Yearly Archives: 2008
Rant: Spare Capacity – a concept of the past?
While driving home on the M4 a couple of weeks ago, I heard a story on the radio that the department of transport is extending use of the hard shoulder to more motorways up and down the UK, in an attempt to reduce congestion.
A week later the news reported that an increasing number of prisoners are now being released, earlier than expected in an effort to reduce overcrowding. An recently, the Ministry of Justice reported that the prison population in England and Wales has exceeded its highest normal level for the first time.
+18US Primaries – Harmless or Dangerous?
On my way into work this week, I was listening to an interview on Radio 4.
The interviewee was talking about the US primary candidate elections and was singing the praises of the US system for it’s ability to make politics “Exciting to the masses”. he even favoured the idea of a similar system in the UK, which he felt might re-engage people in the political process.
Hmmm….
Last night I was sitting at home, watching an interesting political performance…
+23So Long GLA
It’s been interesting, but my time back in the smoke is over (at least for now).
I’ll shortly be starting work in Slough (nowhere near as nice but a lot closer and cheaper to get to) and I just hope the traffic wont drive me too mad.
Farewell web team – it was nice working with you.
+12NEWSFLASH: Machines join Humans for Sickie Day
Following yesterday’s National Sickie Day where an estimated 300,000 people in the UK skived off work, it seems that today the machines are following suit.
My train into London was delayed this morning due to signal failure. When I finally reached London Waterloo, I discovered that a power failure on the Jubilee line had created the usual tube chaos.
In desperation, I fought my way through the throngs to the Bakerloo line, only to be delayed there due to some unspecified problem or other, for 20 minutes. Eventually I switched back to the Northern line to be told that passenger congestion at bank station (caused by ongoing escalator problems) meant I was delayed further.
+23Rant: British Gas (it’s all cash! cash! cash!)
Friday’s announcement that British Gas is increasing it’s prices by 15% would have been a bit easier to swallow, if it wasn’t for the increase in February 2007, the 12.4% increase in September 2006 and the 14% increase in 2005.
This represents an overall increase of 61% in the last 3 years, with a 37% increase in the last year alone.
+20Happy New Year(?)
Well – that’s 2007 done and dusted. A mixed year for us and many of my friends have said the same.
A few high moments, mixed with a fair number of lows, with a large dollop of indifference and daily grind/slog (especially in the 2nd half of the year).
Meanwhile there are a few ominous rumblings for 2008. The fallout from the Northern Rock fiasco and the impact of the credit crunch both continue to make headlines, as the one or two of the better known high street stores such as Marks and Sparks report some fairly bleak results as shoppers begin to half-heartedly attempt to rein in their spending.
+13