Now that’s what I call conscription

I was swapping life stories with a new friend, Jørn the other day. He’s a Dane who was born in Flensburg, just south of the current border with Germany, in 1938. His family had lived there for many generations, during which time his hometown had been both north and south of the border! But they lived in a Danish-speaking community. Continue reading “Now that’s what I call conscription”

The Royal Institution Christmas Lectures

I have finished watching the TV series of Christmas Lectures for Young People at the Royal Institution in London, that I recorded during the Chrimbo festivities. This year they were on the subject of The Brain, by Professor Bruce Hood. Not so much on the biology of the brain, but the way it handles and stores information. As usual, they were very entertaining. The lectures were started by Michael Faraday in 1825 and have been a feature ever since.
Continue reading “The Royal Institution Christmas Lectures”

Happy New Year

Mrsoldmovie and I are just back from a state visit to Orlando, semi private/semi working, been manic and it’s getting busier upon our return. I don’t wish to start the round of I wish you, you wish me etc but please accept my very best wishes to all of you for a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year.
I will try and post a bit more than last year but at my time of life I should not complain if I’m kept busy.

A Friendly Poke

Just a reminder that the Poetry Competition has but a few more days to run, it will of course be extended indefinitely, until some contribution from the female side is received.
By way of encouragement I offer this little piece from a local paper. When I read It I thought of Bearsy who has favored this form in the past, I have a hard time with the sonnet, something about counting in fives.
Continue reading “A Friendly Poke”

Black Mamba

 

Black Mamba

Imagine my surprise when this morning, watching De’Anthony Thomas, the Oregon Ducks running back, score a record breaking 91yd touchdown I heard the ESPN commentator refer to him as the ‘black’ something or other!

What? With the Luis Suarez controversy still front page news in the UK press and a police criminal investigation ongoing into John Terry’s use of the word black (followed by an expletive) I was somewhat taken aback.

I simply had to investigate further.

It appears that during his time at Crenshaw High School, he was given the nickname “Black Mamba” by Snoop Dogg and also played in his football league, The SYFL (Snoop Youth Football League.)

Wiki reference here

So that’s all right then.

Police forces confess 944 officers have a criminal record

Police forces confess 944 officers have a criminal record (link)

Freedom of information requests reveal police with convictions ranging from burglary to perverting the course of justice

I’m aghast and quite disturbed to read this. Can it be true?  I’m aware that the Police are not perfect, and some of the “crimes” seem quite minor, but nevertheless, this sounds somewhat alarming!

Generally speaking, I have always considered the Police to be hard-working and essentially honest, with a difficult job to do.

They did not cover themselves in glory during the recent riots, and generally they seem overwhelmed by paper-work and targets, unable to respond to burglaries and overzealous in persecuting motorists (an easy target perhaps) but I do find this quite unbelievable