Kicking the Poles Again

It's been days since the Daily Mail had a go at the Polish (yesterday, I think, when it had a story about Eastern Europeans sending money back to their homeland instead of investing it in Northern Rock, maybe?). Today's little gem is a complete non-story but it is guaranteed to bring the usual suspects out from under the bridges by the stream.

Polish phrase cards handed out to firefighters 17th September 2007

Firefighters in Lancashire are being handed Polish phrase-cards with sentences including 'What is on fire?' and 'Are you hurt?' to help cope with an influx of eastern Europeans.
Free Polish classes are also on offer to firefighters, to help make them understood by the 50,000 Polish immigrants who have settled in Lancashire neighbourhoods.
Most have arrived since the country was admitted to the European Union.
But Polish communities are said to be instinctively suspicious of any uniformed services due to experiences in their homeland.
The card has been produced to try and gain their help and support.
As well as the cards, firefighters have been attempting to raise awareness on the dangers of incidents sparked off by drying clothes over fires, cooking, and people drinking or smoking.
Therefore thousands of fire safety leaflets have also been printed in Polish and distributed across the county.
Assistant chief fire officer Peter O'Brien said that many Poles lived in shared houses which were often overcrowded and considered to be a fire hazard.
He said: "The accommodation being used is often poorly maintained and, when combined with over-crowded conditions, the risk of fire occurring and causing serious injury or death is heightened."
Phrases included in the leaflet:
• Are you Polish?
Czy jestes Polakiem?
•Do you know anyone who speaks English?
Kto Mowi Po Angielsku?
• How many people live here?
Ile osob tu mieszka?
•Is everyone out?
Czy wszyscy sa na zewnatrz?
• Where is the fire situated?
Gzdie dokladnie jest pozar?
• What is on fire?
Co jest w plomieniach?
• Is there anyone in the building?
Czy jest ktos w tym budynku?
• Are you hurt?
Czy jestes ranny?

Let's see who can be first to use the phrase 'political correctness' or do-gooders.

How about handing out ENGLISH phrase cards to POLES, which seems to me to more logical - or, are we to fit in with all the foreigners that come here, rather than the other way round?- Mike Randall, Worcester England

What nonsense. Isn't English still the official language of Lancashire?I can't imagine the local sapeur-pompier shouting to me in English if my house here in France caught fire.- Burrator, St Sulpice. France

Why can't the Polish people learn English if they want to live in this country? Give them free language lessons instead of the firefighters. Surely the firefighters have enough to do without going to Polish classes. I am assuming the Polish people will need to speak English if they want to get a job in this country?- Frances, Chatham

How about handing Polish people English phrase cards so they can tell US whats wrong?- Chris Carr, Southampton

Would it not be better if the people coming here learned English instead of the indigenous population learning Polish or any other language? This just another example of the British having to change to accomodate immigrants no other country does it.- William., Bolton UK

I suppose asking the Poles to learn our language would be out of the question.- Lickyalips, Richmond, Surrey

How are the firefighters meant to understand the responses they get to the questions on the cards?- Adrian, Reading, UK

So when Polish people reply in Polish how are the firefighters going to understand them?- Andy G, Norwich

So much for the learn English policy the government was ranting about. Nobody should suffer from fire in the home but it's hardly the responisbility of the fire brigade to learn how to communicate with immigrants who should realy not be here withouit been able to communicate with the wider population as a whole.- Ibbo, Leeds, UK

I got a better idea. Get the Polish to learn ENGLISH!- George, Bath

Here is an idea for the Poles coming here - LEARN ENGLISH. I wouldn't dream of moving to another country without learning the language. It's manners for a start.- Ali, Worcester, UK

Wouldn't it be more sensible if they spoke English before they came here?- Jacqui Weems, Southampton

Why oh why are we not insisting Poles living in the UK learn English? I live in Poland we have no translators, no help and no forms in Polish. You have to learn Polish or you cannot survive here. Why are we going out of our way to ensure another influx of immigrants don't assimilate because they can't/won't speak the language?- Steve, Warsaw

So what about all the other Eastern European languagues then? Do those people not matter when their house is burning down? Do the fireman have to carry cards in about 30 languages then? What if communication is impossible with, say, a Czech person - would they then have the right to sue the fire brigade?Yet again this highlights the total maddness that listening to the politically correct do-gooders will cause.- L. G,, Berkshire, UK

What a farce. If these people want to live and work in England then they must learn our language. Remember they have chosen to relocate to England, it's their responsibility to communicate in our language.- Anon, Surrey

It will not work. I have sung in Polish at weddings and had to learn the words Polly parrot fashion and what is written sounds entirely different spoken.What about giving the Polish immigrants English cards - surely in a fire situation it would be quicker.- Alice Hunt, Lincoln

If translating what a Polish person says when asked a question, is like using a phrase book when on holiday, the house will have burned down by the time it has been sorted out.- D.Walker, Burnley England

Obviouisly, none of these stalwarts of the community goes on holidy abroad or has a holiday home (or emigrates to hotter climes). Strangely, no mention of the Auf Wiedersehen, Pet workers in Germany in the 80s. Could any of them speak German fluently other than to order a beer?

Also, notice Steve in Warsaw does not mean what he actually wrote. Read it first Steve. Then you won't make an arse of yourself!

Good to see the clinically sane Weems woman is back on form. She likes Poles a lot. Maybe she has Polish relatives.

