Udo Kier (1944 - 2025)
German actor Udo Kier died on the 23rd November at the age of 81. Kier was far from a high profile star but his saturnine good looks and piercing eyes meant that he stood out. As an actor he was enigmatic, brooding and at times sinister which brought him to the attention of several notable European and American directors, such as Werner Herzog, Lars von Trier and Gus Van Sant. His early acting roles in the late sixties gained little attention and it was not until 1973 when he starred in Andy Warhol’s Flesh For Frankenstein, directed by Paul Morrissey that the right people started to take note. What followed was a career that spanned over 220 films, initially in arthouse productions but over time in horror and cult movies, until eventually he started to be cast in mainstream productions. Yet whatever role he appeared in he was always notable.
German actor Udo Kier died on the 23rd November at the age of 81. Kier was far from a high profile star but his saturnine good looks and piercing eyes meant that he stood out. As an actor he was enigmatic, brooding and at times sinister which brought him to the attention of several notable European and American directors, such as Werner Herzog, Lars von Trier and Gus Van Sant. His early acting roles in the late sixties gained little attention and it was not until 1973 when he starred in Andy Warhol’s Flesh For Frankenstein, directed by Paul Morrissey that the right people started to take note. What followed was a career that spanned over 220 films, initially in arthouse productions but over time in horror and cult movies, until eventually he started to be cast in mainstream productions. Yet whatever role he appeared in he was always notable.
I became familiar with Udo Kier’s work mainly through horror films. He had a brief role in Dario Argento’s Suspiria (1977). He stood out in Blade (1998) playing a pure blood vampire elder who meets a dramatic end. In 2007 Kier worked with Rob Zombie in Grindhouse, appearing in the faux movie trailer “Werewolf Women Of The SS” and later in the remake of Halloween. He could effortlessly move from one genre to the other. Hence he appeared notably in Gus Van Sant in My Own Private Idaho (1991) and multiple productions for Lars von Trier, including Europa (1991), Dogville (2003) and Melancholia (2011). His dramatic range was extensive hence he appeared in comedy, complex social dramas and dark thrillers. His role in S. Craig Zahler’s Brawl In Cell Block 99 (2017) is singularly disturbing and is a standout aspect of an already intense film.
Udo Kier was a prolific actor across multiple mediums. Outside of film, he was a voice actor in the video games industry and also in many animated television productions. He featured in Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 as a Transylvanian psychic called Yuri and was working up until his death with Hideo Kojima on the forthcoming game OD. Kier also voiced numerous roles in both Justice League and Batman animated television shows including the Music Master and Herbert Ziegler. Not to be confined to just one artistic medium, Udo Kier appeared in Madonna's controversial book “Sex” in 1992. He subsequently featured in the music videos for Madonna’s songs “Erotica” and “Deeper and Deeper”. Kier also appeared in the music videos for Korn’s “Make Me Bad” as well as Eve and Gwen Stefani’s “Let Me Blow Ya Mind”.
Kier was an openly gay man yet he would often play characters of all sexuality. In 2021 he appeared in Swan Song and gave what many fans and critics alike consider the best performance of his career. The film tells the tale of a retired celebrity hairdresser, who leaves his nursing home and takes a literal and figurative journey to style a deceased former client's hair for her funeral. It is a story of self reflection and the changes in gay culture. Kier’s performance is compelling, moving and genuine. Fans have cogently argued that he always brought those qualities to all of his performances but Swan Song finally gave him a role that was a lot closer to home and also finally put him on the radar of mainstream critics. At a time when filmmaking is becoming increasingly bland, along with its leading actors, the loss of Udo Kier is keenly felt. Being mercurial and striking are far from common qualities.
Paying For Domestic Services
When Mrs P and I moved into our current home, over twenty years ago, we were both working full time. As the garden was poorly maintained and neither of us had any horticultural skills, we decided to employ a gardener. At the time it was a practical solution to the issue of garden maintenance and remains so today. Hence it is a service we continue to use, although our personal health is now the main reason we pay a gardener.
When Mrs P and I moved into our current home, over twenty years ago, we were both working full time. As the garden was poorly maintained and neither of us had any horticultural skills, we decided to employ a gardener. At the time it was a practical solution to the issue of garden maintenance and remains so today. Hence it is a service we continue to use, although our personal health is now the main reason we pay a gardener.
More recently, we paid to have our oven cleaned. Again, this was a decision that was mainly made because we find the logistics of the task difficult. The results were better than anything we could have done ourselves. We are now giving serious consideration to having a cleaning company visit once a month to carry out a substantive household clean. This will then be supplemented with basic cleaning on a weekly basis, carried out by ourselves. Again the main reasons for using such services is time, our ability to do such things ourselves and the fact that the work is often done to a higher standard.
I personally have no problem with the idea of paying for domestic services. They are in principle equitable business transactions, carried out by people who have superior skills in the requisite field. Furthermore, the benefits of such arrangements go beyond the customer and vendor dynamic. Those supplying such services as gardening, car valeting or household cleaning are running businesses which are good for the wider economy. Yet despite all this, I occasionally encounter people who “frown upon” such business arrangements. Their opprobrium is not aimed so much at the providers of these services but more specifically at me for using them.
I am curious to try and understand where this mindset comes from. Is it born of a sense of middle-class guilt, perceptions of laziness, concerns about socio-economic inequality and the exploitation of workers? Perhaps it is a hangover from seventies socioeconomic politics? Or is it more entrenched in the UK’s neverending relationship with class? Do people still see such transactional services as reinforcing some archaic “upstairs, downstairs” social divide? Or is it as simple as the general lack of respect and dignity afforded to "unskilled" labour in society. Let us not forget the social dimension to this conundrum. Is hiring a cleaner an acceptable way to achieve a work/life balance, or is it merely outsourcing inequality. Maybe it’s simply a case that I encounter too many unreconstructed Marxists?
The philosophical arguments against such services notwithstanding, the demand for cleaning and other similar services, is at an all-time high in the UK, with 17% of households now hiring a cleaner. Many people see it as a practical and efficient way to free up leisure time, which is a premium and finite commodity. As for the social dynamic between customer and vendor, in my experience it is far from “feudal”. I treat those providing a service in my home with the same courtesy as I would outside of it.
Perhaps this is a uniquely British quirk? Does the same criticism of using domestic services arise in the US, which to my mind is a far more transactional society. Surely the growth of the gig economy must be putting pay to this somewhat archaic perspective? There are many more practical services available for hire than ever before. From bespoke cake making to jetwashing your drive. In the meantime, I am certainly going to continue to pay for whatever domestic services our household requires. Furthermore, the older I get, the more I shall use them, for obvious reasons.
The UK Online Safety Act: 3 Months On
In July the UK Government introduced the Online Safety Act which requires age checks for accessing sexually explicit content online. As a result of this, Pornhub, the 19th most visited site on the internet, has reported a 77% decline in UK traffic. Furthermore, according to the UK regulatory body, OFCOM (The Office of Communications), overall visits to pornographic websites from the UK have fallen by 33%. Naturally, those who championed this legislation are claiming a moral and political victory. However, once you consider what these facts actually mean, they paint a somewhat different and potentially more worrying picture. It would be staggeringly naïve to think that UK visitors to Pornhub have ceased visiting such sites due to the age verification requirements. The more likely explanation is that UK porn consumers are now using VPNs to circumnavigate these restrictions and that this traffic to Pornhub is now recorded as coming from elsewhere.
In July the UK Government introduced the Online Safety Act which requires age checks for accessing sexually explicit content online. As a result of this, Pornhub, the 19th most visited site on the internet, has reported a 77% decline in UK traffic. Furthermore, according to the UK regulatory body, OFCOM (The Office of Communications), overall visits to pornographic websites from the UK have fallen by 33%. Naturally, those who championed this legislation are claiming a moral and political victory. However, once you consider what these facts actually mean, they paint a somewhat different and potentially more worrying picture. It would be staggeringly naïve to think that UK visitors to Pornhub have ceased visiting such sites due to the age verification requirements. The more likely explanation is that UK porn consumers are now using VPNs to circumnavigate these restrictions and that this traffic to Pornhub is now recorded as coming from elsewhere.
According to independent research by Cybernews, the UK has become one of the world’s fastest-growing VPN markets. The UK ranks eighth worldwide for VPN adoption at the time of writing and is now the leading G7 nation in terms of VPN use and one of only three European countries included in the top 10 list. Data shows the UK logged over 10.7 million VPN app downloads in the first half of 2025, surpassing countries such as the US, France, and Germany. One vendor of VPN services for smartphones saw an increase in downloads of 1,800%. All of which indicates the inherent flaw in the OSA, that it can be easily bypassed by using a VPN. Clearly this law is not supported by a substantial number of UK citizens. According to Google, prior to the OSA, eight million users from the UK visited a quarter of a million pornographic websites each month. Such a market doesn’t just vanish overnight.
The Online Safety Act is a typical piece of UK Government legislation, insofar as it is well intentioned in seeking to protect children from harmful content online. However, the parameters of this act and the manner in which it strives to enforce its mandate are ill considered. Clearly those involved have little or no understanding of contemporary information technology and infrastructure. It can also be argued that they have underestimated human nature. The result is legislation that can only deal with the symptoms of a problem and furthermore, only in a binary fashion. Any site that is deemed problematic has to implement age verification. If it will not or cannot, it is blocked by UK ISPs. At best it is a rather blunt tool. At worst, it has provided the current and all future UK Governments with the means to censor content with impunity.
I am not an absolutist libertarian but I do prefer the state to minimise its involvement in social issues. I believe that there is a duty of care to protect children from specific online content but I do not think that is the sole job of the UK Government. Parents, guardians and carers should be the first and foremost group involved in such an undertaking. Those who are legally responsible for a child’s welfare should know exactly what a child is doing online and police it accordingly. Sadly, we have a generation of parents who are just as enamoured with social media and online culture as their children and therefore are hardly best equipped to deal with this matter. Levels of IT literacy are also quite low in many adults. Despite a superficial “monkey see, monkey do” ability to use technology, there is seldom any functional understanding of how such things actually work.
