A bright and sunny day, quite breezy with the odd sharp shower. I think I prefer our temperate climate to the extreme temperatures that were affecting mainland Europe yesterday: I had reports of nearly 35C in Holland.
I was saddened to see the festive welcome afforded to released Lockerbie bomber Al-Megrahi in Tripoli, Libya, yesterday. The Scottish Saltire flag (white cross on blue background) was waved near the plane as the man descended from the steps. He was being welcomed home a hero. It says more about the true nature of Col Gadaffi's regime than about the decision by Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny Macaskill to release Al-Megrahi on compassionate ground. He remains a convicted murderer, and will remain so until his death. It is said that he wasn't happy to abandon the appeal against his conviction.
Colonel Gadaffi, a maverick on the international political stage, has been sidling up to the US and UK in recent years, after seeing the treatment doled out to fellow dictator Saddam Hussein in Iraq in 2003. Tony Blair went to meet him in the desert, and Gadaffi abandoned his nuclear programme and what not, to have sanctions lifted (imposed after Lockerbie) and draw in lucrative investments. Yesterday was the 40th anniversary of the coup d'etat that brought Gadaffi to power. It was also the day that Al-Megrahi, a throw-back to the bad days, returned to Tripoli. It was his homecoming (sic). One that showed Gadaffi in his true colours.
Kenny Macaskill made the right decision, for the right reasons, acting according to the principles that underpin Scottish society, the Scottish legal and prison system. He has been vilified in the American press, understandably so. I do hope that observers across the pond, rather than continuing this barrage, see that it is in fact Gadaffi that the focus should be on, coming out of this with his hands still as dirty as they were in the 1980s.
Friday, 21 August 2009
Thursday, 20 August 2009
Hurricane Bill
Hurricane Bill, 20 August 2009, 2045 GMT - 40 minutes ago. Winds of galeforce and higher extend a mere 260 miles / 420 km from its centre; hurricane force winds blow within 115 miles / 190 km from its centre. Bill is not likely to affect land at its current strength, winds of 135 mph, although Bermuda will feel its effects over the next day or so. The Canadian Maritimes can expect to see some of Bill's force in ameliorated form - although winds of 105 mph (offshore from Nova Scotia) are still no teaparty. Keep an eye on the NHC output and that of the Canadian Hurricane centre. The United States will not be directly affected by Bill, other than in the shape of extremely dangerous surf and life-threatening rip currents caused by high swell, generated by the hurricane, which will impact its entire eastern coastline. Please be careful when you go down the beach this weekend. Next week, Bill will come to visit Ireland and Great Britain as a vigorous depression.
For the moment, I'm content to watch from 3,500 miles away and admire the beauty in Nature's force from high above. Hurricanes are not monsters, they are a useful venting mechanism in the planet's redistribution of the sun's heat. Just keep out of their way if you can.
Another August
The year is 1989, also 20 August. One hundred and thirty people are on aboard a pleasure craft on the River Thames in London having a party when the vessel was rammed by the dredger Bow Belle. Fifty-one of those on board the pleasure craft drowned in what was to become known as the Marchioness disaster, named after the craft. Read the article on the BBC website and remember the victims of this tragedy today, twenty years on.
The focus today is heavily on the release of the Lockerbie bomber, and I have just turned off coverage on BBC TV and Twitter, some 15 minutes after his plane took off into the cloudy skies above Glasgow. In 4 hours' time, he will touch down in Tripoli, Libya, to a hero's welcome. And apart from the man with the long name, a certain colonel will also be a hero. He has come back out of the cold, feted by the great and 'good' of the world now that he has become the best boy of the class.
The overwhelming sentiments of reactions on Twitter were negative, along the lines of "where was the compassion for his victims?" The repercussions will be heavily political, both inside and outside the United Kingdom. American reactions have been particularly vociferous - understandable, with some 35 students from a college in Syracuse among the dead of Lockerbie. As were 11 townspeople in Lockerbie itself. It still remains an eerie memory to see the wreckage of an aircraft strewn along the M74 motorway, which I know quite well, with the familiar roadsigns - and a big hole in the ground beside ravaged houses.
