Hedgehog in the city
When I went out earlier on this evening with Rocky for his walk it was raining and it got worse so I terminated the walk early.
I promised him we would go out later weather permitting. About 11.15pm we went to Sainsbury's on Princess Avenue. I was a bit miffed that they tried to rip me off on the price of a large box of jelly babies. It used to be the more you bought the cheaper it became. Not now, check the price per 100g between a bag and a box. I complained to the supervisor and was told it cost more to package. Whilst that argument may well work with a box and plastic bag with the same amount of jelly babies. But when you are buying several times the amount in the box as opposed to the bag, it just means that Sainsbury's are a penny pinching, moneygrabbing, outfit. Bring back Jackson's!
As Rocky and I walked down Pearson Avenue he alerted me that he had seen something of interest. On closer inspection I saw that it was a hedgehog curled up in the defensive ball. Rocky wanted to get closer, but I prevented him remembering how Flash a childhood Golden Retriever would get needles stuck in her nose.
A mixture of law, politics, autobiography and humour. Once described as "The Devilish Advocate" (Guardian), I do have the ability to provoke a response. Sometimes it comes from someone who uses a thought process, and sometimes from jerks usually associated with the knee.
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Friday, July 17, 2009
Don't deny justice to prisoners
Don't deny justice to prisoners
Jack Straw plans to cut 'nuisance' legal claims by prisoners. But doing so risks a return to the bad old days of rooftop protest
Yesterday the Ministry of Justice website announced "Jack Straw cracks down on trivial prisoner legal claims".
Given that Straw is the other party in legal proceedings brought by prisoners against the authorities, it is an abuse of process for the defendant to judge such claims as trivial. There is already in place a mechanism operated by the Legal Services Commission (LSC) called the merits test, to determine whether a case is too trivial to pursue by a grant of legal aid, and of course there is the judge, who can dismiss a case deemed too trivial.
First published in the Guardian online Commentisfree
UPDATE: Article now top 5 places in Google Search Don't deny justice to prisoners
The crime of a shared cell
The crime of a shared cell
By Eric Allison
Overcrowding is one of the worst aspects of life in our prisons – it can be a death sentence
In 2003, when I applied to be this paper's prison correspondent, the selection process included writing a 500-word essay. For my subject, I chose enforced cell-sharing in prisons. I wrote that sharing a confined space with a stranger was the worst aspect of life inside our troubled jails. I asked the reader to imagine sharing a cell with an addict in the throes of withdrawal; being forced to watch diarrhoea and vomit fall from the stranger, hear his moans and the rattle of his bed, shaking from his trembling. On a lesser level, the stranger would fart, belch or snore; or insist on playing rap music throughout the long locked hours.
Abandoned red pandas nursed to health by dog
Thursday, July 16, 2009
The bay of pigs: swine swimming in crystal clear water in the Bahamas
The bay of pigs: swine swimming in crystal clear water in the Bahamas
On the beaches of Big Major Spot Island, the Bahamas, a family of brown and pink boars and piglets live freely on the sandy white beaches and swim in the tropical surf
Underwater photographer Eric Cheng stumbled across the unusual residents during a diving expedition to the area
"We were in the southern Bahamas to photograph oceanic white-tip sharks," says the 33-year-old. "Our captain, Jim Abernethy, had heard that there were pigs on Big Major so we decided to go and check it out" Picture: Eric Cheng / Barcroft Media
Check out the other images here.
On the beaches of Big Major Spot Island, the Bahamas, a family of brown and pink boars and piglets live freely on the sandy white beaches and swim in the tropical surf
Underwater photographer Eric Cheng stumbled across the unusual residents during a diving expedition to the area
"We were in the southern Bahamas to photograph oceanic white-tip sharks," says the 33-year-old. "Our captain, Jim Abernethy, had heard that there were pigs on Big Major so we decided to go and check it out" Picture: Eric Cheng / Barcroft Media
Check out the other images here.
Jack Straw cracks down on trivial prisoner legal claims
Jack Straw cracks down on trivial prisoner legal claims
Jack Straw has announced proposals to crack down on nuisance legal claims and new powers to seize money from prisoners.
It is intended to respond to this news in due course.
UPDATE: I will wait until the Guardian Commentisfree publishes the article I sent and they agreed to accept.
Related content...
