photoshoplooter

"It had to happen". Yes, indeed. With more to follow, no doubt.

But as this is not a forum for political or "social" commentary, I shall refrain from saying too much.

... but did anyone else notice those brand-new Jankel armoured vehicles?

I wonder what other hardware is stashed away in secret government warehouses. You know ... in readiness for the next step towards the New World Order.

Anyone manage to sign the petition yet?

Writing as someone approaching sixty years of age who wants to work, but has recently been denied (so-called) Job Seekers Allowance ... I would say:- why stop there?

Meanwhile, having read thousands of comments about it all on various websites, I would say that the remarks made by President Ahmadinejad of Iran and Russian Senator Mikhail Margelov are the ones that remain with me the most!

Have not seen those. Link?

(oh, and by the way, the "it had to happen" referred to the photoshop mods not the events themselves)

See Google (for those, and much, much more)!

I won't link, for the reasons I mentioned earlier (non-political, etc.).

(my own "it had to happen" did [and does] refer to the events themselves ... look up "New World Order" as well, if you have the time)

Some very strange comments are appearing on this topic. The topic is about photo-editing of the 'English riots'. (Found some of them quite funny especially the Cameron one at Downing St). But, since when has this site not been a forum for political or 'social' commentary? Lots of political and social comments have appeared here in the past.

My own opinion is that if they are 'on topic' and not 'hijacked' from another topic they are OK.

However, if you believe it is not a forum for these types of comment, then why post about the New World Order, and what President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran and Russian Senator Mikhail Margelov have said about these events? Oh, of course, your comments are non-political - yeh right.

Actually, I don't. But I like to think that I am adult enough to defer to the sensibilities of others!

But yes ... the one outside No.10 was the best.

Fair comment Geoff, but at the risk of repeating myself, if it's 'on topic' bring it on I say.

As a person in my sixties I have experienced great (as in large) social change and makeup of my once respected and influential country.

When I was young there was still food rationing after a world war (no riots though), murderers were hung at the gallows, you got caned hard at school for not doing what you were told, violent young thugs were birched or sent to Borstal and there was respect for your elders and authority especially the Police. You feared the police as a youngster but at the same time you could park your car/bicycle and not worry about locking it, leave your house open and trust your neighbours and if violence broke out the police ran to it and dealt with it good and hard rather than dressing up in armour and running from it. The law abiding felt safe and communities upheld values.

However since the mid sixties those with social influence in our country (the liberal left) have had their way, bit by bit, undermining the family structure and our traditional values that were once the envy of the world. We now have evolved into a society where the criminals are excused and indeed told that they are the victims, whilst the values of decent people have been ignored. Let us hope that this is a wake up call so that these excuses for criminal behaviour are challenged and replaced by a more robust traditional set of values. How shameful it is that now four decent people have lost their lives due to the selfish violent actions of a load of lowlife scum.

The question is, we have now had the political rhetoric for punishing the lowlife but will it happen?

Answer:- No. As we have seen elsewhere, the "powers that be" will keep a lid on it all, and pretend that all is well (when every decent person knows otherwise ... and has known, for many years). No doubt "lessons shall be learned"!

What we need is strong leadership. But unfortunately I don't see much of that in evidence.

I agree with what you are saying there, Barney. But I would add that what we are seeing is to be expected when Third World "standards" are forced upon a First World country (if you can bear such terminology).

Meanwhile, has anyone heard from the Archbishop?

"Material wealth will never satisfy an empty soul".

Geoff,

Are you talking of the unrest in UK? well well i thought these things happen in Africa and other developing world, indeed leaders have to analyze the whole situation if its poverty then it should be addressed.

Not much poverty there as they were all iphoning each other. Little scroats needing taught to respect where they live. I personnaly would have envoked the looter laws and shot them. (Less paperwork). Also didnt see many riot rounds fired or heads of rioters cracked, must be just saved for NI.

I think they should all be dressed in orange jump suits and sent out to clear up the areas they destroyed. Less tolerance of scum is needed in this country.

I am also remain a little disappointed that "emergency powers" have yet to be invoked.

You know, a curfew in "certain areas" and looters and arsonists to be shot dead on sight.

Meanwhile, the so-called "gang culture" needs to be dealt with (as in, eliminated). It's already been going on for far too long.

We already know what needs to be done, so why do we need Bill Bratton?

We need to be creating work for those who want it (and those who don't). How about starting off with building some more prisons, and (if you like) "boot camps"?

On the other hand, our young need decent role models. The likes of Rooney, Cole et al just don't cut the mustard, I'm afraid. Once again, real leadership is sadly lacking.

And (like all of us) they also need to feel that they have a stake in the future. A decent future, for everyone.

Billy for PM, says I!

Why does the UK not use water canon more often?
If this was in Europe they would be out with them straight away. And the thought of getting their Blackberries and iPhones wet would soon send them running.
RoJo

Yes ... with marker dye!

I'm sure we all noticed that "rain stopped play" the other night.

Oh to have that lot on an army training area for a few days and nights!

