Dafydd, Dafydd, Dafydd, sometimes ...

... I wonder if you have been at the sauce ...

                                                                                    ... with your outrageous uttering, to wit ...

WalesOnline today the last day of 2011, where you call for the scrapping of the position as Welsh Secretary to the Cabinet of the United Kingdom.  Now, contrary to the agenda of Plaid and pals, there are those of us who quite like the companionship of Westminster, particularly as we live in a political world (Wales) that would if left to its own devices, send us reeling into a left wing nightmare that we can read of through the immortal words of George.

Does Cheryl Gillan (CG) pull any levers of government West of Offa's Dyke ?  Does she exercise any real influence at No 10 ? .......... who knows, and in the grand scheme of things, does it really matter.  What matters in the real world is our government at Westminster has an office with its fingers on the pulse of "Political Cardiff", and it's very obvious this is the case with CG's recent remonstrations with Carwyn Jones.

And why should Westminster keep its fingers on the pulse of political Wales, well, as Margaret Thatcher discovered to her cost, that had she known earlier, much earlier, nationalism in Wales would have been neutered at birth not nurtured through political ineptitude throughout its infancy.  And that must be the SoS's primary task, to do to the political elite of Wales what the little people are prevented, to criticise and raise very real fears loudly and publicly, to be our lightning rod for the excesses of our regional government, this cracach that yearns for greatness ...

... and there you have it Dafydd, although you politicians might think you have everything sewn up, the others who have very few voices, have Westminster as a last resort.  We have in Wales several modern day "Le Chat Botté", those who use political trickery and deceit to gain a level of power and influence unparalleled in modern Wales ...............

................ in government and out.  Then there is Cheryl Gillan to speak out as she has ... but does she speak for us, the new year will tell.

On the home front, there is a battle yet to be engaged, it is with the nationalist who wish for the hand of the princess that is called Wales (in a marriage), they wish to become its worthless master with its head fully engaged in anything that is not Britain.




Message to friends and foe ...
Wikipedia have a fund raising effort, follow one of the links and maybe leave a donation, I have, if only half my visitors contributed £10, then there would be £100,000 for probably the best source of information freely available on the internet, be generous this new year.

Star gazers note Jupiter ...

... , the Bringer of Jollity is setting in the west, whilst in the east Mars, the Bringer of War, is rising, closer to home Syniadau compares Slovenia with Wales in an attempt to convince the Plaid converted that Wales could go it alone.


MH of Syniadau, the "Bringer of Stupidity", wrote "Those who argue against independence for Wales say that we can't afford it.".


Wrong, those who say no to Plaid, that's more than 9 out of every 10 people, say no because we are not interested in what is on offer;  from wannabe Plaid leader Wood it is a return to 1940's socialism, from the other 3 it is "much ado about nothing"; the argument might better said "Wales cannot afford Plaid" or "Wales doesn't share your views".


Peter Black wrote yesterday of Plaid navel gazing, he might like to lookup Slovenia, in amongst the current depression found within its borders there is a major success, it is with education, Slovenia has 99.6 per cent literacy and the Programme for International Student Assessment, coordinated by the OECD, currently ranks Slovenia's education as the 12th best in the world and 4th best in the European Union, being significantly higher than the OECD average, significantly higher than we achieve in Wales.

Something to work at Mr. Black, and your chums.

In the begining was the word, and the word has been added too ...

... by many, including Greg Ip ...

... and he has a few nuggets that Plaid leadership wannabe Leanne Wood might like to consider, particularly after her latest bowl of nationalist tripe; although many identify her words with Anarcho-syndicalism it is still categorised as "tripe".

Jobs, jobs, jobs ... she writes, read it and weep, literary devices to appeal to her left of left support within Plaid.  Unfortunately for the electorate of Rhondda Cynon Taff she demonstrates such a poor understanding of basic economics we should collectively wonder at her suitability to contribute in any form to the governance of Wales.

Greg writes of the bottom line ............

• Long-term economic growth depends on population and productivity, the more productive the population is, the better the standards of living that can be expected.  It requires Investment in capital and ideas to raise the productivity.
• Ideas enable the re-combination of workers and capital in new ways to create new products or old products at a lower price.  Competition forces the copying of ideas and the creation of new ideas.
• Investment and ideas must be nurtured.  We require honest government and trustworthy laws to encourage investors and innovators to take risks.  Investment in education enables the working population to participate and free markets ensure that dying, unproductive industries are culled in order that growing industries can attract both capital and workers.

