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The 2021 StJohn PB Christmas Crossword (Est. 2006) – politicalbetting.com

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    Alistair said:

    The Scotland map is just nut bar.

    Absolute bonkers unbelievable with obvious wrongness.

    After the reaction to the first YouGov MRP in 2017 I am loathe to call any MRP wrong given how wrong we all were.
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    MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 25,194

    Andy_JS said:

    Watching the long-lost episode of Morecambe and Wise on BBC2.

    Do the jokes start soon?
    We were easily humoured back in the day.
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    Westminster voting intention:

    LAB: 39% (-2)
    CON: 32% (-)
    LDEM: 11% (+2)
    GRN: 6% (+1)

    via @OpiniumResearch, 21 - 23 Dec
    Chgs. w 10 Dec

    https://twitter.com/BritainElects/status/1474832949120012294

    Starmer must resign!
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    HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 117,005
    Opinium tonight has a smaller 7% Labour lead

    https://twitter.com/OpiniumResearch/status/1474832569434656769?s=20
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    I really want some polling for the next Tory leader
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    HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 117,005

    Alistair said:

    The Scotland map is just nut bar.

    Absolute bonkers unbelievable with obvious wrongness.

    After the reaction to the first YouGov MRP in 2017 I am loathe to call any MRP wrong given how wrong we all were.
    The final 2019 Yougov MRP however only gave the Tories a majority of 28.

    The Tories got a majority of 80

    https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/articles-reports/2019/12/10/final-2019-general-election-mrp-model-small-
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    Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 32,952
    A year that has been dominated by Conservative poll leads finishes with the two biggest Labour leads so far this Parliament.

    https://www.opinium.com/polling-tables-archive/ https://twitter.com/OpiniumResearch/status/1474833576025739265/photo/1

    ...and a Happy New Year !!!
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    HYUFD said:

    Alistair said:

    The Scotland map is just nut bar.

    Absolute bonkers unbelievable with obvious wrongness.

    After the reaction to the first YouGov MRP in 2017 I am loathe to call any MRP wrong given how wrong we all were.
    The final 2019 Yougov MRP however only gave the Tories a majority of 28.

    The Tories got a majority of 80

    https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/articles-reports/2019/12/10/final-2019-general-election-mrp-model-small-
    Like all predictions our model comes with some uncertainty, and the margin of error here could put the final number of Conservative seats from 311 to 367. This means that we absolutely cannot rule out the 2019

    Within the MoE, they got it right
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    HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 117,005
    edited December 2021
    Alistair said:

    The Scotland map is just nut bar.

    Absolute bonkers unbelievable with obvious wrongness.

    It is also obviously almost as bad a poll for Sturgeon as Boris.

    A Labour majority government as opposed to a Labour minority government reliant on SNP confidence and supply would be much less likely to grant an indyref2.

    Gordon Brown would just lead a commission on some possible extra devolution
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    @TheScreamingEagles can you post the swings from the MRP poll
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    HYUFD said:

    Alistair said:

    The Scotland map is just nut bar.

    Absolute bonkers unbelievable with obvious wrongness.

    It is also obviously almost as bad a poll for Sturgeon as Boris.

    A Labour majority government as opposed to a Labour minority government reliant on SNP confidence and supply would be much less likely to grant an indyref2
    Good.
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    Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 32,952
    A year on from the end of the transition period, 49% of voters disapprove of how the government has handled Brexit, compared to 27% who approve.

    26% say Brexit has gone worse than they expected, compared to 14% who think it has gone better. 44% say it's gone as expected. https://twitter.com/OpiniumResearch/status/1474834079145029632/photo/1
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    https://twitter.com/OpiniumResearch/status/1474834079145029632

    A year on from the end of the transition period, 49% of voters disapprove of how the government has handled Brexit, compared to 27% who approve.

    26% say Brexit has gone worse than they expected, compared to 14% who think it has gone better. 44% say it's gone as expected.

    Brexit is now a vote loser, the Tories bringing it up again will put people off
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    dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 27,966
    HYUFD said:

    Alistair said:

    The Scotland map is just nut bar.

    Absolute bonkers unbelievable with obvious wrongness.

    After the reaction to the first YouGov MRP in 2017 I am loathe to call any MRP wrong given how wrong we all were.
    The final 2019 Yougov MRP however only gave the Tories a majority of 28.

