How does the Sun know? They haven't even got any trains yet, never mind run them in rainbow colour schemes.
I believe this all stems from @Leon's journalist friend writing a piece about HS2's woke policies in the Spectator - not the first time I've seen this referred to online, so a bit of a scoop for him I think. Suffice it to say they're extremely woke.
I know someone - a gay woman - who used to work for HS2. If being seen as a gay-friendly employer helped them to hire good people, I don't really see why that is such a bad thing. As an explanation for being six times over budget, "woke" doesn't strike me as a plausible candidate, not gonna lie.
You need to read the original source article in the Spectator. The Sun has clearly lifted its article from there; likewise the Mail
How does the Sun know? They haven't even got any trains yet, never mind run them in rainbow colour schemes.
I believe this all stems from @Leon's journalist friend writing a piece about HS2's woke policies in the Spectator - not the first time I've seen this referred to online, so a bit of a scoop for him I think. Suffice it to say they're extremely woke.
I know someone - a gay woman - who used to work for HS2. If being seen as a gay-friendly employer helped them to hire good people, I don't really see why that is such a bad thing. As an explanation for being six times over budget, "woke" doesn't strike me as a plausible candidate, not gonna lie.
You need to read the original source article in the Spectator. The Sun has clearly lifted its article from there; likewise the Mail
I can't be arsed. What does it say? That they hired some gays and as a result went £100bn over budget?
I'm concerned for a different reason - for a £100 billion project, that's remarkably little woke documentation. I've seen more for a £20 million flood alleviation scheme. Is there even anything on otter populations?!?!?
How does the Sun know? They haven't even got any trains yet, never mind run them in rainbow colour schemes.
I believe this all stems from @Leon's journalist friend writing a piece about HS2's woke policies in the Spectator - not the first time I've seen this referred to online, so a bit of a scoop for him I think. Suffice it to say they're extremely woke.
I know someone - a gay woman - who used to work for HS2. If being seen as a gay-friendly employer helped them to hire good people, I don't really see why that is such a bad thing. As an explanation for being six times over budget, "woke" doesn't strike me as a plausible candidate, not gonna lie.
You need to read the original source article in the Spectator. The Sun has clearly lifted its article from there; likewise the Mail
There is a remarkable lack of analysis of the latest YouGov poll, in stark contrast to that a few days earlier.
I can't put my finger on why.
Funny old world.
So I am on the YouGov panel and have been working my way up to the 50 quid payment for a while. As I've got closer to the points needed, I seem to get asked less and less. I don't think they want to pay me... Anyone else experience this?
Yes!
Speaking of YouGov. Got this on a question for them today. I'd love to know how many people select any of the options except "Watched TV"?
These are surely quality control questions in order to see that people are doing the surveys seriously.
How does the Sun know? They haven't even got any trains yet, never mind run them in rainbow colour schemes.
I believe this all stems from @Leon's journalist friend writing a piece about HS2's woke policies in the Spectator - not the first time I've seen this referred to online, so a bit of a scoop for him I think. Suffice it to say they're extremely woke.
I know someone - a gay woman - who used to work for HS2. If being seen as a gay-friendly employer helped them to hire good people, I don't really see why that is such a bad thing. As an explanation for being six times over budget, "woke" doesn't strike me as a plausible candidate, not gonna lie.
You need to read the original source article in the Spectator. The Sun has clearly lifted its article from there; likewise the Mail
How does the Sun know? They haven't even got any trains yet, never mind run them in rainbow colour schemes.
I believe this all stems from @Leon's journalist friend writing a piece about HS2's woke policies in the Spectator - not the first time I've seen this referred to online, so a bit of a scoop for him I think. Suffice it to say they're extremely woke.
I know someone - a gay woman - who used to work for HS2. If being seen as a gay-friendly employer helped them to hire good people, I don't really see why that is such a bad thing. As an explanation for being six times over budget, "woke" doesn't strike me as a plausible candidate, not gonna lie.
You need to read the original source article in the Spectator. The Sun has clearly lifted its article from there; likewise the Mail
I can't be arsed. What does it say? That they hired some gays and as a result went £100bn over budget?
I'm concerned for a different reason - for a £100 billion project, that's remarkably little woke documentation. I've seen more for a £20 million flood alleviation scheme. Is there even anything on otter populations?!?!?
Yesterday I saw a product recall notice for some biscuits on the grounds that the QR code had been compromised and linked to material unsuitable for children. The 21st century is turning out weird.
There is a remarkable lack of analysis of the latest YouGov poll, in stark contrast to that a few days earlier.
I can't put my finger on why.
Funny old world.
So I am on the YouGov panel and have been working my way up to the 50 quid payment for a while. As I've got closer to the points needed, I seem to get asked less and less. I don't think they want to pay me... Anyone else experience this?
Yes!
Speaking of YouGov. Got this on a question for them today. I'd love to know how many people select any of the options except "Watched TV"?
Sunak asked for that to be inserted. He wanted more data on the extent of helicopter use, because he had been led to believe that most of us use one.
If that's the case, then any channel, including the BBC, that has been involved in a scandal should be off air as well. It'd solve the Licence Fee problem at a stroke!
Mr. Password, you can encourage men and women to have equal leave but men won't take it in the same numbers. It's a good thing to have that equal possibility, but for the most part men are career-focused and women are family-focused.
Little girls are allowed to own toy guns. And yet it's little boys who have them on their Christmas list.
Women in a gun-friendly environment do not demur from gun ownership. Quite the opposite.
If that's the case, then any channel, including the BBC, that has been involved in a scandal should be off air as well. It'd solve the Licence Fee problem at a stroke!
The BBC didn’t get taken off air because of Savile, Rolf Harris (and all the many many others)
Yet GBNews SHOULD be taken off air because Lozza Fox said “I wouldn’t shag her”
Pfff. The agenda here is obvious. The liberal left and the broadcasting establishment are united in loathing and fearing GBNews. They can do one
On the other hand this shows GBNews is having an impact despite the derision heaped on its viewing figures
Yesterday I saw a product recall notice for some biscuits on the grounds that the QR code had been compromised and linked to material unsuitable for children. The 21st century is turning out weird.
The felling of the tree is mind-bendingly despicable. Whoever did it needs to be thrown in the cold North Sea, on a stormy night. From a high cliff. Tied in barbed wire
But why? What is the possible motive? Drive a long long way at midnight to carefully fell a tree with a heavy chainsaw. Why??
It must have been one of the most iconic and photogenic trees in this country, if not the world.
To cheer me up, what are the others in the UK and further afield? Anyone have any suggestions?
Elizabeth’s oak at Hatfield. Not remotely as photogenic, but in a beautiful place with that gorgeous history…
The giant sequoias in California - obviously. They are so impressive they made me cry
The famous banyan tree growing out of the temple at Angkor Wat. Fabulous
The felling of the tree is mind-bendingly despicable. Whoever did it needs to be thrown in the cold North Sea, on a stormy night. From a high cliff. Tied in barbed wire
But why? What is the possible motive? Drive a long long way at midnight to carefully fell a tree with a heavy chainsaw. Why??
It must have been one of the most iconic and photogenic trees in this country, if not the world.
To cheer me up, what are the others in the UK and further afield? Anyone have any suggestions?
Elizabeth’s oak at Hatfield. Not remotely as photogenic, but in a beautiful place with that gorgeous history…
The giant sequoias in California - obviously. They are so impressive they made me cry
The famous banyan tree growing out of the temple at Angkor Wat. Fabulous
The tree at Sycamore Gap on Hadrian's Wall has been cut down overnight.
You know the PB rule that sees you get automatically banned for using the c word, I'll ask Robert to change it to allow it to be used for the c**** who cut down this beatiful tree.
The felling of the tree is mind-bendingly despicable. Whoever did it needs to be thrown in the cold North Sea, on a stormy night. From a high cliff. Tied in barbed wire
But why? What is the possible motive? Drive a long long way at midnight to carefully fell a tree with a heavy chainsaw. Why??
It must have been one of the most iconic and photogenic trees in this country, if not the world.
To cheer me up, what are the others in the UK and further afield? Anyone have any suggestions?
Elizabeth’s oak at Hatfield. Not remotely as photogenic, but in a beautiful place with that gorgeous history…
The giant sequoias in California - obviously. They are so impressive they made me cry
The famous banyan tree growing out of the temple at Angkor Wat. Fabulous
I’ll try and think of more…
Grimston's Oak in Epping Forest
The Major Oak in Sherwood Forest. Reputed to be the oldest oak tree in the country. OK, it's heavily scaffolded. But it is still exceptionally beautiful.
