Priceless Paintings from W7

A convincing argument is something different than the comment my friend Nigel Bakhai, head of the local Liberal Democrats, produced in their February 2010 pamphlet.

The article comments on the planned closure of public toilets, and conversion of a couple of benches (typically only used by people holding beer cans from breakfast time onwards). Both are owned by the Lidl supermarket chain, who wants to replace the benches with trees, and probably assumes that the Hanwell Public Toilet Scheme (another Ealing Council brainfart) compensates for the removal of their own public toilets.

The Lib Dems’ article is entitled Inconvenient Truth. I was looking forward to find a good old rant over the fact that Ealing’s current conservative council is asset-striping the borough, failing to provide basic public services (such as road surface maintenance or, indeed, the provision of public toilets, trees, benches, or aid for those in need), yet find it fit to refund £50 “overpaid” council tax to almost every household in the borough.

A great opportunity to make a point in case. Sadly, Nigel knew nothing better to say than “It is a shame to lose the toilets and seats, but especially as this area is not being put to better use apart from a few extra trees.”

Trees are important, Nigel. So are public services, and so is the care for this unfortunate ones beginning their day with a can of extra-strong lager.

It is early in the 2010 election campaign. Let’s hope Nigel picks up sense, strength, speed and arguments on the way.

Current Affairs Ealing, liberal democrats, Politics

Easy, Tiger, easy. There was no need for this pathetic tear-jerking grovel of a public apology.

I wished you had just advised the media about the fact that your private life is, well, private. You could have also added a comment about the hypocritical nature of all those reporters and commentators.

They all had sex. Most liked it. Many had sex in ways, or with partners such that they’d rather not talk about. Certainly not in public, and not behind closed doors in many cases.

The public uproar of high morals is hypocritical at best. I find it disgusting.

Current Affairs, Thoughts human, life, society

Popp, she said, it just made Popp! and the light bulb was gone. (Thus are the ways of my domestic assignments.)

The bulb was gone, and with it, a good piece of history: it was one of the last remaining good old incandescent light bulbs. Oh, how I hate to see them go! The modern, “energy saving” fluorescent lamps have a very questionable overall ecologic value (given they are full of electronics, toxic substances and some heavy metals). They tend to give a greenish light rather than a comfortable warm one, and take minutes to reach the full brightness.

At this point, nothing and nobody stops me from stockpiling huge amounts of incandescent light bulbs in all wattages, shapes, clear or matt, with bayonet socket (UK) or a regular E14 or E27, … The world of light bulbs is my oyster!

Or, is it? I cannot really ignore the argument of 60 watts (incandescent) compared to 12 (fluorescent). Not now, when folks meet in Copenhagen, agree to cut CO2 emissions, and probably plan to build a couple new nuclear power stations to fill the gap with “clean” energy.

I don’t need to tell you where the madness lies in this, but in terms of replacement light bulbs, I am defeated. At least, I notice that they do get better in terms of start-up performance and colour temperature.

Bye Bye, Thomas Alva Edison!

Current Affairs, Thoughts energy, energy saving light bulbs, home

Ealing Council, it its endless wisdom and in neglect to their duties, decided to pay back part of the local tax. The argument is that they have “too much money,” the neglect is that they fail to spend it on any of the necessary things. Apparently, they consider it a job done, and think of the elections ahead.

Any half-wit can create a sheer endless list of things in need of the council’s attention and money. Schools, places for the young and places for the elderly. Road surfaces and pavement, playgrounds, public libraries, parks. Support for the arts. Public toilets. Fly tipping and littering, drug use and crime. Public transport, alternative transport, alternative energy. Support for the elderly, the sick, the poor. Wherever you look or point, there’s is need for work being done and moneys being committed.

People of Ealing. Please take the £50 cash back payment, which is due to arrive in your bank account in December, and turn it into some local goodness.

I round mine up to the next £100 and make a donation to Groundwork West London, supporting them to continue doing what the council should do in the first place. Whether you round up the £50 cash back is your decision, and so is the choice of the charity or cause you chose to support, but please use the money for the purpose it was intended for in the first place: for the best of the borough.

Please, pretty please?

