Ascension Day [1 onwards]

(0334) All right, chaps and chapesses … cunning plan is to post and check incoming until 0800, thereafter just a few more checks and replies, then off I go on this world of adventure. Shall check any major updates until maybe 0900.

 

13. Ascension Day

The word “dogma” is problematic in Christianity … does it mean clear, simple new testament or gospel doctrine, as in “love thy neighbour” or “faith, hope and charity”, the key ideas from it … or does it mean where men in robes pontificate on their interpretation of it?

I knew a Northern Irishman like that and everything he said, in that brogue, was vehement and tub thumping, even if it was about the price of fish. I mean, how much of this Paisleyism can one take in one dose? Let alone the Catholic potentates.

To my mind, that’s the negative connotation of dogma, offputting to normies. Take consubstantiation v transsubstantiation. Or the Filioque. I’m not saying it’s not important but I am saying it’s quite arrogant for potentates to assume denominational authority on every single aspect … to the point we burn the other at the stake? Tyndale. Mary … did Jesus have brothers … or not?

And these schismatic questions … the potentate would reply that if he were not dogmatic on scriptural authority, then you’d soon have women or gay rainbow clergy ruining the church. So I leave that question open for now.

What about Ascension Day? To my mind, it’s quite different to the Rapture. There’s an interpretation that, far from us being whisked away into the sky, in fact we, if saved, stay here on earth in the new kingdom, ruled by Jesus returned, the way most of the faith see it happening … the return itself I mean.

Ascension Day does not appear to have the same issues. Most seem to accept that he went there or went up after a number of days. Fine. Why May 14th? Well why not? It’s a commemoration, innit?

12. The old, old question

… is it just sheer incompetence, systems gone wrong … or is it unethical and criminal behaviour, disguised through pretend incompetence?


11. IYE at 1381:4

”Two years after the New Delhi G20 summit1, the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor2 is still the West’s flagship infrastructure project.

(JH: Much more there.)

10. Have you seen any of this?


9. Most online Brits know this by now … o/s as well


8. Not sure that this is appropriate for this morning, ha ha


Think he means it IS a conspiracy, PLUS a court record.

7. Over at OoL

Watch this space.

6. Thieves and robbers


5. Most interesting, relations with O’Keefe

4. I seem to recall we weren’t too impressed with her in the recent past

… maybe readers can refresh the memory. Anyway:

3. DAD if he drops this morning

Le Jour d’Ascension.

a) France. Philippe for president of France? Despite the polls, he is clueless and vapid. Polls suggest former Prime Minister Édouard Philippe is the elite’s best chance to defeat presumptive National Rally candidate Jordan Bardella….

b) Nairobi Summit: Macron tries in Africa what he fails to do in France. The French president is promising billions in investment, even though he is unable to revive the French economy.

c) ‘It’s either us or them’ – Far-left French mayor calls for insurrection if conservatives win presidential election, attacks Macron as well In seeking to address inequalities, Bally Bagayoko seems intent on overturning the entire Republic….

d) Greece warns of 550,000 migrants massing in Libya ahead of potential Mediterranean crossings.

e) US President Donald Trump has proposed Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as an “ideal team” for the 2028 US presidential election, though he has stopped short of endorsing either man as his chosen successor.

f) At 1381:5: Sam has a verbal battle at 33 Vauxhall Bridge Road with the Security.

(JH: Ta, DAD.)

f) King Charles: “My ministers will also proceed with the introduction of Digital ID.”

2. For some readers in the know, this is an interesting Xer on this topic

1. Saw this in passing

… not following up, it was curious though:

Wednesday [16 till close of play]

(1515) And so into the evening, heavy rain, low temps. (2013)

 

23. Last for the evening

From a Veterans’ a/c on X:

“Should Every British Soldier Who Serves Over 5 Years Be Guaranteed a Council House? Across the United Kingdom, thousands of servicemen and women dedicate years of their lives to defending the country, often sacrificing time with family, personal freedoms, and long-term financial stability in the process. Yet when many leave the armed forces, they face one of the most difficult challenges in modern Britain — finding secure and affordable housing.

