Child rapist allowed to compete at Olympics while an equestrian who gently whipped a horse is banned?

Dujardin banned from Olympics while van de Velde is allowed to compete by Michael Broad

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This is a short note on something which troubled Nick Ferrari on LBC this morning. LBC is a popular British radio station and Nick Ferrari is a very popular, long-standing presenter on that station. He saw a disconnect or a lack of equality in the way two Olympians have been treated by the authorities.

Charlotte Dujardin is all over the news because she was secretly videoed using a lunging whip on a horse being trained for dressage, ridden by a young rider. This is a very long whip which might at worst sting a horse but it's a fairly benign training instrument which is an extension of the arms. That said she made a terrible mistake in whipping this trainee horse. She admitted it. But her illustrious career as a former gold medallist is in tatters because of the revelation.

She's been banned from going for another gold medal which would have made her Britain’s most decorated female Olympian in her own right. And she has lost funding from the UK authorities. Her reputation is in tatters as mentioned.

She's not been been charged with any animal welfare offence. And therefore she not been found guilty of a crime. Although we don't know whether she regularly used that kind of whipping treatment in her training programs. There is no suggestion that she did but the fact that she was filmed doing it might arguably indicate that she has used the method before.

What did Charlotte Dujardin do to force her to withdraw from the Olympics? - click this for her full story.

But set against that bleak picture for Charlotte Dujardin, we have the story of Steven van de Veld, a convicted child rapist who was convicted of raping a British 12-year-old girl in 2016. He was subsequently tried and convicted and has been punished according to the law. And he's allowed to compete at the Paris Olympics. The IOC is facing calls for an investigation into how a convicted child rapist has been allowed to compete at these games.

There is growing outrage at the presence of Steven van de Velde in the volleyball competition. Some senior people believe that it is irresponsible of the authorities to allow him there. It sends the wrong signal to the world at large. And there's an argument that even though he has served his sentence and been punished he should not be allowed to compete because the Olympic Games is about creating a harmonious environment. It's about promoting high standards. It's about excellence in sport and in general behaviour. These are top athletes who are influencers.

Many of them who are awarded gold medals will be strong influencers in the future of young people in particular and this underscores the need for them to be of good character.

There is an argument for banning Van de Velde from the Olympics and if that had happened it would put him in line with the ban of Charlotte Dujardin. It would make more sense. At the moment there seems to be a high degree of inequality between these two athletes and the application of different standards.

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

Do cat deterrent 'Doff Stop Cats and Dogs Scatter Granules' work?

Doff STOP Cat and Dog Scatter Granules cost £3.97 at Asda, which is a very small price to pay if you are a gardener and you don't like neighbourhood cats coming onto your garden. You will find countless numbers of tricks and tips about stopping cats coming onto gardens. 

Does cat deterrent 'Doff Stop Cats and Dogs Scatter Granules' work? Not very well or hardly at all is my opinion based on reviews.

I think the whole thing is overhyped myself because the best way to do it is by shouting at a wandering cat and looking aggressive but not harming the cat. This will put them off and eventually they won't come back as the link the place with danger. Or the ultrasonic deterrent is the best, working about half the time (see link below).

Do ultrasonic cat deterrents work? - click on this link for info about a pretty go deterrent and there are some other links below for more info.

But this particular product is currently in the news so I thought I'd just check it out. The claims are no doubt slightly extravagant and one has to be sceptical about cat and dog repellents.

In years of studying these products, I can say pretty confidently that most of them don't work very well or hardly at all. The news media like to report on them. And that assessment would apply to this product.

Real, sensible backyard cat deterrents without gimmicks - click for a sensible discussion.

I chose Amazon on as my source of reviews where the product achieves 3.4 out of 5 which is poor. A lot of the reviews report that it didn't work. The ones that gave four or five stars said that they thought it worked but they posted their review quite early on and therefore were unsure as to the long term benefits.

Rue is a plant that may work as a cat deterrent when crushed

And they are granules so if it rains they going to be damaged and ineffective I would guess. They're designed to last for a fairly short time anyway and they work by giving off a highly perfumed odour which is meant to deter cats and dogs.

Odour repellents of all kinds are not that effective despite the sensitivity of the noses of both cats and dogs partly because the fade quite quickly in time.

Cats and dogs are meant to find the smell 'repulsive' but being sceptical as I am I doubt it applies to all cats anyway. Perhaps if a cat smelled the granules from about 2 inches some cats might be repelled and disgusted but does it apply to all domestic cats? Cats are individuals. Some are more sensitive to deterrent smells than others.

Other than using the ultrasonic deterrent which can hardly be heard by people, or waving one's arms around and making a noise, an additional deterrent would be to plant the right kind of shrubs which cover the entire ground in the flower beds. Cats won't go into those. This of course might not please a gardener because they want to plant pretty flowers and they want to participate in gardening rather than have a low maintenance garden.

Are citrus fruits a good cat deterrent?

Some plants are quite prickly and they can be usefully employed in flower beds as a deterrent. That's about it. My recommendation is don't bother with these granules.

I would like to say that when I state that ultrasonic deterrent works moderately effectively I am basing that on scientific research. That's not hearsay or subjective reviews but hard science.

P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

Ryan Reynolds jokes Taylor Swift sued him for using her cats in ‘Deadpool 2’

I have stolen the title from a website called NME. The story is a bit of fun. Ryan Reynolds and Taylor Swift are buddies I believe. So Ryan is taking the Mikey when he said that Taylor sued him for not asking her permission to put photos of her cats on his T-shirt. 

In a recent Sirius XM interview (July 19), Reynolds discussed featuring Swift's cats, Meredith and Olivia, on a T-shirt in his 2018 film. The sequel, Deadpool & Wolverine, is set to hit theatres this week (July 26).

“Yes, I had a T-shirt made. Yes, of [Swift’s cats] Meredith and Olivia on Wade’s shirt,” Reynolds explained during the interview. “Yeah, you know, just little details, that’s all.”

He was asked if he'd got permission and his jokey response was:

 "No, I was sued. I lost everything in that one. And getting sued by a friend is tough to swallow. Also, she has just a lot of very, very powerful lawyers. I found out later those are just the paralegals. The real lawyers didn’t even bother with it. But…I would never do such a thing." Meaning wear a T-shirt with Swift's cats on it."

Here is the video of the podcast (nice location) where the conversation took place.

Taylor's cats get everywhere. There's probably more gossip about her cats than about 90% of the celebrities in the US! 😉💕😃

Ryan Reynolds is a Canadian-American actor, producer, and businessman. He's renowned for his charismatic and often comedic roles, but he's also proven himself as a dramatic actor.

