INTERNET TROLLS

Professor Mary Beard's appearance on U.K. T.V. programme Question Time evidently led to her suffering vile on-line abuse from numbskull trolls whose behaviour is clearly inexcusable.

Why trolls seized upon Mary probably had more to do with the view she expressed on the issue of immigration and its effect upon the Lincolnshire town of Boston than anything else. Mary, it seems, expressed a view based on the verity of Boston Borough Council's "Social Impact of Population Change on Boston" report.

An audience member, a Mrs Rachel Bull, expressed the contrary view based, she said, on her experience of living in and around Boston over many years.

I have little doubt that Mary Beard and I hold different political views.  Likewise I am sure that neither one of us would feel any bitterness or hate towards the other because of any difference in opinion. Respect: it's not a word in the Troll Dictionary (which, incidentally seems to attach more importance to the first six letters of the alphabet. ( although frankly I found "E" a considerable challenge !)

Nevertheless, Mary, I do wonder whether being a Classics academic might sometimes be a serious handicap; especially so when it comes to dealing with matters of a political nature.  Questioning sources and testing the accuracy of  information before reaching conclusions is generally good practise. However to allow such distrust must be an extreme challenge for  one with such a kind heart. 

As for the numbskull trolls there is little more to say -  but so much more to pity. Bless their little cotton socks.       

HORSE MEAT AND THE FOOD CHAIN

Just a brief blog to clarify things concerning burgers and horse-meat !  

Many people can't understand what all the fuss is about.  That is the fuss about horse-meat concealed in burgers seemingly sold by several U.K. Supermarkets;  I see another one has been named this morning. 

Plenty of our European neighbours, but especially France and Belgium love horse-meat, indeed consider it a delicacy.  Well so do many Brits. Clearly, of course, those disallowed from stuffing themselves with horse-meat because of religious or other reasons have got  cause to be annoyed if they believed a burger's meat content was only beef.   

But let me explain, for the rest of us, what the fuss is really about.  When horse-meat is purchased as horse-meat it's a fair bet the meat is of merchantable quality and has been subject to high level food-quality controls and about a million E.U. Directives ( most of which are probably irrelevant ).  

The actual problem with horse-meat in burgers is the suspicion - the suspicion - that it might just have come from poor old Dobbin, the family pet, who until recently had happily wandered about a local field. Happily, that is, until Dobbin fell ill with heaven only knows what, and snuffed it.

In a twinkle Dobbin is minced up and mixed with beef and other stuff before being beaten into shape and pushed out as a Supermarket burger. Not to say this is what has happened; but it's what people fear might have happened. That's what all the fuss is about.

Now, just for fun, enjoy this little video and music by awesome60s.

GOOGLE, TAX AVOIDANCE, AND U.K. LEAVING THE E.U.

"Wake up and smell the coffee." That's what Dave said back in January.  But don't forget Dave, you preside over the biggest off-shore tax haven in the World ! Maybe you're about to kill the goose that lays the golden egg ?  And here we are in June and the Coalition is still moaning about tax avoidance - but now its #Google not #Starbucks. Even if action was appropriate it's taking an awful long time !!

Of much more interest is the Finnish fellow I heard on UK radio back in January who said something along the lines of  " The U.K. don't want to become another Norway, or another Switzerland..."   Really? Who says ? Actually Mr Finn the U.K. prefers to make its own decisions rather than having a foreigner tell us what we want !  

When asked to give reasons why U.K should vote to stay in the E.U ( it was a #BBC programme ) he trotted out the bit about our biggest export market, being on the outside looking in, not having a say in what Europe does and so on. 

As we've said before anyone in the EU buying U.K. products will continue to do so after the U.K. leaves.  Why? Because they only buy our stuff when we've got what they want at the right price.  To the timid souls who reckon, for example, that production in car plants'  built with foreign money will dwindle along with the investment - dream on.  Inward investment is attracted here because of thousand of reasons and the EU is not a significant one of them. 

