Criminality in banking

So HSBC and UBS have been fined massive amounts of money for being a bit naughty. Why are the bosses in court? It would appear that all you have to do to get away with money laundering and interest rate fixing is to be the head of a major banking instution.

What I'd like to ask the bank bosses is 'if you knew your institution was committing criminal acts why did you not act to stop it from doing so? If you didn't know, why didn't you know?'

To be honest, however they answer their goose is cooked. If they knew and failed to act they're guilty of collusion and should do some serious jail time, longer than say, Nick Leeson, who brought down Barings in the Nineties. If they didn't know, then they should be sacked for incompetence and negligence. To not know where your revenue is coming from is unacceptable and gives lie to their insistence they get paid so much because they're the best for the job.

Whilst it's pleasing to note that three traders have been arrested on suspicion of fixing LIBOR rates the question remains: why aren't those higher up the chain being arrested? Surely those who make decisions about how to trade should face sanctions? I refuse to believe that these three individuals made the decision to allegedly break the law purely by themselves.

Some music I like.

Alright, the title is possibly probably misleading, as it merely involves a 24 year old song.

Brainscan by Voivod, the French Canadian band formed by four friends. Snake, Blacky, Piggy and Away. Piggy has been replaced now by a new guitarist, Chewy. Nothing to do with artistic differences, more to do with death. Piggy died on 26th August, 2005, leaving enough recorded material for two more albums, Katorz and Infini.

Now, before I begin my critique of the song bear in mind I'm not a muso, merely a music lover. Right. Here we go.

Like most of the songs on Dimension Hatross Brainscan is immediately catchy. Starting with an understated riff and drawled vocals it sort of rumbles along. I'd like to point out here there are more musical ideas in this one song than there are in AC/DC's entire career. Time signature changes, 'happy' guitar, upstrokes, more hooks than a fishing tackle shop, great lyrics and superb musicianship all go to make what is almost the perfect song. It's a symphony in five minutes, but with a rock band not an orchestra.

I love the way Snake uses his voice almost as a percussion instrument, fitting himself between the guitar and bass and over the drums.  Said drums are at times almost tribal, sounding like Roots era Sepultura, at times staccato, and rarely in AC/DC standard 4/4 time. Away has joined the list of drummers I adore listening to. This list comprises mostly Will Calhoun, Daryl Jennifer, Dave Grohl, John Bonham and Michel Langevin.

Put simply, if you're a fan of jazzpunkthrashprogmetal you'll absolutely love them. If you don't want to be made to think about how music can blow your ears off you probably won't.

Atos and the Work Capability Assessment.

There are many resources online which give information and tips about how to beat the WCA. This will hopefully add to that.

First, if you get called for assessment call them and insist that your assessment is recorded. Atos are legally required to provide equipment to do this. Back up your call with an email to a named person at whichever assessment centre you're dealing with. Badger them till you get confirmation in writing.

Take a friend to act as a witness. Get said friend to take notes and ask questions about the relevance of what the "medical professional" is asking you to do.

When you attend make sure you look at your worst. Don't wear make up, leave hair unbrushed etc.

Avoid eye contact, sigh often and tut when asked to perform one of their silly actions.

If you're asked how you are do not say "I'm fine" or similar. Say something along the lines of "I'm scared I'm going to end up like one of the 10600 people who've died after being passed fit for work by Atos 'Healthcare'".

If you still get put in the WRAG get your appeal in quick, and badger them for an appeal date.

If you subsequently get a letter telling you your appeal has failed get on to them ASAP. They are breaking the law by not giving you 14 days notice. Batter them with sections 29 and 35 of the Welfare Reform Act.

Write to your MP. They are supposed to represent you, make sure they do so.

Involve the media if necessary, Atos do not like bad publicity, nor do the government.

Never give up. We can and will win, but only if we organise and stick together.

Finally, good luck. And, as they say, chin up, tits out.

Newsnight and McAlpine

So, Lord McAlpine is to claim compensation from the BBC in spite of the fact that his name was not mentioned by the organisation. What an utter crock of shit. His name has been mentioned all over the blogosphere since about 1997 (at least, the first article I found was from that year). Indeed, he was all but named in an article by the respected and award winning journalist Nick Davies, so it wasn't just the conspiracy nutters that misused his name.

