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Issue #61, Mid April Edition 2021

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Equality Democracy Truth Courage

THE PEOPLE’S PAPER

Starmer expelled from public house PAGE 2

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WORD

Early April 2021

POLITICS AND EVENTS

GET OUT OF MY PUB!!!

KEITH GETS A TASTE OF HIS OWN MEDICINE

SIR KEIR STARMER IS THROWN OUT OF THE RAVEN PUB … FOR BEING A FAILED LEADER “That man is not allowed in my pub. Get out of my pub. Go on.” Labour leader Sir Kier Starmer is barred from The Raven pub in Bath, by licensee Rod Humphris. In an unseemly display Keir Starmer’s bodyguard was seen trying to ban Rod Humphris from his own pub. This assault was captured on video and seen by thousands.

SCREENSHOTS FROM THE VIDEO

The licensee spoke with Starmer after to explain the effect covid restrictions were having on his business. He said to the security guard, who was again trying to intervene: “I came here to speak to this man not you.” Turning to Starmer he said: “I have been a Labour supporter all my life and you have failed me. You have failed to be the opposition.” Starmer looked shaken. For the first time in his life something about Starmer turned red – his face.

Licensee Rod Humphris struggles to get by Starmer’s minder into his own pub

‘Kettled’ in his own stairwell licensee Rod Humphris shouts for Starmer to leave his pub

Starmer gets the message and finally leaves while the licensee is still pinned out of his way

Starmer’s heavy tussles with licensee Rod Humphris to stop him entering his own pub

POLITICS AND EVENTS

Early April 2021

THE

WORD

USA Soccerball must be defeated S

o the American Empire’s rabid dogs seek to destroy the beautiful game. They want to change it into a compulsory elite system without relegation or promotion. This selfserving bunch of super rich owners know nothing about football. They think a “world series” is always between USA teams in any sport.

stop this. Bojo the clown’s Tory Government can stop this. All we need to do is show solidarity. This could halt Thatcherite greed in its tracks. If we stop this “soccerball” elitism then we could make it a template for halting the destruction of the NHS. This needs to be a rallying point to bring the working class of Europe together. So, it’s literally, United we stand.

They worship money rather than passion. We, the supporters, can stop this. Football clubs can stop this. The premier league can

I would also like to add to the above “they shall not pass” but, as a Southend United supporter, that has been our problem all

season... as well as shooting, tackling, running etc. The team I have supported all my life are about to be relegated. That’s ok. We will be back. We will have more days in the sunshine. This season we give up our place in the football pyramid with sadness. At the same time we recognise the joy from supporters of our replacements. If this propose nefarious sports experiment is enacted it will bring a halt to any notion of hoping for something better. The American billionaire’s club theft of fairness will go on to

create a sort of Feudal revival. In all primitive societies throughout the ages there has been a block on merit rising to top positions. That is what the so called “public school” system is all about. This is what the House of Lords and the Monarchy are about. In the middle ages there was even the “Sumptuary laws” which stopped people wearing clothes that were thought to be above their social station. So, the 6 breakaway English clubs think themselves more im-

portant than the other? Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham have all made an arbitrary decision that they are the elite. On results, ground capacity, league position? No, simply on the back of greedy owners. The solution is simple: Ban any of their players from international duty. Take away their license to admit spectators. And then relegate them all to Division 2 when they come crawling back. This will generate money where it is most needed. Solidarity will win.

THE

WORD

Mid April 2021

POLITICS AND EVENTS

QUEEN’S MOVE - MASS MURDER - CASTRO CALLS IT A DAY The queen blocked Parliament from having the final say and stopping Blair’s illegal war on Iraq.

THIS WEEK IN HISTORY

refused to give consent for the bill to reach the floor, thus killing it.

pril 1970, a white foreman at a Chrysler plant in Detroit threatened to murder a Black worker. When the worker complained Chrysler went to sack him claiming he had a knife. Around 1,000 workers, white and Black, walked out on strike in protest, shutting the plant for an entire weekend until management backed down.

April 1999, the Military Action against Iraq (Parliamentary Approval) Bill, introduced by an anti-war member of parliament, was scheduled to have its second reading. The law would have

April 1989, reformist Chinese Communist Party leader Hu Yaobang died, prompting a gathering of workers in Tiananmen Square within an hour, and eventually sparking a wave of protests by students and workers across the country which would only be crushed by the military several weeks later. meant that any military action taken by the UK against Iraq would have to be voted for by

a majority of MPs, rather than launched unilaterally by the government. But as the bill would affect the powers of the monarch, it required consent of the queen before it could be discussed in parliament. The queen, following advice from the Labour government, then

April 1770 British explorer Captain James Cook first sights Australia. He claims Australia as a colony for the British Empire and totally disregards the rights of the indigenous Australians.

Despite being nominally a parliamentary democracy, the UK royal family have extensive powers to veto new laws – something which the British government is clearly embarrassed about, considering how they vigorously fight freedom of information requests related to royal consent.

April 2011 Fidel Castro resigns from the Communist Party of Cuba’s central committee after 45 years of holding the title.

Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann discovered the psychedelic properties of LSD, a drug he had first synthesized in 1938

April 1025 Bolesław Chrobry is crowned in Gniezno, becoming the first King of Poland

POLITICS AND EVENTS

Mid April 2021

THE

WORD

THE BRUTAL MURDER BY ONE OF THE ELITE POLICE OFFICERS

BLAIR PEACH A MAN OF CONSCIENCE

n the evening of the 23rd of April 1979 Clement Blair Peach, a New Zealand born 33year old special needs teacher and an anti racist activist, was viciously struck over the head and cracking his scull by a policeman as they charged at him and other protesters. 14 people witnessed this. Just 10 minutes into the next morning Blair died in hospital from this injury. At the time, Blair and his 4 friends were trying to get back to their cars after the cordon that had stopped anyone moving was opened, but they had got a bit mixed up with the road layout and ended up back near the police and some protesters. Blair and his fellow teachers had been among thousands protesting at the planned National Front meeting to be held that evening at 7pm in Southall Town Hall, West London. This was a large multi racial area. Prior to this there had been petitions and pleas to the police to stop this meeting going ahead, but still it was allowed.

Blair had also previously been arrested for standing up for black customers in a pub where the landlord refused to serve them because of the colour of their skin. Blair was later acquitted

Blair had been quite politically active, he was a member of the Socialist Workers party, Socialist Teacher’s Association and the local branch of the NUT he was also active in the Anti –Nazi league and

an anti racist activist. Blair had also previously been arrested for standing up for black customers in a pub where the landlord refused to serve them because of the colour of their skin. Blair was later acquitted.

At an investigation grew beards. At ID parades no headed by Commander John one could identify the person Cass of the Metropolitan that hit Blair over the head. A Police’s Complaints Bureau, forensic report stated that Blair it concluded that Blair had had probably been hit with been killed by one lead filled cosh or a of the six SPG lead pipe. officers (Special WAS VICIOUSLY Patrol Group) O n STRUCK OVER the Met’s riot inspecting THE HEAD AND squad, an the officers CRACKING HIS SCULL elite group. lockers, No one was along with BY A POLICEMAN charged. the standard AS THEY CHARGED truncheon, AT HIM AND OTHER There had there were items PROTESTERS been numerous including, coshes, accounts of the knives, iron bars and violence by the police wooden staves. where hundreds had been arrested or hospitalised. Prior to In the home of one police the investigation, the uniforms officer, a PC Grenville Bint of the six officers involved they found Nazi memorabilia were dry cleaned, some shaved to which he said he collected their moustaches off, others memorabilia as a hobby.

THE

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Mid April 2021

POLITICS AND EVENTS

BEST OF THE WEB on the Future of Europe, a twoyear reappraisal of Europe’s direction following a decade of crises and upheaval.

HELICOPTERS ON MARS NASA has made history when the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter successfully attempted the first powered, controlled flight on another planet.

The project will be able to record thousands of submissions, in writing or by video.

“Altimeter data confirms that Ingenuity has performed the first flight of a powered aircraft on another planet,” announced an engineer in the Jet Propulsion Laboratory as the control room cheered. In a post on Twitter, NASA said: “The Mars Helicopter made history today by being the first craft to achieve controlled, powered flight on a planet beyond Earth.” The space agency had originally planned the flight for 11 April but postponed it over a software issue that was identified during a planned high-speed test of the aircraft’s rotors. THE RUSSIAN ASSANGE? A lawyer for jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny said he was now at a

prison hospital at a penal colony in the town of Vladimir near Moscow, following a decision by authorities to transfer him. Alexei Liptser said he was waiting at the penal colony to visit his client but had yet to be allowed in. Navalny began refusing food on last month in protest at what he said was the refusal of prison

THE WORD NEWSPAPER NEEDS YOUR HELP THE We are a non-profit making cooperative but still have our outgoing costs such as design, website hosting and software. Please help us maintain this left wing tabloid by going to our website at www.thewordmedia.org and subscribing. By joining together let us all fight back against the rich and powerful.

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authorities to provide him with adequate medical care for acute back and leg pain. He was imprisoned in February for more than two years on old embezzlement charges. It came just weeks after he returned to Moscow from Germany where he had been recuperating from a near-fatal poisoning attack. The prison service said in a statement that a group of doctors had “made a decision to transfer A Navalny to hospital for convicts located on the territory of Penal Colony No 3”. EU DISCOVERS DEMOCRACY The European Union will launch a new digital platform inviting citizens from across Europe to register their views on reforming the bloc. The project is designed to gather a broad cross-section of grassroots opinion that will feed into the upcoming Conference

Individuals, groups, civil society, as well as local and national parliaments, will all be invited to register their views on subjects on which they believe Europe should do more, or less or better. NEW ZEALAND WANTS TO STOP SPYING In a major acknowledgement of China’s concerns, New Zealand Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said her country is “uncomfortable” with the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance’s efforts to expand its

scope into dictating policy.

The World War II-era partnership between the intelligence agencies of the US, Canada, the UK, Australia and New Zealand has issued official statements in recent months on a host of China-related m a t t e r s , including alleged human rights violations against Uighurs and political developments in Hong Kong. Speaking at a meeting of the government-funded New Zealand China Council on Monday, Mahuta said, “We have raised with Five Eyes partners that we are uncomfortable with expanding the remit of the Five Eyes relationship. We would much rather prefer looking for multilateral opportunities to express our interests on a number of issues.”

