Duff Note

A man has been shot for singing out of tune at a karaoke bar. I've been to karaokes before, usually with severe reticence and having to be dragged along. And I would have to say, each time I have been able to understand what the poor bouncer was thinking. Night after night he had been forced to listen to out of tune voices killing songs slowly but not softly. Is it any wonder he snapped?

What he was singing hasn't been reported but possibilities would have to include

"Long and Winding Road"

"Stand and Deliver"

"Dead Duck"

"Hero Takes a Fall"

"I See Red"

"Murder, Tonight, In The Trailer Park"

"Indoor Fireworks"

"Careless Whisper"

More Than Black Eyes

Warning - Bad taste ahead

The first panda bred in captivity and released into the wild has been found dead. Xiang Xiang was released last year after his breeders had spent time teaching him how to forage for food and how to defend himself. He had three years of training on how to survive. Defensive skills included learning how to howl (doesn't sound very defensive to me). Survival skills included building a den. In fact, I am not convinced that he wasn't really a boy scout in a panda suit. No, I correct myself, didn't he win "SAS - Are You Tough Enough", the one in Scotland?

At first it looked as though he had fallen from a tree. But then investigators noticed marks that looked like scratches on his back. Was this a cover up? His death is being treated as suspicious and the police are appealing for witnesses, if you know of any pandas looking as though they have been in a fight please let them know. The question is - did Xiang Xiang fall or was he pushed?

Little Whorls

I am beginning to despair of the Conservative Party. It is beginning to look as though they couldn't organise a p*ss up in a brewery. Labour should be weak at the moment. They have an outgoing prime minister who, the public have finally realised, mislead and lied and manipulated (well lied may be strong but the other two statements stand) things to his best advantage. One who is now trying a rapid world tour to get his legacy. Well, what do you expect, he spent most of the time out of the UK anyway, he may as well finish in the manner he's grown accustomed to (there's a thought, he may have to start paying for his own flights). And an incoming prime minister who is there because of an inherited right (they worry about the Royal family!) and no-one daring to challenge him, so no democracy there then. And are the Conservatives capitalising. No. Instead they go into a self destruct mode. When they could be talking about education instead they are bickering over the name of the type of school. Really, whether it is a grammar or an academy isn't the point. The point is we need to find ways to improve schools, to improve education for all, to raise everyone up to be the best they can, to reach their potential rather than pushing everyone down to the bottom rung.

Fired

I don't know if you watch "The Apprentice". I do, in the vague (and so far unfulfilled) hope that I might learn something about business. Anyway, to cut a digression short, tonights episode had the remaining candidates having to present on a TV sales channel. And one of them was nervous about being on telly!!!!!!!!!!! Give me a break, you have been filmed constantly for ten weeks, you applied to be on a reality TV show, you are an arrogant and ignorant to**er. And you expect me to believe that you were nervous. Pull the other one.

Steak With That

Roll up, roll up for the latest in reality TV. The Big Donor Show. Brought to Dutch TV by those nice people who came up with Big Brother.

The concept of this is that a woman dying of an inoperable tumour can choose who is going to receive her kidney while she is still alive (after she has died her remaining organs will be divvied up as normal!). A lot of complaints about this being in very bad taste. I can understand why.

But, after getting over the shock and the surprise, I have to say "why not"? It is her kidney. Why not do what she wants with it? Yes, it is a stunt. The woman and the TV company are criticised for playing god. But then, after her death, other people would elect who to give her organs to anyway, so aren't they also playing god. Doctors are complaining it is unethical. But why? To give up your kidney (while you are still using it) is a great sacrifice for another. If it was someone giving their kidney for a member of their family then then would be lauded. Maybe this is a woman who sees her life about to be snuffed out and just wants to know she has done something for someone else first.

Crash

Does anyone else get unduely irritated by those signs in the back of peoples cars that say things like "Baby On Board". Because yes, of course, I was planning on running into the back of you but now I won't! Let me go and find someone more suitable to have an accident with.

A Number 37 Please

We have a very good Chinese restaurant that delivers. Well, had. The restaurant closed down, which lead to a panicky phone call a couple of weeks ago to check if they still did the delivery. Luckily yes. Then yesterday I rang for a take away. Number not recognised. More panic. Why would the number not be recognised unless it was disconnected. Why disconnected if the place hadn't shut down completely. Potential disaster. Yes, I realise this might be a slight over-reaction but a good chinese is hard to come by. So this evening, before I started cooking, I thought I would just ring and see if anyone answered. And they did. Hurray. Of course I couldn't exactly just say I was ringing to see if they were open. So at great hardship I had to order something. Oh deary me!

And now we have to hide all the evidence because if "A" finds out, who is less than 5 years old you will remember, then "J" and I won't hear the end of it.

