If Britain can give out honours then so can I, so instead of OBE'S Knighthoods etc, I am awarding MDE'S.(Members of Donald's Empire)
The following awards go to. (In no particular order.)
http://www.blogcatalog.com/blog/new-scribbles-from-glynis-smy A great friend through 2009 and a brilliant blogger.
http://www.blogcatalog.com/blog/a-word-to-the-wise Also a great friend and a great help through 2009 with blogs well worth reading.
http://www.blogcatalog.com/blog/journeys-through-time Always writes something of great interest.
http://www.blogcatalog.com/blog/snapping-panda A great friend who I hold in high esteem. Great blog and gives ME great comments.
http://www.blogcatalog.com/user/agnespages A very interest and touching blog, well worth reading.
http://www.blogcatalog.com/blog/writing-and-art A blog with great meaning and a great friend to have.
http://www.blogcatalog.com/blog/the-joys-of-my-splintered-life-in-smalltown This girl tells it as it is, a blog with hidden messages where you can learn a thing or two about life good and bad.
http://www.blogcatalog.com/blog/footsteps Another great friend to have, and writes regularly with very interesting subjects.
http://www.blogcatalog.com/blog/totally-useless This is the blog I read but this girl has many more that you should find interesting, also a great friend.
http://www.blogcatalog.com/blog/grammology-self-help-central A good blogger and a good friend to have.
Sorry if I missed you out but as the saying goes "THERE IS ALWAYS NEXT YEAR"
Above is a picture of the medal for "The order of the British Empire" I will design mine in the future. ha ha.
It's just my bit of fun to wish you all the very best for 2010 and thank you all for taking the time to read and comment on my blogs, and if you only read it I thank you too.
So Iran wants to give Britain a slap on the face, well I want to give Britain a kick up the backside where their ridiculous laws on human rights and simple justice are concerned.
Below is the story of how Britain tried to beg the release of convicted drug smuggler Akmal Shaikh, and the rightful reaction of the Chinese authorities.
Experts defend China's execution of British drug smuggler www.chinaview.cn 2009-12-29 20:23:18 Print
By Xinhua Writer Miao Xiaojuan
BEIJING, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- China has upheld the independence and integrity of its justice system, as would any other country, in the trial and execution of British drug smuggler Akmal Shaikh, say legal experts, refuting criticisms of China's human rights record and lack of clemency.
Shaikh, a 53-year-old British man, was executed by lethal injection on Tuesday in Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
He had been convicted of carrying up to 4,030 grams of heroin at Urumqi International Airport from Dushanbe, capital of Tajikstan, on Sept. 12, 2007.
China's Criminal Law stipulates that the trafficking of more than 50 grams of heroin is punishable by death.
"According to China's Criminal Law, the death sentence given to him is legitimate and it has nothing to do with human rights concerns," said Wang Mingliang, professor of criminal law at Shanghai-based Fudan University.
"Some Western countries also retain capital punishment, and its existence does not equate to a lack of human rights," Wang said.
Xue Jinzhan, professor of criminal law at the East China University of Political Science and Law, also in Shanghai, said the administration of the death penalty related to a country's history, culture and other conditions.
China strictly enforced the law without discrimination in handling the case, Chinese legal experts told Xinhua.
"It's human nature to plead for a criminal who is from the same country or the same family, but judicial independence should be fully respected and everyone should be equal before the law," Xue said.
Wang said it could be understood that British media ran emotional stories and local people reacted with sorrow or anger as Britain did not retain the death penalty.
"But one country should respect judicial independence of another country, without any interference in internal affairs," Wang said.
"Shaikh's case serves as a testimony to China's judicial justice, which deserves full respect from other countries."
Western reports said British Prime Minister Gordon Brown condemned Shaikh's execution in a statement issued on Tuesday and that Brown had even personally spoken to a senior Chinese leader about the case.
"It would have interfered with China's judicial authority if the senior leader had accepted Brown's request. How could a criminal be exempted from the death penalty only because he was British?" Wang said.
Experts said courts in China had the right to decide whether a psychiatric assessment was necessary.
"The court, based on available evidence, decided not to do the assessment, and it was strictly in line with the law," Wang said.
China's Supreme People's Court on Tuesday issued a statement, saying it had reviewed and approved the death sentence against Akmal Shaikh and there was no reason to cast doubt on Shaikh's mental state.
According to the court, the British embassy in China and a British organization had proposed a psychiatric examination on Shaikh, but the documents they provided could not prove he had mental disorder nor did members of his family have history of mental illness.
Shaikh himself had not provided materials regarding a mental illness. His legal rights and legitimate treatment had been fully granted in custody and trial, the statement said.
Shaikh was sentenced to death in the first instance by the Intermediate People's Court of Urumqi on Oct. 29, 2008, and his final verdict came in October this year after two failed appeals.
