Winter in the UK

Late November and we are at that time of year, the dawn of winter. As is usual in the UK, the sun has retreated several light years away from us, bring down temperatures to near fridge-like levels; the clouds have roused themselves from their summer softness, filled up to darkness with contaminated water and wandered across the world to rain it on my doorstep. In fact, some days the downfall is so heavy that one could tip shampoo on one’s head, stick it out the window and get a hair wash in seconds. If you walk to work with washing powder in your pocket the weather will wash clothes for you.

We are looking forward to those colder days when the dawn is greeted with those soft white coats of frost covering. Pretty as a postcard until you walk out of the front door and, not knowing that the rain has set in a sheet of ice, find yourself flying base over apex through the air to land in a heap in the front hedge.

Following this period of time, the snow will arrive, though doubtfully in time for Christmas. A time of snowball fights on blocked motorways; mobile orange and blue Christmas lights supplied courtesy of the many roadside assistance vehicles; train racing to nowhere at 70mph because of ice on the rails and Carol singing because she is stuck in a six foot snowdrift.

We know when winter is over because that is the time when the local authorities finally send out the snowploughs to clear non-existent drifts and the spring rains return again.


However nature provides relief from this with white grass blankets across ever garden, red-breasted Robins singing on the window sill; children’s laughter as they toboggan across the fields and carrot-nosed snowmen smiling at the world.


In winter every cloud has a silver (or should that be white) lining.

the brit

Winter!

Ah yes, Winter. A glorious time of year that fills one's head with visions of snow covered vistas, icicles hanging from the roof's edge, and wonderful outdoor adventurous sports.




Snow skiing sounds like fun.



My personal preference would be tooling around on a snowmobile.




Of course, since we have a small lake on the farm, ice skating would fit in nicely.




However, as nature would have it, we don't get picture book winters. Snow covered ground is a rare and very temporary condition. We get this.



That's right, mud. Between short bouts of freezing temperature, we get lots of cold rain, which produces lots of cold mud. Oh, fun and joy.

Sometimes, we get rain even when the surface temperature is below freezing. That's called freezing rain and it produces a coating of ice on everything. Everything includes the power lines and trees, which snap from the extra weight. That produces power outages. One year, almost everyone for fifty miles in every direction was without electricity for up to a week.



Our winters suck.
the Grit

Family

They say that you can choose your friends, but cannot choose your family, but would you want to? Family is one of the most unique relationships a person can have.

Parents raise you from the day you are born, protecting and nurturing, guiding and leading. Often, especially when times are difficult, even as we become adults, they seem to be still acting in the same manner, stretching out a helping hand to get us through whatever problem has arisen.

Similarly, there is no bond that can compare with the one that exists between brothers and sisters. In most cases they will be there if you need them. There is also an honesty in this relationship which does not often exist elsewhere. A sibling will let you know if you are being unreasonable or acting out of character.

Even in the extended family there is a specialness about the relationship. It is something that cannot be replicated.

Therefore, although there are times when we all could possibly explode at the actions of a family member, these are few and far between.

Family is family and that means love.

the brit

Family

Who loves you no matter what you do?
Your family.

Who cheers you up when you're sad and blue?
Your family.

Who'll take you in when you need a place to sleep?
Your family.

Who'll loan you money when your credit's bad?
Your family.

Who'll help you turn your life around?
Your family.

Who'll stick with you through thick and thin?
Your family.

Who'll drive all night just to visit?
Your family.

Who never thinks your house is clean?
Your family.

Who argues during the holiday meal
Your family.

Who never likes the guest room bed?
Your family.

Who knows how what makes you most annoyed?
Your family.

Still, who's here for you in your time of need?
Your family.

Happy Thanksgiving,
the Grit

Environmental Taxes - UK

Well the grit has started the rant, so here is a view from across the pond. In respect of the UK government the whole term "Evironmental Taxes" is a misnomer. These are some of these taxes that we have

Automobiles
1) The City of London issues a £5 congestion charge for anyone who drives into the centre. This is set to increase by a multiple of 5 (to £25.).
2) Another council is charging citizens £300 a year to park luxury (so called gas guzzler) cars outside their own homes. This is to reduce the motor impact on global warming. How to avoid the tax? Drive the car around???
3) The government is discussing charging 1.34 pence per mile to beat congestion and pollution.

