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Friday, August 12, 2011
Britain’s top ten most endangered animals
When you think of endangered species you might think of the panda, the orangutan, rhinos, dolphins, and a whole bunch of other animals that most people in the UK have probably never seen in the wild.
However, Britain has its own list of endangered animals, and some of the creatures on that list may surprise you.
Sadly, many people today are out of touch with nature, and so a lot of the animals in the top ten most endangered list may draw a blank with you – I’ll admit to not recognising some of the names myself.
At number one is the red-necked phalarope (a little wading bird). Number two is the black-tailed godwit (a larger wading bird). Number three is the Scottish wildcat, four is the capercaillie (a type of grouse), five is the cuckoo, six is the red squirrel, seven is the turtle dove, eight is the natterjack toad, at nine the brown hare, and finally at ten comes potentially the most recognisable of all of these animals, the hedgehog.
Reportedly the number of hedgehogs in the UK is diminishing due to people not taking care when mowing or strimming their garden. Another factors is the number of roads which now cut across countryside.
It would be sad to lose our British hedgehogs, just as it would be sad to lose any of these animals when something can be done about it.
So, let’s all be careful when neatening up the garden, and if there are no cars behind you and you can stop safely, let that little spiky shape get across the road safe and sound.
However, Britain has its own list of endangered animals, and some of the creatures on that list may surprise you.
Sadly, many people today are out of touch with nature, and so a lot of the animals in the top ten most endangered list may draw a blank with you – I’ll admit to not recognising some of the names myself.
At number one is the red-necked phalarope (a little wading bird). Number two is the black-tailed godwit (a larger wading bird). Number three is the Scottish wildcat, four is the capercaillie (a type of grouse), five is the cuckoo, six is the red squirrel, seven is the turtle dove, eight is the natterjack toad, at nine the brown hare, and finally at ten comes potentially the most recognisable of all of these animals, the hedgehog.
Reportedly the number of hedgehogs in the UK is diminishing due to people not taking care when mowing or strimming their garden. Another factors is the number of roads which now cut across countryside.
It would be sad to lose our British hedgehogs, just as it would be sad to lose any of these animals when something can be done about it.
So, let’s all be careful when neatening up the garden, and if there are no cars behind you and you can stop safely, let that little spiky shape get across the road safe and sound.
Photo © machernucha via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: animal, Britain, endangered, hedgehog, road, species
Monday, August 8, 2011
Underhand goings-on
In Britain nowadays you’d hope that bribing officials was a thing of the past, but unfortunately this isn’t so.
Two staff members at an East London magistrates’ court have been attested after reportedly taking bribes from motorists who wanted their speeding record details erased from the traffic summons database.
They were arrested after a newspaper investigation videoed them accepting £500 to make a driver’s traffic summons ‘go away’.
In the video one man explained to the client, “I don't touch no charges, just the traffic summons.”
Both of the men, aged 21 and 30, have been suspended from their roles and have been arrested under suspicion of misconduct in a public office and perverting the course of justice.
If the allegations are correct, it will mean that due to the behaviour of these two individuals many convictions may not have been recorded.
Driving offences are very serious, since reckless behaviour on the road could result in someone being severely injured or killed. Allowing people to get away with their dangerous driving habits is unacceptable.
Two staff members at an East London magistrates’ court have been attested after reportedly taking bribes from motorists who wanted their speeding record details erased from the traffic summons database. They were arrested after a newspaper investigation videoed them accepting £500 to make a driver’s traffic summons ‘go away’.
In the video one man explained to the client, “I don't touch no charges, just the traffic summons.”
Both of the men, aged 21 and 30, have been suspended from their roles and have been arrested under suspicion of misconduct in a public office and perverting the course of justice.
If the allegations are correct, it will mean that due to the behaviour of these two individuals many convictions may not have been recorded.
Driving offences are very serious, since reckless behaviour on the road could result in someone being severely injured or killed. Allowing people to get away with their dangerous driving habits is unacceptable.
