Nov 2008
Hang your heads in shame
30/11/08 14:37 Filed in: Personal
If there is one thing I cannot stand it’s abuse of power. It has to be true that whenever you allow individuals to act in a management position over other individuals, there are those who consider it fair game to abuse such trust.
Such is the case with these three police officers, members of Greater Manchester Police, stationed in Wigan.
On the 27th of July this year they misidentified (not that this is any excuse) Lance Corporal Mark Aspinall (veteran of both the Afghan and Iraq war) as another man wanted in connection to an assault on ambulance crews.
Without warning the three run at Lance Corporal Aspinall, causing him to fall over backwards. In which point our three cowards jump upon him, handcuff him and assault him.
But don’t take my word for it. The video evidence of the attack is available from the BBC website and the Sunday Mirror website.
What makes this more sickening is that Mark was actually convicted of assaulting THE POLICE OFFICERS. It was only when the case went to appeal and Crown Court Judge John Phipps watched the CCTV footage that the verdict was quashed. On seeing the video he said “I am shocked and appalled at the levels of police violence shown here”, adding that he had great concerns about the footage and branded the policemen as liars, saying “I would go as far as to say the statements (by the officers) contain untruths.”
You’ll realise that would be a legal term.
So you might imagine that given it got country wide coverage in the media that the new Chief Constable of GMP would have something to say by way of an apology or just a recognition of the incident.
Well, check out his blog here. You’ll notice at this time he has name made any reference to the incident that’s currently blighting his service, which I find particularly appaling in itself.
Of particular note in this incident is PC Lightfoot or Orrell, Wigan. The 20 stone officer who repeatedly punches Lance Corp. Aspinall in the head.
The IPCC is investigating as I write. Whether or not this will be another white wash or something actually comes of it, that’s anyone’s guess.
Such is the case with these three police officers, members of Greater Manchester Police, stationed in Wigan.
On the 27th of July this year they misidentified (not that this is any excuse) Lance Corporal Mark Aspinall (veteran of both the Afghan and Iraq war) as another man wanted in connection to an assault on ambulance crews.
Without warning the three run at Lance Corporal Aspinall, causing him to fall over backwards. In which point our three cowards jump upon him, handcuff him and assault him.
But don’t take my word for it. The video evidence of the attack is available from the BBC website and the Sunday Mirror website.
What makes this more sickening is that Mark was actually convicted of assaulting THE POLICE OFFICERS. It was only when the case went to appeal and Crown Court Judge John Phipps watched the CCTV footage that the verdict was quashed. On seeing the video he said “I am shocked and appalled at the levels of police violence shown here”, adding that he had great concerns about the footage and branded the policemen as liars, saying “I would go as far as to say the statements (by the officers) contain untruths.”
You’ll realise that would be a legal term.
So you might imagine that given it got country wide coverage in the media that the new Chief Constable of GMP would have something to say by way of an apology or just a recognition of the incident.
Well, check out his blog here. You’ll notice at this time he has name made any reference to the incident that’s currently blighting his service, which I find particularly appaling in itself.
Of particular note in this incident is PC Lightfoot or Orrell, Wigan. The 20 stone officer who repeatedly punches Lance Corp. Aspinall in the head.
The IPCC is investigating as I write. Whether or not this will be another white wash or something actually comes of it, that’s anyone’s guess.
Polar bears AGAIN!
24/11/08 22:33 Filed in: Personal
Will somebody in the know PLEASE tell the media that they can bloody swim!
ITV had some sodding program about Polar Bears and how one has been recorded as swimming 300 miles. And you point is what? If you'd actually look at migration, swimming, hunting patterns of Polar Bears; while 300 miles is extreme it is no way unique.
But I'll save you the Polar Bear details for next month and my debate with Marcus Brigstocke.
ITV had some sodding program about Polar Bears and how one has been recorded as swimming 300 miles. And you point is what? If you'd actually look at migration, swimming, hunting patterns of Polar Bears; while 300 miles is extreme it is no way unique.