In fact, thinking about it, let's be having their so-called parents along for a good beasting as well!

Roman, my friend, what you may not be aware of is that in the UK (largely due to the decimation of an industrial base that in many respects led the world in days gone by) there are now families (clans?) where three and possibly four generations have never worked for a living, but instead have lived well off the State (to which they feel no loyalty).

Getting drunk (or stoned) and breeding is about all they can manage, whilst meanwhile expecting "respect" from the so called "society" that has to suffer them.

If you have any ideas about how that sort of situation can be addressed, feel free to email No.10 Downing Street, as Panem et Circenses seems to have run its course.

Try the link below

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/7337

It's grown by (approx) 30K since I signed earlier today.

Barney et al, You mustn’t go around calling these people lowlife scum, or scroats, as that may be deemed defamation of character. They are normal people like us and have rights you know.

It is entirely feasible that they could get legal aid to sue you for libel. They, ‘the lowlife scum’ or ‘scroats’ as you call them, feel that they are not listened to by society at large. They are disadvantaged. Through no fault of their own (none whatsoever) they feel they are denied access to the wealthier parts of society. They complain they are continually monitored/harassed by the Police on their ‘own patch’ (how dare the Police do this) and this is what happens when they get a chance to vent their anger. They have shown what they can do when they are pushed too far – perhaps people will listen to them now. The government must now pour money into these deprived areas so they can get the facilities that they deserve.

Is it not normal human behaviour to desire something that you see around you on a daily basis i.e. a piece of the ‘celebrity culture’ portrayed via TV, film and the media incessantly? Surely it is not the victimised protesters fault. If footballers, pop stars, actors and other famous people who grew up on a council estate can have vast material wealth, why can’t they? They only want a little bit of it. They have aspirations and are in need of a ‘fix’ to fulfil these aspirations. Anything wrong with that? Surely the businesses that have been looted can make up their losses with insurance claims. They are rich enough to afford the insurance.

Shouldn’t society give them jobs, benefits, housing and free social care. Look what happens if it doesn’t. These are their rights you know. The ‘Liberal Left’ (not my choice of phrase) as they have been called has been warning society for decades about the need for improved ‘human rights’ particularly for disadvantaged people. Society hasn’t listened to these profoundly knowledgeable people has it? Is this the price we are now paying for not listening enough to them?

European legislators have clearly dictated to this, and previous governments what direction they must go regarding safeguarding and improving the ‘Human rights’ of subjects of a Constitutional Monarchy, sorry, citizens. We will have to answer to them if we get our response wrong. As long as these poor disadvantaged people are consulted, we can have another Parliamentary Enquiry, Public Enquiry, Report to the European Parliament, (call it what you like), then surely that will help to solve the problem. That, and extra funding, improved human rights, listening to their concerns, better housing, improved social care, increased social security benefits, respect for their views, softer Policing etc, etc to these deprived areas. Not much to ask is it.

Must go now, got to post messages of support to the blackberries/iphones/ipads of the disadvantaged/poor/helpless on twitter and facebook and I have to post my anti Government/Police protest letter to the Guardian and New Statesman.

A spade is a spade and scum are scum, political correctness has gone to far. There are other means available to people to demonstrate their anger other than murder and looting. Mike you seem a decent chap, organize a protest march for the unemployed, hopefully on a day that it is not raining and make sure that they have collected their giro's first don't want them deprived of the family inheritance.

Giro's? Just shows how long you've been away there, Neil (luckily for you, I might add)!

Still whatever payment they receive, it is still treated as an inheritance. I am in favour of having the benefits/housing removed if found guilty. To take it a step further it should be for all felons not just the looters.

Personally, I believe that once a person deliberately commits any criminal act, then s/he forfeits any claim(s) to be treated to State handouts ("benefits") of any kind (including so-called "Human Rights").

I also believe that capital crimes warrant capital punishment. Why not? After all, all the clues are there!

But all this tough talk that we are hearing at the moment is actually just so much BS. Very soon things will revert to "business as usual", effectively bribing the low-life to "be good", and not to cause too much trouble. Remember that many of the "rioters" are just kids anyway, and therefore outside of the Law in many respects.

And how is turfing council tenants out onto the street(s) going to encourage them to become law-abiding citizens (quite the opposite, I should imagine)?

If our government wants to really do something that will make a lasting difference, the first thing to address should be leaving the EU ... and thereby closing the door to the steady stream of Eastern Europeans taking the lower paid jobs. Otherwise, how can the chavs be "put to work" (when all such jobs are already filled)?

And (lastly) has anyone else noticed how quickly "justice" (or rather the English version of it) is being meted out to the "rioters" (which is all to the good), whilst other serious cases drag on for years. Don't forget that many erstwhile "senior people" with undoubted cases to answer still remain at large, with one notable example jetting around the world expecting people to cough up £ 1,000 (or so) a plate just to listen to his sanctimonious [censored]!