... so read again Woods' "Jobs, jobs, jobs" and search for the real world, it just isn't there ...........


... myself, I hope Plaid elect her, it will get exactly what it deserves ....

... but for the electorate, you deserve better ..............
 

When I mistakenly trip over the tripe of nationalist Wales ...

 ... I remember "Hope" by Emily Dickinson ....

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune--without the words,
And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.

I've heard it in the chillest land,
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.

 

A sense of purpose, ...

... where quality might be measured in a meaningful way ...

... it could be Heathrow airport, a country within a country, people working together with two simple aims, to launch people into the air and to catch them on their return.

... it might be a British rail company, again a country within a country, a very similar activity to an airport where people are sent along steel tracks to destinations throughout the United Kingdom, very often these same people are welcomed back to their point of departure on the same day.

... our power generation companies are a little different in that they deliver their goods directly to your door with little contact, we even trust these companies to dip into our bank accounts and take funds to meet our consumption.

... the supermarket chains set up shop throughout the country, they construct huge warehouses that welcome goods from all over the world, delivered on time directed by an army of buyers concious of our preferences.

... and these activities are duplicated by the thousands, located throughout the country, and in each case the survival of these businesses are dependent upon the customers who vote directly in real time through their purchases, the measure of quality ...

... or is it !

From the desk of Larry Edelson ...

... "It’s the hidden dangers that matter most" ...
No matter what scheme Europe’s leaders come up with this weekend, the euro is toast. It was destined to fail right from the beginning.
You see, way back in 1998, I told everyone who would listen that Europe’s attempt at a single currency would fail. I even pegged the year 2012 as the period when the euro would breathe its final breath.
The problem is simply this: The euro was ill-conceived to begin with. The European Union left all the national banks in place, like central banks. They left all the individual countries’ debts in place and failed to create any semblance of a fiscal unity.

Further, they failed to reform tax and labor laws, leaving a hodgepodge of rules and regulations in place, none of which supported any foundation for a single currency.

Perhaps worst of all, they failed to recognize the many different cultures in Europe, not to mention the 28 different official languages spoken.

In short, Europe’s leaders created a disaster, and now the world is paying the price.

The latest proposal, if enacted this weekend, will make matters worse for the euro. Germany’s Angela Merkel and France’s Nicolas Sarkozy are pushing hard to rewrite the European Union’s main treaty to give it power over the national budgets of the Union’s members.

That simply will not work. It amounts to asking countries such as Spain, Italy, Portugal, Greece, Ireland — to give up their sovereignty and place their destinies in the hands of the stronger countries in Europe, namely Germany and France. Fat chance of that going well.

The truth of the matter is
that as ill as Europe’s currency is,
the U.S. dollar isn’t faring much better either.

For one thing, the U.S. dollar is also riddled with unpayable sovereign debts and obligations to the tune of $145 trillion. That’s 25 times worse than the combined debts of all European Union member countries.

For another, our fearless leaders in Washington know full well that our debts are patently unpayable.
That’s why Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke never hesitates when it comes to printing up more money. He knows that the only possible way out is to inflate away the debts, by devaluing the dollar and paying off the debts down the road with cheaper dollars.

It’s also why I believe President Obama and Treasury Secretary Geithner are lying to you.


I know, that’s a bold statement. But they’re not idiots. They are steeped in the history of currency devaluations. And they too know that the only chance the United States has to potentially defuse the ticking U.S. debt bomb is to shift the blame to China by accusing Beijing of maintaining policies that support an undervalued yuan.

But that’s nothing but political cover for what President Obama and Secretary Geithner really want because ...

A rise in the value of the yuan, by default,
means a decline in the value of the dollar.

I know it’s hard to believe that Washington is selling you out. I know it’s hard to believe that I’m forecasting further dollar devaluations when hardly anyone else is and when nearly all eyes are glued to Europe and its implosion.

But I’ve never let that stop me. I always tell it like I see it. And I learned long ago that it’s not the obvious that matters most when it comes to your investments — like Europe disintegrating.

Quite the contrary, it’s the unobvious that matters most. It’s the hidden dangers that can wreak the most havoc on your wealth.

