Counter sue the idiots

If you're a regular recycler you'll know the frustration of finding the bins in the council depot full. After all the effort of separating and collecting the waste you're frustrated because the council's contractor hasn't kept up with taking the rubbish away.
So when I heard about a child in Kent who was threatened with jail and then fined £50 for leaving her box of waste next to a full bin I went ballistic. The council should be fining the contractor and apologising to the public for failing to provide an efficient service.
I would file a counter claim in the small claims court. Even if I lost they would have to answer the summons to provide a proper answer.
I regularly call the so called recycling helpline when I'm faced with an overflowing can bank in York. I never receive a reply to the message I leave on the ever present voicemail. It's time us recyclers were treated properly instead of being fined by petty minded officers.

How fast?

"I'm so fast, that when I walk into my hotel room and switch off the light, I'm in bed before the room gets dark." Muhammad Ali

That fast!!!

This gem is buried in a story in today's Media Guardian (scroll down to "Who is the world's greatest copywriter?")

BB: Referendum on racism

So Big Brother has now become part of the democratic process. The nations' attitude to ethnic minorities is to be judged by the votes of the viewers of a reality TV programme. That's the implication of Andy Duncan's limp response to the complaints about the behaviour of some of the celebrities on the show.
The outcry over the antics of the inhabitants of this manufactured community in Hertfordshire, locked away for a TV show, has reached fever pitch. 30,000 complaints to the broadcasting regulator, OFCOM, questions in the House of Commons, outrage by cabinet ministers and news headlines have propelled this show into the stratosphere. But to make judgements about the attitude of the nation based on either the response of the viewers or more widely the outrage of millions who've never seen it is utter folly.
You will gather that I'm not a fan of BB, celebrity or otherwise, but that's my choice. But when choices are made about my attitude, based on the posturing of a few showbiz people and the manipulation of their TV audience, I object. I thought the debates in the House of Commons could be mindless, but this row plunges mindlessness to a new low.

Pay not to use your car

Residents in the London Borough of Richmond are to be charged up to three times the normal rate for residents parking if they own a 4x4 vehicle.
This is idiocy. If they don't drive their gas guzzler they'll be charged a surcharge for parking it. If you want them off the road increase the cost of driving it. What will happen as a result of this policy is that 4x4 owners will be driving around looking for a parking place that doesn't cost the earth - and in the process they'll be burning fuel and costing everyone the earth.
And how do you police this process? My vehicle can drive all four wheels but only if the wheels lose their grip - so most of the time it's a two wheel drive vehicle. Whilst it's parked none of the wheels are driving. There are lots of two wheel drive cars that cause more damage to the planet than my car. So if I lived in Richmond would I be penalised?

Theatre of Dreams

I have been a supporter of Man U for long time but I've never been to Old Trafford. That probably makes me an armchair supporter and opens me up to a torrent of ridicule.
This Sunday that all changes. I will be at the cup match between Man U and Villa in Manchester. The ticket actually says Theatre of Dreams"
My first recollection of the existence of Manchester United was of my dad listening to the FA Cup final in 1957 whilst painting the hall, stairs and landing. The mains lead of our old Cossor radio was stretched to the limit to reach the top of stairs so that he wouldn't miss any of the action. Their opponent on that occasion was also Aston Villa who won 2-1.
I'm not sure why he supported Man U, but he came from the Lake District so I suppose he was on the right side of the country.
My interest was revived when my sons started to support Man U as schoolboys - long after their grandad had died.
This Sunday one of those sons, Wesley, will meet me in Manchester, to see the game. Wes bought me the ticket as a Christmas present. He bought himself one at the same time.