tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35183642867492892222024-03-13T05:49:48.407+00:00Random thoughts of Nowun TillMusings of a cynicAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16668863571608408463noreply@blogger.comBlogger101125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3518364286749289222.post-48034056242643350202018-02-17T14:47:00.001+00:002018-02-17T14:48:07.419+00:00Lunakid – Little Great Nothing – Audio<a href="https://emergingindiebands.com/lunakid-little-great-nothing-audio/">Lunakid – Little Great Nothing – Audio</a>: Lunakid<br />
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">The random thoughts of Nowun Till</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16668863571608408463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3518364286749289222.post-49993291643033489512018-02-17T12:49:00.001+00:002018-02-17T12:50:39.975+00:00Boom Child – The Super Edible EP – EP Review<a href="https://emergingindiebands.com/boom-child-the-super-edible-ep-ep-review/">Boom Child – The Super Edible EP – EP Review</a>: Boom Child<br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">The random thoughts of Nowun Till</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16668863571608408463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3518364286749289222.post-81943630115696592332013-02-18T17:12:00.002+00:002013-02-18T17:12:49.734+00:00The loop of disaster<br />
Well this is a webinar I would go to - if only I had the time between reading my emails -<br />
<br />
Webinar: How to escape email purgatory and transform management of your marketing<br />
<br />
Wednesday 13 March | 3.30-4.30 pm GMT<br />
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http://b2bmarketing.net/events/webinar-how-escape-email-purgatory-and-transform-management-your-marketing?utm_campaign=Huddle<br />
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The good news is that instead of attending it - I will get an email to let me know I missed it - along with a link to the video for the webinar recording.<br />
<div class="blogger-post-footer">The random thoughts of Nowun Till</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16668863571608408463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3518364286749289222.post-26227816205279497522012-02-18T15:44:00.003+00:002012-02-18T16:00:17.031+00:00Lost the plot<span><span style="font-size: 100%;">It is a quiet Saturday afternoon. I have lost many friends through violence, drugs and climbing accidents over the years. But Julie was in a different space.</span></span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDqB4LQpJmp_vRddkQH_QN9AjyAJPeKr1Jfft5K7R9z7oKAeqJcDZ-BSnyKQq7kvdeBIsPTpIQjujRk5YW5tdDQp6pBDe15HThNKHXdxXvBpvGzFhQJWlJm5Rj2l0b8js4pAEB73kkHb0e/s1600/Julie.jpg" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 201px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDqB4LQpJmp_vRddkQH_QN9AjyAJPeKr1Jfft5K7R9z7oKAeqJcDZ-BSnyKQq7kvdeBIsPTpIQjujRk5YW5tdDQp6pBDe15HThNKHXdxXvBpvGzFhQJWlJm5Rj2l0b8js4pAEB73kkHb0e/s320/Julie.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710502461226071138" /></a><br /><span><span style="font-size: 100%;">Every day since she died I have spoken to Julie. As an atheist I know it is just to appease my head and yet it makes some sense to me.</span></span><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div><span><span style="font-size: 100%;">I wish her the world of the after-life - stars and angels - were true and I feel comforted keeping her hopes alive. </span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: 100%;">I </span>understand<span style="font-size: 100%;"> why '</span>believers<span style="font-size: 100%;">' get in to the head-space of 'it is true'. I too </span>can<span style="font-size: 100%;"> hear Julie replying to every question, </span>re-looping<span style="font-size: 100%;"> conversations. Questions I posed when she was alive and conversations I can extrapolate. I hear Julie blowing a kiss as I walk out of the door, saying hello as I come home again, but none of it is real.</span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: 100%;">Try it believers - ask a genuine question to which you don't know an answer and there is a </span>deafening<span style="font-size: 100%;"> silence.</span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: 100%;">Yet, today I felt a scowl, as I knew Julie would not have approved, but I don't know what it is I actually did that she would have disapproved of.</span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: 100%;">Lost the plot, but happy doing so.</span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><a href="http://www.indiebandsblog.com/indie-bands-blog-round-up/a-dedication-to-julie-norbury">Julie Norbury</a>.</span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: 100%;"></span></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">The random thoughts of Nowun Till</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16668863571608408463noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3518364286749289222.post-28442529988268270112012-02-01T17:35:00.000+00:002012-02-01T17:35:58.028+00:00Building collapse, blasts spark worries about Rio<a href="http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/L/LT_BRAZIL_CRUMBLING_RIO?SITE=DCTMS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT">Building collapse, blasts spark worries about Rio</a>: RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) -- Enormous buildings suddenly collapse in this seaside Olympic city's center, killing 17. A manhole explodes near Copacabana Beach, severely burning a pair of American tourists....<div class="blogger-post-footer">The random thoughts of Nowun Till</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16668863571608408463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3518364286749289222.post-17630974061267915832012-01-16T23:23:00.000+00:002012-01-16T23:23:20.822+00:00Poland slaps fine on singer for bashing Bible<a href="http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_POLAND_BIBLE_BASHING?SITE=DCTMS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT">Poland slaps fine on singer for bashing Bible</a>: WARSAW, Poland (AP) -- A Polish court slapped a fine on a popular singer who bad-mouthed the Bible - the latest episode in which authorities grapple with religious defamation in a traditionally Catholic country that is growing increasingly secular....