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 Too hot, too tired, too stupid to post today...

Armed Forces Day

Yesterday, Saturday, I took a wander around town as it was 'Armed Forces Day.'  I expected to see some sort of parade, stand, or anything commemorating the day.  Naturally there was nothing.  

Now being the last Saturday of the month the market was full of stalls retailing all sots of junk for those with too much cash, so room was in demand.  I realise that some sort of event took place the day before, however, that came to light after it occurred, and with it seems only certain people invited.  There was no advance publicity that I saw, and maybe there was none of any kind either?  This appears rather typical of the towns approach to such events, either ignore them or hide them from the public gaze.  

At least the gay flag was not flying on Saturday.

AI Stats

 

Truth is in decline in this country.  That said, truth was never a priority with politicians, newspapers or advertisers.  Today it is ever harder to find truth.  Objective journalism died when the press decided clickbait was what was required.  This because the advertisers look at the number of clicks on the news pages before offering their dubious products for sale.  Lower paper sales leads to less actual journalists and those employed spend rather too much time searching various social medias for items to pretend are newsworthy.  Small attention grabbing stories, encouraged by ridiculous half truth headlines are the norm, and of course there is nothing there when you click on the page.

Andy Arthur's Edinburgh page has a good example of this.  A claim that Conan-Doyle, the Sherlock Holmes writer, had been in a pub in Newington called the Salisbury Arms was disputed.  Andy's excellent research proved that while Conan-Doyle passed away in 1930 the pub only opened in 1970, yet the media, making use of Google and other such 'research' claimed he visited the place.  This comes from the robots from all large organisations such as Google, Facebook, Twitter etc, all stealing your writing, not checking to see if it is correct, and passing it on via AI and such things as Google answers.  AI then finds its own answers and repeats them without checking.  

Add to this the many fake online posts coming from Iran, St Petersburg, China and anywhere else where trouble can be caused, and checking posts on social media requires great care.  It does appear however, that newspaper staff are not bothering, or are not allowed, to check stories.  Clickbait rules.

I noticed the stats on offer on Blogger claim I have had 56.7k visitors.  I ask how many are those crawlers from various AI merchants taking my deep and correct research and sending it around the world, much to the amusement of those who might know the facts better than I.  No law can stop it, these people can always get around it, many of course do not care about UK laws, the North Koreans sitting in darkened Korea might read just to see what the other side is like, and attempt to destroy it while wishing they were over there, the Law means nothing.  

Will AI owners pay for the copywrite works they steal?  Of course not...

Gardening Leave

I have a big plastic pot filled with earth.  A few months ago I emptied a few left over seeds into it hoping for a few brightly coloured flowers.  So far I have found one! I lie!  That one is fading away but a similar one has developed around the far side, whoopee!

That sums up my gardening prowess.

However, this morning I went into the shop on the corner, he empties houses, and browsed around.  This is like wandering around a junk shop, piled in corners of the small shop are many dust laden items that once were shiny treasures to someone long departed.  Sad to say none of what I saw among these items were right for me, but I was willing something to be mine.  However, as a side line he does flowers for the gardening type, and many suitable items also.  Among these I found an old hoe, with which I planned to weed the front.  That had to wait as he also picks up from somewhere catering sized tins of beans, tomatoes and other things, so these were of interest to me also.  £8:50 later I placed my 2 large tine of Heinz Baked Beans (2.62 kgs. normal tins 400gr.) to the side, the tomato and other tins in the cupboard.  The small clock only needed a battery and a rocket scientist to work out how to get it moving.  

Pleased with my gains I spent time in the afternoon working the hoe across the dark shadow in the front.  By the time I finished the sun had begun to come round and join us.  Few passers-by offered to help, many were kids escaping from school, yelling and cheering and speeding dangerously past on the pavement on their bikes.  Others more daintily wandered home, deep in thought of things of great moment, Taylor Swift, the blonde boy, holidays abroad or just chips possibly.  

I shifted the weeds, dumped them in a plastic bag, broke council laws by dumping that in the wheelie bin, and leant on the hoe in a manner designed to ease the ache growing in my back.  The whole idea of the hoe was to avoid this pain.  

