23.45 20th April 2008. It is only late in the twenty four hours that I decide to put in my head something of the development of art as part of civilization in the earth world. Yesterday I touched on the development of art, thinking, education and culture as well as the division of labour, and previously I mentioned that it was the migration of people first to the Iberian peninsular, originally from the near East and Greece and then Italy and on to Britain who had commenced to herd animals and grow crops, transforming the British Islands from a land of twenty six tribes of hunters and fisherman. It is generally accepted that a people become civilised when they develop sufficiently to create communities of a size that can be called cities, creating homes and public places out of stone, especially those of worship and where functions as citizens are divided. It also accepted while to be civilised marks someone different to the behaviour of a savage, a barbarian, the people of civilizations have held slaves in one form of another, held human sacrifice, and committed collective as well as individual bloodshed. However they also commenced to live day to day with some respect for the person and property of neighbours and take an interest in matters in addition to their subsistence and survival.
There were four civilizations created between 4000 and 2500 BC; the Egyptian with the beginning of hieroglyphic writing, the Sumerian, with the use of irrigation, the invention of bronze, the development of hand script and of the city state; the Minoan on Crete, and the Chinese and their Script
Before 2000 BC they were joined by the Peruvians who went in for the use of stone, crop growing and pictograph writing, and the Indians who built towns on a grid system in the Hindus valley, with drainage and central heating
Between 2000 BC and 1000 BC these societies developed with in Peru the building of their large Temples, in China the first Emperors 2200-1700, and then the creation of regions and towards the end of the period the development of scholarship, It was the Hittites of Asia Minor who invented Iron around 2000 and the Hebrew people commenced their travels around Palestine before settlement in Egypt, and then the persecution and flight, and Saul becoming the first King and David 1010-970. The period saw the creations and destruction of Knossos on Crete and the end of Minoans around 1400, followed by the rise of the Mycenaean's with the battle for Troy 1120 and then their rapid decline. The Indian civilization was overrun around 1500 and the Egyptians following the rule of Ramses II 1290-1225 were overrun by the Assyrians. 1000 saw the last days of the Sumerians and the rise of Babylon and the first Libraries and by 1000 Babylon had also declined with the rise of Assyria. It was not until 1100 that the Phoenicians came to rise on the coast of the Levant
The commencement of the first Millennium before Christ saw the development of Greek City state after the decline of the Mycenae. Byzantium was founded around 700 and the Greek Alphabet introduced followed by what is now regarded as the first Code of Laws 590, The Temple of Solomon was built with the Hebrew state divided into Israel and Judah. The Phoenicians created the port of Tyre and commenced commercial shipping 950. They also introduced the alphabet, spread to north Africa and created Carthage. Rome was founded in 753 and the first Republic. In India the caste system was created and the first history in the form of events, the Upanishads. The Persians take Assyria and Babylon.
Around 500 the Mayan civilization commenced which led to the Calendar, textile weaving, astronomy and mathematics, In India there was the first use of coins. In China there was Confucius, the building of the Great Wall from 218 and the first major written histories of China produced and the empire spread to Manchuria, Korea and Indo China. Egypt was overrun by the Persians with the consequent of Alexandria the Great 330 and the founding of Alexandria, The Victory of Marathon 26 miles from Athens was in 490 with the rule of Pericles 461-429 followed by Socrates and the school of thinkers. Greece was then given the protection of Rome 196 and integrated into the Roman Empire. Hannibal launched his war on Rome 221-202 and his defeat led to the destruction of Carthage. In Rome the 12 Tables of Law created 450 and the conquest of Gaul 58-48 with Caesar the master in 45. The Kings Highway was built in Persia which was also conquered by Alexander 330. The Hebrews became known as the Jews with the reign of Herod 37-5. In India the Buddha was from 530-480 and Alexander reached India in 326. It was not until after 200 and that art and stone building was developed.
