The lights are on but everyone’s at home (From Bucks Free Press)
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The lights are on but everyone’s at home
7:52pm Thursday 2nd February 2012
Isn’t the world mad?
We are constantly being told to save energy in our homes but when it comes to the public authorities cutting energy costs it’s a different story.
When an authority does investigate cost cutting measures they come up against a brick wall.
Take for example the article published on the news section of this site yesterday about Penn Parish Council wanting to have the timings altered on some street lights.
By switching off 137 of their street lights at midnight they hoped to save £1,000 per year.
I wholeheartedly agree with Penn Parish Council for deciding to switch off their street lights indeed yours truly proposed this very idea a few weeks ago in my regular weekly column in the printed version of the Bucks Free Press.
Sadly the great Penn street light switch off has been scuppered due to the electricity company wanting £7,000 to adjust the timings of the 137 lights concerned. That works out at approximately £51 to adjust each light.
Having street lights on when there is nobody around is such a waste of energy especially after midnight when nobody will notice if the lights are not on.
The cost of altering the lights is so high because apparently each light will have to be adjusted individually.
I would have thought that street lights would have been designed to have their timings altered easily as well as having easily replaceable and interchangeable parts.
Surely some of the newfangled modern technology could be employed to control the lights by computer or radio signal?
Why can’t some of the unemployed or offenders doing community service be diverted to the task of altering the lights? At least there would be no cost for labour in getting the lights altered.
With such a high cost quoted for changing the lights it looks like lights will stay on and the energy company will continue to receive payment for light that is simply wasted.
In truth things were better in the days of gas lamps indeed the older type of lamp was more flexible as the lamp lighter could simply be sent around earlier to put the lamp out.
Without a doubt its time the whole ethos behind street lighting needs looking at throughout the entire country and the waste of energy lighting the streets when nobody is around needs to be addressed..
How can we be told to save energy in our homes when we can look out the window into the street to see so much electricity being wasted so blatantly and what’s more we are paying for that waste through our taxes?
What do you think?
*Don't forget to read my regular column in this Friday's edition of the printed version of the Bucks Free Press!
LINK: "Penn parish council's energy saving idea halted due to costs" : http://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/news/9503573.Parish_council_s_energy_saving_idea_halted_due_to_costs/
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Comments(45)
ivor
says...
2:08am Fri 3 Feb 12
~
What do you think about the topic covered on this blog?
A VOTER
says...
2:16am Fri 3 Feb 12
ivor wrote:How should anyone take seriously the writings of a liar?
Re the comments of A VOTER at 2:03am ~ What do you think about the topic covered on this blog?
You are nothing more than a perpetual liar.
ivor
says...
2:17am Fri 3 Feb 12
~
I am trying to produce a serious blog here for the benefit of the people of Wycombe.
~
Now, tell me what you think to the topic of switching off the street lights?
A VOTER
says...
2:21am Fri 3 Feb 12
ivor wrote:I think it's despicable that a liar should be permitted to continue to write blogs and printed articles within the BFP
Re the comments of A VOTER at 2:16am ~ I am trying to produce a serious blog here for the benefit of the people of Wycombe. ~ Now, tell me what you think to the topic of switching off the street lights?
ivor
says...
2:24am Fri 3 Feb 12
~
Of course you have to say nasty things about me because you know that I am right and hard hitting topics covered in my blogs are too much for some to stomach....
gajcook
says...
10:58am Fri 3 Feb 12
A VOTER wrote:For all our sakes, give it a rest! OK, so Ivor's not a real person and some of the stuff he puts on here is downright nonsensical, but we get it. Can we not just move on? Please?
ivor wrote: Re the comments of A VOTER at 2:16am ~ I am trying to produce a serious blog here for the benefit of the people of Wycombe. ~ Now, tell me what you think to the topic of switching off the street lights?I think it's despicable that a liar should be permitted to continue to write blogs and printed articles within the BFP
Mutley
says...
11:32am Fri 3 Feb 12
(Philosophical question for A VOTER, Lawrence and the other one who keeps going on about Ivor: Is it possible for a fictional character to tell lies outside the bounds of the fiction?)
