Everything and nothing. Read it, shrug your shoulders and move on.


Friday, September 29

Off the shelf wind turbines


The DIY superstore B&Q have started selling domestic wind turbines.

How fucking good is that!

The 1kW turbines are retailing at just shy of £1500 (Including installation and a suitablity survey) and can be bought online or off the shelf in around 100 stores. Deatails here

It seems that the hated (In some quarters) market is beginning to supply on an increasingly large scale many of the environmentally concious products that many of us have been straining at the leash for.

B&Q obviously feel there is a demand for such appliances, so it's up to us to show that they haven't been wrong in supplying wind turbines.

The Government, while having been virtually inert, can I suppose sit back a bit and feel satisfied that the market has begun to work as they would like. Whether turbines at £1500 will fly off the shelves (Hur hur!) though is a different matter, or at least it is for those who would gain the most from creating their own energy, the poorest and the increasingly squeezed lowe middle-classes.

Still, kudos to B&Q.

Wednesday, September 27

Alright?

Um...court was interesting. Although since it was almost a week ago now that I attended, my memory of the event is somewhat diluted (Thedacs-speak for 'Can't remember a bloody thing').

What's ahppening in the world then?

A mass mutual masturbation session is happening in Manchester and in the pages of the Guardian, as the Labour Party hold their annual snore-a-thon, sorry, conference.

Spack-face Brown is ready to inherent the leadership, Blair has given his final speech and all those who can't stand the wanker are duly applauding his final speech 'cos they're hypocritical fuckers. Or maybe they're just polite.

Richard Beardy Branson pledges billions to tackle climate change and mouths off about needing greener fuels. Smashing up all your planes with a pickaxe might go a lot further to tackling climate change Rich.

Richard Hammond survives 300mph crash, media fill a few days with pointless hand-wringing over entertainment-not-worth-a-life wailing into a void of public indifference. Public mostly just glad that Hammond ok.

Bush gets to look like even more of a plum by condemning leaked reports that suggest invading Iraq has increased the cause of terrorism.

Ipswich climb up the Championship table, MK Dons keep their high position in League Two.

The money has rapidly disappeared, depression hangs heavy over thedacs household, it gets dark outside not long after 7pm now, all the gear has gone up in a puff of smoke and the washing up seems to be on a continuous and never ending cycle in the kitchen.

We're still here though...

Thursday, September 21

In court today

Not for sentencing or anything but as part of the new job, gotta sit through a few trials.

Will either be fascinating or dreary as watching paint dry.

Will let you know afterwards.

Wednesday, September 20

CBA

Sent home from my new job on the second day (And no, I haven't been sacked but told that since there is no one in the office this afternoon it would be unfair and a waste to leave me there untrained and alone - fair enough) and, although having dusted, wiped down, hoovered, washed up and tidied the place up since getting at 1:30, I feel like I should be doing something constructive with my time.

There isn't anything I want to do (Not helped by Kismet laying on my lap, purring away and generally acting like the world's most gorgeous cat ever!), even GTA doesn't hold any appeal and the computer (Which I can very happily spend hours on) just feels like it will drain me of life unless I get constructive.

Drawing up a cartoon I drew on paper with the graphics tablet should be something that i'll leap at, but quite honestly, I can't be arsed.

Solar power ain't all it's cracked up to be

That's according to this reader response to this article in the Guardian.

Thedacs liked the original article so much we linked to it days ago, but the reader response does contain some important questions and problems regarding the unbridaled power of solar panels - like maybe a more realistic cost and savings conversion.

The focus should be on a consumers entire energy use and not solely on what could be construed as a fashion accessory, according to the writer.

We say fair enough, a valid and pertinant point, but where'ss the fun in that?! To the Arena of Death where they must fight until the ground is awash with their enemies blood, and then recycled.

Monday, September 18

Ramblers and Wind Farms


The Ramblers' Association is looking to oppose the construction of wind farms in Britain.

Whether wind farms are the most efficient renewable energy source out there or not (I would prefer to see micro wind turbines on all domestic and commercial properties where possible), they look fantastic.


Rambler's on the other hand, are a bunch of arrogant townies who look like...well, this...

