Itisi

Yesterday, Ally (Ducking for Apples)posted a link to an article in the Independent which examines the gradual dilution of our rights and freedoms here in the UK. Pete (The Quacks of Life) has also picked up on this, and airs his opinion in a very eloquent piece. Not wishing to be repetitive but I am also going to cover the subject because I think it is so important.

Consider this: In the the last nine years we have lost the right to trial by jury; hearsay evidence has been made admissible in court; we no longer have the right to take our protests to our elected and supposedly accountable representatives; it is very likely that compulsory id cards will be introduced after the next election; the government are attempting to push the (all be it modified) Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill through parliament which will reduce the powers of MPs, and give it to unaccountable ministers who will be able to adjust laws at will. A system of unofficial house arrest now exists; and anyone can be placed under an anti social behaviour order (ASBO) for acts which are not necessarily illegal. Tony Blair is also hoping to override the Human Rights Act.

You may be thinking, the girl is off her trolley, none of this applies to me, these are simply measures to protect us from terrorism. If you are then I’m afraid you are wrong. (Well, except for the bit about me being off my trolley) Seriously, these measures do apply to you! Just because they are only used against those suspected of links to certain political or terrorist organisations at the moment, does not mean they will not be used against you, your family, neighbours or friends at some point in the future. In fact it may be sooner than you think:

A 63 year old health visitor from Hull, was electronically tagged and placed under curfew for protesting about the presence of the US listening post at Menwith Hill in Yorkshire. Protests at and against such places have been ongoing for decades now, but it is only this government which has sought to actively remove an individuals right to hold such a protest.

You may not spend your weekends protesting about American installations on British soil, but that does not mean you are immune or safe from falling foul of this new legislation. If you are reading this, then it is logical to assume you are a regular internet user, and, most likely, a blogger too. Suppose, at some point in the future you complain on your blog about the level of taxation in your area, or suggest that your visitors vote for political party A instead of political party B, or write to your MP complaining about some aspect of government policy you are unhappy with. That same government either have, or will soon have, the power to label you an anti-social person; keep tabs on everything you do; confine you to your home with no means of contact with the outside world, or arrest and imprison you without trial.

One of the most worrying aspects of the current situation is our PMs desire to remove the protection of the Human Rights Act. Contrary to what the tabloids and the spin doctors would have us believe this act is not something imposed on us by Brussels, it was a mainly British idea. It came from the European Convention on Human Rights which was thought up by Winston Churchill, drawn up by mostly British lawyers and which was designed to provide Europe wide protection for all people, and to reduce the chances of another despot coming to power as Hitler did in 1930s Germany.

Even more worrying is the fact that when I wrote to my MP about the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill in her response to me she cited the Human Rights Act as something which offered protection against it’s possible misuse by politicians. Now, we discover that if our dear leader has his way this protection will be removed.

I hope you have taken a few minutes to read the article Ally linked to, it is long, but interesting, and contains a lot of information I feel we need to know. The quote from Shami Chakrabarti of Liberty stood out for me. She says:

“If you throw live frogs into a pan of boiling water, they will sensibly jump out and save themselves. If you put them in a pan of cold water and gently apply heat until the water boils they will lie in the pan and boil to death. It’s like that.”

Lets not be like those frogs. We can stand up for and protect our rights and freedoms, and the Mother of Parliaments need not become a Big Brother state. Remember, Hitler did not seize power in a coup! He was elected democratically, then used legislation to further his political ends.

“If you will not fight for the right when you can easily win without bloodshed; if you will not fight when your victory will be sure and not too costly; you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all the odds against you and only a small chance of survival. There may even be a worse case: you may have to fight when there is no hope of victory, because it is better to perish than to live as slaves.” – Winston Churchill

Further Reading and Campaigns:
Save Parliament – opposing the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill
No2ID – campaigning against id cards and a state database.
Charter 88 – campaign for a fair democracy
Liberty – UK civil liberties and human rights organisation.

