What we could learn

This comes from a guy I’ve mentioned before. He seems to have the ability to say what he thinks in a manner that I find leaves little doubt as to his meaning. This is about America but applies with equal force in our modern-day England (and Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland). Too late for me to adopt his solution but it sort of ties in with what the Army resettlement guys told me was the right job for me after my psychological evaluation; herding sheep somewhere North of Wagga Wagga.

A Matter Of Allegiance. And Why One Might Wisely Withhold It
May 29, 2005
I wish to propose a salubrious anarchy, a deliberate renunciation of fealty to country, society, and government, an assertion of independence from folly and moral decay. Permit me to offer a taxing political idea: When a society ceases to be worthy of support, it is reasonable to withdraw support. The time, I submit, has come.
Here I do not mean to urge crime or counsel treason, but to suggest quiet renunciation of the national disaster. Ask yourself how much of American life pleases you. The schools are run by fools to manufacture fools, government grows more intrusive by the day, and culture is determined by the triple cloacae of New York, Hollywood, and Washington. Freedom withers, not only in the ominous encroachment of police powers, but in the loss of control over schools, church, hiring, daily life. We are no longer our own. The United States is not the country we are told it is, and not the country it was.
How to escape? The beginning, and the most difficult, is a moral distancing. Those who care must disentangle themselves from the cobweb loyalties and factitious duties with which we have been unconsciously encumbered. From childhood we learn patriotism, that one must vote, that if our way is not perfect it is at least best, that we must support anything however bad because were born in a particular place. Why?
Let me suggest that one owes loyalty to one's family and friends, to common decency, and to nothing else. Render under Caesar what you must, keep what you can, and swear allegiance to nothing. Here I do not mean just the government, but the zeitgeist, the miasmic fetor of trashy culture, the desperate consumerism, the entire psychic odour of a society in decomposition.
Begin with things so fundamental as seldom to be reflected upon. For example, do not imagine that you are under an obligation to marry, or to have children, or to raise them as the government requires. Procreate if you choose, but only if you genuinely want to procreate. It is not your job to perpetuate a civilization that is daily less deserving of perpetuation.
But: never let the government have your children. Once they are had, your responsibility is to them. Teach them at home. Better yet, go abroad. Other countries do not force you to pay for an academically retrograde moral cesspool and then to drown your children in it. You might be astonished to know Argentina, for example.
Ask not what you can do for your country, but what it can do for you—you ought to get some of your taxes back.
Do not tie yourself to…anything. The price of freedom is poverty: freedom grows as your needs diminish. Less apothegmatically, if you believe that you need a vast house in a prestigious suburb, then you will need a lucrative job to pay for it. Having tied your psychic contentment to such an abode you will also believe that you need impressive cars and will therefore be tied to a retirement system and, bingo, the door of the trap falls. This, we are told, is the American Dream. I fear it has become so.
I lived years ago in a second-hand house trailer in the woods. I do not know what it cost, or would cost today, but perhaps fifteen thousand dollars. It was perfectly comfortable, warm in winter, air-conditioned in summer. Mornings were blessedly quiet unless you regard birdsong as noise. A brick barbecue provided a place to produce ribs and drink bourbon and water. A couple of companionable dogs rounded out the ensemble. They had the run of the trailer, as was right.
Now, living in a trailer is to the consumerist sensibility simply too degrading and so…I mean, my god, how could you face the neighbours? (There weren’t any.) But aside from damage to a servile dependent vanity, what is the drawback? A couple of hundred dollars buys a remarkably good stereo, music is free, libraries are good, and I for one am more comfortable in jeans and tee shirt than in Calvin and Klein trappings.
When your expenses are few, your susceptibility to economic serfdom is small. You do not need to work miserably in a pointless job for a boss you would gleefully strangle. Yes, you need money. The first principle is never to work in a job that you cannot afford to quit. (Emphasis added by John W - damn right) This means avoiding any job with a retirement, of which you will become a prisoner. The second principle is to work at something portable that you can do independently and, preferably, without capital. Retirement? Save.
Dentistry pays well but requires pricey equipment, and it is not easy to build a clientele. An automotive mechanic is always in demand and the employer will usually provide the tools. Writing is a serviceable gig and can be done from anywhere. Many varieties of technicians readily find jobs. Remember that white-collar work, aside from tending strongly to entangle you, gets boring. Get a commercial-diving ticket, take a serious course in the repair of marine diesels, and spend your life in the Pacific.
Here again the obstacles are fear, inertia, and vanity. If you come from a family on the suburban-death track, the thought of being a mere mechanic or dive-shop owner or what have you may be disturbing. "Don’t I need a college degree to hold my head up?" Look at the universities, at what they have become, and ask the question again. (Anyway, respectable in who’s eyes? Your own are the only ones that count.)
Finally, work the system. The government, if you let it, will take roughly half of your income, give much of it to useless bureaucrats, much to various forms of welfare, use much to bomb countries you may have no desire to bomb, and much to force upon you services, such as horrible schools, that you do not want. The central question regarding government is whether you can take more from it than it takes from you. It is much better to receive than to give. Live cheap, work only as much as you like, enjoy life, and keep your taxes down.
You will still read of the rot and running sores of a declining culture, but it will bother you less. These things are your problem only to the extent that you feel yourself to be part of the society that produces them. Don’t fight the government, as it will win. Don’t try to reform society, because you can’t. Laugh at it. Live well. Read much.

Hello darling

The British Army had a group at the Gay Pride March over the week-end. Cannot see why it was called a March - more of a mince I would have thought. Seems strange that they do not allow women in front line in case it distracts the men in any fire-fight. What if Adam is worried about Steve?

Llama or alpaca?

schnoodlepooh asked whether my llama in a recent Forward the Canon photograph was an alpaca. Good question. In that state where ignorance is bliss, I had always thought they were the same genus but knew no more than that. However, our old friend Google came up with the goods Problem is, I did not make a sufficiently detailed examination of my model to decide. On balance of probability related to what I have read, I think it is most likely a llama. The image with this post is said to be an alpaca and seems to reinforce my deduction.

Guess I don't like the French

PARIS, France -- Lance Armstrong's record setting seventh Tour de France victory, along with his entire Tour de France legacy, may be tarnished by what could turn out to be one of the greatest sports scandals of all time. Armstrong is being quizzed by French police after three banned substances were found in his South France hotel room while on vacation after winning the 2005 Tour de France.The three substances found were toothpaste, deodorant, and soap which have been banned by French authorities for over 75 years. Armstrong's girlfriend, American rocker Sheryl Crowe, is quoted as saying "We use them every day in America, so we naturally thought they'd be ok throughout Europe."Along with these three banned substances, French authorities also physically searched Armstrong and found several other interesting items that they had never seen before, including a backbone and a testicle.
Not my writing - hi-jacked I'm afraid.

Only in America?

Been a bit quiet on the comment side lately - what about a bit of a stir-up. Hello ex-teacher in Welsh Wales.
Half the population will dismiss this story - but a new study claims the cleverest people are far more likely to be male than female.Men are more intelligent than women by about five IQ points on average, making them better suited for tasks of high complexity, according to the authors of a paper due to be published in the British Journal of Psychology.Genetic differences in intelligence between the sexes helped explain why many more men than women won Nobel Prizes or became chess grandmasters, the study by Paul Irwing and Richard Lynn concludes.They showed that men outnumbered women in increasing numbers as intelligence levels rose. There were twice as many with IQ scores of 125, typical for people with first-class degrees.When scores rose to 155, associated with genius, there were 5.5 men for every woman.I don't think I'm even going to touch this one - and Paul Irwing and Richard Lynn, right or wrong, will have enough feminists on their hands to deal with for the next few years.

Warning

I think I'll get a big version of this picture for Ms. Beaky. She prefers to travel on the back seat and not in the cargo bit where she is supposed to be. This should remind her to know her place.

Overheard

This is from a site where people can report street conversation they have overheard. Makes me realise what I am missing since leaving London where people all live so close together.

Queer on cell: Wear tights...No, you don't pad it! You just push it up so it looks like a big baked potato, like what dancers do. Just hike it up to the sky!...The bits and the pieces. It's not very comfortable, but it gives a good visual effect of...mass...What? Pointy? Ew, no! Pointy's bad! Yich, pointy is such a turnoff.
--Union Square

Job opportunity

Someone sent me this with suggestion that it might be something within my capabilities now I was getting a bit old. Cheek of it!

Well - bless my soul!

