Walter's Blog |
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Reflections on recent events, plus the occasional fact
free rant unfiltered by rational argument. |
  George Orwell’s seminal work ‘1984’ was half right. The all-seeing system is here. It’s functional, monitoring our every move, detailing likes and dislikes, noting opinions. But Orwell got one thing wrong. Government’s didn't foster it. It wasn’t imposed on us, rather we’ve embraced and welcomed it to pry into all aspects of our life. The impact it's had is profound, evolving and somewhat disturbing. Facebook is watching you.
Interesting fact. Each year Facebook spends US$10 million lobbying to quash biometric privacy legislation. That’s serious money that is buying a lot of clout. Why would it be doing this? Simple. It wants to gather more data on each of us because that helps Facebook sell targeted advertising. It’s all about profit. You may think Facebook is a social network tool. Wrong, it’s a huge data mining operation. And the real clever thing is that we are helping to populate the database. Further, every day we are teaching it to get smarter. Each time you tag someone in a photograph that feeds a massive facial recognition dataset. What's more, it's learning to recognise us from different angles and ages. Currently, about two billion of us are working as unpaid drones feeding the machine. That includes me. ‘People You May Know’ or PYMY is a subsystem within Facebook. That’s the bit that generates those friend suggestions. Algorithms do the data crunching using 100 plus parameters to make the links. Location, workplace, interests, group membership are but a few. Facebook is reluctant to talk details. What is certain, these algorithms are somewhat scary in the links they make. In several instances, unknown brothers and sisters have been brought together. That’s nice. Infidelity in marriages exposed; perhaps not so good. In one instance, the system started linking the patients of a psychiatrist. This inadvertently revealed people seeking mental health support. Not good. In the wrong hands, these systems has the potential for great harm. In Australia evidence emerged in 2011 of outlaw motorcycle gangs building up a database of police officers. They attended passing out parades to take photographs of new recruits. These then matched in Facebook or elsewhere gave gangs a tool against infiltration. The gangs could screen their inductees, associates or contacts. Former Australian Federal Police commissioner Mick Keelty stated: “Face-recognition technology and the near-universal adoption of social networking tools by teenagers could have already made future covert police and intelligence operations difficult, if not impossible”. Witness protection programmes are also vulnerable. But it cuts both ways. The same systems provide a gold mine of data to the authorities. People matching, movement monitoring, hangouts and habits are all treasure to investigators. The Yorkshire Ripper case exposed the weakness of paper based systems. The culprit, Peter Sutcliffe, interviewed nine times escaped undetected for years. He went unlinked in the mountain of paper the police investigators gathered. Facebook could do the job, with obliging criminals providing the source data. Today, it’s terrorism that is driving the adoption of facial recognition. As a tool to track and interdict attackers its unparalleled. Again, such systems have a downside. They could pick up undercover cops and others who need to remain covert. Firewalls and tight protocols on usage are needed to protect those people. Moreover, the whole matter of data privacy when mass scanning a population needs addressing. It wouldn't take much for a rogue operator to deploy the system to check if his wife is having an affair. Or who is his daughter meeting? That’s at the less sinister end of the scale. Higher up the scale would be tracking by paedophiles of their victims. And yes, the use of such systems for mass surveillance would herald ‘Big Brother’. In fact, the horse has already bolted and there is no point closing the stable door. Facebook and other systems are out there with our tacit blessing. On the other hand, some are beginning to seek a way out. Getting off the system might be an option except your pictures are already up there with a match made. In response to these concerns, the right to disconnect and disappear is gaining momentum. Currently, there are no international standards. Meanwhile, the European Union has moved to a position that data privacy is a fundamental human right. This asserts that the individual must have control on how data is used. This has brought the EU into conflict with the Big Four - Google, Microsoft, Yahoo and Facebook. EU regulations in this regard enjoy application even if the server is outside Europe. Moreover, the burden of proof has shifted. It is the company - not the individual - who must prove that the data cannot be deleted. They must show it's still needed and relevant. Yet real concerns remain if regulations lag. Michal Kosinski- an Assistant Professor at Stanford - discussed these issues in a recent lecture. He believes that within 10 years privacy will be gone. “For a motivated individual, for a motivated government, or an institution, there is very little to stop them from learning about you". Kosinski’s experiments have had astonishing results. He has shown that existing systems can predict a person’s sex, colour, and gender. Straightforward with a photograph. The worrying findings include determinations on people's politics, self-beliefs and attitudes on discrimination. Our inner-most thoughts are being caught by these systems. That's an ominous tool in the wrong hands. It’s only a matter of time before, for example, people get refused insurance because of their online stuff. Facebook activity could reveal an unhealthy lifestyle with heavy alcohol consumption. Next data from your fitness tracker shows you are ‘sedentary’. Bingo, the insurance company has you as a high risk. We need to sit back to reflect on these issues, although it's likely too late. Posting all those racy party photos may not have been so wise.
