Funny - Royal Mail

I wonder if the UK's Royal Mail knows where New Zealand is? Today, I received an expo guide from the Quarrying Institute in Britain, promoting Hillhead 2026, a working quarry show held in Derbyshire every two years. I am a regular attendant, but did not plan on going this year. I received the guide after the show was held, 23-25 June 2026. The envelope was sellotaped together, it had broken in transit.

Normally I would receive such mail well in advance of the event. So I looked at the post mark - Sweden. The origin point was Nottingham, England; so I'm assuming this letter went from England to Sweden first. The mail system saw New Zealand, and thought, oh, Sweden (there is a Zealand in Denmark and the Netherlands, don't know about Sweden). It arrived there, and the Swedes nicely repaired the package and sent it on to the correct destination, New Zealand, on the other side of the world. 

Sweden can find New Zealand, but not the Royal Mail. Imagine the type of people they hire in mail sorting in England!

World War III Kicking Off

North Korea are readying for war. Their leader has just announced that South Korea are to be described as their 'number one enemy'.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/01/16/asia-pacific/politics/north-korea-south-korea-relations/

I find it hard to believe that North Korea just came up with this approach on their own. China and Russia must have agreed with the announcement. 

I see commentators saying that North Korea wants engagement and this is another attempt to seek that. I think this is misguided thinking as North Korea have had a windfall with their arms sales to Russia. It appears likely they're now using this income. 

A brief history lesson: the Korean War kicked off when the Russian and Chinese backed North launched an attack on the US-backed South in June 1950. The war swung back and forth but came to a stalemate by 1953. Today, the two sides sit looking at one another, with the conflict technically still live, there has been no peace treaty.

Add to the mix, China's claim on Taiwan and its push into territory in the South China Sea.

Then in other regions, we have the war in Ukraine, with Russia about to win. We have genocide in Gaza with the US, apparently, tacitly supporting this atrocity. The Red Sea is effectively closed to commercial traffic and the US and UK look ineffectual in trying to keep it open.

China and India are still fighting over their borders, as are Iran and Pakistan.

Venezuela has claimed half of Guyana.

Turkey has no idea which side to take, while the Baltic states must be feeling nervous. Why Sweden gave up its neutral stance is a complete mystery.

This is becoming so complicated, it is hard to keep up. I feel like a ball bearing bouncing around in a pinball machine. Another pandemic must be on the cards.

And where does New Zealand and Australia fit in? Not very comfortably is the immediate answer. Neither has the capacity to supply itself or defend its sea lanes. The way things have been left to atrophy is an utter disgrace. We are led by donkeys.

Drop in Birth Rate Sweden

What's going on in Sweden? https://sashalatypova.substack.com/p/the-link-between-the-massive-drop

Sweden's Response to COVID-19

Children still go to school and its borders are still open. Sweden has a completely different approach to the COVID-19 crisis:

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/30/sweden-coronavirus-approach-is-very-different-from-the-rest-of-europe.html

Critically, small businesses are still allowed to operate. This is something I think many governments simply don't understand. Small business is what drives the economy, shut them off, they go out of business and the result is Depression, not just recession. Sweden has gone for voluntary restrictions, an approach proven to work well.

Azealia Banks Disses Sweden

Azealia Banks has found out the truth about Sweden; the country is racist and lives so far up its own arse they can't find daylight. That's the nub of it I reckon. The thing that is most annoying about Sweden is their attitude. They think they're always right and that everyone should listen to them. Hang on though, they were neutral during WWII but were happy to take German money. Hmm? They're monumental hypocrites, the best example right now being that grandstanding publicity seeker Greta Thunberg (or is that her parents?). I am always amused by Ms Banks antics, she's rarely wrong but certainly will not win any points for diplomacy.