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Almost halfway through March and still no CON poll lead – politicalbetting.com

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  • BartholomewRobertsBartholomewRoberts Posts: 21,971
    edited March 2022
    Applicant said:

    biggles said:

    eek said:

    I suspect this is the long term future of Covid - not serious enough to close a production / company down but more than enough to knock someone important out for a week or more.


    Neil Gaiman
    @neilhimself
    ·
    3m
    It's so strange. On the one hand, people are acting as if we're in a post-Covid world. On the other, every day shooting Anansi Boys brings another change of schedule or plan because someone vital has covid and we've lost them for a week or more.

    Yes. Had a live deployment delayed from yesterday because the person who was going to test it is ill with Covid.

    But then companies should be wary of people who are single points of failure. Anyone can leave for a job elsewhere at short notice.
    Plus are the people being "knocked out" for a week because they're too sick to work, or because they're not working despite being healthy simply because they tested positive?

    If its the latter, then its the behaviour (or restrictions where they exist) that is causing the absence, not the virus.
    This is presumably the thinking behind reducing access to tests. A nudge towards normalising this virus.
    Indeed. Too many people have this idea in their head that positive = sick. Cases = illness.
    A direct result of the deliberate decision by the government and its advisers (and the media) to conflate infections with illnesses from the very beginning.
    To be fair though at the beginning cases did lead to illnesses.

    But times have changed. We have vaccines now. What was true in the very beginning is no longer true, and what was a lie at the beginning can now actually be true.

    Facts change over time, but far too many people are still stuck with the same arguments they had in 2020 without realising we're not in 2020 anymore.
  • kjhkjh Posts: 11,786
    kinabalu said:

    Er... did @HYUFD just accuse @Malmesbury of being left-wing?

    We're at risk of losing our moorings here. Best, imo, if exactly where people stand on the L to R via C spectrum is determined by somebody who is known for being objective to a fault. Therefore me, I suppose. Do I have the time? Yes, I think so. And if not I'll do some juggling to create it.
    This reminds me of @londonpubman posts referring to most of us being from the 'hard left'. Sadly it soon became clear that he was just (successfully) winding me up.
  • bigglesbiggles Posts: 6,051

    Er... did @HYUFD just accuse @Malmesbury of being left-wing?

    Yes. Absolutely gob-smacking. That would make me an uber-Trotskyist or something.
    Mr M is Left, of course. Compared to HYUFD, who, I think, views himself as Centre/Right.

    I don't know what they put in the water in Epping!
    He is not centre right - he is leaning Farage right
    But by his definition, Farage is a socialist for not being a Tory. He’s doing wondering for Labour Party recruitment here.
  • kamskikamski Posts: 5,190
    biggles said:

    Er... did @HYUFD just accuse @Malmesbury of being left-wing?

    Yes. Absolutely gob-smacking. That would make me an uber-Trotskyist or something.
    To be fair, his definition of a proper conservative applies to about six people. Outside of that we are all socialists. It really is the reverse-Corbynite fringe.
    Although it's interesting that for HYUFD voting Conservative is an essential qualification for being "rightwing", whereas for many Corbynites voting Labour at most elections isn't required for being "leftwing" - in fact it also makes you "rightwing". So not quite a mirror-image.
  • MoonRabbitMoonRabbit Posts: 13,497

    malcolmg said:

    Heathener said:

    Heathener said:

    Scott_xP said:

    ...

    This makes the important point about corruption in the heart of the tory party, which I acknowledge stretches back into other governments especially that of Tony Blair.

    The right wing lynch mob on here who all continually like one another's posts in their echo chamber (Felix, MM, Sandpit, Foxy, StateAway, JJ, BIgG etc.) hate the spotlight to be shone on this but the fact remains that corruption runs deep in the UK. We have traded and supported utterly corrupt, evil, regimes that are not confined to Russia but certainly include Saudi Arabia and Qatar. London has become a magnet for evil money.


    How do we solve the energy crisis? Gosh, there's a question from the 1970's. Nuclear power and renewables. Not raping the earth still further. We could all install solar panels and wind turbines and go off-grid. It's not that hard but it requires a lifestyle reset which you might have thought covid would have induced (it has for some).
    I am *not* part of a 'right wing lynch mob'. You might wish to reconsider that.
    One of Putin's little helpers has returned
    I'm sure you think this is terribly smart, as Marquee Mark's little helper, but I am not a Putin troll. I loathe Putin and unlike you spineless cowards on the right I actually believe in not standing by and letting Putin pulverise Ukraine.

    If anyone on here is Putin's little helper it's those who refuse to support Zelensky militarily.

    You're a bunch of chickens. More concerned with your own NIMBYism than actually having the courage to stand up to Putin.

    p.s. and yes I have been absolutely right on covid all the way along.
    Boris is the most supportive leader militarily for Ukraine and is held in high esteem by President Zelenskyy

    You throw out insults branding people on the right which is patently untrue and try to goad the UK and NATO into WW111

    As for covid you have been wrong from day one

    If you want people to take you seriously cut out the abuse to other posters
    Boris is still the arse of arses G. He is a lying cheating mendacious crook. His play acting at Churchill cuts no mustard, anyone can lift a phone and act the tough guy, a fake fraud.
    Many do not like Boris but the President of Ukraine and Ukrainians are quite the opposite and are demonstrably so
    For much the same reason he was once popular in UK, Big G. He tells Ukraine exactly what they want to hear.

    France and Germany dropped by before the war, after chat with Putin, and told Ukraine to adopt Minsk 2, Boris dropped by and told them exactly what they wanted to hear.

    As our leader, He represents us. Where he speaks on this, Britain speaks, where he walks Britain walks. If he is a cad (partygate etc) and ultimately hated for saying what someone wants to hear and not following through on promise (weak on Oligarchs and so slow and mess on refugees Putin’s generals could be managing it) we will all be hated. 😕
    On this Boris has been active in the supply and training of Ukrainians in the use of our weaponry, both before and now during the war

    Since Patel has been side-line, Gove has activated an excellent refugee scheme and on individual sanctions it has been announced today that as legislation is now in force a long list of sanctions on Russians matching the EU and US has happened

    We attack Boris for ignoring the law but we cannot attack HMG when they had to change the law to ensure their actions are legal and cannot be challenged by wealthy London lawyers

    To be honest while HMG have been slow the pace is picking up rapidly and we now have an open door unlimited policy for Ukrainians refugees

    Boris has improved through this war but it does not mean he has improved his long term prospects, as the jury is out on that, and as far as I am concerned I am just wanting everyone to pull together and beat Putin, the war criminal, and then return to the Boris question
    From BBC website:

    "While the EU has gone further and faster on sanctions than many expected, diplomats have told the BBC of an increasingly evident rift; between Poland and Baltic states - who want ever stronger measures - versus a more cautious approach favoured by countries such as Germany and Italy."

    Maybe we should turn to the Scholz and Draghi questions?
    I think Germany has been compromised. Think of that picture posted here of the German delegation laughing whilst knowing their former chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has long been part of Putin’s inner circle.
  • ChameleonChameleon Posts: 4,264
    edited March 2022
    Ukrainians claiming a 4th Major General killed, via a photo of a dead man with Russian Major General rank slides in Mariupol.
  • another_richardanother_richard Posts: 26,589
    kinabalu said:

    Er... did @HYUFD just accuse @Malmesbury of being left-wing?

    We're at risk of losing our moorings here. Best, imo, if exactly where people stand on the L to R via C spectrum is determined by somebody who is known for being objective to a fault. Therefore me, I suppose. Do I have the time? Yes, I think so. And if not I'll do some juggling to create it.
    But what political spectrum is that ?

    Economic issues, social issues, environmental issues, international issues etc.

    Which can be further subdivided for example some right wingers support low taxation above all while others support balanced budgets.

    And that can be further subdivided for examples some people prefer taxation on income while others prefer taxation on wealth.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 71,070
    edited March 2022
    kamski said:

    biggles said:

    Er... did @HYUFD just accuse @Malmesbury of being left-wing?

    Yes. Absolutely gob-smacking. That would make me an uber-Trotskyist or something.
    To be fair, his definition of a proper conservative applies to about six people. Outside of that we are all socialists. It really is the reverse-Corbynite fringe.
    Although it's interesting that for HYUFD voting Conservative is an essential qualification for being "rightwing", whereas for many Corbynites voting Labour at most elections isn't required for being "leftwing" - in fact it also makes you "rightwing". So not quite a mirror-image.
    I think it fair to say that a lot of people are very confused about UK politics.
    I am probably one of them - though in neither of the categories you note.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 50,249

    AlistairM said:

    Covid anecdote. Lots of it going around where I am (Bucks). My 86yo father-in-law (triple jabbed and got Delta last Autumn) met up with 6 other friends of similar ages last week. 5 of them got Covid afterwards (not him) but are all fine. I also know quite a few people of my age (40s) who have caught it recently but all seem to be the ones who had somehow managed to avoid getting it previously. Aligns with lots of Covid cases but hopefully not going to have a massive impact on hospitalisations.

    That sounds promising. The only question I have (expert anywhere?) is about vaccines waning. I had my booster over six months ago, and have some health fragilities as well as knocking on a bit. Are there any plans to add another jab for those outside the really old/vulnerable? Or should I be confident that the six-month old booster is still protecting me fine? A bit more government communication on this would be helpful.
    image

    Strongly suggests that being vaccinated is a very good thing. It's the under 14s where R is increasing. R is *lowest* in the oldest groups.
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 42,134
    biggles said:

    kinabalu said:

    Er... did @HYUFD just accuse @Malmesbury of being left-wing?

    We're at risk of losing our moorings here. Best, imo, if exactly where people stand on the L to R via C spectrum is determined by somebody who is known for being objective to a fault. Therefore me, I suppose. Do I have the time? Yes, I think so. And if not I'll do some juggling to create it.
    Oooooo can we have a spreadsheet with pivot tables?
    Ah, no, that's outside my comfort zone. I think where I can add most value is just doing ad hoc pronouncements that are accepted by all.
  • turbotubbsturbotubbs Posts: 17,405
    Sandpit said:

    Sandpit said:

    Good morning from seat 2F of the 09:50 Aberdeen - Gatwick. After a dry run on a late evening flight I think I am getting the hang of this commuting by plane thing.

    The nice thing about smaller airports like Aberdeen is the human scale. From rolling up to the car park ticket barrier to clearing security took 15 minutes.

    Then as there are only a handful of gates they use for these flights go down there and wait for the inbound to nose up to the gate and you're already front of the queue to get onto your up front seat with your carry on.

    Unless there is a radical change of plan I'm going to be doing this most weeks from June so better get used to it ...

    Small airports are awesome, I used to fly from Southampton quite a bit on domestic routes. Gatwick will sadly not be as straightforward. Shame BA don’t fly from Aberdeen to London City any more.
    A big vote for Southampton. I used to fly regularly from there to Edinburgh. It's got to be my favourite airport.
    I used to live in Salisbury, reckoned I could reliably leave home an hour before my flight departed.

    That was a couple of decades ago though (damn, I’m getting old), not sure I’d want to run A36 roulette these days though.
    Nah - A36 south of Salisbury is still fine - once you get through/round the city that is...

    I'd vote for Southampton too. Glorious airport. Once was home in Warminster from the airport in less that an hour from landing.
  • bigglesbiggles Posts: 6,051
    kamski said:

    biggles said:

    Er... did @HYUFD just accuse @Malmesbury of being left-wing?

    Yes. Absolutely gob-smacking. That would make me an uber-Trotskyist or something.
    To be fair, his definition of a proper conservative applies to about six people. Outside of that we are all socialists. It really is the reverse-Corbynite fringe.
    Although it's interesting that for HYUFD voting Conservative is an essential qualification for being "rightwing", whereas for many Corbynites voting Labour at most elections isn't required for being "leftwing" - in fact it also makes you "rightwing". So not quite a mirror-image.
    True. He is worse. It’s utter party loyalty as much as ideological purity.
  • Big_G_NorthWalesBig_G_NorthWales Posts: 63,032
    edited March 2022
    kamski said:

    biggles said:

    Er... did @HYUFD just accuse @Malmesbury of being left-wing?

    Yes. Absolutely gob-smacking. That would make me an uber-Trotskyist or something.
    To be fair, his definition of a proper conservative applies to about six people. Outside of that we are all socialists. It really is the reverse-Corbynite fringe.
    Although it's interesting that for HYUFD voting Conservative is an essential qualification for being "rightwing", whereas for many Corbynites voting Labour at most elections isn't required for being "leftwing" - in fact it also makes you "rightwing". So not quite a mirror-image.
    The one thing about @HYUFD world view of conservatives is he would be in a party entirely on his own if it was true
  • MoonRabbitMoonRabbit Posts: 13,497

    malcolmg said:

    Heathener said:

    Heathener said:

    Scott_xP said:

    ...

    This makes the important point about corruption in the heart of the tory party, which I acknowledge stretches back into other governments especially that of Tony Blair.

    The right wing lynch mob on here who all continually like one another's posts in their echo chamber (Felix, MM, Sandpit, Foxy, StateAway, JJ, BIgG etc.) hate the spotlight to be shone on this but the fact remains that corruption runs deep in the UK. We have traded and supported utterly corrupt, evil, regimes that are not confined to Russia but certainly include Saudi Arabia and Qatar. London has become a magnet for evil money.


    How do we solve the energy crisis? Gosh, there's a question from the 1970's. Nuclear power and renewables. Not raping the earth still further. We could all install solar panels and wind turbines and go off-grid. It's not that hard but it requires a lifestyle reset which you might have thought covid would have induced (it has for some).
    I am *not* part of a 'right wing lynch mob'. You might wish to reconsider that.
    One of Putin's little helpers has returned
    I'm sure you think this is terribly smart, as Marquee Mark's little helper, but I am not a Putin troll. I loathe Putin and unlike you spineless cowards on the right I actually believe in not standing by and letting Putin pulverise Ukraine.

