Aug 2008
Best and Worst Meals On The Road
31/08/08 17:53 Filed in: Personal
Worth the stop?
It's always struck me that the fast food industry is more about numbers than happy customers. OK, that's pretty obvious. But the long term strategy of keeping customers alive, you would imagine, would be a strategy any good food vender would be interested in. You would imagine.
Perhaps that's unfair. But what is fair to say, is that despite a lot of adverse publicity to the contrary, the calorie (kcal) and fat content of the most popular purchased items remains surprisingly high. What's even more of a surprise is the identity of the worst culprits.
The results of which can be found on this link here.
It should be noted that I've NOT included 'specials' such as the current Batman Movie related Dark Whopper or McDonald's recent 'Tastes of America'. But I will mention the 'Dark Whopper' at the end.
Do as I say, not as I DID
28/08/08 19:42 Filed in: Personal
So in the news just a few days back US President George Walker (no jokes) Bush has 'had a go' at Russia for invading a sovereign nation without provocation.
Is it me, is does W'ya suffer from a severe case of irony deficiency. I mean he is a satirical comedians wet dream!
Is it me, is does W'ya suffer from a severe case of irony deficiency. I mean he is a satirical comedians wet dream!
Doesn't anyone in Wales sound Welsh these days?
26/08/08 18:26 Filed in: Personal
Just an observation, but I caught the news tonight and it highlighted the Welsh Olympians going home.
Not a single one of them sounded Welsh! What's that about?
Don't get me wrong, I love the Welsh language and I'm happy to admit I'm 1/4 Welsh. But what's the score with the lack of Welsh voices in the Olympic 'Welsh' team.
Not a single one of them sounded Welsh! What's that about?
Don't get me wrong, I love the Welsh language and I'm happy to admit I'm 1/4 Welsh. But what's the score with the lack of Welsh voices in the Olympic 'Welsh' team.
Too scared to view
12/08/08 21:17 Filed in: Personal
I'm not going to watch the TV tonight. I'm too scared.
Not too scared of the current goings on in Georgia. That's all to complicated to pick through just yet. I mean clearly Russia could easily have more than the odd motive towards shutting down the BP gas / oil pipeline that runs through Georgia. But then other people also have stronger motivations towards getting some NATO / UN troops in their. I'll need to get a few days at the full facts to get a better picture.
It's not about the Olympics either, though god only knows I'm sick of it. I think it has to be the bloody commentators. Where the hell do they get them?
Not too scared of the current goings on in Georgia. That's all to complicated to pick through just yet. I mean clearly Russia could easily have more than the odd motive towards shutting down the BP gas / oil pipeline that runs through Georgia. But then other people also have stronger motivations towards getting some NATO / UN troops in their. I'll need to get a few days at the full facts to get a better picture.
It's not about the Olympics either, though god only knows I'm sick of it. I think it has to be the bloody commentators. Where the hell do they get them?
ITV to give up public remit
06/08/08 20:31 Filed in: Personal
ITV is in trouble.... again. You can't expect it to do very well, it's a huge organisation and advertising revenues are on the dive.
So they are going to drop their public service broadcaster remit. Which shocks me, because quite frankly I didn't realise they HAD a public broadcaster remit, not in the definition I understand it to mean.
But Michael Grade made some excellent points on Channel 4 news this evening. For example; while they are allowed to show films like "Casino Royale", a film packed with product placement, they are not allowed to do it themselves. Personally, I think they'll be better off dropping the licence. It's a fairly unbalanced state of affairs with the BBC getting the licence fee and also having all the luck at present in terms of successes. But it's not always been that way, in fact it's been only in the last 10 years that the BBC has been so 'on top'. Prior to that, ITV had all the best programs and nearly all the viewing figures.
Where did it go wrong?
So they are going to drop their public service broadcaster remit. Which shocks me, because quite frankly I didn't realise they HAD a public broadcaster remit, not in the definition I understand it to mean.
But Michael Grade made some excellent points on Channel 4 news this evening. For example; while they are allowed to show films like "Casino Royale", a film packed with product placement, they are not allowed to do it themselves. Personally, I think they'll be better off dropping the licence. It's a fairly unbalanced state of affairs with the BBC getting the licence fee and also having all the luck at present in terms of successes. But it's not always been that way, in fact it's been only in the last 10 years that the BBC has been so 'on top'. Prior to that, ITV had all the best programs and nearly all the viewing figures.
Where did it go wrong?
