So the American truce that Trump put on his Truth Social post is meaningless, Russia has attacked Ukraines energy facilities and has said it will respond, and then Saudi Arabia has hit Houti controlled oil facilities whilst the Houtis have responded by hitting Saudi pipelines and its main airport. meanwhile Israel keeps quiet, no doubt collecting info and plotting a major strike against whoever. Whatever, the price of fuel will continue to spiral. The government in the UK should stop faffing around and support solar and wind – very school, hospital and government buildings should have solar panels and batteries where appropriate, as should every new home. we must become independent in terms of energy supply quickly, the Middle East will not settle into a comfortable peace, or even an uncomfortable one soon. America will have to put boots on the soil in Yemen and Iran if it is to undo the damage it has done, and that is unlikely to work either. Will trumps multimillion pound war chest enable him to reverse the tide against his increasingly strange behaviour?
EU
I am loving the way that the Right Wing Newspapers and media are getting themselves all worked up about a “Brexit Betrayal”. Quite why they are soo worked up about it is another puzzle to me. They purport to be pro-business, but the facts show that Brexit has harmed businesses across the country, and the lies they told about the EU have been proven to be untrue. As for taking back control – what a laugh, we live in a global economy where the decisions made by Trump, Xi and Putin have a greater impact than Brussels (where we used to be a major player in decision making). Migrtion figures soared after Brexit to nearly 1 Million in 2024 -freedom of movement enabled a fluid pool of workers to exist. So where next? Labour pledged in its election manifesto to not rejoining the customs union, freedom of movement and single market – however much has changed recently; The Iran’s USA war, Trumps tariffs, Israel/Gaza and let us not forget climate change which needs international attention rather than notes from a small island. So I believe we need to act quickly – we still have diplomats and business people who know their way around the ‘cooridors of power’ in Brussels. Alignment with the EU is a no brainer on economic and military grounds, especially with America’s retreat as an ally in both areas. China is still rising despite a sluggish home economy, and India is still a dormant giant waiting in the shadows.. Europes weakness and its strength, is its diversity of just about everything; language, economy, politics, culture, people. In many ways it is a microcosm of life on Planet Earth.
Meanwhile we can expect fuel prices to continue upwards – Putins attack on Ukraine energy infrastructure, Zelenski says ‘we will respond’ whilst also surmising that Putin does not read ‘Truth Social’ posts by the idiot in the White House (Soon to be bling central). Quite whom the RWP will blame is debatable, they blatently love Trump whilst having to keep the romance undercover!
And the weather – it was 17C here at 06.00 – f’ing insane for mid-October, and no real rain down here.
PANTS ON FIRE!
Trump announces “Effective immediately, there is an ENERGY CEASEFIRE in the war between Russia and Ukraine. Both parties have agreed, Do not break it”. President Zelenski said it was the first he had heard of it, and then it was immediately broken by Russia causing power outages in at least 3 states. So the POTUS is lying yet again, but for what purpose? Maybe his bromaance with Vlady babe goes deeper -ugh!
The Lancet has published a list of the 17 main threats to humanity – and No.1 is …. climate change, with a stunning headline that “Humans face extinction by 2100 if global leaders do not act NOW.: If that figure represents even a 0.1% chance of happening, we should act now, a little loss of comfort would better than the life my grandchildren and great grandclidren may have to endure. We are already seeing government ministers warning about food shortages in the UK due to weather conditions. Worldwidee the conditions could be horrendous and the migration issue, rather than being an irritant could become a major concern – especially if aid from rich countries is severely curtailed. The band plays on as the Titanic sinks below the waves.
TAKING SIDES
I was discussing international situations and it occured to me that we all take sides very quickly, whether it is a football team with whom we have no connection, or a country with whom we have no connection. The Grand National is a classic example where people bet £millions because they like the name, I support sunderland and have never been there or have a connection. The idea of taking sides becomes more pertinent and dangerous when discussing international affairs. We all have access to multimedia, and I have heard the term, all over facebook or ‘the media’, when actually the truth is that it is all over the friends that have been selected – basically an echo chamber. I am as guilty as anyone else – why would I want to have my morning/afternoon/evening spoilt by the ranting of a fascist or racist; so I bar anyone whom I believe is either of those, do not watch the right wing liars on TV, and am content with my little bubble. It is so easy to find ‘evidence’ that supports our arguments, but without verification are we being suckered into believing a lie. Todays papers led with an example, The Sunday Express with a headline that “UK would be plundered by the EU if Brexit reversed”. Millions will believe this, but my sources say that the UK has been economically harmed by Brexit, who is to be believed? The evidence strongly points to Brexit being a disaster – but am I being selective. The climate change question is even more confusing, 98% of scientists and 100% of the evidence point to a waiting catastrophe. I read that scientists and media are funded by oil companies – is this true? Could they be correct and their statements of just coping with the change is less harmful than trying to stop it?
