tag:tregeddow.blog.co.uk,2009-11-11:/MokoFeed2009-11-11T12:11:37+01:00tag:tregeddow.blog.co.uk,2009-05-19:/2009/05/19/vote-for-real-reform-of-expenses-6141239/tregeddow2009-05-19T12:42:40+02:002009-05-19T12:42:40+02:00 <p>Vote for real reform of MP's expenses at the next general election!</p> <p>Do you beleive the MP's should not be allowed to waste our money on anything not directly related to the cost of doing their job?</p> <p>Do you want a real change to ensure this does not happen again?</p> <p>Does it bother you enough to spend a small amount of your time to do something about it?</p> <p>If the answer is Yes! Yes! Yes! then<br> - register to vote. The forms come round late in the year or contact your local council to be added to the electoral register<br> - Find an independent candidate standing in the general election comitted to real reform of these expenses. They are coming forward. If you feel really strongly help campaign for them<br> - Vote for them. It only takes a few minutes, and can be done by post. It will make enough of a difference <strong>IF WE ALL DO IT!</strong></p> <p>We also need good honest ordinary people to stand for parliament and make real reform. One per constituency in order to maximise the impact.</p> <p>For all our sakes - don't let apathy be the reason the next government gets away with the smallest change it can. We deserve better respect from those we elect.</p> <p>Do it! Make a change! End the Sleaze!</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://tregeddow.blog.co.uk/2009/05/19/vote-for-real-reform-of-expenses-6141239/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:tregeddow.blog.co.uk,2009-02-20:/2009/02/20/power-rights-and-freedom-5616385/tregeddow2009-02-20T17:47:42+01:002009-02-20T17:47:42+01:00 <p>Freedoms are concessions from the powerful to those they control to ensure they remain in controlled. They are granted only when necessary and removed whenever possible.</p> <p>The difference between democracy and autocracy (such as dictatorships) is in the degree of concessions and the severity of penalties exacted when your 'freedoms' are exceeded and the 'establishment' is challenged.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://tregeddow.blog.co.uk/2009/02/20/power-rights-and-freedom-5616385/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:tregeddow.blog.co.uk,2007-12-11:/2007/12/11/no_to_political_parties_and_politicians~3428595/tregeddow2007-12-11T17:23:25+01:002007-12-11T17:23:25+01:00 <p>I don't like political parties - groups of people who beleive they know what is best for everyone else. Our history is littered with the consequences of their broken promises and failed agendas. </p> <p>It's time we, the people rejected parties and the politicians in them.<br> Many are doing this by not voting but all this does is to clear the field for those that do vote. </p> <p>We need to be able to use our votes to replace party politicians with representatives and decision makers who are ordinary people.</p> <p>1) Reject anyone who wants to stand for election. Pick a candidate at random from amongst local people to stand as a true independent.</p> <p>2) Don't vote for the present MP, Councillor etc, always select and elect someone new. Goodbye to career politicians.</p> <p>3) Instead of wasting your vote by not voting, or on a party candidate with no thoughts of their own, elect the independent non political selected at random.</p> <p>People will say this will result in anarchy, but what they mean is we won't be following a fixed agenda determined by a select few. Instead our representatives will have to decide for themselves.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://tregeddow.blog.co.uk/2007/12/11/no_to_political_parties_and_politicians~3428595/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:tregeddow.blog.co.uk,2007-05-11:/2007/05/11/blair_did_what_he_thought_was_right_like~2250969/tregeddow2007-05-11T12:46:01+02:002007-05-11T12:47:22+02:00 <p>Mr Blair is finally leaving.<br> Some of his speech comments were very revealing about his attitude to the people of this country.</p> <p>"putting the country first....means doing what you genuinely believe to be right. Your duty is to act according to your conviction"<br> Of unexpected events - "Sometimes...you are alone with your own instinct"<br> On responding to 9/11 "I decided ... out of belief"</p> <p>HELLO, You were leader of a DEMOCRATIC country!<br> You should be elected to serve the will of the people wether we people are right or wrong. That's up to us and we should decide what consequences we will accept, not 1 person deciding for all of us.