Ding Dong Bell, No Joy with Dell

All their customer Service staff must still be ill!!.I have abandoned my attempt to purchase a computer from Dell, and I am rather pleased as I went along to my local 'Comet' dealer and purchased an 'Acer' laptop improved spec. and cheaper than Dell. With the added benefit that as I was buying a computer the printe I purchased had £10 knocked of the price. I have saved about £20 and if anything goes wrong at least I will have someone to speak to. I know a number of folks who have bought from Dell and have had no problems, but if anything does go wrong their customer service if it actually exists?? is extremly poor.
So as Dell slowly sink into the West we say farewell for ever.

BBC Reporting on Palestine

Israeli shelling kills 18 in Gaza

This is one of the headlines on BBC News today. I am not disputing the truth of this statement, though the report goes on to say it is from 'Palestinian sources'. What suddenly struck me about these reports I cannot remember any that say something like 'Palestinian rocket attack on Israel'. Israel is always mentioned first and then somewhere in the article Palestinian attacks get a mention. Even when they are mentioned the implication is that the Israeli response is over the top as the missiles 'rarely kill anyone'. I wondered if the Israeli response should be to fire unguided rockets back, and whenever there is a suicide bomb on say a bus, the Israel bombs a Palestinian bus. From the way the BBC report what is happening this might be quite acceptable to them.

Disaster with Dell, I tried to buy a Laptop

On 16th October I tried to purchase a Dell laptop over the telephone. What a disasterous joke this has become.
I had not heard anything from Dell after 14 days, I decided to ring the number I had been given, this number included a extension number to use where I would get in immediate touch with the actual person I originally spoke to if anything goes wrong. Now this is good sales service I thought. Well you know what thought did?. Unfortunately the first time I rang the nice Indian gentleman Kumar is his name by the way, said on his answerphone he is out of the Office, too bad I think I will ring again, so I rang the next day and the next day, and the next day. O dear Kumar must be ill I think, but he has very kindly given me another number to ring. This time a nice Indian lady, sadly she is out of the office, well she has got to have her dinner sometime I think, so I ring again, and again.... Now I am getting a little concerned, maybe some epidemic has struck, I have read that in India there are some strange tropical diseases. So I search the Dell site for a number to ring, find one 'Customer Care' it is called. So I ring atlast someone still alive another Indian gentleman, very nicely, who assures me Kumar is alive and well. He will put a message in 'his box', his words, and Kumar will get back to me. Three days later Kumar must still be sick, or maybe the person I spoke to recently has also been struck down. I now decide to email the complaints department, actually called 'Customer Assistance' I email my concerns one being that Kumar has taken my credit card details and I am worried that in his feverish state he may divulge them to others. The form I fill in is headed

" If somehow we have not delivered the quality of service you deserve as a Dell customer, please complete this form"

I am now really concerned, maybe I have done something terrible and I 'deserve' this treatment. Also I am concerned that my case number is as follows 20061104134853362. Is this the number of other who people have 'deserved' this 'quality of service'. Three days later no reply to my email. I decide to ring again,(I must be mad). I try Kumar for one last time, he is still 'sick', though his answer machine message has been updated. I ring 'Customer Care' I now realise this name is just part of the evil sense of humour they have at Dell. I get another charming Indian lady called I think 'Sunny'. She asks me lots of questions and assures me she can help, I am feeling quite relaxed. She says hold the line and she will put me through to the person who can really help me. The phone rings my saviour is about to answer. 'You have reached the mail box of Kumar, I am out of the office..........aargh.

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Technorati Profile

Strange Site 'Episcopal Majority'

I came upon this strange site, by chance recently. It purports to be the majority of Episcopalians who are getting together to fight a group of evil traditionlists who are attempting to take over the world and the Episcopal Church in America. Apparently the arch fiends involved in this evil attack are black people from Africa, from that part of the world that used to be blank on the old maps before the British Empire(another evil thing) One of the odd things about this group is they are also all members of other groups fighting the evil blacks, groups which have such names as 'Integrity' and 'Via Media'(middle way for the ignorant). Another group calls itself 'Thinking Anglicans' as opposed to non 'Thinking Anglicans'. One member I spotted was even a Druid. Episcopal Majority!!!

