September 25, 2003
And here comes another Labour tax hike
<RANT>
The UK Treasury has announced that fuel duty in the UK is to rise by 1.28 pence per litre on 1 October. This was announced in the 2003 Budget but was cynically delayed in implementation so people would forget about it (IMHO). Amazingly, they say this is because the "volatility of oil prices at the time of the Budget has now diminished and oil prices have become more stable."
You could have fooled me!
OPEC yesterday announced that they are reducing their oil output from 1 November. This will undoubtedly lead to a rise in oil prices as demand outstrips supply during the winter months.
The 1.28p will probably get rounded up to 1.5p at the pumps as the petrol companies take the opportunity to raise margins, albeit very slightly.
Given that we currently pay, on average, 75.8p per litre according to PetrolBusters the increase will take the average price to around 77.3p per litre. To put this into perspective for a Canadian audience, imagine paying $1.64 CAD per litre for Gas (current exchange rate is around 2.12 CAD to the UKP). For the Americans reading, imagine paying $4.53 per gallon for Gas (3.78 litres to the gallon, current exchange rate approx 1.55 USD to the UKP).
The tax on petrol in the UK is a MASSIVE 75% (approx)!! How can that possibly be fair?
There's a comparison of UK prices and European prices for petrol on this site. You can clearly see we're just about the most expensive country in Europe for petrol. Pretty amazing for a country which is an oil producer!
Tax Freedom Day fell on 2 June this year. This means that every penny earned for the first 154 days of the year went to the Government. It was only on 3 June that an average UK taxpayer started to earn money for themselves.
I, for one, am getting sick of the massively increased taxes that are paying for Labour's massive nanny state. A nanny state where going on the dole pays more than trying to make your own way by working for just slightly above minimum wage.
<⁄RANT>
September 20, 2003
I'm 16!
C did this yesterday, so I'm shamelessly copying her...
My inner child is sixteen years old!
Life's not fair! It's never been fair, but while
adults might just accept that, I know
something's gotta change. And it's gonna
change, just as soon as I become an adult and
get some power of my own.
How Old is Your Inner Child?
brought to you by Quizilla
September 19, 2003
Red Harry Rackham
That be me that be.
That be my pirate name. Arrrr....
You landlubbers should go get a pirate name o' yer own before I buckle yer swash... Arrr....
Apparently "Passion is a big part of your life, which makes sense for a pirate. You have the good fortune of having a good name, since Rackham (pronounced RACKem, not rack-ham) is one of the coolest sounding surnames for a pirate. Arr!"
September 17, 2003
International Talk like a pirate day
Arrrr.....
With thanks to Emma who just forwarded this.
September 19, 2003 - International Talk like a Pirate day. In honour of this I may well blog on Friday in Piratese (is that right?)
I expect Keith to participate as well. He won't though! :)
September 15, 2003
Welcome the newbie
Nothing too interesting there yet but give him time... Then again, if we give him time he'll probably forget he's set it up! ;)
I expect at least an entry every few days Keithy...
September 12, 2003
R.I.P. Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash died today. While country isn't really my thing I do realise what an iconic and great man he was.
Carla wrote a short article earlier this month after Johnny won an award for the moving and emotional video of his cover of NiN's Hurt.
So, R.I.P. to the original Man in Black, you'll be greatly missed.
September 11, 2003
MS software may be buggy...
... but at least it doesn't have this problem! :)
(Here's the link to the page the graphic is from.)
September 9, 2003
September 6, 2003
Meacher / Iraq
I see that Michael Meacher (ex uk environment minister for those not in the know) caused a bit of a furore when he wrote this article for the Guardian.
Couple of reasons I'm interested in this really...
First of all he's an MP in the town I'm originally from (though not the MP in the ward I lived in).
Second, although I'm not sure he's 100% correct in what he's saying I am fairly sure that the oil in the region had a major bearing on the actions taken. PNAC is a very real organisation and many of Bush's cabinet are members of, or sign up to the principles of, PNAC. How many names do you recognise at a glance from this statement of principles? It's pretty well documented what PNAC wanted to do in Iraq...
This is scary stuff, let's be grateful that Bush is starting to look weak.
118 thingy
I was going to write about the whole 118 thingy but as usual DG did a much better job...
This about sums it up...
This could easily be the senior management of the company I used to work for too! :)
September 5, 2003
G5
OK, I want one I admit it.
Go have a look at Bill Noll's site to appreciate what a work of art these machines really are.
Ikea
This post on Margaret Marks' blog is pretty cool.
The Ikea near us was the first one built in the UK and even though we don't usually buy anything from there (some of the quality is just bad on their furniture) we do buy the odd thing every now and then if it's good quality or good value.
We do normally have a giggle at some of the names though and to find out there's actually a naming convention at work is pretty fascinating. Go have a look for yourself!
I'm freeeee......
Yep, I'm now free of the place I used to work as I have officially been made redundant. I wasted no time getting my cheque and sticking it in the bank that's for sure. They don't deserve to have the money for one second longer than necessary to pay me. They did want me to wait until the end of the month and accept my money in the usual payroll run. That opportunity was erm.... "forcefully denied" to them shall we say.
Anyway, I'm now free. I'm still not going to say who this company is (at least for now) but I am sooooo glad to be out of there.
Now, does anyone want to employ a middle manager who isn't afraid to speak his mind? Are there any companies out there who aren't afraid of their own staff?
September 4, 2003
Ah, the joys of ADSL in the UK
No, not me - I got cable...
Have a look at this report. Believe me, it's all like this when you deal with BT.
September 3, 2003
Today it is then...
... today is the day I should "officially" become redundant from my previous employer. In all seriousness, I don't really care as I have come to the conclusion that they are doing me a favour in reality as it has become such a bad place to actually work.
I give them between 6 and 12 months before they fold and that's being generous. Especially as they seem to be getting rid of all the technically oriented middle management...