</p> <p>These remarks are the same reasoning every dictator and aboslute ruler everywhere and in every age has used to justify themselves. You are in good company Mr Blair - Hitler, Saddam, Stalin, all may have used such words to justify their actions and decisions.</p> <p>The terrible thing is our so called 'democracy' allows him and other prime ministers to get away with it and this clearly shows it needs a change. </p> <p>But it won't happen, they have the power, won't give it up and above all, don't trust the people of this country to do what is right for the political establishment.</p> <p>Perhaps Mr Brown may prove to be different, I live in hope, but with little expectation </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://tregeddow.blog.co.uk/2007/05/11/blair_did_what_he_thought_was_right_like~2250969/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:tregeddow.blog.co.uk,2007-01-10:/2007/01/10/rome_total_war_alexander~1537323/tregeddow2007-01-10T13:56:42+01:002007-01-22T13:17:35+01:00 <p>I'm a fan of the total war games and I got this expansion at Christmas. There is very little about it from players so I'd thought I'd give my opinion for budding Alexanders out there. For this first run through I auto resolved the battles to get a feel for the campaign aspect of the game.</p> <p><strong>Startup</strong><br> You have 100 'turns' to conquer the ancient world, and start out with only 2 cities out of 32 (you need 30 by the end to succeed). The Macedonians have a strong general in Alexander, and can field a couple of strong armies at the start - One in Asia Minor and the other from forces in Greece. They also have a small fleet in the Bosphorus.</p> <p><strong>Enemies</strong><br> To the North of you are Illyria and Thrace - they have one good leader. You need to defend your starting cities from these but this is reasonably easy. Their 3 cities make good initial targets. There is also one town in Asia Minor just South of where Alexander starts.<br> PERSIA - Controlling everywhere else around the sea to the South and East is Persia. They have a strong navy so don't be tempted to sail armies or fleets out into the open seas, they will be lost. Stay in the Bosphorus / Dardanelles and they will be safer and can be used to cross forces to Asia Minor from Byzantium. They also have a number of big armies in Asia Minor.<br> DAHAE - They control the area beyond Persia (North and East of what is Iran today). More on the Dahae later as you won't encounter them for a long while.</p> <p><strong>Strategy</strong><br> Individual Persian armies are no match for those under Alexander's leadership, provided the Macedonians are careful not to fight when heavily outnumbered.<br> 1. Alexander (and other Macedonian generals fighting the Persians) should be leading strong armies, with good numbers of troops say around 70% or more of the opposing armies numbers, depending on quality of the two armies.<br> 2. Take advantage of cities for defence.<br> To avoid being surprised by a persian army, keep your armies in captured cities until it is safe to move out and pick off another city or enemy army. Repair city walls to help in the defence while reinforcing or retraining your troops to bring the army up to strength. If besiged your force can sally out and attack the enemy and reduce their numbers until they give up. Once ready to move, scout the next target with an expendable unit.<br> 3. Build your income<br> Macedonia starts with only two cities. Funds are limited. Improve these by<br> a. capture of enemy cities. I start off by clearing roving enemy armies then besieging the city. Assualt as soon as you can (Alexander cannot hang around to wait until the defenders capitulate). Hoplites and similar are deadly in the narrow streets of a city or town anyway.<br> b. Enslave or exterminate populace.<br> Initially I don't do this as I want the cities as they are. After the first four or five, this becomes useful to fuel growth elsewhere and raise money, or to reduce cities that will be difficult to hold.<br> c. Demolish unwanted buildings.<br> You don't need all those buildings. Keep any that generate income or are needed in one of your cities for recruiting or retraining units, or for law and order, but demolish the others for income.<br> d. Build income generating improvents.<br> Do add mines, agoras and possibly ports as these generate income. Also roads help trade (and movement of troops).<br> 4. Maintain your army strength.<br> Alexander (and later other generals) must be kept supplied with a strong force to replace battle casualties. You are aiming for a strong stack to move onto the next assault and be able to leave or move in enough forces to maintain your occupation of that city.