Condi soft-shoe shuffle
water
My Sexy Wife (2)
Modblog is Dead
Quake 4
Smoked Ethiopian with Mango Chutney, to go please
Selfish Cunt!
Television Entertainment: An Oxymoron
My Sexy Wife
The Chimp is on the sauce again!!

Condi soft-shoe shuffle

toast99 | 07 April, 2006 16:38

Condi 1: Pupil of Brent Scowcroft, George Bush's national security adviser.....where she learned the republican value of ultimate realism as foreign policy

work with brutal regimes that might, ignoring their faults, work in the best interests of the US....not only sup with the devil but share in the detritus of human history that is created....

Rice was the one person who decided that democratic change in the Soviet Union was not conducive to the US.....ironic eh? Not at all, for the fear and paranoia was needed to drive any republican administration bereft of home economic policies....

when Yeltsin visited the White House she physically blocked the door to the Oval Office so that President Bush would not have to meet him...

Flip Flop Flip Flop

Condi 2: She struck a different tone after the Clinton administration, showing George W Bush in an article written in 2000 that reaching out globally was flawed, mocked "nationbuilding", and called for a narrowly focussed foreign policy.

"The President must remember that the military is a special instrument. It is lethel and it is meant to be. It is not a civilian police force. It is not a political referee. And it is certainly not designed to build a civilian society."

Flip Flop Flip Flop

Condi 3: As national security adviser to George W Bush she helped implement a radical foreign policy change....pre-emptive war....an aggressive pro-democracy nation-building agenda....

"punish France, ignore Germany, forgive Russia"

Flip Flop Flip Flop

Condi 4: We now have democratic reform, through co-operation.....working hard to bend to European considerations, working hard to maintain relations with the UN

it is hard to think of any way that US foreign policy would have been any different though if John Kerry was President...

Flip Flop Flip Flop

water

toast99 | 07 April, 2006 16:31

Rainfall has not been as constant as our water companies would have liked, and so as we approach the more water dependent months in our year they are setting in motion plans to sanction various forms of use....watering the lawn, vegetable garden or hanging baskets with a hose, wash a car or mobile caravan the same way, etc. Water companies are also encouraging customers to report offenders, by telephone or anonymous e-mail tip offs. There is a problem with that to my mind. What is to stop somebody with a neighbourly grievance, an interfering busybody or someone just downright malicious having a field day? Suffice to say that these same water companies would be better prepared, and have more water in store if, rather than pay greedy shareholders ill-gotten gains secured when shares were dispensed like confetti on privatisation they used their means to repair the multitude of leaking mains water pipes throughout England.

To quote a journalist

"Blaming water customers for the lack of foresight by water companies is like Dick Cheney blaming that lawyer he shot when out quail-hunting for having a beaky nose and a squawky voice"

My Sexy Wife (2)

toast99 | 21 November, 2005 14:01

My favourite hot woman!

Modblog is Dead

toast99 | 21 November, 2005 13:59

Modblog

Modblog may as well be defunct. It is a wonderful blogging community, with a mainstay of bloggers utilising and designing their own templates, or customising existing templates, and where modbloggers interact unlike any other blogging community. The problem is the incessant downtime, culminating in a complete meltdown a few months ago. For the last month a default template has been available, with no imaging or customisation, in an attempt to keep some of the dwindling hardcore bloggers that are exiting to Blogger etc. On Thurs Modblog shut down again, promising to be back online later that day. It is still down. It would be more bearable if no promises were made about start-up, but it is the deceit, the lies, the lack of interaction from Modblog admin that is abhorent. Modblog is dead.

Quake 4

toast99 | 23 October, 2005 04:26

I purchased the FPS PC game Quake 4 yesterday, and boldly set forth to install it on my PC, a 64-bit beast with obscene amounts of memory and hard drive space, along with an impressive graphics card.

I took the precaution of updating my graphics driver, defragging my hard drives, even though I have software that constantly defrags my main drive, and placed the dvd in the drive.

All went well, product id valid, folder for installation of game ready, and off we go.

Error 1628.....not installed. Bugger.

Attempted to install on a lesser spec PC.

Installed. But. When I attempt to play the game the dvd drive is not recognised when the game is in the drive. ???

Solution. Return game and exchange for Farcry Instincts for the XBox, and wait for Quake 4 on the XBox 360.