Cricket - Headingley

England beat the Windies. With an innings and one hell of a lot of runs to spare. That's more like it. And Pietersen got a double century. Excellent. One advantage of decorating was that at least I got to hear a bit on the radio.

Bridge To Terabithia

"A" and I went to see "Bridge To Teribathia" today. Most of the weekend I have been decorating and "J" has been looking after "A". I thought it would be good to give "J" some time off and to spend some time with "A". Well, I can say that the music is good. I am even tempted to buy the soundtrack. But the film itself. It is just so sad. I am not going to say why because that would "spoil" the story. But don't go if you are looking to be uplifted. Now, I do admit that since "A" was born I think I have more of a weak spot about children than I used to. But I do hate that feeling of tears at the edge of your eyes. Most undiginified. When this film comes on TV I will not be watching it again. The children are good actors and it is done well, but gosh, depressing. "A" enjoyed it, which is the main thing. It's going to take me days to get over it though.

So Long Mrs Robinson

This is a strange story, and one which I can't decide on - whether it is sad or refreshing. Charles Webb, the man who wrote that iconic book later turned into a film, "The Graduate", lives in poverty. Strangely he says his life would have been different if it wasn't for the book, but it is hard to see how it has impacted on his life. If anyone had asked I would have said I would exepct him to be very rich. But he sold the rights to the book, and to all the characters before it was a hit. A film that has grosses over $100 million, and he sold it for (reportedly) $20k. He says he has no regrets, but the picture doesn't make you think of someone who is content with their lot in life.

It could be refreshing, that he is completely unencumbered by money and material needs. Or it could just be very sad.

Standing Room Only

There are times when the entire political arena seems to be completely confused these days. New Labour has blurred the dividing lines so much that it can be hard to know who is who. Surely, after her statements, Margaret Hodge cannot be labour. There has to be something wrong when the BNP are saying that a Labour ministers views echo their own.

Housing has to be allocated on need. As long as someone is legally in this country then we need to look after them. And length of residence should not enter into the equation. I am wondering how you even start to add in length of residence. Does 5 years in the UK equal one child? 10 years negates an extra one more adult than you have bedrooms? 15 years overides terminal illness and 20 for disability? And do you lose points for how far away your country of origin is. -2 points for Holland, -5 for Germany, -8 for Serbia and -23 for Korea (and, of course 100 points docked for being from France).

Set The Alarm

Once again there is some media attention on doctors and, more especially, the out of hours service. The particular case that has been the focus of all the attention is not my main topic here but it is worth saying that seeing/speaking to so many different doctors over the bank holiday may not have actually influenced the case that much. While continuity is important for cases it actually bears more relevance for long on-going situations. In an acute case such as this the fact that Penny Campbell had to go over what had happened each time she saw a doctor would not make a large difference as eveything would be fresh in her mind. In fact, even had the case notes been available, the doctors would probably have asked her to go over it all again anyway.

But I am digressing. I want to discuss out-of-hours. There are a lot of complaints about out-of-hours service and how it isn't what it once was. That you can't get you own doctor to come out and see you at two in the morning. That you have to visit a special out-of-hours clinic. That they don't know you.

I can understand why people miss seeing their own doctor, it is a very important relationship and trust is key. But just think about what really used to happen. A local practice could not afford to employ someone to specifically cover for nights. They have the right number of doctors (this goes for vets as well) to cover the day to day duties. Then, each night and at weekends, someone is on-call. Now consider what occurs during the night. That doctor on-call gets rung up at 0400 hrs. He goes out and visits his patient. The patient is happy, they have seen who they want. But that doctor doesn't get back to bed. Instead he comes in and works a normal day at the surgery. So all the patients he sees that day are being examined and treated by someone who is suffering from sleep deprivation. Mondays are even worse if you see the doctor who has had a bad weekend on-call and been up both nights.

Going to an out-of-call service is a small price to pay for seeing doctors who are fully awake and at their best because they are working at night but then have the day to sleep, while your own doctor is as fresh as a daisy every morning and eager to see you.

Addendum - I note that Brown, who said he would be against spin, has already managed to get in with commetns about reform to the service without having proper time to examine the case.

C..c...c...c...coffee

Gee guys, a big "thank you" to all of you who kindly pointed out that Nescafe is produced by Nestle. No, I really mean it, I really appreciate it. My brain has carefully and sub-consciously been avoiding making the connection. Now that I know and can't deny the fact, I have to let my principles take over. So I have got rid of the Nescafe at work and have organic fair trade coffee instead. And it tastes b.....y awful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In fact, it even smells horrible. Oh, let's be honest. It's undrinkable sewage. But I have to stand by my principles so I am drinking tea instead and it really isn't the same. Without that coffee kick to start the day I never feel like I get going. So, once again, I thank you.

