In reality, is Thatcher’s tattered survival book all we are left with if nuclear bombs fly?

Who do you think you are kidding, Mr Putin – we’ll just hide under our kitchen tables if you Nuke us!

• A simulation shows how a nuclear attack from Russia could trigger a war that kills 34 million people in just five hours. 

• A four-minute animation highlights the ‘potentially catastrophic’ consequences of conflict between Russia and NATO.

• It was developed by Princeton University researchers associated with the Program on Science & Global Security (SGS), and was originally released in 2017.

Margaret Thatcher was a tyrant, a grocery girl who ate all the plums.

She chose Meringue for hair and adopted a shrillness that could make a blackboard screech.

But one day the Iron Lady took a step too far … she’d already killed industry, Northern cities were wastelands of boarded-up shops, teachers were banned from discussing LGBT. And the poll tax had just happened.

There were riots on our streets.

On the other hand Vladimir Putin is a working-class hero to millions, a boy-dun-good, the richest man in the world some say.

An action man too.

Most of us though see him as a murderous bare-chested horseman of the apocalypse.

Vlad isn’t very well either. Some say he is about to drop dead. Certainly, he does look a bit autocratically bloated.

Stress I guess.

After all, he has been waving rusty old nuclear popguns in the air and threatening mankind.

He has has taken on inhuman proportions.

And in a way has sent us back to a future as the Iron Curtains are twitching again.

Yep, it’s like we are back in the 1980s when Mrs T came up with her final cynical act.

Dear old Maggie rushed to print with the Protect and Survive government pamphlet. Designed to keep us alive in the event of a Russian nuke piercing the very heart of England.

World tensions were rising. In 1980, nuclear war seemed closer than at any time since the Cuban missile crisis 18 years earlier.

Then we read Protect and Survive! Get under the table, it said. Or hide in a ditch!

And, if you hear the air-raid klaxons clanking and wheezing out the four minute warning, then don’t forget to brick up windows. Oh! And remove handles from all toilet cisterns (to stop usable water being flushed accidently).

And as Putin bombs and maims the Ukraine and threatens the world, Protect and Survive, incredibly, is still probably the best we’ve got!

It’s just been rewritten a bit!

Latest government advice says: “Hand sanitizer does not protect against fall out. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth, if possible.

“Try to maintain a distance of at least six feet between yourself and people who are not part of your household. If possible, wear a mask.”

The Government advice is, in essence, if Putin nukes us then you still have to get under the table, put your head between your knees and kiss your ass goodbye.

Back in the day they published 150,000 copies for a population of 65m people.

Now we have a population of nearly 80m and a myasma of languages and cultures.

In fact there seems to be so little information on how to survive that people like war prepper Yara Ghrewati, aged 39, are going it alone. She has a secret shelter, a car boot packed with essentials, and a bow and arrow to hunt squirrels.

The bushcraft instructor even suggests people should be willing to eat their pets if the worst happens and food supplies are cut. “Any vegetarians are going to have a really tough time,” she said.

It is of course far from certain that Putin would be prepared to be the first leader to use nuclear weapons in wartime since 1945.

U.S. atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki created a “precedent” for the use of nuclear weapons., The invasion of Iraq was a big PR mistake too.

Even if Putin did issue the launch order, there is no guarantee it would be carried out. Nor can he be absolutely sure either that the weapons and their delivery systems would work.

But given Putin’s crimes — from Syria to Crimea to Salisbury— surely this lack of public planning over the past 40 years is just jaw-droppingly complacent on the part of Europe’s leaders.

The annexation – and new bombings – brings the use of a nuclear weapon a step closer by giving Putin a potential justification on the grounds that “the territorial integrity of our country is threatened”.

Any nuclear use in Ukraine would be likely to involve non-strategic, or tactical, weapons. But on average they are far more powerful that the Hiroshima or Nagasaki bombs.

The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) estimates Russia has 2,000 tactical weapons for use on land, sea and air.

