Dumbed down news and spooky Siri

Every day, the BBC News seems dumber than the day before; it seems to be becoming a programme of social awareness, rather than of news. It used to be news from their own correspondents from around the world; now it is the voice of vox pop opinion, and tearful reports of injustice, interlaced with snippets about the lifes of unknown "celebrities" or minor royals.

One reads of continuing harassment and sexual exploitation in the workplace, but in 20 years of working in a huge variety of offices of pharmaceutical companies, I have never seen anything less than respect between my fellow workers, be they people of colour, or with disabilities, or in sexual orientation. Edwin is only 25, yet already he is seeing the next generation coming along, 18-19 year olds are what we might call the "#MeToo" generation; they are more reserved and prudish than the generation of 23-25 year olds, as though the shock waves from the many recent revelations of inappropriate behaviour have served to dampen entheusiasm for innuendo or flirting.

Edwin in the kitchen, talking of some book he'd been asked to cover, said "I don't have the knowledge to talk about that." Siri suddenly turned on and answered him, "No, you don't have the knowledge!" Spooky! His friend in Cambridge has been asked to run Cambridge gay pride this year. It is a big responsibility, but he will manage to act as Edwin's campaign manager. The posters are done now, and very fine too, with a casual b/w picture of Edwin relaxing on campus and extolling his many virtues as a student rep.

I made another silly boobie this afternoon. I thought I had an follow-up appointment with the GU surgeon for the bladder cancer, but when I got there it was the dermatology clinic follow-up for my melanoma! Happily that is OK at the moment with no sign of recurrence.