Procopius!
says...
11:55am Fri 3 Feb 12
gajcook wrote:I second that!
A VOTER wrote:For all our sakes, give it a rest! OK, so Ivor's not a real person and some of the stuff he puts on here is downright nonsensical, but we get it. Can we not just move on? Please?ivor wrote: Re the comments of A VOTER at 2:16am ~ I am trying to produce a serious blog here for the benefit of the people of Wycombe. ~ Now, tell me what you think to the topic of switching off the street lights?I think it's despicable that a liar should be permitted to continue to write blogs and printed articles within the BFP
Procopius!
says...
12:02pm Fri 3 Feb 12
Mutley wrote:I too would like the answer to your philosophical question. I have been puzzling over that one for a long time.
Street lights can appear wasteful especially when they occur in greater numbers such as at road junctions. I would be more concerned by the electricity and time wasted in the small hours by traffic lights. They use power to light the bulbs and more power to control the switchgear and all for no reason. I get very frustrated sitting at a junction at 3am when it is obvious there is nothing about just wasting my time and fuel. (Philosophical question for A VOTER, Lawrence and the other one who keeps going on about Ivor: Is it possible for a fictional character to tell lies outside the bounds of the fiction?)
A VOTER? Lawrence (I'm sure you will have an answer :-))? Alberto? Kent? Roger?
KentP
says...
12:56pm Fri 3 Feb 12
Procopius! wrote:screw it: one comment... as you were so kind to (bafflingly) include me (and Roger, who has been gone for even longer) in your list of 'offenders'
Mutley wrote:I too would like the answer to your philosophical question. I have been puzzling over that one for a long time.
Street lights can appear wasteful especially when they occur in greater numbers such as at road junctions. I would be more concerned by the electricity and time wasted in the small hours by traffic lights. They use power to light the bulbs and more power to control the switchgear and all for no reason. I get very frustrated sitting at a junction at 3am when it is obvious there is nothing about just wasting my time and fuel. (Philosophical question for A VOTER, Lawrence and the other one who keeps going on about Ivor: Is it possible for a fictional character to tell lies outside the bounds of the fiction?)
A VOTER? Lawrence (I'm sure you will have an answer :-))? Alberto? Kent? Roger?
with regards to the existence of i*** the character, I actually agree with you completely, there is utterly no point arguing over the existence of the figment of someone's imagination, which is why I stopped doing so, long, long ago...
what I would say though is that when damaging real-world comments are made by a fictional character and are claimed as 'fact', then the person behind the character (lets call him Richard) should be held fully accountable - be it for constant snide comments over a particular area in wycombe or derisory comments about women; genuinely bad science over nuclear power/low-energy bulbs/the environment generally, or any other cack the i*** character might come out with... it is the lack of moderation the BFP has over these more sinister elements which has since caused me to abandon it completely
I hope this is a satisfactory response for you - now kindly refrain from dragging my name into it again
usvelt
says...
2:31pm Fri 3 Feb 12
usvelt wrote:
Now that is odd my reply after beeing seen on the site has been removed again - I wonder why!
It was
The buildings of Wycombe: 13 Queens Square
I will reply a couple of times just to make sure
Now that is odd my reply after beeing seen on the site has been removed again - I wonder why!
It was
The buildings of Wycombe: 13 Queens Square
Procopius!
says...
4:24pm Fri 3 Feb 12
KentP wrote:Thank you for your detailed response Kent. I am very sorry, I must have confused you with someone else. It was lucky you are still reading Ivor’s blogs and were able to put me right.