He gained widespread popularity for his portrayal of the irreverent superhero Deadpool in the eponymous film franchise. His witty and self-aware performance in the role solidified his status as a Hollywood A-lister.

Beyond Deadpool, Reynolds has starred in a variety of films, including romantic comedies like The Proposal, action flicks like Blade: Trinity, and even dramas like Buried. He's also known for his entrepreneurial ventures and sharp wit on social media.

Taylor Swift is a Grammy-winning American singer-songwriter known for her candid lyrics and evolving musical style. Rising to fame as a country artist, she's transitioned seamlessly into pop, showcasing her versatility and immense talent. Her dedicated fanbase, the "Swifties," is a testament to her global influence.

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

Would there be more crime without police? Answer is not clear!

It may have occurred to you that the police force is irrelevant. Why spend billions of dollars or pounds on the police if they achieve nothing? They may be so corrupt that they add to the crime rate. That's certainly true of some countries.

Shoplifting up by Michael Broad

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Put it this way: there is no direct correlation with the presence of police and less crime or the lack of presence of police and more crime. It is a very difficult area of discussion. Below are the thoughts of Google's Gemini there artificial intelligence computer. They make the point that there might not be more crime without police which is a very troubling thought.

However, what got me thinking about this is the news today about shoplifting at a record high in the UK as thieves operate without fear. This has been an ongoing problem in the UK for many years. It's got worse and worse over the years as thieves have come to recognise the fact that the police do not attend shoplifting crimes. They have publicly declared to the world that they will not deal with shoplifting.

And because of that, thieves know that they can commit these crimes with impunity. This, then, confirms that the presence of police deters crime. And it confirms in at least one way that there would be more crime without police. Because in the UK there are no police, in effect, when it comes to shoplifting.

It is rampant. Personally, I see people next to me on self-service machines stealing food in supermarkets. It's quite commonplace. This forces up the prices so people like me have to pay the miscreant behaviour of ordinary citizens.

And the report today is that "Shoplifting has reached its highest level since records began more than 20 years ago as thieves operate without fear."

The number of shoplifting offences recorded by police in England and Wales is up 30% compared with last year.

Police forces logged 443,995 shoplifting offences in the year to last March. This is the highest since records began in 2003. Overall fraud incidents rose by 8% or 1.2 million offences compared to last year. There's been a surge in offences. The public is concerned. The public is mystified as to why the police have allowed this to happen.

What's worse is that the data probably represents a tiny fraction of what is actually happening. The true levels of theft is much higher. It causes apprehension in citizens.

Burglaries are also hardly ever attended by the police. There are almost no arrests of burglars in the UK. That has been the state of play for a long time. The police have completely abandoned the British public with respect to these offences. 

Even when they investigate separate figures show that proportion of crime investigations recorded in the year to March which were closed without a suspect rose to 40.2% from 39.3% in the previous year.

Difference between losing your cat through theft, robbery or burglary

Finally, I can't ignore the theft of companion animals. It's all part and parcel of the same problem. There are more thefts of companion animals nowadays than before. This causes huge distress in caregivers. I don't think the police fully recognise this. They don't recognise the emotional context. The police are asleep basically and have been for years in my view.

Knife crime

The Times also has an article about "Children seriously hurt by knives up 50% in a decade". The report goes on to state that "The number of young people suffering serious injuries from knife crime has risen almost 50% in a decade, with black children six times more likely to be murdered than other children, a landmark report reveals."

This is just another aspect of crime generally in the UK. It's frankly shocking. And it is undermining the well-being of Britain's citizens. It might even be linked to the fact that a far too high a proportion of working people in the UK are not working. Some experts put it down to mental health issues. It might be because they're just lazy but perhaps they simply have given up on integrating with society because what they see in the newspapers is too bad.

Livestock crime

The police are also impotent in stopping livestock crime in the UK. A sheep farmer returned from his father's funeral to discover an organised crime gang had stolen 300 ewes and lambs from his field. The farmer believes that the lambs and mountain ewes were taken away in an unmarked lorry by somebody who knew about the funeral. The cost of livestock theft of farmers has reached a four-year high in 2023 with £2.7 million worth of cattle, sheep and pig stolen often by organised gangs according to a Times report. Another example of how a lack of police presence encourages crime. This supports the view that without police there would be more crime. It depends upon the community of course and whether they are predisposed to committing crime or not!

Gemini's response to the question

Whether or not there would be more crime without police is a complex question with no easy answer. Here's a breakdown of some key points to consider:

Arguments for More Crime:

• Deterrence: Police act as a deterrent, with the threat of arrest and punishment discouraging some potential criminals.
• Investigation and Apprehension: Police investigate crimes and attempt to apprehend offenders, removing them from the streets.
• Maintaining Order: Police presence can help maintain public order and prevent situations from escalating into crime.

Arguments for Less Crime:

• Over-Policing: Excessive policing, particularly in marginalized communities, can lead to overcriminalization and erode trust between communities and law enforcement.
• Ineffective Policing: Not all policing strategies are equally effective in reducing crime. Some approaches may even lead to increased crime.
• Root Causes: Many crimes are driven by underlying social issues like poverty, inequality, and lack of opportunity. Addressing these root causes could have a greater impact on crime rates than simply increasing police presence.

The Bottom Line:

There's no definitive answer to this question. The relationship between police and crime is complex and varies depending on numerous factors. It's important to consider the potential consequences of both maintaining the status quo and reforming or abolishing the police.

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

Management evict 2 popular public house cats. Pushback from regulars.

The senior management of Black Country Ales intend to evict Malt and Hops from the Wellington Real Ale public house in Birmingham City Centre.

These two very popular cats have called it home for the past five years. Malt and Hops are a beloved part of life at "The Welly", cherished and well-respected by both staff and regulars.

“It’s actually one of the reasons a lot of us go to The Welly,” says Laura McEwan, the owner of local blog Bite Your Brum. “The cats are part of the experience.”

Malt and Hops are popular with the regulars. Image: Facebook.

The Welly simply won't be the same without these two characters who bring joy and entertainment to its patrons.

We must convey to the upper management our collective disapproval of their plans to evict Malt and Hops from their home. By signing and sharing this petition widely, we can prevent this unwarranted eviction from occurring.

The Wellington on Bennetts Hill is reportedly being instructed by Black Country Ales, the brewey that owns the establishment, to remove the two resident cats following a complaint.

We don't know who made the complaint.

The complaint is arguable unreasonable as:

• The public only provides packaged bar snacks and not cooked food so there is not chance contamination which is frankly absurd anyway as there are countless public houses in the UK with dogs inside the place.
• Pubs like the Bag of Nails in Bristol and the Duke of York in Salisbury are renowned for their resident cats, which have become beloved by the regular patrons.

