I don't think it's fair that I had a good old rant about George "Dubya" Bush and all his dumb american buddies and left Tony alone, so here goes...
His politics are ok, but the way he smarms about and pretends that they are PERFECT is what gets me, I mean every aspect of government could be improved upon, like less tax, better healthcare, better social services and especially, ESPECIALLY where our soldiers end up. Iraq is a mess, and the UK have got to hold their hands up and admit that this is partly our fault. It's almost as though the playground bully (America) has cornered us and told us to go help him beat up a geeky kid so we can both share his lunch money, and instead of standing up to the bully, we got greedy and went along with it, taking Iraqioil down in price and getting huge contracts to rebuild a country we tore to shreds with not one but TWO gulf wars. If we had just taken the tyrant out the first time we wouldn't have had anywhere near the chaos in the middle east we do now.
Another thing is his wife, Cherie, talk about acting like a prize idiot all the time. Singing in Japan was the final straw for me, she murdered a song that only she could have, it was horrible!
Tony is an absolute tit, and Gordon Brown as successor? I dread to think how bad this country is going to be by the end of HIS tenure!
Wednesday 25 April 2007
Tuesday 24 April 2007
House Prices...
Did you know that in Northern Ireland in the last ten years the average house price has increased from 66,000 to 189,000? Thats nearly a 200% increase in that time and now first time buyers and single people make up the smallest proportion of house buyers in the region.
I mean, who needs an apartment in belfast's Annadale Embankment so much that they are willing to almost literally sign a blank cheque for it? Well, apparently a lot of people. So many people in fact, that the most recent block of apartments and town houses went, and some are still going for, over 300K a pop. Now thats a lot for a two bed apartment, considering my family's home is a five bed two reception and its worth less than that by some way.
In Magheralin, where I live, the house prices would suggest we are living in some kind of bubble, where apartments (yes, in the VILLAGE of magheralin) are now in the region of £200,000 and this is percieved as GOOD value. Say what? Good value? Good value would be me paying each buyer £5.00 to let me punch them in the face and tell them how stupid they are, 200K for an aprartment in Maralin isn't good value AT ALL. In fact, I'd struggle to find ANY apartment in Northern Ireland which would have a "Good Value" label attached to it for 200K!
It really will be almost impossible for people my age and younger to buy their own houses in this country very soon, and even the ones that do now are borrowing HUGE mortgages in order to do so. For example, say I'm earning 30K a year by 25, now thats a decent salary. But a bank will only lend me 3 times that. That means I can afford to buy, with a deposit of 10K, a 100K house. Hang on, the average house price is already twice that? So what can I do to get a house? Take out a 50year mortgage and end up paying around 400K for a small home that should have cost 150K? I dread to think how much houses will actually cost when I'm trying to buy one, but it does not look good.
For any of us.
I mean, who needs an apartment in belfast's Annadale Embankment so much that they are willing to almost literally sign a blank cheque for it? Well, apparently a lot of people. So many people in fact, that the most recent block of apartments and town houses went, and some are still going for, over 300K a pop. Now thats a lot for a two bed apartment, considering my family's home is a five bed two reception and its worth less than that by some way.
In Magheralin, where I live, the house prices would suggest we are living in some kind of bubble, where apartments (yes, in the VILLAGE of magheralin) are now in the region of £200,000 and this is percieved as GOOD value. Say what? Good value? Good value would be me paying each buyer £5.00 to let me punch them in the face and tell them how stupid they are, 200K for an aprartment in Maralin isn't good value AT ALL. In fact, I'd struggle to find ANY apartment in Northern Ireland which would have a "Good Value" label attached to it for 200K!
It really will be almost impossible for people my age and younger to buy their own houses in this country very soon, and even the ones that do now are borrowing HUGE mortgages in order to do so. For example, say I'm earning 30K a year by 25, now thats a decent salary. But a bank will only lend me 3 times that. That means I can afford to buy, with a deposit of 10K, a 100K house. Hang on, the average house price is already twice that? So what can I do to get a house? Take out a 50year mortgage and end up paying around 400K for a small home that should have cost 150K? I dread to think how much houses will actually cost when I'm trying to buy one, but it does not look good.
For any of us.