The question being asked more frequently is simple: Should every British soldier who serves over five years be guaranteed a council house, no questions asked? Supporters of the idea argue that military personnel earn that right through service alone. Unlike many professions, soldiers can spend years moving from base to base, living in military accommodation, and being unable to establish permanent homes or get onto local housing lists.

By the time they leave the forces, many veterans are starting from scratch. For some, the transition to civilian life is smooth. For others, it can be deeply challenging. Veterans can struggle with employment, mental health, family breakdown, or adapting to civilian systems that often do not recognise the realities of military life. Housing insecurity only adds to those pressures.

Advocates believe guaranteeing council housing after five years of service would:

* Reward commitment and sacrifice. * Reduce homelessness among veterans. * Provide stability for military families. * Help former soldiers reintegrate into civilian life. * Demonstrate national gratitude in a meaningful way.

Many also argue that politicians regularly praise the armed forces publicly, yet practical support after service often falls short. Ceremonies, medals, and remembrance events are important, but stable housing can have a far greater long-term impact on a veteran’s life.

Critics, however, raise concerns about fairness and pressure on already stretched council housing systems. Millions of civilians also face long waiting lists, rising rents, and housing insecurity. Some argue that prioritising one group automatically means others wait longer.

Others suggest a compromise approach — such as giving veterans enhanced priority rather than automatic entitlement, or creating dedicated housing schemes specifically for ex-service personnel.

The debate ultimately comes down to a broader national question: How should a country repay those willing to risk their lives in its defence? For many people, ensuring that no veteran leaves service without a safe place to live feels less like a privilege and more like a duty. What do you think? Should military service guarantee housing security after years of commitment to the nation?

22. Novato CA

Glad to see an issue not specifically ours … makes it easier to concentrate somehow:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Novato,_California

Reader Hal: “This is my hometown and I am 100% not surprised. Novato was a cow town. Money moved in and the city lost themselves.”

Reader Marc James: “We always ask why do local govt’s mess with their own citizens???? And it’s usually cause they are bought and paid for grifters selected via election stealing protocols.”

Reader Nor-Cal Occupied Territory: “Marin county is the NIMBY capital of CA. They don’t want trailer people living there.”

Reader Spam Ranger: “Santa Clara County in California also steals homes from seniors. How they do it is to wait until there is a problem with the septic system. Then they red tag (condemn) the property to force the owner out.”

The connection with us and right across the west is not just party political but generational. I keep coming back to that news item I saw many decades ago, where a Gen X journo asked what they were going to do with all these Boomers paying their dues. These people would do the right thing on a promise by the govt at that time and pay all their working lives.

Just before the payback, they’re robbed on a pretext. Now I do see the Zoomer view that there are not many of them and the massed invaders don’t plan to pay any … so those Zoomers, minus jobs, are in for trouble. But so are those from a different time who religiously paid in.

Who’s at fault? Was it the govt in more productive times thinking the party would go on? Is it current govts looking at their own mess and saying … we just don’t have that sort of money. Not for the little people anyway.

21. Today’s rubbish in parlmt


The starmer theatre is one thing. Quite another is getting the king to announce digital ID. It’s just one thing after another after another, ad nauseam.

20. Moo corner


19. Two of the banned “far right”, lol


18. The pressures upon the ordinary person today


17. The demise of London


16. When combined, they’re more interesting

You saw Wed 7, now this:

Wednesday [6 to 10]

(0916)(0944)

 

10. Moo corner


9. Ah. Yes.


8. Yikes


7. Judge for yourself

I’m conscious that neither SKB nor our Steve can defend themselves here with this sshot, so I’m saying nothing but we must run it as mise à jour all the same.


6. Tomorrow at Unherdables

The way it’s shaping, I really need to finish any blogging tomorrow before 0800. The only major post till evening will be at Orphans, on charity shops, Julia’s watching over Orphans.