POLITICS AND EVENTS

Mid April 2021

THE

WORD

SLEAZE IS NOW OFFICIAL TORY GOVERNMENT POLICY

CASH FOR QUESTIONS AND A POUND OF SAUSAGES

Cliff Jones Column

from time to time. And it was just a few quid. Such innocence. Today sleaze is official government policy. Shame? What is that? The greater the corruption the more acceptable it becomes. It can come with a peerage.

uring rationing prior to 1954 there was a family story that a second cousin who was a pork butcher would slip Harold Wilson a pound of sausages. That, we thought, would destroy his career if it came out. Such a huge fuss there was that certain Tory MPs were slipped a few quid in envelopes

The more collective the training the more effective it usually is

MEANWHILE The Northern Independence Party has issued its Manifesto. Looks pretty reasonable to me. It even has a whippet on the cover. I now await the Manifesto of the Bullingdon Back Handers Party. They don’t have to work too hard to get our votes though. We seem to be in favour of national self-harm. National? How many nations do you want? Boris wants only one, called the United Kingdom. His policies, however, are working to frustrate his own desires. I must design a flag for our street. MEANWHILE AGAIN As a Chief Moderator for CSE projects I went to many meetings at which the scores given by individual teachers were moderated. I remember a grammar school teacher who

had given very high marks to one of his candidates. I asked him to look at the middle range marks given to a candidate from a secondary modern. He was forced to revise his estimate. Exam boards will make use of trained moderators to do this at a distance this year. It

WE SEEM will be key to reliable are dependent on assessment. Not too individual teachers TO BE IN many tears I hope. understanding FAVOUR OF Cohesion is essential assessment NATIONAL and I worry that the objectives and I SELF-HARM training within and hope they have between schools may all read a few years have been insufficient. The of Chief Examiners more collective the training the Reports. more effective it usually is. We By Cliff Jones

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WORD

Mid April 2021

POLITICS AND EVENTS

TWO-FACED HOSPITAL MANAGERS LOOK ONLY AT THE BOTTOM LINE

APPRECIATING THE VALUE

F VOLUNTEERING O T he ongoing adoption of corporatisation by policymakers now appears to be covering every aspect of our beloved NHS.

I discovered that the Mid Yorkshire Trust were planning to close our hospital’s local volunteer-run café. The cafe is run by a team of over 50, provides a warm cuppa and a warm welcome and a listening ear for anyone in need, sometimes in their darkest hour. The decision was taken, no doubt deliberately, in the midst

of the pandemic when the café was closed due to lockdown, and so would attract least attention.

Our local hospitals have been under siege in every way possible.

Internal markets, increasingly t o p - h e a v y OUR LOCAL HOSPITALS HAVE m a n a g e m e n t systems with little BEEN UNDER regard for those SIEGE IN EVERY actually providing WAY POSSIBLE It saddens healthcare, me to think that and now this is value is now only seeping through equated in profit margins into voluntary services, and bottom lines, which in provided without benefit to turn is creating an ever more themselves by people who wish uniform and downright soulless to support those in need. environment. Until this impacted on my A chance post on social media was the only reason the community was alerted.

own hospital, I’m ashamed to say that these loyal volunteers were not on my radar as potential victims of this obsession with profit making. Only three years ago the hospital’s voluntary services manager Vikki Padgett was extolling the virtues of the cafes. Now, after a year of isolation, loneliness and loss, these cafes are needed more than ever, and it is time people were placed before profits. If you would like to support our campaign, click here to sign our petition to save the cafe.

By Clare Naughton/Save Our Dewsbury Hospital (West Yorkshire)

Health insurers profit from denying care US healthcare is paid for by people who can afford it, taking out expensive insurance policies. Insurers effectively gamble on you not needing to claim on the policy. So the risk is shared across all policy holders as some may pay and never claim, and others may be paid out. (A bit like the ethos behind our NHS, a service we all paid into to be there if we needed it). However insurance companies have become averse to risk and have managed to limit their liability by tailoring policies to individuals.

pretty easy to get insurance, you weren’t asked for much information, a travel agent ticked a few boxes. However, over the last 20 years things have changed. Anyone with any longterm health issues will be aware of this. As someone with a lifelong condition, it has been very noticeable how my options have been limited recently. I’ve had to go to specialist companies and underwriters to get insurance for a family holiday. It has reduced me to tears on several occasions, because I can see the same danger is becoming more apparent in the NHS.

Take for example travel insurance. In the past if you wanted to go on holiday, it was

Insurance companies are in the business of making money, and to do that they have to

very condition you may need the insurance to cover. I have never made a travel insurance claim connected to my long term condition.

limit their liability and create certainty. They do that by refusing cover to people who may be costly like me. They now

ask so many questions before they decide if they will cover you, that they are not really taking a risk, they exclude the

How will people with similar conditions be treated by private providers who aim to limit their liability and maximise their profits? Will we be excluded from NHS services, and expected to pay privately or take out insurance? Most people struggle to pay vet bills for their pets and can’t afford insurance. How will we afford to insure all our family members? By Mary Whitby / Save Liverpool Women’s Hospital campaign

POLITICS AND EVENTS

Mid April 2021

THE

WORD

BIG PHARMA GETS £20 TO £30 FOR VACCINES THAT COST £3 TO MAKE

THE PATIENT’S EYE

this Patient gets a second VACCINE

t least I was able to wear a crown on Saturday, having had one fitted by Sofia, my dentist, at a cost of nearly £300. We even wore fancy dress, she as a dentist, head to toe in PPE, and I as a Dothraki warrior, having not had a haircut in 400 days. Please excuse me while I straighten my pony tail.

Then right when they were dropping the Grandfather of the Nation (which individual thoughtup that inappropriate phrase? Oh it was Andrew) into a hole beneath the Chapel, Mrs Eye was getting her second

Our family has been hit hard by Covid 19, and it’s not having any more of us

vaccination. Next Saturday Patient.I will be getting my second. I can hardly wait. Do I believe that these inoculations will render complete immunity unto the pair of us? In truth I don’t, but I’d rather face the Brazilian version, the Indian variant, and the South African Strain with antibodies in my veins. Our family has been hit hard by Covid 19, and it’s not having any

attitude of the EU Commission in demanding a large portion of the output of the factory making a vaccine in Britain while simultaneously casting doubt on its safety and/or efficacy, so refusing to use what stocks it holds.

One has to ask what makers and sponsors of vaccines costing around £20 per shot, or even almost £30, can do about more of us. another more easily stored and administered vaccine Much has been being produced at made of the cost - £3 per dose. NEXT relative qualities Is this the cost SATURDAY I of the various to produce the WILL BE GETTING others too, with vaccines, and it is reasonable to the rest being MY SECOND expect that some profit? Capitalism VACCINATION are better than loves competition, others, possibly except when it is related to different being priced out by demographics. What seems someone else. to be unreasonable is the

At this point it cheats, not that it hasn’t been cheating all along the line, and Pharma companies have a very poor track record around the good of patients, except, it seems, AstraZeneca, who have an entire department devoted to patient centricity, and spend a great deal of money attempting to involve, and be involved with patients. I know this from firsthand experience. Like any medical treatment, vaccines are speculative, and the pandemic has been something of a social as well as medical experiment. I get that, and I agree that the government has mishandled it, perhaps in an attempt to control us all. When it is over, we must reassert our liberties and our ownership of our own health. By Patient.I

There IS the money, if it’s used correctly

This last year has been tough on us all, and for our NHS. The economy has also taken a pounding (largely due to the government’s very questionable restrictions), and as a result you’ll hear that money is tight, but only for things that benefit the greater population.

If there’s ever a time to renationalise our health service (as it’s largely been taken from us), it’s now. We could afford it after World War 2, so why not now? The reason is because our leaders, and their corporate backers do not want a health service that actually serves

the needs of the population. They want a health system that makes money for a few, and makes profits from actually denying care.

What is most perverse, is that they’re actually using public money to transform and take our NHS away from us. Parliament gave vast sums of money to private entities (often with close contacts to MPs) to oversee the shambolic test and trace programme, to PPE firms, and recently to companies to supply home testing kits for the healthy across the land (gotta keep it going).

the need for more, not less infrastructure. For example, in South London, St Helier and Epsom Hospitals face losing their A&E, maternity, intensive care and more, and a smaller single facility is on offer, costing at least £500m.

The NHS have also taken away 10,000 beds, because, they say they needed to social distance them out.

Across the country, many controversial hospital plans are still being pushed through, despite Covid highlighting

We must demand an end to this corruption, an end to private companies (and certain MPs) making a fortune at our expense, and a fully publicly funded and provided service that meets the needs of us all. After all, it is the most efficient system. By Mary-Ellen

THE

WORD

Mid April 2021

POLITICS AND EVENTS

I DON’T KNOW WHO HE IS BUT I‘D LIKE TO SHARE HIS THOUGHTS

Homeless man in London

NAILS CAPITALISM!

uestion: What sort of alternative society and culture would make you happy?

Oh one that doesn’t make guns and bombs, one that’s not at war with itself constantly, one that doesn’t poison the air, or the land, or sea. One that that has enough respect for each other, and the planet we live on and all the other life-forms that share this planet that we live on, one that has enough respect for all of that to live in a way that’s completely sustainable, that is beneficial to all of life so that mankind becomes a symbiotic life form supporting the life of its host planet instead of being a parasitic life form devoiding the planet of its ability to support life. I feel as though I’m on a train going to Auschwitz and I know that there’s gas ovens at the end of the line, and I can’t think of anything that makes me happy on this journey. There is nothing to celebrate and nothing to rejoice about. What would make me happy is the idea of having a future but I’m watching it getting taken away more each day.

