I have become addicted to political blogging (of the Tory kind). Most of it is well written, well informed and well intentioned. What i don't know is .. does anybody out there actually care???
They all pontificate about this and that and how it will affect the election and perceptions of Cameron and his government (potential) on a day to day basis. But apart from the chattering classes and the nerds such as myself... who actaully takes any notice? The two million or so voters who actually do decide the outcome of an election? Are they aware of the reams of discussions and and rantings and ravings of a very tiny minority of political activists? In all probability .. no. These important people make their minds up during an election campaign. All these blogs just preach to the converted.
So why do blogs exist at all?? Because they are self perpetuating, the more there are the more people read them, the more the bloggers feel empowered, the more crop up. Some make a fair bit of money out of their blogs (er not this one he he!!) , some are funded by benefactors, such as Conservative Home and 18 Doughty Street. Now Doughty Street has a TV station! It broadcasts for 5 hours every night. What does it show? Bloggers talking to each other about blogging!! It also has policy wonks and apparatchiks discussing politics in its most boring mundane form. Occasionally there is something of interest, such as potential Mayoral Candidate self destructing under some extremely benign questioning.
What is the point of it all??
I don't know ... but I quite enjoy it!!
Thursday, 31 May 2007
Sunday, 27 May 2007
Call for New "SUS" Law - and Racial Profiling - is it fair?
Whats wrong with ethnic profiling?? I am 40 ish - white, well dressed obviously middle class. So WTF do I get pulled at airports and have to take my shoes off and get turned inside out? When I know and you know and every other bastard knows that potential terrorists have one of the following charcateristics: brown or black,sweaty,straggly beards, shaved heads, sweating profusely and reciting Allah Achbar as they go thru the metal detectors carryiung their rucksacks?
Just stope the people who conform to the above criteria and that will make 90% of travellers lives easier!!
Same applies to Plod - let em stop who they want - if you have nothing to hide .. then fine.
Chances are - if you are a young "tinted" gentleman engaged in a lot of "pimp rolling" and teeth sucking .. you will get a tug. Why? because you statistically may be potentially more likely to be involved in a bit of naughty naughty!!
At the moment fine young criminals (and terrorists) can cruise about without much chance of being pulled for anything at all, so increase the opportunity for Plod to "interract" with the criminal types and this will flush out more troublemakers! Great!
As long as they don't pull either me or my kids of course!!
Thats the real world - get over it!
Just stope the people who conform to the above criteria and that will make 90% of travellers lives easier!!
Same applies to Plod - let em stop who they want - if you have nothing to hide .. then fine.
Chances are - if you are a young "tinted" gentleman engaged in a lot of "pimp rolling" and teeth sucking .. you will get a tug. Why? because you statistically may be potentially more likely to be involved in a bit of naughty naughty!!
At the moment fine young criminals (and terrorists) can cruise about without much chance of being pulled for anything at all, so increase the opportunity for Plod to "interract" with the criminal types and this will flush out more troublemakers! Great!
As long as they don't pull either me or my kids of course!!
Thats the real world - get over it!
Thursday, 24 May 2007
Scousers at it again!!
Those loveable old rogues the scousers have been up to their old tricks. They weren't allocated enough tickets for their Champions League final game in Athens. Awright laaaddss - weez joost steam ours ways in right?
So thats what they did - just steam their way in - no tickets or anything needed by our good ol boys in Red - just sheer weight of numbers crashing the fences and turnstiles.Brilliant!!
Heysel Stadium - 39 people murdered by Liverpool fans doing exactly the same thing - charging into areas which are full.
Hillsborough - 96 fans died because pissed up Liverpool fans arriving late for the game (some without tickets) charged the gates. The Police got the blame because the loveable old scousers were only having a bit of scally fun. But if they hadn't charged in those 96 would be alive today.
The same disaster was narrrowly avoided last night. UEFA, quite rightly (for once), blame liverpool fans but the media ... no those poor old Victimpool boys they were horribly treated by those nasty stubbly faced Greek police. Scouser scum nearly killed a bunch of their own again and all they can do is whine.
