The Tax Payers’ Alliance (TPA) has begun an interesting campaign touring a number of cities and towns across the UK to publicise issues about UK national debt and Government spending.
In a bid to get the public to realise what debt the country is in as a visible figure and realise what this means for their future tax bill and economy, the TPA are travelling around with a ‘debt clock’ mounted onto a lorry.
The campaign, known as “Wake up to the National Debt”, is designed in traditional alarm clock styling and suggests that people need to realise what debt the politicians are getting us into before it is too late.
The figures are scary; the TPA claims that national debt increases by a whopping £5,169 per second meaning £446,575,342 per day. To put this into context, it cost £789 million to build the Millennium Dome, a building which invites constant criticism for its perceived unnecessary expenditure. This is the equivalent to only 1 day, 18 hours and 24 minutes of the national debt’s increase.
The custom-built clock is one metre high and 7 metres long and its 32 inch red LED display counts up the national debt akin to a ticking time bomb, using clever imagery and colour to strike fear into viewer’s hearts.
The campaign is running from Monday 12th April until Monday 26th April 2010 and in that time will cover 1,300 miles in an effort to get the public to open their eyes to debt.
Visit the debt clock website to see when the clock is in a town near you and see for yourself how the number grows…
Modern movements in the Fashion realm are transcending previous boundaries. A style where rage is literally ’ The Rage’. By combining derelict with tribal, designers are creating an Armageddon image to suit the chaotic living experience of today, reflecting the realities of global warming, our changing climate and the social consequences of the collapse of capitalism fuelling our loss of faith in politicians and feelings of disenfranchisement.
Armageddon style is a blend of glam and grunge, providing an outlet for individual customisation based along personal perception and judgment of the times we live in. A style without rule or rhyme, Armageddon post-apocalyptic style builds a stage for the truly creative to explore their style and own fashion agenda.
Post-apocalyptic fashion portrays a hint of the new power woman, using statement black and metallic coupled with a signature cape combines a powerful look with a powerful choice: the power to choose who you are and what your clothing shows you represent. Opportunities for further individual statement are provided by the vast and dynamic accessories available. From leather studded bangles to spiked metal earrings, fashion conscious individuals can fully decorate their outfits suitable for outfits of jeans, t-shirt and jacket right through to elegant evening dress.
Fashion designers picking up on this trend include Christopher Kane who has recently released a new range of accessories and clothing for Topshop. Kane’s collection draws on the glamour of grunge, interspersing power black with strong images and metal.
A reflection of the times, grunge meets glamour portrays a mirror of the fashion during the 1930s Great Depression. Through clever use of glamorous items such as the re-invention of the top hat, designers are reconstituting imagery of the time thus engineering the match of our current financial climate today with that of the 1930s. A comment on the cyclical boom and bust of capitalist greed, Armageddon fashion links the two through a modern day twist on thirties fashion.
Further opportunity for comment is given through the continued 1980s revival theme witnessed throughout this trend. With mention given to the seminal 1980s Mad Max film, evidence of a Tina Turner-esque image is conjured through the use of metal, interesting material cuts and bizarre pairing of individual items to create outfits designed to sit far apart from the norm. Inspired by 1980s rebellion mindset, Armageddon design permits wearers to rebel through the medium of fashion, making their comment on lifestyle today using the sound of image, not voice.
Modern movements in the Fashion realm are transcending previous boundaries. A style where rage is literally ’ The Rage’. By combining derelict with tribal, designers are creating an Armageddon image to suit the chaotic living experience of today, reflecting the realities of global warming, our changing climate and the social consequences of the collapse of capitalism fuelling our loss of faith in politicians and feelings of disenfranchisement.
Armageddon style is a blend of glam and grunge, providing an outlet for individual customisation based along personal perception and judgment of the times we live in. A style without rule or rhyme, Armageddon post-apocalyptic style builds a stage for the truly creative to explore their style and own fashion agenda.