Question: What’s the main way that people could bring about this change or start to bring about a change in their habits? Just simple things like looking down, seeing a ball, looking up, seeing a bubble, and not seeing the artificial boundaries that man has put on this planet That’d be a good start ’cause I don’t live, I’m not English I speak a language called English, but that’s it, I speak a language, that language doesn’t make me. I live on a ball in a bubble, I don’t recognise nation states. I want to live in a world where everyone I see is a friend, so money has no value between friends - we help each

other for the love of it, nothing more, nothing less. I need to be looking after the whole planet so I’ve got to find a way of making friends right round the whole planet, not just on this little bit of it because if this little bit changes and the rest of it carries on going to hell, then this little bit gets dragged along with it. So maybe a change in the way that we perceive the world that we live in… Next time I pass a homeless man in the street I will respect that they have thoughts that are perhaps much better than ours, even though they are homeless. Perhaps we should all spend time on the streets homeless before we become citizens. By Robbie

Hinkley Point: Deskilling dispute & dodgy training

On the 1st March this year Construction News reported on the deskilling dispute at Hinkley Point in Somerset, that the creation of two training standards at the nuclear plant

would according to the Unite union ‘undermine’ the role of electricians. There is an industrial conflict which is ongoing at

the Hinkley Point C plant after it was discovered that two training standards had been introduced by the Engineering Construction Training Board (ECITB) that would undermine

the role of electricians, without Unite, the UK’s construction union, input or agreement. The matter has been raised directly with the client of the

French company EDF, who have reacted to Unite’s concerns. By Brian Bamford Read more at http:// northernvoicesmag.blogspot.com/

POLITICS AND EVENTS

Mid April 2021

THE

WORD

HEAD TRANSPLANTS – BANDS WHO REPLACED THEIR MAIN SINGER

WHAT’S ON THE JUKEBOX

ass players, drummers, even lead guitar players come and go, but rare is the group that loses its lead vocalist and can carry on.

By Jack in the Jukebox

Rod Stewart found himself a Rock and Roll band that needed a helping hand not once but twice, fronting Python Lee Jackson on In A Broken Dream, and with Ron Wood taking over from Steve Marriott to turn the Small Faces into The Faces Mike d’Abo not only replaced Paul Jones in Manfred Mann, but wrote a great deal of great pop music too

David Gilmour was brought in to bolster up the failing Syd Barrett in Pink Floyd, and when Syd had to be let go ended up as the Main Man, but don’t ever tell that to Roger Waters Fleetwood Mac lost not just one head but three: Peter Green, Danny Kirwan, and Jeremy Spencer, replacing them eventually with Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Nicks, and the perfect Christine McVie

Brian Johnson took over from Bon Scott in AC/DC after the lead singer died

One that couldn’t be replaced: Freddie Mercury’s death led to several great singers fronting Queen, whether Roger Daltrey, George Michael, Lisa Stansfield or anyone else – it was always a Freddie Tribute Act.

THE

WORD

Mid April 2021

POLITICS AND EVENTS

MUSIC MAKERS WHO HAVE MADE A DISTINCTIVE MARK

The Beat from the

STREET

his week we look at, Falling Apart. A four piece outfit formed in 2004 hailing from Ilfracombe, North Devon.

and Elvis, which all adds up to a fun and varied experience for everyone whatever their musical tastes.

Comprised of lead singer and guitarist Greg ‘The Mayor of Mayhem’ Schofield, Bassist Jacob ‘The Bishop of Bedlam’ Terry, keyboard player Noel ‘The Professor’ Grummitt, and Drummer Aaron ‘Count Drumula’ Lane, performing an eclectic and wide variety of mainly Punk and New Wave orientated covers ranging from The Adverts, The Boomtown Rats, The Beastie Boys, The Clash and then onwards to the likes of The Ramones and The Stranglers, interspersed of course with a smattering of their own very polished compositions from their first album ‘Flying Rats’ to boot.

Indeed, there are a lot of very well-known songs in their repertoire that are sure to have you joining in, all ably and expertly executed in their own inimitable style, although I must say that I particularly enjoyed their renditions of TV Smith’s ‘Lord’s Prayer’, along with a damned fine version of the Boomtown Rats hugely popular ‘I Don’t Like Mondays’.

OK, so I’ve had the pleasure of watching these guys play on a number of

occasions and can honestly say that I have never ceased to be impressed by their energy and ability to adapt to a given audience, as they rouse them into song with a mix of magical and occasionally airborne theatrics courtesy of

the colourfully illuminated, charismatic and ‘festooned’ Noel on his Korg, and the belting lyrics of Greg and Jacob’s lead and bass section respectively, who effortlessly bounce off of one another to the capable beat of Aaron’s drums at the rear.

on occasion to vary the set, whilst Grummitt positively mesmerises with his considerable keyboard mastery to weave a truly magical performance that both adds to, and completes their overall sound. S h a d e s WITHOUT of Dave HESITATION I CAN Without Greenfield hesitation I are very HONESTLY SAY THAT can honestly much in FALLING APART IS say that evidence A POSITIVE JOY TO this band h e r e , is a positive especially WATCH AND joy to watch, during the LISTEN TO and with the Stranglers occasional solo tracks, and with improvisations with Schofield doing a each artist coming into pretty good rendition of their own and showcasing Hugh Cornwell’s vocals, it all their various musical skills, sits just right. To say that this the overall performance is an band has an eclectic set list assured hit. though is an understatement, as they are as equally at home Schofield and Terry with The Sex Pistols as they switch lead vocal duties are with Adele, Gloria Gaynor

Falling Apart take great pride in having shared the stage with TV Smith (The Adverts) and supported such notable acts as The Vibrators, Vice Squad, 999, Subhumans, Ten Pole Tudor, Soap Girls, and once even those ol country yokels, The Wurzels, so their credentials are both unmistakeable and surely well deserved. You can find them, and even sample their wares via their webpage - https://www.fallingapart.co.uk/ and on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ falling.apart.band Seriously, if you see these guys advertised anywhere in the coming months and are able to get out to watch them, I’d heartily recommend that you do. Tell them Adrian sent you… By Adrian Angel

POLITICS AND EVENTS

As a socialist, should we refuse to be intimidated? There is a need to ask, is the open intimidation of the Political left a concern to address? Social media is a platform for journalistic integrity, as much as the so-called ‘established’ Mainstream. Are we to be shut down by negative feedback? Why must our independence and free speech be enclosed within a framework of what they (the Political Right wing) deem, ‘appropriate comment’; or out of step by a right-wing MSM or Government propaganda? Even by trash pumped out as threats and pressure through brave anonymous keyboard warriors in Email, etc. Many of our leftwing politicians speak out against the potent, powerful forces, receive daily threats by

the bucket load, do they give in? Censored if we mention Zionism or Racism in the same sentence. Don’t mention the war? A legitimate piss take, of our true history by Monty Python, has become a standard in the legitimisation of Right-wing political discourse. Terms like, It’s an Insurgency, or strategic strike against hostile forces, Ethnic cleansing, Collateral Damage? Substitutes for

attempted Genocide and Murder at home and abroad. I say No More. Time to stand and shout above the propaganda; I for one will not be Cowed into silence. If I am a true socialist I will be heard. Loud and Proud, and not live under the heel of oppressed media. So quickly, we forget the crimes washed away by MSM and Television Broadcasts. Errol Graham Starved to death in his flat while waiting for benefits under this Tory Government. This is how we live in Britain. Errol Graham pictured in the 1980s or 1990s (inset) and the Pine View tower block at The Woodlands in Radford, Nottingham. Nottingham Evening Post By Paul John Ross

Amazon has Gadgets for Men and Gadgets for Women I’d not realised that they were gender-specific; as a selling point, Amazon has a particular ‘Ladies Pink toolset’. Advertising and gender politics aside, the silicon diet of chips with everything is evolving to encompass arts, technology and branches of science. Hitherto separate entities and specialities—the sum of techniques, processes, methods and skills are coming together. Have we created an ever-growing monster that is out of control? The flow of goods and services is worldwide in Production, with a delicate and intricate balance of separate entities involved in the manufacture parts then Assembly. An ‘I Phone’, for example, include parts from Switzerland (Gyroscope), Germany (Aceloromiter), USA (Audio-Chips), South Korea (Battery), China also (Batteries) Japan (Camera). The Glass screen may come from Belgium, or Brazil, China, Denmark, the UK or Arab Emirates, to name a few. All to be assembled at Two Companies, Foxconn and Pegatron in Taiwan. The company has branches in Malaysia, South Korea, the Czech Republic, Singapore and the Philippines. My Point, a heck of a lot of air miles and pollution, for one product. How long can the Earth continue to sacrifice its health for our Consumer greed? Or indeed, how can we go forward from here without the political and social will to do so. The Inbalance of poverty versus tremendous wealth is trading in lives worldwide; we are living in the so-called Fifth wealthiest nation, where Beggars can’t afford food but have worldwide mobile communication, what madness! Some European Countries have packs of wild dogs roaming the streets. Fracking is rarely mentioned in the press anymore. Environmental issues are overtaken and smothered by the Greed of the one % but let’s continue to war and pillage Earth’s resources. Including the resources of rare earth minerals, for our high tech, (the new ‘Gold’) especially now that peoples lives and Labour has become so cheap. Live now pay later. Just a thought. By Paul John Ross

The Israeli imperative The ‘White Paper’ is a report that sets out Government intention for scrutiny before legislation. Such a report was issued in 1920 concerning immigration and social policing, other Issues of control. By WW2, ‘Wars end’ the Hebrew’ Yishuv community (Literal meaning the settlement) had grown Considerably, 35,000 Immigrants arrived during the 1914-18 period, mainly from Russia. The following white paper of 1939 indicated a sharp turn of attitude by the British. By 1948 the Mandate had passed from Britain to the United Nations; at the declaration of Israel as a state, the region’s population had grown to 1,900,000, of whom 68% were Arabs, and 32% were Jews.

