I was very interested to read that 600 years ago people were worried about the same things we are today.
This was an article by Ken Cooper in The Oldie Annual
There is a church in York (U.K.) which has a stained glass window which forecasts the end of the world.
The church is All Saint's Church in North Street and the window is known as the "Pricke of Conscience"
There are 15 frames giving graphic details of disaster and death.
Apparently the storyline is taken from a best seller of the time which was a 10,000 line anonymous poem which even outsold Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.
There is reference to global warming by telling of the seas rising and the the world going up in flames (nuclear holocaust?)
It shows that even in 1410 there were people who were concerned about where the world was going.
Interestingly though the window beside it is called "Corporal Acts of Mercy" and is a good deeds handbook showing the corporeal (bodily) ways to help others.
Let's cheer ourselves up with a joke:- Did you here about the lawyer who was injured in an accident? The ambulance he was chasing stopped suddenly.
On this day: 6th January
In 1919 Theodore Roosevelt died
In 1540 Henry V111 married his fourth wife Anne of Cleves
John F.Beaumont
Thursday, 6 January 2011
Wednesday, 5 January 2011
How our rulers waste money
There is a very interesting article in The Oldie Magazine this month written by Kate Sawyer.
Kate is a teacher at a very successful comprehensive school which has Sports Specialism Status.
This status means the school gets extra money for any subject which can claim to be sports related.
Despite having a very successful 6th form college in the town it was decided that Kate's school should also have a 6th form.
However all the new 6th form would deliver was a Sports Diploma not other A level subjects.
To cut a long story short this new building cost over £3 million with a huge dance studio and over £96,000 worth of state of the art gym equipment.
This is great and the last Labour government can boast of putting £3million into education.
Just one tiny problem though.
There are only 8 students!
Wow they can't even raise a team for most sports!
What a waste. How many books could that money have provided? How many extra teachers in important subjects?
The irony is that Sports Diplomas are likely to be phased out over the next couple of years.
Let's have a joke. Woman to husband "Do you love me because of the fortune my father left me?
The husband replied. "Of course not dear. I'd love you whoever left you a fortune.
On this day: 5th January
In 1919 an unknown Austrian formed a new political party. His name ...Adolf Hitler
In 1818 the first regular trans-atlantic service begins between New York and Liverpool.
John F.Beaumont
Kate is a teacher at a very successful comprehensive school which has Sports Specialism Status.
This status means the school gets extra money for any subject which can claim to be sports related.
Despite having a very successful 6th form college in the town it was decided that Kate's school should also have a 6th form.
However all the new 6th form would deliver was a Sports Diploma not other A level subjects.
To cut a long story short this new building cost over £3 million with a huge dance studio and over £96,000 worth of state of the art gym equipment.
This is great and the last Labour government can boast of putting £3million into education.
Just one tiny problem though.
There are only 8 students!
Wow they can't even raise a team for most sports!
What a waste. How many books could that money have provided? How many extra teachers in important subjects?
The irony is that Sports Diplomas are likely to be phased out over the next couple of years.
Let's have a joke. Woman to husband "Do you love me because of the fortune my father left me?
The husband replied. "Of course not dear. I'd love you whoever left you a fortune.
On this day: 5th January
In 1919 an unknown Austrian formed a new political party. His name ...Adolf Hitler
In 1818 the first regular trans-atlantic service begins between New York and Liverpool.
John F.Beaumont
Tuesday, 4 January 2011
The Increase in Value Added Tax
There is supposed to be chaos today in many shops because of the increase of VAT to 20%
Why? because many of the labels on products still say the old price and it is only when a customer gets to the checkout that they no the true price.
Apparently even big names like Boots and Comet are guilty of this.
Still I suppose that it has caught all the top executives by surprise.
Hey they have only known for months! Why are such high salaries paid to these people when they can't plan ahead.
Enough of the rant. Let us have a joke:- A man has been drinking at his golf club. On his way home he is pulled over by police who inform him that he is too drunk to drive. "Too drunk to drive" exclaims the man " I can barely putt"
Techno has been working on my new internet marketing website although we have one or two finally touches to do. See http://www.john-f-beaumont.com/
On this day:- 4th January
In 1967 Donald Campbell was killed trying to beat his own world water speed record in Bluebird.
