Write-Place

This is very hastily put together, so I apologise now for any errors, omissions or panic style writing. I write in haste. I have heard today that The Home Office is considering plans to force “social networking sites” such as Facebook, MySpace and Bebo to hold information about their users in an effort to foil the criminals/terrorists who communicate through them. All the information would be stored on a central database (and yes, possibly a few cds which get mislaid on trains, buses etc) as part of the proposed Intercept Modernisation Programme. These plans are to keep information about all telephone calls, emails, and internet visits made by everyone in Britain through a multi-billion pound system. Every picture we look at, every piece of music we listen to and every person we have emailed will be “on file”. The Data Retention Directive, a European Union statutory order already proposes that internet service providers in member states store communications for one year. Now I do not ...

Almost a year since local elections here, when I made observations on the election of BNP Councillors. Then, there was debate about how BNP policies might affect Rotherham and concerns shown by some. As it has transpired since then, the concerns most prevalent within the town (particularly, from personal experience, in Maltby, Bramley, Wickersley) are the blatant underhand doings of RMBC and their Labour councillors and the awful detrimental effect this is having on the community. Maltby Town Council is commonly known as a pantomime. The chairman is under investigation after allegations have been made against him by previous Labour councillors who now purport to be independent. The true independent councillors are being hounded out of their positions by false accusations – some by intimidation and aspersions about their religious beliefs. Verbal and physical assaults have been made on members of the public by MTC councillors. The Chief Executive at RMBC pass the buck in any way that t...

Today is World Book Day. I had always thought that it was held on 23rd April - Shakespeare’s birthday, St. George’s day and no doubt many other things celebrated but it seems it’s a “moveable feast” in this country and varies. After weeks of reading, but little writing (apart from in my head) I promised myself that I would devote today to some serious writing on one of the many projects I have in process, specifically the follow up to “Crossing Borders”. But I am in a moral dilemma, which is this: When is it acceptable to publish autobiographically about situations and family life, and at which point does it become airing your dirty laundry in public ? Julie Myerson, a novelist and columnist has published a book which tells of her family life, and includes details of her son (allegedly) smoking a “spliff”. The debate about this is whether this is a mother betraying her family and making money in the process or is it perfectly feasible for anyone to tell their own story and that of ot...

I have been AWOL from this blog for various reasons, over the past few weeks (yes ok, no one noticed) and I couldn't decide what to talk about as I launch myself back onto the blogging “scene”. I could voice my opinion on the economic situation, the financial in-discrepancies of the government and bank officials, the love of the celebrity culture that is becoming sordid and inhuman, immigration, texting the police instead of contacting them directly, the Middle East situation or the “court of public opinion”. But these are all very serious topics, and I feel the need to think of relative trivia at the moment. What is on my mind today is organic vegetables. I don’t mean that I have a yearning for them or am about to become vegetarian. Just that I bought and cooked an organic Savoy cabbage yesterday and am puzzled about it’s texture. Now I have to say that this is the first time that I have bought an “organic” vegetable, or more precisely, the first time that I have bought vegetabl...

Today, Barack Obama starts his first day as US president, after being inaugurated yesterday 20th January 2009 as America's 44th president and its first black leader. He has pledged a "new era of responsibility" and many around the world are still celebrating. Others are questioning whether he will be able to live up to the expectations that millions have of him or whether he has set himself a challenge that can not be overcome. I am neither political enough, knowledgeable enough of American history or intelligent enough to debate the issues deeply. I have listened to his inaugural speech and read of his background and policies. He appears to me to be honest and trustworthy and genuinely caring towards all, though this is usual with people when they begin office. Everything he proposes will take time and no one should expect immediate change. But if he succeeds in even a small amount of what he intends, then we should wish him well. I have not been a believer in George Bus...

Following the cancellation of the Wentworth Valley Area Assembly meeting on 8th January, a further meeting was held on 15th January at Bramley Parish Hall to discuss the issue of “Democracy” as had been previously planned. At the earlier meeting, the new chairman, Cllr Chris McMahon and vice-chair Cllr Amy Rushforth, put in place as many say unethically and against the constitution, by Rotherham Labour Councillors, called a halt to the meeting amidst cheers and jeering. The previous chairman Cllr Peter Thirlwall (who had the total support of the Assembly) was told he was out of order when he tried to speak and members of the public were told to be quiet when they tried to ask questions about the election of the new chairman. The next week, the meeting at Bramley was of a completely different nature from start to finish. Everyone was welcomed by Rob Foulds, a well known council critic and campaigner from Bramley, who clarified the reason for the meeting. A vote was then taken as to who...

Revd John P Richardson on his blog yesterday ( http://ugleyvicar.blogspot.com ) spoke of the increasing use of “Godwin’s Law” in discussions and reporting on the current situation in Israel. This law suggests that "As a Usenet (internet) discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches ." The rule does not say that any reference or comparison to Adolf Hitler or the Nazis might be appropriate, but only that one arising is increasingly probable . John Richardson then goes on to substantiate his claims by quoting comments made most recently: “Gaza is a ghetto, in exactly the same way that the Warsaw Ghetto was, and people are trapped in it.” - Ken Livingstone “[The Israelis] will continue to create a Warsaw Ghetto in the Middle East.” - Brian Eno “Those murdering [the occupants of Gaza] are the equivalent of those who murdered the Jews in Warsaw in 1942.” - George Galloway Apparently , Cardinal Renato Martino the Pope's justi...