I declined to tidy up the growing pile of recycling bags.  These are being recycled every other week these days, I hope the man enjoys fighting through the bundles to identify which are paper and which are everything else?  Not one person here has considered separating the two now compulsory bags.  It is all right coming up with these ideas, but not much thought has gone into the outworking thereof.

Piled next to them are furniture and odds and ends that those leaving have dumped for passers-by to remove.  So far few have been taken.  Two of our flats will soon be vacant, the man nearing retirement is moving in with a woman, drink may be the cause, and the young lass is moving who knows where, and I am not asking.  One from the flats next door is leaving, as soon as she sells the flat, so more junk will appear.  No-one considers who will remove it?

I am now ending the day sipping Brandy and wondering why I am so stiff...

Bannockburn

Original at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge.

June 24th, always a day worth remembering and celebrating!

Victory over the invading English colonialists, and the slaughtering of thousands of them.  

A good day indeed!

Edward II, the 4th son of Edward the Thug, became king simply because he was the only heir left.  Three elder brothers had died rather than attempt to take Scotland and thus Edward II was in charge.  He appears to have had some tactical ability but decided that in between fighting his nobles re his boy Piers Gaveston.  Clearly the two related well, so well the Barons eventually killed him.  

In 1314, after the great man Robert de Brus had taken over Scotland, Edward, trained by his mad dad in stealing other people's land made as to take Scotland.  Silly boy!

Edward brought a large army, almost 30,000 men of various types.  Bruce had just over 6000.  His intention was to relieve Stirling Castle which was under siege.  

However, on the first day, Sir Henry de Bohun  riding in the cavalry vanguard, spotted Bruce sitting slightly ahead of his men.  

Inspired by typical English arrogance Sir Henry raced forward, lance pointing ahead, towards his target.  The Bruce at the point of collision merely sidestepped the lance with his well trained horse, and swiped Sir Henry with his battle axe.    That ner the heid till the harnys clave as they said at the time.  

The axe split the helmet, the skull and the brain.  

Sir Henry took no further part. 

The English forces came upon the Scots hiding in the woods, this they did to stop the English Bowmen from finding them, and limiting cavalry power, and the English were forced back across the Bannock Burn when the Scots attacked.  

The death of Sir Henry and the charge by the Scots inspired Bruce's men, the English army were now forced into the marshy banks of the stream.  

Around the woods an English cavalry squadron was devastated and their Lords killed or taken prisoner.  The English hesitated somewhat and awaited their instructions.

Scottish knight Alexander de Seton, in charge of Berwick, was fighting alongside Edward.  During the night he crossed over to Bruce and informed him of the low morale of the English troops.  It is easy to see how he got into high places.  

Bruce decided to attack!

During the night, another enemy mistake, they crossed the Bannock Burn thereby hemming themselves in.   The Scots schiltrons attacked.  These were solid squares of pike men, with very long pikes.  They attacked in force pushing the enemy back towards the Burn.  English longbow men could not help, the sides were immersed together, and an attack on the wing by bowmen, both Welsh and English, was stopped by 500 Scottish cavalry.

The attack failed, the triumphant Scots chased the English rout from the field and  thousands of Englishmen fell.

Hooray!

Edward was dragged from the field by Giles d'Argentan, h,e having saved his king then turned back into the fight as he 'never ran from a battle,' and was soon killed.  False heroics!   Edward was forced to make for Dunbar and then Berwick.  His men had 90 miles of Scotland to cover, most did not make it, exhaustion, hunger and patriotic locals disposed of those the army did not find.   It is thought only one sizeable group managed to reach the border at Carlisle.  They were Welsh spearmen, their commander had managed to keep them together.  

Robert the Bruce soon took all the captured castles, sent all remaining (important) Englishmen back to their own country, swapping them for his own wife and many others cruelly captured by Edward the Thug.  

The importance of this battle is noted in 1328 when the treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton, accepted Scotland as independent and the Bruce as The King of Scots.

Ordained Life

We tend to forget that Jesus spoke of 'wars and rumours of wars,' and 'nation shall rise against nation.'  A lack of Old Testament knowledge, especially the Book of Kings and Chronicles, is revealed.  Both inform us of God ruling this world, as well as the lives of those who choose to allow him to grant them abundant life.'  