But I'll save you the Polar Bear details for next month and my debate with Marcus Brigstocke.
Coming next Month
24/11/08 22:29 Filed in: Personal
I have an email environmental 'debate' with Marcus Brigstocke who then appears to be attacked in the crouch by a cat. Guess it must have been all those awkward facts.
I contact the head of Salford Primary Care Trusts regarding the Fluoridation he wishes to introduce and ask whether he was willing to put his money where his mouth was. Can you guess the reply?
... all this and more coming in December.
I contact the head of Salford Primary Care Trusts regarding the Fluoridation he wishes to introduce and ask whether he was willing to put his money where his mouth was. Can you guess the reply?
... all this and more coming in December.
C-Charge paperwork at home
24/11/08 22:20 Filed in: Personal
I've been informed today that the referendum for the Manchester C-Charge has already landed on my door.
Ironically the anti-C charge league have erected a huge advertisement on the side of the M60 motorway on the way from junction 13 of the M60 to the Warrington on the M62.
I was going to vote YES but seeing as the GMPTA didn't bother and the sign was so nice, I'm going to vote NO. he he he
I'm rather hoping that the majority of Manchester will feel the same way as I do. I don't take kindly to being TOLD what to do from Westminster and then threatened to vote YES or ELSE.
Fact is, even if they do stumble, they are not going to have a major re-think. No, they will just try again and again with the same old idea until so muppet votes YES and we all end up paying a fortune to live in the city we were born.
The fact that they are trying to introduce this at the time of economic crisis is simply beyond me. It's as though the economic uplift we've all enjoyed in the city has upset somebody and now we are being made to toe the line. You can trace all this back to when Prescott (John) first supported secured (low rate) lending to expand the MetroLink and then decided to reject it. Then he wondered why he wasn't exactly regarded as Mr Popular.
You know, I can't help but wonder what Tony Wilson would have thought of all this?
Ironically the anti-C charge league have erected a huge advertisement on the side of the M60 motorway on the way from junction 13 of the M60 to the Warrington on the M62.
I was going to vote YES but seeing as the GMPTA didn't bother and the sign was so nice, I'm going to vote NO. he he he
I'm rather hoping that the majority of Manchester will feel the same way as I do. I don't take kindly to being TOLD what to do from Westminster and then threatened to vote YES or ELSE.
Fact is, even if they do stumble, they are not going to have a major re-think. No, they will just try again and again with the same old idea until so muppet votes YES and we all end up paying a fortune to live in the city we were born.
The fact that they are trying to introduce this at the time of economic crisis is simply beyond me. It's as though the economic uplift we've all enjoyed in the city has upset somebody and now we are being made to toe the line. You can trace all this back to when Prescott (John) first supported secured (low rate) lending to expand the MetroLink and then decided to reject it. Then he wondered why he wasn't exactly regarded as Mr Popular.
You know, I can't help but wonder what Tony Wilson would have thought of all this?
Crap Parkers of the Month
24/11/08 21:53 Filed in: Personal
It's been quite a while since I've last ran the "Bad Parking Award" but a very necessary trip to the local electrical store to pick up a new washing machine paid dividends on what had to be the worst car parking I've ever seen.
So in no particular order.
As we can see this car is so delicate that it is necessary to make sure that nobody can park too close to it.
I can only assume the owner of this Rover 25 is so embarrassed to be driving it that it's simply a case of dump and abandon rather than parking.
You should note that the owner actually managed to nose the car into the facing bay!
A DOUBLE EVENT!!
Yes, one of the most compact cars on the UK market. Yet the owner appears to think it's more tank than midge.
You could suggest that the bad parking is the result of the Astra (also over the line). But if this is the case, why not park in the perfectly valid parking space one away? It was obviously empty when they parked.
I'm at a loss to figure out which of the two spaces they were attempting to park in.
But what gets me is that they clearly must have seen how badly they were all parked and yet could not be bothered to correct the problem.
I should point out that there was at least half a dozen more cars dotted around the place and these were by no means atypical.