Prison Law reform
15 July 2009
The Legal Services Commission (LSC) announced today changes to the legal aid scheme for advice to prisoners. The scheme provides advice on issues affecting prisoners’ progress through the prison system, such as sentence and parole, and other matters such as treatment and discipline.
These changes are expected to cap the cost of prison law cases at £22 million per annum. Left unchecked, the LSC estimates that the cost could rise to £44 million by 2011/12.
Jack Straw has announced proposals to crack down on nuisance legal claims and new powers to seize money from prisoners.
It is intended to respond to this news in due course.
UPDATE: I will wait until the Guardian Commentisfree publishes the article I sent and they agreed to accept.
Related content...
Prison Law reform
15 July 2009
The Legal Services Commission (LSC) announced today changes to the legal aid scheme for advice to prisoners. The scheme provides advice on issues affecting prisoners’ progress through the prison system, such as sentence and parole, and other matters such as treatment and discipline.
These changes are expected to cap the cost of prison law cases at £22 million per annum. Left unchecked, the LSC estimates that the cost could rise to £44 million by 2011/12.
Prison officer 'was too pretty'
Prison officer 'was too pretty'
A former prison officer was forced out of her job after being bullied because she was pretty, a tribunal has heard.
Amitjo Kajla, 27, is claiming constructive dismissal after leaving her job in Brinsford Young Offenders' Institution near Wolverhampton.
However former colleagues questioned her behaviour with male inmates and suggested she chose to reject advice about the dress code.
A former prison officer was forced out of her job after being bullied because she was pretty, a tribunal has heard.
Amitjo Kajla, 27, is claiming constructive dismissal after leaving her job in Brinsford Young Offenders' Institution near Wolverhampton.
However former colleagues questioned her behaviour with male inmates and suggested she chose to reject advice about the dress code.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Employment Minister Jim Knight's gaffe on Newsnight
Employment Minister Jim Knight's gaffe on Newsnight
On Newsnight tonight were three guests critical of training providers, and Jim Knight the Minister for Employment. When the unemployed young man seeking work in finance stated how let down he had been by the Job Centre and the trainer provider, Jim Knight asked the young man to speak to him afterwards with the name of the training provider! If he does not know the name of the training provider he shouldn't be doing the job! The government pays Ae4 £2,500 for every person it does not get into work. Rather than make the millionairess who owns Ae4 even richer, it was suggested that the money was given to small businesses to employ some of the unemployed. With the unemployed soon to be 3,000,000 the government needs to reasses its funding of paying for no results when it can pay instead for results!
On Newsnight tonight were three guests critical of training providers, and Jim Knight the Minister for Employment. When the unemployed young man seeking work in finance stated how let down he had been by the Job Centre and the trainer provider, Jim Knight asked the young man to speak to him afterwards with the name of the training provider! If he does not know the name of the training provider he shouldn't be doing the job! The government pays Ae4 £2,500 for every person it does not get into work. Rather than make the millionairess who owns Ae4 even richer, it was suggested that the money was given to small businesses to employ some of the unemployed. With the unemployed soon to be 3,000,000 the government needs to reasses its funding of paying for no results when it can pay instead for results!
Have the McCanns had child safety check by ISA?
Have the McCanns had child safety check by ISA?
The Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA)was set up by the Home Office in the wake of the murders of schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman by caretaker Ian Huntley in 2002. By November 2010, the 11.3 million people who want to work with children and vulnerable people – including teachers and childminders, but also casual volunteers - will have to be registered with the ISA.
"Any person who is in a position to exploit relationships with children has to be checked out."
Have the McCanns had child safety check by ISA? If not, why not?
The Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA)was set up by the Home Office in the wake of the murders of schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman by caretaker Ian Huntley in 2002. By November 2010, the 11.3 million people who want to work with children and vulnerable people – including teachers and childminders, but also casual volunteers - will have to be registered with the ISA.
"Any person who is in a position to exploit relationships with children has to be checked out."
Have the McCanns had child safety check by ISA? If not, why not?
Ex-cop clears another ex-cop of dodgy dealings
Ex-cop clears another ex-cop of dodgy dealings
Ex-Met boss cleared of contracts
Former Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Sir Ian Blair has been cleared of misconduct over the award of police contracts valued at £3m to a friend.
Ronnie Flanagan...
