Bye bye, Rowan

Apparently, he's orf - although sources will 'neither confirm nor deny the rumours' that Rowan Williams will step down next year after the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and after seeing through new rules to allow women to become bishops.

Whilst I personally don't think that he is any great loss, there is a lot to be said for an Archbishop who doesn't rock the boat too much and as far as I can see, Williams has fulfilled that function very well.

Although he is not due to retire for another ten years, Trinity College Cambridge - where he studied theology and was a chaplain - are reported to be creating a lucrative professorship for him. Given the choice of the two roles, I know which one I would go for.

After presiding over reportedly one of the most turbulent periods in the Church's history, the archbishop has told friends he would like to give his successor adequate time to prepare for the next Lambeth Conference – the summit of Anglican bishops held once every decade.

He is even said to have considered quitting following the last conference in 2008, which was mired by boycotts, rows over homosexual clergy and challenges to the Archbishop of Canterbury's authority.

Although I have no particular liking for the man, I wish him well and I wonder exactly what sort of person will replace him? The jostling and posturing is already starting. There is speculation that the Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, will succeed him - at least in a caretaker role.

The first black Archbishop of Canterbury - how wonderfully politically correct...

Bye bye, Rowan

Apparently, he's orf - although sources will 'neither confirm nor deny the rumours' that Rowan Williams will step down next year after the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and after seeing through new rules to allow women to become bishops.

Whilst I personally don't think that he is any great loss, there is a lot to be said for an Archbishop who doesn't rock the boat too much and as far as I can see, Williams has fulfilled that function very well.

Although he is not due to retire for another ten years, Trinity College Cambridge - where he studied theology and was a chaplain - are reported to be creating a lucrative professorship for him. Given the choice of the two roles, I know which one I would go for.

After presiding over reportedly one of the most turbulent periods in the Church's history, the archbishop has told friends he would like to give his successor adequate time to prepare for the next Lambeth Conference – the summit of Anglican bishops held once every decade.

He is even said to have considered quitting following the last conference in 2008, which was mired by boycotts, rows over homosexual clergy and challenges to the Archbishop of Canterbury's authority.

Although I have no particular liking for the man, I wish him well and I wonder exactly what sort of person will replace him? The jostling and posturing is already starting. There is speculation that the Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, will succeed him - at least in a caretaker role.

The first black Archbishop of Canterbury - how wonderfully politically correct...

Reality TV

Do you ever watch 'Newswatch' on the BBC? It's worth a look - but only if you like to laugh at the stupidity of some of the viewers comments or to throw your eyes up in disbelief at the bland and pointless justifications that BBC executives come up with in reply.

Anyway, the one I watched this last weekend got me thinking. The viewer in question was criticising the BBC for the showing shocking scenes from Libya that were being shown on the 6 o'clock news and saying that they should be more careful to observe the watershed.

The BBC editor in response - who is, of course, never wrong - went on to say that they didn't show the worse scenes and went on to show a piece by Olga Guerin from the scene of a mass murder of Gaddafi's opponents in Tripoli. She stopped at the gate and told the camera that she couldn't show you what was inside because it was so horrific.

Full marks then to the Daily Mirror for this piece from which the above picture has been lifted.

Maybe it's about time that TV in general and the BBC in particular stopped sanitising what we are allowed to watch. War is horrific; it's not a video game where people get killed and then miraculously get up again and only have another 4 lives left. 

Last week, the people of Royal Wooten Basset paid their last respects to the fallen of Afghanistan and Iraq. These young men did not get up again after being killed. They were shot, blown up and murdered. If they were lucky it was quick and painless.

Spare a thought for the maimed and disabled and disfigured that war produces. 

Maybe it's time for proper reality TV. Maybe if we were shown the full horror, we might be a little more reluctant to start shooting? 

Reality TV

Do you ever watch 'Newswatch' on the BBC? It's worth a look - but only if you like to laugh at the stupidity of some of the viewers comments or to throw your eyes up in disbelief at the bland and pointless justifications that BBC executives come up with in reply.

Anyway, the one I watched this last weekend got me thinking. The viewer in question was criticising the BBC for the showing shocking scenes from Libya that were being shown on the 6 o'clock news and saying that they should be more careful to observe the watershed.