Episcopal Majority

Pair cleared over Jelly Baby race attacks

Quotes from 'Metro'
"The Crown Prosecution Service defended its actions today after two London Underground workers were cleared of racial harassment following allegations that they taunted a colleague over black Jelly Babies.

A jury found Victor Cooney, 47, and Carlos Rozza, 44, not guilty after an eight-day trial at Middlesex Guildhall Crown Court.

It was alleged that the two men teased Daniel Jean Marie, who is black, by discussing black Jelly Babies and biting the heads off the sweets.

But the pair were cleared after just one hour of deliberation by the jury.

A spokesman for the Crown Prosecution Service said today: "This was an allegation of serious racial abuse and we have to take such allegations seriously.

"We believe there was a clear case to answer and the case did run its full course. We respect the jury's decision."

The spokesman said that the CPS were not able to provide costs on individual cases.
Estimates are for around £250,000

"If the Crown Prosecution Service had reviewed this case properly at the initial stages then this case would never have been brought before the Crown Court."

Conservative MP Mike Penning said the trial was a waste of money and police time.

He said: "We are desperate for police on our streets. But if taxpayers' cash is wasted on ridiculous cases like this, how can we afford it?" The two men were cleared on Wednesday at Middlesex Guildhall Crown Court.

A spokeswoman for Transport for London (TfL) said today: "All allegations of harassment and racist behaviour are investigated. Whether or not to prosecute is a decision for the CPS.""
No more comment needed!!

How Farepak Stole Christmas aided by HBoS

How Farepak Stole Christmas
On Friday 13th Oct 2006 - Farepak Hampers went into administration. Over 100,000 customers were told that no food hampers or vouchers or other goods will be supplied this Christmas as promised, and no refunds!
The story going the rounds is that, money was being collected not for hampers but to pay of the Companies overdraft at Halifax Bank of Scotland. Read more about this at www.unfarepak.co.uk

Am I all Alone?

Last week I watched the first episode of 'Prime Suspect 7'. I managed to watch about 25 minutes of the first part and had to turn the TV of as it was so boring. Here we had Helen Mirren showcasing what a good actress she was and nothing else A tirgid story line with the usual top brass being useless as usual. If she had been a real tec. she should have been sacked in the first ten minutes or at least breathalised.

Interesting Story of a Missing Man

I picked this story up whilst looking for something else, and it took my fancy. Maybe he was an alien? of the extraterrestial kind I mean!!

No Crosses on British Airways

British Airways has asked a Christian member of staff to conceal her cross necklace because it contravenes the company's uniform policy.

It appears that religious symbols are OK at British Airways unless they are Christian. You can wear a turban or a Jewish skull cap as they cannot be hidden, but not a cross because they can.
I have noticed that British Airways has what appears to be double standards. Doesn't the the flag that they fly conceal not only one cross, but two including the Crusader cross of St George. Possibly this was why a number of years ago they tried to ditch the Flag, because of their dislike of all things Christian. What Christinans need now is a symbol that cannot be hidden or a secret one rather like the fish sign used in the past by persecuted Christians. Meanwhile Christians should avoid using these anti Christian companies.

Miss Eweida, a Coptic Christian whose father is Egyptian and mother English, was ordered to remove her cross or hide it beneath a company cravat by a duty manager at Heathrow's Terminal 4 last month.

She then sought permission from management to wear the chain - but was turned down.

When Miss Eweida, who is unmarried, refused to remove the necklace she was offered the choice of suspension with pay or unpaid leave, pending a disciplinary hearing.

Following a meeting with her managers on 22 September 2006, Customer Service Manager Caroline Girling told Miss Eweida in a letter: "You have been sent home because you have failed to comply with a reasonable request.

"You were asked to cover up or remove your cross and chain which you refused to do.

"British Airways uniform standards stipulate that adornments of any kind are not to be worn with the uniform."

In a letter to Miss Eweida's MP, Vince Cable, last week, BA chief executive Willie Walsh insisted his employee had not yet been disciplined but said she was off work for failing to comply with "uniform regulations".