The felling of the tree is mind-bendingly despicable. Whoever did it needs to be thrown in the cold North Sea, on a stormy night. From a high cliff. Tied in barbed wire
But why? What is the possible motive? Drive a long long way at midnight to carefully fell a tree with a heavy chainsaw. Why??
It must have been one of the most iconic and photogenic trees in this country, if not the world.
To cheer me up, what are the others in the UK and further afield? Anyone have any suggestions?
Elizabeth’s oak at Hatfield. Not remotely as photogenic, but in a beautiful place with that gorgeous history…
The giant sequoias in California - obviously. They are so impressive they made me cry
The famous banyan tree growing out of the temple at Angkor Wat. Fabulous
I’ll try and think of more…
Grimston's Oak in Epping Forest
The Major Oak in Sherwood Forest. Reputed to be the oldest oak tree in the country. OK, it's heavily scaffolded. But it is still exceptionally beautiful.
Absolutely agreed, but I think we have had that one already?
GB News should not be taken off air. However, it should be allowed to be called GB News.
It is not a news channel and OFCOM has been totally lax in allowing it to masquerade as one.
It’s a privately funded vehicle to manufacture right-wing and alt-right memes to shift the narrative in social media, and to act as a source of largesse to professional shit-stirrers like Dan Wootton, Jacob Rees-Mogg, and others.
The tree at Sycamore Gap on Hadrian's Wall has been cut down overnight.
You know the PB rule that sees you get automatically banned for using the c word, I'll ask Robert to change it to allow it to be used for the c**** who cut down this beatiful tree.
GB News should not be taken off air. However, it should be allowed to be called GB News.
It is not a news channel and OFCOM has been totally lax in allowing it to masquerade as one.
It’s a privately funded vehicle to manufacture right-wing and alt-right memes to shift the narrative in social media, and to act as a source of largesse to professional shit-stirrers like Dan Wootton, Jacob Rees-Mogg, and others.
Give over. They can call themselves what they effing like. Its free speech
Mr. Password, you can encourage men and women to have equal leave but men won't take it in the same numbers. It's a good thing to have that equal possibility, but for the most part men are career-focused and women are family-focused.
Little girls are allowed to own toy guns. And yet it's little boys who have them on their Christmas list.
USE THE QUOTE FUNCTION – you make interesting comments but it requires the reader to scroll through pages to find the OP. Just click on quote FFS!!
The felling of the tree is mind-bendingly despicable. Whoever did it needs to be thrown in the cold North Sea, on a stormy night. From a high cliff. Tied in barbed wire
But why? What is the possible motive? Drive a long long way at midnight to carefully fell a tree with a heavy chainsaw. Why??
It could be trolling.
I've never understood what motivates trolls, but perhaps someone has decided they needed to troll more people in a more dramatic way.
But how many people would be able to chop a tree down like that without injuring or killing themselves in the process? That's the odd bit about it.
In the dark too and in windy weather ...
It is a very professional job. That's not something a random troll off the street could do.
The stump is cut flat - no wedge to control the fell/avoid the saw getting trapped.
GB News should not be taken off air. However, it should be allowed to be called GB News.
It is not a news channel and OFCOM has been totally lax in allowing it to masquerade as one.
It’s a privately funded vehicle to manufacture right-wing and alt-right memes to shift the narrative in social media, and to act as a source of largesse to professional shit-stirrers like Dan Wootton, Jacob Rees-Mogg, and others.
Give over. They can calm themselves what they effing like. Its free speech
I don’t object to Novara News
Novara Media - not “News” is not - to my knowledge - a free-to-air tv channel subject to OFCOM.
I’d have the same issue if it were, though Novara doesn’t seem to trade in performative cruelty and (whatever the left wing version of) “lib-owning” like GB News.
GB News should not be taken off air. However, it should be allowed to be called GB News.
It is not a news channel and OFCOM has been totally lax in allowing it to masquerade as one.
It’s a privately funded vehicle to manufacture right-wing and alt-right memes to shift the narrative in social media, and to act as a source of largesse to professional shit-stirrers like Dan Wootton, Jacob Rees-Mogg, and others.
Do you mean it should NOT be allowed to be called GB News?
There is a remarkable lack of analysis of the latest YouGov poll, in stark contrast to that a few days earlier.
I can't put my finger on why.
Funny old world.
So I am on the YouGov panel and have been working my way up to the 50 quid payment for a while. As I've got closer to the points needed, I seem to get asked less and less. I don't think they want to pay me... Anyone else experience this?
Not noticed before and got paid. I recently got advised they had inadvertantly not bee sending em surveys but had now re-instated me and they have started again.
GB News should not be taken off air. However, it should be allowed to be called GB News.
It is not a news channel and OFCOM has been totally lax in allowing it to masquerade as one.
It’s a privately funded vehicle to manufacture right-wing and alt-right memes to shift the narrative in social media, and to act as a source of largesse to professional shit-stirrers like Dan Wootton, Jacob Rees-Mogg, and others.
Give over. They can calm themselves what they effing like. Its free speech
I don’t object to Novara News
Novara Media - not “News” is not - to my knowledge - a free-to-air tv channel subject to OFCOM.
I’d have the same issue if it were, though Novara doesn’t seem to trade in performative cruelty and “lib-owning” like GB News.
The felling of the tree is mind-bendingly despicable. Whoever did it needs to be thrown in the cold North Sea, on a stormy night. From a high cliff. Tied in barbed wire
But why? What is the possible motive? Drive a long long way at midnight to carefully fell a tree with a heavy chainsaw. Why??
It could be trolling.
I've never understood what motivates trolls, but perhaps someone has decided they needed to troll more people in a more dramatic way.
But how many people would be able to chop a tree down like that without injuring or killing themselves in the process? That's the odd bit about it.
In the dark too and in windy weather ...
It is a very professional job. That's not something a random troll off the street could do.
The stump is cut flat - no wedge to control the fell/avoid the saw getting trapped.
Isn't that extreme amateurism?
There is quite a debate going on. Some people are suggesting a "professional in a rush".
GB News should not be taken off air. However, it should be allowed to be called GB News.
It is not a news channel and OFCOM has been totally lax in allowing it to masquerade as one.
It’s a privately funded vehicle to manufacture right-wing and alt-right memes to shift the narrative in social media, and to act as a source of largesse to professional shit-stirrers like Dan Wootton, Jacob Rees-Mogg, and others.
Do you mean it should NOT be allowed to be called GB News?
Yes.
It should be be allowed to pretend to be a news channel. It’s not. It exists to push alt-right clickbait.
In memory of the finest Sycamore #SycamoreGap on #HadriansWall. An iconic landmark and refuge of centuries, it survived Guy of Gisborne's axe, now felled by a vandal who should be put in the stocks and pelted with dung. 🌳🪓😔 https://x.com/Adrian_Hilton/status/1707360703198167177?s=20
Although the greatest achievement in that film was how Robin Hood walked from Dover to Hadrian's Wall in a day and then back to Sherwood Forest.
The felling of the tree is mind-bendingly despicable. Whoever did it needs to be thrown in the cold North Sea, on a stormy night. From a high cliff. Tied in barbed wire
But why? What is the possible motive? Drive a long long way at midnight to carefully fell a tree with a heavy chainsaw. Why??
It could be trolling.
I've never understood what motivates trolls, but perhaps someone has decided they needed to troll more people in a more dramatic way.
But how many people would be able to chop a tree down like that without injuring or killing themselves in the process? That's the odd bit about it.
In the dark too and in windy weather ...
It is a very professional job. That's not something a random troll off the street could do.
The stump is cut flat - no wedge to control the fell/avoid the saw getting trapped.
Isn't that extreme amateurism?
They used a notch so no need for felling wedges, depending on the lean. I've felled bigger trees than that with no wedges.
I have a certain smirking admiration for the sheer nihilism of the act.
The felling of the tree is mind-bendingly despicable. Whoever did it needs to be thrown in the cold North Sea, on a stormy night. From a high cliff. Tied in barbed wire
But why? What is the possible motive? Drive a long long way at midnight to carefully fell a tree with a heavy chainsaw. Why??
It could be trolling.
I've never understood what motivates trolls, but perhaps someone has decided they needed to troll more people in a more dramatic way.
But how many people would be able to chop a tree down like that without injuring or killing themselves in the process? That's the odd bit about it.
In the dark too and in windy weather ...
It is a very professional job. That's not something a random troll off the street could do.
The stump is cut flat - no wedge to control the fell/avoid the saw getting trapped.
Isn't that extreme amateurism?
There is quite a debate going on. Some people are suggesting a "professional in a rush".
Any speculation as to why?
On X I’ve noticed two theories so far
1. A local landowner annoyed by all the tourists
2. Green campaigners trying to invoke sympathy for the cause with outrageous eco-vandalism
There is a remarkable lack of analysis of the latest YouGov poll, in stark contrast to that a few days earlier.
