Friday, 27 September 2019
The return
Sometimes, there's nothing better than taking a little break away. To refresh the mind. Fill the lungs with fresh only semi-polluted air, and- Oh merde! Sommes-nous encore en train de parler de Brexit?!
Monday, 16 September 2019
Dreaded Drug Decriminalisation
For the majority of people when they hear the term drugs they are more in mind of those substances which alter consciousness and states of mind, and of course which may or may not be hallucinogenic, make us feel good, love our fellow species members, make us look better, question the bollocks we're fed on a daily basis and realise the nonsense of contemporary power structures and paradigms; and are subsequently banned, excoriated and war'd on.
In our modern society drugs are taken by the majority of people, in one form or another, at some stage or another, for things that are now so routine we forget that only 50 years ago, without them would either mean a certain death or being the recipient of severe life-shortening disability. We’re including vaccinations in that pantheon too, as vaccines are also drugs.
Drugs have had a bit of a mixed audience over the centuries, suffering ups and downs along the way. A way to keep the less fortunate sophomoric and their better offs giddy with delight. But who can forget wandering along the Thames river in the Victorian era and popping into an apothecary to get a vial of cocaine to help with that pesky cold?
Since Jenner and his smallpox vaccinations there have been problems with drugs along the way. With Governments (USA) doing experiments on their third class citizens with STDs, or governments (USSR/Russia) being early proponents of gender swapping, as long as it only (okay mainly) involved sports women! Of course it’s understandable why people would prefer not to have their children vaccinated in the hope of saving them from one of the many dreadful side-effects that may impact them, or saving them from deliberately introduced side effects just to see what impacts there might be. But apart from the few highly reported incidences regarding adulterated vaccines, the improvement in global improved life-span, over only a few decades, hasn’t just being down to improvements in food, nutrition, and improved water supplies, all of which played a huge part, but mainly the ability of medicine to bring to heel once terminal illnesses and diseases.
Getting through the blah blah on the war on drugs in the USA, we quickly realise that it’s not really a war on the perceived horrors that impact poorer sections of communities, but a war on many other fronts to ensure that power remains in the hands of those who believe they know better! A Nixon aide famously said that the reason for the war on drugs was basically to divide and conquer, with a healthy dose of racism thrown into the mix. Three of his colleagues have poured scorn on the whole idea, but as jailed prisoners are unable to vote, what better way of killing many stones with the one policy. That was before gerrymandering really took off, which makes imprisoning an unnecessary throwback to a more barbaric time. Make black people and hippies who consume marijuana appear to be the bogeyman of all that’s right and just, and those who support them being just as bad. So why not help such perceptions along by ensuring gang wars, supplies can get through, and the media reporting like the good boy’s that they are. Once people have a conviction for drug possession they become forever a felon. Felons are not allowed to vote. So the war on drugs disproportionately affects black men, many end up in prison as part of the money making venture that is the prison industrial complex of a privatised prison system. Then when they get out they are not allowed to vote. Which helps with gerrymandering, especially as they would only vote democrat anyhow.
In the 1930’s the drug war was against mexicans, Will Randolph Hurst was a politician, owned a lot of newspapers and also a lot of paper producing companies. The target was the evil hemp, “reefer madness” 1936, with white women being seduced by reefer smoking black jazz musicians. As that was so successful a similar war on drugs was enacted a few decades later, using crack as the weapon of choice for Ronald Reagan, ans targeting the black community because white people tended to do powder cocaine. Before reefer madness there was a campaign against opium because the Chinese were smoking it!
Of course in about 1900 you could legally buy cocaine, morphine, cannabis. Queen Victoria used cannabis for period pains.
Why do we care here in the UK? Well ever since the master and servant roll was reversed, the UK has slavishly followed whatever US policy they can get away with implementing.
Over the years, the US policy has helped limit and hold back research into the use of LSD or molly MDMA for sufferers of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Ergo, a lovely catch 22. No research, no proof that it works. So cannot (legally) be used for treatment. Even internationally, politicians prefer people (poor) to die of cancer in Africa and India, than for them to get morphine to relieve their pain.
Hypocrisy much? As society guzzles vast tankers of alcohol with terrible damage to individuals, and a community cost of pub fights hospital bills, prison, it is rarely viewed as a drug that shouls be banned, as it brings lots of money in to the chancellery, and those with power do enjoy the off tiple. Whilst prescribed opiods have more people becoming hooked on them, and deaths from their use increasing. But, have one person (out of millions that week) unfortunately die, who popped a pill to enjoy themselves and it’ll be plastered across the headtops for weeks to come.
