Killing the Hand That Supports and Feeds You
Yesterday was a grim day, with four British soldiers killed in Afghanistan, three by their supposed Afghan colleagues. And then we had more rioting in Northern Ireland last night, with shots fired at police.
In these times of severe austerity, we should make sure that the monetary and people costs we spend on these trouble spots are well-spent. If we are not wanted in these places, then the troops, police and monetary support should be withdrawn. At least in Northern Ireland, the politicians seem to be condemning the violence. This is from the BBC’s report.
First Minister Peter Robinson and his deputy, Martin McGuinness, said there had been “outright thuggery and vandalism”.
Mr Robinson added: “There is no excuse and no place for violence in civilised society. Both the deputy first minister and I have been, and will continue, to work for a resolution of the difficulties around parading.”
BBC Ireland correspondent Mark Simpson said the violence had brought politicians together, “but the problem was the rioters don’t seem to be listening”.
He said so far police had been unable to stop the violence, but “they had been successful in containing it”.
The problem would seem to be the Orange parades, which give some the excuse for a bit of violence. I can remember these parades in Liverpool, when I was a student. We just used to go out and laugh at them, as to someone brought up in an area, where religious tensions were almost non-existent, they were an alien concept. Incidentally parades still go on in Liverpool, as this report from the BBC shows. But they are very different to those in Northern Ireland. I haven’t heard of any reports of violence for a start.
Do We Somehow Absorb The Events Happening As We Are Born?
I don’t mean in an astrological way, as that is a load of old rubbish. But surely the state, feelings and emotions of the mother, must be passed to the child!
When our first son was born in 1969, everybody was on edge for the first moon landing. But it all turned out well! Gayle Hunnicutt whose own son was born at the same time, said her son was placid. Was ours? Perhaps as a young child, but not like how Gayle described her son.
I was born on the 16th August 1947, just a day after India gained independence. I am a few hours late to be one of Midnight’s Children. Has it affected me? I love India and most things Indian. I’ve been twice and hopefully I’ll go again. I’ve just watched John Sergeant’s excellent documentary on Indian railways, which talked eloquently about the tragedy and violence of partition, when around a 1,000,000 people died. It must have been in the papers and on the radio around the time I was born. I’ve also heard of this violence from a man, who at the time was a young officer in the British Army trying to move civilians to safety in soft-skinned vehicles. He wouldn’t talk about it.
In Sergeant’s documentary, we saw how the tragedy still continues, with India and Pakistan refusing to forget the violence and emnity and try to build a better future.
Today London showed how bad that relationship has become, with Pakistan playing Australia at the neutral venue of Lords. Judging by the fact that Pakistan are on top, they will claim victory, when in truth they have been defeated by the terrorists, who have forced them to play in England.
We must learn to renounce violence and surely the Indian sub-continent has seen enough in the last seventy years.
What’s Wrong With Women Priests?
A woman priest has just said on BBC Breakfast, that as she walked down the Holloway Road, a man came up to her and said she was a disgrace because she was a woman and a priest. It’s not her, that’s the disgrace, but the bigot who said that.
So now we’re going to have women bishops! I can see no reason why. What is much more worrying about religion is those faiths and so-called believers that want to deny others their human rights. There were two examples yesterday; the Protestant marches in Northern Ireland and the Despatches program detailing the treatment of homosexuals in Africa. Although the latter wasn’t specifically about religion, religious organisations in Africa do not always embrace those with a different sexual orientation or even gender.
When faced with these sort of unplesant views and incidents, it drives any organised religion farther from my soul. But that doesn’t stop me following a general moral code, that is to the benefit of all, whether they be man or woman, gay or straight, black or white.
An Interesting Legal Blog
I was married to C for narly forty years and you can’t live with a barrister for that long, without getting interested in how the law works.
C did one of her pupilages in a top libel Chambers and had definite views on that subject. For instance, she believed strongly, that you never got involved in a libel case either as plaintiff or defendant. I never have and probably never will, especially if the libel laws in the UK are reformed so that the courts in the UK can’t be used to suppress such things as scientifically correct views, that go against the commercial interests of others! Let’s hope that what is said in this report actually becomes law.
I was led by an e-mail to this blog, which is one of the more interesting legal blogs I have read. It has already had an effect on my views. Read it, enjoy it and be cynical!
Fraud Is Enormous
According to this report on the BBC, there were 15,000 cases of reported fraud in the first half of 2010.
The body estimated consumers lose at least £35bn through fraud each year – but the actual number might be higher as people fail to report being a victim.
This is a disaster and what are we doing about it?
Nothing mainly, as many still believe that these frausters and their offers are real, when they are just too good to be true!
I Remember Jarlath Regan
I use one of Tadey Regan’s phrases, “The Struggle Continues” all over the place as a catchphrase and e-mail signature for example, as it sums up my life so well. For Tadey, it summed up his life in trying to be a success in that most difficult of professions, as a racehorse trainer. C and I had horses with him for several years and although we never had a winner, we had a great time.
