“Raccoon dogs blamed for the Covid pandemic were not responsible, new analysis suggests, after samples at a Wuhan market were found to contain virtually no virus.
Last month a controversial study suggested that raccoon dog DNA found at the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in January 2020 was mixed with Covid-19, providing “strong evidence” that coronavirus jumped to humans from the animals.”
I mean. Just stop now. It’s mortifying
Well, at least you seem to have forgotten your "the US blew up Nordstream" line.
Watch this and tell me, honestly, that it wasn’t the USA which blew the pipe, likely via a proxy
It was the USA which blew the pipe, by themselves or a proxy.
There. Honestly.
Or at least, there's no way to be anywhere near *certain* it was the US. Lots of different countries or groups may have had reason to do it; and given recent news, I'd still argue that the most likely culprits were Russia.
Despite many distractions, the Spectator’s Most Read list has been intriguing throughout the day
Clearly as everyone has been watching the coronation, a sad, lonely, weird writer has spent the day endlessly re-reading his own work, in order to ‘win’ a pointless list.
Still quite impressive on the day of the coronation. To top out there. If only I could achieve such fame on the Gazette
Sorry, but who is this "Sean Thomas" character?
Sean is the brother of Mark Thomas, leftwing comedian.
Also the long-lost great-nephew of Dylan Thomas.
You know now you mention it, there is a passing resemblence between the legendary Sean Thomas and his comedic namesake Mark.
Wasn’t expecting the lowest Lib Dem score for weeks to turn up now.
LLG 61% though.
Ed Davey has not sealed the deal.
Who?
It will be interesting to see if the LibDems' relatively good showing in this week's locals means the party will show a bit more ankle.
Lib Dems have had quite a differentiated local vs national policy approach in the last year or so. Nationally all cost of living, windfall taxes, NHS etc, locally a huge focus on pollution and river and seawater, NIMBYism albeit sprinkled with some sensible stuff on infrastructure, and issues like policing and domestic violence.
I would love us to drop the nimbyism. It’s a constant frustration. But it’s difficult. Nationally I expect the next 12 months will see a major increase in focus on Brexit and closer ties with the EU. I expect something akin to EFTA/ single market to be in the manifesto. But not rejoin. Not after the catastrophe of Swinson’s 2019 campaign.
The Lib Dems are hardly going to abandon Nimbyism. It's a key plank of their pitch to disgruntled, ageing Home Counties Tory voters (and the bulk of their Parliamentary seats are going to end up being in those kinds of places.) It's like this: read our lips, no Barratt Boxes for smelly peasants within twenty miles of your precious house.
After becoming infamous for fucking the student vote over a dozen years back, they're not going to make the same mistake with a much larger and more powerful demographic group.
I have little confidence that Labour are going to initiate the necessary massive programme of housebuilding, but the only remote hope of such a thing happening is if they win an outright majority. Any other electoral outcome and the probability is zero.
Wasn’t expecting the lowest Lib Dem score for weeks to turn up now.
LLG 61% though.
Ed Davey has not sealed the deal.
Who?
It will be interesting to see if the LibDems' relatively good showing in this week's locals means the party will show a bit more ankle.
Lib Dems have had quite a differentiated local vs national policy approach in the last year or so. Nationally all cost of living, windfall taxes, NHS etc, locally a huge focus on pollution and river and seawater, NIMBYism albeit sprinkled with some sensible stuff on infrastructure, and issues like policing and domestic violence.
I would love us to drop the nimbyism. It’s a constant frustration. But it’s difficult. Nationally I expect the next 12 months will see a major increase in focus on Brexit and closer ties with the EU. I expect something akin to EFTA/ single market to be in the manifesto. But not rejoin. Not after the catastrophe of Swinson’s 2019 campaign.
The Lib Dems are hardly going to abandon Nimbyism. It's a key plank of their pitch to disgruntled, ageing Home Counties Tory voters (and the bulk of their Parliamentary seats are going to end up being in those kinds of places.) It's like this: read our lips, no Barratt Boxes for smelly peasants within twenty miles of your precious house.
After becoming infamous for fucking the student vote over a dozen years back, they're not going to make the same mistake with a much larger and more powerful demographic group.
I have little confidence that Labour are going to initiate the necessary massive programme of housebuilding, but the only remote hope of such a thing happening is if they win an outright majority. Any other electoral outcome and the probability is zero.
In Epping both district council wards elected LDs last week on a NIMBY platform, yet nationally Epping Forest was 64% Tory in 2019. Lots of pensioners who vote Conservative at general elections vote LD locally purely to stop new houses and flats being built in their area
I saw earlier that the Reform Party got a grand total of 6 seats at the locals. Across the whole country
To put this into some sort of perspective.
The Lincolnshire Independents got 10 seats in North Kesteven alone. Every one of their sitting councillors who were standing again were reelected and 3 new ones were also elected. There were also an additional 4 Independents elected not aligned with the Lincolnshire Independents. That is in one district.
That said. It is worth remembering that UKIP went for years in the early part of the 21st century gaining only a very few seats and that everyone took this as an indication they were of no consequence. And we all know how that ended in 2016.
Met says [...] The coronation is a once in a generation event
Not necessarily, there were coronations in 1901, 1910, 1937, and 1953.
For most people born post.. just after QE the second... it might well be.
You're confusing once in a generation with once in a lifetime. Interesting question, though, how likely is it that someone that saw QE2's coronation will see a third coronation?
Met says [...] The coronation is a once in a generation event
Not necessarily, there were coronations in 1901, 1910, 1937, and 1953.
For most people born post.. just after QE the second... it might well be.
You're confusing once in a generation with once in a lifetime. Interesting question, though, how likely is it that someone that saw QE2's coronation will see a third coronation?
I just had that conversation with my parents, who are the same age as the King. Perhaps they will see another Coronation, perhaps they won’t.
“Raccoon dogs blamed for the Covid pandemic were not responsible, new analysis suggests, after samples at a Wuhan market were found to contain virtually no virus.
Last month a controversial study suggested that raccoon dog DNA found at the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in January 2020 was mixed with Covid-19, providing “strong evidence” that coronavirus jumped to humans from the animals.”
I mean. Just stop now. It’s mortifying
Well, at least you seem to have forgotten your "the US blew up Nordstream" line.
Watch this and tell me, honestly, that it wasn’t the USA which blew the pipe, likely via a proxy
It was the USA which blew the pipe, by themselves or a proxy.
There. Honestly.
Or at least, there's no way to be anywhere near *certain* it was the US. Lots of different countries or groups may have had reason to do it; and given recent news, I'd still argue that the most likely culprits were Russia.
I don't know why we're arguing about this, as the Germans have already said that the Ukrainians did it.
I saw earlier that the Reform Party got a grand total of 6 seats at the locals. Across the whole country
To put this into some sort of perspective.
The Lincolnshire Independents got 10 seats in North Kesteven alone. Every one of their sitting councillors who were standing again were reelected and 3 new ones were also elected. There were also an additional 4 Independents elected not aligned with the Lincolnshire Independents. That is in one district.
That said. It is worth remembering that UKIP went for years in the early part of the 21st century gaining only a very few seats and that everyone took this as an indication they were of no consequence. And we all know how that ended in 2016.
Met says [...] The coronation is a once in a generation event
Not necessarily, there were coronations in 1901, 1910, 1937, and 1953.
