incurable hippie\\\'s musings and rants

RSS Feed Homepage

Articles: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

The Provident.
2007-12-29 16:01:00
Shame on greatoffers@allaboutsavings.co.uk for this email, which is neither a great offer, nor anything about savings.The Provy, those bullying, preying-on-the-poor, knocking-on-the-door loan sharks, have offered me possibly the worst terms for a loan ever. Have a look at the bottom right, *Example. Cash loan amount £300.56 weekly repayments of £9Total amount payable £504Typical183.2% APR183.2% APR typical. So some people presumably get even higher rates!Let's have a look. CCJs, poor credit history, been turned down before, renting a home, unemployed... yep! So you're perhaps not in the best financial situation? How can you almost guarantee to make it a million times worse? Oh yes, borrow from the Provy! Borrow £300, pay back £504. And that, of course, is if you make every payment every week. If not... well, higher interest, increasing your 'loan' amount to cover missed payments... add a bit more to the end cost. You're already buggered, why not?I am furious that this was sent ...

Chocolate
2007-12-24 18:35:00
I just went to my local shop, to find it had displays of Mini Eggs and Cadbury's Creme Eggs.Happy Easter, folks!
More About: Chocolate

The 90s
2007-12-18 18:39:00
I'm watching some old Silent Witness episodes (an Amanda Burton fix was feeling necessary). Weirdly, one of the things that dates them is the fact that all the women's trousers come up to their waists! Every woman really stands out because she's not wearing hipsters. Damn those things have taken over. They look cool, but I can't wear them. My tummy is too round and they fall down all the time. It's now virtually impossible to buy jeans that cover tummies. Let's go back to the days of Amanda Burton on telly, and jeans with tummies. In finding a link for her I discovered that Ms Burton's last two relationships have been with photographers. Admittedly they were male, but there's hope for me yet. Maybe.

Recent Photography Blog posts
2007-12-13 14:19:00
Photography blog:Surveying the SceneBurmaFree BurmaDreams. Edited in Photoshop CS3NPR - Think PinkMy Favourite FavouriteTJ Hughes Sends you a HugNinety Smokers by Dan DonovanSupertram in MotionLocal Newspaper Publication
More About: Photography , Blog , Recent , Posts

Helping Charities with Recycled Used Stamps
2007-12-13 00:48:00
Used-stamps.co.uk is in need of an update, so until that happens, still collect all the used stamps off envelopes you receive (particularly at this time of year with Christmas cards and such), and send them off to:Posted! Stamps for Charities Education Distribution ServiceFreepost FPN 772Castle RoadSITTINGBOURNEKent ME10 3RLApparently these will be distributed to charities such as Great Ormond St Children's Hospital, RSPB, Macmillan cancer support and RNIB.Info from the ever good money saving expert forums.Go awn, it's an easy good deed to do :)

It's exactly as we all hoped!
2007-12-11 18:04:00
Jodie Foster comes out - at last!Congratulations, Jodie. But why did it take so long to confirm what we already knew?It's standard practice for Hollywood stars to thank friends and family when accepting awards. But when Jodie Foster paid tribute to "my beautiful Cydney" during a speech at the Hollywood Reporter's Women in Entertainment breakfast last week, it caused a ripple of excitement.So now we know. Jodie Foster's partner of at least 15 years is a woman. Just like Jodie. That's right, folks: Jodie Foster is a lesbian. This startling piece of news is akin to the shock revelation that Rudolph the Reindeer has a very shiny nose. In other words, if you didn't already know this, you seriously need to retune your gaydar.It's a secret as open as the Grand Canyon that Foster has been stepping out with film producer Cydney Bernard for years, and that they are raising Foster's two children together. The surprise is not that Jodie is gay, but that it has taken her so long to say so...
More About: Jodie Foster

