Its My Tree

Don't Censor My Census!

2011-03-27T20:14:00.000+01:00

Today is Census day in the UK. I, being a conscientious sole, filled mine in weeks ago and popped it in the post. However when perusing the pages of the form I noticed it didn't ask any questions about pets...specifically Cats.
As some of you may know (but most of you don't care) I have a cat called Casper, and I am happy to be labelled a cat person. So it hurt me that Casper won't be counted in this census.
So I have come up with some questions that might be added to future Censi...

Question 60: How many cats do you own?
a) One
b) More than one
c) I haven't gotten around to getting a cat yet

Question 61: On 27th March 2011 how many Cat do you plan on having?
a) One
b) More than one

Question 62: Haven't you got a cat yet?
a) Yes

Question 63: How many cats are you going to adopt from Cats protection?
a) One
b) More than One

Question 64: When you get a cat what percentage of you earning do you plan on spending on it?
a) 50%
b 100%

Question 65: If you answered a) to Question 64 explain why you didn't answer b)
______________________________________________________________

Question 66: As goggies are our friends and you happen to be allergic to cats, how many Dogs do you plan on owning on 27th March 2001?
a) One
b) Some

The World According to Lorraine Day, M.D

2011-02-16T22:58:00.000Z

As I was channel surfing today I came across I "cable" programme called Question Everything. Ah, I thought, a programme designed to appeal to the like of me. I thought it to be a serious skeptial study into everyday issues....how wrong I was.

The programme featured Regina Meredith of the Conscious Media Network (alarm bells asounding) interviewing a seemingly nice, but mildly deluded lady called Lorraine Day who say she is an M.D (a fact I have no reason to doubt). It started off as a sincere piece on how Dr Day beat cancer by the use of natural means...OK I thought so far so good, a genuine balanced interview with many view points is to follow, how VERY VERY wrong I was. It became clear that Dr Day was a Christian, OK 60% of Americans claim to be so no harm, but she then went on to say some remarkable things. If I got the gist she claims that God and Carrot juice cured her, that Sunlight DOES NOT cause skin cancer, but most pharmaceuticals do....mmmm Oookay. Doesn't sound much like a scientist to me....
Then as she continued to speak the penny dropped. Dr Day is a believer of the New World Order, and a fully fledged Conspiracy theorist....Ah I get it now! Everything is a conspiracy to keep us all in our place.

She then went on to come up with a few new Conspiracy Theories I hadn't heard before, (I am a bit of a fan of the ole Conspiracy people...a lovely group of nutters they are!) so I popped over to her website, www.goodnewsaboutgod.com , (I shit you not) to see if I could add a few new ones to my old favs.

After three hours of reading this site (and didn't really scratch the surface) I have come to the conclusion that Dr Day is a hateful, deluded, blinkered, circular thinking. At no point does she present ANY empirical evidence for her increasingly bizarre claims. However the most disturbing is that she tries to give credence to some of the most hate filled, racist, and tenuous claims. From the home page alone it is clear she is a Holocaust denier, correction she is a Holocaust Revisionist, who's delusion is summed up in the following quote from her website:

"Holocaust Revisionists agree that Jews, Gypsies, some Christians, and some others were detained in German-run internment camps in European countries, including Poland and Germany, during World War II, the reason being that International Jewry had declared publicly, including in headlines of European newspapers, that if Germany went to war against England, the Jews living in Germany would sabotage the German war effort. This automatically made the Jews “enemies of the State” by any nation’s laws. However, Holocaust Revisionists do not agree that there was any German plan to exterminate Jews, nor were there any homicidal gas chambers in any concentration camps.!"

The extensive home pages rambles on with most of the good ole stables of Conspiracy Theorist, the Illuminati, Power of the Catholic Church, Bilderbergers, Kabbalah, and bizarrely Human Rights Tribunals (In which she claim you have no right to know your accuser, your charges or even that if you are believed to be telling the TRUTH you will be found guilty...not sure where this one has come from, Dr Day blames Canada....). A little wave of disappointment flooded through me as it seems Dr Day is a common or garden Conspiracy Theorist, but then I clicked on the "Political Truth" link. This led me to a page consisting of pure hate. The top of the page hails Senator Joseph McCarthy as an American patriot and the first link is to a story claiming that body searches in US airports is a deliberate policy to, "The TSA airport pat down is designed to desensitize society to sexual exploitation, part of our induction in the lowest rank of a satanic cult, the Illuminati." Other link on this page are:

Vaccinations by the Military Killing U.S. Troops
OUTRAGEOUS: UK Doctors Get Cash Prizes for Declaring Normal People as Crazy!
Diet Soda Linked to Strokes

And more worrying:

Jews Defend "Right" to Kill Gentiles - ALL Gentiles!
Hitler: Genius or Madman?
Masons worship Lucifer
...and link after link of Anti-semantic filth

That Hitler link leads to more and more nonsense basically saying Hitler wasn't such a bad guy after all. What rubbish!
After some time of reading this trash I was about to leave the site and file Dr Day as someone who just wanted an outing for her racist view (1st amendment protects her in this...), but then I notice the "Frequently Asked Questions and Answers on Health" link.....this lead to the most disturbing things about this woman.

It is set up as a Q&A section were surfers are invited to ask Dr Day, M.D questions on health. Well far as I could see she doesn't actually give an answer at all. Most of her responses basically say, "trust in God, drink Carrot Juice, and buy my DVD/Book/CD's/Audios", a lucrative venture I am sure. However Dr Day doesn't seem to have learned any manners, or helpful attitudes during her career as a physician. Here is a typical response (copied wholly):

"Q. Search Engine. We need a search mechanism for your site. I have a question about prions and the advisability of colonoscopy procedure.

A. A search engine would be desirable for someone looking for a "Quick Fix." True "Health" doesn't work that way.

You apparently do not want to know how to reverse your colon problem by natural methods. You just want to know if a colonoscopy is risky because of prions. Well, THAT answer is already on my website.

But if you want to know how to be well so you won't have to have a colonscopy, that information is all over my website, And a search engine would just undermine the process of learning from my whole website."

How helpful and considerate of you Dr Day!

But what of her revolutionary plan to cure cancer and AIDS (she states several times on her site that Cancer as well as HIV/AIDS is completely curable by her methods)

Here is her response:

"Q. AIDS. I would like to know if any one has been cured of AIDS using your system?

A. The term AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. That means that the person has a deficient immune system (an inability to fight disease) that was ACQUIRED - meaning he or she was not born with it. He or she ACQUIRED it sometime after birth.

Cancer is ALSO an Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome in that one can ONLY get cancer if his or her immune system is deficient (not working right). Generally people are not born with cancer, but it develops because of the way we eat and live.

Because one's immune system becomes deficient from the way we eat and live, the way we get well is to STOP doing the things that suppress our immune system and START doing the things that will nourish it and build it up.

I discuss the way one strengthens the immune system by natural methods on my video/DVD "You Can't Improve on God" and "Diseases Don't Just Happen" plus in my workbook, "Getting Started on Getting Well."

And for a direct answer to your question - YES, it is possible to reverse AIDS (totally) by using the Ten Step Natural Health Plan that I used to get well from Cancer. And Yes, people HAVE done it!

There are NO incurable diseases. However, remember, in order to get well it is necessary to STOP all habits and activities that harm the body. One CANNOT get well from ANY disease if he or she continues to harm his or her body and continues to suppress the immune system"

OK just in case you missed it under all the pizzazz of the sales pitch for her DVD here is is again...."There are NO incurable diseases."

Just how deluded is this woman? She claims, against the BEST medical knowledge in the World, that SHE has found a cure for Cancer and AIDS!

But I save the worst for last...and this waffle goes on for some time...

"Q. Trusting in Science and the Scientists. I came across your website and found some troubling information. You seem like a very decent human being, so I am bringing these things to your attention because I know that you would want them explained or fixed.

1. Under the "When is Jesus Coming?" page, I noticed you wrote that Jesus will come when the earth is 6,000 years old. But astrophysicists, geologists, astronomers, and other scientists have calculated the earth is already 4.55 billion years old. Why is the scientific consensus so off the mark?

2. What are the names of the computer programs and scientists you cite for computing the age of the earth?

A. I am also a scientist in addition to being a physician.

I was 3 months short of finishing my Ph.D. at the University of California, San Francisco (which I took while I was an Associate Professor at the Medical School), before moving to Southern California. As both a physician and a research scientist, I know very well how Science is constantly changing!

What was considered "absolute" one year - was totally outdated the next - in both the medical and research journals. All physicians are required to complete a certain number of Continuing Education units every year in order to remain licensed. But the medical journal articles are only "good" for credit for one year after they are published - because - what is "true" this year - is no longer true next year.

All one has to do is look at the subject of the treatment of breast cancer over the last 40 years. It is almost unbelievable the flip-flops that the so-called "experts" in Orthodox Medicine have performed over that period of time. Millions of women have been terribly maimed and left with immensely swollen arms that are entirely useless - as well as being horribly painful - and the medical profession says, "Oh, THAT is how we thought we should treat breast cancer 40 (or 30 or 20) years ago, but now we know that wasn't the way to do it. But NOW, we do know how to do it!"

But they DON'T!

Orthodox physicians and research scientists are responsible for killing FAR more people than are killed by 1) guns, 2) traffic accidents, and even 3) wars! People want to ban guns, and give heavy fines and imprisonment for manslaughter by vehicular accident, and there are huge protests against war. Yet Doctors are the biggest “Killers” in our society! Why don’t we outlaw doctors?

Physicians are viewed as "saving lives" - and that is what a Physician should do. But, in reality, the medical profession (backed by the so-called Scientists) have become Agents of Death! (Abortion, death by chemotherapy, surgical mistakes, and dangerous prescription drugs with their deadly side effects.)

I personally have seen thousands of patients DIE from the "treatment" we doctors have given them. Finally, I woke up - to see that "Science" is a gigantic FRAUD!

My point is that Science is Constantly Changing! So I don't trust "Science." Astrophysicists, geologists, astronomers and other scientists are ALL just people - and ALL fallible. I even made a DVD about the subject. It is called "Double Blind: What Science Can't See." It is on my website at www.drday.com

The reason I am totally well and cancer-free today, well over a decade AFTER I was sent home to die (by the Doctors/Scientists!), is that I learned NOT to trust the "Experts." I WAS one of the "Experts" and I found out that NO Orthodox Physician knows ANYTHING about getting people well from ANY disease.

We are ONLY taught to "treat" symptoms, NOT the CAUSE of the disease. And the "treatments" we are taught to use are ALL terribly harmful to the body. And they NEVER cure! It is true that some people actually survive the "treatment" but that is only a testimony to the amazing, superb, body that God created that can take SO MUCH punishment - - from the so-called "Experts!"

THAT is why I don't put my trust in "man" – in scientists and doctors.

I choose to trust God. Because I know that the so-called "wisdom" of man is foolishness with God.”

God was around when HE (God) created the earth. There is NO scientist alive today who was around when God created the earth - NOR when the earth supposedly "just happened." I know how they figure the age of the earth as billions of years old, and their figures are all based on nonsense and "shifting sand."

When one studies the theory of evolution vs. creation, it is clear that there is overwhelming evidence for creation - AND for a "young" earth, and there is NO evidence for evolution, except for man-made models in museums that are based on the imagination of the scientists. These models are based on NO documented evidence whatsoever.

The reason many scientists refuse to believe in a Creator God is NOT because of insufficient evidence. It is because if there IS a Creator God, then the scientists are beholden to Him and they’ll have to live their lives differently. In addition, they cannot control God.

But if YOU choose to trust in error-prone and fallible "man" - that is your right. And I support your right to do that.

I, however, having been an agnostic for most of my adult life, finally realized the utter foolishness of trusting in "man" and "man's" fraudulent, constantly changing, and totally inept "science."

In fact, one of the reasons I developed severe cancer that almost took my life, was that I TRUSTED in "man's" knowledge. I trusted my Physician Professors and my Science Professors in my medical training - ALL of whom were DEAD WRONG. And many of them are also literally -- DEAD - from disease - because they did not know how to get well!

By the way, the man considered by Science to be the most brilliant theoretical physicist alive today, and the man many believe to be the smartest man on the earth, is Stephen Hawking. But his “brilliance” is only in the eyes of “man.” The Bible tells us that the “wisdom of man is foolishness with God.”

Stephen Hawking is so “smart” that he is a total invalid, confined to a wheelchair, without any understanding of how to be well. He is unable to walk, speak, write, bathe himself, comb his hair, or go to the bathroom by himself. He is totally helpless because he suffers from Lou Gehrig’s disease (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), a disease he GAVE to himself (ignorantly, of course) due in large part to his reported tyrannical, domineering, selfish, self-centered attitudes (Yes, anger is one of the leading causes of disease and death), as well as his total ignorance of God’s simple Ten Step Health Plan that could have prevented and reversed his disease. But he is so blinded by his “intelligence” that he will have nothing to do with God – or real truth!

