting next year.
So on one hadn the leader of the council is telling teachers their pay will be docked for missing school and on the other the council are looking at reducing its own ability to keep roads open . Very odd indeed.
Given the leader of the council was making such a strong statement about teachers, one might imagine that Leicestershire County Council was itself making a "reasonable attempt" to keep all its roads open. However, a Leicestershire County Councillor was on the radio yesterday morning complaining that Leicestershire County Council was itself asking for efficiency savings from its road gritting department which would mean cuts in its budget for gritting next year.
So on one hadn the leader of the council is telling teachers their pay will be docked for missing school and on the other the council are looking at reducing its own ability to keep roads open . Very odd indeed.
2/06/2009
The inept British legal system
At the end of the BBC Sky Cops tv programme tonight the presenter told us what happened to those arrested during the program, and it pointed out the utter uselessness of the British legal system and tells us so much about why people have lost confidence in it.
When referring to the "third man arrested" after an incident where they deliberately led the police helicopter in to the flightpath of Heathrow airport in an attempt to avoid arrest, the voice over said "the third man failed to turn up to court and charges against him were later dropped".
What !!! A person can simply refuse to turn up to court and the CPS just drop the charges ?
Absolutely astonishing.
When referring to the "third man arrested" after an incident where they deliberately led the police helicopter in to the flightpath of Heathrow airport in an attempt to avoid arrest, the voice over said "the third man failed to turn up to court and charges against him were later dropped".
What !!! A person can simply refuse to turn up to court and the CPS just drop the charges ?
Absolutely astonishing.
Clarkson - Apologising for the right thing and ignoring Scots MPs
I am at a complete loss as to why Scottish MPs have become involved in the row regarding Jeremy Clarkson's comments about Gordon Brown.
Personally I feel that Jeremy Clarkson was unnecessarily offensive, but not for the reasons that Scottish MPs got so upset.
As I understand it Clarkson referred to Gordon Brown by describing him in three ways.
1) One eyed
2) Scottish
3) Idiot
To refer to Gordon Browns eye problems was deeply offensive and is simply ridiculing a man who has done well to overcome a disability. For this Clarkson should apologise.
Describing Gordon Brown as an idiot is also not pleasant but is subjective and people could genuinely hold this view and could probably argue a decent case for it (likewise others could refute it). I cannot see that calling him an idiot is anything to apologise for.
So that brings me to the description Scottish. As I understand it Gordon Brown was born in Scotland, has Scottish parents, represents a Scottish constituency and is proud to call himself a Scot, so what is the problem ? Why oh why to Scots MPs and MSPs feel the need to be offended by him being called Scottish ? Anyone is welcome to call me English, indeed I am proud of it as I am sure many Scots are proud to be Scottish.
Some Scots really do need to get over themselves
Personally I feel that Jeremy Clarkson was unnecessarily offensive, but not for the reasons that Scottish MPs got so upset.
As I understand it Clarkson referred to Gordon Brown by describing him in three ways.
1) One eyed
2) Scottish
3) Idiot
To refer to Gordon Browns eye problems was deeply offensive and is simply ridiculing a man who has done well to overcome a disability. For this Clarkson should apologise.
Describing Gordon Brown as an idiot is also not pleasant but is subjective and people could genuinely hold this view and could probably argue a decent case for it (likewise others could refute it). I cannot see that calling him an idiot is anything to apologise for.
So that brings me to the description Scottish. As I understand it Gordon Brown was born in Scotland, has Scottish parents, represents a Scottish constituency and is proud to call himself a Scot, so what is the problem ? Why oh why to Scots MPs and MSPs feel the need to be offended by him being called Scottish ? Anyone is welcome to call me English, indeed I am proud of it as I am sure many Scots are proud to be Scottish.
Some Scots really do need to get over themselves
2/04/2009
Why would you want small amounts of rubbish rather than one big thing that works ?
The decision to block ITV, Channel 4 and the BBC from working together on their project Kangaroo video and TV download system absolutely beggars belief in this era of global internet competition.
Together "Kangaroo" could have become a major player not just in the UK, but across the world, with consumers needing just one system in order to provide content from a range of providers. However, the small minded idiots who have to make judgements on such systems decided that duplication of systems with ITV, Channel 4 and the BBC each providing their own systems was the way forward.
Presumably these same idiots will also be buying a separate TV in their homes for each channel so as to avoid using using one TV for more than one channel.
Together "Kangaroo" could have become a major player not just in the UK, but across the world, with consumers needing just one system in order to provide content from a range of providers. However, the small minded idiots who have to make judgements on such systems decided that duplication of systems with ITV, Channel 4 and the BBC each providing their own systems was the way forward.
Presumably these same idiots will also be buying a separate TV in their homes for each channel so as to avoid using using one TV for more than one channel.
The complete and utter hopeless incompetence of ITV and their FA Cup coverage of Everton vs Liverpool
After 90 minutes of football and 28 minutes of extra time, with the score Everton 0, Liverpool 0, for some completely unexplainable reason ITV decided to go to an advert break whilst the match was still playing, only to return from the break with Everton having scored !
Absolute total rubbish coverage from ITV and further proof why they are not fit to cover sport.
Update :And now to compound matters, they have returned from the post match advert break half way through an interview with the Everton goalscorer !
The half hearted throw away apology for "technical problems" does not do their incompetence justice.
Absolute total rubbish coverage from ITV and further proof why they are not fit to cover sport.
Update :And now to compound matters, they have returned from the post match advert break half way through an interview with the Everton goalscorer !
The half hearted throw away apology for "technical problems" does not do their incompetence justice.
2/03/2009
Did Simon Burns think it was Dave ?
