How To Save $ 4,973,800

During the current economic climate relevant to the United States where the senate and the house are currently trying to find a formula which will enable both parties to find a solution to the present upheaval in Wall street and in the banking sector.

I would like to put forward a plan which would potentially save the American tax payer a princely sum of $4,973,800 over the course of the next 34 years or so – so just bear with me and I will try to explain further.

The President’s pension is currently $191,300 per year until he attains the ripe old age of 80.

If elected to the oval office and supposing he served two terms as President, Mr. McCain would receive nothing as a pension as he would already be 80years old when he vacates office in January of 2017

On the other hand if Mr Obama was elected as president and sat two terms in the oval office, he could conceivably live for all 26 years of his retirement after de -mitting the office of President in 2017 and would be in line to receive a pension in the region of $4,973,800.

Although it would concern me greatly from a political stance to see Mr McCain elected I can not deny that in the interests of fiscal responsibility and to save the American tax payer a small fortune it certainly makes economic sense to elect Mr.McCain in November.

How's that for non-partisan thinking?

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Jobsworth R Us

Brought to my attention in one of this morning newspapers was another Jobsworth story - a story which “one” would have great difficulty in believing if it was not for the fact it was true.

It concerns East Riding of Yorkshire Council ( Jobsworth R us) who in their wisdom have threatened to evict up to a dozen pensioners from their sheltered housing complex for the anti social crime of – feeding ducks and sea gulls.

Yes you did read that right and I kid you not! Feeding Ducks!

The council sent the 12 pensioners a letter in which it was pointed out to them that by feeding the birds they were in breech of their tenancy agreements and demanded of them that they cease feeding the ducks forthwith or face the consequences of being branded as being anti social tenants.

The wording of the letter was extreme in so far as the crime committed was in what would be deemed in many other walks of life as being some what trivial – feeding birds with a few scraps of bread.

In the letter, the council's housing management officer Deb Towse said:

'I have noticed on visits to the area and from complaints received by the council that there are often pieces of bread on the ground which ducks and seagulls are feeding from.

'We can also seek a number of legal remedies to prevent you from behaving in such a manner to exclude you from the locality.

'A breach of some of these can lead to a prison sentence. If you lose your home as a result of anti-social behaviour, we do not have to re-house you.'

What is this country coming to when pensioners are threatened with losing their homes or worse a prison sentence for feeding ducks?

How retarded does an individual have to be, to threaten a group of old age pensioners with an ASBO for feeding the ducks in their own back gardens.

The housing manager (Jobs worth) responsible for drafting the letter in the first place should tender her/ his resignation and go sign on at the labour exchange - there must be a traffic wardens job going some where in Yorkshire !

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Weapons of Mass Distraction

It is my intention to fly down to London this forthcoming weekend for a long deserved break for a boys weekend out on the razzle.

In the aftermath of 9 - 11 airport security is just not what it used to be, indeed going through the usual security points at the airport has become a pain in the neck but unfortunately in this day and age - you just cant take any chances.

Going by the caricature featured in the post card above - Security was that little bit more laid back then, So I must try and remember not to take any weapons of Mass Distraction with me ( Ha Ha )

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Is Mr.McCain Having a Laugh ?

When John McCain picked Sarah Palin as his running mate for the republican ticket in this years presidential election, I thought he had made a major mistake given that she was an unknown and lacked the necessary experience in foreign policy and security issues.

The following interview which was shown on the CBS network on American TV certainly reinforces my opinion that she is just not qualified to be elected into the office of Vice President of the USA and thus a heartbeat away from the oval office.

Are the republicans really serious about running this woman to be Mr McCains Vice President ? - Judge for yourselves

Printed below is a transcript of the interview given by Mrs. Palin to CBS news anchor Katie Couric

Couric : You've cited Alaska's proximity to Russia as part of your foreign policy experience. What did you mean by that?