I can't put my finger on why.
Funny old world.
So I am on the YouGov panel and have been working my way up to the 50 quid payment for a while. As I've got closer to the points needed, I seem to get asked less and less. I don't think they want to pay me... Anyone else experience this?
Yes!
Speaking of YouGov. Got this on a question for them today. I'd love to know how many people select any of the options except "Watched TV"?
These are surely quality control questions in order to see that people are doing the surveys seriously.
Yes, they’ve started doing more of these recently, including ones where the opening sentence tells you which option to select from the choices below. I think you are more likely to get them if you speed through the survey (I know they monitor stuff like this), as they are trying to spot people who just answer quickly and randomly for the money.
GB News should not be taken off air. However, it should be allowed to be called GB News.
It is not a news channel and OFCOM has been totally lax in allowing it to masquerade as one.
It’s a privately funded vehicle to manufacture right-wing and alt-right memes to shift the narrative in social media, and to act as a source of largesse to professional shit-stirrers like Dan Wootton, Jacob Rees-Mogg, and others.
GB News should just comply with Ofcom regulations like all other broadcasters have to. It took a very long time for Press TV and Russia Today to lose their licences, so I imagine they have plenty more chances before it starts getting precarious for them. That said, I am not sure why they don't go online only. They'd be far less constrained there and in a position to make more money than they can now. They serve a very niche audience that would no doubt follow them.
The felling of the tree is mind-bendingly despicable. Whoever did it needs to be thrown in the cold North Sea, on a stormy night. From a high cliff. Tied in barbed wire
But why? What is the possible motive? Drive a long long way at midnight to carefully fell a tree with a heavy chainsaw. Why??
It must have been one of the most iconic and photogenic trees in this country, if not the world.
To cheer me up, what are the others in the UK and further afield? Anyone have any suggestions?
Elizabeth’s oak at Hatfield. Not remotely as photogenic, but in a beautiful place with that gorgeous history…
The giant sequoias in California - obviously. They are so impressive they made me cry
The famous banyan tree growing out of the temple at Angkor Wat. Fabulous
I’ll try and think of more…
Grimston's Oak in Epping Forest
The Major Oak in Sherwood Forest. Reputed to be the oldest oak tree in the country. OK, it's heavily scaffolded. But it is still exceptionally beautiful.
Absolutely agreed, but I think we have had that one already?
Ah, sorry. My attention has been a bit limited this morning!
On the subject of sequoias, on the recommendation of someone on this board, I went last Autumn to Cluny House Gardens near Aberfeldy. It was very good. Quirky, and the owners seemed surprised to see us, but lovely nonetheless. Anyway, I was struck by the fact that they felt they needed to erect a sign asking people not to punch the sequoias. Clearly being a big bastard tree is fighting talk in Scotland.
The felling of the tree is mind-bendingly despicable. Whoever did it needs to be thrown in the cold North Sea, on a stormy night. From a high cliff. Tied in barbed wire
But why? What is the possible motive? Drive a long long way at midnight to carefully fell a tree with a heavy chainsaw. Why??
It could be trolling.
I've never understood what motivates trolls, but perhaps someone has decided they needed to troll more people in a more dramatic way.
But how many people would be able to chop a tree down like that without injuring or killing themselves in the process? That's the odd bit about it.
In the dark too and in windy weather ...
It is a very professional job. That's not something a random troll off the street could do.
The stump is cut flat - no wedge to control the fell/avoid the saw getting trapped.
Isn't that extreme amateurism?
They used a notch so no need for felling wedges, depending on the lean. I've felled bigger trees than that with no wedges.
I have a certain smirking admiration for the sheer nihilism of the act.
Oh do fuck off with your edgy teenage anarchist bullshit. Ever since you revealed you watch “Keeping Up Appearances” on DVD box set with a nice slice of Battenberg cake, it doesn’t remotely work - if it ever did. Twat
The felling of the tree is mind-bendingly despicable. Whoever did it needs to be thrown in the cold North Sea, on a stormy night. From a high cliff. Tied in barbed wire
But why? What is the possible motive? Drive a long long way at midnight to carefully fell a tree with a heavy chainsaw. Why??
It could be trolling.
I've never understood what motivates trolls, but perhaps someone has decided they needed to troll more people in a more dramatic way.
But how many people would be able to chop a tree down like that without injuring or killing themselves in the process? That's the odd bit about it.
In the dark too and in windy weather ...
It is a very professional job. That's not something a random troll off the street could do.
The stump is cut flat - no wedge to control the fell/avoid the saw getting trapped.
Isn't that extreme amateurism?
They used a notch so no need for felling wedges, depending on the lean. I've felled bigger trees than that with no wedges.
I have a certain smirking admiration for the sheer nihilism of the act.
Tell me, if you woke up to discover that someone had wrecked one of your beloved cars just for LOLs, would you admire the sheer nihilism of the act?
The felling of the tree is mind-bendingly despicable. Whoever did it needs to be thrown in the cold North Sea, on a stormy night. From a high cliff. Tied in barbed wire
But why? What is the possible motive? Drive a long long way at midnight to carefully fell a tree with a heavy chainsaw. Why??
It could be trolling.
I've never understood what motivates trolls, but perhaps someone has decided they needed to troll more people in a more dramatic way.
But how many people would be able to chop a tree down like that without injuring or killing themselves in the process? That's the odd bit about it.
In the dark too and in windy weather ...
It is a very professional job. That's not something a random troll off the street could do.
The stump is cut flat - no wedge to control the fell/avoid the saw getting trapped.
Isn't that extreme amateurism?
There is quite a debate going on. Some people are suggesting a "professional in a rush".
Any speculation as to why?
On X I’ve noticed two theories so far
1. A local landowner annoyed by all the tourists
2. Green campaigners trying to invoke sympathy for the cause with outrageous eco-vandalism
I’ve got severe doubts about both
Those are the two I've seen too.
Alternatively - someone has been denied cutting trees down elsewhere in Northumberland, and this is an act of revenge? People are trawling through council records etc.
It's a disaster for the nearby brewery and youth hostel, both of which I visited recently.
The felling of the tree is mind-bendingly despicable. Whoever did it needs to be thrown in the cold North Sea, on a stormy night. From a high cliff. Tied in barbed wire
But why? What is the possible motive? Drive a long long way at midnight to carefully fell a tree with a heavy chainsaw. Why??
It could be trolling.
I've never understood what motivates trolls, but perhaps someone has decided they needed to troll more people in a more dramatic way.
But how many people would be able to chop a tree down like that without injuring or killing themselves in the process? That's the odd bit about it.
In the dark too and in windy weather ...
It is a very professional job. That's not something a random troll off the street could do.
The stump is cut flat - no wedge to control the fell/avoid the saw getting trapped.
Isn't that extreme amateurism?
There is quite a debate going on. Some people are suggesting a "professional in a rush".
Any speculation as to why?
On X I’ve noticed two theories so far
1. A local landowner annoyed by all the tourists
2. Green campaigners trying to invoke sympathy for the cause with outrageous eco-vandalism
I’ve got severe doubts about both
Those are the two I've seen too.
Alternatively - someone has been denied cutting trees down elsewhere in Northumberland, and this is an act of revenge? People are traveling through council records etc.
It's a disaster for the nearby brewery and youth hostel, both of which I visited recently.
The felling of the tree is mind-bendingly despicable. Whoever did it needs to be thrown in the cold North Sea, on a stormy night. From a high cliff. Tied in barbed wire
But why? What is the possible motive? Drive a long long way at midnight to carefully fell a tree with a heavy chainsaw. Why??
It could be trolling.
I've never understood what motivates trolls, but perhaps someone has decided they needed to troll more people in a more dramatic way.
But how many people would be able to chop a tree down like that without injuring or killing themselves in the process? That's the odd bit about it.
In the dark too and in windy weather ...
It is a very professional job. That's not something a random troll off the street could do.
The stump is cut flat - no wedge to control the fell/avoid the saw getting trapped.
Isn't that extreme amateurism?
There is quite a debate going on. Some people are suggesting a "professional in a rush".
Any speculation as to why?
On X I’ve noticed two theories so far
1. A local landowner annoyed by all the tourists
2. Green campaigners trying to invoke sympathy for the cause with outrageous eco-vandalism
I’ve got severe doubts about both
Those are the two I've seen too.
Alternatively - someone has been denied cutting trees down elsewhere in Northumberland, and this is an act of revenge? People are traveling through council records etc.
It's a disaster for the nearby brewery and youth hostel, both of which I visited recently.
What about some kind of nut case with a thing about "the wrong species of tree"?
Having attended a few public meetings about planning, public spaces and their uses does tend to attract a certain kind of person.
