Having exhausted all the old skool piano tracks I've decided on a different kind of music that I also love.
Spandex covered cock rock:
I'm off for a family meal tonight. Somebody's birthday or something. Looking forward to much Guinness. Have a good one.
Grow your own veg. The NHS are paying.
The bloated entity that is the NHS, with a ring-fenced budget protecting it from cuts, has just donated forty seven thousand pounds in cash to a healthy food scheme.
A healthy food scheme? I hear you ask. Yes, healthy food in the shape of allotments. Grow your own veg. Apparently it,
Please, somebody, explain to me why getting people outdoors is the remit of the NHS. And as for healthier food, apparently organically grown food is no healthier than the stuff grown with pesticides and fertilisers according to this article:
Anyway, back on topic,
It took fifty standard sized allotments and split each one into ten mini ones.
Really, this charity that was due to end, should have ended.
Prospects volunteer and council opposition leader Coun Miles Parkinson said "[_]In these times of austerity it’s quite amazing Prospects have managed to get this funding. "
No shit Sherlock
A healthy food scheme? I hear you ask. Yes, healthy food in the shape of allotments. Grow your own veg. Apparently it,
It gets people outdoors being active and produces healthier food.”
Please, somebody, explain to me why getting people outdoors is the remit of the NHS. And as for healthier food, apparently organically grown food is no healthier than the stuff grown with pesticides and fertilisers according to this article:
*Meanwhile a study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found organically grown onions, carrots, and potatoes are no healthier than traditionally produced vegetables, say scientists.
They do not have higher levels of beneficial antioxidants and other substances that are good for us than those grown with traditional fertilisers and pesticides, a study shows
Anyway, back on topic,
A HEALTHY food scheme which has seen Hyndburn’s allotments multiply 10-fold has received a cash boost of £47,000.
A pilot allotment scheme from environmental charity Prospects which was due to end this year has been judged such a success that it has received the NHS funding to create more food growing spaces than ever.
It took fifty standard sized allotments and split each one into ten mini ones.
Really, this charity that was due to end, should have ended.
Prospects volunteer and council opposition leader Coun Miles Parkinson said "[_]In these times of austerity it’s quite amazing Prospects have managed to get this funding. "
No shit Sherlock
The bleat of sheep
Lancashire Police are having a crackdown on drivers using mobile phones.
One or two people (myself included) dared to suggest in the comments that this is merely a fundraising exercise.
Look what came out of the woodwork:
So far there is no "bring back the death penalty", yet.
Thats a good one. Fine the car and phone manufacturers.
Crush the phone? Frank seems to have had some bad experiences on the road, doesn't he. Unless he's making it up?
Everyone has their own version of "crime" don't they. For this chap it's tax evasion. For me, tax evasion (or avoidance) is the holy grail.
Of course. The law is gospel, the Government is infallible and the police only ever target criminals.
This is my favourite bleat. "More surveillance state please."
And of course, think of the elderly/children. Notice how people between the age of eighteen and sixty do not count?
I despair for our society. One day the government will pick something that these people do and call it a crime. I wonder how many of them smoke, drink or enjoy the occasional McDonalds, although by the sounds of them, I doubt they get out often enough to do that stuff.
One or two people (myself included) dared to suggest in the comments that this is merely a fundraising exercise.
Look what came out of the woodwork:
moggy669, darwen says...
5:36pm Thu 6 Jan 11
Hit them with a £500 fine and 6 points.
The selfish idiots might learn then.
jessjade, burnley says...
5:37pm Thu 6 Jan 11
ban them from driving for 3 months
suttydog, accrington says...
6:31am Fri 7 Jan 11
take it all the stupid idiotic comments are from people who dont know anyone who have been gravely injured as a result of being hit by a driver using a phone, i have a friend who was and if you could see her you would,nt think the same childish comments. crime should be manslaughter or attempted manslaughter
So far there is no "bring back the death penalty", yet.
pinkfairyone, Burnley says...
5:39pm Thu 6 Jan 11
How about the Car & Communication Companies paying, instead of us ? ... To easy obviously for them to.
Thats a good one. Fine the car and phone manufacturers.
frank, great harwood says...
5:41pm Thu 6 Jan 11
ban them and crush the phone. i've almost been hit or run off the road several times by these selfish idiots. it's time they were taught a lesson.
Crush the phone? Frank seems to have had some bad experiences on the road, doesn't he. Unless he's making it up?
youknowimright, padiham says...
7:05pm Thu 6 Jan 11
Why don’t Lancashire police put more effort in to REAL CRIME? Pathetic. A crackdown on drug dealing, child abuse, tax evasion etc etc Only reason a ‘crackdown’ is underway, is because of the easy-money that’s made in fines.
Everyone has their own version of "crime" don't they. For this chap it's tax evasion. For me, tax evasion (or avoidance) is the holy grail.
Excluded again, Darwen says...
7:43pm Thu 6 Jan 11
If you think the police raising money through this, then you can always stop them raising any money from you. Don't use a mobile when driving or get a hands free kit for if you absolutely must take a call
Common_Sense1, Burnley says...
11:16pm Thu 6 Jan 11
If you don't want the Police to generate money try obey the law. Then when they don't catch anyone they can move on the other things. People are quick to blame the Police and government when they should take a look at themselves first.
Of course. The law is gospel, the Government is infallible and the police only ever target criminals.
burner, blackburn says...
11:16pm Thu 6 Jan 11
Let's have ANPR cameras on all main roads and get the no-insurance drivers - THAT'S real crime that hurts others. All you need is a manned observation room , the data-base will help track down the culprits.
This is my favourite bleat. "More surveillance state please."
teester, burnley says...
11:25pm Thu 6 Jan 11
im the first in line to the help of all road users,. but in this case ,..no. "its a mobile phone!! its not a real crime!!!. think again,... what if "ikky or dave are driving down the road phone glued to their ear,.. and your elderley mum,.. or one of your kids is about to cross the road. you'l be screaming at the cops to throw the book at em . wont you?? stop it. stop it now.
And of course, think of the elderly/children. Notice how people between the age of eighteen and sixty do not count?
I despair for our society. One day the government will pick something that these people do and call it a crime. I wonder how many of them smoke, drink or enjoy the occasional McDonalds, although by the sounds of them, I doubt they get out often enough to do that stuff.
