EPMD - The Return

I have loved Hip Hop/Rap Music for years, my first rap album (and by album I mean record/LP) was NWA - Straight outta Compton purchased in 1988 from BPM Records in Derby. (you may not have heard of N.W.A. but moreso 4 of the founding members, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, MC Ren and Eazy E - RIP.

An album I bought soon after this however was EPMD, which I loved, EPMD (Erick Parrish Making Dollars), were fantastic, where NWA was hardcore, hated everyone from women to the police and censorship, EPMD were softer albeit slightly.

It's great then, to hear that EPMD are back and about to release a new album "We Mean Business"(15/12/08) - I have pre-ordered mine from Play.com I'll let you know what I think when it arrives.

Other albums from the the last 80's early 90's I bought include;

• Digital Underground - Sex Packets (2Pac was a memer of this group before he was famous in his own right). - Check out tracks ""Freaks of the Industry" "Humpty Dance" and "Sex Packets"
• Nice 'n' Smooth - Nice 'n' Smooth- "Funky for you" and "Perfect Harmony"
• Public Enemy - Apocalypse '91 - "Shut em Down", "Can't Truss it", "By the Time I Get to Arizona" and "Get the F*** Outta Dodge"

Don't you just love those classics

It's too late for Blame


This is a photograph of a beautiful little boy who, until a few days ago no-one would have taken a second look at.

That was until this photograph was put to the name of "Baby P" or Baby Peter.

This poor defenceless little boy was subjected to months of torture and abuse, so much so that I cannot even write them on my blog as, firstly I have been unable to bring myself to read the things that were done, and secondly I wouldn't want to upset anyone else, I don't mind admitting that reading it myself brought tears to my eyes.

But what makes this even worse, is the people that did the things to him, was his own mother, along with her boyfriend and the lodger

Re-read that "His own Mother"

There are no words I can think of that will describe these "people",

From the small amount I have actually read, the police, social workers, health visitors and doctors visited this baby more than 60 times and still he wasn't removed for his own care (and safety.

I imagine those responsible for the failings which cost Baby Peter his life will never be brought to account, I hope justice will prevail - I am guessing the murderers will be locked away away from other prisoners (unless the wardens accidently leave the doors unlocked).

The news today reports a Child Trust Board will be set up in every area of England, do you really think this will help?

What we need is every adult, parent, child, teacher or friend to not be afraid to raise concerns for someone they are worried about.

while I am sure there are no plans to release photos and names of the people for killing this baby, Freedom of Speech on the internet will ensue and someone will release such information on a blog somewhere in the interweb *<- LINK.

It would seem however that this kind of cruelty is a one-off, another case making the headlines today in New Zealand of yet another Mother being charged for manslaughter, or failing to protect their child.

I quote from the BBC News article

...Neighbours who saw some of the abuse have told reporters they will live with the guilt of not having informed the authorities sooner. "

You may have to live with the guilt, but at least you are given the option to live.

Let's protect the worlds' children, they are our future.

*Thanks to Cookie for the 1st Link

This is it...
The time has come, After Derby Countys' less than brilliant performance in the Premiership last year and F*rests' "lucky streak", the 2 teams are set to meet tomorrow.

Come on you RAMS !!!!!

Oh Per-Lease...

The whole Russell Brand and Jonathon Ross issue has got slightly out of hand.

It has made front page news for the past 3 days and over what...

A "Jibe" over an actors grand daughter, the same actor that offended a generation of Spanish citizens, and his grand daughter who, until last week, no-one had heard of.

Now we see there have been nearlty 30,000 complaints regarding the comments made by Mr Brand and Mr Ross.

Brand has since quit the BBC, and Ross has been suspended for 3 months...

...suspended, ... 3 months, does Mr Ross not earn £16 grand a day for the BBC, does that not cost us, the tax paying, licence paying public.

Ok they cocked up and upset said person/s, but am I not alone in thinking something is not right, Gordon Brown and possibly other politicians putting their oar in and "expressing the views of the general public" speaking for the people, Mr Brown, when have you ever spoke for the people, if you did that, then you'd step down or call an election to see what people really think of you !!! (I DARE YOU).

So now we are left paying our licence fee to not watch the Jonathon Ross show on FRidays, which, to be honest, is the best chat show on TV, I dont really listen to Radio 2 as I'm not old enough just yet.