The Dead Count

We know that it is a British newspaper and it may be read by relatives affected by it, but there is something distasteful about the tendency to report disasters in terms of how many people killed or injured are from this country. Today's Mirror is a case in point. 92 people are believed to have died as a result of the plane crash in Phuket, Thailand.

Oh wait...breaking news......one of the foreigners once had an uncle in Brighton.

Clipper Race 2007

Thatcher Hanging

Brown: I want Lady Thatcher portrait to hang in No 10

By SIMON WALTERS - Daily Mail 15th September 2007

The row surrounding Margaret Thatcher's Downing Street meeting with Gordon Brown has intensified after it was revealed she has accepted his offer to commission a painting of her and for it to go on permanent display in No10.

One of Lady Thatcher's favourite artists, Richard Stone, who has painted the Queen, the Queen Mother and Nancy Reagan, as well as Labour Prime Ministers Harold Wilson and James Callaghan, is expected to be commissioned to work on Lady Thatcher's portrait.

Mr Stone recently completed a giant portrait of 22-stone gorilla Koko, which has gained celebrity status in America since being trained by scientists to "talk".

Top of the league!

Tranmere Rovers 2 Luton Town 1

(Curran, Kay) (Furlong)

It may not last as teams like Orient play tomorrow. However, it is good to be top and this is one of the benefits of Friday Night matches at home. It is part of our heritage. I remember listening to a commentary on Radio Wales when we played Wrexham in the 80s. Not being able to understand the Welsh language I was glued to the speaker as I made out the odd word. Now and again you could make out...Ronnie Moore. Then one memorable phrase, 'Friday night is Prenton night'. This stuck with me. The passion that is sadly lacking in some home games, comes alive as the floodlights shine out.

Tonight's game was a case in point. We were not impressive for the whole game. Luton stole an early goal and were the team most likely in the early part of the second half.

My positivity is providing dividends. I have used my succubus powers to take away Noel Edmonds's life forces in order to ensure TRFC start winning games in the last 10 minutes. Whenever Deal or No Deal is on, I am able to use my negativity to produce the big money boxes. This is because anyone that gets to appear on this show is either deranged, a gambling addict, believer in fairies or has the time to be holed up with greedy people.

Anyway, it is wonderful to look down on our opponents, albeit for a short time. Leeds won again and have clearly reacted like a wounded beast as they continue to rise up the table. I thought they were somewhat fortunate to take all three points in the first game of the season at Prenton Park, but Wise seems to have channelled some of the energy of the anger about the points deduction into a united force. Maybe the bookies in Yorkshire are sweating a little. Leeds continue to court our star player Steve Davies. If they do manage to coax him, this will leave a sour taste in the mouth.

My camera phone pic from tonight.

Clipper Race 2005

This Sunday sees the start of this year's round the world clipper race. Once again, the start of the 35,000 journey will be at Liverpool. Accordingly I have uploaded some photos I took of the last race.

QE2 Anniversary Visit

The QE2 will be visiting Liverpool on 21st September as part of its 40th Anniversary tour. It is due to become a floating hotel/leisure complex in Dubai in 2009. It will be tied up at the new cruise terminal due to be opened that day. In previous visits it has been moored in the river with the famous Mersey Ferry conveying passengers to the landing stage. I have, therefore, decided to put some photos of the last visit.

Where's the Point?

Standards of reporting in local freesheets is usually poor. They should cut out the middle man and deliver them straight to the recycling plant. At best they are advertising devices. The local trattoria is not likely to get a poor restaurant review given they have paid for a big advert on the next page.

I'm always tickled by the naff posed photos such as the one featured here. It is part of a serious story - the vandalism of lifebelts along the river promenade. Is there a special school for local journos and photographers that teaches this method?

Madam Margaret

"When England was the whore of the world

Margaret was her madam

That's when they finally put you in the ground

I'll stand on your grave and tramp the dirt down."

Elvis Costello

Gordon Brown is the author of 'Where There's Greed: Margaret Thatcher and the Betrayal of Britain's Future.' (1989)

"Margaret Thatcher is an evil, mad Tory." Eric The Fish (1989)

"I admire the fact that she is a conviction politician. I am a conviction politician like her." Gordon Brown 2007

I stand by my convictions, Gordon. Do you?

Double Standards at The Daily Mail

I've been working for some time on a blog post about the McCann story. I keep updating it as the changes occur and hopefully it will be ready soon. In the meantime, I was intrigued by this gushing piece of journalism from author, Allison Pearson in Britain's greatest birdcage floor covering. She has also written for the Independent so this is not so much a dig at the DM as a poke at crap writing.

Whilst some of the press are carefully realigning themselves in case the good doctors are not as innocent as first claimed, this article could easily have been written by the McCann PR team. With such high profile friends as Gordon Brown, JK Rowling, Esther McVey (Tory candidate for Wirral West: God help us!), Alex Ferguson et al, maybe she knows them.
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I refuse to believe the McCanns are guilty

12th September 2007 Allison Pearson

The past few days of Kate McCann's life may have rewritten the definition of hell.
Imagine coming home for the first time since your four-year-old daughter disappeared and walking into her bedroom to find her toys, her clothes, all her things exactly as she left them, maybe never to be touched by her again.
And then try to imagine, on top of such unspeakable sorrow, that there are people out there who believe that you killed your child, and that for four months you have simply been acting the part of a heartbroken mother.

