Sunday

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After perusing the papers it is clear there is little to read about today. The papers are full of words but mostly of routine things and ageing stories, nothing of the shock, horror variety to speak off. Although watching Hibernian lose to relegation bound Hamilton Accies did make me giggle so maybe that is a shock story for you. Bolton thrashed 5-0 by Stoke certainly is and Mr Wenger's Arsenal playing Liverpool and both getting last minute penalties was a bit of a surprise. But real shock news was not to be found today. Real 'scoops' are rare to find these days and papers are now filled with a variety of subjects to keep themselves going. Some have become gossip sheets asking "What is she wearing?" as if this was important as some meaningless celebrity seeks publicity. Stories, and most are just that, 'stories,' lean either to the 'hate' angle or the 'loveable.' Jade Goody was a good example of this. Her foul mouthed ignorant rantings enabled the tabloids to headline her outpourings and allow the reader to point the finger at her sin. The minute this villain found she was dying the press immediately turned and called her "Poor Jade" and at her funeral SKY gave this live coverage, with following helicopter naturally.  It is the same whatever the occupation, an individual is regarded as good or bad and the press scream indignantly or purr like a cat, if they think that is what the reader wants to see. Objective journalism is hard to find, even with the 'serious press.'


 I watched the football via one of those PC streams. This leaves me guilty as I know these guys who offer such things are gangsters on the make. Well, if not gangsters exactly, chancers at the very least, and doing very well out of it. I feel uneasy that I am lining their pockets on someone else's offerings. However at this moment I am unable to buy the pictures legally, Sky alone would cost around £50 a month and the man at the dole did not appear keen when I questioned whether this was possible. I choose to forget his actual words. However I forced myself through my guilt but still feel uneasy abut this. Had I been watching games not available here I may feel less worried, and Ukrainian football without an English commentator is far superior to listening to any football with one. The constant adverts blocking the picture also annoy, however watching the mighty Hibernian fail v Hamilton was snigger making. Maybe I should be kinder to those who struggle.....?




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Culloden

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On this day in 1746, the Jacobite army of 'Bonnie Prince Charlie' was defeated by Hanoverian forces in the Battle of Culloden. This was the last battle on British soil. This was not a battle between Scotland and England but a civil war and the end of the Stuarts attempt to regain the throne of the United Kingdom.




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ISP's

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The German vessels were nine miles away when the Royal Navy began firing. As the chase progressed huge shells soared through the air between the fleets. HMS Invincible suddenly turned into a ball of flame and sank within 90 seconds. Only six men were to survive. The battle continued into the night with huge shells flying miles to land on or near their enemy. Ships sank and others were damaged, still the fight went on.  As the Grand fleet pursued the enemy the phone rang. I put aside the plastic warships and climbed out of the bath. Dripping wet I went to the phone. It had stopped ringing and the caller was murmuring unwillingly into the ansafone. It was my sister asking advice about ISP's as her daughter had dumped placed a PC in her house for her to use. I excused myself, dried off and returned still with my mind in the North Sea of 1916. She declared at one point that her use of the phone was limited, although she took fifty minutes to say this, and we eventually decided what her chosen option ought to be. 


It is very hard to pick an ISP. Even though I have used this wonderful device for years I do not easily follow the lies offers that are proffered. Her daughter had printed out several, some which sounded good, but from this distance it is not possible to easily explain all the ins and outs of these companies. It is at times like this I wish I was back north. Each ISP offers cheap prices but then you require careful reading of the downloads, the allowance if there is one, whether a contract is required, if the phone is free all day or only at certain times, and so on. With different rates for 'Business' and for 'Home' and several offers for each the new user requires a lawyer to understand what they are reading. However she will eventually get something working, and then complain about the 'pap' that I keep sending her. I have wanted her to get this for years and while both her and her man will grumble I know they will be on the thing all day! How did we live without the PC in times past I wonder?

I attended the JobCentre again as per usual. My regular man was off and I was attended to by a kind gentleman who carried a pot belly that made me appear thin! How glad I was to see him, so glad when I got home I stuffed my face! However I am on what is called 'New Deal, ' and after a poor job search with my chap I went to meet the 'New Deal' woman. Nice lass tries hard, looks bored. The 'New Deal' entails a trip  to the big town for a discussion with what I am assured is a wise lady I who will find me a work placement in the area. Several weeks on the trip has not appeared, the work placements are hard to find! I could have told them that! However as the majority on this system are young I guess they are getting priority. From today's short meeting it is apparent I may never see big town after all. In short this is a government idea, pushed through against the JobCentre's best advice, that doesn't work as there are NO JOBS!  I will be sixty in a few weeks, I wonder if I will ever work again sometimes. However I am not downhearted, I know who looks after me, in spite of all this, and something good will happen, eventually! In the meantime, back to Jutland!

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Dave

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Guardian

I wonder if Dave is all right in the head? Not only has he constantly put his foot in it, the other day he claimed Oxford University only contained one black man while in fact there were many, but he continues with the Libyan escapade. Bombing Gaddafi when you think he is about to fall sounds a great idea. However when the man remains in place and the dubious opposition groups continue to look rudderless and incompetent things are beginning to go wrong for you. I reckon you jumped on a bandwagon and have landed yourself with another Iraq! Maybe spending less time on PR and more time on professional politics, like employing senior MPs in your cabinet instead of thrusting young self seeking gormless millionaires, would help? In fact I correct myself, some of them are older gormless self seeking millionaires! You are sinking my boy! 