Ok they went a bit too far, but how many people who complained actually heard the show (I think 3) and how many people complained for something to do.

Don't worry, you'll feel a lot better come Sunday, because you'll be able to watch Top Gear that you hata agnd complain about that come Monday.

Still, takes the focus off the fact we're in a recession, can't afford food, petrol and our mortgage.

Does anyone else think this has gone too far.

Whatever next, people complaining about a Black US President !!!!

Note: Apparently Jonathon Ross has been suspended without pay - NOTE TO Mr Ross - QUIT THE BBC AND GO TO CHANNEL 4 .... We'll watch you there...

More Gadgets

I have had my HTC Diamond for a couple of months now, at first I didn't like the lack of keyboard and almost went back to my old trusted s710, I continued and now quite like it.
I have now been given a shiny new device however, The HTC Touch Pro - Which is the same as the Diamond, but with a keyboard.
This must be perfection I thought... Nope, now it has the keyboard which I wanted, the device is too big, its double the depth of the Diamond. - It also doesn't have 4Gb internal storage like the Diamond has, it does allow for MicroSD however.

I will continue to play, I have already begun by wiping the Vodafone software by flashing the ROM to a more Damo friendly OS.

More soon

5K - Bring it On

Fresh from my 5K run last Saturday, I have come to the conclusion that I actually enjoyed it and not only will I be doing it again next year, but will be "Raising my game" and running the "Derby 10K" in April (Sunday 19 April).

This time I plan on doing more training, I say "More" I should actually mean "Some", rather than the 1 5k run in Tenerife and a pathetic 3K attempt the sunday before my run, I'll plan properly and aim for a time of less than 60 minutes.

I have ages - 7 months to ready myself for this one, how hard can it be.

Tao - Are you joining me?

The Holiday

I'd get round to it in the end and yesterdays' news prompted me.

After 3 weeks of worrying wether or not our flight company would still be around to get us to Tenerife, we managed to get there, the weather was great, the restaurants were nice as usual and the nightlife was...

...Dead.

Tenerife must be going through the credit crisis along with the rest of the world. the usually busy Veronicas strip was empty, the pubs were pumping out music but had no-one in them, the people that usually hassle you to death until you go into their pub for a "buy one - get one free" were standing around talking to each other, occasionally asking "where you were going later".

I'm not sure whether this was down to the recent problems with holiday companies and airlines going bust, prices in most of the restaurants increased, the Euro dropped from 1.6 to 1.2 meant this is not the cheap as chips holiday it once was.


Thanks to the in-laws though who take us with us at extra expense to their timeshare, this means we managed to get a rest when they took Leah on their daily walks, as well as an on-call babysitter.

... 2 weeks after returning to the UK, our flight company (LTE) went bust....

It was Big and was not Fun !!!I DID IT !!!!

My first ever Fun Run.

Went to the gym (to leave my clothes in the locker),

got to the start/finish line at 10.30 for the the big warm up which consisted of doing excercises that made us all look like fools !!! (but had a laugh doing so).

at 11.00 the air gassy soundy thing went off and we were off.

I know I wouldn't be able to run the whole course, I had a but of a run, then walked for 3 minutes, before I knew it I was at the 2 Km marker, before I knew it someone was saying "come on, you can do it", decided then and there he was to be my pacemaker and wasn't going to get away from me, 30 seconds later he had got away from me...

I managed to catch him up again eventually and before I knew it I had reached 4Km, turned a corner and could see the finish line. I managed to almost run the last bit and crossed the finish line, panting, sweating and needing a beer healthy bottle of water.

I set my target at 45 minutes, hoping to do it in around 40 but amazing myself that I did it in 28 minutes.

Thanks to everyone who has sponsored me, both online and on paper, my chosen charity was SADS UK, I have so far managed to raise about £200 which is fantastic, I really only thought it would be £50 but the generousity of people is overwhelming.

Also thanks to SWMBO for coming out to support me, less than24 hours after having an op to remove the device monitoring her heartbeat intervals. (Reveal Implantable Loop Recorder (ILR)).

Now then - I really need that beer.

I'm Back
I am back from my Tenerife retreat and ready for my big run.

I have trained, (2 short jogs), have my sponsors, (me) have my water bottle, (JD) and am ready for the Big Fun Run.....

Please sponsor me at my Justgiving site, its for a very worthy cause if you read my blog you will know all about it.

