It was a hot night last
night; I was rather restless, and was up and about having the washing
machine doing its thing before 6am. My dog wasn't up though. I'm a
little worried about him. Yesterday he seemed rather subdued; he
seemed especially listless when we went round the park. I think the
heat is affecting him.
With nothing new
geocachical in the area I set off to work. Friday; the last day of
the week. I really don't like a five-day week. I much preferred a
three day working week. Even if I was working much longer days on the
days I had to go and do something.
As I drove I listened to
the news as always. Her Majesty was off to Scotland to name the
navy's latest aircraft carrier.
I say "the
navy's"; apparently there is still some three years until
the ship is actually handed over to the navy. And then another three
years until the thing is actually put into service. I can't help but
wonder what will take six years if the ship is actually afloat and
being named today.
And here's a thought...
the ship was built in Scottish shipyards. If the Scots do go
independent, what will happen with the navy? Will they get half a
dozen frigates and a minesweeper, or will the fleet move to
Portsmouth and the Scots have to start building their own fleet?
I did have a snigger when
I heard about a fellow who has
been labelled "Blockhead". This chap does the same job
that I do, albeit half way round the world in Taiwan. He's a few
years older than I am, and in a shallow attempt to get into the
knickers of someone younger than my daughter he's given himself
arguably the world's most stupid haircut. Fortunately the young lady
in question has figured out what this fellow is up to, and has made a
public statement. "...My friends call him blockhead, I can
imagine he might have found someone as he had a good and respectable
job as a medical laboratory scientist at the National Taiwan
University Hospital. But he should act his age."
To be fair to "Blockhead"
he is probably actually acting his age; if I had any hair left I
would get an equally stupid haircut. Mind you in my case it would be
because I could; not in any lame attempt to get into some bimbo's
undercrackers.
Talking of people old
enough to know better I spent a little while following the Internet's
live feed of Rolf Harris's appearing in court for sentencing today.
Found guilty of four counts of making indecent images as well as
twelve counts of indecent assault he's been sent to prison for nearly
six years.
Is this really justice,
or just a modern day equivalent of watching Christians being thrown
to the lions. Look at the public fascination in the recent trial of
Oscar Pistorius or a few years of O.J. Simpson. We love watching the
downfall of others, don't we?
I can't help but feel
that the whole Rolf Harris case needs to be viewed with some
historical perspective. I'm not defending him, but look at the
re-runs of "Top of the Pops" from thirty years ago
which are all over UK television. Scantily clad young ladies are
openly all over whoever they feel is famous. And watch any television
shows from the time when Rolf committed his crimes. "On the
Buses", "Man About The House", "Are
You Being Served", the "Carry On" films or
the "Confessions" films. Even Fletch's daughter
Ingrid in "Porridge" to name but a few. Men would
regularly goose up women on stage and screen; it was regularly and
constantly portrayed as socially acceptable.
It might not have been
right, it certainly isn't seen as right nowadays. But that was how
things were at that time. Can we really apply the morals of one
generation to another? As his defence lawyer said this morning all of
these crimes are from over twenty years ago.
Mind you the bit about
making indecent images and child pornography on his computer is news;
that hadn't been revealed before. That's entirely a different
matter...
...but has anyone
actually been harmed by his having this stuff? Just because we might
consider him contemptible doesn't necessarily mean he should be
punished for being contemptible does it?
I don't know...
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