With US know how removed the French and British fighter bombers are insufficient for the job. With much of the struggle now in town there is limited openings for the aiming of bombs. If you drop one n town you injure the civilians you entered this folly to protect, or at least that is the reason given. Obama made a wise decision, will you Dave? Talk now centres on supplying material to the rebels, although I thought we would not do this? Talk is also mentioning 'men on the ground,' possibly those men you sent redundancy notices to while on the front line in Afghanistan Dave. No ships, no planes, pilots running out, and the remainder overstretched. Sounds right for 3 Para and the rest to invade Dave. 


By the way, how many black Caribbean types from UK areas went to Eton?

AmitBhawani

I received an e-mail from a chap I have not heard off for three years. I was a bit surprised by his phrase, "Here is the link I told you about" as we have not spoken for a while, and thought I had accidentally deleted a previous e-mail, my mouse double clicks often. I clicked the link (subject was 'Ryanair' a notorious cheap airline) and have been struggling for three days to clear the brutes. thousands of files were infected. I knew there was a doubt but, but....but....  
Still most of it is fixed now, as far as I can see.  However as I run the various software to fight it each one takes well over an hour to run! Much time wasted. It was so bad that at one point I thought I might have to leave here and actually speak to real people! Phew, that was close. 


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Sunday Trails

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I wonder how clear the skies would be if there were no aircraft high above. It appeared to me that all the 'cloud' seen in that picture was in fact the vapour trails from passing aircraft spreading out across the heavens. Even in the far distance little 'real cloud' was to be seen. Those planes leaving their trails here are  dropping down slowly to land at Stansted Airport or passing high above from Luton Airport.  High above we often notice those making their way to and from North America from Europe. London has Heathrow, Gatwick, and Stansted airports, plus Luton and the London City Airport providing this are with a constant stream of air travel. Only a short time ago plans for a second runway at Stansted were dropped, and the people in their expensive houses round about relaxed. I suspect that soon enough this plan will be resurrected at some point. In spite of those complaining about the pollution most people appear keen to travel vast distances and leave the pollution to others. There is of course no way we could avoid using aircraft in today's world. In the UK business men could not operate by train travel alone. When British engineering invented railways they laid tracks almost overnight throughout the nation and indeed the Empire. However as the population has grown and towns and cities have spread the amount of land available for developing rail lines has almost disappeared. A new fast line up the west coast is now to be begun but even that could never take business people from north to south and back in one day, only aircraft, apart from delays, can suffice.


Since moving here I have become a cloud follower. I often stand staring into the skies, very much to the annoyance of bus drivers on this road, fascinated with the shapes clouds offer, the shades available and the colours available at different times of the day. Hence the pictures taken in today's sunshine. Hence my observation of 'Easyjet' and 'Ryanair' (who charge me extra to observe them) as they pass by. It sometimes amazes me how quickly these craft move. Several flights a day can take one plane from Edinburgh to Stansted, then on to Belfast, back to Stansted and possibly out to Scandinavia somewhere next. One day, several cities, several countries. Try walking that in a day! Before railways were developed the only way to get about was to walk, ride a horse or take some sort of carriage. Fast walking could not only wear you out but still reached only three miles an hour or thereabouts. Horse can gallop, but not for ever, and what speed do they reach? Two or three times the humans possibly? The fact that Stephenson's 'Rocket' could reach a speed of thirty miles an hour caused wise men to say "You are all going to die!" They reckoned the air would be sucked out of the body. Trains today go somewhat faster, although commuters could claim this to be false! 


Using a system called 'Flightradar24' I was able to follow a friend as he flew one night to Nepal. I traced his plane as it left Heathrow and within ten minutes crossed the coast and headed into Europe. Driving could take around three hours to cover the distance, and would be troubled somewhat by the English Channel when it attempted to cross. Half an hour after take off my mate was deep into German territory and heading south. I took the only option, I forgot all about him.  The world is shrinking. When I were a lad Brazil and those other American land masses were on the other side of the world. My first job entailed writing chits for lorry drivers headed to places like Liverpool docks where a thousand cases of whisky, some lighter than when they left the Bothy, would take several days to travel across the Atlantic. Only the rich and famous could afford to fly and enjoy several hours of flight to a new world. Today people can spend a weekend in New York and can travel to Brazil in less than a day!  We take this for granted and the many nations walking our streets make us forget just how far away places used to be. Rumour has it that Heart of Midlothian wished to bring the Brazilian Vava to Tynecastle. People laughed at the idea. Not only was he part of Brazil's World Cup winning squad but Brazil was so far away, indeed on the other side of the world. Now even Dunfermline have had Brazilians playing for them, and that in the lower division. How times change and that air pollution following the jets is having an effect on us all.


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Racism

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Everyone seems to be in such a hurry to scream 'racism' these days.
 

 A customer asked, "In what aisle could I find the Irish sausage?"   

 
The shop assistant asks, "Are you Irish?"

The guy, clearly offended, says, "Yes I am.  But let me ask you something.

“If I had asked for Italian sausage, would you ask me if I was Italian?

Or if I had asked for German Bratwurst, would you ask me if I was German?

Or if I asked for a kosher hot dog would you ask me if I was Jewish?

Or if I had asked for a Taco, would you ask if I was Mexican?

