Yes, I'm human. I do suffer, as I have been doing these last few days. While I've been coughing my guts up and labouring under a heavy cold for some time, you've been reading mostly pre-cued blog posts. I did throw one or two extra ones in there, however, as things happened.
Some people have complimented me on my outlook over the years, and through all the self help books I have read, this has been the most helpful, that I got more than twenty years ago...
The Sunday Times Lifeplan
Girling, Richard
9780004117041
ISBN 10: 0004117042 / 0-00-411704-2
ISBN 13: 9780004117041
Publisher:
Publication Date: 1987
Get it from the library if you can. It isn't actually that heavy a read. Perhaps the most stunning thing were the pictures of various people who each looked at either end of the social extremes; proving that we are in control of how we look to the outside world.
If I were to describe the book more simply, I would put it on level with John Cleese's DVD about Wine. The book does the job of defining all the boundaries. Despite its age it still hits some nails on the head, some of them quite raw ones. However, for my money it does its job of defining the ranges, pinning the language ... and then it is up to the individual to make their own changes depending on where they want to be.
A reason to boycot China?
The BBC reports on the execution of a UK citizen for drug smuggling despite reportedly being mentally ill.
I am now starting to think whether any goods from China are worth the price. If the quality of the junk they are pouring out is anything to go by (and this keyboard is one of them ... the first one was faulty; the remote flash triggers I bought were rubbish, the video camera has a hot pixel...) then this could be the final nail in the coffin.
I am now starting to think whether any goods from China are worth the price. If the quality of the junk they are pouring out is anything to go by (and this keyboard is one of them ... the first one was faulty; the remote flash triggers I bought were rubbish, the video camera has a hot pixel...) then this could be the final nail in the coffin.
Is this the state of kids?
This report on The Register is perhaps a sad demonstration of the lack of choices parents have over their legal ability to control their children. The link in the reports bootnote is also worth following and reading.
The self righteous minority brigade are, I feel, responsible for this ridiculous state of affairs. Preventing abuse is one thing, but now the shoe is on the other foot and the police are having to be called in where a swift smack around the ear would have sorted the problem.
Mind, with the size on some kids these days, I wouldn't blame many parents for actually living in fear of their children and also the more leisurely lifestyle of adults these days means many of us wouldn't have the muscle power to give them a much deserved hiding anyway.
The self righteous minority brigade are, I feel, responsible for this ridiculous state of affairs. Preventing abuse is one thing, but now the shoe is on the other foot and the police are having to be called in where a swift smack around the ear would have sorted the problem.
Mind, with the size on some kids these days, I wouldn't blame many parents for actually living in fear of their children and also the more leisurely lifestyle of adults these days means many of us wouldn't have the muscle power to give them a much deserved hiding anyway.
Boxing Day Blues
Well, I haven't actually watched a lot of TV. The darn thing is full of repeats and the only thing that seems fresh to me is Dr Who. For the films that I like, I've had to buy the DVDs. ITV cut about 16 minutes off, "The Polar Express," and even the BBC cut 10 minutes off, "The Incredibles." That is more than 10% cut out of each of these films.
I've even abandoned the TV for Radio. At the moment I'm listening to David Tennant and Catherine Tate on Radio 2; they're scheduled to be joined by veteran entertainer Bernard Cribbins later in the show. I've even phoned in to offer my own business...
"I'm in I.T."
"How's business?"
"It's had its chips."
Listen to the show live, or catch up on it at the BBC web site.
I've even abandoned the TV for Radio. At the moment I'm listening to David Tennant and Catherine Tate on Radio 2; they're scheduled to be joined by veteran entertainer Bernard Cribbins later in the show. I've even phoned in to offer my own business...
"I'm in I.T."
"How's business?"
"It's had its chips."
Listen to the show live, or catch up on it at the BBC web site.
Ex OT level 7s speak
This is a very interesting post on XenuTV. Four ex OT 7 people talk together in 2000 and lay the whole issue of scientology and its effect on people and families right there on the table. This is not too short of one and a half hours watching in total and it lays the whole thing bare.
For outsiders, there are a few kicker moments in each of the videos and it raises the question that, given the length of time that quality material like this has been out there ... how the hell has it taken until now for governments to start doing something about this?
You know ... every time I type scientology with a small, "s," my spell checker wants me to increase it to a capital letter. As long as the main church exists as it does; I just can't bring myself to do it.
Lets hope that 2010 is the year when the church, in its current incarnation, is officially torn apart and Miscavidge is held to account for what has happened over the last few decades.
For outsiders, there are a few kicker moments in each of the videos and it raises the question that, given the length of time that quality material like this has been out there ... how the hell has it taken until now for governments to start doing something about this?
You know ... every time I type scientology with a small, "s," my spell checker wants me to increase it to a capital letter. As long as the main church exists as it does; I just can't bring myself to do it.
Lets hope that 2010 is the year when the church, in its current incarnation, is officially torn apart and Miscavidge is held to account for what has happened over the last few decades.
Teen In Jail
I've latched on to the blog Teen In Jail which is about the experience of Theodore Braden who is sitting behind bars at the pleasure of the U.S.A.
What Ted writes is coming up to a good standard which, if what I have seen of the state videos shown in schools is anything to go by, is very much needed. Having watched some of the videos played to school children, I doubt that any of them will convince any child to avoid prison; yes they convey the facts, but there is no passion in the acting; the child actors don't convey emotion ... the eyes don't convey the soul battering that someone can receive when behind bars; and young kids are no fools.
The blog also seems to be circumvented by the Florida penal system. Ted's blog has not gone unnoticed and it seems that Ted has been deliberately moved in order to avoid staff abuses and shoddy practice coming to light.
"The bad times show you who your good friends are." - Teen in Jail. Good luck Ted, and congratulations on the efforts.
I think Ted will have the opportunity to do more good when he gets out of jail; it looks like many of the people watching at the moment is officialdom, but I could easily be wrong; I don't have the stats. Lets face it, after what I've seen of the unconvincing videos shown to kids, they need someone with real experience and passion behind them. Ted might just be that person.
What Ted writes is coming up to a good standard which, if what I have seen of the state videos shown in schools is anything to go by, is very much needed. Having watched some of the videos played to school children, I doubt that any of them will convince any child to avoid prison; yes they convey the facts, but there is no passion in the acting; the child actors don't convey emotion ... the eyes don't convey the soul battering that someone can receive when behind bars; and young kids are no fools.
The blog also seems to be circumvented by the Florida penal system. Ted's blog has not gone unnoticed and it seems that Ted has been deliberately moved in order to avoid staff abuses and shoddy practice coming to light.
"The bad times show you who your good friends are." - Teen in Jail. Good luck Ted, and congratulations on the efforts.
