This is about the Competition Act 1998 .
It has several very good parts to it - no cartels , no agreements to not compete in regions etc- which are excellent.
Unfortunately there are a few bits that aren't *quite* so nifty.
It is against the law now, for instance, that different prices can be offered for the same product. This means that it is against the law for price haggling , in say a car boot sale---- and the seller could be fined up to 10% of his turnover !
Or a company negotiating rents on a building , now cannot negotiate !
The above may or may not be true - its certainly down in black and white, but I have complained to the OFT about this one as it affects me .
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
Monday, January 24, 2005
Iran Now ?
The papers yesterday mentioned in passing that the war against Iran had already started . Presumably covert stuff or plans .
Its to be hoped that Iran doesnt get Dubya therapy or if it does that the UK stands aside- the world cannot cope with another adventure - its gonna get seriously anti USA .
I can't bring myself to condemn Iran for trying to get some serious ordnance- witness USA treatment of N.Korea and also Israel having a little something aside 'just in case' as it were.
If Israel were to disarm, then that would create a huge peace push for the Middle East. It wont happen , but one can dream !
Its to be hoped that Iran doesnt get Dubya therapy or if it does that the UK stands aside- the world cannot cope with another adventure - its gonna get seriously anti USA .
I can't bring myself to condemn Iran for trying to get some serious ordnance- witness USA treatment of N.Korea and also Israel having a little something aside 'just in case' as it were.
If Israel were to disarm, then that would create a huge peace push for the Middle East. It wont happen , but one can dream !
Thursday, January 20, 2005
Einstein and all that
Cor its Einsteins special aniversary year [relatively speaking].
One thing the papers seem to have latched onto [a tad anyway] is his idea that big bang couldnt have occurred- sort of showing him not to be as bright as he was.
Anyway in deference to my hero- here's my twopennorth- an Einstein vindication...........
Hawking says that time stops when a black hole exists and in his book says that before Big Bang there was nothing. He then goes to show properties of existing black holes in the Universe. Ergo time can exist before Big Bang.
If we use Occams razor and assume certain laws of thermodynamics exist then we can examine prior to that time intellectually.
Lets start with 1. 'matter/energy ' cannot be created or destroyed --- fairly controversial and also because it makes life easier but is not strictly necessary----- 2. The Universe started.
Item 2 is not reall needed but does make it soooo much nicer.
From 2 - the energy level of the Universe must be zero , ie before it started the energy must have been zero.
From NOT 2 - Occams razor..... a zero energy level is so much easier to go back infinitely in time than a positive [or negative ] one .
So far so easy , but thiss flows from the above [ no maths so read on]
Thus the energy of the Universe is Zero at this present time.
Thereby negative energy must exist
matter exists which is a complicated form of energy [ note we know matter is made up from protons/quarks /+ ? hence statement is true]
Matter must have been formed in the past ...... and must be being created now.
Anti matter must have been formed in the past .... and must be created now.
The fact that the Universe is nearly empty implies its not a too common event.
If a lump of space suddenly gets 2 particles, 1 positive the other negative with negative gravity between them, most gets zapped instantly. This would create a maelstrom in the Universe a huge storm doing absolutely NOTHING. However if a certain confirguration occurred in this creation/destruction where the force separating them were so strong that they flew apart quicker than they could be destroyed, we have a method of creating matter.
Thus all matter can be thought of being made of only 2 building blocks each the negative of the other - its simple to think of. Different particles could have different numbers of negative particles . It would probably create some weird properties very close to a block when the negatives may start to pull their weight [as it were].
Anyway, we can now start to build the Universes - they must be pairs [at least virtually- although the one being compressed into the centre may impede the outer one forming].
Without doing maths its difficult to know what happens next- one of 2 things :
1. Then centre block gets bigger and bigger with the negative gravity around it forcing it denser and denser till the blocks just collapse on themselves due to pressure- this would wipe out a significant amount of volume which could cause a huge explosion- Big Bang or
2. More than one positive Universe forms of course and they are atttracted together.
These are HUGE things [about the mass of the Universe ] and when they finally met they would be going at relatively HUGE velocities. Its the sort of thing you dont want to be near when they hit - Would create a HUGE Bang.