When Sennacherib was at the door the king ran to Isaiah the prophet for Gods word.  He was informed the Assyrian would leave and he would be cut down by his own sons.  Which followed.  

Isaiah in his book, chapter 37:26 speaks:-  

26.  ‘Have you not heard?

Long ago I ordained it.

in days of old I planned it;

now I have brought it to pass,

that you have turned fortified cities

into piles of stone.

27. Their people, drained of power,

are dismayed and put to shame.

They are like plants in the field,

like tender green shoots,

like grass sprouting on the roof,

scorched before it grows up. 

God is in control at all times.  

He raises up nations and he brings them down.  The leading men of this world are not as powerful as they appear.  Spiritual war is occurring all around while God works out his purposes.  Those who give themselves to him will suffer greatly, many already do, but they will know God.

Jesus Christ is Lord. 

A New Black Death Stalks Parliament.

This week, the UK parliament has voted to allow abortion of babies up to the moment of birth.  Today, they added the opportunity to remove sick and aged people by allowing 'assisted suicide.'

Why?

Why?  Because they have no morals, and because this government is controlled by multi millionaires, billionaires and big business who refuse to pay taxes due.  They believe the peasants pay taxes and they do not.

So, we see today an example of their control working itself out.  

Instead of government money aiding palliative care with sufficient funds they just kill them off to save cash.  Money is behind a bad bill, badly written, badly produced, with all safeguards watered down or removed.  

People do not matter, money does.  The economy, controlled by neo-liberals is what matters, the peasants do not.  Life is cheap.

The lack of agreed morals, which has been mostly but not exclusively biblically based, has allowed all kinds of wrongdoing which destroys the individual to be accepted as 'normal.'  The lack of morals leads to a breakdown throughout society, and now another laxity has come through.  The killing of children, 10 million since 1967, will cost many more lives as weak mothers will bring a healthy child to an end for any reason they can find.  

What sort of society will result?  

It is always possible to empathise with those wishing to die or concerned re a child, but how can these two badly thought proposals help?

Remember, we will all stand before the judgement seat of Jesus Christ. 

Camulodunum Town

In spite of the persistent cough, the weariness caused by this cold, and the usual aches, I set off for a trip on the railway to an ancient city, Camulodunum!

Once again Greater Anglian Railways  worked well.  Trains were clean and on time, staff efficient, almost pleasant, though some would say the seats a wee bit hard.

The only downer was the two women, one young and one far from young who sat down in the seat in front of me.  The coach was empty so they sat next to me and talked!  Not just conversation, but grannie, who was dressed for a walking trip, and the painted hussy talked excitedly, enthusiastically, and said nothing!  

But they said it loudly!

I looked out of the window in case they turned in my direction.

It was indeed a very long 8 minutes before the train moved on the stroke of 10 am.  I looked forwards to 10 more minutes of this before we change trains.  However, the young creature left two minutes later at Freeport, clearly working in a shop designed for women with an arty feel and too much money.

Silence fell. 

The next 8 minutes were wonderful.  Only normal conversation could be heard through the now more populated coach.  As I pulled myself up to leave I noticed the walking grannie do the same.  As I alighted I ensured I moved to a distant part of my connection, which was full of normal passengers.  

Only a man asking for my ticket bothered me here. (£9:50 with old man card) 

One thing struck me, in days of old a job on the railways was for life.  Families followed their forefathers into the railways, it became part of the family.  I did not get the impression that many of the staff on the platform felt this way today.  Possibly drivers may have a different view of it all?

First call was to the ruins of St Botolph's Priory, built under the auspices of one William Rufus around a thousand years ago.  Reformation days saw it closed and soon it fell into disrepair.  However, to get there I had to pass St Botolph's Church, built 1836 in a type of Gothic style, next to the Priory, indeed it sits on what was the kitchen areas of said priory. 

I noticed this was open, it was not open last time I was here about 10 years ago, and now they open for prayer between 12 - 1 pm.  Good for them.

Considering the ruins are only half of the original size, people must have used the stones on their houses over the years, it speaks volumes of the importance of Augustinian's to William the Conqueror and his family.  Surely most houses at that time would have been plaster and lathe?  

