Current Affairs

UK Top the Leagues again!

This last week in the world has been a 'good' one for the UK, for yet again we have topped a league in Europe. Now usually this is something to be proud of but, yet again it is one of those leagues that would have been better if we had been near the bottom.
Yes ladies and gentlemen it is official the UK are now the tops at...

Wasting Energy! That's right we are the most energy inefficient country in Europe, for a government who has set itself such high energy targets, it's a slap in the face. But for us Brits it's just the way we have been brought up, we have never really educated our kids on energy efficiency. Things like not leaving appliances on stand-by, turning the water off in between brushing of your teeth, are all things we can do but don't bother doing so, or we just don't think about doing so.

Some research has been done lately, and it suggests that if we turn off the appliances that are left in standby in our homes, such as TV's, DVD's, Microwaves, Cookers etc. We could all save an average of £40 ($75) a year on our electricity bills. Doesn't sound a lot does it? But think what £40 could have paid for, a few days shopping, a meal out, treats for the kids, and it proves that a simple thing such as switching off can help.

The government doesn't really help though, they have no incentives to people saving energy this way, in the UK energy efficient lightbulbs are probably in the region of 4 times the purchase price of normal lightbulbs. I would love to use them, but begrudge paying out the price of them. Make them a lot cheaper and the amount of people buying them would increase. Companies have seen the benefit of them and are already starting to use them as standard, as in the long run they work out cheaper.

So what do we do to improve the situation? Well better educating our kids is a start. Getting into new habits is another, I mean if you are only having one cup of tea/coffee why fill the kettle right up? It takes longer to boil, and it uses more energy. Why have the TV on standby, when you aren't even in the house to watch it? Same goes with the DVD and the PC? Monitors on a PC always revert to standby, we now turn ours off, can't wait to see our next bill!

So there you have it the UK is the tops when it comes to energy wastage, but strangely we are the best at not turning the heating up, we would rather pull on a sweater!

So what are the other things we in the UK are top of the league for?

Childhood Obesity, Teenage Pregnancy are two, and I will research some more for the others.

Teaching Assistant Loses Her Case

If you recall the weekly question, I asked about the wearing of the veil, and spoke of a Muslim Teaching assistant who was taking her employer to court on a number of issues. Well I am pleased to say that common sense has won through. Her case has been dismissed in the most part by the court.

She lost her discrimination case on two counts, heharassmentnt case on one count, buunfortunatelyey won her victimisation case, on one count, and was awarded £1100 ($1850) based on having her feelings hurt. That is what got to me, so here is my plan, I am going to come into work and declare that I have started a new religion, the "Church of the Holy Bandanna", which means I can only wear a bandanna to cover my privates. When I am either sacked or told to put on clothes I will go to the courts claiming vicitmisation against my religion, and hurt feelings. Should be worth it for a few grand!

The worst thing is she is appealing and trying to take her case to the European courts of Justice as a Human Rights case, which potentially is going to cost the UK £1m in costs. My view is if she wants to wear a veil that badly, go to a country that has women wearing them all the time!

Football Again

Got to do it again, another mention in the Current Affairs section on my team Lincoln City. Just when I thought it couldn't get any better, after the fantastic 5-0 away win at the home of Barnet FC. Lincoln City played a home game against Rochdale, now in the past Rochdale had been our bogey team, which means we never really did any good against them, until Saturday 21st October 2006 that is!

Rochdale came to Sincil Bank, six games unbeaten, they wouldn't make it seven. But Lincoln would! That's right folks the score was;

Lincoln City 7 Rochdale 1

Twelve goals in two games, and Jamie Forrester bagging two hat-tricks (3 goals) in successive games. Lovely Jubbly, I will write a report when I get the chance to do so.