I think Ted will have the opportunity to do more good when he gets out of jail; it looks like many of the people watching at the moment is officialdom, but I could easily be wrong; I don't have the stats. Lets face it, after what I've seen of the unconvincing videos shown to kids, they need someone with real experience and passion behind them. Ted might just be that person.
I think I've just gone off Coke
Reading this page it states...
Over the long term the effects of colas are devastating to the body. Acidity, sugars, and artificial flavors and sweeteners can shorten life. It would take 32 glasses of alkaline water at an alkaline pH of 9 to neutralize the acid from one 12 oz. cola or soda. Drinking a cola or soda, the body will use up reserves of its own stored alkaline buffers, mainly calcium from the bones and DNA, to raise the body's alkalinity levels, especially to maintain proper blood alkaline pH levels. Acidic blood levels cause death! There are enough acids in one soda to kill if there is no mechanism to neutralize them. This can occur if the body's mineral buffers are used up.
Given that I know that I have a lower than expected bone density, I think I'd better lay off the Coke. (the type you drink, not the type you snort, of course.)
Over the long term the effects of colas are devastating to the body. Acidity, sugars, and artificial flavors and sweeteners can shorten life. It would take 32 glasses of alkaline water at an alkaline pH of 9 to neutralize the acid from one 12 oz. cola or soda. Drinking a cola or soda, the body will use up reserves of its own stored alkaline buffers, mainly calcium from the bones and DNA, to raise the body's alkalinity levels, especially to maintain proper blood alkaline pH levels. Acidic blood levels cause death! There are enough acids in one soda to kill if there is no mechanism to neutralize them. This can occur if the body's mineral buffers are used up.
Given that I know that I have a lower than expected bone density, I think I'd better lay off the Coke. (the type you drink, not the type you snort, of course.)
Them bones...
Well, I got the chance to chat with my GP this morning. First appointment of the day so I was straight in and straight out again.
Apparently, my hips are fine but my lower back is an issue. The consultant endocrinologist is a "bright bunny," according to my GP, who gave me a brief low down on the blokes history. I know I'm going to be in good hands.
My GP confirmed what was contained in the link I posted previously. Calcium from tablets is mineral sourced which doesn't absorb well, better to use natural grown calcium sources. I forgot to ask about the correlation of high osteoporosis in countries with high dairy intake. He also confirmed that the best solution is to avoid the leaching of calcium from the bones in the first place, but commented on the likes of tomatoes which are great for the heart but not so good for the calcium because the acid leaches it out. (long story short is that the body uses the calcium from our bones in order to combat acid in our systems.) so as such, you can't win but need to do what is right for your body.
So, a number of blood tests are about to be carried out, including crones disease just to rule it out, and then I'll get an appointment to see Mr Bright Bunny at some point in the not too distant so I can discuss the whole matter with him.
If you're on hormones, suffering side effects, have come off them ... in other words if you are doing the hormonal journey from A to B, then for crying out loud contact your GP and arrange a Dexa scan so you can find out exactly where "A" is in the first place.
In the mean time I have to draw up a list of what helps and hinders calcium in the body and then start weighing up options. The other thing I'll have to start doing is taking more country walks; which is also said to help calcium generation. Time to get more walking boots I think.
Apparently, my hips are fine but my lower back is an issue. The consultant endocrinologist is a "bright bunny," according to my GP, who gave me a brief low down on the blokes history. I know I'm going to be in good hands.
My GP confirmed what was contained in the link I posted previously. Calcium from tablets is mineral sourced which doesn't absorb well, better to use natural grown calcium sources. I forgot to ask about the correlation of high osteoporosis in countries with high dairy intake. He also confirmed that the best solution is to avoid the leaching of calcium from the bones in the first place, but commented on the likes of tomatoes which are great for the heart but not so good for the calcium because the acid leaches it out. (long story short is that the body uses the calcium from our bones in order to combat acid in our systems.) so as such, you can't win but need to do what is right for your body.
So, a number of blood tests are about to be carried out, including crones disease just to rule it out, and then I'll get an appointment to see Mr Bright Bunny at some point in the not too distant so I can discuss the whole matter with him.
If you're on hormones, suffering side effects, have come off them ... in other words if you are doing the hormonal journey from A to B, then for crying out loud contact your GP and arrange a Dexa scan so you can find out exactly where "A" is in the first place.
In the mean time I have to draw up a list of what helps and hinders calcium in the body and then start weighing up options. The other thing I'll have to start doing is taking more country walks; which is also said to help calcium generation. Time to get more walking boots I think.
Strictly not a competition
I had a response from the BBC complaints team about my comments concerning Strictly Come Dancing...
Thanks for your e-mail regarding 'Strictly Come Dancing'.
'Strictly Come Dancing' is an entertainment show and although it's a dancing competition, it isn't always the best dancers who capture the hearts of those voting. We recognise that some viewers like yourself may disagree with the final result, but we must make it clear that although the judges give their opinions on the night they ultimately don’t have a say in the outcome, it's the public who make the decision.
This year saw some of the best dancing we've ever seen on the show and although you don’t agree with Chris & Ola being crowned champions, we're delighted for them.
We'd like to assure you that we've registered your comments on our audience log. This is the internal report of audience feedback which we compile daily for all programme makers and commissioning executives within the BBC, and also their senior management. It ensures that your points, and all other comments we receive, are circulated and considered across the BBC.
Thanks again for taking the time to contact us with your concerns.
Regards
BBC Complaints
The upshot of this is that the show isn't a dancing competition, it is a popularity contest, and the BBC know this and don't want to change it. To say that the judges, "ultimately don’t have a say in the outcome," is a scandal. It turns it in to a joke.
For me ... that means the end of Strictly. I'm not going to watch it any more.
By the way, since boycotting The Simpsons because of Fox's lack of action when Nancy Cartwright broke her contract and used Bart's voice in a scientology phone add, I haven't actually missed the show at all.
Thanks for your e-mail regarding 'Strictly Come Dancing'.
'Strictly Come Dancing' is an entertainment show and although it's a dancing competition, it isn't always the best dancers who capture the hearts of those voting. We recognise that some viewers like yourself may disagree with the final result, but we must make it clear that although the judges give their opinions on the night they ultimately don’t have a say in the outcome, it's the public who make the decision.
This year saw some of the best dancing we've ever seen on the show and although you don’t agree with Chris & Ola being crowned champions, we're delighted for them.
We'd like to assure you that we've registered your comments on our audience log. This is the internal report of audience feedback which we compile daily for all programme makers and commissioning executives within the BBC, and also their senior management. It ensures that your points, and all other comments we receive, are circulated and considered across the BBC.
Thanks again for taking the time to contact us with your concerns.
Regards
BBC Complaints
The upshot of this is that the show isn't a dancing competition, it is a popularity contest, and the BBC know this and don't want to change it. To say that the judges, "ultimately don’t have a say in the outcome," is a scandal. It turns it in to a joke.
