There wasn't a lockdown. Unless you were shielding, if you were daft enough you could pop down to the shops every single day, and once you'd got home an had a cup of tea, then head out again for your daily exercise.
And there wasn't the Stasi stopping you from breaking the rules and visiting folks as long as you didn’t shout it from the rooftops (or post about it on social media). We relied on community cohesion to do the right thing.
We were shielding for 3 months - some may remember my posts describing my trips to the front gate to put the bin out. That's as far as I got.
So to those who say that they were locked down while enjoying a daily stroll in the park or a bike ride through the countryside I say not really.
Garbage. There certainly was a lockdown unless you consider shuffling around in masks in Tesco a form of social contact.
You were one of the worst PBers in terms of moralising about others’ activities during Covid. Please don’t try to revise history,
Yes, I thought that everyone should follow the rules. But no, people were not locked down.
You were Curtain Twitcher General throughout lockdown, not only smearing others for breaking the actual rules but also smearing people for breaking what you thought the rules should be.
I hated the great weather during Lockdown 1. It was rubbing my nose in what might have been; all those great long spring-summer days with friends missed. Yes, I had a garden, yes the sun shone. So what?
My issue with the lockdowns was before and after going to the shops having to disinfect all the notes and coins.
As I have said before, the correlation of PBers who are at pains to broadcast how tiresome they find my views on cash yet bring up cash apropos of nothing is extraordinary.
It’s almost as if they WANT me to discuss it!!
We recently had PBers arguing against EVs because their 82 year old mothers wouldn't be able to understand the controls.
Many - perhaps most - PBers own cars that don’t work - some of which cannot be driven at 20mph. So, it doesn’t surprise me.
I've discovered some remarkable stats on Welsh drivers that I'm looking forward to deploying at some point.
My favourite has been the real Finland scandal - the vegan conspiracy against high mortality rates.
There wasn't a lockdown. Unless you were shielding, if you were daft enough you could pop down to the shops every single day, and once you'd got home an had a cup of tea, then head out again for your daily exercise.
And there wasn't the Stasi stopping you from breaking the rules and visiting folks as long as you didn’t shout it from the rooftops (or post about it on social media). We relied on community cohesion to do the right thing.
We were shielding for 3 months - some may remember my posts describing my trips to the front gate to put the bin out. That's as far as I got.
So to those who say that they were locked down while enjoying a daily stroll in the park or a bike ride through the countryside I say not really.
Garbage. There certainly was a lockdown unless you consider shuffling around in masks in Tesco a form of social contact.
You were one of the worst PBers in terms of moralising about others’ activities during Covid. Please don’t try to revise history,
Yes, I thought that everyone should follow the rules. But no, people were not locked down.
You were Curtain Twitcher General throughout lockdown, not only smearing others for breaking the actual rules but also smearing people for breaking what you thought the rules should be.
I hated the great weather during Lockdown 1. It was rubbing my nose in what might have been; all those great long spring-summer days with friends missed. Yes, I had a garden, yes the sun shone. So what?
My issue with the lockdowns was before and after going to the shops having to disinfect all the notes and coins.
As I have said before, the correlation of PBers who are at pains to broadcast how tiresome they find my views on cash yet bring up cash apropos of nothing is extraordinary.
There wasn't a lockdown. Unless you were shielding, if you were daft enough you could pop down to the shops every single day, and once you'd got home an had a cup of tea, then head out again for your daily exercise.
And there wasn't the Stasi stopping you from breaking the rules and visiting folks as long as you didn’t shout it from the rooftops (or post about it on social media). We relied on community cohesion to do the right thing.
We were shielding for 3 months - some may remember my posts describing my trips to the front gate to put the bin out. That's as far as I got.
So to those who say that they were locked down while enjoying a daily stroll in the park or a bike ride through the countryside I say not really.
Garbage. There certainly was a lockdown unless you consider shuffling around in masks in Tesco a form of social contact.
You were one of the worst PBers in terms of moralising about others’ activities during Covid. Please don’t try to revise history,
Yes, I thought that everyone should follow the rules. But no, people were not locked down.
You were Curtain Twitcher General throughout lockdown not only smearing others for breaking the actual
I hated the great weather during Lockdown 1. It was rubbing my nose in what might have been; all those great long spring-summer days with friends missed. Yes, I had a garden, yes the sun shone. So what?
My issue with the lockdowns was before and after going to the shops having to disinfect all the notes and coins.
As I have said before, the correlation of PBers who are at pains to broadcast how tiresome they find my views on cash yet bring up cash apropos of nothing is extraordinary.
Flight from Heathrow to Belfast City just gave up trying to land after a pretty terrifying attempt.. now en route to Manchester. Not sure how much better the weather is there but hopefully stand a better chance.
So that tweet only just sent but we’ve just landed in Manchester 🙏 Scary biscuits above Belfast. I’ve never been as happy to see @manairport #StormIsha
This flight from Manchester to Dublin was diverted to Paris!
There wasn't a lockdown. Unless you were shielding, if you were daft enough you could pop down to the shops every single day, and once you'd got home an had a cup of tea, then head out again for your daily exercise.
And there wasn't the Stasi stopping you from breaking the rules and visiting folks as long as you didn’t shout it from the rooftops (or post about it on social media). We relied on community cohesion to do the right thing.
We were shielding for 3 months - some may remember my posts describing my trips to the front gate to put the bin out. That's as far as I got.
So to those who say that they were locked down while enjoying a daily stroll in the park or a bike ride through the countryside I say not really.
Garbage. There certainly was a lockdown unless you consider shuffling around in masks in Tesco a form of social contact.
You were one of the worst PBers in terms of moralising about others’ activities during Covid. Please don’t try to revise history,
Yes, I thought that everyone should follow the rules. But no, people were not locked down.
You were Curtain Twitcher General throughout lockdown, not only smearing others for breaking the actual rules but also smearing people for breaking what you thought the rules should be.
I hated the great weather during Lockdown 1. It was rubbing my nose in what might have been; all those great long spring-summer days with friends missed. Yes, I had a garden, yes the sun shone. So what?
My issue with the lockdowns was before and after going to the shops having to disinfect all the notes and coins.
As I have said before, the correlation of PBers who are at pains to broadcast how tiresome they find my views on cash yet bring up cash apropos of nothing is extraordinary.
It’s almost as if they WANT me to discuss it!!
We recently had PBers arguing against EVs because their 82 year old mothers wouldn't be able to understand the controls.
I expect most of us are experiencing this seriously dangerous storm and in Capel Curig a wind speed of 90 mph has been recorded with expectations it will exceed 100mph later tonight
Yesterday the RNLI launched a multi search and rescue in the Irish Sea, including the Llandudno and Rhyl lifeboats, for a man overboard the Irish ferry who was recovered by the coastguard helicopter but sadly died in hospital. Notwithstanding the crews took to sea in atrocious conditions in an attempt to save a life as they always will
The media, coastguard, and RNLI are warning people to stay away from the coast and indeed anywhere, as it is highly dangerous to be out in these exceptional conditions
However, the broadcast media are wholly irresponsible allowing their journalist to report outside in these conditions, even standing alongside sea walls - what on earth are they thinking, even if indeed they are thinking, and what example it is to others
Keep safe everyone
Nobody living more than five miles from the sea really appreciates the risk that people like Big G junior take to save other people.
On reflection, it was when the right wing nutters began to attack the RNLI for rescuing people from "the boats" that we realised that they had fled all reason (and were also a bunch of utter bastards).
Quite so on both.
And when HM Government started targeting the RNLI* in its proposed legislation, though as I recall some right-wingers found it very difficult to put 2 plus 2 together and accept that the supposed party of law, order and tradition really was trying to castrate one of the UK (and RoI)'s most eminent charities. Like burning down the National Trust's Cliveden or pouring weedkiller on the Cerne Abbas Giant's nether bits.
*everyone from senior management to the shore volunteers would have been liable. And it would have been conspiracy a priori, added on.
Attacking the charity that regularly saves those hard-core Marxists - retiree yacht sailors
I thought "retiree yacht sailors" were all traitors, helping the Kaiser to invade Norfolk?
There wasn't a lockdown. Unless you were shielding, if you were daft enough you could pop down to the shops every single day, and once you'd got home an had a cup of tea, then head out again for your daily exercise.
And there wasn't the Stasi stopping you from breaking the rules and visiting folks as long as you didn’t shout it from the rooftops (or post about it on social media). We relied on community cohesion to do the right thing.
