TOO MANY BRITISH AUTOMATIC KNIGHTHOODS !!!

Whoever has the duty to advise the Queen on the bestowal of "Knighthoods" must revise the conditions being used to determine who merits such an honour !!!

A Knighthood was and should remain to be an honour gained by merit !!!  It is not supposed to be "a perk", an incidental benefit due because of someone's regular employment !!!

There are all too many recent instances when candidates have qualified and then became "Knights" and then  failed in their duties. Knights should be an example and inspire all those around them and to Society !!! 
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EU HORSEMEAT SPECIALISTS WILL CREATE NEW RULES !!!

All was well until the public discovered that certain beef products in reality also contained Horsemeat ! 

Suddenly this became an international crisis, and suddenly "experts" from somewhere in the EU are going to revise the rules !!!  Suddenly another EU Directive is in the making !!! Politicians are involved !!!

The "Horsemeat Crisis" is breeding even more problems.   Is the real question not "What went wrong?"  From what can be understood it seems that along the line someone  sold Horsemeat and described it as Beef.

In simple English, if this is true, this is a Fraud !!!  Normal commercial laws will recognise and punish situations like this anywhere in Europe, Worldwide in fact !!!

Many Directors of companies concerned in the "chain of events", are squealing that they have been deluded.  It is true that the "chain of events" is complicated and very long.  However, in the "chain of events" should Company Directors not apply tests of "due diligence" to ensure that what their companies ordered corresponds with what was in fact delivered ? 

The punishment for Fraud is often a term in prison.  When Directors do not do their job, Shareholders decide their fate !  Shareholders suffer the costs of mismangement !

Does the Horsemeat Scandal therefore really merit another "Directive" ?
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BERLUSCONI WANTS TO BE RE-ELECTED !!!

Berlusconi, now aged 75, after more than 20 years in Politics, in Italy as well as in the EU, is again a candidate  at the coming General Elections in Italy on February 24-25 !

Will Berlusconi win his seat, become again a leader in Italy, form a coalition and represent Italy in EU negotiations ?  That seems to be the his aim !!!

The Press in Italy a few weeks ago gave an indication of the mood of electors.  "Basta, Basta", or "Enough is Enough !"

He has not enhanced the reputations of Italian Politicians or of Italians either at home or abroad, even as tourists !!!   His legal problems in Italy will be stayed  as long as he has his immunity from prosecution because he is a politician !!! 
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AT LAST UNO PROPOSES A "PEACE KEEPING FORCE" FOR MALI !!!

UNO has at last proposed to intervene in the Conflicts in Mali, which France has fought, with no little success, and no help, from the outside world, not to say UNO !!!

The "War" against Al Quaida Terrorists in Mali is far from finished.  There are still many Terrorists standing, hiding in the dunes of the Sahara, ready to plot and lay traps to destroy their enemy, namely France, whenever possible.  Local residents know this and live in fear !!!

A UNO peacekeeping force should be respected !!!  Will Terrorists respect such a force ?

Will the UNO peacekeeping force be situated in Mali, or in surrounding countries ?

Will the UNO forces be deployed in key points of the Sahara Desert where Al Quaida can be expected to be entrenched ?

At the moment FRANCE decides and acts !  UNO must be very positive, and quickly, if it really wants to be of any help at all !!!
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THE POPE BENOIT XVI "RETIRES !!!

The "Catholic Pope" Benoit XVI, at the age of 85 has decided that after nearly 8 years in office he feels he should retire !!!

He has realised that a younger successor would perhaps be more apt to ensure the future of the Catholic Church.

There are few in this World, in particular old Dictators or Despots, Senators and Politicians, who would have the same "Courage" as that of Benoit XVI !!! 

The name of Benoit XVI will go down in Catholic history as an example to his successors. 

But now the election fight for the next "Pope" will begin in earnest !!!  And all the pretenders are real "Politic Polititions" !!!  The infighting will be real and in public from now on !!!
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LE PAPE BENOIT XVI DEMISSIONNE!

Fait rarissime au Vatican, le Pape vient d'annoncer qu'il démissionne à compter du 28 février prochain.

Saluons cette décision lucide et courageuse à une époque où les dirigeants politiques n'ont pas cette sagesse et s'accrochent à leurs fonctions alors qu'il est évident qu'ils n'en ont plus les capacités physiques ou intellectuelles.

DML 

HORSEMEAT SCANDAL: DIRECTORS KNEW NOTHING ?

The "Horsemeat in Beefburgers" scandal has hit the headlines and one sees Directors of companies all over the EU scurrying to avoid accusations of guilt.

The whole situation is reminiscent of the News of the World phone hacking scandal which was also ferociously denied.  The newspaper was later liquidated.

First of all, it is quite clear that to eat Horsemeat is not dangerous.  There are more than one thousand salespoints for Horsemeat in France with faithful customers, like my son, who enjoy eating Horsemeat !

The real problem is that Beefburgers contained Horsemeat and this was not mentioned on the labelling of the products concerned !  Some customers have definite personal and/or religious reasons for not wanting to eat Horsemeat. Jews refuse to eat porc. 

The next real problem is: "Who is responsible for this to the ultimate customer or consumer ?"  Is this not the ultimate supplier if he is responsible for the ultimate wrapping and who sells it to the shop ?  It cannot be the shopkeeper who is responsible for the labelling of packed products he resells !!! 

On the other hand if "private lable companies" impose, a description on wrappings, one can suppose that they did this fully knowing that the content of the product described was correct.

If companies buy food or goods to resell, are they not responsible for "quality controls" ?  Should they not check what they buy?  If the goods are not up to standard, do they not return them, or sue the producer ?

The real scandal is that efficient checks were not made.  Only the cost of the goods invoiced was really checked !!!  A good profit was made but Directors did not ensure that the trade description of what they were selling was right !!!  Did they do their job ?  That is the real problem !!!

They did get their bonus !!!  But are their Shareholders now really satisfied ? 
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