<br> a. In an emergency, recruit mercenaries - these will be expensive so only do this if there is an immediate threat of an attack which cannot be repulsed without them.<br> b. Recruitment<br> Put this before construction to start with. You need strong armies but don't over recruit as this will drain your limited funds early in the game. Retrain forces in cities unless you need the extra forces for law and order. Concentrate on hoplites mainly, each main army can have a few supporting units (Missile and cavalry)<br> c Build roads.<br> This will generate extra income from trade, and allow reinforcements to move rapidly, and units to move back to where they can be retrained. It also allows fewer forces to be left to defend rear areas against attack from rebels and any armies that break through.<br> 4. Watch out for easy opportunities<br> A poorly defended city, or a weak army could be a target for an swift victory. This could allow a leader or units to gain easy experience, or a chance to gain income from looting and demolition.<br> Use expendable units to scout areas (cavalry are best) and later on, spies to check towns to be assaulted soon. Don't expose main armies to risk though (If Alexander is killed the game ends). This can also gain you a new general if a stack without one is successful in a battle.</p> <p><strong>Civil War</strong><br> At year 65 or so the unexpected happened, I recieved a message saying 'Persian Faction Destroyed'. At this point I only held 12 territories, although my forces were in egypt, syria and scouting forces were near the Persian capital. What happened was the Persians had a revolt and lost many of their cities and armies. I don't know if this happens every game, but it certainly helps as now the Persians have to fight the rebels and Alexander and they don't last long. The Dahae take over.</p> <p><strong>Year 50 and fighting battles</strong><br> By this time the Macedonians are pushing into what is now Iran, having captured Babylon and Susa. Income is huge (30,000+ per year) and at this point the outcome of the battles is less critical so it is a good time to get some practice with hoplites (soldiers carrying a long spear) in battles.<br> There is good advice elsewhere on this. I would say that Hoplite style troops are slow, but very effective once they close with their enemy (provided they don't get attacked in the flank). You will need fast auxillary units to pin the enemy while your slower troops close, and to persue the routing enemy once the hoplites have broken them. Keep hoplites and other spear troops in a line with missile troops just behind them. Push the line up to the enemy and watch any frontal attacks perish on the spearpoints. Hoplite units are also deadly in narrow spaces in towns, such as gateways and streets.</p> <p>The DAHAE.<br> Once through the persians you will encounter the Dahae. They have lots of assassins so keep Alexander safe by placing a couple of spies with his army. Their homeland is in the North and East what is now Iran, and beyond the mountains which ring this area. Access through these mountains is through a couple of passes, and the cities in these passes are crucial points. Beyond them you are exposed to attack from the main Dahae armies before you can capture their remaining cities and win the campaign. Capture the cities and use them to reduce attacking armies and rebuild your forces for the final push East and North.</p> <p>REBELS - As your empire expands and you move your capital East, you will see more rebels appearing in Western areas, you'll need to leave forces to deal with these. Good roads and fleets can help move forces to deal with these. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://tregeddow.blog.co.uk/2007/01/10/rome_total_war_alexander~1537323/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:tregeddow.blog.co.uk,2006-07-27:/2006/07/27/gas_going_up~993394/tregeddow2006-07-27T17:03:48+02:002006-07-27T17:03:48+02:00 <p>Gas prices rising by 4 or more times the rate of inflation again.<br> Electricity prices rising as well (UK produces 40% of electricity from Gas). Inflation to follow no doubt and then rising interest rates, recession etc.</p> <p>At least I cut my gas used by installing an electric shower and putting in cavity wall insulation and double glazing. Saved £200 last winter.</p> <p>I'm now looking to cut my gas use even further. At least with electricity there are other sources and eventually the price won't be linked to the ever increasing gas cost. </p> <p>It's just a question of how much economic pain we have to go through before the country wakes up and takes real action to secure local renewable energy supplies. It won't be from this government or any of the current alternatives - they are only interested in the next election.