Bankers and Snails

Comments on two items of news today.

First of all, the main story of the Guardian today is about the Real IRA saying it will target UK bankers. So they are trying to win the hearts and minds of the British public then.

Even the Governor of the Bank of England admitted today the part the "financial sector" played in producing our current economic climate.

But enough of all that, the big story I heard on the news this morning was that snails have a strong homing instinct and if you want to rid them from your garden you have to take them at least 100 metres away. That means throwing them over the fence into your neighbour's garden won't work . You need to throw them at least three doors down.

But what I don't understand is this, why do they want to return home, don't they carry their home with them at all times?

Spending Cuts

When I heard last week that the Police service will need to make spending cuts, the obvious objection would be it will mean cutting back officers on the streets and crime will increase.

And, of course, it has been said. And it makes sense. From what I understand, the number of officers out there has been increasing in recent years and crime has fallen. To be honest, as they say, it's not rocket science!

But we have to make cuts! So the number of officers will be reduced and crime will go up. Then what will happen? There will be research into why crime is increasing. Consultants will be wheeled in. Long reports will be written and the "bottom line" of the reports will be there that needs to be more police out there on the streets.

And the consultants that were brought in will go away with massive fees and expenses and will be laughing all the way to the bank. But that's democracy for you.

Google-eyed

I read that Google have announced their new search engine which is so fast it can take five seconds off the time of a search. It apparently guesses (sorry, 'predicts') what you are typing in and starts to go to the appropriate (or not) websites.

So, if I do twelve Internet searches in a morning, I save a whole minute!

I'm thinking about how I can use all that extra leisure time already.

Actually, my wife pointed out that it would save even more time if, when she searched for "cheap hotels in Bath and Bristol", she did NOT get hotels in Coventry. I see that minute's leisure already disappearing before my eyes ...

Wedding anniversary today!

Yes, we've been married 41 years today. Only nine years left to the Golden one.

One of the cards, as you can see, has a window in it, and suspended by a piece of wire is a picture of two champagne glasses. A great card!

But there are hidden dangers! There is a warning on the back!

It reads:

WARNING!

Not suitable for small children under 36 months due to small parts.

Please retain for future reference.

Of course its not suitable for a baby - a baby isn't going to be celebrating a wedding anniversary!

But I must remember when the cards are taken down. I'll cut out the warning notice as I must keep it for future reference. I mean, you never know when you might need to know that kind of stuff.

Arachnophobics, don't read this.

On Friday morning Chris Evans mentioned "wing mirror spiders" on his show on Radio 2. I remember having one of them a few years ago, but not recently.

But blow me! Later that day I went out, and as I drove off, I saw I had a wing mirror spider also! So there I was, driving slowly down the road, but even so, the web was 'vibrating' madly! But he didn't want to run off and hide behind the mirror! However, reality kicked in and I began to concentrate on the road.

And soon I had forgotten about the spider and it was 60 mph down the Southend Arterial Road, and come to think of it, I haven't seen it since...

But in the evening, I noticed a larger spider in his web behind the loo at home! I ask you, how many flies will he catch there? My wife, armed with her just purchased loo brush (actually there was nothing wrong with the old one, why spend out a whole 39p on a new one?) managed to "sweep" it up, but did it get washed down the plug hole of the wash basin or did it get away?

I think it got away. Or, it's another one that's just spun its web by the computer. I think there is even less likelihood of a decent lunch there.

It's a pity really, I don't like to think of the poor thing staving to death.


P.S. to this blog - 39p loo brushes available from IKEA.

Strike averted

When the Unite union announced that their members had voted to strike in their dispute with BAA, David Cameron called on the union to halt the threat of strike action. "These sorts of strikes never achieve anything apart from damage," he said.

But as a result of impending strike action, the two sides got together at ACAS and came up with an agreement that the union are recommending their members accept.

Au contraire, Mr Cameron! I would have said the threat of strike action achieved a lot!

Did they listen?

Further to my rant about road signs blocking other roadsigns -

http://ericgreymatters.blogspot.com/2010/06/traffic-mismanagement.html

- they have moved it! You can now follow the sign to Laindon again - assuming you want to come to Laindon, of course.

Now, the big question is, "Did they move it because they read my blog?"

By the way, I have another sign-blocking-sign to bring you; just as soon as I get my camera out ...