Author: Richard

So US Defence Secretary says “everything is on the table” – whatever that means! and “Whatever he allows or does not allow is the purview of the leader of the free world – Donald Trump”. Basically we are all fucked then!

Trump is only interested in making money so expect a deal dependent upon Ukraine exports to the USA. We may be seeing a deal brokered that goes beyond the inevitable – by that I mean the permanent cedeing of Crimea and Donetsk regions. Will Russia pull back from territory gained so far? I doubt it. Will Ukraine be forced to refusing permission to join NATO? It is hard to what Trump could force Russia into? Or how it could persuade Ukraine without guaranteed funding from the States? So we can expect a lot of bollocks talk.

INTERESTING and sick – it now seems an acceptable way of airing madness and anger by driving into innocent people at speed. The latest is Germany, but it (the car) seems to be becoming the weapon of choice for terrorists and nutters alike (is there a difference).

FARMERS – are still banging on about facing an inheritance tax that is more favourable to them than the rest of us. I would suggest an alternative – they pay 100% tax on profits of land sold off for development. I am sure there are loop holes to be closed to the sceming likes of Clarkson!

REEVES – is under attack for exaggerating her CV and possible expense issues. Surely this is only an issue if fraudulent behaviour is suspected. Whilst she may have claimed nearly a decade of working at the BoE in the press and to journalists, only if she lied on her job application is that relevant.

HAIR – mine is getting long, and definitely bed style when taking off a beanie! But too cold to cut even though it seems to be growing at different speeds – left back growing faster! And birds like my hair for nests! So I will wait another month or so? My seeds are ordered and I will get planting at the same time.

ECONOMICS – as I have said before, I am no economist, and economics is fantasy bollocks. The RWPress have been banging on about the impact of the Chancellors Budget tax rises; what they have not said is how the money may stimulate the economy? Latest GDP figures show that this might be a positive effect. £40 billion spent on NHS and elsewhere will have an impact. Only the part that has to pay off the dodgy deals done by the last government have a negative impact.

VALENTINES DAY – got off to a rocky start with a lady who has just retired stating that she noticed her husbands phone receiving a message saying sexy, and with hearts. He claimed wrong number, then ‘it was just a laugh’, then ‘it is nothing serious’. Basically a ‘cunt’. I wonder how many other days have been ruined Today?

PEONY – I have a plant to plant and a couple of others – too cold though! Next week should see double digit temps. – but I will wait for night time temps of over 6C before planting seeds.

Starmer and Rayner visit Nansledan with the King. (No, silly – Elvis is well dead!). This is the housing development promoted by Charlie when in charge of the Duchy coffers! Anyway, enough sniping, it is very well regarded – we just wait to see if the Government can force the cowboy firms into a similar high standard. Rayner talked about Garden Cities but we have seen plans disappear in the past – maybe this time?

As long as someone enforces a big view it will be OK. Government using compulsory purchase, then selling at higher price to developers to pay for infrastructure should work. I have some experience having lived in Stevenage for a while. My main gripe was that it was too organised! (this is where you play, this is where your dog shits, etc.). Although they did leave some wild’ish areas between ‘neighbourhoods’. The neighbourhood shopping areas however were soulless and cold. I am not sure how to solve this. the subways did not help – crossings would have been better, even if disrupting traffic.

Perhaps – idea – enable out of town shopping centres with access to electric carts. Then in the centre a pedestrian walkway with trees, etc, and seats. Teenage threats? are real! but provide for them with athletic/cultural facilities nearby or embrace them – cafes, mini-job centres (where young could be hired to carry shopping, do gardening, clean cars in a guaranteed setting)? Just an idea?

What can the papers report? I am derfinitely cynical! Ukraine, Gaza, Trump, trade wars, farmers inheritance are all old news and the papers have lost interest? The Met have been prevented from sacking officers – assisted dying – 11 suspended Labour councillors for age old What’s App comments. It is like a “not August” silly season! The Star at least tried to stimulate interest with the release of JFK files by Trump; the Guardian tried something. similar with a UFO story from yonks ago yesterday. The Mail desperately tries to get people in a huff about a person who ‘may be’ a candidate for a government job working from home in Finland.

So presumably good news is no news? Or is it sadder that old news is no news? Gaza could be about to flare up again (Hamas seem to be poking the Israel/USA bear with a stick!?). Ukraine war is still going on; Climatic events continue to impact; Women are still being raped in Sudan (and India?),

Basically nothing of interest – the Government is boring, Tories irrelevant and ridiculous, LimDems (hiding?), Reform also irrelevant, greens – waiting for spring? SNP withered.

So our intrepid journalists stake out a bar, do a line and try to come up with a story. Lies have already been used and did not stick despite best efforts (Angela Rayner); Royal family seems to be behaving although Kate might be going woke with a visit to a mother and baby section of a prison (this would be great for the RWPress but royalty is a No-no (unless it is about a black, American divorcee and a possibly illegitimate Duke of Sussex!) For similar reasons the Grand Old Duke of York is best ignored! C’mon guys (they are all guys in the bar – RW bimbo’s prefer more salubrious company! EU is boring although we could do a skit on the demise of German industry – but it might recover?