Gerry and Kate McCann insist they had 'nothing' to do with the disappearance of their daughter
As if that weren't bad enough, the police and social services have just held a meeting to discuss the future of your two-year-old twins in the light of allegations against you and your husband.
Sean and Amelie McCann taken into care?
My stomach actually churned at the thought that Kate might lose the babies who have given her a reason to get out of bed and generally pretend to go on living since she and Gerry lost Madeleine.
It's such a grotesque idea. But over the past few days, the McCann story has gathered momentum so quickly that nothing seems shocking or impossible any more.
Imagine how thrilled those literally clueless Portuguese cops were to be handed some inconclusive DNA evidence they could talk up to scapegoat the British visitors who had become such a pain in the backside.

Overnight, Gerry and Kate found themselves trapped in a nightmare straight out of Franz Kafka. A world where lack of hard evidence is taken as proof of guilt and innocent explanations are twisted to fit our darkest suspicions.
During an 11-hour interrogation, Kate's Bible, for heaven's sake, was used as proof against her because one passage about a sick child was crumpled.
Since when in the Western world are devout Christians considered suspicious for reading the Bible?
Now Kate and Gerry have been named as official suspects, it suddenly feels as if it's open season on the doctors from Leicestershire.

Kate McCann leaving the police station in Portugal after an 11 hour interrogation
Even those of us who have believed in the couple all along, and prayed for Madeleine's safe return, may have experienced an uncomfortable sliver of doubt.
"I always thought they were too good to be true," is a common view.
Gerry is described as controlling and unemotional. As for Kate, she attracts suspicion for the sin of being nicely turned out. I actually heard one man complain that she wore a different, clean T- shirt every day and matching earrings.
In this post-Diana age, people want proof of grief. They don't want dignity or faith or an attempt to keep up appearances, even if you are collapsing inside.
Trained to deal with trauma, doctors can seem more detached than the rest of us. That professional self-control may also have counted against the McCanns.
So in the absence of definite proof - as opposed to rumours and allegations from unnamed sources - let's set aside the sensational headlines and expert theories about DNA strands.
Look at Kate McCann. Notice the checked trousers that fitted her four months ago flapping on her emaciated frame. Watch her head lean with infinite tenderness into her baby daughter's face.

Kate's weight loss under the stress and worry is clear from the checked trousers that hang from her tiny frame as Gerry reads a statement to the press
Observe her spasm of anguish at the airport when Gerry, breaking down in outraged tears himself, said: "We have played no part in the disappearance of our lovely daughter, Madeleine."
Can anyone really believe that woman killed the child she went through two gruelling years of IVF to conceive?
That she then hid the small body and strolled down with her husband to enjoy dinner with friends?
That Gerry and Kate, devoted parents by all accounts, loaded Madeleine's decaying body into the boot of a hire car four weeks later while they were busy courting the international media to help find their child?
Can you credit it? Of course not. The allegation is not just revolting. It is surreal.
Whatever you may think about the error they made in leaving their children alone that night, these people are not Fred and Rose West.
The deed the McCanns are accused of would have required such black, cold-hearted evil that I refuse to believe they are guilty unless overwhelming evidence is uncovered.
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith told the BBC she had full confidence in the Madeleine investigation.
Well, you're on your own, honey. The British Government should be expressing disquiet to the Portuguese about the sorry excuse for an inquiry into Madeleine's disappearance - and the subsequent outrageous attempt to bully Kate into a quick confession.
Debate is already turning to whether the McCanns, as they fight to clear their names, should be able to dip into the £1 million Madeleine Fund to pay for legal help.
My answer, unhesitatingly, is yes. That money was given by the public to try to secure Madeleine's safe return.
I fervently believe her kidnapper is still at large, and just imagine what sick pleasure he must be taking as the Portuguese police try to stitch up the little girl's parents.
What hope of justice can there be for Madeleine if the only line of inquiry is into her beloved mother and father?
Now, more than ever, the McCanns desperately need our support, not our cynicism.
It is time to call off the witch hunt for the simple reason there is no witch, only a heartbroken mother who wants her child back.

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This is bad journalism, lacking in fact and relying upon sugar-sweet sentiment.
Let's look at it more closely:

The past few days of Kate McCann's life may have rewritten the definition of hell.
Actually. Septicisle in Obsolete beat me to it here. This is just lazy writing. Everyone has their own definition of what constitutes hell. Mine involves relegation from League 1, A copy of the Daily Mail and a giant Jade Goody. In fact, my personal Inferno alters by the day; the Daily Mail and relegation remain constants though.

As if that weren't bad enough, the police and social services have just held a meeting to discuss the future of your two-year-old twins in the light of allegations against you and your husband.
Moving away from hell, social services are clearly damned if they do, damned if they don't. This is the same Allison Pearson who wrote in August of this year, "We should take more children away from their parents....... In fact, Britain has among the lowest number of children taken into care in the world. Yet a child is killed by its parents at home every single week. "

Of course, what she means is working class children from council estates. It is not just that they have become suspects in the case, their level of child care has been questionable from the outset. Contrary to the view in the World of McCann, most parents do not leave children alone in a holiday apartment every night whilst they go out drinking. My first thought when this came to light was not the risk of abduction, but the risk of an accident. I remember reading a letter someone received from Leicestershire Social Services stating that they should warn their friend she risks prosecution/intervention if they continue to leave 3 children alone when she went to the pub at the end of the street. The original letter was, of course, a spoof, but it does show the hypocrisy of those that defend them.