Cartoon rehash



Saturday, September 16

Friday, September 15

Robbie Williams at the Bowl


Robbie Williams played the first of five concerts at the Milton Keynes Bowl last night and, although we didn't hear anything (The wind must have been blowing in the opposite direction), we did get a good listen to the sound check yesterday.

We also heard it just now coming through loud and clear, wafting on the wind across Furzton Lake. Robbie sounds in fine voice, or his backing singers do anyway, and the verges along the roads around the Bowl (And us) are already filling up with grown women saddled with backpacks making their way to the arena.

Thedacs are tempted to hire out their driveway for a paying concertgoer to park their car since we're only a scenic 5-10 minute walk away from the Bowl, but it's too late to advertise on ebay. Maybe for the next lot of concerts.

The drought is over


After weeks of the entire region being dry of the herb, due to Police seizures of plants in the last couple of weeks amounting to close to 10,000, the cavalry has arrived in the nick of time and the drought is over.

Tonight will be, after a period for thedacs of almost a month without (We were on holiday for a fortnight remember), an absolute blast!

Carbon emissions must be cut by 90%


According to a 'ground breaking' report by the Tyndall Centre (A climate change research Institute - so maybe a case of exaggeration to justify Governmnet funding).

The Guardian contains a good article summising all the main points and how the Tyndall Centre envisages the changes needed to meet their target panning out in the future - double-decker trains, newer fuels, energy efficiency in the home and industry, etc.

The BBC's Newsnight programme also has an ongoing feature named Ethical Man, which foolows a journo attempting to cut his carbon emissions.Last night he was on and discovered that his family had managed a 30-35% reduction in carbon, yet also that this percentage was as much as could realistically be brought about by the individual. Industry and the Government must be responsible for the rump of carbon emission reductions.

Thursday, September 14

Greater solar energy take up

Another story (This time from the BBC News website) about the growing up take of solar energy in Britain.

Wish I had some money to join in the fun...

Wednesday, September 13

Solar Power


Here is a nice little article from the Guardian Unlimited's new Environment section on solar powers and the economic benefits to be gained from them.

The lower in cost to buy, fit and run solar panels become (Along with other micro-renewables) then it's a no-brainer that demand for them will increase, yet according to the article solar thermal panels in China cost a tenth of the price they do here.

With 65m square metres of the things on roofs it's no suprise that costs are so low. Whether those same panels can, in the manufacturing process, be adapted to work with the standard electrical wiring within British properties I don't know, but surely it wouldn't be an expensive process especially considering that even at double the Chinese price, adapted thermal solar panels would cost the British buyer 20-25% less than they do now.

I did see an ad on Google for a site that manufactures and exports solar panels but I couldn't be arsed to install the language pack needed to view it. Whic says a lot about my attitude I guess...

Money Money Money

Received a nice cheque for £869 today from my M+S share sale!

Don't tell the tax man, 'cos half of that is needed to pay off a debt before the end of the month (And the subsequent heavy interest charges attached to it) and the other half will go toward the rent and bills before a decent payslip comes in from my new job.

It was good timing from the cheque as I had to go into my overdraft for the first time in my life this month...

Monday, September 11

Would you...

...trust this man as your leader?

...like to see this man as Prime Minister?

Personally speaking, not a fucking chance.

Blair must go for sure, in fact I was astounded that he managed to wangle re-election in 2005, but Brown is simply a massive turn-off.

Talking of supermarkets

Which I was on the last post, we decided to do our weekly shop at Tesco instead of Morrisons.

The reason being because we get Tesco Clubcard points when we pick up bits and bobs at the Tesco Express on our estate and reasoned that, instead of continuing to do the weekly shop at Morrisons simply due to the supermarket being the closest to us, we should at least take advantage of the few pounds off we receive every now and then in vouchers for Tesco.

So off to Bletchley we toddled, passing the giant Asda/Wal-Mart on the way (Which having shopped in there once, i've decided is completely shite and to be avoided at all costs) and the football stadium under construction (Coming along very nicely by the way) to experience a shop under Tesco's roof.

It wasn't bad either, which I suppose is the best you can say of a weekly grocery shop even if the supermarkets themselves would like you to believe it's a pleasurable experience.

