Friday 27 September 2013

NEW BOOK - Sci Fi Worlds



Internationally renowned blogger and writer on the paranormal, science fiction and conspiracy theories, Richard Thomas takes the reader on a tour through the galaxy of sci-fi worlds that have dominated our TV screens over the past 50 years. Along the way he interviews Nick Redfern, Nick Pope, Lex Gigeroff and others. In this fascinating ebook, Richard Thomas explores the deeper meanings behind some of our best loved TV science-fiction shows. He looks at Dr Who, Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, Doomwatch, and many others. He explores the themes used in the programmes, from time travel to transhumanism and explains some of the hidden meanings of the visual imagery shown on screen.
 
 
 

Thursday 26 September 2013

Balance of Payments problems in Roman Britain - the cause of imperial collapse?

Chapter 4
King Arthur the Right Bastard


Our sub title above is both cruel and somewhat exaggerated, but historians have been revising their view of Dark Age Britain and come up with some interesting ideas as to why the Britons became the Welsh and stuck in Wales (and the Cornish in Cornwall), rather than roaming most of the rest of this island.
In short, it may be down in no small part to money.
The British economy for centuries depended heavily on what amounted to civil service pay. Britain was celebrated for its hunting dogs, but you can’t run an economy off Crufts. It also had an ancient tin industry, less important now as the Bronze Age had long gone. People weren’t so desperately looking for that magic ingredient to mix with their copper to make their weapons of war and items of power and wealth. There was grain, and that was always in demand in the urban centres of the Mediterranean, though it was rather a distance to get it there.
So while trade did take place, and goods were being imported such as fine Samian ware from Gaul, a key component was imperial pay. Britain for much of its existence was an important military centre. With a defended land frontier in the North and a coastline exposed to the East and West to potential (and often, actual) raiders, at its height the island hosted three legions. On top of this there was the civil administration, with the number of local provincial capitals varying as the regional boundaries shifted over time, and each of these regional capitals had civil servants and a governor’s administrative staff that needed paying. Britain’s currency seems to have predominantly been imported on the back of these salaries, giving the province an early experience of trade deficits.
In the fifth century, direct imperial rule collapsed. In the absence of large amounts of historical data, there are different thoughts on what happened over the next hundred and fifty years, beyond the increasing appearance of Germanic settlements across the country, as the Roman way of life slowly disappears. One remarkable series of studies by Dr John Morris postulated that the celebrated Arthur character emerges to subdue the Angles and Saxons after an early revolt, but that a second rebellion a couple of generations later overturns the initial Romano-British hegemony and sets the scene for a gradual decline as a new wave of settlement from North Germany and Denmark follows.

from "A Fate Worse than Debt" by Dr Lee Rotherham

Buy your copy at a bookshop or Amazon


As the UK talks of cuts and austerity, this book explores for beginners the true scale of our financial problems, and some of the controversies behind modern spending. Warning: do not read if you suffer from high blood pressure, or lack a sense of humour in a crisis. Among the questions answered are: What is the difference between Deficit and Debt? How much does the United Kingdom Government really owe? Who is Scotland's forgotten debt genius? How big could you build a new Hadrian's Wall from Pound coins paid out of Britain's debt? Why was Britain's first civil war two thousand years ago triggered by debt repayments? How did WW2 US airmen unexpectedly help bail out Britain's war effort? What was the Geddes Axe, and how far did it swing? What can a wombat's posterior warn us of? How big is our creek today and is there a paddle? Launched to coincide with the Coalition Government's "make or break" 2013 Budget, this book puts the country's financial problems firmly under the microscope. It explains what is going on and why in terms the layman can understand - and will find absolutely terrifying. Possibly the most important book about government you will ever read.

