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Community And on that bombshell… The Second World War contin- ues to exercise an unhealthy influence over many Brits, who assume it was British chippi- ness that won the day rather than American muscle and Russian sacrifice. This goes double for Nigel Farage and his merry band of Brexiteers. Strangely enough, they are considerably less eager to "own" the First World War, even though our contribution to victory was much greater. In any event, both those wars have le a physical as well as emotional footprint that endures to this day. That physical legacy became apparent when 19 mines and unexploded bombs were found on the seabed of the English Channel when National Grid conducted a subsea study earlier this year for a planned interconnector between the UK and Belgium. It's a poignant reminder of what Europe used to look like when jingoism went unchecked. A lot of bottle An attempt by a lovelorn Lanarkshire man to get a date by launching 2,000 bottles with messages in them into the sea met with mixed success. On the plus side, 49-year- old widower Craig Sullivan says he has received more than 50 replies from prospective beaus, but on the flip-side he got a torrent of abuse from those who had to clear up aer him. One person even reported him to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) for fly tipping when he released 200 bottles into the River Cree in Dumfries and Galloway and they all got caught in nets. Another batch of bottles all washed up on a beach in Wales at the same time. Mr Sullivan said he hoped his efforts would be perceived as "more elegant" than going through the usual matchmak- ing channels, but in the event he received a lot of irate replies from people who labelled him a "half-wit" (and more besides). It probably didn't help that he chose some much- beloved beauty spots as his launch pads. Sepa said it was satis- fied that the issue had been resolved and it did not intend to pursue any action against Mr Sullivan, who has agreed to stop chucking bottles into the sea. Disconnector is conflicted as to whether Mr Sullivan is the hero or the villain of this piece. On the one hand, we British love an eccentric. On the other, we hate litterbugs. Chips to go If Britain is probably the go-to country for batty eccentricity, then the US is the place to go to find people deploying alarming technology with enthusiastic abandon. Disconnector ponders thus on learning that the US is microchipping its employ- ees to enable them to "more conveniently access workplace amenities" – such as vending machines. Wisconsin company Three Square Market (which designs soware for, you guessed it, vending machines), has designed a microchip the size of a grain of rice that can be implanted inside a person's hand. Three Square Market chief executive Todd Westby was quoted in the local press declar- ing: "It's the next thing that's inevitably going to happen, and we want to be a part of it." He said more than 50 employees have volunteered to have the devices implanted, although stressed that no employees had been obliged to volunteer. Westby also gave reassur- ances that the chip does not use GPS tracking and the data is both encrypted and secure. So that's okay, then. No chance of anything going wrong with that plan. Disconnector Editor, Utility Week, and content director, Utilities: Ellen Bennett, t: 01342 332084, e: ellenbennett@fav-house.com; Deputy editor: Jane Gray, t: 01342 332087, e: janegray@ fav-house.com; Insights editor: Mathew Beech, t: 01342 332082, e: mathewbeech@fav-house. com; Features editor: Lois Vallely, t: 01342 332080, e: loisvallely@fav-house.com; Senior reporter: Tom Grimwood, t: 01342 332061, e: tomgrimwood@fav-house.com; Reporter: Josh Downes, t: 01342 332102, e: joshdownes@fav-house.com; Policy correspondent: David Blackman, e: davidblackman@fav-house.com; Production editor: Paul Newton, t: 01342 332085, e: paulnewton@fav-house.com; Sales executive: Sidney Houliston, e: sidneyhouliston@ fav-house.com. t: 01342 332009; Conference sponsorship manager: Sophie Abbott, t: 01342 332062, e; sophieabbott@fav-house.com; Publisher: Amanda Barnes, e: amandabarnes@fav-house.com. General enquiries: 01342 332000; Membership enquiries: Peter Bissell, t: 01342 332057, e: peterbissell@fav-house.com. ISSN: 1356-5532. Registered as a newspaper at the Post Office. Printed by: Buxton Press, Buxton, Derbyshire SK17 6AE. Published by: Faversham House Ltd, Windsor Court, Wood Street, East Grinstead, West Sussex RH19 1UZ, 3,580 Average circulation Jan–Dec 2015 Membership subscriptions: UK £669 per year. Overseas £781 per year. Contact Peter Bissell on: 01342 332057 Utility Week is a member of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (which regulates the UK's magazine and newspaper industry). We abide by the Editors' Code of Practice and are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism. If you think that we have not met those standards and want to make a complaint please contact the editor, Ellen Bennett, at ellenbennett@fav-house.com. If we are unable to resolve your complaint, or if you would like more information about IPSO or the Editors' Code, contact IPSO on 0300 123 2220 or visit www.ipso.co.uk Ann Robinson @AnnRobinson8 Increase of 12.5% in British Gas electricity prices not justified. According to Ofgem suppliers costs gone down 9% on dual fuel bill. William Marchant @richonlyinname Apparently @UtilityWeek is an energy supplier now. British Gas must have had press on its mind, for some reason. Lexie Colfox @AColfox I've heard of disruptors but journalist energy!? I bet the hot air at BG PR office could turn a few turbines today... @UtilityWeek Darren Jones MP @darrenpjones I get pretty excited about smart infrastructure but lots of work to be done before consumers start saving money. Richard Howard @RichardHowardPX Is a ban in 2040 even needed – when falling cost of EVs will mean they become default option some time in the 2020s? Richard Lowes @ukheatpolicy It's great we're talking about electric transport, but when will the national conversation about heat begin? Gareth Miller @garethmillerCE BEIS to lower battery CM derating. Funny how 'distortions' in favour of disruptors triggers so much policy activism Thomas Edwards @TomHenryEdwards Look, the Capacity Market doesn't support security of supply, it's for investors not consumers Tom Steward @Steward_T The power of incumbents to control code change is one of the most under-discussed, and most important issues in the energy system. Sarah Merrick @SpeakSarahSpeak For anyone thinking wind farms damage tourism – there are walks specifically to take some in here in France Top Tweets UTILITY WEEK | 4TH - 10TH AUGUST 2017 | 31