Drug-related crimes had been recognized as serious criminal offences in most countries of the world, and China demanded severe punishment for such crimes, the statement said.
In June, eight people convicted of drug production and trafficking were executed in China. Another two men convicted of heading a gang that smuggled drugs from Myanmar into China were executed in May.
Courts across China handled 14,282 drug-related cases from January to May, up 12 percent over the same period last year. In these cases, 6,379 people were convicted and received severe penalties ranging from five years in jail to a death sentence.
Britain has a cheek to expect other countries to heed their wishes when it come to releasing British prisoners back into the care of our country's judicial system when they know full well that there is no justice in this country.
The lack of justice in Britain has made us a laughing stock in the eyes of most other countries, and instead of begging for the release of guilty Britons locked up in prisons throughout the world, and playing into the hands of criminals, we should be taking a leaf out of the book that the likes of China acts from and punish crime.
It is great to find at least one country who does not bow down to the whims of Britain, and rather go with the saying "when in Rome do as the Romans do."
There is a lesson for us to be learned here which is, tighten our laws, let them be adhered to by any asylum seekers or immigrants who wish to stay here, and not allow ourselves to be cajoled into changing our laws and our way of life to suit them.
When we go abroad we should abide by the laws and traditions of the country we have chosen to stay, or holiday in, and not expect any favours if we break any of their rules.
Why should we be so conceited, as to expect that anyone from Britain who breaks the laws of the country they are in get special treatment, is it because we are stupid enough to release murderers like Megrahi, plus the rapists and criminals of our own who are set free to kill and rape again?
Its time this country sat up and took notice of the multitude of fed up victims who constantly leave our courts disgusted at the lenient sentences handed out to the vermin who ruin their lives, and start acting for THEIR human rights instead of the criminals, or it will be more than a slap in the face from Iran, or a kick up the backside from me they will need to worry about.
The Royal Bank of Scotland board of directors are threatening to quit if they are not allowed to set their ridiculous bonuses, as they are under the illusion that they have been successful enough to earn millions of pounds over and above the high wages they already earn. I doubt very much if the taxpayers will agree with them, because as we all know they still owe us billions of pounds, and until that is paid back in full they cannot claim success.
If anyone is entitled to bonuses this year it's the taxpayers of whom without THEM the banks would not exist.
Let the board of directors quit, and forfeit their ludicrous pensions plus any bonus they might be entitled to, and see if they will continue with their threat, because there are plenty people out there who have been sacked from the banking world this year who are just as, or even more capable of running the banking system, and would be only too eager to take the jobs vacated by these chancers, possibly for less money too.
If the treasury allow themselves to be conned by the directors then they are only confirming how useless this government has become, and they should end up in the scrapheap along with the bank directors who's greed and incapability's led to this recession.
If bonuses must be paid ever again they should be within a sensible limit, and not be allowed to rise to the extortionate levels of the past.
I must congratulate the Lord Advocate Elish Angiolini QC on bringing some sanity back to our justice system, and publish a copy of her recent success story printed in a news bulletin. I have praised this lady in past posts,as it's nice to know someone in power is using that power to do some good for a change by looking after the victims of crime instead of always looking out for the criminals. Crimes should be punished severely, which DOES act as a deterrent and the do-gooders who would rather see criminals walk the streets should spend some time with them behind bars where they belong.
Murderers to be jailed for longer Brian Boyle and Greig Maddock Brian Boyle and Greig Maddock both had their sentences increased
Killers could have to spend the rest of their natural lives behind bars after appeal court judges increased the minimum prison term for murder.
The judges said the 12-year minimum sentence which was often imposed in murder cases was generally too lenient.
And they said the worst killers should spend longer than 30 years in prison - the previous maximum sentence.
The judges issued the new guidelines in response to an appeal by Lord Advocate Elish Angiolini QC.
Anyone convicted of murder is given an automatic life sentence, but judges set a minimum term that must be served before the killer is able to apply for parole.
A punishment part as low as 12 years would not be appropriate unless there were strong mitigating circumstances Scottish Courts statement
Mrs Angiolini said an appeal case in 2002 had led to an understanding that the range of minimum terms imposed by judges was a "relatively compressed scale from 12 years to 30 years".
In their ruling issued on Thursday, the appeal court judges agreed with Mrs Angiolini that 12 years was too lenient unless there were exceptional circumstances - and said minimum sentences of more than 30 years could be imposed for mass murderers.
Among the five judges who had been convened to examine the issue was Scotland's most senior judge, Lord Hamilton.
He said it would be open to a sentencing judge in a murder case "to specify a period which was in excess, even well in excess, of the offender's anticipated lifespan".
