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Comment by nathan on September 18, 2009 at 10:17pm

INTERNATIONAL: Talk Like A Pirate Day!
http://www.talklikeapirate.com/piratehome.html

Talking like a pirate is fun. It's really that simple. It adds a zest, a swagger, to your every day conversation. Do you need another reason?

Try it out. Let go, have a beer, burp in public. Say "Aarrr!!" Feels good, doesn't it?

Comment by Richard Penney on August 4, 2009 at 12:37pm

Warning Rant!
We have the Octomom syndrome in the US. She wants to be a baby-machine and have the taxpayers care for all she drops ( I use the term advisedly as she does not parent! )
It may be the Sun and a set-up for publicity. but the basic idea behind it is all too common. Here is a link to the similar situation in the UK.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2562506/Pregnant-mum-of-13-For-every-child-they-take-Ill-have-another-one.html
I have been told, and have read, that Beaureucraps can often be promoted when they appear to have too much to do and need assistants below them to handle the caseload.
Then their supervisors get a free ride up the ladder also. So it appears to be not in their best interest to change the welfare laws to reduce the case load of multigeneration free riders. Again, the road to hell is paved with good intentions.
Unfortunately the persons applying for, and actually in need of, services are often exempted from care due to the paperwork overload and funds necessary to sustain the cheats.
Sadly
-Richard

Comment by George Shepherd on June 25, 2009 at 10:27am

MSPs get power to fine over climate change


Published Date: 25 June 2009
By Jenny Haworth

A RAFT of new powers to crack down on wasteful homeowners and businesses were passed yesterday, giving the Scottish Government the tough tools it needs to meet what have been hailed as the world's most ambitious emissions targets.

Measures voted through by Parliament included the power to fine householders and companies if they do not take action to improve the energy efficiency of their houses and buildings.

Charges could be brought in for plastic bags, and businesses may be forced to reduce packaging under the powers granted to ministers in the Climate Change Bill.

MSPs approved tough targets to slash greenhouse gas emissions by 42 per cent by 2020 and 80 per cent by 2050.

The legislation, which comes after months of campaigning, was praised by environmental groups and politicians, who said all eyes would now be on Scotland as other countries set their own climate change targets. However, ministers acknowledged that the difficult job of meeting the new targets must begin immediately.

Among the powers passed by Parliament to help cut emissions were measures meaning Scots who take steps to curb their homes' energy consumption – such as putting in insulation – will be awarded a £50 reduction in council tax. The legislation will pave the way for planning permission to be granted automatically for home energy kits, such as micro-turbines.

Powers were also given to the Scottish Government which, if implemented, could see shops and visitor attractions forced to install recycling bins, and could require businesses to reduce packaging or potentially face a fine.

The bill requires that 80 per cent of the cuts in emissions have to be found in Scotland, with only 20 per cent made up from paying for reductions overseas through international credits.

Mike Robinson, chairman of Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, a coalition representing 60 organisations, said it was "a truly momentous day" and that Scotland was taking a lead that others would follow.

About 200 countries will meet in Copenhagen in December to negotiate a successor to the Kyoto Protocol, and Mr Robinson said Scotland would set an example to other nations.

"The Scottish Parliament has voted for legislation that will be held up as a positive example to the world," he said. "We hope other developed nations will hear this call for action and follow Scotland's lead."

It is believed Scotland's 42 per cent target for 2020 is the toughest in the world, although some countries have more ambitious aims for 2050. In comparison, the UK government has set a 2020 aim of curbing greenhouse gas emissions by 34 per cent, the EU has agreed a target of 20 per cent, Germany 40 per cent, Japan 8 per cent, and Russia between 10 and 15 per cent.

Climate change minister Stewart Stevenson said: "Scotland can be proud of this bill, the most ambitious and comprehensive piece of climate change legislation anywhere in the world. As a country, we are leading global action and expect others to follow our lead as we look to the international summit in Copenhagen this December."

However, global warming sceptic Dr James Buckee, from the University of Oxford, who recently gave a talk at Aberdeen University arguing against the need to tackle climate change, said he thought the targets would be "unobtainable".

He said: "As far as reducing emissions by 80 per cent, banning the internal combustion engine, and coal-fired power stations from Scotland would not get close to doing it. This is clearly unobtainable.

"More energy has been expended on finding ways to infringe on human activity than has gone into understanding the science."

Ministers made it clear yesterday that they do not plan to make immediate use of powers that could see people fined if they did not improve the efficiency of their homes.

