Loan Sharking in the UK

76.9% APR!!!!, go choke! but wait

1737% APR, that is totally amazing. Unbelievable! Took these photographs off the Metro newspaper. Liquidity is there, lending is there, just are you happy with the rates? Microlending anybody?

Holy Cow in the Holy Land!

You couldn't make this up even if you tried. First time I have heard about Hindu’s burying a damn cow, holy or not.

BEIRUT, AUGUST 20 - After days of controversy between Lebanon and Israel, a sacred cow that died in the disputed territory between the two countries, monitored by Indian UNIFIL (the UN force in southern Lebanon) soldiers has finally been buried, "with all honours" according to Hindu ritual. Beirut daily an Nahar reported today that the animal carcass was buried near the Hassan Gate, a disputed area not far from the hills of Kfar Shuba in the eastern area of the interim border, by Indian soldiers after they "prayed for the cow, sprinkled it with salt, and then covered it with a white cloth".

The animal fell into a small depression in the land about a week ago after crossing from the zone occupied by Israel and entering into Lebanese territory controlled by UNIFIL soldiers in search of water. The carcass then was preyed upon by birds and wild animals, but no one from either of the countries had any intention of moving it. It was then buried by Indian UNIFIL soldiers, who are almost all Hindu, making the cow a sacred animal to them that must be buried with all honours.

Truly the mind boggles. This middle east area is truly and completely buggered up. Talk about being stupid…

KOSOVO:YOUNG; 73% UNEMPLOYED, ONE THIRD PREPARED TO EMIGRATE

Now here’s a bit of an issue for Europe. On the doorstep of Europe, in a place which saw vicious civil war, thousands dead and billions of Euro’s spent on trying to improve the economy, we end up with a situation that 3 our of 4 young Kosovars are unemployed and 1/3 are looking to immigrate.

This is a double whammy, you get the picture that the original investment in Kosovo has not worked and on the other hand, as usual, the immigration problem is going to increase in western Europe. The far right has already picked up this story and is running with it on the blogs and mailing lists. I quote:

In Kosovo, 73% of young people are unemployed, and a survey has shown that a third of them are prepared to leave the country in search of fortune elsewhere. According to daily newspaper Koha Ditore, there is an increasing trend amongst young people to emigrate. The paper believes that this shows the authorities' inability to respond to the requests and needs of young Kosovars.

Not sure this has reached the upper reaches of the European political scene, who are busy being undemocratic over the Irish constitutional vote. That’s another interesting exercise. We, the political heads of Europe, are fully democratic, you will keep on voting till you vote the way we want you to vote. Like Henry Ford, eh? you can have any colour you want as long as its black. Bah!

Spain removes religious symbols from public buildings

Quite an interesting story here. Good as well. Religious symbology in this day and age on public buildings can and do cause issues. This will also show up the single religion countries as well as the religious fundamentalists that they cannot come and bang on about religious rights and shove them down my throat and be a pain in the butt and and and. I quote:

 

The Spanish Government is to abolish all religious symbols from schools and public buildings, with the exception of symbols included in works which have historic, artistic or cultural value, said Justice Minister Francisco Caamano in an interview with Europa Press, cited by the media today. The law, which will include the principle of freedom of conscience for the first time, above all where conscientious objections are concerned, will be put forward by the executive after the summer break. ''Our idea is that no religious symbols should exist in public schools, that there is a clear separation between religion and public life and the secularism of the State'', said the minister. ''Although symbols and effigies, which make up part of our heritage, have historical-artistic value and are kept inside our public centres, will not be destroyed''.

The law will not affect rooted traditions such as nativity scenes, and it will not be forbidden for students to wear a crucifix to school.The Spanish Government is to abolish all religious symbols from schools and public buildings, with the exception of symbols included in works which have historic, artistic or cultural value, said Justice Minister Francisco Caamano in an interview with Europa Press, cited by the media today.

