Kemi, Ash and Steve.

ITV

Like me you probably did not bother to listen or watch the Leaders speech at the Conservative Party conference today.  I forgot, so I missed deliberately not watching it.  I hear there were the usual inept promises, cutting Private schools bills, abolishing stamp duty, attacking benefits rather than tax her wealthy donors, scrapping net-zero policies, all the usual Tory nonsense.

What was more bizarre was her claim that her party was the only one to put 'Broken Britain' right.  Though on their free chocolate they did spell 'Britain,' as 'Britian!'  The fact that she indicated 15 years ago Poland was worse of than the UK, now it blossoms she failed to understand that 15 years of her party in charge, a party she was part off, is the reason the UK is broken.  Her answer, to continue the same policies.  

We are watching the death of the Conservative Party here.  Nigel, hiding like his money, will be happy.

Ash Regan has put a bill through Holyrood to deal with men buying sex.  Some think this a good idea, some think she is just using this for her own publicity.  Either way it is bonkers.

The idea is that women who sell their bodies for cash, prostitutes now falsely referred to as 'sex workers, will be decriminalised but men paying for them will be charged for a crime.  So prostitutes are OK, customers are not?  This is women's logic at best.  

If it is a crime to buy it must be a crime to sell.

This plan, designed to aid the girls, has no merit.  The cause of prostitution is not dealt with.  Trafficking is passed over, and there are laws against that, and the girls, not just those 'forced' into it will continue to sell themselves for money.  They will not be charged but their customers will?  Therefore there will be no customers.

Another half truth law, more for Ash to keep herself in the front with an election coming next year rather than deal with the causes and abuses of prostitution. And I note nobody has asked about the women living close to those who sell themselves and are often challenged by potential customers, their opinion has not been sought.

The Rangers are looking for their 12th manager in 10 years after another hit the ground running and fell apart.  Scotland shows no sympathy here.  Many names have been mentioned, Steve Gerard, Derick McInnes and the laughable Sean Dyche!  However Gerard is the fans favourite, he won the league once after 4 years of failure, simply because Celtic were bad.  Now Stevie is seen as the saviour.  I hope he is chosen, he is not a good manager, failed at Aston Villa, failed in Saudi, and will fail again in Glasgow, so, let him come.

Epping Justice, Gary Neville and Lest we Forget...

Essex News

Justice can be slow, but successful.  

The thugs that rioted outside the 'Bell Hotel' in Epping earlier this year faced justice for their crimes.  Three men, so far, have been arrested and charged with violent disorder, this at a 'peaceful demonstration.'  

Asylum seekers have been housed on hotels or suitable accommodation throughout the land, and this hotel in quiet, middle class Epping was one of them.  However, an Ethiopian man sexually assaulted a 14 year girl and the mobsters took this as an excuse to create a riot.  The asylum seeker has since been jailed for his crime.  However, the 'Tommy Robinson' set began to encourage protests outside the hotel, causing much stress to those living there.  The usual flag waving, chanting and no little attack on the building by one or two showed the intellectual level and understanding of those attending.  Care for the girl was less than the chance to riot, attack police, damage local housing, and pee all around the area, like dogs leaving their mark.  Three men have been given sentences of just over one year to just over two years for their violence.  It is to be hoped that more will come soon.

Gary Neville, one time footballer now mediocre football pundit, has stated that the divided society which has led to the events at Manchester was caused by white middle aged men.  Naturally, white middle aged men attending events such as Epping have decried this while waving England and Union flags and asking, "What's wrong with white, middle aged men."

Attending the protests and waving flags ought to have made that clear to them.

The society s divided, this has been coming since Brexit was used to divide and economically destroy the UK.  Encouraged by Farage, Boris Johnson and other Tories who did not understand what Farage was up to, or who was paying him, his money coming from abroad naturally, they pointed to the Migrants arriving dangerously by small boats, which cannot be returned because of Brexit, and claim that is the problem.

Lies such as these have affected the usually thinking Englishman.  Led by the nose however, the Sun, Mail, Telegraph and the BBC have made clear the boats are the problem and 'Reform UK' are the answer.  Who is paying them to say this?  Russia certainly, Israel, and Robert Mercer and other US far right politicians, the ones behind Trump.  

The man in the street doe snot understand this, and like Germans in the 1930s falls for an easy answer, waves flags he does not understand, supports an English history that is incorrect, and votes 'Reform UK,' to solve the problem. 

One problem 'Reform UK' would solve was council tax.  By cutting spending ruthlessly they would save tax payers money.  Now, in both Kent and Durham they have realised there is nothing to cut, and all their talk was vacuous.  Since Osborne's disastrous austerity there has been 14 years of cuts and there is nothing left to cut, so they are putting up the taxes they said they would reduce.

