Scargill

Archive for August, 2008

I have never in all my days of reading the local papers, read of such a horrendous scheme as that reported in the Newcastle Journal today, proposed by the police in Swarland near Alnwick – in which they propose that neighbours anonymously shop drivers they THINK are speeding talk about abdicating responsibilities!! The first thing that came to my mind when I read this, was the McCarthy era in the USA in which residents were encouraged to shop potential communists or even Russia under the thumb of the CCCP.

How on EARTH would someone who does not drive a car be able to accurately gauge whether or not a driver is speeding and does ANYONE really believe we have the self discipline NOT to shop those we dislike? Given the opportunity to anonymously and safely shop a speeder I’d imagine a healthy minority, perhaps the majority would use this as an opportunity to shop the fellow who persistently uses up their parking space or perhaps the neighbour who’s been rude… whatever happened to accountability?

There are many schemes for slowing down motorists, the much-hated speed bumps being a prime example, solar-powered warning signs being another this is NOT the solution and it will bring out the worst in people. This pathological hatred of motorists would not be so bad if our police were more successful with other types of crime like burglary. How about letting us bash the life out of burglars as many of us would love to do that’d be a more useful way of doing the law’s job.

If someone shops me on suspicion of breaking the law I want to know who they are so I can sue them when their accusations are proven false! This is not right.

If the names Paul Potts and Connie Talbot are old hat to you – stop reading. I couldn’t help but share this however…

Well, to cut a long story short, I must’ve been living on an alternative universe for the last year, because despite watching X-Factor occasionally, I’ve missed the “Britain’s got Talent” series which culminated in a variety show performance in front of the Queen.

The winner was a guy called Paul Potts… a mobile phone salesman who’d always wanted to do opera… stumbled on it this morning. When you see the video for the first minute you’ll think I’m barking mad for suggesting it might just reduce you to a knot in your throat– until you hear him and watch him perform. Watch the faces of the audience and the judges – absolutely blew me away. Here’s his first shot at the show…

Well, as happens – once you look at something in YouTube you have to have a look at the rest… and the runner up in 2007 next to this staggeringly talented gentleman – is a 6 year old called Connie Talbot. I didn’t think it was possible to get excited about TWO artists in one day… but amazingly – well, judge for yourself – and remember SIX years old…