How long will it be before I get a decent nights sleep ?

I haven't really blogged much about Brexit, because it's been so heavily covered in the media.

Some people are moaning about "brexit fatigue", which I can sort of understand but certainly don't agree with.

Having read much from both sides, I'm happy to stick with my initial attitude that it's a stupid and ill thought out move.

It would seem that Cameron initially decided a referendum was a good idea because it would shut the euro-skeptics up once and for all.

Wrong.

They put more effort in with their campaign, even though the most basic of scrutiny of their claims has turned out to not only be "spin" but lies, both bare faced and by omission.

ALL the economic stuff that "Remain" put out comes from authoritative individuals and groups. Some of it is showing itself to be true as it all progresses.

For instance, any job losses at Sunderland, Scunthorpe or Swindon ? well congratulations. You've got what you voted for.

"But we didn't vote for that" I hear them squeal, but yes my friends, it doesn't matter whether you thought about it at all, you're getting exactly what you voted for.

Oh, you didn't realise that leaving the EU might entail job losses, higher prices in the shops, a loss of many freedoms you currently enjoy, etc etc ? Well again, tough shit - that's what you voted for.

Neither side have/had a plan. Remain because of complacency, Leave because most of their leading lights are "one policy wonders" and the politicians who've actually supported it don't have enough of a depth of knowledge to come up with alternatives, let alone a coherent set of policies that cover most, if not all possible issues.

The Leave side are still trying to keep their head down and mouth shut, except to keep parroting about how the vote result was "the will of the people", I'd suggest that's because THEY KNOW that keeps people in the dark as to the true negatives of leaving the EU. Taking the view that "what they don't know, can't hurt them" is just pure bollocks. It leaves the majority of the country in political limbo, with no clue as to how to prepare for something they aren't aware of or don't understand. While all the "leading lights" of Leave, are wealthy/comfortable enough to withstand any downturn in economics that WILL AFFECT THE WORKING CLASSES THE MOST.

Business who aren't so good will end up laying people off. So those then end up on the benefits shit pile (costing the country more).

Plus all the attempts by leave to paint a prettier picture of leaving the EU to isolate the country economically, are alluding to the metaphor of "jam tomorrow".

Ok, well that's a marvellous idea. Except what if "tomorrow" is a generation away ? and what if that "tomorrows jam" turns out to be a single serving portion to split down about 70 million way ? who decides who'll get that single serving ? you and me ? not fucking likely.

If you think brexit is a good idea you are a fool, a waste of effort and just about qualify as "land fill"

You don't leave a job without a new one to go to. You don't change one plan or idea unless you've got a better one to replace it with.......

Unicorns don't exist. Farage and the rest of this rubbish are trying for a power grab that will represent a profit margin to them in some way. Whether it's JRM and his hedge fund (off shore, coincidentally), or Farage and his change to get rid of the NHS so that it has to be profit making insurance based (like the US, who pay more for their health care and enjoy a lower standard), or Hubris and his raging hard on to be prime minister (depsite his lack of ability to lead and the job being beyond his ability - no he's not an unintelligent person, but he'd be better sticking to his journalism, because when a political job gets difficult, he just runs away).............

Shiny new phone ?........

So, my old phone was showing its age, as well as a few minor issues.

Now I'm no expert. I have an idea how it all works but you tend to get different ways of doing the same stuff depending on the maker (and yes, I appreciate that's no surprise, given that they all want a unique selling point etc).

So I opted for a Oneplus 5. In many ways it's a good phone, but there does seem a few issues.

They seem to have done some work on customer services, like setting up a community thing (which I also have problems with). I've managed to read a few of the problems peeps have had etc.

It arrived yesterday, and started on, though I'm buggered if I can find a decent instruction book/download. Ok so maybe there's something here already installed ? if there is, I'm fucked if I can find it.

So I'm having to look on the net for guidance etc.

By yesterday afternoon, I hadn't managed to migrate any stuff from my old phone except getting logged into Google and managing to use some of that data etc.

I've also been presented with a system update via some form of nagware, so had to update the device.

This has raised one of the issues I've read about, the instability of the Wi-Fi connection after the update. It doesn't hold the connection and I've yet to find a way of getting it to give me warnings/notifications when it drops, or even any way of switching off the move data for my sim card/number etc.

The community forums won't let me ask a question until I have  X amount of posts. Apparently this is an anti-spam thing, yet if I can't post questions when new to the brand/device, how the fuck can I clock up any posts ?