Technorati Tags: UK civil liberties, human rights, Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill, save parliament, id cards, democracy, asbo, mother of parliaments, big brother, Menwith Hill, Human Rights Act, European Convention on Human Rights

powered by performancing firefox

I have news on the holiday front. We were (not) looking forward to spending our hols in Skegness.This isn’t a preferred destination, but it was practical because Number Three Son isn’t coming with us this year, and will be left in the care of Sons Number One and Two. As this is a first, I wanted to be nearby in case anything disastrous happened, so Skeggy seemed a good choice because it is only 40 or so miles away. However, it was hard to be enthusiastic about the idea. If you have been you will probably understand, if not, just look at the name, Skegness*, it is very descriptive. However, I mentioned my reservations to Mr Blogs and found he agreed, so after much deliberation we have changed out plans, and will now be going to the Peak District. It is also close, but is so much nicer. The downside is, it will involve camping, in a tent. I’m not a camper. You may remember some time ago in a meme I mentioned my theme song should be the Outdoor Type by the Lemonheads. I have been assured that camping has moved on since I last did it, that was in the 80s so I guess it must have, and that I will be alright. Well as long as no one asks me to light a fire, have a fight or grow a beard.

It’s the end of June, and that means it’s Wimbledon. The annual tennis tournament during which the population of Britain foolishly ponder the chances of a British player winning, despite the fact none ever do. The last I can remember was Virginia Wade back in the 70s. Maybe there has been another since, I can’t recall one, but then I don’t pay that much attention to the whole thing. Curiously, even though Wimbledon occurs every year and lasts for at least two weeks, it doesn’t arouse the same level of complaints as the World Cup which only happens every four years.

If you think about it, in those four years we get at least eight weeks of Wimbledon, but only 4-5 of the World Cup. Plus, Wimbledon is on all day, on two channels, and for some reason if it rains they show an empty court. How fascinating. If a football match is cancelled due to bad weather it is rescheduled and another programme is shown. Tennis matches last for hours, and it’s not unusual for the whole schedule to be put back because one has lasted much longer than expected. On the other hand a football match lasts for ninety minutes, with an extra thirty if it finishes as a draw in the knockout stages.

I am mentioning this because in the last few days I have encountered three people who have complained about the television coverage of the World Cup, but who are thrilled that it’s tennis time. Personally, I’m not bothered if people want to watch tennis, we have umpteen channels, so if I want to watch tv I can always find something else. It just seems unfair that some folk complain when one sport is shown then do cartwheels because another is. I suspect that this is at least in part due to an element of snobbery, because football is a working class sport, while tennis is a predominantly middle class one. So, if you are unhappy about the World Cup at least be honest about why you feel that way. Please don’t blame the amount of time involved, the coverage of the players – you have Tim ‘never gonna win’ Henman at least the English football team stand a chance of success – or the fans. Especially not the fans. England fans may be loud and boistrous, but they aren’t Cliff Richard.

* To be fair there is a tiny bit of local rivalry involved, having lived in Scarborough for so many years, where we tend to see Skeggy as a poor relation.

Technorati Tags: Holidays, vacations, skegness, the peak district, tennis, football, wimbledon, the world cup, england, tim henman, virginia wade, cliff richard

powered by performancing firefox

Good Evening Dear Reader. It has taken me until now to get in front of the computer, so I’m not going to give you the post I intended to, that will have to wait until tomorrow. Instead, I am returning to the subject of the rhythmically challenged.

Pippa, left the following comment in response to my recent bad dancing posts.

