Apple
I left the Apple Ecosystem a while ago, with a couple of exceptions. My driveway lights are still controlled through the Home App. I have a new switch, which I keep meaning to get a sparky to change for me, and Mrs L still uses her iPhone, Apple Watch and Ipad. Oh - and I still have a pair of Homepods in my office.
This morning, I have been working in my office, listening to current affairs podcasts on my Amazon Echo. A moment ago, one of the homepods (not both) chirped up, "stopping on the left". The homepods not working reliably, and Apple shrugging its shoulders was one of the many annoyances that drove me to explore other platforms. Why does my Homepod have some sort of existentialist angst? Or perhaps it's a political statement from a tormented Tim Apple (Cook)?
The God Thing
I have a good number of friends who believe in God. Not necessarily the same God, but their faith is real. A Christian friend, aware that I don't do God, sent me "Mere Christianity" by C.S.Lewis. The book is a collection of radio speeches Lewis was asked to give on the BBC during the second World War. It's an explanation of the fundamentals of his faith. I greatly enjoyed reading it. C.S Lewis was a smart man and an excellent writer. His communication skills are manifest and evident. However, I didn't find his arguments compelling. I'm not going to attempt a point by point argument with a dead author, but to my mind Lewis cloaked faith in rational robes, without ever admitting that faith, is, by its nature, a conviction that will trump rationality every time. Whenever I discuss religion with the faithful, we inevitably reach a point where they shrug and say something along the lines of "Yes, that's a tough one. But I trust that God has a plan." There's nothing wrong with that, of course, but I don't have that faith.
Nowt as queer as folk
I'm about half way through "There are Rivers in the Sky", the latest novel from Elif Shafak. I love it. Yesterday, I dropped the hounds at the groomer, and made my way to the beach for an indulgent breakfast (see photo) and some reading. I was lost in the narrative. I adore the author's unusual approach to story-telling and colourful imagery. A friend of mine, a prolific writer, finds little merit at all in the writing. Not in a snippy way, but she finds the pace lacking, and the language obstructs her view of the characters. I find it incredible that taste is so personal and divergent. I'm refreshed that as friends we can hold such different views without it becoming divisive or contentious. I accept her view and she accepts mine. Weird, huh?
The Football
I'm not a huge football fan, but I did enjoy England Women winning the European Championships four years ago. There was a wave of optimism, excitement and joy that has been absent in the men's game. Last night, England faced a semi-final against Italy, a potentially tricky tie in my house. Mrs L is never more Italian than when the football is on. Fortunately, she'd gone to bed, so I watched the match without a commentary on how England, the commentator, the officials or indeed the weather were conspiring against poor simple Italy. Underdog Italy played very well. They had a game plan, scored a good goal, and then set about protecting a 1-0 lead. If they got anything wrong, it was scoring too early. They had a lot of time to use up. They set about doing so in a very "professional"" way. At any opportunity, the Italians endeavoured to use up precious seconds and minutes. Perfectly allowable (and an Italian forte), but quite frustrating to watch. And they did it. Almost. As time wore on England's attacks became more frenetic, and substitutes added more and more energy. England speeding up, Italy slowing down. The contrast did provide tension and excitement. At the end of normal time, the referee had added seven minutes extra time, I'm sure, in part, motivated by Italy's tactics. Five minutes of the extra time had elapsed when Agyemang, England's exciting young striker equalised, taking the game into thirty minutes of additional time.
Ultimately, England were awarded a penalty towards the end of extra-time, which another substitute put away, albeit on the rebound. England advance 2-1.
For the rest of the week, we will endure "Football's Coming Home" as the nation once again get's excited for Sunday's final in Basel against either Spain or Germany.
Well done England - and hard luck Italy. So close.
RIP
Rest in Peace, Ozzy Osbourne.
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