He added: "We have previously made changes to our uniform policy to accommodate requests, after a detailed evaluation process including Health and Safety assessment to incorporate the wearing of Sikh bangles."

But Miss Eweida said: "BA refuses to recognise the wearing of a cross as a manifestation of the Christian faith, but rather defines it as a piece of decorative jewellery.

What She did not SAY

The BBC has become a complete turn off, all they appear to be interested in is so called 'human interest' stories. BBC one news has become so down market that they even advertise if yoy want to watch the real news press the 'red button'. I am more inclined to press the off button!!

"Carolin Lotter, a producer with Bloomberg, told BBC News she had been "not more than a metre or two" away from Mrs Blair and that she "literally had to step out of the way".

"Everybody was watching, everybody could listen to it, and she was just walking by one of the screens when I heard her say 'Well, that's a lie'," Ms Lotter said.


The fact is that no version of this story is true and Bloomberg should withdraw it immediately
Downing Street spokeswoman

A Downing Street spokeswoman said: "This story is totally untrue.

"Bloomberg first claimed Mrs Blair stormed out of the hall and flashed that story on their screens.

"When the story was totally denied on Mrs Blair's behalf and it was pointed out that she had not at any time been in the hall, Bloomberg conveniently changed their story.

"The fact is that no version of this story is true and Bloomberg should withdraw it immediately.

"Mrs Blair was accompanied by four people, two of whom were protection officers, none of whom heard her say anything."

When Synagogues burn churches burn

A quote from Paula R Stern

First it was a cartoon in Denmark that showed a caricature of Mohammed's face. Poor taste, ill-advised. But justification for murder? Not in the western world. But in the Arab world, it was enough to cause rioting, and lead to several deaths and a $1 million dollar death threat against the cartoonist. Interestingly enough, when an entire "art" show of cartoons against Israel and ridiculing the Holocaust was officially sanctioned in Iran recently, there were no riots in the world, no burned buildings, no death threats. Go figure.

When the President of Iran calls for the destruction of Israel, and presumably the nearly 6 million Jews within its borders, there were no riots, no death threats, no burned mosques or kidnapped journalists. When Jews were beaten in Russia, France, Yugoslavia, England, and Belgium, there were no violent demonstrations, no riots and death threats.

Now the Pope has spoken a few words, perhaps ill-timed, perhaps badly phrased, but the result is the same. The Arab world is alight. Despite the calming words of Jakarta rally organizer that, "we Muslims have no violent character," violence seems to prevail. Several churches in Palestinian areas have been fire-bombed.

Deputy leader to the Turkish Prime Minister said the Pope was "going down in history in the same category as leaders such as Hitler and Mussolini." Hitler was responsible for the murder of at least 10 million people, by conservative estimates. His close ally, Mussolini established a fascist dictatorship in Italy.

To have an Islamic leader compare the Pope to these men of evil may help shed light on the ongoing propaganda war to paint Moslems as victims rather than aggressors. But the truth is in the flames that burned the churches, the bullets that were shot in the air, and the firebombs thrown in Gaza. Last year, the world was silent to the atrocity of synagogues being burned. Just one year later, the lesson returns.

Where synagogues burn, so too do churches.

This is what the Muslim Religion brings??

It appears the Pope's words are being seen to be true

Earlier Sunday in the West Bank, two churches were set on fire as anger over the pope's comments grew throughout the Palestinian territories.

In the town of Tulkarem, a 170-year-old stone church was torched before dawn and its interior was destroyed, Christian officials said. In the village of Tubas, a small church was attacked with firebombs and partially burned, Christians said. Neither church is Catholic, the officials said.

Palestinian Muslims hurled firebombs and opened fire at five churches in the West Bank and Gaza Strip Saturday to protest the Pope's comments, sparking concerns of a rift between Palestinian Muslims and Christians.

The Pope in Trouble!!

The quote from the Pope has touch a raw nerve in the Muslim world.

"Stressing that they were not his own words, he quoted Emperor Manuel II Paleologos of the Byzantine Empire, the Orthodox Christian empire which had its capital in what is now the Turkish city of Istanbul.

