Seen in the News

[Tizer]

I sometimes wonder if anyone reads anything I write.

Oh Master, we sit at your feet in hope of catching your golden words!

[Tripps]

I think its 'bolt of lightning from on high' time again. . .

But if you want more - then Google 'trippssnipps' for the archive of nonsense press articles.

Quite good for an apprentice Luddite I'd say.

[Stanley]

I can't speak for anyone else but I read your every word David....
Google Stanleysnipps and you get adverts for Stanley Tinsnips.... Somehow that seems appropriate!

See THIS illustration of the iniquity of the leasehold system.
Homeowners have told the BBC how they have been left thousands of pounds a year worse off because of charges imposed by a company that owns hundreds of freeholds across England and Wales. A BBC News investigation has found that leaseholders have had to pay hundreds of pounds for services such as key-cutting and the cleaning of doormats and council bins. We have examined about 140 court tribunals relating to the company, Assethold, and discovered that judges have assessed it to have overcharged homeowners by a combined sum of nearly £1.2m. Leaseholders have spoken to the BBC about the impact on their mental health of the sharp rise in fees they have faced and of their fight to hold the freeholder to account. On Thursday, ahead of the publication of this investigation, the government announced the leasehold system in England and Wales would be overhauled by the end of the current Parliament.
There follows much more and some horrific examples. I have long held that the leasehold system is a remnant of feudal society kept on the statute books by the land holding elite to maximise their income. It should be abolished absolutely! And I include the charges such as those charged by the Duchy of Cornwall which claims ownership of the sea bed!

[Stanley]

More on leasehold, see THIS BBC report on the legislation.
Campaigners warned it may come too late to help current leaseholders trapped in exploitative arrangements. Katie Kendrick, founder of the National Leasehold Campaign (NLC) said that, while she was "pleased" the government was fulfilling its manifesto promise to scrap leaseholds, it may not be quick enough for all. "Our main concern now is the fate of existing leaseholders who are currently suffering at the mercy of unregulated managing agents and unscrupulous freeholders," she said. "The government’s published intention to 'act as quickly as possible' will not be quick enough and we are already seeing the despair from some NLC members who are facing bankruptcy due to escalating service charges."
That was the bit that grabbed me....
This is a disgraceful and outdated system which I see as evidence that the Class System still exists. 'The rich man in his castle and the poor man at his gates'. Distribution of wealth is what lies at the bottom of most poverty and this system is a major component of the system that makes that the case.....

[Stanley]

See THIS for a BBC report on council reorganisation in Lancashire.....
A group of MPs want to abolish all of a county's 15 councils in a bid to create a simpler local government. The Labour MPs have written to the government asking to replace the councils in Lancashire with just three or four local authorities and create a Lancashire mayor. Each replacement organisation would deliver all services in their own area rather than splitting responsibilities between county and district authorities, they said. However, council leaders have either rejected the proposals or called for a referendum on the idea, with one saying the proposal was "civic vandalism".
I think this is a crackpot idea and one we would regret. I'd be in favour of abolishing the county council but believe this plan would be a disaster.

[PanBiker]

Jonathan was on Politics North West this morning. Just watched it on BBC iPlayer catch up. He didn't sign that one as he said he did not agree with the current proposals as it doesn't include proper consultation with the electorate.

[Tizer]

When it was proposed to merge the local councils here in Somerset recently the people were given a chance to vote on it. The response was a massive NO! but Badenoch waved it through.

[Stanley]

That's what they call democracy..... The people had their say later though and look what happened!
Glad to hear that Ian, given the chance I would vote against it.

[Tizer]

`Tractor driver criticised for taking on floods' BBC video
A tractor driver has come under fire for travelling through deep floods in the centre of Tenbury Wells, in Worcestershire. The streets were left under several feet of water after a wall collapsed on Kyre Brook, causing a surge of water to spread through the town. The bow wave from the tractor was seen striking shops and homes either side of the street. Several business owners said their windows had been smashed, causing further flood damage. West Mercia Police said in a statement on Facebook that they're investigating the incident and their officers will speak to people whose businesses and properties may have been affected.

