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.
Right … it’s hopefully going to be a quiet Tuesday, today.
But … ?
I can take a certain amount of pride in a fact.
Yes: I’ve actually lost some weight, this week.
Four hundred grams: about fourteen ounces, in other words.
That’s not much.
But every little helps!
~≈⚖️≈~
If you ever wondered how right-wing the Reform party are, the latest news should tell you.
In a recent announcement, they’ve said they will close down the UK’s asylum system for a full parliamentary, should they be elected.
Outside of any humanitarian considerations?
I think that won’t work.
It won’t stop the boats: just as leaving the EU didn’t.
I can’t swear to this second thought: but think keeping the system as it is, is going to be cheaper than stopping it.
There’s another thing.
Reform frontbencher, Robert Jenrick, is reported to have said that — should Reform win an election — their government would deploy both the Navy, and the Royal Marines, to the coast.
With orders to use lethal force if necessary.
I know it’s a temptingly easy option.
But I’ve always felt that killing people in cold blood is not something I could do.
Nor, given that, is it something I could ask others to do for me: marines, soldiers or otherwise.
I’ve found out, this morning, that there’s an upcoming film version of The Magician’s Nephew: the first book — chronologically — of C. S. Lewis’ Narnia books.
Which was possibly my favourite of the books.
The fact Greta Gerwig is directing the thing is no problem: she’s an authentic Oscar winner with a ton of talent.
I think what’s going to cause a problem is one of her casting decisions.
She’s cast Meryl Streep as the voice of Aslan, one of the book’s central characters.
In case you didn’t know?
Lewis was a devout Christian: and made it perfectly clear Aslan represented Jesus Christ.
Which is why, in The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, the character is sacrificed on the Stone Table: the scene is supposed to parallel the Crucifixion.
So … ?
I’m twitchy about the casting choice: and I’m not especially religious.
So I’m aware that others, more devout than me, will have problems.
One such objector was speaking on Radio Four’s Sunday show, this morning.
There’s something else, as well.
Apparently, Aslan is to be presented as a lion, as a male of the species.
I know Meryl Streep’s good: her string of awards tell us that!
But …
I don’t know if those gongs will help her play a male lion!
These include notes with either King Charles 3rd, or his late mother, and with Winston Churchill, Jane Austen, J. M. W. Turner and Alan Turing: depending on the denomination.
They’re … handy.
Especially if you’ve got a lot of them.
But … ?
The historical figures are due to be replaced with assorted fluffy animals.
I get why.
Replacing people with animals is being done because the King’s supported many Green campaigns, over the years.
This shows his interest in the subject: and, more importantly, allows the printers of the notes to update the security features.
Which is the important bit.
But … ?
On a personal front, I’m mildly disappointed.
I’m something of a fan of the late Alan Turing: seeing him replaced by a hedgehog is …
I just know I have to stay in, this afternoon, as I’m due my annual gas safety check, this afternoon!
~≈💨≈~
There’s been a bit of talk, recently: after Andy Burnham, the UK’s current PM, announced that Labour were thinking about a second Brexit referendum into their next election manifesto.
Having voted Remain, back in 2016?
I’d welcome the chance to correct something I view as a massive cock-up.
But any options on the ballot would need to be carefully thought out, and not the Leave/Remain options in 2016.
I’m no economist, no expert: but I’m aware that the pound — along with the US dollar, the Euro, and the Japanese Yen, amongst others — is a reserve currency, acceptable in international trade.
Whilst it may not give us much clout?
It gives us some.
So, given those three options?
I’d want to go for the third: re-joining the EU and keeping Sterling.
There’s only so much of Funky Billy Chin I can put up with.
I might just change the record … !
~≈🥋≈~
A few days ago, intruders were spotted outside RAF Fairford, in Gloucestershire: in vans containing lots of petrol, rather than the originally reported explosives.
The RAF base is leased out to the US Air Force: and used by the USAF in their current action against Iran.
Understandably, security is heavy in and around the base.
I have questions.
One?
Why were the suspects bailed?
Apparently, this was in what police called an “investigative decision”, one that was “grounded in experience and strategy”.
Hmmm …
OK … but I suspect keeping a group of terrorists off the street would be a good idea, but I’m not wearing the uniform.
Two … ?
Apparently, and according to The Times, one of the five suspects phoned an alert to the police, himself.
Why … ?
I have no idea!
But I’m wondering if the event — stunt? — was either some sort of training exercise: by, I don’t know, MI5, or the SAS.
Why is it, when you wake up on a day you know to be Tuesday, you wake up convinced it’s Sunday … ?
Despite — despite — being aware it’s Tuesday, have double-checked it’s Tuesday, have done everything you can to confirm it’s Tuesday … and yet, it feels like Sunday …
Right … I’ve finally managed to track something down.
Yes: I’ve finally managed to track down toilet blocks.
Which is what I meant to get on Thursday: but totally forgot about.
Heigh … … … HO!
~≈🚽≈~
As an added extra, there … ?
I managed to find a couple of shops near the station that took PayPal payments: where, in theory, I could pay my rent.
One, the local Post Office branch, wasn’t somewhere I could explore, as I went during at a busy patch.
Another?
Would take the rent payment … but only as cash.
Which is inconvenient: I’d have to take the cash out at my bank — in the High Street — then walk to the Brentwood Station area with a lot of cash, pay at the shop … then walk back to the High Street to pay the rest of the bills, and get my shopping!
I think exploring other options my be an idea.
Including — finally — learning how to pay the rent online!
~≈🏚️≈~
Just as an extra thought … ?
The Tories have plans to prevent benefit seekers spending money on cigarettes and alcohol: by issuing benefits on pre-paid debit cards.
Similar to the cards offered by some charity schemes: that offer supplemental spending money to those in need.
The idea is that you spend the money on stuff you need: rather than on stuff you’re addicted to.
I’m sceptical about the plans.
From personal experience, I know you need to activate the things online: and only so many people I know are comfortable using a computer, a smart phone or online services.
I’m also wondering how you’re supposed to use the card to pay rent with the things.
Again, many would feel uncomfortable using it to pay online.
Or setting up the online scheme that tells the Department of Work and Pensions you want the Housing portion of your Universal Credit to go directly to your landlord.
And, frankly?
I know a few people with substances issues: who, I believe, would sell their cards to their nearest dealer … in return for Gods know what!
Assuming the dealers would take them in preference to cash.
Even on the alcohol and tobacco front, a user would need help to get off their substance of choice: so that the wouldn’t be tempted to use the cards.
As a supplement to paying in cash, these cards are fine.
They let you spend extra money: and use cash for other things.
