Saturday, December 30, 2006

CCTV in Jamaica

Was reading the editorial in the Gleaner the other day. It was expounding on the benefits of CCTV in assisting in catching criminals and wondering why there didn't seem to be much will to implement it in Jamaica.

I wonder myself. As the editorial said, it doesn't cost much and even so, various neighbourhood watches could be asked to help pay the cost. It is even more relevant in Jamaica when there are so many instances of communities not being able to identify known criminals because of fear of reprisal killings.

Come on people, get on with implementing something so simple, inexpensive but so helpful. The prime reason people leave Jamaica is crime, the prime reason well educated people who could get well paying jobs in Jamaica don't return is fear of being killed. SO if there is something that can help in the huge battle against crime, which is helping to keep Jamaican down, why on earth not do it?

Thursday, December 28, 2006

What Next?

Well the festivities are over now and it's time to start looking towards the new year. What will 2007 bring? Hopefully prosperity. Hopefully a vast improvement in the situation in Iraq.

All the best to you all in the new year and I hope it brings you the utmost in happiness and prosperity.

Later.

Friday, December 22, 2006

The Colour of Evil

Saw part of Spike Lee’s documentary on Katrina this week. It saddened me greatly but most of all it pissed me the hell off. After more than a year many of the people of New Oreleans have still been largely forgotten and much of the debris is still there. This is disgusting. I lived through Gilbert and I heard about the last hurricane to hit JA. It certainly didn’t take a year to clear up after those hurricanes and Jamaica is a so-called third world country. The only reason New Orleans hasn’t been seen to is because the US government doesn’t think it’s worth doing – not even for good publicity. That is how much the people of New Orleans are regarded. I tell you, it is time for like skinned people to stop seeking to approval and acceptance of those who so clearly have not human or civilised regard for their fellow human beings. We must get serious about building our own community and building and consolidating wealth for our own welfare.

After all those years of civil rights demonstrations and people being killed etc. not much has changed. But we must change the way we think. We must stop asking for a space at the table and build our own instead. I strongly encourage you to see this film – better to buy it too.

Nuff said.

Slipping into a Recreation of 30s Germany

In the Guardian we were told that the Home office wants to start with ‘non-European foreigners’ in terms of forcing them to give up biometric data if they wish to continue to live and work here.

Many British people including seemingly the government are so racist it is disgusting. Let us be frank. ‘Non-European foreigner’ means black and Asian people. Believe me, the Brits are not concerned about Americans, Canadians Australians or New Zealanders (white ones of course).
Stating that only this group of people needs to be fingerprinted etc. before coming to this country or before being allowed to stay if they are already here is tantamount to saying only black and Asian people are the cause of crime in the UK. Ridiculous.

A move like this is all predicated on the premise that all things that are bad for this country come only from non-Europeans – this is just as bad as what they did to the Jews in Germany in the 30s and why should the UK feel that they should have access to information about foreign nationals that even the governments of these foreign countries don’t have on their own people? How would the British feel if they had to provide this type of information before going to foreign countries? They’d be up in arms that’s what would happen. Campaigners are threatening to sue the government saying the move is discriminatory. I wish them well.

Bahamas anyone?

Working From Home - a Way to Reduce Congestion

There was this story in the Times this week stating that a southern train company will offer large discounts on season tickets if people don’t come into London for a couple of days a week – the feeling being that people can ask to work from home a couple of days a week.

I’ve thought for a long time that the solution to easing congestion and reducing emissions more significantly has to include more home working. But most places I’ve worked, management thinks working from home is akin to skiving off (of course unless it’s they who are working from home, then it’s work).

There is an unbelievable level of hypocrisy and shortsightedness with respect to this issue in the UK. Most of my jobs have involved me, a computer with internet access, a phone and a photo copier. I can do all of that from home, but I’ve never had a request to work from home for part of the week approved. Meanwhile, every boss I’ve had since coming back to the UK has frequently not showed up for work and called in to say they are ‘going to work from home today.’ They rarely plan ahead to work from home you notice?

Until working from home can be seen in the mature light of saving resources instead of a perk for management then businesses and transport systems will continue to suffer unnecessarily.

Saturday, December 16, 2006

A First in the UK

For the first time ever this evening in the UK a black person and a female won a phone-in singing competition.

What has usually happened here is no matter how good a black artiste is they are always voted off as quickly as possible, no matter how bad the white contestants sound. In addition, traditionally the winner will be some acne ridden tennage white boy, because those who vote the most are thrteen year old white girls.

This year the final two were the above mentioned teenaged boy, Ray and Leona a mixed race (black and white) female singer. Ray can only sing swing songs, and those only passably well, whereas Leona makes Maria Carey look like a failed back-up singer! And that is hard to do as Mariah sounds fantastic. Ray had no business being in the final and the poor sod who got voted off in his place was reallly good too.

In the final Leona so outclassed Ray that it was embarrassing and it is lovely to see the British public finally begin to join the worldwide community of civilised people who are able to judge on merit and not on appearance.

It's also nice to see UK girls growing a spirit of solidarity and vision too - hopefully some of them gave up the futile hope of some pop star going out with them and replaced it with the hope that one day, they too might become an excellent (you fill in the blank, depending on what you want to do.)

Thursday, December 14, 2006

How the Beginning Can Determine the End

Jus read this story by Mark Wignall in today’s Observer. Very good piece, take a look: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/html/20061213T210000-0500_116628_OBS_I_AM_JUST_A_CHILD.asp

A sad testimony on life in Jamaica, indeed life in many parts of the world. I know it often sounds like you’re submitting to the victim mentality when you say things like this but I can’t help but wonder what my life would have been like if I had been born into wealthier surroundings with highly qualified family members. Though my family is great, the culture is hardly that of high achievers, whereas some of my wealthier friends with the help of expensive extra lessons etc. – have gone on to be trained in those professions that make a lot of money and are by extension not having to worry about cash.

There’s a lot to be said for setting yourself up financially I such a way that you can have some long term residual income for your family. And also there’s a lot to be said for adopting a high achieving attitude. With just a little push (if that push comers when your are tine) you can have created the climate within which a child can go on to great things. Whether or no that child accepts that push or fights against it is their business.

Monday, December 11, 2006

Caribbean People Doing Well All Over

Read an interesting story in today’s Gleaner about this Jamaican born man who is a very successful farmer in Devon, in the UK.

When he came on the scene the locals called him ‘that black farmer’ so he used their labelling him as such as his trade name. His brand is called The Black Farmer. Check out the Gleaner story here http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20061211/business/business1.html and his website here http://www.theblackfarmer.com/

In the Independent, Viv Richards gives a vivid and glowing account of life in Antigua. I’ve only visited there twice and on both occasions it was on tour with the University Singers, so I didn’t see much of the island. But what I did see (mostly Fort Charles beach) I did like very much. Check out the story here http://travel.independent.co.uk/americas/article2062667.ece

Saturday, December 09, 2006

Christmas Hampers and Respect for Your Earnings

Some people here in the UK join Christmas hamper schemes. Now as far as I can make out this means they pay a company a certain amount of money each month and at Christmas they get a hamper filled with goodies and some store vouchers. Apparently people who subscribe to these types of schemes are the poorer amongst us. Recently one such company went under. They didn’t ring fence the funds and so al of these people have lost the money they paid over the year. The company has been slated in the press for taking these poor people’s money and now, a loan company is targeting those affected and offering them loans for up to 177% interest.

The reaction of the public to this whole thing has largely been on the victims’ side. I beg to differ. Some of the figures being bandied around, that some of these people have been paying each month tells me they are most certainly not poor. The fact that they would regularly pay a company large sums of money in return for a hamper of goods you could get from most supermarkets and some vouchers tells me at best, they are incredibly uninformed of modern ways re: finances and at worst they are stupid.

People who work for a living, and work hard for a living must respect the fruits of their labours. They must respect them enough the give a flying fart what they do with their hard earned cash. Lord knows that after the taxman has finished with you there’s not much left, so why would you hand over any part of your earnings to a company that is not regulated as a financial institution, in exchange for a hamper?

Unless I’ve got it all terribly wrong, a hamper and some goods from high street shops could be purchased if these people had put their money into a savings account. Why did they choose to give their money to anyone else but a bank?

People, like I said above, respect your hard work and its fruits enough to pay attention to who you give your money to and what you get in return and most importantly, for the level of risk in relation to your potential earnings. Start being a lot smarter.

Thursday, December 07, 2006

WInning the Lottery and Buying a Giant Swiss Army Knife


We’ve all dreamed of winning the lottery and telling our boss to shove his/her job. Well a man here in the UK did just that. He bought a scratch card, matched the numbers and won a million dollars. Ecstatic, he began to chuck money all over his desk (he was at work), ordered colleagues to buy champagne and generally had a good time. When his boss entered the scene to see what the excitement was he told him to stick his job. Then he called his girlfriend to celebrate and only then did he call the lottery people.

Turned out he hadn’t won after all; he’d missed one of the numbers. Bad luck eh?

But seriously, I feel a bit sorry for this bloke, but then he really should have double checked before cursing his boss. If I ever win such an amount, I’d have to have the cheques already cleared in my account before I begin to burn bridges – and then onto buying lovely things.

Speaking of buying things, have you seen the latest Swiss Army knife? Have a look at the picture above.
Now I know it looks ridiculous, and the manufacturers (Wenger) of what is called the new Giant Swiss Army knife do admit that this one’s ‘practicality is limited.’ According to the Guardian story Wenger says that ‘its purpose is partly to promote the company.’ It has 85 devices and weighs about 2lbs and costs about £450 so you’ll hardly be dropping it in your handbag – but it would be cool to back it out when you’re with your friends one evening wouldn’t it?

