Up. up and awaaaay....

Further to the previous article, which seems to have raised some concerns (!), flicking through the latest AAIB bulletin reveals that there was a minor crash on Anglesey the other month. Nothing unusual about that, you might think, except the details.  It was a private pilot in a fifty-six year old aircraft.  The pilot's age, however, was 80. 

You might be surprised to know when the plane you're flying to Paris in next was actually built.  Airlines routinely fly passenger aircraft built in the '60s and '70s.  Of course, the MOT  for aircraft is a tad more stringent than for cars, but aircraft are not always the modern miracle you might think.

The really modern ones - the fly-by-wire Airbus variety - depend entirely on computer software to operate the mechanical bits.  For years, those who really understand such matters have been pointing out two things:  the first software ever written was inherently flawed, for a variety of complicated reasons. Secondly, all current software has been based on all preceding versions of the inherently flawed software. More ice, anyone?

Flying high, high, high

In the past, Carneades was a pilot. Of Aeroplanes, in case anyone was thinking ships. In the UK, once having gained your pilot's licence, you're automatically sent the Air Accident Investigation Branch's merry monthly bulletin, which spells out in curiously formal language the number and intensity of accidents to aircraft in the UK each month. This last missive was no exception, with the usual slew of pilots falling ill at the controls, bumping into each other with their aeroplanes - usually on the ground, it has to be said,  and falling into ditches, running off runways and other delightful pastimes.

Flying - by plane, anyway - is comparatively safe, these days, and the most you're usually at risk from is an aberrant ice cube in your drink. But it's worthwhile remembering that every month, at least fifteen UK airports report collisions, and that includes at least three of the really big ones. Sometimes these make you laugh, such as the time a mechanic retracted the landing gear on a 747 in Cardiff whilst the thing was standing in a hanger, or last month's incident where the bloke pushing a 737 out didn't see an air bridge and bashed the side in with the wing of the plane he was pushing. But at least the AAIB is one quango we won't be glad to see go.  You can't be too safe in an aeroplane.

Coming soon - to a street near you

Yesterday afternoon was full of fun for Colwyn Bay's residents as armed police closed off streets and surrounded two houses in Colwyn Bay, apparently hunting a man said to be carrying a knife or a Samurai sword.

At around 1pm outside a red-bricked semi-detached house in Belgrave Road, three unmarked police cars closed off the street, the police helicopter flew overhead, a huge crowd of over a 10000 people watched, joined later by pupils from the local Eirias High on their way home and a carnival atmosphere reigned supreme.  Locals brought out cakes and scones, and cups of tea were handed out to the dedicated workers, while flags were hastily draped from each side of the street and plans for a big street party were formulated.

Residents spoke of their “wonder” at seeing dozens of police descend on the street, shouting to a man to come out during what most of the 30000 locals in the vicinity described as a siege.

Around 300 of the heavily armed police were kitted out in riot gear – helmets, stab vests and shields -  and the remainder were driving tanks, heavy artillery and laying anti-aircraft defence balloons.

One of the 56000 eye-witnesses said: “They were calling to a man to come out of a house in Belgrave Road. It was a nice afternoon, with no chance of showers, so we brought out a little picnic table and our thermos - haven't used it for years, don't you know - but it kept the tea nice and warm, although it always tastes a bit funny, doesn't it?”

Local woman Delia Harbinger, 69, said: “I have seen a lot of police outside the house. They closed the road off and the police helicopter has been circling overhead. I am very, very shocked. A man told me that somebody had a knife. Would you like a cup of tea, love? There's room inside, if one of those nice, big policemen move up on the couch.  You're quite…big, too… ”

John Fantworthy-Bristle, 45, from Rhiwbank Terrace said: “It’s not the kind of thing you expect in your local neighbourhood, but it's helped build a community spirit, and we're all planning to have a party when it's all over, especially as the nice fireman have promised to set up a bowling alley for the children, and we're getting a collapsible castle and some coconut shies in".

Warner Bros and Dreamworks are said to be in negotiations for the film rights, with Brad Pitt rumoured to be playing the part of innocent bystander No.87,000,527 and James Cameron is expected to direct.

Gun forever?

