Kejar ptp

Showing posts with label culture. Show all posts

Freegans beware

Ther's been a worrying development for all of those who believe that if food has been thrown out, then it's fair game and OK for you to exercise your moral conscience by not seeing it go to waste.

In Great Baddow, Essex, people could not believe their luck after a Tesco Express bagged up thousands of pounds of spoiled stock and left it out in the street following a power cut.

21 year old Sasha Hall, helped herself to potato waffles, pies and ham but was stunned when police arrived at her home and arrested her for suspected 'theft by finding' and took her to the station in handcuffs.

She said

There was £3,000 worth of food going to waste on the street. It had been thrown out, so I thought I could put it to better use. When the police came round I was so upset. I felt like a terrible criminal.

I would think the police have better things to be doing with their time than going after people who pick up potato waffles from the street. It's all been blown totally out of proportion.

Tesco clearly did not want the food. They dumped it and rather than see it go to waste, I thought I could help feed me and my family for a week or two.

They knocked at the door and said if I didn't open up they would use a battering ram. They handcuffed me and treated me like I was a hardened criminal and when we left they raided my house.

The case is up before the magistrates today. If she is found guilty then, frankly, I consider it to be a travesty for common sense as well as for justice...

(You can read the full story in the Daily Mail by clicking here)

"Oh, yes it does..."

Take a good look at the above picture because it contravenes the Geneva Convention!

"Oh, no it doesn't..." I hear you cry. Well, sorry but I'm afraid that it does!

Take a good look at Nurse Poltis - that's the one on the left in case you can't work it out for yourself. The Red Cross emblems on her uniform were changed to green crosses after the British Red Cross informed the theatre it was breaking the law and could face prosecution.

Unauthorised use of the emblem violates the Geneva Conventions Act 1957.

The British Red Cross said it had contacted the Pavilion Theatre over the use of a red cross on the nurse's costume in the pantomime.

All I can say is that it's a shame they've got fuck all better to do...

What's in a name, Benny?

The old Ratshitter has been poking his nose in again...

Apparently Benny is not happy with the names we are giving our children and is telling us that we need to go back to selecting proper Christian names which "bequeath an unmistakable sign that the Holy Spirit will allow the person to blossom in the bosom of the Church."

Well, ignoring the fact that it's actually fuck all to do with him what we call our kids, let's have a look at some of the names that have fallen into disuse and a few examples of good, solid Christian names.

When was the last time you met anyone called Hephzibah, Amminadabs, Zipporahs or Habakkuks? Or how about Abbos, Etheidwithas and Leocritas? Amazingly, all these were once quite common...

I have a grandchild due next week, but I don't think my daughter will be using any of those. Pappa is also apparently not impressed with "such profane appellations as Brooklyn, Peaches and Princess Tiaamii."

Perhaps these papally recommended gems would be more appropriate :

Jezebel, the Queen of Israel, later became shorthand for a fallen woman, a name perhaps attracting a degree of notoriety?
Nebuchadnezzar was king of the Babylonian empire. His exploits, which are recounted in the books of Daniel and Jeremiah, were praised by Saddam Hussein, to whom he was a hero.
Dorcas, a faithful female disciple "full of good deeds" whose death prompted much weeping, according to the New Testament.
Philemon, the recipient of an epistle from Saint Paul in the New Testament.
Gomer - no, not Homer! - was the wife of the prophet Hosea.
Methusalah, the oldest person named in the Bible, said to have lived until he was 969.
Achsah was the daughter of Caleb, who offered her in marriage to Othniel in the Old Testament.
Wilgefortis. According to a story dating back to the 14th Century, Saint Wilgefortis took a vow of virginity when she was promised in marriage by her father. Following her prayers for help, she grew a beard and moustache.
Zipporah, wife of Moses.
Radbod was Bishop of Utrecht around 900 AD.

There's a few crackers there, eh Benny? But if you think my forthcoming progeny is going to be called Wilgefortis Etheidwithas Radbod or Achsah Zipporah Jezebal then I reckon you might be sorely disappointed! I'd rather it was called Brooklyn or Peaches - or alternatively stick a red hot needle through my eyeball!

So who says the Papacy is out of touch with reality, eh?...

All to no (a) veil

Take a good long hard look at the picture on the left and then tell me that it is acceptable to walk into a bank, an airport or a building society dressed like this.

A lot has been said recently about the niqab and the more severe version, the burqa - especially in the light of the recent ruling in France.

I read recently an empassioned blog about the freedom to dress how you like, and another about the freedom of religious expression. I support both these views, but not at the expense of safety and security.

Firstly, lets deal with the religious aspect. On the BBC breakfast programme on Sunday morning, they interviewed an Imam from a London mosque together with an Islamic woman who, although not a veil wearer herself, disagreed with his views. Surprisingly, the Imam was the one opposing the veil. He pointed out at great length that there is nothing in the Koran about the veil but rather it is a tribal or cultural custom. So as far as I can see, there goes the religious argument.

Secondly, let's look at the French law. The law does not mention the burqa. It makes it illegal for anyone to conceal their face in public. It therefore aplies to, for example, anyone wearing a scarfe over their face, a balaclava or a crash helmet. Let us remind ourselves that there is already a law about hoodies on our statute books.

Thirdly, if we reduce this to a cultural thing, then there is no place for it in our culture. If you come to our country, then you deal with our culture. You do not impose your own.

On this basis, I recommend that certain ill informed MPs would oppose a similar law to the French should think again.

Norwich - More culture in a pot of yoghurt

Apparently, Norwich is hopeful of becoming the first "UK City of Culture" in 2013.

Unbelievable in itself - were it not for the fact that that the other three contenders are Birmingham, Sheffield and Londonderry - so as far as I am see the short list committee must be living in Outer Mongolia. Whatever, they have clearly never been to Norwich.

So what can we say in Norwich's favour?

It's got a Cathedral, a bit of a castle and a John Lewis. It's a city. Er, that's about it?.....

I believe Jeremy Clarkson summed it all up when he said that you always knew when you'd arrived in Nofolk because you passed a sign that said "Beware! 'Ere be witches". And, he went on to say, "When I drive my car anywhere else, people say 'Look, that's a Cosworth' but in Norfolk they say 'Look, there's a car'." Guess Jeremy is not one of the supporting celebrities, then?

No. The campaign is being supported by none other than Stephen Fry, a well loved national treasure! Can I perhaps point out that if treasure needed to be buried, Norfolk would be a good place?

Stephen is highly enthusiastic - well, he does need to film "Kingdom" up there, so best not rock the boat. He is also, apparently, "proud to be able to tell people I support the football club."

Ah, yes. The football club. Norwich has a great football team. Well, no actually. And just when you thought they couldn't get any worse, remember they have none other than Delia Smith as a director. So watch what you say or I'll get her to patronise you!

So what do we get with this accolade then? Well, "The programme would deliver education programmes, skills development opportunities, a volunteering network, the country’s first citywide free data download zone, new community provisions and literacy and education targets for the city’s young people." Yes, well you can't have too many targets, programmes and opportunities, can you?

What else? Well, as Chris Gribble, chief executive of the Writers’ Centre Norwich, adds: “We estimate that the UK City of Culture award will bring over £215 million into the city’s economy."

OK. Gotcha. It's basically all a load of marketing spin to make money. As it was all thought up by the previous government, why am I not surprised?