As for Kate, she attracts suspicion for the sin of being nicely turned out.

On the face of it, a relevant point. There has been a deluge of nonsensical statements and comments about the couple's demeanour. But what's this later on in the article.....
Look at Kate McCann. Notice the checked trousers that fitted her four months ago flapping on her emaciated frame.

So, appearance is relevant. A person couldn't lose weight through fear of being guilt, no?

Overnight, Gerry and Kate found themselves trapped in a nightmare straight out of Franz Kafka.

A little learning is a dangerous thing. This is not A Kafka-esque situation. Here, the charges/accusations are known. The McCanns were presented with it in interview. They chose not to answer many questions. The prisoners at Guantanamo Bay are in a proper Kafka novel. Likewise, those incarcerated in the UK on terror concerns.

I fervently believe her kidnapper is still at large, and just imagine what sick pleasure he must be taking as the Portuguese police try to stitch up the little girl's parents.

The abduction theory does not look too healthy at the moment. The media here accepted the McCann version of events from Day 1 and are paying the penalty. Independent and rational reporting went out of the window.

.....£1 million Madeleine Fund to pay for legal help.
My answer, unhesitatingly, is yes. That money was given by the public to try to secure Madeleine's safe return.

Even the Fund Trustees have now decided this is not appropriate. The McCanns still tried to put spin on this by claiming THEY had decided not to seek funds.

Imagine how thrilled those literally clueless Portuguese cops were to be handed some inconclusive DNA evidence

This translates as, 'we don't like foreign police forces because they're not English like our detectives. Amanda Burton in Silent Witness would solve it. Her ice cool, unflinching, emotionless demeanour would be very apposite.

Crete 2005

Tranmere 0 Morecambe 1

Johnstone's Paints Trophy

TRANMERE ROVERS 0 MORECAMBE 1

This is a cup for the hard of winning. We did reach the Final of its predecessor (Leyland DAF) in those heady days of the 1990s winning versus Bristol Rovers and losing an enthralling 3-2 encounter with Birmingham City. For those only accustomed to Premiership footie, this is for the teams in the bottom 2 divisions of the Football League (League 1 and League 2)

Morecambe are in their inaugural season in the Football League so this is our first meeting as League members.

We managed a 3-0 victory against Sammy McIlroy's men pre-season, but this was no guarantee of success. Tranny made a few changes from the normal line-up but Morecambe looked the hungrier of the two sides. Their cup fighting pedigree has already been established with victory against Wolves in the League Cup. Didn't we used to be giant killers?

I think the cliche about concentrating on the league is a little early this year. We still have the F.A. Cup but..........................

Another famous Eric

European Scroungers

Far-Right British MEP sentenced to jail for fraud - but he can keep his seat and salary

Daily Mail 4th September 2007

Ashley Mote, a former member of the UK Independence Party, was convicted at Portsmouth Crown Court of falsely claiming benefits totaling more than £65,000 from 1996-2002 when he failed to declare income. He was found guilty of 21 fraud-related offences.

Sometimes it is not what is said, but what is not said. Contrast the number of DM comments made about the train story I covered in the last post, with the big zero (at 1800 BST) about this story of Ashley Mote MEP. It has all the makings of a spiffing Mail story - benefit fraud, Europe, continued membership of Parliament with salary. But not one DM reader (so far) condemns it.

Read further, the ingredients are there for Armageddon.

He is 71 (about 68 when elected) and salaried when hard-working Mail readers have to retire early (or work later to make up pensions stolen by Brown). Both views are acceptable on Daily Mail Island.

1. He does not even represent the party he stood for. They kicked him out ( before conviction) upon discovering his (alleged at that time) slight misdemeanour (£65,000). He has not called a By-election as would be demanded by the readers.



2. The length of sentence, it is claimed, was dictated by Government policy. (It's the Separation of Powers gone mad) and prison overcrowding. The DM disciples usually want it both ways here too. Either the courts are not sending enough to prison (we are the largest nation of jailing in Europe) or we are.



3. He was elected for a party that wants us out of the EU (but wants to keep itself on the so-called gravy train in Brussels.



4. He has now aligned himself with such luminaries as Jean-Marie Le Pen and Alessandra Mussolini ('Al, any relation?' 'Oh yes!')

Question: How many comments would there be if he were a Labour or Liberal MEP?

Answers on a €500 note to ex- labour, ex-UKIP, ex-Veritas? MEP Mr Robert Kilroy-Silk, Belgium.

Ashley Mote,

He got their vote,

But burnt his boat.

He's in jail now,

the little scrote.

Keeping Feet on the Ground

Court raps 'draconian' train firm who prosecuted girl for resting her feet on seat
If she had been a 6ft yob, they would not have taken her to court, says father

Daily Mail 4th September 2007

This is a hard one as Margi Clarke said to David Shepherd.

It has even split the comments section of the DM. Perhaps the right position is in the centre ground. (Eric sits on fence shock).

On Merseyrail trains there was always a sign warning commuters to 'Please mind your head'. This invariably became 'Fleas in your head' once one enterprising individual and subsequent disciples had spotted the comic potential of scratching off a few parts of the sticker.

