Tennessee Terror

There's emergency calls ....

Grim Accident Scene ......

and there's emergency calls.

Mumbo Jumbo Science

The ‘Pushpak Vimaan' is a flying chariot or vehicle described in the Indian epic Ramayana.

Ramayana-ram Returning From Lanka On The Pushpak Viman .... An Indian Invention

Satya Pal Singh is an MPhil in Chemistry, and former Mumbai Police commissioner, who is currently India's BJP junior government HRD Minister, and who believes that engineering students should be taught about the Pushpak Vimaan, as part of a new engineering curriculum, covering ancient Indian scientific “discoveries” and “inventions”.

Its Not All Black And White

The term "White Flight" originated in the United States, starting in the 1950s and 1960s, and applied to the large-scale migration of people of various European ancestries from racially mixed urban regions to more racially homogeneous suburban or exurban regions. This is often linked to what is sometimes termed the 'Great Migrations' of the African-American populations.

Black And White Ideal ... Socially United 1950's and 1960's

Until the early 20th century, more than 90 percent of the African-American population lived in the American South, and four-fifths were living in rural agrarian areas. However by the end of the first and second waves of the great migrations, while 53 percent of the African-American population remained in the South, 40 percent lived in the North.

Ever Closer Union Not A Certainty

Mrs Merkel took a bit of blow in the recent German elections. She had been widely tipped to sail serenely in to office again, for an unprecedented fourth term as German Chancellor. However although she retained the post, it was something of a Pyrrhic victory as it came with a steep price.

Pyrrhic Victories Are Always Costly .... Ask Mrs May In The UK.   
Credit Library of Congress "Another victory like this and our money's gone!"

Her party had its worst electoral performance in 70 years, and it ushered in a 'far right' (in the eyes of the left leaning media at least), party for the first time since 1945. So she has limped over the finishing line, faced with the prospect of months of haggling with the Greens, and the Pro-Business Free Democratic Party to form a workable coalition.

Crap Day Trips

Now most of us have been to an attraction that we have considered to be 'Merde' or 'Shite' in the common parlance. Usually its something where we have paid money to see (such as a circus sideshow), or travelled a long way to go and see such as an exhibition, and which has turned out to be deeply disappointing.

They Hoped To Merda The Opposition Attractions ...

Well now there is an attraction that would take that description as a compliment. It is called the "Museum of Shit", and is the brainchild of Italian Dairy farmer Giantonio Locatelli.

Chinese Codes

Damn clever those Chinese .....

Message To The World .....

This was created by the residents of Xilinshui village (named "the most beautiful village in Hebei" in 2015), in China, using 130,000 Chinese junipers, and it measures 227m (744ft) along each side, and the trees are between 80cm and 2.5m in height. Its intended to publicise the village to the outside world.

Yesterday's Views

It looks as though my blogs peak is now firmly in the past. Viewing figures have dropped off a cliff recently, from over 200 views per day at its peak, to barely 39 views yesterday. I am facing the faintly unappetising prospect of blogging purely for my own amusement.

The Sea Of Indifference ... Has No Life Guards.

Now I have posted before, on what a lonely and soul destroying thing it can be for many people, to launch their thoughts on a subject into the choppy waters of the Internet, only to find those waters are just a sea of indifference.

No More Surprises

What? No 'Je Suis Londres' posts this time?

Emoji's versus Bombs ... UK's Keyboard Warrior Generation Fight Fire With Facebook

No solidarity marches, with Imams claiming its nothing to do with Islam, again? .... No more of that hypocrisy?

Mysterious Codes And Events

Every now and then you come across those web sites that list bizarre photo's or lists of strange events ... in my case quite often as I keep a watch out for them. Most images portrayed are well known, and often are described on the sites as being 'mysteries', when in fact often there is a valid explanation (even if unproved, because so much time has passed since the events).

As this sort of stuff I always find interesting, if not always convincing, I have banded a few well known, and perhaps lesser well known of these 'mysteries' with a more prosaic explanation if known.

Kryptos:

Just outside the CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia, you will find a statue that has coded encryptions on its surface. This very captivating sculpture was created by artist Jim Sanborn to show that everything can be resolved and decoded, with the use of patterns and clues. Of the four inscription sections that were included, only the first three have been cracked. But the fourth? Not even the brilliant minds in the CIA were able to get to the bottom of it.

Kryptos Statue ... One Code Undeciphered

Monkey Nuts

There is a famous "monkey selfie" photograph that has been published many times around the globe since it was taken by Naruto the Macaque monkey in the Indonesian jungle in 2011, and which has been re-used on countless websites. It apparently is copyrighted and makes some money for its 'photographer', David Slater from Monmouthshire in the UK.

Macaque Monkey Madness - Photograph ©
by David Slater (or Naruto the Monkey Photographer)

But that's where the dispute lay. After all argued Peta, the animal rights group, the photograph was actually a 'selfie' by a monkey, who therefore was the photographer, and not the owner of the camera it used who was making all the money.

