Jim Stewart's Blog

One of the policies Tony Blair tried to push when he was in office was mandatory ID cards. There were all sorts of varieties and flavours of it. There were ideas of using things like phones and travel cards to bring it in. The idea was that if the mandatory cards couldn’t be introduce then we should look at a back means of getting it in place with something already used.

No surprise, the Tony Blair institute is now pushing for mandatory ID globally.

But this isn’t just a Blair concept. DC is keen to capture the digital data of everybody using any government service – you get that – the idea is that if you want to use any government service then information will be gathered about you.

What services do I use? I look for government guidance on COVID, I look up UK legislation, I look to see what parliament is doing. None of these things should require any of my information. Yes, you can provide a better service by analysing my use, but there is no need for my use of the parliament web site to be linked to my tax return.

With people misusing the current crisis to push their political ideals it is little surprise that conspiracy theories start to develop.

On 21 May there was breaking news – Donald Trump was asked about working with countries like China on vaccine production. He said “We’re willing to work with anybody that is going to get us a good result”.

Today there is breaking news. The White House announced “The United States will continue to engage our international partners to ensure we defeat this virus, but we will not be constrained by multilateral organizations influenced by the corrupt World Health Organization and China”

Reading the statement further it looks like the big complaint is that Trump does not want to be held back by the need for testing.

Meanwhile China has approved a vaccine for limited use (by military) while phase III testing goes on. Yes, you read that right – there is a vaccine already approved for use, and with use in the Chinese military this will help identify side effects quickly. They also have set up an agreement for testing in Brasil – where they can look at effectiveness.

But the bigger news from the USA is the attempt to impose sanctions on the International Criminal Court staff because they have the audacity to investigate whether USA soldiers have committed criminal acts. Investigate – not prosecute.

This has a lot more importance than it might seem at first. But to understand why there is a need to understand the international money system. There is a fairly good write-up here

In short, if you are doing business internationally then there is a good chance that your money will pass through an organisation based in the USA.

This is why USA sanctions are so important internationally – you break them and chances are you will find your money locked up as it goes through the USA.

So the USA has sanctions against some staff of the ICC. Will countries obey this? Well, there are 123 countries that have signed up to the ICC, and as part of this they have signed a document dealing with privileges and immunities. Bottom line is that there is legally binding agreements preventing 123 countries from applying the new USA sanctions.

So where will this end? This is Donald Trump challenging the United Nations. But not only this, it is a challenge of the “Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations”. This is the treaty that sets up how we relate to each other as countries.

Has he bitten off more than he can chew? There is a real risk for the USA that countries will switch their international monetary business to the Euro?

While a lot of people have complained about the songs at the end of the Proms, and others have complained about those complaining. But one thing the words do emphasise is the roll played by this country in the development of democracy around the world.

A crucial role in the maintaining democracy sits with the Electoral Commission. In May Peter Bone (MP – not the friend on Facebook) said:

the arrogant, incompetent and vindictive Electoral Commission

Official Report, 13 May 2020; Vol. 676, c. 246

The reason for this was that they had carried out several investigations against people he was in favour of.

Another key role is played by out courts. The recent government attack on lawyers that take on cases that they disagree with is a good indication of views on that.

Whether left or right, front or back, I believe the majority of people in this country are strong supporters of democracy, and I believe it is under attack like we have not seen in 75 years (check out the film “Darkest Hour” if you want to know more about the last serious attack).

There are people in this country that do not like democracy, and they are feeling empowered (possibly by the death of democracy in the USA). Time to roll up your sleeves.

In other news Extinction Rebellion drew attention to the Climate Central prediction that a lot of Essex will be under water by 2050. Hang on – looking at the prediction for 2030 it also says that Homer Green (sorry R&J) will be underwater by 2030, and Storyhouse Cafe will be on the sea front. Yep, they predict a 1m sea rise per year (against the current rate of 1 cm a year). Must be the truth, though. They always tell the truth, it’s one of their main chants.

And Openreach paid a visit today, my line as a problem between the house and the cabinet. I found out that this area is the largest underground telephone network in the UK. And there is no trunking, the cable is just laid in the ground. So a lot of digging up of the street to come…

My food delivery came – just in time (one teabag left).

