Saturday, 12 October 2013

Pretend coppers, America found and all on a dull day



12 October 2013

What a miserable day it is here in Dorktown today.  We woke to rain which finally cleared up around 10.30.  Now it's just cold, dark and cloudy.  Luckily we were not planning on going out so we're not actually missing anything.  The photo mags keep saying that there's still photo opportunities in such weather, and idea I agree with.  However, able bodied snappers will coup with it a heck of a lot better than us disabled snappers.  It's cold enough riding a scooter as it is without stopping every so often to take photos.  Anyway - we have Kile with us right now and he's enjoying play on the Wii with Jan. 

Police authorities all over the country claim that the use of Pretend Coppers, PCSOs are not policing on the cheap.  Is that right now?  Well, I wonder.  West Midlands Police seems to be short of coppers since they have forced so many to retire early.  The obvious answer to that is to take those officer back or at least recruit more younger people to replace them.  But hang on; if they take the retired officers back, was there really a need to force them out in the first place.  And will be they be open to charges of ageism if they recruited younger people. 

However, they have decided to recruit 50 PCSOs instead!  Of course that will be cheaper won't it?  They've had a bit of shock though I think.  Over 1,000 applications for the 50 offered posts.  They may see this as a success but why has it come to this?  Perhaps it's down to the £21K starting wage (https://www.west-midlands.police.uk/wmprrecruit/pcso_powers.asp - but why don't they state the rate for new police officers I wonder - https://www.west-midlands.police.uk/wmprrecruit/po_benefits.asp ); or maybe because there is such a shortage of employment possibilities in the West Midlands that the applicants are willing to do anything to find work?  Whatever, it still looks like policing on the cheap to me!

Of course there is no Dorktown News today seeing as it's Saturday, so we have to make do with the Dorktown Telegraph instead.  As usual there is On This Day column and it was on this in 1492 that Christopher Columbus saw land for the first time while looking for another route to the Orient.  He named that land San Salvador and now we know the whole area as the Americas.  Should we be thankful to Chris?  That's debatable I suppose and depends on ones view point on the masters of the area, the United States.  Oh yes - Angela Ripon is 69 today.

Today's photo then ... 

A kids play area in the shape of an old sailing ship.

And today's words of wisdom form the Sage ...

 An elderly Italian man who lived on the outskirts of Rimini ,Italy, went to the local church for confession. When the priest slid open the panel in the confessional, the man said: Father, during World War II, a beautiful Jewish woman from our neighbourhood knocked urgently on my door and asked me to hide her from the Nazis. So I hid her in my attic. The priest replied: “That was a wonderful thing you did, and you have no need to confess that.” “There is more to tell, Father. She started to repay me with sexual favours. This happened several times a week, and sometimes twice on Sunday". The priest said, “That was a long time ago and by doing what you did, you placed the two of you in great danger, but two people under those circumstances can easily succumb to the weakness of the flesh. However, if you are truly sorry for your actions, you are indeed forgiven.” Thank you, Father. That's a great load off my mind. I do have one more question. And what is that?” asked the priest. Should I tell her the war is over?”         

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