Priceless Paintings from W7

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

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

I had need to see a specialist doctor. His clinic doesn’t make appointments, but operates on a 9 ‘o’clock first-come first-served walk-in basis. OK, I thought, I’d better be there in time, and arrived at the machine where one pulls the ticket number at 8:15.

The room was already half full of people smarter, and even earlier than me.

The receptionist arrived at quarter to nine, and the first question was “who’s got an appointment?”

What? I have never found out how one gets an appointment on the no-appointment Monday morning walk-in clinic, but never mind. Turns out I was number 14 in the no appointment queue, and when it was 9 o’clock, the exact time when the clinic would officially open its doors, they announced that  they were now fully booked for the day, and started turning people away.

Luckily, I had gotten in earlier. I’d be fuming with rage otherwise.

After only 90 minutes, I got called and transferred to another queue. Arrangements there were less comfortable, but people were in better, and humorous, spirits, after realising that this is just another queue.

I was seen half an hour later, and discharged 10 minutes later. All right, I got the assessment I came for.

Next time, I’d like to provide an assessment into their work, though. I am sure there were lots of things going on that we didn’t know or understand, but the number of times my file was picked up, looked at, put down again, the number of times nurses and doctors walked up and down the aisle – I am sure that I don’t understand half of what is going on there, but I can’t believe they organised themselves, and a whole room full of patients, in the best possible way.

Anyway. I got out of there and back home in little over 4 hours. This will probably beat the official NHS target.

Thoughts Britain, NHS;

Those of you who know me will know that I appreciate beauty, but I am not a follower of beauty contests. However, this one caught my eye, and not limited to the ways you might think:

Rachel Christie, who is currently training on the running track for the 2012 Olympics qualifiers, is among the finalists for Miss England 2009. The competition’s final round is held yesterday and today (July 19th and 20th, 2009) at the London Hilton Metropole Hotel, and I want you all to give a big cheer, touch wood, hold a breath or, if you can, vote for Rachel. She isn’t the only non-white contestant, but she’s generally expected to do well in the competition.

America managed to elect its first ever black president not that long ago.

Surely, Britain should be able to vote for its first ever black Miss England?

 [Edit, 22-July-2009:]

Here you have it. Rachel Christie is Miss England 2009. Well done.

Given that the news came and went more or less unnoticed, I am no longer sure what this means for the black community, or any community. One could say “see, nobody cares that she’s black,” but I think the reality is that nobody cares for Miss England contests. Maybe she gets more publicity winning on the race track. This might just have given her the money to focus on training for the Olympics.

[/Edit]

Thoughts Britain, england, human

I find it very nice to see how the big sports events inspire the kids. During and (now) after Wimbledon, I notice many more than usual kids playing tennis in the streets in the evening. When I cycled past a pretty large public tennis place, it was also full.

How nice, and the perfect proof that public sports events should not be allowed to sell their TV rights to private channels that require an extra pay-TV subscription. It’s just not right, not as long as the same event takes a lot of taxpayer’s money for provision of public transport, security and emergency services and, well, license-fee funded public media for advertising and promoting.

It’s one, or the other.

Thoughts Britain, taxman, television

I explained a friend that our Velux roof windows, which come with a self-cleaning coating, only really clean themselves in a proper downpour. Due to low tilt of our windows (17 degrees), and maybe just as a general attribute of this coating, you really need a good rainfall to wash off the bird droppings and general Greater London dust and soot. A drizzle or mild rain won’t do the job.

When I explained all that, I just casually commented on this aspect. I did not mean to ask for such rain. Yet, it has arrived.

I am sure the MET office will be happy about this turn of the weather. All over the last few weeks, when our weather was really nice and warm, they told us in the evening’s weather forecast not to worry, promising that it would be cooler soon.

Did you know that the MET office issues the third of four heat wave alerts when the night temperature doesn’t drop below 18 Celsius? You’d think they’ve never seen a decent summer.

I shall be happy to see my roof windows getting dirty, and shall be happy to enjoy seasonally high temperatures. Please bring the summer back. Now.

Thoughts Britain, Weather

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

People in Britain complain, as it emerges that collections of domestic recyclables are currently stockpiled. Prices are down, so companies fill warehouses with recycling paper, plastic, metal and glass rather than selling at a loss.

The complain roots from a sense of being cheated. We do all this separating and recycling, one interviewee said in a tear-stricken voice, and all they do is stockpile it.

Makes sense to me. Doesn’t make sense to moan and complain, not in the way portrayed by the BBC. After all, it’s still better than throwing everything onto the landfill, isn’t it?

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Thoughts BBC, Britain, recycling

Many people in Britain are concerned because the government will ask them, eventually and in all probability, to carry an identity card. Basically, the police will be able to stop you, ask for your Id card, and thus know who you are.

While the privacy concern about Id cards goes a bit further than that, I am baffled about the almost total lack of public discussion and concern about the many privacy issues related to email. I think much of the world is in a state of blissful ignorance in this regard. Did you know the UK governments plans to make your Internet Service Provider (ISP) to keep record of all your emails for a year, starting in March this year? Probably all under the popular anti-terrorism umbrella-excuse. It won’t work, not if you do as I say anyway, but that’s almost beside the point.

