Monthly Archives: August 2009

Insurance Renewal Premium’s are A Rip Off

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Is it me or is insurance a complete scam? I recently renewed my household insurance and following the advice given at Martin Lewis’ MoneySavingExpert.com I surprisingly ended up with the company I’m currently insured with only with a premium significantly cheaper than the renewal I’d been quoted – I thought the cover must be different, but no it’s exactly the same.

So I rung the company concerned – not forgetting to use SayNoTo0870 to save the call cost – to ask if they’d match the premium I’d been quoted – no they couldn’t – it’s an internet only deal. So I had to cancel the policy and set up a new insurance policy.

What a rip-off I’d be a £100 out of pocket if I’d blindly renewed – and we’re talking a well known ethical High Street brand here.

Sacked for Speaking His Mind

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A civil servant whose campaign against Worcestershire Conservative MP Julie Kirkbride led her to step down over her expenses has been sacked.

Mark France was sacked by managers at the Jobcentre in Bromsgrove, for gross misconduct.

The Department for Work and Pensions said he had broken its code of conduct by engaging in political activities. BBC.

What earthly reason is their in banning a Job Centre worker from engaging in politics, where will this madness stop?

Hat Tip: Harpymarx.

Buried Face Down

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This morning the news is full of stories about the sale of the burial vault above the remains of Hollywood film star Marilyn Monroe has been sold for more than $4.6m (£2.8m).

What I find disturbing is.

The space was auctioned by the widow of the man buried – face down – above Monroe, to raise enough cash to pay off the mortgage on her Beverly Hills home, the Los Angeles Times reported earlier this month. BBC.

You know if I was the man’s widow I’d have sold the plot long ago – I mean how do you attend your spouse’s funeral knowing he wishes to be buried face down above Marilyn Monroe? It’s not just me is it?

Equality Commission Begins Legal Action against BNP Membership

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The UK’s equalities watchdog has begun legal action against the British National Party over concerns about ethnic restrictions on its membership.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission said limiting membership to those of an “ethnic origin” described as “indigenous Caucasian” was illegal.

It has issued proceedings against BNP leader Nick Griffin and two officials. BBC.

Why has the Equality and Human Rights Commission waited until now? The BNP is racist full stop and it’s certainly not suddenly changed its membership criteria.

Bob Dylan to Voice Sat-nav

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Well not quite:

Music legend Bob Dylan is “talking to a couple of car companies” about becoming the voice of their GPS system.

The singer-songwriter discussed the possibility on his BBC Radio 6 Music Sunday show which was on the theme of street maps. BBC.

So what car might I have to buy to get Bob as the voice of my sat-nav?

Well Over 100,000 Sign NHS Petition

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Over 100,000 people have signed a petition aimed at countering the lies being spread by right-wing media in the UK.

The British health care system isn’t perfect, but we would never trade it for the one in the US.

Yet conservative US politicians and greedy insurance companies are pushing lies about the NHS as a way to scare the American public off national health care – risking Obama’s whole movement for change and threatening his majority in Congress. Avaaz.org.

You can sign the petition too at Avaaz.org

Hat Tip: Liberal Conspiracy.

Dropbox

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Dropbox allows is one of the best ways for sharing files between family and friends – it’s simple to install and easy to use.

Put your files into your Dropbox on one computer, and they’ll be instantly available on any of your other computers that you’ve installed Dropbox on (Windows, Mac, and Linux). Because copies of your files are stored on Dropbox’s secure servers, you can also access them from any computer or mobile device using the Dropbox website.

These files are private but drop them into your public folder and each file gets a standard http URL (or web address) so if you want to send a file to a friend send them the link and they can download the file without even installing Dropbox.

The best bit is it’s all completely free and you can upload and download as much as you want – the only restriction is storage is limited to a very generous 2GB – if you need more space then for $9.99 a month there’s 50 GB or for $19.99 there’s a 100GB.

Hat Tip: CNET.

Public School Pupils Maintain Grip on University Places

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For the first time, more than 50% of A-levels taken by privately educated pupils scored an A compared with 20% of those in state schools. Polly Curtis, The Guardian.

I personally would like to abolish private schools however I recognise that’s highly unlikely – what I would like to see is the charitable status of private schools removed – why should poor students through taxes subsidise the education of the wealthy students which then deprives state pupils of university places.

How to Deal With Right-Wing Loonies

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At a Barney Frank town hall meeting in Dartmouth, MA, a constituent asks, “Why are you supporting this Nazi policy?”

Frank responds: “On what planet do you spend most of your time?” He then calls her approach “vile, contemptible nonsense.” He closes by saying: “Trying to have a conversation with you would be like arguing with a dining room table.”

Hat Tip: Stroppyblog.

Boycott Scotland

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The Boycott Scotland website is calling for a boycott of Scotland and the United Kingdom – shame their geography’s a little dodgy as Scotland is part of the UK. There are probably many reasons to boycott the UK however this isn’t one of them.

The government of Scotland has officially freed the terrorist al-Megrahi to return to Libya. Americans need to respond to this outrageous miscarriage of justice and betrayal of the victims’ families, who were mostly fellow Americans, by refusing to spend their tourist dollars in Scotland and avoiding any kind of business there. Boycotting is the only way to send a clear and direct message to both the Scottish and British governments that Americans will not tolerate such a flagrant betrayal.

No words can ever express the sorrow that those of us who lost loved ones in that terrible tragedy at this moment in time. To show your solidarity with the families of the victims, please spread the word to your family and friends and remind them to never forget what the Scottish government has done and to take this into account whenever they consider a trip to the British Isles.

Here in the United States, boycott all BP gas stations, since the money you spend there ends up in the pockets of those in the United Kingdom responsible for this travesty.

Mr. MacAskill, the so-called “Justice” Secretary of Scotland, you should be ashamed of yourself. You know nothing of justice, nor will we ever forgive your heinous action, and it is our sincere hope that the people of Scotland will strongly voice their opposition to what you have done. You have shown to the international community that your government and the United Kingdom as a whole will stop at nothing to pursue the never-ending and relentless acquisition of oil revenues. Boycott Scotland.

However

In Scotland when a prisoner is terminally ill or is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or vascular dementia (or similar condition) there is an application for compassionate discharge from prison in order they can receive the care that they need. In the majority of cases this is granted it is only not granted if the prisoner remains at risk to the public or targeted victims. Al-Meghari has a poor prognosis – he has terminal prostrate cancer. A doctor has said he would be dead within 3 months. MS Chief, Stroppyblog.

Now what’s wrong with that?

Posted in Law