Here, I’ll do the early things, but really must stop at 0800 … only mise à jour, new events, plus I’ll schedule the film for about 1000. That’s it till evening, folks. DAD I’ll signpost in the evening … you can always get over there to NOWP and read it.

One reason is the radiation now … if I go near any of the pads, I start coughing, throat, nose, ears … can’t afford that tomorrow.

Awkward concepts

 

In which the machine behind producing films to influence the common people is at odds with what the common people’s belief systems had been for eons … in fact, it had defined “the west”. Now the demons were picking away at the edges through popular entertainment.

It pretty much started in the 50s and took off in the early 70s with Peckinpah etc., as western society’s defences fell away and people drifted from their roots … quite biblical really. As well over half our readers here would not go with my take on all this, I’ll stop here.

The ultimate joke, imho, is that “nikto” is actually a straight Russian term “ni-kto”, direct translation “no one”, nobody. Ni means “not” and “kto” is Russian nominative for “who”, usually a question.

Klaatu is the name of the alien, “barada” then remains the enigma. Because if you run them together, those words, they could mean, “Klaatu, death “to” nobody.” But they could also mean, “Klaatu, “leave alive” nobody.”

Of course, it’s just a film, innit? Innocent like every film on planet earth. Yeah.

In producing this “short”, the early spelling error aside … the narrator/uploader just had to include “shocking”, just as every “short” uploader of the type seems to do:

  1. Clickbait
  2. Leave anything exciting till late
  3. Sensationalise
  4. Lie to watchers altogether
  5. Use AI voice.

Now, whether YT has those in its guidelines I can’t say, but it sure starts to look that way. Having said that though, this narration above was not too bad overall.

There’s another short I had before deleting, on Nancy Mitford, and at the start, a line appeared onscreen, saying that no AI was used, the voice is human … but then on came a smug, jokey youngish voice, heavy with sarcasm. That was the joke on us … message being that AI is better.

Wednesday [1 to 5]

(0533) Morning all. Light appeared slightly at 0459, by 0525 it was 80% light in the sunroom, but there was heavy nimbus out there and there has been earlier rain. How do I know? I had to check in response to DAD’s “Test” post at 1380:3 … that response by me is continued in Wed 1 below here. (0627)

 

5. Planning any boat or shed building soon?


4. Would you prefer the official food guidelines

… as put out by three letter agencies and big pharma, on packets, or would you prefer “The Food Babe”?


3. The steal


2. DAD at 1380:4

a) On the sidelines of the Africa Forward summit, Emmanuel Macron called on dual nationals to fully embrace their dual identity: “Being dual national means being 100% French and 100% from one’s country of origin.”

b) France. Bobigny (93): A magistrate tasked with combating narcotics admits to his own addiction to methamphetamine and chemsex; he obtained his supply within his own jurisdiction.

c) France. Agde (34): After being tasered and taken into custody for vandalism with a machete, a Roma man in his sixties died in his cell after hitting his head against the walls. Witnesses described him as a “hysterical individual, unable to control himself.”

d) France. Vegetables, bread, meat… Food vending machines have proliferated in rural communities… but are increasingly targeted by acts of vandalism and looting, which cost their owners dearly.

e) France. The left-wing politician wanted to get her money back. That could summarize the case that the 13th Criminal Chamber of Paris is to examine this Tuesday afternoon, with the slight difference that the left-wing politician in question – Sophia Chikirou – allegedly broke the law in the process. 

1. Response to DAD at 1380:3 continues

The interesting aspect of DAD’s “Test” comment is why … why had it not appeared? (By the way, rain has just started heavily falling now outside at 0543.)

It may have been something in DAD’s works over there … had not clicked send … or had clicked send but something had delayed it. Let’s say the latter … he has Macron to contend with, we have Starmer, there is trouble with Ada and Eva and five others related to TR Saturday … thus the cyber agencies were delaying posts to peruse them.

