You shop - we drop??

I think I've mentioned before that, unlike many men, I actually enjoy going out shopping, so I've never been tempted to do my supermarket shopping online.  I know lots who do though.  I think even if I were unable to get out for whatever reason, I would baulk at having to pay to have my shopping delivered - £5 seems to be a standard charge.  And now somebody has done the maths, and reckons that it actually costs supermarkets about £20 a time to collect, bag and deliver to on-line shoppers.  Which means of course that they're losing money doing it, and supermarkets don't lose money, so clearly they put their prices up to recoup their loss - and that means those of us who shop in person are subsidising those who shop online.  Now that makes me cross!

The language of Shakespeare?

Apparently a poll has found that the most popular Bond theme song is "Live and let die".  For me, this one would immediately be ruled out on the grounds that it contains one of the most grammatically terrible lines ever written - "...this ever changing world in which we live in...".  What on earth were the McCartneys on when they wrote that?  Personally, for what it's worth, I think the classiest Bond theme tune was "Nobody does it better".

Well blow me down!

We've talked before about the Law of Unforeseen Consequences, but what about the Law of Blindingly Obvious Consequences?  Last year it cost about £3500 for a University place.  This year it's anything up to £9000.  And would you believe it, the number of people applying to go to University has gone down.  Couldn't be cause and effect could it?

Nice tits?

The topless photos of the Duchess of Cambridge have created a furore - or have they?  The Editor of the Irish paper which published them made the point that "she's not our future Queen" and the same goes of course for France and Italy, the other two countries (so far) to have published them.  So is this just a British reaction - maybe over-reaction?  To most of the rest of the world's media she's just a celebrity, and as such is fair game for any story or picture which might boost sales.  I think Max Clifford made the most perceptive point when he said that the man with the camera and a long lens could equally well have been a man with a rifle and a telescopic sight, and that's what ought to be concerning us.

Many a true word...

Birthday card from my granddaughter.  On the front - "Grandad, you are always doing nice things for me, so I got you this lovely birthday card because it was my turn to do something nice for you!"  And inside? "OK, now it's your turn again!"

Shafted both ways??!

As an armchair sports fan I am concerned at BT buying up the rights to show premiership rugby from next year.  I have no intention of paying more for my television viewing than the considerable monthly sum I have to shell out at the moment, so presumably this means that I shall not be able to watch any of the top rugby matches after this season.  Mind you, as a BT customer I am even more concerned about where the money is coming from for this deal, and whether I shall find that my 'phone and broadband bills go up as a consequence - which would mean that I would end up paying for the privilege of not being able to watch the rugby!

Personal

When I started this blog I seem to remember mentioning several times that I was coming up to 70.  At the time, it seemed a bit of a watershed, as indeed have my previous odd-decade numbered birthdays - thirty and fifty.  Well, time marches on, and I've just turned 75.  So - free TV licence, which is nice.  I have to say that my legs are not what they were, but I can still walk without the need for a stick, and although I'm somewhat overweight and drink far too much, generally I feel OK.  I still miss my darling wife, and always will I suppose, but I've come to terms with the solitary life, and I have family close by so it's not that solitary.  Why am I telling you all this?  Not sure really, but there seems to be so much doom and gloom talked about getting old nowadays, that I thought I ought to make the point that there are those of us who may not see, hear or move as well as we once did, but are still trucking and looking forward to the future - however short or long it may be.  Glass definitely half full.

A man for no seasons?

How utterly sad and depressing to see the historic and once noble office of Lord Chancellor devalued virtually to the point of extinction.  The latest incumbent is neither a lord nor a judge, nor even a lawyer.  It is difficult to see how he can speak with any authority for the Judiciary or on constitutional matters.  We seem to have lost all sense of history - indeed, lost all sense, full stop.

Piracy - not all bad?

Interesting research carried out at North Carolina State University which suggests that the supposed "naughty" activity of file-sharing, far from economically harming artists and publishers actually more often than not leads to a "small but significant" increase in sales.  Another example of the dangers of seeing everything in terms of black and white - grey rules you see (apologies to E. L. James).

You couldn't make it up.

Haven't had one of these for a bit, and this particular story is over a year old, although I missed it at the time.  Anyway Butlins have apparently ruled that bumper cars on their sites are not allowed to bump!  The reason given, you will hardly be surprised to learn is "health and safety", although it will equally not come as any surprise to learn that the real reason is the fear of being sued if anyone were to complain of being hurt as a result of being bumped.  And apparently it's not just Butlins - many funfairs are taking a similar line - oh for the innocent fun days of my childhood!