The design of the phone is pretty good, as is the various sites used to provide info about the brand and models....... It's like they gave most of the development time to designers and not enough to engineers and developers to make it work properly........

Well it's taken me a week to get used to it. I'm getting there slowly.

I still haven't managed to find some of the stuff I want to do, but like "British Rail", I'll get there eventually........

What have we done ?

So, Britain voted for Brexit and now the US has elected a racist, xenophobic misogynist.

The media seem to say it's all the fault of a "liberal elite".

What does that really mean ?

Could it be that it's a media coined phrase that tries to explain some of the more distasteful justification, while not accusing the working type ordinary voter and paper reading classes of being thick and not understanding the issues.

That liberal elite phrase suggests to me that they're suggesting that there's some sort of left leaning cartel trying to take over from the last right wing bogey man that hides in the shadows - the Zionist New World Order. Which is alleged to be a Jewish based cartel of rich people.

Sorry, that doesn't wash with me. It's more paranoid bollocks thought up by those not prepared to take part of the blame for how things currently are........

Trump (a euphemism for fart)......

I have a number of acquaintances/friends who are US nationals. They are generally a delight to know.

Many of them, are more acquaintance than friend as I know them through the net and various hobbies/interests etc.

Some I consider friend as I do know them personally.

I'm at a loss to understand how Mr Fart has become so popular in their "race to the Whitehouse".

All of the bits of the various media that I've seen/heard/read etc, he seems to be the worst kind of person.

Hypocritical i.e. he (apparently) used to be a democrat supporter. Shallow i.e. his (seemingly apparent) fixation with his hair (is it just a laughable "comb over" ? a "transplant" ? a "rug" ?). He seems to insist on using language that isn't about highlighting genuine issues, but rabble rousing nonsense that is easily proven to be incorrect as well as out and out lies.

I may have missed the point. That he's trying to show that anyone can become president if they throw enough money at a campaign and pander to those who aren't "the sharpest tool in the box" because they are gullible and easily swayed - yet their vote is as valid as the next person.

Sure, a two party system means that you often have to decide the best of two evils, but this man beyond a joke.

If the American public ends up being fool enough to elect this idiot, I can see any number of problems that they will encounter. They might think that money is some sort of magic bullet, but it has to come from somewhere - and given the penchant for the rich to make sure that they stay that way, there's only one

Facebook can just fuck off.......

After using facebook for what ? about 3 or 4 years, they've decided they don't like my username.

A username I've been using for the better part of 10 years.

So they've "stolen" my facebook ID - maybe that's a bit strong, they've locked me out until I proved them with some sort of "official" ID - all the examples are US documentation which obviously I don't have - I'm not American.

The US doesn't respect the EU privacy regulations so why should I even contemplate this ?

Those I've been in contact with via facebook, know enough about me anyway. If I was privileged to meet with them in person, that'd be great and they'd know who I am (or I'd do them the courtesy of contacting them with the necessary details first).

So what other reason could there be ? Maybe so they can "data mine" even more info and try to sell or at least advertise more shit in my direction ? Maybe one of their major shareholders has this as an ultimate goal and have pushed this on the man Zuckerberg ?

Dunno. Don't care. Certainly not for him and his crappy system, that arbitrarily locks people out of their account in an attempt to get people to send them very private, personal information - what so the fuckers at the NSA or whatever your government "intelligence" organisation is called can hack your details to try and "know" you down to the "enth degree of a gnats chuff" ?

Erm, well no. I don't think so.

It'd be great to still get to chat with my peeps, but if a little privacy is the price I have to pay, then fine.

He/they can just fuck off.........

Sharpys' "speech".........

A friend of mine was accused of not being "politically correct".

He's decent enough chap. Of the "Northern working bloke" sort of mould (you know the type, decent sort of chap, flat cap, walking the whippet to the pub etc).

I don't quite recall where he responded to the accusation (some sort of meeting?), but he read it out at another meet last month.

I, in turn, purloined his printed copy/notes and said I'd publish it on the net.

And yes, it did make me laugh (well I think so, I was pretty drunk at the time)......

Reply to Accusations.

Last week there was an email exchange between X XXXXX members, during which, I was accused of:

Homophobia

Sexism

Racism

I will reply to these unfounded accusations separately.


Homophobia.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, homophobia is defined as: "An extreme and irrational aversion to homosexuality and homosexual people".

I have no issue what so ever with gay's, queer's, faggot's, arse bandits, back door burglars, back door engineers, pansy's, poo pushers, Rear Admirals, rectal pioneers or knob jockey's.

