I Hate Leaves

I have a hatred of hedges since my home is surrounded by those composed of beech and I have to cut/trim the things. The beech hedges round my home were possibly planted in the late 1800's with the thought, by the planter, that they'd never survive 50 years. These were the times when property had specific boundaries. Every year I try to keep the growth to around 2 metres, but it defeats me most of the time and I find it necessary to introduce those who understand the growth of these plants for hedges.

Modern day gardeners who plant beech hedges will always rue the day because, for only perhaps a couple of months a year (and I'm being liberal) leaves don't drop to excess. It's a nightmare these days to keep my access free of beech leaves but it's good exercise - although the daily removal of leaves from my property isn't on the healthly exercise list according to government guidelines. I should be out walking aimlessly or trudging the few miles to Tesco to buy my soon-to-be too expensive bottle of Tio Pepe.

I've now found the solution regarding my hedge problem - a tip from the Irish - although mine will be on a smaller scale and I've yet to find someone local to undertake the job.

The Independence Debate

One of my regular reads is Calum Cashley's blog. I don't always agree with him but his research and the standard of articulate argument makes it a must read for me and my only complaint is he doesn't post more frequently.

Calum wishes to start a debate on independence for Scotland and for Scots and non-Scots who have an interest in the future of this country, may I suggest this will be the place for honest and informative discussion, if this post is anything to go by.

Have a read yourself and see what you think.

A Dose of Their Own Medicine

Yesterday evening I was at a local meeting concerning the development of a field in the area. For years this field has been the subject of residential development by a variety of developers, but now it seems the current developer intends to go ahead and quickly.

Several meetings have been held over the years because, as it usual with large developments, people have particular concerns. Those meetings have been semi-informal, led by a small group of neighbours/organisers and invited guests sitting at a top table. A few have included local councillors, the occasional council official and our MSP on one occasion. No minutes have been taken so there are no official records. The only records are the copious personal notes of attendees.

Last night three local councillors were invited to attend and each gave a brief speech which conveyed little information other than how hard they work and how important they are to these local issues.

Towards the end of the meeting one councillor suggested the developer should be invited to the next meeting to discuss certain issues and he offered to arrange his attendance.

Because of the lack of formal records, I suggested the next meeting could be recorded on video by placing one on a tripod at the back of the room. The response to the suggestion was amazing. Immediately the three councillors, in unison, protested. Their reasons for objecting were:

a) Everyone attending would have to give their permission. Easy I said. Everyone could sign in on arrival giving permission.

b) If one person withheld their permission what then I was asked. Before I could reply up popped another objection.

c) The developer may not attend. Of course that is nonsense as the developer has no reason to object to the meeting being videoed. If he did object then it would show he had something to hide and developers are honest, communicative people aren't they.

By now I was bemused. The people who are happy to vote for more CCTV cameras, vote for by-laws which curtail our freedoms, vote for databases which record every aspect of our daily lives didn't want to be on camera themselves. I had thought the biggest protest would be from those who are of an age when modern technology is of little interest and may not have realised the benefit of having an accurate record now the planning proposals are to be assessed within a few months, but it was our elected representatives, paid by us to support us, who were desperately anxious to knock the idea on the head. It's clear they don't like even the suggestion of a dose of their own medicine.

When is a Kilt Not A Kilt?

Answer - When it's shorts.

A visiting American golfer was banned from playing Royal Troon in Ayrshire because he was wearing a kilt. Dr Jeffrey Foster, who is of Scots descent, played rounds at seven other championship courses, including Muirfield, Turnberry and St Andrews, without any problem with his attire, yet when he arrived at Royal Troon, he was told he would have to change into trousers to tee off.

Dr Foster said: "As a 13th-generation Scots-American I own 14 traditional kilts and often play golf here and in the US kilted. I intended playing every round in Scotland kilted, in honour of my heritage and homeland. I showed up properly kilted and was denied permission to play at a pre-arranged and pre-paid tee-time because there is a rule against men playing in shorts. The official record at Royal Troon equated my kilt to shorts." The American reluctantly dashed back to his hotel to change into trousers.

