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Columns
Last Updated: 29/09/2007 24:24:04
Look After the Pennies and the Self-Serving Will Look After Themselves (1/4)
by The Silver Fox
(1/4), (2/4), (3/4), (4/4).

The disbursement of public monies to various groups has always been a hot topic, being, as it is, one that affects pretty much everyone in one way or another. Public money is, of course, literally that - our money; the pounds and pence we fling at the government with desperate and reckless abandon, so humbly delighted and grateful are we to make a contribution to the upkeep of the McUnited Kingdom.

It is understandable then, that our concern for where the cash goes should be shared by the great and the good who exist solely to champion our best interests and our heartfelt desires (I'm sorry? Did I say something funny, you there at the back?).
Thus, the opposition, the media, and City analysts monitor government spending very closely - vigilantly and impartially, and without any motive other than the protection of the public (I'm not warning you again...).

Rightly so, of course: those in power should always be reminded (and none too gently) that the immense revenue brought in by taxes - invisible, visible, and metaphysical, for all I know - is not their own personal piggy-bank, on hand for little emergencies like a new suit for Conference, or the discreet disposal of a prostitute's corpse; rather, it should (like Robocop) serve the public trust.
Misappropriation of funds is something to be guarded against at all times, and those found guilty of this offence against one of the most basic tenets of democracy should be reviled, pilloried, and condemned to the fullest extent of existing codes and practices.
This may sound harsh, but we must be firm on these white-collar brigands - even if that means the Chairperson of a well-paid quango telling them very firmly not to do it again - ever. And anyway - it's always pretty satisfying when some cunt's caught with their dick in the jam-jar, ain't it?

These issues aside, however, it must be conceded that occasionally - just once in a blue-moon-you-left-me-standing-alone-without-a-dream-in-my-heart-without-a-love-of-my-own* - the self-appointed watchdogs of the public purse may stray from the laudable path of objectivity, and allow their cooler judgement to be swayed by a personal agenda.
*And furthermore: ba-bababa-b'dang-ba-dang-dang-ba-bababa-b'dang-da-dong-dang, Blue Moon

Continued ......next page (2/4)

Columns - And Peppered Was His Hair By Kenton Hall
All of life's lessons - and I mean the important life-changing ones here, not the ones involving keeping the cutlery and appliances segregated - can be learned in the hairdressers. Of this I have no doubt. The above is exactly the sort of ridiculous statement that writers should avoid when beginning an essay, as it paints you into a very tight corner - or more correctly, Read more...

Columns - Steve Regan : The Exiled King Of Hull Writes...9th November 06
Today I shall mainly be writing about love, sort of. Starting point: we are living through confusing times. On the one hand we Brits are now much ruder to each other than we were in the recent past. We are also more prone to seriously anti-social behaviour - and we are generally much thicker too, thanks to the huge failure in schooling (and nowhere is that more the case Read more...

Columns - Morality for Dummies By Kenton Hall
I was raised in a God-fearing household. And, by God-fearing, I mean, scared witless. We were brought up to believe that if we behaved, prayed and refrained from any variety of pleasure. (Top three no-no: self-abuse, premarital sex and unripe kiwi fruit). In fact, my father had a terrible habit of jumping out from behind doors and screaming, "Now what would Read more...

Columns - Knocking On Heaven's Door? By Jim Higo
If at first you don't succeed, then maybe being a suicide bomber's not the job for you. Just over a year on from the London bombings and I'm on Kings Cross tube station and, along with all the other white people, I'm carefully scouring the platform for Asians with rucksacks. I'm a socialist, a humanist, an internationalist, yet here I am thinking thoughts that come straight out Read more...

Columns - Patriot Games By Kenton Hall
The other night, as I lay sun-stroked and pissy along the length of the familial sofa, drinking coffee from a giraffe-shaped mug and watching Gene Wilder get repeatedly thrown from a train, I had an epiphany. I'm prone to them. This particular revelation occurred when I was startled from my grumbling reveries by a flash of blonde and an explosion of sound. Read more...

Columns - Steve Regan - King of Hull 1st May 2006
The story of John Prescott's sexual indiscretions with his secretary has been an absolute hoot on one level. Suddenly, it was as if Jabba the Hutt had come to life in all his slimy lecherousness. By the time you read this, Prezza might already have been forced to resign. The lairy photographs showing our oafish Deputy Prime Minister cavorting with Tracey Temple Read more...

Columns - Suzie's Social Conscience Part 6
Hi there! Well, I've given a little thought this week to those amazing people of outstanding conscience, courage and bravery. People who have risked their freedom, and even their lives, for a cause that they believe in. Take Martin Luther King, for example. How inspiring it was when he got up and made that speech.... I Have a Dream. Even more amazing, that over a decade later, Read more...