Perhaps the anonymous complainant is allergic to cats. Fair enough but he or she has no right to spoil the ambience of the place for all others. These cats are popular.

A petition has been started on Change.org: Petition · Stop Malt & Hops getting evicted - Birmingham, United Kingdom · Change.org - please click to sign it.

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

American people CRAVE a good leader and Kamala is that person

Judging by the adoration of the crowds attending Kamala Harris's first speech at her campaign rally, it is clear to me that (1) they are pleased Biden has dropped out at last, better late than never and (2) they really do crave a leader that they can genuinely look up to. And she has a cracking smile hasn't she? It is the best one I have seen. She is light and optimistic. Perhaps she can flower into being a great leader.

Note: No one knows for sure if she will be a good leader is elected but I have decided that she will be. 😎👍

Kamala Harris. Photo: X.

They roared with happiness at the speech (20 seconds in the video) and would not stop. It seems that when Biden was in the race to the White House the Democrat section of American society (about 50% of the citizens?) were stuck between a rock and a hard place.

They had Biden who was clearly failing rapidly and frankly unelectable and Trump who for many democrats is the kind of person that Kamala Harris describes: a dodgy wheeler-dealer, and a criminal. A convicted criminal as it happens. Actually a felon.

Kamala Harris's speech was brilliant 🔥

If I were American, she'd have my vote 👏 pic.twitter.com/aRzmNQhaRT

— Farrukh (@implausibleblog) July 23, 2024

Here is a quote from an X feed:

It's refreshing to smell the aroma of new enthusiasm in the political air. Suddenly, Trump becomes the old, stale, deranged felon, Autocrat Wanna-Be, loser rapist. Kamala is that breath of fresh air. She'll save democracy. The 'prosecutor vs. the felon' is classic

They are correct. For me it goes deeper. Americans crave a good leader. Biden was no longer capable because of his dementia and Trump has always been dodgy. For many he is slightly deranged.

It's refreshing to smell the aroma of new enthusiasm in the political air. Suddenly, Trump becomes the old, stale, deranged felon, Autocrat Wanna-Be, loser rapist. Kamala is that breath of fresh air. She'll save democracy. The 'prosecutor vs. the felon' is classic. #Kamala2024 pic.twitter.com/bFdLGqRG1w

— Chetter 🌊💙🏳️‍🌈🇺🇦🗽⚖ Democracy needs YOU! (@ChetterHub) July 23, 2024

The truth is that ALL citizens of all countries crave a good, fair and wise leader who will guide them through tough times. 

But in the top video we hear this need expressed in cheering and applause. A gushing of emotion that perhaps they have that leader. There is optimism.

Netflix made it possible for there to be a female President! It is time for a female president. It calls into question the pluses and minuses of female over male leaders.

Arguably this is a time for a female mentality. Drop the ego and the macho. Embrace the solution-finder, the compromiser. Compromise in a complex world is always the best solution. But she'll need to be strong and fearless too.

And as for animal welfare, she has a good track record we are told:

[She is] the first presidential candidate to have endorsed, helped to pass, and helped to enforce strong, specific pro-animal legislation throughout her political career. - A-Z Animals website.

For people like me this is very important. All leaders should be sensitive to animal welfare. It indicates an awareness of the need to help the vulnerable and support equality.

Trump and his colleagues will be concerned. Kamala has received an unprecedented surge in campaign funds from donors of $230 million keen to see her elected as America's first female president.

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

Cat and human obesity can damage health due to lower production of propionic acid

Obesity can damage the health of cats and people in similar and substantially. There are some amusing stories on the internet about very fat cats being rescued and dieted. They make good stories and fat cats look funny but there is a very serious story behind the fun: serious ill-health at least potentially. Studies regarding animals' gut health can be very useful in understanding the impact that the gut biome has on the health of humans. There is a big overlap here.

A study checked out the effect on gut biome of dieting obese cats and found that it affected the levels of propionic acid

"When the cats are on the special diet formulated for weight loss, propionic acid goes up and stays high, and then goes back down when they’re put back on the maintenance diet. So it really is a dietary change. This paper highlights that when we calorie-restrict cats that are obese, we can alter their microbial ecosystem and those community shifts that we see likely correlate with some metabolic outcomes.” - Jenessa Winston, assistant professor of veterinary clinical sciences at The Ohio State University (Ohio State), US, where the study was conducted.

So what is propionic acid? I consulted with Google's AI bot, Gemini to tell us all about it and more. Here is the dialogue.

What is the role of propionic acid in the gut of animals and humans?

Propionic Acid: A Key Player in Gut Health

Propionic acid is a short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) produced by gut bacteria through the fermentation of dietary fibres. It plays a crucial role in maintaining gut health and influencing various bodily functions.

Role in the Gut:

• Energy Source: Propionic acid is absorbed through the colon wall and transported to the liver where it's used as an energy source.
• Gut Barrier Function: It helps maintain the integrity of the gut lining, preventing the leakage of harmful substances into the bloodstream.
• Anti-inflammatory Effects: Propionic acid has anti-inflammatory properties, contributing to overall gut health and potentially reducing inflammation in other parts of the body.
• Gut Microbiome Balance: It influences the composition of the gut microbiota, promoting a healthy balance of bacteria.
• Appetite Regulation: Some studies suggest that propionic acid may play a role in appetite regulation by signalling to the brain.

Beyond the Gut:

• Liver Function: As mentioned, the liver utilizes propionic acid for energy production. It's also involved in gluconeogenesis, the process of creating glucose from non-carbohydrate sources.
• Potential Systemic Effects: Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, propionic acid has been studied for its potential role in various conditions beyond gut health, such as metabolic disorders and neurological diseases. However, more research is needed to fully understand these effects.

In summary, propionic acid is a vital component of gut health and has far-reaching implications for overall well-being. Consuming a diet rich in fibre can promote the production of this beneficial SCFA.

Would you like to know more about how diet can influence SCFA production?

Yes,

Diet and SCFA Production

Fiber is the key ingredient when it comes to boosting SCFA production. It's the preferred food source for gut bacteria. Different types of fiber influence the production of different SCFAs.

• Resistant starch: Found in unripe bananas, cooked and cooled potatoes, and green bananas, it promotes butyrate production.
• Inulin and fructans: Present in garlic, onions, asparagus, and chicory root, these fibers increase the levels of propionate.
• Pectin: Found in fruits like apples and citrus, it can also contribute to SCFA production.

Other factors influencing SCFA production include:

• Overall diet: A diet rich in processed foods and low in fiber can hinder SCFA production.
• Gut microbiome: A diverse and healthy gut microbiome is essential for efficient SCFA production.
• Antibiotics: These can disrupt the gut microbiome and negatively impact SCFA levels.

