School Holiday Activities

Looking for something to occupy your children. It would seem that parents in the Middle-East might have the answer. See the happy expressions on these Shiite children as they sign their names on rockets that will shortly be blasted off to kill and maim Isreali children. Look how proud their mother looks in the background as she takes pictures of her children enjoying themselves.

It certainly keeps them out of trouble!

Or maybe they are Isreali children writing a message to their counter-parts in Lebenon.

Whether Isreali or Hezzballah, these pictures are sick.

Is it me, or has the world finally gone mad!

A Summer Sunday

Today has been a truly lovely day. The weather perfect. A great opportunity to chill out and relax.

The day kicked off with the annual charity bike ride between Manchester and Blackpool, a ride of 58 miles in aid of Christie's Cancer Hospital in Manchester. Most of the people cycling past looked pretty happy, but the day was still young, and it was going to get decidedly hotter. I wish them all well, and hopefully achieve their objective - Blackpool Tower. I intend to join them next year. There is further information on the Bike Events web site. There is another ride in September, - the Manchester 100. You can choose either 100 miles or 100 kilometers. I know which one I'm going to choose (I think kilometers is a great way to measure distance!)!

After we waved most of them by at the end of our road, Christine took the girls walking to drop Bethen off at her friends for a sleep-over. I decided to check out my newly serviced and updated bike (new saddle [about time], new panniers and new extension to the handle-bars) and so took it for a quick spin along the tow-path. It was amazing. I managed speeds I've never done before on this bike. Everything felt tight and slick - a real joy to ride. Afterwards, we all met up, - minus Bethen, at the Kirkless Hall pub for lunch, and spent the afternoon watching canal boats going through the locks.

A classic, perfect English summer's day.

Another Anniversary

Today is the anniversary of the London Bombings of July last year. 52 lives were lost, hundreds more were injured to varying degrees, hundreds more directly affected. It has left a trail of blighted lives, - husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, daughters, sons all taken on that day. All those people are in our thoughts today, and pray they find the strength to continue to strive for a fullfilling and peaceful life.

Has it changed us? Have we as a people changed? Certainly the Government thought we had and attempted to bring in draconian "anti-terrorist" legislation, - most of which has faced intense opposition from the population. For most of us, radically changing our lives and the basic principles upon which we define ourselves as a society, would mean that the terrorist would have won.

Terrible things will happen, and those who perpetrate those atrocities need to be hunted down and punished, but what we must never do is surrender to the terrorists which seems to have happened in America, and has almost happened here. We are a freedom and liberal loving society, and will resist all attempts of the executive where we can to use spurious and cycnical means to apply governmental control - for which I give thanks.

Independence Day

Taking this opportunity the thank America for the vigorous celebration of our 14th wedding anniversary. You really shouldn't, you know. You really should save your money, - lets face it, you've got a war to pay for and Haliburton share price to support, but we don't begrudge the effort.

The years seem to have flown by since then, and we have been joined by two fellow travelers in life, - our girls. Both of us have waited a long time before tieing the knot, and I for one do not regret a minute of it. When I look back at where we've traveled and how far we've come, I can't wait for the next few years.

So if you can, make one of those rockets for us. Thanks

Father's Day

Last Sunday was Father's Day, - not a traditional English celebration, but an American creation by Sonora Smart Dodd in 1909 and subsequently exported, and was designed to ensure that Dads also had their day and, more cynically, card manufacturers have another contrived day to make a profit! Personally, it doesn't really mean a lot to me, but I go along with it.

However, my kids did get me a card, and I felt it was rather good. It lists 10 things that Dads only ever hear in their dreams:

• "Dad, you must teach me some of your funky dance moves."
• "Dad, is there anything I can do for you?"
  
• "Dad, here's that fiver I borrowed from you."
• "Dad, nice shirt, could you give me some fashion tips?"
• "Dad, I couldn't possibly accept any more of your hard-earned cash."
• "Dad, don't give me any pocket money, treat yourself."
• "Dad, I'm listening."
• "Dad, I agree, that's enough of my cheek."
• "Dad, I won't be needing a lift tonight, you're not a twenty-four hour taxi service."
• "Yes Dad, you're right as always!"

