What 2020/21 taught me

In the ongoing dumpster fire which is the past year or so I have realised I didn't know something I thought I knew. I claim to be relatively diversity aware but have realised that I didn't know as much as I thought I did. A turning point was reading an account by a Black doctor in the US who was wary about taking the Pfizer covid vaccine. Her reflection was prefaced with how her own father's medical needs and concerns were neglected because he was Black, and went on to describe how she felt she had to do her own research into the vaccine to make sure it was safe because of the apparent speed of its licensing.

Remember this is an actual *doctor* and not some insane antivaxxer. She only became reassured when she saw pictures of Black people involved in the research. Far from a paranoid rant, this brought it home to me how endemic racism is and how Black people are literally terrified for their lives.

This coming on top of the BLM protests and the attempted insurrection by white trash in Washington, which was majorly averted by a Black police officer and then the wreckage was cleaned up by Black janitorial staff, has really brought this home.

The rioters actually carried 'blue lives matter' flags with them. Firstly there is no such thing as a blue life, and if you are carrying that flag and overpowering police it means it's not about respect for the police, it's about racism.

The rise of far right, unreasoning, extremism is really scary. At the absolute least Trump needs to be tried and this needs to be tackled.

The Witch Figure Again

I saw a thing on one of my other social networks which said, tell me you're a witch without telling me you're a witch. Other people were putting things like having lots of herbs, jars and candles but mine seem a little wild in comparison.

People don't understand the values which drive me, which can make my actions incomprehensible sometimes.

I do actually have jars, candles and other weird shit, but people think I've travelled a lot.

Strange things happen around me, almost as if people were being faced with their destiny.

People do pick up on the more psychic bits when I tell them what they're thinking.

Cows stop giving milk.

Just joking, I am a city person and the only time I go near a cow is in Tesco.

Weird Shit: the Terrifying Clown of Kingswinford

2020 has certainly been a wild ride and here is my favourite weird story:

Residents in Ploverdale Crescent, Kingswinford, have been terrorised by a bare-chested clown

A Black Country street has been gripped by the fears of a clown after residents claimed they are being terrorised by a bare-chested motorist in full circus make-up.

And police have been contacted by householders who say Bozo is in danger of making Ploverdale Crescent, Kingswinford, a no-go area.

According to residents, officers are tracing the footsteps of the rogue Big Top entertainer.

The bizarre spate of clown encounters is no laughing matter, say locals. They described the confrontations as "sinister". They have CCTV footage.

On Thursday, the individual approached a young couple delivering leaflets.

At first they thought he was on his way to a children's party. Then the red-nosed individual "stared out" the 19-year-old woman before guffawing in her face.

Her companion told Black Country Live: "He laughed like a clown."

The 20-year-old added: "He stared at my girlfriend for a minute or so and started to laugh like a clown.

"At first I just thought he was on his way to a children’s party or something, I didn’t see him that clearly.

"We tried to ignore him and carried on doing the leaflets, we tried to pay no attention to him to see if he would stop. But as we got closer, he got in his car and opened his passenger door and asked me if I was someone he knew.

"When I said no, he started laughing more. It was a scary experience for both of us. I went out last night and spent half the time looking over my shoulder."

The "victim" has provided a detailed description.

He added: "He was about 5ft 8ins tall. He was wearing clown face paint, false clown teeth, no top on with a  black cap and joggers. He was laughing like a clown and had knife scars on his belly."

At 4pm on the same day, a paperboy in nearby Water Street was so shocked he cycled into a nearby park to escape.

His mother posted on a community forum: "My son phoned me to say what had happened - and kept the call going.

"As he approached Ploverdale, my son was hysterical. The clown stopped by him again. Myself and his dad ran after him, but he had gone by the time we got there. Police have been informed."

Another householder posted: "He was wearing false teeth or something like that in his mouth - scary!"

A spokeswoman for West Midlands Police confirmed complaints had been received, but, as yet, there is no reason to believe a crime has been committed.

A rogue clown on the streets may be no laughing matter, but it's not an offence.

She added: "We received calls on Thursday about a man driving in the Kingswinford area either wearing a clown mask or with his face painted and allegedly intimidating pedestrians.

"Officers have been attempting to identify the driver. It is unclear at this stage whether any criminal offences have been committed."

Anyone who saw suspicious activity can contact the police at  www.west.midlands.police.uk  or by calling 101. Quote log 5201 of 17 September.

I'm not sure if my favourite bit is where the clown laughed like a clown or where the constabulary aren't sure if a crime has been committed. I also want to know why he had alleged knife marks on his stomach and how the person knew they had been caused by a knife. 

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