It's important to note that while fiber is crucial, consuming a balanced diet with a variety of plant-based foods is generally recommended for optimal gut health and SCFA production.

Does obesity limit the production of propionic acid? Yes.

Obesity and Propionic Acid Production

Yes, obesity can indeed limit the production of propionic acid.

Here's a breakdown of how:

• Gut Microbiome Dysbiosis: Obesity is often associated with alterations in the gut microbiome, a condition known as dysbiosis. These changes can lead to a decrease in the abundance of bacteria that produce propionic acid.
• Reduced Fiber Intake: Individuals with obesity often have lower fiber intake, which is a primary substrate for propionic acid production.
• Increased Inflammation: Obesity is characterized by chronic low-grade inflammation, which can negatively impact the gut environment and hinder the production of beneficial SCFAs like propionic acid.

Therefore, restoring a healthy gut microbiome, increasing fiber intake, and reducing inflammation are essential steps in potentially increasing propionic acid levels in individuals with obesity.

Improving Gut Health in Obesity

Improving gut health is crucial for individuals with obesity. Here are some key strategies:

Diet

• High-fiber diet: Focus on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes. These provide the necessary fuel for beneficial gut bacteria.
• Limit processed foods: These often contain harmful additives and lack essential nutrients.
• Consider a Mediterranean-style diet: Rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and olive oil, this diet has been linked to improved gut health and overall well-being.

Lifestyle

• Regular exercise: Physical activity can help reduce inflammation, improve insulin sensitivity, and support a healthy gut microbiome.
• Weight management: Gradual weight loss can positively impact gut health by reducing inflammation and improving gut bacteria diversity.
• Stress management: Chronic stress can negatively affect the gut microbiome. Incorporate relaxation techniques like meditation or yoga into your routine.
• Adequate sleep: Sufficient sleep is essential for overall health, including gut health.

Supplements

• Probiotics: These contain live bacteria that can benefit gut health. However, their effectiveness varies, and it's essential to choose reputable brands.
• Prebiotics: These are non-digestible fibers that promote the growth of beneficial bacteria. They are found naturally in many foods but can also be supplemented.

It's important to note that while these strategies can be beneficial, individual responses may vary. 

Important note: diet cats slowly. Consult with your vet.

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

Cartoon character 'Hello Kitty' is a London girl 15 inches tall weighing 1 pound

Like millions of others, I am sure that you believed or imagined that the highly popular cartoon character created in Japan 50 years ago called "Hello Kitty" is a humanised (anthropomorphised) cat. All white and exceedingly cute. Walking on two legs and so on. That's how we imagined this cartoon character. But, we been told by the creator that we are all wrong.

Hello Kitty is a person. A London girl. And she is 15 inches tall and weighs 1 pound. To put that another way, according to the creator, Hello Kitty is five apples tall and the weight of three apples.

So I asked Google Gemini the height of five apples and the weight of three apples and you will see the responses below.

And also just below you see in Infographic I've made to highlight this revelation.

Hello Kitty is a girl living in London who is five apples tall and who weighs three apples by Michael Broad

And finally, below, there's a link which takes you to a fuller page on this information. A lot of people don't want to accept what they have been told and they continue to believe that Hello Kitty as a cat. Fair enough.

I have argued, myself, that Hello Kitty's persona, what they are, as in the imagination of consumers who buy Hello Kitty merchandise. They are the ones you decide what this cartoon character is in my view. And I'm not telling people to ignore the creator because they know best but this character has been around for a very long time and during that time people have formed their own imaginations and ideas and thoughts about the character. I don't think the creator should try and change that.

Dialogue with an AI bot called Gemini

How tall is five apples?

Five apples tall is a fictional measurement.

It's a fun and whimsical way to describe the height of the popular character Hello Kitty. In the world of Hello Kitty, she is indeed five apples tall! However, in the real world, we measure height in centimeters, inches, or feet. 

Would you like to know the height of a real apple? 

Yes.

An apple is typically around 5-10 centimeters tall.

That's about 2 to 4 inches! 🍎

So Hello Kitty is 5x3 inches tall or 15 inches?

That's right!

If we assume an average apple is 3 inches tall, then Hello Kitty, being five apples tall, would be:

5 apples X 3 inches/apple = 15 inches tall

So, in our apple-based measurement system, Hello Kitty is 15 inches tall! 🍎

And much do 3 apples weigh?

The weight of 3 apples can vary.

Apples come in different sizes, so their weight will change accordingly. 

However, as a general estimate, 3 medium-sized apples would weigh about 1 pound.

Would you like to know the weight in another unit, like grams or ounces?

So Hello Kitty, a girl living in London weighs about 1 pound?

That's a funny idea, but not quite accurate!

Hello Kitty is a fictional character, and while we can use apples to measure her height in a fun way, we can't use the same logic for weight. 

Humans, including little girls living in London, weigh much more than a pound! Even a newborn baby weighs significantly more than that. 

So while it's fun to think about Hello Kitty in terms of apples, let's stick to real-world measurements when talking about people's weight. 

 

Would you like to know the average weight of a human? 

The creator said that Hello Kitty has the weight of three apples

I apologize for the oversight. It seems I got caught up in the whimsical nature of using apples as a measurement and forgot about the specific details of Hello Kitty's character.

So, according to the official Hello Kitty lore, she weighs the equivalent of three apples.

Would you like to know approximately how much that would be in pounds or kilograms?

Yes.

Hello Kitty's Weight: An Apple-y Estimation

If Hello Kitty weighs the equivalent of three apples:

In pounds: Since an average apple weighs about 0.33 pounds, three apples would be approximately 0.33 pounds/apple X 3 apples = 0.99 pounds.

In kilograms: Converting pounds to kilograms, 0.99 pounds is about 0.45 kilograms.

So, according to this apple-based calculation, Hello Kitty would weigh roughly 0.99 pounds or 0.45 kilograms. 

Please note: This is a very rough estimate as apple sizes can vary significantly. 

Some more:

Hello Kitty is a character dreamt up by an employee of Sanrio called Yuko Shimizu in 1974. Hello Kitty was always an anthropomorphised cat based upon a white kitten given to her creator. Yuko Shimizu explained to the BBC that the inspiration for the character came from her childhood. She said that: "When I was a child, I got a small white kitten from my father for a birthday present."

CLICK THIS TO READ MORE.

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

Chasing cat and rat fatally stuck in organ pipe (both mummified)

This is a short story from The Times following a similar story that was recently well reported on news media regarding a cat trapped in a disused shaft in St. Paul's Cathedral. That cat was a Burmese stray and microchipped. She was rescued by the RSPCA and will be rehomed.