But Pavel Baev, a military researcher who once worked for the Soviet defence ministry, said that Putin cannot count on these weapons actually working.

“Most of these warheads are very old,” Baev, now a professor at the Peace Research Institute Oslo, said.

But for the Russian leader, detonation of even a rusty old a tactical nuclear weapon is entirely acceptable.

And so the West needs to do some quick thinking about how it will help us all to survive.

More than 40 years ago, the 30 page pamphlet advised householders to make a fallout room and an inner refuge, like the cupboard under the stairs.

Families would be in there for at least two weeks, so there were tips on what food to stock up on.

People were urged to store three-and-half gallons (16 litres) of water each, keeping it in the bath and basins.

If people were not at home during the nuclear strike, they were advised to “lie flat (in a ditch) and cover the exposed skin of the head and hands”.

Today, the aftermath of a nuclear war will be  firestorms, a nuclear winter, widespread radiation sickness and the loss of much modern technology.

For years, crops from California to China will keep dying. Famine will set in around the globe.

Over the decades he total number of weapons has dropped by about 80 percent from an estimated 70,300 in 1986 to 12,700 in early 2022.

But the Ukraine does not have any – a brave and compassionate nation, it gave them up in 1994.

#putin #truss #biden #zelensky #nukes #nuclearbombs #thatcher #protectandsurvive #russia #ukraine #britain #worldwar

Putin on the agony, Putin on the vile …

Vladimir Putin has said there is no need for more massive strikes on Ukraine.

He’d just carried out the heaviest bombardment of the country since his bloody war began.

Then he claimed most designated targets had been hit, and that it was not his aim to destroy Ukraine.

He spoke as Russian forces were mostly in retreat, almost eight months since the invasion began.

Speaking to journalists after a summit with regional leaders in Kazakhstan’s capital Astana, the Russian leader said:

“There’s no need for massive strikes. We now have other tasks.”

#putin #russia #ukraine #us #world #nuclearwar #zelensky

By Erik Lastick

Stay here at Vaudevillian ancestry… folklore i adore… these mega miles, smiles, yet from a sun— and a pasty pie wood-stove’s wood-bury— with hoards and restocks… and be of that of weird old America… it’s yodelling, knows of Bobby pins…papers and writ—twists. Earn him like a causeway of one’s whole generational long.

The troupe door is a brand new opening— to what one’ wants, Desires and cause. Culture vested across these thought-provokes…and of the plains.

The prairie roads too look upon. Places that inspire may it be Mr. Dylan. Will see him in our very minds—– across the Minnesota timbers. The star-dolled skies. He will be there at the rolling thunders—-with all the reflections of the old painted on face of lore…and his accompanied fine brash female violinist..and an audience of the many splendors of old lore…residences of all it’s charms.

The hay-rings and smoke things—too a peasant’s delight. Come all gatherers—this country old road made as if fixtures of mini mansions in our starry eyes…as the pasty and hatted folk dancer appears!

PART 2  TENDER STRIKES AT TRANQUILITY

Mister Dylan’s tender strikes at tranquility. A win, win, along Elston borough rustic firelight…l ogs hold riches in all one’s heart and mind. Gunnery call for peace at push-button river—tending way of secret passages of the scales across nightfall…and one’s own honor guards.

Wake of the lakes that find. Cold are the waters, but not the feel. It’s gotta linger. ‘Listen and know’, too what settles at the bottom of where the underseas—looks’ at new beginnings.

Masters not of wars…as Dylan sings of the right time…and of the slow of waves, of the waters…free flow streams of peace, one can find. Duluth proud be of their doctor. Dylan voice of music is the great medicine…and of answers in joining—too the knows of real riches…go the walk by the river.. as.one fine lake,as well, and oceans of it! He has, as it is love…too the simple of what his flow indicates, and really says; yet all must really listen—as he stretch, and guitar strapped…tightly fit capo. Arms visual as light…and fill the jacketed cool of leather, as an Armour. A trust. Leg lean and rest upon the lone of all seers. Write and dances like the bear cub blend’s of family love. Gold be as a grape of the finest taps of freedom—and all too often what few see.What few have.