This is the perspective for viewing the history and development of the British Islands and North America. It was not until between 600 and 500 BC that the Celtic races moved through France with the Gaelic Celts coming to Britain. When the Brythonic Celts arrived they pushed the Gaelic over to Ireland 400-300 and Caesar invaded Britain in 55 and brought aspects of Roman ways which formed the basis of the civilization of western Europe and which was to spread to the North American continent 1500 years later along with religious, tribal and racial sectarianism, persecution and cleansing.
09.00. A horrible cold and grey morning and I put off going for the Daily Film. When I get there, there are only two left, one for me and for the lady after me, with the rest of the queue disappointed. There was need of a second cup of coffee when I returned. I decided that in addition to Monday chore of dusting ground floor I would clean the car windscreen with some new wipes and some ongoing cleaner for the outside. I will try and do an additional chore to that of each day. The morning was such that I was tempted to return to bed, to sleep and awake to find a different day.
12.00 I tried to brighten myself up with an early lunch, comprising, the rest of the pork joint, the stuffing and two of the roast potato slices, cut up into small pieces to add to the instant curry, and then some grapes. It was not a great success.
14.00 I am now in a position to tell Income Tax that that they have incorrectly given a tax code on the basis that my income will be 27% higher than it will be. I had hoped they knew something I did not. Such was the public interest in tax matters that the HQ was not taking any further calls during the morning. When I got through while waiting for a customer relations adviser someone mentioned that I would find relevant information about tax code on line. I decide to abandon the attempt to phone the information and locate my logging on information for the internet site later. What I did not realise is that there will be a debate in the House of Commons about the former Chancellor's and present Prime Minister's last budget in which the10% income tax band was abolished. At the time it was claimed that no one would be out of pocket but the evidence is of a substantial wedge of households who will lose several pounds a week. These are mainly childless couples and singles who earn above the protection level but below average household incomes. Politically this is bad news for the Labour Political party long believed to be the party which supported the lower income earners, especially as local government elections are a few weeks away. Later I watched the Treasury Minister open up the debate and although she tried hard to put the situation in perspective of the government's approach over the past ten years, compared to that of the main opposition, it was evident that she had few sympathetic listeners. However short of admitting that that the position had been miscalculated there was the promise of coming up with compensatory measures at the budget review in the autumn, However it was also evident that backbenchers on the government side lead by Frank Field will not be appeased unless they are given firm comments before the vote is taken later in the week. Later it is mentioned that the Prime Minister attended the Commons meeting of Party Members and said that he understands the problem and that something will be done but it will take time in terms of compensating those involved without also giving more relief to others. I say now this is impractical and is the reason why something cannot be done quickly and there will need to be a major expenditure priority's review before a way forward can be found to repair the damage. Meanwhile Labour Council's will face a bloodbath at the local election which is to be regretted because they do excellent work for their communities.
The Prime Minister has now committed two great blunders in his first year of office. The first was to listen to those who wanted him to hold an Autumn election because they feared that the changing international economic situation and other developments would make it increasingly more difficult for the Party to win a fourth term. His decision not to proceed with the election may have been political expedient but it also revealed a character flaw which did not augur well. However this mistake did not adversely affect people's lives in their millions. For the Prime Minister not to have understood the nature of the present crisis until forced by some of his backbenchers is very damning, and I predict almost terminal for him as Prime Minister and for our political party, s he looks more like Major with each day.
At the very time when everyone other than the rich are feeling the effects of rising food prices, home energy and petrol prices, it is admitted that over five million people will have their net income reduced by the tax change, and worse still, that the position cannot be remedied until the next financial year. Of course the majority of Members of Parliament will have to vote with the government because to do otherwise would mean a General Election and therefore they will damn themselves to electoral defeat and finding a new job. They will have to put their own survival and that of their families before the welfare of the nation.
