It caught my eye… 7-2025

Another fascinating programme from the BBC Storyville cupboard – The Librarians. The programme focus’s on the pressures being piled on United States Librarians from a Trump driven agenda to suppress/control what books are available in Public and School libraries.

I found the 90-minute story fascinating to watch, with heartfelt testimonies from many under scrutiny Librarians and coverage of ‘school-board‘ meetings, where at one of these ‘events’, a ‘parent’ is recorded threatening to assault a librarian with a firearm!

Some good comparisons to other incidents of book/reading suppression in stories like Fahrenheit 451 and pictures/video of book burnings in Germany during the Nazi era.

I must admit that I was amazed at some of the content in this documentary, common-sense seems to have been driven out by some kind of pseudo-religious fervour seemingly backed by money from Trumpesque like funding sources.

Could this happen in the UK? Well, it might surprise the reader that there has been a rise of complaints and requests to have certain book taking off the shelves at UK Libraries!

          Microplastics in our Bodies

Another shocking story of the continuing invasion of Microplastics into our bodies!

Even UK government research shows that it is a major problem. Other articles continue to show that the rise of microplastics is a serious problem to our health.

The problem is getting worse by any measurement, and one wonders when politicians are going to wake up and do something about this threat to the Human Race?

            The rise in diagnoses

A family member has recently been diagnosed with Autism, bringing it more into focus for me. Like many people, I thought I knew quite a bit about it, but of course there is always more to learn!

One question I would ask, though. What is driving the increase in diagnosis of Autism? Has this number of cases always been with us or are we are just getting better at diagnosing it, or are there other reasons. Which ever, it’s a learning curve for all of us!

It caught my eye… 5–2023

Freeview—Free-to-Air

Seems that something might be in the air for major changes to UK Freeview in the not too distant future.

It would appear that the World Radiocommunications Conference (WRC23) currently being held in Dubai will make a decision as to the future of Freeview in UK as we know it. In a battle that is going on between free-to-air broadcasters and mobile phone companies, everyone wants a slice of the Radio Frequency Spectrum.

Let’s hope common sense prevails and we don’t have to move to something else to watch free-to-air services after 2030.

Microplastic Pollution

Microplastics are everywhere, already discovered in the placentas of pregnant humans, they now appear to be being sucked up into clouds and distributed around the globe with a potential to affect weather patterns.

It seems that the human race still does not seem to understand the impact that our behaviours are having on the planet.

More has to be done to wake us all up!

Delhi Pollution

Talking about pollution. I was amazed to see these series of comparison images of pollutions in Delhi this month.

Truly horrendous pictures that bring home just how much harm we are doing to the planets’ atmosphere.

Reminded me of the Smogs of the 1950’s in London.