Thanks all

Holiday

I am due to go on holiday soon, this is just the break I/we needed, a couple of weeks in Tenerife with the "missus" the "little-un" and the "in-laws".

At first, I though the main issue would be the credit crunch causing the exchange rate dropped from an average €1.5/£1 to €1.2/£1. It has just got a whole lot worse.

A Serious XL Crash

XL Leisure Group, the 3rd largest tour operator in the UK has effectively gone bust, all flights and package holidays are now non-existent, although we have not booked with this company, following the recent collapse of Zoom, Silverjet and only yesterday Futura International.

Even football is now affected

It is very worrying hoping company we are flying with will still be operating when we do go (and come back), we are not on a package holiday as the in-laws have timeshare, we are still relying on the flight company to get us there.

There is no alternative, alternative flights are 4 times the price we paid (and ours weren't cheap!!!).

This was the week that the rain came down, holiday companies went bust, the world ended and the channel tunnel closed, on a positive note, petrol came done 1 pence....

Question: What is worse, getting to Tenerife and getting stuck, or not going on holiday

The End of the World is nigh (tomorrow)...

(... but if it doesn't end, there are new gadgets on the way).

News is the world will end tomorrow, although I would have guessed at a repeat of the Bibles "40 days of rain" apparently the "Large Hadron Collider" is a 27-kilometre underground tunnel that thousands of science geeks have built along the France-Switzerland border in an attempt to "maybe" discover the "Theory of Everything"

It's not pocket-sized and doesn't have a touchscreen

This Gadget is being switched on tomorrow when it has been said one of 3 three can happen

1. The secret to theory of everything being revealed

2. Nothing

3. The creation of a black hole that will devour the Earth.

Obviously I'm going with option 1 or 2. If it does turn out to be option 3, my holiday plans are scuppered and I haven't written down my logon passwords in case anyone does survive and needs to log onto my computer.

If, however the world doesn't end, there's 3 new gadgets coming very soon...

1. The next generation iPod Nano

Photo courtesy of Engadget

2. The HTC s740

3. The HTC Touch Pro


Hurrah...!!!

Edit:

The next generation iPod Touch also announced

I am a Prince....
... 2 Foundation qualified chap.

I have just completed (and passed) my PRINCE2 foundation course

The reason for doing this course is not to become a Project Manager, but to understand the methodology of Project Management in my day to day life - especially when being "updated" by PRINCE 2 Project Managers, I should now be able to relate to PRINCE 2 management practices when dealing with projects.

I was advised to go further and do the Practitioner but I am not really wanting to go that far (I might be forced into Project Management).

For now I am happy with PRINCE 2 and ITIL v3 qualifications

.... Now where do I use them?

Update...

Dear Damian Byrne

Thank you for signing up to run in the Big Fun Run event. Your application for
a place in the Derby Big Fun Run 2008 on Saturday 11th October has been
accepted. We look forward to seeing you on the day.

Tis done, I have signed up, chosen SADS as my charity and paid my £7.50 entrance fee, this is it, I have to do it now. 5k here we go.

I understand the treadmill/cross trainer is a completely different experience to road running, I did however manage 5k on the cross trainer (5.01Km/20 min 20 sec/ 302 calories), then straight to the treadmill for 2.5k (2.51Km/15 min 7 sec/ 261 calories).

I am going to set a pace of 30 minutes to do the 5k, this is at a steady 10Km/hour, not sure how realistic this is, only time will tell.

Am I going Mad.

I had a thought while waiting to go to the gym. - (May have been a momentary lapse of sanity)

Why don't follow the Tao route and do a real out-of-the-gym run.

Googling for "Derby 5k" brought a link to the same event Tao is running, the Big Fun Fun, and it's in Derby too.

There is no "fun" in a "run"

The only problem, it's 11 October. This gives me less than 6 weeks to prepare, not only this but I'm on holiday for 2 of those.

Can I compare running on the treadmill with running on the ground ?
Will my knee hold up for 5k ?
Will I wake up from this nightmare ?
How long are you supposed to prepare for a 5k run ?

I shall go to the gym and try a 5k treadmill run - Paramedics on standby

The Fatloss Fitness Continues

That's me that is (almost)

I have hit the gym 4 times in the last 5 days (I went for a walk on the other day !!!!)