I could have either contacted ID Software with the details, or checked the various gaming forums for advice, but when a purchaser has already made sure that he or she has above recommended minimum specs on their hardware for the game I do not see why it should be a problem in installing a game for it to work correctly.

(I almost feel disappointment in advance of playing the game though, because updates of games rarely deliver, with the exception of Unreal Tournament. Doom 3 and Half-Life 2 were both overhyped. Halo 2 on the XBox was, in my humble opinion, not as good a game as the original. There you are gamers....verbally castrate me!)

But I'm right.

Smoked Ethiopian with Mango Chutney, to go please

toast99 | 18 October, 2005 15:35

There appears to be an ill-judged foreboding about the virus known as Avian Flu, especially in The West.

There have been reported deaths to humans of well under 100 since its' inception.

In the same period there have been at least six million deaths of children from malaria.

Maybe grilled child should be on the menu instead of our exortation for cheaper poultry, then we may start getting a more realistic perception of what constitutes a health problem.

Selfish Cunt!

toast99 | 14 October, 2005 10:55

I work for a national charity in the UK, which is the UK part of a worldwide charitable organisation. My job is two-fold, firstly providing medical equipment on a short-term loan basis to patients discharged from hospital or on referral from their GP, along with people who are waiting for Social Services to provide long-term equipment to enhance their living experience.Secondly, I am the caretaker for the centre that I work in, taking care of bookings at the hall. This enables me to live in a three-bed flat with my wife, provided rent-free as part of my renumeration. This week I have been on holiday, and a friend of mine, a volunteer with the organisation, has been taking care of the medical loan side of my employment.

Now the equipment loans fall into two catagories, three month and six month loans. All mobility equipment is loaned for a maximum three months, other equipment for bathing and toiletry requirements for a maximum six months. There are reasons for this. Firstly, our supplies of equipment are finite, so there may be a situation where some equipment may be at short supply, wheelchairs especially. Secondly, there are procedures for obtaining equipment on a long-term basis, either through the patient's GP for mobility equipment, or Social Services for most other. There are situations where the patient may need to purchase the equipment. Nobody is required to pay any money to loan from us, no deposit, equipment usually available on the day required.

Which is why some people piss me off.

My friend, a volunteer, was subjected to a tirade of abuse because I had written to his wife to request the return of the wheelchair that she had loaned, it being one month overdue. His wife still needed it, her appointment for a long-term wheelchair was not until November, and no, he did not give a damn that somebody else may have to endure a wait because he was not willing to return the wheelchair until she was provided with one on a long-term basis. Some people, not all fortunately, take us for granted and assume that they can keep the equipment as long as they need it.

I can deal with this kind of ignorence, and I have contacts with the various Doctor's Surgeries and occupational therapy/physiotherapy departments at the local hospitals, along with Social Workers, so I can resolve the problems caused by these recalcitrant twats but why should a man giving his free-time have to handle this?

Forgive my rant, but a selfish attitude will do no good in the long-term. He may need my help in the future.

ps. I spoke to this man and informed him that unless he provided a request from his wife's GP for a small loan extension by next friday, he would be facing a charge. He telephoned back to guarantee a doctor's letter by Tuesday.

Television Entertainment: An Oxymoron

toast99 | 08 October, 2005 05:43

Occasionally I watch television to attempt to broaden my outlook on life, and to be entertained, though I realise that television entertainment is an oxymoron.

This last week I have watched The World with Neil Cavuto on a few occasions, to glean some sense of American politics and social awareness from a Fox Network perspective.

Is there anybody in the US who takes this man seriously? On the few interviews he carried out he spent more time interrupting his guest to push his own views and agenda, often finishing his small rant with a plug for his book. Because this show is a glorified plug for a series of book signings in tandem with Oliver North. This guy is incredible.

We have some useless individuals who profess to entertain in the UK, two who spring to mind being Eammon Holmes (smug, but having nothing discernible to be smug about!) and Richard Keys (ex-daytime TV eyecandy for the post-menopausal now presenting football programmes???) but Cavuto takes the biscuit! Not so much an oxymoron than a poxy moron.

And Anne Coulter. Think Thatcher, as a hooker but without the intellect.