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26/8/2017 1 Comment Bonkers Britain  A Traffic Warden in Leeds giving a wheelbarrow a parking ticket. Every visit I take to the UK raises serious questions - who the hell is running this place? A cartel of petty-minded bureaucrats and jobsworths by my estimation. The two nuttiest subgroups in this milieu are the health and safety lot, followed by the crown prosecution service. Let's deal with health and safety first.
The official fervour for safety knows no bounds. The Royal British Legion no longer supplies pins with your poppy, because you may prick yourself and then sue them. Some bars are refusing to let customers carry trays of drinks. You need to be ‘professionally trained’ for that role. Business opportunity there. The rules covering schools are legion. No football - unless a sponge ball is provided. No conkers, no snowballs, no games of tag … no wonder the little ones are obese. Even the well meaning get caught in the web of health and safety. Mrs Beryl Smith, a retired lady, tended the local communal flower bed. She spent her own money on tools and plants. The local council then intervened. Her efforts breached safety rules. The adjacent road was assessed as a risk. Thus she must wear a hi-vis jacket, deploy signs and appoint a lookout. The cretins from the local Health and Safety Executive must be so proud of their work. My favourite from this litany of stupidity is the postman from a Berkshire village. He has refused to deliver mail to a single cottage located on the opposite side of a village street. He asserted its dangerous to cross the road. Moreover, the Post Office supported his judgement. Thus, he delivers mail on one side of the street. Then he moves to the next village, turns around to drive back on the opposite side. He can then complete his fraught mission. I wonder how this poor man survives day-to-day when he encounters a road to cross. One assumed that the ability to cross a road was in the postman test. It appears not. If health and safety is perplexing, then don’t get me started on the whole ‘right to not be offended’ nonsense. Here we go. A Shropshire hospital refused funds from a charity because men dressed as nurses to raise money. A bunch of blokes pushing a bed raised £2500 for an electrocardiograph. But, to the guardians of our morals this ‘sexualized’ the image of nurses. This in turn makes life harder for them in the workplace. How guys in drag contribute to the inappropriate treatment of nurses escapes me. Jan Ditheridge, Chief Executive of the Shropshire Hospital Trust, managed to join the dots to make that mental leap. She refused the donation. At least some nurses saw sense. Posting comments on Facebook, they asserted their support for the ‘hairy legs in nurses uniforms’. Next up we enter ‘Alice in Wonderland’ territory. We’ve fallen down the rabbit hole. Wolf whistling is now classified as a ‘hate crime’. But it goes further. The Crown Prosecution Service has taken upon itself to priorities 'hate crime' to include hostility. This covers 'resentment and dislike'. Thus police officers and courts will spend time addressing a perceived dislike of a victim. The stupidity of this is evident. With knife crime rampant, frightful acid attacks by gangs on the rise, the police are busy investigating our thoughts. And yet of more concern, and chilling, is the impact on debate and free speech. More on that later. Much of the momentum for these changes arise from stuff on the Internet. Someone once said ‘The best thing about the Internet is anyone can write anything. The worst thing about the Internet is anyone can write anything’. In reality, most comments are tiny, inconsequential bubbles of spite. Spitting forth in the ill-tempered Internet swamp. Most are written by people who are inadequate or just odd. It's also true that people say stuff on the Internet to others that would never be said face-to-face. Social norms evaporate, customs are dropped whilst simple civility vanishes. Unfortunately, that’s the nature of the beast. Granted steps are needed to protect the vulnerable; children are an obvious example. The question is where do you draw the line and who gets to decide what's offensive? In answer to that question, on university campuses, it appears that agenda-driven student bodies are calling the shots. Safe spaces abound. Speakers with opinions that differ from arbitrary agreed group-think get banned. This is so as not to offend delicate student sentiments. After all, these aspiring leaders can’t be bruised by having their world-view challenged. University deans and academics have capitulated to this absurd conduct. Universities were once places that saw the young confront other worlds. By this they understood alternative insights, whilst in the process shaping their world view. Not anymore. Now I know I’m going to get into trouble, but it has to be said. The lefty-liberal types are driving this process. Why? Because I surmise they realise that only by shutting down debate, can they survive. Safe spaces gives them a fertile ground for fostering indoctrination of their agenda. The fascists did the same thing - so the old game plan is being applied. Of course, it all rather falls apart when the 'strawberries' graduate to enter the real world of work. Unless they operate in a silo, their delicate skins will be battered by hostile opinions. Then, of course, they can play the ‘victim card’ by running to the Crown Prosecution Service. It's about to become a crime to cause offence. You think I’m jesting. Wait and see. Bonkers Britain just got more bonkers. 16/8/2017 0 Comments Partition - Britain's Shame. Imagine having less than 24 hours or less to move to a new country. A new country created by the redrawing of a border. Moreover, you must leave as soon as possible because if you remain your neighbours will kill you. To add to this trauma, you can expect attacks as you make your way. And finally, when you get to your new home don't expect a warm welcome. Nobody is ready to receive you, no NGO's or refugee agency is in situ awaiting an influx. You, your wife and kids are on their own.