As Tao will agree, the Podrunner Podcasts are not only good at listening to whilst doing your cardio, they also make it easier.

I managed 40 minutes on the cross trainer yesterday, burning 6oo calories and running 10k. YES Damian Byrne did a 10k run. - This was while listening to the latest podcast "167 BPM - “Waiting for the Sun”

OK I know its nowhere near a real 10k run, but made me think, could I do a real 5k run, Tao has gone a stage further and entered himself in the MK 10K.

I am off work this week and made a vow to go every day.

Todays workout consisted of;

• 15 minutes treadmill - 200 calories - 3Km
• 15 minutes x-trainer - 225 calories - 4.7Km
• Weights
• 15 minutes treadmill - 200 calories - 3Km

2 hours in the gym and still home by 9.30

By the end of this I aim to cycle to the gym, do my workout and cycle back again (7 miles on cycle), If that doesn't help me lose weight, I give up...

.... To think I'm calling this holiday from work !!!

Well... Would you ?

This report shows some companies are starting to allow employees to work 4 days instead of 5.

Great news I hear you shout, it does mean working 4 long days rather than 5, (for some this would mean us working 4 long days rather 5 long days, weekends and evenings).

This saves both the company money in operating costs, while saving the employee in travel costs and time, nursey fees etc and more importantly, gives them a 3 day weekend.

I'd be in, would you?

Still getting fit

An amazing coincidence occured, my fellow blogger, Xbox Owner, Ipod lover and former work colleague Tao has just started getting fit and has also blogged about it here and here.

We are both doing identical workout regimes using the exact same running podcast (Podrunner Intervals).

These Podcasts are brilliant, I am now listening to Level 1 - Week 4 which consists of;

BPM CHART:
5-minute warmup @ 129 bpm
3 minutes @ 140 bpm
90 seconds @ 130 bpm
5 minutes @ 140 bpm
2 minutes 30 seconds @ 130 bpm
3 minutes @ 140 bpm
90 seconds @ 130 bpm
5 minutes @ 140 bpm
Two minute cooldown @ 130 bpm

I ran this earlier this morning and managed a distance of 7.25k, burned 470calories in the 30 minutes the podcast ran for.

Geek Alert - Tao is now ready to run in the real world and splash out on pimping his iPod with the Nike Plus sports kit or a GPS watch and Google Mapping his route.

I have done similar althoug spent less (nothing). Firstly I don't go out running, however when I go out on my bike, I have a GPS enabled PDA and use GPS Tuner to map the route (30 day trial) which allows you to upload the data.

That's all I need (for now) although am looking to get a heart rate monitor to ensure I keep my heart at 150BPM (optimal for fat burning/cardio).

Get Fit (again)

It's that part of the year where I decide to get fit (again) 5 weeks to my holiday where I start to think, "Sh!t, I need to lose weight, I'm going on holiday soon".

I am quite lucky as the excess weight just drops off me as long I eat sensibly and exercise, I attempted the "AH nearly dying diet"* last year, although it worked and I lost almost 1 and a half stone, it's not recommended for 2 reasons;

1. You might die
2. You will probabyly put weight back on.

I have resorted to normal methods, cycling (Kind of) and going to the gym - this is what this post is about.

If you like listening to your iPod while running, and like fast music to help with the cardio, have a look at the Podrunner podcasts.

The Podrunner podcasts have a fixed BPM for use when cardio training
There are also Podrunner Intervals which have a varied BPM which I use for High Intensity workouts, I am currently doing the "First Day to 5K".

Try it.. (Or Don't)

The AH diet so called after "me mate" at work, who decided to go one better than me last year and have a brain tumor. - It's all about one-upmanship on our office...

EDIT: Apparently it wasn't a brain tumour - it was a "giant pituitary macroadenoma", (Isn't there a dance to that song). - I SAY : SAME THING

HTF

This is an addition to "WTF" in relation to what I have just watched...

How the hell did Usain Bolt manage to run 100m in 9.69 AND leave the rest of the field standing, it seemed he didn't even try.

Wow - I hope this is pure natural ability. Well done that man (He shouldn't have slowed down though).

Watch it here on the BBC site

Another One

Bernie Mac - a great actor and even greater comedian also passed this weekend, his stand up shows (not suitable for children) always featured is trademark "I ain' scared of y'all Mother Hubbards" - It wasn't actually hubbards but you get the drift. He died on Saturday of complications from pneumonia at just 50 years old - Wow !!!