For some time now, similar signs have been present, warning of the consequences of anti-social behaviour on trains. Such misdemeanours include litter dropping and putting feet on seats. Both are particular bug bears of mine for they are unjustifiable offences. Whereas (in rare cases) crimes such as theft, assault, even murder, may be argued as 'for the greater good' or mitigated, trivial offences do not enjoy this position. I have to clarify here that I am not talking here of situations where the law already affords a defence or takes on board mitigation (domestic violence, self-defence) nor do I seek to justify the crimes myself. I simply set out the premise that it is possible for certain scenarios to enable a person to argue or excuse the action (the starving shoplifter; the anti-nuclear weapons vandal; the Poll Tax refuseniks). However, in these cases, the person needs to be willing to accept the consequences.

Has anyone ever put forward an arguable case for littering ('well, it creates work for street cleaners' aside)? Anti-social is such a big issue because it is avoidable and boils down to the I don't give a shit about society people. Now that even the post-Thatcherite Tories concede there is such a thing as society (Ancram eat your heart out) it does matter.

This (eventually) brings us to the present and Miss Kathleen Jennings. Whilst it does seem somewhat Draconian, it is to be noted that Merseyrail pointed out in an earlier case (Babiker Fadol) that a fine was not appropriate as

"the imposition of fixed penalty fines for the offence would require an Act Of Parliament."

and there have been hundreds of other prosecutions.

The BBC also covered the policy thus:

Merseyrail is playing recorded messages and flashing up warnings on digital screens in trains.
Guards are also being fitted with mini head cameras to catch offenders.
Merseyrail says it plans to take out private prosecutions after guards recorded more than 300 bylaw offences since February.

Offences including smoking, putting feet and shoes on seats and even singing too loudly. Patrick Verwer, Managing Director of Merseyrail, said: "It may seem like a minor offence but putting feet on seats and smoking on trains is actually very annoying for a lot of passengers."

Indeed Merseyrail made the following statement about the legal process:

"Prosecution will be based on the existing railway byelaws which apply across the UK under the section which covers “unacceptable behaviour” (Byelaw 6) after a specific protocol was agreed with Liverpool Magistrates Court."

The defendant's father raises a good point regarding the enforcement of the law. Would they have acted so diligently if the perpetrator was a large male or in a drunken group. Maybe Merseyrail should release details as to other prosecutions as they seem to have CCTV evidence. This may generate more confidence. Many f us have seen inaction on trains against fare dodgers and loutish behaviour. Boris Johnson says we should take the matter on ourselves but would everyone risk an assault (however low that risk) for a trivial matter?

Therefore there was clearly no actual defence (or justification) here. What the Magistrates in Chester appear to be saying is that they consider the bringing of the case so over zealous that only an absolute discharge should be given. Interesting to contrast the case with the one involving Mr Fadol. Ignoring the fact that he has a foreign sounding name, he seems to have had his feet on the seat for a longer period (if Miss Jennings is to be taken at face value) and does not have a glittering teaching career ahead of him. Nor is he known to have helped in youth organisations as her solicitor (who also represented Mr Fadol) was quick to tell the court.

This is slightly worrying in that it seems to suggest a two tier approach to justice. Would it be right to treat a non-academic, unemployed youth of the same age? This is often a perception of some sentencing for similar offences.

Let's consider some of the DM comments. My comments/bile in blue as usual.

At last we're seeing some common sense by the courts throwing out ridiculous charges brought by waste of spacers like the CPS and now MerseyRail. Let's hope there's more like this ruling coming from the courts in the future to stop this.- Mike, Alicante, Spain

Mike pontificates from the beach as usual..........

I will make absolutely certain that neither I nor any members of my family will ever use this company's services or facilities. What a disgusting, despicable, vile company.- Robert Ducksworth, England

Would you want to be a member of Mr. D's family? Free choice? Not on your nelly. Not seen some of the vile and disgusting things people have on the soles of their shoes, man?

Disrespectful and selfish people put their dirty feet and shoes on seats all the time in UK, regardless of the fact that other passengers will have to sit on them. It's just another example of the declining standards of behaviour in UK caused by the liberal attitudes of this appalling Labour government. Prosecution may be extreme but it's clear that the girl and her family are indicative of the malaise: do what you like and don't care!- Dean, Vienna, Austria

I've travelled across Austria and its neighbouring countries and noticed there is, generally, a difference in attitude. Bet Dean is an ex pat blaming Labour for everything because the country was perfect before May 1st 1997. He gets today's award for crass political point scoring whilst not even being here. Congratulations Dean and Guten Nacht Wien.

Others are more rational.

This judgement will send out the wrong signals, next thing we will find all kinds of people will end up putting their feet on seats knowing they will not be find for doing so. The chances of doing away with the don`t care attitude of certain individuals stands no chance of succeeding when you get cases like this, after all we are supposed to be curbing the yob culture or are we! As always in this country the law (if you can call it that) always benefits the perpetrator.- Alf, Liverpool, Merseyside

I agree that this should never have gone to court but I would expect someone so well educated and with such prospects to have enough sense not to put their feet on a seat at all. This is exactly the sort of seeming trivial behaviour that we're all expected to tolerate now and which in so many cases leads to more serious incursions. I'm not suggesting that this would turn her into a criminal but would she put feet up with shoes on indoors? This is someone who will be teaching children?- Louise Leeks, Harwich UK

Finally, this from a similar DM story when the case was coming to court.

