WHAT ATTRACTED YOUR ATTENTION TODAY?

[Tizer]

Oh no! Gen Z have just discovered dietary fibre and are excited to tell us what they think we are missing and to guide us into healthy eating.
`Is fibre the new protein? The surprising health benefits of the latest wellness trend' LINK

It seems like no-one on the BBC News editorial team realises that most of the population know about dietary fibre already. I've written on OG before about people such as Surgeon Captain Peter Cleave solving the constipation among sailors on HMS King George V in WW2 by adding bran to their diets. After him Denis Burkitt was responsible for the `dietary fibre hypothesis' in the 1960s. The following article is long but an interesting history of those who contributed to dietary fibre studies and changed our diets.
`Denis Burkitt and the origins of the dietary fibre hypothesis' Nutrition Research Reviews

[Stanley]

It's a bit like sex Peter. Every generation likes to think they are the ones who invented it....

THIS article by Laura Kuenssberg caught my attention this morning.....
There is fresh paint in Reform HQ - and a fresh face in its line-up. Before Thursday, the last time Robert Jenrick walked into Millbank Tower, a fabled address in Westminster where lots of political campaigns have been run, was decades ago as an eager Conservative activist. Now, he's Reform UK's biggest prize so far - the best-known Tory to defect, and a favourite of Conservative party members. Like or loathe Jenrick's tactics he has campaigning guile, a knack for grabbing headlines, experience of government, knowledge of Parliament and, of course, insider knowledge of what Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and her team are up to. So how will this big political character adapt to a new political tribe? And could his huge move be swallowed up by a big fight on the right, at a time when Reform UK are busy trying to appeal to the whole country?
From speaking to Jenrick yesterday, he is plainly deadly serious about his political future, hitching his wagon to the biggest party in the polls right now. But any defection brings with it deep questions about whether that person can be trusted. Some Conservatives are accusing him of lying and treachery. They say he sat in meetings with colleagues in the last seven days discussing party strategy normally. He even, one source claimed to me, told the chief whip when challenged on the morning of his defection that it was "nonsense" and that he was "gobsmacked".
I was further struck by a quote I heard on R4 during the day. Someone had been asked to describe Jenrick and he responded 99% Jenrick suppoiter and 1% slime.... Make of that what you will.

[Stanley]

See THIS BBC report of yet another Tory defection to Reform....
Andrew Rosindell has resigned from the Conservative Party and defected to Reform UK. The former shadow minister and MP for Romford said the Tories were "irreparably bound to the mistakes of previous governments" and not willing to take "meaningful accountability" for poor decisions. He said he had spoken to Nigel Farage on Sunday evening before agreeing to join his party. The Reform UK leader called him "a great patriot" who "will be a great addition to our team". A Conservative source said Rosindell's departure was a prime example of Farage doing Badenoch's "spring cleaning" and that Reform was "welcome" to him.
Is the Tory Party in terminal meltdown?

[Tizer]

This link is to a condensed version of a feature article in issue 48 of Current Archaeology magazine...
`The people of St Peter’s: Encountering a community from 19th-century Blackburn' LINK

[Tripps]

Very interesting article Tiz. Thanks. Reaching the time where archaeology comes close to family history.

[Stanley]

Dolly Parton is 80 years old.....
My abiding memory of Dolly is hearing a man commenting on the news that she had been cast as Juliet in a production of the play. He said "I don't know about her acting but she sure can hang over a balcony!"

[Stanley]

See THIS BBC report of another Spanish train crash.....
Updated 1 minute ago
A train driver has been killed and at least 37 people injured, five seriously, after a commuter train derailed and crashed near Barcelona just days on from a deadly two-train collision in southern Spain on Sunday. According to local officials, on Tuesday evening the Rodalies train collided with a retaining wall which fell onto the track between Gelida and Sant Sadurní. Catalonia regional fire Inspector Claudi Gallardo said all passengers had been removed from the train. The incident occurred as heavy storms battered north-eastern Spain, as coastal areas in the east and north-west of Spain are on high alert because of the weather. Eleven ambulances were on the scene in Gelida, Catalonia - around 35km (21.7 miles) west of Barcelona - treating those injured, emergency services said. The local fire service said 35 crews had been sent to the area and one passenger trapped inside the train had been rescued. In a later update it said that no-one remained inside and that its crews were conducting a sweep of the area to rule out any further victims. Emergency services said they had evacuated some of the injured to nearby Moisès Broggi, Bellvitge, and Vila Franca hospitals. As well as the five seriously injured people, six were in a less serious condition and 26 were in a "mild" condition, emergency medical services said.

[Tizer]

We sat on one of those benches in Seaton, Devon, to eat our sandwiches in July last year!...
`Shingle returned to beach after Storm Goretti' LINK
Work is under way to return shingle moved by storms on to a promenade back to a beach in Devon. Seaton Beach, owned by East Devon District Council, was impacted by Storm Goretti on 8 January, when pebbles and stones accumulated against a seawall and on the promenade back towards the foreshore, officials said. The council said the volume of material displaced by the storm was "beyond the capacity of local teams to address"....