Instead, the government will set out a timetable within 12 months to reveal when it plans to start using the powers. A further round of legislation is needed before they can be enforced.

If the plans were implemented, homes and offices would have to publish energy performance certificates – and could be fined if they did not take steps to improve their building's performance within an allocated timeframe.

Chas Booth, from the Association for Conservation of Energy, said he was "delighted" that the powers had been adopted and he thought they would need to be used "sooner or later" in order to meet the tough emissions targets set yesterday.

However, he added that before these measures were used, Scots must be helped to improve the energy efficiency of their homes through incentives – such as the £50 council tax rebate passed yesterday.

"The way we should go forward is not to bring in draconian measures tomorrow," he said. "These powers are effectively a big stick. We have to have the carrot before we have the stick, but at the end of the day, we have to have both to meet the targets."

The 2020 target of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 42 per cent was backed by MSPs unanimously during the final stage of voting yesterday. Previously, the SNP had planned a 34 per cent target, which would be increased only if other European Union nations raised their targets.

Only after a campaign by green groups, and after Labour tabled an amendment pushing for a 40 per cent target earlier this week, did the SNP announce it would support 42 per cent. However, some campaigners and politicians were worried the SNP had left "loopholes" to enable the target to be reduced at a later date. The bill includes an option to curb the targets if no strong global climate deal is reached in six months.

Last night, praise for the bill even came from Arnold Schwarzenegger, the governor of California, which has championed aggressive climate legislation. He said: "Climate change is a global problem that requires a global solution.

"Scotland's ambitious and comprehensive targets encourage other nations to step up to the plate as we look toward an international agreement in Copenhagen, and it sends a message to the world that we must act now and we must act swiftly."

Source: The Scotsman
Location: Edinburgh

Comment by George Shepherd on June 13, 2009 at 6:04am

Dracula star Lee is a true creature of the knight


The Scotsman
Published Date: 13 June 2009
By SHÂN ROSS
VETERAN horror actor Christopher Lee and golfer Nick Faldo are knighted in the Queen's Birthday Honours list today.
Lee, who terrified generations of cinema-goers, and Faldo, often described as Britain's most successful golfer of the modern era, join 984 fellow Britons receiving a host of honours.

About 72 per cent of the awards go to "unsung heroes" for achievements which would otherwise go unrecognised.

Lee, 87, known for his blood-curdling performances opposite Peter Cushing in the Hammer horror movies, once joked: "To be a legend, you've either got to be dead or excessively old."

Awards also go to Royle Family actress Sue Johnston, who said she was "delighted" at the prospect of meeting a member of the real Royal Family when she collects her OBE, celebrity hairdresser Vidal Sassoon and TV chef Delia Smith.

Poetry is recognised in the list, with knighthoods for former poet laureate Andrew Motion and Christopher Ricks, who is about to step down as Oxford University professor of poetry.

Lee is one of the most prolific screen actors of all time, with more than 250 film and TV credits.

As well as appearing in horror films such as 1958's Dracula and 1959's The Mummy, London-born Lee also played Scaramanga in the 1974 Bond film The Man with the Golden Gun.

In recent years he starred as Saruman in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy and Count Dooku in the Star Wars prequels.

In 2001 he was made a CBE for services to drama.

Faldo, 51, said he felt "humbled" but "delighted" after being awarded a knighthood to add to his six major championship wins.

"It has come as a real surprise and the reaction from my children, family and friends has made this a very special moment for me," said Faldo who became the youngest player to qualify for the Ryder Cup at the age of 20.

"I believe I join Sir Henry Cotton as the only other professional British golfer to receive a knighthood so to stand alongside such esteemed company is incredible," he added.

Faldo won three Opens and three Masters, and spent 92 weeks as the world's number one golfer. He is renowned for his dedication to his game, although controversy surrounded his captaincy of Europe's losing Ryder Cup team last year.

Also honoured is David "Danny" Blanchflower, the Bank of England policymaker whose warnings on the recession went unheeded by fellow rate-setters. He is to made a CBE.

Mr Blanchflower, a visiting professor of economics at Stirling University, called for drastic interest rate cuts to avoid a slump during his time as a member of the Bank's Monetary Policy Committee. But his predictions were ignored until late last year because of inflation worries.

The US-based labour market expert said: "It is a nice return for all the work I have done – and all the commuting."

Frances Lawrence, the widow of murdered London headmaster Philip Lawrence, receives an MBE for services to charity.

Johnston, 65, spent eight years playing Sheila Grant in Brookside before taking the part of long-suffering mother Barbara Royle in the BBC sitcom.

