Sabato 21st gennaio Left is sinister

Sabato 21st gennaio Left is sinister

The fallout over the ship disaster off the coast of Tuscany continues apace. The current death toll is low - 11 currently, but there are still over 20 people missing. A huge lawsuit is being launched (pun intended) and it is really adversely affecting Italy, which has been an unsteady ship for quite a while now.

The claim that the disgraced captain Francesco Schettino that he tripped and landed in a lifeboat, at an angle that he could not climb back on board, is frankly ridiculous. Then there is the rumour that he sailed close to the island so that his head waiter could salute to his family, and other rumours that he was eating after the crash and still ordering his pudding whilst others were panicking. The most strange one is that he had a Moldovan girlfriend or lover, who was driving the ship at the time.

Things continue to emerge, including thermal camera pictures of the escape at night.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-16591501

There is also a recording of the call that the coast guard made to the captain.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2012/jan/17/costa-concordia-captain-phone-call-video
The coastguard ordered the captain back to the stricken ship, after he evacuated long before the last person had been evacuated. In one particularly emotional part, he says "vada a bordo cazzo" - "get back on boards for f@@k's sake"

This has captured the imagination and now t-shirts are being sold with this on it.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/9022477/Costa-Concordia-Italians-buy-t-shirts-with-Get-back-on-board-for-s-sake-logo.html

It seems that the captain had a reputation for being reckless and a wildcard but still he had climbed the ladder to being a captain. Che disgrazia! It seems to be indicative of a malaise in Italy, not helped by role models like this guy and of course Berlusconi.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/9027822/The-buffoons-steering-Italy-on-to-the-rocks.html

On to lighter things, something that amused me recently and slightly related since he was exiled near these islands, Animal Farm in France the bad pig is not called Napoleon!!

Meanwhile Ironman training continues apace, and despite me struggling to find time to get the swimming done. I have changed my front wheels to give me a little more confidence but still things are not great. Today whilst on a descent I lost a little control, struggled to turn left, and I don't know if it was something mental that couldn't allow me turn left, but it was pretty nasty. I careered to the right, threw my brakes on, went into a skid, and thankfully there was a barrier on this road that allowed to keep myself upright by leaning on it. Not good, and quite scary. Meanwhile, the weight loss appears to be happening at last.

OK, I'm tired and need my nap. Vado a bordo!