Author: Richard

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WILD WEATHER

Huge wild fires continue in Canada whilst further south Nevada braces itself for Storm Hilary which has brought floods to California and Mexico already. When will the climate deniers recognise the symptoms, how bad does it have to get? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-us-canada-66566483

Maybe when the insurance claims get so huge the corporations will take notice? Probably not – they will just move to less troubled climates. Will any government be brave enough to hold the executives of corporations causing climate disasters responsible? Huge fines and prison sentences are needed. The same for politicians who spread the lies and misinformation.

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FOOTBALL

A World Cup Final – well done the ladies. Some great games, goals and fouls! Just as it should be! It will be a while before the fan base fully develops due to the inherent sexism of our society. I would guess that 80-90% of fans at the Premier League this weekend were men? Men, many of whom will stop off at the pub before or after the game, and expect dinner when they get home to be put on the table and small children tired after an entertaining afternoon at the park or whatever! The women’s game will not get that following of women so will rely on the support of men?

I hope this is not too pessimistic of me? The quality is good and will improve with greater support and finance. How long before we see the Woman’s FACup at Wembley.

PS. This blog was initiated by Debs! I hope it is not seen as sexist

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COVID-19

It seems that there is a growth in people reporting Covid infection. How this will impact on society we wait and see. The Government has decided that only 65+ people are eligible for the latest jab. I do not know the cost, but it would seem sensible from a preventative health aspect to encourage a wider take up – perhaps subsidised vaccines for larger employers?

Herd immunity requires a large % of the population with immunity, research is needed to ensure that those infected in the past have knowledge of their immune systems rigorousness. A healthy nation is essential to bring down inflation.

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GAS MAIN

My road is being dug upland a new plastic gas main put in. The official line is that it is an update. But as my house is 1960’s I am surprised. One of the workmen told Aaron in the shop that it was so a switch to hydrogen could be made! This makes more sense as the cost must be huge- and there must be thousands of older estates not getting the update? I am not sure what the logistics of hydrogen are? Would they need to do the whole village? We are not used to long term planing in this country!

Indeed the plans for a clean up of rivers and lakes has just been delayed for a few years. The last review in 2016 found just 14% rivers in good health – surely it cannot have got worse? Meanwhile there have been 138 sewage leaks in the last 12 months in Whitehall and other government buildings across the country.

Tomatoes – now upto 5.3kg so far and a good crop of chillies. Apples looking good too. Some labels on – more tomorrow.

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WILDFIRES

Yellowknife, North Western Territories, Canada (pop 20000), evacuated, is added to the list of dangerous wild fires which seem to be affecting much of the northern hemisphere this summer. The cost in human life is rising, wildlife suffers untold damage, the economic cost is huge. Coping with the fires is difficult. So could more be done in prevention? In Hawaii imported and invasive grasses have been blamed together with a wet spring followed by drought and high winds.

Firstly we need to take action on climate change NOW. Things will only get worse so putting the country on a war footing against climate change is imperative.

Secondly I wonder whether we need a rethink of our attitude to nature. Water extraction from wetland areas is plain stupid. Should we encourage more herbivores? I love my herbs and mints, but would not complain too much if deer came off the hill for a snack if it prevented a wildfire? Do we need to increase coppicing in woodland areas to reduce the potential fuel. I know that overgrazing is harmful to the environment but reckon a plan could be worked out.

Thirdly – education – most fires are caused by people; some maliciously (law enforcement with harsh penalties?); but many through ignorance, the BBQ not properly extinguished, a cigarette end not disposed of properly, a bottle discarded as litter. The consequences of these actions needs to be core curriculum in schools.

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LONG TERM ILLNESS

The figure now stands at 2.5million. Surely this is a tragic waste of life. The system is broke – how many of these people could/would work if the system was more flexible? How many return to work too early because of the poverty sick pay of £1.10p per hour! How many are trapped by the under funding of the NHS causing rises in waiting times?

Regular pay rose by 7.8% excluding bonus’ . What rate of increase is offered to NHS workers? Inflation may have fallen to 6.9% but what is it since their last pay rise. And who gets a bonus anyway? Mainly the financial sector I believe? As I have said many times, the whole system is fucked!