Tuesday, December 05, 2006

And a roundup of today’s news stories . . .

From the Daily Mail we learn that though gas companies have benefited from a drop in gas prices, the consumer won’t see a drop in their bills for ages, if ever. The gas companies claim that as they buy the gas in advance we won’t benefit from low prices for a while. But I wouldn’t advise you to hold your breath. Because they have been given permission by energy regulator Ofgem to spend more than £5billion over the next five years on gas pipelines and the electricity grid. So this will give them ammunition to continue to charge us a fortune. Last year we had an £800 fuel bill – and there’s only 2 of us, and we work in the day. I tell you I feel sorry for pensioners.

There’s a story in the Times saying that in order to stop students cheating by using their mobile phones, schools have been told to invest in phone jamming technology. Why in God’s green earth are they allowed to have phones in exams anyway? Surely it is more sensible to forbid them from taking any technology into the exam room? Later on in the story it does briefly visit this option but all the story says is ‘The banning of mobile phones in exam halls tends not to be effective.’ My question is why on earth not? Forbid them to bring in phones and search them. When I suggested the searching bit to a colleague she said that that couldn’t be done and she didn’t look too pleased at the suggestion. I imagine she was thinking of some ‘rights’ attributable to the kids. I say sod the rights and search them – let them know that cheating is not acceptable.

The BBC website mentions that youngster Alex Tew who came up with that website where he sold pixels for a $1 each to advertisers and made $1million in 4 months. He’s sensibly turned down job offers and is doing his own thing. I am praying each day for a similarly ingenious idea!

In the Independent a ‘senior cardinal in the Catholic Church’ has called for priests to be allowed to marry. He correctly notes that;

‘Celibacy is a discipline, not a dogma of the Church. Certainly, the majority of the apostles were married. In this modern age, the Church must observe these things, it has to advance with history."

Catholics, like other religious groups have a perverse way of adding requirements to the Christian faith that have nothing to do with what God has asked us to do, celibacy being one of these things (along with idolatry, forbidding contraception, diluting the kingship of Christ by ‘praying’ to others among many other things). I cannot understand for the life of me why they wish to take something as simple and beautiful as the gospel and edit it so much with the end result being the misery of millions. I hope this guy gets some support. Unfortunately it seems he was slapped down a few days later as he backtracked and softened his statement. Ho hum, another progressive idea bites the dust in the Vatican!

And finally there’s this gem from the Mirror. Some woman (who should be forbidden from reproducing) tells the story of how she was so terrified giving birth would ruin her sex life with her partner and would ruin her body that she insisted on having a C-section. She intends to have many more kids and wants them all by C-section. Here are a few gems from this imbecile:

‘. . .it wasn't the pain that bothered me. The idea of a baby forcing its way out, stretching my most intimate parts, was repulsive.’

"I'm worried that having a baby will stop me enjoying sex," I'd heard about women whose sex life had been unsatisfactory after childbirth. What if that happened to me?'

Then after she forced the authorities to give her a C-section nature steps in but this woman won’t have any of it:

‘But then five days before I was due my waters broke. I was out shopping with my mum when I felt a trickle of fluid between my legs. I immediately panicked. What if I had to give birth naturally?’

Horrors, dear reader, what a terrible thing to happen, to give birth naturally! Now I hate pain as much as the next woman, and when my time comes would welcome an epidural, oxygen, water birth, spliff, bottle of gin – anything to take the pain away (I was joking about the last 2 by the way). But come on, many women are able to have fulfilling sex lives and good bodies after giving birth and that should definitely not be your main reason for putting yourself and your kid at the added risk of a surgical birth.

Some more gems:

‘I took the decision not to breastfeed him because I feel my boobs are also a private part of me and I don't want a baby hanging off them.’ So the kid gets an inferior form of sustenance and the world accepts some more plastic wrappers. Lovely.

‘Having a Caesarean was the right thing for me. I probably would have ended up resenting my baby and blaming him for making me go through childbirth if I'd been forced into it.’
Is she serious? Resent your kid because it was born naturally? She goes on:

‘I believe all women should be able to elect for a Caesarean if they wish to. Ultimately, a natural birth could have ruined my relationship with Simon and having more children wouldn't have been an option.’

She is incredibly immature and so is her partner for supporting this hysteria.

But I have noticed a lot of bizarre attitudes since I came back to the UK to live when it comes to pregnancy. Two work colleagues dieted while pregnant because they didn’t want to get fat. Get fat! When you are carrying a child, you’ll gain weight, the kid weights something you know. It’s dreadful to restrict your intake when you’re carrying another life. Looking skinny vs healthy baby? Mmmm. You’d think healthy baby would win wouldn’t you? Another woman I knew, who’s husband was in leadership at my church at the time gave a 15 minute speech one evening about how disgusting breast feeding was and how her breasts were just for her husband’s sexual pleasure. She went on to recklessly state that she didn’t know how any woman could perform such a disgusting task – in a room of women 4 of which I personally knew had breast fed all their kids. I nearly throttled her.

One thing I’ve noticed and I hope it doesn’t become de rigueur in the third world, is the tendency for western women to talk rubbish like this and for it to be acceptable, even Christian women.

Your body will change with childbirth but millions of women have managed and all the research has already been done; breast feeding your baby is best for them. And as a Christian, saying it is disgusting is tantamount to saying God got the design wrong is – after all he made us. Get a grip western women – there’s more to life than how you look.

Saturday, November 25, 2006

Racists Be honest!

I guess by now you all have heard that Kramer from Seinfeld was doing a stand up routine, was heckled by two black patrons and abused them, calling them niggers and saying that if it was fifty years earlier, they would be strung up with a pitchfork up their arse.

Well we all know what happened next don't we? Yup, the customary 'apology' (at being caught out as a racist and swift retreat so he can still work) took place. Sadly, Seinfeld backed him up by saying he made a 'mistake.' Mistake! What a load of shite! You do not say stuff like that by mistake, you say it because you mean it.

The fact of the matter is that since the time of the civil rights movement, many white racists have simply gone underground for fear of being sued. They still have the same feelings and it is in moments of stress that those feelings come to the fore. It is time that white racist people address their own sorry attitudes to people who don't look like them. They have had ample opportunities to stand up and join the human race and time and time again they don't.

I used to think it was ignorance on the part of white racists, but since coming to live in a predominantly white country I have seen the truth. The truth is that most white racist people know full well what they are doing when they behave in a racist fashion - and they do it anyway. It's almost as if they say to themselves 'Boy, you know since the black people have forced all types of legislation onto the books we can't afford to behave like we used to, calling them nigger and lynching them, so lets go underground and attack them in subtle ways.'

Kramer's 'mistake' is that he let the world see what a huge racist and by extension, damn idiot he is - chances are someone of his age and all - it will be difficult for him to see that black people are human beings too who deserve the same regard and respect as anyone else.

In the meantime I call upon black people worldwide to cease and desist from trying to get white racist people to behave honourably towards us. Trust me, your energies are better spent building yourself, your family and your community up. For the white racist, nothing we do can make them respect us or treat us properly so you might as well forget it.

That is not to say you aren't to demand that they behave properly towards you - by all means do, but don't waste time trying to get approval, or to be invited up to the big house. Put your energies into building the big house yourself and make THEM have to be invited up.

Later.

Thursday, November 16, 2006

Making Jamaica a Developed Country

Was reading today's editorial in the Observer and the head of the Planning Institute has apparently said that there is no reason why Jamaica cannot be a first world counttry by 2035.

He's right. All the ingredients are there. For such a small country it should be doing fantastically well. Just today me and His Royal Highness were watching the latest episode of Stargate SG1 and there they were, the 2 major characters, kicking back in a scene with a bottle of Red Stripe each big and bold in the shot. And in another shot after that.

There are plenty of reasons for Jamaicans to be proud of their intelligence, hardworking nature and innovation.

Yet how is it that with all of these qualities the country is in the state it is?

Two words for you.

Discipline and order. Or rather indiscipline and chaos.

Talent and innovation are fine, but if they are not channeled and if they exist in a country where chaos and inneficiencies reign supreme because of indiscipline, then you will fail, time and time again.

I have often expounded at great lenght about the problems in the UK but one of the things contributing to prosperity here is that there is order in many things and by extension efficiency. If you cannot rely on things happening on time for instance there are repercussions for planning and execution especially for businesses.

Also, you can't propser in a climate of so much rampant crime.

Jamaica should be a first world country already but it isn't. And it won't if certain cultural norms persist.

Those qualities and habits Jamaicans exhibit when they go to foreign, like being on time, going to work regardless of the weather, forward planning and abiding by the law (for the most part) among other things need to pertain back home. Otherwise nothing will change.

Also there needs to be some sort of conscious effort to have a social contract whereby self destructive behaviour isn't systematically indulged in, like mashing up the already shaky infrastructure to make a political point. Trust me, the wealty politicians won't suffer if you block the road, mash things up and prevent people from conducting business, but the poor people in that very community will. Better ways of dealing with problems need to be adopted and gains and consolidations made on the talent that exists. And most importantly, people need to vote strategically for the betterment of the country, not for partisan interests.

Time for the mashing up to end man.

Many may say that living abroad is a cop out, but in all seriousness, from where I sit coming back now isn't attractive - unpatriotic though that may sound. One conclusion I came to just before I decided to leave was that it didn't seem like Jamaicans want to live in a disciplined and ordered society so I felt I was just in the wrong place and needed to flash to somewhere where the cultural norm was more conducive to order and efficiency. And I was largely right. But that doesn't mean it can't change. But people have to want it to change.