If that's the case, then any channel, including the BBC, that has been involved in a scandal should be off air as well. It'd solve the Licence Fee problem at a stroke!
The BBC didn’t get taken off air because of Savile, Rolf Harris (and all the many many others)
Yet GBNews SHOULD be taken off air because Lozza Fox said “I wouldn’t shag her”
Pfff. The agenda here is obvious. The liberal left and the broadcasting establishment are united in loathing and fearing GBNews. They can do one
On the other hand this shows GBNews is having an impact despite the derision heaped on its viewing figures
The "liberal left" is a Conservative MP in this case (admittedly one of the few Conservative MPs not offered employment on GBNews). It's a bit like raging against woke lefty currency traders for defenestrating Liz Truss.
The felling of the tree is mind-bendingly despicable. Whoever did it needs to be thrown in the cold North Sea, on a stormy night. From a high cliff. Tied in barbed wire
But why? What is the possible motive? Drive a long long way at midnight to carefully fell a tree with a heavy chainsaw. Why??
It could be trolling.
I've never understood what motivates trolls, but perhaps someone has decided they needed to troll more people in a more dramatic way.
But how many people would be able to chop a tree down like that without injuring or killing themselves in the process? That's the odd bit about it.
In the dark too and in windy weather ...
It is a very professional job. That's not something a random troll off the street could do.
The stump is cut flat - no wedge to control the fell/avoid the saw getting trapped.
Isn't that extreme amateurism?
There is quite a debate going on. Some people are suggesting a "professional in a rush".
Any speculation as to why?
On X I’ve noticed two theories so far
1. A local landowner annoyed by all the tourists
2. Green campaigners trying to invoke sympathy for the cause with outrageous eco-vandalism
I’ve got severe doubts about both
Someone who really really really hates Kevin Costner
The felling of the tree is mind-bendingly despicable. Whoever did it needs to be thrown in the cold North Sea, on a stormy night. From a high cliff. Tied in barbed wire
But why? What is the possible motive? Drive a long long way at midnight to carefully fell a tree with a heavy chainsaw. Why??
It could be trolling.
I've never understood what motivates trolls, but perhaps someone has decided they needed to troll more people in a more dramatic way.
But how many people would be able to chop a tree down like that without injuring or killing themselves in the process? That's the odd bit about it.
In the dark too and in windy weather ...
It is a very professional job. That's not something a random troll off the street could do.
The stump is cut flat - no wedge to control the fell/avoid the saw getting trapped.
Isn't that extreme amateurism?
There is quite a debate going on. Some people are suggesting a "professional in a rush".
Any speculation as to why?
On X I’ve noticed two theories so far
1. A local landowner annoyed by all the tourists
2. Green campaigners trying to invoke sympathy for the cause with outrageous eco-vandalism
I’ve got severe doubts about both
Yes these were the two that sprung to my mind, the first feels marginally more plausible as it's the kind of thing that angry farmers get up to and they have the tools and expertise - but even if you kill the tree you've still got Hadrian's Wall which is quite a tourist attraction in its own right. Are they going to bulldoze that too? I imagine we will know the culprit before too long.
If that's the case, then any channel, including the BBC, that has been involved in a scandal should be off air as well. It'd solve the Licence Fee problem at a stroke!
The BBC didn’t get taken off air because of Savile, Rolf Harris (and all the many many others)
Yet GBNews SHOULD be taken off air because Lozza Fox said “I wouldn’t shag her”
Pfff. The agenda here is obvious. The liberal left and the broadcasting establishment are united in loathing and fearing GBNews. They can do one
On the other hand this shows GBNews is having an impact despite the derision heaped on its viewing figures
The "liberal left" is a Conservative MP in this case (admittedly one of the few Conservative MPs not offered employment on GBNews). It's a bit like raging against woke lefty currency traders for defenestrating Liz Truss.
Adam Boulton - pure liberal left - also called it for it to be closed down
The felling of the tree is mind-bendingly despicable. Whoever did it needs to be thrown in the cold North Sea, on a stormy night. From a high cliff. Tied in barbed wire
But why? What is the possible motive? Drive a long long way at midnight to carefully fell a tree with a heavy chainsaw. Why??
It could be trolling.
I've never understood what motivates trolls, but perhaps someone has decided they needed to troll more people in a more dramatic way.
But how many people would be able to chop a tree down like that without injuring or killing themselves in the process? That's the odd bit about it.
In the dark too and in windy weather ...
It is a very professional job. That's not something a random troll off the street could do.
The stump is cut flat - no wedge to control the fell/avoid the saw getting trapped.
Isn't that extreme amateurism?
There is quite a debate going on. Some people are suggesting a "professional in a rush".
Any speculation as to why?
On X I’ve noticed two theories so far
1. A local landowner annoyed by all the tourists
2. Green campaigners trying to invoke sympathy for the cause with outrageous eco-vandalism
I’ve got severe doubts about both
Those are the two I've seen too.
Alternatively - someone has been denied cutting trees down elsewhere in Northumberland, and this is an act of revenge? People are traveling through council records etc.
It's a disaster for the nearby brewery and youth hostel, both of which I visited recently.
Everything about it is evil. Pure evil
It seems they’ve got cctv of the culprit from one of those wildlife cameras.
The felling of the tree is mind-bendingly despicable. Whoever did it needs to be thrown in the cold North Sea, on a stormy night. From a high cliff. Tied in barbed wire
But why? What is the possible motive? Drive a long long way at midnight to carefully fell a tree with a heavy chainsaw. Why??
It could be trolling.
I've never understood what motivates trolls, but perhaps someone has decided they needed to troll more people in a more dramatic way.
But how many people would be able to chop a tree down like that without injuring or killing themselves in the process? That's the odd bit about it.
In the dark too and in windy weather ...
It is a very professional job. That's not something a random troll off the street could do.
The stump is cut flat - no wedge to control the fell/avoid the saw getting trapped.
Isn't that extreme amateurism?
There is quite a debate going on. Some people are suggesting a "professional in a rush".
Any speculation as to why?
On X I’ve noticed two theories so far
1. A local landowner annoyed by all the tourists
2. Green campaigners trying to invoke sympathy for the cause with outrageous eco-vandalism
I’ve got severe doubts about both
Someone who really really really hates Kevin Costner
Or someone who really really hates Bryan Adams.
"Police are on the look out for a dangerous maniac. Do not approach, especially if you are wearing matching denim as an outfit."
The felling of the tree is mind-bendingly despicable. Whoever did it needs to be thrown in the cold North Sea, on a stormy night. From a high cliff. Tied in barbed wire
But why? What is the possible motive? Drive a long long way at midnight to carefully fell a tree with a heavy chainsaw. Why??
It could be trolling.
I've never understood what motivates trolls, but perhaps someone has decided they needed to troll more people in a more dramatic way.
But how many people would be able to chop a tree down like that without injuring or killing themselves in the process? That's the odd bit about it.
In the dark too and in windy weather ...
It is a very professional job. That's not something a random troll off the street could do.
The stump is cut flat - no wedge to control the fell/avoid the saw getting trapped.
Isn't that extreme amateurism?
There is quite a debate going on. Some people are suggesting a "professional in a rush".
Any speculation as to why?
On X I’ve noticed two theories so far
1. A local landowner annoyed by all the tourists
2. Green campaigners trying to invoke sympathy for the cause with outrageous eco-vandalism
I’ve got severe doubts about both
Yes these were the two that sprung to my mind, the first feels marginally more plausible as it's the kind of thing that angry farmers get up to and they have the tools and expertise - but even if you kill the tree you've still got Hadrian's Wall which is quite a tourist attraction in its own right. Are they going to bulldoze that too? I imagine we will know the culprit before too long.
I really hope we do find them. Their fate will not be pretty
Unfortunately I’ve got doubts we will. Unless someone was up there with a secret camera at the right time
The felling of the tree is mind-bendingly despicable. Whoever did it needs to be thrown in the cold North Sea, on a stormy night. From a high cliff. Tied in barbed wire
But why? What is the possible motive? Drive a long long way at midnight to carefully fell a tree with a heavy chainsaw. Why??
It could be trolling.
I've never understood what motivates trolls, but perhaps someone has decided they needed to troll more people in a more dramatic way.
But how many people would be able to chop a tree down like that without injuring or killing themselves in the process? That's the odd bit about it.
In the dark too and in windy weather ...
It is a very professional job. That's not something a random troll off the street could do.
The stump is cut flat - no wedge to control the fell/avoid the saw getting trapped.
Isn't that extreme amateurism?
There is quite a debate going on. Some people are suggesting a "professional in a rush".
Any speculation as to why?