When whichever happened - its interesting to note that at the centre of the explosion over time would become a rather large lump of negative energy/mass
Anyway if true ,Einstein would be vindicated.
If true the following predictions would apply.
1.There is absolutely no point in trying to measure the mass of the Universe because its changing - although trying to measure it for other purposes......
2. There is more than one Universe - just statistics.
3. The centre of the Univese is a white hole.
4. The Universe can not end up as pre- big bang lump.
5. Anti gravity exists
6. Quarks are not the smallest entity.
7. Using these negative particles could create some WEIRD+ futuristic industries
8. The speed of light might not be a limit [using 7]
9. To start with anyway the rate of expansion of the Universe could be accelerating - due to the accelerating force from the white hole. We could aslo be getting pulled towards another Univese of course.......
You can comment/email of you want :)
One thing the papers seem to have latched onto [a tad anyway] is his idea that big bang couldnt have occurred- sort of showing him not to be as bright as he was.
Anyway in deference to my hero- here's my twopennorth- an Einstein vindication...........
Hawking says that time stops when a black hole exists and in his book says that before Big Bang there was nothing. He then goes to show properties of existing black holes in the Universe. Ergo time can exist before Big Bang.
If we use Occams razor and assume certain laws of thermodynamics exist then we can examine prior to that time intellectually.
Lets start with 1. 'matter/energy ' cannot be created or destroyed --- fairly controversial and also because it makes life easier but is not strictly necessary----- 2. The Universe started.
Item 2 is not reall needed but does make it soooo much nicer.
From 2 - the energy level of the Universe must be zero , ie before it started the energy must have been zero.
From NOT 2 - Occams razor..... a zero energy level is so much easier to go back infinitely in time than a positive [or negative ] one .
So far so easy , but thiss flows from the above [ no maths so read on]
Thus the energy of the Universe is Zero at this present time.
Thereby negative energy must exist
matter exists which is a complicated form of energy [ note we know matter is made up from protons/quarks /+ ? hence statement is true]
Matter must have been formed in the past ...... and must be being created now.
Anti matter must have been formed in the past .... and must be created now.
The fact that the Universe is nearly empty implies its not a too common event.
If a lump of space suddenly gets 2 particles, 1 positive the other negative with negative gravity between them, most gets zapped instantly. This would create a maelstrom in the Universe a huge storm doing absolutely NOTHING. However if a certain confirguration occurred in this creation/destruction where the force separating them were so strong that they flew apart quicker than they could be destroyed, we have a method of creating matter.
Thus all matter can be thought of being made of only 2 building blocks each the negative of the other - its simple to think of. Different particles could have different numbers of negative particles . It would probably create some weird properties very close to a block when the negatives may start to pull their weight [as it were].
Anyway, we can now start to build the Universes - they must be pairs [at least virtually- although the one being compressed into the centre may impede the outer one forming].
Without doing maths its difficult to know what happens next- one of 2 things :
1. Then centre block gets bigger and bigger with the negative gravity around it forcing it denser and denser till the blocks just collapse on themselves due to pressure- this would wipe out a significant amount of volume which could cause a huge explosion- Big Bang or
2. More than one positive Universe forms of course and they are atttracted together.
These are HUGE things [about the mass of the Universe ] and when they finally met they would be going at relatively HUGE velocities. Its the sort of thing you dont want to be near when they hit - Would create a HUGE Bang.
When whichever happened - its interesting to note that at the centre of the explosion over time would become a rather large lump of negative energy/mass
Anyway if true ,Einstein would be vindicated.
If true the following predictions would apply.
1.There is absolutely no point in trying to measure the mass of the Universe because its changing - although trying to measure it for other purposes......
2. There is more than one Universe - just statistics.
3. The centre of the Univese is a white hole.
4. The Universe can not end up as pre- big bang lump.
5. Anti gravity exists
6. Quarks are not the smallest entity.
7. Using these negative particles could create some WEIRD+ futuristic industries
8. The speed of light might not be a limit [using 7]
9. To start with anyway the rate of expansion of the Universe could be accelerating - due to the accelerating force from the white hole. We could aslo be getting pulled towards another Univese of course.......