Three months on from the launch of the OSA in the UK, I personally have not been greatly inconvenienced by this legislation so far. I’ve had to verify my age once for Instagram. This used an AI to look at an image of my face and determine if I am over 18. It was hardly a chore and I didn’t expect my age to be disputed. Beyond this one time, I have bypassed any issues as I have a VPN extension installed in all my web browsers and a year’s subscription to Surfshark. Outside of my personal experience, numerous websites that deal with sexual health and wellbeing have been blocked. Even Wikipedia has had to age gate certain content. All of which is troubling. Unfortunately, I can only see this matter getting worse over time and becoming more of a political football, driven by hot takes and showboating. Poorly conceived legislation often fails and brings the law into disrepute. In the meantime are children any safer? I doubt it.
Robert Redford (1936 - 2025)
It’s been five years since I last wrote about the passing of someone whose work I admired. Not because there’s been a shortage of such people dying. Sadly, it happens all too often. I stopped because I was experiencing my own grief over the loss of my parents in 2020 and 2022. So I wrote about other things instead and got out of the habit of “RIP” posts. Yet the recent death of Robert Redford has compelled me to write something, because he was so many things. An old school star from an important era of US filmmaking. He was also a much better actor than some think, as well as a talented director who didn’t just use his fame to make vanity projects. His passing was somewhat of a shock because I had seen him recently make a cameo in the TV show Dark Winds, of which he was an executive producer. It was his last onscreen appearance.
It’s been five years since I last wrote about the passing of someone whose work I admired. Not because there’s been a shortage of such people dying. Sadly, it happens all too often. I stopped because I was experiencing my own grief over the loss of my parents in 2020 and 2022. So I wrote about other things instead and got out of the habit of “RIP” posts. Yet the recent death of Robert Redford has compelled me to write something, because he was so many things. An old school star from an important era of US filmmaking. He was also a much better actor than some think, as well as a talented director who didn’t just use his fame to make vanity projects. His passing was somewhat of a shock because I had seen him recently make a cameo in the TV show Dark Winds, of which he was an executive producer. It was his last onscreen appearance.
Robert Redford came to my attention, during the seventies when I was growing up. It was a time of newspaper adverts for the latest film releases, something that I frequently perused having gained a liking for film and the promise of seventies film poster art. I remember seeing promotional material for Three Days of the Condor (1975) and being enthralled by it. I also recollect radio adverts, which were big at the time and hearing snatches of dialogue and suppressed gunfire. I finally saw the film eight years later and it lived up to my expectations. Redford’s character was resourceful and far from indestructible, in this well crafted thriller. His charm and charisma were self-evident but he had other qualities that helped him rise above his matinee idol persona that he was trying to break free from at the time.
Slowly, I caught up with many of his most iconic roles such as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), The Sting (1973), and All the President’s Men (1976). It was clear that Robert Redford was growing as an actor and his choice of roles became increasingly more complex and nuanced throughout the eighties and nineties. He also tried his hand behind the camera, with his directorial debut Ordinary People (1980). The story of the implosion of a wealthy family from Illinois, following the accidental death of one of their two sons and the attempted suicide of the other, was deftly handled with Redford garnering praise for his emotional intelligence. About this time, he also established a yearly independent film festival which was eventually renamed the Sundance Film Festival. Success outside of acting led to him establishing two production companies, Wildwood Enterprises, Inc. and Sundance Films and financing such titles as A River Runs Through It (1992) and The Motor Cycle Diaries (2004).
Another surprising aspect of Robert Redford was his activism with regard to environmental issues and Native American rights. At a time when much of Hollywood was awash with stars revelling in their own iniquities, seeing someone of that ilk with a modicum of principle and concern for things outside of themselves was refreshing. Furthermore, as filmmaking and its associated culture evolved over time (and seldom for the better), it was reassuring to see someone from a prior golden age, still acting, making films and being relevant. Which is why so many of us just assumed he’d go on forever. As previously mentioned, his latest endeavour was bringing a new adaptation of the Leaphorn & Chee novel series by Tony Hillerman to television, with the gritty and authentic drama Dark Winds. And then he was gone.
A few years ago, I worked my way through all the episodes of The Twilight Zone television series. I was pleasantly surprised to see Robert Redford in an early role, in a story titled Nothing in the Dark,. He was young, handsome and certainly had a cinematic quality about him. He got far on his sex appeal at the start of his career yet was fortunate to have other talents at his disposal as he matured. When age changed him, as it does to us all, he still had that easy going charm, tempered with worldly experience. It’s what made his final cinematic role in The Old Man & the Gun (2014) so enjoyable. It is often considered cliched to state that the passing of someone of this nature is the end of an era but in Robert Redford’s case, it really is. There are no modern equivalents.
Education in the UK
Formal education in the UK is a structured process, starting at early years learning and continuing through to higher education at university. Some aspects of the educational system are mandatory, whereas others are optional. At present, children in the UK must start full-time education from the age of 5 and remain until the age of 16. After this age, they are no longer required to attend school per se but must remain in some other form of education or training, such as a vocational college or an apprenticeship. Many students remain at school until 18, as there are specific exams to be obtained that are required for a subsequent university placement. Here is a breakdown of the current process as it exists in the UK.
Formal education in the UK is a structured process, starting at early years learning and continuing through to higher education at university. Some aspects of the educational system are mandatory, whereas others are optional. At present, children in the UK must start full-time education from the age of 5 and remain until the age of 16. After this age, they are no longer required to attend school per se but must remain in some other form of education or training, such as a vocational college or an apprenticeship. Many students remain at school until 18, as there are specific exams to be obtained that are required for a subsequent university placement. Here is a breakdown of the current process as it exists in the UK.
Early years education:
This stage is non-compulsory and caters to children aged from birth to 5 years old. In England, 3 and 4-year-olds are entitled to 15 hours of free nursery education per week for 38 weeks of the year. Early years education takes place in various settings, including state nursery schools, nursery classes, reception classes within primary schools, and private nurseries or childminders.
Primary education:
Primary education is compulsory for children from age 5 to 11. It is divided into Key Stage 1 (ages 5-7) and Key Stage 2 (ages 7-11). Children learn basic literacy and numeracy skills, as well as foundational knowledge in science, mathematics, and other subjects. Children in England and Northern Ireland are assessed at the end of Key Stage 1 and 2.
Colfe’s School, South East London
Secondary education:
Secondary education is compulsory for children aged 11-16. It is divided into Key Stage 3 (ages 11-14) and Key Stage 4 (ages 14-16). Students pursue a broader curriculum including core subjects (English, maths, science) and optional subjects (humanities, languages, arts, vocational courses). At the end of Year 11, students typically take General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) exams.
Further education:
This optional stage encompasses post-16 education, including A-levels exams, vocational qualifications, and apprenticeships. Further education is offered at schools as well as in colleges and adult education institutes. A-levels exams are the primary qualification required for a university placement.
Higher education:
This refers to study beyond further education, primarily in universities and Higher Education Institutes. The UK higher education system is recognised internationally. It includes undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Entry typically requires A-levels exams or equivalent qualifications, and applications are made through The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service.
Balliol College, Oxford
As an addendum to the above summary, here is a breakdown of the different types of school available in the UK. State education in the UK refers to government-funded schools that provide free education to children and are paid for by taxes. Every child is entitled to a place. These schools must generally follow the national curriculum, set by the Department of Education and are overseen by local authorities or directly by the government. There are several types of state-funded schools, including community schools, foundation and voluntary schools, academies, and free schools, each with varying degrees of independence from local authorities.
Types of schools:
State Schools: Government-funded, following the national curriculum.
Academies: Publicly funded but independent from local authorities.
Free Schools: Newly established, publicly funded schools.
Grammar Schools: Selective schools based on academic ability and an entrance exam. Publicly funded.
Independent Schools (Private Schools): Funded by fees and not required to follow the national curriculum.
Home education. Schooling at home is an option in the UK. Parents are responsible for the costs of education, including materials, trips, and examinations. They don't have to follow the National Curriculum.
Next let us consider what is exactly taught at school. The National Curriculum is a set of learning standards for England's local-authority-maintained schools. It outlines subjects and attainment targets across four key stages, ensuring children learn similar content and skills by age 16. It mandates core subjects like English, Maths, and Science at all key stages, while also including other foundation subjects such as Computing, Art, and Languages. While academies and independent schools don't have to follow it, the government is reviewing the framework to increase its relevance and ensure all state-funded schools teach the curriculum.
Department of Education, Westminster
Finally, here is a brief summary of the exams and tests that occur during a child’s formal education. The first significant test in the UK is a phonics screening check in Year 1. The UK school system's key public exams include SATs (Standard Assessment Tests) for primary school pupils at ages 7 and 11. GCSEs (General Certificates of Secondary Education) are taken at age 16 in Year 11. Students in Years 10 and 11 (Key Stage 4) typically study for 8-10 GCSEs, with English Language, English Literature, Maths, and Science (either combined or separate) being compulsory subjects in most schools. While students can choose additional subjects, these core subjects are required. A-Levels (Advance Level), at age 18 in Year 12, are not mandatory and can be replaced with alternative vocational qualifications like BTECs and T-Levels. A-Levels are predominantly taken by students pursuing university higher education.
In the follow up blog post to this one, I recount my own experience of the UK education during the seventies and eighties. I shall try and highlight the differences between what were considered the educational norms in my day, compared to the current system. I will also explore a lot of the social and cultural changes that have happened over the forty years that have elapsed since I last attended any form of school. The most noticeable one being the notion that learning per se is a laudable undertaking, as opposed to specifically learning to meet the needs of the job market.
