We have the technology...

We have all seen in stark clarity one of the worst rail disasters of the modern age. Quite how something so terrible could happen despite the technology and fail safe systems available to us today, is frankly incredible and does fill me with a sense of anger and frustration.
There can be no doubt that the tragedy was caused by excessive speed. You don't need to be a rail industry expert to see that something travelling so fast around so tight a bend will try to leave its tracks. After all, the only thing holding the train to the track is gravity - nothing else. I know, as does many a youngster, how easy it is to crash a model train on a tight bend. Go too fast and off it comes, and it did often, much to the frustration of my father who would have to put the train back on the track each time.
Something clearly went seriously wrong. Why did the safety systems fail and how was it possible for a driver with, so it is claimed, so much experience to drive his train at such speed into a bend that already had gained notoriety for its extreme curvature?
It would be so easy to fit a system that automatically reduced the train speed in time for the bend, overriding the regulator, until it was safe for the driver to resume control. This technology exists - and it is used. We only have to look at our own driver-less Docklands Light Railway to know that it works - and has done very well for many years. A roller coaster has this technology fitted by standard. I find tragedies like this, and the needless loss of life, harder to accept as it would have been so easy to prevent the train from going too fast.
As with all tragedies, we need to learn lessons from them and this is no exception. But in my mind, the lesson is a simple one, and that's simply to use the technology we have.

A Miracle Marathon and Needless Loss

Another week has passed, all too quickly. The past week has been a mix of political shambles, who said what to who, more Euro crisis and tragedy.
We did start the week on a high. Claire Lomas, paralysed from the chest down following a horse riding accident completed the London Marathon in 16 days. She was assisted by a pair of robotic legs which literally enabled her to walk. This is an amazing achievement and I am struggling to find the words to describe the admiration I have for someone so determined to succeed. The look on Claire's face as she reached the finish line said it all and it was deeply moving to see so many people present to congratulate her. The only sadness I have is the refusal of the Marathon organisers to award Claire a medal. Apparently some ridiculous rule requires the participant to complete the course the same day. I understand though that many fellow participants had graciously offered Claire their own medals in recognition. What a wonderful good news story.

In the news, this week will be remembered again for the Leveson Inquiry and the appearance of Andy Coulson and Rebecca Brooks. Once again we were treated to many hours of questioning and cross examination in light of the ongoing investigation into phone hacking and press ethics at the News of the World. At times, the questioning did become quite frosty and I do actually find these things very entertaining. I do consider myself a shroud judge of character and whether the truth is being told. Needless to say, I considered much of the responses given to questioning to be lacking in sincerity and honesty.
I am, like many, eagerly awaiting the appearance of Jeremy Hunt MP. This guarantees to be a very interesting event with enormous repercussions.

Europe has again been in the news and the increasing likelihood of Greece leaving the Euro. The inability of the current president to form a government will certainly result in fresh elections, but of greatest fear is the rise on popularity of the far right neo-fascist groups. These groups are firmly anti-austerity and more alarmingly, anti-immigrant. Should they reach the echelons of government then I fear very much for the future and whether such a movement could be confined to just Greece. I say this as there is an alarming trend toward anti-austerity developing with France being the latest country to reject the German led austerity plan.
At the moment, I can see no way out for Greece. The choice is to stay in the Euro and abide by the austerity agreement thus benefiting from further bail-out or reject the plan, default on their loan agreement and leave the Euro. The repercussions of the latter are being planned for at the moment by the major banking institutions, such is the belief that this is where the country is headed. It is uncharted territory as no country has before now ever left the Euro and returned to their former currency. Quite what effect this would have on an already fragile union is unknown, but it can't be good.

The last week will be remembered for tragedy which came to Derby in the form of a house fire claiming the lives of six children. Now, I really struggle with things like this. I simply cannot understand how, in 2012, house fires can still occur and moreover how a house fire could claim lives. Surely we live in an age now where things are designed not to burn rapidly? Surely we live in an age where every house must be fitted with smoke alarms by law? This was a council house, a well known council house having appeared on TV for a documentary made by Anne Widdecombe. At the very least, shouldn't the council have fitted smoke alarms and checked them regularly? I really struggle to understand. Of course, it is shocking beyond all comprehension at the loss of so much young life, their hopes, dreams and aspirations ahead of them.
I actually find myself feeling angry, angry that this kind of thing can still happen. The police are investigating of course, and if this was perpetrated by some sick individual, then I would wish nothing less than the ultimate penalty. If this was an accident, I still find it inexcusable that sufficient safeguards were not in place to prevent a fire from taking hold or to alert occupants to the danger. After all, this property was over-occupied and if the local authorities were aware of this, then responsibility is with them to ensure safety for all concerned.

I continue to work on my website. It has begun to evolve into a technology-focused site but with off-shoots to such things as railway modelling and gardening. I'm even thinking of a section devoted to road safety as thins is something I am passionate about. I'm hoping there will in time be at least something of interest to the visitor. Aware that a great many e-books are in the public domain, I have started listing some from my collection for download. So there's a great deal to keep me occupied at the moment, which is good. I've decided to continue producing a weekly audio journal which I'll record either Friday or Saturday of each week. This will be uploaded to the site each weekend.