This e-petition has received the following response:

You can collectively call them what ever you like, and lowlife scum does seem to fit the bill. For defamation UK law requires first the information to be knowingly incorrect, second transmitted to a third party and thirdly the person to be clearly identified either by name or a nickname that can be traced back to the person. 1 out of 3 doesn't work.

Although there are some really good easily recognizable photos, which the unedited bits would stand up excellently in court. I think the picture Royally f*@%d sums things up excellently.

Although he was barely given a chance to speak by the other "experts" involved, historian Dr. David Starkey hit the nail on the head on BBC Newsnight the other evening.

He said that modern black music glamorises and promotes gang culture and violence, and that this has become fashionable amongst many white people as well. He said that the problem isn't skin colour. The problem is a particular type of black culture which has become fashionable amongst the young. The idols of this "culture" wear baggy jeans without belts, emulating prisoners in the US. It is a crime-based culture which has its own language, based on Jamaican slang. It is a culture which mocks education in favour of criminality. It is culture which refers to women as bitches and whores. It is a culture that is littered with words that would see me arrested if I were to use them. It is a loser culture, and like the dumb sheep they appear to be, many idiotic young people see it as "cool", idolising losers and criminals instead of looking up to civilised, hard-working and educated people.

It is but one of the many "benefits" that our "multicultural society" affords us! We don't see much in the way of "integration" ... but instead the various groups "tolerate" each other through filters of mutual suspicion. These are problems we have imported over the years. Those problems won't simply go away now. How wonderful! Let us celebrate our diversity!

Meanwhile, it is surely worthwhile pondering (especially on such a forum as this one) the part that technology has played in recent events, not only in the UK but in other parts of the world also.

Slightly off topic but strangely this has been heavily debated. Partly because it is suggested that baggy jeans in US prisons were a sign of homosexuality given that it wasn't possible to cottage in prison.

Alternative explanations have been offered, that in poorer families clothes were handed down so the baggier your jeans the bigger your brother. Also it has been suggested it was actually started in the skater/surfer community or that it was easier to conceal a weapon in baggy clothing.

Another explanation was that the wearer wanted to make sure that everyone realised that he hoped to look like a prat, and so remove any doubt as to whether or not he was in fact a prat!

The dude may also choose to reinforce this perception by wearing stupid looking headgear* that looks like the previous owner was one of the seven dwarfs (that's when not "wearing" the full "hoodie", of course - the preferred uniform when out rioting, swearing, shouting at passers-by, nicking stuff, dealing, using, generally being a [censored] nuisance, or [censored] against someone's front door).

Meanwhile, whilst it may indeed be difficult to "cottage" in prison, it is invariably possible to "shower" (as some of the more recent recruits will hopefully discover).

* Usually known as a "Slouchy Beanie", apparently.

THE RIOTERS PRAYER........Our father, who art in prison, my mum knows not his name, thy Riots come, read it in the sun, in Birmingham, as it is in London, give us this day our Welfare bread & forgive us our looting, as we're happy to loot those who defend stuff against us, lead us not into employment but deliver us free housing, for thine is the teles, the Burberry & the Barcardi, forever and ever.

I like Geoff was interested in Dr David Starkey's views (he was always thought provoking when on the BBC's Moral Maize), his thoughts are in my view fully justified by observing our modern multi cultural lowlife culture, just listen to the way they speak nowadays innit!

Regarding the low slung baggy jeans, it was my understanding that this first started after the US prisoners had their belts removed from them after initial arrest and detention, they were observed walking around the exercise yards etc with their arses hanging out. What a noble fashion statement for our wonderful deprived youths to emulate!

Meanwhile, a very strange and unusual thing happened this morning:- I found myself in agreement with former Prime Minister Tony Blair!

In connection with the recent "riots" in England, he has been reported as saying:-


(sounds like he agrees with Dr. Starkey, then) And that:-


(and the early 21st century, presumably)

Setting aside for one moment who (or what) is to blame for that sad state of affairs (or indeed what he did about it whilst in office), I agree with what he seems to be saying, in that the present "tough love" approach of the courts is simply a knee-jerk reaction by a bewildered and out of touch administration. In the long term it will achieve nothing.

Anyway, let's see what the results of these OTT convictions are once the sentencing and appeals processes have been exhausted!

Here's another slant on it all:-

Britain is not in terminal decline at all, but simply (and as usual) at the cutting edge!

Britain was the first Industrialised Nation, and now we are the first Post-Industrialised Nation. Once again we are at the forefront of the evolution of society.

As it was so many times in the past, so it remains today:- we are breaking new ground. We have reached the stage where the individual is more powerful (empowered by technology, the Media, and yes ... Human Rights) than the community at large. This makes many of our present laws irrelevant. In many cases the Old Rules (and Values) no longer apply. In fact the whole democratic system may now be well passed its sell-by date*.

So the question now becomes:- "What comes next, after democracy"?

Watch this space!

*And that's why "it had to happen"!

Meanwhile, perhaps others who, like me, continue to struggle with coming to terms with what's going on around them (and why life no longer holds the promise that it once did, especially for the young), might be interested in this piece of clear writing.


Yeah ... tell me about it.