You can comment/email of you want :)
Monday, January 17, 2005
gordon brown's Miracle
I dont know how he does it, but he pulls the wool over journalists' eyes so easily.
He's managed to do this one for years and I keep reading about his Golden Rule and whether he is gonna keep to it that its really laughable.
I apologise for not drawing a graph to illustrate this joke, but it is quite easy to see without going into heavy maths.
He states that over a 6 year period [ish - its meant to be vague so he can fudge -- but that's another story] that he'll only nick enough of our money to pay for investment and will not nick our money to get the government into more debt.
That said he has a minor fudge cos he says that he wont borrow more than 40% of our GDP - ie the rule is worthless on that front .......
Anyway what did he do ?
At the start of his 'ship he stuck to the Tories spending plans , this kept borrowing down for about 5 years ? and enabled him to pay back debts.
Thus hes quids in at this point........
Then he decided to stick to his promise , ie to spend up to his limit. Fair enough and everyone knows about this - and is the cause of all the discussion.
As he has been accelerating his spending up to now---- assume he is gonna hit his 'golden rule'----- he is going to start the next with spending as at present by definition--- but his rate of spending is increased by his curmudgeonly act at the start , thus its well out of control before he starts .
[ It is awkward to know what he'll do with this problem. My guess is he'll borrow up to 40% of GDP, but also borrow loads more from business 'off the books'
In case you don't know what that means - its another wrinkle he uses a lot- a company pays you to build/run a facility - say a hospital- say £100M to build it. Then they charge the government say £25M/year for 25 years as it's share of the cost. Result ? the government saves £100M of course in borrowings. End result ? one more term of office for Labour . Bless :)
]
No journalist/media guy has looked at the next cycle and what it means cos Brown has managed to keep the debate about this year's spending only.
How does he do it ? The man's a flipping genius in subterfuge ! and he doesnt care neither about the consequences
IT IS VERY WORRYING .....
He's managed to do this one for years and I keep reading about his Golden Rule and whether he is gonna keep to it that its really laughable.
I apologise for not drawing a graph to illustrate this joke, but it is quite easy to see without going into heavy maths.
He states that over a 6 year period [ish - its meant to be vague so he can fudge -- but that's another story] that he'll only nick enough of our money to pay for investment and will not nick our money to get the government into more debt.
That said he has a minor fudge cos he says that he wont borrow more than 40% of our GDP - ie the rule is worthless on that front .......
Anyway what did he do ?
At the start of his 'ship he stuck to the Tories spending plans , this kept borrowing down for about 5 years ? and enabled him to pay back debts.
Thus hes quids in at this point........
Then he decided to stick to his promise , ie to spend up to his limit. Fair enough and everyone knows about this - and is the cause of all the discussion.
As he has been accelerating his spending up to now---- assume he is gonna hit his 'golden rule'----- he is going to start the next with spending as at present by definition--- but his rate of spending is increased by his curmudgeonly act at the start , thus its well out of control before he starts .
[ It is awkward to know what he'll do with this problem. My guess is he'll borrow up to 40% of GDP, but also borrow loads more from business 'off the books'
In case you don't know what that means - its another wrinkle he uses a lot- a company pays you to build/run a facility - say a hospital- say £100M to build it. Then they charge the government say £25M/year for 25 years as it's share of the cost. Result ? the government saves £100M of course in borrowings. End result ? one more term of office for Labour . Bless :)
]
No journalist/media guy has looked at the next cycle and what it means cos Brown has managed to keep the debate about this year's spending only.
How does he do it ? The man's a flipping genius in subterfuge ! and he doesnt care neither about the consequences
IT IS VERY WORRYING .....
Thursday, January 13, 2005
microwaves + phones again?
http://www.emfacts.com/papers/russia.html
The above article syas bundles about microwave [and other EMF] radiation- its noot exactly new , but has been around for 60 years- showing that some parts of the spectrum causes death.
Russia has limits far below those of the West as it found that low levels addles the brain [ see latest health topic scare re mobile phones......
I feel that enough has been said on this topic and that the governments should get together and ban EMF usuage in the water heating part of the spectrum say 30- 300,000 MHz- with a special exemption for certain military uses .
