It's Winter

BREAKING NEWS: High winds, Snow and rain country wide 


have taken emergency services by surprise. " we weren't 


expecting it." said an official from the Highways Agency. 


"It's never happened before!" When asked just what do you 


think usually happens in winter he replied " Winter? err


what's that? Never heard of it, is it some new kind of biscuit?"




Meanwhile an anti-terrorist spokesperson in London has said 


that Winter maybe linked with terrorism. Pointing to the fact 


that many terrorist countries do not have winter.




The cold weather could bring a resurgence of Bird Flu which 


may now have mutated to such an extent that WE'RE ALL 


GOING TO DIE!

Riotous behaviour

I think the main lesson that can be earned from the recent riots in England is what a house of cards civilisation is. A bit of civil unrest and suddenly otherwise law abiding citizens think it's ok to raid the local telly shop and cart off the biggest TV they can. The most pathetic bit of looting I heard about was a student who stole 2 T-shirts. 

2012 WE'RE ALL DOOMED

According to some ancient Mayan prophecy the world is supposed to end on 21st December 2012. I think they might have got their calculations wrong. The USA is bankrupt so are most European countries and the Middle East is a war zone. Looks like we might not last until 2012. We might find it hard to get past 2011.

Murdochgate: A dangerous time

Rupert Murdoch's empire seems to be crashing around his ears. The Sun is now being targeted as possibly hacking phones and the FBI are investigating allegations of phone hacking of September 11 victims. All well and good, many of us dislike Murdoch and his empire. However there is something worrying here. Parliament are howling like a pack of wolves after Murdoch and his newspapers but I heard tonight that maybe other papers may be involved. It sounds to me like the start of a witch hunt. Using the public's outrage at the press Parliament could rush through legislation curbing their power. I'm no advocate of the tabloids but the recent exposure of the excesses of MP's  expenses was I think a valid use of journalism to expose what is a blatant misuse of privilege.

 So we need to keep a weather eye open to make sure the MP's don't further erode our rights by curbing those legitimate investigations by the press that uncover the cheats and scoundrels who purport to have our best interests a t heart.

Rupert Murdoch and the deathly Hackers

So the News Of The World hacked peoples mobiles,proving once again that journalists are the lowest of bottom feeders. All of a sudden the other newspapers and news media find that they are on this moral highground. From this rarified height with there heads held high they can cheerfully piss on Murdoch's head.
 The only difference between them and Murdoch is that he's been caught. I bet the rest of them have skeletons in the closet that they hope will never come  to light.
 It's strange that all this should come to a head now just as Murdoch had been given the go ahead to buy BSKYB. If I was a conspiracy theorist I'd say someone had been sitting on this waiting for the most opportune moment but all this came to light via the police and the government. They wouldn't do that, would they?

Music

Now I'm unashamedly locked into the 70's when it comes to music,particularly 70's prog rock. Is it just me or is modern music  so alike that it can be interchangeable? I like bands such as Cold Play and Snow Patrol but they could just as easily be called Snow Play and Cold Patrol they could also be dropped into a 70's rock gig and not be out of place.
Time was when you could hear an opening riff and identify the band fairly accurately even if you didn't know the song.
As for hip hop, rap and that genre of music well I think I'll refrain from commenting except to say I agree with George Harrison's comment that there is a silent C in rap.

Old Horror Films

Caught an old film on BBC4 last night. The Witchfinder General, starring Vincent Price. Based on the true character of Matthew Hopkins, during the English civil war. These old horror films are so dated now and the overacting makes them a bit comical. I must admit though I do like Vincent Price he always managed to bring a sense of menace to his performances.
Time was when on a Friday night you could settle down and watch a good Hammer Horror film. with Vincent Price or Christopher Lee or Peter Cushing. None of the splatter fests you get nowadays in horror films and I suppose they were a bit cheesy but they were fun.