Bullied into submission
This is weird.
National Bullying Helpline closes down
But has it? Look at this screengrab from the story.
Bullying helpline closes down. Then look at the related stories:
Bullying helpline reopens
Bullying helpline suspended.
What on earth is going on?
Seriously though, it seems the helpline has closed because of a lack of cash and because the Chief Exec resigned after accusing the Broon himself of bullying.
Of course, being another fake charity it needs more of our cash.
Of course. A great loss to the public. Where will will turn to now if we get bullied?
Here?
Or here?
Or maybe here?
What about here?
Or possibly here?
Or even here?
Or maybe even here?
You
Get
The
Idea
National Bullying Helpline closes down
But has it? Look at this screengrab from the story.
Bullying helpline closes down. Then look at the related stories:
Bullying helpline reopens
Bullying helpline suspended.
What on earth is going on?
Seriously though, it seems the helpline has closed because of a lack of cash and because the Chief Exec resigned after accusing the Broon himself of bullying.
Of course, being another fake charity it needs more of our cash.
The trustees said in a statement: "This last year, calls to our helpline have trebled and we have had to take on additional volunteers and resources to meet demand.
"Without doubt, this demonstrates that a free anti-bullying helpline is a much needed and much valued life-line for the general public - adults and children alike.
"The closure of our charity will be a great loss to the public.
Of course. A great loss to the public. Where will will turn to now if we get bullied?
Here?
Or here?
Or maybe here?
What about here?
Or possibly here?
Or even here?
Or maybe even here?
You
Get
The
Idea
More guff falls foul of science.
Apparently saturated fat is not the rampant killer we have been lead to believe it is.
Just a couple of weeks ago we found out that warnings of the harmful effects of sun exposure were bringing back rickets as panicky parents covered their children.
Now a study on the harmful effects of saturated fat has found that:
Genetics, lifestyle and age affect the way your body responds to everything, but for too long we have been sold the, one size fits all version of "public health".
We all know that "health advice" is not about health, it's about money and control.
Let's have some real studies on passive smoking and drinking alcohol. It's about time the wheels came off.
Just a couple of weeks ago we found out that warnings of the harmful effects of sun exposure were bringing back rickets as panicky parents covered their children.
Now a study on the harmful effects of saturated fat has found that:
Recent advances in the study of saturated fat have shown that the evidence between saturated fat intake and health had been oversimplified in dietary advice.
Several different studies seemed to imply that genetics, lifestyle and age could all play a part in how badly your body is affected by its saturated fat intake.
Genetics, lifestyle and age affect the way your body responds to everything, but for too long we have been sold the, one size fits all version of "public health".
"The relationship between dietary intake of fats and health is intricate, and variations in factors such as human genetics, life stage and lifestyles can lead to different responses to saturated fat intake."
And some scientists believe that non-harmful saturated fats are 'lumped in' with others distorting health advice.
We all know that "health advice" is not about health, it's about money and control.
Let's have some real studies on passive smoking and drinking alcohol. It's about time the wheels came off.
Not your fault? Oh, but I'm afraid it is.
Have you ever been on the phone to a Government department, or been down the local offices trying to speak to someone on the front desk?
Maybe your council tax has just gone up and you want someone to explain why they think you will have the extra cash to pay it. Maybe you've got a bill from HMRC explaining that they made an error with your tax code and you owe them 400 quid.
Has it seemed like you are getting nowhere. Have you ever got angry with this person and then stepped back and said,
"I'm sorry, I know it isn't your fault, but....."
? If so, read on while I explain your mistake. You see, it is their fault. They may not have increased your council tax themselves, but they are still responsible. It may not be the person you are speaking with that messed up your tax code calculations, never the less, it is still their error and their responsibility.
Why?
There are 650 people in Parliament. It may only be a small percentage of them who make a police decision, but that decision may affect everyone in the country.
I'll give you an example. In order to help combat the huge public debt, the government has decided to increase everyones income tax by 1p in the pound. How do they put this into practice?
650 people cannot go round to everyone in the country who is earning a wage and ask for the cash.
The government already takes over fifty percent of our earnings in tax, to do what they please with. Taking tax from fifteen million people is a mammoth undertaking. It requires a huge infrastructure of people and assets.
It's not just tax collectors and bailiffs etc. It takes clerical staff, reception staff and call center staff.
It takes printers to print the bills and all the endless forms.
It takes IT support staff to look after all the computer systems.
Suppliers to furnish the offices and keep the stationery stocked up.
It even takes a small army of cleaners to empty the bins and hoover up at the end of the day.
If you are one of those people reading this, you may think, I'm not responsible for policy but I do have to work to feed my family etc. Are you happy that the job you do makes a system possible that piles misery on many, many people?
To force people like me and you to hand over half of their wage packet at the end of the week, requires many other people, just like me and you.
Anybody who says it's not their fault is wrong. Anybody who works for the system, helps make that system possible.
Remind them of this next time you happen to be talking to them.
Maybe your council tax has just gone up and you want someone to explain why they think you will have the extra cash to pay it. Maybe you've got a bill from HMRC explaining that they made an error with your tax code and you owe them 400 quid.
Has it seemed like you are getting nowhere. Have you ever got angry with this person and then stepped back and said,
"I'm sorry, I know it isn't your fault, but....."
? If so, read on while I explain your mistake. You see, it is their fault. They may not have increased your council tax themselves, but they are still responsible. It may not be the person you are speaking with that messed up your tax code calculations, never the less, it is still their error and their responsibility.
Why?
There are 650 people in Parliament. It may only be a small percentage of them who make a police decision, but that decision may affect everyone in the country.
I'll give you an example. In order to help combat the huge public debt, the government has decided to increase everyones income tax by 1p in the pound. How do they put this into practice?
650 people cannot go round to everyone in the country who is earning a wage and ask for the cash.
The government already takes over fifty percent of our earnings in tax, to do what they please with. Taking tax from fifteen million people is a mammoth undertaking. It requires a huge infrastructure of people and assets.
It's not just tax collectors and bailiffs etc. It takes clerical staff, reception staff and call center staff.
It takes printers to print the bills and all the endless forms.
It takes IT support staff to look after all the computer systems.
Suppliers to furnish the offices and keep the stationery stocked up.
It even takes a small army of cleaners to empty the bins and hoover up at the end of the day.