Conservatives and Tolkien
I don’t know if you have noticed that there are quite a lot of companies that have names taken from Tolkien’s Legendarium. At first glance, this seems innocuous enough. Tolkien’s writings grew in popularity over the seventies and eighties but since the release of the film trilogy at the start of the twenty-first century, his work has become more well known and been assimilated into our wider pop culture. Hence, it seems quite logical that a startup tech company, for example, would choose a name from his writings. No doubt the founders grew up reading The Lord of the Rings and are fans. That all seems plausible. However if you take a further look, it gets somewhat more complex. Here are four companies that have Tolkien based names.
I don’t know if you have noticed that there are quite a lot of companies that have names taken from Tolkien’s Legendarium. At first glance, this seems innocuous enough. Tolkien’s writings grew in popularity over the seventies and eighties but since the release of the film trilogy at the start of the twenty-first century, his work has become more well known and been assimilated into our wider pop culture. Hence, it seems quite logical that a startup tech company, for example, would choose a name from his writings. No doubt the founders grew up reading The Lord of the Rings and are fans. That all seems plausible. However if you take a further look, it gets somewhat more complex. Here are four companies that have Tolkien based names.
Palantir Technologies is a private American software and services company, specializing in data analysis. Named after the “seeing stones” from Tolkien's legendarium, Palantir's original clients were federal agencies of the United States Intelligence Community like CIA and NSA.
Lembas Capital is a San Francisco-based investment firm named after the Elven waybread that appears in The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion. The company invests in both public equity and private equity.
Valar Ventures, named after the Valar, is a US-based venture capital fund founded by Andrew McCormack.
Anduril Industries, named after Aragorn' sword, is an American defence technology company that specializes in autonomous systems.
I don’t consider banks, armaments suppliers and intelligence gatherers to be benign. Yes there are other companies with Tolkieneque names that are doing benevolent things but there are enough doing the opposite for me to consider that there’s something else going on. In this case, the common thread is that political conservatism embraces and feels an affinity to the writings of Professor Tolkien. In fact conservatives from both the US and Europe often cite The Lord of the Rings as a source of inspiration.
Why is this you may ask? Mainly because right-wing politicians are drawn to Tolkien's themes of the heroic struggle against corrupt systems, the return of a legitimate ruler to restore social order and a conservatively hierarchical worldview that reflects medieval Catholic ideas. There is also a suspicion of social modernity. The appeal lies in the narrative of a righteous hero or group challenging a “moribund establishment” to build a “brave new world that reflects a former past glory”. Such ideas resonate with right-wing figures who see themselves as fighting for traditional values against societal collapse. Politicians such as US Vice President J.D. Vance, former Member of theEuropean Parliament Lord Hannan and the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Here are some of the key themes and interpretations that appeal to conservatives.
Heroic Mission and World-Making: Politicians see a parallel between their own political aspirations and Tolkien's heroes, who feel a "duty to save the world" and build a better future.
"Return of the King" and Feudal Order: The core narrative of both The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings involves the re-establishment of a rightful monarch and the restoration of a pre-existing feudal social structure after a period of chaos. This narrative strongly appeals to conservative viewpoints.
Conservative Values and Hierarchy: Tolkien's work is seen by some as aligning with conservative principles due to its depiction of a divinely ordained natural hierarchy, echoing medieval Catholic notions of the "Great Chain of Being" and a worldview that favors traditional social orders over modernity.
Critique of Modernity: Influenced by his experiences and his devout, pre-Vatican II Catholic faith, Tolkien harbored a deep suspicion of modernity, a sentiment that resonates with many on the right who view modern trends as destructive.
Anti-Totalitarianism: While some interpretations of Tolkien focus on conservative themes, others emphasise his opposition to totalitarian systems. This could also appeal to those who view themselves as fighting against oppressive governments or ideologies.
Like many things political, there is an inherent contradiction to much of the above. The drive to build a better world usually means a better world for that specific political class. The restoration of a prior status quo seldom means it is an equitable one. Critiques of modernity are usually against changes in social attitudes, though not technology as that is a useful tool. As for opposing totalitarianism, this usually means circumnavigating legitimate opposing views or institutions that don’t allow conservatives a free hand. But such is the nature of politics and its use of semantics. As for the question of whether these specific interpretations of Tolkien’s work are actually there in the source text, that is highly subjective.
It helps us understand things much better if we can actually determine what were Tolkien’s own personal politics? Well he most certainly was a conservative both politically and socially but within the context of the times he grew up in. Hence despite the sharing of the term, I don’t really think there is a great similarity between Tolkien’s form of Catholic conservatism and his post WWI social sensibilities and a modern American neocon. Tolkien by his own admission disliked political organisations and institutions, claiming an affinity to non-violent anarchism. He was also anti-fascist and sceptical of industrial capitalism, albeit from a romantic perspective. He was also an ardent environmentalist.
Perhaps Tolkien’s biggest appeal to conservatives is his passion for mythology. Myths are a lens through which we explore the mysteries of the world around us and then use to codify and quantify it. Change the myth and you can change the world, as JRR Tolkien well knew. Which is why he spent his life creating new myths to help us better understand the modern world. An understanding tempered by his own world views. It is this that attracts many politicians on the right, who see mythology as means to frame their populist ideas. Political narrative and mythology have many similarities and are rife with archetypes and heroes.
I’m sure we’re now at the point where some readers may argue “so what if the right finds inspiration in Tolkien’s work” as well as “many fans will interpret things in that which they hold dear, irrespective of whether it is truly there or not”. All of which is true. We all see things through the prism or our own passions, or bias if you prefer. However we live in a world where nuance is in decline. The claiming of aspects of pop culture by specific groups can sometimes have negative consequences, mainly for that which is being claimed. Already because conservatives have stated an affinity for Tolkien’s work, some on the left are already seeking to find content connecting it to the right. Hence there have been claims, unsubstantiated in my view, that The Lord of the Rings is inherently racist and therefore by extension, so was the author and those who read it. There is a risk that the failings of the right may inadvertently blight the cultural standing of Tolkien work, simply by an act of non consensual association.
Which is why I feel the need to push back against the risk of such a thing. I do not believe that Tolkien’s work should just be surrendered to the politically and socially conservative. I’d also prefer not to see certain types of companies usurping Tolkien’s work for their own agendas and chronically misinterpreting his work. Or worse still, doing so just to be associated with something that is “cool”. Perhaps Robert T. Tally Jr. professor of English at Texas State University, said it best “In 2024, a number of prominent right-wingers embrace Tolkien’s work as the inspiration for their own ultraconservative worldview. While some Marxists may look upon this scene with bemusement, fantasy as a mode and a genre is far too important to allow the right-wingers to take for themselves, and that includes the works of Tolkien”.
Trapezius Myalgia
Last Wednesday, I woke up with what I thought to be a crick in my neck on the left hand side. I assumed this was simply due to sleeping awkwardly and so I self medicated with some non-prescription pain relief and judicious use of a heat pad. Unfortunately, the problem has persisted and in the last 24 hours it has become much worse. I awoke this morning at about 5:00 AM and as I sat up in bed, an intense pain ran up the left side of my neck and behind my ear. It took several attempts for me to get out of bed because if I turned my head in either direction or inclined my chin, the pain would again run up the side of my neck. Sitting down, getting up and raising my arms caused similar results. While dressing, I attempted to pull a t-shirt over my head. The pain in my neck on this occasion was so severe that I yelled out loud and nearly blacked out.
Last Wednesday, I woke up with what I thought to be a crick in my neck on the left hand side. I assumed this was simply due to sleeping awkwardly and so I self medicated with some non-prescription pain relief and judicious use of a heat pad. Unfortunately, the problem has persisted and in the last 24 hours it has become much worse. I awoke this morning at about 5:00 AM and as I sat up in bed, an intense pain ran up the left side of my neck and behind my ear. It took several attempts for me to get out of bed because if I turned my head in either direction or inclined my chin, the pain would again run up the side of my neck. Sitting down, getting up and raising my arms caused similar results. While dressing, I attempted to pull a t-shirt over my head. The pain in my neck on this occasion was so severe that I yelled out loud and nearly blacked out.
Mrs P subsequently took me to Princess Royal University Hospital in Farnborough, Kent. It is not my local hospital but we decided to go there because it has both an Urgent Treatment Centre and a comprehensive Emergency Department that are both available 24/7. Furthermore, being a training hospital there are a lot more staff available. Due to traffic and the fact it took a while for me to get in and out of the car, I arrived at the UTC at 7:40 AM. Fortunately, there were only about 10 or so people in the waiting room. After checking in at reception, I was quickly seen by a triage nurse who took note of my symptoms, current medication and wider medical history. Fortunately, as this wasn’t battlefield triage, I was not shot in the head. Instead, I waited for about 90 minutes and was then seen by a doctor who was very thorough in reaching a diagnosis.
As I didn’t have a fever or persistent vomiting he ruled out meningitis, which was fine by me, as I had even considered that. Because I was in pain when raising my arms and that the pain was specific to my neck, I was concerned that it may be heart related. I suffer from heart disease and take medication for it. Thankfully, I wasn’t having a stroke. Hence the doctor concluded that I have injured my left trapezius muscle, which runs along my neck, connects to the shoulder blade and down to the top of the rib cage. This is known as Trapezius Myalgia and it is not a medical disorder or disease per se but rather a symptom of an existing underlying condition. Hence I shall be having a scan within the next three days to determine what is causing the problem with this specific muscle. IE is it a sprain, tear or something else.
I spent about two hours at the Urgent Treatment Centre and was impressed by its efficiency. I suspect that I arrived at possibly the optimal time of day. Upon returning home, I checked the National Health Service app on my phone and found that the doctor who saw me had already updated my medical history. This had details regarding my Trapezius Myalgia and a list of follow up actions. Due to lines of demarcation and ongoing changes to “business delivery”, he could not make a direct referral to the physiotherapy department at my local hospital. There is now a self referral system in place which has to be done via a specific app. Needless to say, I have now installed this app and completed the requisite questionnaire. I now await a response from the musculoskeletal (MSK) clinic at my local Hospital, Queen Mary’s in Sidcup.