Household Energy
1) Environment charges are being added to water bill at the same time that water providers are leaking millions of gallons of water a day.
2) Electricity and gas bills are to attract environmental taxes, whilst at the same time prices for energy saving products are going through the roof.
3) Rubbish removal is to attract over £100 in environmental taxes. Re-cyclying disposal will be included in this project. So not only do they want us to re-cycle, they now want us to pay for it.

Where is the money being sent?
The above measures are bringing in billions in revenue to the government's coffers. But where is this money going? The UK accounts show no separate entry for environmental measures. There is no improvement to the country's infrastructure that could be seen to be helping reduce global warming measures. We are not meeting the levels of reductions that we promised the European Community we would achieve.

There is no transparency at all in this situation, which is looking increasingly like a stealth tax under a hidden agenda and false name. Honesty and truth in these issues is important. If I want my children to leave on a cleaner planet and am prepared to pay for it, I do not want someone to turn round in a couple of decades and say, "Sorry dear chap." we actually had to spend the "environmental" tax that you gave us on new chairs for our politicians.

At the moment it appears that all we are doing is paying more and more in taxes, with absolutely nothing to show for it except a less full wallet.

the brit

Environmental Taxes

Environmental Taxes, that's the topic today. I'm strongly in favor of this idea. After all the environmentalist crazies have managed to cost all us lots of money over the years, and they show no signs of changing their ways, so they should be taxed. Heavily.

Take for example the environmentalist movement against nuclear power. Yeah, that was bright. It's why gas cost me $2.20 a gallon last time I pumped some into my truck, and my utility bill makes my blood pressure go up when I read it. It's also why there were rolling brownouts in California in the recent past. For that matter, the death of the nuclear industry in the US is a major contributing factor leading to the invasion of Iraq.

Speaking of my truck, several hundred dollars of the original purchase price, and another big fist full of cash for repairs over the years is thanks to the environmental loons and the stupid anti-pollution gadgets they've managed to inflict on the public. Oh, and you people who used to have cushy jobs with the US automotive industry can give a big shout out to your eco freak buddies for putting you out of work.

While we're at it, everyone who drives or buys anything that was shipped by truck, can give the tree hugging fanatics a hearty handshake and a big kiss of appreciation for keeping fuel prices artificially high by preventing oil production, limiting the number of refineries, and for giving us boutique gasoline. You can ponder how many billion dollars that's cost while you're stuck in traffic because the new highway you could have been zipping down wasn't built because some rare mouse might have been inconvenienced.

Oh, and if you happen to be heading to the grocery store, you can say a silent "Thanks!" to the environmentalists for upping all the prices on agricultural products by placing restrictions on farming practices. Heck, at least 2% of the price is due to the banning of DDT. If you happen to be worrying about genetically modified foods while you squeeze the produce, some of the thanks for that goes to the eco warriors as well and the lack of DDT. Extra thanks is due to the eco idiots if you happen to live in a third world country where you've contracted malaria. Yes, your suffering and lingering death is also due to the lack of DDT.

There is much, much more to thank the environmentalist movement for, but it occurs to me that action speaks louder than words. Thus, I'll leave this by agreeing once more with environmental taxes, before heading out to find a tree hugger to thank in person. Now, where did I put my baseball bat ...

the Grit

It is that time of year again in the UK. Harvest festival. Actually, despite the modern trend to link this activity with the Church and Christianity, the origin of this festival goes back further into history.

In olden days, way before the Christian faith got involved, farmers use to offer the first of the crops to their Gods, so that a successful crop would be safeguarded for the following year. Of course, it did not always work, but the idea was that if the Gods blessed the crop one stood a chance of making money next year.

It is only since 1843 (a few decades before I was born) that Harvest Festival has become a religious event. Now at this time of year, when all the harvest has been collected, Churches are filled to overflowing with vegetables, fruit and, of course, sheaves of wheat, corn and barley. To be fair to the Churches, once the ceremony is over these produce are distributed, normally to the elderly or needy.

