Trump Tarriffs 7:49 AM (last hour)

As the world falls apart you cannot but help laugh at some of the situations that arise. The latest is the incompetent manner of Trump and his Tariffs. Such tariffs are not unknown, but it needs to be said that the normal practice is to make use of them in a manner helpful to your own economy, not in a scattergun approach making use of little intelligence or understanding of the costs to your self. Trump has done this in a rather silly manner.

The two I like best are the penguins on Heard Island & Macdonald Islands. Here the penguins comprise the totality of the population yet Trump has demanded tariffs be placed on them. The Emperors will not be pleased.

However, he has gone further, a US base in the India ocean has also been targeted for tariffs, quite what exports come from an unoccupied island that possesses only US military men is not clear. Maybe Trump knows better than everyone else?

The tariffs could lead to economic meltdown around the world, 1929 and all that once again. Our prized bank accounts bulging at the seams, no they really are, will easily be emptied and soup kitchens may well be our lot some day soon.

This could be the end of the world.

It could be just another warning.

It certainly starts with Putin making use of gullible greedy people, hello Mr Farage, and the neoliberals continuing their quest to make the peasants pay while they enrich themselves.

Christians must ready themselves for all situations. Whatever happens trusting in Jesus will see us through this. Following the worlds way will drag us down. Our God cares, we must also.

Guy

April One and Cooking 2 Apr 6:48 AM (yesterday, 6:48 am)

A blue ski and bright sunshine greet us on the first day of April, 'April Fools Day,' as some call it. Few however, have bothered to play jokes this morning as it is difficult to tell such humour from the daily outpourings of Trump and Keir. One did get me on Facebook however, UK Police Humour got me, a description of a scrote who burst a window on a police car was given, and when you clicked on the button it took you to your own page. Very clever I thought. One or two others have appeared claiming Farage wanted to buy Canvey Island and turn it into 'Nar-a-Fargo, and others claimed to have been recruited to work for Trump, in spite of what they have called him beforehand.

Keir Starmer gave a good one, until I realised it was true, he spoke about 'illegal immigrants,' and hating how they took money from workers, and other blatant Reform UK type policy words. Clearly he fears Reform UK will tale votes from him but instead of changing policy he merely copies Farage. I doubt this will work.

So far, Trump has not appeared, maybe he will remain indoors today as few can believe anything he says anyway?

I'm all at sea today. Everything is failing badly. I began this post yesterday and forgot all about it. I sat here staring into space wondering what it was I was meant to be doing and here it was, not doing anything.

Anyway, I did work yesterday, I finished ironing the summer shirts from last year, cooked and later dismembered a chicken, now made into some sort of soup today. And spent time wondering how my idea of saving money was costing me money.

You see, I buy a bag of mince, made something with this which leaves me 4 or 5 bowls of whatever it is in the freezer. This meets with the previous curry that lies there awaiting me gathering the courage and yoghurt sufficient to try it again. So now I have days of chicken before me, with some alternatives, and I think this good.

Then I consider the cost.

Buying the stuff from one of the two greedy supermarkets is straight forward but expensive, then at home it has to be cooked, the chicken in the electric oven for 2 hours, the others in the big pot on the hob, which takes another couple of hours. Saving money when shopping but increasing the use of the oven with greedy EON stealing my pension I reckon leaves me not any better off, as indeed I had hoped.

EON have had a good week so far, the laptop, the hoover, the cooker, lights in the evening as the sun goes down, and then there is the water used via the gas boiler which has been used much, simply to clean the mess after cooking.

Electric, gas and water costs always rising, and all offer help to cut costs you will notice, any help bar lowering the prices the greedy capitalists. I think it is British Gas that made £65 billion profit, though it may be another greedy CEO and company. One of my private pensions, the big one, has increased by £1:41 per year! Hooray! However, I am not one to complain, I can survive and I am a long way from visiting a food bank, there are many others who are really struggling and this Red Tory crowd are not going to aid them. We live under the control of the greedy rich ensuring the peasants pay the taxes they do not wish to pay, and die to keep them of benefits or making use of the NHS. YOU voted for this I tell people, but they do not wish to notice this, and many appear willing to vote for more of this once again.

After the Flood 30 Mar 10:09 AM (3 days ago)

A different kind of history book, one reject by many because it does not suit their wishes. One problem scientists and historians carry with them is their distain for anything that upsets what they wish to believe, this book does just that. By investigating ancient documents, most reject by modern scholars as not worth researching, the author takes us back, he says down the genealogical lines to Noah.

This is where people begin to object. If this actually brings us to the biblical Noah then possibly the bible is correct and all we are taught is wrong. Naturally this brings out the worst fears of many.

I recall in the early 80s many magazines written by Palaeontologists disputing established facts concerning evolution. They were not popular. One speaking on 'Science in Action on the BBC World Service around this time was asked by the interviewer, "If your facts are correct, then it changes the time period from 300 million to 3 million years. Isn't this one in the eye for the theory of evolution?" "Er, I suppose it is," muttered the scientist, and the programme ended. It s a shame it ended there.

When the Natural History Museum commemorated the hundredth year of Darwin's birth, (or was it death? a 'creation Stand' was erected at the exhibition in the museum. This caused much controversy with the BBC Radio 4 offering a programme on the trouble. This featured people from both sides of the argument (the BBC used to do this in the old days) including a near screaming individual who was second in command at the museum. He was adamant that there was no reason for this creation stand, and was violently opposed to it. Others were more thoughtful. Was he afraid it may be correct I wonder? Who knows what happened to him, or indeed those who offered a different view. These were no God fearers of any sort as far as I know, merely palaeontologists who reported their conclusions. Where are they now?