We got to use the 'extra points' vouchers we had too and racked up a couple of hundred points in the process, thereby gaining us more £££'s off vouchers in the future. Being right-on environmentally-concious consumers, we also took along some old carrier bags to re-use and got a 'Green' point for each one (10 in total).

Now, I know there are people who can't stand these ClubCard style schemes and view them as an initiative aimed solely at conning you into spending more money on things you don't want (As well as being an awful Big Brother scheme to garner personal information), but as long as you avoid buying stuff you don't need then you're alright. Same principle applies to the BOGOF and 2 for 1 offers.

Either way, a saving of a few quid once in a while is no bad thing and something that we need to do quite honestly.

This public service announcement for Tesco now ends.

Friday, September 8

Changing food packaging


Sainsbury's have announced plans to change the packaging on 500 of their food products from the usual plastic to a compostable material.

Put alongside the push by Tesco to encourage their customers to re-use plastic carrier bags, it seems the supermarkets are leading a long overdue change to certain habits that affect our environment.

The fact that the supermarkets caused these problems in the first place shouldn't be forgotten I suppose, although like most commercial organisations defending themselves against accusations of waste, they usually take the easy route of blaming the consumer.

Having said that the consumer must take a share of the blame for our willingness to take the easy option and just accept things as they are without question.

It would seem however, that things are beginning to change from both sides with the consumer making noises about unacceptable, wasteful practises and altering their spending habits accordingly, and the supermarkets noting the change in the wind and altering those wasteful practises.

As long as it remains profitable then the supermarkets will continue to make those changes and, taken as a long-term trend then these new practises should be profitable. It may not appear directly on the balance sheet as a positive profit (Only the supermarkets could confirm that) but taken in the wider context of brand publicity, ethics, currying favour, marketability and retaining custom it can only be a positive to go with the changing currents of environmentally aware consumerism.

So a thumbs up to the supermarkets, a thumbs up to the consumer and a big old organic raspberry to the Government for not doing enough to accelerate the trend.

Thursday, September 7

Making money

Dealing with a few finances today (After being hit with a gut-wrenching interest payment on the Argos bill this morning, due to a miscalculation on our part and a desire to spunk any spare finances on the holiday we so needed) and so far have managed the following -

Taking short service rebate on pension scheme from the scummy HBS - +£287

Selling Marks and Spencer shares at 5.94 - +£869

Total so far of + 1156

Not the best state of affairs as it would have been better to transfer the pension funds, but I don't actually have anything to transfer it into at the moment. I would have been forced to take the rebate anyway since the timeframe for transfer will expire before a new scheme can be set up.

I would have liked to have kept the shares too as I received them as employee benefits while working at M + S but needs must and we need to clear some debts, have cash funds and get ourselves back on our feet. A new car is a must at the mo for starters.

This afternoon will be focused on sorting out a tax rebate for C after the agency work she undertook (On emergency tax) toward the end of the last tax year.

Whatever the outcomes, I feel better for confronting and taking control of our finances.

Wednesday, September 6

Blair on the ropes

Tony Blair is facing increasing pressure to step down as PM after a number of Government members resigned rather then continue to serve under him.

Whether it's part of a plot by Chancellor Gordon Brown to oust Blair or not is unclear at the mo, although i'm sure that for many anti-war campaigners (Or simply those disgusted at Blair's actions and foreign policy over the past five years) it won't matter a jot as long as the 'war criminal' is made to suffer a humiliation.

Since Blair led New Labour to a third election success last year though, it remains to be seen if the electorate are as keen to topple the Prime Minister before he reaches his 10 years in office.

Either way, Blair won't be contesting the next general election (Due by 2010) and yet while Brown may be relishing the opportunity to lead the country, I can't imagine Labour under the Scotsman will win that election.

New job

D was offered, and gladly accepted, a new job today.

He can't wait to leave his current job and start the new one, so let's hope the reference process doesn't take too long to sort out.

Saturday, September 2

thedacs are back...

...but a bit busy at the mo, what with sorting out the mountain of washing and the like.

Not to mention visiting and spending time with the new addition to the extended family in the shape of a new baby. C's sister couldn't keep her legs crossed long enough while thedacs were away and on 25th August she gave birth to a healthy boy of 6lbs 13oz named Kiaran Jack. Hooray!

But we'll with with you shortly kids...