Two minutes of silence today? November 11, 2009

So, at the car auction, the announcements were clear. At eleven o’clock staff stopped what they were doing and so did most of the customers; but far from all. I had expected this so I had locked my car to stand at its side.

Through the whole two minutes there were still many punters wandering around, getting in to cars, even re-starting the engines we’d switched off, making and taking phone calls and joking and talking. In the canteen some tried to insist on being served during this time.

They should be ashamed of themselves, but I don’t suppose they will be.

More weird search terms November 10, 2009

It’s a tie today for the weirdest search engine terms which have led people to this blog.

The contenders are:

“reception area penis chandelier”

and

“vitage elephant chewin gum”

Feel free to vote.

If you have your own blog I’d love to know of any examples you’ve seen for it.

PM apologises over soldier letter November 10, 2009

Unfortunately, this is the biggest news in the UK for the moment.

For non-UK readers, Gordon Brown has taken an unprecedented step of hand-writing individual letters of condolence to the  close relatives of soldiers killed in the middle-East this year.

This is no mean task for someone running a country, when such letters would have normally been cranked out from a computer or by a typist and just signed. Not made easier because the PM does not have perfect vision in his one remaining eye and his handwriting is far from neat. He said “Every time I write a letter to mothers and fathers and partners who have suffered bereavement to express my sincere condolences, it is a moment of personal sadness to me. And I am in awe of the bravery and sacrifice of the men and women of our armed forces.”

Who in this situation might not have made mistakes? Unfortunately he did in one letter to the mother of Jamie Janes – several – and the letter clearly was not proof-read before being posted.

She complained. The PM phoned personally to apologise for the errors and was, apparently,  harangued by her for 15 minutes. She recorded the tirade and subsequently passed it for publication to The Sun. In a video distributed by the Sun newspaper, his mother Jacqui called the letter a “hastily scrawled insult”. What, if anything, she is being paid for this has not been revealed but The Sun is known to have its own anti-government agenda.

She has every right to be upset and her desire, or even ‘need’, to  blame someone for her loss is not unexpected. What she is not showing is the dignity shown by the relatives of every other UK soldier killed in this conflict. She shows no respect for the effort Gordon Brown has made nor for his disability. I’m sure her son would not have wanted it this way. Like every man and woman in the conflict, he signed up for the armed forces, knowing full well that he might give his life for his country. Like many others, I believe he wrote a letter to be opened in the event of his death.

The sooner this ‘news’ item fades from the airwaves and headlines the better. I hope that Mrs Janes can soon accept the facts, understand and accept the motives of others and find peace of mind in her grief.

 

Obama says health vote ‘historic’ November 8, 2009

This is the big news of the day. Viewed from the UK it may seem strange that a rich country is only now considering a state-funded health care system which looks after the poor, funded by those who can afford it. We’ve had the NHS for nearly 60 years. It’s not perfect and some people still prefer to buy their own private care but I’ve never met anyone who would prefer the current American version.

Mr Obama said: “Tonight, in an historic vote, the House of Representatives passed a bill that would finally make real the promise of quality, affordable healthcare for the American people.

“The United States Senate must follow suit and pass its version of the legislation. I am absolutely confident it will, and I look forward to signing comprehensive health insurance reform into law by the end of the year.”

Read the full story: here on the BBC website, along with background to the bill, US citizens’ stories and a growing debate.

It’s not over yet.

Weird search phrases that find this blog November 8, 2009

Today’s prize goes to “climbing out of an ash tray”.

I can’t think of a suitable comment. To use the vernacular, WTF?

 

Strange book titles November 8, 2009

Have you ever seen a book whose title makes you think “What on earth is that about?”

I did this week, in a charity shop.

“Salmon fishing in Yemen”  All I know about (the) Yemen is it’s in the middle-east, mostly desert and extremely lawless and dangerous.  So, I wonder what the book is really about.

Any more examples, dear readers?

Festival Place, Basingstoke November 5, 2009

This will only be of interest to people, like me, who live within reach of the town, I imagine.

However, ……….

After my first visit today I have to vote it the very worst indoor shopping centre and car park I have ever visited.

Finding it was easy; off the A30, one junction up the ring road, follow the signs into the centre and we’re there in a couple of minutes. Parking was OK. Finding our way out was not. Are there any routes that don’t through Debenhams? When we found an exit (and they don’t make it easy by putting up signs, say) we had no idea where we were. The hundreds of shops in there seemed to have been deliberately mixed up so every section looked similar. At the exit there were a few signs pointing to places we didn’t want but no map. By luck we had come out on the South side, near to the place we’d come to visit. So far so good.

Later, back inside, there were very few places from where you could see the outside and so judge where you were on the inside. The malls ran straight, curved, up and down slopes, had junctions but very few signs and no maps that I could see. Eventually I found lifts back up to the 4th floor and our car.

Now the worst bit, getting out. Have you done it? Isn’t it appalling? It took 5 minutes of continual driving; left, right, left, left, right, right, ……. On and on it went. Down a level then left, right, right ….. following temporary add-on yellow exit signs. How the hell did anyone get out without them ????????

Finally the exit. Where were we? No idea. Did I want to go to Reading or Alton or Winchester or any of the places on the road signs? Of course not. I want the A30, London bound. By luck and inspiration we didn’t take any wrong turnings and so, about 3 miles later, we were approaching the A30 and home.

Arghhhhhhhhhhh

Rant over. Just don’t ever ask me to go there again.

man appears at his own funeral November 5, 2009

“A 59-year-old Brazilian man has surprised his family by turning up at his own funeral, local media report. Police told O Globo newspaper that relatives had trouble identifying the corpse because it was badly disfigured. He did not get word of his funeral until it was already happening on Monday morning, his niece Rosa Sampaio said.”

Read the full story: here

It could happen to any of us, I suppose.

Fish found in boy’s bladder November 3, 2009

“The patient was admitted to hospital with complaints of pain, dribbling urine and acute urinary retention spanning a 24-hour period. According to the boy, the fish slipped into his penis while he was cleaning his aquarium at home.

After detecting the fish in the boy’s bladder, Vezhaventhan and Jeyaraman used a technique known as cystourethroscopy to insert a special set of forceps down the patient’s penis.”

This story will make you grit your teeth, guys. Read the full story: here

Belly button ring stuck in nose November 3, 2009

“A YOUNG woman caught her belly button ring in her nostril this morning after falling from her bed.

The distressed 22-year-old called NSW Ambulance at 4am begging for assistance from paramedics.”

How do you do that ??? Just try getting your nose anywhere near your navel!

Read the full story: here

The (sarcastic?) final comment by the ambulance spokeswoman is amusing, too.