The government said last week that Japan's economy was in its most serious crisis since World War II, after it contracted at an annualised rate of 12.7% in the last quarter of 2008.

(from bbc news)

12.7% contraction????

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7842013.stm

*Lengths smiles and pats his eeebuntu, eeepc lovingly*

reply to the coversation here

http://t-wiki.livejournal.com/12306.html

Providing childcare is probably one of the best ways to keep people working and make the country continue to grow. Why?, because somebody who is looking after children is not working AND one person looking after one/two children is far less productive than the one to 3/5/8 ratios in nursery's.

As it stands at the moment, there is little point Rutu going back to work, because the money she gets from being a pharmacist in the health service, will be the same as the cost of having the 3 children in nursery/after-school care plus travel. In which case.. why should she go back  to work? , she may as well stop working for a few years (particularly as that would nicely increase our tax credits as well).

How can it possibly be better for the state that she is better off stopping working? (She will go back anyway incidentally)

And this is the situation in a fairly professional public sector job. For people in less well paid jobs they could easily end up paying double there wages in child care.

“because the bank won't give out any mortgages.” Surely that's only sensible, house prices should never have got to the current 6/7 times earns. Its not surprising that banks wont lend that anymore. Just got to wait till house prices return to their long term rate of 3 to 4 times earnings.

And it'll probably be the case, knowing GB, that it won' be just a simple take your child to nursery, it is free, it'll be more complicated tax breaks and credits.

At least for the 3 year olds' scheme at the moment, it is actually that simple, as you automatically get 5 sessions free.... the nurseries claim the cash back for you.

pfi deals currently off the balance sheet but will have to be counted at some point,

Well yes, but the traditional way is to Tax and Spend to pay for the improvements which after 18 years of neglect where needed. I have taught in schools which had corridors covered in mold and roofs falling in. the spending was needed, its just that the conservative press forced the government to go the wrong way about it.

left-or-center government for a crisis in global capitalism?

Possibly because the left of center government listened to the daily telegraph and the mail more than its own supporters and let the banks get up to all this free from effective regulation etc.

They acted like the worst forms of laize-faire right wingers and now the problems are coming home.

There have been few instances of people spending their own money for the good of the nation as a whole.

Schools.. no hang on that was government, Health.. no hang on that was government, Roads!... no hang on that was mostly government... abolishing slavery .. no hang on.... rail ways! ... yes railways.. however government had to take them over to make them work effectively after the industrial age...

if banks are going to keep failing, and the government are going to keep bailing them out, I'm all in favour of increased borrowing.

Yes however, even the Americans have worked out that of you are going to do that, you don't just give them cash. The fed took a 80% stake in AIG in exchange for the money, lets do the same things, lets take the shares. Then when the state has sorted the banks out we can chose if we will continue running them for the social good, or if we will privative them to pay back some of the money we have lost to them.

On a side this whole “too big to fail thing” worries me. Because if something is to big to fail then it can not work in a free market, because it can do what ever the hell it likes knowing the government will bail it out.

Privatizing profit , socializing risk, is not a recipe for a safe future. If something is too big to fail, then it probably would be better off being run by the government.

The last time the Left had such a golden opportunity to remake the world was probably in the 1940s... and thats why I am fed up with Labour, not because they are doing too much, but because they wont take the opportunity, being so embroiled in there own infighting as to be failing to see the world changing around them.

Russian invades georgia, georgia is mid way through its negocations to join NATo, had it achived its membership we would already be in articale 5 terrotory.

Why has the world suddenly just felt like a lot more scary place...

May i introduce.. nathanbaby

Nathan Mark
Born 7:11 am Sunday 29th June.
8Lb 11oz

Imagine you have been sat in a car. Idly listening to the radio or something.
You get out, close the door and walk a few feet away.

You hear a loud crash behind you and a feel a draft at your back.
You turn and see the car has been completely crushed by a huge concrete slab that has just been dropped on it.

That's how I feel today.


It all seemed to be going quite normally for me. Contractions started at 5am, midwife there at 5:50, second midwife at 6:10. Pushed baby out an hour later.

I think the first midwife was not that experienced as she kept asking the other one questions. And seemed completely bemused that my waters didn't break until after the head was out. I pushed out a water balloon and then the head was born into the bubble. She said she'd never seen anything like it. But the oldermidwife, clearly not easily fazed, said it was not that uncommon.

I contiue to push, the bubble bursts and Nathan falls out and is caught by young midwife. Older midwife sounding shocked says,

"fucking hell! He's a lucky bastard!"

He splashes down onto the plastic sheet and they roll him around and wrap him in a towel. He cries.

Older midwife says,

"I'm so happy when they come out like that alive."

Turns out, that not only was the cord wrapped twice around his neck. There was a knot in it about half way up.

Goodness knows how he'd tied it. It was a tight one too.

At any point he could have given one good stretch and killed himself.

