A relatively late start
today being on a late shift. I came down and set the washing machine
to do a spin cycle and it set itself off on a wash cycle. I checked
what I'd done and it wasn't operator error. I do hope that machine
isn't on the blink. I don't need that. Thank heavens for service
plans.
I then spent a few
moments sitting on the sofa with Fudge sprawled across me. The silly
pup made himself comfortable and dozed off. It seemed a shame to wake
him really. For someone who doesn't in any way claim to be a
dog-lover, I've become quite attached to that little dog. Which is
why I never wanted a dog in the first place...
And so to work. I like
the early starts - it means I get to miss the rush hour. However the
late start has me facing busier roads than I usually do. In reality
not that busy, but certainly more traffic than I've got used to
seeing. I stopped off at the farm shop for an apple whilst I was on
the way - they are closed when I go past on the early start. Their
fruit's cheap, but some of the other stuff they do (like the cakes
and cheeses) go for silly money. But they seem to keep knocking them
out to the punters. I expect there are those who like paying over the
odds. In retrospect I suppose that I used to do that. Still, I don't
want cake and cheese any more -there are calories in those.
The other day I ranted
about the farce that we call "democracy". The radio
had more on the subject today. A week or so I ranted about the
upcoming elections for the role of police commissioners, and how the
idea wasn't anywhere near as democratic as it claimed to be. This
morning's radio programme proved my point entirely. It featured an
interview with a candidate for one of the police commissioner roles
that are soon to be up for grabs. This lady was standing as an
independent candidate. Independent of any political party; and she
was griping about how unfair it was that candidates of political
parties had the political parties to help them. Financially as well
as practically. Apparently this woman had shelled out seventy two
thousand pounds of her own cash on election costs so far. I would
like to have half that amount to squander on something so irrelevant
to my daily life. Another of the pundits being interviewed admitted
that funding such an election campaign was expensive, and he said
that he felt that (somehow) the costs of such campaigns should
be capped in such a way that they did not exceed one hundred thousand
pounds (!)
How can democracy claim
to give the people a voice when the average bloke in the street can't
afford to stand, and is dependent on someone else to foot the bill.
And how can politicians claim to be impartial and independent when
they are so clearly beholden to their backers?
Mind you, as usual
important news doesn't get mentioned. The first potentially habitable
super-Earth planet has
been discovered. And it's only forty two light years away. I say
"only" - it's considerably further than the nearest
chip shop and is certainly beyond the reach of any current
technology. However at the rate that this planet is getting stuffed
up it's useful to know that such places exist. Humanity needs a
fall-back option. All we need now is the technology to get there. I'm
sure it can be done if only we were to try hard enough. Which reminds
me that I once wrote a short story on this very subject. I wonder how
long it will be until the copyright on that yarn reverts back to me?
And there's no denying
that I had a sly snigger at
this article about windy Uranus !
The sponsorship for my
chops has doubled, for which I am grateful. If any of my loyal
readers would like to give a bit, there is still time. As always,
please click here
and give whatever you can spare.
In three weeks I can
shave the thing off. Those three weeks can't go quick enough...
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