Earlier this week, I showed you a chart of the U.S. Dollar Index and how miserable the dollar’s performance is. I will show it again for a third time and please, study it carefully.

Despite all the talk about the U.S. dollar benefitting from the European debt crisis, the Dollar Index remains well below important resistance on this chart. You can clearly see it.

I suggest you print it out and keep it handy. Because when the Dollar Index breaks the low point on the right side of the chart, it may be too late to fully protect your wealth.

Don’t wait until that happens. Take the necessary steps to protect and grow your wealth NOW, before it’s too late.

One of those steps should be viewing my video on the looming dollar disaster. It’s well worth your time. By watching it in its entirety (only about 35 minutes), you’ll be able to download six free profit guides that I’ve designed to help you protect your wealth.

You can view the video now by clicking here.

Best wishes,
Larry Edelson

Mr. Edelson has an agenda, he wishes to sell his services, but the message of fear ..... how much is truth ?

Perhaps, ...

Professor Sir Mansel Aylward said on today's BBC Wales Politics Show ...

"We're not going to get many more chances - in the past we had plenty of money and perhaps we spent it wrongly,"

If the NHS in Wales were a work of art, aesthetics might conclude it not worthy to be viewed in the worlds top galleries, The Louvre would say 'non' and The Deutsche Guggenheim might cry "nien";  whilst in Wales the public it should be serving is reticent in its public condemnation, and our political representatives are lounging at the Cardiff Bay club for useless rhetoric, oblivious to the reality of the situation.

Might we apply a criteria to politics as we do with a painting, could we call for quality ............

A lesson for the NHS Wales ...

... that might help budget deliberations !

The Great Soprendo might be able to produce "medicated smoke and mirrors", though I'm guessing better financial management might be the ticket.

It's a shame that politics in Wales has closed its eyes to private participation in the delivery of health services, pathetic in many ways.......

No discrimination in Caerphilly ...

... an update, the timely response from Cllr. Fussell.

Hello Mr Tyler,

The Apprenticeship and Trainee (A&T) scheme has been designed to attract any local individual who may be currently going through or completed education or further education. The council has linked with training partners and government agencies to support the delivery of the schemes and these include Active Pathways, Job Centre plus, Princes Trust, Stepping Stones 14 to 19 Unit, ACT, ITEC, College Ystrad Mynach, Educ8 and a few more.

In its delivery the council have taken on board apprentice posts within its own services and these posts allow the individual to continue to progress their education via college , university. In addition some graduate posts have also been created in specific council areas.

It's accepted that the partners for the A&T scheme are local educational and training establishments and that most applicants will be from the immediate Caerffili County, however this may not always be the case and its not a deciding factor when going through the application process.

I hope that I have answered your question in as much that we source apprentices and trainees from a wide pool of establishments who deliver a service to people who may live in Caerffili, but not necessarily so.

Regards

James Fussell

Cabinet Member for Human Resources
(Ward Member for St Martins)

No discrimination in Caerphilly then ....

... but in the less than civilised areas a different tale !

Discrimination in Caerphilly ...

... by the Plaid administration, the tip of an iceberg or isolated case.

Naturally I have asked Cllr Fussell the question ...

Could you define your expression “local people” in the context of the article.

I wonder how non-local people are disbarred from the opportunities, might it be place of birth or could it be related to where a person has lived during the previous decade ?

There are other movements in Wales using petitioning to gain legal discrimination to prevent "non-local people" being given social housing, with Caerphilly leading the way where will it end ...

... is my daughter a non-local, she was born in England, my wife has only lived in Wales for ten years, is that sufficient qualification to become "local" ............

Kant wrote in his ...

... famous essay on "Perpetual Peace":

"Many say a republic would have to be a nation of angels, because men with their selfish inclinations are not capable of a constitution of such sublime form. But precisely with these inclinations nature comes to the aid of the general will established on reason, which is revered even though impotent in practice. Thus it is only a question of a good organization of the state (which does lie in man's power), whereby the powers of each selfish inclination are so arranged in opposition that one moderates or destroys the ruinous effect of the other. The consequence for reason is the same as if none of them existed, and man is forced to be a good citizen even if not a morally good person.

The problem of organizing a state, however hard it may seem, can be solved even for a race of devils, if only they are intelligent. The problem is: 'Given a multitude of rational beings requiring universal laws for their preservation, but each of whom is secretly inclined to exempt himself from them, to establish a constitution in such a way that, although their private intentions conflict, they check each other, with the result that their public conduct is the same as if they had no such intentions.'