Nor do I have any issue with any of the activities that the afore mentioned get up to that include: Licking the chocolate starfish, playing with the rusty bullet hole, mutual man milking, going down the dirt road, bun splitting, uphill gardening and going down the Bournville Boulevard.

Sexism.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, sexism is defined as: "Predjudice, stereotyping, or discrimination, typically against women, on the basis of sex".

I am of the belief that women SHOULD be allowed to vote Labour and be able to go into working men's clubs, to work as bar staff.

You will never hear me use crude humour such as:

How many men does it take to open a beer? None, it should be open when she brings it to you!

Or

What do you do when your woman comes out of the kitchen to whine at you ? Make her chain shorter!

This unfounded accusation came from someone who deliberately married a woman with small feet so that she could spend longer periods at the sink without feeling uncomfortable.

I do not subscribe to this "bro's before hoe's" attitude.

Racism.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, racism is defined as: "Prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one's own race is superior".

It is my belief that all races have something positive to offer and are better than the English in many respects. For example, Chinks, Frogs, Indians and Wop's are all great at cooking. Paki's make great taxi drivers and Poles will do anything for a couple of quid! In fact, they all do things that serve the English quite well!

This unfounded accusation was made by someone who has a facebook page dedicated to hating Argentinians, their country and their culture but who still manages to drink Malbec!

Summary.

I am surprised that the list of accusations made against me did not include weightism. Although not in the Oxford English Dictionary, weightism is a real word that is defined as: "Bias or discrimination against people who are overweight".

Living in the shadows cast by the eclipse of the bloaters has it's advantages. No sun burn, sun glasses never needed, night shift workers being able to sleep during the day, weighbridge callibration and ballast for super tankers are just a few. Never will you hear me complain about the extra miles needed to walk in order to circumnavigate a bloater.

I rest my case!

The above is a verbatim quotation, in the words of the most excellent Sharpy of West Yorkshire......... (I know, cos I've still got his notes, just in case the spawny twat drops enough lottery to set "M'learned friends" on me)

Hey ho ! The nazis are at it again.......

"They" make a rule, then the tory voting business heads work out a scam to cream off money, then they get too greedy and this comes to light, then the politicians panic and change that rule to pander to the voter, the industry that was "quids in" squeals like a pig and their supporters start rolling out criticism of that change.

We had the government's "budget" speech yesterday. A budget from a chancellor of the exchequer, who appears to have his eyes on further power (he doesn't need more money, he's already a multi-millionaire), so he's changed the rule that said that pension savings had to be used to buy an annuity. So now, new pensioners will be able to decide what they do with their pension money.

The pension management companies squealed at the loss of some of their share value and one of the "naysayers" stated that we'll all draw down all the pension money and fritter it away.......

But of course, that's not scaremongering is it.....

A bad week, and IMO, a loss to the country........

