I am not wishing it, just wondering! His deputies are even worse as they seem to believe in the distopian future portrayed by the old man. He posts at the rate of one per hour (last 6 months) and has not been coherent in any! In many ways I hope he survives to the end, then gets locked up for crimes against children, women, humanity generally. His sicophants should follow him to the lock up! But back to the begining – it is a very real question – his ramblings are becoming ever more incoherent – I would not give him long!
PETROL AND DEISEL PRICES
Are going up and up. £170 ltr, and likely to rise more as 3 of the most used seaways are all limiting traffic. The Strait of Hormuz is virtually closed on a haphazard basis; the Bab al Mandab Straight looks like it may be closed by Houti fighters supporting Iran and the Panama Canal is limiting the number of vessels passing through it to 29.5 per day. So world trade is being hampered and oil prices do not look like coming down any time soon. This will have major impacts on farming with fertilisers risinng in cost, let alone the transport costs. And all this is before El Niño’s impact is fully felt this year and next. The quicker we get to a carbon free future the better, the government should remove the costs of going green from fuel and put it on general taxation, and also stop pricing energy by gas costs. there is no doubt that the UK can be energy independent in a short time span, if the political will is there.
Thames Water has fallen foul of NIMBY’s who have objected to its plans for a new reservoir in Oxfordshire. I know little about the project but with a grown population in the south-east we will need to expand water storage facilities. However I would ask if there are alternatives, maybe more use of grey water in new developments. Also are data centres being charged properly? (i.e. being made to pay for the increased demand). Put everyone on a water meter with scaled charges – free for x amount, then scaled up for above normal use (150 ltrs per day per resident, allowances for medical problems). A new lake in Oxfordshire would provide jobs and opportunities for sports and recreation.
Pensions – let the old eat banana sandwiches with demarara sugar and give the young an opportunity to thrive.
RAMBLINGS OF A SICK MAN
The latest boll*cks to come out of Trumps obscene orafice is that the only guardrails that AI needs is a STRONG AND SMART (High IQ) PRESIDENT. The use of the word strong presumably means bigoted; and as for smart – all the evidence points to the opposite (Iran, tariffs, economy, world status, etc.). It is sad that so many hard working Americans have such tiny ….. cognitive powers that they are sucked into supporting him. Being warned by OpenAI CEO, Sam Altman, Google DeepMind chief, and SpaceX boss Elon Musk is obviously 3 experts too many for the orange man child. Tec firms have spent $billions in building up AI – and need to get a return on their money, so these “experts’ are basically speaking out against themselves, share prices have fallen by up to 5% in tec shares. So a falling stock market, combined with rising inflation is just what Trump does not need with the mid-terms looming. The war with Iran and various trade wars (mainly Canada) continue as do the Epstein Files, his only chance seems to be manipulating the vote as his hero Putin does!
Oh I do like to be besides the seaside and watch Farage lose his wits. I have already stated my views on donations, and blatent lobbying by cryptobillionaires is an affront to our democracy. The donors were true ‘patriots’ (who have for tax reasons lived in Thailand and Hong Kong) says Dickwit Tice whilst failing to condemn those ultra brave folks who rescue strangers at sea. I am sure the RNLI would love a £72m donation – thank Nige! A final, or not, thought – could donations be limited to the amount of UK tax paid? maybe 5% (this would allow most trade unions to be in the clear as they could use members taxes) and the donors would have had to pay £720m in tax to be able to donate at the level they just have.
Pensions – the treble lock- is basically stupid. I am all for keeping us old ‘uns out of poverty, but the treble lock is running out of control and must be stopped. A rise of £500 is expected for next year, I am all for it until I see the deprivation vested upon our youth by university loans, AI job redundancies, etc.). If we do not look after the younger generation there is no hope, fortunately demographics may cause a fall in total population, but adversely affect the job market – more jobs in care homes, less elsewhere. Again there needs to be a proper debate about the demographics of the UK.
Sydney Sweeney – and Novig sports-prediction advert. Well it has caused a stir, and brought more publicity than the company could have hoped for – I had never heard of it, and probably never will again. I am basically against overt sexualisation of women in adverts, or men, but also recognise the brilliance of this advert in bringing an unknown company to prominence.
PATRIOTS
A much used term which has come to mean knuckle dragging, flag shagging, racist, misogeneric bigotry. I am sure that I missed a few things out. Basically it is white nationalism and based on ignorance and stupidity. I heard people in Portsmouth complaining that their girls were being raped all the time by asylum seekers and migrants on small boats (it is more likely to be their fathers and brothers!). These so called patriots are blinded by their own ignorance.
Patriotism should mean, amongst other things, paying taxes without going offshore, supporting the 4 nations in sport, respecting the emergency services, and being proud of being British. It could also include queueing, talking about the weather, being kind to animals and a great sense of humour. Patriotism is used by Trump, Putin, Netmanyahu, and just about every right wing bigotted ruler worldwide to justify the oppression of segments of their societies. perhaps these so called patriots ought to be more concerned about Artificial Intelligence that will be taking jobs away from them – taxi drivers seem to be first in line, along. with many office workers, supermarket shelf stackers will follow soon.