If you are one of those people reading this, you may think, I'm not responsible for policy but I do have to work to feed my family etc. Are you happy that the job you do makes a system possible that piles misery on many, many people?
To force people like me and you to hand over half of their wage packet at the end of the week, requires many other people, just like me and you.
Anybody who says it's not their fault is wrong. Anybody who works for the system, helps make that system possible.
Remind them of this next time you happen to be talking to them.
Greece and Turkey. Bring on the wall!
I've always planned to settle in Greece the moment my financial situation allows it. Recent economic problems and riots have made me rethink my plans, however at the moment they remain unchanged.
We plan to go on holiday to Cyprus this year (the Greek part); we will be booking that at the end of the month.
I've always been apprehensive about going on holiday in areas that might kick off while we are there. Mrs Bucko has always wanted to go to Cyprus but so far I've managed to put her off. It's not really a flashpoint but it has potential. Knowing my luck the Greeks will kick off with the Turks while we are over there and some shit will drop a bomb in our swimming pool.
Now I have finally conceded and agreed to book an excursion to Cyprus, the Greeks are planning to build a huge wall between themselves and mainland Turkey.
Knowing my luck, this will be just what it needs to start a war. Bugger.
We plan to go on holiday to Cyprus this year (the Greek part); we will be booking that at the end of the month.
I've always been apprehensive about going on holiday in areas that might kick off while we are there. Mrs Bucko has always wanted to go to Cyprus but so far I've managed to put her off. It's not really a flashpoint but it has potential. Knowing my luck the Greeks will kick off with the Turks while we are over there and some shit will drop a bomb in our swimming pool.
Now I have finally conceded and agreed to book an excursion to Cyprus, the Greeks are planning to build a huge wall between themselves and mainland Turkey.
Knowing my luck, this will be just what it needs to start a war. Bugger.
Get yer wallet out Thaler, it's your round.....
.....you miserable shit.
To halt binge drinking, stop buying rounds
Does this guy have any clue at all about the guff he is verbally barfing? I seriously doubt it.
What an absolute dick cheese. Where to even begin with this hideous bag of bollocks? Three paragraphs of speech and each one of them, complete and utter arse waffle.
Paragraph one: "groups of three or more should set up a tab to be split at the end of the evening " Why do we buy rounds? To save time at the bar. If we had to set up a tab we would have to fanny about at the end of the evening, after a skinful, trying to figure out who owes what, and throughout the night, everyone would have to get up and order their own drinks, wasting time and annoying the very busy bar staff.
"to stop each member of a party feeling obligated to buy a round for everyone." Erm? Getting steaming bollocks drunk takes money. If you've just bought a round for everyone you wont have a lot of it. Seriously though, being in a round helps you pace yourself. Everyone drinks at a different rate. If you are in a round, you all drink only as fast as the slowest drinker in your group. If there is one binge drinker among you they will keep going to the bar as and when they feel like it, building up a huge tab that you all have to split at the end of the night.
Paragraph two: "It is just a tradition and it has this unintended consequence." It's nothing to do with tradition. As I've said, it saves time at the bar and if there's a group of you, say six, each person only goes to the bar for one in six drinks.
Paragraph three: These are the kinds of things that policy makers and publicans should be thinking about." Number one, this has nothing to do with policy makers whatsoever. Number two, as an ex publican, I certainly would not be thinking about it. Running tabs is wrong in so many ways. Here's a few:
1) It's easy for people to run up a bill then run off. If someone sets up a tab you need to get then to leave a credit card behind the bar. Not everyone has cards. Some people will leave a stolen card.
2) If you are not getting up and paying cash for every round, but leaving payment to the end, you are less likely to worry about how much you are spending and more likely to drink more than you normally would if you had to count out the cash for every beer.
3) If a large group of people keep coming to the bar and buying their own drinks, rather than one from the group buying a round, it takes a lot longer to serve them. At busy periods this could be a big problem if everyone was doing it.
Utter bollocks from start to finish. I don't often find myself as part of a round these days, but when I was younger, a group of us would often go out to the pub. As we were all individuals and not robots, our needs and wants were different.
There were a couple of engineering types who earned more money than all of us put together. They didn't mind what they were paying or for who. There were a couple of us on low wages who were watching every penny. Some drank bitter or lager, some drank double vodka and red bull.
As we were all adults with minds of our own we were able to work out the rounds without any problem. We would group off in threes and fours and get rounds based on price. The expensive alcopop drinkers would get their own rounds. The drivers never paid for anything. if anyone wanted to bug out of a round they could at any time. No one felt obliged and no one binge drank.
Enter the government and that's when the problems begin. The unintended consequence you speak of Mr Thaler, is the consequence of government interference where it is neither wanted nor required.
Oh, and I forgot to mention. Alcohol on credit is illegal you bellend.
To halt binge drinking, stop buying rounds
Pub-goers should stop buying rounds of drinks and set up a tab for their party instead to cut down on binge drinking, an adviser to David Cameron has said.
Does this guy have any clue at all about the guff he is verbally barfing? I seriously doubt it.
Richard Thaler, a professor at Chicago University, suggests that groups of three or more should set up a tab to be split at the end of the evening to stop each member of a party feeling obligated to buy a round for everyone.
Prof Thaler, a key adviser to the Prime Minister on behavioural economics or "nudge" policy, said of buying rounds: "It is just a tradition and it has this unintended consequence.
"So if I was giving advice, I would say if there were more than three of you I would run a tab. These are the kinds of things that policy makers and publicans should be thinking about." He told The Daily Telegraph that he had discussed the plan with a senior official in the Cabinet Office.
What an absolute dick cheese. Where to even begin with this hideous bag of bollocks? Three paragraphs of speech and each one of them, complete and utter arse waffle.
Paragraph one: "groups of three or more should set up a tab to be split at the end of the evening " Why do we buy rounds? To save time at the bar. If we had to set up a tab we would have to fanny about at the end of the evening, after a skinful, trying to figure out who owes what, and throughout the night, everyone would have to get up and order their own drinks, wasting time and annoying the very busy bar staff.
"to stop each member of a party feeling obligated to buy a round for everyone." Erm? Getting steaming bollocks drunk takes money. If you've just bought a round for everyone you wont have a lot of it. Seriously though, being in a round helps you pace yourself. Everyone drinks at a different rate. If you are in a round, you all drink only as fast as the slowest drinker in your group. If there is one binge drinker among you they will keep going to the bar as and when they feel like it, building up a huge tab that you all have to split at the end of the night.