For thirty years, Hawking was married to a Christian but he totally rejected any interest or belief in God. He could have prevented his disease by thinking, acting, behaving, and eating GOD’S way rather than his own way (“man’s” way). He is now “reaping what he has sown.”

Is that is your idea of a “brilliant scientist”? Are you suggesting I put my trust in the supposed “brilliance” of Stephen Hawking and others like him, instead of trusting in the wisdom of the Almighty God of the Bible?

There is NOTHING that needs to be “explained or fixed” as you put it in your question.

If I had trusted in Science and the Scientists like Stephen Hawking, and the other supposedly “brilliant” minds in medicine - I would now be dead!"

Not only does she not adress the question put to her IN ANY WAY WHAT SO EVER...she rambles on to claim that Science is a fraud, that ANY evidence present by a human is invalid as humans are flawed.

But most dispicable is her attack on PRIOFESSOR Hawking, currently the greatest mind on this planet. She blaims his illness on his lack of ability to "understand how to be well" How dare she.

Dr Lorraine Day was not always this deluded and full of hate. A little research into her past show that she campaigned to bring to light the truth about how AIDS is spread and it was a threat to anyone. Reading some of her own press it looks as if she had a promising career in medicine until she was dignosed with cancer. I do wonder what happened to her metal state during this time to turn her into this monster.

To quote her again:

"But if YOU choose to trust in error-prone and fallible "man" - that is your right. And I support your right to do that.

I, however, having been an agnostic for most of my adult life, finally realized the utter foolishness of trusting in "man" and "man's" fraudulent, constantly changing, and totally inept "science." "

An ozymoron if ever I read one....

I don't know the size of Dr Day's following. I do hope it is very small. I do wonder how the same mind that can hold the knowledge of Medical Science can then dismiss it in favour of other ideas that offer no proof, no evidence, and only rely on speculation, anicdote and spurious testiment.

But of course don't just listen to me, go out there and ...Question Everything

I don't do Christmas

2010-12-12T13:02:00.000Z

“Merry Christmas mate!”

The voice called out behind me. I turned, gave a smile and a nod of the head and turned back to go on my way.

“I said Merry Christmas!”

The man, who was wearing a santa hat and an air of after office drinks, spread his arms as though incredulous.

I smiled again, wider this time and bobbed my head with a little more energy. The I turned and tried to proceed on my way home.

A hand grabbed my upper arm and there was enough pressure to stop me in my tracks and turn back yet again.

“I said I wished you a Merry Christmas.” The man now spoke slowly and dipped his head as though speaking to a child or an imbecile.

I looked at his hand resting on my arm and imagined grabbing his wrist and rotating it towards his torso while bringing my other hand under his elbow and pushing up. At the same time my right leg would sweep away his feet from under him and he would drop to the floor completely in my mercy. From there anything could happen. I am not prone to any violent impulses but you have to be able to know what to do when assaulted by unwanted well wished don't you?
He may have read my mind because he removed his hand as though it was suddenly hot.

“I heard you the first two times.” I grinned manically at him as I spoke calmly.

“Well..?” Was his reply

“Well what?”

He seemed completed incandescent with disbelieve. “Well don’t you have something to say back to me?”

The smile faded from my face for the first time in the exchange.

“No”

“You are supposed to wish me a happy Christmas back!”

His head had cocked again as though speaking to a child again.

“Who says?”

He didn’t seem to have an answer to that one. He shook his head as though I was asking him to explain what a Higgs-Boson Particle is, or recite Hamlets soliloquy in Latin.

“Well everyone knows at Christmas you wish everyone a....” His voice trailed off as though he had heard for the first time his own argument.

“I don’t do Christmas mate.” I said with an indulgent smile and made to turn away and go about my business.

“You don’t do Christmas? What sort of man are you?”

I stopped dead in my tracks. On my left foot I spun around to see the man stood, arms starched to either side. He looked serious. I took the two steps toward him so that I was uncomfortably close to him. He swallowed.

“I don’t do Christmas, but the question you should be asking is what IS Christmas? It is surely not a Christian festival to celebrate the supposed birth of their prophet. Even the most optimistic Theologian knows that they can’t say for sure when Christ was supposedly born. Most think October but estimate range from July to January.

“So is it a Winter Solstice festival? Not really, as mid winter isn’t on 25th December. The only real festival that starts on 17th and ends on 25 December is the Roman Saturnalia. It is a fun time of food, drink, sex and human sacrifice. The early Holy Roman Empire didn’t like this idea so arbitrarily placed the birth of Christ on the 25th to stop such pagan lust spoiling their route to power.

“So maybe it’s a happy pagan myth of a gift giving old man who sneaks into our house? If so the red suited, white bearded, ruddy faced man you are used to isn’t him. That character was created by the Coca-Cola Company in the 30’s.

“So when I say I don’t do Christmas what I really mean is that no one does Christmas, because no one knows what Christmas actually is.”

With that I turned and walked away. Several steps later I turned around and shouted at the retreating man.

“Happy Saturnalia!”

He didn’t respond.

Pope A Dope Yet Again

2010-09-15T19:16:00.000+01:00

I have blogged about the free holiday an elderly German is getting, but now on the eve of his arrival I feel a need to blog some more.

In September Joseph Ratzinger is to visit Britain. An elderly 83 year old German born man will spend sometime meeting people who agree with him and shaking a few hands. The cost of this holiday? £15m! £10m of it paid for by the tax payer. The rest is being coughed up by the very people he has come to meet. On top of this £1m is being spent on policing the "events"

OK you may already know Ratzinger is the Pope and his holiday is a dodgy state visit. The thing I am perturbed about is that in a time of financial concern we are paying out £10m to make sure this visit goes ahead. Hold on a minute, I am not Catholic, or even religious yet my tax pounds are being used on someone I completely disagree with. The balance of the costs are being footed by the poor saps going to Church this morning and being asked to dig deeper. This is the Catholic Church! One of the richest organization in the World. Surely they could pay for the whole visit as a gesture of good will. I mean they are not the most popular group these days are they?

Now on the eve of his arrival his buddy, Walter Kasper (Don't confuse him with Casper T. Cat), has come out as a bigot, a racist, and a xenophobe. He also stated his dislike of atheist's but I assumed that was a given.
He has said that..."when you land at Heathrow you think at times you have landed in a Third World country.
He also criticised British Airways (BA), saying that when you wear a cross on the airline "you are discriminated against". And that the UK is marked by "a new and aggressive atheism". Coool...looks like we are doing something right then

It is clear that this church is becoming increasingly irrelevant in the modern world. Even its followers have greeted his visit with apathy.

On BBC Breakfast this morning a call was made for Ratzinger to resign to put the child abuse scandal behind them. I would go further, let Peter Tatchell make a citizens arrest and extradite him to Belgium to answer for charges of collusion after the fact.

I can feel it in the air tonight....

2010-08-20T19:18:00.000+01:00

Have a shufty at this....
http://www.metro.co.uk/news/838457-psychic-radio-dj-saves-cat-by-sending-out-healing-vibes-on-air#comments

As you can see my local radio station has its very own psychic! Oh goodie.

I have come across Janet Crawford before. She is a product of the Spiritualist Church and had up until recently been some harmless Lady with nutty ideas about her own "abilities"
However now she has hit the big time.

Most so called "Psychic Mediums" have a point in their careers where they want to branch out and spread the word. Some Medium try to "help" the Police in cases. Or in the case of one Liverpudlian Medium made claims to help the Police which the Police then denied. This practise is horrific. It only shows that to get good press they will trounce over the feelings of victims of crime or their families.

Thankfully Mrs Crawford has not gone down this path. She has aimed so much lower. Basically the item is a puff piece and not meant to be taken seriously. And most people with a sense of reason will treat it as just that.
For me the last line of the quote from Miss Morgan was groan inducingly misguided. She says, "I can’t explain it, so Janet’s explanation is the only explanation."

Oh dear.

If we all take the first available explanation as the truth then we would all still be rubbing mustard on our foreheads to relieve a head ache, or snorting Rhino horn to get a harder erection.
I won't be able to supply an accurate explanation for this event (if it actually took place...more on this in a minute) without more information. because as we all know to make an accurate assessment we need all the facts and not just one anecdotal statement. How far away does Miss Morgan live from Psychic Janet? Do they actually know each other? I know it say Psychic Janet contact Miss Morgan by facebook but I can sit next to someone and still contact them by Facebook on my iPhone...and so on.

You may have notice I cats doubt on this actually happening. My reason for this is not just my natural Scepticism, but the fact that while doing a bit of research I found out that Psychic Janet is actually going to be hosting a big Psychic Evening in Bolton hosted by...wait for it...BoltonFM, the very radio station she works for. Could this be a publicity stunt? I do hope so to be honest.....I further wonder who Miss Morgan works for....could it be BoltonFM?

I don't know if this is indeed the fact but without the full story only Psychic Janet knows for sure, oh and Ginger (an obvious name for a Ginger Tom...could have done better there)

As a foot note the one comment on the piece made me giggle:
"Why didn't the psychic contact Miss Morgan through her psychic powers?"
Andrew, London, 19/8/2010 16:53

Kitty Training School....Awwwwwww

2010-07-30T11:02:00.001+01:00

News Flash!

2010-07-21T15:44:00.000+01:00

Due to the torrential downpours in the North West, United Utilities have declared an Umbrella ban.....

David Cameron has been in the US and visited the White House...he spent a confusing few minutes wondering why the butler was trying to shake his hand.....

SSL International, the maker of Durex condoms, is set to be sold to Reckitt Benckiser - the firm behind Cillit Bang cleaner and Finish dishwasher tablets...insert your own jokes here...

Cameron has said a pull out of Afganistan could start in 2011...by my rough calculation that means on another 45 British troops will be killed...PULL OUT NOW YOU SLAMON CHOPPED MUPPET! Sorry...don't know what came over me.....

Sport....footie season not started yet so there is no Sport.....;-)

2010-07-21T15:34:00.000+01:00

Ken's Road To Magic: Part Two

2010-07-21T15:29:00.000+01:00

It has been nearly a year since I posted Ken's Road To Magic: Part One so I thought it would be a good time for an update.
Well my journey has been in fits and starts. The legendary Worsley procrastination got the better of me on many and occasion but I have kept at it and am close to writing a FULL SHOW! Yes no small time for me...heehee

Seriously I have set am aim quite high and have given myself a year to get it up and running.
As I have said on many many occasion and bored many many people, I am a big fan of Sir Derren Brown of Bristol and he has inspired me in the direction I want to take the magic. I am still working on card magic but have moved into Mentalism and Cold Reading (yes that thing so called "psychic mediums" use), along with some redesigned traditional stage magic I think I might be on to a winner.

Couple of of sticking points. One is practise. I do intend to unleash my new found powers on an unsuspecting public in small doses. A trick here and there shown to friends and colleagues but I will need a larger audience for some routines. The other problem is what style do I want to do it in? I want to be modern but slightly spooky. I don't want to go down the path of the Victorian psychic, or ultra modern street magician, or the sterile Bright white smile and botoxed forehead of the Vegas crowd. So I need a theme/style.

If there is anyone out there who has any suggestions get in touch...

Reply to Anonymous Comment on Débile Grand Prix: July award

2010-07-17T17:14:00.001+01:00

A comment was made on my last blog post called: Débile Grand Prix: July award

Anonymous said...

Her child.... her opinion/belief... respect it!

17 July 2010 11:47

I didn't think that I would have enough space in the comment section to properly reply to this, and was worried it might get lost in the deluge, so I thought I might address this in depth.

Firstly thank you Anonymous for your comment. I do wonder why most of the comment made on my blog are anonymous. I have had several direct mails with in depth arguments or even support for what I write, but none as brief as this one.

There are several things I would like say.

1) Nowhere in my post do I say that that January Hershe had no right to hold beliefs or that she didn't have the right to treat her child in the way she saw fit. The whole point of my post was too highlight the errors in her claims of fact. She was presenting anecdote and assumption as evidence. She also was blinkered in her view and offered no real evidence. Here is a quote from the last paragraph in my post:

At no time are any other reasons explored.
At no time is any empirical evidence presented.
At no time is the theory put up for testing.
At no time is it noted of any other symptoms, pain, or discomfort because if this did happen and Hershe did nothing to relieve the pain or discomfort then she would look very bad in the readers eye. This is an example of cherry picking the "evidence" to suit her own theory.