Anyway, that is what this book concerns. I wonder abut the dates on offer, I can see some mistakes here, and have not found any reviews that indicate opposition to the findings. Findings based on ancient genealogies and ancient official records, much of which have been ignored by historians so far. An interesting read, with many questions, and not one you will see propagated by the BBC today.

Rachel from Accounts... 29 Mar 10:22 AM (4 days ago)

I had one of those Twitter arguments tonight, though it actually occurred on BlueSky, the intelligent person's Twitter. I indicated my opinion that Labour were pleasing Putin by their actions, naturally, a fervent, youthful and dumb lackey intervened aggressively. In my response to his lack of knowledge of politics, I referred to 'Rachel from accounts,' and indicated he did not understand the neoliberal control we now live under.

Not long afterwards, Otto intervened. He considered Rachel from accounts to be 'misogynistic,' and 'sexist.' My ire was raised!

'Sexist,' I fumed. Here was a woman taking cash from the disabled, the long term sick, and anyone else she could, but not from the rich who can afford it, yet you worry about 'sexism?' This speaks much about our twisted world today.

What would Barbara Castle, or Bessie Braddock think of Rachel? What words would they use towards her? Thatcher herself would have few women around, and certainly not Rachel. Yet in today's world we must not upset women, especially a woman who wants 'equality.' If she is bad at what she does do not mention her sex, but if a man is bad we can indicate that 'HE' is bad, and a bad man. Is that sexist or just speaking the truth?

It appears women can be defended because of their sex, and avoid responsibility for their wrongdoing, but not in my world. The person does wrong, and as these two ingrates referred to me as 'Puff faced Reform voter,' and then one of them ran away. They can call me names, but not if I was female, apparently.

The misuse of language is so common, few notice this.

Hardtalk 26 Mar 2:20 AM (8 days ago)

When Adolf became Chancellor in Germany, the first thing he did was to allow Herr Goebbels to take over the media. This small and very clever man knew information was what people required and he knew that ensuring one sided news would bring victory. So it was that listening to foreign radio stations 'lies' became banned, reading foreign press was outlawed, and stiff penalties followed for those who disobeyed.

The UK has long had a right-wing media forcing half truths and exaggerated lies down our throats. Today this media has become even more limited in scope. 'Reach,' the organisation that owns the 'Daily Mirror' and the 'Daily Express,' plus countless other titles across the UK, insists on 'clickbait' and not hard news on all titles. This to force advertisers onto the money making websites. Unfortunately, the sites used by both major papers as well as many others, are rotten and unreadable. What a mess.

Other major papers, owned by foreign based billionaires, appear to have little intention of changing their ways, and some, like the 'Daily Telegraph,' appear to have no idea where to look beyond the 'Farage Rioters' block for support.

The BBC, once the standard for independent news, has removed almost all thinking or questioning journalists and instead encourages the blatant Conservative types such as Laura Kuenssberg with their one sided approach to 'journalism.' We see how those who question the elite are being driven out to lesser journalistic organisations, or indeed onto podcasts. Podcasts are good but they do not reach the man in the street in the way the BBC does. The viewer tends to accept what is offered and now does not appreciate the bias confronting him. Removing most journalists from 'Newsnight' was one example of right-wing influence of which Herr Goebbels would be proud, to continue this by closing down a successful, and indeed cheap, programme such as 'Hardtalk,' can only be done because the interviewer, one Stephen Sackur, was hurting the new establishment. Here hard questions were put to many leaders from various nations, not always agreeable people. This style of questioning is now being outlawed across the BBC. Slowly but surely the 'elite' are removing all opposition to them. Worse still is the fact that the people are voting for this, as they did in Germany, until it was too late. We already note BBC Scotland is run by the Labour Party, unionist followers are given free reign on this platform, independence seekers are ignored and blamed constantly for all faults, real and imagined. Such style is now being offered on all channels. 'Bread & Circus's,' and not very good bread or circus is what is now presented. The results are seen in parliament where two Conservative parties now hold sway, opposition is rare.

The US follows a similar pattern, though over there it is even more blatant. Rich men and their press are cowering before the mad Trump, Congress bows the knee in the hope of personnel gain, the nation votes for what was offered and now pays the price by losing their jobs and sole income.

The situation is bad, but worse is yet to come.

Museum Duty 22 Mar 11:40 AM (11 days ago)

So, I thought before I die and my niece placed all my work in the bin, I would place some of the info on the Great War that I have collected over the years with the museum, in case others wished to research that event or those involved therein. At least appeared a good idea during the week, however, when it came to delivering the thing to the museum I found the effort required to wander five minutes down the road somewhat lacking, and my healthy lettuce, cheese and 'Happy Eggs' omelette for breakfast did not encourage me to move further than my seat.

By ten-thirty the sun was shining outside, it rarely shines indoors, and I dragged my bulk from the chair and headed down the road.

The sun may shine but the wind was chilly still which meant that Englishmen all around were wearing shorts. This is normal round here, and not a Scottish thing. Up north people understand the weather and do not throw away the big coat until it is actually warm, not just when it looks warm. Men in light jackets taking dogs to the park, eyes bright and faces full of eagerness, the dogs not the men, passed offering a cheerful 'Good Morning,' the men, not the dogs.

At the museum I found the woman in charge trying to avoid me, but failing. I explained my visit, signed the form she demanded I sign, found my handwriting does not work thanks to the use of this laptop, and left my info in the Great War to gather dust in the vaults.

