We won't see his like again

Politics: For most young people, the name Tony Benn doesn't mean a lot, but he was a great statesman.

One of the most amazing things is that he had a seat in the House of Lords that he gave up so that he could continue to be a Labour MP.

RIP Tony Benn

World News:
There's been outrage recently as girls at an American school have been ranked based on appearance.
It's apparently just a prank, but seriously...

On a more serious note, the Crimean region of the Ukraine has declared independence, which in one sense sounds great as the Crimean people throw off the shackles of their oppressors.  But actually, do you think everyone in the Crimea wanted independence?  What about the one's who wanted to stay Ukranian?

Well, they're either in the minority, or at least have the minority of guns, and that means they go independent or they leave their homes.  That's the reality of democracy: there's always someone who loses.

The US have announced that when the economy grows (as we move out of recession), the long-term unemployed are likely to get left behind








This is largely because employers, when they start hiring again, aren't going to go with the long term unemployed because they look like a bad bet.

The lesson here is, even when things get better, they don't get better for everyone. So if you want to stay ahead of the game, you've got to work hard no matter what, and you've got to take advantage of every opportunity.


Seeing things differently:

With gas and electricity bills going up all the time, some very smart people are looking to other methods of heating their homes (I say they're smart because I've been doing this for a while).

But the problem is, if someone is finding it hard to find the money to pay their bills, can they really afford to buy a wood burning stove (ours cost hundreds)?

That's the problem: when someone's in debt, it's hard to get out, 'cos it costs money. Really unfair if you ask me...

Anyway, what about collecting water?

It's good for the garden, and if you don't mind a cold shower it's great. Maybe wouldn't use it to make a cuppa though eh?


And, while were on the subject of living the eco warrior life, what do you do when a loved one has a birthday coming up and you don't have any money...?  Simples

But, a word of warning: It's okay to be an eco-warrior, and to do things that benefit the environment and yourselves, but it is worth remembering that there are rules and regulations out there, before you do anything it's a good idea to make sure that you're within the law.  It's also worth remembering that some things that you see on the internet are fake.

Local News:
Last week's meeting went well.  I do love the people of Parton: they've got real stamina.  And they need it to get up the hill to the main road!

And finally:

Just to end on a high, here a few autocorrect fails to put a smile on your face (and also a warning: you guys type WAY too fast. Why not try and pause for a moment and check what you've typed: just a thought)