A problem like this must be capable of solution; it does not require that we know how to attain the moral improvement of men but only that we should know the mechanism of nature in order to use it on men, organizing the conflict of the hostile intentions present in a people in such a way that they must compel themselves to submit to coercive laws. Thus a state of peace is established in which laws have force."

 ... but is his observations of a Europe seemingly in perpetual warfare relevant today, in Britain, in Wales ?

To reform or not reform, that ...

... is a question for the people.

The referendum of 5th May this year asked the public whether they wished to keep the first-past-the-post system for Westminster elections or switch to the alternative vote (AV), the reply from the electorate to our politicians was a 2 to 1 in favour of the current "First Past the Post" system, an unambiguous rejection of change; in Wales the national vote rejected the proposed change by a margin that matched very closely the national vote.

So when an anonymous Labour Party spokesman (Wales) says:

"... our position is crystal clear - the Tories in Westminster have no mandate for changing the electoral system in Wales".

... they are utterly wrong, the referendum gave Westminster a mandate.  Of the 440 voting areas across the country, the Yes votes supporting change made up the majority in only 10 areas.  The 10 areas are: Cambridge, Camden, Edinburgh Central, Glasgow Kelvin, Hackney, Haringey, Islington, Lambeth, Oxford, Southwark; I don't see a Wales constituency in the list.

So why are Carwyn and chums so afraid of a change that would revert to the peoples preference, it is must be because they are afraid the "also ran" parties, including my Tory preference, who would be put out into the cold by the electorate. It's obvious that publically they must be seen to oppose the proposed change because the buffoons and poltroons of politics, and organisations that hang onto the coat tails as "reformers", because of the heinous label being bandied about by probable losers...

"Gerrymandering."

Fortunately for all, the electorate prefer a winner to a loser, so Carwyn's bluster is just that, I am sure behind closed doors there is the expectation of great things to come .......... from the left wing !

Wales through the eyes of the Times ...

...journalist Giles Coren :

God, I love Wales. And I love the Welsh. They are so much more mellow, more at peace with themselves and with the world, than the people of this United Kingdom’s other smaller nations. They’re not all up in your face with their tedious folklore and nationalist yearnings and the anti-imperial truisms of long, fighty memory. They’re not all wiry and shouty and drunk and thinking they invented poetry. They just chill their boots in their gorgeous country, and speak to each other in the lilting calypso of their magical language – no doubt about what terrible bastards the rest of us are – and sing their songs and eat their wonderful food and look out at the sea. 

  ... yesterday 19 Nov 2011, he obviously missed the ten percent that would float Wales off into the Irish sea, fortunately for the reputation of the peoples of Wales.

Right to buy, here in Wales ...

... the politicians will probably say no to the people.

Across the boundary that was Offa's Dyke David Cameron and Nick Clegg will reveal details on Monday of their vision to democratise housing further, Margaret Thatchers flagship programme of council house sales is to be upgraded to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

The average £26,000 discount for a council home is set to jump to about £52,000, with tenants in London and the South East saving even larger sums under the new scheme, additionally first-time buyers will be eligible for 95 per cent mortgages, similar to those available at the height of the property boom five years ago, and underwritten by the government.  Will the new loan guarantee result in lenders providing mortgages with deposits of only 5 per cent, compared with the 20 per cent or more that has to be paid at the moment?


Mr Cameron will also confirm plans to release thousands of acres of public land owned by hospitals, schools and the Ministry of Defence to allow, in theory, up to 100,000 homes to be built.

Good news?  Probably, it has every chance of working, the right ingredients are ready to put into the mixing bowl, unfortunately for the peoples of Wales mainstream politics is firmly embedded in the politics of the last century so the scheme is unlikely to migrate westwards ..............

.............. yet we all pay the same taxes ?

If you build it, they will ...

... come to the market.

Two quiet reports have made the news, both should have been shouted from the rooftops of our various political houses, and surprise surprise, it is not just Westminster that is able to act, our very own Assembly is able to contribute to the solution and share considerable kudos with Westminster !

The first report relates to the governments (Westminster) intention to inject billions into the economy, with the proviso that each investment be sold onto various markets, energy, various infrastructure such as roads and hospitals, and the Coup de grâce is social housing.


