Gervais on science and religion

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Book Review: Roberto Saviano ~ ZeroZeroZero (2013) (Translator Virginia Jewiss)

I recently read Oliver Bullough’s Everybody Loves Our Dollars (2026), which describes the *Money Laundering Industry*. The city of London’s finest feature: Banks, financial professionals, high price lawyers, estate agents, stock market and subsidiary organisations. He said: The amounts involved are trillions of dollars annually. But it is worse than that. No-one knows how much is laundered and law enforcement has lost – before they start.

And those fancy pants city of London *professionals* are the tip of the scourge of the world. The epidemic of cocaine. The drug world has corrupted everything and anyone who thinks it is *just business* is living in a parallel universe. Roberto’s book is the antidote to the idea of a victimless crime.

Most of the laundered money comes from drugs and kleptomaniac countries and are supported by gruesome violence. ZeroZeroZero is deeply human. The tidal wave of cocaine drives crime in every corner of the world. Roberto is a brilliant storyteller. He’s so brilliant that he has to have permanent police protection. Gangsters do not like the light being shone on them. He write about the most violent and wealthiest criminals the world has ever known.

The section on Drug Mules is sickening (pp325ff). The poorest and most vulnerable are *taught* how to swallow 2 kilos of drugs safely. They then go on transcontinental flights to Europe and the USA. They know they are disposable. If capsules burst they die.

If you like crime novels this is turbocharged factual version. It’s compelling. It’s the sort of book read through clenched teeth and with pain.

It is strongly recommended.

Note

ZeroZeroZero (000) is the highest quality cocaine available

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What is a soldier in 2026?

The nature of war has changed beyond recognition. This implies that the concept of a soldier has also changed. However, looking at the Army Recruitment website this is denied. They are very traditional about fitness. Modern armies should be able to recruit disabled people as well as the traditional person and at any age.

Why do soldiers need to be fit? – YouTube

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Are tanks mobile coffins?

Britain is budgeting about £2bn on new tanks – Challenger 3 – over the next few years. The Ukraine-Russia war suggests that they are useless. Britain hasn’t got a conceivable enemy where tanks could be used. And even if they were they would be destroyed by drones and missiles.

Are tanks mobile coffins? A 3 minute video

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How China rates Trump’s USA

“[Xi Jinping] saw the United States as a declining power, progressively ungovernable, and dangerous on the way down in terms of Chinese interests.”

Source Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan Regime Change (2026) p179

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Is Pete Hegseth Gay?

Hegseth is so bizarre that an explanation is needed. He thinks that he is a warrior. He produces videos of himself doing Marine type physical exercises. And he tells off Generals and Admirals about their appearance. He’s a deeply conflicted man.

Is Pete Hegseth gay? – YouTube A 3 minute video

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£28bn on nuclear war before 2030: Good Value?

Vast amounts of money are being spent on nuclear warheads. But who are they going to drop them on? It seems ridiculous to believe that we could attack the USA, China or Russia. But who else is there?

£28bn on nuclear warheads: Good Value? – YouTube A 3 minute video

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Fine Dining?

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Cooking for Slackers: Tortilla (serves one unless you’re a dainty eater)

Spanish readers should avert their eyes and leave the page now!

This Tortilla recipe is demanding for easy-going Slackers. However, every Slacker occasionally want a new jig. And that means the Slacker Mission Statement goes to the wall. This recipe cannot be done in 5 minutes but it’s got only three ingredients and is cheap so the Mission Statement hasn’t been ditched entirely.

Ingredients

Two eggs

One onion

One large potato (or two)

Preparation

One small frying pan

One saucepan

Whisk the eggs in a cereal bowl

Thin slice the onion

Thin slice – think translucent – the potato

Technique

Fry the potato crispy brown on both sides

Take them out and put on plate

Carmelise the onion in butter in the saucepan. This means cooking slowly until deep brown. DO NOT rush your fences or you lose the rich flavour

Put half of the cooked potato in the frying pan and spread evenly on a low heat

Spread the onion on top

Pour the egg on top to soak in

Put the remainder of the potato on top of that

Increase the heat and cover the frying pan. Cook slowly. About 3 minutes

Outcome

A wonderful new experience. This is a filling cheap meal with swagger.

Aspirational Slackers should go to Spanish tortilla recipe – BBC Food

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£8.4bn down the drain: Nuclear submarines

£8.4bn down the drain – YouTube

In 2020 I wrote a blog which covered some of this territory but was far more detailed. If you turn to that blog you’ll catch the flavour of the intellectual context.

The Royal Navy’s Final Delusion | Odeboyz’s Blog

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