The People To Whom Those Funds Belonged Thought So...

...ro your objections count for naught!

Timmy the whale is lost at sea, presumed dead. In normal circumstances, the loss of a young humpback whale would be a sad yet unremarkable part of the circle of life. Dead whales help sustain thousands of marine species – and are part of the global carbon cycle.

Yes, they provide much needed food for hideous slimy bottom-feeders, and this case has done much the same in providing publicity opportunities for their two-legged counterparts on land 

Amy Dickham, a professor of wildlife conservation at the University of Oxford, says there are many lessons to reflect on from the case. “It’s really striking that there’s been such a focus on this individual animal at such great cost during a time of great crisis for wildlife funding around the world,” she told me. “It is really questionable whether it was a good use of funds, particularly compared with issues that impact much greater numbers of whales, such as collisions with vessels and entanglements with fishing gear.”

Who are you to question that? It's not your money, and you have no say over how these people want to spend it, which it the real issue, isn't it?  Even more, I suspect, than the danger that the 'experts' might be proved wrong.

The International Fund for Animal Welfare said that the rescue for Timmy should “give us all pause”, highlighting it as an example of the challenges of social media.There’s a huge pressure to move rapidly and that doesn’t necessarily give experts the time to carefully consider what the best course of action should be, including things such as euthanasia, which might not be popular with the public but might be the best course of action for the animal’s welfare.”

Given what we know about what 'experts' choose to spend the money they are given on, I'll side with social media on this issue.

The Main Surprise Here...

...is that at least the seminar was run by someone who really was an expert in the subject! 

The 51-year-old sent scores of 'sexually suggestive' texts commenting on the woman's 'sexy' body and requesting sex, even though she told him she was in a relationship and asked him to stop. She complained in August 2022 after discovering that Mr Broadway was leading a seminar with a discussion about inappropriate workplace messaging.

And he produced all his own material too!  

The talk was one of a series held by the Gwent Police as part of efforts to rebuild trust in the police after Ms Everard's murder in 2021 by Scotland Yard officer Wayne Couzens.

Safe to say, 'Epic FAIL!' there, Gwent cops. 

In May 2023, a second woman came forward with complaints about Mr Broadway, who was then suspended on full pay. A third complainant emerged later.

So, he was sacked? Well, no.  

A Gwent Police spokesman said: 'The hearing chair found the former staff member would have been dismissed had he not resigned from his position ahead of the hearing.'

To ensure he kept his pension. I thought they were trying to stop this happening? 

Listen To The Experts?

Why should I?

For decades we have been warned that eating too much dairy such as milk, butter and cheese could raise our risk of serious conditions such as heart disease and strokes — only for more recent studies to suggest they might actually protect us from these by lowering our risk of developing high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes.

But we're supposed to believe they are spot on about everything else, like covid? 

While scientists generally agree that eating saturated fats raises the level of fats in your bloodstream and may increase other risk factors for heart disease, such as inflammation, it is not clear that it directly leads to heart or cardiovascular problems.

Some researchers say saturated fat has been unfairly demonised. Arne Astrup, a professor in the department of nutrition, exercise and sports at Copenhagen University, argues that focusing on saturated fat alone ‘does not make sense’ as there are different types of saturated fatty acids which all have different effects on the body.

As the old wisdom goes, a little of what you fancy does you good. So listen to your granny a lot more, and far less to the self-proclaimed 'experts' who tell you that science is settled...