<div class="blogger-post-footer">The random thoughts of Nowun Till</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16668863571608408463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3518364286749289222.post-57204708301832459252012-01-16T07:09:00.000+00:002012-01-16T07:09:34.801+00:00Iran warns Gulf Arabs on oil<a href="http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/ML_MIDEAST_OIL?SITE=DCTMS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT">Iran warns Gulf Arabs on oil</a>: CAIRO (AP) -- Iran warned Gulf Arab oil producers against boosting production to offset any potential drop in Tehran's crude exports in the event of an embargo affecting its oil sales, the latest salvo in the dispute between the West and the Islamic Republic over its nuclear program....<div class="blogger-post-footer">The random thoughts of Nowun Till</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16668863571608408463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3518364286749289222.post-82910757913114716082012-01-16T07:08:00.000+00:002012-01-16T07:08:55.796+00:00HK protesters demand D&G apologize for photo ban<a href="http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_HONG_KONG_DESIGNER_PROTEST?SITE=DCTMS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT">HK protesters demand D&G apologize for photo ban</a>: HONG KONG (AP) -- Occupy Dolce & Gabbana? A Hong Kong outlet of the Italian fashion label has been the target of repeated protests because residents claim the store's staff have discriminated against them....<div class="blogger-post-footer">The random thoughts of Nowun Till</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16668863571608408463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3518364286749289222.post-55432298494131891482011-03-02T16:53:00.001+00:002011-03-02T16:53:49.518+00:00Laugh I could have died<span jsid="text">called by an off-shore call centre telling me they were part of microsoft and would help me clear all the viruses off my computer....<br /><br />caller ...Hello, are you the owner of the computer<br /><br />me.. err, err, yes<br /><span class="text_exposed_hide">...</span><span class="text_exposed_show">...<br />caller.... crap about microsoft and viruses. followed by ... Is your computer turned on, do you own it and are you by the keyboard.<br /><br />Me... yes, ooooh what is happening I am scared.<br /><br />caller... no need to worry I am here to help.<br /><br />An attempt to take over control of my computer.<br /><br />Me.... I have something strange on my screen<br /><br />caller... what does it say?<br /><br />Me. F for foxtrot, U for uncle C for Charlie K for king I for indigo N nor nobody G for goose W for whisky<br /><br />Caller... hold on a moment. (He must hang up)<br /><br />I was transferred to a supervisor.<br /><br />Supervisor... That looks like a bad virus, new attempt to take over my computer.<br /><br />Me. Oh no this looks horrible lots of stuff on my screen, please help.<br /><br />Supervisor.... What do you have.<br /><br />Me... W for whisky... did you get that<br /><br />Supervisor... yes (Every letter afterwards, same question, same response).<br /><br />Me... A for alphabet<br /><br />N for nobody<br /><br />K for King<br /><br />E for Egg<br /><br />Me...new line and lots of spaces, do you want that too (surely I must be found out by now)<br /><br />Supervisor... No this is a bad virus we will sort it out in a moment, what else is on the screen.<br /><br />R for Romeo<br /><br />S for Stereo<br /><br />C for Charlie<br /><br />A for Apple<br /><br />M for mother<br /><br />M for mother<br /><br />E for Egg<br /><br />and now a big gap<br /><br />R for red<br /><br />S for erm.. Sock<br /><br />That is all I dont know what it means, what does it say.....<br /><br />Supervisor... (gets the conversation with him in one)<br /><br />Me... no you missed the first word...<br /><br />Supervisor... Oh shit.<br /><br />Made me smile and now I digress<br /><br />Laugh I could have died I have not laughed so much since auntie mabel caught her left tit in the mangle... Peter Cook and Dudley Moore Ad Nauseum (Sick Bag) a brilliant peice of satire<br /><br /><a href="http://eil.com/shop/moreinfo.asp?catalogid=453919" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span>http://eil.com/shop/morein</span><wbr><span class="word_break"></span>fo.asp?catalogid=453919</a></span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">The random thoughts of Nowun Till</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16668863571608408463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3518364286749289222.post-57054198170592989232010-12-13T09:23:00.005+00:002010-12-13T09:51:04.680+00:00Womb for hire<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-26zkS2hcjbyEHVRsKzEyu2hSKkyX1CuwhqFXnu6KJOidMADrCoeakyHPeXHBrN2UFOh4Agvsaw4EYZYPlZEql8dm5BhxXnFreK2AJUQ5_YOkTYFzi2orqYVh0e1PTqkZi9zCTeOyTA6J/s1600/Womb+for+hire.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 149px; height: 209px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-26zkS2hcjbyEHVRsKzEyu2hSKkyX1CuwhqFXnu6KJOidMADrCoeakyHPeXHBrN2UFOh4Agvsaw4EYZYPlZEql8dm5BhxXnFreK2AJUQ5_YOkTYFzi2orqYVh0e1PTqkZi9zCTeOyTA6J/s320/Womb+for+hire.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550097553434901714" border="0" /></a><br />Is there nothing that the UK won't follow the US in doing?<br /><br /><br />In a recent case a High Court Family Judge gave a ruling giving the green light to the commoditisation of the womb.<br /><br />A couple paid an American Woman to give birth to their child and the Judge decided that the fee they had paid this woman was acceptable.<br /><br />I can see the adverts and websites springing up -<br /><br />Healthy womb, good pelvic bone, available for hire in March. £25,000. Successful delivery of 18 babies. Will also consider Caesarean for that perfect Christmas Present.<br /><br />Womb for rent, slightly uncertain pedigree, has managed 5 live births with 2 still births, reduced rate £10,000<br /><br />Wanted - healthy womb - Couple wanting to celebrate their anniversary in style require the baby to be delivered on 27th May. Prepared to pay up to £35,000 for the right applicant.<br /><br />Want a womb to rent but strapped for cash. Wombs for hire loans are available at a competitive rate.<br /><br />I am desperate for cash to pay my mortgage and prepared to offer a reduced rate for my womb, highest deposit secures.<br /><br />Need a baby in a hurry? Safe Caesareans - We are a specialist clinic working with our womb renters to ensure the fastest delivery possible. See our website for endorsements by satisfied customers.