December the 7th
and Tony Kennick sends us this....
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Lovely Tony :-)
Pints of mulled wine ?
Smashing! A Christmas Santa Bear! My bears know him. He's jolly nice!
Mary
Nice teddy (or whatever). Does he have a name? He obviously likes to 'hop' around!
That should help to make the Blog Boss's job a bit more bearable today.
WARNING, the consumption of alcohol may cause you to roll over in the morning and see something really scary (whose species and/or name you can't remember).
Morning Eddie,
The Government has announced recently that it will pay up to £50,000 a head for educational psychologists (so-called super nannies) to go into 77 council estates plagued by loutish behaviour – so they can run compulsory classes for the parents of local yobbos.
I would class this as one of those well-meaning initiatives – and 'New' Labour is full of them – that is hopelessly misguided and hasn't a chance of working.
For a start, the feckless parents involved would have to recognise – like drug addicts and alcoholics – that there is a problem in the first place before they can hope to solve it. And there is precious little evidence that Mr and Mrs Yob either accept, or much care, if their darling offspring are causing a nuisance to their neighbours and wider society.
But, even if they did, would the state be the best body to solve the problem? And will a group of interfering busybodies really improve matters?
In truth, the most effective way of tackling delinquency is through the family itself. Study after study has shown that the old-fashioned, two-parent family is the best safeguard against teenage crime, under-age pregnancy, drug and alcohol abuse and educational under-achievement.
Yet the present administration has done its utmost to destroy the traditional family by loading the financial dice against married couples and in favour of lone parents.
My prediction is that this latest initiative, like so many before it, will be an expensive flop – even if I'm sent to the naughty corner for saying so.
Book Club alert:
(1) Don't forget to post any comments on Eddie's first posting on Monday, 11th December. Books currently being read are:
(Nostalgia) The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton
(Grown up stuff) My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult.
If you want to add to the fun by not revealing which book you are commenting on, I'm sure there will be no objection/
(2) FYI - Unfortunately, I'm out of circulation over the weekend and into next week. I'm sure there'll be lots for me to catch up on when I get back to base a week today (I'm still around today and much of tomorrow). But I know I don't need to be here for it all to happen.
(3) But I realise some of you will want to get started on another read. No clear consensus has come through on the suggestions made to date, so may I put forward the following:
(Nostalgia) Down with Skool - or any other Molesworth book, if you can't get hold of that one. And there's a great link if you're not familiar with the lad
which will give you a flavour of the books.
(Grown up stuff) Morse has been nominated by two people, and as Christmas is coming - and people's time therefore perhaps limited, etc. etc. - it would seem a good idea to have something 'light' like that, if you're happy with it. I suggest The Way through the Woods, chosen at random.
Alternatively, might I throw up an idea for consideration? How about A Christmas Carol by Dickens - I traditionally read this for many years in the run up to Christmas and found it very thought provoking as well and entertaining.
Perhaps I could get some responses from you guys by midday tommorrow (Friday) and I'll post up here and on Jonnie's website.
Thanks
Big Sis x
Some Guinness was spilled on the bar floor as the pub was closed for the night.
Out from his hole crept a wee brown mouse and stood in the pale moonlight.
He lapped up the frothy brew from the floor and back on his haunches he sat.
And all night long you could hear him roar "Bring on the old Tabby cat!!!"
Some Guinness was spilled on the bar floor as the pub was closed for the night.
Out from his hole crept a wee brown mouse and stood in the pale moonlight.
He lapped up the frothy brew from the floor and back on his haunches he sat.
And all night long you could hear him roar "Bring on the old Tabby cat!!!"
> Big Sister
Tony here, slightly lacking in originality his name is Pooh. The sad thing is he is currently missing after he vanished from an event at this years Whitby Gothic weekend.
Gonzo: Was he drinking too much mead, then? I've heard about bears who can't keep off the honeystuff. Hope Pooh turns up - Have you looked in any honeypots in Whitby lately? Or did the Count whisk him off?
> Big Sister
We've tried checking honey pots, asking other goths, even putting the word out on the internet but no news yet.
He has been known to like mead but as the evidence in the photo shows he is truly a goth pooh bear and loves his snakebite and black.
Santa is very jolly because he knows where all the bad girls live.
Member of the Public, I'm also not sure about the super nanny initiative, primarily because it won't differ greatly from the work that social workers have been doing for ages. However their efforts are hampered by resources, and preventative practice is rare but effective, so I'm hanging fire on this one.
Whatever anyone thought of it, the Supernanny programme cannot be underestimated, because for some parents it was the first time they realised that there was something they could do to effect change. I'm sure that is obvious to you, as it might be to anyone who had good parenting, and can pass that on.
