Today's Non Post

Caesar: The Conquest of Gaul

Having bought myself a (cheap) Kindle for those occasions when I will travel again I needed some reading material for my delight.  Caesar was obviously one of those books we need, indeed must, read,

if only because all the clever people claim to have read this long ago at school, at the same time as I was perusing 'The Beano,' 'The Beezer,' and 'The Victor!'  

The idea of the book is simple, Julius Caesar, a man going places, had wangled his way into a very important position in the Roman heirarchy, and was given control of much of Gaul, now known as France, and also what we now refer to as Albania as Governor.  His ambition ensured he would seek to control and dominate all of Gaul, which he did eventually, and on the way he made attempts at curbing Germanic intrusion, and even an attempt or two at taking that strange offshore island Britannia.  He went too far beyond his authority in German territory and returned with little to say about this, therefore offering a description of the locals instead.  He also failed to conquer the Brits, though most of them were probably Belgique, but don't tell the Brexiteers that as it will upset them.  Clearly the Romans impressed the people of the island, we can tell this by the manner in which they moved away from him, and had he thought it through properly Julius may well have succeeded in a victory long before Claudius's forces managed to bring their elephants over some considerable time later.

Of course he never conquered Scotland.

He did however, conquer and gain complete control over Gaul.  While renown as a merciful victor, occasionally this went against him as some pacified elements would once again return to the fight when called upon, only at one rebellion did he slaughter somewhat ruthlessly in an attempt to prevent another uprising and that near the end of the wars.  

There is one flaw in the book, it was written, for the most part, by Julius himself!

He would settle down in the winter and write the report for the folks back in Rome, thus ensuring he was remembered and also making clear he had been successful.  It appears no alternative story was on offer.  The last chapter was written by friends after his untimely demise but is clearly influenced by his outlook.

Julius Caesar did eventually reach his goal of King in 49 BC, and was a successful dictator until 44 BC when the Republican sympathisers bumped him off undemocratically.  

The question that kept running through my mind was "Why?"  What was the point of taking over Gaul? The only reason was Roman pride and self importance, plus Julius's ambition.  Rome could have survived without this war.  Empires rise and fall often because of ambition, sometimes to prevent attacks on themselves and occasionally for wealth and resources.  All this raises pride, cries for 'freedom' and ends in mass slaughter, not always to the victors advantage.

Of course I was reading this late at night as I drowsily slipped into the nightly coma, so maybe I ought to have read it during the day?  I think the results would be the same.  

As well as an insight into the ways of the Gauls and Brits of the day it can also be seen as an insight into the Putin's and Johnson's of this world mind. 

I recommend it, for leisure reading... 

All Steamed Up!

 

I have not been getting out as my back still aches, so here is a picture of the wee trains that once ran around this area.  My back was loosening up so last evening I hobbled up to Sainsburys for one or two needed things and considered all was well.  This morning I found I was incorrect in that opinion and my back had stiffened up just like a couple of days ago.  Bah!  This means I have to be careful for the next day or so once again.  Tsk!

 

 

Instead of anything sensible I this picture of a short train (pulled by an F5 engine as you will realise) running towards Braintree in the days of long ago.  When the line to Colchester reached Witham there was a demand, loudly from the Courtaulds MIll people and many other industrialists and farmers, to branch the line to our door.  This arrived in 1848, I was not present, and remains to this day with an hourly service, hold-ups permitting, daily.  Eventually, in 1869, the line was continued to Bishops Stortford, and a variety of trains, both passenger and frieght (we used to call that 'goods') trains ran along the line.  This was fine for a while but after the Great War bus and lorry traffic increased, many ex-army lorries took the goods produce, and a Charabanc or two would carry people right into their villages.  

By 1951 the last passenger train left, by 1972 the last freight.  A sad loss to many, but with the middle classes owning cars by the 1930's, and now most have to have a car in this are, railways such as this were not going to last.  They served their time, though the real purpose of this line was to prevent another company cutting through and offering competition to the GER Colchester to Norwich line!  This line was always small beer.  

There is always talk of reopening the line as Stansted Airport is at the other end, however this would cost more than it may be worth, including a huge flyover at Dunmow.  This is a pity, maybe I should try and get Boris interested in this.  It would appeal to his publicity needs and while the end result may fail it would benefit the area, if it happened, though at a cost of £100 million it probably won't.

 

Thursday Space Filler...

Not long now.