    If anyone on here is Putin's little helper it's those who refuse to support Zelensky militarily.

    You're a bunch of chickens. More concerned with your own NIMBYism than actually having the courage to stand up to Putin.

    p.s. and yes I have been absolutely right on covid all the way along.
    Boris is the most supportive leader militarily for Ukraine and is held in high esteem by President Zelenskyy

    You throw out insults branding people on the right which is patently untrue and try to goad the UK and NATO into WW111

    As for covid you have been wrong from day one

    If you want people to take you seriously cut out the abuse to other posters
    Boris is still the arse of arses G. He is a lying cheating mendacious crook. His play acting at Churchill cuts no mustard, anyone can lift a phone and act the tough guy, a fake fraud.
    Many do not like Boris but the President of Ukraine and Ukrainians are quite the opposite and are demonstrably so
    For much the same reason he was once popular in UK, Big G. He tells Ukraine exactly what they want to hear.

    France and Germany dropped by before the war, after chat with Putin, and told Ukraine to adopt Minsk 2, Boris dropped by and told them exactly what they wanted to hear.

    As our leader, He represents us. Where he speaks on this, Britain speaks, where he walks Britain walks. If he is a cad (partygate etc) and ultimately hated for saying what someone wants to hear and not following through on promise (weak on Oligarchs and so slow and mess on refugees Putin’s generals could be managing it) we will all be hated. 😕
    On this Boris has been active in the supply and training of Ukrainians in the use of our weaponry, both before and now during the war

    Since Patel has been side-line, Gove has activated an excellent refugee scheme and on individual sanctions it has been announced today that as legislation is now in force a long list of sanctions on Russians matching the EU and US has happened

    We attack Boris for ignoring the law but we cannot attack HMG when they had to change the law to ensure their actions are legal and cannot be challenged by wealthy London lawyers

    To be honest while HMG have been slow the pace is picking up rapidly and we now have an open door unlimited policy for Ukrainians refugees

    Boris has improved through this war but it does not mean he has improved his long term prospects, as the jury is out on that, and as far as I am concerned I am just wanting everyone to pull together and beat Putin, the war criminal, and then return to the Boris question
    That’s a great response Big G and I have given your long post a like.

    All I can say is, let’s keep the pressure on lazy Boris and his dysfunctional government of acolytes, so they continue to deliver the response we want to see helping Ukrainians. You see the faces of refugees on the news, sad and weary and in shock, with the knowledge Poland already struggling to find places for them to sleep. 😕
  • Nigel_ForemainNigel_Foremain Posts: 14,310

    kinabalu said:

    Er... did @HYUFD just accuse @Malmesbury of being left-wing?

    We're at risk of losing our moorings here. Best, imo, if exactly where people stand on the L to R via C spectrum is determined by somebody who is known for being objective to a fault. Therefore me, I suppose. Do I have the time? Yes, I think so. And if not I'll do some juggling to create it.
    But what political spectrum is that ?

    Economic issues, social issues, environmental issues, international issues etc.

    Which can be further subdivided for example some right wingers support low taxation above all while others support balanced budgets.

    And that can be further subdivided for examples some people prefer taxation on income while others prefer taxation on wealth.
    Indeed. The left right continuum is far too simplistic for modern politics, unless you view the world through HYUFD's upside down monochrome binoculars.
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 54,585
    Two or possibly three US Black Hawk helicopters in the air over Eastern Romania, heading for Odessa. Just switched off their transponders.
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 42,134
    kjh said:

    kinabalu said:

    Er... did @HYUFD just accuse @Malmesbury of being left-wing?

    We're at risk of losing our moorings here. Best, imo, if exactly where people stand on the L to R via C spectrum is determined by somebody who is known for being objective to a fault. Therefore me, I suppose. Do I have the time? Yes, I think so. And if not I'll do some juggling to create it.
    This reminds me of @londonpubman posts referring to most of us being from the 'hard left'. Sadly it soon became clear that he was just (successfully) winding me up.
    Yes, that's a wind-up. Although he is viewing from a starboard cabin tbf.
  • StockyStocky Posts: 10,214
    Chat with my telephone provider last week.

    BT/Openreach copper wire system being turned off from 2025. Unless people move to VOIP they will lose their phone inc their number. News to me. They say that Openreach cannot possibly service the mass change last-minute to VOIP that this will cause, so it is inevitable that some will lose their phone numbers.
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 28,368

    AlistairM said:

    Covid anecdote. Lots of it going around where I am (Bucks). My 86yo father-in-law (triple jabbed and got Delta last Autumn) met up with 6 other friends of similar ages last week. 5 of them got Covid afterwards (not him) but are all fine. I also know quite a few people of my age (40s) who have caught it recently but all seem to be the ones who had somehow managed to avoid getting it previously. Aligns with lots of Covid cases but hopefully not going to have a massive impact on hospitalisations.

    That sounds promising. The only question I have (expert anywhere?) is about vaccines waning. I had my booster over six months ago, and have some health fragilities as well as knocking on a bit. Are there any plans to add another jab for those outside the really old/vulnerable? Or should I be confident that the six-month old booster is still protecting me fine? A bit more government communication on this would be helpful.
    I am due to visit Sicily in June. The Italian authorities are relaxing their rules for the six month plus boostered so long as the three vaccines have been mix and matched. I am thrice Pfizered, and will not be allowed in as fully vaccinated on current terms.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,631
    edited March 2022
    As President and cofounder of the Start The War Coalition and life long (and current) Tory member I love it when I get called a lefty.

    Oh, and hurrah for the end of Covid-19 restrictions.

    I miss the days when Mick Pork used to call me a far right Tory.
  • MoonRabbitMoonRabbit Posts: 13,497

    HYUFD said:

    kjh said:



    I know I am going to regret this but @Malmesbury is not making a political point nor deriving a conclusion but a very simple mathematical one that you are not grasping. I'll try a silly example to demonstrate. If we all catch a deadly virus on the same day that puts us in hospital in 10 days and kills us all in 20 days, then on day 1 hospitalisations and deaths are zero, but all is not well because in 20 days we will all be dead. He is pointing out the flawed logic you are using, regardless of whether the decisions based upon that flawed logic turn out correct or not.

    No, he is an ideological Covid restrictions backer no matter how many businesses it destroys or jobs it loses.

    We know full well even pre vaccination Covid was not deadly for the vast majority of us, now post vaccination it is not deadly for all but a miniscule fraction.

    Covid policy is no longer decided solely by science, it is decided by politics.

    The right and libertarians are prepared to live with it, the statist left are not, many are ideologically committed to zero Covid whatever the cost to the economy
    I'm always up for welcoming new comrades to the struggle, but @Malmesbury has never struck me as a recruit to the statist left. He's just got a slightly pessimistic view on Covid. It's possible to still be concerned about that and not yet signed up with Stalin and Pol Pot.
    He's just upset because I have a better tank.

    image
    Love that film! 👍🏻
  • Stocky said:

    Chat with my telephone provider last week.

    BT/Openreach copper wire system being turned off from 2025. Unless people move to VOIP they will lose their phone inc their number. News to me. They say that Openreach cannot possibly service the mass change last-minute to VOIP that this will cause, so it is inevitable that some will lose their phone numbers.

    How many people still use copper wire phone numbers? Primarily the elderly I guess? And businesses I suppose.

    I haven't used one in over a decade, and almost never used it in another decade before that. Businesses can probably more easily cajoled to switching over, so we just need to offer support to the elderly to switch to something 21st century.
  • moonshinemoonshine Posts: 5,747
    Fascinating reading H’s posts dispassionately when taken with the hint that he/she/it might have a nefarious agenda.

    Back to zero covid again today I see. It’s for our own good. With the occasional wittering about a “no fly zone” that would be political gold for Pres P. In one stroke it validates with his own people his world view of the “the evil West are out to crush us”, it fractures the extraordinarily united mood against him both within and across societies globally, it gives him a convenient excuse for the worst military blunder of the last century and finally a motivation to heavily rearm.

    We are not thickos here H. Your game has been rumbled.
  • StockyStocky Posts: 10,214

    Stocky said:

    Chat with my telephone provider last week.

    BT/Openreach copper wire system being turned off from 2025. Unless people move to VOIP they will lose their phone inc their number. News to me. They say that Openreach cannot possibly service the mass change last-minute to VOIP that this will cause, so it is inevitable that some will lose their phone numbers.

    How many people still use copper wire phone numbers? Primarily the elderly I guess? And businesses I suppose.

    I haven't used one in over a decade, and almost never used it in another decade before that. Businesses can probably more easily cajoled to switching over, so we just need to offer support to the elderly to switch to something 21st century.
    You move in different circles to me. Everyone I know still has a landline and no one has heard of VOIP. Out in the sticks up here.
  • Stocky said:

    Stocky said:

    Chat with my telephone provider last week.

    BT/Openreach copper wire system being turned off from 2025. Unless people move to VOIP they will lose their phone inc their number. News to me. They say that Openreach cannot possibly service the mass change last-minute to VOIP that this will cause, so it is inevitable that some will lose their phone numbers.

    How many people still use copper wire phone numbers? Primarily the elderly I guess? And businesses I suppose.

    I haven't used one in over a decade, and almost never used it in another decade before that. Businesses can probably more easily cajoled to switching over, so we just need to offer support to the elderly to switch to something 21st century.
    You move in different circles to me. Everyone I know still has a landline and no one has heard of VOIP. Out in the sticks up here.
    In my circles everyone's phone number begins with 07

    I've never used VOIP either.
  • turbotubbsturbotubbs Posts: 17,405

    AlistairM said:

    Covid anecdote. Lots of it going around where I am (Bucks). My 86yo father-in-law (triple jabbed and got Delta last Autumn) met up with 6 other friends of similar ages last week. 5 of them got Covid afterwards (not him) but are all fine. I also know quite a few people of my age (40s) who have caught it recently but all seem to be the ones who had somehow managed to avoid getting it previously. Aligns with lots of Covid cases but hopefully not going to have a massive impact on hospitalisations.

    That sounds promising. The only question I have (expert anywhere?) is about vaccines waning. I had my booster over six months ago, and have some health fragilities as well as knocking on a bit. Are there any plans to add another jab for those outside the really old/vulnerable? Or should I be confident that the six-month old booster is still protecting me fine? A bit more government communication on this would be helpful.
    There is a booster scheme starting shortly for elderly and immune compromised. I also expect we may have a similar scheme in the autumn, catching those who normally get flu shots.

    The current wibble from the wibblers is all about getting covid multiple times and it getting worse each time... Some evidence in some patients of damage to the immune system, which is clearly sub optimal. However for most people a couple of infections and you have pretty good baseline immunity. Later events tend to mildness.
    This is totally born* out by hospital data. Take note of how few are on MV beds. Take not of how many are admitted for other issues and happen to have covid.
    The wibblers are getting in a tizz that everyone is going to keep catching covid, that it will get worse each time as it degrades their immune system and that they are playing Russian Roulette with long covid - i.e. every infection has x chance of getting long covid, so the more times you go to the well, the greater your chance of long covid.

    There is a lot we don't know. I suspect there will be high correlation between wibblers and people who have long covid. Some people suffer grievous harm from covid - organ damage etc. But others are probably more akin to CFS - they need help, but it probably won't be via a pharmaceutical treatment. It also won't help to have people dismiss it. I was interested by a long covid clinic story in the Times a week or so back. For one patient, the treatment was breathing related, and very mush like meditation/mindfullness. The implication was that he had become extremely anxious about things, which caused him to stop breathing correctly, which then made him breathless, and anxious...

    As I keep saying, some long covid is clearly associated with physical damage. Some I suspect is damage to the mind. Both need our compassion, help and support.
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 42,134

    kinabalu said:

    Er... did @HYUFD just accuse @Malmesbury of being left-wing?

    We're at risk of losing our moorings here. Best, imo, if exactly where people stand on the L to R via C spectrum is determined by somebody who is known for being objective to a fault. Therefore me, I suppose. Do I have the time? Yes, I think so. And if not I'll do some juggling to create it.
    But what political spectrum is that ?

    Economic issues, social issues, environmental issues, international issues etc.

    Which can be further subdivided for example some right wingers support low taxation above all while others support balanced budgets.

    And that can be further subdivided for examples some people prefer taxation on income while others prefer taxation on wealth.
    Let's not overcomplicate. Yes, there's all that nuance, but it can all be incorporated (if you know what you're doing) into one number on a 1 to 100 scale, L to R. You, for example, are 76. But that's now. It's a living number which can (indeed will) go up or down as posts are made and opinions and attitudes revealed, both said and unsaid.
  • bigglesbiggles Posts: 6,051
    Sandpit said:

    Two or possibly three US Black Hawk helicopters in the air over Eastern Romania, heading for Odessa. Just switched off their transponders.

    The PMs?
  • logical_songlogical_song Posts: 9,913

    Stocky said:

    Chat with my telephone provider last week.

    BT/Openreach copper wire system being turned off from 2025. Unless people move to VOIP they will lose their phone inc their number. News to me. They say that Openreach cannot possibly service the mass change last-minute to VOIP that this will cause, so it is inevitable that some will lose their phone numbers.

    How many people still use copper wire phone numbers? Primarily the elderly I guess? And businesses I suppose.

    I haven't used one in over a decade, and almost never used it in another decade before that. Businesses can probably more easily cajoled to switching over, so we just need to offer support to the elderly to switch to something 21st century.
    Many people use Fibre to The Cabinet - and copper the rest of the way to the house. These usually then have a phone and the broadband in the house. Will these phones stop working?
  • StockyStocky Posts: 10,214

    Stocky said:

    Stocky said:

    Chat with my telephone provider last week.

    BT/Openreach copper wire system being turned off from 2025. Unless people move to VOIP they will lose their phone inc their number. News to me. They say that Openreach cannot possibly service the mass change last-minute to VOIP that this will cause, so it is inevitable that some will lose their phone numbers.

    How many people still use copper wire phone numbers? Primarily the elderly I guess? And businesses I suppose.