Prosperity can only come for all if things do change and the type of change I'm talking about isn't easy. Wonder when the penny will drop or will it go on and on until all the good people have either migrated or been murdered?

Peace.

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

More Tax Issues

In the continuing saga that is the crazy world of British taxation . . .

Yes, folks, the latest is that some Labour politician (who is angling for John Prescott's job) has suggested that instead of placing a 'green' tax on things like plane tickets, those who earn larger salaries should be taxed to pay for the effects of environmental degradation.

Also, plans are moving ahead to charge a tax to people to use certain roads. It gets so that no matter how hard you work here, you just can't get ahead. Doesn't this nation understand that by behaving in this way, i.e. punishing people for being successful in business or their jobs, they are creating a situation where only the lazy and unambitious will want to live? Anyone wanting to get ahead will simply migrate to a country that has a more equitable system of taxation.

There is a backward and evil attitude in the UK that says that anyone who earns a lot of money, does so at the expense of those who don't, and therefore they must be punished.

Have the British no understanding of hard work, entrepreneurship, risk and innovation? Is this country so dumb that they really believe in the notion of a limited 'pie' of prosperity that means that if someone has a large slice of the pie then there is only a little left for the rest?

Come on people - why do you think that the UK has so many deadbeats living off the state in comparison to other European countries and the States? Because you can make more money sitting on your backside and collecting benefits than if you hauled ass out to work every day.

Until people are given the incentive to strive for better jobs with more responsibility and higher wages and to be innovative and to undego the risk of beginning businesses, this country is going to continue to go to the dogs. Stop taxing us to death!

Make no mistake, there are intelligent, ambitious and innovative people in the UK but they are going to get fed up and give their talents, hard work and expertise to other countries if things here don't shape up.

Monday, October 23, 2006

Taxing Rubbish - proof

If you didn't believe what I said about paying to have your rubbish removed take a look at this story from yesterday's Times.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-2415970.html

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

The Plight of the Overtaxed

Got my new TV licence today.

Now we here in the UK are a much taxed people but this tax particularly gets my goat.

As I'd briefly mentioned in another post, if you have a TV in the UK you have to buy a TV licence which now costs about £132 a year. If you don't the law will be down on you quicker than a Big Brother viewer's brain cells disappear within the first three seconds of broadcast.

The rationale for this is that this money funds the 'high quality' programming of the BBC. All other 'commercial' stations pretty much have to fend for themselves and obtain advertising revenue in order to fund their activities. We are supposed to be satisfied with the superior output of the BBC and the fact that they don't run ads in return for being held up each month (they encourage you to pay this ransom by monthly direct debit)

Now this is such a crock of . .. ! Firstly, the BBC does advertise, they spend ages advertising their own programmes usually costly animated ads, rubbing your nose in the fact that you are financing some heavy duty goings on. Secondly, their presenters and staff seem to get paid a King's ransom in salary. Thirdly, the quality of their programming is in serious doubt as to it being top quality.

It may have been (and I doubt it ever was) relevant in the past when they were the only show in town, but now the TV licence fee needs to be abolished.

At the very least, they should share it out amongst all the channels, but at the most the British public should be relieved of this tax.

Friday, October 13, 2006

Evening Work

Watch out if you ever want to work evenings in the UK to earn some extra cash.

I've been trying to do it and today was the last time I try. There's this EU directive you see, that says you can work up to a maximum of 48 hours a week - I believe you can still opt out of it though. However, everywhere I've been they don't want to take you on if you already work in the days. I went on a lengthy interview today for an evening job and after a 2 hour assessment they tell me they won't hire anyone who works for more than 40 hours a week, including the evening job!

I give up.

So for all of you who may think it's easy to pick up a little bit of extra cash to soak up those pesky credit card bills, think again. Part time work is the reserve of students and mothers.

Later.

Monday, October 09, 2006

More UK Tax Madness

Here's the latest.

Some UK local councils are planning (or already are!) to put chips in people's rubbish bins to measure how much rubbish they throw away. Depending on the amount, each householder will then be presented with a bill for having their garbage taken away!

They say this is to encourage more re-cycling, but the council only collect the recycling bins once per month (the garbage is collected once per week) They say in order to collect the recycling more often they would need more money hence the chips. What about the enormous council tax that each householder has to pay? Shouldn't that cover this service?

I tell you this country is the most taxed on this earth! You pay income tax, which varies depending on so many factors, and the more successful you are, the higher your rate (what a backward attitude to wealth creation!). You have to pay a tax for owning a television £131 per year, you pay council tax, we pay £75 per month, you make your pension contributions, your health contributions, car gas is taxed to the hilt, there's 17.5% VAT, they even tax you when you die. It's amazing the populace hasn't risen up in outrage!

I wait to see what hapens with the garbage.
Later.

Friday, October 06, 2006

Summer is Over

Well I guess it had to happen. I had to wear my coat today! Damn! I hate it when it's cold.

Enjoying my life as a newlywed (did the deed in July) which is why I haven't been on in a while.

I promise to devote more time to the site though - and there's plenty happening in the news to talk about.

Like this new dispensation from the States about passports for travellers which seems like it's going to screw around with the tourism industry in the Caribbean. Butch implied that this is retaliation for supporting Chavez. Is this going to be the 70s all over again? Are the Americans once again going to bully Jamaica into doing what they want because they don't like our friends?

You bet they will!

To coin a phrase, buckle up, it's going to be a bumpy ride.

Later.

Sunday, September 24, 2006

Interviewing

Was watching an interview today of Gordon Brown, the British Chancellor (equivalent to Finance Minister) and apparent heir to Tony Blair. And it brought to mind what really irritates me about some aspects of political journalism.

The journalist kept asking various versions of the same question - basically he wanted Gordon to either embarrass the PM and the administration or speak on behalf of the PM re his intentions. Now the questions he was asking, it was obvious the Chancellor could and would not answer them, yet he kept on at it.

I am finding more and more that this type of journalism really annoys me. It does nothing for me as a taxpayer - it only hopes to evoke or draw out a scandal. I wish they'd ask probing questions about policies that affect me as a (heavy) taxpayer. Sometmes it seems that the British media and politicians live in their own little mutually beneficial world where the objective is fame. I exclude from this the Independent which I find to be an excellent paper, giving pertinent and relevant facts regardless of what the useless scandal of the day is.

Anyway, later.

Sunday, September 17, 2006

Tornado in Leeds

There was a tordano here last week. A terrible storm. I looked at some of the pictures on the web and in many places there was some serious flooding and trees that were uprooted completely! It looked awful.

There was also major disruption at the train station - apparently lightening struck Leeds train station and caused a lot of delays.

In fact the weather here in jolly old England had been going haywire the last few years. For instance, in the past, when it rained you usually got a half hearted drizzle that might get a little heavier later and would peter out. Nowadays we get sudden torrential downpours and equally sudden stops. Also, when it rained in the past it was almost always cold, now it rains and stays hot. Global warming in action mate!

At least it's still relatively warm - I hate the cold so I hope the heat stays around for a while - but I shudder to see what the effects of global warming is going to produce in the winter - especially come Februaruy March when it is the coldest.

Later.

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Remembrances

Today has been nothing but remebrances of September 11.

I hate it.

Why on earth do they have to constantly rehash it? Not out of any feelings for the victims. And you should see the terrible programmes TV has come up with. There's been the 911 milionare widows, the Man Who Predicted 911 and my personal favourite, the 911 liars - a group of people who apparently lie about having a loved one die in the attacks.

Enough already - let the people dem rest in peace.

One thing all of this reminds me of though - the fact that every day thousands of people are killed in horrible circumstances - but the world doesn't care.

Things will only collectively get better when we all feel that EVERY life lost in brutal circumstances counts. There's a part of me that is disgusted with all the grief over 911. I'm not saying that we shouldn't feel grief and anger - but at the same time, is the extent of the grief and anger because the people that died were of a certain world?

This isn't splitting hairs - it's something humanity has to seriously look at. All over the world there are different groups of people who place life of a certain background and colour in a higher value category than others. Perhaps if we didn't there'd be more room for us wanting to prevent attacks and more room for helping the victims of them.

I wish the survivors of the attacks well. I also pray for peace of mind and ongoing safety, which most of them will have (the safety that is). But I also would like to take the anniversary of 911 and remember the millions of people throughout the world who have died in similar circmstances, for whom the world does not weep and who probably have no peace of mind whatsoever because the threat of atrocities re-occuring is high and ever present.

God bless.

Sunday, September 10, 2006

Delusional People

I've been watching the audition rounds of the X-Factor and His Royal Highness and I are amazed at how delusional some of the people are.

We love to watch this show at this stage because many of the people are so cringingly bad - we laugh until we are weak!.

But I can't believe that some of them seem to genuinely believe that they have a chance! Have they no friends? Have they ever listened to themselves? Clearly not.

I would love to be in the room when they are auditioning - it's one of the few ocasions I get to really laugh hard.

I haven't had the chance to see the Jamaican talent search type show - missed it when I was on the rock in July. Is it just as funny as watching say American Idol? Let me know. Also, if anyone has any clips or can point me in the right direction (if they are funny) drop me a line.

Later.

Wednesday, September 06, 2006

Tony to leave according to papers

So Tony Blair is to leave next year according to the papers here tonight. We'll see what they all say in the morning but it looks like he's finally getting the message. I do hope that Gordon Brown can clean up the party and take it back to Old Labour. I must tell you it's a pretty depressing time when I go to vote right now. There's no way I'm voting Tory, and the Lib Dems have gone crazy since they chucked Charles Kennedy out. In my district there's no independent candidate and I'm sure as hell not voting for the BNP candidate! I've been unhappy with Labour for a while but have felt there's been no option. Let's see if I can feel confident in voting for them again after Blair has gone on to earn his millions on the lecture circuit.