Current Affairs, Thoughts Ealing, Ealing council, Politics

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) ordered the far right-wing British National Party (BNP) to change its constitution; the restriction to allow new members only from “indigenous Caucasian stock” must be removed. People of all ethic backgrounds, including Black or Asian, must be allowed to join the BNP.

This is of course nothing but a farce. Or, is it?

I am calling all non-White members of the British public to join the BNP. Do it. Do it now. All you have to do is join, be united in the same goal, and outnumber the current BNP members. Then change the BNP’s constitution. Oh, and leadership, and name.

Oh, I see. I ask for unity. Bummer.

Plan B then. Let’s get a different electorate.

Current Affairs Britain, Politics

Mehmet Goren, together with his brothers Ali and Cuma Goren, is accused of killing his own teenaged daughter Tulay Goren, back on January 1999, in an honour killing. The girl had run away from home and stayed with a man they didn’t approve of.

After a month, the girl foolishly returned home, and never left her family home again. At least, she never left it alive.

Honour killings within the own family, surely, must be among the worst things anyone can do.

It annoys me big time to find those three men who held the family honour in such high esteem to (allegedly) murder Tulay don’t have enough honour in them to stand up and admit it.

Current Affairs, Thoughts human, Religion and Spirituality

Image via Wikipedia

I am sure you’ve all heard it by now: the 2009 Peace Nobel prize went to Barak Obama. What? I had to hear, see and read the news thrice before I was sure the BBC didn’t run an April’s fool out of season.

I mean… come on!

Obama is undoubtedly the nicest US president the world had in a very long time, but to award the Peace Nobel Prize on grounds of his expressed intentions rather than actions accomplished…?

Plans that include reducing 2200 nuclear warheads to an unknown, but substantial and non-zero number?

Plans to withdraw troops from fighting action (not: from the country!) in a country invaded by the very same troops, thrown into shambles, and troops now realizing they got themselves into a not-winnable situation?

The BBC called it the Nobel Prize Committee’s bold move.

I call it the Nobel Prize Committee’s regrettable move. I’m sure many others are out there who actually made peace happen, rather than talk about it from the high chair and end up struggling when it comes to implementing those plans.

Oh well. I should certainly wish him all success. I’d even wished he’d get the Peace Nobel Prize when the mission is accomplished. As long as the policy of awarding in advance rules, I shall be the first to say:

Please, can I have the Turner prize?
After all, I have the most sincere intentions to create an influential piece of modern art.

Current Affairs Barack Obama

David Cameron is breaking the winds of change. I suppose there’s little to stop him now, following an eloquent speed containing lots of hollow phrases. Even though I hate the idea of yet another polished and styled politician leading the country, it is certainly time for a change.

Too bad there isn’t a real alternative to chose from.

Anyway, I wasn’t so much wondering about David Cameron but about Steve Hilton. I suppose initially, leading modern-time politicians and hopeful candidates had an advisor. A panel of advisors. An assistant. Maybe a press officer. A speech writer, and a campaign manager.

When did it start that hopeful candidates (and some of those elected) were in need of a Head of Marketing of the unquestioned calibre of advertising expert Steve Hilton?

I hate the idea that our modern politicians are all styled like one would otherwise brand a fashion accessory. Whatever happened to a convincing argument, a promising strategy, a steadfastness in certain principles of politics, humanity and morality?

Current Affairs, Thoughts Britain, Conservative Party, Politics

Why on earth would a nationwide vetting database cost one hundred and seventy million pound sterling? – yes, you read that right: The cost for the planned vetting database, a nationwide tool to help prevent unsuitable people from working with children and vulnerable adults, is estimated to be £170m (£84m have already been spent).

Call me naive if you like, but if you do so, please explain the cost to me. Remember the country already features well-established government offices and buildings, all readily networked. Council workers already have a desk and a computer. All that seems necessary is the creation of a database, a web front-end, a bit of security around it, redundancy, done. A few millions maybe, if you include printed manuals for every council worker and NHS employee, but £170m?

Someone is seriously milking the system, pulling the government’s leg big time and you know what? They fall for it. Fools.

Maybe someone can also explain why such a database is necessary in the first place, given that several “offenders registers” and the Criminal Records Bureau are already in existence.

