Month: June 2025

As ever not black or white or bipolar. I understand why governments did not wish to fuel right wing hatred fed by the the horrific media. But ultimately the welfare of the girls and boys involved should have been paramount. The hypocrisy of the Conservatives is, once again astounding, 14 years of doing nothing – one has to assume that they thought the girls were at fault (if white males involved) or that they were as frightened about racist accusations as Labour). I am not sure the inquiry will come up with anything other than a reson to riot. What should happen is an emphasis of how we introduce love into the lives of children abandoned for whatever reason. Pakistani grooming gangs seem to exist – and all the perpertaators should be prosecuted. If there seems to be a cultural problem it needs to be addressed with, not force or law, but compasion and education.

Was Iran moving towards a more liberal/democratic future? We will never now know.

Israel claims that it has destroyed Iranian air defence systems and can thus bomb with impunity. However in a conflict of this size a military advantage does not equate to conquest. Israel said it was taking out Iran’s nuclear facilities – but now it seems that a formerly hidden agenda is coming into play. Attacks on Iran’s infrastructure have increased, including attacks on oil refineries/depots. So the price of oil will rocket and poor nations in particular will suffer. Fuel costs will rise in the UK and the numbskulls will campaign for more oil wells around the UK. However a sensible government will accelerate green energy initiatives – especially home based (that is in and on houses) that are not subject to attack – cyber or otherwise. The National Grid may make sense economically for the big companies, but is vulnerable to attack. Small is beautiful.

The Israeli ‘Shield” may be good – but has been penetrated. I fear the war will escalate – with Trump’s approval.

Lots of hype – BT announces that AI could cut even more jobs than the 50000 they had announced. So I have done some homework! Yeah – not much but enough to make me happy (the guy who was happy with D,E,N in his A levels). Firstly, there seems to be a lot to still sort out – National Rail AI advised that under 15 tickets were ok for adults, etc. I am sure that large companies will sort this sort of thing out. Big companies – may also come under attack from cyber crime using AI – M&S have not fully recovered after an attack months ago.

But the real cost is  “our Research team estimates that data centres account for 3.5% of US electricity consumption today, and data centre electricity use could be above 5.5% in 2027 and more than 9% by 2030”. With a move to electricity rather than fossil fuels this becomes a huge factor. In a power outage where does the priority lie? Hospitals, houses or AI computers? The latter could be controlling our infrastructure? Governments have a duty to protect the public and this means placing restrictions on big corporations and infrastructure providers.

I omitted the immense use of water for cooling the compters involved in AI. All of which make the Orkneys and Shetland ideal places for the large computers necessary. Cooler temperatures, regular windy days, a tidal rush between islands, and cool water for cooling. Or off the coast of Pembroke. One of the worst places would be Lincolnshire- but the latest plans I have seen are for. ….. of course – presumably on prime farmland too?

I have no sympathy for Iran – a state where religious fervour is more important than basic human rights. The basic question is whether the world would be safer if the country had nuclear weapons – and the answer must be a wholehearted NO. So was Israel justified in its overnight attack? The answer I have ais a maybe! I am no lover of Israel, but the targeted attack may be escalation, or may put back the nuclear weapons programme. However there is another angle; If Israel can carry out targeted attacks like this one, why is it bombing the fuck out of Gaza and killing so many innocents?

What is certain is a escalation of attacks on Israel by Iran. Where will China and India and Russia position themselves? Even America. trump has already said that the USA was not involved in the attack, apart, that is, from funding the country and supplying weapons and jets. I think I read that Iran had breached nuclear conditions laid down by the UN? Russia presumably has enough on its plate with Ukraine. China and India are broadly supportive of Iran as it irritates America? As a fundamentalist muslim states none of the countries will be over keen to get involved. That then leaves the wealthy Arab countries like Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Neither can be seen to be too vested in Israel as Islamic countries. The EU has an influential pro-Israel lobby but will be hesitant in offering diplomatic support. The same goes for UK,Canada, Norway and Australia whom all condemned Israels actions in Gaza recently.

So the situation is confused and as blurred as ever. Israel can expect more drone and missile attacks but their shield seems to be effective at stopping most (at present). However as Ukraine recently showed – innovation can overcome even a military superpower in attacks. For instance; Israel is dependent on the Sea of Galilee to feed the acquifers that provide water to farms and settlements in the south.