We were shielding for 3 months - some may remember my posts describing my trips to the front gate to put the bin out. That's as far as I got.
So to those who say that they were locked down while enjoying a daily stroll in the park or a bike ride through the countryside I say not really.
Garbage. There certainly was a lockdown unless you consider shuffling around in masks in Tesco a form of social contact.
You were one of the worst PBers in terms of moralising about others’ activities during Covid. Please don’t try to revise history,
Yes, I thought that everyone should follow the rules. But no, people were not locked down.
You were Curtain Twitcher General throughout lockdown, not only smearing others for breaking the actual rules but also smearing people for breaking what you thought the rules should be.
I hated the great weather during Lockdown 1. It was rubbing my nose in what might have been; all those great long spring-summer days with friends missed. Yes, I had a garden, yes the sun shone. So what?
My issue with the lockdowns was before and after going to the shops having to disinfect all the notes and coins.
As I have said before, the correlation of PBers who are at pains to broadcast how tiresome they find my views on cash yet bring up cash apropos of nothing is extraordinary.
It’s almost as if they WANT me to discuss it!!
We recently had PBers arguing against EVs because their 82 year old mothers wouldn't be able to understand the controls.
Republicans against Trump @RpsAgainstTrump · 18m Just now on CNN, Nikki Haley refused to say if she would support Trump if he became the GOP nominee. 👀
Totally off topic, but a local topic that I cannot get my head around.
Manchester ain't rich, certainly not by London or much of European standards, yet the centre has seen a massive boom in recent years and this is just accelerating faster and faster.
This does not appear to be happening elsewhere in the UK, away from London.
It does not appear to be hugely impacting on the region away from about 3km radius of St Peter's Square and the corridor down to MediaCity.
So what has caused this ? Can and should it try to be replicated to boost the economy of other parts of the country or is it just one huge Ponzi scheme that will all one day collapse leaving loads of debt ?
There wasn't a lockdown. Unless you were shielding, if you were daft enough you could pop down to the shops every single day, and once you'd got home an had a cup of tea, then head out again for your daily exercise.
And there wasn't the Stasi stopping you from breaking the rules and visiting folks as long as you didn’t shout it from the rooftops (or post about it on social media). We relied on community cohesion to do the right thing.
We were shielding for 3 months - some may remember my posts describing my trips to the front gate to put the bin out. That's as far as I got.
So to those who say that they were locked down while enjoying a daily stroll in the park or a bike ride through the countryside I say not really.
Garbage. There certainly was a lockdown unless you consider shuffling around in masks in Tesco a form of social contact.
You were one of the worst PBers in terms of moralising about others’ activities during Covid. Please don’t try to revise history,
Yes, I thought that everyone should follow the rules. But no, people were not locked down.
You were Curtain Twitcher General throughout lockdown, not only smearing others for breaking the actual rules but also smearing people for breaking what you thought the rules should be.
I hated the great weather during Lockdown 1. It was rubbing my nose in what might have been; all those great long spring-summer days with friends missed. Yes, I had a garden, yes the sun shone. So what?
My issue with the lockdowns was before and after going to the shops having to disinfect all the notes and coins.
As I have said before, the correlation of PBers who are at pains to broadcast how tiresome they find my views on cash yet bring up cash apropos of nothing is extraordinary.
It’s almost as if they WANT me to discuss it!!
We recently had PBers arguing against EVs because their 82 year old mothers wouldn't be able to understand the controls.
82 isn't particularly old these days.
If they cannot understand EV controls, which are basically the same as any automatic ICE vehicle, should they be driving on public roads whatever their age?
There wasn't a lockdown. Unless you were shielding, if you were daft enough you could pop down to the shops every single day, and once you'd got home an had a cup of tea, then head out again for your daily exercise.
And there wasn't the Stasi stopping you from breaking the rules and visiting folks as long as you didn’t shout it from the rooftops (or post about it on social media). We relied on community cohesion to do the right thing.
We were shielding for 3 months - some may remember my posts describing my trips to the front gate to put the bin out. That's as far as I got.
So to those who say that they were locked down while enjoying a daily stroll in the park or a bike ride through the countryside I say not really.
Garbage. There certainly was a lockdown unless you consider shuffling around in masks in Tesco a form of social contact.
You were one of the worst PBers in terms of moralising about others’ activities during Covid. Please don’t try to revise history,
Yes, I thought that everyone should follow the rules. But no, people were not locked down.
You were Curtain Twitcher General throughout lockdown, not only smearing others for breaking the actual rules but also smearing people for breaking what you thought the rules should be.
I hated the great weather during Lockdown 1. It was rubbing my nose in what might have been; all those great long spring-summer days with friends missed. Yes, I had a garden, yes the sun shone. So what?
My issue with the lockdowns was before and after going to the shops having to disinfect all the notes and coins.
As I have said before, the correlation of PBers who are at pains to broadcast how tiresome they find my views on cash yet bring up cash apropos of nothing is extraordinary.
It’s almost as if they WANT me to discuss it!!
We recently had PBers arguing against EVs because their 82 year old mothers wouldn't be able to understand the controls.
Many - perhaps most - PBers own cars that don’t work - some of which cannot be driven at 20mph. So, it doesn’t surprise me.
I've discovered some remarkable stats on Welsh drivers that I'm looking forward to deploying at some point.
My favourite has been the real Finland scandal - the vegan conspiracy against high mortality rates.
I must have missed the Finland thing. The Welsh nonsense amuses daily though. I have told several PBers that it’s been 20mph ubiquitously here in my north London locale for a good while now, and that you soon get used to it, and that it actually makes driving more pleasant and smoother.
They just shout back: DRAKE! CASH! DRAKE! UXBRIDGE! CASH! DRAKE!
There wasn't a lockdown. Unless you were shielding, if you were daft enough you could pop down to the shops every single day, and once you'd got home an had a cup of tea, then head out again for your daily exercise.
And there wasn't the Stasi stopping you from breaking the rules and visiting folks as long as you didn’t shout it from the rooftops (or post about it on social media). We relied on community cohesion to do the right thing.
We were shielding for 3 months - some may remember my posts describing my trips to the front gate to put the bin out. That's as far as I got.
So to those who say that they were locked down while enjoying a daily stroll in the park or a bike ride through the countryside I say not really.
Garbage. There certainly was a lockdown unless you consider shuffling around in masks in Tesco a form of social contact.
You were one of the worst PBers in terms of moralising about others’ activities during Covid. Please don’t try to revise history,
Yes, I thought that everyone should follow the rules. But no, people were not locked down.
You were Curtain Twitcher General throughout lockdown, not only smearing others for breaking the actual rules but also smearing people for breaking what you thought the rules should be.
I hated the great weather during Lockdown 1. It was rubbing my nose in what might have been; all those great long spring-summer days with friends missed. Yes, I had a garden, yes the sun shone. So what?
My issue with the lockdowns was before and after going to the shops having to disinfect all the notes and coins.
As I have said before, the correlation of PBers who are at pains to broadcast how tiresome they find my views on cash yet bring up cash apropos of nothing is extraordinary.
It’s almost as if they WANT me to discuss it!!
We recently had PBers arguing against EVs because their 82 year old mothers wouldn't be able to understand the controls.
Totally off topic, but a local topic that I cannot get my head around.
Manchester ain't rich, certainly not by London or much of European standards, yet the centre has seen a massive boom in recent years and this is just accelerating faster and faster.
This does not appear to be happening elsewhere in the UK, away from London.
It does not appear to be hugely impacting on the region away from about 3km radius of St Peter's Square and the corridor down to MediaCity.
So what has caused this ? Can and should it try to be replicated to boost the economy of other parts of the country or is it just one huge Ponzi scheme that will all one day collapse leaving loads of debt ?
A lot of Middle Eastern property money has targeted Manchester - the UAE ownership of Manchester City being the primary factor.
There wasn't a lockdown. Unless you were shielding, if you were daft enough you could pop down to the shops every single day, and once you'd got home an had a cup of tea, then head out again for your daily exercise.
And there wasn't the Stasi stopping you from breaking the rules and visiting folks as long as you didn’t shout it from the rooftops (or post about it on social media). We relied on community cohesion to do the right thing.
We were shielding for 3 months - some may remember my posts describing my trips to the front gate to put the bin out. That's as far as I got.