For me ... that means the end of Strictly. I'm not going to watch it any more.
By the way, since boycotting The Simpsons because of Fox's lack of action when Nancy Cartwright broke her contract and used Bart's voice in a scientology phone add, I haven't actually missed the show at all.
Complaint about Strictly
Well ... I'm turning in to a right little complainer. I don't know what happened to my live and let live attitude. This latest one went to the BBC complaints...
In my eyes, Strictly has done considerable disgrace to the word, "competition." It is not a dancing competition but a popularity contest. It was only saved last time when John Seargent threw in the towel, but Chris Hollins winning has put a cap on it.
In case you're wondering, no, I didn't vote for anyone and I am among the people that enjoy watching Chris of a morning ... but this is a whitewash and I'm not watching Strictly again. The best dancers and those that show most promise never really standing a chance, and the worst dancers coming back week after week.
You need to do something to rescue this show, because this result has pushed it over the edge in to farce.
In my eyes, Strictly has done considerable disgrace to the word, "competition." It is not a dancing competition but a popularity contest. It was only saved last time when John Seargent threw in the towel, but Chris Hollins winning has put a cap on it.
In case you're wondering, no, I didn't vote for anyone and I am among the people that enjoy watching Chris of a morning ... but this is a whitewash and I'm not watching Strictly again. The best dancers and those that show most promise never really standing a chance, and the worst dancers coming back week after week.
You need to do something to rescue this show, because this result has pushed it over the edge in to farce.
Scientology is finally on the ropes
It looks like Scientology is finally about to face a full frontal assault from quarters too numerous for me to post links here. Credit to many, many people from many, many quarters. People finally having the courage to stand up and speak out. The battle is only just beginning and it will be a tough one ... it will be a game of word against word in the court room; as among the things scientology is accused of, is a long time habit of erasing records of anything they don't like.
Nightline had another investigation in October, following up from their interview with Miscavige back in 1992. Among the things they produced on their web site, was a message board here which asked the question over whether scientology should have its tax exemption status revoked. This has seemed to spark off the wider question of religion.
One of the gems was this...
Atheists like to talk down on Christians, but we have blessings that they will never own. We believe that we were created with love for a great purpose; they believe that they were created from random chaos with no purpose. We have a personal God who cares about each and every one of us with all His heart; they have only their own meaningless existences to reflect on. Our God is all powerful and listens to our prayers; atheists have only their own frail humanity for help, regardless of how far they and we advance in our understanding of God’s science. Finally, we believe that no matter what happens to us in this short life on Earth, we have a better, eternal afterlife with God through Christ Jesus; atheists can only worry constantly about if they are living their short, flawed, helpless earthly life to its fullest extent before… they simply cease to exist… disappear into nothingness. (Of course, we Christians know that they don’t just cease to exist; their fate is worse than that!) I guess we should pity atheists rather than argue with them, “throwing our pearls to swine”.
Posted by: knowerseeker Oct-23
Now, I'm usually tolerant of religions; as I mentioned to a colleague the other day in conversation about religion ... I don't believe that we should debunk religion until we have something in place for the people who rely on it as a system of emotional support. The poster of this tripe really has tripped over their own shoe laces here with practically every sentence written.
Commenting that Atheists talk down on Christians ... good grief ... after reading their own words ... talk about the pot calling the kettle. Also, what is so frail about humanity? When you call for help, is it God that comes running, or ... no ... wait ... is it those people around you .. you know ... those human like creatures ... ah .. humanity!!! To tell you the truth, yes I would rather be concerned with living a full life; if there was a heaven then I wonder who would gain admittance, someone who had spent their lives playing a solid part in society, or someone who just read a book and prayed at an alter? Also, "God's science," ? If you're going to talk about a belief system as a science then there had better be some proof; the exhibits so far brought forward haven't exactly stood up to scrutiny. If these are the pearls that knowerseeker values so much, I don't think they stand much of a chance on the open market.
Yes, I know that there are many religious people who contribute a great deal; sometimes their entire lives, to other people, and I applaud those incredible, selfless souls ... but there are also those that believe simply reading the good book and offering prayers is all that is needed to save them.
I am also not one who believes that a death bed repentance is enough, either. I believe that if I am true to myself and live a life whereby I can sleep at night with a clear conscience, then if there is a God then I'll be judged appropriately and that if there isn't ... well, I've lived a life I can be proud of and I hope the worms appreciate the free lunch.
And I'll tell you something else ... it isn't knowerseeker's place to judge anyone, either ... that would see them go straight to hell! Oh ... hang on a minute ... what did they just do in that posting? ... oh dear!!! Frying tonight, methinks.
One other poster asked a very valid question; if God created us, then who or how was God created?
Nightline had another investigation in October, following up from their interview with Miscavige back in 1992. Among the things they produced on their web site, was a message board here which asked the question over whether scientology should have its tax exemption status revoked. This has seemed to spark off the wider question of religion.
One of the gems was this...
Atheists like to talk down on Christians, but we have blessings that they will never own. We believe that we were created with love for a great purpose; they believe that they were created from random chaos with no purpose. We have a personal God who cares about each and every one of us with all His heart; they have only their own meaningless existences to reflect on. Our God is all powerful and listens to our prayers; atheists have only their own frail humanity for help, regardless of how far they and we advance in our understanding of God’s science. Finally, we believe that no matter what happens to us in this short life on Earth, we have a better, eternal afterlife with God through Christ Jesus; atheists can only worry constantly about if they are living their short, flawed, helpless earthly life to its fullest extent before… they simply cease to exist… disappear into nothingness. (Of course, we Christians know that they don’t just cease to exist; their fate is worse than that!) I guess we should pity atheists rather than argue with them, “throwing our pearls to swine”.
Posted by: knowerseeker Oct-23
Now, I'm usually tolerant of religions; as I mentioned to a colleague the other day in conversation about religion ... I don't believe that we should debunk religion until we have something in place for the people who rely on it as a system of emotional support. The poster of this tripe really has tripped over their own shoe laces here with practically every sentence written.
Commenting that Atheists talk down on Christians ... good grief ... after reading their own words ... talk about the pot calling the kettle. Also, what is so frail about humanity? When you call for help, is it God that comes running, or ... no ... wait ... is it those people around you .. you know ... those human like creatures ... ah .. humanity!!! To tell you the truth, yes I would rather be concerned with living a full life; if there was a heaven then I wonder who would gain admittance, someone who had spent their lives playing a solid part in society, or someone who just read a book and prayed at an alter? Also, "God's science," ? If you're going to talk about a belief system as a science then there had better be some proof; the exhibits so far brought forward haven't exactly stood up to scrutiny. If these are the pearls that knowerseeker values so much, I don't think they stand much of a chance on the open market.