P.S. Now returning to my blog break, but certain things just can’t wait, can they?

Current Affairs, Thoughts Britain

Following a campaign started by a local resident, the town elders have decided that the western part of Ealing needs a skate park, and have made plans to build it not far from us. Apparently, £200,000 are now set aside and consultation is open for a new skate park in Elthorne Park (http://www.westealingskatepark.net/).

You won’t be surprised to hear that those who are against everything (the “Hanwell Community Forum” in this case) also oppose this plan, with a series of the usual arguments. It’s too loud. It’s too remote. It’s too close.

Basically means to say “Yeah, skate park, right, well, if it cannot be avoided… but not in my front garden.”

On the upside, their leaflet doesn’t issue a blanket accusation of expected antisocial or criminal behaviour. Better than similar previous campaigns (by different groups).

I am not sure if a steel and concrete structure is the best possible way to provide young people with a means to bond, relax, grow-up, find purpose in life, but it sure is better than hanging out at the bus stop and smashing a phone booth for fun.

I suggest opponents of this plan should immediately remind themselves they were once young and might have children themselves, or grand-children soon. It’s hard enough growing up in the big city, nobody needs to be repeatedly told that he or she is unwanted on top of it.

Current Affairs, Thoughts Ealing, Ealing council, hanwell, london

In the 2008/09 financial year, Ealing Council has spent less than what they have rightfully earned (through direct and indirect taxes), so they came up with the clever plan:

All eligible households will automatically receive a £50 cash refund in December.

This was announced in the council’s monthly pamphlet for August 2009 [pdf – see page 5]

A popular move for sure, especially in light of future elections. When the time comes, I am sure we’ll hear all about it over and over again.

I call it proof of failure. Failure by neglect:

First, there is a minor failure in that they fail to explain which households are eligible for a payback, which ones aren’t, and why. A good example of transparent government and accounting.

Second, they decide to spend the cost of the administrative overhead for the populist payback scheme, rather than opting for holding back the surplus riches, and asking for smaller council tax contributions next year. Surely this would have been a more cost-efficient way to deal with a surplus?

Third, and most worrying: They must think they have done a perfect job all around the borough, and nothing else needs doing, so that they simply don’t know what to do with the money. There’s a gazillion small and big jobs around the borough, and all they can come up with is a refund? That’s like throwing hands in the air. Jesus. Lord. Almighty.

Although I didn’t vote for the current council (as you probably guessed), they are charged by everyone to spend the tax money wisely and for the better common good of everyone in the borough.

Apparently, they can’t be bothered to do what they were elected to do. I hope most people will see through this expensive populist move and can’t be bothered voting for them again.

Current Affairs, Thoughts Ealing, Ealing council, london

Knock, knock.

Who’s there?

Delores.

Delores who?

Delores my shepherd…

It wasn’t Delores, nor was it an African Christian missionary. Instead, it was the guy from down the road. And he didn’t tell any knock-knock jokes either:

Do you know about the planning application for the Red Lion, he asks. No, I say. (The Red Lion is a derelict pub at the end of my street). He explains that this is the last day to object a planning application to convert the derelict pub into (his words) “an African church.”

Oh, that’s good news, I say, why would I want to object replacing a derelict pub with a church?

Because, he tells me, we have parking problems here already. There’ll be hundreds of cars every Sunday.

You’d have been proud of me, how I stayed calm and cool, and in the friendliest possible way explained that I’d much rather have car parking problems on a Sunday morning, compared to nightly drug and knife-crime issues (as we used to have with the Red Lion).

I should have also informed him that, even though car parking space can be tight late in the evening, in comparison with most of suburbia, we do not have car parking problems at all.

I welcome “the African church” to my area (and plan on a lie-in Sunday mornings anyway). Some people just have to object anything. Ealing Council doesn’t have a great track record at showing common sense, but I sure hope they dismiss this objection.

Current Affairs Ealing, Ealing council, hanwell, human, london

Dear Lord, give wisdom to the men and women of Ealing Council, for they know not what they are doing.

When they don’t spend their time –and our money- on expensive chest-beating self-advertising campaigns around the borough like big ages, they spend their energy on reverting what was done right by the previous council, as it seems.