    I haven't used one in over a decade, and almost never used it in another decade before that. Businesses can probably more easily cajoled to switching over, so we just need to offer support to the elderly to switch to something 21st century.
    You move in different circles to me. Everyone I know still has a landline and no one has heard of VOIP. Out in the sticks up here.
    In my circles everyone's phone number begins with 07

    I've never used VOIP either.
    Like many I'm uncomfortable with not having land line - though I'm not sure why.
  • Nigel_ForemainNigel_Foremain Posts: 14,310

    Er... did @HYUFD just accuse @Malmesbury of being left-wing?

    Yes. Absolutely gob-smacking. That would make me an uber-Trotskyist or something.
    Mr M is Left, of course. Compared to HYUFD, who, I think, views himself as Centre/Right.

    I don't know what they put in the water in Epping!
    He is not centre right - he is leaning Farage right
    I am not sure that is fair. He has always struck me as a trad Conservative, but obsessed with the idea that blind loyalty is a virtue, which I guess is part of the human condition with some. There are those that are born to be sheep/cannon fodder for the "leader"/squire. Those that swear fealty to their Lord however repulsive he might be.

    If HYUFD were Russian, he would be defending Putin's actions and accusing dissenters of spreading "fake news"
  • PhilPhil Posts: 2,315

    Stocky said:

    Stocky said:

    Chat with my telephone provider last week.

    BT/Openreach copper wire system being turned off from 2025. Unless people move to VOIP they will lose their phone inc their number. News to me. They say that Openreach cannot possibly service the mass change last-minute to VOIP that this will cause, so it is inevitable that some will lose their phone numbers.

    How many people still use copper wire phone numbers? Primarily the elderly I guess? And businesses I suppose.

    I haven't used one in over a decade, and almost never used it in another decade before that. Businesses can probably more easily cajoled to switching over, so we just need to offer support to the elderly to switch to something 21st century.
    You move in different circles to me. Everyone I know still has a landline and no one has heard of VOIP. Out in the sticks up here.
    In my circles everyone's phone number begins with 07

    I've never used VOIP either.
    The plan is for VOIP to be the phone service for everyone I think. My current ISP no longer even sells joint phone + DSL packages to consumers - they’ve switched to DSL/VOIP as the standard offering.
  • kamskikamski Posts: 5,190
    edited March 2022

    AlistairM said:

    Covid anecdote. Lots of it going around where I am (Bucks). My 86yo father-in-law (triple jabbed and got Delta last Autumn) met up with 6 other friends of similar ages last week. 5 of them got Covid afterwards (not him) but are all fine. I also know quite a few people of my age (40s) who have caught it recently but all seem to be the ones who had somehow managed to avoid getting it previously. Aligns with lots of Covid cases but hopefully not going to have a massive impact on hospitalisations.

    That sounds promising. The only question I have (expert anywhere?) is about vaccines waning. I had my booster over six months ago, and have some health fragilities as well as knocking on a bit. Are there any plans to add another jab for those outside the really old/vulnerable? Or should I be confident that the six-month old booster is still protecting me fine? A bit more government communication on this would be helpful.
    I am due to visit Sicily in June. The Italian authorities are relaxing their rules for the six month plus boostered so long as the three vaccines have been mix and matched. I am thrice Pfizered, and will not be allowed in as fully vaccinated on current terms.
    I don't know where you are getting that information from. I was recently in Italy and had no problems with my 3 Pfizers - not that anyone asked to see anything on entry, although I had to wave a QR code to get into some places.
  • turbotubbsturbotubbs Posts: 17,405
    Stocky said:

    Stocky said:

    Stocky said:

    Chat with my telephone provider last week.

    BT/Openreach copper wire system being turned off from 2025. Unless people move to VOIP they will lose their phone inc their number. News to me. They say that Openreach cannot possibly service the mass change last-minute to VOIP that this will cause, so it is inevitable that some will lose their phone numbers.

    How many people still use copper wire phone numbers? Primarily the elderly I guess? And businesses I suppose.

    I haven't used one in over a decade, and almost never used it in another decade before that. Businesses can probably more easily cajoled to switching over, so we just need to offer support to the elderly to switch to something 21st century.
    You move in different circles to me. Everyone I know still has a landline and no one has heard of VOIP. Out in the sticks up here.
    In my circles everyone's phone number begins with 07

    I've never used VOIP either.
    Like many I'm uncomfortable with not having land line - though I'm not sure why.
    Our work phones are now via Teams on the PC. We still have a landline at home-thinking about ditching it at some point.
  • ApplicantApplicant Posts: 3,379

    Applicant said:

    biggles said:

    eek said:

    I suspect this is the long term future of Covid - not serious enough to close a production / company down but more than enough to knock someone important out for a week or more.


    Neil Gaiman
    @neilhimself
    ·
    3m
    It's so strange. On the one hand, people are acting as if we're in a post-Covid world. On the other, every day shooting Anansi Boys brings another change of schedule or plan because someone vital has covid and we've lost them for a week or more.

    Yes. Had a live deployment delayed from yesterday because the person who was going to test it is ill with Covid.

    But then companies should be wary of people who are single points of failure. Anyone can leave for a job elsewhere at short notice.
    Plus are the people being "knocked out" for a week because they're too sick to work, or because they're not working despite being healthy simply because they tested positive?

    If its the latter, then its the behaviour (or restrictions where they exist) that is causing the absence, not the virus.
    This is presumably the thinking behind reducing access to tests. A nudge towards normalising this virus.
    Indeed. Too many people have this idea in their head that positive = sick. Cases = illness.
    A direct result of the deliberate decision by the government and its advisers (and the media) to conflate infections with illnesses from the very beginning.
    To be fair though at the beginning cases did lead to illnesses.

    But times have changed. We have vaccines now. What was true in the very beginning is no longer true, and what was a lie at the beginning can now actually be true.

    Facts change over time, but far too many people are still stuck with the same arguments they had in 2020 without realising we're not in 2020 anymore.
    Even use of the word "case" confuses matters. Properly speaking a case is an infection with symptoms (hence IFR and CFR are different).

    From the very beginning there were asymptomatic infections (though with vaccines I agree that there are proportionally many more).
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 42,134

    kinabalu said:

    Er... did @HYUFD just accuse @Malmesbury of being left-wing?

    We're at risk of losing our moorings here. Best, imo, if exactly where people stand on the L to R via C spectrum is determined by somebody who is known for being objective to a fault. Therefore me, I suppose. Do I have the time? Yes, I think so. And if not I'll do some juggling to create it.
    But what political spectrum is that ?

    Economic issues, social issues, environmental issues, international issues etc.

    Which can be further subdivided for example some right wingers support low taxation above all while others support balanced budgets.

    And that can be further subdivided for examples some people prefer taxation on income while others prefer taxation on wealth.
    Indeed. The left right continuum is far too simplistic for modern politics, unless you view the world through HYUFD's upside down monochrome binoculars.
    No, you're a 65. Nothing simplistic there.
  • AslanAslan Posts: 1,673

    Er... did @HYUFD just accuse @Malmesbury of being left-wing?

    Yes. Absolutely gob-smacking. That would make me an uber-Trotskyist or something.
    Mr M is Left, of course. Compared to HYUFD, who, I think, views himself as Centre/Right.

    I don't know what they put in the water in Epping!
    He is not centre right - he is leaning Farage right
    I am not sure that is fair. He has always struck me as a trad Conservative, but obsessed with the idea that blind loyalty is a virtue, which I guess is part of the human condition with some. There are those that are born to be sheep/cannon fodder for the "leader"/squire. Those that swear fealty to their Lord however repulsive he might be.

    If HYUFD were Russian, he would be defending Putin's actions and accusing dissenters of spreading "fake news"
    HYUFD defended the January 6 violent insurrection at the Capitol building and supports Loyalists going to war in Northern Ireland if a border poll goes the wrong way. He is extremist autocratic right wing.
  • StockyStocky Posts: 10,214
    kamski said:

    AlistairM said:

    Covid anecdote. Lots of it going around where I am (Bucks). My 86yo father-in-law (triple jabbed and got Delta last Autumn) met up with 6 other friends of similar ages last week. 5 of them got Covid afterwards (not him) but are all fine. I also know quite a few people of my age (40s) who have caught it recently but all seem to be the ones who had somehow managed to avoid getting it previously. Aligns with lots of Covid cases but hopefully not going to have a massive impact on hospitalisations.

    That sounds promising. The only question I have (expert anywhere?) is about vaccines waning. I had my booster over six months ago, and have some health fragilities as well as knocking on a bit. Are there any plans to add another jab for those outside the really old/vulnerable? Or should I be confident that the six-month old booster is still protecting me fine? A bit more government communication on this would be helpful.
    I am due to visit Sicily in June. The Italian authorities are relaxing their rules for the six month plus boostered so long as the three vaccines have been mix and matched. I am thrice Pfizered, and will not be allowed in as fully vaccinated on current terms.
    I don't know where you are getting that information from. I was recently in Italy and had no problems with my 3 Pfizers - not that anyone asked to see anything on entry, although I had to wave a QR code to get into some places.
    Sicily has different rules to mainland Italy - though AIUI this means a compulsory LFT on arrival conducted by Italy officials.
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 54,585
    biggles said:

    Sandpit said:

    Two or possibly three US Black Hawk helicopters in the air over Eastern Romania, heading for Odessa. Just switched off their transponders.

    The PMs?
    Dunno about the PMs themselves, but likely to be part of the operation protecting their route in and out. US special forces possibly, that’s their usual mode of transport.
  • ApplicantApplicant Posts: 3,379
    Chameleon said:

    Ukrainians claiming a 4th Major General killed, via a photo of a dead man with Russian Major General rank slides in Mariupol.

    Ah, dammit. I'm too busy working to write a second verse at the moment...
  • MoonRabbitMoonRabbit Posts: 13,497
    malcolmg said:

    My nags for Day 1 of Cheltenham... as ever back them at your own peril

    Each way patent

    Hms Seahorse 9/1 16:50 Cheltenham
    Floueur 7/1 14:50 Cheltenham
    Blue Lord 9/2 14:10 Cheltenham
    @stodge @MoonRabbit

    *Betting Post 🐎

    So here we are. We have finally made it. Sooo excited. Saturday afternoon escapism everyday this week.

    I am betting with my heart today. 😍

    13:30 constitution hill
    Impressed by how it won on rules debut I put it in my book. Forgot it was in there, impressed by how it won second race I added it again! It will win for me today and our hearts will beat as one. 🥰

    14:10 Riviere D'etel
    Is there a case for A winner coming from out the top 3 candidates? Billed as Edwardstone the British challenger versus the two from Ireland. Form, going, distance, and class in this company, all three tick the boxes. But is there such a thing as horses for courses - Edwardstones three previous visits to Cheltenham are the three biggest blobs on the record. the two Irish horses blobbed on their only Cheltenham visit too.
    My heart says Riviere D'etel to make up for disappointment last time.

    15:30 Not So Sleepy
    The first winner I tipped on PB? Not So Sleepy Dead-heated with Epatante in the Fighting Fifth. Betting with my heart here🤣. Except, when I done my analysis for the fighting fifth I thought it would win, and it sort of did, to give itself this moment. If you love an under dog.

    16:10 Marie's Rock
    Going with her on basis her recent form is fine over this distance. This isn’t a 2m race my heart says trust those who love this distance not just the 2m.

    Best of luck everyone!
  • darkagedarkage Posts: 5,398

    malcolmg said:

    darkage said:

    Heathener said:

    Heathener said:

    Scott_xP said:

    ...

    This makes the important point about corruption in the heart of the tory party, which I acknowledge stretches back into other governments especially that of Tony Blair.

    The right wing lynch mob on here who all continually like one another's posts in their echo chamber (Felix, MM, Sandpit, Foxy, StateAway, JJ, BIgG etc.) hate the spotlight to be shone on this but the fact remains that corruption runs deep in the UK. We have traded and supported utterly corrupt, evil, regimes that are not confined to Russia but certainly include Saudi Arabia and Qatar. London has become a magnet for evil money.


    How do we solve the energy crisis? Gosh, there's a question from the 1970's. Nuclear power and renewables. Not raping the earth still further. We could all install solar panels and wind turbines and go off-grid. It's not that hard but it requires a lifestyle reset which you might have thought covid would have induced (it has for some).
    I am *not* part of a 'right wing lynch mob'. You might wish to reconsider that.
    One of Putin's little helpers has returned
    I don't know if Heathener is one of Putin's little helpers. I do find it hard to work out that poster's exact position though: they seem all over the shop.
    I find my position very similar to Nicola Sturgeon's actually, right down to Scottish independence ;)

    I don't believe we should self-centredly and selfishly stand by and let Ukraine get pulverised. We should install a No Fly Zone and stand up to Putin militarily.

    The people who won't help Ukraine militarily are doing so in order to save their own skins. Yes there are risks involved but this is likely to escalate anyway. We have to support the people of Ukraine on the ground and in the air. We should have done so from the outset. Instead we have been too frit to act.

    So you support a position of abandoning our nuclear deterrent, and declaring war on Russia?

    I commented yesterday that this is surely not a serious position. It falls apart under scrutiny, as has been obvious in recent TV interviews with the Scottish government. It seems more like a cynical attempt to support two popular policies, for electoral gain, safe in the knowledge that you have no significant influence on events, and don't have to make any real decisions.

    Were the SNP a bit smarter, they could have used the war as an opportunity to demonstrate their seriousness about government, in the same way that Starmer has in opposition at Westminster. Holding the NATO line, and downplaying the 'scrap trident' commitment. Instead Holyrood looks like an insignificant sixth form college talking shop.

    I have suggested that this will actually make independence less likely. It puts people off in England who are receptive to the idea of Scottish independence - like myself. I have also suggested it could have a similar effect in Scotland. I did ask a few days ago what @Farooq made of all this - but don't think I got any answer.

