Britains terrorism threat has been raised from 'substantial' to 'severe'. The British public might not notice, the authorities claim. They're right, we won't, because unless an event actually happens life will go on as normal. A part of me is still a little suspicious though. I remember that moment some years back when the army cordoned off Heathrow Airport in a blaze of publicity. Was that a 'severe' threat situation? If so, where are all the tanks now?

I have wondered for some time that even with the real threats in existence, the authorities aren't just making proclamations like this to keep us slightly worried and supportive of their expensive tasks, to support the security industry. Another part of me wonders if we didn't keep prodding potential terrorists they'd all get bored and emigrate to Britain to have twenty children paid for by our decadent infidel dole payments.

Okay, there are people out there who have this twisted idea that blowing things up is going to make the world a better place. It does seem odd that the inventor of dynamite gave his name to a peace prize.

Meanwhile, Back at the Library

All quiet here. In fact, finding a free computer no longer requires a mad dash up the stairs every morning, and it's now possible to arrive ten minutes late and still find one available. So I guess the novelty has worn off a little, meaning fewer people sat there playing games or running their businesses and leaving more time and space for Facebookers to indulge in their virtual relationships.

It isn't all facile. Yesterday I spotted one guy with one of those 'Secrets of the Ancients' books, and making a slightly scornful comment we found ourselves drawn into a wonderfully existential debate about life, the universe, and other matters not remotely connected to terrorism. It just goes to show that two sides can argue in a polite and meaningful manner without blowing things up.

But then again, dynamite isn't generally available in libraries.