The Anonymous Widower

America, The Sick Man Of The World

Two of the stories I posted yesterday, showed the state the US is in.  The first was the story of prisons in the US, and Alabama in particular. I started it with the words.

This story from the United States is terrible.

I felt it couldn’t get worse.  But it course of did with the massacre of children in Connecticut.

The story of Gary McKinnon was really about America bullying a poor unfortunate, rather than fixing their leaky computer systems and treating him in the way he would have been in most other countries of the world.

We have also had the excursions into Afghanistan and Iraq, to wreak vengeance for the attacks on New York and Washington on September 11th, 2009. Sadly we were drawn into these ill-thought out adventures.

It’s funny too, how the three main companies being castigated for their tax position are all American.

I could also add in the stunts of bankers based in New York, which started the collapse of the worldwide banking system, the death penalty and the failed prison and justice system and a healthcare system that is the joke of the civilised world.

I shall not be going to the United States ever again and I will not buy products from American companies, where there is an alternative.

December 15, 2012 Posted by | Finance, News, Transport/Travel, World | , , , | 1 Comment

Gary McKinnon Case Is Dropped

This is reported on the BBC.

All I can say, is this is about time too!

December 14, 2012 Posted by | Computing, News | , | Leave a comment

How Not To Run A Prison System

This story from the United States is terrible.

I’m not saying, rape of women prisoners doesn’t go on in other countries, but you rarely here of it in Europe. I seem to vaguely remember, that when C used to visit HMP Holloway in the 1960s and 70s, that she told a story of a prisoner, who got pregnant.

I also think there are some countries in Europe, where few women are incarcerated.

The United States should bring its Justice and Prison up to the standards of the civilised world.

December 14, 2012 Posted by | News | , , , | 1 Comment

Did My Protest Work?

It is being reported that Starbucks are now going to pay more Corporation Tax.

Since the storm broke, I’ve not used a large chain of coffee shops, although I have popped into Carluccio’s for the odd cappuccino.

I wonder how many other people have adopted a similar boycott?

It’ll be interesting to see the accounts of the chains as they emerge!

On a related point, I was talking to an American a few days ago, and they didn’t like the way Starbucks behaved on the other side of the pond.

December 7, 2012 Posted by | Business, Food | , , , , | Leave a comment

Bread That Lasts Sixty Days

This story shows the ways Americans will go to get people to eat more crap food.

I bet the bread in the article isn’t gluten free.

November 30, 2012 Posted by | Food, News | , | 3 Comments

Twinkies Goes Bust

I read in The Times yesterday that the maker of Twinkies, a North American snack food, has gone bust. After reading their Wikipedia entry, I don’t think anybody who cares about their food will be bothered. In fact the entry, is one of the funniest I’ve seen in a long time. I particularly liked the part about their shelf life. They can also be deep-fried, like Mars bars.

November 18, 2012 Posted by | Food, News | , | 1 Comment

You Can’t Beat The Statistics

The Sunday Times has a detailed statistical breakdown of the US Election.

Picking a few at random shows the problem the Republicans have.

1. Of the 17% of voters who say they never have any religious attendance, 62% voted for Obama.

2. Only 23% of Hispanic women and 33% of Hispanic men voted for Romney.

3. amongst voters under 29, 60% voted for Romney.

4. Only whites voted more for Romney than Obama.

Unless Obama makes a right Horlicks of the next four years, the person who stands for the Democrats in 2016 will be a shoe-in.

November 11, 2012 Posted by | News | , , , , | Leave a comment

While The Big Cats Play The Rodents Strike

Whilst most people in the United States are preoccupied by an election, two British rodents and a few friends have struck.

ARM Holdings and Imagination Technologies are part of a consortium that has bought the rights to the majority of the patent portfolio of rival RISC chip business MIPS Technologies.  It’s here on The Register.

This could be a very important deal for the British computer technology industry.

November 6, 2012 Posted by | Computing, News | , | Leave a comment

Is Obama Going To Win?

I’ve been following a well-known betting site and the odds yesterday swung slightly to Romney, but today they’re going towards Obama.

So the smart money says Obama.  Or could the ups and downs mean that the smart money has hedged its bets and will win anyway?

I suspect so!

November 6, 2012 Posted by | News | , , , , | Leave a comment

Hurricane Sandy

It would appear that Hurrican Sandy has got people all worked up in the United States.

I’ve just read this piece by Mark Mardell.  All well thought out stuff, but it was this comment that I noticed.

John: Obama is the Antichrist from Revelations

How does anyone know he is or isn’t?

If you believe in God and the Bible you know some day its going to happen

Ever since Obama it feels like all Hell is breaking loose upon Earth
Perhaps its overdramatic but something feels uneasy

Do people really believe such rubbish?

The sooner the people of the United States and the rest of the world as well, realise that religion is just a con trick to extract money from their wallets, the better.

By the way is Sandy of the hurricane fame, male or female?

October 28, 2012 Posted by | News | , , , | Leave a comment