Category: Musings

Chickens coming home to roost?

Chickens, farming and global issues.

We keep chickens at our home in Devon, England and, thus, we have an account with a local farming supplies organisation called Mole Valley Farmers. Once a month we get a small news letter which I find fascinating. The first page always has The Chairman’s Newsletter and I love reading about the current price of grain, what’s current in the dairy world and a bit about food politics – usually very little about chickens but then I’m biased!

The Chairman quoted a British Government minister at a recent conference making a reference to the need to increase food production but then spending most of his speech talking about “rewilding” the countryside by reintroducing lynx and elk. (The link is to a slightly tongue-in-cheek article in the Times Online.)

Quite how that would help food production was “incomprehensible” but it shows a complete lack of understanding about the serious threat to the UK, and other countries, as we now import so much of our basic food needs and many local farmers have been underpriced out of farming by the monopoly of the supermarkets. An interesting parallel with the banks and greed in general.

With a world food shortage affecting many parts of the world it makes me wonder what is in store for us, especially our children. So far, I am unaware of anyone in UK politics making a link between pollution, food shortages, global warming and the fact that unless we wake up soon, we stand a big risk of reproducing ourselves out of existence.

By Jon Lavin

Yet more on Piper Cubs

Bringing back memories

Sometimes we think that we know nothing and feel that we having nothing to contribute; then, on reflection, we realise that, in fact, we do know something and that maybe it is worth sharing. This is perhaps the opposite of the paradox that the more we know, the more we realise that there is to know. Is a little knowledge a dangerous things? Possibly, if used with a cavalier attitude. In the end you, the reader, will decide.

A couple of months ago, Paul Handover described on this blog some details of his Piper Cub aircraft. Although I knew of his post, having skimmed it at some time, I had missed a coincidence which now triggers me to think about my limited knowledge and experience of the Piper Cub!

Democracy and Marriage, Pt 2

A huge misunderstanding of democracy.

Yesterday, I covered the appalling lunacy that took place recently on British television. This is the concluding part of my Post.

Nick Griffin and his party are gaining support because immigration in Britain has been overdone, and anything overdone is bad news. Moreover, many perceive that their own government has been involved in a campaign of blatant lying.

The average Brit is a staunch yeoman, solid as a rock, but he won’t take being lied to, nor patronised, nor flooded with immigrants of an alien culture who often show little wish to integrate and some of whom seem to be actively seeking the downfall of the west and the establishment of a single Islamic worldwide Caliphate.

Now these are megalomaniac dreams, but many before have had them: Genghis Khan and Hitler to name but two.

There is also a visceral dislike of certain Islamic practices seen as alien to an open, democratic society based on Human Rights, in particular the attitude to women.

Hence the growth of the BNP, which – despite the above arguments – remains a nauseatingly xenophobic and homophobic party.

BUT, and here’s the rub, it does – for better or worse, and thanks to the idiotic policies of the present Labour government – represent the views of a substantial and increasing minority of people.

Democracy and Marriage, Pt 1

Nick Griffin’s Appearance on BBC’s “Question Time”

Recently, an event of surpassing lunacy took place on British television. The weekly popular current affairs programme, “Question Time”, invited Nick Griffin to appear as one of the five politicians who respond to questions from a studio audience. There are some clips from the programme on the BBC website.

Now Nick Griffin is not just any old boring political hack; he is the Leader of the BNP, the British National Party.

For our American friends who may not be up to speed on the minutiae of British politics, this is a minority party which is strongly anti-immigrant. Moreover, Nick Griffin himself is homophobic, has flirted with leaders of the KKK and is said to be sympathetic to Nazi ideas, though this he denies, alleging that the British Nazis hate him.

The latter, by the way, are a group of microscopic importance on the British political scene; extremism having never taken root in British politics.

Well it is Sunday!

Time for bed

Unlike the funny pic posted yesterday which clearly has been ‘edited’ this one looks to be genuine.

dog and boy praying

Thanks to Dan G for forwarding it. Classic!

By Paul Handover

Carts and horses!