Come on idiots- [aka journalists] please take up the shock horror probe banner and get this problem noticed before the world goes pottier than it is already.
http://www.emfacts.com/wlans.html also gives more info if you are interested...
The above article syas bundles about microwave [and other EMF] radiation- its noot exactly new , but has been around for 60 years- showing that some parts of the spectrum causes death.
Russia has limits far below those of the West as it found that low levels addles the brain [ see latest health topic scare re mobile phones......
I feel that enough has been said on this topic and that the governments should get together and ban EMF usuage in the water heating part of the spectrum say 30- 300,000 MHz- with a special exemption for certain military uses .
Come on idiots- [aka journalists] please take up the shock horror probe banner and get this problem noticed before the world goes pottier than it is already.
http://www.emfacts.com/wlans.html also gives more info if you are interested...
Friday, January 07, 2005
Aids in S africa needs aid
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4152595.stm
This isnt quite the news story I was looking for but its near enough IMO[read it yesterday but cant find it now].
Apart from the obvious- someone died and dad says it is natural....
People say that death was fromTB or pneumonia [ I know the article only says TB- but they cite as cause of death the actual reason usually and pneumonia is a major factor - remember AIDS doesnt *actually* kill ]. Then it goes on to say that the wife died of pneumonia last year ....
Also and most alarmingly was the little throwaway statistic of 5,0000,000 people out of 45,000,000 have the disease - over 10% of the population ! --- and the guy in charge still refuses to believe it exists ??????????
This isnt quite the news story I was looking for but its near enough IMO[read it yesterday but cant find it now].
Apart from the obvious- someone died and dad says it is natural....
People say that death was fromTB or pneumonia [ I know the article only says TB- but they cite as cause of death the actual reason usually and pneumonia is a major factor - remember AIDS doesnt *actually* kill ]. Then it goes on to say that the wife died of pneumonia last year ....
Also and most alarmingly was the little throwaway statistic of 5,0000,000 people out of 45,000,000 have the disease - over 10% of the population ! --- and the guy in charge still refuses to believe it exists ??????????
Saturday, January 01, 2005
Monday, December 27, 2004
Pres W Bush is an intellectual - proof - he reads books
http://www.alfrankenweb.com/rollingstone.html
The above is just one of many links to this item about Dubyer.....
He was asked which was his favourite children's book and replied 'the very fat caterpillar'.
Unfortunately he was at least 26 when he could have read it for the first time [published in 68? ].
So Dubyer still reads books folks ! Maybe there's hope for USA yet ?
The above is just one of many links to this item about Dubyer.....
He was asked which was his favourite children's book and replied 'the very fat caterpillar'.
Unfortunately he was at least 26 when he could have read it for the first time [published in 68? ].
So Dubyer still reads books folks ! Maybe there's hope for USA yet ?
Wednesday, December 22, 2004
EU Fishing Limits
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/041222/325/f90v2.html
THe EU is to stop fishing bans and is instead to order all depleted caught fish stocks to be returned dead back to the sea , along with any undersized fish .
And we voted to join this club ?!
The UK said we won the debate as well, so we're getting into this madness.....
The good news about this is that the prawn,lobster and other shellfish stocks will rise rapidly with the demise of cod and haddock, so all is well really [ I hate cod , but do like prawns]
THe EU is to stop fishing bans and is instead to order all depleted caught fish stocks to be returned dead back to the sea , along with any undersized fish .
And we voted to join this club ?!
The UK said we won the debate as well, so we're getting into this madness.....
The good news about this is that the prawn,lobster and other shellfish stocks will rise rapidly with the demise of cod and haddock, so all is well really [ I hate cod , but do like prawns]
Tuesday, December 21, 2004
the holy city of..........
No links on this one, just an observation.
Have you ever noticed that in UK News [but probably others also ] that when a foreign city is mentioned that has a famous shrine or some such stuff, the news ALWAYS says its 'the holy city of ' [Najaf- was the one I've just heard on the radio ]
The media manipulate us in very subtle ways..............