The present exhibition in the museum concerns toys from the past. I did not look all around but there appeared to be more toys for girls than boys, possibly because the boys have broken most of theirs or maybe still retain them? I was kept awake by a three year old doing what three year olds do in Toyland, crashing everything to the ground all around them. There were a few in, enjoying watching toys from their past more than the kids were playing with them. I saw none that suited me, but we were poor, and we suffered much loss...

Foolishly I decided to hobble home via the Saturday market. At the first stall I fingered the pillows on offer and spent £5 on two 'Hotel Pillows' that BHS sold for £40. (BHS?) Anyway, I paid £5 which was more than enough for two pillows. I have been meaning to replace my ever thinning pillows for some time. I read that pillows ought to be changed every two years and thought I must look into this, so here I am, some dozen years later actually doing so.

No more spending, no other stall was going to tempt me, and none did.

However, I passed the local butcher, a very good shop indeed, and accidentally fell inside and obtained a couple of pounds of real sausages, as opposed to what the supermarkets sell, for a mere £10:93. Did I say 'mere?' Anyway there are several meals there and one trio of such has sufficed for lunch.

Now, being Saturday, it means football takes priority...

Rank Keir 21 Mar 8:06 AM (13 days ago)

The 'Labour List' has listed the Labour members favourite MPs. A 'Survation Poll' found that while Ed Milliband topped the list with +68.6% and Angela Rayner followed closely with +62.75 the Prime Minister himself was rated at only +13.83. This is not good for a PM I say.

Worse is to come however, Lisa Nandy is next on only +38.87 with several other close behind. The big names are however, losing out. David Lammy comes in at +21.46 & Ian Murray the Quisling Scots Governor at +13.04, while the Health Sec Wes Streeting is an appalling +9.55, so much for his chances of taking Keir's job.

Who are the lowest in the eyes of the members? Well Liz Kendall is a mere -7.49 is second last spot, and it is no surprise to find the Tory Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, now takes bottom spot with a miserable -11.19. The future is not bright here is it?

The over 45s appear to favour Keir, youth disagrees, his support strongest in London and Wales, well the English speaking part no doubt. A third wish Starmer to stand down before the next election, if he lasts that long, but most still wish him to stay. What is wrong with people? Most wished Andy Burnham to take his place, and he is not an MP, though he is good at PR mind.

Will this make any difference? No, the advisors behind the scene have pushed forward their agenda and Keir is obeying. Let the old, the sick, the disabled, the mental all die and save us money, why should my taxes pay for them? That is the attitude of today, and one they are pushing through the media. Clem Attlee would not approve and people such as these advisors would soon be out of office, and out of the party. Bring Clem back!

Trigger Warnings Radio & TV 20 Mar 6:16 AM (14 days ago)

Now I am not one to complain but, really, must the BBC insult our intelligence with 'Trigger Warnings' on programmes? This series, 'Short History,' covers a wide range of historical events, some indeed featuring war and destruction, however, to offer the weedy wee lass informing us that 'This programme contains mentions of violence,' is more than insulting to the listener. These include programmes covering diverse people and events such as Winston Churchill, The Battle of Stalingrad, and Pompeii! Just imagine warning people the Battle of Stalingrad contains violence! How stupid are people today?

I am led to believe such warnings are offered in universities around the country just in case a student is frightened by what they may learn. What are they attending university for? How mentally inept are they not to understand what might be ahead of them? How stupid are universities that offer trigger warnings?

People of my age grew up with the second world war just behind us. We heard about it at school, we read about it in books and comics, we played war games everywhere, yet today students in their late teens and early twenties require trigger warnings? What sort of parents did these people have? Do they not read the media, listen to the radio, watch TV news? Yet they require trigger warnings to read about war and destruction?

Of course the people who produce this needlessly over dramatised series 'Real Dictators' also, another programme which offers those tedious warnings that violence is within, when talking about Adolf Hitler or Joseph Stalin! What is wrong with people today?

The dramatisation of those online tales reminds me of the dearth of interesting drama or plays available on tv today. As you know I no longer watch tv, the drama is merely soap operas with added guns and a few females stripping off, not much depth required. I recall in days of yore plays that would be too much for todays audience to comprehend. One featured two men sitting on a park bench talking. Boring? Not when it turns out one has come all the way from Mars. This does not make it boring. Another featured a man who's skin was turning to metal. Possibly this was a spoof on the 'A' Bomb fetish of the time, possibly the result of too much alcohol. There was the usual suffering women plays, the suffering women up north with a few mine disasters and funny accents, and by the 60s an occasional hard hitting play such as 'Cathy Come Home.' Hard hitting but made no difference.

The soap opera's were better then, there being only Coronation Street to speak off, while 'Z-Cars' gave us half an hour of imitation police, and the first real soap opera 'Emergency War 10.' They all appeared more realistic back then. Of course the war was featured often with all those Black & White films glorifying 'our boys,' though some considered 'The Army Game' closer to real life experience.

What did the US offer? 'Highway Patrol' and 'Lucille,' and later 'Star Trek.'

Me, I will stick to the football, it makes more sense.

8. The Sumerians - Fall of the First Cities 18 Mar 9:38 AM (15 days ago)

Take Flightl 17 Mar 6:52 AM (17 days ago)

There is much to be said for air travel. It is a quick and reliable way to travel several thousand miles quickly and safely. The fact that many fear air flights because they may crash while crossing a busy road does not trouble them says much for the human mind. Air and rail travel are the safest means of moving in the world.

This comes to mind because of some things said re air hostesses on 'The Venomous Bead' yesterday.

Such people can be very helpful or very much a pest. On the other hand however, dealing with the public is one of life's great adventures, they can be so irritating. Quite how it is possible to keep the plastic smile going for a seven hour flight I fail to comprehend.