Wouldn't all of the above help to make this world a better place? Ah well, at least I can dream.

The Football World Cup

Although football is not my most favourite of games, we are in the midst of a football and beer drinking fest, of which the England Football team are taking part (they are playing football, I'm drinking the beer!).

We have just completed the group stage which consists of a round-robin of matches with three other teams, - the top two going through to the knock-out stage. We have, so far, failed to have been fully convincing, but the important thing to remember is that we have come top of our group; we haven't lost a match; we've scored 5 goals with only 2 against. Although it has been frustrating, we are in the best position we could ever hope to be in at this stage.

Who said, supporting England would be easy!

Let's hope they are working hard as I type. On the whole, our defense and mid-field would seem to be pretty solid and with the possibility of Ferdinand and Neville coming back niggles and knocks, some of the indecision in defense is likely to be eliminated. Ferdinand and Terry are true World class.

Mid field, Gerrard seems to be firing on all cylinders, and Lampard is getting into shooting positions - eventually one will go in! My only doubts are up front. Crouch, at this level, looks a little off the pace, but he does hold the ball up well, Rooney is not yet fully match fit, but I'm sure he will start to make a real impression. What we need is to start playing as a team. We have the players, we just need the team-work.

Time to get behind them, and the beer in for Sunday's match against Ecuador. Well done England so far.

Is This The Sensible Way To Deal With Paedophiles

First off, I am a father of two children, and the thought of anything happening to them brings me out in a cold sweat and gives me sleepless nights. The idea of any pervert getting their hands on them frightened me, and if anyone did do anything, I would probably commit some offences of my own!

For some time, a tabloid newspaper , I suspect in search of sensationalist headlines, has been campaigning for something it calls 'Sarah's Law' after the assault and death of Sarah Payne six years ago and modeled on 'Megan's Law' in America.

Now I don't know how it works in the US, but from what the paper has said should happen would, I believe, lead to vigilantism and the driving of these people under-ground. Sure, those charged with protecting society should be fully aware of these people and where they are and what they are doing, but the rest of us? Do I really want to know that someone round the corner has a conviction for child abuse? If I did know, how would that effect the way I live, and how I parent my children? Would I want to do something about it? I honestly don't have an answer, but what I do know is that we shouldn't, at the whim of newspaper sales, destroy a cornerstone of British justice quickly and without sensible thought.

Moreover, the police are not happy with the way the debate in this country is going. Chief Constable Terry Grange told BBC News he was extremely concerned the Home Office had "surrendered" power over [child abuse] policy to the News of the World [newspaper].

When viewed emotionally, Sarah's (Megan's) Law would seem to be the answer, but intellectually, I feel it would be taking the wrong road. Child abuse and murder is an horrendous crime, and needs to be dealt with carefully, and with wisdom, not headlines.

Six years ago, the tabloid press, by 'outing' paedophiles, caused some of the worst scenes of vigilantism this country has seen in a centuary, and brought about the deaths of two people who had been mistakenly identified.

Finally, 90% of child abuse is perpetrated by someone the child knows, and is often a relative!

Suicide Is A PR Stunt!

Colleen Graffy, a senior foreign policy official in the Bush administration, has stated that three illegally detained people at Guantanamo Bay, 2 Saudi's and one from Yemen, killed themselves as part of a PR stunt! She said that the deaths were "... good PR move to draw attention," and, "a tactic to further the jihad cause."

The base commander and war criminal, Navy Rear Admiral Harry Harris, said that the suicides were "...not an act of desperation but an act of 'asymmetric' warfare against us".

Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari of the Muslim Council of Britain, said: "The deaths of these three men does not represent an 'asymmetrical act of war' as the Americans unbelievably claim, but rather an act of absolute desperation."

Former British inmate, Shafiq Rasul, added: "There is no hope in Guantanamo! The only thing that goes through your mind day after day is how to get justice or how to kill yourself.