    Farooq is a balloon and knows square root of F all. Fact is that people in Scotland support being in NATO , do not want to hold nucleur weapons like lots of NATO members and the SNP have voted for and clearly stated they would be members of NATO.
    I rather doubt that an Indy Scotland issuing an ultimatums to rUK to remove Trident, and put at risk the UK's nuclear deterrence, will be welcomed into NATO. It's application would be vetoed. That's why for all the huffing and puffing, the removal of Trident would be fudged.

    Anyway, Indy is a dead duck now. The world has moved on, even if there are still a few poor souls left behind waving their flags, as the ship leaves the harbour.
    I don't think it is a dead duck. But the current crisis reveals a serious lack of realism. The question of defence has moved on beyond all recognition over the past two weeks, and this is a good thing. It's the one upside of the terrible situation in Ukraine.
  • malcolmg said:

    Heathener said:

    Heathener said:

    Scott_xP said:

    ...

    This makes the important point about corruption in the heart of the tory party, which I acknowledge stretches back into other governments especially that of Tony Blair.

    The right wing lynch mob on here who all continually like one another's posts in their echo chamber (Felix, MM, Sandpit, Foxy, StateAway, JJ, BIgG etc.) hate the spotlight to be shone on this but the fact remains that corruption runs deep in the UK. We have traded and supported utterly corrupt, evil, regimes that are not confined to Russia but certainly include Saudi Arabia and Qatar. London has become a magnet for evil money.


    How do we solve the energy crisis? Gosh, there's a question from the 1970's. Nuclear power and renewables. Not raping the earth still further. We could all install solar panels and wind turbines and go off-grid. It's not that hard but it requires a lifestyle reset which you might have thought covid would have induced (it has for some).
    I am *not* part of a 'right wing lynch mob'. You might wish to reconsider that.
    One of Putin's little helpers has returned
    I'm sure you think this is terribly smart, as Marquee Mark's little helper, but I am not a Putin troll. I loathe Putin and unlike you spineless cowards on the right I actually believe in not standing by and letting Putin pulverise Ukraine.

    If anyone on here is Putin's little helper it's those who refuse to support Zelensky militarily.

    You're a bunch of chickens. More concerned with your own NIMBYism than actually having the courage to stand up to Putin.

    p.s. and yes I have been absolutely right on covid all the way along.
    Boris is the most supportive leader militarily for Ukraine and is held in high esteem by President Zelenskyy

    You throw out insults branding people on the right which is patently untrue and try to goad the UK and NATO into WW111

    As for covid you have been wrong from day one

    If you want people to take you seriously cut out the abuse to other posters
    Boris is still the arse of arses G. He is a lying cheating mendacious crook. His play acting at Churchill cuts no mustard, anyone can lift a phone and act the tough guy, a fake fraud.
    Many do not like Boris but the President of Ukraine and Ukrainians are quite the opposite and are demonstrably so
    For much the same reason he was once popular in UK, Big G. He tells Ukraine exactly what they want to hear.

    France and Germany dropped by before the war, after chat with Putin, and told Ukraine to adopt Minsk 2, Boris dropped by and told them exactly what they wanted to hear.

    As our leader, He represents us. Where he speaks on this, Britain speaks, where he walks Britain walks. If he is a cad (partygate etc) and ultimately hated for saying what someone wants to hear and not following through on promise (weak on Oligarchs and so slow and mess on refugees Putin’s generals could be managing it) we will all be hated. 😕
    On this Boris has been active in the supply and training of Ukrainians in the use of our weaponry, both before and now during the war

    Since Patel has been side-line, Gove has activated an excellent refugee scheme and on individual sanctions it has been announced today that as legislation is now in force a long list of sanctions on Russians matching the EU and US has happened

    We attack Boris for ignoring the law but we cannot attack HMG when they had to change the law to ensure their actions are legal and cannot be challenged by wealthy London lawyers

    To be honest while HMG have been slow the pace is picking up rapidly and we now have an open door unlimited policy for Ukrainians refugees

    Boris has improved through this war but it does not mean he has improved his long term prospects, as the jury is out on that, and as far as I am concerned I am just wanting everyone to pull together and beat Putin, the war criminal, and then return to the Boris question
    From BBC website:

    "While the EU has gone further and faster on sanctions than many expected, diplomats have told the BBC of an increasingly evident rift; between Poland and Baltic states - who want ever stronger measures - versus a more cautious approach favoured by countries such as Germany and Italy."

    Maybe we should turn to the Scholz and Draghi questions?
    I think Germany has been compromised. Think of that picture posted here of the German delegation laughing whilst knowing their former chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has long been part of Putin’s inner circle.
    I noted @Scott_xP posting this morning re Boris seeking help on oil supplies from Saudi but that he did not show a similar cartoon with Germany and France as the same criticism could be directed at them for taking Russian 'blood contaminated' oil and gas

    Neither is helpful at this critical time
  • edmundintokyoedmundintokyo Posts: 17,708
    edited March 2022

    kamski said:

    biggles said:

    Sky newsflash; Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has, her MP says, been given her British passport back.
    So with a bit of luck she'll be on a plane here soon.

    I wonder if a new world axis is forming? It would be odd (but nice) to have the Iranians somewhat on the side of the west - although that's a long way off.

    I'd also argue that the Iranian nuclear program system is solvable - perhaps this is a first step.
    Also the oil would be handy.
    Maybe the Iranians aren't keen on a world where redrawing borders for LOLs is a thing?
    That’s a good point. But if humanity lives to write political history books of this crisis, the dash to secure oil and all the deals done with those previously frozen out, is going to be an educational read. “Oh you love me now do you? Well it’s going to cost you.”
    The threat of US relations with Iran taking a turn for the better should get Saudi oil pumps going pretty quickly
    LOL. 👍🏻

    Don’t forget Venezuela too. And what is actually happening now. We don’t want to pour money into Moscow, do we really have no alternative to give that same money into Iran and Venezuela instead? Maybe our leaders are overreacting? Or it’s evidence we are being signed up for long haul v’s Russian people.
    It's the long haul probably, Putin's not just going to retire peacefully.

    Making up with Venezuela is the right move. The US simply doesn't have infinite leverage, and they want a functioning economy too. That means they have to prioritize. If Russia is literally invading democracies, that's a bigger priority for the US than human rights in Venezuela.

    Of course the long-term solution is to reduce dependence on fossil fuels: They empower dictators, and there's a good argument that it's the presence of fossil fuels that creates the dictatorship, because if a country has oil it's enough for the elites to control it and suppress opponents, whereas if they don't have much the only way to get rich is to build a functioning economy. But Biden already had a policy to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, and it doesn't happen overnight.
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 27,890
    edited March 2022
    ohnotnow said:

    Nigelb said:

    V respected Iranian reporter here saying UK has paid its £400m debt to Iran and UK Iranian dual nationals Nazanin Zaghari Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori will be released.
    https://twitter.com/patrickwintour/status/1503649440200077314

    Also likely not unconnected with Iran's public opposition to Putin's war.

    And possibly Iranian oil sanctions?
    More likely the opposite. If Russian oil is sanctioned, where are the alternatives? See the cartoon @Scott_xP posted.

    And what Churchill said about Stalin and the devil.
  • kamskikamski Posts: 5,190
    Stocky said:

    kamski said:

    AlistairM said:

    Covid anecdote. Lots of it going around where I am (Bucks). My 86yo father-in-law (triple jabbed and got Delta last Autumn) met up with 6 other friends of similar ages last week. 5 of them got Covid afterwards (not him) but are all fine. I also know quite a few people of my age (40s) who have caught it recently but all seem to be the ones who had somehow managed to avoid getting it previously. Aligns with lots of Covid cases but hopefully not going to have a massive impact on hospitalisations.

    That sounds promising. The only question I have (expert anywhere?) is about vaccines waning. I had my booster over six months ago, and have some health fragilities as well as knocking on a bit. Are there any plans to add another jab for those outside the really old/vulnerable? Or should I be confident that the six-month old booster is still protecting me fine? A bit more government communication on this would be helpful.
    I am due to visit Sicily in June. The Italian authorities are relaxing their rules for the six month plus boostered so long as the three vaccines have been mix and matched. I am thrice Pfizered, and will not be allowed in as fully vaccinated on current terms.
    I don't know where you are getting that information from. I was recently in Italy and had no problems with my 3 Pfizers - not that anyone asked to see anything on entry, although I had to wave a QR code to get into some places.
    Sicily has different rules to mainland Italy - though AIUI this means a compulsory LFT on arrival conducted by Italy officials.
    I arrived in Sicily (from Germany) last month. I didn't have any test on arrival.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 122,921
    kamski said:

    biggles said:

    Er... did @HYUFD just accuse @Malmesbury of being left-wing?

    Yes. Absolutely gob-smacking. That would make me an uber-Trotskyist or something.
    To be fair, his definition of a proper conservative applies to about six people. Outside of that we are all socialists. It really is the reverse-Corbynite fringe.
    Although it's interesting that for HYUFD voting Conservative is an essential qualification for being "rightwing", whereas for many Corbynites voting Labour at most elections isn't required for being "leftwing" - in fact it also makes you "rightwing". So not quite a mirror-image.
    Corbynites would though have required you to vote Labour in 2017 and 2019 at minimum to be considered leftwing.

    Much as I would require you to have voted Conservative in 2019 to be considered rightwing

  • ApplicantApplicant Posts: 3,379
    Stocky said:

    Chat with my telephone provider last week.

    BT/Openreach copper wire system being turned off from 2025. Unless people move to VOIP they will lose their phone inc their number. News to me. They say that Openreach cannot possibly service the mass change last-minute to VOIP that this will cause, so it is inevitable that some will lose their phone numbers.

    My (late 70s) mum got switched over a few weeks ago, and her landline phone hasn't worked ever since. Fortunately she has a mobile.
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 42,829

    HYUFD said:

    kjh said:



    I know I am going to regret this but @Malmesbury is not making a political point nor deriving a conclusion but a very simple mathematical one that you are not grasping. I'll try a silly example to demonstrate. If we all catch a deadly virus on the same day that puts us in hospital in 10 days and kills us all in 20 days, then on day 1 hospitalisations and deaths are zero, but all is not well because in 20 days we will all be dead. He is pointing out the flawed logic you are using, regardless of whether the decisions based upon that flawed logic turn out correct or not.

    No, he is an ideological Covid restrictions backer no matter how many businesses it destroys or jobs it loses.

    We know full well even pre vaccination Covid was not deadly for the vast majority of us, now post vaccination it is not deadly for all but a miniscule fraction.

    Covid policy is no longer decided solely by science, it is decided by politics.

    The right and libertarians are prepared to live with it, the statist left are not, many are ideologically committed to zero Covid whatever the cost to the economy
    I'm always up for welcoming new comrades to the struggle, but @Malmesbury has never struck me as a recruit to the statist left. He's just got a slightly pessimistic view on Covid. It's possible to still be concerned about that and not yet signed up with Stalin and Pol Pot.
    He's just upset because I have a better tank.

    image
    Love that film! 👍🏻
    Which film is that, please?
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,190
    How many planes fly at a 1000 feet above the ground at 120 knots ?
  • StockyStocky Posts: 10,214

    Stocky said:

    Stocky said:

    Stocky said:

    Chat with my telephone provider last week.

    BT/Openreach copper wire system being turned off from 2025. Unless people move to VOIP they will lose their phone inc their number. News to me. They say that Openreach cannot possibly service the mass change last-minute to VOIP that this will cause, so it is inevitable that some will lose their phone numbers.

    How many people still use copper wire phone numbers? Primarily the elderly I guess? And businesses I suppose.

    I haven't used one in over a decade, and almost never used it in another decade before that. Businesses can probably more easily cajoled to switching over, so we just need to offer support to the elderly to switch to something 21st century.
    You move in different circles to me. Everyone I know still has a landline and no one has heard of VOIP. Out in the sticks up here.
    In my circles everyone's phone number begins with 07

    I've never used VOIP either.
    Like many I'm uncomfortable with not having land line - though I'm not sure why.
    Our work phones are now via Teams on the PC. We still have a landline at home-thinking about ditching it at some point.
    Keeping a landline is partly habit I guess. The thing is when all friends, family and utility companies and others have your landline number it is necessary to a large degree to keep it.

    I have two landline numbers, one home and one very rarely used business. The former is going to VOIP and the latter transferred to some APP-based system which I don't understand which allows the number to be retained but calls are relayed to my mobile.

    The whole package will save me money, I'm assured.
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 42,134

    malcolmg said:

    My nags for Day 1 of Cheltenham... as ever back them at your own peril

    Each way patent

    Hms Seahorse 9/1 16:50 Cheltenham
    Floueur 7/1 14:50 Cheltenham
    Blue Lord 9/2 14:10 Cheltenham
    @stodge @MoonRabbit

    *Betting Post 🐎

    So here we are. We have finally made it. Sooo excited. Saturday afternoon escapism everyday this week.

    I am betting with my heart today. 😍

    13:30 constitution hill
    Impressed by how it won on rules debut I put it in my book. Forgot it was in there, impressed by how it won second race I added it again! It will win for me today and our hearts will beat as one. 🥰

    14:10 Riviere D'etel
    Is there a case for A winner coming from out the top 3 candidates? Billed as Edwardstone the British challenger versus the two from Ireland. Form, going, distance, and class in this company, all three tick the boxes. But is there such a thing as horses for courses - Edwardstones three previous visits to Cheltenham are the three biggest blobs on the record. the two Irish horses blobbed on their only Cheltenham visit too.
    My heart says Riviere D'etel to make up for disappointment last time.

    15:30 Not So Sleepy
    The first winner I tipped on PB? Not So Sleepy Dead-heated with Epatante in the Fighting Fifth. Betting with my heart here🤣. Except, when I done my analysis for the fighting fifth I thought it would win, and it sort of did, to give itself this moment. If you love an under dog.

    16:10 Marie's Rock
    Going with her on basis her recent form is fine over this distance. This isn’t a 2m race my heart says trust those who love this distance not just the 2m.

