Pensioner transports carpet on mobility scooter

Earlier this year in March and April I wrote about problems with the miss use of Electric Mobility Scooters by the ownners on public pavements and highways.

Today the Daily Telegraph published an article about an elderly owner of a mobility scooter who stupidly chose to use his scooter to transport a wide roll of carpet whilst driving along the public highway.

In a 39-second clip recorded by an incredulous road user, the man can be seen wobbling along a road in Wincanton, Somerset, at speeds of up to 8mph.

The degree of this mans stupidity is unbelievable. This clearly shows the need for compulsary training on the use of these mobility scooters, and no one should be allowed to use one in public areas without a certificate of competence being obtained. Public liability insurance must be a requirement for use in public areas, with a certificate being necessary to obtain insurance.

Had this been a motor-cyclist or car owner performing such a stunt this would have been an illegal motoring act.

Parents won't have wealth to pass on,

A report by Absolute Strategy Research on behalf of Janus Capital based on the answers from 6010 Europeans has warned that future generations should not expect to inherite from their parents, to make up for the shortfall in their savings for retirement, as a direct result of the worst financial crisis since the 1930s.

If Mrs S & I have any money left when our time ends to pass on as an inheritance so be it, but that is not our goal, like the 42% of those questioned.

Read further conclusions here: Parents won't have wealth to pass on, report - Telegraph

Pope Ratzinger should not be given the honour of a state visit to the United Kingdom

Many leading Academics and Authors sent the following public letter to the Guardian Newspaper in respect of the papal visit to the UK by Pope Benedict XVI.

"We, the undersigned, share the view that Pope Ratzinger should not be given the honour of a state visit to this country. We believe that the pope, as a citizen of Europe and the leader of a religion with many adherents in the UK, is of course free to enter and tour our country. However, as well as a religious leader, the pope is a head of state, and the state and organisation of which he is head has been responsible for:

Opposing the distribution of condoms and so increasing large families in poor countries and the spread of Aids.

Promoting segregated education.

Denying abortion to even the most vulnerable women.

Opposing equal rights for lesbians, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

Failing to address the many cases of abuse of children within its own organisation.

The state of which the pope is head has also resisted signing many major human rights treaties and has formed its own treaties ("concordats") with many states which negatively affect the human rights of citizens of those states. In any case, we reject the masquerading of the Holy See as a state and the pope as a head of state as merely a convenient fiction to amplify the international influence of the Vatican".

The letter is signed by the following:

Stephen Fry, Professor Richard Dawkins, Professor Susan Blackmore, Terry Pratchett, Philip Pullman, Ed Byrne, Baroness Blackstone, Ken Follett, Professor AC Grayling, Stewart Lee, Baroness Massey, Claire Rayner, Adele Anderson, John Austin MP, Lord Avebury, Sian Berry, Professor Simon Blackburn, Sir David Blatherwick, Sir Tom Blundell, Dr Helena Cronin, Dylan Evans, Hermione Eyre, Lord Foulkes, Professor Chris French, Natalie Haynes, Johann Hari, Jon Holmes, Lord Hughes, Robin Ince, Dr Michael Irwin, Professor Steve Jones, Sir Harold Kroto, Professor John Lee, Zoe Margolis, Jonathan Meades, Sir Jonathan Miller, Diane Munday, Maryam Namazie, David Nobbs, Professor Richard Norman, Lord O'Neill, Simon Price, Paul Rose, Martin Rowson, Michael Rubenstein, Joan Smith, Dr Harry Stopes-Roe, Professor Raymond Tallis, Lord Taverne, Peter Tatchell, Baroness Turner, Professor Lord Wedderburn of Charlton QC FBA, Ann Marie Waters, Professor Wolpert, Jane Wynne Willson.

I congratulate them on their action, endorse their views and add my post script signature to the letter.

Spanish study finds that 10 minutes could prevent one-third of road deaths,

Spanish researchers have calculated the probability of dying in road accidents on the basis of the time taken for the emergency services to arrive.

Their conclusions are clear: reducing the time between an accident taking place and the arrival of the emergency services from 25 to 15 minutes would cut the risk of death by one-third.