That's what happened to 12 million people overnight on 14th to 15th August 1947. As British rule of India ended, the nations of Pakistan and India formed. A Muslim Pakistan, a Hindu and Sikh India. A new border announced by an indifferent British regime. This set off a human scramble of massive proportions with terrible consequences. Madness erupted as sectarian violence exploded. By the time it was over an estimated 1.5 million men, women and children lay dying. Families who'd lived for centuries in peace with their neighbours faced untold horrors. Muslims attacked Hindus, - whilst gangs of Hindus did vice-versa. Trains transporting refugees attacked with wholesale slaughter. Mass suicides took place. Especially amongst women seeking to avoid rapes and forced conversions. It remains a mystery that before partition people of all religions lived in peaceful coexistence. What also remains a mystery is how the British government could justify its actions. Partition came at short notice. There was no preparation, no contingency plans, no help available and no thought for the consequences. Britain was a much-weakened nation at the close of World War II. Keen to divest itself of troublesome colonies, it looked for closure on its imperial commitments. Indian independence was a certainty, having been held in abeyance whilst the war was won. Thus the rush to get India off it hands was evident. Further, the new Labour government of Clement Attlee had no appetite for colonial endeavours. Attlee had supported Indian independence since the 1920s. Yet the main player in this shocking episode was Lord Mountbatten. He announced his plan for partition in June 1947. A new border between India and Pakistan - as drawn up Sir Cyril Radcliffe, a London barrister - come into existence. These proposals meant millions of people were displaced at the sweep of a pen over a map. Simmering tensions between the two new nascent countries rumbled on. Then ignited a wave of killing. Louis Mountbatten allowed less than six months for an agreed plan on the partition. Then, he suddenly advanced everything. Next, he stepped back. A study in 1951 suggested 2.23 million people went missing as a result of partition. Meanwhile, the movement of people continues to this day. Bouts of communal violence prompt a fresh wave of refugees. Mountbatten must shoulder some blame for rushing the whole process. Independence was announced before actual partition. Thus, it was left to the new governments of Pakistan and India to deal with public order. Both had neither the resources nor the organisational ability to act. This ‘washing of hands' by the British meant a lack of any protection for communities under siege. Likewise, vulnerable refugees faced attack they fled. In effect, law and order broke down. Mountbatten was stunningly complacent. He knew violence was certain. His response revealed a blatant disregard for the communities in his charge. “At least on this question I shall give you a complete assurance. I shall see to it that there is no bloodshed and riot. I am a soldier and not a civilian. Once partition is accepted in principle I shall issue orders to see that there is no communal disturbance anywhere in the country. If there should be the slightest agitation, I shall adopt the sternest measures to nip trouble in the bud.’ The man was incompetent, unfit for his role and a national disgrace. It remains baffling that he is held in any regard. That Prince Charles seeks to laud this man is revealing. That’s another subject altogether. Fearful of a civil war, Mountbatten cut and ran. The reasons put forward for Mountbatten's actions are plausible, although hardly acceptable. It is evident his motivation was selfish British interests. Little thought or concern was given to the impact on the communities about to be uprooted. Even a cursory small risk assessment would have indicated terrible violence was coming. Yet, Mountbatten was either negligent or uncaring for the event he was about to start. History will judge his actions. I doubt he will come through with flying colours. 12/8/2017 0 Comments A City Awakens We all need reinvention, re-branding or a change of mood. These changes can correct misconceptions, whilst opportunities for advancement are sought. If for no other reason Hull’s status as ‘City of Culture’ must be embraced. Yes, the concept is alien to some. Southern metropolitan types, who cannot see beyond their silo, expressed disdain at the proposal. Even the stoic people of Hull - if they’re honest - will admit to doubts and having a chuckle. Bloody daft idea!