    Best of luck everyone!
    Is the hot unbeaten fav in the Champion Hurdle not a dead cert then iyo?
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 54,585
    edited March 2022
    Pulpstar said:

    How many planes fly at a 1000 feet above the ground at 120 knots ?

    Little Cessnas, helicopters and drones. YR5622?
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 122,921
    edited March 2022

    Er... did @HYUFD just accuse @Malmesbury of being left-wing?

    Yes. Absolutely gob-smacking. That would make me an uber-Trotskyist or something.
    Mr M is Left, of course. Compared to HYUFD, who, I think, views himself as Centre/Right.

    I don't know what they put in the water in Epping!
    He is not centre right - he is leaning Farage right
    Hardly, I was one of the 9% who voted for May's Tories in the 2019 European elections when 31% of voters did indeed vote for Farage's Brexit Party
  • StockyStocky Posts: 10,214
    Applicant said:

    Stocky said:

    Chat with my telephone provider last week.

    BT/Openreach copper wire system being turned off from 2025. Unless people move to VOIP they will lose their phone inc their number. News to me. They say that Openreach cannot possibly service the mass change last-minute to VOIP that this will cause, so it is inevitable that some will lose their phone numbers.

    My (late 70s) mum got switched over a few weeks ago, and her landline phone hasn't worked ever since. Fortunately she has a mobile.
    Oh, that's worrying. Who is her provider? I'm with Simple Telecoms (who are excellent).
  • StockyStocky Posts: 10,214
    kamski said:

    Stocky said:

    kamski said:

    AlistairM said:

    Covid anecdote. Lots of it going around where I am (Bucks). My 86yo father-in-law (triple jabbed and got Delta last Autumn) met up with 6 other friends of similar ages last week. 5 of them got Covid afterwards (not him) but are all fine. I also know quite a few people of my age (40s) who have caught it recently but all seem to be the ones who had somehow managed to avoid getting it previously. Aligns with lots of Covid cases but hopefully not going to have a massive impact on hospitalisations.

    That sounds promising. The only question I have (expert anywhere?) is about vaccines waning. I had my booster over six months ago, and have some health fragilities as well as knocking on a bit. Are there any plans to add another jab for those outside the really old/vulnerable? Or should I be confident that the six-month old booster is still protecting me fine? A bit more government communication on this would be helpful.
    I am due to visit Sicily in June. The Italian authorities are relaxing their rules for the six month plus boostered so long as the three vaccines have been mix and matched. I am thrice Pfizered, and will not be allowed in as fully vaccinated on current terms.
    I don't know where you are getting that information from. I was recently in Italy and had no problems with my 3 Pfizers - not that anyone asked to see anything on entry, although I had to wave a QR code to get into some places.
    Sicily has different rules to mainland Italy - though AIUI this means a compulsory LFT on arrival conducted by Italy officials.
    I arrived in Sicily (from Germany) last month. I didn't have any test on arrival.
    The LFT rule is for arrivals from UK only.
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 42,829

    Er... did @HYUFD just accuse @Malmesbury of being left-wing?

    Yes. Absolutely gob-smacking. That would make me an uber-Trotskyist or something.
    I wouldn't worry. He accused me of being an extreme leftie too and I'm as centrist a dad as they come.
  • Gary_BurtonGary_Burton Posts: 737
    edited March 2022
    Aslan said:

    Er... did @HYUFD just accuse @Malmesbury of being left-wing?

    Yes. Absolutely gob-smacking. That would make me an uber-Trotskyist or something.
    Mr M is Left, of course. Compared to HYUFD, who, I think, views himself as Centre/Right.

    I don't know what they put in the water in Epping!
    He is not centre right - he is leaning Farage right
    I am not sure that is fair. He has always struck me as a trad Conservative, but obsessed with the idea that blind loyalty is a virtue, which I guess is part of the human condition with some. There are those that are born to be sheep/cannon fodder for the "leader"/squire. Those that swear fealty to their Lord however repulsive he might be.

    If HYUFD were Russian, he would be defending Putin's actions and accusing dissenters of spreading "fake news"
    HYUFD defended the January 6 violent insurrection at the Capitol building and supports Loyalists going to war in Northern Ireland if a border poll goes the wrong way. He is extremist autocratic right wing.
    I don't actually mind HYUFD and respect his consistency/tribalism on most things as opposed to the various tedious whining emanating from various centrist and right wingers on this site (particularly the more deranged rants about Corbyn).

    It's only really his views on Northern Ireland I take issue with.

    I think he provides much better insight on Trump than most although I personally think Trump probably should have been banned from holding future office after January 6th.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 122,921
    edited March 2022

    HYUFD said:

    HYUFD said:

    biggles said:

    Er... did @HYUFD just accuse @Malmesbury of being left-wing?

    Yes. Absolutely gob-smacking. That would make me an uber-Trotskyist or something.
    To be fair, his definition of a proper conservative applies to about six people. Outside of that we are all socialists. It really is the reverse-Corbynite fringe.
    Did he vote Tory in 2019? As far as I know he did not, so he is certainly no Conservative then
    Does "not a Conservative" equal left wing to you?
    Unless you were a Liberal Democrat who backed Cameron and Clegg's coalition yes. Everybody else not in that category or who did not vote Conservative in 2019 is leftwing to some degree.

    If you are that you are unlikely to back continued Covid restrictions either
    Well, I backed the Coalition, but if you call me other than Left, I'll sue. And I'm still cautious about Covid.
    If you backed Cameron and Clegg's coalition Corbynites would consider you a rightwing capitalist scum, certainly not left.

    I do not need to say anything!
  • SelebianSelebian Posts: 8,727
    edited March 2022
    Applicant said:

    Stocky said:

    Chat with my telephone provider last week.

    BT/Openreach copper wire system being turned off from 2025. Unless people move to VOIP they will lose their phone inc their number. News to me. They say that Openreach cannot possibly service the mass change last-minute to VOIP that this will cause, so it is inevitable that some will lose their phone numbers.

    My (late 70s) mum got switched over a few weeks ago, and her landline phone hasn't worked ever since. Fortunately she has a mobile.
    My in-laws got switched with Sky. For them, the (old) phone plugs into a socket in the router (which handles the POTS to VOIP conversion). Any old phone plugged into an old socket/extension won't work.

    Edit: they were a bit put out as the change wasn't made explicit when they signed up - questions about whether alarm etc connected to phone system, which if ticked yes would have got them a POTS line still, but that was not made explicit. Glad they are switched now though, give it's going to happen for everyone fairly soon if the deadline is met.
  • Nigel_ForemainNigel_Foremain Posts: 14,310
    kinabalu said:

    kinabalu said:

    Er... did @HYUFD just accuse @Malmesbury of being left-wing?

    We're at risk of losing our moorings here. Best, imo, if exactly where people stand on the L to R via C spectrum is determined by somebody who is known for being objective to a fault. Therefore me, I suppose. Do I have the time? Yes, I think so. And if not I'll do some juggling to create it.
    But what political spectrum is that ?

    Economic issues, social issues, environmental issues, international issues etc.

    Which can be further subdivided for example some right wingers support low taxation above all while others support balanced budgets.

    And that can be further subdivided for examples some people prefer taxation on income while others prefer taxation on wealth.
    Indeed. The left right continuum is far too simplistic for modern politics, unless you view the world through HYUFD's upside down monochrome binoculars.
    No, you're a 65. Nothing simplistic there.
    Not sure I understand. Is that where you think I am on the continuum (15 points right of the median)?
  • StockyStocky Posts: 10,214
    Selebian said:

    Applicant said:

    Stocky said:

    Chat with my telephone provider last week.

    BT/Openreach copper wire system being turned off from 2025. Unless people move to VOIP they will lose their phone inc their number. News to me. They say that Openreach cannot possibly service the mass change last-minute to VOIP that this will cause, so it is inevitable that some will lose their phone numbers.

    My (late 70s) mum got switched over a few weeks ago, and her landline phone hasn't worked ever since. Fortunately she has a mobile.
    My in-laws got switched with Sky. For them, the (old) phone plugs into a socket in the router (which handles the POTS to VOIP conversion). Any old phone plugged into an old socket/extension won't work.
    That's exact;y what I have been advised. Bit of a pain to have to plug the telephone base unit into your router.
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 27,890
    edited March 2022

    malcolmg said:

    My nags for Day 1 of Cheltenham... as ever back them at your own peril

    Each way patent

    Hms Seahorse 9/1 16:50 Cheltenham
    Floueur 7/1 14:50 Cheltenham
    Blue Lord 9/2 14:10 Cheltenham
    @stodge @MoonRabbit

    *Betting Post 🐎

    So here we are. We have finally made it. Sooo excited. Saturday afternoon escapism everyday this week.

    I am betting with my heart today. 😍

    13:30 constitution hill
    Impressed by how it won on rules debut I put it in my book. Forgot it was in there, impressed by how it won second race I added it again! It will win for me today and our hearts will beat as one. 🥰

    14:10 Riviere D'etel
    Is there a case for A winner coming from out the top 3 candidates? Billed as Edwardstone the British challenger versus the two from Ireland. Form, going, distance, and class in this company, all three tick the boxes. But is there such a thing as horses for courses - Edwardstones three previous visits to Cheltenham are the three biggest blobs on the record. the two Irish horses blobbed on their only Cheltenham visit too.
    My heart says Riviere D'etel to make up for disappointment last time.

    15:30 Not So Sleepy
    The first winner I tipped on PB? Not So Sleepy Dead-heated with Epatante in the Fighting Fifth. Betting with my heart here🤣. Except, when I done my analysis for the fighting fifth I thought it would win, and it sort of did, to give itself this moment. If you love an under dog.

    16:10 Marie's Rock
    Going with her on basis her recent form is fine over this distance. This isn’t a 2m race my heart says trust those who love this distance not just the 2m.

    Best of luck everyone!
    Not So Sleepy might be PB's first 100/1 winner, if he wins. GL.
  • kamskikamski Posts: 5,190
    Stocky said:

    kamski said:

    Stocky said:

    kamski said:

    AlistairM said:

    Covid anecdote. Lots of it going around where I am (Bucks). My 86yo father-in-law (triple jabbed and got Delta last Autumn) met up with 6 other friends of similar ages last week. 5 of them got Covid afterwards (not him) but are all fine. I also know quite a few people of my age (40s) who have caught it recently but all seem to be the ones who had somehow managed to avoid getting it previously. Aligns with lots of Covid cases but hopefully not going to have a massive impact on hospitalisations.

    That sounds promising. The only question I have (expert anywhere?) is about vaccines waning. I had my booster over six months ago, and have some health fragilities as well as knocking on a bit. Are there any plans to add another jab for those outside the really old/vulnerable? Or should I be confident that the six-month old booster is still protecting me fine? A bit more government communication on this would be helpful.
    I am due to visit Sicily in June. The Italian authorities are relaxing their rules for the six month plus boostered so long as the three vaccines have been mix and matched. I am thrice Pfizered, and will not be allowed in as fully vaccinated on current terms.
    I don't know where you are getting that information from. I was recently in Italy and had no problems with my 3 Pfizers - not that anyone asked to see anything on entry, although I had to wave a QR code to get into some places.
    Sicily has different rules to mainland Italy - though AIUI this means a compulsory LFT on arrival conducted by Italy officials.
    I arrived in Sicily (from Germany) last month. I didn't have any test on arrival.
    The LFT rule is for arrivals from UK only.
    Is that still the case? I though the rules were recently changed so the UK is treated the same as EU countries.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,561
    Chameleon said:

    Ukrainians claiming a 4th Major General killed, via a photo of a dead man with Russian Major General rank slides in Mariupol.

    The targeting of senior ranks has, I assume, been co-ordinated by external intelligence agencies. "Your snipers might want to look at the following co-ordinates...."
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 43,319
    Nigelb said:

    malcolmg said:

    Applicant said:

    Heathener said:

    Heathener said:

    Scott_xP said:

    ...

    This makes the important point about corruption in the heart of the tory party, which I acknowledge stretches back into other governments especially that of Tony Blair.

    The right wing lynch mob on here who all continually like one another's posts in their echo chamber (Felix, MM, Sandpit, Foxy, StateAway, JJ, BIgG etc.) hate the spotlight to be shone on this but the fact remains that corruption runs deep in the UK. We have traded and supported utterly corrupt, evil, regimes that are not confined to Russia but certainly include Saudi Arabia and Qatar. London has become a magnet for evil money.


    How do we solve the energy crisis? Gosh, there's a question from the 1970's. Nuclear power and renewables. Not raping the earth still further. We could all install solar panels and wind turbines and go off-grid. It's not that hard but it requires a lifestyle reset which you might have thought covid would have induced (it has for some).
    I am *not* part of a 'right wing lynch mob'. You might wish to reconsider that.
    Sorted and with apologies then x

    p.s. it was quite difficult yesterday to keep track although Marquee Mark managed to make himself the most unpleasant and obnoxious person of the lynch mob, which is saying something.
    If you're finding Marquee Mark unpleasant and obnoxious, you should at least consider that the problem is not with him.
    Have to say Mark is one of the mildest mannered gentlemen on the site.
    Where would you place yourself on that scale, malcolm ?
    I would say I am a bit more forthright and strident for sure. That si excluding tghe idiotic knuckle dragging stalkers who I jsut treat as they deserve.
    I am perhaps a bit blunt at times but reserve my ire for the pompous fcukwits generally.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 50,249
    Pulpstar said:

    How many planes fly at a 1000 feet above the ground at 120 knots ?

    SR-71 doing a very slow pass of the tower?

    https://theaviationgeekclub.com/story-behind-famed-sr-71-blackbird-super-low-knife-edge-pass/
  • Northern_AlNorthern_Al Posts: 8,375

    kamski said:

    biggles said:

    Sky newsflash; Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has, her MP says, been given her British passport back.
    So with a bit of luck she'll be on a plane here soon.

    I wonder if a new world axis is forming? It would be odd (but nice) to have the Iranians somewhat on the side of the west - although that's a long way off.

