What to say?

+I appear to have had a little break from blogging, partly explained by spending some time writing about AI and politics for an article in Lobster (out soon) and a trip to London. I’ll post a reference to the article when it’s up. I’m thinking it’s time to explore another subject: what has happened to Ukraine’s very own oligarchs? We don’t seem to hear much about them these days, but they were plentiful, and by many accounts just as corrupt as Russia’s breed of conniving money grubbers. Who owns Ukraine’s assets? To ask such questions is not anti-Ukraine—I’m sure plenty of Ukrainians might ask the same question. Hopefully this war will end with a similar democratic result as occurred in the UK in 1945.
 
+The trip to London started with a bit of a stand-off in the first class carriage (yes, I occasionally travel first class to take full advantage of my Senior Railcard discount). On his ticket checking round the Guard (or train manager if you will) found a passenger availing himself of a first class seat whilst only possessing a second class ticket. And said passenger had also availed himself generously from the drinks trolley. It has to be said the previous train had been cancelled and this one was very full, and some passengers may have been put out by the delays, etc. This chap felt he had to sit in first class because he said he couldn’t find a suitable seat in second class—being disabled he said he needed extra space. The guard didn’t accept his argument (which went round and round for twenty or so minutes). Then the passenger found another approach—telling the guard that he was Jewish, and indeed (I quote) was ‘a representative of the Jewish nation.’ The guard asked him to upgrade his ticket (for £45) but the chap replied he only had £31 in his bank account (presumably he didn't have a credit card). With whom did my sympathies lie? With the guard. I am sure he was at serious risk of being accused of anti-Semitism with a dash of disable-ism thrown in for good measure, despite his offering to find the chap a suitable seat in second class. Eventually the chap very slowly gathered his stuff and made to leave, but then he had a faint. He ended up sitting in a different first class seat whilst a doctor on board attended to him. He was met at Peterborough by an ambulance, even though he said he felt better. All I can say is, I think he was trying it on. The tale has some disturbing undertones which hardly need elucidating.