Thursday 12 March 2009

More Cimematics, and More Teasing!



Oy Veh!   And I’m not even sure what the hell Socialist Dialectic actually means …

Apart from the fact that Kid Sister Number Two – Ruth, in other words – along with Adrian, bless him, and Trish of the No Ideas, are probably going to give me a very good explanation.   That’ll probably involve the phrases “Existential Nihilism”, “utilitarianism”, and “Post-Modernism”.   With Graham possibly throwing in the term “Political Lesbianism”, just to give everyone a headache!

Either way, I’m seemingly throwing in more stuff into the eternal bonfire that is the cinema debate.

First off, though, for those of you coming along, tonight, you can find the Table Round Teaser, here.   It’s at 8•30pm, at the Hutton, in Hutton.   Hopefully, given the number of hits I’m starting to get, I’m assuming that people will be coming along. 

But changing the subject, and given the response to my letter, in the Gazette, last week, I thought I’d send them this one.

Dear Editor,


I’m writing – in part – in response to the concerns raised by the Councillor Dvid Kendall about the Brentwood Council’s budget, and other letter’s in this week Gazette.   While I’m no economist, it strikes me that refusing to allow the cinema proposal – as Brentwood Liberal Democrat’s did – will be a major long term blow to Brentwood’s economy, and mean that Brentwood will suffer from not having new businesses and subsequent loss of potential rates.   Something that would surely have helped any freezing, or reduction, of the relevant charges.


I also know, from my conversations with Cllr Karen Chilvers that she, and I’m assuming the rest of the Liberal members of Brentwood Council, were supporting something that that would be "… in the style of Roper’s Yard".   While I agree with her that something that size cannot be of benefit to any in town, I personally cannot see how a large number of designer boutiques, and one-man business will be as much employment as having one or two Waitrose sized shops, along with smaller chains.   A larger, and more mixed development is needed, I believe.


As a lifelong Liberal voter, their position is disappointing, and causing me to rethink who I give my vote to in the next council elections


There’s two other points I think I should make, at this stage.


While we’re on the subject of budget concerns, has any member of Brentwood Council made a point of investigating the many Open-Source alternatives to the various propriety pieces of software, such as Microsoft Office, commonly used by private and public sector, alike?   As a keen advocate of open-source projects, I know that things like OpenOffice.org, Mozilla Firefox and media player VLC and free to use to home users and business alike.   And that Bristol Council saved themselves £1, 000, 000 – in licenses alone – a few years ago, in switching to open source alternatives.


A big saving for us blighted council tax payers.


And, while we’re talking about blight, I’d like to ask Tony, of Chestnut Grove, whether he feels in the course of time his property will be blighted by being in walking distance of shops and a cinema?  It strikes me that many complaining about decreased house prices now, will be smiling as those prices improve.


Those of us struggling to pay rent, because they cannot afford to drive, or get a train to work outside of Brentwood, have no other option.


Wish me luck, folks.   Both for getting published, and for tonights Quiz.

Which, given it was quiet, last week, I’m hoping gets a turnout …

To quote a song from Was (Not Was)’s recent album, “ … this has been a semi-interesting week”.

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