Seeing the Changes 1733

Candlesnuff fungus (Xylaria hypoxylon) in Loughor.

Seeing the Changes 1732

A Grey heron flaps over Loughor estuary.

A President for the Privatised English Water Companies

It has long been clear, that England's privatised water companies never had any intention of acting in the public interest. Their operations have always been geared to extracting the maximal financial benefits for their shareholders and CEOs. Activists now say this means these water companies could be taken back into public ownership, without the need to pay compensation (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/dec/02/water-renationalised-without-compensation-activists-shareholders-england). During the 2008 financial crisis, the Northern Rock bank was privatised. Zero compensation was paid to its shareholders. Court cases, in both the UK and Europe, ruled that this was lawful, as it was clearly in the public interest. If England's privatised water companies are renationalised, they would only have themselves to blame. Water provision should not be treated as a 'piggy bank'.

Bonus on Bird Beaks

It had been assumed that, having a mobile palate (upper jaw), was an innovation unique to 'modern birds'. This feature is not found in some current 'old bird' species, like the Ostrich. Having a mobile palate enables birds to independently move their upper and lower jaws. This makes their beak highly flexible and dextrous, facilitating preening, nest building and food finding. A recent study on a fossil of one of the last toothed birds, however, may have turned that assumption on its head (https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/nov/30/ct-scans-toothed-bird-fossil-jaw-mobile-palate-avian-evolution). A Computor Tomography (CT) scan was carried out on a toothed fossil of Janavis finalidens, discovered in a Belgian quarry in the 1980s. The CT scan revealed that Janavis had a mobile palate. Having a mobile palate, consequently pre-dates the origin of modern birds. The mystery now, is why birds like the Ostrich, have apparently abandoned this useful feature. Perhaps being flightless and eating grasses play a role?

Where Do You Come From?

A British black woman was invited to a reception at Buckingham Palace. Whilst there, she was reportedly 'interrogated' by an elderly 'lady-in-waiting' about where she and her family 'came from' (https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/dec/01/buckingham-palace-encounter-with-susan-hussey-like-an-interrogation-says-charity-boss). Such an inappropriate line of questioning can be very hurtful. It appeared to cast doubt on the woman's 'Britishness'. Generations of folk, from all over the globe, have made their lives in and contributed mightily to life in this country. Anyhow, in a biological sense, the question is also meaningless, unless one is fixated only on the last 200-300 years. All 'our people' (humans), came originally from Africa. It's only the date of migration to the UK that really varies! Being an earlier arrival, doesn't actually confer any greater degree of 'Britishness' (a purely arbitrary concept).

Sucking England Dry

When the privatisation of the English Water and Sewage Companies was first mooted, consumers were promised they would effectively become 'H2Owners. Actuality, turned out to be quite a bit different (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/dec/01/water-companies-debts-since-privatisation-ofwat-refuses-impose-limits). It transpires that more than 70% of the English water 'industry' is now owned by foreign companies. Actual ownership, is often not very transparent (like the sewage these companies routinely discharge into rivers). Tax may well be avoided. Although water is effectively a monopoly, the debts of English Water Companies have been allowed to grow to £54bn. Currently, 20% of a consumer's bill, in England' services debts and rewards shareholders. If the profits of these water companies had been actually reinvested in infrastructure, debts, sewage discharge and water leakage would all be considerably lower. Ofwat (the body charged with ensuring appropriate behaviour by water companies), apparently has no intention of interfering with what has become a gravy train. Just add the money to the 'cost of living crisis'.

Another One Bites the Dust: Christine McVie (1943-2022)

Christine McVie was born 'Christine Perfect'. In her era, many pop stars would have kept the latter name (https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/nov/30/fleetwood-macs-christine-mcvie-dies-at-age-79). McVie was a mainstay singer/songwriter for Fleetwood Mac, a group formed in 1967. Fleetwood Mac became a dominant force in the 1970s and 1980s, with successive albums entitled Fleetwood Mac and Rumours. The group's name was actually derived from two of its founder-members, namely Mick Fleetwood and one of Christine's former husbands, John McVie. The group has had an chequered history, with numerous associations and breakups. Christine McVie, a real talent, was responsible for some of Fleetwood Mac's best-known tracks.