The club's information for visitors on its website states only that 'denim jeans, shorts, tee-shirts and training/sports shoes are not permitted in the clubhouse or on the courses'. Royal Troon needs to revise its website because it wasn't long ago I was at a function in that clubhouse and most of the male guests were kilted and none was asked to leave or change into trousers. I'll be delighted to furnish them with the date if they so wish and I'm sure I can dig out a few photographs for free.

source

Will Blair Care?

Her Majesty looks amused, possibly because she'll get the last laugh. It's said, within Royal circles that she's so annoyed about indiscretions revealed in Tony Blair's new book, she plans to withhold granting him an exclusive honour. The former Prime Minister was in line to be appointed to the Order of the Thistle, the highest Scottish honour. Leaders of Scottish descent are almost automatically given the honour after leaving office.

Considering Tony Blair has 'moved on' from the land of his birth, I doubt if he'll be too upset, but then again, such a title would open many more doors for him (and his divine wife Cherie of course), so perhaps he may feel slightly embarrassed.

The Queen's cousin, Lady Elizabeth Anson, said she was sure the 84-year-old monarch would be 'disappointed' at Blair's decision to breach Royal protocol by revealing personal conversations in the Queen's home. It's just etiquette in elite social circles and it's not etiquette in this house either, but then I'm particular as to whom is welcomed here. The Queen is not in a position to be choosy.

For Blair life is about fame and fortune and he's acquired both, by fair means or foul. The renowned Royal biographer Hugo Vikers said last night: "You know when the Queen respects a Prime Minister. She awarded Margaret Thatcher the Order of Merit as soon as she left office." Ouch. It's only three years since Blair resigned so I should think there's still time for her to bestow her gratitude. Wonder when Gordon Brown will called to Holyrood to receive his Order of the Thistle?

I hope the above information answers Leg Iron's question about the Queen's lack of action in connection with 'Tony the Teeth'. Beheading is not longer legal I believe and a Royal snub lasts a lifetime.

Update: According to Sky News Blair is reconsidering attending his book signing in central London after the protests in Dublin. Facing his accusers isn't his strong point is it?

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Is This the End of the Scottish Tories?

Isn't that a happy photograph? It was taken at last year's Scottish Conservatives conference. You'd think everything in the garden is rosy wouldn't you. But it isn't and it never will be again. The Tories made no gains in Scotland at the general election and even though Ms Goldie insists their share of the vote increased, it's of little interest to her boss.

In fact, he's so disinterested he hasn't spoken to her since the poor result. Some report the Scottish Tories have been 'cut adrift' by their London party as they've been shut out of all decision making roles and they are no longer invited to top-level strategy and policy meetings. Some of us will resist saying 'we told you so'.

All the London party is concerned with is power and when there's no power base there's nothing left to interest them.

Surely this is the Scottish Tories' chance to completely break away from their London bosses and branch out alone. Despite the many rumours that the Tories are dead in Scotland there are many who still vote for them. The Scottish Conservatives lost a considerable percentage o their voters to the SNP some years ago. Why? Because they insisted on taking their orders from London and therefore were unable to suggest policies which would benefit Scotland. There are also Tories who believe in independence for Scotland and, because their own party won't entertain the thought of it, they vote SNP.

If they reinvented themselves, decided upon policies which are relevant to Scotland and perhaps rethought their opposition towards independence or at least total fiscal autonomy -instead of supporting the Calman report which has little in the way of developing Scotland's future - then they could be a serious party once again.

Will they be courageous enough? Will they rid themselves of the old fogies who are stuck in an 80s time warp hoping that another Thatcher will appear on the scene? That will be their only saving grace, otherwise they will slip into oblivion. Their supporters will only tolerate a certain amount of neglect and stupidity for a certain amount of time. Some I know are beginning to have serious doubts about David Cameron already and that's not good news.

A decision must be made very soon or the next election will see much of their vote split between the SNP and the libdems. Maybe that needs to happen before they grasp that the writing on the wall is addressing them.

Afghanistan, Dannatt and Honesty

A British soldier from the Royal Scots Borders, 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, has been killed in an explosion if Afghanistan. He was serving as part of the Brigade Reconnaissance Force when killed by a last on Nad-e Ali District of Helmand.

This soldier was killed by a Rocket Propelled Grenade.

Another soldier, from the 2nd Battalion, Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, has died in the UK from injuries sustained in Afghanistan.

