Back from Bristol

My wife and I drove our daughter back to Bristol today.  Due to driving by electric car, the journey is longer than it has been when we have used her hybrid as we need to stop to charge the car. Which means it is about a twelve hour day. She can and has used the train, but I like the drive there. My son spent the time in Colchester recovering from a hectic week and greeted us on our arrival.

While the drive was exhausting, it was worth it. The picture is taken from when my wife and I had lunch while my car was charging.  Our dog got to eat as well, and we may return here if the weather is good (they do not allow dogs inside). 

Labour, its election failure and those to come

Labour lost and considering the seat they lost, they lost badly. Many have stated that the seat would have been won if Andy Burham had been allowed to stand, but if he had, Labour would still face a nightmare in the local elections in May.

Yes, it looks as if it will be a two way fight between Reform and The Green’s in those elections, but the next general election is not until 2029.

A change in leadership may bring about a better communication strategy but it will not overcome the media bias against Labour.

While Your Party have made significant steps to fighting in the next General Election in 2029, they may have just as negligible an effect on The Green Party that Restore Britain will have on Reform UK. 

Labour are doing what they are paid to do

Zack Polanski is coming out fighting, stating what he thinks, but by doing so, ensuring that I am not going to vote Green.  I do agree with many policies of The Green Party.  He has argued that Labour are doing what they are paid to do.  But he is right. 

Labour have reversed the decision by the Tories to challenge the decision of the International Criminal Court to issue an arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu. 

When it comes to Israel, I want Labour to do more, but it has taken action against Israel when it comes to trade and our government has told Israel what it is doing is wrong. 

It has been accused of listening to union paymasters when it comes to the minimum wage.  There are numerous other examples, but when Labour is doing what it is paid to do, that is not a bad thing. 

PMQs and drugs

PMQs today was interesting.  Of the many things that came up, the one I want to address today is drugs and legalisation.

I have stated that I feel that they should be legalised and regulated, but Starmer raised an important point, that being date-rape drugs.  While his view in PMQ's is that drugs should not be legalised and regulated, I do think that he is right about date rape drugs like GHB and flunitrazepam (also known as Rohypnol).  I had a chat with my daughter about this later in the day.  We both agreed that drugs like this should not be legalised as the idea of legalisation and regulation is about risk reduction to the user. 

It is because of this, that I do not think that there is a point in the legalisation and regulation of anabolic steroids.  Drugs ruin peoples lives, and making them legal will not stop them doing so, but doing so may help reduce some of the harm that they cause. Also, it will probably reduce the rates of drug related crime and has seen to have advantages abroad. 

How do I get onto the Reform UK blacklist?

My daughter, being back in Colchester was happy to get post. It was addressed to those in the house who can vote, which made me think it was from the council about voter registration. She was shocked to see that it was Reform UK trying to get us to vote for them.

So far, we have been blacklisted by The Tories (I debate them) and Jehovah’s Witnesses. I want to know how we can get Reform to block us as well. I do not believe in being rude to them, I believe in robust debate to hold them to account, which, as I have posted before, is something our media do not do. 

F*ck Valentines Day

I would have to say, give this a miss.  I love Marisa Tomei and I was surprised to see Natasha Leggero in it, they being two of the best actors in it. It has a different story, well a different one at the beginning, but then it becomes a normal rom-com. 

The three main characters do not have much chemistry, which is a shame considering that I actually think that the film had potential. The different beginning was refreshing, but it never managed to take advantage of it.  It has great scenery, I would love to visit the hotel in it, but as it transformed into a normal rom-com, bits of it became more painful. I did not warm to most of the characters and to be honest, was glad it was over. My son decided that although we wanted to watch it as a family film, it was not worth it, so he went to bed.  As I do not think it is worth it, watch the trailer. Doing so means that you will watch most of the best bits.

Back from Bristol

We are back from Bristol. It is the beginning of Reading Week and my daughter wants to spend it in Colchester. She is capable of using the train to get here, but I like the drive to Bristol to get her. So we drove down. 

Our dog, like the rest of us were happy to see her, but unlike the rest of us, the dog kept trying to sulk to punish her for not being around for the last two weeks. But it did not last and the dog gave in and expressed her love for her.

It is really nice that we are all together. While the drive to Bristol and back was exhausting, it was worth it.

Francesca Albanese and the truth

If anyone has a valid argument, there is no need for them to distort the truth.  And that is what has happened when it comes to Francesca Albanese.

 

Some, have felt that she should not be allowed to say what she wants and have edited her words to distort her message. It is sad that many have decided to play to the saying that the first casualty of war is the truth.  I don't like lies, including those being made by those who are against Israel (as opposed to the current government) or those who are against Palestinians (as opposed to Hamas).   If we are to bring about the just peace envisioned in The Oslo Accords, truth needs to be treasured, not distorted. 

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested!

It is an interesting day, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been arrested.  I am surprised that the same has not happened with Peter Mandelson though. It is right that one is being investigated for giving (or trading) information to Epstein but I wait to hear why both have not been brought in.

Another example of media bias against Labour

I have previously posted about media bias against Labour.  I want Labour to be held to scrutiny, but I want other parties to face the same accountability to the media. 

The government, who had asked local authorities if they wanted to delay elections, have been forced to reverse their position by a legal challenge from ReformUK.  They could have fought this in the courts, but legal advice stated that the government position was unlikely to succeed. Rather than delay things which would cause more hassle for councils, as well as waste taxpayer money in fighting the case, the government backed down.  But it is not being reported as that.  At the very least, when it comes to headlines.  

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.  

Palestine Action have engaged in acts of vandalism, one of many examples being where it smashed windows and sprayed red paint at the Milton Keynes premises of the German insurance firm Allianz, claiming alleged links to an Israel-based defence company. Does this mean that acts of vandalism against services helping refugees such as in Peterborough and Merseyside are equally justified? Should the masked men who were found in a hotel housing asylum seekers have been allowed to engage in peaceful direct action? 

Allegations have been made that Palestine Action have engaged in harassment of staff, just like allegations have been made about the harassment of those helping asylum seekers. Comparison’s have been made with The Suffragette Movement, but while I celebrate and treasure many of their actions and achievements, some of their actions were unacceptable. 

Basically, I want to ask supporters of Palestine Action, should The Far Right have the same restrictions and freedom when it comes to to protest as Palestine Action? 

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.