Procopius! wrote:screw it: one comment... as you were so kind to (bafflingly) include me (and Roger, who has been gone for even longer) in your list of 'offenders' with regards to the existence of i*** the character, I actually agree with you completely, there is utterly no point arguing over the existence of the figment of someone's imagination, which is why I stopped doing so, long, long ago... what I would say though is that when damaging real-world comments are made by a fictional character and are claimed as 'fact', then the person behind the character (lets call him Richard) should be held fully accountable - be it for constant snide comments over a particular area in wycombe or derisory comments about women; genuinely bad science over nuclear power/low-energy bulbs/the environment generally, or any other cack the i*** character might come out with... it is the lack of moderation the BFP has over these more sinister elements which has since caused me to abandon it completely I hope this is a satisfactory response for you - now kindly refrain from dragging my name into it againMutley wrote: Street lights can appear wasteful especially when they occur in greater numbers such as at road junctions. I would be more concerned by the electricity and time wasted in the small hours by traffic lights. They use power to light the bulbs and more power to control the switchgear and all for no reason. I get very frustrated sitting at a junction at 3am when it is obvious there is nothing about just wasting my time and fuel. (Philosophical question for A VOTER, Lawrence and the other one who keeps going on about Ivor: Is it possible for a fictional character to tell lies outside the bounds of the fiction?)I too would like the answer to your philosophical question. I have been puzzling over that one for a long time. A VOTER? Lawrence (I'm sure you will have an answer :-))? Alberto? Kent? Roger?
katiexx
says...
11:02pm Fri 3 Feb 12
The street lights were put there origianly for a reason and that reason was to keep people safe!! If the lights are off then there will be more car accidents, more muggings etc.
Yes it is bad for the global warming etc. but I think that everyone would make more difference by switching off and using less at home rather than switching the public lights off.
ivor
says...
12:55am Sat 4 Feb 12
~
Indeed I second your comment, it is getting rather tiresome seeing the same (untrue) allegations being published time after time.
ivor
says...
12:55am Sat 4 Feb 12
~
Actually I would keep the lights at the junctions on just to make things safer however all the other lights can go off.
~
You do have a good point about the traffic lights, of course a roundabout uses no electricity at all....
~
As I am a real person I fear your philosophical question does not apply here however since you asked it I think it is incorrect for a fictional person to be accused of making incorrect statements after all fiction is about fantasy and not reality. Since there are allegations of untruths being aimed at me does that therefore not prove that those making the accusations must think that I am indeed real? In reality I am coming under fire because my views are frank, to the point, sensible and hit home hard....
ivor
says...
12:56am Sat 4 Feb 12
~
And I third it!
ivor
says...
12:56am Sat 4 Feb 12
~
Maybe I should do a blog on philosophy?
ivor
says...
12:56am Sat 4 Feb 12
~
Hello Kent, its nice to hear from you again and to know that you are still reading my blog if not commenting on it.
~
But I am real, why won't you accept that?
~
What was wrong with the things that I said? My blog is based on reality and the events that happen in my everyday life.
~
I so enjoyed it when you were commenting on my blog and I am sad that you no longer contribute.
ivor
says...
12:56am Sat 4 Feb 12
~
Ah, it was the Queens Square blog that you were referring to.
~
I will take a look tomorrow and reply to the comments.
ivor
says...
12:57am Sat 4 Feb 12
~
Yes, I can see your point of view but if the lights are turned off the criminals will not be able to see to commit crime! Not there’s a thought....
KentP
says...
1:30am Sat 4 Feb 12
ivor wrote:Actually one of my friends told me that some clown had mentioned me and I figured I had a right to reply - I don't often read your drivel for much the same reason as I don't bother commenting (trust me, today has been a one-off (technically a two-off now)
Re the comments of KentP at12:56pm
~
Hello Kent, its nice to hear from you again and to know that you are still reading my blog if not commenting on it.
~
But I am real, why won't you accept that?
~
What was wrong with the things that I said? My blog is based on reality and the events that happen in my everyday life.
~
I so enjoyed it when you were commenting on my blog and I am sad that you no longer contribute.
ivor
says...
1:33am Sat 4 Feb 12
~
A clown? Well, at least you weren't referring to me as a clown....
~
Well, I used to enjoy reading your comments and you are always welcome to stop by my blog any time you like in fact I actually miss hearing from you.
~
I am desperately trying to raise my blog up and touch on the important issues of the day, maybe you notice the difference?
Procopius!
says...