Change is what they fear most – and change is getting supercharged at the moment. Climate, society, industry, employment are all changing rapidly – those without the ability to adapt and embrace the changes will protest and ultimately lose. Last point is that the flag shaggers are against Islam, how many go to a church apart from weddings and funerals? So they understand nothing about religion other than professing themselves to be christian (BIGOTS).
DONATIONS
Am I jealous that. Reform has received £72m in 2 donations, just offended. TBH I am not, but I do not have the answers to what is a real problem. Apparently Musk has said that Restore can have whatever it takes, he will find a way past the law that prohibits it. We have seen in the USA how elections are bought via copious TV ads. In the UK without union donations Labour would be finished, especially in a post industrial phase. Of course the rich will donated to a party that promises less tax for the rich, and if that means lower spending on welfare and the NHS – so be it – they do not need either, they have private health care, their children have a private education and they have over generous pensions. Not jealous, just offened by the ability of the rich to manipulate the system, especially when it benefits cryptocurrency billionaires. Maybe total donations should be capped at £1 for very vote received in the last election (with modifications for local council elections (being fair to Reform!), and the usual 5% of the vote minimum. That would allow parties to be on a more even keel come election time. I would introduce it retrospectively, and any past donations above this level confiscated for the Treasury. If someone is so selfish to encourage a party to follow their views – then they should pay more tax.
SAND BAGS – The Environment Agency does not provide sand bags for individual properties, whilst the council may have a stock of them to use in emergencies, usually for vulnerable people. So if you want to be prepared for an El Niño autumn/winter you need to get online and order some. Be aware that taking sand off a beach is usually illegal and if prolific can cause flood damage to nearby properties.
BILLIONAIRES
How do you get to be a billionaire? Either inherit it, win it, be lucky or buy friendships seem the most viable options. The last being the main reason parents cough up loads of dough to send their sprogs to places like Eton. So why would not, one, but 2 or more billionaires donate £millions to Farage? It has to be because they want something in return – most billionaires are notoriously tight with their cash. Recent donations have been from crypto-currency billionaires. the BoEngland and other traditional financial institutions are hesitant in backing currencies based on …. well nothing other than supply and demand for their fictitious wares; no land, no gold reserves, basically nothing but thin air. What has Farage and his party of failures and racists promised?
trump meanwhile is in Ireland and states that it would be a good idea to have a united Ireland – which again reveals his contempt fo normal people; the people of Ireland, north and south, will decide to unite when and if they are ready, and that is likely to be a long time if conflict is not to raaise its ugly head again – so Trump ‘just shut the fuck up”.
ADDICTS
What should we do about people addicted to something that will ultimately kill them? I suspect you think I am talking about drugs, and of course they are serious, but society recognises the need to help those addicted to them. No, what I am on about, is the addiction that makes people support those who would cause them harm. The right wing parties are supporting the Petro-chemical industry, yet also supporting the privatisation of the NHS which would harm the working classes. Climate denial is becoming more ridiculous by the day, and yet parties that are sponsored by oil companies, gather more supporters. I suppose that deep down all addicts have a death wish?
I quote from the secretary-general of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change “If humanity doesn’t cut the fossil fuel pollution. …….. this summers brutal heat, fires and droughts will seem mild compared to the permanent nightmare that will follow”. Tens of thousands died in Europe this summer due to the heat, and the cost was estimated at £150bn. Climate change forces – yes fucking forces people to migrate, and yet the mentally deficient or mental void puppets support those who gain money from denying climate change. And I am so sorry, but I will take no pleasure from saying ‘I told you so’, no schadenfreude, only a huge sadness for humanity. How should we get people off this ultimate stupidity? I have no idea?
And how the papers sing – they have headlines stating how staycations would be affected – bullshit. No family of 4 on a minimum wage is going into a city for a staycation, places like Cornwall and Devon (which should be affected, are not). So the papers are spouting nonsense ….. again.
CLOWN
So America has a clown or a liar for President- probably both. First he says that he was saved from the possible collapse of One Liberty Plaza by two firemen (he was nowhere near – fact, and I am certain he would have mentioned it before, he has never been short of self aggrandisement); then he makes a speech stating that he would make $5000 come to every American as long as they spent it in America – is he going to increase the national debt by another $1.3billion.? and how will he know how the money would be spent.