I will allow the reader to make up their own minds as to whether she was in anyway negligent in her treatment of her child. She does state that the child had no lasting effect and I do hope this is the case. I will point out that children often lie to their parents to please them. This is a well known fact to child psychologist. A child that is told by a loving parent that a treatment will work may lie about the level of discomfort or pain to please that parent. I am not saying this was the case because I cannot possible draw this conclusion without access to the relevant evidence. I am happy to accept that the child is absolutely fine and suffered no ill effect. However January Hershe would not post anything that might imply otherwise would she? If she did her whole argument would crumble....

2) Dear Anonymous you seem to believe that an Opinion and a Belief are the same thing. I disagree:

Opinion: a personal view, attitude, or appraisal.

Belief: confidence in the truth or existence of something not immediately susceptible to rigorous proof.

It is often a mistake that people think their opinion is a belief and vise versa.

My opinion is that January Hershe is the type of person who would stoically stick to her beliefs no matter what evidence is present to counter her beliefs. In this she is typical of many who believe in alternative medical treatments who will continue in potential dangerous procedures without any empirical evidence.

My Belief is that the treatments highlighted in Hershe's article do not work. I have searched for the evidence that they do work and have only found evidence that may suggest that they are no more effective than placebos.

However I state these things with this caveat: I am entitled to hold these beliefs but I will willing change them if evidence is presented to me that challenges this belief and present empirical proof that my belief is wrong. I claim the right to change my opinions and beliefs when new evidence or proof arises.

I wonder how many New Age or Alternative therapist would do the same?

All the above is academic really because the thing that really got me annoyed about your comment Anonymous is this....

...respect it!

3) For too long in our World peoples beliefs seem to have an embargo against being challenged. It seems that when belief raises it head then reason, rationality, and truth are expected to be ignored. We are expected by those holding these beliefs that we wont do or say anything that may upset them. What reason is given for this?
Respect.
In my book respect is earned. If those who hold these beliefs want respect then do more than just demand it. Offer reasons and evidence for what you believe.

ALL beliefs should be challenged. Mine, yours, January Hershes, The Popes, and anyone who expresses a belief.
Any rigid belief should happily offer itself up for challenge. Science is based almost entirely on challenge. A scientist who believes something to be true will conduct experiments to try and proof it. If successful they publish their results so it can be peer reviewed. Once this is done can it be accepted as true. Even then if new evidence arises then new challeges are expected.

I don't see this behaviour in any beliefs that demand respect.
Religions demand protection against being challenged under the guise of being discriminated against. (I hate discrimination in all forms, this included so called "positive discrimination").
Alternative medical practises demand they are given the same billing as conventional medicine in the NHS but without the same rigorous challenging that all medical treatments need to go through (hopefully Homeopathy and its ilk will be removed from the NHS soon).
Psychic Mediums refuse to take part in experiments to prove their claims to be able to contact the dead. When challenged they make threats to those who challenge them. They use frivolous law suits, libelous claims in Newspapers and Websites, and direct threats of violence to try and deflect any form of Challenge.

So no I won't respect any claim or belief until it presents evidence it is true.
To arbitatilly respect those who demand it is as good as agreeing with them.
"What's the harm?", you might ask. Well here is a few examples:

Kristi A. Bedenbaugh, aged 24 of Little Mountain, South Carolina sought relief from sinus headaches from her chiropractor. A neck manipulation caused a brain stem stroke and she died three days later. The chiropractor later paid a $1000 fine.

Frances S. Denoon, aged 28 of Bristol, England visited a chiropractor to relieve some neck pain. On her second visit, "my world went into a dizzy spin" with nausea and loss of speech. The neck manipulation had caused a brain stem stroke.

Other beliefs that you might think are harmless.

Isabella Denley aged 13 Months, of Kew, Victoria, Australia was prescribed medications for her epilepsy. Instead of using them, her parents consulted an iridologist, an applied kinesiologist, a psychic and an osteopath. She was being treated purely with homeopathic medication when she died.

Gerry Rowley aged 82 of Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, A psychic convinced this retired blind man to allow him access to his bank account. He took thousands of pounds from it. The psychic got 18 months in jail.

25 supermarket workers in Hungary. A supermarket chain took the personnel files of employees to a psychic, who identified more than two dozen of them as thieves. They were then fired.

All the above are true stories. You can research them yourself, in fact I urge you to do so, but they are not isolated cases.

"Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. If this evidence is not forthcoming then the claim can be dismissed without thought."

But as I always say, Question Everything, so don't take my word for it, go and find out for yourself.

Signed, not Anonymous,
Ken

Débile Grand Prix: July award

2010-07-10T13:03:00.001+01:00

OK this one is another doozey.
Have a read of this article

For those who don't want to read let me give you a quick run down of the gist.
January Harshe's six year old child started to break out in allergic reaction rashes on her face, stomach and arms. Instead of rushing he child to the doctors she did nothing. Instead she "trusted" the body to heal itself. OK, so far so good. I am open to the idea that the human body can do remarkable things, but I am also aware that the body is fallible and can frequently attack itself. So Harshe being a conscious mother kept a close watch on her child didn't she? Yes she took picture and posted them on Facebook along with her intention of not to seek medical advise. Okaaaaaaay. What next? Did she take measurements of temperature, pain responses, size and type of rashes along with dozens of other records to document the course of the experiment?
No, she took picture for a photo diary....
Did she administer any treatment on her child? Yes of course she did. Let me quote...

"He [Brandon Hershe, January's husband and Chiropractor] checked her regularly and when a subluxation was found, he adjusted her. I did give her a few things to boost her immune system like Cod Liver Oil, Garlic Oil, and Probiotics. What ended up helping the most for itching and topically was expressed breastmilk! It was amazing!"

JARGON BUSTER: Subluxation - "•Chiropractic term that means one or more vertebrae are out of their proper alignment." What connection this has to a rash is not explained in the article.

OK some of you might have gathered that Harshe is not just an everyday Mother. She is a writer on the website "The Atlas of Life: A Blog About the Philosophy, Art, and Science of Chiropractic" The later bit is the important factor here. From reading other articles on the site Brandon is a chiropractor.

Now the worrying thing is not the fact Harshe allowed her child's allergic reaction to bloom without any medical aid (make your own judgements on that), but her logic expressed in the article.

Here is an example:

"I am convinced if I was uneducated and took my daughter to an M.D. and gave her drugs, it would have actually made it worse. I think she would have suffered side effects from the drugs."

What evidence does she have that medical treatment would have been harmful? If she has any then she doesn't present it here. I suspect she has none. Although the article she uses phrases like, "I think..." or "I am convinced..." without qualification. This is not evidence but opinion and should not be presented as fact.

"It turned into a 12 day photo journal and me educating people that when nerve interference is not present, the brain and body can communicate perfectly and the body works just how it needs to. I was not shy in emailing a few people back and letting them know I am an educated mama and would never put my child in harms way. That if at any point I felt she needed more help (problems breathing, etc), I would get it. In the meantime, however, I would trust her body to do its job and teach her to do the same."

OK, at no point does she qualify the claim to be educated. Any reasonable person would read this as being medical or anatomically trained but she doesn't make these claims. And what help would she have sought if needed? Further chiropractors? Again she doesn't go into any detail. But what drew my eye was Nerve Interference, it sounds an technical medical term doesn't it? Oh no it isn't!

JARGON BUSTER: Nerve Interference: [Note: no dictionary results] "The basic premise of chiropractic is that alterations in spinal mechanics can lead to nerve interference, potentially leading to pain and/or ill-health."

Harshe ends her article on a high!

"So, what happens when you let an allergic reaction heal itself? It does just that…heals itself! With no harmful drugs, without weaking the body. It actually strengthens the body! Remove nerve interference and the body can heal above, down, inside, out!"

So all is good yes?

No.

There are so many flaws in the article I don't know where to start...OK I do.

Firstly Hershe makes the assumption that one test give an empirical result.
This is incorrect. There are no preexperiment test to ascertain preexisitng condition. There are no evidence of a cause. read the article thoroughly and she give no reason for the Allergic Reaction . Is it an allergy to food stuff, material, seeds, pollen? What would have been the result of a similar child with the same reaction being treated with properly perscribed drugs? Where is the double blind test?
This test can be dismissed as being worthless as the methodology is flawed.

Hershe claims that no treatment of the child allowed the reaction to heal.
Yet she contradicts herself:
"We boosted her immune sister with Cod Fish Oils (great Vit. A and D3), Apple Cider Vinegar, Probiotics, and Arnica. I also applied breastmilk to her face and that helped the itching immensely."
I am happy to accept that Vitamins and other natural occurring substances can over time boost the immune system but I am weary of the claim this works in such a short time.
This test can be dismissed as the claim that no treatment allows an Allergic reaction to cure itself is contradicted in the article itself.

Hershe uses a catch all treatment for an unknown allergy.
In the article Hershe says:
"At the time we never knew what it was. The kids had recently gotten through the chicken pox (which was awesome…seriously we were so happy they got it and fought it off naturally). We had recently cared for a stray kitten for 3 days. Brandon let them roll around in a field a few days before she broke out, so we thought maybe it was Poison Ivy. It wasn’t until about 2 weeks ago, much later, that a friend pointed out the whole side of our hosue was covered in Poison Oak. So this may have been the culprit!"
So at no time was a diagnosis given. On this basis alone the test can be dismissed.

For me however the biggest give away of Hershe motives are the fact she is clearly a follower of Chiropractic, Natural Healing, and for some reason the use of Breast Milk in treatment.
She falls into the same traps of people who are immersed in a belief they fail to see the errors in there own circular logic.

"So the child gets a rash, we treat her with Vitamin, Breast Milk, and chiropractic, the child appear to get better, therefore treatment "cured" her."

At no time are any other reasons explored.
At no time is any empirical evidence presented.
At no time is the theory put up for testing.
At no time is it noted of any other symptoms, pain, or discomfort because if this did happen and Hershe did nothing to relieve the pain or discomfort then she would look very bad in the readers eye. This is an example of cherry picking the "evidence" to suit her own theory.

So for your flawed thinking, blinkered vision, and narrow minded view, January Hershe, you are July's winner of the Débile award. Your prize, a copy of A Beginner's Guide to Scientific Method by Stephen S. Carey.

Pleas note any spelling mistake are due to my Aphasic Dyslexia so please look at the content and not my grammar. The speeling mistake in the quotes have been left alone and are not mine!

Débile Grand Prix: June award

2010-06-27T12:39:00.000+01:00

The Débile Grand Prix is my periodical awards for the biggest moron of the week. Now as some of you might have gathered from my twittering to date I have a low tolerance for Ignorance, Narrow Mindedness, and blinkered thinking. So these awards will go to those who have particularly caught my eye.

So here are the Inaugural winners.

Not So Bonnie Prince Charlie Award For Regressive Thinking

Prince Charles, the heir to the British throne is no one to keep his opinions to himself. Even if these opinions are plainly bonkers or don't make sense. His general thinking on matters is this, "Thing were better in t'oldern days." OK I am paraphrasing, and he would never say "t'olden". However let us bask in the corpulence of The Prince of Wales....

"I would like you to consider very seriously today whether a big part of the solution to all of our worldwide “crises” does not lie simply in more and better technology, but in the recovery of the soul to the mainstream of our thinking. Our science and technology cannot do this. Only sacred traditions have the capacity to help this happen."

OK so he is saying the progressive science and technology whose movement by it's definition can only move forward, should be replaced by backwards looking "sacred traditions"? Does he mean Religion by any chance?

"…After all, empiricism has proved how the world fits together and it is nothing to do with a “Supreme Being.” There is no empirical evidence for the existence of God so, therefore, Q.E.D, God does not exist. It is a very reasonable, rational argument, and I presume it can be applied to “thought” too. After all, no brain scanner has ever managed to photograph a thought, nor a piece of love, and it never will. So, Q.E.D., that must mean “thought” and “love” do not exist either!"

Oh dear. There he goes. I was considering a lengthy reply to this but the website 21st Floor says it better....

This startlingly ignorant remark only ‘makes sense’ if you adhere to a metaphysical notion of ideas and emotions whereby they exist independently once they come to the fore, rather than resulting from a wide array of complex internal processes and outside stimuli. They are responses, not entities in their own right.

Moreover, arguments over God’s existence are not limited to whether God empirically exists (deities tend to be ‘supernatural’ after all) but can proceed from logical deduction and philosophical argumentation. In any case, why precisely should this be science’s concern?

So, Charles, Q.E.D., you’re talking gibberish.

He goes on trying to claim his arguments are on a par with Galileo and I switched off.