Yes, I know that there are many religious people who contribute a great deal; sometimes their entire lives, to other people, and I applaud those incredible, selfless souls ... but there are also those that believe simply reading the good book and offering prayers is all that is needed to save them.
I am also not one who believes that a death bed repentance is enough, either. I believe that if I am true to myself and live a life whereby I can sleep at night with a clear conscience, then if there is a God then I'll be judged appropriately and that if there isn't ... well, I've lived a life I can be proud of and I hope the worms appreciate the free lunch.
And I'll tell you something else ... it isn't knowerseeker's place to judge anyone, either ... that would see them go straight to hell! Oh ... hang on a minute ... what did they just do in that posting? ... oh dear!!! Frying tonight, methinks.
One other poster asked a very valid question; if God created us, then who or how was God created?
Petition Approved
Well here it is. Any UK citizen or ex-pat can support this petition. Um ... yippee?
Bah Humbug.
Not shaping up to be a good December. My opposite number has been off for a few weeks and is signed off for the rest of December. This is my year to take holidays at Christmas so I'll have to ask the boss if my holidays are cancelled ... I'll see him today. I was already given short notice to take my colleagues place on a training course ... that caused a bit of a rush.
I'm not blaming my colleague for this, he's a good bloke and if he is sick, all I can say is, "Get well soon, dude. Turkey doesn't taste very nice alongside a thermometer."
It did throw me in at the deep end, though, when we had a power cut and I had to handle a fair bit of a mess. Without my colleague to take the strain, I had to roll up my sleeves and get stuck in, which was a good thing.
In other news I had a letter from the GP last night. It was the result of my bone density scan. Although I don't know the exact gravity of the situation, the initial letter is already talking about specialists with long names. I have to make an appointment to find out just how much trouble I'm in and what can be done about it.
I've got a hospital appointment for the haemorrhoids on Monday so I was really hoping that the dexa scan would be given the OK ... apparently not.
I know I'm already getting twinges in my back, so I'm not hulking three stone camera bags around much for a while. I've asked my boss about my broken office chair and I'm using a spare; not as good as mine and I keep trying to rest my elbows on an invisible arm rest and falling off, so it looks like fate wants to break my back one way or the other. My boss will organise a replacement when he is able.
So ... a, "shout out," to all the transsexuals out there who are pumping themselves with oestrogen, or even AREN'T taking their required oestrogen ... get your GP to keep an eye on your bone density and get yourself checked. At least a scan at 40 seems to be a reasonable enough argument if you are unlucky enough to have an awkward prat in charge of your care. I'm lucky, my GP is solid and I've got faith that he is going to sort me out.
One of the windows here is letting in the damp. I'm already on the case to organise a replacement but it is not good. With the kitchen replacement coming in January, this is going to be a nasty few weeks.
More news as I have it. Bah Humbug.
I'm not blaming my colleague for this, he's a good bloke and if he is sick, all I can say is, "Get well soon, dude. Turkey doesn't taste very nice alongside a thermometer."
It did throw me in at the deep end, though, when we had a power cut and I had to handle a fair bit of a mess. Without my colleague to take the strain, I had to roll up my sleeves and get stuck in, which was a good thing.
In other news I had a letter from the GP last night. It was the result of my bone density scan. Although I don't know the exact gravity of the situation, the initial letter is already talking about specialists with long names. I have to make an appointment to find out just how much trouble I'm in and what can be done about it.
I've got a hospital appointment for the haemorrhoids on Monday so I was really hoping that the dexa scan would be given the OK ... apparently not.
I know I'm already getting twinges in my back, so I'm not hulking three stone camera bags around much for a while. I've asked my boss about my broken office chair and I'm using a spare; not as good as mine and I keep trying to rest my elbows on an invisible arm rest and falling off, so it looks like fate wants to break my back one way or the other. My boss will organise a replacement when he is able.
So ... a, "shout out," to all the transsexuals out there who are pumping themselves with oestrogen, or even AREN'T taking their required oestrogen ... get your GP to keep an eye on your bone density and get yourself checked. At least a scan at 40 seems to be a reasonable enough argument if you are unlucky enough to have an awkward prat in charge of your care. I'm lucky, my GP is solid and I've got faith that he is going to sort me out.
One of the windows here is letting in the damp. I'm already on the case to organise a replacement but it is not good. With the kitchen replacement coming in January, this is going to be a nasty few weeks.
More news as I have it. Bah Humbug.
Not so Easy Jet
I happened to be reading one of the free newspapers last week; the ones that are given to you when you get down the tube stations. (Evening Standard, Wed 9th Dec) Apparently there is a bust up between Andy Harrison, long standing Chief Exec, who has resigned after an argument with one of the shareholders, Sir Stelios Haij-Ioannou, who wanted to rope back the expected annual passenger growth and concentrate on generating cash and paying money to shareholders. There is a surprise! So that'll be another business that goes down the toilet in a few years then.
Great game
I came accross The Missile Game last night when I was the worse for a bottle of wine. Attempt after attempt, I only twice managed to get to level 2. First time today, even with a headache, I got to level 4. Guess that taught me about my abilites while drunk, then.
On a course
I'm on a course. Indeed depending on the post queue, I may just have finished it by the time you read this post.
The training center has a number of floors. On the first morning, a packed canteen area was led away, group by group, on various microsoft courses. When it came time for ours, the only Sun course I heard being called, we ended up in room 101. I leave you to draw your own conclusions.
The instructor is a great bloke. I could drink ten lattes in the morning and still not be as wired as this guy. The traditional Unix image, he had a beard, a ponytail and masses of enthusiasm and knowledge. Stunning stuff!
So, as I sit here, recovering from another journey from Sussex to the darkest depths of London, feeling like I've done twenty rounds with Mike Tyson, I bid you farewell. There is yet another coffee by my side and ... boy ... do I need it.
The training center has a number of floors. On the first morning, a packed canteen area was led away, group by group, on various microsoft courses. When it came time for ours, the only Sun course I heard being called, we ended up in room 101. I leave you to draw your own conclusions.
The instructor is a great bloke. I could drink ten lattes in the morning and still not be as wired as this guy. The traditional Unix image, he had a beard, a ponytail and masses of enthusiasm and knowledge. Stunning stuff!
So, as I sit here, recovering from another journey from Sussex to the darkest depths of London, feeling like I've done twenty rounds with Mike Tyson, I bid you farewell. There is yet another coffee by my side and ... boy ... do I need it.
To Scee or not to Scee
I used to be a heavy gamer. No more. As I look at the investment in games on my shelf, I realise that many of them I can't play any more. I've spent the last day trying to get 3D Lemmings working in an emulator, but the CD protection is getting in the way and I'm totally pissed off with it.