Or if I asked for Polish sausage, would you ask if I was Polish?"

The clerk says, "No, I probably wouldn't."

The guy says, "Well then, because I asked for Irish sausage, why did you ask me if I'm Irish?"

The assistant replied, "Because you're in Halfords Cycle Shop."

Blue Skies

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This requires some explanation. Most people will of course realise at one glance what this picture represents. However for the population of Scotland it may come as a surprise as for them  the sky is at best a dull gray colour, and very often accompanied by rain, lots of rain!  Those in the west of Scotland find themselves coated with rainwater more often than those in the east. This, as you will appreciate, is the reason Glasgow was built in the west, the rain is the only way it gets washed! Edinburgh, being the capital city, home of government, financial centre, and 'Athens of the North,' (called such because of all the highly intelligent people who come from there) requires no such help. Edinburgh does however benefit, if that is the word, from the fresh breeze that arrives over the North Sea and begins its journey somewhere in the Russian Arctic. The east wind arrives in winter but when it leaves is replaced by the west wind which brings the rain left over from the laundering process. In short it is rare in the Scotland to actually see the sky! Therefore for the benefit of those lingering there please believe me that when (or if!) you leave the 'Red Lion' tonight know that behind that dark cloud is a blue sky, well it will be in the morning.
By the way, we often get such skies down here. Have a nice day!


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'The Good Book.'

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Guardian

'The Good Book' is a work put together by philosopher A.C. Grayling as what he calls a 'Secular Bible.'  It appears his intention is that this work will encourage people to live a more positive godless life. Grayling sees himself as the 'velvet' opposition to religion, unlike the more 'direct' Richard Dawkins or Christopher Hitchens. While he makes no mention of God in 'The Good Book' the other two writers positively oppose the very idea of God. They have tapped into the market of those who wish to find evidence for what they do not believe, this book will no doubt also find buyers there. Catching the end of his interview on the radio this morning I heard him read out what he calls his 'Ten Commandments. These told the reader to be good to others, be tolerant, and consider the good things. All good and worthwhile I thought but then considered the world around us and the majority of the content found on the news programme that invited him to discuss his book. The majority of the programme features war, distress, crime, and all those bad things that people wish to hear about. Not much positive or kindly there.  I may be doing Grayling an injustice as I cannot remember them all but I did see a flaw in his 'Ten Commandments.'  Human nature! That is what is missing here. The bible, 'God breathed' as it is,  does not misunderstand human nature, instead it exposes our corruption to the world! Nothing sordid is hidden, all the sins and vices you require are to be found there.  Human nature is corrupted by the Self. The desire to be good and caring is all too easily cast aside and self takes over. Our 'Self' is the centre of the world. It wishes to be God, it always demands its own way, and while capable of much goodness will always be the centre of the world, even amongst those it loves.  The bible makes clear that not one person is immune from this and all require a new nature. That 'Good News' presented by the bible and revealed in the New Testament is that such a new nature is available but only through Jesus, his death on the cross for our old nature and his rising again to offer us a new one. Nothing else will do! Only the living Jesus can transform any individual, the good news is that he is always willing to do so. Even you and I can discover this, Grayling ignores this redemption for whatever reason. Maybe he has not read the real 'Good Book' for himself? 


Grayling is to be admired for attempting to offer something positive, and humanists like he can be good folks to be with. His failure to understand the depth of his own human nature is not unusual even amongst those regarded as 'great thinkers. Human nature blinds us to that which we do not wish to see and our rebellious hearts refuse to allow the need for Gods saviour to find acceptance with us. 'The Good Book' will sell, many decent people will attempt to live it, and hopefully many will realise that the real 'Good Book' actually has the answer to why we cannot live the decent good life, and that answer is Jesus himself, the Lord of all.   



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Sunday

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Today is 'Mothering Sunday' in the UK.  'Mothers Day' is one of those 'Days' that are inventions of the florists and card manufacturers who line their pockets from our guilt. Valentines day is another excuse to keep small, and large, businesses busy during otherwise quiet times. Brave people ignore such money grabbing excuses and are free to inform the world that they do not require special 'Days' to show their care and gratitude to their 'loved ones.'  Most of us obey as we know that 'she' will remember! 

As it is almost two years since my mother died I am spared the need for cards or chocolates, an expense I can do without.  It is strange how often I think about my mother however. Not just the fact that she is not there but when something happens on TV or in the media I can often 'hear; her response. What makes this more intriguing is that yesterday was the sixth anniversary of my sisters untimely death. I often hear her in a similar manner as we used the same expressions (usually complaining about something) and I suspect this is an attitude that goes back many generations in our family!  I have heard from Australia a namesake giving evidence of this. That is frightening if we ever have a family get together! I don't wish to be there!    

One thing needles me about Mothers Day is that I can only regret not doing anything for her. Since she died I have come to a much better realisation of just what she gave up for us, how she endured the difficulties of raising a family of four on a tight budget, dad struggled to get good work, and yet at her funeral a large number of people turned up, people who genuinely missed her.  Mothers Day gives me that 'if only' feeling, and as I have it often enough I do not wish anyone else to endure it.  If your Mother, or even your sister, is still around then I urge you to make the most of them.  The 'if only' emotion is one of the worst to endure.

   

Dawn

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Well, almost Dawn....

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Dusk

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Red sky at night flashes across the world for a brief moment and disappears within minutes. 

