Seen in the News

[PanBiker]

Why not? it's an unmanned mission and even the manned ones are allowed mascots.

[plaques]

Bristol's Shaun the Sheep to fly on mission to the moon' LINK

Its probably NASA's answer to Boris's dead cat. Having spent $millions on rockets, automated sensors and recorders plus the ground team of numerous scientists they throw in a dead sheep as its main purpose? I suppose that Russia's invasion of Ukraine wouldn't cross their mind or even China and Taiwan. Pull the other one.

[Stanley]

See THIS BBC report on today's rail strikes. There will be the usual venting of spleen from Shapps about rampant unions but bone wonders what the effect will be later in the year when other strikes in the pipeline materialise. Candidates include doctors nurses teachers and other public workers like the refuse workers strike that has just started in Edinburgh.....
The bottom line is that these workers have reached the limit of their ability to cooperate with their managements and have reached breaking point.
(Remind me, did MPs get their last pay rise?)
Also have a look at THIS CNN report of two pilots falling asleep and overshooting their destination by half an hour in Ethiopia. As if there wasn't enough to worry about when taking a long flight.....

[Tizer]

This is the Mail catching up on what I've been reporting on OG (from The Times) for ages but they don't mention the role of Stonewall which has made oodles of money out of providing the courses and events and promoting their `woke ratings'. Organisations cough up the cash on subscription in order to keep a high rating from Stonewall....

`NHS blows £1million on 'woke groups' for staff including 'tea and rainbow cake' picnics and a Filipino martial arts performance in the midst of growing cash crisis' LINK
`The NHS has spent more than £1million on hundreds of 'woke' staff networks at a time when it desperately needs more cash for patient care. Nearly 500 of these groups have been set up by health trusts across the UK – taking up around 36,000 hours of staff time a year. Despite ministers' calls for the NHS to cut back on 'waste and wokery', some groups use taxpayers' money to put on events around transgender issues, sexuality and racism, often held during the working day.'...

[Stanley]

I hate to agree with the Mail but they are right in this case. The whole 'Woke' movement is an attempt to force the opinions of a vocal minority on the public at large. It manufactures 'issues' where none existed. It's none of my business how someone regards themselves, that's a private matter and should stay that way.
See THIS BBC report of an eight day strike which is going to paralyse Felixstowe, our largest container port. Watch for criticism of the workers from Quasi Kwarteng and the rest of the zombie government.

[Stanley]

See THIS BBC report on the strike at Felixstowe which I had to dig for to find any mention. It is surprisingly lightweight. No mention of the national effects on supply chains in blocking half the UK's container traffic for over a week. Just puffs stating the bleeding obvious about increases in hauliers costs and the losses they will face. Is this the standard of reporting we can expect now that all the media are cutting costs and staff?

[Tizer]

The Kremlin is struggling to make up the massive losses of men in the Ukraine war and ordinary Russians are beginning to push back. The explosions in Crimea have shocked them - Russians have been going there as usual for their beach holidays and suddenly find the war has come to them and they're seeing it up close. The roads out of Crimea were grid-locked recently with Russian holidaymakers trying to get back home. They stories to tell.

`Ukraine war: Russia appeals for new recruits for war effort' LINK
`....Russia does not give numbers, but Western officials say between 70,000 and 80,000 Russian troops have been killed or wounded since it launched its invasion six months ago. In order to attract fresh recruits, the authorities are offering volunteers huge sums of money, plots of land and even premium places for their children in Russian schools. Recruiters have even been visiting Russian prisons to sign up inmates, promising them freedom and money. Investigative journalist Roman Dobrokhotov says the recruitment drive is a sign of desperation on the part of the authorities: "This is not the type of soldiers needed for a victorious war. The Kremlin still hopes that quantity can win over quality. That they can get these hundreds of thousands of desperate people with their debts and just throw them into the conflict zone."

`Despite the eye-watering amounts of cash on offer to potential recruits - up to £4,700 ($5,700) a month in some cases - Roman says the reality is different. "People don't actually see this money," he says. "They are returning [from Ukraine] now and telling us journalists about how they were deceived. This is also influencing the situation, this lack of trust in our government, so I don't think this strategy will be successful."'

[plaques]

The daughter of a Russian nationalist often referred to as “Putin’s brain” has been killed after her car exploded on the outskirts of Moscow. Car Bomb. Reported as being a mistake where her farther was the actual target raises the question if you want to deter army volunteers do you pick on pensioners or the young? Probably impossible to change the mind set of the older generation but as a young person they may think twice in supporting Putin on this insane invasion of Ukraine.

[Tizer]

I'm lost for words...
`Tory conference: LGBT group unveils politics-themed condoms' LINK

[Stanley]

"Chair Elena Rose Bunbury said: "We all know people like a good time at conferences, and we're here to help ensure that happens safely." They have ordered 500 protective items for the four-day event in Birmingham. "We don't know if that's enough but, all our money is fundraised and we have to justify where our money is being spent," said Ms Bunbury."
Quote from the article...... This is the Tory Party annual conference, have they no shame?

[Tripps]

"The Duchess of Sussex has revealed she was criticised for her ambition when she began her relationship with Prince Harry, saying it was seen as a “terrible, terrible thing”.

She hasn't worked it out yet that 'ambition' is impossible for the Royals, and doesn't enter their heads, since their position in the pecking order is fixed by accident of birth, and nothing short of the death of someone higher up, can change it.

Given her background in soap operas, perhaps it's best not to put any such ideas into her head.

[Stanley]

Who cares what Meghan thinks? Two over privileged people, Harry by Birth and her by the modern phenomenon of 'celebrity' who will not be worrying about the next gas bill. The sooner we unload them and the system they represent the better. Sorry David but I have no time for them....

