One arm bandit
Trying to live life with one arm - incredibly difficult and at last bringing proper understanding of living with a disability. The arm isn't there to hold things while you open them, to help lift anything, including the cat, or to touch type. This means that this is a one right forefinger message, and is going to be very short. Maybe someone knows how to touch type with one hand.
Injured arm now starting to hurt so will have to rest it. Must get some voicemail equipment which can transcribe. Will be the only hope.
Friday, 15 July 2016
Thursday, 23 June 2016
Wednesday, 13 April 2016
Private lives
The comedy of manners by Noel Coward, "Private Lives" was among his most popular productions, demonstrating that there can be no such thing as a truly private life, And this view is being supported now as a high-pitched public discussion of a politician's relationship with a female sex worker is carried out.
With modern surveillance techniques now being used by so many, from the government to large companies and individuals, no one can hope for a completely private life. When I was in Russia in the old Soviet days it was generally agreed, though not talked about openly,that all your phone calls and room conversations would be heard and noted by KGB agents or simply hotel workers hired by them. The only safe place to have a conversation about where you were going or what you were doing was on a crowded metro platform or somewhere outside at night.
I remember my case being left prominently in the middle of the station platform where I was about to board a train to leave Moscow, instead of being in the luggage van, just to show me that they had searched it and my room before I left. The KGB operators tried to take me off that train, until rejected by angry Norwegians who had been on the anti-nuclear weapons march I was covering. All that has changed now ( or nearly all). But, sad to say, we seem to have picked up some of the old Soviet spying habits. No more privacy. and what will that achieve? Nothing, except to drive us all underground, including the politicians who govern us.
With modern surveillance techniques now being used by so many, from the government to large companies and individuals, no one can hope for a completely private life. When I was in Russia in the old Soviet days it was generally agreed, though not talked about openly,that all your phone calls and room conversations would be heard and noted by KGB agents or simply hotel workers hired by them. The only safe place to have a conversation about where you were going or what you were doing was on a crowded metro platform or somewhere outside at night.
I remember my case being left prominently in the middle of the station platform where I was about to board a train to leave Moscow, instead of being in the luggage van, just to show me that they had searched it and my room before I left. The KGB operators tried to take me off that train, until rejected by angry Norwegians who had been on the anti-nuclear weapons march I was covering. All that has changed now ( or nearly all). But, sad to say, we seem to have picked up some of the old Soviet spying habits. No more privacy. and what will that achieve? Nothing, except to drive us all underground, including the politicians who govern us.
Saturday, 20 February 2016
Cameron and the EU
David Cameron's views on the reasons why Britain should stay in the EU, while having been
lengthily debated with Cabinet colleagues and government department officials, have probably
been too hard for most of the country to grasp, and though truthful, too esoteric for his
audience. On the whole, I think the coming referendum will show a majority, however small, in
favour of staying in. The initial doubt about joining the EU was basically a hangover from a
distrust of Europe which was the legacy of the war years. Now, new generations, broadened travel
and a crisscross of employment between Britain and the Continent has made this country welded
into Europe in a way it has not been since the early 19th century, even though we are not prepared to
share the currency. But that may come. And meanwhile, hopefully, Brexit will be discovered for
the fake patriotism that it is. We can be brothers and sisters with the Germans and the east
Europeans and not see the English Channel as a moat protecting us from the outsiders. We are
there already - now we just need to confirm it.
lengthily debated with Cabinet colleagues and government department officials, have probably
been too hard for most of the country to grasp, and though truthful, too esoteric for his
audience. On the whole, I think the coming referendum will show a majority, however small, in
favour of staying in. The initial doubt about joining the EU was basically a hangover from a
distrust of Europe which was the legacy of the war years. Now, new generations, broadened travel
and a crisscross of employment between Britain and the Continent has made this country welded
into Europe in a way it has not been since the early 19th century, even though we are not prepared to
share the currency. But that may come. And meanwhile, hopefully, Brexit will be discovered for
the fake patriotism that it is. We can be brothers and sisters with the Germans and the east
Europeans and not see the English Channel as a moat protecting us from the outsiders. We are
there already - now we just need to confirm it.
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