    The Tories got a majority of 80

    https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/articles-reports/2019/12/10/final-2019-general-election-mrp-model-small-
    Which is true.
    Doesn't alter the fact that the 2017 one was widely derided, even openly laughed at on TV. Labour gain Kensington and Canterbury and a hung Parliament ha ha.
    In fact it was spot on compared to anything or indeed almost anyone else.
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    https://twitter.com/hendopolis/status/1474834475783798800

    SUNDAY EXPRESS: I understand your pain

    How do you, have you ever lived in poverty
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    dixiedean said:

    HYUFD said:

    Alistair said:

    The Scotland map is just nut bar.

    Absolute bonkers unbelievable with obvious wrongness.

    After the reaction to the first YouGov MRP in 2017 I am loathe to call any MRP wrong given how wrong we all were.
    The final 2019 Yougov MRP however only gave the Tories a majority of 28.

    The Tories got a majority of 80

    https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/articles-reports/2019/12/10/final-2019-general-election-mrp-model-small-
    Which is true.
    Doesn't alter the fact that the 2017 one was widely derided, even openly laughed at on TV. Labour gain Kensington and Canterbury and a hung Parliament ha ha.
    In fact it was spot on compared to anything or indeed almost anyone else.
    Survation also laughed at
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    RobDRobD Posts: 58,967

    https://twitter.com/hendopolis/status/1474834475783798800

    SUNDAY EXPRESS: I understand your pain

    How do you, have you ever lived in poverty

    Wasn't she talking about losing a loved one?
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    @TheScreamingEagles can you post the swings from the MRP poll

    They haven't posted them.
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    AslanAslan Posts: 1,673

    https://twitter.com/hendopolis/status/1474834475783798800

    SUNDAY EXPRESS: I understand your pain

    How do you, have you ever lived in poverty

    She just lost her husband FFS.
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    IshmaelZIshmaelZ Posts: 21,830

    https://twitter.com/hendopolis/status/1474834475783798800

    SUNDAY EXPRESS: I understand your pain

    How do you, have you ever lived in poverty

    Have you ever lost a spouse of 73 years?
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    BREAKING: France reports 104,611 new coronavirus cases, the biggest one-day increase on record
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    IshmaelZ said:

    https://twitter.com/hendopolis/status/1474834475783798800

    SUNDAY EXPRESS: I understand your pain

    How do you, have you ever lived in poverty

    Have you ever lost a spouse of 73 years?
    No and I wouldn't pretend to understand somebody who had
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    Aslan said:

    https://twitter.com/hendopolis/status/1474834475783798800

    SUNDAY EXPRESS: I understand your pain

    How do you, have you ever lived in poverty

    She just lost her husband FFS.
    And that's very sad, she has my sympathy. But it doesn't make my statement wrong
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    pingping Posts: 3,731
    edited December 2021
    Lol @ the MRP

    Happy Christmas, Keir!
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    HYUFD said:

    Alistair said:

    The Scotland map is just nut bar.

    Absolute bonkers unbelievable with obvious wrongness.

    After the reaction to the first YouGov MRP in 2017 I am loathe to call any MRP wrong given how wrong we all were.
    The final 2019 Yougov MRP however only gave the Tories a majority of 28.

    The Tories got a majority of 80

    https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/articles-reports/2019/12/10/final-2019-general-election-mrp-model-small-
    That was based on a 9% lead though (43% to 34%) rather than the eventual 11.8% lead though. The outline was pretty good, at least in England and Wales. The Yougov MRP was not good for Scotland in 2017 or 2019 though.
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    @TheScreamingEagles can you post the swings from the MRP poll

    They haven't posted them.
    Fair enough. I want to seat those majorities in the Red Wall
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    The assumption seems to be that the Red Wall will swing back under a new Tory leader. But it never voted Tory for Johnson before, don't see why it would again, necessarily.
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    AlistairAlistair Posts: 23,670

    Alistair said:

    The Scotland map is just nut bar.

    Absolute bonkers unbelievable with obvious wrongness.

    After the reaction to the first YouGov MRP in 2017 I am loathe to call any MRP wrong given how wrong we all were.
    Same here but I'd have to het a lot of detail on how the SNP take DCT, BRS and D&G in south and Orkney & Shetland in the North.

    I strongly suspect a UK wide model had been applied to Scotland - the last 3 General Election exit polls have over stated the SNP with 2015 and 2019 saying they would take Orkney and Shetland
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    SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 20,616
    Every year it comes as a surprise to me that there are newspapers on Boxing Day.

