Tis the season. Egg nog, mulled wine, presents, Christmas trees, yule logs, Christmas cards, Midnight Mass, food, food and more food.... The list goes on and on. The Holiday Season is one tradition after another. In fact, you could call it the Tradition Season just as easily as the Christmas or Holiday Season. But when and where did the traditions start? Well, they came from all over the Western world and some of the Eastern. Some have deeply religious roots. Others tell a political story. Some are strictly secular money making operations. There was a time when Christmas was banned. ...
The final council by-election results of 2023 have been declared. We can look back on a brilliant, and historic year, of Liberal Democrat performances! In total there were 197 principal council by-elections contested in 2023. The Liberal Democrats won 51 of these elections. Of these 26 were Lib Dem gains from other parties or independents. That means, of all principal council by-elections in 2023, over a quarter resulted in a Lib Dem win - and one in eight resulted in a Lib Dem gain! In total we made a net gain of 26 council seats in by-elections and countermanded elections ...
We finished an outstanding year for Council by-elections on a high this week. We won 2 of the 3 contests and put in a great showing in the third - moving forwards in our vote share everywhere. There were 2 by-elections in Leicestershire. Firstly on Leicestershire CC we held Blaby and Glen Parva ward (which had previously been won by a Liberal Democrat who became an independent before resigning). Congratulations to Councillor Sue Jordan and the team on holding the seat, and doing so by increasing our vote by 12.5% and increasing our majority to over 650! Leicestershire CC, Blaby ...
Today is the fifth anniversary of Paddy Ashdown's death. I still mourn him as a man and a leader. By coincidence, at 20.50 this evening Talking Pictures TV (Freeview Channel 82) is showing a short Look at Life film from 1964 about British troops in Sarawak. At one point we see a young Marines officer... Lieutenant Ashdown. Talking Pictures has a free online catch-up service - TPTV Encore - where most of its programmes appear. In case this one doesn't, I've added an excerpt from the film above. Later. The film will be on TPTV Encore until 29 December - ...
Fri 22nd
15:55
Epigenetic Age Changes - what do they mean? Has my biological age really gone from 63 to 37?
The concept of an Epigenetic Clock has been around for some time. The idea is that there are markers on DNA from which it is possible to work out someone's biological age. The idea of "biological age" is that it is in essence a measurement of how healthy someone is. People with the same chronological age, but different biological ages differ in their health status. My own personal view is
I've just had the most amazing vivid dream, all about next year, it's pretty eventful and everything goes my way for a change. It was just a flight of fantasy, none of this could possibly happen though could it? Or could it . . . JanuaryThe Five Eyes Alliance (US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand) ... Continue reading 2024 – my Goldilocks scenarios
The best girl kept her brother safe;reached out and protected him –the sea-green incorruptible –shielded mainly from himself She crossed the shallow, sandbanked seadespite scant means, her narrow funds;they tore at the weave of Christmasso their elders' fabric grew dark The finest girl, as always –ever, ever and always –acted for the best reasonsto do [...]
There was a triple triumph for the Liberal Democrats in Leicestershire yesterday. In local by-elections we held the Blaby and Glen Parva ward of Leicestershire County Council and the Glen Parva ward of Blaby District Council, and gained a seat on Blaby Parish Council. This gain was despite the opposing candidate standing under the label 'Independent and Volunteer Village Santa'. Such a label must give rise to concern that the candidate has been treating the voters (but only if they've been nice). Congratulations to the winning candidates and to Blaby Lib Dems. You can see the full results below. LIB ...
