Tripps wrote: ↑18 Apr 2025, 12:47
In total contrast - there is a concerted campaign to publicise the scientific research which reveals that molecules have been "detected" from a planet which is 124 Light Years away, and indicate the possibility of "life". There have been in depth interviews with the researchers on several radio outlets I have heard - LBC, Times Radio, BBC, promoting this research.
That's organised - not coincidental - for research which will more than likely come to nothing.
Note - One Light year is 6,000,000,000 miles. so 124 LY's is 744 trillion miles. That's a long way to distinguish a molecule from a single planet - he said from a position of deep ignorance. (A level Physics 1959)
I'm not surprised they can identify a molecule at that distance but they shouldn't be stirring up claims of it being an indicator of life. The astronomers and astrophysicists need to get out a bit more and talk to chemists. The molecule is a simple one, dimethyl sulphide, and it can form through a couple of steps from methanol and hydrogen sulphide in a reaction catalysed by a member of the mineral group called zeolites. If you've got volcanoes and water then I'll bet these molecules will be present.
NB. Dimethyl sulphide is the component in lager beers that gives it the characteristic lager flavour and aroma. It's also produced by marine algae and is volatile enough to escape into Earth's atmosphere where it's responsible for triggering cloud formation by water droplets.
Nullius in verba: On the word of no one (Motto of the Royal Society)
DHL to suspend global shipments of over $800 to US consumers
Reuters
—
DHL Express, a division of Germany’s Deutsche Post, said it would suspend global business-to-consumer shipments worth over $800 to individuals in the United States from April 21, as US customs regulatory changes have lengthened clearance.
The notice on the company website was not dated, but its metadata showed it was compiled on Saturday.
See THIS Report of more trans right protests after Supreme Court decision. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has called the vandalism of several statues in Parliament Square, including one of women's votes campaigner Dame Millicent Fawcett, "disgraceful". Transgender campaigners gathered on Saturday in front of Parliament to protest against the Supreme Court ruling that biological sex defines a woman for the purposes of the Equality Act. Cooper said she welcomed the Metropolitan Police's investigation and that the government will strengthen the law "to better respect and protect important memorials". The force said seven statues were damaged and they are investigating the incidents as criminal damage. No arrests have been made.
Stanley Challenger Graham
Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net
"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!
Old age isn't for cissies!
Another reason Brexit was Britons shooting themselves in the foot...
`NHS cancer patients denied life-saving drugs due to Brexit costs, report finds' Guardian
Nullius in verba: On the word of no one (Motto of the Royal Society)
We suspected that one of the consequences would be problems with drugs, that report and others about shortages of some drugs in some areas shows that we were right. Was there ever a worse political move?
Stanley Challenger Graham
Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net
"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!
Old age isn't for cissies!
See THIS report of an archaeological dig in Wales..... 2 hours ago
A medieval cemetery unearthed near Cardiff Airport is continuing to confound archaeologists, as the mysteries surrounding it are multiplying. The discovery of the site, dating to the 6th or 7th Century, was announced last year, with dozens of skeletons found lying in unusual positions with unexpected artefacts. Now researchers have learned nearly all of those buried in the cemetery are women, and while their bones show signs of wear and tear - indicating they carried out heavy manual work - there are also surprising signs of wealth and luxury. Another unexpected find has been a woman tossed in a ditch, in stark contrast to all the other people who were buried with great care.
Such a fascinating subject and the more we look, the more we find!
Stanley Challenger Graham
Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net
"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!
Old age isn't for cissies!