My Sexy Wife

toast99 | 07 October, 2005 15:08

The Chimp is on the sauce again!!

toast99 | 24 September, 2005 15:05

George W Bush is finding the pressure too much

Gambia win again!

toast99 | 22 September, 2005 01:07

FIFA U-17 World Championship Gambia brush past 10-man Qatar (1:3) It was a tight tussle between Qatar and Gambia until a red card allowed Gambia to press home their extra man advantage at the FIFA U-17 World Championship Peru 2005. Mauro Alfieri (FIFA.com) 20 Sep 2005 Gambia are on the brink of a place in the last eight of the FIFA U-17 World Championship Peru 2005 after claiming a narrow victory over Qatar at the sun-kissed Miguel Grau Stadium, Piura. A delighted Gambia coach Fred Osam Duodu, who has inspired his team to play without fears, said: "It wasn't an easy match at all and, as I always say, any team that reaches a tournament like this must be a very strong opponent and that was how it proved. Unfortunately one or two of my best players were out and I think that was why it was a little bit tougher for us today." Gambia were forced into two changes from the team that famously beat Brazil in their opening match, with Lamin Conteh and George Cole coming in for the suspended Saja Leigh and Ebrima Sohna. Qatar, meanwhile, gave starts to Ahmed al Emais and the frighteningly fast Khalfan al Khalfan, who was not fit to play all 90 minutes against the Netherlands. The Gambians were roared on by a large contingent of passionate fans from their homeland and they gave them plenty to shout and sing about in the first half as they took the game to Qatar at a frenetic pace. Latest photo galleries from Peru 2005 Sainey Nyassi and Momodou Ceesay both went close before Gambia forged in front. It was the impressive Ceesay who hit the target, firing home low for his second goal of the tournament and enhancing his already considerable reputation at Peru 2005 (0:1, 24'). Qatar were not to be denied though and within six minutes they scored, Yusef Ali showing a fantastic burst of speed before sliding the ball under the advancing Babucarr Suso for a somewhat surprising but delightful equaliser (1:1, 32'). It is tempting to say the Gambian fans were stunned into silence, but the truth is they did not miss a drumbeat in their encouragement and Qatar were on the back foot for the rest of the half. Ousman Sonko flashed a shot just wide for Gambia and Abdoulie Mansally brought an excellent reflex save out of Ghaith al Mohannadi, but the teams went into the break on level terms. Qatar's Johar Al Kaabi rises to head the ball in a challenge with Gambia captain Ousman Jallow in the 1:3 win for Gambia in Piura. Mauro Alfieri Fans makes their own entertainmentThe second half did not match the first in terms of excitement or goalmouth incident and the spectators were left to amuse themselves with Mexican waves for sustained periods. Qatar keeper al Mohannadi had to be on his toes to deny substitute Sanna Nyassi from close range as he almost turned a teasing cross by Alagie Ngum into the net, but as the match wore on it had the look of stalemate. The tide turned Gambia's way when Qatar were forced to see out the final 20 minutes with only 10 men after Khalid al Sulaiti was given a straight red card for a nasty-looking foul on Nyassi. Qatar goalscorer Yusef kept their hopes up with his silky skills and jinking runs, but Gambia retook the lead courtesy of a spot-kick after Ceesay was bundled off the ball when clean through. Skipper Ousman Jallow, who netted from a twice-taken penalty against Brazil, this time required only one attempt to send al Mohannadi the wrong way (1:2, 78'). As the clock ticked down and Qatar tired, Gambia managed to match their score against the Brazilians. Substitute Pa Modou Jagne neatly grabbed the third goal (1:3, 92') before he and his team-mates took the acclaim of their ecstatic fans and went on a lap of honour to wave goodbye to Piura ahead of their third game against the Netherlands in Lima on Friday. Qatar coach Tini Ruijs said: "I thought we were a little but unlucky with the red card because my player had only just come onto the pitch. It was his first foul and he was not warmed up or used to the pace of the game. However, we played against a good, strong Gambia team and they scored some beautiful goals. I think they deserved to win."

John Prescott Announces Government Environment Policy

toast99 | 21 September, 2005 17:03

"Yeah, but no but yeah but, no but, yeah but, no......"