</p> <p>Heat pumps are the way to go. Not all take their heat from the ground (the air will do unless it is really cold).</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://tregeddow.blog.co.uk/2006/07/27/gas_going_up~993394/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:tregeddow.blog.co.uk,2006-06-26:/2006/06/26/earn_my_vote~913142/tregeddow2006-06-26T17:03:12+02:002006-06-26T17:03:12+02:00 <p>I'm seriously considering not voting in future. All the canididates expect my vote but are not prepared to earn it.<br> Politicians these days are more interested in Power and process than People and policies. This was confirmed by a canvasser who came round at the weekend. I know him well, and I used to be active in the party, but no longer. </p> <p>I asked what the policies were that they would be standing on - evasive answer. I stated I was fed up of being asked to vote for Y to keep out X and the response was that 'we can't achieve anything without a platform'. That is rubbish - if you beleive in something you will campaign for it regardless of what political offices you hold.</p> <p>These people don't deserve our vote and are not prepared to earn it. Trouble is by not voting we allow our political system to pass the choice to those prepared to continue to support the status quo. </p> <p>The politicans decision makers become increasingly detached from the people which is highly dangerous. If nothing is done then the disaffected will eventually latch onto a radical ideal instead and that could be highly dangerous for the future of our country. </p> <p>What we need is to break the system using the system. What would happen if every current sitting councillor and MP was never re-elected? What would happen if each time a seat was fought someone new was elected? It would be the end of career politicians!<br> What would happen if a random candidate could be chosen and elected - the party system would be effectively gone!<br> What would happen if anyone who wanted political office would never get elected - we'd be governed by people and not politicians!</p> <p>I think this is achievable within the current political system given the will to do it. Randomly pick a candidate (say through a lottery system, £1 each and all have a chance to be the one standing)and everyone who currently can't bring themselves to vote for the existing parties votes for them. They'd win hands down. Next election they are gone, replaced by another random person.</p> <p>All perfectly legal. No party agendas, no career politicians.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://tregeddow.blog.co.uk/2006/06/26/earn_my_vote~913142/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:tregeddow.blog.co.uk,2006-06-07:/2006/06/07/don_t_support_politicians_by_not_voting~860623/tregeddow2006-06-07T16:05:02+02:002006-06-07T16:06:47+02:00 <p>There are many reasons people don't vote, which I won't debate here. </p> <p>We’ve tried not voting, we hope for reform but even reformed systems will still elect members of political parties whose views on how we should live are then imposed on us. We have to have someone in power but we can prevent those seeking political power from gaining office?</p> <p>How? Pick a candidate at random from among the people and then everyone who currently does not vote should vote them in. Sure, we could get anyone, but with enough ‘random’ people things should balance out in most cases. And next time there is an election we can pick and vote in someone else. </p> <p>Goodbye to career politicians and those who just follow a party line or are in the control of big lobby groups. As they won’t get re-elected they can afford to stick their necks out on issues that matter to us. Sure they may follow their own agenda, but they hardly ever truly represent their voters’ interests anyway.</p> <p>We’ve nothing to lose except being chained to party interests in the name of a false democracy. Let’s give it a go, who is with me?</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://tregeddow.blog.co.uk/2006/06/07/don_t_support_politicians_by_not_voting~860623/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:tregeddow.blog.co.uk,2006-06-02:/2006/06/02/uk_summer_fever_outbreak~848518/tregeddow2006-06-02T12:01:57+02:002006-06-02T12:05:03+02:00 <p>Health organisations are warning of a major epidemic that has taken hold in the UK, especially in England. It is believed to be an outbreak of the virulent Calix Mundi fever, which occurs in four year cycles.</p> <p><strong>Symptoms </strong>include<br> • Developing obsessive interests and strange behaviours – such as kicking things around, anything to do with a tiny group of sports personalities, inability to discuss anything else, shouting things at random, wearing sports clothes all the time.