At 18.54 my blog logged its 25,000th viewing.
Thanks one and all for reading
and your support.
What a year;
WoW!
%D
Sunday, 28 April 2013
NHS, We Shall Lament Thy Passing
[Image description: a black & white photograph of Aneurin 'Nye' Bevan;
underneath is one of his quotations]
The quotation reads:
"The collective principle asserts that…
no society can legitimately call itself civilised
if a sick person is denied medical aid
because of lack of means."
(In Place of Fear, 1952, p.100)
Since the current coalition "ConDem" (a pun on the word 'condemn') government was formed between the Conservative and Liberal Democratic parties, some "£7bn of our NHS has ended up in the mitts of private health" per Dr. Éoin Clarke who writes The Green Benches blog (q.v.). This figure is now expected to leap to a staggering forty billion pounds. That is £40b on an annual basis being syphoned off from the National Health Service to private companies. Approximately a third of UK parliamentarians from both houses hold shares and/or positions and/or interests in many of these health-care businesses (see for example this investigation). Many folk have been shocked to determine that MP's and Lords with financial stakes in issues are indeed permitted to lobby, join in the debates by speaking and vote for their own pecuniary advantage rather than that of their constituents or the benefit of all Britons. In the vernacular we call it corruption; but the reader can no doubt imagine that is not the label used by the spinners of the powerful élite.
Folk are already having to pay for minor operations and treatments and have been doing so for the past year or so under the ConDems including for such things as hip ops and baby scans.
Labour's health team have produced a report that measures the number of patients treated for routine operations last year 2011/12 in comparison with the same operations for the last year of a Labour government. The report found that the Tories have restricted more than 100 treatments in the last 2 years. Of those 100+ restrictions, 22 treatments have been completely halted on the NHS in some parts of England. Strictly speaking, we no longer have a Free at the Point of Use National Health Service.
This week the House of Lords (HoL) with the assistance of quisling Shirley Williams and other FibDems (In the UK 'fib' is another word for 'lie' or 'untruth') effectively privatised our NHS - and most media ignored the event on the night and afterwards. David Owen openly wept tears in the HoL as he ended his speech:
I warn this House: do not think that this is a minor step. If this goes through, the NHS as we have seen it, believed in it and persuaded the electorate that we support it, will be massively changed. It will take five, 10, 15 or maybe 20 years, but unless we pull back from his whole attitude there will be no National Health Service that any of us can recognise, and tonight I feel one feeling only: overwhelming sadness.
(Hansard, columns 1490 - 1492)
Well done to all those who tried to do something. To those of you who didn't, don't be coming to me to raise money for your sick child's operation, your ambulance bill or your parents' life-preserving medications. You only have yourself to blame!
British civilisation has in effect taken a massive step backwards.
To any who would like to finally make a stand for our public, free-at-the-point-of-delivery NHS, you may wish to follow The Green Benches, MelloJonny's blog abetternhs, or get involved with the National Health Action Party.
To fight political corruption, you could sign this petition:
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/44971
To help those struggling against the austerity cuts imposed on the weak & vulnerable, one could sign and share the WOWpetition:
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/43154
There is no need for apathy: together we CAN make a positive difference; let's put the Great back in Britain!
Friday, 26 April 2013
Crippled, Queer, Anglo-European Ranter's First Birthday
[Image description: a cake with the inscription "HAPPY BIRTHDAY"]
Well, I can hardly believe a year has gone by.
The number of views in my first blog's first year reached 24,710. This averages at over two thousand per month or about 475 per week. My best month was February when I reached the heady heights of 3,245 viewings.
I have recorded visits from all continents with the exception of Antarctica. So, if there is anyone in one of the research stations there, I should dearly love for you to pay a visit. And I most certainly would blog on it too! My most recent growth areas have been in South America and China over the past few weeks. My hope is to establish a separate Spanish language blog linked to this one... eventually!
All major countries/economies are represented in the statistics. Here are the cumulative stats for the top ten only:
This will be blog-post sixty-two (62). Blog article sixty-three (63) is ready to publish on 1st May as part of Blogging Against Disablism Day 2013. Here's a foretaste of what is to come: the article is actually entitled "No Sex Please, We're... Disabled!" So if that piques your curiosity, please feel free to return here next Wednesday.
The second in my series on Penis Problems is almost complete too. This time I am taking a closer look at urethras. Don't know what one is? Well, another incentive to come back for a closer inspection! Just believe me when I say it was a definite eye-opener to me, and I have had to look at photos of one-eyed monsters I should have rather preferred to completely avoid. What I do to ensure my research is as accurate as possible!
A special thank-you to my three doughty followers whom I appreciate sticking with me.
I hope my writing has improved a little over the past year. Certainly I have made mistakes. However, rather than emend, I have simply allowed such to remain in situ but struck through. This approach seems more honest to me, especially in respect to anyone who returns to an article.
Not sure how the coming year will pan out, for much of my time and energies are taken up with disability campaigning for the WOWpetition (q.v.); but I do sincerely hope I shall have some opportunities to keep sharing my rants, complaints and whinges with you.
