Captagon?

A cold grey day. In early news, a report that thorough search of Saidnaya prison in Damascus hasn't found any secret underground cell. It's not surprising that such rumours develop about such a much feared place. It said that 60,000 people may have been killed there under the Assad regime. Prisoners were led about the prison blindfolded, unable to build up a mental picture of its internal layout. Those on the outside knowing nothing of people they know were abducted, whether they are alive or dead may imagine such a story to defend themselves from not knowing. The emerging regime promises to bring to trial state security agents or officials responsible for such evil crimes. Some survivors are utterly broken, physically and mentally. What makes such sustained inhumane cruelty possible?

This morning's Reith Lecture with forensic psychologist Dr Gwen Adshead was broadcast from Grendon Underwood Prison, which specialises in dealing with violent offenders who request to be transferred there as they want to understand and do something about the driving forces within themselves which result in their violent behaviour. Some inmates took part in the Q&A after her talk. Research is revealing there is a link between a person's tendency to violence, the environment they were raised in how what violence they may have witnessed or experience. Those who have been abused go on to abuse others, though not all, and that greatly complicates understanding and predicting behaviour and how to change it.

As the programme ended, Clare's study group members arrived, including icon artist Fran, who brought some of her own Christmas cards to sell. I bought two dozen, and went to pay for them on-line, as I didn't have the cash. I was surprised to discover that Santander's banking security procedures have been boosted again. There's now a lengthy interrogation before a one off transfer of funds before payment is allowed, a triage of anti-fraud questions that ensure you know what you are doing, know the payee and know there are their banking details. 

It's good, it's thorough, and warns you that you might not get any reimbursement if you allow yourself to be conned by not adhering with strict honesty to answering the questions. If Fran had bought her digital payment card ready with her it would have been a matter of simple 'tap and pay'. Your mind has to be sharp to answer correctly throughout, not on auto-pilot. I think I'll carrying carrying bank notes for making cash payments in future.

Clare cooked fish for lunch in a creamy garlic sauce, and I prepared the veg,. After we'd eaten I took some time designing a digital Christmas card to go with our annual newsletter. It was a little tricky to perfect, so once more I started walking late and got back home at dusk.

In the evening news about Syria today the new regime promises to tackle the manufacture and illegal distribution of a drug called Captagon I've never heard of before. It's a stimulant related to amphetamine, used by those in need of going without sleep and focusing effort, nicknamed 'chemical courage'. Useful for coping in a crisis or waging war. It was invented in East Germany in 1961, and made on an industrial scale in Syria, as a money spinner for the Assad regime. Addictive properties and side effects, including psychosis and hallucination, but it can be given on prescription to treat narcolepsy and ADHD. In Middle Eastern its abuse as an alternative stimulant arose when cocaine was scarce. Declaring it to be illegal in order to curb widespread abuse, led to it becoming a commodity smuggled across borders, manufacture and production in Syria was tolerated and the Assad clan benefited. We'll see what the new regime does about it.

Owain arrived in time for supper. His office team's new base is in the HMRC building in Central Square. He has an induction meeting there tomorrow morning, which is reason enough to come over early and be at the office without having to get an early train. Normally he works from home and isn't required to visit unless there's a purpose. It's just an occasional commute. We discovered both of us have been watching the Norwegian 'Lykkeland' saga, at more or less the same pace, so we watched the last two episodes of series two before turning in for the night.