World U-17 Football : Brazil 1 : 3 Gambia......well done boys!!

toast99 | 18 September, 2005 10:04

FIFA U-17 World Championship

Gambia stun defending champs Brazil (1:3)

17 Sep 2005 African champions Gambia pulled off a stunning, but deserved victory over tournament holders Brazil in Group D of the FIFA U-17 World Championship Peru 2005 at the shell-shocked Miguel Grau Stadium, Piura. Gambia coach Fred Osam Duodu promised a surprise beforehand and pledged that his players would have no complexes about taking on the mighty Brazilians with all their dazzling skills and daunting reputation.

From the outset, looking at the sheer power and physical presence of his impressive team, it was easy to see why. Duodu hailed the result as a great night for African football and said his players had "learned to live with kings", but pledged that his side must not get carried away with one victory. He said: "This win does not make us any kind of favourites at all. Our first priority is to cross the bridge to qualification for the quarter-finals and then try to get into the medal zone from there." Their giant striker Momodou Ceesay was a constant menace up front and standing just five centimetres shy of two metres' tall, Brazil will not have come up against the likes of him too often. That repeatedly showed as they struggled to cope with Ceesay and the watching scouts from around the world will have written his name in their notebooks for sure.

It was Brazil who took the lead however, to no-one's great surprise, but when the goal came it really was something quite spectacular. Leyrielton supplied the cross and Igor rounded off a flowing move with a special, acrobatic volley that had the Peruvian crowd gasping in admiration (1:0, 23')… but Brazil's lead was short-lived. Gambia's Abdoulie Mansally got the leveller, turning one way then the other before drilling the ball past Felipe to spark a sensational turn of events (1:1, 27').

Gambians grow in confidence

That goal gave Gambia the belief they needed to take the game to Brazil and Ceesay fired the African champions in front in first-half stoppage time, skipping through the Brazilian back-line and firing low into the corner from an acute angle (1:2, 45'). If Brazil forged a masterplan to get back into the game at half-time, it would not have included going down to 10 men five minutes after the restart as Marcelo was shown a straight red card for a foul on Tijan Jaiteh. Brazil were always going to be up against it from that point on, though Gambia defender Mandou Bojang almost gave them a helping hand with a beautiful diving header that came ever so close to being a very graceful own goal.

Gambia, made sure they stretched Brazil across the park as much as they could with a slick passing game that had the Piuran fans crying "olé" in appreciation. The script was not supposed to read like this and goalscorer Leyrielton sliced horribly wide for Brazil when in a good position as they toiled hard to bring about a change in these unexpected fortunes. Gambian captain Ousman Jallow could have put the matter beyond reasonable doubt if he had done better while unmarked in the box, but there was too much pace on Ceesay's centre and he could only steer his awkward-looking volley over the top. Jallow was not to be denied though and when Gambia were awarded a penalty in the 75th minute, the skipper had no hesitation in picking up the ball to carry out his duty. Felipe was equal to his effort though, diving well to his left to palm the ball away, but the referee's assistant flagged to signal that the goalkeeper moved off his line before the kick was taken. At the second time of asking, Jallow made no mistake and flicked the penalty into the opposite corner, just beyond Felipe's desperate lunge (1:3, 75').

A reckless challenge by Gambian defender Ebrima Sohna earned him the second red card of the match and the Africans were forced to play out the final 10 minutes short-handed. Brazil finished the match with nine men and in total disarray however when Celso was sent off for an ugly elbowing incident. Gambia matched them for sheer numbers though when Saja Leigh became the fourth player to be dismissed as the clock ticked down. This shock result leaves Brazil with a mountain to climb to qualify for the quarter-finals and with Holland their next opponents in Piura on Tuesday, that difficult task looks anything but straight-forward. Brazil coach Nelson Rodrigues said: "Gambia had a plan to play high balls over the top of our defenders and we had a plan to play with speed. They succeeded with their plan and we didn't with ours. This was always the 'Group of Death' and my players were prepared for it to be difficult, so I will not have any problems picking them up for the next game."

For Gambia, they can look forward to an encounter with Qatar on the same night and they seem certain to be welcomed home as conquering heroes whatever happens from here.

Bush has fun with Pikachu

toast99 | 16 September, 2005 01:44

When GW gets stressed and needs to relax, mummy sends for his pokemon buddy....I choose Pikachu!

Yellow fun at White House

Religious bigotry at its worst.....targetting children

toast99 | 15 September, 2005 13:01

And you may wonder why there is so much hatred in the world

This is bloody scary!!