Dylan write a song—deep rich flows in metaphor. Rough tracks, which all to often give of an impression of pain. Hard ways…and little doubt of hope…yet may we be wrong in the assumption…it’s interpretation of lyric…and of song—as maybe there are many a clue…a ray of light lay in quiet peace. Shelter from the storm…and tender strikes at tranquility. Piece by piece…by peace, by piece.

#bobdylan #rollingthunder #roughandrowdy

Who is the self-styled super-sleuth who sparked the latest hunt for Moors Murder victim Keith Bennett on Saddleworth?

Russell Stephen Edwards describes himself as a businessman originally from Birkenhead. He ran Yorkshire Ripper Tours for a while.

But Edwards, aged 48, who has been published by Penguin Classics and was on-sale in Waterstones = he also publishes Kindle and other editions – has been building himself a reputation as a researcher into the macabre.

But now he has been challenged by ‘lost boy’ Keith Bennett’s brother, Alan, to meet with himself and the police and ‘explain claims and why nothing new has been found’.

Alan said on social media: “It appears that individual ( Russell Stephen Edwards) asks why I didn’t meet him and let him explain everything. The answer is simple, you never asked me. You just put this idea forward whilst on your media outlet tour.

“I would suggest we all get together, you, me and the police, just so we can all be clear on your claims and why nothing can be found.”

Police started a new search on Saddleworth Moor for the body of Keith Bennett, who was snatched by Ian Brady and Myra Hindley almost 60 years ago, after Edwards claimed he had found a skull – or bones – out there.

He found it as he researched for a new book about the murder of 12-year-old Keith.

Edwards already claims to have produced definitive evidence to prove the identity of the world’s most famous murderer: Jack the Ripper.

GMP Force Review Officer Martin Bottomley said: “Following direct contact with the author, we were informed that he had discovered what he believes are potential human remains in a remote location on the Moors and he agreed to meet with officers to elaborate on his find and direct us to a site of interest.

“The site was assessed and specialist officers have begun initial exploration activity. We are in the very early stages of assessing the information which has been brought to our attention but have made the decision to act on it in line with a normal response to a report of this kind.

“We have always said that GMP would act on any significant information which may lead to the recovery of Keith and reunite him with his family. As such, we have informed his brother of the potential development – he does not wish to be contacted at this time and asks that his privacy is respected.”

Keith Bennett was one of five children killed by Brady and Hindley in the 60s. His mother, Winnie Johnson, spent her life trying to locate her son. She died in 2012.

Russell is married with two children and now lives in the south east of England.

Alan ‘open minded’ as bone-find starts new Moors dig for his brother Keith – The Leigh G Banks Preservation Society

Keith Bennett’s brother writes ‘when Pauline Reade’s body was found after 24 years, her mum said a dark cloud lifted’ – The Leigh G Banks Preservation Society

#keithbennett #alanbennett #moorsmurderers #hindley #myra #ianbrady #gmp #saddleworth #Russell #Stephen #Edwards

Who is the self-styled super-sleuth who sparked the latest hunt for Moors Murder victim Keith Bennett on Saddleworth?

Russell Stephen Edwards describes himself as a businessman originally from Birkenhead. He ran Yorkshire Ripper Tours for a while.

But Edwards, aged 48, who has been published by Penguin Classics and was on-sale in Waterstones also publishes Kindle and other editions, has been building himself a reputation as a researcher into macabre British murders.

But now he has been challenged by Keith Bennett’s brother, Alan, to meet with himself and the police and ‘explain claims and why nothing new has been found’.

Alan said on social media: “It appears that individual ( Russell Stephen Edwards) asks why I didn’t meet him and let him explain everything. The answer is simple, you never asked me. You just put this idea forward whilst on your media outlet tour.

“I would suggest we all get together, you, me and the police, just so we can all be clear on your claims and why nothing can be found.”