Post-apocalyptic fashion portrays a hint of the new power woman, using statement black and metallic coupled with a signature cape combines a powerful look with a powerful choice: the power to choose who you are and what your clothing shows you represent. Opportunities for further individual statement are provided by the vast and dynamic accessories available. From leather studded bangles to spiked metal earrings, fashion conscious individuals can fully decorate their outfits suitable for outfits of jeans, t-shirt and jacket right through to elegant evening dress.
Fashion designers picking up on this trend include Christopher Kane who has recently released a new range of accessories and clothing for Topshop. Kane’s collection draws on the glamour of grunge, interspersing power black with strong images and metal.
A reflection of the times, grunge meets glamour portrays a mirror of the fashion during the 1930s Great Depression. Through clever use of glamorous items such as the re-invention of the top hat, designers are reconstituting imagery of the time thus engineering the match of our current financial climate today with that of the 1930s. A comment on the cyclical boom and bust of capitalist greed, Armageddon fashion links the two through a modern day twist on thirties fashion.
Further opportunity for comment is given through the continued 1980s revival theme witnessed throughout this trend. With mention given to the seminal 1980s Mad Max film, evidence of a Tina Turner-esque image is conjured through the use of metal, interesting material cuts and bizarre pairing of individual items to create outfits designed to sit far apart from the norm. Inspired by 1980s rebellion mindset, Armageddon design permits wearers to rebel through the medium of fashion, making their comment on lifestyle today using the sound of image, not voice.
Modern movements in the Fashion realm are transcending previous boundaries. A style where rage is literally ’ The Rage’. By combining derelict with tribal, designers are creating an Armageddon image to suit the chaotic living experience of today, reflecting the realities of global warming, our changing climate and the social consequences of the collapse of capitalism fuelling our loss of faith in politicians and feelings of disenfranchisement.
Armageddon style is a blend of glam and grunge, providing an outlet for individual customisation based along personal perception and judgment of the times we live in. A style without rule or rhyme, Armageddon post-apocalyptic style builds a stage for the truly creative to explore their style and own fashion agenda.
Post-apocalyptic fashion portrays a hint of the new power woman, using statement black and metallic coupled with a signature cape combines a powerful look with a powerful choice: the power to choose who you are and what your clothing shows you represent. Opportunities for further individual statement are provided by the vast and dynamic accessories available. From leather studded bangles to spiked metal earrings, fashion conscious individuals can fully decorate their outfits suitable for outfits of jeans, t-shirt and jacket right through to elegant evening dress.
Fashion designers picking up on this trend include Christopher Kane who has recently released a new range of accessories and clothing for Topshop. Kane’s collection draws on the glamour of grunge, interspersing power black with strong images and metal.
A reflection of the times, grunge meets glamour portrays a mirror of the fashion during the 1930s Great Depression. Through clever use of glamorous items such as the re-invention of the top hat, designers are reconstituting imagery of the time thus engineering the match of our current financial climate today with that of the 1930s. A comment on the cyclical boom and bust of capitalist greed, Armageddon fashion links the two through a modern day twist on thirties fashion.
Further opportunity for comment is given through the continued 1980s revival theme witnessed throughout this trend. With mention given to the seminal 1980s Mad Max film, evidence of a Tina Turner-esque image is conjured through the use of metal, interesting material cuts and bizarre pairing of individual items to create outfits designed to sit far apart from the norm. Inspired by 1980s rebellion mindset, Armageddon design permits wearers to rebel through the medium of fashion, making their comment on lifestyle today using the sound of image, not voice.Modern movements in the Fashion realm are transcending previous boundaries.A style where rage is literally ’The Rage’.By combining derelict with tribal, designers are creating an Armageddon image to suit the chaotic living experience of today, reflecting the realities of global warming, our changing climate and the social consequences of the collapse of capitalism fuelling our loss of faith in politicians and feelings of disenfranchisement.
Armageddon style is a blend of glam and grunge, providing an outlet for individual customisation based along personal perception and judgment of the times we live in.A style without rule or rhyme, Armageddon post-apocalyptic style builds a stage for the truly creative to explore their style and own fashion agenda.