The BBC editor in response - who is, of course, never wrong - went on to say that they didn't show the worse scenes and went on to show a piece by Olga Guerin from the scene of a mass murder of Gaddafi's opponents in Tripoli. She stopped at the gate and told the camera that she couldn't show you what was inside because it was so horrific.

Full marks then to the Daily Mirror for this piece from which the above picture has been lifted.

Maybe it's about time that TV in general and the BBC in particular stopped sanitising what we are allowed to watch. War is horrific; it's not a video game where people get killed and then miraculously get up again and only have another 4 lives left. 

Last week, the people of Royal Wooten Basset paid their last respects to the fallen of Afghanistan and Iraq. These young men did not get up again after being killed. They were shot, blown up and murdered. If they were lucky it was quick and painless.

Spare a thought for the maimed and disabled and disfigured that war produces. 

Maybe it's time for proper reality TV. Maybe if we were shown the full horror, we might be a little more reluctant to start shooting? 

Light bulb, light bulb burning bright...

It's official. Today Britain is a darker place to live in . We've known for some time that the Fourth Reich wanted to plunge this country back into darkness - and now they've achieved it!

They banned the 100 watt incandescent lightbulb - I have a secret store, but don't tell anyone - and know they've banned the 60 watt as well. I shall be out later today buying up all the old stock at my local supermarket.

And it seems I'm not alone. The newspapers have been reporting that Britons have been buying up these things like they're going out of fashion! (Oops! They are though aren't they?). Just take a look at the internet and see how many sellers have been stockpiling the bloody things and now hope to make a killing.

So why is this happening? Well, it's all to do with global warming, apparently. This is a subject, you will have gathered, that gets right up my nose. See yesterday's post for example. Well, that's cobblers. It's about control. It's about authoritarianism. It's about killing off democracy.

Nobody much likes these things. They take time to warm up, give off an inferior or often yellowing light, they're expensive and many can't be used with a dimmer switch. I have seven dimmer switches in my house if you count the four bedside ones that are touch sensitive and work on three levels.

But we have to have them because Brussels says so. It really doesn't matter what the people of this country want. It's a glowing example (sorry for the pun!) of this country being told what to do by foreigners. It's the democratic wishes of the people of this country being over-ruled and ignored. It's all that bad about the EU.

And the worse thing is that this government doesn't have the balls to represent it's electorate and just tell Brussels to sod off!...

(There's a nice article in the Telegraph you can read if you want to know more - just click here)

Light bulb, light bulb burning bright...

It's official. Today Britain is a darker place to live in . We've known for some time that the Fourth Reich wanted to plunge this country back into darkness - and now they've achieved it!

They banned the 100 watt incandescent lightbulb - I have a secret store, but don't tell anyone - and know they've banned the 60 watt as well. I shall be out later today buying up all the old stock at my local supermarket.

And it seems I'm not alone. The newspapers have been reporting that Britons have been buying up these things like they're going out of fashion! (Oops! They are though aren't they?). Just take a look at the internet and see how many sellers have been stockpiling the bloody things and now hope to make a killing.

So why is this happening? Well, it's all to do with global warming, apparently. This is a subject, you will have gathered, that gets right up my nose. See yesterday's post for example. Well, that's cobblers. It's about control. It's about authoritarianism. It's about killing off democracy.

Nobody much likes these things. They take time to warm up, give off an inferior or often yellowing light, they're expensive and many can't be used with a dimmer switch. I have seven dimmer switches in my house if you count the four bedside ones that are touch sensitive and work on three levels.

But we have to have them because Brussels says so. It really doesn't matter what the people of this country want. It's a glowing example (sorry for the pun!) of this country being told what to do by foreigners. It's the democratic wishes of the people of this country being over-ruled and ignored. It's all that bad about the EU.

And the worse thing is that this government doesn't have the balls to represent it's electorate and just tell Brussels to sod off!...

(There's a nice article in the Telegraph you can read if you want to know more - just click here)

EHRC - Another worthless crock

As my regular reader will testify, every time the phrase 'human rights' is used, by blood pressure goes through the roof!

Now it seems that some common sense is finally permeating into this area of politically correct bullshit. The independant think tank Civitas says that if it were disbanded, not only would taxpayers be saved millions but proper ways could be found to tackle unfairness.