Taxes...
Alright, so I don't know much about this topic, but perhaps that's just another reason why I don't like them so much...
...it turns out, that if you are a rich executive in charge of a major company, you don't have to pay taxes (or at least, not 40% taxes) on your bonuses, so if you pay yourself 50K a year, but make 3MILLION in bonuses, then you'll end up paying less tax than someone who earns 100K a year. Now, tell me I'm crazy, but that is completely flippin disgusting. So whilst Joe Public is crushed by the taxman, the Rich get richer and the Poor get poorer.
Typically, the government are of course, on the side of the rich guys, and (according to my dad) they won't tax the Rich people any more in case they take their money to another country. Well correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that what Rich people do anyway? Buy yachts, property and other companies around the world? Move their business interests to low wage, developing countries? If they don't like the frickin taxes in this country we should kick them out of it! I have only paid about £1300 of National Insurance and Taxes in total so far in my life (I'm only 21 remember) but at least I can rely on the NHS to help me out if I need the odd heart transplant when I'm older, I know I've at least contributed something to the economy in the form of my National Insurance deductions.
I hate the idea that because you earn more, you should be taxed less, surely the 40% tax bracket should apply to ALL money earned over whatever the threshold is by EVERYONE who earns it? Analysts reckon that in the past 10 years, the top 5% of the richest people in the UK have become 10times richer than the other 95% in real terms. Thats outrageous, utterly outrageous. The quality of their lives in most cases would not significantly decrease if they were taxed a bit more, would it?
Doubtful.
...it turns out, that if you are a rich executive in charge of a major company, you don't have to pay taxes (or at least, not 40% taxes) on your bonuses, so if you pay yourself 50K a year, but make 3MILLION in bonuses, then you'll end up paying less tax than someone who earns 100K a year. Now, tell me I'm crazy, but that is completely flippin disgusting. So whilst Joe Public is crushed by the taxman, the Rich get richer and the Poor get poorer.
Typically, the government are of course, on the side of the rich guys, and (according to my dad) they won't tax the Rich people any more in case they take their money to another country. Well correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that what Rich people do anyway? Buy yachts, property and other companies around the world? Move their business interests to low wage, developing countries? If they don't like the frickin taxes in this country we should kick them out of it! I have only paid about £1300 of National Insurance and Taxes in total so far in my life (I'm only 21 remember) but at least I can rely on the NHS to help me out if I need the odd heart transplant when I'm older, I know I've at least contributed something to the economy in the form of my National Insurance deductions.
I hate the idea that because you earn more, you should be taxed less, surely the 40% tax bracket should apply to ALL money earned over whatever the threshold is by EVERYONE who earns it? Analysts reckon that in the past 10 years, the top 5% of the richest people in the UK have become 10times richer than the other 95% in real terms. Thats outrageous, utterly outrageous. The quality of their lives in most cases would not significantly decrease if they were taxed a bit more, would it?
Doubtful.
Monday 23 April 2007
Restaurants...
Seriously, how annoying can restaurants be? They are up there with America in terms of potentially annoying things that can happen in them.
Take last friday night for example, in a well known Italian restaurant. We arrive, on time, for a table booked for 8o'clock, and where is it? Not free yet. In fact, it wasn't free until nearer to 8.20pm! Ragin, and my little friend Natalie, who tends to get stressed out by little things, was F-REAKIN out because the stupid beggars couldn't book tables with enough of a gap to ensure they are free when they need to be!
Another annoying thing in the same restaurant is the fact that the waiting staff watch over you as you eat endlessly, and seem as though they are trying deperately to put you off your food. An impossibility for someone like me, but it is incredibly frustrating if you feel someone is watching you as you eat. Prices are good though, and the food is excellent.
Restaurants in general though, especially in little ol' Norn Iron irk me all the time. Another example is the Causeway Coast Hotel. I use this one because they can't even get Lasagne right. I mean, Lasagne? Wrong? Really? For frig's sake, I can make better lasagne than they did, and at least mine would be cooked! Dispicable when you consider that the Causeway is THE tourist attraction of Northern Ireland and attracts a serious amount of trade from such, only for them to be met with a half-hearted menu and uncooked food even a schoolkid in his or her Home Ec class could better!