Bin Laden's Driver Guilty.... great
06/08/08 20:18 Filed in: Personal
So one of the big stories today is that the driver of Osama Bin Laden has been found guilty in the US Military Commission. That's not a jury trial, mind. It is a Military court with six army officers specially selected by the Pentagon. So... no card stacking here then.
Who's up next week? Bin Laden's dentist? Bin Laden's pastry chef?
Given the US's resources... how come they've yet to find Bin Laden. Odd that. What's all that about?
Who's up next week? Bin Laden's dentist? Bin Laden's pastry chef?
Given the US's resources... how come they've yet to find Bin Laden. Odd that. What's all that about?
Is Linus spinning yet?
05/08/08 23:43 Filed in: Personal
Forty years ago Nobel prize winning scientist Linus Carl Pauling introduced the concept of high doses of Vitamin C as a treatment for Cancer (he was introduced to the idea himself by Irwin Stone) he was right royally ridiculed by the scientific world.
Linus had committed the ultimate sin, he'd piddled in somebody else's pond (field) and they were not going to stand for it. This somewhat reminds me of the current climate change debate. Or rather the lack thereof. Those uppity Paleoclimatologists keep ruining a good theory with some rather 'Inconvenient Facts' (sorry, couldn't resist). But before I get sidelined, back to Pauling.
So now Linus must be spinning in his grave (if indeed he was buried) because today Cancer Research UK have completed studies that "suggested large vitamin C doses may interfere with cancer treatment". What... like HE said. You do start to consider how many people who have died may still be alive right now if the idea of trial and error (lets face it, they were dying anyway) could have saved at least some of them. Sadly, Linus's own personal tragedy is that his wife died of cancer and he himself died of prostate cancer. But then it should be noted that he was in fact 93 years old and I think statistic say that 90% of men over 90 years of age have it. The treatment being more devastating than the disease.
I'll spare you all the gory details, although you can read the article here. But even a layman's eye will see how extraordinary the process is. The vitamin C reacts with this chemical make-up, producing enough hydrogen peroxide to kill the cancer cell, while leaving healthy cells unscathed. Mind you... walking around with all that hydrogen peroxide in your system, you might get labelled a bomb waiting to happen by the powers that be
. Best be careful around lit matches.
Linus had committed the ultimate sin, he'd piddled in somebody else's pond (field) and they were not going to stand for it. This somewhat reminds me of the current climate change debate. Or rather the lack thereof. Those uppity Paleoclimatologists keep ruining a good theory with some rather 'Inconvenient Facts' (sorry, couldn't resist). But before I get sidelined, back to Pauling.
So now Linus must be spinning in his grave (if indeed he was buried) because today Cancer Research UK have completed studies that "suggested large vitamin C doses may interfere with cancer treatment". What... like HE said. You do start to consider how many people who have died may still be alive right now if the idea of trial and error (lets face it, they were dying anyway) could have saved at least some of them. Sadly, Linus's own personal tragedy is that his wife died of cancer and he himself died of prostate cancer. But then it should be noted that he was in fact 93 years old and I think statistic say that 90% of men over 90 years of age have it. The treatment being more devastating than the disease.
I'll spare you all the gory details, although you can read the article here. But even a layman's eye will see how extraordinary the process is. The vitamin C reacts with this chemical make-up, producing enough hydrogen peroxide to kill the cancer cell, while leaving healthy cells unscathed. Mind you... walking around with all that hydrogen peroxide in your system, you might get labelled a bomb waiting to happen by the powers that be
. Best be careful around lit matches.More BBC BS? House of Saddam
01/08/08 11:09 Filed in: Personal
Just a quick note. BBC are pretty much pushing their due docu-drama "House of Saddam".
I've just got one question. Are they going to cover the Iraq - Iran war where the Americans sold biological, chemical and other such weapons of mass destruction. I think John Bird and John Fortune put it best.
"We know exactly what weapons Saddam has?"
"Really, how?"
"Well, we've still got the invoices.".
Here's a video of Rumsfeld shaking the glad hand with Saddam.
I've got to say something. Why I'm so down on the BBC. You see, I used to respect them. To me, the BBC was the one bastion of honesty in the UK. But ever since the whole "Hutton Enquiry" and the very public threats to the structure and indeed nature of the license fee, the BBC has effective shut up and is now towing the Government line.
The Hutton Inquiry. Remember that...