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April Fool

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I have scoured the morning papers online for 'April Fool' stories and cannot find any. Usually each paper has one story that dumb people like myself fall for unthinkingly, and while that may well be the case this morning I fear it is not. Instead I fear that the majority of the tales offered in the media today are so banal and obscure that I find it impossible to tell the difference between them and the 'April Fool' tale. I accept the world is a mixed up place. I concur that weird news happens daily. I realise that life throws up strange offerings. However I fear that the media these days is so desperate to shock that any old pap is printed just to draw our attention. This morning I failed to notice the difference between the daily offerings and any 'April Fool' story. Of course it may just be my boneheadedness revealing itself once again.

BBC

It will cause some concern and distress to some of my readers when the news that Rangers Football Club, already officially £29 million in debt, may have to add to that debt after the tax man asks for a little bit more. Indeed there appears to be reasons for tears as the chairman, one Alastair Johnston, indicates that the club might even end up in administration. My twisted and perverse memory reminds me that Livingston Football Club suffered an immediate relegation to the third division for similar failings, I wonder if my memory is correct?  It would be, shall we say, 'unfortunate,' if a club such as Rangers Football Club, a club renown for the 'dignity' and propriety' that emanates from their marbled halls, were to end up playing third division football. Cynics might begin asking questions regarding the 'loyalty' of their fans. The players would certainly be offski!  Still other cynics would add that the 'Masonic' handshake would avoid all sorts of disagreeable outcomes in this instance. Still, it is something to warm the heart while dreaming about such good fortune, isn't it?  

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Thursday

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As I crossed the bleak expanse that is Sainsburys car park I discovered yet more music in my head. This was another extension to the sounds that fill the mind as I wake, and that it appears is a phenomenon that we all endure at some time. Maybe we only just notice it in early mornings? I realised that what our friend Dan on his excellent blog has discovered is now called 'Earworm,' is also reflected in the pace at which we live our lives. I realised that rushing through the streets, as I was at lunchtime today, the music that appears in my head is also of quick pace. Sadly today was once again some banal music that probably rose to fame during one of those Eurovision Song Contests, an event I always attempt to avoid. When I saunter along slowly the music corresponds to my snails pace also, although at that speed I can recognise this and attempt to do something about it. Quite who the DJ supplying the music is or where in my massive brain the size of a planet he resides I cannot say. I am reminded by some that Pluto is a planet, what can they mean? 

There is a space in our minds that constantly requires to be filled. If we are concentrating on a subject we do not notice this.  For instance as I write the BBC is playing behind me yet when concentrating on this I do not notice what is being said. However if there was complete silence each time I stopped typing I reckon something, probably a tune, would make itself known soon enough. Usually I have classical music in the background, and I only notice some of it, if voices are heard I miss what is being said until I stop concentrating, if what I do can be called 'concentrating.'  You will have noticed that painters and decorators, builders and other 'artisans' always have a radio to listen to. More than this you will note they always listen to the worst music station on the dial, and naturally the volume is turned up to the highest level, yet they will probably not notice what has just been played if asked!

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Waking up to a Song in the Head

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I do this often. The thing that bugs me is that I do not wake up to Barber's 'Adagio,' or Van Morrison, oh no I wake up to Buck's Fizz or some other meaningless bubblegum music. Why is this? I am sure that some neurologist or neuroscientist out there may have an idea but they appear not to have let me know about this.  As I was burning my porridge in the micro wave this morning I realised I had a tune, if you can call it that, in my head. Not only did I have a tune I had only one line of said work going around and around. Not only this but now I cannot remember what this line was, but it was an irritant at the time! This is one of life's mysteries that happens daily to me. My alarm plays Gregorian Chant to bring me into the world, although the brighter morning mean I am already awake and attempting to open my eyes. As I clear the nights fug by opening the window and letting the early morning mist chill my bones, I really ought to hide them better, I then realise a song, line, tune, is in my head. It is not I need not inform you Gregorian Chant, indeed it rarely is anything of any quality whatsoever, it is always something from the realms of 'pap' that in normal times I would ignore. On top of this it also originates way back in the past when the world was young and life was for living. You remember those days don't you? The time when everything was exciting and the deep desire was to go around the next corner, to follow that railway track into the far distance and to drink deeply of the joy that was in waiting out there! It seems a long time ago now doesn't it? It must have affected my mind as when I wander the streets looking for dropped coins and runaway vegetables I find the music that comes to my mid at that time also originates in times past. Cream often sing 'Sunshine of your love' as I walk past Tesco's. On other occasions Deep Purple have accompanied my perambulation, frightening children and old ladies as I inadvertently head bang as I totter along. Never does the music of later years interfere. I suspect that this is because what is broadcast on music stations means little to me now, my era was the 60's and now the music I listen too dates from that time or is more classical in nature. The reason my waking mind can recall appropriate music is because I am almost awake as I stroll, but that does not explain why my dulled early morning mind digs deep into my head to produce 'Buck's Fizz!' 




