Censorship, CBS, Stephen Colbert and James Talarico

I try not to post too much about politics in the USA under Trump as there is so much that is taking place there.  I hope that we in the UK learn from what is happening over there, as otherwise, we will be voting in Nigel Farage as Prime Minister.  If he comes in, I suspect that the same censorship that is starting to take place in the USA, will take place here.  

Basically, Stephen Colbert wanted to interview a politician, and was told he could not.  The View is to be be investigated for featuring the same politician, James Talarico.  Issues with free speech in the USA have been raised on many occasions and I suspect this will continue.

So when people in the UK complain about us not having free speech, they are, to put it simply, nuts.  

Dr Cass and both sides of transgender debate

 

As I have posted before, many consider me to be a transphobe. I consider a TransWoman to be a TransWoman, not a woman, just as I consider a TransMan to be a TransMan and not a man. Cisgender individuals do not spend their lives experiencing Gender Dysphoria the way that those who are non-binary do. Men need to be taught not to rape, something that is not as much of an issue for TransMen who are more likely to be raped than rape. A TransWoman has to grow up with a penis, this brings about experiences that a woman will not have. Equating the experiences of someone who is non-binary with a cisgender individual minimises what that person has had to go through.

The government is in a similar position.  It is considered transphobic by many on the left, and many on the right consider it to be appeasing the trans community.  An example of this is with the NHS puberty blocker trial.  Many on both sides of the debate agree in that they do not think it is needed.  There are those who think that puberty blockers are proven to be safe and those who think they have been proven to be unsafe.  The divide is not just left or right, there are those on the left of the political spectrum who think that the government is putting children at risk by appeasing the transgender community.

I am with the government on this.  I think it is fair to have more research into the use of these drugs.  But many would say that reflects my transphobic views.   

Should Palestine Action be allowed to protest in ways that the Far Right should not?

Palestine Action are in the news again.  Many consider their actions to be just, and I have discussed how I disagree with this before.  They have engaged in direct action to vandalise companies which have been helping Israel murder Palestinian civilians.  But they have also engaged in direct action which has done nothing to aid those being murdered in Gaza, and may have helped Russia instead. 

We would be wrong to compare the actions of Palestine Action to the Farage Riots.  But we can compare their actions to those who want to prevent refugees seeking asylum in our great nation.  

Back from Lewes

Well, actually, it is also Brighton.  

My son had an open day at the University of Sussex, one which we drove him to.  We started later than we planned, but made good time and arrived when we were meant to.  We also made it with one charge of my electric car, though we had to charge it soon after arriving there.  My wife, dog and I went to Lewes, which we had forgotten we had been to before.  My wife recognised it first, but later, when we passed a shop the kids had wanted to go it, I remembered it as well.  The dog loved it, loads of new smells and new places to walk.  My wife found an old bookshop and later we went to a dog friendly café where she ended up accidentally buying some very expensive soap!

Brighton itself was a bit of a nightmare.  We got stuck in traffic as we returned to a hotel we had been to many years before children.  When I tried to park, the barrier came down on my car and it took a while for me to get free.  The food though was great, even the dog had some.  My son finished earlier than we expected and when he met us, he was buzzing.  We suspect that this will be his first choice of university.

Anyway, we are now tired and need to rest.  I suspect we will be returning here in the next year or two.

The Rats: A Witcher Tale

The weekend has been an interesting one.  Yesterday we did some driving, in the rain which tired us out. My wife and I met some friends while my son stayed over at a friend’s. So this morning I had a headache. So we rested, which I needed as I have not been feeling 100% in the last week.  My wife though has had a worse week, having to manage a broken tap and the resulting leak on Thursday. I would think that the highlight of her week was the roast chicken I cooked today.i used to make it years ago,  it I returned to old habits today, something my son, who now has a cold, appreciated. 

I did get a chance to watch this film. It is not good.  It is good in bits, and was better than the 4th series of The Witcher, which it follows, but that is a low bar. As with the series, the production does not flow. The writing could be better as the characters don’t have the depth to get to like them. In summary, find something else to watch.

Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre

First of all, my daughter made a surprise visit on Friday, leaving earlier today.  When I say surprise m the only two in the house who did not know she was coming was me and our dog.  My son had asked about things we could do on the weekend, and although I mentioned Monopoly, I said it was no fun without his sister being present as I would not be able to turn one against the other, which is how I win.

I was rung as they were to collect a takeaway from Gaia in East Bergholt. I did say they should take a picture and send it to my daughter, but I did not know she was with them.  When they got home, they insisted I came home as well.  On getting home our dog ran towards me as she normally does then literally skidded, as she ran back into the living room, which is unusual. I went in, gave my wife a hug and then after putting clothes in for washing, came back to find my daughter in the room!  It was really nice that the family was all together for the weekend.  We had lunch in Grunisburgh and my wife made streak for us all for dinner, even the dog.

During the weekend, I got a chance to relax and during this time together, we watched the film.  When it comes to it, it was enjoyable.  The Guardian described it as slick and silly, but I also think it had the right balance. I honestly would recommend the film as it had memorable and, for a film of this type, well written characters. There were plenty of plot holes, but they were not too big. I am glad I watched it and if there is to be a sequel, I would watch it as well.  

Unions and workers rights

On my YouTube feed, this video was suggested.  I though I should share it as a reminder why unions are important.  There are those on the right who are against workers having rights but they forget that unions want workers to have jobs.  A comparison of what can be done in the USA should be a reminder of the advantages of unions who have striven for workers rights and those victories should not be thrown away.  Lets face it, no one in a job in the UK wants to be treated like the employees of Twitter after Musk took charge of it.