[Stanley]

The arrival of a Xmas card posted by Martha Paas on the 5th of December in Minnesota.....

See THIS BBC report of a classic case of disruption politics....
President Donald Trump says the US is exploring a potential deal on Greenland after talks with Nato as he backed off plans to impose tariffs on European allies that had opposed his plans for America to acquire the island. On social media, Trump said a "very productive meeting" with Nato's leader had led to the "framework" of a potential agreement over Greenland and the Arctic. He offered few details. Nato also described the meeting as "very productive" - and said discussions on the framework mentioned by Trump would focus on ensuring Arctic security. Earlier, Trump told the World Economic Forum in Davos that he would not use military force but wanted talks to secure ownership of the territory. On Truth Social on Wednesday, the US president said: "We have formed the framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland and, in fact, the entire Arctic Region. "This solution, if consummated, will be a great one for the United States of America, and all Nato Nations." He did not say if the proposal included American ownership of the autonomous Danish dependent territory, but told a US cable network the plan might involve mineral rights.

[Tizer]

US polititics in 2026...
`California governor says he was blocked from entering US pavilion' LINK
Amid a tumultuous day of news, California Governor Gavin Newsom says the Trump administration blocked him from entering the official US pavilion at Davos where he had been scheduled to speak. Newsom - who is thought to be a top contender for the 2028 Democratic nomination - was invited to speak at an event hosted by Fortune, the global business magazine. Newsom's office posted on social media that, external "under pressure from the White House and State Department" he was denied entry to the official US pavilion. “How weak and pathetic do you have to be to be this scared of a fireside chat?”, Newsom added. Earlier in the day, Trump mentioned Newsom in his Davos speech, saying "I used to get along so great with Gavin when I was president. Gavin is a good guy.” Newsom later told a CNN reporter that he thought Trump's speech was "remarkably boring. It was remarkably insignificant." Asked for comment, a White House spokesperson tells the BBC: “No one in Davos knows who third-rate governor Newscum is or why he is frolicking around Switzerland instead of fixing the many problems he created in California.”

[Stanley]

I think we all know who is more worthy of respect, Trump or Newsom. That comment from Trumps team is demeaning.

HERE'S Today's example of Trump bad-mouthing his allies and in the process demeaning himself and his administration.
Updated 21 minutes ago
Donald Trump has sparked fresh outrage in the UK after saying Nato troops stayed "a little off the front lines" during the war in Afghanistan. Labour MP Emily Thornberry, the chair of the foreign affairs committee, called it an "absolute insult" to the 457 British service personnel killed in the conflict, while Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said: "How dare he question their sacrifice?" Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty, who served in Afghanistan, said it was "sad to see our nation's sacrifice, and that of our Nato partners, held so cheaply". The UK was among several allies to join the US in Afghanistan from 2001, after it invoked Nato's collective security clause following the 9/11 terror attacks. The US president told Fox News on Thursday that he was "not sure" the military alliance would be there for America "if we ever needed them". "We've never needed them," he said, adding: "We have never really asked anything of them." "They'll say they sent some troops to Afghanistan," he said, "and they did, they stayed a little back, a little off the front lines". He said the US had "been very good to Europe and to many other countries", adding: "It has to be a two-way street."

[PanBiker]

Draft dodging coward.

[Big Kev]

Screenshot_20260123-112011.png

Couldn't see it, only heard it.

Screenshot_20260123-114528.png

Gone to the seaside...

[Tizer]

A Typhoon fighter taking off from Warton - that's spooky, I'm reading a book about the history of seaplanes and it mentions Blackpool as being one of the bases for the early flying boats protecting our shipping from U-boats and airships in WW1.

[Big Kev]

Strangely it disappeared from Flightradar so I wasn't aware of it returning. The history shows it went to the Isle of Man before returning to Wharton.
Check out playback of flight WTN17 from Warton to Warton on Flightradar24. https://fr24.com/data/flights/wtn17#3e06f4bd

[Stanley]

See THIS BBC report on Starmer's reaction to Trump, by Chris Mason......
The prime minister's condemnation of Donald Trump's remarks about the war in Afghanistan are his strongest public criticisms of the president yet. They come in a week where circumstances have led Sir Keir Starmer to conclude three times that it was necessary to publicly rebuke a man he has ploughed so much effort into building a strong relationship with. I am told Sir Keir, on returning to Downing Street on Friday afternoon, saw it as essential to make his views clear in the most direct terms. His tone and body language conveyed his anger, as did his words, in which he said what President Trump had said was "insulting and frankly appalling". The president had claimed that the Nato defence alliance, of which the UK is a member, had sent "some troops" to Afghanistan, but they "stayed a little back, a little off the front lines." The comments, which are factually inaccurate, have been widely seen as crass and deeply offensive. Four hundred and fifty-seven British service personnel died in the conflict and many more suffered life changing injuries. The prime minister's team tell me Sir Keir sees standing up for and defending the armed forces as a first order duty of his role, as both those serving and those killed in conflict can't speak publicly for themselves. Incidentally, it is not the first time the Prime Minister has felt the need to stand up for the British military after remarks from the Trump administration. In March of last year, Sir Keir pointedly paid tribute to UK troops in the Commons after the US Vice-President JD Vance was accused of disrespecting them. But on that occasion, he made no reference to the vice-president by name.

