Thursday 20 December 2007

MAKES YOU THINK!

London Times Obituary of the late Mr. Common Sense

'Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who
has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was,
since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.
He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:
Knowing when to come in out of the rain; why the early bird gets the
worm; Life isn't always fair; and maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more
than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in
charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but
overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy
charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended
from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for
reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the
job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly
children.

It declined even further when schools were required to get parental
consent to administer sun lotion or an Elastoplast to a student; but
could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to
have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the Ten Commandments became
contraband; churches became businesses; and criminals received better
treatment than their victims. Common Sense took a beating when you
couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar
could sue you for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to
realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in
her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; his
wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason.
He
is survived by his 4 stepbrothers; I Know My Rights, I Want It Now,
Someone Else Is To Blame, and I'm A Victim.

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If
you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do
nothing.'

And a little extra........................

Can you imagine working for a company that has a little more than 600
employees and has the following statistics?

29 have been accused of spouse abuse

7 have been arrested for fraud

19 have been accused of writing bad cheques

117 have directly or indirectly bankrupted at least 2 businesses

3 have done time for assault

71 cannot get a credit card due to bad credit

4 have been arrested on drug-related charges

8 have been arrested for shoplifting

21 are currently defendants in lawsuits

84 have been arrested for drink driving in the last year

Which organization is this?

It's the 635 members of the House of Commons, the same group that cranks
out hundreds of new laws each year designed to keep the rest of us in
line.

Merry Christmas! Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all you Clavie veterans/bloggers!
Have a very good time over the festive season, Erik. Keep blogging in 2008, I will.

Wednesday 5 December 2007

Volunteering at CAB, News Update

I am now volunteering two half days a week at the Citizens Advice Bureau in the Wellgate Centre near the Central Library. Settling in well, after induction, basic training, and am doing reception cover and database work, updating the CAB's information sources, list of contacts, general information about Council services, doctors and dentists, NHS sites, what's on in Dundee arts/leisure, etc. Going well so far, early days, there may be some paid work available there later in the New Year. Going to temp admin/clerical interview at Abertay University next Wednesday.
Enjoying the Hilltown Writers' Group meets once a week on Wed pm and CD-ROM project with HWG and Central Library every Tues pm. Assembled some good digital photos, artwork, poems and short stories/prose about life in Hilltown, Dundee, changes over the last 50 years, going in to record voiceover and readings at Hilltown FM local radio next Jan 18th.