Police started a new search on Saddleworth Moor for the body of Keith Bennett, who was snatched by Ian Brady and Myra Hindley almost 60 years ago, after Edwards claimed he had found a skull out there.

He found it as he researched for a new book about the murder of 12-year-old Keith.

Edwards already claims to have produced definitive evidence to prove the identity of the world’s most famous murderer: Jack the Ripper.

GMP Force Review Officer Martin Bottomley said: “Following direct contact with the author, we were informed that he had discovered what he believes are potential human remains in a remote location on the Moors and he agreed to meet with officers to elaborate on his find and direct us to a site of interest.

“The site was assessed and specialist officers have begun initial exploration activity. We are in the very early stages of assessing the information which has been brought to our attention but have made the decision to act on it in line with a normal response to a report of this kind.

“It is far too early to be certain whether human remains have been discovered and this is expected to take some time.

“We have always said that GMP would act on any significant information which may lead to the recovery of Keith and reunite him with his family. As such, we have informed his brother of the potential development – he does not wish to be contacted at this time and asks that his privacy is respected.”

Keith Bennett was one of five children tortured and killed by Brady and Hindley in the 60s. His mother, Winnie Johnson, spent her life trying to locate her son. She died in 2012.

Russell is married with two children and now lives in the south east of England.

Alan ‘open minded’ as bone-find starts new Moors dig for his brother Keith – The Leigh G Banks Preservation Society

Keith Bennett’s brother writes ‘when Pauline Reade’s body was found after 24 years, her mum said a dark cloud lifted’ – The Leigh G Banks Preservation Society

#keithbennett #moorsmurders #saddleorth #moors #gmppolice #alanbennett #edwards #ripper #yorkshire

The legendary Town Hall in New York is the venue of another tribute by T Bone Burnett to Bob Dylan.

The Oscar and Grammy-winning songwriter and producer, was presenting a concert at the hall to mark the 60 years since Bob first appeared there.

Burnett’s relationship with Dylan doesn’t go back that far, only to the 1970s, when he performed as a guitarist on Dylan’s Rolling Thunder Revue tour.

Burnett said: “Town Hall has been the location of many fateful moments, and I’m grateful for the invitation to celebrate one of those historic evenings on the 60th anniversary of Bob Dylan’s first concert there.

“He sang 24 songs that night, all of which have been woven into the fabric of our culture. We are going to play a few of those songs, and we are also going to celebrate the sixty years of songs that have followed that night

“As the Town Hall reflects on its role in New York City and the world, we are turning to the great artists and movements that have shaped who we’ve become,” said the Town Hall’s artistic director Melay Araya.

“There’s no one more befitting of celebration than Bob Dylan, whose lyrics have carried us through personal and social tragedies and transformation repeatedly over the last six decades. We can think of no one better to partner with than Dylan’s close collaborator and friend of our hall: the legendary artist T Bone Burnett.”

The Town Hall partnered with the Bob Dylan Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on the concert, which is the center’s first public event.

A group fighting for the 19th Amendment built the Town Hall as a meeting space to educate people on the top issues of the day. During its construction, the 19th Amendment was passed; the Town Hall opened on January 12, 1921.

THIS IS NOT the first time Burnett has gone back to Dylan’s future … A state-of-the-art recording of Dylan’s Blowin’ In The Wind has been snapped up for almost £1.5 million.

The disc with a difference is the first new studio recording of the song since Dylan wrote it in 1962.

It was sold by Christie’s in London.

The sale exceeded the original price estimate which was set as low as £600,000.

It actually sold for £1,482,000.

T Bone Burnett, Bob’s long-time friend and collaborator, made the disc in March 2021and finally went up as part of Christie’s Exceptional Sale during its Classic Week.

Before the sale Burnett said: “Not only is an Ionic Original the equivalent of a painting, it is a painting. It is lacquer painted onto an aluminium disc, with a spiral etched into it by music. This painting, however, has the additional quality of containing that music, which can be heard by putting a stylus into the spiral and spinning it.”

