Tosspott Wants More Compensation For A Bank Error

Some guy, Donald Moffat, found his bank balance had humourously gone nearly £100bn into the red. It took him a morning to fix the problem and the bank offered him £10.00 compensation for his time.

But this arsehole was unhappy with this situation. He felt that he was more important than that, and decided to try and greedily blackmail the bank into offering more compensation by emailing his bank statement to the BBC.

He also said he was looking for the bank to up its offer of compensation for the level of stress he had been put under in trying to resolve the situation.

He doesn't even know what stress is!!! People live in this world under bombardment by armed militias, suffering from life threatening conditions and living without regular food or water. Many of them would kill someone for £10.00. But oh no this selfish git isn't satisfied with that and has decided he deserves compensation for his time (a morning! Jesus, he obviously hasn't ever dealt with a bank before, normally it takes them days! I suspect he must of been really rude to those poor service agents who had to deal with this bastard to get this quick a response).

Greed. It's a sin. I hope he has a terrible new year.

The Case For Involuntary Euthanasia Grows

Yes, it's time for more silly 999 calls!! For my American reader that's stupid 911 calls.

From a recent release from the Greater Manchester Police:

· A priest rang 999 because he was in WH Smiths at Manchester airport and the staff wouldn't let him use their toilet
· A man rang 999 and said that he had asked the shop assistant at the pizza shop not to put mushrooms on his pizza and he had put mushrooms on it
· A woman called 999 to say that she was unable to get through to Strictly Come Dancing to vote for Tom Chambers in the final
· A man rang 999 to ask what his mobile number was because he knew it would appear on the call handler’s computer screen

Linda Lusardi, a former Emmerdale actress, proves these calls aren't just from the medically authenticated mentally challenged but that they are also caused by plain STUPID people. She phoned 999 because she was late for her panto!! What sort of an idiot thinks being late for a panto qualifies as an emergency or as a reason to request use of the hard shoulder???

Remember, we must be ever vigilant for these sorts of folks otherwise your grandchildren might end up sharing a few stupid genes with them. Point them out now and make sure only the equally idiotic would ever mate with these wastes of space.

Police State Britain

I'm no fan of Damian Green. He is a Tory MP neighbouring my home constituency where I was an active Lib Dem supporter. 

And when he was arrested I was not too concerned. I still retain residule trust in the goodness of the police. 

But the latest news that the Prime Minister had no idea of an MP is disturbing. Either he is lying, which would be bad, or the Met Police think nothing of moving against elected members of Parliament without even consulting the leaders of our country, which is truly worrying.

It would seem the Speaker was informed but not the man who is currently in charge.

Madness.

The Next Big Election

On June 4th 2009 there will be an election to a body that represents 515 000 000 people. No it's not another drawn out US Presidential Election campaign. This one, especially in this country, will be quiet and reserved because it is of course nearly time for the elections for the European Parliament. 

The last election had a turn out of 37.6% in the United Kingdom, a figure that should disgust both European Unionist (federalists is such an American word, let's try and use more British words) and Eurosceptics alike. 

The European Union is a grand project that needs a good kick up the backside. The Union right now is not a marriage of love but one of convenience and it's time someone changed this. Where are the visionaries screaming for a democratic revolution within the EU, where is the EU's Barack Obama to stir up feelings of hope and a sense of a future with purpose. 

Here in the UK the EU elections are often a boon for the smaller parties. The Tories do well usually and it'd be nice to give that populalist toff David Cameron a bloody nose with a surprisingly poor showing in June. Labour could also do with a swift kicking but we must all be wary of the rise of UKIP and, worse, the BNP. Perhaps it is time for some vote swapping between regions between Greens, Lib Dems and Labourites in an attempt to ensure the Tories, UKIP and the BNP do not make gains and perhaps suffer some reverses in their fortunes. Certainly keeping the BNP out of Europe should be a goal we all desire. 

I have always voted Green at the EU elections but may well switch my vote to Lib Dem this year (especially as I'm no longer in Dr Caroline Luca's constituency, as she was my number one reason to vote for a Green MEP) to help shore up the vote here in London against encroachment from the right wing. 

And liberals and libertarians, whatever their feelings on the EU, need to help get out the vote so we get the right people into the EU parliament to ensure the British contingent is there to reform and fight for greater democracy. I'll do my bit, door knocking here I come!

Sidenote: Why do we refer to UKIP (the United Kingdom Independence Party) as just UKIP but the BNP (the British National Party) is always THE BNP. Hmm... 

Further Reading 

The United States of Europe (Federal Trust) by Guy Verhofstadt

The Great Deception: Can the European Union Survive? by Christopher Booker and Richard North

Whats Wrong with the Europe Union and How to Fix it by Simon Hix

Escorts And Cocaine

You know I'm a libertarian. If you want to go snorting cocaine like an idiot or PAYING for sex (I'm no adonis but paying for sex is something I've never had to do, honestly gay men are easy!) then who am I to tell you not to?

But things like Boy George's latest controversy really annoy me. All that drama, it's all very... gay. Reminds me of the unfortunately deceased Peter from my old work who seemed to thrive on the "drama" of his life (p.s. his boyfriend was a lawyer by day, a cocaine addict by night... nice) Personally I hate all that rubbish... drugs, escorts, sleaziness are all big turn offs for me. Give me the understated, shy good boy every time. Wholesomeness is so attractive.

Maybe I should start the gay men against drama group? ;)

Families... With Benefits

There's been quite a flap this week about a change to the benefits system which will mean that lone parents of children over 12 will have to go onto Jobseekers Allowance and start looking for work. Personally I can't think of anything more sensible.

My Grandad left my Nan when my Mum was about 12, meaning Nan had three kids above 12 and two below and had to fend for herself in those days before child support was considered a right. She held down several jobs whilst bringing up her five kids who all turned out to be very special and gifted in their own ways despite the fact their Mum went to work to keep them in food.

My Mum fell pregnant with me when she was 15. I was born not long after she'd finished her O-Levels (GSCE's for us youngsters) and she could probably have gotten away with moping around and being unemployed. This was the eighties and times were tough especially in our home town. But she didn't. My Nan, as you might understand from the story above, was very poor and so my Mum had to get a job. But she didn't just do that. She put herself through college. No special education grants, no money from the family, she just worked her socks off. I remember nursery, I had a great time. And my Mum, a teenage mother from a large working class, lone parent family, has two degrees and a job as a company director. Sometimes I worry she works too hard because no matter how hard anyone tries she will always do the housework herself, even when others have already done it! That's all after she's been at work until late. Worst part was we once hired a cleaner... which just made Mum worse as she kept doing a thorough clean of the house the day before the cleaner arrived so the cleaner didn't think we were dirty. Mothers. Who'd have 'em??

So when I see or hear people saying things like "I can't work, my children will suffer" or "I am contributing to society, my children will be taxpayers so it's fine for me to just continue to claim benefits" my blood begins to boil. If my Nan and my Mum could bring up children and work their hearts out (during a period of incredibly high unemployment might I add) and still not have neglected me why on Earth can't these other people?? Benefits are there as a safety net, to protect those who can't work or have found themselves out of work for reasons beyond their control. They are there to support lone parents whilst their children are very young. But when your child is old enough to be allowed to walk to school on their own, then it's time to give up being just a mum and become instead something better; a working mum.

I laugh at some of the people's claims "I've been looking for work for 3 years and can't find any" (as a recent job seeker [who's never claimed jobseekers allowance!] I'd beg to take issue with a claim like that!) or, even better, "I just don't think companies are very parent friendly" (every big company I've ever worked for has been bending over backwards to offer flexible hours to mothers and fathers).

There are people out there who have extreme mental health issues, physical disabilities and really tough life situations. And then there are people who freely choose to have children and then to claim benefits who are causing the benefits given to those who truly need it to be so small an amount as to be almost ludicrous.

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR....

Gay Fascists

No I'm not talking about some prissy queens down the local gay bar who police the attire and attitude of any chicken or newbie who happens to troll inside. I'm talking about fascists, who happen to be gay.