Image courtesy BBC
In death, all are equal, as I said before on a different subject. Megrahi, like any convicted criminal, deserves compassion and mercy when it becomes clear he has not long to live with a terminal illness. I support the Scottish Justice Secretary's stance on that, and on balance (60/40), that is my line. Also because I believe that Megrahi's was merely a scapegoat, to stand trial in lieu of dozens of other people who were in the know and who will never have to face justice over the 270 dead of Lockerbie.
The focus today is heavily on the release of the Lockerbie bomber, and I have just turned off coverage on BBC TV and Twitter, some 15 minutes after his plane took off into the cloudy skies above Glasgow. In 4 hours' time, he will touch down in Tripoli, Libya, to a hero's welcome. And apart from the man with the long name, a certain colonel will also be a hero. He has come back out of the cold, feted by the great and 'good' of the world now that he has become the best boy of the class.
The overwhelming sentiments of reactions on Twitter were negative, along the lines of "where was the compassion for his victims?" The repercussions will be heavily political, both inside and outside the United Kingdom. American reactions have been particularly vociferous - understandable, with some 35 students from a college in Syracuse among the dead of Lockerbie. As were 11 townspeople in Lockerbie itself. It still remains an eerie memory to see the wreckage of an aircraft strewn along the M74 motorway, which I know quite well, with the familiar roadsigns - and a big hole in the ground beside ravaged houses.
Image courtesy BBC
In death, all are equal, as I said before on a different subject. Megrahi, like any convicted criminal, deserves compassion and mercy when it becomes clear he has not long to live with a terminal illness. I support the Scottish Justice Secretary's stance on that, and on balance (60/40), that is my line. Also because I believe that Megrahi's was merely a scapegoat, to stand trial in lieu of dozens of other people who were in the know and who will never have to face justice over the 270 dead of Lockerbie.
Thursday 20 August
This afternoon at 1.25pm, the Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny Macaskill announced that the sole person convicted of the bombing of PanAm flight 103 on 21 December 1988 is to be released from prison at Greenock on compassionate grounds. The bombing killed 270 people, both on the plane and on the ground in the town of Lockerbie, a small town in southern Scotland, some 60 miles southeast of Glasgow.
The finger of blame very quickly pointed at Libya, and it took 14 years for a man to be put on trial and convicted. The trial took place at Camp Zeist, Holland, but was, formally speaking, in a Scottish court. Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi was sentenced to life in jail, with a recommendation he serve at least 27 years.
A prisoner transfer was applied for between the UK and Libya, but actually rejected. Megrahi was diagnosed with prostate cancer, which was deemed to be terminal with a life expectance of about 3 months at the beginning of August. It is for that reason that he has been released.
Kenny Macaskill said he was aware of the pain and deep wounds and scars left by the Lockerbie bombing, but felt that compassion, although denied to Megrahi's victims, should be afforded to all prisoners, irrespective of their length of sentence.
As I type this, it is reported that Megrahi will be welcomed on arrival at Tripoli by Libya's leader, Col Gadaffi.
I support Mr Macaskill's view that compassion and mercy should be shown. I also support the victim's relatives views that justice may not have been shown to be served and that Megrahi should have served the rest of his life in prison.
The finger of blame very quickly pointed at Libya, and it took 14 years for a man to be put on trial and convicted. The trial took place at Camp Zeist, Holland, but was, formally speaking, in a Scottish court. Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi was sentenced to life in jail, with a recommendation he serve at least 27 years.
A prisoner transfer was applied for between the UK and Libya, but actually rejected. Megrahi was diagnosed with prostate cancer, which was deemed to be terminal with a life expectance of about 3 months at the beginning of August. It is for that reason that he has been released.
Kenny Macaskill said he was aware of the pain and deep wounds and scars left by the Lockerbie bombing, but felt that compassion, although denied to Megrahi's victims, should be afforded to all prisoners, irrespective of their length of sentence.
As I type this, it is reported that Megrahi will be welcomed on arrival at Tripoli by Libya's leader, Col Gadaffi.
I support Mr Macaskill's view that compassion and mercy should be shown. I also support the victim's relatives views that justice may not have been shown to be served and that Megrahi should have served the rest of his life in prison.
Wednesday, 19 August 2009
Wednesday 19 August
Not a very good day in terms of weather, with a strong southerly wind. Although this morning's heavy rain has subsided, the brightness is only slowly turning up.