I bet their wages will increase also...

Edinburgh Derby and Twitter Junk

Since 1875 the Heart of Midlothian have been careful to maintain a domination over the Hibernian from Leith, and Saturday night was no exception.  In spite of the usual Hibernian tactics which include Humping the ball upfield carelessly, falling down when tackled, and bringing their own referee as always, the Heart of Midlothian took care to secure the victory with a last minute winner.  The late goal is encouraged as it allows the 'wee team' to think they had a chance when in fact they had none.  So the late goal does enable them to remember the game for a very long time.  

Funny innit?

I see twitter, that's 'X' to those who follow Musk, have been desperate to increase the number of new posts to reach me.  This can be interesting however, I have little interest in Ugandan politics, dodgy porn, or US female Netball, nor any of the other rather strange US sites that appear daily.  I suppose a nation that arose by the gun and spread out by the use of the gun will not understand democracy properly, but I have no desire to listen to far right gun toting 'Christians' who never read the bible nor attend church.  This however, is growing among the far right, white, US, gun toting, unthinking mid west population.  Many are joining organisations to 'defend' 'Christendom,' a word few would understand.  Trumps backers, mostly in the Kremlin, are looking forward to the civil war they have designed.  It will not happen in the UK however, stealthy takeover of the government is more effective here.  Just ask Morgan McSweeney.

Agnus Dei - Samuel Barber LIVE

Police, Palestine, and fake followers.

 

Last night BBC showed a report from a London police station.  As I do not watch TV I did not see this programme, however, Twitter was awash with the righteous informing us off their opinions thereupon.

A reporter, who gladly reveals himself here, worked in a central London police station as a civil (not uniformed policemen) officer, while secretly filming the men around him.  He engaged them in conversation, especially in the pub, and offered a selection of their opinions on some of the people brought into the station each day.

The resulting programme centred on the foul language used on some individuals, racist talk, misogyny, and general nasty things that were said or done.  These do not put the men involved in a good light.

Naturally condemnation arose and swift action from senior officers and many words from politicians, especially the usual crew.  

However, I am no aware if any attempt was made to explain why men come to the conclusions and expressions offered in the programme.  Why do police speak crudely of Muslims?  Could it be the ones they arrest are indeed bad men, violent and not living out the 'religion of peace?'  Could it be these men, and it is usually men, have not been educated in the ways of the UK?  Could it be these officers have years of experience of being punched, kicked and assaulted, threatened with guns and knives, and have had cars driven wildly towards them?  Could there be reasons for their attitudes?

Women who claim rape abound in this world, the courts always take their view, men are named and left stranded, especially if declared not guilty.  The accuser is not named.  

Women bite police, drive cars at them, hit them with broken bottles, if an officer finds a new word for them would we agree with this or not?  

I have met the London policeman several times, and found them worthy of respect, yet carrying the daily prejudices of London life just as we all do.  For the most part I trust them.

Police work will always produce gentlemen who like to misuse their strength, I suppose it is better they use it against criminals than use it as a criminal?  Indeed, some of the people they meet will not answer to anyone unless they are stronger than they themselves, therefore such men have a place.  

As I said, I did not watch this programme and do not know all the details, and  social media and the BBC and Main stream news outlets are not always accurate.  That said, I think more respect for the police is required before we throw them out.  

By the way, in a Scottish court recently a man was charged with violent assault.  This left an officer with a broken wrist, he is still not at work.  The criminal was fined and placed on a community work programme rather than jailed, why?

While people respond to the needless atrocity in Manchester this morning, others will still be showing Palestinian flags in the windows, or on their Twitter feeds, blogs and social media.  This always makes me wonder if anyone doing this really understands the situation or actually cares for the people involved?

Certainly we read of 40 -60,000 deaths, 20,000 of them children and feel anger rightly.  Putting aside questions regarding numbers, and the destruction seen on TV and press indicates many dead and wounded, I find myself asking, "Why do these concerned people not care about the Ukraine, Sudan, Democratic Congo, or Benin?"  "Why is there no outcry re the thousands killed for being Christians in Benin or Northern Nigeria?"   "Why do we only care for the cause that is on TV, and ignore all the rest found in the press, if we look for them?"

Most will forget Palestinians tomorrow, most have little understanding or care for them now or later.  If they really cared they would try to do something, and I am not talking about cheap stunts using boats on the Med.  People follow a cause, but do not really get involved, deep down.  Soon, it will be forgotten.

