200 years of the railway

Today marks 200 years since the opening of the Stockton & Darlington Railway, the first modern railway. The impact of that line was truly world-changing for good - and also ill. It made global commerce truly possible - and also imperialism. It also allowed people greater mobility and sped up communication, making political organisation far easier.

Appropriately enough, I am writing this on a train, travelling on Brunel's Great Western Railway from Paddington to Reading.

While standing in the vestibule. With the catering not open because the train is full. A 5-car IET is no replacement for a HST in terms of capacity. 

Great British Railways is heading down the tracks; Greater Anglia transfers over on 12 October.

Whether that will actually improve services remains to be seen. One problem with public railways is that they tend to be rather dependent on the whim of government and its political interest.

This is not a full defence of privatisation; the British franchise version was far too fragmented. At least it gave variety in terms of paint jobs. Or rather vinyls.

Anyway, here's to another 200 years. Perhaps I will live to see railways on Mars. Dust on the line anyone?

She's having Stake (Review: 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' 1.12, "Prophecy Girl")

So, I've decided to do some reviews of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the show I didn't watch as a teenager and am now watching for the first time. Probably one a season.

Anyway, let's set the scene. For one thing, I've not covered this in previous post. Second, not everyone will have heard of this show. Thirdly, I'm neurodivergent and I find this sort of stuff amusing.

Jimmy Kimmel

Slowly but surely, the United States is turning into Hungary or Turkey.

I found precisely one thing wrong with Kimmel's comments. It has not been established either way that the alleged murderer of Charlie Kirk is MAGA or not. It might not be a simple answer

That could have been dealt with by an apology.

The rest is valid.

However, when with someone like Trump, he cannot brook any criticism or dissent. He is willing to use the levers of state to silence his critics.

Thus ABC finds itself in a very difficult position. Sacrifice Kimmel or risk the entire company.

Trump often chickens out, but only if you have big enough guns to make him think twice about the political cost.

Does ABC have the guns? I don't think it does. Money has always been the biggest talker in the United States.

The dark truth is that in this world, acquiescence is often the less risky option to your life and that of others. At the cost of a lot of guilt. A clear conscience can cost you everything as many have learned over the centuries. 

I would be willing to be martyred for my beliefs, but what if others would suffer for my decisions?

Many will have to make some tough choices in the years ahead. 

Israel, Gaza and genocide

The UN Commission report on Israel's actions in Gaza makes for troubling reading.

Ultimately, the legal definition of genocide involves an intent to destroy a group in whole or part. It does not define 'destroy' and it does not limit that action to physically killing those members.

The clear intent of Israel's government, shared by much of the opposition is to prevent the creation of any Palestinian state. There is also a clear desire by many to encourage or force the emigration of the Palestinian population. Rendering Gaza uninhabitable is a means to that end.

The ICC has not brought a charge of extermination as it can not prove the intent to destroy beyond a reasonable doubt. Nor has the ICJ yet ruled on the matter. 

Genocide is an emotive word, especially for Israel, founded after a clear act of genocide.

Also, if Gaza is genocide, then we have to conclude that the framers of the Convention are hypocrites on a grand scale.

For we committed acts of genocide against Germany in 1945 and 1946 on this definition. Namely the expulsion of Germans east of the Oder-Neisse line.

Anyway, it is time for serious sanctions.