There is only one way out that I can see. The Prime Minister needs to say to the nation, for once bypassing the Commons, that he got it wrong, he was told no one would be worse off and it is evident that people feel they because of the price increases and that the tax change that overall they are. He should limit the references to what the Labour Government has done for lower income groups since 1997 and reminding of the position taken by the conservative opposition because this is now accepted as Blair speak, even though as Chancellor he provided the economic structure. He is yet to grasp that he is Prime Minister not Chancellor. It is always a problem for those who become Prime Minister if they have held one office of state rather than several, and it would have been better as with Blair that he was not identified with just one Ministerial function beforehand. The Prime Minister needs to explain that it is not possible to do something immediately because it could only make matters but he will ensure that as quickly as possible, effective action can be worked out, and he will arrange for measures to be brought to Parliament to put things right. Of course the opposition will make the most of the situation and he will have an uncomfortable time, but if he handles everything else we;; over the next couple of years, then he may be forgiven sufficiently to survive. He needs to remember that at national election the public tend to vote for personalities. Margaret Thatcher failed not because of the Poll tax but because she failed to say sorry, I got it wrong. In all other aspects of our lives and relationships the ability to say sorry, and to demonstrate that you will do better or try hard not to make the same mistake again, works. Only top politicians have failed to apply this truth to their actions with disastrously consequences for us as well as for them. When will they ever learn, when will they ever learn? Do you really want a second white feather in a year Prime Minister?
14.30 At last watching the annual round up of TV BAFTA awards after a low start morning. First up after a well scripted Graham Norton was the Drama awards introduced by Bianca and Ricky. I watched only one of the four series mentioned Rome, life in Roman times. The winner was The Street which I will look out for . There is not just one award for Drama but several. Those in Continuing Drama the Bill, Eastenders, Emmerdale, and Holby City which won, and which was one I used to watch the least. Oddly this was not called a soap as there are separate annual soap awards. Nor is it a Drama Serial which included Cranford (watched) but a programme called Britz did, which was about what it was like to be a second generation Muslim in the UK. Another award was for a single Drama: The Trial of Tony Blair (watched) The Mark of Cain (watched) which won. The Best actor male actor was not known to me or any of the nominated programmes but both Dame Judy Dench and Eileen Atkins were nominated for Cranford with Eileen Atkins getting the award, more for her career than the particular performance one suspects and the gorgeous Gina Mckee was also nominated with them.
A special award introduced by John Hurt to a film maker Paul Watson who responsible for the fly on the wall documentary. And the Fellowship went to 80 year old Bruce Forsyth. I do not watch comedy series but I have come across Russell Brand have seen adverts for Fone Jacker and both are awful. There was one for Sport, but what was their to celebrate? It went to a Lewis Hamilton winning grand prix, and awarded because ITV have lost the contract, presumably to Sky. Harry Hill who I sometimes watched because it was on, when visiting my mother in the resident's lounge. ,won an award and then he got another for the series. A programme which I did watch, the Despatches Programme on China's stolen children won the news reporting award. This was different from the single documentary awards, none of which I watched but several I wish I had.
I first came across James Cordon and Mathew Horne as host for one of the Big Brother House follow up programmes and found their attempts at humour crude and not funny. I therefore did not understand the audience enthusiasm for Mathew Horne who won two Bafta's , one as a comedian and the other for co writing the programme Gavin and Stacey which has appeared on BBC 3. What impressed me was the enthusiasm of the audience so I will have to see what they can do when the opportunity arises and accept that I may have to revise my first reactions.