This morning, the large private motoryacht Le Grand Bleu is lying anchored in Glumag Harbour. It is one of the largest privately owned yachts in the world, weighing in at 108 metres in length and 5,556 gross tonnage. It is owned by one of the richest people in Russia, who had it gifted to him by Roman Abramovich, well known in football circles in the UK.
Hurricane Bill is now a category IV hurricane and will steadily veer on a more northerly course over the next couple of days. New England and Nova Scotia should start keeping an eye on this system for the coming weekend. The forecast shows the storms skimming the southeastern point of Nova Scotia in 5 days' time; a very long way off as yet, so keep an eye on the NHC output.
Typhoon Vamco is in the open Pacific, 1,000 miles from any land. It is not certain if any land will be affected by this system; if so, it will be no earlier than the middle of next week.
This morning, the large private motoryacht Le Grand Bleu is lying anchored in Glumag Harbour. It is one of the largest privately owned yachts in the world, weighing in at 108 metres in length and 5,556 gross tonnage. It is owned by one of the richest people in Russia, who had it gifted to him by Roman Abramovich, well known in football circles in the UK.
Hurricane Bill is now a category IV hurricane and will steadily veer on a more northerly course over the next couple of days. New England and Nova Scotia should start keeping an eye on this system for the coming weekend. The forecast shows the storms skimming the southeastern point of Nova Scotia in 5 days' time; a very long way off as yet, so keep an eye on the NHC output.
Typhoon Vamco is in the open Pacific, 1,000 miles from any land. It is not certain if any land will be affected by this system; if so, it will be no earlier than the middle of next week.
Tuesday, 18 August 2009
Ardbheag and Lochresort
Ardbheag and Lochresort
This article on the website of the Uig Historical Society shows pictures of a recent trip they did to Hamnaway, Ardbeag and Luachar - strange names of some of the remotest areas in Lewis and immediately adjacent Harris. It is still on my to-do list to walk to Hamnaway and Ardbeag (a distance of 8 and 10 miles from the road at Carnish).
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This article on the website of the Uig Historical Society shows pictures of a recent trip they did to Hamnaway, Ardbeag and Luachar - strange names of some of the remotest areas in Lewis and immediately adjacent Harris. It is still on my to-do list to walk to Hamnaway and Ardbeag (a distance of 8 and 10 miles from the road at Carnish).
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Like a ship out of water
Just like last Sunday, AIS is throwing a wobbly. The ship, the Arundo, is shown as sailing across the Harris hills. Wish I was there, I want to see this lol
Tuesday 18 August
It's supposed to be summer, but you could have fooled me. Rain only a short distance away (oh, it just passed over) and more to come this afternoon.
The Russian ship "Arctic Sea", shown above, was found off Cape Verde (West Africa) on Sunday, after being missing for more than 2 weeks. Its last sighting was off the French coast on July 30th, and it took the Russian navy a wee while to trace it to West Africa. Investigations are underway, and 8 people are under arrest aboard a Russian naval vessel under suspicion of piracy. This piracy is alleged to have started in the Baltic Sea, not exactly known as a hotbed for pirates.
Seven US Senators have registered their opposition to the intended release of Lockerbie bombing convict Megrahi from prison in Scotland. It would appear that the decision by Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny Macaskill will be his alone to take, and the signs are that the transfer to Libya could well be going ahead. It is my personal opinion that although Megrahi's guilt was proven beyond reasonable doubt in a Scottish Court of Law (sitting in Holland), he was put forward as a scapegoat or fall guy to take the rap for something that had the pawmarks of a certain colonel all over it.
The Russian ship "Arctic Sea", shown above, was found off Cape Verde (West Africa) on Sunday, after being missing for more than 2 weeks. Its last sighting was off the French coast on July 30th, and it took the Russian navy a wee while to trace it to West Africa. Investigations are underway, and 8 people are under arrest aboard a Russian naval vessel under suspicion of piracy. This piracy is alleged to have started in the Baltic Sea, not exactly known as a hotbed for pirates.
Seven US Senators have registered their opposition to the intended release of Lockerbie bombing convict Megrahi from prison in Scotland. It would appear that the decision by Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny Macaskill will be his alone to take, and the signs are that the transfer to Libya could well be going ahead. It is my personal opinion that although Megrahi's guilt was proven beyond reasonable doubt in a Scottish Court of Law (sitting in Holland), he was put forward as a scapegoat or fall guy to take the rap for something that had the pawmarks of a certain colonel all over it.