    I'd also argue that the Iranian nuclear program system is solvable - perhaps this is a first step.
    Also the oil would be handy.
    Maybe the Iranians aren't keen on a world where redrawing borders for LOLs is a thing?
    That’s a good point. But if humanity lives to write political history books of this crisis, the dash to secure oil and all the deals done with those previously frozen out, is going to be an educational read. “Oh you love me now do you? Well it’s going to cost you.”
    The threat of US relations with Iran taking a turn for the better should get Saudi oil pumps going pretty quickly
    LOL. 👍🏻

    Don’t forget Venezuela too. And what is actually happening now. We don’t want to pour money into Moscow, do we really have no alternative to give that same money into Iran and Venezuela instead? Maybe our leaders are overreacting? Or it’s evidence we are being signed up for long haul v’s Russian people.
    It's the long haul probably, Putin's not just going to retire peacefully.

    Making up with Venezuela is the right move. The US simply doesn't have infinite leverage, and they want a functioning economy too. That means they have to prioritize. If Russia is literally invading democracies, that's a bigger priority for the US than human rights in Venezuela.

    Of course the long-term solution is to reduce dependence on fossil fuels: They empower dictators, and there's a good argument that it's the presence of fossil fuels that creates the dictatorship, because if a country has oil it's enough for the elites to control it and suppress opponents, whereas if they don't have much the only way to get rich is to build a functioning economy. But Biden already had a policy to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, and it doesn't happen overnight.
    So, Corbyn was right all along?
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 27,890
    Sandpit said:

    biggles said:

    Sandpit said:

    Two or possibly three US Black Hawk helicopters in the air over Eastern Romania, heading for Odessa. Just switched off their transponders.

    The PMs?
    Dunno about the PMs themselves, but likely to be part of the operation protecting their route in and out. US special forces possibly, that’s their usual mode of transport.
    Maybe. Odessa is also close to where Russia might attempt an amphibious landing.
  • MoonRabbitMoonRabbit Posts: 13,497
    kinabalu said:

    malcolmg said:

    My nags for Day 1 of Cheltenham... as ever back them at your own peril

    Each way patent

    Hms Seahorse 9/1 16:50 Cheltenham
    Floueur 7/1 14:50 Cheltenham
    Blue Lord 9/2 14:10 Cheltenham
    @stodge @MoonRabbit

    *Betting Post 🐎

    So here we are. We have finally made it. Sooo excited. Saturday afternoon escapism everyday this week.

    I am betting with my heart today. 😍

    13:30 constitution hill
    Impressed by how it won on rules debut I put it in my book. Forgot it was in there, impressed by how it won second race I added it again! It will win for me today and our hearts will beat as one. 🥰

    14:10 Riviere D'etel
    Is there a case for A winner coming from out the top 3 candidates? Billed as Edwardstone the British challenger versus the two from Ireland. Form, going, distance, and class in this company, all three tick the boxes. But is there such a thing as horses for courses - Edwardstones three previous visits to Cheltenham are the three biggest blobs on the record. the two Irish horses blobbed on their only Cheltenham visit too.
    My heart says Riviere D'etel to make up for disappointment last time.

    15:30 Not So Sleepy
    The first winner I tipped on PB? Not So Sleepy Dead-heated with Epatante in the Fighting Fifth. Betting with my heart here🤣. Except, when I done my analysis for the fighting fifth I thought it would win, and it sort of did, to give itself this moment. If you love an under dog.

    16:10 Marie's Rock
    Going with her on basis her recent form is fine over this distance. This isn’t a 2m race my heart says trust those who love this distance not just the 2m.

    Best of luck everyone!
    Is the hot unbeaten fav in the Champion Hurdle not a dead cert then iyo?
    I’m on not so sleepy. But the choice is yours to decide of those two horses which stands best chance. 🙂

    I’m also v’s Malky’s Blue Lord in the Arkle. Game on.
  • Northern_AlNorthern_Al Posts: 8,375
    edited March 2022

    Aslan said:

    Er... did @HYUFD just accuse @Malmesbury of being left-wing?

    Yes. Absolutely gob-smacking. That would make me an uber-Trotskyist or something.
    Mr M is Left, of course. Compared to HYUFD, who, I think, views himself as Centre/Right.

    I don't know what they put in the water in Epping!
    He is not centre right - he is leaning Farage right
    I am not sure that is fair. He has always struck me as a trad Conservative, but obsessed with the idea that blind loyalty is a virtue, which I guess is part of the human condition with some. There are those that are born to be sheep/cannon fodder for the "leader"/squire. Those that swear fealty to their Lord however repulsive he might be.

    If HYUFD were Russian, he would be defending Putin's actions and accusing dissenters of spreading "fake news"
    HYUFD defended the January 6 violent insurrection at the Capitol building and supports Loyalists going to war in Northern Ireland if a border poll goes the wrong way. He is extremist autocratic right wing.
    I don't actually mind HYUFD and respect his consistency/tribalism on most things as opposed to the various tedious whining emanating from various centrist and right wingers on this site (particularly the more deranged rants about Corbyn).

    It's only really his views on Northern Ireland I take issue with.

    I think he provides much better insight on Trump than most although I personally think Trump probably should have been banned from holding future office after January 6th.
    Deleted - redundant comment, again.
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 35,990
    So as my new colleague @JenWilliamsMEN reports, Northern areas, including Red Wall areas, are getting jumpy they will NOT get the same as they would if we'd stayed in the EU...despite government assurances to the contrary. See also, via @NorthernPOW /6
    https://www.northernpowerhousepartnership.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Regional-Allocation-of-the-Shared-Prosperity-Fund-SPF-Pre-White-Paper-Analysis-FINAL-SIGNED-OFF.pdf https://twitter.com/pmdfoster/status/1503689148829417472/photo/1
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 50,249

    HYUFD said:

    kjh said:



    I know I am going to regret this but @Malmesbury is not making a political point nor deriving a conclusion but a very simple mathematical one that you are not grasping. I'll try a silly example to demonstrate. If we all catch a deadly virus on the same day that puts us in hospital in 10 days and kills us all in 20 days, then on day 1 hospitalisations and deaths are zero, but all is not well because in 20 days we will all be dead. He is pointing out the flawed logic you are using, regardless of whether the decisions based upon that flawed logic turn out correct or not.

    No, he is an ideological Covid restrictions backer no matter how many businesses it destroys or jobs it loses.

    We know full well even pre vaccination Covid was not deadly for the vast majority of us, now post vaccination it is not deadly for all but a miniscule fraction.

    Covid policy is no longer decided solely by science, it is decided by politics.

    The right and libertarians are prepared to live with it, the statist left are not, many are ideologically committed to zero Covid whatever the cost to the economy
    I'm always up for welcoming new comrades to the struggle, but @Malmesbury has never struck me as a recruit to the statist left. He's just got a slightly pessimistic view on Covid. It's possible to still be concerned about that and not yet signed up with Stalin and Pol Pot.
    He's just upset because I have a better tank.

    image
    Love that film! 👍🏻
    Crapgame : Then make a DEAL!
    Big Joe : What kind of deal?
    Crapgame : A DEAL, deal! Maybe the guy's a Republican. "Business is business," right?
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 71,070
    Carnyx said:

    HYUFD said:

    kjh said:



    I know I am going to regret this but @Malmesbury is not making a political point nor deriving a conclusion but a very simple mathematical one that you are not grasping. I'll try a silly example to demonstrate. If we all catch a deadly virus on the same day that puts us in hospital in 10 days and kills us all in 20 days, then on day 1 hospitalisations and deaths are zero, but all is not well because in 20 days we will all be dead. He is pointing out the flawed logic you are using, regardless of whether the decisions based upon that flawed logic turn out correct or not.

    No, he is an ideological Covid restrictions backer no matter how many businesses it destroys or jobs it loses.

    We know full well even pre vaccination Covid was not deadly for the vast majority of us, now post vaccination it is not deadly for all but a miniscule fraction.

    Covid policy is no longer decided solely by science, it is decided by politics.

    The right and libertarians are prepared to live with it, the statist left are not, many are ideologically committed to zero Covid whatever the cost to the economy
    I'm always up for welcoming new comrades to the struggle, but @Malmesbury has never struck me as a recruit to the statist left. He's just got a slightly pessimistic view on Covid. It's possible to still be concerned about that and not yet signed up with Stalin and Pol Pot.
    He's just upset because I have a better tank.

    image
    Love that film! 👍🏻
    Which film is that, please?
    Kelly's Heroes.
  • StockyStocky Posts: 10,214
    kamski said:

    Stocky said:

    kamski said:

    Stocky said:

    kamski said:

    AlistairM said:

    Covid anecdote. Lots of it going around where I am (Bucks). My 86yo father-in-law (triple jabbed and got Delta last Autumn) met up with 6 other friends of similar ages last week. 5 of them got Covid afterwards (not him) but are all fine. I also know quite a few people of my age (40s) who have caught it recently but all seem to be the ones who had somehow managed to avoid getting it previously. Aligns with lots of Covid cases but hopefully not going to have a massive impact on hospitalisations.

    That sounds promising. The only question I have (expert anywhere?) is about vaccines waning. I had my booster over six months ago, and have some health fragilities as well as knocking on a bit. Are there any plans to add another jab for those outside the really old/vulnerable? Or should I be confident that the six-month old booster is still protecting me fine? A bit more government communication on this would be helpful.
    I am due to visit Sicily in June. The Italian authorities are relaxing their rules for the six month plus boostered so long as the three vaccines have been mix and matched. I am thrice Pfizered, and will not be allowed in as fully vaccinated on current terms.
    I don't know where you are getting that information from. I was recently in Italy and had no problems with my 3 Pfizers - not that anyone asked to see anything on entry, although I had to wave a QR code to get into some places.
    Sicily has different rules to mainland Italy - though AIUI this means a compulsory LFT on arrival conducted by Italy officials.
    I arrived in Sicily (from Germany) last month. I didn't have any test on arrival.
    The LFT rule is for arrivals from UK only.
    Is that still the case? I though the rules were recently changed so the UK is treated the same as EU countries.
    I'm just going by Foreign Office advice;

    https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/italy

    It says:

    "All arrivals from the UK into Sicily will need to undertake a rapid lateral flow test on arrival (administered by the local health authorities free of charge)."
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 28,368
    kamski said:

    AlistairM said:

    Covid anecdote. Lots of it going around where I am (Bucks). My 86yo father-in-law (triple jabbed and got Delta last Autumn) met up with 6 other friends of similar ages last week. 5 of them got Covid afterwards (not him) but are all fine. I also know quite a few people of my age (40s) who have caught it recently but all seem to be the ones who had somehow managed to avoid getting it previously. Aligns with lots of Covid cases but hopefully not going to have a massive impact on hospitalisations.

    That sounds promising. The only question I have (expert anywhere?) is about vaccines waning. I had my booster over six months ago, and have some health fragilities as well as knocking on a bit. Are there any plans to add another jab for those outside the really old/vulnerable? Or should I be confident that the six-month old booster is still protecting me fine? A bit more government communication on this would be helpful.
    I am due to visit Sicily in June. The Italian authorities are relaxing their rules for the six month plus boostered so long as the three vaccines have been mix and matched. I am thrice Pfizered, and will not be allowed in as fully vaccinated on current terms.
    I don't know where you are getting that information from. I was recently in Italy and had no problems with my 3 Pfizers - not that anyone asked to see anything on entry, although I had to wave a QR code to get into some places.
    The problem is my booster will be 9 months old by June, and it is as you say access to any venues that is the issue. I can fly into Catania no problem, it's just getting a beer afterwards that might be a trial.
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 27,890
    Scott_xP said:

    So as my new colleague @JenWilliamsMEN reports, Northern areas, including Red Wall areas, are getting jumpy they will NOT get the same as they would if we'd stayed in the EU...despite government assurances to the contrary. See also, via @NorthernPOW /6
    https://www.northernpowerhousepartnership.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Regional-Allocation-of-the-Shared-Prosperity-Fund-SPF-Pre-White-Paper-Analysis-FINAL-SIGNED-OFF.pdf https://twitter.com/pmdfoster/status/1503689148829417472/photo/1

    "Despite government assurances to the contrary."
  • Nigel_ForemainNigel_Foremain Posts: 14,310
    HYUFD said:

    kamski said:

    biggles said:

    Er... did @HYUFD just accuse @Malmesbury of being left-wing?

    Yes. Absolutely gob-smacking. That would make me an uber-Trotskyist or something.
    To be fair, his definition of a proper conservative applies to about six people. Outside of that we are all socialists. It really is the reverse-Corbynite fringe.
    Although it's interesting that for HYUFD voting Conservative is an essential qualification for being "rightwing", whereas for many Corbynites voting Labour at most elections isn't required for being "leftwing" - in fact it also makes you "rightwing". So not quite a mirror-image.
    Corbynites would though have required you to vote Labour in 2017 and 2019 at minimum to be considered leftwing.

    Much as I would require you to have voted Conservative in 2019 to be considered rightwing

    "Much as I would require you to have voted Conservative in 2019 to be considered rightwing"

    Says the self appointed judge and jury on such matters. Really quite comical.

    Do you not realise you are starting to become a laughing stock? A parody of a Tory? I wouldn't be at all surprised if Viz end up creating a character based on you; I can picture it now: "True Blue HYU" The first episode could be HYU goes speed dating to find girls that are True Conservatives.
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 42,829
    Nigelb said:

    Carnyx said:

    HYUFD said:

    kjh said:



    I know I am going to regret this but @Malmesbury is not making a political point nor deriving a conclusion but a very simple mathematical one that you are not grasping. I'll try a silly example to demonstrate. If we all catch a deadly virus on the same day that puts us in hospital in 10 days and kills us all in 20 days, then on day 1 hospitalisations and deaths are zero, but all is not well because in 20 days we will all be dead. He is pointing out the flawed logic you are using, regardless of whether the decisions based upon that flawed logic turn out correct or not.

