Simon Bourne

Welcome to my Personal Portal

This is my personal site. For those with access please enjoy, and any constructive comments would be gratefully appreciated. Please check back as I intend to update this site as much as I can.

All the views expressed here are my personal opinions.

What's New

I'm using this portal as a learning experience to get to know the new features in Microsoft's latest Express Edition tools that are free, I would recommend you check these tools out.

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Latest News

BBC News Player | UK Wed, 10 Mar 2010 07:48:24 GMT

Re-offenders 'cost taxpayer £10bn' - Re-offending by criminals who have served short term sentences in England and Wales is costing the taxpayer up to £10bn a year according to a report.
Learner drivers 'need level crossing tests' - Network Rail is calling for the driving test to contain compulsory questions on what action motorists should take at railway crossings.
Call to halt NHS medical database - Doctors' leaders have called for a halt in the development of a medical records database for patients in England.
Standing ovation for new Lloyd Webber show - Andrew Lloyd Webber and the cast of his new musical, Love Never Dies, received a standing ovation at its world premiere performance in London on Tuesday.
Troop bomb training 'inadequate' - The coroner at an inquest into the death of four soldiers in an Afghan blast says there were training "inadequacies".
FA probes England security breach - The Football Association is looking into a security breach after a tape emerged purporting to carry discussions between England coaches and players.
IPCC review 'too little too late' - The mother of murdered 17-year-old Ashleigh Hall, Andrea Hall, has described an IPCC review of the case as "too little too late".
NI justice vote carried in assembly - Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly have voted in support of a motion to devolve policing and justice powers from Westminster.
'Insurance for all' plan for dogs - Every dog owner in the UK would have to take out insurance against their pet attacking someone, under government proposals to tackle dangerous breeds.
Postman describes pit bull dog attack - Postman Paul Coleman has described how he was set upon by two pit bull type dogs while on his delivery round in Sheffield.
'Lessons to be learned ' from Ashleigh murder - Home Secretary Alan Johnson has said the government "has to learn lessons" after a convicted rapist pleaded guilty to raping and murdering 17-year-old Ashleigh Hall.
Johnson outlines dangerous dog plans - The Home Secretary Alan Johnson has outlined proposals aimed at tackling dangerous dog ownership.
Bush asks Tories to save NI deal - Former US President George Bush has asked Conservative leader David Cameron to persuade his allies in the Ulster Unionists to back the final stage of devolution in Northern Ireland.
Call for tighter laws on therapy - There are growing calls for counsellors and psychotherapists to be regulated by law to protect patients.
'Heroes of Holocaust' honoured - The courage of ordinary people who risked their lives to help others escape the Nazis has been honoured with a new medal called the "Hero of the Holocaust".
Superweed predator to be released - A plant-eating predator that preys on aggressive superweed Japanese knotweed is to be given a trial release in England.
Cameron 'cannot force' UUP vote - Conservative leader David Cameron has said the Tories ''cannot force people to vote a particular way'' as the Northern Ireland Assembly prepares to vote on the transfer of powers from Westminster.
Illegal cord blood sample warning - Parents and private firms are being warned about the health and legal risks of collecting blood from umbilical cords after birth.
Carer funding 'spent elsewhere' - Millions of pounds intended to fund respite breaks for voluntary carers in England has been spent on other areas of the NHS, according to two charities.

Quotes

He who asks is a fool for five minutes, but he who does not ask remains a fool forever. Chinese proverb.

Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell 'em, 'Certainly I can!' Then get busy and find out how to do it. Theodore Roosevelt (1858 - 1919).

The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds the most discoveries, is not 'Eureka!' (I found it!) but 'That's funny...' Isaac Asimov (1920 - 1992).

Great ideas need landing gear as well as wings. C. D. Jackson.

The opposite of a correct statement is a false statement. But the opposite of a profound truth may well be another profound truth. Niels Bohr (1885 - 1962).