The NHS in the UK tends to be very good at dealing with urgent problems and emergencies. It doesn’t always do so well with follow up clinics and long term health issue management. For example, Mrs P’s records were not migrated when a specific cardiology department database was updated a few years ago, resulting in her effectively falling off everyone’s radar for 66 weeks. I am not especially happy or confident that the ongoing move to make all major medical departments accessible apps, is going to be as successful as the Minister of Health thinks. However, for the present my immediate health concerns have been addressed. My ailment has been diagnosed and I have a supply of opiates to address the immediate pain. The next step is to determine why it happened and what can be done to effectively remedy it. No doubt that will be another blog post.
Car Parks
I am a non-driver. If you wish to know the specifics of how this situation came about, feel free to read the post I wrote about it back in early 2018. To be succinct, I don’t drive, I’ve never learned how and have never owned a car. I don’t feel that I’ve missed out. In fact I feel quite the opposite. I think I’ve dodged a major hassle and expense in life. Mrs P, my significant other, is the designated driver of our household. She owns a car, insures it and maintains it. She also mainly pays for the petrol, whereas I pick up the tab for other things such as lunch or hotels when we travel. All I have to do is make like Iggy Pop if we go anywhere. The most I am ever called upon to do is navigate using Google maps and Android Auto. Fortunately, Mrs P enjoys driving. Always has done. Hence I look upon this situation as an extremely fortunate and equitable arrangement.
I am a non-driver. If you wish to know the specifics of how this situation came about, feel free to read the post I wrote about it back in early 2018. To be succinct, I don’t drive, I’ve never learned how and have never owned a car. I don’t feel that I’ve missed out. In fact I feel quite the opposite. I think I’ve dodged a major hassle and expense in life. Mrs P, my significant other, is the designated driver of our household. She owns a car, insures it and maintains it. She also mainly pays for the petrol, whereas I pick up the tab for other things such as lunch or hotels when we travel. All I have to do is make like Iggy Pop if we go anywhere. The most I am ever called upon to do is navigate using Google maps and Android Auto. Fortunately, Mrs P enjoys driving. Always has done. Hence I look upon this situation as an extremely fortunate and equitable arrangement.
However, a few years ago something came along to alter this balanced situation. Namely, the increase in use of parking apps. For a long time, we just kept a stash of coins in the car for parking meters etc. This broadly worked but from time to time, we would be in a car park and the ticket machine would be on the fritz. Often these would be because the machines were solar powered and the panels on top were covered in several inches of pigeon and seagull guano. This would always fill us with trepidation, as we’d have to take copious photos via our phones so we could appeal the penalty charge we’d inevitably be slapped with. So I installed the first and possibly the biggest parking app in the UK on my phone. Ringo. It was hardly rocket science to set up an account and a method of payment. The app usually identifies which car park you’re using and the payments are taken promptly.
Roll on several years and now it is just part of the routine that I pay for the parking. I also have two other parking apps on my phone. “C'est la vie”. Overall, these apps are quite useful. Not only do they make paying for parking easy, they also are a great way of finding out if a car park is full prior to arriving. However, we have had a few issues such as having no internet access which obviously renders the apps useless. This always happens when the traditional ticket machine is also broken. Oh fate, you capricious bastard. Overall these apps are useful but they ultimately only address the symptoms of the UK’s infrastructure problems. Car ownership is increasing, while investments in roads and parking are declining. Finding a space is therefore going to become increasingly difficult in time and although I don’t drive, that is still going to be a problem for me and everyone else.
"42"
I am getting old. I shall be 58 in December. Now, as soon as you say something like that these days, some folk will get uncomfortable and say things like “age is relative” or “you’re as old as you feel”. Well I don’t measure my age in geological terms, so it’s not relative and I’m not feeling anyone especially young at the moment, so both schools or thoughts can sod off. I am getting old by the yardstick we measure human life by, namely years. I have specific, age related health issues and I just don’t feel as energised as I did a decade ago. There are minor signs, such as deciding to go to bed earlier and taking longer to get dressed after taking a shower. I’m not at death’s door but I am slowing up physically. It would also appear that my reactions are also slowing down as I tend to get massacred in any FPS I play these days. So far, my mental faculties seem to be holding up. However, that is the one thing I worry about the most. The potential loss of cognitive abilities scares the shit out of me.
I am getting old. I shall be 58 in December. Now, as soon as you say something like that these days, some folk will get uncomfortable and say things like “age is relative” or “you’re as old as you feel”. Well I don’t measure my age in geological terms, so it’s not relative and I’m not feeling anyone especially young at the moment, so both schools or thoughts can sod off. I am getting old by the yardstick we measure human life by, namely years. I have specific, age related health issues and I just don’t feel as energised as I did a decade ago. There are minor signs, such as deciding to go to bed earlier and taking longer to get dressed after taking a shower. I’m not at death’s door but I am slowing up physically. It would also appear that my reactions are also slowing down as I tend to get massacred in any FPS I play these days. So far, my mental faculties seem to be holding up. However, that is the one thing I worry about the most. The potential loss of cognitive abilities scares the shit out of me.
As you get older, you tend to become more philosophical. Possibly because you have less immediate demands upon you, so you have more time to think and reflect upon “life, the universe and everything”. These musings are vastly different from those you had with your friends, as a teenager. Those late night discussions were often ill informed, naive and tempered by substance abuse. The sort of personal reflections I indulge in now are couched in hard experiences and not all of them are good. I also have a lifetime association with organised religion, both tangential and direct, to draw upon. Another factor is that I’ve read prodigiously over the course of my life, across a range of disciplines. Hence, I reached a point in my life where it is assumed by my peers that I should know something by now. I’ve even had a younger acquaintance ask me if I’m any closer to figuring it all out.
Well it is my considered opinion that all questions about the so-called meaning of life are pretty much pointless. Why, you ask? Because there basically isn’t one. Human life on this planet is just an accidental by product of other natural processes. There isn’t a plan. There’s nothing next, it doesn’t get better and your time here is broadly irrelevant and futile. Not futile enough for me to top myself. There are still plenty of pointless distractions to pursue or indulge in the meantime. But overall, what you see is what you get in life. Through a caprice of birth you either get lucky and have decades of hedonistic pleasure, or you work hard for not much and experience intermittent moments of joy, or you have an utterly terrible life filled with pain, suffering and misery. Life is inherently unfair and human beings continuously act against their own best interests. If you pick up a history book you’ll see that we make the same mistakes, again and again. Like Electronic Arts.
So what do you do in light of this revelation? Well it’s up to us to impose our own meaning and purpose upon our lives. Also, accept the fact that some things are nothing more than the sum of their parts. One of the questions that has always gotten on my Tatty Bojangles is this “science can explain the how and why but not the meaning”. Well Colin, because it’s always some p’tak called Colin who trots this drivel out, have you ever considered that there’s no requirement for everything to have a meaning? But I digress, if you’re finding it hard, coming up with ideas for the purpose of life, consider this one. “Try to be nice to people, avoid eating fat, read a good book every now and then, get some walking in, and try to live together in peace and harmony with people of all creeds and nations”. If that’s too complex, how about this one? “Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind. Always”. Even to Colin, I guess.
Foots Cray Reuse and Recycling Centre
Foots Cray Reuse and Recycling Centre is the fancy name of our local dump. A few decades ago, this was no more than a scrap yard. The rubbish and bric-a-brac left by the public was sorted and scavenged for resaleable scrap. Everything that was left was subsequently sent to landfill or incineration. Much has changed. Today it is the embodiment of the modern recycling ethos. The recycling centre is a well managed, carefully segregated site providing safe disposal of a wide variety of household and garden waste. Wood, metal and hardcore are recycled and there is similar provision for a multitude of electrical goods. Plastics, oils, paint, batteries can be safely disposed of. I have yet to find a home item that they do not have provision to dispose of. The Foots Cray Reuse and Recycling Centre has won awards for the service it provides and is considered one of the best facilities of its kind in the South East of the country.
Foots Cray Reuse and Recycling Centre is the fancy name of our local dump. A few decades ago, this was no more than a scrap yard. The rubbish and bric-a-brac left by the public was sorted and scavenged for resaleable scrap. Everything that was left was subsequently sent to landfill or incineration. Much has changed. Today it is the embodiment of the modern recycling ethos. The recycling centre is a well managed, carefully segregated site providing safe disposal of a wide variety of household and garden waste. Wood, metal and hardcore are recycled and there is similar provision for a multitude of electrical goods. Plastics, oils, paint, batteries can be safely disposed of. I have yet to find a home item that they do not have provision to dispose of. The Foots Cray Reuse and Recycling Centre has won awards for the service it provides and is considered one of the best facilities of its kind in the South East of the country.
I recently went to Foots Cray Reuse and Recycling Centre. We had some old garden furniture to dispose of along with some packaging from various new kitchen items. Upon arrival Mrs P had to show her drivers license as it has our home address on it, thus proving we are residents of the borough. We were duly allowed in, subsequently parked and took our items to the appropriate disposal points. The staff are very helpful and happy to assist us. It was a very efficient process. What I wasn’t quite prepared for was seeing the direct consequences of living in our modern, consumer society so starkly. Sadly, due to the busy nature of the recycling centre, I wasn’t in a position to quickly take photos, so I’ve had to rely on the internet to provide them and illustrate my point.
Most of us will be familiar with those large plastic, vacuum moulded toy vehicles that children ride in. Some are pedal powered, others are designed to be towed by an exhausted parent. These things are usually brightly coloured or based upon a popular franchise such as Paw Patrol or Peppa Pig. I saw a substantial pile of these items which must have been 20 feet high. It was a very striking image not only due to the quantity of these things but that it instantly made you consider “how do you safely dispose of these”, closely followed by “didn’t anyone else want them”? As I walked around the recycling centre, I was further struck by similar stockpiles of microwave ovens, trampolines and mattresses. Another thing that surprised me was how new many of the items were. After speaking to staff it would seem that many items are thrown out just to make room for a replacement and not because they are broken.