So to those who say that they were locked down while enjoying a daily stroll in the park or a bike ride through the countryside I say not really.
Garbage. There certainly was a lockdown unless you consider shuffling around in masks in Tesco a form of social contact.
You were one of the worst PBers in terms of moralising about others’ activities during Covid. Please don’t try to revise history,
Yes, I thought that everyone should follow the rules. But no, people were not locked down.
You were Curtain Twitcher General throughout lockdown, not only smearing others for breaking the actual rules but also smearing people for breaking what you thought the rules should be.
I hated the great weather during Lockdown 1. It was rubbing my nose in what might have been; all those great long spring-summer days with friends missed. Yes, I had a garden, yes the sun shone. So what?
My issue with the lockdowns was before and after going to the shops having to disinfect all the notes and coins.
As I have said before, the correlation of PBers who are at pains to broadcast how tiresome they find my views on cash yet bring up cash apropos of nothing is extraordinary.
It’s almost as if they WANT me to discuss it!!
We recently had PBers arguing against EVs because their 82 year old mothers wouldn't be able to understand the controls.
82 isn't particularly old these days.
If they cannot understand EV controls, which are basically the same as any automatic ICE vehicle, should they be driving on public roads whatever their age?
There wasn't a lockdown. Unless you were shielding, if you were daft enough you could pop down to the shops every single day, and once you'd got home an had a cup of tea, then head out again for your daily exercise.
And there wasn't the Stasi stopping you from breaking the rules and visiting folks as long as you didn’t shout it from the rooftops (or post about it on social media). We relied on community cohesion to do the right thing.
We were shielding for 3 months - some may remember my posts describing my trips to the front gate to put the bin out. That's as far as I got.
So to those who say that they were locked down while enjoying a daily stroll in the park or a bike ride through the countryside I say not really.
Garbage. There certainly was a lockdown unless you consider shuffling around in masks in Tesco a form of social contact.
You were one of the worst PBers in terms of moralising about others’ activities during Covid. Please don’t try to revise history,
Yes, I thought that everyone should follow the rules. But no, people were not locked down.
You were Curtain Twitcher General throughout lockdown, not only smearing others for breaking the actual rules but also smearing people for breaking what you thought the rules should be.
I hated the great weather during Lockdown 1. It was rubbing my nose in what might have been; all those great long spring-summer days with friends missed. Yes, I had a garden, yes the sun shone. So what?
My issue with the lockdowns was before and after going to the shops having to disinfect all the notes and coins.
As I have said before, the correlation of PBers who are at pains to broadcast how tiresome they find my views on cash yet bring up cash apropos of nothing is extraordinary.
It’s almost as if they WANT me to discuss it!!
We recently had PBers arguing against EVs because their 82 year old mothers wouldn't be able to understand the controls.
Many - perhaps most - PBers own cars that don’t work - some of which cannot be driven at 20mph. So, it doesn’t surprise me.
I've discovered some remarkable stats on Welsh drivers that I'm looking forward to deploying at some point.
My favourite has been the real Finland scandal - the vegan conspiracy against high mortality rates.
I must have missed the Finland thing. The Welsh nonsense amuses daily though. I have told several PBers that it’s been 20mph ubiquitously here in my north London locale for a good while now, and that you soon get used to it, and that it actually makes driving more pleasant and smoother.
They just shout back: DRAKE! CASH! DRAKE! UXBRIDGE! CASH! DRAKE!
I worry about the poor lambs, a lot.
I would just gently suggest you have no idea of the position of the 30 - 20 Welsh reduction scheme just as I have no idea about London matters
When the Welsh Labour government, Plaid, Local Authorities and even Labour mps agree it has been badly implemented, and a review has been agreed by all parties this spring, then maybe best to become better informed on Welsh matters
"to ensure that constitutional government can endure"
DeSantis.
Utterly bonkers. Black is white. 2+2=5.
America has gone mad. Sheer decadency.
Trump isn't a danger to democracy. Ridiculous to suggest he might be.
He really f***in' is. Read his (garbled) proclamations, watch his role on January 6th. Remember he incited a (fortunately failed) coup d'etat.
You do have the propensity for unwise sweeping statements, but if Trump wins this time he won't make the same mistakes he made last time. He and his goons are extremely dangerous. He can't read the Constitution so he couldn't care less about the Founding Fathers and their attempt to prevent the USA from falling into the hands of someone like Trump.
"to ensure that constitutional government can endure"
DeSantis.
Utterly bonkers. Black is white. 2+2=5.
America has gone mad. Sheer decadency.
Trump isn't a danger to democracy. Ridiculous to suggest he might be.
He really f***in' is. Read his (garbled) proclamations, watch his role on January 6th. Remember he incited a (fortunately failed) coup d'etat.
You do have the propensity for unwise sweeping statements, but if Trump wins this time he won't make the same mistakes he made last time. He and his goons are extremely dangerous. He can't read the Constitution so he couldn't care less about the Founding Fathers and their attempt to prevent the USA from falling into the hands of someone like Trump.
I agree 100% about Trump and the thought of him as POTUS appalls me just as Johnson has in backing him
"Ian Sansom Have we all become more paranoid since the pandemic? Covid-19 proved devastating to our self-confidence and faith in others, says Daniel Freeman, who describes the ‘corrosive’ effects of mistrust on individuals and society"
Totally off topic, but a local topic that I cannot get my head around.
Manchester ain't rich, certainly not by London or much of European standards, yet the centre has seen a massive boom in recent years and this is just accelerating faster and faster.
This does not appear to be happening elsewhere in the UK, away from London.
It does not appear to be hugely impacting on the region away from about 3km radius of St Peter's Square and the corridor down to MediaCity.
So what has caused this ? Can and should it try to be replicated to boost the economy of other parts of the country or is it just one huge Ponzi scheme that will all one day collapse leaving loads of debt ?
This sort of thing is really important if we’re going to get proper economic concentration in second cities and their surrounding regions, so it’s good it’s happening. The article says 20 towers over 100m constructed and a further 12 in progress. Good - that will give the skyline a boost and potentially take Manchester ahead of Canary Wharf which per Wikipedia has 28 towers over 100m currently completed.
I was in Leeds last week and, pleasant enough city that it is, it just feels so small and provincial for what is, from memory, something like the 4th or 5th biggest city in the country. Manchester at least has a sense of being a proper city, as do Edinburgh, Glasgow and, despite its diminutive size, Liverpool.
Taking GDP contribution though, Manchester seems to be surprisingly far down the table. Look at this:
City of London, then Westminster (no surprise), followed by Glasgow, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Tower Hamlets (ie Canary Wharf), Belfast, then Manchester (followed by Camden then Birmingham). And Brighton a touch ahead of Leeds.
"to ensure that constitutional government can endure"
DeSantis.
Utterly bonkers. Black is white. 2+2=5.
America has gone mad. Sheer decadency.
Trump isn't a danger to democracy. Ridiculous to suggest he might be.
He really f***in' is. Read his (garbled) proclamations, watch his role on January 6th. Remember he incited a (fortunately failed) coup d'etat.
You do have the propensity for unwise sweeping statements, but if Trump wins this time he won't make the same mistakes he made last time. He and his goons are extremely dangerous. He can't read the Constitution so he couldn't care less about the Founding Fathers and their attempt to prevent the USA from falling into the hands of someone like Trump.
I don't think democracy will die either completely or permanently if Trump becomes President again, but it will be damaged certainly.
Democracy is not all or nothing, there are graduations, but it would be in retreat, much like Hungary or similar.
This has been a good idea electorally for ages for Labour. "Lock them up"
Or put them in the dock, as it says there. Then let some sewage in.
Along with Post Office bosses, energy company bosses, tory party donators, Ms and Mr Mone. Although, how would you be able to distinguish the shit from the shit.
"Ian Sansom Have we all become more paranoid since the pandemic? Covid-19 proved devastating to our self-confidence and faith in others, says Daniel Freeman, who describes the ‘corrosive’ effects of mistrust on individuals and society"
"to ensure that constitutional government can endure"
DeSantis.
Utterly bonkers. Black is white. 2+2=5.
America has gone mad. Sheer decadency.
Trump isn't a danger to democracy. Ridiculous to suggest he might be.
He really f***in' is. Read his (garbled) proclamations, watch his role on January 6th. Remember he incited a (fortunately failed) coup d'etat.