But if you ARE a rubbish parker, get an Astra. Seems to be the done thing.
So in no particular order.
Mercedes Benz CLR 320 CDi BF07FZG
As we can see this car is so delicate that it is necessary to make sure that nobody can park too close to it.
Rover 24 W381LNA
I can only assume the owner of this Rover 25 is so embarrassed to be driving it that it's simply a case of dump and abandon rather than parking.
You should note that the owner actually managed to nose the car into the facing bay!
Ford Fiesta MV55DCG AND Vauxhall Astra N10 OGF
A DOUBLE EVENT!!
Yes, one of the most compact cars on the UK market. Yet the owner appears to think it's more tank than midge.
You could suggest that the bad parking is the result of the Astra (also over the line). But if this is the case, why not park in the perfectly valid parking space one away? It was obviously empty when they parked.
Vauxhall Astra YG57KXV
I'm at a loss to figure out which of the two spaces they were attempting to park in.
But what gets me is that they clearly must have seen how badly they were all parked and yet could not be bothered to correct the problem.
I should point out that there was at least half a dozen more cars dotted around the place and these were by no means atypical.
But if you ARE a rubbish parker, get an Astra. Seems to be the done thing.
Shared loos to stop bullying?
20/11/08 18:11 Filed in: Personal
So tonight's light weight Granada Reports new program has highlighted Worden Sports College's attempts to stop bullying by introducing 'Unisex' Loos.
Can somebody explain to me exactly how that's going to work?
I mean if people bully other people in the playground what's a unisex loo going to do?
The effective experiment has cost £85k. I'm not sure how they managed to spend that amount of money on toilets... but there you go. Perhaps it's £20k for the toilets and £65k for the 'designer' blue (for boys) and pink (for girls) doors.
Can somebody explain to me exactly how that's going to work?
I mean if people bully other people in the playground what's a unisex loo going to do?
The effective experiment has cost £85k. I'm not sure how they managed to spend that amount of money on toilets... but there you go. Perhaps it's £20k for the toilets and £65k for the 'designer' blue (for boys) and pink (for girls) doors.
Manchester C-Charge - Pay twice for your roads?
15/11/08 18:38 Filed in: Personal
Or a tale of the stick and then the bigger stick
So, time to put my thoughts on the Manchester C-Charge down. But before I do, I want to point something out, I'm not going to be affected by it, not in any way. So I'm haven't really got a personal reason to kick off about this. But I'm gonna.
Why?
Well, first we have the buried Manchester University report that said that the congestion charge would INCREASE pollution in the centre and the fact that year on year congestion is DROPPING and not increasing.
Then there is the the threat. Which is what is REALLY making me hot under the collar. It appears that if we vote "No" to the congestion charge, then we will not receive funds for improving the transport in Manchester.
Now lets just take a moment to take that in. Year on year our local rates are in part funding transport in Greater Manchester and vehicle excise duty is collected to improve roads across the UK. So given we've already paid this money, if the majority vote NO and no money is to be spent, can be have our rates / VED back?
Obviously, I'm totally disgusted by the bully boy tactics and I can't imagine anybody else in the area is impressed by them.
The Worst Kind of Ex-Pat
10/11/08 19:59 Filed in: Personal
You know, working in the service industry means having to put up with the worst kinds of people and having to smile back at them.
Case in point. Tonight, instead of the usual 5 minute pleasantries rewarded with a key to my hotel room; I had to put up with a 30 minute diatribe of the worst order. Our players are two
The poor receptionist, in the hotel I'm staying all week, has just had to put up with the very worst kind of Ex-Pat. This pair of moaning coffin dodgers are on a visit home to Milton Keynes partly for a funeral and partly to see their grandson. Frankly, it sounded more like their funeral.
They didn't like the weather - Well, here's a surprise... it's November. What did you expect? 30c and blue skies!
They didn't like the roads - Although they did admit that they were better! No, I don't understand that either.
Then we had to suffer the virtues of Cyprus (Greek) rammed down our throats like a sweaty Kebab.
