Christmas for some in the UK
 

No more severe than other countries in recent times but the timing is bad...if there is such a thing as a good time.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25502730

What's new? Country is going to pot.

Parts of the US are also getting clobbered, lately. I hope you and yours are not adversely affected...


<O>

It just keeps getting better...only 32,000 affected but that is 32,000 too many :-?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-25504977

There must be a grinch about.

Also known as the British government.

Bull dung...no money off the figures.

Another con job bought to you by the cons.

My next benefits payment is due on the 31st....about £40 for a fortnight :doh:

Don't mind the fact I contributed into the system for forty years :stare:

There is a similiar problem here in the US: Congress adjourned for the year without passing an extension of benefits for the long-term unemployed. The number of people being affected is 1.3 million. Here the main problem is a very small number of Republican (GOP) Far-Right "Tea Party" members of Congress, mainly in the House of Representatives, who are blocking and stalling any extension(s). The long-term unemployed are composed of those who, on average have been unable to find work for about a year. A lot of these are people who have, in recent years since the "Great Recession", found themselves in the "hard to hire" categories: older workers (over 50); workers without college degrees or professional certification(s); workers whose were employed in now 'dead' occupations due to automation, outsourcing,and other effects of 'downsizing' and 'restructuring'; and, a significantly large number of minorities, women, disabled, etc. There are a couple of bi-partisan plans being advanced to renew the extension(s), but there will be not chance for action until mid Junuary 2014 at the earliest. As of today, those 1.3 million affected will have their benefits terminated as of Friday, December 27. Not a very merry Christmas for them..


The toal official US unemployed figure stands at about 11 million. Not included in this number are those un employed who are not officially part of the data gathering process: persons not eligible for unemployment benefits, for some reason or other; those involved in labor disputes, those who have given up on finding employment; students, part-time workers, and the self-employed who are not able to find work. So, roughly, 12% of the 11 million are about to find themselves out of luck for the time being...

The galling part of this for the regular GOP members is the acts of the "Tea Party" faction is giving fuel to the Democrats to bash the GOP and threatening the GOP hold on the House of Representatives in the Congressional elections coming up in November 2014:


http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/...it-expiration/


http://www.theguardian.com/world/201...ration-economy


<O>

It's certainly been a tad windy and wet down south.

Compare Ryde tunnel on the Isle of Wight:

Normal:
http://www.semgonline.com/structures..._rydetun-1.jpg

Today:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BcPsa3sCYAAL730.jpg


Meanwhile elsewhere on the mainland:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BcQZCPyIMAAgi5x.jpg

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BcQSWkQIEAEAwn1.jpg

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BcNxjBBIIAELkvO.jpg

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BcPtsNJCYAA8rK-.jpg
Redhill Aero...errr....floatplanedrome....

Look at that train, not fit for the third world but fit for us.

England fourth world.:hmmm:

That is an excellent explanation of a subject regarding your countries unemployed that I previously had very little understanding of...but do now :cool:

:hmmm:

There's not many trains in any world that will do well after hitting a tree at 50mph...

We used to have trains that could smash into a nuclear container without a scratch, alright maybe some paint would come off and a few dents.


This country is so soft now it makes a wimpy burgur look hard.

Thanks ... I have recently come to appreciate any moments of lucidity I may have... :)


<O>