Placed just outside the old Roman walls this must have been an astounding site for the locals, many of whom will have been forced to work on building it.  The Norman's liked to make a statement with their buildings.

Through what had once been a window, possibly making use of coloured glass, I saw this couple along with a man playing what I think is called a 'concertina.'  The couple stood over a grave or two and sang while he played.  I considered approaching and enquiring but thought better of this.  Who knows how long this has been going on in Colchester graveyards?  

The priory came to house many grave and vaults of the great and good.  One was Dr Roger Nunn.  He became a doctor in the town, rose to prominence, was involved in many good deeds, became Mayor eventually, helped the building of St Botolph's Church, and the hospital, which is still in use.  He gives the appearance of a man of ability who succeeded in improving the town for all classes.

There is of course, a war memorial in this graveyard.  The phrase 'The Glorious Dead,' reveals the sense of loss at the time, and the need to believe the cost was worth it.  It also gave those mourning somewhere to congregate as so many were buried overseas, or not identified.

The difference between Colchester and Chelmsford is simple, Chelmsford is boring, just a shopping centre, Colchester has these small roads full of shops.  The arrangement, caused by living inside the Roman walls gives the place a character not found in Chelmsford.  This long road, lying just outside what would have been the walls, has three names in different portions.  We are standing in Sir Isaac's Walk just now.  Who he?  In Colchester tells us...

 Sir Isaac’s Walk

Sir Isaac’s Walk was named after Sir Isaac Rebow (1655-1726), a local landowner who was Colchester’s MP for many years, and also its mayor, recorder, and high steward at various times. He lived in Rebow House, at the corner of Head St and Sir Isaac’s Walk.

The historical record shows that Rebow was a corrupt politician who left the town’s finances in a terrible state, and was cruel to his family and servants.

He was also a director of the South Sea Company, and a major shareholder in the East India Company. The South Sea Company was set up to ship enslaved African people to Spain’s colonies in Latin America. It is estimated that the company transported around 34,000 enslaved people over the 25 years it traded. The East India Company was also heavily involved in slavery and forced indenture in India.

He does not appear to be a nice man.  Still, Colchester named that section for him, what does that say about them?

I had no choice but to haul my bulk, in the heat, across to the Balkerne Gate!  This was the Roman exit heading west, passing my house as they tramped, hoping to spend the night at the crossroads in town, thus giving the troops a one day march, unless an emergency forced them to continue further.  

It is kept in decent condition, in spite of the publican next door sometime in the 1840s knocking half of it down.  This he did because the railway had arrived in Colchester, well, actually far from Colchester, at the bottom of the hill.  He made space so travellers could see his hostelry.  The station cannot be seen from here today however.  

I considered entering for lunch but noted his 'Pint £5:20' notice outside.  Possibly to keep students away, possibly for those attending the Mercury Theatre opposite and to the left of the photo.  They can afford his prices.

What once was used as the bothy for the Roman soldiers, mostly from Gaul or Germany, while on guard duty now hosts a couple of attractive plants, happy to live on the old stones.

St Peter's Church here at the top of North Hill, and you have to realise Colchester sits at the top of a hill almost all around, was mentioned in the Domesday Book in 1086.  The church was probably begun in Saxon times yet little is known of those far off days.  There were then two priests which reveals wealth, and the town had seven in all indicating other churches were nearby.  When the Priory got going it took over the church in 1102, typical big business, and appointed their own man in charge.  

Things changed over the years, buildings are developed, bits added, and in 1692 an earthquake shook the town damaging the tower and knocking chimney pots off roofs.  I do not think any were killed but shock upset many.  This church flourishes today but unlike St Botolph's, no longer remains open at lunchtimes.

Priests were a strange bunch, most followed where they were told to go but occasionally one appeared to believe the scriptures.   One such was John Ball, he was working in Colchester at times, though his somewhat radical sermons and his desire to make use to Wycliffe's bible in the vernacular caused much annoyance to the Archbishop and others.  

He was jailed several times, banned from preaching, but still managed to speak all around Essex and Suffolk, until jailed again in Kent.  In 1381 he was released by Kentish rebels and addressed the rebels at Blackheath saying:-

'When Adam delved and Eve span, 

Who was then the gentleman? 