A CBE goes to Sassoon, 81, who styled the hair of royalty, models and film stars in a career that revolutionised hairdressing.

Smith, 67, whose books have sold more than 20 million copies, is awarded a CBE for services to the food industry.

In the acting world, Jonathan Pryce, 62, who appeared in the Pirates of the Caribbean films, receives a CBE.

MBEs go to Anna Wing, 94, who played Lou Beale in EastEnders from the soap's start in 1985 until 1988, and former Likely Lad James Bolam, 70.

Sporting stars receiving honours include motorcyclist Maria Costello, 31, who holds the women's record for the fastest lap of the Isle of Man TT circuit, and former England cricketer Graeme Hick, 43.

They are made MBEs, as is Charlotte Edwards, 29, the captain of the England women's cricket team that won the World Cup in Australia earlier this year.

Former England rugby international Alastair Hignell, who campaigns to raise cash for multiple sclerosis, is becomes a CBE for services to sport and charity.

Disability campaigner made MBE

DONALD Stirling, the first person with a learning disability to take on a governing role in a major voluntary organisation in Scotland, said he was "stunned" at being awarded an MBE.

Mr Stirling, 54, from Inverness, who has campaigned in UK and Europe, said: "I never expected this, I was just trying to spread the word for people with learning disabilities."

After gaining a seat on Enable Scotland's council of learning disability, Mr Stirling went on to became the first disabled trustee of a major European organisation for disabled people, Inclusion Europe.

Sign of the times as no politicians get a gong

NOT a single politician receives an honour in the latest list, after the most recent recipients of the awards were caught up in the scandal over MPs' expenses.

The last politicians to be honoured were Sir Peter Viggers and Sir Alan Beith, both of whom were knighted in the Queen's birthday honours a year ago.

Sir Peter, the Tory MP for Gosport, has announced his resignation at the next general election after being revealed to have claimed £1,645 for a floating "duck island".

Sir Alan, who has put himself forward as a candidate for Commons Speaker, has claimed £117,000 in second-home expenses, while his wife, Baroness Maddock, has claimed £60,000 in House of Lords expenses for the same address.

A Cabinet Office spokesman said that nominations to honour politicians were made by their parties, but none had been forthcoming for more than a year.

Parties are said to have been wary of recommending MPs for honours in the wake of the "cash for peerages" scandal of 2006 and 2007, which centred on unproven allegations that people making donations or loans to political parties subsequently received peerages as a result.

Comment by Richard Penney on May 29, 2009 at 12:28pm

"The only persons a dictator has to please and feed is his army." I do think tht China will react strongly in this case. I am not sure if it will be something outsiders will be able to notice though.

Comment by George Shepherd on May 28, 2009 at 1:56pm

Threats add new tension to Korean war of words

Published Date: 28 May 2009
By Hyung-Jin Kim in Seoul

NORTH Korea has threatened military action against South Korean and US warships plying the waters near the Koreas' disputed maritime border, raising the possibility of a naval clash just days after the regime's underground nuclear test.
Pyongyang, reacting angrily to Seoul's decision to join an international programme to intercept ships suspected of aiding nuclear proliferation, called the move tantamount to a declaration of war.

"Now that the South Korean puppets were so ridiculous as to join in the said racket and dare declare a war against compatriots", North Korea is "compelled to take a decisive measure", the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea said in a statement.

The North Korean army called it a violation of the armistice the Koreas signed in 1953 to end their three-year war, and said it would no longer honour the treaty.

South Korea's military said it was prepared to "respond sternly" to any North Korean provocation.

North Korea's latest belligerence comes as the UN Security Council debates how to punish the regime for testing a nuclear bomb on Monday. Ambassadors from the five permanent council members – the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France – as well as Japan and South Korea were working out the details of a resolution.

The success of any sanctions would depend on how aggressively China, one of North Korea's only allies, implements them. "It's not going too far to say that China holds the keys on sanctions," said Kim Sung-han, international relations professor at Seoul's Korea University.

South Korea, had responded to the nuclear test by joining the Proliferation Security Initiative, a network of nations seeking to stop ships from transporting nuclear bomb materials.

Seoul previously resisted joining the PSI in favour of seeking reconciliation with Pyongyang, but pushed those efforts aside this week after the nuclear test in the north-east.

North Korea warned yesterday that any attempt to stop, board or inspect its ships would constitute a "grave violation".

The regime said it could no longer promise the safety of US and South Korean warships and civilian vessels in the waters near the western maritime border.