US mercenaries could kill US citizens

toast99 | 12 September, 2005 01:33

Iraq mercenaries patrol New Orleans

With a license to use lethal force infamous mercenaries fresh from terrorising Iraqi civilians are now licensed to patrol New Orleans with the full consent of the Louisiana governor.

Hired Iraqi killers to patrol New Orleans

Mississippi Flood of 1927

toast99 | 07 September, 2005 13:16

In 1927, the Mississippi River broke its banks flooding over 27,000 square miles of land, up to a depth of 30ft in places. 246 died. Over 700,000 were displaced. In New Orleans the white business class forced the state to dynamite a levee upstream to release the water into the black areas of the delta, the black workers then being forced at gunpoint to work at flood relief.

"Their struggle began as Man against nature. It became one of man against man. The flood brought with it a human storm. Honour and money collided. White and black collided. Regional and national power structures collided. The collisions shook America." John M. Barry.....Rising Tide

American society was changed, with hundreds of thousands of delta-dwelling blacks being moved to northern cities, fomenting and cementing suspicions, distrust, neglect and the racism that endure today. Poor southern blacks became poor northern blacks. No longer rural, now urban.

Then, as of now, the American boast is "we get along because we can afford to". What happens when you take wealth out of the equation? You saw last week in the New Orleans environs.

Is America Stupid, Proud or Both?

toast99 | 07 September, 2005 01:41

Cuban doctors on standby to help US hurricane victims

Tuesday, September 6, 2005 HAVANA, Cuba (AFP):

More than 1,500 Cuban doctors are ready to leave for the United States to help Hurricane Katrina victims but Washington has yet to accept the offer of help from its longtime nemesis. Cuban President Fidel Castro paraded a small army of doctors, white-coated and carrying green knapsacks of supplies, at the Havana convention center Sunday night, after they dutifully reported for duty from all over the island.

"Forty-eight hours have passed and we have received no response to our offer. We will wait patiently," said Castro, who increased his offer to 1,586 doctors and 34 tonnes of medicine while insisting it was not politically motivated. "We're ready. There's a disaster in the United States, medical coverage is not sufficient, but ideology stands in the way," doctor Rafael Vera, 43, told AFP. "We lament that politics takes precedence while lives are being lost."

Castro often deploys his doctors around the world and underscores inequities in the US health system, under which 40 million US citizens have inadequate medical care. Cuba and its northern neighbor have no diplomatic relations and regularly refuse one another's help. Cuba rejected the 50,000 dollars Washington offered in the wake of hurricanes in 2004 and this year, and Washington declined Cuba's offer of help after the September 11, 2001 attacks.

Venezuela, which also has testy relations with the United States, has offered one million gallons of gasoline for Katrina victims and five million dollars for a field hospital, water and other essential supplies for the tens of thousands of victims. A Venezuelan official said Monday that Citgo, a subsidiary of Venezuela's state-owned oil company, was sheltering 45,500 storm victims in three of its facilities in Louisiana and Texas. "This forms part of the aid from our country," Civil Protection director Antonio Rivero told Globovision television.

Caribbean Net News

Barbara Bush amused by the poor black people

toast99 | 07 September, 2005 01:25

Barbara Bush: Things Working Out 'Very Well' for Poor Evacuees from New Orleans

Accompanying her husband, former President George H.W.Bush, on a tour of hurricane relief centers in Houston, Barbara Bush said today, referring to the poor who had lost everything back home and evacuated, "This is working very well for them."

The former First Lady's remarks were aired this evening on American Public Media's "Marketplace" program. She was part of a group in Houston today at the Astrodome that included her husband and former President Bill Clinton, who were chosen by her son, the current president, to head fundraising efforts for the recovery. Sen. Hilary Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama were also present.

In a segment at the top of the show on the surge of evacuees to the Texas city, Barbara Bush said: "Almost everyone I’ve talked to says we're going to move to Houston." Then she added: "What I’m hearing which is sort of scary is they all want to stay in Texas. Everyone is so overwhelmed by the hospitality.

"And so many of the people in the arena here, you know, were underprivileged anyway, so this--this (she chuckles slightly) is working very well for them."

