Bashing the 'boomers': Amongst the wittiest of American writers, P. J. O'Rourke turns his laser-like humor on his own kind - the so-called 'baby boomer generation' in America. He knows where-of he writes because he is, well, a less-than-proud member of it! His opening paragraph gives you the flavour:
We are the generation that changed everything. Of all the eras and epochs of Americans, ours is the one that made the biggest impression—on ourselves. That's an important accomplishment, because we're the generation that created the self, made the firmament of the self, divided the light of the self from the darkness of the self, and said, "Let there be self." If you were born between 1946 and 1964, you may have noticed this yourself.
There's poor and then there's, like, er, really, really poor: I shall forever remain grateful to Mr. O'Rourke who, in one of his books, provided me with the answer to a question I had asked constantly on various Left-wing blogs, that is, how exactly and precisely do you define 'poverty'? Lefties never stop prating about poverty but most of them seemed to think that living in a council flat on benefits and eating KFC three times a day is real poverty. O'Rourke, who has seen the grim reality in various parts of the world, gave this definition - no chickens! According to him, just about everywhere you go in the world's impoverished locations you will usually see a few chickens scratching around and you will know that whilst life is tough it is not totally lost. It's when there are no chickens to be seen that you have the stark proof of real poverty.
A right royal double-act: I am more and more impressed with our brace of royal grandsons, Wills and Harry. Like all the very best double-acts they appeal to both sides of our sentiments. Wills satisfies that part of us that understands that good sense and good behavior are re-enforced by a good marriage and fatherhood. Harry, on the other hand, appeals to the 'wannabe' playboy in us all as he parties and shags for Britain whilst - and this is important - he does some time up the 'sharp-end' in Afghanistan and then takes part in some tough charity events, like trudging across Antarctica. Her Maj, of course, has been absolutely brilliant as Queen and if and when Charles takes over in his dotage he and his eccentricities will be looked on with fondness. By then Wills will be fully matured, and no doubt some American heiress will have pinned Harry down, so all's well with the Royal family - God bless 'em!
Bloody computers! I have remarked before on the unmitigated catastrophe that would ensue following a cyber attack. I don't think any of us have any real idea of just how much of our modern lives are utterly and totally dependent on the constant stream of 'mega-ga-zillions' of noughts and ones that go to make up 'information technology'. This week we have had two tiny reminders - 'tiny' because they are as nothing compared to a full shut down - when a bank's computer system went tits-up and then yesterday the air traffic control system followed suit. Instead of wasting money on two useless aircraft carriers the MoD would be better employed spending the money on cyber security systems. But then, when did they ever plan for the future war as opposed to the last one?!
More rumbles later . . .
