The Lamps are going out.

On the 3rd of August 1914 Edward Grey the then British Forgine Secartry remarked to a friend. "The lamps are going out all over Europe, we shall not see them lit again in our life-time"

This time, more than a century latter they are not going out all over Europe, indeed the EU is a shinning light of liberalism and Democracy in the encroaching darkness of totalitarian and indeed potential fascism (and believe me I do not use that word lightly). Here in the UK in the wake of Brexit the government is taking the opportunity to seize for itself unprecedented powers, which run counter to our (sadly) unwritten constitution. The situation here is dire indeed, however when one looks across the Atlantic Ocean it pales in significance. Nevertheless what is happening here in the United Kingdom is deeply significant and very important (it's ironic that we are called The 'United' Kingdom as we have never been less united in modern times). 

However moving on. I had the good fortune to spend a year of my life living in the US, I spent 4th grade in at a school out there (so I was 10/11). Even at that age we were taught about The Constitution, of which US citizens are rightly prude. The separation of powers between the Executive, the legislative and the judiciary.  Under the Trump Regime, and I use the term ('Regime deliberately rather than administration).

He talks openly about fixing the Supreme Court, of running for more than two terms and just yesterday (of there not being a peaceful transition of power of not accepting the result of the election.). 

Here to Brexit (whatever one feels of felt about leaving the EU) it is now clear it is being used to roll back on our most liberties. We (The UK) are in a dangerous place. 

However America is in far worse one. A president who has said he won't go whatever the result of the election, armed supporters who will back him. The Republicans in both the Senate and House unprepared to stop. And with him having stated that he is intent of 'fixing' the Supreme Court. 

Briefly pulling back. If you look at the Permanent Members of the UN Security Council:China, France, Great Britain, Russia, and The USA. 

The less said about Chain and Russia the better, but they never pretended to be democracies. (albeit it's worth remember that China has actual concentration camps for its Muslim minorities right now). The USA has crossed the Rubicon from a (badly) flawed democracy into a Proto-dictatorship (again I don't make these accusations lightly), France at least is doing OK (please not that it's a member of the EU). 

In both the UK and the US ambitious and inept men have either destroyed or nearly destroyed our democracies added by cheerleaders in the press and their respective parties who put power above principle. 

This is rather different from my normal posts hopefully normal services will be resumed soon.

Hatimah Tovah. 

A General up-date on life.

 Rather amazingly I am still in lock-down. It is not quiet as intense as when I last posted (this has only happened in the last two weeks or so) I now see Emily face to face and indeed Reinne (although not as much) but even there we are careful not to come to near to each other and certainly not to make physical contact. And when I get back to my flat I'll use hand sanitiser. 

I have also a made a few and I mean a few trips to the nearest shop-dressed as if I was back in the lab. And they are of course restricting how many people they let in at one time. And all this at a time when the number of Covid-19 cases is relatively low. But it does look as if a second wave is about to start. I sincerely hope I am wrong about that. But wow has this been going on for a long time. 

It also means that I haven't been home, but I continue to Zoom mum everyday so really we are seeing more of each other than we did before but it's not the same. 

Yesterday I had a medical appointment which necessitated one of my rare leavings of the house. My first proper one in ages (literally months) as it turns out they had changed it into a telephone consolation but had failed to tell me, which was rather irksome. So I had a phone consolation sitting in the waiting room. The upshot of which is they are going to try and increase the dosage of one of my drugs (the last one that isn't at it's full dosage already). And see if it helps. I'm also going to have an other MRI to monitor my hpyacampi if they are course of my problems then there isn't much that can be done and I'll just have to learn to live with it. 

So all in all neither a positive or a negative meeting. 

In my real life (if you can put it that way) I've left twitter but much of my life was on-line but twitter was just making me depressed. I've kept in contact with a couple of friends I made there espically with one called Laura. Some Twitter friends are real friends. And I think all in all my descision to leave was the right one for me. 

Panda is now very settled in, and much more demanding which is good. A bit irrating but he's so sweet he can get away with it. Do wish he would pee on the floor so much. 

And already (somehow) the High Holy Days are drawing near.

Well that's brought things up to date.