Someone had collected all those household decorations and ornaments that have life affirming messages like “family”, “love” and “we live here”. There were also a few corporate motivational posters added to this pile. The fact that these had all been disposed of by their owners just made their central conceit even more spurious. This and many other stockpiles of commonplace domestic bric-a-brac suddenly hammered home the reality of consumerism and the unsustainable nature of the way in which we live our lives. The Foots Cray Reuse and Recycling Centre can safely dispose, reuse or repurpose much of what is left by residents of the borough but there is a lot of stuff that cannot be so easily addressed. There are of course many other recycling centres up and down the UK that do not do such a good job and still defer to incineration and landfill.
Cities are highly complex systems and much of their functionality goes unseen by the general public. Water, gas, electricity and waste disposal are all services that we use but we seldom have any direct experience of how they are delivered. We often become oblivious to them and take them for granted only to be reminded of their importance when they fail. My short visit to my local recycling centre has given me a timely reminder about the way we live or lives and its inherent unsustainability. There’s not much that I or Mrs P can immediately do to remedy this situation but we will certainly give greater consideration to trying to find a new home for unwanted items. We already make great use of local charity shops when disposing of old clothes. Our local railway station has a book exchange facility. All of which helps to a degree but I worry about the long term future of waste management and recycling in the UK.
The Art of Packing Your Groceries
One of the things I enjoy most about having my own blog is the fact I can write about the mundane and the trivial. Mainly because so much of life falls into this category. Life defining events are all fine and dandy and certainly lend themselves to philosophical musings that make fine blog posts. However, you can get just as much mileage out of those everyday things in life with less gravitas, that we all do. Such as buying new clothes, taking out the recycling and going to buy groceries. I have written about all of these in the past. However, today I wish to broach a subject that both fascinates me but also raises my blood pressure. I believe it to be a social marker and a clear indication of an individual’s personal psychology. Yes, I’m talking about packing your groceries at the supermarket and the various rituals and social etiquette associated with it.
One of the things I enjoy most about having my own blog is the fact I can write about the mundane and the trivial. Mainly because so much of life falls into this category. Life defining events are all fine and dandy and certainly lend themselves to philosophical musings that make fine blog posts. However, you can get just as much mileage out of those everyday things in life with less gravitas, that we all do. Such as buying new clothes, taking out the recycling and going to buy groceries. I have written about all of these in the past. However, today I wish to broach a subject that both fascinates me but also raises my blood pressure. I believe it to be a social marker and a clear indication of an individual’s personal psychology. Yes, I’m talking about packing your groceries at the supermarket and the various rituals and social etiquette associated with it.
Now before we begin, it has come to my attention that in some countries, such as the US, there is a culture of having a grocery clerk undertake this task for you. However, research indicates that this practice is declining due to the increased use of reusable bags and the desire for faster checkout lines. Self-checkouts are also a factor (something else I have strong views on but that, alas, is another blog post). So this disparity may not be such a major distinction, as it previously was. Moving on, let me set the scene for that which I wish to discuss. Imagine if you will, that you’ve gone to the grocery store/supermarket of your choice at a fairly busy time of day. You’ve finished your shopping and are now in the checkout queue. The customer in front is currently having their items scanned and there is now space on the conveyor belt for you to place your groceries.
Firstly, how do you organise your shopping on the conveyor belt? I favour a process of segregation according to size, weight and whether an item has come from a cooler/refrigerator/freezer. Cold items cause condensation to form so you don’t want them coming into contact with specific things such as a magazine or birthday cards. Next when packing begins the following protocols are followed. Weighty items are evenly spread between bags with lighter objects placed on top. An item’s category and where it goes once home also affects which bag it is packed in. We keep a stock of household cleaning products in our garden shed, along with a supply of toilet paper. Bags packed with such products can then be conveniently taken directly to their respective destinations. Finally, fragile items, such as eggs and crisps, are packed last of all and cushioned with bread etc. When required we will use bespoke bags for bottles or hot food.
Next, after this efficient undertaking is complete, there is the matter of paying the checkout operator/cashier. Fumbling, dithering and any other form of being unprepared is verboten and a cardinal sin that will invoke much tutting and “hard stares” from other customers waiting in the queue. Hence cash or cards must be provided post haste. There is usually a LED display facing the customer indicating the price as goods are scanned. Use this visual cue so you can be prepared. While you pack your bags, it is socially acceptable and indeed, civil, to make “small talk” with the checkout operator/cashier. However, once you have paid, do not linger relating anecdotes pertaining to your last enema or the birds on Mrs. Coltarts roof, as you will unnecessarily delay the next customer. This again will invoke tutting and further social admonishment.
The process I’ve described is best carried out by two people and is a skill that Mrs P and I are well versed in. We have experimented with aspects of this procedure over the years, segregating items according to atomic weight and taking into account the Beaufort scale as well as sun spot activity. We have found the current method the most efficient and self righteous. Of course, there are other methods for packing your bags. Many people prefer a more “free style” approach, wreaking havoc in their wake. Make note of such individuals and act accordingly, come the revolution. Mrs P thinks I take these matters too seriously and there are worse crimes to commit. Indeed there are, like that blasphemous act of eating an item in store, before you’ve paid for it and presenting the cashier with an empty wrapper and barcode. I believe there’s a new eighth circle of hell reserved for such barbarians.
Managed Decline
“Managed decline” is a phrase that refers to the processes associated with the end of a specific lifecycle, with the goal of minimizing costs or other forms of loss. The concept originated in business where it referred to the management of companies and industries. More recently it is used in wider contexts. The concept gained prominence with regard to urban policy, particularly in the UK during the eighties when several major cities suffered economic and political collapse. Of late, the term has been applied to the UK, encompassing a systematic weakening of the economy, social structures, and cultural values, as well as its global political and diplomatic force. In each case, managed decline involves making strategic choices about resource allocation and accepting the consequences of those decisions. It is a complex issue with ethical and practical considerations, often sparking debate about the best way to address decline and reverse the process.
“Managed decline” is a phrase that refers to the processes associated with the end of a specific lifecycle, with the goal of minimizing costs or other forms of loss. The concept originated in business where it referred to the management of companies and industries. More recently it is used in wider contexts. The concept gained prominence with regard to urban policy, particularly in the UK during the eighties when several major cities suffered economic and political collapse. Of late, the term has been applied to the UK, encompassing a systematic weakening of the economy, social structures, and cultural values, as well as its global political and diplomatic force. In each case, managed decline involves making strategic choices about resource allocation and accepting the consequences of those decisions. It is a complex issue with ethical and practical considerations, often sparking debate about the best way to address decline and reverse the process.
When I was in my early twenties and beginning my working life (circa 1990) there was still a strong belief held within the UK that overall, things improved for each generation. By this we meant working conditions and pay, opportunities, both career and social, as well as healthcare and life expectancy. To a degree it held true. By the time I was thirty I was earning far more each year in IT than my father had ever earned as a mechanical engineer. However, there were some disadvantages to this era, the most noticeable being buying a house. In the UK there has always been and remains a strong culture of home ownership. Like it or not, it is considered one of the criteria by which we define success. Sadly from the nineties onwards, buying a home has become increasingly more expensive to the point where it becomes an impossibility for those on low pay or a single income.
My son’s generation (he is in his early thirties) has a very different perspective on their personal future and that of the nation. The post war social contract is dead and the welfare state is unsustainable. Jobs seldom offer a salary sufficient to cover living costs, therefore one’s future is one of constant work and managing personal debt. As for retirement, it is seen as an impossible dream. The expectation is that one will have to work continuously, primarily to pay for rented accommodation. As for wider political issues, there is a growing consensus that traditional politics and parties cannot or will not fix the most immediate problems. Hence there is a growing interest in new parties and populism and a misplaced hope that they will reset the status quo. Sadly, populist leaders around the world have proven they are not up to the job and despite promises simply increase the existing wealth gaps and social disparity.
I no longer believe that the problems facing the UK can be fixed. The existing political system is not fit for purpose and attracts the worst of us. We have an ageing population and a diminishing workforce that expects continued access to the welfare state and healthcare at the standard that they have always enjoyed. All of us want national infrastructure and institutions such as the courts, police and schools etc to work but no one wants to pay the increased costs required to run them. As for the loaded subject of immigration, the real issue is not illegal immigrants but the number of legitimate migrants who come to the UK to fill the jobs caused by the ever increasing skills gap. We are failing to learn the skills required for a modern economy and today’s world. Both these issues are integral to our current problems and contribute to our national decline.
Another factor is the breakdown of social interaction and our national discourse, the replacing of community with the cult of the individual and the erosion of critical thinking. Nuance, context, knowledge and reason are now rare skills which are often met with hostility. Social media and the internet are certainly a factor in this cultural shift. All of which makes discussion and compromise impossible. Everything from what is your favourite brand of coffee to national politics is presented as a binary choice. Those who don’t favour your choice are, by default, your enemy. This cancerous mindset is spreading everywhere and into everything. Unable to counter “feelings” with logical arguments, the rational thinkers retreat, ceding territory to the furious hard of thinking. Nothing gets better because those who now have what they craved, namely power without knowledge, just break things and move on when they lose interest or fail to achieve their misplaced goal. Of course it’s always someone else’s fault.
Managed decline is a gradual process, although global events can exacerbate it. Hence I don’t see an immediate economic and social collapse. Governments will continue to tinker at the periphery of problems and there may be occasional lulls in problems and even minor economic booms, depending on wider global economic issues. But I do see pay stagnation, increases in the cost of living, public services struggling to work and infrastructure failing. Food shortages are also possible due to war and failing supply chains. Crime will increase as poverty grows and civil unrest will increase as frustration grows. As ever, it will be the poor and vulnerable who will bear the brunt of these problems. Civil rights and freedoms will also be curtailed as we voluntarily give more and more information to big companies. As AI becomes more ubiquitous it won’t be a case of robots oppressing us but simply a case of “the computer says no” because you failed to meet some spurious criteria within an algorithm.