<br> • Complete inability to judge the skill level of others, leading to unreasonable expectations of them and related serious errors of judgement such as gambling.<br> • Wandering away from work or other activities, often making up excuses to cover this activity. A large number of sufferers find it necessary at this time to gather in groups with other sufferers and consume large amounts of alcohol. This is followed by<br> • Bouts of extreme lethargy, during which the sufferer will be unable to move from a particular spot, will be nervous and edgy, and suffer rapid swings of emotion between elation and depression. During this time they may shout unintelligibly from time to time. These bouts occur every week or so in a period of between 3 and 6 weeks. They last between 100 and 150 minutes after which the elation or depression may continue for some time afterwards.<br> • Some sufferers can display an increase dislike of certain nationalities and some figures of authority. This is particularly intense if they are depressed after one of the bouts of lethargy.</p> <p><strong>Catching the virus</strong>•<br> The virus is not normally spread through close contact, although young males seem particularly prone to it, especially those who regularly congregate in the open in large closely crowded groups. This years outbreak seems mainly to be confined to England, unlike in previous outbreaks when more of the British Isles were affected. It is reported to have broken out in a number of other nations around the world.</p> <p><strong>Treatment </strong><br> • Victims should not be approached or disturbed especially during the bouts of lethargy and immediately afterwards.<br> • In the UK a voluntary scheme has been instituted whereby sufferers are asked to display or wear a red cross on a white background to warn other of their affliction. Avoid close contact with them if at all possible.<br> • The infection should pass by the end of July and does not normally leave any permanent effects on its victims, although the depression may continue for some time after this. Those infected in the particularly widespread 1966 infection still show some of the symptoms from time to time but this is very unusual.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://tregeddow.blog.co.uk/2006/06/02/uk_summer_fever_outbreak~848518/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:tregeddow.blog.co.uk,2006-04-20:/2006/04/20/81_metres_going_under~741688/tregeddow2006-04-20T12:26:17+02:002006-04-21T15:54:30+02:00 <p>81 metres - remember that figure. It's how high the sea level could reach above it's present level if there was massive global warnming.</p> <p>Where does all that water come from? It's the Ice trapped on land (mainly in Greenland and in Antartica, but also in Glaciers) and a small amount of expansion of water in the sea as it warms. </p> <p>Ice floating on water does not count (it has already affected the sea level - drop an ice cube in a glass. The level goes up when it goes in but should stay steady as it melts).</p> <p>Each set will contribute different amounts - Greenland is about 6.5 metres of rise, but the vast bulk is trapped in Antartica. It is here temperatures will have the most drastic effect. West Antartica is already showing signs of a slow melt (Total rise 8.5 metres if it all goes). East Antartica is still cold and it is here that the bulk of the worlds frozen water is - a massive 65 Metres of sea rise.</p> <p>The remainder is made up from expansion of existing water as it warms and other ice (Snow and Glaciers). </p> <p>My place will be on the beach at about 30 Metres - not likely to happen for generations sadly so 'll have to keep taking my boats down the hill.</p> <p>It can go the other way - at one point the sea was 120 Metres below it's present level. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://tregeddow.blog.co.uk/2006/04/20/81_metres_going_under~741688/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:tregeddow.blog.co.uk,2006-04-20:/2006/04/20/finding_an_electric_car~741663/tregeddow2006-04-20T12:15:56+02:002006-04-20T12:15:56+02:00 <p>Want to replace my car and am looking for an electric vehicle.<br> Must carry 4 adults, have a range of 60 miles and a speed of about 50mph (80Kmh). Its for commuting and local trips.</p> <p>Why electric? Petrol is about 15p per mile. Based on what examples I have found an electric car costs about 2-3p per mile to fuel. I expect petrol costs to rise faster than electricity costs. Also there are no carbon emissions from an electric vehicle (my electricty supplier only uses carbon neutral sources).