Is this Newton Wards contribution to Poop Scoop Week?

In the past I have commented on irresponsible dog owners and I have published a couple of posters and poems on the subject. Recently I published a poster from C’llr Piper over in Abbey Ward re poop scoop week and I have raised this at a couple of local residents meetings where it as been brought to the attention of our councillors and indeed on this blog I challenged them to participate. To date I see no such inclination for any of them to do anything about it. In fact the Tory guy at one meeting had that smug smirk on his face which I interpreted to mean “what’s this nut case talking about now” yet all of them at some stage or other have conducted surveys where the problem as been identified. Well I’m doing my bit. We are still a poop free zone after three months so something is working. I find it strange that leadership from our elected representatives is so lacking on these key issues. But according to their election propaganda “they are working for me year round”

Hippy “super talented grandchild”

His words not mine. I had the privilege of looking after the little chap on Friday because he had been of school sick for a few days. He was back to his 100 words a minute chatter on pretty much anything you can think about. I asked him about putting some of the stuff he comes out with on the blog. The answer went something like “you know you should always give credits to who said what” “its plaga somethin if you don’t”. Plagiarism I explained was if you copied someone’s work without permission and didn’t give them credit. That’s it he said you should put my name to my quotes. I do son I assured him but I use your web nickname. I know he countered just call me Hippy super talented grandchild. Nothing like being modest is there? Thank you Hippy for a lovely day.

Are community forums useful?

Last night was our regular community tasking forum. These are organised by our town team. The attendance is usually poor. We have the police in the form of our neighbourhood sergeant and a PCSO, two or three councillors, a member of the town team and yesterday about twenty concerned residents. The format is that concerns are voiced, recorded, followed up and reported back to the next meeting. Two of our local councillors participated in the debate last night but a third sat at the side just taking notes. I bet that all the concerns appear in their next newsletter. I’d rather see them actually doing something but then I’m a bit old fashioned like that. It’s interesting though to watch the body language and to listen to the concerns. Some appear to be minor but to the complainant are major matters which are affecting their lives.
We have a uniquely designed mini traffic island at the bottom of our road. This as been the subject of many complaints over the years and is a regular at these meeting. Nothing ever gets done. Recently though a resident who does not live in our road was campaigning to have drivers who use this island inappropriately prosecuted. I’ve seen the local police use it incorrectly and I am one of the regular offenders so last night in a moment of pique I suggested the cops arrest me. At this juncture several other members also admitted to the offence. I’m not saying we are right but the problem is the island design not the users who are not behaving badly or irresponsibly. I do however think that the busy body who was making the fuss should mind her own business. Let’s campaign for improved safety conditions on this road and leave the police to do some proper policing.
I love some of the council “speak” which comes with the feed back sheet and almost always means “clear off we are not going to do anything about that” example from the last paragraph concerning our island:-
“This item is still ongoing; we will be investigating in due course.
No works have been agreed to and our findings may be that, apart from minor maintenance works, none need to be undertaken. However if we do identify a requirement to carry out modifications to the junction, these will be subject to suitable funding.
Therefore I can confirm that, at the present moment, there is no time scale for these works.”
As I said clear off etc.

What’s the difference between a geek and a nerd?

Thanks to Dictionary.com for the following definitions.
Geek,
a peculiar or otherwise dislikable person, esp. one who is perceived to be overly intellectual.
a computer expert or enthusiast (a term of pride as self-reference, but often considered offensive when used by outsiders.)
a carnival performer who performs sensationally morbid or disgusting acts, as biting off the head of a live chicken.

Nerd
a stupid, irritating, ineffectual, or unattractive person.
an intelligent but single-minded person obsessed with a nonsocial hobby or pursuit: a computer nerd.

Nurd
a foolish, inept, or unattractive person.
a person who is single-minded or accomplished in scientific or technical pursuits but is felt to be socially inept.