On X I’ve noticed two theories so far
1. A local landowner annoyed by all the tourists
2. Green campaigners trying to invoke sympathy for the cause with outrageous eco-vandalism
I’ve got severe doubts about both
Yes these were the two that sprung to my mind, the first feels marginally more plausible as it's the kind of thing that angry farmers get up to and they have the tools and expertise - but even if you kill the tree you've still got Hadrian's Wall which is quite a tourist attraction in its own right. Are they going to bulldoze that too? I imagine we will know the culprit before too long.
Yes, it brings to mind that farmer who razed the banks of the River Lugg a while back.
If that's the case, then any channel, including the BBC, that has been involved in a scandal should be off air as well. It'd solve the Licence Fee problem at a stroke!
The BBC didn’t get taken off air because of Savile, Rolf Harris (and all the many many others)
Yet GBNews SHOULD be taken off air because Lozza Fox said “I wouldn’t shag her”
Pfff. The agenda here is obvious. The liberal left and the broadcasting establishment are united in loathing and fearing GBNews. They can do one
On the other hand this shows GBNews is having an impact despite the derision heaped on its viewing figures
The "liberal left" is a Conservative MP in this case (admittedly one of the few Conservative MPs not offered employment on GBNews). It's a bit like raging against woke lefty currency traders for defenestrating Liz Truss.
Remember, we live in a world in which HS2 is woke!
Vaguely on topic, Sunak's round of local radio station interviews this morning was excruciating - and not just the evasiveness on HS2. He really can't think on his feet, and just churns out unconvincing, pre-prepared lines to take.
I really think he could bomb completely under the pressure of a GE campaign.
The felling of the tree is mind-bendingly despicable. Whoever did it needs to be thrown in the cold North Sea, on a stormy night. From a high cliff. Tied in barbed wire
But why? What is the possible motive? Drive a long long way at midnight to carefully fell a tree with a heavy chainsaw. Why??
It could be trolling.
I've never understood what motivates trolls, but perhaps someone has decided they needed to troll more people in a more dramatic way.
But how many people would be able to chop a tree down like that without injuring or killing themselves in the process? That's the odd bit about it.
In the dark too and in windy weather ...
It is a very professional job. That's not something a random troll off the street could do.
The stump is cut flat - no wedge to control the fell/avoid the saw getting trapped.
Isn't that extreme amateurism?
There is quite a debate going on. Some people are suggesting a "professional in a rush".
Any speculation as to why?
On X I’ve noticed two theories so far
1. A local landowner annoyed by all the tourists
2. Green campaigners trying to invoke sympathy for the cause with outrageous eco-vandalism
I’ve got severe doubts about both
Those are the two I've seen too.
Alternatively - someone has been denied cutting trees down elsewhere in Northumberland, and this is an act of revenge? People are trawling through council records etc.
It's a disaster for the nearby brewery and youth hostel, both of which I visited recently.
Another possibility is gross incompetence. It was the wrong tree.
The felling of the tree is mind-bendingly despicable. Whoever did it needs to be thrown in the cold North Sea, on a stormy night. From a high cliff. Tied in barbed wire
But why? What is the possible motive? Drive a long long way at midnight to carefully fell a tree with a heavy chainsaw. Why??
It could be trolling.
I've never understood what motivates trolls, but perhaps someone has decided they needed to troll more people in a more dramatic way.
But how many people would be able to chop a tree down like that without injuring or killing themselves in the process? That's the odd bit about it.
In the dark too and in windy weather ...
It is a very professional job. That's not something a random troll off the street could do.
The stump is cut flat - no wedge to control the fell/avoid the saw getting trapped.
Isn't that extreme amateurism?
There is quite a debate going on. Some people are suggesting a "professional in a rush".
Any speculation as to why?
On X I’ve noticed two theories so far
1. A local landowner annoyed by all the tourists
2. Green campaigners trying to invoke sympathy for the cause with outrageous eco-vandalism
I’ve got severe doubts about both
Those are the two I've seen too.
Alternatively - someone has been denied cutting trees down elsewhere in Northumberland, and this is an act of revenge? People are traveling through council records etc.
It's a disaster for the nearby brewery and youth hostel, both of which I visited recently.
Everything about it is evil. Pure evil
It seems they’ve got cctv of the culprit from one of those wildlife cameras.
If that's the case, then any channel, including the BBC, that has been involved in a scandal should be off air as well. It'd solve the Licence Fee problem at a stroke!
The BBC didn’t get taken off air because of Savile, Rolf Harris (and all the many many others)
Yet GBNews SHOULD be taken off air because Lozza Fox said “I wouldn’t shag her”
Pfff. The agenda here is obvious. The liberal left and the broadcasting establishment are united in loathing and fearing GBNews. They can do one
On the other hand this shows GBNews is having an impact despite the derision heaped on its viewing figures
The "liberal left" is a Conservative MP in this case (admittedly one of the few Conservative MPs not offered employment on GBNews). It's a bit like raging against woke lefty currency traders for defenestrating Liz Truss.
Remember, we live in a world in which HS2 is woke!
“There is plenty more. Page 23 assures us that HS2’s award winning Race Ethnicity and Cultural Heritage Network has continued to ‘grow its membership at pace’ by ensuring awareness, right along the HS2 route, of Race Equality Week, South Asian Heritage Month, National Inclusion Week, Black History Month, National Day of Staff Networks, and Stephen Lawrence Day.
A few lines later we are told that the Onboard Network has sent mail-outs, created information sheets and organised events so as to enable all HS2 workers to celebrate important dates like: International Non-Binary People’s Day, Bi-Visibility Week, International Drag Day, Trans Awareness Week, International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, and the International Transgender Day of Visibility.
Nor have they forgotten HS2 railway workers who are so exhausted by all this they have gone off having sex – or building railways. The Onboard Network also creates info sheets and offers events surrounding International Asexuality Day.”
The felling of the tree is mind-bendingly despicable. Whoever did it needs to be thrown in the cold North Sea, on a stormy night. From a high cliff. Tied in barbed wire
But why? What is the possible motive? Drive a long long way at midnight to carefully fell a tree with a heavy chainsaw. Why??
It could be trolling.
I've never understood what motivates trolls, but perhaps someone has decided they needed to troll more people in a more dramatic way.
But how many people would be able to chop a tree down like that without injuring or killing themselves in the process? That's the odd bit about it.
In the dark too and in windy weather ...
It is a very professional job. That's not something a random troll off the street could do.
The stump is cut flat - no wedge to control the fell/avoid the saw getting trapped.
Isn't that extreme amateurism?
There is quite a debate going on. Some people are suggesting a "professional in a rush".
Any speculation as to why?
On X I’ve noticed two theories so far
1. A local landowner annoyed by all the tourists
2. Green campaigners trying to invoke sympathy for the cause with outrageous eco-vandalism
I’ve got severe doubts about both
Those are the two I've seen too.
Alternatively - someone has been denied cutting trees down elsewhere in Northumberland, and this is an act of revenge? People are trawling through council records etc.
It's a disaster for the nearby brewery and youth hostel, both of which I visited recently.
Another possibility is gross incompetence. It was the wrong tree.
An HS2 construction team had been relying on what three words to direct them to a location for line clearance?
How does the Sun know? They haven't even got any trains yet, never mind run them in rainbow colour schemes.
I believe this all stems from @Leon's journalist friend writing a piece about HS2's woke policies in the Spectator - not the first time I've seen this referred to online, so a bit of a scoop for him I think. Suffice it to say they're extremely woke.
I know someone - a gay woman - who used to work for HS2. If being seen as a gay-friendly employer helped them to hire good people, I don't really see why that is such a bad thing. As an explanation for being six times over budget, "woke" doesn't strike me as a plausible candidate, not gonna lie.
You need to read the original source article in the Spectator. The Sun has clearly lifted its article from there; likewise the Mail
I can't be arsed. What does it say? That they hired some gays and as a result went £100bn over budget?
Well, if you can’t be arsed then you won’t understand. Whatever 🤷♂️
Oh well, my loss.
It was the most-read article on the Spectator so clearly many thousands did read it - hence the Mail and the Sun spinning their own articles out of it
I imagine every single Tory MP read it
You're not selling it to me. Seriously, just like Scott exists to cut and paste Remoaner shitposts from Twitter so we don't have to bother finding them ourselves, your role is to summarise Spectator articles (sometimes before they are even written) so that those of us who don't want to waste hours perusing the in house journal of home counties reactionaries in search of the very occasional nugget of useful information are spared the ordeal. Do your job, man!
The felling of the tree is mind-bendingly despicable. Whoever did it needs to be thrown in the cold North Sea, on a stormy night. From a high cliff. Tied in barbed wire
But why? What is the possible motive? Drive a long long way at midnight to carefully fell a tree with a heavy chainsaw. Why??
It could be trolling.
