Seen in the News

[Stanley]

See THIS for the latest Trump political decision.....
8 hours ago
The Trump administration has moved to terminate almost 500 employees of federally funded news organisation Voice of America (VOA). The step is the latest in President Donald Trump's drive to strip back the outlet, which the White House has accused of being "radical". Acting CEO of VOA's parent agency, Kari Lake, said the decision would "help reduce the federal bureaucracy, improve agency service, and save the American people more of their hard-earned money." A union representing employees called the step illegal in a statement to the New York Times. VOA was set up during World War Two to counter Nazi propaganda, and has become a major global broadcaster. The outlet is overseen by the Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which said a total of 532 positions would be eliminated. The majority of those employees are from VOA, which would be left with 108 staff, according to a court filing.
Pure vandalism......

[Tizer]

...Voice of America (VOA) was set up during World War Two to counter Nazi propaganda...

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will be pleased to hear that Trump is demolishing an anti-Nazi organisation. Lavrov has compared Trump’s “America First” concept to Nazi propaganda...

In an article published on February 4 by the Russia in Global Affairs journal, Lavrov accused the US of undermining the international order with “cowboy attacks,” and claimed that the rhetoric of the Trump administration was reminiscent of Nazi Germany. “The ‘America First’ concept has disturbing similarities to the ‘Germany Above All’ slogan of the Hitler period,” he wrote. Atlantic Council

[Stanley]

THIS BBC report caught my eye....
The Bayeux Tapestry, which documents the Norman invasion of England in 1066, will be closed to the public in France from Monday as opposition mounts ahead of its move to London. The next time it will be possible to see the nearly 1,000-year-old work of art should be when it goes on display at the British Museum in September next year. However, the French art world is fiercely opposed to the project, with experts fearing the 70m-long (230ft) masterpiece is in far too delicate a state to be transported across the Channel. French President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced the loan when they met in London in July. The last few weeks have seen a big rise in visitor numbers at the Bayeux Museum ahead of its closure from 1 September. A new display area is being built for the tapestry, which will take at least two years. The closure – long planned – is what gave Macron the opportunity to perform his act of cultural diplomacy, committing France to loaning the tapestry to the British Museum for a year from next September.

[Stanley]

See THIS BBC Report on the Afghanistan earthquake....
Survivors of an earthquake that killed more than 800 people and injured thousands in eastern Afghanistan have spent a night in the open, as rescue efforts continue. Most of the deaths occurred in the mountainous Kunar province, which was closest to the epicentre of the 6.0 magnitude when it struck on Sunday night. Officials warn that the death toll may rise significantly as entire villages were destroyed. Several nations have already pledged aid, while some villages remain inaccessible and local health facilities have been overwhelmed. The disaster comes as Afghanistan reels from a severe drought, aid cuts and what the World Food Programme describes as an unprecedented hunger crisis.

[Tripps]

A tale of two kisses. (Thanks Charles D )

I see that the Green Party has elected a new leader. His name is David Paulden and he is an old boy of Stockport Grammar School. He celebrated his win by planting a full on smackeroo on the lips of a passing geezer. Yuck. He has changed his name by the way - and is now known as Zack Polanski. I discover also that "Polanski is gay, vegan and lives in Hackney." Of course he is bless him.

I also saw David Lammy who arrived at No 10 at the same time as Angels Rayner - and without seeking any informed consent gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek . There was no trigger warning either in the Sky News coverage. I can imagine circumstances where such an action would have resulted in arrest.

It must also be noted that Graham Linehan - the author of the 'Father Ted' series flew into Heathrow this morning, and was arrested by five armed police officers. His alleged crime was to do with a posting about transgenderism on X.

Good grief. . . .

[Stanley]

I heard Zack Polanski on R4 and guessed he was gay when he was going on about his partner..... SGS must be proud of him....
I heard about Graham Lineham's arrest as well. I am confused. It seems that the smallest thing can trigger an armed response....
See THIS BBC report which gives more details about the reasons given for the arrest......

[Tizer]

I'm glad we don't use our car much these days...
`Don't fall for these car parking scams' LINK

[Tripps]

SGS must be proud of him

Not widely reported,just in The Independent, but I learn today that he had a previous career as a Harley Street hypnotherapist. He claimed to be able (with just the power of his mind) increase lady's breast size without surgery. He was rumbled by a journalist. It was twelve years ago though, and he says it's where you are going not where you came from that matters.

I have no words to describe the stupidity of the Green Party members, and those that vote for them in elections.