My heartfelt thanks for reading and my very best wishes for you all.
Colin-Roy aka criquaer
%D
Tuesday, 16 April 2013
"Blogging Against Disablism Day" aka BADD2013
May 1st is "Blogging Against Disablism Day". Please get involved by writing and/or reading and/or whatever (!) on the day or read the archive later on. One does NOT have to be disabled, by the by.
"The eighth annual Blogging Against Disablism day will be on Wednesday, 1st May. This is the day where all around the world, disabled and non-disabled people blog about their experiences, observations and thoughts about disability discrimination (known as disablism or ableism). In this way, we hope to raise awareness of inequality, promote equality and celebrate the progress we've made."
More details on how to participate can be found here.
This year there is an eponymous Facebook page as well as a Twitter account, @BADDtweets.
Hope to see/hear from you on 1st May. %)
Saturday, 13 April 2013
Television Square-Eyes!
I can recall watching the goggle-box (television set) from at least the age of five. Of course it was black & white back then. My Father introduced us to colour for Princess Anne's wedding to Captain Mark Phillips in 1973. Next improvement (for a man with appalling eyesight) was the introduction of flat-screens which replaced the curved tubes, which once again my Father provided rather thoughtfully. Since then LCD, LED (my personal preference), HD and 3D technologies have arrived and holographic TV is predicted for the imminent future. What an amazing box of delights!
[Image description: Loewe LED TV from John Lewis ©]
I remember profound cultural events being broadcast to the globe: from the Apollo launches to the destruction of the Twin Towers. But what most excites me about the televisual experience is the story-telling that stimulates my imagination and sometimes even fantasies.
The following list are the two-hundred (pure fluke it is such a round number!) programmes that have most stuck in my memory, although not necessarily because I enjoyed them or think them worthy - though many are so. I hope you find something on my list which might prise a pleasant memory from the dark recesses of oblivion.
1990 (1977-8) (BBC)
9 to 5 (1982-3)
A Certain Justice (1998)
A Fatal Inversion (1992) (BBC)
A Fine Romance (1981-4)
A Mind to Murder (1995)
A Taste for Death (1988)
Absolutely Fabulous (1992-6, + specials to 2012) (BBC)
Agatha Christie’s Marple (2004-present)
Agatha Christie’s Partners in Crime (1983-4)
An Unsuitable Job for a Woman (1997-9)
Archer (2009-present)
Armchair Thriller (1978-1980)
Barbapapa (1973-n/k)
Babar (1989)
Babylon 5 (1994-8)
BBC News (BBC)
Becoming Human (2011) (BBC)
Belle and Sebastian (1965-1970)
Being Human (2008-2013) (BBC)
Blakes 7 (1978-1981)
Blue Peter (1958-present) (BBC)
Bouquet of Barbed Wire (1976)
Brideshead Revisited (1981) (Granada)
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (1979-81)
Bugs (1995-9) (BBC)
Cadfael (1994-8)
Camberwick Green (1966) (BBC)
Campion (1989-1990) (BBC)
Channel 4 News (C4)
Charlie’s Angels (1976-1981)
Chelsea Flower Show (BBC)
Children of the Stones (1977)
Cold Lazarus (1996) (BBC/C4)
Cover her Face (1985)
Cover Up (1984-5)
Daria (1997-2002)
Devices & Desires (1991)
Doctor Who (1963-present) (BBC)
Drop the Dead Donkey (1990-8) (C4)
Eldorado (1992-3) (BBC)
Ellen (1994-8)
Ellen Night (1998) (C4)
Ellery Queen (1975-6)
Fame (1982-7)
Family Guy (1999-present)
Flash Gordon (1936)
Foyle’s War (2002-13)
Game On! (1995-8) (BBC)
Gaudy Night (1987)
Gaytime TV (1995-9) (BBC)
Green Wing (2004-7) (C4)
Hart to Hart (1979-1984)
Have his Carcass (1987)
Heidi (1978)
Hercule Poirot (1989-present) (LWT; Granada)
Here Come the Double Deckers (1970-1) (BBC)
Hergé’s Adventures of Tintin (1959-1964)
Hetty Wainthropp Investigates (1996-8) (BBC)
Hong Kong Phooey (1974)
Horizon (1964-present) (BBC)
In Search of the Trojan War (1985) (BBC)
Inspector Morse (1987-2000)
Jackanory (1965-1996) (BBC)
Jamie and the Magic Torch (1976-9)
Jeeves and Wooster (1990-3)
