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The diaTribe blog is our occasional take on life, the universe and everything. Observations on current affairs, the environment, politics, humour and music/gig reviews. Travel diary and extreme sports stories, along with the usual rants/raves are also chucked in for good measure.

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Stop ISP snooping! Oppose Phorm

Stop PHORM!

If they have their way all your web browsing history will be collected and sold to the highest bidder.

Fight back!

Technology at it's most pointless
Aug07

Employee Benefits on a new scale.

Cannabis

Judging by today’s police raid on a cannabis factory in Nottinghamshire, the union of illegal drug producers has scored some major concessions recently.

The ex-chicken factory apparently had separate rooms for staff quarters – each with their own flat screen TV. There was even a fully equipped gym!

All they needed was a profit-sharing scheme, a couple of team building junkets and an annual BBQ (complete with bouncy castle for the kids) and they would have been the envy of downtrodden workers throughout the country!

Maybe I need to negotiate extra benefits when my contract comes up for renewal.cool

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2 Comments
Aug06

British businesses (specialising in being naff)

Heathrow Baggage Reclaim

Yesterday, I had a light-hearted dig at a number of American chainstore franchises, which I think are pretty naff. A possibly-American reader, identifying himself only as “Dave”, took slight exception to this and pointed out that on this side of the pond, we aren’t much better.

While Dave seems to have missed the joke (that Australians occasionally have surprisingly good taste – honestly, it’s no fun if you have to *explain* it!) he’s absolutely right.

… more »

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3 Comments
Aug05

News Flash! Aussies have some good taste!

Starbucks - Brisbane, Australia

Why do Australians call XXXX ‘four-X’? Cos they can’t spell “Koala p*ss”.

What’s the definition of Australian Foreplay? “You awake Sheila?”.

(I’m stopping there before I get lots of hate mail, full of sheep jokes) wink

… more »

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4 Comments
Aug01

Rant: British Gas – Adding insult to injury

Light Bulb

I’d like to think this could only in the UK, but I suspect that’s not true…

Yesterday, I reported on how Centrica / British Gas had jacked up it’s prices by 35%, less than 24 hours after it revealed it made almost a billion quid operating profit in 6 months.

Unbelievably, when I got home this evening there was a package from British Gas sitting on my doorstep. The package contained…wait for it…four long-life light bulbs, and a booklet containing energy saving tips (which were mostly straight out the the bleeding-obvious manual).

… more »

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2 Comments
Jul31

Rant: British Gas at it again!

Gas Flames

Yesterday’s announcement by Centrica-owned British gas of a record 35% price increase would have been enough for most of their long-suffering customers to content with, if it had been the only rise this year.

But it’s not of course. Let’s not forget the 15% retail price increase in January of this year, the 12.4% increase in September 2006 and the 14% increase in 2005. Taken collectively, they represent a non inflation-adjusted (but still gobsmacking) 96% rise in the last 3 years!

… more »

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2 Comments
Jul30

Only in Wales…

Life of Brian

News today that the Welsh town of Aberystwyth continues to ban Monty Python’s classic film “The life of Brian” almost 30 years after it was first released, made me laugh out loud.

According to the BBC, this came to light after Sue Jones-Davies (who played Brian’s girlfriend in the movie), became mayor of Aberystwyth and was “amazed” to find that the cult film was still barred from cinemas there.

… more »

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1 Comment
Jul29

Busker Boy makes 70 quid an hour

Money for Busking

Fantastic clip on the Beeb’s website today of 13-year old Calvin Prior, who is minting it in as a busker, playing his electric guitar on Brighton’s seafront…and making an average of £70 an hour.

And when you see the video, you can see why!

… more »

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4 Comments

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