Paragraph two: "It is just a tradition and it has this unintended consequence." It's nothing to do with tradition. As I've said, it saves time at the bar and if there's a group of you, say six, each person only goes to the bar for one in six drinks.
Paragraph three: These are the kinds of things that policy makers and publicans should be thinking about." Number one, this has nothing to do with policy makers whatsoever. Number two, as an ex publican, I certainly would not be thinking about it. Running tabs is wrong in so many ways. Here's a few:
1) It's easy for people to run up a bill then run off. If someone sets up a tab you need to get then to leave a credit card behind the bar. Not everyone has cards. Some people will leave a stolen card.
2) If you are not getting up and paying cash for every round, but leaving payment to the end, you are less likely to worry about how much you are spending and more likely to drink more than you normally would if you had to count out the cash for every beer.
3) If a large group of people keep coming to the bar and buying their own drinks, rather than one from the group buying a round, it takes a lot longer to serve them. At busy periods this could be a big problem if everyone was doing it.
Utter bollocks from start to finish. I don't often find myself as part of a round these days, but when I was younger, a group of us would often go out to the pub. As we were all individuals and not robots, our needs and wants were different.
There were a couple of engineering types who earned more money than all of us put together. They didn't mind what they were paying or for who. There were a couple of us on low wages who were watching every penny. Some drank bitter or lager, some drank double vodka and red bull.
As we were all adults with minds of our own we were able to work out the rounds without any problem. We would group off in threes and fours and get rounds based on price. The expensive alcopop drinkers would get their own rounds. The drivers never paid for anything. if anyone wanted to bug out of a round they could at any time. No one felt obliged and no one binge drank.
Enter the government and that's when the problems begin. The unintended consequence you speak of Mr Thaler, is the consequence of government interference where it is neither wanted nor required.
Oh, and I forgot to mention. Alcohol on credit is illegal you bellend.
Embrace the big society. But not if you've lost your cat.
Council threatens man with fine over lost cat posters
Me and Mrs Bucko once did the same when our cat, Biscuit disappeared. Within 24 hours, someone had contacted us. Apparently she had been hit by a car. The person who called us had found our cat and called the police. They had taken her to a vet who had put her down because of her injuries. It was very sad but because of the posters and one caring person, we found out what had happened to Biscuit. We then took down the posters.
There's fly posting and there's looking for your cat. I don't know why I should expect the council to make that distinction and show a little compassion.
And there's your mistake. You assumed they would show a little compassion so you gave them your address. The council is the enemy. Never volunteer information that they can use against you as they invariably will.
And there's another shocker. In these times of supposed austerity, we are still paying for environmental enforcement teams, although it seems by the tactics they use, they may be paying for themselves.
I sincerely hope you all loose your jobs as part of the cuts. I really mean that, from the bottom of my heart. Heart? You know what one of those is, right?
A council has been criticised for threatening to hand a £1,000 fine to a pet owner who put up posters of his lost cat.
Me and Mrs Bucko once did the same when our cat, Biscuit disappeared. Within 24 hours, someone had contacted us. Apparently she had been hit by a car. The person who called us had found our cat and called the police. They had taken her to a vet who had put her down because of her injuries. It was very sad but because of the posters and one caring person, we found out what had happened to Biscuit. We then took down the posters.
Mike Harding, 44, was issued with a 48 hour ''remove or pay up'' ultimatum by Bedfordshire Borough Council which accused the driving instructor of ''fly-posting''.
He said: ''I received a call from the council telling me that I needed to take the posters down .
There's fly posting and there's looking for your cat. I don't know why I should expect the council to make that distinction and show a little compassion.
''When they did, they told me that I shouldn't t be putting up posters and if I gave them my address they would tell me why.
''So I did and I was expecting information leaflets, instead they sent a letter saying I could be fined.
And there's your mistake. You assumed they would show a little compassion so you gave them your address. The council is the enemy. Never volunteer information that they can use against you as they invariably will.
A spokesman said: ''Our Environmental Enforcement Team discovered more than 20 of Mr Harding's 'lost cat' posters. Some were nailed to eight trees along The Embankment.
And there's another shocker. In these times of supposed austerity, we are still paying for environmental enforcement teams, although it seems by the tactics they use, they may be paying for themselves.
I sincerely hope you all loose your jobs as part of the cuts. I really mean that, from the bottom of my heart. Heart? You know what one of those is, right?
Online reviews
Apparently an Australian man, The Fat Aussie Bastard is being sued to defamation because of a Youtube video he released, slating a hotel he stayed at.
To be sued for defamation, it needs to be shown that what you have said is incorrect. He states,
So as long as he hasn't lied, he doesn't have a problem.
Personally I take any online review with a pinch of salt. I was looking on Google the other day for a shop I had been to previously. When I was there, the service was professional, knowledgeable and helpful. That is why I wanted to go back. While I was looking for the address I found that Google has the option to review businesses on it's maps. There were three reviews for this shop, all of them scathing. "They broke this, lost that, no refund, no contact" etc etc.
This was far from the service I had had so I chose to ignore it. Potential new customers might read that and choose to shop elsewhere.
The problem is, with any customer environment, where a customer has good service and they are pleased, they will walk away happy but not really bother talking about it to others. Occasionally someone will ask them, "Have you been to suchaplace?" and they will tell about it.
On the other hand, if they have a bad experience they will tell as many people as possible. They will be texting their mates as soon as they get home and telling them not to go there. Some will even write to the local paper and some will seek out online reviews to say their piece.
I used to work in a very popular pub/restaurant. We would easily clear ten grand in food on a good weekend, we were very busy and our customers came again and again because they were so happy about the food and the service.
One day the landlord was walking out with his dog and it barked at a woman coming in. She started screaming like a little girl. He just said sorry and carried on. Unfortunately, as he was coming back in, she was leaving and the exact same thing happened. This time she started giving him loads of grief about his Yorkshire Terrier being a dangerous dog.
Two hours later she phoned the pub and demanded two hundred pounds in compensation or she was going to complain to the pub company head office. Our landlord just said "Get lost you chancer" and we never heard from her again.
