(no subject)
There he goes! Yesterday Andy Murray crashed out of Wimbledon in straight sets, and he'd been doing so well. Which just goes to show that he at least had heard the maxim, "It matters not whether you win or lose, but how you play the game." UK Tennis fans are trying to be British about it, again! Hey, now he can concentrate on representing Scotland in the Commonwealth Games - if they include Tennis.
Having had Summer Solstice and Midsummer Day (different dates) yesterday, 2nd July, was the Turn of the Year. We are now officially in the second half of the year and headed for Winter Solstice, Christmas and New Year's Eve, not to mention chilly weather. Mind you, knowing British weather, 'chilly' is never too far away! Yesterday was warm, today is forecast to be 'main warm'. Fortunately relief will come over the weekend with cooler temperatures and rain, not just the ending of Wimbledon (w00t!)
And while we're on the subject of special days - Tuesday, 1st July, was Canada Day. Felicitations/Congratulations Dear Canadian Reader(s)! Have a celebratory song from the Hadfields*. Y'know, considering both countries have much the same ancestry and origins, it never ceases to amaze me how Canadians are such nice, courteous people who look after themselves and each other (OK, maybe the Toronto mayor is an exception), while Americans are gun-toting, isolationist, capitalists, who think that their way is the only way, and are proud of it. Hmmm, should I be typing an apology about now? Anyhew, maybe it's something to do with the fact that, come 1776, quite a few colonists moved north to remain part of the expanding British Empire? Maybe it's the fact that everywhere gets snowed on, some places a whole lot more than others, every winter. Heck, some of the northern Territories rarely, if ever, see the ground!
Writing of 1776, a copy of the American Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights will be on display at the British Library next year - 12th March to 1st September 2015, should you wish to see them, Dear British Reader. Alongside it will be displayed two original Magna Cartas (Cartae?) which was drawn up in 1215 (the year, not the time) Just to show that the fight for recognition has been going on a looong time, and still goes on.
Meanwhile, having fought civil war to achieve recognition and separate statehood, the people of Southern Sudan are headed for another food crisis. Having achieved separate statehood the fighting restarted last year between different factions of the ruling party. Farmers cannot farm in areas of warfare, hence no harvests and no food. Although possessing productive oil fields Southern Sudan is generally a poor country with high infant mortality, lowish access to clean water and sanitation and lowish access to even primary education (ages 5-11).
British aid agencies have warned that around four million people are at risk of starvation. Apparently the UN issued a similar warning back in 2010. Nothing happened. In 2011 the worst hunger crisis this century took place. This year? Yes, I know, what is it with African countries that they apparently cannot/will not get their acts together and do something for their people rather than degenerating into internecine fighting? I don't know, but if peace is not brought about successfully then the number of deaths will increase, refugee numbers will increase, as will the numbers of those attempting to get to Europe, UK and even USA. Aaaarrrggh!
On which sombre note I shall finish. Y'all have a good day now!
*Wasn't Chris Hadfield the really popular (guitar playing) guy up on the Space Station at one point?
Having had Summer Solstice and Midsummer Day (different dates) yesterday, 2nd July, was the Turn of the Year. We are now officially in the second half of the year and headed for Winter Solstice, Christmas and New Year's Eve, not to mention chilly weather. Mind you, knowing British weather, 'chilly' is never too far away! Yesterday was warm, today is forecast to be 'main warm'. Fortunately relief will come over the weekend with cooler temperatures and rain, not just the ending of Wimbledon (w00t!)
And while we're on the subject of special days - Tuesday, 1st July, was Canada Day. Felicitations/Congratulations Dear Canadian Reader(s)! Have a celebratory song from the Hadfields*. Y'know, considering both countries have much the same ancestry and origins, it never ceases to amaze me how Canadians are such nice, courteous people who look after themselves and each other (OK, maybe the Toronto mayor is an exception), while Americans are gun-toting, isolationist, capitalists, who think that their way is the only way, and are proud of it. Hmmm, should I be typing an apology about now? Anyhew, maybe it's something to do with the fact that, come 1776, quite a few colonists moved north to remain part of the expanding British Empire? Maybe it's the fact that everywhere gets snowed on, some places a whole lot more than others, every winter. Heck, some of the northern Territories rarely, if ever, see the ground!
Writing of 1776, a copy of the American Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights will be on display at the British Library next year - 12th March to 1st September 2015, should you wish to see them, Dear British Reader. Alongside it will be displayed two original Magna Cartas (Cartae?) which was drawn up in 1215 (the year, not the time) Just to show that the fight for recognition has been going on a looong time, and still goes on.
Meanwhile, having fought civil war to achieve recognition and separate statehood, the people of Southern Sudan are headed for another food crisis. Having achieved separate statehood the fighting restarted last year between different factions of the ruling party. Farmers cannot farm in areas of warfare, hence no harvests and no food. Although possessing productive oil fields Southern Sudan is generally a poor country with high infant mortality, lowish access to clean water and sanitation and lowish access to even primary education (ages 5-11).
British aid agencies have warned that around four million people are at risk of starvation. Apparently the UN issued a similar warning back in 2010. Nothing happened. In 2011 the worst hunger crisis this century took place. This year? Yes, I know, what is it with African countries that they apparently cannot/will not get their acts together and do something for their people rather than degenerating into internecine fighting? I don't know, but if peace is not brought about successfully then the number of deaths will increase, refugee numbers will increase, as will the numbers of those attempting to get to Europe, UK and even USA. Aaaarrrggh!
On which sombre note I shall finish. Y'all have a good day now!
*Wasn't Chris Hadfield the really popular (guitar playing) guy up on the Space Station at one point?