After the sale he said: “I trust and hope it will mean as much to whomever acquired it today at Christie’s Exceptional Sale as it does to all of us who made it, and that they will consider it and care for it as a painting or any other singular work of art.”

Peter Klarnet, Christie’s senior specialist in Americana, books and manuscripts, said: “We are so pleased with the excellent result this evening for the ‘Ionic Original’ disc of Bob Dylan’s first new studio recording of ‘Blowin’ in the Wind’ since 1962.

“To work with such an incredibly important and groundbreaking advance in analogue playback technology is a tremendous honour.

“We are excited that this is just the beginning for this amazing new opportunity for recording artists to work with T Bone and NeoFidelity to reset the value of music.”

This isn’t Burnett’s first foray into audio formats. Back in 2008 he developed Code, a high-fidelity audio technology intended to produce discs with sound quality comparable to studio masters.

Code discs could be played back on any DVD drive. We don’t hear much about Code now, so fingers crossed.

#dylan #tbone #burnett #musictechnology #christies #times #timestheyare #a-changin

Alienation campaigners shame world’s blood-on-their-hands courts

Ponder these figures for a moment… you are quite likely to be a number in the equation.

I certainly am…

According to a new report by a group of psychiatrists, parental alienation is present in upto 15 per cent of divorce cases.

And 25pc of parents use alienating behaviour for at least six years after divorce.

The human breed is a vindictive breed.

More figures… 22 million people have been targets of parental alienation in the United States alone.

And in the UK, Children’s’ Commissioner Anne Longfield, releasing the first report in fourteen years into children’s mental well-being, said one in eight children are suffering from ‘at least one’ mental health disorder.

Parental alienation is an epidemic everybody tries to turn deaf ear to – victims, perpetrators, children, CAFCAS, social workers, lawyers, politicians and governments.

But the real deafening silence comes from the world’s family courts.

Secrets, lies, loss, heartbreak and suicide.

And yet judges remain mandated to pound their gavels behind closed doors, smashing hopes, dreams and love.

Thank you mi’lud.

But now the writing could be on the wall for those in the world who have made it their business to kill off 50pc of the love between a child and parents.

Wooden plaques with words painted ‘in blood’ are being delivered to courts from Swansea to Dublin, from the US to Canada.

Andrew John Teague, co-founder of D.A.D.s and the National Association of Alienated Parents, is making the plaques out of old pallets.

And even though they are only eight inches by five inches, they deliver a big message.

Andrew said: “I make the plaques in my yard out of pallets. They make the point in a graphic but dignified way and people are contacting from all over asking about them.

“On October 21st I will be placing plaques at Swansea and Cardiff … we have to highlight the suicides and the child abuse … Anyone can meet at any court if your area and leave a plaque.

“Many family court prolonged hearings are harmful for children. Blood on their hands.”

Andrew will be at Swansea 10am, Cardiff 2pm, Newport 6pm

Tell us in the comment box below where and when you will be placing the plaques and send us pix!

‘#alienation #children #parents #grand[arents #suicide #harm #courts #familycourts #cafcas

The brother of Moors Murderers victim Keith Bennett, has said he is keeping an open mind over a new dig on Saddleworth after a skull was found.

Police are digging for Keith after remains were found, but police are treating the discovery with caution.

The remains were found during an independent search, before being reported to Greater Manchester Police.

Keith, aged 12, was snatched 58-years-ago by Ian Brady and Myra Hindley and the case has never been resolved.

In a statement from his solicitor Alan Bennett said: “I have spoken to my client, Alan Bennett, concerning the reported development in the search for his brother Keith Bennett.

“My client is keeping an open mind on the latest report having regard to earlier such reports that have raised expectations but not resulted in finding Keith’s body.

“Naturally, the family are hoping that Keith has been found after all these years and their tireless efforts to find closure.

“I understand Greater Manchester Police are investigating a site of interest but that it will take some weeks to establish whether there is a connection with Keith.”