There is always that part in this annual programme, the Bafta Cinema and the Oscars when those who have died are remembered. Over the past decade the worrying personal aspect is that not only are, many of those mentioned familiar whose work is well known to me but some are younger, Among those from television who died last year were Carole Banes, Bernard Manning, Clive Exton, Tony Holland, Anton Rogers, Jeremy Beadle, Ronnie Hazelhurst, Mark Speight, Verity Lambert, George Melly, Ned Sherin, Mike Reid and Anthony Mingella
23.30 I had an early evening nap as the weather improved with an encouraging forecast, but the tiredness lingered and I was only fit for more TV watching a repeat of a detective murder mystery Dalzell and Pascoe and the first of a two part Waking the Dead. I had Tomato Soup with two slices of nutty brown bread and lots of tea. Before going to bed around 2 am I had several slices of salami on their own, some water and an indigestion tablet.
There were four civilizations created between 4000 and 2500 BC; the Egyptian with the beginning of hieroglyphic writing, the Sumerian, with the use of irrigation, the invention of bronze, the development of hand script and of the city state; the Minoan on Crete, and the Chinese and their Script
Before 2000 BC they were joined by the Peruvians who went in for the use of stone, crop growing and pictograph writing, and the Indians who built towns on a grid system in the Hindus valley, with drainage and central heating
Between 2000 BC and 1000 BC these societies developed with in Peru the building of their large Temples, in China the first Emperors 2200-1700, and then the creation of regions and towards the end of the period the development of scholarship, It was the Hittites of Asia Minor who invented Iron around 2000 and the Hebrew people commenced their travels around Palestine before settlement in Egypt, and then the persecution and flight, and Saul becoming the first King and David 1010-970. The period saw the creations and destruction of Knossos on Crete and the end of Minoans around 1400, followed by the rise of the Mycenaean's with the battle for Troy 1120 and then their rapid decline. The Indian civilization was overrun around 1500 and the Egyptians following the rule of Ramses II 1290-1225 were overrun by the Assyrians. 1000 saw the last days of the Sumerians and the rise of Babylon and the first Libraries and by 1000 Babylon had also declined with the rise of Assyria. It was not until 1100 that the Phoenicians came to rise on the coast of the Levant
The commencement of the first Millennium before Christ saw the development of Greek City state after the decline of the Mycenae. Byzantium was founded around 700 and the Greek Alphabet introduced followed by what is now regarded as the first Code of Laws 590, The Temple of Solomon was built with the Hebrew state divided into Israel and Judah. The Phoenicians created the port of Tyre and commenced commercial shipping 950. They also introduced the alphabet, spread to north Africa and created Carthage. Rome was founded in 753 and the first Republic. In India the caste system was created and the first history in the form of events, the Upanishads. The Persians take Assyria and Babylon.
Around 500 the Mayan civilization commenced which led to the Calendar, textile weaving, astronomy and mathematics, In India there was the first use of coins. In China there was Confucius, the building of the Great Wall from 218 and the first major written histories of China produced and the empire spread to Manchuria, Korea and Indo China. Egypt was overrun by the Persians with the consequent of Alexandria the Great 330 and the founding of Alexandria, The Victory of Marathon 26 miles from Athens was in 490 with the rule of Pericles 461-429 followed by Socrates and the school of thinkers. Greece was then given the protection of Rome 196 and integrated into the Roman Empire. Hannibal launched his war on Rome 221-202 and his defeat led to the destruction of Carthage. In Rome the 12 Tables of Law created 450 and the conquest of Gaul 58-48 with Caesar the master in 45. The Kings Highway was built in Persia which was also conquered by Alexander 330. The Hebrews became known as the Jews with the reign of Herod 37-5. In India the Buddha was from 530-480 and Alexander reached India in 326. It was not until after 200 and that art and stone building was developed.
This is the perspective for viewing the history and development of the British Islands and North America. It was not until between 600 and 500 BC that the Celtic races moved through France with the Gaelic Celts coming to Britain. When the Brythonic Celts arrived they pushed the Gaelic over to Ireland 400-300 and Caesar invaded Britain in 55 and brought aspects of Roman ways which formed the basis of the civilization of western Europe and which was to spread to the North American continent 1500 years later along with religious, tribal and racial sectarianism, persecution and cleansing.