Now we have 333 of our military personnel killed in this war and 88 of those died this year. That doesn't mean the deaths of those in previous years are any less important but it does show the so-called strategy is non-existent as I've said before. Politicians are winging this war in the hope that all their lies, repeated on a daily basis, will be believed by their electorate. If oil wasn't connected with this country, and others in the middle east, we would never have been present.

As for the revelations in Sir Richard Dannatt's book, I'm angry - nay furious. If he felt that Blair and Brown weren't treating our armed services well then - after doing his upmost to improve the situation - he should have resigned. That would have been the biggest statement anyone in a position of power, be it military or political, could have made. Yet he continued in the post. Of course we know why, because he would have lost his extremely handsome pension if he hadn't hung on until his retiral. If he truly believed his men and women were being compromised then he should have spoken out. Told the truth. But he didn't.

That's part of the problem with the heirarchy of the military. Most of our armed forces work for far less than they would receive in a Civvie Street job, yet they're aware they are entitled to a reasonable pension, if they enlist long-term, upon retirement. If they resign then the pension is radically reduced.

That doesn't happen in the 'public' sector does it? Seems within councils if you're hopeless at a job then they'll pay you a fortune to get rid of you.

That apart, would Dannatt's resignation on a point of principle saved lives? Who knows - only those at the front line know the truth and I doubt many of them will be writing books which will be promoted in the MSM. Sometimes it's better to stick to the modern saying: Either put up or shut up. That can save lives.

Top of the Pops

Yesterday Scotland's biggest Highland Games took place in Braemar and it's estimated that around 15,000 attended the 160 year old Gathering. The Queen made her usual appearance much to the pleasure of the crowds.

I remember as a child being taken by my parents, all dressed in my Sunday Best and later, as a teenager I returned to Dundee and had a wonderful day there with old school friends. We finished the day in Dundee, dancing at the Palais if I remember correctly. What I do remember was the band and its leader.

He has such a distinctive style that any Scot would recognise his playing after the first few bars. Enjoy.

'That' Book Reviewed

'The Journey', possibly the most over-promoted book published this year, but Gordon's still has to hit the shelves so I could be wrong.

Thankfully I made the decision some time ago not to purchase the Labour-trilogy from Mandeleson, Blair and Brown, so my knowledge comes from reviewers of all political persuasions and none.

This morning two of what I consider are the best reviews are in today's Sundays. Iain MacWhirter and Gerald Warner provide the entertainment.

For Love and Money

Surely everyone must have some sympathy with the Chilean miners trapped thousands of feet underground, knowing their rescue will take some weeks if not months.

In their circumstances I'd be desperate to see the sky but, in recent days it has been said that if the 33 miners make it to the surface safely, some of them may end up wishing they'd stayed underground.

Officials at the camp where families have gathered say at least five miners' wives have encountered surprises mistresses. Ugly scenes have ensured over the compensation packages. One miners has a first wife he never divorced, a live-in partner, a mother of a child he had several years ago and a woman who says she's his current girlfriend. Quite an energetic chap by all accounts.

The wives, mistresses and ex-lovers are holding a vigil at the camp. The Red Cross say it's a logistical nightmare trying to keep them apart. Officials are considering asking the miners whom they would like to claim the compensation, although they are trying to avoid raising the men's stress levels by letting them know too much about the dramas happening above ground.

Goes to show there's always a price for love no matter what we're told.

Today's Non-Story

Pictured is Ben Peters of the 2nd Medical Regiment. In the south western press yesterday there was a headline 'Soldier who nursed meningitis-struck daughter is jailed for going AWOL'.

At first I thought how despicable of the army to behave so insensitively. I've good reason to think they can from experience of days gone by when compassionate leave was only allowed for next of kin and it usually involved a funeral or, on occasion, a very imminent death. Brothers and sisters, in those days, were not regarded as next of kin unless parents were dead. Military personnel advised the MoD of their next of kin and that is then placed on their record, a practice which still continues today.

Thankfully things have moved on from those days. After reading this article it would appear Ben Peters was given compassionate leave to return to the UK, from his base in Germany, to be with family after his five-week old daughter contracted the deadly meningitis virus.

Despite keeping the military informed, he was arrested on his return, demoted and given 30 days military detention and had two months wages stopped.