<br /><br />What a sick country this is becoming.<div class="blogger-post-footer">The random thoughts of Nowun Till</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16668863571608408463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3518364286749289222.post-41804796858548541462010-12-05T12:40:00.009+00:002010-12-05T13:30:29.984+00:00Net Neutrality blown out of the waterOver the past few weeks there are increasingly ominous signs that <span style="font-weight: bold;">net-neutrality</span> and an <span style="font-weight: bold;">open internet</span> is a thing of the past.<br /><br />For years countries such as China and Iraq have been pilloried by politicians and journalists in the West over their control and censorship of the internet. No longer can this continue.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyrRbTNO-Pq1MMROT2m5ILjJecJbum6R1RSESMEXS9ZhFpb1j35mHcydhb20ZLdLRquR4W41hNM9LAPW_yhqq7Bl38LEgdvyHRNjwMoCKO9tdUN8fvx9qeAhIOQ7Cr4EaPiU8CB1W0lAU0/s1600/Closed+down+notice.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyrRbTNO-Pq1MMROT2m5ILjJecJbum6R1RSESMEXS9ZhFpb1j35mHcydhb20ZLdLRquR4W41hNM9LAPW_yhqq7Bl38LEgdvyHRNjwMoCKO9tdUN8fvx9qeAhIOQ7Cr4EaPiU8CB1W0lAU0/s320/Closed+down+notice.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547179012520722370" border="0" /></a> This notice is appearing across websites in America, as their <span style="font-style: italic;">Department of Homeland Security</span> makes a land grab for websites. Websites, they claim are offering or pointing to illegal download sites.<br /><br />There are sites, which have nothing to do with downloads, that are being seized and closed.<br /><br />The USA has a legal process to follow, in fact a choice of two:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">DMCA</span>, whereby a website is informed of infringements and have the opportunity to respond.<br /><br />The more recently introduced <span style="font-style: italic;">COICA</span> requires that the attorney general ask a court to place that website on a blacklist.<br /><br />The <span style="font-style: italic;">Department of Homeland Security</span> has however taken it upon themselves to by-pass this legislation and summarily executed court-ordered seizure warrants against a number of domain names, with little evidence, other than a complaint.<br /><br />This pre-emption would be bad enough on its own, but this is compounded with the <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3hQxVn0TL0-KWm5cw1CJ8P9l3gVymcUChpMmwlK_0JOEukcV9XynvXHdEapCmrgPN4OZu-7HL5r00Es-BTdVYRfKB9l83QB4-kesCFRqz8wgPfRYLHTd99NCWRVLFWchwMBEvEmwdFDS7/s1600/wikileaks+censorship.gif"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 169px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3hQxVn0TL0-KWm5cw1CJ8P9l3gVymcUChpMmwlK_0JOEukcV9XynvXHdEapCmrgPN4OZu-7HL5r00Es-BTdVYRfKB9l83QB4-kesCFRqz8wgPfRYLHTd99NCWRVLFWchwMBEvEmwdFDS7/s320/wikileaks+censorship.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547183353115200098" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">WikiLeaks</span> saga, which has seen the USA chase the domain and business around the world, putting pressure on hosts and even going so far as to introducing new legislation, the <span style="font-style: italic;">SHIELD Act</span>, which is an amendment to a section of the <span style="font-style: italic;">Espionage Act</span>, extending it to include: <span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />publishing information concerning the identity of a classified source or informant of an element of the intelligence community of the United States, or concerning the human intelligence activities of the United States or any foreign government.</span><br /><br />A piece of legislation which by its very hurry to be implemented indicates how quickly Governments in the West will aim to close down any website with which it has an issue.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhixb9Uy0a0tU59u8bCUeu3pPJincDGDa6dpjZGup_UYFoTKGAXJ0gwXhbhk9JyQE-Ps3dUV7SaPKayQO1iIIRw_k2yCbHcDQhEgnEvFoLVxUjcbyTDEH9rmBn-2palr4Av10tytMYbxqsq/s1600/fitwatchback4.gif"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 162px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhixb9Uy0a0tU59u8bCUeu3pPJincDGDa6dpjZGup_UYFoTKGAXJ0gwXhbhk9JyQE-Ps3dUV7SaPKayQO1iIIRw_k2yCbHcDQhEgnEvFoLVxUjcbyTDEH9rmBn-2palr4Av10tytMYbxqsq/s320/fitwatchback4.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547186125268688210" border="0" /></a><br />In the UK, there has been the pre-emptive closing down on <span style="font-style: italic;">Fitwatch</span> under the say so of a junior ranking police officer. Who decided he was going to act as investigator, prosecutor, barrister, judge and jury coercing a hosting company to remove the site. The site has now been re-instated with another host and as of now, no charges have been made against the domain owner.<br /><br />A Government Minister in the UK has openly backed the end of <span style="font-style: italic;">net-neutrality</span> with a call for a multi speed internet, with ISPs being able to charge either the website owner, or the consumer a fee, for internet access speed based on the site being visited.<br /><br />The minister involved, <span style="font-style: italic;">Ed Vaizey</span>, is either extremely thick, or duplicitous, as he continues to claim he is all in favour of net neutrality and on the same page as <span style="font-style: italic;">Berners-Lee</span> and all other net neutrality advocates. He even goes so far as to suggest that because a consumer can choose which speed internet access he purchases from his ISP, is already indicative of a multi-speed internet. I posit, <span style="font-style: italic;">Vaizey</span> isn't as thick as he pretends and has some ulterior motive in wanting to destroy net-neutrality and introduce a multi-speed internet.<br /><br />This erosion has come about quickly and with little warning, who knows where it will lead.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <div style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;" class="zemanta-pixie"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img style="border: medium none; float: right;" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=3af5246b-6468-4026-aa3f-c7bb3aeeae74" alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" /></a><span class="zem-script more-related pretty-attribution"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js" defer="defer"></script></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">The random thoughts of Nowun Till</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16668863571608408463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3518364286749289222.post-562680613411995302010-10-26T22:21:00.005+01:002010-10-26T22:57:31.573+01:00The President Carter 1980 Rescue mission in Iran still haunts the USAAmerican Paranoia continues to sweep over their servants in Europe.