tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37856111810508048222024-03-14T17:25:36.106+00:00RISE LIKE LIONSA political and cultural blog covering the North East of EnglandPETER SHAWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18279953355371196314noreply@blogger.comBlogger358125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785611181050804822.post-1505063247609868182007-07-16T15:44:00.000+01:002007-07-16T16:05:34.540+01:00BLOGYARD FORTNIGHT 17TH JULY TO 6TH AUGUST 2007<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">In true north east industrial tradition, this site shall close down for “Blogyard Fortnight”.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">With moving house and shutting down a business, the last few months have been very stressful.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Not being ones to do things in half measures the complete Shaw family (ourselves, children, Mam’s and Dad’s, brothers, pregnant wives etc) have all decided to go on holiday together to</span><span style=";font-size:100%;color:black;" > <a href="http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&ct=res&amp;amp;cd=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ciutadella.org%2F&ei=RoWbRpiUI4-0wAH2-PDCCQ&usg=AFQjCNFvXWbTlYrRR3ZWosZB7eofy2vBOw&sig2=WSh-SPHcytLYuKrEUxpPWw"><span style="text-decoration: none;color:black;" >Ciutadella</span></a>, the crusade influenced capital of Menorca.<span style=""> </span>To get away from it all and have a rest is definitely what the doctor would have prescribed if I had bothered to go and see him.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style=";font-size:100%;color:black;" ><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style=";font-size:100%;color:black;" >From the 17<sup>th</sup> July to 6<sup>th</sup> August you wont hear from me, though if I can get internet access I will post some photo’s etc.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style=";font-size:100%;color:black;" ><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:black;" >Please bookmark the return date.<span style=""> </span>As Arnie said “I’ll be back!”</span>PETER SHAWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18279953355371196314noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785611181050804822.post-81373866146354707572007-07-13T18:20:00.000+01:002007-07-13T18:25:17.413+01:00TIME FOR A BREAKToday we got the keys for the new house, so there is no excuse for avoiding the packing and the move. Painters and decorators will have finished by Saturday night, so the first car load of what we can move will go on Sunday <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">mornining</span>. Will I be able to fit in any post's during this period? Put it this way, would I dare and try to fit in any posts ? The answers to the dare is yes, the success side of it is another matter. Please be patient, the political world may be spared my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">pen</span> for the next couple of days, but I have saved some lovely little gems for latter.PETER SHAWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18279953355371196314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785611181050804822.post-43056499988725685942007-07-12T14:16:00.000+01:002007-07-12T14:17:14.419+01:00LATE POSTThe "post" man will be coming some time today, but it may be a bit late!PETER SHAWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18279953355371196314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785611181050804822.post-18820767582678654462007-07-11T13:24:00.001+01:002007-07-11T13:25:40.527+01:00RUBBISH REPORT<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The BBC’s news website has highlighted two London Borough’s which have the worst recycling rates, these being Tower Hamlets and Newham.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Naturally, South Tyneside’s position was of interest, as were other local Councils, and a quick check of the stats revealed the following for 2005/2006, the most upto date figures I could find;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">FIGURES OUT OF 393 AUTHORITIES</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">NORTHUMBERLAND – 125 –</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">DURHAM COUNTY – 188 -</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">HARTLEPOOL – 272 –</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">DURHAM CITY – 277 –</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">SOUTH TYNESIDE – 288 –</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">GATESHEAD – 312 –</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">SUNDERLAND – 337 –</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">NEWCASTLE – 342 –</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">DARLINGTON – 365 –</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">STOCKTON – 365 –</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">MIDDLESBROUGH – 390 –</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Excluding Durham and Northumberland, northern Councils are pretty poor at getting rid of their rubbish.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">South Tyneside, whilst being in the middle of the table when compared to its neighbours, is actually near the bottom of the national averages.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Certain issues have to be factored into these figures however; being urban areas, some of the authorities will have to deal with vast quantities of commercial and domestic rubbish, as opposed to a rural area with less dense population levels.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">There is also the issue of the rubbish itself.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Unless the public adopts some degree of separation i.e. glass, paper etc, then it is difficult to process the material other than straight to land fill.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">If this was a school report card the headmaster of South Tyneside would have finished with “must try harder, room for improvement”.</span></span><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Middlesbrough however, would have been expelled!</span></span> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p>PETER SHAWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18279953355371196314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785611181050804822.post-40112354211280750902007-07-11T10:06:00.001+01:002007-07-11T10:07:14.939+01:00INTERNET NEWS<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">With certain pressures coming into play with regards to free time, I have found that the newspapers this week have not been given the attention that they should.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">This morning then, rather than buy a couple of tabloids, I decided to hit the internet sites and see if they were detailed enough to fulfil my quota of news. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:100%;">All the UK majors have updated news sites, and the varied coverage of topics was no surprise.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">The Sun and The Star both give prominence to Channel Four’s Big Brother, with the Sun also highlighting </span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">“Cheshire Housewife Marries Bin Laden”.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Clearly an attention grabber, but tucked in underneath in smaller text is the disclaimer; not exactly Bin Laden himself, but his son.