Steve Messham, the man at the centre of the Newsnight programme was shown a photograph of one of the men who abused him and told he was Lord McAlpine. Who showed him the photo? The police. The same police who have been busy not investigating institutional child abuse for decades.

We are facing a massive cover up here unless we keep at least one eye on the ball. Whilst it is important that the allegations against Savile are investigated and any accomplices prosecuted, it is more important that allegations aabout historic abuse at various childrens' homes are properly looked into. An inquiry will detract from that unless, unlike the Waterhouse report, it is completely open. Also, the authorities in Jersey must be taken to task for their shameful behaviour regarding Haut De La Garenne and the subsequent cover-up and removal from office of an honest copper.

We need a new political party

Now that Liam Byrne has confirmed that New Labour plans to carry on with the ConDem austerity measures and welfare cuts I've decided they won't get my vote at the next election. As my conscience won't allow me to vote for the shower of entitled cunts currently in charge it has become abundantly clear what we need is a new party, one that represents the majority, not just the rich and powerful.

Here's a manifesto for the party that would get my vote:-

• Nationalise the railways.
• Nationalise all the utilities.
• Get all private companies out of the NHS.
• Get control of government back from the corporations.
• Abolish the civil list.
• Abolish Workfare.
• Raise the National Minimum Wage to £8.00 per hour.

The first three are easy to explain and cost. Cost is basically nothing, as the corporations have made millions, if not billions, off our backs over the years, so we merely take them back. Then, as there is no fat cat wanting a profit and a bonus costs are immediately reduced, allowing reductions in fares, electricity and gas prices. Also, it allows for repairs and upgrades to be made to infrastructure without increasing costs.

For the last thirty or so years successive governments have allowed corporations become too powerful, to the extent that the failure of the banks is deemed to be unacceptable, making their debt public, effectively nationalising them whilst allowing them to still pay bonuses and dividends. This has to be changed. Either nationalise the banks or allow them to go under. Corporations should have no say in government policy, no matter how much they pay in bribes to government ministers.

Why does the Civil List still exist? Why do we still give millions of pounds to the Royal Family? No austerity for those parasitic inbreds, we should cut them all loose and if they need money, well, sell a fucking palace.

Workfare is an abomination. Jobs are being cut so employers can get free workers courtesy of the taxpayer. It's just fucking dreadful.

Also, end the Work Capability Assessment, it's inhumane and costs more than it's designed to save. Actually, amend Atos' contract so that every time an appeal is upheld they're fined £1 million. That'll force them to get things right.

Even Christians don't care about the poor.

I know, I know, the title's a tad contentious, but this article by The odious Cristina Odone, a leading Catholic commentator is at best unsympathetic, and at worst downright inflammatory. Her devil take the hindmost approach is the last thing her beloved invisible friend would espouse. The New Testament, written between 70 and 300 years after the death of a man of Hispanic descent (Jesus is the quintessential Hispanic name, no?), tells us fables of a man who does nice things for those worse off than him.

She says 'young mothers need incentives, not social worker platitudes' and excoriates those that are on benefits. In a time where there are over 2.5 million people chasing just 450,000 vacancies this is breathtakingly naive. Or, considering the fact she endorses the cuts being imposed by the evil Iain Duncan Smith, this is her inner Toryscum rising to the surface. I realise papers need controversy, just read Sam Prick or Jizz Loans in the Daily Fascist Bastard for examples of vacuous shite that occupies much of Middle England, but to blame the poor for being poor is a bit fucking rich.

Us poor people didn't cause this recession Cristina, that was started in the 80s by corporations and politicians who gave away our well paid manufacturing jobs, who sold our utilities so they could be run for profit, and who are now giving away the NHS so it can be run for profit. We have had 30 years of this race to the bottom, and there is not much left to be monetised. The banks hastened this recession by loaning to those who couldn't afford to repay those loans, then they fixed it so they got paid by the taxpayer. If you follow your Christian teachings Cristina, you'll know about being rich and getting into heaven. I get you're a Catholic, therefore you'll be in purgatory for a while before being let into heaven.

Instead of bashing young mothers and those on benefits, let's bash those that caused our economic shitfest: the globalisation apologists, the politicians of all colours that allowed this to happen and the crooked bankers. Stick the lot of them in jail and give us our jobs back.