Fuck me, with the rough end of a pineapple ! Two posts in one day............ Anyway. It's been a bad week for UK politics. We've lost to of the lefts prominent and influential characters. Earlier in the week, it was Bob Crow. One of the countrys best, modern day, union leaders IMO (and no, I'm not an "RMT" member). Then followed by Tony Benn. A well known British "lefty" if there ever was one...... In the case of Bob Crow, his death was premature, at 52 years of age, only 4 years older than me (currently). With Tony Benn, not entirely unexpected as he'd been "ill" for some time and was 88 years old..... I consider myself an "old style socialist". Not one of the newer centrist types, who seem to want to lick the arse of business. I believe that there'll be winners and losers, but that as long as what ever is to be won and lost over, is done in the fairest, most democratic way possible, then that's fine by me. Whichever side I'm on, I have to accept it. The centre and the right, politically speaking, are, seemingly, more fashionable today. I might think that the only good "tory" is a dead one, but I'll happily fight for the right of people to be tories, however much I disagree with them...... So, ok, the "left" is unfashionable at the moment. The loss of characters like Tony Benn and Bob Crow, will throw the UK political scene out of balance. There may indeed be people in the background to replace them, but I don't know who they might be, as no-one's names come to mind at the moment........ Which is a shame, as generally speaking, the British political scene seems to be peoples with a lot of bland, slimey, lickspittle, grovelling creeps at the moment. Who want voters to think good of them, to think themselves worthy of receiving our votes. Well let me say this..... You're doing a shit job of changing anything for the better, you're tinkering round the edges of things that end up with us getting more of the same old shit. How about suggesting that changing a few of the fundamental things that give us this pile of shit that we call "Great Britain" ? Give us a formal, written, constitution. Give us a formal, written, bill of rights. Ban "public" (which means private, fee paying, to any American person who might read this) school. If "Public" school is so much better than state schools, then bring the state schools to the better standard. Don't allow the rich to buy their kids a better education at the expense of the rest of us, and as that's not all they get with their public schooling - they get access to "the old boys network" i.e. where people who went to the same (usually, exclusive, fee paying, private) school, or maybe the same equally exclusive University (there's a couple like that, who come to mind), and end up only getting their friends into jobs or appointments, often with state/government positions, etc etc etc..... Make it that if there's some, however distant/tenuous "conflict of interest", that the person who might be in a position of influence, has, by law, to stand back and allow others to make the selection/appointment/decision. Little things like that, might, give us a better country. Equally, it would reduce any influence of the xenophobic, rascist, "little Englander", fools who people the political right. Things like election to government by proportional representation, would be the most fair and democratic. After all, most people wouldn't recognise their member of Parliament if he/she was staring at them in the street! They look for the political affiliation on the ballot paper. Sure, such rules and regs, would give us a few extremist outsiders, but any influence they might have or bring in, would be watered down as to be ineffective. We'd have few, if any, "landslide" victories, by one part of the other, so it would have to be smaller, incremental changes in society. Less of making the rich richer, and more fair to the rest of us. In any case, this is unlikely to happen, as both the tories (right/centre-right) and labour (centre and centre-left - certainly not left at the moment) don't want that too happen as they'd likely be the biggest losers - they wouldn't be, but they'd have to work much harder to have the influence they currently enjoy in their respective "sphere's"......... I for one, will happily remember the likes of Bob Crow and Tony Benn........

What is it with the Yanks ? (and others, for that matter)......

If this is yours, then you're likely an American. If you have a different flag, then you're probably not American, you're something else....... So to the American's who claim to be something else, if you were born in the United States of American, or you have moved there, taken the test and obtained citizenship, then you're fucking American. You're not British, Irish, Spanish or any other fucking "ish" for that matter (you may be in the lucky position of being able to hold "dual-citizenship" - lucky for you then eh!). You tell an Irishman that you're Irish, he'll likely ask where you were born. If you say somewhere in America, you'll get told that you're a Yank or at least not a "proper" Irishman. The same in Scotland, GB in general and many (most ?) other places. We don't mind you being American. I have cousins who enjoy that privilege (?), but that doesn't mean, irrespective of common DNA characteristics, that they're like me, a Brit/English. Equally, it doesn't matter what your own DNA characteristics point toward, and skin colour or other physical characteristics just point you toward where your DNA has travelled from. You're still the Nationality of your passport! Personally I don't care where you are from. I will offer you the same manners and respect, as I expect to receive in response. I don't care where you're from. Yes, equally if your cultural background and experiences differ from mine, I consider it a privilege to learn of yours. I might not understand them or even agree with them necessarily, but that's not for me to say. They're different from mine and should be respected as such. I'm not prefect. I'm of an age where some rascist comments etc were commonplace, so they are in my vocabulary. That's not to say that I wouldn't be disgusted with myself if I used such words today. I would be. The only likely difference is that I might have different skin colour and other ethnic/genetic regional identifiers from you, but we're born in the same way, our basic bodily functions are the same, we suffer in a similar way to illness/disease and when we die, we end up the same way....... So you, my friend, just be happy with what it says on your passport. If your cultural and ethnic background enable you to teach me something, then I'm grateful for that knowledge/learning. It makes the world an interesting place. Equally if something in you, causes you to discriminate against me in some way, expect me to fight you in some way too.....

Well it made me laugh......