The argument that God exists because thought exists has been done to death years ago and Charlie should not be trying to join in now because it makes him looks very, very old fashioned in his thinking.

I am afraid that in a fast progressive world the view of Charles and his ilk are becoming more and more irrelevant. Unfortunately he also has a platform to speak from and a position which means he will never be directly challenged on his view. I will say this to Prince Charles, If you want to enter this kind of debate then throw of the cloak of privilege and take on a real thinker...Mr Dawkins perhaps?

(As I used the words of Dario Battisti from 21st Floor I hope he doesn't mind. Maybe if I plug this excellent website. Visit http://www.thetwentyfirstfloor.com/ right now!)

The "My Alternative Opinion is better than your Proven one" Award

Our next winner has been all over twitter this week. His views are widely known and ridiculed, however he has now been given a position of power!

David Tredinnick MP for Bosworth has been appointed to the Health Select Committee, a parliamentary body that will “examine the expenditure, administration and policy of the Department of Health and its associated bodies”. OK so what I hear you cry? Well lets have a look at what this man seriously believes:

He is an advocate of "alternative" therapies. He has spoken in support of both Astrology and Homeopathy as genuine treatments for illness despite there being NO evidence that these things work. He attacks anyone who tries to point this out by claiming the Scientist and Doctors that demand proof are "racially prejudiced"
Tredinnick has stated that "alternative medicines" can not be tested in the same way as mainstream medicines because scientific methods such as double blind testing and peer review require evidence of proof. He seems to think that proving something works is not important...
But the real doozie is that he has stated publicly that blood cannot clot under a full moon so no surgery should take place during a full moon. Despite the fact that for decades major and minor surgeries have taken place without a single reported incident of lack of clotting.

This is only a small potion of this man's insane view. I can honestly say I won't want to try and stop him saying such things but he should not be allowed to use his position to make statements that are patently untrue and have in fact been proven to be false (in the terms of homeopathy) without allowing them to be genuinely challenged. In fact Mr Tredinnick would like his position to be protected from challenge.
In May 2007, David Tredinnick was among 98 MPs who voted to exempt themselves from the Freedom of Information Act, ending the compulsory legal requirement for MPs to disclose their expenses.The move was later overturned by the House of Lords.
Why would he want to do this?
In 2009 it emerged that he tried to claim the £125 cost of attending a course on "intimate relationships" through his MP's expenses. He was also found to have used expenses to purchase astrology software, claiming it was for a debate on alternative medicine.

So here we have tow people who try to use there positions of power and privilege to impose their views on the World without challenge. Either, in the case of Charles, he traditionally can't be approached, or in Tredinnick's case he incredibly uses the race card or Parliamentary law to try and deflect challenge.

As I have said previously. I don't want to silence these people. If I know they have the freedom to express their views then I will have the freedom to challenge them. But let us all arm ourselves with the facts and not just believe people because they seem to have positions of power. Let us not confuse these positions with wisdom or intelligence.

Oh no.....

2010-06-23T22:08:00.002+01:00

....it's the Germans on Sunday.

This will be....tense.

England Vs Slovenia

2010-06-23T20:20:00.000+01:00

Phew!

Much, much better, but still some squeaky bum moment towards the end there.

The team looked like a hungry group who have realised they need to start playing if they don't want to watch the final form their millionaire mansions.
It would be wrong to single out one player as it was such a good team performance. However when Rooney came off we didn't look as potent and dropped 20 yards deeper. The rest of the team need to know they are allowed to be adventurous even if Rooney isn't on the pitch.

Well done lads and more of the same on Sunday with a few more goals if that's OK....

England Vs Algeria

2010-06-20T11:14:00.000+01:00

Oh dear.

I tweeted this ten minutes into the match, "I have a bad feeling about this....". I am sad to say I was right to be.

It has been written elsewhere and in copious amounts how bad that England performance was so I won't go into more player bashing.

To a man they were uninspired and lacking any spark. Not what we know and England side to be.

To Capello I would say, stop being stubborn and ditch 4-4-2. Go 4-5-1/4-3-3 letting Rooney and Garrard loose and giving Lampard space in midfield. This will also open the door for Joe Cole on the left. I like SWP but he has no end product, Cole at least tries different things. Will Capello do this? I doubt it. He will stick to the 4-4-2 he used during qualification. Problem is that every other team has watched those matches and know we are predictable.

Still I will be cheering the team on next week with more hope than conviction.

ConDem Cuts

2010-06-17T19:12:00.000+01:00

The cobbled together group that calls itself a government has announced £2Billion of cuts. They say that in the grand scheme of things it is only less than 1% of the total deficit.
Tell that to the 100% of the employees of an iron works in Sheffield, or the patient in a Warrington hospital who are asked to go onto cheaper, less effective, drugs due to the 4% cut in their hospitals budget.

Look carefully at the scheme that have been cut. Put a pin in a map of the country and look at which parts of the country they fall. Look at the list of local council cuts and see how many councils in the South East are in the top ten of cuts.

How about this as a proposal. They say to cut the debt a 2% cut across the board is necessary...them lets cut everything by 2%. Keep the schemes but reduce the budgets. Keep the services but cut back funding by this tiny amount. Oh but that means this ConDem government has to keep Labour policies whether it is a good idea or not....that's just not Tory

Look at the top 10% of earners and see if they will suffer from any cuts, I doubt it. New ConDem cuts, same Tory attitude.

In-Ger-La-Hand: vs Yankee Doodly Dandies

2010-06-13T12:36:00.001+01:00

Oh dear.

I was at The Lowry with Derren Brown (and 2,500 others...) so didn't watch this match live. I did avoid the score until I got home and watched the replay on BBCHD.

Firstly the negatives: Capello dropped a rare "bollock". Green should not have been in goal, but I suspect James was his first choice and ruled out through injury and thought Green was ready to step up. Big mistake. Green broke the first rule of goalkeeping, keep your eye on the ball. Due to this he definitely gifted the US a draw.
Another Capello error was playing Milner. He looked ill form the kick off and clearly wasn't up for it. SWP was a good replacement but I stand by my opinion that Joe Cole should be given the chance to shine.
Come the next game Barry will be fully fit and take up his hold role, freeing Gerrard on the left and Lampard up the middle. So I suspect Joe Cole will continue to be England forgotten man.
Ledley King was not up for it from the whistle....he is increasingly looking a crock for England. Give Dawson a chance.
Another niggle was Rooneys failure to grasp the game from the start. Now Heskey played well (despite the pass the keeper when it was easier to score), however when England play Rooney/Heskey up front then it forces Wayne deeper and he is less able to influence the game. Play him alone up front, drop heskey and throw in another attacking midfielder (Cole again?)
But more disturbing is the lack of ability to keep the ball. One Nil up just before half time and all we need to do is short accurate passing and keep the ball away from the opposition. What do Lampard and Garrard try and do? Tricky, complicated, low percentage passes as if trying to get another goal. Why? Go in at halftime one up and come out second half with renewed energy. The result was a US break and Green's mistake. Wouldn't have happened if England had the ball...

The Positives: Hesky looked good. He isn't a scorer and people should get off his back. He is there to win the ball in the air, knock down second balls, and fall over when fouled. Only one person does that better and that is Kevin Davies at Bolton...if only he was English...oh he is! But plays for an "unfashionable" club. Shame on Capello for not considering him. He does Heskeys job better and can score. So ner!
On the attack England looked dangerous. We keep up the pace in the last third and in SWP and Lennon we have two people who can alternately run at players and beat them with a cross.
In the later stages Rooney got more advanced and showed what a threat he really can be. More please and we will be OK. Gerrard and Lampard seem to have worked out how to play together, they now have to shine. Both are world class but won't be considered it until they prove it on this stage.
Terry looked solid until he got a knock and disappeared form the game for a bit. We shouldn't have worries in HIM, but only for who will partner him.
The biggest positive was a point. OK it's not a win, but more importantly we didn't lose. The remaining two games should hold any problems for us, but we need to learn the lesson. I am watching Algeria V Slovenia with interest now.

England in '66 drew their first game.....

Derren Brown: Enigma

2010-06-13T12:01:00.001+01:00

I had the pleasure of attending the last night of Enigma at The Lowry in Salford. (12/06/2010)
If you are a regular reader of this blog you will know my devotion to this bearded brain fiddler and his "Magical" abilities, so it won't come as a surprise that I loved this show. What surprised me was how it has re-sparked my desire to create my own Magic Show/Psychological Entertainment/Mentalist Experience.

I will not give away any of the details of the show but even though his presentation is familiar to anyone who has seen either Evening of Wonders or Something Wicked, but Derren never seems to do the same trick twice and his repertoire is endless.

Derren is easy to watch on stage and comes across a hugely likable guy, something that the carefully edited TV shows doesn't portray. Last night the show was full of humour. Not sure if this was scripted or Derren reacting to a lively audience, but either way it worked very well. If you meet Derren on the street while he is out shopping for Taxidermy magazines or copies of Parrot Weekly then ask him to do his Stewie impression...spookily good.

It is not easy to do a full review of a show without giving the game away, so I will leave you with the idea that Derren's delicious, slick, cuddly, creamy, show is a polished delight that has all the off beat surprises that he is the master of.

Also I was two feet away from him and refrained from throwing myself at his feet and worshipping him. In fact I managed to get through the show without making a fool of myself. I do often wonder if I met him in person would I be starstruck or a bundle of fast talking delighted nervousness...I suspect the later.

Derren Brown has been a big influence on me in recent years...In a healthy way I may add. I do make a joke of worshipping him but I would say it is more admiration and inspiration than stalking and obsession. To this end I have delved into the studies of Magic, Psychology, Skepticism and Science. An interest these things have already existed in my mind but he inspired me look deeper. But I have to admit that of late my studies have lapsed somewhat as a result of my Chronic Procrastination. However thanks to Richard Wiseman's 59 Seconds book I am on the path to full recovery from this condition.
Watching the show last night has relit my fire...in a none Take That way...and I am enthused with a desire to throw myself into it again.

To this end I will be starting another blog dedicated to gathering my own troop and start designing our very own show.
Yes Ken is going be stop commenting on thing and start doing things.
Watch this space....cos I will be doing the important work in another space and you will never Tell how I did it....

Pope A Dope Again

2010-06-02T23:06:00.000+01:00

Have a butchers at this...

“The future Pope Benedict XVI refused to defrock an American priest who confessed to molesting numerous children and even served prison time for it, simply because the cleric wouldn’t agree to the discipline. The case provides the latest evidence of how changes in church law under Pope John Paul II frustrated and hamstrung U.S. bishops struggling with an abuse crisis that would eventually explode.
Documents obtained by The Associated Press from court filings in the case of the late Rev. Alvin Campbell of Illinois show Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, following church law at the time, turned down a bishop’s plea to remove the priest for no other reason than the abuser’s refusal to go along with it.”

I only way the Catholic church will remove a convicted child molestor is if HE agress to be removed. Un-bee-leave-a-bull. He should be castrated not allowed to keep his job!

Another example of how religion is not relevant or able to survive in a modern enlightened, moral society.

Ooops...looks like we have had a false start

2010-05-30T12:37:00.000+01:00

When the Con/Dem government released their plans I honestly thought that the tripping point would have been typical Tory plans peeking through a shaky agreement...but how wrong could I have been?

Firstly was the stealth plan to privatise the education system. Announcements on free schools and academies being able to opt out of local education authority where they want too. But the kicker being THERE IS NO EXTRA MONEY! So if a free school or academy wants to go it alone then they can have a government grant...oh and they will take that money away from state school rebuilding programme. Typical old school (pardon the pun) Tory policies. Give the private sector all the breaks and screw the state run service. Big society eh? Oh and a word for any parent who thinks they will get a better choice. These new fantastic schools will have stricter enterence polices to avoid parents trying to trick their way these new shiny palaces. My prediction is that all these new schools with high scores and good results will be in wealthy area with middle/upper class attendees. No new schools for inner city, or province towns.

Secondly sleaze. Less than a month into the Con/Dem coalition and we have a sleaze scandal, and a doozie at that. A government minister has been found to claim £40,000 in expenses for renting a room from his partner. OK, a room for 40k???? Was is wallpaperered in gold? But the shocker was that is wasn't a Tory, it was a Lib Dem! Shock horror! David Laws, who laughingly was in charge of government spending, was caught out by the Daily Telegraph claiming funds to give to his "secret" gay lover. OK the guy said he was trying to hide his relationship so as not to be discriminated against. OK David a little word...no one cares that you are Gay, but they do care that you have been stealing money from the public finances to feather your lovers nest.
Laws has now quit to "clear his name" which is politicians speak for "fair cop". He is going to pay it back...like this makes it right. You should not have done it in the first place. The public hate all this slimy expenses nonsense and this is proof that the Con/Dems "New Politics" is the very same as the "Old Politics".

