The BBC is world renowned for great content.
Their latest documentary, “The rise of the Nazis” is stunning.
Multiple historians focused on individuals involved in the rise combine to give a superbly well-rounded perspective of this tumultuous period in history.
It’s both stunning yet horrific when you see how easily they took over and destroyed democracy.
Watch it and then look at current history and walk with your eyes wide open.
Rise of the Nazis, Series 1: 1. Politics: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m00084tb
Not with a bang but a whimper?
Full marks if you recognise the quote…
Did you know that the UK is now grouped with Albania, Czech Republic, and Greece?
Do you know why?
Because we’re no longer measles free.
Why’s that? Because people believe the comments posted about vaccinations being a cause of various issues, including autism, and then not vaccinating their kids.
That’s both selfish and reckless.
It’s not the only way that social media, in particular, affects the UK in a negative manner.
Learn science. Learn history. Learn technology. Whatever you do – learn!
Or else history will come back to haunt.
Check out the status aspect here: https://edition.cnn.com/2019/08/29/health/europe-measles-outbreaks-scli-intl/index.html
Science is amazing – and conflicted
Sometimes science comes up with something new and amazing, like understanding the atom, but its use becomes something where moral doubts are then a part and parcel of its use.
This BBC article outlines another such instance, and equally links back to those most affected by discussions with rabbis and other doctors to determine the ethics involved in its use.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-49294861
It’s important to understand context, but also to sometimes be pragmatic, whilst recognising the cost to those who went before.
To me it is clear, the book is a tool. How it is used is the moral outcome indicator and I like that those doctors who use it are aware or share its history so others don’t forget. Like the atom, it is a fascinating subject, but use it in the wrong way, like a bomb, or to maim, then it is inherently and morally wrong.
Used in the right way, science is a fantastically positive force for the human race.
Operation Yellowhammer
It’s heartening to see that the government is planning ahead. It’s a shame they only seem to be planning for No Deal.
Worse that if the Sunday Times Report is to be believed that it will lead to a further weakening of the UK.
For all those who voted for Brexit, I trust they understand that not only is no deal bad for us like this report. It is highly likely that Northern Ireland will have issues leading to a possible leaving of the Union. That will almost certainly lead to Scotland doing the same.
All because of a 4% difference on a referendum.
Good stuff eh?
Mobile phones in cars
The Commons Transport committee is focused on banning all phone usage in cars.
I think first we need to address the many who continue to use phones without using any form of hands free mechanism.
I was at a local petrol station recently picking up a parcel from the Amazon locker when a Range Rover went past with the driver holding his phone in his left hand and steering with his right.
If I’d not been on the phone myself, I was standing and away from my car, before any questions arise, I would have taken a photo and tried to report. But without that evidence, it would have been my word against his…
Let’s focus on the right priorities – and fund the police to address them – before taking extra steps that given where we are going with autonomous vehicles will have a limited window of opportunity.
EU calling Boris’ bluff
I think Boris really thought he could bluff the EU and get them to renegotiate.
I think they’ve called him on it.
https://news.sky.com/story/eu-leaders-have-accepted-uk-is-leaving-without-a-deal-11778386
Problem is, he’ll net his place in history for sure now as the PM who crashed us out of the EU. What he and countless others have not realised fully, or worse, don’t care about, is the impact this will have to the average Brit. I say average as there are many who are well off and could weather the financial storm we are about to enter. The people who are truly already worse off won’t be any worse off afterwards.
No, the people who will be affected the most are the ones in the middle.
We also have the issue of what happens to Ireland – both Eire and Northern Ireland. Many feel that the failure to address that will lead to Northern Ireland potentially splitting from the UK and reuniting with Eire.
That split may not affect Scotland’s decision to push for another Independence vote – which given where we are now could well end up with them confirming that they will leave the Union.
We’re safe, I think, that Wales will remain part of the remaining Union, but that’s not a whole heap of positive.
The additional worry, low compared to the others I’ve listed, is that the US is hovering to pick the bones off the carcass that will be the UK.
All this means that Boris, as CNN reports, could become the last PM of the United Kingdom. Well done Boris. Well done.
https://edition.cnn.com/2019/08/03/uk/boris-johnson-end-of-the-union-analysis-intl-gbr/index.html
Science v Religion
It really shouldn’t be a fight between science and religion, but clearly some don’t believe science and would rather believe in the power of prayer.
This article highlights that the US has a core of people thinking that way, and that the numbers seem to be increasing.
Now, we probably need to take a step back. Religion is a descriptive name for the beliefs humans have had, in many instances, since we were cavemen. (Very simplistic view, but I don’t want this to be a long article).
Science on the other hand is the learning we have gained, and proved, from investigating and understanding everything around, as well as in, us.This takes in everything from the micro to the macro and extends to the universe. We’re still learning but over the many thousands of years we have advanced so far. We used to worship the sun because it rose and set magically, now we know that we rotate around it and the rising and setting of the sun is “just science”.
Science has improved our lives immeasurably. We live longer, can expect to survive cancers that would have killed previous generations and we’re working to survive all cancers. We know much more about the universe, but as with every item we learn, we find new areas that need further exploration.
What I am saying is that we may want and spiritually need to rely on religion as an emotional or psychological crutch, but we should be very wary of treating everything written in any holy text as absolute.
Get your inoculations, make sure your children do, follow the space missions and support us getting off the earth so we can survive even longer as a species.
We need to trust science more than religion. Doing otherwise will kill off our species in the long run.
A brilliant – and free – solution to ransomware
It’s great to see innovative thinking in any situation, but especially where individuals who may lack technical knowledge are faced with a criminal issue.
Like ransomware.
You may click on an unexpected email, never a good thing, but we all make errors at times. Hey presto, your mail, photos, files, perhaps even your whole PC are locked – their contents encrypted unless you pay a ransom.
So this site is a great idea:
It’s easy to use and follow the steps. It’s linked to police organisations.
It’s the ideal solution.
It can’t do every type of ransomware, but it does a lot – and probably the most common.
Be safe.
Oh dear Roy…
Poor Rutger and his family. So sorry to read this news and will be thinking of him.
I’m sure he has seen a lot more than any of us…
Great actor and will be sorely missed.
Facebook fined $5billion
This is big. Not just the fine. Not just that that are being fined for the future.
It’s that they have to change their culture.
It’s something I’ve blogged about a lot previously. I’m really pleased the FTC have made this decision.
Facebook fined $5B by FTC over Cambridge Analytica scandal charges
http://appleinsider.com/articles/19/07/24/facebook-fined-5b-by-ftc-over-cambridge-analytica-scandal-charges