Right … I’ve officially had my eye test: and — through a mix of NHS vouchers and pricing — picked my new frames and lenses.
Those … ?
Should be at my opticians by this coming Saturday.
Hopefully?
They’ll be worth waiting for …
~≈🤓≈~
Did I mention my nephew was over, last night?
My nephew, Jude, was over last night.
You can tell what’s coming, can’t you?
Yes: Jude’s latest video!
Feel free to hit the ‘Like’ button!
~≈📹≈~
Do you mind a contentious view? One’s that going to be thought os as bad taste, right now?
I’m a Terry Pratchett fan: one genuinely left devastated by the man’s diagnosis with a form of Alzheimer’s called Post Cortical Atrophy … and by his resulting support for assisted dying.
Why mention that now?
Because of the recent death of the late Sir Patrick Stewart.
Because?
Because his spokesperson, Kelly Bush Novak, said that he’d died after “following a brief and poignant journey with Alzheimer’s Disease and Lewy Body Dementia.”
A brief and poignant journey.
Brief.
I know, having seen a grandmother’s death from Alzheimer’s, that her death took time.
As did Sir Terry’s death.
So an Alzheimer’s-related death that’s described as brief?
Bothered me.
And, having found he supported assisted death, and had spoken in favour of it?
I could only conclude one thing.
Sir Patrick was helped to die: something allowed by the law in California, where he lived.
~≈§≈~
Am I right?
I don’t know.
Would I be raising it with his family, right now?
Good lord, no!
But … ?
But couldn’t not say what I felt: that he made the brave, and wise, decision to die at a time he chose, rather than face a humiliating condition that would kill his mind slowly.
Well played, Sir Patrick: well played.
“We must be free from torture and suffering, we must have the freedom to choose for ourselves. We have no choice about how and when we come into this word, but it seems that we should be able to have a choice in how we leave it if our death is fast approaching.”
And, hopefully — given my optician’s prices — I have enough money, and discounts, to be able to afford the required new spectacles!
Here’s hoping!
~≈🤓≈~
There’s a small estate in Brentwood: called Sawyer’s Grove, near to where my sister, Ruth, lives, with her son, Jude.
It’s a nice place, from what I know: and a mixture of social housing, and private properties.
And … ?
It had a bomb scare, yesterday: apparently, a man and a woman were arrested after three “small homemade explosive devices” were found in their property.
Sir Patrick Stewart has died: after what’s described as a “brief and poignant journey” with Alzheimer’s, and with Lewy body dementia.
A brief journey …
I best remember him as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation: and can also remember him in I, Claudius, as the villainous Lucius Sejanus.
I am — here’s the word, again — saddened to hear about this.
After all: the man was a seriously good actor.
And … ?
Took one hell of a punt with his career, taking the lead role with a strange little SF show that wasn’t guaranteed to work.
Despite the fact he didn’t unpack his suitcase for some time?
The show was successful.
And influential: I’m convinced the US TV companies behind franchises like Law and Order, CSI and NCIS saw Star Trek: The Next Generation, and it’s host of spin-offs, and thought “Hang on … they’re on to something, there.”
I think the same applies to the revived version of Dr Who.
I don’t know if Russell T Davies and company would have mentioned it to sceptical BBC executives, back in 2005, would’ve mentioned the fact TNG showed how successful a revival could be: but would’ve been stupid not to make a point of it!
TNG’s success? And its influence?
Would not have been possible, would not have been the same, without him.
I also think the show’s success in the UK wouldn’t have possible, without he and the producers decision to cast an English lead.
For that?
I’m grateful to the man: and sad to hear of his loss.
~≈🖖≈~
Just as an extra thought?
I note that the BBC articles have said the Sir Patrick died after a a “brief and poignant journey” with Alzheimer’s, and with Lewy body dementia.
I have mixed feelings, there.
Yes: I am saddened about both his death, and to hear about the diagnosis.
But also mildly grateful to hear his death seems to have come only a short time after diagnosis.
Having seen what the condition can do, I’m grateful the journey was brief: death can be a mercy in these circumstances.
I’d doubt that makes the death easier for his family, friends and cast mates.
23rd October, 2026: the International Day of the Snow Leopard.
OK …
I was hoping the AI generated thumbnail for the introductory short would make me look more like Dr Prunesquallor, than a Victorian gentlemen with a prune …
Right … I think panic or pickyness has done something!
Yes: it’s meant I’ve got up ten minutes before my alarm went off.
Which is mildly ironic.
I slept through it, yesterday … !
~≈⏰≈~
Yep: I officially had dinner with my nephew, last night.
After he made another video.
Feel free to hit the like button!
~≈🎥≈~
I follow the news, every-so-often.
You’d possibly guessed, haven’t you?
At any rate, something that floated across my attention, yesterday, was this piece: one that tells us an unnamed male celebrity is seeking to prevent publication of serious allegations by ITN and The Guardian.
Some of which are of a sexual nature.
Medical evidence submitted by the man says that he will attempt “… to take his own life”.
Hmmm …
I can understand someone not wanting to be named in these sorts of proceedings.
But … ?
I would also say that threatening suicide in this situation is …
Is an attempt to blackmail the court into behaving as the celebrity wants: rather than in the interest of a public who’d feel it should be reported … as a prelude to the man’s trial for whatever he’s done.
OK: if the unnamed celebrity is already undergoing trial, himself, I can understand a non-publication injunction happening.
Reports like this could prove prejudicial to someone’s defence.
But to ban publication because “I’ll kill myself if you do”?
Strikes me as an attempt to silence the press, as an attempt at blackmail … and just downright offensive.
Have you heard of a comedian called Russell Brand?
Well, I say comedian, but I’ve never found the man especially funny.
At any rate?
Over the past few years, he’s been accused of various sexual offences: and is now undergoing trial.
But, in-between accusations of impropriety, and the start of the trial?
He’s converted to Christianity: famously getting baptised in the Thames.
I like the line from that Guardian article:
“Thames Water is no longer responsible for the biggest piece of shit in the river.”
Which struck me as appropriate.
At any rate … did you ever hear the phrase, “on the swerve”?
If I’ve got it right, it means whoever the phrase is applied to, is trying to dodge a bullet, trying to avoid punishment: usually by making themselves look good.
Donating to charity, say.
Making a public apology.
Or converting to a new religion, in a desperate effort to look like a good person.
Rather than a potential rapist, undergoing trial.
Personally?
That’s what I’m thinking Brand’s doing.
He’s doing a public — and false — conversion, in an attempt to avoid trouble.