It's a crying shame you know, he started off well and just got into bad company with the Jackass from Texas. He's really cocked up what could have been a great legacy. Three terms you know, three terms! Why oh why would you want to cock that legacy up?

Later.

Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Sorry for the silence

Sorry for the silence. We put in wireless internet and for some reason it all went pear shaped.

Anyway I'm back and ready to complain about more foolishness.

Like that poor postman! There's this nice little postman who told the people he delivered to how to avoid getting junk mail that Royal Mail gets paid to send out and they suspended him. He's getting a lot of local support though so they may have to re-instate him.

Anyway, as you can imagine I have a whole heap of emails to catch up with so I am gone for tonight.

Later.

Sunday, August 20, 2006

Slackness!

You heard about the British guy who had an argument with his wife while on holiday in Greece and then grabbed his two kids (a 6 year old boy and a 2 year old girl) and jumped off his balconey? Apparently the wife had declared her intention to divorce him and take the kids with her. He shouted that he would take them before she did - only he didn't mean to his mother's house. He then proceeded to attempt to murder them.

He succeeded with the boy, luckily the little girl only broke her arm. And what of him you might ask? Alive and kicking with broken limbs. He claimed that he was drunk and had taken some anti depressants. Local Greeks are disgusted and a local official said that once he realises what he has done (i.e. the father) he should commit suicide. Nothing of political correcteness there.

This is terrible!

I pray for the wife and little girl.

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

Glad for Peace - Well sort of peace

I'm glad to see that the ceasefire in Lebanaon is still keeping. I pray that good sense will prevail and the killing won't start again and that this part of the world can stop the constant war. Now if only Iraq could get on the road to prosperity for the Iraqis . . .


On the job front, I have an interview soon. Wish me luck.

Monday, August 14, 2006

Excitement at the Airport

Seems like I am always travelling close to the time of excitement at airports. In September 2001 I was at the hairdressers in the Springs getting braids put in while the twin towers were obliterated. The following week I was booked on a plane to the UK. And now just 2 weeks after returning to the UK from Jamaica there is this big scare at UK airports. No hand luggage at all except for loose change etc. in a clear plastic bag.

My thought is how can they possible go back to letting people carry hand luggage as they used to? Won't the terrorists just try again? But go back to the old ways they are - today it was announced that people can again take on hand luggage. The only restriction is the size. YoOu can't take anything larger than a small computer bag. So excuse me, expolsives or their components cannot fit in a computer bag?

I'd be more comfortable if they kept the clear plastic bag restriction indefinitely!

Wednesday, August 09, 2006

Acclimatising

Was talking to hubby today about our experiences on the rock. We concluded that maybe if we had stayed a little longer and in better circumstances (our hotel was terrible!) maybe we would have got back in the groove so to speak - for him in terms of the heat - for me in terms of the culture. When we go back again, we'll go for longer and stay somewhere better than the hotel we stayed at in Ochie - I'll let you know how it goes when it happens.

In other news, the job search is going a little better. I have a temporary gig until next March but it pays less than half of what I was earning before. Why did I take it? Was out of work for 6 weeks and the redundancy money was drying up - I needed to take something so I took the 1st thing offered - with a view to looking for better at the same time. Some income is better than no income right? There's hope for a permanent role though at £10-£15k more than my last job. In the meantime I need to find a night gig. It's a matter of location - not many temporary comms gigs in Leeds. If I was in London now . . . Maybe a move is in order . . .

More tomorrow on current affairs hopefuly - I never wanted this blog to be about only me.

Monday, August 07, 2006

Apologies

Hi all,

Sorry for the long absence but I was off getting married on the rock. All is done now and I am back in the UK. My visit was an eye opener I can tell you.


I had a rather unpleasant epiphany. I lived in Jamaica between the ages of 10 and 29 and have always considered myself to be Jamaican even though Jamaicans consider me to be British. But when I went back I felt like a foreigner in the extreme - I actually felt British. I didn't recognise Jamaica and I didn't like it. Isn' t that terrible?! I feel like a traitor.

What I didn't like were the things that were bothering me a lot just before I left - they seemed highlighted. (Things like bad service and waiting endlessly for things to get done). Oddly enough I wasn't bothered by the heat at all I was fine and nothing much bit me but my now husband suffered and he was born on the rock!

What shocked me most was 2 things. The incredibly high prices (one day the dollar was 120 to 1 for the pound, the next day it was 123) and and how run down everything seemed to me. I wonder if I have been tainted by living in a 1st world country or have things in Jamaica really got much worse?

All I know is I am really comfortable with the 'easier' life I have here and definitley don't want to give it up. I'm staying in the 1st world for sure. How I've changed!

Ah confuse!

Maybe I should wait until I stay a little longer and see what I think then.

Friday, July 21, 2006

Glad to see justice done

Just a quick post to say how glad I am that they punished both Zidane and the other guy for provoking him. Full time!

Later.

Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Visit to The Yorkshire Dales

My mum came for the weekend last weekend and we went to visit Herriot land and York. James Herriot wrote some really good books - humorous ones - about his experiences as a vet in Thirsk, Yorkshire between the 1930s and the 1960s. The books were also made into a successful television series that aired in the 1970s - I grew up watching it and have loved the books for years so it was lovely to visit the house that he lived and worked in.

The house has been restored to its 1940s state and it is lovely to see all of the old furniture, pictures and utensils. The kitchen in particular was fantastic. There was also a vintage car in the back which you were encouraged to get in and have a picture taken.

Upstairs, there was an exhibition of vet instruments and a long room where there were interactive games. Downstairs in what used to be the barns, there was a display of information and a 20 minute film explaining the history of Herriot. There was also a section which was arranged as the set for the TV show, where you could look through cameras and even take a phone call as though you were in the show.

It was lovely to see first hand what I had read about and it was amazingly only £5 per adult! I've been to other so-called interactive museums take for example the Viking museum in York which costs a lot more and was useless!

The next day we took mum to York which she hadn't seen since her schooldays ( a looong time ago people!) and it was lovely. It was about 32 degrees celcius! When we got to York Minster (after visiting the National Railway museum) there was a set of travelling Shakespeare players - done in the ancient style. They did a play, packed up the stage and rolled it to their next destination in the town and did another play.

We finished off with a lovely lunch at O'Neil's pub- for £2.95 for a full meal each- great value for money.

We went through the old cobbled strets and enjoyed the scenerey and indulged our sweet tooth. I took mum to my favourite fudge shope where you get to see them making it.

All in all a lovely weekend. If you ever find yourself in this part of the world, I do reccomend you check out the Yorkshire Dales - in the summer of course!

Thursday, July 13, 2006

Sympathy for Zidane

It is time for a more honest approach to dealing with violence and provocation in football. Too many times the only thing that is punished is a footballer’s reaction when the provoker is allowed to walk free. I know, (and so does he) that what Zidane did in the World Cup final was wrong but the fact of the matter is he would not have done it if he hadn’t been provoked. Surely that is the more terrible action, provoking a man to violence and not the reaction to the provocation? A lot of footballers put up with terrible comments thrown at them from the often racist public and from other footballers on opposing teams. Punishing footballers for reacting violently to provocation will not stop the incidents – they aren’t saints for God’s sake. But if footballers and fans know that they will be punished until it hurts for hurling racist abuse (on the part of fans usually) and for provoking other footballers by abusing their family members then there would be a severe drop in the incidents.

I’ve long believed that when you have a whole stadium of arseholes yelling racist abuse at some players, the punishment should be that the match is immediately ended, with a forfeit to the other team. If a team knows it will lose matches and points because it’s supporters are racist, they will work even harder to get rid of that type of following.

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

Just a quick Hi for now

Sorry for the long silence. been busy being lazy - it's amazing how unmotivated you can be to do anything useful when you are out of work!

Anyway, I've vowed to discipline myself so you shouldbe hearing me rant some more in thte future.

As part of my idleness, I watched the first 2 episodes of Buck Rogers in the 25th century yesterday and today - hilarious!

Later.

Wednesday, July 05, 2006

Incredible Heat

It has been amazingly hot here in the UK the past few weeks - up to 32C most days. His Royal Highness and I have been falling asleep in the middle of the day in spite of being pretty inactive - it's the heat that does it. We can't remember how we managed on the rock. What a thing eeh, aclimatisation!

Well the football is down to the last few teams. Most of the matches have been mind numbingly boring, but Italy vs Germany was pretty exciting, for the last 2 minutes of extra time that is. We wait to see what happens with France and Portugal.

In the meantime the job hunt continues - I'm still to get even some temp work - quite depressing.

Tuesday, June 27, 2006

New Claim

Just read in the Independent that some Canadian scientists are claiming that what makes a man gay or increases the chances of him being gay are the number of older brothers he has. (They claim some gene a mother develops in her womb after giving birth to many boys contributes) Apparently the more older brothers he has the more likely he is to be gay. Better watch His Royal Highness, he has three older brothers!

But really now, how do they explain lesbians then?

What a load of rot.