What about tipping? Do you tip regardless of service? I sure as heck don't, if they don't deserve it DON'T GIVE IT TO THEM!!! That way, when they improve their service the next time, they'll have not only bettered themselves, but the restaurant will improve for everyone else as well.
Finally, as if this rant wasn't long enough, you get the perverts. That's right folks, the bar staff, concierges and even the occasional waitress who just can't keep their eyes off you or your date. Now that's annoying, really REALLY annoying. Alright, so I've pulled above my station on numerous occasions, that doesn't mean the flippin waiter can leer across the table at my girl, hell no, cause I'm likely to take offence and in a worst case scenario, beat him with his own tray in front of everyone, til he cries like some schoolboy bitch. Likewise, whilst more flattering, it is off-putting when a waitress gives you the eye, she should know better.
I'm done. Like good Steak.
Take last friday night for example, in a well known Italian restaurant. We arrive, on time, for a table booked for 8o'clock, and where is it? Not free yet. In fact, it wasn't free until nearer to 8.20pm! Ragin, and my little friend Natalie, who tends to get stressed out by little things, was F-REAKIN out because the stupid beggars couldn't book tables with enough of a gap to ensure they are free when they need to be!
Another annoying thing in the same restaurant is the fact that the waiting staff watch over you as you eat endlessly, and seem as though they are trying deperately to put you off your food. An impossibility for someone like me, but it is incredibly frustrating if you feel someone is watching you as you eat. Prices are good though, and the food is excellent.
Restaurants in general though, especially in little ol' Norn Iron irk me all the time. Another example is the Causeway Coast Hotel. I use this one because they can't even get Lasagne right. I mean, Lasagne? Wrong? Really? For frig's sake, I can make better lasagne than they did, and at least mine would be cooked! Dispicable when you consider that the Causeway is THE tourist attraction of Northern Ireland and attracts a serious amount of trade from such, only for them to be met with a half-hearted menu and uncooked food even a schoolkid in his or her Home Ec class could better!
What about tipping? Do you tip regardless of service? I sure as heck don't, if they don't deserve it DON'T GIVE IT TO THEM!!! That way, when they improve their service the next time, they'll have not only bettered themselves, but the restaurant will improve for everyone else as well.
Finally, as if this rant wasn't long enough, you get the perverts. That's right folks, the bar staff, concierges and even the occasional waitress who just can't keep their eyes off you or your date. Now that's annoying, really REALLY annoying. Alright, so I've pulled above my station on numerous occasions, that doesn't mean the flippin waiter can leer across the table at my girl, hell no, cause I'm likely to take offence and in a worst case scenario, beat him with his own tray in front of everyone, til he cries like some schoolboy bitch. Likewise, whilst more flattering, it is off-putting when a waitress gives you the eye, she should know better.
I'm done. Like good Steak.
Friday 20 April 2007
Bad Film Critics...
Short one this time, I promise...
How annoying is it when you go to a film that was listed as excellent and find it so boring you fall asleep and wonder if it ever got any better?
Hate bad film critics, especially in newspapers.
It works vice versa also, sometimes they say its bad when its awesome!
How annoying is it when you go to a film that was listed as excellent and find it so boring you fall asleep and wonder if it ever got any better?
Hate bad film critics, especially in newspapers.
It works vice versa also, sometimes they say its bad when its awesome!
Human Rights
Is it just me, or has the Human Rights movement gotten out of control? For example, how can my human rights be off less significance than someone elses?
Take this example- Abu Hamza, hook-handed nutjob that he is, isn't allowed to be deported as it would be a breach of his human rights, and yet he is free to go around preaching intolerance of the "West" and encourage young, easily led Muslim men to enlist in jihad, a "Holy" war against infidels, no such mention is made in the Koran I may add. So who's human rights are more important? Me, who has lived in the UK his entire life and would like to continue living there without the threat of pshychotic suicide bombers hanging over me, or him, an immigrant to a country he clearly flipping detests? ME dammit, ME! My rights are more important, in this case at least!
Yet another example is the non-extradition of criminals if it is a breach of their human rights? The case in point is that of "General" Pinochet? He can't be extradited for HUMAN RIGHTS atrocities because its a breach of his HUMAN RIGHTS????