For most people born post.. just after QE the second... it might well be.
You're confusing once in a generation with once in a lifetime. Interesting question, though, how likely is it that someone that saw QE2's coronation will see a third coronation?
Hardly impossible. KC3 saw his mother’s coronation. Anyone his own age who outlives him will see a third.
Met says [...] The coronation is a once in a generation event
Not necessarily, there were coronations in 1901, 1910, 1937, and 1953.
For most people born post.. just after QE the second... it might well be.
You're confusing once in a generation with once in a lifetime. Interesting question, though, how likely is it that someone that saw QE2's coronation will see a third coronation?
A Novel Bat Coronavirus with a Polybasic Furin-like Cleavage Site https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1995820X23000470 … Here, we performed a degenerate primer screening and next-generation sequencing analysis of 112 bats, collected from Hainan Province, China. Three coronaviruses, namely bat betacoronavirus (Bat CoV) CD35, Bat CoV CD36 and bat alphacoronavirus CD30 were identified. Bat CoV CD35 genome had 99.5% identity with Bat CoV CD36, both sharing the highest nucleotide identity with Bat Hp-betacoronavirus Zhejiang2013 (71.4%), followed by SARS-CoV-2 (54.0%). Phylogenetic analysis indicated that Bat CoV CD35 formed a distinct clade, and together with Bat Hp-betacoronavirus Zhejiang2013, was basal to the lineage of SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2. Notably, Bat CoV CD35 harbored a canonical furin-like S1/S2 cleavage site that resembles the corresponding sites of SARS-CoV-2. The furin cleavage sites between CD35 and CD36 are identical. In addition, the receptor-binding domain of Bat CoV CD35 showed a highly similar structure to that of SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2, especially in one binding loop...
But lab leak? Bio weapon. Furin cleavage site MUST be artificial…
Remember how the market people desperately blamed it on “raccoon dogs”?
“Last month, The Atlantic claimed Covid came from “racoon dogs,” not a lab leak. But a new, more in-depth genetic analysis finds a “negative correlation” between Covid & raccoon dog DNA. What’s more, humans had already been infected over a month earlier.”
“Raccoon dogs blamed for the Covid pandemic were not responsible, new analysis suggests, after samples at a Wuhan market were found to contain virtually no virus.
Last month a controversial study suggested that raccoon dog DNA found at the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in January 2020 was mixed with Covid-19, providing “strong evidence” that coronavirus jumped to humans from the animals.”
I mean. Just stop now. It’s mortifying
Well, at least you seem to have forgotten your "the US blew up Nordstream" line.
Watch this and tell me, honestly, that it wasn’t the USA which blew the pipe, likely via a proxy
It was the USA which blew the pipe, by themselves or a proxy.
There. Honestly.
Or at least, there's no way to be anywhere near *certain* it was the US. Lots of different countries or groups may have had reason to do it; and given recent news, I'd still argue that the most likely culprits were Russia.
I don't know why we're arguing about this, as the Germans have already said that the Ukrainians did it.
“Raccoon dogs blamed for the Covid pandemic were not responsible, new analysis suggests, after samples at a Wuhan market were found to contain virtually no virus.
Last month a controversial study suggested that raccoon dog DNA found at the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in January 2020 was mixed with Covid-19, providing “strong evidence” that coronavirus jumped to humans from the animals.”
I mean. Just stop now. It’s mortifying
Well, at least you seem to have forgotten your "the US blew up Nordstream" line.
Watch this and tell me, honestly, that it wasn’t the USA which blew the pipe, likely via a proxy
It was the USA which blew the pipe, by themselves or a proxy.
There. Honestly.
Or at least, there's no way to be anywhere near *certain* it was the US. Lots of different countries or groups may have had reason to do it; and given recent news, I'd still argue that the most likely culprits were Russia.
I don't know why we're arguing about this, as the Germans have already said that the Ukrainians did it.
Then again it was quite convenient for some in Germany to put Nordstream beyond use…
I still say that insisting it was a national level attack is not necessarily correct.
Despite many distractions, the Spectator’s Most Read list has been intriguing throughout the day
Clearly as everyone has been watching the coronation, a sad, lonely, weird writer has spent the day endlessly re-reading his own work, in order to ‘win’ a pointless list.
Still quite impressive on the day of the coronation. To top out there. If only I could achieve such fame on the Gazette
Sorry, but who is this "Sean Thomas" character?
Sean is the brother of Mark Thomas, leftwing comedian.
Also the long-lost great-nephew of Dylan Thomas.
You know now you mention it, there is a passing resemblence between the legendary Sean Thomas and his comedic namesake Mark.
Could they be related? I think we should be told.
With social and political attitudes like US Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. 🤔
Met says [...] The coronation is a once in a generation event
Not necessarily, there were coronations in 1901, 1910, 1937, and 1953.
For most people born post.. just after QE the second... it might well be.
You're confusing once in a generation with once in a lifetime. Interesting question, though, how likely is it that someone that saw QE2's coronation will see a third coronation?
Completely off topic, I believe the finest line in any song is in Paul Simon’s “Graceland” - “losing love is like a window in your heart, everyone sees you’re blown apart.”
There is an absolute truth delivered perfectly and not even in a maudlin romantic song.
Wasn’t expecting the lowest Lib Dem score for weeks to turn up now.
LLG 61% though.
Ed Davey has not sealed the deal.
Who?
It will be interesting to see if the LibDems' relatively good showing in this week's locals means the party will show a bit more ankle.
Lib Dems have had quite a differentiated local vs national policy approach in the last year or so. Nationally all cost of living, windfall taxes, NHS etc, locally a huge focus on pollution and river and seawater, NIMBYism albeit sprinkled with some sensible stuff on infrastructure, and issues like policing and domestic violence.
I would love us to drop the nimbyism. It’s a constant frustration. But it’s difficult. Nationally I expect the next 12 months will see a major increase in focus on Brexit and closer ties with the EU. I expect something akin to EFTA/ single market to be in the manifesto. But not rejoin. Not after the catastrophe of Swinson’s 2019 campaign.
The Lib Dems are hardly going to abandon Nimbyism. It's a key plank of their pitch to disgruntled, ageing Home Counties Tory voters (and the bulk of their Parliamentary seats are going to end up being in those kinds of places.) It's like this: read our lips, no Barratt Boxes for smelly peasants within twenty miles of your precious house.
After becoming infamous for fucking the student vote over a dozen years back, they're not going to make the same mistake with a much larger and more powerful demographic group.
I have little confidence that Labour are going to initiate the necessary massive programme of housebuilding, but the only remote hope of such a thing happening is if they win an outright majority. Any other electoral outcome and the probability is zero.
In Epping both district council wards elected LDs last week on a NIMBY platform, yet nationally Epping Forest was 64% Tory in 2019. Lots of pensioners who vote Conservative at general elections vote LD locally purely to stop new houses and flats being built in their area
I can well believe both of those statements, and my conviction that the Conservative Party will do a lot less badly than present polling suggests come the next GE is grounded principally in the assumption that the grey vote will swing back in large numbers.
This probably won't be enough, however, to save some Tory MPs in well-off areas with large and well-established Lib Dem votes. Raab is toast and I think the Yellows can entertain realistic ambitions of toppling Hunt.
It was all a bit of a damp squib today, wasn’t it? Not to worry, there will be other days
You seem desperate to run down something that millions enjoyed. What gives?
