Today is my 66th birthday. There were times in the last year or so when I
thought I would never see this day or this Christmas, but slowly my
body is recovering, thank goodness.
This last year has been very tough for my wife and I, so I sincerely hope that 2015 will be a better year for us. Lis has been my carer as well as my wife and I am so grateful for her love, patience and kindness.
Tuesday 23 December 2014
Monday 22 December 2014
Stroke update
Of late, I have become frustrated that I am not making improvements at the rate earlier in my recovery. I still get giddy, still get tired too easily and still have issues drinking thin liquids. I expected to be back to full health by now. Maybe in 2015?
Hope Cove webcam, Devon
See http://www.camsecure.co.uk/SalcombeHopeCove.html .
It is a while, because of my illness, since I have been to Devon, so I enjoy looking at the various webcams from there. The one above is at Hope Cove, where our family used to live centuries ago. The weather looks cold and windy down there today. It is windy here today as well.
It is a while, because of my illness, since I have been to Devon, so I enjoy looking at the various webcams from there. The one above is at Hope Cove, where our family used to live centuries ago. The weather looks cold and windy down there today. It is windy here today as well.
Sunday 21 December 2014
Spring on its way?
Our visit to Anglesey Abbey this week was cheered up by the sight of blossom and budding daffodils. I reckon 2 weeks and these daffodils will be in flower. Considering the weather, this will be early.
 |
| Blossom at Anglesey Abbey - Dec 19th 2014 |
Conditions in Chinese factories and their supply chains
Last week, BBC's Panorama programme did a frightening documentary on
factories used by Apple in China and on their tin supply chain in
Indonesia. If such poor conditions are used by Apple, many other
products will be produced in even worse conditions. As a user of Apple
products I am appalled.
See Panorama, Apple's Broken Promises .
Of course, we in the West milk the low costs that such poor working procedures/conditions permit. With time, conditions will improve and the West will look to other low cost manufacturing areas for our low cost products. Sadly, our greed feeds this process.
Frighteningly, other products we buy are probably made in places that are far worse. By buying these products - most consumer goods in the West are now made in China - we are complicit. Slowly things will get better in China. Then we'll seek out other low cost areas of the world to do our dirty work.
In the past we have blamed China for pollution but at the same time we expect it to make goods we want at ridiculous prices. It s our wish for more and more consumer goods at stupid prices that encourages the Chinese to slash wage costs and make workers work like slaves. In the West we would not allow it.
See Panorama, Apple's Broken Promises .
Of course, we in the West milk the low costs that such poor working procedures/conditions permit. With time, conditions will improve and the West will look to other low cost manufacturing areas for our low cost products. Sadly, our greed feeds this process.
Frighteningly, other products we buy are probably made in places that are far worse. By buying these products - most consumer goods in the West are now made in China - we are complicit. Slowly things will get better in China. Then we'll seek out other low cost areas of the world to do our dirty work.
In the past we have blamed China for pollution but at the same time we expect it to make goods we want at ridiculous prices. It s our wish for more and more consumer goods at stupid prices that encourages the Chinese to slash wage costs and make workers work like slaves. In the West we would not allow it.
Friday 19 December 2014
Sony film hack - how will the USA strike back?
See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-30555997.
USA President Obama has vowed to strike back at North Korea for its alleged hack of the Sony Film Studios. I wonder what action he has in mind?
The USA allegedly does far worse with regard to cyber-crime. It would not surprise me if, as we talk, the USA is busy trying to tap into Russian, Chinese and North Korean systems, amongst others. The difference is the North Koreans were caught in the act, allegedly.
In the dirty game of cyber-crime the golden rule seems to be, "don't get caught in the act".
USA President Obama has vowed to strike back at North Korea for its alleged hack of the Sony Film Studios. I wonder what action he has in mind?
The USA allegedly does far worse with regard to cyber-crime. It would not surprise me if, as we talk, the USA is busy trying to tap into Russian, Chinese and North Korean systems, amongst others. The difference is the North Koreans were caught in the act, allegedly.
In the dirty game of cyber-crime the golden rule seems to be, "don't get caught in the act".
Lighter evenings again
It seems no time at all since the summer when it was light until well past 9pm here. Well, the good news is that from yesterday here in Burwell, Cambs, the evenings are now once again getting lighter, although the mornings get darker until early January. At first, the evenings get lighter by about just 1 minute a day, but this speeds up as the winter progresses. By the end of February, the evenings will be very noticeably better.
See http://www.timeanddate.com/sun/uk/cambridge .
See http://www.timeanddate.com/sun/uk/cambridge .
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