You do have the propensity for unwise sweeping statements, but if Trump wins this time he won't make the same mistakes he made last time. He and his goons are extremely dangerous. He can't read the Constitution so he couldn't care less about the Founding Fathers and their attempt to prevent the USA from falling into the hands of someone like Trump.
I agree 100% about Trump and the thought of him as POTUS appalls me just as Johnson has in backing him
I am genuinely politically homeless
Is that such a bad thing? After being SNP right or wrong until Sturgeon, it’s refreshing to vote for the best candidate, irrespective of party.
"to ensure that constitutional government can endure"
DeSantis.
Utterly bonkers. Black is white. 2+2=5.
America has gone mad. Sheer decadency.
Trump isn't a danger to democracy. Ridiculous to suggest he might be.
He really f***in' is. Read his (garbled) proclamations, watch his role on January 6th. Remember he incited a (fortunately failed) coup d'etat.
You do have the propensity for unwise sweeping statements, but if Trump wins this time he won't make the same mistakes he made last time. He and his goons are extremely dangerous. He can't read the Constitution so he couldn't care less about the Founding Fathers and their attempt to prevent the USA from falling into the hands of someone like Trump.
I don't think democracy will die either completely or permanently if Trump becomes President again, but it will be damaged certainly.
Democracy is not all or nothing, there are graduations, but it would be in retreat, much like Hungary or similar.
The possible saving grace is his age. The fact Biden is even older disguises Trump’s proximity to death or at least infirmity. When Erdogan, Modi, Orban or Putin attained power they had decades of consolidation ahead of them, plenty of the time to make the état about moi.
There is not at this juncture an obvious Trump 2. It would need to be a family affair I think, a monarchical succession like in N Korea. But that is easier after 20 years of consolidating your power base than after 4 years and in the face of a hugely divided ruling elite.
He’d need to engineer a change to presidential term limits to stay on, or hand to Ivanka / Jared for 2028. I think that gives him a big handicap.
"to ensure that constitutional government can endure"
DeSantis.
Utterly bonkers. Black is white. 2+2=5.
America has gone mad. Sheer decadency.
Trump isn't a danger to democracy. Ridiculous to suggest he might be.
He really f***in' is. Read his (garbled) proclamations, watch his role on January 6th. Remember he incited a (fortunately failed) coup d'etat.
You do have the propensity for unwise sweeping statements, but if Trump wins this time he won't make the same mistakes he made last time. He and his goons are extremely dangerous. He can't read the Constitution so he couldn't care less about the Founding Fathers and their attempt to prevent the USA from falling into the hands of someone like Trump.
I don't think democracy will die either completely or permanently if Trump becomes President again, but it will be damaged certainly.
Democracy is not all or nothing, there are graduations, but it would be in retreat, much like Hungary or similar.
Bear in mind his role model is Vlad the Impaler. I suspect vengeance will be swift and brutal. I would suggest the Bidens, the Clintons the Obamas, Bill Barr and Chris Wray don't stand near windows. Tony Schwartz said last time he had a plane on standby to take him out of the country should the need arise.
"Ian Sansom Have we all become more paranoid since the pandemic? Covid-19 proved devastating to our self-confidence and faith in others, says Daniel Freeman, who describes the ‘corrosive’ effects of mistrust on individuals and society"
It certainly seems true of him, but I don't think that true of everyone.
I don’t see any evidence around me to support his assertion. Covid and the lockdowns have damaged us in multiple ways but I don’t think they’ve done anything to people’s trust in each other. Social media on the other hand…
"to ensure that constitutional government can endure"
DeSantis.
Utterly bonkers. Black is white. 2+2=5.
America has gone mad. Sheer decadency.
Trump isn't a danger to democracy. Ridiculous to suggest he might be.
He really f***in' is. Read his (garbled) proclamations, watch his role on January 6th. Remember he incited a (fortunately failed) coup d'etat.
You do have the propensity for unwise sweeping statements, but if Trump wins this time he won't make the same mistakes he made last time. He and his goons are extremely dangerous. He can't read the Constitution so he couldn't care less about the Founding Fathers and their attempt to prevent the USA from falling into the hands of someone like Trump.
I agree 100% about Trump and the thought of him as POTUS appalls me just as Johnson has in backing him
I am genuinely politically homeless
Is that such a bad thing? After being SNP right or wrong until Sturgeon, it’s refreshing to vote for the best candidate, irrespective of party.
Possibly but not sure any of the candidates in my constituency are better than each other
I will cross that bridge when it comes along but as of now my health and imminent pacemaker operation is all that matters to both myself and my family having had 4 months of potentially serious health issues
This has been a good idea electorally for ages for Labour. "Lock them up"
Or put them in the dock, as it says there. Then let some sewage in.
Along with Post Office bosses, energy company bosses, tory party donators, Ms and Mr Mone. Although, how would you be able to distinguish the shit from the shit.
Dominic Pino @DominicJPino DeSantis drops out with a fake Churchill quote.
International Churchill Society: "We can find no attribution for either one of these . . . They are found nowhere in his canon . . . An almost equal number of sources found online credit these sayings to Abraham Lincoln"
I expect most of us are experiencing this seriously dangerous storm and in Capel Curig a wind speed of 90 mph has been recorded with expectations it will exceed 100mph later tonight
Yesterday the RNLI launched a multi search and rescue in the Irish Sea, including the Llandudno and Rhyl lifeboats, for a man overboard the Irish ferry who was recovered by the coastguard helicopter but sadly died in hospital. Notwithstanding the crews took to sea in atrocious conditions in an attempt to save a life as they always will
The media, coastguard, and RNLI are warning people to stay away from the coast and indeed anywhere, as it is highly dangerous to be out in these exceptional conditions
However, the broadcast media are wholly irresponsible allowing their journalist to report outside in these conditions, even standing alongside sea walls - what on earth are they thinking, even if indeed they are thinking, and what example it is to others
Keep safe everyone
Nobody living more than five miles from the sea really appreciates the risk that people like Big G junior take to save other people.
On reflection, it was when the right wing nutters began to attack the RNLI for rescuing people from "the boats" that we realised that they had fled all reason (and were also a bunch of utter bastards).
Quite so on both.
And when HM Government started targeting the RNLI* in its proposed legislation, though as I recall some right-wingers found it very difficult to put 2 plus 2 together and accept that the supposed party of law, order and tradition really was trying to castrate one of the UK (and RoI)'s most eminent charities. Like burning down the National Trust's Cliveden or pouring weedkiller on the Cerne Abbas Giant's nether bits.
*everyone from senior management to the shore volunteers would have been liable. And it would have been conspiracy a priori, added on.
Attacking the charity that regularly saves those hard-core Marxists - retiree yacht sailors
Further to this - look what crops up:SKS to defend the CA Giant and BigG's boy's boat.
Remember - the wokery sniffers out were infuriated by the NT displaying an anti-slavery statue at Cragside in Northumberland.
Yes, the statue, bought for that very reason by Armstrong the original owner, and displayed in thje very niche which he intended for it. Preserving the past? Forget it with the "Conservative" party.
"to ensure that constitutional government can endure"
DeSantis.
Utterly bonkers. Black is white. 2+2=5.
America has gone mad. Sheer decadency.
Trump isn't a danger to democracy. Ridiculous to suggest he might be.
Oh well, we shall have to agree to disagree.
We shall soon know.
If they elect him they wont be able to get him out again imho.
if he was elected again, depends if the army support him or not, in Jan 2021 when he was still President they didn't support attempts to overturn the election result
A cartoonist has to be pretty witless if he can't figure out a way of criticising Israel's actions in Gaza without producing a precise illustration of the "blood libel".
"to ensure that constitutional government can endure"
DeSantis.
Utterly bonkers. Black is white. 2+2=5.
America has gone mad. Sheer decadency.
Trump isn't a danger to democracy. Ridiculous to suggest he might be.
He really f***in' is. Read his (garbled) proclamations, watch his role on January 6th. Remember he incited a (fortunately failed) coup d'etat.
You do have the propensity for unwise sweeping statements, but if Trump wins this time he won't make the same mistakes he made last time. He and his goons are extremely dangerous. He can't read the Constitution so he couldn't care less about the Founding Fathers and their attempt to prevent the USA from falling into the hands of someone like Trump.
I agree 100% about Trump and the thought of him as POTUS appalls me just as Johnson has in backing him
I am genuinely politically homeless
Is that such a bad thing? After being SNP right or wrong until Sturgeon, it’s refreshing to vote for the best candidate, irrespective of party.