<br /><br />America, determined to create an Empire, keep up their relentless drive to world domination and are currently sashaying to the mood music of Iran and their threat to the West.<br /><br />Having failed so far, but do watch this space, to convince the poodles in London to support an invasion of Iran, nothing to do with the Carter rescue debacle of 1980 still bruising their egos?<br /><br />The upright and decent US of A are putting pressure on NATO to accept their demands for a European Missile Shield. The reality being that the European Missile Shield against the immediate and highly dangerous threat of an Iranian missile launch in to Europe will plug in to their missile defences in Israel and the Gulf, which technically are separate and in different stages of development. But they are all designed to plug into command-and-control systems operated by, or with, the U.S. military. Providing the USA with absolute military power and control across Europe and the Middle East.<br /><br />While the UK has just undertaken a range of financial cuts, they did have the unedifying sight of having their supposed Government asking for permission from the Americans to undertake their defence review and ensure it met with Americas requirement of their little puppy.<br /><br />Evidently the American demanded and received a slobbering agreement that the UK stump up with their part of the US$200million cost for this oh so necessary project.<br /><br />That bastion of freedom, Turkey are less easily manipulated by the USA and their bullying tactics have so far failed to make Turkey to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">acquiesce</span>, or to put it more prosaically, Defence Secretary Robert M. Gates and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met with their Turkish counterparts, as Gates put it - '..I would say that we are not putting pressure on the Turks, but we are having continuing conversations with them as one of our allies...'<br /><br />Lisbon, in November 2010 will undoubtedly see the freedom fighters of the USA, win their argument for a European Defence Shield in one way or another.<br /><br />This is the same free USA which still argues that Gay military service personnel should be hung drawn and quartered. Oh for the Land of the free.<br /><br /><br /><div style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;" class="zemanta-pixie"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img style="border: medium none; float: right;" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=54801992-a742-42d9-bdf4-5dbb5485e77d" alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" /></a><span class="zem-script more-related pretty-attribution"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js" defer="defer"></script></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">The random thoughts of Nowun Till</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16668863571608408463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3518364286749289222.post-83291633855016314732010-05-26T20:10:00.002+01:002010-05-26T20:13:30.026+01:00Time for a breakThe slimebags have been elected and now we have waffle of urgent work that needs to be undertaken.<br /><br />But there is the slight issue of a holiday.<br /><br />These rip-off merchants will be away in just 28 days of sittings before heading off for three months holiday.<br /><br />Urgent... Decisions.... Hard working families....<br /><br />Sod the lot of them<div class="blogger-post-footer">The random thoughts of Nowun Till</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16668863571608408463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3518364286749289222.post-1440666729635283402010-05-13T09:32:00.003+01:002010-05-13T09:40:46.768+01:00Local Government OmbudsmanI am hugely impressed with the LGO, who have a staffing budget of over £10 000 000 a year but when calling them this morning was advised by an automated response that lines were closed due to staff training and wouldn't re-open until 10:30.<br /><br />What a hugely efficient organisation this is. Payroll costs of over £10m and they manage to send everyoen on training at the same time.<br /><br />No Idon't believe it either.<br /><br />Crass incompetence. In addition to raising my initial complaint I will be adding a further complaint about a QUango that so happily wastes money.<div class="blogger-post-footer">The random thoughts of Nowun Till</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16668863571608408463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3518364286749289222.post-2870716184179841432010-05-09T23:58:00.002+01:002010-05-10T00:06:29.109+01:00The electionWe had an election in the UK.<br /><br />You may have voted, you may have had faith, good for you.<br /><br />Who actually was on marches to get rid of corrupt politicians, that was the whole 650 of them. Were you?<br /><br />You voted for Conservative, why? The leader of this party thought it was fine to claim from you his wisteria clippings.<br /><br />You voted Labour, why? The leader of this party claimed Sky Sports as an expense, but still demands it is kept as a secret as this is a 'security risk'.<br /><br />You voted Clegg, why? This man admitted taking expenses for business-class air travel while actually flying economy<div id="TixyyLink" style="overflow: hidden; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; border: medium none;"><br />Shoot the lot of them.<br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">The random thoughts of Nowun Till</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16668863571608408463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3518364286749289222.post-35933053650366818542009-12-28T15:14:00.001+00:002009-12-28T15:15:56.221+00:00My wish for 2010It is a great shame that in many countries, puppets are deemed far more relevant than real people.<br /><br />It is an absolute abhorrence that an Actor/Actress is paid more to pretend to be someone than the real person doing a real job.<br /><br />Why are puppets paid more to pretend than real people to actually do something useful?