Student Finance Direct

Student Finance Direct have managed to wind me up again I'm afraid. I filled in their damn form a few weeks ago - you know the form, the one that wants to know EVERYTHING about you and your income just so your children can take out yet more loans. In addition I submitted the required evidence of MY income, (P60s, Bank Statements etc...). Well, they've now sent me another form, identical to the first!! Under separate cover, but sent on the same day, a letter informing me that the financial assessment is complete and they will write to my son to inform him of what they have decided will be MY financial contribution to his studies!

In need of clarification, I plucked up the courage to ring them again (and no, I didn't need a "secret answer"!!) My protestations about being a single parent and having to plan my budget fell on deaf ears. "Sorry, but it's up to your son to tell you that - that's how the system works." How ridiculous! Out of curiousity I asked where the person on the phone to me was situated - Nottingham or Bristol. All letters I've received from them have had both these addresses on but only one telephone number - the number I rang. Answer: Glasgow! FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE

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GM Crops

Good on you Charles - you tell 'em
Whilst I have no serious objection to small scale GM food production in principle, I do object to people like Monsanto pretending that they're in the business of alleviating starvation in the world. Make no mistake - it's all about PROFIT, and the profits are ASTRONOMICAL.
There is enough food in the world without GM crops; what is lacking is a fair distribution of the food we have because those in control want to maintain their profit margins.
And what about the profit being made from biofuels at the expense of rainforests and agricultural land previously used to grow food? I live in the East Midlands where a good proportion of fields are given over to Rape - which incidentally is now growing outside of farmland as a weed - EVERYWHERE.
So, three cheers for Charles - he has my backing.
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I confess

Colin Stagg, erroneously convicted of murdering Rachel Nickell in 1992, said of his £700,000 compensation,

"I expected a token payment by way of compensation. This is like winning the lottery!"

Given that he was convicted because he CONFESSED (the Judge has now ruled that he was entrapped) how on earth can the British justice system justify paying out OUR hard earned cash to someone who, for whatever reason, owned up to murder!!!

Hey... there's an idea. Any unsolved murders in your area? Why not manipulate the Police into putting you under duress and then confess that you were responsible. You never know - in a few months you could be very wealthy!!

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Free Play

BBC Breakfast News this morning was discussing a new campaign set up to advise parents on how to encourage their children to play on their own! For Heaven's sake - what is it about this nanny Britain we live in that prevents parents from just turfing their kids out into the garden or yard and telling them to get on with it? Children are naturally curious and when left to amuse themselves, they will. Hey, I remember when I left my five year old painting a picture in the garden one summer with a glorious new paint set and an easel. Within ten minutes he'd painted my car a beautiful shade of lime green. Yes of course I told him what a clever boy he was!

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Student Loan Coy's Crazy Secret

My son asked that I ring the Student Loan Company today. It seems that I omitted to tick an important box on his 30 page application. As with all big organisations these days I was subjected to three automated menus before finally getting to talk to a real person.

But was he really for real?

After giving my son’s ART ID (those of you with kids at Uni will know what that is!!), my full name, mother’s maiden name, date of birth, address and telephone number, he finally wanted to know the first and third letter of my secret answer!!!!! What was he on about? Was this something to do with the colour of my underwear? Perhaps I’d misheard him?

Me: “Sorry, you’ve confused me. What did you say?”

Him: “I need your secret answer.”

Me: “What was the question?”

Him: “There isn’t a question.”

Me: “How do I know the answer if there isn’t a question?”

Him: “It’s a computer generated answer.”

Me: “Answer to what?”

Him: “Nothing, there wasn’t a question. It’s just to ensure that the answer remains secret.”

Me: “So, there’s an answer to a question that was never asked and it’s that secret, that even I don’t know it.”

Him: “You were sent it through the post.”

Me: “I’m sorry but I have no recollection at all of receiving an answer to an unasked question through the post”

Him: “You need it to talk to us.”

Me: “But I’m talking to you now. I just want to tell you I meant to tick the box and didn’t.”

Him: “I’ll send you another secret answer in the post.”

Me: “So, I’ve got to wait to receive an answer to a question that’s never been asked and then go through all this again?”

Him: “No, I’ve already amended your records to show you ticked the box.”

Duuhhhhhh

Me: “So, why do I need a secret answer?”

Him: “In case you need to contact us again.”

Somehow, I’ve got a feeling that’s NEVER gonna happen!!!!!!

Religion, politics, wealth and war. Is there a connection?

Having spent 5 weeks in the USA last summer, I’m well aware of the popularity of the conspiracy theory surrounding the 9/11 tragedy. Oh yea, I hear you say, not more stuff and nonsense. But if you think you’ve heard enough from conspiracy theorists since the death of Princess Diana, I ask you to put your scepticism aside temporarily and check this out.
It’s a freely downloadable 2 hour movie that, if it doesn’t shake you to the core, will at least make you question what you perceive of as reality. It’s about the apparent connection between politics, religion and wealth and it doesn’t hold back any punches. In parts, it’s almost too upsetting to watch and is shocking if true.

It’s a remastered version of "Zeitgeist" and will be shown at the Artists’ Film Festival in London on December 7th. It has been produced by Peter Joseph, who encourages scepticism when he states:

“…. It is my hope that people will not take what is said in the film as the truth, but find out for themselves, for truth is not told, it is realised.”

To this end, he has included an interactive transcript so that viewers can scroll through the script of the entire film, checking his reference sources and obtaining more information. If you’ve time, it’s also worth checking out the other pages on the site.

It’s true, he may be another Dan Brown but this guy certainly doesn’t seem to be in it for the money. I did though recognise a line near the end that reminded me of something Donnie Darko said.

Why not watch it and see what you think.

The movie can be watched online at http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com/

Wake-up Roswell

If you’re interested in UFO’s, specifically the Roswell incident, be aware that this is one dog that won’t be left to sleep. An article just released from the Arlington Institute (FuturEdition e-newsletter) gives a link to an affidavit written by Lt. Haut, (Col. Blanchard’s Public Information Officer) signed and sealed in 2002 with instructions that it should only be opened in the event of his death. One assumes Lt Haut is recently deceased as the affidavit has now been opened. It claims to be an eye witness account of the events at Roswell during 1947. Is this another hoax or should it be taken seriously?
Read the affidavit yourself at Haut_AFFIDAVIT.pdf