Stockton & Darlington railway 200th and Mince Stew

 

 

I make no excuses for another trip along the original railway journey.  All my life I have heard about this, and even on occasion been along part of the route that is still operational.  The creation of the railways in 1825 was the most powerful movement of the 19th century in my eyes.  A century of innovation indeed, but without a railway to carry it all from one place to another quickly it would not have succeeded and certainly would have been hindered for many years.  

The sight of a replica 'Locomotion' trundling along is gives a wee bit of understanding as to how it must have appeared to the people at the time.  Engineering in the north-east of England had been going on for many years, so many would understand that one day something big would arrive.  However, with the majority still employed on the land, and that would continue for many years, the sight of this great moving black machine must have been something of a wonder.  Just remember your thoughts when you sighted an engineering feat, or a view or the latest technological wizardry that left you wondering, the people around must have felt similarly.

Many of those who watched quickly understood that here was an opportunity to save energy by climbing aboard the coal wagons and getting a free hurl to their destination. So successful was this that soon such 'passengers' had to pay for the privilege!  Within five years, 'The Rocket' was hurtling paid passengers between Manchester and Liverpool at 30 miles per hour, as long as you bought a ticket!

What I liked about this report was the 'ownership' of the railway.  The news reporters and the people involved are proud that this came from the north-east, not some fop down south.  This was 'their' railway, and it belonged to them!   Typical 'Geordies!'  George Stephenson, and his son Robert, were typical 'Geordies,' George in particular.  He was happy to be called 'the father of the railway,' though others had produced engines of various types before this.  George's railway actually worked successfully, which made a big difference.  These two men did lay out many railways in the UK and abroad, both in Europe and South America.  That is one reason why so many South Americans have Scots, Welsh, Irish or English names.  The navvies who went with them to build the railways often remained behind, or at least had a wife while there, for the use off!  

George used the term 'Railroad,' at first, but when his suggested route for one was considered too expensive his amended plan used the term 'Railway,' and it has remained such ever since.  Note in the USA they call it 'railroad,' possibly elsewhere also. 

Within five years of the 'Locomotion' taking coals to Stockton passenger services had arrived.  By 1851 it was possible to travel from Edinburgh Waverley to Kings Cross, London within 12 hours.  With occasional stops on the way.  Before this a stage coach could take two weeks, depending on the weather.  Such a transformation of society, such a transformation for iundustry, supplies to factory soon became goods on offer worldwide.  A nation transformed, not so much by the industrial revolution but by the railways that made that industry operate.  

We owe a great deal to this 1825 event.

Low Carb Diabetic 

   

This caught my eye.  This is the type of grub I have been forced by poverty to turn to more and more.  Though my last effort, which may remain with me always, was based on chicken, not mince, this because mince was so much more expensive than chicken today!  

The recipe here differs somewhat from my own in that it produces acceptable flavour, my recipe varies between aged cardboard and aged dishwater.  At one point I took to calling mine 'Flanders Stew' as it tasted similar to the mud found there during the Great War.  And one young lass who ate at my abode shut down my kitchen, it turned out she worked for the environment people.  

My recipe is simple, meat, beans, more beans, sauces (anything), salt and whatever is lying around.  Then I have to force myself to finish 5 or 6 of the things stored in the freezer.  And the freezer, filled with such items, is the way forward in this wealthy man's parliament. 

I recommend this site.

The Labour Conference is on!

No, I have not bothered either...

Hobbling Saturday

 

I shuffled the long way round to Tesco's this morning.  The fancy monthly market was well into its setting up period and once again I wondered, not at the goods on display, but at the time taken to set up, and later dismantle such stalls.  What is the point?  Hours of slog setting up, not much money taken, though enough to make them return again, and then the hard work dismantling and trundling back home. 

The fish man and the locksmith do it properly, they come in a van, open the side, and await your cash, that's the way to do it I say.

On the way, I had to make a detour, passing behind the man in the Salvation Army uniform carrying a collecting can.  He usually stands on the other side and was blocking my way.  Thinking quickly, I evaded him by pretending to study the butchers window. Then it was totter down to Tesco, wander around collecting a few bits, pay at the cash desk where a friendly woman was operating the till, and make for home.  However, I found myself once again meeting the 'Sally Anne' so there was nothing for it but to go into the butchers, obtain sausages, and make for home.

 

 

The rest of Saturday has been spent concentrating on football.  This was successful, the Heart of Midlothian defeating Falkirk by 3 goals to nil, and the nearest challenger, Celtic, stumbling to a 0-0 draw with the 'wee team' Hibernian.  This leaves us once again in our rightful position, top!

A good way to end a Saturday.