We are back! I asked Blogger help what had gone wrong with the posting page. They sent back a standard email suggesting that I look in x to the power n pages. I didn't bother - I replied asking them to take the monkey away from the server, give it a banana and then get a human being to read my complaint. Bingo - seems they have a glitch. They knew of it. Didn't bother to tell anyone though.

Normal service will be ...............

Don’t know whether it is me or the programme but I seem to have lost a vital bit of the Dashboard. Vital to me that is. When, as a small boy, I used to open up the new blog window I got a row of short-cuts along the top edge. These allowed such things as changing colours, inserting pictures etc. This feature is now missing. Also, if I use Picasa2 +Hello I do not get the chosen picture into a blog. Don’t know if this is anything to do with Word for Blog. Have rebooted but this made no change, ditto (not the cat!) refresh. So, for the moment – no pictures in the photoblog. Sorry for that – but maybe no one cares anyway.

No more Dixon

The state to which our police have fallen is nicely outlined by a police officer who blogs. http://www.coppersblog.blogspot.com/ and another good one is http://www.briansbriefencounters.blogspot.com/ (Don't know what is up with bloody Blogger - no way to embed links except html and we all know what that means to me) Anyway, retournez a los moutons or somesuch. Instead of the old pride in the job, we now have the situation where the guys have to resort to covering the bits that they know will cause them aggro if left out. I am not even sure if 'law enforcement' is a permitted term under the new p.c. criteria - they had to change police force to police service because of what the modernists thought about the connotations of 'force'.

Set a thief to catch a thief

Convicted terrorists could be allowed to join the Police Service of Northern Ireland under plans being explored by the Government to expunge their criminal records.
Northern Ireland politicians are increasingly worried that Tony Blair will make the concession to Sinn Fein / IRA and remove the bar which prevents paramilitaries from becoming police officers.
http://news.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/08/26/nira26.xml

Well, that’s OK then. At least the new police service will have a decent murder squad once these guys get in.

Would do me

I’m afraid I’ve been dreaming again. Sorry if it makes you jealous.

Up for it

92-Year-Old Man Accused Of Sexual Assault

I should be so lucky! Obviously had his five servings of fruit and veg per day.

Empire - not the cinema!

This is a book review from Amazon UK. What drew me to repeat it here was reviewer’s admission that she was raised to regard the Empire as a stain on our history comparable to the influence of Herr Schickelgruber. Then, despite this, the good lady goes on to comment on how she sees world events of more modern times. She dismisses the Empire concept as a solution to much of the world’s troubles. I am sad that her upbringing did not include a proper examination of this form of government. It could be adopted without the brutality she fears where a nation adopts it as an alternative to their current dire state – Zaire maybe?
But then, perhaps it is me that has it backend about face?

Empire: How Britain Made the Modern World Niall Ferguson
A "revisionist" history of the British empire, April 1, 2004
This book is written in a thoroughly entertaining style, making it is easy to read looking at the broad themes of the British Empire.
It is subject worth investigation, it was an empire of colossal size and power, the likes of which have never existed and in historical terms has only recently deceased. How did it happen? Ferguson's answers to this are certainly revealing and its impact on life today is also an eye opener.
Although British, I was raised to believe that the Empire was a stain on our history and something to be ashamed of a little like the Germans regarding Hitler.
The evils of the Empire are certainly well documented and Ferguson does at least mention them and yes they are shameful. However, there are other aspects of the Empire, which were beneficial. It was accompanied by surge in prosperity, rule of law, trading, investment (much of it into developing countries) and technological innovation, legacies, which we in the western world at least still enjoy, who knows maybe in centuries to come it may be looked back upon in a similar light to the Roman empire, which frankly was far more brutal, but today is seen as having been something good for western civilisation.
But I can't help feeling that Ferguson really does miss the Empire and even, dare I say it, thinks a similar type of Empire (led by the US of course) would be the solution to much of the world's problems i.e. via rule of law and bringing the benefits of investment, trade, globalisation and westernisation to the world's poor.
This view seems to rather neatly fit Bush/Blair doctrines towards failed & rogue states and "regime change." In fact, Ferguson views America as being in denial in not wanting to create an empire or at least take a much direct role in the destinies of many under-developed countries. Well, unfortunately, the US under Bush may have taken his cue on that one.
Recreating Empire will simply not work anymore, not for conquered or the conqueror, the world has moved on, if nothing else weapons technology and terrorism simply make it unworkable. Witness Iraq & Afghanistan, both disastrous interventions once the media hype has been removed and the true facts revealed.
Also, the idea of empires is very much in conflict with modern views of liberty, freedom, self-determination and human rights, which most of us claim to support.
Certainly, something needs to be done about the dire human condition in much of the world and I certainly don't have the solution to this extremely complex problem, but empire certainly isn't it.
Although, I disagree with some of Ferguson’s conclusions, the book was still an enjoyable read, enlightening in places and offers an alternative view on the British Empire.

12 Steps

I’ve been reading a book in which the main character is an alcoholic and currently off liquor. He often refers to ‘The 12 Steps’ I only had some knowledge about this so did some research. These are they:

The Twelve Promises of Alcoholics Anonymous
"...If we are painstaking about this phase of our development, we will be amazed before we are half way through.
1. We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness
2. We will not regret the past, nor wish to shut the door on it
3. We will comprehend the word serenity
4. We will know peace
5. No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will see how our experience can benefit others
6. That feeling of uselessness and self-pity will disappear
7. We will lose interest in selfish things and gain insight into our fellows
8. Self-seeking will slip away
9. Our whole attitude and outlook will change
10. Fear of people and economic insecurity will leave us
11. We will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle us
12. We will suddenly realize that God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves
Are these extravagant promises? We think not. They are being fulfilled among us -- sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly. They will always materialize if we work for them..."
Well, seem perfectly reasonable to me. There is, of course, a lot more to taking these steps than just knowing them. However, it strikes me as a reasonable set of aims and hopes for a future free from addiction or abuse in any form. Just as the key to any project is a statement of what one intends to achieve. I think my life would be better if I were able to direct myself along these lines. Just how much one requires the experience of being totally fcuked up to show the commitment, I don’t know – and, hopefully, will never know. I think that for now I will just stick with the Buddhist precepts but – certainly – respect to those who do walk the 12 Steps.

"UK Terrorism-Armed Marshals The general secretary of Aslef, the train drivers' union, Keith Norman, Tuesday proposed for undercover armed marshals to be deployed on London's underground transport system to deter future terrorist attacks.
"I would want to see people on there trained in security and possibly trained in the use of firearms so if they see someone who is possibly suspicious they can actually deal with that," Norman said.
"But they look just like any other member of the public - you don't want someone in a bright blue Tube uniform who is easily identifiable," he told BBC News website
The union leader said that the plan could help to reassure passengers following last month's London bombing and suggested that their role should be also to help train drivers with carrying out procedures if anything happens.
"The mayor of London certainly likes the idea of more people on the trains in a different capacity. You could call them Tube marshals or something like that," he said.
Norman compared the idea with the deployment of air marshals in the US to prevent the hijacking of airplanes in the 1970s"
Er - no. Please. Not that. My recollection of London tube trains is a little out of date but the idea of a gun-toting marshal on a packed-to-the-gills Northern Line train does not fill me with a sense of security. If we accept for the moment the large number of rounds and the odd misses at point-blank range from a trained marksman, the idea of someone playing Glock the Magic Dragon under those circumstances is not a good one. What will be his rules of engagement - the fuss over Shoot to Kill so far makes it likely that they will have to be reviewed. The way things are going we will end up with having to be at your tube station an hour before departure for security clearance, no umbrellas with sharp tips and sniffer dogs adding to the urinal atmosphere.

Charles Clarke reacted angrily today after a senior United Nations official warned that his plans to deport foreign extremists breached international human rights obligations.
The clash came as the Home Secretary announced that deportations of so-called "preachers of hate" from the UK would begin within days under the Government’s new list of "unacceptable behaviours".
That is the UK attitude. Australia seems to be taking a rather broader view as to what it will or will not stand.
My own reading of the relevant laws suggest that we already have sufficient powers to deal with British subjects who go off he rails. I cannot see that our Judges will accept chitties from foreign countries that confirm they will not torture any of their Nationals that we send back by deportation.
What Clarke has done is restate old laws but I suspect that is about all he can hope for where Judges are concerned.