Possibly but not sure any of the candidates in my constituency are better than each other
I will cross that bridge when it comes along but as of now my health and imminent pacemaker operation is all that matters to both myself and my family having had 4 months of potentially serious health issues
Dominic Pino @DominicJPino DeSantis drops out with a fake Churchill quote.
International Churchill Society: "We can find no attribution for either one of these . . . They are found nowhere in his canon . . . An almost equal number of sources found online credit these sayings to Abraham Lincoln"
"If Trump were my president, I would put poison in my coffee"?
"Ian Sansom Have we all become more paranoid since the pandemic? Covid-19 proved devastating to our self-confidence and faith in others, says Daniel Freeman, who describes the ‘corrosive’ effects of mistrust on individuals and society"
"to ensure that constitutional government can endure"
DeSantis.
Utterly bonkers. Black is white. 2+2=5.
America has gone mad. Sheer decadency.
Trump isn't a danger to democracy. Ridiculous to suggest he might be.
Oh well, we shall have to agree to disagree.
We shall soon know.
If they elect him they wont be able to get him out again imho.
if he was elected again, depends if the army support him or not, in Jan 2021 when he was still President they didn't support attempts to overturn the election result
"to ensure that constitutional government can endure"
DeSantis.
Utterly bonkers. Black is white. 2+2=5.
America has gone mad. Sheer decadency.
Trump isn't a danger to democracy. Ridiculous to suggest he might be.
He really f***in' is. Read his (garbled) proclamations, watch his role on January 6th. Remember he incited a (fortunately failed) coup d'etat.
You do have the propensity for unwise sweeping statements, but if Trump wins this time he won't make the same mistakes he made last time. He and his goons are extremely dangerous. He can't read the Constitution so he couldn't care less about the Founding Fathers and their attempt to prevent the USA from falling into the hands of someone like Trump.
I agree 100% about Trump and the thought of him as POTUS appalls me just as Johnson has in backing him
I am genuinely politically homeless
Is that such a bad thing? After being SNP right or wrong until Sturgeon, it’s refreshing to vote for the best candidate, irrespective of party.
Possibly but not sure any of the candidates in my constituency are better than each other
I will cross that bridge when it comes along but as of now my health and imminent pacemaker operation is all that matters to both myself and my family having had 4 months of potentially serious health issues
Best of wishes.
My family have been living on a knife edge since my cardiologist phoned at 6.00pm on the 27th December to say my heart was worn out and I needed an urgent pacemaker operation
A few days later I was given the 6th February for the operation but told if I felt unwell to go to A & E
On the 9th January at 1.00am I experienced chest pains and my son took me to A & E where, to be fair, I was prioritised with ECG and multiple blood tests, then another ECG and blood test at 7.00am before a joint meeting with the doctor and consultant who explained the two red lines on my results confirming my need for a pacemaker
They said I was OK to go home and take it easy and not to drink coffee but again present at A & E if I felt unwell
And so two weeks on Tuesday I have my operation, but it is understandable how worried my wife and family have been ever since the call on the 27th December
I am OK if I do as the doctors order but there can be no certainty prior to the operation
1/2 million kids with mental health issues are on waiting list says Indie front page tonight.
Social Media, lockdown or over-medicalisation of growing up?
Hard to know. But something aint right.
Social media and its divisions, too much time on phones and laptops and ipads rather than interacting with people, materialist culture, lockdown legacy, breakdown of too many families, decline of organised religion all factors
Yes, the pensioner in question could have used blu-tak but I don't think her use of drawing pins constitutes criminal damage. Or maybe the Public Order Act 2023 demands it now?
Didn't Martin Luther use drawing pins in Wittenberg?
"to ensure that constitutional government can endure"
DeSantis.
Utterly bonkers. Black is white. 2+2=5.
America has gone mad. Sheer decadency.
Trump isn't a danger to democracy. Ridiculous to suggest he might be.
Oh well, we shall have to agree to disagree.
We shall soon know.
If they elect him they wont be able to get him out again imho.
if he was elected again, depends if the army support him or not, in Jan 2021 when he was still President they didn't support attempts to overturn the election result
He changes the constitution.
You need two thirds to approve a proposal to change the constitution in both the House and Senate and then that goes to the state legislatures who must approve that and you need three quarters to agree to it .
Yes, the pensioner in question could have used blu-tak but I don't think her use of drawing pins constitutes criminal damage. Or maybe the Public Order Act 2023 demands it now?
Didn't Martin Luther use drawing pins in Wittenberg?
Truro, not Totnes.
Not even the Republicans could gerrymander a constituency that shape....
Yes, the pensioner in question could have used blu-tak but I don't think her use of drawing pins constitutes criminal damage. Or maybe the Public Order Act 2023 demands it now?
Didn't Martin Luther use drawing pins in Wittenberg?
Yes, the pensioner in question could have used blu-tak but I don't think her use of drawing pins constitutes criminal damage. Or maybe the Public Order Act 2023 demands it now?
Didn't Martin Luther use drawing pins in Wittenberg?
Nails and hammer, I believe. Don't think he could nip round to Office Depot for some drawing pins in those days.
Some months ago I saw a piece in the WaPo saying that some American school kids had benefitted from school closing. A minority of kids, but a good reminder that schools and homes are not the same experience, for everyone. It isn't hard to imagine which kinds of kids might benefit; for example, those who had educated parents, with time to spend with their kids, and kids who were bullied at school.
(One of the more touching things I saw during the pandemic was the Amazon bestseller list. For a time one of the top books was a teach-your kids to print book and, reading the comments, it looked as though many mothers with little educations themselves were doing their best, by using it.)
I bought one of these space heaters off Amazon. As usual it's originally from Alibaba but I have to say it works brilliantly to warm me up whilst I sit on the laptop.
My boiler has been playing up during the cold snap (naturally) and the little space heater I picked up last year has been a god-send. 30 quid well spent.
Some months ago I saw a piece in the WaPo saying that some American school kids had benefitted from school closing. A minority of kids, but a good reminder that schools and homes are not the same experience, for everyone. It isn't hard to imagine which kinds of kids might benefit; for example, those who had educated parents, with time to spend with their kids, and kids who were bullied at school.
(One of the more touching things I saw during the pandemic was the Amazon bestseller list. For a time one of the top books was a teach-your kids to print book and, reading the comments, it looked as though many mothers with little educations themselves were doing their best, by using it.)
Shades of the stories of prairie schools where the teacher was a couple of pages ahead of the children she (generally a woman) was teaching.
1/2 million kids with mental health issues are on waiting list says Indie front page tonight.
Social Media, lockdown or over-medicalisation of growing up?
Hard to know. But something aint right.
Social media and its divisions, too much time on phones and laptops and ipads rather than interacting with people, materialist culture, lockdown legacy, breakdown of too many families, decline of organised religion all factors
Basically pick whatever your hobbyhorse of choice is and blame that.
Owing to severe weather warnings related to Storm Isha, operations at Sellafield have been suspended.
This is a precautionary step which allows us to safely shut down our operational plants to prepare for predicted worsening weather conditions this evening.
1/2 million kids with mental health issues are on waiting list says Indie front page tonight.
Social Media, lockdown or over-medicalisation of growing up?
Hard to know. But something aint right.
Social media and its divisions, too much time on phones and laptops and ipads rather than interacting with people, materialist culture, lockdown legacy, breakdown of too many families, decline of organised religion all factors
Basically pick whatever your hobbyhorse of choice is and blame that.
Some months ago I saw a piece in the WaPo saying that some American school kids had benefitted from school closing. A minority of kids, but a good reminder that schools and homes are not the same experience, for everyone. It isn't hard to imagine which kinds of kids might benefit; for example, those who had educated parents, with time to spend with their kids, and kids who were bullied at school.
(One of the more touching things I saw during the pandemic was the Amazon bestseller list. For a time one of the top books was a teach-your kids to print book and, reading the comments, it looked as though many mothers with little educations themselves were doing their best, by using it.)
My son thrived during lockdown. The school was excellent at doing online teaching and also making all the classes available for replay so the kids could go bavk over stuff they didn't follow the first time. His scores improved massively before and after lockdown.
My daughter just starting uni when it all kicked off had a rotten time and Nottingham University were extremely poor at handling lockdown.
Owing to severe weather warnings related to Storm Isha, operations at Sellafield have been suspended.