    You would think I would know by now.
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    darkagedarkage Posts: 4,796
    edited December 2021
    On a festive note, I managed to solve the problem of how roast turkey is dry and tasteless. The answer is butter. Put lots and lots of butter in and on the turkey. Also keep it covered in foil whilst in the oven until the last 40 minutes.
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    RobDRobD Posts: 58,967

    Aslan said:

    https://twitter.com/hendopolis/status/1474834475783798800

    SUNDAY EXPRESS: I understand your pain

    How do you, have you ever lived in poverty

    She just lost her husband FFS.
    And that's very sad, she has my sympathy. But it doesn't make my statement wrong
    Yes it does, because the quote was about losing a loved one. Unless you think she brushed it off after a quick look at her bank balance?
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    RobD said:

    Aslan said:

    https://twitter.com/hendopolis/status/1474834475783798800

    SUNDAY EXPRESS: I understand your pain

    How do you, have you ever lived in poverty

    She just lost her husband FFS.
    And that's very sad, she has my sympathy. But it doesn't make my statement wrong
    Yes it does, because the quote was about losing a loved one. Unless you think she brushed it off after a quick look at her bank balance?
    Which quote, the quote says she understands our pain. She doesn't
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    RobDRobD Posts: 58,967
    edited December 2021

    RobD said:

    Aslan said:

    https://twitter.com/hendopolis/status/1474834475783798800

    SUNDAY EXPRESS: I understand your pain

    How do you, have you ever lived in poverty

    She just lost her husband FFS.
    And that's very sad, she has my sympathy. But it doesn't make my statement wrong
    Yes it does, because the quote was about losing a loved one. Unless you think she brushed it off after a quick look at her bank balance?
    Which quote, the quote says she understands our pain. She doesn't
    She was talking about the pain of losing a loved one.

    Edit: and "our pain"?
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    AslanAslan Posts: 1,673

    https://twitter.com/OpiniumResearch/status/1474834079145029632

    A year on from the end of the transition period, 49% of voters disapprove of how the government has handled Brexit, compared to 27% who approve.

    26% say Brexit has gone worse than they expected, compared to 14% who think it has gone better. 44% say it's gone as expected.

    Brexit is now a vote loser, the Tories bringing it up again will put people off

    This is simply not true. Just because a large minority disapproved of how it was handled doesn't mean people don't prefer the Tories overall position on it. Especially if we focus on swing voters in marginal constituencies.

    We were told for decades certain types "banging on about Europe" was a negative based on polling like this. But actually that was pro-European activist and media types cherry picking evidence without thinking about it critically. When actual election tests happened, Euroscepticism was always successful, whether the UKIP surge, the Cameron referendum promise, the referendum itself or the Boris Get Brexit Done push.

    Pro-Europeans keep on trying to revert to the old received wisdom but it keeps being wrong.
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    HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 117,005
    edited December 2021

    The assumption seems to be that the Red Wall will swing back under a new Tory leader. But it never voted Tory for Johnson before, don't see why it would again, necessarily.

    The Redwall won't swing back I agree with you.

    The only Tory leader who would get a swingback would likely be Sunak but most of that would not be in the Redwall. No he would be more likely to get swingback in seats Cameron won in 2010 and 2015 but the Tories lost in 2017 and 2019 eg Enfield Southgate, Richmond Park, Putney and Battersea, St Albans, Croydon Central, Bath, Oxford West and Abingdon etc.

    Plus seats Cameron, May and Boris won where Labour are now forecast to gain
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    CorrectHorseBatteryCorrectHorseBattery Posts: 21,436
    edited December 2021
    RobD said:

    RobD said:

    Aslan said:

    https://twitter.com/hendopolis/status/1474834475783798800

    SUNDAY EXPRESS: I understand your pain

    How do you, have you ever lived in poverty

    She just lost her husband FFS.
    And that's very sad, she has my sympathy. But it doesn't make my statement wrong
    Yes it does, because the quote was about losing a loved one. Unless you think she brushed it off after a quick look at her bank balance?
    Which quote, the quote says she understands our pain. She doesn't
    She was talking about the pain of losing a loved one.