It is also far to easy to insult single mothers and I can’t let you off insulting a whole group of people who often live in circumstances anyone would find a challenge. One of the biggest risk factors is poverty, something which really hasn't been tackled effectively.
BigSister (7) I ordered my book from A**zon, but it still hasn't arrived, I'm a quick read if it does, but how long shall we have to comment? & will the thoughts still be there for a while? It would be interesting to read what others think after I've finished the book, even if it turns out I can't join in due to its tardiness!
HelenSparkles (14)
Well said!!!
You can trace the ills of modern society back to any number of 'root causes'. Here are a few of my favourites:
1. When accountants stopped doing the books and took over the world
2. When profits stopped being enough, and had to be increased by a bigger % every year
3. When they stopped teaching people to think, speak and write correctly at school
4. When you were no longer allowed to be competitive at school, but were considered a failure in the workplace if you weren't ambitious
5. When 'personal choice' became more important than civic responsibilities
... I could rant on longer but I have to go out now.
Rufus (13): Would those be the honeypots of Whitby? If so, Pooh's already there, so Santa will need to get a move on.
> Big Sister
He always was a complete flirt
Sparkles: They'll be there as long as PM keeps the first post on the 11th going - which, experience so far, shows to be 'permanent.' I won't be able to post myself until Thursday at the earliest ...
Don't worry! I'm sure we won't be the only ones ....!
If I've time, I could always try to 'capture' them and post on Jonnie's site. Jonnie may well be able to provide us with an extra page for that, but I haven't asked him yet.
As I'm a bit tight for time at the moment, I'll not be able to promise anything for the moment, but I do promise to do my best.
My husband's work, plus his birthday, are somewhat intruding on my time over the next week or so, but I'll log on whenever I can.
Hope that helps!
Big Sis x
for all those who remember a discussion on this blog recently about the 'n' word.
the program which I still from force of habit call Kaleidoscope but is actually now called Front Row has finally caught up with this issue and was interviewing the comedian concerned this evening. He said that any middle class white people who found the word offensive were retarded.
As I was someone who posted to say that I did find the word offensive I now know I'm retarded. It's tempting to shout 'hey are there any other retards in here guys?' but there again using the word retard or retarded to describe someone who doesn't agree with you is - guess what? something else I find offensive.
I sort of heard that broadcast admin annie (20). I didn't hear the "retarded" comment, but I cannot stand that word nor 'tard nor other versions of it. The use of it doesn't help the guy's cause IMO.
If he thinks lanuage is important he might like to reflect on what the words he uses mean or how they are commonly understood.
Mary
Rosalind - congratulations on having your excellent idea raised tonight!
Thanks Fifi, I think we are on the same page, as they say!
Admin Annie (20) I heard Front Row too and Mark Lawson did point out that some people might find the word retarded offensive, the guy just agreed...
Big Sister (19) thanks, we should be keeping the discussion rolling on then.
Film page, can't remember where that was suggested or by who, but I'm up for it.
& whilst on the arts, I just saw A Moon for the Misbegotten at The Old Vic. I don't know Eugene O'Neill' work well, but think saying it is in a Tennessee Williams vein is an apt description. It was brilliant and I am anyway glad that Kevin Spacey has been 'allowed', by the critics, to succeed at last.
Gonzo, perhaps we might try an experiment to locate the missing Pooh.
At 5pm tonight, all PM listeners to face Whitby, take a deep breath, and yell: "POOOOOOOOOOOOH!!!!!" at the top of their voices.
Then all listen intently for a low growl.
I'd pay good money to see that. And you never know, we might even be able to reunite you with the errant cuddly goth.
Fifi
Fifi
Are you mad? C'mon picture the scene.
At 5 O’ clock precisely everybody careers down the stairs and out the door like a herd of wildebeest – you DON’T stand in their way! And you want me to stand at the door facing east and yell: "POOOOOOOOOOOOH!!!!!" at the top of my voice.
Mmmmm. Ach why not? We’ll give it a go.
RobbieJohnDo (25): Can we? No really, can we can we??
No need to venture near the logjammed door, either.
Wherever we all are, whatever we're doing, just pause a moment, figure out where we think Whitby is from there, and shout: "POOOOOOOOOOOOH!!!!!" with all the welly we can muster.
Get someone to film it with a camcorder and send the recordings to Jonnie (probably via me -- oh rugger*) and then we can put a link on yesterday's thread so Gonzo can enjoy what he's started!
It might --- just --- work.
* Fifi Rhyming Slang
Ah poor Pooh. I do hope he turns up safe and sound soon
Well Robbie ... did you remember?
I didn't!
I'll do it now (5.20pm) though:
"Poooooooooooooh!!!!!
Where are yooooooooooooooou!!!!!
Gonzo misses yoooooooooooooooooou!!!!!"
[listens]
Nothing. Didn't work.
Boooooooooooooooooo! :o(