The Leadership of the Anglican Church Awakes

Read today in the Times that the Archbishop of Canterbury has decided to split the church. Effectively those churches who remain faithful to biblical teaching stay in and those that choose their own way, in this case by ordaining gay priests, shall effectively be out. This is a good thing – it has taken the Anglican church, in fact all churches too long to definitively outline the Christian stance on this. It seems that nowadays to say that you believe homosexuality is a sin, is tantamount to social death. Well Christianity does state it is a sin. The next argument pro gays then give is that if you believe homosexuality is a sin then you advocate violence against gays. Not true. Christians do not advocate violence against gays. They also say that to believe homosexuality is a sin is the same as whites saying blacks were inferior back in the day and that as times changed with regards to race, that the church must modernise and accept homosexuality as a natural and good occurrence. Rubbish! God’s word is immutable. It was never right to discriminate re: race and being the race you are is not a sin, you just are. Indulging in a homosexual lifestyle is a choice – many people argue that people are born gay but there is no prrof of this. There are however plenty of examples of people becoming gay after bad experiences with members of the opposite sex.

Christians should be able to state without persecution that they believe homosexuality is a sin. We are all given free will and are able to decide what type of lifestyle we lead. This is between you and your God – but in terms of Christian leadership, you cannot possible be living a sinful life and be in church leadership! Those Anglicans who believe it is right to do so are crazy!

You could argue that the Bible is ambiguous on lots of things, but no one with a brain in their head can state the Bible is ambiguous on homosexuality. It states categorically that it is an abomination, and there are no instances where it is condoned. If these Anglicans want to indulge in a homosexual lifestyle, they should be honest enough to hold their hands up and acknowledge it is contrary to God’s will and not try to twist things. Also this ridiculous claim that Christians are homophobic is a lot of crap. No one is afraid of homosexuals or homosexuality and as far as I know a phobia is a fear. We simply believe the lifestyle is sinful Agree or disagree but don’t trample on our right to freely express ourselves. So I am glad the top leadership of the Anglican church has remained true to Biblical teaching. It is the right thing to do. I pray that they will be given strength now to pay attention to the needs of the world and not have to spend much more time on this issue.

Monday, June 26, 2006

Football Everywhere

Well the fottball fever has truly taken hold especially in our house. I have no hope of redeeming the remote from His Royal Highness' grasp so I am reduced to reading voraciously. In the meantime, the job search continues. I got a temp job last week but am again free this week. Funnily enough I don't feel stressed. I wait to see what the future brings.

At the moment, summer has once again disappeared here in the UK. Right now it's freezing and the weather forecast tonight said we might get frost tonight! Frost I ask you?!!!! What next? Mi cya tek dis ya cowl counchi no longer you know! I count down the days until I visit the rock at the end of next month. Pray for me that I don't freeze to death before then.

Later.

Monday, June 19, 2006

Football a tek ova!

Started a temp job today and while I am glad of the opportunity to earn some money, I am once again reminded that I loathe the traditional office environment. I have worked two places in my life where the working environment was good, my colleagues intelligent and fun and the work fulfilling. Apart from that my work experiences have been miserable. You know what made those two expereiences so great? Not money. What made them great was the fact that you were judged on your output and its quality, not how many hours you spent in the office, there was flexitime, you could see the results of your work, my bosses allowed me and my co-workers to get on with it and the co-workers were lovely. How I wish I could find this again!

I am a football widow like many others. Added to this Wimbeldon starts next week - and Seymour does love his tennis. The other day, after switching back and forth from the US (or was it the French?) Open and World Cup, he then switched to the darts - that's when I lost it. It turns out he will watch any sport except ice hockey and American football. I am doomed!

Thursday, June 15, 2006

Looking for Work

I'm geting a bit nervous about this job serach thing now. After I was made redundant I thought I could take a week off and then start to look for temporary work while applying for permanent roles. But so far, the agencies I've contacted say there isn't much work out there. Hope something turns up soon - the redundancy money won't last forever!

Meanwhile I suffer through daytime TV. Daytime TV in the UK as in many parts of the world I guess, consists of repeats of crap you don't want to watch. I'm starting to get really bored and lonely staying at home. I always thought I could work at home and I guess I could if work involved meeting with people often, but it is getting really old.

Wish me luck.

Sunday, June 11, 2006

Big up Asafa!

Just a quick line to say Big up to Asafa. I saw his race in Gateshead today and it was fantastic! It's lovely to see a young man so skilled at what he does and also so calm and cool about the business at hand - running well.

Gatlin didn't show - don't know why. Could have something to do with poultry used by the Colonel. . . .

Can't wait for Asafa to duss him good and proper!

Friday, June 09, 2006

More jobs for media people & the odd English

Read today that TVJ is going to launch a sports stations. Good news for media professionals - hopefully this'll mean more jobs. I'll wait to see what transpires.

Because of the World Cup, the place is full of English flags and there is a whole heap of debate about whether or not this is good! This country is indeed weird. There are people in a quandrary becasue they feel it is in bad taste to wave their flag! I ask you! What on earth can be wrong with being proud of your country? This is one of the more ridiculous aspects of the English - and I make that distinction. The Scottish, the Welsh and the Irish don't have this problem. Just the English.

To the English who feel this way I say stop being foolish. There's nothing but good to come of being proud of your conutry and exuberantly exhibiting that pride by waving your flag. Take the stick out or your collective areses and relax - and let the rest of the people who want to wave dem flag wave it in peace.

Honestly! Of all the things to get worked up about.

Thursday, June 08, 2006

The Search for Employment Continues & Taxing the Fat

I've been busy over the past few days, trying to plan a wedding and trying to get a job. Getting a job is proving to be the more strenuous task.

Sometimes I wonder why I bother to produce a CV - they are rarely required nowadays. Practically every job I see advertised, requires that you send off for a tome-like application pack upon which is written in bold type 'Do not send a CV, it will be ignored' or something to that effect.

And the forms they do provide, rarely have enough space for you to shine on. Now if you aren't allowed to show off your CV, and the only place you have to prove your case for being granted an interview, is a form with tiny spaces, how do you go about giving the best impression?

I take as much advantage as possible of the 'please continue on a separaet sheet' line - that's my answer.

Wish me luck with the search.

To be honest, I'd much rather stay home and write - but until I can earn enough for the mortgage et al in this way, I'm stuck with the 9-5.

In other matters, there was a documentary on More4 a few nights ago, in which a man put forward his thesis for taxing the obese directly, according to their BMI, in order to recoup the costs of obesity on the public purse. One thing that struck me was an interview he did with one guy who is so fat he hasn't been able to move from his home or do anything for 10 years. His upkeep costs about £100k per year - paid for by the tax payer.

I agree whole heartedly with the programme maker in this respect. People who smoke or drink have to pay tax on their products which helps offest the cost of treating smoking and drinking related health problems - why not the obese? Especailly as obesity related illnesses are due to outstrip smoking an ddrinking ones.

The attitude of many overweight people disgusts me. On the programme almost all overweight people intereivewed, said it wasn't their fault they were overwieght, that proposing a tax is discriminatory and that everyone should be happy to pay for obesity related diseases.

If you choose to kill yoursefl by smoking, you get penalised. If you choose to kill youself with excess food and too little exercise, why not penalise them too?

Bottom line is that if you are overweight, it is most probably because you eat more that your body needs, and don't excercise enough. It's not any more complicated than that. It is also a personal choice to be fat - may be difficult to lose weight - I know about that - but it is a personal responsibilty to do so.

The programme maker got a question asked in parliament and has gone about making his proposal in an effieient and systematic way. I wish him luck.

Friday, June 02, 2006

First Taste of Redundancy

As I'd mentioned some time ago, at the beginning of May I was made redundant. This is the first time in a 16 year career that this has ever happened to me and I was quite surprised when it happened. But not sad. This last job hasn't been a good one. The immediate co-workers I had were great - but management was terrible. Hadn't a clue.

Now I've worked places before where management has had its fair share of bad eggs, but never anywhere where there was no discernible leadership - this last job was exactly that.

Take my redundancy and that of a few others. I know they are trying to save money after a loss - but they clearly haven't thought through this exercise. I was asked to leave with there being no capacity to do the job I was doing. It's not like there were others available who could do my job (which paradoxically involved bringing in new business), I was pretty much it, given a change in direction for the other people who were previously working with me.

I feel sorry for my former colleagues, becaus they did need my expertise and skills and they will suffer. But I'm not sorry to be able to start afresh.

I've always had to take a job to pay the bills - now I can take the time to really find something to do that I like, even something that I love. Ideally, if I could write full time for a living I would, but I am nowhere near earning enough to cover my bills through my writing yet - so for the time being I will be back in the rat race soon. But with some hard work and targeted submissions, by this time in two years I plan to be fully independent. Wish me luck!

Wednesday, May 31, 2006

Blue Seams Again

Well, it appears that the 'Blue Seams' are at it again.

In today's Observer we are told that they beat two female police officers.

I was particulary amazed at the sentence that said ,' The constable grabbed the phone from the sergeant, allegedly punched her in the mouth, handcuffed her and hauled her off to the police station, saying he would be charging her with impersonating the police.' This after the two ladies identified themselves as police officers!

What is wrong with these people? Not only are they really dumb (why didn't they ask for ID? How can they automaticallyt assume these ladies were impersonating police officers, and even if they had been the first response is to beat them?!!!), but are violent and lack the powers of reasoning.

It's a pity a higher calibre of people don't apply for these jobs.

Tuesday, May 30, 2006

What are we Really Worth?

I was reading some news stories yesterday and one of the major ones related to abortion.

It seems that some women are terminating pregnancies at as late as 20 weeks, because their unborn child has a club foot, cleft palate or in one case, twelve fingers.

I was so saddened and angry when I read this. These are all easily fixed problems - I should know I was born with twelve fingers and soon after birth the extra little finger on each hand was removed. And this was 1972!

One couple 's child had one hand missing and the father gave his reason for aborting this child as he (the child) wouldn't be able to do normal things like play sport!

In some cases, people's GPs were recommending they abort for these reasons.