Last month Jörg Haider died in a crash, allegedly as he drove away from a gay bar slightly inebriated. He was famous as a former leader of the Austrian Freedom Party and as a neo-Fascist. There's something that doesn't sit right with me that a man could be a member of a xenophobic organisation and who could controversially occasionally praise some of Nazi Germany's policies and yet be gay as well. Forgetting about the sheer morality of it, surely the fact his policies are watered down versions of the policies of a regime that incarcerated, tortured and murdered thousands of gay men would make you think "Hmm... as someone who likes a bit of that sort of thing maybe I don't want to get involved with that sort of organisation"?

But then you have the more difficult to label Pim Fortuyn of the Netherlands. He distanced himself from the far right but was a very virulent anti immigration campaigner before his untimely death (p.s. gay, xenophobic people seem to meet untimely deaths). How can someone who understands prejudice be prejudiced against others for something they can't control, such as the place of their birth? It's something that's always baffled me about homophobic members of ethnic minorities. I just want to shake them and scream "You are a person who others regard with hate simply because of the colour of your skin and you DARE judge me because of who I sleep with??"

Ernst Röhm, the biggie, a Nazi higher up and in charge of the infamous SA. What was he thinking? I mean really, what was he thinking? Sure he died before the Holocaust but still, really, the Nazi party?? Head of the heavies no less! The one's who helped beat up opponents. Nice.

Now sure, you can't connect homosexuality with an inclination towards fascism. There's way too many heterosexuals with blood on their hands for that. But it does confuse me.

When I was a teenager and denying my sexuality I allowed myself to embrace Christianity, the Conservative Party and a low level form of racism (the type found in the Sun or the Daily Mail). When I finally admitted my sexuality I realised what an utter arsehole I was being embracing things that were based on hatred. I know, it took a big dose of "Oh God now I'm the one being hated" to finally knock some sense into me, but at least I got the good sense to change my beliefs and that is one of the reasons I love being gay. In fact during my descent out of religion I even conceived that maybe God maybe me gay just to teach me humility and respect for others whoever they might be. So I just don't understand gay men being such haters... but I see it all the time. My first boyfriend Stephen hated people of different races and I remember once breaking off a date after my date revealed his deep hatred of black people and an undeclared love for Margaret Thatcher.

You just have to accept that everyone is a jerk in one way or another...

The Buran

That failed Soviet space program has always been to me the full stop at the end of an era... the end of the Soviet empire and the end of true space exploration advancement. Hopefully one day the space agencies will once again dream big...

Don't Gloat Over The BNP Membership List Being Published

That would be mean and cruel. Everyone deserves the right to privacy even if it is very amusing to see so called "British Lions" terrified at the idea of people finding out what political party they belong too. Certainly showing the sort of bravery I'd expect of spineless racist scum.

Let us instead gloat on a little titbit that the gormless traitor Nick Griffin has revealed:

In a statement on the party's website, Mr Griffin said he had lodged a complaint with Dyfed-Powys Police on the grounds that the publication breached human rights and data protection laws.

He told the BBC's the party would be using the Human Rights Act to try to protect the identities of its members, despite the BNP being against the European legislation.

Is that not the most amusing piece of hypocrisy?? A party whose raison-d'etre is to remove human rights from others not like them is using their least liked piece of legislation to protect it's own members.

Racists, and those with a limited understanding of the concept of British citizenship (something I'm sure you're well aware I believe should not be based on nationality or ethnicity), are traitors whose efforts are in direct opposition to the efforts of our country during the war to fight the Nazis and ensure we did not fall into, as Winston Churchill called it, "the abyss of a new Dark Age". That is what they would represent to our country... a new Dark age, and we must thus ensure we do not sit back and allow their hypocrisy and their cowardice to go unremarked upon.

As a Brit who stands removed from both nationalism and racism, there is little I despise more than the British National Party

Somalia

Somalia, a failed state. With all the hoopla over the latest string of pirate attacks off the coast of Somalia it is easy to forget that Somalia is the embarrassment of international diplomacy. After the civil war of the early nineties and the infamous failure of the UN Peacekeeping mission, Somalia was abandoned by the civilised world and the Somalis left to fend for themselves in a country without the rule of law.

Now we see what that means... piracy upon ships in the area, murder and injustice on land, and constant never ending instability. We have women being publicly executed for being raped. Sorry... when I say executed I mean being buried up to her neck and then stoned in front of a large crowd. When some tried to rescue her a boy in the crowd was shot. Somalia sounds more like something out of the ancient world than a 21st Century nation.

Somalia is the type of country which needs our help and the intervention of the world. But sadly, thanks to the Coalition of the Willing, events in Iraq have rendered the possibility of such intervention to be a distant dream. Another positive outcome of unilateral action! George W. Bush and Tony Blair deserve our scorn for the world they have bequeathed us.

Our thoughts should not just be with those held hostage by the Somali pirates, but also with those held hostage in the country of their birth unable to escape the nightmare. A country where fear and violence rule and the weak are unprotected. There is, sadly, little hope for them unlike the foreign crewmen being held.

Euthanasia

As a libertarian and someone who has, in some dark teenage moments, attempted suicide I have a lot of sympathy for those who wish to end their lives in dignity. But I also now find the concept disgusting. I would never ask for a law to ban the practice but I'd certainly counsel friends against it.

The current article on the BBC News Magazine site is deeply touching; a letter from a disabled lady to a disabled man who is contemplating taking his own life.

Take a read and share your thoughts.

Happy Birthday Your Royal Highness

Yesterday His Royal Highness The Prince Of Wales, Prince Charles to you and me, turned 60. I have to say his latest official portrait makes him look particularly regal reminding us that one day, not too soon I hope for the sake of Her Majesty The Queen, he will be our King!

The Stupid IT BURNS!!!!!!!!!

Thanks to Burbia

Every Religion Founded On Compassion???

How naive is Karen Armstrong at the Guardian? 

Christianity was not founded on compassion it was founded on the violent, hateful Old Testament and created by those seeking to wield greater power during the embryonic years of the Roman Empire. It just happens to have, in between these two things, a glimmer of niceness in the form of the Gospels which sadly Christians don't bother with too much. Sodom and Gomorrah for instance... all these people going on about how those evil sodomites were wanting to rape some angels but does anyone even stop to think what a bastard Lot was for offering his own daughters to those degenerates?? Doesn't that make you think "God sure kept some strange company"??? If God hung around with Lot, a man willing to let his daughters get raped, then I'd say he's not the sort of deity I'd like to be associated with. 

Those who propound that religion is usually a force for good are not being honest. Religion can be a force for good only when there are good people involved in it, and they can be a force for good without the religion thus rendering the religious input to be null. 

Religions are founded on fear. Fear of the afterlife and what might happen to you. It's a primal fear, to be scared of death and the unknown. And it's one the religious prey on time and again. "Do this or you'll go to Hell". What sort of compassion is that? 

Don't worry Jesus died for our salvation!

Mmm... lovely. My salvation is based on the pain and suffering of another. What compassion!! God must be a truly nice guy. And what sin did Jesus come to erase? Original sin. Committed by Adam and Eve. Who didn't exist. So either Jesus was not the Son of God or God made him die FOR NO REASON. 

And even if we accept him as the Son of God surely true compassion would make a Christian pray the following "Look Lord, thanks for letting Jesus die to save me, but really I'd prefer not to have my salvation at the cost of another's life. So why don't you let him not suffer on the cross and allow him to live a normal life in first century Judea and I'll take my chances, thanks all the same." Isn't that the nice, right thing for a Christian to do? Instead they selfishly carp on about their salvation based upon the blood of another. SICK. 

Why, then, do we hear so little about compassion from the religious? Because whether they are religious or secular, people often prefer to be right rather than compassionate. Certainly the religious traditions have a deeply intransigent strain. But we have a choice. We can either emphasise this intolerance, as extremists and fundamentalists do, or we can make a concerted effort to make the compassionate voice of religion audible in our troubled world.

Do we need God and/or religion to be compassionate? Of course not. That is why we hope that atheists and agnostics, instead of berating religion (a policy that, as history shows, tends to make religious movements more extreme), will also sign up to the charter, working alongside the religious for a more compassionate world.

We hear so little about compassion from the religious because the religious don't care about others. They are in it for their own salvation and willing not only to believe lies but to pass them on simply to keep themselves out of "Hell". Religion is a selfish and destructive pursuit.  

And God darn those atheistic being all truthful and pointing out the religious lies. Who needs honesty when we can all just lie to each other and pretend to get on all in the name of a "compassion" based on false premises. 