Continued
2007-12-09 10:16:00
Who is thought to have left panama for florida, has been feeding stories to the papers about how, amongst other things, he hid in a tunnel when they had visitors, including their sons. Now, this is what blows my mind. Life insurance fraud, while maybe unusual, isn't that weird. But pretending to your sons that their dad is dead, when you know he's not, is just horrific.It was recently the 2 year anniversary of my dad's death. If, in another 3 years, my mum said oh, by the way your dad is fine, we just
More About: Conti

Continued 2
2007-12-09 10:16:00
We just wanted the life insurance money, and that was more important than letting you grieve your dad for 5 years, believe he's gone forever, and actively hide his existence from you.I don't think you could ever forgive that.
More About: Conti

Unbelievable
2007-12-09 10:05:00
I've been following this news story over the last week or so, of the guy who turned up at a police station saying he had lost his memory. It came out that he had been presumed dead after disappearing when canoeing in the sea 5 years ago. It then got stranger, when someone told the police that a recent photo of this guy + his wife was on a website about buying property in Panama. It all began to look like a big life insurance scam. He has indeed now been arrested and charged with fraud, and his wife
More About: Unbelievable

Now this is clever.
2007-12-05 16:29:00
I love it!
More About: Clever

About Bloody Time
2007-11-29 12:46:00
Reforms aim to dispel rape myths and increase convictionsClare Dyer, legal editorThursday November 29, 2007Juries are to be told how rape victims typically respond in an attempt to dispel "rape myths" which ministers believe are contributing to plummeting conviction rates for the crime.A panel of judges, doctors and academics will start work next month on the project, which will attempt to put together a package to inform the jury without interfering with the fairness of a trial.The move is part of reforms announced yesterday by the solicitor general, Vera Baird, aimed at boosting a conviction rate which has dropped from 33% of reported rapes in 1977 to just 5.4% in 2005, rising slightly to 5.7% last year. A US study in 1989 found that myths affected the outcome of rape trials more than any evidence. Jurors are expected to be told that victims may be slow to report the attack and that they may appear unemotional in the witness box, contrary to expectations."Juries sometimes find it ...
More About: Time , Bloody

China and the Lamas.
2007-11-23 20:11:00
The Chinese government has brought in a law making it illegal to reincarnate without their permission. It's all because the Dalai Lama is now 72 and they want some control over the next one. As well as imprisoning the Panchen Lama chosen by the current Dalai Lama, they have nominated their own Panchen Lama which could potentially lead to *two* Dalai Lamas being appointed on the current one's death - one officially sanctioned by the Chinese government, the other by the Tibetan and other Buddhists.The current Dalai Lama has said that he will reincarnate, and that he won't reincarnate as a Tibetan, leaving the interesting position of the Chinese Government having to sanction a Tibetan person in the position.Interesting stuff!
More About: China , Buddhism

TJ Hughes sends you a hug
2007-11-07 23:14:00
TJ Hugh es sends you a hug, originally uploaded by incurable_hippie. with their faulty lighting, in Sheffield city centre tonight.

Anti-Glurge
2007-11-04 20:36:00
(What is glurge? Glurge is best described as the cloyingly sentimental stories, testimonials and object lessons frequently sent as email or chain letters. Glurge can also be experienced at the end of religious services or motivational speeches, usually in the form of a 'true' example of perseverance against seemingly impossible odds. read more...Emma's StoryMany years ago, a new family moved into our neighborhood, little six-year-old Emma and her mom and dad. They were a fine and upstanding Christian family. The first Christmas they were there, her parents bought Emma a fluffy white little bunny which she called Buster. Emma loved Buster with all her heart, and it brought such joy to me to watch Buster and Emma playing happily in their garden.One day, Buster fell ill, and Emma and her parents carefully carried him to the car and drove off to the vet's. But on the way, a drunk driver drove through a red light and crashed into Emma's car. Her dad and the bunny died instantly, and...
More About: Anti , Urge