“Don’t chase the money! Chase personal development and let the money chase you!”

This was the parting shot that came to my mind a couple of years ago, at the end of delivering a one week training course to a group of new graduates.

In general, my approach to training is less well suited to people at their stage than it is to people who are motivated by the need to get a job done. However, that is, of course, my “problem”.

Nevertheless, at the end of that particular course, I felt the need to pass on something from my years of supposed experience, however irrelevant that experience might seem to a group of young, newly minted, investment banking people.

Cause and effect

Although I do not remember the source of the quote, it seemed quite apt. I liked the way in which the opening exhortation seemed completely opposed to their motivation. That woke them up! Then the second part gave them a different entry point and restored the connection with that original motivation.

Perhaps the strongest aspect of the quote is, of course, that it attempts to clarify the direction of causation between money and personal development.

It seemed neat at the time, and it still does!

By John Lewis

The Swine Flu “Pandemic”

When is a Pandemic a Pandemic?

[I owe Chris an apology as this Post was prepared for publication on the 20th August and somehow got lost in the works. I believe it is still a relevant and important topic and has not lost any impact from this unintentional delay. Ed.]

The swine flu “pandemic” is to me a very interesting phenomenon. Sadly, it seems typical of the sort of combination of marketing hype and hysteria that is all too common.

I am principally interested in seeing beyond all the media lies and spin to know the TRUTH about what is going on. From what I have so far read the following seems to be true, but if anyone is able to correct me on some issues I would be most grateful.

A view of England – from France.

A work trip to Brittany, France and a chance to reflect on the differences.

I’m sat writing this in my hotel room on the outskirts of Quimper in Brittany. Usual overcast and drizzle but considering I’m only a couple of hundred miles south of home, that’s the only similarity with the Devon weather.

They simply seem to have no comprehension about the recession. There are small signs of some new office building being empty but more buildings seem to have appeared and business appears to be booming. The super market where I have lunch is even busier than last year and the shops are full of people buying things.

What’s the difference?

I’m sure my friend Chris [Chris Snuggs, another author on this Blog] who I used to work for here will be able to say, but I can’t believe it’s all about the main business of food and agriculture, which predominates in this part of the country.

Back home in Devon, the same set of circumstance ought to hold true as it’s mainly agriculture and tourism, just like in Brittany. However there is a vibrancy in Quimper that I find refreshing. And a lack of charity shops!

What can we learn from this?

I was bought up in an environment that did not trust the French and it wasn’t until I got an opportunity to work here 10 years ago I realised that it wasn’t all that I’d been told.

I really like Brittany and its people who are friendly and very welcoming. There is definitely something to learn from this.

By Jon Lavin

The Polanski Affair

France, Polanski and respect for the Law.

I have always associated France with surrealism after, at a fairly young age, seeing those amazing photos of early 1920s surrealist art by Duchamp, Ernst and others. In recent days this surrealist experience has returned with a vengeance in the bizarre case of Roman Polanski, with a reported 62% of French people believing that the arrest of Polanski in Switzerland was an unjustified affront to a long-standing resident “artist” and citizen of France.

The strongest condemnation of this arrest was initially by the French Minister of Culture, Mr Frédéric Mitterand, who said the affair “had no sense” and who expressed his “profound emotion” at the arrest of this “film director of international repute.”

CERN

Is CERN investing in fundamental science or wasting money?

Frankly, any rational assessment of CERN must conclude that it is the most humungous and nonsensical waste of money at a time when millions or even billions of people are threatened by a) starvation and/or death from lack of water and/or b) flooding, burning or freezing caused by Global warming not to mention the wars that are inevitable as people (probably mostly in the Middle East, Asia or Africa) start to fight over scarce resources.

The billions spent on this rather esoteric and ridiculous research would be better spent on practical steps to save people and the planet. And, “yes”, I do know that basic research can lead to useful “products”, and I have nothing against research into, for example fusion power. But why we really have to know what happened in the universe one millisecond after it blew up is beyond me, especially given the cost.

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Bringing back memories

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