All the rats are deserting the sinking ship, all attempting to suck up to the next leader, all happily lying in their teeth Boris style in the hope of getting something from whoever wins.  Clearly smoothie Rishi is in the lead, however, having no understanding of anything but money, he was one of those that brought about the 2008 world economy collapse, and he is only likely to care for the rich, so this will limit him, and as for Liz Truss, well...

 

 

Boris smearing the opposition leader went well.  Several MPs have written their complaint letter, other backroom staff have resigned, probably to join Rishi, and Boris is the one smeared by this.  Are we taking bets on how long?

 

 

It is not often that I enjoy an 'Old Firm' match but last night was worth watching.  To see the Huns ripped apart like that was most enjoyable.  Missing a centre of defence they were taken for fools constantly, most delightful to watch especially as for a few pounds they could have had one at the weekend.  Maybe he will play on Sunday and show them what they missed?

The only problem was the team beating them, the other half of the sectarian twins, Celtic.  It is true that they are the best team we have played this season, they ripped us apart in the first half but we came back and would have got a draw had Mr Boyce not missed a penalty!  How on earth did he do that?  We deserved a draw that night. Clearly Celtic are the team in charge, but can we catch them?

On Sunday afternoon we play the blue bigots in Ibrox, I wonder which Rangers supporting ref will be chosen for this?  I expect if we are winning a sending off, or indeed the famous 'Penalty for Rangers' cry will be heard.  I'm looking forward to be cheated in this one.

 

 

Red Skyish...

Thisis a poor effort, attempting to reflect the pervading red glow across the sky this evening.  If 'red sky at night' brings 'shepherds delight,' then tomorrow will be some day.  In fact, what the BBC tells us will happen are strong winds, around 50% F and gray clouds all day.  I am not sure what the red glow then is proving.

Boris is hiding in the Ukraine, pretending he is a Prime Minister.  Back home, the ERG are arguing as to who will replace him.  The public do not get a say sadly, though many have mentioned that Jimmy Saville donated to the Conservative Party, and recieved a Knighthood for his 'good works,' though few Tories have replied to that.

By the way, it is now February, already the year is heading to a close. 

 

Venus, The Morning Star

At seven this morning I glanced out east at the bright morning star.  

The picture is not as clear as I would like, I remained stiff, the open window was allowing the frost laden wind to enter, and I was still half asleep.  I still am.

The 'Morning Star,' is usually the planet Venus hanging about just before sunrise.  Occasionally its place is taken by Mercury during July to September, or Sirius at other times.  

Jesus is of course referred to as the 'Morning Star,' and John Wycliffe was called the 'Morning Star of the Reformation.  'Morning Star,' was the name of a Cheyanne Leader, also known as 'Dull Knife,' though I suspect not to his face.  The USA, as you may have expected, has several small towns called 'Morning Star,' for reasons unknown and I canny be bothered to look.       

Several Ships have carried this name including six Royal Naval vessels dating from a Dutch Ketch captured in 1672 to an 'M' Class Destroyer launched in 1915, and a Broad Guage locomotive was built by the Great Western Railway in 1839 and called by this name.  This was intended for sale to the USA.

'The Morning Star' is of course a somewhat left leaning London based paper.   Known once as the 'Daily Worker,' it was unashamedly Communist, now under the new name it struggles to survive and leans towards the Labour Party.  I suspect none of the 'Workers' involved come from a working class background.  Most true Socialists today are Middle Class and have never done a proper days work in their lives.  Just saying like.

Films and TV have made use of the name, songs abound as do albums, musicals and even a variety of cannabis, though you will know more about that than I do.  

This reflects the effect the 'Morning Star' has upon the people when we see it rise.  The fact that the vast majority have never seen it, most not rising before sunrise, is not worth considering.  The sight, not reflected very well by the picture, of a bright shining Morning Star against a deep blue background, sometimes accompanied by a crescent moon can live in the memory.  Maybe that is why this is replicated on the Pakistan Flag?

Now I have scribbled this I am back off to bed...

 

 

Stiff Sunday

 

Feeling good I decided to up the exercise.  That night I slept with the satisfaction of a good job well done.  The next day there was a bit of stiffness, ignored by me, and I just got on with doing very little in the usual manner.  For some reason stiffness after exercise takes longer to make a show off itself!  So this morning, as I rose and shone to the world, my back ached!  Slovenly I creaked about, struggling to get moving.  My knees were not happy, but that I could manage OK.  The back however, stiffened badly.  There was no point in going out, my head was not awake anyway, so I refused the offer of a lift as I could not move properly, instead spending some time walking around trying to loosen the back.  This I reckon should work by Tuesday.