It's Not The Criminals! It's the council's fault!

Yeah... that's the media's current bias. There have been numerous tragic cases of child abuse across the country over the last few millenia years, but instead of blaming the parents the current tack seems to be blaming the "failures" of councils and authorities to protect these children.

Sorry guys, but these council, and other services, staff members are paid abysmally, suffer huge workloads and are human beings. They are not in a position to protect every at risk child, let alone all the other at risk people out there. Sometimes I wonder about people... do the people who work in at the newspapers and in the other media not realise just how many case files are open at any one point on anti-social behaviour, child abuse, drug abuse, domestic violence, homelessness etc etc etc. Hundreds of thousands? More than likely. How many people are in care, or in need or care? Millions? Probably not, but also probably not far off. These folks and these cases are hidden and ignored until the media decides he wants to scapegoat some folks.

Where is the outrage about the fact that people in this country are so focussed on their own selfish existences that they don't even give a damn for the unfortunates unless they happen to be dead children? Isn't that the truly disturbing thing? Right now, think about the people living in your street. Have you checked up on them today? Have you spent any time wondering about whether the children next door are safe? No... then you have no right to criticise those who are desperately, and valiantly, trying to balance budgets, workloads and "complicated client relationships" (the insane, the violent and the irritating) whilst also trying to watch out for those in need.

Until we give care, social housing and support services the powers and money they need we shall continue to suffer the same problems over and over.

Now if you want somebody to blame let's trying blaming the people responsible for the deaths of these children... most of whom strangely enough also were the ones with the true responsibility of care; their parents. As a colleague said earlier... lock them up and throw away the key.

"British 'is as offensive as negro'"

An organisation headed by Ron Davies has put out a leaflet warning people to be careful using the term "British" in case it offends some and suggests referring to people in that annoying American style as "British Asians". I'm not "White British", it offends me when organisations suggest I am, and I'd hope those of other races would also be offended by being "separate but equal" in this weird way of classification. I'm just British so I say the following:

Fuck you Ron Davies. We always knew you were a self hating bastard. After you were caught cruising for sex in public, you failed to defend yourself and your freedoms and instead belittled those of us who believe in freedom and LIED to the police about what you were up to.

Now he "warns that 'the idea of British implies a false sense of unity'." NO! It aspires to a sense of unity. I'm sorry if aspiration to something better than sectarian, nationalistic rhetoric is something that offends you. But then as you are already known to lie to police officers I'm hardly surprised that you'd also be in favour of spreading disunity among the peoples of this island.

Some of us believe in a future of continued peaceful coexistence of the many peoples of our islands. Others dream of hiding in darkness with those who are like them, scared to come out into the Sun. I know which is the future I desire.

Car Bombed Loves "England"

You can come to this country, you can use bombs to terrorise it's citizens (hey, a few of our citizens by birth have done that for decades, it's practically a British tradition) but if you're going to do that don't call this country "England"!!!!!!!

If you're going to try and kill us, at least have the decency to remember what country you are in; the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Not frigging "England".

Hmph.

Rant over.

Homophobia

I really wish I could have a conversation with one of those people who wish to deny me my rights. So many hide here on the internet or when I do meet them in my daily life pretend they like me and then, stupidly, whisper behind my back as if somehow that wouldn't get back to me (they never seem to imagine that the people they are talking to not only disagree with them but are in fact my friends...). Are they scared I might beat them up?

I remember once just after Kallie started at my old job. She's Canadian and one of the nicest people around, and she was sat next to another new girl (whose name I've wiped from my memory). The girl was a born again Christian from California. This girl turned to Kallie and started telling her the dos and don'ts of the office. Don't insult that guy over there, he's the founder of the company. Do take as much Diet Coke from the fridge as you want, it's free. Oh and be careful because Jason is a.... homosexual. Kallie of course, despite not really knowing me beyond the fact I'd trained her up, came up to me quickly as she was disturbed by the insinuation and told me she was pretty annoyed someone would assume she'd even care. I, of course, laughed it off but was surprised when later that day that same girl asked me to help her get home as she was a little confused (and she'd remain so every day of her time here) about London. So of course I did, thinking to myself all the time, as she chatted on about her wedding and her future blah blah blah, what a fucking hypocrite she was.

I often wonder what she was telling Kallie to be careful of. Was she scared I'd... steal Kallie's boyfriend? Worried I might molest her unborn children? WHAT COULD I POSSIBLY DO TO HARM KALLIE???

Name was Jackie. I knew I'd remember it... I wish I'd asked her at the time but I'm British and thus too polite to.

The Christians rail against homosexuality with arguments so well worn it's hardly worth retorting with the counter argument. Conservatives fight against gay marriage on the flimsiest of grounds as if two men marrying might have ANY affect on a sexually secure heterosexual.

Any homophobes out there who fancy a coffee and a chat? I don't bite, and I seriously just want to ask some questions, don't even want to debate. I just want to know what is going on in your heads... because I find it fascinating...

Religious Tolerance

Religion certainly does help bring people together doesn't?

Wonderful Christian fraternal love was shown in Israel as two different sects of monks had a brawl and desecrated a holy site.

In Kerala, India a Nun is sectioned because she might say some awkward things about her convent.

"Even though I am not a psychiatrist, I am certain after my conversation with her that she is a normal person. She said she was being harassed because she had written about certain undesirable events in a book which she wanted to publish. This was objected to by the convent authorities," said Sainaba.

Again in India a nun was raped during anti-Christian violence committed by kind hearted Hindu's. Inter-faith communication, wonderful thing.



Sure Richard Dawkins ain't perfect but that's the whole point...

For The Fallen - Laurence Binyon

With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,
England mourns for her dead across the sea.
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,
Fallen in the cause of the free.

Solemn the drums thrill: Death august and royal
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres.
There is music in the midst of desolation
And a glory that shines upon our tears.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;
They sit no more at familiar tables at home;
They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;
They sleep beyond England's foam.

But where our desires are and our hopes profound,
Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,
To the innermost heart of their own land they are known
As the stars are known to the Night;

As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain,
As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end, they remain.

Politics And Race

Barack Obama is the President-Elect of the United States of America and all it right with the world. Except of course it isn't.

I was increasingly disturbed by all the harping on in the media about Obama being the first black President. They seemed to be making out that this was the end of all the silly racism. Bless them for their optimism but the world is the same today as it was the day before the election; there's just a little more hope around. And some of the crap the journalists were spewing was too stupid for words:

"America voted and realised, almost as an exhilarating afterthought, that it had become colour-blind." The Times

If they realised they were being colour-blind then they are not truly colour-blind are they? What a silly statement.

Or those people excited by Obama being black were totally overcome with excitement at the world being "post racial" now too. It can't be both, you can't be excited to have Obama as President because he's black and be post racial. It's a contradiction.

I respect the achievement of Barack Obama of reaching the top in a country with such a racist past as America has. But I don't respect those who focus so much on his race and then claim to be post-racial.

Personally I'm more excited about the following facts:

1) Barack Obama is not Dubya
2) Barack Obama is the first professor President since Woodrow Wilson. Yay for academics in power!
3) Barack Obama has an oratory gift unlike a certain 43rd President of the USA I know...

Over here in Blighty we are being asked "Could we have a black PM?" to which the answer is of course "Yes." But somehow people have managed to fill page after page of newsprint about the subject... as if somehow Britain NEEDS a black Prime Minister and SOON because otherwise we just aren't cool. Needless to say my view on this is: We don't need a white PM, nor a black one, nor do we require a female or a gay or a disabled PM. We need a good one, a decent one, a human one, an intelligent one. We should never judge those running for power on what they are but on who they are.

And finally one of my least favourite men in the country, Trevor Phillips, who seems to lack any of the talent of any member of the American Civil Rights movement. He says Britain's political system is "institutionally racist". For my non-British readers "institutional racism" is a buzz phrase here in Britain which describes racist organisations composed of people who may not themselves be racist. Yes people, organisations have feelings and prejudices too!! He goes on to bemoan the Labour parties lack of ethnic minority candidates (as if Labour should choose people based on their race for office). But he doesn't mind those progressive forward thinkers that live in the Conservative Party:

Mr Phillips said he believed the Conservatives had performed better than Labour in increasing the number of black and Asian parliamentary candidates.
"[The Conservatives] are less democratic. They are happier to impose candidates on the local parties."