Bush's mother laughs at poor blacks

The belligerent fart

toast99 | 05 September, 2005 15:08

I came across an interesting fact today about Mozart;
Whenever invited to dine at the tables of the great and the good
He would express his pleasure at the cuisine
By issuing a belligerent fart.
Though going against the accepted mores of the time
Twas no doubt of more musical note than any offering from Ludacris
And certainly more lyrically adept
Than the latest 50 Cent gurgle

Just thought that I would share that with you

Rather like Mozart

Origins of New Orleans

toast99 | 05 September, 2005 13:35

In 1699 Pierre le Moyne D'Iberville, along with his two brothers, began exploring the Mississippi Delta. His younger brother, Sanvolle, commanded a small fort at Biloxi, which was the first European territory.

In 1718 Bienville le Moyne D'Iberville surveyed an abandoned Indian village called Tchoutchouma, ordered his men to clear the ground and build houses, naming the project New Orleans, in honour of the Duke of Orleans who had authorised the exploration of the Mississippi Delta.

In 1763, at the end of the Seven Years' War, France lost Canada to Britain, and the Louisiana territory was ceded to Spain.

On April 11th 1788, the old French city was burnt, nine hundred buildings being destroyed, including the Church of St Louis. A new city was built, which is now old New Orleans. A Spanish nobleman, Don Andreas Almonaster y Roxas gave £16,000 to build the Cathedral of St Louis, a clergy house and a hospital. He also rebuilt the town hall, hospitals, a boy's school and a chapel for Ursuline nuns.

On April 30th 1803, by the Treaty of Paris, Napolean sold Louisiana to the United States (France had regained control on October 1st 1800 by the Treaty of San Ildefonso, under which the Spanish King allowed France to regain Louisiana).

In March 1804, the Ursuline nuns wrote to Thomas Jefferson requesting an Act of Congress that would guarantee their property and rights.

Jefferson replied

"The principles of the Constitution of the United States are a sure guaranty to you that it will be preserved to you sacred and inviolate and that your Institution will be permitted to govern itself without interferrence from the civil authority. Whatever diversity of shades may appear in the religious opinions of our fellow citizens, the charitable objects of your Institution cannot be of indifference to any; and its furtherence of the wholesome purpose by training up its young members in the way they should go, cannot fail to insure the patronage of the Government it is under. Be assured that it will meet with all the protection my office can give it."

Perhaps Bush should have taken onboard that same responsibility himself.

Bush insouciant at yet more collateral

toast99 | 03 September, 2005 13:23

Watching Bush on Fox yesterday as he met Governors, Fema's Michael Brown, coastguards and other reps to get a precis of the situation, his demeanor fluctuated from impatient to bored, once even stifling a yawn.

And the US public condone this uncaring, arrogant despot.

Were Blair to have acted this insouciant manner, effectively "rubber-necking" a humanitarian disaster with no regard to compassion, he would be castrated, politically and also probably medically.

I'm only joking girls......really!!

toast99 | 30 August, 2005 15:51

Hey Ladies

• If you think you might be fat, you are. Don't ask us, just get your flabby arse down to the gym.
• Learn to work the toilet seat: if it's up, PUT THE BLOODY THING DOWN.
• Don't cut your hair. EVER! It causes unnecessary arguments when we dare to comment on it.
• Birthdays, Valentines and Anniversaries are not quests to see if we can find the perfect gift....again.
• Sometimes, we are not thinking about you. Live with it.
• Shopping is not a sport.
• Anything you wear is fine.....REALLY!!
• Ask for what you want directly. Subtle hints don't work.
• Face it, pissing standing up is more difficult than from point blank....we are bound to miss sometimes.
• Do not question our sense of direction.
• "Yes","No"and "Mmm" are perfectly acceptable answers.
• Anything we said or did 12 months ago is inadmissable in a subsequent argument.
• It's not the dress that makes you look fat, it's all the bloody chocolate you eat.
• Let us ogle other women. How can we reassure you how pretty you are unless we compare?
• Whenever possible, if you need an answer to a question, please ask away during the commercial breaks.

Only joking ladies...each to his own

Where did that young boy go to?

toast99 | 30 August, 2005 15:38

I spent a short while yesterday in a local bar, leaning on the counter and watching the shoppers in the town centre pass by. As one particular family passed I noticed a young boy of about 5 years-old look into the bar. I could see the curiousity and appreciation of his surroundings in his lively eyes. In time, as he passed adjacent to me, I caught his unwavering gaze. No alarm, just a direct look, inquisitive, bold.

