Sir Ranulph Fiennes has finally made it to the top of Mount Everest. Congratulations to him, for a spectacular achievement.
He truly is our greatest living explorer.
Posts
6 hours ago
Saturday, 23 May 2009
Wednesday, 20 May 2009
Where we should be investing as a nation
I've blogged before that we need to be ahead of the game when it comes to next generation fuel technologies, namely Hydrogen. Well, we're no longer going to be ahead of the game if we don't act fast: Norway are investing in Hydrogen Fuel Technology. They've just opened a 560 km "Hydrogen Highway".
Thats where we should be investing our money as a nation: in the future. Not dumping it into some bottomless, bankrupt bank, nor borrowing money to prop up the nation through hand-outs to keep people idle.
I think its cool that to promote the fact, they had a race. Can't see the health and safety Nazis over here condoning such recklessness. Twats.
Thats where we should be investing our money as a nation: in the future. Not dumping it into some bottomless, bankrupt bank, nor borrowing money to prop up the nation through hand-outs to keep people idle.
I think its cool that to promote the fact, they had a race. Can't see the health and safety Nazis over here condoning such recklessness. Twats.
Looks Like We're Getting our Election
According to Guido, we're on for a late summer/early autumn election, thanks to Nick Brown slipping up and letting all and sundry know via his Twitter account.
I did blog back in December/January on the comments in Nick Robinson's blog that by this summer Gordon Brown will be forced out of office and/or we'll have an election by the summer. Looks as though I was right! Pity I didn't put a bet on it.
Actually I just added a comment about that on Nick's blog, but the moderators removed it. I guess they don't want anyone looking a better political pundit than he is....
UPDATE:
I just looked at my old Yahoo 360 blog, on December 16th last year I wrote:
"Hedge Funds and other scams... and a spring election.
Why do I think 2010 will be so pivotal? Because a few months after the election, the new government will get clear sight of the extent of the financial hole this country is in. Not only that, but the extent that external forces run our country. It will have to go public and as a country we will need to take drastic measures to survive. At that point, I really think the public will have had enough of the current status quo and take it upon themselves to establish a new order. Old Holborn will have to wait just a few months longer to see his wish come true.
I did blog back in December/January on the comments in Nick Robinson's blog that by this summer Gordon Brown will be forced out of office and/or we'll have an election by the summer. Looks as though I was right! Pity I didn't put a bet on it.
Actually I just added a comment about that on Nick's blog, but the moderators removed it. I guess they don't want anyone looking a better political pundit than he is....
UPDATE:
I just looked at my old Yahoo 360 blog, on December 16th last year I wrote:
"Hedge Funds and other scams... and a spring election.
- It seems that Bernard Madoff didn't follow the first rule of pyramid schemes: get out early while the books look good.
Instead I suppose like all those that have a had got a taste for the top job, his ego wouldn't let him slip away into obscurity. Well, he has notoriety in bucketloads now, I hope he's enjoying the limelight wherever he is.
Which brings me onto hedge funds. It won't suprise you to hear that I hear rumours that others are about to be exposed and those that look okay will go belly up due to investors running scared and pulling the plug.
The first half of 2009 will be rough sailing. 2008 was a precursor to the headlong slide into depression we face next year. Yes, I said DEPRESSION. This will go far further than a mere recession, mainly because we down't have the ability as a nation to pull ourselves out of the downward spiral. We don't make things we can sell. The small number of companies that actually do are foreign owned, so will either ship profits abroad, or as I suspect will happen, ship the whole company abroad to cheaper labour markets. Keep an eye on major industries like Cars and Steel.
So, there will be severe financial and social turmoil in 2009. Lots of job losses, more banks going to the wall, growing pensions black holes, lots more financial irregularities exposed. Whats that in the title about an election you ask?
Well, given the sort of abyssal economic plummet we'll see in the first half of 2009, I predict if Gordon Brown is still in office by August, I'd be very suprised. I expect he'll face a vote of no confidence by then. It may well be we get an election called by then as GB tries to get some sort of mandate for his financial tinkering.
Another prediction: if 2009 is bad, 2010 will be the biggie: it will be an historic year.Tags: | Edit Tags Tuesday December 16, 2008 - 12:28am (GMT)"
Why do I think 2010 will be so pivotal? Because a few months after the election, the new government will get clear sight of the extent of the financial hole this country is in. Not only that, but the extent that external forces run our country. It will have to go public and as a country we will need to take drastic measures to survive. At that point, I really think the public will have had enough of the current status quo and take it upon themselves to establish a new order. Old Holborn will have to wait just a few months longer to see his wish come true.
Tuesday, 19 May 2009
Speaker Martin to Resign
Michael Martin is due to resign at 2:30 it says on all the news channels.
Pity I won't be able to see this historic moment live, I have an appointment, but I shall watch it later online.
UPDATE:
He announced he'll resign on the 21st of June. However, just to keep up the incompetence, he didn't announce whether he'll resign as an MP too, so no-one knows whether he's going to go completely, or whether he'll retire to the back benches seething with rage.
Past experience tells me he wants to hang on as MP until the next election.
I'm sure there are people as we speak trying to persuade him otherwise.