Sex #101

65 Girls At Area School Pregnant
School To Unveil Three-Prong Program
POSTED: 12:30 pm EDT August 23, 2005
CANTON, Ohio -- There are 490 female students at Timken High School, and 65 are pregnant, according to a recent report in the Canton Repository.
The article reported that some would say that movies, TV, videogames, lazy parents and lax discipline may all be to blame.
School officials are not sure they what has caused so many pregnancies, but in response to them, the school is launching a three-prong educational program to address pregnancy, prevention and parenting.
The newspaper also reported that students will face mounting tensions created by unplanned child-rearing responsibilities, causing students to quit school and plan for a GED. This will make it difficult for the Canton City School District to shake its academic watch designation by the state.
According to the Canton Health Department, statistics through July show that 104 of the 586 babies born to Canton residents in Aultman Hospital and Mercy Medical Center had mothers between 11 and 19.
The newspaper reports that the non-Canton rate was 7 percent. Canton was 15 percent.

3 prong programme? I’m sure there is a joke here somewhere but I’m just too dispirited at the facts to find one.

Treachery!!!

This is from the pointy-nose dog a.k.a. Sable. I'm here to denounce just about the biggest waster North of Watford Gap. He who claims to own me. We came back in triumph from the midday walk still relishing the death of a rabbit. He had played with me and my trophy and seemed fully on my side. I had most of his lunch and retired to bed.
Suddenly, the whole house is shaking to the sound and shock of our door bell. I dashed down and did the big fierce dog routine. SWMBO came down and opened the door. Standing there with two people was a monster black Labrador dog. She obviously knows the people and ALL THREE of them come into the house. At least the dog was kept on his leash. I dashed up to warn him but, damn me, he starts making a fuss of the black menace. I am encouraged to be nice. Seeing the way things were going down, I chose to play along but held back. I showed a fine set of teeth when the intruder thought he would come near.
I then had to sit behind the sofa with just my head showing round the corner as he made the dog feel at home. He was given my toys to examine and lost no time chewing the leg off my favourite toy. He found a couple of biscuits I had hidden under an armchair and wolfed those down. Drank water from MY bowl. The whole afternoon was humiliation.
When he had gone, I carried out a full scenes of crime examination. I've shown them just how a thoroughbred can sulk. They will suffer for this.

Back to work

Tony Blair started jogging near his home in Downing Street.
Every day, he'd jog past a hooker standing on the same street corner. He learned  to brace himself as he approached her for what was almost certain to follow.
"Fifty pounds!" she'd shout from the kerb.
"No! Five pounds!" Tony would fire back.
This ritual between Tony and the hooker became a daily occurrence.
He'd run by and she'd yell, "Fifty pounds!" He'd yell back, "Five pounds!"
One day, Cherie decided that she wanted to accompany her husband on his jog.
As the jogging couple neared the working woman's street corner, Tony
realized she'd bark her GBP50 offer and Cherie would wonder what he'd really been doing on all his past outings.
He figured he'd better have a darn good explanation for the 'Boss'.
As they jogged into the turn that would take them past the corner, Tony became even more apprehensive than usual.
Sure enough, there was the hooker. Tony tried to avoid the prostitute's eyes as she watched the pair jog past.
Then, from the pavement, the hooker yelled, "See what you get for five quid!"

Young Writers

From something I read on Old Cripple's blog (see last post), this guy is still a teenager. He does not seem to have a bio. and a Google just turns up quotes from his and other's blogs. What I would like to know is, if American education can turn out this product, why cannot we do it in England - or even Scotland or Wales. I'm sure the law of averages means we get youngsters with same IQ etc. but I do not know of anyone who can write like this. Maybe Peaches Geldof runs him close. You lot may know someone.....?

Bit scary

This here is a guy whose blogs I follow. He has the knack of saying what I think but does it far better. His points are ones that have been nibbling at my subconscious. Perhaps he is long lost brother? More strength to him say I. "My Designer" commented the other day how mention of nipples had pushed her visits counter way up. The 'comments' to Old Cripple seem to bear that out.

Ticking about correctness

There is a bit of a spat going on in Orange County. Seems like the powers that be have suspended a teacher for ‘inappropriate language’ in a letter written to a State representative. What was written about effects of immigrant-status persons upon standards seems dodgy for these times but point arises whether the correspondence should have been protected as it was written to a State official. Nice little debating point but then it’s real standing in Orange County may be equal to a troll in a newsgroup rather than spinning the Universe off its axis. I seem to remember Orange as the place where the fruits of California were canned.
Another bit of political correctness I fear. Maybe I am paranoid (no comments on this perleese) but I see it in two other things exercising us here in UK. One is the general approach of Sir Ian Blair (Boss of Met. Police and under fire for handling of no-he-wasn’t terrorist from Brazil) and the man Green who is a Chief Constable and issued his men with green ribbons to wear on their uniforms as a sign of respect for Muslims. One of the sticks used to beat Ian Blair is his high-achieving scholastic background as a police officer and seeming support for multiculturism and stand on racism. My feverish brain detects some connection with that touchy-feely Prime Minister Tony B Liar. It might seem that a number of high-ranking people in civil service and public authorities feel the need to conspicuously espouse causes near to the dear leader’s heart so as to enhance their own chances of promotion or benefit. My prejudice recognises similar conduct amongst others seeking support but I am not going to clutter up the ether with too many semi-conspiracy theories.

Spam attack!

Seems like I have been found out by the spammers who got into yesterday’s effort and left their graffiti all over the place. I had heard faint rumours of this sort of thing but never experienced it. I have Panda virus etc. software which, allied to BT spam catcher, does a fairly good job at detecting and diverting rubbish. Judging by this repoprt though, it seems that the idea has been around a good long while.
Given that it’s arrival here is very close to my installing and using the Word plug-in to blog, my tiny brain has suggested there might be some connection. I am also getting the impression that Microsoft is coded for spammers and hackers more than for little old ladies sitting with cats on lap googling for ‘young man teaches tango your own home’. I must, in the interests of balance, confirm that just about the only exercise my brain gets is jumping to conclusions.
I’m still reviewing the mental images from yesterday. The weather was just perfect and there was not too much traffic. The A66 is about 50 miles long and I would say it is the best long stretch of road I know for consistent beauty and attention demanding.
Hopefully, the Sunday papers will sound the final wail regarding dead South Americans. What happened was sad and action must be taken but the media has exploited things quite dreadfully.
Sun is up. We are off for swim and a paddle.

Circular tour

Spent today on a big circle; down to Penrith on the other side of the country and then back via Newcastle along the A66. No special reason other than it started as a lovely day and I wanted to get out.Penrith is a small place out of market days but draws lots of tourists. It is still an ‘old’ town with nothing modern in the town centre buildings. Other attraction is that it has a superb deli. Which we always strip almost bare. Today was no exception.
Dog has retired to bed. She does not know about laying down in the car so she has almost walked all the way round the circuit with us. It was much too hot for her to stay in the car while we shopped so she had to suffer the indignity of being on the lead and wearing her collar.

So, what's so wonderful?

This is written in Blogger for Word. Came across it courtesy of The Demob Happy Teacher jenny tc. Please bear in mind that I am an ignorant person with very short fuse but I cannot seem to work out how to get an image in here or do a embedded link. Doubtless, you will all rush to my aid and tell me the answer is html. Well, sorry and all that, but html and I have agreed to differ. Still, I’ll keep on in my own funny way and perhaps it will all become clear. Reserved as drafts until the light shines through though. Dashboard will do me. So, Blogger for Word….

Suicide bull

I pass by this field quite often. The chesnut beast in the bottom corner is a fully-functioning bull. Except he isn't. There is always a separation between him and the cows. They stay away from him and should he get up and move, they all adjust their positions to distance themselves.
My theory is that he is some sort of suicide bull. He has got his reward of 72 virgins but, as one would expect, he does not know what to do with them.

Offensive speaking

Absolutely by accident and not as a Google Moment, I came across this quote:
Erik Estrada and Orson Welles were once in a room together. Erik, hot from "Chips", was trying to be friendly when he gave Mr. Welles, the genius behind "Citizen Kane", some advice on losing weight. He gave him one of those fresh juice and exercise spiels. Orson reponded with something like, "Mr. Estrada, I know I am fat and if I wanted to do something about it I could. But you, my friend, are an idiot and I'm afraid there's nothing you can do about that."
That will have to go into the right to be offensive file I think. I am also reminded that when I was about 22 or so, a young lieutenant commented that I looked like Orson Welles. I dismissed it saying, "More like 'orseandcart". Over the years, he got promoted and I met him then as a Major General. It was very formal with all sorts of nervous officers about. He came straight up to me and made the same remark - I gave the same reply. Considerable confusion amongst onlookers who were thinking up mutiny or worse charges. We had a good chat and he wandered off but my street cred was well raised.

Thinking think tank?