However, in a new cat and cathedral story, the cat faired a lot worse. As told by a former school boy of Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin, Ireland, a mummified cat was found in the organ pipes. A mummified rat was also found.

Many years ago a cat had chased a rat into the organ and into the pipes and become stuck in perpetuity. It must have been a terrible death for both. I feel for their distress and slow death from starvation and no water.

The mummified cat and rat were mentioned in James Joyce's Finnegan's Wake according to Anthony Mc Gibney writing to the Times.

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

Joe Biden "Rage, rage against the dying of the light"

President Biden and Kamala Harris. 

The world now knows that Joe Biden has, at last, stood down from the election battle and handed the baton to Vice President Kamala Harris.

In a letter posted on X, the 81-year-old said: "It has been the greatest honour of my life to serve as your President.

“And while it has been my intention to seek re-election, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term."

He has been brave, perhaps foolish, in fighting his rapid mental decline. Struggling to accept it. Until convinced by his colleague and perhaps his wife to stop. It isn't just about now and the race to become the next president. It is about how he would have faired if he had become the next president. He'd simply be unable to cope.

But he raged against the dying of the light in the words of that well-known poem by Dylan Thomas. It is a poem that - for me - urges all elderly people who are at various stages of dying (which applies to Biden) to fight to the end. To live as good as you can to the end. To never give up. Biden did this but unfortunately to the detriment of the Democratic party. Trump is almost bound to win now and become the next president. Hold on to your hats.

The recommendation by Dylan Thomas applies to 'ordinary' people, in their homes, going about their business in their twilight years. But Biden did what Thomas suggested and in some ways it is commendable, brave and to be expected of a fighter. A political warrior who could not stop. Who refused to succumb to the dying of the light.

Here is the poem:  Do not go gentle into that good night.

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

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It is in the public domain which is why I can publish it here. The advice in the poem is sound. Old people should do all they can to be as active as possible both in mind and body to their end. Hard though it is. You have to have discipline and drive to the end of one's life. To maximise life.

One vital factor in this journey is not to be become fat!! You can't max life if you are obese as it damages health and severely curtails mobility. Biden was slim unlike Trump who is obese. Biden had discipline. He was not self-indulgent. He was a servant of the people.

Here is Dylan Thomas in a Welsh pub. A great man in his own right. He died aged 39. He lived dangerously. {{{(>_<)}}} And I think he 'raged' throughout his life....!

Credit: By Rosalie Thorne McKenna - https://hrc.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15878coll98/id/7222, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=141683289

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

British rescuer of animals and humans shot in the head in Ukraine

A BBC2 documentary has been made about Chris Parry and it's called Hell Jumper. That's because what he did was like jumping into hell. And what he did was save the lives of people and their pets in the east of Ukraine where the Russians, as you probably know, have decimated towns and cities and razed them to the ground with incessant bombing and shelling.

Chris Parry. Image: believed Chris Parry's estate via the BBC.

Our rescue worker son always stood up to bullies like Putin. We won't forget his sacrifice. - His parents.

Chris Parry was a British volunteer. He simply was in Ukraine to help. He had a strong sense of injustice. He wanted to do something. He had no military training. He went to Ukraine eight days after the Russians invaded the country in February 2022.

He didn't tell his parents but he told his sister, Katy. She was very frightened for him. She thought that he was dramatizing the rescues that he got involved in but then learned that it was the truth.

Chris begged her not to tell mum and dad. On one occasion Chris Parry texted back that he was buzzing. He said that he had "rescued 11 people, two dogs and a budgerigar". That was in communication with his father Rob.

It's believed that he was executed by a shot to the head by the Russian Mafia group called Wagner Group.

The Sunday Times reports that Chris went missing after he had told Rob that he was buzzing about rescuing dogs and people. He was with another evacuated, Andrew Bagshaw, 48, at the time.

Their car was found abandoned. Katy was contacted, remarkably, by Russians on social media who were rubbing their hands in delight at having killed Chris. Or one of their colleagues had killed Chris.

Katy said "They sent photos of dead bodies saying, We've got your brother, he's got what he deserved."

Two weeks later, Rob received a call from Devon and Cornwall police. Rob said that they 'cried like babies'. Chris's body was returned in a prisoner swap. His clothes had been changed and his body washed. The Russians said that there had been killed in artillery fire but this was untrue. Rob says it was an execution because of the gunshot wound placement.

A coroner ruled that his killing was unlawful. His parents instinctively felt that it wasn't just another random killing. They believe, as mentioned that it was an execution. The family hope that the documentary will help highlight the plight of Ukrainians in this horrible war.

"The world has to wake up and realise that Putin is a bully and if he's not stopped, then it's not going to affect just Ukraine." The words of Christine, Chris's mother.

Rob said that, "We will do whatever we can to keep Chris's name alive and Ukraine in people's minds."

P.S. Chris had fallen love with a Ukrainian lady: Olha Volodymrivna Khomenko. They lived together. They had planned a future together. RIP Chris. A brave guy. He saved more than 400 Ukrainians. And let's remember Andrew Bagshaw too.

Hell Jumper will air on BBC2 this Wednesday at 9 pm.

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

Halle Berry is a certified cat lady! Catwoman changed her.

The Internet is pleased to announce that Halle Berry is a "certified cat lady". And she became a certified cat lady because of the film Catwoman (2004) saying that the "experience changed me". She added that she "became a cat lover because of it" and she has been described in the past as a "self-proclaimed, lifelong dog person". I think we can describe her as an animal person actually which I love. The more celebrities who are animal people the better animal welfare will be.

And a beautiful aspect of Halle Barry's love of animals is that she rescues cats. She added that she had "just rescued four kitties I found in my yard three weeks ago".

Halle Berry is a certified cat lady by Michael Broad

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"I am a cat woman through and through, because of that experience and those relationships. That experience changed me."

She has an Instagram account and last month she shared a post on that social media platform showing us that she had adopted kittens from a family of stray cats that she discovered in her yard.

She introduced us to a couple of cats named Boots and Coco. She said that: "I found these two little fur babies in my yard along with their two siblings and their mom".

She ensured that the mother was spayed so that she could no longer procreate and create more homeless kittens and released her back into her yard where she is now an outdoor cat. She found forever homes for two of the babies and the remaining two "are our new lovies". She now has a "full house". Meaning of animals and I presume cats.

Halle Berry did exactly the right thing. She is a good woman beyond the world of cat rescue and animals in general. There is on doubt in my mind.

When she prepared for her role as Catwoman she was given a cat early on during the production as she didn't have one. His name was 'Playdough'. She said that she didn't have the responsibility of children and had plenty of time "to focus on this".