WHATS HAPPENING????????
That said, it's important to stress that I am all for the human rights act- the human right to clean water, sanitation, a roof over your head etc, but since the world can't even cough up to do that for everyone perhaps the rest of our human rights should take a back seat for a while?
Just a thought, just a thought.
Take this example- Abu Hamza, hook-handed nutjob that he is, isn't allowed to be deported as it would be a breach of his human rights, and yet he is free to go around preaching intolerance of the "West" and encourage young, easily led Muslim men to enlist in jihad, a "Holy" war against infidels, no such mention is made in the Koran I may add. So who's human rights are more important? Me, who has lived in the UK his entire life and would like to continue living there without the threat of pshychotic suicide bombers hanging over me, or him, an immigrant to a country he clearly flipping detests? ME dammit, ME! My rights are more important, in this case at least!
Yet another example is the non-extradition of criminals if it is a breach of their human rights? The case in point is that of "General" Pinochet? He can't be extradited for HUMAN RIGHTS atrocities because its a breach of his HUMAN RIGHTS????
WHATS HAPPENING????????
That said, it's important to stress that I am all for the human rights act- the human right to clean water, sanitation, a roof over your head etc, but since the world can't even cough up to do that for everyone perhaps the rest of our human rights should take a back seat for a while?
Just a thought, just a thought.
Wednesday 18 April 2007
America (And nearly everything it stands for)
America, you have to be an American not to hate it, don't you? Every time an American comes on T.V. I feel like travelling to their home town to beat the hell outta them, right-wing Religious American style. Like that guy Fred Phelps or whatever his name is, what a crazy bloke. Crazy!
He runs about having protests at innocent american soldiers funerals as he reckons that they died because his country has an open view on homosexuality. Oh my word, does he hear himself when he's speaking or is he totally demented? He has polluted his ENTIRE family into thinking like he does as well, and has them all rallying 365 days of the year to ensure no funeral goes un-protested at, I mean dedication is all well and good, but he's dedicated to completely the wrong thing and I can't stand that.
Another American thing- the Corporate Industries that it has "spawned". I say spawned because they are fully like diseases or funghi that have infected and festered around the globe, like some other-worldly mushrooms that grow and grow until they have no more land left to occupy. Starbucks, Wall-mart (And if you think Wall-mart aren't in the UK then think again- they now own ASDA), K-mart, they all stand for gain gain gain at everyone elses expense, and this phenomenon has sparked off here in the form of Tesco's. Did you know Tesco gets something like 9p in every £1.00 spent in the UK now? WOW. That is disgusting, but thankfully the competition commission has now stepped in to examine their practises. Ha ha, hope they stop all their expansion programmes for ages!
Then there's the American people, some of whom, like George Bush, are the typical Americans I love to hate. He's stupid, incompetent, completely hell-bent on worsening the situations in already war-torn and battered countries and he's a puppet president who does what congress says and never really understands the reasons, backdrop or consequences of doing so. Absolutely could be the worst bloke to have ever been president of anywhere, and I know all about people like Idi Amin etc, I still think little George could have been responsible for more deaths than Idi is.
America, absolutely abhorrent.
However, I did say at the start NEARLY everything it stands for, well thats because at least in theory, it is still a christian country, founded on and ruled by christian laws etc, but even that is wearing increasingly thin.
Jack
He runs about having protests at innocent american soldiers funerals as he reckons that they died because his country has an open view on homosexuality. Oh my word, does he hear himself when he's speaking or is he totally demented? He has polluted his ENTIRE family into thinking like he does as well, and has them all rallying 365 days of the year to ensure no funeral goes un-protested at, I mean dedication is all well and good, but he's dedicated to completely the wrong thing and I can't stand that.
Another American thing- the Corporate Industries that it has "spawned". I say spawned because they are fully like diseases or funghi that have infected and festered around the globe, like some other-worldly mushrooms that grow and grow until they have no more land left to occupy. Starbucks, Wall-mart (And if you think Wall-mart aren't in the UK then think again- they now own ASDA), K-mart, they all stand for gain gain gain at everyone elses expense, and this phenomenon has sparked off here in the form of Tesco's. Did you know Tesco gets something like 9p in every £1.00 spent in the UK now? WOW. That is disgusting, but thankfully the competition commission has now stepped in to examine their practises. Ha ha, hope they stop all their expansion programmes for ages!
