Christmas 2020

 Here in Britain the news today is that the Brexit deal bartered with the EU has been approved unanimously by Parliament. I'm glad that there has at least been a deal reached even if it is at the eleventh hour, it was uncertain only a few days ago. There was enough will to want to make the relationship work and so it should.

Other news includes approval of another vaccine for Covid-19, this time it is the Oxford developed vaccine that doesn't have as many storage limitations as the Pfizer vaccine. So this one might actually be used in more parts of the world.

Due to the large programme that is needed to deploy vaccines it will be some time before the population at large is vaccinated. I've seen reports of timelines such as Easter but I think that's optimistic. Just remember this vaccine is for the whole population, at least as many as those who don't actually refuse to have it. There are some people who will refuse and for the life of me I don't understand what their argument is. There are uncertainties sure but they are about how long the vaccine will work and the extent of the resistance not about whether it works or not. I feel it will be the autumn of 2021 before most people have been vaccinated. Unfortunately, for the entertainment and hospitality industries I feel any events being planned before September may need to be rescheduled. But I will be happily proved wrong.

Christmas has certainly been a tame affair this year. No events have been allowed. So it's been a Christmas at home without even being able to have family over with us or visit them. At least we are safe and have not had the virus. I am very grateful for that and will accept the isolation to keep everyone safe.

The state of life has not changed since I last commented on it back in May. It's been a continuation and this New Years Eve many many people will be very glad to see the back of 2020. It certainly has been the year that was unlike any other in my lifetime.

Just a word about Christmas presents this year. I have received an Amazon Echo speaker and started a trial of Amazon Music Unlimited. Also got F1 2020, a videogame with a lot of content included in the package - unlike some of the other versions. I have not succumbed and bought a PS5, I shall wait on that front until next year some time.

My other main news that I haven't reported is that I have been volunteering for a local radio station for a few months now. This has at least been something of a distraction from the Covid-19.

Presidential Election 2020

The US presidential election happened on 3rd November. Incumbent President Trump to this date and to the best of my knowledge has still not conceded victory to president-elect Joe Biden. Well lets not forget that Hilary Clinton won the popular people's vote in the last election and Trump only got in due to the electoral college system. This time however, the electoral college system didn't vote in his favour and Joe Biden won more electoral college seats. These results have been certified. President Trump's pursuit of legal cases to change the results have not succeeded mainly because everyone else can see through them for what they are: "trumped up" is a very appropriate term under the circumstances. I don't know what trickery and machinations are left for Trump but I think he will do all he can to subvert the results, so it is not all over. In the meantime, he continues to be obstructive and only allow the cogs of government to conduct the most legally basic forms of transition. This is actually damaging the US and will affect the ability of Biden's government to get started tackling all of the many and extensive problems his administration will unfortunately inherit from the failure and frankly, the joke that has been the Trump presidency. Not least actually addressing the Covid-19 pandemic response instead of denying and obfuscating it.

Wrong Turn 6: The Last Resort

I have a note that I watched this film. That's it. That's all I can remember. It was a few weeks ago I know but really this was a film that made absolutely no lasting impression on me. I've just read a Wikipedia article about it and it vaguely sounds familiar but that's about all. Dredging now but I recall a few sparse details, there seem to be too many deaths to be really believable and they are too frequent. It's one of those films that I think are made for fans of a franchise who find something appealing in having more films in the franchise, however I personally wish that in these situations they would just stop producing more films. I read a few reviews that suggested it wasn't the worst in the franchise but just remember the bar is set pretty low.