tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23625203538533224812024-10-03T14:21:31.610+01:00Rants and Raves on current affairs, social injustice, and how politicians and the media 'dumb' us down.Carkevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056915287465929018noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2362520353853322481.post-39835457861873008302018-01-05T15:46:00.000+00:002015-12-01T15:40:46.907+00:00

Welcome This 1st post was made on January 5th 2015 - not 2018 as you may have seen above. It was pre-dated to make it 'stick' to page top as an 'intro' for those new to blogging. Please read my Navbar pages to see what you can expect here at Grumpy Old Man. particularly the 'readme first' and 'visitor poll' pages "The moving finger writes, and having writ" ...... just publish and be

Carkevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056915287465929018noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2362520353853322481.post-34531160521717256072015-01-30T20:02:00.000+00:002015-01-30T20:05:12.587+00:00

Ignorance of the British language is shown every night on TV. I have been irritated for some while at the decline in TV broadcasting standards - particularly in TV news programs. The presenters simply do not understand how to use the correct tense. The three basic verb tenses are:-   simple present, simple past, and simple future. No doubt the vast majority of us are not are aware of

Carkevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056915287465929018noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2362520353853322481.post-38521374095287499362015-01-30T15:46:00.000+00:002015-01-30T15:46:45.206+00:00

Does the growth of CCTV worry you? - if not then it should! No-one seems tto know just how many CCTV cameras we have in the UK, but without question we are the most 'watched-over' nation on earth - Yet we profess to be a Democracy! Most of the figures below are from a year or two ago and I  hope you will agree that they are quite staggering. The situation today is undoubtedly even worse

Carkevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056915287465929018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2362520353853322481.post-5590863001423982262015-01-29T21:55:00.004+00:002015-01-29T21:59:43.822+00:00

How often have we Golfers seen a putt veer away from the hole in the last few inches? Was it your stroke? - Was it the green? - Or was you ball unbalanced? - Can it matter anyway? - Yes it can matter - you would never putt with a hard boiled egg, would you? The unbalanced ball is not a new concept. Players such as Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson used to test the balance of their golf

Carkevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056915287465929018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2362520353853322481.post-85804549767283095592015-01-28T23:02:00.000+00:002015-01-29T22:53:07.425+00:00

The EU has been proven to be undemocratic and the daydream of a federal Europe is over. The power hungry bureaucrats in Brussels and Berlin are not blind, yet they refuse to see. Tony Benn once said that we should ask our political leaders 5 questions: “What power have you got? - Where did you get it from? - In whose interests do you exercise it? - To whom are you accountable? - And how can

Carkevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056915287465929018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2362520353853322481.post-54689517705230940162015-01-28T19:30:00.000+00:002015-01-28T19:30:30.112+00:00

I had always bemused me as to why women paint on fake eyebrows. I have never been a fan of makeup in any of it's forms and the type of women who 'paste it on' simply revolt me. Fake eyebrows are one point in question - what's it all about? do they not know how silly they look? Perhaps I miss the point and they are just auditioning as extras for the next Star Trek film. Or could it be that if

Carkevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056915287465929018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2362520353853322481.post-24563775804409703392015-01-28T14:17:00.000+00:002015-01-29T21:57:00.968+00:00

 I have deep concern over the disproportionate media coverage of  UK Islamism. Christianity is the world's largest religion.The UK is a Christian nation. The 2011 census shows that less than 3% of Brits are muslim - yet this small minority seem to get a greater amount of 'air and ink time' than can be considered reasonable and proportionate. For example, virtually every time a

Carkevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056915287465929018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2362520353853322481.post-32636583170559733932015-01-24T20:37:00.002+00:002015-01-26T23:20:21.119+00:00

Simple instructions on how to give your cat a pill. Pick up cat and cradle it in the crook of your left arm as if holding a baby. Position right forefinger and thumb on either side of cat’s mouth and gently apply pressure to cheeks while holding pill in right hand. As cat opens mouth, pop pill into mouth.Allow cat to close mouth and swallow. Retrieve pill from floor and cat from

Carkevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056915287465929018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2362520353853322481.post-42849211720275316942015-01-24T18:01:00.000+00:002015-01-24T18:01:27.413+00:00

Below is an extract from Terry Pratchett's book 'Feet of Clay' from the 'Discworld' series. There are 7 books that contain members of the City Watch - I find them to be hilarious. Do the characters below remind you of anyone? One new member of the Watch, Constable Visit, always complains that his full name is 'Visit the Infidel with Explanatory Leaflets'Pratchett goes on to say Constable Visit

Carkevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056915287465929018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2362520353853322481.post-75010367287508009222015-01-23T23:10:00.000+00:002015-01-25T23:15:15.183+00:00

Yet again the overpaid 'mega stars' were matched by a team costing a fraction of the price. The best commentary of the night was: The vote for the Man of the Match will close at full time,  and you have 3 Cambridge players to choose from. absolutely priceless!

Carkevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056915287465929018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2362520353853322481.post-64086172701985177362015-01-23T14:51:00.005+00:002015-01-23T15:59:15.079+00:00

George Osbourne's lies have been revealed on an article on today's BBC lunchtime news.  Some while ago when Chancellor George Osborne announced changes to the benefits system (which included the evil 'Bedroom Tax') he stated that this would make for a much  'fairer' Britain. It has long been seen that when Tories mention the word 'fair' they tend to be to mean 'fair to the middle

Carkevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056915287465929018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2362520353853322481.post-28567228384423639732015-01-21T20:53:00.004+00:002015-01-23T15:55:32.318+00:00

This is the first in a series of posts about the undemocratic, unworkable and failing EU. I was a believer in the Common Market idea, but I despise the undemocratic body named the EU. We are a Nation State which now has no control over the fact that 507 million Europeans can enter our land at will. This is a quite ridiculous situation and one that must be addressed immediately. Do Norway,

Carkevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056915287465929018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2362520353853322481.post-91384897160761829152015-01-19T22:42:00.000+00:002015-01-19T23:18:45.234+00:00

In some of my posts I make no secret of the fact that I despise David Cameron, his party and it's politics, but in the matter of 'that' letter I totally agree with him see BBC news here Most of the problems the world faces today stem from Islamic militants, so why not ask Muslim leaders to help out in any way they can? On this afternoon's news one irate Muslim spokesmen said that the letter

Carkevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056915287465929018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2362520353853322481.post-22437010353712302992015-01-18T20:46:00.001+00:002015-01-25T17:09:11.777+00:00

To some this post could be quite controversial, but I am only speaking my mind (or not?) Cue Victor Meldrew if you must, but I am actually what is described as a 'negative atheist' -  one who does not believe in God(s) but does not say that Gods don't exist. (definition here) How can a chap from Irish stock, who was educated in Catholic Schools even say that? My three prime reasons

Carkevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056915287465929018noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2362520353853322481.post-84269745691914710422015-01-17T20:10:00.001+00:002015-01-24T20:38:32.108+00:00

It's raining cats & dogs in Leyland at the moment, and Noah's Ark just sailed by my window! I have just created this category - once my wife and friends get to know it could get busy. Question: Did you know that cats only condescend to live with humans because no-one has yet invented a tin of food that can be opened by a paw? Statement: Dogs have owners - Cats have staff.

Carkevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056915287465929018noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2362520353853322481.post-39286312190581078912015-01-17T17:08:00.003+00:002015-01-18T15:57:35.887+00:00

I have made many mistakes in my life and have been prone to 'burning bridges' Standing by what I believe is far more important to me than what people think of me. One of my 'failings' is that if you let me down, or 'double cross' me you will never be a friend of mine again. This is a long post, it is not just about burning bridges, but about what a friend should be. This is a golfing tale, but

Carkevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056915287465929018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2362520353853322481.post-30157567262817391912015-01-15T20:11:00.002+00:002015-01-18T15:58:44.442+00:00

Whatever one may think about the recent attacks in France there is one fundamental truth in what the late Tony Benn once said: "A faith is something you die for - a doctrine is something you kill for. There is all the difference in the world." I believe wholeheartedly in free speech, and to quote what the great French philosopher Voltaire once said: "I do not agree with what you have to

Carkevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056915287465929018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2362520353853322481.post-33652563241062232672015-01-14T18:56:00.004+00:002015-01-18T21:36:19.665+00:00

Oh what a tangled web we weave, When first we practice to deceive... You have been caught red-handed this time old chap! I refer to to the current debate about who should take part in the Election TV debates. Firstly some facts: 1. It is the broadcasters duty to present to the voters a fair and balanced panel. 2. David Cameron has no right to try and influence who takes part. 3. In his

Carkevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056915287465929018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2362520353853322481.post-13579990022184249942015-01-14T00:39:00.002+00:002015-01-18T21:39:38.298+00:00

Funnily enough those words were not spoken by David 'botox' Cameron when he was challenged in Parliament last week. His responses were quite feeble. Whatever, there IS a crisis, and one caused by this so called 'coalition' government. The NHS is one of the best things ever brought into British Society and is envied all over the world. (do some research on Labour MP Aneurin Bevan - see

Carkevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056915287465929018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2362520353853322481.post-26665956253014194942015-01-10T21:36:00.001+00:002015-01-12T00:43:02.355+00:00

I have just added a new Golf page and this may well turn out to be my busiest category - particularly as I have just added my first quiz - see the top Navbar, and enjoy. The tee is free - You may drive off when you are ready Gentlemen.

Carkevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056915287465929018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2362520353853322481.post-47976821367685512572015-01-08T20:34:00.005+00:002015-01-18T16:26:48.238+00:00

this is my first 'serious' post - and is a copy of the email I just sent to ITV News. please do let me have your opinions and perhaps share the post? hi, I watched your national news earlier (6:30 Jan 8th) and was absolutely appalled by what Mary Nightingale said in the article about the footballer Ched Evans! She stated that he had made a 'partial' apology, and in an accusing kind of tone

Carkevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056915287465929018noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2362520353853322481.post-73516234536548616592015-01-06T20:14:00.000+00:002015-01-18T21:05:21.599+00:00

I have been spending so much time in setting up this blog that I have not yet been upset by anything (except for some minor problems in learning how to use Blogger) .... That situation won’t last when the TV news returns to it's default 'doom & gloom' setting. In the meantime I thought that perhaps I should have a signature tune? one that suits the ethos of the site and of my personality.

Carkevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056915287465929018noreply@blogger.com1