But for Tadey, there was little justice in his chosen profession, as he continually struggled.
Jarlath is the youngest of Tadey and his lovely wife, Moira’s four children. I remember them telling C and myself about how after a big meeting at the Curragh, the kids would climb the fence and collect all the discarded Tote tickets. They’d then bring them home and look for any winning ones that had been unintentionally discarded. Needless to say, sometimes they struck lucky.
So perhaps Tadey and Moira have got one of their biggest rewards, as Jarlath Regan appears to be making a success of being a comedian according to this article.
Perhaps, this from a review might sum up Jarlath. It certainly fits my memories and C would approve if she were still here.
But then, you can see how the thought might never have entered his head, as Regan is a very laid-back chap, insisting that he’s never been in a fight and will avoid confrontation at every turn. He can’t even bring himself to shout at his dad when he phones up every single day with the same question about working the TV remote control.
What Do We Do With the Raoul Moats of this World?
Some who knew Raoul Moat say he was an odious violent man, but others point to a softer and much more agreeable side to his character. But unfortunately, the bad side of his character won the battle and ultimately caused his destruction.
But how do we prevent people from becoming the next Raoul Moat?
Surely, if we could stop just a couple it would be worthwhile.
Whilst, browsing The Times web site, I found this article from Alice Thomson. I agree with virtually everything she says, but how much of it would ever get implemented?
Very little, I suspect.
The Most Powerful Men and Women in England
C, my late wife was a barrister, who dealt mostly with family matters.
Some of the posts about Pfizer’s legal action, worried about the company acting outside of the law.
One day, C came home and told me about the High Court tipstaffs. I think she had been doing a case in the Principal Registry of the Family Division, which used to be in Somerset House. Surely, there is no better place for a court.
I can’t remember the exact details of the case, as she never told me But I suspect it was to do with a father hiding the children and refusing to tell anybody, where they were, as she had quite a few cases where this happened. In this case, because one of the highest courts in the land had been disobeyed, the case was handed over to the tipstaff. C said that their powers are unprecedented and they only answer to the highest judges, like the Lord Chief Justice. Even Prime Ministers have to obey the tipstaff. Read about them in Wikipedia.
This paragraph details their powers.
The High Court Tipstaff may appoint three assistants and can call on any constable, bailiff or member of the public to assist in carrying out their duties and their jurisdiction extends throughout England & Wales. They are authorised to force entry if necessary and will have a police officer present to prevent breach of the peace. The relevant territorial police force are informed of arrests.
Sometimes a local bailiff or police will detain a person in custody until the Tipstaff arrives to collect him and take him to court or prison. Pentonville Prison (for civil offenders) is obliged to take into custody‚ no matter the situation‚ any people taken there by the Tipstaff.
The article also details how the tipstaff can act in Family cases.
The majority of their work involves taking children into custody (ie a place of safety)‚ including cases of child abduction abroad.
In child abduction cases, there may be a ‘seek and locate’ order backed by a bench warrant ordering any person with knowledge of the child to give that information to the Tipstaff or his deputy or assistants. Related orders may require the alleged abductor to hand his passport and other travel documents to the Tipstaff, and order the Tipstaff to take the child and deliver him/her to a designated place. There may also be a ‘port alert’ executed by the Tipstaff, to help prevent the child being taken abroad.
In the case of children who have been declared a ward of court i.e. cases where the court is acting in loco parentis the Tipstaff has a role in ensuring that those children are delivered to the locations specified by the court.
You would imagine that a tipstaff would be a large, powerfully-built man with either sevice or police training. But the tipstaff that C met was a small, slight, extremely polite and persuasive lady of Asian origin. Remember though that she can order anyone to help her and that she has almost absolute power in the matter she is dealing with. C said that she only has to answer to the highest judges.
An Act of Barbarism
The Times has the headline right in every way, when it reports on Iran’s proposed stoning of a woman for adultery.
What can we do about it? Very little! Except sign the petition.
Digital Radio
I generally listen to the radio through SKY or Freeview, except when I’m in the car. The government wants to switch off the AM and FM signals, but they don’t seem to be getting far according to this BBC report. People just won’t switch.
I tried an add-on digital radio for my 5-year-old Jaguar, but I couldn’t get it to work. As the radio for that car is fully integrated with Bluetooth and my phone, I doubt a proper replacement will be available, especially as the car is being discontinued. An add-on for the Lotus Elan is probably easier, as that car has a replacement modern Sony radio with a USB connection.
So what would owners of cars like my Jaguar do to get radios, if the AM and FM signals were discontinued. Probably moan a lot and not vote for the government next time. You wouldn’t spend several thousand to change your car, just to get the added safety of a radio on the move!
AM and FM may not be as good as digital, but this does seem to be rather a bodged and badly-thought out change.
By the way, when I’m in the near-continent, I get the BBC on AM. Are the BBC doing to abandon, the many people who listen to Radio 4 on LW? It looks like they are!