Worsley's Weekly Wound UP

2010-05-23T17:14:00.000+01:00

BA and the Unite union play at pattercakes. Tweeting during negotiations. Here is a peek at what was tweeted, "int is gr8 tht his name is willie. hahahahr"......Scientist have created artificial life in a lab. Katie Price has asked it out on a date.....Blackpool FC have been promoted to the Premiership. Jokes galore. It will be a rollercoaster ride. Kiss Me Quick before you get relegated, etc.....Five expensive paitnings have been stolen. Police said they are looking for Brian Sewell....Sarah the Duchess of York has been caught on camera trying to get lots of money out of someone for nothing. No one is suprised....Most of the Con/Dem cabinet have been out of the country while Nick Clegg delivers the news that cust will be deep and painful. Under the rules of, "He who smelt it delt it" he is the one to blame....

Pope A Dope

2010-05-23T11:54:00.001+01:00

In September Joseph Ratzinger is to visit Britain. An elderly 83 year old German born man will spend sometime meeting people who agree with him and shaking a few hands. The cost of this holiday? £15m! Most of it paid for by the tax payer. The rest is being coughed up by the very people he has come to meet.

OK you may already know Ratzinger is the Pope and his holiday is a dodgy state visit. The thing I am perturbed about is that in a time of financial concern we are paying out £8m to make sure this visit goes ahead. Hold on a minute, I am not Catholic, or even religious yet my tax pounds are being used on someone I completely disagree with. The balance of the costs are being footed by the poor saps going to Church this morning and being asked to dig deeper. This is the Catholic Church! One of the richest organization in the World. Surely they could pay for the whole visit as a gesture of good will. I mean they are not the most popular group these days are they?

I do hope that the Con/Dem government ask for certain assurances such as not preaching against personal liberties such as using contraception, gay marraige, and they make a full and frank apology to those who have been abused by Catholic Priests or any other Catholic employee. This should include a plan on how the church is going to investigate these crimes and compensate the victim (and not by the collection plate).
If they don't then they should not be allowded into this country as suspects in a crime. Several counts of conspiracy after the fact should do for a start, and I could think of much much more.

The Con/Dem coalition agreement: Part Four; The Return

2010-05-20T13:01:00.000+01:00

Phew...all this for so very little. Once more into the breach!

Pensioner and people who say, "I am 84 you know....": Basically you will work for longer and have less retuirement time. Time to perfect immortality!
Political reform...this is the area where Nick Clegg sold his soul, so lets look what he got....Established fixed-term, five-year parliaments. Ensure 55% of MPs needed to back dissolution of Parliament. Bring in referendum on voting reform. Give voters power of recall, forcing by-election where MP found to have done wrong and petition signed by 10% of constituents...OK so far....Committee to look at wholly or partially elected Lords - to come up with draft motion by December...Oooo a Committee!...some technical stuff about streamlining Parliament...Is that IT? No mention of PR or any other voting reform! A referendum and a committe...well done Nick! Pathetic!
Public Health: Give GPs greater incentives to tackle public health problems....like Duh!
School: No real work here except..New providers to enter state system in response to parental demand. How very Tory! No scrapping of league table or SATS!
Social action: (I didn't even know this was a "thing": National Citizens Service for 16-year-olds. Dormant bank account funds to go into Big Society Bank. Public sector workers to get right to form employee-owned co-operatives. National "social action" day. ....OK is it me or is all this just "flannel"? Big Society Bank...stealing money from people who have probably forgot about a bank account they had years ago and creating something no one want but ole Salmon Chops!
Taxation (howls like a wolf): Increase personal income tax allowance to £10,000. Capital gains tax rates to rise to a level "similar or close to those applied to income". Review of taxation of non-domiciled. ...Oh. Nothing new. Disappointed. Hold on how are they going to pay for the £6bn Cuts and other things that will COST money not save it? I am confused..not as much as Thicko Oik Osborne

OK thats the bits I care about. I might have left some bits out...BBC (Bulletpoints Building Concerns) have higlighted somethings I missed...Oh hum! Mine is funnier...I hope

It's good but is it stolen art?

2010-05-20T12:37:00.000+01:00

Five paintings by Picasso, Matisse and other great artists have been stolen from the Museum of Modern Art in Paris, police sources say.
The paintings stolen are estimated to be worth some 500m euros (£431m; $618m), the sources say.

OK I don't have an alibi for last night and these five new paintings on my wall are just coincidence....besides I don't even like Matisee...Ok thats a lie.

Ona serious note, how would someone fence these? Anyone buying them can't show them off can they?

The Con/Dem coalition agreement: Part Three; The Revenge Of The Tories

2010-05-20T12:30:00.001+01:00

Third and last part...I hope.

More Nuclear Power Station but the LibDems reserve the right to object to them....oooer how toothless of you Nick!
No new runways anywhere! (Especially in Tory marginal seats....)
More wind......Power
Free Vote on Hunting Act....PLEASE defeat the government on this...no LibDem wishywashy...Pro Fox Lobby Yay! Keep Fox Hunting Banned! Save Basil!
Plant some tree...kill some badgers...no dangerous dog owners
Promte Equal pay...to the Rymans Premier League! Should be Barclays Prem....
UK not to join Euro....why does every government of this Country keep having to say this? Can we not all agree we don't want it and leave it said?
Crackdown on irresponsible advertising and steps to stop commercialisation and sexualisation of childhood....was this happening? If so the Advertising execs should already have had the expenses Credit Card removed and waxed of all body hair then fired!
Foriegn Affair...they made Hague foreign secretary so it proves they are not serious on foriegn policy or they have a better sense of humour then we thought....apparently sending a guy called Frank to US...hope Obama kicks his arse (Ass for US readers...love you!)
Immigration..Annual limit on non-EU economic migrants admitted to UK. Speed up asylum system. End detention of children for immigration purposes....I am right in thinking that Immigration was a key subject during the election. This seems woefully weak as a response.
Jobs and welfare...not much. end welfare to work schemme and replace with a new scheme with a shiney new title but same mess. A work for yourself scheme...Norma Tebbit would be proud
Justice. Anonymity in rape cases to be extended to defendants...about time! Historical convictions for consensual gay sex for over-16s to be treated as spent and removed from criminal records..Yay! A LibDem one there methinks. Neighbourhood "restorative justice" to deal with anti-social behaviour and low-level crime...flogging? A Tory one there methinks....
National Security...yep they will have some of that
NHS....seems that mooted cuts by the Tories have rightly been shouted down and the ring fence remains in place. Hopefully the planned year on year increases they are pomising will remain...Leave The NHS Alone! Create Cancer Drugs Fund to enable access to treatments deemed necessary by doctors..was this a LibDem one?

OK there is more so there might be a part Four...

As a footnote: Cameron has won his vote on the 1922 Commitee...a way to try and silence the core, die hard Tories? Good luck pal! Most of them are so old they are officially zombies! Gulp!

Labour Leadership Lollalopoza!

2010-05-20T11:04:00.000+01:00

Bucking the trend that you have to be called "Ed" or "Milliband" to be in the reace three others have joined the fight.

Back bencher John McDonnell. Seen as a left winger, but has a decent cross. Poor going forward and has scored the odd own goal....

Andy Brunham. Must be the most hansome of the contenders, so a swoon factor. MP for Leigh but doesn't speak funneee.....

But the big news is Diane Abbot has thrown her hat into the ring...hope she gets it back once it's over. Abbot the first Black Woman MP. Mostly known for being on TV on This Week political show. Funny, smart and apparently good company...she doesn't have a chance!

So we have...Balls, Burham, Abbot, McDonnnell, Milliband, and Milliband...would you hire that firm of Solicitors?

The Con/Dem coalition agreement: Part Two

2010-05-20T10:53:00.001+01:00

OK BBC have read some more of the agreement...

NO Council Tax rises in England for a year....and a freeze for a further year...Oookaaay. Bit like offering a lollipop of a tax freeze then hitting you over the head with VAT, Income tax, and NI rises.
Interest Rate caps on Credit Cards..thought banks had alreadyr eluctantly agreed to that? Same with Bank charges...are they going to claim credit for bank Reforming themsleves? I suspect so.
Better food labeling...Phew I always get Apples and Cod Fish mixed up!
Crime! Better recording of hate crimes against disabled, homosexual and transgender people ( a big yay! LibDems again? Can't see the Tories giving a toss...)....Amend health and safety laws to ensure "common sense policing"....Does that mean I can lift a pen at work and not have to fill out an assessment form?
Culture, Olympics and sport...business as usual...that's good, right?
Defense..oh nononononono...don't mention Trident...shhhh...Cut Ministry of Defence costs by at least a quarter. Ensure service personnel get more rest and provide support for ex-personnel to go to university. More support for veterans' mental health needs. Review of rules on awarding medals....what about some clear help for returning Soldiers? Help The Heroes does more for them than the Government!!!!

And....dum dum de duuuummm

DEFICIT REDUCTION: Main burden of deficit reduction to be tacked by reduced spending cuts, rather than tax rises. Stop rise in National Insurance. Cuts of £6bn to "non-frontline services" in 2010/11 (Job cuts, less paper clips...doesn't add up...taxes to come). Full Spending Review this autumn (thats when the cuts will really come...just as Labour were doing..mmmm). Reduce spending on Child Tax Fund and tax credits for higher earners (keep it for lower earner or you WILL have a revolution) Cut quangos (then explain what the word quango means......)

More to come but so far nothing new or unexpected. Council tax freeze the only slight suprise, but if you look at Tory governments of the past they alway tried to cap Local Government spending...plus Labour gained sets in local elections. Tory and LibDems lost some...mmmmm

World Cup Wound Up: Part One

2010-05-20T10:36:00.000+01:00

England team goes to traning camp in Austria....Sky Sport News hail rooney as fully fit on basis he scored against Joe Hart in a training game, great!...Capello spotted telling jokes in a Irish accent (report not verified)....29 out of 30 man squad in place. Barry is injured. Capello insistant he only pick fully fit players....Milner distracted by tranfer talks. Can the teams PLEASE wait until after the finals. We don't need distracted players!...Suzanna Reid on BBC Breaksfast said she wants to see a World Cup Willie. Nice...Murinho hails Champions League final more important than World Cup final. He's bonkers, but we like him...

Group Stage Predictions
Groups A: Winnners: Mexico. Runners up: France
Group B: Winners: Argentina. Runners up: South Korea
Group C: Winners: England. Runners up: USA
Group D: Winners: Germany. Runners up: Serbia
Group E: Winners: Netherland. Runners up: Denmark
Group F: Winners: Italy. Runners up: Slovakia
Group G: Winners: Brazil. Runners up: Portugal
Group H: Winners Spain. Runners up: Chile

Ken's World Cup Predictions
Spain to win...England runners up! Yup a rollercoaster ride for us. But from the Quarters onwards is a toss up.
At least 1 key England player to be sent off...but NOT Rooney. I think Terry, Lmaprd or Crouch may see red.
No African team to reach second round....A bold prediction! I just think the European teams are too strong for even the South Americans.
Most goals scored than in any other World Cup.
Rooney to get Golden Boot.
David James will be No1 and not make NAY gaffs...apart from hair do....

One last thing....COME ON ENGLAND!

The Con/Dem coalition agreement: Part One

2010-05-20T10:13:00.000+01:00

Just reading through it now.....

Sunny Intervals
Max Temperature: 23°C 73°F
Min Temperature: 15°C 59°F

Ooops clicked on the weather instead...OK my web skills have declined with my suffering. I'll try again....

Banking system to be reformed...Oh thats new...NOT!
Royal Mail ot be slowly leaked to the private sector...Tories got their way
Business...A fair bit is wishy washy promises about small business relief. Come on get some balls! (Not ed...)
Civil Liberties. Scrapping ID card (good), Scrapping ContatcPoint database (good), No Biometric passports (good), no new unnecessary crimes (good). Seem the LibDem have got their way here...oh now wait...A Freedom Bill? Is that a Dubya Bush policy? A Bristish Bill Of Rights? Am I in the right country? Looks like the Cons wanting to scrap the European Convention on Human Rights litle by little...hope they replace it with something british rather than luke warm US type bills

That all thats on the BBC website so far...They do have the full text of the document but I am not that ill!

Icky poo and TV

2010-05-20T09:48:00.000+01:00

I am suffering from a bought of food poisoning. I won't be so crude as to supply details but I am sure you can imagine.

Due to an operation some years back my digestive system has been replumbed like a waterworks rebuilt by a Polish plumber with OCD. Therefore any slight upset tummy (yes very twee) is magnified by a signifigant factor.

