A Building Firm With Foundations
I thought this was an article from the BBC’s web site, that needed reposting.
R Durtnell and Sons are now in the hands of the 13th generation of the family.
To contrast, the builder who supposedly built my house is unnamed and untraceable.
The Republican View Of Rape
Some Republican candidates in the US Elections seem to have very distorted views about rape. Look at this piece on the BBC about Richard Mourdock. My only suggestion is that God is feeding him views that make him look an idiot, so she can have a quiet laugh with the angels.
And then there’s Todd Akin who believes that women’s bodies have ways of avoiding pregnancy in legitimate rape.
Imagine what would happen to a politician in mainland UK and most of Europe, who stood at an election and spouted these scientifically incorrect views for a start.
More Football Travel Problems To Ipswich
Sometimes to get back from Ipswich after a match, a friend drops me at Newbury Park tube station.
But not for the next few days, as the line is closed from today until November the 4th, according to this on the TfL website. Explaining the need for the closure, they said this.
By closing the line for a longer period (instead of multiple weekend works) the overall time needed for the work will be cut from 19 to 12 days and will save more than £2.
It seems a lot of hassle for a saving of just £2.
Ten EU Nations Vote For Financial Transaction Tax
The FTT is one of those ideas, that might well come into being in the next few years. But if it does come into being it has to be universal with every country charging the tax, otherwise financial transaction will move to the areas of lowest tax.
So the decision of ten EU countries to introduce such a tax is in my view not the best idea. Read about it here on the BBC. I doubt if this proposal will work very well as two of the shrewdest countries using the Euro; Ireland and The Netherlands are not joining. Obviously, we aren’t as why should we disadvantage the City of London with respect to New York, Dubai and Tokyo?
One question that I have about the limited EU proposals is what do you get charged if your bank is head-quartered in a country, that levies an FTT. I don’t bank with a bank that is, but say if I banked with Santander, I’d be moving my account tomorrow.
On a personal note, an FTT on all transactions might possibly harm peer-to-peer lenders like Zopa, so in fact it might be a block to innovative financial developments in countries within the net of the tax.
I give a non-worldwide FTT a couple of years at most, as it will disadvantage companies in countries within the tax.
If the EU wanted to raise more tax, they could clamp down on illegal cash transfers between countries in the Euro. How do these fall within an FTT? Many houses, too in places like France are sold in part by bank transfer and by cash to avoid the capital gains tax.
The Olympics Come In £377 million Under Budget
This has just been announced and you can read about it here in the Independent.
Various commentators and politicians have said that this is all down to good project management.
Sadly, there is no credit given to those that started the project management software revolution in the 1970s. It is truly an unheralded mainly-British software development, of which I played a small part.
Madonna Annoys The Russians And Quite A Few Others
I have never seen Madonna live or indeed any of her films, but her latest tour does seem to be getting its share of complaints. Read about it in the Independent. The Russians are even suing her.
She is also being sued by anti-gay activists in Russia for allegedly encouraging gay sex between minors at a show in St Petersburg. Lawyers are seeking millions in ‘moral damages’ after she called on Russians to respect gay rights and passed out pink bracelets to the audience.
But as a wag from Liverpool has commented on the article has said, “Hollyoaks does that!”, referring to encouraging minors to have sex.
Most of the complainants and Madonna herself should all grow up and be more responsible.
More Savile and Fallout On The Phone-In
I’m getting sick to death with the problems of an eccentric and the troubles he left behind.
Usually, I listen to the phone in on Radio 5. But today, I’ll do my shopping early and have a coffee.
On another subject, my father was abused by the Police in the Battle of Cable Street. Who do I complain to?
Some things are better forgotten. We should pass on after making absolutely sure they won’t happen again!
Nationwide Looks At The 316 RBS Branches
According to this article in the Guardian, Nationwide is looking at the 316 RBS branches that Santander didn’t want.
I can’t see why as other articles in the news have said that Nationwide has been getting a lot of customers in recent weeks.
I bank with Nationwide and in the last two years, I’ve only been inside a branch twice, except to draw money out from a cashpoint there and have a sit down on a comfortable seat, whilst I put it away.
So if they put this proposal to a vote of shareholders, I would say no, as all it would mean would be that my account costs would rise.
Britain Surges Ahead Of The US In Job Creation
This is said in this article in The Sunday Times.
The truth and the actual figures should be revealed later in the week.
The Anonymous Widower 