09.00. A horrible cold and grey morning and I put off going for the Daily Film. When I get there, there are only two left, one for me and for the lady after me, with the rest of the queue disappointed. There was need of a second cup of coffee when I returned. I decided that in addition to Monday chore of dusting ground floor I would clean the car windscreen with some new wipes and some ongoing cleaner for the outside. I will try and do an additional chore to that of each day. The morning was such that I was tempted to return to bed, to sleep and awake to find a different day.
12.00 I tried to brighten myself up with an early lunch, comprising, the rest of the pork joint, the stuffing and two of the roast potato slices, cut up into small pieces to add to the instant curry, and then some grapes. It was not a great success.
14.00 I am now in a position to tell Income Tax that that they have incorrectly given a tax code on the basis that my income will be 27% higher than it will be. I had hoped they knew something I did not. Such was the public interest in tax matters that the HQ was not taking any further calls during the morning. When I got through while waiting for a customer relations adviser someone mentioned that I would find relevant information about tax code on line. I decide to abandon the attempt to phone the information and locate my logging on information for the internet site later. What I did not realise is that there will be a debate in the House of Commons about the former Chancellor's and present Prime Minister's last budget in which the10% income tax band was abolished. At the time it was claimed that no one would be out of pocket but the evidence is of a substantial wedge of households who will lose several pounds a week. These are mainly childless couples and singles who earn above the protection level but below average household incomes. Politically this is bad news for the Labour Political party long believed to be the party which supported the lower income earners, especially as local government elections are a few weeks away. Later I watched the Treasury Minister open up the debate and although she tried hard to put the situation in perspective of the government's approach over the past ten years, compared to that of the main opposition, it was evident that she had few sympathetic listeners. However short of admitting that that the position had been miscalculated there was the promise of coming up with compensatory measures at the budget review in the autumn, However it was also evident that backbenchers on the government side lead by Frank Field will not be appeased unless they are given firm comments before the vote is taken later in the week. Later it is mentioned that the Prime Minister attended the Commons meeting of Party Members and said that he understands the problem and that something will be done but it will take time in terms of compensating those involved without also giving more relief to others. I say now this is impractical and is the reason why something cannot be done quickly and there will need to be a major expenditure priority's review before a way forward can be found to repair the damage. Meanwhile Labour Council's will face a bloodbath at the local election which is to be regretted because they do excellent work for their communities.
The Prime Minister has now committed two great blunders in his first year of office. The first was to listen to those who wanted him to hold an Autumn election because they feared that the changing international economic situation and other developments would make it increasingly more difficult for the Party to win a fourth term. His decision not to proceed with the election may have been political expedient but it also revealed a character flaw which did not augur well. However this mistake did not adversely affect people's lives in their millions. For the Prime Minister not to have understood the nature of the present crisis until forced by some of his backbenchers is very damning, and I predict almost terminal for him as Prime Minister and for our political party, s he looks more like Major with each day.
At the very time when everyone other than the rich are feeling the effects of rising food prices, home energy and petrol prices, it is admitted that over five million people will have their net income reduced by the tax change, and worse still, that the position cannot be remedied until the next financial year. Of course the majority of Members of Parliament will have to vote with the government because to do otherwise would mean a General Election and therefore they will damn themselves to electoral defeat and finding a new job. They will have to put their own survival and that of their families before the welfare of the nation.