    No, he is an ideological Covid restrictions backer no matter how many businesses it destroys or jobs it loses.

    We know full well even pre vaccination Covid was not deadly for the vast majority of us, now post vaccination it is not deadly for all but a miniscule fraction.

    Covid policy is no longer decided solely by science, it is decided by politics.

    The right and libertarians are prepared to live with it, the statist left are not, many are ideologically committed to zero Covid whatever the cost to the economy
    I'm always up for welcoming new comrades to the struggle, but @Malmesbury has never struck me as a recruit to the statist left. He's just got a slightly pessimistic view on Covid. It's possible to still be concerned about that and not yet signed up with Stalin and Pol Pot.
    He's just upset because I have a better tank.

    image
    Love that film! 👍🏻
    Which film is that, please?
    Kelly's Heroes.
    Thank you!
  • StockyStocky Posts: 10,214
    kinabalu said:

    malcolmg said:

    My nags for Day 1 of Cheltenham... as ever back them at your own peril

    Each way patent

    Hms Seahorse 9/1 16:50 Cheltenham
    Floueur 7/1 14:50 Cheltenham
    Blue Lord 9/2 14:10 Cheltenham
    @stodge @MoonRabbit

    *Betting Post 🐎

    So here we are. We have finally made it. Sooo excited. Saturday afternoon escapism everyday this week.

    I am betting with my heart today. 😍

    13:30 constitution hill
    Impressed by how it won on rules debut I put it in my book. Forgot it was in there, impressed by how it won second race I added it again! It will win for me today and our hearts will beat as one. 🥰

    14:10 Riviere D'etel
    Is there a case for A winner coming from out the top 3 candidates? Billed as Edwardstone the British challenger versus the two from Ireland. Form, going, distance, and class in this company, all three tick the boxes. But is there such a thing as horses for courses - Edwardstones three previous visits to Cheltenham are the three biggest blobs on the record. the two Irish horses blobbed on their only Cheltenham visit too.
    My heart says Riviere D'etel to make up for disappointment last time.

    15:30 Not So Sleepy
    The first winner I tipped on PB? Not So Sleepy Dead-heated with Epatante in the Fighting Fifth. Betting with my heart here🤣. Except, when I done my analysis for the fighting fifth I thought it would win, and it sort of did, to give itself this moment. If you love an under dog.

    16:10 Marie's Rock
    Going with her on basis her recent form is fine over this distance. This isn’t a 2m race my heart says trust those who love this distance not just the 2m.

    Best of luck everyone!
    Is the hot unbeaten fav in the Champion Hurdle not a dead cert then iyo?
    You can get 42 on Not So Sleepy without the hot fav (Honeysuckle).
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 71,070
    malcolmg said:

    Nigelb said:

    malcolmg said:

    Applicant said:

    Heathener said:

    Heathener said:

    Scott_xP said:

    ...

    This makes the important point about corruption in the heart of the tory party, which I acknowledge stretches back into other governments especially that of Tony Blair.

    The right wing lynch mob on here who all continually like one another's posts in their echo chamber (Felix, MM, Sandpit, Foxy, StateAway, JJ, BIgG etc.) hate the spotlight to be shone on this but the fact remains that corruption runs deep in the UK. We have traded and supported utterly corrupt, evil, regimes that are not confined to Russia but certainly include Saudi Arabia and Qatar. London has become a magnet for evil money.


    How do we solve the energy crisis? Gosh, there's a question from the 1970's. Nuclear power and renewables. Not raping the earth still further. We could all install solar panels and wind turbines and go off-grid. It's not that hard but it requires a lifestyle reset which you might have thought covid would have induced (it has for some).
    I am *not* part of a 'right wing lynch mob'. You might wish to reconsider that.
    Sorted and with apologies then x

    p.s. it was quite difficult yesterday to keep track although Marquee Mark managed to make himself the most unpleasant and obnoxious person of the lynch mob, which is saying something.
    If you're finding Marquee Mark unpleasant and obnoxious, you should at least consider that the problem is not with him.
    Have to say Mark is one of the mildest mannered gentlemen on the site.
    Where would you place yourself on that scale, malcolm ?
    I would say I am a bit more forthright and strident for sure. That si excluding tghe idiotic knuckle dragging stalkers who I jsut treat as they deserve.
    I am perhaps a bit blunt at times but reserve my ire for the pompous fcukwits generally.
    Well I can only say that you've been very civil with me in recent years.
  • ApplicantApplicant Posts: 3,379

    malcolmg said:

    Heathener said:

    Heathener said:

    Scott_xP said:

    ...

    This makes the important point about corruption in the heart of the tory party, which I acknowledge stretches back into other governments especially that of Tony Blair.

    The right wing lynch mob on here who all continually like one another's posts in their echo chamber (Felix, MM, Sandpit, Foxy, StateAway, JJ, BIgG etc.) hate the spotlight to be shone on this but the fact remains that corruption runs deep in the UK. We have traded and supported utterly corrupt, evil, regimes that are not confined to Russia but certainly include Saudi Arabia and Qatar. London has become a magnet for evil money.


    How do we solve the energy crisis? Gosh, there's a question from the 1970's. Nuclear power and renewables. Not raping the earth still further. We could all install solar panels and wind turbines and go off-grid. It's not that hard but it requires a lifestyle reset which you might have thought covid would have induced (it has for some).
    I am *not* part of a 'right wing lynch mob'. You might wish to reconsider that.
    One of Putin's little helpers has returned
    I'm sure you think this is terribly smart, as Marquee Mark's little helper, but I am not a Putin troll. I loathe Putin and unlike you spineless cowards on the right I actually believe in not standing by and letting Putin pulverise Ukraine.

    If anyone on here is Putin's little helper it's those who refuse to support Zelensky militarily.

    You're a bunch of chickens. More concerned with your own NIMBYism than actually having the courage to stand up to Putin.

    p.s. and yes I have been absolutely right on covid all the way along.
    Boris is the most supportive leader militarily for Ukraine and is held in high esteem by President Zelenskyy

    You throw out insults branding people on the right which is patently untrue and try to goad the UK and NATO into WW111

    As for covid you have been wrong from day one

    If you want people to take you seriously cut out the abuse to other posters
    Boris is still the arse of arses G. He is a lying cheating mendacious crook. His play acting at Churchill cuts no mustard, anyone can lift a phone and act the tough guy, a fake fraud.
    Many do not like Boris but the President of Ukraine and Ukrainians are quite the opposite and are demonstrably so
    For much the same reason he was once popular in UK, Big G. He tells Ukraine exactly what they want to hear.

    France and Germany dropped by before the war, after chat with Putin, and told Ukraine to adopt Minsk 2, Boris dropped by and told them exactly what they wanted to hear.

    As our leader, He represents us. Where he speaks on this, Britain speaks, where he walks Britain walks. If he is a cad (partygate etc) and ultimately hated for saying what someone wants to hear and not following through on promise (weak on Oligarchs and so slow and mess on refugees Putin’s generals could be managing it) we will all be hated. 😕
    On this Boris has been active in the supply and training of Ukrainians in the use of our weaponry, both before and now during the war

    Since Patel has been side-line, Gove has activated an excellent refugee scheme and on individual sanctions it has been announced today that as legislation is now in force a long list of sanctions on Russians matching the EU and US has happened

    We attack Boris for ignoring the law but we cannot attack HMG when they had to change the law to ensure their actions are legal and cannot be challenged by wealthy London lawyers

    To be honest while HMG have been slow the pace is picking up rapidly and we now have an open door unlimited policy for Ukrainians refugees

    Boris has improved through this war but it does not mean he has improved his long term prospects, as the jury is out on that, and as far as I am concerned I am just wanting everyone to pull together and beat Putin, the war criminal, and then return to the Boris question
    From BBC website:

    "While the EU has gone further and faster on sanctions than many expected, diplomats have told the BBC of an increasingly evident rift; between Poland and Baltic states - who want ever stronger measures - versus a more cautious approach favoured by countries such as Germany and Italy."

    Maybe we should turn to the Scholz and Draghi questions?
    I think Germany has been compromised. Think of that picture posted here of the German delegation laughing whilst knowing their former chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has long been part of Putin’s inner circle.
    I noted @Scott_xP posting this morning re Boris seeking help on oil supplies from Saudi but that he did not show a similar cartoon with Germany and France as the same criticism could be directed at them for taking Russian 'blood contaminated' oil and gas

    Neither is helpful at this critical time
    Blond man bad.
  • NickPalmerNickPalmer Posts: 21,523

    Stocky said:

    Stocky said:

    Stocky said:

    Chat with my telephone provider last week.

    BT/Openreach copper wire system being turned off from 2025. Unless people move to VOIP they will lose their phone inc their number. News to me. They say that Openreach cannot possibly service the mass change last-minute to VOIP that this will cause, so it is inevitable that some will lose their phone numbers.

    How many people still use copper wire phone numbers? Primarily the elderly I guess? And businesses I suppose.

    I haven't used one in over a decade, and almost never used it in another decade before that. Businesses can probably more easily cajoled to switching over, so we just need to offer support to the elderly to switch to something 21st century.
    You move in different circles to me. Everyone I know still has a landline and no one has heard of VOIP. Out in the sticks up here.
    In my circles everyone's phone number begins with 07

    I've never used VOIP either.
    Like many I'm uncomfortable with not having land line - though I'm not sure why.
    Our work phones are now via Teams on the PC. We still have a landline at home-thinking about ditching it at some point.
    Wifi and mobile reception in my bit of Surrey are occasionally a bit iffy, so I value the landline as a fallback - the BT unlimited mobile+internet deal for £28ish works for me. Unwise to be entirely dependent on the internet, I think.
  • MoonRabbitMoonRabbit Posts: 13,497
    edited March 2022
    Carnyx said:

    HYUFD said:

    kjh said:



    I know I am going to regret this but @Malmesbury is not making a political point nor deriving a conclusion but a very simple mathematical one that you are not grasping. I'll try a silly example to demonstrate. If we all catch a deadly virus on the same day that puts us in hospital in 10 days and kills us all in 20 days, then on day 1 hospitalisations and deaths are zero, but all is not well because in 20 days we will all be dead. He is pointing out the flawed logic you are using, regardless of whether the decisions based upon that flawed logic turn out correct or not.

    No, he is an ideological Covid restrictions backer no matter how many businesses it destroys or jobs it loses.

    We know full well even pre vaccination Covid was not deadly for the vast majority of us, now post vaccination it is not deadly for all but a miniscule fraction.

    Covid policy is no longer decided solely by science, it is decided by politics.

    The right and libertarians are prepared to live with it, the statist left are not, many are ideologically committed to zero Covid whatever the cost to the economy
    I'm always up for welcoming new comrades to the struggle, but @Malmesbury has never struck me as a recruit to the statist left. He's just got a slightly pessimistic view on Covid. It's possible to still be concerned about that and not yet signed up with Stalin and Pol Pot.
    He's just upset because I have a better tank.

    image
    Love that film! 👍🏻
    Which film is that, please?
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HG7p3KHwS_E

    Oddball 😍
  • darkagedarkage Posts: 5,398
    Another positive of the current war is that a lot of the identity politics / social justice battles have disappeared from view. No doubt they will re-emerge at some point in the near future.

    International Womens Day on linkedin was interesting. Lots of posts celebrating women carrying guns around in Ukraine whilst they do domestic chores etc. But no one was questioning the requirement that only men could be conscripted in to the Ukranian army. Indeed, I saw a heavily liked post that suggested we should support refugees, so that men fighting in Ukraine know that their wives and children are in safe hands.
  • MightyAlexMightyAlex Posts: 1,660

    kamski said:

    biggles said:

    Sky newsflash; Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has, her MP says, been given her British passport back.
    So with a bit of luck she'll be on a plane here soon.

    I wonder if a new world axis is forming? It would be odd (but nice) to have the Iranians somewhat on the side of the west - although that's a long way off.

    I'd also argue that the Iranian nuclear program system is solvable - perhaps this is a first step.
    Also the oil would be handy.
    Maybe the Iranians aren't keen on a world where redrawing borders for LOLs is a thing?
    That’s a good point. But if humanity lives to write political history books of this crisis, the dash to secure oil and all the deals done with those previously frozen out, is going to be an educational read. “Oh you love me now do you? Well it’s going to cost you.”
    The threat of US relations with Iran taking a turn for the better should get Saudi oil pumps going pretty quickly
    LOL. 👍🏻

    Don’t forget Venezuela too. And what is actually happening now. We don’t want to pour money into Moscow, do we really have no alternative to give that same money into Iran and Venezuela instead? Maybe our leaders are overreacting? Or it’s evidence we are being signed up for long haul v’s Russian people.
    It's the long haul probably, Putin's not just going to retire peacefully.

    Making up with Venezuela is the right move. The US simply doesn't have infinite leverage, and they want a functioning economy too. That means they have to prioritize. If Russia is literally invading democracies, that's a bigger priority for the US than human rights in Venezuela.

    Of course the long-term solution is to reduce dependence on fossil fuels: They empower dictators, and there's a good argument that it's the presence of fossil fuels that creates the dictatorship, because if a country has oil it's enough for the elites to control it and suppress opponents, whereas if they don't have much the only way to get rich is to build a functioning economy. But Biden already had a policy to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, and it doesn't happen overnight.
    I'm not sure it was human rights that so bothered them. More that Venezuela had the temerity to fight back.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 50,249
    Carnyx said:

    HYUFD said:

    kjh said:



    I know I am going to regret this but @Malmesbury is not making a political point nor deriving a conclusion but a very simple mathematical one that you are not grasping. I'll try a silly example to demonstrate. If we all catch a deadly virus on the same day that puts us in hospital in 10 days and kills us all in 20 days, then on day 1 hospitalisations and deaths are zero, but all is not well because in 20 days we will all be dead. He is pointing out the flawed logic you are using, regardless of whether the decisions based upon that flawed logic turn out correct or not.

