Wadding

Two things. Both have been in the papers today.

1) Mad Man swimming at North Pole. That says it all, really. He is insane - who voluntarily throws themselves into unnaturally fluid water (think about it...it's the North Pole and it's less than 0 degrees. The water should be very, very hard)? And then deliberately stays in it for 20 minutes? Am I missing something here?! Anyway, he did grand and lives to, well, probably he'll do something like it again. But I did like his saying this: “It’s a triumph and a tragedy – a triumph that I could swim in such ferocious conditions, but a tragedy that it is now possible to swim at the North Pole.” The possibility that the ice at the Pole could be non-existent in summer by the time I'm middle-aged is frightening. Not cool enough. (I'm sure I'll do a Green Rant on here at some point. Not now, though, you'll be glad to hear).

2) Organ Donation. Our Chief Medical Officer says that organ donation after death should work on an opt-out system (at the moment it's opt-in). I agree. Entirely. I would not be agreeing if the move were towards indiscriminate giving of organs - but so long as the opt-out availability is consistently well advertised, I fully support it. Dying people need organs; dead people have organs that could stop the dying people from becoming dead people. I really don't see much to discuss. (At least the Organ Donor Register now properly exists, rather than relying on carrying a Donor Card and their families being present to agree...). If you are not a donor, and would like to consider it (or, better, sign up!), visit the site here.

Hmm, well, that was a bit of shameless advertising! Ne'er mind.