Work's web filter will no longer permit me to blog from work, so entries may not be so frequent now :-/
My main rant today is on the issue of ID cards. Rational Britons, if you agree to the government's thinly veiled attempt to subvert and control us, raise your hand and say "aye" and prepare to be scowled at.
Much as I am appalled and distressed by the government's actions, I am equally disturbed by some of the opinions expressed by the Bristish public. Some comments that I have come across are:
"They'll keep all these foreigners out, keep them from causing trouble." - A work colleague, we don't speak anymore.
"Extremely good idea, this will not only put us in line with our European and American counter parts but will significantly help in sifting the real terrorist." - Someone who is yet to twig that the government want to put our biometric data on the database, something no other nation has yet done, that ID cards are not compulsory in the USA or most European countries and that ID cards would not have prevented 9/11, the London or Madrid bombings (from an MI5 representitive). What this person means to say is "illegal immigrant", clearly the same thing in their eyes.
"While I am generally not opposed to ID cards, I do very much object to having to pay for one. I have already paid for a driving licence and passport, both of which have my photograph and details on so I don't see why I should pay yet more for another card." - Again, someone who has not considered the profound difference between this and other forms of ID.
"I have no problem whatsoever carrying an ID card, and believe that the only people concerned about an 'intrusion' of their civil rights must have something to hide." - Well, the less said about this monkey the better.
"If I hear anyone else say ID cards will infringe their "right to privacy" I will scream! The UK does not have a written constitution, consequently you have no "right" to anything." - This man has never heard of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and is oblivious to the fact that few countries do actually have a written constitution, this does not mean that the majority of human beings lack basic human rights. Rediculous man. His name is Matt Munro, he's from Bristol and this quote, along with most of the above can be found here.
This is just a taster. I have also come across plenty of people who are as concerned about this little scheme as I am. How is it possible for these people to exist in the world with so little attention to detail? And more importantly, so little care for the valid concerns of other people?!
Right now, MPs are voting on this issue, once again. Even if the government loses we all know where this is going. Tony likes this idea so much he is willing to invoke the Parliment Act on it. We are going to be forced down this road whether we like it or not.
Quite frankly I am terrified of what is happening in this country. First it's 'I went to war because I believed it was right.' Now it's 'I am going to force people to succumb to fingerprinting and iris scans, even if they have done nothing wrong and charge everyone £300 just for being a UK citizen'. There are several words that spring to mind here. Dictatorship is one. The others would invlove several *s each.
Ok, so they've agreed to say that ID cards won't become compulsory without an amendment to legislation, but every single person getting a passport from 2008 will be forced to have an ID card. And they haven't said they won't seek such an amendment later. It is complusion by the back door.
Tony says they have to make good on their election manifesto because we, the British public voted for it. Actually, at the last election Labour only got 35% of the vote, and the proportion of registered voters who turned out was just over 60%. So technically, most Bristish voters did not vote for the leading party, less than a quarter did. Therefore, all manifesto promises should be declared null and void.
The whole thing makes me so angry.
13 February 2006
09 February 2006
Profoundly Concerned?
I am starting to feel a sense of impending doom. This conflict between Muslims and the press over these cartoons is spiralling out of control. Yes, the paper was wrong to produce the cartoons, but they did apologise. It was out of order for various papers to reproduce the images, it was intentionally provocative.
But the violent reaction by Muslim communities all over the world is so over the top. I'm not clear on what they expect to get out of it, the paper has already apologised. And really, people dressing up as suicide bombers and waving banners that imply massive acts of violence on the scale of a holocaust doesn't exactly help to demonstrate the peacefull, loving side of Islam - a side that is prominent and important to most Muslims.
I know that there are moderate Muslims shaking their heads in dismay at the acts of some, but it certainly appears from the size and scale of the reaction that the majority of Muslims have reacted incredibly strongly.
I can appreciate the hurt and anger, but the reaction does seem extreme. I have a colleague who is Norwegian, she went home for the week last week and encountered people whose lives had been threatened but let go because they were Norwegian, not Danish, "If you'd been Danish we'd have killed you" was the reported threat. Just ordinary people, they had done nothing wrong. That scared me.
Now Condoleezza Rice is stirring things up by accusing Iranian and Syrian authorities of inciting violence. I can see this escalating further. In fact, there may be no going back now. The tennuous relations between the Muslim community and much of the rich world I feel may have been permanently shattered by overreactions on all sides.