    Edit: and "our pain"?
    Her grieving subjects, she doesn't have a clue - we are not her subjects
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    CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758

    https://twitter.com/hendopolis/status/1474834475783798800

    SUNDAY EXPRESS: I understand your pain

    How do you, have you ever lived in poverty

    Grief has nothing to do with wealth.
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    RobDRobD Posts: 58,967

    RobD said:

    RobD said:

    Aslan said:

    https://twitter.com/hendopolis/status/1474834475783798800

    SUNDAY EXPRESS: I understand your pain

    How do you, have you ever lived in poverty

    She just lost her husband FFS.
    And that's very sad, she has my sympathy. But it doesn't make my statement wrong
    Yes it does, because the quote was about losing a loved one. Unless you think she brushed it off after a quick look at her bank balance?
    Which quote, the quote says she understands our pain. She doesn't
    She was talking about the pain of losing a loved one.

    Edit: and "our pain"?
    Her grieving subjects, she doesn't have a clue
    No, she couldn't possibly have a clue what it's like to lose a loved one.
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    IshmaelZIshmaelZ Posts: 21,830

    Aslan said:

    https://twitter.com/hendopolis/status/1474834475783798800

    SUNDAY EXPRESS: I understand your pain

    How do you, have you ever lived in poverty

    She just lost her husband FFS.
    And that's very sad, she has my sympathy. But it doesn't make my statement wrong
    I have heard the key
    Turn in the door once and turn once only
    We think of the key, each in his prison
    Thinking of the key, each confirms a prison
    Only at nightfall, aethereal rumours
    Revive for a moment a broken Coriolanus

    Everybody has their own problems, but the problems are all basically the same. So your "Yebbut you just don't understand" point is true but uninteresting.
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    SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 20,616

    RobD said:

    Aslan said:

    https://twitter.com/hendopolis/status/1474834475783798800

    SUNDAY EXPRESS: I understand your pain

    How do you, have you ever lived in poverty

    She just lost her husband FFS.
    And that's very sad, she has my sympathy. But it doesn't make my statement wrong
    Yes it does, because the quote was about losing a loved one. Unless you think she brushed it off after a quick look at her bank balance?
    Which quote, the quote says she understands our pain. She doesn't
    You're in a hole CHB. Best stop digging.
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    Charles said:

    https://twitter.com/hendopolis/status/1474834475783798800

    SUNDAY EXPRESS: I understand your pain

    How do you, have you ever lived in poverty

    Grief has nothing to do with wealth.
    No but the idea she understands the grief of her "subjects" is ridiculous, her life is nothing like that of so many.
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    RobD said:

    Aslan said:

    https://twitter.com/hendopolis/status/1474834475783798800

    SUNDAY EXPRESS: I understand your pain

    How do you, have you ever lived in poverty

    She just lost her husband FFS.
    And that's very sad, she has my sympathy. But it doesn't make my statement wrong
    Yes it does, because the quote was about losing a loved one. Unless you think she brushed it off after a quick look at her bank balance?
    Which quote, the quote says she understands our pain. She doesn't
    You're in a hole CHB. Best stop digging.
    I don't mind. It's a point of principle which I am free to air.

    She has my sympathy for losing a loved one, it doesn't mean she understands people in the UK. She's lived an immensely privileged life and many people died during COVID without being able to see their loved ones at all for months.

    And the headline is utterly insulting, "subjects"? Really?
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    CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758
    edited December 2021

    RobD said:

    Aslan said:

    https://twitter.com/hendopolis/status/1474834475783798800

    SUNDAY EXPRESS: I understand your pain

    How do you, have you ever lived in poverty

    She just lost her husband FFS.
    And that's very sad, she has my sympathy. But it doesn't make my statement wrong
    Yes it does, because the quote was about losing a loved one. Unless you think she brushed it off after a quick look at her bank balance?
    Which quote, the quote says she understands our pain. She doesn't
    “The queen empathises with her grieving subjects saying how much she still misses ‘irrepressible’ Prince Philip”
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    I understand my POV is perhaps a minority one. And as I have said before, I am not calling to remove the Royal Family or any such thing. It is just what I think.
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    Charles said:

    RobD said:

    Aslan said:

    https://twitter.com/hendopolis/status/1474834475783798800

    SUNDAY EXPRESS: I understand your pain

    How do you, have you ever lived in poverty

    She just lost her husband FFS.
    And that's very sad, she has my sympathy. But it doesn't make my statement wrong
    Yes it does, because the quote was about losing a loved one. Unless you think she brushed it off after a quick look at her bank balance?
    Which quote, the quote says she understands our pain. She doesn't
    “The queen empathises with her grieving subjects saying how much she still misses ‘irrepressible’ Prince Philip”
    I'm not a subject of the Queen, thank you very much. She doesn't empathise with me, she doesn't have a clue what it's like for so many
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    SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 20,616
    Someone kindly bought me a selection box for Christmas.