In our modern society drugs are taken by the majority of people, in one form or another, at some stage or another, for things that are now so routine we forget that only 50 years ago, without them would either mean a certain death or being the recipient of severe life-shortening disability. We’re including vaccinations in that pantheon too, as vaccines are also drugs.
Drugs have had a bit of a mixed audience over the centuries, suffering ups and downs along the way. A way to keep the less fortunate sophomoric and their better offs giddy with delight. But who can forget wandering along the Thames river in the Victorian era and popping into an apothecary to get a vial of cocaine to help with that pesky cold?
Since Jenner and his smallpox vaccinations there have been problems with drugs along the way. With Governments (USA) doing experiments on their third class citizens with STDs, or governments (USSR/Russia) being early proponents of gender swapping, as long as it only (okay mainly) involved sports women! Of course it’s understandable why people would prefer not to have their children vaccinated in the hope of saving them from one of the many dreadful side-effects that may impact them, or saving them from deliberately introduced side effects just to see what impacts there might be. But apart from the few highly reported incidences regarding adulterated vaccines, the improvement in global improved life-span, over only a few decades, hasn’t just being down to improvements in food, nutrition, and improved water supplies, all of which played a huge part, but mainly the ability of medicine to bring to heel once terminal illnesses and diseases.
Getting through the blah blah on the war on drugs in the USA, we quickly realise that it’s not really a war on the perceived horrors that impact poorer sections of communities, but a war on many other fronts to ensure that power remains in the hands of those who believe they know better! A Nixon aide famously said that the reason for the war on drugs was basically to divide and conquer, with a healthy dose of racism thrown into the mix. Three of his colleagues have poured scorn on the whole idea, but as jailed prisoners are unable to vote, what better way of killing many stones with the one policy. That was before gerrymandering really took off, which makes imprisoning an unnecessary throwback to a more barbaric time. Make black people and hippies who consume marijuana appear to be the bogeyman of all that’s right and just, and those who support them being just as bad. So why not help such perceptions along by ensuring gang wars, supplies can get through, and the media reporting like the good boy’s that they are. Once people have a conviction for drug possession they become forever a felon. Felons are not allowed to vote. So the war on drugs disproportionately affects black men, many end up in prison as part of the money making venture that is the prison industrial complex of a privatised prison system. Then when they get out they are not allowed to vote. Which helps with gerrymandering, especially as they would only vote democrat anyhow.
In the 1930’s the drug war was against mexicans, Will Randolph Hurst was a politician, owned a lot of newspapers and also a lot of paper producing companies. The target was the evil hemp, “reefer madness” 1936, with white women being seduced by reefer smoking black jazz musicians. As that was so successful a similar war on drugs was enacted a few decades later, using crack as the weapon of choice for Ronald Reagan, ans targeting the black community because white people tended to do powder cocaine. Before reefer madness there was a campaign against opium because the Chinese were smoking it!
Of course in about 1900 you could legally buy cocaine, morphine, cannabis. Queen Victoria used cannabis for period pains.
Why do we care here in the UK? Well ever since the master and servant roll was reversed, the UK has slavishly followed whatever US policy they can get away with implementing.
Over the years, the US policy has helped limit and hold back research into the use of LSD or molly MDMA for sufferers of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Ergo, a lovely catch 22. No research, no proof that it works. So cannot (legally) be used for treatment. Even internationally, politicians prefer people (poor) to die of cancer in Africa and India, than for them to get morphine to relieve their pain.
Hypocrisy much? As society guzzles vast tankers of alcohol with terrible damage to individuals, and a community cost of pub fights hospital bills, prison, it is rarely viewed as a drug that shouls be banned, as it brings lots of money in to the chancellery, and those with power do enjoy the off tiple. Whilst prescribed opiods have more people becoming hooked on them, and deaths from their use increasing. But, have one person (out of millions that week) unfortunately die, who popped a pill to enjoy themselves and it’ll be plastered across the headtops for weeks to come.
Friday, 13 September 2019
Wednesday, 11 September 2019
In alternate reality 45823...
The latest edition of 'Democracy for The End Times', lands on the desk of the British Prime Minister. "Are you a PUSSY LICKING DRUGKING, or PROGRESSIVE LOVING DATER?"
The PM smirks, and licks his lips. He hadn't tasted the good stuff in quite a while. And with all those paparazites outside, it might be a while before he would again. As for the other stuff, his young fillies were doing rather well. Jeni even beat the bookies with a 100 yards to spare at the Goodgrove races
He looks down his to-do list and maniacally mutters. "Scuppering Parliament, check. Drowning the Speaker in a grab the apple contest, in progress. Hanging out promises of a better tomorrow without jam today, that's our mantra. In the record books, even as the shortest serving PM since 1827, by Jove still on track!"