One result is that my sleep has been interupted. I find myself waking in the wee hours to do the necessary and not being able to get back to sleep. So I stay up watching a bit of early hours TV. That coupled with the time off work I have come up with this conclusion...the TV shown at 4am is significantly better than the TV shown between 9am and 3pm on Terrestrial TV. (Sky doesnt count as it has 2,347,753,784,521 channels)

The Strange Post Recession World

2010-05-19T21:20:00.001+01:00

Well it looks like we can finally say, tentively, that we are out of recession and entering a slow burn recovery.
But how has the recession really effected the population of the UK? Yes there have been some job losses as the credit squeeze has crushed some small/medium companies, but the average earnings of working people in the UK remain pretty stable. It has become more difficult to get credit but there has been no decernable drop in disposable income. Sales of luxury goods have barely been dented. We all know there are cuts coming up and the popultaion seems to be braced for it.

But we must have changed in some way, right? I mean the recession was the worst for decades! I grew up during the 80's recession and the World then was a grim and ugly place. How is it that we seems to have weathered this one better?

Well I have done some research to try and find out why....

In a recession we come over all right wing
Yes thats right. In an economic recession the populus tend to vote for more consertative parties. The idea is that we all become a little more inward looking and politcal idea that reflect that become more attractive. hence the swing vote towards the right in the recent UK election. Liberal thinking tends toward others, a welfare state, universal healthcare etc. Thes things cost money so if the perception is there is less cash then we want to keep it for ourselves.

Spending money on things that seem to be extratanious drops. This includes non core charities (i.e ones that don't directly effect us personally), organic or enviromentally friendly spending. Yet we continue to spend on ourselves. Sales of HD LCD TV's, Bluray players, iPhone, holidays, clothing, have all either stablized or increased since the begining of the year.

It seems we have become selfish. Cutting "good cause" spending, and increasing "reatil therapy". Will this make us all happy and ready to face all these savage cuts? Sadly no.

The best advise comes from Prof Richard Wiseman in his excellent "self help" book 58 seconds. You want to spend yourself happy? Then buy experiences rather than things. Buy tickets to a gig/play/opera/film, enjoy it and tell all your friends how much you enjoyed it. Go to a museum, historical place, or zoo and experiance the event. An iPhone is good but the thrill with be short lived.

Don't delay, go see a play today!

Catch Up Time

2010-05-19T20:49:00.000+01:00

It has been awhile since I blogged so here is a quick round up of what has happend since last time....

Gordon Brown called a woman from Rochdale a bigot during the General Election campaign...it didn't seem to make any difference to Labours vote which was higher than expected...didn't stop Salmon Chops Cameron from getting the most seat but thankfully no majority....The Lib Dems, whose vorte collapsed in some part of the country, held the keys of power,. Go figure!....Nick Clegg sold out his ideals to become Camerons lackey...We now have a Com/Dem coalition gevernment that doesn't seem to have any clear ideals or direction....

A volcano erupted in Iceland spewing ash all over Europe...all it seems to have caused in the UK was a slow dawning of the idea that the general populus care more about going on holiday that then very own lives!

Thailand erupted in revolution...people in protest threw bags of blood at government building...not sure whose blood....I am wearing a red shirt in empathy....

The excellent Derren Brown quietly and politely "pwnd" an alledged psychic medium from Liverpool....it turned out that he couldn't actually do any psychic reading but blamed eveything but himself, he just showed himself to be a twat....

I have been tweeting muchly....

I was actually engaged in the Election and voted tactically. Visiting a website to find out how to keep the Tories out. It turns out the way was to vore Labour, go figure!...

Chelski won the Premiership ahead of Manure, Hooray!....Bolton Wanderers stayed up, Hooray!...England are third favorites for the World Cup, Tenative and premptive Hooray!

In cricket a bunch of South Africans won a trophy for England...I was confused

Casper T. Cat remains a furry Buddah of joy and giggles....

My writing is still a pending thing....my Magic is lacking practise...Avatar was only a slight disappointment....I still think Fabio Cappello looks like Frank Carson, it's the way he tells um...

The Labour Party are looking for a new leader....apprently the only qulifications you need are to be called either "Ed" or "Milliband" (joke supplied by Armando Ianucci via Twitter) ...

I am currently suffering from food poisoning...a dudgy chicken wing....yuck

Equalize me!

2010-03-25T11:09:00.000Z

I am a big fan of Equality.

"Well duh", I hear some of you (all one of you) say as you roll you eyes, "You are an intelligent, enlightened and sexy man. Of course you are a fan of Equality! And exclamation marks!"

Despite it being a no brainer the right to be judged on the same level as your peers seems somewhat elusive. Now the one area I feel there is a creeping implicit squeezing of equality is in the area of Sexual Equality (I will pause a minute while we all get the childish jokes out of our system....OK done now?).

I am sensing a rise in a disturbing trend in subtle sexual discrimination...against Men! (dum dum duuuuuuum!)
Take a look around you at advertisements aimed at women or, more disturbing, young girls. You will see that there is a thread of low key hostility to men. One huge culprit is a TV ad for an oven cleaner with the tagline, "So easy, even a man can do it."

What message are they trying to give? Do they really think that making men look stupid they will trigger a rush of women to buy household cleaning goods? Yes let’s enforce THAT stereotype...

Have look at TV and magazine ads and see this underlining theme.

I know that counter argument that for years women had negative image in the media, but does doing the same to men mean that it makes things even? Or should we be equal and fair in the treatment of all sexes in the media?
Another area is in the workplace. Now I accept that at higher levels there is no real pay equality and there are not enough women in high level positions. But these changes will take time. The men that hold these position are (mostly) highly qualified and experienced businessmen and shouldn't be forced to step down, especially for a less qualified and experienced person. Over time it WILL equalize. More and more capable women will be taking high level position in major companies.

What worries me is a trend for workplace support groups for women. Now on the surface these seem quite harmless. A resource for a section of society who might need a hand....However the women’s group in the company I work for seems to have an unequal standing. I work for a large corporation and the work force is divided 70/30 in favour of women. Yet it seems important to have company sponsored group that, "encourages the advancement of women". Recently they held a week of events and both the CEO (twice) and the Chairman attended and made speeches. My point is why do they need this level of representation if they are demanding equality? Isn't that in itself unequal?

Don't get me wrong I am not suggesting a male led uprising. As I said at the start I am a fan of equality. In my whole working life I have had more female bosses than male, and I have no problem with this.

There are problems with pay equality, but other than this there are sufficient laws in place to protect a woman’s right in the workplace. If there still is discrimination then employers should encourage a whistle blowing culture with no comeback on the blower. In fact in most workplaces mothers with children have the greater tolerances to absence and working hours. This is entirely correct, but occasionly, and sadly, opens to abuse.
My point is this: You don't achieve true equality by trying to make the other side look smaller. Copying the wrongs of the past doesn't make them less wrong because you have been the victim of those wrongs.
My view of equality is this: Everyone should be judged on their individual merits. We should not be judged by or discriminated against because of our sex, colour, race, sexual orientation, political views, or beliefs (or lack of them)

Being told that because of my sex I am just smart enough to clean an oven doesn't strike me as equal....

In the perfect world true equality will work, unfortunately human beings are not perfect and we will all make mistake of reason and emotion. Compounding these with stupidly following counter stereotype is just....dumb.

Strike! Wild Cat...wild, he's livid!

2010-03-23T13:35:00.001Z

Is it me or is there more and more Industrial Action taking place recently?

Unite called out BA staff for no really logical reason, now British Gas is being threatened with Industrial Action over there "macho management"...what does that mean????

Is there rule in the TUC handbook that says the more obscure or daft the reason the more likely a strike will be called?

I fully expect NUT to call a strike because they are being forced to teach children.

Of course during a recession people become more fearful for their jobs and are more likely to agree to action because of any perceived slight. People want to take back control of their lives, even vicariously through their union.

I used to be quite active in a Union until I came up against the type that only wants to use the union as a way to build a power base. They don't really care about their members but like the shine of their egos. They also tend to have Liverpudlian or Essex accents and have backgrounds in Dockworking or Car Manufacturing. I could never understand what they knew about the Casino business...

I generally have middle left political tendencies, yet I fear a rise of the old style Militant Trade Union. It can only be destructive. Trade Unions should look after the workers not the political ambitions of there leaders.

Piccies!

2010-03-23T13:13:00.001Z

Here is Casper T. Cat relaxing after a full hour of napping.

Here is me but older....I love my iPhone. This is done with an app called Aging Booth
P.S I am NOT this old in real life

The Big Cyber Boxing Match

2010-03-23T10:20:00.001Z

Innnnnnnnnnnnnn the Blue Corner. The Seattle Slugger...Goooooooooggggggllllllleeeee!

Innnnnnnnnnnnnn the Red Corner. The Tao of Mao, the Peoples Republic of Hurt....Chiiii-nhaaaaaa!

Keep it clean and all blows above the Belt....who am I kidding! Come on Google!

Get your snout outta my trough!

2010-03-23T09:02:00.002Z

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear.
MP's on the take again.

Taxi for Byers!

Three big names in the Labour party have been caught trying to pimp themselves out as major players in the government. Stephan Byers, Patricia Hewitt, and Geoff Hoon, all former members of the Cabinet have been secretly filmed soliciting cash for using their connections in Parliament and influencing government policy.
It is yet another nail int he coffin of credibility of the House of Commons.
The most Grubby (now the official term for the whole mess) thing is that all three tried to make themselves out to be more important that they are. Byers even admitted this! Byers said in a statement that he is only guilty of, " Exaggerating his own importance.." Surely this is fraud? If someone tries to obtain money by lying (exaggeration) or misrepresentation then they can be investigated under Fraud laws. Yet the "only" thing these people think they have done wrong is to not declare their interest to parliament. What about the public they have been elected to represent? Do their constituents really care if National Express want to keep two operating lines and ditch one, or Tescos want help in food labeling (Byers has some nice crayons he can use)?
Kick all three out and ban them from holding government office or company directorship for 10 year...of course this won't happen. They will be forced to apologise and resign their seat. They will then waltz into cushy corporate jobs.

The Honourable Member for The Maldives

Another Revelation (two in one day! lucky us!) is that dozens of MP's have been taking free holidays, sorry, fact finding trips to exotic locations around the World for free and coming back to Parliament and by sheer coincidence asking question in the house about the places they have visited.
One MP, Andrew Dismore Member of Parliament for Hendon (and amazingly a sitting member of the Commons Standards and Privileges Committee), made many trips to Cyprus then came back and asked more than 200 questions the House about....no not Hendon but Cyprus! I wonder what his Constituency think about all the time he wastes on a place hundred of miles away and not elected to represent?
Loads of MP's are doing it and their only mistake? Not declaring it to the house! Pah!

I have a cunning plan...

I think I have a solution to all this mess.
Fixed terms and no outside interests.
Yes all MP's can only sit for 2 terms, a maximum of 10 years. in the house. This will give them less time to feather their own nest and might put a bomb under their arses to go and DO something in Parliament for their constituencies rather than themselves.
They should also not be allowed to have any interest other than being an MP. No directorship for major companies, no "consultancies", no writing for newspapers, nothing that distracts from the job at hand! And don't moan about not being paid enough. The average MP wage is £64k....much much more than anyone they represent.

The Houses of Parliament need a reality check and Kudos to the press for revealing all this sordid and Grubby(Tm) mess...just when I thought the press were nothing but Churnalists.....

On a brighter note...(part One)

2010-03-20T11:44:00.001Z

The weather man on BBC News said today, "We will have a better looking gay tomorrow..."

Protest this...

2010-03-20T11:24:00.003Z

Today the English Defence League are holding a rally in my home town of Bolton. There is at the same time a counter rally by Anti Fascist League.
Now I detest the EDL. I think they are NF thugs with new t-shirts. Just because someone has told them not to us direct racist slogans doesn't mean that don't hold these vile opinions. I am English and I don't need protecting by these people. Along with Nick Griffin and his gang of un-house trained monkeys I truly believe they seek to spread fear and ignorance. Their narrow minded views should be shown up to be what they are...hate. If I had my way such groups would be prosecuted under discrimination and harassment laws.

However....

I wouldn't ban them from rallying. We can't uphold the principles of free speech and only apply it to those people we agree with and try to silence those we disagree with. These groups should be given an equal platform with others and put under the bright light of intelligent scrutiny. Only then can they be shown up for what they truly are. Under such a gaze their opinions and argument would crumble and we can all join in mocking them. The EDL and BNP have no strength of argument and mistake those who are fearful and ignorant of other cultures to be a following. Ask yourself, did Nick Griffin appearance on Question Time really give him legitimacy or did It show him to be an ignorant loon? I go the for the later.....

