Swashbuckling Heroes

Sir Francis Drake, who lived from 1540 to early 1596, is best remembered as a great seaman who circumnavigated the globe and saved his country from invasion by defeating the infamous Spanish Armada — but earlier in life he had been involved in the slave trade, at the time an accepted norm not just in Europe but in Africa, Asia, and the Americas.

Therefore the Governing Body of Sir Francis Drake Primary School in London has decided that “the slave trade links associated with the current name sat at odds with the values of our school” and they will therefore be changing it to “Twin Oaks Primary”, supposedly with the backing of most pupils, parents, and nearby residents who responded to a consultation on the name change.

This notice can now be found in all French churches

En entrant dans cette église, il est possible que vous entendiez l'appel de Dieu. Par contre, il n'est pas susceptible de vous contacter par téléphone. Merci d'avoir éteint votre téléphone. Si vous souhaitez parler à Dieu, entrez, choisissez un endroit tranquille et parle lui. Si vous souhaitez le voir, envoyez-lui un SMS en conduisant.

Translation: It is possible that on entering this church, you may hear the Call of God. On the other hand, it is not likely that he will contact you by phone. 

Thank you for turning off your phone. If you would like to talk to God, come in, choose a quiet place and talk to him. 

If you would like to see him, send him a text while driving.

The Great Reset

One billion people should stop eating meat in order to save the climate, Jim Hagemann Snabe, the chairman of the German manufacturing giant Siemens (the largest industrial manufacturing company in Europe) told a panel at the World Economic Forum. The Klaus Schwab-founded organisation that pioneered the idea of a “Great Reset” of capitalism, has also promoted the idea of eating insect protein rather than meat to lessen the impact of supposedly man-made climate change.

Unsolicited comment: "Of course my comments do not apply to any of us here at Davos."

As of Tuesday, a powdered form of Acheta domesticus — better known as the house cricket — will be given the green light for human consumption within the European Union, documents from the body have confirmed.

This is soon to be followed by further approval for the sale and consumption of the larval form of Alphitobius diaperionus — also known as the lesser mealworm — which will be given the green light for human consumption in frozen, paste, dried and powder forms within the European Union later this week.

"Waiter, there's a fly in my soup"
"Be quiet or everyone will want one"
(old joke)

The city of Cambridge in the UK has reported excessive food waste after the public didn’t touch the vegan meals provided at events by the city council, which began phasing out meat and dairy last year in the name of climate change.

 Vale Harriet Hall

Harriet Hall, who used to write under the moniker SkepDoc, died suddenly on January 11. Though suffering during the last few years from declining health, including heart failure and arrhythmias, she continued to offer her informed and often scathing observations on pseudomedicine and quackery.

Steve Novella writes “She was always fearless and tireless in promoting and defending science, reason, and above all what she considered the best interest of her patients. … She was driven by the desire to protect the public from misinformation, exploitation, and the bad science and thinking that lead to bad medicine.”

Harriet also published two books. The first, Women Aren’t Supposed to Fly: The Memoirs of a Female Flight Surgeon, chronicles the challenges she faced in a male-dominated career. This year she published There’s No Such Thing as the Tooth Fairy!  It is an illustrated children’s book that will hopefully introduce a generation of children to skeptical thinking.

She visited Melbourne in 2016 for the Australian Skeptics National Convention, where she gave a presentation on Fun with Alternative Medicine.

Punching above their Weight

The Rotary Club of Rochester received a Certificate of Recognition in the Australia Day Honours Awards, for their work post-October 2022 in supporting the local community affected by floods. 

This small club, (eight members last time I looked) are certainly committed to their community. Well done!

Lazy Tuesday

What a lovely idea David Pisterman had, to invite everyone for an informal get-together at Auburn Bowls Club. Our Family of Rotary certainly settled in for a lazy Tuesday lunch, with an open bar and cook-it-yourself barbecue.

We had no formal speakers or programme: we just renewed old memories, swapped lies, and compared the various ailments that have afflicted us over the years. We emerged with a light-hearted optimism, ready to see what 2023 will bring.

Our enthusiasm is renewed: we are keen to hear Rebecca Tamusuza speak next week, to kick off the new year in Rotary. 

TTFN