Can't say I'm not gutted

Hope he comes back.

I dunno which thread on GC was linked to, but I have a feeling it was the OH shitbin one, which if I remember rightly didn't actually have his address or phone number, but it did have his full name, which is basically enough. I wouldn't want my personal details posted up online, but in all honesty, he should just tell the people with "death threats" to fuck off.

I just can't give a fuck about it. Sorry.

This whole Israel/Palestine/Gaza bollocks. Apparently so important the BBC deem it necessary to use extra-large font on their website.

I'm sorry. Maybe I'm a heartless cunt but I just can't care about something happening half a world away, that has been happening for as long as I can remember. As far as I can understand, The Israelis have stolen land from the Palestinians, the Palestinians are pissed off about it so have been throwing rockets at the Israelis, who have responded in kind with shitloads of air strikes. I don't care who's fault it is.

I just hope the BBC have something else to report on soon.

I am however a bit disappointed that Old Holborn saw DK's stance on it as a reason to leave LPUK, which appears to have errupted into some sort of blogs comments row between him and Obo, all blogs I read and enjoy. Can't we just all get along? *mince*

Residents Parking going ahead

Despite the protests, despite the many, many flaws with the scheme, and the fact that even in the areas that they're introducing it support was only around 55%, Bristol City Council, in true fashion, are ploughing ahead regardless

And how is it even remotely fucking fair to have such a blatant vehemently car-hating councillor in charge of transport, in a city where the Public Transport options are so disgustingly woeful that often the only option is the car?

I fucking despair. Good thing the RPZ won't include me.

BME Boys underachieving

Shock horror. But of course, it can't possibly be their fault. Just like it can't be the fault of white kids who don't want to learn either. I note with interest that Bristol City Council deems it necessary to have a "Ensuring The Attainment Of Black And Minority Ethnic Boys Scrutiny Working Group" - which is a perfect title of a quangocrat if ever I heard one.

This document produced by Bristol City Council is full of little gems, like one of the external contributors being a Paulette Wisdom from "Visions of Esteem" (which is a title enough to make a bit of sick come into my mouth) and:

All educators responsible for educating black and minority ethnic boys (BME boys) need to be giving training on how to deal with different cultural expectations of behaviour in learning environments.

Why should there be any differences in expectations of behaviour in learning environments? When you're at school, you shut the fuck up and let the teacher do the teaching.

Also,

In order to change the educational outcomes of BME pupils, the 95.6% of White educators must engage in effective continuing professional development (CPD) so that the needs of BME pupils are adequately met in the classrooms

What might these needs be? How could educational needs of one race be different to another? We all need to learn.

The refocus of the role of the Ethnic Minority Achievement Team (EMAT) is to strength capacity of all schools in good practice for assessments and language development of BME pupils.

Why is it only the City Council that has these fucking pointless politically correct non-jobs? I dread to think how much the Ethnic Minority Achievement Team has cost the taxpayer, and to what end? If someone wants to learn at school, they will. If they don't, they won't, and no amount of nannying and interfering will change that. This whole thing smacks of creating jobs on the back of certain groups of schoolkids not doing very well, with no real benefit. Typical fucking LEA bullshit.

Ever wondered how Jan Ormondroyd gets £180k?

Here's your answer.

I can't really see what on earth she has done for the city to earn her well-publicised £180,000 a year, but at least now we know how she managed to wangle such a sum.

Solace Enterprises, a recruitment company, is paid fees of about £20,000 by local councils to headhunt chief executives and recommend salary levels.

Its advice has contributed to burgeoning pay packets for chief executives, many of whom are now paid more than £150,000 a year. The company is wholly owned by the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and Senior Managers (Solace), which represents town hall bosses. The company’s directors include a number of serving chief executives.

Well, there's a fucking surprise. You have to remember that Chief Executives of Councils aren't the same as Chief Executives of private companies. In the private sector, CEOs have the responsibility of ensuring the company survives, whether by making revenue or cost-cutting. Whether you agree with high salaries of private sector CEOs they are at least paid for this responsibility. If they don't succeed, they are sacked. None of these responsibilities really exist in the public sector. They exist on paper, but in practice it doesn't really happen - the Council is probably one of the least efficient companies in Bristol. Where private companies are hit by the downturn and have to streamline their processes and sometimes have to consider redundancies just to survive, the Council just put up Council Tax. As BCC is planning to do with us, with a planned increase of 3.5%.

Never mind. At least our Chief Executive is worth it. Really.



UPDATE: Jan was recruited by Rockpools to

lead the dynamic and diverse city of Bristol.

(Thanks Chris)

I'm interested to know exactly what this "leadership" has consisted of, and how, in any way, it justifies a taxpayer-funded salary of £180,000. Or whether Rockpool deserved the (up to) £70,000 BCC spent on recruitment fees alone. Certainly, given her performance in this video, she strikes me as a bit, well, slow.

Saved again

Praise be, we're saved! Gorgon is to create 100,000 jobs.



Have you ever seen such an arrogant expression? Fuck me, it's a face that's begging to be punched.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has revealed details of a programme to create 100,000 jobs as part of a new initiative to curb rising unemployment.

Mr Brown told the Observer of a programme of investment in new technologies and green projects.

He said the environment is part of the solution to the recession.

To quote other more seasoned commentators, fucking hellski.

"Anger" over 99p drinks in Bristol pubs

Anger? Who on earth would be "angry" about having to pay less for something, least of all booze?

Oh yes, that's right, these fucking interfering, nannying cunts.

Health campaigners, MPs and councillors have joined forces to criticise the sale of cut-price alcohol in Bristol.

From Monday pints of beer will be sold for just 99p at the city's nine Wetherspoon's pubs.

Although the pub chain promises to serve drinkers responsibly, Dr Chris Payne, director of public health at South Gloucestershire primary care trust (PCT), said: "Alcohol related admissions are on the increase for both men and women, and there has certainly been an increase in binge drinking in young people.

"This sort of move could make this worse, as there is a clear link between pricing and alcohol consumption. I think it is particularly bad timing when people are making their New Year's resolutions to try and cut down. These deals will make it more difficult for them."

Pray tell, Dr Payne (how apt), what the FUCK this nannying bullshit you're having the temerity to spew is? You might be "angry" at the fact that Wetherspoons are serving beer at 99p a pint, well, I'm fucking livid that you and your busybody "we know best, so just shut up and listen, proles" mates believe you have the right to decide how much people have to spend on beer.

The idea that more expensive drink will make people drink less is ridiculous, people will still get pissed on the weekend, it'll just cost them more.

Still, one look at Dr. Payne explains everything.



He looks like he's never had a drink in his life. I wonder if he even has any mates...