I used to be that boy. I wish that I could discover him again.

Norwich Union and bargepoles

toast99 | 30 August, 2005 12:43

My wife is going to see her family in The Gambia over Christmas and having paid for the flight I needed travel insurance. Using the internet I felt that good old trusty Norwich Union would do the job. Paying the required sum immediately on 14th Aug we waited the necessary 4-5 working days, but as of today we are still waiting for the travel documentation, just the option of printing off the document online being available to date. The small money paid is not relevant, but what is disgraceful is the sheer lack of any customer service, apart from "it is on the way". I trust that nobody in blogland is hoping that Norwich Union will pay any insurance claim promptly......God forbid you have a personal pension with these financial morons!

Aug 20
I purchased travel insurance for my wife last weekend and we are still
to receive any documentation. Can you tell us how much longer we have
to wait?

no : TRS190406630

Tony Brookes, on behalf of Madlene Mendy.

Thank you.

Aug 22
Dear Mr Brookes,

Thank you for your email regarding travel insurance,

Your documents should have arrived within 4 - 5 working days, you
may have received these already but to avoid any further delays I have
issued a new policy schedule which you should hope to arrive shortly.

If we can be of any further assistance please do not hesitate to
contact us again.

Many Thanks,

Michael Tate
Internet Support
Norwich Union Direct

Opening hours:

Telephone: Weekdays 8am to 10pm, Saturday 8am to 6pm and Sunday
10am to 4pm. Call on 0800 888 111
On-line: Weekdays 6am to midnight, Saturday 8am to midnight and
Sunday 8am to 10pm. Email on support@norwich-union.co.uk

From: tony brookes on 20/08/2005 07:49
Office Phone No:
To: NUD Support@NORWICHUNION
cc:
Subject: single journey travel insurance

- Show quoted text -

I purchased travel insurance for my wife last weekend and we are
still
to receive any documentation. Can you tell us how much longer we
have
to wait?

no : TRS190406630

Tony Brookes, on behalf of Madlene Mendy.

Thank you.

Aug30
It is now 30th Aug, and having had money removed from my bank account on 14th Aug with the promise of documentation being sent within 4-5 days it is an unacceptable standard of customer relations to fail to deliver on your promise. I am expecting this documentation to arrive within 2 days, and if it does not I will demand a refund to enable us to contact a competant insurer.
Tony Brookes.

Quote me happy?.........as if

The messianic American Calvinist

toast99 | 24 August, 2005 14:13

While the World is in thrall/horror at Religious Fundamentalism it may be prudent to cast one's minds back to the early 17th century when a group of fanatical extremists wanted to transform England into a theocracy governed by their own interpretation of the Bible. They are remembered today as the Pilgrim Fathers.

The leader of this group who eventually sailed to America on the Mayflower was William Brewster, who would become the first governor of the New England colony. Rather than being a pious man who devoted his life to God, it was failure in his personal life that forged his "born-again Christianity", an echo that reverberates among many in America. A New World Order ruled by God's commandment, with him as it's first leader.

First form a cell of like-minded zealots, and call the Separatists. Among their theocracy, pubs were to be closed, gambling banned, women dressed in sober clothing and the Bible would become the foundation of civil society. See any echoes with any other countries? Later measures introduced by Brewster at Plymouth Rock would be a law making it illegal to live alone, and for women and children to be treated with severity. A statute on the books in the Plymouth Colony allowed for the execution of children who disobeyed their parents.

After a period of time in England with the threat of having their right ears cut off, nostrils slit open and the letters SS ("stirrer of sedition" branded on the foreheads, along with a spell in the Clink (Abu Ghraib of Puritan England) where they were chained, tortured and beaten, standing knee-deep in fetid water they decided to join other fundamentalists in Amsterdam, meeting and joining with the Ancient Brethren, a Taleban of their time. Years followed of sedition and a hardening of religious radicalism, and after being hounded by Dutch and English authorities they decided to set sail across the Atlantic to found a new country.

Their attitudes to sex, God and the Bible is now the cultural DNA of the United States. When fanatics desire to go back to earlier times, when twice as many Americans are said to believe in the Devil as Darwin's Theory of Evolution, when the President is described by The New York Times as a "messianic American Calvinist" then it is surely worth looking over your shoulder at the fundamentalists who landed in America in 1620.

April 2006
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