On the last quandary – woud you cross a road with anything less than 99.9999% chance of it being safe – climate change has the ability to be incredibly harmful to billions of people.
SICK
Trump sinks to a new low with an execution tobe aired on TV live. there so many things wrong with this. I cannot put them in order as they are all sick. Only 54 countries have capital punishment and most have not used it in the last 10 years, these countries are not the paradigns of virtue and safety. 2 other countries that use public executions are Iran and Afghanistan – the USA wants to join this club! With 47 executions last year America has one of the highest rates in the world. The public execution on 3 Dec will follow the botched execution of Christa Pike. if it is on TV it will soon be all over the internet – I do not want to see it, I am also certain that I do not want my grandchildren or any other family members to see it. What measures will the likes of tikTok and X take to stop its spread? Our young are brutalised by the viewing of the internet without a government sanctioned broadcast, FFS! I am against the death penalty – it does not work, and a mistake made, even in good faith, would be murder, if it is going to be used, it should be done with dignity and solemnity, not for the glorification of the Potus. He will literally stop at nothing to ensure ‘he’ wins the mid-terms.
Doing a deal with another selfish ‘dictator’ in reality, is despicable – it is well known that Trump (and Farage) worship at the throne of the Kremlin. Again an illegal war instigated by Russia with Ukraine is supported by Trump, despite the subversive cyber attacks on NATO allies and attempts to hit communications like undersea cables. He has calculated that if the price of fuel comes down then the MAGA will triumph. The man seems to be out of control, and as he has surrounded himself with psycophants there is no control for his madness. The latest is the attack on the International Court of Justice,maybe due to the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to a former judge.
How much more will America take? I can truthfully say that I found all the Americans I have met, to be friendly and likeable, albeit a few were a little over confident. Presumably the knuckle draggers and flag shaggers do not have passports, most of the media is either controlled by MAGA supporters (e.g. Washington Post, Paramount, X, etc.) and therefore an echo chamber for the fascist fringe in America.
BYELECTION RESULT
So Polanski came second, a respectable result but he will be gutted that his party let him down. I have come to appreciate party discipline – he was basically torpedoed by the very left wing who voted for the Zionism = racism motion at the party conference. Areturn to the environment is essential for a Green Party that has made inroads since the general election. If party members want to be in a very left wing party, they should fuck off and join one, I might even vote for them in a proportional representation situation! It was good however to see that the two R parties (repugnant and repulsive) were in 4th and 6th places, and the nasty party 3rd all with less than 10% of the vote.. Labour and Greens got about 80% of the vote.
I do not believe the figures for autism and ADHD which have risen from 1 in 7 to 1 in 4 in the last 30 years. Besides the fraudulent claiming of welfare, is it just an excuse for underachievement in the parents eyes of their children? I have a family member who is autistic and there is no doubt that he needs 100% care, but I also taught for 35years and only in the last 4 did I came across ‘at risk -suicide, do not let go to the toilet by themselves’ warnings. there have always been children with ‘special needs’, but why the explosion of claims. Middle class parents will always seek advantages for their children, and if they cannot pay the extra for private education, they will manipulate the system – about 20 years ago my very middle class ‘good’ school received over 100 requests from parents for their offspring to have extra time in public exams (GCSE’s), most were refused and it was unusual for the remainder to actually use the extra time because they needed it, Also potential employers should be told if students needed extra time. This is not to enable them to discriminate – many special needs students would make exemplary employees, but maybe not in superacademic fields (I admit to being uncertain about the last comment). Those who actually need it should be swiftly identified and given help, but a graph in the Guardian showed around 60% with a common mental health condition and ADHD and autism.
If this is true society must be totally fucked up. Are we getting better at diagnosing problems, becoming more precious about our children or is there a real problem associated with diet, air quality, media use, climate change? The world also seems to be ever unsafer, quicker and less benign than it ever was.
Weather – the UK recorded a record 40 days when temperatures were above 30C, and 1354 wildfires, but the tories and the 2R’s do not give a shit about our children ad grandchildren and future generations – its all about profit! And the MoD have objected to 4 wind farms on the grounds it affects radar, really! Perhaps we should have more wind farms on the coast to disrupt incoming drones and their radar?