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Surprisingly, the Times leads with the same headline, but clearly mentions the son situation in the title.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Quite a contrast, but not an unsurprising one.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">The Mirror, Independent and Mail all lead with the prediction of a mortgage and property melt down.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">All three offer convincing cases for trouble ahead, and I cant help but fear that this could be the trigger for a major economic slump.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">The Guardian and the Telegraph lead with NHS reforms and the Salmon Rushdie revenge controversy respectively.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">So who wins the battle on the web site front?</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">All the sites were easy to use, and their content, whilst extensive, obviously does not have the degree of articles that a full paper would (why should it, we wouldn’t buy the paper if it did).</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">I found the Telegraph site to have the best presentation; it “felt” like a paper.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">At the rate web electronic media is progressing, the days of newspapers must be numbered.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Downloads, pod casts, news alert emails,</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">24 hour/instantaneous news coverage and more detailed web sites will undoubtedly replace the traditional black and white print which has educated and enriched thousands of people across the centuries.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">However, two things must be remembered when contemplating the demise of the traditional rag; will fish and chips ever taste the same when not wrapped in the Gazette, and what will us fathers have to fall asleep behind on a Sunday afternoon?</span></p>PETER SHAWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18279953355371196314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785611181050804822.post-42669746690371358562007-07-10T16:17:00.001+01:002007-07-10T16:42:08.759+01:00KEEP ON RUNNING, AND EATING<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">For those of you who are running in the South Shields Harriers “Hitcham Mile” tonight, don’t have any tea.<span style=""> </span>As a reward you will all be receiving a plate of grub for free.<span style=""> </span>You will getting;<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <ol style="margin-top: 0cm; font-family: arial;" start="1" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Pasta with Italian herbs and a peach dressing<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;">New potato’s with a citrus marinade<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Smoked bacon or pepper quiche<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Home made coleslaw<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Couscous with smoked paprika and garlic<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Sausage roll (for your carbo’s)<o:p></o:p></span></li></ol> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">How do I know?<span style=""> </span>Because I’ve just finished making it for you.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <span style="font-family: arial;font-size:130%;" ><span style=";font-size:12;" >Run towards the purple Picasso, that’s the car with the bait in!</span></span>PETER SHAWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18279953355371196314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785611181050804822.post-77754379692332799982007-07-10T14:21:00.000+01:002007-07-10T14:28:21.245+01:00CONSIDER THIS<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">I am about to back up all the things I have said in the post below about consideration of other bloggers news, views and issues.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Not a man I always agree with, but regional readers would be well served to check out the post at Curly’s Corner Shop.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style=";font-size:100%;color:blue;" ><a href="http://curly15.wordpress.com/2007/07/10/labours-south-tyneside-secret-plans-exposed">http://curly15.wordpress.com/2007/07/10/labours-south-tyneside-secret-plans-exposed</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style=";font-size:100%;color:blue;" ><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;" class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:100%;">I wont reproduce his text in full (he has covered the subject well enough himself) but it centres on the Council’s underhand and disgraceful wishes to close the Lanark Drive children’s home in Jarrow, all to save £200,000 (12 jobs will also go).</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style=";font-size:100%;color:black;" ><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style=";font-size:100%;color:black;" >After you have read the article, consider these issues.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.75pt; text-indent: -18.75pt; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=";font-size:100%;color:black;" >1.<span style=""> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style=";font-size:100%;color:black;" >What will the existing land/building be used for?<span style=""> </span>If the council want to sell it, how much will a developer be willing to pay?<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.75pt; text-indent: -18.75pt; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=";font-size:100%;color:black;" >2.<span style=""> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style=";font-size:100%;color:black;" >Does any prospective buyer have current contractual business with the Council?<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.75pt; text-indent: -18.75pt; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=";font-size:100%;color:black;" >3.<span style=""> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style=";font-size:100%;color:black;" >How much will it cost to make 12 specialised staff redundant, probably more than the saving of £200,000?<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.75pt; text-indent: -18.75pt; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=";font-size:100%;color:black;" >4.<span style=""> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style=";font-size:100%;color:black;" >Surely, the Council can make savings of £200, 000 elsewhere?<span style=""> </span>How much a year do they spend on entertainment and corporate packages?<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style=";font-size:100%;color:black;" ><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:black;" >Finally consider this.<span style=""> </span>The combined allowances for Councillor’s Foreman, Waggot, Malcolm and Donaldson (Curly’s Rat Pack) plus their other cabinet colleagues is over £190,000.<span style=""> </span>A bit to close for comfort?<span style=""> </span>Of course it is.<span style=""> </span>For a saving of £200,000 a body which costs the same in personnel allowances would shut down a children’s home, possibly the only secure environment these children have every had.<span style=""> </span>Consider that when you cast your ward votes next time round.