News

I really must start taking some notice of the News again. Haven't had anything to rant about for ages. The problem is TV news is as bad as some of the worst of the tabloids sensationalising everything in a desperate need for ratings. 
Take for instance this recent E coli outbreak in Germany. Now I'm not trivialising it but there was no indication that anyone had caught the bug from anyone else. The only people in the UK that had it could be directly linked with visits to Germany and there were about eleven of them. Yet on the TV news out trots the "expert" to tell everyone about how it's resistant to antibiotics and how IF it ever became transmittable how much danger we could all be in. 
So here we go, it's the end of life as we know it all over again. Time was when the TV news concentrated on the facts but now with so many channels everything becomes a ratings war. I haven't bought a news paper in years because of this sensationalism. Now I find it hard to watch TV news for the same reason. Having to filter the facts from a torrent of bullshit makes me angry and I end up ranting about the content of the report instead of listening to the news.
Still I suppose if they stuck to the facts and reported objectively I'd have nothing to put in this blog.

If they say it's too good to be true.....

Had an email saying "Build your own website for free and earn money". Go on then I thought give it a go. So I clicked the link. At first it tells me that for about $90 I can get the pro version with 10 websites that will give me more income,or (in little print) I can continue with the free version. I clicked for the free." Sure you don't want the pro version?" it asked. again click on the little print for the free version. " absolutely the last time you'll never see this again. buy pro version for $90 instead of $190. You will not get this offer again!". Again I click on the small print for the free version and hey presto I go to the set up page. Whoopee. I select products write a review and move on to the next page which is getting a domain name. Think up a domain name and click for availability. Yes it's available at a cost of $24.99. Ok run that past me again... what part of this is free? I can do exactly the same on Google and it costs nothing. If it looks too good to be true, it usually is.

Measles

http://newsthump.com/2011/05/27/why-are-all-my-children-getting-measles-ask-homeopathy-fans/

The above link from Newsthump is a satirical look at the failure of some parents to have their children vaccinated against measles.
The scare about the MMR vaccine 10 years ago meant that a lot of people didn't get their kids immunised. 
I think people forget that until the arrival of penicillin measles was often a killer disease and even now can lead to complications. 
Measles is a very serious disease which I think the labelling under "Childhood diseases" tends to trivialise. 

learning on the fly

Well I'm not much of a computer head so I just made some changes to the template and so far the computer hasn't blown up. Only time will tell. 

The Final Frontier

I know they say that necessity is the mother of invention but I wonder, if we hadn't spent most of human history trying to find more efficient ways of killing ever larger numbers of people, whether we might not have had some reasonably good space travel by now.
With earth's population growing and resources running low I think we need to move out and colonise. Unless some scientist can discover hyperspace (much beloved by the sci-fi writers) for instantaneous travel, then it's going to have to be done by slowly moving through the solar system colonising different planets and moons. consolidating and moving on.
Way back in the late 60's this almost seemed to be attainable but the cutting of funds for the space programme and the paranoia of the superpowers meant a shelving of ideas for bases on the moon and voyages to Mars. Now some entrepreneurs are trying to build  passenger space vehicles for space tourism but is it too little too late? Only the very rich will be able to afford to go and will it ever be enough to finally get something like a moon base built? 
Will there ever come a day when a true interplanetary space ship is built in space large enough to take a population of colonists across the void. To boldly split infinitives where no man has gone before?

Special relationship

I've just been hearing on the news about President Obama's visit to the UK. A lot of talk about the "special relationship" we have with the US. Now I've not really been keeping up with politics but is this the same relationship Tony Blair had with Bush, where Bush would say " Jump!" and Tony would answer " How high?"

Rapture Didn't Come May 21, Atheists and Humanists Blamed

Rapture Didn't Come May 21, Atheists and Humanists Blamed

I don't class myself as a Humanist. I don't really even class myself as atheist it's just a convenient label. The above article amused me however. 

"Free" to enter competitions

I have an old email address that I just use for those offers that are always cropping up. The amount of free to enter competitions that I get is ridiculous. TANSTAAFL. (Ther ain't no such thing as a free lunch.) When you get into these competitions you find that at some point they want your mobile number. If you supply your number you are then bombarded with texts that cost you money to answer questions. The text can cost a pound each so if you have a pay as you go mobile you can soon lose all your credit. Free? Bah!!! 