I am so disgusted! What is wrong with people? Words cannot express how upset this has made me.

I know there has been a lot of debate around abortion and in some cases particularly when a woman is raped or if proceeding will jeopardise a woman's life, or if the foetus is incredibly handicapped and will surely die I can see why people would want to. But because of an extra finger that can easily be removed?

People really need to reasses their humanity and what they believe they are here for. They need to consider the implications of parenthood. To me these people are monsters - to want to terminate a pregnancy when you are five months along to me is ridiculous.

I mean by five months your bump is noticeable, the child is kicking - it is real. What kind of a callous bastard would kill their child at this stage - because of an easily fixed cosmetic problem?

The obsession with appearances has become insidious.

What is happening to us?

Friday, May 26, 2006

Is ‘Tolerance’ a shovel to bury racist sentiment?

I don’t usually indulge in semantics, but with respect to tolerance I believe the word affects behaviour.

Here in the UK there is often talk about how ‘tolerant’ the Brits are of ethnic minorities. I was just reading a story regarding the plans FIFA has to clamp down on racism at the World Club and the article exhorted England fans to exhibit their tolerance.

This pisses me off. To tolerate something says to me that in spite of the unpleasant nature of the thing, you, as the superior party will magnanimously put up with it.

I checked the meaning of the word in the dictionary and I got several versions:

tol·er·ate
To allow without prohibiting or opposing; permit.
To recognize and respect (the rights, beliefs, or practices of others).
To put up with; endure.
Medicine. To have tolerance for (a substance or pathogen).

Fair enough if the British use meaning #1, but in practice anyone with a brain can see most don’t. They adopt the general meaning or meaning # 2; they ‘put up with’ people who aren’t like them.

The general meaning ‘To allow without prohibiting or opposing; permit’ assumes that non whites have to be ‘permitted’ exist in a predominantly white country. This is ridiculous but it is the attitude you get from many white British people. It’s the attitude that is the pre-cursor to the oft repeated comment ‘Why don’t you go back to where you came from,’ i.e. we have been permitted to live in the UK, us being here has nothing to do with the rights of birth or the contribution being made to the economy through work, tax paying and social volunteering.


What I want from the endemic everyday racist (I’m not talking BNP or neo Nazis now – they’re often beyond redemption) is for them to embrace ‘tolerance’ according to meaning number 1 above. I want them to recognise that non-whites are fully fledged human beings with all that goes along with that. I want them to recognise that some of us who are not only a different colour but may have been brought up in a different culture, are just as deserving of respect as they are – that difference does not mean inferiority. I want them to dig deep (for many they’d have to dig incredibly deep) and find some intelligence and then use it. An understanding and respect of other people’s culture and beliefs does not mean agreement with – and those of us who are of different cultures and skin colours know this. For example, either read the Bible and talk to Christians or read the Koran and talk to Muslims to get an understanding of what they are about or refrain from making judgements based on ignorance. Choose between becoming informed or shutting the hell up.

For the over eager apologists also, I say the same thing. Use your brains and if you haven’t got any, resurrect them. Don’t do things like abolishing all signs of Christmas because you think it’ll offend the Muslims – even though you’ve never asked a Muslim’s opinion on the matter.

For centuries non white people have had to tolerate white people and Western culture and we have done so in both senses of the words. Because for the most part white western cultures have dominated ours we have had no choice. But we have also on a grand scale tolerated white western culture in the1st sense of the word – we have a deep understanding of white western world and a respect for many aspects. And we don’t go around in a false reality treating white people oddly because of some imagined characteristics we have ascribed to them.

Some time ago some well know sporting figure got into serous trouble for berating a black player in a racial way – I think he called him a black bast…d or something. This has happened many times with different people and the response is always the same. They apologise for saying it and apologise for offending back people and basically say they didn’t mean it, they aren’t racist, some of my best friends are black . .. .you get the gist.

This is rubbish and a lie. Let’s say you are angry with a particular person, very angry, what’s the likelihood you would castigate him by yelling ‘You blasted paedophile you!’ unless of course you felt he was one? It wouldn’t come out I tell you because you wouldn’t have believed such a thing. You might call him a number of rude names, might swear a bit but you wouldn’t say that.

White people, who ‘in a moment of pique’ racially abuse people are racists – they’ve just been keeping those sentiments buried beneath layers of’ tolerance.’

They need to own up to the fact that their sentiments are not offensive to black people but are irrational, unintelligent, wrong and anti human and therefore should be offensive to any well meaning person. And if they are interested in bettering themselves as human beings they need to root out their racist feelings.

Get to know people to find out what they are about. And the only way you can do this is to spend some time with them. Only then can you truly recognise and respect them and begin to root out racism. The non-racist white people I know are intelligent and spend time with people who are not like themselves and really take an interest in them.

Thursday, May 25, 2006

Western media

The western media often baffles me. With all the advantages that go with being in a first world economy they still can’t get basic facts right – if it has nothing to do with their world. I remember reading an article in one of the dailies about professor Nettleford which said he went to Cornwall College in Kingston! It went on to say many other fictional things. Now for heaven’s sake, if you are doing such a story, surely it is the simplest thing to check your facts. No credible source that I know of would say Cornwall College is in Kingston so obviously this was a sloppily researched piece.

In that same newspaper the other day I read a piece about Hugo Chavez’s visit to the UK. Now in this piece there were no glaring factual errors that I could make out but the journalist’s western bias, lack of knowledge and reasoning were obvious with the slant he took at certain points.

The journalist outlines Chavez’s rise and his polices. It speaks about the policies as though they are excellent ones serving the needs of the poor in Venezuela.

Then inexplicably in the next paragraph the journalist asks if in the end Chavez would turn out to be a tin pot tyrant? He then goes on to talk about how dangerous it is that Chavez is friendly with Castro and Mugabe. Chavez qualifies these friendships later on mind you so don’t take that comment at face value.

So the journalist paints a picture of a political leader who has done pretty sound things for his people and the natural progression from that point is to speculate as to how long it will take for him to turn into a tyrant! Unbelievable! If he was a serious journalist, and he wanted to make that point then he should present evidence that Chavez is likely to turn that way and I don’t believe that being friendly with Castro and Mugabe is evidence.

I said earlier that Chavez qualified his friendships with Castro and Mugabe. Agree with him or not this is what he said. He said he doesn’t believe there’s a lack of freedom of speech in Cuba. He maintained that if you approach Cuba from a Western point of view you might think there is a lack of freedom of speech but he maintains that many people express themselves on a variety of matters.

In this I would agree with him in that in Cuba people express themselves on a variety of matters, they just can’t express themselves on a variety of others so there is limited freedom of speech. But let’s not be hypocrites, the same pertains in the west. Just ask that 80 year old guy who was ejected from the Labour Party conference last year!

Chavez goes on to state that electing a President or Prime Minister every five years and having press and TV doesn’t necessarily mean there’s freedom of speech. He stated that every country has its own model, which is true.

With respect to Mugabe Chavez said that he believed Mugabe had been demonised too much. He said that ‘we all make mistakes’ and recommended the journalist interview Mr. Mugabe himself. He said that Mr. Mugabe’s actions must be viewed within the larger context of the history of Zimbabwe, colonialism and racism there.

After this, the journalist states that is it odd in the extreme that Venezuela is a free country with a free press allowed to criticise Chavez and yet Chavez is apparently defending some ‘appalling dictators.’

Doesn’t this tell the stupid reporter something? Why doesn’t he read the Lancaster agreement and a bit of Zimbabwe history? Sure Mugabe in the last 10 years or so has gone nuts and has made his people suffer terribly and this can’t be forgiven. But you must look at what he has become in the wider context of years of frustrating dealings with the white racists in his own country. Many also say his younger second wife who has a taste for the good life has a lot to do with his craziness.

The journalist seems to believe that having a free country like Venezuela and being friends with men like Castro and Mugabe are mutually exclusive. This is why the west is so unsuccessful in bridging gaps with countries of opposing viewpoints. For them it’s either think as we do or you are the enemy. And they call themselves civilised?

The piece ‘inspiringly’ ends on the typically ‘positive’ note Western articles about non-white western leaders usually end on. It is widely believed that the recent coup which temporarily ousted the democratically elected Chavez was backed by the US. In light of this after Chavez promises to blow up Venezuela’s oil fields rather than let the Americans gain control of them if they try another coup, the journalist speculates whether or not Chavez returns to a country with positive programmes benefiting the people or a country of increasing Castrosism, fascist coups and burning oil fields.

Surely there’s more pertinent and uplifting things to end on than that?

Wednesday, May 24, 2006

Keep it zipped

The Gleaner Letter of the Day some time last week was among other things, a call for fidelity in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

I strongly back that call. It’s time for damn foolishness to stop!

The truth of the matter is that in the two areas of the world with the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence, (sub Saharan Africa and the Caribbean) more heterosexual women are getting the disease than any other group. And who are they often getting it from? Their husbands or boyfriends – cheating swine that many of them are. Let me add murderous cheating swine to that. HIV/AIDS has been around for more than 20 years now and yet you still have criminally stupid and uncaring men screwing around which is bad enough, but on top of that screwing around without protection!

The sad thing is that in Africa and the Caribbean, it is often the man in society who has the strongest bargaining position when it comes to sex and using condoms.

Women, well, those of them who are free to, should play their part and refuse to have sex without a condom. Unfortunately what do you do if you are married? I know, you want to trust your husband – and you should but if you are wrong it could be deadly.