Well, get real Victimpool (minutes silence at Anfield for Auntie Doris dead cat called Paisley) its about time you lost your automatic right to sympathy and faced reality. You are a bunch of whining, thieving, moaning nonames who believe that life owes you a living and a ticket to the game. Well it dont. Try and join the real world where the rest of us have to live all the time.
So thats what they did - just steam their way in - no tickets or anything needed by our good ol boys in Red - just sheer weight of numbers crashing the fences and turnstiles.Brilliant!!
Heysel Stadium - 39 people murdered by Liverpool fans doing exactly the same thing - charging into areas which are full.
Hillsborough - 96 fans died because pissed up Liverpool fans arriving late for the game (some without tickets) charged the gates. The Police got the blame because the loveable old scousers were only having a bit of scally fun. But if they hadn't charged in those 96 would be alive today.
The same disaster was narrrowly avoided last night. UEFA, quite rightly (for once), blame liverpool fans but the media ... no those poor old Victimpool boys they were horribly treated by those nasty stubbly faced Greek police. Scouser scum nearly killed a bunch of their own again and all they can do is whine.
Well, get real Victimpool (minutes silence at Anfield for Auntie Doris dead cat called Paisley) its about time you lost your automatic right to sympathy and faced reality. You are a bunch of whining, thieving, moaning nonames who believe that life owes you a living and a ticket to the game. Well it dont. Try and join the real world where the rest of us have to live all the time.
Friday, 18 May 2007
Boring day today!
Nothing worth ranting about really. Our two Prime Ministers are fartarsing about pretending to be something they are not.
Watched Question Time last night... I think David Dimbleby is losing it, five on the panel is too many, not riveting watching like it used to be. The general public is so strange though! Mind you Clemency Burton-Hill... Jeeeeezzzz .. 25 years old, absolutely gorgeosuly stunningly amazing and a great brain, apparently she is also a concert violinist! Frightening!
The old chestnut of ticket allocation for the FA cup final has raised its head again. Approx 45% of the people at Wembley tomorrow will be neutrals. Its wrong, its a shame, but thats the way it is. Football has chosen to take the money so it has expensive needs and thats that. The FA Cup Final is now an event that everybody wants to see - like a Concert or a Festival, regardless of whether or not they like the teams (bands) they just want to be there.Its the people with the money who get there. On Radio 5 this morning there was a guy who was taking ten of his staff to Wembley for a day out! Sacreligious... but money talks.
The smoking ban is really beginning to irritate me now. The bastard do gooders helf an safety tossers and legislators are at it big stylee. I gave up years ago and I now desperately want to start again! Big stickers on teh entrances to ALL public places - stickers on the dashboards of company cars - including driving instructors cars ! We are so over legislated its quite unbelievable.
Oh yeah! The wanker tosser filth traffic plod in Cumbria are going to put mobile Speed Cameras in front of fixed cameras to nick people as they speed up after passing the cameras. Doesnt that just restore your faith not only in human nature but the Nazi Plod as well. "Safety Cameras" yeah - right - not another tax on the law abiding motorist?? Absolutely not, Cumbria Nazi Plod will save point three of a life over the next four years based on the data collected from ... er Cumbria Nazi Plod... YOUR ARE BRAINDEAD FILF _ LEAVE US ALONE!!!
Watched Question Time last night... I think David Dimbleby is losing it, five on the panel is too many, not riveting watching like it used to be. The general public is so strange though! Mind you Clemency Burton-Hill... Jeeeeezzzz .. 25 years old, absolutely gorgeosuly stunningly amazing and a great brain, apparently she is also a concert violinist! Frightening!
The old chestnut of ticket allocation for the FA cup final has raised its head again. Approx 45% of the people at Wembley tomorrow will be neutrals. Its wrong, its a shame, but thats the way it is. Football has chosen to take the money so it has expensive needs and thats that. The FA Cup Final is now an event that everybody wants to see - like a Concert or a Festival, regardless of whether or not they like the teams (bands) they just want to be there.Its the people with the money who get there. On Radio 5 this morning there was a guy who was taking ten of his staff to Wembley for a day out! Sacreligious... but money talks.