 

The 'Locomotion' & the 'Rocket'

 

As you know, it was 200 years ago that the first real railway service came into being.  The line from Stockton to Darlington was created to shift coal from the pit to the docks.  It was a success, such a success that people jumped upon the coal wagons for a free trip to the terminus.  Soon however, they were being charged money for the privilege.  

The engine, seen here in a 1925 celebration run, was the 'Locomotion.'  This engine was in use until 1850, not counting the time the boiler exploded in 1828, killing the driver, one John Cree.  Of course, within 10 years this engine was obsolete, and while George Stephenson had designed the 'Locomotion,' his son Robert, produced the 'Rocket,' which in 1830 opened the first real passenger service between Manchester and Liverpool.  That line is still in operation today for the most part, you can see on 'Cab Ride' video just how straight the line is.  Little to interfere with the line at that time, bar a Moss or two.  

Much of the Stockton to Darlington line is still in use, though as you would guess both lines are much improved from their beginnings.  Engine drivers from the past would still recognise some of the line, though the surroundings would be very different indeed.

I mention this as I read today that the replica 'Locomotion,' built as near as possible to the original, will be used sometime soon on a run along the Darlington to Stockton line.  This will ensure problems for the authorities involved, not least the safety aspect.  The train will manage to make it along the chosen course however, the rail followers who rush to observe the run of this train will no doubt trample across the lines, interfere with the daily run of local services, and probably end up under a train at some point.  This indeed happened in 1930 when William Huskisson got down off the train to speak to the Duke of Wellington and got himself run over by the 'Rocket' on the other track.  The train had stopped for water, and it was normal stage coach experience for passengers to wander about until the stage coach was ready.  Unfortunately, the speed of the approaching train was something they were all unaccustomed to.  William's leg was broken and he died on the way to the hospital.  It is to be feared that 'enthusiasts' will endanger themselves also in an attempt to see and photograph this event.

I will not be there, just saying.

The 'Locomotion' was used as a stationary engine for a while, then, because of it's importance it was preserved for the nation.  I can remember it standing in Doncaster station for some years, and after some travels it now resides at the Locomotion Museum in Shildon.

Trump's Reichstag?

On February 27th 1933 Van der Lubbe set fire to the Reichstag Parliament building in Germany.  This action, coming only four weeks after Adolf Hitler had  been sworn in as chancellor, opened the door for Hitler to take sweeping action to stabilise his position.

Van der Lubbe was born in the Netherlands, his parents divorced, his mother died when he was an adolescent and he moved in with his half sister.  A few years later the teenager being naturally very strong found work on a building site.  While there he became interested in the Labour movement and became involved in Communism.  An accident with lime almost blinded him and he found work difficult, though his interest in communism did not ease.  He worked among the unemployed to support the movement. 

For reasons unclear Van der Lubbe, who had been involved in other minor arson attacks, found himself in the Reichstag late one night setting it ablaze.  The blaze spread quickly and totally destroyed the building.  The police soon found the culprit who had not escaped and took him to court.

Adolf Hitler was delighted.

With Lubbe's admission of being communist Hitler arrested the leading Communists at the time, and thousands of others, real and imaginary possibly, were also taken in by the police.  Thus at the next elections soon to follow a vast number were unable to vote or put forward their case.  In this manner the Nazi stronghold was created and after announcing an emergency order, civil liberties were removed.  Hitler had complete power as dictator from this moment on.

Van der Lubbe was tried, found guilty, and executed.  

Whether he was working alone, whether others were behind him, or indeed whether Hitler himself had found a way to put the arsonist up to this cannot be proved today.  However, this action led to Adolf Hitler's complete control of Germany.

Many are asking, is the death of Charlie Kirk Trump's Reichstag moment?

His dementia led statements are often senseless, but he is asking his justice secretary to arrest people who speak against him.  The democratic niceties of the USA are now being pushed aside for a mentally ill, spoilt brat, seeking vengeance on any who speak the truth.  The Reichstag fire destroyed Germany, will Kirk's death lead to the destruction of the USA as we know it?

Tents

The park has quite a few who sleep in tents each night, this has been going on for a while, and yesterday I noticed this large tent, with at least two sharing, in a corner.  With the council offices across the road from them it is clear they are known and not removed, and once again I asked myself as to how do we handle such situations?  I know not who they are, from what I have seen in the past they are a mixed bunch, and arise from a variety of reasons.  

There are several groups, mostly Christian, who offer help here, the Salvation Army is big on care here, but nationally we find many on the streets who ought not to be homeless.