[Stanley]

I think I heard a whisper about that somewhere David but never pursued it.... A bit like electing an MP who believed in homeopathy....
I saw THIS BBC report this morning....
2 Hours ago.
A mother who feared her two-year-old son's untreated constipation could have killed him is calling for access to children's continence services to be made a national priority. Elissa Novak said Ivan was constantly vomiting, losing weight and in severe pain when it was at its worst, and a doctor said 2kg of his 10kg (22lb) body weight was estimated to be stool. The number of children aged up to 16 admitted to English hospitals suffering with constipation, among other symptoms, is at a 10-year high, with more than 44,000 admissions in 2023-24, according to NHS figures. Children are being failed by the absence of dedicated bladder and bowel services in some parts of the country, an expert said. About 1.5 million children in the UK suffer with constipation, according to the charity Bladder and Bowel UK. As many children returned to school this week, charities have told the BBC they are seeing a spike in calls to their helplines. "It's a huge problem and many healthcare professionals don't consider it a serious issue in children," said Davina Richardson, a children's specialist nurse with the charity. "Discussing wee and poo is very un-British. It's not something that we as a culture do."
Nurse Richardson is correct. There are some subjects we simply don't talk about. Almost certainly something to do with diet.....

[Stanley]

See THIS for a possible extension to the flags on lampposts syndrome....
Six people have been arrested after red crosses were spray-painted on a house while its occupants watched from inside. A video circulating on social media, which has since been deleted, showed a man filming himself spraying graffiti on the home's windows and door in Carnforth, Lancashire. The masked man also recorded the occupants through the window while shouting he was going to "spray your face" and chanting "England, England". Lancashire Police said six males aged between 17 and 33 had been arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated criminal damage to a dwelling.
If this is patriotism, include me out!

[PanBiker]

Someone has painted some semblance of a union flag on the mini roundabout at Skipton/Gisburn Road junction. Didn't notice it when we walked to the gym this morning but there was a lot of school traffic at 8.40.

[Tripps]

If I was a member of the Labour Party - which thank the Lord I'm not Sir - I would be resigning.

The Home Secretary has been promoted to Foreign Secretary. She failed to stop a small boat or smash a gang. Promoted despite that or because of it?

The new Home Secretary is the daughter of an imigrant from Mirpur. Sadly not a bus driver. Ideal person for the job.

This chap dunderhead is now Deputy Prime Minister. Yes he really said that Marie Antoinette won the Nobel Prize for Physics, and had never heard of the Purple Heart medal.

[Stanley]

That's a good post David, far more depth than my BBC Politics offering! Loved the Lammy clip. I know none of us would be as good as we think in the famous chair but that performance was pathetic.
Meanwhile, in another part of the forest.... THIS caught my attention.
Tesla boss Elon Musk will receive a pay package worth over $1tn (£740bn) if he hits a list of ambitious targets over the next decade, the board of the electric car firm has proposed. To get the package, Musk, who is already the world's richest person, would need to boost Tesla's value eightfold, sell a million artificial intelligence robots, sell another 12 million Tesla cars, and hit several other moonshot goals. Musk would not earn a salary or bonus but would instead be gradually awarded shares which would be worth $1tn if he achieves all the targets. The company's board urged investors to vote in favour of the package. "Growth that may seem impossible today can be unlocked with new ideas, better technology and greater innovation," Tesla chair Robyn Denholm said. "Simply put, retaining and incentivising Elon is fundamental to Tesla achieving these goals and becoming the most valuable company in history." She added that the share award would "drive peak performance from our visionary leader". It comes after Musk was awarded $29bn in shares last month after his original $50bn award was struck down by a US court for being "unfair to shareholders".
I have been known to say that the world is going mad..... I'm revising that estimate now.... It is mad!!

[PanBiker]

I saw one, (a Tesla) parked up on St Jame's Square the other day. I had a look inside as I passed, I don't know what they cost but its probably too much, there is only a steering wheel and a laptop screen mounted on the dash. Jet black paint job and a boring interior.

[Stanley]

"If I was a member of the Labour Party - which thank the Lord I'm not Sir - I would be resigning."
And guess what.... Ian and I did just that.
Ian. I agree with you. Tesla must be the most overpriced car ever. If and when the day comes when all cars are Teslas or equivalents, that will be the end of family car ownership.....

I saw THIS report in this morning's news....
Teaching and research staff at Lancaster University are to be balloted about strike action in October. Staff are unhappy about the threat of compulsory redundancies, as the university seeks to cut 400 full-time posts as part of efforts to save £30m, amid rising costs and a fall in international student numbers. Dr Sunil Banga, branch president of the University and Colleges Union, said there was still "an opportunity for the university to sit down and negotiate", with proposed walkouts timed to coincide with students arriving for the new term. The university said while compulsory redundancies have not been ruled out, every effort is being made to try to find savings "through voluntary means".
As usual we see phrases like ""which courses make money, or not, in the university's terms". If this is the level of commitment to learning that is adhered to it will be totally wrong.... I look back almost 50 years to when I did a degree course on a full grant with support for my family included and wonder where we went wrong.

[PanBiker]

I did quite a few certificate courses for IT and network infrastructure and installation at Lancaster Uni. Also my CISCO Associate training was delivered there, that was part of the CISCO package taken on by the Sixth Form College, we had to do it at tutor level so had an 80% pass mark to attain, Steve the Head of IT and myself did it, the idea was to offer Cisco Academy courses at the college. We had all the hardware kit to deliver, qualifications to do it then the School Manager decided to knock it on the head so no students got the opportunity.