Tory MP Simon Burns has pleased guilty to dangerous driving (after earlier saying he was not guilty) and has been fined £400.
He was pulling out of the Houses of Parliament in his Range Rover (no doubt an absolutely necessary vehicle for driving around rural Chelmsford constituency), when he pulled out in front of a cyclist, breaking the cyclists neck in two places.
It made me wonder if Simon Burns thought the cyclist might have been "Dave". I guess if it had been him Mr Burns would have seen Dave's car following him down the road.
He was pulling out of the Houses of Parliament in his Range Rover (no doubt an absolutely necessary vehicle for driving around rural Chelmsford constituency), when he pulled out in front of a cyclist, breaking the cyclists neck in two places.
It made me wonder if Simon Burns thought the cyclist might have been "Dave". I guess if it had been him Mr Burns would have seen Dave's car following him down the road.
2/02/2009
Forget the weather !
The police advice is ... don't travel unless absolutely necessary.
The schools across Norfolk are shutting by the dozen.
Norwich Airport is closed.
I am supposed to be on a literacy course at a training centre in Norwich and ... Norfolk County Council have insisted the course is going ahead and when I phoned asking do they really expect me to attend given the weather, they just made plain that the course was still running and that would be my decision.
Impressed ??? No !!!
Update : Having now returned I can confirm (despite comments from one idiot) that the ring road is now deteriorating badly and a number of less well gritted outer roads are now becoming very difficult too.
The problem was never going to be getting in to Norwich, but as anyone with access to a weather forecast knew, the weather would turn bad. Schools across Norfolk were well aware that staff were going to have to get home again and that is why many decided to close early. At least my course did finish earlier than planned.
The schools across Norfolk are shutting by the dozen.
Norwich Airport is closed.
I am supposed to be on a literacy course at a training centre in Norwich and ... Norfolk County Council have insisted the course is going ahead and when I phoned asking do they really expect me to attend given the weather, they just made plain that the course was still running and that would be my decision.
Impressed ??? No !!!
Update : Having now returned I can confirm (despite comments from one idiot) that the ring road is now deteriorating badly and a number of less well gritted outer roads are now becoming very difficult too.
The problem was never going to be getting in to Norwich, but as anyone with access to a weather forecast knew, the weather would turn bad. Schools across Norfolk were well aware that staff were going to have to get home again and that is why many decided to close early. At least my course did finish earlier than planned.
Norfolk School Closures - Is your school closed because of the snow ?
If, like me, you are desperately trying to find out if your local school is closed in Norfolk because of the snow but cannot find it because Norfolk County Council's Schools website is so appalling and the "School Closures" section is no longer displayed on the home page of the website and is now hidden, click on the link below.
Is someone who left University with a Third Class degree the person to go to for Maths advice
David Cameron, it seems, is slightly obsessed with female TV personalities. Not content with Kirsty Allsop (from Location, Location, Location) being involved of a Tory taskforce on housing, David Cameron has now put Carol Vorderman (is there anyone who grates more on my nerves than her ?) in charge of investigation maths teaching. Let's not forget, Carol Vorderman left university with a third class degree. Yes, it is a pass, but for a number of employers this is not actually good enough to get a job.
From what I have heard from David Cameron on GMTV this morning, what he is demanding that schools do is exactly what is already part of the new Numeracy Framework. It is a shame David Cameron seemingly hadn't bothered to read this document like all schools have !
So who will be next to head up a task force for the Tories ? Can you think of a female TV presenter who wants a job ?
From what I have heard from David Cameron on GMTV this morning, what he is demanding that schools do is exactly what is already part of the new Numeracy Framework. It is a shame David Cameron seemingly hadn't bothered to read this document like all schools have !
So who will be next to head up a task force for the Tories ? Can you think of a female TV presenter who wants a job ?
2/01/2009
Are these the actions of the forces the Israeli apologists think use minimal force ?
The family of a British journalist shot dead by the Israeli Army in Gaza five years ago have received a £1.5 million payout from the Israeli government. The Israeli government, however, despite a full enquiry and even film of the event claim the Israeli soldier was NOT breaking the law.
Now remember, this is the same Israeli government who also claim their forces are acting within the law and within strict limits when the bomb and shot their way in to Gaza.
According to film footage shot at the time, Mr Miller, is seen waving a white flag as he steps from a building in Gaza. There is a shot and his colleague shouts: "We're British journalists."
There is then a second shot, which hits Mr Miller in the neck.
So just to be sure, remember that this IS the sort of behaviour the Israeli's accept from their armed forces and do NOT think is illegal.
And we are supposed to think this is minimal force ?
Now remember, this is the same Israeli government who also claim their forces are acting within the law and within strict limits when the bomb and shot their way in to Gaza.
According to film footage shot at the time, Mr Miller, is seen waving a white flag as he steps from a building in Gaza. There is a shot and his colleague shouts: "We're British journalists."
There is then a second shot, which hits Mr Miller in the neck.
So just to be sure, remember that this IS the sort of behaviour the Israeli's accept from their armed forces and do NOT think is illegal.
And we are supposed to think this is minimal force ?
Real life is funnier than fiction
This BBC clip of a couple of criminals, handcuffed together, making a run for from a New Zealand courtroom showed just how stupid criminals can be.
A scheme I am amazed our government has not copied
The Italians have a novel way of making extra money from motorists. They not only install camera's to photograph drivers jumping traffic lights, but they alter the speed of the intervals between the lights changing to different colours in order to confuse drivers and increase the number of fines.
Read about it HERE.
I am astonished our government have not copied this idea given their willingness to use cover the country in speed cameras.
Read about it HERE.
I am astonished our government have not copied this idea given their willingness to use cover the country in speed cameras.
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