RIP Bernie Mac

London to Brighton Bike ride
(Read: Little Eaton to Makeney Bike Ride)

They say things happen in 3s' My 3rd blog in a day.

First blog was the motivational video from a man who was dying, then a blog about a legend who has passed, this one is the very opposite (no not more babies - but staying alive).

This is going to be a shock to some, but I am back on my bike - the shock may be the sight of me in cycling shorts hence the conveniently placed newspaper showing the date.


I managed a 6 mile bike ride on Thursday, not far I admit and I had to stop twice, but it's most definetaly a start - less than a year ago I couldn't even pedal full circle so this is quite good going.

I'm all geeked up too - I have installed GPS Tuner on my PDA which gives tracks the whole route including distance, speed, altitutude, rate of climb etc, so will be able to monitor exactly where I have my heart attack. how well I am doing - I am hoping I can do a 10 mile ride in the next couple of weeks.

.... remember kids, wear your cycle helmet at all times. you may look a div - but when you smack your head on the ground - you just need to buy a new helmet rather than a coffin.

Bring on the bike ride Cookie - Lets have ya !!!

Isaac Hayes - RIP

Isaac Hayes - 20/08/1942 - 10/08/2008)

I was raised listening to Isaac Hayes, In fact Black Moses was one of the records I used to use to skid around the carpet on when I was a wee boy (Sorry Mum). Sad to hear that he passed away today.

He was the voice of the 70's for the single reason that is the movie "Shaft", and was the voice of the Chef in Southpark (until he fell out with the creators over a scientology episode).

Chocolate Salty Balls anyone?

Altogether now

"Who is the man that would risk his neck for his brother-man? Shaft"

Life... and all that is associated with it.

We all bitch and moan about our lives, our jobs, our family and friends and the world in which we live in, most of us should be thankful we are alive, fit and well, I for one shouldn't complain after coming through a year of "a dodgy knee" as I can walk, ride and do everything else again that at one point thought I'd never do.

For those who still do have things to moan about, spend 11 minutes and 32 seconds watching the video below. This is a lecture given by Randy Pausch, a University professor in the US who was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer. This is actually a reprise of his last lecture given to his students and rather than be morose and sad.... well just watch.



Inspiration or what ?

New Gadget...

... and about time too, it's been months since I have had chance to get a new gadget, this is due to the ever increaseing price of Oil - It's not, but hey, let's jump on the bandwagon and lay blame.

Any-hoo

I have managed to acquire the new HTC Diamond.
First impressions.

When I eventually managed to get the box open, I switched the diamond on where I was greeted with the standard Vodafone version of the software, this of course will be changed to the standard HTC ROM as soon as I have a spare 10 minutes. All in all a slim device, similar in size to many of the Samsung phones around at the moment.

I like - the size, interface, the built in GPS, the 3.2Mp camera, the built in 4Gb drive

I don't like - the interface, lack of keyboard, no buit in GPS software, the built in storage (no capabililty to extend with MicroSD Cards etc.)

I recently gave up using the HTC Touch Dual as it became very slow and I am gradually going off full touch screens (yes I know the Dual had a slide out keypad), I reverted back to the trusted HTC S710.

I have been playing with the Diamond for 2 days, but again have reverted back to the S710 while I transfer contacts etc. Check back soon to see if I actually use the Diamond...

Go Go Go !!!!

Fantastic news (for us local people anyway)

It was announce on Friday that the British Grand Prix will move from Silverstone to Donington in 2010, this is due to problems between the British Racing Drivers Club (BRDC) and Bernie Ecclestone.
Whatever the issues are, I don't care, being an F1 fan for 2o years, (yes even before I was born), I have been wanting to go to a race for about 6 years although never actually bothered to, I had a ticket for last year but had to give it away so I have my knee op, and this years lot of "4 freebies" fell through..

Donington is in Leicester/Nottingham/Derby depending on your choice and is less than 45 minutes from my house, so come race weekend, I'll be able to get there in 2ish hours.

Can't wait - and Leah enjoy it even more then (She is also a fan of F1 - has been since 20 days old).
BTW:- Lewis Hamilton - well done

"...and the Creed and the Colour and the name don't matter..."