</p> <p>Finding such a vehicle is a problem. They are either too small, or too slow and short range.</p> <p>There are commercial vehicles - vans / buses that meet the specs so why so few cars?</p> <p>The only example I can find is the G-Wiz (Riva) which is too small. You can get cars converted but this is expensive. In any case you need to factor in replacment batteries every so often (800 charges?)</p> <p>For now I may hang onto my small car. I'll get a large car for heavy loads and long journeys but look into alternative fuels (LPG).</p> <p>I'll keep looking for that ideal electric car - if anyone knows of such a thing tell me.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://tregeddow.blog.co.uk/2006/04/20/finding_an_electric_car~741663/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:tregeddow.blog.co.uk,2006-02-02:/2006/02/02/right_to_navigate_the_itchen_river~528334/tregeddow2006-02-02T15:56:38+01:002006-02-02T15:56:38+01:00 <p>I canoe and have used parts of the Itchen river at Winchester and Woodmill in Southampton, and was curious about the rest of the river.</p> <p>Parts of canal that ran between the two still exist - a navigation established by various acts of parliament prior to 1882, some of which appear still to be in force. </p> <p>See Hansard July 2nd 1992 Cloumn 660 <a href="http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm199293/cmhansrd/1992-07-02/Writtens-1.html">http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm199293/cmhansrd/1992-07-02/Writtens-1.html</a> in which the Secretary of state in a written answer assured rights for vessels would be maintained by way of a tunnel (under the new motorway).</p> <p>So it would appear I have a right to be able to navigate a vessel between Winchester and Southampton. However the only waterway that runs continuously between the 2 is blocked by landowners, and the Itchen Navigation company has failed in its statutory duty to maintain the Navigation.</p> <p>I'd be interested to know if I do have that right to navigate, and if so, what needs to be done so I can exercise it.</p> <p>Comments please! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://tregeddow.blog.co.uk/2006/02/02/right_to_navigate_the_itchen_river~528334/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:tregeddow.blog.co.uk,2005-12-15:/2005/12/15/gone_off_online_shopping_at_xmas~388127/tregeddow2005-12-15T10:38:33+01:002005-12-15T10:38:33+01:00 <p>The amount of shopping I've done online this Christmas is down sharply. It's not just the security of shopping on-line, the main killer is that the main supplier I tend to use isn't able to deliver the goods in time. I don't want to place an order, only to find out later, with only a limited time to go, that something is not available, or won't be deliverable in the time I expected. You know who you are!</p> <p>At least if I go round the shops, I can see if it there or not, and get an alternative.</p> <p>On-line retailers need to be clear at this time of year, what is in stock, and can be delivered within the advertised timescales, and what has to be ordered in to meet the order, and possibly won't be delivered by a specified date.</p> <p>Add up that lost spend across the customer base and that is one big loss of business for not providing some relatively simple information.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://tregeddow.blog.co.uk/2005/12/15/gone_off_online_shopping_at_xmas~388127/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:tregeddow.blog.co.uk,2005-12-05:/2005/12/05/end_of_the_road_for_games_on_pc_s~362258/tregeddow2005-12-05T15:06:22+01:002005-12-05T15:06:22+01:00 <p>I was out doing my shopping for Christmas, and as usual I went round various stores selling console and PC games. I've noticed the space given over to PC games is nticeably shrinking, and I'm now wondering, are the days of the PC as a mainstream games platfrom numbered? Is this a bad thing?</p> <p>I think investment in big games will concentrate on the consoles - developers and retailers know what the platform is. It is probably easier to guard against conterfeiting, and the returns can be good.</p> <p>Console players don't constantly have to upgrade to meet the demands of the latest games, and don't have to keep patching to keep it safe. Also they don't have to compete with the other uses of the system (internet and home office).</p> <p>What though will happen to all the smaller games titles that used to go out on PC's? I think this will either die out (not enough money in it to bring to a console) or shrink to a smallernice group of consumers, poorer in quality because the investment is not there.