But the journalist has dug deeper. Ben took approved leave in April when his partner began to suffer from severe sciatica towards the end of her pregnancy. He then agreed two weeks paternity leave when his daughter was born in May, only to be posted AWOL when he failed to return to Germany after she contracted meningitis.

It would appear the army decided not to follow up that AWOL announcement as they granted him compassionate leave while the baby was in hospital suffering from meningitis. The baby pulled through and discharged after six days.

However Ben decided to ask for more days off to ensure he could attend the baby's follow-up appointments after she came out of hospital. This was refused.

He was again posted AWOL and arrested days later when he returned to base. His partner, the baby's mother, said she had had several conversations with the army in which she stressed their financial situation and complains the action the army has taken has affected the family and her marriage.

At first I thought the army were behaving without any compassion, but when I re-read the article I see Mr Peters has been given a considerable amount of time off, with pay, to attend to his pregnant partner and also help see the family through the baby's illness.

No matter how courageous he is on duty there's a limited time any employer can allow an employee to take for compassionate leave. It used to be three days for all circumstances. I've no idea if that has been extended but it would seem it has been under special circumstances.

While I understand Mr Peters concern for his daughter, once she was discharged from hospital, and with his medical knowledge and/or contacts, he should have been aware that he ought to return to work considering the amount of leave he had been granted already. He chose not to do so.

He knew the rules and it would seem he tried to extend them to suit his own situation. That's not the way it works in the military or any business. Everyone obeys the rules or the whole system falls apart.

source with thanks to Anna

Are You One of the 5.7 Million?

It is estimated that 5.7 million people have paid the wrong tax over the last two years. It's well know that our Revenue department is inefficient but the scale of these 'errors' is mind-blowing.

More than 4 million of us can expect an early Christmas present because they overpaid the taxman £1.8 billion. Another 1.4 million will be told they have paid too little, totalling £2 billion, although they will not be expected to make it up immediately.

Next week an estimated 30,000 people are expected to be the first to receive letters containing HM Revenue and Customs refund cheques. Initially only 15,000 will be warned they have paid too little and the Revenue, in order to claim the money, will adjust their tax codes from next April. How considerate of them. The remainder of the estimated 5.7 million people who have paid the wrong tax over the last two years are due to hear from the taxman by December.

The coalition government blame the last Labour government for making the tax system more complex and failing to reform PAYE over 13 years in power. They have started a consultation on reforming the PAYE system. We all know how effective that will be don't we.

Sources said the mistakes have been uncovered through use of a computer system which matches records automatically. Tax staff had to check Revenue and employers' records by hand to see if the right amounts were paid. Last month a highly critical report by the National Audit Office said that millions of workers had been left an estimated £3 billion out of pocket, which was blamed on a new computer system which issued wrong tax codes.

If you peruse government department accounts, you will know we spend vast sums of money on IT and yet, a generation later, these offices are no more capable of using or checking their software. I say let's go back to the old system of manual calculations and stop throwing money at IT companies who are unable to produce safe and appropriate programmes.

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Take Your Pick

Orwell's Picnic - Nothing to see here... move along...

Anna Raccoon - Poor Polly - Betrayed Again!

Missives from Doktorb - Stand Up and be Silenced

Calum Cashley - Labour and Alcohol

Police Inspector's Blog - Action Speak Louder Than Words in Ruralshire

The Ben Lomond Free Press - Calm

A Comfortable Retirement

Small logo for Scotland's largest council isn't it?

The Labour run Glasgow City Council has agreed to pay £13 million to 102 chiefs who have volunteered to retire early. A third of the most senior staff, who earn between £47,292 and £132,013 have applied to leave early and are to receive up to 30 weeks salary, depending on their length of service. As well as the payoff, they will receive up to an extra six and two-thirds years' worth of pension on their final salary pension schemes.

The council decided to fund the deal from property ales but the recession depressed the market. An arms-length company, City Property, was formed and borrowed the money from Barclays. It will pay back the funds over the next three years by selling property in the hope that prices recover.

Councillor Paul Rooney (Labour) said: "The Scottish government's budget will lead to unprecedented and brutal cuts right across the public sector but particularly in local government. We simply cannot sustain the number of staff we have".