Enjoy. The English are feeling the pinch in relation to recent events in Syria and have therefore raised their security level from "Miffed" to "Peeved." Soon, though, security levels may be raised yet again to "Irritated" or even "A Bit Cross." The English have not been "A Bit Cross" since the blitz in 1940 when tea supplies nearly ran out. Terrorists have been re-categorized from "Tiresome" to "A Bloody Nuisance." The last time the British issued a "Bloody Nuisance" warning level was in 1588, when threatened by the Spanish Armada.The Scots have raised their threat level from "Pissed Off" to "Let's get the Bastards." They don't have any other levels. This is the reason they have been used on the front line of the British army for the last 300 years.The French government announced yesterd...ay that it has raised its terror alert level from "Run" to "Hide." The only two higher levels in France are "Collaborate" and "Surrender." The rise was precipitated by a recent fire that destroyed France 's white flag factory, effectively paralyzing the country's military capability.Italy has increased the alert level from "Shout Loudly and Excitedly" to "Elaborate Military Posturing." Two more levels remain: "Ineffective Combat Operations" and "Change Sides."The Germans have increased their alert state from "Disdainful Arrogance" to "Dress in Uniform and Sing Marching Songs." They also have two higher levels: "Invade a Neighbour" and "Lose."Belgians, on the other hand, are all on holiday as usual; the only threat they are worried about is NATO pulling out of Brussels ..The Spanish are all excited to see their new submarines ready to deploy. These beautifully designed subs have glass bottoms so the new Spanish navy can get a really good look at the old Spanish navy.Australia, meanwhile, has raised its security level from "No worries" to "She'll be right, Mate." Two more escalation levels remain: "Crikey! I think we'll need to cancel the barbie this weekend!" and "The barbie is cancelled." So far no situation has ever warranted use of the last final escalation level.Regards,John Cleese ,British writer, actor and tall personAnd as a final thought - Greece is collapsing, the Iranians are getting aggressive, and Rome is in disarray. Welcome back to 430 BC.Life is too short

Ziggly Wiggly Cat.... no more pain or discomfort

Today is a bad day for us. In fact it hasn't been a particularly good week.

Monday, Clare had to take Zig to the veterinary hospital to have an ultrasound.

To put some back ground to it. I can't remember why we had to take her to the vets in the first place, but the best part of 2 years ago, we found out that she'd developed 2 problems. The first one was reasonably easy to sort out, she had thyroid problems and it meant a course of tablets.

The second problem was that it seemed that she'd got some sort of hepatitis and it was affecting her liver.

Over time, they'd prescribed god knows how many different types of meds to try and either cure or at least stabilise it.

Recently, she'd become quite skinny and when we put her on the scales, we found she only weighed fractionally over 2 kilo's, which meant she'd lost half a kilo or 20% of her body weight, which might not be much, but when you're a small cat, it's quite a bit.

So mondays' ultrasound was to see what was going on, as the blood test she'd had a couple of days before was inconclusive.

The result of the ultrasound was that her liver had got progressively bad, plus she'd developed some other liver related issues and that there was nothing else they could from a veterinary point of view for her.

We had to basically decide when, not if, she was put too sleep. Arrangements were made for it to happen this morning.

I still don't understand why it affected both of us so much. Whether because she was our smallest furry friend ? Or maybe that we'd invested so much time, money and other efforts to try and halt the worst of her health problems. Or maybe that while she wasn't really "my" cat, she would visit both of us for pets etc, I just don't know.

She was a very pretty cat, the picture above doesn't really do her justice. She certainly wasn't a "lap cat" either, but she'd sit quietly on the cushion she'd chosen as her seat. Between us on the sofa.

I'm still not in much of a mood about this, but I'm posting this for me really. I don't understand how I've ended up being so affected by the death, albeit euthanasia, of a very ill, small cat.

This is her looking at our "cat's television".......

She will be greatly missed, despite us still having Tiddles and Flo, Charles and Stanley Ninja Gutbucket, and Zig's brother Zag (who I call Trevor when he's being a pain, which he does often).

This is Zag, a.k.a. Trevor, Zig's brother.

Given todays mental torment that both of us have experienced, we hope that we won't have to have another "final visit" to the vets with anybody else, at least until they're very old.................

A belated "it's that time of year".......

As October becomes November, I often feel a little nostalgic. Because November is "Remembrance" month, and having "done some time" with the forces (specifically the RN), I like to look through the list of "deaths in service" and remember those who're on the list, mainly through no fault of their own and are no longer alive.

Guilt maybe ? dunno. But I find it comforting that if it was me on that list, that at least somebody would remember me.

Then of course, it comes to today. Christmas day.

It should be a time of peace and calm. Uneventful is good, as it means that we can get on with whatever we've decided to do for the time of year.

Yet I often feel (again) nostalgic, maudlin and perhaps a little guilty, remembering the friends who are still here, yet I haven't managed to find (or make) the time, too visit in the last year.

I'm sure I'm not the only person who hates being middle aged. Remembering the earlier years, in my 20's and early 30's when I could just make a phone call and pile over for pretty much no excuse, just to turn up, have a drink or maybe a bite to eat, etc.

Only to find that 10 or 15 years later, I end up taking my life far too seriously, realising that I'm stuck in the rut of work, sleep, work, sleep. With every bit of bad or serious news heard or seen on the various media outlets, seeming like another weight on my shoulders.....