I didn’t see much of it, so I’m not well placed to judge. I hope people enjoyed it.
It was a bit naff, but that's part of what I want from these things. Overly long and repetitive like most church ceremonies, but enjoyable enough with people to snark at bits with, and if people simply enjoyed it all without any qualifications all the better for them. I like the camera work in the abbey.
Despite many distractions, the Spectator’s Most Read list has been intriguing throughout the day
Clearly as everyone has been watching the coronation, a sad, lonely, weird writer has spent the day endlessly re-reading his own work, in order to ‘win’ a pointless list.
Still quite impressive on the day of the coronation. To top out there. If only I could achieve such fame on the Gazette
Sorry, but who is this "Sean Thomas" character?
Sean is the brother of Mark Thomas, leftwing comedian.
Also the long-lost great-nephew of Dylan Thomas.
You know now you mention it, there is a passing resemblence between the legendary Sean Thomas and his comedic namesake Mark.
Could they be related? I think we should be told.
With social and political attitudes like US Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. 🤔
It was all a bit of a damp squib today, wasn’t it? Not to worry, there will be other days
You seem desperate to run down something that millions enjoyed. What gives?
I didn’t see much of it, so I’m not well placed to judge. I hope people enjoyed it.
It was a bit naff, but that's part of what I want from these things. Overly long and repetitive like most church ceremonies, but enjoyable enough with people to snark at bits with, and if people simply enjoyed it all without any qualifications all the better for them. I like the camera work in the abbey.
The bits I saw were incredibly dull to be fair. I might have missed the good stuff however.
I saw earlier that the Reform Party got a grand total of 6 seats at the locals. Across the whole country
To put this into some sort of perspective.
The Lincolnshire Independents got 10 seats in North Kesteven alone. Every one of their sitting councillors who were standing again were reelected and 3 new ones were also elected. There were also an additional 4 Independents elected not aligned with the Lincolnshire Independents. That is in one district.
That said. It is worth remembering that UKIP went for years in the early part of the 21st century gaining only a very few seats and that everyone took this as an indication they were of no consequence. And we all know how that ended in 2016.
It was all a bit of a damp squib today, wasn’t it? Not to worry, there will be other days
You seem desperate to run down something that millions enjoyed. What gives?
I didn’t see much of it, so I’m not well placed to judge. I hope people enjoyed it.
I don't particularly care about the Monarchy. I was at the Graffiti Street art exhibition at the Saatchi when the Coronation happened. It's a great exhibition but only on until Monday.
However, how much of a sad fuck do you have to be to go down to Trafalgar Sq and hold signs up when you have an event taking place that gives pleasure to millions, if not myself.
What a sad bunch of pathetic, saddo losers. Fuck the show off Republicans, they are just a miserable bunch of pathetic wankers.
It was all a bit of a damp squib today, wasn’t it? Not to worry, there will be other days
You seem desperate to run down something that millions enjoyed. What gives?
I didn’t see much of it, so I’m not well placed to judge. I hope people enjoyed it.
It was a bit naff, but that's part of what I want from these things. Overly long and repetitive like most church ceremonies, but enjoyable enough with people to snark at bits with, and if people simply enjoyed it all without any qualifications all the better for them. I like the camera work in the abbey.
The bits I saw were incredibly dull to be fair. I might have missed the good stuff however.
I particularly enjoyed when the King got up and started grooving with the gospel singers.
I saw earlier that the Reform Party got a grand total of 6 seats at the locals. Across the whole country
To put this into some sort of perspective.
The Lincolnshire Independents got 10 seats in North Kesteven alone. Every one of their sitting councillors who were standing again were reelected and 3 new ones were also elected. There were also an additional 4 Independents elected not aligned with the Lincolnshire Independents. That is in one district.
That said. It is worth remembering that UKIP went for years in the early part of the 21st century gaining only a very few seats and that everyone took this as an indication they were of no consequence. And we all know how that ended in 2016.
Although UKIP embraced a huge swathe of hard-right politics, I doubt they would ever have taken off without the totemic issue of EU withdrawal. Difficult to see another issue that would serve a future hard-right group in the same way.
Completely off topic, I believe the finest line in any song is in Paul Simon’s “Graceland” - “losing love is like a window in your heart, everyone sees you’re blown apart.”
There is an absolute truth delivered perfectly and not even in a maudlin romantic song.
I've always had a soft spot for Bjorks line "I thought I could organise freedom, how very Scandinavian of me".
I saw earlier that the Reform Party got a grand total of 6 seats at the locals. Across the whole country
To put this into some sort of perspective.
The Lincolnshire Independents got 10 seats in North Kesteven alone. Every one of their sitting councillors who were standing again were reelected and 3 new ones were also elected. There were also an additional 4 Independents elected not aligned with the Lincolnshire Independents. That is in one district.
That said. It is worth remembering that UKIP went for years in the early part of the 21st century gaining only a very few seats and that everyone took this as an indication they were of no consequence. And we all know how that ended in 2016.
Although UKIP embraced a huge swathe of hard-right politics, I doubt they would ever have taken off without the totemic issue of EU withdrawal. Difficult to see another issue that would serve a future hard-right group in the same way.
Reform are giving it a go, but there just isn't sine big issue to serve as a hook, so they will remain at best a spoiler for the Conservatives (unlike Brexit they don't appear to have a major issue to appeal to some ex Labour). They seem much more explicitly designed to appeal to upset Tory ideologues, and most people don't care about ideology.
“Raccoon dogs blamed for the Covid pandemic were not responsible, new analysis suggests, after samples at a Wuhan market were found to contain virtually no virus.
Last month a controversial study suggested that raccoon dog DNA found at the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in January 2020 was mixed with Covid-19, providing “strong evidence” that coronavirus jumped to humans from the animals.”
I mean. Just stop now. It’s mortifying
Well, at least you seem to have forgotten your "the US blew up Nordstream" line.
Watch this and tell me, honestly, that it wasn’t the USA which blew the pipe, likely via a proxy
It was the USA which blew the pipe, by themselves or a proxy.
There. Honestly.
Or at least, there's no way to be anywhere near *certain* it was the US. Lots of different countries or groups may have had reason to do it; and given recent news, I'd still argue that the most likely culprits were Russia.
I don't know why we're arguing about this, as the Germans have already said that the Ukrainians did it.
Personally, I blame the French.
re: who blew the pipeline, my working theory is . . . Penny Mordant MP RNR in a wetsuit.
NOT because it's plausible, but rather because concept will give much pleasure to many PBers. . . .
On more serious note, yet again in key royal ceremony for King Charles III (first was Investiture privy council) it is Penny Mordaunt who has stolen a part of the show. Thanks to her incredible presence as a royal sword bearer - literally in Coronation.
Something we were talking about this AM at my morning coffee circle. Rest didn't know her by name, but when I said, the woman with the sword, it was her presence on screen they mentioned.
Not sure we're talking Ingrid Bergman levels in the Royal Penny's case. But WAY above average for a politico.
It was all a bit of a damp squib today, wasn’t it? Not to worry, there will be other days
You seem desperate to run down something that millions enjoyed. What gives?
I didn’t see much of it, so I’m not well placed to judge. I hope people enjoyed it.