So, I tracked down the last people with any connection to the game created by the team at Psygnosis (who are now part of Sony Entertainment Corp.) and I sent them an e-mail. If I ever get a response, I'll let you know.
Hi Folks,
I'm an old time PC gamer since ... oh, who knows how long ago. Put it this way, I remember playing aircraft simulators on the ZX81.
I've been digging up my old games, among them 3D Lemmings ... yeh, I bought it in the good old days. Anyway, I can't play it any more.
This e-mail actually contains a few issues that you might want to think about...
One of the reasons I don't buy games any more is because of the money. I mean, if I fork out fifty quid for a game, I want some form of longevity from it. Backwards comparability is really important to me.
I pay a fiver for a DVD, get an hour and a half entertainment from the film, a little more from the extras ... say two hours ... and I can take the films I bought in 1995 and still play the things who knows how many years in to the future.
I have a shelf of original game boxes, only a small handful of which I can actually play any more.
Fortunately, Unreal Tournament 2004 came out on a DVD with a Linux installer, so I can still play the game under Linux, whereas I've got problems under Windows 7. (Let's face it, I've completely ditched Windows recently; the way they treat the customer, I'd be happy if someone, somewhere, were able to make a 3D environment of Redmond's offices that the player could enter with a mini-gun and mow the lot of them down ... also enter Gates' office and gain bonus points for getting an arrow between his eyes ... a'la "Thief." but that is another story. Come to think of it, it could also be done in Apple's offices; as the keyboard pushers died, they could scream, "There's an app for that!" in similar fashion to the guards in "Wolfenstein.")
I'm also not going to spend a small fortune to have one of every console under the sun, beneath my TV. For one, I haven't got the money, for two, my ceiling just ain't high enough ... I'd be watching my TV upstairs. I'm also not going to lock myself in to a console path for a specific game. Even though I'm a Halo fan, I'm not buying an XBox 360 just to play it ... that is blackmail.
So. There is your challenge. To build a portable environment that will allow games to be played for years in to the future. Because without it, I'm not parting with another red cent. (I had to use the Americanism; "another green pound," just didn't have the right ring to it, and it was replaced with the pound coin years ago, anyway.)
So ... here I am, with a purchased copy of 3D Lemmings for the PC, and am unable to play it. What are you going to do about it?
Regards,
So, I tracked down the last people with any connection to the game created by the team at Psygnosis (who are now part of Sony Entertainment Corp.) and I sent them an e-mail. If I ever get a response, I'll let you know.
Hi Folks,
I'm an old time PC gamer since ... oh, who knows how long ago. Put it this way, I remember playing aircraft simulators on the ZX81.
I've been digging up my old games, among them 3D Lemmings ... yeh, I bought it in the good old days. Anyway, I can't play it any more.
This e-mail actually contains a few issues that you might want to think about...
One of the reasons I don't buy games any more is because of the money. I mean, if I fork out fifty quid for a game, I want some form of longevity from it. Backwards comparability is really important to me.
I pay a fiver for a DVD, get an hour and a half entertainment from the film, a little more from the extras ... say two hours ... and I can take the films I bought in 1995 and still play the things who knows how many years in to the future.
I have a shelf of original game boxes, only a small handful of which I can actually play any more.
Fortunately, Unreal Tournament 2004 came out on a DVD with a Linux installer, so I can still play the game under Linux, whereas I've got problems under Windows 7. (Let's face it, I've completely ditched Windows recently; the way they treat the customer, I'd be happy if someone, somewhere, were able to make a 3D environment of Redmond's offices that the player could enter with a mini-gun and mow the lot of them down ... also enter Gates' office and gain bonus points for getting an arrow between his eyes ... a'la "Thief." but that is another story. Come to think of it, it could also be done in Apple's offices; as the keyboard pushers died, they could scream, "There's an app for that!" in similar fashion to the guards in "Wolfenstein.")
I'm also not going to spend a small fortune to have one of every console under the sun, beneath my TV. For one, I haven't got the money, for two, my ceiling just ain't high enough ... I'd be watching my TV upstairs. I'm also not going to lock myself in to a console path for a specific game. Even though I'm a Halo fan, I'm not buying an XBox 360 just to play it ... that is blackmail.
So. There is your challenge. To build a portable environment that will allow games to be played for years in to the future. Because without it, I'm not parting with another red cent. (I had to use the Americanism; "another green pound," just didn't have the right ring to it, and it was replaced with the pound coin years ago, anyway.)
So ... here I am, with a purchased copy of 3D Lemmings for the PC, and am unable to play it. What are you going to do about it?
Regards,
Way to go, dick shit
I read this report on the BBC news site with interest. It raises a good few possibilities that are worthy of discussion.
However, one point sticks in my throat. Putting interest on student loans. Are they stupid? Monied people won't have to take out the loans, while those on poorer incomes are reliant on these loans to get through higher education.
It was only a decade or so ago that we recognised that the state had a duty to invest in the younger population in order to achieve the skilled people that we needed. It was an investment in the countries future. Such grants came without individual burden. But then came the student loan, starting back on the slippery slope of, you want an education, you pay for it; either now or in the future.
The introduction of loans was in danger of scuppering that, but the safety net of deferring the loans if society didn't need the skills that the young person had trained for, enabled people to take the risk and put themselves forward to go through the educational mill anyway.
Adding interest to such a loan would result in someone who went through education, faced a glut in the market place, wasn't able to get a high paying job and settle in to a more modest career, would eventually die with a massive debt on their estate.
Nice one, Sonia Sodha. Why not grind the lower classes under your heel, give a massive boost to the class difference and fuck the countries chances of ever becoming an effective competitive force in the global economy, why don't you.
I'm all for getting youngsters to contribute to society, widen their viewpoints and get a head start in chipping some of the attitude off them; it might just be a viable way of getting youngsters off the streets, doing something positive and saving even just a percentage of them from drifting in to a selfish rut of petty crime; without having to bring back something as draconian and resource heavy as national service in the armed forces. Also, while you're at it, get a head start and increase the jail service as you're going to need the extra spaces for the die hards that won't do it, no matter what. ... and don't let the monied people have a get out clause, either.
However, cutting the throats of the less well off who actually have an ambition and ... God help us ... talent or skill in an area which the national could damn well do with ... is short sighted lunacy.
What next? Are we, in the future, going to see cards given to parents in celebration of the birth of a new child, come with gift vouchers to help them pay for nursery school? We are slowly undoing all the social progress that was made in the last few decades.
If society wants the children to pay for their education, then it had better balance the scales by giving the parents better wages in order to fund it; or we're going to end up in a skills black hole.
Damn this weather ... anyone know a good plumber?
However, one point sticks in my throat. Putting interest on student loans. Are they stupid? Monied people won't have to take out the loans, while those on poorer incomes are reliant on these loans to get through higher education.