Let's have a 'feet up on the seats day' in support, not just of this young lady but all those 250 people who have been prosecuted by Merseyrail under this pathetic law. As for the CCTV headcams, these are a total invasion of privacy for passengers.- Les, Southport, England

Well, Les let's hope you get you trousers covered in dog shit the next time you use the Northern Line to Southport. I get the feeling he never does. Absolute moron.

Perhaps the best I can say is that I was immediately reminded of The Times invoking Alexander Pope in regard to the Rolling Stones imprisonment in 1967. Anyway, don't do it again. We'll be watching! And the messageshould go out to all regardless of size or qualifications.

cartoon copyright Philip Spence

Manchester Pubs

Manchester Pub Crawl: August 29

Taking advantage of National Express fun fares we combined a trip to a pet shop specialising in rare animals and fish, with a visit to some of the Real ale pubs of Central Manchester.

My journey got off to its usual difficult start as Merseyrail journeys were terminating at James Street due to emergency engineering work thus necessitating a trip across town to the coach station.

Gullivers
This is a JW Lees house selling their basic entry level best bitter. Opinion was divided on this brew with 2 votes to one in favour. The pub is in one of Mancster’s less salubrious areas with a shop selling porn DVDs, a sex cinema and a white withcraft store along the same street. Can I just say that this wasn't my idea to go there. The culprit knows who he is and denies he knew the street was like that! (and the band played 'believe it if you like!' The beer itself was reasonably cheap but the pub is only worth a swift visit.
Smithfield Hotel
This is near to the famous Band on the Wall club (it seemed to be closed when we went past). This was a shame. It obtained its name from the fact that the artists literally played on a raised stage up against a wall. Many famous bands have been in residence here. Judging from the state of the outside it certainly needs some work doing on it before it rises from the ashes. We were told it will re-open though.
Inside we settled on halves of different beers on offer. Copper Dragon from Skipton Brewery was a good starter at 3.9%. However, we had less success with our second choice of Greenfield’s Long Thumper (4.2%) as this had clearly turned vinegary. It is always a black mark for a pub when the barperson is less than forthcoming with a replacement with the usual ‘nobody else has complained’ being churned out as an excuse. To be fair, it was exchanged for another choice but this type of attitude leaves a taste in the mouth similar to the bad pint. One wonders if we would have succeeded if we had been on a solo visit.

Crown and Kettle, Oldham St, ancoats, Manchester
This was a nice little pub with some interesting beers on sale. I plumped for a Knoll Street Porter by Bazens Brewery (5.2%). A very satisfying dark ale with oaky notes.
We also tried Hornbeam Bitter (3.9%) which was satisfactory. Apparently it has recently re-opened after fire damage. All beers were well kept.
Bar Fringe (Swan Street)
This does not look so inviting from outside but is actually quite an attractive pub inside with a small beer garden facility. Due to the good weather, we took advantage of this. The pub sells a range of Belgian and German beers, which was good to see, but we did not partake as we had other fields to plough.

A fine half of Phoenix Bitter was duly quaffed.

Marble Arch Brewpub, Gould Street/Rochdale Road
This, I feel, was the highlight - a superb pub with its own beers on tap. There are a number of rooms and an outside area. The brewer was busy preparing a mash at the time and I was fortunate to see the some of the process. The brewing area can easily be seen from the window on the doorway. The pub’s website www.marblebeers.co.uk is being updated and not available at the moment.

We then headed for the station after a final beer in a pub in Piccadilly.

We were disappointed to see that The Beer House was not open at the moment. This had been a stalwart from our previous visits to Manchester.

Prior to the pub visits we took the short trip to Manchester Pets And Aquatics neat the Apollo Theatre. They have some weird and wonderful creatures from gheckos to albino chipmonks. There are a number of parrots around the shop. Beware of the one pictured in the slideshow. It'll have your sunglasses off your head if you don't watch it! The hedgehog was priced at £150 but we wondered what the lifespan would be, given that the common hedgehog only lasts a few years in the wild.

Yeovil 1 Tranmere 1

YEOVIL 1 TRANMERE 1

Rovers broke with tradition and blew my theory out of the water with a last gasp equaliser from a Steve Davies free kick. Davies remains a target for Leeds, who continued their good start to the season with a fourth straight win. They are still bottom of the league with -3 points but with Forest continuing to struggle, their quest for promotion dos not look impossible task it did after the points deduction. Rovers are now fifth but have some more difficult games ahead this month. We should have a greater appreciation of their potential by the end of September.

Ringo The Starr

I'm still working on a record of our sojourn in Manchesterland. Photos to follow.
In the meantime I recommend the new Ringo Starr compilation Photograph. Put a little Ringo in your lives. I was impressed by this review of the overlooked classic Snookeroo. Ringo himself has talked fondly of it. It was written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin. The lyrics (north of England etc) are quite interesting given the fact that Taupin (the wordsmith)was American and Elton came from Southern England (although his father came to work up here.

George is often the Beatle most underrated but we should remember our Ringo. August 18th 1962 means so much.