It was a bit naff, but that's part of what I want from these things. Overly long and repetitive like most church ceremonies, but enjoyable enough with people to snark at bits with, and if people simply enjoyed it all without any qualifications all the better for them. I like the camera work in the abbey.
The bits I saw were incredibly dull to be fair. I might have missed the good stuff however.
I particularly enjoyed when the King got up and started grooving with the gospel singers.
Though it's possible I hallucinated that.
I was temporarily crestfallen that I’d missed that! Until I realised you were taking the piss? (I hope? I would have loved to see that… would have been a great idea…)
It was all a bit of a damp squib today, wasn’t it? Not to worry, there will be other days
You seem desperate to run down something that millions enjoyed. What gives?
I didn’t see much of it, so I’m not well placed to judge. I hope people enjoyed it.
I don't particularly care about the Monarchy. I was at the Graffiti Street art exhibition at the Saatchi when the Coronation happened. It's a great exhibition but only on until Monday.
However, how much of a sad fuck do you have to be to go down to Trafalgar Sq and hold signs up when you have an event taking place that gives pleasure to millions, if not myself.
What a sad bunch of pathetic, saddo losers. Fuck the show off Republicans, they are just a miserable bunch of pathetic wankers.
Most of the countries with flags on display on The Mall are republics...
Completely off topic, I believe the finest line in any song is in Paul Simon’s “Graceland” - “losing love is like a window in your heart, everyone sees you’re blown apart.”
There is an absolute truth delivered perfectly and not even in a maudlin romantic song.
It fits with another image from the same album:
Somebody could walk into this room And say your life is on fire It's all over the evening news All about the fire in your life On the evening news
It was all a bit of a damp squib today, wasn’t it? Not to worry, there will be other days
You seem desperate to run down something that millions enjoyed. What gives?
I didn’t see much of it, so I’m not well placed to judge. I hope people enjoyed it.
I don't particularly care about the Monarchy. I was at the Graffiti Street art exhibition at the Saatchi when the Coronation happened. It's a great exhibition but only on until Monday.
However, how much of a sad fuck do you have to be to go down to Trafalgar Sq and hold signs up when you have an event taking place that gives pleasure to millions, if not myself.
What a sad bunch of pathetic, saddo losers. Fuck the show off Republicans, they are just a miserable bunch of pathetic wankers.
Why are you so aggressive? Try to enjoy life more. It’s okay.
“Raccoon dogs blamed for the Covid pandemic were not responsible, new analysis suggests, after samples at a Wuhan market were found to contain virtually no virus.
Last month a controversial study suggested that raccoon dog DNA found at the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in January 2020 was mixed with Covid-19, providing “strong evidence” that coronavirus jumped to humans from the animals.”
I mean. Just stop now. It’s mortifying
Well, at least you seem to have forgotten your "the US blew up Nordstream" line.
Watch this and tell me, honestly, that it wasn’t the USA which blew the pipe, likely via a proxy
It was the USA which blew the pipe, by themselves or a proxy.
There. Honestly.
Or at least, there's no way to be anywhere near *certain* it was the US. Lots of different countries or groups may have had reason to do it; and given recent news, I'd still argue that the most likely culprits were Russia.
I don't know why we're arguing about this, as the Germans have already said that the Ukrainians did it.
Personally, I blame the French.
re: who blew the pipeline, my working theory is . . . Penny Mordant MP RNR in a wetsuit.
NOT because it's plausible, but rather because concept will give much pleasure to many PBers. . . .
On more serious note, yet again in key royal ceremony for King Charles III (first was Investiture privy council) it is Penny Mordaunt who has stolen a part of the show. Thanks to her incredible presence as a royal sword bearer - literally in Coronation.
Something we were talking about this AM at my morning coffee circle. Rest didn't know her by name, but when I said, the woman with the sword, it was her presence on screen they mentioned.
Not sure we're talking Ingrid Bergman levels in the Royal Penny's case. But WAY above average for a politico.
She's missed her shot. Being saddled with the dogs body role of Leader of the House is not a path to future greatness, though it has given her a presence at some major moments for her to include in her memoirs.
The lab leak argument has now reached a weird stasis. Every ten weeks the few remaining virologists who cannot countenance the “lab leak hypothesis” put up some increasingly pitiful counter evidence. Then it is embarrassingly shot down in flames
Meanwhile, the circumstantial evidence for lab leak remains quietly overwhelming. Expending more mental energy on this is an exercise in cognitive futility. It came from the lab
It was all a bit of a damp squib today, wasn’t it? Not to worry, there will be other days
You seem desperate to run down something that millions enjoyed. What gives?
I didn’t see much of it, so I’m not well placed to judge. I hope people enjoyed it.
It was a bit naff, but that's part of what I want from these things. Overly long and repetitive like most church ceremonies, but enjoyable enough with people to snark at bits with, and if people simply enjoyed it all without any qualifications all the better for them. I like the camera work in the abbey.
The bits I saw were incredibly dull to be fair. I might have missed the good stuff however.
I particularly enjoyed when the King got up and started grooving with the gospel singers.
Though it's possible I hallucinated that.
I was temporarily crestfallen that I’d missed that! Until I realised you were taking the piss? (I hope? I would have loved to see that… would have been a great idea…)
I regret to say that His Majesty was intent on maintaining a sense of solemnity and dutiful reserve, and so didn't break kayfabe to have a little unconventional fun on this occasion.
Completely off topic, I believe the finest line in any song is in Paul Simon’s “Graceland” - “losing love is like a window in your heart, everyone sees you’re blown apart.”
There is an absolute truth delivered perfectly and not even in a maudlin romantic song.
I've always had a soft spot for Bjorks line "I thought I could organise freedom, how very Scandinavian of me".
It just doesn’t have the same deep sadness, Paul Simon’s rib cage has been replaced with plexiglass so they can see he’s sad but Bjork is just a bit violently unhappy and will write some protest to her VŒrfoÊling (I made that up).
“Raccoon dogs blamed for the Covid pandemic were not responsible, new analysis suggests, after samples at a Wuhan market were found to contain virtually no virus.
Last month a controversial study suggested that raccoon dog DNA found at the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in January 2020 was mixed with Covid-19, providing “strong evidence” that coronavirus jumped to humans from the animals.”
I mean. Just stop now. It’s mortifying
Well, at least you seem to have forgotten your "the US blew up Nordstream" line.
Watch this and tell me, honestly, that it wasn’t the USA which blew the pipe, likely via a proxy
It was the USA which blew the pipe, by themselves or a proxy.
There. Honestly.
Or at least, there's no way to be anywhere near *certain* it was the US. Lots of different countries or groups may have had reason to do it; and given recent news, I'd still argue that the most likely culprits were Russia.
I don't know why we're arguing about this, as the Germans have already said that the Ukrainians did it.
Personally, I blame the French.
re: who blew the pipeline, my working theory is . . . Penny Mordant MP RNR in a wetsuit.
NOT because it's plausible, but rather because concept will give much pleasure to many PBers. . . .
On more serious note, yet again in key royal ceremony for King Charles III (first was Investiture privy council) it is Penny Mordaunt who has stolen a part of the show. Thanks to her incredible presence as a royal sword bearer - literally in Coronation.
Something we were talking about this AM at my morning coffee circle. Rest didn't know her by name, but when I said, the woman with the sword, it was her presence on screen they mentioned.
Not sure we're talking Ingrid Bergman levels in the Royal Penny's case. But WAY above average for a politico.