    So I've gone Old School and just enjoyed a chocolate bar and two satsumas. The Christmas of a bygone age.
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    CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758

    Charles said:

    https://twitter.com/hendopolis/status/1474834475783798800

    SUNDAY EXPRESS: I understand your pain

    How do you, have you ever lived in poverty

    Grief has nothing to do with wealth.
    No but the idea she understands the grief of her "subjects" is ridiculous, her life is nothing like that of so many.
    Her grief is the grief of an elderly woman who has recent lost her life partner.

    “Subjects” is outmoded - I think in the UK since at least the 1980s. But that is the fault of the Express not her.
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    alex_alex_ Posts: 7,518

    Charles said:

    https://twitter.com/hendopolis/status/1474834475783798800

    SUNDAY EXPRESS: I understand your pain

    How do you, have you ever lived in poverty

    Grief has nothing to do with wealth.
    No but the idea she understands the grief of her "subjects" is ridiculous, her life is nothing like that of so many.
    What the feck are you talking about? Do you even know what she said, or have you drawn all your conclusions from putting your own interpretation on top of the framing of her words in the Sunday Express?
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    AlistairAlistair Posts: 23,670
    SA actually updated their data today!

    No idea how complete and reliable it is but here is my updated projection

    Week 51 Admissions(Prediction): 8041 ( Down on Week 50)
    Week 51 Deaths (Prediction): 592 ( Up on week 50)

    2.8% Ventilated
    15.6% Oxygenated
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    Big_G_NorthWalesBig_G_NorthWales Posts: 60,297
    edited December 2021

    RobD said:

    Aslan said:

    https://twitter.com/hendopolis/status/1474834475783798800

    SUNDAY EXPRESS: I understand your pain

    How do you, have you ever lived in poverty

    She just lost her husband FFS.
    And that's very sad, she has my sympathy. But it doesn't make my statement wrong
    Yes it does, because the quote was about losing a loved one. Unless you think she brushed it off after a quick look at her bank balance?
    Which quote, the quote says she understands our pain. She doesn't
    You're in a hole CHB. Best stop digging.
    The Queen's devotion to service over decades has changed my republican attitude and I now have enormous respect for her

    To downplay the loss of a life partner just simply shows a lack of empathy and not in the spirit of Christmas
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    CorrectHorseBatteryCorrectHorseBattery Posts: 21,436
    edited December 2021

    RobD said:

    Aslan said:

    https://twitter.com/hendopolis/status/1474834475783798800

    SUNDAY EXPRESS: I understand your pain

    How do you, have you ever lived in poverty

    She just lost her husband FFS.
    And that's very sad, she has my sympathy. But it doesn't make my statement wrong
    Yes it does, because the quote was about losing a loved one. Unless you think she brushed it off after a quick look at her bank balance?
    Which quote, the quote says she understands our pain. She doesn't
    You're in a hole CHB. Best stop digging.
    The Queen devotion to service over decades has changed my view of her and I now have enormous respect for her

    To downplay the loss of a life partner just simply shows a lack of empathy and not in the spirit of Christmas
    Couldn't give a toss mate - that's not what I said
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    RobD said:

    Aslan said:

    https://twitter.com/hendopolis/status/1474834475783798800

    SUNDAY EXPRESS: I understand your pain

    How do you, have you ever lived in poverty

    She just lost her husband FFS.
    And that's very sad, she has my sympathy. But it doesn't make my statement wrong
    Yes it does, because the quote was about losing a loved one. Unless you think she brushed it off after a quick look at her bank balance?
    Which quote, the quote says she understands our pain. She doesn't
    You're in a hole CHB. Best stop digging.
    The Queen devotion to service over decades has changed my view of her and I now have enormous respect for her

    To downplay the loss of a life partner just simply shows a lack of empathy and not in the spirit of Christmas
    Couldn't give a toss mate - that's not what I said
    You clearly have
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    NickPalmerNickPalmer Posts: 21,335
    darkage said:

    darkage said:

    dixiedean said:

    darkage said:

    dixiedean said:

    New or continuous cough. High temperature. Loss of smell or taste.
    Still up as 3 main symptoms on NHS website.
    They really aren't at all.