Firstly, the SNP government must make it clear the cuts are the fault of the last Westminster Labour government. Secondly, why did Glasgow City Council have so many staff in the first place if they can afford to lose them at such a cost?

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The Worst Thing About The State.

It's nearly Always Wrong!

"The Scottish government has said alcohol should be sold at a minimum of 45p per unit. The SNP's minimum price plan, which is contained in its Alcohol Bill, is an attempt to reduce consumption. If agreed, the change would see a two-litre bottle of Tesco brand cider go from £1.32 to £3.80, while Asda whisky would rise from £9.20 to £12.60."

Create a society where poverty leaves the poor with only two things they can enjoy, thanks to the failure of education, injudicious breeding, mass immigration and so forth. You need draconian measures to keep the fall out contained. The cost of everything today is enormous, as we face years of declining living standards. The answer? More control and higher costs of the proletariats' "freedom" to choose how they spend their meager, tax infested, income.

Of course the politicians get to keep their subsidised booze, pole dancing perks et al. The fashion for hurting the majority, for the celebrity culture mimicry of the few, must be done, mustn't it? Now, let me see, how does the minimum pricing scam work for "recreational" drugs? Honestly, as if we don't have enough to pay for.

OldRightie

Today's Non-Story

A new study suggests that, when given a choice older people prefer to read negative news, rather than positive news, about young adults. In fact, older readers who chose to read negative stories about the young actually get a small boost in their self-esteem, according to the results.

Lead author of the study at Ohio State University, Professor Silvia Knobloch-Westerwick (what a mouthful) said younger people, who are less certain about their own identity, prefer to read about other younger people to see how they live their lives. Older people have greater certainty regarding their identity. The Professor conducted the study with Matthias Hastall of Zeppelin University Friedrichshafen in Germany.

Results showed that younger people showed no differences in self-esteem based on what they had read while the more that older people read negative stories about younger individuals, the higher the older person's level of self-esteem tended to be.

What a lot of erm... drivel, although it does make me wonder if a few hip flasks were involved the day the 98 older adults (aged 50 to 65) went to the computer laboratory for the test. You may be interested in 'destination amnesia' though. It often happens to me these days.

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Thank You Mr Haig, Thank You

Dear Mr Hague

I know you've been under intense pressure in the past 24 hours regarding your personal life but I would like to thank you for saving my sanity during that period. Your timing was perfect.

Yesterday a man published a book about himself and in the past week or so thought he'd spoken to everyone he surmised would be valuable to the success of his book launch. Yet you dominated the headlines. Excellent.

By yesterday evening you were still headlines and Channel 4 News' Labour leaders' debate drifted into oblivion (the only place for it). Again I thank you for saving me from the endless media analysis of the Not Famous Five.

Your sexuality doesn't interest me in the least but your capabilities as the country's Foreign Secretary do. In your position sharing a twin room with a male colleague was rather a silly thing to do, but people like me are forced to do it regularly, even with strangers. Only last year I was enrolled on a training course and arrived to find I was sharing a twin room with a total stranger - female of course. It could have spiced the weekend up a little if it had been some unknown male, but alas, I'll never know.

Now you've given your detailed response the matter should be laid to rest and you get on with the job which we pay you to do. Time to come up with some answers about the transfer of powers to the EU and to give us a vote on these. Time to clarify how the changes in the EU justice system will affect us. Lots of problems for you to resolve.

My sincere thanks once again.

Yours

Subrosa

PS May I suggest you buy a camper van for your personal use during campaigns? I know they're advertised as having room for two, but from experience the space is only enough for one plus a decent sized TV. Don't buy one if you're in the least claustrophobic.

So Topical

Hootsmon Headlines

Conan has his own large following, but for those of my readers who haven't seen any of his work then view the image. Conan's satirical headline 'Hootsmon Headlines' refers to the Scotsman - once upon a time the most powerful media in the east of Scotland and with more than a little influence in the west. He's a master of his art.

click to enlarge

If Music Be the Food of Love Play On

Not being a fan of Shakespeare - although my father tried hard to convince me of his throughout my childhood - sometimes his words do have resonance.

Fife council has taken the controversial step of cutting its music tuition budget by 25% and they intend to cut it another 25% next year. For those readers outwith Scotland, Fife council is run by the SNP. I'm saddened they are so short-sighted taking what they think is an easy option concerning cuts in their education budget.