The Police Ombudsman had criticised Flanagan's role in the RUC inquiry into the Omagh Bombing of 1998, in a report published in 2001, to which Flanagan's response was that he would “publicly commit suicide” if he believed her report was correct, though he later apologised for the form of words he used
So much for independent inquiry! So much for justice!
Did you just see those two pigs flying past the window?
Ex-Met boss cleared of contracts
Former Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Sir Ian Blair has been cleared of misconduct over the award of police contracts valued at £3m to a friend.
Ronnie Flanagan...
The Police Ombudsman had criticised Flanagan's role in the RUC inquiry into the Omagh Bombing of 1998, in a report published in 2001, to which Flanagan's response was that he would “publicly commit suicide” if he believed her report was correct, though he later apologised for the form of words he used
So much for independent inquiry! So much for justice!
Did you just see those two pigs flying past the window?
Award-winning human rights campaigner murdered in Chechnya
Award-winning human rights campaigner murdered in Chechnya
Natalia Estemirova found shot dead after being abducted outside her home
"One of Russia's leading human rights campaigners was abducted and murdered today in the turbulent Chechnya region, in a killing that is likely to provoke international outrage and condemnation of the Kremlin's dismal human rights record.
Natalia Estemirova was pushed into a car by several unknown assailants as she left for work at 8.30am local time, according to her colleague Yekaterina Sokiryanskaya.
Russian news agency Interfax reported this afternoon that Estemirova's body had been discovered near the neighbouring region of Ingushetia. She was found with two close-range bullet wounds to her head, police said".
Natalia Estemirova found shot dead after being abducted outside her home
"One of Russia's leading human rights campaigners was abducted and murdered today in the turbulent Chechnya region, in a killing that is likely to provoke international outrage and condemnation of the Kremlin's dismal human rights record.
Natalia Estemirova was pushed into a car by several unknown assailants as she left for work at 8.30am local time, according to her colleague Yekaterina Sokiryanskaya.
Russian news agency Interfax reported this afternoon that Estemirova's body had been discovered near the neighbouring region of Ingushetia. She was found with two close-range bullet wounds to her head, police said".
I haven't paid the TV licence fee since the 1960s so what?
I haven't paid the TV licence fee since the 1960s so what?
Pensioner fined for rebellion over TV licence
A pensioner who refused to pay his television licence fee for six years in protest over his claim that the BBC is "biased" in its reporting has been fined £240.
Even allowing for being "ordered to pay £60 costs and £15 victims' surcharge", he is in profit. Then there is the cost of the prosecution to be taken into account.
It's time for this to be consigned to history. A viewing tax indeed!
Pensioner fined for rebellion over TV licence
A pensioner who refused to pay his television licence fee for six years in protest over his claim that the BBC is "biased" in its reporting has been fined £240.
Even allowing for being "ordered to pay £60 costs and £15 victims' surcharge", he is in profit. Then there is the cost of the prosecution to be taken into account.
It's time for this to be consigned to history. A viewing tax indeed!
Kinnock Kinnock who's there? Blair the war criminal for EU President
Kinnock Kinnock who's there? Blair the war criminal for EU President
Glenys Kinnock: Tony Blair is Government's candidate for new EU presidency
Baroness Kinnock has announced that Tony Blair is Britain's official candidate for the job of European Union President later this year.
Related content...
Europeans will never vote for Blair
Labour is championing Tony Blair as head of the EU. But with so many people against him, who are they kidding?
Glenys Kinnock: Tony Blair is Government's candidate for new EU presidency
Baroness Kinnock has announced that Tony Blair is Britain's official candidate for the job of European Union President later this year.
Related content...
Europeans will never vote for Blair
Labour is championing Tony Blair as head of the EU. But with so many people against him, who are they kidding?
Electrified flowers make astonishing artworks
Electrified flowers make astonishing artworks
Flowers were electrified with 80,000 volts of power to produce dazzling images of the natural world.
More here...
Electrified flowers in pics
Flowers were electrified with 80,000 volts of power to produce dazzling images of the natural world.
More here...
Electrified flowers in pics
Jack Straw: Too much criminal law
Jack Straw: Too much criminal law
Lord Judge tells Jack Straw: the UK has too many crime laws
The most senior judge in England and Wales has launched a stinging attack on the Government for passing too many crime laws.