From the beginning all men by nature were created alike, and our bondage or servitude came in by the unjust oppression of naughty men. For if God would have had any bondmen from the beginning, He would have appointed who should be bond, and who free. And therefore I exhort you to consider that now the time is come, appointed to us by God, in which ye may (if ye will) cast off the yoke of bondage, and recover liberty.'

 

Arrested in Coventry, tried convicted, hanged, drawn and quartered.  

I wonder what he would have made of the Church of England today?

Having noticed the £5:20 charged at the 'Hole in the Wall,' I lost any intention of having lunch.  However, the name of this pub made me  consider it again.  I mean, in Camulodunum you have to visit the pub called by that name have you not?  I considered the people sitting outside and decided it was worth a try.  I slunk wearily to the bar, a bar offering a dozen beer pumps featuring beer I had never heard off.  That's the trouble with pubs, unless you know the company running them you have to guess what beer is on offer.  The not too keen barmaid sulked when I indicated IPA, the only name I knew, suffering me long enough to give back change.

This is a decent, well laid out establishment, who's clientele appeared to be of similar age to myself.  It was likely that most were regulars, though the board across the way advertised cheap student drinks.  I suspect they may be drawn in come evening time.  If in town again I would once again enter in. 

I was happier to sit than I realised.  Everything was aching, from my feet up and my ears down, and I had only been wandering about for just over an hour.  Nothing for it but to sit there watching young students pass by.  Are these girls 16 or 18 I wondered?  Are they at the16 year old collage or the University the town boasts about?  There were many about, this being lunchtime, mostly female, few males, why?  I once got a single deck bus home, an hours journey, full of such females from the 16 years collage, their conversation is not what I wish to endure again.   

Enlivened by IPA, but not by enough, ought I to return for another?  I made my way to the castle.  On the way I noticed the M&S store had closed down.  Such a busy wee town yet both Debenham's and M&S have gone, I think Primark is the only large store left.  What does that say about the cost of living and big business competence?  

The Castle is of course not a castle.  It stands on the remains of the Roman Temple, supposedly the temple of Claudius, and the remaining double arches that form the basement were the only parts of the temple to survive that nice Boudica woman when she passed through.  The Romans and the Romanised locals who sheltered there were trapped when the place was burnt to the ground.  

Rather typical of a woman in a bad mood I say.  

It is £13:50, no concessions for the aged, to enter, so I didn't.  It is 20 or so years since I was inside, when I and one other whoever he was, got a tour by a Blue Badge Guide.  Very good it was too, and since then vast sums have been spent doing it up, hence the entry fee.  Mind you I was not capable of walking around there yesterday. 

The gardens around were busy, sun now shining without cloud cover, and judging it was getting time for a train I headed back down via all the charity shops along the way.  Sadly this was disappointing, though each and everyone of these shops was busy, as nothing suited my needs.  

I could not avoid this impressive war memorial.  The figures on it are tremendous.  The council at the time clearly considered themselves important enough to spend vast sums on an expensive and outstanding memorial to the fallen.  How much of that is civic pride as opposed to remembrance you can work out for yourself.  

I stopped off for a moment in St Botolph's prayer hour.  This lies just around the corner from the station, as indeed does the magistrates court in case you require it.  Then climbed aboard the train that had just arrived.

The railway crossing here allows a view of the old houses dating back many years that flow down from the East Hill.  Once the town expanded it had to go down these hills as the centre has little space.

It was then I realised I was not on my train.  I just climbed aboard, somewhat surprised at how quickly it left the station, before realising this train runs just between Colchester and Colchester Town.  No one warned me about this.  I was surprised and wondered if this could pay, however the number climbing aboard as I changed once again made it clear this was a popular train.  £3:10 single ticket, good for those coming off one train, and Colchester is a busy station,  and cheaper than the bus to get from north of town to south.  

Once again a short wait brought a 720 to head me homewards.  I moved to the head of where the train would stop partly to take pictures with no-one in the way, partly because the walking grannie was there also.   Anyway I positioned my self so the train at my next change would stop exactly at the lift shaft.

It didn't.  

It went two coaches further.