The smoking ban is really beginning to irritate me now. The bastard do gooders helf an safety tossers and legislators are at it big stylee. I gave up years ago and I now desperately want to start again! Big stickers on teh entrances to ALL public places - stickers on the dashboards of company cars - including driving instructors cars ! We are so over legislated its quite unbelievable.
Oh yeah! The wanker tosser filth traffic plod in Cumbria are going to put mobile Speed Cameras in front of fixed cameras to nick people as they speed up after passing the cameras. Doesnt that just restore your faith not only in human nature but the Nazi Plod as well. "Safety Cameras" yeah - right - not another tax on the law abiding motorist?? Absolutely not, Cumbria Nazi Plod will save point three of a life over the next four years based on the data collected from ... er Cumbria Nazi Plod... YOUR ARE BRAINDEAD FILF _ LEAVE US ALONE!!!
Thursday, 17 May 2007
HIP's... typical Labour disaster
There is no doubt whatsoever that these are a joke. They perform no useful function for people in the real world. They just create another layer of bureaucrats and inspectors who can enter your house and make a nuisance of themselves.
So why is the Government trying to save them??
Yvette Cooper - (who is married to Ed Balls - who is Gordon Browns number 2) is the Minister driving them, it is her baby. The Cabinet is frightened of standing up to her coz of who her powerful hubbie is.
Yet another despicable, disgusting, lily livered, pathetic, execrable example of self serving politicians not correcting a wrongdoing in order to protect their own skins.
Why am I angry - but not surpised???
Filth
So why is the Government trying to save them??
Yvette Cooper - (who is married to Ed Balls - who is Gordon Browns number 2) is the Minister driving them, it is her baby. The Cabinet is frightened of standing up to her coz of who her powerful hubbie is.
Yet another despicable, disgusting, lily livered, pathetic, execrable example of self serving politicians not correcting a wrongdoing in order to protect their own skins.
Why am I angry - but not surpised???
Filth
Wednesday, 16 May 2007
Nicked from the Daily Mirror - Superb!
HERE'S WHAT I FIND REALLY OFFENSIVE ABOUT YOU, SCU
OLIVER HOLT 16/05/2007
LAST week, Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore talked about things he found offensive. He's had his go. Here's a different list.
What's offensive is that Scudamore now presides over a league that makes Dodgy Derek's Used Car Emporium look above board.
What's offensive is that Scudamore is so in thrall to the most powerful of his member clubs that they're giving the impression they're making up the rules as they go along.
It's the Wild West in the Premier League that Scudamore built. It's getting to the point where it feels like anything goes.
What's offensive is that six months ago, a leading Premiership manager placed a bet on one struggling club to stay up this season which, for obvious reasons, is against the rules and open to serious abuse.
What's offensive is no one I know - no supporter, no manager, no player - would have any faith in the Premier League doing anything about it even if the evidence was to be presented to them on a silver platter.
What's offensive is that if you want to concoct a 'gentleman's agreement' between two leading clubs which is going to have a radical effect on the title race, you're going to get away with it.
What's offensive is that Manchester United and Everton did that right underneath Scudamore's nose and then the Premier League put out a statement saying they were content Everton were free to play Tim Howard against United.
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.
What's offensive is Scudamore fiddling while the Premier League writhes in its shame at West Ham's survival.
What's offensive is that we have to rely on Sepp Blatter and FIFA to say they're going to investigate the failure to deduct points for the breaches of rules U18 and B13 while our own league pleads impotence.
What's offensive is that West Ham effectively made tens of millions of pounds out of the Premier League commission ruling because their £5.5m fine and failure to dock points allowed them to stay up and rake in the television cash next season.
What's offensive is Scudamore paying lip service to a decision that allowed cheats to prosper and sent an honest club like Sheffield United down.
What's offensive is the presumption that just because West Ham ripped up its copy of the agreement with the companies that controlled Carlos Tevez, then the companies that controlled Tevez must have ripped its copies up, too.