Monday, 17 August 2009
Roll of Honour
The Roll of Honour for the Isle of Lewis 1914-1919 has been published on-line on this link. It is a straight transcription, with some paraphrasing here and there to condense wordy descriptions. Otherwise, no information has been added that was not in the copy, residing in Stornoway Library.
More extensive information on men that died as a result of the war has been collected in the Faces from the War Memorial site.
Project 2996
I have posted about this on Facebook and Twitter, and will also put this on here.Every year, tributes are being published on blogs around the world in memory of the victims of 9/11. The effort is coordinated by D. Challener Roe on http://project2996.wordpress.com. If you'd like to participate, please visit his site. You don't need a blog or website of your own.
Hurricane update - 17 August
I now have six tropical cyclones to cover, most not threatening land.
- Tropical depression Ana is falling to pieces to the southeast of St Croix in the Caribbean, and only rain will remain a threat.
- Hurricane Bill, the first hurricane of the Atlantic season, is not threatening land at this time either.
- Tropical storm Claudette moved ashore in the Florida Panhandle at midnight local time near Fort Walton Beach. Again, only rain will be a threat.
- In the Pacific, Guillermo is being torn apart by contrary winds in the atmosphere to the northeast of Hawaii.
- Tropical depression Maka is still trying to keep the show on the road in the middle of nowhere, 400 miles east of Wake Island
- Tropical depression 11 has formed 800 miles east of Guam, and is heading north - in the general direction of Japan. If its course does not alter, Japan might be in for a nasty surprise in the shape of a typhoon in a week from now.
Sunday, 16 August 2009
Hurricane update (2) - 16 August
Tropical storm Claudette is continuing to move north towards the coast of the Florida Panhandle. It carries winds of up to 50 mph, which will continue to strengthen until landfall, expected around midnight EDT. Winds of 40 mph or higher occur within 70 miles of Claudette's centre, meaning that a tropical storm warning has been declared from the Florida / Alabama border to the Suwannee River. This means that TS conditions are expected within 24 hours. Coastal storm surge flooding of 3 to 5 feet above normal tidal levels along the coast of the Florida Panhandle and the Big Bend.
Please note Claudette is NOT a hurricane; its current winds equate to force 10 on the Beaufort scale.
Please note That this information is a summary from the NHC, and full details must be obtained from the NHC website.
Please note Claudette is NOT a hurricane; its current winds equate to force 10 on the Beaufort scale.
Please note That this information is a summary from the NHC, and full details must be obtained from the NHC website.
Gundamain on AIS
AIS (Automatic Identification System) is a system which logs the location, course, destination and speed of most ships over 300 tons. I am an avid user of its reflection on the Internet, www.shipais.com, particularly to find out about ships in my area. Stornoway is not a busy port, so any unknown vessel has me running to the window. This afternoon, nothing is coming or going (apart from the ferry), but AIS shows the following - the boat I'm on about is highlighted in yellow.
The view from the window shows this
My attention was on the large yacht, the Gundamain, which you can see against the backdrop of the hills. Its description as a 2,159 gross tonnage oil products tanker is patently wrong. Just wondering if anyone who reads my Twitter feed or this blog could drop them a line to correct their settings.
Edit: The IMO number refers to the tanker Janet C, pictures of which now feature on AIS in connection with this yacht.
The view from the window shows this
My attention was on the large yacht, the Gundamain, which you can see against the backdrop of the hills. Its description as a 2,159 gross tonnage oil products tanker is patently wrong. Just wondering if anyone who reads my Twitter feed or this blog could drop them a line to correct their settings.
Edit: The IMO number refers to the tanker Janet C, pictures of which now feature on AIS in connection with this yacht.
Sunday 16 August
Today's weather is a lot better than yesterday's, with the sun out, a moderate breeze and (as yet) not rain. The radar shows rain moving away east. It's not often we get a full, 24 hour, dose of rain, contrary to the Western Isles' reputation - but it does happen.
A pharmacist from southern England has published an Open Letter to the Americans, with regard to the current debate on healthcare in the USA. All I can say is that I hope the current frank discussion that is taking place across the pond will result in a healthcare system that is fair, accessible and affordable to all. Including the 47 million who currently don't have that.