The accident happened on Coniston Water
In 1965 T.S.Elliot died
In 1896 Utah becomes the 45th state of the Union
John F.Beaumont
Why? because many of the labels on products still say the old price and it is only when a customer gets to the checkout that they no the true price.
Apparently even big names like Boots and Comet are guilty of this.
Still I suppose that it has caught all the top executives by surprise.
Hey they have only known for months! Why are such high salaries paid to these people when they can't plan ahead.
Enough of the rant. Let us have a joke:- A man has been drinking at his golf club. On his way home he is pulled over by police who inform him that he is too drunk to drive. "Too drunk to drive" exclaims the man " I can barely putt"
Techno has been working on my new internet marketing website although we have one or two finally touches to do. See http://www.john-f-beaumont.com/
On this day:- 4th January
In 1967 Donald Campbell was killed trying to beat his own world water speed record in Bluebird.
The accident happened on Coniston Water
In 1965 T.S.Elliot died
In 1896 Utah becomes the 45th state of the Union
John F.Beaumont
Monday, 3 January 2011
Politicians v Market Forces.
What is it with politicians when they get a little power thinking that they can buck market forces.
The best example was Gordon Brown who famously said a few years back that boom and bust were things of the past.
Just before one of the biggest busts in history!
Now we have Grant Shapps (who?) the UK housing minister spouting off about housing booms being over for good.
Doh! How illogical is that.
He is trying to get councils and developers to build more houses. I thought councils had run out of money?
We already have a chronic housing shortage and at present not enough properties are being built to even keep up with current demand.
Immigrants are still flooding into the country with little success at stemming the flow.
We are now being told that property should not be considered as an investment.
So who is going to provide the housing when private landlords and pension funds leave the market?
Either Mr Shapps is living in cloud cuckoo land or is a closet communist!
So I will make a prediction.
Within five to ten years we will see the biggest housing boom ever as market forces take control.
Then the real answer will be addressed and 35/40 year mortgages will become the norm.
Enough of my rant let's have a joke.
What's the best way to stop a runaway horse? Bet on it.
On this day:- 3rd January
In 1521 the pope ordered the excomunication of Martin Luther.
In 1924 Tutankhamen's tomb was discovered.
John F.Beaumont
The best example was Gordon Brown who famously said a few years back that boom and bust were things of the past.
Just before one of the biggest busts in history!
Now we have Grant Shapps (who?) the UK housing minister spouting off about housing booms being over for good.
Doh! How illogical is that.
He is trying to get councils and developers to build more houses. I thought councils had run out of money?
We already have a chronic housing shortage and at present not enough properties are being built to even keep up with current demand.
Immigrants are still flooding into the country with little success at stemming the flow.
We are now being told that property should not be considered as an investment.
So who is going to provide the housing when private landlords and pension funds leave the market?
Either Mr Shapps is living in cloud cuckoo land or is a closet communist!
So I will make a prediction.
Within five to ten years we will see the biggest housing boom ever as market forces take control.
Then the real answer will be addressed and 35/40 year mortgages will become the norm.
Enough of my rant let's have a joke.
What's the best way to stop a runaway horse? Bet on it.
On this day:- 3rd January
In 1521 the pope ordered the excomunication of Martin Luther.
In 1924 Tutankhamen's tomb was discovered.
John F.Beaumont
Sunday, 2 January 2011
Swine Flu
I see from the press that GP's are running out of flu vaccine.
Some critics are blaming the shortage for the fact that figures are showing that significantly fewer people have been vaccinated this time compared to previous years.
My personal experience is that doctors have not been encouraging people to get vaccinated.
In previous years I have received a letter from my GP suggesting that I get vaccinated. This winter ....nothing.
It was only when I visited the surgery on another matter that I realised I hadn't been vaccinated. Even then there was a waiting period.
Still it can be a serious desease for some.
Anyrate let's cheer ourselves up with a joke
Today's joke:- The reason grandchildren and grandparents get along so well is because they have a common enemy.
On this day;- 2nd January
In 1942 Manila fell to the Japanese forces
In 1882 John D. Rockefeller became the second most powerful man in the USA by gaining a stranglehold on the oil industry.