I can't help but feel profoundly concerned about the stability of the world. How do we move on from this now?
But the violent reaction by Muslim communities all over the world is so over the top. I'm not clear on what they expect to get out of it, the paper has already apologised. And really, people dressing up as suicide bombers and waving banners that imply massive acts of violence on the scale of a holocaust doesn't exactly help to demonstrate the peacefull, loving side of Islam - a side that is prominent and important to most Muslims.
I know that there are moderate Muslims shaking their heads in dismay at the acts of some, but it certainly appears from the size and scale of the reaction that the majority of Muslims have reacted incredibly strongly.
I can appreciate the hurt and anger, but the reaction does seem extreme. I have a colleague who is Norwegian, she went home for the week last week and encountered people whose lives had been threatened but let go because they were Norwegian, not Danish, "If you'd been Danish we'd have killed you" was the reported threat. Just ordinary people, they had done nothing wrong. That scared me.
Now Condoleezza Rice is stirring things up by accusing Iranian and Syrian authorities of inciting violence. I can see this escalating further. In fact, there may be no going back now. The tennuous relations between the Muslim community and much of the rich world I feel may have been permanently shattered by overreactions on all sides.
I can't help but feel profoundly concerned about the stability of the world. How do we move on from this now?
08 February 2006
The working week
I have come to the conclusion that my life is very dull. Since I grew up and got a propper job last September (HA!) my social life has whithered away to practically nothing.
I was desperate to work 9-5 after working odd shifts, late nights and weekends forever. Now I realise the benefit of shift work is being able to sleep in the day meant I was alive at night, when I wasn't working!
My life now consists of getting up, some days earlier than others depending on whether I go to the gym or not, going to work, suffering Bristol's wonderful bus service, eat then go to bed. The weekends are not much better. I wake up early as my body is now programmed to do so, have no energy to do anything remotely fun and because I got up early, I crash at the same time as during the week.
I think I'm driving Andy insane. I'm asleep by 9.30 pm most nights.
Does anyone else suffer from this? Is there anything I can do to inject some fun without staying up horribly late?!! I'm so old :-(
I was desperate to work 9-5 after working odd shifts, late nights and weekends forever. Now I realise the benefit of shift work is being able to sleep in the day meant I was alive at night, when I wasn't working!
My life now consists of getting up, some days earlier than others depending on whether I go to the gym or not, going to work, suffering Bristol's wonderful bus service, eat then go to bed. The weekends are not much better. I wake up early as my body is now programmed to do so, have no energy to do anything remotely fun and because I got up early, I crash at the same time as during the week.
I think I'm driving Andy insane. I'm asleep by 9.30 pm most nights.
Does anyone else suffer from this? Is there anything I can do to inject some fun without staying up horribly late?!! I'm so old :-(
06 February 2006
Bob Geldof
Ok, so I had a request to explain the Bob Geldof comment on my previous post.
For those who don't know, I was a huge supporter of Make Poverty History, I am also an activist and firm believer in the possibility of positive change, particularly in terms of wealth redistribution across the globe.
I also don't believe in blindly following the latest "in" thing and sadly, I feel the MPH became that last summer. When Live 8 came around I was forced to re-evaluate my position when I saw the mass-corporate involvement and read about the "gifts" that performers were presented with.
Then I heard that Bob Geldof refused to let any African performers appear at the main event in London, they were permitted short slots in Cornwall but that was about it.
Around Christmas time I also learned that Bob Geldof has been quoted as saying "Africa is not my agenda, it never has been." Or words to that effect. He does these publicity trips to Uganda and Ethiopia wearing an Armani suit and it makes me more than a little bit sick.
My eyes have been opened to the hypocrisy of the man.
I still believe that MPH was a truely ambitious and marvellous idea, and we did achieve some successes through it, but I also see that it was not motivated by pure idealism. There were many people and organisations involved purely for their own publicity and to make money off a popular idea.
I recommend for anyone who is truely passionate about addressing global poverty, human rights and learning more about the true world we live in to quickly subscribe to the New Internationalist. I have been a subscriber for about 5 years and it is the most educational and real magazine I have ever read. Check out their website http://www.newint.org but please subscribe to the printed magazine to support them financially.
For those who don't know, I was a huge supporter of Make Poverty History, I am also an activist and firm believer in the possibility of positive change, particularly in terms of wealth redistribution across the globe.
I also don't believe in blindly following the latest "in" thing and sadly, I feel the MPH became that last summer. When Live 8 came around I was forced to re-evaluate my position when I saw the mass-corporate involvement and read about the "gifts" that performers were presented with.
