I've been 'occupied' for a few days and didn't have time to update this blog so here, in no particular order, is my take on a few things.
* The Middle East crisis. Nice to see that the Middle East envoy due to make everything better didn't actually get there until Israel invaded. So well done to Tony Blair who wouldn't interrupt his holiday even though he is the 'special envoy'. Let's not forget that because of his lies, men and women are still dying in an illegal war; in another war no-one understands why we are there and the country is on its arse. Never mind, Tony has earned well over £12million since leaving office.
* The M11 speed camera. Until it was pointed out to me I hadn't realised that this thing is racking up speeding 'fines' of around £30,ooo every 24 hours. That's around 500 drivers a day. Or about £1million a month. Err do the authorities not think it's time to look at signage and how the road is laid out or do we want them to rack up the cash.
* Oh and I could could bang on about people wanting us to take the Euro because of the economy. We don't need to go cap in hand to the Eurozone. They need us. We are still a net contributor to the loony EU gravytrain so we should throw our weight around a bit more. (And can anyone in favour of taking the Euro please explain to me why we have to give our gold reserves over to Germany for the privilege?).
Tuesday, 6 January 2009
Wee Gordon's pouting costs taxpayers dearly
Nice to read that the great idea of moving Cabinet meetings around the country wasn't as slick as we had imagined.
Firstly, it's been done to boost Gordon's image but, sadly, the trip to Leeds last year cost around £200,000 with policing costing £138,000.
The first one in Birmingham cost around £62,000 says Gordon but he didn't add in the coppers' costs.
The next one is in Liverpool on Thursday so hopefully they might work out who is paying the police bill - and hopefully it's not the council taxpayers.
This is a political gimmick and we shouldn't have to be saddled with any costs.
No-one cares about the Cabinet. They are all remote and self-serving so trying to change peoples' opinions won't do a lot for them.
Firstly, it's been done to boost Gordon's image but, sadly, the trip to Leeds last year cost around £200,000 with policing costing £138,000.
The first one in Birmingham cost around £62,000 says Gordon but he didn't add in the coppers' costs.
The next one is in Liverpool on Thursday so hopefully they might work out who is paying the police bill - and hopefully it's not the council taxpayers.
This is a political gimmick and we shouldn't have to be saddled with any costs.
No-one cares about the Cabinet. They are all remote and self-serving so trying to change peoples' opinions won't do a lot for them.
Monday, 5 January 2009
Gatso 'increases accidents'
More people should be questioning the authorities on why they place speed cameras where they do.
They are meant to follow a strict criteria, though many do not.
So here's a Captain Gatso well done to Paul Pearson who tried to get something done about the money-maker on the M11.
Accidents have actually risen since its installation. And, surprise, surprise, the authorities have no plans to take it away.
Hmmm, that's because it's making way too much money.
Here's the story in The Sun: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article2093917.ece
ROAD safety chiefs have been slammed after a speed camera INCREASED crashes.
The number of accidents rose by a quarter and casualties almost doubled since the Gatso appeared on a motorway.
Motorists’ campaigner Paul Pearson forced authorities to release the figures under the Freedom of Information Act.
He claimed the camera, on the southbound M11 on the Essex-London border, was putting lives at risk to make money. At the spot, between Junctions 5 and 4, the motorway’s three lanes narrow to two and the speed limit drops from 70mph to 50.
In the five years before the camera was installed in 2001 there were 13 accidents and 14 casualties.
In the five years after it appeared there were 16 crashes and 24 casualties.
Paul, who runs drivers’ website www.penaltychargenotice.co.uk, said: “The figures speak for themselves. That camera is clearly there to make money because the figures show it is not there to prevent accidents. In fact it is doing the opposite.”
Furious Paul has contacted both Essex Police and Under Secretary of State for Transport Jim Fitzpatrick.
But their replies indicated the camera is not considered a problem and will stay.
They are meant to follow a strict criteria, though many do not.
So here's a Captain Gatso well done to Paul Pearson who tried to get something done about the money-maker on the M11.
Accidents have actually risen since its installation. And, surprise, surprise, the authorities have no plans to take it away.
Hmmm, that's because it's making way too much money.
Here's the story in The Sun: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article2093917.ece
ROAD safety chiefs have been slammed after a speed camera INCREASED crashes.
The number of accidents rose by a quarter and casualties almost doubled since the Gatso appeared on a motorway.
Motorists’ campaigner Paul Pearson forced authorities to release the figures under the Freedom of Information Act.
He claimed the camera, on the southbound M11 on the Essex-London border, was putting lives at risk to make money. At the spot, between Junctions 5 and 4, the motorway’s three lanes narrow to two and the speed limit drops from 70mph to 50.
In the five years before the camera was installed in 2001 there were 13 accidents and 14 casualties.
In the five years after it appeared there were 16 crashes and 24 casualties.
Paul, who runs drivers’ website www.penaltychargenotice.co.uk, said: “The figures speak for themselves. That camera is clearly there to make money because the figures show it is not there to prevent accidents. In fact it is doing the opposite.”
Furious Paul has contacted both Essex Police and Under Secretary of State for Transport Jim Fitzpatrick.
But their replies indicated the camera is not considered a problem and will stay.
Sunday, 4 January 2009
Police set to step up hacking of home PCs
There's a story in today's Sunday Times which underlines the sinister intentions of Zanu Labour and the EU - the hacking of home PCs by the police without a warrant.
Why on earth would they want to do that?
Apparently, the Home Office has quietly adopted a new plan to allow police across Britain routinely to hack into people’s personal computers without a warrant.
The move, which follows a decision by the European Union’s council of ministers in Brussels, has angered civil liberties groups and opposition MPs. They described it as a sinister extension of the surveillance state which drives “a coach and horses” through privacy laws.
The hacking is known as “remote searching”. It allows police or MI5 officers who may be hundreds of miles away to examine covertly the hard drive of someone’s PC at his home, office or hotel room.
Material gathered in this way includes the content of all e-mails, web-browsing habits and instant messaging.
It also means, as I have been flagging up, that Britons can now be arrested for something which isn't a crime here but is in, say, Greece. This is the thin end of a very, very thick wedge.
We are now, officially, living in a police superstate.
Why on earth would they want to do that?
Apparently, the Home Office has quietly adopted a new plan to allow police across Britain routinely to hack into people’s personal computers without a warrant.
The move, which follows a decision by the European Union’s council of ministers in Brussels, has angered civil liberties groups and opposition MPs. They described it as a sinister extension of the surveillance state which drives “a coach and horses” through privacy laws.
The hacking is known as “remote searching”. It allows police or MI5 officers who may be hundreds of miles away to examine covertly the hard drive of someone’s PC at his home, office or hotel room.
Material gathered in this way includes the content of all e-mails, web-browsing habits and instant messaging.
It also means, as I have been flagging up, that Britons can now be arrested for something which isn't a crime here but is in, say, Greece. This is the thin end of a very, very thick wedge.
We are now, officially, living in a police superstate.
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