In another statement today Greater Manchester Police said: “We have always said that GMP would act on any significant information which may lead to the recovery of Keith and reunite him with his family.

“Officers met with a man yesterday evening (29 th September) and he was able to locate a site of interest and provide us with further details of the work he has been carrying out.

“We are at the very early stages of assessing the evidence which he brought to our attention, but have taken the decision to excavate an area of land with a view to determining what lies there.

“It is far too early to be certain whether human remains have been uncovered, but out of respect for Alan Bennett, who we regularly maintain contact with, we have informed him of this potential development.”

#keithbennett #myrahindley #ianbrady #moors #murderers

Over decades of being entranced by Bob Dylan’s art – from oil and acrylics to heavy metal welds, from poetry to rock’n’roll – I have understood his desire to keep changing direction to arrive at his definitive work.

And at the opening of his European Rough And Rowdy Ways Tour he changed again …

A stunning reworking of When I Paint My Masterpiece accompanied only by Donnie Heron on violin.

Bob himself was playing a jaunty acoustic guitar and pizzicato harmonica.

The voice Bob is using on the his latest 11 country gig is getting a bit more jazzy – and on this ‘masterpiece’ it’s all about having a brush with a foot-tapping good time.

His PR in Norway hasn’t always been the best – in fact, when Dylan was awarded the Nobel Prize in literature, he announced he wouldn’t be at the ceremony.

It was due to ‘pre-existing commitments’ but was a major accolade to his career which seemed to get that old familiar Dylan snub…

The Oslo show marked the start of Dylan’s first European tour since 2019.

However, from my side, I’m waiting for our travelling troubadour hit Manchester, my home-town.

I missed the incendiary 85 tour – I was two young – and had to wait ‘til 1998 to catch him at the Arena where he did a workman-like, knee-bending show with a sullen Van Morrison.
It is good to hear a few weeks ago that Manchester’s demand for his live shows remains never ending and, anyway, his Rough and Rowdy world tour is being seen as a new pinnacle in journey to glory.

At 81 Bob is painting, writing a book on top songs, welding iron art, creating artful stage performances, playing piano like Manc hero Les Dawson, mugging to his audiences like a Cheshire cat and singing like he’s never sung before.

He has also added a new show in Oxford and Bournemouth after the original end dates due to “popular demand”.

Bob will now play 12 dates in the UK October and November 2022 as part of the tour which began in December in Milwaukee.

In July, he announced his first UK tour in more than five years.

He is playing four nights at the London Palladium before visiting Cardiff, Hull and Nottingham for arena shows, as well as two nights in Glasgow.

He will now also be performing at Manchester Apollo, Oxford New Theatre and closing at Bournemouth BIC.

All the shows are “non-phone events”, with the audience required to lock their phones in a Yondr bag for the duration of the performance.

Tickets for the new shows went on sale on September 5.

#bobdylan #roughandrowdy #neverending #rollingthunder #manchester #appollo #freetradehall #bobdylantour

The timetable of events are beginning to be shared following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest ever reigning monarch.

This is what is expected to happen in the days ahead, including the journey of the Queen’s coffin from Scotland, her lying in state next week and her state funeral on Monday 19 September.

FAREWELL TO SCOTLAND

The Queen’s coffin will depart Balmoral estate on Sunday at 10:00BST for the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh.

It will go by hearse through Aberdeen, Dundee and by Perth before lying in the palace’s Throne Room until Monday afternoon.

Her son Charles, the former Prince of Wales, is now King. He addressed the nation. All her children had gone to Balmoral after doctors became ‘concerned’ for her health. Hours later she died, surrounded by her family.

At 6.30pm her death was confirmed.

Earlier, the Queen’s family members were all told about her health downturn.

Prince Andrew, Princess Anne and Prince Edward and his wife Sophie were on their way.

Prime Minister Liz Truss was handed a note in the Commons informing her of the development as she was revealing her plans to cap energy bills for the next two years.

#truss #queen #balmoral #PrinceAndrew #PrincessAnne #PrinceEdward #thequeenisdead