Ancient offices

BBC is discussing the ancient offices that still exist, with real people ready to perform the duties when required. The King’s Champion, around since 1066, comes into play at every crowning. He is required to don armor and challenge any pretenders who dare to question the authority of the King. The current King’s Champion is a retired accountant, who obviously didn’t carry out his duties, but he was present today just in case.

When we abandoned HONEST caste and nobility, we also abandoned the sense of duty and service which Charles is now emphasizing. Human civilization, like other hives, has preassigned roles and duties, each with its own talent and tradition. Failing to recognize these duties literally destroys civilization.

Reminded me that I was fascinated by those ancient offices several years ago.

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I’ve always been fascinated by the British habit of maintaining ancient offices and ceremonies like….

….Portcullis Pursuivant and Clarenceux King of Arms. One of the ceremonies, the Trial of the Pyx, still has a function. It’s a genuine chemical assay of the metals used in coinage. The others have lost their meaning but remain in annual rehearsal, ready to serve when needed.

The officers NEVER get in the news. Today we finally have a newsworthy appearance by one of the officers who has a real function. Unfortunately he’s an idiot.

After seven years as Black Rod, the figure responsible for maintaining order in the upper chamber, Leakey told House Magazine: “I know what the risks are here. Knowing the detail that the expert recommendation is that you should do this quick and now, not slowly over time in phases. I know that is necessary in order to prevent another Grenfell Tower happening here. And that’s the point.”

“We will again be accused of sitting on our hands. What an embarrassment and a disgrace it would be to our nation if our Parliament suddenly disintegrated in a puff of asbestos because the steam pipes burst in the cavities around this building and the electricity and the IT infrastructure went with them,” Leakey said, the Independent reports. He went on to say that the state of the Commons is at “red risk” – the highest in terms of the probability of a hazardous situation and its potential consequences.

You’ve got it backwards, Idiot Rod. Asbestos is EXACTLY AND PRECISELY THE OPPOSITE of Grenfell. Asbestos EXACTLY AND PRECISELY PROTECTS YOU from a Grenfell disaster. The Grenfell disaster happened EXACTLY AND PRECISELY because idiot Gaians required buildings to use FUCKING ROCKET FUEL for insulation instead of asbestos.

Asbestos is just like those ancient offices. We’re too indescribably hyperbrainless and ferally wicked to use it or reinvent it now, but we should at least have the sense to leave it in place so it can do its assigned job when needed.

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