Proving the adage that some folk will steal anything that's not nailed down, two canon guns have been liberated from the Rest and Be Thankful car park.  The cafe, situated half way round the Great Orme Drive, has had the canons in place for many years.  They were not only heavy, but were securely fastened with pretty large bolts.  So if anyone tries to flog you a four hundredweight canon gun that['s just fallen off the back of a lorry, tell the local constabulary.

As we enter the third age...

For those over a certain age, be sure to read the following helpful information regarding nocturnal amorous activities:


1. Wear your glasses.
To make sure your partner is actually in the bed.

2. Set timer for 3 minutes,
In case you doze off in the middle.

3. Set the mood with lighting.
(Turn them all off)

4. Make sure you put 999 on your speed dial before you begin.

5.. Write partner's name on your hand in case you can't remember (applies to business men on conference trips as well).

6. Use extra polygrip so your teeth don't end up under the bed.

7. Have a bottle of Paracetamol ready in case you actually complete the act..

8. Make all the noise you want. The neighbours are deaf too.

9. If it works, call everyone you know with the good news!!

10. Don't even think about trying it twice. .. . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . ... . . . . . .

'OLD' IS WHEN...
Your sweetie says, 'Let's go upstairs And make love,' and you answer, 'Pick one; I can't do both!'

'OLD' IS WHEN...
Your friends compliment you on your new alligator shoes And you're barefoot.

'OLD' IS WHEN...
Going bra-less pulls all the wrinkles out of your face.

'OLD' IS WHEN....
You don't care where your spouse goes, just as long as you don't have to go along.

'OLD' IS WHEN...
You are cautioned to slow down by the doctor instead of by the police .

'OLD' IS WHEN..
'Getting a little action' means you don't need to take any fibre today.

'OLD' IS WHEN...
'Getting lucky' means you find your car in the parking lot.

'OLD' IS WHEN...
An 'all nighter' means not getting up to use the bathroom.

AND

'OLD' IS WHEN...
You are not sure if these are facts or jokes?

Tews your leader with care

The defection of Denis Tew from the local Tory party to Plaid has raised a few eyebrows, heckles and laughs. Defections happen, of course, but what are more interesting are the comments made by those whose grasp of the UK constitutional election  process, not to say reality itself, is a little slender.

This is a typical comment:

How anyone can justify being elected for one party and then simply switch to another without the benefit of an election is beyond me.
Whats more it discredits the election process. "

There is so much the poster either fails to grasp or chooses not to it's hard to know where to start.  However, we'll try.

In the UK, we don't elect parties.  Yes - a lot of people think we do, and the media would have you believe that the two party system is a huge strength of the UK, despite the fact that it's about as far from true democracy as it's possible to get.

In fact, we elect individuals. Now, it's true that - more often than not - these individuals get selected to represent a political party but that doesn't mean that the individual has to be a member of any political party. Unfortunately, because of years of indoctrination, people believe that we have to have parties, but we don't.

Parties are formed simply to ensure laws are passed easily. Without them, we'd have 635 individuals.  But would that be a bad thing?  Those individuals would have to represent the people who elected them.  At the  moment, once they're in, they simply go along with the party line, and constituencies often suffer.  It's also worth bearing in mind that most governments in the UK are elected by the minority. So all is not as it seems.

Life at the top

For those looking for something a little different, the Snowdon Mountain Railway (SMR) needs someone to manage Hafod Eryri cafe and visitor centre at the summit of the 3,560-foot mountain.

An SMR spokesman said: “This is an exciting new role for someone with the appropriate experience of managing in a busy catering and retail environment.”

It sounds a wonderful opportunity, especially for those who don't mind the odd sleep-over at the place. But there might be one little snag: The job starts in March but trains to the summit only run from May until October. One for the fit, perhaps?

Parking and ringing

Perhaps surprisingly, the United Reform Church in Rhos on Sea makes its way into the headlines this week, with a complaint that parking wardens are ticketing church users. People attending services and events at the Church claim signage at the council owned car park opposite the  church
which states operational hours as between 8am-6pm and lower down lists evening and night information - which asks for a 50p charge between 6pm and 9am -  is unclear.

Rev. Kate Gartside said members of a visiting choir, who had given up their time to join the congregation for the recording of two services for BBC Radio Wales, had been fined recently. She said: "It is very upsetting for people.”