Knife crime
And he said minimum sentences of at least 16 years should be set for knife murders in order to tackle the "scourge" of knife crime.
A statement issued by the court said: "It has held that there may well be cases (for example, mass murders by terrorist action) for which a punishment part of more than 30 years may, subject to any mitigating considerations, be appropriate.
"A punishment part as low as 12 years would not be appropriate unless there were strong mitigating circumstances, and a punishment part of less than 12 years should not be set in the absence of exceptional circumstances - for example, where the offender is a child.
"Where the offender has deliberately armed himself with a knife or other sharp instrument and committed murder with it, the court would expect, other than in exceptional circumstances, the punishment part to be at least 16 years - in some cases significantly longer.
"It has endorsed a view expressed in an earlier case that where the victim is a child or a police officer acting in the execution of his duty, or where a firearm is used, a punishment part in the region of 20 years should be set."
Unduly lenient
Mrs Angiolini had also asked the appeal court to examine whether the sentences on killers Robert Kelly, Brian Boyle, and Greig Maddock had been unduly lenient.
Kelly was jailed for a minimum 15 years for strangling loan firm collector Agnes "Nessa"' Mechan, 64, and hiding her body under floorboards in the Govanhill area of Glasgow in 2002. The body was only found four years later.
Boyle and Maddock had been sentenced to 15 and 12 years respectively in 2007 after murdering father-of-two Brian Bowie by setting fire to him in Dunfermline.
The judges ruled that Kelly's minimum sentence should be increased to 19 years, and also increased the minimum sentences on Boyle and Maddock to 20 and 18 years respectively.
Every time the subject of global warming comes up we are asked to take precautions to "save the planet." The government use green issues to con more money out of the taxpayers in the pretence that it is to help "save the planet."
This planet has survived the formation of our solar system, collisions with the moon (if our scientist are to be believed) meteorites crashing onto its surface and wiping out life forms, extreme degrees of heat, and cold during any natural phases, or catastrophes it goes through, so it is not the planet that is in danger but mankind its self.
Instead of using the term "save the planet" we should face facts and admit its human beings who are at risk, not the planet, and use the term "save mankind."
Mankind, or the human life form we are, has only been on this planet for a short space of time in comparison to the lifetime of the earth, and the way we abuse the resources on it might accelerate global warming, but no matter how hard we try to combat the changes on earth whether we are responsible for them or not, mother nature with always win.
As long as the earth rotates, and orbits around the sun, these changes will always occur, the planet WILL survive, and mankind being just another phase in its cycle might, like the dinosaurs be another casualty in its evolution.
The planet will save its self, with or without our help, and the taxes we are being conned into paying to save it, are more for the survival of government finance, rather than anything else.
There are plenty of charities who between them collect millions of pounds for cancer research, and while it is put to good use with methods discovered which cure some cancers and others that at least reduce growths, giving the sufferer a longer and less painful life,it must anger the scientists when the end result is not allowed to go on the market because the cost to the National Health Service would be too great.
A new drug called "avistan" is one such drug that can cure bowel cancer, but deemed to be too expensive to allow sufferers to reap the benefits of it.
Think of the money spent to bring these drugs onto the market, and the money donated by people who most likely have lost someone close to them in the hope that it will save others from going through the pain and suffering they witnessed, then ask yourself why can these drugs not be used.
What is the point of developing these drugs only to be told, "we have a cure but we cannot afford to give you it. The very people who donated money towards cancer research are the type of people who are refused the treatment, so where is the justice in that?
The drug companies must find a way to to produce these drugs that will make them available to everyone, whether it means cutting their profits or by going to the government for help.
If the government can come up with billions of pounds, all of a sudden to bail out the banks then they should be able to assist in the distribution of these important drugs that will save the lives and suffering of the people they were supposed to help. I wonder how much of Fred Goodwin's vulgar pension, will go towards charities, because with his track record, his policy will be "charity begins at home." It's the likes of him and the rich rip off merchants from the city who can afford this treatment who will benefit, the very people who have no thought for anyone else, and who I doubt very much if they care about any charity, while the poor folk who would give their last are the victims again.
The drugs were discovered through the determination of our scientists, and the well meaning people who donate so much money to the cancer research charity, so it should not be too difficult to let them see their efforts come to fruition, without money grabbing companies cashing in.
I was listening to the radio as I was driving home in my SAAB (I thought that a bit of advertising might help with my next purchase LOL.) and they were speaking of the results of a poll that had been taken recently. It suggested that their might be a hung parliament at the next election.
Now I am sure that the words on every ones lips when they heard this would have gone something like this.
"They all deserve to be hung after the fiasco's of the past year, what with the expenses scam and the banking farce to name but two."