“P.S. Other rockers and musicians with no rythm: Axl Rose, George Michael, elton john, Gary Barlow

People with something approaching dancing ability, Elvis, Robbie Williams, Justin Timberlake .. ”

I have to say I agree with her, especially about Axl Rose, the first time I saw him dance, I thought it was a joke. Maybe not about George Michael whom I always thought was quite the groover, but that may just be me. I also can’t comment on Justin Timberlake* because I honestly wouldn’t recognise the chap if I fell over him. To the list of the rhythmically challenged I would also add Ozzy Osborne whose dance moves consist of a shuffle to the left, followed by a shuffle to the right, then repeat, and Joe Cocker, who simply stood with his legs astride bobbing up and down as though he desperately needed the loo. Oh, and all those crotch grabbing chappies, sorry but holding your genitalia with one hand, whilst waving the other in the air does not constitute dancing.

My suggestions for celebs with moves would be James Brown**, Prince and Madonna. I’m not a fan of any of them, but they can boogy. Also, Michael Hutchence, whom I did like.

So, over to you. Leave a comment and tell us all which celebs you think fell into the deep end of the boogy pool, and which stood on the side waiting for a pair of arm bands. .

* For a long time I thought he made walking boots.

** Mr Blogs and his friends have an expression ‘funkier than James Brown’s boots’ to describe really great music.

Technorati Tags: Bad celebrity dancing, good celebrity dancing, axl rose, george michael, justin timberlake, ozzy osbourne, joe cocker, james brown, prince, madonna, michael hutchence

powered by performancing firefox

I’m posting this separately because the subject matter doesn’t really seem appropriate for the previous post.

This year marks the fifth anniversary of the September 11th attacks in the US, and a blogger called D. Challener Roe has come up with a (literally) unique way of commemorating the lives lost that day. If you would like to find out more, just go here. I think this is a wonderful idea, because it concentrates on each unique individual, remembering that every single one was special and important in their own way.

Technorati Tags: september 11th commemoration, 9/11 rememberance

powered by performancing firefox

In two recent posts I have highlighted the rather poor dancing ability of both Roger Daltrey and the tall bloke from the Beach Boys. Last night I remembered an even worse example of bad dancing by a member of my own family. I am referring to the one and (fortunately) only time my brother and I witnessed our Mother’s skills or rather the time we discovered she didn’t have any.

This hideously embarrassing event occurred in July 1981 on the day of a Royal wedding (Charles and Diana) We lived in one of those rural areas which see any major event or holiday as an excuse for a bun fight (that’s a party to folk in other parts) and this was no exception. A day of festivities ensued which culminated in an evening of musical entertainment in a marquee. I was a teenager at the time, and far too cool to even consider dancing to the ensemble who had been hired to churn out hits from the 50s and 60s. So along with several friends I lurked on the side lines, attempting to impress a boy I rather fancied (a scrump in local parlance) by being aloof and pretending he didn’t exist. My brother was about nine, and more interested in eating his way through the buffet single handed. My Mother seemed to be content to sit at a table and chat with the neighbours, or at least that is what I thought.

Half an hour into the proceedings, one of my friends let out a gasp of horror and pointed at the dancers. I turned, and saw my Mother’s party had left their table and were now twitching and jerking manically, in no way in time to the music. All were bad, but my friend’s Father and my Mum were by far the worst. He was doing a little routine I will call ‘Poking the Person Behind You in the Eye’ which involved keeping the whole body motionless except for the arms which were alternately lifted, bent and thrust over the shoulder with the thumb extended. My Mum’s performance I will call ‘ A Chicken on a Hotplate’ This involved hopping from foot to foot while simultaneously flapping the arms. It was a routine that made the Birdy Song dance look positively stylish.

Mortified with embarrassment I glanced across at my brother who was staring with eyes wide, mouth open, in what can only be described as shock. I knew how he felt. The shame of our Mother publicly displaying that she was to rhythm what Margaret Thatcher was to compromise, was quickly replaced with an even more dreadful thought. What if it was genetic?

I should apologise to my Mum for revealing this, but I won’t. Revenge is mine!

Oh, and if the title of this post sounds familiar, it is taken from an AC/DC song

Technorati Tags: Roger Daltrey, Beach Boys, Royal Wedding, Charles and Diana, Parents Dancing, the Birdy Song, ac/dc

powered by performancing firefox