<br /><br />Does an actor/actress really believe them pretending to save someones life, is worth more than someone actually saving a real life? Does a pretend soldier really think they are of greater value to society than a real soldier being shot in the battle field, screaming an real agony and actually bleeding to death?<br /><br />Does a pretend fireman in all honesty think they are worthy of an accolade for following a directors direction and getting in to no harms way, when a real fireman really does save people, risk their life and all with nothing more than a pittance in relative salary.<br /><br />It is a sad state of affairs when as a society the pretenders are valued more highly than the realists, but this is our Society.<br /><br />I have many wishes for the new decade, but of relevance to this post:<br /><br />I wish people would stop shelling out vast sums of money to watch plastic people play out pretend roles, whilst begrudging paying more tax to financially support real people doing real jobs.<br /><br />Do we really live in a Society in which serial murderers can't sell their story but a pretend person can be paid millions of dollars for pretending to be that murderer?<div class="blogger-post-footer">The random thoughts of Nowun Till</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16668863571608408463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3518364286749289222.post-34723589476677398792009-11-02T18:21:00.004+00:002009-11-02T18:31:08.395+00:00Lest MPs forget - Remembrance Sunday - No expenses for wreaths<p class="zemanta-img" style="margin: 1em; float: right; display: block; width: 270px;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Ed_balls.jpg"><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6f/Ed_balls.jpg" alt="Ed Balls" style="border: medium none ; display: block;" height="253" width="260" /></a><span class="zemanta-img-attribution">Image via <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Ed_balls.jpg">Wikipedia</a></span></p>MPs are quick with their Public Service Announcements, so I thought it may be helpful to make an announcement for MPs as we begin November.<br /><br />Remembrance Sunday Wreaths are not reclaimable expenses.<br /><br />The excuses of 'claimed in error' don't wash and never have. Amongst others Ed Balls and Boris Johnson have managed to try and slip this expense past the tax payer.<br /><br />Remembrance Sunday is not a day to go out and buy a wreath then bill it back to the tax payer.<br /><br />So just to re-iterate, if you wish to make a donation, or purchase a Remembrance Sunday Wreath, pay it out of your own salary, not out of the taxpayers.<br /><br />Enough of their pathetic excuses, claiming this type of expense is perhaps as morally low as any of the excessive claims have been.<br /><br />Lest We forget - in the case of Balls and Johnson, I won't.<br /><br /> <div style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;" class="zemanta-pixie"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/a15ee5c4-7722-4561-9170-512fa9185592/" title="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]"><img style="border: medium none ; float: right;" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=a15ee5c4-7722-4561-9170-512fa9185592" alt="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]" /></a><span class="zem-script more-related pretty-attribution"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js" defer="defer"></script></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">The random thoughts of Nowun Till</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16668863571608408463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3518364286749289222.post-30300310293013966012009-10-19T21:37:00.003+01:002009-10-19T21:43:30.742+01:00Is the FSA for real?The FSA, that long discredited regulator is coming up with farcical ideas as they reach the end of their lifespan.<br /><br />We have had a suggestion that bankers bonuses should be regulated, which is highly fashionable at present, but based on little reality. We have the FSA championed by the Darling, suggesting that if the banks went back to pre-1985 Big Bang, then there would never be another bail-out needed and we have the FSA once <p class="zemanta-img zemanta-action-dragged" style="margin: 1em; float: right; display: block; width: 310px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:CityOfLondonSkyline.jpg"><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/06/CityOfLondonSkyline.jpg/300px-CityOfLondonSkyline.jpg" alt="City of London" style="border: medium none ; display: block;" height="161" width="300" /></a><span class="zemanta-img-attribution">Image via <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:CityOfLondonSkyline.jpg">Wikipedia</a></span></p>again supported by Brown, supporting loan regulation.<br /><br />I am no fan of bankers, but it would be nice to have a little reality.<br /><br />Bankers bonuses: The bonuses are approved by shareholders. If the shareholders do not wish to take the risk profile suggested by the Directors, there is a simple way to achieve change. Vote against the Directors resolutions at theAGM . But of course the Shareholders have historically been the pension fund managers who sit as non-execs of the banks. However there have been numerous proposals put forward regarding shareholder revisions, but theFSA choose to ignore this reality. In today's climate, the banks who are causing the greatest concern are the banks in which the tax-payer holds a significant shareholding, so the answer is to ensure the tax-payers vote No. But dear old Darling doesn't like simple answers as it clears the decks to easily and the mainstream media just love to hate anyone, so tarnish all bankers with the same brush. The banks who took no funding do not deserve any cut back on bonuses, but that doesn't suit the climate.<br /><br />Dividing the banks, so that there will be no further bail-out: What trite rubbish, where do Governments and the largest businesses secure complex financing? Funnily enough it isn't from a retail bank. However Darling, Brown and Myners would have us all myopically walk in to a situation that the banks are split as per pre-1985 and all is hunky dory. Let's run that one again, A.N. Investment bank fails, on which the US Government, China, the UK Government and Unilever are reliant on a syndicated finance agreement and the Government would just let it fall like a ton of bricks? How stupid is Darling, or how stupid does he think the population is? Failing retail banks are a problem for the general public, but failing Investment banks are the death knell to capitalism.