Palin : That Alaska has a very narrow maritime border between a foreign country, Russia, and on our other side, the land-- boundary that we have with-- Canada. It-- it's funny that a comment like that was-- kind of made to-- cari-- I don't know, you know? Reporters--

Couric : Mock?

Palin : Yeah, mocked, I guess that's the word, yeah.

Couric : Explain to me why that enhances your foreign policy credentials.

Palin : Well, it certainly does because our-- our next door neighbors are foreign countries. They're in the state that I am the executive of. And there in Russia--

Couric : Have you ever been involved with any negotiations, for example, with the Russians?

Palin : We have trade missions back and forth. We-- we do-- it's very important when you consider even national security issues with Russia as Putin rears his head and comes into the air space of the United States of America, where-- where do they go? It's Alaska. It's just right over the border. It is-- from Alaska that we send those out to make sure that an eye is being kept on this very powerful nation, Russia, because they are right there. They are right next to-- to our state.

Is it just me or does the transcript of the interview show that Mrs. Plain has great difficulty in providing a grammatically correct thought, let alone provide reasonable answers to the questions posed.

Mrs. Palin saying "because she can see Russia from her house" qualifies her foreign policy credentials would be akin to me saying that "because I can see the moon from my back yard - I am an astrophysicist".

Ok so I am having a laugh, somehow I think Mr McCain might be having a laugh too.

Indefensible

In today’s newspaper there was an article which featured a story which once again highlighted why many people here in the UK simply boil with rage at the contempt demonstrated by certain individuals (Jobs Worth’s) who exercise political correctness as opposed what the majority of us would do in similar circumstances if we were in their shoes.

In my humble little blog I have featured many different types of individual who in another age would have had their arses royally kicked up and down the street for being so smug in taking liberties (all in the name of their Job) with ordinary Joe Public going about his lawful undertakings.

An individual/ Jobsworth employed as a paramedic is the subject of my latest harangue, he should have the human decency to resign from his job forthwith and then go crawl under a rock some where and have a wee think about his lack of compassion in circumstances which if it affected his own family, he would be as angry as I am.

In layman’s terms this individual decided it was more important to have his tea break rather than answer a 999 call to attend a 50 year old lady who suffered a heart attack in her house which just happened to be less than 300 yards from the ambulance station. 

One of his co-workers was quoted as saying 

"He could have gone, most of us feel that when you have the uniform on you should always try to save lives — no matter what"

"Although he was well aware what the nature of the call out was, he still decided to take his designated tea break- he thinks he’s done nothing wrong and has played it by the book - with 30 years’ service he knows all the rules inside out”

After 30 years service this individual has obviously become hardened to death and has stopped caring.

As a paramedic, you don't put duty to others on the back burner to scoff a sandwich. To let this woman die in the manner she did is totally indefensible.

I hope when he next goes to have a shave he has trouble looking himself in the eye and sees the cold hearted reptile he has become looking back at him in his mirror instead of his reflection.

The 2008 Ryder Cup

So there you go – the 37th Ryder cup has been played for and won in the end by the better team over the course of the tournament – the winners being America

The competition was played in the bluegrass state of Kentucky – a state which the big dollop family know pretty well since we have family just over the state line in both Indiana and Ohio.

Being married to an American and having family in America, it has to be said that although  I have a foot in both camps to be perfectly honest, my good lady wife has about as much interest in Golf as I have in flower arranging, which is absolutely nil.

It would be more than a fair comment to say that America didn't just win the Ryder Cup; they beat up the Europeans with all the panache and confidence one expects when Americans play at any kind of sport.

Leading by two points over night the Americans eventually ran out winners by a margin of five points – a remarkable achievement considering the worlds best player Tiger Woods was absent through injury.

The UK press and media have been holding the usual post mortem after such a dramatic surrender of the Ryder Cup, disappointing although the result was, the Europeans know well within their hearts over the course of the 3 days of competition the Americans were simply the better team. 

Congratulations to America on their excellent winning of this years Ryder cup in Kentucky.

Roll on 2010 when the Ryder Cup will be played and fought for in Celtic Manor in Wales.

