This is Northumberland Calling 09.0.24

The Mick Jagger Theory of British Rioting and other insights edition

Hello America (Particularly Central Ohio) this is Northumberland Calling

Springsteen sang - - ‘We learned more from a three-minute record, baby, than we ever learned in school’ and it is why Mick Jagger had a point back in 2011 when he said – a feature of British urban life is periodic rioting. No reason, particularly just happens about every ten years and the authorities are never  fully prepared for it.

The rioting seems to have fizzled, partly because the 100 planned riots appear to be hyperbole from certain quarters including Nick Lowles of the government funded ‘Hate Not Hope’  who admitted that he had publicized a list, knowing it most likely overstated the numbers.  He should be prosecuted for wasting police time imho. https://x.com/RhenWitch/status/1821524778928263671

A now former Labour councillor has been arrested for incitement to murder and suspended from the Labour party after he suggested the far right protestors should have their throats cut at an ‘anti-racism’ rally.  https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/08/08/labour-councillor-calls-for-rioters-throats-to-be-cut/ or https://archive.ph/ZsZyD

The courts have also acted swiftly, rather than taking no action. It means several people have now been sentenced for the rioting on Sunday. Normally, you are talking months, if not years for cases to get resolved. Starmer is determined to send a message as most of the low level crims involved do not fancy doing porridge (spending a significant time in jail).  

And if Jagger was right, it is all you really need to do is wait as the riots tend to fizzle…until they flare up in another decade for some other reason.

This op ed on the trouble with left behind poor white boys is quite good.  https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/08/08/the-british-migrant-dream-is-thriving/ or https://archive.ph/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/08/08/the-british-migrant-dream-is-thriving/

The campaign to get new books to the library which was burnt down in the Liverpool riot is going great guns. Marnie Riches who is spearheading it said that over 400 authors, publishers and agents have pledged books (including me – my box went off early in the week). https://archive.ph/A6JA6

There are underlying problems and one of the most significant is the underachievement of poor white boys. It has been a known problem for ages and no one has a good solution. Many of them see immigrants ‘leap frogging them’ and discount things like the willingness to work hard at multiple jobs for the trap of grievances. Equally putting migrants in already under-resourced areas can put additional strains on the system. This is not rocket science or great insight, but people prefer to sweep things under the carpet in favour of painting zebra crossings zany colours to show their solidarity. (Hint it does nothing except confuse the horses).

Encouraging reading is another way to curb rioting and disinformation. Mary Wakefield has written a brilliant piece in the Speccie about ‘Why have children stopped reading?’  She references Ameila Bedelia who was one of my brother’s favourites  (and mine) when we were little. We both developed a love of lemon meringue pies from it. https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/why-children-have-stopped-reading/ or https://archive.ph/gDr1g

In headlines you could not make it - -the Civil Service confirms ‘fetish gear’ is not appropriate office wear. The background – a trans identified male in the DWP is fond of wearing such gear. No word on if BDSM is considered a ‘protected’ characteristic.  https://archive.ph/wnjc1

Baroness Jenkins also has had confirmation that ‘misgendering a person’ will not be criminalized. This is a change from what Starmer said in opposition. Baroness Jenkins has been brilliant in this fight by the way. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/08/09/labour-will-not-make-misgendering-trans-people-a-hate-crime/  or https://archive.ph/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/08/09/labour-will-not-make-misgendering-trans-people-a-hate-crime/

The Women in Sports boxing row continues. Sharron Davies has been fearless in explaining again and again why a contact sport like boxing should not be mixed sexed, even for DSD males. Actually to my mind, it is regressive to consider ‘maleness’ to be solely determined by the length and size of ones’ genitals rather than by chromosomes in this day and age for the purposes of medicine or sport but that is me. The making of an X has become a gesture of defiance.  https://www.telegraph.co.uk/olympics/2024/08/08/sharron-davies-woman-may-die-gender-row-boxing-olympics/ or https://archive.ph/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/olympics/2024/08/08/sharron-davies-woman-may-die-gender-row-boxing-olympics/

And this is quite good about the Lizzie Page case where Cambridge City Council conceded that they had discriminated against her. The hyperbole of her colleagues including not being able to sleep etc has to be read to understand what she was put through. https://thecritic.co.uk/the-curious-incident-of-the-dog-and-the-tribunal/

After the strongly words from Hilary Cass back in May  https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/PRN01451-letter-from-dr-cass-to-john-stewart-james-palmer-may-2024.pdf about adult clinics, the NHS England have now commissioned its first de-transition services and have appointed Dr David Levy to do a Cass style review of the adult gender services with the aim to improve the service, utilizing the best medically evidenced practice.  https://archive.ph/S2gUW

Here, I am slowly working on my single title. I keep being distracted by the news.

Paddy doing ‘stop’. The toolbox is full of bee tools btw.

Paddy is getting good at ‘stop’. The dog trainer at disobedience class does keep reminding me that Paddy is the youngest in the class.

Bees on a super comb, with uncapped honey.

The bees are laying down honey in the super! So I shall hopefully get a few jars in mid-September.

Gauntlets, hive tool and smoker plus matches to light the smoker — normally I use cardboard as fuel.

Hopefully everyone else’s week was a good one. I look forward to seeing you in the comments.

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