It was only a decade or so ago that we recognised that the state had a duty to invest in the younger population in order to achieve the skilled people that we needed. It was an investment in the countries future. Such grants came without individual burden. But then came the student loan, starting back on the slippery slope of, you want an education, you pay for it; either now or in the future.
The introduction of loans was in danger of scuppering that, but the safety net of deferring the loans if society didn't need the skills that the young person had trained for, enabled people to take the risk and put themselves forward to go through the educational mill anyway.
Adding interest to such a loan would result in someone who went through education, faced a glut in the market place, wasn't able to get a high paying job and settle in to a more modest career, would eventually die with a massive debt on their estate.
Nice one, Sonia Sodha. Why not grind the lower classes under your heel, give a massive boost to the class difference and fuck the countries chances of ever becoming an effective competitive force in the global economy, why don't you.
I'm all for getting youngsters to contribute to society, widen their viewpoints and get a head start in chipping some of the attitude off them; it might just be a viable way of getting youngsters off the streets, doing something positive and saving even just a percentage of them from drifting in to a selfish rut of petty crime; without having to bring back something as draconian and resource heavy as national service in the armed forces. Also, while you're at it, get a head start and increase the jail service as you're going to need the extra spaces for the die hards that won't do it, no matter what. ... and don't let the monied people have a get out clause, either.
However, cutting the throats of the less well off who actually have an ambition and ... God help us ... talent or skill in an area which the national could damn well do with ... is short sighted lunacy.
What next? Are we, in the future, going to see cards given to parents in celebration of the birth of a new child, come with gift vouchers to help them pay for nursery school? We are slowly undoing all the social progress that was made in the last few decades.
If society wants the children to pay for their education, then it had better balance the scales by giving the parents better wages in order to fund it; or we're going to end up in a skills black hole.
Damn this weather ... anyone know a good plumber?
Burning Issues 2 - UK settlers
Now lets get one thing straight. I don't hate people on grounds of race, creed or stuff like that. In fact when you look back at the history of the settlers in the UK and the rest of it, it doesn't actually take that long to be able to call any of us imigrants; it is all a matter of time and where you draw the line.
If you look at my own history, I'm the product of three quarters Welsh and one quarter Greek; my Grandfather was a Greek sailor who settled here; and I dare say that similar can be said of many other people in this great country of ours.
But I am angry and I have been angry for a long while. It took a good amount of time for me to sit down and work out exactly what it is I am angry about, but I finally have a good idea; and the target for a fair degree of that anger is actually directed at our own society.
A fair degree of this is of our own making. The torch of freedom is a considerable aim; a laudible goal for any democratic society that is proud of what it has worked so hard to attain. However, it is exactly this which has allowed our greatest enemy to flourish and cripple our goal; social correctness.
I feel that while we each have the freedom of speach, so too should we have the freedom to be offended.
Just as we have the freedom to go where we wish, so to should we have the freedom to be told that we are not welcome. Shop keepers and retailers do have the right to refuse to do business with a customer; they don't even have to give a reason, but it is mainly due to the damage that an awkward customer can do to a business by vindictive activities. One of my relatives has been banned from Tesco because he kept returning faulty items. Personally, if I were him, I wouldn't have bought from Tesco in the first place ... but that is another issue.
"Ba, ba Black Sheep," "Merry Christmas," things which are cornerstones of our society which have been banned from schools for fear of offending someone else. Well if any forum of education decides to replace merry Christmas with Happy Holidays, then they had damn well better be doing it for all the religious festivals across the board. Full Stop. I remember the coloured gent having the guts to stand up on national TV and state that, "gollywogs," as they are known, don't offend him. I doff my hat to that bloke; not that I have a hat but I'd buy one purely to tip it to him and thank him for his common sense and realistic atitude. It was only earlier on this week that I was in the powder room with someone of non-white race, who was bemoaning her tight perm. "It makes me look like a gollywog." was what she said. I said nothing; there wasn't anything too say, she hadn't committed any form of offence in my book ... but it locked me out of the conversation, and that is the problem.
Women have fought long and hard for the right to vote, the right to be treated equally; and then people with other religions come in to the country and the blokes are allowed to subjugate their women; women wear full body veils, walk five steps behind their husbands and have no voice of their own within these communities ... and guess why ... they have the FREEDOM to do so.
All that crazy fuss when an MP and his wife; a Christian couple; refused to allow themselves to be segregated according to the custom of another religion. Lets get this straight... the people organising this event have the "FREEDOM" to segregate their men and women, then invite a couple they know to be Christian and of the belief that experience of a couple should be shared, and then expect them to allow themselves to be segregated ... and are then vocal to the umpteenth level, crying foul, when the Christian couple concerned exercise their own freedom and decline to be so segregated.
If there was any failure, here, it was on the part of the organisers of this event. In fact, given the strength of voice from the supposedly injured party, the whole thing sounded like a set-up to me. Create a situation where the MP is between a rock and a hard place, then cry foul to try and disgrace him and energise the community behind someone else instead ... but here is the kicker, the replacement person would be the opposite side of the fence.
Extrapolate this a bit; once enough people are in our law making bodies with the beliefs that segregation and female subjegation should be lawful ... we've got dynamite on our hands. in fact, we've already got a considerable situation here. I actually wrote to my MP and asked what protection there is for the freedoms that have been won and the changes in law that have resulted. In over a month now, I haven't received a reply on the subject.
For the life of me, looking at the statistics of population I can't understand why we are so scared of offending someone; so long as it is not a personal offence of course. Ideas and ideals should be open to comment and request for understanding and it should be societies goal that two or more people of differing belief systems can practice their own beleifs without treading on the social toes of someone else. Why isn't this happening? Why aren't religions which are supposed to promote peace and understanding, unable to prevent such discord within their followers?
The only reason that I can see why some religions have not managed to suffer significant downfall is the fear instilled in family of caste systems and the like, of very serious consequences of failing to toe the line. That is where our precious freedom is failing people; if it is a case of, do as I dictate or else you are cut off from the family ... is it no surprise that given consequences like those of honour killings, that this kind of inner control is a possible source, in itself, of anger? It is not then just to look at such anger as being one of the sources of extremism in some individuals; forced to take up arms not because of hatred of another religion but actually hatred of their own belief?
So how the hell do we sort this mess out?
Well I believe that there is no way that Britain can become a pure white country. I don't think it is possible and nor do I think it is desirable given the entire history of our population; it would be the ultimate in hypocracy. Nor do I think, given the people I have met, that many of the British people who are angry, are actually angered by race itself.
I believe that they are angered by injustice.
It is bad enough that some elements of society in private enterprise, will keep the business in their own enclave and not be fair in spreading the business opportunities to others. That, however, has now entered Government departments. I have heard accounts from people who are white, in areas where government departments are staffed by non-whites, that they are discriminated against, but have no proof. This, however, is the kind of thing that the government needs to take action on. Government departments do have to serve the local population, but they represent the country as a whole and thus allowing the staffing of any particular section to be overweighed with staff of a particular ethnicity or religious belief is asking for trouble; which is exactly what we've got if the accounts I have heard are to be believed.