However it is not only Americans who are really, really stupid (for continuing to support the idiot), we too in the UK have our morons. If any group of people ever warrant the upmost praise it is the crews (unpaid) and staff of the RNLI charity who volunteer to risk their lives at any time of day or night, or conditions at sea to rescue anyone in need regardless of race, religion, creed or lack of intelligence (the last often being the case in summer!). These undoubted heroes are being targeted by the knuckle dragging moron brigde both online and physically. the police are having to patrol to protect boats and buildings and crew members. People like that make me ashamed to be a member of the human race! Whilst I vaguely understand that the knuckle draggers feel hard done by society, I have no sympathy or empathy with them – If their jobs/or lack of are are impinging on their perception of what their lifestyles should be, then there are plenty of jobs available – 111000 vacancies in care for starters. Oh but they think they are too good for those jobs, they will leave them for the ‘foreigners’. Ignorant twats.
Attacks on the RNLI have a personal touch for me, when I got married we had the reception in the Red Lion, Newlyn where I was a part time bar staff, we had the reception in the bar but it was still open to the public, afterwards I learnt that 6 of the crew of the Mousehole Lifeboat were present – all died later in attempting a rescue at Lands End. My granddaughter is also a lifeguard on a beach in Cornwall.. I fucking hate the selfish, ignorant yobs who think they have a right to terrorise others .
The sun is shining and rain looks unlikely for the next 10 days, but if in the south-west have an umbrella handy just in case! I guess the hosepipe ban will not end soon! My water butt is running low, but no worries as the tomatoes are just about finished. Senior rabbis have spoken in favour of the governments action on the West Bank, despite the Chief Rabbi, the Board of Deputies, and the Jewish Leadership Council condemning it.
£1839 – the cost of gaining British Citizenship. Surely it would be better to mitigate this cost with evidence of employment and tax receipts. it seems that racism is ingrained in our society and institutions.
ISRAEL
The Israeli government is explicitly supprorting settlers who kill and maim Palestians (including children on the West Bank) and has the audacity to tell the governments of the UK, France and Canada, that they are on the wrong side of history. The British Consulate in East Jerusalem has been closed and the US Ambassador to Israel threatened retalitory sanctions – bring it on! Unfortunately Badenoch sought to make a political jibe at the government of the UK – she is becoming increasingly irrelevant. Various Jewish groups have condemned the Governments move on the grounds that it encourages anti-semitism. Instead they should be applauding the government and condemning the Israeli Government and the settlers who are commiting ethnic cleansing. Sir Edward Leigh and a long standing member of “Friends of Israel” said he wholeheartedly supproted the government thus supporting the argument that not all tories are complete morons!
Monty Don has called an end to his stint on Gardeners World – I am not a great fan of the programme as it points out my deficiencies as a gardener (or should I be more honest and say ‘in the garden’, but I have watched bits and appreciated his calm voice and practical advice.
A ‘technical issue’ halted flights into and out of the UK yesterday – a multibillion £ business. My first thought was not how/why the issue occured – but why did they not have back up – it reeks of cost cutting and profit margins! I was once phoned during the school holidays with a marketing questionnaire – and being the holiday I accepted the call; one of the questions was which airline do consider the safest! My reply was that I would not consider getting on a plane without feeling that it was 100% safe (I did not really think about safety when boarding a Fawcet Airlines plane from Lima to Cusco! despite seeing a mechanic giving the engine some wellie with a hammer!). However whistle blowers and passengers almost being sucked from planes do make me suspicious! My passport has run out and I have no intention of renewing it or getting on a plane again. And yes I do know that planes are safer than cars! (although that statistic, like many, is flawed!
At least 100 golf clubs breached their licences for the extraction of water but no prosecutions or fines have occurred – it make me want to get my hosepipe out and spray the road! Golf is just a way of spoiling a good walk. But this revalation proves that the agencies set up by the last government have no teeth, are possibly stuffed with compliant board members (paid by our taxes). A challenge – name one government regulatory agency that has any evidence of doing its job properly!
WEATHER
the British are renowned for talking about our changing weather – but how many actually feel the weather. A dash from the house to a car and similar at the other end of a commute is the only exposure most people have to weather. Perhaps that is why many people are so complacent about the changes we are experiencing. Twat writers in the Mail, and presenters on GB’News’ are revealing that they have no connection with the weather – as we ourselves have not. If I asked a 100 people when was the last time they had experienced a storm in the flesh I would be surprised if it was above 1%! Many children refuse to wear a coat as it ‘is not cool’, in fact how many have coats ‘fit for purpose’ rather than style? Many may find out in the net couple of months what extreme weather means to individuals who are basically immune to weather. Heat is difficult to avoid without aircon contributing to the causes; but cold can be countered by central heating which has become ubiquitos since my childhood (I remember thick ice on the inside of bedroom windows when in my pre-teens), But how many people experience driving rain, snow, hail, high wind other than for a short car journey or from a warm shelter?
A government minister has stated that we should be prepared for power cuts – I am reliant on gas for heating – so I might find out first hand how to survive in the cold! I have food, blankets and hats – so should be ok! But I return to my thesis – most people are inurred regarding the weather and take little notice regarding it other than in a polite conversation.