CHRISTMAS WREATHS
My local school is having w death making session so i picked a laundry bucket of stuff for them, including lots of rose hips – bright red, but my holly tree is a bit weedy so I supplemented it with bay branches – both evergreen and shiny!; and then i added some rosemaries that is in flower with small blue flowers. I might have a go at making one myself with the rosemary, and may be some sage for contrast? Whatever it would smell great.
I now need to empty the greenhouse of the tomato plants – what to do with the soil in the pots – maybe i will add it to the compost bin? Apple and mulberry trees need pruning, and maybe the apricot although it is not tall, it could do with spreading out.
HOUSING
So the nasty party want to cut inheritance tax (help for the rich but not the economy, only 6% pay inheritance tax but it raises £6bn), stamp duty (help for the house builders) and no mansion tax for the rich; all paid for by cutting welfare. First off, lets look at making housing cheaper – it aint goin’ happen. House prices went up as more women entered the workplace, and families could therefore afford a bigger mortgage – and the house builders and their shareholders and the estate agents and banks all got much richer. House prices will not fall, negative equity is bad for the economy as a whole, So none of this is feasible, or going to happen. The so called mansion tax should be replaced by a newer version of council tax before the nasty party can even sniff a place in a right wing coalition (the best they can hope for).
Raising the minimum wage and income tax thresholds, and introducing higher ones would encourage more more people into work – why should the owner of a betting company pay themselves £350m and then complain about tax, whilst a nurse or even a doctor gets so much less than this. Tax companies on UK earnings as a straight, no cop outs or tax dodges, percentage. Even 10% would be a gain. let the rapacious bastards move to enclaves in Abu Dhabi or Dubai – from where they broadcast jingoistic nonsense and patriotic bollox.
jaguar release a new design of electric car – but do not understand the concept of an EV. Maybe it is me that is a fool; believing that EV’s are environmentally better I ignored the thought that many people believe they need a car that will break the speed limit in most countries (especially urban area). At £120k it is not cheap, is to wide and too long to fit into a UK standard parking space – but the rich fuckers who buy them will not care, or be concerned that their vehicle will act as a block for many small town roads – should small villages and towns, e.g. Fowey ban them?
A personal gripe – two people opposite my house park their cars on the road opposite my drive or inconveniently. I can appreciate the hassle of getting up to move a car to allow another from the driveway; ; but these two cars are there all week and only used at weekends, they coud easily park them in their drives, I have thought of saying something, but as our neighbourhood is not known for friendliness, I have defered, just waiting for karma and a lorry to scrape the sides of each on, and not stop!
BORED
with the party conferences. Inevitably they talk to their support base and only Labour have the power to do anything meaningful. Tories promise to cut taxes, build a dome over the UK and sunsidise walking sticks for the elderly, the greens have talked bollox that no one cares about, Reform and Regress parties had their conferences a while ago but I cannot remember anything memorable, and have the LibDems folded without trace. Badenoch has decided to ignore the polls and pretend we still have 2 1/2 party system, the odds on the tories winning the next election are similar to seeing Elvis dance on the Loch Ness Monsters nose! their only hope would be a party of fascist nasty people who deny demographic facts.
Weather is turning – it was June when temperatures last failed to reach 20c, and it might be only a short cold spell, I am old enough to remember wrapping up warm for November 5th celebrations around a bonfire – recently you could have got away without a coat! Things to eminence about – penny for the guy and scouts/cubs bob a job weeks.
FACTS
Too many people are avoiding facts about, well just about anything. It has become very easy to avoid arguements based on hard evidence. Do people demonstrating about small boats care if numbers have come down significantly, as have the number of legal migrants; do they care about the number of women raped by white men – or believe the nonsense about migrants; do they care about the facts regarding climate change; I could go on, and probably will. When did ignorance become so widespread, and even virtuous? Was it due to the disaster that Brexit brought, and people denying they were conned and wrong. Admitting that you were wrong is not easy – but essential for a liberal democracy. Why do we accept the lies that proliferate in the media? Is it because we love to tell ourselves that we are right, when blatently we are wrong.
I have made many mistakes, I believed I was in love at 18, married at 22 to a lovely person who was just as wrong for me as I was for her, I could say all my three children were mistakes – biologically they were, but each one is in my mind nearly perfect! Otherwise, and including the aforementioned – I believe our mistakes are what really makes us who we are, that and recognising that we are not clever as fuck is essential to society and our happiness., and denying any wrong is just plain stupid. Garaeth Davies once said of being a member of my geography team “that I had only ever made two decisions, and both were wrong’ – maybe I was more intelligent than I thought!