The latest ingenious idea is to reduce some of the bus lanes around the borough in order to relief traffic congestion. By that, they do of course mean congestion by cars. (Not a new idea though.)

When bus lanes were extended a few years ago, a route was created to support free and swift flow of busses, and to support a comparatively safe heaven for cyclists. Removing some bus lanes now, or reducing the hours of operation of 24/7 bus lanes to standard peak hours, is a very regrettable step back to the dark ages of individual transport.

If the good lord hears my prayers, surely he’d advise the councillors to spend all the above money, and more, on efforts to reduce individual traffic throughout the borough rather than allowing for even more. Attractive offerings of public transport, and optimum support for alternative means of transport, are the obvious first choices.

Falling back to the petrolhead wisdom of the 1950s might suit a conservative council, but it certainly doesn’t suit a congested 21st town in the 21st century.

Current Affairs, Thoughts Ealing, Ealing council, london, Traffic

Heads must roll in light of the expenses scandal. Absolutely (but only figuratively speaking, of course). Heads must roll for intentionally liberal interpretation of the rules. Heads must roll for dropping all morale standards and intentionally milking the system. Heads must roll for denying first, then paying back some amount of money. Heads must roll for paying back that money and claiming all was well and in perfect order, while making laws with the other hand at the same time for crying out loud.

Heads must also roll for angrily resigning from the cabinet and thinking that’d be the first step to a career re-launch, neatly avoiding tax investigations or, indeed, criminal charges, in the process. Disgusting.

But.

But when I said the heads must roll, I didn’t mean that the head teacher of the Cardinal Wiseman School in Greenford ought to be arrested, charged with expenses fraud, dragged through the mud (full story here). I had asked for different heads.

The headmaster might have hand his hand into the petty cash kitty or not, and he might have fiddled with expenses, or not. That must, and will, all be found out of course. I can’t help thinking scapegoat though.  I sincerely hope he doesn’t end up being one.

There are some more rather interesting people to arrest and release on bail on allegations of expenses fraud. If you can’t find them in Westminster, make sure to check all their first and second homes.

Current Affairs, Thoughts Britain, expenses, london

Stop it! My head hurts from shaking it in disbelief alone. I’m pretty sure that you heard that UK newspapers had (through some questionable means) acquired and published details of UP parliamentarians’ expense claims, causing a huge stir-up.

In short, many politicians of all parties are excused to having exploited an overly generous expense system. (Here’s the detailed breakdown.)

That alone doesn’t surprise me much. Neither am I surprised by what happens next:

Step one (public declaration):

I have done nothing wrong; all my expense claims were in line with the guidelines, and lawfully approved.

Step two: (thinking to self):

Hmm, there’s a lot of public pressure here. And actually, claiming for cat food really doesn’t look too good. Of for 18 months of a mortgage that had been paid off. Or for a second home, while my good wife, also an MP, also claims for a second home. Or for three different second homes within a single year.

Step three: (public declaration):

I insist that I have done nothing wrong, but I’ll repay a five-digit figure anyway, in order to restore my now falsely damaged reputation and integrity.

How can I trust a politician how can neither stand by the claims of rightfulness, or admit exploiting the system?

Some brought lame excuses of claims being made by accident or poor accounting. Some others even acknowledged inappropriate claims, or withholding taxes, offered repayment and think this is the end of it. If Joe Public ‘withholds’ £13,332 in capital gains tax (See Hazel Blears), it certainly won’t be done with “Oops. Here’s the money.”

Now it’s all the speaker’s fault. He let us do it, so his head must roll, appears to be the common logic. One cannot but shake the head in disbelief.

Anyone erroneously claiming £16,000 expenses on grounds of “poor accounting” is not fit for office in the first place, so how… Didn’t I tell you? I shake my head in disbelief so much that it hurts, and much of the nation seems to shake alongside.

But, where’s the fraud squad I wonder? Few seem to ask for it, and many seem happy with apologies, paying back, and a few scapegoat resignations. Now that makes me truly shake my head in disbelief.

Current Affairs, Thoughts Britain, Politics, United Kingdom