What a load of cock

I don’t tend to get involved in political commentary, I’m much too apathetic to get worked up over all that business. But this one got me going.

A swingeing increase in tax on alcopops and other alcoholic drinks favoured by teenagers is being demanded by the health secretary, Patricia Hewitt, in an attempt to stop young people damaging their health by binge drinking.

She has written to the chancellor asking him to ratchet up the cost of alcohol in his next budget, to price it beyond the reach of youngsters’ earnings or pocket money.

It’s an interesting theory. There are young people drinking a lot. Therefore if we put the price up, then they can’t afford it. Huzzah! Of course, an unfortunate side-effect would be that it’s a blanket tax, and everyone would be affected, and so, unfortunately, the Government would raise a few extra squillion quid in the extra money. That’d be a shame wouldn’t it.

The most idiotic thing about this proposal is that it’s in part aimed at underage drinkers, or at least that’s the implication by saying that young people’s pocket money shouldn’t be able to afford booze. Now, I might be wrong, but I seem to remember there already being certain safeguards in place for this sort of thing. Something about an age limit for drinking? If kids are getting their hands on booze and drinking themselves silly (and we’ve all been there, I’ve certainly got the scars to show for it) then your average Joe Drinker shouldn’t be punished for it by paying extra taxes, the irresponsible shopkeepers hellbent on profit and the irresponsible parents who don’t do a proper job of supervising their kids should. I don’t know – lock them up, or fine them a million pounds. Make the punishments severe and you might see a reaction.

Of course, all this is entirely confusing and hipocritical. Last year they were worried about binge drinking, and then agreed to the principle of 24 hour drinking licenses. Now they’re telling us what we can or can’t do? If I want to go out and drink 18 pints of Wife Beater and get shitfaced, why shouldn’t I? If I end up getting run over or starting a fight, then I have to live with the consequences. If I die of an “alcoholic liver” then that’s my fault.

I’m getting increasingly bored with the Nanny State in which we’re living. Can’t do this, can do that, going to tax you for that. It’s such a load of bollocks. It’s so two-faced. It’s no wonder so many people are turning to drink.

Stupid American

Yesterday I remarked, somewhat cynically, about the “joys” of being British. I’d much rather be British than American though. Check out this idiot. It’s perfectly conceivable that the average person doesn’t know what a 419 scam is, or where its name comes from. But surely the principle that some random person contacts you randomly out of the blue and randomly offers you a shedload of cash must ring some alarm bells. Maybe he was just very greedy? Or maybe I’m “being British” by being this cynical.

The man was initially contacted by an e-mail which said he was the beneficiary of an estate of a relative who he had never heard of.

Or perhaps I’m just using some common sense. The worst bit is that they managed to get him to fork over the money on several separate occasions.

Hungry? Try some penis.

If you’re ever in China: Penis Restaurant.

Frightening.

Small achievement

I’ve just posted the 150th film review on this site! How appropriate it was that the film I reviewed (Wolf Creek) got a 5 (out of 5) rating.

So if you didn’t know they were here, you can read what I think of a bunch of films, by clicky clickying right here.

Pascua Lama

I recently received the email below. My immediate reaction was it’s a hoax, but after a little research, it turns out its not.

http://www.miningwatch.ca/index.php?/257/Barrick_opposition
http://www.hoax-slayer.com/pascua-lama-petition.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pascua_Lama
http://www.google.com/search?q=pascua%20lama

Barrick Mining has a plan to remove large sections of 2 glaciers in the Andes to mine for Gold and Silver (see below and links).

Ask yourself if you really want to see the same thing happen to Chile as happened to Peru?

If you’re a member of environmental groups/interested parties perhaps you know of clever ways of circulating this story for discussion. And maybe even action?

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Dear friends who care about our earth. Judge for yourself if you want To Take action. In the Valle de San Felix, the purest water in Chile runs From 2 rivers, fed by 2 glaciers. Water is a most precious resource, and Wars Will be fought for it. Indigenous farmers use the water, there is no Unemployment, and they provide the second largest source of income for The Area. Under the glaciers has been found a huge deposit of gold, silver And Other minerals. To get at these, it would be necessary to break, to Destroy The glaciers – something never conceived of in the history of the world

And to make 2 huge holes, each as big as a whole mountain, one for Extraction and one for the mine’s rubbish tip.

The project is called PASCUA LAMA. The company is called Barrick Gold. The Operation is planned by a multi-national company, one of whose members Is George Bush Senior. The Chilean Government has approved the project to Start This year, 2006. The only reason it hasn’t started yet is because the Farmers have got a temporary stay of execution. If they destroy the Glaciers, they will not just destroy the source of specially pure Water, but They will permanently contaminate the 2 rivers so they will never again Be Fit for human or animal consumption because of the use of cyanide and Sulphuric acid in the extraction process. Every last gramme of gold Will go Abroad to the multinational company and not one will be left with the People Whose land it is. They will only be left with the poisoned water and The Resulting illnesses.

The farmers have been fighting a long time for their land, but have Been Forbidden to make a TV appeal by a ban from the Ministry of the Interior. Their only hope now of putting brakes on this project is to get help From International justice. The world must know what is happening in Chile. The Only place to start changing the world is from here.

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Can Barrick Mining be trusted that they will do as they say? Or should they not be trusted, after, for example, ommitting the existence of TWO RUDDY GREAT GLACIERS from the Environmental Impact Assessment?

Exactly.

The key to a horrific weekend

It actually took me a long time to think of a title to this post. There are many aspects to this post… positive, negative… the works. I’ll tell the story.

Read the rest of this entry »

Bargain value

If you’re in the UK, be sure to check out Choices UK for all your DVD and CD needs. They’re even cheaper than Play.

For example, compare prices on:
Complete DVD boxset of Friends (RRP, £199.99)

• Play: £124.99 and Sold Out
• ChoicesUK: £99.96 and in stock.

Band of Brothers, Special Edition Tin Boxset (RRP £59.99)

• Play: £49.99
• ChoicesUK: £31.99

and many other bargains to be had. Both offer free delivery. The cheap prices are all due to a wonderful VAT loophole. But you should get in there quick, as the loophole is being closed – the likes of Asda, Tesco, Amazon, Boots, HMV and Woolworths have all been told to get out by a recent policy change. As it stands Play.com might be the only one unaffected. ChoicesUK claim to have registered offices in Guernsey, but they might still be forced out. More on the VAT loophole.