Sometimes wishing I had "the bottle", just to say bollocks to it all and as the Aussies would put it, "go walkabout".

But I can't. It seems that all I can see from this navel gazing point of view, that I have too many responsibilities for that.

So the best I can do, is to say that friends, past and present, you're in my thoughts and that I really hope you're enjoying the time of year with those who're closest to you, and that the time passes uneventfully and peacefully as you'd like.......

Constitutional Clarity ?

Here in the UK, we like to pride ourselves, that we are a "fair minded" nation. Wish would be a nice thing to be, if that were the case.

Ha! I can imagine you reading this thinking "what the fuck is this idiot on about now?".

Fair enough question (there it is again, the word "fair").......

So, too start with, I'll quote the definition of "fair"

fair

adjective

1.

free from bias, dishonesty, or injustice: a fair decision; a fair judge.

2.

legitimately sought, pursued, done, given, etc.; proper under the rules: a fair fight.

3.

moderately large; ample: a fair income.

4.

neither excellent nor poor; moderately or tolerably good: fair health.

5.

marked by favoring conditions; likely; promising: in a fair way to succeed.

6.

Meteorology .

a.

(of the sky) bright; sunny; cloudless to half-cloudy.

b.

(of the weather) fine; with no prospect of rain, snow, or hail; not stormy.

7.

Nautical . (of a wind or tide) tending to aid the progress of a vessel.

8.

unobstructed; not blocked up: The way was fair for our advance.

9.

without irregularity or unevenness: a fair surface.

10.

free from blemish, imperfection, or anything that impairs the appearance, quality, or character: Her fair reputation was ruined by gossip.

11.

easy to read; clear: fair handwriting.

12.

of a light hue; not dark: fair skin.

13.

pleasing in appearance; attractive: a fair young maiden.

14.

seemingly good or sincere but not really so: The suitor beguiled his mistress with fair speeches.

15.

courteous; civil: fair words.

16.

Medicine/Medical . (of a patient's condition) having stable and normal vital signs and other favorable indicators, as appetite and mobility, but being in some discomfort and having the possibility of a worsening state.

17.

Dialect . scarcely; barely: It was just fair daylight when we started working.

As you can see, there are a number of meanings (the above quote is only the first part of the entire definition according to this location there is more of it if you feel inclined to look it up) for such a small, 4 lettered word.

So given that we, as a nation (British) feel that it's one of our qualities or attributes, why does it seem that we are unfair to ourselves ?

Ok, so I understand that to non-English speakers, or at least those attempting to learn to speak English, it can seem quite daunting as it does appear that some words have many meanings, yet some meanings can have a number of words (and the word chosen, will often depend on the audience it's aimed at, or the target audiences educational standard/ability, or the "type" of people it's aimed at i.e. class of person, a professional body, etc).

Language will often be used in different ways, in different places, which can make it hard to understand, or at least hard to understand the point of view that is being displayed. My attitude is that while this might be the case, why shouldn't we have a "standard English", that is defined from a specific place (place in this sense, would mean a "Standards organisation" of some sort).

But where ? Well maybe a good place to start, might be something like the "Concise Oxford Dictionary" which is also known as the "Oxford English dictionary" or OED. I'd guess that this would need to be enshrined in law, but as long as the OED didn't try and "protect" words or language, so that they could derive some revenue from their use, I can't think of any reason why this couldn't happen.

Ok, so the last paragraph has thrown up a small phrase, well a word actually, that is often considered as a "bone of contention", the word "Law".

Why is it, that the legal world find the need to use English, in such an archaic, mysterious and generally hard to follow (except for linguistic experts and the "legal types" themselves) ? Perhaps it's so that they can look down their noses at the rest of us, in a patronising way so as to make the presumption of ignorance, stupidity or any number of words that can be used to project arrogance toward the target of their words ?

After all, it's government that are supposed to "make" laws. Can't they just make the laws so we can all understand them ? Instead of how it seems to be at the moment, where the government "make" a new law, but it seems that it means nothing, until a Judge has decided exactly what it means, so it can be properly enacted within a court of law.

Lets face it, government and the judiciary work, pretty much, hand in hand. Yet they seem to operate with a large amount of the "unfairness" I alluded to earlier.