The law, which will include the principle of freedom of conscience for the first time, above all where conscientious objections are concerned, will be put forward by the executive after the summer break. ''Our idea is that no religious symbols should exist in public schools, that there is a clear separation between religion and public life and the secularism of the State'', said the minister. ''Although symbols and effigies, which make up part of our heritage, have historical-artistic value and are kept inside our public centres, will not be destroyed''. The law will not affect rooted traditions such as nativity scenes, and it will not be forbidden for students to wear a crucifix to school.

Spain’s relationship with the church is structural, very tightly tied in and has a very long history behind it. Here’s an interesting article on it. Spain’s religious and ethnic makeup is also changing. Only 3.2 per cent of Spain's population was foreign-born in 1998. In 2007 it was 13.4 per cent. This kind of separation of state from church will definitely help in managing this transition.

Kick in the pants

Some time back on a mailing list, we were discussing violence against kids. As I mentioned there jokingly, my mum claims that she has used almost every kitchen implement to tan my backside for being a horrible kid. But corporal punishment in the west, by and large, is now illegal. Here’s a good reasoned short debate on corporal punishment for children. Here’s another site with some good evidence on this issue.

Seems like the consensus is that while children should not be physically punished as a rule, there are exceptions where a spanking might be appropriate. How about at home? good article here. US and EU legality of corporal punishment. Red: corporal punishment not prohibited, blue only prohibited in schools and green, you will not touch the child anywhere.

 

 

 

Curiously, on the wiki site, the only countries which seem to be interested in this area are the OECD countries. Other countries from say Africa, Asia, Middle East, Latam or poorer countries…, hmmm. is concern for kids a function of rich countries only?

Which brings me to the question, if I threaten to kick my nephew in his pants, is that illegal? No. I quote:

It's OK to tell a teenager he'll get good kick in the pants if he doesn't behave, Italy's top court ruled Tuesday.
The Cassation Court, whose rulings set precedents, rejected the contention of the teen's mother that the warning amounted to a real threat and a form of abuse.
''The statement cannot be deemed abusive, given the type of language used by the new generation,'' said the court, upholding a previous decision by a Sardinian tribunal.
The court said Gavino S. a 55-year-old man from the city of Alghero, could not be accused of ''threatening'' his 15-year-old nephew Pietro S. and a group of his friends who were loitering in the stairs of their condominium.
The uncle's order to stop making noise and go home and ensuing threat to kick them all in the pants was judged by the judges to be ''incapable of sparking real fear'' in the youngsters.
The uncle's scolding ''was only meant to censure, albeit rudely, the behaviour'' of the youngsters, the court said.

Go work in the laundry room to earn high amounts

I am going to suggest that my son forget about his ideas about becoming a software entrepreneur or a stock broker and go become a laundry operator. Seems like being one helps you to reach the top of the earnings league. (h/t: Lahar). I quote:

Guess who is the highest paid employee at the Taj Hotel, Colaba? It is not its corporate chef Hemant Oberoi. It is not the executive director (finance) Anil Goel. It is not even the general manager and 26/11 hero Karambir Singh Kang. Ok, now, hold your breath. That employee is P P Saher, a senior operator at its laundry division. Saher draws Rs 1.5 crore per annum. That is Rs 12,50,000 a month. That is Rs 41,666 a day. That is Rs 5,208 an hour, per eight-hour shift.

This is the hotel which was attacked by the Pakistani terrorists and has been on the news.

 

He is obviously a cleaning god as he is the top fourth earning man in the company. So you have the Managing Director, the COO, the CIO and then the laundry man. Very good. Very nice. How interesting now?

btw: the laundry man is also the general secretary of the Indian Hotels Company Employees’ Union. Not that that has anything to do with it. Of course not, the very idea. Its his ability to turn a sheet inside the drier or to iron the shirt which has everything to do with his salary :)

RAMADAN:ITALY,LOMBARDY DAY LABOURERS OBLIGED TO DRINK WATER

When religion and health/safety crash directly into each other, religion seems to lose. First was when the French lady was banned from swimming because staff said that it was unhygienic.