The scathing report by academic Jon Gower Davies says the Commission looks at issues the wrong way. It blames British unfairness for differences in people’s lives that are beyond the Government’s control and too narrowly focuses on “rights” while ignoring responsibilities.

He goes on to criticise the gravy train of pay and perks within the organisation. In support of the call to disband the organisation, the Taxpayers Alliance director, Matthew Sinclair, said: “The EHRC has mismanaged millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money too many times. It has shown that it can’t be trusted to use its budget properly and should be wound up. There are much better uses for the millions of pounds it spends every year than this politicised and wasteful quango.”

Conservative MP Dominic Raab said: “The EHRC is costly and counter-productive. Its fixation on positive discrimination and quotas is socially divisive, anti-meritocratic and out of touch with the aspirations of modern young Britons.”

Fellow Tory MP Priti Patel said: “I am not surprised by this report as I went through the EHRC annual reports and the waste is unbelievable."

The watchdog has continually been in the news for its controversial judgments. In March it was criticised after saying children should be asked from age 11 if they were gay, with records kept of any who were “questioning” their sexuality in case they fell victim to discrimination.

Football fans were furious when the quango backed Bath City club in offering Polish supporters an 80 per cent discount on match tickets.

It also warned full-body security scanners at British airports could be illegal and would be impossible to monitor if there were discrimination in the way passengers were selected for the checks.

The Coalition has already reduced funding for the EHRC, from £70 million in 2007 to £55 million in 2010-11 and plans further cuts to £26 million in 2014-15.

Frankly that's £26 million too much for something which seems to do more to stir up inequalities than to reconcile them...

(You can read more in the Daily Express by clicking here)

EHRC - Another worthless crock

As my regular reader will testify, every time the phrase 'human rights' is used, by blood pressure goes through the roof!

Now it seems that some common sense is finally permeating into this area of politically correct bullshit. The independant think tank Civitas says that if it were disbanded, not only would taxpayers be saved millions but proper ways could be found to tackle unfairness.

The scathing report by academic Jon Gower Davies says the Commission looks at issues the wrong way. It blames British unfairness for differences in people’s lives that are beyond the Government’s control and too narrowly focuses on “rights” while ignoring responsibilities.

He goes on to criticise the gravy train of pay and perks within the organisation. In support of the call to disband the organisation, the Taxpayers Alliance director, Matthew Sinclair, said: “The EHRC has mismanaged millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money too many times. It has shown that it can’t be trusted to use its budget properly and should be wound up. There are much better uses for the millions of pounds it spends every year than this politicised and wasteful quango.”

Conservative MP Dominic Raab said: “The EHRC is costly and counter-productive. Its fixation on positive discrimination and quotas is socially divisive, anti-meritocratic and out of touch with the aspirations of modern young Britons.”

Fellow Tory MP Priti Patel said: “I am not surprised by this report as I went through the EHRC annual reports and the waste is unbelievable."

The watchdog has continually been in the news for its controversial judgments. In March it was criticised after saying children should be asked from age 11 if they were gay, with records kept of any who were “questioning” their sexuality in case they fell victim to discrimination.

Football fans were furious when the quango backed Bath City club in offering Polish supporters an 80 per cent discount on match tickets.

It also warned full-body security scanners at British airports could be illegal and would be impossible to monitor if there were discrimination in the way passengers were selected for the checks.

The Coalition has already reduced funding for the EHRC, from £70 million in 2007 to £55 million in 2010-11 and plans further cuts to £26 million in 2014-15.

Frankly that's £26 million too much for something which seems to do more to stir up inequalities than to reconcile them...

(You can read more in the Daily Express by clicking here)

International Climate Week

Did you know that this week was International Climate Week? No.? Well, until I saw it on the BBC breakfast programme yesterday morning, nor did I.

Apparently, Monday 21 March 2011, marked the start of the UK’s first ever Climate Week. It is a new national occasion, backed by the Prime Minister, has-been eco knobhead Al Gore and celebrities such as Paul McCartney, as well as "a huge number of people and organisations from every part of society".

