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How big was the 23rd March Put It To The Vote march? A: too big to ignore

Posted in Uncategorized with tags , , , , on March 25, 2019 by telescoper

This post offers some interesting reflections on Saturday’s march. I recall the anti-War march in 2003 and would say that Saturday’s was similar in size, and both were substantially larger than the one last autumn.

I heard the organisers announce an official estimate of 1 million (without an error bar). Not being able to reach the end of the march – barely got halfway – I can’t make a quantitative estimate. I’ll just say that if someone told me it was two or three times as big as the one in 2018 then I wouldn’t be surprised.

I’ll just add that it was very enjoyable and the participants were very friendly and polite – so different from the abusive and threatening conduct of the other side. That is probably the Remainers’ biggest problem – we’re just too nice. The government is far more likely to be swayed by threats of `blood on the streets’ than civilized peaceful protest, which is why I fear so much for the direction in which the UK is heading.

kmflett's avatarKmflett's Blog

How big was the 23rd March Put It To The Vote march? A: too big to ignore

I was not able due to other commitments to pay more than passing direct attention to the People’s Vote in central London on 23rd March.

As might be expected I’m no fan of the named organisers but that is hardly the point. A very large demonstration brings all sorts of people and ideas onto the streets and opens up possibilities.

The organisers pre-claimed the march would be a million strong and repeated that afterwards as well. To be fair with such a large march over a relatively short distance ending up in a restricted space its very difficult to tell. My general views on the size of protests are here:

https://kmflett.wordpress.com/2019/03/21/once-gain-on-the-size-of-protests-the-peoples-vote-march-23rd-march/

There were some slightly odd claims. One twitter post showed the Mall full for a Royal event in a previous…

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A Trip on the Thames

Posted in Uncategorized with tags , on March 22, 2019 by telescoper

Last night as part of the social programme of this conference the participants went on a boat trip along the Thames from Westminster Pier to Canary Wharf and back. It was a very enjoyable trip during which I got to talk to a lot of old friends as well as mingling with the many early career researchers at this meeting. I can’t help thinking, though, that graduate students seem to be getting younger..

Meanwhile, back in Burlington House, astronomers have found observational evidence of modifications to Newton’s gravity..

Spring Equinox in the Ancient Irish Calendar | 20 March 2019

Posted in Uncategorized with tags , , , on March 20, 2019 by telescoper

I’m sharing this interesting post with a quick reminder that the Vernal Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere occurs today, 20th March 2019, at 21:58 GMT.

Interlude

Posted in Uncategorized on March 15, 2019 by telescoper

Well, it’s St Patrick’s Day on Sunday (17th March), the day before which is a certain rugby match between Wales and Ireland in Cardiff, and the day after which is a Bank Holiday in Ireland. I’m therefore taking a short break to enjoy the long weekend. Normal service will be resumed as soon as possible, but in the meantime there will be a short intermission.

Semper Cavete Quod Idibus Martiis

Posted in Uncategorized with tags , , on March 15, 2019 by telescoper

Today is the Ides of March so I thought I’d keep up the little tradition I’ve established of posting this  priceless bit of British cultural history relevant to such a fateful day.

This is from the First Folio Edition of Carry On Cleo, and stars the sublime Kenneth Williams as Julius Caesar delivering one of the funniest lines in the whole Carry On series. The joke may be nearly as old as me, but it’s still a cracker…

Theresa May: Friend of Hedge Funds

Posted in Uncategorized on March 12, 2019 by telescoper

Compare and contrast the following behaviour of the Pound Sterling versus the Euro last night

And this morning

Of course the Pound’s rise yesterday was based on speculation that the Prime Minister Theresa May’s trip to Strasbourg would lead to changes to the Withdrawal Agreement between the UK and EU that would make it acceptable to the House of Commons (by which I mean to the pro-Brexit faction of the Conservative Party). The subsequent fall this morning is explained by the fact that she achieved nothing of substance and the Withdrawal Agreement is unchanged.