Following the Uprising of 1936 to 39 And the presence of British peacekeeping force pre-WW2. Gave rise to the inclusion and premice of a more Religious claim; Jewish scholars and Zionists took to the old testament prophecy to give credence

to the return of the Jews to Palestine. To further Justification of the state under Zionism. This statement, of course, is a secular view. Prophesies calculated by the Calender and ‘Gods Word’ had established ‘The state’ (predicted accurately) to be 1948, the same year as a declaration as a Jewish state. In the Prophecies of Leviticus, Jeremiah and Ezekiel of the Torah. A God-given right to Israel as Palestine ‘The Chosen Land given of God’. However, some Jewish Scolars claim that this is not true and believe that no one knows God’s plan; therefore, the Promise to Abraham is not yet fulfilled. Historical Timeline of Jews from Moses to Present-Day, showing Ezekiel & his Exile Prophecy; “What happened in 1948? That was the year Israel was re-born as a modern nation – an independent and self-ruled Jewish country.” By Paul John Ross

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Thatchers Rain Dance... And It Rained a lot! Have you ever seen a film called Raining stones? Ken loach, this was the ‘Thatcher Era ‘. Bleasdale and Goddard’s ‘Boys From the Black stuff’ another example With Bernard Hill’s Yosser Hughes. “Giz a Job. I can do that!” Yosser’s Catch Phrase. When young, I had a standby, three million Unemployed, so many working-class drawing the ‘Dole’ trying to survive. My secondary back up was Pencil Portraits from Photos in between jobs; mine was a ‘One Man Band and Busking’. I declared a portion of the money made to the Dole and looked upon it as paying Tax, as well as keeping the Narcs’ off my back! As life progressed and Jobs started to come back a little in the Blair years, I used the One Man Band to pay for holidays abroad. But many did not have or were able to conjure the skills to see them through. Family’s broken, prior stable relationships had broken up, and personal debt spiralled out of control. Mental health ran amuck. Houses bought by council tenants had, together with ex -NCB, were repossessed and sold at auction to private landlords. Banks and Building societies leaving former tenents in negative equity, many children were taken into care

as Families split. The moneyed class were dipping their bread in at the auction Banquet. Labours Good effort, like Sure Start, was overshadowed by the gulf war lies and the PFI of the Health Service. Private Finance Initiative, a tremendous disadvantage to the Public sector. The Blair Government supplied a leg up in Capitalist activity to the Private sector, with the other Leg over the public sector. This tale is not intended to offer a solution but merely remembering the contributing factors of today’s situation and how easily history repeats. We are now level pegging in the rental housing sector as the situation at the turn of the century. My Impression of Ballon woods Flats and the Community Housing destroyed to build the Concrete Monstrosities. By Paul John Ross

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MILITARY REGALIA VERBOTEN THIS TIME BY FRAU KÖNIGIN

ROYAL WATCH What to wear for the NEXT STATE FUNERAL

ne finds it truly hard to know what to wear when Mama has forbidden Soldier suits. One was looking forward to sporting medals won by other people, for if one is C in C then one can wear the medals earned by real blokes doing the killing rather than just wishing death on troublesome individuals, eg wives, daughters in law, journalists, cook, mummy, etc etc etc. The boys were squibbling about one having two whereas the other only had the one. Medals – what did you think one meant? What he did to deserve even that is debatable. And ones brother, dressed u p like a Dalai Lama Pizza (One With Everything) merely for driving his helicopter at the Argies then

If one is C in C then one can wear the medals earned by real blokes doing the killing rather than just wishing death on troublesome individuals

was. At the next funeral one will be able to wear as grand a regalia as one wants. Because one will be in charge, not Ridiculas Witchell, or Dickie Arbitrary, or whoever pops his silly Tony Blair-like head up. flying away larfing. A bit like what he did with the FBI. No sweat.

is unsure one will want old Justaminute (Oil)Well-bie at Mummy’s chucking out do. Too officious to officiate. One supposes Brother Andrew will know a good bloke somewhere

in the ‘Yeah Mon’astery. Told to Joe Royal (Palace Correspondent, Selhurst Park Stadium) by an insidious insider By (Seymour) Joe Royal

And then there is the priest to say the magic words. One

Puffed up like a peacock, he stood erect among the most upright of families. And Mummy, resplendent in whatever p a s t e l shade of b l a c k that

ONES BROTHER, DRESSED UP LIKE A DALAI LAMA PIZZA

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Mad Madge Talks Across Oceans Of Time BOJO’S DIARY

FROM BEYOND THE WALL OF LOST SPIRITS, LOOSED TEMPORARILY FROM THE HORRORS OF ETERNAL TORMENT, AUNTIE MAGGIE ANSWERS YOUR LETTERS. Dearest Margaret What is wrong with the world when one old Etonian can’t ask another for a favour without some horrid lefty people going on about it? I did not stick my todger in a pig for nothing. Yours, David Cameron Well it’s Dodgy Dave, back from your semi-retirement creaming in your ‘consultancy work’ telling your city chums the best way to bribe their way into cronyist government contracts. Listen you Hog botherer, at least Boris was getting a rough shag with that American attention seeker for state funding, people will always associate you with a knobbing a pigs head. Imagine that, being simultaneously more financially corrupt and more sexually perverse than Boris The Clown!!!! Don’t worry there are lots of skeletons in lots of cupboards in Labour too, the ‘independent’

review will find nothing wrong in your £Billion misdemeanour, as long as the Chairperson didn’t go to school at Harrow. Dear Mags Je suis en rock star. I tried to write my autobiography but couldn’t remember the 60’s. Now I am part of the establishment can you help? M Jagger…I’m a Sir Oi Oi Saveloy if it ain’t Sir Mick of Dartford!! The only reason you got a Knighthood was because you used to knock about with faghag Princess Margaret, the well known piss artiste and Cokehead. Your ex Jerry Hall dropped you for Rupert bloody Murdoch, the only man on the planet to be mummified whilst he is still alive. Now Queen Elizabeth is single again why not attempt to do the ‘Windsor Double’!! Dearest Devil woman Can you pass on my

congratulations over the coverage of Prince Philips funeral? The BBC got it just right. Yours Kim Jong-un Yes I remember the state TV coverage of your father’s passing, weeks of solemn broadcasting mourning his passing after you happened to accidentally, brutally murder him. A fitting tribute to a well loved, nonelected, elitist control freak. And also your dad. Dear Agony Aunt Someone has turned up the heating where I am Your friend, Bernie Madoff See Bernie, your biggest mistake was getting caught without implicating prominent Politicians. But look on the bright side, you may be eternally damned but you still had 140 years left to serve in prison and still owed $18billion. So you are ahead, kind of.

A daily insight into the mind of the former Daily Telegraph columnist and comedy act.... Saturday 10th Apr Had the Painters and Decorators in. Maybe I’ll give that Jennifer Arcuri a visit. May as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb. Sunday 11th Apr Last day of Easter Hols, Harrumph! Time to get back for a long Spring term at Hogwarts. Had a cheeky Sherry or two at lunch, just to take the edge off. Carrie and Thingemebob played in the garden. Had a bath and an early night with Carrie’s Laptop. Monday 12th Apr Started the day with a smart new haircut, need to look my best for the 7 hours of tributes to Phil the Greek in the House of Muggles. Let myself down by only shaving half of my face, will anyone have noticed, who cares, I’m 10 percent clear in the polls. I remembered when Pigshagger had a go at Corbyn for being scruffy, we still laugh at the irony. Tuesday 13th Apr Ho hum lots of press coverage about my old mate Cameron and his bumchums at Greensill. We will have to crack down hard on lobbying and have an ‘independent’ investigation run by an old Etonian with links to the financial services sector. Lobby / Bribery who cares, it’s who you went to school with that really counts. I wonder what we could get under the radar if a popular Royal had died... Wednesday 14th Apr PMQ’s today. Sir Quiff Stammerer can’t fail to make me sound good he? With his “My Lobbyists are better than your Lobbyists” attack. Put simply it doesn’t count as lying if you actually want it to be true. At least Blackford wasn’t wearing a Kilt today. What a Berk.

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BIZARRE NEWS

He’s Gotta Lotta Bottle

A man has amassed the vast collection of bottles from across the world over the past 40 years and decided to give them all a scrub after getting “bored” during the pandemic. Steve Wheeler, 72, spent five weeks cleaning the milk bottles - rinsing an average of 657 per day as he completed the task in eight-hour shift. Despite his enormous collection of bottles, Wheeler confessed that he doesn’t actually like milk. He explained: “It makes my stomach churn. The thought of drinking the stuff is abhorrent.” Dummies Jump On Piste

The Mount Ashland resort in the US state of Oregon held the annual Dummy Downhill event at the weekend, which featured 20 dummies created

A round up of Internet News you didn’t need to know..... by members of the public racing down a slope. Competition rules required each dummy to be mounted on either two skis or a snowboard with the winners given a prize of a free pass to the resort. Mount Ashland general manager Hiram Towle revealed that this year’s race, which was won by a dummy called The Flying Ace - saw a record number of entries. “People love it, it’s great for the kids, you don’t even have to be a skier or a snowboarder, you can just come to watch us demolish these dummies off of this big jump.” Bitche Facebook Fiasco

A local broadcaster has reported that the page for the French town of Bitche

was taken down for the area’s “offensive” name and has forced the authorities to create a new page under a separate name. The town’s page fell foul of the social media site’s algorithms last month and has not been reinstated despite appeals, with a new page named after the town’s postcode, Mairie 57230, launched in its place. An explanatory post reads: “The town’s official page has been removed by Facebook. We have appealed, but for the moment it is still invisible. The appeal process can take several months, so we have created this page to continue communicating with you on social networks.” World’s Biggest Bunny Stolen

Darius,

ten-year-old

Mystic Mandy’s Horoscopes Peter Mandelson’s nonjudgemental, Astrological Spin Doctoring at its finest. Your Stars apparently explained...

be embarrassed by your deeds – celebrate them unless they are criminal, in which case schtum, know what I mean! We’ve never met.

Aries (Mar20 -Apr 20) Under no circumstances allow other people to take the lead today. A really useful Sun-Mars link will equip you with all the qualities you need to inspire both yourself and other people to move towards a major goal together. Don’t take orders – give them like the spoilt bitch you are.

Virgo (August 23 – September22) Opportunities are heading your way and they are the kind of opportunities where you will need to act quickly. Financially, this could be a profitable time for you, but in other ways too you will gain from being more decisive.....or something.........maybe?.........I don’t know.

Taurus (April 20 - May 20) Try to pay more attention to the little things that are going on all around you. It’s great that you can see the bigger picture but the bigger picture is made up of an almost unlimited amount of smaller pictures. Get a grip of yourself. Gemini (May 21 - June 20) There is a definite luck factor working in your life at the moment, and long may it continue, but that does not mean you can let down your guard. Keep an eye on people

who are envious of your success, back stabbing Leftist swine. Cancer (June 21 - July 22) You can, if you want, force people to do your bidding today but why take the risk of stirring up bad feelings when persuasion works so much better? Turn on the charm and get others to recognize that what is good for you is good for them as well. Maybe have casual sex in a public space. Leo (July 23 - August 22) You need to be completely honest about what you’ve been up to over the past few days. If you hold anything back you are sure to be found out and that in turn means people will mistrust you. Don’t

Libra (September 23 October 22) If someone asks you to get involved in a situation that seems unfamiliar, don’t panic. You know the difference between right and wrong, so decide if this is the kind of situation you can live with.