9:46am Sat 4 Feb 12
ivor wrote:A clown? Do you think Kent is referring to me? But I apologised so nicely to him. Do you think I make him laugh then? It is nice to know he has a sense of humour after all.
Re the comments of KentP at 1:30am ~ A clown? Well, at least you weren't referring to me as a clown.... ~ Well, I used to enjoy reading your comments and you are always welcome to stop by my blog any time you like in fact I actually miss hearing from you. ~ I am desperately trying to raise my blog up and touch on the important issues of the day, maybe you notice the difference?
usvelt
says...
12:52pm Sat 4 Feb 12
The buildings of Wycombe: 13 Queens Square?
I have left the same post on other blogs as well.
ivor
says...
1:45pm Sat 4 Feb 12
~
Well, it does look as if he thought you were indeed a circus performer but isn't that a compliment after all everyone loves a clown and they are the centre of attention when they enter the circus ring.
ivor
says...
1:46pm Sat 4 Feb 12
~
Well, it does look as if he thought you were indeed a circus performer but isn't that a compliment after all everyone loves a clown and they are the centre of attention when they enter the circus ring.
brachyura
says...
1:50pm Sat 4 Feb 12
ivor
says...
2:42pm Sat 4 Feb 12
~
I will respond in a short while.
ImpeturbableLawrence
says...
11:36pm Sun 5 Feb 12
gajcook wrote:It's more fun NOT to move on - let's all HATE igor!
A VOTER wrote:For all our sakes, give it a rest! OK, so Ivor's not a real person and some of the stuff he puts on here is downright nonsensical, but we get it. Can we not just move on? Please?
ivor wrote: Re the comments of A VOTER at 2:16am ~ I am trying to produce a serious blog here for the benefit of the people of Wycombe. ~ Now, tell me what you think to the topic of switching off the street lights?I think it's despicable that a liar should be permitted to continue to write blogs and printed articles within the BFP
ImpeturbableLawrence
says...
11:50pm Sun 5 Feb 12
Mutley wrote:I am a very intelligent person Mutley and I am not certain that I understand your question. Do you think Corker in Evelyn Waugh's comic masterpiece is 'lying' to william Boot when he tries to deceive Boot into getting off the ship at Aden? If 'William Hickey' or 'Peter Simple' tell an untruthful story about current politics in a gossip or a satirical column in the press then is the author of the column 'telling lies outside the bounds of the fiction'?
Street lights can appear wasteful especially when they occur in greater numbers such as at road junctions. I would be more concerned by the electricity and time wasted in the small hours by traffic lights. They use power to light the bulbs and more power to control the switchgear and all for no reason. I get very frustrated sitting at a junction at 3am when it is obvious there is nothing about just wasting my time and fuel.
(Philosophical question for A VOTER, Lawrence and the other one who keeps going on about Ivor: Is it possible for a fictional character to tell lies outside the bounds of the fiction?)
ImpeturbableLawrence
says...
11:52pm Sun 5 Feb 12
Procopius! wrote:As 'igor' would say 'what do you think'?
Mutley wrote:I too would like the answer to your philosophical question. I have been puzzling over that one for a long time.
Street lights can appear wasteful especially when they occur in greater numbers such as at road junctions. I would be more concerned by the electricity and time wasted in the small hours by traffic lights. They use power to light the bulbs and more power to control the switchgear and all for no reason. I get very frustrated sitting at a junction at 3am when it is obvious there is nothing about just wasting my time and fuel. (Philosophical question for A VOTER, Lawrence and the other one who keeps going on about Ivor: Is it possible for a fictional character to tell lies outside the bounds of the fiction?)
A VOTER? Lawrence (I'm sure you will have an answer :-))? Alberto? Kent? Roger?
ImpeturbableLawrence
says...
11:58pm Sun 5 Feb 12
Procopius! wrote:How do you know Kent read it? Perhaps some one else - some one who actually DOES read igor - POINTED Kent towards the Blog of Evil after THEY had read it.
KentP wrote:Thank you for your detailed response Kent. I am very sorry, I must have confused you with someone else. It was lucky you are still reading Ivor’s blogs and were able to put me right.