Also in todays Guardian is an article about greedflation and how large companies and corporations are increasing profits (an wages at the top and dividends – all inflation increasing. Surely there is some clever person or AI that can produce a model that shows the impact on inflation of profits, wages, interest rates, rents, bonus payments, dividends, NHS expenditure, transport costs, food prices, deposit rates etc.. Move the slider left or right and it shows the impact.

We are told that the BoE has only one tool – interest rates, but this is not true. They could issue savings/education bonds matched to university fees for named children from birth, and open at anytime thereafter. Redeemable against uni fees and apprenticeship costs. They would suck money out of the economy, benefit future students and basically cost nothing other than the inflationary cost of rising fees? I know this benefits the rich and middle classes – but it could be set so that a percentage goes to subsidise poorer students with the contributions there to wing tax deductible. As you can tell I do not know what I am talking about! Just throwing ideas up!

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ATTACK-ATTACK-ATTACK

It is time to go on the attack by the opposition parties. This time do it right – not a grubby attack on Sunak personally. Take the moral high ground and spell out just how conservative policies, like Sunak’s trousers have come up short. The material here is massive. The economy, environment, NHS, water quality, inflation, Covid, PPS, HoL, MP’s 2nd wages, education, electric cars, North Sea Oil, social care, migration, food prices, world status, Afghanistan, world trade deals, food quality. Adverts online and in the papers could be numbered so like football cards they cold be collected.

The tories would obviously claim that under Labour it would be worse – an argument easily rebuffed – 14 years tories = decline in all areas. Compare the starting positions – how much debt is there, what is inflation, how many food banks (larders), repossessions, etc. Come clean on Brexit.

Many tories have ridiculed themselves with crass comments – these could also feature in the Panini Style attack cards.

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DAILY LIES

The Mail leads with story of Welsh patients going to England for treatment. This is an agreed understanding for patients along the border. After all the NHS is funded from Whitehall and only partially controlled by Senned Cymru. I also wonder what the long term effects of the dependence of the nation on mining and heavy industry have been?

The Express is desperately trying to sell Brexit as a success story stating that 75% of firms have repatriated manufacture since Brexit. That would be 75% of the 10% still manufacturing in the UK, and probably doing so due to the bureaucracy created by Brexit.

bless their little socks – they need to support the nasty party where possible! The Torygraph has a half-hearted attack on Lady Hallett and the Covid enquiry. It also features a picture of Meagan and an anti-stress bracelet – I am sure the photo willl help her stress levels – the go to paper of the caring tory government!

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HURRICANES

NOAA’s update to the 2023 outlook — which covers the entire six-month hurricane season that ends on Nov. 30 — calls for 14-21 named storms (winds of 39 mph or greater), of which 6-11 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or greater). Of those, 2-5 could become major hurricanes (winds of 111 mph or greater). NOAA provides these ranges with a 70% confidence. These updated ranges include storms that have already formed this season.

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FOOTBALL -PL ROUND 1!

Well I know first impressions are not always correct and the transfer window has a while (and Spurs have a wad to spend). But there was an outstanding result today with the barCodes thrashing Villa. I am not sure this predicts a demise of the Villa or the rise to Premiership winners for NewC’s. I suspect the latter! Elsewhere Arsenal grabbed full points without being convincing; Brighton stuffed Luton – which may become a habit for the Hatters? Bournemouth and WHU played out a mid table draw! The Blades were blunted Crystals as Palace won 1-0 which says little for the season ahead. And then Everton v Fulham. Was this already a 6 pointer? TBH Everton look stuffed, no money to buy and a team lacking confidence and luck!

So today – Brentford – Spurs, and Chelsea -Liverpool. Will we learn a lot about the season ahead? Tomorrows game is ManU-Wolves which should be straightforward for UTD. I think we may have the top 8 and bottom 8 sorted by 11pm on Monday! Half time and Brentford are 2-2 Spurs. Have the likes of Brentford and Brighton really made it to mid-table fixtures? Both were earmarked for immediate relegation when promoted? Or are they the Leicesters and Southamptons – up of a while and then going back down? I suppose it all comes down to money. Even with a sound youth academy Southampton have struggled.