Wednesday 25 September 2013

Attempts to pay off the UK National Debt, 1920s style




The National Fund was established in 1927 by an anonymous donor, who left the state £500,000 (of which £338,909 was in cash, and the rest in securities). The designated Trustee was Barings Bank. The money was conditional: it would be retained and accumulate debt until either alone, or in concert with other funds, it ran at a sufficient sum to discharge the national debt. The money could be invested but not put into business, trade, or the stock market. By the mid 1970s, it was bringing in about £7 million a year, a rate however it continues at today. As at April 2011, the total amount stood at £339.9 million – not even enough to cover three days of current debt interest. It has some way to go yet before being drawn upon.
The Elsie Mackay Fund was set up in 1927 by the first Lord Inchcape in memory of his daughter, an aviation pioneer who died in an early Transatlantic attempt. Under the terms, the money would accumulate for 45-50 years. Originally £527,809, by 1976 the fund (shortly before the account was closed) had reached only £4,039,302.
The John Buchanan Fund was set up in 1932, two years after the death of Dr Buchanan, with annuities to accumulate for fifty years. Trustees for this scheme included the Chancellor, the Governor of the Bank of England, and the Comptroller General of the National Debt Office. As at 1976, the sum appeared to have accumulated to a total of £100,978.
It is of course astonishing to look at these sums, once considered to be large sums of private wealth which, despite decades of investment, have barely amassed enough since to scratch the surface of our national debt. Had public spending been gotten under control, they would have provided the last step for a state to find its solvency. But perhaps there is a greater thing of astonishing value in these cases. The generosity of spirit that drove these benefactors – despite existing levels of taxation, including death duties – to provide what were at the time large amounts for public benefit is astonishing. Churchill indeed was even questioned as Chancellor over the National Fund as to whether the donation had deprived members of the family from their own inheritance. He ducked the question.

from "A Fate Worse than Debt" by Lee Rotherham

Buy your copy at a bookshop or Amazon

As the UK talks of cuts and austerity, this book explores for beginners the true scale of our financial problems, and some of the controversies behind modern spending. Warning: do not read if you suffer from high blood pressure, or lack a sense of humour in a crisis. Among the questions answered are: What is the difference between Deficit and Debt? How much does the United Kingdom Government really owe? Who is Scotland's forgotten debt genius? How big could you build a new Hadrian's Wall from Pound coins paid out of Britain's debt? Why was Britain's first civil war two thousand years ago triggered by debt repayments? How did WW2 US airmen unexpectedly help bail out Britain's war effort? What was the Geddes Axe, and how far did it swing? What can a wombat's posterior warn us of? How big is our creek today and is there a paddle? Launched to coincide with the Coalition Government's "make or break" 2013 Budget, this book puts the country's financial problems firmly under the microscope. It explains what is going on and why in terms the layman can understand - and will find absolutely terrifying. Possibly the most important book about government you will ever read.

Monday 23 September 2013

Can the LibDems help deal with the National Debt

Could the Lib Dems have helped? Well, this was what their manifesto said;
"The health of the economy depends on the health of the country’s finances. Public borrowing has reached unsustainable levels, and needs to be brought under control to protect the country’s economic future."
Excellent! There is hope for us yet with a coalition government... The document continues,
"A Liberal Democrat government will be straight with people about the tough choices ahead. Not only must waste be eliminated, but we must also be bold about finding big areas of spending that can be cut completely. That way we can control borrowing, protect the services people rely on most and still find some money to invest in building a fair future for everyone."
Brilliant! Nick Clegg’s team are going to be honest and upfront with us and get borrowing under control. That’s surely good. And here is what it means;
"We have already identified over £15 billion of savings in government spending per year, vastly in excess of the £5 billion per year that we have set aside for additional spending commitments. All our spending commitments will be funded from this pool of identified savings, with all remaining savings used to reduce the deficit."
Ah.
Sad smiley face :(
 So, these £20 billions of identified savings would be used to fund the Party’s new spending commitments; only what’s left over will be used to reduce the deficit (the deficit, again note, not the debt).  The £20 billions of savings all told that are worth about two months’ worth of monthly deficit at the end of 2011.
But there is some “straight talking” to follow;
"We must ensure the timing is right. If spending is cut too soon, it would undermine the much-needed recovery and cost jobs. We will base the timing of cuts on an objective assessment of economic conditions, not political dogma. Our working assumption is that the economy will be in a stable enough condition to bear cuts from the beginning of 2011–12."
Right, so the reason why Liberal Democrats didn’t want cuts after the General Election was because they wanted to avoid ‘dogma’, as opposed to because the country was racking up more massive debts with every passing day.
Not impressed.