Continental Giant, measures in at four feet three inches and was snatched from the rear garden of a property in Worcestershire. Breeder Annette Edwards believes that jealous rival rabbit owners could be behind the theft of Darius, who was named as the world’s longest rabbit back in 2010. Edwards told The Sun newspaper: “There are some very jealous people around. I have my suspicions who is behind this and I’m afraid to say it must be someone with prior knowledge.” “The thieves came over a farm fence, unbolted Darius’s large kennel, and took him from his secure area.” She said: “Darius is on a special diet and I am worried he If it is, push ahead. If not, say thanks but no thanks. Sod it all just take a walk on the wild side Sweetie. Scorpio (October 23 November 21) Confidence seems to ebb and flow a lot of late, but today’s Sun-Mars link will perk you up and encourage you to do something courageous. Don’t make it too courageous though. You are under no obligation to take risks unless it is with other people’s p e n s i o n funds. Sagittarius (November 22 December 21) Someone whose ideas you disagree with strongly will say or do something today that makes you want to scream. But why? If they want to believe in something that you can see is ridiculous then let them get on with it. Unless of course they are dirty Socialists, then purge the b*****ds!

won’t survive without it. “The thieves won’t know how to look after him.” ‘Time Traveller’ Predicts Apocalypse

TikTok account @ thatonetimetraveller said they have received several questions from people about the apocalypse so decided to disclose the exact day the world will end. Captions on the social media clip read: “Many want to know when the Earth will end and the date of it. “The end of Earth is on July 6th 2788, from a gigantic meteoroid.” The user did predict that the human race will have set up homes on both The Moon and Mars before Earth bites the dust. They added: “However, by that time we have successfully managed to civilize on Mars, the Moon, and many other planets.”... Capricorn (December 22 – January 19) You are sure to be challenged in some way today, but the good news is you will react to that challenge effectively and forcefully and win in the end. Others should know by now that Capricorn is a sign that refuses to give in or give up. You could always kick their teeth in! Aquarius (January 20 February 18) The more other people complain that you are not following the script the more you must go your own way and do your own thing. There is always a danger in getting caught up in the herd mentality and that danger is particularly strong at the moment. Avoid One-way systems at peak rush hour. Pisces (February 19 March 20) The more others try to move you along the more you will dig in your heels. You are in one of those moods when no force on Earth can make you do anything that goes against your better judgment – and, yes, your judgment is better than theirs. Fascism suits you down to the ground.

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SATIRE

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Hope and Good News USA:

Russia:

News that homes of the future could use transparent wood for windows and mushroom bricks for walls.

A Russian fashion brand is trying to tackle St. Petersburg’s mountains of garbage by creating an entire supply chain out of them.

At the University of Maryland, researchers have made transparent wood that is harder than glass and could be used as windows. The process involves coating wood in hydrogen peroxide, leaving it under UV light, then soaking it in ethanol and injecting a clear epoxy. The process alters the lignin in the wood to let light pass through. In New York, a team at the design firm The Living has turned m u s h r o o m mycelium into bricks that are lightweight, insulating, and hard enough to replace concrete. The bricks are made by growing mycelium and “cooking” them into a brick shape. Concrete production is a significant emitter of greenhouse gases globally.

Sifting through the trash mountains, workers collect all kinds of different recyclable materials before turning them into goods which include pencil and laptop cases, backpacks, bags, and even skateboards and a bicycle. The firm, 99Recycle, utilises a large 3D printer based on a design used by Hyundai, and which uses recycled plastic as a raw material. They’ve collected over 70 tons of reclaimed plastic so far by working with local recycling nonprofits that specialize in collecting certain types of material. Inside the factory, the 3D printer creates shapes and textiles which are sewn together by hand,

meaning that each piece is unique. California:

Caltech, a world-renowned science and engineering institute. They manage some NASA projects and owns and operates large-scale research facilities such as the Seismological Laboratory and a global network of astronomical observatories. Zhongwen Zhan, PhD, assistant professor of geophysics at Caltech claims: “This new technique can really convert the majority of submarine cables into geophysical sensors that are thousands of kilometres long to detect earthquakes and possibly

tsunamis in the future,” says Zhan. “We believe this is the first solution for monitoring seismicity on the ocean floor that could feasibly be implemented around the world See more at https://tinyurl.com/6jdn8x2e UK:

The Big Issue returns to our streets. Try to buy a copy of the paper to support their work in giving a hand up not just a hand out. The Big Issue have continued through the pandemic with donations to support vendors with payments, food vouchers and emergency aid and with outreach workers helping those locked down, isolated and feeling lost.

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Women who made a Difference L

ike black women mathematicians and others who worked on the NASA space programme Gladys' achievements, particularly in the development of the Global Positioning System) GPS has been largely unnoticed. Perhaps her work deserves greater recognition which the black women mathematicians and others working for NASA, got later when their story was captured on screen in the film Hidden Figures released in released in 2016, by 20th Century Fox.

find Dahlgren on a map, along with her fear that they would reject her after the interview because of her race, she decided she'd wait to hear back from other applications. Luckily, Dahlgren asked her to reconsider, offering her the job without the need to interview. The job was offering double than her teaching salary and no other job opportunities were coming in. Being hired solely on her qualifications, with a salary that would eventually help her support her family, was a rare thing for a black women at that time.

Although the Supreme Court had just ruled that segregation was unlawful, Virginia was still as segregated since the Supreme Court had not specified which states were required to comply in accordance to the new ruling. The prospect of moving to a rural neighbourhood in a southern state with the Ku Klux Clan active was daunting for an unmarried black woman. However, West wouldn't let this derail her on the path she felt God had destined her to go on.

She was born Gladys Mae Brown 1930 in Virginia into an African-American farming family in a community of sharecroppers, spending much of her childhood working on her family's small farm. Her parents were huge inspirations for her and led her to the strong and driven woman that West is seen to be in history today. West realised early if she did not want to work in the tobacco fields or factories like the rest of her family that education would be her way out. The only obstacle keeping her from higher education was a financial one as the family earned very little. So she began babysitting to help save but ultimately, her superior academic performance made the

t s e W e a M s Glady

difference. At her high school, the top two students of each graduating class received fullride scholarships to Virginia State College (now formally University), a historically black public university. She gained her scholarship one 1948.

Gladys chose to study mathematics, a subject mostly studied at her college by men. She graduated in 1952 with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics. After graduating, she taught math and science for two years in Waverly, Virginia, before returning to VSU to complete her Master of Mathematics d e g r e e , graduating in 1955.

After a brief return to teaching in 1956 she was hired to work at the Naval Proving Ground in Dahlgren, Virginia (now called the Naval Surface Warfare Centre). She was the second black woman ever hired and one of only four black employees. She worked on largescale computers and was project manager for data-processing systems used in the analysis of satellite data. In the early 1960s, she participated in an award-winning astronomical study that proved the regularity of Pluto’s motion relative to Neptune. Subsequently, Gladys became project manager for the Seasat radar altimetry project, the first satellite that could remotely sense oceans. She consistently put in extra hours, cutting her team's processing time in half. She was recommended for a commendation in 1979.

From the mid-1970s through the 1980s, West programmed an IBM 7030 Stretch computer to deliver increasingly precise calculations to model the shape of the Earth. Generating an extremely accurate model required her to employ complex algorithms to account for variations in gravitational, tidal, and other forces that distort Earth's shape. West's team once discovered an error during the study and out of all of the brilliant minds, she was the only one that was able to solve it. West's data ultimately became the basis for the Global Positioning System (GPS). This work resulted in the GEOSAT a US Navy Earth observation satellite being launched on March 12, 1985. It could have all been so different! Gladys initially turn down the job due to its location and the requirement to interview. West didn't have a car and couldn't

She discussed civil rights with other black women on the base but as a government employee could not take an active part in campaigning. During her career, she encountered many hardships because of racism against African Americans, particularly the lack of recognition she received while working, while her white coworkers received praise and added privileges. In total Gladys worked at Dahlgren for 42 years, retiring in 1998. She didn’t slow down, despite suffering a stroke only five months after retiring. She worked on rebuilding her strength and lost mobility by taking yoga classes at a local YMCA with her husband, motivated by a big goal: to finish her remote PhD program in Public Administration, which she received in 2018. Gladys was inducted into the United States Air Force Hall of Fame in 2018, one of the highest honours bestowed by them. She was selected by the BBC as part of their 100 Women of 2018. She says that she hopes her example will inspire another generation of female pioneers. "I think I did help," she reflects. "The world is opening up a little bit and making it easier for women. But they still gotta fight."

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AMERICA ISN’T ALONE, O ver the past few weeks, AntiAsian hate crimes across the USA have captured headlines. From an elderly Asian woman being assaulted in San Francisco to the shootings in Atlanta, attacks on this minority community have the world watching. But the UK has its own hate crime issue, not often discussed in our mainstream media. We need to give this shocking problem in our society the attention necessary to address it.

THE UK HAS ITS OWN HATE CRIME PROBLEM

A hate crime is defined as “any criminal offence which is perceived, by the victim or any other person, to be motivated by hostility or prejudice towards someone based on a personal characteristic”. This includes characteristics such as race, religion, sexual orientation, gender and disability. In the year ending March 2020, there were over 105,000 hate crimes recorded by the police, the highest statistic on record. There has been a consistent year-on-year increase. By comparison in 2012/13, there were around 40,000 police recorded hate crimes. The police has clarified that the annual increase is not necessarily due to an increased rate of hate crime, but better policing. This isn’t much comfort as better policing only

means a more accurate measurement of how many hate crimes occur. Regardless of how good

our policing is, the fact remains that our small country had over 100,000 hate crimes in a year.