</span></div>PETER SHAWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18279953355371196314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785611181050804822.post-42129268315059228702007-07-10T13:10:00.001+01:002008-12-10T06:34:08.318+00:00IN DEFENCE OF WHOEVER<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivSSxHkIZVc1F5Y-Y4vXKK2Vo08UEn5SrDk1whSm69sU0oByYFCZPQFtDbHE9aw5L6F9cGwfC6vHBSDXNEeLC36lnihIznQxkPezLYS-1RRLxJENTSiYFtvDq8C7SxRsBWrG2K5cn_unc/s1600-h/Guido.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivSSxHkIZVc1F5Y-Y4vXKK2Vo08UEn5SrDk1whSm69sU0oByYFCZPQFtDbHE9aw5L6F9cGwfC6vHBSDXNEeLC36lnihIznQxkPezLYS-1RRLxJENTSiYFtvDq8C7SxRsBWrG2K5cn_unc/s400/Guido.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085542998123096322" border="0" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Perhaps one of the quickest ways to make enemies is to;<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">a) Become a national politician<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">b) Write your own blog based on local and national politics<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The first option was never a consideration for me, but point b) was considerably within my grasp.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Since then, I have penned 350 posts (about 4 per day), said some pretty cutting things about people (fair enough), had some pretty cutting things said about me (fair enough), been warned about going into certain Cleadon village pubs (didn’t stop me) and pretty much sailed close to the line a few times.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">I have also regretted the odd post, especially where the satirical zeal went a bit to far.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">However, I have always felt that the underlying truth was always apparent.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">However three main things have emerged from the Rise Like Lions prose;<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;font-family:arial;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size:100%;">1)</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;">I have had a great time and been introduced to some wonderful fellow posters.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;font-family:arial;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size:100%;">2)</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;">At a regional level, it is the only area where constructive opposition takes place.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;font-family:arial;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size:100%;">3)</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;">I have met and spoke to some very honest people who I think I will maintain links with for a very long time.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">In a nutshell, this little bit of nostalgic musing leads to the conclusion that I have emerged pretty much unscathed and learned <b><u>a lot</u></b> along the way.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Could the same however, be said for other followers and participants of what is really only a way to express your political, cultural and personal feelings.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Lets take for example a certain Paul Staines, or Guido Fawkes as he is more commonly known in the posting world.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">I have followed Guido’s (I shall happily call him that as it has more exciting connotations than Paul) comments for over a year now and have never come across a person who is either on the one hand quoted out of existence, or on the other, despised with a venom worthy of an unnatural fixation.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">His own site specialises in political innuendo, humour, gossip and tittle-tattle, mostly all with a small vein of truth in them and mostly all anti Labour (oh yes, he’s also a Tory). If I had to tag a banner to his site it would be a “Nuts” version of “Private Eye.”</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">This is fine by me, when most fathers left the Racing Post, Mirror or Times lying around for his children to read, we Shaw’s had Ingram’s Private Eye.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">For many years I actually thought Wilson and Heath really did have speech bubbles coming out of their mouths and that E.J. Thribb was a poet!</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Guido however, has little such sentiment attached to his name.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">I have been surprised by the number of sites that have been set up to actually attack on a daily basis what he prints.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Most are pretty nasty, the majority absolutely horrid.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">An interview with Michael White from the Guardian shown on Newsnight is often used by the “anti’s” to justify their cause; I just found it a amusing, and had a sneaky feeling that Mr White, though a very good journalist, was a little bit miffed that “bloggers” are usurping the privileged position of sketch writers etc.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Perhaps this is the crux of the “hang Guido” camp; he is doing the job that the media can no longer deliver on.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Guido recently posted on the birth of his child; somebody commented “are you sure it’s yours”.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Now that’s personal and insulting, and has nothing to do with his political views.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">This is the opposite of the experiences I have had (though one commentator went beyond the point of decency, but only one) and whilst I hardly ever agree with what he has to say, Mr Fawkes should be allowed to fight his own little corner to any degree he wishes.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">As to all the other “Fawkes” who post, the same applies to them.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">I come across on a daily basis many on line diaries that I consider insulting and quite degrading, but I have the choice as to whether I return to them.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">I once heard Paul Foot and Tony Benn speak at a pro miners meeting when the pit closure programme was announced.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">The subject drifted (as it always does at left wing meetings) to the issue of extreme right wing politicians, Mosley and Enoch Powell being mentioned by name.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Foot, whilst stating he did not share his views, said he would have defended Powell’s right to air them to the hilt.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Benn, pointing out that he had heard Mosley speak and considered him a great orator but an obnoxious man, spoke with a similar sentiment.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Sometimes, a little bit more of this is needed in the posting world.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Speak your mind, but stick to the issues, stick to the politics and stick to the policies.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">It’s also OK sometimes to have a laugh; we have built a political opposition in this country on such an approach (Punch and Private Eye being the best examples).</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Humour is a great leveller, and it also exposes the issues that surround many a political problem.