Photo © Images_of_Money via Flickr, under Creative Writing Commons
Labels: bribe, dangerous driving, driving offences, magistrates’ court, motorists, speeding, traffic summons
Friday, August 5, 2011
100-year-old motorist
Perhaps unfairly, elderly drivers have a reputation for being frustrating. The prejudice is that they dawdle on the roads and struggle to even see over the steering wheel.
That’s why it’s nice to see one 100-year-old lady from Dorset confounding these stereotypes.
She started driving before compulsory driving tests even began in the UK, and drove herself to school when she was only 15, but she’s never had an accident and only took an examination to prove she was a capable motorist and get the cost of her insurance reduced.
The vibrant female motorist stated, “I love driving and much prefer it to walking.
“I learnt to drive when I was 15 – the driving test didn't start for another few years and I was already on the road by then.
“The only time I took a test was when I turned 98 and my insurance tried to put the price up – I was furious.
“I decided to take a test myself so I got an examiner to come out.
“…he said he had confidence in me the whole time. I've got the letter to prove it where he says ‘[she] drives as well as a good driver 30-40 years younger than her.’
“They knocked 200 pounds off my insurance, so that was worthwhile.”
She sounds like a real character. Almost unsurprisingly, her vehicle registration plate is reportedly ‘HO0RAH’.
That’s why it’s nice to see one 100-year-old lady from Dorset confounding these stereotypes.She started driving before compulsory driving tests even began in the UK, and drove herself to school when she was only 15, but she’s never had an accident and only took an examination to prove she was a capable motorist and get the cost of her insurance reduced.
The vibrant female motorist stated, “I love driving and much prefer it to walking.
“I learnt to drive when I was 15 – the driving test didn't start for another few years and I was already on the road by then.
“The only time I took a test was when I turned 98 and my insurance tried to put the price up – I was furious.
“I decided to take a test myself so I got an examiner to come out.
“…he said he had confidence in me the whole time. I've got the letter to prove it where he says ‘[she] drives as well as a good driver 30-40 years younger than her.’
“They knocked 200 pounds off my insurance, so that was worthwhile.”
She sounds like a real character. Almost unsurprisingly, her vehicle registration plate is reportedly ‘HO0RAH’.
Photo © x-ray delta one via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: driver, driving test, highway, insurance, motorist, registration plate
Monday, August 1, 2011
A very expensive pile-up
As women, we like seeing members of our sex doing things that make us all look good.
Unfortunately there are some women that make us grate our teeth and bite our nails while inwardly we scream, “Why on earth did you do that? Now we all look stupid!”
One female driver, described by one online newspaper as a “hapless blond”, recently did something which warrants such a reaction.
She was driving her Bentley Azure (£250,000) near the very fancy Place du Casino in Monte Carlo when she caused a rather expensive pile-up.
A Mercedes S Class, Ferrari, Porsche 911 and Aston Marin Rapide were all involved in the crash – and it is estimated to have caused more than £40,000 of damage.
The woman was lucky not to have caused even more damage, since altogether the cars cost almost £700,000.
We do feel sorry for her, despite her silly mistake. The drivers of the other vehicles probably weren’t that pleasant about the incident.
Personally we at the duck2water office feel much happier driving in and around less expensive cars. That way if we’re involved in a minor accident, it’s not too much of a disaster financially.
Unfortunately there are some women that make us grate our teeth and bite our nails while inwardly we scream, “Why on earth did you do that? Now we all look stupid!”
She was driving her Bentley Azure (£250,000) near the very fancy Place du Casino in Monte Carlo when she caused a rather expensive pile-up.
A Mercedes S Class, Ferrari, Porsche 911 and Aston Marin Rapide were all involved in the crash – and it is estimated to have caused more than £40,000 of damage.
The woman was lucky not to have caused even more damage, since altogether the cars cost almost £700,000.
We do feel sorry for her, despite her silly mistake. The drivers of the other vehicles probably weren’t that pleasant about the incident.
Personally we at the duck2water office feel much happier driving in and around less expensive cars. That way if we’re involved in a minor accident, it’s not too much of a disaster financially.
Photo © Images_of_Money via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: Aston Martin, Bentley, car, crash, female driver, Ferrari, Mercedes, pile-up, Porsche, women