Positive discrimination is not something I am overly in favour of; we do need the right people for the right jobs, but where do we draw the line? IS there another way of ensuring equality of services? I believe there is, but it means giving up some of our precious freedom.
Banks protect themselves by taking decisions away from the local managers; decisions are made by computer systems. A pre-programmed decision making routine that looks at case files and controls the workloads can oversee local staff decisions; decide who in a queuing system is to be offered housing options over others ... the only real way to eliminate the element of human bias and discrimination is to actually remove the human element.
Machines just my well be our only saviour in hoping to run a fair society free from discrimination from any element of society.
Fotunately, statistics have silenced many critics of policing tactics. Those critical of a high number of stop and searches of a particular ethnicity have been forced to realise that the precentages of those stopped match those that are actually reported as, or having committed, those crimes. Facts have been able to control such claims of bias and the people who still shout the odds are easily and justly ignored.
Religion is a card which holds little weight in the court room of the UK. Parents guilty of honour killings are rightfully jailed. Those that commit serious crime because, "God told me to do it," are also not exempt from proper punishment. It is an issue, however, that the religious card does seem to carry weight on the smaller offences; a crime statistic based on a religious offence detection carries more points, and this needs to be stopped. Statistics are a wonderful thing to have, but there are some cases where performance based statistics really do hamper our services and this needs to be dealt with as a matter of priority.
We need to ask ourselves why some words carry so much weight. Looking through history, the only constant is not actually the word itself, but the way in which it is used and implied. No particular segment of society can, "own," a particular word; this is a notion I do not hold with. Words, in themselves, come and go. Our language changes. How we use that language, the intonation of the sylables and the emotion and veneom put behind it, is the only thing that has remained the same and this is what we need to focus on.
I believe we are close to the point whereby a white person could, in open society, make the statement of a particular person, something along the lines of, "You're a Pakistani," and then the can of worms opens up.
When does a statement of fact become a comment of racial hatred? Someone could walk up to me and say, "You're a honkey." I have to admit that I would struggle to find anything offensive; it would be a comment that would bounce off and I would just walk away; they could even put a bit of veneom behind it and it wouldn't bother me. Now, if they decided to throw a punch at me or grab me by the coat, then it would be fists flying, I can tell you.
We need to get to grips with this, and fast.
Rather than look at the offence of racial hatred, we need to take a step back and look at why racial hatred is a criminal offence, indeed what it is that has sparked this situation in the first place; dealing with offences of racial hatred is treating the symptom; we need to get at the cause.
I do find myself hoping that Gene Roddenberry's world of Star Trek comes to fruition; where people are rewarded not by the money they earn but by the deeds they do and the betterment they bring to society.
Where race is not an issue, where an individuals religion or way of life is respected but at the same time is not allowed to undermine societies functioning or divide people; and where those who are not able to moderate themselves in this way are ejected from society as a global whole.
To be honest, I am starting to come to the conclusion that there are people who don't want racial hatred to be exterminated; they would lose an excuse to protest and lose the ability to spark an all out riot.
If you look at my own history, I'm the product of three quarters Welsh and one quarter Greek; my Grandfather was a Greek sailor who settled here; and I dare say that similar can be said of many other people in this great country of ours.
But I am angry and I have been angry for a long while. It took a good amount of time for me to sit down and work out exactly what it is I am angry about, but I finally have a good idea; and the target for a fair degree of that anger is actually directed at our own society.
A fair degree of this is of our own making. The torch of freedom is a considerable aim; a laudible goal for any democratic society that is proud of what it has worked so hard to attain. However, it is exactly this which has allowed our greatest enemy to flourish and cripple our goal; social correctness.
I feel that while we each have the freedom of speach, so too should we have the freedom to be offended.
Just as we have the freedom to go where we wish, so to should we have the freedom to be told that we are not welcome. Shop keepers and retailers do have the right to refuse to do business with a customer; they don't even have to give a reason, but it is mainly due to the damage that an awkward customer can do to a business by vindictive activities. One of my relatives has been banned from Tesco because he kept returning faulty items. Personally, if I were him, I wouldn't have bought from Tesco in the first place ... but that is another issue.
"Ba, ba Black Sheep," "Merry Christmas," things which are cornerstones of our society which have been banned from schools for fear of offending someone else. Well if any forum of education decides to replace merry Christmas with Happy Holidays, then they had damn well better be doing it for all the religious festivals across the board. Full Stop. I remember the coloured gent having the guts to stand up on national TV and state that, "gollywogs," as they are known, don't offend him. I doff my hat to that bloke; not that I have a hat but I'd buy one purely to tip it to him and thank him for his common sense and realistic atitude. It was only earlier on this week that I was in the powder room with someone of non-white race, who was bemoaning her tight perm. "It makes me look like a gollywog." was what she said. I said nothing; there wasn't anything too say, she hadn't committed any form of offence in my book ... but it locked me out of the conversation, and that is the problem.
Women have fought long and hard for the right to vote, the right to be treated equally; and then people with other religions come in to the country and the blokes are allowed to subjugate their women; women wear full body veils, walk five steps behind their husbands and have no voice of their own within these communities ... and guess why ... they have the FREEDOM to do so.
All that crazy fuss when an MP and his wife; a Christian couple; refused to allow themselves to be segregated according to the custom of another religion. Lets get this straight... the people organising this event have the "FREEDOM" to segregate their men and women, then invite a couple they know to be Christian and of the belief that experience of a couple should be shared, and then expect them to allow themselves to be segregated ... and are then vocal to the umpteenth level, crying foul, when the Christian couple concerned exercise their own freedom and decline to be so segregated.
If there was any failure, here, it was on the part of the organisers of this event. In fact, given the strength of voice from the supposedly injured party, the whole thing sounded like a set-up to me. Create a situation where the MP is between a rock and a hard place, then cry foul to try and disgrace him and energise the community behind someone else instead ... but here is the kicker, the replacement person would be the opposite side of the fence.
Extrapolate this a bit; once enough people are in our law making bodies with the beliefs that segregation and female subjegation should be lawful ... we've got dynamite on our hands. in fact, we've already got a considerable situation here. I actually wrote to my MP and asked what protection there is for the freedoms that have been won and the changes in law that have resulted. In over a month now, I haven't received a reply on the subject.
For the life of me, looking at the statistics of population I can't understand why we are so scared of offending someone; so long as it is not a personal offence of course. Ideas and ideals should be open to comment and request for understanding and it should be societies goal that two or more people of differing belief systems can practice their own beleifs without treading on the social toes of someone else. Why isn't this happening? Why aren't religions which are supposed to promote peace and understanding, unable to prevent such discord within their followers?