Climate Week apparently provides an opportunity to raise awareness and highlight and inspire innovative ideas which will help protect our planet and the people who live on it. As far as I can see it has failed spectacularly!

Basically, it's a bit of touchy feely bullshit thought up by the Department for International Development. You can read about it by clicking here. I especially like the flash at the head of the site where it thanks 'British Taxpayers' which I found particularly offensive. No bugger asked me if they could give my money away at a time when I need it myself.

Apparently this amazingly inconspicuous set of events is sponsored by Tesco, Kelloggs, French energy supplier EDF (Hmmmm...is this appropriate?) and RBS which you will remember is also funded by the taxpayer. Still, it did get an award for "Best Initiative for a Government or Statutory body (see here) as did HM Revenue and Customs for "making environmental targets a departmental priority.

I am tempted to say that collecting tax from loads of people who haven't paid up might be a better priority for HMRC because, after all, they haven't contributed to this piece of pathetic self aggrandisement - it's just us mugs...

International Climate Week

Did you know that this week was International Climate Week? No.? Well, until I saw it on the BBC breakfast programme yesterday morning, nor did I.

Apparently, Monday 21 March 2011, marked the start of the UK’s first ever Climate Week. It is a new national occasion, backed by the Prime Minister, has-been eco knobhead Al Gore and celebrities such as Paul McCartney, as well as "a huge number of people and organisations from every part of society".

Climate Week apparently provides an opportunity to raise awareness and highlight and inspire innovative ideas which will help protect our planet and the people who live on it. As far as I can see it has failed spectacularly!

Basically, it's a bit of touchy feely bullshit thought up by the Department for International Development. You can read about it by clicking here. I especially like the flash at the head of the site where it thanks 'British Taxpayers' which I found particularly offensive. No bugger asked me if they could give my money away at a time when I need it myself.

Apparently this amazingly inconspicuous set of events is sponsored by Tesco, Kelloggs, French energy supplier EDF (Hmmmm...is this appropriate?) and RBS which you will remember is also funded by the taxpayer. Still, it did get an award for "Best Initiative for a Government or Statutory body (see here) as did HM Revenue and Customs for "making environmental targets a departmental priority.

I am tempted to say that collecting tax from loads of people who haven't paid up might be a better priority for HMRC because, after all, they haven't contributed to this piece of pathetic self aggrandisement - it's just us mugs...

The Census is coming...

In a few weeks time, the census for 2011 will be dropping through your letter box. Frankly, it doesn't seem like five minutes since we did the last one but I guess that's just a sign of old age.

I have mixed feelings about the census. As I have an interest in family history, I have to say that the censuses from 1811 through 1911 have been very useful in my researches and have enabled me to trace ancestors that I otherwise would never have found.

There's also something fascinating about those old Victorian censuses filled in with their quaint old script. The 1911 was the first one filled in by the householder, so for the first time I was able to see my grandfather's handwriting. But I digress...

This is the age of the computer, and if you really want to screw things up, then get a computer! With a computer it is possible to collect and collate vast amounts of information - most of it meaningless and useless - which it would otherwise have been impossible to gather. This census will be 32 pages long and will take about 40 minutes to fill in. This is ludicrous. It is information for the sake of it. Imagine trying to do all that by hand with a quill pen. Impossible.

But that is the point. In olden times - before computers - we placed value on information and only collected what we really needed. Time is money and census collecting took lots of man hours.

There seems to be a growing backlash this time around about the quantity and intrusive nature of the information being collected. For example, do we really need information on racial origin when we have laws that say racial discrimination is illegal? Is it really any business of the state what our sexual persuasion is? Why do you want to know my religion?

It is tempting to fill in these returns with the contempt that some of these questions deserve. On the other hand, in a hundred years time, do I really want my great grandchildren to think I was a complete idiot because of some of my answers.

Perhaps that's the way to do it. Think of it as a message for your descendants and answer it accordingly...

The Census is coming...

In a few weeks time, the census for 2011 will be dropping through your letter box. Frankly, it doesn't seem like five minutes since we did the last one but I guess that's just a sign of old age.

I have mixed feelings about the census. As I have an interest in family history, I have to say that the censuses from 1811 through 1911 have been very useful in my researches and have enabled me to trace ancestors that I otherwise would never have found.