Hmmm...using ringers for a recording, eh? Perhaps it was divine retribution? 

Lights, Camera....Action!

LONG renowned as a venue for film making North Wales will shortly be fitting its parking wardens with head cameras, presumably to film irate motorists after being ticketed for parking in the wrong place, at the wrong time, for too long and..well, just about anything that contravenes the long list of proscribed places and times on the Highways regulations.

Motorists have long been seen as an easy target; the fact they have a car is usually considered evidence that they're solvent, but the camera culture is growing, and not just with traffic wardens.  Video cameras have never been as cheap and reliable as they are now, and insurance companies are starting to offer significant discounts for drivers who have them fitted in their cars to monitor their driving, householders who fit them to their houses to monitor intruders and the Police have been using them routinely for years. They provide a useful source of evidence in any confrontational situations and are now becoming so tiny they can be used at work to gather information about bullying bosses and usurping underlings.

Wonder if there's downside to everything being videoed all the time?

Kids, eh?

It's curious, but you can go a long time without hearing anything about schools, teachers and children in the area, and suddenly the news is flooded with items.

In the latest incident, a pensioner, of Ffordd Pennant, Mold, was suspended from her job after her employers said she admitted she’d tapped – or slapped – a youngster’s hand out of the way to stop him assaulting another child.

She was later sacked from her job of 13 years working on school bus runs, escorting children with special needs between Flintshire and Denbighshire.

The facts are unclear, but quote of the day came from Ian Budd, head of the council's children's services, who said yesterday

"there is never any excuse for physically restraining children in the council's care."

Really.  Not even if they're threatening to harm themselves?

It was a silly thing to say.

They did make love to this employment

The over-used and rather damaging adage 'Those who can, do and those who can't - teach' is rarely heard these days, at a time when most know teaching has become one of the higher stress occupations of the last two decades. However, some things are true about schools, and they can have consequences.

Teachers who move from school to university and back to school never really leave the teaching environment, and this can have a damaging effect on overall maturity.   Teaching is not - despite what some might think - a collegiate activity, in which colleagues unreservedly support each other against the trials and tribulations of the world. On the contrary, the danger of such a career cycle is that some teachers have no concept of what life in the outside world is like, and live their entire lives assuming the world is a classroom.

So you have to feel a little for former St David’s RC Primary School teacher Catherine Anne Dean who has had her registration  suspended for a year for "shouting, screaming, and on more than one occasion crying in front of pupils." That there's a little more to the story, however, appears when it's revealed that "The local priest resigned because of the headteacher Mrs Chris Pilling's behaviour and an alternative priest refused to join the governing body."

The lack of congeniality is further demonstrated when a current St David's teacher Carol Peover, giving evidence on behalf of Mrs Dean, said teachers had formed a jealous clique against the new arrival. She said:

"I can only suppose that many of the teachers were a bit jealous of her. She came to the school with a management point that they didn't have."

Evidence from governors and the clergy suggested that The Head teacher had bullied Mrs Dean, and some of the staff had treated her badly. Mrs Dean, meanwhile,  currently works in an international school in Cairo, Egypt, where that headteacher has praised her professionalism and sensitivity.

It's sad, but bullying in schools is on the rise, although not among the kids. Those to whom the children look for their examples are often the worst perpetrators of bullying and intimidation.  Perhaps it's time to force potential teachers to work outside of the education system for at least three years, before committing to working in what is - at best - an artificial environment, often plagued by jealousy, vindictiveness and aggression.

The cause of or cure for cancer: trust the DFM

For those lured into reading that travesty of a comic, the DFM, here's a list, together with links, of all the things the Daily Mail says can give you cancer, defeat cancer or - in some cases - both:   

AGE
    AIR POLLUTION
    AIR TRAVEL
    ALCOHOL
    ALLERGIES
    ARTIFICIAL FLAVOURS
    ARTIFICIAL LIGHT
    ASBESTOS
    ASPIRIN

    BABIES
    BABY BOTTLES
    BABY FOOD
    BACON
    BARBEQUES
    BEEF
    BEER
    BEING A BLACK PERSON h
    BEING A WOMAN
    BEING A MAN
    BEING SOUTHERN
    BISCUITS
    BRAS
    BREAD
    BREAST FEEDING
    BREAST IMPLANTS
    BROKEN HEARTS
    BUBBLE BATH
    BURGERS
 