After all these years I should know better.  I suffered this when working often enough, then however, I could keep moving so it did not hinder me, now I just sit slumped after another period of what some call 'loosening up.'   

This means tomorrow I must get back to exercise in the afternoon, as the only way to beat this is to keep moving.  This time of course I must also stretch better than before, that helps avoid this ache.  

'Age shall not weary them,' I know now what this means...

 

Another 'Nothing to Say,' Evening

 

I began this early in the morning after I came back from the shops.  However, I had nothing to say at the time so I left it.  Now, having watched two football games, washed and shaved, eaten badly, and ache all over with trying to exercise away my aches, I find I have even less to say.  A quick run through the media shows there is nothing to say there either, a search of the tv schedules reveals absolutely nothing worth watching and the radio iplayer may be searched out soon.  So, it's another 'Nothing to Say' evening.

Tesco and Sue

 

 

The pink in the few clouds early on tempted me outside this morning.  Luckily however, my head was not awake until much later.  Long after 10:30 I stumbled downstairs and sauntered through the town centre streets to Tesco.

In spite of Boris's absurd determination to kill us all by claiming masks were no longer required the vast majority inside Tesco were masked.  Some also, aged and possibly infirm, wore masks outside.  This town has lost many to the virus, though strangely enough few people I know can speak of any friend or neighbour who has died from this virus.  Still, Tory lovers or not they do not believe Boris and would wonder where Chris Whitty and his men are these days, why have they been removed from the media? 

Toddling through the crowd, actually for a Friday a very small crowd in the shop, I obtained my wishes, ensuring I glanced at the list I had made, filled my basket, I always use a basket as it is easier than a trolley and enables me to get past women with trollies much easier, and headed for the young lass at the checkout.  It was only as I unpacked the bag back home that I remembered the things some old fool had not bothered to put on the shopping list!  I think matron needs to have a word.

 

National

 

A trapped fox is less cunning that Boris.  Or is that less desperate?  

With the Sue Gray report on his illegal parties about to be published we find the Met Police now insisting she avoids all mentions of parties because this may prejudice their investigation.  This, Twitters lawyers appear to say is unjustified and an interference in her work.  I wonder who put Cressida up to this?

Journalists, something no longer found in the UK media, investigating something may well publish their information.  Police, taking this to court, will soon find no media mentioning the item until the legal work is complete.  So, why should Sue, on whom the nation leans, not publish a full report?

No reason, just another Boris cover up.

 

Algrithim Vengeance

 

So, my nephew's girl posted a picture on FaceBook.  This is not unusual.  

What was unusual was that I looked at it without dismissing it as rubbish like so many of them posted by those two are.  A picture of a young lout driving around in the snow, late at night, in a supermarket carpark.  The blurb with it claimed 'They are only having fun, let them be, and only their car or themselves will be hurt.'  

This ignored the neighbours who have their eardrums burst by the noise of course, or the damage done to the furniture in the car park, or any costs for damage, which they will not pay as they run away.  Being young enables you to be thoughtless towards others and completely taken over by whatever you are doing.  Tsk!  We never did things like this when we were young.  Of course we had no cars, only one young man amongst us had a car, and his folks had money, but that does not matter.  

Round here similar gatherings have seen dozens of cars meet, create chaos, intefere with those using the many late night facilities, and creating a huge noise nusance.  The police have cut this down, fines, bans have had an effect on the people responsible, growing up, finding work, and a girl friend has also limited the gatherings somewhat.  

All that apart, I considered a quick, appropriate reply to this facebook post, 

'Just shoot them,' I said helpfully.  

When I went on facebook later it appears I am banned again 'for violence' this time.  How can removing such youths in an efficient manner be considered 'violence,' when the US cops, and that is where facebook originates, do this daily?  It all appears confused in my mind as white supremacists, anti-vaxxers lying about Covid, or flat earth people and politicians are never removed 'for violence,' at any stage.  

It now is revealed that I am also banned from a variety of groups and other luxuries that I may miss by the time the 29 day ban has ended.  Or maybe not as the case goes. 

A close examination of all the six reasons to ban me all involve humour, only an algorithm would do this, no human reader, and all are harmless, usually posted on Twitter without a problem, also elsewhere.  

I suppose it means I will have to find other means of causing arguments, Twitter today, and somewhere else tomorrow.  Maybe I ought to visit a town centre pub tomorrow night?