Have you ever noticed that in UK News [but probably others also ] that when a foreign city is mentioned that has a famous shrine or some such stuff, the news ALWAYS says its 'the holy city of ' [Najaf- was the one I've just heard on the radio ]
The media manipulate us in very subtle ways..............
Saturday, December 18, 2004
child bribery
Click on the underlined above for story [ well its sort of relevant ]....
Basically , I was wondering why we bribe children, presumably its a worldwide phenomenon, not just Western ?
We have Santa Claus who gives kids LOADS of prezzies, tooth fairies . Why ?
Surely we should be teaching kids that they shouldnt lie, but all they get from day1 is 'Santa's coming soon , listen for those sleighbells ! '
Strange isn't it ?
Anyway thats me just being topical ! :)
Basically , I was wondering why we bribe children, presumably its a worldwide phenomenon, not just Western ?
We have Santa Claus who gives kids LOADS of prezzies, tooth fairies . Why ?
Surely we should be teaching kids that they shouldnt lie, but all they get from day1 is 'Santa's coming soon , listen for those sleighbells ! '
Strange isn't it ?
Anyway thats me just being topical ! :)
Wednesday, December 01, 2004
dopes for dopes
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/041201/325/f7oxa.html
2 posts in a day ! Unheard of....
See above article.
I'm afraid to say that I know 3 guys who have been heavy smokers for years. [wrecked most waking hours]. Of which 2 are slightly psychotic, and the third is certainly not as spry mentally as he was.
I concur with the experts maybe on this- but its like any drug, it can be over- abused !
2 posts in a day ! Unheard of....
See above article.
I'm afraid to say that I know 3 guys who have been heavy smokers for years. [wrecked most waking hours]. Of which 2 are slightly psychotic, and the third is certainly not as spry mentally as he was.
I concur with the experts maybe on this- but its like any drug, it can be over- abused !
corruption in uk Government ?
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/041201/325/f7og2.html
1. So a senior UK Politician gave his girlfriend a rail ticket from monies allocated purely to MPs' wives ? Wow, does that mean there are still loads of subtle ways to ensure MPs are married and not just living together ? Throwback to pre 60s......... Can't say I'm impressed with this scandal , especially when he repaid the money immediately once someone queried it . I am assuming that this info was found out when every MP recently published their expense accounts , so it couldnt really be hidden anyway .
2. So a senior UK politician got his girlfriend a fast track visa , then denied it.
Think if I was the Home Affairs MP and my girlfriend had a problem , I would fast track it as well. NUff Said.... ???? Doesn't hurt anyone and albeit corruption[but no cash] , its on such an innocent scale that it should be a case of 'who cares ?'
1. So a senior UK Politician gave his girlfriend a rail ticket from monies allocated purely to MPs' wives ? Wow, does that mean there are still loads of subtle ways to ensure MPs are married and not just living together ? Throwback to pre 60s......... Can't say I'm impressed with this scandal , especially when he repaid the money immediately once someone queried it . I am assuming that this info was found out when every MP recently published their expense accounts , so it couldnt really be hidden anyway .
2. So a senior UK politician got his girlfriend a fast track visa , then denied it.
Think if I was the Home Affairs MP and my girlfriend had a problem , I would fast track it as well. NUff Said.... ???? Doesn't hurt anyone and albeit corruption[but no cash] , its on such an innocent scale that it should be a case of 'who cares ?'
However ....
he denied it.
The party machine then goes into action
The visa was approved in 19 days- fact.
Government spin today is .... "at the time it was quite possible that the application could have been authorised within just a few weeks " [may not be exact quote - the 'few weeks ' is tho ]
19 days is , 'just a few weeks' , but it seems to be stretching the grammar to almost breaking point IMO--- sort of typical Labour Govt.
Blunkett is, IMO , honest and shouldn't have listened to his peers about this one. he should resign for lying
Monday, November 29, 2004
chernobyl children
Just came across this story, the headline stuff is terrible. Click on the title above for story ...
On the surface of the story is the statistic that 80% of the kids are ill and that a couple of weeks away from the area transforms them [ this article doesnt really say, but google a few more and it does] .
Any other place where 4/5 of the young population of the area were ill , the world would be in uproar and pledging shedloads of dosh and humanitarian aid, here all we seem to be doing is giving some kids a break from the radiation !
