Computer Catastrophe

Well, I had a Councillor have an accident, the rain came in his roof onto his Laptop, so to the rescue. I imaged another one and replaced it last week. So today he comes in and says - sorry last night the rain came in again and this one doesn't work now! Doh!

Justice? PCSO jailed for accident.

So a PCSO is jailed for 2 years because a girl in his car drowned when he misjudged a river crossing. 2 Landrovers got across safely. I know we play the game of Consequences, how many times have we escaped tragedy on the road by a whisker?
I can't help think how sad this case is. Where was the man's crime. We let asylum seekers break the rules of the road, no licence no insurance, they shouldn't even be here yet they go on driving until someone is killed - then what do they get 10years in Jail? - no we won't even deport them because its "against their Human Rights" - didn't they waive that right when they flagrantly drove against all our laws.
This man misjudged and now he will pay for it for the rest of his life. Have a heart Judge.

Why do Caravanners think they need an Aerofoil?

Hi - don't you think Caravanners that fit these Aerofoils to their cars look even more stupid?
Why do they bother - they are no use. Here's why.
Let me start by explaining – we caravanners have all pushed our Vans, yes they are very heavy, and you have to push hard to get them to move much, sometimes its impossible hence the blossoming “Motor Mover” market. So the answer to fuel saving is – go easy on the RIGHT FOOT! Its all simple physics.
I remember from my school days F=Ma. Force=Mass x Acceleration, so the faster you accelerate your outfit the more Force you need hence more Fuel you use – simple! Vans are big and heavy so to get them up to the speed you want take it slow and easy and you’ll save fuel.
Now – cruising. This is where we need the Aerofoil? Wrong. Again F=Ma. On a flat motorway at the legal speed of 60mph why do you need an Aerofoil? Because the Force of the wind resistance is slowing you down all the time – well possibly. In a vacuum without any friction (space) there is no resistance and Newton said “an object will continue to move in a straight line unless some force acts upon it”. So in the real world we have some friction and some force from the air resistance. Basically a Caravan is Brick shaped, no aerodynamics but it is also 8 feet high and 7’6” wide, at 60mph you have to shift that amount of air out of the way as you travel so no aerofoil is going to make any difference to that!
It helps you say, by deflecting the air, yes a bit, but again F=Ma. It’s the force of shifting the air up and over the van and then the “drag” at the back as the air comes back around, why do you think the Porsche is that “teardrop” shape and their little “wing” only comes out at 50mph plus. This is because below 50mph it has no relative benefit.
So, to sum up, my advice, don’t bother with an Aerofoil. Drive smoothly and steadily with a light right foot. If you must accelerate to the speed limit where it is safe to do so do it as slow as practical. Below 50mph weight is the biggest factor to fuel consumption. Or buy a folding Caravan.

Demise of M&S Skegness

Sorry to see M&S is going from Skegness. It wasn't great but was neat and did the job for us. What is there in Skeggy now? Not much, to attract shoppers.
Holiday makers like some big name shopping but there's not much chance of that now.
What they need is an "Arndale Centre" - if they could get a shopping mall with some big stores and parking, access from the rear to keep traffic off the front - this would open up the high Street to be pedestrianised! They could redevelop the Hildreds and the car Park behind.
Oh well I can dream.

Broadband Woes

Todays event.
Went to a councillor having trouble connecting over his broadband.

PC had been in the Office - nothing wrong. SO arranged a visit. After diagnosing his Broadband line was indeed functioning correctly but was not verifying his username/password I called the ISP. After a 20minute hold they confirmed the line etc was fine. However the line was "blocked" due to dispute over a payment. So back to our accounts dept to sort that one out.

Hey ho.

Pensions Again

What a lot of twaddle being spoken about pensions. Its all basically the Governments efforts to cut spending and get us out of this mess.
What they are telling us is plausible, not a lie but its not true!!
It is this 1) pensions are in a state because Gordon Brown raided them when he was chancellor. That was your savings pot!!
2) Are any pension funds bankrupt - NO!!
What they are is not doing their sums properly. Its all to do with how the Actuaries tell them to FORECAST the future. No one knows what will happen do they.
Simple - people pay into a fund, they invest it, pensioners get a pension.
So as long as money coming in plus whats invested is more than they are paying out OK! but the rules need changing 'cos they have to forcast what they're going to pay out. If they change this to be more realistic then we'll all be better

NHS - credit where credit Due

Hi - today experienced NHS at it finest!

Saw the doctor yesterday about my dodgy knee, thinking something may be wrong, painful and swelling.
He arranged I should have an X-ray. So gave me a note to take to our local Hospital, Louth, for an X-ray. Walk in 9-16.30 any day M-F. So went today at 15.45, waited 5mins, had 2 X-rays, back in car in 15mins. Parking cost £1.
Now you can't ARGUE with that can you.
People complain but I think this is fantastic. Keep it up NHS.

Ps I hope my knee gets sorted - I'll let you know.

PPS don't forget - look at the Tar Sands - a WORSE disaster then the Gulf/BP. Make yourself heard - pass it on.