WTF – can we raid the Sun for shite about a celebrity? We have already fucked over the Dancers and the cooking show – reality shows fuck themselves. “Does anyone know how to start an earthquake or a volcano (pretty pictures but less suffering for newsprint”.

“OK so nip off to a local pub, buy a few rounds and see what happens!” Someone is bound to spout off about something! Maybe an AI horror story – one actually written by AI!

It seems that the Duchy of Cornwall might have got this right? Quality housing with community and employment aspects. Hopefully the government will impose restrictions on all house builders to ensure that they comply with normal society demands. The omens are not good though, the government has said it will cut bureaucracy for building regs.

Building on flood plains is not sensible, ignoring traffic potential problems is madness, cummunity features should be a requisite of any plans. Also the need for doctors and schools and community centres should be mandatory.

On schools I think it was the Express that said that state schools had no room for the private kids whose parents could not afford the new fees. This does not add up! So a parent who cannot afford the increase in fees (but could afford £10000) cannot afford the transport to a nearby school? yet schools in inner cities are closing due to lack of students – sloppy journalism yet again!

Ok – my sockets are working again – nothing to do with Truespeed and the internet! My suspicians are on the freezer – a cheap one which was bunged up with ice! I also have just phoned to get rid of an old mattress – tomorrow I will sort out knee! And then eyes!

INTERESTING

Trade deals with USA have a clause inserted to prohibit a country introducing legislation that would endanger the American companies profitability.  Philip Morris did this to the Australian Govt. when it introduced anti-smoking legislation.  The govt. won but it was time consuming and expensive.  Another good reason for trade deals with Europe.

Starmer and Labour down in the polls – Reform up.

Well no surprise there.  What have Labour actually done so far?  I follow the news and cannot see much evidence.  NHS is struggling as before.  Schools are laying off teachers.  Boat people keep arriving.  Are houses being built?  (Those that are maybe on floodplains)! The news is dominated by Trump and America.  

Whinging on about a multi billion black hole is boring.  

Whitehall employment expanded with Covid – time to cut costs of central government. Elections in May should see powers shifted to local authorities.  So transfer the dosh too! And the jobs.  The Department of Education could be slashed – Local Authorities could prioritise spending to areas which need the help.  

NHS – whenever I visit the Docs for a repeat prescription I am astonished at the lack of patients.  I have no idea who my designated doctor is (do they exist).  Any phone calls result is questioning by a secretary, if lucky a doctor will phone back at their convenience.  Is that what they do – talk on phones?  Do they have reams of paperwork and targets?  Whatever – efficiency is not a word used?

The armed forces – Israel had 70000 bombing raids on Gaza and still Hamas kept hostages!  I am sure I read somewhere about keyboard players needing x amount of hours to become proficient.  There must be a huge potential workforce there for drones?

Climate change still gets short shift in the papers.  Artic areas are suffering from melting and the release of methane.

EV’s – some are being introduced in Putney – max speed 20mph (why MPH and not kph?).  Looking a little like pope mobiles for the poor they take one passenger.  But the concept is good!  A Chinese rival to Tesla is apparently really good, and cheaper.  Bring it on!  If European car companies cannot compete, they will collapse.  BT/Morris etc. did!  However the market make morph into a more niche market.  About town vehicles for hire, or basically mobility scooters (the scooters have taken off).  And then more luxurious vehicles for longer journeys – again hired.  Garages are being converted anyway, perhaps they should become battery rooms?

Basically Economics is guff!  Don’t like it, then change the rules. Trump takes these measures to extremes, even changing the law to suit himself.  However he is, like all egoists – so sure of his own ability that he will accept no criticism.  The USA has been the foremost world super power for the last 75 years.  With a couple of blips its military has ruled the world, its companies have dominated trade, its largesse has given it a controlling power in the IMF, World Bank, WHO and even the UN. Hollywood and Google/Facebook ensured that American culture ruled.  Military might was matched with soft power. Russias influence waned after the collapse of the USSR.  China has been extending its influence for the last 20 years, especially in Africa.

Trumps abrupt end to much USA Aid was met with shock and horror.  But the real cost will come as the vacuum is filled, mainly by China.  He who pays the piper calls the tune!  The latest shock to American hegemony was the reveal of a Chinese competitor in the AI market.  Chinese EV’s are begining to impact the world market.

Much is reported about a stagnant EU economy, but the very nature of the EU will ensure that sustainability is a key factor.  Its key markets are internal and thus less likely to suffer from fluctuations in demand and profits.  The UK should note – reliance on US products is harmful to our economy! Breakfast cereals, burgers and wings, etc. should not dominate the marketplace.  

Taking back control was a mantra of Brexit – my targets would be the tech behemoths and MLC companies.

OMG – I should like Trump!  Aaaargggh.  But NO – not fair!  We should grow more, develop quality, support international charities, promote equality amongst all citizens.  

