Hurrah! The beeb reduce costs. And coverage … And that for one of the most respected news services in the world. So many people living outside the reach of the new beam can’t see these channels. They can get $ky and Al Jezeera and stuff but that isn’t the Beeb despite the fact that many Brits now miss out and yet have a vote. If the best of British is now represented by Murdoch’s satellite station then there is little wonder the UK is less well thought of than in years gone by.

But don’t fret …

We’ve got the reduced costs and that’s all that matters isn’t it?

Eviction will see a community damaged, families removed from their homes and forced to leave the area they live in because the Council haven’t got sufficient provision for travellers in the area.

The council don’t have a contingency despite their efforts to get the eviction allowed over a prolonged period but the MP (from a constituency several hundred miles away) can’t see a problem with this.

So during the exchange he claims I’m ranting (difficult in 140 characters) bit the real problem arises when I notice another tweet in his timeline via another tweetee. In this he criticises Rowan Williams for politicising the Church of England. He muses on the possibility of having an election for the Archbish by ‘all Christians’ so I ask him if he’s an Anglican. A question to far as he got quite upset.

He didn’t answer but did see me as obsessive. I don’t think he got the points that eviction of families is hardly a Christian act, the Bible is full of political acts and that breaking a planning law, being evicted and then being forced to break another whilst the Council ignore their legal responsibilities is hardly the best way to carry on.

The point of this long ramble is that I wonder why MP’s engage with Twitter. It’s a platform for views and opinions but one that needs engagement rather than ‘stop ranting’, ‘I won’t answer’ or simplistic ‘law breaking deserves punishment’.

Too often I see MP’s using it as a tool for being snide or sniping and hiding. If they want to engage with social media then they need to get smarter and more involved and especially not duck the simple questions.

I’m off to Russia, for the first time, with work. It’s a bit strange. It’s not a country I’ve had much experience of apart from a couple of books. I’ve met a couple of Russians in my time and I can muster a couple of Russian phrases.

As for the language, I can’t even recognize my own name in Cyrillic.

So, that’s my Monday. I have roubles, sun glasses and MCR on the way. Wish me luck!

I can’t even begin to express my anger over his attempt at decrying a multi-cultural society. The fact is we have a society with many cultures. We have a culture with many tribes. I see Punks, Crusties, Goths, Emos, Unionists, Communists, Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs and Jews. I see Reds and Blues from Manchester and Liverpool and Reds and Rams and Bluenoses and Villains in the Midlands.
Diversity makes us stronger and better and a ‘little englander’ view expressed by a man who believes in aligning with right wing nationalist parties from central and Eastern Europe makes us look like idiots.
Maybe it’s time to follow the lead of the Egyptians and take to the streets …

Looking back, 2010 was a hard year. We’ve had too many doctors to see, too little time to enjoy things but we have made new friends and had new experiences.

It’s been a strange year in sport with Derby being up and down and the Chargers being down and down. Derby seem to be on the up but the Bolts seem to be in decline. Maybe the magic of AJ Smith is wearing off?

So, to 2011 we are looking forward to spending more time with friends and family and see more of the world.

And maybe, just maybe, do a bit more blogging.

Seems like my kind of t-shirts although I don’t agree with all of the slogans. But that’s the way of t-shirts I suppose.

Some you like, some you don’t.

I liked this one

Have a look and see what you think!

The Pope in this version is not someone I admire. I find some of his previous actions nasty and inexcusable. I also find that his views on religion and social issues are a long way from mine. But at the sasme time I really felt uneasy about the rampant atheists who went mad over the visit.

I’m a Christian. I think that the Gospel has much to offer anyone. I believe Atheists are incorrect and missing something. That’s what I think.

I believe that God created everything in some timescale that was longer than 7 days. It seems sensible to me that the creation stories written in humanity are stories to explain where we came from. A bit like the start of many books, plays and films.

Not accurate but valuable. Hey, Dad, where do we come from? Let me tell you a story, kid. You know? Not accurate but enough for people to get. Like the Darwinism taught in schools – enough to get the gist but not enough to break my mind open.

I also can’t see that the Bible has everthing correct in terms of life rules. The mildew laws are ridiculous if you have bleach and a toothbrush …

Anyway, I am a 21st century, reasonably educated bloke. I can see right from wrong most of the time.

So when atheists start to tell me I’m wrong because I believe something I get a bit hacked off. Because they would be as hacked off if I started to tell them they were wrong. Belief in God or non-belief in God has to be a personal choice. It’s something for me to decide. If I’m wrong then I pay the price. If I’m right then all well and good.
I’d be happier if we all showed more respect and tolerance for different views because if we have to agree on one set of beliefs I won’t be happy unless they are mine.

I expect we all feel the same.

Because a lot of what Spain has to offer in terms of social thinking and development is stuff that humanity would benefit from.

All done by the owner of the Company we were visiting. Strange or what?