2 days late?

Well there's a volcano erupting again in Iceland and it's blowing a gale here.
I'm not really bothered if the world does end. I just hate the fact that Harold camping will get the opportunity to saay "I told you so!".

The Rapture

Just read an article that says the world is going to end today. So all you christians ready for the rapture send me your now worthless money I'll accept cash or cheques. 

I Sit and Think. J R R Tolkien

I sit beside the fire and think of all that I have seen, of meadow-flowers and butterflies in summers that have been; Of yellow leaves and gossamer in autumns that there were, with morning mist and silver sun and wind upon my hair. I sit beside the fire and think of how the world will be when winter comes without a spring that I shall never see. For still there are so many things that I have never seen: in every wood in every spring there is a different green. I sit beside the fire and think of people long ago, and people who will see a world that I shall never know. But all the while I sit and think of times there were before, I listen for returning feet and voices at the door.

Nostalgia Gonna Get Ya

It started with a photo, a photo and a name. Out of the dim dark recesses of my mind a name I had not heard for 35 years. The Rafia. Started as a bit of fun by two schoolboys the Rafia has grown to be the biggest organised crime syndicate in the world.... oh no that's the Mafia.
The Rafia had different objectives. Our gods were Monty Python, Morecambe and Wise, The Two Ronnies, Benny Hill, The Goons and The Goodies. Our aims? We didn't have any. Just a laugh, mad catchphrases, Polo Mints and alcohol(never forget the alcohol.).  
Anything could become a catchphrase. Mostly from the above mentioned shows but once the catchphrase was Embisco wafer biscuits. Why? Who knows it just was.
Follow that Rickshaw was the most enduring catchphrase. Can't remember where it came from now maybe a film but it did seem to become the motto of the Rafia.
Just a bit of harmless fun, and a name now consigned to the past. I can't help thinking though if we'd tried that bit harder we could have owned half of Las Vegas by now.

THE STREET THAT CUT EVERYTHING

http://www.bbc.co.uk/i/b011crrw/

I watched the above programme on the BBC the other night. Quite good as reality tv goes. An experiment in what happens when a whole street has it's council run services cut and has to do it themselves. 
If you can ignore the fact that it did tend to focus on the conflict between various members of the community, it was quite a thought provoking programme.
At first they tried to save as much money as they could by a lot of DIY rubbish collection and street cleaning. It was when the bombshells of paying towards the services of the wider community when things began to go wrong. Like most of us all they were thinking of was that the money they were receiving paid for the services of their own street. It wasn't until they were stopped money to pay for parks, city centre street cleaning, that they began to understand the wider picture. 
The biggest cause of contention though was that one of the people in the street was in receipt of council grants for rent and education and another was receiving help with her father who needed care. As her father didn't live in the street some didn't see why they had to pay.
I think most of us only think of the services we receive directly from our councils. Usually that the bins get emptied. The programme did highlight the fact that we all contribute to all council services whether we use them or not.
With all the cuts that are bound to happen over the next few years many of those services will either go or be drastically reduced. We may find that we have to do some of those things the council now take care of, particularly the care of the elderly and infirm. 
That all this has been caused by the banks making investments akin to gambling on a 100-1 shot at Aintree makes me angry. The self same bankers who are still voting themselves huge bonuses and pay rises while the rest of us struggle to make ends meet.

Eurovision Post Mortem

So we didn't win. I never expected us to. The winner was Azerbaijan, no surprises given the tendency for these ex eastern bloc countries to vote for each other.
What really fills me with despair is that Ireland, the land that has given us U2, Thin Lizzy, Clannad and a wealth of folk music, fielded Jedward as their hopeful AND THEY BEAT US. Now I'm no Blue fan but I thought their effort was far and away better than those 2 morons.
Oh and all those in the Uk who voted. SHAME ON YOU  for giving Ireland 12 points.

