Amergent

Last year (2023) the road law changed in the UK giving pedestrians and cyclists priorities when they are most vulnerable. But don't count on it. On Wednesday (20/11/24), at midday, I was nearly hit crossing the road at the end of a double roundabout. I was looking left right left right and started to cross, then a car came quite fast onto the second roundabout and I looked right again then left and realised it was coming straight at me only metres away and accelerating. I was wearing my work yellow hi vis! I was already three quarters across and leapt for the kerb and the car just missed me with no attempt to deccelerate. Despite the law, despite the give way lines, despite it all I conclude there are some murderous bastards out there who give not a shit about anyone else on the road who is not in a vehicle bigger than theirs. I've had other experiences on our narrow country lanes here in which some drivers pass a foot from pedestrians far too fast and with no change in engine ...

 In a realm not unlike our own, a young troubadour named Dylan emerged, singing of a world gone awry. His songs spoke of times of change and upheaval, of a generation adrift, and of a society fractured by greed and injustice. "The line it is drawn, the curse it is cast," he sang. This line became a battle cry, a rallying point for those who felt marginalized and unheard. A new generation, inspired by his words, rose up to challenge the old order. "How many roads must a man walk down, before you call him a man?" Dylan asked. This question echoed through the land, sparking debates about identity, purpose, and the meaning of life itself. As the old ways crumbled, new ideologies emerged, each claiming to hold the key to a better future. "The times they are a-changin'," Dylan proclaimed. These words became a mantra for those who embraced progress and innovation. But for others, they signaled a threat to tradition and stability. A chasm began to form betw...