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">I have used Guido because he is a good example of the argument outlined.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">His web site is highlighted below with an “anti” listing in the interests of balance.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">However, there are hundreds of such similar conflicts listed on the web.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Now, where’s that George Elsom and Irene Lucas sketch I was writing!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">http://www.order-order.com/<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:arial;">http://guidofawkeshungdrawnandquartered.blogspot.com/</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p>PETER SHAWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18279953355371196314noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785611181050804822.post-90142444623113281292007-07-10T09:38:00.000+01:002008-12-10T06:34:08.478+00:00HERE WE GO AGAIN.........<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdYmM5wuu4b4tZdF-d0okwJ4Wy4FYyru-S_GM262GxRI1YOE9vvCInkAKqRhP7QzXEOZfOc0A_ftg-SR89OdPycsC0aqHvB9zokS1F2PSd1WITPQpUDM-rgVedrFB9GWZFhleUQEVWxHw/s1600-h/OLYMPIC.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdYmM5wuu4b4tZdF-d0okwJ4Wy4FYyru-S_GM262GxRI1YOE9vvCInkAKqRhP7QzXEOZfOc0A_ftg-SR89OdPycsC0aqHvB9zokS1F2PSd1WITPQpUDM-rgVedrFB9GWZFhleUQEVWxHw/s400/OLYMPIC.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085498540916615410" border="0" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Once again that little bug bare of mine has raised its head (Metro parking, councillors expenses/attendance rates, Channel 4 – God, have I got that many?)<span style=""> </span>No, the costs of the Olympic Games.<span style=""> </span>Today’s Times highlights what can only be described as complete corporate incompetence.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">The Public Accounts Committee, the Commons cross party body that ensures that the taxpayer’s money is spent wisely and properly, is frankly, very worried.<span style=""> </span>Four main points have emerged from a recent review of the Olympic books:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 38.25pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -20.25pt; font-family: arial;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size:130%;">1.<span style=""> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:130%;">That a full risk management review is urgently needed.<span style=""> </span>With to many companies and bodies involved in the building, promotional and revenue raising process, costs are accelerating out of control without any overall scrutiny.<span style=""> </span>This is the rationale behind the current £9.4 billion bill.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 38.25pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -20.25pt; font-family: arial;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size:130%;">2.<span style=""> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:130%;">The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG), charged with raising private finance, has no structures to inform government on a regular basis of its progress.<span style=""> </span>If it doesn’t get it’s costs and revenue under control, it will be the taxpayer through central funding who will have to pick up the bill.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 38.25pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -20.25pt; font-family: arial;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size:130%;">3.<span style=""> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:130%;">There is no clarity or financial project under review or preparation to ensure that the main five capital projects are fully adopted for use after the games have finished.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 38.25pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -20.25pt; font-family: arial;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size:130%;">4.<span style=""> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:130%;">Edward Leigh MP, the Committee’s Chair and not normally such a publicly outspoken critic of such projects, has said that the whole process needs to be run with an “iron hand”.<span style=""> </span>His most telling attack however is contained in the one sentence;<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 38.25pt; text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 38.25pt; text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">“strong arrangements for monitoring progress and management risk are so far not in place”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 38.25pt; text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 38.25pt; text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">In plain old English – no controls exist to stop this project breaking the bank.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Whilst the bill for this white elephant continues to rise, I suspect that the only people who are making any money so far are consultants and business concerns headed by ex sportsmen and woman.<span style=""> </span>I understand that some papers have made Freedom of Information enquires to ascertain the amounts spent so far on projects outside of the capital remit i.e. the bricks and mortar of the Games.<span style=""> </span>None have been answered, the “disproportionate effort” rule being used.<span style=""> </span>I suspect the truth lies in the fact that nobody knows how much has been frittered away.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <span style="font-family: arial;font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;" >Labour obviously has a very short memory, and has no recollection of a certain financial catastrophe called “The Dome”.<span style=""> </span>Until it has a flash back and starts to remember certain mistakes, the £9 billion currently spent will double!</span>PETER SHAWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18279953355371196314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785611181050804822.post-48113594262374736372007-07-09T14:33:00.000+01:002008-12-10T06:34:08.719+00:00MEMORY LANE<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDG5BhuMYathiojVpSKMeX1_VbJGmBNWh5J6SlnQp_W7k_IkhFLXjOkyTBNTMC3VinfiixJEU3XbW33mOB_DVylfADbS7-zAJOhkN0Jtct24-kfwdIxwikqgAEiZVDtOae6IZGz29IS18/s1600-h/MS.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDG5BhuMYathiojVpSKMeX1_VbJGmBNWh5J6SlnQp_W7k_IkhFLXjOkyTBNTMC3VinfiixJEU3XbW33mOB_DVylfADbS7-zAJOhkN0Jtct24-kfwdIxwikqgAEiZVDtOae6IZGz29IS18/s400/MS.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085191059912927458" border="0" /></a><br /><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:12;" >A quick thrash through the Gazette this afternoon has started a trip down memory music lane.<span style=""> </span>The nations number one LP is by a group called The Editors, the record in question called “An End Has A Start”.<span style=""> </span>Being an oldie, I find them OK but nothing to original.<span style=""> </span>However, it is their record label that sent the pulse racing and the memories flooding back.<span style=""> </span>Back in the 1980’s and early 1990’s Kitchenware records, based in Newcastle, issued some of Britain’s best independent music.<span style=""> </span>Prefab Sprout, Hurrah!, The Kane Gang and perhaps one of the countries most underrated singer song writers of all time, Martin Stephenson and his band The Daintees.