She's missed her shot. Being saddled with the dogs body role of Leader of the House is not a path to future greatness, though it has given her a presence at some major moments for her to include in her memoirs.
Bit early to close the books on her, methinks. PM may not be PM material, but she's plenty young enough to achieve something, if she's got something in her to achieve.
AND a party with such a PR asset should NOT waste it, should harness it.
Having her up front at the Investiture and Coronation being consistent with that playbook.
It was all a bit of a damp squib today, wasn’t it? Not to worry, there will be other days
You seem desperate to run down something that millions enjoyed. What gives?
I didn’t see much of it, so I’m not well placed to judge. I hope people enjoyed it.
It was a bit naff, but that's part of what I want from these things. Overly long and repetitive like most church ceremonies, but enjoyable enough with people to snark at bits with, and if people simply enjoyed it all without any qualifications all the better for them. I like the camera work in the abbey.
The bits I saw were incredibly dull to be fair. I might have missed the good stuff however.
I particularly enjoyed when the King got up and started grooving with the gospel singers.
Though it's possible I hallucinated that.
I was temporarily crestfallen that I’d missed that! Until I realised you were taking the piss? (I hope? I would have loved to see that… would have been a great idea…)
I regret to say that His Majesty was intent on maintaining a sense of solemnity and dutiful reserve, and so didn't break kayfabe to have a little unconventional fun on this occasion.
Wasn’t expecting the lowest Lib Dem score for weeks to turn up now.
LLG 61% though.
Ed Davey has not sealed the deal.
Who?
It will be interesting to see if the LibDems' relatively good showing in this week's locals means the party will show a bit more ankle.
Lib Dems have had quite a differentiated local vs national policy approach in the last year or so. Nationally all cost of living, windfall taxes, NHS etc, locally a huge focus on pollution and river and seawater, NIMBYism albeit sprinkled with some sensible stuff on infrastructure, and issues like policing and domestic violence.
I would love us to drop the nimbyism. It’s a constant frustration. But it’s difficult. Nationally I expect the next 12 months will see a major increase in focus on Brexit and closer ties with the EU. I expect something akin to EFTA/ single market to be in the manifesto. But not rejoin. Not after the catastrophe of Swinson’s 2019 campaign.
The Lib Dems are hardly going to abandon Nimbyism. It's a key plank of their pitch to disgruntled, ageing Home Counties Tory voters (and the bulk of their Parliamentary seats are going to end up being in those kinds of places.) It's like this: read our lips, no Barratt Boxes for smelly peasants within twenty miles of your precious house.
After becoming infamous for fucking the student vote over a dozen years back, they're not going to make the same mistake with a much larger and more powerful demographic group.
I have little confidence that Labour are going to initiate the necessary massive programme of housebuilding, but the only remote hope of such a thing happening is if they win an outright majority. Any other electoral outcome and the probability is zero.
In Epping both district council wards elected LDs last week on a NIMBY platform, yet nationally Epping Forest was 64% Tory in 2019. Lots of pensioners who vote Conservative at general elections vote LD locally purely to stop new houses and flats being built in their area
I can well believe both of those statements, and my conviction that the Conservative Party will do a lot less badly than present polling suggests come the next GE is grounded principally in the assumption that the grey vote will swing back in large numbers.
This probably won't be enough, however, to save some Tory MPs in well-off areas with large and well-established Lib Dem votes. Raab is toast and I think the Yellows can entertain realistic ambitions of toppling Hunt.
They need to be very, very careful not to over-target and end up with sod all. Quite a big risk in the Home Counties this time.
Wasn’t expecting the lowest Lib Dem score for weeks to turn up now.
LLG 61% though.
Coronation bounce
Can’t beat the Liz Truss Bounce.
That looks like one of those weird outliers in the Bayeux Tapestry where you think 'wtf are they upto? And why have they shot themselves in the foot?"
Looks to me like a predator adopting a watchful gaze as it pretends to submit to a rival, ready to pounce if the latter puts their guard down.
Few thoughts. Was Ms Truss wearing THAT necklace? As one who saw the 1953 procession, I hope for my family’s sake that I’ll be around for William Vth’s. But I doubt I will be, and, although I’ve no time for monarchs, I wish Charles a long and happy life.
I would say personally it was neither disappointing nor joyous, but more of a landmark calendar event. Plus the wonderful Penny carrying that huge protruberance.
I suspect tomorrow will be a bit more partyish, for some people.
I saw earlier that the Reform Party got a grand total of 6 seats at the locals. Across the whole country
To put this into some sort of perspective.
The Lincolnshire Independents got 10 seats in North Kesteven alone. Every one of their sitting councillors who were standing again were reelected and 3 new ones were also elected. There were also an additional 4 Independents elected not aligned with the Lincolnshire Independents. That is in one district.
That said. It is worth remembering that UKIP went for years in the early part of the 21st century gaining only a very few seats and that everyone took this as an indication they were of no consequence. And we all know how that ended in 2016.
UKIP just lost their last handful of seats.
I think it represents the first time in 25 years there have been no elected Kippers serving at any level.
They've obviously been dying for a while, but a landmark nonetheless.
Completely off topic, I believe the finest line in any song is in Paul Simon’s “Graceland” - “losing love is like a window in your heart, everyone sees you’re blown apart.”
There is an absolute truth delivered perfectly and not even in a maudlin romantic song.
I've always had a soft spot for Bjorks line "I thought I could organise freedom, how very Scandinavian of me".
It just doesn’t have the same deep sadness, Paul Simon’s rib cage has been replaced with plexiglass so they can see he’s sad but Bjork is just a bit violently unhappy and will write some protest to her VŒrfoÊling (I made that up).
If you want a bit of sadness, I was really moved by one of Tricky's recent tracks written after his daughter hung herself.
I saw earlier that the Reform Party got a grand total of 6 seats at the locals. Across the whole country
To put this into some sort of perspective.
The Lincolnshire Independents got 10 seats in North Kesteven alone. Every one of their sitting councillors who were standing again were reelected and 3 new ones were also elected. There were also an additional 4 Independents elected not aligned with the Lincolnshire Independents. That is in one district.
That said. It is worth remembering that UKIP went for years in the early part of the 21st century gaining only a very few seats and that everyone took this as an indication they were of no consequence. And we all know how that ended in 2016.
UKIP just lost their last handful of seats.
I think it represents the first time in 25 years there have been no elected Kippers serving at any level.
They've obviously been dying for a while, but a landmark nonetheless.
No elected Kippers, no elected Head of State! What is this country coming to??
Completely off topic, I believe the finest line in any song is in Paul Simon’s “Graceland” - “losing love is like a window in your heart, everyone sees you’re blown apart.”
There is an absolute truth delivered perfectly and not even in a maudlin romantic song.
I've always had a soft spot for Bjorks line "I thought I could organise freedom, how very Scandinavian of me".
It just doesn’t have the same deep sadness, Paul Simon’s rib cage has been replaced with plexiglass so they can see he’s sad but Bjork is just a bit violently unhappy and will write some protest to her VŒrfoÊling (I made that up).
If you want a bit of sadness, I was really moved by one of Tricky's recent tracks written after his daughter hung herself.
Don’t want sadness and love tricky but in his earlier Maxinquaye days. I’ve just found a song where the sisters of mercy do “temple of love” with Ofra Haza. Who knew?
