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I had a tiring day at work and start early...

First in a series of little rants. Enjoy.

David Cameron’s “Big Society” is a society where the people help run their local governments and can therefore tailor their needs. It means that people will vote for the actual party they want to vote for, rather than being torn between self-interest in their local government and their higher political ideals. Now, as political philosophy goes, great idea I guess, improving the voting system, making everything more democratic. But, as Mr Newton my old history teacher always reminded our set (particularly Jack Cohen, the Bertrand Russell of the modern age), politics has to be practically sound as well. That’s why democracy completely falls flat on its arse, but that’s a rant for another time. Anyway, let’s look at this from a more realistic perspective. What Cameron is doing is, for all intents and purposes, removing any party policy from mattering in local politics, as well as making the local politician a puppet to the outspoken in the community who decide to harass him into voicing their opinions. Which I guess is what English democracy needs. But then the local politician becomes redundant. So why pay him so much? Or at all? And surely the whole idea behind the big society, put into layman’s terms is just a typical childish tantrum, saying “Well if you’re going to make fun of me while I’m doing it, I’m not playing any more! You do it!”

The whole point of a local politician is to run things while OTHER PEOPLE DO THEIR JOBS. I mean getting everyone to pitch in and help is a lovely idea and all, but so is giving everyone a jet-pack so we can all fly around everywhere, but we all know that’s stupid. So what we’re doing is letting the guy who’s supposed to be running our borough relax while everyone else does the work. Which is basically like splitting the country up into tiny, really shit autocratic states, whose rulers are basically puppets who get paid to do nothing. So just scaled down version of England as it is now.

The professional politician, the expert, is being told to stand down so that the people he’s meant to be helping can basically do whatever they want. Now, does nobody see how imbecilic that is? How about we introduce this to all aspects of life? Instead of having doctors who actually know what they’re doing and are part of the NHS, we should just get everyone who wants to pitch in come round the hospitals and give the diagnoses on patients and tell the professional doctors what to prescribe them and which operations to perform on them! That’s a great idea!

Don’t think so? No shit.

(Also love how Big Society can be abbreviated to BS)

I had a tiring day at work and start early tomorrow…

…but…

…cute headphones.  Click the link for zombie headphones, too.

In Upper Slaughter, England by Striderv on Flickr.

After a 26 hour bus ride from Sölvesborg, Sweden (through Holland and Belgium) Interesting Guy has found himself in…

Derby, UK

52°55.32?N1°28.55?W

• Population - 236,000
• The city has Roman, Saxon and Viking origins.
• Derby and Derbyshire were centers of Britain’s Industrial Revolution. In 1717, Derby was the site of the first water powered silk mill in Britain.
• An industrial boom began in Derby when Rolls-Royce opened a car and aircraft factory in the town in 1907.
• Derby Arboretum was the first public park in the country and is thought to have been one of the inspirations for Central Park in New York.

Ok…sooo maybe this blog as a bad idea. I’m sooo jealous! Derby sounds awesome. It’s adorable and lovely and there’s sooo much to do!!

Well…with Rolls-Royce plc being one of the two biggest employers in the area (the Toyota Motor Corporation is the second) and first water powered silk mill in Britain…hopefully he’ll bring home some awesome goodies!! :)

 

London. Take me there.

Englefield House by jo92photos

(Where X-Men: First Class and Hex (TV series) were filmed. Both staring the sexy Michael Fassbender!)

I Do Not Love (myspace)

“Down and Left”

Stream at Fountains Abbey

Aston University building in Birmingham

As leaders debate ways to reform healthcare, politicians repeatedly tell a worried public that Britain will not turn the National Health Service into an ‘American-style’ private system.

[…]

Britain is now embroiled in a healthcare argument of its own, prompted by a proposed shake-up of the NHS. And the phrase on everyone’s lips is “American-style,” which may not be as catchy as the “death panels” that Palin attributed to socialized medicine but which, over here, inspires pretty much the same kind of terror.

Ask a Briton to describe “American-style” healthcare, and you’ll hear a catalog of horrors that include grossly expensive and unnecessary medical procedures and a privatized system that favors the rich.

[…]

Thank you for following this blog! 

Let’s see… Hull is definitely in the UK, almost definitely in England, and… maybe northern England? Yeah, I’m doing this to test and/or expand my Geography knowledge; I’m sure you’d do it, too.

Keep letting us know where you study Geography!

Faerie Glen, Scotland

This is England (movie)

Stream at Fountains Abbey

2010

Union Jack 7” record

@Beyonce’s New Fragrance “Pulse”

With the success of her fragrances, Heat and Heat Rush, Beyonce is scheduled to release Pulse, her new floral citrus scented perfume, in September.

The 16-time Grammy Award winning Beyonce` tells Elle, “Women always tell me that my music makes them feel strong and confident, and Pulse is about finding that inner power.”

The internet’s pulse is racing today as reports that Bey and former Destiny’s Child member, Kelly Rowland, will perform live at the BET Awards on Sunday, June 26. It won’t be the last time DC fans get to see the two together, Beyonce is also scheduled to appear alongside Kelly on her UK show, X-Factor, as a judge. 

Come on up! by BeboFlickr on Flickr.

A crack of light over the Faerie Glen, Isle of Skye, Scotland

Thank you and Goodbye,my brother.

Union Jack 7” record

Sunrise

United Kingdom Cushion [$55, Etsy] by Cath of My Bearded Pigeon

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Winter Landscape 1 (by Yitchie)

everything fried. (from)

As some of you know, I am totally obsessed with LONDON, ever since I went last summer. I felt a sort of kinship to the place, and have been wanting to go back ever since. I was hoping to go for a week next March (right before the olympics), but now with my life in such a financial ruin it does not look like it will be happening soon (unless I were to find a sponser to get me over there). I am still going to strive for trying to work over there next year, but for now I will just have to keep those fingers crossed. 

The above photo is an urban billboard for one of my favorite frozen yogurt place located in Soho called SNOG. Pretty much the best frozen yogurt ever (yes, it is up there with Pinkberry)! If you ever go to London or have been then you should check it out!

Tower Bridge by SabrinaM. on Flickr.

Fully legal: 14 June 2011 (by ChrisCopeful)

Sunrise