    CAFFINE
    CALCUIM
    CANDLE-LIT DINNERS
    CANNED FOOD
    CARBOHYDRATES
    CARS
    CEREAL
    CHEESE
    CHICKEN
    CHILDLESSNESS
    CHILDREN
    CHILDREN’S FOOD
    CHILLIS
    CHINESE MEDICINE
    CHIPS
    CHLORINE
    CHOCOLATE
    CITY LIVING
    CLIMATE CHANGE
    COCA COLA
    COD LIVER OIL
    COFFEE
    CONSTIPATION
    CONTRACEPTIVE PILLS
    COOKING
    CORDLESS PHONES
    CRAYONS
    CURRY

    DEODRANT
    DIETING
    DOGS
    EGGS
    ELECTRICITY
    ENGLISH BREAKFAST

    FACEBOOK
    FALSE NAILS
    FATHERHOOD
    FIBRE
    FISH
    FLIP FLOPS
    FLY SPRAY
    FRUIT

    GARDENS
    GRAPEFRUIT

    HAIR DYE
    HAM
    HEIGHT
    HONEY
    HOT DRINKS
    HRT

    INTERNET
    IVF

    KIDNEY TRANSPLANTS

    LAMB
    LARGE HEADS
    LEFT-HANDEDNESS
    LIPSTICK
    LIVER TRANSPLANTS

    MENOPAUSE
    MENSTRUATION
    METAL
    MILK
    MOBILE PHONES
    MODERN LIVING
    MONEY
    MORPHINE
    MOUTHWASH

    NUCLEAR POWER (there is no hint of irony in this article)

    OBESITY
    OESTROGEN
    OLDER FATHERs 

    PASTRY
    PEANUT BUTTER
    PERFUME
    PICKLES
    PIZZA
    PLASTIC BAGS
    PORK
    POTATOES
    POVERTY
    PREGNANCY

    RADIOACTIVITY (again, just no irony whatsoever)
    RICE
    SAUSAGES
    RETIREMENT 

    SEX
    SHAVING
    SKIING
    SOUP
    SPACE TRAVEL
    SUN CREAM 

    TALCUM POWDER
    TEA
    TEEN SEX
 
    VITAMINS 

    WATER
    WI-FI
    WORCESTERSHIRE SAUCE
    WORKING 

    X-RAYS 

For some odd reason, they haven't included 'Reading the Daily Mail'....

What's in a word?

A report by Marketing consultants titled Turning the Tide, said: “Whilst there is a great deal of nostalgic affection for places such as Rhyl and Colwyn Bay from childhood memories, the area (particularly Rhyl) still has a strong negative image. It is seen as shabby and depressing with little to do. It will be an uphill struggle to attract new customers unless this image can be challenged and altered.”

Conwy County Council leader Dilwyn Roberts yesterday denied that Colwyn Bay is depressing.
He said: “Colwyn Bay is the exact opposite of depressing. There is room to improve but we are identifying the potential.”

"Exact opposite of depressing...".  Antonyms for depressing are in surprisingly short supply, suggesting we are better at describing our misery than our elation.  However, those that exist include

beaming, smiling, lighthearted,  light-hearted, buoyant, chirpy, gay, debonair, debonaire, jaunty and chipper.  

Does anyone of those really describe Colwyn Bay? Or should the town be better described as

gloomy, bleak, dreary, grim, drab, somber, dark, dingy, funereal, cheerless, joyless, comfortless and uninviting?

Eirias park might have been until renovations took place recently. Unfortunately, they weren't instigated by the council;  rather the driving force behind those was the magnificent publicity campaign mounted by Cllr Oddy and a member of the local blogosphere that - between them - managed to embarrass CCBC into doing something.  In fact, if Cllr Dilwyn Roberts were truly serious about what he says, then he could make a worse start than by reading a couple of the better local blogs, all listed at the RH side of this blog.

There are numerous low-cost, immediately effective improvements that could be made to make Colwyn Bay even more appealing than it is, but they all need a Council mindset that will hasten and not impede, encourage and not dismiss the ideas being put forward.  Let's hope it happens.