I confess....

2010-03-06T23:47:00.002Z

My name is Ken and I am a Sceptic.
I have been a sceptic for over 30 years and I know I will never be any different.
I watch in awe and amazement at the stupidity and short sightedness brought on by blind faith and myopic belief. I often have a jaw drop at the complete lack of intelligence, impartial logic, and rational thinking.

I follow my 12 steps (from my book shelf to my PC) and bring back a random book. This time it is Bad Science. I read it to ease my festering rage at how people can be so idiotic.

Follow my lead...Learn a new thing everyday. Challenge your own beliefs, if they stand up they are still valid, if they don't you need to change them. Don't ever, ever believe anything you are told without corroborating evidence...that includes anything I say.

My name is Ken and I am a Sceptic...and I couldn't be happier.

What did I miss?

2010-02-27T18:37:00.003Z

Well it's been sometime since I last posted so its time for a catch up.

Well I had swine flu in January. Not fun. My cat was nurse and he isn't a registered nurse or anything so I had to medicate myself.

.
..
...

That's about it for me. I live and interesting life don't I?

Never thee mind.

I have noticed that I have had over 11,000 views! Either I did get an audience or someones refresh button was stuck. I am betting on the latter....

So what is coming up?

More Environmental Scepticism. More religious Scepticism. More Spiritual Scepticism. More feline certainty. And a confession from me about a condition I may or may not have. Can you guess what it is? Play a game. Write down three conditions and rate them in order. When I post on it see if you were right! The winner gets nothing, nowt, zero...shame on you for playing a game based on someones health! Tut!

I am sorry. I have let down my family and cat....

2010-02-27T18:31:00.004Z

I am back!
Did you miss me? What do you mean no?

I stopped posting for a bit as no one was coming to read my waffling. Then I lost the URL. Then my cat distracted me by being cute. Then I was distracted by a thing.....

But now I am BACK!
And raring to blog.

Oh look a thing....

*waddles off*

Daft Religious Bonkers

2009-07-04T14:16:00.002+01:00

What a lovely title eh?

Well I would like to higlight a game show that is being broadcats in Turkey.

As posted on Derren Browns Blog:

"A Turkish game show is challenging atheists to reassess their views and win “the biggest prize ever”. Penitents Compete will bring together an Islamic imam, a Jewish rabbi, a Buddhist monk and a Greek Orthodox priest seeking to convert the atheists. The prize for any converted contestants is an expenses-paid pilgrimage to a holy site of their chosen faith.
But the producers say the show will also help contestants “find serenity” and raise awareness of the faiths. Each episode of Penitents Compete will pitch 10 atheists – carefully vetted by a team of theologians to ensure their non-belief – against the four faith leaders. The imam, rabbi, monk and priest will then seek to persuade the atheists of the merits and truth of their faith.
Adverts for the show promise: “We give you the biggest prize ever; we represent the belief in God. Believe, repent, God will forgive you.”"

How desparate are organised religions getting?
I think we shouldtogether a panel to try and deprogramme the rabbi, the imman, the monk and the priest. I wonder how miopic they will start to sound in the full glare of reason and logic?
I would choose Richard Dawkins, Stephan Hawkins, James Randi, Penn Jillette, and me.....

Don't Panic!

2009-07-03T14:38:00.002+01:00

By the end of August it is estimated thatthere will be 100,000 new swine flu cases per day....but don't worry.

The government has ordered enough Anti-virals for everyone, but they don't think they will be needed....don't fret.

The first death of swine flu is revealed in London...OH MY GOD! We are all dooooomed! Breka out the masks, the full body suits and raise a wall to stop the northerners getting in! Run around little a headless cock!

Move to Wales they have the least cases....

More Casper

2009-07-02T00:05:00.002+01:00

Presenting.....

2009-07-01T11:10:00.000+01:00

At long last Casper the cat...having a nap...awwwww!

Tweet tweet

2009-07-01T11:07:00.003+01:00

Yes I have given in and join the absolutely useless but utterly addictive Twitter. Please forgive me oh Bob!

If you would like to see what I have tweeted (got the lingo down to) park a butchers at the right hand of this very screen.

Not reall cool is it? But Eddie Izzard and Stephen Fry do it so I feel pretty good about it....so ner!

Dry heat

2009-07-01T11:03:00.002+01:00

Yes summer is well and truely arrived. Casper the Cat is all hot and bothered and doesnt know where to put himself.

But rememebr boys and girls to wear protection...no I dont mean a bullet proof vest and Kevlar helmet! Sun block! Sunburn is actually damage to the skin so teep that damage to a minimum. No one likes a mahogany Blog reader.

This meassage was brought to you by the letter D and the number 6.

Murray Mint

2009-06-30T01:04:00.002+01:00

A huge round of applause for Mr Murray for his win last night. Bravo! Long may it last...

Funny thing though...now he's winning he is British...if he looses he will be Scottish....

Ken's Road To Magic: Part One

2009-06-28T23:48:00.002+01:00

As you may have realised I am a big fan of Magic. As well as worshipping the Lord that is Derren Brown, the goatee master of mind fiddling, I like to read about magic and how it's done.
My library is getting quite large now, from the books of Hugard & Braue to historical book like Confessions of a Spiritual medium. I had previously only been interested on how magic works but I have recently started to actually practise card magic.
I have set up a practise table and have already performed a few tricks! Nothing serious just good illusions.

So I thought that I would bore, sorry, entertain you all with progress reports of my progress.

Started with the Royal Road to Card Magic. What a great book. teaches you all you need to know about card manipulation , slights and stuff. Starts a bit boring with overhand shuffle but quickly moves onto some simple tricks you can use with card control.

I have put together a simple routine with three or four good tricks. Also got Derren Brown's The Devils Picturebook and although it is aimed at intermediate magicians I have picked up sooo much already!

Today I have been practising Cup and Balls tricks. I don't just want to do card magic and vary it up a bit. I have a really good book on coin magic but it doesn't grab me the same way cards do.

Of course I am not going to reveal any secrets on here, but if there are any budding or professional magicians who happen to stop by here then drop me a line and we can chat about the dark arts....

The excuse of expenses

2009-06-21T00:02:00.003+01:00

As I haven't been around to make comment on the MP expenses mess, I just have this to say.
If you have to pay anything back then you are guilty of defrauding the tax paying public. Ignorance of the rules (or Law!) is no excuse to break them.
All MP's paying money back must be investigated for fraud....no excuse.

OK I am back!

2009-06-19T21:25:00.003+01:00

A desktop PC that went kapooey, a cat that sat on a mat and made me watch, and the dual prongs of a journalism course and studying magic have meant that I have neglected you dear blog for the second time. But fear ye not, password recovered and I am ready to Blog!

Well maybe later....

Sorrweee!

2009-05-14T00:00:00.002+01:00

I know I know!

I have neglected my blog of late, but for good reason. I have a new cat that keeps me distracted, so been giggling at him. His name is Casper and he is 10 months old.

I promise to get up to speed with this blog....such things as...Jade Goody the Musical and how wrong THAT is....MP's expenses...Prince Charles and his 100 days of Doooooooom....and much much more!

Please watch this space....

The Great Climate Change Propaganda Illusion:Part Three: The Green Green Custard of Home

2009-03-07T11:13:00.003Z

It is fate that events in the news dove tail nicely with the thoughts I am about to spew forth.

On Friday the Business secretary Lord Mandelson was attacked by Green protester Leila Deen. Now where I would normally support anyone protesting directly at a politician (because they don't know how to cope with real people), and I laughed at the image of lord Snooty covered in green goo, I can't help but despair at the manner that the protest was carried out.

It was basically a guerilla attack. Miss Deen dressed in clothes that would mean she could blend in to her back ground, she disguised her ammo in a symbol of corporate greed, she lured her victim in to a false sense of security and pounced!

Now in the interviews in TV after the attack (which was where the REAl protest was made) Miss Deen came accross very poorly and full of Upper Middle Class Rage (A condition caught in wine bars in Chelsea). Now I am not saying that the upper middle class cant have a conscious, but at least we should expect they get the fact right! Miss Deen firmly stated that 90% of all scientists support the Climate Change theory....ALL scientist? Do virologist, and nuclear physicist support it? Or care? Or are you saying Miss Deen that all scientist that work on projects trying to prove Man-made Climate Change support the theory? Well duh! In fact all the people who work on the theory support it, strange that...they are also very myopic and dismiss any other theory without due consideration. Solar, and particular matter theories to name just two!

Of Miss Deen only wanted the press exposure for Plane Stupid, a protest group against the expansion of aviation industry. I on the most part support this group ideology. I cant think of a reason to expand the runways at Heathrow and the way Miss spoke about that issue was very convincing. But when she started to talk about the "low carbon" policy and global green issues her language became the language of fear and ignorance. She used the term "our children have to live in a catastrophic future..", really? And the evidence is where? I am still looking for the definitive answer on that one Miss Deen, if you could point me in the direct of the empirical scientific evidence I would be much appreciated, but please don't sent me hyperbolic nonsense...it gives me a headache!

Of course Miss Deen wasn't the only Ecomentalist in the news. Al Gore wants a domain name of .eco to "help keep envirometal issue in the consciousness". The inconvenient truth is that Mr Gore really want a .ego domain. This puffed up arrogant nonsense spouter gives other envirometailist a bad name....

Of course all this press attention is just show biz hyped environmentalism. All they want is to win the minds of the public using techniques similar to both advertisers and extreme protest groups. Such as Anti Vivisection,and Fathers for Justice. Both groups have valid points but use techniques of protest that don't carry there valid message, such as climbing the out side of Parliament (gets news coverage but you issue is lost).

If you throw a statement at the public for long enough they take this as a fact and don't search for the real convenient truth. Fact get lost in the mass hysteria of public opinion.

The choice of custard was ironic, if freshly made then OK but Miss Deen looked like she would have used out of a packet. Custard manufacture uses cornstarch which has detrimental impact on the environment...oh the irony!

First Poll Results: Is there a God?

2009-03-01T12:59:00.001Z

Well the count is in, a whopping 100% of voters has declared that there is no God!

Can't argue with that now can you?

Oscar Gold!

2009-02-25T12:29:00.003Z

A big congrats to Danny Boyle and team for the Victories for Slumdog Millionaire!

Well deserved my man!

(Not that he would read this ever, but if you do Danny can I have an autograph...and maybee a job on you next film? A runner would do.....but if DoP is free, I'm you man!)

The Great Climate Change Propaganda Illusion:Part Two The Language Of Fear

2009-02-16T11:59:00.003Z

It is becoming increasingly clear what strategy enviromentists are using to strike an element of fear into the general public. The language used these days by the experts put up by the IPCC is becoming alarming.

In a recent press article it is claimed that a leading "Climate Change" expert said that global temperatures will rise at a rate otherwise not anticipated, and we must act now!

But hold on one moment there are a few thing we need to consider.

One the "Climate Change" issue has not been in the news much over the last months because of the bigger, more immediate problem of Global Recession. What better way to muscle in on headlines than come up with a dramatic and apocalyptic message?

Two, the expert doesn't even say all this in the report released! I have read it and can't find any referral to a more dramatic temperature increase, yet in interviews he says this is going to happen. And the press releases by the IPCC is full of doom ladened language, as it always is!

Now I am a fence sitter (leaning to skepticism), but surely the IPCC and other scientific based organisations should stick with releasing the facts and leaving the speculation to chunrnalist? Bob knows that the journos don't need any further cause for dramatic and misleading headlines.

The language of fear is used by people who want to scare people into an action but don't want them to closely examine the facts. I am still looking for the so called proof of Global warming and it bastard off spring "Climate Change". No I am not a denier, I know the World is warming but the reason for this seems far from clear at this time. I support scientific endeavors to find this proof but can't stand being treated like a fool in the press.

The search goes on....

Men Vs Women: Round 1 Language

2009-02-13T11:10:00.000Z

MEN'S ENGLISH:

1. I am hungry = I am hungry
2. I am sleepy = I am sleepy
3. I am tired = I am tired
4. Nice dress = Nice cleavage!
5.I love you = Let's have sex now
6. I am bored = Do you want to have sex?
7. May I have this dance? = I'd like to have sex with you.
8. Can I call you sometime? = I'd like to have sex with you.
9. Do you want to go to a movie? = I'd like to have sex with you.
10. Can I take you out to dinner? = I'd like to have sex with you.
11. I don't think those shoes go with that outfit = I'm gay

WOMEN'S ENGLISH:

1. Yes = No
2. No = Yes
3. Maybe = No
4. We need = I want
5. I am sorry = You'll be sorry
6. We need to talk = You're in trouble
7. Sure, go ahead = You better not
8. Do what you want = You will pay for this later
9. I am not upset = Of course, I am upset, you moron!
10. You're certainly attentive tonight = Is sex all you ever think about?

