Give us the tools and we will finish the job!
Retiring Met Police supremo, Sir John Stevens has spoken out in favour of the right of householders to defend themselves from intruders, even if it results in the death of the intruder.
This looks like an improvement to the current situation where the likes of Tony Martin have been locked up for defending themselves and their property.
Sir John goes on to say,
“I’m not talking about guns here”
Well, why not? The burglar already has the element of surprise – knowing when they will strike, and the ability to select their weapon of choice. It still leaves them at an advantage over the householder, who may well also be female and at a disadvantage in terms of physical strength.
The solution is simple. Allow any adult without a criminal record to keep a weapon in the home for self defence.
Fatal Destruction Underway
The destruction of the British Fire Service is gathering pace. Guido has learned that the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service has decided unilaterally to abolish Ranks (nasty elitist things suggesting Upper Class pretentions!) and adopt the ludicrous “Role” titles which now make “Officers” into “Managers”. There is a catch to this, of course. Anybody can be a Manager, no previous experience is required, you apparently can apply as long as you can produce a “portfolio” to show you are competent.
Before all you potential “Managers” start sharpening your quills and grinding the ingredients for the ink to fill in the application forms, you need to be aware that this initial step is for existing uniformed personnel only. The other catch is that two ranks are now combined into one role – so everyone who is an existing Station Officer and everyone who is an existing Sub Officer is now a Watch Manager. The Station Officers used to manage a Station and several Crews, but the Station Management role is now a civilian one so the Station Officers’ roles are to be downgraded. Given that there are now around three times as many post holders as there are posts, the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority has come up with a magnificent wheeze.
All existing Station Officers, all existing Sub Officers, and any interested Leading Fire Fighters or Fire Fighters can apply for the post of Watch Manager. Every candidate will undergo an assessment of their qualifications, portfolio, and their attitudes – the flyer stresses that the Authority are seeking to appoint “people with the right attitudes to modernise and move the Service into the new model” – which means in effect that experience and real ability will not be high on the agenda. Ability to speak “New Speak” and toe the party line will.
On a more dangerous note, the self assessment form contains a question which is in clear breech of Article 8 of the Human Rights Act – it requires the candidate to answer the following: “Are you a member of any organisation not open to the public, which has secrecy about rules, membership, or conduct?” Clearly, by implication, a refusal to answer will result in the applicant automatically being denied consideration for the post.
Read more 1 commentThought for the day
“Sincerity is the cheapest of virtues”.
From the Wealth and Poverty of Nations, by David Landes (1998). (And by the way, it is a very good book).
Comments are off for this postDrag hunting?
From the DT letters page.
Sir It seems to me, as a non-hunter, that it is obvious the drag version (letters, Dec 2) is not considered an alternative to the real thing. Can you imagine riding a horse in a short skirt, suspenders and stockings? Not to mention the problems with the falsies when taking fences.Brian Wilkinson, Garmouth, Grampian
To wit another DT responds:
Sir – It is obtuse to speculate that “drag hunting” refers to the costume worn by the hunter (letters, Dec 4). Obviously, it refers to the hunting of a drag artiste. Sadly, this could never be as exciting as foxhunting – the quarry would get his feather boa tangled up in the first hedge.2 commentsLydia Rivlin, London N10
16 Tons
you load sixteen tons and what do you get?
another day older and deeper in debt
saint peter, don’t you call me ‘cause i can’t go
i owe my soul to the company store
—merle travis
This is sort of like an arcade version of the old computer game Transport Tycoon.
OK, not really, but it was the first thing to come to mind. A factory pumps out different colored boxes and you click on arrows on conveyor belts to route them to the correct type of shipping. The site’s in German, but you shouldn’t have any problem figuring it out.
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