Blog Updates 13/10.
2007-10-13 20:42:00
Newly Added Blog sLonerGrrlAnti-Pornography ActivistDaily Dose of ImageryJavajive - Photography from Indonesia 3 a.m. from KyotoSpice of LifeNewly Added SitesThe Feminist E-ZineFree Sewing BookOf InterestIn June, I wrote about my city flooding - not something that ever happens here, and a shock to everyone. According to Environmental Defense in America, global warming will cause more and more flooding. The Spicy Cauldron eloquently discusses the same issue. Will we ever listen??Trying to reduce your plastic carrier bag usage? Well, don't shop at Primark! Refusing a carrier bag just isn't allowed for security reasons. Ridiculous! Complain, quick!
More About: Updates

Women and Pensions (UK)
2007-10-10 21:21:00
Because women often need to take breaks from our careers, to have children or because of caring responsibilities, it's quite common for us to lose out on a state pension due to lack of National Insurance contributions.So, as a service to the women of Britain aged over 60, I'm sharing this article from the fab Money Saving Expert site.Are you a woman over 60 who doesn't get a state pension?Are you a woman over 60 who doesn?t get a state pension? Get £1000s backWhat's this about?A parliamentary question by a Lib Dem MP has shown that many women in their 60s are unnecessarily missing out on the state pension. To get a pension you need to have paid national insurance for 10 years of your working life; around 750,000 women are believed to be very near, but just under, this threshold.By offering to pay a few £100, if you're near the threshold you can start to get the basic pension of £87 a week, and get a backdated payout from your 60th birthday, which is likely to be £1000s.The reas...
More About: Women

Snippets
2007-10-09 16:56:00
Great news, via the Indie and the f-word, Major airline refuses to help with forcible removal of immigrants. By Robert Verkaik, Law EditorPublished: 08 October 2007An important part of the Government's immigration policy has suffered a serious blow after a leading airline announced it would no longer carry failed asylum-seekers who were being forcibly removed from the United Kingdom.XL Airways, which has a fleet of 24 aircraft, said it was opposed to the policy because it had "sympathy for all dispossessed people in the world".Last week, The Independent revealed that hundreds of failed asylum-seekers have claimed they have suffered physical and racial abuse during the removal process at the hands of private security guards.The Government relies on airlines using chartered and scheduled aircraft to deport asylum-seekers who have failed to win a right to remain in the UK.In an email to a campaign group which supports failed asylum seekers, XL said its chief executive had told the Gov...

Dreams and What They Mean.
2007-10-04 21:51:00
A few nights ago I dreamt that I bought a pack of 3 rolls of sellotape. I needed to sellotape up an envelope so I got one roll out and cut off a long piece. It was only when I stuck it to the envelope that I realised that the tape was made up of a long row of photos of Tony Blair.I looked at the second roll, to find that that was made up of photos of Cherie Booth. I decided this was preferable and so cut some off to cover up the Bliar pics, which I would be too embarrassed to put anywhere!I didn't look at the third roll.My questions to you:1) Whose photos were covering the third roll of sellotape?2) What the hell was the whole thing about anyway?
More About: Dreams

Burma Solidarity Demo in Sheffield this Monday.
2007-09-28 22:39:00
Dear Friends,I'm sure all of you will be aware of what's happeningat the moment in Burma . You might also be aware thatSheffield has the most Karen (ethnic minority fromBurma) refugees of any town in the UK.The Karen community have organised a solidarity demothis Monday 1st October, meeting at 4:30 outside thetown Hall / Peace Gardens.These are incredibly exciting times, the closest thegrassroots Burmese have come to overthrowing themilitary junta in 20 years. Every day they're riskingtheir lives to challenge a brutal regime. It would benice to let them know that people in other countriessupport what they're doing.If any of you can come, please do so. Hope to see you there,Hugh.https://lists.aktivix.org/mail man/listinfo/sheffield-noborders
More About: Demo , Soli

Burmese More Isolated.
2007-09-28 20:41:00
Internet access and mobile phone networks in Burma have been disrupted, to prevent the dissemination of information about the uprising. Soldiers are searching people for mobile phones and cameras.We need to follow and support all the information we can find from the people in this situation.Accounts from Inside BurmaPhotos from Inside Burma
More About: Isolate

Free Burma
2007-09-27 16:29:00
.flickr-photo { border: solid 2px #000000; }.flickr-yourcomment { }.flickr-frame { text-align: left; padding: 3px; }.flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; } Free Burma , originally uploaded by incurable_hippie.