As financial, social, and international storm clouds gather in growing intensity, the asymmetric flapping wings of destiny ferociously beat towards an approaching darkening maw.
The PM smirks, and licks his lips. He hadn't tasted the good stuff in quite a while. And with all those paparazites outside, it might be a while before he would again. As for the other stuff, his young fillies were doing rather well. Jeni even beat the bookies with a 100 yards to spare at the Goodgrove races
He looks down his to-do list and maniacally mutters. "Scuppering Parliament, check. Drowning the Speaker in a grab the apple contest, in progress. Hanging out promises of a better tomorrow without jam today, that's our mantra. In the record books, even as the shortest serving PM since 1827, by Jove still on track!"
As financial, social, and international storm clouds gather in growing intensity, the asymmetric flapping wings of destiny ferociously beat towards an approaching darkening maw.
Monday, 9 September 2019
Lounge of green borders
Ah good evening.
It is Tuesday.
Have a care.
Our army of beetles, spiders and exploding ants,
Vicious vipers, poisonous pythons and bristling badgers,
Are all ready to defend the borders of my fine realm!
Now leave me in peace.
Let me lounge.
It is Tuesday.
Have a care.
Our army of beetles, spiders and exploding ants,
Vicious vipers, poisonous pythons and bristling badgers,
Are all ready to defend the borders of my fine realm!
Now leave me in peace.
Let me lounge.
Friday, 6 September 2019
Wednesday, 4 September 2019
Floppy bits
I had an email pop in regarding the exciting news of “going from a couch potato to 5k in just 9 weeks".
Why?I wondered to no one in particular. I neither have a couch, nor do I wish to run 5k - never have done. Plus there’s hardly enough hours in a day to get a dot of what I wish to, and the bits that I do are interspersed with bouncing between walls before bed. Time to run? Hardly time to gather thoughts and firmly tie them down with coherent ropes of logic and reason.
For those out there who do 5k’s, you are an inspiration. Keep up the wonderful work, but remember that couch potatoes exist, so everyone else can feel good.
Why?I wondered to no one in particular. I neither have a couch, nor do I wish to run 5k - never have done. Plus there’s hardly enough hours in a day to get a dot of what I wish to, and the bits that I do are interspersed with bouncing between walls before bed. Time to run? Hardly time to gather thoughts and firmly tie them down with coherent ropes of logic and reason.
For those out there who do 5k’s, you are an inspiration. Keep up the wonderful work, but remember that couch potatoes exist, so everyone else can feel good.
Monday, 2 September 2019
Rocking it like Methuselah
There is an increasing amount of research being published relating to the possibility of extending life by tinkering with the inner workings of genes. Soon the question may well be when can you take the age adding serum, rather than if; as societies will start to experience citizens leading longer, healthier, happier, and more fulfilled lives!
However, not to be outdone, rightwing think-tanks are working to swing the pendulum back on life expectancy, by flexing their ideological control over governments and swathes of societies across the globe - their snake-tongues finding fertile ground. Whether it’s the burning of the rainforests, selling arms to rival groups, or whittling away the remaining safety nets leaving nothing but bare concreted ground. They will have a solution to your problem which will decimate those with the least in your society. But that stark eventuality is at least a generation or two removed from coming back to bite anyone implementing the measures, so really, where’s the harm?!
One such think tank has already instigated the disaster which is Universal Credit in the UK. The very same organisation, with chief snake Ian Duncan-Smith, has recently being blowing in the wind their latest wonderful idea of increasing the retirement age from 68 years to those reaching their 75th birthday. With every increase in the average lifespan, such bodies will always exist trying to ensure that people (the undeserving poor, the disabled, the workshy, the skivers, the menials, the unwilling, the lazy, the febrile, the mentally unwell, and the IQ challenged) will work for as much of that time as possible. That, after all, is simply their lot in life.
People are, rightly, grumbling a bit. But that is only a seven year increase, with a possible working life range of 59 - 66 years - for those lucky enough to be in fully paid/perked/benefitted employment, or successful self-employment, or atop black market income stream verticals. If you think retiring when you are 75 might put a spanner in your idyll of a happy pension everafter, just imagine being alive centuries from now, when the retirement age has (after consultation) been raised to 540, only to find that on your 539th birthday a new legislative directive has been automatically implemented raising the retirement age by another 50 years. So your retirement party and presentation of a golden teapot, for 500 years good service, has been postponed until you reach the tender age of 590! On a positive note, after 570 years of working imagine the size of that pension pot, which will just be enough to buy a broom cupboard on the empires farthest off-world outpost.