Yet, if any place needed a rebranding it's Hull. Long suffering, it sits on the A-list for unwelcome socioeconomic factors. Teenage pregnancy, single-parent families and chlamydia a few of the highlights. These and others seized upon by the media to feed a narrative of a failing northern town. No mention then of the city’s fine history. Its accomplished university, art galleries, museums nor the thriving theatre scene. Of course, none of these supports the negative agenda driven media version. Moreover, and after all, its far easier to denigrate then see a diverse city with much colour and many hues. That’s not to deny that Hull has its challenges. These are manifest and many. Some are of its own making, others the consequences of recent history. The city suffered terribly during World War II. Estimates suggest 80% of the housing stock was either destroyed or damaged. The sympathy extended to London and Coventry, was not given to Hull. It struggled in silence as a press blackout kept the damage under wraps. 'A Northern City raided' ... a simple message that gave no hint of the damage done. Victory didn't feel that way for 1946 Hull. In desperate need of regeneration, its heart trashed. When rebuilding came, it was piecemeal. The population decamped to satellite estates. Greatfield, Longhill, Orchard Park and Bransholme all provided homes for heroes. Or, rather, that's what the slogans proclaimed. And at first, it was pleasant enough. The sixties saw plenty of work. Optimism abounded. Then the fishing industry collapsed. Next industrial strife brought forth strike and factory occupations. A winter of discontent. Power cuts, a four-day week. The 1970s and 1980's were not good to Hull. Whilst the UK economy rebounded in the 1980s, Hull remained in a rut. Even the mighty Humber Bridge only brought marginal benefits. Once busy thoroughfares, with an abundance of businesses, gave way to charity shops. Always a sign a city is in decline. Then the pristine housing estates slipped into isolated islands of despondent souls. No work, no aspirations, no hope. The residents sat bereft, their confidence gone. Crime flourished. Those that could, decamped. Hedon, Cottingham, Swanland and villages too many to name became refuge from the city. Successive Labour Councils lacked the vision or the determination to address the issues. Ardent political positions, instead of the practicalities of running a city, prevailed. No one was pushing for investment. Then slow at first, change came. The Marina- a project laughable to some- is now full of luxury boats. New river front apartments, overlooking street cafes, soon brought an upbeat mood. The bleak abandoned warehouses transformed. The city then rediscovered its history. Confidence is all about attitude - a sense of purpose returned. Arriving by train this week, I sat beside academics venturing to explore the city. Pouring over the details of Charles I's rejection at the city gates in 1642. In muttered voice they conclude Hull is the start of the English Civil War. Sir John Hotham did the deed. Later standing accused of double dealing, he paid with his life. He and his son executed in the Tower of London. And on it goes, the history is rich. William Wilberforce, who brought a halt to the slave trade; Mick Ronson, collaborator of David Bowie and actor Tom Courtney. There is too many to relate here. But don't worry Hull's not gone all PC on us with its Freedom festival. The 'Old Black Boy’ Pub still has not bowed to modern conventions with its off-colour sign. Strolling the streets today in bright sunshine, you'd believe yourself in Amsterdam or Copenhagen. A positivity is evident, streets alive with people enjoying the scene. Buskers songs echo. Kids romp through the Victoria Square fountain as she looks on unimpressed. So without hubris or unjustified pride, Hull has put on an honest face. Come see what's on offer. But come with an open mind, leaving your prejudices at the door. 6/8/2017 0 Comments Deal Or No Deal - Brexit.  On 24th June 2016, Britain woke up with a terrible hangover. The pain lingers. It’s likely to linger for some time. The referendum on leaving the European Union attained 51.9% support. Hardly a ringing endorsement, yet enough. The reality of the situation is now beginning to bite. Enthusiasm appears to be waning, with an open discussion about whether Brexit will even take place.