Procopius! wrote:screw it: one comment... as you were so kind to (bafflingly) include me (and Roger, who has been gone for even longer) in your list of 'offenders' with regards to the existence of i*** the character, I actually agree with you completely, there is utterly no point arguing over the existence of the figment of someone's imagination, which is why I stopped doing so, long, long ago... what I would say though is that when damaging real-world comments are made by a fictional character and are claimed as 'fact', then the person behind the character (lets call him Richard) should be held fully accountable - be it for constant snide comments over a particular area in wycombe or derisory comments about women; genuinely bad science over nuclear power/low-energy bulbs/the environment generally, or any other cack the i*** character might come out with... it is the lack of moderation the BFP has over these more sinister elements which has since caused me to abandon it completely I hope this is a satisfactory response for you - now kindly refrain from dragging my name into it againMutley wrote: Street lights can appear wasteful especially when they occur in greater numbers such as at road junctions. I would be more concerned by the electricity and time wasted in the small hours by traffic lights. They use power to light the bulbs and more power to control the switchgear and all for no reason. I get very frustrated sitting at a junction at 3am when it is obvious there is nothing about just wasting my time and fuel. (Philosophical question for A VOTER, Lawrence and the other one who keeps going on about Ivor: Is it possible for a fictional character to tell lies outside the bounds of the fiction?)I too would like the answer to your philosophical question. I have been puzzling over that one for a long time. A VOTER? Lawrence (I'm sure you will have an answer :-))? Alberto? Kent? Roger?
ImpeturbableLawrence
says...
12:00am Mon 6 Feb 12
ivor wrote:Is this a reference to allegations against yourself or your (untrue)paedophile allegations (and untrue everything else allegations)?
Re the comments of gajcook at 10:58am
~
Indeed I second your comment, it is getting rather tiresome seeing the same (untrue) allegations being published time after time.
ImpeturbableLawrence
says...
12:04am Mon 6 Feb 12
ivor wrote:But do you think Procrappius is more like a MONKEY perhaps igor?
Re the comments of Procopius! at 9:46am
~
Well, it does look as if he thought you were indeed a circus performer but isn't that a compliment after all everyone loves a clown and they are the centre of attention when they enter the circus ring.
ImpeturbableLawrence
says...
12:25am Mon 6 Feb 12
ImpeturbableLawrence wrote:I wrote this in a bit of a hurry - 'Evelyn Waugh's comic masterpiece' is of course 'Scoop' and there should be a capital letter on 'William'.
Mutley wrote:I am a very intelligent person Mutley and I am not certain that I understand your question. Do you think Corker in Evelyn Waugh's comic masterpiece is 'lying' to william Boot when he tries to deceive Boot into getting off the ship at Aden? If 'William Hickey' or 'Peter Simple' tell an untruthful story about current politics in a gossip or a satirical column in the press then is the author of the column 'telling lies outside the bounds of the fiction'?
Street lights can appear wasteful especially when they occur in greater numbers such as at road junctions. I would be more concerned by the electricity and time wasted in the small hours by traffic lights. They use power to light the bulbs and more power to control the switchgear and all for no reason. I get very frustrated sitting at a junction at 3am when it is obvious there is nothing about just wasting my time and fuel.
(Philosophical question for A VOTER, Lawrence and the other one who keeps going on about Ivor: Is it possible for a fictional character to tell lies outside the bounds of the fiction?)
ImpeturbableLawrence
says...
12:27am Mon 6 Feb 12
Mutley wrote:I'd forgotten what fun rubbishing igor was until you and 'Philocrappius' reminded me - thank you both.
Street lights can appear wasteful especially when they occur in greater numbers such as at road junctions. I would be more concerned by the electricity and time wasted in the small hours by traffic lights. They use power to light the bulbs and more power to control the switchgear and all for no reason. I get very frustrated sitting at a junction at 3am when it is obvious there is nothing about just wasting my time and fuel.
(Philosophical question for A VOTER, Lawrence and the other one who keeps going on about Ivor: Is it possible for a fictional character to tell lies outside the bounds of the fiction?)
