The time for forgiveness has gone
Gales howl across mountain peaks
Trees are bundled to the ground
Animals crushed and left to die
No-one cares
The time for forgiveness has gone
Fires rage devouring houses
Sparks a thousand feet high
And drones admire the sight
A wonderful spectacle
The time for forgiveness has gone
War a snuff movie for bored couch warriors, but
Keeping the excitement high
Is so hard
Where there’s a will there’s way
“I’ve had bad luck in my two previous marriages. The first wife left me, and the second did not.”
Albert Einstein 1922
If my theory of relativity is proven successful, Germany will claim me as a German and France will declare me a citizen of the world. Should my theory prove untrue, France will say that I am a German, and Germany will declare that I am a Jew.
Mesut Ozil (footballer)
“When we win, I am German. When we lose, I am an immigrant.”
Note
“Özil helped Germany win the 2014 FIFA World Cup, but retired from international competition in 2018, alleging discrimination and disrespect by the German Football Association (DFB) and the German media.”
Source Mesut Özil – Wikipedia
The British Empire was founded on the Royal Navy and Nelson’s triumph at Trafalgar sealed British naval supremacy. The importance of Trafalgar was that it brought naval and global domination for 136 years.
Naval supremacy transformed Britain into ‘The policeman of the world’. An early example was the abolition of the slave trade,
“The Royal Navy, which then controlled the world’s seas, established the West Africa Squadron in 1808 to patrol the coast of West Africa, and between 1808 and 1860 they seized approximately 1,600 slave ships and freed 150,000 Africans who were aboard.”1
In 1871 Britain transitioned to steam powered ships and established coaling stations around the world.2 This enhanced British supremacy. Other nations didn’t have the security of coal supplies and their ships couldn’t compete across the world’s oceans. They had to concede British supremacy.
The 18893 two-fleet law demanded that the Royal Navy was equal to the next two largest fleets combined. This lasted until the 1930s. During the first world war Germany’s fleet was defeated at the battle of Jutland, 1916, ending Germany’s naval challenge. The Royal Navy’s blockade of Germany cut off food and industrial supplies causing widespread hunger and problems in their factories. This weakened their ability to resist the Allied armies.
The beginning of the end of British supremacy was the Japanese destruction of Russia’s Pacific and Baltic fleets in 1905 at the battle of Tsushima.4 For the first time Britain had to recognise that their ability to control every ocean had ended. Tsushima was the precursor of Britain’s declining power. It was a pivotal moment in global history.
Notes
1 Slave Trade Act 1807 – Wikipedia
2 Coaling Stations – Defence of British Ports
If there is a God why did he make me an atheist?
Spain are the European champions. Real Madrid won the Champions League. Rodri won the Ballon d’Or and has only come to seem more important since suffering an anterior cruciate injury. Spanish managers won the Premier League, the Bundesliga and League 1 last season. No fewer than five1 Premier League clubs are managed by Spaniards.
The Observer (Sport section)29th December 2024 p20
Note
1 There are three British born managers in the Premier League as of 30th December 2024
Fred: “I’ll never forget my father’s last words”
Jim: “What were they?”
Fred: “Are you still holding the ladder?”
This is was a dreadful game apart from the result: Daggers 1 Rochdale 0
First Half
Both defences believed that crossing the half way line was reckless folly. As a result. the default ‘action’ was back-passes to the goalkeeper supplemented by 10 metre passes across the back 4. When the goalkeepers got bored they passed the ball to each other avoiding the 20 out-field players.
Second Half
Phipps had a shot on goal in the 51st minute, which was saved. Rochdale’s Rodney was stung into action with penetrating runs down the left. He was a lonely attacking player. There were no strikes on goal by Rochdale in the entire match, which disappointed their 200+ fans. A comically bad Rochdale free kick created the one piece of magic in the game.
Daggers super-star Dion Pereira became a marauder down the left and crossed superbly for Junior Morias to power home.
Breakaway goals are infrequent at Daggers and when they happen they are treasured. The breakaway took 30 seconds and blotted out the other 89 minutes.
Roll on the 3rd round of the FA Cup. We play much better against competent opposition.
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