BLAME BAME

Once again in the wake of disaster we see looters in America. This is the same as when there has been a civil disturbance, and in virtually every case, the looters seen, are from the black (or Hispanic) communities.

Hurricane Irma Looters - Or Just
Some Early Christmas Shopping?

Now there are those who would say that the statement I have made is inherently racist, and unfairly brands one or two sections of society. That there must be the odd white looter as well .... that for some reason they just are not usually caught on film.

Into The Heart Of Madness

At one time we all expected that sub-Saharan Africa would rapidly develop and its nations would take their place at the table of forward thinking nations. After all, we had been told by the mainly white, left wing, self appointed 'intelligentsia', that the only thing holding them back was white 'imperialism' and 'colonialism'.

Colonial Map Africa 1950's

So when this ended for most African states in the 1960's, the new emergent nations had a lot of advantages. They had no external debts, resources in abundance, a young population, democracies, and the basic infrastructure of railroads, roads, airports, urban water supplies and schools. We all sat back and waited for the take-off.

The Babushkas Of Russia

When I read this story and came across the word 'Babushka', I couldn't help thinking of the 'Mamushka Dance' performed by the Adams brothers in the 1991 movie The Addams Family. Of course it was a totally erroneous connection as apart from the fact that the dance includes a bit of Russian Cossack dancing there is in fact no real connection to Russia. Still its hard to not think of it when you hear the word 'Babushka' .... grandmother

'Babushka' .... Grandmother - Tough As Old Boots.

Its a name that's almost as old as Russia itself, and in many minds is one of the enduring images of a visit to Russia, especially during the Soviet era, where these old ladies were employed as concierges, and often as KGB informants, on housing blocks and hotels. They were, and remain, a formidable force in Russian society, as the local district council for the village of Svedniy Bugalish in the Urals recently found out.

Cannibal Run

When I was a kid, tales of cannibalism seemed like the exotic stuff of King and Empire, with explorers in darkest Africa, or Borneo, or Papua New Guinea .... before these lands were incorporated into the enlightenment of the empire.

Cannibal King?

However of late, cannibalism has made something of a comeback .... firstly in places like the post colonial African states where self styled emperors such as Emperor Bokassa I of Central Africa  aka President Jean Bedel Bokassa of the Central African Republic, who was alleged to indulge in cannibalism (although 'cleared' in a later trial). Bokassa's former cook, claimed to have been ordered to prepare a human corpse stuffed with rice and flambéed in gins for his master (and presumably unsuspecting guests).

Back Scratching Your Friends

Vicky Pryce (nee Vasiliki Kourmouzi - she is Greek), along with former husband MP Chris Huhne, has previously been convicted of perverting the course of justice, and she was sentenced to eight months in prison. Currently she is reported as being personally involved with Denis MacShane (b. Josef Denis Matyjaszek), a one-time Labour Party MP (who was himself imprisoned, in December 2013, for fraudulent claiming of Parliamentary expenses), and who is suspended from the party.

Vicky Still Gets BBC Media Gigs

So you would think that she would not be the first choice of economists anyone would call upon to give opinions on the UK economy ..... but you would be wrong

New Holiday Worries

The future is looking increasingly dismal. This is because despite attempts by politicians, and certain strands of the media to down play it, the plain fact is that polls consistently show that a sizeable number of the Muslims in popular holiday destinations would happily wipe out all non Muslims tomorrow if they could.

Levels Of Terror Alert - Europe's New Future.

This number includes many living in what are currently non-Muslim lands. The current level of terror threats indicates that this is impacting our continent and our lives.

Poetic Justice

Now this blog always like evidence of poetic (or perhaps divine), justice.

Historically We Have All Liked To See Poetic Justice ......

We have posted in the past on the case of Kashmiri Islamic militants being eaten by a bear in Kulgam district, south of Srinagar in Indian Kashmir.

Fat Chic

Does Tesco sell tent dresses?

I ask because they run a series of adverts featuring Ruth Jones .... an actress who gained fame in the TV show Gavin and Stacey. She had been slim'ish in the past, when she was once a normal looking size.

Ruth Jones - She Has Seen Slimmer Days

But she wasn't exactly slim in that TV show ...... so perhaps its no surprise that she ain't slim now, as well as gaining fame, she also gained a few pounds in weight.

Acting Concerned

Once again Hollywood has found itself in a 'whitewashing' row after Deadpool star Ed Skrein has pulled out of a role in the latest comic book movie revamp of 'Hellboy'. He has done so because the part of Major Ben Daimio was drawn as a mixed Oriental Asian heritage character in the original comics.

Colonel Nick Fury Was Very White In His Back Story ....

This decision by a concerned white actor has the usual whiff of PC hypocrisy about it.

Arsenic and Old Time Religion

Apparently Pakistan has recorded some of the worlds highest levels of Arsenic in their groundwater supplies.

Arsenic Poisoning Pakistan .... Explains A Lot.

This is the main water source for up to 60 million of its citizens who live in the Indus valley (out of about 150 million people around the world who rely on groundwater which is contaminated with arsenic).