Seen in the News

[Tripps]

I'm aware of him, but I find myself unable to read anything which contains names like Ank Morpork.Rules out quite a lot of stuff.

I had a similar theory as to why the rich are rich. They have converted a necessity into a ritual which saves them going out in the evening. I speak of course of 'dinner' . Keeps them away from the peasants spending their money down the pub.

[plaques]

Pratchett is never straight forward. The name Ankh-Morpork his fictional city has always interested me. My best interpretation of the name is .. The key of life is a big pig. Over to you Tripps what are your thoughts??

[Stanley]

Thanks Peter, who wouldn't be happy if their daughter and her husband took them out for lunch!
David, I like your theory about the rich. That's why I always use 'dinner' for the midday meal, then tea at the end of the day. As for having a special set of clothes for eating in the evening..... I seem to remember some sort of theory of differentiation, same reason why Chassidic Jews have the long locks as sideburns.....

[Stanley]

From the look of the news headlines this morning Partygate is over and now the Tories are carpet bombing us with changes in legislation. Looks like spreading confusion in the ranks to me.

[Tizer]

Another victim of aggressive, abusive fanatics...
`Rosie Duffield: MP considers leaving Labour over 'obsessive harassment'' LINK

[Tizer]

This is politics rather than what's in the news but the Politics thread is probably going to be busy so I've put it here instead.

While we are all focused on the Grey report and the antics of our PM let's not forget it's probably a distraction from the situation in Ukraine and would provide a great opportunity for Putin to move in. Which reminds me...I've been reading an essay published in The Times on Saturday and written by Roger Boyes, its diplomatic editor. He joined Reuters in 1976 as Moscow correspondent, then moved to the FT and became a specialist on Eastern Europe and continued in a similar role at The Times from 1981. His essay is titled `Why western leaders still ask: what would Kissinger do?' and relates this to the situation in Ukraine. A very interesting article but my attention was particularly caught by a paragraph near the end. He says that Putin is increasingly setting up links with Nicaragua, Venezuela and Cuba and that security specialists in America believe that he's working towards placing nuclear weapons in those countries. That would give him a bargaining point when he demands that NATO moves out of the countries near Russia.

[Stanley]

I heard that rumour as well Peter. What a bloody mess the world is in..... Humans aren't fit to run it!

[PanBiker]

He says that Putin is increasingly setting up links with Nicaragua, Venezuela and Cuba and that security specialists in America believe that he's working towards placing nuclear weapons in those countries. That would give him a bargaining point when he demands that NATO moves out of the countries near Russia.

If that's the case I wonder if we will have a repeat of 1962?

[Tizer]

That's obviously what Putin is aiming for, to put the heat on the US, but we don't have a JFK now.

[PanBiker]

Or a Nikita Khrushchev.

[Stanley]

Ah but we have Liz Truss and Johnson! Why should England tremble!

[Stanley]

See THIS BBC report that scientists think they have found a 'plausible explanation' for the ailment attacking US embassies and known as Havana Syndrome. It could be Pulsed electromagnetic energy.
Later.... Facebook has lost 20% of its share value in opening moves on the Eastern markets. Spotify have lost as well and commentators are suggesting that this could be a a crack developing in what has been seen as a 'Tech Boom'. (LINK)

[Tizer]

`Havana Syndrome. It could be Pulsed electromagnetic energy.' The Anti-5G crowd will love that!

[Tripps]

Sky News have just prominently spoken of a Russian aircraft incursion for the second day running necessitating their interception by British fighters.

Makes me smile as it's now fifty years since as part of a training course I visited an RAF radar station in North East Scotland. They told us that such incursions were a regular feature of life, and actually had photos on the wall of Russian aircrew waving, smiling and and 'thumbs upping' the intercepting aircraft. I think the Russian aircraft were named 'Bear' as are the ones seen today.

I'm not too worried about them.

[Stanley]

Not as though we've never done it.....

[Tizer]

Don't miss this video - yob gets what he deserves thanks to the farmer he attacked...
`Car-flip farmer cleared of dangerous driving and criminal damage' LINK

[Cathy]

Good on the farmer, but he could have at least have positioned the car the right way up.

[Stanley]

I see incidents like this as part of the subtle break down of society that has been happening for years and speeds up the more pressure bears down on people. We shall see more and more of this.

[Stanley]

See THIS BBC report of the death of the five year old buy who fell down the well his father was repairing. That man will never forgive himself. So sad......

[Tizer]

We heard news recently about all the clothing and other waste being dumped in the Atacama Desert where the arid conditions mean it would probably lie there for centuries. Now there is video...
`The fast fashion graveyard in Chile's Atacama Desert' LINK

[Stanley]

That's dreadful Peter and what a commentary on the way we buy and use clothes. I say we, but I am not a contributor. I am still wearing good clothes and shoes I bought over 40 years ago. I admit to not being a fashionista but rather a follower of 50 year old style which I believe never goes out of fashion. So many people comment on my Crombie overcoat for instance and I shall never wear it out.....(If I do, it's pure wool and will recycle.)

[Tizer]

Here's something else that just goes on and on - high quality curling stones made of Ailsa Craig granite. Some interesting photos of them being made...
`The Olympic curling stones crafted in Scotland' LINK

[Stanley]

Fascinating Peter. I knew about the firm at Mauchline and note in the top picture that he has a cast iron surface plate just like the ones I use in the shed.
I often travelled the coast road south below Ayr picking up cattle and the thing that always struck me about Ailsa Craig was the way it seemed to move about in the sea, all down to the road twisting about of course.

[Tizer]

`High levels of toxic chemicals found in Cambridgeshire drinking water: Exclusive: Cambridge Water admits supply to homes contained above the legal limit and customers never told' Guardian

[Tripps]

Quite disturbing isn't it? Comes from foam used to put out aircraft fires you say - Oh yes I've seen lots of that hanging about.
It's a devil to get rid of once you've sprayed it all over the place. So many aircraft catch fire on landing. I often encounter piles of the stuff.

Of course there could not possibly be any connection with this place - which has been there for decades, and used to be known as Ciba Geigy I recall, but now it appears is run by an American Company. The possibility is so remote, it's hardly worth the effort of an enquiry.

I think Sue Gray is free at the moment though.

Hexcel Duxford