Now before anyone who does not know what a hung parliament is, and might get excited at the thought, a hung parliament means that there will be no clear majority after the votes have been counted at the next election, meaning that the British public have no faith in any one party to dig us out of the mess we find ourselves in.
It only proves what I have stated in this blog many times, that no matter who we vote for it will only be the lesser of two evils.
If it is a hung parliament all the evil will be put together in a "coalition government" to sort out the mess, and who knows where that will take us.
It might be the best solution though, and save all the political bickering in the house, where they all act like a bunch of school kids instead of getting down to the business in hand; the job we hired them to do, and get this country back on an even keel again, or we might find there is a new meaning to the term "hung parliament."
The French fishermen would not stand for it, and the Spanish are never questioned about their methods of catching fish of all sizes, and cleaning up their fishing grounds, but the responsible Scottish fishermen are once again being punished by the mindless idiots in Brussels who still want restrictions on our fishing fleet. These laws are being passed by people who know nothing about the job or the fish stocks around our waters, and who's main aim seems to be to ruin the Scottish, or British fishing industry.
Our representatives in Europe come away the same old sob story that there is nothing they can do about it, but it is their job to fight for the rights of Britain, not to walk away with their tails between their legs, and allow this useless union dictate to them.
Britain is the only country who allows this to happen while countries like Spain and France, to name but two stand up for their fishing rights, and are listened to even though their boats slaughter everything they catch. Why does our representative not use these facts as ammunition to protect our rights instead of walking away in defeat. Questions like these should be asked, so why are our MEPs not asking them and fighting on our behalf? Their jobs should be questioned if they cannot let their voices be heard.
What excuses are we gong to get when our fleet is tied to the wall with thousands of jobs gone, ashore and at sea, while foreign vessels from other E.U. countries come and plunder our seas leaving them in the desolate state they have left their own in?
This union has no right to dictate to our fishermen,nor should they have been given the power they have been, and if we were given the vote we were promised by our weak government, we would be in control of our own waters and making a better job of it than these fools who are in charge of our destiny now, not only in fishing matters, but in all other important matters. Heaven help us for the future.
What is happening now is a far cry from the Common Market we DID sign up for, where the price and distribution of food produce was the main factor.
The European Union was bad enough but the Lisbon treaty is a step too far, and a step most countries will live to regret.
The gutless wonders we send to represent us in Europe will be the cause of us losing our individuality, while the stronger countries, like Germany, and France who are already beginning to dominate, will take over the running of everything and their word will be law.
Now why did Hitler not think about conquering the world this way? It seems his modern day counterparts have come up with a successful formula to rule Europe,only this time there is no resistance.
It has just been announced that the cost of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow has risen from 373 million pounds to 454 million pounds, a rise of 22%, and with under four years to go before they start the cost could rise even more. This situation is nothing new to to the organizers of Olympic, and Commonwealth Games of the past, so why does it always make such a big impact when it is announced with every new venue.
According to what they say the extra money HAS to be paid for by the taxpayer.(As if we haven't got enough to pay back thanks to the banking farce.) Taxpayers who had no say as to whether they wanted the games in their country, or the people of Glasgow, who were never consulted about the inconvenience to them. Why should the taxpayers be burdened by more expense to make the dream of some city or government officials dream come true?
OK its a big thing for the British competitors to have the games on their own soil, but the expense does not warrant the benefits of having them here, and I am sure the countries who failed this time round are pretty thankful that they escaped the expense during the world recession we are now in.
Where the money was coming from in the first place is a mystery, as poverty was being pleaded by anyone and everyone in authority before we won (or lost more like)the vote to hold the Commonwealth Games. It seems it is easy finding money to finance unnecessary, or frivolous causes, but when it comes to making necessary cuts it's the public who has to suffer by withdrawing the services they need the most, like refuse collections, and all other services paid for by extortionate council taxes.
It seems to me when political figures get into power they seem to think they are working with monopoly money, and that the taxpayers will come to their rescue every time they overspend.
In the case of the games we are always promised the benefits will be greater than the cost, but it never turns out that way, and this will be no exception.
It's time we started handing over monopoly money to pay our taxes after all it's the only money that doesn't disappear into thin air, and always lands in the hands of the winner, not like the Billions lost by our world bankers, never to be seen again.
Alex Salmond's words of "A Scottish bloc of MPs will unblock Westminster" and "We shall use voting power to make London dance to a Scottish tune" would have had a better chance of ringing true had they not shown how incapable they really are of running the country,or making important decisions, by releasing Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi. That is the rock they perished on, not past manifestos or future promises. The Scottish people do not forget, even though it means a pathetic bunch of labour candidates getting in. Its hard to know who to vote for in the coming general election as no one party seems able to carry out the duties required. When it comes to the crunch it will be the lesser of two evils, a result none of the parties should be proud of. The fact that the turnout for this by-election was the lowest turnout for a post-war Westminster by-election in Scotland, shows how interested the Scottish people are in electing the money grabbing crooks who now stand for parliament seats to line their own pockets rather than attend to the policies, and people they once used to care for. Another reason might be the fact that we have been swallowed up by what is now the dictatorship of the European Union. Either way the public can't win, and have no real say in political decisions, so why vote at all. Until our voice is heard again the feeble bunch of British politicians can expect the same disdain at every election.