I was wittering on yesterday about people in ivory castle think tanks. Looking around for others of similar irritation to me, I came across this snippet. "The Institute of Ideas hosts a discussion at the Edinburgh International Book Festival on 'the right to be offensive'. The debate will ask whether the proposed Racial and Religious Hatred Bill amounts to "a new kind of thought crime".
Obviously, my attention was drawn to ‘right to be offensive’ as this was right up my street. Good start but it was mainly concerned with racial aspects. I think the Institute of Ideas is a survivor of the group that was prosecuted for libel – and lost – when they accused ITN of faking pictures of Serbs/Bosnians in what they said was a concentration camp. So, they know what they are talking about when it comes to offensive.
I had a wander around their site so see if they had any other bright ideas and came across something about another of today’s ongoing saga. This is some of what they had to say about Multiculturalism.
“Part of the problem, I think, is a confusion between two different meanings of multiculturalism: what I would call multiculturalism as an ideology and multiculturalism as a lived experience. When most people say they think multiculturalism is good, what they mean is the experience of living in a society that is less insular, less homogenous, more vibrant, more cosmopolitan than before. Those who advocate multiculturalism as an ideology however are talking about something different.
Multiculturalism, they argue, requires the public recognition and the public affirmation of cultural differences, and the argument goes something like this: we live in a world where there are deep-seated conflicts between cultures embodying different values; different peoples and different cultures have different beliefs, different values and different lifestyles, many of which are incommensurate but all of which are equally valid in their own context. And in such a world social justice demands that individuals are treated as equal, but also that cultures are treated as equal, and indeed that cultural differences become institutionalised in the public sphere. The American scholar Iris Young put this quite well: groups, she says, cannot be socially equal unless their specific experience, culture and social contributions are publicly affirmed and recognised.”
So, I came to mock Ideas Institute, and whilst I do not praise them, they have some ideas that interest(d me).

Clearing the settlements

I am most impressed by the way the clearing of the Gaza Stip settlements is going ahead. As usual, the TV reports focus on the most dramatic actions and one can see just what is happening. The settlers have resisted as one would expect. They deserve praise for the manner of their defiance. They have made their point but in what one might call a lawful or disciplined manner. Given that they are a vocal, demonstrative and determined race there was a real potential for trouble.
The IDF have acted with great discipline on this occasion. We have seen and read of the apparent gung-ho way they treat demonstrators when the intefada come calling. Whilst there is nothing wrong with their fighting spirit, one would not expect them to figure in a Trooping the Colour. Here though, they show every sign of understanding just what is needed. Many of them are crying as they go about their work. To act with restraint hour after hour in the face of provocation - often of a religious nature - calls for discipline of the finest order.
Well done to all involved. The decision to vacate has been a bold one; the Americans and B Liar feel it was wrong to negotiate with terrorists such as Hamas. Do they remember nothing - we dealt with the Irgun and Stern Gang in the usual trick of getting them to stay quiet long enough for us to march with colours flying and bayonets fixed to the boats and away. We cared little about the Muslim nations all queueing up to attack the new state of Israel.
Gaza

Thinking inside Tanks and other bits

Now, I have no great opinions for or against Think Tanks. What does grip my pipe though is busy-bodies offering opinions from ivory towers. The source of funding for the Tank is rarely divulged or investigated by those who pick up on these ‘learned comments’ and run with the ball – generally to the detriment of the team effort. Here are a couple of ‘reports’ and also this:
“Government must do more to consult business to ensure that Britain is fully prepared to deal with the threat from terrorism according to a report published today by Demos, the leading independent think tank. Joining Forces: From national security to networked security, argues that central government, the Police and Security Service need to work more closely with business in planning for and responding to terrorists attacks.
“It is time to dispel the dangerous myth that government has a monopoly over security”, says the report’s author Rachel Briggs, Head of International Programmes at Demos. “The unwritten, unspoken assumption remains that government leads and business follows; that government has a monopoly on useful information and intelligence; and that ultimately it is the state that ‘delivers’ security for the UK.”
Exactly what those with experience of business can contribute to the national fight against terrorism escapes me. I am unable to think when my job would have been made redundant or easier just by having some over-fed, pin-striped, Director of Finance standing by my shoulder. His umbrella might deal with some of the backwash from water-cannon but little else. The Bosses are there to increase benefit to shareholders. That is what makes their minds tick. They could only bring this attitude to terrorism. The disclosures of the last couple of days in the case of the waxed Brazilian show just how complex are the news management skills still less the direction of anti-terrorist forces. The idea of three hours lunches in COBRA scares me.
Just to counter any slight suspicion that all I do is moan, think about this:
When a 9-year-old Florida girl disappeared from her bedroom last week, the sheriff's office coordinating the search for her immediately posted a front-page alert on its website.
In the following days, countless sites around the country -- charitable organizations, churches and other groups -- joined the search for Jessica Lunsford. The sheriff's department received at least 300 tips, and dozens of sites posted details about Jessica on the web in the form of brief alerts or, in some cases, lengthy and regularly updated discussions of her case.
And while she's still missing, the sheriff's department says the internet has proven to be a powerful tool in trying to find her.
"It's very safe to say that it initiated a lot of our tips," said Gail Tierney, the public information officer for the Citrus County Sheriff's Office in Florida. "It's multiplied many times over the number of websites out there (that) have also included her description and photo and contact information. So it's been kind of a force multiplier for us." This is somewhere that business might assist in carrying the news on their own intranets.
Time for a bit of light relief methinks. This snippet is about a guy who got fed up living in a red-light area. Police did nothing so he took his video camera onto the street and filmed some in-car action. Damn sight more amusing than in-car with Schumacher I bet. Police get the tapes and prosecute. He even offers a service where wives can give him details of hubby’s car and she will be first to view any film. Ooh Ooh – Big Brother watch out!

PMS

Apparently science has now been able to illustrate the changes that arise during the time that PMS takes over the female body!

Design?

Nothing special guys - just messing about to see if I can do this html thing. Comes from these people but some of it I have to work out for myself!

Come home Laura Norder - all is forgiven

Lord Woolf today calls for a new approach to law and order which would see a major shift away from punishment towards the solution of problems which generate crime. "We need wider understanding and acceptance that the principles of sentencing are not just founded on punishing offenders," the lord chief justice writes in the Guardian. "Whilst I firmly believe that for serious and violent crimes there is no alternative to a custodial sentence, I also believe passionately on taking steps to turn people away from crime," he says.
Comments from others have also been sought.
Oh yes, sure to work. There are a large number of people who prefer to have a quick return on something illegal rather than undergo the stultifying 9 to 5 weekly routine. At what cost will these initiatives to counter crime start to work? This is a view from the Bench where few who sit have any real concept of life at ordinary level still less the sub-culture of those who feel deprived or ill-done by. I see little difference between the violent street crime that deprives me of my Rolex and the burglar who comes into my home and steals some item of great sentimental value.
What I expect of Laura Norder is that any criminal – irrespective of his/her speciality or crime – is locked away for a long time. This is not to punish them but to protect me and mine from crooks and their crooked ways. I cannot see how making me feel better about myself or my life would deter me from the easy pickings of crime. Whatever it was that convinced me that crime does not pay was instilled at an early age and it is there that reform is needed but least likely to be introduced. After all, schoolchildren have their Human Rights don’t they? (Here insert sardonic smiley)

Photo opportunity missed

No - the weather here in the Borders has not got this bad. This is just to introduce a bit of blarney.
Since we moved to this area, I have made a habit of doing a particular excursion on my birthday. Near to the picnic area where pointy nose and I go every other day is a bit of a hill. I've climbed it every 15th August just to prove to myself that I can still do it. Daft but there it is; it is something I have always had I suppose and is not connected to the adrenaline junkie thing.
Strongest influence was at a place in the Yorkshire Dales. It's location was nowhere near where we usually took a cottage but we went past it often when driving hither or even yon.
During the summer, it just looked as if it were a high bit of ground with the hardest walk below the summit proper. In winter - that is it above. Not really a place to go to. Liable to white-out and plenty of opportunity to get into really bad land if navigation was adrift.
It seemed to leer over me and in time the challenge became serious. In time, I planned a long week end in the area with the intention of facing the challenge. I had my GPS kit, good maps and even a SARBE beacon should things get really exciting.
The weather forecast was dismal as I drove up. There were blizzards from the Midlands up along the A1. The night I booked into the hostel was one long snowfall. Next morning was calm but with more snow in the air. I managed to get to a good start point and set off.
Within a short while I had added almost all of my spare clothing as the wind was increasing the chill factor well below zero. There were, obviously, no tracks or obvious stonewall to follow and the snow was 12" deep in places. Twice I thought it was just too selfish to carry on but was in that state of mind where one does not give in. Eventually, I reached the summit plateau, heated some food and drink and had a wander round. I took some compass readings to get a good walk back without retracing my route up and then came down - possibly with more difficulty than I had going up as the storm was well advanced. All in all, I was away from the car for some seven hours and it was dark when I got back to the car.
However, every time I drove along the valley after that, I was able to do so without any sense of some mystic challenge from the high ground.
I've tried to instill the same sort of challenge in my Borders on my Birthday thing. Yesterday of course, I was not in the Borders. Have to wait and see tomorrow whether the hill gloats at me. Still, there is always 15 August 2006.