The Eurovision Song Contest

I have watched the eurovision song contest for many years and shall watch it again tonight. I always have this hope that someone will come up with a song that will completely blow me away. Well about 30 years of watching it and it hasn't happened yet but maybe one day.
Just listened to our entry by Blue. Well it didn't blow me away just another boy band song but I suppose it's good enough for eurovision. I shudder at some of the entries that get in and to think that they actually have to qualify. Makes you wonder just how bad the ones that didn't get through were.
 Of course if we had to qualify we'd never get into the competition again. As one of the "Big Five" though our place is assured. Which means that just about every country in europe can make war on us from the comfort of their armchairs.
I miss Sir Terry Wogan's commentary on the proceedings. His caustic comments made the whole show much more entertaining. Graham Norton is ok but it's not the same. Instead now I have to make my own caustic comments. This does not go down well with my wife but I have to entertain myself somehow.
I always wanted someone like Pink Floyd or Queen to do our entry. May have made it really worth watching. 
Still I'll be there tonight, glass of whisky in hand, caustic comments at the ready and hoping against all previous experience that this year there will be a song that I can like. I'm dreaming aren't I?


What it should be like: http://youtu.be/0wtiNzci1Wc


The reality: http://youtu.be/V_tspk1ifFI

AT THE DOCTORS

I had to go to the doctors today to renew my sick note. I've been off work for 2 months with a bad back. He said it's only wear and tear and he doesn't think it will damage it if I were to work. Well and good but would he climb up and down on the back of a lorry and haul tonne weight pallets about with a bad back. I think not!
All well and good to sit in a chair all day but if you have to do manual work there's only so much pain you can take and I can't take really strong pain killers because I have to drive. Bloody doctors have a bit of a reality gap sometimes. 
Got a note for another 3 weeks. Hope I can find another job soon. 
Anyone need a chauffeur?

Newcastle Brown

Do you suffer from slower digestive transit?
 Research has shown that 6 pints of Newcastle brown ale can relieve the symptoms of slow digestive transit. With it's active ingredient "Lavibowlus Pebbledashius" that bloated feeling will be a thing of the past.
Hear what these people have to say:
John from a subway somewhere: " I've found that 6 pints a day works wonders. I can now shit through a privet hedge without touching the leaves." 
And Harry writes: "I used to be all bunged up but now I have to carry an extra pair of trousers, just in case i don't make it."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Warning: Newcastle Brown should not be used as part of a healthy diet.
Can react violently with kebab and chilli sauce.

Religion

I have decided to get religion.
I am going to dedicate my life to the worship of Bacchus.
No regular services and his churches are wherever there's an Off Licence.
Praying is pretty good. The only words are variations of  " Oh God I'm pissed."
The prayer position is easy too. You just have to lie down on the floor. Drooling from the side of your mouth is optional.
Works for me.

Remember when it seemed music could make a difference.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5M_Ttstbgs&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5M_Ttstbgs&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vKy2kR77Sc&feature=relate

Three songs that epitomised the late 60's. funny thing is.... they are still relevant today.

Karn Evil 2011 ( a take on the ELP classic)

Rejoice glory is ours,
Bin Laden has just died today.
Al Qaeda is lost,
Their leaders will learn how to pay.


Obama is all that their is, 
The USA will protect the Earth


<<DANGER>>


The Media gave you life.
What else could they do. 
To do what was right!
They are arseholes, are you?