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Libyan farce

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Fast-Air

It is bad enough that no one knows the actual reasons for the West choosing to attack Libya, although the oil is reason number one and two leaders (Cameron & Sarkozy) are desperate to be seen as willing to take decisive action and be considered 'strong' is number two, but the outcome remains clearly unpredictable. This farce continued yesterday when the 'allies' knocked out the tanks and heavy equipment they had spent years selling for a fat profit to Gaddafi and allowed the 'mish-mash' that is the rebel 'army' to advance. This 'army' claimed a victory in taking Sirtie when in fact they had not even reached the place! An ambush by a few regulars in Gaddafi's forces machine gunned this 'army' as they headed towards them in their ageing vehicles and they ran away! Clearly there is no leadership, no organisation, no training and even control in the rebel ranks. Yet NATO is now offering them full support in an attempt, they say, to 'save civilian life.' If these rebels get themselves into Sirtie what will be the result? This is Gaddafi's home town. These are his people. The likely hood is that the people will fight for him and how much 'civilian life' will be lost here? Will the 'allies' put troops in on the ground? They can do little from the air once the battle occurs in built up areas. The question is where will these troops come from? Most nations do not wish to be involved, and Obama has clearly stated he will not send his, the UK is over stretched already and few capable armies are left.  The chances of marching this motley rebel army to Tripoli is frightening. If the smaller town fight back what will occur at the centre of the regime?


This whole operation is covered in lies. Syria is much more repressive yet nothing is done there outside of diplomatic discussions. Syria is too dangerous to touch. That is why a Libyan was blamed for the Lockerbie killings. He was set up through an agreement between the major powers as attacking Syria, then hiding the PFLP who were responsible, would have upset the whole region. Iran certainly lay behind the end of Pan-Am 103, and a Scots village suffered the consequences of Captain Rogers 'John Wayne' approach, but it was impossible to touch anyone but Gaddafi! When Syria is troubled then so is Lebanon, this unsettles Israel and Iran hovers in the wing in menacing fashion. So Syria is ignored and the easy target, Gaddafi, picked on once again. We could ask why is Bahrain is receiving no mention these days, too much money there perhaps, to many connections to powerful people in the UK possibly. The Saudi's, who buy so many of our weapons,  itch to attack their rebels, mostly Shia, will we object if they do? I doubt it.


On top of this the UK governments idiotic monetary policy is shown to heighten the farce element today.Ignoring the hundreds of thousands taking part in a peaceful protest meeting at the weekend objecting to the huge cuts in government spending and the dreadful consequences of this ham fisted policy, not only are experienced front line police officers being forced to retire because of the 20% cut in police money means we can no longer afford them, not only are serious crimes not leading to jail sentences as this 'costs too much,'  but we know discover we do not have enough pilots to fly the missions into Libya! Incredible! We have dumped the Harrier Jump Jets, are selling of the aircraft carriers (while building a new one that will not be ready for years and has no planes to fit it when complete), cutting the numbers of our overworked troops and now have run out of trained pilots! There are insufficient pilots being trained today so that when the experienced men reach the end of their careers we will have insufficient numbers to replace them! We are embarking on conflicts with insufficient cash, we are running out of men, and we have no idea why we are there! I remind the world that this is an unelected government we have here in the UK today! Now British forces have since Boudica attacked the Romans at Camulodunum been insufficiently supplied with men and material so this ought not to surprise anyone. However I suspect that by the time the recruits are trained to fly our lovely new 'Typhoon fighters' we will only have half a dozen left to fly anyway. I also suspect these will be used 24 hours a day to get our moneys worth from them. 
 
Today a conference of interested parties, not counting Gaddafi obviously as he is not interested, will take place in London. While spouting that they do not wish regime change, and conscious of the mess left after the Iraq disaster the suggestion that Gaddafi gets a way out by being 'exiled somewhere far away (with lots of his nations money I suppose) is on the table. While stuffing themselves with the expensive nosh that is also on the table and quaffing champagne the hoi poloi of forty nations will endeavour to fix the Libyan situation in a manner that suits them happily. Whether for the sake of 'democracy,' to 'save lives,' and to benefit the Libyan people I am not sure, especially as the 'people' have not been asked what they want. Let us face it, they have no idea what they want either! This rebellion fed on the situation in Tunisia on one side and Egypt on the other. It has no heart, no leadership and little idea what they are hoping for. Cameron and Sarkozy, backed by the US and others, have jumped on the bandwagon to remove Gaddafi and ensure stability in the production of oil. This will also ensure, they hope, and end to people trafficking from sub-Saharan Africa. Whether it does is as yet unknown, indeed far too much is as yet unknown here. The worrying thing is that while our leaders do not understand the situation nor where it might lead they press on regardless and it is others who will bear the cost in the long run, not they!


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Spring has Sprung!

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Yesterday I shook of the Man Flu, laid aside the pile of sympathy cards (yes that was satire) and found the energy to wander outside in the sunshine. How lovely it is to walk around with a blue sky above, bright, sweet smelling newly cut grass underfoot, bright sunshine all around, blackbirds singing in the trees and daffodils swaying in the breeze. Marvellous, especially after rarely leaving the house for two weeks, to wander in warm air and espy pretty young girls exposing themselves to the world, or at least the young men who they were throwing themselves at. Nothing speaks of Spring more than women's desire to let the world see their attractive bits.  I do find however that in the late afternoon the girls look to me like, well girls!  Not 'women' as such, just kids dressed as women! How age kicks you in the teeth! The young males also disrobe in a vain attempt to persuade the lassies that they are strong. They pose on the skatepark opposite attempting to impress as they throw themselves around the obstacles with the girls watching on. The lucky ones end up in the bushes round about. It must be said here that this area has the highest teen pregnancy rate in England. The number of stupid 15 years old amazes me!  It also disappoints that they did not exist when I was at school! 
There is however a word of warning for all these sun worshippers, it's still chilly! The fact that the sun shines does not imply warmth and in the shade it can be bitter early on. Still that does not top folks calling this 'fresh' and wandering about in shorts and sunglasses as if they were already on holiday on the Spanish coast.  