"They should bear in mind that the (North] has tremendous military muscle and its own method of strike able to conquer any targets in its vicinity at one stroke or hit the US on the raw, if necessary," the army said.

North Korea disputes the maritime border drawn by the UN at the end of the Korean War, and has demanded it be redrawn further south. It has used the border dispute to provoke naval skirmishes in 1999 and 2002. Yesterday, it promised "unimaginable and merciless punishment" for anyone challenging its ships.

The South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo said spy satellites detected signs of steam at the North's Yongbyon nuclear complex, indicating it may be reprocessing nuclear fuel.


The full article contains 479 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.

Comment by Richard Penney on March 17, 2009 at 7:49pm

The American Legion Strongly Opposed to President's Plan to Charge Wounded Heroes for Treatment
Here is a Liberal's Method of saying "Thanks." Remember, in this country, that a serving or retired congressperson or representative and their families has free treatment for life at these same installations. Also many federal positions also have free health service as a benefit for feeding at the trough.
Pass this on!
The American Legion Strongly Opposed to President's Plan to Charge Wounded Heroes for Treatment
on Mar 16, 5:49 pm ET
Featured Topics:

* Barack Obama
* Presidential Transition

To: POLITICAL EDITORS

Contact: Craig Roberts of The American Legion, +1-202-263-2982 Office, +1-202-406-0887 Cell

WASHINGTON, March 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The leader of the nation's largest veterans organization says he is "deeply disappointed and concerned" after a meeting with President Obama today to discuss a proposal to force private insurance companies to pay for the treatment of military veterans who have suffered service-connected disabilities and injuries. The Obama administration recently revealed a plan to require private insurance carriers to reimburse the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in such cases.

"It became apparent during our discussion today that the President intends to move forward with this unreasonable plan," said Commander David K. Rehbein of The American Legion. "He says he is looking to generate $540-million by this method, but refused to hear arguments about the moral and government-avowed obligations that would be compromised by it."

The Commander, clearly angered as he emerged from the session said, "This reimbursement plan would be inconsistent with the mandate ' to care for him who shall have borne the battle' given that the United States government sent members of the armed forces into harm's way, and not private insurance companies. I say again that The American Legion does not and will not support any plan that seeks to bill a veteran for treatment of a service connected disability at the very agency that was created to treat the unique need of America's veterans!"

Commander Rehbein was among a group of senior officials from veterans service organizations joining the President, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki and Steven Kosiak, the overseer of defense spending at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The group's early afternoon conversation at The White House was precipitated by a letter of protest presented to the President earlier this month. The letter, co-signed by Commander Rehbein and the heads of ten colleague organizations, read, in part, " There is simply no logical explanation for billing a veteran's personal insurance for care that the VA has a responsibility to provide. While we understand the fiscal difficulties this country faces right now, placing the burden of those fiscal problems on the men and women who have already sacrificed a great deal for this country is unconscionable."

Commander Rehbein reiterated points made last week in testimony to both House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees. It was stated then that The American Legion believes that the reimbursement plan would be inconsistent with the mandate that VA treat service-connected injuries and disabilities given that the United States government sends members of the armed forces into harm's way, and not private insurance companies. The proposed requirement for these companies to reimburse the VA would not only be unfair, says the Legion, but would have an adverse impact on service-connected disabled veterans and their families. The Legion argues that, depending on the severity of the medical conditions involved, maximum insurance coverage limits could be reached through treatment of the veteran's condition alone. That would leave the rest of the family without health care benefits. The Legion also points out that many health insurance companies require deductibles to be paid before any benefits are covered. Additionally, the Legion is concerned that private insurance premiums would be elevated to cover service-connected disabled veterans and their families, especially if the veterans are self-employed or employed in small businesses unable to negotiate more favorable across-the-board insurance policy pricing. The American Legion also believes that some employers, especially small businesses, would be reluctant to hire veterans with service-connected disabilities due to the negative impact their employment might have on obtaining and financing company health care benefits.

"I got the distinct impression that the only hope of this plan not being enacted," said Commander Rehbein, "is for an alternative plan to be developed that would generate the desired $540-million in revenue. The American Legion has long advocated for Medicare reimbursement to VA for the treatment of veterans. This, we believe, would more easily meet the President's financial goal. We will present that idea in an anticipated conference call with White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel in the near future.

"I only hope the administration will really listen to us then. This matter has far more serious ramifications than the President is imagining," concluded the Commander.

SOURCE The American Legion

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