AV

So the AV failed. Still Nick Clegg can look his supporters in the eye and say he tried. Of course he knew it would fail so he hasn't really done anything to upset his Tory master. In fact Cameron might even give him a biscuit and take him for an extra long walkies today. Now that this bit of Lib-dem fluff is out of the way the Tories can get on with ruining the country. (Is that a typo? NO)

A Huge Election

Well I went along to vote. I did my bit for the referendum.  when I came to vote for the local and borough elections I had decided I was going to vote for any independent who was standing. Imagine my horror when the only independent was a BNP candidate. Needless to say I didn't vote for him. The only other candidates were either Labour or Tory. I couldn't in conscience vote for either of them so I did what I had been advocating and wrote "none of the above" on the ballot paper. Unfortunately my little protest will go unheeded as they will discount it as a "spoiled" ballot. Still I have exercised my democratic right not to vote for anyone and I didn't stay at home to do it. Just not going to vote gives the wrong impression. The politicians believe we are just too apathetic to vote, instead of the utter contempt we hold them in. if enough people went along and just wrote NONE on their ballot. Maybe they would have to start taking notice.

Disability

Due to an escalation in the severity of a long standing back injury, it looks like I'll no longer be able to work as a truck driver. I now find myself at the age of 51 trying to do a complete about turn in my career and try to get a job in an office. This is I think is going to take a certain amount of "blagging" as I have very little experience of office work.
It couldn't have happened at a worse time with the economy the way it is unfortunately these things have a way of coming along when you least expect them. 
I have no idea how some people can live their whole lives on benefits. they must know some stuff that I don't. All I know is that I am going to have to find a new job soon or I'm going to be in deep trouble financially.

Games

Never been much of a gamer but I did like World of Warcraft unfortunately due to financial reasons I only ever played the free trial version. I have found a few similar free games. Shaiya being one and also a free Lord Of The Rings Online game. Shayia is quite good but as you rise up the levels the opportunities for quests seems to dwindle. I haven't played the lord of the rings one too much but it does seem quite good except it kepyt freezing but that might be my computer. If you like playing the sword and sorcery type games though they aren't too bad and they are free.

Referendum

Tomorrow we vote for the voting system. Now considering that since the last election and what I consider to be a Lib Dem sell out   ( I've been a life long liberal supporter), I will be hard pushed to find even 1 candidate to vote for, let alone grade them in order of preference.  I think the referendum should be postponed until they can come up with a new ballot paper which besides having the names of all the candidates on it should also have an option of "None of the above".  Then it should be made compulsory to vote.
That way the politicians would get a very accurate picture of what we really think of them.
I like Robert A Heinlein's idea of voting. Choose the one you definitely wouldn't vote for then vote for any of the others.

Advantage of a blogging over tweeting

The great advantage of blogging over tweeting and even facebooking is that you aren't constrained by a minuscule number of characters. Of course the disadvantage is that you don't have to be concise. You can rant away as long as you want and make the entry run into pages. 
Realistically if you keep an entry fairly short people might actually read all of it instead of skipping over most of it.  

Technology

I am in no way a technophobe. However I don't see the point in buying something just because it's the latest thing. My computer is about 6 years old,runs windows Xp and seems to work just fine. when it finally blows up I'll probably buy a new one. The  same goes for My mobile phone. It doesnt connect to the net,(I've got a computer for that.), it will take pictures but I prefer to use my camera and if I want music i have cd players and an mp3 player.  

 If you chase the latest technology you set yourself an impossible task because it seems to be that as soon as some new piece of technology hits the market a new and improved version follows swiftly in it's wake. (windows vista &windows 7 for instance.). 

 I will replace all my current gadgets  but only (manufacturers please note) when they break and need replacing. Even then my criteria will be the best price for job they need to do. Not how many thousand apps which I will never use.

Must get a life

Well I've had fun customising my blog. Shame about the pictures doesn't seem to want to load them. Every time I try it just freezes the computer up.

Propheteering?

Something a bit weird happened a couple of days ago. I made a comment in Facebook to the effect: The winner of the 2011 hide and seek championships is Osama Bin Laden. Now if he'll just step forward to receive his prize... It was just a silly thought that came into my head. 2 days later Bin Laden is reported as being killed. I am now working on predicting the lottery numbers.

Once more into the blog dear friends

Ok so I'm back in a blog. Miss my old one, apparently it no longer exists. On the good side though I can repeat all the rants I did in the old blog and they'll all seem fresh and new. Could be months before I have to actually think of something new.