I keep looking at him and saying,

"thank you God"

And the water riots have come to an end, on the discovery that actually supermarket chains serving 58 million people DO have the bottled  water to serve 250,000 people.   Seriously though, having to remember not to drink from the tap is very hard.  It is so natural to just grab a glass pour and drink when thirsty that have to stop myself doing it (and have forgoten serveral times).

We do have 20 odd bottled/Boiled water bottles full though so finding alternative water is not that hard ;)

Its all a little strange, some of our nigerian firends made us laugh though.  Most people when told to boil the water have just been boiling the kettle and thinking thats enough.  Rutu realised that, thats silly when they say "boil your water" they assume everybody knows that you have to boil for a minute or more; and as for people sitting with there bottled water then washing up there cups from the tap....

The nigerian friends response to this when rutu told them about the minute thing was, " well yes .. but just take the lid of the kettle and let it boil ... we have been boiling water all our life".  Slightly humbling response with all we take for granted..

Baby still not here yet, soon hopefully ..

Oh a hero is in sigh! . .the BBC says ultraviolet light (Man, why am i picturing a man with purple underpants over his trousers....) will save us...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/northamptonshire/7476803.stm

1. Think of the first word that comes to mind when you think of me.

2. Go to Google Images and search for that word.

3. Reply to this post with one of the pictures on the first page of results (don't tell me the word).

4. Put this in your own journal so that I can do the same.

And  had to incinerate my companion cube :(

Had my brithday gathering, despite all gloom in the weeks before a very good time was had.  A good mix of people turned up for the afternoon bit, sitting in cafe bruxxles drinking belgium beer and chatting.  Actually enjoyed that part of the day the most. 

Was just really nice, sitting enjoying the atmosphere and relaxing oh and matt arrived with a 1968 bottle of brandy ... lookng foward to seeing if i was a good year tonight...

Portia, rachel and louisa went to buy a dress, people went to go watch the football, but the gathering stayed n place.. was nice.

Then we went to Nandos, aways a good meal, rutu enjouyed that bit the most.. At teh end of the meal cakes for everybody and a apple pie for me was brought <3

Took rachel back to the hotel then went to "out of the Vaults", and criterium. 

Andy "the Pythun" Hopkins and Dave "no idea who he was, andys housmate"  turned up. at vaults and left at about 10.30

At which point all that remained of the party (me and matt) went to "the club formaly known as retrubutuon" I danced for a bit was to drunk/tired so went home.  Matt stayed , next saw him at the hotel at 11am with a smile on his face.  He was there till 5am apprantly.

-----------------

Got woken up this morning with tea and  toast from my beutifull wife and children (although the youngest did waunder off with my toast,,,)

Ok at teh bottomis a map of Leicester similar to: (link provided to give context and allow people to work out how to get to the map I have sent out) http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Leicester,+United+Kingdom&ie=UTF8&cd=1&geocode=0,52.634570,-1.129443&ll=52.633558,-1.136312&spn=0.012372,0.037723&z=15

On it is a few locations, 1) Some free parking me and Rachel located last time we where in town, just general road parking with no charge etc (Leicester is famed for being a bitch to park/drive in)
2) The location of Leicester central Travel lodge for those staying the night
3) Cafe Brussle, cafe bar, which is where we are meeting at 1pm
4) the quay park

Plan is as follows,
1Pm arrive: meet at the Cafe Brussle and chill for a bit till people arrive ..

*Sunny plan*
Take some frisbies ect (looking at you mrmatt for the esentialls) down to the quay park, sit out, have a beer from the quay pub if people are that way inclinded, and just relax in the park and by the river for a bit.

When people get bored head up to the gateway for a breif beer, but basically just chill...

*Rainy plan*
Pubs and stuff round leicester maybe visit leicster market and show people round the back street shops, basically dfind somewhere to sit, drink and chill.

At 6. - 7 pm
head to the Nandos, on leicester high street (across the road from last plantagent for those who know leicester) and njoy a meal of well chicken... and sanggria..

7 - 8pm = Meal over some people leave (Portia, Dusty, Loiusisa and either rachel or texas pete)

after that ..

If not yet checked into the hotel go to hotel and check in, then Vaults and criterium for the evening, followed by an evening at retrubution night club for those with the stamina to manage it..

IN the morning, fried breakfast at either wetherspoons or the bus station cafe (if people dont mind the walk)

then homward...

Ps . My mobile number is :<Pm me if you need it!), as i have lost most other peoples, would be nice if people could email them to me :) but if not text/phone me if you need more information!

Let me know if anybody needs any more...

Ok things are a lot better today :

1. Parents evening is now over, most parents left fairly happy with what i had said so hopefully there will be no complaints this year...
2. Got 30 of the Reports done over today or yesterday so only now have 60 more to go before tuesday (but lots of possibilies for copy and paste now)
3. have marked 7 of the 22 projects i need to mark (but all remaining projects got till 1st june)
4. Rachel has a full body bandage which is allowing her to move around and not be in quite so much pain (but has made her ancles swell up so she could do with prayer)
5. Henry and anntete have said they are coming to Liecester and booking hotel in the travellodge with folks.
6. The sun may have started to take effect...

leicester plans will be realeased in the next week

Thanks all for the support :)

-J

Starting to get quite sad about my birthday, starting to look like it will just be Me, Steph and Matt continuing past Nandos, which is a bit Sad.  Its not as if my 30th birthday has been a suprise, my birthday celebrations are always the weekend before my birthday, so as not to clash with another birthday that has always been the weekend afterwards.  