ImpeturbableLawrence
says...
12:30am Mon 6 Feb 12
ivor wrote:'... frank, to the point, sensible and hit home hard....' oh dear! LOL!
Re the comments of Mutley at 11:32am
~
Actually I would keep the lights at the junctions on just to make things safer however all the other lights can go off.
~
You do have a good point about the traffic lights, of course a roundabout uses no electricity at all....
~
As I am a real person I fear your philosophical question does not apply here however since you asked it I think it is incorrect for a fictional person to be accused of making incorrect statements after all fiction is about fantasy and not reality. Since there are allegations of untruths being aimed at me does that therefore not prove that those making the accusations must think that I am indeed real? In reality I am coming under fire because my views are frank, to the point, sensible and hit home hard....
ImpeturbableLawrence
says...
12:31am Mon 6 Feb 12
ImpeturbableLawrence
says...
12:33am Mon 6 Feb 12
ivor wrote:I don't blame you for being desperate - sometimes it is easy to miss the the important issues - try sandwiches and bloked drains if you want sure-fire important issues.
Re the comments of KentP at 1:30am
~
A clown? Well, at least you weren't referring to me as a clown....
~
Well, I used to enjoy reading your comments and you are always welcome to stop by my blog any time you like in fact I actually miss hearing from you.
~
I am desperately trying to raise my blog up and touch on the important issues of the day, maybe you notice the difference?
ImpeturbableLawrence
says...
12:34am Mon 6 Feb 12
ivor wrote:Yeah - go for it!
Re the comments of Procopius! at 12:02pm
~
Maybe I should do a blog on philosophy?
gotanybiscuits?
says...
7:19am Mon 6 Feb 12
ImpeturbableLawrence wrote:+1
I think the 'igor' column is funniest when he is trying to be serious and noble - what do you think?
Alberto The Great
says...
10:21am Mon 6 Feb 12
gotanybiscuits? wrote:+2
ImpeturbableLawrence wrote:+1
I think the 'igor' column is funniest when he is trying to be serious and noble - what do you think?
A VOTER
says...
10:40am Mon 6 Feb 12
Mutley wrote:Answer.
Street lights can appear wasteful especially when they occur in greater numbers such as at road junctions. I would be more concerned by the electricity and time wasted in the small hours by traffic lights. They use power to light the bulbs and more power to control the switchgear and all for no reason. I get very frustrated sitting at a junction at 3am when it is obvious there is nothing about just wasting my time and fuel.
(Philosophical question for A VOTER, Lawrence and the other one who keeps going on about Ivor: Is it possible for a fictional character to tell lies outside the bounds of the fiction?)
Igor claims to be real.
Igor claims the Bigun family is real.
Igor claims his long historical family references are real.
Igor claims that Bigun Hall is real
Igor claims that the toxic gas from a broken eco bulb is a sufficient danger to warrant the evacuation of houses in the surrounding vicinity.
Igor makes references to very young girls in an unwarranted sexual manner.
Igor claims to have sexual deviances requiring journeys to a building at the end of his garden, where he methodically cuts out photos of sexually alluring women from various standard newspapers and magazines.
If the above is real, then he needs psychotherapy.
If the above is fiction, then the BFP needs to put out a disclaimer with each of his blogs declaring that they are only works of fiction.
You will note that publicly produced fiction requires such a written disclaimer. To date, this has never happened.
Mutley
says...
11:34am Mon 6 Feb 12
So Ivor Bigun is a fictional character and therefore the stories of his home and ancestry are also fictional even if possibly based loosely on some real person. So anything he (they?) writes about himself and his experiences I treat as fiction. They may be based on the experiences of a real person but they are still fiction.
Where it becomes a problem for me is if real, identifiable, people or events are spoken about in an untruthful or distorted manner. None of the examples quoted by A VOTER come into that category.
The Ivor character is deliberately provocative but sometimes his subject matter goes beyond what I consider decent and maybe that reflects the person behind the character.
The lights are on but there is nobody about.
A VOTER says...
2:03am Fri 3 Feb 12
Maybe, it's because you tell lies all the time!