See THIS explanation of DOGE...... Tesla boss Elon Musk has pledged to "significantly" cut back his role in Doge, the body tasked with reducing US government spending and cutting jobs. The Department of Government Efficiency has faced legal challenges over the scope of its work, and Musk and his team have been been criticised for a lack of transparency. However, polling suggests its cost-cutting agenda has widespread support. hat is Doge? Despite its full name, Doge is not an official government department, which can only be established by an act of Congress. Instead the advisory body was created by an executive order signed by US President Donald Trump. Part of Doge's mission, according to the order, relates to IT upgrades aimed at boosting efficiency. It must finish its work by July 2026. Many Doge staff appear to be young people with tech backgrounds and limited or no government experience. Many analysts remain sceptical about whether Doge can deliver on its bold pledges. Elaine Kamark from the Brookings Institution said government spending could be streamlined, highlighting her own work for President Bill Clinton in the 1990s. But she described Musk's goal to slash a third of government spending as "ridiculous", since so much of the budget was mandatory, including popular programmes like Social Security and Medicare.
There is much more in the article. I am still not clear about what DOGE has done.....
Stanley Challenger Graham
Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net
"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!
Old age isn't for cissies!
See THIS report..... 1 hour ago
Supported housing, which helps vulnerable or disabled people live independently, is in crisis, an open letter signed by more than 170 organisations in the sector claims. Services at one in three providers in England had to shut last year, adding to a total shortfall of about 325,000 places, says the letter, which will be delivered to Prime Minister Keir Starmer today. Signatories to it include Refuge, Age UK and the National Housing Federation (NHF). Blaming cuts to council funding and rising costs, the NHF says a further one in three providers fear they may close unless the government pledges more money.
Another vital service is being neglected. These are not the people who should be having to deal with pressures induced by austerity.
(That's what it is despite the politicians denying it.)
Stanley Challenger Graham
Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net
"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!
Old age isn't for cissies!
See THIS BBC report of an old fashioned financial fraud..... A Blackpool nightclub owner and his accountant have been found guilty of their involvement in a £4.9m tax fraud. Paul Kelly, who owned a string of bars and pubs across the North West, evaded paying millions in tax, with help from his "crooked accountant" John Parry, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) said. Kelly, 63, from Thornton Cleveleys, Lancashire, and Parry, 70, from Wilmslow, were convicted of cheating the public revenue and perverting the course of justice following a trial at Preston Crown Court. The court heard Kelly splashed hundreds of thousands of pounds from the proceeds of his crimes on luxury items, including a yacht, Bentley and Rolls Royce cars, and a £100,000 watch, HMRC said.
Stanley Challenger Graham
Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net
"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!
Old age isn't for cissies!
See THIS for a report about an eighty year old letter found in a uniform pocket in a charity shop..... A letter written in 1945 by a woman addressed to her "darling" in the RAF has been found in a military uniform bought in a charity shop. Andy Hacking, 61, said he bought the RAF uniform about five years ago in a shop in Ramsbottom, Greater Manchester, and discovered the letter in a pocket with a post mark dated 17 December 1945. The letter was penned by a woman called Jean from Herschell Street, Preston, who expressed her joy her "sweetheart" stationed in Wiltshire was coming home for Christmas adding she had "counted the days". Mr Hacking, from Accrington, Lancashire, who has an interest in World War Two militaria and re-enactment, said he would love to reunite Jean's family with the letter.
I hope the letter finds its way back home but 80 years is a long time.....
Stanley Challenger Graham
Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net
"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!
Old age isn't for cissies!
See THIS prediction of warm weather as April ends.... The temperature in southern England could hit 27C (81F) later this week making it the highest temperature recorded in April since 2018. Warmth and sunshine will develop widely across most areas of the UK as high pressure gradually builds. Lack of rainfall however, will again raise concerns about potential wildfires. The last time the temperature rose to 27C in April was in 2018 in Cambridge.
We shan't get that hot in Barlick but it will still be a warm week!
Stanley Challenger Graham
Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net
"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!
Old age isn't for cissies!
See THIS Live BBC report for the welcome news that The Liberals and Mark Carney are projected to win thge election.
All down to Trump and his threats. I am delighted.
Stanley Challenger Graham
Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net
"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!