    Problem is - If they put up 'runny nose, headache, sore throat, however mild get a PCR test'; well that is probably about 75% of the country at this time of year.
    Yes. However, those are the prevailing symptoms.
    57 minutes without a comment. Is this a daytime record?
    I feel like I am stating something incredibly obvious. But the testing system, and associated rules, are absurd to the point of being meaningless. One set of people are motivated to take tests: so, people who are employed and would rather have a day or two off work whilst they await test results. Another set of people have every incentive to avoid taking Covid tests - so, the self employed, or people who need to get out and about to get things done.

    Even if no one ever admits to this being the truth, it is obvious to me that it is the case. Now we have got to the point where the official COVID symptoms are, it seems, not really correct; yet the impact on the economy of changing them, and the associated disruption, are such that they cannot be changed, because the effect of making a runny nose a covid symptom that justifies 'self isolating' and booking a test means that a large proportion of the country will be off work at anyone one time whilst they await their PCR test results.

    The situation is a farce. The government keep it running, presumably so it can get data from the PCR tests about COVID. This is a bureaucratic monster that needs to be slayed.
    You're assuming that most people don't care about public health, and are only motivated by whether they can game the system so that either they don't need to work even if they're healthy or they can mix with crowds even if they're infectious. It's obvious to you that people are like that, and obvious to me that they're not. After all, anyone who is that cynical can pull a sickie anyway - up to 3 days, most employers don't check up.

    What does I think happen commonly is that people don't bother to report negative LFT results. As a result, we don't have accurate figures for the proportion of tests that are positive.
    It is more complex than that. My point is that the system motivates one set of people to take an interest in public health, the other are essentially forced by their circumstances to disregard it. To me that is obvious. I am not making generalisations about people, certainly not that they don't care about public health. Some will be very concerned about it, others far less so.

    But even if you are correct and that most people are actually acting in the interests of public health irrespective of how they are incentivised by the system, it is still absurd. That is because the official symptoms are no longer correct; as the symptoms of both the delta variant and the latest one are not the 3 main NHS symptoms that justify taking a PCR test.
    Yes, I do agree with that!
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    alex_alex_ Posts: 7,518
    edited December 2021

    RobD said:

    Aslan said:

    https://twitter.com/hendopolis/status/1474834475783798800

    SUNDAY EXPRESS: I understand your pain

    How do you, have you ever lived in poverty

    She just lost her husband FFS.
    And that's very sad, she has my sympathy. But it doesn't make my statement wrong
    Yes it does, because the quote was about losing a loved one. Unless you think she brushed it off after a quick look at her bank balance?
    Which quote, the quote says she understands our pain. She doesn't
    You're in a hole CHB. Best stop digging.
    The Queen devotion to service over decades has changed my view of her and I now have enormous respect for her

    To downplay the loss of a life partner just simply shows a lack of empathy and not in the spirit of Christmas
    Couldn't give a toss mate - that's not what I said
    Although given that you're criticising her for something she didn't say either ...
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    RobD said:

    Aslan said:

    https://twitter.com/hendopolis/status/1474834475783798800

    SUNDAY EXPRESS: I understand your pain

    How do you, have you ever lived in poverty

    She just lost her husband FFS.
    And that's very sad, she has my sympathy. But it doesn't make my statement wrong
    Yes it does, because the quote was about losing a loved one. Unless you think she brushed it off after a quick look at her bank balance?
    Which quote, the quote says she understands our pain. She doesn't
    You're in a hole CHB. Best stop digging.
    The Queen devotion to service over decades has changed my view of her and I now have enormous respect for her

    To downplay the loss of a life partner just simply shows a lack of empathy and not in the spirit of Christmas
    Couldn't give a toss mate - that's not what I said
    You clearly have
    No I haven't.

    I said I sympathise with the loss of her partner, it doesn't mean she understands what it's like for people in the country, her "subjects" as the headline says
  • Options
    RobDRobD Posts: 58,967

    RobD said:

    Aslan said:

    https://twitter.com/hendopolis/status/1474834475783798800

    SUNDAY EXPRESS: I understand your pain

    How do you, have you ever lived in poverty

    She just lost her husband FFS.
    And that's very sad, she has my sympathy. But it doesn't make my statement wrong
    Yes it does, because the quote was about losing a loved one. Unless you think she brushed it off after a quick look at her bank balance?
    Which quote, the quote says she understands our pain. She doesn't
    You're in a hole CHB. Best stop digging.
    The Queen devotion to service over decades has changed my view of her and I now have enormous respect for her

    To downplay the loss of a life partner just simply shows a lack of empathy and not in the spirit of Christmas
    Couldn't give a toss mate - that's not what I said
    You clearly have
    No I haven't.