Concerns of Mr Big Dollop

Today the news was released that Lloyds TSB had bought out H-BOS (Halifax and the Bank of Scotland), in a deal reported to be worth £12.2bn. - Placing the usual concerns aside i.e.: redundancies, branch closures and so forth, how does this merger affect the concerns of Mr Big Dollop?

As a long-term HBOS customer (over 30 years) and having taken out various loans during the course of that time I have managed to secure a favourable credit rating with them in regards to both my current account and dare I say it – my meagre savings account.

In the short term I don't see any problems; I thought my money was safe with H-BOS and don’t see any reason to change my mind.

However, the main reason I have stuck with the H-BOS for my business is because of the excellent customer service I have received during my 30 odd year tenure with them.

Shortly after leaving school in 1975 I had the misfortune to have an account with the TSB as it was then - in those days I didn’t have too much responsibility as such but what I did have was an account with Burtons menswear to whom I paid a direct debit on a monthly basis.

To cut a long story short the TSB refused to pay a direct debit because my wages went in to the bank a day late because of a bank holiday the previous Monday - as a result I incurred a charge of £ 25 for bank charges.

As you can only imagine, this kind of snow balled over the course of the next few months to a cost of £75 – granted not a lot of money by today’s standards but as a 17 year old earning just under £30 a week it was a fortune to me.

I was less than happy at the customer service I received and shortly thereafter I moved my account to the Bank of Scotland.

To think all that I have built up in way of trust and understanding with H-BOS will be put in danger with this merger, just does not fill me with to much enthusiasm.

A Wonderful Privilege Indeed.

Living in a town on the edge of the central belt here in Scotland - I am lucky in so far as I have the benefit of the Scottish country side right on my doorstep.

Like most people I have become accustomed to seeing the odd urban fox wandering about the neighbourhood once darkness falls especially since fox hunting was banned by the Scottish executive a few years hence.

This morning however I would like to share an experience which I happened to come across whilst going about my job of employment at around 5: 00am.

As I was about to turn right onto the A737 at Howwood in Renfrewshire I witnessed a couple of Deer caught in my full beam - right in front of me about 30 feet from the van right up against the fence.

With the morning mist hovering just above ground level - the river cart in full flow the field below them with a rainbow shinning through the early morning cloud it was quite a magnificent spectacle to witness these majestic animals just standing right in front of my van - once they became aware of my presence alas, they disappeared back down the field and out of sight just as quick as they had come in to it.

Being almost 50 years of age, I can honestly say that I have never before seen Deer so close to a built up area.

I consider my self very privileged indeed to have seen these wonderful creatures in all their glory .

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No Way To Treat Our Friends

Not reported widely in the media today was the fact that at the high court in England a case was heard as to the prospects of former Gurkha soldiers who retired from the British army prior to 1997 being granted the right to live here in the UK.

Bravest of The Brave

The Men of The Gurkha Rifles

The Gurkhas are an elite group of soldiers from the country of Nepal , they have 3,500 men enlisted within the British armed forces and have fought for the Crown for the best part of 200 years.

The typical Gurkha soldier serves in the Army a minimum of fifteen and a maximum of thirty years after which they are discharged and obliged to leave Britain for Nepal.

This in my opinion is totally out of order and is a situation which should be rectified as soon as possible by Westminster.

Perhaps I can put it another way What is the difference between an asylum-seeker and a Gurkha soldier in today's Britain? In the long run the asylum-seeker gets a British passport, he/ she gets the benefit of being housed , the health service and a host of other ( financial) benefits.

The asylum seeker’s family also get the benefit of a British education and in time eventually they all become part and parcel of mainstream British society.

Not so for the Gurkhas and their families once they have served their time in the military the Gurkha soldier and his family have to say goodbye to Britain and head for the barren hills of Nepal.

When you think of how these true and loyal friends are treated for their faithfulness in present day Britain, you can only shake your head or hide in shame at the treatment dished out to our brave Gurkha soldiers and their families from the country of Nepal.
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Situation Rectified ? You Bet !