There are dimensions to the whole issue that get little mention. As the British public become more aware of these, the appetite for leaving will dissipate. Simple issues such as movement in Europe. Those holidays in Spain without medical cover or privileges at border control. The prospect of long delays in passport lines, customs searches plus hefty fees for medical cover. All will prompt some reflection. If you think Europe is going to make it easy, think again. Britain had membership for 44 years - it only took the EU four minutes to agree on guidelines for departure. What are we supposed to read into that? In the short term, it's hard to see any good economic news. Brexit creates uncertainty and businesses don’t like uncertainty. Sterling is already down - great for me as my Hong Kong dollars now buy about 20% more in the UK. Brits travelling abroad will see increased costs as a result. The ‘money men’ are sitting it out, waiting to see how things develop. But don’t expect any major economic initiatives. The timing is all wrong, with so many unknowns. Meanwhile, personal debt is surging. Consumption fueled by borrowing creates an illusion of economic vibrancy. This is not healthy. At some point, the debt needs to be paid. A time-bomb is ticking with subprime car loans and other fancy deals. Sound familiar? It should, the subprime mortgage shenanigans almost collapsed the whole economy in 2008/2009. On the political front, many threats await. Hanging over matters, like the sword of Damocles, is the Scottish question. Independence for Scotland went taken off the agenda with the 2014 referendum. The Scots voted 55.3% to remain in the Union. Yet, Scotland also voted to stay in Europe. Meanwhile, the Scottish Nationalist Party remains the majority. It’s waiting its chance. A bad Brexit deal could push more Scots into the independence camp. An assertive Nichola Sturgeon, the SNP leader, would then seize the opportunity. The result, de-facto end of the United Kingdom. England is left sitting with two minor appendages in Northern Ireland and Wales. Thus, Theresa May could go down in history as the Prime Minister who brought the curtain down on the Union. No Prime Minister wants that accolade in their bio. May is between a rock and a hard place. Her reputation for strong leadership is looking fragile. If anything, her disastrous performance in this year’s snap election, suggests a leader out of touch with public sentiment. To date, May has failed to present a coherent strategy for Brexit. Meanwhile, Labour gives her an easy ride. Even an enthused Corbyn has failed to hold May to account because he's got no idea either. He’s content to deliver opportunist snipes from the side lines. Inflicting what damage he can on a floundering May. Beyond that, he’s in the dark. Her own party are little better. May is damaged, limping. Only the fear of a resurgent Labour Party is keeping a leadership challenge at bay. Infamous for its brutal casting aside of leaders, the Tory Party is biding its time. To challenge Mrs May now opens the door to a general election. An election the Tories may lose. Make no mistake, when the moment arrives, the grey men will sweep aside Mrs May. No hesitation, no remorse. It goes without saying, that time and energy are being expended on squabbling the details of Brexit. Ignored are other pressing issues. The economy is wobbly, terrorism is ever present; the NHS is in permanent crisis mode. This once proud institution is being allowed to lurch from crunch to calamity. with short-term sticking plaster solutions. In 2019, some will profit with the political extinction of British Members of the European Parliament. One-term MEPs receive a payoff of £41,000-. Those with 20-year service can walk away with £164,000-. Then there is a pension on top of that. Here’s the rub. Nigel Farage, who led the campaign to leave, walks away with £750,000- in redundancy and pension. Could that explain his enthusiasm to leave? Democracy is a nice earner for some. So with everything to play for, Team UK's bruised leader takes her team onto an uneven field. On the other side is a team with the home ground advantage, a clear game plan and notable players. The prospects of a win look remote. 4/8/2017 2 Comments Fake News - It's Nothing New!  Poor Richard III - victim of fake news. Trump loves to play the ‘fake news’ card. Anything that is derogatory or undermines his position is immediately portrayed as ‘fake’. It’s peddled by the ‘poisoned, agenda-driven media’ in Trump-world. Unfortunately, there is an element of truth in his assertions. The media are not above falling for distorted or fake news. And yet, this is nothing new. Since the first cave man claimed he’d fought off a huge Sabertooth Tiger, we’ve been embellishing stuff. These days it gets recorded, transcribed and repeated at infinitum.