[Tizer]

Quote from the article...... This is the Tory Party annual conference, have they no shame?

They want to keep up their image as the best partying Party!

[Stanley]

To me it's one more small evidence of the lack of ordinary common sense in some areas of public life, in this case, politics. How can anyone even contemplate handing out condoms at a Party Conference? In effect acknowledging that the conference is seen by some as an opportunity for playing away from home. There is no doubt that this happens but making a joke of it sends completely the wrong message.
The Felixstowe dockers have announced this morning that if there is no realistic offer the strike could be extended. Retailers are looking at disruption of traffic of Xmas goods already coming into the country. There are enough factors working against the retailers already, they don't need this....

[plaques]

The Felixstowe dockers have announced this morning that if there is no realistic offer the strike could be extended. Retailers are looking at disruption of traffic of Xmas goods already coming into the country. There are enough factors working against the retailers already, they don't need this....

I saw a prediction that 80% of pubs would close due to the cost of energy. The retail outlets are probably in the same predicament. Most will be hoping for good Christmas sales as a last-gasp at remaining solvent. The often quoted saying .. The Conservatives are the party of business. is looking like a sick joke. Anything that interrupts our already fragile supply lines will put pressure on supply and demand and consequently inflation.
How thick can they get.

[Stanley]

During the height of the pandemic keeping spirits up by promising to safeguard Xmas were common. I know there are 120 days to go but this subject will be raised shortly. I agree with you Ken, things are looking bad for anyone selling goods to the public and this includes pubs, the entertainment industry and hospitality.
What isn't being fully taken into account is the knock on effect that the Felixstowe stoppages will have on the flow of containers. The effects will be felt right back to the origins of the supply chain delaying containers already in the system. Sorry but I can't see much evidence of Xmas Cheer this year!
(As an example.... I listened to a manufacturer detailing his woes on R4 yesterday and he said that they are still suffering the after-effects of the blockage of the Suez Canal by the giant container ship. The reason he gave was surprising, he said that in the efforts to get trade moving again when the blockage was cleared, perishable goods were given priority so his consignment of steel suffered as a consequence.)

[Stanley]

Heard actually. The setting of the energy price cap has triggered yet more discussion about the crisis and it is universally seen as catastrophic.
Will someone please make sure the candidates for PM clearly understand this.

[Stanley]

Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi has warned. that even middle income earners, ie. around £45,000 per annum, will need help with bills. No mention of what they will be expected to give up before subsidy kicks in.
I don't think this is the cohort we should be focussing on at the moment. Typical of the way the Tories think and act, looking after their own rather than the poorest in society. Given this attitude I see no hope for us this winter.
Does anyone share the feeling I have that this statement of the bleeding obvious (he told us nothing that we haven't heard already.) was an effort to fill the information gap that existed after no minister was put up for a media statement following the confirmation of the energy price cap? Nobody can say anything positive or new until the post of PM is officially filled. This will come at the annual conference so we can expect the first actions to be, not action to get money to the poorest, but a rousing speech to the faithful confirming that Conservative core values are going to be maintained.

[Stanley]

See THIS BBC report that the Ford Escort once owned by Princess Diana has sold for £650,000. There is evidently still some money floating round in the system.....

[Stanley]

See THISBBC report that HMS Prince of Wales, the second of our white elephant aircraft carriers, has suffered the indignity of breaking down shortly after setting off for exercises in the US.
Bit of a contrast with THIS report earlier this month of the tests of the ships six engines.
No details of what has gone wrong or how much danger the vessel is in. Quite embarrassing actually.....

[Tizer]

Thank goodness it didn't break down in the middle of the Atlantic!

[Tripps]

is it me or is it the rest of the world?

I've heard a 'scientist' say that the moon landing will lead to a base being established there, and since there is water near the Moon's South Pole - that means fuel can in the future be manufactured there. The main aim of this mission, where great play is made of the fact that the boss is a woman, seems to be to have astronauts which include a female, and a person of color land on the moon. Let us pray that they get their pronouns correct. The next step is a trip to Mars. I'd say any volunteer for that mission should be sectioned under the Mental Health Act immediately, for their own protection.

I look at the graphics and the stats for size of launch vehicle, and the enormous amount of volatile fuel and booster rockets etc, to escape from Earth, and get to wondering (again) how the return journey especially the take off is powered in such a comparatively tiny craft. Gravity on the Moon is still about one sixth that on Earth I believe.

Alistair Darling - former Chancellor was on BBC R4 where he spent most of the interview telling us what a wonderful job he made of the last crisis in 2008. He was then asked twice to give his solution to the current situation. "Tell us in thirty seconds what your policy would be to deal with the current situiation"? He immediately said 'there is some interference on the line (there wasn't), then at the second time of asking the line went abruptly dead. No attempt by the BBC to re-establish it, they just moved on.

[Tizer]

Tripps, I think that must be NASA's planned Artemis missions to get humans back on the Moon and then eventually on Mars. They should change the name to Vanity.

[Tizer]

Tripps, I think that must be NASA's planned Artemis missions to get humans back on the Moon and then eventually on Mars. They should change the name to Vanity.

Later...Not a good day for aircraft carriers and moon rockets!
`Artemis: Nasa calls off new Moon rocket launch' LINK

[Tripps]

Strengthens my mild scepticism I'd say.

Good job these problems didn't show up on the way back - one engine at the wrong temperature I read.

As for the carrier - well it looks as if it's just the elastic band on the starboard side that has snapped.

Speaking of Aircraft Carriers - I once spent three weeks on this one, as a guest of the Grey Funnel Line. HMS Triumph. A long time after the active service shown, and not the best three weeks of my life. By then it had been converted to be a floating workshop - a bit like Stanley's kitchen at sea.

HMS_Triumph_1950.jpg