The second report in today's Times by the country’s largest listed residential landlord "Grainger" that predicts the shortage of housing will force 50% of the population to rent by 2026.

One man's desperation is another man's opportunity, and this particular conundrum opens the door for Carwyn into Downing Street, not with a begging bowl, but with an opportunity to share in the finance bowl.  The intention is not to coerce businesses into building for the future, but for government to under-right projects that would then be sold on to those best fitted to finance and manage the ensuing business.

Carwyn is positioned to gain capital for much needed social housing, such projects do not have to be sold on to outfits such as Grainger, there would be sufficient time for existing social landlords local to the Principality, though in the larger scheme it wouldn't matter a jot as long as the peoples of Wales could live in good homes.

It's a roller-coaster world that a life-changing ...

... condition presents to the unwary, it focuses the mind, cutting through the crap and identifying those that would have you change your life to suit their unbecoming style, particularly politics, and it is here I would start.

There exists in cyberspace an anonymous creature that uses the penname "Welsh Ramblings", he writes here of Wales and his vision of a very socialist society, to give credit, there is consistency, a single minded purpose to drive Wales into the arms of a Albanian style dictatorship of the 1950's.  The latest diatribe consists of an attack on the WAG Labour administration entitled "Labour: against Welsh democracy", it is because the penny has dropped amongst the Cardiff Bay politicians that "First Past the Post" produces stronger government, I wrote following the last election that the Labour Party would have a governable majority were it not for the system that introduces losers into the political equation.

Democracy is left at the ballot box as the electorate make their choice, what comes after should be "winner takes all", who wants anything other than winners at the Assembly.

Peter Black today wrote ...

In fact the mandate for the Assembly's voting system lies in the 1997 referendum, when voters supported a partially proportional system of electing AMs, in which the constituency boundaries were tied to those for Westminster.

... Liberal Democratic bullshit, the electorate were given two choice questions:

• I agree that there should be a Welsh Assembly.
• I do not agree that there should be a Welsh Assembly.

... no mention of voting systems on that particular ballot paper, the recent referendum did ask the electorate whether it was their wish to move from the FPTP currently used for National Elections, the electorate made a categoric choice, it wishes to keep FPTP rejecting second place politics.  It was politicians and their familiars that created the Wales voting system, not the people.

... a message to Peter Black goes something like "........... the electorate, we do not like lies."

And to finish my Sunday night post, I was diagnosed as diabetic just three weeks ago, I am fortunate it is only Type 1; medication, diet and exercise has taken over my life, fortunately it doesn't affect the mind, not just yet anyway.

... and congratulations to Jon and Miranda on the arrival of Amelie, a pretty little girl.

Anti-capitalistm, attogram a ...

... meniscus tear and if the pain wasn't tough enough I discovered last Thursday I am diabetic, the world does suck at times.

They sit outside Saint Paul's cathedral under banners that proclaim "Capitalism isn't working", their right to freedom of expression should not detract from their misunderstanding of commerce.  Capitalism is working well, it is the mechanism that delivers my shirt at a price I am willing to pay in sufficient quantities to satisfy demand.  Now if the camps proclaimed the markets as having flaws that can be rectified through the use of the law they would have a case, monopoly power supply in the UK is one such case, monopoly or oligopoly (the decisions of one firm influence, and are influenced by, the decisions of other firms, it raises prices and restrict production in much the same way as a monopoly).

Unfortunately the protesters add to their message "Capitalism isn't working" the words "another world is possible", no word on what exactly this other world might be.  Public opinion on the other hand is mixed, a majority tells the authorities to evict the protesters, another majority tells Saint Paul's it was wrong to close, yet another majority tells the world that they support the aims of the protesters.  Weird times .........

On farming subsidies, do we all, including the poor of Anglesey, subsidise the lamb roast of Carwyn Jones, or should Carwyn Jones pay the real price of Welsh lamb, such is the case of farming subsidies.

Still no news on when my torn meniscus is to be repaired, having put down my loss of weight these past months to the pain in my knee, I was quite devastated when our GP diagnosed me as being diabetic ..............

.............. attogram, the weight of a typical e-book downloaded to the Amazon Kindle, lighter than a print book.

Subsidies, the taxpayers curse ...