[Stanley]

It's a big responsibility if you are driving a heavy vehicle through deep floods in a town street. When I was driving tankers for the dairy i always tried to use a different route when coming back and this took me onto some minor roads. I was coming back from Holme on Spalding Moor one day and headed across country, a route that took me though Snaith. This was in the 1960s and the old wooden toll bridge was still in use but I think was free at the time, I don't remember paying! The Aire was flooding that day and the roadbed of the bridge was under water so I was driving blind, guided by the hand rails because it was only single carriage way. As I came off the bridge I was in the main street of the village and had enough sense to trickle across in bottom gear with the engine just idling. That made sure I wasn't making a bow wave and I remember a few of the villagers shouting thank you. They appreciat6ed my care. I hate to think how much damage i could have caused if I had charged through....

I saw THIS in the BBC news feed...
A 22-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a double shooting into a car which left an eight-year-old girl and her father with serious injuries. They were both taken to hospital following the shooting on Southern Row in Ladbroke Grove at about 17:30 GMT on Sunday, and remain in a serious but stable condition, the Metropolitan Police said. Both victims sustained "serious gunshot injuries", the force added. The girl is currently in surgery while her father, 34, has potentially life-changing injuries. Her two-year-old sibling and their mother, 32, were also in the car but were "thankfully unharmed", Supt Owen Renowden said.
I think we must lead a sheltered life living away from the big cities.....

[Tripps]

This will not be a surprise to those of us who have taken an interest, and 'virtually' attended many council meetings over the last couple of years. I have speculated that the country is trading whilst insolvent. I still think so. I'd say read all the link. It is perhaps the most depressing thing I've seen for a long time.

Public sector accounts

[Stanley]

Once again David you are quite right.... This situation has been obvious and getting worse year on year since central government started cutting the treasury assistance to local councils and at the same time passing on burdens to them which should more properly be a direct Treasury responsibility. Councils should not be responsible for sheltering migrants, funding the Social care system and at the same time housing evicted families....
It is more glamorous for politicians to finance vanity projects like HS2 or white elephant aircraft carriers than deal with the nitty-gritty of ensuring society can function. They have taken the easy option, devolving responsibilities to local bodies and at the same time making a mess of the glamour side of politics.
The last 15 years of this have destroyed the Tory Party. What is so deeply worrying is that, at the moment, I can see no clear signs that Labour are doing any better.

Right on cue, see THIS report which demonstrates how confident industry is in government policy....
The owner of Vauxhall has announced plans to close its van-making factory in Luton, putting about 1,100 jobs at risk. Stellantis, which also owns brands including Citroen, Peugeot and Fiat, said it would combine its electric van production at its other UK plant in Ellesmere Port in Cheshire. Rules imposed to speed up the transition to electric vehicles (EV) in the UK partly drove the decision, the firm said. Union Unite said the move was a "complete slap in the face" for its members working in Luton. There are growing concerns among car manufacturers over EV sales targets, with many, including Stellantis, calling for the government to do more to boost consumer demand. Following the Luton plant announcement and intense pressure from industry leaders, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said the government would consult on changes to EV sales rules, which is officially called the zero-emission vehicles mandate, because it is not working as intended.
At the same time government is talking about the number of young people not seeking work. What incentive is there to do so if core industries like this are closing?

[Stanley]

See THIS piece of news.....
The sale of Royal Mail to Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky's EP Group is close to being finalised and could be confirmed in the next two weeks, according to sources close to the deal. Kretinsky has agreed to make extra concessions in order to clinch the takeover, the BBC understands. Unions have been meeting with Kretinsky’s advisors this week, and while some sources say they remain "wary" of him, the Communication Workers Union (CWU) said meetings with the EP Group have been "constructive". The deal will still have to be approved under the National Security and Insurance Act although officials stepped in with a similar review when he increased his stake in the company. Mr Kretinsky's EP Group declined to comment.
What goes next? Do we franchise the 'Royalty' brand to Elon Musk? Ask yourself why someone would wish to buy Royal Mail. The only answer can be to make money out of it. Ask yourself how they will do this and what the source of the money will be. It doesn't make any sense to me and is just another example of the government stepping back from responsibility for anything.

[PanBiker]

The buyer also said there would be no redundancies until 2025! We don't have enough postmen or women now so how is that going to work?

[Big Kev]

Not the usual media outlet but still news. Kelbrook Road closed between Rainhall Road since around 09:00 this morning. Unconfirmed reports are that an elderly gentleman was run over by an elderly lady (I have no evidence, other than Facebook, to substantiate that).