I remember the above line from a hymn we used to sing at school.... all those years ago.

As SWMBO is working (again), I have the pleasure of enjoying looking after my little girl, hence the 6.30 morning wake, I have been forced into watching the Baby TV channel, during Leah's sleepy time however, I watched BBC news who report on the adoption crisis facing black and ethnic minority children, this is plain damn crazy, councils and social workers are trying to "match" children and parents based on their ethnic origin etc, this is leading to these children being left in care longer than average, and people who want to adopt, not being able to, this made me think.

What does it matter.

The Flag of Damian Byrne

I am Half Caste (you may want to be PC and call it mixed parentag/mixed race/dual heritage whatever - I don't - I am a full, pure, 100% person), My mum is White (half British/half Irish), my Dad is Jamaican, this means that I am 1/4 Irish, 1/4 British and 1/2 Jamaican. I don't 'fully' match my parents, either in race, background etc, so what the hell would have happened if I had been put up for adoption.

I feel sorry for the poor children that cannot be adopted for the simple reason that they are the wrong colour, and this is the plain and simple fact - it is solely down to colour. I feel sorry for the people who can't have children and can't adopt, I think the majority of people would adopt a child be it black, white, yellow or pink with green stripes. I feel sorry for the perfect people runnig these councils who assume colour matters. (The same people that tell me I can't call myself Half-Caste, we can't say blackboard, blackmail, manhole cover, whitewash etc).

You should concentrate yourself on something that matters more in the world - FFS

"You're Hired"


Congratulations to Lee, Winner of the Apprentice 2008
And to Tao for his prediction...

The Apprentice - The Final

Yay - The final is upon us and the final 4 have been split into 2 teams,

Alex & Helene and Lee & Claire

The winning team of the last challenge have a 50/50 chance of being "Hired", Alex & Helene would be my favourite for Alex to get hired but you never know, if, on the other hand Lee and Claire win, I am edging towards Lee, however his presentation skills are not up to it (I know exactly how he feels when having to stand up in front of people - I hate it).

Here we go...

Tut Tut

Lewis Hamilton - You Tit !!!!

Euro 2008

Euro 2008 is less than an hour away, as there are no home teams there was no-one for me to support, however as I have paid 5 quid to enter the work sweepstake and have drawn France, this is now my adopted team, I am, for the next few weeks going to adopt the french way of life. As far as I know, this will involve the following

• Drinking wine with every meal.
• Riding a bike with a striped top and onions around my neck
• Shout alor and shrug my shoulders
• Drive like a madman

Please note: These "Stereotypes" are taked from the Harraps website and not my perception of French people at all, in fact I only know 2 French people, Bonjou Bonnie from the Royal Mail Days. and Jerome, the chain smoking, drinker Director of an IT company we worked with.

Vive La France

Gadgets

Back to gadgets.

It's been a while since I have looked at replacing my mobile phone for the simple fact that

1. There's nothing out there better than my HTC Touch Dual
2. The iPhone isn't available on anything other than O2.

Now there's a new toy coming very soon, and on Orange. The HTC Touch Diamond.
Orange - despite sending me a text stating you have reviewed my talkplan and I'm already on the best plan, I beg to differ, I want more minutes, more texts, unlimited data and one of these phones FREE.

Now then, isn't there a few football matches coming up..

The Apprentice - Part II

I may have failed in placing my hopes on Signature to win Britains Got Talent. (They came second), but so far so good on The Apprentice, Alex is still in contention as he faces the final week and the final 4.

I never quite got Lucinda, why would someone give up their "in excess of" £100k contract role for a £100k role working for Mr Amstrad. Me thinks maybe this is a self promotion. She stated she didn't "need" the job but "wanted" it. Stupid woman, the rest of these people actually need the job and the money that comes with it.

I am quite happy so far with the "firings"... Here's the Damo B rundown of the final 4


Lee McQueen - lied on his CV (but everyone does) - nice guy "last chance" - if he doesn't get the job, it's because of the CV issue - BIG MISTAKE, but will find work - nice guy.


Helene Speight - tough childhood (but who hasn't) - hard worker, will definately find work if she doesn't get hired by SrrrrrAlan


Alex Wotherspoon - described as a "looker" and "charmer" (what salesman can't charm) - was my favourite and is a nice bloke loves telling people he's " only 24" - I'm now thinking top 2 with...

