09/07/2023 10:31
Politicians are well known for not answering the questions that has been asked, but had you noticed that it is not only politicians who do so, though the others may do so for quite different reasons.
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Freedom? With a price on your head?
Little has changed since 1524 when a young man began a work which would inflame the authorities in his homeland as he dared to defy the authorities who wished to silence him. Two years later the book that he had published, and which had been smuggled into his homeland, was being burned in the streets. He had to go into hiding, where he revised and improved his earlier work using the profits from the first then having been burnt printing. In 1530 he further enraged the chief executive who then sought his extradition. The extradition attempt failed for the lack of production of formal evidence. A price was however now on his head, and it would only be a matter of time before he would be betrayed by a ‘friend’, illegally held and then transported to a trial in which the charges were so designed that he could not be but convicted.
Continue readingDebate and dogma
Debate is valuable. Debate and disagreement are necessary in science. Debate is dangerous.
Three statements and it may surprise you, or else it may not, that these statements are not incontrovertible; indeed, they provoke as much controversy as these:
Dogmatism is valuable. Dogmatism is necessary. Dogmatism is dangerous.
Continue readingInternational Lymphoedema Framework
I have just returned from the International Lymphoedema Conference 2023 #ILF which was held in Nottingham. It was a wonderful scientific, medical and therapeutic conference for any who would have any interest at all in lymphoedema in its many and varied forms. Much of the science went over my head, especially when presented by the Dutch, but it was still possible to detect some conflicting hypotheses and the robust debate among and between the participants. Such debate demonstrates a very healthy environment for the development of sound science based upon real-world evidence. Among the participants were the #theila the International Lipoedema Association whose stall was well worth the visit. What has lipoedema to do with lymphoedema? You may well ask, but I shall offer no explanation here for fear of misleading you, save to say that those who know know. Do visit their websites:
International Lymphoedema Framework
International Lipoedema Association
It is a dangerous thing
There was a recent article in the Grauniad⁰⁰ in which it was suggested by one of the correspondents that it is a dangerous thing to expose a spy, even if you are able to do so. Whether it is or no, I leave to your judgement. For my part the question, if it becomes a question, is to remain unanswered.
There are other dangerous things to do. In some places the very mention of what actually happened if it does not accord with the official description in every detail may be considered to be fake news, the disclosure of state secrets or even as slight as a stirring up of arguments or discontent – beware then if in the civil service canteen when the cook has put too much salt in the soup that you do not complain. The penalty may be greater than you expect. So, to make reference to words which had been posted in a public place, which often concerning similar posters Coco does complain when driving for they are also dangerous things, which can be clearly seen by drivers, who then become distracted and wish to read them. Of course it can be even worse than a simple static poster. The LED screen catches your eye and then changes before you have interpreted the one you saw at the first. How distracting this is. We are not permitted to have our own distracting LED screen, but anyone else can place an A00000 road sign which flickers and flashes its images and words demanding the attention of every passing driver, insisting that they take their snoopy eyes off the road ahead.
Continue readingButterfly
Coco was thinking about Cio-cio-san the other day and noticed a striking similarity between Madama Butterfly and the young Shulamitess in the stage play by Solomon. Madama Butterfly will be no stranger to you, and perhaps the story familiar. Some would say that Puccini spent forty years trying to write this opera and the last twenty years of his life trying to write it again, it containing the epitome of operatic drama outside Bayreuth however could not be reproduced.
Continue readingDare to quote?
‘Fight to win, forge exemplary conduct’
Are you a christian?
14/05/2023 12:33
It was a question this morning (James at Hebron – what was the question?) in conjunction with a question that had been asked in a court in Oxfordshire (A clerical case in which it was asked whether the defendant thought that the plaintiff was a Christian, upon which the answer thereto the judgement depended) a few years ago that made me think about it. Examination questions that require essays in reply may often be phrased in this way: What? Why?
Continue readingEurovision too
Backing track, back tracking or tracking back?
Vesna ‘are not your dolls’: Eurovision Q&A
Six piece girl band Vesna have already made the final, with a song that urges support for Ukraine.
Continue readingCoronas
Today is an important day for many reasons. We have crowned a man who is king, who in that crowning made certain clear commitments. We do not have to be monarchists to recognise the benefits of those commitments, and I would suggest that of whatever form of government you want if you do not require of the governor those same commitments then you do both yourself and your fellow countrymen a great disservice. There are only two, or perhaps three, on which comment shall be made here.
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