All of the above currently sounds nothing but far-fetched grandiose nonsense, but if the species doesn't kill itself, or significantly regress its ability to build on incremental medical and technological advances being made, we can only imagine how things will look in 500 years time. The first recorded use of a firearm was under 700 years ago in 1364. First passenger jet airliner entered service in 1952, mobile phones in 1973. Ultrasound guided nerve blocks (pain blockers for us lays) for anaesthesiology in 1978. Will be a remnant homosapien rump scratching out an existence amongst the wreckage of its fall, or will it rise beyond the always-on-display-of-itinerant-pettiness, towards a future only restricted by its ability to imagine.
In the life extension experiment simply blocking the expression of one gene increased the lifespan of a test subject (a nematode, is still a test subject) by up to 25 percent. If a similar extension could be enabled in humans, then potential life expectancy could be pushed up to 143 - for those already lucky enough to be living towards the top end of human life expectancy. For those on the other end however, it would at the very least provide an extra few months of existence, regardless of how grubby and miserable that existence is. How many years of endless grind would society deem acceptable? Or would another enlightenment take place and consign such ideas to the periods of barbarism.
Okay 550 years is hardly a dent on Methuselah’s fictional lifespan. But if you had to work over 500 years of your life, just what would that look like? Surely you wouldn’t be working for the same company, that would be tragic! But then again, if the company rotated roles, offered stock options and flexible possibilities, became more dynamic, and less static, was 100% open and transparent, why not? Apart from seeing the same 50 people, over and over and over and over and over and over again!
However, not to be outdone, rightwing think-tanks are working to swing the pendulum back on life expectancy, by flexing their ideological control over governments and swathes of societies across the globe - their snake-tongues finding fertile ground. Whether it’s the burning of the rainforests, selling arms to rival groups, or whittling away the remaining safety nets leaving nothing but bare concreted ground. They will have a solution to your problem which will decimate those with the least in your society. But that stark eventuality is at least a generation or two removed from coming back to bite anyone implementing the measures, so really, where’s the harm?!
One such think tank has already instigated the disaster which is Universal Credit in the UK. The very same organisation, with chief snake Ian Duncan-Smith, has recently being blowing in the wind their latest wonderful idea of increasing the retirement age from 68 years to those reaching their 75th birthday. With every increase in the average lifespan, such bodies will always exist trying to ensure that people (the undeserving poor, the disabled, the workshy, the skivers, the menials, the unwilling, the lazy, the febrile, the mentally unwell, and the IQ challenged) will work for as much of that time as possible. That, after all, is simply their lot in life.
People are, rightly, grumbling a bit. But that is only a seven year increase, with a possible working life range of 59 - 66 years - for those lucky enough to be in fully paid/perked/benefitted employment, or successful self-employment, or atop black market income stream verticals. If you think retiring when you are 75 might put a spanner in your idyll of a happy pension everafter, just imagine being alive centuries from now, when the retirement age has (after consultation) been raised to 540, only to find that on your 539th birthday a new legislative directive has been automatically implemented raising the retirement age by another 50 years. So your retirement party and presentation of a golden teapot, for 500 years good service, has been postponed until you reach the tender age of 590! On a positive note, after 570 years of working imagine the size of that pension pot, which will just be enough to buy a broom cupboard on the empires farthest off-world outpost.
All of the above currently sounds nothing but far-fetched grandiose nonsense, but if the species doesn't kill itself, or significantly regress its ability to build on incremental medical and technological advances being made, we can only imagine how things will look in 500 years time. The first recorded use of a firearm was under 700 years ago in 1364. First passenger jet airliner entered service in 1952, mobile phones in 1973. Ultrasound guided nerve blocks (pain blockers for us lays) for anaesthesiology in 1978. Will be a remnant homosapien rump scratching out an existence amongst the wreckage of its fall, or will it rise beyond the always-on-display-of-itinerant-pettiness, towards a future only restricted by its ability to imagine.
In the life extension experiment simply blocking the expression of one gene increased the lifespan of a test subject (a nematode, is still a test subject) by up to 25 percent. If a similar extension could be enabled in humans, then potential life expectancy could be pushed up to 143 - for those already lucky enough to be living towards the top end of human life expectancy. For those on the other end however, it would at the very least provide an extra few months of existence, regardless of how grubby and miserable that existence is. How many years of endless grind would society deem acceptable? Or would another enlightenment take place and consign such ideas to the periods of barbarism.
Okay 550 years is hardly a dent on Methuselah’s fictional lifespan. But if you had to work over 500 years of your life, just what would that look like? Surely you wouldn’t be working for the same company, that would be tragic! But then again, if the company rotated roles, offered stock options and flexible possibilities, became more dynamic, and less static, was 100% open and transparent, why not? Apart from seeing the same 50 people, over and over and over and over and over and over again!
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