Here is another example of the stupidity in the British justice system. I am so disgusted that I will post a copy of the story rather than write about it, and give you an idea how our courts here in Britain have no respect for the victims of crime. Make up your own minds, and tell me if this rapist should ever walk free again,regardless of his age, as it is obvious to me that on his release he will waste no time until he finds his next victim. Any judge who released or, releases this scum in the future should be sacked, and never allowed to sit on any bench in our courts again. Its long past the time when we should be demanding justice,and protect our general public.
Freed child rapist, 16, detained
Sentencing Judge Adrian Smith Judge Adrian Smith initially imposed a community order for the first rape
Judges follow sentence guidelines
A teenager who kidnapped and raped a five-year-old boy, eight days after avoiding custody for another rape, has been detained for at least three years.
The 16-year-old admitted offences against the second boy including rape and child abduction.
Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court heard the attack happened after he was given a community order for the rape of a boy aged seven in Tameside.
The first sentence, by Judge Adrian Smith, provoked a legal challenge.
On Wednesday, the attacker, who cannot be named, was given an indeterminate sentence for protection of the public after committing a second attack.
'Deeply disturbing'
He must serve a minimum of three years minus five days before being considered for parole.
But Judge Peter Lakin told him: "The offences you have committed are deeply disturbing and very serious.
Det Con Terry Farrell read out a statement from the victim's father
"You are a devious and manipulative young man with an unhealthy and completely unacceptable sexual interest in young boys.
"It is likely you will not be released for some very considerable period of time."
He added that it was "highly unusual" for a court to categorise a 16-year-old as a danger to the public but in this case it was merited.
"I have to say I have absolutely no hesitation whatsoever in reaching the conclusion that you are indeed a dangerous offender," the judge said.
The boy was sentenced to three years and four months, but will be eligible for parole earlier because of time spent in custody.
Appeal bid
Judge Lakin also revoked the community rehabilitation order passed by Judge Adrian Smith and resentenced him for the earlier rape offences against the seven-year-old.
He was sentenced to three years and four months, to run concurrently, and placed on the Sex Offenders Register.
In sentencing for the first rape, Judge Smith is believed to have considered the victim's family, who forgave the youth because of their Christian beliefs.
The three-year community order led to an appeal by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), but was overtaken when, just days after appearing in court, he was arrested for the second rape.
Rape is rape and whether you are 16 or 60, it is one of the most horrific crimes anyone can commit Det Con Terry Farrell
On 4 July 2009, the second victim, who is now six, was playing outside near his home when he was lured away to look for a lost football but was actually taken to the teenager's house and abused.
He was found emerging from the house while his parents searched the neighbourhood for him.
The teenager later admitted child abduction, rape, committing an offence with the intention of committing a sexual offence, attempted rape and causing a child to engage in sexual activity.
Speaking after the hearing, Det Con Terry Farrell, who led the investigation, said it was a "harrowing and disturbing" case.
"Rape is rape and whether you are 16 or 60, it is one of the most horrific crimes anyone can commit. For this to happen to a five-year-old boy is beyond comprehension."
He then went on to read a statement on behalf of the father of the victim.
He said: "This has been a traumatic ordeal for my whole family, and particularly for my six-year-old son who has had to go through what no-one, let alone a young innocent boy, should ever have to go through.
"It has been a harrowing time but I'm glad it is finally over and we can now draw a line under everything and move on with our lives."
Donald Swarbrick says. Its all very well having a christian attitude,but if the parents of his first victim had not wanted leniency, the other poor victim and family would not have had to suffer the same atrocities plus the pain and suffering that goes along with it. . They should be regretting that christian decision now, and have some thought for future victims.
Why all the panic in the news about fathers taking leave to spend time with their newborn.? Most fathers are only too glad to get out of the house and back to work, and their wives delighted to wave them off at the door, after all its the mother the baby needs most, especially if they are getting breast fed. The child needs this connection with the mother in the early stages of its life, the father is the hunter, gatherer, who should stay as such. The few fathers who want time off with their newborn, should look to the past when this was never heard of, when men were men, and they got on with the job allocated to them, which was bringing in the money to keep the family. Its bad enough the amount of time women get off, but to jeopardise industry by including the men in this is getting beyond a joke. If couples want to have children it is them who should work around the system, not the system work around them.