from "A Fate Worse than Debt" by Dr Lee Rotherham

Buy your copy at Amazon or a bookshop







As the UK talks of cuts and austerity, this book explores for beginners the true scale of our financial problems, and some of the controversies behind modern spending. Warning: do not read if you suffer from high blood pressure, or lack a sense of humour in a crisis. Among the questions answered are: What is the difference between Deficit and Debt? How much does the United Kingdom Government really owe? Who is Scotland's forgotten debt genius? How big could you build a new Hadrian's Wall from Pound coins paid out of Britain's debt? Why was Britain's first civil war two thousand years ago triggered by debt repayments? How did WW2 US airmen unexpectedly help bail out Britain's war effort? What was the Geddes Axe, and how far did it swing? What can a wombat's posterior warn us of? How big is our creek today and is there a paddle? Launched to coincide with the Coalition Government's "make or break" 2013 Budget, this book puts the country's financial problems firmly under the microscope. It explains what is going on and why in terms the layman can understand - and will find absolutely terrifying. Possibly the most important book about government you will ever read.

Thursday 19 September 2013

Now as an ebook -





Entertaining yet scholarly account of how an obscure English outlaw has become the star of Hollywood movies, television shows, novels and comics across the world.

Robin Hood is one of the most instantly recognisable figures in world history — but did he ever really exist?

We are all familiar with the tales of a bold outlaw who stole from the rich to give to the poor. His faithful Merry Men — Little John, Friar Tuck, Will Scarlet, Much the Miller’s Son — are almost as well known as Robin himself.

In this book, the truth behind the legend is revealed. Was there really a Maid Marion? How did Robin Hood get his hood? Why is he so beloved of film makers?.

This fascinating book draws on the most recent academic research into folklore and legends to put together an accurate account of Robin Hood’s original life story, and how he has developed in folklore and legend to become what he is today.

Contents

1 - Robin Hood in Sherwood Stood
2 - And by him stood Little John
3 - A Bonny Fair Maid
4 - Until I that Curtled Friar see
5 - The Outlawed Earl of Huntingdon
6 - With a Coat of Lincoln Green
7 - Despoil the Rich only to Give to the Poor
8 - Robert Hood, Yeoman
9 - The Legend Lives

About the Author
Rupert Matthews has written over 150 books for different publishers, achieving significant sales in a variety of markets both in the UK and abroad. His works have been translated into 19 languages and have been shortlisted for a number of awards. Rupert has been a freelance writer for 20 years, working in-house at a major book publisher before going freelance.

About the Author

Rupert Matthews has written over 150 books for different publishers, achieving significant sales in a variety of markets both in the UK and abroad. His works have been translated into 19 languages and have been shortlisted for a number of awards. Rupert has been a freelance writer for 20 years, working in-house at a major book publisher before going freelance. 
 
