AnglOrony

Lazy sunny afternoon, last day of February, 2021, Pier Head , Waterfront , Liverpool, as the rest of the UK - in lockdown. We decided to take a walk along. We expected  that other people would took the same route but it still exceeded our expectations. The government’s “stay at home” rule would end on 29th March but people were  allowed to meet one other person from outside their household for exercise. The  health guidance also encouraged to avoid crowds of people. So, officially, the outdoor gatherings were not allowed. Well, not that anybody gathered specifically, people were just taking the allowed exercise time. Some families were really big, though, with loads of teenagers of the same age ;) People of Liverpool flocked out in the masses; to waste such a beautiful day, especially here in the cold North West, would be a shame. All fine, enjoy your time but remember TAKE YOUR RUBBISH WITH YOU!

There are only a few events when human global attention participates, that does not concern with a dramatic moments such a terror attack or outbreak of other evil. A positive event - such was the landing of  the Perseverance Rover on 18th February 2021 - caught the global attention and everybody could watch it from the convenience of a sofa, thanks to the internet and live broadcast. We, as millions of others, did join in. Perseverance was another human-made object to land on Mars, after InSight in 2018, Curiosity, in 2012, opportunity in 2004, Pathfinder in 1996, Viking 1 in 1975 - to name the most famous with NASA successful and advanced publicity.  First landing on Mars was done by the Soviet Union in December 1971, and was a partial success, as contact was lost 110 seconds after landing.  We have watched the whole broadcast so carefully that we even saw the Surface Manager Operator in the background - a person with a mop, while others were in front of the scree...

Lex Fridman is a very modest guy from the US. A mix of peculiar demeanour, monotonous voice, tip-top professionalism, a broad scope of intelligence combined with care and empathy - makes even more appeal to the serious topics he raises in his YouTube channel .  A man, a mind, a consciousness, and even a soul - amongst the haze of upcoming developments of Artificial Intelligence , cosmology, quantum physics, cryptocurrencies.  He does not fear asking awkward questions, expressing doubtful thoughts.  The top of the story is - he speaks with remarkable, well-known guests, experts in their own fields yet having a quite deep philosophical stance. An atmosphere of profound privacy makes them open up even more. This is Lex' true talent.   In the times when authority figures are massively undermined - because of their dishonesty or weaknesses of the system, there are still people who need to share their insight in a way that is fascinating, inspiring, thought-pro...

It was a downtrodden Covid year many would like to forget, and the Christmas of 2020 was nearly cancelled almost in every corner of the world. There were less festive lights outside people's homes than in yesteryears, we would bet. But still, some had been determined to put on a massive Christmas display . Christmas shopping was hardly entertaining time; with a mask on your face, you want to do the shopping business as quick as possible. And even window shopping was cancelled in many areas. Luckily Liverpool got into the Tier 2 which allowing non-essential shops to open. Albert Dock looked pretty but spiritless, without merry crowds to go around. Certainly, many did not invest in the festive lights. What for, if you cannot attract people willing to spend time and money? Even the water in Salthouse Dock was so still like we have never seen before. A standstill in a lockdown.  To be honest, the crowds in Liverpool before Christmas were huuuge. We just don't want to show it. It...

Strawberry Field famous red gate in the pre-Christmas period. The Beatles recorded the song, Strawberry Fields Forever , in 1967 and when they became popular again in the late 1990's it became one of the must-see Beatles’ sites in Liverpool.   It relates to John Lennon childhood memories when he used to sneak into the Strawberry Field old parkland over the fence behind his childhood home, to play with the boys who resided in the old house.   Strawberry Field's original Victorian house was a gift in the 1930s to the Salvation Army which owns it to this day.  For nearly 70 years it served as home for destitute and troubled children.  The old house is no more. The cost of renovating the old mansion would have been too expensive. It had been better to obliterate its existence, and built a modern pavilion with well-maintained pathways and flower-beds. On these grounds, young John came to play regularly, much to his aunt, Mimi, annoyance, who had thought that...

Tom Bilyeu started his channel, Impact Theory , in 2018. His interviews have a good Sunday morning feeling and - he wears really cool Tshirts for each programme. They correspond with the guest main field of expertise and the topic of conversation. The host invites, what he calls, self-experimentals , people who are keen to ask questions about life, how to manage it, and what is more important, they find life-changing answers.  But who is Tom Bilyeu? A co-founder of Quest Nutrition , a startup company, now valued at over one billion dollars . He is a man on a mission, to promote a mission-based business , not only for a profit. Improving the world and people in it is a praiseworthy intent, indeed. His business, as well as personal interest, is to address 'the dual pandemics of physical and mental malnourishment'. The channel goes under the motivational category . The loose talk is set to inspire the audience, listening to successful entrepreneurs, leaders, scientists,...

It is a misconception that small little towns, like Chorley, have nothing to offer for a tourist visit. There are treasures scattered around the country waiting to be discovered. We believe in it and we believed that  Chorley would reveal one for us as well.  Squeezed between M61 and M6, one of the little towns of the North-West , with populations of around 35,000, Chorley can be walked through the main street and its area pretty much in half an hour.  Up until the 1970s, the skyline here was dominated by many  factory chimneys,  now demolished.  There are some remnants of the industrial past but we could not spot a single one. It is a shame that towns like this lose their unique character.  Instead, we found some peculiar figures near Chorley bus station . They won't be here for long, as well, hopefully, in this case. Located on the edge of the  Lancashire Coalfield , Chorley had been immersed in coal mining for decades. There had been a nu...