THE BIG RETORT

After reading an evaluation into Kilburn Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) published in 2005, and now available online [Sean Baine January 2005] here at TheBigRetort one former board member couldn't resist stifling an almighty Told-Yeh-So. This regeneration Programme supported a number of projects over a period of six years, but after the big bucks were exhausted, what did they actually achieve? By 'they' one means those members of the Board charged with caring for the money that was filtered their way. And there was loads... The report’s author, Sean Baine (on whom more later), claims that ‘to ascertain this fully would require in depth evaluations of each project which was not possible within the scope of this evaluation’. Which is just another way of saying I was not commissioned to look. Or, rather, I was commissioned not to look. Not the only item of note left out of the Baine Re-evaluation – members of the Kilburn SRB (who funded the report) were accused of using pub...

Recently discovered that my blog "jpmorganreport.blogspot.com" was appearing on a Google search and flagging me as a "bloggers4labour" member. This was news to me as I have never promoted my political leanings in any post on my weblog. Andrew Regan, creator of "bloggers4labour", responded to my puzzlement by creating even more: "I check all blogs before submission and have definitely never seen yours before - either way, it's not in our database. It's possible that one of our 450+ bloggers has referred to you in the past: as we syndicate their posts, it's just possible that the name/URL of your blog has briefly appeared on our from page/recent posts page, but then hundreds/thousands of other blogs would be in the same boat." [A good point that needs further investigation surely.] speck Regan claimed that there was 'no evidence anyone is claiming you to be a Labour blogger, and if anyone is getting that impression, that's a ca...

Unknown White Male is an extraordinary film that allegedly follows a man in the hours and months of his amnesia as he turns his back on attempts to piece his shattered life together. However, as the remarkable story gained pace, it was quickly accompanied by doubt. Following the film’s release various statements were made regarding why medical treatment ceased. In a website posting the film’s executive producer claimed... “…Doug himself decided to stop seeing doctors as they couldn't offer him anything except contradictory speculation.” GQ Magazine asked why he was not still seeing doctors - apparently he had seen six – Bruce, who owns a Panamanian plantation, responded: ‘Mainly because I was (a student) under school insurance before. And now I’m not.’ (A statement that itself contradicts the ‘contradictory speculation’ claim above.) The filmmakers also claim that Coney Island Hospital was filling up - it was the 4th July holiday. Doctors we talking about sending Bruce "upstat...

John Paul Morgan -v- Transport for London ("the Authority") Tuesday, 19 th June, 2007 at 12.00pm DRIVERS BEWARE.... A Penalty charge notice issued by Transport for London ( Contravention code 31, Entering and stopping in a box junction when prohibited ) contains two pictures which allegedly show a vehicle stopped in the box - mine. In the 12 seconds it was allegedly there, the light from its headlights could have been to the moon and back nine times - but it was afternoon and they were off. So could this be why TfL has variously demanded fines somewhere between £50-£150? With little memory of events, I decided to revisit the scene. This time, just to make certain, I went on foot. After a few minutes I realised that I was not the only driver being legally mugged (no other word for it really) but one of many caught by a Transport for London's 'scam-cam'. Did you know that 95% of foreign vehicles are not pursued for a traffic offence? (The reason why many of them ...

There's a warning from police in Lewisham about a door to door scam that's already fooled several residents. A young woman knocks on doors and claims she's locked herself out and needs cash for a cab or a locksmith. Police say many people are falling for it because she's smartly dressed and sometimes even has children with her. Residents in Brockley, Hither Green and Ladywell have all parted with sums ranging from 20 to 100 pounds in cash. 06 November 2006 (time1068.com) THE CON ARTIST speck The young woman who stood on my neighbour’s doorstep claimed that she had been ‘locked out’. She desperately needed to get to her sister, a nurse, only then could she grab a spare set of keys and 'return the money later'. Or so she told my gullible neighbour. Although Mary (not her real name) did not recognise the woman she immediately empathised. She had just withdrawn some money from the bank, a £50 note, and the woman who apparently lived directly opposite said that this ...