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Not just about cheese, but whatever pleases, amuses or annoys me at the time.
Contents:
Personal Pronouns
Yesterday a company left a message on my telephone answering machine, asking me to call them. The caller stated "This message is for Mr Joe Bloggs - it is urgent that they call us immediately on......etc".So I called them and asked who they are. There is after all only one of me (that's more than enough, I hear you say !) The person who answered could not understand what I was talking about, which didn't really surprise me. I hung up and they lost a customer. The reason I get annoyed about this sort of thing is that correct grammar helps communication and comprehension. The use of "they" as a substitute for "he" or "she" has grown because of people not wishing to appear to discriminate between the sexes, and whilst a "neutral" third person singular pronoun would be useful, "they" is certainly not appropriate as it is already in use as a plural pronoun, whilst "it" implies a non-human object. "He or she" has been used for goodness knows how long and serves its purpose even if rather clumsy. The person who left me the message referred to me as "Mister" and so knew my sex, so there was absolutely no excuse for his error. I'm all for language changing and evolving over time, with new words and phrases etc. But there is a need for a basic structure, otherwise we will find communication becoming more difficult. Those people who draft laws and write legal documents will know how careful they have to be in what they write so that there are no ambiguities which could give lawyers a field-day in court. I hope I'm not alone in this - leave me a comment and cheer me up !
Rewriting History
Over the years I have developed the habit of putting newspaper clippings inside my books. They usually have some relevance to the particular book's subject matter or author, but last night I found the following in a book of Sherlock Holmes stories. I've no idea which newspaper I clipped it from or how old it is. It's entitled "Rewriting History".
"From St Michael and All Angels Parish News, Bramhall, Stockport: The nineteenth century was a time of a great many thoughts and inventions. People stopped reproducing by hand and started reproducing by machine. The invention of the steamboat by Robert Fulton caused a network of rivers to spring up. Thomas Edison invented the pornograph, and Cyrus McCormick invented the McCormick Raper, which did the work of 100 men."
Obama/Haiti - a Comparison
Lots of aid going to Haiti, which is great - but getting it to the people is proving to be a problem. The intentions are good but there are practical difficulties.
President Obama has the right ideas - universal health care, closing Guantanamo, bringing the troops home, controlling the banks and big business - but delivering these is proving to be a problem.
In Haiti the problem is the lack of infrastructure and governmental control.
In the USA, the problem is the extreme right and the money banks and businesses are able to pour into anti-Obama propaganda.
Don't lose hope, either in Haiti or the USA ! And well done Obama and America for being so quick to help Haiti - pity Bush didn't do it for New Orleans ! And you might try helping your president instead of opposing everything he does.
The Village Tooth-Puller
I went to see the dentist yesterday and we got chatting about dentistry in the past, all of which reminded me of our village tooth-puller. In the 1940s I lived in a village in Warwickshire. My grandparents lived with us, and granddad got a toothache. So of course the village tooth-puller was called. You couldn't call him a dentist, he wasn't qualified in any way ! Granddad had half a bottle of brandy and then had the tooth yanked out. I didn't witness any of the extraction. All I know is that the poor old man bled profusely and had to go to bed in our attic where no-one could see what had happened (don't ask me why !). Dad made him drink port, which was thought to replace the blood he had lost ! He got better eventually. Life was different in those days !We also had a village pig-killer, but that's another story - he only had one arm.
The Religious Right in the USA
I've been looking at a website this morning which gives some quotations from the religious right in the USA. What appals me is the positions of power that some of those quoted hold. For instance:-
On the proposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, quotes from Congressmen !
"It's part of God's plan for the future of mankind," -- Rep. John Carter of Texas
"We best not be messing with His plan." -- Rep. Bob Beauprez of Colorado
"It wasn't our idea, it was God's." -- Rep. Mike Pence of Indiana
"I think God has spoken very clearly on this issue." -- Rep. Phil Gingrey of Georgia
Or
"All for Jesus. All for Jesus. All for Jesus. All for Jesus,"
-- Republican Candidate Sam Brownback's stump speech in Iowa.
"Between science and God, I'll stick with God if the two are in conflict."
-- Republican Candidate Mike Huckabee
"Freedom requires religion."
-- Republican Candidate Mitt Romney
"I would probably have to say yes, that the Constitution established the United States of America as a Christian nation."
-- John McCain
"Our national leaders, are sending soldiers out on a task that is from God. That's what we have to make sure that we're praying for, that there is a plan and that that plan is God's plan."
--Sarah Palin, on the Iraq war
Our job is to reclaim America for Christ, whatever the cost. As the vice regents of God, we are to exercise godly dominion and influence over our neighborhoods, our schools, our government, our literature and arts, our sports arenas, our entertainment media, our news media, our scientific endeavors -- in short, over every aspect and institution of human society.
-- D. James Kennedy, Coral Ridge Ministries and Bush advisor.
We’re being guided by God.
-- Bush speechwriter Michael Gerson
George Bush was not elected by a majority of the voters in the United States. He was appointed by God.