A conservative councillor contacted the Courier to complain that targeting music is a bad move where the education of children is concerned. I would agree. Children must be offered subjects which involve interactivity with their peers, teach them team playing and also the responsibility of learning that effort does pay.

Naturally music isn't appropriate for all children to learn such skills, but sport and music are the main subjects in which children can learn so much. I was one who benefitted from Dundee's director of education's decision, back in the 1950s, to offer every child the opportunity to learn a musical instrument.

The decision to reduce expenditure on music reduces the value of our education system. Now it will be only for these children whose parents can afford to send their children to private lessons. Unfortunately private lessons do not provide many of the skills which lessons within the school environment provides, so often they alienate the child from their peers because, when education authorities reduce music budgets, the after school music classes are lost and they are vital to those who do take private lessons.

I would ask Fife council to reconsider, but of course it's too late. I would also suggest they spent less money on teaching children subjects which will be of little or no use in their adult lives, but I know I'm whistling in the wind.

It would appear Fife council are following the comprehensive agenda, educate our young for the state examinations and nothing else. What a tragedy for so many of our children. It's my understanding sport has also been cut back in recent years. Aye, Scotland's doing fine complying with an education curriculum which churns out robots.

There was a stooshie at a recent council meeting when the tory councillor wasn't allowed to speak his mind about the cut in music provision. The chair said 'the subject wasn't on the agenda'. Surely any committee agenda has AOB (Any Other Business) on it. If this committee didn't have AOB on their agenda then I find that most unprofessional because that's the opportunity for anyone to bring up matters which concern them. Shame on you Councillor Douglas Chapman. Your excuse has a distinct bad smell about it.

source

The Righteous Won't Like This

This is the chest X-ray of a person with bronchial cancer. According to Cancer Research 86% of lung cancer deaths are caused by smoking. One in three people develop cancer during their lives.

graph from cancer research

Note the number of breast and prostate cancers yet it's commonly thought that smokers, as Cancer Research publicise, are by far the largest group of lung cancer patients (where is the evidence?); thus putting excessive pressure on the NHS, not least through cost.

I'm sure those who think that smokers are the new lepers in society won't have been pleased with the front page of this week's Sunday Times. The newspaper has been passed on to me as I wouldn't give the Murdoch empire the time of day far less a penny.

As I can't provide a link I will type the article in full. It won't be good news for the anti-smoking Righteous who have the intense desire for smokers to be burnt at the stake but, at the same time, take their children to school in vehicles which have emissions which can cause serious bronchial problems in children. The same anti-smokers possibly use chemical sprays in their home which cause far worse problems that the occasional puff of smoke from someone smoking outside their home. After all, most smokers now smoke outside. I do. Not because I feel my smoking is a danger to anyone who visits me, but I am aware the smell of stale tobacco is unpleasant and also I've no wish to keep painting my home. We all know nicotine stains. So does bleach, Brasso, various kitchen and bathrooms cleaners, various car cleaners, yet smokers are the equivalent of the 'great unwashed'.

Here is the article:

New drug 'blocks' lung cancer

Smokers could be protected from lung cancer by taking a drug commonly used by diabetics, according to new scientific research.

The drug, metformin, appears to block the development of tumours. If proven, it would be the first drug capable of halting a smoking-related cancer before it takes hold, rather than treating it afterwards.

In theory, smokers could take it to cut their cancer risk - although it would not prevent smoking's many other health impacts.

Metformin's ability to block lung tuours has so far only been shown in animals and will have to be confirmed in humans. However, scientists say there is good evidence to suggest it could work.

In particular, there are already indications that smokers who take metformin for diabetes have a lower incidence of cancers.

"This wee-tolerated diabetes drug was able to prevent tobacco-carcinogen induced lung tumours," said Phillip Dennis, senior investigator in the medical oncology branch of the National Cancer Institute in America, at a recent conference.

His research will be formally published in the journal Cancer Prevention Research this week.

In Britain, which has 9.5m smokers, cigarettes are estimated to kill about 114,000 a year. About 43,000 of these die from smoking related cancers of which 25,000 are lung cancers.