A pharmacist from southern England has published an Open Letter to the Americans, with regard to the current debate on healthcare in the USA. All I can say is that I hope the current frank discussion that is taking place across the pond will result in a healthcare system that is fair, accessible and affordable to all. Including the 47 million who currently don't have that.
Hurricane update - 16 August
The Atlantic hurricane season has turned into the proverbial number 11 bus service: you wait for ages for one to come, and then three all come at once. Let's have a look.
Tropical storm Ana, a bit of a ragged affair 560 miles east of the Leeward Islands, is making steady progress west and will affect the islands on Monday. Rain appears to be the main danger, although 40 knots of wind (that's force 9 on the Beaufort scale) cannot be dismissed.
Tropical storm Bill is more than 1,500 miles east of the Leeward Islands, and is expected to pass to their north as a category III hurricane on Wednesday or Thursday.
Tropical depression 04L (soon to be Claudette) has sprung up in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico, 150 miles south of Apalachicola and is moving north towards the Gulf coast. Winds are expected to rise to 45 knots (that's close on force 10), rainfall up to 10 inches and a 3 to 5 feet storm surge. If you're in the Panhandle, please monitor the 3-hourly output from NHC for updates and warnings.
The Pacific is not quiet either, but for the moment nothing is threatening land. Guillermo is blowing himself out more than 1,000 miles east of Hawaii, and will not affect that state; Maka is in the middle of nowhere (hundreds of miles from Wake Island, if you can find that on a map), although a 75 knot typhoon (by Wednesday) is always worth watching. And something is brewing northeast of the Polynesian island of Pohnpei (again, get the atlas out). If interested, keep an eye on the Joint Typhoon Warning Center's website.
For reference: a typhoon is the same as a hurricane.
Tropical storm Ana, a bit of a ragged affair 560 miles east of the Leeward Islands, is making steady progress west and will affect the islands on Monday. Rain appears to be the main danger, although 40 knots of wind (that's force 9 on the Beaufort scale) cannot be dismissed.
Tropical storm Bill is more than 1,500 miles east of the Leeward Islands, and is expected to pass to their north as a category III hurricane on Wednesday or Thursday.
Tropical depression 04L (soon to be Claudette) has sprung up in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico, 150 miles south of Apalachicola and is moving north towards the Gulf coast. Winds are expected to rise to 45 knots (that's close on force 10), rainfall up to 10 inches and a 3 to 5 feet storm surge. If you're in the Panhandle, please monitor the 3-hourly output from NHC for updates and warnings.
The Pacific is not quiet either, but for the moment nothing is threatening land. Guillermo is blowing himself out more than 1,000 miles east of Hawaii, and will not affect that state; Maka is in the middle of nowhere (hundreds of miles from Wake Island, if you can find that on a map), although a 75 knot typhoon (by Wednesday) is always worth watching. And something is brewing northeast of the Polynesian island of Pohnpei (again, get the atlas out). If interested, keep an eye on the Joint Typhoon Warning Center's website.
For reference: a typhoon is the same as a hurricane.
Saturday, 15 August 2009
Came and went
I mentioned in my previous post that the cruiseliner Delphin was approaching Stornoway from the south, closely hugging the Lochs coast. About an hour ago, it hove into view from my position but then it made a graceful turn from a northwesterly to a northeasterly course and went on its way again.
ShipAIS shows a vessel's destination, which was marked as Stornoway until about 12.30pm; now, with the Delphin moving away into the Minch again, it is due into Invergordon at 6 am tomorrow morning.
I can understand why the ship chose to abandon its date with Stornoway. The southerly wind, blowing at a steady force 6 with higher gusts, has already whipped up the sea to choppy state (clearly visible in above pic), making transfer by tender a hazardous undertaking. The Delphin has a draught of 6.3 metres (21 feet), which is only 1 metre / 3 feet below the maximum draught that Stornoway harbour can take.
I hope the passengers on the Delphin have a comfortable crossing to Invergordon today, and that they will one day return on a better day to see what the Isle of Lewis has to offer.
ShipAIS shows a vessel's destination, which was marked as Stornoway until about 12.30pm; now, with the Delphin moving away into the Minch again, it is due into Invergordon at 6 am tomorrow morning.
I can understand why the ship chose to abandon its date with Stornoway. The southerly wind, blowing at a steady force 6 with higher gusts, has already whipped up the sea to choppy state (clearly visible in above pic), making transfer by tender a hazardous undertaking. The Delphin has a draught of 6.3 metres (21 feet), which is only 1 metre / 3 feet below the maximum draught that Stornoway harbour can take.