"The Lord Chief Justice, Lord Judge, said repeated calls for less legislation, and especially fewer crime laws, had been ignored by ministers.
The criticism echoes a complaint from Lord Judge's predecessor, Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers, who complained in February that sentencing criminals was becoming harder because of a "ceaseless torrent of new legislation" which was "hard to justify".
Lord Judge complained about "major constitutional changes" being made without senior judges being consulted, and warned plans for cleaning up parliament could lead to conflict between judges and the House of Commons".
Lord Judge tells Jack Straw: the UK has too many crime laws
The most senior judge in England and Wales has launched a stinging attack on the Government for passing too many crime laws.
"The Lord Chief Justice, Lord Judge, said repeated calls for less legislation, and especially fewer crime laws, had been ignored by ministers.
The criticism echoes a complaint from Lord Judge's predecessor, Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers, who complained in February that sentencing criminals was becoming harder because of a "ceaseless torrent of new legislation" which was "hard to justify".
Lord Judge complained about "major constitutional changes" being made without senior judges being consulted, and warned plans for cleaning up parliament could lead to conflict between judges and the House of Commons".
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Public inquiry into the McCanns lies to MPs in PR Scam
Public inquiry into the McCanns lies to MPs in PR Scam
Introduction
If it is shown beyond all reasonable doubt that a witness has misled a Parliamentary investigation into fact, should that witness have to be re-questioned to remove or substantiate the misleading statements?
This blog will conduct a public inquiry to establish fact from fiction and opinion in relation to the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. It will continue until such time as the MainStreamMedia and relevant authorities wake up to the importance of resolving some of the issues in this case.
House of Commons inquiry
On Tuesday 10th of March 2009, in the House of Commons, the Culture, Media and Sports Committee conducted an inquiry into press standards, privacy and libel.
Witnesses: Mr Gerry McCann, Mr Clarence Mitchell, the McCanns Media Adviser and Spokesman, and Mr Adam Tudor, Carter Ruck, Solicitors, gave evidence.
Gerry McCann was allowed to make an opening statement. Given that he stated: “our family has been the focus of some of the most sensationalist, untruthful, irresponsible and damaging reporting in the history of the press”, It beggars belief that he started by issuing a McCannspin.
“I am Gerald McCann, the father of Madeleine, who was abducted in Praia da Luz on 3 May 2007”.
Gerry McCann is complaining about journalists not checking the facts and not sticking to the facts. Is this a factual statement “Madeleine, who was abducted in Praia da Luz on 3 May 2007”?
Fact: Knowledge or information based on real occurrences.
Untrue: Not according to the facts.
Opinion: A belief or conclusion held with confidence but not substantiated by positive knowledge or proof.
It is safe to say it is a fact that Madeleine has disappeared.
It is not a fact to state Madeleine was abducted.
At best claiming that Madeleine was abducted is just an opinion expressed by the McCanns.
It follows that competing opinions may be expressed by people other than the McCanns.
According to the Timesonline Parents checked sleeping child every half-hour - but still she was abducted
“The front door was open, the window had been tampered with, the shutters had been jemmied open and Madeleine was missing,” she said. “Nothing had been touched in the apartment, no valuables taken, no passports. They think someone must have come in the window and gone out the door with her.”
The McCanns claimed it was a fact that there had been a break-in. However "Mark Warner management denies shutters smashed
“Mark Warner management denied there were signs of forced entry at the flat claiming instead that roller shutters had been slid up and the bedroom window opened.”". The police said that this had occured from inside. Later, much later, Clarence Mitchell admits that there was no break-in. Why did the McCanns claim that there had been a break-in? They fed this line to family, friends and the media. They stated it as a fact. It is a fact that what the McCanns claimed to be a fact is an untruth. Given that the abduction theory rested upon the alleged break-in, it is submitted that the abduction theory falls when the alleged break-in element is removed as being without foundation in fact.
Gerry McCann: "Madeleine, I believe, was made a commodity and profits were to be made". He was, of course, referring to and criticising the media. However, it was the McCanns themselves who were the first to regognise that Madeleine was a commodity and that there was money to be made by turning it into a business. For example, Welcome To the Madeleine Online Store.
Gerry McCann: "I think the most damning thing of all of this and the most damaging aspect of all the coverage which Kate and I cannot forgive is the presentation that there is a substantial body of evidence that suggests that Madeleine is dead when there is no evidence in fact to suggest she has been seriously harmed".