<br /><br />Tightening credit, there are a myriad of examples here, but let's take a simple one:<br /><br />Joe Bloggs earns £100 000 a year and wishes to purchase a property, which is a little run down for £250 000 but he also want to spend £50 000 on refurbishment. Under the proposed FSA rules he could borrow a loan for a house valued at £300 000 on his salary, but borrowing £250 000 plus £50 000 to refurbish the place is an unacceptable Loan to Value, so is a no go: absolute madness. He therefore needs to borrow the additional £50 000 as a personal loan over perhaps 10 years at a far higher rate of interest and monthly repayment than borrowing that money as part of his mortgage.<br /><br />One more example: Jane Smith has a house valued at £140 000 which is mortgaged at 100%, she also has credit card debts of £10 000 and a personal loan for £5 000. Is the FSA suggesting that LTV is the absolute measure of credit worthiness? What about Andy Pandy, who has no house but want to borrow £2 000, should his personal loan be asset backed?<br /><br />It is all good knock about media stuff, but the crew running the regulators really need to join up their thinking a little.<br /><fieldset class="zemanta-related"><legend class="zemanta-related-title">Related articles by Zemanta</legend><ul class="zemanta-article-ul"><li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://r.zemanta.com/?u=http%3A//www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financetopics/financialcrisis/6248250/Turner-review-flags-up-Citys-concerns.html&a=8137813&rid=2cfd1096-13fc-409f-8d03-cfee3d7b54e4&e=f241dbd93231bb48bc25444dc5481bf8">Turner review flags up City's concerns</a> (telegraph.co.uk)</li></ul></fieldset> <div style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;" class="zemanta-pixie"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/2cfd1096-13fc-409f-8d03-cfee3d7b54e4/" title="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]"><img style="border: medium none ; float: right;" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=2cfd1096-13fc-409f-8d03-cfee3d7b54e4" alt="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]" /></a><span class="zem-script more-related pretty-attribution"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js" defer="defer"></script></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">The random thoughts of Nowun Till</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16668863571608408463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3518364286749289222.post-12388571639205356092009-10-16T11:17:00.005+01:002009-10-16T11:34:46.479+01:00The FTC endorsement guidelinesIt has been a while, since I was here, life has been a little busy.<br /><br />I thought it may help readers of this blog and other <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">bloggers</span>, to put up the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">ftc</span> guidelines on advertising and endorsement. Unfortunately they are yet another example of yet more red tape in a world full of red tape.<p><br /><br />Each video is different</p><p><br /><br /><object title="Endorsement Guides" height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/multimedia/video/endorsement-guides/endorse_mary-question1.swf"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><param name="quality" value="high"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="sameDomain"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/multimedia/video/endorsement-guides/endorse_mary-question1.swf" quality="high" wmode="transparent" allowscriptaccess="sameDomain" allowfullscreen="true" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="355" width="425"></embed><br /> </object><br /></p><p><object title="Endorsement Guides" height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/multimedia/video/endorsement-guides/endorse_mary-question2.swf"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><param name="quality" value="high"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="sameDomain"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/multimedia/video/endorsement-guides/endorse_mary-question2.swf" quality="high" wmode="transparent" allowscriptaccess="sameDomain" allowfullscreen="true" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="355" width="425"></embed><br /> </object></p><p><object title="Endorsement Guides" height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/multimedia/video/endorsement-guides/endorse_mary-question3.swf"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><param name="quality" value="high"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="sameDomain"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/multimedia/video/endorsement-guides/endorse_mary-question3.swf" quality="high" wmode="transparent" allowscriptaccess="sameDomain" allowfullscreen="true" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="355" width="425"></embed><br /> </object></p><p><object title="Endorsement Guides" height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/multimedia/video/endorsement-guides/endorse_mary-question4.swf"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><param name="quality" value="high"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="sameDomain"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/multimedia/video/endorsement-guides/endorse_mary-question4.swf" quality="high" wmode="transparent" allowscriptaccess="sameDomain" allowfullscreen="true" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="355" width="425"></embed><br /> </object></p><p><object title="Endorsement Guides" height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/multimedia/video/endorsement-guides/endorse_mary-question5.swf"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><param name="quality" value="high"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="sameDomain"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/multimedia/video/endorsement-guides/endorse_mary-question5.swf" quality="high" wmode="transparent" allowscriptaccess="sameDomain" allowfullscreen="true" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="355" width="425"></embed><br /> </object></p><p><object title="Endorsement Guides" height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/multimedia/video/endorsement-guides/endorse_mary-question6.swf"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><param name="quality" value="high"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="sameDomain"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/multimedia/video/endorsement-guides/endorse_mary-question6.swf" quality="high" wmode="transparent" allowscriptaccess="sameDomain" allowfullscreen="true" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="355" width="425"></embed><br /> </object></p><p> Here is the link for the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">pdf</span> of the <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://ftc.gov/os/2009/10/091005revisedendorsementguides.pdf">text to the guidelines in detail</a></p><p>happy reading.