Looking at old photographs gives us the comparison of fashion. In days of yore people dressed well when out and about. The men in three piece suits, watch chains showing, women with frilly hats and elegant outfits. Until the sixties folk used to be careful about how neatly they dressed in public. Sadly this is not the case in our liberal world today. It is right that people should dress as they please, it is sad that so many just look a mess, and often an expensive mess at that! The scruffy T-shirt with funny slogan and the torn jeans are displayed because they have a certain name on them and they cost a fortune! This in spite of the recession! Some, especially women and young folks, require to keep up with the fashion of the day. I am glad that I am just dressed as myself, even though people hold their nose as I pass. Mind you there are worse. Fat people wearing this clothes, sometimes trendy gear in an attempt to keep up with the rest, do not make for good viewing. Many wear to the shops outfits that are suitable for the house and garden but not for public viewing. How come we have lost that sense of discretion I wonder? Where did it go?


I enjoyed carrying my cough into the free world. I enjoyed the sights and sounds which have returned today to bless us all. I was so happy to be out yesterday that this morning I ventured early into two supermarkets to grumble about the rip off prices. Later, after catching up on all those jobs left lying, I will once again say hello to 'Brother sun,' and speak kindly to 'Sister sky.' I may end up in a 'special place I suppose, but at least I will be happy.

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'Pine Top' Perkins

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'Pine Top' Perkins the Blues magician has died aged 97. You may be surprised at this as you had never heard of him until now, well neither had I, however this is my type of music so he needs to be listened to! The States must have been awash with black musicians for many years before the young British bands like the Beatles and Rolling Stones gave them the publicity they so richly deserved. I think it was when questioned on the Johnny Carson show about their musical influences that the racist attitudes of America really showed up. John and Paul mentioned the likes of Howling Wolf, John Lee Hooker and so on yet Johnny had no idea who they were. Black music was not considered acceptable then. However white guys like Bob Zimmerman up in Duluth was using the magic of radio to bring about a radical transformation in both the United States and the western world in general. Taking the name Dylan, after Dylan Thomas the famous Welsh drunk, his music joined with others in transforming society for the better. How interesting that a music ignored by so many, indeed considered dangerous in many ways because of who performed it, was to influence so much change in the USA. Certainly they had been warned in the fifties of this music. Rock and Roll also grew from black influence and gave Elvis his fame, and at first abuse from those who knew best. But it was the men of the sixties who really brought such music to the worlds attention. How glad I am about that. Men like 'Pinetop' supported many famous names over the years, most much more famous than their backing bands, and even today there are men like him still playing their music in their nineties. Good luck to them!






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Census

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I have just finished filling in the census online. Now I often read folk complaining about the census, their complaint appearing to be that it implies an infringement of the 'liberty' and an imposition into their 'freedom' in some way. I often wondered why this would be as it appears rational in my mind for a government to wish to know who exactly is living within the borders. I have no complaints about this and fail to see why others ought to complain. I do however object to 'civil partnerships' being regarded alongside marriage, and found myself wondering about the 'Who will be there on Sunday night with you' question. Who on earth would wish to be here with me? Not counting the 'Masochist Maidens Group' obviously, but we will not go into that! Questions regarding who is in the house on a given date appear normal census stuff to me. Indeed it can be seen by some as an intrusion, however it is always possible to ignore a question that is too nosey or just put down a lie. 


However I did find myself a bit irked at being questioned about my life in this small way. It does indeed appear an intrusion although it falls far short of an imaginary 'Big Bother' ideal. There is a thin line between 'freedom' to live your own way and the needs of the society around us. Today especially the 'spirit of the air' encourages people in the west to demand their right to be an individual. This encourages selfishness and cutting people off from others leads only to a breakdown of society and a more uncaring world at all levels. This is seen around us today, based on 'individual liberty' but in the end leaving us with only ourselves and nothing else. I do not see that as good. 'Liberalism' appears to offer 'freedom' to be yourself but in the end just allows us to put our needs before another's, and then we can justify our 'self.' It is actually in putting others first that we become more 'our self,' although this is not easy as the 'self,' that centre of our being, dies hard!


It is amazing how we can object to an intrusion by the census but rarely consider the information a supermarket has on us. All our shopping trends for years past can be located on their servers, many government departments keep records of our contact with them, individual organisations also have info stored away, all secure, we are told, under the Data Protection Act and other relevant legislation. Only you know how much information the police have on you, I couldn't possibly comment. Should we worry about this? I am not to worried at the moment, however we can so easily be taken over by a draconian government and all this information would soon fall into their hands. Ten years can see many major political changes, who knows what the situation will be ten, twenty or thirty years hence?  I must be more careful next time I buy mince!


Many who do object to such population investigation satisfy their objections by inserting daft answers, such as 'Jedi' for religion therefore making this one of the nations fastest growing religions! It speaks much about such people that they wish to join a people who can build spacecraft the size of a planet but fight with swords rather than guns!  While the census will give an overall impression of the nation it cannot include those who willingly avoid it, illegal immigrants (10 million according to some at the 'Daily Mail.') criminals on the run (3 million according to the 'Daily Mail.'), legal immigrants who believe this will be used against them and have them classed as 'dangerous, (five mill....you get the picture...) and anyone too stupid to fill the thing in properly. We all know someone like that! What you looking at me for?  Anyway I have done mine so that those looking into their history in one hundred years time can find information about me and my life. Good luck to them I say!