Brilliant! Get rid of all that democracy and let's have some good old fashioned benevolent dictatorship. He goes on to say he doesn't favour imposing candidates which sort of makes the whole point of his interview pointless and obviously it's just an attempt to get his voice heard in the wake of Barack Obama's success. A pigmy standing on the shoulders of giants...

God Bless America: Hope Has Returned... unless you're a gay Californian

When I was younger I used to dream of moving to America, I even went so far as to write to the embassy when I was 12 years old to enquire as to how I might get citizenship.

America had always been to me a land of freedom, justice and promise. Maybe that was just wishful thinking brought about because I grew up during the Clinton years when the world was a little more peaceful than it had been before and has been since.

Then George W Bush got in, and I personally felt like he had stolen MY America. The beacon of hope was extinguished and I began to realise that behind the thin veneer of freedom there lay a dark heart in America filled with fear, ignorance and hatred. I began to thank my lucky stars that my direct ancestors had resisted the urge, unlike many in my family, to immigrate in the 19th century. Even my ever growing group of American friends, who I love dearly, didn't dissuade me from believing that most of their countrymen had taken leave of their senses.

With the election of Barack Obama, I realise I was being too cynical. That every country has it's dark side but that the American people were not all raving mad, fundamentalist Christians or, worse still, stupid. That in fact most are sensible, hard working people who still have, perhaps unlike me, hope in the future and joy in their hearts. My beloved America is back. I like being shown how wrong I was to ever doubt our American cousins.

The President is soon to retire, may the next one rule for at least 4 years!

(The Queen is dead! Long live the King! is snappier...)

Although I'm saddened to see Proposition 8 has been passed in California. Heterosexuals, when will you learn you have no right to deny us our freedoms. When will our Rosa Parks arrive? Will we have to wait another 50 years before there's a chance a gay man might become a President?

thelondonpaper, showing excellent journalistic thoroughness (obviously far more than any other news outlet in the world) called the Dakotas for Obama today. Well either that or they made yet enough stupid mistake when drawing the map. One of the two...

Come on Obama!!

After seeing 4 people wearing Barack Obama t shirts in Hammersmith and reading so many good things about Obama's chances today, it is still worth remembering what progressive, forward thinking Americans are up against:

From the BBC: The BBC's Philippa Thomas in Columbus, Ohio, says: In the affluent suburb of Grandview, I spoke to two different grandmothers with two different views. The Democrat said she hadn't voted for years, but that this was different - this was a day to make history. Her friend had phoned her up bright and early and told her: "Get down there now, don't even stop to finish your face!" The Republican lady said to me very emphatically: "I'm here to save this country." She wanted to tell me: "Mr Obama is associated with terrorists. He's not for America." Her husband looked somewhat worried at the turn of phrase and moved towards us - she said: "I don't care. It's the truth!" Would he like to make any comment, I asked. He just smiled and said: "I think she's said it all!"

He is associated with terrorists???? No dear, that's George Washington you're thinking about there... He's not for America??? Of course not, he obviously hates America so much he's put his life on the line to take up one of the world's more dangerous occupations: President of the United States (3 assassinations out of 44 Presidents is a fairly high amount [and one of those Presidents was counted twice...])

From FSTDT: Barack Obama will win by a landslide.

America will lose its national soverignty and become part of the North American Union.

The dollar will be phased out and the Amero will be phased in.

Because of the sinking value of the dollar and the stock market collapse (both of which are being engineered on purpose by the banking elite), the population will embrace the above with open arms.

Obama, considering himself a citizen of the world rather than of the US, with all of his "change the world" rhetoric, will make huge strides towards aglobal government, giving the UN the ability to tax and govern.

There will be a global UN tax on carbon emmissions, even though global warming is a proven scam.

Scientists who dissent against the global warming dogma will be censored, just as scientists who dissent against the evolution dogma are.

It will be illegal to preach against sodomy, effectively making it illegal to be a true Christian.

Godless global socialism will rule the world.

Jesus will come back and yell "surprise" and throw everyone into Hell.

It's a mostly sad story but at least we know it has a happy ending.

Aww.... I can't wait for 4 years time when we can all go "LIAR LIAR PANTS ON FIRE". I really, really can't believe the rubbish these fundamentalist Christians spout out of their potty mouths. They obviously ignore the teachings of the Gospels and just go by all the nasty stuff preached before and after Jesus... CHRISTians. Clue in the name there guys, love thy neighbour, turn the other cheek, etc etc... But no they ignore all that because their hearts are filled with hate and fear and they can't bear to bring themselves to practice what they preach.

Another Fundie: To all those who name the name of Christ who plan to willfully disobey Him by voting for Obama, take warning. Not only is our nation in grave danger, according to the Word of God, so are you ... his election is not about race. It's not about the economy. It's about obeying God.

...

Be forewarned: If you willfully disobey God on life and marriage because of race or false hope for the economy, you will usher in the kind of change that brought the Soviet Union to collapse.

But the warning goes far beyond that. To those who think that God's grace gives them license to willfully disobey Him without consequences – think again:

Not everyone who says to Me, "Lord, Lord," shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?" And then I will declare to them, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!" (Matthew 7:21-23)

That deals with your eternity.

Erm... if the entire chapter 7 is read it clearly shows this is a tirade against false preachers (Hi there Mr Fundie, he's talking about YOU!) and follows on from one of Jesus' most famous teaching:

1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

I'm not a Christian, but sometimes Jesus says some rather intelligent things.

This Blog Goes For: Barack Obama

*These are the ramblings of an interested Brit, who has no influence over the American election. My interest in the election stems from my love of America, so please do not be offended if you think I'm talking out of turn*

At the start of the campaign I'm going to admit; I was torn. I was a Hilary supporter originally, feeling she would make an excellent President, and thus was disappointed when Obama won the nomination. I felt that McCain offered the chance of a real change from the current GOP policy, thanks mainly to his previous conciliatory cross-partisan activities.

However Obama has shown himself to be a skilled orator, worthy of a position among the great American orators of history, which McCain has sold out his moderate, sensible principles and brought a VP candidate onto his ticket who represents the worst of America; the greed, the ignorance and the meanness that has been the calling card of the last 8 years of a Republican administration.

So I am looking forward to the distinct possibility of seeing Barack Obama take the Presidency and return America back to it's pre-Bush peace and prosperity.

However my support is lukewarm. Barack Obama has always struck me as someone who is too willing to cosy up to religious figures with questionable morals and his lukewarm support of gay rights disturbs me too. Just see the quote below.

"Giving them a set of basic rights would allow them to experience their relationship and live their lives in a way that doesn't cause discrimination," Obama said. "I think it is the right balance to strike in this society."

What's wrong with that? "Basic rights". Oh, because we are attracted to people of the same sex we don't get full rights but we should all be pleased that our heterosexual overlords deem us worthy of at least basic rights. It's condescending. The LGBT folks of America are born with full rights, and it is the homophobic Government that have removed those rights to live as they wish. Don't pretend that when gay people gain rights they are somehow getting them. They are not. They are finally taking them back after years of having them denied. It's subtle difference, but it's also an important one.*

*My views on marriage are a little more complicated. I'm a libertarian and believe Governments have no rights to decide what is and is not a marriage. Nor should they offer special rights or privileges to couples or those who are married. That is social engineering. So I stand aside from the gay marriage debate and await the more correct "marriage debate" calling for freedom for heterosexuals from Government intrusion as well as the LGBT community.

But anyway I got sidetracked.. go Obama!!!!!!!!!

Should Stupid People Be Allowed To Vote???

Well of course they should, but please God have mercy on us when we have ill informed bozos voting like the one from this article

At a local restaurant a friendly waitress started chatting to us. The conversation turned to politics.

She shrugged, she was not even sure when the election was to be held, she could not pronounce Mr Obama's name.

"I like McCain because I can say his name, so I'll probably vote for McCain."

She was not well informed, but her views were clear.

"He's from Africa or something. I don't even know where he's from. I know he grew up here, but he's not from here. I think American presidents should be from America."

Have an opinion, but don't make stuff up!! Can't pronounce his name???? OBAMA. It's not hard... it's easier than Roosevelt or Eisenhower in my opinion, even if they aren't exactly linguistically challenging.