<span style=""> </span>All these groups bring back many a good memory of nights at The Riverside, Newcastle City Hall and yes, that world renowned rock venue, Washington Arts Centre!<span style=""> </span>Beatles on a Sunday, Kitchenware on a Tuesday!<span style=""> </span>Ahh, to be young again.<span style=""> </span>Now if I only had something to actually play my vinyl on….. </span>PETER SHAWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18279953355371196314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785611181050804822.post-51884497028470997862007-07-09T13:31:00.001+01:002007-07-09T13:31:49.030+01:00DOWN (EALING) SOUTH....<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial;">A couple of posts ago I mentioned the two by elections which were looming, and outlined why I thought they were more important than the press were giving them credit for.<span style=""> </span>Ian dale’s post today on the Ealing South election, <a href="http://iaindale.blogspot.com/2007/07/five-labour-councillors-defect-to.html#links">http://iaindale.blogspot.com/2007/07/five-labour-councillors-defect-to.html#links</a>, nicely adds to my view that this constituency could be Gordon’s first punch on the nose and Cameron’s first playground fight victory under the new headmaster.<span style=""> </span>With 5 labour defections, Tony Lit has increased his profile and kudos no end.<span style=""> </span>Enough to overturn an 11000 Labour majority?<span style=""> </span>I think so.</span>PETER SHAWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18279953355371196314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785611181050804822.post-55953956735404199622007-07-09T13:02:00.001+01:002007-07-09T13:03:29.794+01:00NOTHING NEW HERE.......<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">If the drip drip drip effect of Alastair Campbell’s diaries was too much for you in yesterdays papers, then shut yourself in a closet because todays are tabloids are just as bad.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">The Guardian not only gives him front page coverage, but a couple of full ones on the insides as well.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">The more I read the extracts, the more I believe that this is just a sweetener for the full story which will come out when either Brown is voted out of office or has at least secured an election victory.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">To be honest, these tasters tell us nothing new. Campbell tells us that cabinet ministers had doubts about the Iraq war; we already knew that.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">He tells us that the Northern Ireland peace process was touch and go; we already knew that.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">He hinted that Blair was keen on a Lib Dem merger; we already knew that and Brown tried to rekindle the idea when he approached certain Libs for cabinet posts.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <span style="font-family: arial;font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >The real warts and all edition I am sure is already penned and waiting for a publication date.<span style=""> </span>The Hutton Inquiry, the David Kelly Affair and the Blair/Brown relationship are all issues that will be given, hopefully, a better airing.<span style=""> </span>Until then, what we have is somebody capitalising on Tony’s departure.<span style=""> </span>Is it an acceptable practise? Not really, but it’s politically interesting either way!</span>PETER SHAWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18279953355371196314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785611181050804822.post-34399584330833592432007-07-09T13:01:00.000+01:002007-07-09T13:02:40.603+01:00SPRING CLEANING<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Posting on this site for the next three weeks is going to have to be sparse and brief.</span><span style=";font-size:130%;" > </span><span style="font-size:130%;">With a shop and a house to move, things are a little TENSE, and with only 14 days to go, they’re getting WORSE.</span><span style=";font-size:130%;" > </span><span style="font-size:130%;">Obviously, over the years somebody has been breaking into my property and leaving their junk in my cupboards and attic.</span><span style=";font-size:130%;" > </span><span style="font-size:130%;">I have even found three boxes that never got unpacked from the last move.</span><span style=";font-size:130%;" > </span><span style="font-size:130%;">Luckily, I have agreed a strategy with my wife to cut down on what we take; I will throw all her stuff out to make way for my things.</span><span style=";font-size:130%;" > </span><span style="font-size:130%;">Breaking the policy to her will be the hard part!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <span style="font-family: arial;font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;" >Wish me luck.</span>PETER SHAWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18279953355371196314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785611181050804822.post-50899585511323097492007-07-08T19:20:00.001+01:002007-07-08T19:21:41.620+01:00ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE...........<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">If you don’t know what a vortex is, then should have been at Bents Park this afternoon.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Brought back from the Sixties in a time warp, the Beatles ripped through a greatest hits set that put a massive crowd on edge!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">OK, not exactly accurate, but it was the best this generation are going to get (The Bootleg Beatles) If you never got the chance to see the Mop Top’s live and who would of our age, this is the closest we will get.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Not visually as good as the Newcastle City Hall gigs (how could it be, they have a superb Sixties back drop montage which only works well in the dark) the musicianship was about as close as you could get to them actually being there.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">I also felt very proud with the turn out.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Official figures will no doubt be more accurate, but there must have been close to 12,000 people either in the Park or it’s outskirts.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The only thing that spoilt it is why do people have to spend the entire show with their mobiles pointed at the stage?</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">With a trusty camera (admittedly digital) I got loads of period snaps.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">The mobile age spoils all the fun!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Well, the weather held out, and we managed to squeeze in a barbeque in as well (at home mind you, the stewards were a little bit aggressive towards people who were just out to have a good family time).<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">What a day!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The only thing that spoilt it is the knowledge that tomorrow is Monday!</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <span style="font-family: arial;font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >As the Beatles said, Help!</span>PETER SHAWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18279953355371196314noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785611181050804822.post-76927490356467881762007-07-08T10:16:00.001+01:002008-12-10T06:34:08.967+00:00THE SUNDAY ROAST<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcp1e3hmqqA_t4l3AfvKJr6c0Gt5IYTzapxuoh63viZ2DvC63UrhrL57Y7BMlTIOBZ_RYiqqdOaoRmZ-HimMYpNRamkVwPCpqY_aOYzlvx5EWCCsREtQYKwYBa8PNabiakYEh_R2LQlhU/s1600-h/SUNDAY+ROAST.