My limited flight experience runs between London and Edinburgh or Edinburgh and London, either Heathrow, Gatwick or more usually Stanstead. Long years ago I flew once from each at least, now if forced to travel, and I hope not, it would be Stansted airport. I notice the bus that runs from here to the airport is changing its name, its timetable, and clearly they wish to withdraw this and make us use friends, which I have failed to gather, or taxi, who no-one in poverty uses. The service element of bus travel has long gone since Maggie was king.

I do recall a very competent gay host running the flight to Edinburgh one year. He controlled the flight, made us all laugh, kept things smooth and was completely in control. People like him make things easier for everyone. Sitting in the front row on another flight many years ago we were soon in conversation with then talkative hostess in charge. Having dumped us they were off to Northern Ireland, or was it they came from Northern Ireland and were after that off to Amsterdam? It was something like that. 'Easyjetting' their way around Europe, and possibly home for tea afterwards I guess. No wonder she was happy. I just recalled that when working I would occasionally meet a young lady, with quite a lot of make up and pulling a small bag, who clearly was off to do such a job, though I fail to recall who with. Something makes me think it was a long flight operation, but I know not what makes me think that. At least she practiced her smiles upon me.

This was taken at ~~Turnhouse~~ Edinburgh International Airport some years ago. We were waiting for several aircraft to land before heading south. Sitting at the window I loved attempting, and failing, to recognise anywhere on the ground. The view from on high is tremendous and I can easily understand why they were so keen to fly early in the 20th century. I recall the pilot stating that we were at 32,000 feet and over Manchester and preparing to land. What he meant was a gentle descent to Stansted but he could have put it better. On another occasion, not a full flight, as we taxied towards the runway we stopped while the pilot indicating we would have to wait a while. Only incoming flights were being allowed as the Scottish Air Traffic Control computer had crashed. The middle seat was empty, and the man in the aisle seat looked at me and stated 'Not the correct term to use I think.' He was correct! However, we made it, in spite of rain thudding against the aircraft as we were attempting to land.

These days I make it to Tesco and am satisfied.

Old Map 14 Mar 10:23 AM (19 days ago)

There is a strange fascination in looking at old maps, especially maps that cover areas known to us. This map is from the year 1878, the year the 2nd Afghan War began and Cleopatra's Needle arrived on the Thames embankment.

This map features this luxurious residence but not as we know it now. The shape remains the same but it has changed significantly since this map was drawn.

For a start, Mount House, the large building in the centre of the map fell down just after the war. It had aged somewhat and following several wealthy owners, one or two not so wealthy, and even the council making use of the outbuildings it was demolished.

Today, there stands a large police station with several cells awaiting occupants.

I have not visited these.

What once were house grounds are now occupied by the police car park and what is left is a small, yet delightful, path through the remaining woods that lead onto Sainsburys car park. A short life breathing clamber no doubt much loved by all who tread through it.

To the right of our building stands a 'Lodge.' This guarded the long climbing entrance to the big house, the lodge also long gone. Three years later the path to the right of the entrance became the Avenue, a road on which several extensive and expensive houses arose, along with houses suitable for the genteel elite of the area.

I do not live on the Avenue.

Our building goes of at an angle revealing what looks like several smaller huts behind. These have all gone, and the rear of the building, though facing the same way, was rebuilt in years past. In fact if you were to clamber up into the attic as I did years ago the original layout of the front of the building can be seen. Almost all Essex houses began as one room and extended when money became available. This one I am told began in 1812, much addition has happened since then.

Quite what was lying around in what is now a new block built a few years ago I cannot make out. The census does not help. It does not give house numbers and some confusion reigns as to what is actually this block. Where it is clear we find two women 'domestics' living here. If this is correct the only explanation could be that this was until our landlord obtained the property used as a doctors surgery. He and his son lived in one of the big houses down the Avenue. Possibly the doctor had begun working from here before the Great War. Certainly by 1930 he had a large white house up the road and his son was working here. He may not have obtained that house on the NHS.

The White House is now a care home.

Further to our left is a back entrance to the big house, probably used by the owner for his horse and carriage. What the large building next to that is I have no idea. I may have to search out the old census to find out however, I cannot remember any company being mentioned here. The census must have not noticed! The houses on view are mostly still around, a variety of small cottage like creations on two floors. One row of several are being renovated now after years of use as offices. I wonder how much these will cost next to a busy main road?

That road was the dividing line between this town and Bocking. Until recently some could remember road works that went half way across the road, the other half ignored as belonging to the other council. During 1878 I suspect there was no street lighting at this part. If there was it would be gas lit, with barely noticeable pavements, possibly none here, though once the Avenue was opened and the elite moved in things may have brightened up.

Horse traffic, long hours for the workers, six day weeks, outside toilets, long dresses for the women, waistcoats and flat caps for the men. Holidays, if any, meant a 3/6d train ride and back to Clacton for the day, music provided by those who brought their brass instruments. No radio or tv, newspapers the only information around, and that as dubious as today.

A small section of map but reveals a lot of changes in 147 years.

Labour Tories 11 Mar 8:04 AM (23 days ago)

The Labour Prime Minister, note the word 'Labour' no longer represents the 'Labour Party' of old, this Labour Prime Minister held a secret meeting with Labour MPs to indoctrinate them into hating the disabled. He explained there was a strong feeling in the nation against paying unproductive people, namely the long time sick, disabled, or indeed anyone he is now targeting. I note he did not give evidence of who urges this feeling against the unproductive, possibly the tax dodging billionaires who pay for the Labour PM I expect.