Hamas must be struggling to survive but Hezbollah has a wide range and seems well armed? A concerted attack from Lebanon would probably be repulsed by Israel, but renewal of hostilities from an unstable Syria in the Golan Heights might be difficult. I am envisaging a Battle of Hastings scenario where Israel tries to take Damascus, whilst Lebanon/Hezbollah fights a war of attrition in Labanon and the West Bank receives arms and rises up? Ridiculous – yes-but?!

Whilst much of California is in mourning due to the death of Brian Wilson, ICE have been conducting immigration raids. An estimated 255000 workers in agriculture in the state are undocumented (about half of the workforce). Yet another policy not thought through! The states ag.produce is valued at $59 billion and whilst Trump might not know it – the produce does not pick itself. 13% of Americas food comes from California including 19 crops not grown elsewhere in the states. Over 12% of tax revenue comes from California; 25% higher than any other state – Texas and New York are next.

A couple of sayings come to mind here – ‘Don’t bite the hand that feeds you’ and “Don’t cut off your nose to spite your face”. Trump is doing both!

BALLYMENA

Riots and blatant racist riots following an alleged sex attack. Is this a microcosm of Reform Britain. The predominantly protestant town is seen as a dumping ground for migrants. Protestants have been losing ground politically and demographically. Tory austerity punished the working and often unemployed population. (unemploment is 11% compared to NI at 1.8%). Whether the sexual attack happened or not is largely irrelevant to those thirsting for a chance to show their frustration! and anger. As ever lets pick on migrants and minorities. The alleged sexual (attemted rape) attack was by two 14 year old Romanian boys – hardly an act of community aggression. Comments by protestors confirmed their lack of education and knowledge of facts, but that does not undermine the basic grievance.

What that grievance is is probably very complicated! Sectarianism, pre-Friday Agreement hostilities, unemployment, frustration with governments, austerity, racism, ignorance, all have a part to play and then add in the media that promotes racism and hostilities, and Trump and the who, there goes the leisure centre that was build for the people by the people, in a fireball.

In the UK we have 30 hours of exams to test pupils, in Canada the total is 10. Too many exams – its a no brainer.

But we need a system to test children – I would counter by suggesting that we look at what we are testing for? Employers will all require a basic level of English and Maths – this can be achieved with one 1 hour test, taken at any age. This could be at the basic GCSE level 4. I repeat the mantra that 30% of the jobs that our 12 year olds will do, do not exist at present. The curriculum would be released from the dreadful grind. Students could access a variety of subjects without facing a test at the end – purely a teachers analysis. Maybe have a pass system to record their attendance? Those who wish to pursue an academic career can have a one hour test paper which enables them to analysis materials – maybe a verbal discussion where appropriate. Non-academic subjects could be introduced like electricians and plumbing, and topics like coding introduced.

The vested interests of the exam system would be outraged, along with the geriatric party members. GCSE’s are not fit for purpose, and A Levels only appropriate in choosing academic courses. AND here is a thought – reduce university attendance by encouraging more apprenticeships and voila – the housing crisis is massively reduced. University towns would suddenly have several thousand rooms available to rent. University’s should concentrate on providing degrees which lead to employment. Student loans should be reduced.

The film and entertainment industry is worth billions in the UK – what effort is made by the educational system/ establishment to encourage this development of talent?

Of course this will mean a massive upheaval – teachers (of which there is a shortage anyway) could be split between those full time with enough take up for traditional subjects – and a part time sector where experts/professionals are brought in part time (after some initial training). Universities would probably regress to the traditional and academic, and the former poly’s offering courses leading to/part of apprenticeships with integral work experience. Or they could offer short course degrees – one or two years.

What needs to be avoided is things like personal finance – most people can work this out for themselves, as and when needed. Basic numeracy and english would suffice for most. Again offer as an evening course or correspondance course if the demand is there?

The government’s review will I fear, be stymied by the vested interests of exam boards and academics related to public schools and Oxbridge and Russell Universities. Employers want a change (until it comes to their own spoilt brats coming out from Eton, etc. All views are my own and subject to change as I become better informed!