Aint Cats Great?

2009-02-12T21:33:00.002Z

Of all the domestic animals the ruler is the common or garden cat.

These undercover felines have a mean streak and the ability to completely run you life, you bank account, and you love life.

They even will take out one of their own if they thing it will get in there way.

But there are ways to ensure you spot when a cat is trying to bump you off....

BAFTA Winners!

2009-02-09T20:47:00.002Z

As usual the BAFTA's have a hatful of deserving winners. Not as commercial as the Oscars and more an advertisement for British talent.

Here's the highlighted winners and my opinions.

Academy Fellowship —TERRY GILLIAM - A Genius!

Best Film — SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE - Christian Colson - Lovely film. Some call it a fell good film, but it is much better than that! Deserved winner.

Outstanding British Film — MAN ON WIRE - Simon Chinn / James Marsh - Not seen it, but it has rave reviews.

Director — SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE - Danny Boyle - Great director with a varied back catalogue. Preoved he can handle anything (except Alien resurrection)

Original screenplay — IN BRUGES -Martin McDonagh - Brillaint Script! Small people and Colin Farrell!

Adapted Screenplay — SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE - Simon Beaufoy - British writing talent at it best!

Animated Film — WALL.E - Andrew Stanton - Darker than peple think....

Leading Actor — MICKEY ROURKE - The Wrestler - Come back of the year! A magnificent performance.

Leading Actress — KATE WINSLET - The Reader - Not seen the film yet, but hear its powerful.

Supporting Actor — HEATH LEDGER - The Dark Knight - RIP Heath. A stellar performance, and the best character of this...or any other year

Supporting Actress — PENÉLOPE CRUZ - Vicky Cristina Barcelona - Cant comment as I think Woody Allen has been misfiring and I haven't seen the film.

Music — SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE - A. R. Rahman

Cinematography — SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE - Anthony Dod Mantle

Editing — SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE- Chris Dickens

Three technical awards all deserved!

Ok as a bit of flag waving, Jingoism, but all deserved. I fully expect the Oscars to have Benjamin Button winning everything...would be equally deserving.

The Great Climate Change Propaganda Illusion:Part One

2009-02-09T12:35:00.003Z

The first politician has come out in public and admitted his doubts about man-made climate change.

Northern Ireland Environment Minister Sammy Wilson has blocked government ads. He said the adverts were part of an "insidious propaganda campaign" which would not be imposed on people in NI, giving people the impression that by turning off the standby light on their TV they could save the world from melting glaciers and being submerged in 40ft of water". He said that was "patent nonsense".

I for one will be applauding Mr Wilson very loudly.

I have personally had problems with these ads since they were fist aired.

One, it a bad ad. It depicts a father that is stupid and his children and the woman of the house being tolerant of his sudden change in enviro-mentalist view. This is a trend in UK advertisement that show men in a worse light compared to the women in the ads...but this is an entirely different debate.

Two, it is misleading. it states that energy saving light bulb emit less CO2...erm no light bulb emits CO2! If they are implying that the energy created to light an energy saving light bulb (ie a coal powered power stations) emit less energy then they should say this. In my area this is wrong as the electricity in my are is powered by 60% Nuclear, and, believe it or not, 5% wind power. Lots less emissions there. Not the same across the country so the ad should state this.

Three, the ad is preachy. Not good to talk down to people. I believe people are not stupid and if you give them the unbiased facts they will be able to work things out.

Only three points in a long list of problems with the ads. But the issue is that a politician has made a rational decision and he will probably lose his job.

The leader of the Green party in NI has just been on BBC News and he is mumbling about nothing of value and accused mr Wilson of being a Climate Change denier as if it is on a par with holocaust deniers.

This is not new.

Also in the BBC Online piece on this the DECC (UK Department of Energy and Climate Change) states that, "Commenting on Mr Wilson's approach to climate change and its Act on CO2 campaign, the DECC told the BBC that human behaviour causes climate change." Without any qualification.

My view is simple. Show me the evidence! I am still on the fence. I am not a mental denier,but I don't buy into the media hyped view the is now taken as read. As Mr Goldacre is often states, "I think you'll find it's a bit more complicated than that."

I want to evaluate the evidence, dissect the media white noise, judge the political gain from a pro environmentalist view, and more importantly...follow the money.

I do think that we are all being fed propaganda. I do think the climate is changing but I don't think we understand why this is so. I am amazed at the arrogance of the human race to think we can change the powerful forces of nature. I think that someone, somewhere is laughing up their sleeves.

My search goes on and I do plan on posting my findings for all of you (or one of you...) to debate with me. I hope I can entice a greater debate in a small way than has been allowed in the popular media and political arena. I only look for truth and if the evidence is really overwhelming in favour of man-made climate change I will be big enough to admit it, but if this is the case why is it being hidden so well?

Mr Wilson, I salute you in you stand against the tide of one sided argument. But he is a politician so I expect him to either resign or apologise and let the mass Green Lobby feel victorious.

No such luck...

2009-02-09T12:05:00.003Z

Ok on the back of the flood of an email I have received (someone actually reads this!), I have to clarify something.

In my last post I expressed my amazement at how a pair of underpants influence my success in the dating front.

In the email "Jo" (you know who you are!) asks why I have a list of books that are all about rational thinking and judgement yet believe in a random event such as pant induced sexual encounters. The email goes to length to explain random event seeming to have patterns, and thing without relation the the event can seem to influence it. It goes on to explain Hightened Awareness, and Cognitive illusions.

Well Jo thank you for you email. Please come back and read my drivel in the future, but I would like to say....

IT WAS A JOKE! A PUFF PIECE OF FICTION DESIGNED TO INDUCE A SMILE! IT IS BASED IN REAL EVENTS BUT IS MEANT TO HIGHLIGHT OUR NATURAL INCLINATION TO SEE THESE NONSENSE PATTERNS IN REAL LIFE...

And I hope it is a bit funny.

Luck Pants

2009-02-08T21:45:00.001Z

Do you find it strange that I have lucky pants? I know most men and women have them, but it is one of those irrational things like not walking under a ladder, or throwing spilt salt over one shoulder. (In my case hitting someone behind me in a restaurant and getting into an argument with my only defence being, “I was getting rid of the devil…”)

How can a pair of underwear be lucky? How do we realise that that night of unbridled passion was due to the pants you were wearing?

Well I have a lucky pair of pants, in case you are wondering the pants are pure cotton, dark blue with a lighter blue faint check, very comfortable. I first noticed they were lucky back in 2004 when I got lucky two weekends on the trot. I bought them on a Saturday and wore them on a night out, and Bam! A lovely dusky brunette thought it was a joy to roll around naked with me. The following weekend I put them on again and Bang! A voluptuous blonde played my old fella till I giggled and gasped like a schoolboy.

Result right?

After that the blessed pants were washed and stored, only brought out for special occasions.

Four years later….

On many occasions I brought out the most holy of pants and wore them only for them to let me down. It didn’t seem to matter if the date I was on was a “sure thing” or if I looked particularly good, (A rare event and only viewed in semi darkness…) there was nothing doing in the bedroom department. The lucky blue pants seemed to have lost there magic.

So they were cleaned and put into deep storage and their tale passed into legend.

In the meantime I tried other thing, lucky socks, Internet dating sites, stalking*, and begging. None of which worked.

Then from the online ether a lady appeared full of innuendo and suggestion. It was a slam-dunk that once we met for a date it would end on my casting couch with giggles and squelches. Emails turned to text messages, which turned into phone calls. All heavy with promises and anticipation we arranged to meet. After a long spell in the desert of celibacy I was about to drink from the cool pool of refreshing sex. Nothing could be allowed to go wrong. So the pants were rescued from their hiding place in a scene reminiscent of Raiders of the Lost Ark.

The night of the date arrived, I was feeling good with my lucky pants in place. Of course all went swimmingly. The lady and I got on famously; the giggles and squelches lasted from Saturday night to Sunday evening.

OK it was just a single night for two horny people to enjoy each other but is was really welcome and satisfying. The problem is once you taste something good it makes you thirsty for more. The power of the lucky pants was unleashed and should be handled with care…, which of course I didn’t do.

Last week without thought I put on the lucky pants to meet a mate in the pub for a drink. I was, as normal, early and stood at the bar sipping a beverage. The barmaid, a lovely looking girl who was over blessed in the wiggle department, was paying me more attention than usual. A smile, a wink, and a wiggle accompanied the service and she was rewarded with a nice tip. When my friend arrived we moved to a table overlooking the pool table on which two ladies in their mid thirties were playing. They both were tipsy, flirty, and focusing on ME. I was getting paranoid, had I suddenly turned into a stud muffin? Was my deodorant doing exactly what it claimed to do in the adverts? Or was it the pants? Although no rumble tumble took place that evening it was refreshing to be the centre of attention from three good looking women.

All hail my luck pants! I now believe!

*I only say Stalking as comic effect, I have never stalked anyone….not for long anyway.

Snow Joke: Part Three

2009-02-08T18:27:00.000Z

2009-02-08T16:13:00.001Z

A brilliant routine by Mr Izzard and a brilliant piece of animations from someone else...

2009-02-08T16:01:00.001Z

Two of the sharpest minds discussing how Mediums us cold reading...

ET is out there....or maybe a Xenomorph

2009-02-06T11:52:00.002Z

Duncan Forgan of Edinburgh University has said there could be hundred of worlds out there with potential life.

Here.

Do you think they have problems with snow?

2009-02-05T23:30:00.001Z

Is this the best picture? Part Samurai, part stormtrooper.....lol

Snow Joke: Part 2

2009-02-05T11:57:00.001Z

What do snowmen wear on their heads ?
Ice caps !

What do snowmen eat for lunch ?
Icebergers !

What do you get if cross a snowman and a shark ?
Frost bite !

How do you call an Eskimo cow ?
An Eskimoo !

Tee hee

I am getting the hang of this now...

2009-02-05T11:43:00.002Z

Its easy innit? Left a bit, right a bit, gun the gas....

Well soon I will be posting more meaty posts and venting spleen and urbane wit. But for now a rant or two...

Carol Thatcher

Darling of the Right wing, self claimed social commentator, and TV "star" has shown her true colours.

Using language that died out with Bernard Manning in seventies working mens clubs (oh the irony) she called an unknown sporting star a "golliwog". OK several things here, who the bugger uses that word anymore? She said it was a private conversation, granted it was, but if someone was offended enough to make it public then it is no longer private. I have been wracking my brains to think which tennis player it could have been and failed, so she either has very poor eyesight or doesn't know what a "golliwog" was!

On a sobering note. The right wing middle classes have rallied around her on this. The same group that was whipped up in a frenzy by the Daily Fail..sorry Mail over the Brand/Ross debacle. Its OK for one of their own to offend so many, but a couple of working class tykes amusingly stepping over line is the end of the world!

All hail the revolution bothers.....

Snow Joke: Part One

2009-02-04T13:27:00.003Z

How many flakes of snow does it take to stop traffic in Central London?

One!

2009-02-04T11:57:00.004Z

Favorite News item of the day....

Name caught smuggling Pigeons in his trousers.

The birds are not endangered, or worth anything. So I have one question...why?

While you are at it, try this

Its My tree...and I will get out of it when I wish!

2009-02-03T23:49:00.000Z

Hello everyone!

Is that an echo I hear?

Well Hello to all that bother to come and read. I had no idea what a blog was until this morning (first lie!), and still have little concept of what it means...lol. So I shall just rant on and on and see if anyone cares.

There are several area I think I will be spewing forth on. here is a taster...

FILMS

My passion. It will be the subject that will rant on about the most I suspect. I have a huge appitite for all things filmic and movie related. I have ambitions to make my own films, and plan on shooting my first serious short soon. So stay tuned. I am also working on many scripts and would like to hear from those who like me like to sit in the dark and watch.....(erm I do mean in Vue or somewhere not a dodgy cinema with old men in macs.)

DERREN BROWN

I am a huge fan of this balding goateed genius. I urge all to watch this man’s TV series, one off specials and live shows on C4 if you get the opportunity. I guess if he was a sect I would be entering my CV for high priest…He has introduced me to the world of magic which I am studying and being befuddled by. Any fans please stand up when you catch the frizbee…

Psychology and cognitive illusions

Recently discovered the world of cognitive illusions and will be posting somethings on this while squealing like a schoolgirl....

Other stuff...

To be honest I will probable rant on about allsorts (fruit not licorice..) so you well have to come by and see me often to make sure you don't miss nowt...won't you?