Preparedness for when

GreyQueen

I have had a deep and abiding loathing of Tony B.Liar since the grinning loon first hove into public view. How very true the comment below the article about fascism being the result of this kind of intimacy of government and corporatism.

A few years ago, I saw an anti-capitalist demonstration here in the shopping precinct. Truthfully, the "demonstration" consisted of one or two mild-mannered individuals respectfully approaching shoppers with leaflets and a petition. You had to look really hard to see the promised "demonstration".

The only reason I noticed it at all was the overwhelming police presence. There were cops on foot and cops in cars. There were cops taking still photos and cops taking moving images. There were police dogs. I'd go as far as to say that the police presence outnumbered the anti-capitalists by about 20-1.

Interesting, I thought. Mayhem breaks loose all the time in clubland and other places, and when peeps are brawling in the streets you can't get a police response of anything like this magnitude. We have trafficked sex slaves in this city. We have mahoosive drug problems. Nothing I've witnessed, not murder scenes, crack house closures, armed bank robberies or even a kidnapping, had demanded anything like that level of resource.

Why all this obvious intelligence gathering? Could is possibly be that to do anything which threatens capitalism, even if it means pamphleteering and petitioning the public on a shopping street, is the most radical thing you could do?

elona

GQ

I forget who said it but the quote went something like "The most dangerous thing you can do to the status quo is to get people to think!"

For some strange reason the story of Hercules and the cleansing of the Augean stables comes to mind

JayneC

Indeed GQ. BTW have you not got an arm guard for archery? Should protect you from bruises! DS archery club have now decided that under 16 yo need to be supervised (they've had a recent influx of youngsters)so I have to hang around for 2 hours whilst DS shoots, he shoots outdoors so it's a bit chilly this time of year I told him that if I have to stay I might as well take it up myself - he said if I get better than him he won't be speaking to me:rotfl:

I went to watch Les Miserables (local amateur production - not West End sadly!) at the weekend and it was actually quite uncomfortable to think how similar things are getting now. The rich absolutely indifferent to the plight of ordinary people who were starving in the streets. Not sure there's the passion for a revolution nowadays though, seems we've become so brainwashed and distracted that we don't even acknowledge how terrible things are and 'demonstrations' are even mild mannered leafleting. Did anyone else see the news on RT today about the UK bringing in a new law about 'protecting public spaces' basically anyone who may be a nuisance or annoyance can be arrested? As somebody pointed out - demonstrations are supposed to cause some nuisance and annoyance! Seems we are not going to be allowed to protest - peacefully or otherwise!

On a lighter note, DD3 managed to eventually get the bond back from last year's student house. That's come back to me as I've already paid for this years for her, so got a couple of jobs done that needed doing. Had the window with the broken hinge fixed and got my gutter cleaned and repaired (there were a couple of leaks), not as expensive as I feared, so have asked for a quote to get a partition wall built in my kitchen so I can get my pantry at last!!:T

markdebby

GQ, read your post on NI. I live in Downpatrick

GreyQueen

markdebby wrote: »

GQ, read your post on NI. I live in Downpatrick

But do you have a glacier?

JayneC, I do have and use an arm guard, the problem is with the area of arm not covered by the guard, the bit just inside my elbow. It shouldn't be getting bruised because it shouldn't be in the way of the bow-string, so it's my fault for having my arm in the incorrect position. It doesn't happen often but it gives you a stinging bruise when it does.

For those interested (the rest can skim) the arm which holds the bow - the left for right-handers like me - isn't held dead straight with the grip of the bow clenched in your fist. The bow should rest lightly between your thumb and your index finger, with the fingers only lightly curled around the grip. The correct positioning of the hand on the grip rotates the arm at the elbow so that the fleshy bit beside your elbow is out of harm's way.

Get the grip a bit wrong and you get smacked by the string. Owww! The guards are to cover the thin skin and tendons on the inside of your lower arm which are at risk of getting slapped by the string when shooting correctly.

I now have a new toy to play with, the fingersling, which is a doubled-up hiking bootlace, artfully fashioned into a "larksfoot" knot around my thumb and forefinger to help the bow rest better in my left hand, thus using less grip and having my elbow out of the way.

Archery is full of really cool accessories and stuff. I urge you to take it up. We have several parent and child visitors at the club and the kiddies love it because they get the opportunity to excel over their parent. And then the parents get really into it, too.

****************

Re the wealth divide, I have been thinking for some time that the obliviousness of the wealthy towards the rest of us resembles the actions of an aristocracy. They may be sports or entertainment stars and business people rather than bluebloods, but there is a disconnect in the lavishness of their lifestyles which calls my mind to the Marie Antoinettes of history.

I wonder if people living high on the hog understand that they will be in danger if desperate poverty becomes the majority's fate? That the fancy car, the designer wardrobe and the jewels will mark them as targets? Have they understood that they may need to fortify their homes and hire securtiy and live in fear of the Great Unwashed? Even the modestly-affluent might find that their lives become less secure.

alfsmum

GQ was skim reading and thought it said you needed an armed guard for your archery. Didn't realise it was that dangerous :rotfl:

GreyQueen

alfsmum wrote: »

GQ was skim reading and thought it said you needed an armed guard for your archery. Didn't realise it was that dangerous :rotfl:

:rotfl::rotfl: LOL, you must have seen me shooting!

Shropshirelass

Just read VJsmum's referred article by George Monbiot :T Wish I could put it all so neatly.


What I cant understand is why TPTB cant see that the profits have to stop somewhere. Folks cant keep on spending more when incomes are worth less and prices are increasing.


I truly hope that this Christmas those people with anything left after basic needs are paid for, will keep their money 'somewhere safe' (but where) rather than throwing it into the shopping pot for big companies to scrabble for. I have a horrible feeling that January-February is going to see a lot of people suffering cold and hunger in this so called civilised and developed country.


Its a lovely sunny blue-skies day here, at least that is still free, keep thinking we are getting the last of the autumn before winter sets in. Think I will check my salad pots, certain seeds came up, others didn't show so will need to make a note not to use them next year. I don't have a lottie, but try to keep some pots going during the winter.

daz378

back in work after 4 days off....went to bed last night and left my heating on... on the subject of MPs theres a continuing diminishing number of them that have actually held a job ... the basic route is philosophy andpolitical degree few years as an intern and its off the conveyor belt and into the westminster bubble , how are they meant to empathize with "The great unwashed"

[Deleted User]

Watching the news coverage of the devastation in the Phillipines on TV this morning and taking on board the fact that it happened 4 days ago and the PTB haven't actually been able to get any aid/supplies/help to the general population has emphasised to me the cruciality of having plans in place and equipment and supplies to bridge the gap between the event, whatever it may be, and the arrival of any kind of relief. I know those poor people have had the fabric of thier lives ripped apart by the storm and we're not immune from weather events here in the UK but our housing stock is more substantial and hopefully would withstand the extremes of weather in a slightly better way than the flimsy structures of warmer climates. What struck me is the total demoralisation of the people, and thier inaction due to this, using umberellas to shelter under rather than trying to construct some shelters from the debris around them, it's a factor I hadn't put into any imagined scenario and is a lesson to learn perhaps for the future?