This is a precautionary step which allows us to safely shut down our operational plants to prepare for predicted worsening weather conditions this evening.
I have a 10.30 checkin tomorrow morning to fly to a rig West of Shetlands. God knows why as we sure as hell aren't flying anywhere for the next couple of days.
1/2 million kids with mental health issues are on waiting list says Indie front page tonight.
Social Media, lockdown or over-medicalisation of growing up?
Hard to know. But something aint right.
They could solve their problems immediately by not using social media and smartphones. Why doesn't anyone say this?
I'm not seeing where the short-term profit is in this?
...
Actually - Hugh and Jamie 'Save the World' by not looking at their phones for a while. Joined by various other celebs. A campaign! T-shirts! Badges! Stickers! Merch!. Maybe even... an app?
Yes, the pensioner in question could have used blu-tak but I don't think her use of drawing pins constitutes criminal damage. Or maybe the Public Order Act 2023 demands it now?
Didn't Martin Luther use drawing pins in Wittenberg?
Excommunicated as a result. Although maybe that had something to do with what was on the pamphlet.
Yes, the pensioner in question could have used blu-tak but I don't think her use of drawing pins constitutes criminal damage. Or maybe the Public Order Act 2023 demands it now?
Didn't Martin Luther use drawing pins in Wittenberg?
Drawing pins are only acceptable if it's a protest against a LEZ or "15 minute city", I think you'll find.
Owing to severe weather warnings related to Storm Isha, operations at Sellafield have been suspended.
This is a precautionary step which allows us to safely shut down our operational plants to prepare for predicted worsening weather conditions this evening.
I have a 10.30 checkin tomorrow morning to fly to a rig West of Shetlands. God knows why as we sure as hell aren't flying anywhere for the next couple of days.
In the 48 years at our home here in Llandudno we have not experienced wind speeds as we are now with 90 mph in Capel Curig but also torrential rain adding flooding as a real problem
Owing to severe weather warnings related to Storm Isha, operations at Sellafield have been suspended.
This is a precautionary step which allows us to safely shut down our operational plants to prepare for predicted worsening weather conditions this evening.
I have a 10.30 checkin tomorrow morning to fly to a rig West of Shetlands. God knows why as we sure as hell aren't flying anywhere for the next couple of days.
In the 48 years at our home here in Llandudno we have not experienced wind speeds as we are now with 90 mph in Capel Curig but also torrential rain to flooding as a real problem
I've been in this flat for just over 10 years and this is the first time my cat (yes, I know) has been frantic. It's something more than 'a bit windy'.
Of topic: From time to time, I see comments here about Republicans being unable to win national majorities. Those who make such comments should look, not just at the popular vote for president, but the total popular votes for candidates for the House of Representatives.
I did a quick look the other day, starting in 1992*, and found that parties had almost equal numbers of majorities; the Republicans had 9, the Democrats 7 in the elections from 1992-2022. (The Republicans had absolute majorities 5 times during the period, the Democrats 4.)
I think this is a better measure than popular votes for the presidency, because you have twice as many elections to look at, and because it reduces the effect of a single party leader.
*1992 because I think that is when the "modern" party system started. Others would probably pick 1994.
Caveat: The totals are not as clean as one would like, because some House districts are not contested by both parties, sometimes because a party is so weak in a district it can't find a candidate, and sometimes because the state has "top-two" primaries, so that members of the same party can end up facing each other in the general election.
There are ways of compensating for both problems, but I haven't decided which is best.
1/2 million kids with mental health issues are on waiting list says Indie front page tonight.
Social Media, lockdown or over-medicalisation of growing up?
Hard to know. But something aint right.
Social media and its divisions, too much time on phones and laptops and ipads rather than interacting with people, materialist culture, lockdown legacy, breakdown of too many families, decline of organised religion all factors
Basically pick whatever your hobbyhorse of choice is and blame that.
"to ensure that constitutional government can endure"
DeSantis.
Utterly bonkers. Black is white. 2+2=5.
America has gone mad. Sheer decadency.
Trump isn't a danger to democracy. Ridiculous to suggest he might be.
Oh well, we shall have to agree to disagree.
We shall soon know.
If they elect him they wont be able to get him out again imho.
if he was elected again, depends if the army support him or not, in Jan 2021 when he was still President they didn't support attempts to overturn the election result
He changes the constitution.
You need two thirds to approve a proposal to change the constitution in both the House and Senate and then that goes to the state legislatures who must approve that and you need three quarters to agree to it .
So it’s not going to happen thankfully !
It is little known but there are actually five ways to change the US constitution.
1: Two thirds of Congress and three quarters of state legislatures. 2: Two thirds of Congress and three quarters of states conventions. 3: Two thirds of state legislatures and three quarters of state legislatures. 4: Two thirds of state legislatures and three quarters of state conventions. 5: Five ninths of the US Supreme Court dictating that the US constitution is different to how it is written.
The first four are all impossible, but the last one has come rocketing up from nowhere to now be in prime position.
I was at Heathrow earlier today and it was very quiet in terms of numbers of travellers. An Elizabeth Line train at 11am at Terminal 4 only had about 30 passengers.
Of topic: From time to time, I see comments here about Republicans being unable to win national majorities. Those who make such comments should look, not just at the popular vote for president, but the total popular votes for candidates for the House of Representatives.
I did a quick look the other day, starting in 1992*, and found that parties had almost equal numbers of majorities; the Republicans had 9, the Democrats 7 in the elections from 1992-2022. (The Republicans had absolute majorities 5 times during the period, the Democrats 4.)
I think this is a better measure than popular votes for the presidency, because you have twice as many elections to look at, and because it reduces the effect of a single party leader.
*1992 because I think that is when the "modern" party system started. Others would probably pick 1994.
Caveat: The totals are not as clean as one would like, because some House districts are not contested by both parties, sometimes because a party is so weak in a district it can't find a candidate, and sometimes because the state has "top-two" primaries, so that members of the same party can end up facing each other in the general election.
There are ways of compensating for both problems, but I haven't decided which is best.
You also have the problem that the system is heavily gerrymandered.
"to ensure that constitutional government can endure"
DeSantis.
Utterly bonkers. Black is white. 2+2=5.
America has gone mad. Sheer decadency.
Trump isn't a danger to democracy. Ridiculous to suggest he might be.
Oh well, we shall have to agree to disagree.
We shall soon know.
If they elect him they wont be able to get him out again imho.
if he was elected again, depends if the army support him or not, in Jan 2021 when he was still President they didn't support attempts to overturn the election result
He changes the constitution.
You need two thirds to approve a proposal to change the constitution in both the House and Senate and then that goes to the state legislatures who must approve that and you need three quarters to agree to it .
So it’s not going to happen thankfully !
It is little known but there are actually five ways to change the US constitution.
1: Two thirds of Congress and three quarters of state legislatures. 2: Two thirds of Congress and three quarters of states conventions. 3: Two thirds of state legislatures and three quarters of state legislatures. 4: Two thirds of state legislatures and three quarters of state conventions. 5: Five ninths of the US Supreme Court dictating that the US constitution is different to how it is written.
The first four are all impossible, but the last one has come rocketing up from nowhere to now be in prime position.
Not sure about 5 . The SCOTUS as far as I’ve read can’t amend the US constitution.
1/2 million kids with mental health issues are on waiting list says Indie front page tonight.
Social Media, lockdown or over-medicalisation of growing up?
Hard to know. But something aint right.
Social media and its divisions, too much time on phones and laptops and ipads rather than interacting with people, materialist culture, lockdown legacy, breakdown of too many families, decline of organised religion all factors
Basically pick whatever your hobbyhorse of choice is and blame that.
I don't think those are hobbyhorses, they're real problems.
There wasn't a lockdown. Unless you were shielding, if you were daft enough you could pop down to the shops every single day, and once you'd got home an had a cup of tea, then head out again for your daily exercise.
And there wasn't the Stasi stopping you from breaking the rules and visiting folks as long as you didn’t shout it from the rooftops (or post about it on social media). We relied on community cohesion to do the right thing.
We were shielding for 3 months - some may remember my posts describing my trips to the front gate to put the bin out. That's as far as I got.
So to those who say that they were locked down while enjoying a daily stroll in the park or a bike ride through the countryside I say not really.
Garbage. There certainly was a lockdown unless you consider shuffling around in masks in Tesco a form of social contact.