Benefit Bashing Bastards.

Our government is selling us, via the right wing media, the idea that people who claim benefits are feckless scroungers. That those under 25 who claim housing benefit are a drain on the nations resources. Disabled people are being told they don't matter, their benefits are to be cut. In fact, all benefits are being cut, so the poorest in our society are going to get even poorer thanks to the ideology of this morally bankrupt unelected Tory led coalition.

Everybody who currently claims Disability Living Allowance (DLA), even if they have a lifelong award, will be forced to be 're-tested' by the idiots at ATOS, a French company who are paid £100m or so a year to reduce the numbers claiming DLA. Never mind the fact that 40% of people they order off this benefit go on to win their appeal, this is a war against the disabled. A friend of mine will have the mobility part of her DLA  (which is to be renamed Personal Independence Payment) removed, as she can propel herself further than 100 metres under her own steam in her wheelchair. This will result in her losing her job, causing her to claim even more benefits.

Let us not forget that both DLA and Housing Benefit (HB) are in work benefits. In fact, 88% of HB claims are made by working people, which suggests two things. Rents are too high, and wages are too low. Cutting HB is only going to increase pressure on those least able to afford living in high rent areas such as London, and indeed much of the South East. HB claimants are being forced to move from London to places like Walsall and Stoke. This is not denigrating these towns, but to force people to leave behind family, friends and other support groups is inhumane. I know how hard it is to make friends after moving to a new area.

Next time you look down on a disabled person just think about this: it only takes a heart attack, a stroke, an accident for you to become disabled. Who's the scrounger now?

The most boring job in the world. Ever.

I've decided now the job I don't want to do when I finally grow up is the person who warns you at the end of the travelator in Tesco. Having to say 'please prepare to push the trolley off the end of the conveyor' in a dull monotone every time someone approaches the end has to be the worst way of earning minimum wage ever.

Now, I'd do it if I could ad lib. Picture the scene: heavily pregnant lady behind a trolley approaching the end of the belt 'now get ready to bear down and puuuuushhh the trolley off the conveyor. You'll be pushing soon enough love, best get some practice in'.

Or:-

Middle aged balding chap strolling nonchalantly up the belt, rucksack over one shoulder, 'ah yes, lovely handbag. Not really your colour though. Puce would match your face nicely'

It's a vast improvement and takes the tedium out of the job, I'm sure you agree.

Greece is the word

Apparently the 'crisis' in the Eurozone is all the fault of the Greeks. It has absolutely fuck all to do with the banks making bad calls in investing money in that country. For investing in read lending to. Just as in most of the western world the banks got greedy and lost the plot. They knew that they'd get their money back via a bailout organised by the IMF.

What happens when the IMF go in to audit your countrys's finances is that they tell your government that public services and benefits have to be cut, publicly owned services have to be privatised and then they'll loan you the money. So far, not so bad. Your government agrees to these conditions and the IMF agree the loan, which then appears in your exchequer.

Again, so far so good. But, that money doesn't belong to you, it belongs to the banks who loaned it to you in the first place. The same banks that took the risk of loaning the money out get paid by the reinsurance and the bailout. They're profiting from other peoples' misery, deliberately starving people to make money. The Greeks are fucked, they must default or the IMF will own every Greek person and property outright. Once they do leave the Euro, it's only a short step for Spain, Portugal, Italy and Ireland to do the same.

The IMF was set up by the banks for the banks, nothing more, nothing less. All this bullshit about going in and saving an economy is just that: bullshit. They exist simply to ensure the banks don't lose their money. Which makes me ask why did we bother baling the cunts out when the IMF could have? We gave them loans which they are paying back using quantitative easing. Way to go Gideon you smarmy twatbadger. The only way quantitative easing will work is if you pay the money not to the banks, 'cos they will either keep it or use it to pay off debt, but give it to the populace, 'cos they'll spend it and therefore stimulate the economy.

I love MotoGP.

There, I've said it. I'm so looking forward to this season. Whilst I mourn the loss of the 2 stroke 125cc class I await Moto3 with interest. If Mahindra can supply a competitive machine I expect Danny Webb to do well. In Moto2 Bradley Smith has a good chance of another good placing in the championship. If Scott Redding can overcome his wet race problems he is surely in with a shout. These two will be there or thereabout.