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcp1e3hmqqA_t4l3AfvKJr6c0Gt5IYTzapxuoh63viZ2DvC63UrhrL57Y7BMlTIOBZ_RYiqqdOaoRmZ-HimMYpNRamkVwPCpqY_aOYzlvx5EWCCsREtQYKwYBa8PNabiakYEh_R2LQlhU/s400/SUNDAY+ROAST.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5084752724140632274" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(102, 51, 255); font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">BOOK PLUG<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(102, 51, 255); font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">THE BIBLE ACCORDING TO PHIL<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(102, 51, 255); font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">LORD SCALLY<o:p></o:p></span></p> <span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 255); font-family: arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="">THIRD WORLD COUNTRY</span></span>PETER SHAWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18279953355371196314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785611181050804822.post-24053385808322789722007-07-08T10:15:00.001+01:002007-07-08T10:16:17.438+01:00BOOK PLUG<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Today’s paper of choice is the Sunday Times, not because it has the most sections, but because it has a couple of good pieces on Alastair Campbell, the unelected member of Blair’s inner circle for his first two election victories and a man considered by many as having far to much influence on policy than was democratically acceptable.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">On the eve of the release of his book “The Blair Years” (plenty of thought went into that title didn’t it!) Campbell uses the paper to offer us little tit bits as to what to expect.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">The Times leads with the excuse that Blair actually wanted to resign before the Iraq war but was persuaded otherwise, both by events and his colleagues.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">If this is Blair’s opt out clause for the war i.e. I wanted to resign before it started therefore its not my fault, he is going to have to try a little bit harder on the excuses front.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">There is also a little snippet about Blair’s friendship with Diana.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Nothing wrong with that, a couple of dinners and a little chit chat over a cup of tea.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">What is interesting is that Blair had the former HRH pegged up for a roving “world ambassador” roll; can you imagine the Queen's face when she got wind of that one!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <span style="font-family: arial;font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >Will I buy his book?<span style=""> </span>Of course not, I wont line someone’s pocket who did more to undermine the authority of the House of Commons than Guy Fawkes ever could,<span style=""> </span>but I will read the reviews and the comments, if only to confirm my view that this period of British politics was extremely damaging to the concept of constitutional representation, and that Campbell, despite his claims to the contrary, had an unhealthy control of government direction and policy, despite being unelected.</span>PETER SHAWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18279953355371196314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785611181050804822.post-37564504821124746312007-07-08T10:13:00.002+01:002007-07-08T10:15:16.852+01:00THE BIBLE ACCORDING TO PHIL<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">I somehow managed to avoid yesterdays “Live Earth” concerts (I shall have to put the fuse back in the TV plug when the kids take the dog for a walk) but could I do the same when it came to the papers coverage.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Oh God, second page into the Times and there it is, a two page review and an unhealthily large picture of Phil Collins pretending to be a relevant rock star.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">But what is that tucked away in the corner? Halleluiah! A sarcastic article to rip the whole sorry affair apart.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Thank God for John Paul Flintoff, who lays his views out in the form of a biblical revelation and has managed to give the topic some mirth, some brevity and thankfully some truth.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">I’m not one for reproducing full sections of other people’s works, so give it a perusal yourselves; It’s well worth a read.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">To finish of the “Live Earth” debate, here are a couple of interesting facts.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Madonna has a carbon footprint 40 times greater than the average Britain, yet wants us all to wear more jumpers in the winter.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The carbon output of the full concert scenario is expected to be 31500 tons.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <span style="font-family: arial;font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >Say no more!</span>PETER SHAWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18279953355371196314noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785611181050804822.post-64943834313325687672007-07-08T10:13:00.001+01:002007-07-08T10:13:51.821+01:00LORD SCALLY<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial;">Talking of people lording it up for their own egos, Peter Mandelson is rumoured to be in line for a gong of some type when Tony pays back a few favours with his honours list.<span style=""> </span>Despite being sacked twice by the same employer (how clever is that) once for fiddling his chum’s passport applications and once for a dodgy loan (what is it with loans and the Labour Party?), Peter is up for either Lord Mandelson of Hartlepool or Lord Mandelson of Hampstead Heath where he grew up.<span style=""> </span>It’s a pity he never lived in a town called Sleaze or Corrupt or for that matter Gravy Train.<span style=""> </span>As one Labour insider is quoted as saying “This is right up Mandelsons boulevard – he’s been lording it up for years”.<span style=""> </span>Lord Boulevard, now there’s an idea!</span>PETER SHAWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18279953355371196314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785611181050804822.post-78032954416410785572007-07-08T09:26:00.000+01:002007-07-08T10:13:03.822+01:00THIRD WORLD COUNTRY<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">One last piece to leave you with,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Houses ruined and uninhabitable, roads destroyed, bridges unsafe and near to collapse, businesses ruined, schools wrecked, local government with no money, national government impotent.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Pakistan after an earthquake, war torn Iraq or Bangladesh after the monsoons?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">All wrong, its Hull!</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Gordon Brown has offered £14m to help pay for flood damage.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">The local Council estimate that the school repair bill alone will top £100m.