John Bird on Benefits
John Bird,the founder of the Big Issue.should know a thing or two about poverty and also how the benefit system works. One thing he said was that to deliver a pound of benfit to someone who needs it costs five times that amount.
He’s just been on BBC Breakfast more or less saying that no-one should get benefits unless they sign a contract to perhaps do voluntary work.
If you can see the interview watch it.
I think he’s right, as from experience of life, I know of various families, who do nothing except sponge on the rest of us. And they have done for several generations! With the budget on Tuesday promising pain for us all, those on benefit must do something in return. One thing they should do as a condition of benefits is look after their health. After all is fair to fund their drinking, smoking, drug abuse and over-eating and then have to pay further costs for their treatment on the NHS?
One thing that annoys me, is if you drive past the Job Centre in Cambridge at say ten in the morning, there are always a few scruffy individuals outside smoking and drinking lager. Surely there is something more productive that they could do!
Banning Smoking in Cars
Yes!
I remember my father who used to fill his pipe whilst driving. He used to steer with his knees. It was downright dangerous and I still regularly see people driving and rolling a fag at the same time.
I can’t understand why anybody smokes in the first place. But then I can’t understand why people take drugs either!
Life is difficult enough in the first place, without ruining your health.
Erica Roe
Britain’s most famous streaker is Erica Roe who ran across the pitch at Twickenham during an England Australia match on 2nd January 1982. She was mentioned on BBC Breakfast this morning. According to her Wikipedia entry, she and her family are farming organic sweet potatoes in Portugal.
Erica Roe
I wonder who the gent in the left of the photograph is? And note Erica’s belt. We all had belts like that at some time, if you were born before 1960. I haven’t seen one in years.
Is that a ciggie in her mouth? How very 1980’s.
Smoking in California Prisons
I hadn’t realised this but California is one of the few places where prisoners are not allowed to smoke. Or at least those who have been admitted after a certain day. A post on the Internet says that it has caused no-end of problems.
It now appears that they have now banned salt and pepper on health grounds.
As California has one of the highest prison populations in the world, these measures don’t seem to be too effective at cutting crime.
An Expensive Smoke
If there’s anything that might make someone give up smoking, then it is a mistake like this.
I bet his heart fluttered a bit.
The Anonymous Widower 