Sometimes I just wonder whether Aliens have kidnapped me and turned my life into one long series of tests, where, luckily, the probes used are just electronic messages, news stories and blog posts, all created to judge my reactions to the meaning of life. I suppose I should be pleased that it is that, rather than the more clinical inserts that seemed to be the rage among Close Encounterists in the 1950s.
Yesterday, I was swamped by messages about the forthcoming running of Lasca de Thaix in Auteuil under the care of Noel George and Amanda Zetterling. (They always sound as though they should produce films rather than good jumpers). So many, in fact, that I developed app blindness, didn't notice the race had gone off, and watched it hose in at 12s. Then I saw that Plaid Cymru was the 2nd favourite in Caerphilly and could be had at 9/4, when Madame called to say she was stuck in London. Whilst I was thinking that I couldn’t see Welshmen voting for Britain (read Reform), but could see Welshmen voting Welsh, I was also trying to work out various transport solutions. Then I was reminded that I was in the local pub quiz, and then I was messaged to feed the dog. Then I forgot about the Welsh. So both 12/1 and 9/4 disappeared over the hill, whilst The Mekon scribbled notes about how they might have overestimated how bright earthlings were.
Simultaneously - as if to prove the point - the Taxpayers‘ Alliance revealed that the Foreign Office is running a £111m programme called “Accelerating Family Planning in Pakistan.” £74.33m of that is being used to “promote the sale of branded contraceptives through shops and pharmacies.” The mathematicians among you will realise the sums don't make sense yet, but start to when I tell you that there is another £13.44m invested in “identifying cultural barriers to modern contraceptives.” Luckily, this programme might help address the first-cousin marriage issue, (and I use the term advisedly), which is beginning to impact the NHS.
Just by the by, I never quite understand why The Taxpayers Alliance doesn’t issue a tax manifesto. What would their wonks suggest to replace VAT—would they replace it? How would they control the NHS budget? How would they balance the books? There is always quite a lot of shock/horror exposition, but I would quite like to hear their expert view on solutions.
In the USA, FBI Director Kash Patel and U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. confirmed that over 30 individuals have been charged
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