What does one do in the face of such inevitability? At 57 I’m pretty much going to do nothing, because there is nothing I can do. There are no credible political parties and the process of government as it stands is unable to facilitate change. As for the younger generation, posting “ I stand with [insert cause here]” on social media, that isn’t going to help either. Traditional forms of lobbying and striving for political change are no longer effective. Plus, we don’t all want the same thing, due to the way we compartmentalise our lives and pick “sides”. Hence the future politically in the UK will be distinctly Pythonesque. Frankly, there comes a point where you have to cease feeling concerned and powerless about domestic and global politics because it is such a burden. So you just continue to live your life, the best you can, doing small acts of kindness as and when you can. Perhaps I’ll be dead before the worst of it happens, although I suspect that isn’t going to be the case.
COVID-19 and the Pandemic: Five Years On
It’s been five years since the COVID-19 global pandemic. At the time it was an utterly alien and tumultuous experience. However, due to the way numerous institutions responded (but not the government), many people thought there would be a great deal of social and political change in the UK afterwards. The pandemic highlighted the impotence of the NHS, as well as those who work in jobs designated as essential. It also shone a spotlight on many of the country’s inequalities. Due to our national character, a real sense of community emerged. Something that had been absent for a very long time. Briefly, we got a glimpse of what the UK could be when we all broadly worked together. There was a sense that now was the time to change the status quo. Sadly, nothing changed. As soon as the vaccination program was launched, the UK quickly slipped back into the mire it’s been wallowing in since the end of WWII.
It’s been five years since the COVID-19 global pandemic. At the time it was an utterly alien and tumultuous experience. However, due to the way numerous institutions responded (but not the government), many people thought there would be a great deal of social and political change in the UK afterwards. The pandemic highlighted the impotence of the NHS, as well as those who work in jobs designated as essential. It also shone a spotlight on many of the country’s inequalities. Due to our national character, a real sense of community emerged. Something that had been absent for a very long time. Briefly, we got a glimpse of what the UK could be when we all broadly worked together. There was a sense that now was the time to change the status quo. Sadly, nothing changed. As soon as the vaccination program was launched, the UK quickly slipped back into the mire it’s been wallowing in since the end of WWII.
I caught COVID-19 in early April 2020. This was hardly surprising as I was at the time caring for both my elderly parents. They lived one road away from me and I visited everyday to undertake chores. There were also healthcare professionals coming and going all the time, so despite rigorous hygiene protocols, the increased risk made catching COVID-19 inevitable. It was a most unpleasant experience that lasted about a fortnight. The initial flu-like symptoms soon increased in intensity, resulting in constant head and muscle pain, violent coughing and a sense that I was in a constant bear hug, making it difficult to breathe. I slept for most of the day and had very low energy levels. Once the virus had run its course, I had extreme fatigue for the remainder of the year. It took a full twelve months to return to what I consider to be my normal state of health.
Regent Street, London, during lockdown 2020
The standout aspect of the pandemic were the three lockdown periods. Everyone has their own perspective on these based upon their own personal experience. For me the lockdowns were not a big deal. I was a carer with a very fixed routine. I continued to undertake my duties and the only difference was having to wear a mask when out and standing apart from others in queues. When the restrictions were reduced, Mrs P and I would go for walks and visit local parks. I remember vividly how much less traffic there was and how that impacted upon ambient noise levels. The air quality in South East London noticeably improved. COVID-19 did not interfere with my hobbies and so I continued writing and gaming. In fact it was a “golden age” for the latter. I spent a lot of time playing Warzone, which had just launched and Fall Guys. As someone who finds the hustle and bustle of contemporary life quite tiring, the lockdowns were an interesting change of pace.
However, for many the pandemic brought bereavement. As a carer of two elderly parents, I came to know a great many other ageing residents in the local area. Over the summer months of 2020, many would pass away after catching the virus. People who I knew from my mother’s hairdressers and those I often saw at surgeries and clinics. Several residents in my street died and not all of them were old. My son also lost colleagues at TFL due to the nature of their work. And then I lost my father in August. Ironically he did not catch COVID-19 but instead caught pneumonia after a chest infection. He survived the pneumonia but was left exhausted and frail. He elected to decline any further treatment and died on 16th September 2020. Due to the lockdown I only visited him once during the four weeks he was at hospital and was not with him when he passed away.
National COVID Memorial Wall London
I find that post pandemic, my sense of the passing of the years has been derailed. I have a clear sense of events up to 2019 but from 2020 onwards it all gets confused, due to the unusual nature of that time. Five years on, COVID-19 is still trotted out as a political excuse for anything not working or underperforming. As for the hoped for social change and political renaissance, it never happened and frankly was never going to. Many in the top 1% used the pandemic as a means to further enrich themselves and the country’s social divides are still there, bigger than ever. The pandemic has also been a contributory factor in the growth of nationalism, which is now looming large. Overall it is hard for me to summarise and quantify my thoughts on the pandemic. To quote Dickens’ “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness.”
Smiling
Prior to writing this post, I clocked a picture on a news website of the now disgraced TV presenter (and nonce) Gregg Wallace. I noticed that he doesn’t smile as such but tends to “gurn” instead. So does UK politician (and cunt) Nigel Farage. He always has his mouth open and his face contorted in some curious rictus, in most of the pictures you see of him. Mind you, I also don’t photograph especially well and any pictures of me smiling tend to look sinister or with a heavy hint of irony. The bottom line is not everyone is good at smiling. It doesn’t come naturally to all of us. This can be a problem at times or in social situations, because smiling is an integral part of our culture. On many occasions, I’ve been walking along, my face in a state of natural repose, only to be harangued by some twat shouting “cheer up, it may never happen”. A phrase I haven’t quite fathomed out, even to this day.
Conrad Veidt as Gwynplaine, in The Man Who Laughs (1928)
Prior to writing this post, I clocked a picture on a news website of the now disgraced TV presenter (and nonce) Gregg Wallace. I noticed that he doesn’t smile as such but tends to “gurn” instead. So does UK politician (and cunt) Nigel Farage. He always has his mouth open and his face contorted in some curious rictus, in most of the pictures you see of him. Mind you, I also don’t photograph especially well and any pictures of me smiling tend to look sinister or with a heavy hint of irony. The bottom line is not everyone is good at smiling. It doesn’t come naturally to all of us. This can be a problem at times or in social situations, because smiling is an integral part of our culture. On many occasions, I’ve been walking along, my face in a state of natural repose, only to be harangued by some twat shouting “cheer up, it may never happen”. A phrase I haven’t quite fathomed out, even to this day.
Firstly, let us first define what smiling is. According to Google, to smile is “to form one’s features into a pleased, kind, or amused expression, typically with the corners of the mouth turned up and the front teeth exposed”. As to the function of smiling within society, it is a powerful form of non-verbal communication that serves multiple functions. These include expressing emotions, improving mood, and influencing social interactions. It's a universal signal of happiness and can foster positive connections with others. It is a tool for social bonding and has positive benefits such as stress reduction and mood enhancement. Outside of human society among the other primates, smiling primarily serves as a social signal, often indicating appeasement, submission, or even fear, rather than a straightforward expression of happiness. Fascinating stuff.
Amanda Bearse in Fright Night (1985)
Setting aside the sociological and behavioural complexities of smiling, let us focus on the realities of smiling in society. Smiling is a facet of expected behaviour. On paper that’s not such a bad thing. A smile lets other people know that things are okay. It can be a polite social nicety like saying please and thank you. However, there is scope for this simple social cue to become a far more tyrannical tool, especially for women. Across most forms of media, it is rare to find an image of a woman who is not smiling. Something which is not true of men. Research shows that women smile 62 times per day on average, while men smile only 8 times. Smiling is therefore seen by many as a social expectation, even obligation. A curious offshoot of asking how someone is, with the understanding that you don’t answer negatively. Hence, the cat calls and the aforementioned comments.
One of the things that boils my piss, to invoke a contemporary expression, is the inherently flawed assumption that if you’re not smiling, you’re unhappy. My default facial expression is one of repose. IE neutral. I am not in any specific emotional state and more than likely contemplating something like a sandwich or what are the toilets like in Star Trek. The complexities of my psychological disposition, conveyed via the medium of my face, is obviously too complex a concept for some people who exist in a simple binary state. They, however, they can fuck off with their unwarranted social expectations. I will smile as and when I see fit and not before. I believe that any form of social expression, if used ad nauseum, loses its value. Which is exactly what has happened to smiling. Those who smile incessantly are either lying bastards, trying to sell you something or a couple of sandwiches short of a picnic.
The Sea
I enjoy visiting the coast. I always have. I find the sight and sounds of the sea very calming and thought provoking. There is something about seeing the ocean stretch out to the horizon and its implied enormity, that gives you a sense of perspective. The UK is a seafaring nation and therefore it is an integral part of our history and national identity. Hence a strong nautical theme and a sense of its importance has bled through into our popular culture. It is therefore quite common for people to have a positive attitude towards the sea and its associated leisure activities. I like to visit the coast at various times of the year and walk along the beach, just listening to the waves, lost in my own thoughts. This is not a hard thing to do in the UK, as no one lives further than 70 miles (113 kilometers) from the coast.
Hythe Beach
I enjoy visiting the coast. I always have. I find the sight and sounds of the sea very calming and thought provoking. There is something about seeing the ocean stretch out to the horizon and its implied enormity, that gives you a sense of perspective. The UK is a seafaring nation and therefore it is an integral part of our history and national identity. Hence a strong nautical theme and a sense of its importance has bled through into our popular culture. It is therefore quite common for people to have a positive attitude towards the sea and its associated leisure activities. I like to visit the coast at various times of the year and walk along the beach, just listening to the waves, lost in my own thoughts. This is not a hard thing to do in the UK, as no one lives further than 70 miles (113 kilometers) from the coast.