I don't know why Peter Mandelson thinks he is an authority on the post office given the fact the only connection he has with it is spouting his mouth off on a subject he knows nothing about, but then again he is better known for that than anything else at the moment, other than the fact that he was bombed out of the labour party twice.
Recalled again without a vote, it shows the dire straights the present labour government are in when they have to fall back on a useless article such as him. The only input he ever has had on politics has been damaging, and nothing has changed, its a good thing for this country that after the coming elections he will once again be where he belongs. As far away as possible from the power that runs this country.
"Don't despair labour can still win" was his last war cry. Desperate words from a desperate bunch of has beens.
Having been self-employed most of my working life I never approved of strikes because I knew the damage it could cause to the business, and having spent ten years as a postman in my latter years, refused to come out on strike for trivial matters, but if the postal workers had a good cause for strike action I DID come out along with them. This recent threat of action is one occasion where I would have come out on strike as the postmen on the beat have been getting exploited more and more every year by being asked to do twice the work and cover twice the doors in the same time, before this load was placed on them. The Royal Mail is being run by managers who have no idea how the system works, and have no interest in customer satisfaction, putting profit before everything else. They have been employed to streamline the business at any cost, and it is their actions that are putting the Royal Mail at risk, not the postal workers on the street who have to face the public and bear the brunt of managerial stupidity. Government demands, and restrictions, also put a strain on this business, and the public are always kept in the dark about these matters, but if they knew the facts they would get a few eye-openers. The threat of TNT and other courier services taking over, or stealing business from the Royal Mail has been held over the Royal Mail workers since the monopoly has been taken away from them by the government, but what the public don't realise is that these less efficient companies charge their customers an extortionate amount to deliver their letters and parcels, and end up sending them through the Royal Mail, making a killing at the expense of the Royal Mail. Its only the high priced items that are specifically paid for to be delivered first class that are delivered by other couriers, the other second class items are dumped on the Royal Mail who, thanks to government rules have to deliver them at a lower rate, opening the door for the private couriers to abuse the system and their customers by pretending to deliver them by their own delivery men, while making a hefty profit.
The second delivery by the Royal Mail is being phased out, and delivery postmen only starting work,at a time when they used to have their first deliveries finished meaning businesses are not getting their mail until about dinner time unless they take the option of going to collect it at the nearest office. Most businesses need their mail first thing, but if they have to go and collect it does that not demean the whole postal system, as they are not delivering the items that were paid to be delivered to the door, not the nearest sorting office. Cutting the hours of the postman when new housing schemes are sprouting up all the time is stupid, and instead of trying to cut staff and turn the full time workers into part time as the management are trying to do is another hair brained scheme thought up by folk at the top who have come from other business sources and know nothing of the way Royal Mail should be run. Until something is done about them, there will always be unrest within the postal services, and if the government want this efficient service to remain, it's the idiots at the top who need to be looked at first, then the policies of government,who by giving the Royal Mail more freedom to compete would solve most of the problems occurring now, and avoid strikes in the future.
Here we go again the same old story, from the energy companies, winter approaching, and the threat of big rises announced. Ofgem announced today that the cost of gas and electricity could go up by as much as sixty percent in the next decade, the excuse being that British resources in gas are dwindling, and the big companies have to fork out for new sources like wind power etc. We import enough gas from Norway to feed the whole of Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, and we import from other sources in Europe to meet our other needs, so why are they using this as an excuse? We have been selling electricity to other countries for years, but it never made it any cheaper for us, especially in Scotland where we have generated enough hydro power to sell to other countries, and still do. Its the same with the oil, it was never any cheaper here just another source of income for the government in two ways. One was the tremendous revenue it took directly from the oil companies, the other of course was the ridiculous tax charged at the pumps plus added VAT. If the energy companies want to progress into wind farms, solar power, or the waves the sea provides, they should be using the enormous profits they are making now to expand into other fields, not rip off the consumer to pay for their ambitions.
OFGEM is supposed to be working for the consumer, NOT the energy companies, but it was them and not the big companies who announced the usual rip off we have come to expect at this time of year, with a different excuse each time.
I have to ask the question, is OFGEM working for us or the energy companies? If they are working for us as they are supposed to be, then why are they not putting a stop to this rip off year after year, instead of helping the rip off merchants to announce their scam? It appears to me that they are doing more for the energy companies, so therefore they should be paying their wages instead of the taxpayer, after all they are absolutely of no service to us. Other businesses only branch out when they can afford to, so why are this lot being allowed to take liberties every year. Changing over to green energy is just an excuse to make money for nothing, and the government is as guilty as the rest, as they too are using it as an excuse to line their pockets. Its all very well thinking of the planet, of that I agree, but to go to the extremes this lot are going to just because they see an opening of backing from a percentage of the public who are genuinely concerned, there is no need to pretend that slapping tax on everything is the answer to the problem. That is the answer to every problem in the world today slap a tax on it, raise the price and put it out of reach of the poorest, and the most needy. Who do they think they are kidding, for every idea like these, they jump on the bandwagon, and rub their hands, thinking they have the backing of the population, and once again they can fleece us, this time with the very things that concern us.