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Now if this were Scotland or sunny Chelsea and not the grim North, would the offer be the same?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <span style="font-family: arial;font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >Of course it wouldn’t!</span>PETER SHAWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18279953355371196314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785611181050804822.post-33197607655039621472007-07-07T16:16:00.001+01:002007-07-07T16:16:28.402+01:00TECHNO PROBLEMS<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial;">Having a lit bit of a problem with Blogger’s type set and editing programme, hence the post below looks out of sync a bit (the visual side, not the actual text!).</span>PETER SHAWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18279953355371196314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785611181050804822.post-61001375813621382112007-07-07T16:13:00.001+01:002007-07-07T16:13:54.542+01:00LETS HAVE A RANT<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family: Arial;">Today I am in hiding. I have a false beard, a wig and I am even contemplating wearing some of my wife’s clothes (beard, wig, women’s clothes, perhaps not the best mix). Why? I hear all two of you ask (or at least I hope you ask, please don’t assume this is something I do because it is Saturday). The reason is simple; I need to be able to disappear in to some sort of obscurity so that I can avoid being made to watch “Live Earth”! Having to suffer the has-beens and second-rate performers at the Diana Concert was enough, but to be inflicted once again with such tripe is too much. Why do I need to hear the likes of Graham Norton and Jonathan Ross, two overpaid and talent less hawks, tell me the world is in danger. Every time these witless wonders open their mouths enough hot air is generated to turn Britain into Tornado Alley. If that isn’t bad enough, we have Madonna, Genesis and would you believe it, James Blunt, a man who apparently used to be in the army! This man is a trained killer all right; his voice could peal skin of at four miles. Genesis, a group without any body hair and complete with Zimmer frames. Madonna (or Madge as she likes to be called when buying up houses to stop the public getting near her) a women whose carbon footprint must be like a size 50 Doctor Martin, 18 lace up boot.<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="" face="arial"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><u1:p></u1:p>This is becoming a bit of a rant. Lets take it back a little bit and have a look at the arguments for and against.<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></p> <h1 face="arial"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal;"><u1:p></u1:p><span style=""> </span>1. IT RAISES AWARENESS</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></h1> <u1:p></u1:p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt;" face="arial"><span style="font-family: Arial;">No it doesn’t, the only thing it raises is people’s blood pressure and record sales of talent less, B lists Celebes. None of these groups are relevant to today’s youth, so who is going to listen to them.<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></p> <ol start="2" face="arial" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family: Arial;">IT RAISES BADLY NEEDED FUNDS TO FIGHT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></li></ol> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt;" face="arial"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Complete rot. It raises money for concert promoters, Wembley Stadium hot dog sellers, record companies, advertising execs and ticket touts. When every body has taken their cut, they might be enough money left to fund a worm farm in an old fish tank.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" face="arial">And here’s the real issues:</p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br /><u1:p></u1:p>1. With an estimated 2 billion people world wide watching the concerts, it will leave an electric carbon footprint the size of Mars.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 38.25pt; text-indent: -20.25pt;" face="arial"><span style="font-family: Arial;">2. The only Green awareness that will be generated is the colour of money.<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 38.25pt; text-indent: -20.25pt;" face="arial"><span style="font-family: Arial;">3. Did all these stars walk to the concerts, or use wind powered energy. No, they FLEW.<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 38.25pt; text-indent: -20.25pt;" face="arial"><span style="font-family: Arial;">4. Most of the bands involved have just reformed having spent years defunct as they were no longer relevant. They need the publicity and they need to convince us they have more to offer us than Saga membership.<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 38.25pt; text-indent: -20.25pt;" face="arial"><span style="font-family: Arial;">5. The concerts have no long term aim, mandate or strategy. Tomorrow morning, Tokyo will still be covered in smog, China will still build a coal powered power station every day and South Tyneside Council will still make a complete hash of collecting my recycled rubbish.<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="" face="arial"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><u1:p></u1:p>Yes, this has been a little tongue in cheek, but there does remain an element of truth in what has been written. When it comes to climate change and environmental issues, I have three very strong viewpoints. Firstly, don’t use climate change as an excuse to raise my taxes and keep me down trodden. Just because the cold war has ended and we can’t be threatened with the fear of communist Russia knocking on the door, don’t introduce the bogeyman of environmental catastrophe as a substitute. Secondly, don’t put the emphasis on me to save the world. Start at the top, start with the likes of McDonalds, Asda, Birdseye, Sainsburys and a plethora of other world wide companies who encourage immoral levels of food waste and whose packaging fills a land fill site every day. The third and final issue is that I want concrete proof that climate change, if it exists, is a result of the way we live. Yes it has rained a lot and yes it is July, but according to records it rained to a similar degree 200 years ago and that can’t be blamed on climate change. When we have 100% agreement, then I will be persuaded either way.<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" face="arial"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><u1:p></u1:p>Talking of things getting warm, I think I’ll have to take this wig and beard of; things are getting a bit itchy. Now, where’s that dress gone?<o:p></o:p></span></p>PETER SHAWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18279953355371196314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785611181050804822.post-14319089504389140822007-07-06T14:42:00.000+01:002008-12-10T06:34:09.357+00:00THAT WAS THE WEEK THAT WAS<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4LBbEq7z9mjrMoUn-NMbGLOywmuh8P5y-Pf43ksF6f0F-5LAri5sR9ttAt20cLXCFHdVMFL8ptFRJa0e1BzBrbF9Qk9jLXSl5HhTboFkHId7RRnEMVBvDzKJEMU4EEl7jy_Q3lhp_vN8/s1600-h/that+was+the+week+that+was.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4LBbEq7z9mjrMoUn-NMbGLOywmuh8P5y-Pf43ksF6f0F-5LAri5sR9ttAt20cLXCFHdVMFL8ptFRJa0e1BzBrbF9Qk9jLXSl5HhTboFkHId7RRnEMVBvDzKJEMU4EEl7jy_Q3lhp_vN8/s400/that+was+the+week+that+was.