 

 

Looking at the outfit above, i am not really very sure what’s the fun in swimming in that, but on the other hand, i can see somewhat the issue with health and safety. If i am in a public pool and mind you, this outfit does not look anything like the full body swimming suit like shown below, then yes, i can be asked to leave.

 

or this:

But if fully clothed people are allowed, then this should work as well:

doesnt really work, does it?

Its like the arguments Sikhs have with wearing a turban when helmets are compulsory on bikes. See here for an example. Health and Safety overrules requirements for religious observances. And you end up with a silly situation like this one. 

I quote:

A police force spent £100,000 on a failed attempt to find protective headgear that fits over Sikh officers' turbans. West Midlands Police started its search after one Sikh constable decided he wanted to join the counter-terrorist Operational Support Unit.

The man, thought to be in his mid-20s, was refused a place because he was unable to fit the necessary helmet and respirator over his turban and beard, both of which are requirements for strict adherents to his faith. According to a police source, the unnamed constable claimed he was being discriminated against and was then assigned the task - while on full pay - of sourcing new equipment that would fit.

A helmet and respirator would be needed for certain counter terrorist operations to guard against possible chemical and biological weapons.  The officer contacted manufacturers across the world to see if they could adapt their gear but after 18 months his search ended in vain and he was restored to regular duties.

A few weeks later he is said to have gone on long-term sick leave suffering from stress. The source, who estimated the total cost of the failed project, including the officer's wages, at £100,000, said: 'This was a shocking waste of taxpayers' cash.'

And now, the final example is from Italy where labourers are being forced to drink water during Ramadan. I quote:

Muslim day labourers working on Mantova melon and tomato farms will be obliged to drink water even during the month of Ramadan, as decided by the Mantova Committee for Safety in Agriculture, made up of representatives from the Coldiretti and Confederazione Italiana dell'Agricoltura agricultural-entrepreneurial organisations and the CGIL, CISL and UIL trade unions.

The document, in reference to the legislative decree number 81 of April 9, 2008, "obliges" Muslim farm labourers to drink water during the work day under the sun to avoid heat strokes even in the month of Ramadan, which this year will begin around August 20. Those not following this regulation "will be temporarily suspended from activity and, if recurring, will be fired". Agricultural organisations have also begun handing out informational brochures to workers in four languages to explain the possible risks from sun stroke. "We made this decision because we want to safeguard workers' health as much as possible," said Roberto Cagliari, Coldiretti director and chairman of the Safety Committee. "Last year, the refusal by many workers to drink during the month of Ramadan in the melon fields created a large number of problems."

The representative of the Muslim community in Mantova, Ben Mansour, is against the decision: "No work contract and no judicial regulation provides for the obligation to drink during Ramadan. If Muslim workers are fired for this reason, we will raise an objection. If a Muslim does not feel well then he can take a break and if he feels that it is not simply a fleeting sensation but something more serious then he can drink, since it would then be his decision which no one can impose on him."

Go figure. When Health and Safety has managed to defeat individual rights and liberalism, religions are simply no contest.

British Defence Spending since 1830

Brilliant work.

 

Click on the graphs to show bigger resolution. What this tells you is how the British Government is trying to run its two recent big wars and a host of other military commitments on the cheap. And this is one of the reasons why we are seeing more and more English soldiers die…Last time we were at less than 2% of GDP, we were caught with our pants down just before WW2. And yet again, we are in trouble….

Read the full paper here.

Now there’s a queen for you

Queen Nefertiti, the regal visage just is so awesome…an artist’s impression

Here’ the statue..

The importance of one vote

Quite an interesting note sent to me on one of the mailing lists, but snopes set me right. But quite a lot of learning behind this very interesting myth.