Burma
2007-09-27 16:01:00
There are amazing people in Burma risking their lives to take, and spread, word, photographs and film of what is really happening there at the moment.Two of these people are gmhembree and NaingKo on flickr.Looking at these photos, direct from the people witnessing these events is powerful, and brings to mind the huge risks being taken for truth and democracy.

Evans
2007-09-23 21:57:00
I saw a TV ad for Evans earlier, and none of the models could have been more than a size 14, I'm sure. Given that this is a clothes shop for women of sizes 16 upwards, going up to size 28 or 30 I think, that is crap!I wasn't represented. It didn't make me want to shop there because they have clothes for bigger women.It made me feel like 'there's yet another shop who designs their clothes for thin people' when they are the only high street shop who supposedly don't!Who are they supposed to be selling to? Big women? Why not use them in their bloody ads then?Grrr.

How to Lose on Ebay...
2007-09-04 21:15:00
From an email from a lovely person who doesn't have a blog I can link to...You may have seen this in the paper (or elsewhere)This guy listed it, with a spelling mistake in the subject line.This guy bought it and re-listed it *without* the spelling mistake...
More About: Ebay

Post Secret favourite of the week.
2007-08-27 18:59:00
Sorry I've been so quiet lately. I had a short holiday, I'm busy creating my first zine, and I'm not feeling very vocal in general.
More About: Post , Post Secret , Secret , Week

Virtual Violence. Real Threats.
2007-08-05 19:58:00
Do men feel threatened by radical feminists? By women getting together and talking, taking action, analysing and getting angry? By women making connections and vowing to be pro-women and anti-rape?Or are these men just having some kind of fucked-up fun by threatening and hurting women and disrupting their lives?Or are they both the same thing?The Way Men Hate UsBlogging While Female. Warning may trigger.
More About: Violence , Virtual , Real , Threats , Viol

Misheard
2007-07-27 21:07:00
on tonight's PM.What they said:Gloucester councillor, Julie GurringWhat I heard:Gloucester council are duly grrr-ing.

Last night I heard
2007-07-20 16:57:00
"Breaking news, Tony Blair is not going to be charged with..."and I was devastated. How could they have ruled out war crimes charges so early on? When there is clearly so much we will not know for a long time. You can't rule it out already."...any offences over the Cash for Peerages row"and I was actually relieved! Not that he's got away with anything over Cash for Peerages, but that maybe, just maybe, one day he and Dubya will share a grotty cell for many, many years.
More About: Night

So, Tony Blair is gone.
2007-07-03 18:29:00
I was rather joyous at that, but somebody else clearly wasn't...
More About: Tony Blair , Blair , Tony , Lair

Bastard of the Day
2007-07-02 23:49:00
Phone rape sadist is jailedA sadistic sex monster from Wigan who sexually assaulted and tortured a woman with a hot iron while filming it on his mobile has been jailed indefinitely.Matthew John Oldham, 33, must serve at least five years behind bars for his vicious crimes.He was convicted of wounding with intent and sexual assault following an eight-day trial at Liverpool Crown Court.On April 19 2006, Oldham met his victim at the Mountain Ash pub, Portway, Wythenshawe. Oldham and the woman, who was 29 at the time, were standing at the back of the pub waiting for a lift to a friend's house when they began to argue.Oldham then punched and kicked the woman, knocking her to the floor. Once she was on the floor, Oldham began to bite her left eye, leaving her in agony.The pair were then given a lift to a flat on Kermishaw Nook, Astley, which belonged to another friend where they immediately began to argue again. The court heard that this time Oldham plugged a nearby iron into the mains, s...
More About: Bastard , The D