-- Lt. Gen. William Boykin, the defense undersecretary in charge of hunting down top terrorists in Iraq and Afghanistan
No, I don't know that atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered as patriots. This is one nation under God.
-- George Bush Sr., to a reporter in 1988
He [God] is using me, all the time, everywhere, to stand up for a biblical worldview in everything that I do and everywhere I am.
-- House Majority Leader Tom DeLay
"Why is this man in the White House? The majority of Americans did not vote for him. Why is he there? And I tell you this morning that he's in the White House because God put him there for a time such as this."
--Lt Gen William Boykin, speaking of G. W. Bush, New York Times, 17 October 2003
"He [Rumsfeld] leads in a way that the Good Lord tells him is best for our country."
-- Marine General Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
The "wall of separation between church and state" is a metaphor based on bad history, a metaphor which has proved useless as a guide to judging. It should be frankly and explicitly abandoned.
-- William Rehnquist, Supreme Court
Get the few liberals out. If you don't do it, it ain't gonna be done. You will be doing the Lord's work, and he will richly bless you for it.
--Sen. James Inhofe, R-Oklahoma, Christian Coalition's Road to Victory Conference, 2002, Washington D.C
I just hope Obama is aware of the uphill battle he has against these idiots and their supporters. How can people be so bloody ignorant ?
Follow this link to see the website.
Polish Your Shoes with a Banana Skin !
Here's a useful tip ! A few days ago I read somewhere that you could save yourself money on shoe polish by polishing your shoes with a banana skin. So I've just tried it - and it works ! Use the inside of the skin. Go on, try it ! Then put the used skin in your compost bin !
Another Common Error
I've also just heard this one on the TV ! The word "pronunciation" is not pronounced "pronounciation" but as it is spelt !
Another Common Spelling Error
This word is mispronounced so much that the incorrect spelling has no doubt arisen this way. There is no such word as "momento" ! It should be "memento", meaning a souvenir or reminder, not to be confused with "momentum". I saw the phrase "Momento Mori" this morning !
Third Dinner Guest
My third guest would be Michael Moore. He seems like a genuinely nice guy and would certainly get on well with me and the other two.
Should I be inviting people with opposing views I wonder ?
The Desperation of the American Right-Wing
Poor old Barack Obama ! I'm sure he was anticipating the republicans and the extreme right getting all riled up when he got into power, and no doubt he was having a quiet chuckle at their discomfort ! But they have rather gone over the top ! This Wilson idiot calling him a liar in Congress was very naughty, and I'm sure his career will suffer as a result. Jimmy Carter is quite right when he calls the attack racist. Many Americans do object to having a black man as President. Well tough ! You've got one and he represents the majority of Americans. You want a democracy and you've got one, so live with it. Your current President is probably the most intelligent you've ever had - read his books if you don't believe me - and certainly makes the Bushes and Reagan look like the fools they were. So let him get on with the job.
The recent parade in Washington showed them up for what they are - ignorant bigots. They had to recruit people from all over the country to get a decent crowd. Must have cost them a few dollars !
As for opposing the health care measures, I've never heard anything so silly in my life. The USA is just about the only country in the western world which fails to care for its citizens - and should be embarrassed because of this - and when someone tries to rectify the situation, the right wing and big business don't like it - which proves to me it's the right thing to do !
Just what is wrong with the government running health care ? The argument that it goes against American principles is crap ! Who runs your police forces ? Schools ? Fire Departments ? Do you have to take out insurance so that the firemen will put out your house fire ? Who runs the armed forces ? What about public libraries ? And yet health care has to be private. Why for f**k's sake ? Do you want to continue the situation where the Health Insurance companies question every claim you make and try to reject them ? They pay people to do this ! This is immoral and disgusting. Get rid of your Kaiser Permanentes and their dirty tricks. Is it right that they should make a profit out of your illness ? Why have insurance in the first place ? Just have a Health Service which is free to everyone and get on with your lives. How to pay for it ? Easy - repeal the tax cuts Bush gave the rich.
Have a good day - and don't catch any diseases !
Dinner Party (2)
Second male guest - Tony Benn, a man I have always admired and one of the few politicians who talks sense ! A good, old fashioned socialist and no doubt great company and a great conversationalist.
Dinner Party (1)
Who would you invite to dinner if you could choose any living person or persons - assuming of course that they would want to come, which is another question entirely ! Let's make it three men and three women, just to make it more difficult ! You don't have to invite those who you think will get along, just those who you would like to meet, chat to and spend a few hours with.
Sounds quite easy really, but is it ?
My first choice is Desmond Tutu, who has always seemed to me to be such a nice man and who I'm sure would be excellent company. Not that I'm in any way religious, so I suppose we would have a good old debate about that subject !
Other choices later - but who would you invite ?
The National Health Service
President Obama is, quite rightly, trying to fulfil his promise of universal health care in the USA, but, as expected, he is finding that there is opposition to his proposals, most of it ill-founded and from those on the right of American politics who only care about themselves and their profits and who resent government becoming involved in the provision of medical treatment.