I've never understood what motivates trolls, but perhaps someone has decided they needed to troll more people in a more dramatic way.
But how many people would be able to chop a tree down like that without injuring or killing themselves in the process? That's the odd bit about it.
In the dark too and in windy weather ...
It is a very professional job. That's not something a random troll off the street could do.
The stump is cut flat - no wedge to control the fell/avoid the saw getting trapped.
Isn't that extreme amateurism?
There is quite a debate going on. Some people are suggesting a "professional in a rush".
Any speculation as to why?
On X I’ve noticed two theories so far
1. A local landowner annoyed by all the tourists
2. Green campaigners trying to invoke sympathy for the cause with outrageous eco-vandalism
I’ve got severe doubts about both
Those are the two I've seen too.
Alternatively - someone has been denied cutting trees down elsewhere in Northumberland, and this is an act of revenge? People are trawling through council records etc.
It's a disaster for the nearby brewery and youth hostel, both of which I visited recently.
Another possibility is gross incompetence. It was the wrong tree.
How does the Sun know? They haven't even got any trains yet, never mind run them in rainbow colour schemes.
I believe this all stems from @Leon's journalist friend writing a piece about HS2's woke policies in the Spectator - not the first time I've seen this referred to online, so a bit of a scoop for him I think. Suffice it to say they're extremely woke.
I know someone - a gay woman - who used to work for HS2. If being seen as a gay-friendly employer helped them to hire good people, I don't really see why that is such a bad thing. As an explanation for being six times over budget, "woke" doesn't strike me as a plausible candidate, not gonna lie.
You need to read the original source article in the Spectator. The Sun has clearly lifted its article from there; likewise the Mail
I can't be arsed. What does it say? That they hired some gays and as a result went £100bn over budget?
Well, if you can’t be arsed then you won’t understand. Whatever 🤷♂️
Oh well, my loss.
It was the most-read article on the Spectator so clearly many thousands did read it - hence the Mail and the Sun spinning their own articles out of it
I imagine every single Tory MP read it
You're not selling it to me. Seriously, just like Scott exists to cut and paste Remoaner shitposts from Twitter so we don't have to bother finding them ourselves, your role is to summarise Spectator articles (sometimes before they are even written) so that those of us who don't want to waste hours perusing the in house journal of home counties reactionaries in search of the very occasional nugget of useful information are spared the ordeal. Do your job, man!
Vaguely on topic, Sunak's round of local radio station interviews this morning was excruciating - and not just the evasiveness on HS2. He really can't think on his feet, and just churns out unconvincing, pre-prepared lines to take.
I really think he could bomb completely under the pressure of a GE campaign.
Absolutely agree.
Electoral dud. Needs to be replaced next month....
The felling of the tree is mind-bendingly despicable. Whoever did it needs to be thrown in the cold North Sea, on a stormy night. From a high cliff. Tied in barbed wire
But why? What is the possible motive? Drive a long long way at midnight to carefully fell a tree with a heavy chainsaw. Why??
It must have been one of the most iconic and photogenic trees in this country, if not the world.
To cheer me up, what are the others in the UK and further afield? Anyone have any suggestions?
Elizabeth’s oak at Hatfield. Not remotely as photogenic, but in a beautiful place with that gorgeous history…
The giant sequoias in California - obviously. They are so impressive they made me cry
The famous banyan tree growing out of the temple at Angkor Wat. Fabulous
I’ll try and think of more…
Grimston's Oak in Epping Forest
The Major Oak in Sherwood Forest. Reputed to be the oldest oak tree in the country. OK, it's heavily scaffolded. But it is still exceptionally beautiful.
Absolutely agreed, but I think we have had that one already?
How does the Sun know? They haven't even got any trains yet, never mind run them in rainbow colour schemes.
I believe this all stems from @Leon's journalist friend writing a piece about HS2's woke policies in the Spectator - not the first time I've seen this referred to online, so a bit of a scoop for him I think. Suffice it to say they're extremely woke.
I know someone - a gay woman - who used to work for HS2. If being seen as a gay-friendly employer helped them to hire good people, I don't really see why that is such a bad thing. As an explanation for being six times over budget, "woke" doesn't strike me as a plausible candidate, not gonna lie.
You need to read the original source article in the Spectator. The Sun has clearly lifted its article from there; likewise the Mail
I can't be arsed. What does it say? That they hired some gays and as a result went £100bn over budget?
Well, if you can’t be arsed then you won’t understand. Whatever 🤷♂️
Oh well, my loss.
It was the most-read article on the Spectator so clearly many thousands did read it - hence the Mail and the Sun spinning their own articles out of it
I imagine every single Tory MP read it
You're not selling it to me. Seriously, just like Scott exists to cut and paste Remoaner shitposts from Twitter so we don't have to bother finding them ourselves, your role is to summarise Spectator articles (sometimes before they are even written) so that those of us who don't want to waste hours perusing the in house journal of home counties reactionaries in search of the very occasional nugget of useful information are spared the ordeal. Do your job, man!
The Spectator is a pile of old shit. You’re missing nothing, even if you skip over Leon’s posts.
That would be a disproportionate response to something which is serious but not at the very upper end of harm to the public (it's not incitement for example), which was a live TV f*** up, and where GBNews have responded reasonably seriously (through suspensions and apology) rather than flicking the Vs.
It was quite a bad compliance failure, but worse things have happened on regulated TV services without giving rise to licence revocation, and just is not going to happen. I'd have thought a fine is fairly likely, but revocation isn't at all.
How does the Sun know? They haven't even got any trains yet, never mind run them in rainbow colour schemes.
I believe this all stems from @Leon's journalist friend writing a piece about HS2's woke policies in the Spectator - not the first time I've seen this referred to online, so a bit of a scoop for him I think. Suffice it to say they're extremely woke.
I know someone - a gay woman - who used to work for HS2. If being seen as a gay-friendly employer helped them to hire good people, I don't really see why that is such a bad thing. As an explanation for being six times over budget, "woke" doesn't strike me as a plausible candidate, not gonna lie.
You need to read the original source article in the Spectator. The Sun has clearly lifted its article from there; likewise the Mail
I can't be arsed. What does it say? That they hired some gays and as a result went £100bn over budget?
Well, if you can’t be arsed then you won’t understand. Whatever 🤷♂️
Oh well, my loss.
It was the most-read article on the Spectator so clearly many thousands did read it - hence the Mail and the Sun spinning their own articles out of it
I imagine every single Tory MP read it
You're not selling it to me. Seriously, just like Scott exists to cut and paste Remoaner shitposts from Twitter so we don't have to bother finding them ourselves, your role is to summarise Spectator articles (sometimes before they are even written) so that those of us who don't want to waste hours perusing the in house journal of home counties reactionaries in search of the very occasional nugget of useful information are spared the ordeal. Do your job, man!
How does the Sun know? They haven't even got any trains yet, never mind run them in rainbow colour schemes.
I believe this all stems from @Leon's journalist friend writing a piece about HS2's woke policies in the Spectator - not the first time I've seen this referred to online, so a bit of a scoop for him I think. Suffice it to say they're extremely woke.
I know someone - a gay woman - who used to work for HS2. If being seen as a gay-friendly employer helped them to hire good people, I don't really see why that is such a bad thing. As an explanation for being six times over budget, "woke" doesn't strike me as a plausible candidate, not gonna lie.
If that's the case, then any channel, including the BBC, that has been involved in a scandal should be off air as well. It'd solve the Licence Fee problem at a stroke!
The BBC didn’t get taken off air because of Savile, Rolf Harris (and all the many many others)
Yet GBNews SHOULD be taken off air because Lozza Fox said “I wouldn’t shag her”
Pfff. The agenda here is obvious. The liberal left and the broadcasting establishment are united in loathing and fearing GBNews. They can do one
On the other hand this shows GBNews is having an impact despite the derision heaped on its viewing figures
He was at the kidding , she obviously had turned him down and he was miffed.
The felling of the tree is mind-bendingly despicable. Whoever did it needs to be thrown in the cold North Sea, on a stormy night. From a high cliff. Tied in barbed wire
But why? What is the possible motive? Drive a long long way at midnight to carefully fell a tree with a heavy chainsaw. Why??
It must have been one of the most iconic and photogenic trees in this country, if not the world.
To cheer me up, what are the others in the UK and further afield? Anyone have any suggestions?
Elizabeth’s oak at Hatfield. Not remotely as photogenic, but in a beautiful place with that gorgeous history…
The giant sequoias in California - obviously. They are so impressive they made me cry
The famous banyan tree growing out of the temple at Angkor Wat. Fabulous
I’ll try and think of more…
Grimston's Oak in Epping Forest
The Major Oak in Sherwood Forest. Reputed to be the oldest oak tree in the country. OK, it's heavily scaffolded. But it is still exceptionally beautiful.
