Tsunami

The Scout Association have launched an appeal to help Scouts in the Asia Pacific region who are busy cleaning up and rebuilding their communities. I recived a flyer about it in my copy of Scouting Magazine yesterday.

Focusing our efforts

Contributing to The Scout Association – Tsunami Appeal is the most effective way of showing your support. The World Movement discourages Scouts from travelling to affected countries to offer their help, unless as part of a recognised aid agency.

The stress is interesting given I knew of people who went to Thailand who were keen on linking up with Scouting efforts to clean up communities out there and got short shrift by HQ. They tried to get the Scout Association to put them in touch with aid agencies, as many churches and other voluntary organisations are doing. Aparently the people at HQ couldn’t be bothered as they “didn’t have time”. While I can see their point aboput endorsing a group of people who would go out independantly and possibly get in the way, I am dissapointed that a voluntary organisation can’t help it’s members use their skills.

Which is interesting as the only thing about sending people into the affected region on the WOSM website is a recent message from Australian Scouting about Rovers raising money, and them looking into options for sending Rovers to help with clean up and rehabilitation. Hmm.

Listening

Amy sent me a CD of tunes to have a listen to, and I must say there’s some good stuff on there. There’s a load of tracks I’ve heard before but couldn’t put a name to. Wonderful stuff like Suzanne Vega singing “Marlene on the Wall”, iconic tunes like Coldplay’s Clocks. Oh and incomparable stuff like “Time flies by” by Half Man Half biscuit.

Too much to listen to in one sitting, and after a long week it’s time for bed.

Busy Week

This is my first night in this week.

Sunday I was out putting letters in envelopes, then delivering in Ireland Wood, along with one of the leaders from another North Leeds Explorer unit. Was surprised to see someone from my other life, but it has happened before because I bumped into an IST member when out in Hartlepool last September.

Monday and Tuesday was two nights of district meetings, acting as the district 2007 agent. At the GSLs meeting the DC seemed to have more up-to-date info than me, so I felt a bit foolish, and the SLs weren’t enamoured of the “Sunrise Ceremony” plans. I plan to give the role up at the next opportunity as it’s a bit much to do living so far from the district.

Wednesday was Explorers which was interesting. We did a discussion, team building paper towers, paper fights and then what can only be described as chilling time.

Yesterday I went to see some friends Ed and Clr, and spent a lovely couple of hours having tea round their house.

So tonight I’m having a bit of a relax.

Found on my travels:

greenfairydotcom: Back brush step, heel drop: “I, as a woman, have the innate ability to tap dance. I have chosen to do other things with my life than learn how to tap dance, and tap dancing will probably continue to feature quite low on my ‘must-do’ list for several years to come. However, there may come a point when I am old and reflecting upon the things I have achieved and come to the conclusion that my life would be much enhanced by being able to tap dance. I now very much want to be able to tap dance and although it may not be easy, because I can do it, I therefore have right to demand others help me tap dance. I insist that a person dedicates his or her life to help me tap dance, and I am under no obligation to consider the effect upon this person if I kick the bucket half way through my training. What, after all, is a woman’s life worth if she has not made full use of the tap dancing potential she was born with? “

As also spotted by John B.

Publicity

Spent the afternoon in Liverpool discussing SAGGA publicity materials.

Tomorrow I’m going to Leeds or maybe Hull to deliver leaflets.

This computer has a Hungarian Keyboard.

My attention has been drawn to the website of Christian Voice. Apparently they are behind a plan to attempt to prosecute the BBC for blashphemy over Jerry Springer the Opera.

These vile bigots are not recognisable to me as Christians. They simply use Christianity and the Bible as a focus for their hate campaigns. As a Christian I stand up and denounce them, they don’t speak for Christians in general and they certainly don’t speak for me.

Don’t shop at Waterstones

An account of their disgraceful treatment of one employee.

And in his own words.

Joe was an employee at Waterstones for over a decade, and a very good and knowledgable one at that. But Waterstones were taken over by HMV, who were more in mind of a Book supermarket and used Joe’s blog to get rid of him. In it Joe barely refers to his employer but when he does he highlights misconduct by his “evil boss”, and once refers to his employer as “B@st@rdstones”.

It appears the media have picked up on Joes story, as have many of the authors he worked with in the past. Have a read of his blog. Then shop elsewhere.

The Boy from Khoa Lak

A lot of people have come on here searching the web for information on whether or not an email about a boy from Khao Lak who is missing his parents is a hoax or not. This is probably because a version of the email misspelled the word Khao in Khao Lak. My original post about it is here.

In short, the email you recieved probably wasn’t a hoax but DO NOT PASS THE EMAIL ON!! The little boy, Hannes Bergstroem, was reunited with his father at the end of December.

See this news story for details or search google news for more corroboration.

So many have visited for this information the word “Khoa” has become the third most popular search term for this site, according to the statistics. I just congratulate those people who have the presence of mind to check these things out, rather than mindlessly forwarding them on.

Local Political News

Nick Griffin, BNP chief cretin, is standing down the road from my house

in Keighley.

Jeremy Hardy was unavailable for comment.

Mediawatch-UK and Jerry Springer the Opera

Mediawatch UK are a bunch of loonies.

I watched Jerry Springer the Opera, and was entertained. While I thought it in places childish and to have too much swearing, it was neither as “challenging” as its proponents claim, nor worth the fuss claimed by its opponents.

Amy, Ryan, Anders and Will have seen it, and Nick has something to say too.

And Richard, a Christian who didn’t want to see it and knew his TV had an off switch.

As the song goes “My god is a great big god.” And he’s bigger than being harmed by this.

Incidentally I did a google this morning on “MediaWatch UK are a Bunch of loonies” and was disappointed to find no results.