Post-apocalyptic fashion portrays a hint of the new power woman, using statement black and metallic coupled with a signature cape combines a powerful look with a powerful choice: the power to choose who you are and what your clothing shows you represent.Opportunities for further individual statement are provided by the vast and dynamic accessories available.From leather studded bangles to spiked metal earrings, fashion conscious individuals can fully decorate their outfits suitable for jeans, t-shirt and jacket right through to elegant evening dress.
Fashion designers picking up on this trend include Christopher Kane who has recently released a new range of accessories and clothing for Topshop.Kane’s collection draws on the glamour of grunge, interspersing power black with strong images and metal.
A reflection of the times, grunge meets glamour portrays a mirror of the fashion during the 1930s Great Depression.Through clever use of glamorous items such as the re-invention of the top hat, designers are reconstituting imagery of the time thus engineering the match of our current financial climate today with that of the 1930s. A comment on the cyclical boom and bust of capitalist greed, Armageddon fashion links the two through a modern day twist on thirties fashion.
Further opportunity for comment is given through the continued 1980s revival theme witnessed throughout this trend.With mention given to the seminal 1980s Mad Max film, evidence of a Tina Turner-esque image is conjured through the use of metal, interesting material cuts and bizarre pairing of individual items to create outfits designed to sit far apart from the norm.Inspired by 1980s rebellion mindset, Armageddon design permits wearers to rebel through the medium of fashion, making their comment on lifestyle today using the sound of image, not voice.
It’s not Friday – yet – but seeing some of the gallery pictures at Cinematical we found ourselves smiling with that warm, end of week happy feeling.
Firstly, it reminded us of the wonderfully original Star Wars TV, from Channel 4’s Adam and Joe Show (if you loved them, they’re now on BBC Radio 6 on Saturday mornings). For those of you who haven’t seen the hilarious things they did with toys, it’s on Channel 4oD plus Youtube.
Secondly, the first of the Cinematical gallery images got us thinking about applying the same process to our very own politicians. It seems like only a couple of months ago that we were all dissecting MPs’ expenses claims, although that does appear to have gone rather quiet; either it’s because they’ve all gone off for their summer vacation in the Fletcher Memorial Home or the ephemeral attention span of the populist media has switched its attention to bonuses. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if, upon their return for the State Opening of Parliament (new for 2009: the Houses of Parliament are sponsored by Cillit Bang – Bang and the dirt is gone!), our elected representatives admit to having read Plato’s Republic as their summer reading and that, as our guardians, they will now subscribe to his view that those who govern us should be barred from owning private property and only receive minimum wage.
Until that happens (we’re not holding our breath), make yourself grin as you imagine English politicians as Star Wars characters. John Prescott as Jabba the Hutt is an obvious starting point and here’s a couple more; this may prove to be hours of endless fun…
Just when MPs thought it was safe to stick their heads above the parapet, presumably thinking that the public were getting bored with the Telegraph’s revelations – even its latest opposition to the censorship all over the claim forms and receipts, the Guardian has weighed in; so now newspapers from both sides of the political spectrum are aiming their guns at Parliament.
The Guardian’s campaign has released a crowd-sourced website that asks readers to check through all expenses submitted by MPs over the last four years. The site contains 457,153 pages of documents of which 297,058 need to be reviewed. When someone finds something suspicious they can flag it for further investigation by the newspaper, instructions on the site say:
‘Join us in digging through the documents of MPs’ expenses to identify individual claims, or documents that you think merit further investigation. You can work through your own MP’s expenses, or just review any one of the outstanding documents
We hope that many hands can make light work of the thousands of documents released by Parliament in relation to MPs’ expenses. We, and others – perhaps you? – are using these tools to review each document, decide whether it contains interesting information, and extract the key facts.
Some pages will be covering letters, or claim forms for office stationery, somewhere in here is the receipt for a duck island and who knows what else may turn up. If you find something which you think needs further attention, simply hit the button marked ‘investigate this!’ and we’ll take a closer look.
How to get involved:
Step 1: Find a document
Step 2: Decide what kind of thing it is and whether it’s interesting
Step 3: Copy out any individual entries
Step 4: Make any specific observations about why a claim deserves further scrutiny
Examples of things to look out for: food bills, repeated claims for less than £250 (the limit for claims not backed up by a receipt), and rejected claims.