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1000

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I realised today that yesterday was post number one thousand! Well, well, well! What a surprise! To think I have posted that much surprised me. A bigger surprise is that people read this stuff! It must be said most do not return although people who meet me in the flesh usually don't return either. However I have enjoyed learning to write, although grammar is something that can wait, and having a place to spout my ignorance is always welcome! The best part is not my writing but the people who have dropped in! I now have cyber friends in many parts of the world. A wide variety of opinions, beliefs, classes, types and good people all I must say. Each and every one has made my life that bit better, educated me more, made me feel humble at their talents and good hearts, and revealed to me how good much of this world actually is! Well done to you all. Oh and I may have another thousand soon, what with this wedding, the Olympics, benefit scrounging and Dave Cameron. In fact I suspect I may reach 2000 by July!  

Love & kisses.

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Educashun

Or is it broken spellchecker perhaps.....?

That one comes from this site with many more! Jack Frost.

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Let Me Get This Straight 'Dave.'

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'Dave,' you have been in the forefront of the desire of some leaders to impose an 'No Fly' zone over Libya, because you say people are being killed by Gaddafi. Now there are those who would agree this may indeed be a good thing. Gaddafi is clearly mental, but sly as a fox, and many have wished to remove him before. However while he may well abuse, torture, kill and maim his own people it must be said that in the Middle East this is quite normal procedure. I will of course not mention that camp the Yanks have in Cuba in case it causes embarrassment to you and any others. However I will ask why we are selling off the Harrier jump jets    and HMS Ark Royal from which they flew, and then spending horrendous amounts of money we don't have just to make you appear 'tough' in the world's eyes. Are you still living out that 'Tony Blair' fantasy by any chance? 


Whether keeping Gaddafi's aircraft on the ground will make any difference for his rebellious population will soon be shown. Although reports have indicated few are actually hurt by air attack. What does matter is that in Bahrain, a friend of the UK and the west in general, people are being brutalised by their Sheik and you appear to be turning a blind eye. Are you working on the 'Tony Blair principle' again? If they are our friends we ignore their undemocratic tortures and thuggish treatment of their population, as long as they give us the oil and help us when required, but will loudly condemn Gaddafi,and anyone else with oil, who may turn against us at any time? Can I just mention that the Ivory Coast has seen many killed in recent days, but they have no oil. The Sudanese situation may lead to war, Darfur is being ignored, and the Democratic Congo still has problems. Will you be commenting on any of these while one of the thousand pound suits you wear are at the dry cleaners?  Just asking like.


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Sympathy

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ETC

Naturally I have had little sympathy during my 'Man Flu' experience. Although I found this site very helpful with that :- Man Flu   Only today I was forced, against my better wishes, to visit the dole office and pretend I was seeking work. Sympathy extended to such things as being told to "Breathe in the other direction," and "Don't e-mail me, I might catch a virus." A resounding "Bye" and a waving of papers in my direction ended my short visit. Good job I am not one to complain. 

AnnaRacoon

The answer to unemployment is to start your own business. Great idea, but when this is put forward people tend to forget to mention how many such starter jobs fail within three years, if indeed they last that long. The answer is for bigger companies to be encouraged to employ folk. There appears to be nothing around that will let that happen. Two and a half million unemployed yet no jobs being created, bar short term ones in the east end for the Olympics in 2012.  Are you as excited as I about these games? I am as excited as Matt in the Daily Telegraph!  

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Why?

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Wikipeadia

I'm dying! The world means nothing to me now. I am wretched, aching and suffering. No words of sympathy can alleviate my distress, not that any come my way, no encouragement can be found while I lie helpless under the strain. All is lost, all is worthless, nothing matters. Nothing except another toilet roll and packet of Sainsbury's Ibuprofen and dozens of cups of steaming hot liquids that is! Why oh why did I not buy that whisky for the toddy I ask myself repeatedly. Why oh why do I always get these things? Why me? What have I done to deserve this? Well actually we will miss out that last question as there are numerous replies and I would prefer to avoid all of them, time is too short for them all anyway. Oh the suffering, oh the pain, oh the agony and distress!


What is the point of a cold virus? Why were they created? Just what part do they play in the universe? Jesus did not sit up one day and think, "I know, just for a laugh I will invent a virus that causes sniffles, headaches, muscle aches, dissipates the brain, wearies the legs and leads to no sympathy from those free from it whatsoever!" (Sympathy that those who then suffer this debilitating illness then demand!) Just what is the point of it? Why do virii of any sort exist to cause illness? These are complicated little mechanisms, the 'Trojan Horses' of the real world. I was thinking on this and wonder what they were intended for when I thought "Fly's," those little beasts that appear in warm weather and fill the house, find their way into the kitchen and are impossible to swat because of their incredible eyes. Why were they created? Fantastic vision but no other purpose apart from breeding a million a week and being a pest!