I have an oak tree in the garden grown from a Major Oak acorn.
We collected a number one year for growing on (there is an official event to do this once a year). I forget where they all ended up but they were used for local planting schemes.
Ironically many of the famous oak trees (including the Major Oak) are likely to have been pollarded or coppiced, so at one point they would have looked like this Sycamore does now.
The UK apparently has most of the veteran trees in Europe. We were doing some management of a local estate that has a good collection of veteran oaks and was told by the arborist that we would have had coachloads of tourists coming to see them if they were in France.
The felling of the tree is mind-bendingly despicable. Whoever did it needs to be thrown in the cold North Sea, on a stormy night. From a high cliff. Tied in barbed wire
But why? What is the possible motive? Drive a long long way at midnight to carefully fell a tree with a heavy chainsaw. Why??
It must have been one of the most iconic and photogenic trees in this country, if not the world.
To cheer me up, what are the others in the UK and further afield? Anyone have any suggestions?
Elizabeth’s oak at Hatfield. Not remotely as photogenic, but in a beautiful place with that gorgeous history…
The giant sequoias in California - obviously. They are so impressive they made me cry
The famous banyan tree growing out of the temple at Angkor Wat. Fabulous
I’ll try and think of more…
Grimston's Oak in Epping Forest
The Major Oak in Sherwood Forest. Reputed to be the oldest oak tree in the country. OK, it's heavily scaffolded. But it is still exceptionally beautiful.
I have an oak tree in the garden grown from a Major Oak acorn.
We collected a number one year for growing on (there is an official event to do this once a year). I forget where they all ended up but they were used for local planting schemes.
Ironically many of the famous oak trees (including the Major Oak) are likely to have been pollarded or coppiced, so at one point they would have looked like this Sycamore does now.
The UK apparently has most of the veteran trees in Europe. We were doing some management of a local estate that has a good collection of veteran oaks and was told by the arborist that we would have had coachloads of tourists coming to see them if they were in France.
Kew Gardens does get a lot of European tourists.
Are the various other arboretums being marketed that way?
The felling of the tree is mind-bendingly despicable. Whoever did it needs to be thrown in the cold North Sea, on a stormy night. From a high cliff. Tied in barbed wire
But why? What is the possible motive? Drive a long long way at midnight to carefully fell a tree with a heavy chainsaw. Why??
It could be trolling.
I've never understood what motivates trolls, but perhaps someone has decided they needed to troll more people in a more dramatic way.
But how many people would be able to chop a tree down like that without injuring or killing themselves in the process? That's the odd bit about it.
In the dark too and in windy weather ...
It is a very professional job. That's not something a random troll off the street could do.
The stump is cut flat - no wedge to control the fell/avoid the saw getting trapped.
Isn't that extreme amateurism?
There is quite a debate going on. Some people are suggesting a "professional in a rush".
Any speculation as to why?
On X I’ve noticed two theories so far
1. A local landowner annoyed by all the tourists
2. Green campaigners trying to invoke sympathy for the cause with outrageous eco-vandalism
I’ve got severe doubts about both
Those are the two I've seen too.
Alternatively - someone has been denied cutting trees down elsewhere in Northumberland, and this is an act of revenge? People are trawling through council records etc.
It's a disaster for the nearby brewery and youth hostel, both of which I visited recently.
Another possibility is gross incompetence. It was the wrong tree.
Overnight, during a storm, done in a rush.
Hmmm.
Most likely with a grudge against the NNPA. It was a symbol of the National Park.
Grudges against National Parks are very likely to be planning related.
How does the Sun know? They haven't even got any trains yet, never mind run them in rainbow colour schemes.
I believe this all stems from @Leon's journalist friend writing a piece about HS2's woke policies in the Spectator - not the first time I've seen this referred to online, so a bit of a scoop for him I think. Suffice it to say they're extremely woke.
I know someone - a gay woman - who used to work for HS2. If being seen as a gay-friendly employer helped them to hire good people, I don't really see why that is such a bad thing. As an explanation for being six times over budget, "woke" doesn't strike me as a plausible candidate, not gonna lie.
You need to read the original source article in the Spectator. The Sun has clearly lifted its article from there; likewise the Mail
I can't be arsed. What does it say? That they hired some gays and as a result went £100bn over budget?
Well, if you can’t be arsed then you won’t understand. Whatever 🤷♂️
Oh well, my loss.
It was the most-read article on the Spectator so clearly many thousands did read it - hence the Mail and the Sun spinning their own articles out of it
I imagine every single Tory MP read it
You're not selling it to me. Seriously, just like Scott exists to cut and paste Remoaner shitposts from Twitter so we don't have to bother finding them ourselves, your role is to summarise Spectator articles (sometimes before they are even written) so that those of us who don't want to waste hours perusing the in house journal of home counties reactionaries in search of the very occasional nugget of useful information are spared the ordeal. Do your job, man!
The Spectator is a pile of old shit. You’re missing nothing, even if you skip over Leon’s posts.
There was some chap on the radio the other day who'd investigated large infrastructure projects all over the world. He reckoned that the UK is generally no worse than other countries when it comes to planning and executing such projects, but that the biggest reason for HS2's huge cost overrun was the prediction of government for constantly fiddling with the scope of the project. Apparently, changing the spec for such projects to save a little cash in the short-term tends to increase the overall cost of a project enormously, and this has happened repeatedly for HS2.
Or perhaps the Speccie is right after all and the project is simply too woke
The felling of the tree is mind-bendingly despicable. Whoever did it needs to be thrown in the cold North Sea, on a stormy night. From a high cliff. Tied in barbed wire
But why? What is the possible motive? Drive a long long way at midnight to carefully fell a tree with a heavy chainsaw. Why??
It must have been one of the most iconic and photogenic trees in this country, if not the world.
To cheer me up, what are the others in the UK and further afield? Anyone have any suggestions?
Elizabeth’s oak at Hatfield. Not remotely as photogenic, but in a beautiful place with that gorgeous history…
The giant sequoias in California - obviously. They are so impressive they made me cry
The famous banyan tree growing out of the temple at Angkor Wat. Fabulous
I’ll try and think of more…
Grimston's Oak in Epping Forest
The Major Oak in Sherwood Forest. Reputed to be the oldest oak tree in the country. OK, it's heavily scaffolded. But it is still exceptionally beautiful.
I have an oak tree in the garden grown from a Major Oak acorn.
We collected a number one year for growing on (there is an official event to do this once a year). I forget where they all ended up but they were used for local planting schemes.
Ironically many of the famous oak trees (including the Major Oak) are likely to have been pollarded or coppiced, so at one point they would have looked like this Sycamore does now.
The UK apparently has most of the veteran trees in Europe. We were doing some management of a local estate that has a good collection of veteran oaks and was told by the arborist that we would have had coachloads of tourists coming to see them if they were in France.
Kew Gardens does get a lot of European tourists.
Are the various other arboretums being marketed that way?
Not so much arboretum trees (although we do have a few famous ones, mostly those imported from abroad - eg the original Douglas Fir brought from America etc) but managed parkland.
Windsor Great Park is probably the most famous location for veteran trees, but locally in Yorkshire Duncombe Park also has a good collection.
On Geoengineering: Some years ago, one of the local Indian tribes, which depends on fishing, proposed an experiment in fertilizing the oceans with iron. (The idea is to encourage the growth of phytoplankton, which will absorb CO2 -- and feed fish.)
As I recall, they were blocked from doing so by a lawsuit. I thought at the time, and still think, that it sounds like an experiment worth trying.
What can the miscreant get done for in the Northumberland Chainsaw Massace? The fine for cutting down a tree can be big but I don't think you can get banged up for it
Interesting video on Armenia and Azerbaijan, including why another conflict is likely and would probably involve Iran and perhaps Turkey/Israel as well.
What can the miscreant get done for in the Northumberland Chainsaw Massace? The fine for cutting down a tree can be big but I don't think you can get banged up for it
The crooked house people are being charged with “arson endangering lives” - which carries an automatic prison sentence, almost certainly a long one
During our cycle tour across northern England a few weeks ago. My girlfriend gave it a hug.
Saw it just last week. For the far north of England it is probably the single most memorable tree there is. Or was.
I think I'll have to visit the Major Oak next week just in case.
Sycamore will coppice unless someone treats the stump but it is going to look pretty miserable for a good 30-50 years and the shape will never be quite as photogenic.
I have been there but any photographs are probably on slides...
I don’t know enough about trees but can’t they replant a fairly mature one? At least give it a head start
The anger about this is off the dial on X. Possibly worse than The Crooked Pub. At least there you could see a hideous, venal motivation
They won't need to replant it. It will sprout like mad unless it is also poisoned.
