DANGER! the almost real excitement of the internet.

I walk to Wetherspoons for ‘ breki’.    It is not bad, but not to my ‘new diet’ standards. Sometimes, however, we need a change and let someone else do the cooking – or put it in the microwave!

On box is Levenson enquiry.   I’m not too interested but note that perhaps 30 people are involved in running the court room and many more in preparing the rooms---

Also I note that Sky is apparently giving a whole channel to relaying this to ourselves the interested public. Why are we interested? – it may well be because of the virtual world we are slowly but surely being sucked into.   Here is a great danger – a sort of media infection of the mind, our minds.

I read somewhere that this virtual world that revolves around facebook and twitter and the like, is dangerous because instead of intelligent conversation we talk only with typing ‘yes’ or ‘no’. 

No longer do we have mates around because they are all busy typing away to their ‘101’ or many more 'friends' on the computer.

This makes the likes of Bill Gates and Facebook happy and gives the Stock Exchange something to report on. But is it really good for the likes of you and me?

Is real life passing us by in the almost real excitement of the internet.    

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Get rid of cheap drink? For many this is a Coping and Relief mechanism

David Cameron talks of getting rid of cheap drink and putting on a fixed higher price per unit. Basically a good idea and should reduce binge drinking?

Perhaps he and his advisers in this matter need to look further. Why do people drink to excess? Is there a reason behind this apparently stupid behaviour?

Undoubtedly this is, for many , a coping and relief mechanism.

Now if, as government says, ‘70% of UK  people are happy’, why are more and more finding drink necessary? Do they find their happiness in the resulting oblivion; and what pressures are they trying to escape from?

It seems likely then that most people are far from happy. They are hounded by the bad news in the media,  with it’s penchant for negative reporting.  Lately some government action against media lies has been taken but these should be stopped completely – it is not a word game and a truthful media is essential.  

The next stress is the distinct possibility of interest rates rising in an already hard financial situation and annoyance that the banks  go free of any penalties when it was their irresponsible lending that suddenly brought on this hard situation.

We are ‘ all in it together’ but problems seem much bigger for the average person than they are for politicians and bankers.

So David et al’s plan  to impose higher costs on alcohol are helpful;  but as they must well know, far from the complete answer.

To move to a more full solution a strong influence must be taken over the banks.  Reduced interest rates and mandatory controls must be applied with suitable rental purchase schemes offered to those in financial difficulties.  The chance to carry on paying for their houses will help the banks business also.  If, under this pressure, they leave the UK so be it. In fairness they must offer a helping hand help to clear up the situation they have certainly helped to create 

Next a pragmatic effort to provide more jobs must be made; There are opportunities to do this e.g. Open up bio fuels green industries,  reopen many of the closed coal mines and their  support industries. Fund extra work in the building industry, start  and help fund good apprenticeships. Start new car industries , even refurbishment projects. 

All of this is not cheap but it will reduce benefits payments, help to start the economy moving and give jobs and self respect to those who are often forced to sit at home.

And last in my list of solutions ,  but first in importance,  provide an inclusive disciplined education so those many who do not fit the present narrow template that educationalists accept as ‘good’, may move out of school prepared adequately for the difficult task  of obtaining employment. 

Until a more caring  ‘giving approach’, encompassing many of the above ideas is taken there is little doubt the drinks culture will continue with all it’s accompanying social stresses and unease.       

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How to kick start jobs to liven up the economy – the reality and the solution --- continued—from 16 December 2011

Most important get education in order. Children with attention difficulties could be taken from classes as necessary and given suitable tasks - physical training, practical work, carpentry, building walls, cookery, simple electronics, whatever. But something as far as possible on a one to one level. Remember even Children who fill the university intakes are often mentioned as having to undertake remedial English courses!

This is the first and most vital point..

Next we must provide jobs/apprenticeships for youngsters. A starting point would be to open the coal mines that have been closed. Tis would also br good for the economy. Of course espensive but the jobs provided would be many and much other real industry would grow from this. It is not that youngsters without jobs are lazy. But most people be bored if asked to sit at a keyboard all day or give out endless useless papers or cut grass in parks.