I hope the passengers on the Delphin have a comfortable crossing to Invergordon today, and that they will one day return on a better day to see what the Isle of Lewis has to offer.
Saturday 15 August
Quite poor weather for a day in the middle of August, with heavy squalls lashing the island, with only intermittent flashes of sunlight. The Northern Lighthouse Board's inspection vessel Pharos is currently leaving port, and although she is only just past the Coastguard Station I can barely see it. On the way in is the cruiseliner Delphin, probably doubling as a vomit comet this morning. It was due in at 11 am, but the adverse weather conditions will probably delay its arrival until 1 pm. Its position on AIS is currently off Loch Erisort, 15 miles south of here. The wind? South southwest, force 6, with gusts to 40 mph, galeforce.
Did I hear anyone mention the word umbrella? I remember the city gent, some years ago, who came here on a day like today. Rain pouring down, but the force of the wind was lost on him. Although we suggested he take a taxi to go to his meeting (10 minutes' walk up the road), he insisted on going on foot, with an umbrella. On leaving the house, the force 8 gale gleefully took hold of his brolly, and he nearly took off with it. He sheepishly returned indoors, having changed his mind on the subject of taxis.
Did I hear anyone mention the word umbrella? I remember the city gent, some years ago, who came here on a day like today. Rain pouring down, but the force of the wind was lost on him. Although we suggested he take a taxi to go to his meeting (10 minutes' walk up the road), he insisted on going on foot, with an umbrella. On leaving the house, the force 8 gale gleefully took hold of his brolly, and he nearly took off with it. He sheepishly returned indoors, having changed his mind on the subject of taxis.
Hurricane update - 15 August
Tropical storm Ana has formed in the Atlantic Ocean, 1,000 miles east of the Leeward Islands. This system will move west at a speed of 16 mph, and will gradually gain strength. Its course will veer from due west (at present) to west northwest, taking it past Puerto Rico, Hispaniola and the Bahamas towards Florida. The latter section of the forecast track is full of uncertainty, and close monitoring of the NHC output (every 6 hours) is required if you are at all concerned.
The Pacific currently shows two cyclones, a weak tropical depression called Maka, which has drifted across from the Central Pacific - it formed southwest of Hawaii 4 days ago. The second system is category III hurricane Guillermo, which is located 1,450 miles west of Baja California and is heading west northwest, towards the sea area north of Hawaii.
The Pacific currently shows two cyclones, a weak tropical depression called Maka, which has drifted across from the Central Pacific - it formed southwest of Hawaii 4 days ago. The second system is category III hurricane Guillermo, which is located 1,450 miles west of Baja California and is heading west northwest, towards the sea area north of Hawaii.
Friday, 14 August 2009
Late on a Friday
Twenty to eleven, and it hasn't been dry all day. Ferry is doing three crossings today, and it left port at 8.15pm, some 75 minutes late. It is by all accounts booked up to the gunnels. Spent the last wee while totting up the number of portraits I can add to the Roll of Honour files - 700. Need to process 220 pictures to get up to that total though, so that'll keep me busy over the weekend.
I am frankly stunned at the way the NHS is vilified in the United States, as a way of opposing the changes that President Obama is seeking to implement. Although far from perfect, the NHS has served the United Kingdom very well for more than 60 years, and there have been some gross inaccurancies being bandied about by those in the USA who don't like Obama's reforms. If it is true that 50 million Americans do not have access to health care insurance, and therefore no proper healthcare, then that is a disgrace. The NHS is a model that could be emulated by many other nations. I agree that it has a propensity towards costliness, but on the whole, it is geared towards those without the means of paying for their own private healthcare.
I am frankly stunned at the way the NHS is vilified in the United States, as a way of opposing the changes that President Obama is seeking to implement. Although far from perfect, the NHS has served the United Kingdom very well for more than 60 years, and there have been some gross inaccurancies being bandied about by those in the USA who don't like Obama's reforms. If it is true that 50 million Americans do not have access to health care insurance, and therefore no proper healthcare, then that is a disgrace. The NHS is a model that could be emulated by many other nations. I agree that it has a propensity towards costliness, but on the whole, it is geared towards those without the means of paying for their own private healthcare.
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