Something different – NHS. This government has admitted that it cannot be fixed in a way commensurate with its creation.  I still lack understanding.  I am sure there are many inefficiencies in the NHS – its overall structure seems a little top heavy – but I know nothing.  However I have noticed Nat.Ins. going up.  I thought this was nominally for the NHS?  It is not tax deductible, or avoidable?.  So make this the funding for the NHS exclusively.  It would make it clear that the NHS comes at a price worth paying.  Similar schemes should ring fence and openly display spending.  Education, Prisons, Police, etc.  At the moment government at all levels hides spending in accounts with vague figures or sums too large to comprehend.

WORSE

So Trump is worse than expected – fuck, how is that possible?  Last time around he had some moderating advice.  This time he has surrounded himself with psychophants / sickofants (not sure how to spell!), Cutting US Aid is a cruel and heartless thing to do, and is counter productive to the international influence.  Then he imposes sanctions of the ICJ – because he disagrees with their verdicts.  The fucker seems to be out of control!  Gaza as a real estate project may appeal to abself obsessed lunatic on paper – but the ethnic cleansing of 1.5 million people is horrendous.  McKinley was assassinated – Trump is heading the same way as he upsets ever larger groups of people.  How long before he demands that Ameri-Indians are deported to Canada?  

I am not conversant with the American constitution in detail.  At present he has control of Congress but in 2 years there will be elections.  Rather than expanding it is possible that states like NY and California will vote overwhelmingly for an alternative.  I am vague here because there does not seem to be a strong Democrat opposition at present.  Bernie Sanders is too old, and Harris has disappeared.  

Where is the opposition in the states?  The media is sewn up, like here, What is needed is a massive economic downturn – a possibility?!  The trade wars will impact prices but America is large enough to take up gaps caused in the market.  Any trade war inevitably causes a reduction in movement and thus increased prices.  Will the EU open up to Chinese imports?  Where is India diplomatically?  I suspect aligned with the USA!  Modri is a “strongman leader” with fascist tendencies.

Back to ethnic cleansing – was India/Pakistan the last big one?  That has not panned out well!  I guess Trump is relying on every Palestinian home to have been destroyed, therefore they have to leave?  See you next Tuesday!

SMALL MODULAR REACTORS

The same questions exist whatever the size – waste, location, security and cost.  Starmer listens to big business when it asks for a subsidised electricity provision – why not the individuals?  I know people who would put up the cost of solar panels and heat pumps if made profitably.  A 5 year return on investment would enable millions of solar panels to be installed – however the energy giants would lose out!  Imagine Sandford with solar panels on most houses, heat pumps and a couple of wind turbines on the hill.  Add in a large scale battery and low cost energy is provided for all.  Yes there might need to be a need for the National Grid, but not on a large scale.  Hinkley C will eventually come on stream and will provide power for 50 years or more – that should be enough back up for the South West!  

So SMR’s are only going to be needed in the South-east! – And then where do you place them?  Not near houses!  Well that fucks that idea.  So put them in the north and west, or maybe Clacton (They are already rabid there).

SPRING

I hope the weather warms up soon – we have had a rather long cold sequence?  I am surprised the RW Press has not been filled with stories of death and hardship due to the cold weather.  Lovely to see Goldfinch on the Evening Primrose seeds again.  But garden looks dead at the moment, but 4 weeks from now it will be full of growth.  I hope that a myriad of insects have survived the winter and can procreate this spring!  The decline of insects is mega worrying!

The main tech giants have refused to take down videos viewed by the Southport killer of 3 beautiful little girls.  How many more deaths will be caused in the name of “free speech”?

I do not understand the arguments hate content being banned?  META have just paid Trump $25 million in compensation for banning him after the Capitol attack.  

In a very similar way smoking was allowed and promoted for decades after it was shown to be harmful – indeed a recent Health Secretary said we should do away with the ban on smoking in public places.

So homophobic, racist, misogynistic videos are promoted as being macho (memories of Marlborough smoking adverts!).  Social media is worse than smoking in many ways.  It can be hidden and cause damage on many levels.  The macho image of “strong men” where violence is acceptable.  The undermining of masculinity has reached silly proportions with a name given to those who blame women for spurning them.  Andrew Tate is seen as a hero despite accusations of rape, organising prostitution and promoting violent behaviour.  Then Trump who is also a convicted felon for sexual offences, who says that it was OK to grab a girls fanny!  And tens of millions voted for him!

Not only that but the porn sites desensitise the young and make ‘saying no’ to anything prudish. Porn is the major winner, financially, of the internet!

But there are other insidious impacts.  My oldest grandchildren have used their phones at the dinner table – although if I am honest discussions with a rarely seen grandfather was a bit stilted!  But they would have benefited from joining in?  Conversing with others not present should not be permissible unless shared?  

On this topic I was privileged to visit my girls recently.  The only time phones were used was to share information (new employers – Hotel in Fowey – information), or to develop a conversation.

So phones and the internet, used sensibly is good.  However whilst the main providers remain oblivious of the problems, or more likely determined to extract maximum profit.  

So yet again we need to have a sensible discussion about social media.

Can someone develop a format for discussion of relevant products similar to the 20 minute slots on   TED Talks  – but in a discussion format?  Proper journalism!