A day with the news

We've mentioned the media before, usually in dark mutterings or in the sort of tone that 's normally reserved for commentary on black magic child sacrificing but - to be fair - that mostly applies to the national media, and then only to a small selection - mostly the Daily Mail (DFM), in fact.  However, our own, local home-grown chaps - the NWWN and the DP - both try their utmost to paint a fair and reasoned picture of local life.  Sometimes, however, this can have amusingly unintended consequences.
This morning's Daily Post bursts with excitement at the news that the recession is over, quoting a 0.1% rise in output over the last three months.  Of course, that was the three months leading up to Christmas, so the question of whether there's more good news on the horizon is still open and if the economy only managed to grow by a tenth of one percent in the busiest period of the year, hmmm. 

The reports that two more pubs - the Ship Inn, Abergele Road, Old Colwyn, and The Bull in Chapel Street, Abergele - are in trouble after yet more booze being flogged to children doesn't exactly come as a surprise but the headline "North Wales pubs caught in underage drinking sting" does pose the question as to how - exactly - a pub takes a drink.

This sort of ambiguity in headlines isn't rare, however;  another item on the same sheet proclaims "Man admits Anglesey cemetary rape" which raises the odd eyebrow, and is similar to the headline in Kansas "Typhoon Rips Through Cemetery; Hundreds Dead".   The action of Scottish Power in sending a meter alert to the occupier of a public toilets in Talybont leads to the chief exec being labelled as 'Bungling', when he probably knew nothing about the automated alert system the company uses, although one could argue it might be a good idea if he did. Finally, the redundant adverb appears in all its glory as news that 'Callous thieves stole a Christmas float which has raised thousands of pounds for charity." in Mold, making us all wonder what other sort of thieves there are.

And so to the next day....

And none but fools do wear it. Cast it off.

Once again, school inspectors are saying 'things need to be better'.  Their most recent press release notes "Our greatest challenge today is tackling mediocrity to bring the weaker providers up to the level of the best. We need to raise expectations and motivate learners to be ambitious and to achieve the best they can."

Simultaneously, they note there is a connection between socio-economic grouping and achievement.  Their evidence is somewhat wobbly, however, as they observe "At all key stages of their schooling, pupils entitled to free school meals perform much worse in exams," thus equating the provision of free school meals with underachievement.  One wonders, therefore, what the effect would be and how they would word their subsequent findings if Councils simply stopped free school meals.  Is it free school meals that are stopping children learning, perhaps?  Maybe charging them would make them work harder.  Or are the dinner ladies sneakily dosing the semolina with psychotropic drugs?

Estyn then sparkily notes "More schools want to make better provision for their more able and talented learners.  In too many cases, the provision is restricted to out-of-hours work when these learners need stretching learning experiences during the school day."

Those unaware of the Jungle insurgency terrorist training venue that is the classroom in the average secondary school, however, might look back fondly on those days when the grammar school existed, the forms were all streamed - 4x, 4t, 4z - and the teachers fell over themselves to teach the best and simply fell over when teaching the worst. 

Of course, every politician and journalist knows how it should be done, and the failed teachers that comprise the inspection bodies are absolute experts.  Trouble is, the answer is extraordinarily simple and straightforward.

1. Specify exactly how children are expected to behave and learn on day 1.
2. Spell out the consequences for not doing so.

Now that last bit is where the solutions lie. Each child in school should be given 2 chances.  First misdemeanour is a warning.  Second misdemeanour removal from the classroom and warning by senior staff.  Third misdemeanour - child is thrown out.

Now, some will argue that it will put children back on the streets which of course it wouldn't, any more than the three months holidays they have throughout the year. But the second part of this is that the parents of these children would be held legally accountable for their education.  And not just as now.  These kids are the ones that slow down the education for the good kids, so they must be removed.

And then, of course, we're back to parenting.  Now there's a surprise.

Subject: Security Level

The English are feeling the pinch in relation to recent terrorist threats and have raised their security level from "Miffed" to "Peeved." Soon, though, security levels may be raised yet again to "Irritated" or even "A Bit Cross." The English have not been "A Bit Cross" since the blitz in 1940 when tea supplies all but ran out.   Terrorists have been re-categorized from "Tiresome" to a "Bloody Nuisance." The last time the British issued a "Bloody Nuisance" warning level was in 1588 when threatened by the Spanish Armada.