From the pages of the Sunday world (An Irish newspaper) comes a story which points out exactly why in our daily undertakings with other people you should always try to treat them in the same manner as you yourself would want to be treated ie:- with respect.

It featured a story about British Airways or rather, a very wise stewardess on a flight from Johannesburg to London who had a very thoughtful way of dealing with the discourse as expressed by one of her passengers.

Apparently a white woman aged approximately 50 years of age called the stewardess and complained that she had been seated next to a black man - she was quite rude about it and made no bones of the fact that she found the man to be “ repugnant “ and demanded that she be found an alternative seat.

The stewardess calmly replied that the majority of the seats were already allocated but she would do her best to resolve and rectify the situation.

The stewardess returned shortly afterwards and informed the lady that there were no available seats to be had within the economy or business section's of the aircraft, but after consulting the captain on the matter it was found that there was indeed provision for an alternative seat in first class.

She went on to state that although it was not company policy to upgrade passengers from economy to first class ,the captain did agree with her assessment that no one should be forced to sit beside such a disgusting and repugnant individual.

It was at that moment that the stewardess turned and asked the man if colour if he would gather his jacket and hand luggage, she would only be too delighted to take him to a seat in first class - the other passengers who had been shocked by what they had just witnessed stood up and applauded. Kudos to a very thoughtful crew on board the BA flight from Johannesburg to London.

Keep Politics Out of Sport!

How many times have we heard the expression “keep politics out of sport” in regards to the likes of the Olympic Games or the World Cup? Too many would be the correct answer.

I noticed in the sports section of the BBC website that the Iranian basket ball team have withdrawn from the Paralympics in Beijing because their scheduled game against the USA was brought forward - they forfeited their quarter-final match against the USA on Saturday.

The Iranians have been at variance with the USA since the 1980’s however that did not stop either country playing against each other in the soccer world cup of 1998 hosted by France.

So what could possibly be the underlying reason for the game being forfeited this time – could it be that the winners of this match were due to play Israel in the semi final?

Iran denied the withdrawal of their Paralympic wheelchair basketball team was politically motivated because of a potential match-up with Israel; however it is a well documented fact that Iran does not recognise Israel and bans any official contact with the Jewish state.

Could it be that the Iranian authorities just didn’t want to take the chance of beating the Americans and being entrusted to fulfil their obligations to playing the Israelis in the spirit of the games?

I reckon the Iranians guilty placing politics before sport; you can draw your own conclusions.

Remembering 9 -11

It is not very often anyone can say for certain exactly what they were doing on a certain day 7 years previous unless something way out of the ordinary happened to make them remember with absolute certainty.

September 11th 2001 is a date on which nearly every one will know what they were doing, where they were and who they were with when the terrorist attack on New York's World Trade Centre, the Pentagon and Shanskville Pennsylvania took place, the aftermath of which everyone came to know as 9-11.

Today marks the 7th anniversary since those terrible events unfolded on our television screens when just under 3000 individuals were killed when four hijacked airplanes were flown in to the buildings with previously thought - inconceivable consequences.

Today being September 11th is no different from the six September 11th’s that have passed since 2001 - Those who perished on that tragic sunny day in 2001 will quite rightly be honoured not only by the people of America but also by many people in the ninety or so countries who also lost citizens in the tragic events of 9 -11.

Regardless of their creed, colour, gender or religious persuasion, they were all what we in Scotland would term as being … Jock Tamsons Bairns. (Gods Chlidren)

God Bless Them All.

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12 Barrels of Lager for HM ?

In the Sun newspaper today was a story which caused me to smile somewhat – it reported that her majesty the Queen who was in residence at Windsor Castle had taken delivery of 12 barrels of lager.

The staff at Windsor Castle were baffled as to why the dray men would deliver such an order when they could find no trace of paper work for the delivery.

 The Real Windsor Castle  - Not!

