January 2009 - Posts
As a bad amateur naturalist I was interested to read about a
novel piece of restorative justice involving a pair of swans. Read More...
Sir Liam Donaldson, the chief medical officer, was on Radio
4 this morning expressing his reasonable concerns about underage drinking . Read More...
All hail the reduction in alcohol-related deaths. All hail -
or should that be inhale? - the efforts to cut cannabis use. Read More...
As the UK's streets apparently descend into criminal chaos
with the street corners manned by paedophiles by day and snipers by night, it is
understandable that many residents fear the rise in the number of bail houses. Read More...
One of the most hypocrital platitudes I can think of -
apart from "with respect", which is so often the trigger for a tirade
of disrespect - is "he means well". Read More...
An interesting result has emerged from Age Concern 's Big Q on care. It seems that people do not expect an automatic entitlement to free care in
old age. Read More...
Whatever one's views on British forces' involvement in the
government's overseas forays - or should that read "follies"? - the effects on
the personnel's bodies and minds are indisputable. Read More...
The police do it. The street cleaners of Wimbledon do it.
Even some politicians do it. Now school pupils are doing it too. Read More...
Charity DrugScope reports a worrying trend that young people are
taking increasing risks with a drug that is used to tranquilise horses. But a
study has thrown up a question on whether its classification is correct. Read More...
As conspiracies go, the great dyslexia con is a new one on
me. Read More...
It is an appalling indictment on our (mythical) meritocracy
that we are less socially mobile today than we were in the 1950s, the era of gentlemen's clubs, secret handshakes and bowler hats. Read More...
Prince Harry is unlikely to get the call from Number 10
asking him to head the government's next Respect taskforce. Read More...
Fed up with the cold yet? Don't worry, it will become milder
next week - and may coincide with a bill dropping through your letterbox as a reminder of all the extra heating you have used recently. Read More...
With the 200th anniversary of Louis Braille 's birth and
the UK state pension turning 100, there is much to commemorate this month. Read More...
The oldest prejudice is making a reappearance on the UK's
streets, particularly in London. Read More...
Yesterday, one of the few boroughs in England that provided
free home care for elderly residents and disabled people started charging them. Read More...
Care home residents have been celebrating the new year with
the prospect of a full 75p rise in their personal allowance. Read More...