The UK/Great Britain, is the largest industrialised country on the planet, not to have a formal written constitution and an accompanying "Bill of Rights". In many cases, people claim to have a right to something, it doesn't matter what they're claiming, according to the UK/British government, they don't have any such "right". Yes, there are a few "rights" that come down from historic legislation, but most of the "rights" that you do have, have been granted to you by the EU - the largest number of which, have been granted under the "Human Rights" European legislation, which in turn, was accepted into UK law under our membership of the European Union.

So if you haven't already worked out what I'm really asking for, it's a Formal Written Constitution and accompanying "Bill of Rights", and "Standard English". I'm pretty sure that it wouldn't be too difficult for this to happen, except that the "ruling classes" have to much of a vested interest for this not to happen. It means that they still get to bully the general populace around, exploit us in various ways and allows "business" and commerce to "take the piss" and engineer how we act, work and "are", to their own end.

All you currently end up with, is the two fingered "V" sign and the attitude of "fuck you".

Maybe it's time we did something about this apparent "unfairness".....

Light reading......

http://www.progress.org/archive/fold144.htm

It still takes a bit of thinking about, if economics are your world, but I found it very interesting.......

Well done Fred E. Foldvary.

Whoop de fucking do !

Wow ! The Olympic Torch relay runner has just gone down the main road, at the end of the garden.

Big, fucking, deal !

Do the Olympic organisers and the government think we're all fucking stupid ?

I mean ? How fucking much has all this crap cost us ?

I know the powers that be, couldn't have forecast the economic downturn, but you can guarantee that does stop them plugging the fuck out of anything that takes the collective national mind off the negatives that come out in the news day after day......

Plus it feels like a conspiracy, that between the government, the Olympic organisers and the media, are telling us that we must be happy and cheerful because of the events surrounding and directly from the games.

Well, I'm already fed up with it all. I've got very little interest in it all (most of the events I like get zero coverage), so wny force it down our throats ?

Bloody stupid ideas.......

This is, of course, opinion !

With foods, etc, some locations are known for either the quality and standards or the food/cuisine, yet other places "think" their food ideas are good, yet everyone else seems to .find their tastes/flavours, mediocre (here included).

There could be many reasons why that could be, yet some things just don't go together.

One of the few things North American agriculture has given us, is the humble peanut. Now I like peanuts. Peanuts can be found used in a number of different ways, but one thing that's hard, is to extract the taste and use just that with something else. Of course, I know they're not a true nut, but legumes, and  you can process them and use other flavours to compliment (a good example being a stay i.e. ground peanut, chilli and sugar or honey).

Now, while I might be missing out, there are somethings, where its pretty obvious, so why some of the US based mead makers can't get their heads round the concept is beyond me. Or is it that the people who do understand that somethings just don't mix, and don't want to try mad combinations, or just don't bother to say anything ? (forum rules etc, perhaps just being polite ?)

Well, you'd be aware that I like to make meads, but the point of this is to question some stupidity I've come across, and that stupid idea is "peanut butter mead".

Now if you're making a gloopy spread for bread, then peanut would be fine, but with nut flavours, its proved hard to concentrate the flavour enough to use it with alcoholic drinks. Not impossible of course, but certainly not easy.

I suspect peanut oil would be broken down by the alcohol, and some material would either emulsify, or settle out as rancid slime.

For many reasons, nut is hard to incorporate into many recipes (in whole lumps, with decorative justification seems to work) its not the easiest of materials to use.

Plus, its just a bloody silly idea in a mead.

A bit like "pumpkin pie". It's a finished thing, not an ingredient (plus pumpkin is bland as fuck, so why they "bang on" about it, is a mystery. "Spiced pumpkin" ? Perhaps. Maybe I just haven't tasted pumpkin that's been prepared nicely ? Equally possible. Or it might be that for historically cultural reasons, it just didn't.catch on elsewhere).....

So go on you lot ! I've nothing against innovation or invention, but take time to consider why something isn't used in a certain way. It's probably been tried somewhere and hasn't worked. Or perhaps, for chemical type reasons, its just a fucking stupid idea.........

Who gives a fuck !

Why do the media wankers keep telling me how wonderful the Olympics and/or the jubilee celebrations are ?

Most of the sporting events that I like to watch, get zero coverage, its all the high profile crappy that gets the TV time.

The fucking jubilee is about the queen having enjoyed sixty years of living, at tax payer expense, in complete luxury and all she has to do is open a few public buildings, make a few speeches and sit in the passenger part of a very comfortable car waving to the crowds of mug punters......nice work if you can get it !

So shut the fuck up, all you TV, radio, newspaper and other media pricks! Cos I just don't give a fuck.