Manipulate Me

I had an osteopath appointment yesterday. This is such a frequent and common occurrence that I have full sympathy with fellow bloggers with bad backs. On my more organised days I manage to take my iPAQ with me to make the next appointment.

Yesterday was such a day. Except for the fact that my iPAQ had slightly different ideas about my needs than I had. When I tried to enter the next appointment the iPAQ refused to make it a half hour slot. Instead it steadfastly and resolutely stuck to the idea that my appointment should start at 1800 hrs (correct) but not end until 0400 hrs. Now I do like my osteo, but it really isn't that kind of relationship. And when I told my osteo of the problem I was having she pointed out that she charged £35 for half an hour so I probably couldn't afford that kind of service. The conversation dived from there.

Secret Week

A very masonic week really. Tuesday was the Lodge rehearsal. Last night was a Chapter rehearsal. Tonight was the Chapter meeting. Considering I only started learning the Chapter words 5 days ago it went fairly well. It wasn't that I was being lazy but rather there is so much Lodge stuff to learn my main focus has been on that. Now I have to admit to being slightly annoyed with myself tonight. What I can get word perfect in the car didn't quite come out right in the meeting. Bit like my old school reports "could do better". But generally people seemed happy with my efforts, and at least I was trying without the book as a prompt. I am looking for perfection though, and I disappoint myself when I fail, even if it isn't at a level that others really notice. I have to tell myself that the people I respect, such as our Director of Ceremonies, seem to be happy with my attempts.

Slippery

I am struggling with the story on fair trade bananas on so many levels.

A fair trade company fouond to not be so fair once it got to the UK and had Polish workers. Although the bananas may come from a fair trade source the packers over here were put through some terrible conditions and not given a break or allowed to go to the toilet. It highlights the plight of migrant workers in the UK.

Apparently Jacqui Mckay, national co-ordinator for Banana Link told Ethical Corporation this morning that this kind of expoitation is due to UK supermarkets squeezing their supply chains in Banana price wars. There is an organisation called Banana Link. How cool is that? Some readers of my blog will like Banana Link because they are aprt of the anti-Tesco campaign.

Then the name of the company, "Pratts Bananas". Well, judging from this story, they have certainly slipped on one of their own banana skins and taken a prattfall here.

Here Boy!

Some people, my mother included, will be pleased to know (and many won't give a fig) that I have decided to have a change of hairstyle. For the last year I have been going for the number 3 cut, short hair. On reflection I don't think the bouncer look is working. So I have gone back to having my tintin quiff. I think it acentuates my boyish charms!

There And Back Again

Gosh. Long day. And to think when I first booked today off I expected to be going to the spa. Instead drove over to Cardiff for some masonic business. First a committee meeting to discuss some lodge matters then a Lodge of Instruction (basically a rehearsal for the meeting in three weeks). All went well but I have only just got in. Time for a coffee, a whisky, then bed.

Pandoras Box

Created by the Music Genome Project, Pandoras Internet Radio is a fantastic idea. The Music Genome Project started in 2000, and the idea was to create the greatest analysis of music ever. That is analysis of the structure of music, looking at its attributes and effectively developing "genes" for music. This moves beyond the genre or what the band looks like and studies what individual songs sound like.

Well, the next step was to create Pandoras Internet Radio. So you can enter a song or a group that you like and then the system will generate a playlist based on teh genes of what you like. You can give tracks a thumbs up or thumbs down, you can add more "seed" groups or songs so taht the selection will start playing things you have never heard before but are likely to appeal to your tastes based on what you have told it you like.

So I make a channel based on The Indigo Girls and The Cowboy Junkies and I end up discovering madder rose because it possesses major key tonality and electric rock instrumentation.

The only problem, and there had to be one, is that I can't register because it is only open to US citizens because of licensing laws. So, if like me, you live outside of the USA then I am just teasing you with something that could be great.

Burning Money

How much is being spent on a smoking ad that is completely unnecessary? Is the ad to inform people who smoke that they won't be able to in public enclosed areas any more. No. Is it to improve the national health. No. This is a glory ad. It is a dying attempt by a government, or more specifically a prime minister, trying to build a legacy. He is trying to say "look what I have done for you". It is to make us non-smokers think that he is a wonderful bloke. I really am pleased that smoking will be banned, I think it is great. But I don't then need to see millions of tax payers money being poured into an advert that simply tells us what we already know. It is hard to imagine that no-one knew the ban was coming into force, it has been talked about enough. But even if you don't know then the signs that will go up everywhere will be enough to inform you when the time comes.

Can I have my money back please?