On one hand many with jobs and oncome cannot find a house, the removal by Thatcher of council houses by selling cheaply to anyone began the rout.  We need an immediate creation of a million council houses, but this government will not produce them.  Housebuilders have a say here as they  bride donate to MPs.  Rents are high and many who rent cannot then afford a mortgage, indeed, some paying high rents find they are refused cheaper mortgages by banks and lenders!

Many I have met living in parks have mental problems.  Quite a few live in the centre of London by jumping over the fence and sleeping under hedges.  Some cannot come inside, often soldiers with PTSD, mentally ill, drug confused people, usually men, and those with a variety of emotional problems.

There are no easy answers, just as there is little governments are willing to do while 'donations' are coming their way.

More Flags

Heading to Tesco I noticed the kiddies had been out and about with their flags.  Here are two union (Butcher's Apron's) and one English (Genoa) flag tied up, half mast, on poles.  It is noticeable that few are high up, it must be the little people responsible for this nonsense.

The fever that has induced people to paint roundabouts, houses, noticeboards, and even it is said, the White horse at Westbury with the red cross of St George.  The red cross on a white background, now regarded as an English flag, was donated to England by the people of Genoa way back when, after the English ships had protected their ships.  English men in fake armour, pretending to be crusading knights, decorate themselves with a flag that did not represent them during the crusades.  I doubt any of these men either studied or understand their own history even now.  

While attempting in this manner to support 'their side,' all they do is make the place look a mess, and lessen the house prices all around.  And where do all these flags come from?  Someone connected to 'the usual suspects,' who's name I forget, is responsible for pushing these  and the 'Unite the Kingdom' nonsense.  Of course 'Tommy' is involved, and 'of course,' he is not around while it is happening.  Even at his last parade he appeared at the front and then scarpered as always.  Some patriot Yaxley-Lennon.  Isn't that an Irish name...?

Pill Box for Sale.

You will recall some time back I wandered about Chelmsford.  Returning homewards, I took the opportunity to visit this Pills Box erected during the Second World War.   Thousands of these were erected in various places in fear of German invasion.  Most of them it appears were positioned in the wrong place, they required to be built on the coast, the idea being to halt an enemy landing rather than deal with one that had occurred.  In the course of time no invasion came, indeed it was never planned.  In fact, when the allies, led by General Montgomery, did invade Normandy the vast coastal defences did not hinder the allied landing.  Considering the vast amount of concrete utilised by the German defenders in comparison to these wee 'pill boxes' situated by streams, railways and major roads, it indicates how difficult it would have been for the poorly armed defenders to halt a well trained attack.

This 'pill box,' is situated on the lower slope of the field.  Before harvest time it would be nearly hidden by crops and a difficult object to oppose, especially when covered by the second one, seen in the distance, and even lower down and therefore hidden from the road.  The lower 'pill box,' covers the river and the far bank.  I doubt a boat would be sailing up this river in 1940 but it could be used by troops to make their way forward.  

The purpose of all this does not concern the war, nor defensive strategy, it concerns money!  

You see the owner has put this up for sale, the idea is for someone to turn this WW2 'pill box,' into a house!  Not the one in this picture, the first one, though this one by the river might be a better one to convert into a home.  The details are all on Right Move everybody's favourite way of inspecting their neighbour's home when they put it up for sale.

The claim this comes under 'Castle,' and the blurb says "Second World War bunker. Available for residential conversion under 81 E of the National Planning Policy Framework."  'Bunker,' is I suppose a correct word, though I only hear them called 'Pill Boxes,' because that is what they look like.  This one, like all the others, were never put to the test, except for 'Dad's Army' exercises I suppose.  Since 1945 they have lain untouched in many places, remarkable how often they appear in people's back gardens, farms, factories, and the like.  Many have of course been removed, however, solid concrete is not that easy to pull apart.  Many like them remaining as a curio in a house, often with a covered hole which once was an 'Anderson' type air raid shelter.  

For a mere £80,000 a builder could redevelop this, plans are included, however, I feel they are not what I would create on this spot, or on the lower box either.  I can dream about this, even if I only have 47 pence to my name and cannot possibly buy this WW2 memento. 

Arbroath 0-5 Dunfermline Athletic and Danny Kruger

 

 

So many football matches these days are spoiled by the never ending drivel spouted by the needless commentators.  A constant flow of words, few of which are relevant to the game in front of them, block the screen as the fans attempt to watch the game.

Add to this the constant desire of the director to ensure the camera is fixed on a man who does not have the ball, had it five minutes ago and does not have it now.  All the while, the commentator tells us needless information about the man's football history.  Either that, or the camera is on a celebrity in the stand while the game is happening 50 yards away.  

