Obituary (NB)

[Stemar]

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend by the name of Common
Sense, who has been with us for many years.

No one knows for sure how old he was since his birth records were long ago
lost in bureaucratic red tape.

He will be remembered as having cultivated such value lessons as knowing
when to come in out of the rain, why the early bird gets the worm and that
life isn't always fair.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more
than you earn) and reliable parenting strategies (adults, not kids, are in
charge).

His health began to rapidly deteriorate when well intentioned but
overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a six-year-old boy
charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended
from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for
reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent
to administer aspirin to a student; but, could not inform the parents when
a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Finally, Common Sense lost the will to live as the Ten Commandments became
contraband; churches became businesses; and criminals received better
treatment than their victims.

Common Sense finally gave up the ghost after a woman failed to realise that
a steaming cup of coffee was hot, she spilled a bit in her lap, and was
awarded a huge settlement!

Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust, his
wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason. He is
survived by two stepbrothers; My Rights and Ima Whiner.

Not many attended his funeral because so few realised he was gone.
If you still know him pass this on, if not join the majority and do
nothing.


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[KevB]

So true it\'s scary!!!

nm

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[Dave_Snelson]

I knew common sense well. Well enough to inform you that just before he died, he changed his name to Rare Sense - because he finally realised that Sense was not at all common any more.

By the way - the early bird may get the worm, but its always the second mouse that gets the cheese...

<hr width=100% size=1>Madoc Yacht Club
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.madocyachtclub.co.uk>http://www.madocyachtclub.co.uk</A>

 

[steve_cronin]

Yes but.....

if you don't "go with the flow" you're labelled a "grumpy old man"

Steve Cronin



<hr width=100% size=1>The above is, like any other post here, only a personal opinion

 

[Magic_Sailor]

What an excellently well put post.

Question - is it possible for Common Sense to do a Lazarus?

What are we going to do about it?

Magic

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://practical-business.co.uk>Click for website!</A>

 

[halcyon]

Re: Yes but.....

Yes but is "grumpy old man" better than a lemming ??


Brian

ps is the king wearing his magic suit at the funeral.


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[Beagle]

The early bird just proofs that the worm should have stayed in bed....

<hr width=100% size=1>Climate is what you expect, weather is what you get

 

[Jools_of_Top_Cat]

Now days the early bird gets there first and writes a risk assessment and a bunch of regulations to protect all the other birds in their attempts to catch the worm.

Then another bird arrives and calls himself a consultant and changes the way all the other birds look, gets them to work as teams but quickly realises that the worm is a hindrance to the new company mission statement so dispenses of all the worms but modernises the worm catching techniques and now each bird has a remote PC connected to a whizz bang computer system and each now does not catch worms and works to support the single bird who arrived late to catch the worm.

The consultant bird now shows off his achievements to all the other birds in the area and they all start looking at his changes and go through the same processes of team work, training. Then moving all the birds into support roles.

This piece of grassland now has one bird looking for worms which have all left to find other grasslands and 9000 support birds writing pages and pages of data and pretty graphs showing month by month improvements in worm catching, even though a worm has not been seen since the consultant bird arrived.

The consultant bird, well, after receiving all the profits and massive share options to reward his obvious successes in the worm catching business has bought his own plot of grassland in the country where he can catch his own worms and live a self sufficient life style away from the fast moving stress of the industrialised worm catching he left behind.

Do I sound bitter !

<hr width=100% size=1>Julian

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.topcatsail.co.uk>

</A>

 

[claudio]

Julian,

Spot on, that's British industry today (LOL)

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://shop.yachtronics.co.uk>http://shop.yachtronics.co.uk</A>

 

[misterg]

Re: If I was to concede defeat...(NB)

...How does one make the transition from "Receiver Of Grief" to "Well heeled Consultant"?

As a recipient of changes to: Asbestos regs, COMAH regs, CLAW regs, Waste regs, Electricity at work regs, DSEAR, Data protection, Employment law, DDA, Oil Storage regs, CCL, EUETS, Contaminated Land, Machinery Directive - all buttons must be red (even start!); 3 phase wiring will shortly be shares of brown & grey (that's just the last 12 months), and I'm on first name terms with the Factory Inspector, I want OUT!!!

It beats me how the UK manages to read far more into EU directives than anyone else. The culprit seems to be the word "reasonable". In any other EU country, it is reasonable to take kids out for a bit of an adventure. In the UK, it isn't reasonable to do so unless there is no forseeable posssibility of harm. Everything relies on case law, and anyone who bucks the trends (as I feel I do) is putting their neck on the block.