Rachel makes clear her contempt for the disabled and unproductive people, she is urging us to believe Labour represents only the 'workers,' not the non workers. Notice also while this continues the Unions, once strongly in favour of supporting the sick, keep quiet and do not disobey their Party leader. What would Keir Hardie say?

The 'class war' is upon us, and once more the upper class elites, those who own toolmaking factories for instance, and attempting to turn the workers against themselves. This time blaming those using benefits of many sorts. It has to be said that many workers are claiming benefits because their wages are too low. Any suggestion for calling on companies to pay higher wages is ignored. Keir's bosses don't like that. Nor do they like paying tax, notice this is never mentioned except when Rachel from accounts is increasing the rich folks benefits!

One Labour MP at the secret meeting asked the noble PM a question as to how his disabled daughter would fare. His question was ignored.

A couple of days ago they celebrated 135 years of the Forth Bridge. I used to cross this marvellous creation annually as we sped towards the luxury dwellings in Dunfermline or Cowdenbeath. They have good memories for me and the trip by steam train was always something to look forward to.

Umpteen million rivets, at least 100 deaths, including the man in the wee boat who collected the bodies that fell from the bridge as it was being built, something fell on him and took him out! Probably more died as those who fell on the road and died in hospital were not recorded by the bridge builders as bridge deaths.

As we crossed some threw pennies, the old round brutes, out the window for luck, though the passengers on the ferries beneath thought other than luck awaited them. The view towards the wide expanse of Firth west included many Royal Navy boats on both sides, Rosyth to the north full of large ships, many small on the south bank. After the war the RN had far too many ships and if not sold to other nations there was an inlet just after the bridge where we could see large naval vessels being dismantled. Some very big ones amongst them.

Workmen was often noted clambering about, no high-viz then, just the normal wear, a waistcoat and a flat cap for protection from the weather, which could be strong here. To the east we can see for miles as the Firth widens out and meets the North Sea way down there. In those days fishing villages were along both sides but today large oil carriers can be seen loading. No doubt this Labour government will soon put a stop to that.

I Hate Tech! 10 Mar 10:47 AM (23 days ago)

I awoke Saturday to the tune of an old song, 'O church of God awake,' and thought someone was having a laugh. On Sunday, I awoke with the Funeral March No. 1 going round in my head. This was less comforting. However, as I sat at my laptop a death occurred, the laptop would not switch on!

My life is in here! Nothing worked! I pushed the button, I swore, I raged, I shook it, I tried again and again but no luck, nothing worked. This meant using the spare, so there I was at 7:30 struggling to retrieve it from under the mass of stuff upon it without waking the neighbours, this failed also, and made use of the spare yesterday to attempt to work out how to fix the one with my life on it.

This morning, another attempt was prayerfully made and here I am using my life again!

All morning I have been downloading those things that I need, just in case. So much more to download. So many trivial but important items that lie on here yet are required occasionally. I may be doing this all week! Bah!

Also, this is Win 10 on here, and the spare has Win 11. Win 10, which will be dropped within a year by those pushing Win 11, is so much better to operate, so much more convenient than Win 11. Why is it that amendments to tech is always bad?

I must look towards a new laptop, one with speed and good screen. I may have a fit looking at the prices, so that might wait another year before I seek one.

Heart of Midlothian 3-1 Dundee 8 Mar 10:30 AM (25 days ago)

Control 4 Mar 12:53 AM (last month)

Scrolling through Twitter and BlueSky this morning, there is less relevant things to see on facebook these days, I was impressed by the Ukraine situation. Here we see a traitor in the White House spewing bile because his boss Putin tells him to, his ego hurt because a 'wee man' stood up to him, and possibly because he wanted this so he could harm Ukraine in retaliation.

I also noted the farmers wife in the US mid west speaking off how her husband, like all the cattle ranchers around them, voted for Trump, knowing that he would remove all the undocumented immigrants. Of course, now all their workers have disappeared as 90% were such individuals. She was lamenting how they had knowingly voted to bankrupt themselves!

While social media rightly condemns Trump and his boss vast numbers of the US still support him. Those who voted for Trump to act against migrants and have now found Musk closing down their jobs are not happy. The US is in a mess, and this will only get worse now absurd tariffs will be used.

Putin, with much of his army destroyed and his 'Three Day War,' now extended into three years, is having a ball. The US is falling apart and his spies are enjoying this.

Brexit, with the duplicitous Farage in the lead, has separated the UK from the EU successfully, though action now is being taken to remedy this. Putin has ruined the UK this way, badly hurt the EU, and now rejoices in his boy destroying the US.

There are 16 nations in Africa with wars large and small, Syria has ended one war but risks another with Israel, China hopes to invade Taiwan, and of course, Russia still holds much of Ukraine.

Jesus said there would be 'wars and rumours of wars,' with earthquakes and so on until the end. These being only the birth pangs of the end. So, things will only get worse.

God retains control of the world and its leaders. Jesus Christ remains Lord, and Lord of all at that. These 'growing pains' may irritate and worry us but in the end they are restricted by Gods control.

God is working his purpose out, and we must take our part in it.

Oscar 3 Mar 8:57 AM (last month)

Zelensky and Charity 1 Mar 11:47 AM (last month)

France 24

One thing is clear, Zelensky has allowed the world to see Trump as he is. No hiding from anyone. The fact that many in the US are claiming to support Trump indicates either desperation to keep their position or a lack of thinking power in the US mind set. The ambush was well set up, but the Ukrainian was not there to be whitewashed and nor was he selling out to Putin's man.

Noticeably the BBC has played down Trump and Sarah Smith, once renown for lying for BBC Scotland attacked him rather than Trump and his boy. You are left asking why this should be?

Sunday see the Ukraine leader meeting the English King, hopefully the king will wear one of those green shirts at the meeting, just for a laugh.