However, today I found a club that does football TV properly, Pars TV! 

Dunfermline Athletic has always been a club I was fond off, mainly because of an aunt who lived there and a cousin who once was their physio.  I always see it as a club that ought to be amongst the big boys.  I first went there in 1964, just after the bridge opened, and a good healthy crowd followed from Tynecastle that day.  Many times we have played there in enthralling games.

Pars TV, one of the many TV organisations set up by clubs these days to cover their own games, little chance of large TV donations from the main TV companies, that's for sure.  I first used them a few years ago, now they have established an excellent offering for followers of their team.

Here we see them having a lucky 0-5 win over Arbroath, no commentator spoils the game with biased, meaningless drivel, words do not endlessly flow, instead we are given the impression we are at the game itself, it is wonderful!  We hear the cries of fans, always interesting, the home and away support, and the players and referees as they, er, debate decisions.   Watching this was like being at the game, so unlike most TV coverage today.  Of course, I did not experience the fresh wind off the North Sea right behind the camera, and of that I am glad, I have been there before!

I'm probably breaking copyright to post this, but it is worth it as this coverage so realistic is to be encouraged.  Well done Pars TV.  

 

Who is this, you might well ask?  This is Danny Kruger who you and I have never heard off.  Danny, a Christian, he says, was until today a staunch member of the Conservative Party.  Now, however, he says it is dying and will not recover, so he has hopped onto the Reform UK bandwagon to save his £91,000 and more a year.

While few of us know him, he has been going the rounds within the party, writing speeches for David Cameron, then Prime Minister, Ian Duncan Smith, the mental Tory, and along with his wife, creating a charity called 'Only Connect, a youth crime preventing charity.  He has had various jobs in the DWP and does appear to have an attitude that rings true.  He supports marriage, opposes the individual worshipping society, as he sees it, and refers to himself as 'communitarian.' 

A brief read leaves the impression he may not be as bad as some Eton educated MPs, (his parents are South African, his mother Pru Leith) he also read History at Edinburgh and Oxford, so he cannot be all bad.  Yet in spite of his intelligence, his knowledge, his experience of life, he has fallen for the lie that is Reform UK!  How?

Reform are led by a liar, Reform have no policies, unless he has been brought in to provide some, Reform cannot be trusted on anything, and Farage is a liar, so how can a man like Kruger mix with him? 

I wonder what Badenoch makes of it all? 

 

St. Paul's Sunday sermon -Paul Killingback

Charlie Kirk and Laptops

The story infesting our right wing media is the shooting of Charlie Kirk, a very far, right wing activist in the USA.  He was shot during one of his sessions at a university during a tour of such places, where he went to propagate his politics and oppose any who opposed him.

Loved by Donald Trump because Charlie encouraged some young Americans to vote for him, hated by many others for his statement on migrants, gays, women, guns, Israel and almost anything else that came up during his time.  

Born in small town Illinois during 1993, (surely that was only yesterday?) He quickly took to politics, dropping out of a college course before being certified.  (Have I got that right?) He was befriended by Bill Montgomery, a Tea Party candidate who began Turning Point USA with Kirk.  He also began 'Turning Point Faith,' with a Pentecostal pastor, the intention being to encourage the church into civic action, though it appears, only from a right wing viewpoint which is not biblical.  

Underlying all Charlie Kirk proposed was a far right USA myth of politics, based on a very poor understanding of history or world politics and especially Biblical Christianity, this was merely 'America is Great' once again.  

His comments down the years are interesting.  Disinformation is the term.

During 2018 he claimed the Justice Department stats showed an increase in human trafficking from 1952 to 6087.  He deleted the claim when a fact checking site indicated this came from the conspiracy site 8chan, a site linked to neo nazi and white supremacist sites.

'Prowling blacks go around for fun to target white people -that's a fact!'

'Why are whites taking this? Why are we just sitting idly by and allowing corporate America to give all the jobs to non white people?'  'Where is this headed? South Africa, that is where this is headed. They repeatedly have call for genocide against white people.'

Charlie Kirk suggest children should watch public executions. 'Newsweek' 

Charlie Kirk calls for shooting and whipping of migrants on the Southern Border. 'If you enter, we have lethal force and are willing to use it.' 'They are bringing force upon themselves.'

'It was a huge mistake to pass the Civil rights bill in 1964.'  

He blamed 'Jewish money for ruining American culture.'

'Charlie Kirk says "A patriot should bail out alleged Paul Pelosi attacker."'

Zelensky he said, was 'a puppet of the CIA who marched his own people into needless slaughter.'  

He opposed aid to Ukraine.