Then I heard that Bob Geldof refused to let any African performers appear at the main event in London, they were permitted short slots in Cornwall but that was about it.
Around Christmas time I also learned that Bob Geldof has been quoted as saying "Africa is not my agenda, it never has been." Or words to that effect. He does these publicity trips to Uganda and Ethiopia wearing an Armani suit and it makes me more than a little bit sick.
My eyes have been opened to the hypocrisy of the man.
I still believe that MPH was a truely ambitious and marvellous idea, and we did achieve some successes through it, but I also see that it was not motivated by pure idealism. There were many people and organisations involved purely for their own publicity and to make money off a popular idea.
I recommend for anyone who is truely passionate about addressing global poverty, human rights and learning more about the true world we live in to quickly subscribe to the New Internationalist. I have been a subscriber for about 5 years and it is the most educational and real magazine I have ever read. Check out their website http://www.newint.org but please subscribe to the printed magazine to support them financially.
04 February 2006
2005
Because I only just got hold of one of these and it's fitting for the early days of my blog.
1.What did you do in 2005 that you'd never done before?
Celebrated a wedding anniversary.
2.Did you make any New Years' resolutions?
No idea.
3.Did anyone close to you give birth?
Not that I'm aware of. Several impending births in the first half of this year though.
4.Did anyone close to you die?
Thankfully, no.
5.What countries did you visit?
Sadly none. But my imagination travelled far and wide.
6.What would you like to have in 2006 that you lacked in 2005?
Disposable income.
7.What date from 2005 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
September 12th I started my current job. Not horribly exciting but it's all I can think of right now!
8.What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Passing my exam with 77%.
9.What was your biggest failure?
Dropping out of my OU course in May (have resumed it this year, don't worry!)
10.Did you suffer illness or injury?
Not really.
11.What was the best thing you bought?
My mp3 player.
12.Whose behaviour merited celebration?
The England cricket team.
13.Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Bush & Blair. And possibly Bob Geldof.
14.Where did most of your money go?
Our car.
15.What events did you get really, really, really excited about?
The release of the 6th Harry Potter book! And sadly, the Ashes, via my husband, Andy.
16.What song will always remind you of 2005?
Foresaken by Within Temptation.
17.Compared to this time last year, are you:
i.happier or sadder?
Happier.
ii.thinner or fatter?
About the same after losing over a stone and putting it back on again, doh!
iii.richer or poorer?
Richer, just about.
18.What do you wish you'd done more of?
Getting paid.
19.What do you wish you'd done less of?
Moping about.
20.How did you spend Christmas?
With Andy & my family, at their home in Yorkshire.
21.Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?
Probably Andy, maybe my mum.
22.Did you fall in love in 2005?
Nope. Oh no, yes I did, with Within Temptation.
24. What was your favourite TV program?
Lost. And ANTM (if you don't know what it is I'm not telling, it's a bit embarassing).
26. What was the best book you read?
Harry Potter & The Half Blood Prince.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery or rediscovery?
Within Temptation.
28. What did you want and get?
A job & an mp3 player!
29. What did you want and not get?
A holiday. And an mp3 player - longish story!
30. What were your favorite films of this year?
Team America: World police. (I only saw it for the first time this year)
31.What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
23, went for a Chinese with friends and got happily merry at the Bierkeller.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2005?
Went slightly trendy and then glided back towards my rock roots. Purple, always purple.
34. What kept you sane?
Well, starting The New Root fanclub and being more than a little obsessed with them is sort of evidence that I'm not really sane. In fact, I probably lost a little sanity last year.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most/least?
Sharon Del Adel the most. Too much competition for least.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
ID cards.
37. Whom did you miss?
My Nannie.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Matt M, who I only properly met in 2005.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2005:
When life sucks beyond belief, don't give up. There's usually someone or something to help you up.
1.What did you do in 2005 that you'd never done before?
Celebrated a wedding anniversary.
2.Did you make any New Years' resolutions?
No idea.
3.Did anyone close to you give birth?
Not that I'm aware of. Several impending births in the first half of this year though.
4.Did anyone close to you die?
Thankfully, no.
5.What countries did you visit?
Sadly none. But my imagination travelled far and wide.
6.What would you like to have in 2006 that you lacked in 2005?
Disposable income.
7.What date from 2005 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
September 12th I started my current job. Not horribly exciting but it's all I can think of right now!
