Society

People, politics, tech, money, sport, work and entertainment all intertwine to make up today’s ever-changing, crazy, delightful and frustrating society. The majority of my second-hand-views are about life within our society and, with a left-of-centre stance, there’s bound to be something here that gets your goat. When it does, buy a bundle of tibs, donate one to my charity of choice, Stay Close to Neve, and get it off your chest with a retort – better out than in. Have fun, be good and keep at ‘em.

order! order!

Carl - February 14, 2011

Even though she has oft stated her intention of becoming a labour MP, I don’t particularly like the Speaker’s wife, Sally Bercow. In being photographed semi-naked, with the Houses of Parliament in the background, and by bragging about their increased libidos and collective sex-appeal, she has undeniably belittled her husband and undermined the dignity of his office. Does she think her actions endear her to us all? I think not. A somewhat surprisingly embarrassed Mrs. Bercow claimed she had been ‘done up like a kipper’. Really. You strip for a newspaper exclusive and the darned newspaper goes and prints it. No sh*t, Sherlock! But, so what? Whilst the rules and laws of this land are lengthy and onerous, she actually […]

mayday, mayday

Carl - February 10, 2011

Christine Thomas, you have a lot to answer for. The Romans called it Floralia and the Celts branded it Beltane, but since medieval times it’s been known as May Day, a celebration of seeing the back of winter and the welcoming of summer, complete with a mug of warm mead, a maypole and, for those imbibed with too much mead, a spot of morris dancing. Back in my day I also remember it as a day of trades union banners, of Sunday school processions and marching past the Public Hall (admittedly on the way to the Whitsun fair for a bag of parched-peas, a shy at the coconuts and a spin on the waltzer). For me, May Day has always […]

eat the bankers

Carl - February 2, 2011

An interesting polling exercise undertaken by the Liberal Conspiracy website has revealed that voters overwhelmingly blame the banks, not Labour, for our current economic crisis. The poll challenges the view pushed by the coalition whilst also giving Labour much to think about. The poll asked voters who they thought was to blame for the current state of the UK economy. But crucially they widened the list of potential answers from just the political parties to include other factors, such as banks, trade unions and even global influencing factors. The vast majority of people who voted either Labour or Liberal, or who did not vote at all, surprisingly answered that the banks were to blame. Only tory voters strongly backed the […]

open up and say aaaahhh

Carl - February 2, 2011

For once I’m quite nonchalant and sanguine about something that the coalition is up to. I just can’t seem to get worked up about the proposed NHS reforms and really don’t see any need to panic. It strikes me that the basic principles – a universal system, free at the point of use and funded by general taxation – isn’t being changed and all they’re doing is fiddling around with the supply & demand mechanism of the services provided. For the last 25 years, the NHS has been essentially divided into two halves, the buyers and sellers. The latter are the hospitals and the former (who operate as the buyer for GPs) are the primary care trusts and direct hospital […]

beyond help

Carl - January 29, 2011

Earlier, in ‘a gun never killed anyone’ I posted my thoughts on the recent Tucson, Arizona shooting and passed comment on the populace’s right to bear arms. And the response to the mass-murder has been? Far from dampening enthusiasm for weapons, the incident led to a 60% jump in gun sales in Arizona on the following Monday, the next available shopping opportunity. On the same day, national gun sales also rose by over 5%. Go figure? Despite repeated tragedies, Americans don’t seem ready to end their love affair with the gun just yet – all 270 million of them, almost one for every man, woman and child in the country.

an apple a day

Carl - January 28, 2011

Doesn’t, in reality, keep the doctor away. It’s far more likely to be an aspirin that achieves that. We all know of the supposed wonder effect on heart disease, strokes and inflammation but last month, a landmark study published in The Lancet showed that an aspirin a day could reduce the risk of dying from cancer. Overall, death rates amongst those who have taken a daily dose of aspirin for five years were 34% lower than they were among those who had not. Stomach and bowel cancers showed even greater declines, with death rates falling by more than 50%. How it achieves these almost miraculous results no one yet knows, but the active ingredient of aspirin, salicylic acid, and its […]

common people

Carl - January 28, 2011

It’s time we ask whether the tories can ever really understand the common people of this country? We’ve been bombarded this last couple of weeks about how the removal of ex-News of the World editor, Andy Coulson, from his spin-doctor’s position within the heart of government will result in Dave and Georgie-Boy losing touch of what ordinary people really think and feel. OK, let’s get one thing straight right away, Andy Coulson was not employed for his ‘common touch’ with common people and you’re deluding yourself if you think this was ever the case. The only value he brought to the top-table of power was that he carried the tacit approval and support of a newspaper group and the discreet […]

all in a lather

Carl - January 19, 2011

It will come as little surprise that I’m no fan of EastEnders. I do like a bit of Corrie, predominantly for its self-deprecating humour and portrayal of a northern life I perhaps aspire to, though I rue the day I actually make a point of being in to specifically watch it. So what’s all this palaver about the EastEnder’s ‘tacky sensationalism’ in using a plot that provoked over 8000 viewers to complain? Sensationalism? Using ridiculous and implausible twists to boost ratings? Cheap melodrama in the Christmas and New Year specials to grab an audience? Dread the thought. Anyone would think it was a soap opera. Yes, I can see how for those directly affected by either cot death or child […]

don’t mention the war

Carl - January 18, 2011

We’re all more than aware that this year we’ll be hearing a whole lot about the Windsors. As every schoolboy used to know, the House of Windsor was adopted as the name of the British royal family in only 1917. Prior to this they were affectionally known as the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Queen Victoria having married her first cousin, the German Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Anti-German feeling during World War I led to George V’s decree of 17th July 1917: “Now, therefore, we, out of our royal will and authority, do declare and announce that as from the date of this, our royal proclamation, our house and family shall be styled and known as the House […]

the thoughts of an angel

Carl - January 16, 2011

Most of us by now will have probably read about the musings of gossip-celebrity, Charlotte Church, and about how she thought the Queen a ‘confused old woman who probably doesn’t want to be wheeled out at every Royal Variety Performance to watch scantily clad dancers and sh**ty comedians.” Obviously, disgruntled from Tunbridge Wells was up in apoplectic arms about her indiscretions but I for one reckon she probably hit the royal nail right on it’s royal head. I get confused at 47 about people I may or may not have met before in the past so it’s perfectly acceptable that the 84 year old monarch can’t remember Charlotte from earlier meetings. As for comedians, the fact that she continues to […]