Big city boy

No photoblog today. Truth is, I'm still getting over yesterday. Whilst there is no way I would want to go back to living on the edge of a city, it is nice now and again to get into the bright lights. I knew London very well - all the little nooks and crannies where I could enjoy myself out of the limelight of Old London Touristy Town. Just the shops and the general atmosphere was exciting. So, because of this, I enjoyed yesterday's birthday boy visit to Edinburgh. Not because of what I know of it as that is precious little but it was good to get about somewhere where there were largish shops and a good variety of goods
So, no pictures today at my photo site place.

Gaza pullout

“Israel plans to send 45,000 troops to evacuate 9,000 settlers from the Gaza Strip and part of the West Bank, Israel's defense minister said Tuesday -- a massive deployment that reflects concern that some resistance to the pullout might be violent.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon insisted Tuesday that opposition will not stop the operation. Many settlers are expected to offer passive resistance, but security officials have issued repeated assessments that militant settlers or their backers from outside Gaza might open fire”
Given their relatively recent heritage, it is surely understandable that the settlers resist the orders to leave a place provided by their government as a refuge. Even in my sheltered upbringing, I would see this as totally unacceptable – even without the land being given to those I have been indoctrinated to regard as an enemy. More so, when the new owners have adopted terrorism as a negotiating point.
Whilst I have this sympathy, I also feel for the troops and police who will have to enforce the orders. Israeli security forces have even more understanding of the ways of Hammas and it’s supporters so to proceed against one’s own countrymen for the benefit of those they regard as enemy takes even greater discipline. T Bliar talks loudly of very tough methods about undesirables in our country but I am certain that he would never show the moral fibre displayed by PM Sharon and Israel’s leaders. From a coalition government, this is amazing (to me).
Let us truly hope this sacrifice will achieve something. Given that the Muslim agenda remains to drive the Jews into the sea, I am not very confident. All the while Islamists need the Palestine situation as a stick to beat The Great Devil and friends, they will retain it.

Fringe

Off to Edinburgh - by train no less. I like to get up there with the camera as there are some interesting shots with all the people doing the leafletting dressed in fancy or comic dress.
Was very quiet this year. Very few costumed people. There were lots of youngsters but they were in the fancy dress that seems to go with being young rather than dressed for Fringe duties. Had started lunch when the rain started so had to dash from outside into the Filling Station proper. OK as I had eaten most of my salad but the rain was getting into my Michelyob. I had to have five or six more to make up for the diluted one!

Edinburgh day out

Wasn't I good?
I was as close as this to the super cigar shop.
It was my birthday.
I was alone and unsupervised.
I did not buy any cigars
Wasn't I good?

WTC. 9/11

Recordings and transcripts of communications from those trapped in the building have now been released. Very poignant for someone totally unconnected and I am sure they will haunt anyone in any way connected with those killed in the building.
This is just one of the transcripts

We had found out we were having our first child that morning. I was off of work that Tuesday. We were just talking and the next thing that was said to me was -- clear as day, I hear it every day in my mind -- she said, ``Oh, my God.'' That's the last. She saw something, she felt something. For me, it was something that scared her for that split second. I heard like a noise real quick. I thought it was her falling on the chair and disconnecting the phone line. I waited a few minutes and I tried to call back. And I called back and it said all circuits were busy. I just knew that it was pretty bad because the hole was pretty high. I kept saying, ``Not now, not my wife, not just when we heard this news about the baby

Yet another brave Soldier

This comes from an animal welfare site in America. Seems the dog was found tied to a tree at a shooting range. My nasty mind assumes his owner took him there to shoot him but was unable to think about shutting those lovely eyes for ever.
Soldier’s right front leg (his only front leg) is a little crooked. When he puts his weight on it, it slightly dislocates his shoulder, so it’s tough for the big guy to get around. Plus, he’s overweight. He can’t move very far at one time. He’s a smart dog though, and takes 10 to 20 steps before flopping over for a rest. He’s also figured out that if he falls forward, he can use his back legs to propel himself down the hall, a doggie wheelbarrow without the wheels.
So, they got him a doggon cart. He trots around and is a bit of a traffic hazard to smaller dogs. He is losing weight and is happy. I don't know whether I could have done all this and a proper end might have been better. His obvious enjoyment here proves that vets don't always know best. Lots of luck Soldier!

Random ramblings in web-land

My dog is trained not to approach people unless and until OK’d by me. I thought this was necessary in this day and age as not all people are accustomed to dogs. Very different to the world where I grew up and dogs were still seen as man’s best companion. (I’ll admit it here – cats are woman’s best companion) I was told – by whom I cannot now remember – how to know if a dog was dangerous or unhappy in any way at me. Then I was left to get on with meeting and greeting dogs. I learned something from everyone that bit me. Same thing went for dog mess. If I trod in it, I was slapped on the back of the knee and told to look more carefully where I was walking. Reading this, I think my current approach to dogs and the wider community is the best for the times in which we now live.

I had a look at my hit counter today. The bit that identifies search hits was quite fascinating (to me – yawn. What a sad life). Some of them I’ve listed here. Bit scary in a way that what I peck away at in my cold and damp little garret gets stuck out there like a fly in amber in the big wide world and can be called up by such weird selection of search terms as these. Don’t know how many of you have hit counters but they are quite interesting. Mind you, I got very excited at a report that someone in Uzbekistan (phonetic spelling I’m afraid) had looked in on me. Little map with Uz. Displayed by red dot and everything. I had it checked out and it turned out that my fiery Soviet horseman playing with a headless goat was a retired teacher in Welse Wales. Counter had fouled up; one of those Little Britain moments where computer says no. The bit about hizb-ut-tahir was quite scary as I imagined crowds of black-clothed men abseiling through my windows with blast grenades and Glock pistols ready to put seven rounds into my poor grey head should I twitch as much as a toe-nail.

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=hizb-ut-tahir middlesex university&sourceid=mozilla-search&start=0&start=0&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&rls=org
http://www.google.com/custom?q=jennytc&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&cof=BGC:%23ffffff%3BT:%23000000%3BLC:%230000CC%3BVLC:%23cc0000%3BALC:%230000CC%3BGALT:%23008
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&rls=GGLD%2CGGLD%3A2003-41%2CGGLD%3Aen&q=%22A%20%20suspect%20Peruvian%22&btnG=Search&meta=
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hs=ZpK&hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-GB%3Aofficial&q=strappy%20heel%20chavs&btnG=Search&meta=
http://www.google.com/search?q=missionary%20Africa%20Rupel&num=100&hl=en&lr=&as_qdr=all&filter=0

I would not bother tracking them down – it’s the weird word association that gets me amused. Easily pleased aren’t I?

Blog design

I am going to do something that I have said I do not like to see.
I'm going to just say "Go read this"
http://www.madtv.me.uk/goneaway.aspx

Economy with the truth

August 11th: A BBC poll headlines the 'news' that people in the UK are in favour of multiculturalism. Halfway down the article it emerges (in much smaller print) that the findings were, in truth, inconclusive. More BBC lies.
August 9th: UN official Alexander Yakerlev has been arrested for taking bribes as part of Kofi Annan's oil-for-food scandal. Not that you'd know this from the BBC, working flat out to ignore this latest piece of corruption.
August 6th: The director of BBC3 says licence-payers may be slightly annoyed over his channel's latest offering - a programme on lesbian lion-tamers called Tittybangbang. A pity he didn't think before commissioning this crap - but then again, why take care of someone else's money?
These come from a listing of news items that are intended to show bias and inefficiency on the part of the BBC. The dates are this year. I suppose after the inquiry into the death of the whistle-blowing Doctor, it should not be too surprising. Well, to me, it is disturbing if not surprising. The top brass at the time of the WMD sexing-up allegation were all chucked out one way or another. Surely, it behoves the new masters to be squeaky clean or quasi-Caesars wife. Whilst not an official document of record, it is the archives laid down now that will be used as the basis for historical broadcasts in the future. Would we have had anything like the Great War programmes if they had been politicized at the time of recording?
I found a sort of Schadenfreude in the chaos at Heathrow. Hordes from the World Wandering Tribes cut off in their prime. Surely, they have sufficient experience or must have heard the horror stories of air travel and didn’t really expect some sort of magic carpet that would waft them hither and yon? I cannot think of specifics but my memory of really faultless flights is quite limited. That includes many in First and Club Class. Given that all classes fly in the same cigar tube, the upper classes only insulate one a little with private lounges and chauffeured travel to and from the airport. Stress is the killer; any tiny incident is magnified to a small disaster. Better than the TV Easy-Jet saga – perhaps there is scope for a TV reality show covering a group of the great unwashed travelling from somewhere in Outer Mongolia to Luton airport on a round the world ticket with someone like Cathay Disaster Airlines.

