In Time of War(s)

Long, long ago, in a university common room I saw a crumpled man with a crumpled face in a crumpled jacket smoking a cigarette. (It was a long time ago.) Keith's Mum said he was a poet. Here is part of a poem what he wrote.

...I and the public know
What all schoolchildren learn,
Those to whom evil is done
Do evil in return...

At an early age I was vaccinated against poetry but I think this has something to say, now.
Within the crumples it seemed there might be great experience, humanity and compassion. Who knows?
Hat tip to John Naughton for reminding me.
(Ehmm, ehmm! Would we not have to get permission from Mr Auden for the use of September 1 1939 Ed.)
WH is late of his parish and we claim fair use which is more than I have had out of you, recently!

Here's One I Grew Earlier

 Once upon a time, far, far away (London) I grew a silver birch seed I was given in a pot. It was masquerading as some other tree and soon outgrew the pot. I planted it in a small garden in Hackney. It outgrew the garden. In fear that it would,  like some Beserker Beanstalk outgrow Hackney I moved it surreptitiosly to a Fen in Cambridgeshire! There it thrived and as you can see from the image below it has given Topsey a run for her money!

Good to see something growing, and a very small contribution to Carbon Capture.

(Ehmm! Nice to see you back again. Ed)

A little older, possibly a little wiser.

It's Only Me

 Interesting idea, tickled me anyway. The Carbon Sequestration Debate. Grifiths in Electrify cites the rawness of the technology and the cost/energy demands of the presently available processes as factors which argue against its implementation. In passing he refers to two further examples of CS one natural - Trees and one not -BOOKS!

So there you are, back at last, has there been much going on?

(*#@$*..Ed)

A Loss

 Mr Memex (John Naughton whom god preserve) provides some sad news in his daily dozen. 

The Irish Piper Paddy Maloney has died. The power behind the Chieftains Group, I enjoyed his music greatly,  a pleasure for many years. John provides a link here to a Beeb4 programme about the Chieftains. 

If you don't get round to that just watch these two, Paddy and Liam both now gone, make music and mischief here. Just watch for the half wink Liam gives Paddy part way through (43 sec). 

(Liam was never one for overemotion. May they both rest in peace... Ed)

Hiss and Deceased Notice!

 Seen  this morning in Memex 1.1

Interwebby Thing

My Dear Sir,
I am instructed by my client, Messers Buddhist Pizza Enterprises, to require you to cease and desist from the use of the phrase “Interwebby Thing”. This phrase is reserved by patents common, copyleft, and trademarxs in the territory of New Hiberia, associated islands and semi-detached bothies, for exclusive use by my client in the Buddhist Pizza Blog. I note with some regret your use of the phrase in a recent substandard, so-called, newsletter which I believe is scattered thither and yon like snuff at a wake.
(That’s telling him. I bet he is shivering in his boots, it's badly edited too … Ed) 

With temperature in the 40’s in most of continental europe I doubt it.
(Could there be any spondulics in this? Could we not, perchance, touch him up for a few bob, and call it quits? Otherwise, we could suggest he might get a visit from the lads in the GRU and he should watch the tea if he is ever eating out...Ed?)

I believe the DMP and associated prosecuting authorities might regard that as a touch criminal. 

(Pass me the dark glasses and me bicycle and I’ll be off...Ed!)
Eegit!

Despite the rant above, I have been a reader of Memex 1.1 for many years and would suggest you do the same or sign up to the newsletter if that is your thing. (If you know what is good for you...Ed!)

A Joyful Week for Some.

 

We met up with some friends at Minsmere for a walk and a picnic. The sky was overcast, the sea was a muddy brown, the tide was in but the day warm enough  to light  a glow in us. We have not seen our friends or many others for some time (Isn’t your other friend in Australia...Ed?) and it did feel good just to chat!
I had my first real meeting of the Avid Crime Readers yesterday since 2020 and again I enjoyed the experience of being with people.  As I’m sure you can guess, we did not spend much of the time discussing the book. I’m certain I made some of the points below but again it was good just to talk, face to un-masked face. In preparation for our email meeting I had set out a few notes. You may be interested - yes you at the back!
Ian Rankin - In a House of Lies. 2018
Back in the game again. It's like a big cup of tea and a slice of chocolate cake! Straight  into the tapestry of the plot,  first the body, then Siobhan, the new team, Foxy and finally the wiley coyote himself, Rebus. As prickly as a pear and obscure as a dreek Sunday afternoon in February on Carlton Hill.
The plot developed  with sufficient complexity to hold my attention and provide  enjoyment. I'm not sure it would be the same for a first time buyer. However, there is a quality to the description of people and places that fills expectations from Rankin. A convoluted affair but life is seldom pure and never simple. That would be an apt thing to chisel onto Rebus's headstone. The characters have developed, Shiv and Foxy heading uncomfortably to middle age and John wheezing his way down the coughing road to that headstone. The supporting cast is well drawn with the 'Chugalugs' and Big Ger yet again  sufficiently believable that you could draw twirly black mustaches on them and get away with it. The reveal(s) and resolutions are just, immoral,  or amoral as you wish but they gave a satisfactory ending to a wet Sunday afternoon. Now where is that chocolate cake?

(Can I congratulate you, things seem to be on the up. The corvid business has served you well...Ed.)
But not many others and mind you don’t get your feet wet in that downpour!

Pimp My Barbie?!

 

One of my inlaws has a weakness (... where in god’s name is this going...Ed?)
As I was saying,  he enjoys alfresco cooking on a huge device which he refers to as the KJ. It is red and would give you the horrors if you met it in a dream. It looks more like a nuclear device than a BBQ++. I was reading my favourite Obscene Publication - The FT’s HTSI ( I can only caution again. Some people might read this gibberish and dob you in to the peelers. I have my professional position to consider as well as a growing family...Ed.) How to spend it, p 57 since you ask. In the Technopolis Column, by Jonathon Margolis, is a review entitled The Big Smoke - An all-American, app connected,  wood-fire cooking monster.
At the end he points out that he likes a YouTube video by Kosmo’s Q BBQ & Grilling store in Oklahoma City  (other stores are available and we’ll name them unless our fee is paid in bitcoin, promptly ...Ed) It suggests what they call a spot of “redneck  engineering” to do the trick, the stripy thing with the meat!
In a much more douce, pastoral, and vegan manner here is a photo I took this morning.
(So much better for our image ...Ed.)

I’m All Ears!