Successfully avoided the idiot crown by being on Skye most of the day. Does highlight why I say @JustGetATesla if getting an EV: public charging on the island is disgraceful.
Chargers in Uig and Portree not working. Broadford needed 3 remote start attempts before it would work - and I have a Chargeplace Scotland RFID card. Then it vended 41kW which meant even charging for an hour only boosted me from 16% to 66%
Not time wasted though. Fish and chips and a walk...
I saw earlier that the Reform Party got a grand total of 6 seats at the locals. Across the whole country
To put this into some sort of perspective.
The Lincolnshire Independents got 10 seats in North Kesteven alone. Every one of their sitting councillors who were standing again were reelected and 3 new ones were also elected. There were also an additional 4 Independents elected not aligned with the Lincolnshire Independents. That is in one district.
That said. It is worth remembering that UKIP went for years in the early part of the 21st century gaining only a very few seats and that everyone took this as an indication they were of no consequence. And we all know how that ended in 2016.
UKIP just lost their last handful of seats.
I think it represents the first time in 25 years there have been no elected Kippers serving at any level.
They've obviously been dying for a while, but a landmark nonetheless.
Completely off topic, I believe the finest line in any song is in Paul Simon’s “Graceland” - “losing love is like a window in your heart, everyone sees you’re blown apart.”
There is an absolute truth delivered perfectly and not even in a maudlin romantic song.
Not only one of the greatest songwriters of the past century, Paul Simon is also an outstanding poet.
That 'window on your heart' line is so insightful.
I saw earlier that the Reform Party got a grand total of 6 seats at the locals. Across the whole country
To put this into some sort of perspective.
The Lincolnshire Independents got 10 seats in North Kesteven alone. Every one of their sitting councillors who were standing again were reelected and 3 new ones were also elected. There were also an additional 4 Independents elected not aligned with the Lincolnshire Independents. That is in one district.
That said. It is worth remembering that UKIP went for years in the early part of the 21st century gaining only a very few seats and that everyone took this as an indication they were of no consequence. And we all know how that ended in 2016.
I think the Lincolnshire Independents might have a much lower upper limit though unless they are really ambitious and wanting to have a go for seats in say Surrey.
“Raccoon dogs blamed for the Covid pandemic were not responsible, new analysis suggests, after samples at a Wuhan market were found to contain virtually no virus.
Last month a controversial study suggested that raccoon dog DNA found at the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in January 2020 was mixed with Covid-19, providing “strong evidence” that coronavirus jumped to humans from the animals.”
I mean. Just stop now. It’s mortifying
Well, at least you seem to have forgotten your "the US blew up Nordstream" line.
Watch this and tell me, honestly, that it wasn’t the USA which blew the pipe, likely via a proxy
It was the USA which blew the pipe, by themselves or a proxy.
There. Honestly.
Or at least, there's no way to be anywhere near *certain* it was the US. Lots of different countries or groups may have had reason to do it; and given recent news, I'd still argue that the most likely culprits were Russia.
I don't know why we're arguing about this, as the Germans have already said that the Ukrainians did it.
Personally, I blame the French.
re: who blew the pipeline, my working theory is . . . Penny Mordant MP RNR in a wetsuit.
NOT because it's plausible, but rather because concept will give much pleasure to many PBers. . . .
On more serious note, yet again in key royal ceremony for King Charles III (first was Investiture privy council) it is Penny Mordaunt who has stolen a part of the show. Thanks to her incredible presence as a royal sword bearer - literally in Coronation.
Something we were talking about this AM at my morning coffee circle. Rest didn't know her by name, but when I said, the woman with the sword, it was her presence on screen they mentioned.
Not sure we're talking Ingrid Bergman levels in the Royal Penny's case. But WAY above average for a politico.
She's missed her shot. Being saddled with the dogs body role of Leader of the House is not a path to future greatness, though it has given her a presence at some major moments for her to include in her memoirs.
Bit early to close the books on her, methinks. PM may not be PM material, but she's plenty young enough to achieve something, if she's got something in her to achieve.
AND a party with such a PR asset should NOT waste it, should harness it.
Having her up front at the Investiture and Coronation being consistent with that playbook.
She's a poised performer in some ways but her political judgment is dodgy. She was comprehensively outmanoeuvred by Truss in the first leadership election last year, and embarrassed herself in the second.
Maybe PMs are wrong not to trust her with the big departmental cabinet briefs (Defence was only ever an interim position when May had already announced departure). But they don't, and that gives pause for thought.
Met says [...] The coronation is a once in a generation event
Not necessarily, there were coronations in 1901, 1910, 1937, and 1953.
And also 1821, 1831 and 1838.
1821 was the best, what with the Queen Consort banging on the Abbey Door demanding (unsuccessfully) to be let in. Subsequent iterations have been comparatively boring.
Successfully avoided the idiot crown by being on Skye most of the day. Does highlight why I say @JustGetATesla if getting an EV: public charging on the island is disgraceful.
Chargers in Uig and Portree not working. Broadford needed 3 remote start attempts before it would work - and I have a Chargeplace Scotland RFID card. Then it vended 41kW which meant even charging for an hour only boosted me from 16% to 66%
Not time wasted though. Fish and chips and a walk...
Time to sing "The Skye Volt Song"?
Don't know the words to THAT, so THIS will have to do (apologies to sensitive Hanoverians)
Met says [...] The coronation is a once in a generation event
Not necessarily, there were coronations in 1901, 1910, 1937, and 1953.
And also 1821, 1831 and 1838.
1821 was the best, what with the Queen Consort banging on the Abbey Door demanding (unsuccessfully) to be let in. Subsequent iterations have been comparatively boring.
Only the second time she ever banged George, as well.
I saw earlier that the Reform Party got a grand total of 6 seats at the locals. Across the whole country
To put this into some sort of perspective.
The Lincolnshire Independents got 10 seats in North Kesteven alone. Every one of their sitting councillors who were standing again were reelected and 3 new ones were also elected. There were also an additional 4 Independents elected not aligned with the Lincolnshire Independents. That is in one district.
That said. It is worth remembering that UKIP went for years in the early part of the 21st century gaining only a very few seats and that everyone took this as an indication they were of no consequence. And we all know how that ended in 2016.
UKIP just lost their last handful of seats.
I think it represents the first time in 25 years there have been no elected Kippers serving at any level.
They've obviously been dying for a while, but a landmark nonetheless.
Aren't Reform re-heated left-over UKippers?
We'll, clearly, and their death is due to being eclipsed rather than that viewpoint disappearing.
But they had a pretty significant political role, and it's a moment to see them slip into history. Suspect they may wind up in the coming year.
Met says [...] The coronation is a once in a generation event
Not necessarily, there were coronations in 1901, 1910, 1937, and 1953.
And also 1821, 1831 and 1838.
1821 was the best, what with the Queen Consort banging on the Abbey Door demanding (unsuccessfully) to be let in. Subsequent iterations have been comparatively boring.
Only the second time she ever banged George, as well.
Met says [...] The coronation is a once in a generation event
Not necessarily, there were coronations in 1901, 1910, 1937, and 1953.
And also 1821, 1831 and 1838.
1821 was the best, what with the Queen Consort banging on the Abbey Door demanding (unsuccessfully) to be let in. Subsequent iterations have been comparatively boring.
Only the second time she ever banged George, as well.
