Just to say, to anyone reading this who may have been trying to contact me, or expecting a message from me (Ragnar Boman, for example), that my email (bernard.porter@kajsa.karoo.co.uk) is no longer working. Why I don’t know. It was working perfectly for years, transmitting my messages across the North Sea, until three days ago. The very impressive Apple ‘Genius’ store in Täby can’t help me; as neither can the ‘K-com’ department in Hull after about two hours on the phone to them from Sweden – trying all kinds of things and pressing lots of buttons. I feel I’m cut off from the world. I think I can still ‘message’; and of course send old-fashioned ‘letters’. And this blogsite I think works. But e-mail was my primary means of communication; as I imagine it is for most people now.
I could scarcely understand what the young ‘geniuses’ in Täby were saying (in English). Modern life has passed me by. If it’s not powered by steam, I’m lost.
Porter’s Pensées 
Hello Bernard, It is best to try and not be down-hearted about technology – there will always be ways around it….and steam power is not always the panacea, given its propencity to explode, and its ravenous need for coal to stoke it. This week’s event when Amazon’s web services went down should was everyone up…but I doubt it. We should be approaching the same point as the US in the late 19th century when T Roosevelt and co broke up Standard Oil and a whole raft of too big companies/monopolies……the same needs to be done to Google, Apple and Microsoft and others…..?
It is a strange business – I cannot remember how we bumped into each other, and I was able to find B.Porter in the little Blue Books of Brentwood School lists – must be a few years back now? But your e-mails are well worth waiting for, and good to read. We have yet to do a Sweden trip, after our visit to Norway last year. Norway was a revelation, and 100% enjoyable = and did not feel too expensive compared to London?
You clearly still have one more book to write, so do persevere…..after all, we a new Cold/mildly warm war process emerging, which gives us a repeating sense of some form of imperial energy…..
Take heart, mon brave……your voice is gratefully heard.
All best, in the best possible of worlds
John E
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Thanks! You would be welcome on our Baltic island next summer! All the best.
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