There's also something fascinating about those old Victorian censuses filled in with their quaint old script. The 1911 was the first one filled in by the householder, so for the first time I was able to see my grandfather's handwriting. But I digress...

This is the age of the computer, and if you really want to screw things up, then get a computer! With a computer it is possible to collect and collate vast amounts of information - most of it meaningless and useless - which it would otherwise have been impossible to gather. This census will be 32 pages long and will take about 40 minutes to fill in. This is ludicrous. It is information for the sake of it. Imagine trying to do all that by hand with a quill pen. Impossible.

But that is the point. In olden times - before computers - we placed value on information and only collected what we really needed. Time is money and census collecting took lots of man hours.

There seems to be a growing backlash this time around about the quantity and intrusive nature of the information being collected. For example, do we really need information on racial origin when we have laws that say racial discrimination is illegal? Is it really any business of the state what our sexual persuasion is? Why do you want to know my religion?

It is tempting to fill in these returns with the contempt that some of these questions deserve. On the other hand, in a hundred years time, do I really want my great grandchildren to think I was a complete idiot because of some of my answers.

Perhaps that's the way to do it. Think of it as a message for your descendants and answer it accordingly...

Smokey drinkey music

To celebrate National No Smoking Day, this song is dedicated to my friends Leg Iron, BilloTheWisp and the Filthy Engineer as well as all the rest of you out there who like a smoke and a drink and don't like being told what is good for you...

Best enjoyed with a pair of headphones and the volume full up!

Smokey drinkey music

To celebrate National No Smoking Day, this song is dedicated to my friends Leg Iron, BilloTheWisp and the Filthy Engineer as well as all the rest of you out there who like a smoke and a drink and don't like being told what is good for you...

Best enjoyed with a pair of headphones and the volume full up!

Politically correct

With a name like PC Air you might be tempted to think that this is a wind up...

The Thai airline has decided that it will employ ladyboys as flight attendants. They are, after all, quite common in Thailand and after advertising for staff, the airline was swamped with applicants by transvestites and transexuals.

The airline said that the qualifications for the ladyboy flight attendants were the same as for female flight attendants, with the additional provisos that they be like women in how they walk and talk, and have a feminine voice and the right attitude. The Thai Department of Civil Aviation says it has no problem with the policy and the airline says it may well hire some more from the 'third gender'.

I don't know about you, but I find this a little queer...

Politically correct

With a name like PC Air you might be tempted to think that this is a wind up...

The Thai airline has decided that it will employ ladyboys as flight attendants. They are, after all, quite common in Thailand and after advertising for staff, the airline was swamped with applicants by transvestites and transexuals.

The airline said that the qualifications for the ladyboy flight attendants were the same as for female flight attendants, with the additional provisos that they be like women in how they walk and talk, and have a feminine voice and the right attitude. The Thai Department of Civil Aviation says it has no problem with the policy and the airline says it may well hire some more from the 'third gender'.

I don't know about you, but I find this a little queer...

Play happy families with Hitler...

A Happy Families type card game caled "Fuhrer Quartett" has been put on sale in Germany.

The set of cards contains pictures and information on notorious historical figures such as Hitler, Franco of Spain and Ceaucescu of Romania. Each card features one dictator, the country he ruled, his educational background and how long he was in power.

A spokesman for the publishers said "We didn't really have a clear political idea in mind with the game but we did want to take away some of the power that these figures still have. When you can laugh at them, you don't fear them as much. I think we succeeded in finding the right mix of seriousness and fun!" Hmmm...

I get the impression that if I had invented this game myself and posted it on here, then you would have thought I was kidding, but I swear to you this is real. It never ceases to amaze me to what depths of stupidity and insensitivity people can sink to.

Strangely enough, the original game of Quartett was very popular in the Nazi era, so I suppose this version shouldn't really surprise me.

Play happy families with Hitler...

A Happy Families type card game caled "Fuhrer Quartett" has been put on sale in Germany.

The set of cards contains pictures and information on notorious historical figures such as Hitler, Franco of Spain and Ceaucescu of Romania. Each card features one dictator, the country he ruled, his educational background and how long he was in power.