The brewery had the option to comment on their website about pubs you had visited. Out of thousands of customers, this woman was the only one who ever wrote a review of our pub on the site, and it wasn't good.
If you read an online review, just remember, this is one pissed off person who is holding a grudge. Take no notice and find out for yourself.
H/T to Angry People in Local Newspapers for the story link.
A NOOSA businessman with a love for posting his opinions online has become embroiled in a legal battle which he believes will affect the future of free speech in Australia.
Computer repair shop owner Peter Finn is being sued for defamation after last month posting a YouTube video criticising a Brisbane hotel, where he says he and friends received poor service.
To be sued for defamation, it needs to be shown that what you have said is incorrect. He states,
“If you have bad service at a venue or bad service from a mechanic or whatever, there is no law stopping you from putting up a bad review.
“Provided you don’t tell lies, you can basically do a review and they cannot have you up for slander.”
So as long as he hasn't lied, he doesn't have a problem.
Personally I take any online review with a pinch of salt. I was looking on Google the other day for a shop I had been to previously. When I was there, the service was professional, knowledgeable and helpful. That is why I wanted to go back. While I was looking for the address I found that Google has the option to review businesses on it's maps. There were three reviews for this shop, all of them scathing. "They broke this, lost that, no refund, no contact" etc etc.
This was far from the service I had had so I chose to ignore it. Potential new customers might read that and choose to shop elsewhere.
The problem is, with any customer environment, where a customer has good service and they are pleased, they will walk away happy but not really bother talking about it to others. Occasionally someone will ask them, "Have you been to suchaplace?" and they will tell about it.
On the other hand, if they have a bad experience they will tell as many people as possible. They will be texting their mates as soon as they get home and telling them not to go there. Some will even write to the local paper and some will seek out online reviews to say their piece.
I used to work in a very popular pub/restaurant. We would easily clear ten grand in food on a good weekend, we were very busy and our customers came again and again because they were so happy about the food and the service.
One day the landlord was walking out with his dog and it barked at a woman coming in. She started screaming like a little girl. He just said sorry and carried on. Unfortunately, as he was coming back in, she was leaving and the exact same thing happened. This time she started giving him loads of grief about his Yorkshire Terrier being a dangerous dog.
Two hours later she phoned the pub and demanded two hundred pounds in compensation or she was going to complain to the pub company head office. Our landlord just said "Get lost you chancer" and we never heard from her again.
The brewery had the option to comment on their website about pubs you had visited. Out of thousands of customers, this woman was the only one who ever wrote a review of our pub on the site, and it wasn't good.
If you read an online review, just remember, this is one pissed off person who is holding a grudge. Take no notice and find out for yourself.
H/T to Angry People in Local Newspapers for the story link.
The Walrus and the Carpenter. Lewis Carrol
The sun was shining on the sea,
Shining with all his might:
He did his very best to make
The billows smooth and bright--
And this was odd, because it was
The middle of the night.
The moon was shining sulkily,
Because she thought the sun
Had got no business to be there
After the day was done--
"It's very rude of him," she said,
"To come and spoil the fun!"
The sea was wet as wet could be,
The sands were dry as dry.
You could not see a cloud, because
No cloud was in the sky:
No birds were flying overhead--
There were no birds to fly.
The Walrus and the Carpenter
Were walking close at hand;
They wept like anything to see
Such quantities of sand:
"If this were only cleared away,"
They said, "it would be grand!"
"If seven maids with seven mops
Swept it for half a year.
Do you suppose," the Walrus said,
"That they could get it clear?"
"I doubt it," said the Carpenter,
And shed a bitter tear.
"O Oysters, come and walk with us!"
The Walrus did beseech.
"A pleasant walk, a pleasant talk,
Along the briny beach:
We cannot do with more than four,
To give a hand to each."
The eldest Oyster looked at him,
But never a word he said:
The eldest Oyster winked his eye,
And shook his heavy head--
Meaning to say he did not choose
To leave the oyster-bed.
But four young Oysters hurried up,
All eager for the treat:
Their coats were brushed, their faces washed,
Their shoes were clean and neat--
And this was odd, because, you know,
They hadn't any feet.
Four other Oysters followed them,
And yet another four;
And thick and fast they came at last,
And more, and more, and more--
All hopping through the frothy waves,
And scrambling to the shore.
The Walrus and the Carpenter
Walked on a mile or so,
And then they rested on a rock
Conveniently low:
And all the little Oysters stood
And waited in a row.
"The time has come," the Walrus said,
"To talk of many things:
Of shoes--and ships--and sealing-wax--
Of cabbages--and kings--
And why the sea is boiling hot--
And whether pigs have wings."
"But wait a bit," the Oysters cried,
"Before we have our chat;
For some of us are out of breath,
And all of us are fat!"
"No hurry!" said the Carpenter.
They thanked him much for that.
"A loaf of bread," the Walrus said,
"Is what we chiefly need:
Pepper and vinegar besides
Are very good indeed--
Now if you're ready, Oysters dear,
We can begin to feed."
"But not on us!" the Oysters cried,
Turning a little blue.
"After such kindness, that would be
A dismal thing to do!"
"The night is fine," the Walrus said.
"Do you admire the view?
"It was so kind of you to come!
And you are very nice!"
The Carpenter said nothing but
"Cut us another slice:
I wish you were not quite so deaf--
I've had to ask you twice!"
"It seems a shame," the Walrus said,
"To play them such a trick,
After we've brought them out so far,
And made them trot so quick!"
The Carpenter said nothing but
"The butter's spread too thick!"
"I weep for you," the Walrus said:
"I deeply sympathize."
With sobs and tears he sorted out
Those of the largest size,
Holding his pocket-handkerchief
Before his streaming eyes.
"O Oysters," said the Carpenter,
"You've had a pleasant run!
Shall we be trotting home again?'
But answer came there none--
And this was scarcely odd, because
They'd eaten every one.
Shining with all his might:
He did his very best to make
The billows smooth and bright--
And this was odd, because it was
The middle of the night.
The moon was shining sulkily,
Because she thought the sun
Had got no business to be there
After the day was done--
"It's very rude of him," she said,
"To come and spoil the fun!"
The sea was wet as wet could be,
The sands were dry as dry.
You could not see a cloud, because
No cloud was in the sky:
No birds were flying overhead--
There were no birds to fly.
