BBC 2 aired the concert from 40 years ago. I cried at the Cars set in the David Bowie bit. I really did care, and still do, but what has changed? Rich fuckers still being obnoxious, and extolling their wealth. I still fucking hate them and the system that lets children die from starvation and the rich fuckers flaunt their wealth like Bezos and Sanchez in Venice. Just how these fuckers can justify their wealth is beyond me. I am back to 1975 anger! Have I done enough in my life? Could/should I have done more?
WATER
My water butts are getting low – not surprising when I am using 15ltr + every day. So my 200ltr one is empty and the 100ltr one is low but the 50ltr one ok for now! 40% chance of rain on Monday – I could do with a big downpour soon!
The water companies themselves have been trousering profits for so long that they have forgotten that they are supposed to provide clean water and treat sewage. No new reservoirs for 30 years (indeed some in cities sold off for housing!). Can there be any doubt that the public want privatisation of the water companies, even if it requires higher charges in the short term. I would suggest ownership is transfered to the residents who use the water and sewage facilities. If there are surplus profits in the future – then they would benefit. An incentive for conservation of resources as well. The water companies have justified bonus payments as being retention bonus’s. What bullshit. I would hazard a guess that most directors know jack shit about water supply – they are appointed to maximise profits and manipulate finances.
OK – and you and I are expected to obey a hosepipe ban whilst golf courses, etc. are given dispensation to use as much as they like. If there is a ban here – they can fuck off, and then fuck off some more! My wildlife garden is on average 1m high throughout with a couple of mulberry trees, a large apple tree, a baby apricot tree and lots of raspberries and roses. These are swarming with skipper butterflies and whites, hover flies and bees. My garden is an important service station in the wilderness of lawns cut to 5% of their lives and then insecticided. Temperatures in the garden are lower than neighbours and it is ahaven for wildlife.
These do not do justice to the garden. Stepping out of the patio is stepping into a wilderness! (and I have over 50 plants indoors!
So why should I watch my plants wither whilst the golf course can water? Oh, and they do not water the wildflowers, only the Bentgrass and Bermudagrass are commonly used. TBH who would obey a hosepipe ban whilst the water company directors earn 6 or 7 figure salaries for circumventing te law. Yes I am fucking angry!
FUCK
How are so mny Americans so stupid? MAGA supporters are blaming the government for causing the floods that killed over a hundred. I cannotbcomprehend the short circuits that must take place in their brains. Are there people wandering around with black smoke coming out of their ears? They have a MAGA president with, admirably, a large number of brain cells missing – but why would he want to kill white christian girls in particular? Still the knuckle draggers will need to blame someone. God would be the first culprit but due to any proof of its existence they need someone else – migrants cannot really be blamed, nor blacks, gays, or any of their usual weaker victims. So it is back to the government – always good to be blamed, but this time for the weather? Perhaps the wankers should look at their grossly big vehicles for once.
And we have our share of meat heads here in the UK. Starmers deal with Macron may not stop the boats – the gangs have too much to gain for carrying on. However the proposed one for one makes great sense. If a refugee qualifies we should welcome them, and let them get jobs, etc. We need them. Also why does no one refer to the weather when talking about the small boats? We have had a huge amount of calm weather this year. Inevitably the numbers of migrants crossing the channel has increased. Why are people not blaming BREXIT? Oh – because the same people who voted leave are the people who complain about small boats and they do not understand that Brexit caused the small boats crisis.
Temperatures are above 30C – I am watering the greenhouse a couple of times a day, and might run the water butts dry! Whatever – lots of white butterflies and skippers, but also hover flies – I think my garden is a haven for the small and insignificant. NO that was the wrong word – they are not insignificant, and probably more significant than I could comprehend.
ILL
Is this what I have? Labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis? It seems more plausible than meunière disease which the doctor diagnosed in seconds! There is the feeling of nausea. I had a shower and put washing on, did Worldle Trinidad and Tobago at second attempt! So I sent text to shop telling them I was ill, then went back to bed. after 4/5 hours I felt well enough to get up and get my paper! Put the washing out, water the tomatoes and hanging baskets, I have eaten some grapes and olives (whoops – Labyrinthitis says to avoid – oh well! Still feeling a bit off but am up and about – I will not sleep tonight otherwise.