Guardian Gets It Wrong Shock

People often say to me 'Eric, it's all very well having a go at the Daily Mail, but that is like putting a bet on Jade Goody to win an Ugly Thicko competition. Well, today they have their day. I thought the following article in the sports section of The guardian was appalling. Not only is it pandering to the lowest common denominator but it is very lazy writing.






http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2007/08/29/chairman_blitz_hires_hughes.html




Chairman Blitz hires Hughes and kicks sensitivity into touch


Simon Blitz's claim that signing Lee Hughes was not a 'moral' decision is difficult to accept.
Lawrence Donegan
August 29, 2007 11:59 PM

Either the thespian community of these isles has a new Olivier in its midst or Lee Hughes, recently released from Featherstone prison into the promiscuous embrace of Oldham Athletic football club, really did mean it when he said this week that he would never forgive himself for the despicable conduct that caused the death of 56-year-old Douglas Graham in a car crash almost four years ago.
"I am not coming here [to Boundary Park and professional football] to be a hero," said Hughes, who served three years of a six-year sentence for causing death by dangerous driving and leaving the scene of an accident. He need have no worries on that score, at least not in the eyes of anyone who rightly judges that a man's ability to stick the ball in the net is a trivial thing in the greater scheme of life.
Nevertheless, Hughes's status as the principal pariah in an awful human tragedy may be under threat after the contribution of the Oldham chairman, Simon Blitz, who claimed this week that the decision to sign the player was absolutely not a "moral" decision. "For us it is a pure footballing matter," he went on.
Long experience has taught us not to expect too much in the way of good judgment from football club chairmen but this contribution from Blitz surely sets a new low.
Given that members of Graham's family had already publicly voiced their disgust at Hughes's return to professional football, the very least - or, rather, the very most - this buffoon should have said on the subject is nothing. That he said what he did, and that he said it on a day when he must surely have known that the emotions of the Graham family would be at their rawest, shows an absence of sensitivity, and a lack of respect, that could be interpreted as utter contempt.
As for the substance of Blitz's remarks, it would require us to accept that professional football is not bound by the same moral code as the rest of us. Of course, some within the game behave as if this is indeed the case, but it is not. And it most certainly is not the case if it means the feelings of a grieving family are overruled by the need for an English League One club to solve their goal - scoring problem. Are we being asked to believe that Hughes is the only available player in England capable of lifting the Boundary Park club out of their midtable torpor? And if other club chairmen embraced Blitz's approach and took it to its logical conclusion, where would we be ? Lee Harvey Oswald for Southampton? Mark Chapman for Chelsea?
The truth is that signing Hughes was absolutely a moral decision, but that Oldham and their chairman lacked the intellectual courage to defend it, probably because deep down they realised it was indefensible.
The player, reading a prepared statement, did say this on his own behalf: "I have served the sentence laid down by the law but nothing I can do or say can change what happened. I can only keep saying sorry although I know that is not good enough for some people." This is because "some people", though accepting the court's decision, happen to think three years is far too little for causing the death of another man in a car accident after a night out on the town and leaving the scene before the police arrived. It is because some people would argue that Hughes's debt to society would have been paid back in full if he spent the next four years - or however long his professional football career might have lasted - coaching football in the inner cities, or in another worthy capacity. Instead he has chosen to return to a full-time career in professional football, where his name on the Oldham team sheet will serve as a weekly reminder to the Graham family of their loss.
It is Hughes's right to make this choice, selfish though it may be, but it is Oldham's shame that they made it so easy for him to return to the game he has disgraced.




I once saw Lee Hughes play for West Brom, his home club against Tranmere at Prenton Park. After the match, we were astonished o see Hughes running away from the ground still in his WBA kit. It turns out that he had just learned of his father's heart attack and was getting a lift from fans as the team coach would not be leaving until later.


Nobody condones his actions. He killed a man. He injured another. However, the witch hunt which has grown since his release is irrational. I am, therefore, peeved that the Guardian allowed this populist nonsense to be printed. It is also disappointing because in the author's column in the paper edition, he makes an extremely good point in highlighting anti-Islam racist abuse in Scottish football.

The problem with the article can be summarised thus:

1. Should our judicial system punish people harder because they have the capacity to earn money after serving their sentence?



2. Should prisoners not be allowed to undergo rehabilitation?



3. Should sentences be linked to career length? The article implies that Hughes should have to serve a further community penalty.



4. It is crass to equate this crime with those of pre-meditated ones committed by Mark Chapman and Lee Harvey Oswald. Very bad journalism.



5. The views of the victim's family are irrelevant. The law should not take them into account. If we were in that position we may feel different but the law must stand back from emotion lest justice judges one person's grief higher than another's.



6. Hughes will be vilified by away fans when he plays for Oldham. (November 6th at Prenton Park).

Whilst it can be argued that the sentence was too lenient or that Hughes is symptomatic of a footballer with too much money, this article does neither. It is very, very lame. I was heartened to see that others commenting on the story felt the same. Hey, at least we can comment in The Guardian. Imagine trying to get a comment printed in the Daily Mail without wishing that Richard Litttlejohn was running the country. Oh, but I forget there is no bias. My friend told me.....

• Please be assured that there is no editorial policy in place that would seek to prevent the discussion of both sides of the story and we value comments from both perspectives.

Tessa Batacharia Senior Communities Editor

The Asylum Lottery

It's been a couple of days since the rational and fair-minded Daily Mail has had a story on asylum/immigration but it comes up trumps today. It has chanced upon one of its favourite themes - wasting of lottery funds on foreign projects. The gist of the story is that a grant of over £400,000 has been given to an organisation to help successful asylum seekers claim welfare benefits. Unfortunately in DM Land, asylum and immigration are often confused into one.