Its time we were looking at solving the problems of the world in a realistic way, by getting to the root of it, NOT by extorting money. We have come to a point where all the money has BEEN extorted from us so they will HAVE to try something else, the power companies included, until we get on an even keel again. Every household in the land will have to tighten their belts, a favourite saying rammed down our throats by governments when things get tough, and a saying THEY will have to take heed of. WE will get by with thrift, and its about time they all did the same. The energy companies to expand when they can afford it, the government to cancel THE TRIDENT MISSILES, and IDENTITY CARDS to name but two items that would save billions. Go ahead when we can afford them, if they are wanted then, but forget about them now. Most of us think that both of these items are unnecessary but as usual we will be ignored by the people who we put in power to look after our interests, the same people who refused us the vote on the Lisbon Treaty, and the same people who dug this hole we now find ourselves in.
Whatever way we look at it the future is far from rosy, be it greenhouse gasses or the gasses spouted by our politicians, it will be a long while if ever before there are any green shoots of recovery for the working man.
So Ireland has finally been browbeaten into voting for the Lisbon Treaty, after two votes, coming under extreme pressure from the European Union, to tow the line. The choice of the Irish people should have been listened to in the first place, and I am sure they will live to regret not voting against it the second time around. This is supposed to be a democratic organization, but with this farce in Ireland, having to vote until the European Union get what they want, and Britain being refused the referendum it was promised, it stinks more of a dictatorship. They are running scared in case they don't get their own way, which tells you they have no faith in the treaty being passed without pressure being applied. Poland and the Czech Republic have still to decide, but you can be sure that they will have to conform to the wishes of the EU just like Ireland did. According to the European Union if this treaty does not go through it will put the whole concept under pressure, and if a small thing like this treaty puts it under pressure, then it is in a sticky wicket to begin with. The idea of a common market was fine, if they had stuck to the commercial side of things, but a union that tries to dictate every law, and every aspect of the running of other countries that have had their own rules, regulations, and traditions throughout their existence is wrong and is destined to fail. It is only a matter of time before some of the countries rebel against the stupid rules that are coming from this union, and when this Lisbon Treaty is forced through the impact of how demanding, and restricting to our own ways and traditions it is going to be, will bring a realization that instead of increasing its power, we should all be taking stock of the dangerous predicament we have put ourselves in. As I have said before other, unions similar to this have failed before, the USSR and Yugoslavia to name but two, and I see no reason to think that this one will be any different.
I have been so sick to the teeth, about all the ridiculous things happening here that I did not know which one to write about. So many choices of disgusting decisions by the people we depend on to serve justice on the perpetrators of this country that always seem to end up making a laughing stock of the system which was supposedly made to protect the innocent, and punish the criminal. Not so it seems,as we are paying out money (over two thousand pounds) to disruptive prisoners who were locked away separately from other more peaceful prisoners for the safety of the said more peaceful prisoners, and the prison officers. We have paid out thousands of pounds to pay off prisoners who claimed their human rights were being abused because they had to slop out. These offender knew what they were getting into when they committed their crimes, and knew what would happen to them if they were disruptive, so why are we paying them money when they should be getting punished, a punishment they knew they would get, and deserve?
We have a convicted murderer in Scotland,(Beggs, the limbs in the loch murderer) who had already killed once and through a technicality was released to kill again, which he did. In prison for the second murder he committed he has been trying to appeal against his conviction for the ten years we have managed to keep him behind bars, but now some fool has decided to allow him to appeal, on the slight technicality of the case being made too public before it went to court. Knowing the idiots that run our justice system (the Magrahi affair an example although there are many more) this double murderer is more than likely to be released by the system that calls itself justice. He only wants out to kill again, and make another laughing stock of our courts,as he obviously gets as many kicks out of that as he does when he takes a life, but then again, as it is so easy to make a fool of our justice system, maybe the kicks for that are getting less, and he will kill more people this time. The time of the courts and the money spent on this appeal should not have been wasted on this vermin, and if he does get out he might find he would have been safer in prison, because the people of this nation are so sick of what is happening here HIS life might be in danger, as a well meaning member of the public might just cut his throat, giving him the justice he deserved for the first murder he committed, not to mention the second, which would never have happened if it were not for the fools who let him go.