"It is the despair - not the thought of martyrdom - that consumes you there."

I can't believe how far the people in the American administration have sunk in their view of humanity. There can be NO excuse to accuse those who have been interned illegally for years, of carrying out PR stunts. I agree that there is a message here. It is one of people without hope. People who have no other means of escape from the mental, and probable physical, torture. Of people who feel as if the world has abandoned them.

And of course, the moral tone of the administration is set by those at the top.

Quality Blogging Time

It is really weird, but this self-imposed task to blog is slipping a bit in recent times and I feel guilty!

Why should I feel guilty? For those who regularly visit, it has probably been noticable that I've recently been doing less and less blogs. Not because there is less and less going on in the world, nor is it because I am getting bored or lazy. It's just that my hours at work have changed, which means I get back at a more 'normal' time and the weather has been superb. The idea of sitting at the computer trying to think of something to say, is not as appealing as sitting in the garden with a pint of beer, listening to the birds (there are some blackbirds nesting in our hedge and the chicks are pretty noisy) and the children out playing.

Please check back from time to time, because, being Britain, it will rain at some time, and so I will be returning to the blog.

However, my main guilt in all this is that I've not gone visiting as much as I should, and for that I do apologise. I haven't forgotten you, and I will catch up soon.

Take care everyone.

Do We Never Learn

A London Assembly inquiry into the London bombings in July 2005 has found the in the initial moments, lack of communication and overall organisation very rapidly became a major problem when coping with the atrocities. They also found emergency first-aid points set up for just such an incident were empty of equipment, and people were having to go to local chemists and pharmacies to get bandages and plasters and antiseptics etc.

Eighteen years ago, a major fire took place at King's Cross underground where exactly the same circumstances were found. Reports then, stated that the number one priority was to ensure the ability of agencies to talk to each other both above ground and below, and, critically, between those at the surface and those down below.

They had 18 years to get it installed, tested and working properly, - why didn't they? I bet it had something to do with money!

It is important to state, that those who were first down and attended the injured, performed heroically, and used good imagination and thought to provide the best level of care they could give, given the circumstances, but they could have had much better back-up, resource and direction had the lessons of King's Cross been learnt and implemented.

The Seas Turn Red

Over the past few years, Japan has been actively lobbying fellow members of the International Whaling Commission and would appear to have a majority of the countries on its side to facilitate a return to commercial whaling.


For the past 20 years, only Norway, Iceland and Japan have been allowed to hunt and slaughter whales, supposedly for "scientific" purposes (though it seems strange that they need to take so many each year, and somehow end up in restaurants!). However, of the 60 country Commission, Japan now seems to have about 35 in its pocket.

A lot of these countries have never had whaling industry (some don't even have a coastline), such as Belize, Mali, Togo and Gambia - yet they will support Japan at the next Whaling Commission's meeting in St Kitts in June. Much of this support has been bought through lavish and cheap aid / loan agreements.

I just hope the whales appreciate this lavish attention! However, it is proof that you can't be complacent, even if you think the battle is won!

I make no apologies for the pictures!

Real Tragic News

News is coming through that Britain's oldest brewery is to be sold and all brewing to cease when a merger between two of the UK's foremost real-ale brewers merge.

The 400-year-old Ram Brewery in Wandsworth, London, is to be sold by Young & Co in a tie-up with Charles Wells, - the brewer of Bombardier Bitter. This will probably mean that approximately 90 jobs will be lost when Young's brewery operation is transfered to the Well's site at Bedford.

Is this a start of consolidation in the real-ale world. I hope not. I think I need a beer!

Are Dell Keylogging For America's Home Security Services

Quick post. Came across this on Moxiegrrrl's site which made me sit up and think. Someone dismantling their Dell Laptop came across a little gismo that sits between the keyboard and the integrated ethernet board, - an ideal position to intercept keystrokes!

Do read the article. It may be nothing, but in this day and age, it might very well be something. The letter this guy has from the DOHS would indicate they know something about it!