Certainly also a car industry could be re-established. It might begin with refurbishing used cars and progress from there. Again mechanical and technical training would spring up from this.. And here is a little sub industry that already exists in the many garages that are all around us. If grants were made available to help those who were willing to share their skillls many youngsters who would take such training seriously and be given a valuable starting point.

Expansion not just to repair but also to develop lines in refurbished and even new specialist models would follow on.

Moving on to the stalled building industry. Here refurbishment of older properties, now standing empty would provide work. Again to say it is not that youngsters , those without jobs who are lazy. So often courses are not available -. Because not all work fits into the narrow template that educationalists accept as ‘good’. Government could provide loans to help purchase of new properties and reward banks for providing reasonable schemes to help people into their own homes.

In the private rented sector banks could be pressed to provide reasonable rates and extended repayment terms so that taking buy to let properties became viable and allowed decent profit margins to be made. Again this would provide work and experience for young people. and along with this rent to buy possibilities could be set up for those prepared to put genuine effort into getting a stake in their own homes.

Here are 5 kick start’ possibilities.all quite possible to do. Instead of sending youngsters looking for jobs that do not exist these real jobs could be created.     

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INTRO - to BIZ BODY and SOUL

to find out more go to www.bizbodysoul.com

I/ we believe and conclude that our own bodies and minds, when fed a good diet with adequate physical exercise and a settled mental background, are well capable of providing the healing and maintenance we require in most situations.

Then, if we can accept this, how best can we prepare so this holistic healing and maintenance of our bodies can happen?

It seems to me we must look closely at our needs. Though we have many different ones I think we can generalise them in this little picture of what we all need…

First comes a program to follow, days to busy ourselves and days to rest. Then a strong healthy body to carry us through is essential. And finally, for our minds, a belief and hope so that we can relax, be mentally settled and find wellbeing.

So our Site banner proclaims ‘LINK - biz,body and soul.’ -- And continues ‘We tirelessly research ---and aim is that more & more may join our ‘journey of discovery’. Our work is finding and supporting our elements of ‘biz, body and soul’, and getting them into a happy combination - a valuable, new holistic approach to wellbeing.

It is not intended as a substitute for any medical treatment you may be undertaking but to give a strengthening of energy so that you may find a brighter and well aligned approach to whatever you have to tackle.

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‘HOW TO KICK START JOBS TO LIVEN UP THE ECONOMY’ – REALITY AND THE SOLUTION

Government must learn to look at the whole picture; not just those ‘academic’ jobs’ that are supposed to drive the UK economy to that of a world front runner. These are many other most worthwhile jobs that cover the interesting and wide field of employment but they have been allowed to wither away by short sighted government strategies. There is little left of Britain as it used to be and 'kick starting the economy/ jobs’, is perhaps, sadly, just a nonsense,

What jobs, what Britain, we may well ask.

Jobs must be built on a firm basis of knowledge and in many areas. –

It seems that obviously the starting point is education. And how well is our education? It may be fine for those from families who are working in the ‘knowledge’ areas, financial, medical, and similar and can fit with the school curriculum.

But for others, who do not fit this narrow template that educationalists accept as ‘good’, much is spoilt by poor behaviour in the classroom. It takes tremendous effort to repair this damage and employers should not have to give time to retrain their new recruits in basic learning and basic good behaviour.

Then how on earth to ‘kick start the economy'? ‘What jobs, what Britain’, we may well ask again. Have we, the people the workforce, the enthusiasm and desire to be kick started? So many, young and old, feel very tired of the struggle to find steady, satisfactory work. Is government suggesting that a better economy, with better financial rewards will be sufficient to get things moving again? After so many years of struggle and tears as more and more factories have been closed and interesting manual and technical jobs taken away, is this enough? How to start up the real jobs and help people find again the enjoyment, friendship and education that work can bring. The task is far more involved than getting the old Vespa to pop, pop, pop back again to life.

I spoke with a Kenyan friend today. His opinion was that 'people in this country simply do not want to work; they are much happier to take the many handouts that government will pay them and live a lazy existence'.

Yes, sometimes this MAY be true. However today I saw three being blown, battered and rained on as they went letter box to letter box giving out their leaflets. Often this is what is given to young people, job seekers as they are labelled. Why, even with a computer training there is often no real job available.

The idea seems to be not to help interesting employment to survive but simply to scale down job variety so they are economic to provide and run; and go hang what people want or would like to do.