Wasn’t expecting the lowest Lib Dem score for weeks to turn up now.
LLG 61% though.
Ed Davey has not sealed the deal.
Who?
It will be interesting to see if the LibDems' relatively good showing in this week's locals means the party will show a bit more ankle.
Lib Dems have had quite a differentiated local vs national policy approach in the last year or so. Nationally all cost of living, windfall taxes, NHS etc, locally a huge focus on pollution and river and seawater, NIMBYism albeit sprinkled with some sensible stuff on infrastructure, and issues like policing and domestic violence.
I would love us to drop the nimbyism. It’s a constant frustration. But it’s difficult. Nationally I expect the next 12 months will see a major increase in focus on Brexit and closer ties with the EU. I expect something akin to EFTA/ single market to be in the manifesto. But not rejoin. Not after the catastrophe of Swinson’s 2019 campaign.
The Lib Dems are hardly going to abandon Nimbyism. It's a key plank of their pitch to disgruntled, ageing Home Counties Tory voters (and the bulk of their Parliamentary seats are going to end up being in those kinds of places.) It's like this: read our lips, no Barratt Boxes for smelly peasants within twenty miles of your precious house.
After becoming infamous for fucking the student vote over a dozen years back, they're not going to make the same mistake with a much larger and more powerful demographic group.
I have little confidence that Labour are going to initiate the necessary massive programme of housebuilding, but the only remote hope of such a thing happening is if they win an outright majority. Any other electoral outcome and the probability is zero.
In Epping both district council wards elected LDs last week on a NIMBY platform, yet nationally Epping Forest was 64% Tory in 2019. Lots of pensioners who vote Conservative at general elections vote LD locally purely to stop new houses and flats being built in their area
I can well believe both of those statements, and my conviction that the Conservative Party will do a lot less badly than present polling suggests come the next GE is grounded principally in the assumption that the grey vote will swing back in large numbers.
This probably won't be enough, however, to save some Tory MPs in well-off areas with large and well-established Lib Dem votes. Raab is toast and I think the Yellows can entertain realistic ambitions of toppling Hunt.
Lib Dems in local government like to consult and bring the population along with them. If they can get more houses built while reassuring the NIMBYs that they won’t railroad decisions over them, then all the better.
Met says [...] The coronation is a once in a generation event
Not necessarily, there were coronations in 1901, 1910, 1937, and 1953.
And also 1821, 1831 and 1838.
1821 was the best, what with the Queen Consort banging on the Abbey Door demanding (unsuccessfully) to be let in. Subsequent iterations have been comparatively boring.
Only the second time she ever banged George, as well.
Met says [...] The coronation is a once in a generation event
Not necessarily, there were coronations in 1901, 1910, 1937, and 1953.
And also 1821, 1831 and 1838.
1821 was the best, what with the Queen Consort banging on the Abbey Door demanding (unsuccessfully) to be let in. Subsequent iterations have been comparatively boring.
Only the second time she ever banged George, as well.
Successfully avoided the idiot crown by being on Skye most of the day. Does highlight why I say @JustGetATesla if getting an EV: public charging on the island is disgraceful.
Chargers in Uig and Portree not working. Broadford needed 3 remote start attempts before it would work - and I have a Chargeplace Scotland RFID card. Then it vended 41kW which meant even charging for an hour only boosted me from 16% to 66%
Not time wasted though. Fish and chips and a walk...
Fortunately Tesla is opening up its charging network to other EVs.
We all want deep down to be liked, and I must say it’s been touching the number of Ukrainian accounts tweeting nice stuff about Britain and the coronation today. I know it’s self interested of them of course, but the way we have given almost unqualified support to that country in the face of pure evil, both before and after the invasion and across almost our entire political spectrum is something we can be proud of.
Wasn’t expecting the lowest Lib Dem score for weeks to turn up now.
LLG 61% though.
Ed Davey has not sealed the deal.
Who?
It will be interesting to see if the LibDems' relatively good showing in this week's locals means the party will show a bit more ankle.
Lib Dems have had quite a differentiated local vs national policy approach in the last year or so. Nationally all cost of living, windfall taxes, NHS etc, locally a huge focus on pollution and river and seawater, NIMBYism albeit sprinkled with some sensible stuff on infrastructure, and issues like policing and domestic violence.
I would love us to drop the nimbyism. It’s a constant frustration. But it’s difficult. Nationally I expect the next 12 months will see a major increase in focus on Brexit and closer ties with the EU. I expect something akin to EFTA/ single market to be in the manifesto. But not rejoin. Not after the catastrophe of Swinson’s 2019 campaign.
The Lib Dems are hardly going to abandon Nimbyism. It's a key plank of their pitch to disgruntled, ageing Home Counties Tory voters (and the bulk of their Parliamentary seats are going to end up being in those kinds of places.) It's like this: read our lips, no Barratt Boxes for smelly peasants within twenty miles of your precious house.
After becoming infamous for fucking the student vote over a dozen years back, they're not going to make the same mistake with a much larger and more powerful demographic group.
I have little confidence that Labour are going to initiate the necessary massive programme of housebuilding, but the only remote hope of such a thing happening is if they win an outright majority. Any other electoral outcome and the probability is zero.
In Epping both district council wards elected LDs last week on a NIMBY platform, yet nationally Epping Forest was 64% Tory in 2019. Lots of pensioners who vote Conservative at general elections vote LD locally purely to stop new houses and flats being built in their area
I can well believe both of those statements, and my conviction that the Conservative Party will do a lot less badly than present polling suggests come the next GE is grounded principally in the assumption that the grey vote will swing back in large numbers.
This probably won't be enough, however, to save some Tory MPs in well-off areas with large and well-established Lib Dem votes. Raab is toast and I think the Yellows can entertain realistic ambitions of toppling Hunt.
Lib Dems in local government like to consult and bring the population along with them. If they can get more houses built while reassuring the NIMBYs that they won’t railroad decisions over them, then all the better.
True NIMBYs cannot be reassured. The sort of people for whom no level of consultation is enough, no mitigation is sufficient, and no need for growth or loss even of dilapidated brownfield is ever acceptable, where every time you cross off one concern another rises.
If we can figure out which concerns are legitimate and address those and ignore the remaining hard core then everyone would be much better off, but for many of decision makers at various levels that is too much work and instead all are treated as valid. Well done to those places that do put in the effort and hold firm against the unmovable.
It was all a bit of a damp squib today, wasn’t it? Not to worry, there will be other days
You seem desperate to run down something that millions enjoyed. What gives?
I didn’t see much of it, so I’m not well placed to judge. I hope people enjoyed it.
I don't particularly care about the Monarchy. I was at the Graffiti Street art exhibition at the Saatchi when the Coronation happened. It's a great exhibition but only on until Monday.
However, how much of a sad fuck do you have to be to go down to Trafalgar Sq and hold signs up when you have an event taking place that gives pleasure to millions, if not myself.
What a sad bunch of pathetic, saddo losers. Fuck the show off Republicans, they are just a miserable bunch of pathetic wankers.
Why are you so aggressive? Try to enjoy life more. It’s okay.
I did. Had a great time round at friends having drinks and watching the end of the BBC's proceedings followed by a Disney film and then the Dambusters.
And we all agreed - even the less monarchist of us - that those who make snippy comments about the Coronation, and the joy it brings millions, are just total bell-ends.