Daily Mail

Oh the suffering, not helped by unanswered questions. Oh the pain, oh dearie me. Although I must say that I have found it difficult to really allow myself to make my suffering known when I read of small Japanese towns of some 17,000 people being inundated by the tsunami and now around 10,000 are missing! Watching peoples fishing boats make their way down the High Street does make a cold appear less important. Japan is well aware of the dangers of earthquakes, well prepared, and rich enough to deal with most events. However watching the pictures it is clear that they nation has been stunned! Where do you begin? Especially as a nuclear power station is in danger of a second Chernobyl? How do you find survivors, as if any will be found? How do you clear up the mess, especially when so many trained people have been lost in the aftermath? How do you deal with such a situation?  There are advantages to living in cold, damp Britain after all.
   

Understanding Colds

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Spammers eh!

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The intelligence of spammers really amazes me. Some will send you e-mails claiming to be your bank asking politely if you would please remind them of your details. A dozen years ago, when new to all of this, I nearly fell for one such e-mail from AOL. It was a perfect copy of the real thing but I managed, just, to avoid falling for it. Others write pleading letters from Nigeria or Kenya asking help to get $24,000,000 dollars out of the country. "Can we please use your bank for this?" they ask politely. Much as I was tempted I avoided this also, others however have appeared on telly whining about the £20,000 taken from their bank accounts by Prince Adebede and his mates. The fact that they were willing to rob another country just to land a million or so leaves me lacking sympathy for them. Do they really believe a politician needs to ask help to get money out of Africa? That has been a well practised art for many years there. Of course politicians in the UK would never do such a thing, they are all honest, upright, and do not have their fingers in the pie. No they don't, really they don't, no they don't, honest. 


Today however this arrived and I had to laugh! This type of false info often appears, usually from companies that do not operate in the UK. This one claims to be from DHL, which obviously it isn't. They never deliver to the likes of me, not even Royal Mail deliver packets these days, just letters from the bank demanding money, and I call that spamming too! However when I previewed the thing using Mailwasher, and I recommend folks use some such device, I had  to laugh at the inefficiency of these master criminals.


Dear customer.


The parcel was send your home address.


And it will arrice within 7 bussness day.




More information and the tracking number


are attached in document below.






Thank you.




 2011 DHL International GmbH. All rights reserverd.

Now my spelling is greatly improved by using the spellchecker. The criminal classes of Russia,  China or Albania or wherever however really must be so hard up they cannot afford to buy a free spellchecker! I am not convinced such persons are fit to represent the criminal classes of today. In times past people wearing arrow covered uniforms were much better educated than this. I blame the schools! (I will not mention that I misspelt 'educated') This one may well come from the Russian Federation and if it arrives you will of course be clever enough not to open it, that way leads to a Trojan. I say 'Trojan' but Ivan may well spell that 'tragen' depending on his accent!


Sophos


Coras


The Hoax Slayer report!


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Europa

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Life is so busy these days. I was considering penning (how does one 'pen' on a keyboard I wonder?) something of interest and importance to the world tonight. Unfortunately I discovered European Football is on the telly at six of the clock and I have not got the intellect time to write. Thus you will miss out on my words of wisdom as I will probably have allowed my invaluable utterance to fade from my twisted and perverse mind by tomorrow. So I am off to stuff my fat face, take a substantial amount of liver salts afterwards, and then sit uncomfortably watching first Liverpool and then Manchester City in what promises to be several long hours of anti-climax. That I can assure you is something we Scots are quite used to on the football field.


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Suffragettes Terrorists

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Suffragette Terrorist Impounded 

Today is 'International Women's Day!' Yet for the life of me I cannot remember an 'International Men's Day?' If I were to sue under the 'Equalities Legislation' would the liberal judges of today allow me to win? We don't have a 'Minister for Men' so why do we require one for women?  'Glass ceilings' appear everywhere holding back women from reaching the top in the workplace, so what is it that stops men reaching the top? Class, age, colour, sexism perhaps? I sometimes wish I was female so I could whine when things go against me. However as a white male, over 50 I can't get away with that. Women (we are not allowed to call them ladies these days) can use their bodies to get jobs, especially in the media, in the entertainment world and we have all come across this in the workplace, yet this appears to be acceptable. I've tried wearing nice perfume and earnings and crossing my legs provocatively but found it did not get me promotion. All I got from that bus garage was thrown on a Number 189 and told, in a somewhat brusque manner to remove myself. Where did I go wrong?

How about just treating people right whoever they are? Would this be a good idea? Maybe not hiding your incompetence behind your sex or age or class would be good?  Maybe these would be a good idea but human nature being what it is we will always face discrimination for one reason or another. That I am afraid is just life! It will always be there and law making will never erode this. Being over 50 (yet still thinking I am 18) I cannot get work, and banning ageism does not help, in fact it makes things worse! Like others I am forced to apply for unsuitable jobs simply because they are not allowed to demand a certain age group. How daft is this? This wastes my time and money and that of potential employers. Those women who get to the very top tend to do so because of talent, not their sex (I obviously don't mean parliament here). Those who fail to make it can always blame a man somewhere and sell their story to a women's magazine.

By the way suffragettes were indeed terrorists. The 'National Union of Women's Suffrage' began by Millicent Fawcet was a peaceful organisation. Impatient with the lack of movement Pankhurst and her followers began a violent demand for the vote. Chaining themselves to railings, disrupting meetings, smashing windows, burning down churches and stupidly throwing themselves under the Kings racehorse were supposed to show that women were intelligent enough to vote! Hmmm I think myself I know one or two that ought to be chained to railings today!

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