With the vagaries of my
shift system this week involves working shorter shifts this week, but
more of them. Most people work a five day week; I did it myself for
years. I find it rather hard going; I much prefer working longer (but
fewer) shifts. Unusually for me it was had work to get out of my
pit this morning.
Over brekkie I watched
the last episode of "Are You Being Served" that was
on the SkyPlus box. Just lately I've mentioned this show several
times and mentioned how it wouldn't get made nowadays. This morning I
found myself comparing it to contemporary comedy. Last night we
watched "Ballot
Monkeys". Billed as a political comedy set on the
campaign buses of the main parties as they battle their way through
the chaos of the election campaign each show is still being written
on the day of broadcast so that it is topical and on the cutting
edge. However it is lacking one vital element from "Are You
Being Served"; back in the1970s they made comedy shows which
were actually funny.
As I drove to work I
listened to the news. The news of the impeachment
and dismissal of the mayor of Tower Hamlets made me think. It's
been proved that as well as election rigging, corrupt and illegal
methods ensured the chap's election to power.
There was an interview
with one of the people who brought the case to court. Apparently all
the local officials and relevant authorities knew the entire election
had been rigged but no one was brave enough to speak out. The whole
sorry mess was only brought to light by a brave few souls. The chap
interviewed said he was glad to have proven the allegations in court;
otherwise he would have been liable for court fees of about a million
quid.
It makes me wonder how
many other corrupt practices are going on in public life purely
because decent people can't afford to put them right. Surely the fact
that we have to pay for justice in the first place means we live in a
corrupt society?
The news also carried the
announcement that Chinese scientists have made the world's first
genetically
modified human embryos. They have apparently successfully
replaced the gene which causes the horrible disease beta thalassaemia
with one which does not. What they have done isn't technically that
amazing; it's effectively
been done before. The amazing thing in the story is that it's
been done to humans.
Those who don't
understand what has been done feel we shouldn't meddle in things that
they don't understand. But realistically curing thalassaemia bet
getting rid of the causative mutation is no different in principle to
curing an infection by getting rid of the infecting microbe. Are
antibiotics meddling with nature?
In a hundred years time
will the Western world still be putting up with cystic fibrosis,
sickle cell disease, Downs Syndrome and the like whilst the Chinese
are not?
I got to work, went to
put my sandwiches in the fridge and realised I'd left them at home.
Woops! So part of my lunchtime was spent getting replacement sarnies
before having a sax practice. I now have new homework. "Yesterday"
is coming on nicely (apart from a tricky G-flat), but "A
Whiter Shade of Pale" has a lot way to go before it skips a
light fandango; let alone turning cartwheels.
With work done I set sail
for McDonalds. The last Friday of the month is astro club, and prior
to astro club is McScoff. The official food of astronomy (in some
circles).
Astro club itself was
good; as always. Good talks, good fun. We had an AGM; I was again
elected treasurer for another year. We had cake and hot dogs.
And did you know the
Hubble Space Telescope has now been in
orbit for twenty five years?
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