I was forced out this morning, much against my better self, as I broke my cafetiere when cleaning it. This meant trudging round the charity shops before finding a large size one, the only one available, which will have to do for now. Of course this has problems but desperation early in the morning will see me through this.

Not that I am going anywhere tomorrow, I just want to lie down all day and think nice thoughts. My mind and bulk are too tired. However, I went out today and searched also buying a small lamp as the one I have is too dark. Here is me budgeting carefully from day one on the month and £8 has been spent already! I am looking forward to the pension rise on 1st April, I might able to buy two more loaves next month!

Daffs! 28 Feb 8:20 AM (last month)

It's that time of your again. The time of year when Daffodils bloom, at least in Sainsburys and Tesco's, where they push through the earth in many council parks, where yellow tips appear slowly there, and I spend a pound or two I canny afford just to brighten up this dismal corner. It is money well spent.

OK, so they only last a week or two, but just to have these bright fresh flowers offering a sniff of nature so close is always worth the money.

There is not much else to do nature wise. The sun is shining through the cold air today, blue sky above pretending Spring has sprung early, but we are not fooled by this. However, after long weeks of almost unbroken cloud it is marvellous to be almost alive again.

The clever people are claiming we might be able to see a planetary alignment tonight. This means up to seven planets might be seen somewhere in the night sky. This alignment will not appear again until 2040, and we might be dead by then if Putin has his way.

However, can I see it? I expect not. It appears to be seen in the southern sky area, I look west by hanging out the kitchen window, and it might not appear until early dawn. This is typical. However, after the end of the Partick Thistle v Livingston game, if still awake, I might take a peek out the window and search for anything like I have seen in past times.

Corporate Prices 27 Feb 3:13 AM (last month)

A Sainsburys advert flashed across the screen on FaceBook the other day. Sadly, I did not catch it, I merely dumped it and looked at something interesting. However, the ad was claiming something about Sainsburys lowering prices, this is always good, yet surprisingly that day in the store I noticed it was incorrect.

The meat shelves was first, neat selling at £3:75 had risen to £4, then at the coffee shelves similarly the coffee overpriced at £3:75 was also now £4. That's how to increase sales I thought. No doubt each manager has to manage the profits in a way that keeps the high ups happy and ensures further promotion in the dog eat dog world of supermarket managing, and this manager has done himself proud. These are the clear increases, the 10% added to the stuff bought at a slower rate is less noticeable, yet it is there.

The corporates own the nation and here we see how they make use of their power to rob us blind. We have no choice but to shop at such stores, Tesco dominate here and both town centre stores increase prices always keeping in line with one another, while the far off Lidl shop is not in my view any cheaper. Caring little for the customer, caring much less for the farmer and others who provide their goods these supermarkets are happily keeping in with governments of either persuasion. Vast sums off money are donated, no opposition to price increases are heard in the House, and who knows what benefits individual MPs have received?

The use of 'British' stamped on most goods began under Boris to give support to the Brexit fantasy, implying that 'Britain' could go it alone. Now the same needless 'British' stamped upon even ice featuring 'British Water,' though whether this is water polluted by 'British,' that is 'English,' water companies is not known. Today 'British' is used in a vain attempt to put down Scottish nationalism, but instead this increases it. The recent absurd misuse of turning 'Bells Whisky' into 'British Whisky,' followed by a new attempt to change the Law and allow 'English Whisky' to be granted single malt status is another anti Scottish game played by the English colonists.

These corporates are extending their control now to ensure the shoppers are removed when they get old. No money to be spent on palliative care just bump them off to save money. No-one who suggests taxing these rich people will escape under this totalitarian scheme, a scheme the people vote for !

Supermarkets are crooks robbing us blind like the gas, electric and water companies, all supported by corrupt governments, all designed to keep the people down and increase profits to the rich in power. Why do the people not stand up and complain? Where are the protests? Grumbling on 'BlueSky' is one thing but no action is ever to be seen.

The people have been ground down, where are the Kier Hardies' of today?

Media, The UK, Owned by Corporates 25 Feb 6:05 AM (last month)

Byline Times

The Canary, a free independent newspaper, reports on how great an increase there has been in the UK media, owned by a variety of billionaires, concerning the disabled and chronically ill benefit claimants.

For some time the Conservative administration proposed cut backs in payment for such claimants, since Labour took office there has been little change bar the increase in press attacks. This is led by Labour ministers, and Labour the party of the 'working class, the sick, the poor and the needy?' Not any more. The Labour Party are owned by the same corporates who own the rest of the UK.

According to the 'Canary' research on items on this matter in the Telegraph, Mail, and Times, have risen by 1132% since 2023. The usual scribbles claim fraud and abuse by claimants, the need for a 'crackdown' though such has been offered since Gordon Brown was in office, and the cost of the bill to UK taxpayers. Here we see what they wish. Welfare, which for some reason now includes pensions, costs a great deal. Therefore to cut it down government make it difficult to claim, I think the form is 45 pages long these days, and acceptance is not guaranteed. It is not known how many have died while attempting to claim or have been refused help, I reckon thousands. Money is more important that people and it always has been.

You do not need to go far to look at the absurd 'Assisted Suicide' Bill that is being hurried incomplete and without safeguards through parliament at the PMs wishes. This will enable thousands to kill themselves, mostly from guilt at being a burden, rather than anything to do with easing pain. Thus the NHS costs, and they are great, will be lessened and palliative care costs almost ignored. This already occurs in the Netherlands, Canada and elsewhere, with many dying early or being pushed into considering this. OAPs beware!