The one thing about this festival is that everyone attending will be thankful for something. For the drinker, the oat, yeast, and barley are the core of their drink’s make-up. For the diet conscious, fruit and vegetables provide the core to their staple diet. For the vegetarians, without the harvest they would not be able survive, as all that would be left is meat. Even for the carnivores amongst us, without the colour and flavour of these crops we would be lost and our food bland and uninviting. However, unlike your countrymen Grit, we do not place much emphasis on the meat. Thus turkey is not a traditional part of the UK festival.

In reality, the main element we should be thankful for, bearing in mind the poverty that exists in this world, is that the harvest puts food on our table and, hopefully, provides for all of those in need in less fortunate parts of the world.

The brit

Thanksgiving

My how time flies. It's almost turkey day again.
















No, not that turkey; this turkey. The one that Ben Franklin thought should be the National Bird. Although, some people have been known to celebrate the holiday with this turkey.






Yes, I'm talking about Thanksgiving, which is the harvest holiday in the US. It's based on a bit of history from the early days of European settlement in the New World. The condensed version is that a group of British colonists were taught the tricks of farming appropriate to their new environment by a tribe of Indians (now known as Native Americans,) which kept the colonists from starving. As a way of saying thanks, the colonists through a big feast and invited the Indians. Everyone ate and drank too much and parted friends.


The modern holiday is celebrated in the same way. We invite family and friends to a huge meal where a turkey is the center of attention. Traditional side dishes include dressing, mashed potatoes, giblet gravy, various casseroles, rolls, and cranberry sauce. Desert is often a pumpkin or pecan pie.

After the feast, the tradition is for the men to gather in front of the TV to watch football where they soon fall asleep. Turkey, as luck would have it, contains a chemical called "tryptophan," which causes drowsiness. The designated task of the women is to put away the left overs and gossip about the men.

And left overs there will be in plenty. Even a small turkey weighs 8 pounds, dressed, and most tip the scales at over 10 pounds. It's not too difficult to find a 20+ pounder. Add to that the inherent desire to show off by having a huge bird on the table, and it's easy to understand the massive amount of uneaten fowl remaining at the end of the meal. This explains the large volume of literature devoted to various ways of using leftover turkey in the days following Thanksgiving.

Oh, regarding the how to process of cooking a turkey, I wrote this for Helium.com: http://www.helium.com/tm/83969/while-i-am-somewhat-hesitant-to-share-this-what-the-heck-i-consider-good-food-an-important-part-of-s

Enjoy the Holidays,
the Grit

Many Reasons

















Many thanks

the Brit & the Grit

Transatlantic politics in Limbo

The US election has had a lot of coverage over here in the UK yesterday (8 November). To us it seems at the moment that our two countries are like ships without captains. Both leaders have been weakened by issues that have rendered them virtually powerless. In the US it is the Iraq war. In the UK it is Iraq and the simmering "cash for honours" issue.

Here, Iraq has not become as prominent as in the US yet, but all sides are pressing Blair for an inquiry. His majority in debates are being whittled away gradually. As if that is not enough, he is now hiding behind the solid door of Number 10, trying to avoid being dragged into a formal police investigation into cash being paid to his party in exchange for knighthoods. If Blair can't avoid this he will be the first PM in seventy years to be the subject of a criminal inquiry. Add to this the fact that Gordon Brown (possibly the next PM) is already involved in the fringes of the investigation, and suddenly government in the hands of Labour does not look safe over the next three years.

What does this mean to us? It means that our voice in Europe will be weakened as Labour takes its eye of the ball. Our independence and strong stand against the power of the EU commission, a body that is not elected by the general public. For the first time in our existance it feels as if the "Mother of all Parliaments" may be move inexorably towards its demise.

Research has already shown that a "European" defence force is not capable of the unity and purpose needed to protect and intervene in global issues effectively. Remember the alliances that saved Kuwait; that gave those in the Baltics hope; that has tried to save Iraq? It appears that they are no more.

the Brit

Our election, the world's problem.

