Curious Irony

A Curious Irony ~as a computer virus affects hospitals

The Royal London Hospital is among the three hit by the computer bug 

Three London hospitals have been forced to shut down their entire computer systems for at least 24 hours after being hit by a virus.

St Bartholomew's (Barts) in the City, the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel and The London Chest Hospital in Bethnal Green are affected. A spokesman said well-rehearsed emergency procedures were in place. Theatres and outpatient departments had remained operational, and patients with appointments were still being seen. The spokesman said walk-in patients were being accepted at accident and emergency, and processed using manual back-up systems. But ambulances were being diverted to neighbouring hospitals to ensure that seriously ill patients did not suffer as a result of the slower manual systems being used. The patient transport system used by elderly or disabled patients to attend routine appointments has also been disrupted. The spokesman said the virus was "not malicious", and the infection was "self-contained".

Lavatory Humour

Whilst in Amsterdam, at the Photography Museum, I was forced to ask myself whether or not I should emerge from this loo to join the rest of the party.

Finally, I took the plunge, as it were, and did.

Secret of Political Success

I read today, as a teaser to a Times magazine article that is to appear on Saturday, that the departing prime-minister, Tony Blair had a pair of hand-made, brogue shoes. He wore these, to every parliamentary question time, since 1997.
No harm in that I guess, good to know that these Church's shoes lasted so well and had only to be resoled once in all that time.

What is slightly disturbing is that the leader of our country is on record as declaring them to be his "lucky" shoes.
Forget statesmanship, forget informed wise leadership ~ what we seem to rely upon is a pair of "lucky" shoes.




Tonight at work in the Criterion restaurant, I was chatting to some American tourists who volunteered that they not angry with George Bush, because you cannot be angry with someone who is so palpably stupid and lacking in any brain. Perhaps, he too, would benefit from lucky footwear!

Sea View?

I guess if mud and gravel aren't your forte then facing away from the sea and the sailing dingy is a reasonable alternative; in which case I cannot help but wonder why they bother going to the beach at all!

I am reminded of those day-trippers who arrive at the seaside car-park and then set up their picnic table adjacent to the boot of their car. I guess they can keep an eye on the car whilst they eat. It sort of defeats the object of a 'day out' somehow.

(Photo: Whitstable, Kent. May 2007 David Weeks)

OBITUARY

MR. COMMON SENSE

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Mr. Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knew 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 valuable lessons as:
knowing when to come in out of the rain; why the early bird gets the worm; appreciating that Life isn't always fair; and accepting that Maybe it was my fault.

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

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned, but overbearing, regulations were set in place: Reports of a 6 year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teenager suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student.

His condition worsened and Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.

It declined even further when schools were required to get Parental consent to administer Paracetemol, Sun lotion or a Band-aid to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

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 took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge financial 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 his 3 stepbrothers; I Know My Rights, Someone Else Is To Blame, and I'm A Victim.

His funeral had few mourners because his passing largely went un-noticed.


Original by Allen Jesson
See his Blog: thoughts and musings

Vindicated?

So at last, it seems, that those theatrically juvenile members of the public, who previously complained , have at last recognized that an actor is person playing a part in a play, not a 'character' from a film.

The Daily Mail on their web site (click the link) has a number of the audience, who attended a preview, admitting, at last, that this actor, Daniel Radcliffe, is a professional who is doing a good job in a magnificent and important play.

Good luck to him!