Successfully avoided the idiot crown by being on Skye most of the day. Does highlight why I say @JustGetATesla if getting an EV: public charging on the island is disgraceful.
Chargers in Uig and Portree not working. Broadford needed 3 remote start attempts before it would work - and I have a Chargeplace Scotland RFID card. Then it vended 41kW which meant even charging for an hour only boosted me from 16% to 66%
Not time wasted though. Fish and chips and a walk...
Fortunately Tesla is opening up its charging network to other EVs.
Unfortunately. Even Tesla isn't building remotely enough chargers to keep up with the huuuge number of cars it is selling. We don't need foreign cars as well.
Met says [...] The coronation is a once in a generation event
Not necessarily, there were coronations in 1901, 1910, 1937, and 1953.
Most of the time the crown will pass from parent to child and so, by definition, it will be a once in a generation event. It's only if it passes sideways, between siblings, or to an aunt/uncle, that it becomes a several in generation event.
Met says [...] The coronation is a once in a generation event
Not necessarily, there were coronations in 1901, 1910, 1937, and 1953.
And also 1821, 1831 and 1838.
1821 was the best, what with the Queen Consort banging on the Abbey Door demanding (unsuccessfully) to be let in. Subsequent iterations have been comparatively boring.
Only the second time she ever banged George, as well.
I saw earlier that the Reform Party got a grand total of 6 seats at the locals. Across the whole country
To put this into some sort of perspective.
The Lincolnshire Independents got 10 seats in North Kesteven alone. Every one of their sitting councillors who were standing again were reelected and 3 new ones were also elected. There were also an additional 4 Independents elected not aligned with the Lincolnshire Independents. That is in one district.
That said. It is worth remembering that UKIP went for years in the early part of the 21st century gaining only a very few seats and that everyone took this as an indication they were of no consequence. And we all know how that ended in 2016.
UKIP just lost their last handful of seats.
Indeed but they served their purpose and achievd their aims. Probably more than can be said for any other party in British politics. And the dustbin of history is a deep and wide. I am sure they will fit in there quite nicely.
Met says [...] The coronation is a once in a generation event
Not necessarily, there were coronations in 1901, 1910, 1937, and 1953.
And also 1821, 1831 and 1838.
1821 was the best, what with the Queen Consort banging on the Abbey Door demanding (unsuccessfully) to be let in. Subsequent iterations have been comparatively boring.
Only the second time she ever banged George, as well.
Comments
There. Honestly.
Or at least, there's no way to be anywhere near *certain* it was the US. Lots of different countries or groups may have had reason to do it; and given recent news, I'd still argue that the most likely culprits were Russia.
Could they be related? I think we should be told.
After becoming infamous for fucking the student vote over a dozen years back, they're not going to make the same mistake with a much larger and more powerful demographic group.
I have little confidence that Labour are going to initiate the necessary massive programme of housebuilding, but the only remote hope of such a thing happening is if they win an outright majority. Any other electoral outcome and the probability is zero.
I saw earlier that the Reform Party got a grand total of 6 seats at the locals. Across the whole country
To put this into some sort of perspective.
The Lincolnshire Independents got 10 seats in North Kesteven alone. Every one of their sitting councillors who were standing again were reelected and 3 new ones were also elected. There were also an additional 4 Independents elected not aligned with the Lincolnshire Independents. That is in one district.
That said. It is worth remembering that UKIP went for years in the early part of the 21st century gaining only a very few seats and that everyone took this as an indication they were of no consequence. And we all know how that ended in 2016.
Lab leak remains (by far) the most likely scenario.
But until a scientist from the lab admits it (or a wild host is found who might likely have found its way to Wuhan), then we are likely stuck.
I still say that insisting it was a national level attack is not necessarily correct.
The conservatives won it off the Lib Dems by 145 votes under first past the post.
The previous voting system of supplementary vote almost certainly would have resulted in a LD win.
There is an absolute truth delivered perfectly and not even in a maudlin romantic song.
This probably won't be enough, however, to save some Tory MPs in well-off areas with large and well-established Lib Dem votes. Raab is toast and I think the Yellows can entertain realistic ambitions of toppling Hunt.
However, how much of a sad fuck do you have to be to go down to Trafalgar Sq and hold signs up when you have an event taking place that gives pleasure to millions, if not myself.
What a sad bunch of pathetic, saddo losers. Fuck the show off Republicans, they are just a miserable bunch of pathetic wankers.
Though it's possible I hallucinated that.
NOT because it's plausible, but rather because concept will give much pleasure to many PBers. . . .
On more serious note, yet again in key royal ceremony for King Charles III (first was Investiture privy council) it is Penny Mordaunt who has stolen a part of the show. Thanks to her incredible presence as a royal sword bearer - literally in Coronation.
Something we were talking about this AM at my morning coffee circle. Rest didn't know her by name, but when I said, the woman with the sword, it was her presence on screen they mentioned.
Not sure we're talking Ingrid Bergman levels in the Royal Penny's case. But WAY above average for a politico.
Somebody could walk into this room
And say your life is on fire
It's all over the evening news
All about the fire in your life
On the evening news
AND a party with such a PR asset should NOT waste it, should harness it.
Having her up front at the Investiture and Coronation being consistent with that playbook.
Vows are spoken to be broken
Feelings are intense, words are trivial
Pleasures remain, so does the pain
Words are meaningless, and forgettable
All I ever wanted
All I ever needed
Is here in my arms
Words are very unnecessary
They can only do harm
h. Bliss...
The glorious Ofra Haza.
https://youtu.be/ZRnzTTYk7_Q
Was Ms Truss wearing THAT necklace?
As one who saw the 1953 procession, I hope for my family’s sake that I’ll be around for William Vth’s. But I doubt I will be, and, although I’ve no time for monarchs, I wish Charles a long and happy life.
I suspect tomorrow will be a bit more partyish, for some people.
They've obviously been dying for a while, but a landmark nonetheless.
"Hate This Pain" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6jQc07iDn0
Chargers in Uig and Portree not working. Broadford needed 3 remote start attempts before it would work - and I have a Chargeplace Scotland RFID card. Then it vended 41kW which meant even charging for an hour only boosted me from 16% to 66%
Not time wasted though. Fish and chips and a walk...
That 'window on your heart' line is so insightful.
Maybe PMs are wrong not to trust her with the big departmental cabinet briefs (Defence was only ever an interim position when May had already announced departure). But
they don't, and that gives pause for thought.
Don't know the words to THAT, so THIS will have to do (apologies to sensitive Hanoverians)
The Skye Boat Song - Ella Roberts
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBSqQPP4aVM
But they had a pretty significant political role, and it's a moment to see them slip into history. Suspect they may wind up in the coming year.
https://exhibits.library.duke.edu/exhibits/show/betweenthelines/item/5721
Lib Dems in local government like to consult and bring the population along with them. If they can get more houses built while reassuring the NIMBYs that they won’t railroad decisions over them, then all the better.
If we can figure out which concerns are legitimate and address those and ignore the remaining hard core then everyone would be much better off, but for many of decision makers at various levels that is too much work and instead all are treated as valid. Well done to those places that do put in the effort and hold firm against the unmovable.
And we all agreed - even the less monarchist of us - that those who make snippy comments about the Coronation, and the joy it brings millions, are just total bell-ends.
No Tesla chargers on Skye. Just shite.