And he's from Africa???? LIES!

I don't mind people being racist or homophobic, as long as they are honest and upfront about it so others can rightly mock them. When they are just moronic or too cowardly to be straightforward that's when I get furious.

Hmm....

... me thinks someone at the British Humanist Association sent the BBC a press release about their bendy bus anti-God campaign. To be honest I find it a disturbing development. Last year, when I first saw a Christian advert on a bus, I was greatly annoyed at the trivialisation of the subject. Now atheists have joined this silly, gimmicky fad.

I'm an atheist, Christians are the sorts of people who put up adverts... mainly because they are often after our money. Those without belief should not be following them in this pathetic, base attempt to appeal to those who probably don't have an interest in it either way. It's hardly going to make you think...

"There's probably no God". Oooo... insightful.

It's Not All Bad News

Here we are in the midst of an economic "crisis" the like of which hasn't been seen since... *insert attention grabbing date here*.

But it's not all bad news. As we slowly fall into the last few months of George Bush's second term we can all breath a sigh of relief as his administration doesn't just bow out quietly but implodes in upon itself as it feels the heat over the collapse of the US economy and the mountains of debt it has amassed.

Now he takes the ultimately hypocritical stance of calling for the nations of the world to avoid unilateral action in the face of the crisis. Please Mr Bush, you taught us all about unilateral action against the wishes of the world community!! It's how things are done now in the this near post-Bush world. Thanks Mr Bush.

And now it's confirmed in a unanimous bipartisan decision that Sarah Palin "abused her power by violating Alaska Statute 39.52.110 (a) of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act.."

I know I shouldn't be gleeful about such things but she is a loony creationist. I want to see her retire somewhere out of the way so someone intelligent might become Vice President...

I Can See Where He's Coming From...

... but I think Marcel Berlins may have written the most idiotic paragraph I've seen in a while. In his article today in the the Guardian's G2 section he bemoans the obsession of some who in total conservation. I agree with him, evolution and life itself are unrelenting adversaries and we must not hold on to all species just for the sake of it. He then, smartly, suggests instead our efforts should focus on those creatures dying out due to human stupidity and greed. However he then writes:

Many species at risk are very close to other species that are not at risk; the differences are so small that only the scientists have any interest in them. My main reason for doubting that all species are essential is that so many are completely unknown to us. Scientists have told us that they exist, and we may have caught a glimpse of a few of them on wildlife programmes, but they are otherwise never seen by us, and we know nothing about them. How many mammal species can you think of? Can the remainder be that important? Can their loss matter that much, to you or to the world? Of course we must fight hard to retain as many species as we can; but it isn't a tragedy if we lose quite a few along the way.

Just because an animal hasn't featured on some wildlife programme or you haven't heard of it, it doesn't mean that animal might not be IMPORTANT to the survival of many other species. I couldn't believe the stupidity of that statement, it's like those who argue for God's existence just because we haven't found the answer to everything yet. If we don't know how it works, God must of done it. That sort of thing. The argument from ignorance seems to be spreading...

Nazi Scum Alive And Well In United Kingdom

I feel that members of a church headed by Her Majesty should show a little more decorum and not display arrogant, Nazi-lite tendencies . A supposed man of God has suggested a solution to the homosexual question...

"Let us make it obligatory for homosexuals to have their backsides tattooed with the slogan SODOMY CAN SERIOUSLY DAMAGE YOUR HEALTH and their chins with FELLATIO KILLS."

I just trust he does not pray to the Lord with that potty mouth!

He's since deleted his blog posts which infuriates me even more!! If you are going to say such vile things (which do not sit well with such a Holy occupation, one would have thought he'd be a little less vulgar and a little more elegant) then at least have the balls to keep them up there when the heat gets turned on you by more decent people. Instead he is obviously a snivelling coward without any sort of love in his heart. Christians... who'd have 'em?

Speaking of vile creatures... we have the first ever Mr Gay UK who appears to have decided to kill his lover and attempt to eat him.

Opening the case for the prosecution, Andrew Stubbs QC told the jury that the two men had been involved in some kind of relationship in the past and that Mr Morley was troubled by his sexuality.

Oh boo hoo... I don't like being attracted to men so let me go and kill one. Murder is horrifying on it's own but attempting to make up such feeble excuses as "I was feeling depressed" to explain it away is unforgivable. I hope his next lover is Dennis Nilsen.

P.S. check out Stephen Fry's last podgram which bemoans the way people who write blogs feel superior enough to think anyone gives a damn about their rants... it's soooo true, as this post suggests. Then he has a little rant himself. Priceless, I love Stephen Fry!

Prescott Caught Giving The Nationlists The Finger (or two?)

According to this news report that is....

You know what I think... John Prescott's train is pulling into platform number 2 (check the video if you think I'm making that up!), he appears to be staring off to the left (completely ignoring the SNP activists) perhaps double checking his platform number with someone off in that direction. No one gives the two finger salute backwards... it doesn't make sense! That's him either doing a victory sign to an imaginary audience or signalling the number 2.

The SNP are just trying to score political points.

Holocaust Deniers: What To Do?

I've been to Holocaust memorials and I've listened to victims given speeches at special events I've attended with school. It seems ludicrous to question the Holocaust. And for those of us who believe it happened, it seems almost criminal to suggest that the suffering of millions of people did not occur.

But there are those who deny that the Holocaust was quite so bad or deny it happened at all. One such person has just landed in the United Kingdom. Germany, a partner country of ours within the European Union, has called for him to be extradited to them.

I fully understand the reason why Holocaust denial is one of the many things proscribed in Germany. Of all the places in the world they have the most reason to dislike apologists of the Nazi regime. But we live in a free country and people should be able to believe and speak about whatever they like. We have to refute them openly and not use the police to force them to be silent. Dr Gerald Toben is a vile man, but he has the right to be. So I hope we do not extradite him to Germany to face charges for Holocaust denial, and instead we politely ask him to get on a plane and leave as he is not a citizen of this country and we already have our quota of arseholes and bastards and we don't need any more, thank you very much.

In his court appearance earlier this week, Dr Toben, 64, claimed he was the victim of a "legal ambush" and promised never to return to Britain if he was allowed to leave.

And good riddances.

P.S. if he is not extradited if anyone wants to arrange a group meeting at his departure airport where we can fling insults at him I'd be happy to attend.

Public Suicide

An unfortunate student took his life, whilst onlookers urged him to jump. It's not the first such story I've heard like this, and it makes me so angry. Those who urged him to jump are the sort of people I was talking about the other day. The sort of people who need to be dealt with. They ruin others lives, for their own personal amusement. They are sick and I'm only sorry I don't believe in Hell as those are the sort of people who deserve to spend eternity in it.

My heart goes out to the friends and family of the deceased student and to those who tried to persuade him to live.

Don't Vote!!

I'll never understand people who don't vote. It's so much fun. Doesn't it make you feel great, sure my party never wins but at least I know I did the right thing and them never winning means I can always point fingers at others and go ner ner na ner ner I didn't vote for this Government!! HA! In your face!

See... voting... it's a positive thing!

Still Think Children Are Lovely?

What a little monster! I bet he doesn't even get a slap on the wrist. Brutal bastard.

Nationalism Continues It's Surge

After the First World War the simmering European nationalist movements, some of whom were part of the causes of that catastrophic conflict, finally began to break up the mammoth continental empires. The shock of the Second World War and the interests of both sides during the Cold War ensured nationalism was made subservient to the interests of the superpowers. But after the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the joining of the two Germany's, nationalism has begun to spread once more throughout Europe and touching places it had long been dormant. Belgium has been in the grip of one such surge of nationalism and the subsequent bitterness for many months. Just read this article for a profile on the Flanders region to see what I mean.

The same bitter recriminations reverberate around our great country right now as the English, Scottish, Welsh, Northern Irish and every other "nation" who calls our islands home begin a slow descent towards separation.

In some of their eagerness to spread their negative politics some of nationalism's favourite politicians are starting to make some decisions which go against the best interests of those they claim to represent.