Here we have the McCanns who presented their version of events to the media, the alleged break-in and the alleged abduction, when there is no evidence in fact to support them as being truth. And then complaining when the media chooses to offer a different version of events. Given that at least 76% of child abductions are carried out by a family member or relative or friend, and only 24% by a stranger, with these odds in favour of the McCanns being in some way involved it is difficult to see how they can be so harsh in their judgement of the media. There is a worrying arrogance expressed by Gerry McCann that only their version of events should be believed and published.
(To be continued)
Introduction
If it is shown beyond all reasonable doubt that a witness has misled a Parliamentary investigation into fact, should that witness have to be re-questioned to remove or substantiate the misleading statements?
This blog will conduct a public inquiry to establish fact from fiction and opinion in relation to the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. It will continue until such time as the MainStreamMedia and relevant authorities wake up to the importance of resolving some of the issues in this case.
House of Commons inquiry
On Tuesday 10th of March 2009, in the House of Commons, the Culture, Media and Sports Committee conducted an inquiry into press standards, privacy and libel.
Witnesses: Mr Gerry McCann, Mr Clarence Mitchell, the McCanns Media Adviser and Spokesman, and Mr Adam Tudor, Carter Ruck, Solicitors, gave evidence.
Gerry McCann was allowed to make an opening statement. Given that he stated: “our family has been the focus of some of the most sensationalist, untruthful, irresponsible and damaging reporting in the history of the press”, It beggars belief that he started by issuing a McCannspin.
“I am Gerald McCann, the father of Madeleine, who was abducted in Praia da Luz on 3 May 2007”.
Gerry McCann is complaining about journalists not checking the facts and not sticking to the facts. Is this a factual statement “Madeleine, who was abducted in Praia da Luz on 3 May 2007”?
Fact: Knowledge or information based on real occurrences.
Untrue: Not according to the facts.
Opinion: A belief or conclusion held with confidence but not substantiated by positive knowledge or proof.
It is safe to say it is a fact that Madeleine has disappeared.
It is not a fact to state Madeleine was abducted.
At best claiming that Madeleine was abducted is just an opinion expressed by the McCanns.
It follows that competing opinions may be expressed by people other than the McCanns.
According to the Timesonline Parents checked sleeping child every half-hour - but still she was abducted
“The front door was open, the window had been tampered with, the shutters had been jemmied open and Madeleine was missing,” she said. “Nothing had been touched in the apartment, no valuables taken, no passports. They think someone must have come in the window and gone out the door with her.”
The McCanns claimed it was a fact that there had been a break-in. However "Mark Warner management denies shutters smashed
“Mark Warner management denied there were signs of forced entry at the flat claiming instead that roller shutters had been slid up and the bedroom window opened.”". The police said that this had occured from inside. Later, much later, Clarence Mitchell admits that there was no break-in. Why did the McCanns claim that there had been a break-in? They fed this line to family, friends and the media. They stated it as a fact. It is a fact that what the McCanns claimed to be a fact is an untruth. Given that the abduction theory rested upon the alleged break-in, it is submitted that the abduction theory falls when the alleged break-in element is removed as being without foundation in fact.
Gerry McCann: "Madeleine, I believe, was made a commodity and profits were to be made". He was, of course, referring to and criticising the media. However, it was the McCanns themselves who were the first to regognise that Madeleine was a commodity and that there was money to be made by turning it into a business. For example, Welcome To the Madeleine Online Store.
Gerry McCann: "I think the most damning thing of all of this and the most damaging aspect of all the coverage which Kate and I cannot forgive is the presentation that there is a substantial body of evidence that suggests that Madeleine is dead when there is no evidence in fact to suggest she has been seriously harmed".
Here we have the McCanns who presented their version of events to the media, the alleged break-in and the alleged abduction, when there is no evidence in fact to support them as being truth. And then complaining when the media chooses to offer a different version of events. Given that at least 76% of child abductions are carried out by a family member or relative or friend, and only 24% by a stranger, with these odds in favour of the McCanns being in some way involved it is difficult to see how they can be so harsh in their judgement of the media. There is a worrying arrogance expressed by Gerry McCann that only their version of events should be believed and published.
(To be continued)
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