Columns - Suzie's Social Conscience Part 5
Hi there. I'm feeling a bit sore this week, gals....my social conscience has suffered a big prick. Why, I hear you ask? Well, I'm ashamed to admit that I didn't respond to my normal call of duty, that is, to help my fellow citizens who are less fortunate and rich than me. I'll tell you what happened. I ignored a beggar. Last night, I was walking past Jackson's on Prince's Avenue, Read more...

Columns - Suzie's Social Conscience Part 4
Hi people. This week, my conscience goes out to a sad section of society whose lives are blighted by addiction. Yes. They call them substance misusers. Now, I had never heard of them before, but apparently they are what used to be called druggies. They are addicted to substances - but they don't know how to use them properly. What a shame this is. Who knows what untold Read more...

Columns - Suzie's Social Conscience Part 3
Hi there good people. Who is everyone talking about at the moment? The Kosovans, of course. People are so mean about them, saying they're 'invading' our town. Now, I know there are loads of them, but is there any need to get that upset? Personally I feel sorry for them. I can understand why they wanted to leave Kozavo. For a start, I heard that their country smells. Read more...

Columns - Steve Regan, King of Hull - He's Far From Dead 7th March 2006
Does anybody - apart from a few fluff-headed showbiz presenters on GMTV - care a flying fig for the Oscars? I certainly find this annual gong-fest intensely boring, and so do most TV viewers, since the ratings have been falling year on year. In fact, I find the whole of the modern Hollywood film industry and its, ahem, "stars" fantastically dull. Take the so-called Read more...

Columns - Suzie's Social Conscience Part 2
Hi fans! As people with a conscience, I'm sure we can all empathise with the stigma and alienation of mental illness. Take agoraphobia, for example. Just imagine - trapped indoors for months on end, it doesn't sound much fun. Especially for party chicks like me!! But did you know that it's good for your complexion? Yes! My friend Cornisha told me this fascinating fact, which has just been proven in a joint study by MIND and Oil of Olay !! Read more...

Columns - Suzie's Social Conscience Part 1
Hi there everyone! I'm Suzie Horsington-cum-Scoff (yes I know that's a mouthful isn't it!) And I'm here to dispense some wisdom for the next few weeks to you sweet local people. (Ooh I so love local people - a shame that I had never met any until I visited Hull!) Let me tell you about myself. I'm an Oxford Sociology graduate (for my sins!) And my favourite hobby is Read more...

Columns - Steve Regan - King Of Hull 14th February 2006.
Valentine's Day brought an outpouring of affection and gifts to my door from people who clearly like me and know what I like. Oh, I got the usual twenty-or-so cards, some slushy, a few witty and at least three positively obscene. Hey, look, I am used to being an object of lust because of my uncanny resemblance to Johnny Depp. But this year I also received some lovely romantic gifts Read more...

Columns - Stephen Regan the Exiled King of Hull, August 2005.
Just recently I went off to spend a couple of days in the great city of fearing and loathing (no, not Leeds, silly!).I mean London, where people are still coming to terms with the evil terror strikes and everyone is still so very nervous and jumpy. I was in the capital for a couple of dull PR meetings connected with my day job, plus a few hook-ups with old drinking Read more...

Columns - Those Old Playpenitentiary Blues by The Silver Fox
Long time no see, www.catsandkittens.com; hell of a long time, come to think of it. Now, far be it from me to suggest that people who spend long enough on the Internet to pick over the detritus that litters the scrubby grass verges of this particular Information Super Lay-by don't lead full and busy lives - buying tat on Ebay, looking for dwarf porn Read more...

Columns - Crazy Joe's News-Rant - Am I Right Wing or Left Wing? Part 2 By King Rat
Given the choice between orally pleasing a great white shark and being the Falluja Avon lady, I guess some man-eating fish is in for it. As captain America's hillbilly conscripts tear at the bit to open up another operation of blood fest on those happy zealots; Read more...

Columns - Steve Regan: the King of Hull
A New Year Message
SO another new year is upon us and many will think there are not great grounds for feeling optimistic. What with Iraq in flames, MRSA still ripping through UK hospitals, a pensions crisis and the property market about to go into freefall, 21st century life hardly Read more...

Columns - Crazy Joe's News-Rant - Am I Right Wing or Left Wing? By King Rat - Professional Yorkshireman
So the evil Bush and his monkey legions have defeated Saint Kerry and retain their unchallenged crown as supreme rulers of the universe. News just in, Florida has voted Republican. The masses of Black Americans and Cuban spivs who were denied electoral rights last time have let him off Read more...

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