Browsers can also look through all the expenses on the site and even pull up the expenses others think need investigating.’
Power to the people; where social networking is being used to create New Mediaccountability. Could it be that the world wide web has rekindled the public’s interest in politics, albeit for the wrong reasons? However, in order to dislike something you have to have an opinion about it and that means taking an interest and engaging.
……….main group numbering 23, breakaway group numbering 4 but increasing; hello No.10 recommend scramble all fighters.’
The Prime Minister has reshuffled the Cabinet (you can hum that to the tune of Fun Boy Three’s ‘The Lunatics Have Taken Over The Asylum’ if you want), although with more ministers having shuffled themselves in the run-up, it is perhaps more accurate to say that the Cabinet has reshuffled itself. On the basis that James Purnell was on the last stage out of town last night, Our Illustrious Leader’s job has been made considerably easier (with only John Hutton departing today) and probably consisted of;
1. Phone incumbents to the 3 senior offices of state (Chancellor, Foreign Secretary, Home Secretary) and ask if they wouldn’t mind moving job, pretty please.
2. Be told to ‘naff off’ by two of the incumbents and wonder why the third one isn’t answering her phone (here’s a clue Gordon: she’s already packed it in).
3. Find some new chums to fill the posts of old chums who have departed their posts.
4. Ennoble Sir Alan Sugar.
Lord alone knows (or more precisely Lord Alan does know) why Gordon chose Sir Alan – were Ant n Dec busy? Apparently Sir Alan ‘you can call me Sir Alan’ Sugar is Gordon’s new favourite TV person, now that his previous most favourite TV person – SuBo – is resting in a secure location. See what you ringing did to her! So entrepreneurs everywhere will be breathing a sigh of relief now that Lord Sugar of Reconstructed Boardroom For TV is their czar.
Britain’s future as an enterprise capital of the third world is now secured, with the prospects for second-rate word processors being about as bright as their monochrome monitors were. Although that green glow did give the Wachowski Brothers the idea for the Matrix; although let’s hope that Lord Sir Alan of Saccharin doesn’t tell Gordon that, else he will be in the phone box and on the blower to Neo, asking him if he can be the Cabinet’s new ‘Reality Czar’ and to see whether Agent Smith can be the new Home Secretary (well it would be a near like-for-like replacement).
Seriously though, if Gordon Brown does decide to stand down and is replaced in another uncontested coronation, we will be faced with the prospect of a second person being elevated to the post of Prime Minister without an election. Last time I looked in the dictionary for the definition of ‘democracy’ (just before the Home Secretary confiscated it on the basis of the war on terror), there was something about Prime Ministers being elected as part of the process known as a general election. As Lady Bracknell might have said “to appoint one Prime Minister without an election may be regarded as a misfortune. To appoint two looks like carelessness.”
Jellyhaus is not politically aligned. This is a bit of humour to highlight the basic principles of representative democracy.
This is an interesting – and entertaining – video from BeauBoDOr which we thought warranted comment.
Make Poverty History was a social justice campaign that coincided with the Live 8 Concerts. OK, who remembers when Live 8 was? No, without googling (other search engines are available) it.
The answer is July 2005 and the original Make Poverty History campaign ran around the same time. Almost 4 years later and 2 years into the implosion of the developed world financial system, it does all seem that ancient history.
Without wanting to be political – Jellyhaus is not politically aligned – there is a certain irony in the video. The G8 government commitment immediately after Live 8 and in response to Make Poverty History was to double their overseas aid commitments to $50 billion by 2010, i.e. an extra $25 billion over 5 years. I’m sure that sounded wonderful at the time but when you compare it to the cost of ‘saving’ just the UK banking system (current total on the basis of direct and indirect financial contribution, guarantees and facilities, over £1 trillion), you have to question which was the more socially important. Genuinely lifting tens of millions of people from poverty, malnutrition, disease and social exclusion or bailing out a very group of greedy plutocrats who lose shareholders’ money with taxpayers’ money.