Now, there can be a debate as to what the Lotto Good Causes Fund should be used for. We often see local projects which, on the face of it, seem to be suitable but are turned down. There is also the argument that such help should be funded from taxation. The Mail, however, does not seek to debate, merely to inflame hate.

There is also the rules that do not allow asylum seekers to work immediately. We have the potential of many doctors, teachers and business managers being wasted. The tone suggests that all those needing help are not literate. This need not be so. The Social Security legislation and process is very complex and ever changing. Having represented people at appeals tribunals I am fully aware of this. Also, lawyers specialising in other areas have little or no understanding. Many organisations that help people on welfare are voluntary bodies.

The DM bigots (as can be seen by the usual moronic comments) fail to understand that as signatories to the 1951 Geneva Convention on Asylum, we have a duty to these people. Don't forget this money is being utilised to help those that have convinced the authorities they are genuine. You can imagine how greater the furore would be if the money was to aid failed applicants.

Furthermore, we should remember the circumstances that brought this about. There was a collective guilt at the lack of provision given to those fleeing Nazi persecution. How often do we see the dead of WWII invoked to support an argument for increasing pensions or better health care. The irony is not lost. Take, for instance, our friend from Leeds :

They shouldn't be here, they shouldn't be getting benefits and we shouldn't be going out of our way to make sure they get them! Somebody PLEASE sort this mess out. Millions of men died in the two world wars and for what?-
Adam, Leeds, UK

Again I say to people in Leeds, if you see this cretin, point at him and laugh. He is a waste of air.
Compassion is alive and well and living in Hartlepool:
The lottery fund is supposed to be given to "good causes" sorry but helping asylum seekers to claim benefits is not a "good cause", most of them are only in this country to claim benefits that other countries they have had to pass through to get here would not give them.- John, Hartlepool

Given that the town became famous for the myth of a monkey being hanged because they thought it was a Frenchman, one wonders if there is any truth in it.

The actual article also quotes Ruth Levy of the Centre For Policy Studies. This is a right-wing think tank set up by Keith Joseph, the mad Tory MP whose prodigy was Margaret Hilda Thatcher. No mention is made of this. Most DM readers would be unaware of this and so give more credibility to the view as if it were independent. At least when Andrew Green of Migrationwatch is quoted it is more likely that people will realise he has an axe to grind.

The article also churns up previous misdemeanours. "In recent years, The Big Lottery Fund has handed out hundreds of thousands of pounds to help battered wives in Siberia and to a pressure group for prostitutes."

This is an interesting juxtaposition. Obviously no normal person would want to give money to help victims of violence or the oldest profession. I wonder how any mail readers actually use sex workers' services. Many are from Eastern Europe and are forced into this due to the pressures of the asylum process. Many are subject to assaults. Nothing to do with us, implies the DM, charity begins at home.
Of course this is the paper that employs Richard Littlejohn who said after the murder of Ipswich prostitutes, that they were "disgusting, drug-addled street whores" and their deaths were "no great loss". He added that for prostitutes, being murdered is "an occupational hazard" stemming from their own "free choice". Not a surprise is it?

Is it April 1st?- Peter Pan, Great Britain
Says the man with the made up name!

There is a ground swell of opinion that says we don't want any more asylum seekers until we have assimilated the present lot.Lottery money seems to be given to anything that seems too stupid for the Government to fund.Anything that stupid does not deserve funding.We have thousands of old people and disabled who would welcome funding, but don't get it, and what about the armed forces, I'm sure lottery funding would be welcome. It seems to be the criteria for Lottery money that the recipients have to come from an ethnic minority or outside the country altogether.- John Sizeland, Eccles on sea, Norfolk, England

You get the impression that Mr Sizeland could go on at length at this. Maybe he should get a blog. Or a brain. I am a nice person, really. If you meet me you'd be charmed I'm sure. I do not suffer fools gladly so I tend to vent my spleen at these people.

Whatever you call the fund the money is still being thrown away. Sack the lot of them and bring in Richard Branson in to run it- Roy Pedersen, Worcester , England

This used to be a standard answer to any question about improving everything in the UK, education, health, English football. 'If only Branson were running it....blah blah.' I'm sure that Mr B will be horrified to see some of his fans. There was the suggestion that the people could tick boxes as to where the money went. If this happens I will get a job in a newsagents and alter any DM buying lotto player's form to note asylum causes.

Simple answer: stop playing Lotto.- Jim, Sutton, England
from a simple guy.

The lottery should be for the benefit of needy British people only. The foreigners and scroungers get enough already...- Mark, Chorley, Lancs

I worked for a short time helping the 'needy' of Chorley. I now wonder if Mark was one.

What an insult to the people of this country! The money should be used to send them back!- J, cambs

Yet again the indigenous population who have worked hard and contributed for years are raped of their taxes, national insurance contributions, local services and the right to retire without working to the grave so that it can be given to those who haven't (and won't!).But hang on... think about it. After all, several million migrants can't be wrong can they - perhaps those indigenous ones of us who do contribute should follow their lead and migrate ourselves, taking our money and contributions with us. Our skills are highly sought and we are respected more elsewhere than in what used to be our own country. Now, where's that light switch?- Frank, Solihull, West Midlands

Frank has been reading my comments about light switches again. Note this idiot's use of the word raped.

Finally, the photograph also serves a purpose. It does not seem to be taken outside a DSS office but perhaps a detention centre. It is to give the impression of a long queue for the easy to get hand outs.