Then there's the American people, some of whom, like George Bush, are the typical Americans I love to hate. He's stupid, incompetent, completely hell-bent on worsening the situations in already war-torn and battered countries and he's a puppet president who does what congress says and never really understands the reasons, backdrop or consequences of doing so. Absolutely could be the worst bloke to have ever been president of anywhere, and I know all about people like Idi Amin etc, I still think little George could have been responsible for more deaths than Idi is.
America, absolutely abhorrent.
However, I did say at the start NEARLY everything it stands for, well thats because at least in theory, it is still a christian country, founded on and ruled by christian laws etc, but even that is wearing increasingly thin.
Jack
Stupid People!
How can anyone else not get genuinely annoyed by people who are supposedly smart doing ridiculously stupid things? My word, I can feel the anger start to well up when people who have honours degrees, doctorates, good a-levels even, start to do stupid things.
For example, when someone gets their words mixed up, and instead of correcting themselves, they get angry when someone else corrects them, like, what? If they weren't so thick as to get it wrong in the first place then good, intelligent people like me wouldn't have to run around correcting them, would we?
Disgusting.
Stupidity should be outlawed, like stealing, except with less harsh penalties obviously, seeing as we're all allowed one or two "Blonde" or "Senior" moments, depending on whether your are sexist or ageist of course. But a three strikes and you're out rule would be okay, like three serious stupidity offences and we kick you out of the country, like to America, where its very nearly COOL to be stupid! I hate America, thats next on my to do list...
Jack
For example, when someone gets their words mixed up, and instead of correcting themselves, they get angry when someone else corrects them, like, what? If they weren't so thick as to get it wrong in the first place then good, intelligent people like me wouldn't have to run around correcting them, would we?
Disgusting.
Stupidity should be outlawed, like stealing, except with less harsh penalties obviously, seeing as we're all allowed one or two "Blonde" or "Senior" moments, depending on whether your are sexist or ageist of course. But a three strikes and you're out rule would be okay, like three serious stupidity offences and we kick you out of the country, like to America, where its very nearly COOL to be stupid! I hate America, thats next on my to do list...
Jack
Tuesday 17 April 2007
Political Correctness...
Now don't get me wrong, it's not like I want to run around yelling the "N" word at black people, or telling people who are overwieght that they are, in fact, overweight, but politcial correctness is disgusting. I should be able to say whatever I want, like in America where the 5th ammendment or whatever it is allows total freedom of expression or something, why can't I have that?
I want to be able to tell someone that what they are doing is wrong IN MY OPINION without being labelled some throwback to the 16th century who needs to readjust himself to the noughties. For example, someone says they hate my country, but come to live in it to incite racial hatred and tension but we aren't allowed to deport them because its a breach of their Human Rights? Say what? Human rights are MY rights also, I don't want some gun-toting, allah-worshipping nutjob living in the UK and telling his Asian followers to kill me and my friends simply because its a breach of his human rights to deport him, SO WHAT? Deport that bloke, Abu Hamza I think his name is, y'on freak with a hook for a hand (probably got it cut off for theft or something like that, I dunno) and get him out!
Politicians have no stones anymore, I tell you what, I don't like her, never did, but Maggie Thatcher would have kicked him out...
I want to be able to tell someone that what they are doing is wrong IN MY OPINION without being labelled some throwback to the 16th century who needs to readjust himself to the noughties. For example, someone says they hate my country, but come to live in it to incite racial hatred and tension but we aren't allowed to deport them because its a breach of their Human Rights? Say what? Human rights are MY rights also, I don't want some gun-toting, allah-worshipping nutjob living in the UK and telling his Asian followers to kill me and my friends simply because its a breach of his human rights to deport him, SO WHAT? Deport that bloke, Abu Hamza I think his name is, y'on freak with a hook for a hand (probably got it cut off for theft or something like that, I dunno) and get him out!
Politicians have no stones anymore, I tell you what, I don't like her, never did, but Maggie Thatcher would have kicked him out...
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