Our inferiority complex

Seems that USA will move very quickly into electronic passports.
Why is it that we made such a point about how essential they were and now - in the face of practical demonstrations of the threat - have backed off. The Yanks are far more litigatious than we are and they see no privacy issues in The Land of The Free. I suspect it may have a lot to do with their degree of computer literacy amongst the law-makers than we have where anything new encounters latter-day versions of union Luddites.
It seems that it will work like this

The U.S. Electronic Passport
The proposed U.S. Electronic Passport is the same as a regular passport with the addition of a small contactless integrated circuit (computer chip) embedded in the back cover. The chip will securely store the same data visually displayed on the photo page of the passport, and will additionally include a digital photograph. The inclusion of the digital photograph will enable biometric comparison, through the use of facial recognition technology at international borders. The U.S. “e-passport” will also have a new look, incorporating additional anti-fraud and security features.

Gets round the stolen and forged and straight false passports. Still, it will only be a matter of time before the baddies learn how to make and embed chips.
"What man invents - man circumvents"
Woods first law of crime prevention.

Brown things on my chest

Today’s illustration is in honour of a debate going on at my Guru’s blog on the subject of nipples. Not the sort used for lubricating mechanical joints but those interesting protrusions which appear on the chests of ladies who have neglected to retain their Liberty bodice when the artist or photographer is about. The problem arises on the illustration of the template and as to whether or not she is displaying her teats. My picture is intended to demonstrate what showing a nipple really looks like. It also demonstrates the phrase 'sticking out like chapel hat pegs'.
I am surprised that the debate has arisen. All girls have them. As indeed, do all guys. Exactly why nipples cause such a frisson in these days amazes me. They are no longer a sexual characteristic (thanks to/damn) page 3 of The Sun. Common place such that I cannot imagine even little boys sniggering when they see them. Any beach will have examples – some of these offend me on grounds of taste. “All that meat and no bread – no wonder the baby’s sick” was my father’s comment on the DDE sizes in my youth. That might be one reason for nipples retaining their fascination – the seaside postcard aspect and smutty joke connection. I’m going to stop – I’ve gotten a lot of mileage out of the nubbly bits and will not allow myself to be diverted to my Blue Book of Tit Jokes.
We seem to have advanced slightly in divesting our country of idiot imams. Mind you, it is one thing to have caught rats in a trap. We now need someone with the fortitude to take the trap to the bucket of water. Going on the past performance of our judiciary, it may be premature to think these false prophets will pass. As a somewhat cynical observer, I do find these Agreements with foreign countries that they will not persecute or torture those we evict, to be a little unlikely. When I think of the clown who may end up in Jordan I can see King Hussein again. He always appeared so jovial but it was clear that there was a lot of steel in him – his expression often looked like the cat who had got the cream.
And that brings us back nicely to the opening comment about cat ladies. Night Night children.

A social code for humans?

I heard a most interesting Radio 4 programme today. Something about Countryside Safari. The presenter met with a beekeeper and they discussed the social customs and organisation of honey bees. Seems the hive contains three main groups - one Queen, some large number of drones and a very large number of workers. Main job of workers is to collect the base materials for honey. The Queen is there to lay eggs - some 2,000 per day at the peak time of the year. This is necessary to keep worker levels up as they die in high numbers. The drones are there as - it seems to me - insurance. If a virgin Queen comes into the hive, the drones will mate with her and start her off on the path to the 2,000 per diem. They are not needed after the original defloration of the new Queen.
Now, wake up at the back there! This is the bit I like. After copulation, the drones, who are also male virgins, lose their sexual organs and then die. No explanation was given as to why the drones only blossomed once and then died. This topic confused me - why? Everything else we heard seemed to have a good basis in the running of a well organised community that could have benefits for us humans. I then came up with the idea that exposure to sexual congress was confusing to the drone and might encourage it to seek to mate with others apart from virgin queens so as to satisfy it's new-found sexual urge. Only likely other target would be other drones. This is where this all might get a bit non-p.c. or prejudicial so I give the standard Islamic response - if you don't like it, go away.
The life style of the drone is obviously to ensure that there are no gay drones. They have straight sex and then - end.
I saw a parallel for humankind. Not quite so severe as we are of a higher order. However, what came to mind was idea that human homosexuals should lose their sexual organs so as to keep them on the straight and narrow.
Please note - tongue in cheek really. However, might be of interest to someone. I am sufficiently inspired from this short programme to learn more of the social structure of the honey bee.

If talent was dynamite she couldn't blow her nose.

Never saw anything like this in any honky tonk I visited. Mind you, I'm not one of the Dukes of Hazard either.

Sweeties anyone?

As a bit of a treat after all my whinging, here is something interesting to read. Not only interesting, but indicative of why so many 'civilians' (those not of the police) get annoyed when they are informed of a negative result on some complaint they have made. This tying of police hands was surely never discussed in any proper open forum. So long as we can trust those who draft and review legislation, this lack of discussion would be acceptable. It is just this sort of procedure that alienates 'civilians' and police and must surely be some sort of 'Human Rights' that has gone too far. Just imagine the tamasha if this sort of thing gets into the events of 21 July. Blogged by this guy who is always worth your time and attention.

I.D. ISSUES
When investigating any crime, it is important to establish that the person you have under arrest is the person who committed the crime. Establishing what is known as “continuity” of identification evidence is vital before any case goes to court. For example: someone might report being punched in the face by a man wearing white trousers and a black T-shirt. Five minutes later you might see a male wearing white trousers and a black T-shirt who looks shifty and is slightly out of breath. Is the man you are looking at the same man who committed the earlier offence of assault?If you suspect he is, you could arrest him and interview him when he sobers up in the morning. Let’s say the description of the offender given by the injured party is excellent and there is CCTV of the offence taking place and let’s also say there is an independent witness who saw the offence and then followed the offender until he was picked up by the police and arrested. Now that’s good continuity: the person who committed the offence is clearly the same person who was arrested, so, even in the absence of further evidence (like DNA or an admission by the offender on interview) you might think you have a good case.You’d be wrong.In these cases (where the offender is denying the offence on interview) you have to seek CPS advice. If you interview the offender outside officer hours then you have to release him on bail (without charge or O.R. as you say in the US) so that you can get written CPS advice. The CPS will say you have to run an identity parade.Identity parades are run on DVD, and these days are called VIPER, which stands for Video Identification…something…something. Anyway, you have to “invite” the offender to attend (it’s entirely optional) at a suitable time both for him and for you, then you have to arrange a time for the injured party to attend, then you wait for the results to come back. If the only evidence you have is going to be from a VIPER and the offender decides he doesn’t want to turn up, there’s nothing you can do about it. VIPER is run for the most insignificant offences and most of the time it’s used as one more obstacle to prosecution.I suspect that defence solicitors know how unlikely it is that offenders get picked out of a VIPER and that’s why they are all in favour of them. The CPS will not run a case unless it’s watertight, and why should they care if patrol officers spend whole mornings on the telephone trying to organise a VIPER for a case which is pretty much open and shut? Naturally, we have a whole department dedicated to running VIPER, but the responsibility of ensuring they are arranged and the people turn up falls to…the officer who made the arrest.

Another take on doctors...