So the news. Trump turns his attention seeking and bullying efforts to Brazil. A 50% tariff and tells them to halt the trial of the last President (also a right wing bastard), Quite why he believes he has the right to dictate orders on a peaceful sovereign state is unknown – other than his egoistic gutter mind. Macron and Starmer are talking about the small migrant boats. What ever they agree will be slammed by the RWPress who seem to have forgotten all about the Tories ineptitude regarding, well everything!
AWFUL
I am constantly surprised by just how bad the government were. NHS waiting lists; migration figures; water company negligence; education in a mess; housing crisis; the legal system; prisons. Just what were they doing?
Will Labour be any better or is it the system? First signs are not great. Has anything noticably changed for the better? Winter fuel payment fiasco; benefits cuts; inertia about water supply. The overall consensus is that we are getting more of the same ineptitude. Pandering to the RWPress and failing at every step with new policies. I do not want to hear about the multi billion black hole left bybthe tories. I want to hear about reform of just about everything. Every government department should be tasked with how they are going to revolutionise their policies within the budget restraints. I do not expect to agree with all of them, but a vision of the future is needed, fast. Starmer seems proficient at international relations which is a huge improvement on the past 15 years
Domestic news – my nextdoor neighbour was spraying weed killer on dandelions in her lawn. I hope the poison does not affect the growing number of insects in my jungle. She is fighting a never ending battle as my garden cherishes dandelions and the chicory, evening primrose and fennel are spreading! My roses are also looking good – hopefully they will grow in size over the next year to become fully fledged bushes. I might get some more in the autumn. I have red x2, white x2, yellow x2, white x3, purple x1 and orangex1. I also have a mallow that has appeared in the back lawn! i am cutting the sky rockets on my apple tree – I know it is not the time stated – but it feels right to me! Sage is escaping and rosemary and oregano is doing well, as is my lemon mint by the patio.
I might make some cheese straws with crushed pepper, basil and sun dried tomatoes later. I watered the hanging baskets at 5.30am this morning but may have to do them again later.
THE RICH
So the Guardian runs a spread on the impact of the non-dom system. It included house prices bein marked down by 75%nand still not selling. I am sure that there are some who will move – but tax is surely only part of the reason for leaving. If it was the major reason then more would have left for cheaper cities. The abandonment of VAT exclusion for private schools should have little effect on millionaires. In many other ways the UK has much to offer. Is it hipocritical for the RW media who are so trenchant in their criticism of migrants; to be so upset about migrants leaving the country due to tax. There is obviously an ‘Us and Them’ situation here.
I am also not sure about the ethics here. If someone makes their money abroad (and pay tax there – this is where I am unsure), should they have to pay UK tax? Nothing is ever straightforward! I would rather see the likes of Amazon, X, meta, and Apple, etc. pay tax on the profits they make here rather than regeristing their companies in Luxemburg and Dublin. As for the drop in house prices – my heart bleeds! Maybe their mansions could be split into flats and affordable housing for those who live and work here.
WEATHER
The tragedy in Texas was horrific – possibly 80 dead – after 250mm of rain fell in just 3 hours. Of course people are looking for someone, or some organisation to blame. Is it facetious to suggest that it maybe referred to as “An act of god”. This term is used to identify unpredictable events and is much used by insurance policies to avoid claims. And it was a summer camp for Christian girls. Just sayin’ thats all!
Analysis of the weather event has pointed to the remnants of Tropical Storm Barry which passed over the Gulf of Mexico (or can it be natures way of rebelling against Trump’s renaming it the Gulf of America? This lifted huge amounts of moisture into the atmosphere above Texas. And the hurricanes season in the south-west North Atlantic has only just begun. As a former geography teacher I have long taught that in a hurricane the wind is of less importance than the storm surge and the excess rainfall. It is predicted to be a busy year for hurricanes – but one can never be 100% certain about long range forecasts. However I can be certain that there will be another horrendous hurican in the next couple of years. With higher temperatures there is more evaporation, and thus more flooding. I am not sure about the formation of tornado’s, but …. they are more likely to proliferate with conditions favouring their development.
There is also a human element here. Apparently floods were not unusual – why was there no escape plan? Yes it rained a lot and the river rose rapidly. But with so many little girls resident, surely there should have been an evacuation procedure. If this event had occured on a Geography field trip there is absolutely no way in which we would not have evacuated the area. Radio warnings were given. Gross negligence seems to have occurred!
USA?
