Thursday, August 31, 2006
Ban Running Now!
Now that we've banned violent pornography, we should also ban running. Murderers run, just like all murderers use violent pornography. If we ban running, it will give victims more time to escape. Why should you need to run anyway when you can walk? Write to your MP now and demand another new law!
The Alleged Terrorist Plot (via the NY Times)
The report that you're not supposed to be allowed to read in Britain is available here thanks to Pickled Politics. A few highlights:
* The suspects had neither made reservations nor purchased plane tickets.
* Two of the suspects did not have passports.
* The reactions of Britain and the United States in the wake of the arrests of 21 people on Aug. 10 were driven less by information about a specific, imminent attack than fear that other, unknown terrorists might strike.
* Mr. Reid said that attacks were “highly likely”.
So basically, it was all blown out of proportion, and used as an excuse to keep us all frightened. I pity all the people who were trying to fly that week, knowing that there was no real reason to increase the security on such a scale.
* The suspects had neither made reservations nor purchased plane tickets.
* Two of the suspects did not have passports.
* The reactions of Britain and the United States in the wake of the arrests of 21 people on Aug. 10 were driven less by information about a specific, imminent attack than fear that other, unknown terrorists might strike.
* Mr. Reid said that attacks were “highly likely”.
So basically, it was all blown out of proportion, and used as an excuse to keep us all frightened. I pity all the people who were trying to fly that week, knowing that there was no real reason to increase the security on such a scale.
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Wonder Where Your Tax Money is Going?
I obviously can't account for all of it, but last year £322 million went on 3,259 press officers, advertising and PR. Even John Prescott has 3 press officers, maybe to compensate for not even having a department.
Home Office Database Breached Four Times
From The Reg: In a surprise to absolutely no-one, security at the British Home Office's Identity and Passport Service (IPS) database has been compromised four times, with individuals' data used inappropriately by Home Office employees and contractors. In three of the cases workers were able to access data they had no authority to use and in the fourth a worker who did have authority to access data used it inappropriately.
Still, I'm sure they'll have it all sorted out in time for ID cards, to ensure that our identities are perfectly safe. It will be the worlds first completely secure database. Maybe they can sell it to AOL? And Visa? And Mastercard? And all the others?
Still, I'm sure they'll have it all sorted out in time for ID cards, to ensure that our identities are perfectly safe. It will be the worlds first completely secure database. Maybe they can sell it to AOL? And Visa? And Mastercard? And all the others?
Help People Out and Get Suspended
A postman has been suspended for telling his customers how to avoid receiving junk mail.
A few points:-
* What kind of example does this set children, if they see that someone who helps others out and causes no detriment to anyone (save for the Royal Mail's profits) get punished? Is this what Blair was talking about with his "Respect" agenda? The message I hear is: "Don't help anyone out if it could cause a company to lose profit". And: "Profit comes first, helping other people doesn't".
* When the amount of rubbish being produced is high (or should be) on the Governments agenda for change, surely junk mail is the first thing that should be tackled.
* The postman was only telling people what they could already find out (if they looked hard enough, as no doubt the Royal Mail like to keep things like this secret). It's like British Telecom not telling people how to avoid unwanted sales calls, and then suspending one of their operators who tells someone. Would that be acceptable?
A few points:-
* What kind of example does this set children, if they see that someone who helps others out and causes no detriment to anyone (save for the Royal Mail's profits) get punished? Is this what Blair was talking about with his "Respect" agenda? The message I hear is: "Don't help anyone out if it could cause a company to lose profit". And: "Profit comes first, helping other people doesn't".
* When the amount of rubbish being produced is high (or should be) on the Governments agenda for change, surely junk mail is the first thing that should be tackled.
* The postman was only telling people what they could already find out (if they looked hard enough, as no doubt the Royal Mail like to keep things like this secret). It's like British Telecom not telling people how to avoid unwanted sales calls, and then suspending one of their operators who tells someone. Would that be acceptable?
Friday, August 25, 2006
A point about Religion
Someone on Slashdot made an interesting point regarding the story that the evolution biology subject has disappeared from a list of acceptable fields of study for recipients of a federal education grant for low-income college students [in America, natch].
Anyway, the point is (to summarise), often people and organisations with religious affiliations are often trying to dictate what can and cannot be taught in schools, and even dictating what music cannot be listened to. But when was the last time a scientists tried to dictate what could and could not be taught in the church?
Anyway, the point is (to summarise), often people and organisations with religious affiliations are often trying to dictate what can and cannot be taught in schools, and even dictating what music cannot be listened to. But when was the last time a scientists tried to dictate what could and could not be taught in the church?