To the ladies I would say this. In my experience if I’m honest with myself I have always known when a man was cheating on me. It starts out as a suspicion which could then be backed up by easily obtained evidence. Where we fail ladies is emotionally. We know the man is cheating but we don’t want to face it and so we go on living a lie. This might be fine if African and Caribbean were largely responsible – but many aren’t. And many women who cheat with them aren’t either and don’t insist on protection or believe the liar when he says he uses it with his regular woman. (I ask you, you are cheating with a man, i.e. lying with him - in both ways - and you believe him when he says rubbish like that? Come on!)

Anyway, nine times out of ten we know our men, really know them. If your man is a good man, I respect that, hang on to him and treat him like a king. And there are good husbands that you can trust to be faithful and responsible and can with surety have unprotected sex with.

However, if he’s a lying, irresponsible cheat, you must leave him; your life may depend upon it. If he’s a lying responsible cheat who you know wouldn’t put you at risk by having unprotected sex, or if you know he’s not willing to put himself at risk and you want to stay, then fine. What I’m saying is that the time when you could look the other way is over. Now you’ve got to watch out for your own safety.

To the men I would say start acting like responsible intelligent adults. I know grown ass well educated men who still have unprotected indiscriminate sex with multiple partners. Come on fool! Wake the hell up! And for God’s sake stop the damn running up and down after everything in a skirt with a pulse. Many bad things can happen when you have that attitude. Consider this; I had a friend who loved the running up and down after woman indiscriminately who ran after one who turned out not to be if you know what I mean!

Take the time to find beauty and satisfaction in being with one woman at a time. And if you can’t then use a damn condom.

And specifically you married men, decide if you want to be married or not and act accordingly. And if all else fails and you can’t bury the dawg nature, then at least wear a condom and don’t put your wife at risk.

Too many black people are dying because of HIV AIDS and any way you want to explain the high prevalence amongst us (poverty, ignorance, culture etc) which are all valid arguments - barring drug users, it comes down to this – too many black people are having unprotected sex with too many people.

If you have sex, do it with one person exclusively and if you can’t use a condom. Otherwise we perish.

On another note, we really have to question our respective cultures that say the ram goat attitude of men must prevail – not for any other reason than IT IS KILLING US! We must change our culture in this respect.

There are whole generations that are being wiped out. Is it really worth the cheap thrill of conquering yet another woman? Each African and Caribbean man must do his part by being sexually responsible and by encouraging his bredrin to do the same.

I am pleading with all of you – keep it zipped nuh? We can’t afford to have any more die.

Tuesday, May 23, 2006

Read the Bible for the Facts

With all the fuss about the Da Vinci Code I thought I’d put my 2cents worth in.

I shall start by saying I am a Christian and this of course directs how I form my opinions on everything. Also, I have read the book and seen the film – which is more than I can say for some of the critics of both!

I see the book as a work of fiction. I in no way believe any of the theories put forward and neither have they shaken my faith. Indeed they shouldn’t shake a strong Christian’s faith – where there is danger is with new Christians – but if they ask questions of a more experienced Christian, they shouldn’t have a problem getting straightened out on the many untruths in the book.

Now, quite a few Christians mostly Catholics, are outraged at the theories put forth in the book and have demonstrated against the film. For me this is an idiotic response. As a Christian, you know what you believe – you seriously can’t expect non-Christians to share your reverence for Christ – they don’t, get over it!
What these people should be busying themselves with is spreading the gospel to as many people as possible directly and through their lives as witnesses. For many non-Christians, the only time they see a Christian in action is when they are protesting about non-Christians behaving in a non-Christian fashion! This is itself irrational. How do you expect a non-Christian to behave?

Energy is best spent spreading the gospel and supporting our fellow Christians whose faith might need shoring up. Parading in front of a cinema with a placard helps no-one but the distributors of the film who just make more money based on the publicity you provide free of cost.

Should Christians read the book or watch the film? Up to you. I think if your faith is weak, I think you shouldn’t, but if your faith is strong it would be helpful to watch it to know how to talk to non-Christians about it. I don’t find the theories put forward distasteful oddly enough – they just seem to be ludicrous. I feel a sense of incredulity for anyone who believes they could be true, Christian or non-Christian. There’s so much historical evidence that a lot of it is fiction.


To be honest, before I read the book this year, I had never heard of this theory. If I had been asked about it by a non-Christian I would have been shocked and disgusted (how I felt when I read the book) and unable to answer.

After digesting it a bit and going to the Bible for backative I was able to be more objective. Dan Brown has constructed the book in an excellent fashion – it is a page turner. Personally I don’t believe it is right to produce a story perpetuating what I believe to be lies in order to get sales – but that’s me, I’m a Christian. Perhaps Mr. Brown is not and probably operates according to different rules to me.

For anyone having doubts or questions about the theories put forth in his book I strongly encourage you to talk to your minister or if you aren’t a Christian and don’t go to church then find a minister at your local church and go and ask some relevant questions, or even better, go to an Alpha course. Google it if you don’t know what they are.

In all of this remember - there is no mention whatsoever in the Bible of any grail. What Christ did after the last supper when he was crucified for us all is the important thing to consider, not one of the many cups he may or may not have drunk out of once.

Peace.

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

Stand By Your Man?

Work has been very busy during the past week - probably because they made me redundant on Monday! But that's another story.

Anyway, because I've been so busy I am catching up with my news reading. Was reading in the Observer the story of the husband and wife alleged taxi runners who were beat up in Half Way Tree. The story states that the wife came to her husband's defence, and jumped in between him and the police in order to stop them beating him. Wonderful!

It later says that in the melee, the husband managed to get his car keys back from the officer (who had taken them from him earlier) and he subsequently jumped into his car and escaped leaving his wife to stay and tek lick! Charming!

Stand by your man by all means ladies but make sure he's still next to you while you're doing it.

Thursday, May 11, 2006

Body Over Soul?

Was talking to a friend in Ja. on the phone last night, (well early this morning for me). During the course of the conversation the inevitable question of crime and living in foreign vs. living back home came up. I asked my friend what he thought about the economics of migrating. And he surprised me. Many of my friends think of me as an outsider/traitor for coming back to live in the UK. (Those who think I’m an outsider believe I am where I belong as I was born here – the 19 years in Ja. count for nought according to them).

He said that he doesn’t blame anyone who can, from packing up and coming to try their luck. I complained that I don’t like the social aspect of the UK – it’s cold and uninviting and largely uninspiring. And he said to me that that is unfortunately the pay off for being able to live comfortably (financially and socially).

I do concede, and so has Seymour on many occasions, that it is nice to be able to buy a house or two, to be able to purchase outright a nice car – to be able to travel and eat out whenever you wan, to be able to provide for your kids. It’s also fantastic to be able to hang out of a window, and to be able to walk around the city centre, or the neighbourhood at any hour of the night without fear of being attacked.

And yet, it isn’t really enough, the soul dies in ‘foreign’. Trouble is in Ja. the body is more likely to die. You can go on with a living body and a dying soul and try to revive the soul with frequent visits back to Ja. (which you can afford working in ‘foreign’). Unfortunately your soul can’t survive within a dead body which you are much more likely to be if you live in Ja.

Here’s to hoping the crime and economic situation can be ameliorated as soon as possible.

Tuesday, May 09, 2006

Save the Ice Cream Van!

The local papers here were saying the other day that the health mafia are clamouring for the eradication of the ice cream van. Apparently they aid in the bad eating habits of UK children.

Come on! It's not like each kid gets an ice cream cone in replacement of a meal each day! Perhaps once a week they'll have one for a treatbut that's it.

The story did seem to focus on the vans going anywhere near schools, but I don't see why it should be a problem.

Instead of trying to put the humble ice cream van man out of business perhaps they should concentrate on helping parents spend enought time with their kids so that they can watch what they eat - more flexi-time at work would be a start!

Speaking of ice cream vans, does the Sunny Jim van still sell stewed peas and curried goat?

Later.

Thursday, May 04, 2006

Asafa’s running is excitement enough Johnson!

So according to the Gleaner, American athlete Michael Johnson believes Asafa, along with the rest of the current crop of top athletes is too boring. He states in his column in the Telegraph,
‘But the new generation, talented as they are, lack the individual personalities that add the extra spice the sport needs, particularly in years like this when there is no major championship.’

(see links to the articles at the end of the post)

Johnson seems to believe athletes like Asafa hurt the ‘viewability’ of the sport. Hurt it by being excellent in their field?!! Is he on something?!!!

Why him don’t leave the man alone eeh? It seems as if he wants men of Asafa’s ilk to create excitement off the track, when he creates more than is necessary in the place that counts, on the track. An athlete’s exciting performance in his field of endeavour is enough to hook viewers; he/she shouldn’t be expected to jump through additional hoops to get attention. My job is writing tenders in order to get my company business. If I translate Johnson’s point of view to my job it would be like saying in order to get a potential client to read a tender I need to deliver it in a gold lame batty rider, wine up myself, make an opinionated pronouncement on some current affairs issue and argue with a competitor about who’s tender is better!

Fair enough, some athletes are also outgoing, but some aren’t, and if like Asafa, they are quietly dignified while performing outstandingly, then leave him to be himself. I believe Johnson’s point is ridiculous and smacks of him trying to egg on some sort of rivalry between Asafa and Gatlin in the hopes of some sparks being created. Not everyone performs best in a spirit of animosity, real or staged.

Leave Asafa to do what he does best – run – extremely fast.

Links
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2006/05/03/sojohn03.xml

http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20060504/sports/sports1.html

Wednesday, May 03, 2006

Musing Over the News

Ethanol
I was really happy to read that the Jamaican government is piloting the use of ethanol for fuel. If this works out it could really put a dent in what is becoming an increasingly punishing fuel bill.