Alex Salmond has, for the last two years, been building ties to some rather dodgy Islamic groups and starting the introduction of state funded religious schools up there in Britain's northern reaches. Read this rather excellent blog post for more. Needless to say this is a bad idea both for Muslims in general, who should not be expected to simply support the organisations Alex Salmond deems to represent them, and for the need to try to avoid creating ever more sectarian divides by labeling everyone by the religion of their parents.

When will people wake up that nationalism is the politics of the past, a symptom of the dark side of the human mind which likes to judge people not for their own individual qualities but simply for the place of their birth or even who they were born to.

This country needs a unifying leader, someone who can offer hope and show the benefits of our Union. We need some one with vision, who can bring about real advancements in our society rather than just keeping the status quo ticking over.

Fingers crossed we last until such a leader appears.

Tory Warning On Multiculturalism

"Blah blah blah hidden racist wording blah blah blah Christianity is GREAT blah blah blah"

At least that's what I read.

The problem in this country is not multiculturalism. It's not Muslim extremists. What, 50 people killed in the last ten years by Muslim extremists in this country? Big deal when compared to the amount of people killed by yobs, racists and the stupid.

The problem in this country is petty crime, it's about people being selfish and not caring about others around them. It's about the lack of community caused by the selfish middle class values brought in by Margaret Thatcher and the like. It's about greed.

Let's stop pretending multiculturalism is the problem and start saying that it's BAD PEOPLE who are the problem.

The Tories never seem to do what I'd love them to do; stop picking up on IDEAS they don't like and start picking up on the problem people in this society that are causing the problems be they Muslim or Christian or atheist or Pastafarians. They care all about the abstract, about "marriage being the bedrock of society" and about "values". But they never seem to realise it's not abstract ideas or social engineering that will change this country. It's the punishment, removal and rehabilitation of the scum who are making life a misery. The petty lawbreakers, the people who think that getting away with a speeding ticket is something to be proud of. These people are the antithesis of Britishness and need to be stopped. Their attitude feeds down into a general fuck you attitude towards good manners and respect for Government.

We need to stop putting up with the idiots in this country.

Man Attempts To Cross English Channel With Super Cool Jetpack!

Looking somewhat like Buzz Lightyear, Yves Rossy is going to attempt to cross the English Channel using a jet pack.

How cool is that, check out the video... brilliant!

People have swam across the channel, flown across it using only human power and even "driven" across it in an amphibious vechile (Richard Branson was faster but the Top Gear team were coolest... see video here) But none have been quite as cool as this guy. Check out other Channel crossings here

EDIT: I watched this live, it was absolutely fantastic, video and more news can be found here on the BBC

Yuhangyuan In First Spacewalk

China's third manned space flight has blasted off with three crewmembers. 42-year-old fighter pilot Zhai Zhigang is to make Chinese history and perform the country's first spacewalk.

With interest in space waning in the USA and Russia, perhaps China is our best hope for bringing space exploration back to the forefront of popular science.

I used own books from the sixties with pictures of the moon bases we were going to have by 2000. I have been greatly disappointed. Hopefully China will correct this terrible loss of momentum and bring space travel into the 21st Century.

See, I can be positive about China when I want to be... ;)

The Krypton Factor Returns!!

Yes, Dear Constant Reader, you heard me correctly! ITV are bringing back the best game show in the history of game shows; the Krypton Factor.

Are we to be happy about this development? YES!!

Greenwich Park Olympic Controversy

My readers not in the south east London area may not have heard of the ongoing controversy over use of Greenwich Park for equestrian events at the 2012 Olympics so I though I'd link to an article about it. Please note linking to this article does not mean I no longer find Andrew Gilligan or the Evening Standard offensive. I do. I really do.

Link through the Greenwich Phantom, who is nowadays considered around these parts just as sacred and much loved as the park itself. The funny thing with that blog is that even people who don't have computers who I meet down the pub seem to have an opinion on it!

Ron Paul Endorses Constitution Party candidate Chuck Baldwin

This decision by Ron Paul makes a mockery of his claims to be a libertarian, small Government candidate.

He pretends to want to keep the Government's noses out of people's business but really with Ron Paul it's financial liberty only. The Constitution Party is a states rights party, and a very conservative one at that. That's not supporting true freedom, it's just an irrational hatred of the federal Government as opposed to sensible support of small Government across the board be it local, state or federal.

Ron Paul's dislike of personal freedom will fit well with his new Constitution Party buddies.

A Silver Lining

I can trace the beginnings of my strong dislike for the Blair Government back to the date that Ruth Kelly was appointed Secretary of State for Education and Skills. I@ve never liked her, and was gobsmacked when this devout Catholic was then put in charge of Equality!!

Thank God she has made the decision to step down. Perhaps now Gordon Brown might ensure a few less fundies in his Cabinet at the next reshuffle.

EU Cuts Roaming Mobile Charges

Well basically they have, they've decided made a decision to cut charges for those traveling across borders and using their mobiles but this still has a few more legal hoops to go through. It's not something I'm too comfortable with but cross-border mobile competition is not strong so it's doubtful the market would have corrected this issue on it's own without a little push.

But my reason for bringing this up is because whilst watching Working Lunch (not something I make a habit of, but it's party conference season and I'm waiting for Gordon Brown's speech) and they had a guy from the GSM Association (a mobile phone lobbying group) on who basically said that one of the reasons behind this was simply that the EU parliamentarians were often traveling across borders so they had an interest in lowering costs for mobile calls and this is why they put it through!!!

You know they haven't really got a good argument, or even a leg to stand on, when they start bringing out arguments like that.

Now I've just heard Alastair Campbell will be on the BBC conference coverage in a minute so I need to go grab a bucket, so I'll leave it there.

Don't Have Sex On A Railway!!

I know, that's the shocking new advice I'm giving out to all after the recent tragedy in South Africa, where two people were hit by a train after having sex on the railway AND being warned to move. Who would of thought it'd be dangerous to copulate there? These two were obviously highly intelligent and in no way would they be in the running for a Darwin Award.

Next week they will be telling us that having sex whilst driving is dangerous...

The End Result

I am endlessly fascinated (I think that's my phrase of the month) by the politics (and history) of the United States of America. The BBC has a great article on what would happen in a hung election. We all remember the 2000 election debacle, I pray, whichever way the election falls we get a more clear cut result this time.

On a similar note the Obama-Biden ticket is now the one I'm rooting for. I was sort of okay with McCain but Sarah Palin seems to be an unreformed cavewoman harking back to the Reagan Republicans and now, despite my own misgivings with Obama, I've got my fingers crossed for a Democratic victory.

Obama is not a new type of politician. He engaged in the usual political machinations. There's nothing exactly wrong with that but I think he's being built up to be something greater than he is. I found this BBC Documentary very enlightening and fair, showing that he's certainly ruffled some feathers in his time. Again I'm not saying that's a bad thing, some of his Democratic critics sound like they are just a little bit bitter and jealous of his success and are thus more than happy to throw some dirt at him.

Does Boris Know About The Isle Of Sheppey??

London Mayor Boris Johnson suggests putting an airport on an artificial island just off the Isle of Sheppey to take some of the traffic from Heathrow.

I hope he plans to build connections to it that don't cross the Isle of Sheppey as that is not a place you want visitors to our country to ever see. There are people on that island who have never left it!!! NEVER. *shudder*

Political Views All In The Mind - BBC

So says a new study which suggests those more sensitive to fear are more likely to be right wing and vice versa.

What about us moderates and libertarians, that's what I want to know! But I like the idea that secretly Hitler was a big old scaredy cat :D

Grumpy Of Greenwich

In case you hadn't noticed, Dear Constant Reader, I am currently between jobs. Some might say I'm an unemployed bum but hey I don't claim unemployment benefits so you can't really complain! :p

So what, I hear you cry, have I been doing with my time? Oh... well beyond starting up a whole new blog, I've also been feverishly answering questions over at Yahoo Answers under my new guise of "Moonlight" (from my new blog).

And why should I bring this up here on my commentary blog? Because the level of stupidity is rather high over there at Yahoo Answers and I may have to stop reading some of the questions and answers to avoid my head exploding.

Just check out a recent question I answered. I hate it when people talk about Her Majesty but don't seem to have a clue about 1) how much she actually costs compared to the possible costs of a President, 2) what she actually does and 3) what benefits she brings.

Don't get me wrong, I know the republican movement in this country is a little more intelligent than that and I don't have a problem with intelligent criticism of the Queen.

