Britalian

The UK government is planning a massive database containing the records of all phone and email traffic to and from the UK, with the option to outsource its creation and maintenance being considered.

So much intrusion, inconvenience and restriction is done in the name of “security”, including the decision by US auto executives to travel to Washington by private jets. It is a get out clause that is washed across attempts to intrude into our lives by governments and their agencies in the belief that no further questions will be asked after the security card has been played.

It seems the government has learned nothing from the several incidents where governmental departments and their third party suppliers have misplaced or lost private data, even sending CDs containing data by regular mail. Storing the details of pretty much every piece of communication you have had with anyone would be impossible to manage securely.

Why would the government be so happy to put such data in the hands of agency staff, always open to being bought by criminals looking for sensitive information in phone calls and emails? Because it will never impact the people who make the decisions. They think it is fine to expose the voters to the risk of having their data sold or lost but you can guarantee that the politicians will work some immunity for themselves.

I have absolutely nothing against Chris Hoy. He is a great sportsman and the sort of person you would hold up as a genuine role model.

He has been knighted in the UK New Year honours, a decision I cannot make any sense of at all.

The team GB cyclists did very well in the Beijing Olympics after receiving seriously increased funding and although Chris Hoy won three gold medals, how can the government justify making him a Knight?

Sir Alex Ferguson got a knighthood after winning a Champions League yet Bob Paisley died with only an OBE to his name despite winning three European Cups.

The UK honours system is now a joke. Elton John, Tom Jones and Terry Wogan have all received knighthoods for a range of wonderful achievements ranging from drug abuse to laughing at foreign musicians so perhaps Hoy should be a bit embarrassed by his award.

The culture of wanting something for nothing and creating celebrity and fame for people who have done nothing or have no talent is underlined when knighthoods are handed out to people whose achievements cannot be considered to be extraordinary. Winning three Olympic golds is certainly not a simple task but it is certainly made easier when your training is fully funded and you are paid to dedicate your entire life to preparing for it.

Fair play to Chris Hoy for his sporting achievements but making him a Knight is ridiculous.

Angry about mushrooms being added to your pizza? Peeved that shop workers won’t let your Priest ass use the staff toilets in a shop?

If either of these applies to you - and you are an idiot - then you can simply dial the UK emergency services to get some justice.

A BBC report shows some of the reasons that have been given for calling the emergency services. One person also called because they could not get through to vote on a reality TV show.

The person who called the police after being denied access to a staff toilet was a priest. A priest. So what was his angle? That as a priest he is not a normal person and should have access to any toilet he wishes to use?

My only hope is that these people actually did get a knock on the door from the police, to explain what idiots they are and how their unbelievable stupidity could have cost lives. Their names should be publicised rather than being referred to with anonymity.

The BBC reports that shoes were thrown at George W Bush by an Iraqi reporter on Bush’s farewell visit to Iraq.

The guy managed to get both shoes lobbed at the President, who dodged them expertly without the help of his Secret Service suits.

Throwing shoes, must be an Iraqi thing.