In the light of the Black Lives Matter protests, there has been a debate over how ‘racist’ the UK is. The records on hate crime are often left out of this conversation, probably because they tell a story other than what the government wants us to believe. In 2019/20, there were 76,000 hate crimes based on race. Furthermore, racial minorities are the most targeted group when it comes to violent hate crime offences. Looking deeper, there is a particular issue within hate crime in the UK. Although statistics show a rise year-on-year, the police also note that there are sharp increases in hate crime offences during the year. Over the past 5 years, the annual Home Office Hate Crime Report has identified the events that cause these ‘spikes’ in offences. In the summer of 2016, the Home Office acknowledged that the EU referendum campaign and the EU referendum result coincided with a steep rise in hate crime offences, at that time the highest recorded month of hate crime since records began in 2013. Furthermore, we saw a steep rise in hate crime again in 2017, after a series of terrorist attacks across our country

including the Manchester Arena and London Bridge incidents. This is the truly frightening aspect of hate crime in the UK. Not only are we seeing unacceptable levels of hate crime, but after the Brexit referendum and terrorist attacks, many in our society felt emboldened to commit a hate crime offence. Where and how are these offenders being influenced? As a country aiming to eradicate unjust discrimination, we must consider how the media and our politicians are characterising minority groups. We cannot let them be demonised or they will only face further attacks. The sharp increase in hate crimes after these dramatic events must lead every caring member of society to reconsider certain things. Such as considering whether we have a family member or friend who might be influenced by these dangerous portrayals of minorities? We must all be conscious that minorities of all backgrounds are being targeted and need allies, people to stand up for them when they may not be able. Altogether, the USA isn’t alone in having its hate crime issues, the UK has similarly serious problems to focus on.

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Daft recipes OSWALD MOSLEY’S DIPPY EGGS AND MARMITE SOLDIERS

Ingredients 2 eggs eal bread 4 slices wholem a knob of butter Marmite mixed seeds

After a long day promoting British Fascism whilst conducting affairs with all his wife’s female relatives, this protein burst was a firm favourite. It has been passed down through his son Max Mosley who loved a dippy egg in between funding Tony Blair and sleeping with prostitutes dressed in rubber Nazi costumes.

Method STEP 1

STEP 2

Bring a pan of water to a simmer. Add 2 eggs, simmer for 2 mins if room temp, 3 mins if fridge-cold, then turn off heat. Cover the pan and leave for 2 mins more.

Meanwhile, toast 4 slices wholemeal bread and spread thinly with butter, then Marmite. To serve, cut into soldiers and dip into the egg, then a few mixed seeds.

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Cartoon – THE REHABILITATION OF THE DUKE OF ANDREW BY THE STATE By Ian Quaife...

Impossible(ish) Questions

Crossword

• A block of which type of intrusive igneous rock broke off to trap 33 Chilean miners underground in 2010? • In which game might you get 'Ko-fighting' on a 19 by 19 grid? • Godwin's law is an Internet adage which asserts that that as an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving the name of whom approaches? • The Perry Index is a widely used index for which set of works? • In 1936, which female was awarded 'Person of the Year' by America's Time Magazine - the first female to be awarded the title? • What were Buzz Aldrin's first two words on the Moon?

Answers • Diorite • Go (traditional Chinese board game for two players, older than Chess) • Hitler • Aesop's Fables • Wallis Simpson • Beautiful view • The Order of Lenin • Manna • Slash and burn • Democratic Republic of the Congo • Camp David (country retreat of the American President) •Kyrgyzstan •Oregon •Edward IV •The Official Monster Raving Loony Party

• What was awarded to James Bond in the film A View to a Kill and in 'real-life' to Nelson Mandela in 1990? • In the Book of Exodus, what is described as being 'a fine, flake-like thing like the frost on the ground'? • Which sort of agriculture is used to create a swidden plot? • Which country is the most populated in the world to have French as an official language? • What was first known as Hi-Catoctin? • In 2005, which country saw the Tulip Revolution? • The CIA world fact book points out that the UK is slightly smaller than which American Pacific State? • Who was the tallest British king - his skeleton measures 6'4½"? • Which political party was founded in 1983 to fight the Bermondsey by-election?

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VEGAN COOKING WITH CHRIS WILLIAMSON Ingredients For the filling 80ml olive oil, plus extra for brushing 2 tsp ground cumin ½ tsp ground cinnamon 1 tbsp vegan red wine vinegar (we used Aspall) 3 beetroots (about 400g), peeled and sliced into rounds about 0.5cm thick 1 small celeriac (about 750g), peeled, cut into quarters and then sliced into triangles about 1 cm thick 4 thyme sprigs, leaves picked 4 fat unpeeled garlic cloves 3 large sweet potatoes (about 600g), peeled and sliced into rounds about 0.5cm thick 2 tsp smoked paprika 1 tbsp semolina

Vegan pie Cooking with Chris Williamson

250g Swiss chard, leaves only (save the stalks to add to soups, stews and risottos) For the pastry 150g coconut oil, plus extra for the tin 500g spelt flour almond milk, for brushing

irst, make the filling. Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Mix together 1½ tbsp oil with the cumin, cinnamon and vinegar, and rub the mixture all over the beetroot. Put the beetroot into a small roasting tin, season well, then cover with foil and roast for 20 mins.

the remaining oil, the smoked paprika and some seasoning, and cover with foil. Once the beets have cooked for 20 mins, add the celeriac and sweet potato to the oven alongside them, and roast all the veg for 40 mins further or until tender. Remove the thyme sprigs, squeeze the garlic cloves out of their skins and mash them in with the celeriac, then leave all the veg to cool. All the veg can be cooked the day before and kept in the fridge.

Meanwhile, toss the celeriac with 2½ tbsp oil, the thyme, garlic and some seasoning in a second roasting tin. Separate out the slices so they cook evenly, then cover the tin in foil. In a third roasting tin, mix the sweet potato with

For the pastry, boil the kettle and use some coconut oil to grease a deep 20cm springform cake tin. Pour the flour into a bowl and add 1 tsp salt. Mix the coconut oil with 200ml boiling water, stir until melted (put it in the microwave

How to make it

if need be), then pour into the flour and mix with a wooden spoon to form a dough. Working as quickly as you can (it’s best to roll the pastry when it’s warm), cut off a ¼ of the dough and set aside under a tea towel. Roll out the rest to 0.5cm thick, then use it to line the cake tin, pressing the dough into the corners and leaving any excess pastry overhanging the sides. Don’t worry if the pastry breaks – it’s very forgiving, so you can patch it up as you go. Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Now build the pie. Cover the base with chard leaves, then scatter over the semolina (which will absorb the beet juices), press in the beetroot, and season. Add another layer of

chard, followed by the sweet potato, and season. Add a final layer of chard leaves, then top with the celeriac and season again. Roll out the pastry you set aside to a thickness of 0.5cm to use as the lid. Put the lid on top of the pie and, using a fork, press together the overhanging pastry to create a crimped edge. Make a steam hole, then brush the top with a little almond milk mixed with a spoonful of oil (this will help to colour the pastry). Bake in the centre of the oven for 45 mins until the pastry is a deep golden brown. Leave to cool for 15 mins, then remove from the tin and serve in the middle of the table. Will keep for up to three days in the fridge (the pie is also delicious cold)

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Mid April 2021

POLITICS AND EVENTS

Top 5 worst Royals ever

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Elizabeth 2nd Presided over many futile wars to keep alive the stupidity of Empire including: Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, Serbia, etc. Is a product of 100 years of first cousin inbreeding..

A special mention to other evil Royals who lost out in our reader’s poll such as Henry 8th who had a thing about murdering his wives. Richard 3rd who murdered his

As voted on by our readers

Nephews. Also to Alfonso the Slobberer and Vlad the Impaler. All distant relations to Elizabeth 2nd

William the bastard As he was known in his own lifetime. The invasion of 1066 saw the imposition of feudalism. William destroyed the North of England’s food supply as punishment for an uprising. This murdered thousands.

Kaiser Wilhelm 2nd The Grandson of Queen Victoria and part of the evil of the Cousins war. This was known to the rest of us as WW1. Millions died for a family feud between Russia, Germany and Britain..

Richard 2nd Andrew the Duke of York. Well known nonce and molester of young girls. Has so far refused to be questioned by the FBI about serious crimes connected to his mate, Jeffrey Epstein.

The King that pretended to give those in the peasant’s revolt justice. When they had been fooled he told them “peasants you are and shall remain.” He then murdered thousands of them.

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SUDOKU

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European Football headed for civil war UEFA most fancslearly has on its side and players overlook , but should not w during pahat happened st sp this kind lits of

high-ha bullying nt ded, o could evenes alienate p n la and pushyers them tow ar the ESL ds

welve European football clubs are poised to form their own, non-UEFA European championship competition. There had been previous loud warnings about it that we at The Word detailed back in the Autumn last year. Developments this weekend identify which clubs are committed to the project. They include, to England's shame, Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea. Across Europe, reaction has been hostile. UEFA itself, without jurisdiction over the new competition, has warned it is

prepared to fight tooth-and-nail to prevent this happening. But media, fans, and many players past-and-present, have also protested in disgust. The great majority of the game's European community seem united behind UEFA, which also has tradition on its side, a combination that might scare the ESL into retreat. But sports have split in similar ways in the past, and outcomes have rarely been what the establishment wanted. Take World Series Cricket. Established by Australian media tycoon Kerry Packer in 1977, WSC took the finest players from the contemporary major cricketing

nations and fielded them in matches held outside control of traditional cricket authorities - the Australian Cricket Board, the Test & County Cricket Board of England & Wales, and the International Cricket Conference. Outraged, these authorities fought to prevent WSC from getting started. But wages Packer offered were as much as five times what even star players got from clubs. Packer successfully lured nearly fifty players to WSC. The authorities therefore issued a global ultimatum to professional cricketers. If they played even one match in World Series Cricket, they would be permanently banned from playing establishment games, let alone Test Cricket, ever again. Packer was happy to let players keep playing their scheduled matches between WSC games. The establishment refused to return the courtesy. It was a myopic backfire. The banned cricketers included the entire first and second XIs of the Australian national team, all of whom had rallied to Packer, as well as many top players from the West Indies, India and Pakistan. Banning so many top players meant Test Cricket lost much of its quality, reducing its appeal. England was less affected due to Packer being unfamiliar with English players. An establishment

'Ashes' series between Australia and England in the Antipodean summer of 78/79, saw England at almost full strength. Australia largely fielded third- and fourth-string players, hopelessly out of their depth. England won the series 5-1 without ever really needing their best form. Australian fans, who had remained loyal to establishment cricket initially, largely stopped watching the series before the final match. They switched over to watching WSC, to where old heroes, like Rod Marsh, Denis Lillee, and the Chappell brothers, had all defected. WSC thus won cricket's civil war, forcing the attendance-starved establishment to come to a new agreement over player rights and media access. With UEFA making similar threats to today's footballers - lifetime bans for playing in the ESL - there is a danger of another backfire. The poor diplomacy in such threats looks unnecessary. But moreover, high-handed, bullying tones could alienate players and push them towards the ESL. And what if the quality of an ESL, like WSC before it, proves simply too high for the public to resist?