During the filming, apparently, she said that she was a "full-on cat, all the time. I'd crawl around my house, trying to jump on my counters, thinking 'If I were a cat, how what I get up there? I was in a 24/7.'"

Catwoman

Halle Berry played Patience Phillips, who becomes Catwoman, in the 2004 film "Catwoman." The movie itself wasn't a commercial success (I believe), but it did mark a milestone for superhero films as one of the first to be led by a woman of colour.

Here's a quick rundown:Movie Title: Catwoman

• Year Released: 2004
• Halle Berry's Character: Patience Phillips / Catwoman
• Genre: Superhero (loosely based on DC Comics character)
• Reception: Negative reviews, but notable for casting

While the film didn't win over critics, Halle Berry's performance was recognized with a few award nominations, including a BET Award for Best Actress.

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

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I have taken it that the photos in the montage are in the public domain. Wrong? Please leave a comment and I'll respond promplty.

Hollywood has run out of ideas

I've been saying this for a long time because it has been a long time coming. Hollywood has run out of ideas. We are seeing constant rehashing of old ideas, old genres but the new versions are probably worse because they use an excessive amount of CGI (and AI?) very often and the product can look very plastic and lacking in gravitas and depth. It appears that the modern movies are made for youngsters who like froth and frivolous stuff. Not serious and well made films but just frothy cartoon stuff.

Hollywood has run out of ideas. Image: MikeB

Perhaps I've got that wrong but that's what it looks like to me. However, I am sure that I have got it right when I say that Hollywood has run out of ideas. That's because you might notice that you've seen things before. Or if not you will be seeing things again that you've seen before on the movies. That's because a quick glance at the list of forthcoming Hollywood films provokes a deep feeling of déjà vu.

You will be seeing Channing Tatum, 44, in a remake of Ghost. She plays the role originally played by the late Patrick Swayze in 1990.

And you may remember that great film Officer and a Gentleman in which Richard Gere starred. He is now 74 years of age. Paramount has lined up Miles Teller, 37, to take on the role again.

And you will see Glen Powell, 35, starring in Twisters. A sequel to the 1996 disaster film Twister.

Glen Powell is attached to remakes of The Running Man, originally featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1987, as well as Heaven Can Wait, based on the 1978 fantasy starring Warren Beatty.

And The Times says that the list goes on. You will see Sydney Sweeney, 26, one of Hollywood's best-known young female actresses starring in a remake of Barbarella. This is a 1968 space fantasy film that featured Jane Fonda who is now 86 years of age.

And the list goes on! This month, The Times reports that it's emerged that A Fistful of Dollars, a 1964 Western that launched Clint Eastwood's career will also get an updated version.

Hollywood is stuck in an era of reboots, remakes and revivals at a time when it appears the industry is in peril. And my argument is and has been for a long time is that the Hollywood whizzkids and gurus have run out of ideas for movies.

And this thought of mine comes about because there is a limited number of ideas! That might seem implausible to some people but I think it's a reasonable suggestion. There are only so many ideas for films. There are only so many storylines.

It brings to mind the problem of music. Ed Sheeran who was sued for copyright breach said that "There is only so many notes and very few chords used in pop music. Coincidences bound to happen if 60,000 songs are being released every day on Spotify".

He saying that there are only so many songs that can be created that are fresh and entirely new. Everything is ultimately rehashed in the music business. It's just repositioning each cord and each note so that the music sounds different.

And the same goes for the film industry. There are only so many ideas and Hollywood has run out of ideas which is why they are rehashing old movies. The other reason why they are rehashing movies is because the cost of production has become very high and they have become very risk averse. They know these movies were successful so they simply remake them in the expectation that they are almost certain to be successful.

Stephen Galloway, Dean of Chapman University's film school in California said that "In entertainment, an idea is worth it's weight in gold".

Ghost with a highly successful film starring Demi Moore. It became the highest grossing film of the year and an Oscar winner. It is considered to be "irresistible to studios" in terms of a remake.

It said that costs have gone through the roof in the film business and marketing is expensive which eats into profit margins. And then you've got streaming demands on Netflix and Amazon Prime et cetera which places greater demand on more and fresh film and series.

The public want fresh, new stuff all the time. But there's a limit to it. Ultimately they are rehashes. Even stuff which looks different is based upon an old idea and rehashed.

There is another threat to Hollywood which is AI. AI can make films or will be able to and it can write scripts and stories. This arguably will undermine the work of writers and animators leaving them jobless. The same fate will befall background actors. Hollywood has reverted to tried and tested film ideas but it seems to me it puts Hollywood in jeopardy of collapsing.

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

Purebred stray Burmese cat trapped in St Paul's Cathedral

This is a rather strange story because we are told that the Burmese cat that fell 15 feet down a shaft in the basement of St Paul's Cathedral was sold (apparently) by a breeder and she is also micro-chipped.

The RSPCA rescued the cat. They named her Paula after St Paul's Cathedral which I think is a nice idea.

Purebred stray Burmese cat trapped in St Paul's Cathedral. Name Pauls after St Paul's. Image: RSPCA.

A teenager in the Cathedral yard raised the alarm after seeing Paula vanish under a slab. The teenager was playing in the churchyard after school. She saw Paula run off. The teenager became upset but she was able to give the RSPCA a geotrack location which helped the RSPCA officer to pinpoint the cat's position. Well done to this teenager.

The officer spoke to the Cathedral's security about gaining access and discovered that it is an old storage basement that apparently no one had used a key to get down to for 25 years.

She walked down a steep and narrow staircase into complete darkness before discovering a chamber which led to several corridors and found the cat hiding, covered in fleas. Clearly Paula had been a stray for some time.

It is fortunate that she fell onto a bed of leaves which broke her fall and she was pretty well okay except for a slight graze on her chin and in desperate need of flea treatment; indicative of the fact that she had been astray for some time. Although she doesn't look as if she was starving.

The RSPCA contacted Paula's registered owner as per the microchip details and discovered that the cat had been sold four years before. It appears that the microchip relates to a cat breeder and that the purchaser of the cat did not change the microchip details.

Therefore the RSPCA don't know the current owner if one could argue that Paula still has an owner because she's been astray for a long time and it appears lost or abandoned.

The RSPCA have put posters around St Paul's Cathedral in in the hope of finding her owner. Paula was treated at RSPCA Finsbury Park Animal Hospital before being moved to the RSPCA Laybourne Animal Centre near West Malling in Kent.

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

Mumsnet sues OpenAI and wants the information deleted

Those who have followed the development of ChatGPT know that it is a chatbot using OpenAI software which has hoovered up from the internet billions of words of useful information contained on millions of websites and which it reformats and presents in answers to questions posed to it by internet users who would normally have used Google or Bing search and visited a website for the information such as mumsnet.com which is why mumsnet.com is suing OpenAi for breach of copyright. And they want their data deleted and a cessation to its use. Microsoft has a 49% stake in OpenAI - see more at base of page.