As for the payments to the poor wee souls in jail. Well, they will soon be coming out with more money than they earned from the crime they committed to put them in there, and with the lenient sentences that are handed out here, it might just be worth it if we all got in on the act.
Well why should our criminals have all the fun and profit when it is us that is paying for it?
When they are looking for the answer to the question of why there is so much crime in the country, they need look no further than our stupid human rights law and the idiots that enforce it. We are not allowed to punish mischievous children who, turn into bad teenagers, who, get sympathy rather than punishment, who turn into the murderers, and violent criminals that roam our streets waiting to be caught and make a fool of our policemen, and law lords who's hands are tied because of the human rights law. When are we going to see sense and scrap it?
Every move Gadaffi is making now is just adding more insult to injury, to the victims of the Lockerbie bombing. A hero's welcome for Megrahi, and now all this farce in America. Its only just over twenty years ago in 1986 that the American air force bombed the place where Gaddaffi was staying with the intention of killing him, but when the task failed he appeared to change his ways, until the Lockerbie bombing occurred, now he is to address the United Nations IN America. This and the release of Megrahi to a hero's welcome is a kick in the teeth for everyone of the victims of the bombing, but then again its usually someone close to you that does the kicking, or it comes from the least unexpected source, so what else should we expect in the kind of world we live in now? The problem is, we elect these people to carry out our wishes, and once they are in, our wishes are ignored. It might come as a surprise to some folk,but the majority of the world are shocked and disappointed at these events,even though our politicians are not, whether they like to admit it or not. They can ignore the public outcry, and horror, but what they should remember is, THE PEOPLE HAVE THE FINAL SAY,so they should not be surprised when their anger is shown at the elections. Obama had to go through the affront of Gadaffi speaking after him, and although these talks are supposed to include world peace, it must have been difficult for him knowing the feelings of his nation.
Gadaffi was welcomed by the other world leaders, isn't it amazing how easily you are welcomed back into the fold when your country has an abundance of oil, as other sources begin to dwindle. Wealth can corrupt, but you expect loyalty from your elected leaders, oil or no oil, and the feelings of the America people on Gadaffi should have been taken into consideration by our leaders, also if Gadaffi was the good guy he is now trying to portray, he should have had the decency to give this one a miss, then we MIGHT begin to believe he is ready to comform.
The picture shown seems to be appropriate as it might bring back the memories of the atrocity brought about by the Lybian leaders crime.
If the government is playing games with where to make the best cuts in order to gain votes to try and dig them out of the hole they have buried themselves in over their dying months, then they need look no further than the regulator "OFGEM" as their lack of authority in "regulating" the "big six" power companies makes them even more useless than the government. They can point out to the main energy suppliers that they are fleecing the public, but can do nothing about it.
As the price of energy is supposed to be regulated by the price of oil, and as the price of oil has fallen, the rip off merchants are still telling us that prices will go up rather than down, giving us the excuse that the energy we are buying now was purchased at the higher rate. The regulator accepts these lies without question, and never asks for an explanation on how the bills never come down when the energy bought at the cheaper rate comes into the equation.
We do not need to waste money on OFGEM if that is the only control they have over the "big six", as the general public are a lot quicker off the mark in noticing these rip offs given the fact that it us that has to worry about meeting the extortionate bills.
If the government are looking to make cuts, then this is one company that won't be missed, unless they give them the power to do something about the "regulating" in their job title, otherwise why spend the money on them.
It might not be much of a saving, but as the saying goes, "look after the pennies, and the pounds will take care of themselves." Their are enough people getting paid for doing nothing in this country without this farcical company, who are as much use to the public as an ash tray on a motorbike.
Once again we have the Tory and the labour parties competing to see who can con the most out of the taxpayers without it causing too much of an uproar, and to win votes, to try and clear the debt left behind by the bank bailout. The problem I have with this is, none of them are allowing for any repayments, by the banks on the money that was classed as a LOAN! All the calculations seem to circulate around the fact that the money given to the banks is not expected to be paid back, and is not included in any budgets in the foreseeable future, making the taxpayer liable for all the debts incurred by the banks. The bankers are already planning on how to spend their outrageous bonuses, before any of the debt has been paid back, while we the taxpayers are awaiting the outcome of how hard our pockets are going to be hit, and for how long. If the money owed is eventually paid back in anything up to thirty years, what happens to the money fleeced from the public, will we, or our offspring (as most of us will be dead by then) receive any bonuses from the money amassed, or will it just go into the coffers to bail the banks out in the next crisis, or be added to the bankers bonuses that will have escalated to an even more disgusting amount by then?
Author based in Scotland.
After years spent at sea as a commercial fisherman I witnessed spectacular sights in the night sky while waiting for daylight to break.
After I retired I decided to write on the subject.
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