 
Other formats available on www.BretwaldBooks.com
 

Product details

  • Format: Kindle Edition
  • File Size: 1911 KB
  • Print Length: 96 pages
  • Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
  • Publisher: Bretwalda Books (19 April 2013)
  • Sold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B00CGAKEK8
  • Text-to-Speech: Enabled

Monday 16 September 2013

1944 - The Chancellor of the Exchequer worries about Government Debt

On 28 June 1944, three weeks after D Day, the Chancellor wrote to Cabinet colleagues looking at the state of the nation’s finances after the war. His primary concern at this moment in time, however, lay not with the debt, but of a higher touted bill than even that – welfare reforms. Foremost amongst these changes were the Family Allowance, and especially the founding of the NHS.
"It is the case that the portion to be borne by the taxpayer will present itself to him as one important element in a tax burden which he may yet come to regard as almost intolerable, the part to be contributed by employers will present itself to the employers as an increased burden upon industry, and the part to be furnished as contribution by the beneficiaries will, in the case of people with small incomes, present itself as a very heavy dip into their valuable weekly funds and will constitute a burden which, though they may willingly bear it because of the benefits with which they will associate it, may yet render them much less willing than otherwise to bear their proper share of the general taxation which, must be collected to meet all the obligations and undertakings of the State in the post-war world."
The touted sums involved ran to one third of the total tax take of the country as it then stood.
Previous estimates on the rate of interest for the National Debt had meanwhile assumed the war would have been over by the end of March 1944, and assumptions now pushed this back to the end of that year in Europe, and the end of 1945 with Japan. But this was dwarfed by the increased costs the new social programme was going to have on the country’s finances. The Chancellor explained,
"During the past two and a half centuries Great Britain has emerged from each of her major wars with an annual debt charge which was extremely high in relation to the financial resources of the time. This usually gave rise to a budget problem of considerable difficulty, the debt service accounting for the greater part of the national expenditure as late as a hundred years ago. But in the course of time the debt burden was made less onerous partly by debt repayment and conversion, and partly by virtue of the fact that year by year taxes at a given rate yielded an increasing sum of money. It was mainly owing to the last fact that the huge burden of debt left behind by the Napoleonic Wars had become quite easy to carry by the end of the nineteenth century, and that there was no serious financial difficulty in the present century in opening the chapter of large-scale social expenditure."
This time round, the population was not going to explode and eat up debt by sheer numbers. All manner of packages would have to be dropped, including the idea of putting £100 million into the Sinking Fund. The Chancellor summarises his position in these terms;
"It is important to appreciate the long-term financial problem in its true perspective, since otherwise sub-conscious beliefs, based on a past experience that is no longer relevant, may create a misleading impression that time is bound to relieve our financial difficulties. It is especially important to scrutinise very carefully all proposed commitments that are likely to entail automatic increases of expenditure."


from "A Fate Worse Than Debt" by Dr Lee Rotherham

Buy your copy HERE




As the UK talks of cuts and austerity, this book explores for beginners the true scale of our financial problems, and some of the controversies behind modern spending. Warning: do not read if you suffer from high blood pressure, or lack a sense of humour in a crisis. Among the questions answered are: What is the difference between Deficit and Debt? How much does the United Kingdom Government really owe? Who is Scotland's forgotten debt genius? How big could you build a new Hadrian's Wall from Pound coins paid out of Britain's debt? Why was Britain's first civil war two thousand years ago triggered by debt repayments? How did WW2 US airmen unexpectedly help bail out Britain's war effort? What was the Geddes Axe, and how far did it swing? What can a wombat's posterior warn us of? How big is our creek today and is there a paddle? Launched to coincide with the Coalition Government's "make or break" 2013 Budget, this book puts the country's financial problems firmly under the microscope. It explains what is going on and why in terms the layman can understand - and will find absolutely terrifying. Possibly the most important book about government you will ever read.

Thursday 12 September 2013

New Book Launch Event just announced. Watch this space for further news.

 

The King’s Chalice
The new book
by Janet K.L. Seal
After the death of King Alfred, a small town in Wessex is plunged into conflict and kinship rivalry. A royal prince flees leaving his slave behind. Udda lives in hiding but renders a service to a noble.
Remarkable events follow the owners of the farm, whose loyalty to their King brings riches and tragedy in equal measure.
 
Local Author Janet K.L. Seal will be at The Priest's House Museum to sign copies her new book
on - 26th October
at - 2pm to 4.30pm
Refreshments