In the research, Dennis treated mice with metformin for 13 weeks following exposure to the cancer causing agents found in tobacco smoke. They found the number of tumours in mice that had been given metformin by mouth fell by up to 50% and by injection 72%.

Such findings do not imply that smokers can escape ill health simply by taking a drug. Smoking also causes illnesses such as emphysema and cardiovascular problems. Metformin would not prevent these.

The Righteous will be so upset that money is being spent on research which has any connection to smoking. They never mention liver and kidney cancer of course because they're not yet on the agenda - that's for later when anyone who imbibes in a glass of two of anything alcoholic will become the new smokers. That, of course, will happen once all smokers have died from their habit.

How dare researchers spend good money on lung cancer tumours when most are self-inflicted? I can hear the indignation way up here in the north.

Today's Non-Story

I am not arachnophobic but it would seem the wife of an Essex man may have a problem with spiders.

She noticed one behind the lavatory in their home on Monday and called her husband. Not being able to reach it, the husband decided to kill it by spraying it with a can.

However, he was unable to see whether it was dead because the bulb in the bathroom light had blown, so he used a cigarette lighter to illuminate the room. The result? Auch surely you can guess. You're right. He ignited the gas fumes from the aerosol and caused an explosion. The blast was so strong it blew him off his feet and lifted the loft door off its hinges.

He suffered flash burns to his head, legs and torso and was rushed by ambulance to hospital after dousing himself with cold water by jumping in the shower.

A firefighter spokesman added, " We're not entirely sure whether the spider got away or not but there was no sign of it at the scene." (I like his style).

You'll be pleased to know the spider-catcher was released from hospital in the early hours of Tuesday morning after treatment. What I'd like to know is how did his wife see the creature if there was no light in the bathroom?

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The Return of the White Coats

It is 20 years since we were told our medics were to lose their white coats because patients, especially children, found the white-coated doctor intimidating.  The other reason was that the coats were unhygienic as they could spread infection - a statement I've never understood because today's doctors don't change their clothes between patient consultations, or have I missed something?

Now, in the true spirit of egalitarianism, patients are complaining that they can't tell a surgeon from a secretary and if doctors are indistinguishable they appear undistinguished.  That has really upset York Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and they are to introduce uniforms for doctors this autumn.  Guys and St Thomas' has made white coats mandatory for all junior doctors and medical students.  West middlesex launched its uniform in 2007.

The uniforms vary but all have short sleeves to comply with the national 'bare below the elbows' policy, a hygiene requirement to make it easier for staff to wash their hands.

The moved is welcomed by the medics as they will now have somewhere to keep their instruments of torture treatment.  Defenders of the garments said they had been maligned and the real reason they became unhygienic was the removal of hospital laundry facilities.

It would be interesting if the Scottish NHS piloted the wearing of white coats in one Scottish hospital to see if there is a noticeable reduction in hospital acquired infections.  Of course they would have to ensure laundry facilities were available and efficient.

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Dare Devils or Fools?

Greenpeace, on their website, have a picture of the Cairn exploration rig based off Greenland and 'shut down' written across it. Lots more propaganda about just how daring they were by evading the Danish navy and scaling the oil rig legs. 'Blimey this is exciting,' writes someone called Leila on board their ship.

It may be exciting to you Leila but your friends have committed a criminal act. There's nothing clever about hanging off the legs of an oil rig in your dry suits and safety gear, much of which will probably contain by-products of the very substance you detest- oil. I'm perfectly happy for you and your colleagues to put your lives on the line for your beliefs, indeed it's very noble of you, but as you bash out your propaganda on your laptop, in your expensive nylon kit and quite possibly cooking in Teflon coated pans, while cruising around in your fossil fueled luxury sailing craft, have you given one moment's thought to your hypocrisy?

Greenland's police spokesman, Morten Nielsen, said the activists are still on the rig and will be arrested. "When someone breaks the law - and it has happened here - the person or persons will be prosecuted," he stated from Nuuk, the capital of Greenland. The Greenland Premier Kuupik Kliest called Greenpeace's stunt an "openly illegal act" and a "gross violation" of safety rules.

"It is really worrying that Greenpeace uses all means to break the safety rules made to protect human lives and the environment in its quest for media coverage," said Kliest.

Throw the book at them Mr Neilsen. Dare devils or fools? Hypocritical fools.

source