Add to this the report in 'Declassified Today' where the increase in stories urging an increase in defence spending has risen sharply in recent years. According to their research there has been a rise in stories demanding an increase in such spending since 2020. This has risen by 2700% from 110 in 2020 to 3122 in 24/25. TV and radio is becoming filled with agitators for a possible future war, but where are the dissenting voices? They are not being heard.

Disability, Assisted suicide and future wars are all backed by the same people. The media barons support all this to save them paying tax, the real reason for Brexit, and they will benefit from sales and shares in the required material wanted to put these plans into operation. The BBC and other main stream TV channels are all under control, journalists who ask questions are ignored or removed from all. A coup has taken place, one that was supported by the people as they voted for this thinking they were getting something to benefit themselves. Instead the corporates have taken over, the intention is to enrich the rich and enslave the people as in days of your.

The people for the most part are still asleep while this happens. 'Bread & Circuses works.

1925

Capital of the Mind, Edinburgh, & Submarines 22 Feb 8:04 AM (last month)

James Buchan discusses Edinburgh during the enlightenment of the 1700s. Beginning with a description of Edinburgh as it lead up to the 18th century, the selling of Scotland to England by the Lords, followed by the frightening, for some, 1745 rebellion. Having been virtually broken by the Union Edinburgh was becoming a wasteland. Charlie's appearance gave some hope for independence, not that Charlie would ever have returned, and struck fear of a Catholic revival if he did win in others. Only then was action taken, all to slowly, to revive the city.

This book centres on the literature of the day, that is the writings of David Hume, Alexander Carlyle, Adam Smith and many others. These 'freethinkers' in truth bored me as I trudged my way through their opinions, only Adam Smith offering any real touch of humanity. Quite how Thatcher thought his book allowed her 'trickle down theory' is a wonder, Smith would not have encouraged 3 million unemployed! These men all offered opinions based on 'reason,' that is, their 'reason.' That is where they went wrong. Many good opinions are found, much support for helping the sick in aiding the founding of hospitals for instance and education, but in the end it is their limited outlook that counts.

It must be said that none of these people actually worked. They had money, sometimes did legal or authority work, but none endured the long hours of struggle of the mass of poor around them. And Edinburgh was full of the poor.

The smell of Edinburgh was not a delight in the 1700s. Disease was rampant, houses cramped and badly lit, pigs roamed the streets often healthier than the people, with only the rich being able to move to the new housing to the south of the main city. Edinburgh was not a romantic place when the 'Athens of the North' was being born.

It is a wee bit better now.

This book attempts to display Edinburgh as it was then, I confess I found it a wee bit tedious, though much research has been done. The book became a slog for me while the author went over his favourites, but many will enjoy the in depth look at these giants who placed Edinburgh on the map.

These men certainly gave Edinburgh a certain place in the world, but surely it was what followed from this, scientific research, medicine, education and industry that really mattered?

Worth a look if you have time to spare.

Telegraph

The main armament of defence in the UK is the nuclear submarine. The UK has several, based in Scotland far from Westminster, and most are broken. Last year a trial of firing the Trident missile, at a cost of some £17 million failed. The missile soared into the air and soon plopped back down into the sea. It is to be hoped the firing was in a cleared area.

Both the west coast of Scotland and the Forth of Forth near the Rosyth base where repairs are conducted on some submarines, have radioactive recordings in the water. Westminster ministers have not noticed this yet.

The broken subs lie awaiting several million pound worth of repair, while it appears only one is actually out there deterring Mr Putin and his like. Broken nuclear submarines, majority of RN ships in dock for repair, routine or otherwise, and two expensive badly designed and failing aircraft carriers with borrowed aircraft slowly draining the cash from the defence budget.

Maybe it is time for a review...?

Bannon 21 Feb 9:04 AM (last month)

Forward

There is little likely hood that anyone with their eyes open would be surprised to see Steve Bannon offering a Nazi salute at the latest right-wing conference. This is, after all, what they stand for! I note he is not in favour of leather overcoats as worn by members of Hitler's followers so, even indoors, he wears a heavy Barbour jacket, the nearest thing he can find to leather in a modern mood. Who wears such an outfit on a heated auditorium if not to make an image? We all know what the image is of course.

Bannon, a friend of Boris Johnson and those pushing Brexit, a friend of Trump, until he stole his limelight, a friend of Cambridge Analytica, and I suspect well known to those billionaires behind both Trump and Brexit.

Bannon has done his work well, following Adolf's tactics of lying, breaking accepted boundaries and ignoring and removing opposition, he has brought Boris to fame, though he crashed, and now sees his mate Musk owning the USA.

I wonder who paid for that jacket? Trump? Boris? Putin...?

Night Stroll 16 Feb 12:39 PM (last month)

The Unknown Warrior, John Nichol 14 Feb 5:37 AM (last month)

I would have thought most people would be aware of the story regarding the 'Unknown Warrior,' especially those who have served in the forces. I was somewhat surprised to find that John Nichol, the author of this book, had never given him any thought, though he had passed the tomb on several occasions. Then on one visit he suddenly realised this was the body of a man, a single individual who fell during the Great War. Thus began a search to understand who he was, how he found his way here.

Of course this would be difficult, for a start he was intended to be 'unknown,' so finding out more is somewhat limited, however, it is possible to trace how the body came to be in this Abbey.

Beginning at High Wood on the Somme, Nichol traces the outline of the war as it was fought. Informing us of the conditions, and fighting in what remained of the wood during 1916 was not pleasant, and then he began to consider the dead and the burial of such during a conflict.