Old age isn't for cissies!
See THIS report on the Canadian Election. 4 hours ago
US President Donald Trump has called Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to congratulate him on his victory in the country's general election and the two have agreed meet in the near future. The two countries were expected to enter talks about a new economic and security relationship after Monday's vote. Trump's trade tariffs and repeated comments undermining Canada's sovereignty overshadowed the race, which ended with Carney's Liberals projected to win a minority government, according to public broadcaster CBC.
As things stand the Liberals are only three seats short of a majority so should not have too much problem in governing.
I am glad that Carney is in charge. Some commentators are looking at the Australian General Election now and forecasting that it too could be influenced by the onset of the Trump factor.....
Stanley Challenger Graham
Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net
"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!
Old age isn't for cissies!
An Italian cardinal who was convicted of embezzlement and fraud said on Tuesday he will not take part in the secret conclave to elect the new pope that will be held next week following the death of Pope Francis. Cardinal Angelo Becciu, the most senior Catholic Church official ever to stand trial before a Vatican criminal court, was sentenced to 5½ years in jail in December 2023. He denies all wrongdoing and is free pending an appeal that is scheduled to begin in September. "Having at heart the good of the Church.... I have decided to obey, as I always have, the will of Pope Francis and to not enter the conclave, still remaining convinced of my innocence," said Becciu.
So having been convicted by an 'in house' trial and with five years porridge pending - he generously says he will not vote in the imminent Conclave. Less forgiving folk might be asking why is he remains a Cardinal.
Born to be mild Sapere Aude Ego Lego Preferred pronouns - Thou, Thee, Thy, Thine My non-working days are Monday - Sunday
Further to possible future EV battery fires. The battery charging points in the underground car parks at Westminster are being turned off - on the advice if H &S and fire services. My reaction is - judge them by what they do and not by what they say. If it's not safe there, then it's not safe in any such building.
Morning David.... Nice to see you braving the dangers of a non-certified site!
I heard that report about the Criminal Cardinal and had exactly the same thoughts. If exceeding 80 years can disbar you so should a criminal conviction.
I agree with you about the chargers. I watched am Australian video on the Colombian nickel mining industry last night which has evidently been taken over by the Chinese and is running with total disregard for safety. Obviously a plug for the 'safe' Australian nickel industry but even so a terrible picture of an industry being run with no concessions to safety or the environment. Do you think the message about EV safety is beginning to hit home?
Stanley Challenger Graham
Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net
"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!
Old age isn't for cissies!
See THIS Lancashire report.... A county fire service has issued a warning as it said it was "especially vulnerable" to moorland fires amid the dry weather. Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) is urging people not to use disposable barbecues or have open fires in moorland areas which can cause "devastating" damage to habitats and wildlife. It comes after more than 100 firefighters battled "aggressive" wildfires at Winter Hill in Lancashire in 2018 in what was declared a major incident. Caroline Harrison from LFRS said lessons had been learned and it was "better prepared" since the fires which ripped through 7 sq miles (18 sq km) of land.
Stanley Challenger Graham
Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net
"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!
Old age isn't for cissies!
I heard the news David and it's a sign of what's going wrong with Milliband's blind adherence to Net Zero. It is resulting in us having the highest electricity prices in Europe and makes it impossible for energy hungry industries like pottery and steel to compete against imports.
And then they wonder why our economic performance is so dire!
Stanley Challenger Graham
Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net
"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!
Old age isn't for cissies!
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, said on Saturday that President Donald Trump's assertion that the U.S. had done more than any other country to win World War Two was "pretentious nonsense".
Trump posted on social network Truth Social late on Thursday that "nobody was close to us in terms of strength, bravery, or military brilliance" in both world wars, and that "we did more than any other country, by far, in producing a victorious result in World War II."
Along with the YouTube video Stanley shared, on the Owt Else thread, he's not coming across as anywhere near a stable human being.