Luckily one of the Royal protection policemen on duty had the where with all to realise that the lager was probably intended to be delivered to the Windsor Castle public house five miles away in Maidenhead.

A quick phone call to the pub confirmed his suspicions and the lager was duly delivered.

Pub boss Misko Coric was only too happy to receive the call as he had been waiting on the delivery which by that time was over three hours late – the 12 barrels were for his regulars to enjoy as they watched the England v. Croatia game on TV.

Its nice to know that there are some policemen out there with a wee bit of savvy about them.

An Awe-Inspiring Spectacle.

I don’t profess to know too much about the effects of global warming – that is not withstanding the dreadful weather we have encountered during the course of the past four weeks here in Scotland.

There has been much speculation as you know in the media, to the cause and effect of global warming not only in this country but also from numerous media outlets the world over.

An article which caught my attention featured a few icebergs situated off the coast of Newfoundland in Canada, which I am sure you will agree makes for spectacular viewing.

The iceberg featured in the photograph above has probably fallen off a glacier in Greenland, it is believed to be over 15,000 years old and is as tall as a twenty-storey building and has the potential to weigh in excess of 10 million tonnes and will in all likeliness melt away if it floats any further south.

Living in Scotland it is highly unlikely that I will ever get the opportunity to witness first hand any thing similar to this awe-inspiring spectacle.

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No Common Sence What So Ever

Once again I find my self shaking my head in disbelief at the decision of another Jobsworth individual who has “authority” in a subject which effects the lives of many people here in the UK

This time the Jobsworth comes in the form of a driving examiner who failed a lady who was sitting her driving test for the 3rd time for the misdemeanor of splashing a pedestrian standing at a bus stop.

Given that the month of August has been one of the wettest in many a year it is inevitable that on our roads there has been a fair amount of surface water lying about in the form of puddles.

This politically correct individual could have exercised some discretion on this occasion given that it was her only fault – instead he went on at length and lectured her that by splashing the pedestrian she had actually committed a traffic offence in so far as it could be conceived to be a road accident and as such, she should have stopped and exchanged insurance details with the pedestrian. 

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Is it me or is that statement idiotic to say the least? - it is simply not practicable to stop in in a scenario like that and exchange details .

The traffic police (after pissing themselves laughing) would take great delight in writing you a ticket for obstructing the highway on giving them the excuse “I was swapping insurance details with some one I splashed”

In my humble opinion this driving examiner is a complete and utter plonker, this halfwit could have exercised some common sense in relation to the excessive weather the country has endured during the course of the past four weeks – he could have based the result of driving test on the over all performance of the lady in question instead of coming to the ridiculous conclusion of failing the lady because some pedestrian got his feet wet while standing at a bus stop.

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Expensive ? Not In Real Terms.

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In the media recently there has been much speculation that the cost of free personal care for our old age citizens in Scotland has shot through the roof in the present economic climate – the bill being £224million - almost double the first year's cost.

It might appear to be an expensive service in financial terms but the cost to the families (in real terms)who have to care for their elderly parents especially those parents with health problems are invaluable.

What the naysayer’s don’t seem to realise is the help these services bring to our seniors has been proved to be a Godsend - they tend to forget the little things we all take for granted – simple things like, getting dressed in the morning, getting up and going to bed, bathing, washing hair, shaving, oral hygiene, nail care, skin care, bed changing, eating and help in that most basic of needs – going to the toilet.

As a family and after much soul searching we came to the conclusion recently that it would be better for my father if we were to place him in to a nursing home where he could get the care and attention his condition demands ( he suffers from dementia).

The “administration” of doing so has been handled by my sister who to her credit had persevered during the course of the past 3 years or so not only looking after my father but also in caring for the day to day needs of my mother who is wheel chair bound after suffering a number of strokes.

The burden placed on my sister has been incredible at times and although my Brother, my wife and I have assisted where our circumstances have allowed us to, my sister has been the principal carer, Thankfully, having the services of a home help complementing the indefatigable work done by my sister in looking after my parents welfare - has truly been a Godsend.