Seems to me there is not a lot of difference but they both suggest someone who is a social outsider. I raise this today because recently a couple of my friends have referred to themselves as geeks or nerds and I would not have put them in that category. Last night I was asked to chair one of our local neighbourhood meetings. Dog fouling was brought up because I’m not alone when it comes to this issue. When I mentioned it was Poop Scoop week at the end of June I was looked at with a great deal of incredulity. I then said “I’m a bit of a geek when it comes to info like that. Afterwards though I thought, no I’m not! this is just good community info which all our councillors should be helping with. When I thought about my other mates who had claimed to be geeks I have to disagree. We use the term far too easily. They’re not geeks just dedicated to their hobbies.

Ps “Sean the romantic geek” how about sending me the poem “You shaped hole in my heart”? I’d like to publish on this site.

Go carting for seniors?

Yesterday I went along with a group of seniors’ total age I suppose about 730yrs to Raceway in Oldbury for an afternoon’s racing. Before anyone gets excited and starts shouting you pensioners are always complaining about not having enough money, the afternoon was sponsored by a local news agency that are doing a story on older people living life to the full. The story I think will probably appear in one of the national newspapers in a little while. The race director and his team were excellent in getting us started, safety issues and such. We were a mixed bunch blokes and ladies with age ranges from 60 to 81. First sessions were warm ups and time trials. I knew that if I was to have chance in the race proper I needed to be at the front of the starting grid. When we lined up for the start I was in second position and raring to go. Newsagency wanted a lot of pictures so start was delayed but well worth the wait. Five laps of flat out racing and despite one crash I was awarded third place by race marshals although the leader board gave me in 5th.
We then had the usual celebrations with lots of pictures and of course the bottle of bubbly. The winner 60yrs old Dick could not get the cork out of the bottle and needed the help of the course mechanic. Eventually though we all got sprayed in bubbly including the photographer. If I’d been stopped on the way home I would have smelt like a brewery. As you get older the aches and pains of the day are an excepted part of the day but I needed two burley blokes and an act of parliament to get me out of the cart. We can get exercise on prescription, having fun on prescription sounds a better idea to me.

Dear Gordon 2

I hope I find you well.
There are just a couple of issues I want to draw your attention to today. It must be very difficult being PM with all that conflicting advice coming your way. On the subject of advice I was wondering who had been advising you on the use of Podcasts and You Tube because your podcast for the last local elections was awful. I’m such a geek I actually watched it. My friend was standing as a Labour candidate. If you do a You Tube search for your name it comes up with some less than complimentary sites and although your recent presentations have been a little better I think perhaps you should leave this kind of stuff to Cameron. I don’t want to watch him pretending to be washing up and pontificating about national politics.
My second point is nearer to home. I live in Sandwell in the West Midlands. The midland links motorway runs through our borough and at times we suffer some of the worst traffic snarl ups in the UK. The M6 toll road was designed to ease traffic flow on our bit of the M6 but because of high cost of using this road heavy goods vehicles rarely use the toll. With the current high cost of fuel and the waste of driver time I can’t see the economic sense of doing this. In Sandwell we have several neighbourhoods who have air pollution levels at the stage where they need attention. Some areas are known locally as the Asthma triangle. One of the reasons for this in my view is the tail backs in traffic at peak times. Would it be possible for the three local authorities concerned and central government to negotiate with the company running the M6 Toll to allow heavy goods vehicles to use the toll free at peak times and for all other vehicles to use it at reduced rates? This would have a series of value factors. It would reduce pollution in the Black Country, reduce fuel consumption hence helping to stabilise fuel prices and it would reduce journey times for everyone using our motorways.
On a lighter note, it must be very gratifying knowing that your home sec thinks you’re cool. Don’t you lot have fun at cabinet meetings.
Have a nice week
Yours very sincerely
Bob the Black Country Brummie

Poop Scoop Week

Over on the other side of Sandwell is Warley Woods. A regular contributor to this site Councillor Bob Piper sent me details of how they are going to publicise Poop Scoop Week. I intend to display the poster on my front hedge in the way I have with previous doggy poop posters. Thank you Bob for allowing me to use it. I can confirm that we are still a poop free zone. I hope our local councillors will support this event. So come on Dave, Joyce and Tony let’s have a bit of support with this one.