You were one of the worst PBers in terms of moralising about others’ activities during Covid. Please don’t try to revise history,
Yes, I thought that everyone should follow the rules. But no, people were not locked down.
You were Curtain Twitcher General throughout lockdown, not only smearing others for breaking the actual rules but also smearing people for breaking what you thought the rules should be.
I hated the great weather during Lockdown 1. It was rubbing my nose in what might have been; all those great long spring-summer days with friends missed. Yes, I had a garden, yes the sun shone. So what?
My issue with the lockdowns was before and after going to the shops having to disinfect all the notes and coins.
As I have said before, the correlation of PBers who are at pains to broadcast how tiresome they find my views on cash yet bring up cash apropos of nothing is extraordinary.
It’s almost as if they WANT me to discuss it!!
We recently had PBers arguing against EVs because their 82 year old mothers wouldn't be able to understand the controls.
Many - perhaps most - PBers own cars that don’t work - some of which cannot be driven at 20mph. So, it doesn’t surprise me.
I've discovered some remarkable stats on Welsh drivers that I'm looking forward to deploying at some point.
My favourite has been the real Finland scandal - the vegan conspiracy against high mortality rates.
I must have missed the Finland thing. The Welsh nonsense amuses daily though. I have told several PBers that it’s been 20mph ubiquitously here in my north London locale for a good while now, and that you soon get used to it, and that it actually makes driving more pleasant and smoother.
They just shout back: DRAKE! CASH! DRAKE! UXBRIDGE! CASH! DRAKE!
I worry about the poor lambs, a lot.
I would just gently suggest you have no idea of the position of the 30 - 20 Welsh reduction scheme just as I have no idea about London matters
When the Welsh Labour government, Plaid, Local Authorities and even Labour mps agree it has been badly implemented, and a review has been agreed by all parties this spring, then maybe best to become better informed on Welsh matters
A lot of that sounds very political TBH. And the "Top Labour MP" report is from last November.
AIUI the Welsh Assembly Govt already has monitoring and review built in to their process via their trial areas, 6 months, 12 months, 18 months and then annual reporting process.
And LHAs have considerable leeway to consider exceptions.
"to ensure that constitutional government can endure"
DeSantis.
Utterly bonkers. Black is white. 2+2=5.
America has gone mad. Sheer decadency.
Trump isn't a danger to democracy. Ridiculous to suggest he might be.
Oh well, we shall have to agree to disagree.
We shall soon know.
If they elect him they wont be able to get him out again imho.
if he was elected again, depends if the army support him or not, in Jan 2021 when he was still President they didn't support attempts to overturn the election result
He changes the constitution.
You need two thirds to approve a proposal to change the constitution in both the House and Senate and then that goes to the state legislatures who must approve that and you need three quarters to agree to it .
So it’s not going to happen thankfully !
It is little known but there are actually five ways to change the US constitution.
1: Two thirds of Congress and three quarters of state legislatures. 2: Two thirds of Congress and three quarters of states conventions. 3: Two thirds of state legislatures and three quarters of state legislatures. 4: Two thirds of state legislatures and three quarters of state conventions. 5: Five ninths of the US Supreme Court dictating that the US constitution is different to how it is written.
The first four are all impossible, but the last one has come rocketing up from nowhere to now be in prime position.
Not sure about 5 . The SCOTUS as far as I’ve read can’t amend the US constitution.
He is making a political point copied from the American crank right, that the Supreme Court can reinterpret the constitution and thus change its meaning.
There wasn't a lockdown. Unless you were shielding, if you were daft enough you could pop down to the shops every single day, and once you'd got home an had a cup of tea, then head out again for your daily exercise.
And there wasn't the Stasi stopping you from breaking the rules and visiting folks as long as you didn’t shout it from the rooftops (or post about it on social media). We relied on community cohesion to do the right thing.
We were shielding for 3 months - some may remember my posts describing my trips to the front gate to put the bin out. That's as far as I got.
So to those who say that they were locked down while enjoying a daily stroll in the park or a bike ride through the countryside I say not really.
Garbage. There certainly was a lockdown unless you consider shuffling around in masks in Tesco a form of social contact.
You were one of the worst PBers in terms of moralising about others’ activities during Covid. Please don’t try to revise history,
Yes, I thought that everyone should follow the rules. But no, people were not locked down.
You were Curtain Twitcher General throughout lockdown, not only smearing others for breaking the actual rules but also smearing people for breaking what you thought the rules should be.
I hated the great weather during Lockdown 1. It was rubbing my nose in what might have been; all those great long spring-summer days with friends missed. Yes, I had a garden, yes the sun shone. So what?
My issue with the lockdowns was before and after going to the shops having to disinfect all the notes and coins.
As I have said before, the correlation of PBers who are at pains to broadcast how tiresome they find my views on cash yet bring up cash apropos of nothing is extraordinary.
It’s almost as if they WANT me to discuss it!!
We recently had PBers arguing against EVs because their 82 year old mothers wouldn't be able to understand the controls.
82 isn't particularly old these days.
If they cannot understand EV controls, which are basically the same as any automatic ICE vehicle, should they be driving on public roads whatever their age?
On elderly and driving, there is currently a review of eyesight requirements, considering broadening the test to better reflect night-vision. Which seems an excellent idea.
There wasn't a lockdown. Unless you were shielding, if you were daft enough you could pop down to the shops every single day, and once you'd got home an had a cup of tea, then head out again for your daily exercise.
And there wasn't the Stasi stopping you from breaking the rules and visiting folks as long as you didn’t shout it from the rooftops (or post about it on social media). We relied on community cohesion to do the right thing.
We were shielding for 3 months - some may remember my posts describing my trips to the front gate to put the bin out. That's as far as I got.
So to those who say that they were locked down while enjoying a daily stroll in the park or a bike ride through the countryside I say not really.
Garbage. There certainly was a lockdown unless you consider shuffling around in masks in Tesco a form of social contact.
You were one of the worst PBers in terms of moralising about others’ activities during Covid. Please don’t try to revise history,
Yes, I thought that everyone should follow the rules. But no, people were not locked down.
You were Curtain Twitcher General throughout lockdown, not only smearing others for breaking the actual rules but also smearing people for breaking what you thought the rules should be.
I hated the great weather during Lockdown 1. It was rubbing my nose in what might have been; all those great long spring-summer days with friends missed. Yes, I had a garden, yes the sun shone. So what?
My issue with the lockdowns was before and after going to the shops having to disinfect all the notes and coins.
As I have said before, the correlation of PBers who are at pains to broadcast how tiresome they find my views on cash yet bring up cash apropos of nothing is extraordinary.
It’s almost as if they WANT me to discuss it!!
We recently had PBers arguing against EVs because their 82 year old mothers wouldn't be able to understand the controls.
Many - perhaps most - PBers own cars that don’t work - some of which cannot be driven at 20mph. So, it doesn’t surprise me.
I've discovered some remarkable stats on Welsh drivers that I'm looking forward to deploying at some point.
My favourite has been the real Finland scandal - the vegan conspiracy against high mortality rates.
I must have missed the Finland thing. The Welsh nonsense amuses daily though. I have told several PBers that it’s been 20mph ubiquitously here in my north London locale for a good while now, and that you soon get used to it, and that it actually makes driving more pleasant and smoother.
They just shout back: DRAKE! CASH! DRAKE! UXBRIDGE! CASH! DRAKE!
I worry about the poor lambs, a lot.
I would just gently suggest you have no idea of the position of the 30 - 20 Welsh reduction scheme just as I have no idea about London matters
When the Welsh Labour government, Plaid, Local Authorities and even Labour mps agree it has been badly implemented, and a review has been agreed by all parties this spring, then maybe best to become better informed on Welsh matters
A lot of that sounds very political TBH. And the "Top Labour MP" report is from last November.
AIUI the Welsh Assembly Govt already has monitoring and review built in to their process via their trial areas, 6 months, 12 months, 18 months and then annual reporting process.
And LHAs have considerable leeway to consider exceptions.
The Welsh Government....... The Assembly was replaced by Senedd a few years ago....
Totally off topic, but a local topic that I cannot get my head around.
Manchester ain't rich, certainly not by London or much of European standards, yet the centre has seen a massive boom in recent years and this is just accelerating faster and faster.
This does not appear to be happening elsewhere in the UK, away from London.
It does not appear to be hugely impacting on the region away from about 3km radius of St Peter's Square and the corridor down to MediaCity.
