Darren Flapjack

A good friend of mine is in this situation. She has a teenager and they often go out as a family, her, the son, and her ex (the lads father) without my friend. He gets left behind or not invited most of the time. She asked him if he wanted to go somewhere recently - with her and her son, he said yes, but then she told him he wouldn't come as he 'doesn't do the family side of things.' and she has invited her ex instead.

I keep trying to tell my friend she is playing him for a fool, but he seems content to just to pass his time following his own interests and not questioning her about it. I do know he is suspicious about her ex's motives though.

I believe, and I have checked, there are rules for ice cream vans playing jingles for up to four seconds and lowering the volume of their jingle in more built up areas. Since last year, 'our' ice cream guy, who comes round 2/3 times a day...... it's so loud we shut the windows. But if I complain to the council I will feel mean.

What to do.....

On starting at this UK academic institution 6 years ago, I was offered a three year fixed term (part time) contract with the option of a roll over fourth year. I am still there (6 years later) but there has been talk of my contract being ended.

Does anyone know my rights. I thought after four years employees were classed as permanent, so if I was asked to leave I would be entitled to redundancy?

The census is allegedly so public services can be planned. As the Con-Dems seek to cut back the state involvement in public services (ironically breaking Britain!) without a mention of chasing tax evasion & avoidance, what is the point in completing the survey?

She tells me she is going for a drink with her work friend(s). She comes home over three hours later wondering why I am annoyed with her. Second time this week she has done it to me. Am I right to be annoyed?

Some poorly informed tory MP has said they should be treated as vermin. I think he misunderstands that we have to live with these animals. In other countries, people deal with such things as bears without killing them. We have to change OUR behaviour, not go around killing things.

The guy is an idiot.

She looks as though she makes George Bush look like a very intelligent man.......

First he said the deficit was worse than the govt thought (LIE no 1, it is actually less).

Second, he said the budget is fair, but again, under the tories, the less well off will suffer more (LIE no 2)

Third, he said he would not raise VAT (LIE no 3).

Think the poll tax riots. Many of these cuts could be ofset by higher taxation for very high earners and as Labour proposed they do not have to be as immediate as the tories are proposing.

Personally I am waiting for the coalition to crumble, as many Lib-dems fought against this right-wing tory cutting machine.

Cameron keeps saying he's going to fix it, bit is it broken (socially, I mean)? Many people object to Cameron talking down the country and insist Britain is NOT broken. Take into account the north-south divide in voting intentions, are the tories REALLY the best party to make any kind of social change.

He wants to take money from the state and get people to volunteer to do things. Yes you heard that right!!

Do you think that 'broken britain' is just another empty Cameron catch-phrase, like 'change'.

Just consider the less well off. Think minimum wage, think surestart. Don't let the tories fool you with their ultra slick PR spin. Vote with a social conscience, vote for recovery and stability.

Or is he on course, if elected, to be a very, very unpopular prime minister?

For a man that claims to know all the answers and will solve everything, he is very policy light.

Apparently he plans to 'defy' convention if the tories do not get a majority and attempt to form a minority government. What is it with this guy, trying to make himself look decisive? It is the head of state who calls for a government to be formed.

If there is a hung parliament you can bet on the tories will wreck it to try and force another election within months. There's co-operation for you.

We have a chance to say no to his severe cuts today. To say no to monetarist policy (ie doing nothing), to say no to tax cuts for the rich, to keep the minimum wage, to keep surestart and to keep the tories away from ruining the economy like they did TWICE in the 1980's.

Think Greece at the moment. We need electoral reform as well.

Wierd that she is a Muslim herself. Story below:

http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/the-staggers/201...

Be careful who you tell as there are lawyers involved:

http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/the-staggers/201...

Some people think the BBC are biased to the govt. But take a look at Sky news! If the BBC were dismantled, we would be in a very unhealthy situation in that there would be no one to take on Sky and we'd be drip fed govt (tory?) PR from noon till night until Rupert Murdoch thinks we should change government.

I had the news on the other day - Monday. A 'breaking news' banner came up and said the tories will win by 2 seats. Are sky trying to do a fox news from 2000, and call the election before it's even taken place?

Just some little nuggets:

He wrote the failed one policy manifesto (immigration) for the tories in 2005 for Michael Howard.

He was an advisor to John Major.

He was an economic advisor to Norman Lamont during black wednesday - when Britain dropped out of the ERM.

One person who used to work with him said 'I would not trust him with my daughters dinner money.'

Who can forget the bike-briefcases?

And generally the lack of policy. Running an election on ideas is crazy.

Bad times ahead if he wins. We need electoral reform, the economy to grow and key services to remain in place. We need surestart for the young uns. We need the minimum wage. And we want the BBC to remain as it is.

Dave is NOT a man of the people. He is a man of the few. Britain, do not make the mistake of judging someone on how well the do on a tv show.