Iraq - An Exercise In Self-Delusion

Monday saw a surprise and secret visit to Bagdad by Tony Blair offering his support to the newly elected and installed Iraqi government. He flew in by helicopter direct into the Green Zone - that extremely heavily guarded enclave in Bagdad to deliver an up-beat message. It does seem strange that the worse things get in Iraq, the more positive Blair and Bush's pronouncements are on the subject!

What I found interesting was what he had to say: "We have a government of national unity that crosses all boundaries. Iraqi people are able to write the next chapter of their history themselves". The irony here is that as he was speaking those words, two car bombs exploded killing nine people along with the reported deaths of 23 others in various attacks bringing the death toll, so far in May, to 848. This is on top of the kidnappings and sectarian torture that is the daily fate for many who now exist in this American/UK generated mess.

There just seems to be so much ad odds with reality in what Blair was saying. First off, the fact that Iraqis do not have the ability to determine there own future is so obvious. The first Prime Minister, Ibrahim al-Jaafari, was basically forced out by the US who thought he wasn't suitable for their purposes. Secondly, yes there is a cross-sectarian government, but the government seems so divided that each ministry is basically run and staffed by the party that runs it. Funds are being milked and corruption is rife, but no-one can be sacked because that would upset the delicate balance that presently holds. Moreover, there is a Ministry of Tourism, but no Ministry of the Interior or Defence!

I am so angry about the mess these two idiots have made in the world. It is going to take generations to put right, and in the mean time everyone suffers either through cost (us) or death (the Iraqis).

Europe, - Centre Of Culture

On Saturday night, my family and I settled down to watch that pinnacle of culture, - the Eurovision Song Contest. In brief, it is a contest where European countries each enter a song (and singer(s), group etc) with the aim of selecting through a democratic process, the best song.

A number of problems with this is the political nature of the voting, - Greece won't vote for Turkey or vice versa, the Balkan countries all vote for each other, but not for Serbia, the Balkan states also all vote for each other, and also for Russia so they aren't offended. Ironically, the only country to give us maximum points, considering our history, was Ireland!

But this year, there was only ever going to be one winner, a Finnish 5-member combo who sang an up-lifting little number called "Hard-Rock Hallelujah". What made me want them to do well was that a Finnish right-wing politician thought they should be withdrawn. Anything that upsets a right-winger is alright by me!

But what really appealed were the conservative, but imaginative costumes of the members of the band. Not something you would see in Gap! I thought they looked lovely and would make very good ambassadors of European culture.

Where's My Silver Lining?

I've not been in the loop a lot recently, and not been able to get around or do very much in blogland over the last week or so.

Work has been manic, including coping with a customer who called us and then went into an epileptic fit while on the phone. Ordering an ambulance in Manchester for an address in Edinburgh was a bit of a novel experience.

With so many staff off on holiday or sick, I've hardly had any time to scratch my bum, let alone take a decent breather. Customers, contrary to all established dictacts, are not always right. In fact, they are generally wrong on most things, ordering items or services they are neither knowledgeable or competent to have or use! On top of that, being asked for advice by colleagues about this and that every five minutes, and for which they should know the answer, just adds to my general feeling of mallaise! Sometimes, it feels I'm in charge of school classroom, except, children seem to have some idea of what they are doing, whereas my team don't!

At present, I'm looking for a new job in a company with prospects, but that in itself is just as stressful, and I feel it is 2 steps forward and 1 step back. I don't hate my job, but I want one where I can see where I could get to over the next 10 years and I have a team of staff that have some idea of what they should be doing and why they are there.

But all this has given me little time and inclination to blog in any meaningful way. The same old b*****ds are telling the same old lies and playing the same old games, and in the meantime, we, the ordinary sods who really keep this world going, get more and more dumped on us.

What I need is some hope!

When Are We Going To Stop Letting The Terrorists Win?

Each and every day brings yet another government attack on our hard fought and won civil liberties. Tony Blair is furious that the courts can go against government decisions based solely on the rule of law! The government want some Afghan hijackers to be returned to almost certain death in Afghanistan, which the courts disagreed with. The totalitarian Britain of Tony Blair's dreams is on hold for a little longer.