UEFA has a lot of sympathy over the ESL, probably rightly, for now. But it must tread with more care, see and identify the lessons of the past, and make sure it does not push players away with the arrogance that their cricketing counterparts once displayed. By Martin Odoni

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Cold air, hot pie, and a pint

old air, hot pie & a pint. Friends, family. Community. That's football isn't it? Whether it's an encased, snug outing at the Etihad, or a cold wet Tuesday night in Stoke, it's football. Fans and casual followers alike know "the working man's game." The atmosphere, the love, the passion. The ecstatic euphoria when the team does well, the crushing disappointment when it does… less well. One crisp Christmas eve in 1914, even men plastered in thick mud, facing heavy artillery and mortal threat, calmed their animosities for one day with a quick football match. Differences forgotten, replaced by the beautiful game. Marcus Rashford apart, that spirit now is unthinkable. What happened? The usual of course - money! Now, most people are cool with money being made in football. Gary Neville, a Manchester United man who made a fortune from football, believes this next revelation a steptoo-far, but there's making money and then there's taking liquid-urine. The current 'leak' was to the press on 18th April that major clubs are breaking away from the league structure that gave them everything. A complete departure, an elite league from which they cannot be

Football is no longer a culture, We're bigger, bet RICHER thter, an Your nam you! ain't dow e you ain'tn, getting in !

e in h c a m g in k a -m y e n o m a it's relegated, where they cannot be confined by UEFA oversight. A knock-out final blow to tradition. "We're bigger, better, RICHER than you! Your name ain't down, you ain't getting in!" That includes the fans. Owners have forgotten that supporters are a club's lifeblood, integral to how they came to be. Owners aren't sat in the stands in the

Major breaking clubs are the leagu away from e that gavestructure t everythinhem g

thick of it. It's a side-show of their multiple millions and billions. Wifey is sat at home creating security, while the metaphorical, illicit mistress is working 'other' magic. That mistress is the fan's game. It isn't the owners' lives, their "work", or even something they need or love. It's a tool. It can make them even richer, even if they have no need to. A consortium of exceptionally wealthy

people who can never be satisfied have bee-lined in on a working man's game, rebranded it, and amputated its heart. It has happened over several generations. What started off as a steam train, powered by man and propelled by a little fuel, has become a diabolical bullet train, consuming lives of expendable men in its never-

ceasing quest to move faster. The very men that gave football its initial push were first to be smashed aside by this money-powered locomotive. Now it aims to move so fast it will hit the skies, far beyond reach for any ordinary supporter. While professionals and fans alike are still empowered to speak out, they will. Ex-Stoke City and Ireland midfielder – also current Stoke City Academy Coach - Liam Lawrence offered The Word his reaction to the breakaway. "An absolute disgrace of an idea and would ruin football as we know it. The real owners of these clubs are the fans, not the greedy fat cats from other countries. People need to rise up and act fast to squash this ridiculous idea immediately. The clubs that have been named who signed up to the idea need punishing heavily and should be ashamed of themselves. I think the players should act as well and let their voices be heard, as I'm sure most will be against the idea. The devastating effect financially it would have on our game and clubs in the EFL and below that have been around over a century would be irreversible." Hard to disagree. There seems to be reward in only one direction here - not the direction of those who have invested most. By Erin Wilson

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E T

ottenham's Harry Kane reminded everyone at Goodison Park why he is still his club's biggest asset, on a night when his team rather 'got away with it'. His expertly-taken brace denied Everton the three points they needed to regain impetus entering the Premier League run-in, while keeping Spurs themselves in with a modest shout of their own of getting back into Europe. Sadly, he also suffered an injury late on that could wreck his team's end-of-season hopes. For Everton, this season appears to have become a bit of a damp squib over the last month. A first win over Liverpool at Anfield this century, back in midFebruary, appeared to prime the Toffeemen for an assault on the Champions' League places. But since then, they have stalled rather limply. They are currently five Premier League matches without a win, and while they did play better here than in recent matches, they are now adrift in a rather familiar eighth position. Their hopes of qualifying for any European football next season are ebbing rapidly. Indeed, although Spurs were largely second best on the night, it might have been even worse for Everton. It was Spurs who drew first blood, with Kane scoring his 20th goal of the season on 27 minutes, getting on the end of a missed defensive header to volley home clinically from near the penalty spot. And when Everton equalised minutes later, it was only through a debatable penalty by Gylfi Sigurdsson against his old club, after James Rodriguez was adjudged to have been tripped by Sergio Reguilon on the edge of the Spurs penalty area. TV replays seemed to indicate that

Rodriguez was already threequarters of the way to ground before any contact was made, but the decision stood, and Sigurdsson certainly did not argue as he rifled the kick home. Everton took a lead they had just about merited on 62 minutes, when a smart low cross from substitute Seamus Coleman reached Sigurdsson inside the penalty area, and he ruthlessly swept the ball into the Spurs net again. From there, Everton looked ready to overpower Spurs completely, but then committed a blunder that will likely have coach Carlo Ancelotti fuming for weeks. A cross from the right, which looked like it should be meatand-drink to the Everton rearguard, somehow escaped both Michael Keane and Mason Holgate. The ball once again ricocheted to the feet of Kane inside the area, and frankly, he could hardly miss. As it was, he volleyed the ball irresistibly cleanly past the stranded Jordan Pickford to pull Spurs level. Everton made most of the late play from there, but the only truly significant action came as Spurs were defending a late corner. Kane was back helping out the defence, and rose to head the ball away, but landed very awkwardly, possibly rolling his ankle. He immediately hobbled off the pitch. The fact he was able to do so under his own power means Spurs fans should not lose all hope. But Kane is now a serious doubt for the Carabao Cup Final against Manchester City next weekend, and Tottenham know they can ill-afford to lose him if they are to avoid yet another Cup Final disappointment, after losing the Champions' League Final two years ago. By Martin Odoni

Quadruple hopes A

s Horse Racing is the Sport of Kings, funded through the Bookmakers by the general public, so football fans are increasingly disenfranchised in the sport into which they have invested so much time and love to create, and then support. No fixture is a clearer example of this than Chelsea v Manchester City, Roman Abramovich v Sheikh Mansour. The Sheikh is the wealthier of the two, though above a certain level this difference becomes less significant.

With V.A.R. and the tiniest of margins now meaning a goal disqualified for offside, Manchester City chose to hold a high line for their defence. This just about worked for them in the first half, with Werner using his pace before putting the ball across for Ziyech to slot home. City were unworried; Werner was offside, and the goal was disallowed. In the second half Werner using his pace before putting the ball across for Ziyech to slot home. But this time, it was not offside, and Hakim Ziyech's goal stood. It proved to be the big difference, and it is Chelsea who play in the final, while Manchester City's oft-mentioned hopes of an unprecedented 'quadruple' of trophies will have to wait at least one more year. In truth, it could have been worse for City, especially when

Ab v M

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Everton stall County Championship matches played in again glorious sunshinet I Harry Kan e torments Toffees be picking up fore ye another t injury

f cricket truly is “The Sunshine Sport,” then the second round of fixtures in the 2021 County Championship, heavily modified due to Covid19 lockdown, are being played in their most natural environment possible. Glorious early-spring sunshine washed over grounds all around the country, allowing some very fine, closely-fought cricket. Interestingly for a week of cricket with no weather holdups, many games went, not just into the final day, but even into the final session of the final day. Here are the results.

derailed yet again Christian Pulisic had a marvellous goal of his own disallowed for offside.

Of additional worry to City will be an injury to Kevin De Bruyne. As Lionel Messi scored the goals, but Xavi and Iniesta were vital to the success of Barcelona under Pep Guardiola, so the player who is surely the best Chelsea v midfielder in the world, if not the current best allMan City, round player, is Roman essential to Manchester bramovic City.

v Sheikh Mansour

It was an innocuous challenge in which De Bruyne picked up the injury, but his immediate pained reaction indicates it is unlikely to be anything trivial. A badlyswollen ankle with ligament damage hampers medical assessment; the swelling will probably need to go down substantially in order to asses the severity of the injury. It might then be hoped De Bruyne will be able to return in the near future. City do still have a League Cup Final, a Premier League run-in, and a Champions League semifinal to play for, and won't want to face too many of the remaining fixtures without him. Thomas Tuchel will now take his Chelsea side to the F. A. Cup final where their current form must surely make them favourites against either Leicester City or Southampton. by Mo Rehman

Derbyshire v Worcestershire 390ao 305ao 312-5 dec. 193-8 – Match drawn Essex v Durham 96ao 259ao 330ao 123ao – Essex win by 44 runs Glamorgan v Sussex 285ao 481ao 349ao 154-2 – Sussex win by 8 wkts Hampshire v Middlesex 319ao 79ao 290-4 dec. 281ao Hampshire win by 249 runs Kent v Yorkshire 265-9 379ao 244-9 330-5 dec. - Yorkshire win by 200 runs Lancashire v Northamptonshire 305ao 177ao 296-7 dec 218ao – Lancashire win by 206 runs Nottinghamshire v Warwickshire 273ao 201-9 260ao 333-7 – Warwickshire win by 3 wkts Somerset v Gloucestershire 312ao 309ao 149 156-2 – Gloucestershire win by 8 wkts Surrey v Leicestershire 672-8 dec. 375ao 295-3 – Match drawn

FOOTBALL RE SU LTS Premier League

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE:

Monday 12th April 2021

Tuesday 13th April 2021 Chelsea 0-1 FC Porto Chelsea win 2-1 on aggregate Paris St. Germain 0-1 Bayern Munich 3-3 on aggregate. Paris St.Germain win on away goals Wednesday 14th April 2021 Borussia Dortmund 1-2 Manchester City Chelsea win 2-1 on aggregate Liverpool 0-0 Real Madrid Real Madrid win 3-1 on aggregate

West Bromwich Albion

3-0

Southampton

Brighton & Hove Albion

0-0

Everton

2-2

Tottenham

Newcastle United

3-2

West Ham

Wolverhampton Wanderers

1-0

Sheffield United

Arsenal

1-1

Fulham

Manchester United

3-1

Burnley

Friday 16th April 2021 Everton Saturday 17th April 2021

Sunday 18th April 2021

FA CUP SEMI-FINAL: Chelsea Leicester City

1-0 1-0

Manchester City Southampton

UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE: Thursday 15th April 2021 Manchester United 2-0 Grenada Manchester United win 4-0 on aggregate Slavia Prague 0-4 Arsenal Arsenal win 5-1 on aggregate

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POLITICS AND EVENTS

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Borussia Dortmund fall to Man this was poised to b a suspens e eful match

Jude Bellin gh of Boruss am Dortmund ia be the young came English pla est yer to score in ever a Champion s' League match"

Same old story for Liverpool T

he second leg of the Champions League's 'most aristocratic' showdown rather summed up how Liverpool's season has gone since Christmas. At Anfield, they dominated l o n g stretches of the game, created countless openings and some absolutely gilt-edged chances. But somehow, the ball just never found its way into the net, and also somehow, those watching could almost 'feel' that it never would.