The Scots raised their threat level from "Pissed Off" to "Let's get the Bastards" They don't have any other levels. This is the reason they have been used on the front line of the British army for the last 200 years.

The French government announced yesterday that it has raised its terror alert level from "Run" to "Hide". The only two higher levels in France are "Collaborate" and "Surrender." The rise was precipitated by a recent fire that destroyed France 's white flag factory, effectively paralyzing the country's military capability.

It's not only the French who are on a heightened level of alert. Italy has increased the alert level from "Shout loudly and excitedly" to "Elaborate Military Posturing." Two more levels remain: "Ineffective Combat Operations" and "Change Sides."

The Germans also increased their alert state from "Disdainful Arrogance" to "Dress in Uniform and Sing Marching Songs." They also have two higher levels: "Invade a Neighbour" and "Lose".

Belgians, on the other hand, are all on holiday as usual, and the only threat they are worried about is NATO pulling out of Brussels ..

The Spanish are all excited to see their new submarines ready to deploy.  These beautifully designed subs have glass bottoms so the new Spanish navy can get a really good look at the old Spanish navy.

Americans meanwhile and as usual are carrying out pre-emptive strikes on all of their allies 'just in case'.


And in the southern hemisphere...

New Zealand has also raised its security levels - from "baaa" to "BAAAA". Due to continuing defense cutbacks (the airforce being a squadron of spotty teenagers flying paper aeroplanes and the navy some toy boats in the Prime Minister's bath), New Zealand only has one more level of escalation, which is "I hope Australia will come and rescue us".

Australia , meanwhile, has raised its security level from "No worries" to "She'll be right, mate". Three more escalation levels remain: "Crikey!', "I think we'll need to cancel the barbie this weekend" and "The barbie is cancelled". So far no situation has ever warranted use of the final escalation level.

Classified (but as what?)

FREE YORKSHIRE TERRIER.
8 years old.  Hateful little bugger.  Bites!

FREE PUPPIES
1/2 Cocker Spaniel, 1/2 sneaky neighbour's dog.

FREE PUPPIES.
Mother, a Kennel Club registered German Shepherd.
Father, Super Dog .. . able to leap tall fences in a single bound.

FOUND DIRTY WHITE DOG..
Looks like a rat.  Been out a while.
Better be a big reward.

COWS, CALVES:  NEVER BRED.
Also 1 gay bull for sale.

JOINING NUDIST COLONY!
Must sell washer and dryer £100.

WEDDING DRESS FOR  SALE ...
Worn once by mistake.  Call Stephanie.

FOR  SALE BY LADY OWNER.
Complete set of Encyclopaedia Britannica, 45 volumes.  Excellent condition. No longer needed, Got married last month.  Husband knows f *****g everything.

Evil and responsibility

Today's blog was gong to be a light-hearted look at ageing, but that was before the full extent of the Doncaster incident was published.  You might care to skip it, especially if you have young children, but if you want to see the entire narrative you can read it here.

David Cameron came in for a lot of stick for claiming this was a symptom of what he described as 'broken Britain' but, as with any such pronouncement from the human palimpsests that are our political leaders, there is a grain of truth in what he said, although whether the Tory or Labour parties will have the courage or will to do anything about the issue - apart from the usual, spurious, mealy-mouthed platitudes - is debatable.

What happened to the two boys who were attacked wasn't actually anything new. It was inhuman, degrading, monstrous, evil and conscienceless and it will leave the two attacked boys with serious mental and socialisation issues for the remainder of their lives, but it wasn't new.  It was simply bullying - the desire of the strong to dominate the weaker, and that happens throughout society.  What stops bullying turning into the appalling carnage that we're reading about is the action of the adult role models. In this case, that action wasn't simply missing, it was horrendously, obviously, deficient in every way.

Humans are unique;  no other species hunts for pleasure, yet this is exactly what happened to the young victims. They were hunted and nearly killed.  And every normal, decent parent on any estate knows exactly why some kids are completely out-of-control and warns their own children to 'steer clear'. But this isn't good enough. Parenting is a serious responsibility. When parents fail their children - and we all do to greater or lesser extent - they're almost always racked with remorse and guilt.  These parents weren't.  These parents were themselves evil, as evidenced by the countless reports that Doncaster Social Services failed to act upon.