In the very long term this will actually prolong the life of the tree but I don't think that was the intention.
There's no way to plant a large tree without it blowing down - you just can't get the roots in properly, particularly in the sort of ground available there.
Perhaps it was the Russians in revenge for Sevastopol...but I'd guess at local planning issues.
Weirdly I hope there is a motive, and we find the evil villain
The idea it is mindless sociopathic vandalism is even bleaker. But I struggle to see any planning issues all the way up there?!
The only possible motive would be if a time travelling Roman came forward in time and wanted to rebuild Hadrian's wall and this tree was in the way. Barring that it is pure, mindless vandalism.
A time travelling Roman is more plausible than some things people claim on PB...
There is a remarkable lack of analysis of the latest YouGov poll, in stark contrast to that a few days earlier.
I can't put my finger on why.
Funny old world.
So I am on the YouGov panel and have been working my way up to the 50 quid payment for a while. As I've got closer to the points needed, I seem to get asked less and less. I don't think they want to pay me... Anyone else experience this?
Yes!
Speaking of YouGov. Got this on a question for them today. I'd love to know how many people select any of the options except "Watched TV"?
I would guess they're checking that you're (a) a person, and (b) paying attention. Possibly combined with some specific research they're trying to do on, say, poker players, so they're trying to find some poker players.
What can the miscreant get done for in the Northumberland Chainsaw Massace? The fine for cutting down a tree can be big but I don't think you can get banged up for it
The crooked house people are being charged with “arson endangering lives” - which carries an automatic prison sentence, almost certainly a long one
Hahahahah
Something like the S Korean Cultural Heritage Protection Act would do the trick:
Article 92 (Crime of Infliction of Damage, Concealment, etc.) Printed articles (1) A person who causes damage to, steals, conceals, or impairs the utility of State-designated cultural heritage (excluding national intangible cultural heritage) in any other means shall be punished by imprisonment with labor for a limited term of not less than three years.
Comments
I’m so sad to hear that Michael Gambon has died. He was hugely amusing, and such a tremendous guest, we even named a corner after him.
https://x.com/JeremyClarkson/status/1707361168682049576?s=20
I imagine every single Tory MP read it
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ecological-baseline-data-otter-and-water-vole-bid-ec-010-00001
Russian separatists "Freedom of Russia" are reporting battles in the Bilhorod peoples republic.
https://x.com/DefMon3/status/1707360181162549396?s=20
Yesterday I saw a product recall notice for some biscuits on the grounds that the QR code had been compromised and linked to material unsuitable for children. The 21st century is turning out weird.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtyPUv7BSiY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeixR-LsFC8
Yet GBNews SHOULD be taken off air because Lozza Fox said “I wouldn’t shag her”
Pfff. The agenda here is obvious. The liberal left and the broadcasting establishment are united in loathing and fearing GBNews. They can do one
On the other hand this shows GBNews is having an impact despite the derision heaped on its viewing figures
Now points to a domain parking page filled with Chinese porn and spyware. Far from the first time it's happened, and certainly won't be the last.
"...No. On the contrary. Take it as a compliment. You're a bright young man. This monkey business is in your blood, under your skin. You're not getting out, you're just getting in. I've every faith in you. One day, it will be you sitting here telling some young Turk the facts of life...
...You're born, you take shit. Get out in the world, you take more shit. Climb a little higher, you take less shit. Until one day, you're up in the rarefied atmosphere, and you've forgotten what shit even looks like. Welcome to the layer cake, son..."
Always lifts the heart
OK, it's heavily scaffolded. But it is still exceptionally beautiful.
https://twitter.com/berlin_bridge/status/1707295392696590790/photo/1
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-66932548
"China's Evergrande halts trading amid reports of detained bosses"
However, it should be allowed to be called GB News.
It is not a news channel and OFCOM has been totally lax in allowing it to masquerade as one.
It’s a privately funded vehicle to manufacture right-wing and alt-right memes to shift the narrative in social media, and to act as a source of largesse to professional shit-stirrers like Dan Wootton, Jacob Rees-Mogg, and others.
I don’t object to Novara News
Isn't that extreme amateurism?
I’d have the same issue if it were, though Novara doesn’t seem to trade in performative cruelty and (whatever the left wing version of) “lib-owning” like GB News.
It should be be allowed to pretend to be a news channel. It’s not. It exists to push alt-right clickbait.
https://x.com/Adrian_Hilton/status/1707360703198167177?s=20
Although the greatest achievement in that film was how Robin Hood walked from Dover to Hadrian's Wall in a day and then back to Sherwood Forest.
I have a certain smirking admiration for the sheer nihilism of the act.
On X I’ve noticed two theories so far
1. A local landowner annoyed by all the tourists
2. Green campaigners trying to invoke sympathy for the cause with outrageous eco-vandalism
I’ve got severe doubts about both
On the subject of sequoias, on the recommendation of someone on this board, I went last Autumn to Cluny House Gardens near Aberfeldy. It was very good. Quirky, and the owners seemed surprised to see us, but lovely nonetheless. Anyway, I was struck by the fact that they felt they needed to erect a sign asking people not to punch the sequoias. Clearly being a big bastard tree is fighting talk in Scotland.
By the way, real anarchists look like this
Alternatively - someone has been denied cutting trees down elsewhere in Northumberland, and this is an act of revenge? People are trawling through council records etc.
It's a disaster for the nearby brewery and youth hostel, both of which I visited recently.
That will become even worse .
Having attended a few public meetings about planning, public spaces and their uses does tend to attract a certain kind of person.
Perhaps the Tories are unveiling a new logo at conference...
"Police are on the look out for a dangerous maniac. Do not approach, especially if you are wearing matching denim as an outfit."
Unfortunately I’ve got doubts we will. Unless someone was up there with a secret camera at the right time
Politics - good opportunity for Davey or Starmer to go all "green and pleasant land"?
I really think he could bomb completely under the pressure of a GE campaign.
https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-deep-absurdity-of-hs2-diversitys-agenda/
“There is plenty more. Page 23 assures us that HS2’s award winning Race Ethnicity and Cultural Heritage Network has continued to ‘grow its membership at pace’ by ensuring awareness, right along the HS2 route, of Race Equality Week, South Asian Heritage Month, National Inclusion Week, Black History Month, National Day of Staff Networks, and Stephen Lawrence Day.
A few lines later we are told that the Onboard Network has sent mail-outs, created information sheets and organised events so as to enable all HS2 workers to celebrate important dates like: International Non-Binary People’s Day, Bi-Visibility Week, International Drag Day, Trans Awareness Week, International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, and the International Transgender Day of Visibility.
Nor have they forgotten HS2 railway workers who are so exhausted by all this they have gone off having sex – or building railways. The Onboard Network also creates info sheets and offers events surrounding International Asexuality Day.”
Seriously, just like Scott exists to cut and paste Remoaner shitposts from Twitter so we don't have to bother finding them ourselves, your role is to summarise Spectator articles (sometimes before they are even written) so that those of us who don't want to waste hours perusing the in house journal of home counties reactionaries in search of the very occasional nugget of useful information are spared the ordeal. Do your job, man!
Hmmm.
Electoral dud. Needs to be replaced next month....
They have quite a number of trees in the protected 'national monument' list.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_monuments_of_South_Korea
You’re missing nothing, even if you skip over Leon’s posts.
It was quite a bad compliance failure, but worse things have happened on regulated TV services without giving rise to licence revocation, and just is not going to happen. I'd have thought a fine is fairly likely, but revocation isn't at all.
We collected a number one year for growing on (there is an official event to do this once a year). I forget where they all ended up but they were used for local planting schemes.
Ironically many of the famous oak trees (including the Major Oak) are likely to have been pollarded or coppiced, so at one point they would have looked like this Sycamore does now.
The UK apparently has most of the veteran trees in Europe. We were doing some management of a local estate that has a good collection of veteran oaks and was told by the arborist that we would have had coachloads of tourists coming to see them if they were in France.
NEW THREAD
Are the various other arboretums being marketed that way?
Grudges against National Parks are very likely to be planning related.
That or annoyed by tourists. Parking problems?
Or perhaps the Speccie is right after all and the project is simply too woke
Windsor Great Park is probably the most famous location for veteran trees, but locally in Yorkshire Duncombe Park also has a good collection.
As I recall, they were blocked from doing so by a lawsuit. I thought at the time, and still think, that it sounds like an experiment worth trying.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpMcAj8JPJI
Hahahahah
Article 92 (Crime of Infliction of Damage, Concealment, etc.) Printed articles
(1) A person who causes damage to, steals, conceals, or impairs the utility of State-designated cultural heritage (excluding national intangible cultural heritage) in any other means shall be punished by imprisonment with labor for a limited term of not less than three years.