    I said I sympathise with the loss of her partner, it doesn't mean she understands what it's like for people in the country, her "subjects" as the headline says
    Did you actually watch it, or read the transcript?
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    IanB2IanB2 Posts: 47,282
    edited December 2021
    darkage said:

    On a festive note, I managed to solve the problem of how roast turkey is dry and tasteless. The answer is butter. Put lots and lots of butter in and on the turkey. Also keep it covered in foil whilst in the oven until the last 40 minutes.

    Yep, I did both today. Butter with clementine zest and chopped sage in it. And also soaked it in the fridge overnight in salted and sugared water which had had a range of fruit and spices boiled in it. Brine the Turkey and you’ll never look back.
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    Big_G_NorthWalesBig_G_NorthWales Posts: 60,297
    edited December 2021
    alex_ said:

    Charles said:

    https://twitter.com/hendopolis/status/1474834475783798800

    SUNDAY EXPRESS: I understand your pain

    How do you, have you ever lived in poverty

    Grief has nothing to do with wealth.
    No but the idea she understands the grief of her "subjects" is ridiculous, her life is nothing like that of so many.
    What the feck are you talking about? Do you even know what she said, or have you drawn all your conclusions from putting your own interpretation on top of the framing of her words in the Sunday Express?
    I am afraid he has lost it on this subject today, and Christmas day of all days
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    alex_ said:

    Charles said:

    https://twitter.com/hendopolis/status/1474834475783798800

    SUNDAY EXPRESS: I understand your pain

    How do you, have you ever lived in poverty

    Grief has nothing to do with wealth.
    No but the idea she understands the grief of her "subjects" is ridiculous, her life is nothing like that of so many.
    What the feck are you talking about? Do you even know what she said, or have you drawn all your conclusions from putting your own interpretation on top of the framing of her words in the Sunday Express?
    I am afraid he has lost it on this subject today, and Christmas day of all days
    Well it's official now you've spoken, thank you PB Master!
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    RobD said:

    Aslan said:

    https://twitter.com/hendopolis/status/1474834475783798800

    SUNDAY EXPRESS: I understand your pain

    How do you, have you ever lived in poverty

    She just lost her husband FFS.
    And that's very sad, she has my sympathy. But it doesn't make my statement wrong
    Yes it does, because the quote was about losing a loved one. Unless you think she brushed it off after a quick look at her bank balance?
    Which quote, the quote says she understands our pain. She doesn't
    You're in a hole CHB. Best stop digging.
    The Queen devotion to service over decades has changed my view of her and I now have enormous respect for her

    To downplay the loss of a life partner just simply shows a lack of empathy and not in the spirit of Christmas
    Couldn't give a toss mate - that's not what I said
    You clearly have
    No I haven't.

    I said I sympathise with the loss of her partner, it doesn't mean she understands what it's like for people in the country, her "subjects" as the headline says
    Maybe time for a cup of tea and a rich tea biscuit
  • Options

    RobD said:

    Aslan said:

    https://twitter.com/hendopolis/status/1474834475783798800

    SUNDAY EXPRESS: I understand your pain

    How do you, have you ever lived in poverty

    She just lost her husband FFS.
    And that's very sad, she has my sympathy. But it doesn't make my statement wrong
    Yes it does, because the quote was about losing a loved one. Unless you think she brushed it off after a quick look at her bank balance?
    Which quote, the quote says she understands our pain. She doesn't
    You're in a hole CHB. Best stop digging.
    The Queen devotion to service over decades has changed my view of her and I now have enormous respect for her

    To downplay the loss of a life partner just simply shows a lack of empathy and not in the spirit of Christmas
    Couldn't give a toss mate - that's not what I said
    You clearly have
    No I haven't.

    I said I sympathise with the loss of her partner, it doesn't mean she understands what it's like for people in the country, her "subjects" as the headline says
    Maybe time for a cup of tea and a rich tea biscuit
    You stay safe old man
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    alex_alex_ Posts: 7,518

    darkage said:

    darkage said:

    dixiedean said:

    darkage said:

    dixiedean said:

    New or continuous cough. High temperature. Loss of smell or taste.
    Still up as 3 main symptoms on NHS website.
    They really aren't at all.