Others are also suing, including The New York Times and the Writers Guild of America.

OpenAI has hoovered up website information by Michael Broad

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Julia Roberts, CEO of mumsnet.com said:

They [OpenAI] are basically hoovering up the whole web. And I think it's an existential threat to lots of small websites. What they are building is things that can answer questions without you having to visit those websites.

Precisely, I have been saying that (as have millions of others) for ages. The current situation is a killer for websites and frankly website owners are too passive. They need to form a 'union' to fight the big, bad corporations.

Mumsnet claim that ChatAI has 'scraped' (like scraping a barrel) six billion words from its website without permission resulting in a genuine threat to the very existence of mumsnet.com.

Think of the tasty food as tasty internet information and the spoon as OpenAI 😎👍

ChatAI claim that they have 'trained' their software using the information and 'training' is not breach of copyright (laugh 😀🤣). Microsoft also argues that their actions were lawful under the US doctrine of 'fair dealing'. 

Mumsnet is also claiming for breach of terms of use and database rights infringement.  They also argue that there is no 'fair dealing' doctrine in the UK where mumsnet is based.

Comment: What about the other AI chatbots? There is Google's Gemini and Poe and Bing's Copilot? Is mumsnet suing them as well because all of them have allegedly 'stolen' billions of lines of data on the internet.

And, yes, mumsnet.com is correct. All independent websites have suffered a double whammy shock both with the aforesaid problem with AI chatbots which means internet users avoid visiting websites and with Google's vicious and catastrophically damaging algorithm change which has crucified millions of smaller websites.

Also Google emphasised the need to fully meet their Search Engine Console Core Vitals metrics in order to achieve good search results but in my first hand experience this is simply not true. Your website can have perfect Core Vitals and great content but still be shunned by Google search. 

Conversely you can have crap Core Vitals and be successful.

It is troubling times for websites and I wonder why Google think that it is a good idea to kill-off websites. Also ChatGPT works against Google Adsense as there are less visits on the face of it.

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More info on OpenAI:

OpenAI is an American research company focused on artificial intelligence (AI). Their goal is to ensure that AI, specifically artificial general intelligence (AGI), is developed in a way that benefits humanity [OpenAI: Artificial intelligence company]. AGI is a hypothetical type of AI that would be as intelligent as a human, able to perform any intellectual task that a human can.

OpenAI conducts research on safe and beneficial AGI, with the aim of making sure this powerful technology is used for good [OpenAI: Artificial intelligence company]. They believe that AI has the potential to be incredibly beneficial to society, but also recognize the potential risks. Their research focuses on developing AI that is aligned with human values and that won't pose a threat.  

Ownership of OpenAI:

OpenAI has a unique ownership structure. Here's the breakdown:

• Microsoft is the biggest stakeholder, owning around **49%** of the company. They've invested heavily in OpenAI, providing both funding (over $13 billion) and computational resources through their Azure cloud platform [Wikipedia: OpenAI].
• The remaining 49% is divided among other investors. Some notable names include venture capital firms like a16z, Sequoia Capital, and Founders Fund [Techopedia: Who Owns OpenAI? Here's All You Need to Know].
• It's important to note that there's also a non-profit arm, OpenAI Inc., which retains some control and aims to preserve the organization's original goals [Wikipedia: OpenAI].
• So, while Microsoft has a significant stake, OpenAI isn't solely owned by a single entity. It's a collaboration between a tech giant, investors, and a non-profit organization. 

The above information comes from Gemini. I can't see how it can benefit humanity when it kills off websites and harms many thousands of small businesses dependent on internet traffic via Google search.

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

Ghostly Evan Gershkovich at Russian trial

The espionage trial of US journalist Evan Gershkovich is concluding. He looks like a ghost. He was smiling before at earlier hearings but I am pessimistic about his prospects. I am sure that he hopes that the US will do a deal and swap some Russian spies for him. That is why the Kremlin detained him on spurious charges. But he could end up in some crappy Russian hell-hole of a jail for years and see his health wane to the point where his life is in jeopardy.

The ghostly figure of Evan Gershkovich at his trial. He is fading away before our eyes. Image: ABC News.

Russian prosecutors are seeking a prison sentence of 18 years for Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich.

"Gershkovich, 32, was arrested March 29, 2023, while on a reporting trip to the Ural Mountains city of Yekaterinburg. Authorities claimed, without offering any evidence, that he was gathering secret information for the U.S. He pleaded not guilty, according to the court, and The Wall Street Journal and the U.S. government have called the trial a sham." - ABC News.

Russian court has sentenced US journalist Evan Gershkovich to 16 years in prison, Russian news agencies report from the court in Yekaterinburg. As mentioned he could well die in a Russian prison. A lot do. He is going to start his sentence in a "high security correctional facility" which is where the judge sent him. His employer says that he was simply doing his work as a journalist. He did not admit guilt during the trial. The prosecutor asked for 18 years. It is claimed to be a sham trial for political purposes.

This is how he looks normally:

Image: DPA

Why the F did he go to Russia in the first place? His work I guess demanded it BUT change your job if you are a journalist who has to go to Russia and do some reporting. Just don't do it because you will be jeopardising your life and your death will be slow and grisly. The Russian administrators are b**t***ds.

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

Destruction of democracy in the UK in silencing climate change campaigners

A shocking threat to rights of free speech in the UK has just occurred. This is not just about the right of free speech, it also about climate change in how governments deal with it. 

The UK is edging towards a fascist state as far as I'm concerned. This latest criminal court judgement supports my thinking.  Please read Hallam's enormous tweet which is at the end of this article. You get first hand reporting. The judge was arrogant and wrong. Very wrong.

I can't find the judge's reasoning. I think he referred to the campaigners as 'fanatics'. I also think he was very biased against them and it would not surprise me if he did not believe that climate change exists and drives an enormous SUV. Yes, I am pissed off with this judge. It is not just me.

The former lord chancellor, Lord Falconer of Thoroton said that he was 'uncomfortable' with the sentences although Sir Robert Buckland said they were justified.

This judge handed down a 5 year jail sentence to a peaceful protestor in the UK who campaigns for action against global warming by Michael Broad

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A record five-year jail term has been handed out to Roger Hallam, 58, for coordinating the climate change protests under the Just Stop Oil banner which disrupted the M25 in London over four days in 2022. 

45 protesters climbed gantries on the motorway, forcing police to stop the traffic. Four others, campaigners in the Just Stop Oil organisation, were each jailed for four years. They were found guilty of conspiring to cause a public nuisance under a new draconian law which curbs free-speech and peaceful protest.