Charlie Kirk somewhat ironically also stated 'The Second Amendment is worth the cost of some gun deaths.'   

He may feel differently about this now.

Charlie Kirk came over as a clever politician, young, good looking, and capable of debate - US style.  He was not a Christian as far as I can see, his bible may have been with him but much of it unread, and his words were encouraging for racists, white supremacists and what we must call today, 'haters.'  He is in my opinion no loss to the USA however, his death will bring repercussions.   Whoever killed him, and the army snipers commentating indicate this was an 'internet shooter,' not a professional sniper, could be one of several factions opposed to Kirk.  He had enemies on the left and right and easily made enemies everywhere else.  As the days pass by we will learn more, once the right wing press stop pretending he is another John F Kennedy or suchlike, more information will arise and I feel sure the US cops will soon identify a proper suspect and bring him in.

It may be that time again, the time to buy a new laptop, one that works without having to hit your fist on the button to click on something.  This Dell product may well be going on for 8 or 10 years in use.  Most of the time it has worked quite well, though the screen is dimmer than I would like.  Now the button is being a wee problem, though it can go on for a while yet, but I must decide whether to seek a new grossly overpriced laptop or endure Win 11, which I, like almost everybody else, do not like.  If I hang on maybe Win 12 will arrive first?  

In the UK all the shops work together, while stating that they do not.  All similar laptops just happen to offer the same prices and similar offerings, especially Norton or McFee virus offers.  Both Norton and McFee take over the machine and render it useless!  McFee died in prison if I remember rightly, he was there because he shot someone.  Living the American Dream perhaps!

A glance at suitable Dell, HP, Asus and many other products see prices that make me go back to pencil and paper.  However, you cannot watch football on paper you need the laptop for that.  So for the next few weeks I will be prowling the adverts for new laptops, no way am I going for 'refurbished' or 'Second hand' ones again.  This is not yet urgent, and who knows what Microsoft will be doing, apart from making thousands of staff redundant and replacing them with AI.

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Musings

Like many others I did my best to fall out of the back window picturing the 'Red Moon.'  Of course it was too low on the horizon, to bathed in cloud, and not possible for my wee camera to picture.  I therefore was glad to have obtained this pic the night before, a bit faint, but this moon was quite far away from my window.  

Without the expensive camera and lenses required, and also in a country plagued with cloud, it is difficult to get better pictures of the heavens above us.  Being wealthy I could move to Hawaii and climb a dead volcano on a cloudless night and obtain clear shots, but in truth travelling as far as Tesco is more than enough at the moment.  

I was interested by Tm Davies comment (Tim Davie the Director General of the BBC) regarding Nigel Farage wearing a 'GBNews' badge while 'testifying' in the USA the other day.  Apart from the fact that the US Senator tore Nigel apart and called him what he is the wearing of badges from media stations supporting you is against the Media Law.  No MP, and he is laughingly an MP for Clacton where he never visits, no MP can advertise or be paid for in this manner.  Some have complained, but whether the proper authorities take action we shall see, much later.  Anyway, Tim Davies comment that 'It does not matter,' gives an indication of how the BBC is running a pro Farage operation.  Davie, who once stood as a Tory candidate, has allowed the BBC to push Farage and Reform constantly on TV and  Radio.  With the majority of the UK accepting blindly what is offered on the national news it gives Farage and Reform an unfair advantage.  BBC Scotland however, continues to pretend the SNP do not exist and only offer the feeble Scottish Labour leader and little bar grumbles about the SNP.  This is what happens when England rules the airwaves.

The press otherwise have said nothing regarding Farage's tax dodging and brought out old complaints re Boris Johnson being on the make.  No surprise there.  Some space given over to Israel attacking Hamas HQ in Qatar, much space to the UK Ambassador to the USA Peter Mandelson calling Jeffrey Epstein a 'friend,' though what Peter would do with young females I could not hazard a guess.  While some space is given to riots in Nepal, I suppose burning down parliament can be called a riot, some space has been given to the 'race' for the deputy leadership of the Labour Party.  Labour is now completely in the hands of the Conservative faction, wealthy men doing their Thatcher like best to avoid taxes and let the peasants pay.  The election has been curbed into a few days to stop the masses of the party making clear their favourite and so Starmer will have his way.  Or should we say Morgan McSweeney will have his way.  Now there is a man who ought to be investigated by the media.  But note how that does not happen?  

Andy Mitchell's book concerns the birth of International football, not the birth of football as we know it today.  That as you know began in Scotland many years ago, in fact James I (or was it James IV?) banned 'the playing of the futeball,' and demanded the men concentrated on the archery instead.  Clearly he had no talent for the game to show.  

