Brutal World

One has to wonder at the amount of violence there is in the world at present. I do not mean actual armed conflict, although that has increased ten fold since the end of the cold war, I mean common violence occasioned in every day life. Particularly being committed by women and girls. It seems to be the fashion now for women to sort problems with a good deal of violence while being filmed by "friends" for later internet consumption. The amount of this stuff on the internet is a worry to say the least. The gentle sex seem to be less so than at anytime in my history on this planet and is yet more evidence that something in society is out of kilter with the precept that we are supposed to be living in more enlighten times.

I suppose one could lay the blame at face book and its kind, which I am reliably informed  is the cause of one third of all assault's in the UK, but I think it is more a case of "Evil prospers when wise men do nothing"!

We could also lay the blame at Political correctness and human rights, erosion of basic standards of accepted behavior, lack of discipline at home and school, lack of self control and responsibility for ones actions. All true, but if we have no role models anymore then the lowest denominator will win it seems to me. Thus the pull if you will of violence. If you are being fed a diet of 24/7 violence in all its forms then it has to have an effect on formative and suggestive young minds. What this diet has done when mixed with religious extremism and intolerance is all too evident in much of the world. But thats a subject all of its own and perhaps for another day.

Well, time for a bit of light relief:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtmd8fCqJdo Cut and paste that.

Dont you love the Dutch. They are more English than the English. Really lovely sense of humor and I can honestly say I never spent a boring day in  Holland. You can always strike up a conversation on any subject. I once ended up in conversation (in English of course) with about five people at a herring store in Venlo. Also, i remember once we weighed my Mother on some big scales in the town house in I think Delft. We ended up with a certificate proving she was not a witch. It was touch and go mind you.

My Mother loved Amsterdam and I well remember he dancing with Dad to a street organ playing tulips from Amsterdam. That was back in the 1960s when the world was a bit less crowded and folk did things like that.

They like chocolate sprinkles with everything and a cafe on the side or the Izelmeer I used to go to always serves purple pears with everything..I have no idea why.

Rollmops are my particular favorites and dutch pom fritz with lashing of mayo go with a Heinekin, or Amstel very nicely.

Good King Billy is another reason to like the Dutch and of course the Dutch are the only nation to have really given the Royal Navy a good kicking twice. Once at the Battle of Texel and when they set fire to the Royal Fleet at Chatham.