England Shamed

One other circumstance is worthy of remark; and that is, that from the moment of their first outbreak…every symptom of order or preconceived arrangement among them, vanished.  When they divided into parties and ran to different quarters of the town, it was on the spontaneous suggestion of the moment.  Each party swelled as it went along, like rivers as they roll towards the sea; new leaders sprang up as they were wanted, disappeared when the necessity was over, and reappeared at the next crisis.  Each tumult took shape and form, from the circumstances of the moment…in a word a moral plague ran through the city.  The noise, and hurry, and excitement, had for hundreds and hundreds an attraction they had no firmness to resist.  The contagion spread, like a dread river: an infectious madness, as yet not near its height, seized on new victims every hour, and society began to tremble at their ravings.  

So, what do you think?  Is this a description of events in London last week?  It’s a description of events in London alright but it’s not August, 2011; it’s June, 1780, the Gordon Riots as depicted by Charles Dickens in his novel Barnaby Rudge. Continue reading “England Shamed”

A grand day out

Today we took a trip in London for the London Surrey Cycle Classic part of the ‘London Prepares’ series that replicates the route scheduled for the London Olympics in 2012. Today’s ride of 140 km did follow the route planned for the big event, but only took a couple of turns rather than the nine that will take place on the day. We had ‘Silver Wristbands’ (thank you J) which meant gaining access to the finish sprint down The Mall.

We, that is just Cyclo and me, drove into London and parked in a side street, then took the tube in, followed by a short walk. We were nodded in to the cordoned off area, where there was a lovely atmosphere. At first we found a place to sit and read the papers with a cup of coffee, but soon it was necessary to take our place along the barriers. From where we stood we could see that there were quite big crowds outside, several deep at the barriers, but we were lucky enough to have  a section of barrier to ourselves!

Looking back towards Buckingham Palace

Continue reading “A grand day out”

Here’s a REAL surprise – Not!

Energy-saving light bulbs leap in price

The cost of energy saving light bulbs is rising sharply ahead of the European Union ban on the traditional 60-watt bulbs.

And, what’s more…’the CFLs that are replacing them (real light bulbs, you know, the ones that actually emit light you can read by,) contain small quantities of expensive rare earth elements. Makers say that growing demand for the substances, particularly in China where they come from, has forced prices upwards.

So, we get another ‘green’ solution that doesn’t work, it hoovers more money out of the pockets of taxpayers and sends it off to China.

I’m really glad I speak Chinese – should get me a good enough job oppressing the rest of you lot when the Chinese call in our national mortgage.

Gautrain

Collectors item ?

Have I mentioned my absolute dislike of the big cities? If not, I’ll just restate quickly that I absolutely hate them, the rush, the traffic, the insular attitudes, the crowds, I’m sure that there’s more but you get the picture.

I had to go to Johannesburg last week for a couple of meetings, I’d tried so hard to get out of the trip but the supplier / principle insisted and so reluctantly I booked my ticket. 9:00am flight up 15:45pm flight back.

In brief I was collected from O.R.Tambo (newspeak for Jhb international or Jan Smuts for those of you with longer memories) precisely on time, whisked off to Springs for a presentation and demo, then off to Rosebank for another and finally to Orange Grove for a quick lunch.

Needless to say up until the lunch everything had gone meticulously to my rather cramped schedule, then some old friends heard that I was in town, Continue reading “Gautrain”

Life and times of an average banker

Life and times of an average banker
For the past two to three years we have heard nothing but how the bankers have nearly ruined the world, how rich bankers are and of course the rabid rantings from Brown, Prescott, the rest of the Labour lefties and of course the very Biased Broadcasting Company.
I am not trying to make excuses or say that the banks did not play a major part in the financial woes of the world, nor will I say that a few (very few) are grossly overpaid, but no more so than the top people in other Limited companies and PLC’s; though most of their earnings are based on bonus payments, they bring in the dosh they receive a percentage the same as any other salesman, just bigger numbers. Continue reading “Life and times of an average banker”

My turn on the soap-box

I have resisted the temptation over the past few days to post extracts and links to a range of Australian articles about the UK’s metamorphosis into a second-rate remake of The Rocky Horror Show.  However, the current Daily Telegraph editorial on the subject, which I’m sure you’ve all read, is a reasonable summary of a sensible position.   I commend it to The Chariot.

While I’m here on my soap-box, I shall make two additional points and I shall make them strongly, so those of you with delicate sensibilities should not click on “read more”.  Continue reading “My turn on the soap-box”

A Speech by the Mayor of Philadelphia

Which makes some very apt points.  It’s worth reading, even if it is a bit long.

Now I must say first: two things. One: Some of you may know that 30 Americans died overseas, an elite unit of our military. Whether you agree with our foreign policy or not, I certainly ask that you would pray for the men and women who risk their lives each and every day to make sure that we can enjoy the freedoms, as Americans, that some of us seem to take for granted. They’re serving their country. Other people make the decision about what they do and where they go, but they’re doing their job. And unfortunately, one of those 30 is the son of a Philadelphia police officer. So I would ask that you would keep all of them, but especially that Philadelphia family that’s been affected, in your hearts.

Now, I’m gonna say some things this morning that I know, from time to time, many of you think but may not say. It will not be PC, now, that might be interesting?