I often write summaries of my various travels and they are frequently just summaries of a few historical facts associated with the places I’ve visited. I would, on this occasion, like to discuss two places that I’ve recently been to and offer a different perspective. The first is Swalecliffe, which lies between Whitstable and Herne Bay. This small coastal area looks out over the North Sea. It has a rugged strip of grassland that leads down to the pebble beach, which has wooden groynes to prevent shoreline erosion. The road, Marine Crescent, runs parallel to the beach and the houses along it all have balconies, observation decks or other means by which their owners can sit and enjoy the seaview. There is a promenade adjacent to the beach and various facilities available along it, including some very colourful beach huts.
Swalecliffe Beach
We visited the beach on 30th April, roundabout 10:45 AM. We were making our way along the coast, Eastward, stopping anywhere along the way that took our fancy. What attracted us to the beach at Swalecliffe was the fact that there was a sea mist at the time, although it was receding. So we parked up and took a leisurely stroll. At the time the beach was mainly empty. There were some dog walkers and a few people fixing their beach hut. The sea mist was at the time halfway up the beach but slowly vanishing in the sunlight. It was very picturesque but there was also a vague supernatural aspect to it all. I immediately thought of a particular M. R. James’ ghost story that featured a sinister figure, obscured by sea mist and on the periphery of one’s vision. Sadly, the moment didn’t last long. In less than 30 minutes the mist had gone leaving just a scenic pebble beach but it was a striking experience.
Today, Mrs P and I visited Southbourne Beach, located in Bournemouth. It is a popular, Blue Flag award-winning beach known for its cleanliness and wide sandy and shingle expanse. It is one of those beaches that is popular with locals but not necessarily well known to the wider population. Tourists tend to head to Bournemouth. Southbourne beach, set below a cliff, is accessible via the zigzagging Fisherman's Walk from Southbourne High Street. It offers amenities like accessible toilets, kiosks, and lifeguard services. It is an extremely clean and tidy beach, with wide expanses of sand and shingle. When it is warm and sunny, such as today, it is the sort of beach where you can happily spend hours just relaxing and daydreaming. It has ample facilities and a great ambience. It also has the benefit of not being crowded.
Both of these visits highlight the fascinating quality of the sea. The sea mist at Swalecliffe invoked a sense of fascination at a natural phenomenon that I had never seen before. It also had a sense of mystery as it is an occurrence that has been used as a plot device in many books over the years. My experience at Southbourne beach was far more about the inherent calmness of the environment. It is the perfect place in good weather to switch off and relax, or ruminate upon benign, idle thoughts. Furthermore, irrespective of the season or indeed the beach itself, I think that it is the rhythmic quality of the sea that is the key to its calming presence. That combined with the sea air and its negative ions seem to have a very uplifting effect upon one’s mood. Yet despite all these factors, I have never felt disposed to venture out upon the sea. I much prefer just to observe and contemplate it.
The Problem With Fruit Trees
In many suburban streets throughout Greater London, gardens at the front of a house have been replaced over time by off road parking. Often the entire area adjacent to the road, which was previously home to flowers, shrubs and trees are now just drives made of blocks, concrete or gravel. All of which is due to the increase in car ownership per household, over the last five decades. The rectitude of which I shall not discuss here. However, not all drives comprehensively obliterate all traces of previous front gardens. Next door to my own home, the neighbouring house has a third of its front garden remaining. This includes a rose bush, a lot of brambles and a fruit bearing tree, that I recently found out was some species of plum. The neighbours themselves are hampered in conducting garden maintenance by the terms of their lease. As a result the garden is left unmaintained by their landlord.
In many suburban streets throughout Greater London, gardens at the front of a house have been replaced over time by off road parking. Often the entire area adjacent to the road, which was previously home to flowers, shrubs and trees are now just drives made of blocks, concrete or gravel. All of which is due to the increase in car ownership per household, over the last five decades. The rectitude of which I shall not discuss here. However, not all drives comprehensively obliterate all traces of previous front gardens. Next door to my own home, the neighbouring house has a third of its front garden remaining. This includes a rose bush, a lot of brambles and a fruit bearing tree, that I recently found out was some species of plum. The neighbours themselves are hampered in conducting garden maintenance by the terms of their lease. As a result the garden is left unmaintained by their landlord.
Trees, like most other forms of flora, are not respectful of property boundaries. The one in our neighbours garden is approximately 18 feet high and unfortunately right next to the wall separating houses. After some cursory research I think it may be a Mirabelle Plum tree. Currently, the fruit it bears are ripe and falling onto both properties. Over the last few days, I’ve had to go outside each morning and sweep up the windfall fruit and deposit them into our garden recycling waste. If I don’t do this, the fruit is crushed under foot and inevitably trodden into the house. There is also scope for the fruit to cause an accident such as a twisted ankle. They also attract a lot of insects, such as flies and wasps. Due to the sheer volume of fruit, it can sometimes take a week or two for it all to fall. In the meantime it is effectively a nuisance and it creates work.
If you take the time to walk around the local area, there are quite a few fruit bearing trees and bushes located in vestigial gardens. A hangover from the days when people didn’t plant such things for cosmetic reasons but actively cultivated fruit. As a child neighbours up and down my street would exchange homemade jams, marmalades, chutneys and relishes. During the seventies there was a time when home winemaking was popular and fruit trees were a great source of free ingredients. I remember going on excursions via local alleyways and side streets with my father, collecting fruit from trees and bushes which he then used for winemaking or homemade desserts. Apple crumble, stewed plums and raspberries and cream were common seasonal dishes during my youth. The notion of letting such a commodity go to waste was unheard of.
Sadly, such days have gone. No one knocks on your door and asks if they can pick your fruit crop anymore and hence it is left to waste, across various drives, and pavements in boroughs such as mine. Something that was once of a practical benefit is now just seen as an inconvenience. I have spoken to our neighbours and will try to liaise with their landlord so that the plum tree in question can be either cut back substantially or at least pollarded. It may even be more cost effective to have the entire tree removed, although that does seem somewhat drastic. I’m sure it does offer environmental benefits, just not to humans. And that is the problem in a nutshell. It is another example of how humans want the environment that they live in to accommodate their needs. Anything that doesn’t becomes a problem to be fixed, irrespective of its impact elsewhere in the ecosystem.
UK Heatwave
Temperatures are forecast to increase across the UK over the weekend. They have gradually risen over the last few days and are expected to reach the official “heatwave” threshold in some places for the third time this year. Highs of 34°C (93.2°F) are likely today and possibly on Saturday and Sunday, with above average temperatures continuing into early next week. The UK Met Office has predicted that south-east Wales, central southern and south-east England are likely to see the hottest weather. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has extended yellow heat health alerts to cover every region in England, which will remain in place until 10:00 BST on Tuesday 15 July. The warnings mean that health and social care services could be significantly affected by the weather, due to increased demand or a rise in deaths.
Temperatures are forecast to increase across the UK over the weekend. They have gradually risen over the last few days and are expected to reach the official “heatwave” threshold in some places for the third time this year. Highs of 34°C (93.2°F) are likely today and possibly on Saturday and Sunday, with above average temperatures continuing into early next week. The UK Met Office has predicted that south-east Wales, central southern and south-east England are likely to see the hottest weather. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has extended yellow heat health alerts to cover every region in England, which will remain in place until 10:00 BST on Tuesday 15 July. The warnings mean that health and social care services could be significantly affected by the weather, due to increased demand or a rise in deaths.
Such extremes of temperature are becoming common in the UK. Growing up, I have memories of the summer of 1976. The unprecedented heatwave led to drought conditions in rural areas and a temporary water shortage. That was an anomaly at the time and for many years it remained a talking point and source of nostalgia. Since then there have been periods that have met the heatwave criteria in 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022. While linking climate change with specific individual extreme weather events can be difficult, scientists say climate change is generally making heatwaves hotter, longer and more frequent. UK temperatures over the next few days will be around 7-10°C (44-50°F) above average for mid-July. The main problem arising from this phenomenon is the country’s inability to cope. The UK’s infrastructure, architecture and institutions are predicated on the notion that the country has a temperate climate.
The UK is ill-equipped to deal with high temperatures due to a combination of factors. Older buildings are particularly vulnerable, often designed to retain heat in the winter but becoming excessively hot in the summer. I live in a brick bungalow that was built in the early 1930s. It has been insulated with modern materials and although it retains heat during cold weather it fails to prevent heat transfer during summer, causing indoor temperatures to rise significantly. Air conditioning is not a standard feature in most UK homes or on public transport, although the latter is getting better. Buses in London now have better climate control but travelling on the underground or railway is often unpleasantly hot. Also, simple solutions such as awnings and canopies are still not standard features on UK buildings.
Hence a heatwave in the UK is seldom universally welcomed. I personally find that once the temperature rises above 25°C (77°F) then I am out of my comfort zone. However, I have invested in several good quality fans in the last few years and although they only circulate the air, they do make things more tolerable. As for my definition of a “good quality” fan, it is defined by whether or not the device is quiet. Thankfully, my office is in the front of the house overlooking the street and facing North. The lounge at the back of the property looks out over the garden and gets a lot hotter due to the aspect and the glass patio doors. Subsequently, Mrs P and I keep the curtains and blinds shut all day in the lounge and kitchen and it does make a difference. Hopefully we will cope with the coming heatwave. Others may not be so lucky.
Countries that regularly face high temperatures usually develop an appropriate culture of safety and responsibility. The importance of staying hydrated and liberal use of sun protection products become an everyday part of life during the summer. Hats also become more than just de rigeur. There is also a heightened awareness of fire safety with rural areas being increasingly dry. Sadly, this mindset is not commonplace in the UK and many people are irresponsible once the weather gets hot. Hence, there are numerous cases of heat exhaustion, sunburn and dehydration. Sadly, pets also suffer in this weather. No doubt there will be increased reports of such in the UK media next week, although the tabloids will reserve the most vitriol for the various hosepipe bans that have been announced. In the meantime, stay cool. Literally.