Much of the book concentrates on individuals longing for information regarding their dead relative. Wives and parents, children old enough to understand, desperate to know where he fell, how he died and where he was buried, if indeed he was buried, and whether it was possible to visit the grave. The need for a grave where individuals can be found is strong in many. Lessened no doubt by the increasing use of crematorium today but we all prefer to have a grave to visit. With some 300,000 men missing from the Great War spread over many lands a space in remembrance was created that was difficult to fill. The decision to bury the dead where they fell, a purely practical idea, caused much distress, especially to those with the money to collect their body from France. All over France and Flanders cemeteries, now run by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, tend perfectly the men out of reach of many relatives at the time. Indeed such cemeteries can be found across the globe wherever servicemen were fighting.

With the use of letters and living relatives much is gleaned re the men who died and those left behind. The emotions speak for themselves. We hear from those who were proud of their sons and indeed from one who was rejected after being 'Shot at Dawn.'

With a need for remembrance local memorials rose throughout the country. You are never far from one and all to often it is not recognised these days, it is considered something from the distant past. No doubt the actions of Putin and Trump with cause more people to consider such memorials.

One major memorial was the cenotaph, a national means of honouring the dead, and bringing the war to an end. One man however, considered something to ease the memory of those with missing husbands, fathers, sons, and that was an 'Unknown Warrior.' Army Chaplain David Railton had spent some time at the front. Here he led services, visited the wounded, and buried the dead. Much of this work was conducted at night under fire where men were brought to the rear, identified, and buried. For his work he carried a union flag which served as an altar cloth or burial cover. After this he would write if possible to the relatives informing them of the burial place, how their man died, and enclose any rings, watches or other items he could retrieve. These offered my help to those who received them, the many replies indicated just how much help, and I have read such letters, often written in pencil, from chaplains. Official, polite, caring. Whether they stuck to the actual truth is to be doubted, as the actual truth would often be too hard to tell.

David Railton concluded during the war and unknown soldier must be found as a means of closure for the widowed and hurt back home. Just weeks before the opening of the cenotaph in Whitehall he managed to convince the Dean of Westminster Abbey that this was a good idea. He agreed and pushed this through, though King George at the time was dubious of the idea, considering it would only open old wounds. I think he was still scared of Communist revolution! However, Lloyd George, a man never afraid to put his name to a bandwagon, and other influential people considered this a good idea. Therefore with just weeks before November 11th the procession was created, soldiers sailors and airmen brought in to parade, and after aa loud media campaign those who served were also added. Plus 90 or so Victoria Cross winners.

The story of the ceremony is well told, the cenotaph flags fell, with a little help, the warrior was placed in the Abbey, and thousands who crowded the streets considered this man was 'their man.' He gave them all the opportunity to see their dead relative back home. The emotion was high, the idea a success, now followed in most nations, and David Railton, the unassuming chaplain who never spoke of his war work nor his work here, not even to his family lived out his life until he died in a railway accident some years later. His union flag remains in the Abbey.

The book is well written, though at times a wee bit sentimental for me. Much research has been done and for those who have no knowledge of how the individual was selected, and it remains hidden behind many secrets, this book is well worth a look. We will never know who the 'warrior' was, warrior rather than soldier to include sailors and airmen, but many today now who he was, he was their grandfather, great uncle, and a proud family memory.

Annoying Twitter 13 Feb 8:30 AM (last month)

Twitter is very annoying these days. With the majority of thinking people moving to 'BlueSky' this means the loss of their posts opens up spaces that must be filled. Twitter does not care what fills the space as long as something does, hence the masses of junk that greets us in the morning.

So far, recent days have offered masses of junk regarding what Americans call a 'Super Bowl.' This is a tedious event no-one outside the States cares about however, big money is on offer and in the US that makes it important. I have daily vast amounts of posts to block, and I still cannot fathom, or care, who won.

Brazilian posts, mixed with Argentinian have flowed for days, Nigerian homemade porn also, though that may be mixed with US porn, it is difficult to say, and of course hundreds of tweets regarding the actions of one Donald Trump, the orange balloon who has sold the US to Musk. Nigerian Christians also abound, but I am sorry to say many of these I worry about, how genuine are they? WWE wresting abounds, alongside Ice Hockey, both of which hold no interest, both of which appear as false as Nigel Farage. My dad used to watch the wrestling on TV on a Saturday in days of old, that was fixed, and we all knew it, he had twice been in the army in the real world, yet he laughed his way through the afternoon watching this rubbish. No doubt the glamorous, totally false WWE has similar audiences, but really how does it survive? Add to these important items the number of women posting on celebs who are chasing rich sports stars, or what some girl is doing with some male. The world faces WW3, and they spend their lives wondering what Travis is saying to Swift, or whether Meghan is better than Kate! And they can vote!

I have bruised my fingers just blocking all these yet still they come.

People really want their opinions known on all these, and many important subjects also, which is fine, we all wish to be heard, but genuine tweets are hidden under the rushing flow of tat.

'Tat' brings to mind all the Conservative MPs posting on farmers. None of them have the word 'Conservative' next to the MP bit of their name, it's almost as if they were ashamed of that. All repeat the same phrases, none care if you believe them, many do not allow replies. Which brings me to Labour MPs in Scottish seats. So many of these are English, live in Surrey or Walthamstow, fail to open an office in the Scottish constituency, no phone line there, no email bar the Westminster one, and they never visit way up north and claim the fares either. However, they can be seen at PMQs asking the PM the question the whips have given them to ask.

Of course, I use Twitter for the remaining good things, the vast number of football related posts, Scottish tweets, some good, some bad, and other items that have as yet failed to make the move to 'BlueSky.' So I continue to use this dying system, at least until my favourites are moved to a better place, but it is tiring some days, very tiring.

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