If you are feeling especially observant, you will have noticed, dear reader, that this is my first post for some time. The reason is simple. I have had very little to say. However, I shall now give you some things to ponder.

Why Oh Why?

The entirely thinkable has happened. To no-one’s surprise, the US presidential election, which takes place this November, is, barring accidents, going to be a re-match between Joe Biden and Donald Trump. Even this political junky finds the idea of a re-run of the decline of man versus the decline of Man fantastically unappealing. As I have observed on a previous occasion, the best thing that can be said of both candidates is that neither of them is the other. So why are the two parties sticking with such appalling poster boys?

Biden is the easiest for most people to understand. He may be a little wobbly, and he may be shedding his remaining marbles at an alarming rate, but he’s fairly inoffensive. He also has two advantages. He is the incumbent president, and the last time the Democrats gave serious consideration to unseating one of their own, it went horribly wrong for them. There is also the fact that Biden has already beaten Trump, so might manage to do it again.

Actually, if one can get past the horrendous hair and hyperbole, Trumps appeal isn’t too difficult to understand. Being a rabble-rouser, rather than a conventional politician, he recognises the damage caused by that insidious modern disease, political correctness. Nobody wants to be thought a racist, a misogynist, a homophobe, a transphobe, or anything else that society deems to be unpleasant. This is especially true of politicians. However, because language usage is constantly changing, what was acceptable to say last week, isn’t acceptable this week. Trump has no time for this, and neither do his supporters. This has an appeal for more persuadable non-aligned voters, as at least they feel that they know what he is saying to them.

So, the Americans are left with the choice between someone who is inoffensive but pointless, and someone who is offensive but pointless. Heaven help them – and the rest of the world.

Silence Is Golden

In one of my early posts, I ranted about music in shops. I still hate it. Apart from making the whole ghastly experience of shopping wore, I fail to see any purpose to it.

Yesterday, I was forced to consider a variation on that theme. I found myself travelling on a train with a fan of horse racing. Now, I have no problem with this. In fact, I too like a little racing now and then. However, I do think it discourteous when people insist on turning the volume on their devices up, and blasting, via an uncertain internet connection, the comings and goings of the first day of the Cheltenham Festival to a railway carriage full of other people. Why cannot those who wish to listen to things use headphones?

Hanky Panky

Recently, my partner wanted to buy some new handkerchieves. Like me, she prefers them to paper tissues. However, this proved less than straight forward. Nowhere seems to sell them any more. Eventually, she had to buy them online.

Why is this? Are hanky sales really that poor? We are being encouraged to reuse things in order to preserve the environment – even reusable versions of feminine hygiene products are being promoted – so why must we be pushed into getting disposable tissues? And it’s much more comfortable blowing one’s nose on a hanky.