The Walrus and the Carpenter
Were walking close at hand;
They wept like anything to see
Such quantities of sand:
"If this were only cleared away,"
They said, "it would be grand!"
"If seven maids with seven mops
Swept it for half a year.
Do you suppose," the Walrus said,
"That they could get it clear?"
"I doubt it," said the Carpenter,
And shed a bitter tear.
"O Oysters, come and walk with us!"
The Walrus did beseech.
"A pleasant walk, a pleasant talk,
Along the briny beach:
We cannot do with more than four,
To give a hand to each."
The eldest Oyster looked at him,
But never a word he said:
The eldest Oyster winked his eye,
And shook his heavy head--
Meaning to say he did not choose
To leave the oyster-bed.
But four young Oysters hurried up,
All eager for the treat:
Their coats were brushed, their faces washed,
Their shoes were clean and neat--
And this was odd, because, you know,
They hadn't any feet.
Four other Oysters followed them,
And yet another four;
And thick and fast they came at last,
And more, and more, and more--
All hopping through the frothy waves,
And scrambling to the shore.
The Walrus and the Carpenter
Walked on a mile or so,
And then they rested on a rock
Conveniently low:
And all the little Oysters stood
And waited in a row.
"The time has come," the Walrus said,
"To talk of many things:
Of shoes--and ships--and sealing-wax--
Of cabbages--and kings--
And why the sea is boiling hot--
And whether pigs have wings."
"But wait a bit," the Oysters cried,
"Before we have our chat;
For some of us are out of breath,
And all of us are fat!"
"No hurry!" said the Carpenter.
They thanked him much for that.
"A loaf of bread," the Walrus said,
"Is what we chiefly need:
Pepper and vinegar besides
Are very good indeed--
Now if you're ready, Oysters dear,
We can begin to feed."
"But not on us!" the Oysters cried,
Turning a little blue.
"After such kindness, that would be
A dismal thing to do!"
"The night is fine," the Walrus said.
"Do you admire the view?
"It was so kind of you to come!
And you are very nice!"
The Carpenter said nothing but
"Cut us another slice:
I wish you were not quite so deaf--
I've had to ask you twice!"
"It seems a shame," the Walrus said,
"To play them such a trick,
After we've brought them out so far,
And made them trot so quick!"
The Carpenter said nothing but
"The butter's spread too thick!"
"I weep for you," the Walrus said:
"I deeply sympathize."
With sobs and tears he sorted out
Those of the largest size,
Holding his pocket-handkerchief
Before his streaming eyes.
"O Oysters," said the Carpenter,
"You've had a pleasant run!
Shall we be trotting home again?'
But answer came there none--
And this was scarcely odd, because
They'd eaten every one.
Media
We live in an age that is very much dominated by the exchange of information. Years gone by, people would not know what is happening in the next village, never mind in other countries throughout the world. Now we have access to news and information all around us. Newspapers, TV, Internet. Information = power = money.
Where do most people go for their information? The main stream media. Most people think the media exists as a champion of the people, getting information and news and reporting it to us. Fighting for free speech and the free exchange of knowledge. They couldn't be more wrong.
The media exists for one reason only. To make money. As much money as possible in the most efficient manner. Normally I wouldn't question this purpose, what I do question with the media is the methods they use. They make money through the sale of advertising space (Obviously the BBC is a bit of an anomaly but they do exist for the same reasons). The more high profile advertising space you can sell, the more money you can make. Sale of advertising depends on the number of people who read your newspaper or watch your television programme.
The media have a number of weapons at their disposal to make you part with your cash and buy what they have to offer. Take newspapers for example. The headline:
Famous actor denies gay sex romp
will sell more newspapers than
British food production up by 4.5%
even though the latter will be the more important to the reader. Look at the wording in the first headline. Maybe the actor denied having a gay sex romp because he just didn't have one.
There are possibly millions of stories that could be written every year. The papers only pick the ones that will sell the most copies. They cherry pick the news they think you should know and ignore the rest based on sales. The stories they do choose to print will often play on your fears or guilt. We live in a society full of some very fearful people so a story about
Terrorist threat at all time high, or
Iran builds nuclear weapons, or
Domestic violence is at epidemic proportions
will have the terminally scared parting with their money in order to get the latest "information" about the new scare.
People can often be particularly frightened by stories about kiddies.
New paedophile threat discovered, or
Children affected by video nasties
will have the parents clamouring to get the latest info they need to protect their idiot spawn from the latest threat.
And the terminally guilty will always fork out good money to see pictures of starving babies in Africa or polar bears dying in the arctic.
The people that go out and buy these papers for the reasons above will never actually take any action. They will not hand over their bank accounts to the starving babies or sell their 4x4 to help the polar bears. Just reading the article and saying something should be done gives them the illusory comfort that they need.
Apart from money, there is something else the media has in abundance. When an organisation can decide what you are scared of or dictate what you should feel guilty about, it has a lot of power over you. That power can be used to mould your life, alter your spending habits, change your beliefs and influence your voting habits.
What most people do not realise is that they are not being given the full story; they are not been given the information they need to make the decisions they are making as a result.
Television often has a very subliminal left wing message buried within. Film and TV producers in most areas tend to lean towards socialist viewpoints. If you know anyone in "the arts", ask them if they believe the arts should be subsidised by government money.
I watched Only Fools and Horses at on Christmas day. It's not a program I normally watch; the episode was called, "Time on our hands", and it seemed to be one where the Trotters finally made the big time after all their years of effort. After they had made a few million and got everything they wanted, Del goes back to the old flat in a state of depression. He's suddenly bored of the rich lifestyle and is pining for the good old days. The message was that money is bad and if you get it you will not be happy.
Have you seen the film, Titanic? The one with Kate Winslet and Leonardo De Whatshisname? The message there is the same. The poor people down in steerage are dancing, laughing and having a merry old time, whereas the rich folk are sat round a table with straight faces and acting all stuffy.
Money = bad, poor = good. It's everywhere.
How many cop shows are on TV now, showing our gallant police force upholding the law and fighting crime. To get the real picture of police harassing photographers, stealing children or detaining innocent people, you have to go to Youtube.
The media is not a public service, fighting to get information to the public. Most newspapers are nothing more than gossip columns, the more upmarket appeal to our guilt's and fears to sell papers. The TV spreads the message of poor is good and don't aspire to be anything more as you won't like it.