What's offensive is the sight of Scudamore sitting in front of Kia Joorabchian in the directors' box at Old Trafford on Sunday.
What's offensive is Scudamore not having the bottle to be at Bramall Lane instead to see the fruits of the 'independent' commission's decision to let West Ham off the hook.
What's offensive is knowing that Scudamore didn't witness the effects relegation had on the Sheffield United fans who were ignored by the Premier League commission when it waxed lyrical about the 'loyalty' of West Ham supporters. What's offensive was the pain and the anger on their faces as they walked up to the press box and asked us why the Premier League didn't value their loyalty as much.
What's offensive is that the commission decision backed by Scudamore will have cost a good manager his job if Neil Warnock decides he can no longer continue at Bramall Lane.
What's offensive is that Scudamore reacted with warnings and disdain to the dismay of the four or five clubs outraged by the commission's decision.
What's offensive is that Scudamore suggested their show of emotion was driven by financial concerns when the entire Premiership under his control has become driven by financial concerns.
What's offensive is that he appears not to have the wit to understand that just because his 20 member clubs empowered the commission to act on their behalf, it shouldn't mean they can't express their disquiet about the West Ham decision.
What's offensive is a system that forces West Ham fans and London-based Manchester United fans to travel to their game on Sunday on a day when there were no morning trains northbound between Euston and Manchester Piccadilly.
What's offensive is a system that doesn't take measures to prevent those same fans arriving first at Chesterfield, then at Sheffield, to find their connecting trains have been cancelled.
What's offensive is those fans having to club together to catch taxis from Sheffield to Manchester to get to Old Trafford before kick-off.
What's offensive is that the Premier League says it cares about its fans and it does nothing to prevent or at least improve a situation like that. What's offensive is a Premier League allowing football's rich to get richer and its poor to get poorer.
What's offensive is tin-pot Premier League spin doctors getting so carried away with their own arrogance they start emailing journalists and telling them they're 'spectacularly off-beam'.
Off-beam? I'll you what's off-beam. Off-beam is that same spin doctor inadvertently alerting a colleague of mine to the Tim Howard story in the first place.
Off-beam is the quiet corner where the reputation of the Premier League has gone to lie down and die.
Off-beam, my sanctimonious little friend, is this sad and unavoidable truth: West Ham's presence in the Premiership next season and the seasons after that will act as a lasting reproach to Richard Scudamore and leave a bitter, bitter legacy of his period in charge
OLIVER HOLT 16/05/2007
LAST week, Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore talked about things he found offensive. He's had his go. Here's a different list.
What's offensive is that Scudamore now presides over a league that makes Dodgy Derek's Used Car Emporium look above board.
What's offensive is that Scudamore is so in thrall to the most powerful of his member clubs that they're giving the impression they're making up the rules as they go along.
It's the Wild West in the Premier League that Scudamore built. It's getting to the point where it feels like anything goes.
What's offensive is that six months ago, a leading Premiership manager placed a bet on one struggling club to stay up this season which, for obvious reasons, is against the rules and open to serious abuse.
What's offensive is no one I know - no supporter, no manager, no player - would have any faith in the Premier League doing anything about it even if the evidence was to be presented to them on a silver platter.
What's offensive is that if you want to concoct a 'gentleman's agreement' between two leading clubs which is going to have a radical effect on the title race, you're going to get away with it.
What's offensive is that Manchester United and Everton did that right underneath Scudamore's nose and then the Premier League put out a statement saying they were content Everton were free to play Tim Howard against United.
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.
What's offensive is Scudamore fiddling while the Premier League writhes in its shame at West Ham's survival.
What's offensive is that we have to rely on Sepp Blatter and FIFA to say they're going to investigate the failure to deduct points for the breaches of rules U18 and B13 while our own league pleads impotence.
What's offensive is that West Ham effectively made tens of millions of pounds out of the Premier League commission ruling because their £5.5m fine and failure to dock points allowed them to stay up and rake in the television cash next season.
What's offensive is Scudamore paying lip service to a decision that allowed cheats to prosper and sent an honest club like Sheffield United down.
