A young kid just knocked my door. Kooky looking pre teen with bunches in her hair and a wide smile. She held out an envelope.
" Do you want to give a donation to leprosy?"
I looked dubiously at the envelope - did she want skin maybe or a spare limb I had lying around.....
But no, as I already knew as Bethan is participating, she wanted cold hard cash for a sponsored "Get Fit" thingy the school is running to raise money for a leprosy charity.
This is in addition to the many non school uniform days they have with a payment for charity. Comic relief, Sport relief, Jeans for genes, Children in need - the list is endless. Why did I pay the extortionate prices for their monogrammed school uniform when they never seem to wear the bloody things?
Don't get me wrong, I am a donator to charity. I give regular sums to my chosen charities. I even sponsor an agrophobic collie dog called Sam......
I have blogged previously of the charity collectors that run rampage on my City shopping High Street. Dodging the buggers is a fine art I have perfected that involves walking more miles than needed by constantly weaving in complex patterns around them. Yes, I realise the companies think having good looking young men and fresh faced pretty girls smiling at you like they really like you will work and I'm guilty of having a quick ogle, but it wont make me part with my bank details.
It's fairly obvious that I'm not going to give my limited spare cash to just anyone. Which brings me to a point I've been pondering for a while.
Why do normal Americans give money to political candidates campaigns? I don't get it.
I applaud Ryan and Michelle's efforts in canvessing. I appreciate they give up their spare time to support something they believe in. Stick a placard in your front yard or a poster in your window. Go to a rally and throw your panties at Obama. But money?
Of course, the all singing, all dancing campaigns are not something we are used to over the pond. So, we get the stories of how extravagant these campaigns are. We've had stories of Clinton babes spending $7000 on doughnuts, another of a party that bought up every shovel in a snow bound state so only their voters could get to the polling station. We watch the banners and streamers and all marching bands in wonderment really.
And laugh at you.
So, if any American wants to explain to me why you give them dosh to pay for some college intern's doughnut please do.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
10 stories that should be April Fools...
But aren’t. Taken from today’s BBC news website HERE (if you want to get to the penguin link)
Here is a round-up of some of the day’s seemingly spoof news stories which are actually true (and one that isn’t).
1. A new pay-per-view funeral service scheme is being launched today. The Daily Mail says the scheme at Southampton Crematorium allows mourners to grieve from home by watching proceedings online.
2. A turtle is addicted to nicotine. He became addicted after picking up the smouldering butts in his owner’s garden, in Kouqian, China, and sulks if he doesn’t get his fix. The Daily Express, which picked up the story from Chinese news agency Xinhua, includes a gob-smacking picture of the turtle doing a rather good impression of Dot Cotton.
3. The menopause is caused by the age-old battle between wives and mothers-in-law, reports the Times. As long as 50,000 to 300,000 years ago, competition for food in a family unit was a battle won by the younger women who fed their offspring, which led to the older women losing their ability to breed. With food hard to find, mothers-in-law tended to help rear the grandchildren rather than have more children themselves.
4. An injection that allows women bigger and better orgasms by increasing the size of the mysterious G-spot is being launched in the UK, says the Sun. The £800 collagen jab takes less than half-an-hour and is given under local anaesthetic.
5. School desks and chairs are to be enlarged to meet the needs of the UK’s ever-heavier schoolchildren, reports the Express. On average British children are a centimetre taller than they were 10 years ago, and there are more obese youngsters, so desks supplied to UK schools will reflect this.
6. Wind turbines or solar panels built by UK companies anywhere in the world could count towards Britain’s renewable energy targets under controversial government proposals, according to the Financial Times.
7. You will soon be able to have a tattoo on your teeth, reports the Sun. Steve Heward, the dentist who started the craze in the US plans to set up in Britain.
8. The traditional Chinese martial art T’ai Chi can help control diabetes, reports the Daily Mail. Apparently, researchers have found the flowing movements and deep breathing involved can result in a fall in blood sugar levels.
9. A thief walked out of a busy Norwegian aquarium with a crocodile that was over two feet long, says the Independent.
10. Drinkers have been banned from calling barmaids "love". An outraged Daily Star says new discrimination laws mean landlords that allow punters to chat up staff could be hauled before a tribunal and face unlimited fines.
And finally, a genuine spoof. Have you heard the one about the penguins that can fly? A BBC camera crew filming a colony of Adelie penguins were astonished when they did something "no other penguins can do" and took to the Antarctic skies
If anyone would like to donate to a collection in order for me to put number 4 to the test, I take cash, cheques or paypal. I’m willing to test it out for you guys because that’s just the giving girl I am
Here is a round-up of some of the day’s seemingly spoof news stories which are actually true (and one that isn’t).
1. A new pay-per-view funeral service scheme is being launched today. The Daily Mail says the scheme at Southampton Crematorium allows mourners to grieve from home by watching proceedings online.
2. A turtle is addicted to nicotine. He became addicted after picking up the smouldering butts in his owner’s garden, in Kouqian, China, and sulks if he doesn’t get his fix. The Daily Express, which picked up the story from Chinese news agency Xinhua, includes a gob-smacking picture of the turtle doing a rather good impression of Dot Cotton.
3. The menopause is caused by the age-old battle between wives and mothers-in-law, reports the Times. As long as 50,000 to 300,000 years ago, competition for food in a family unit was a battle won by the younger women who fed their offspring, which led to the older women losing their ability to breed. With food hard to find, mothers-in-law tended to help rear the grandchildren rather than have more children themselves.
4. An injection that allows women bigger and better orgasms by increasing the size of the mysterious G-spot is being launched in the UK, says the Sun. The £800 collagen jab takes less than half-an-hour and is given under local anaesthetic.
5. School desks and chairs are to be enlarged to meet the needs of the UK’s ever-heavier schoolchildren, reports the Express. On average British children are a centimetre taller than they were 10 years ago, and there are more obese youngsters, so desks supplied to UK schools will reflect this.
6. Wind turbines or solar panels built by UK companies anywhere in the world could count towards Britain’s renewable energy targets under controversial government proposals, according to the Financial Times.
7. You will soon be able to have a tattoo on your teeth, reports the Sun. Steve Heward, the dentist who started the craze in the US plans to set up in Britain.
8. The traditional Chinese martial art T’ai Chi can help control diabetes, reports the Daily Mail. Apparently, researchers have found the flowing movements and deep breathing involved can result in a fall in blood sugar levels.
9. A thief walked out of a busy Norwegian aquarium with a crocodile that was over two feet long, says the Independent.
10. Drinkers have been banned from calling barmaids "love". An outraged Daily Star says new discrimination laws mean landlords that allow punters to chat up staff could be hauled before a tribunal and face unlimited fines.
And finally, a genuine spoof. Have you heard the one about the penguins that can fly? A BBC camera crew filming a colony of Adelie penguins were astonished when they did something "no other penguins can do" and took to the Antarctic skies
If anyone would like to donate to a collection in order for me to put number 4 to the test, I take cash, cheques or paypal. I’m willing to test it out for you guys because that’s just the giving girl I am
I Was Young Once
Despite already being teased for these pictures, I shall blog them anyway so you can all have a go....
Lisa as a chubby one year old with her daddy
Me at about 19
Lisa as a chubby one year old with her daddy
Me at about 19
And finally me at Nursing School graduation - I was 21
Sorry Ev no pictures of my ass..
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