Jonathan Creek (1997-2013) (BBC)
Kingdom (2007-9)
Knight Rider (1982-6)
La Ronde (1982) (BBC)
Lewis (2006-2013)
Logan’s Run (1977-8)
Lovejoy (1986-1994) (BBC)
Magnum, P.I. (1980-8)
Maigret (1992-3)
Man from Atlantis (1977-8)
Mapp & Lucia (1985-6) (C4)
Max Headroom (1987-8) (C4)
McMillan & Wife (1971-7)
Midsomer Murders (1997-present)
Misfits (2009-present) (C4)
Miss Marple (1984-1992) (BBC)
Monkey (1978-1980)
More tales of the City (1998) (C4)
Mork & Mindy (1978-1982)
Mrs. Brown’s Boys (2011-present) (BBC)
Multi-Coloured Swap Shop (1976-1982) (BBC)
Murder in Suburbia (2004-5)
Murder She Wrote (1984-1996)
My Family and Other Animals (1987) (BBC)
Nancy Lam (1997)
Nationwide (1969-1983) (BBC)
No.73 (1982-1988)
Northern Exposure (1990-5)
Not Going Out (2006-present) (BBC)
One Summer (1983) (C4)
Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit (1990) (BBC)
Original Sin (1997)
Petrocelli (1974-6)
Phyllis (1975-7)
Pie in the Sky (1994-7) (BBC)
Planet Dinosaur (2011) (BBC)
Planet of the Apes (1974)
Play Away (1971-1984) (BBC)
Play School (1964-1988) (BBC)
Pushing Daisies (2007-9)
Quatermass (1979)
Queer as Folk (1999-2000) (C4)
Queer Eye for the Staright Guy (2003-7)
Queer Street (1997-8?) (C4)
QI (2003-2012) (BBC)
Quincy, M.E. (1976-1983)
Rainbow (1972-1992)
Resnick: Lonely Hearts (1992) (BBC)
Resnick: Rough Treatment (1993) (BBC)
Revelations (1994-6) (Granada?)
Rhoda (1974-8)
Rich Man, Poor Man (1976)
Rome (2005-7) (BBC)
Rosemary & Thyme (2003-7)
Sapphire & Steel (1979-1982)
Scarborough Ahoy (1995) (C4)
Scooby-Doo (1969-present)
Sherlock (2010-present) (BBC)
Sherlock Holmes (1984-1994) (Granada)
Shoestring (1979-1980) (BBC)
Shroud for a Nightingale (1984)
Soap (1977-1981)
Sorry! (1981-8) (BBC)
Space: 1999 (1975-7)
Spider-man (1967-1970)
Springhill (1996-7) (Granada/C4)
Star Maidens (1976)
Star Trek (1966-9)
Star Trek: Deep Space 9 (1993-9)
Star Trek: Enterprise (2001-5)
Star Trek: The Animated Series (1973-4)
Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987-1994)
Star Trek: Voyager (1995-2001)
Starsky & Hutch (1975-9)
Surgical Spirit (1989-1995)
Tales of the City (1993) (C4)
Tarzan (1966-8)
The Adventures of Black Beauty (1972-4)
The Adventures of Champion the Wonder Horse (1955-6)
The Big Bang Theory (2007-present)
The Bionic Woman (1976-8)
The Black Tower (1985)
The Box of Delights (1984) (BBC)
The Brittas Empire (1991-7) (BBC)
The Buddha of Suburbia (1993) (BBC)
The Champions (1968-9)
The Chinese Detective (1981-2) (BBC)
The Clothes Show (1986-2000) (BBC)
The Comic Strip Presents… (1982-2012) (C4)
The Darling Buds of May (1991-3)
The Day of the Triffids (1981) (BBC)
The Death of an Expert Witness (1983)
The Fades (2011) (BBC)
The Flashing Blade (1969)
The Golden Girls (1985-1992)
The Good Life (1975-8) (BBC)
The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries (1977-9)
The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries (1990-4) (BBC)
The Invisible Man (1975-6)
The Life and Loves of a She-Devil (1983)
The Liver Birds (1969-1978) (BBC)
The Love Boat (1977-1986)
The Magician (1973-4)
The Moomins (1977-1982)
The Mrs. Bradley Mysteries (1998-9) (BBC)
The New Avengers (1976-7)
The Persuaders (1971)
The Riff Raff Element (1993-4) (BBC)
The Sarah Jane Adventures (2007-2011) (BBC)
The Six Million Dollar Man (1974-8)
The South Bank Show (1978-2010)
The Tomorrow People (1973-9)
The Tube (1982-7) (C4)
The White Horses (1965)
This Life (1996-7) (BBC)
Threads (1984) (BBC)
Thunderbirds (1965-6)
Time Team (1994-2014) (C4)
Tinsel Town (2000-1) (BBC)
To the Manor Born (1979-81) (BBC)
Tomorrow’s World (1965-2003) (BBC)
Top of the Pops (1964-2006) (BBC)
Torchwood (2006-2011) (BBC)
True Blood (2008-present)
Twin Peaks (1990-1)
Ugly Betty (2006-2010)
Ultraviolet (1998) (C4)
Up in the Attic (1970) (BBC)
Waiting for God (1990-4) (BBC)
Walking with Dinosaurs (1999) (BBC)
Washington Behind Closed Doors (1977)
Watch with Mother (1950-1973) (BBC)
Wimbledon (BBC)
Wonder Woman (1975-9)
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