A long post today, but it is in the public interest. Really. Especially if you read this thinking Oh techno babble I won’t understand this. You must try.  It’s important. Here’s what most people should know, or decide to ignore, about email privacy:

Most private individuals use a ‘free’ email service such as Hotmail, Googlemail, Live Mail, or one of many others. There is no free lunch. These providers may scan emails, at least for the purpose of targeted advertising, and they may include little pictures at the end of a message, which allow tracking down the recipient to the exact PC where the message is being read.

Most people send and receive emails using insecure connections. Meaning, anyone between you and your email server could read your emails, and potentially scan them.

Almost everyone sends email messages without a digital signature. I should know, because my signed email messages cause confusion with some recipients. Only a message with a valid digital signature it guaranteed to originate where it claims to come from. People selling junk in my name won’t have my digital signature.

Almost nobody sends anything without an envelope in good old snail mail, but almost every email message gets exchanged unencrypted. This is the equivalent of discussing personal or business matters on a postcard. The difference is that the email message can be electronically read by many more machines than just your postman checking Autie’s holiday greetings from Florida.

I don’t mean to be a scaremonger. Most email providers don’t do the evil thing, but the point is that they could, and that –apparently- the government can introduce ever bigger Big Brothers without many people even noticing.

So, for privacy’s and sanity’s sake, please:

• Check if you can use secure connections when reading and writing emails.
• Prefer a real email account, such as the one provided by your ISP or by many independent providers, over a ‘free’ service.
• Consider using a digital signature to sign your messages. Even free SSL certificates are better than nothing.
• Think about what you send by email. Financial details, personal details or business details have no place in unencrypted emails.

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Thoughts, Web/Tech big brother, Britain, email, privacy, signatures

We made some last minute shopping back home, just a quick trip into town and to the local farmers’ market on the Saturday morning to buy two large heads of curly Endive. Interesting to read-up on Endive in my new copy of the great Larousse Gastronomique (Thanks to Santa!), which explains the relation between Endive, Frisee and Chicorée, and explains that what is Endive to some (Britain, Italy, Germany) is Chicorée (or Chicory) to some others (France, USA). There’s also Radicchio from the same family, and Red Chicorée (whose strength is chiefly in being decorative rather than tasty).

No wonder there is confusion in all this. This is no excuse for not growing or for not selling curly Endive, as depicted here (whatever you might prefer to call it) on my local market in W7.  No excuse at all.

I saw seeds on sale in the local garden centre some while back. Once our building work is done and our garden has been restored to a new and better place, I’ll have to start another battle against the slugs when trying to grow my own.

Food and Drink Britain, France, Germany, Italy, United States

The BBC was trying to talk us out of the recession. I guess this won’t be the last attempt. This one goes like so:

How the Pound was so weak now, compared to the Euro or the Dollar, that it made sense for foreigners to come to Britain for their shopping. The proved their case by showing price tags of various items of designer clothing, including T-shirts selling at £57 in Britain, and at the equivalent of £69 on the European continent.

I propose a new law.

Just like health warnings are printed on tobacco products, price tags for designer-wear should warn about the mental health implications of such purchase.

£59 for a T-shirt, it would read, and possibly even consider it a bargain, are you completely insane, bonkers, nuts?

Thoughts BBC, Britain

…food in Wales. We didn’t really stay long enough to find the hidden culinary treasures of the Gower peninsular. I can only assume there must be some, but where we stayed (in a cottage in the village of Overton, near Port Eynon), we witnessed the now familiar and frustrating story:

The place is designed and mostly inhabited by tourists. Lots of caravan parks, trailer parks, self-catering cottages and camping sites, but almost no shopping facility, decent pub or nice eatery. Some Fish’n'Chip shops and some pubs well beyond description. I am unfamiliar with rural Briton from twenty years ago, but this certainly felt like a time traveling journey into the past.

Most disappointing, and easily outperformed by orders of magnitude by other tourist hotspots in Britain. We ate superbly in the Scottish highlands, Cumbria, the Peak District, Cornwall, … Practically anywhere but Wales.

For our culinary outing, we ended up at the Smuggler’s Haunt, Port Eynon. By far the best offering we came across – good quality with a focus on local produce, with a good choice from a versatile albeit predictable, but reasonably priced, menu. Go there if you are in the area. The Smuggler’s Haunt the only decent place in town, newly opened and run by a young team, and deserves your support.

A review suggested they’d even be worth a trip out from Swansea, but this is just because Swansea drives you away by its own sorry state.

Food and Drink Britain, food, Gower, Scottish highlands;, Swansea;, Wales;

Just following-up on the recent post: along many, many, many others, we went to Tate Britain and saw the How We Are exhibition of photography in Britain from its invention until today.

Absolutely brilliant, but try to beat the queues if you can.

We even managed to see one of our four contributions to How We Are Now being displayed in the foyer. The everybody-can-submit-four-photos public part of the exhibition shows a remarkable number of very high quality photos, so if you are interested and really cannot make it to London, have a good look at the slide show. We are pleased to be part of it.

Thoughts Britain, london