On the Radar

The Wheely Bin Anecdote

The woman in the UK caught putting moggy the cat into a wheely bin needs to be taken out and shot. If you haven’t seen the video or heard all the uproar about her “misstep”, then check it out on the msn.com homepage or on google.com.

It defies belief that a middle-aged woman who looks like she couldn’t hurt a fly would be so cruel. In the video the cat actually comes up to her and whilst she is smoothing him, he sticks up his tail and seems excited and happy with the human contact.

Her reason for mistreating the cat seems unclear. The R.S.P.C.A. have got involved and she was arrested shortly after wards, as this was all caught on Britain’s CCTV. In my view she had it in for her neighbors and took it out on their cat. She could also just be a very mean person. Either way it seems inexcusable, in my view.

An Anecdote about Egg on Your Face

With all the hoop-la surrounding the recent Egg-recall, you could be forgiven for thinking that something is seriously wrong with the FDA’s system of regulating egg producing factories.

In fact I can remember as far back as the late eighties, that there have been issues with cleanness in these types of institutions. It would be crazy to assume that anything radical has changed, since very little has been done on the legislative level.

What it comes down to is that these companies have been left to their own devices for decades. They have been allowed to cut corners in order to increase profits, at will, and without any real ramifications.

It’s all big business in the egg making industry. If you can’t turn a blind eye then you’ll end up walking on egg shells straight out the door and out of a job. That’s one anecdote no one wants to be telling in this mud-dredged economy.

World Cup Football Anecdote

As a Brit living in the USA I have had to curtail my love for football or soccer and the anecdote of its history, because it’s hardly talked about here let alone shown on TV. With the advent of this years World Cup and the USA making it into the last sixteen, I have renewed hope.

Despite the fact that the Americans were knocked out I felt that the rivalry between the US and England in the first round went a long way towards boosting soccer’s appeal in America.

My only one concern regarding this years championship was the terrible officiating. Two obvious goals were disallowed in two games I watched. The goal that England scored against Germany in the final sixteen at the end of the first half should have counted. Who knows how the Germans would have responded to two quick scores, tying the game and putting England right back in the thick of things.

The disallowed goal was reminiscent of the anecdote surrounding the 1966 World Cup when England beat Germany with a similar goal. The Germans protested but the goal counted so I expect that many in the German camp may feel that the English got their just desserts after the 1966 incident!

In any event the march continues and I am pinning my hopes on the long shot team of Ghanaians but in my heart I believe that it might just be Brazil’s turn – again!

An Anecdote about Change

So the Tory (Conservative Party in the UK) and the Liberal Democrats have formed an alliance in the form of a coalition government in the UK Parliament to give my home country some stability after a whirlwind General Election.

As sad as I might be to see the Labour Party knocked off its block, I understand the British anger and frustration at partisan politics. It’s very similar to the frustration the Americans felt at the last presidential elections.

It remains to be seen if these two diametrically opposed parties on so many key issues can make things work. Even though I am no longer a resident of the UK, I am keen to see how this whole situation pans out.

Whether this will be paper tiger politics or an anecdote of change and one for the books remains to be seen.

An Anecdote About Elections

Today was General Election Day in the UK. I’m no longer a resident so I do not see or feel the need to vote. However with family members still living there and a possibility of moving back there one day, it interests me.

For the first time in UK Parliamentary history, the three candidates from the three top parties had a televised question time. All three did a reasonable job with the Liberal Democrat leader, Nick Clegg having a stand out performance.

What it basically comes down to is, like the Americans in the last election here, the Brits want things to be different and better. Whether they believe that Gordon Brown, PM as reigning Chief can provide such change is up in the air right now. If the British Public don’t have faith that he can continue restoring the UK economy then it will be left to other, perhaps less experienced hands.

Personal Tax Anecdote

So today is D-Day for the majority of Americans when it comes to filing your annual income tax return.

I read somewhere that around 50% of Americans actually end up paying NO federal income tax because of all the deductions and exemptions now available. It does make you think when so many people complain about paying income tax and that it should be lowered!

Anyway, from a personal anecdote point of view, I must add that I have paid my share of taxes, whether it be state taxes or sales taxes or even taxes on petrol. It all adds up in the end. I just want to do my bit and make certain that my contributions are used in the most efficient way to achieve the best results.