The Man who got Saddam Hussein to Give Up Smoking
Dr. William Frankland was yesterday appearing in a case as an expert witness, a day before his 100th birthday.
The case is reported in The Times today, that also says that in 1986 he was flown to Iraq to treat Saddam Hussein. Saddam listened to the good doctor’s advice and gave up his 60-a-day cigarette habit.
In some ways he feels guilty about it, as he believes without his advice, Saddam would have died naturally years ago.
Perhaps, Blair and Bush missed a trick here, by not reminding Saddam that he owed his life to a very good British doctor.
After all, all dictators are paranoid about their health.
Instant Sunshine
Instant Sunshine is not an easyJet flight to Spain or a new breakfast cereal, but a four-piece music and comedy group in the British tradition of Flanders and Swan. Read their own views on what they are on their web site.
C and I used to listen to them on the radio forty or so years ago.
I went to see them last night at the Rosemary Branch theatre just down the road. The show was worth at least three times the £10 it cost to get in.
If you can catch their stage show then do.
One thought they left me with, was that there is no rhyme for Islington.
Tilbury Burns
One of the news stories today, is one about a fire at Tilbury power station.
It would appear that the wood pellet storage used to fuel the power station has caught fire. The wood pellets come all the way from Georgia in the USA by ship.
Surely, there must be more efficient ways of generating electricity.
How To Create Jobs in Hong Kong
It would appear according to this article, that the Prudential, which is Britain’s biggest insurer, might be moving its headquarters out of the EU, because of regulation.
Hong Kong would seem to be the likely recipient of the jobs, as the company does 45% of its business in Asia.
Is this really what those of the left and the Occupy Movement want? After all, I’d like to see what happened to an Occupy Hong Kong?
Actually, it doesn’t bother me, as I don’t work for the Pru and I insure with a mutual.
A Malaysian View on London Buses
I found this article on a Malaysian newspaper website.
It is of an interview of the Chief Executive of the Malaysian Land Public Transport Commission, where they talk about improving bus services over all of Malaysia.
What is interesting, is that they are talking about using a London model, where different private companies tender for specific routes. I won’t comment yet, but make sure you read the article.
Do Some Phone Apps Invade Privacy?
This question is asked in an article in The Sunday Times today.
I can’t say I’m bothered as my Nokia 6310i can’t run apps.
However, if you search the Internet with the title of this post or something like it, you’ll find a lot of people are worried, that your privacy is being invaded.
But not mine!
Liverpool in Trouble Again
But this time, it’s not their players or fans, it’s just that an engineering train has got derailed at Winsford, preventing their fans from getting to the Carling Cup Final at Wembley today.
The information has not been released as to the team that the driver supports.
Docklands Light Railway Efficiency
I just saw one of the most efficient pieces of cleaning, I’ve seen in a long time.
I had boarded a DLR train from Canary Wharf station towards Stratford, when I noticed the floor in one section was absolutely filthy. It looked like someone had spilt a full carton of coffee.
At the first station out of Canary Wharf, West India Quay, I was surprised to see a lady, in a high visibility vest enter the carriage, with what was best described as a good old-fashioned mop and pail in plastic. By Poplar, she had it finished and left the train and a beautifully clean floor.
Everybody was rightly impressed. The cleaner was even pleased that she finally discovered the errant coffee carton, that had hidden itself deep under a seat.
Alexandra Palace
I went to Alexandra Palace station yesterday and then walked up the hill to Alexandra Palace itself.
Note if the visibility had been better, the views of the rest of London would have been very good.
The Anonymous Widower 