Our topic for today is the effect of the US elections outside our boundaries. I'm afraid it's a gloomy picture. At best, our Legislature will be deadlocked, and things won't change for the worse. Of course, in that case, another million or so illegal aliens will cross our border, our national debt will go up a few hundred billion dollars, we'll be two years closer to Social Security collapsing, and our energy problems will be even larger. Fortunately for the rest of the world, y'all will hardly notice. Unless something important comes up that can't get through our Congress, like assistance after another big natural disaster or new trade agreements.

Now, if the Democrats get their way, we're in big trouble. Ignoring all the social issues, liberal positions are not exactly friendly to business. As business goes, so our economy goes. So, if our economy crumbles, considering how connected things are today, almost everyone else is going down with us. Beyond the obvious problems this will cause - unemployment, lower standards of living, civil unrest - several countries, currently hovering on the edge of stability, might fall off the brink into civil war. China, for instance, is really only stable because of support from its growing middle class. Any major disruption of trade with the US will hit that happy group right in the face. For that matter, the governments of several the Middle Eastern countries are only in power because they share the oil wealth. A bad world economy will seriously slash the money flow, making them easy targets for revolutions. From Europe's perspective, that would be bad, very bad.

Speaking of the Middle East, the Democrats don't really want to fool with that part of the world. It's too messy politically, they don't care all that much for Israel, and, as a general principle, they hate spending money on our military. Thus, if funding for US military operations in that area get blocked, someone will have to take up the slack. Since it's doubtful that Russia or China will send troops, the burden falls to the EU. By the way, besides the danger of getting shot, maintaining a large well equipped military is quite expensive; so get your checkbooks ready.

OK, most of that isn't all that likely. Hopefully. However, there is one thing the new Speaker of the House (probably Pelosi) has promised to do, investigate. Actually, it was more like investigate, investigate, investigate. They have plans to look into everything from various business leaders, assorted large companies, everything every Republican has done for the last 12 years, the War on Terror, all the way to the War in Iraq (which they don't include in the general fight against Muslim extremists.) All of this will conclude to an effort to impeach President Bush. Naturally, this won't pass the Senate, needing a two third vote. It will, however, tie up our Government for the next two years. So, for the rest of the world, don't count on us for anything. We're busy.

the Grit

Election UK style

Unlike your homeland Grit, the UK election system, and its political make-up are strange phenomena.

According to your CIA website (Don’t they just get everywhere), we are a constitutional monarchy. That suggests that our Queen has a say in the running the country. However, in reality, the Monarch has no power at all. In addition, unlike the position that George Bush holds, we have no chance of becoming a Queen, or King for that matter, unless one of our parents has bedded a direct Royal descendent (Prince Charles is the favourite). Oh and they had to have done this around nine months before you were born. Step King or Queen is not allowed.

Below that Royal tier, we have the main government, which is split into two houses. The house of Lord’s does not allow itself to be voted on by us mere peasants, so elections are limited to the “old boy” network or by government gift (if you pay them enough that is). If you are a Lady or Lord, you are there for life. There are rumours that some have stayed in place for several months after their demise, but this has not been proven.

It is in the House of Commons and below where public voting decides who rule us. The only set term for a government is that they cannot exceed five years in power. Most parties start playing around with the date after about two and a half years. For example, the Labour party has had two elections since it came to power in 1997, the last one in 2006.

We do have local elections similar to the ones you are about to have, but ours are every year. The main difference is that the people we vote for at that time do not get to serve in the main government, just on local councils. Thus, the crazy part is that we could have all of our councils run by the Conservatives, whilst the government is Labour. Most of the time, these elections are less about what you want to happen in your local area and more related to kicking the ruling government in the pants. Not that it makes a lot of difference, because at the moment Tony Blair thinks he is a dictator, so he acts like one with little regard being paid to the public he is supposed to serve.

Compared to the US our way of voting for the general election is rather primitive. We still in most places have a box that we walk into and have to indicate our preference by hand. We obviously cannot be trusted with computers. Due to the massive cut backs in education the government is of the opinion that the majority of the population can’t write; therefore we all have to put a cross to indicate our choice.