8.What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Passing my exam with 77%.
9.What was your biggest failure?
Dropping out of my OU course in May (have resumed it this year, don't worry!)
10.Did you suffer illness or injury?
Not really.
11.What was the best thing you bought?
My mp3 player.
12.Whose behaviour merited celebration?
The England cricket team.
13.Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Bush & Blair. And possibly Bob Geldof.
14.Where did most of your money go?
Our car.
15.What events did you get really, really, really excited about?
The release of the 6th Harry Potter book! And sadly, the Ashes, via my husband, Andy.
16.What song will always remind you of 2005?
Foresaken by Within Temptation.
17.Compared to this time last year, are you:
i.happier or sadder?
Happier.
ii.thinner or fatter?
About the same after losing over a stone and putting it back on again, doh!
iii.richer or poorer?
Richer, just about.
18.What do you wish you'd done more of?
Getting paid.
19.What do you wish you'd done less of?
Moping about.
20.How did you spend Christmas?
With Andy & my family, at their home in Yorkshire.
21.Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?
Probably Andy, maybe my mum.
22.Did you fall in love in 2005?
Nope. Oh no, yes I did, with Within Temptation.
24. What was your favourite TV program?
Lost. And ANTM (if you don't know what it is I'm not telling, it's a bit embarassing).
26. What was the best book you read?
Harry Potter & The Half Blood Prince.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery or rediscovery?
Within Temptation.
28. What did you want and get?
A job & an mp3 player!
29. What did you want and not get?
A holiday. And an mp3 player - longish story!
30. What were your favorite films of this year?
Team America: World police. (I only saw it for the first time this year)
31.What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
23, went for a Chinese with friends and got happily merry at the Bierkeller.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2005?
Went slightly trendy and then glided back towards my rock roots. Purple, always purple.
34. What kept you sane?
Well, starting The New Root fanclub and being more than a little obsessed with them is sort of evidence that I'm not really sane. In fact, I probably lost a little sanity last year.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most/least?
Sharon Del Adel the most. Too much competition for least.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
ID cards.
37. Whom did you miss?
My Nannie.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Matt M, who I only properly met in 2005.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2005:
When life sucks beyond belief, don't give up. There's usually someone or something to help you up.
03 February 2006
Friday
It is the end of the week and this is my first blog. I am at work (shh, don't tell) and I have that Friday afternoon lag where I really wish it was 5 o'clock and really can't be bothered to do anything. Especially when you take into account just how hard I have worked this week!
For those who don't know, I recently sold my soul to take a job in an insurance call centre. But as it turns out, the job is alright, especially when it's my team's week to do the admin stuff. i.e. this week. Plus, we have a funky department where we play games for sales and productivity with quite a lot of money to be won.
It has proved an effective incentive for me this week with productivity targets rising daily and me meeting them all week. That is, until today. I deserve a break. Anyway, as a reward for my hard work I have had the opportunity to play this week's game 4 times and won a total of £61 in vouchers. The first £60 of which was won before today! £10 Monday, £20 Tuesday and £30 Wednesday. After that wonderful rise to glory I came crashing down today with a megre £1 win. Utterly humiliating!
The game, incidently, is Who Wants To Be A Millionnaire, with £100 being the top prize. I know I cleaned out the boss, who was devastated when I won that £30 prize.
Anyway, this was my week. Now, what do I spend the vouchers on? They are high street ones, valid in places like HMV, Woolworths, even H Samuel. Suggestions are welcome.
For those who don't know, I recently sold my soul to take a job in an insurance call centre. But as it turns out, the job is alright, especially when it's my team's week to do the admin stuff. i.e. this week. Plus, we have a funky department where we play games for sales and productivity with quite a lot of money to be won.
It has proved an effective incentive for me this week with productivity targets rising daily and me meeting them all week. That is, until today. I deserve a break. Anyway, as a reward for my hard work I have had the opportunity to play this week's game 4 times and won a total of £61 in vouchers. The first £60 of which was won before today! £10 Monday, £20 Tuesday and £30 Wednesday. After that wonderful rise to glory I came crashing down today with a megre £1 win. Utterly humiliating!
The game, incidently, is Who Wants To Be A Millionnaire, with £100 being the top prize. I know I cleaned out the boss, who was devastated when I won that £30 prize.
Anyway, this was my week. Now, what do I spend the vouchers on? They are high street ones, valid in places like HMV, Woolworths, even H Samuel. Suggestions are welcome.
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