In the London area we know football was played according to many differing rules.  Eventually some began to organise teams playing the same rules, and not a variety according to taste.  These however differed from the laws of the game developed in Scotland, and the Laws in London differed from other places with football such as Sheffield and Wales.  

Anyway, the toffs from the public schools always had time to play football, whatever rules they used.  They had money, they did not have to work 98 hours a week to earn a pittance, and in school and university games were considered as important as learning, which often had a heavy leaning on 'Classics.'      

With the organisation of the English Football Association in 1863, where the first argument concerned the right to 'Hack an opponent,' which was turned down and this led to the creation of Rugby.  Some would say 'Hacking' has not disappeared from the English game even today of course.  Games were now organised, though team loyalties not so strong, and eventually a Scotch v England game arose. 

Several unofficial 'internationals' took place, sometimes with players who's origins were dubious, and occasionally played in full internationals for the other side!  

By 1872 the first true international took place on the West of Scotland cricket ground in Glasgow.  This tussle of mighty men barging one another, the English depending on one man dribbling through the enemy, the Scotch using the beginning of the 'passing game,' ended in  no scoring draw.  There was no more non scoring draws until 1970, 98 years later.  Typical, I was there! 

This book begins with the personal involved, the toffs from the public schools, interestingly the 1872 Scotch team had non public schools players, the England side did not, and for some time.  The people on both sides, including the rugby breakaways who played an international before the football side, their background and at the end of the book, a short pen history of their life and sometimes interesting deaths.  

Written with an English bias by a man with great Scottish football history, he often writes in the 'Scottish Sporting History,' mag, and his book is well worth a read for the beginning of the international game.  

Note the entrance price, one shilling, in 1878!

They did not wish the common man to attend, did they?

  

Tax for Nigel

Our Nige joined in the howling to remove Angela Rayner after she fiddled the tax on the house she was buying.  Nigel insisted she must resign!  Now it appears he himself has been on the fiddle.  Does this come as a shock to you?  Nigel claimed he had bought a house in his constituency of Clacton, as MPs are supposed to do, many benefits attach to such houses.  However, it now appears the £800,000 house, bought without a mortgage, meaning some rich person paid cash for it, was obtained by his present girlfriend.  It is not in Nigel's name after all.  So, has he bought a house?  If she bought it, where did the money come from?  Has he committed a crime, or failed parliaments rules?  Certainly by this means he avoids around £44,000 in tax that would be paid had the house been in his name.  This appears to be legal, but is it moral, in the same way he condemned Angela?  

The thing to remember is that it has become normal for leading politicians to publish their tax returns, Nige has not done this and refuses to do so, I wonder why?  Having made approximately £800,000 in speaking engagements across the world since being elected as an MP for Clacton, a place he does not live in big house or not, why is he afraid to publish his tax returns?  Has he anything to hide?  Is he perhaps just a shy wee boy?  I wonder.  Interestingly few mentions of this appear in the press that support him this morning, I wonder why?

I would publish my tax returns if demanded, probably in the publication called 'Paupers Times.'   

Normal Congregation

Dragged somewhat reluctantly to the Kirk this morning, when lying in bed was more attractive, the virus still offering a wearisome effect.  Once there I sullenly sat half asleep as the congregation struggled to arrive before opening time.  I completely forgot I was supposed to be at the door offering a welcome to one and all and left others to do this.

As I was considering lying flat out along the chairs that he came in.  He had been missing for a while, this because he had suffered a seizure while driving, crashed the car without causing damage to others, and spent a couple of weeks in hospital.  He looked drained and weary.  It was then whispered to me that not long after returning home his wife had died.  Poor man!  No wonder he looked drained.

My discomfort suddenly appeared insignificant.  

As the service progressed I cogitated on the rest of the congregation.  The elderly suffering deafness, inability to walk, dementia, heart problems and financial worries.  The young full of fears regarding their future, the cost of living and help required for their child's special needs.  Few of any age are without problems.  Several have serious mental handicaps, others their age, others the routine difficulties of life.  Most do look to their God for help, and how he has helped so many here.    

The sermon spoke of carrying the cross, following Christ Jesus is not easy, and these problems do not make it any easier, however, I, like many here, know Jesus has been there in the midst of our problems, that he has never left us, that he spends a great deal of time forgiving us and leading us closer to him, all the while caring for our needs.  

I was struck by the 'Servant King,' song, how Jesus forgives me by going to a cross, yet I am slow to forgive others!  What a God he is, in sickness and in health, and his care is because of his choice to care for us, not because we went pleading to him.