Wait, What...?

Last night, Basildon councillors agreed the plans for the major road between Fortune of War and the Pound Lane junction.

It comes after pressure from the Government to reduce air pollution.

Hmmm, I wonder what it could be? A diversion away from populated zones? A low-emission only zone?

The debate was wrapped up quickly and voted in favour by 39 with just one abstention.

Well, it must have been a very sensible one, if they all...

Oh, maybe not:

Basildon Council has agreed plans for a 50mph limit along a stretch of the A127 to cut air pollution.

Yes, of course! Obviously, the answer is to increase the amount of time vehicles spend in the zone! It's genius!

The PC PCs Strike Again....

The force said the man detained at the scene was taken to hospital after it is believed he suffered a medical emergency.

I always assumed that a 'medical emergency' was a heart attack, stroke, premature labour. Something of that ilk.

Never in a million years would I have dreamed it would one day mean 'nutcase on the loose with a knife'.

The dog only joined Staffordshire Police in early April, after passing the 13-week training course with handler PC Karl Mander. 

Chief Inspector Donna Harvey, from Staffordshire Police, said: 'Police dogs are our family, not property, and our thoughts are with the dog and his handler at this time.'

The dog showed a lot more courage and dedication to duty than the rest of the 'family'. At least it got stuck in!

New legislation also known as 'Finn's Law' came into force last month, which gives greater protection to all service animals.

The legislation introduced tougher penalties for those convicting of harming police dogs and horses.

Nutters, however, will get away with it...

The Guardian: Reliably Wrong About Everything...

Voice is going to become the chief way that we make our wants known to computers – and when they respond, they will do so with female voices.

This detail may seem trivial, but it goes to the heart of the way in which the spread of digital technologies can amplify and extend social prejudice.

*rolls eyes*

In these instances, the technology adapts to pre-existing stereotypes, and so helps to perpetuate them. This will become increasingly important as children learn from their own interactions with a voice assistant.

But this gendering is not inevitable.In some markets, Britain among them, Google offers a male voice for its assistant, though Alexa and Siri are always female.

Wait, what..? *checks iPhone*

Yup. My Siri is male.

"And Now You're Triple-Super-Banned!"

Jones, from Brecon, admitted two charges of unnecessary cruelty to animals, relating to two dogs that were injured.

He was given a custodial sentence because he was not allowed to keep dogs, having been previously convicted of having a dog dangerously out of control.

A pointless sentence, since no-one ever enforces it. But when all you have is a hammer...

All three defendants were banned from keeping dogs for life.

...you'll just keep on missing those nails!

Gotta Catch 'Em All!

All the grocer's apostrophes, that is...

Heathrow's Busier Than We Ever Dreamed!

And just think, those 130 million passengers all cram into the 650 planes that land or take off daily!

H/T: Stephen Brown via email

Sunday Funnies...

I'm astounded they could limit themselves to just five...

Tweet Of The Month

Two real corkers vying for the top spot this month:

Post Title Of The Month

Look, Tim, just have the award in perpetuity!

Quote Of The Month

DumbJon on the furore surrounding Gove's admission:

"Teachers: stop showing the kids unlikely public information films about how one tab of molly will turn them into a werewolf and just lay it out to them. Ask the kids: seriously, do you want to be as cool as Michael Gove?"