Why we still need to go walking

By | | , , , ,
Comments Off on Why we still need to go walking

Having just recently plugged a rather nice afternoon stroll, today brings reminders as to why such strolling is still needed as a minimum. The new bosses really are the same as the old bosses (but then they probably always were going to be, especially if you subscribe to the view that they’re just following orders from Brussels/hidden powers). The pub element of the walk could certainly become trickier

Via Big Brother watch a review of how the coalition and civil liberties, which doesn’t make happy reading. Nor in some ways does the dropping of charges against the love police as, as they observe, it just shows how happy the state is to arrest you with no intent to actually prosecute once they’ve mucked your life up a bit. I’m fairly sure that we shouldn’t be being policed via a catch and release scheme against which we have no recourse or appeal – though even that is better than being fined purely on accusation

Apart from the usual excuse of made up powers and a dislike for having their photograph taken the police still have the fall back of declaring that you were “using “insulting” words within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused “distress”?” Though to end on a cheerier note there are glimmers of hope across the pond. though if other events are anything to go by walking around in a mask probably makes us all “domestic extremists” – but with a bit of EU harmonisation the French burka ban will soon stop us. Perhaps with a European Investigation order which Theresa May recently signed us up to we could already be tried under French law? Or maybe handing carrying a rose will be enough?

So until there’s a culture change from top to bottom of the apparatus of the state, so that it no longer feels the need to be able to arrest and control people at whim there’s still a need to suggest that things should be different even if it is just be going for a small walk in an odd outfit. If enough people protest in a fashion they’re happy with then things can change. After all there have been no huge demo’s to repeal the smoking ban but that’s start to look a little shaky.

0

Global warming not what it once was

By | |
2 Comments

Work has unfortunately made me late to this party, but has been observed this letter of resignation really does deserve the widest possible audience (I’ll put it below the fold though for all of you who’ve seen it before).

As with everyone else I shall reproduce it in full and not say much more because there’s nothing I could add, though as someone that read physics that an institute like the APS could have sunk this low is saddening though not surprising if I was still a member I’d be looking quite closely at what the IoP was up to.

I would recommend reading the comments over at Iain Dale as well as the more erudite analysis from the Devil’s Knife – actually go read those and the letter there and save yourself clicking on more
Continue reading →

0

Strolling season approaches

By | | ,
2 Comments

Remember remember

It’s that time of year again, when the leaves are turning golden, soft golden sun washes across meadows glad in the wisps of morning mists. In such a season what could be better than to go for a gentle stroll with other like minded people?

Of course those that have never joined in on such a pleasant perambulation, accuse a group of masked anonymous individuals of self aggrandizement (presumably because of our boasts of going for little walks in the vaunted halls of the blogosphere). They also say we’re not actually doing anything, presumably because they believe we’re not achieving anything, well to such nay sayers I would but echo anothers words and observe that the walk is for our benefit. Except that that wouldn’t be entirely true. Our quiet and eccentric even foolish (and hence very British) marking of the parlous state of our government and the cheapness with which they hold our hard won liberties does achieve something. We get to talk to people, to share ideas and maybe to plant the idea that perhaps something can be done, perhaps it’s worth trying to make a change – but also we get to stand up and in a very small way show that not all of the populous is happy. From comments we got last year there is at least sympathy with our walk amongst the legendary “man on the street”.

So all that said hopefully I shall see some of you on the 5th for a gentle stroll.

P.S. As always the advice is don’t bring ID or traceable mobile phones.

0