In the main class the engine capacity has gone back up to 1000cc. At the moment the Ducatis don't seem as 'on the pace' as they would like. They're about 0.7 seconds down on the fastest around Sepang, and slower than the satellite Yamahas of Dovi and Cal, who are running 4th and 5th behind Stoner, Pedrosa and Lorenzo. I think the title will be won by one of three men: Stoner, Lorenzo or Ben Spies. Much as I love Rossi, I don't think his bike has it, and he is reluctant to take the risks that Stoner will. I have a feeling that Cal Crutchlow could do well this year. It's his second season and now at least he knows the circuits.

I have a good feeling about this season. Just hope there are no incidents like #58Sic and Tomizawa.

I want to know why this government is lying to us

Now, according to Chris Grayling MP, a minister in Her Maj's government, I'm a member of the SWP. Whilst I would say I'm left wing I take exception to this. I am not, nor have I ever been, a member of any political party. Let alone the SWP, with whom I had many stand up arguments with back in the day. Anyway, this post isn't about that. It's about what the title says. I want to know why these bastards are lying to us, and what's in it for them.

Grayling, named after a freshwater game fish, claimed that his and Iain & Duncan Smiths slavery workfare scheme was voluntary not mandatory, and was aimed at work in the community. The stone cold FACT that they have deleted pages from the DWP website refuting his claims (evidence here) makes him look a proper twat. Now, to me Workfare looks like a modern form of slavery. Most of the corporations involved make billions in profit. Why do they not just employ people on minimum wage? Well, obviously because they can get free labour provided by the state. This is positively Stalinist. Proving this government is actually more left wing than me.

Actually they're not. As Flying Rodent says, this is classic. This is their version of divide and rule. They can convince young people that working will never be worthwhile, that crime is the only thing that can pay. It's pretty fucking depressing when you even begin to believe this could be anywhere near true, yet the actions of this government make me believe he is right. They are cutting help for the disabled, they are on the verge of handing the NHS over to their friends, they have stopped EMA, they are demonising everybody and anybody who disagrees with them.

In 10 years time, when we have the level of poverty they have in the USA, we might start to rise up against these cunts. By then it will probably be too late as they will rig the law so that we can be thrown into jail or shot for showing dissent. We must make a stand, we cannot allow them to win.

We're all in this together. Honest guv.

These austerity measures being inflicted upon us by the nasty Tory party are going to hit the poor and disabled, despite what they're saying. So, could what's happening in Greece also happen here? The following is purely opinion, of course, but I think it's the opinion of many, not just mine.
Under this government, business bankruptcy is up, homelessness is rising, the poor pay more tax in proportion to their earnings, slavery has been legalised and renamed Workfare. This disgraceful practice means working a full time job to get your benefit, rather than for minimum wage. The disabled and poorest amongst us are being made sicker and poorer, and indeed are demonised by the government and in the media. In the link there, Sue Marsh mentions 'spoons', an explanation of the term is here.
So, whilst they are hell bent on making us worse off MPs get more in expenses. Bosses get pay rises of an average 49% whilst workers get an average 1.9%. Inflation, fuel poverty and increased unemployment make a mockery of 'we're in this together'.
Eventually I think we will get to a point where Joe Public will have had enough. Enough of being made homeless, enough of being low paid, enough of having to pay to get medical treatment, enough of bosses being overpaid, and they will rise up and revolt against this divisive and unfair government. I personally can't wait.

Don't read this. It's rubbish.

Recetly I became a granddad, my brothers became great uncles etc. My wonderful daughter gave birth to my beautiful granddaughter in the early hours of 27th Jan. Her mother, my ex wife, phoned me a couple of minutes later, waking me up from my just got to sleep. Obviously no more sleep for me that night, it's far too difficult to sleep when you're grinning from ear to ear with adrenaline coursing through your veins. A couple of days later saw me go up to see her and everybody else, and my, how gorgeous she is. Seeing my daughter hardly able to walk was hard, and helping her climb the stairs was 'fun'. Still, being called a 'baby whisperer' by ex wife was lovely, and holding a newborn felt strange but fantastic. All in all, it was a great weekend, and I can't wait to do it again.