The only reason that I can see why some religions have not managed to suffer significant downfall is the fear instilled in family of caste systems and the like, of very serious consequences of failing to toe the line. That is where our precious freedom is failing people; if it is a case of, do as I dictate or else you are cut off from the family ... is it no surprise that given consequences like those of honour killings, that this kind of inner control is a possible source, in itself, of anger? It is not then just to look at such anger as being one of the sources of extremism in some individuals; forced to take up arms not because of hatred of another religion but actually hatred of their own belief?
So how the hell do we sort this mess out?
Well I believe that there is no way that Britain can become a pure white country. I don't think it is possible and nor do I think it is desirable given the entire history of our population; it would be the ultimate in hypocracy. Nor do I think, given the people I have met, that many of the British people who are angry, are actually angered by race itself.
I believe that they are angered by injustice.
It is bad enough that some elements of society in private enterprise, will keep the business in their own enclave and not be fair in spreading the business opportunities to others. That, however, has now entered Government departments. I have heard accounts from people who are white, in areas where government departments are staffed by non-whites, that they are discriminated against, but have no proof. This, however, is the kind of thing that the government needs to take action on. Government departments do have to serve the local population, but they represent the country as a whole and thus allowing the staffing of any particular section to be overweighed with staff of a particular ethnicity or religious belief is asking for trouble; which is exactly what we've got if the accounts I have heard are to be believed.
Positive discrimination is not something I am overly in favour of; we do need the right people for the right jobs, but where do we draw the line? IS there another way of ensuring equality of services? I believe there is, but it means giving up some of our precious freedom.
Banks protect themselves by taking decisions away from the local managers; decisions are made by computer systems. A pre-programmed decision making routine that looks at case files and controls the workloads can oversee local staff decisions; decide who in a queuing system is to be offered housing options over others ... the only real way to eliminate the element of human bias and discrimination is to actually remove the human element.
Machines just my well be our only saviour in hoping to run a fair society free from discrimination from any element of society.
Fotunately, statistics have silenced many critics of policing tactics. Those critical of a high number of stop and searches of a particular ethnicity have been forced to realise that the precentages of those stopped match those that are actually reported as, or having committed, those crimes. Facts have been able to control such claims of bias and the people who still shout the odds are easily and justly ignored.
Religion is a card which holds little weight in the court room of the UK. Parents guilty of honour killings are rightfully jailed. Those that commit serious crime because, "God told me to do it," are also not exempt from proper punishment. It is an issue, however, that the religious card does seem to carry weight on the smaller offences; a crime statistic based on a religious offence detection carries more points, and this needs to be stopped. Statistics are a wonderful thing to have, but there are some cases where performance based statistics really do hamper our services and this needs to be dealt with as a matter of priority.
We need to ask ourselves why some words carry so much weight. Looking through history, the only constant is not actually the word itself, but the way in which it is used and implied. No particular segment of society can, "own," a particular word; this is a notion I do not hold with. Words, in themselves, come and go. Our language changes. How we use that language, the intonation of the sylables and the emotion and veneom put behind it, is the only thing that has remained the same and this is what we need to focus on.
I believe we are close to the point whereby a white person could, in open society, make the statement of a particular person, something along the lines of, "You're a Pakistani," and then the can of worms opens up.
When does a statement of fact become a comment of racial hatred? Someone could walk up to me and say, "You're a honkey." I have to admit that I would struggle to find anything offensive; it would be a comment that would bounce off and I would just walk away; they could even put a bit of veneom behind it and it wouldn't bother me. Now, if they decided to throw a punch at me or grab me by the coat, then it would be fists flying, I can tell you.
We need to get to grips with this, and fast.
Rather than look at the offence of racial hatred, we need to take a step back and look at why racial hatred is a criminal offence, indeed what it is that has sparked this situation in the first place; dealing with offences of racial hatred is treating the symptom; we need to get at the cause.
I do find myself hoping that Gene Roddenberry's world of Star Trek comes to fruition; where people are rewarded not by the money they earn but by the deeds they do and the betterment they bring to society.
Where race is not an issue, where an individuals religion or way of life is respected but at the same time is not allowed to undermine societies functioning or divide people; and where those who are not able to moderate themselves in this way are ejected from society as a global whole.
To be honest, I am starting to come to the conclusion that there are people who don't want racial hatred to be exterminated; they would lose an excuse to protest and lose the ability to spark an all out riot.
Not-so-smart energy meters
It should come as no surprise to anyone that the energy companies are happy to install these meters at no charge. They will, as a result, be able to fire their entire metre reading force.
What it delivers to me, as a customer, is nothing. I know how much energy I'm using. Only a dimwit will not be able to realise that spending half the time in the shower will halve the electricity used.
I already let the energy company know the meter readings so I don't get estimated bills. This doesn't save them from having to send someone to check up on me, however, to ensure I'm not lying.
I already know the time spaces where I get cheap rate, so that the washing machine goes on in the early hours of the morning and finishes just as we are waking up.
To me, the consumer, the new meters will deliver nothing. To the energy companies it will deliver a considerable saving in saff numbers, pension responsibility, vehicle and transport costs for these staff, etc. and you can bet that this saving won't be reflected in our energy bills.
I would say that if you wanted to keep British jobs, then pettition your MP. However, legislation can not actually stand in the way of progress; there is no point. However, when I look at my new meter, whenever it actually comes, I will be glaring at it and resenting the 2 watts of energy it consumes, for all the reasons stated above.
The companies should, however, be forced to pass the savings on to the consumer. If only that it will ease the financial burden of those meter readers who are being thrown on to the scrap heap and will have to survive on the dole.
What it delivers to me, as a customer, is nothing. I know how much energy I'm using. Only a dimwit will not be able to realise that spending half the time in the shower will halve the electricity used.
I already let the energy company know the meter readings so I don't get estimated bills. This doesn't save them from having to send someone to check up on me, however, to ensure I'm not lying.
I already know the time spaces where I get cheap rate, so that the washing machine goes on in the early hours of the morning and finishes just as we are waking up.
To me, the consumer, the new meters will deliver nothing. To the energy companies it will deliver a considerable saving in saff numbers, pension responsibility, vehicle and transport costs for these staff, etc. and you can bet that this saving won't be reflected in our energy bills.
I would say that if you wanted to keep British jobs, then pettition your MP. However, legislation can not actually stand in the way of progress; there is no point. However, when I look at my new meter, whenever it actually comes, I will be glaring at it and resenting the 2 watts of energy it consumes, for all the reasons stated above.
The companies should, however, be forced to pass the savings on to the consumer. If only that it will ease the financial burden of those meter readers who are being thrown on to the scrap heap and will have to survive on the dole.