I just wish these stupid people would stop moaning about our country and our Queen. First they moan about how Muslim's are the ones who need to be more patriotic (when really I think the "English" need a lesson or two in being British) and then they don't even know who Gordon Brown is

Britain is great, it's just a shame about the people who live here...

I Just Got Told Off For Laughing Too Much

It's not my fault! spEak You're bRanes latest post is just too funny for words.

Mainstream Media Falling Behind New Media Again!

The BBC today can reveal the full details about how Sarah Palin's Yahoo email was hacked. That's a whole two days after Evolved and Rational put up the full version of events as stated on /b/. Surely any reporter working on an Anonymous hack would have checked out /b/ straight away??? Jesus, these guys are seriously losing it.

I was shocked that Evolved and Rational came out with this story before the BBC even mentioned the hack. I was doubly surprised when the first BBC stories did finally come out they had no mention of what actually happened straight away... that information was freely available and they kept stum. I hope this was an editorial decision to check sources rather than a complete oversight. But having read Flat Earth News I suspect that it is totally an oversight.

The BBC may have embraced the net, but I feel it's not quite embraced it firmly enough.

Geekfest

I've been totally geeking out in researching some articles for one of my other blogs and find myself getting excited at the mere mention of London Transport. I apologise, Dear Constant Reader, I shall attempt to get over this extremely geeky move.

In the meantime:

London Reconnections - A must for all Londoners who use public transport, you'll hear all the latest proposals first here.

London Underground History - Ever wondered what happened to all those disused stations? Wonder no longer!

Every has read Going Underground (if you haven't shame on you! It's brilliant!)... but have you read the Going Underground blog?

Always Touch Out - All your geeky new London transport projects can be found here.

OK guys, I'm taking off my anorak as we speak... I promise to attend some form of rehab and return only when I am fully recovered. ;)

"England" Most Densely Populated "Country" In Europe

See here

Well firstly we live on an island so it's hardly surprising!!

Secondly England is not a country. It is, at best, a nation. A country must have complete sovereignty over it's territory. England's territory is under the power of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and thus England is not a sovereign state, or country (and may I just say... thank the Lord, imagine the stupid things we'd get up to without the other nations keeping us in line).

If we are to have these silly little lists of "Most Populated Countries" can we ensure all participants are countries or we may as well call it "Most Populated Regions" in which case I bet England will not take the top spot as to be honest we have several distinct English regions. I'm pretty sure there will be some obscure part of Europe teeming with people knocking us off the top as well even if we went all in as one big nation.

Tomorrow's top news story "Banana is strangest shaped apple in world".

Crazy For Jesus?

I love the bit where he dismisses, sarcastically, the proposal that the LHC will create a blackhole then goes on to suggest it'll actually open up a Stargate for Satan.

Bi Montlhy Silly 999 Calls Story

I do so love the regular stories on stupid calls made to the 999 emergency number. Personally I think the operators should take down the names and addresses and then when these stories get publish, publish those details too so we can all have a good laugh mocking the stupidity of these idiots.

Let us see a few examples.

First up... an "amusing" lady informs the 999 operator that there's a squirrel WITHOUT A HAZELNUT TREE!!!



Then a hungry man in the West Country:




The truth is out there (click the link to hear it):

The Control Room conversation, which took place in May, was recorded - and below is a transcript:

Control Room: "South Wales Police, what's your emergency?"

Caller: "It's not really. I just need to inform you that across the mountain there's a bright stationary object."

Control room: "Right."

Caller: "If you've got a couple of minutes perhaps you could find out what it is? It's been there at least half an hour and it's still there."

Control: "It's been there for half an hour. Right. Is it actually on the mountain or in the sky?"

Caller: "It's in the air."

Control: "I will send someone up there now to check it out."

Caller: "OK."

The mystery was soon solved, as the exchange between control and an officer at the scene, makes clear.

Control: "Alpha Zulu 20, this object in the sky, did anyone have a look at it?"

Officer: "Yes, it's the moon. Over."

Thank stupid people of Britain, you remind me that I am not the dumbest person around.

Battle Of Britain Day

The gratitude of every home in our Island, in our Empire, and indeed throughout the world, except in the abodes of the guilty, goes out to the British airmen who, undaunted by odds, unwearied in their constant challenge and mortal danger, are turning the tide of the World War by their prowess and by their devotion. Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few. All hearts go out to the fighter pilots, whose brilliant actions we see with our own eyes day after day…

Today is the official day marking the Battle of Britain.

You can listen to or read Winston Churchill's speech "The Few" here, it's a tribute to the bravery of those who held back the Nazi war machine. Today is the day to remember all those who fought for the survival of our country, our Empire and the free people of Europe. The Brits, the Canadians, the Australians, the Kiwis, the Africans, the Czechslovaks, the Poles and all the rest.

Whether or not the Germans would ever have succeeded with Operation Sealion (our Navy would have probably pulverised their transports even if they had air superiority), the bravery, and sacrifice, of the pilots and their support crews over that summer of 1940 meant our relatives never had to face the grim prospect of Nazi troops landing en masse on the shores of the south and allowed us to fight another day.

My Nan was only very young at the time but my Great Aunt remembers the battle quite clearly. Being in Kent she was on the front line watching the Spitfires soar overhead ready to face the Luftwaffe. We were sitting in my parents garden together in June and a Spitfire flew low overhead, she very visibly reacted at that and for a second she seemed transported to another time and place. Her only comment was a quick "Oh, now that brings back memories."

Thankfully the bombs and the dogfights were the only bad memories she had, thanks to those who fought and died so that we can still be free.

Ann Widdecombe Meet The Tory Party!

So Tories have been handed a pack containing vouchers for a lap dancing club (the Rocket Club in Birmingham) near their conference venue. To be honest this sounds like a very Tory thing: supporting a local business, with beautiful women. Sex and business are Tory MPs main concerns last I checked (I mean we all remember Baroness Young, she was always thinking about sex although that was more man on man action than "up to 50 of the most beautiful girls from around the world").

But nobody told Ann Widdecombe this:

Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe, a former shadow home secretary, told the Sunday Express: "I can hardly believe this is true.

"I know the Conservative Party is supposed to be modernising but do we have to throw every value out of the window?

"Can you imagine what our old ladies are going to make of it if they turn up there by mistake?"

Two things:

1) Male Members of Parliament, especially Tory, are world reknowned for their love of gorgeous women. This is not modernising. It's keeping the status quo. Modernising would be not having these leaflets in there!
2) I love the idea of "innocent" old Conservative women turning up at a lap dancing club and encourage the distribution of such leaflets to them under the proviso cameras are set up there to capture their reactions for the world to see.

Honestly Ann, what party did you think you had been in all these years?? Your own backbenchers shouted "melons" when female MPs got up to speak!!

Labour's Barbara Follett - one of the 1997 intake and one of "Blair's Babes" - says it is not just verbal abuse the female MPs have had to deal with.

"Sometimes when women got up to speak, some of the men - not thankfully on our side of the House - would put their hands on their chests, wiggle them around and go 'melons'. It was like a school boy type of humour," she said.

Sharia Courts In Britain Operating Under The Arbitration Act 1996

There are many things I consider important in life. The ability to live and let live is one. If it doesn't negatively affect anyone else you should be free to live your life as you see fit. I also believe in the rule of law and that enforcement of the law should be done on equal and fair basis.

As a libertarian I believe it is also right that should you wish to resolve a civil dispute you should be able to do so through means other than a court of law. However I do not then believe you should be able to enforce any subsequent agreements through the court of law which you didn't go to originally.

And finally I believe you are free to believe in whatever you wish, but that the Government should be free of religious influence and the rule of law should be secular and if not blind to religion then at least neutral. Of course we are a long way off from that in this country (established religion et al) but we should not move further away from that principle.


The Arbitration Act has allowed Sharia courts to be set up in this country working as an alternative to the civil courts. I'm ok with that. What I am not happy with is that rulings made at those courts can be enforced by the civil courts! The courts work in the name of the people and should not be used to enforce religious rulings. I understand that other such courts (such as a Jewish version) operate here. I am completely opposed to all such courts, and I'm not picking on Islam.