<br /><br />Oh and by the way, I get a small commission if adverts on this site are clicked, but I was not paid by the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">ftc</span>, or even sent a thank you note or any sort of acknowledgement. No coffee was offered, Green card, free flights, visitors visa, luxury hotel, or even dingy hotel stay. No meetings with any individual, corporate or governmental agency were promised as a result of posting this article. I was offered no <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">inducement</span>, no pork barrel legislation or even primary legislation was discussed, promised or offered. In fact I have had no contact with the FTC in relation to this article and have received nor been promised <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">anything</span> at all in fact in return for this public service <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">announcement</span>. (I think that just about covers it).<br /><br />Come to think of it, why haven't I been paid for writing about an alien Governments legislation?</p><div class="blogger-post-footer">The random thoughts of Nowun Till</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16668863571608408463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3518364286749289222.post-91668235059356262772009-10-09T20:34:00.003+01:002009-10-09T21:03:26.950+01:00Has google become too clever?Less an irritation than my usual posts, rather a simple question. Has google lost sight of the user?<br /><br />Personally I am a google fan and welcome areas such as Wave, Android, Squared, Analytics, [show options], gmail, pages, wheel, blogger, maps, earth, etc. etc, etc. but there is a not so glamorous side, which includes the cookie which sits on your computer unless you opt-out, the new google 'wiki'. Neither the glamour nor the darkness are really the purpose of the post. Who uses al<p class="zemanta-img zemanta-action-dragged" style="margin: 1em; float: right; display: block; width: 260px;"><a href="http://www.crunchbase.com/company/google"><img src="http://www.crunchbase.com/assets/images/resized/0002/9578/29578v7-max-450x450.jpg" alt="Image representing Google as depicted in Crunc..." style="border: medium none ; display: block;" height="99" width="250" /></a><span class="zemanta-img-attribution">Image via <a href="http://www.crunchbase.com">CrunchBase</a></span></p>l this stuff and why is Google constantly releasing more and more?<br /><br />While I don't consider myself a geek (well perhaps I am a bit geeky as I live on the computer and am an alpha tester by 'index finger reflex' - that well known medical condition) I like to try out all this stuff, I work with most of it and I use a lot of it, which is great for me as a user of google services. Google docs, makes my life easy, igoogle makes my home page useful, google reader keeps me up to date, but really who uses this.<br /><br />In conversation with 'normal' users of the web, there is little comprehension or interest that a google search can be in "" with a +, with a -, with a square 10 page view 100 page view, news, blogs etc. etc. etc.<br /><br />Google works because it retrieves what people want easily, their little 'darkside' moves are hidden, their added value is hidden. I am of the opinion that those who support Google are those of a Geek disposition, each process adds revenue to Google for sure, as we the geeks find ways to optimise, utilise, advertise the medium of communication we select, but does the average user really know that Google Earth and Google Maps are different products showing different things? The answer is by a short straw poll, absolutely not. I had a recent conversation with someone who constantly talked of google earrth, but was referring to google maps.<br /><br />Does that confusion matter? No, of course it doesn't, Google was mentioned and from the Google perspective, that is all that mattered.<br /><br />Who actually subscribes to the Google blog? Lonely hand raised over here.<br /><br />I am not whinging about google as I like much of what they do, but on speaking to casual internet users, google remains the box you type in your search term and perhaps a gmail account, but not much else. Google marketing needs to get its ass in gear, there is a whole world aside from the geeks.<br /><br />Nowun Till, brought to you by another Google product - Blogspot<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;" class="zemanta-pixie"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/804bef22-29c6-4613-8287-881c9c2521b9/" title="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]"><img style="border: medium none ; float: right;" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=804bef22-29c6-4613-8287-881c9c2521b9" alt="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]" /></a><span class="zem-script more-related pretty-attribution"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js" defer="defer"></script></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">The random thoughts of Nowun Till</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16668863571608408463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3518364286749289222.post-28916026217390199182009-10-05T13:05:00.001+01:002009-10-05T13:07:34.443+01:00Some songs are just so completeKate Miller sums it up with a great parody of friends on facebook<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/S7MuwPlOiNQ&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/S7MuwPlOiNQ&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><div class="blogger-post-footer">The random thoughts of Nowun Till</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16668863571608408463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3518364286749289222.post-673277907288290602009-09-24T04:16:00.001+01:002009-09-24T04:17:35.001+01:00Ann Minch sums it upSometimes there is nothing to add....