It is only after having to admit my father in to a nursing home and the realisation of the financial burden to my parents in doing so - that we are only too grateful that the Scottish parliament has excelled in providing free personal care for its senior citizens.

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Traffic Wardens Again !

This morning I had the misfortune to lock horns with a traffic warden in my home town when I parked my car in a disabled parking space when I took my mother (she is wheel chair bound) to the local supermarket. - I was actually taking my sister to the shop but my mother wanted a bit of “fresh air” so we took her with us.

While my sister and mother were in the supermarket I got out of my car to talk to an old friend I had not seen for a while - after 5 minutes of catching up with the gossip I noticed a Jobsworth in the person of a traffic warden hovering about my car.

My car is not exactly just out of the show room if you catch my drift and on my return to my car was asked why I was parked in the disabled bay when I had no one with me of that nature.

I told him my mother was with my sister across the road in the supermarket and I was just chilling out in the car as I had just came of a night shift.

He didn’t believe me and basically called me a liar.

In spite of pointing out to him that the car was registered as being disabled and that a valid disabled parking permit was properly displayed in the windscreen - this idiot was ready for writing me a ticket.

It was only when my sister and mother returned to the car that he relented in his desire to issue the ticket.

Do these people not realise it is not always possible for the disabled person to return to the car from the place of their business and that in town centres especially - it is not always prudent to park directly outside the place where the disabled person is visiting.

The fact that the car was registered as being as disabled and that a valid disabled parking ticket was showing in the windscreen should have been more than enough for this cretin to realise I had every right to park the car where it was.

Perhaps if the authorities were to start giving out penalty points to those who abuse the system in the misuse of the disabled parking spaces in our town centres, then maybe I would not have to deal with as many jobs worth brain dead individuals as I presently have to .

No Excuse What So Ever !

Reported in much of the Scottish media today was an attack on the former captain of Celtic football club Neil Lennon who was treated in a Glasgow hospital after he was assaulted in the aftermath of Sunday’s Old Firm match.

It is understood that Mr Lennon who is now a coach with Celtic, was called a "f****n b*****d" during an incident in which he was attacked and knocked unconscious by two middle-aged men on his way home during a 200 yard walk from the local hostelry where he was having a quiet drink with friends.

During the course of his career at Celtic football club Mr Lennon has not exactly endeared himself to the followers of the Glasgow Rangers, indeed on more than a few occasions he has went out of his way to wind up the opposing fans - not that I am putting this forward as an excuse for this cowardly attack on Mr Lennon.

Perhaps if the anti - social antics of the players on the field (regardless of who they play for) were hammered by their respective clubs and the SFA if necessary, perhaps this kind of incident would not have the high profile it now merits in Scottish society today.

If nothing else, this regretable incident shows that there is a continued need for a consensus with regards to an implementation of an anti-discrimination policy to be carried out at all levels of society by anti-sectarian organisations such as Nil by Mouth, to which both Celtic and Rangers subscribe to.

Scotland's success in tackling sectarianism depends on how prepared we are to engage with – rather than ignore the issue.

Regrettable though this attack was, Mr Lennon might have been better advised in staying home on the evening following an old firm derby match played in Glasgow.
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Heart Breaking

Reported widely in today’s newspapers is the fact that the polar ice cap has melted to such an extent that the North Pole is now an “Island” Not reported so widely in the media is a heartbreaking story of nine polar bears found swimming in Alaska's Chukchi Sea approximately 400 miles from the nearest ice flow.

One of The Endangered Polar Bears

It is believed that they had to plunge in to the sea after the ice float they lived on melted – their homing instinct has sent them north towards the edge of the polar cap instead of 60 miles south towards the nearest land.

Scientists found the polar bears swimming in Alaska's Chukchi Sea and fear they will drown as they face an impossible 400 mile swim back to shore.

Animal charity, the World Wide Fund for Nature, said it was considering asking the U.S. government to send a ship, like a modern Noah’s Ark, to rescue some of the bears.

What’s keeping them?