Thursday, August 24, 2006
THE MYTH OF THE OMNIPRESENT ENEMY
Just like I've been saying for weeks, the terrorists aren't everywhere. If they were, then what are they doing? Where are the constant bomb threats? Where is the sabotage of pipelines and powerstations?
The only thing that is everywhere is the perception of them. It's time for people to wake up and realise that the phrase "Al-Quada" is thrown around so often it's lost all meaning, and we never knew what it meant anyway.
Meanwhile, the "threat to our security" is giving schools reason to fingerprint innocent children.
The only thing that is everywhere is the perception of them. It's time for people to wake up and realise that the phrase "Al-Quada" is thrown around so often it's lost all meaning, and we never knew what it meant anyway.
Meanwhile, the "threat to our security" is giving schools reason to fingerprint innocent children.
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Inheritance Tax and other stuff
All this talk of scrapping inheritance tax got me thinking about a few things. With this blog being called Straight to the Point, I'll get straight to the point:-
1) Scrapping inheritance tax will just mean that the rich will get richer. Say you give your house to your kids after saving up over your lifetime. So your kids get a house for free, and probably have enough money (if they saved like you did) for another. So then they've got two houses to pass on to their kids. Where does it end?
2) I've often been curious who owns what buildings. Take Oxford Street in London for example. I'm only guessing here, but I imagine that most of those are rented. Who owns them? And how much do they charge? Probably a small fortune. SO is that why things cost so much in London - because the shops have to pay this extortionate rent to unknown individuals who probably own the land in London for historical reasons (handed down from generation to generation starting in the middle ages probably). They'll be getting richer and richer.
1) Scrapping inheritance tax will just mean that the rich will get richer. Say you give your house to your kids after saving up over your lifetime. So your kids get a house for free, and probably have enough money (if they saved like you did) for another. So then they've got two houses to pass on to their kids. Where does it end?
2) I've often been curious who owns what buildings. Take Oxford Street in London for example. I'm only guessing here, but I imagine that most of those are rented. Who owns them? And how much do they charge? Probably a small fortune. SO is that why things cost so much in London - because the shops have to pay this extortionate rent to unknown individuals who probably own the land in London for historical reasons (handed down from generation to generation starting in the middle ages probably). They'll be getting richer and richer.
Monday, August 21, 2006
GM food creeping up on us...
If I was cynical (which I am), I would say that the business plan of any GM food producer is a combination of trying to give it to us without our knowledge, or contaminate all other non-GM varieties of the same product with the GM variety, so we then have no choice but to eat it.
Anyway, on a not-unrelated note, Japan has suspended US long-grain rice imports after supplies were found to contain a genetically engineered variety that is unapproved for sale. The European Commission said it was seeking information from US authorities "with the utmost urgency".
And the main US response has been: "There are no human health, food safety, or environmental concerns associated with this (genetically engineered) rice." Sorry, but I don't believe you, and I don't believe you can even know the full repercussions of GM foods.
Anyway, on a not-unrelated note, Japan has suspended US long-grain rice imports after supplies were found to contain a genetically engineered variety that is unapproved for sale. The European Commission said it was seeking information from US authorities "with the utmost urgency".
And the main US response has been: "There are no human health, food safety, or environmental concerns associated with this (genetically engineered) rice." Sorry, but I don't believe you, and I don't believe you can even know the full repercussions of GM foods.
Sunday, August 20, 2006
This is all the Government has acheived
The governments determination to scare us and make us think that terrorists are everywhere has succeeded, Two men were taken off a flight bound for Manchester after some passengers became alarmed about what they regarded as suspicious behaviour. Where will it end? Distrust amongst each other just because we aren't acting "normally"?
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Pot and Kettle
"David Cameron was accused by ministers of "playing politics with the terrorist threat". Isn't that what this whole "terrorist threat" has always been about? So far we have been told nothing that constitutes a threat. The police have already been forced to ask for more time to hold the prisoners.
My money is on them being released, or at least one being charged for something completely innocious like parking on double-yellows.
My money is on them being released, or at least one being charged for something completely innocious like parking on double-yellows.
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Someone from Guantanamo released!
(From AOL). Still no-one has been convicted of anything. How many more to go?
As Craig Murray informs us, the chances of being convicted in the UK are just as bad:-
It doesn't stop us locking them up though, does it?