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5084079079995091106" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:arial;">AN ALTERNATIVE LOOK AT THE WEEKS NEWS<br />BORIS FOR MAYOR<br />COUNCILLORS VISIT GOD<br />WATER WATER EVERY WHERE<br />NEW CABINET MEMBERS<br /></span></span>PETER SHAWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18279953355371196314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785611181050804822.post-90678827689359301302007-07-06T14:41:00.001+01:002008-12-10T06:34:09.638+00:00BORIS FOR MAYOR<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlesvXQT3E1IQGebjb0bGVxnFCqVAT_5YcHGHCetCY7R6MctdXIpqv40cerWRKUWFf6AzVxl8wh9aHfA0l7VK-FposPY-9EM-zAwBMcdCWF74V9KBlZfLdvNk49ptnGirQkn9pOO_HngI/s1600-h/dick.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlesvXQT3E1IQGebjb0bGVxnFCqVAT_5YcHGHCetCY7R6MctdXIpqv40cerWRKUWFf6AzVxl8wh9aHfA0l7VK-FposPY-9EM-zAwBMcdCWF74V9KBlZfLdvNk49ptnGirQkn9pOO_HngI/s400/dick.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5084080810866911426" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><p class="MsoBodyText2" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Pantomime performers across the country woke up this morning to the news that Boris Johnson is to audition for the part of Dick Whittington and stand as London Mayor.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Mr Johnson, whose previous experience includes being both the front and back ends of a pantomime horse, issued his manifesto and called for London’s streets to be paved with gold, employ more cats to kill mice and rats and ring the Bow Bells more often.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Distracted by calls of “behind you, behind you”, Boris went on to promise that under his direction, London would become the “Papua New Guinea” of the modern world.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">FULL CANDIDATE ROSTER<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">BORIS “DICK WHITTINGTON” JOHNSON – CONSERVATIVE PARTY<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">WIDOW TWANKY – LABOUR PARTY<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">CINDERELLA – LIBERAL DEMOCRATS<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">JOLLY GREEN GIANT – GREEN PARTY<o:p></o:p></span></p> <span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >ALADDIN (WHITE) – BNP</span>PETER SHAWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18279953355371196314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785611181050804822.post-20937760105514268932007-07-06T14:39:00.001+01:002008-12-10T06:34:09.837+00:00COUNCILLORS VISIT GOD<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwDQAWluT1qlfaE7EO-Fs0G_XKKQXV_oe4jsVcmjlTKFDQ5WIt0e4Tu8Ltt5j1XXNC3lAYVvcQecVrbL4iTdtSaJ8zOdp2_rM-WRLl2NZLEerkBUUO76gwWuayBjsV55etVyIeqcR7R1w/s1600-h/three_wise_kings.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwDQAWluT1qlfaE7EO-Fs0G_XKKQXV_oe4jsVcmjlTKFDQ5WIt0e4Tu8Ltt5j1XXNC3lAYVvcQecVrbL4iTdtSaJ8zOdp2_rM-WRLl2NZLEerkBUUO76gwWuayBjsV55etVyIeqcR7R1w/s400/three_wise_kings.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5084078435749996674" border="0" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Acting on concerns of the people of the world, the three Conservative councillors for Cleadon and East Boldon have reported that radical steps have been taken to ease world peace and general mayhem.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Following intensive negotiations with God, the Councillors are glad to announce that they have the answers to everything, including;<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <ol style="margin-top: 0cm; font-family: arial;" start="1" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The ingredients of Coke Cola<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Why you always end up with just one sock from a pair<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The ingredients to Kentucky Chicken batter<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The location of Atlantis<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Who really shot Kennedy<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Do penguins have knees?<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Could you be a closet claustrophobic?<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;">What would happen if you found a four-leaf-clover under a ladder?<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Why do sleeping pills have warning labels that state:'Caution: May Cause Drowsiness?<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;">In libraries, do they put the bible in the fiction or non-fiction section?<o:p></o:p></span></li></ol> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" href="http://curly15.wordpress.com/2007/07/03/solution-for-east-boldon-parking-problems/#respond">http://curly15.wordpress.com/2007/07/03/solution-for-east-boldon-parking-problems/#respond</a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">For a further list of questions the councillors are going to put to God at the next CAF meeting, please visit:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >http://www.crazythoughts.com/</span>PETER SHAWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18279953355371196314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785611181050804822.post-7196480346602782542007-07-06T14:38:00.001+01:002008-12-10T06:34:09.998+00:00WATER WATER EVERY WHERE<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9kVQ8A6F6paEioCEBobFmmt2PgSQp8NRbmhEBezPl_iq0_YEDqc9cx7vZNPgSr_pOSIzENkikC4Cz_injgBuhvpxOHaP0U_0mpK74J6ycIL6QBFrFR36adfaZrJXWRsElHM0NZZ07RpA/s1600-h/duck-700101.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9kVQ8A6F6paEioCEBobFmmt2PgSQp8NRbmhEBezPl_iq0_YEDqc9cx7vZNPgSr_pOSIzENkikC4Cz_injgBuhvpxOHaP0U_0mpK74J6ycIL6QBFrFR36adfaZrJXWRsElHM0NZZ07RpA/s400/duck-700101.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5084078049202940018" border="0" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">In an attempt to quell outrage that the government was not doing enough for flood hit areas, Hilary Benn, the new Environment Secretary, announced an aid package which he said would alleviate all the problems faced by the likes of Hull and Sheffield.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The list of aid includes:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <ol style="margin-top: 0cm; font-family: arial;" start="1" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Wellies<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Sponges<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Buckets<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Rubber yellow ducks<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Snorkels<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Flippers<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Umbrellas<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Bubble bath<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Towels<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Paddling pools<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Water<o:p></o:p></span></li></ol> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <span style="font-family: arial;font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >In addition to the aid package, Benn appointed a “Rain Czar”, a Mr Noah, and a “Leaking Damn Czar”, a Mr Dutch Boy.</span>PETER SHAWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18279953355371196314noreply@blogger.com0