A number of local councils in Britain have banned their staff from using Latin words, because they say they might confuse people.

Several local authorities have ruled that phrases like “vice versa”, “pro rata”, and even “via” should not be used, in speech or in writing.

But the ban has prompted anger among some Latin scholars.

Professor Mary Beard of Cambridge University said it was the linguistic equivalent of ethnic cleansing.

Some local councils say using Latin is elitist and discriminatory, because some people might not understand it - particularly if English is not their first language.

(more here)

So it’s been a long long time since I’ve sat down to actually get around to writing a proper blog entry, I really need to be doing this more as quite frankly it’s a bit sad to have the best domain in the world and not use it to it’s full potential of internet evils.

We all know the FSG Rumour Mill has kept on top of my dramatic life and just about anything that has anything to do with anything. First of all my Craig situation, I love the kid but I can’t keep going with it, it’s a bitch and it hurts. He’s lovely, he’s ace but he’s not going to be my bizzatch ever and that makes the baby jesus cry. But we live, we move on and kill those in our paths.

The other situation that has properly blown up is my Matt and that well kicked off on my birthday, somehow, I’m sure just about anybody in the rumour mill knows what’s going on but I’m keeping my trap shut about it. Don’t get me wrong Claire was like “you’re the first person to be on top of all that” and she isn’ wrong, with our Carrie off having mini-me the mill is going a bit dry, so the vicious bitch over here is spreadin’ and stirin’ to make up for it. But that business, is nobody’s business and it’ll stay that way. Probably because I love Matt in that not so “I want down your Y fronts” way, in fact if it wasn’t for that cracking ass of his I think I’d like him to be family. But I’m afraid that’s an ass that won’t stop, so we can’t be doing the genetic thing and staring at it when it comes in to view.

During the week various things happened, really I should state that I need internets at work to give you the LIVE ACTION NEWS, but everytime I do I get told “OK YEAH” and it goes LOL ACCESS DENIED on me. But most memorable are:

Saturday Morning: One of our clients who have an accident rating HIGHER than the amount of vehicles they own, one of their drivers called in to say his NSF window was smashed in. This is not an issue, hey, I can even do this shit in my sleep, except he’s in France. No problem I think, I’ll just call Autoglass, they’ll do me some glass. Wrong. We had to call CARGLASS. Oh the fun we had.

The conversation went:
Me: Bonjour, parlez-vous l’anglais?
Her: Desole, je ne comprehendre pas l’anglais.
Me: Uh, Does anybody parlez-vous l’anglais?
Her: Non, Une moment, attendre a’ligne…..

Then I got passed to some woman who wanted to arrange an intervention…. oh well.

We got somebody else involved and that went equally as bad with CARGLASS, but finally our MD who although Italian and increadibly scary (it’s the mafia connections I’m sure) speaks fluent French. Even she can’t get Carglass to understand that we want GLASS IN TO CAR SO DRIVER VROOM VROOM TO ENGLAND. Idiots. So FAIL.

Saturday Afternoon: Me Tabs and Lisa went in the part bs to see Doomsday. INFO: BEST FILLUM EVAR. See it or die.

Sunday: Helped Vick move her stuff and a tellly. Her family are scary people (not the mafia connections). It was surreal. But at least I’m Vicky’s 3rd boyfriend. Although our sex life is non-existant and I’m horrid to her (but she loves it).

Anyways since the Fosters (or four cans I’ve just had is now setting in I shall go. See you my beetches.

… you bastards have to listen to Yeast Radio.  Now.  Or I kill you in face with knife.

Powered by ScribeFire.

I am changing my AIM from M4dSquirrels to KevinCostelloe PLZ BE AWARE K.

Powered by ScribeFire.

Ben Stirland died in January

The parents of a County Durham schoolboy, who choked to death on a
plastic pen top, are stepping up their campaign to get them banned.

Ben Stirland, 13, from Consett, died in January, after swallowing the pen top while doing homework.

His parents vowed to get the tops banned after they said
one acted “like a fish hook” when it became lodged in the teenager’s
throat.

A charity ball on Saturday aims to highlight their campaign.

The youngster’s school, Moorside Community Technology College, banned plastic pen tops after the tragedy.

But his parents, Nathalie and David Hodgson, want a wider ban.

‘Biggest concern’

They have organised a charity ball to highlight their
campaign and to raise cash for Newcastle General Hospital, where Ben
was treated for two days before he died.

Mrs Hodgson, 38, said: “Ben was very outgoing and popular at school and just loved having a laugh.

“What Ben was doing that day, chewing his pen, is what thousands of people do every day.

“Our initial and main aim is to get the pen lids banned.

“Our biggest concern is that the safety air hole and the
clip, which you clip on to your jumper, acted almost like a fish hook
and was difficult to remove from his throat.”

Since Ben’s death the family have approached various
organisations, including the British Standards Institute and the
Writing Instruments Association, in an effort to persuade manufacturers
to stop producing pens with removable plastic tops.