As Craig Murray informs us, the chances of being convicted in the UK are just as bad:-
Of the over one thousand British Muslims arrested under anti-terrorist legislation, only twelve per cent are ever charged with anything. That is simply harrassment of Muslims on an appalling scale. Of those charged, 80% are acquitted. Most of the very few - just over two per cent of arrests - who are convicted, are not convicted of anything to do terrorism, but of some minor offence the Police happened upon while trawling through the wreck of the lives they had shattered.
It doesn't stop us locking them up though, does it?
The Sun Exclusive: War in Iraq!
Yes, after yesterdays exclusive of Prince Harry groping a girl (with pictures) that only happened three years ago, the Sun can also reveal that there is some kind of war going on in Iraq!
Tommorow: Why we think Harry is the greatest royal ever, in the column The Sun Changes It's Mind Again.
When will people stop reading The Sun?
Tommorow: Why we think Harry is the greatest royal ever, in the column The Sun Changes It's Mind Again.
When will people stop reading The Sun?
Monday, August 14, 2006
Only muslims can be terrorists
That would explain why there are two stories on the BBC this week involving the Real IRA. One is about firebomb attacks on stores in Newry, and the other about police recovering a "device" near the cross-border railway line and the Newry bypass. And how many times is the word "terror" mentioned (including any words starting with the word "terror")? Precisely zero. Anyone tell me why?
Friday, August 11, 2006
Public Information: All Liquids Are Now Dangerous!
If you see a liquid, even if it was perfectly safe a couple of days it ago, it could now be fatal. If anyone spots a liquid, do not approach it. If you are already carrying a liquid, please deposit it into a large vat in the middle of a croweded area, as everyone knows that mixing liquids together makes them safe.
Evidence that terrorists *Aren't* everywhere!
Well, if they were, surely there would be more threats of terrorist attacks?
I remember the "good old days", when there was a bomb threat every week at some London tubestation. You knew where you were then, and people got used to it all and carried on as usual. There was no talk of curbing our freedoms then. Now that terrorists strikes in this country are so few and far between, we panic when something happens.
So come on terrorists! You're just not trying hard enough! Or maybe you're not out there...
I remember the "good old days", when there was a bomb threat every week at some London tubestation. You knew where you were then, and people got used to it all and carried on as usual. There was no talk of curbing our freedoms then. Now that terrorists strikes in this country are so few and far between, we panic when something happens.
So come on terrorists! You're just not trying hard enough! Or maybe you're not out there...
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
John Reid Talks in Daily Mail Headlines Shocker!
(From the BBC)
The solutions are obvious:
* Kill yourself now, as things are obviously so bad it's now worth living.
* Lock everyone up (and I mean everyone). Only then we can be sure we have locked up the terrorists.
Having said that, did I miss some major terrorist attack that's happened in the last year? Maybe it went un-noticed due to all the death and destruction in Iraq and Lebannon. Who caused that I wonder?
- Britain might have to modify its freedoms in the short term in order to prevent their "misuse and abuse" by terrorists!
- The UK faced its "most sustained period of severe threat since the end of World War II"!
- They cannot be sure of stopping terrorist attacks!
- Mr Reid said another attack on the UK was "highly likely"!
- Politicians, the judiciary and the public sector needed to "understand the depth and magnitude" of the terrorist threat facing the UK!
The solutions are obvious:
* Kill yourself now, as things are obviously so bad it's now worth living.
* Lock everyone up (and I mean everyone). Only then we can be sure we have locked up the terrorists.
Having said that, did I miss some major terrorist attack that's happened in the last year? Maybe it went un-noticed due to all the death and destruction in Iraq and Lebannon. Who caused that I wonder?
Friday, August 04, 2006
Deja-vu with the Police
The terror raid shooting was 'accidental', and now the person who hs been shot by the police has been accused by the police of a henious crime. Am I talking about de Menezes or Mohammed Abdul Kahar? And who will be surprised if people think this is another cover-up? "Tell you what, we'll drop the charges if you drop the lawsuit."
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Hospitals Agree to Deliberately Delay Treatments
(From the BBC) How widespread is this? A hospital has agreed with it's trust that patients should have to wait at least 4 months for treatment, even if there is spare capacity.
New Panic-o-meter
In order to copy and be like America (in a school nerd/jock stylee) our good Government has come up with it's own Threat Level Meter, which provides no specific information whatsoever, apart from telling you how much to distrust dark-skinned people in the street.It currently stands at severe, meaning "an attack is highly likely". So does that mean that if we don't suffer an attack, or hear about a foiled attack in the news, then it's a complete failure and cannot be relied upon?