Now then I call on the Daily Star for input. 'UK youngsters are often low on communications skills, can’t spell or do basic maths' is a recent theme. And why ‘Poor teaching in schools’, and again why? Because simple; sensible discipline is not allowed to take place. Teachers very often work in an atmosphere of poor behaviour from the pupils and have little or no help to maintain discipline.

Is this huge major fault difficult to put right? No! It merely requires having people in schools skilled in discipline strategies to work with teachers and help them get on with the lessons.

So the problem could be solved ‘tomorrow’ .With discipline in the lessons enjoyment of education would be possible and communication skills among the pupils could grow - and enthusiasm would grow among teachers for what can be a most satisfying job. This sensible discipline is not allowed because educational psychologists overrule what is simply good sense to apparently further their own employment they suggest we must talk to pupils injured psychologies rather than apply sensible discipline. So we damage the pupils and any enthusiasm for their jobs that teachers have.

bizbodySoul.com - Relationships - the best of all

"It was Sunday so I went to see Friends --- I go when I want to sit quietly and think on life's events and perhaps be able to share them. - the Friends or Quakers in the UK have a unique approach to meetings. You can just sit in silence or put in something if you feel its worth sharing. No one is in charge. Here you may find your special living part, the part that lifts you through the problems of life.

So for this special silence I went to the Roundhay meeting. I sat for 30 minutes and felt I must share my thoughts. I stood. "I want to talk about relationships and hope I don't bore you, I began. "My daughter decided she would like to get married. They have been together 11 years already and three children! They chose the church next to my primary school in Sharow, North Yorkshire- a nice thought - a lot of expense though, 'they will get over it I expect.’

‘Then this Power, this God, through a man called Fox, started the Friends /Quaker meetings at their Meeting Houses.. Often I just say Creator, Father, Friend. If you believe it - the One who made all things and beautiful trees, the flowers out of the window. In the 23rd the Father gives the rod and staff that help when we walk in difficult times and helps us on the way. And the Friend (the carpenter who made chairs, not much said about that) He said 'your not just my servants, no I will call you Friends' . That's the best relationship of all.

But he also told us 'if you can’t make it alone you may take a wife (he used a man called Paul to tell us that)

When I was young I went to work in Chelmsford, Essex. Here they had a club, the International Friendship league was it’s name. Young people from many countries met there, and here I met my wife.

Yes 40 years now, and we have fought our way thru' and had good times too.

So that’s it, relationships, good times and sometimes not so good. But we need them and it was made so that our race could continue-----

And one lady also shared some of the relationship problems she had had 'I was thankful for the light that came to me' she said.

Afterwards , while we drank tea and coffee and chatted, I said to my retired friend "and do u miss school teaching ' No, he said, 'for we teach them NC stuff but often they can't use a spade, they hold it just by the handle, or can't even use a screwdriver.

I told them of the Bulgarian expert plumber I knew and the Polish friends who can speak two languages and even get to work on time.

"And now, us. we can't even make a boiler for a locomotive!" and Maggie got a good telling off too.

But I must leave that as it will be part of the next entry -----      

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The Mortgage Scam

I thought on the Mortgage scam - In the UK when we have a mortgage we have the notion that the house belongs to us. But note: the bank holds the deeds ‘till all mortgage payments are made – so who really owns your house?

Of course when we finally make all the payments and get our hands on the deeds then it is our house, then we will really do own the house! But for how long? We have ‘moved on’ in life a little now and we may find we have to remortgage again to pay expenses such as helping our children or even to pay for nursing care – we may find we have little time to enjoy our hard earned dwelling.

So a mortgage is simply a device to allow us to think we own the house – but in reality what we own is at first a tiny fraction, later maybe a half and later still, with much hard lobour and persistence the whole house. But beware! If you miss your payments a few times the ‘beneficial bank’ is quite ready to repossess and does not bother to grant back what you have paid before the repo takes place. It will happily sell your property to pay itself what is still outstanding and if the sale does not fetch enough your ‘beneficial bank’ will bill you again for the rest!

So why do we not rent at about half the usual mortgage payment rate and have much more free money, as they do in real Europe? ‘Because this way we can get our own house’ you may say.

But sadly this hope is often just an unfulfilled dream.