This is Northumberland Calling 16.08.24
The Where has the summer gone for keyboard warriors edition
Hello America (Particularly Central Ohio) this is Northumberland Calling
It is the Silly season of August and thus most on holiday, some did have a riotous time earlier in the month though.
Proving that British justice can move swiftly. More rioters were jailed this week and still more to come. As predicted most have track records where crime is concerned. 2 teenagers have been charged with far right terrorism activity including possession of an illegal firearm plus information which would be useful in carrying out a terrorist activity. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/08/16/two-teenagers-charged-over-extreme-right-wing-terrorism/ or https://archive.ph/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/08/16/two-teenagers-charged-over-extreme-right-wing-terrorism/
There are people complaining about the woman in Cheshire, a true keyboard warrior who posted something on Facebook about burning down hotels with migrants still in them and who has been jailed for 15 months. Incitement to riot or incitement to violence has long been a crime. If a former Labour councillor can be jailed for saying rioters should have their throat cuts, then so can this woman be. Free speech has never extended to shouting ‘fire’ in a crowded theatre, particularly when another theatre has just burned down. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/08/15/keyboard-warrior-mosque-blown-up-jailing-over-the-top/ or https://archive.ph/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/08/15/keyboard-warrior-mosque-blown-up-jailing-over-the-top/
The Telegraph did a spread on the de-transitioner Ritchie Heron who hails from the North East of England about why he welcomes the proposed new de-transitioning service and what he hopes to gain from it. He goes into detail about some of the on-going medical health issues he suffers from as a result of his misguided attempt at medically transitioning when in fact he simply needed support to come to terms with his sexual orientation. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/10/22/betrayed-medics-who-left-pain-didnt-want-gay-says-detransitioner/ or https://archive.ph/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/10/22/betrayed-medics-who-left-pain-didnt-want-gay-says-detransitioner/
They also did a spread on being Jewish in Britain today and what has altered since 7 October. It is very sad to read about friendships lost and lives being altered. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/08/15/how-it-feels-to-be-a-british-jew-since-october-7/ or https://archive.ph/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/08/15/how-it-feels-to-be-a-british-jew-since-october-7/
James Esses received a fulsome apology from Metanoia after they admitted illegally discriminating against him and wrongly expelling him from their course. He also received an undisclosed settlement. The Guardian even covered the story in a positive fashion. https://www.theguardian.com/society/article/2024/aug/15/student-psychotherapist-wins-apology-over-expulsion-for-gender-critical-views
The Thames Valley Police (think Inspector Morse’s employer) had to apologize over discrimination toward 3 white British police officers (2 males and one female) who were wrongly overlooked when a much less qualified Asian officer (female) was appointed to a role. The tribunal decided what TVP did was not a proportionate means to achieve a legitimate aim. They will now be redoing the way they do recruitment for such roles and ensuring that merit is put first and foremost. Under the Equality Act 2010, you can not positively discriminate in that fashion. White British is also a ‘protected’ characteristic. It is a shield, not a sword as some would have it. This is the full judgement: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66b5e7c649b9c0597fdb0d7a/Mr_P_Turner-Robson___others_v_The_Chief_Constable_of_Thames_Valley_Police_3314825.2022___others_FMH_Reserved_Judgment.pdf
Stonehenge altar was hauled all the way from Scotland. No one will ever know why that particularly stone was chosen or why it was hauled such a very long way, but analysis has proven it was not from Wales but from Scotland. https://www.thetimes.com/uk/history/article/stonehenge-altar-stone-highlands-scotland-tzks90p7t or https://archive.ph/https://www.thetimes.com/uk/history/article/stonehenge-altar-stone-highlands-scotland-tzks90p7t
And because I thought this was interesting. They have figured out (finally) how Churchill’s Battle of Britain bunker was camouflaged. No photos of it existed (natch) but they found some arial reconnaissance photos. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/08/15/churchill-battle-britain-bunker-hidden-bombers-garden-war/ or https://archive.ph/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/08/15/churchill-battle-britain-bunker-hidden-bombers-garden-war/
Paddy had a good class on Sunday and was able to stop on the chalked paw. Yea Paddy. He is finally getting it.
The bees have been busy. The first of the Victoria plums have ripened and the blackberries have started ripening. I also spotted some sloes on my walk and have bought cheap gin in order to make sloe gin and indeed damson gin for Christmas. It is very easy to do btw. I use Charles Dickens’ recipe. But it all means that autumn is fast approaching.
Hopefully everyone else’s week was a good one. I look forward to seeing you in the comments.
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Hello Northumberland! So good to "see" Ya again this Friday. Another fine roundup.
I was very sad to hear the story of Ritchie Herron. It's a crying shame he didn't get the treatment he needed. What he experienced was conversion therapy to change him from a gay man to a heterosexual female. That's what conversion therapy is in too many cases, this so-called "gender affirming care."
But I was glad to hear the case came out okay for James Esses. You're lucky over there than "gender critical" views are protected speech.
And I gotta say: That is a splendid view of Paddy and his surrounds. Marvelous walk You go on, Michelle. I'm glad to hear the bees are doing well.
TY, as always Michelle. Appreciate it.
Yikes! Remind me not to come to Britain anytime soon. Honeymooned in London, but not likely to return.
This: "two counts of collection of information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism". Cops: You have "information" ma'am and thus I charge you with a crime! You might make something bad out of that "information". Subject: Its the Richard Rhodes book "The Making of the Atomic Bomb" a best seller. Brit cop: And you might just try to make a bomb!! Of to the pokey with ya, lassie!
Incitement needs some temporal element. Like imminence. As in imminent lawless action. And anyway it in to a crime to shout "fire" in a crowded theater. That itself is not a crime. The fact that if believed people stampede and be injured might subject the speaker to civil liability (or possibly some sort of criminal negligence), but merely shouting it is not a crime. At least not in the good ol' USA, where, thankfully and unlike England that disaster that is Continental Europe, we have a First Amendment right of expression, press, religion, etc.