Effectively the BBC accused the Government of 'sexing up' the report of Saddam's ability to attack the UK with weapons of mass destruction. The report stood to beat down the BBC and in particular the journalist Andrew Gilligan. You may remember the case more clearly if I was to mention Dr David Kelly. Who, it is supposed, committed suicide as a result of the BBC reports blowing open his cover as the original whistle-blower. But it was the Government who names Kelly.
In the five years since he whole debacle it's been pretty much accepted that like the US equivalent, the 'September Dossier'.
But take the events out of context.
"The Government wants to prove the case for mass destruction. They include a panel to create a dossier. One member of the team thinks the statements are being exaggerated to make a case and leaks this information to the press, in order to stop it. He is then found dead in a wood."
No... that doesn't sound suspicious at all.
This interesting clip from You Tube has a lot to show. Including an interesting slip around 1:12. 'doubts'? Hmmmm.
I've just got one question. Are they going to cover the Iraq - Iran war where the Americans sold biological, chemical and other such weapons of mass destruction. I think John Bird and John Fortune put it best.
"We know exactly what weapons Saddam has?"
"Really, how?"
"Well, we've still got the invoices.".
Here's a video of Rumsfeld shaking the glad hand with Saddam.
I've got to say something. Why I'm so down on the BBC. You see, I used to respect them. To me, the BBC was the one bastion of honesty in the UK. But ever since the whole "Hutton Enquiry" and the very public threats to the structure and indeed nature of the license fee, the BBC has effective shut up and is now towing the Government line.
The Hutton Inquiry. Remember that...
Effectively the BBC accused the Government of 'sexing up' the report of Saddam's ability to attack the UK with weapons of mass destruction. The report stood to beat down the BBC and in particular the journalist Andrew Gilligan. You may remember the case more clearly if I was to mention Dr David Kelly. Who, it is supposed, committed suicide as a result of the BBC reports blowing open his cover as the original whistle-blower. But it was the Government who names Kelly.
In the five years since he whole debacle it's been pretty much accepted that like the US equivalent, the 'September Dossier'.
But take the events out of context.
"The Government wants to prove the case for mass destruction. They include a panel to create a dossier. One member of the team thinks the statements are being exaggerated to make a case and leaks this information to the press, in order to stop it. He is then found dead in a wood."
No... that doesn't sound suspicious at all.
This interesting clip from You Tube has a lot to show. Including an interesting slip around 1:12. 'doubts'? Hmmmm.
Oh and another thing!
01/08/08 10:46 Filed in: Personal
When I was Milton Keynes earlier this week I had to listen to the news presented on Look East come out with one of my pet hate statements. It's the use of "literally" in a completely stupid context.
It would appear that these four lady protesters were 'literally' galvanised. What?! They've been dipped in molten zinc in order to protect them from corrosion!? Seems a bit severe... and they look pretty good from it.
It reminded me of a story my Grandfather told me. But perhaps it's not a good place to write this up. It was a story of mercy and tolerance. Somehow I don't think the outcome would be the same today.
Have a nice day!
It would appear that these four lady protesters were 'literally' galvanised. What?! They've been dipped in molten zinc in order to protect them from corrosion!? Seems a bit severe... and they look pretty good from it.
It reminded me of a story my Grandfather told me. But perhaps it's not a good place to write this up. It was a story of mercy and tolerance. Somehow I don't think the outcome would be the same today.
Have a nice day!
Not so smug now..
01/08/08 08:56 Filed in: Personal
So... the very week after "The Now Show" went overboard in levels smugness over the fact that Channel 4 got 'kind of' nobbled by Ofcom. To be honest, the Ofcom report was actually quite tame.
At least it was tame compared to the general drubbing the Corporation got handed out when Ofcom nailed them for faking quizzes. In one example, 17 times!
They got a £400,000 fine. Reduced 100 times due to the fact the BBC is paid for by licence fees. In other words, the General public would have had to pay.
I wonder how smug the Now Show is going to be this Friday. Somewhat less I imagine.
At least it was tame compared to the general drubbing the Corporation got handed out when Ofcom nailed them for faking quizzes. In one example, 17 times!
They got a £400,000 fine. Reduced 100 times due to the fact the BBC is paid for by licence fees. In other words, the General public would have had to pay.
I wonder how smug the Now Show is going to be this Friday. Somewhat less I imagine.
Wow.. thanks The One Show
01/08/08 05:17 Filed in: Personal
Wow... According to "The One Show" peat absorbs carbon dioxide. Really, because I don't mean to be funny... THAT'S HOW THE BLOODY CARBON CYCLE WORKS!
Is the entire country stupid?!
Is the entire country stupid?!