    Problem is - If they put up 'runny nose, headache, sore throat, however mild get a PCR test'; well that is probably about 75% of the country at this time of year.
    Yes. However, those are the prevailing symptoms.
    57 minutes without a comment. Is this a daytime record?
    I feel like I am stating something incredibly obvious. But the testing system, and associated rules, are absurd to the point of being meaningless. One set of people are motivated to take tests: so, people who are employed and would rather have a day or two off work whilst they await test results. Another set of people have every incentive to avoid taking Covid tests - so, the self employed, or people who need to get out and about to get things done.

    Even if no one ever admits to this being the truth, it is obvious to me that it is the case. Now we have got to the point where the official COVID symptoms are, it seems, not really correct; yet the impact on the economy of changing them, and the associated disruption, are such that they cannot be changed, because the effect of making a runny nose a covid symptom that justifies 'self isolating' and booking a test means that a large proportion of the country will be off work at anyone one time whilst they await their PCR test results.

    The situation is a farce. The government keep it running, presumably so it can get data from the PCR tests about COVID. This is a bureaucratic monster that needs to be slayed.
    You're assuming that most people don't care about public health, and are only motivated by whether they can game the system so that either they don't need to work even if they're healthy or they can mix with crowds even if they're infectious. It's obvious to you that people are like that, and obvious to me that they're not. After all, anyone who is that cynical can pull a sickie anyway - up to 3 days, most employers don't check up.

    What does I think happen commonly is that people don't bother to report negative LFT results. As a result, we don't have accurate figures for the proportion of tests that are positive.
    It is more complex than that. My point is that the system motivates one set of people to take an interest in public health, the other are essentially forced by their circumstances to disregard it. To me that is obvious. I am not making generalisations about people, certainly not that they don't care about public health. Some will be very concerned about it, others far less so.

    But even if you are correct and that most people are actually acting in the interests of public health irrespective of how they are incentivised by the system, it is still absurd. That is because the official symptoms are no longer correct; as the symptoms of both the delta variant and the latest one are not the 3 main NHS symptoms that justify taking a PCR test.
    Yes, I do agree with that!
    The obvious problem for the Government is how they transition at the appropriate moment (some would say already!) from a system of mass testing subsidised by the public purse to something more targeted, as well as downgrading the need to self isolate given that in an era of mass infection that will at some point (assuming the virus trends towards "mildness" - noting that "mildness" does not mean "harmless" cf flu) become necessary and indeed appropriate, whilst not prompting claims that they are downgrading a focus on public health merely to save money (with associated accusations that they are "reducing transparency"). Many people i think are utterly fed up of the "tyranny of the test", many equally are almost addicted to it.
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    NigelbNigelb Posts: 62,611
    The Czech army made a video where they shoot down Santa because gifts here are delivered by the Infant Jesus.
    https://twitter.com/ASpaceSlav/status/1474318138749689856
  • Options
    NigelbNigelb Posts: 62,611
    IanB2 said:

    darkage said:

    On a festive note, I managed to solve the problem of how roast turkey is dry and tasteless. The answer is butter. Put lots and lots of butter in and on the turkey. Also keep it covered in foil whilst in the oven until the last 40 minutes.

    Yep, I did both today. Butter with clementine zest and chopped sage in it. And also soaked it in the fridge overnight in salted and sugared water which had had a range of fruit and spices boiled in it. Brine the Turkey and you’ll never look back.
    Stuff under the skin with sage and butter.

    My cooking experience today was providing food variously for vegetarians, carnivores (me included), and the severely FODMAP intolerant (definitely no onion in the stuffing). Somewhat complicated.
  • Options
    RobDRobD Posts: 58,967
    New thread.
  • Options
    MattWMattW Posts: 18,548

    Charles said:

    https://twitter.com/hendopolis/status/1474834475783798800

    SUNDAY EXPRESS: I understand your pain

    How do you, have you ever lived in poverty

    Grief has nothing to do with wealth.
    No but the idea she understands the grief of her "subjects" is ridiculous, her life is nothing like that of so many.
    That seems peculiar, Horse.

    Human grief at the loss of a partner is human grief at the loss of a partner, no matter how rich or poor you are.

This discussion has been closed.