A spokesman for the publishers said "We didn't really have a clear political idea in mind with the game but we did want to take away some of the power that these figures still have. When you can laugh at them, you don't fear them as much. I think we succeeded in finding the right mix of seriousness and fun!" Hmmm...

I get the impression that if I had invented this game myself and posted it on here, then you would have thought I was kidding, but I swear to you this is real. It never ceases to amaze me to what depths of stupidity and insensitivity people can sink to.

Strangely enough, the original game of Quartett was very popular in the Nazi era, so I suppose this version shouldn't really surprise me.

Rotten Boroughs - Wiltshire County Council

Picture this if you can...

In a Scout Hut in Wiltshire, an unpaid band of volunteers is holding a meeting. Reference is made to rumours in the NHS. The leader of the group, 70 year old Mrs. Anna Farquhar, says "You cannot help the jungle drums."

Up in the public gallery, a trouble making jungle bunny (offensive remark intended) shouts "You can't say that!" A bemused Mrs Farquhar thinks - quite correctly - she has said nothing wrong but being a polite old dear, she apologises anyway. The aforementioned junge bunny seems to be appeased and stops for tea and cakes after the meeting. No-one thinks any more about it, until...

Thump! 13 weeks after the meeting in the Scout hut — a ten-page report commissioned by Wiltshire County Council lands on Mrs Farquhar’s desk with the sinister sounding title 'Complaint Investigator’s Report'. The jungle bunny has made an official complaint!

‘The comment was inappropriate and caused offence' it says. Her colleagues had ‘failed to challenge’ her statement. There was a ‘clear lack of understanding of equality and diversity issues’ among the group. All this is, of course, total bollocks!

The bunny had been interviewed, of course, before the report was published. So, too, had members of other organisations that had dealings with Mrs Farquhar and her team. Scandalously, though, the only person who wasn’t interviewed was Mrs Farquhar herself or anyone on the 20-strong ‘steering committee’ who were present in the Scout hut. Except one, that is. And she was the one colleague who agreed with the bunny.

The story doesn't stop there and you can read more about it in the Daily Mail by clicking here.

What is clear in this case is that the Council wasted good taxpayers' money on a ridulous complaint which should, within the confines of the law, have been rejected out of hand on a test of 'reasonableness'. Because they failed to act appropriately, a decent woman has been caused unnecesaary stress and upset.

Frankly, if I were her, I would lodge an official complaint. This seems to work for everyone else!

Rotten Boroughs - Wiltshire County Council

Picture this if you can...

In a Scout Hut in Wiltshire, an unpaid band of volunteers is holding a meeting. Reference is made to rumours in the NHS. The leader of the group, 70 year old Mrs. Anna Farquhar, says "You cannot help the jungle drums."

Up in the public gallery, a trouble making jungle bunny (offensive remark intended) shouts "You can't say that!" A bemused Mrs Farquhar thinks - quite correctly - she has said nothing wrong but being a polite old dear, she apologises anyway. The aforementioned junge bunny seems to be appeased and stops for tea and cakes after the meeting. No-one thinks any more about it, until...

Thump! 13 weeks after the meeting in the Scout hut — a ten-page report commissioned by Wiltshire County Council lands on Mrs Farquhar’s desk with the sinister sounding title 'Complaint Investigator’s Report'. The jungle bunny has made an official complaint!

‘The comment was inappropriate and caused offence' it says. Her colleagues had ‘failed to challenge’ her statement. There was a ‘clear lack of understanding of equality and diversity issues’ among the group. All this is, of course, total bollocks!

The bunny had been interviewed, of course, before the report was published. So, too, had members of other organisations that had dealings with Mrs Farquhar and her team. Scandalously, though, the only person who wasn’t interviewed was Mrs Farquhar herself or anyone on the 20-strong ‘steering committee’ who were present in the Scout hut. Except one, that is. And she was the one colleague who agreed with the bunny.

The story doesn't stop there and you can read more about it in the Daily Mail by clicking here.

What is clear in this case is that the Council wasted good taxpayers' money on a ridulous complaint which should, within the confines of the law, have been rejected out of hand on a test of 'reasonableness'. Because they failed to act appropriately, a decent woman has been caused unnecesaary stress and upset.

Frankly, if I were her, I would lodge an official complaint. This seems to work for everyone else!