The emperor's words were, he said: "Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached."

Benedict said "I quote" twice to stress the words were not his and added that violence was "incompatible with the nature of God and the nature of the soul"."

We now wait and see if their reactions prove him right in his assesment of much of the Muslim world.

More Questions at Qana?

More about Kana(Qana) the mystery deepens, who is 'white tee shirt'
Here is another unknown 'hero' of the massacre
Below is a quote from Irsaeli insider, who makes some interesting points about the pictures and reporting of this awful incedent.

Lebanese rescue teams did not start evacuating the building until the morning and only after the camera crews came. The absence of a real rescue effort was explained by saying that equipment was lacking. There were no scenes of live or injured people being extracted. There was little blood, CNN's Wedeman noted: all the victims, he concluded, appeared to have died while as they were sleeping -- sleeping, apparently, through thunderous Israeli air attacks. Rescue workers equipped with cameras were removing the bodies from the same opening in the collapsed structure. Journalists were not allowed near the collapsed building. Rescue workers filmed as they went carried the victims on the stretchers, occasionally flipping up the blankets so that cameras could show the faces and bodies of the dead. But Israelis steeled to scenes of carnage from Palestinian suicide bombings and Hezbollah rocket attack could not help but notice that these victims did not look like our victims. Their faces were ashen gray. While medical examination clearly is called for to arrive at a definitive dating and cause of their deaths, they do not appear to have died hours before. The bodies looked like they had been dead for days. Viewers can judge for themselves. But the accumulating evidence suggests another explanation for what happened at Kana. The scenario would be a setup in which the time between the initial Israeli bombing near the building and morning reports of its collapse would have been used to "plant" bodies killed in previous fighting -- reports in previous days indicated that nearby Tyre was used as a temporary morgue -- place them in the basement, and then engineer a "controlled demolition" to fake another Israeli attack. The well-documented use by Palestinians of this kind of faked footage -- from the alleged shooting of Mohammed Dura in Gaza, scenes from Jenin of "dead" victims falling off gurneys and then climbing back on -- have merited the creation of a new film genre called "Palliwood." There is increasing evidence that the Kana sequel is another episode in this genre, a variety which might be called Hezbollywood. The Hezbollah have evidently learned their craft well.

Who is this man? Hero of Quana??

Check out this interesting site and views on the "massacre at Qana"

EU Referendum

How genuine are these pictures and reports of what happened there?
A number of pictures I have seen elsewhere on the TV News have seems staged.

So who is this man?

Archbishop accuses Hezbollah of using Lebanese as human shields

The Archbishop of Canterbury in an interview on Radio 4 this morning accused the Hezbollah terrorists of using the Lebanese as human shields in their war against Israel. After there invasion into Israel, and the capture of the two Israeli soldiers Hezbollah has continued to fire rockets at civilian targets in Israel. These rockets are fired from villages and from amongst the civilian population of Lebanon.
The BBC and the British media have become quiet hysterical about the evacuation of about 4000 people from Lebanon and compared it to Dunkirks 470,000 people not much difference?.
Whilst a few hundred die in Lebanon,deplorable as it is, thousands die in Darfur, Somalia etc. without even a mention. Is it because they are black?. Hundreds die in Mumbai bombing, not a mention on the TV, or radio this week.

Poor Old John Prescott a tired Old Warhorse

John Prescott is hanging on to his job by the skin of his teeth, he may have banned fox hunting, but the media pack are baying for his blood. The latest so called revelations of his involvement with 'a Cowboy' is laughable. I can't wait to see the cartoons of 'Cowboy John' running the country.

EU responsible for increase in rape Gaza & the West Bank

"Sexual violence has also been linked to development funding. Cases in Gaza and the West Bank have increased significantly since the EU and the US cut funding after January's election of Hamas, Luay Shabaneh of the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics says. "

The BBC on its website has reported that the EU is responsible for the increase in rape in the Palestinian territories, because of their cut in funding development.
Interesting!!

St Polycarp's Church in Turkey

This picture was taken in the Church of St Polycarp in Smyrna. The events around the church show this one the burning of St Polycarp in the arena.