[Stanley]

I saw THIS in the BBC news feed ....
Television host Gregg Wallace has been accused of making "lesbian jokes constantly" by a woman who worked on a travel show with him. The woman, who we are calling Anna, said he was "fascinated" by the fact she dated women and asked her the "logistics" of how it worked. She is one of a number of workers across a range of shows who came to BBC News with claims about the TV presenter. On Thursday, MasterChef's production company said Wallace is to step away from presenting the show while allegations of historical misconduct are investigated. Wallace's lawyers say it is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature. Masterchef's production company Banijay UK has launched an investigation and said Wallace is co-operating. Other allegations the BBC has heard are that Wallace talked about spanking and threesomes in front of crew.
One would think that people in the public eye would have more sense of propriety.

[Wendyf]

I have never been able to stand the man, my hackles rise at the sight of him and I haven't been able to watch any programme he has been in. It worried me that I was misjudging him, but it appears not!

[Stanley]

Always trust your instincts Wendy. And remember nobody is going to question you if you keep stum!

[Tripps]

The idea that Kirsty Wark - could not cope with a few fruity remarks from a chancer like Greg Wallace, and waited years before complaining about him is not credible. She is Formidable

[Stanley]

The same thought occurred to me David. Trawling historical evidence to attack someone has become more common in the last ten years and I wonder if that is where the roots of this lie.... The Al-Fayed case is a case in point and may have triggered this one. I think you are right about Kirsty and wonder whether she was approached and asked for evidence rather than coming forward herself.

THIS caught my eye....
A steel mast was put up just a few feet from a 132,000-volt overheard electricity line. Electricity North West engineers were said to be "speechless" at what they found on the pavement in Kiddrow Lane, Burnley, on Wednesday. They had to cut power and get the "highly dangerous" pole removed. Paul Killilea, of Electricity North West, said the situation was “incredibly serious" and that someone could have died.
It's hard to understand how someone got away with this....

[Big Kev]

Fibre broadband company BRSK have been putting them up all over the area, a wooden one went up at the back of Chez Kev a couple of days ago. Elsewhere in Foulridge residents objected strongly against them and the job was abandoned.
It's horrific to see that metal pole so close to the overhead lines, a bit of moisture in the air and that news story could have been a completely different one. When I worked for National Grid I had a few trips to the research centre at Leatherhead, with the right conditions you'd be surprised how far an arc will jump.

[PanBiker]

with the right conditions you'd be surprised how far an arc will jump.

Quite a few variables such as the voltage and the amount of current and the ambient air conditions. A general rule of thumb would be 1mm per 1KV. That held good for the final anode on Colour TV CRT's which ran at 25KV. you could pull an arc of around 1". High voltage but relatively low current. Different ball park with the National Grid routing pylons and sub stations.

I remember one winter back in the 80's, maybe 81. there was as an over volt situation at the Salterforth sub station and the breakers were frozen shut. Consequently the mains voltage went up to about 350v. All our ITT hybrid colour TV's popped the fusible resistors feeding the anode of the PCL86 sound output valves. Popped some valves as well. The line output and boost diode vales were made of a bit sterner stuff and survived although they would both glow cherry red. It was a Saturday morning and we normally finished at midday but we had to work until about 7pm to clear the backlog. Three engineers and I think we had over 20 service calls each before about 10am in the morning. WE did get compensation eventually from the YEB, I don't think it covered the costs though, maybe the petrol for three vans.

[Tizer]

I forgot to mention this earlier. When Russia fired it's first 'intermediate-range ballistic missile' (IRBM) at Ukraine about a week ago it was almost 80 years to the day (26th November 1944) when a German V2 rocket, using a similar high-altitude trajectory*, hit a Woolworth's shop in London killing 168 people. The Darkest Hour - Woolworths Museum

*The V2 was the first rocket to reach space: Encyclo. Britannica

[Stanley]

THIS caught my attention this morning.....
A new case of a strain of mpox spreading in some parts of central and east Africa has been confirmed in Leeds. The infected person had recently returned from Uganda where Clade 1b mpox, which used to be known as monkeypox, has been found. This is the fifth person in England to be confirmed with this disease in recent weeks - the other four lived in the same household in London and have all recovered. Health officials say close contacts of the Leeds case are being traced but the risk to the UK population is low.
Did you see my comment yesterday that in Africa infection with this has been linked to eczema.

[Tizer]

Did you see my comment yesterday that in Africa infection with this has been linked to eczema.

Yes, but mpox isn't transmitted through the air like covid and flu. It's passed on by direct skin contact or by contact with an infected person's contaminated clothing. So transmission is much slower. People with eczema are often more vulnerable to infection with many viruses (and tend to be more affected by side effects of vaccines). It all comes down to the sensitivity and precision of the immune system.