We must operate under a one law for all system if the rule of law is to have any meaning whatsoever, otherwise what is to stop me from picking and choosing which court system I choose based on what I think would get me the best outcome? And what is to stop others from applying pressure on the vulnerable party in a dispute to force them to choose the system which will most benefit the opposing side???

Noel Edmonds Boycotts The TV Licence

Noel Edmonds, known for his presenting roles on Deal or No Deal and Are You Smarter Than A Ten Year Old?, is boycotting the TV licence. But it's not for the reason you might think.

In the UK television owners must pay a yearly fee which goes towards funding the BBC. The BBC offers us the chance to enjoy high quality radio, television and news without advertising and without commercial influence. Stephen Fry has a wonderful speech which says what I'd want to say on why the BBC, and thus the licence fee, is important but says it with more style, wit and intelligence than I ever could.

However many in this country sadly don't agree with such an enforced fee and often refuse to pay. This has lead to some rather dark and menacing adverts from the BBC threatening non payees.

Mr Edmonds has taken offense not with the fee itself, which he thinks is actually brilliant value, but with the tactics employed to enforce payments and the lack of positive encouragement such as highlighting the benefits of maintaining the BBC.

I do agree with him. It's time organisations in this country stopped stooping to the same level as the nasty people who exist all around us and instead inspired people to do the right thing. However the licensing authority has begun a consultation on collection and hopefully people will make it clear they expect a more positive approach in the future.

I suspect Noel Edmonds made this announcement only to get more publicity for his new television show, and refusing to pay the licence is hardly a positive move. Perhaps he might instead do what he preaches and rather than run a negative campaign against the licence fee collectors, he should run a positive campaign encouraging engagement with the consultation. Just a thought.

Foxes: Friend or Foe?

I'd like to comment on a post over at the London Word titled Seeing Red on London's Foxes.

I don't know about you but around where I live there are lots of foxes. Most times Jim and I return from a late session down the local a fox will run across our path and it's not unusual to hear a vixen screaming at odd hours of the morning. My downstairs neighbours often see them in the middle of night prowling through our garden and when the new rubbish collection system was introduced we worried that having foods in one bin would only cause the foxes to become overly enthusiastic about pushing the bins over (a worry we needn't have had!). So needless to say they make up a small part of our life here in the city.

Now Jo Lamiri brings up a good question: are we, as city folk, prepared to put up with the slight inconveniences (ensuring rubbish is thrown away securely and doors and windows are closed where necessary) foxes impose upon us? Should "nature" and "human civilisation" be mutually exclusive?

She suggests a cull might be in order to bring down fox numbers in the city. Personally I think that would not only be a telling testament against our own humanity but we would lose some of the precious few joys of life here in the city.

I've lived out in the countryside and I can tell you foxes are extremely shy. The only times I got to see them was either from a train (they just love the human free and rabbit rich zones around those train tracks!) or a chance encounter in my youth whilst out fishing or poaching. So I can not tell you how much I appreciate the opportunity to live so close to them here in London.

And it's not like foxes in the city are a new thing, it's just until recently the cities were so awfully disgusting that nature had decided to give us a wide berth. Now that things are becoming greener nature is increasingly returning and urban fox numbers are increasing.

The Greenwich Phantom has a lovely section on Greenwich Wildlife. What are pests and what are wonderful additions to our environment? Who decides? Should we make allowances for those creatures who add colour to our city and put up with the inconvenience? We're not talking about diseased rats here, I can see a practical reason to control their number. And we're not talking bears. We're talking about creatures who are not putting human life at risk and are at worst making some streets a little messy because somebody didn't secure their rubbish!

I would love more nature in the city. More places other creatures can live and thrive. The concrete, the tarmac, the endless pavements... wouldn't it be nice to have even more green oases to admire and enjoy? Sometimes in our eagerness to have a simple, convenient, sanitised life we can throw out the beautiful, the romantic and the interesting. Surely being human is the very antithesis of simplicity or convenience. After all this writing I think two quotes will sum up what I'm trying to say far more clearly than my poor writing skills could.

What humbugs we are, who pretend to live for Beauty, and never see the Dawn! ~Logan Pearsall Smith

Man's heart away from nature becomes hard. ~Standing Bear

Leave the foxes be, killing them just to have an easier life would be criminal.

Can You Explain This Palinism To Me?

So Sarah Palin has had her first VP candidate television interview... and one thing has left me slightly confused. Confused as to how any interviewer could let her get away with the following:

"Mrs Palin was also quizzed on previous comments she made describing the war in Iraq as being a "task from God".

She said she was quoting the words of Abraham Lincoln: "I would never presume to know God's will or to speak God's words.

"But what Abraham Lincoln had said... was let us not pray that God is on our side in a war or any other time, but let us pray that we are on God's side."

It seems obvious to me that saying something is a "task from God" is a lot different from hoping you're doing the right thing which I think is what President Lincoln was getting at. It also seems obvious to me that her staff realised this would be a problem and thought they'd find the most famous American war leader quoting something about God and war and hope that'd pass muster with the interviewer. Sadly they were correct.

America deserves better than Sarah Palin. I thought Hillary Clinton would have made an awesome President (I'm not really an Obama fan, he's too religious for my liking but way better than McCain) but I cannot for the life of me think why Clinton supporters would suddenly fall for Palin other than to think they are sexists who want a woman in office even if she is a fundamentalist, big Government Republican. I would have thought we'd be above voting for people based only on how they look and what sex they are. I hope that America proves me right.

Actress "Would Have Joined The IRA"

Rose McGowan managed to insult both the Irish Republican cause and the victims of the IRA in one interview. What a disgusting thing to say.

Give it ten years and you'll have her going "I would have joined Al Qaeda". Terrorism against civilians is always WRONG no matter the cause. Freedom should never be bought using the blood of the innocent. TO belittle those who have fought peacefully for a united Ireland and the victims of the IRA is indecent.

As a human being it made me sick to read that news story.

The Anniversary

Today is the 7th anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks. My experiences on the day are recorded here. I wouldn't mention it except I know there will be a lot of crazy conspiracy theories out there and I feel it's my duty to ensure there is a more rational perspective given on the matter.

I've written about my feelings on conspiracy theories here but I'll quote the important bits here:

I don’t think that conspiracy theorists make up the theories because they are liars or nuts (ok… some are nuts). I think they just labour under two particular major misunderstandings:

1) they are unable to accept the fact that small groups of people and individuals can have such a massive, malign influence on so many lives. People would find it easier to understand a grand conspiracy lead by George W. Bush to destroy the Twin Towers in order to start a new war, using all the technology and power at his disposal, than believe that 19 guys armed with small sharp objects and some luck on their side could cause such havoc. It’s sort of comforting isn’t it, to believe that there is some major Government involvement with a purpose, rather than think that your lives are so susceptible to other’s whims. It’s a very scary fact but one we, and the Government, needs to come to terms with.

2) They have too much faith in the power of their Governments. The image of a Government firmly in control, able to manipulate events with ease and secretly planning a New World Order is one used often in the media. But this ignores the fact that the Government is a group of human beings. Humans make many mistakes. There is no way, I repeat, NO WAY that secrets as large as a Government conspiracy on the scale something like September the 11th would require could be kept a secret for long. The amount of people required to perpetrate some of the theories espoused would be astronomical. And we are meant to believe these people are going to just keep quiet??? Never. Secrets only work in small groups and/or where the reasons behind the secret are inherently just.

To be honest I feel as if those who support the 9/11 Truth Movement and other conspiracies are scared of facing reality. A reality where the Government cannot protect us, no matter how hard it tries, and where we are left personally responsible for our own lives and the lives of those we are directly involved with. These conspiracy theories allow them a comfort blanket, and if the consequences of the theories wasn’t so horrid then I’d say “let them have it, whatever gets them through the day”.

Alas these theories are, I’m sure, a terrible thing for the families. Some might embrace the warmth and safety of them; but others will be only further harmed by the continued espousal of these ideas. Imagine having a family member who died in a terrorist attack and then being told “Oh no, those planes were empty/didn’t exist.” Or being Jewish and losing a friend and being told this was a Zionist plot to bring about war in the Middle East. No one should need to go through that after all they have suffered already.

I believe that questioning the truth of everything you are told is healthy (if done politely and intelligently) but disregarding facts in pursuit of your own selfish need for reassurance in the face of other’s personal tragedy is almost criminal.