You Can Advertise But Not Sell
James Smith & Sons is probably the last real umbrella and walking stick shop left in London if not the world.
I passed the shop on a bus yesterday and took this picture.
James Smith & Sons
Note that at the top right the wonderful shop front says they sell dagger canes and swordsticks.
They may do for those who have a special need, but I suppose if I walked in to buy one, I would be refused.
American Celebrity Chef Gets Diabetes
American celebrity city, Paula Deen, has just announced she has diabetes, like 26,000,000 other Americans. Apparently, her signature dish is a hamburger in between a doughnut. Enough said! And very gluten-rich too!
But she has got a deal to endorse a diabetes drug.
The United States is eating itself to being a has-been power. And helped by her recipes! She should be kept away from the media for ever, as she is probably doing as much damage to the population of the United States as your average terrorist.
In a few years time, they won’t be able to find enough fit people to play any serious sport or join the army.
Are Our Policemen This Dim?
It is being reported that the Metropolitan Police spent £35,000 in the last two years ringing the speaking clock. I know it is important that they time everything correctly for the purposes of evidence, but surely, in most cases they have a mobile phone handy. My twenty-year-old phone gives the time very accurately. The only excuse would be that they need to put down the time to the nearest second. And I can’t believe that is necessary.
They also spent £200,000 on directory enquiries. I have spent nothing in the last five years or so, as I always use 118500 on the Internet.
There may be operational reasons why they need to call directory enquiries, but surely the police could have a better internal system, which gave them more information.
It all goes to illustrate how inefficient our public services are and that they waste money our money all the time.
To the Geological Society of London for a Lecture
When I went to the exhibition on Soviet Architecture, I saw this lecture being advertised on a poster outside the Geological Society of London. So I applied for tickets and yestersay I was able to see James Jackson of Cambridge University, lecture on Earthquakes and Tsunamis in the Modern World. It was fascinating and I learned a lot. I think a video of the lecture will be uploaded at some time.
Years ago, as a sixteen-year-old schoolboy, I went to see Patrick Moore give a lecture on whether there was a link between earthquakes and the moon, next door at the British Astronomical Association.
We do go round in circles.
Facts About London During Wikipedia Blackout
You don’t need Wikipedia. Just look here.
Oxford Isn’t All It’s Cracked Up To Be
I had to smile at this article.
At least she decided to follow in C’s footsteps and go to UCL to read law.
I’ve always believed that you shouldn’t go to a university, that is in a place, that is very similar to where you were brought up, as it doesn’t widen your mind.
What A Load of Old Wind
I’m not a lover of large wind turbines, but smaller ones part of a fully-integrated power-generation system are a lot better.
This article in the Daily Mail shows some of the problems with large ones, especially the fact that if it’s too windy, they have to be shut down.
The problem we have in this country, is that when we have too much electricity, we have no way of storing it, so the power generation has to be stopped.
So let’s solve the storage problem first before we ruin the countryside with wind turbines and the power lines to connect them to the National Grid.
Today’s Times Leaders
They are a classic.
The first details the rows in the Labour Party and how Blairite is now an insult.
The second says that America’s investment in Mubarak’s leadership in Egypt was very misguided.
It finishes by taslking about how various factions and religions in India have destroyed the largest literary festival in Asia at Jaipur.
We need some compassionate and sensible thinking.
Labour Nationalises Local Party Assets
According to an article in The Times today, Labour is bribging all the local party assets under central control.
In Bath, the local party owns a Listed building, which brings in a lot of rent, which is used to fund elections. The Bath Labour party doesn’t seem to be very happy.
But then, this is what socialism is about. If it exists it’s ours.
Wikipedia Goes Black
Wikipedia is off line today and already I have wanted to use it twice and couldn’t. It’s all because of the SOPA and PIPA acts in the US Congress. Read about the reasons here.
I actually don’t see what these Acts have to do with the UK.
The Anonymous Widower 