In the film Independence Day, the Earth is attacked by aliens and there is a scene where some charming, but vacuous hippy is standing on a skyscraper roof, whooping and cheering at the overhead approach of the giant spaceship. She stares in wonder at it and says, as the huge doors open, “It’s so Pretty.” Moments later, none of us are surprised when she is incinerated along with the rest of Los Angeles by the Things from Dark Space.
I find myself increasingly wishing for Alien invasions. I have Ms Vacuous in mind when I read that once again vast swathes of people, most of whom do nothing, or who are Social Workers WFH, gather at Stonehenge to welcome the Summer Solstice. Or more accurately, I have visions, not of aliens, but of a gigantic hand coming from the clouds clutching many thunderbolts and saying “I am Cernunnos, and I’d like to thank you for coming today — now push off and leave me alone!” and then smiting them.
Simultaneously and elsewhere, a Fire Brigade chief, with some professional insight,
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