John F.Beaumont
Some critics are blaming the shortage for the fact that figures are showing that significantly fewer people have been vaccinated this time compared to previous years.
My personal experience is that doctors have not been encouraging people to get vaccinated.
In previous years I have received a letter from my GP suggesting that I get vaccinated. This winter ....nothing.
It was only when I visited the surgery on another matter that I realised I hadn't been vaccinated. Even then there was a waiting period.
Still it can be a serious desease for some.
Anyrate let's cheer ourselves up with a joke
Today's joke:- The reason grandchildren and grandparents get along so well is because they have a common enemy.
On this day;- 2nd January
In 1942 Manila fell to the Japanese forces
In 1882 John D. Rockefeller became the second most powerful man in the USA by gaining a stranglehold on the oil industry.
John F.Beaumont
Saturday, 1 January 2011
India and China's progress
It appears that India and China are likely to lead the global economic recovery in 2011.
Hardly surprising.
I'm really impressed with them China in particular with the superb new bridges they have built.
Still we in the UK are having to recover from the out of control spending over the last few years.
I think that one of the most worrying aspects is the house price fall prediction of 10%. If that does come to pass (although with such a housing shortage market forces will kick in sometime) then any interest increase will cause a lot of private landlords to go under.
Still we shall see. The economists have got it wrong so many times before.
Joke for today:- Harry gets a lot of excercise. Last week he was out 7 nights running
On this day:- 1st January
In 1863 Abraham Lincoln declared freedom for all slaves in the southern states.
In 1865 J. Edgar Hoover founder of the FBI was born
John F. Beaumont
Hardly surprising.
I'm really impressed with them China in particular with the superb new bridges they have built.
Still we in the UK are having to recover from the out of control spending over the last few years.
I think that one of the most worrying aspects is the house price fall prediction of 10%. If that does come to pass (although with such a housing shortage market forces will kick in sometime) then any interest increase will cause a lot of private landlords to go under.
Still we shall see. The economists have got it wrong so many times before.
Joke for today:- Harry gets a lot of excercise. Last week he was out 7 nights running
On this day:- 1st January
In 1863 Abraham Lincoln declared freedom for all slaves in the southern states.
In 1865 J. Edgar Hoover founder of the FBI was born
John F. Beaumont
Friday, 31 December 2010
Sir Elton John's baby
I see the news at the moment is all about Sir Elton John's new baby.
This is very nice for him and his partner David Furnish but I can't help feeling a little sorry for the baby Zachary.
Sure he will have every thing money can buy and both his parents seem to be very loving but my concern is the age of Sir Elton.
Why? Well you see my father was 67 years old when I was born and passed away when I was only 13.
That was sad enough but I also saw my fathers declining health before he died. In fact I had to tie his boot laces up for him when my mother wasn't around.
It is of course unlikely that Zachary will have any problems like tying shoe laces but it may be sad for him if he loses one or other of the loving partnership at an early age.
Hopefully that won't happen.
I've more or less got my new website for my internet business established. It's looking good.
Joke for today:- I'm not playing all the wrong notes. I'm playing the right notes but not necessarily in the right order. Eric Morecombe
On this day: 31st December
In 1937 Anthony Hopkins was born and in 1943 Ben Kingsley made his first appearance.
John F Beaumont internet marketer
This is very nice for him and his partner David Furnish but I can't help feeling a little sorry for the baby Zachary.
Sure he will have every thing money can buy and both his parents seem to be very loving but my concern is the age of Sir Elton.
Why? Well you see my father was 67 years old when I was born and passed away when I was only 13.
That was sad enough but I also saw my fathers declining health before he died. In fact I had to tie his boot laces up for him when my mother wasn't around.
It is of course unlikely that Zachary will have any problems like tying shoe laces but it may be sad for him if he loses one or other of the loving partnership at an early age.
Hopefully that won't happen.
I've more or less got my new website for my internet business established. It's looking good.
Joke for today:- I'm not playing all the wrong notes. I'm playing the right notes but not necessarily in the right order. Eric Morecombe
On this day: 31st December
In 1937 Anthony Hopkins was born and in 1943 Ben Kingsley made his first appearance.
John F Beaumont internet marketer
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