I made use of the lift, walked to the next one, kept the door open for a cyclist, again kept it open as he left, and moved to the front portion of my train which arrived as I walked.  All that was left was hobbling up that steep hill, finding food ready and waiting for me, and sleep, lots of sleep, oh and a bit of cramp.  

This morning I ache everywhere.  No trips for a while now.   

From Cramond Island to Rome

 

Oh to be down at the sea again!

Weather here, sun shining, more this week, all gifts of the south wind blowing northwards from the Sahara.  However, when I check the forecast it claims the air is coming from the west, and there is no Sahara heat to be found out that way.  Ah, Thursday it comes from the south!  

Such heat waves have never reached Edinburgh as far as I recall.  Possibly global warming will provide it now., though I doubt the sand will reach Cramond Beach here.    

These islands in the Firth of Forth have always been useful.  This one is dotted with the remnants of naval war buildings erected to protect the base at Rosyth.  The long line of prongs were erected to stop sneaky enemy submarines from sneaking past the guards.  A convenient way to reach the island, safer than the quicksand that stretches over there.  

I regret never reaching the island.  

Often down there I wanted to go, but when younger dad refused permission, claiming he had seen a horse and cart sink down there, which is possible as he grew up nearby.  When older I was not at the beach, either working or doing other things.  People have of course produced videos of their time searching Cramond Island which may yet be available.  

If the cold that has been hanging around while others wander about half naked outside leaves me I may get out and about tomorrow, maybe...

******************

Today I have spent a little time watching this mans short videos of old roads in Arizona.  Very interesting and quite relaxing.  I like the way he puts things over.  However, I have just come across this one, where he wanders wobbly down the Appian Way.  Watch how excited he gets with ancient history, I suppose in comparison to what history he discovers in the USA.

Nothing to Say

 

War and Peace

The first requirement in any war is a man.  Without a man leading from the top war does or does not occur.  When things happen in the world there is always a man behind them, and I mean man, it is rarely a woman, though that has occurred.

Netanyahu is a man who wishes to avoid jail for corruption, what better way than to start a war in Gaza to avoid court.  That is nearing an end, so lets look at Iran!  Here we have another man, the Ayatollah Khamenei, a man who wishes to keep power, not just for himself but for his band of clerics who now rule Iran.  Two men who are happy to let others die to keep their position.  I read somewhere this morning that as Iranian missiles fall on Tel Aviv Bibi is far away in Greece!  What came to my mind was Churchill standing on top of the roof while Heinkel's bombed London, much to the consternation of his aids.  Bibi himself is far from danger.

There is a belief in Israel that Iran will produce a nuclear weapon and threaten Israel with it.  This is understandable, however, is it a requirement to attack them now, or is Bibi just playing games again, and not too concerned about Israeli's being hit back home?  He is, like Trump and many other leaders, concerned with himself first, his nation second.  What will be the result of this expensive power play?  The people will suffer worst, that's for sure.

A slow drag around town in the sun.  What was noticeable was all the young teens out with mum attempting to dress like a rock star, all pouting accordingly, and the primary school kids just attempting to have fun, either with mum or dragging dad out along to the shops.  

Not much else to see. 

The sun is shining brightly, I see it now from the window, and enjoy the warmth it brings.  There is a new emotion in the air, one based on the arrival of summer and long hot days.  Whether they arrive is another thing of course.

War in the middle east but must people either do not worry as it is a long way off, or have no care for anything outside of their limited lives.  Maybe they are the happiest ones?

Hard Work!

It's been a hard week.

Suffering the effects of the cold virus again, as always, I ploughed one uncomplaining, in spite of it all.

This morning I appeared in a better condition, though that may be because the coffee was too strong.  Anyway, I hobbled up to Sainsburys for the important bits, bread, milk, whisky, and healthy lettuce.

Having hobbled back, chomped on stale bread with chilli cheese I suddenly found myself with excess energy.  I will avoid that breakfast tomorrow.  

So, pushing aside the important Twitter news I rushed to hoover the condominium.   This is hard work.  Moving things, chasing spiders webs in awkward places, and foolishly looking under the bed, all adds up to make life hard.  Anyway, I then hoovered the stairs and the entrance hall.  The first time that has been done for years.  I will have to change that bag now.  

