Monday 9th July 2012
Topic: Traffic chaos, Wardens reinstated
"Parking wardens' comeback in Aberystwyth"
Source: The Sun
Extract: The free-for-all in Aberystwyth, Wales, has caused chaos and forced council bosses to do a U-turn.
A seven-strong team will now start ticketing again on bank holiday Monday.
The change of heart came after the town laid off its last traffic warden in June 2011.
One car park operator has branded it the worst place in the country to find a parking space while a local newspaper regularly pictured some of the worst offenders.
Drivers have been able to park where they like - unless someone complained they were an obstruction - since the police withdrew its wardens before the council could sort out a replacement system.
Comment: Some interesting photo's on the link site!
Wednesday 11th July 2012
Topic: Olympics - Patriotism
"Britain should be met with Union Flags and portraits of the Queen in a show of patriotism"
Source: The Sun
Extract: Visitors to Britain should be met with Union Flags and portraits of the Queen in a show of patriotism, MPs will demand this week.
They want airport arrival halls decked in red, white and blue in the fight against EU-dominated "bland bureaucracy". And the scandal-hit UK Border Agency would be renamed Her Majesty's Border Police.
It is the brainchild of Tory MP Andrew Rosindell, whose Bill has cross-party support.
Comment: Good idea, perhaps we could get criminals sentenced to community service, Big Issue sellers, the unemployed, the redundant policemen and troops, and anyone else not too busy shoplifting, mugging, dealing drugs, getting pissed out of their heads, being mugged, or on benefits to put the flags up? Up where, I hesitate to say!
Thursday 12th July 2012
Topic: Banking scandal
"George Osborne defends cross-party probe"
Source: BBC News
Extract: Chancellor George Osborne has defended the MPs chosen to investigate the banking scandal amid claims the probe will be a "whitewash".
Labour MP John Mann said he and Tory MP Andrea Leadsom had been left off the panel as they were "too outspoken".
But Mr Osborne said the members chosen were "a really good set of MPs" who could "get to the bottom of what happened".
The inquiry was set up after the Barclays Libor rate fixing revelations.
Comment: Whitewash eh? Remember when it was used for the walls and by politicians?
Friday 13th July 2012
Topic: Budget, Austerity, Cut-backs
"UK needs extra spending cuts, says OBR"
Source: BBC News
Extract: The UK government must make deeper cuts or raise more money in the future to keep public finances in check, the Office for Budget Responsibility says.
In its annual look at the government's finances, the OBR says in 2017-18 public spending needs to be cut by another £17bn or the same amount raised in taxes to stop debt ballooning.
Comment: Oh nice.. thanks!
Monday 15th July 2012
Topic: Economy, Cost of Living
"How times change. A ticket for the opening ceremony of the London 1908 Olympics cost the equivalent of 12p."
Source: The People
Extract: You will have to pay up to £2,012 for one of the best seats on Friday week.
A train fare from Birmingham to London was 20p, average annual earnings were £70, and beer was 1p a pint, although no alcohol was available at the White City stadium.
The winner of the 100metres in 1908, American Mel Sheppard, ran at a speed almost 3mph slower than Usain Bolt's blistering 23.3mph.
And today's Olympic 5,000m athlete could have won the 1,500m in 1908 running at today's pace.
House of Commons librarians have been amusing themselves compiling statistics on how Britain has altered since the 1908 Olympics and the London Games of 1948.
The book resulting from this research is only available in Parliament, though it deserves a wider readership. It tells us that in 1908 kids of 12 went out to work and the poor went to the workhouse. Prices have risen 80-fold since then but wages have increased 350-fold.
And back in 1908 the Liberals were wrestling with their pet Lords reform project and just like today were on the ropes over it.
Comment: And please note: In 1908 Petrol cost 1s 1½d (6p) a gallon, The Liberals had 48.9% of votes, Labour had 9.7%, Conservatives 43.1%, It was illegal to place cash bets outside a race course. However, the law was almost universally ignored because it appeared to discriminate against working men who had no other way of placing bets. Everywhere bookies' runners lingered outside pubs and labour exchanges, in markets and on street corners, taking bets. These have been replaced today with Big Issue sellers, drunken gangs, rioters, muggers, and the made redunant Benefit claimants!