You Brits don't have those newfangled inventions that block the sun, like party tents or parasols? 😂

On the whole, we have buildings designed for the typical weather I remember from over 50 years ago, cold and wet most of the time! (Which reminds me, I need to get my birth certificate changed. It can't possibly be correct as it says I turned 70 earlier this month!)

New/More ways for "big brother" to spy and track us!
New License Plate Reader Tech Could Track Phones, AirPods, and Smartwatches

Leonardo’s SignalTrace adds wireless device detection to ALPR systems, raising new questions about roadside surveillance, privacy, and security.
Roadside cameras are no longer just watching cars. Your device is next in line.

Defense contractor Leonardo has begun marketing SignalTrace, its upgraded Automatic License Plate Reader (ALPR) system that adds wireless sensing capabilities, enabling law enforcement to record nearby smart device identifiers alongside vehicle information. The company says aggregated observations will enable investigators to identify crime suspects more effectively.

The approach broadens what roadside surveillance networks can collect without changing how license plate readers operate. The technology brings its own caveats, too, from potential security implications to privacy concerns; it will have to prove that the advantages outweigh these worries.

it will have to prove that the advantages outweigh these worries.

More likely it will start being used with no attempt to prove the advantages outweigh the worries.

Ah, Territory Day.
A chance to set fire to hundreds of thousands of dollars, and all the dry grass.
Dozens of fires put out so far, dozens more still burning. Hundreds more yet to be started and reported.

---

Grant
Darwin NT.

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 250th birthday of the USA.

Kids used a Ferrari 488 as a playground. Now their parents are being sued

It's every supercar owner's nightmare. A Ferrari owner in China returned from a business trip to discover his prized 488 GTB had been scratched and damaged after four young children climbed all over it and used it as a makeshift playground. The owner initially tried to resolve the matter privately, but after the children's parents refused to cover the full cost of repairs, he decided to take the dispute to court.

Interesting to hear on The World at One (BBC Radio4) today that drug driving arrests have overtaken (see what I did there) those for drink driving. (This includes some who don't realise they are impaired by taking prescription pain killers.)

Amazing!
93-Year-Old Trucker Still Drives a Semi After 5 Million Miles, Now Chasing a Guinness World Record

Over a third of the way through July, and our maximums are still around 32°c (should be around 30°c with a few less than that and a very few more than that), and our minimums are still hanging around 22-24°c (they should be around 17°c with a few around 14°c and a few around 19°c).
This is proving to be a very warm dry season.

---

Grant
Darwin NT.

Is that pipeline straight through the earth sucking the same temperatures from our neighborhood towards yours. It just dipped below 24C outside. It's just past midnight.

In reply to Jord's message of 11 Jul 2026:

Is that pipeline straight through the earth sucking the same temperatures from our neighborhood towards yours. It just dipped below 24C outside. It's just past midnight.

Must be.
Minimum last night was 20°c, by midnight it was down to 21°c.
4°c+ above average.

---

Grant
Darwin NT.

Oh joy- they've started shooting in the Gulf again. Strategic fuel reserves continue to be drawn down.
End of this month, beginning of the next, expect prices to climb, and climb, and climb if things don't settle down in the Gulf.

And even if they do, prices will remain elevated to due to the increase in demand caused by the need to rebuild the strategic reserves for the next fuel supply shock.
And as for gas supply; hopefully this coming winter will be a lot warmer than usual in Europe, otherwise people are going to be a very tough place- buy food and pay rent, or pay for gas for heat?

---

Grant
Darwin NT.

And as for gas supply; hopefully this coming winter will be a lot warmer than usual in Europe, otherwise people are going to be a very tough place- buy food and pay rent, or pay for gas for heat?

Got a fixed price deal till end of February next year. I am expecting a big increase then. Not good for UK with electricity price being tied to that of gas.

In reply to Dave's message of 12 Jul 2026:

Not good for UK with electricity price being tied to that of gas.

Ah, yes. The legacy of the "dash for gas". In the 1980s Margaret Thatcher wanted to reduce our dependency on coal for electricity generation - not for environmental reasons, but to reduce the power of the National Union of Mineworkers. Gas turbine generating stations were the cheapest and (more importantly) quickest way of preventing the NUM having the power to cause nationwide blackouts by going on strike.

Grumble.
Been to the vampire shop 6 times so far this year.
1st 4 were not too bad, some issues came to light & prescribed satins.
No 5 was last week & Dr also booked an ECG(for today).
Monday get a phone call.
Last weeks visit's results came in & Dr saw they were the wrong test so had to be booked in for another visit to the vampire.
As had an apt for today, suggest the same day for that visit.

Said she would see if it was possible as fully booked for the week.
As it happened, it was done.
This time though it was a double test & even the nurse didn't know what the 2nd 1 was for as she didn't recognise the name, neither did I.
Then she took the ECG.
All well & good.

Took the printout to Dr, Came back 10 min later & said have to do another ECG as Dr didn't like the results.
Job done, took printout & came back again after 10 min.
All done & please wait as Dr wants to discuss & give advice.

After waiting close to an hour, said screw this, going home for breakfast & a cuppa. Receptionist heard & asked to wait, she'll contact nurse.
Jeebers, message? Why not pick up the frigging phone? Dr's advice? Naw, she couldn't get through to A&E, so I have to go there.

3 hour return journey & possible wait a couple of hours? Screw that. Phoned hospital Left name, NHS No & mobile No.
Got leave name & number on line(we'll get back to you shortly). Sheesh.

Since you're not dead yet, are they waiting for that before they see you?

That wouldn't surprise me at all.

After seven years, no more updates to my Fairphone3. As I use banking apps on it, time for an upgrade to FP6.

Oh that grumble just got worse.
16:39 surgery called.
"Didn't you attend A&E 2 days ago?"
Sheesh!

It looks like hospital checked my message, didn't like it & called surgery.
Surgery apologised after I explained what happened.
I should have realised when the nurse told me while doing my ECG the 2nd time, that the same thing happened last week with another patient.

It looks like the surgery's ECG kit is borked.
So off to A&E in the morning.
As it's a potential heart issue, I won't be skipping it.

Also, the Dr said she will call back, so far, nothing.

Your "pantomime" (only no laughter involved) reinforces my decision to have any similar tests I need done at the local "cottage hospital". For example I can book a blood test a day ahead, at the time I want, turn up a few minutes early, see Dracula and back to my car before the appointment time.