Claire Young - I'nm not sure about her - she appears to be very good talks too much and get's herself into trouble for doing so, but "Sir Alan" likes her...

They say never talk about politics or religion, but they haven't been in our office....

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Mr Brown

You know something, you have a bloody hard job running this country and what thanks do you get, - absolutely none....

and why should you, you are ruining this green and pleasant land and (a la Uncle Bryn - "I'll tell you for why"

1. 10p tax
You have cut the lowest band tax meaning we all pay more tax, with the lowest earners suffering the most, not a good move.

2. Knife Crime
When are you finally going to change the law and make it more than "a slap on the wrist offence" to carry a knife, how many more people need to die before you make it illegal to carry a knife, I know of 2 people that have been murdered in the last 2 years, the last one to die was not fighting, not caught it in a drugs war, not at a football match, but while he was cashing up a days takings at the Matalan stored he worked as store manager.

3. Immigration
While I don't share the same views as a fellow blogger who shall remain nameless, I still think we have a problem here, we allow almost anyone into our beloved country with no requirement to work although every right (under the EU) to claim benefits, rumours are that this money is then sent back to their country of origin where the rest of their family live (and spend).

I welcome all people who are prepared to work for a living. The USA don't (or didn't) have a welfare system or an NHS, you don't work, you don;t have any money, you get ill, you pay for your treatment. I'm not saying we need to be this ruthless, but something needs doing. This Mr Brown, is why the "right wing parties" are winning seats left, right and centre

4. Credit Crunch
People being given 10 times their salary for a mortgage to get them on the property ladder, then losing their house when their "fixed rate" deal ends, credit card companies giving people £200k limits when the earn £10k a year, Northern Rock giving loans to anyone to realise these people can't afford it and then requiring the tax paying public to bail out the forementioned bank.

5.Petrol Prices
Don't even go there - £1.15 a litre, how much do you (read - government) make from the taxes from petrol, oil has reached a record high price per barrel, but the oil companies make billions, the government probably make the same, and we - the consumer, suffer as a result, and what can we do about it, use our bikes, public transport etc, if that's possible I'm sure we would (cookie), the other option, join a sodding facebook group or strike, none of which have much effect.

You know, I sit here probably like millions of others and say "I could do a better job of running this country", but I guess you said that years ago when interest rates were 15%......

But I wouldn't vote for you.. EVER

Yours sincerely

Damo

Anyone else have anything to add?

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On a good note and completely unrelated however.....

I told you so......

Britains Got Talent - Signature



Sha'Mon

And the Winner of Britain's got talent (2008) is....



We'll See...

A Perfect Day

Yesterday can only be described as a perfect day...

The release of GTA IV on the was only the start of it.
I managed to "land" a freebie day for myself and Bossman Gunn, never mind Golf, Cricket or Footy, this was the dogs danglies.

A day at Palmer Sports Racing at Bedford Autodrome.

That's me that is !!!

The day basically consisted of ragging cars you (I) could never afford around tracks at speeds that would probably kill you.

After dragging myself out of bed at 5.30am and driving to the Gunns's house, we set off for Bedford arriving at 8.00ish.

We were greeted by some lovely ladies who took our details and directed us to our table where we were given a full cooked english Breakfast.

30 minutes later we were given the safety briefings and watched the welcome video, then were let loose on the track.

Bring on the Vroom Vroom !!!!

First up was the Caterham 7


Secondly the Jaguar XKRs (My least favourite as the onboard computers took the fun away from spinning the car out of control - Safety dictates apparently)

Third was the single seater Formula Jaguar


Forth - Palmer Jaguar JP1 - Which I managed to spin (twice)

Fifth - Fun in the karts, (no photo)

We then broke for Lunch... then more fun

The afternoon started by off-roading in the Land Rover then back to the car

Porsche 911 JP3


The final session was in the Renault Clio Cup Racer


We then headed back for the trophies of which I won bugger all - I did manage to come 4th overall (out of 66) which has made me all nice and fuzzy inside - Read "SMUG".

...Now then, Does anyone have Ron Dennis' number.

All in all an absolutely brilliant day and I can highly recommend it for everyone (except SWMBO cos it costs too much).

The guys at Palmer Sports are brilliant, everything is planned with what seems like military precision the food the driving, everything...

Thank you lots Mr Palmer, (and an even bigger thanks to our host)