Remote Democracy

Hay's dad brought over a new TV remote yesterday that he was having problems opening in order to insert some batteries. I managed to open it without much difficulty - he merely wasn't pressing hard enough on the battery compartment lid - and then inserted the batteries. Now I've never know a device that doesn't use an even number of batteries; 2, 4, 6, etc., but he gave me a pack of 5. Can't understand why batteries can come as a pack of 5. It can't be to get you to buy more of the same, as you could just as easily buy some more of a different manufacturer. Answers on a postcard, please.

We were watching a programme on TV the other night about Greek city states of the 5th century BC (the one where Boris was waxing lyrical about how the Greeks invited immigrants to their cities to increase their vibrancy, culture and wealth - how times change). The programme went on about how the ancient Greeks contributed to the democracy of their cities in almost every respect. It struck me that it would be a good idea in our culture to have a system of National Service, but rather than it being military, it's 2 years of public service.

Mind you, there won't be much of public service left if the Conservatives have their way. They seem intent on selling everything off to private enterprise, which ends up demanding huge subsidies, despite cutting the wages of their staff. It's strange how politicians want to eliminate the public services to cut taxes and shrink the state, but taxes are never actually cut, as the private companies that run the public services seem rather adept at siphoning money from the taxpayer, requiring even higher taxes than when the services were in public ownership - but that's a story for another day.

I haven't the vaguest idea who Aaron Brown is, by the way, but the image just links TV remotes with democracy.

Off up north today for No.1 Daughter's birthday party in Accrington. We've got our passports ready, as well as a phrasebook in the local dialect. No.1 and No.2 Sons are looking after the house in our absence. Not sure which part of the weekend I have more trepidation about.