Might have been, perhaps not. Either way, DAD’s drop came through. And you’ll notice … only DAD’s. We know Steve has gone away for R&R.

But there’s another aspect … Monday’s drops saw this:


And there it stopped. The streak stopped. 158 days, goes back now to 1. Was going to put up a new post, then thought nah … let’s have NOWP as a DAD blog just now … why not? ☺️

Tuesday [16 till close of play]

(1533) It’s been mainly deliveries and chores which have eaten up the time, with four hours sleep. Let’s restart. And now sign off at (22:59) Night night all.

 

27. Just thinking

… there I go again … I’ve quite a few items from X but it’s convoluted to run them as separate items this late in the evening. So …


26. The well placed snooze

Ah had a thought!

Yes, frightening, that. Ah had a thought about snoozes. Ah had a thought that if the natural tendency, after blogging 0500 to around 1230, is to snooze in the afternoon, why not a half hour rest instead, then some more RL jobs, then snooze late afternoon until 2030 say, then blog a bit again, as I’m doing now?

Coz it’s more reader friendly being here at this time, your time. For example, I can go to X for developments now. Just an idea, thinking out loud as it were. Shall think on’t. What’s your pattern?

25. Uncanny what we have coming up tomorrow till Friday


I’m referring above to the YT on charity shops … was not planning the BB thing at that point. Uncanny really how it all goes.

24. Post-snooze notes

Yep, crashed around our late afternoon, until our 2008 hours, now 2025. Still light out there but not for long. Plan to fall sleep around midnight (current cunning plan). Not being a complete idiot here, just a part one … this shows signs of age.

Toods and I had been discussing Steve, if he’s ok. He will be but needed R&R, so do y’all, good readers … I’m conscious that you manage your time now maybe better than you once did. It’s basically two speed living now … crash for awhile, then physical activity … don’t be caught in the armchair, sedentary trap.

Now, Babylon Bee … you might know them for the humour (with or without the “u”). They also do typical Christian charity work, which I think I’ll write ✝️ian from now on for the bots. My position at Unherdables is that we readers know very well what “Charities” are, so to find one which is not corrupt is the whole point.

Am I right in thinking that we like to give, it’s a tradition, even if we are a bit skint, but no longer trust Charity fatcats or those concerts for warlords’ lavish lifestyles in Africa and the Caribbean. Sadly, that’s very real. That’s why I do not offer these next two paragraphs with any sort of “sell” attached to it, just posting it, that’s all:

“This summer, you and your family, group, class or church can provide a practical blessing and encouragement by filling Action Packs for persecuted Christian families during their time of great need. Each pack is filled with daily necessities like soap, a towel and a bedsheet.

VOM has shipped thousands of Action Packs to persecuted Christians over the past two decades, but front-line workers in hostile areas and restricted nations report that the need is still great. You can show your love for our persecuted brothers and sisters by giving them tangible help through an Action Pack.”

Now I am not pushing this Voice of Martyrs, just putting it up here, which is our prime directive or mission at Unherdables. Often I skip over the BB and Gab type requests, obviously, old Christian charities too, e.g. the Salvos … well, I have no idea how sound they are these days … we hear horrendous tales of graft, Wokery.

And that’s that for now.

……

23. Things just happen, don’t you find?


22. Way to go


21. About as interesting as ablution


20. Moo corner


19. Chap plans a road trip


18. Thirsty “data centres”


17. Ghana communist Bass


16. Bee colonies dying

Tue Mat

 

“Having lost two agents in Berlin, British intelligence chiefs arrange for American agent Quiller to report to the local controller, Pol, and continue the assignment, which is to find the headquarters of Phoenix, a neo-Nazi organization.”

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reports that 60% of critics have given the film a positive rating, based on 15 reviews. Variety wrote that “it relies on a straight narrative storyline, simple but holding, literate dialog and well-drawn characters”. Ian Nathan of Empire described the film as “daft, dated and outright confusing most of the time, but undeniably fun” and rated it with 3/5 stars.[9]