The civil courts are out of step with public opinion, but there is no mechanism within the (unwritten) constitution of the UK to correct this, so just expect an ever tightening spiral of what might be judged "reasonable"

Appologies to everyone, but I needed that !

Andy

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[Dave_Snelson]

That is just excellent - and so true!

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[robp]

Re: If I was to concede defeat...(NB)

No apology necessary, you're absolutely right! Plus, the accountability stops with you. The higher up the legislation chain, the less accountability. Multi coated Teflon government.

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[halcyon]

Re: If I was to concede defeat...(NB)

When / if you find out can you let me know.

But it's not a new thing, back in the 70's when I was designing trailer undergear, they bought out EEC ( when did they sneak in EU ??? ) braking directives. In Germany they tested the damper fitted to the coupling, your choice, allowed you to supply best spec. In the UK you had to supply 6, and they picked the worse one, on the grounds that all production would be equal to or better tested unit. We could have couplings passed in Germany, and the same coupling fail in the UK. Brake test was to be at 60 kph (?), UK installed a radar speed monitoring system and two way radio so that the test would not be 59.5 or 60.5 but 60. In Holland the man from the ministry turned up in a old Unimog, accellerated down the industrial estate road to around 20 kph, braked, one wheel locked, and he gave you a certificate.

We increase red diesel to reduce usage and thus polution and global warming, or part of the story goes / or justification. China has underground coal fires, the polution they generate each year is greater than the polution from all US motor vehicles, but we worry about pleasure boats.

Odd country we live now.

Brian

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[steve_cronin]

Re: Yes but.....

Came back from Corfu on Saturday morning and was probably the oldest person on the plane!. A a couple of very good examples of "Lemming" behaviour were apparent when we arrived at Gatwick (UGH!!). To start with just about 40% 0f the young people on that plane around 40% carried portable stereos of very similar design. They all went up the left of two escalators leaving my wife and myself (plus a few other free thinkers!) unimpaired use of the right one. This bare bellied throng (NO not us - the teenies) then all proceeded to follow the leader? to baggage claim #1 and wait there. The luggage eventually came to #3.

So is Lemmingism that unpopular? I personally think that a ,ot of people draw comfort from not having to think for themselves

Steve Cronin



<hr width=100% size=1>The above is, like any other post here, only a personal opinion

 

[KevB]

Re: Yes but.....

"I personally think that a lot of people draw comfort from not having to think for themselves"

Now your getting it to the realms of religion!! /forums/images/icons/frown.gif


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[steve_cronin]

OK...

That's something else that worries me about impending legislation.

Will this new anti religious hatred incitement bill outlaw even criticising the beliefs of religoius groups?

Steve Cronin



<hr width=100% size=1>The above is, like any other post here, only a personal opinion

 

[KevB]

Blind faith.....

Unfortunately many of the "extremists" sections of religion prosper because they offer something better in the "after life" to those who do not have the courage/drive/intelligence to make something of themselves in this life. Choosing to follow some religions is an easy option, you only have to do as you are told to get rewards in the future!! Blind faith......./forums/images/icons/crazy.gif


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[graham]

Common sense is not that common these days.

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[Bergman]

Re: If I was to concede defeat...(NB)

As a direct answer to your question you must first of all stop making things.

This is completely irresponsible and should not be taking place in this day and age.

I mean

Someone may drop it on their foot or hit someone on the head with it, or have almost any sort of accident. And it would be all your fault for not making absolutely certain they could'nt.

What you must do is establish a multi disciplinary, multi cultural team to analyse the process and then establish a benchmark against best practice. Next you may re-engineer and refine the process.

By this time you and everyone else will have forgotten or lost interest in what it is you are doing so you simly start again at the begining- having agreed suitable compensation for your wasted time and new upgraded remuneration package for what it is you are going to do Take great care not to clarify what that actual is - it will only confuse the issue which is not what you want - yet. That comes in stage 3.

With care and a little ingenuity this technique will keep you gainfully and profitably employed for a working lifetime with no risks no liabilities.

If asked point blank what it is you do take a short intake of breath and mutter things like confidentiallity, national interest, discretion er hum ah. Add a knowing smile and move on.

My invoice is in the post



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[halcyon]

Re: If I was to concede defeat...(NB)

Problem is that it only works for the public sector, the pivate sector need a extra bit called profit somewere in the formula.

Brian

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