Another US government shutdown looms

This won't be much of a post as I've shared most of what I know US budget issues before (and here as well).

It is however important to note that once again the House of Representatives is pretty much going to close down the US government on Tuesday.

Congressmen need to sort out spending plans for the year to come but GOP members are using this constitutional requirement to register their hatred of the President's most cherished legislation - Obamacare.

The Republicans have actually created a full spending bill already, but it comes with the proviso that funding for Obamacare is deferred for a year.

This is anathema for Obama and he has already said he will veto any bill that threatens Obamacare funding.

On top of that, Harry Reid, leader of the Democrats in the Senate, which is Democrat-controlled and must approve any budget bill sent from the House, has supported Obama's position.

The budget must be resolved and if it isn't it will affect the running of the governmental system and the economy of the US and the world (that isn't an understatement).

Tea Party-ers in the GOP have every right to make their point but it is reckless to do so now when the stakes are so high.

They are playing with people's lives and will lose popularity - #gopshutdown is trending at the moment for a reason.

Lets hope this all changes and they work things out before 00:01 on Tuesday and before hundreds of thousands of government employees report for work a few hours later.

Debate warmly encouraged.

For more on the effects of any shutdown you can watch this video from CNN.

The REALLY keen can read this 66 point Q+A (!) from USA Today.

A Day on the NCTJ Course

The blog has been neglected the last few weeks as I've started a new training course with the Press Association in Newcastle. I am absolutely loving it as we have had some great teaching, heard some really interesting visiting speakers and I'm blessed with a group of cracking coursemates. As a quick and easy post I thought I would give you an insight into a day of my life at the moment. Busy times!!

Alarm. Bother, not enough sleep.

Up and out of bed, getting more cold and less easy, grab some breakfast, wash the face, shave, change.

Get the bike out, load bag, hit the road.

Dodge the buses, Chelsea tractors, get out of the bike lane.

Past that car, over the roundabout, GET OUT OF THE BIKE LANE!

Get into town, stop at the lights.

Stop at the lights.

Stop at the lights.

Arrive at the garage, lock the bike, through the door and up the stairs.

Sweat, wipe and change into suit.

Start the day with the papers, prep for news quiz at the end.

Syria, Cameron, cats and boobs.

It never changes.

The Express cures a disease or worships Diana, the other have some variety.

All show their colours, all worry about sales. Money is short and so are people willing to pay for news

On to shorthand.

Shorthand, the word that keeps grown men from sleep and tramples on their dreams.

Susan is lovely, teeline slowly goes into the brain.

“Ready?”

No, make it stop. I will give you money. Actually you’re lovely, I can’t hate you. Carry on.

One hour done, another hour to come later.

Next we have law. Or government. Or maybe a speaker to tell you how the newspaper business is dying. No problem, the solution will be found, it just needs its Columbus. They’ll get there.

Government means county councils or the joys of Local Education Authorities.

Community schools v. Community colleges. Academies v. Free schools.

Fight.

Law means magistrates courts and interesting precedents.

“There is no such thing, in my view, known to the law as the anonymous JP” – R. v. Felixstowe Justices ex parte Leigh 1987. I typed that from memory so something must be right.

Time for shorthand again, though in reality it never stops.

20, 30, 40 words per minute.

“Ready?”

Yep, born ready.....maybe.

Another hour down and we reach lunch. My head hurts.

An hour for lunch, chase up stories, read the papers for the news quiz, maybe revise for a law or government exam. Oh, and eat lunch.

The afternoons can be slower, so perhaps production (page design) or again a visiting speaker.

Other times we share stories or photos we liked, and soon we’ll be reviewing the stories we are writing.

That reminds me, you see ANYTHING happening in Newcastle then tell me. I will love you.

The news quiz at the end and a chance to show what we’ve read.

Page 3 is Aimii from Surrey, statistics from the news, spot the cat story du jour.

End of the day around 5pm but actually there is more to do.

Shorthand.

Again it rears its ugly head, just put in the hours and work on it hard.

Drill words and drill again.

“Before, before, before, before.

“Equipment, equipment, equipment, equipment.”

I’ll get it, just give me time.

7pm and time for home.

Load the bag, change into cycling gear, down to the garage, lights on the bike, fluorescent stuff on and go.

It’s getting darker so time to be careful, dodge the taxis who have their own laws.

Home and dinner followed by (guess what) shorthand, then some reading and revision for a test the next day.

Xbox killing followed by bed.

Tomorrow I do it all again.

I want to be a journalist.