I’ve been looking into the precautions against virus infection today. There are a lot of sensible rules out there. But the thing that strikes me is the way people are not following the rules.

This morning I watched a BBC news report from Scotland, interviewing two pupils talking about why it was good to wear masks – as they stood shoulder to shoulder without masks.

I hate to say it, but there is a grain of truth in the idea that people have been brainwashed. There are some effective speakers out there, and people just listen and accept. We need people to understand the science. But science has become yesterdays news.

It all started some time before this virus. I remember listening to Extinction Rebellion last year – and they clearly were spouting fake facts. When I spoke to people about it the response seemed to be that the end justified the means. But the means involved destroying belief in scientific fact.

And that isn’t the start – the climate change deniers came before them, as did the anti-vaxers.

I think we are all a little guilty of not challenging the fake news that pushes people the way we want.

Next week looks like it is going to be busy – catching up on all the stuff that I couldn’t do while locked up. First thing will be my grocery delivery. But I am looking forward to my midnight walk the most.

It was interesting watching the Greenbelt at 40 film this weekend – so many excellent old music acts, and interesting seeing the attitude of people.

The thing that strikes me is the energy and enjoyment. I was watching one of the BBC archive programmes the other night – one of the compilations of TOTP. Again, so many of the songs I liked involved a real sense of fun.

One of the songs here. This isn’t one of my favourites, but I think the football and John Peel and the attitude of Ronnie Wood gives the idea of the things I liked about the programme.

Listening to the music over the Greenbelt weekend it struck me that the miserable talks about serious subjects really don’t do it for me. It isn’t that I don’t care about the subjects, it is just I don’t care for being miserable.

It made me think – if we make important subjects miserable then how will we ever encourage people to pay attention to them?

Okay, I’m late, but I was kept up to the early hours by some reprobates last night. Greenbelt staff ended up leaving the keys to the tent with them.

I’m sort of glad, since it gave me a chance to listen to Becky Tyler. Really glad I did for so many reasons, but especially because she talked about some things that were in my mind. Yesterday I picked up my 2020 diary and calendar and thought “Well that was a waste of money”. I’m with Becky, we should get a refund.

The odd thing is that I have found myself planning things in a really different way. I’ve set up two white boards that I write things on and stick things to. I have one list of delivery dates for things to make sure I can hear the doorbell (which the delivery drivers seldom ring). I also have a to do list. But the main thing is to scribble down random thoughts (like what to blog about).

I took off my watch at the start of lockdown and it still sits on my table in the living room. I’ve started living my life in a less structured way. I was a bit taken aback recently when a friend asked if he could call, and went on to schedule a date for the call. There is very little I schedule these days (okay F1 is an exception – but even with that I have it on record because I can’t be sure I will follow a schedule).

Interesting listening to Paul Northup on R4 this morning, about re-wilding our lives. I guess that is what I have found myself doing. We lived lives without standard times until recently – until the railways introduced a standard time to all of us. It really is a new invention.

I’ve bought a new house in Spain (the reason I am in quarantine) and I spent time there living a very un-scheduled life. I took time to sit and relax and do nothing but think.

I want to carry this wild behaviour on to the rest of my life. But there is a real challenge making this work, because so much of our lives are controlled, perhaps so much so that we have no time to really live.

If you want to hear the R4 service you can listen to it on BBC HERE

And if you want to watch the service you will find it here:

I am not going to say much tonight. First a video.

The sub-text to this is interesting. The world goes on whether the USA takes part or not. Okay, a bit of “Peace in our time”, but the message from Iran is clear to me, and well timed.

Maybe there is hope.

Almost made it to the end. Another three days of being locked down then freedom.

I caught a few interesting programmes on TV today. On the antiques road trip John Nolan from Southport did his thing when his shop was visited. I like to collect mugs, and there was one in his shop I liked. I came out with a small collection that Billy Bingham had apparently sold to John. He knows how to make you buy.

There was also an interesting programme on that covered some of my work area that I had never been to.