Politicians
I still maintain a legacy presence on Twitter/X and I follow my local MP (member of Parliament) Louie French. It’s not something I especially relish as I am not a supporter of the Conservative party (or any other) and I did not vote for him in the last election. I just like to know what he is up to as he is the political representative for our constituency. As the Conservatives are out of power at present, to all intent and purposes, Mr French is a backbench MP although he has a minor position as Shadow Parliamentary Undersecretary (Culture, Media and Sport). However, with that being said he is hardly a key member of the shadow cabinet. Hence he focuses on constituency work and that which is generated by his shadow posting. He will also lend his voice, when required, to any major policy decision or statement made by his party.
I still maintain a legacy presence on Twitter/X and I follow my local MP (member of Parliament) Louie French. It’s not something I especially relish as I am not a supporter of the Conservative party (or any other) and I did not vote for him in the last election. I just like to know what he is up to as he is the political representative for our constituency. As the Conservatives are out of power at present, to all intent and purposes, Mr French is a backbench MP although he has a minor position as Shadow Parliamentary Undersecretary (Culture, Media and Sport). However, with that being said he is hardly a key member of the shadow cabinet. Hence he focuses on constituency work and that which is generated by his shadow posting. He will also lend his voice, when required, to any major policy decision or statement made by his party.
Like most contemporary parliamentary representatives he uses social media as a major communication tool. Hence it is a valuable source of information. I can also look on the UK parliamentary website and see when he has spoken in the House of Commons, any bills he is associated with or advocates for, as well as his overall voting record. There is also a list of interests that he has declared, most of which are declarations of meetings and hospitality via the sports industry as that is his current shadow brief. All the above is occasionally supplemented by news reports or newspaper articles in which Mr French features. All of which provides a constituent such as I, a useful means to assess how well our MP is performing. I try to set aside my personal bias regarding his political party of choice and their historical legacy to which he has contributed.
After reflecting upon all of the information at my disposal regarding my local MP, I am struck by how generic, superficial and tediously partisan his political activities and communications are. Every point made is always couched within a statement that seeks to blame others and ruffle the feathers of the electorate. Any point of contention or debate pertaining to services or activities in London is always portrayed as the fault of the current mayor Sadiq Khan, a Labour party politician. This always comes with an undercurrent of dog whistle racism although I sure it would be denied. It simply seems to be a standard political tool if you are on the right of politics. Essentially Mr French conducts his politics in trite, factually dubious, soundbites. It is always simplistic, partisan and imbued with a false sense of rectitude and misplaced confidence.
The tragedy of this situation is that it is representative of the broader manner in which politics is conducted nationally in the UK. There are few exceptional politicians these days. The defining term that springs to mind of our overall political representation is mediocrity. Gone are the days where your MP was well educated, well versed in business or statecraft and conducted themselves with decorum and dignity. Too many contemporary MPs seem to be ill equipped across multiple disciplines to do the job in hand. They all seem to indulge in the worst sort of political communication, which makes it impossible for them to be able to express an opinion or answer a question in case it comes back to haunt them at a future date. They are disingenuous, often petulant and petty when rightly challenged to justify their position and more often than not utterly forgettable. Politics is simply a stepping stone in a wider career and is not driven by passion, ideology or love of one’s country.
I am reminded of the following quote from the BBC comedy Yes Minister/Yes Prime Minister. In which the fictional Prime Minister James Hacker (played superbly by Paul Eddington) rails against his backbenchers and MPs per se. It is as relevant now as it was back in 1986 when the episode was first broadcast. “Being an MP is a vast subsidised ego trip. It's a job for which you need no qualifications, no compulsory hours of work, no performance standards. A warm room and subsidised meals for a bunch of self-opinionated windbags and busybodies who suddenly find people taking them seriously because they got letters MP after their names”. If we wish to improve the calibre of our national politics, then we need to start by establishing a set of standards and criteria that prospective MPs must meet.
Semantic Bleaching
Last week, I was in a department store with Mrs P and my Grandson, when we stumbled across a range of toys called Fugglers. They are effectively a range of child friendly monster plushies, rather than genuinely terrifying mutation action figures. The manufacturers spuriously claim that the franchise name is a compound word of funny and ugly. However, anyone conversant with contemporary slang will immediately think of the phrase “fugly” which means fucking ugly. I’m sure the manufacturers of Fugglers have made it clear that their product is not in any way drawing upon this phrase, but only a fool would believe such a disingenuous stance. The name has obviously been chosen because it courts controversy by default. Yay marketing etc.
Last week, I was in a department store with Mrs P and my Grandson, when we stumbled across a range of toys called Fugglers. They are effectively a range of child friendly monster plushies, rather than genuinely terrifying mutation action figures. The manufacturers spuriously claim that the franchise name is a compound word of funny and ugly. However, anyone conversant with contemporary slang will immediately think of the phrase “fugly” which means fucking ugly. I’m sure the manufacturers of Fugglers have made it clear that their product is not in any way drawing upon this phrase, but only a fool would believe such a disingenuous stance. The name has obviously been chosen because it courts controversy by default. Yay marketing etc.
Setting aside any debate over Fugglers, I am far more interested in the cultural phenomenon of taking an existing term that has a specific meaning to one generation and co-opting and repurposing it for another. For example, the word “pimp” has undergone such a transformation over the last twenty years or so. I grew up with the term meaning “a man who controls prostitutes and arranges clients for them, taking a percentage of their earnings in return”. Broadly speaking pimps were bad guys. I immediately think of Albert Popwell in the film Magnum Force, pouring drain cleaner down a womens throat because the “bitch was holding out on him”. Today, my granddaughters will happily tell me that they’ve pimped their bedroom, by which they mean they’ve decorated it in a flamboyant fashion.
“Hello Mr. Green”
Overtime, the meaning of words can change. This organic process is oblivious to our own personal likes and dislikes. Such is the nature of language. Today, I learned while listening to the podcast Strong Message Here, that this process of repurposing words and claiming to remove the stigma of any prior definition is called “semantic bleaching”. It is something that happens often enough that it now has a formal term. However, the labelling and quantifying of this process doesn’t not necessarily make it a good thing. I’m sure there will be those who think that Fugglers and other examples of semantic bleaching are just “a bit of fun” and that it’s not a “big deal”. It can also be argued that this is another facet of the trivialisation of language, the erosion of a shared reality and the infantilisation of society. Yay people etc.
When Technology Fails
I had a novel experience (at least for me) this morning. I went to the cashpoint (that’s an ATM for those outside the UK) at my local supermarket, only to find it out of service. I had an imminent haircut appointment and no cash to pay my barber, who doesn’t take card payments. Fortunately, the supermarket did “cashback” so I bought a loaf of bread and some milk, paid £23 for them and was given £20 in cash. It’s a useful facility that I have never used until today. Usually I just make sure that I have a float of cash available but today the cashpoint being unavailable threw a spanner in the works. If the store did not do “cashback” then I would have had to reschedule my haircut. This minor hiccup got me thinking about our dependence on technology in our daily lives. A point that was further brought home, as my barber told me he had recently visited Spain and was affected by the national power outage.
I had a novel experience (at least for me) this morning. I went to the cashpoint (that’s an ATM for those outside the UK) at my local supermarket, only to find it out of service. I had an imminent haircut appointment and no cash to pay my barber, who doesn’t take card payments. Fortunately, the supermarket did “cashback” so I bought a loaf of bread and some milk, paid £23 for them and was given £20 in cash. It’s a useful facility that I have never used until today. Usually I just make sure that I have a float of cash available but today the cashpoint being unavailable threw a spanner in the works. If the store did not do “cashback” then I would have had to reschedule my haircut. This minor hiccup got me thinking about our dependence on technology in our daily lives. A point that was further brought home, as my barber told me he had recently visited Spain and was affected by the national power outage.
If you weren’t aware, on Monday April 28th, at 12:33 PM, a blackout caused widespread disruption across Spain and Portugal. Although the exact cause is still unclear, the incident occurred when approximately 15 gigawatts of electricity generation capacity, representing 60% of Spain's power demand at that moment, was lost within a mere five seconds. This outage resulted in millions being left without electricity, affecting trains, traffic signals, ATMs, phone services, and internet connectivity throughout the Iberian Peninsula. By Tuesday morning, nearly all electrical services in Spain and Portugal had been restored, yet inquiries into the underlying cause have continued. Just take a moment to consider the ramifications of such a blackout and the impact it would have on your life, if such a thing happened to you.
Let us not forget the faulty patch that was released last July by cybersecurity vendor Crowdstrike, that crippled countless Microsoft Windows computers across the globe. Like the power outage in Spain, it shutdown everything from airline travel and financial institutions to hospitals and businesses online. Crowdstrike quickly deployed a fix, but the recovery from the outage took considerable time, as Crowdstrike’s solution needed to be applied manually on a per-machine basis. I was going for a meal with my sister that day and had booked a table in advance. The restaurant was very shrewd and called me along with every other customer as soon as the outage hit their payment system, to inform me that they were dealing exclusively with cash payment that day. Fortunately my “belt and braces” approach to money saved me any inconvenience.
Legitimate technical problems notwithstanding, we have to be cognisant these days of the very real threat that cyber terrorism poses, utilizing technology to cause harm, inspire fear, and potentially disrupt critical infrastructure. Most countries have already experienced cyberattacks for political or ideological purposes. So far such attacks have been contained and hence have not had as much media attention as perhaps they should. However, it seems inevitable that a major attack is due, especially in the current global political climate. As and when it does occur I suspect that the UK population is ill equipped to deal with the consequences. Not that there is much one can do anyway. Beyond keeping a supply of cash and maintaining a stockpile of essential items. All of which raises the question about our societal dependence on technology. Sadly such a debate will only occur after something catastrophic happens.