</p> <p>This will be bad news for those of us who don't necessarily like the 'Action' focus of the big market games, but that's market forces for you.</p> <p>Perhaps I'll get a gaming console one day, it will be the first time since 'Pong' back in the (ahem, shows age..) seventies. I'll only be able to buy a few games I actually like to play but they'll be really good quality.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://tregeddow.blog.co.uk/2005/12/05/end_of_the_road_for_games_on_pc_s~362258/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:tregeddow.blog.co.uk,2005-08-10:/2005/08/10/it_s_oil_over_for_the_oil_addicts/tregeddow2005-08-10T15:55:40+02:002005-08-10T15:55:40+02:00 <p>Petrol about to hit £1.00 a litre, rising electricity and gas costs, followed by massive inflation, spiralling interest rates and repossessions of houses, coupled with companies going under. And all because our society is almost completely dependent on a black liquid - will we be able to endure or even survive the oil dependency withdrawal symptoms?</p> <p>It's hard enough treating an individual addict and getting them off the drugs they are hooked on, let alone a whole global economy. How do you rehabilitate a whole way of life when those responsible for it are only intrested in continuing to profit from our addiction to alfestyle fuelled by the black stuff? </p> <p>Think this is crazy? Look at the huge profits made by those who provide and supply the drugs. Examine the extraordinary lengths those dependent will go to to ensure a constant supply. Look how the individual addicts cannot change their ways, even when they are aware of the damage it is doing.</p> <p>Do we even have the will to try to change, or will we try and desperately hang onto our addiction whatever it costs anyone else? Some of the biggest addicts are already taking huge risks to try and secure their supply, while those who are wise enough and able enough seek alternatives that will free them from dependency. Their reward will be to take power in the new world that will follow. </p> <p>I personnaly have no faith in our leaders to tackle this problem (after all never gets really bad until after the election when they leave office so no chance of any long term solution to this problem) so I'm going to try to look out for number one and insulate my life as much as possible from the oil addiction. Good luck to the rest of you. Kick the habit now before it destroys you and your whole way of life.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://tregeddow.blog.co.uk/2005/08/10/it_s_oil_over_for_the_oil_addicts/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:tregeddow.blog.co.uk,2005-08-09:/2005/08/09/dying_for_an_nhs_appointment/tregeddow2005-08-09T10:45:40+02:002005-09-01T17:40:32+02:00 <p>The reality of Today's NHS</p> <p>Update September 1st 2005 </p> <p>Great, Doctor gets me a new appointment for last week - unfortunately forgetting I was away that week! Now have to wait 3 weeks for the next one which isn't bad. In the meantime have had yet another course of antibiotics, and now wondering how long before I need a further one.</p> <p>Update August 11th 2005<br> Went back to the Doctor, who is going to try and speed up the hospital appointment, and said to manage the problem with painkillers, and another course (7 days) of antibiotics in the meantime. Given previous antibiotics have only held off the problem for about 2-3 weeks, that should leave me going back to the doctor with 8 weeks to go before my appointment at the hospital. In the meantime the drug companies are making money from me as I try and control the problem. We'll see how it goes. Didn't sleep well last night as a result of the pain, but still made it to work.</p> <p>(August 10th 2005)</p> <p>Once again I find myself needing medical treatment. I go and see my Doctor, who refers me to a hospital. The hospital makes an appointment to see me for what will probably be a simple procedure - but the earliest I can get it on the NHS is in 12 weeks time. </p> <p>In the meantime what do I do about the infection caused by the problem the hospital are due to investigate? I'll go back to my doctor who will probably either need to prescribe long term antibiotics, or if they can't, is likely to advise me to contact A+E when it gets really bad.