Looks like I will be changing my broadband provider again. I used to have Vodafone copper to the cabinet until they withdrew the option and then I switched to BT who still had a copper option. Now BT are removing their copper to the cabinet option. And before you ask, the reason I wanted a slow broadband was it was good enough and provided me with an alternative to FTTC for resilience.

Typical of all providers, my 2 year contract is ending so they want to increase my price. Normally my price would just jump at the end of the contract to the standard price. However there is no standard price for the service I have, so I am looking forward to some fun when the contract runs out.

Sadly there is only one company that offers copper to the cabinet here now – and Shell Energy is not on my goto list of internet providers. So unfortunately it looks like I will be forced to upgrade my connection to a faster one – and in that case BT are way too expensive.

It’s an interesting concept. The cost of keeping a copper only service running is not really an issue – there are plenty of copper only phone lines in the country. The admin cost is no different to any other system. So really there would be no cost to BT to keep the service running, and they would have kept my business if they had.

Okay, there is a bit of tongue in cheek complaining there. But it struck me – when today you cannot access many government services without a computer and the libraries are closing – a hike in price like this would really affect poor families.

I notice a strange thing about myself today. If I have a bunch of something to eat I seem to always leave the favourite till last. If I have some food I really like I tend to leave it aside as long as possible before eating it. Take the chocolate I brought back from Nicaragua, I have still to break in to it.

Actually, with the chocolate I think I have an answer. It would be much better to share the pleasure with somebody else. So I am hoping for a chance to share at a tasting event.

As for saving the best for last I am not sure where that came from. I remember tales of my Uncle Joe who started eating a meal with the dessert because it was his favourite and he didn’t want to get there and find none was left.

When I eat fish and chips I always save the chips for last – because I like them most. I don’t go from one to the other or both at the same time like most people would. I’m not sure why, but I think I might spend the rest of my quarantine working in reverse to see what it feels like.

I do remember the old “If you don’t eat …. then you can’t have ….”. So I guess it might be something to do with setting goals for myself that encourages me along a path.

But I don’t think it is just about food. I think I do similar things in life. I set rewards to encourage myself to do things. Why do I need to do that?

Or in the words of the great Ali – “I am the Greatest”

Today has been an interesting day to look at hat is currently acceptable. I have often said the national anthem is a bit dubious (to say the least). Especially the old third verse (no longer part of the national anthem):

Lord, grant that Marshal Wade,
May by thy mighty aid,
Victory bring.
May he sedition hush,
and like a torrent rush,
Rebellious Scots to crush,
God save the King.

But the adopted Scottish National anthem is hardly better. There are so many national anthems that celebrate the crushing defeat of others in a war. I always wonder whether the UN or the Olympics, that are committed to world peace should stop anthems that glorify the killing of people from other nations.

On the One Show tonight they had an article about pubs called “The Black Boy”. At no point did anybody suggest the term was about a slave, although one expert said a pub with that name would originally sell tea and tobacco which was related to slavery. In other words sellers of tea and tobacco should be condemned (Mr Singh in the corner shop will be pleased to hear of his racist nature – all that tea selling he does). Another person said they would not drink in a pub with a name associated with a colour. I started to wonder about the Green Man. But the person complaining ran a pub called The Chequers (both black and white connotations – isn’t that double bad). Pretty contrived piece.

Of course the big issue has been about the proms. I have always been uncomfortable about Jerusalem. Not because of the lyrics written by Blake, I like his work. But I dislike the eligious belief around the New Jerusalem that comes with it.

The two songs that seem to cause so much angst for people are Land of Hope and Glory and Rule Britannia. Okay, they are very nationalistic and I understand some people object to that, but is that a reason to object to them, to ban them? If you think so, then we should be considering banning all of those nationalistic political slogans of groups like the SNP, or is that the good nationalistic people?

My guess is that most people complaining have not watched the last night of the proms. They are not in the slightest “Us above all others”. The songs have taken on a meaning different to the words. I always find it amazing how the response is so multi-national. Flags from every part of the world being waved in time to the music. I have to admit I am not sure I understand it, but people seem to understand this as a celebration of freedom and life more than anything else.

And as for the national anthem: