Good does not mean expensive.

In relation to my last post about the expensive MRA4 debacle, I cannot understand why we always seem to go for expensive weapons systems suited for the cold war, that has been over for some time.

Now I was at sea for a considerable number of years and saw a tendency for the ordering  of very expensive high tech warships but few in number. The problem as I see it, is that those ships cannot patrol all our vested interests. To give you an example we had one Frigate/Destroyer and a support Tanker in the Caribbean undergoing counter drug operations, disaster relief, and protection for our Dependencies. We had another small warship in the Falklands along with a support tanker.

Now we have one minor war vessel in the Falklands, most of the time no warship in the Caribbean, and one support tanker trying to cover both areas.

In the past after the Falklands conflict we normally had a Type 21 Frigate and a cheap and cheerful Rover class tanker in each area of operation.

This gets me to  the point I would like to make. Why don’t we either build/buy some cheap and cheerful frigates armed with a gun on the front, a point defence missile system, and a reasonable anti submarine detection system.

Another idea would be to build more “Wave Class” Auxiliary Oilers (AO) which have proved themselves in the Caribbean by the very fact that with their fuel capacity, their facility to carry a Law Enforcement Detachment  Team from the US coastguard, Helicopter, weapons, etc, they have become a range extender for the coalition in the fight against drugs. (Incidentally I was on an AO out in the Caribbean, where we intercepted 32 Tonnes of Cocaine being shipped to Europe). Present armament Two 30mm powered mounts, two Mk 48 miniguns, and five GPMGs. Plus active decoy systems, ECM, and ESM. Plus the provision to fit CIWS phalanx.

Pic is of a minigun.

Armament could be enhanced by buying something like THIS. That would be quite sufficient.

Lets think numbers, rather mine’s bigger than yours.

And don’t get me started on Eurofighter Typhoon.

Doesn’t make sense.

You’ve just upgraded your fleet of cars with new sound systems, fitted new fuel economic engines and have paid the cost already. Surely you wouldn’t cut them into pieces because you couldn’t afford to run them, would you?

Substitute the word “car” for Nimrod MRA4, and you see why you shouldn’t let Governments run anything.

Customer Service?

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to you to complain about the service I have received from your contractors Appliance Warehouse. I am currently waiting for a call back from one of your managers, Jenny Chilton, but I want to put this complaint in writing to make sure that it is dealt with in the correct and appropriate manner.

I purchased the flat above in October 2010, it was built in 2008 and there was a new Baumatic oven put in at the time. On th 6th January 2011 I returned home to find that the oven would not turn on. I called Baumatic on the 8th January to find out if the oven was in any kind of warranty. It was not but I was offered a 1 year warranty for £114 that would cover all parts and labour to fix the oven and if it could not be fixed then the money would be refunded. I signed up immediately. I was told that Baumatic use a contractor in my area called Appliance Warehouse who would call me on Monday to make an appointment to send an engineer.

There was no call on Monday so I called to chase this, I received a call on Tuesday 11th January. The first available appointment was Thursday 20th January between 9-1. I booked this appointment and took the morning off work.

It got to around 11.30 and I had heard nothing about the arrival of an engineer and mindful that I had to be in Milton Keynes for a meeting at 2.30pm I rang Baumatic to find out what time the engineer would be here. I was put through to a very unhelpful and rude lady at Appliance Warehouse called Jenny. Jenny told me that the engineer may be late say 1.30-2pm but she had no way of knowing. I asked why I was last in the queue and not first to be done at 9 or 10am but she said they do not make a list of who they are going to visit?! I asked if she could call the engineer to find out what time he would be here as I would not be able to be here at that time, she said that she was not allowed to ring the engineer. I asked why and she said it was so as not to bother them. I said this was ridiculous and asked to speak to her manager, she told me he would not be there until between 5-7pm. I said this would not help me and she said tough, there was nothing she could do. Naturally I was very angry at this so called baumatic back and asked for a manager call back. A lady called Julie Standford (I think correct spelling) called me back about 15 minutes later and was very helpful. Julie called Appliance Warehouse and the engineer arrive at 12.30 so within the 9-1.

The engineer arrived in a car with no spare parts so if any part was needed there was no chance of him fixing it today, this despite him being booked by Baumatic and them knowing what oven I have. He said that the switch has gone and it will be another week before it arrives and he can come back. Great, another week without an oven.

I have heard nothing until today, 26th January- 18 days after taking out this policy, when I called Baumatic to find out what is going on. I was informed that the part has been dispatched today. Why has it taken a week to send the part out? If my policy is with Baumatic then why does it take them a week to send one of their own parts out? I asked to be put through to Appliance Warehouse so that I could prebook an appointment as I will actually be at home anyway on Friday afternoon.

I called helpful Jenny at Appliance Warehouse and was told the first available appointments are next Thursday 3rd February or next Friday 4th February but that these cannot be booked until my part has come in. Even though Baumatic have dispatched this part they will not book it until they have the part. Even though I am paying Baumatic for this service not Appliance Warehouse.

Going on the last time I had to book an appointment with Appliance Warehouse it is unlikely I will be able to get this appointment next Thursday or Friday so it will mean yet another week without an oven as they will not at least pre book this appointment.

I am extremely unhappy with the service received so far. Appliance Warehouse are nothing but rude when I have to speak to them. The people at Baumatic while helpful and polite on the phone do not seem to carry any weight with Appliance Warehouse.

For the money I have had to spend on eating out and takeaways in the length of time the oven has been broken I may has well have just bought a new oven. I can tell you that if I had it would not have been a Baumatic.

To top this all off my policy documents arrived yesterday and my name was spelt Hewallmosn! How can anyone have thought that is someones name? I know my name is a little unusual but that is ridiculous, it is a wonder I received the letter at all.

I hope that someone will call me as soon as possible to resolve this situation and offer me some sort of compensation for my time wasted, phone calls to and from Baumatic and Appliance Warehouse but most of all just FIX MY OVEN.

Yours Faithfully

A disgruntled customer.

Fight amongst yourselves

I’m just trying to write one of my tin hat brigade posts at the moment.

Grrrrh again.

I’m having to become a travel agent again.

Last year it was expected that because I had lashings of free time, I could organise a foreign holiday to fit round a wedding in Italy.

Of course I’m having to do it all over again, this time to Crete.

Have you ever tried to move money abroad using Swift, and an IBAN number? Well my bank really makes it difficult and charges me for the effort.

Next onto the plane booking and then the car hire.

Oooooh

Now these are real headlines I’d like to see in the Main Stream Media

Go have a look HERE

Coercion by the state

Rather long but worth a watch

H/T to Angry Teen

Founder of Greenpeace says global warming isn’t caused by Man.

Patrick Moore, founder of Greenpeace, refutes global warming is caused by human activity.

If you follow the link below he reckons  there are vested interests  involved in pushing the made made global cause.

I most certainly agree with him, that we should husband our resources wherever we can. That’s common sense which most people will agree with.

I also agree that most of it’s about the keeping the money flowing to activists, scientists and of course Politicians.

Watch it HERE

And even you want to hear his damning indictment of why he left Greenpeace? Then watch THIS

H/T to Autonomous Mind

Did You Commit A Crime In Arizona Today

This is an incomplete post and it will be updated as more information is supplied to me.

Many of you have heard of the Gary McKinnon case where the lop sided extradition treaty signed by the Labour Government with the United States allows citizens of the the United Kingdom to be extradited to the US without any evidence being presented.

Until two nights ago I had not heard of Brian Howes and his wife who face 98 years in jail in Arizona and their children being taken into care.

Brian ran a pyrotechnic chemicals supply company that was registered with the Home office and the Special Branch. He has never been arrested for any crime in this country, yet he and his wife have already spent seven months in jail separated from their children. He has never been to Arizona.

The Arizona DEA allege, without supplying any evidence, that he was supplying chemicals that could be used to make crystal meth, I understand from Brian that a senior police officer from the UK has already been to the States to accept an award for apprehending a 'dangerous felon' ( Brian and his wife have yet to be convicted of anything in either country).

I am waiting for further information from Brian but it looks as though the DEA set up two sites to entrap people in the States purchasing chemicals and fed these through Brian's company. Brian has not been charged with any crime here whatsoever, and no evidence has been supplied to the UK for extradition because there is no requirement to do so under the 2003 treaty.

Last Friday Brian and his wife were compelled to attend their last extradition hearing. Brian's wife is heavily pregnant and asked to be excused as she was feeling so unwell. This was refused.

During the course of the hearing Brian's wife went into premature Labour, they asked leave of the Court during an adjournment that his wife could be taken to hospital. It took 15 minutes for a Judge to come back to give the Court's permission for her to be taken to Hospital, the Judge did however release Brian to go with her.

The Hospital want to give the baby the best possible chance of survival by staying within the womb for as long as possible. As I write Brian and his wife are again en route to hospital as she is in so much pain.

The Mail on Sunday are running with this story on Sunday. I said to Brian that I did not want to queer their story and Brian's publicity, by releasing this story now. He has asked that this gets out now as they are desperate and have lost all their money in defending this.

If  they have committed a crime here they should be charged here, if  the US want to extradite them provide the evidence first.

This 2003 Treaty should be scrapped or put under moratorium. You can help, please retweet this, write to your MP, write a blog post, just do something for a very desperate family.

How many of our fellow citizens are facing this ?

@Brian_Howes

Fair Fuel UK Petition

Fuel prices are rocketing. Road haulage companies, general businesses and private motorists are hurting. The whole economy is suffering. Fuel prices are the talk of the nation and the Prime Minister and his senior colleagues are being pressed from all angles on this issue. We believe that there is a window of opportunity to persuade the Government to tackle rising fuel prices. We have joined with the FTA to support http://www.fairfueluk.com/, which seeks to represent all road users, and is an addition to existing, intensive lobbying activity from the RHA.
We can make a difference but need your help and the help of everyone in and close to your organisation! The campaign aims are to see the next fuel duty hike planned for April which would add another 3.5 pence per litre scrapped AND to get the Government to bring in a fuel price stabiliser.
This campaign does not support blockades or any disruptive action. It does believe that MASSIVE lobbying of the politicians can and does work. It is being organised on our behalf by Peter Carroll. Peter has wide experience in the road haulage industry and founded and ran the Gurkha Campaign that won the right to live in Britain for brave Gurkha soldiers. Peter and his team at Why Not Campaign Limited are now fighting for a fair deal on fuel.
We need you to sign up at http://www.fairfueluk.com/and getting all your friends and contacts to do the same. The more that sign up - the greater the chance of success. We request that you forward this email to all your contacts and ask them, in turn, to forward it to all of theirs. Please try and get drivers, managers, admin staff, suppliers, customers, friends and family to sign. By this means, we will reach the tens of thousands of people that we need to be behind us.
Geoff Dunning
Chief Executive

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