eddie-brown.net blog

my place on the web

April 22nd, 2005

Costly Benefits

Hardowrking Single People?

Ok, so there is an ellection on. Can I bring to this the comedy value (becuase the truth hurts to much, so you have to laugh) of Bruce Schneier’s latest comment on UK ID cards? As a tax payer that doesnt sound like good enough reasoning to me…. what I really need is a concise argument. Is this to counter terrorism? ID theft? or just so they can have a big disastorous IT project whilst putting all our personal details in the hands of private business?

And whilst I am ranting, another complaint I have. The whole paying grandparents to look after children. Now, in some ways this is a good idea, and if we are going to do this then i support the idea that those being paid should have some qualifications. What got me shouting at the radio was one womans comment that whilst she liked the idea of being given taxpayers (read MY) money, she didnt think she should have to train as "I have raised children before" WHAT???? how does that work? The state would be giving you money to look after children, so it should be checked that you can do the job. YOU might be able to do parenting, but there are a lot of people who frankly have shown they cannot. And whilst what you do to ruin your kids lives is up to you, you should not expect us taxpayers to pay you to ruin anymore. Of course I am sure the woman in uestion was an excellent parenting figure, but the system has to be one size fits all.

Ad I still am not sure who is right to vote for…

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April 7th, 2005

Healthy Activities

Ouch

You know that really comical problem when you meet someone walking along a path? You both are heading towards each other. so you move. but the other person does the same. and then again. Then you find you are standing just infornt of each other at a standstill. A moment of british awkwardness later you manage to get past each other and continue on your way?

Its not so easy on a bike, at the bottom of a hill, as you attempt to enter an underpass, and with a bollard or two to contend with as well. so i ended up crashing my bike somewhat, ending up sitting on it, but both of us on our side.

Just a couple of scratches (except for my pannier, which has a tear in) and now some stiffness in my right leg, and right hand. the side that went on the pavement (my left) is surprisingly fine….

The good side (as such) was that the kids involved as the other party, were genuinly concerned as to my health. Just one of those things really, its a dodgy bit of cycle path. I generally dont use cycle paths due to the blind corners, barreiers and state of the surface, but this bit does save me some distance, and a dual carridgeway roundabout.

It should be noted that yesterdays winds deffinitly helped me get to work (in about two thirds of the usual time i think) but getting home was a real pain. At least it was sunny….

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