The Jam Jam

I am not going to blame climate change for the hot weather – it is just a normal high pressure system. However it may be a precursor of temperatures to come. Temperatures above 30C are not uncommon but we may get more of them and for longer, a report last week, which I criticised for being sensationalist, may have pointed out some realities for the future. Hospitals, schools and care homes should be fitted with aircon – powered by solar (which happily and fortuistically coincide). Architects may have to rethink their normal expanse of glass buildings. When at school a couple of classrooms were unbearable. On one occasion it was so hot that I registered under a tree – kids had had a water fight in the toilets and SMT was looking for the culprits. One of my tutees (Katie Pearce I think?) poured a jug of cool water of my head, and I was dripping – a deputy head took one look at me – dripping- and went to the head teacher to complain – the kids and me just laughed!

I have bought a couple of fans – the desk one was so effective yesterday that when I got up and away from the desk I had to check that the heating had not come on – the difference was so marked. A neighbour commented that my abundance of vegetation in the garden must keep my house coolle – the same neghbour who sprays even wall flowers growing in the wrong place with herbicides – no wonder my garden is not buzzing with insects. And it is salad weather – not bbq’s! I basically do not like burgers and prefer eating at a table!

Up and out at 05.30 this morning to water greenhouse and hanging baskets, tomatoes and chillies looking good. Hanging baskets also doing well, And herbs and mints are fine, I am waiting to see if evening primrose and chicory reappear (I think EP are there?), Wild strawberries are also looking good as are the raspberries, I wonder if the mulberries will be ok this year?

NHS services. Haiving been a smoker for 50+ years I was keen to take advantage of a MRI scan , and relieved that I was clear – phew! And I relaxed, but then started getting emails calling me for a follow up – they became slightly threatening and telling me they would make the appointment on my behalf! I basically avoid doctors and hospitals – and wonder why, if not for profit I should be recalled? I was told it would only take a couple of minutes – what to bill the NHS for an unneeded check?

It is always sad when people make monumental errors of judgement – it is even sadder that they do not admit their mistake. So we are seeing the MSP attempting to castigate Starmer for attempting to redress some of the harm caused by Brexit, a move widely supported by majority of the public. However the EU will have its own terms and freedom of movement is one the timid Starmer might shy away from. Presumably the EU would want a guarantee that the toad faced liar, Farage, could not repeal any agreement if he should come to power – ( I would pay for any of my children who would like to emigrate if that catastrophe occurs.

Trump threatens another war – this time with Cuba, stating he is willing to invade! Is he bullshitting or just appeasing the Cuban diaspora with words? Would the world look on, in trepadition and fear, if the lunatic started another war. It is unlikely the Cubans would welcome the US forces with roses and teacakes, or even Mojitos! China has presumably warned him off, but he looks at Taiwan on a map and thinks there is a similarity – fool. He also has said he will not attend his sons wedding in the Bahamas; presumably beause it it going to be a small scale affair and he would not be centre stage!

Ebola has trebled the number of victims in a week. Vaccines are under development, but the world needs to take preventative action – now. The Taliban in Afghanistan is imposing laws preventing the education of girls past the age of 11. This law has also led to the number of forced or early marriages increasing to 70%. War with Afghanistan has failed by the British, Soviets, and Americans – a newer kinder approach is needed to halt this exploitation of women.

Further evidence of Israels piracy and inhumanity continues to surface, particularly the evidence of abuse by those victims of piracy by Israel – and Starmer says – nothing! Also funding for Primary School Sport is being cut. Perhaps councils should ensure that all facilities offer free membership for under 16’s, or a maximum charge of £5per session to cover costs?

Finally – from me today! – climate change is increasing coastal erosion; which affects many parts of the UK, but also flood risk – watch out for reports over the summer.

So three 15 year old boys raped 2 14 year old. girls and film themselves laughing and joking as they do so. Where are the riots and ‘keep our women safe’ protests? Obviously the childrens identities are being withheld – but we can guess that they are white or someone would have triggered race riots. The boys have not received custodial sentences. this is probably ok as prison would just radicalise them even more in their misogynisticism (is that a word?). But can we have a reeducation punishment/training. I also wonder about the boys parents – they have obviously done a shit job – should they be punished/reeducated

Sadiq Khan stands out as a politican of principal in blocking the Met.Police deal with Palantir. A £50 million deal with a company whose CEO implied some cultures were inferior. But regardless of their Israeli supporting stance – why is it that we do not have the ability to support the development of computer experts to do the job?