An interesting point from the video is that the derision that was directed at bankers is now directed at MPs, via a parody of a campaign that MPs were queuing up to endorse and be seen to be aligned with back in 2005.
Barack Obama’s presidential campaign slogan ‘Change We Need’ was crucial in identifying those social inequalities felt by voters, to which he was the answer. The unveiling of the truth behind MPs’ expenses poses the rearranged, same question: we need change. Of course, with the US two-party system, it’s straightforward to deliver change: if you don’t like what A has done, you vote for B. In the UK, when the whole multi-party system seems to have been claiming for all things new & shiny or not tied down, you have to ask: what will change look like?
Those with good memories will recall another campaign that ran in tandem with Make Poverty History; Drop The Debt. With the Chancellor’s own fantastical projections showing UK national debt to GDP peaking just under 80% in 2013 (amusingly, according to the Maastricht Treaty convergence criteria, the limit is 60% for any new state wanting to join the Euro, so that now rules us out for a few decades), how long before he announces Britain will be re-championing the Drop The Debt campaign; dropping the debt of all third world countries starting with…Britain?
See-through and transparency please Mr Brown, Mr Cameron, Mr Clegg and Co.!
Transparency of prices, quality, opinions and standards is of paramount importance to all of us but every month brings new developments that are feeding one of the biggest consumer trends of the last decade: Consumer Power.
All UK Politicial Parties actively canvassing voters for the next general election; take notes.
We are looking for Superbrand attributes: QUALITY – RELIABILITY – DISTINCTION.
Instead you re giving us nothing special, nothing remarkable.
We are quite indifferent to any new product, service or experience that is average, mediocre, run of the mill or ‘me-too’. A duplicate or simulacrum isn’t sustainable anymore. The sad lie of mediocrity is: ‘Doing 4% less does not get you 4% less’. No, doing 4% less may very well get you 95% less.
That’s because almost good enough gets you nowhere. No sales, no votes, no customers. Medocrity is the mistaken belief that there is a linear relationship between effort and results. In fact, the results are usually totally out of proportion to the incremental effort.
Big organisations have the most trouble with this, because they don’t notice the correlation. It’s hidden by their momentum and layers of bureaucracy. The flip side of this is that when you are at the top – the industry leader – a tiny increase in effort and quality can translate into huge gains – Barack Obama ring any bells?
Stand for something and do it well.
See-Through takes traditional transparency one step further, adding emotions, intentions and interaction to the mix – familiar at all? In other words: cutting through the crap. As people increasingly share info about themselves online and desire a sense of real community rather than a cyber subsitute, they will and do expect the same kind of openness from organisations and politicans.
In the year to come, it will be hard to hide anything and even if you do manage to keep things out of sight, the public will at the very least know you have something to hide. We are all very aware the banking sector and now it would seem – not a moment too soon – Politics is an unwitting but deserving subject of the See-Through trend.
It seems only a couple of months ago that the country – in true ‘just-in-time’ inventory fashion – was running out of salt to put on the roads when it got a little bit cold for a couple of days. Top marks to Gloucestershire County Council for buying 500 tons of table salt to put on the roads – I thought salt was bad for us because Government advertising tells us that any more than 6g a day will kill you instantly, so imagine my joy when a County Council decides to use 500 tons of the stuff. Well that’s about the size of pinch of salt with which you’ll need to take everything Just For Men has just said today. His figures are already so cock-eyed that I’m not sure anyone takes him seriously. This is a man who said back in November in the Pre-Budget Report that government borrowing would be £78 billion for the current tax year. Figures out this morning (Schadenfreude from the Office of National Statistics by any chance?) put it at £90 billion. Up a whopping £55 billion from the previous tax year. This is a man who said in the 2008 Budget that the economy would expand by 2.25% – 2.75% (he didn’t say which economy, so perhaps he was referring to Botswana, given that their banking system now has a better credit rating than ours). By November he’d scaled it down to -0.75% – -1.25% and only this week has come out with ‘at least -3%’. Today he has at least accepted some realism in respect of the recession, revising his projection for 2009 downwards again, now to -3.5%. So not that far of the mark then. (more…)
