FACT-SIMILE

Has anyone else noticed that nowadays, you don't ACTUALLY pick up a newspaper to read the news. Newspapers and tabloids in particular seem to think that it is OK to sensationalise the facts purely to sell newspapers. It doesn't seem to ACTUALLY matter if it is real fact or not. (all the better if it involved Paris Hilton or Pete Docherty, or the new stick on the block, Amy Whine-House)

 

Take the sad case of missing Madeleine McCann. The pap press have taken great delight in this case, which in itself is disgusting. What is worse, however, is that every day a new headline screams out at us. She's Alive. She's Dead. Like it is a proved statement. How utterly disgusting. How upsetting for her parents and family to read this sensationalist crap every day.

 

They basically hear a snippet of what a bloke who knows a bloke who went out with someone who works on reception at the local Portuguese police station who said .... well, you get my drift.

 

Really, the fact of the matter is, that we DON'T know what has happened. They can't report the news because there isn't any. And even if there was, this is a criminal investigation and there shouldn't BE details in the paper. it could easily jeopardise any further investigations. And woe betide anyone who is suspected of this crime. You have your name in the paper and may we well have GUILTY tattooed on your forehead with newsprint. It will never come off.

 

It seems in the past few years that newspapers don't actually care about their readers. I shouldn't HAVE to buy a broadsheet just to expect that what I happen to read on a discarded tabloid on the tube or in the local caff is actually true, surely? I know any of this stuff should be take with a pinch of salt, and I never believe everything I read, but with such important issues being reported, don't they have some sort of duty not to misinform people?

 

Take the whole 'Princess' Diana fiasco. The press have perpetuated the whole thing, until no-one really knows what is fact and what is wild speculation. Even TV has now got in on the act and creates sensationalist documentaries assuming a lot and reporting nothing. The inquest goes on and on and the papers drag up even more snippets of 'the real story', 'the unspoken truth' and even discover new witnesses, that strangely do not get reported on the news and simply disappear into tomorrow's chip paper.

 

Are not the real criminals in all of these things, the press?

Prius or Pious?

What gets my goat is people preaching the new religion, Global Warming when they haven't really read up THAT much on it, nor investigated the possibility that the planet warms up and cools down naturally and that try as we might, we can't stop it. OK we can investigate ways to SLOW it down more than it would happen anyway, but not driving a car is not going to change that. Places like Brazil and India and China with all their new environmentally unfriendly industry are the biggest culprits. Air travel is a minor percentage of the overall carbon emissions of the world, with cars a mere blip in the stats.

I'm not saying we don't need to be aware of our responsibility for this planet. No way. Recycling and being aware for the amount of shit we throw away without thinking should be second nature. The natural selfishness of the western world is incredible. No-one ACTUALLY gives a stuff about anyone, except themselves.

But get someone on the global topic and by golly, you are a total outcast if you dare to disagree. You are a heathen. They would probably burn you at the stake, except that would cause too much carbon output!

But the Prius brigade! What is REALLY behind it, is that you don't have to pay the congestion charge. That's really it isn't it? And as a new green badge to go along with your Anya Hindmarch Not a Plastic Bag.

Did you give a thought to the fact that this particular vehicle goes through two lots of manufacturing processes due to its dual fuel capabilities? Did you even know that the fuel cell that provides the electric side, is produced in Canada and taken to Japan where the cars are made, only to then be shipped around the world? And how are we going to deal with all these cars when they come to the end of their life? All the fuel cells to recycle, with yet more manufacturing?

And the whole bio-fuel thing? Yeah great in principle, but it has been discovered the output from the exhausts ain't that healthy, PLUS think of all the arable land that will be needed to produce all this stuff. You can guarantee that that will mean yet more forests will be cut down to provide us with it.

In Medieval times it was MUCH hotter than it is now. And the cards we have a Christmas showing people skating on the Thames is because at some point it was THAT cold. There really is not much we can do to stop it.

So call me a heathen, call me a heretic, but I am not being roped into the new religion!!

Parking O2 Finchley Road

This was going to be my first letter. I never got round to it. But how bloody annoying.

I wanted to get something from Habitat, so parked in the car park at the O2 centre - as there is NOWHERE else to park round there now. You take a ticket, you park up.

However, Habitat didn't have the thing I was looking for, so I popped over to Homebase and they didn't have it either.

But then I need to get my parking ticket 'validated' whatever that means. So APPARENTLY, just to park in the O2 carpark will cost me £5.00. FIVE POUNDS, for a 15 minute visit to shops that don't have what I need. I'm no paying that!

So I go to the supermarket to try to get it stamped, but am told I have to spend a minimum of £10 to qualify. I don't ACTUALLY need anything from the supermarket, which is annoying, and to try and spend £10 when you are in a hurry to get to another Habitat that MAY have what you are looking for, is not easy.

BUT .. there's more ...

If I do spend the £10 I STILL have to spend £2.50 to park.I think this is OUTRAGEOUS! I ended up parting with £5, but I tell you what, they won't be getting my business again, that's for sure. That is a bloody liberty.

Penalised for not spending money, but still having to pay if I do!!!