This is controversial legislation introduced by the previous government to get tough on disruptive tactics used by environmental protesters. They were charged under the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022.

There is shock over this sentence which is a record for a person engaged in peaceful protest. Yes, I will capitalise that: PEACEFUL PROTEST.

What do the public think about the record jail sentences for Just Stop Oil activists?

Our nationally representative poll found 61% of people in Britain think the sentences were too harsh. Only 12% felt they were too lenient. Read more here: https://t.co/InHH5BAAjf https://t.co/CNkpeXtAEY pic.twitter.com/4fiIucxfQG

— Social Change Lab (@SocChangeLab) July 19, 2024

The previous Conservative government got their knickers in a twist over these Just Stop Oil protests because they were very disruptive. That made them effective. These campaigners felt that they had to be disruptive in order to make their statement clear to everybody. That's the nature of a peaceful protest. But the right wing government now ousted by Labour, decided to clampdown on them and at the same time clampdown on free speech. And also at the same time to ignore climate change.

It's utterly shocking to people like me. And to Chris Packham, the naturalist and broadcaster. He said that the sentence of five years handed down to Roger Hallam, was a threat to free speech and he has called for a meeting with Richard Hermer KC, the attorney general, "as rapidly as possible so that we could address this grotesque miscarriage of justice".

He also said that we need to be "clear, be very very clear this is not just about climate activism. The laws that have been drafted, the injustices that are being wrought, threaten all rights of free speech. We stand here today because our future security may be compromised by the reckless and irresponsible erosion of human rights, of our fundamental freedoms. I stand here because I believe this represents the direct theft of our freedom, the destruction of our democracy, the deliberate and calculated intimidation of our protesters, and that, unless we resist this, the very real danger is our species will destroy life on earth will stop"

He's of course referring to climate change which really concerns him as it should concern all of us. He is a conservationist. He was to protect wildlife which is increasingly under dire threat across the globe because of global warming.

The sentencing is particularly grotesque as this government has decided to release criminals after 40% of their sentence. The country is releasing genuine criminals early in order to make room in overcrowded prisons while at the same time clearly, over-punishing genuine people who are concerned about the future of humankind on this planet. It is BONKERS.

There have been calls to repeal the above-mentioned act. The sentence was also criticised by Tom Southerden, Amnesty International UK's law and human rights adviser. He wants the act repealed. He said that "These lengthy jail sentences for people seeking climate justice should increase the alarm over the ongoing crackdown against peaceful protest in this country, which violates all our human rights. With our overcrowded prison system already described as a ticking timebomb by the new Lord Chancellor these jail terms are all the more indefensible."

The judge who handed down this grotesque sentence is Judge Christopher Hehir. Shame on him. He is not worthy to be a judge.

Update:

Hallam said this (and a lot more - see his tweet below):

The crime? 

Giving a talk on civil disobedience as an effective, evidence-based method for stopping the elite from putting enough carbon in the atmosphere to send us to extinction. I have given hundreds of similar speeches encouraging nonviolent action and have never been arrested for it. This time I was an advisor to the M25 motorway disruption, recommending the action to go ahead to wake up the British public to societal collapse.

His tweet:

I've just been sentenced to 5 years in prison.

The longest ever for nonviolent action.

The 'crime'?

Giving a talk on civil disobedience as an effective, evidence-based method for stopping the elite from putting enough carbon in the atmosphere to send us to extinction.

I have… pic.twitter.com/U2dHaDQkGf

— Roger Hallam (@RogerHallamCS21) July 18, 2024

From Just Stop Oil:

Professor McGuire, Emeritus Professor of Geophysical & Climate Hazards at University College London, said:

“The trial and verdict were a farce. They mark a low point in British justice and they were an assault on free speech. The judge’s characterisation of climate breakdown as a matter of opinion and belief is completely nonsensical and demonstrates extraordinary ignorance. Similarly to suggest that the climate emergency is irrelevant in relation to whether the defendants had a reasonable case for action is crass stupidity.” 

Sir David King, the government’s former Chief Scientific Adviser, said:

“This is so disgraceful. We are all hoping that the change in UK Govt will also change the situation in our courts.”

As mentioned, this legislation is controversial. It provides for stiffer sentences for protesters who block roads. It was backed by the current Prime Minister. But it has been condemned by the United Nations human rights Commissioner as "deeply troubling" and "disproportionate".

In sentencing, Judge Christopher Hehir, told the activists: 

"The plain fact is that each of you some time ago has crossed the line from concerned campaigner to fanatic. You have appointed yourselves as sole arbiters of what should be done about climate change."

Comment: it appears to me that he is introducing his personal opinion about these campaigners. It seems to me to be biased to describe the most fanatics.

Hallam described the criminal court that he attended as a "kangaroo court".

The trial was criticised by the UN's Special Rapporteur for Environmental Defenders, Michel Forst, who described the threat of a long sentence against Daniel Shaw [one of the defendants sentenced to 4 years] as potentially unlawful. Speaking on the eve of the first day of the trial, he warned: "The imposition of such a sanction is not only appalling but may also violate the United Kingdom's obligations under international law."

The danger is that the harsh sentences will fire up the campaigners to do more. It will be a catalyst for more extreme action against climate change inertia.

The next day

The next day, in The Times, there's a long list of celebrities and well-known people who have written about the injustice of these prison sentences. In fact, more than 1100 lawyers, academics, artists and celebrities have called for an urgent meeting with the attorney general to address the injustice of the sentences given to 5 environmental activists according to a report by the Times.

It is notable that the jail terms exceed those given to Just Stop Oil activists who scaled the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge Dartford Crossing in October 2022. It is also longer than many far more serious crimes such as a police officer attempting rape as I understand it. I think you'll find that rapist in the UK get prison terms of around five years sometimes.

The Prime Minister has faced calls to intervene in this case. In addition, the UN Human Rights Commissioner described the sentences as deeply troubling and disproportionate.

The millionaire Labour donor, Dale Vince, has called for a meeting with the attorney general, Richard Hermer KC.

In their letter of 1100 signatories, they echoed the call by Dale Vince and Chris Packham. Those who signed it include Lord Williams of Oystermouth, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Sir Geoffrey Bindman KC, one of the country's most distinguished human rights lawyers and the artist Dame Tracey Emin. Sir David King, the former chief scientific adviser to the government also signed the letter. There are many others including Toby Jones, the star of Mr Bates vs The Post Office and Danny Boyle, the director of the film Trainspotting.

The general consensus is that "With prisons a breaking point how can these sentences be seen as anything other than insanity".

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.