... and the litmus test for any business, and that includes farming in Wales.

Today's report that farmers in Wales receive £280 million in subsidies (this amount equates to 80% of their income) is a cautionary indicator to those who generate the base wealth of Britain, it means farming in Wales has become an economic junkie, unable to function without its next "financial fix".

If our farmers (all the British farmers) need so much money from the British taxpayers, and EU money arriving in Britain is British taxes, then the businesses are probably not viable and should be allowed to sink with all the other insolvent businesses (including banks).

Government subsidies hide reality.

Jane Davidson ...

... said:

"There is a world of difference between the circumstances of my case and that of a Minister of Defence, for example, who goes and works for an arms dealer."


When responding to criticism that she failed to follow procedures when applying for a job whilst serving as Environment Minister in the Welsh Government.

In fact there is no difference, no defence ...............

The peoples president, ...

... I remember him well, on posters ...



... during the 1970's, they were wanted posters for republican terrorists, funny this world of ours, ...


... does a leopard change its spots ?


Politics .................

Crazy men and crazy ...

... women, compare the list with politicians.

• grandiose sense of self importance.
• preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance.
• belief that he/she is special and can only be understood by other special people.
• requires extensive admiration.
• has a sense of entitlement, favourable treatment, automatic compliance.
• exploitative, takes advantage of others to achieve his or her ends.
• lacks empathy.
• envious of others, believes others to be envious of him or her.
• shows arrogant, haughty behaviours or attitudes.

 "Diagnostic criteria for narcissistic disorder", from the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic ................ Medical Disorders.

Find any five of the pervasive pattern of grandiosity from the list and discover a certain grandiosity.

Consider Alex Salmond ................... or other leaders from history, .... and we vote to give these latter day Nero's power.

WAG stags have nothing of quality ...

... to rut with !

The peoples of Wales have no opposition worth its salt, we only have an opposition of posturing ...

... bullfrogs, each of which has much to say about nothing.

... and the loony left of Wales say the NHS is best left as a public ...

... service, apparently businesses are incapable of providing a good enough service !

When I read the tired words of a sterile apology ...

Stephen Graves, chief executive of West Suffolk hospital, said: "We have passed on our sincere apologies for any anxiety or distress which Mrs Dixey experienced in our care and assured Mrs Jacques that lessons have been learnt as a result of her complaint. We are committed to ensuring that all of our patients are treated with dignity."

... I know the lessons and commitments are essentially nationalised industry bullshit.

The story from today's Sunday Times, written by Sarah-Kate Templeton the Health Editor, is horrific to those who might become elderly patients of the future, and that's everyone ...

On her visits to her mother during treatment at the West Suffolk hospital in Bury St Edmunds, Jacques would take notes of what she found. On one occasion her mother had become dehydrated and fluid charts showed she had had nothing to drink between 12pm and 7pm.  ........... Call bells were not answered, staff did not introduce themselves to patients or explain what they were about to do. Patients were also addressed in the most impertinent manner by young staff. She was addressed as a child. "Please is a word" [a nurse said to her].

Jacques mother, who was recuperating from a broken leg on a rehabilitation ward, died in April, just weeks after she had been discharged.


If the markets were in operation, if there was choice, if there were competition, would this particular parody of a caring organisation be open for business ?  I doubt it, it seems that to have the words "NHS Hospital" and "nursing" in the same sentence is oxymoron.


I am waiting for a knee operation, I think I might be safer paying for the operation, not for the surgeon, but the post op nursing ....................

Fagiolini in umido ...

... or braised beans with tomatoes in the vernacular, is a classic Tuscan summer dish from River café that should be doable all year round.

Ingredients for 6

• 1 500g jar of peeled plum tomatoes
• 1kg waxed yellow beans, tailed
• 3 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 bunch fresh basil leaves
• extra virgin olive oil

 
Method

• Blanch the beans in salted boiling water until tender. 
• Drain and set aside. 
• Heat the olive oil in a thick-bottomed saucepan and add the garlic. 
• Gently fry before adding half of the basil and season. 
• Add the tomatoes, and keeping the heat high, cook to reduce to a thick sauce, which should take 10 minutes. 
• Add the beans, stir to combine and season with black pepper. 
• Add the remaining basil leaves and serve drizzled with extra virgin olive oil.

... alternatively you might like to read Betsans blog, it will bore you to tears, Welsh politics is so sleep inducing.

... they didn't ask me either, ...

... but they don't have to in Wales, they didn't teach me to read and write either ...

... so I couldn't "opt out", I'm not sure what "opt out" means, I can't remember "opt out" in our classes at school, why have the politicians hung my body in the cold room with the pork ...

... am I the Assembly bacon ?

Mean spirited, not the voice of Wales, or ...

... is it an attempt to impose a selective apartheid to further the aims of the separatist agenda ?


To understand the politics of Jac it might be necessary to read his latest diatribe supported by Miserable, it represents a separation of people based upon origin and social conditions, except where the origin might fit a comfortable criteria that is perceived to have no impact on the objectives of the nationalists of the North West (refugees and the persecuted).  It is of course an extension of "identity politics" so beloved of the nationalists of Wales.

The preoccupation with group injury is one of the most visible features of identity politics.  The rhetoric of victimisation indicates that it is a sense of vulnerability that fuels the demand for the validation of identity, and it is the fragile character of emotion-based identities that unleashes the permanent quest for affirmation.¹  It is a belief that precisely because the quest for identity can never be fully realised that it is open to the influence of intolerant sensibilities.  An insecure identity not only craves recognition, it also has difficulty dealing with challenges to itself.

¹ 'Fragile identities' Therapy culture:Cultivating Vulnerability in an Uncertain Age. 2004. London: Routledge.

With the call by Jac and Miserable for the application of intolerance upon the most vulnerable sections of society, a group of people who might depend for shelter on the Social Housing sector, how soon before there is a call to extend their modern day Welsh apartheid to the rental market as a whole, or to apply conditions of residence before a person is allowed to buy a home in Wales.

And what exactly is this society that Jac and Miserable wish to stamp upon?  It is anyone they do not approve of, anyone that doesn't fit into their narrow vision of the future.

Intolerance of our neighbours takes many forms, the last European nationalists to identify and treat sections of society as less than desirable were the Nazi regime of Germany who discriminated against ...

• Jews
• Roma (or Gypsies)
• political prisoners
• homosexuals
• people with disabilities
• Jehovah's Witnesses
• Catholic clergy
• ...

... and who will be the local judge to determine acceptability, candidates best be devoid of social conscience and responsibility, maybe Jac or Miserable ............

What did Bethan Jenkins mean when ...

... when she said:

Any major cuts in BBC Wales' provision will be a severe blow to attempts to increase public awareness of our national structures and democratic institutions.

... and:

The BBC's news coverage in Wales has particular importance due to the shortage of media sources here".

In regard to the shortage of media coverage, this is a "Cnut" moment,where Jenkins is attempting to hold back the waves of public indifference to her political preferences.  The shortage of media reflects a public rejection of what she sees dear to the political process, the public of our 21st century just wish to be entertained, who watches Panorama when there is "Mock the Week" being televised, people prefer to laugh than cry.

I have a certain sympathy with the apparent lack of awareness of structures and institutions by the public, it is manifest every election.  Rhodri Morgan might have had an answer to this particular issue through the Welsh Baccalaureate, but by choosing it as a senior qualification he lost the plot, if it had been part of education from senior year 1, almost every pupil would leave school with what could have been a meaningful qualification, and along the way, with careful teaching, an understanding of political Wales.

When the Ucas general secretary said …

 … “we sincerely hope that it'll be possible to avoid further strike action, but that's in the government's hands now”.

The words of a seemingly powerful elite holding sway over the government elected by consent.

There is no place in Britain for a modern day Arthur Scargill, Elaine Edwards Ucac general secretary might like to read the history of that particular time and remember the little people who pay their taxes so that she and her membership can insist on a bigger share of the national cake.

... Theresa May, facist, not wanted ...

... on our democratic journey when she prevents Maryam Rajavi from exercising an invitation to speak to members of our parliament.

Theresa May and the pathetic civil service running her office is preventing an eminent and well respected dissident from the tyrannical Iran regime from speaking on the subject of "women and their mistreatment in Iran", her crime is "to call for a democratic and secular government committed to the rule of law and respect for human rights".

There is distinctly unpleasant smell emanating from the Home Office, it is the smell that accompanies lies, half-truths and appeasement, the government of the 1930's did much the same with Nazi Germany and 60 million people died as a result (including 6 million Jews).