There are those who would describe the assailants in this case by the epithets 'animal-like' and 'feral' but this serves only to categorise the uncategorisable and does a gross disservice to animals, while simultaneously allowing us to feel that these children were only aberrations.  But we need to be very clear about this. These creatures were not aberrations: their behaviour can be seen in every school yard in the UK, on every street corner, in every estate, on every street.  These monsters were not failed by the system, either;  they were failed by their biological progenitors, and as long as our society fails to grasp that, more and far worse incidents of this nature will continue to take place.

But there are solutions. They are drastic solutions, but they're solutions.

Parenting is a privilege, yet our society regards it as a right. China - in an effort to stem the tide of unchecked population growth - makes it very clear that it's a privilege, by issuing permits for the first child, then enforcing financial penalties for any more. We - of course - would have to forgo the delights of the European Court of Human Rights, but that might not be a bad thing.  We'd also have to be prepared to remove children from their birth mothers almost immediately, but there are literally thousands who are desperate to adopt and thus the children would almost certainly get a better home than otherwise.

The Doncaster incident was due to bad parenting.  The Jamie Bulger case was due to bad parenting. The Baby P case was due to bad parenting, because the assailants in that case had been brought up - in a manner of speaking.  We know what the problem is.  Every teacher and social worker knows the equation: bad kids=bad parents. Every social worker can recognise the appalling parents they have to deal with, yet their hands are all too often tied because of legislation, the media's frequently duplicitous attitudes, our political representatives' inability to grasp the nettle and the European Court of Human Rights.  Yes - rights are important, but more important are responsibilities, and there comes a point where a determination has to be made between the rights of the criminal, the rights of the victims and the responsibility for the entire problem.  Britain may well not be 'broken', but it is fracturing in places, and something needs to be done.  Anti-social behaviour, bullying, lying and what happened in Doncaster are all part of the same social issue.  Which party leader will admit to that and offer a truly effective programme to deal with the root causes?  Perhaps they should be asked.

Last night in Colwyn Bay

In case you've been hibernating (and who could blame you:-)) David Jones MP arranged a public meeting to discuss the Colwyn Bay Pier last night and it was swamped, with a long queue outside of folk wanting to express their opinions but unable to get in.  CCBC, of course, was noticeably absent, having been invited twice by David Jones, but then - what did we expect? As always, the redoubtable Jason Weyman did go and has published an exhaustively detailed record of the meeting on his blog. 

Quote of the night has to go the absentee Friends of the Pier chairman, Cllr Chris Hughes who said “This county is in a financial mess. The £10m capital costs to buy the pier would be no problem. It’s running costs that would be a problem when you think of opening libraries, kids in schools or running a pier" thus continuing to demonstrate a marked lack of awareness of just about everything. Well, at least it's good to know that CCBC has a spare £10m lying around.

Let's hope our curiously lackadaisical CC now start to debate things in earnest and not assume that they can do what they like, when they like and how they like.

2010 AL30

If you're wondering what on Earth 2101 AL30 is, the simple answer is that it isn't.  On Earth, that is.  It's actually a 100 ton lump of rock which just missed us last week. According to Alan Harris of the Space Science Institute in Boulder, Colorado, last week's unexpected visitor, called 2010 AL30, kept far enough from Earth to be invisible for more than a century. The prolonged avoidance occurred because the period of its solar orbit was 366 days - very close to Earth's year (though the close pass shifted the space rock into a 390-day orbit). Like a slightly slower race car that is periodically lapped by its competitor on a circular track, it stays far from Earth for long stretches.

"2010 AL30 may become a sort of 'poster child' for hiding asteroids," says Harris, thus warming the cockles of everyone's heart while presumably checking his shares in B & Q and concrete manufacturers.

But is it worth worrying about? After all, think of the dreadful things already happening on the Earth: earthquakes, Tsunami, Fires, Disease, Wars, the publication of the Daily Mail - the list is endless and thinking about all these things will only give you a headache, and most are insoluble - except perhaps the Daily Mail.  Of course, perhaps some good might come out of a small meteorite strike, if it came down on the Daily Mail...