If you take notice of the media, treat it simply as a format for entertainment or diversion. It's not the champion of the truth that some people deem it to be.
Where do most people go for their information? The main stream media. Most people think the media exists as a champion of the people, getting information and news and reporting it to us. Fighting for free speech and the free exchange of knowledge. They couldn't be more wrong.
The media exists for one reason only. To make money. As much money as possible in the most efficient manner. Normally I wouldn't question this purpose, what I do question with the media is the methods they use. They make money through the sale of advertising space (Obviously the BBC is a bit of an anomaly but they do exist for the same reasons). The more high profile advertising space you can sell, the more money you can make. Sale of advertising depends on the number of people who read your newspaper or watch your television programme.
The media have a number of weapons at their disposal to make you part with your cash and buy what they have to offer. Take newspapers for example. The headline:
Famous actor denies gay sex romp
will sell more newspapers than
British food production up by 4.5%
even though the latter will be the more important to the reader. Look at the wording in the first headline. Maybe the actor denied having a gay sex romp because he just didn't have one.
There are possibly millions of stories that could be written every year. The papers only pick the ones that will sell the most copies. They cherry pick the news they think you should know and ignore the rest based on sales. The stories they do choose to print will often play on your fears or guilt. We live in a society full of some very fearful people so a story about
Terrorist threat at all time high, or
Iran builds nuclear weapons, or
Domestic violence is at epidemic proportions
will have the terminally scared parting with their money in order to get the latest "information" about the new scare.
People can often be particularly frightened by stories about kiddies.
New paedophile threat discovered, or
Children affected by video nasties
will have the parents clamouring to get the latest info they need to protect their idiot spawn from the latest threat.
And the terminally guilty will always fork out good money to see pictures of starving babies in Africa or polar bears dying in the arctic.
The people that go out and buy these papers for the reasons above will never actually take any action. They will not hand over their bank accounts to the starving babies or sell their 4x4 to help the polar bears. Just reading the article and saying something should be done gives them the illusory comfort that they need.
Apart from money, there is something else the media has in abundance. When an organisation can decide what you are scared of or dictate what you should feel guilty about, it has a lot of power over you. That power can be used to mould your life, alter your spending habits, change your beliefs and influence your voting habits.
What most people do not realise is that they are not being given the full story; they are not been given the information they need to make the decisions they are making as a result.
Television often has a very subliminal left wing message buried within. Film and TV producers in most areas tend to lean towards socialist viewpoints. If you know anyone in "the arts", ask them if they believe the arts should be subsidised by government money.
I watched Only Fools and Horses at on Christmas day. It's not a program I normally watch; the episode was called, "Time on our hands", and it seemed to be one where the Trotters finally made the big time after all their years of effort. After they had made a few million and got everything they wanted, Del goes back to the old flat in a state of depression. He's suddenly bored of the rich lifestyle and is pining for the good old days. The message was that money is bad and if you get it you will not be happy.
Have you seen the film, Titanic? The one with Kate Winslet and Leonardo De Whatshisname? The message there is the same. The poor people down in steerage are dancing, laughing and having a merry old time, whereas the rich folk are sat round a table with straight faces and acting all stuffy.
Money = bad, poor = good. It's everywhere.
How many cop shows are on TV now, showing our gallant police force upholding the law and fighting crime. To get the real picture of police harassing photographers, stealing children or detaining innocent people, you have to go to Youtube.
The media is not a public service, fighting to get information to the public. Most newspapers are nothing more than gossip columns, the more upmarket appeal to our guilt's and fears to sell papers. The TV spreads the message of poor is good and don't aspire to be anything more as you won't like it.
If you take notice of the media, treat it simply as a format for entertainment or diversion. It's not the champion of the truth that some people deem it to be.
First rant of 2011
Welcome to my first rant this year. Feel free to leave your first comment of 2011, it doesn't have to be about the post, it can be anything. Go nuts.
So the Christmas period is now done with, it's January 2nd and everything is back to normal. Hope you all had a good one, by the way.
I don't really "do" Christmas. I enjoy a bit of family time, a bit of good food and a relax, but I don't get enthusiastically involved in it all, so when I see this all over the shop at Christmas:
"Goodwill to all men"
it makes me think, why? Goodwill to all men? (I'm assuming "men" means mankind so women and children are in fact, included)
I don't mind a bit of goodwill for the family and my friends. I've a bit of goodwill for my readers to, but goodwill for,
Chris Williamson who wants to take away my gun licence?
Andrew Lansey who wants to take away my fags?
How about goodwill for Ed Vaizey who wants to take away my porn, or Harriet Harman who wants to go even further and take away my penis?
Goodwill to our local county council who want to increase our council tax to pay for more gritters?
Or goodwill for all those hard workers at HMRC who want to take sixty percent of my wages to distribute to the needy?
The needy. That's another Christmas concern. We must look after the needy at Christmas. Well either the needy are spending my goodwill on fake tits, or the NSPCC, the RSPCA, Save the Children, Save the Donkeys, Save the Tigers, Save the penguins Save the deaf kids or Barnardos are bombarding me with "heart breaking" adverts explaining why I should extend my goodwill to two pounds a month for each and every one of them.
I'm sorry but bollocks to that. I'm well aware that somewhere in the world, something bad might be happening. Me paying your self serving and righteous directors wages will not help that.
Here's another one:
"'Tis the season to be jolly"
Why is it the season to be jolly? Why should my emotional state be altered at this time of year?
12 more months have gone by. I'm another year older, my grey patch is a bit bigger and so is my belly.
The price of fuel and food has gone up yet my wage remains the same.
My car is ever closer to getting scrapped yet the cost of running it continues to soar.
The weather is extremely cold, probably due to global warming. The pavements are covered in ice and the papers are moaning that the council are not Gods and cannot regulate the weather. My bins have not been emptied in weeks.
I am forced to spend a huge amount of money on crap to give to other people and they continue to spend their hard earned on crap that I don't want. I've not been able to buy any of the things I want for the past three months in case someone gets me the same for Christmas. No body did, so now I have to go out and buy those things myself.
But that's ok. Cheer up, it's Christmas.
Well it's all done with now for another year. I'll be back in work on Thursday, doing the same old thing as I always do, with the same old people, achieving the same old results and putting up with the same old crap.