Pity I won't be able to see this historic moment live, I have an appointment, but I shall watch it later online.
UPDATE:
He announced he'll resign on the 21st of June. However, just to keep up the incompetence, he didn't announce whether he'll resign as an MP too, so no-one knows whether he's going to go completely, or whether he'll retire to the back benches seething with rage.
Past experience tells me he wants to hang on as MP until the next election.
I'm sure there are people as we speak trying to persuade him otherwise.
Are the Great British Public Awakening?
I never thought I'd say it, but I think for the first time in a very long time, the public are becoming politically aware. Thanks to the misdeeds being done in Parliament, the public are quite rightly angry and looking for ways of chastising MPs and sending a message. Currently the question is: what can we do about it?
Well, unfortunately, we can't sack our MPs immediately. Thats a flaw in the system that really needs to be sorted out, the same as the aparrent lack of authority MPs have for sacking the speaker Michael Martin. But thats digressing a bit.
The first thing people can do is get active and involved in politics: find your MP's email address at http://www.theyworkforyou.com There you can find out what your current MP is up to, get their email address and send them a message. Get to know them, ask them why they are voting the way they are voting, or tell them which way you want them to vote. They are your representative in Parliament, they should listen to you. If they don't, then exercise you right to hire and fire at the next election.
If you do want to do a bit of firing at the next election, then read and learn about the various candidates and their options. For those like me who hate party politics, then look at your local independant candidate. Make a decision and vote for your choice at the next general election.
A good bit of practice is coming up in the EU elections in June: if you hate the main parties, instead of voting Labour, Conservative or Liberal, check out one of the other independant parties. You have a choice of UKIP, Libertas, Green, Jury Team.... any one of a number of parties. You could even vote BNP which would give the main parties the biggest, scariest message of all.
The next general election is supposed to be next year, although I'm still adamant it will be a lot earlier. If you can't wait that long, email your MP... tell them that you can't wait until next year, you want the chance to sort things out NOW. Tell them you want them to lobby all the other MPs to push for an immediate general election. David Cameron has a petition here you can sign asking for an immediate election. Just because its a Tory site, don't be put off signing the petition. If the petition gets enough numbers, is successful and an election is called, on election day you can vote for whoever you want.
Well, unfortunately, we can't sack our MPs immediately. Thats a flaw in the system that really needs to be sorted out, the same as the aparrent lack of authority MPs have for sacking the speaker Michael Martin. But thats digressing a bit.
The first thing people can do is get active and involved in politics: find your MP's email address at http://www.theyworkforyou.com There you can find out what your current MP is up to, get their email address and send them a message. Get to know them, ask them why they are voting the way they are voting, or tell them which way you want them to vote. They are your representative in Parliament, they should listen to you. If they don't, then exercise you right to hire and fire at the next election.
If you do want to do a bit of firing at the next election, then read and learn about the various candidates and their options. For those like me who hate party politics, then look at your local independant candidate. Make a decision and vote for your choice at the next general election.
A good bit of practice is coming up in the EU elections in June: if you hate the main parties, instead of voting Labour, Conservative or Liberal, check out one of the other independant parties. You have a choice of UKIP, Libertas, Green, Jury Team.... any one of a number of parties. You could even vote BNP which would give the main parties the biggest, scariest message of all.
The next general election is supposed to be next year, although I'm still adamant it will be a lot earlier. If you can't wait that long, email your MP... tell them that you can't wait until next year, you want the chance to sort things out NOW. Tell them you want them to lobby all the other MPs to push for an immediate general election. David Cameron has a petition here you can sign asking for an immediate election. Just because its a Tory site, don't be put off signing the petition. If the petition gets enough numbers, is successful and an election is called, on election day you can vote for whoever you want.
Monday, 18 May 2009
Speaker Michael Martin Clinging on by Fingerstips
I've listened to the Speaker's mealy-mouthed statement and I'm currently listening to the points of order. Michael Martin is hiding behind procedure as he gets bettered from all sides. Basically he's trying to avoid the motion of no confidence in him being debated tomorrow.
What's interesting is listening through headphones, I'm hearing voices of discontent from MPs in the background.
Michael Martin has lost the confidence of the majority of MPs. The rest of the week will be interesting as he tries to dodge the bullet.
All of this does show up how our antiquated Parliamentary procedures need reform. Lords can only be suspended, not sacked, MPs can only be re-elected, not sacked and the speaker is difficult to dislodge. Procedure needs to be changed and introduced, so that people in Parliament can be sacked mid-term if necessary.
We need some accountability in government, currently we're not getting it.
Its time to call an election and elect MPs based on their willingness to reform Parliament.
What's interesting is listening through headphones, I'm hearing voices of discontent from MPs in the background.
Michael Martin has lost the confidence of the majority of MPs. The rest of the week will be interesting as he tries to dodge the bullet.
All of this does show up how our antiquated Parliamentary procedures need reform. Lords can only be suspended, not sacked, MPs can only be re-elected, not sacked and the speaker is difficult to dislodge. Procedure needs to be changed and introduced, so that people in Parliament can be sacked mid-term if necessary.
We need some accountability in government, currently we're not getting it.
Its time to call an election and elect MPs based on their willingness to reform Parliament.
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