As for being on the outside looking in, and so not being able to influence what goes on in the E.U., why would we care much about that if we are not part of the E.U?  And what on Earth makes anyone in their right mind think the E.U. has ever taken the slightest serious notice of the U.K?  #Nigel Farage has got the E.U. summed up.  And of course the E.U. hates him for it.

Our Finnish "expert" also rambled that "...the U.K. need Europe.....and Europe needs the U.K."  Umm.....Exactly. The fellow was not completely wrong; in fact he was half right !  But truly these are matters of opinion.  Maybe Europe does need the U.K. far more than the U.K. needs Europe. But if so then it's for the E.U. to manage the relationship not the U.K..  

More to the point who would dare say  the U.K. welcomes all the restrictions imposed by the top heavy, archaic, bureaucrats hanging out  at our expense in Brussels, day after day forcefully pouring bucket upon bucket of their expensive and ill-conceived Directives down our throats?

Nevertheless make no mistake, the U.K. generally likes its European neighbours; and if, in future, their governments as represented by the E.U. want to trade with us, then that would be good. If not, then the level of our regard and respect for our neighbours will remain. Unfortunately by referring to "the U.K. " and "its European neighbours" shows just how far there  is to go even to first base, never mind where "Brussels" wants. 

That's why it's time to leave the E.U. What's the point of getting married after living together unhappily for so many years?  It's only going to end in further unhappiness and a costly divorce. Get out while the going is good. 

The next few years are a great opportunity for U.K. industry to spread its wings, to develop, new and far more welcoming markets. In fact British Industry is already going down that road.  Taking such great opportunities will keep this little land and its people at the forefront of everything that really matters.  The E.U. will not fall into that category unless it changes beyond all recognition.  

And there, Dave you have it.  The challenge: change the E.U. beyond recognition, or watch your citizens vote to leave the E.U. for a fresh start. Maybe Google Angela and see what she really thinks.?  

UNIVERSAL BENEFIT CUTS

Pensioners could face universal benefit cuts after the next U.K. General Election according to the current Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan-Smith.

Oh dear, Smithy!  How skilfully you turn a small victory into certain defeat!  Now you've gone and put your good old ex-military foot right in it on something else.

Based on their current abysmal performance alongside of the namby pamby Liberals it's most unlikely the Tories will be returned to any form of power for a very long time.  But even assuming the unlikely, (more unlikely now as Pensioners see what the Tories promise) why would anyone in their right political mind threaten to deprive Pensioners of anything !!

"Right you 'orrible, 'orrible lot of old skiving conniving gits. Let's be 'aving your bus passes, winter fuel allowances and TV licence fees - AT THE DOUBLE NOW!"  

Smithy, bullying Pensioners is probably not a good choice.  Bullying - that will be the perception. Who could believe such a thing from you? 

Smithy is alleged to have said "Pensioners need a much longer time if you are going to make changes to their income......They are arguably the most difficult group to make short- term change because.......they can't suddenly say I'll take on more hours of work."  So what are they going to do, Smithy?  How will they replace what you plan to take away? Write blogs and hope someone clicks on the ads? 

We can only guess what evil adviser was behind this proposal.  Maybe working on the assumption that a load of these Pensioners will have snuffed it by the time means testing comes along; and that their replacements won't miss what they never had?

In fairness the fellow has the right idea when it comes to the general need for austerity measures. But to be perceived as knocking Pensioners about is not clever. Probably  a confused hangover from a military past? 

On the other hand, in the right context, why should anything be wrong with a bit of prudent "bullying"? In the hands of a skilled practitioner who knows what might be achieved with some metaphoric water-boarding? 

Could it be the fellow is just in the wrong job? Perhaps, bless him, our Smithy should be given the go-ahead to use strong-arm tactics and get rid of obscenely wasteful Quangos? I'll wager the resultant saving would far outweigh potential Pensioner savings.

Here surely is a man whose integrity is such he would have no qualms if it happened to involve "bullying" one's friends and colleagues?