There is only one way out that I can see. The Prime Minister needs to say to the nation, for once bypassing the Commons, that he got it wrong, he was told no one would be worse off and it is evident that people feel they because of the price increases and that the tax change that overall they are. He should limit the references to what the Labour Government has done for lower income groups since 1997 and reminding of the position taken by the conservative opposition because this is now accepted as Blair speak, even though as Chancellor he provided the economic structure. He is yet to grasp that he is Prime Minister not Chancellor. It is always a problem for those who become Prime Minister if they have held one office of state rather than several, and it would have been better as with Blair that he was not identified with just one Ministerial function beforehand. The Prime Minister needs to explain that it is not possible to do something immediately because it could only make matters but he will ensure that as quickly as possible, effective action can be worked out, and he will arrange for measures to be brought to Parliament to put things right. Of course the opposition will make the most of the situation and he will have an uncomfortable time, but if he handles everything else we;; over the next couple of years, then he may be forgiven sufficiently to survive. He needs to remember that at national election the public tend to vote for personalities. Margaret Thatcher failed not because of the Poll tax but because she failed to say sorry, I got it wrong. In all other aspects of our lives and relationships the ability to say sorry, and to demonstrate that you will do better or try hard not to make the same mistake again, works. Only top politicians have failed to apply this truth to their actions with disastrously consequences for us as well as for them. When will they ever learn, when will they ever learn? Do you really want a second white feather in a year Prime Minister?
14.30 At last watching the annual round up of TV BAFTA awards after a low start morning. First up after a well scripted Graham Norton was the Drama awards introduced by Bianca and Ricky. I watched only one of the four series mentioned Rome, life in Roman times. The winner was The Street which I will look out for . There is not just one award for Drama but several. Those in Continuing Drama the Bill, Eastenders, Emmerdale, and Holby City which won, and which was one I used to watch the least. Oddly this was not called a soap as there are separate annual soap awards. Nor is it a Drama Serial which included Cranford (watched) but a programme called Britz did, which was about what it was like to be a second generation Muslim in the UK. Another award was for a single Drama: The Trial of Tony Blair (watched) The Mark of Cain (watched) which won. The Best actor male actor was not known to me or any of the nominated programmes but both Dame Judy Dench and Eileen Atkins were nominated for Cranford with Eileen Atkins getting the award, more for her career than the particular performance one suspects and the gorgeous Gina Mckee was also nominated with them.
A special award introduced by John Hurt to a film maker Paul Watson who responsible for the fly on the wall documentary. And the Fellowship went to 80 year old Bruce Forsyth. I do not watch comedy series but I have come across Russell Brand have seen adverts for Fone Jacker and both are awful. There was one for Sport, but what was their to celebrate? It went to a Lewis Hamilton winning grand prix, and awarded because ITV have lost the contract, presumably to Sky. Harry Hill who I sometimes watched because it was on, when visiting my mother in the resident's lounge. ,won an award and then he got another for the series. A programme which I did watch, the Despatches Programme on China's stolen children won the news reporting award. This was different from the single documentary awards, none of which I watched but several I wish I had.
I first came across James Cordon and Mathew Horne as host for one of the Big Brother House follow up programmes and found their attempts at humour crude and not funny. I therefore did not understand the audience enthusiasm for Mathew Horne who won two Bafta's , one as a comedian and the other for co writing the programme Gavin and Stacey which has appeared on BBC 3. What impressed me was the enthusiasm of the audience so I will have to see what they can do when the opportunity arises and accept that I may have to revise my first reactions.
There is always that part in this annual programme, the Bafta Cinema and the Oscars when those who have died are remembered. Over the past decade the worrying personal aspect is that not only are, many of those mentioned familiar whose work is well known to me but some are younger, Among those from television who died last year were Carole Banes, Bernard Manning, Clive Exton, Tony Holland, Anton Rogers, Jeremy Beadle, Ronnie Hazelhurst, Mark Speight, Verity Lambert, George Melly, Ned Sherin, Mike Reid and Anthony Mingella
23.30 I had an early evening nap as the weather improved with an encouraging forecast, but the tiredness lingered and I was only fit for more TV watching a repeat of a detective murder mystery Dalzell and Pascoe and the first of a two part Waking the Dead. I had Tomato Soup with two slices of nutty brown bread and lots of tea. Before going to bed around 2 am I had several slices of salami on their own, some water and an indigestion tablet.
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