History is full of examples of fake news, coupled with propaganda efforts. William Shakespeare was a willing agent of Tudor fake news. He helped propagate a distorted version of events to assert a claim to the English throne. Modern historians agree the War of Roses was a work of fiction. Shakespeare like a Magpie, cherry picked bits of fact, spun them and then rewrote events. Richard III is vilified. Cast as evil, deformed, a usurper to the throne; the Tudors sought to disparage him in every way. That process was so successful that even today Richard III is the very embodiment of evil. Dogs bark at the sight of him. The achievements of his rule get scant recognition. Trial by jury, a ban on suppressing books and the translation of many works from French to English. He outlawed the deceit of selling land that had already transferred to another. These are amongst many innovations he brought about. Richard’s deformity fed the narrative of his evil nature. Given the common view that external features mirrored a villainous nature. Thus, fake news rattled down the centuries. Nearer to home and in recent times, the Long March of the Chinese Communist Party got the fake news treatment. The battle of the Luding Bridge gets portrayed as an epic struggle. Outnumbered, exhausted, communist troops arrived at the bridge. They then scrambled across, under fire, to overwhelm a superior enemy force. News of this triumph spread to boost the communist cause. Yet, research has established that the bridge was defended by a small force. These troops fled as the communists approached. An unopposed crossing followed. Eye witnesses attest to this version of events. It is arguable that the American involvement in Vietnam is because of fake news. An attack on two US navy vessels in August 1964, sparked outrage. Time, Life and Newsweek magazines ran stories of Vietnamese vessels attacking the US ships. These stories inflamed sentiment. An outraged public called for action. This all fed the drive for an intervention in Vietnam. A pretext for war. The consequences were terrible. Over the years, a body of evidence has emerged that the attacks never took place. Miscommunication and faulty intelligence caused a distorted record of the encounter to emerge. A series of events, including a malfunctioning radar, fed a news story that was untrue. Once in the public domain. the story self-perpetuated. The media further embellished matters to create a sensational version of events. The outcome was momentum for war. These days you’d imagine event-distortion is difficult. The ubiquitous mobile phone is filming everything. Think again. It’s still going on. The 2014 Hong Kong Occupy Movement has a narrative that is at odds with my direct observations. In broad terms, the events are transcribed as a peaceful student-led movement. Well-organised, tidy, a carnival event. In this story, the Police are the instigators of any violence. They overreact, using excessive force. This highly romantic narrative is worthy of fiction. The distortions have fed a hubris that ignores much of what actually happened. For example, the use of tear gas on 28th September 2014, was in direct response to a sustained attack on police lines. Rioters sought to storm Government HQ. Later students appeared armed with shields, batons and body armour. They formed premeditated assaults groups. Further, the triads were co-opted to challenge the police. Meanwhile, a campaign of intimidation was mounted against the families of police officers. This included teachers abusing the children of officers and doctors refusing medical treatment. None of this gets coverage or at best scant mention. Why? Because it contradicts a narrative the many in the media have bought into. Politicians like Chris Patten fed this version of events. US Senators, who’ve never set foot in Hong Kong and couldn't find it on a map, doubled down on these pronouncements. This reinforces the false narrative. Historians assert that history is a patchwork of stories, news and facts. These are woven together to seek a coherent account of events. That account is sometimes far from accurate. To be fair, some false news is the unwitting twisting of the truth to make events understandable. Whilst in other instances, the warping is intentional. The Tudors set out to destroy the reputation of Richard III. This fed public sentiment to affirm their legitimacy to the throne. Likewise, the Chinese Communist Party told exciting tales of daring. In Hong Kong, agenda-driven journalists distorted Occupy in sympathy for the cause. With many factors at play, it is a challenge to convey events. With a full rendering difficult to digest, a simple tale will suffice. Plucky pro-democracy students facing off against a hard-faced regime is easy to comprehend. In the process, the detail gets submerged. Even Trump is accomplishing more than it appears. Away from the noise of the infighting, his staff have moved forward on several of his agenda items. These include enhancements to border security and a drop off in illegal immigrants. Some of his policies are working. All things considered, fake news and its partner propaganda, are all part of the rich tapestry of life. Treat everything you read, watch or hear with caution. Always ask, has someone got an agenda here? Of course, you can always use Snopes to check stuff. Get the facts. |
AuthorWalter De Havilland was one of the last of the colonial coppers. He served 35 years in the Royal Hong Kong Police and Hong Kong Police Force. He's long retired. Archives
October 2021
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