It is alarming after the week-ends to read the reports of the high number of deaths on the Spainish roads. A major factor has to be the disregard that many Spainish drivers have for speed limits. So many seem to think that the speed shown on the road signs is the minimum that they should drive!

Read further details here: ScienceDaily (2010-09-13) --Ten minutes could prevent one-third of road deaths, Spanish study finds

La Pinada Fiesta 2010 - Very Enjoyable

Each year the La Pinada community of property owners holds its own mini fiesta. Its held not for any other reason, non-religious, non-political, than for the residents of the community to get together for an enjoyable time.

This year for the first time the La Pinada social committee decided to invite residents of our community, Residencial Mexico, as we are next door neighbours so to speak, and only a small community, to join in their festivities. A True community spirit.

As Chairman of our little community I forwarded the invite to all members of Res. Mexico who are resident in Spain. Unfortunately only 4 wanted to take up the invite.

The Fiesta was held yesterday (11th September) from 5.30pm until 11.00pm, and the four of us that attended from Mexico had a thoroughly enjoyable time. The event was well organised and the social committee should be proud of their efforts.

It was a good street party. Plenty of food, drinks and entertainment. People enjoying themselves.

Here is a little video from our evening.

Restaurant Owner who banned screaming children says business is booming

The Mail Online reports that a North Carolina restaurant has put a ban on unruly children, with a sign on the front door saying screaming children will not be tolerated. Brenda Armes, the owner of the Olde Salty's restaurant in Carolina Beach, said she got sick of customers complaining about parents who couldn't control their children during meals. She said many parents allowed their children to treat the restaurant like their personal playground, misbehaving and 'squawking'.

I say well done to Brenda, we (Mrs S & I) hate it when we are in a restaurant and are subjected the nuisance of screaming children when we are trying to eat a meal we are paying for. We go to eat in peace not to be in a noisy kindergarten. What even more aggrevates the situation is that the parents of the monsters ignore the bad behaviour.

I hope that restaurant owners in the UK and Spain follow Brenda's example.

Read the full article in Mail Online: Restaurant that has banned screaming children says business is better than ever

Is hand washing enough to stop the spread of disease?

Not drying your hands thoroughly after washing them, could increase the spread of bacteria and rubbing your hands whilst using a conventional electric hand dryer could be a contributing factor. Frequently people give up drying their hands and wipe them on their clothes instead, but hand-hygiene is a key part of infection control and drying hands after washing is a very important part of the process. A new study looks at different methods of hand drying, and their effect on transfer of bacteria from the hands to other surfaces.

The new type of hand dryer, I think they're made by Dyson, are the most effective automatic drying machines but if you wear rings that are slightly too big the air blast can strip them off your fingers.

I find it amazing the number of men, can't speak for women, who use public toilet facilties and don't wash their hands afterwards!

Read the Science Daily article:Is hand washing enough to stop the spread of disease?

Taxpayer should not fund Pope's visit

More than three quarters of Britons think the taxpayer should not contribute to the cost of Pope Benedict XVI's forthcoming visit to Scotland and England, according to a survey published today.

Although I currently live in Spain I'm still a UK tax payer and I agree with the majority.

Researchers when carrying out the survey also put 12 statements from the Pope's third encyclical letter on global development and the common good, 'Charity in Truth' to people taking part in the survey. Amongst many of his 'way off' beliefs he states 'Poverty is often produced by a rejection of God's love.' Oh come on! The majority of those questioned disagreed with the Pope's opinion.

Read the full article Taxpayer should not fund Pope's visit | Mail Online

Cranberry juice shows promise blocking Staph infections

Expanding their scope of study on the mechanisms of bacterial infection, researchers have reported the surprise finding from a small clinical study that cranberry juice cocktail blocked a strain of Staphylococcus aureus from beginning the process of infection.

And it tastes good as well. For some reason the supermarkets here in Spain don't seem to stock that much of it, and it is very expensive when they do.

Read the article in Science Daily Cranberry juice shows promise blocking Staph infections