Surveillance society

Another step towards guilty until proven innocent?

I'll be visiting Sweden this summer, I'll try not to do anything intelligence...saying that I won't have fax or email, and you have to go to the top of the hill to get signal on your phone, so I should be ok.

Some hope?

Too late for too many people to mention, but not too many to hold in our hearts.

The death of Professor Heinz Klein yesterday will be felt by many, and my heart goes out to them.

Today we may be a step closer to a cure, each of which helps, and hopefully brings some hope to those for whom cancer affects their lives.

No one bathes in Shijiayao

Spare a thought for Shijiayao

"while visitors to Beijing amble along man-made lakes and fountains at
the grand Olympic Green and Olympic Forest Park, Shijiayao residents
will trek about 12 miles a day for drinking water"

No one bathes in quite a few residencies I can think of, but they do have a choice...

250 Weeks

Now Chunky has hit her 250 weeks we've been starting to think what she might do afterwards, retirement not being retirement with a good few years of mortgage left. Though our options may be more limited as she's still suffering from an injury on duty, only time will tell.

I found this from Old Plod of Plympton really touching, from an outsiders point of view. I can't imagine what it's like to do 'the job' (and probably don't want to!) but little insights such as this help us MOPs to realise that a cop is for life, not just for Christmas.

I've reproduced the text below, but do go visit his site, it's heartfelt and humourous...don't forget about our Dickiebo though, who flies the flag with pride ;)


When Cops Retire
When a good cop leaves the "job" and retires to a better life, many are jealous, some are pleased and yet others, who may have already retired, wonder. We wonder if he knows what they are leaving behind, because we already know. We know, for example, that after a lifetime of camaraderie that few experience, it will remain as a longing for those past times. We know in the law enforcement life there is a fellowship which lasts long after the uniforms are hung up in the back of the closet. We know even if he throws them away, they will be on him with every step and breath that remains in his life. We also know how the very bearing of the man speaks of what he was and in his heart still is.

These are the burdens of the job. You will still look at people suspiciously, still see what others do not see or choose to ignore and always will look at the rest of the law enforcement world with a respect for what they do; only grown in a lifetime of knowing. Never think for one moment you are escaping from that life. You are only escaping the "job" and merely being allowed to leave "active" duty.

So what I wish for you is that whenever you ease into retirement, in your heart you never forget for one moment that "Blessed are the Peacemakers for they shall be called children of God," and you are still a member of the greatest fraternity the world has ever known.