    No, he is an ideological Covid restrictions backer no matter how many businesses it destroys or jobs it loses.

    We know full well even pre vaccination Covid was not deadly for the vast majority of us, now post vaccination it is not deadly for all but a miniscule fraction.

    Covid policy is no longer decided solely by science, it is decided by politics.

    The right and libertarians are prepared to live with it, the statist left are not, many are ideologically committed to zero Covid whatever the cost to the economy
    I'm always up for welcoming new comrades to the struggle, but @Malmesbury has never struck me as a recruit to the statist left. He's just got a slightly pessimistic view on Covid. It's possible to still be concerned about that and not yet signed up with Stalin and Pol Pot.
    He's just upset because I have a better tank.

    image
    Love that film! 👍🏻
    Which film is that, please?
    https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065938/

    Comedy action film about Clint Eastwood and chums robbing a bank behind German lines.

    Featuring Donald Sutherland as a demented tank commander, and the best reproduction of a Tiger 1 before Bovington got Tiger 131 running again.
  • Nigel_ForemainNigel_Foremain Posts: 14,310
    malcolmg said:

    Nigelb said:

    malcolmg said:

    Applicant said:

    Heathener said:

    Heathener said:

    Scott_xP said:

    ...

    This makes the important point about corruption in the heart of the tory party, which I acknowledge stretches back into other governments especially that of Tony Blair.

    The right wing lynch mob on here who all continually like one another's posts in their echo chamber (Felix, MM, Sandpit, Foxy, StateAway, JJ, BIgG etc.) hate the spotlight to be shone on this but the fact remains that corruption runs deep in the UK. We have traded and supported utterly corrupt, evil, regimes that are not confined to Russia but certainly include Saudi Arabia and Qatar. London has become a magnet for evil money.


    How do we solve the energy crisis? Gosh, there's a question from the 1970's. Nuclear power and renewables. Not raping the earth still further. We could all install solar panels and wind turbines and go off-grid. It's not that hard but it requires a lifestyle reset which you might have thought covid would have induced (it has for some).
    I am *not* part of a 'right wing lynch mob'. You might wish to reconsider that.
    Sorted and with apologies then x

    p.s. it was quite difficult yesterday to keep track although Marquee Mark managed to make himself the most unpleasant and obnoxious person of the lynch mob, which is saying something.
    If you're finding Marquee Mark unpleasant and obnoxious, you should at least consider that the problem is not with him.
    Have to say Mark is one of the mildest mannered gentlemen on the site.
    Where would you place yourself on that scale, malcolm ?
    I would say I am a bit more forthright and strident for sure. That si excluding tghe idiotic knuckle dragging stalkers who I jsut treat as they deserve.
    I am perhaps a bit blunt at times but reserve my ire for the pompous fcukwits generally.
    No, you are not "blunt"; just a rude inarticulate c*nt.
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 42,829

    HYUFD said:

    kamski said:

    biggles said:

    Er... did @HYUFD just accuse @Malmesbury of being left-wing?

    Yes. Absolutely gob-smacking. That would make me an uber-Trotskyist or something.
    To be fair, his definition of a proper conservative applies to about six people. Outside of that we are all socialists. It really is the reverse-Corbynite fringe.
    Although it's interesting that for HYUFD voting Conservative is an essential qualification for being "rightwing", whereas for many Corbynites voting Labour at most elections isn't required for being "leftwing" - in fact it also makes you "rightwing". So not quite a mirror-image.
    Corbynites would though have required you to vote Labour in 2017 and 2019 at minimum to be considered leftwing.

    Much as I would require you to have voted Conservative in 2019 to be considered rightwing

    "Much as I would require you to have voted Conservative in 2019 to be considered rightwing"

    Says the self appointed judge and jury on such matters. Really quite comical.

    Do you not realise you are starting to become a laughing stock? A parody of a Tory? I wouldn't be at all surprised if Viz end up creating a character based on you; I can picture it now: "True Blue HYU" The first episode could be HYU goes speed dating to find girls that are True Conservatives.
    A disconcerting thought after reading the latest Blind Date in the Graun (and, in real life, HYUFD is married, of course). But the GRaun also have a column where they pair off political opponents for meals in restaurants. I seem to recall that one event ended in tears ...
  • Dura_AceDura_Ace Posts: 13,677



    I noted @Scott_xP posting this morning re Boris seeking help on oil supplies from Saudi but that he did not show a similar cartoon with Germany and France as the same criticism could be directed at them for taking Russian 'blood contaminated' oil and gas

    Neither is helpful at this critical time

    Nobody has an obligation to be "helpful". Whatever that means. Or be in any way deferential or respectful to Johnson.
  • BurgessianBurgessian Posts: 2,747
    darkage said:


    malcolmg said:

    darkage said:

    Heathener said:

    Heathener said:

    Scott_xP said:

    ...

    This makes the important point about corruption in the heart of the tory party, which I acknowledge stretches back into other governments especially that of Tony Blair.

    The right wing lynch mob on here who all continually like one another's posts in their echo chamber (Felix, MM, Sandpit, Foxy, StateAway, JJ, BIgG etc.) hate the spotlight to be shone on this but the fact remains that corruption runs deep in the UK. We have traded and supported utterly corrupt, evil, regimes that are not confined to Russia but certainly include Saudi Arabia and Qatar. London has become a magnet for evil money.


    How do we solve the energy crisis? Gosh, there's a question from the 1970's. Nuclear power and renewables. Not raping the earth still further. We could all install solar panels and wind turbines and go off-grid. It's not that hard but it requires a lifestyle reset which you might have thought covid would have induced (it has for some).
    I am *not* part of a 'right wing lynch mob'. You might wish to reconsider that.
    One of Putin's little helpers has returned
    I don't know if Heathener is one of Putin's little helpers. I do find it hard to work out that poster's exact position though: they seem all over the shop.
    I find my position very similar to Nicola Sturgeon's actually, right down to Scottish independence ;)

    I don't believe we should self-centredly and selfishly stand by and let Ukraine get pulverised. We should install a No Fly Zone and stand up to Putin militarily.

    The people who won't help Ukraine militarily are doing so in order to save their own skins. Yes there are risks involved but this is likely to escalate anyway. We have to support the people of Ukraine on the ground and in the air. We should have done so from the outset. Instead we have been too frit to act.

    So you support a position of abandoning our nuclear deterrent, and declaring war on Russia?

    I commented yesterday that this is surely not a serious position. It falls apart under scrutiny, as has been obvious in recent TV interviews with the Scottish government. It seems more like a cynical attempt to support two popular policies, for electoral gain, safe in the knowledge that you have no significant influence on events, and don't have to make any real decisions.

    Were the SNP a bit smarter, they could have used the war as an opportunity to demonstrate their seriousness about government, in the same way that Starmer has in opposition at Westminster. Holding the NATO line, and downplaying the 'scrap trident' commitment. Instead Holyrood looks like an insignificant sixth form college talking shop.

    I have suggested that this will actually make independence less likely. It puts people off in England who are receptive to the idea of Scottish independence - like myself. I have also suggested it could have a similar effect in Scotland. I did ask a few days ago what @Farooq made of all this - but don't think I got any answer.

    Farooq is a balloon and knows square root of F all. Fact is that people in Scotland support being in NATO , do not want to hold nucleur weapons like lots of NATO members and the SNP have voted for and clearly stated they would be members of NATO.
    I rather doubt that an Indy Scotland issuing an ultimatums to rUK to remove Trident, and put at risk the UK's nuclear deterrence, will be welcomed into NATO. It's application would be vetoed. That's why for all the huffing and puffing, the removal of Trident would be fudged.

    Anyway, Indy is a dead duck now. The world has moved on, even if there are still a few poor souls left behind waving their flags, as the ship leaves the harbour.
    I don't think it is a dead duck. But the current crisis reveals a serious lack of realism. The question of defence has moved on beyond all recognition over the past two weeks, and this is a good thing. It's the one upside of the terrible situation in Ukraine.
    Well, maybe not entirely dead. But certainly winged, and flapping around the shallows hoping that a mink doesn't get it.
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 41,955
    edited March 2022
    IshmaelZ said:

    malcolmg said:

    Heathener said:

    Heathener said:

    Scott_xP said:

    ...

    This makes the important point about corruption in the heart of the tory party, which I acknowledge stretches back into other governments especially that of Tony Blair.

    The right wing lynch mob on here who all continually like one another's posts in their echo chamber (Felix, MM, Sandpit, Foxy, StateAway, JJ, BIgG etc.) hate the spotlight to be shone on this but the fact remains that corruption runs deep in the UK. We have traded and supported utterly corrupt, evil, regimes that are not confined to Russia but certainly include Saudi Arabia and Qatar. London has become a magnet for evil money.


    How do we solve the energy crisis? Gosh, there's a question from the 1970's. Nuclear power and renewables. Not raping the earth still further. We could all install solar panels and wind turbines and go off-grid. It's not that hard but it requires a lifestyle reset which you might have thought covid would have induced (it has for some).
    I am *not* part of a 'right wing lynch mob'. You might wish to reconsider that.
    One of Putin's little helpers has returned
    I'm sure you think this is terribly smart, as Marquee Mark's little helper, but I am not a Putin troll. I loathe Putin and unlike you spineless cowards on the right I actually believe in not standing by and letting Putin pulverise Ukraine.

    If anyone on here is Putin's little helper it's those who refuse to support Zelensky militarily.

    You're a bunch of chickens. More concerned with your own NIMBYism than actually having the courage to stand up to Putin.

    p.s. and yes I have been absolutely right on covid all the way along.
    Boris is the most supportive leader militarily for Ukraine and is held in high esteem by President Zelenskyy

    You throw out insults branding people on the right which is patently untrue and try to goad the UK and NATO into WW111

    As for covid you have been wrong from day one

    If you want people to take you seriously cut out the abuse to other posters
    Boris is still the arse of arses G. He is a lying cheating mendacious crook. His play acting at Churchill cuts no mustard, anyone can lift a phone and act the tough guy, a fake fraud.
    Many do not like Boris but the President of Ukraine and Ukrainians are quite the opposite and are demonstrably so
    The British loved Uncle Joe Stalin during the war.
    As did the Boris Johnson du jour.
    Oops, of course he was only pretending to encourage the Brits in their Stalinophilia, the sly old dog.
  • ApplicantApplicant Posts: 3,379
    Stocky said:

    Applicant said:

    Stocky said:

    Chat with my telephone provider last week.

    BT/Openreach copper wire system being turned off from 2025. Unless people move to VOIP they will lose their phone inc their number. News to me. They say that Openreach cannot possibly service the mass change last-minute to VOIP that this will cause, so it is inevitable that some will lose their phone numbers.

    My (late 70s) mum got switched over a few weeks ago, and her landline phone hasn't worked ever since. Fortunately she has a mobile.
    Oh, that's worrying. Who is her provider? I'm with Simple Telecoms (who are excellent).
    BT. Actually she's not too bothered about it, everyone who she actually wants to talk to has her mobile number.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 71,070
    Carnyx said:

    Nigelb said:

    Carnyx said:

    HYUFD said:

    kjh said:



    I know I am going to regret this but @Malmesbury is not making a political point nor deriving a conclusion but a very simple mathematical one that you are not grasping. I'll try a silly example to demonstrate. If we all catch a deadly virus on the same day that puts us in hospital in 10 days and kills us all in 20 days, then on day 1 hospitalisations and deaths are zero, but all is not well because in 20 days we will all be dead. He is pointing out the flawed logic you are using, regardless of whether the decisions based upon that flawed logic turn out correct or not.

    No, he is an ideological Covid restrictions backer no matter how many businesses it destroys or jobs it loses.

    We know full well even pre vaccination Covid was not deadly for the vast majority of us, now post vaccination it is not deadly for all but a miniscule fraction.

    Covid policy is no longer decided solely by science, it is decided by politics.

    The right and libertarians are prepared to live with it, the statist left are not, many are ideologically committed to zero Covid whatever the cost to the economy
    I'm always up for welcoming new comrades to the struggle, but @Malmesbury has never struck me as a recruit to the statist left. He's just got a slightly pessimistic view on Covid. It's possible to still be concerned about that and not yet signed up with Stalin and Pol Pot.
    He's just upset because I have a better tank.

    image
    Love that film! 👍🏻
    Which film is that, please?
    Kelly's Heroes.
    Thank you!
    Hard to believe it's over half a century old.
    I rewatched it fairly recently, and it was much, much slower than I recall, though still fairly entertaining.
    In contrast, I rewatched The Lady Vanishes the other day - tightly plotted, and fairly bowls along. Hitchcock was a genius.
  • MISTYMISTY Posts: 1,594

    HYUFD said:

    kamski said:

    biggles said:

    Er... did @HYUFD just accuse @Malmesbury of being left-wing?

    Yes. Absolutely gob-smacking. That would make me an uber-Trotskyist or something.
    To be fair, his definition of a proper conservative applies to about six people. Outside of that we are all socialists. It really is the reverse-Corbynite fringe.
    Although it's interesting that for HYUFD voting Conservative is an essential qualification for being "rightwing", whereas for many Corbynites voting Labour at most elections isn't required for being "leftwing" - in fact it also makes you "rightwing". So not quite a mirror-image.
    Corbynites would though have required you to vote Labour in 2017 and 2019 at minimum to be considered leftwing.

    Much as I would require you to have voted Conservative in 2019 to be considered rightwing

    "Much as I would require you to have voted Conservative in 2019 to be considered rightwing"

    Says the self appointed judge and jury on such matters. Really quite comical.

    Do you not realise you are starting to become a laughing stock? A parody of a Tory? I wouldn't be at all surprised if Viz end up creating a character based on you; I can picture it now: "True Blue HYU" The first episode could be HYU goes speed dating to find girls that are True Conservatives.

    I don't see what is wrong with HYUFD supporting the tories whatever their policy choices.

    Plenty of people on here supported labour under Corbyn and labour under Starmer, two very different animals.

    Some people are just tribal.
This discussion has been closed.