Single sex toilets must exclude transgender people. I understand this, but not the furore over it! I would ask a dfifferent question – why do we have single sex toilets at all? Public toilets are fast disappearing anyway. Is there a problem with transgender people in toilets? Women I know say they regularly used mens toilets in nightclubs when the queue for the Ladies was too long! Is this another thing the media can get women upset about – ask any woman when was the last time they used a public toilet, or even a toilet in a store or restaurant! And controversially, why is there not a campaign about gay men using urinals where they can see other mens dicks!

274 climbers reached the top of Everest yesterday. Climbing Mount Everest costs between $40,000 and over $300,000, with the average expedition running around $61,267. This total covers permits, logistics, guides, and gear. The massive price discrepancy depends primarily on the level of support and luxury you choose. Too many over rich people? Whe even has a spare $40000? Should the mountain be given dignity and left alone but for those will to test their skill and endurance?

Israeli continues to breach international law by intercepting and aid flotilla in international waters, and then humiliate and basically torture its members. And Starmer and other politicians are … silent! Fuck Israel – I will not buy anything that has been near the contaminated land!

I am passionate about the need to take action regarding climate change – but tadays headlines in the Guardian were sensationalist and possibly counter productive. The oil companies and big business and for some strange reason the right wing idiots are all climate deniers. So whilst the use of statistics maybe justified if predictions are even marginally out it will be lapped up. Headlines referring to 2050 may be prudent and sensible, but populist propaganda is not, most of the ardent supporters of Reform will be dead by then! Worst case scenarios are pointless when knuckle draggers welcome Med style summer temperatures. Will water companies, still driven by profit, be prepared – no new reservoirs for how long?

The Climate Change Committee also reported that flooding would increase (especially with nonsensicle planning approvals) with more intense storms and higher river flow (beavers and rewriggling will not be enough) and sea level rising. Conversely drought will become more common. Wild fires would increase and food production would be disrupted. So totally gloom and doom! I am a believer in Ester Boserup’s theory; population growth acts as the primary driver for agricultural innovation. Adapting this climate change will see farmers and consumers adapting to change. Will fizzy wine (champagne) become more common whilst meat becomes a luxury (if it is not already)? The old – middle aged today will lament the change but it will happen. Back to Ester – world population growth, has trebled in my life time, and even with growth rates falling it will continue to expand. This means more space for humans and less space for the ecosystems that underwrite our survival. Fuck it – I went down another negative theme!

So all Hail Elon Musk and fellow bros – they will save humanity! Or like Stark by Ben Elton they will fuck of to another planet and leave the suckers who supported them to die!

Again filling the front pages with excitable bollox. Why would the EU want the UK to rejoin when a major party has grown due to its distatste for the EU (Reform and with the Tories rump still a sizeable percentage of the electorate). Yes the British economy is 5th in the world ranked by GDP, but the EU will not be rushing to allow the UK to rejoin as it has bigger problems at the moment – namely the Russian threat, Trumps instability, and the growth of right wing populism. So maybe a Starmer’ish approach of little by little would be better.?

Ebola – a very nasty disease and the WHO have declared an emergency. Should we be bothered? Well over 200.000 international visitors travel from Congo every year – so it would not be impossible for it to spread? In our interconnected world nowadays we need organisations like the WHO to keep us safe! And Trump has cut funding to zero – bastard! The disease has already had 2 victims in neighbouring Uganda – cuts to aid by the US has reduced early warning systems and possibly enabled the spread of the disease.

An article in the paper today talked about food poverty in the countryside. Yes food in the local shop is expensive and not organic -But did these people learn nothing in school about healthy diets – being a single mother does not have a prerequisite that their children should live on fast food and takeaways. They are often living with gardens – plant some seeds then! And then cook fresh veg – even if more expensive than Aldi or Lidl – it is still cheaper and healthier than preprepared crap. So I have no sympathy for those who cannot be bothered to peel a few veg, a chunk of mincemeat and some pasta/potatoes/rice.