Bloody Capitalism

Things are going a little better in the sleep department. The last couple of nights have brought with them improvement, that deeper, more revitalising deep dark space of deep sleep I have been craving of late. Long may it continue for one's piece of mind!

The issue of Asylum and Immigration has been hurled back in to the spotlight recently due to the Glasgow tower block apparent suicides. I must say it was deeply disturbing to read about them, it does highlight the terribly ineffecient and frankly neo-racist treatment of Asylum seekers by the UK Border agency. These people are much more often than not in a state of fear for their lives, persecuted by their respective states for one reason or another, whether it be ethnicity, politcal leanings or the sheer fact that they have dared to speak out against the state. It it deplorable and disgusting to become aware that our authorities are treating these people like common criminals and deporting them to face death or imprisonment and one hates to think what else. Immigration officials are too suspicious and probably have certain targets to meet insofar as to the numbers they are expected to refuse asylum. We are treating them no better than these totalitarian regimes, it is shameful. Asylum and immigration are very contentious issues in this country, the tabloid newspaper's are as helpul as ever, often inciting racism in their outrage at the UK's alleged open door policy and then on the other hand being as contradictory as you would expect in berating the BNP.

Another similar issue in the news is the treatment of eastern european workers in our frozen food packing factories. Again, it seems, totally deplorable. The Guardian reports of pregnant women being forced to stand for hours and hours being refused toilet breaks. Supervisor's throwing frozen beef burgers at staff to work faster and all sorts of outrageousness. We are supposed to be a multi-cultural, liberal, tolerate society in this country, we are quite clearly not. It is shameful. These people don't come here to get rich, or to take advantage, they come here because they feel they have certain natural rights, human rights, and that our country will deliver them these rights, rights we take for granted everday. How deflating it must be to find out that we are the not the tolerate society we make ourselves out to be.

We often think that extremism and intolerance is something that died with communism in the late 1980's. It is, it seems still prevalent, at least in the United Kingdom.

Sad times.

Massive Fail four eyes! and, so much for democracy....

Well, did I get a decent night's sleep last night after a couple of glasses of wine? Nope! Massive Fail! as they say nowadays.

Oh well, never mind I'm sure I'll get over it, besides, I'm starting to become inured to it. I float through everyday life like a genuine stoner; like I would if I had started the day with a big fat reefer! So, why complain? Unfortunately, the negative side effect is that I tend to come across as a complete mong. I realise that some might say that: a man not listening to his other half is completely normal, and, in fact, innate to any male, but I am actually trying! Try as I might I just can't stop myself drifting off into some kind of semi-conscious state and thinking about something else entirely when she talks at me. I truly regret this and I am working to overcome it, but in the meantime, I am thus totally bereft of any comprehension skills due to a lack of sleep. Sorry darling.

I read an article in the Guardian yesterday that made me furious and lead me to question a few things. Apparently, we live in a democratic society and therefore in theory we have a right as individuals and collectively to 'have our say'. The issue in question was Afghanistan. The war in Afghanistan is unpopular in Britain and as it stands the 3 main political party's in this country support it. Therefore, we (the general public) do not have any say in the matter whatsoever. Our opinion counts for nothing. Now, Politics is something I have only very recently started to take an interest in. Even after a very short period of actively reading about it and trying to understand it I am finding outrages such as the above. It is unfortunate that one of the first things I find out is that we don't have a say at all, about any of the important issues, like Iraq, Afghanistan or Politicians expenses and Europe. All too often it seems that both Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats seem to conform to the same opinion on things, and if they do it means that we the public don't get our voice, even if it's clear that the majority of us think the same way. I think it's outrageous. I am a complete novice as far as Politics goes so if I appear naive, but is there not any type of Political philosophy that allows the public as a whole to have their say? Well, if not, there should be.

Rant end.

I'd give you everything I've got for a little piece of mind....

So, let's try to do my first blog then.

What ever happened to a good nights sleep? It's been well over a week since I was allowed to pay a visit to the quietude and blackness of destination deep sleep nine (hours). Instead, I've been forced every night this week to visit all sorts of ridiculous, nonsensical, comical and down right absurd places by my subconscious. I've been drifting in and out of light sleep of a night and it has turned me into a gibbering wreck. To quote the late great Lennon: 'I'll give you everything I've got for a little piece of mind!' at the moment. When you are suffering from these kind of light, sporadic sleeping patterns you have the most preposterous dreams, like: being chased around Asda by the legend that is Postman Pat. This may sound like fun or even quite strangely erotic to some, but, when he is a crazed mad-man brandishing a sub-machine gun and ranting and raving in a thick Yorkshire accent that he's: 'Gonna f**k thee up, yer tw*t!' its rather unnerving! This was just one of the crazy dreams that I have had this week. I have now realised that when you have so many mad dreams of a night it means you have had no quality sleep whatsoever and you're going to spend the rest of the day a miserable, irritable old git and feeling like you are on an entirely different planet.

I think the problem is that recently I have decided to discontinue a habit of many years; that of drinking at least a couple of glasses of red wine before bed. If you are thinking of doing something similar for health reasons, I personally wouldn't recommend it. If you do, you probably won't be able to sleep at night and I deduce that any health benefits gained will be out weighed by the negative effect that sleep deprivation will have on your health and your general sanity. Moreover, lack of sleep ruins relationships. Not only are you in danger of upsetting your other half by dry humping them at all hours of the night, but your general irritability and snappiness at the most minor things during the day, like the disappearance of the remote control or the lack of toilet roll will without doubt make them hate you more than, well, more than a terrible debilitating disease.

Please God, tonight, let me sleep!

Dzien Dobry!