CITIES

What nonsense! Cities were originally places with a cathedral, which did give us anomalies like St.Davids and Wells. But then it became politically correct and like Armagh and St.Asaph became cities to appease the Irish and Wells.

JAMES WEBB

Something to look forward to Space telescope tinselled up – Final preparations are under way for the launch of the James Webb space telescope, built to peer back through space and time to the first stars and galaxies that lit up the universe. Regarded as the successor to Nasa’s Hubble space telescope, the mission is scheduled to blast off on Christmas Eve from Europe’s spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. More than 30 years in the making, Webb will orbit the sun, unlike Hubble, which circles the Earth. Its destination is the second Lagrange point, or L2, where the balance of gravitational forces will hold it in place between the Earth and sun.

COVID

The public has lost confidence in the government – a good friend told me she was changing her plans for Christmas (which included visiting her grandmother). Personally I hope she does not come to regret this, but totally understand her logic. People can go to a pub and the Government,ent has said office parties should not be cancelled. Mixed messages and dithering.

I would recommend people to look at the government statistical web site and perhaps make their own decisions. The figures are dated so one can see where they are lagging (e.g. the maps tend to be 5 days behind).

COVID

Data analysis time again – and still no wiser. I have had a look at the areas with numbers above 800/100000 and there is no apparent pattern. Double jab vaccination varies from 82.1 to 59.3. and single jab from 87.8 to 65.7. So vaccination rates on single/double jab) would appear to be of little relevance in the actual numbers (I do not have access to the detailed figures for hospitalisations and deaths).

COMPARRISSONS

Nicola Sturgeon makes a long broadcast without using ‘experts’ to hide in the way Johnson does. She is authoritative and sets out the issue clearly. What a contrast from the shambles of ignorance that pretends to be setting rules to control this pandemic.

AUSTRALIA DEAL

Some Brits can move to Australia without visa for up to 3 years. But do not rush their PM is probably on balance worse than the idiot we have here. Johnson has proved his incompetence but Scott Morrison will be remembered by history for his climate denial.

BY-ELECTION

Humiliation for Johnson with a Conservative majority of 23000 overturned by a swing of 34.2%. Several comments. There was a definite ABC vote which may not be replicated in a general election. The turnout was less than 50% indication of Tory abstentions possibly, or maybe disgust at the shenanigans in Westminster.

THWAITES

Thwaites is so wide, it goes to the horizon in all directions

Scientists are warning of dramatic changes at one of the biggest glaciers in Antarctica, potentially within the next five to 10 years.

TORNADO – USA

Over 100 people may have been killed as a series of tornados that have hit the southern states of Kentucky, Illinois, Tennessee, Missouri and Arkansas. The death toll is amongst the highest recorded.