Hope I’m not getting a fixation. This popped up today whilst I was doing my ‘Next Blog’ click game. It is from here.

a conversation I had with my mom recently - We were talking about a world in which people, mutually respectful of one another, seek help from others whose expertise outstrips their own in some way- I go to the plumber, knowing he can fix the pipes. He is respectful of my knowledge in other areas, and is appreciative of the fact that I have sought him out, supporting his way of life.I feel like it should be similar with doctors.. I am a person, going to another person, seeking help through their knowledge/expertise. It should be a respectful transaction, with each party recognizing the other's intellect and individual knowledge.Too often, in today's world, one party or the other screws this up. Patients are at times wheedling, disrespectful, cheap, dishonest, unprepared, blameful, etc. Doctors can be paternalistic, arrogant, and all the same things as the aforementioned patient. Or simply forgetful of the fact that their patient should be on equal footing with them- person to person.Not just in medicine... As humans, I think we all too often forget that we're in this together. (this being life, politics, economics, everything!) The doctor helps Joe today, next week Joe the engineer revolutionizes medical technology.Hell, the cleaning lady may have a lot more to offer than meets the eye.

Just in case I’m turning into a boring bstard. I will steer clear of inspirational little sayings for a while………………….

That old black magic

"In addition to my other numerous acquaintances, I have one more intimate confidant . . . My depression is the most faithful mistress I have known — no wonder, then, that I return the love."
Soren Kierkegaard (1813-1855) Danish philosopher

Though I’ve read a bit of Kierkegaard – generally when in the grip of The Black Dog – I had not come across this thought until today when it popped up in something I was reading. Yesterday was one with a fairly high level of depression for me. Maybe this was due to the feisty doctor and what I saw as her dismissive attitude. She agreed that the erratic ticker increased the risk of stroke but, poor thing, could have no knowledge of how much I fear that very disease which can lead to one being a wilted cabbage relying on machines. I seek to be more positive than merely saying that we will wait and see what happens. How will I consult with her in a month’s time if I am brain dead and physically immobile?

I have had Black Dog moments since I was in my mid-twenties. I think I know what started them. They come and they go like some sine pattern. They seem to come when I start to brood about the very fact of depression and go when I start something that diverts my mind. In that way they are exactly as the Dane describes them. They do attract. As a sort of challenge. If I dive in that deep and weed-filled pool, will I surface? Perhaps they are allied in some way to my addiction to adrenaline that causes me to go down the fight road far more often than choosing flight and beating a diplomatic retreat. My faithful devotion is not abated by exhortations to ‘snap out of it’. It needs me to change a mind-set to put the dog back in the kennel. I know that. I know how to do it. Inasmuch as I keep my despondent state to myself, I have no benefit of sympathy or understanding.

Well, that’s enough of that I think. I have to go and listen to some of my Leonard Cohen records and keep my chin up.

Title of this has reminded me of time when Norma and I were in London to see some stage play or other. She decided to get some chocolates whilst I was parking the car. Newspaper shop she went into was run by very very big and shiny black African man - filed incisor teeth and everything. She asked, 'Do you have Black Magic?' We paid for them and ran away.

Got my eye on you

With thanks to Baldermort (#1 son) for technical help.

Random (very) thoughts

Well, the Americans have got the shuttle back safely; what good news. It does seem that this was the last time we will see that massive piece of engineering in flight.
I have always been fascinated by space travel. Not so much for what they were deemed able to add to our information but for the sheer technical excellence. The totally calm way in which the crew speak with ground control. That echoey sound of the voices. Something one never got when reading an Isaac Asimov novel. Truth is not only stranger than fiction – here it is vastly superior.
This interest and admiration exists even though I can see absolutely no benefit from the whole exercise. There is always that thing about finding signs of life out there and how our earth was created. I’m quite sure we would end up killing anything extra-terrestrial and the God-botherers would never change their minds anyway. Certainly, there have been tremendous benefits as an off-shoot of the programme but targeted science would have brought those forward at far less cost. My doubts as to the value of conquering space were strengthened after the loss of a crew. I regarded it all as an ego trip for FFK though why he should need such a thing after the background to Happy Birthday Mr President from Marilyn Monroe I cannot think.
These anti-terrorist initiatives seem to be getting beyond a joke. The government law-drafters seem to be trying to implement the 'game is over' measures B Lair wants only to get them chucked back in their briefs by the senior Judges. I am all for seperation of law and the state but something has got to give. We already have the farcical situation where people against whom extradition process has been initiated remain in custody for many years whilst the dry-as-dusters say they cannot be thrown out because of some legal point. Come the day when I'm am made President For Life, I would form some form of Review Committee from these do-nothing-unless-its-legal todgers and give them a directive to come up with laws they will enforce that meet the needs now facing us. If they cannot - their legal ability must be suspect and we de-robe them and get others. If they will not - same story. If it is a question of my being blown up in bed or having a bit of tough love law, I'll have the law please.
Although, take 'up' out of that sentence and I might have a changed desire.
Thouught it was nice of the NASA HQ to let the 'plane go round one more time while the pilot checked on her make-up.

Hello friend

My design guru and blog mate poses an interesting question in her contribution for today. My remarks and thoughts are too big for a comment on her spot and relevant to more than just her wide circle of friends - hence this. Go read what she has to say. I have extracted some of the bits she wrote and they are in italics below:
From experience I would have to say that it is perhaps possible to get to know someone via the internet more closely and with greater speed than face to face. Human beings have a strange ability to not be quite so upfront when face to face, give us the first line anonymity of a keyboard and suddenly we become braver about what we will tell one another in the first instance. I defy any one of you to deny that you have spoken of things to someone online that you would find harder to say if you where physically sat front of one another.
My comment on this is that I certainly find it very much easier to communicate with strangers by way of the net. One can review the written word in a way not possible with spontaneous speech. I have issues with getting involved with large groups of people - "I get on with individuals; it's people I hate" but the web allows me to focus on just one person. A minor benefit for me is that if I choose to treat someone as 'people' person, I have only to click in the top right hand corner and they are gone. In direct contact, it is likely that I would have expressed my opinion in a forceful and offensive manner.
I have met friends and a far wider diversity of individuals online than I suspect I would have had the opportunity too face to face.
This certainly true. I have been lucky to have travelled widely around the world but I have been in friendly contact with dozens of people I could never have met in my wanderings.So what prompted this post? An email from a friend yesterday. A guy who I hope considers me a friend and who strangely is probably the most likely person I am to meet 'for real' because coincidentally he isn't thousands of miles away. The guy in question has lent me some very helpful advice and support over the last few weeks one way and another and despite living close by I doubt we would have met other than on the internet.....even if we had it is unlikely we would have done more than pass the time of day, let alone become friends.
Hi! friend. Even at my advanced age and state of decline, it's unlikely that I would have stopped at 'passing the time of day' where a good looking woman is involved.

Be still my aching heart

Doctor duly seen. Looked at recent ECG and said, "That's not unusual. Lot of people have fibrilliation problems"
Ho. Ho. Ho. Hello bull - I am Red Rag. "It is me that has it - not someone else. It is unusual for me. So what can be done?"
Step off on wrong foot. Certain amount of verbal sparring. She is basically saying 'no sweat' but not very well. Seems nothing to worry about right now (but what about it sometimes causing stroke?). I advised her that I was not going to ignore something that could require me to be plugged into 13amp socket like some condom vending machine.
AGREED. Increase dosage of beta-blockers and go back in one month.

Non p.c - weightism

Suppose it could also happen to a cat?

DILLIGAFF

Just received a email with DILLIGAFF in it. Have established that it means Do I Look Like I Give A Flying Fcuk. I suppose this is 2005 - progress and all that.
I'm tempted to just reply WTFDYNWP - maybe not yet in Google but goes something like Why The Fcuk Do You Not Write Properly
WWIAE - where will it all end.
Any others my aged brain should be aware of other than the standard ROFLMA etc.?

My B Liar turn-around

Letter in today's Sunday Telegraph.

Blair has spun me.Although I have never been a fan of Tony Blair, I must admit that he has managed, since 1997, to spin my life-time held views through 180 degrees - today thanks to Blair I am now pro-Shami Chakrabarti, the Director of Liberty, pro-Ian Paisley, pro-John Humphrys, pro-Jeremy Paxman and pro- (well almost) George Galloway. I am now anti-American, anti-EU, anti-police, anti-regional government and instinctively anti of any statement and regulation cobbled together by his Government.
Brian Christley, Abergele, Conwy

What more can one say?

This is from a site where people add remarks they have overheard on the street. As one might imagine - there are some real hoots.

Man #1: I love my iPod. If it were a woman, I'd marry it.
Man #2: You've got some serious issues, man.

--Jane Street Coffee Shop

Not quite the real thing......