Now I'm sure that Cyprus is a wonderful place full of interesting and exciting people. But there two biggest selling points were:
So in other words.... What they hated about the UK was our Nanny State law about sharing their addiction to cancer and our Draconian view of drink driving.
The patriac of the pair added "We're not coming back. We've not missed England."
I guys my only reply to that would be "It's not missed you."
Oh, and before I forget. The reason I was dragged into this conversation was that the woman was complaining bitterly that her 'cheap as anything' Cyprus Pay as you Go phone wasn't working. She also bragged about how cheap it was because it was actually operated by an African provider. But sadly, Vodafone weren't impressed by her international roaming credentials. Who would have thunk it! As the late Bill Hicks would say.
Case in point. Tonight, instead of the usual 5 minute pleasantries rewarded with a key to my hotel room; I had to put up with a 30 minute diatribe of the worst order. Our players are two
The poor receptionist, in the hotel I'm staying all week, has just had to put up with the very worst kind of Ex-Pat. This pair of moaning coffin dodgers are on a visit home to Milton Keynes partly for a funeral and partly to see their grandson. Frankly, it sounded more like their funeral.
They didn't like the weather - Well, here's a surprise... it's November. What did you expect? 30c and blue skies!
They didn't like the roads - Although they did admit that they were better! No, I don't understand that either.
Then we had to suffer the virtues of Cyprus (Greek) rammed down our throats like a sweaty Kebab.
Now I'm sure that Cyprus is a wonderful place full of interesting and exciting people. But there two biggest selling points were:
- They could smoke anywhere.
- Drink was 60 pence a litre and you could drink a litre in a day and still feel fine to drive.
So in other words.... What they hated about the UK was our Nanny State law about sharing their addiction to cancer and our Draconian view of drink driving.
The patriac of the pair added "We're not coming back. We've not missed England."
I guys my only reply to that would be "It's not missed you."
Oh, and before I forget. The reason I was dragged into this conversation was that the woman was complaining bitterly that her 'cheap as anything' Cyprus Pay as you Go phone wasn't working. She also bragged about how cheap it was because it was actually operated by an African provider. But sadly, Vodafone weren't impressed by her international roaming credentials. Who would have thunk it! As the late Bill Hicks would say.
Super fast catchup....
10/11/08 19:51 Filed in: Personal
It's been over a month since I last put a post online and to be honest I've been feeling the need.
One thing I didn't want to do is create the ever swelling ranks of people in the UK debating the merits of the US Presidential election, it's outcome or the actual significance here in the UK.
I can but hope that Mr Obama spreads peace and wealth to ALL nations and so forth. Of course, that sort of talk got a certain J Kennedy shot.... or are we STILL to believe that Oswald killed him on his own.
Away from all that
So from now on, my posts should be brief and probably moaning.
One thing I didn't want to do is create the ever swelling ranks of people in the UK debating the merits of the US Presidential election, it's outcome or the actual significance here in the UK.
I can but hope that Mr Obama spreads peace and wealth to ALL nations and so forth. Of course, that sort of talk got a certain J Kennedy shot.... or are we STILL to believe that Oswald killed him on his own.
Away from all that
- I bought a 3G iPhone. Not sure what all the fuss about battery life is about. But then I've owned a number of Windows Mobile based devices... so I guess I'm used to charging up every other day (or in the HTC Exec... every 9 hours!).
- Two of the kids have had birthdays.... and a really cool party on a Canal Barge.
- I've changed my car for an economic runabout and now I'm looking to change back; because when you're on the motorway and you are between trucks... it's like being inside a tin can in terms of feeling safe and secure. Not that I'm going to swing 180 degrees and go '4x4'!
- Works been intense with more and more people pulling me in separate directions. Sadly, cloning NOT an option.
- Going to try and blog each night... as a kind of Catharsis.
- My trusty (2.5 year old) MacBook Pro is showing signs of hard use and old age. One of the USB ports now refuses to power full gusto USB 2 devices. But more on the options in another post.
So from now on, my posts should be brief and probably moaning.