Yet ag Reds domain, a home g inate a but cannome t break through

The match was certainly no stalemate in terms of the action on show, as Liverpool probably should have scored about six times, and Real at least twice. And some of the skills on display from both sides were outstanding. But for Liverpool, the outcome was as useless as a stalemate, as chance after chance after chance was spurned, with Roberto Firmino and Mohammed Salah in particular putting two sitters each into the stands. Real, for their part, were disciplined and had plenty of savvy, but even so, Zinedine Zidane must have been quietly concerned about just how many openings Liverpool were able to carve out. But in the end, the goalless draw was more than enough for Real to complete

the task started eight days before in the Bernabeu. The evening was marred before the game even started, when a Liverpool supporter outside the ground threw a bottle at the Real coach as it was arriving, damaging a window. Poor behaviour in any context; disgraceful on the eve of the 32nd Anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster. But in the end, Liverpool pay the price for a poor performance in the first leg, and will miss out on silverware for the first time in three seasons. Real go through to face Chelsea in the semi-finals on 27th April. By Martin Odoni

Chel became tse ever Engl he to lose a h ish of a Europom e to FC Porat

THE

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POLITICS AND EVENTS

nchester City

ea e first h club me leg an tie to

ith City 2-1 up from the first leg, Borussia needing one goal to go through on away goals, and the attacking flair of the young stars Borussia have, this was poised to be a suspenseful match. The goal needed came as early as the fifteenth minute. Jude Bellingham of Borussia Dortmund became the youngest English player ever to score in a Champions' League match. His goal a true gem with swerve, power, and precision. Even City's Brazilian goalkeeper Ederson getting a hand to it was not enough to stop it.

A response from City was inevitable, and they threw everything at a solid Dortmund defence for the remainder of the first half. The German team held out well until half time, and were still winning the tie on away goals. However, it was in the 55th minute that the breakthrough finally came, though it is hard to say it was just. These two sides had

been here before; in 2012 Borussia had just five minutes of the tie to go and were going through when a disputed penalty was awarded to Manchester City. Just as then the penalty was not awarded by the letter of the rules, and was highly questionable. Emre Can, former Liverpool player, headed a cross downwards and it may have struck either his shoulder of the very upper rear edge of his arm. V.A.R. does, we have learned this week, allow a certain amount of discretion. In this case the decision gave Riyad Mahrez the chance to return the advantage to the City side, and he took that chance. Phil Foden then added a second goal with a brilliant strike in the 76th minute, making the score 2-1, and that was the way it stayed., a 4-2 win on aggregate for Manchester City. Somewhat harsh on Borussia Dortmund, given the manner of the big turning point of the second leg. by Sue Port

Chelsea stumble into semis O

n a strange night of Champions League football at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea became the first ever English club to lose a home leg of a European tie to FC Porto. But they also became the first English club to qualify for the semi-finals of the competition eight different times in the Champions League era.

In a flat game of few chances, Chelsea were visibly playing within themselves, happy to tread water and see out as much time as possible. They were quite confident that Porto could not break them down, and until injury time right at the end, that appeared to be

the way the night was working. The main threat was chiefly coming from young forward, Mason Mount, who continued to enhance his growing reputation. It was only with the tie effectively over that Mehdi Taremi scored a stunning overhead kick winner to claim the second leg for Porto, but too little much too late to redeem the tie. Man of the Match was N'Golo Kante, who proved to be the unbreachable 'wall' in midfield that Porto could neither pull down nor climb over. Chelsea will face Liverpool/Real Madrid in the semifinal. By Martin Odoni

Mid April 2021

Premier League allowing fans back into stadiums on limited scale A

ll English Premier League clubs will be permitted to play one home and one away game with crowds in attendance, as the season comes to a close after the Government's May 17th go-live date. The two final rounds of fixtures will now move from weekend slots of Saturday May 15th to Tuesday May 18th and Wednesday May 19th. Each club will be permitted to play one home game in front of up to 10,000 fans. The FA Cup final will take precedence on the Saturday, and whichever two EPL sides are involved in it, they would play their

league games as scheduled on May 11th/12th. The Premier League have informed clubs regarding the decision to switch, but is not expected to confirm plans until broadcast arrangements are fully in place. Tory Government rules mean that supporters attending the

WORD

Each club

will b permittede to play on game in f e home ron to 10,000t of up fans Carabao Cup final later this month will still need proof of a negative CoVid-19 test before gaining entry to the stadium. However, those attending the FA Cup final, and those supporters attending the last home games of the season at their respective clubs, are not expected to need negative Covid-19 tests to gain entry. By Jennifer Dixon

In Football, Money Talks Loudest Sheffield United relegated from the Premier League

“

Everybody has won something by spending money. There's no anybody who haven't spent money, and the only people usually to object to it are he ones who don't have the money. So there's no been anyone who's won something without spending money; ye cannae' do it." Kenny Dalglish, August 2017 Football was first codified and played as organised sport by the privately educated. As it grew in popularity, major centres of industry, Newcastle the coal exporter, Sunderland the ship builders, the iron men of Middlebrough, the booming city of Brimingham with its district Aston and nearby West

Bromwich, and of course the worldrenowned Sheffield Steel, built huge clubs. They had the industry to support the local population who in turn ensured a good income for the teams. Now London is the place where much of the nation's money ends up, and teams bought by foreign billionnaires hold ascendency. In the battle to avoid relegation from this year's Premier League, Aston Villa are safe, probably Newcastle United too. But with six games to go, Sheffield United are already relegated. The amount needed to be spent just to stay in the top flight is enormous, and the city's industries don't seem big enough anymore to provide the wherewithal. West

Bromwich Albion look likely to follow. As for the match that decided Sheffield United's fate, both sides had chances to win, but there was no escaping the reality that Wolves were clearly the better team. After a corner, Wily Noly excuted a deft chipped back heel, which Oliver Norwood managed to keep out on the line. In the second half Adama Traore drove the ball across the box for Willian Jose to push home. Wolves win one-nil, and next season, Sheffield United's task will be to win the battle to return to the top flight once more. by Mo Rehman

MOURINHO FIRED!

n a move that looks astonishingly Ill-timed, Tottenham Hotspur have announced the dismissal of Jose Mourinho as their manager.

Mourinho had only taken over as Spurs manager from Mauricio Pocchetino in November 2019, and his time in charge has been hampered by confusion caused by the Covid19 pandemic. Form has undoubtedly been mixed, and the atmosphere, as is often the case at clubs Mourinho has run, has not been great at White Hart Lane. With just seven wins in their last nineteen matches, including eight defeats, recent times have looked bleak.

Spurs sack man age less than r a week be for a Cup Fina e appearan l ce

However, with his team just five points shy of a Champions' League spot with six games Premier League still to play, and a League Cup Final against Manchester City in just six days' time, this decision seems incredibly reckless, and surely could at least have been left one more week.

Suspicions are that the real reason Spurs have made this announcement may have been to distract from the club's decision to endorse the breakaway 'European Super League,' which has drawn nearuniversal and savage criticism from fans, professionals, and media alike. Rumour has it that

Mourinho had refused to take the players out training on Monday morning in protest against the club's position on the breakaway.

achieved extraordinary success in both England and Spain, and surely had done enough at least to be allowed to see out the season.

Mourinho, who increasingly looks like he is past his sell-by date as a coach, has nonetheless

In the short term, Mourinho will be replaced by the club's academy coach, Ryan Mason.

Ironically, Mason, with the aforementioned Cup Final immediately ahead, could in his first week win more silverware for Spurs than Mourinho, Pocchetino and Harry Redknapp won in their entire stewardships combined. By Martin Odoni

Leicester reach their first FA Cup Final in over 50 years L

the goal was the o n shot on ta ly rg in the wh et ole of the 90 minutes

eicester City will be playing on the English domestic calendar's biggest footballing occasion for the first time since an era when Gordon Banks was their main goalkeeper. Their appointment with Chelsea in May was booked thanks to victory in a drab, low-quality semi-final a g a i n s t Southampton.

initial strike was blocked by a defender. But Iheanacho simply gathered the rebound and gently rolled the ball past Fraser Forster into the corner of the Southampton net.

The only goal came from a moment of “pass-it-intot h e - n e t ” coolness from man-of-the-match Kelechi Iheanacho ten minutes into the second half. Taking a cross from Jamie Vardy from the left on the volley, Iheanacho's

Leicester City will be unconcerned about that however. This is their first win at the semi-final stage of the FA Cup since beating West Bromwich Albion (who were then the holders) way back in 1969. Instead, their concern will be to make sure there is no repeat in the Final against Chelsea of what happened in the 1969 Final against Manchester

It was a moment of clearheaded quality that stood out markedly in an otherwise very cagey semi-final. Two nervous teams seemed to be playing not to lose more than they were playing to win – the goal was the only shot on target in the whole of the 90 minutes.

City – a match won by a solitary City goal from Neil Young. As for Southampton, their best effort was a spectacular volley from the edge of the Leicester box by Ibrahima Diallo, which brushed past the right post of Kasper Schmeichel. Beyond that though, Schmeichel had so little to do, he might as well have been one of the 4,000 spectators who had been allowed into Wembley due to easing of Covid restrictions. For Southampton this season, their cup run has been a redeeming feature in what has otherwise been a pretty ropey season for them. But while Leicester were unimpressive, Southampton were definitely second-best on this occasion, and can have no serious complaints. By Martin Odoni