I'll go home from work and eat the same old food for tea and watch the same old bollocks on the telly.
I'll go to the same old pub at the weekend and stand outside smoking the same old cigars while being told I can't take the same old pint of beer off the premises.
I'll get the same old wage at the end of the month. The Government will take the same old cut and give it to the same old feckless scroungers.
Here's what I want for 2011:
First off, a repeal of the smoking ban. Not just a compromise, I want it scrapped completely and property rights given back to the landlords. As Leg-Iron has said on many occasion, the anti-smokers had no room for compromise and now I don't either. If smoke free pubs are really a worthwhile business venture, many of them will remain after the ban has been lifted and all these antis who want to continue wearing the same clothes they wore out on the piss last night will still have somewhere to go.
Second, a new car. A 1990s Vauxhall Frontera or a Jag XJS, I can't decide. I need something soon though, I'm sick of being without a car and having to drive Mrs Bucko's. It's only been a few months but she's very territorial about her wheels.
Thirdly a return to liberty. No more CCTV, control orders, airport scanners, Stop and search, ANPR cameras etc.
No more bin fines, fag fines, seatbelt fines, helmet fines etc.
A thorough scrapping of all jobsworths, inspectors, PCSOs and anyone with diversity or inclusion in their job title.
No more persecution of smokers fat folk or drinkers.
And all the other things that I have missed, of which there are very many.
Fourth. Self employment. I need to start working for myself rather than others and maybe keeping a bit more of it for myself with the help of some inventive book-keeping.
And - no more benefits for scroungers, no more foreign aid, no more spending on climate change and green energy, no more political correctness, no more stupid health and safety, no more freebies for immigrants and absolutely no more Islamification of Britain.
I'm going to do a big list and tick them all off throughout the year. I'm betting that, apart from the car, none of it will have happened. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if the list has got much bigger by this time next year.
Heres to a crappy new year!
So the Christmas period is now done with, it's January 2nd and everything is back to normal. Hope you all had a good one, by the way.
I don't really "do" Christmas. I enjoy a bit of family time, a bit of good food and a relax, but I don't get enthusiastically involved in it all, so when I see this all over the shop at Christmas:
"Goodwill to all men"
it makes me think, why? Goodwill to all men? (I'm assuming "men" means mankind so women and children are in fact, included)
I don't mind a bit of goodwill for the family and my friends. I've a bit of goodwill for my readers to, but goodwill for,
Chris Williamson who wants to take away my gun licence?
Andrew Lansey who wants to take away my fags?
How about goodwill for Ed Vaizey who wants to take away my porn, or Harriet Harman who wants to go even further and take away my penis?
Goodwill to our local county council who want to increase our council tax to pay for more gritters?
Or goodwill for all those hard workers at HMRC who want to take sixty percent of my wages to distribute to the needy?
The needy. That's another Christmas concern. We must look after the needy at Christmas. Well either the needy are spending my goodwill on fake tits, or the NSPCC, the RSPCA, Save the Children, Save the Donkeys, Save the Tigers, Save the penguins Save the deaf kids or Barnardos are bombarding me with "heart breaking" adverts explaining why I should extend my goodwill to two pounds a month for each and every one of them.
I'm sorry but bollocks to that. I'm well aware that somewhere in the world, something bad might be happening. Me paying your self serving and righteous directors wages will not help that.
Here's another one:
"'Tis the season to be jolly"
Why is it the season to be jolly? Why should my emotional state be altered at this time of year?
12 more months have gone by. I'm another year older, my grey patch is a bit bigger and so is my belly.
The price of fuel and food has gone up yet my wage remains the same.
My car is ever closer to getting scrapped yet the cost of running it continues to soar.
The weather is extremely cold, probably due to global warming. The pavements are covered in ice and the papers are moaning that the council are not Gods and cannot regulate the weather. My bins have not been emptied in weeks.
I am forced to spend a huge amount of money on crap to give to other people and they continue to spend their hard earned on crap that I don't want. I've not been able to buy any of the things I want for the past three months in case someone gets me the same for Christmas. No body did, so now I have to go out and buy those things myself.
But that's ok. Cheer up, it's Christmas.
Well it's all done with now for another year. I'll be back in work on Thursday, doing the same old thing as I always do, with the same old people, achieving the same old results and putting up with the same old crap.
I'll go home from work and eat the same old food for tea and watch the same old bollocks on the telly.
I'll go to the same old pub at the weekend and stand outside smoking the same old cigars while being told I can't take the same old pint of beer off the premises.
I'll get the same old wage at the end of the month. The Government will take the same old cut and give it to the same old feckless scroungers.
Here's what I want for 2011:
First off, a repeal of the smoking ban. Not just a compromise, I want it scrapped completely and property rights given back to the landlords. As Leg-Iron has said on many occasion, the anti-smokers had no room for compromise and now I don't either. If smoke free pubs are really a worthwhile business venture, many of them will remain after the ban has been lifted and all these antis who want to continue wearing the same clothes they wore out on the piss last night will still have somewhere to go.
Second, a new car. A 1990s Vauxhall Frontera or a Jag XJS, I can't decide. I need something soon though, I'm sick of being without a car and having to drive Mrs Bucko's. It's only been a few months but she's very territorial about her wheels.
Thirdly a return to liberty. No more CCTV, control orders, airport scanners, Stop and search, ANPR cameras etc.
No more bin fines, fag fines, seatbelt fines, helmet fines etc.
A thorough scrapping of all jobsworths, inspectors, PCSOs and anyone with diversity or inclusion in their job title.
No more persecution of smokers fat folk or drinkers.
And all the other things that I have missed, of which there are very many.
Fourth. Self employment. I need to start working for myself rather than others and maybe keeping a bit more of it for myself with the help of some inventive book-keeping.
And - no more benefits for scroungers, no more foreign aid, no more spending on climate change and green energy, no more political correctness, no more stupid health and safety, no more freebies for immigrants and absolutely no more Islamification of Britain.
I'm going to do a big list and tick them all off throughout the year. I'm betting that, apart from the car, none of it will have happened. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if the list has got much bigger by this time next year.
Heres to a crappy new year!
Happy New Year!
A happy new year to all my readers, commenter's and followers.
Could this be the year for change? Could it bollocks, but here's hoping ;-)
Could this be the year for change? Could it bollocks, but here's hoping ;-)
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