The phrase “an enigma wrapped in a riddle” is a variation of a famous quote by Winston Churchill, originally referring to the Soviet Union. It now applies to the USA. How is anyone meant to understand a country where its largest and richest city has chosen Zohran Mamdani as its democratic candidate for mayor, whilst at the same time Trump has had his tax bill approved by Congress which includes 4.5tn in tax cuts but will also add $4 tn to the deficit? We will wait and see what ensues with the election in November for mayor. Already the uber rich are talking about moving out of New York; like they did in the UK – but evidence of an exodus is not apparent – no surge in million £ house properties. Mamdani is an avowed socialist who believes in taxing the rich, reducing wealth differentials and that billionaires should not exist! I truly hope he wins with a landslide of votes.
Meanwhile in the UK we are about to witness the formation of a new party of the left formed by Zara Sultana and Jeremy Corbyn. Unfortunately I am not sure that Britain is ready for a major swing to the left. With the BBC showcasing Reform at every opportunity (despite one of their few MP’s being suspended for financial misconduct), and the RW press going overboard at anything considered socialist or woke – or at times reasonable! any new party will struggle to be heard. The Green Party rarely gets invited to QT, And Jeremy Corbyn is unlikely to be invited any time before Antarctica melts!
However it would make a major case for Proportional Representation. Why should we be forced to chose the least objectional option when electing MP’s. 10269051 people voted for Corbyn in 2019, but Starmer only got 9,708,716 last time (with a huge majority of MP’s. I could argue that Corbyns policies were more popular than Starmers, and thatbhe was done over by the RWMeia, Johnsons charisma and a lack of support within the Labour Party. Before endorsing a Corbyn Party I would say that he did not have the graitas of world leader (but so what), he was I also believe a little naive regarding the might of the Jewish bloc, and also regarding NI.
PS. I have now picked a total of 500g of baby tomatoes – so sweet!
TV
It is time for TV companies to get topical – something they use to justify the blanket coverage of the racist Reform Party. My proposal a weekly bulletin about the climate crisis. It should include extreme weather events from around the world – todays bulletin would include the Texas floods and the heat wave in the Mediterranean. It should also braodcast the abount of renewable energy produced weekly (or daily). Green initiatives could be highlighted with expert input. It could also report on sewage events – name and shame. It could also include debate between climate deniers and green proponents.
National Grid https://grid.iamkate.com stats show 71.5% of energy used at this moment was renewable. I do not care about the arguments that it is daytime and breezy. This is 71.5% of non-polluting energy now. If we can scale this up and add battery storage we can lead the world. The Guardian today has a report on balcony solar panels – cost abot £2000. I know many cannot afford this but maybe some of the UK’s wealthy cound set up a fund to support. My solar panels repaid in 8 years and this year have been spectacular!
PS. My wild garden is well known, but I wonder just how effective it is? Does it attract insects and other wildlife? Does it lower the temperature in summer and raise it in winter? And I know I get a financial result from the herbs and Mulberries at the front and the tomato and raspberries at the back. My little apple tree is now 3m around and the replacement apricot tree is doing ok. It sounds like I have a large garden but this is not true, about 10m wide and 5m at front and 10m at back. It is wild though! A dozen roses and a large sage and a large rosemary, also thyme and a variety of mints. And tomato and a cucumber and basil in greenhouse. Some neighbours are restricting mowing – whether for ecological reasons or just lazy I have no idea!
NOT FADE AWAY
So the RW papers deemed it necessary?practical to keep the bombardment of civilians in Gaza off the front pages, whilst the death of Liverpool footballer Diogo Jota and his brother hogged the headlines. Don’t get me wrong, the death of Jota was sad but just not front page headline grabbing (back pages and in depth there too). The death of thousands of Palestinians must not be moved off the front pages. Similarly Ukraine.
It is sad that the news outlets are driven by what the public seems to want rather than what intelligent people need to be informed about? Social media was flooded with the Jota story and the chasers of the populist customer resulted in the headline grabbing. Investigation also showed that 550 drones attacked Kviv last night.
Meanwhile Cooper inserted two Neo-nazi groups in the order to proscribe Palestinian Action, thus ensuring it passed through Parliament. Thus appeasing the Israeli friendly MP’s.. The police continue to investigate the Glastonbury affair! Quite what they are investigating is beyond me? What was said is recorded both by the BBC ad multiple MOB’s. Will the CPS give the RW media their pound of flesh and increase their sales to the gammon fraternity? If the chants had been about Russia there would be no discussion.