According to the editorial in today’s Observer, using ethanol ‘has the potential of saving the country close to US$40 million annually.’ Money that hopefully will be used in other areas where it is sorely needed.

Ethanol is an alcohol-based form of energy which is produced by fermenting and distilling starch crops, it is also environmentally friendly. Another advantage is the boost to the local sugar cane industry as sugar cane would be one of the crops used to produce the ethanol.

Honesty
Read about the customs officer who returned $1.3m he found and turned down the $100k reward money saying that that ‘he had done the honest thing and did not need to be rewarded.’ Extremely honest or daft? He was honest in returned the money which I agree with, but if it was me and the owner offered to reward me with $100k I would have taken it with a clear conscience and used it to secure my or my family’s future or at least given it to charity. $100k even $100kJA could do someone a great deal of good. Instead it went to the organisers of the awards event, which is good in a way, but still, perhaps someone else needier could have benefited? Anyway, it wasn’t me so who am I to make pronouncements? Well done indeed to the guy for staying true to his convictions!

Keeping Your Own Wealth
Big up to Bolivian President Evo Morales for fulfilling his election promise to take back control of his country’s natural resources. It may be unpopular with the wealthy companies who own them but it is right. Too many cash poor but resource rich countries are taken advantage of by the world’s already wealthy. It is time they realised that they do not have an inherent right to buy people’s birthrights but must pay the appropriate price in cash and percentage of ownership (never the majority share) so that the citizens of poor countries can have a part in their home’s natural wealth. It now remains for President Morales to ensure that any forthcoming wealth is evenly and fairly distributed to a cross section of the society and not to a new elite. I wish him good luck in his endeavours.

Friday, April 28, 2006

Local film industry

It was good to read today about the upcoming film Glory to Gloriana. I'm really pleased that Ja is still creating their own stuff in spite of the incredible cost. I hope it is good as well, just because something is homegrown doesn't mean it's good unfortunatley.

Look forward to it coming to the UK.

Later

Wednesday, April 26, 2006

Imprisoning politicians

Politicians around the Caribbean are probably now quaking in their boots as they realise that with the precedent set in Trinidad, they too could soon be visiting the big house. I was shocked when I saw they had sentenced Basdeo to two years hard labour and did wonder if it was a hoax. I mean have you ever heard of any politician paying for dishonesty or corruption in any way? If anything most of them just go a way quietly to fight again another day. Scandal after scandal melt into each other with most of us just shrugging our shoulders and getting on with life, believing that lying and corruption are part and parcel of politics. If his sentence isn’t overturned and he does go to jail it would seem as if there is a wind of change about. Inhabitants of Gordon House had better take sleep and mark death.

Tuesday, April 25, 2006

A Covenant for Jamaica?

A group of well known African Americans, led by broadcaster Tavis Smiley, met some time ago to come up with a list of issues that black Americans could grasp onto and work on in order to better life for them. Take a look at their site and the covenants below. Perhaps if tailored to Jamaica’s needs this could also help us. What do you think?

Covenant I
Securing the Right to Healthcare and Well-Being

Covenant II
Establishing a system of public education in which all children achieve at high levels and reach their full potential.

Covenant III
Correcting the system of unequal justice.

Covenant IV
Fostering accountable community-centred policing

Covenant V
Ensuring broad access to affordable neighbourhoods that connect to opportunity

Covenant VI
Claiming our democracy

Covenant VII
Strengthening our rural roots

Covenant VIII
Accessing good jobs, wealth and economic prosperity

Covenant IX
Assuring environmental justice for all

Covenant X
Closing the racial digital deivide

Here's the link to their site:

http://www.covenantwithblackamerica.com

Thursday, April 20, 2006

The Plight of the White Working Class continued

A story in today’s Independent on the rise of the BNP in Barking, in East London backs up my comments of yesterday and sheds new light on the attitudes of working class white Britons. If you’re interested in reading the article in full it is called ‘How the BNP is gaining ground in Barking with a campaign of lies and distortions and was written by Cahal Milmo . Here’s the link for it:

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/article358775.ece

The article begins by saying that a 67 year old woman in the community who lives next to the Longbridge Road campus buildings (she has lived there for 30 years) wants to move because in her words, "The asylum-seekers are coming. They're taking over. It's not British here any more."

Apparently many of the locals believe this because the BNP said so. Never occurred to them that the BNP is lying, which it is. According to the article and the authorities, the site will be part of a regeneration project involving low-rent housing.

Unfortunately this fact hasn’t got in the way of the BNP influencing the locals. What does this say about the locals? To me it says they are basically racist and are clutching at an excuse to go back to the good old days of openly being so. It also says they are probably uneducated and thick to boot – you can be uneducated and intelligent, hence the qualification. If they were smart and well meaning, they would know the lying, racist, criminal background of the BNP and check any ‘facts’ coming from them. But they don’t. They take the BNP’s word for it. Stupid people.

All of this activity is in aid of next month’s local elections, for which BNP spin is going into overdrive.

The article also alludes to the alleged use by the BNP of vacant addresses as candidate’s homes. According to election rules, candidates must live or work in the area for which they are standing. According to the article two BNP candidates are registered as living in a derelict dwelling. When visited by the reporter there was no answer. The BNP’s response to this through their spokesman was

"These are legitimate addresses. Sometimes candidates choose not to answer the door."

Not satisfied with recruiting the votes of the already pathologically stupid, they try to influence the rest of us into becoming intellectually vacant!

The lady says she is not against helping a few migrants but doesn’t want a whole centre for asylum seekers (even though they aren’t getting one). She stated that families who were born in the UK should be given first choice. No problem with this, I believe in taking care of your own. But I wonder if she would maintain this line of thought if the housing was given to some black or Asian UK born citizens? Mmmm. I’ll give her the benefit of the doubt. Also, she needs to establish if there is a dire need for housing for UK born people. If there is fine, give it to them first, but what would she and her like feel about giving needed housing to immigrants, once the needs of UK born people were taken care of? If we in the UK had spare housing and other resources, being a wealthy country with a low birth rate and a home grown population unqualified and and/or unwilling to do many of the jobs that need to be done, would she welcome immigrants with open arms?

According to the article, another lovely bit of news the BNP is spreading is that immigrants are being presented with £50,000 grants to buy houses in the area. Housing is a sensitive issue. According to the article and the authorities, these grants don’t exist. Again praying on intellectually lazy people who are willing to believe anything that backs up their already pre-conceived notions.

According to the article Margaret Hodge, Labour MP for Barking said

“. . .mainstream politicians had failed to address the local issues - such as a shortage of council housing - that were allowing racism to thrive, and prompting eight out of 10 of the white families in Barking to admit they were tempted to vote for the BNP.

Now, as far as I understand council housing is low cost housing subsidised by the council for people who cannot afford private housing i.e. can’t’ afford to rent or buy privately. Why in the UK is there such an emphasis on state assisted living? I can’t understand why so many people in such a wealthy country can’t afford to stand on their own too feet and earn a living? Why do so many people feel entitled to help or handouts? You don’t hear of people who earn a full living, (even if it is not easy), complaining about these issues do you? Perhaps the answer lies in a certain class of British people being more responsible for themselves and the livelihoods of their families and perhaps taking on some of the jobs only immigrants will do – in order to take care of themselves. Its amazing – these stupid racists (I know, it’s a tautology) complain about immigrants, many of whom do the dirty, low paid jobs whites won’t do, and at the same time complain that they have nothing by the way income or housing! Here’s a tip. If you got off your arse and worked no matter how difficult or dirty or low paid the job, there’d be less immigrants and you’d have more cash for your own housing!

Anyway, I digress.

Again, according to the article the non-white population of Barking and Dagenham is now 15%. Now seriously, if you are concerned that ‘your kind’ (and we are talking an economically and socially dominant ‘your kind’) is ‘only’ 85% of the population surely you can’t be concerned about being overrun? You are in the vast majority. And even if the numbers changed so that your majority lessened, what exactly is the problem? Are these new people making your area better or worse – in real terms now not imaginary racist terms i.e. are there more taxes being put into the local economy because of their existence, more money being spent on services thereby contributing to the local economy, more cultures to widen your horizons?

The article ends with some telling statistics of Barking. It says that 39.5% of 16-74 year olds have no qualifications. Get that, 39.5% of 16-74 year olds have no way of being employed in anything but unskilled labour – the same labour probably being done by immigrants. Therefore instead of blaming imaginary asylum centres for their woes, the voters of Barking need to blame to 39.5% of 16-74 year olds who are sitting on their arses! It says that only 56 % of the same age range are employed. Also, 19.9% of them claim disability benefit. Now I don’t mean to diss the disabled, but funnily enough, most of the disabled people I know work and don’t collect benefit. Your are led to wonder if some of this 19.9% really are unable to work in any type of job.

According to the article Barking and Dagenham has 67,300 people. 80.9 % are white British; 4.4 % are black Africans; 2.3% are Indians and 2.1% are black Caribbeans. I however don’t know if the figures for the non-whites mean they were all born outside of the UK. I find it hard to believe there are no British born people living her of black or Asian ancestry. But then there is a tendency to class anyone not white as other, regardless of whether or not they were born here.

All in all as I said yesterday, if this is to change the stupidity has to stop. The trouble is that instead of consistently pointing out the lies of the far right and consistently reiterating straightforward truths plus dealing with real issues the Tories and Labour try to answer the far right by spinning their own brand of nonsense. In other words, they know the electorate is largely deep down racist, ergo stupid and so they pander to it. If they keep it up there will be hell to pay in the UK in the coming years. It’ll be the 1970s all over again and I wouldn’t want to re-live those experiences again I can tell you.