Crossing the channel - NOT amateur radio

Today, a Frenchman crossed the channel between England and France by flyboard. I prefer the shuttle!

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-europe-49226353/man-crosses-english-channel-by-flyboard

Beyond meat - NOT amateur radio

I am a meat eater, but I could quite happily be a vegetarian and never eat meat again. An American company called Beyond Meat is about to float and the shares are in high demand. If the world it to feed itself in years to come we may have to eat far more non meat foods.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-48110704 .

New politics? - NOT amateur radio

Something on the BBC website this morning hit me and got me thinking. Are we on the verge of a sea change in politics?

Here in the UK and probably much of the west, young people are finding meaningful work hard to get. In the UK houses are generally far too expensive for young people to buy. In several countries right wing parties are picking up the disaffected votes.

Maybe we are seeing the ending of traditional politics and a new wave of politics is about to be ushered in? The old ways on the left and right probably have had their days, so maybe now is ripe for something different?

I have no idea what this will be, but just maybe we will see the beginnings of a fairer, more sustainable economy in the UK, the rest of the EU and the USA? We live in challenging times.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-48069016 .

Good news on the BBC - NOT amateur radio

We seem to be fed lots of bad news (I guess this makes papers sell) but tend to not hear about good news often. So, we end up thinking the world is all gloom and doom. In actual fact the good news far outweighs the bad. So let me bring you some good news for a change!

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-47974844

Vote loser? - NOT amateur radio

Jeremy Corbyn, UK opposition leader, has said, allegedly, that Ms Begum should return to the UK to face trial. Whereas he may be legally right, I suspect this stance will lose him votes. This I.S. supporting person left the UK aged 15 to go to Syria. In recent interviews she appears to still support this group. Many in the UK feel she is a threat.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-47319763

The week ahead - NOT amateur radio

We can be certain of one thing - the future is a mystery. The BBC is doing its best to navel gaze. One thing is certain. Mrs May, the UK Prime Minister, can expect a rough time!

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-46236112 .

"He who casts the first stone..." - NOT amateur radio

Oh to be always right!

Mind you, he is a genius and women really love him. Well, these must be true as he said so, allegedly. Iran, I am sure is not perfect. Are the USA and the UK perfect?

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-46071747

A statesman gone - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday the world lost one of its great statesmen: Kofi Annan who for several years was head of the UN. There are sadly very few great statesmen and women in this world.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-45235800 .

Younger people - NOT amateur radio

All is not bad with young people as these charts show. Trends show they take fewer drugs, commit less crime, smoke less, have fewer teen pregnancies and drink less.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/44880278 .

Sainsbury's and Asda merger? - NOT amateur radio

There is no doubt that all over the world, the retail market is changing. More and more of us are buying goods online as it is so convenient and fast: you no longer have to take the car to town and often prices are better.

As an example my wife bought 3 lens caps for her camera. These came with free airmail from Hong Kong at prices way below UK retail prices in town. A few years ago I bought a kit radio transceiver from China. Even with free airmail it was cheaper than just one part in the UK. I built it and it worked first time. It is no wonder stores like Maplin in the UK are suffering.

The big supermarkets are suffering and looking to make economies and yet still trying to get us to come into their stores. This is happening all over the world.

I have no idea how this will end, but the big supermarkets have to adapt or go out of business. It is a very difficult environment and lots of well known brands will die. In 20 years our high streets will be quite different. We live in a time of rapid and great change.

Now we hear Sainsbury's and Asda are in merger talks. These are large UK food stores. A merger is likely followed by store closures and rationalisation.

In our own local town (Newmarket) Waitrose is already struggling and will suffer more when a new Aldi store opens. Although my wife enjoys visiting food stores, I'd be happy to buy on line and I am typical.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-43933517

Ideas website - NOT amateur radio

This website was found by accident. It has some interesting videos. It is worth checking out.

See https://www.bbc.com/ideas/

What did they expect? - NOT amateur radio

Everyone is entitled to justice, but these people deserve what? If you live by the sword do you die by the sword? They, allegedly, committed some heinous acts. Now they are asking, allegedly, for UK citizenship.

I thought UK citizenship was for people who agreed with, and lived in accordance with, UK values.

Why should the UK tax payer keep certain criminals in gaol at our expense if they, clearly, don't want to be party to the way we live?

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-43601925

Cold snap - NOT amateur radio

OK, I know our friends in the USA and Canada will be having a laugh, but apparently we are in for a cold snap in the UK with a good chance of snow in the east. This is all due to a big high pressure system out east feeding Siberian cold winds in the direction of the UK.

We seem to get few really cold snaps these days with little snow. Although this winter has been colder than for a while, it is nothing like 1947 and 1963 when it was very cold and snowy for months.

There is little doubt that the climate is changing and generally things are getting warmer, even if we do get a cold spell now for a while.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-43167583 .

Fame again? - NOT amateur radio

My photo of the angry sky over our windmill was used on BBC Look East last night. My last one on the BBC was November 2015.

President Trump - NOT amateur radio

If recent reports allegedly coming out of the White House are correct, then the USA president is rapidly losing friends around the globe and probably at home.

His latest reported outburst was another swipe at immigrants and their families.

I must remind the good people of the USA (all those I have met were decent, kind, generous and caring folk), and the President, that ALL white Americans were from immigrant stock. The land of freedom and liberty. People want to come to the USA because of its values.

UPDATE 2042z:  I notice that the US $ is rapidly losing value against the UK £.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-42656433 .

BBC Click

Southgate News brought to my attention a post on the BBC "Click" technology programme about amateur radio.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05lmbhy .

Fleeing wars - NOT amateur radio

Sometimes, most times, we take for granted our freedoms and lives. This video on the BBC really brings this home. I hope after 3 years they get granted permanent residency.

We must all work towards a free, fair and inclusive society, wherever we are on Earth. There is no place for hate and unkindness.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/stories-41835112/starting-a-new-life-in-a-foreign-country-at-13 .

Gove - NOT amateur radio

He is a satirist's dream. This UK politician has (allegedly) put his foot in it again.

For some reason, I always think of him with a school cap and school satchel. I am sure he is really an astute politician.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-41787710

Mugabe loses WHO role - NOT amateur radio

Unsurprisingly, there was widespread condemnation of the World Health Organisation making Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe their goodwill ambassador. This appointment has now been revoked.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-41713919 .

How to look a total ..... - NOT amateur radio

It pays to arm yourself with facts before tweeting.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-41695667