[Tizer]

Mrs Tiz and her geology pals are planning a visit to Grimes Graves to see the bell pits and that conjured up a thought that Trump is digging himself into a deep bell pit and could end up with the whole thing collapsing on top of him!

Meanwhile...
`Part of historic pier washes away in 'wild' storm' BBC News England
Part of a historic pier has washed away as Storm Ingrid brings heavy rain and strong winds to Devon and Cornwall. Teignmouth mayor Cate Williams said the town had "taken a real battering" overnight into Saturday with "just wild" waves damaging part of the Teignmouth Grand Pier....

When you see the last photo of waves at Penzance keep in mind that the prom was rebuilt to have a curve in vertical section to deflect the waves up and back. Imagine what it would have been like if that work hadn't been done!

[Tripps]

a visit to Grimes Graves to see the bell pits and that conjured up a thought that Trump is digging himself into a deep bell pit

Anyone who's reaction to a visit Grimes Graves is to connect it to President Donald J Trump, must surely be a bit obsessed with him.

[Tizer]

Of course I'm obsessed with Trump, he provides much better entertainment than Traitors etc. For example, having complimented Mark Carney on Canada recently making a trade deal with China he's now said "If Canada makes a deal with China, it will immediately be hit with a 100% Tariff against all Canadian goods and products coming into the U.S.A". In Carney's speech in Davos he said Canada's relationship with China has become more predictable than its relationship with the US under the Trump administration.

Perhaps the UK and other European countries should be following Carney and turning towards China and away from the US. Perhaps then we could get China to side with us instead of Russia and change the balance in Ukraine. After all, Trump and the US don't seem to be genuinely interested in helping Ukraine. And the new Chinese embassy in London will be very convenient for joint meetings!

[Tripps]

Of course he is insane, ( deo lally. crackers, mad ) and action needs to be taken. There does not seem to be an equivalent to our " men in grey suits" to have a quiet but firm word. In fact the whole nation seems to be terrified of him. Where is the brave newsman to put him on the spot, or the Spitting Images to ridicule him?

For some reason I can't see it continuing for a lot longer. He will though if still on the scene, doubtless try to run for a third term, though that is not allowed under the constitution, he will change the rules.

I watched the final episode of Celebrity Traitors, and found it moderately amusing, whilst not understanding it at all. I have dipped into the recent Traitors - and I haven't the first clue what is going on and have quickly switched it off. I find they have a great PR setup. Everyone is speaking as if it is the best thing on TV and compulsory watching.

It must be me (again) . . . .

[Big Kev]

I watched the final episode of Celebrity Traitors, and found it moderately amusing, whilst not understanding it at all. I have dipped into the recent Traitors - and I haven't the first clue what is going on and have quickly switched it off. I find they have a great PR setup. Everyone is speaking as if it is the best thing on TV and compulsory watching.

It must be me (again) . . . .

You're not alone although I'm not in a position to comment as I've never felt the urge to watch it.

[Stanley]

I enjoyed reading that lot. Thanks!
I wouldn't say I was obsessed with Trump but I'll certainly confess he exercises me.... Mention of Mark Carney and the part he has played as PM of Canada reminds me of how much I admired his style when the was our Chancellor of the Exchequer, I don't think he has put a foot wrong and I have an idea that Trump has a very healthy respect for him as well.

See THIS latest reverse ferret from Trump after the backlash against him.
Donald Trump has praised UK soldiers who fought in Afghanistan after his claim that allied forces avoided the front lines prompted criticism from veterans and politicians. Earlier this week Trump angered US allies by downplaying the role of Nato troops in the war and doubted whether the military alliance would be there for the US "if we ever needed them". Trump's words drew condemnation from international allies, while Sir Keir Starmer called them "insulting and frankly appalling". The UK prime minister spoke to Trump on Saturday, after which the US president used his Truth Social platform to praise UK troops as being "among the greatest of all warriors". Trump was criticised for remarks he made during an interview with Fox News on Thursday in which the president said of Nato troops: "We've never needed them. We have never really asked anything of them. "They'll say they sent some troops to Afghanistan... and they did, they stayed a little back, a little off the front lines." That triggered a huge backlash from the families of soldiers who served in Afghanistan, as well as veterans and politicians from across the Westminster and international spectrum who called for Trump to apologise. Prince Harry said the sacrifices of troops needed to be respected as he pointed out Nato's collective security clause had been invoked once - following the 9/11 attacks.
The man is a weathercock. This inconsistency and unpredictability is damaging the cause of the US as long as Trump is allowed free reign. How long before the country realises and does something about it?