Been consiously planning like this since my first year at university so 8 years.  And of cause with samuels birthday being the 24th of May its obvious which weekend he gets...

Sigh starting to feel a little like jerod in my mood, I know it was not done just to get at me, but it as sure as hell feels like it...

anyway ... moaning over, its not like i got invited anyway...

It wil be fun, It wil be fun to see Steph and have drinkies in leicester and stuf... and i will enjoy my 30th (sorry for the melencholy feel of this post)

In other news, having a hard couple of weeks, Rachel can't really look after the children as shes to unwell so having to spend a lot of time up and with them.  Had parents evening both this week and next week, got a pile of year 11 projects to mark which each take about an hour and finally still need to do 75 full reports for next tuesday...

*sigh* weekend before last was fun though, went to the peak district on Richard taylorss stag weekend, which was a nice weekend of walking and country pubs.  Staying at edale youth hostel.

A response sort of to 0ct0pus
Started to write a parody of mr jones, but the words did not come

Dear Mr Blair/Brown,

When I was 18, I recived an letter from my local MP a Mr John Carlise, It welcomed, my coming of age and hoped that  I would use my new found vote, to vote conservative.  I sent John a leter in return and said that after growing up my whole life under selfish tory administrations I intended to use my vote.  To make sure that a conservative goverment never gets in again. At every election since, I have gone to a poll and put my vote against a none-conseravtive, in that time i have voted Liberal twice, Socialist Alliance once, Green twice, and Labour twice (Including council and european elections.. may have forgoten an election as well).  In 1997, I did not trust labout to deliver, and voted yellow.  In 2001, however I voted labour.
    I belived that the last 4 years had been a good start, the minimum wage, congestion charging, the pledge to get rid of child povety et al.  could be the start of something good.  Now people belived that labour could be trusted, labour could start to act in the way i belive it still thinks of itself.  However from there it all seemed to stop... PFI continued to spread, railways continued to gouge there customers, Polution continued to increase, Social order continued to break down and the price of beer continued to rise...
    However in 2004, after 0ct0pus[Unknown LJ tag]

If still uming and ahhhing about my Bday party

Hello James With two bank holidays, May is a great month to enjoy a quick break or two. And to make it even more tempting, we are adding thousands of extra rooms at just £19, for stays during May. Celebrate the start of summer Make the most of the bank holiday weekends by treating yourself to a relaxing break. At just £19 per room and with thousands of extra rooms available across the UK, you can visit friends or family, or simply explore our lovely country. And if you've already planned your bank holiday getaways, we've got rooms near ferry terminals and airports too, so you can break your journey and start your holiday refreshed. The extra £19 rooms are only available to book from 6am tomorrow until 7th April. They will go quickly, so celebrate the start of Summer and make sure you're ready to book tomorrow.

might be worth a check tommrow if anybody is still thinking about going...

writing  this down mostly so i can remember as i don't have the original picture anymore..

"In the end we all have a choice, the only question is how much we are willing to sacrifice..." - fallen angel

Women should not drink any alcohol during pregnancy, NHS adviser the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has said.

It says if they must drink, they should not do so in the first three months and should limit consumption to one or two units once or twice a week afterwards.

It brings NICE in line with government advice and replaces previous guidance saying small daily amounts were fine.

However, NICE concedes there is no evidence to support the change.

from http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7312708.stm

I'm sorry .. what? .. theres no evcidence but we are making it the advice anyway??
So what exaclty do they base this change on?... Guesswork?, Fancy?, Social preasure?, Astrology?

Does this mean no scientific studies have been done? .. on such a big subject? .. highly unlikley!
No it looks like studies have been done, they have found no link.  But thats not the result that was wanted, therefore they wil change the recomendation anyway.

It seems that alchoul is being hit with a hard stick at the moment, for seemingly no other reasons than they can..

• The right to vote for all men over the age of 21 (excepting servants, beggars and Royalists);
• No army officer, treasurer or lawyer could be an MP (to prevent conflict of interest);
• Annual elections to Parliament with MPs serving one term only;
• Equality of all persons before the law;
• Trials should be heard before 12 jurymen, freely chosen by their community.
• No-one could be punished for refusing to testify against themselves in criminal cases;
• The law should proceed in English and cases should not extend longer than six months;
• The death penalty to be applied only in cases of murder;
• Abolition of imprisonment for debt;
• Tithes should be abolished and parishioners have the right to choose their ministers;
• Taxation in proportion to real or personal property;
• Abolition of military conscription, monopolies and excise taxe

-The agreement of the free people of england, may 1649, to form the basis of an english constitution, proposed by the levellers.