In a parady of democracy Theresa May said she had taken into account the views of the Foreign Office and other departments ...

"I have concluded that maintaining Mrs Rajavi’s exclusion is justified as I do not consider her presence in the UK to be conducive to the public good.  The government makes no apologies for refusing people access to the UK if we believe they might seek to undermine our society."

Well, I have thought about our "freedoms of thought and expression" and about "appeasement of tyrannies" ...

...It seems our government and their civil servants prefer the company of "international bullies" to the more civilised company found amongst the British people and those Members of Parliament who try to represent their views and feelings.

... new European Union referendum on the cards ...

... after a petition signed by more than 100,000 people was submitted to MPs, the Commons Backbench Business Committee will agree to grant a one-day debate on a referendum after parliament returns from its summer recess next week, the debate, thought to take place before Christmas, would be the first seeking the public’s opinion since the historic 1975 decision to join the Common Market, (source The Sunday Times 2 Oct 2011).

The single question uppermost on many minds is ....

... why should we have an open door policy to economic migration, why should the poor of Anglesey or Tyne and Wear pay taxes that are used to subsidise foreign workers.

A second question might be ...

... should we continue to be dictated to by the unelected poltroons of Europe who decide to impose social conditions upon Britain without a mandate bought at the ballot box.

An interesting debate if the politicians voice the concerns of their electorate, and there are more than the two questions I might ask.

Brutal and moronic Iran, ...

... that's how Tristan Jakob-Hoff described the current regime that intends to execute a man because of his beliefs.

Youcef Nadarkhani a Christian pastor has refused to renounce his faith to escape a death sentence pronounced by an Iranian court.  When the court gave Youcef Nadarkhani, 34, a third and final chance to avoid hanging, but he replied: "I am resolute in my faith and Christianity and have no wish to recant".

As an atheist I find the events incredulous, the mystical past of the middle east holds as much credence as do the tales of Arthur and the Round Table, although as a human being I defend the rights to have a belief system, just don't even think of bringing your evangelism to my home ...

...wow, am I so different to the Iranian Islamic priesthood, well the Jehovah's Witness or Mormon missionary who knocks on my door won't find me at all interested, but they will not be asked to recant, neither will there be the alternative option of being assisted with the last great leap of faith.

So the only difference between a Caerphilly door and the Iranian courtroom is the level of violence offered to the missionary. There has to be more, we are after all civilized in our secular world;  but how civilized is it to refuse the offer of an explanation of another persons belief, albeit in mystical terms.

By turning our back on the other view, we often use an expression such as "lets agree to disagree" or "... but I defend your right ...", and slot the event into the tolerance bag, and this is where we become less than honest, we should always challenge opposing views or the unproven hypothesis, along the way we can maintain the dignity of those who sit opposite.


The dishonesty practised by the Iranian State is founded on its fear of debate and fomenting internal opposition from the people of Iran, here lies the real reason Youcef Nadarkhani is going to be executed ...

In 2009, he challenged the regime’s insistence that all schools should teach Islam. He was arrested in October that year and has been imprisoned in Rasht ever since. He was sentenced to death for apostasy by a court in Rasht last year.

Well at least we are able to voice our disent in Britain, or are we ...

... don't listen to them Carwyn, they have little ...

... to offer Wales, I refer to the Liberal Democrats and Plaid, both parties are more interested in popular opinion rather than what Wales needs, you on the other hand have allies amongst the more conservative voters with a social conscience from all sections of society.

So why might you listen to any advice I might have, simple, my advice is no advice, just keep your eye on the ball and deliver your promises, although your department that deals with businesses is a more than a little weak, at times it seems very odd to the electorate, certain experiences seems to be missing ... and there is more to Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies, he has said some aspects of the programme (that's your current programme under discussion) were of concern, as was the track record of some ministers.  I read that as support.

Now no advice doesn't mean I have nothing to say, I might suggest you look at Felixstowe for vision, it opens a new deepwater terminal today that will increase trade through the port by 50%, could you find a little time to understand how flexible Standard Chartered runs its business so that it is able to add 1000 people to its payroll during this last year, and let us not forget individuals such as Major-General John Page who had an abiding concern for those less fortunate or less forceful than himself, he died this month age 88.

It's all to be found on-line with The Times.

Oh, and lets not forget, you have enough time to fix things before the next election .....