Unfortunately, Britain's National Health Service is becoming involved in the debate, and is being used by the oppositon in what appears to be an orchestrated campaign of misinformation with outright lies about the service being spread. As an example, someone has said that, were Ted Kennedy in the UK he would not receive treatment for his brain tumour under the NHS because of his age. This is utter rubbish, as we all know in this country.
So to put things straight, the NHS is something of which we in the UK are rightly proud. We provide free health care for everyone regardless of age, colour, sex or anything else. It costs nothing to go to hospital, other than the cost of your daily newspaper. Not only is it free but if you cannot afford to get to hospital, the NHS provides free transport so that you can get your treatment.
OK I agree the service has some faults. It is a huge organisation - it has to be to cater for 60 million people - and suffers from some organisational problems, as would any business of this size. There are some waiting lists, and in general the more minor your complaint, the longer you will have to wait to see a consultant, with urgent cases being given priority - urgent cases, not patients with the most money ! The waiting lists are coming down, however, as more money is injected into the NHS by a Labour Government which puts people first.
Seeing your GP is now by appointment, and you are usually seen within a few days. If your case is urgent, you are seen the same day.
You might well ask who pays for all this, and the answer is that we all do - through our taxes. There is a direct tax on your earnings and a tax on what we all spend (VAT). The money has to come from somewhere, but at least this is a fair way of raising it.
Britain spends less per head on healthcare than the USA, but life expectancy is longer. The WHO places Britain 18th as against the USA's 37th in provision of quality healthcare.
Having spent some time in the USA I am aware that the concept of "socialised medicine" is anathema to the right-wing. Well, tough. It's time they realised that a fair and just society is more important than profits. Is it just that the top 5 percent own 95 percent of the wealth of the country ? Is it fair that, because you are rich and can afford decent health insurance, you can be looked after and given priority over the poor ? If you think this is the case, think again. Maybe you should be ashamed of yourself. Perhaps it is time to re-evaluate your principles. I hope Barrack Obama will be like our famous outlaw, Robin Hood, and rob the rich to give to the poor. At least he is in a position to do it legally !
Rats on the Move
Having just seen a film in which there were a large number of rats, I was reminded of a story my mother told me several times. When she was a young girl, in Snitterfield, Warwickshire, she was lucky enough to have a bicycle and used to ride all round the nearby countryside. One day whilst crossing Yarningdale Common in about 1920, she saw what appeared to be a brown carpet across the road, several feet wide. As she drew closer, she saw movement, and being a young girl and a bit nervous, she stopped, got off her bike and slowly approached. Then she realised that it was rats, hundreds of rats, crossing the road and moving off across the common. She didn't stick around to see what happened and cycled home in a hurry. Of course everyone in the village soon learned of her experience and several other people told her and my grandfather - who was the local blacksmith - of similar experiences of "rats on the move", both in Warwickshire and elsewhere. Has anyone else heard similar tales ? Tell us about them !
Michael Jackson - Read This !!
There is a great article about Jackson in the Observer for 28th June 2009 - follow this link to read it. The funeral should be interesting !
This is Getting Silly !
Anyone would think the world has come to an end just because some pop "idol" has snuffed it. Come on, let's get a sense of proportion here. OK so this Jackson person was a great entertainer, and no doubt had a lot of fans, but there are far more important matters in the world than his untimely demise. Yet there has been nothing else on the news for 36 hours now, with documentaries and "specials" sprouting up all over the bloody place. It's just like when that Diana woman was killed, and it's driving me nuts. Can someone please let me know when it will all be over so I can turn the TV on again ? Am I the only one who thinks like this, or is the media trying to convince me that I should really care about a person whom I only knew about because of his silly publicity stunts ? Not everyone likes pop music. Farrah Fawcett died a few days ago and was making the headlines until M Jackson died - is her passing to be mourned less now ? And what about the sixty poor devils killed by a car bomb in Iraq the other day ? Doesn't anyone care about them and their families ? This idolization of pop stars, film stars, footballers etc makes me sick. When will the world grow up ?
Death of an Idol
Michael Jackson is dead. Many will mourn, a few will rejoice and the vast majority, whilst intrigued by the news and saddened as by any death, will be completely indifferent. He was a strange person, unable to deal with the pressures of fame and wealth, nor able to control his own perversions. He had undoubted talent and leaves a musical legacy to the pop music world which would be the envy of any so-called "star". He did some very silly, immature things - trying to whiten his face, dangling his baby over a Berlin hotel balcony and, worst of all, entertaining young boys in his house for what many believe was for his own sexual gratification. But he also gave pleasure to millions with his music, and this once again raises the old question of how much we should support and admire a talented artist who lives a life of which we do not approve. Should we, for example, buy a book by an author who has been to prison for fraud, even if the book is entertaining and well-written ? Or watch the great films made by a director who has a relationship with his wife's adopted daughter ? This is of course purely an individual decision. Most will not have bothered about Jackson's private life when they bought his music, and I suspect that in years to come he will be remembered for his artistic achievements whilst his private life will fade into obscurity.
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