</p> <p>A similar thing happens with the dentist - you need emergency treatement and they prescribe antibiotics (a temporary fix for a few weeks) but the earliest appointment can be months away, unless of course it is an emergency (hanging around for rushed treatment) as again there is no capacity to allow for this kind of situation. </p> <p>The huge pressure and long waits mean that the service is firefighting and having to spend far more because things are more serious when patients are seen (if they make it). </p> <p>The sensible thing would be to invest in some up front capacity to see people with any consequential problems early, reducing the overall cost because the system then does not have to treat additional conditions arising as a a result of leaving things for weeks while treatment is made available.</p> <p>In the meantime the problems are affecting my work and home life, leading to additional costs for my employer.</p> <p>Of course, you can always go private, if you can afford it, or are so desperate you'd rather pay than suffer. I've finally done this with the dentist. I'd had enough.</p> <p>I'll see how things go and let you know how this all progresse.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://tregeddow.blog.co.uk/2005/08/09/dying_for_an_nhs_appointment/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:tregeddow.blog.co.uk,2005-07-08:/2005/07/08/we_can_change_the_g8_greedy_8/tregeddow2005-07-08T13:59:48+02:002005-07-08T13:59:48+02:00 <p>The G8 as it stands represents a powerful group of self interests that is putting the world at risk from global warming.</p> <p>The sea is already rising, and with a potential 80 metre rise (if all the worlds ice melted) it will increasingly start to damage and kill, and bring disruption all around the world. </p> <p>Those 8 men (if they truly were great) would take action to help everyone deal with this, and pass on something future generations will be proud of, instead of fear. I doubt they will and I would love to be proved wrong. The commercial interests they represent could even benefit, from securing a long term future based on sustainable non-enviroment damaging business(especially if they get in at the right time).</p> <p>If they don't do anything, what can we do? Many would say nothing, given the frustration with current electoral systems, especially here in the UK, where many do not vote, or where the representatives don't represent the votes cast.</p> <p>But I beleive we could change our govenernment, and throw out the parties which are the servants of the self interested groups and replace them with a collection of independent individuals who being 'ordinary' people would perhaps do something to truly address our real concerns.</p> <p>Live 8 showed there is the will amongst many ordinary people. They just need a way of expressing that will where it counts - parliament.</p> <p>It can be done. Here is how I think it could be acheived - By selecting and electing candidates for election who are local and not career politicians </p> <p>How could it be done - this could be done by a lottery in each area. </p> <p>Everyone who supports the idea could buy a ticket. The ticket gives each person a chance of being drawn as the candidate (as well as raising funds for the campaign of the lucky person). Buying a second or more tickets would not entitle you to extra chances of being<br> chosen (but would contribute more to the election fund).</p> <p>It works because you cannot predict who will get chosen - everyone has an equal chance.</p> <p>It also works because the chance of someone being selected a second time is very small, a career in politics would be impossible.</p> <p>While an individual may have a certain viewpoint - over the whole country these should average to represent the general view of the whole nation.</p> <p>If everyone who had entered also voted for the person chosen, and enough did so to elect them, and this was repeated in enough constituencies, we'd soon have a very different, independent government. Perhaps then we can start to make a real difference to the world we live in, for today and for the future.</p> <p>Believe, Act, make the difference.</p> <p>Tregeddow.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://tregeddow.blog.co.uk/2005/07/08/we_can_change_the_g8_greedy_8/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:tregeddow.blog.co.uk,2005-07-01:/2005/07/01/why_tregeddow/tregeddow2005-07-01T13:15:30+02:002005-08-09T12:07:36+02:00 <p>I like Cornwall but I'm not from there and I'm not Cornish (but my partner is). We often need to make up online identities for ourselves so I wanted a Cornish style one. </p> <p>The name of the place where I come from (originally) derives from the Saxon for Gedda's place and so I came up with Tregeddow which literally should mean "from Gedda's place". </p> <p>I don't speak Cornish so it is probably all wrong but I like it anyway.</p> <p>Tregeddow </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://tregeddow.blog.co.uk/2005/07/01/why_tregeddow/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>