All the jubilee is to me, is an extra day off work. The Olympics is a load of self promoting sport bullies trying to show us how clever, fit and healthy they are........

Fashions from the past........

When I was a kid (in the 70s), there was this "fashion" for so called, "Platform shoes". Which wasn't really a good look, irrespective of whether it was womens or mens footwear.

That type of footwear looked like it was "orthopaedic", designed for people with foot or leg disabilities.

Now it so happens, that the FOL (father-out-law...... we're not married, just shacked up) buys the Sunday Mirror (part of the "Mirror group" newspapers) as his paper of choice on a sunday. Fine.

They publish a shiney suppliment magazine, that has pictures of "celeb's" (celebrities i.e. somebody worth celebrating - which amazes me as I haven't heard of most of them, and of the ones I'm aware of, most are "Z list"). Anyway, it seems that some fashion designing fuckwit, has managed to use these platform soles, and sometimes heels on the womens footwear. Convincing these women, who after all, seem to have more money than sense, that they look good.

Well, I've got news for you! They look shit! They make you look like you're wearing "Spastic shoes" (damn, I haven't used that phrase since I was a horrible bugger of an 8 year old). But it's true, they make you look like some sort of retard, to use American parlance.....

Sure, if you're not that tall, and want to appear taller, then heels are fine. A flat, thin soled, yet high heeled shoe, in the right shape is aesthetically pleasing in appearance. It accentuates the length and shape of the leg, but heavy/thick soles may you look like a "spacker"!

It could be that you think you're "cutting edge" in your fashion sense ? Well you're obviously not, because a lot of stuff that is labelled "fashionable" is ugly looking. It doesn't matter who designed it, if something is ugly looking, that's the way it will remain. In fact, if something is ugly looking and you're wearing it, just because some so called "famous designer",  "designed" it, then it's even worse. It makes you look a complete fool, not only because that "thing" is ugly, but because you probably paid a shit load of money for it.

So well done, you fucking idiot. Just carry on, so we know that you're just another foolish "mug punter"!

Big Tasty ? Not...

We're a funny bunch. We sit there, hypnotised by the fucking TV, with all the advertising forced through our consciousness.

Fine! The TV companies earn a profit, the actual advertiser increases sales as we all troop through their sales outlets...

So, today, after trotting round and finishing my deliveries, after driving passed a chippy, I find myself at the nearest services that happens to have fuel etc, but also a small McDonalds. Now only having a half hour left of my mandatory break, I pile in and select what seems to be the current deal being pitched at the punters.....I'm sure you can envisage this as I park the truck, put the tacho on rest and go in for "A big tasty meal please".

My point is, that we're all brainwashed into going to these places, yet the so called big tasty was far from that. Big Blandy would have been more accurate. Even as I type this all I can really taste in my mouth is salt from the fries, and from the wafer thin piece of plastic like, processed cheese, with an after taste of vinegar with a hint of mustard from the burger sauce. Yes, the bun seemed fresh, the salad items moist and crunchy etc, but completely lacking in flavour.

Through the doors, like lambs to slaughter. All for some salt, vinegar and mustard. Oh and I'm surprised that there aren't vultures circling overhead, when I think about how dry the bloody meat part of the burger was....
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Is it just me ? Or can some of the demographic see it too ?

While watching some stuff on SyFy and they've run an advert for "Olay" products of some sort.

Ok fine, but the advert starts off saying how wonderful the product is (to be expected), then the dialogue changes to the challenge of whether you believe it or not, some statistics and more of how wonderful it is.

I suppose that's the nature of advertising, but there's been plenty of factual info about how none of this age reducing shit doesn't work, etc. So why are people, of whatever demographic so gullible ? With the products aimed at them ?

I know I'm not perfect, but I try to be as cynical as I can be. As I know that these people are professional con merchants, who're only concerned with extracting the contents of the wallet/purse.......

Of course, its a bit dramatic and excessive, but it would be nice to be able to have a few of the biggest piss takers and have them executed and hung up with signs on them to warn the rest.

Ha! The same would apply to these banking and other financial incompetents.....

I'm convinced that you'd only need to do a few, to be an example to the others and then get the message out.

Ok, so I realise that that sort of thing would be over the top..... but I'm equally convinced that our politicians need a kick up the arse to realise that they weren't voted in just to do what they "think" we want them to do, but to actually find out what the majority want and to sort it out.

Yet they don't. They use all the spin and other shit to convince us that "they know best".......patronising cunts, one and all, irrespective of political allegiance....