I was unsure previous to this about whether I was in favour of nuclear power as I know the safety audits that go on in a reactor's design - a friend was employed on a Hazop for one - but the consequences of failure are evident here and not just in your head.
The problem is low levels or radiation for extended periods certainly do you in , and that's official ?
The report stated that a 16 year old child in Belarus has the cells of a 65 year old .
Why is some News sort of buried like the above and other bits overexposed ?!
On the surface of the story is the statistic that 80% of the kids are ill and that a couple of weeks away from the area transforms them [ this article doesnt really say, but google a few more and it does] .
Any other place where 4/5 of the young population of the area were ill , the world would be in uproar and pledging shedloads of dosh and humanitarian aid, here all we seem to be doing is giving some kids a break from the radiation !
I was unsure previous to this about whether I was in favour of nuclear power as I know the safety audits that go on in a reactor's design - a friend was employed on a Hazop for one - but the consequences of failure are evident here and not just in your head.
The problem is low levels or radiation for extended periods certainly do you in , and that's official ?
The report stated that a 16 year old child in Belarus has the cells of a 65 year old .
Why is some News sort of buried like the above and other bits overexposed ?!
Wednesday, November 17, 2004
corruption in low places ?
ok - got a new job ! well as well as my old one - pin money is always welcome as they say ......
Anyway this new job involves listening to what people say ..........
Remember im from Europe, so this might sound strange to some...........
This is gossip, but first hand [ I ignore 2nd hand stuff - it gets soooooo distorted ] --- pleas e note i am trying to not distort it !
Its from a guy, nowt special , who has a shitty job refilling printer cartridges, and looks it [ inked fingers at home]
Anyway he states that the company is on a grant and when the grant guys come around [ he didnt say how frequently ] - they get an agency to give em temps so when they are counted they up the level of grant that is 'granted ' .
It reminds me of of the problem with foot nad moyuth disease a few years ago ---- it was exacorbated by moving sheep around farms to get a maximum grant - sort of gets to you that the EU aint 'quite' what it should be , dont it ----- and remember that the auditors of the EU accounts have never in the last 10 years said they are happy with the accounts of the EU !!!!!
Anyway this new job involves listening to what people say ..........
Remember im from Europe, so this might sound strange to some...........
This is gossip, but first hand [ I ignore 2nd hand stuff - it gets soooooo distorted ] --- pleas e note i am trying to not distort it !
Its from a guy, nowt special , who has a shitty job refilling printer cartridges, and looks it [ inked fingers at home]
Anyway he states that the company is on a grant and when the grant guys come around [ he didnt say how frequently ] - they get an agency to give em temps so when they are counted they up the level of grant that is 'granted ' .
It reminds me of of the problem with foot nad moyuth disease a few years ago ---- it was exacorbated by moving sheep around farms to get a maximum grant - sort of gets to you that the EU aint 'quite' what it should be , dont it ----- and remember that the auditors of the EU accounts have never in the last 10 years said they are happy with the accounts of the EU !!!!!
Tuesday, November 09, 2004
fallujah
Um, sort of dont know how to say this.......
Fallujah is a city , thats an oversized town. Oversized that is, cos its got more people in it than a town.
US forces are reported to be bombing , strafing and otherwise dismantling this big village.
Why are there no reports about the number of civilian deaths ? These must number 1000's , but no media coverage.
The US is getting desperate , lets hope it can cope . I agree that the only settlement is to pull all foreign troops out of Iraq, but this action ? is it going to help.......?
Fallujah is a city , thats an oversized town. Oversized that is, cos its got more people in it than a town.
US forces are reported to be bombing , strafing and otherwise dismantling this big village.
Why are there no reports about the number of civilian deaths ? These must number 1000's , but no media coverage.
The US is getting desperate , lets hope it can cope . I agree that the only settlement is to pull all foreign troops out of Iraq, but this action ? is it going to help.......?
Monday, November 08, 2004
you heard it here first arafat dying of liver failure
ok it was obvious, but see last posting predicting this - well 50-50 chance id put it at with kidney failure the other shot .
Not difficult , Im sorry to say
Not difficult , Im sorry to say
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