This guy is a hard nosed reporter in New York who spends much of his time with police patrols working in the bad areas. His site is always worth visiting but a recent piece on Community Policing (latest item in 'Fred's Columns') is especially relevant now that it is being proposed by President B Liar as the latest panacea (also known as snake-oil which cures everything. I quote extracts from the article but I recommend you read the whole thing (and drop in on some of his others as well).

An advantage, or disadvantage, of having been in the news racket too long is that you see the same nostrums proposed again and again. One of these, “community-based policing,” was briefly popular during my long and fascinating years on the police beat for the Washington Times. I hear noises on the web to suggest that it may be returning. A few thoughts:
Community-based-policing is a well-intentioned cure-all for crime. The idea is that the police should mingle with the people, and come to be loved, so that the people help them to fight crime. Instead of those intimidating, remote, paramilitary, and ninja-clad Robocops in cruisers, you have Officer Krupky the kindly Irish cop (all right, O’Krupky) who knows the people, understands their culture, is part of the neighborhood, and so on. CBP has the advantage of appealing to the desire of nice people for niceness. It charms people with terry-cloth minds, and conservatives who want to be thought insightful. Unfortunately it works best in neighborhoods that don’t need it.
The police are terrible at hearts-and-minds just as soldiers are, and for the same reasons: They are incorrigibly authoritarian, clean-cut blue-collar believers in personal responsibility and self-discipline who find themselves shepherding anarchistic, often ethnically disparate people who don’t care about anything the cops believe. Drill instructors and hippies. The two come to hate each other.
To understand this you have to know, as many white Americans do not, just how segregated the United States really is. In large parts of big cities, in LA, DC, Chicago, Boston, on and on—you can ride for eight hours with a cop and never see a white face. In the highly segregated satellite towns around Chicago, the police cite figures of eighty-five percent unemployment. The baby carriages hold the fourth consecutive generation on welfare. Selling drugs is the only industry, often regarded as no more criminal than copyright piracy.
These places amount to Kenya and Tijuana distributed in pockets across a European nation. They see the cops as an occupying force. The police are always carrying the young men off to jail, usually on drug charges. I can’t count the times I’ve watched young black males leaning against cars and being searched. The locals know that whites in the suburbs use drugs and don’t get into trouble. The locals know that if they drink a beer in the front yard or roll dice on the hood of a car, here comes a cop. They feel…occupied.

His comment on the alienation that is caused is very easily transposed into the recent claims of justification for dissent and violent action from young Islamists. We too have our ghettos where races gather together. Oh, by the way, he speaks of police officers in a Community role - our idea is to have rentacop quasi-pensioners and disaffected ex. school-crossing ladies with hardly any powers beyond dealing with people who do not clean up after their dogs.

OMG

Sitting here a bit bored yesterday and got into that stage where you start looking for things to do. This is sometimes where one wanders into 'regedit' but I am well aware of the horrors that lie in wait there. Don't know how many blogspot'ers have noticed it but at the top right hand side of the page it says 'Next blog'. Game for a laugh, I pressed this offer.
I think I have been around the block a bit. Dealing (police professionally) with ladies of the night and vice in cities where no holds are barred. Hong Kong, Tokyo, Korea, Port Said, dock areas in Germany. Brothel raids. Anti-vice re STD. I'm sure you get the picture. Including the activities of the brutal and licentious soldiery. However, the blog next to me was very explicit. Not just versions of missionaries actions but exploitation of just about every human orifice. It didn't turn me on, off or pending but I wondered if some bored young kid were to hit the next blog key on their page? Apparently, the 'next blog' is not constant but is a random page. As a grown-up who derives nothing from porn or such, I have no view on censorship but if there are many more such pages out there, my view could change inasmuch as it applies to kids.
Seems I have a very high level reader - of my blog re moving computers and my luck changing anyway. Had a small knock on my security door this morning with repeat of the neck spasm and some other funny things just as I had right before they did the bypass. Saw the doc. and there is some irregular heart movement so I have to sit out the line dancing and carry a nitro-glycerine spray until I can see the regular MO on Monday. There is a wikipedia article on Atrial Fibrillation for those who demand gory detail - Anyway, all is well now. SWMBO is prepared to reduce the level of required discipline, the medical services here are bloody marvellous (the emergency doctor has just rung me to check if I'm OK!) and I've been down this road before.

This comes from a guy who can always be relied upon to have something interesting and/or funny to say. I can't imagine that the Capital of Peachtrees has snow at this time of the year but whoever got it - well spotted.

As he says - "this dick in a truck pulled over in front of me"

Jonathan Livingstone Seagull

Down at the beach this morning I was confronted by a large gull. I say confronted as it showed no sign of flying away or being alarmed until I was almost on top of it. As it soared into the sky with just a lazy flap of it's wings, I suddenly had this recollection of Jonathan Livingstone seagull. This was a very popular story in - I think - 1970. To know the hidden meaning and message of Seagull was very important; it generated a lot of debate when talking to the more serious sort of woman at those boozy parties where the staircase seemed to be the posh persons salon.
Synopsis is basically that most gulls don't bother to learn more than the simplest facts of flight--how to get from shore to food and back again. For most gulls it is not flying that matters, but eating. For this gull, though, it was not eating that mattered, but flight. Flight is the metaphor that makes the story soar. It is about the importance of seeking a higher purpose in life, even if your flock, tribe or neighbourhood finds your ambition threatening. By not compromising his higher vision, Jonathan gets the ultimate pay-off: transcendence. Ultimately, he learns the meaning of love and kindness.
I have absolutely no idea what dragged this story out of the 'filed' section of my brain and allied it to this morning's confrontional gull. I cannot recall having made any reference to Seagull since those days but I only had to do a small Google to set out the synopsis above. Now, if only I could recall that blonde girl's walk into the woods with me in 1953 - I'd be a happy man. But then, none of that is on Google.

I think I should go check the insurance - my luck cannot last.
SWMBO wanted to set up an extension of her quilting empire. OK. Problem was she had set her eyes on the room where Mr. p.c. ruled. I managed to squeeze a quick foxtrot oscar out through her grip on my neck but it was clear that her mind was made up.
So, unplug zillions of wires and cart kit and caboodle down to my study. Connect everything in what seemed to be some sort of logical order. Power connected to all the things that need it. Pushed the little button whilst looking out of the window in case I put a curse on it by watching. It all worked - and I've got some cables left over. The old p.c. room I left for my lady to clear up and I've made a note in my Palm thingy to tidy up my study.
The good Lord will strike soon - there is too much going my way. Keep this up and I could cut the depression tablets down to maybe a dozen a day!

General knowledge is not general

This sort of propoganda is all over the media

Hazel Blears, the home office minister responsible for counter-terrorism, visited Oldham this week to talk to Muslim
communities about their concerns following the London bombings.
She met leaders from the community at Oldham Civic Centre on Tuesday. "I have
met young Asian men from a wide range of backgrounds, and young women too, not just the usual kind of community leaders who usually talk to me," she said at the end of the meeting

What the lady needs to understand is that Asian males have absolutely no respect for anything said by those of the female sex. Their mothers? - maybe. Her - no way

Cartoonist Laureate

What is it about this guy that makes him so good?

(Stolen from Daily Telegraph 4 August)

Safety first

Some of the interviews we get with police representatives sound surreal. We had the boss of the Serious & Organised Crime Unit on yesterday who told us in his deep brown voice that crime rates now were far far higher than 50 years ago He attributed this to lower levels of honesty and a change in attitudes. Hello? Speak to the hand! I do not seem to remember many mobile telephones back then. I was not a happy child but I was not materially deprived so where was my MP3 player then? Our TV was of a size that needed a fork-lift truck to move the case enclosing a 9" screen. I do not have the benefits of his education but I do know of an economic theory called availability increasing demand. Oh well, perhaps it doesn't matter as he is in charge of Serious and Organised Crime and none will ever know just how much of that goes on.
Another idea from 'way back then' was the method of storing fine wines. There were few available, they were expensive and consumption was restricted to a few what we called toffs. However, I was never instructed to handle wine in the manner shown on Big Brother. Mind you, I'm only going on the reports - I'd rather penetrate my eyes with scorpion stings than watch such tripe. I lived in a Big Brother-world called Medway Towns so have no need to tune in.
After drama of no computer, I wasted no time on sorting my iPod and matching it with the iTunes library. Amazing - it all installed first time and everything is working beautifully. I need to adjust the way it runs - 42 Willie Nelson tracks all after one another get me into such a laidback state I'll get bed sores on my bum. Only hiatus was when it asked for serial number of the player. Using my strongest glasses I managed to see where such a thing might be. Adding two magnifing glasses to the specs meant that I could read what I needed. Obviously engraved for teen-age eyes.