It seems to me that there are two possible explanations for yesterday’s elaborately choreographed charade. Only a fool would think that Mrs May succeeded in negotiating a concession from the EU, but one thing she can be sure of is that the House of Commons (and particularly the Conservative Party) has plenty of fools in it. The PM might have thought this absurd piece of flummery was worth a shot and convincing Tory buffoons who haven’t read the Withdrawal Agreement anyway. It might even* work!

On the other hand, regardless of what happens in this evening’s `Meaningful Vote’, one thing is clear. Some currency traders will have made an awful lot of money by short-selling the pound. Theresa May’s Strasbourg pantomime will undoubtedly have made her very popular among the Hedge Fund Managers who in any case are the main financial beneficiaries of Brexit…

*It worked with some, but not enough to stop the deal being lost by 149 votes.

BBC Broadcaster John Humphrys: Ireland Should Join With The UK Outside The EU

Posted in Uncategorized on January 27, 2019 by telescoper

There’s been a lot of comment about this performance from John Humphrys. Let’s just say that I’ve got nothing against his family but I think he should retire and spend more time with them.

UPDATE: I think Mr Humphrys has got the message!

An Sionnach Fionn's avatarAN SIONNACH FIONN

The British journalist John Humphrys has a reputation for occasionally allowing his right-wing instincts to filter into his broadcasting but never has this been truer than in this fact-free interview with a remarkably patient Helen McEntee, our own Minister of State for European Affairs, when the BBC Today presenter puts forward the claim that there is an argument for Ireland to leave the European Union and “throw in their lot” with the United Kingdom.

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Nollaig na mBan

Posted in Uncategorized on January 6, 2019 by telescoper

In the Liturgical Calendar today (6th January) is the date of Epiphany, when according to tradition Three Wise Men (Magi) arrived bearing gifts for the infant Jesus.

A bit under the weather today I’ve been taking it easy and listening to the radio, in the course of which I discovered that today is also Nollaig na mBan (Women’s Christmas).

Nollaig na mBan is a day in Ireland on which it is traditional for women to get together and enjoy their own Christmas, while the menfolk stay at home and handle the chores.

Although an old tradition, emanating from the West of Ireland, Nollaig na mBan tradition has apparently had a bit of a resurgence in recent years. In particular the radio station RTÉ Lyric FM has been marking the occasion with lots of very fine music written and/or performed by women.

It seems that hardly a day goes by without me learning something new about Ireland!

Nollaig na mBan Shona Daoibh!

All the Best for 2019!

Posted in Uncategorized on December 31, 2018 by telescoper

It’s not quite here yet where I am, but 2019 has already started happening elsewhere in the world, so let me just wish everyone* reading this a very happy new year!

*Apart from my annoyingly persistent homophobic troll David Hine, who can fuck off.

Scientists win People’s Vote for Beard of the Year for the first time

Posted in Beards, Biographical, Uncategorized on December 28, 2018 by telescoper

Well, I won Beard of the Year 2018 (jointly). Thanks to all who voted for me!

kmflett's avatarKmflett's Blog

Beard Liberation Front

Media Release 27th December

Contact Keith Flett 07803 16726

Scientists win People’s Vote for Beard of the Year for first time

The Beard Liberation Front the informal network of beard wearers, has said that after a record vote for the Beard of the Year 2018 the Electoral College has determined that two scientists are the winners. TV doctor Xand Van Tulleken and cosmologist Peter Coles currently at Maynooth University in Ireland shared the Award.

The campaigners say that both the winners had an enthusiastic voting constituency and taking into account the public impact of their beards it was felt a shared title was appropriate this year.

Moreover the fact that both have a scientific background for the first time reflects the growing reach of beard wearing.

Manchester brewer Al Wall of leading craft brewery Cloudwater was runner up with last year’s winner Jeremy Corbyn third.

The 8…

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