<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/jGC1mCS4OVo&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/jGC1mCS4OVo&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><div class="blogger-post-footer">The random thoughts of Nowun Till</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16668863571608408463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3518364286749289222.post-79893443719991496152009-09-20T10:02:00.003+01:002009-09-20T10:20:54.813+01:00MPs Second Homes<span style="font-weight: bold;">MPs second homes</span> remain a bug bear and now that politicians have started to filter back to the fray with their conferences, it would be good to hear at least one of the parties talk about the scandal of MPs expenses.<br /><br />No doubt th<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.anotherwall.co.uk/product.asp?strParents=&CAT_ID=&P_ID=548"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 152px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZJhK4kdjdCys-QmvQvaQbBIPk-KtzYWWKVCjK7rGFyhNVGyK2TvSjiOtRzjuXScM-ho2tdpHDJzw3hVDi61G186fHVgyAzmeSiRg4zzQyywF7JD1QgMrR5GqeF6vTsAPGipKxJYFdJ6Jc/s200/Anotherwall.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383475867946667314" border="0" /></a>e fond hope politicians have, is that their abuse of expenses will have been forgotten and they can concentrate on more important issues such as clinging on to what so many believe is their career.<br /><br />Many MPs do have a need for accommodation closer to London I don't argue against that point. (Other than the whole system is wrong, but that is well know by blog readers). But taking the starting point that we do have this system and we do have Westminster, there can be little doubt that MPs need to be able to get to there.<br /><br />What is absolutely wrong, is that MPs purchase property, which is subsidised or paid for outright by the tax payer and the MP then takes the profit. This is completely different to House flipping, which is circumvention of Capital Gains tax payments. MPs use the system to make fat profits out of taxpayers when they sell the property the tax payer has paid for and this is plainly wrong under even the most cursory of glances.<br /><br />There is no excuse at all for MPs being permitted to take 100% ownership of a home which is paid for out of public funds. This abuse must be stamped out immediately.<br /><br />MPs must not be permitted to deflect the argument, by saying they now no longer are permitted to flip houses, that is a personal tax issue. They must not be able to pocket the profits on a house sale which has been funded in anyway by allowances.<br /><br />An <span style="font-style: italic;">MPs second home</span> paid for by taxpayers is not an MPs home, it belongs to the taxpayer.<br /><br /><a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.anotherwall.co.uk/product.asp?strParents=&CAT_ID=&P_ID=548"><span style="font-size:78%;">image ( 'Going Once' Colour Edition by STATIC) courtesy of another wall</span></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">The random thoughts of Nowun Till</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16668863571608408463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3518364286749289222.post-42650426764494302402009-09-15T15:49:00.005+01:002009-09-15T16:14:44.109+01:00Strictly Come Dancing InterviewsStrictly Come Dancing heading for BBC One and BBC HD on Friday 18th September, 8.30pm with the second show on Saturday 19th September, 7.25pm.<br /><br />Pre-show thoughts by the dancing celebrities<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/WlskP0d2SPY&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/WlskP0d2SPY&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><div class="blogger-post-footer">The random thoughts of Nowun Till</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16668863571608408463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3518364286749289222.post-68297033938319733712009-09-14T23:56:00.004+01:002009-09-15T00:03:44.460+01:00Political spin and fetish pornYet again the political parties are sound blasting about Public Sector spending after the election and once again listening to politicians thinking they are being clever by refusing to talk about what they will actually do is becoming increasingly annoying.<br /><br />Political media advisers live in such effective sound proof boxes, that I don't think they can even hear what they themselves are saying. While the Conservatives are unclear about what they will actually cut, we at least know they are going to make cuts, but the Labour Party - no idea what their plans are.<br /><br />Like a broken record, they all pound out the mantra 'difficult decisions' what on earth does that actually mean?<br /><br />Politicians need to<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjEqOsY3HOXeP_-Bzlftbc4Dkt5NG4Fggbe1byrrAyhuGdFWuGnACqjzFLN94H8FL-Xd34VetQP_knR9-BXlhP9p8szmK2X-ny0zlPmWtFWYSOFT-wJy9i-ZsYl88ii0X6CX1_uyRa457s/s1600-h/2_girls_1_cup.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 260px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjEqOsY3HOXeP_-Bzlftbc4Dkt5NG4Fggbe1byrrAyhuGdFWuGnACqjzFLN94H8FL-Xd34VetQP_knR9-BXlhP9p8szmK2X-ny0zlPmWtFWYSOFT-wJy9i-ZsYl88ii0X6CX1_uyRa457s/s320/2_girls_1_cup.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381461368815614594" border="0" /></a> start engaging with the general public, discussing the issues, not politicians wish to lecture on, but the issues on which people want answers. The more political media advisers decide on the next 'headline' the less relevance it has and the less credibility the politicians have to a wider audience.<br /><br />There is no point in politicians trying to engage each other in debates, when neither of them actual listens to what another politician says, particularly when that debate is not something which resonates with the general public.<br /><br />Many people would like to know what cuts are intended and when, then a serious debate can develop, meanwhile the politicians want to sabre rattle over whether a 'cut' is going to happen or whether a 'cut' is only a tightening of the belt, it is fatuous and whilst appearing glossy to those in the Westminster cesspit is as edifying as watching '2 girls 1 cup', I wonder if that particular cesspit would have made for a more appropriate location? (If you haven't seen the clip I don't recommend it).<div class="blogger-post-footer">The random thoughts of Nowun Till</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16668863571608408463noreply@blogger.com0