But a much more cogently argued attack on Tony Blair's position on civil liberties and rights was argued in the Observer this weekend. I would recommend every one to have a read of it as it talks a lot of sense. Tony Blair (along with Bush in America) has set himself up as the protector of British "way of life", but seems ignorant of the fact that our "way of life" includes honesty, probity, fairness and the rule of law.

Every time we chip away our fabric of civil rights and liberties, the terrorist wins, and it is this intolerant and dictatorial government that glorifies terrorism.

This weekend, I got a copy of Neil Young's Living with War. Well worth listening to.

Big Brother? This Getting Out Of Control!

A regular read of mine is Moxiegrrrl who posted this particular post which should shock all and every honest American. A further report can be found at USA Today which, apparently, broke the story wide open.

I'll not repeat the details here, but ask that you read the links above, but in a nutshell, the NSA has been secretly compiling what is probably the biggest database in the history of computing storing phone activities of American people. All done with the connivance of the major phone companies after the White House cried 'terrorist'.

Is it just me, or has all semblance of reason now been abandoned in the pursuit of control and invasion of privacy? This is government intrusion well beyond what is acceptable. It is the sort of action one would expect in totalitarian regimes, not in a democratic, freedom loving country.

The nagging worry for me is that if it is happening over there, is it happening here and we just don't know about it yet.

Photographic Memories

I mentioned a couple of posts ago that I had started to scan the best of my photo collection onto the PC as a sort of backup, - as well as making it available for easy viewing. When I started, I knew it would be a long and slow process, but I hadn't counted on the emotional ride it would take me on.

It's strange how we take photos look at them and then stuff them into boxes, never to be seen again. Some of the pictures I've been going through have only been seen the once, and that's a shame. The memories, these pictures have brought back have been startling. The picture of my Uncle John with his brother, my Dad, over from Australia for a visit. They are sitting on a grassy bank watching a display at the Wirral show with Bethen, my daughter sitting in the middle beaming her head off. Beautiful picture, but sad. Shortly after returning to Australia, Uncle John died.

Other pictures include Dad's other siblings, my Auntie Margaret and Uncle Norman, both also now died, others include pictures of my wife's family and relations now departed sad memories.

But other memories are much happier, - the girls as babies, other people who were important to me in the past. Places that have and hold memories both good and bad. This project, which at the rate I'm going, has some way to run, and more revelations no doubt. But what it has taught me, old photos are important and were taken to be looked at.

They're All Guilty, So Stop Whining

The great defender and upholder of civil rights, President Bush, made an extraordinary statement on German TV over the weekend. Talking about Guantanamo Bay's Camp X-Ray, he said, "Of course Guantanamo Bay is a delicate issue for people. I would love to close the camp and put the prisoners on trial".

He went on to say, "Out top court must still rule on whether they should go before a civil or military court". This top court I believe, is the Supreme Court which Bush has gerrymandered so that it is likely to do what he wants. He goes on, "They will get their day in court". However, it is now that he reveals something extraordinary. He concludes, "One can't say that of the people that they killed. They didn't give these people the opportunity for a fair trial".

This is an amazing statement and raises some issues. First off, Bush and his gang have always maintained that they were not soldiers and so not subject to the Geneva Convention, so if the Supreme Court decide they should be tried by a military court, what does that say about their designation. Of course, if the trial is in a civil court, then a lot more information will come out to the general public which I'm sure Bush does not want to come out.

Secondly, that statement must surely be seen as prejudicial to any future trial when the president of the United States says they are killers. My point is that all these people are innocent, - they haven't even been charged. Surely if the authorities were sure of a person's guilt, as Bush seems to be, then get them charged, get them in front of a judge and jury and let's hear the evidence, and then, maybe, I'll be able to get off Bush's back.

One other thing Bush divulged in his interview, was that the highlight of his Presidency was catching a 7.5lb perch in his lake! Well, bully for him.