I then spent some time searching the web, I was looking for sites that provided women to do such work, and for nothing.  After all, that is what they were made for isn't it?  Anyway, I was beat.  The place may be clean but I was too knackered to notice.  

However, two books dropped through the letterbox to enable me to sit back and ponder how to get round to reading them.  If I could avoid doing all this maintenance stuff then I could get through more important books.  'Pytheas the Greek is one, and a collection of Scottish war stories, 'Distant Thunder,' is the other. 

Reichstag Moment?

Could the riots occurring in Los Angeles and elsewhere be the 'Reichstag Moment' Donald has been looking for?  His policies owe a great deal to those followed by Adolf during the 1930s and those fooled an educated nation into following him to death.  Fair to say they did not realise this at the time, but when it was too late they were too far in to escape.  Will the Trump voters realise just where Donald is taking them?

In the West many right wing groups are on the rise, who is paying for them?  Who is financing the Farage's across the West?  Easy to say this is the work of that nice Mr Putin, but is it?  The Neo-Liberals are on the rise, hidden behind 'Think-Tanks' and rabble-rousers, but they one sided view they put across finds a home among many.  'Migrants,' 'The Boats,' 'White replacement theory,' and other fears are rammed home throughout Europe.  The self-absorbed actual liberals are too cosy in their own sphere to realise how Farage rioters see the world.  With a simple cause to follow, a simple answer to complex questions, a Tommy Robinson to follow, with hope of a change that will benefit them, it is understandable why they follow quickly.

Trump has won in the US by the means practiced during Brexit.

The same people are making money behind both.  The same rich people are getting richer, the same peasants, holding pictures and sending cash to their favourite rabble-rouser, are paying more tax.  That is, if they have a job.

Now Trump's thugs are mishandling their case, with a reaction from decent Americans, we see an opportunity for Donald to declare a national emergency, just like Adolf.  An emergency that never ended, until May 1945, and an emergency that allowed Adolf to rule by decree, just like Donald.

Will this be his chance...?

Remember...

Who remembers 'Bazooka Joe?'

This was fabulous gum for me in the days of primary school.  The gum had a different flavour from all the others, similar to the aroma from the ointment used as embrocation cream by footballers at the time.  I often wondered what it was made from?

The small cartoon enclosed with the gum was somehow entertaining at the time, though I never got into sharing these with others.  Maybe they were too funny then?  

It was great to be able to afford one of these, more expensive than other chewing gums, and at no time did I ever give thanks to those who in the distant past took various portions of tree bark and discovered how to chew it.  This was used to clean teeth and had antiseptic properties.  Various peoples used local trees to this end, one such gum was found being used in Finland 5000 years ago.  It may still taste the same.

Countless footballers have chewed gum during games, I once offered some to the great Tommy Walker when managing the Heart of Midlothian er, he was managing I was just watching, he put his hand in his blazer pocket, a blazer emblazoned with the Heart of Midlothian badge, unlike today's managers, and produced a handful of what I take were 'Beech Nut' chewing gums that he had to offer the players. Whether this improved their concentration can be debated.

One vehicle I can remember having before I was dragged kicking and screaming to my first day at school was one of these fire engines.  This is not as I remember it, and I think this may be a US picture.  However, it resembles the machines that were around Edinburgh at the time.  

Edinburgh as you know had the first proper fire service way back in the late 1800s.  In 1824 James Braidwood was appointed as Master of Engines and almost immediately the centre of Edinburgh was engulfed in a major fire.  Most buildings were made of wood at the time.  Thus Edinburgh created a Fire Service and rebuilt the houses in stone, many of which still can be found in the High Street today.  It took a while for others to follow the cities example.

A toy we can all remember is the Kaleidoscope, we all had one of these.  It took me years to realise these were based on mirrors!  Fun, attractive easily made thing that worked for years.  I suppose kids still get these, even if they have phones to use also?

These were also ten a penny in days of your.  I never found them that exciting, but they were always around and someone had to make use of them if I ignored them.  If one was in the house someone pushed it.  Of course, in those days it was easier, we had no carpets, just lino on the floor so there was plenty of space for them. 

Time for tea, though mine is wee bit smaller than this.