Blue Moon

Another First for Thanet. A sunny Half Term weekend, It was great to see people in my local shop buying their Bar-b-que makings and the chemist selling loads of factor 40 sun cream. Has summer finally arrived, or is it just wishful thinking.

ITN Pension Fund

It is becoming more likely that ITN may come to the end, as its pension scheme has a deficit of £39,900,000.

The producer of the much loved News at Ten has turnover of £105.4 million, but makes a pre tax profit of just £4 million.

The whole pension issue is one that is going to need some nifty footwork by government in these challanging financial times

Local Soft Drink puts fizz in Microsoft

How many people quench their thirst with the orangy looking drink, produced in East Kent, called 'BING'?

It seems that Microsoft has pinched the name for its new (well, replacement) Search Engine. It is really an attempt to grab a bigger share of the searches carried out on the net.

Perhaps its time for Silver Spring to take on the might of Microsoft in the courts?

Google takes 64.2% Yahoo 20.4% and Microsoft 8.2% at present

Marx and Sparks (apologies to the IOTG)

Crikey, It appears that the 'Fire of the Gods' has been unleashed upon poor old Mark Nottingham's house. Unlucky or what? Especially as us poor mortals only know that he can be contacted C/o the Labour office in Newington Road.

Seems that he may have had a premonition though, as he left the Councils AGM on the Thursday early, perhaps to avoid the celestial being's SAT NAV.

Sri Lanka

Interesting piece in the Times today, about the fate of nearly 250,000 civilians involved in the final few days of the recent conflict in what was Ceylon. Will we be looking at more 'war crime' trials in a few years?

Bristow Helicoptors

Sad to see the obituary of Alan Bristow, founder of Bristow Helicopters, who provided Search and Rescue helicopter cover at Manston from 1971 to 1974.

Although his attitude toward industrial relations was a little harsh, his company was well liked in Thanet.

land locked Russians

Sad to see that the crew of a Russian ship are stuck in Bristol are being held until the debts incurred by its owners are paid. What have the crew got to do with it? Let them Go!

On Yer Bike (or off yer bike)

The post office are giving all their bikes away to third world countries in an attempt to improve delivery times.

Perhaps it is time they were privatised, as it seems they are not very green at the moment?

Councillors are Human too (well nearly)

Just to prove the above statement I would like to apologise wholeheartedly for not attending todays site visit of the Planning committee. No excuse except for the fact that I FORGOT!. Thanks to my good friend Steve Ward for chairing the meeting. On planning there seems to be a welcome truce when it comes to politics.

Mexican/Swine/Flu

So we are all going to be delivered a leaflet telling us how to deal with this nasty virus! Shame its going to be in English only. How the he** do we tell the ethnic,non english speaking, minorities the information???? . I would expected better of an 'Inclusive' administration.