Our voting system is also a bit of a lottery (or should that be mockery?). For example, last time Labour, with 35.2% of the votes won 55% of the seats in parliament. The Conservatives, who had 32.3% of the votes, only got 30% of the seats. We also allow a range of parties to stand for election. These have included the Liberal Democrats, the Raving Looney party and the independents, who will stand for anything they want at the time.

Still there is always the future to look forward to. Our government keeps giving away power to individual parts of the country. It started with Ireland, Scotland, Wales, but other places such as Cornwall now want that sort of independence. At this rate, in a few years, I will soon be able to become Prime Minister of my street and my family will be cabinet ministers.

And so the life of one of the world’s oldest democracy runs on.

The Brit

Election 2006, US

It's election week in the United States of America! As I recall, the Brit said something about elections over there sometime soon. Who cares? Not our news media; that's for sure. That being said, I'm too caught up in ours to worry about what other countries are doing at the moment.

As you may or may not know, we have two legislative branches, the Senate - with six year terms, and the House of Representatives - with two year terms. This means that every two years, all of the Representatives and one third of the Senators are up for a vote. Since, effectively, we only have two political parties, control of the law making function can change hands in any election. Exciting stuff, even in normal times, and even more of a rush now that the country is so divided on so many important issues. Shucks, even some dead people are fired up enough to vote, but more on that later.

Modern voting machine

Dreaded hanging chad


First, let's talk about how we vote, as in the physical casting of ballots. I'm almost certain that everyone in the world knows about the Bush v Gore election and the hanging chads. Well, after that the Federal Government handed out baskets full of cash all over the country to update voting machines. Guess what, there are still chads hanging around polling places all over. Which is strange, considering that Shelby County (where I live and which includes the city of Memphis) had touch screen voting machines before the word "chad" was commonly known. Now, this area is not the wealthiest part of the US. As a matter of fact, we're down on the bottom half of that list. We have the latest voting technology. Places in Florida, many near the top of the wealthy list, are still going to use punch card ballots this week, even after vast flows of Federal dollars. Strange, but I guess someone has to keep the lawyers employed.

Speaking of lawyers, there are going to be roving gangs of them patrolling every polling place in the country. Not just to sue the hanging chads off reluctant ballots, but to protect everyone's right to vote. Dead, minority, handy capped, non-English speaking, illiterate, illegal alien, space alien, felon, comatose, or incontinent, every vote will be cast and counted or poll workers will spend the time until the next election in court. Oh, and the dead do rise, not on Halloween, but on election day. There are several districts (voting areas) that have more people on the voting roll than live there. Some investigative reporting has shown the cause of this to be corpses, still registered and voting.

Don't worry, more excitement awaits. Take for instance the race for an open Senate seat in my home state of Tennessee.
This man, Bob Corker,


is running against this man, Harold Ford,




because this man, Bill Frist,
kept his campaign promise to only serve two terms.




The Republican Party ran a TV spot in support of Corker. You can watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWkrwENN5CQ&eurl Personally, I thought the ad was well done and entertaining, as it took some shots at Ford's political record. However, it did contain mention by this character, saying she met Ford at a Playboy party. The ad ends with her making the phone sign and saying "call me." The Democratic Party, through various members, and our rather liberal national news media, had fits trying to decry this ad as raciest, because it implies a black man may be dating a white woman. Of course, in all other recorded instances of party platform and personal opinion of Democrats, inter-racial dating is supposed to be absolutely OK.

Oh, there's more, much more. Far too much for this post. And, it's not over yet. The voting doesn't take place until Tuesday, leaving plenty of time for last minute dirty tricks, sudden revelations about the past of various candidates, and, with luck, perhaps even a fist fight or two between candidates. Good times, good times. And I get to enjoy it all, because I've already cast my ballot. Our state has a law permitting early voting two weeks prior to the elections. I picked a rainy, cool morning and, even though one of the poll workers said I looked dead, had my votes cast within 15 minutes. Unfortunately it was done on a touch screen, so I couldn't get a souvenir chad.

the Grit

OK, I admit I'm jealous. Don't get me wrong; we have some great holidays in the US. The Fourth of July can be pretty spectacular, even though you can't touch off your own fireworks around here. Heck, what with all the terrorist fighting, it's a risk to make our own fireworks anymore.