What's offensive is the presumption that just because West Ham ripped up its copy of the agreement with the companies that controlled Carlos Tevez, then the companies that controlled Tevez must have ripped its copies up, too.
What's offensive is the sight of Scudamore sitting in front of Kia Joorabchian in the directors' box at Old Trafford on Sunday.
What's offensive is Scudamore not having the bottle to be at Bramall Lane instead to see the fruits of the 'independent' commission's decision to let West Ham off the hook.
What's offensive is knowing that Scudamore didn't witness the effects relegation had on the Sheffield United fans who were ignored by the Premier League commission when it waxed lyrical about the 'loyalty' of West Ham supporters. What's offensive was the pain and the anger on their faces as they walked up to the press box and asked us why the Premier League didn't value their loyalty as much.
What's offensive is that the commission decision backed by Scudamore will have cost a good manager his job if Neil Warnock decides he can no longer continue at Bramall Lane.
What's offensive is that Scudamore reacted with warnings and disdain to the dismay of the four or five clubs outraged by the commission's decision.
What's offensive is that Scudamore suggested their show of emotion was driven by financial concerns when the entire Premiership under his control has become driven by financial concerns.
What's offensive is that he appears not to have the wit to understand that just because his 20 member clubs empowered the commission to act on their behalf, it shouldn't mean they can't express their disquiet about the West Ham decision.
What's offensive is a system that forces West Ham fans and London-based Manchester United fans to travel to their game on Sunday on a day when there were no morning trains northbound between Euston and Manchester Piccadilly.
What's offensive is a system that doesn't take measures to prevent those same fans arriving first at Chesterfield, then at Sheffield, to find their connecting trains have been cancelled.
What's offensive is those fans having to club together to catch taxis from Sheffield to Manchester to get to Old Trafford before kick-off.
What's offensive is that the Premier League says it cares about its fans and it does nothing to prevent or at least improve a situation like that. What's offensive is a Premier League allowing football's rich to get richer and its poor to get poorer.
What's offensive is tin-pot Premier League spin doctors getting so carried away with their own arrogance they start emailing journalists and telling them they're 'spectacularly off-beam'.
Off-beam? I'll you what's off-beam. Off-beam is that same spin doctor inadvertently alerting a colleague of mine to the Tim Howard story in the first place.
Off-beam is the quiet corner where the reputation of the Premier League has gone to lie down and die.
Off-beam, my sanctimonious little friend, is this sad and unavoidable truth: West Ham's presence in the Premiership next season and the seasons after that will act as a lasting reproach to Richard Scudamore and leave a bitter, bitter legacy of his period in charge
Unregistered drivers
If you dont register your car, or you register it in the name of someone who does not have a UK license (ie a record at Swansea) you can get away with anything.
In particular, when one of these people is "speed cameraed" they get a form asking who the driver is. If you or I dont fill in the form we get a summons and three points (regardless of who was driving) and a minimum £150 fine plus costs. This we have to pay or we get the bailiffs coming round. If they dont fill in the form, they get a summons, if they dont appear and Swansea have no record of them the court gets a "no trace printout" which means what it says, the driver cant get points. A fine is then issued, however, and this is the good bit... NO ONE EVER EVER ENFORCES THE FINE. Plod are not interested, its too difficult to pin the offenders down. So - if you have a Slovakian au pair - register her as the keeper of the car and drive like an immigrant - without a care in the world - or insurance!!
Toot toot!!
In particular, when one of these people is "speed cameraed" they get a form asking who the driver is. If you or I dont fill in the form we get a summons and three points (regardless of who was driving) and a minimum £150 fine plus costs. This we have to pay or we get the bailiffs coming round. If they dont fill in the form, they get a summons, if they dont appear and Swansea have no record of them the court gets a "no trace printout" which means what it says, the driver cant get points. A fine is then issued, however, and this is the good bit... NO ONE EVER EVER ENFORCES THE FINE. Plod are not interested, its too difficult to pin the offenders down. So - if you have a Slovakian au pair - register her as the keeper of the car and drive like an immigrant - without a care in the world - or insurance!!
Toot toot!!
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