This Guy Fawkes Day sounds much better. I do love a good bonfire. You don't get those over here, except on the beach and at pre-game pep rallies. That means I don't get them at all. Sure, I've got a grill and a fireplace, but that's not as thrilling as the big flames of a bonfire. I suppose I could build my own, but that's a lot of work for one person. Besides, there's probably a permit needed these over regulated days.

Beyond the lovely fires, the idea of burning effigies sounds like fun. Dragging a dummy Pope through the streets and flinging it into the flames, probably won't go over here, and I have strong suspicions no one knows who Guy Fawkes was. So, when I write my Government representatives about adopting this holiday in the States, I'm going to change a few things.

Of course, we'll keep the bonfires. That's a given. Although, in some of our drier regions, they may have to be contained. Also, in our more liberal areas, clean burning hydrogen may have to be substituted for wood. Since November fifth is so close to our elections, we can us effigies of political candidates instead of Guy and the Pope. Not only would this be more popular, but more people might even learn who's running for office. It could even be a boost to our economy.
Really, who's going to want a homemade Hillary effigies, if you can buy a well made commercial dummy? Maybe even one with a speaker thing so it says quotes from the politician's speeches? This being America, walking around dragging a dummy, probably isn't going to cut it. So, we'll drag ours around in the back of pickup trucks or convertibles.

While my version may be more expensive, the cost could be covered by selling advertising. There's lots of space on a truck to stick on signs; just look at NASCAR. And what company wouldn't want to be associated with the symbolic immolation of a politician who stuck it to them with some stupid law? Oh, and don't forget all the special interest groups. Most of them will probably be happy to kick in a few bucks to sponsor the combustion of the right candidate.

That just leaves picking a name. Obviously, we'll have to call it something besides Guy Fawkes Day. Cremate a Civil Servant Day is too long. Thanksgiving is already taken. Well, I'm stuck. Any ideas?

the Grit

Tuesday 5 November 1605 was probably a cold crisp winter morning. It was still dark when Guido (Guy) Fawkes woke. However, he had a task to perform that, if successful, could change the face of democracy in the United Kingdom forever. Hurriedly he dressed and left his house, hurrying through the still sleeping streets of capital.

Six am found him scurrying around the basements of the Houses of Parliament, setting explosives. High above the clock of Big Ben ticked relentlessly on, moving time on towards one of the most momentous events in our history.

Guy was in haste; the King was due to attend at the house that morning. If he had his way, by midday the monarchy and government would be reduced to ashes; the Scots would ride triumphant into London.

The excitement made him nervous, every sound or light could betray his motives, so he worked on his task in near darkness, pausing every few minutes to listen for intrusions. It was as he was completing his task that Guy turned and found himself staring down the wrong end of a musket. He had been betrayed and the King’s men had found him. Overpowered with ease, the plot was foiled and Guy was tortured to reveal the name of co-conspirators, tried, hanged drawn and quartered, his body dragged through the streets of the city to the cheers of the gentlefolk. One wonders sometimes whether the same joyous reaction would be the case in modern times.

On Sunday evening in homes and open spaces throughout the United Kingdom, the 202nd anniversary of the “gunpowder plot,” the skies over the UK will be lit with a multitude of colourful fireworks in celebration of this historical occasion. Children and families will laugh and shriek with joys as a cacophony of sound fills the air. Millions of bonfires will be lit, upon which will be burned effigies of the man who nearly changed the face of English politics for good. Some of the more satirical of people have taken to turn the modern bonfire effigies into modern politicians. (No wonder Tony is getting out of the “Hot” seat.)

Ironically, if Gordon Brown (a Scotsman) succeeds Tony Blair, Guy’s intentions will have been fulfilled by methods that are more peaceful.