So what has caused this ? Can and should it try to be replicated to boost the economy of other parts of the country or is it just one huge Ponzi scheme that will all one day collapse leaving loads of debt ?
This sort of thing is really important if we’re going to get proper economic concentration in second cities and their surrounding regions, so it’s good it’s happening. The article says 20 towers over 100m constructed and a further 12 in progress. Good - that will give the skyline a boost and potentially take Manchester ahead of Canary Wharf which per Wikipedia has 28 towers over 100m currently completed.
I was in Leeds last week and, pleasant enough city that it is, it just feels so small and provincial for what is, from memory, something like the 4th or 5th biggest city in the country. Manchester at least has a sense of being a proper city, as do Edinburgh, Glasgow and, despite its diminutive size, Liverpool.
Taking GDP contribution though, Manchester seems to be surprisingly far down the table. Look at this:
City of London, then Westminster (no surprise), followed by Glasgow, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Tower Hamlets (ie Canary Wharf), Belfast, then Manchester (followed by Camden then Birmingham). And Brighton a touch ahead of Leeds.
There are some huge developments ongoing in Cardiff - see Central Square - Central Quay - Arena - with plenty more coming along the river and along the Central-Queen St corridor
Morning all, hope everyone survived what sounded like a particularly bad storm last night. My parents lost the roof from their garden shed, which I guess is better than the roof from the top of their house!
Comments
My favourite has been the real Finland scandal - the vegan conspiracy against high mortality rates.
DeSantis.
Utterly bonkers. Black is white. 2+2=5.
America has gone mad. Sheer decadency.
https://twitter.com/drmistercody/status/1749174629799977086
https://twitter.com/KevBeirne/status/1749173390944932083
Manchester ain't rich, certainly not by London or much of European standards, yet the centre has seen a massive boom in recent years and this is just accelerating faster and faster.
New like https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/salboy-unveils-plans-76-storey-viadux-phase-two/
Just look at the volume and scale of the in construction and planned tall buildings in the city in the next couple of years (scroll right down)...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_and_structures_in_Greater_Manchester
This does not appear to be happening elsewhere in the UK, away from London.
It does not appear to be hugely impacting on the region away from about 3km radius of St Peter's Square and the corridor down to MediaCity.
So what has caused this ? Can and should it try to be replicated to boost the economy of other parts of the country or is it just one huge Ponzi scheme that will all one day collapse leaving loads of debt ?
They just shout back: DRAKE! CASH! DRAKE! UXBRIDGE! CASH! DRAKE!
I worry about the poor lambs, a lot.
This has been a good idea electorally for ages for Labour. "Lock them up"
In fact delusional to think he poses no threat at all.
When the Welsh Labour government, Plaid, Local Authorities and even Labour mps agree it has been badly implemented, and a review has been agreed by all parties this spring, then maybe best to become better informed on Welsh matters
BBC News - Wales' 20mph speed limit: Top Labour MP calls for review
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-67377048
We shall soon know.
If they elect him they wont be able to get him out again imho.
You do have the propensity for unwise sweeping statements, but if Trump wins this time he won't make the same mistakes he made last time. He and his goons are extremely dangerous. He can't read the Constitution so he couldn't care less about the Founding Fathers and their attempt to prevent the USA from falling into the hands of someone like Trump.
I am genuinely politically homeless
"Ian Sansom
Have we all become more paranoid since the pandemic?
Covid-19 proved devastating to our self-confidence and faith in others, says Daniel Freeman, who describes the ‘corrosive’ effects of mistrust on individuals and society"
https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/have-we-all-become-more-paranoid-since-the-pandemic/
I was in Leeds last week and, pleasant enough city that it is, it just feels so small and provincial for what is, from memory, something like the 4th or 5th biggest city in the country. Manchester at least has a sense of being a proper city, as do Edinburgh, Glasgow and, despite its diminutive size, Liverpool.
Taking GDP contribution though, Manchester seems to be surprisingly far down the table. Look at this:
https://ifamagazine.com/gdp-growth-the-uk-cities-set-to-achieve-the-largest-gdp-growth-by-2030/
City of London, then Westminster (no surprise), followed by Glasgow, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Tower Hamlets (ie Canary Wharf), Belfast, then Manchester (followed by Camden then Birmingham). And Brighton a touch ahead of Leeds.
Democracy is not all or nothing, there are graduations, but it would be in retreat, much like Hungary or similar.
There is not at this juncture an obvious Trump 2. It would need to be a family affair I think, a monarchical succession like in N Korea. But that is easier after 20 years of consolidating your power base than after 4 years and in the face of a hugely divided ruling elite.
He’d need to engineer a change to presidential term limits to stay on, or hand to Ivanka / Jared for 2028. I think that gives him a big handicap.
Possibly but not sure any of the candidates in my constituency are better than each other
I will cross that bridge when it comes along but as of now my health and imminent pacemaker operation is all that matters to both myself and my family having had 4 months of potentially serious health issues
https://x.com/bobscartoons/status/1749153766312468941?s=46&t=CW4pL-mMpTqsJXCdjW0Z6Q
Dominic Pino
@DominicJPino
DeSantis drops out with a fake Churchill quote.
International Churchill Society: "We can find no attribution for either one of these . . . They are found nowhere in his canon . . . An almost equal number of sources found online credit these sayings to Abraham Lincoln"
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/jan/21/starmer-defend-rnli-national-trust-desperate-tory-culture-war
Remember - the wokery sniffers out were infuriated by the NT displaying an anti-slavery statue at Cragside in Northumberland.
Yes, the statue, bought for that very reason by Armstrong the original owner, and displayed in thje very niche which he intended for it. Preserving the past? Forget it with the "Conservative" party.
Social Media, lockdown or over-medicalisation of growing up?
Hard to know. But something aint right.
Joe Biden
@JoeBiden
·
4h
I don’t agree with Nikki Haley on everything, but we agree on this much: She is not Nancy Pelosi.
A few days later I was given the 6th February for the operation but told if I felt unwell to go to A & E
On the 9th January at 1.00am I experienced chest pains and my son took me to A & E where, to be fair, I was prioritised with ECG and multiple blood tests, then another ECG and blood test at 7.00am before a joint meeting with the doctor and consultant who explained the two red lines on my results confirming my need for a pacemaker
They said I was OK to go home and take it easy and not to drink coffee but again present at A & E if I felt unwell
And so two weeks on Tuesday I have my operation, but it is understandable how worried my wife and family have been ever since the call on the 27th December
I am OK if I do as the doctors order but there can be no certainty prior to the operation
https://novaramedia.com/2024/01/19/pro-palestine-protester-arrested-for-using-pins-to-put-placard-on-mps-door/
Yes, the pensioner in question could have used blu-tak but I don't think her use of drawing pins constitutes criminal damage. Or maybe the Public Order Act 2023 demands it now?
Didn't Martin Luther use drawing pins in Wittenberg?
So it’s not going to happen thankfully !
Not even the Republicans could gerrymander a constituency that shape....
Cherilyn Mackrory MP
(One of the more touching things I saw during the pandemic was the Amazon bestseller list. For a time one of the top books was a teach-your kids to print book and, reading the comments, it looked as though many mothers with little educations themselves were doing their best, by using it.)
https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2024/01/20/new-hampshire-newspaper-trump-00136710
… We go to this thing. I’ve never met Trump in my life. He’s sitting at the same table with me. He gets up on stage. He doesn’t have a prepared speech. But every other sentence he’s pointing at me saying, “Am I right, Joe, am I right?”
And the lady next to me says, “How long have you known this guy?”
And I said, “22 minutes.”..
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/sellafield-ltd/about/staff-update
Owing to severe weather warnings related to Storm Isha, operations at Sellafield have been suspended.
This is a precautionary step which allows us to safely shut down our operational plants to prepare for predicted worsening weather conditions this evening.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSo6-NKb5SQ
DuraAce might recognise the song.
My daughter just starting uni when it all kicked off had a rotten time and Nottingham University were extremely poor at handling lockdown.
...
Actually - Hugh and Jamie 'Save the World' by not looking at their phones for a while. Joined by various other celebs. A campaign! T-shirts! Badges! Stickers! Merch!. Maybe even... an app?
I did a quick look the other day, starting in 1992*, and found that parties had almost equal numbers of majorities; the Republicans had 9, the Democrats 7 in the elections from 1992-2022. (The Republicans had absolute majorities 5 times during the period, the Democrats 4.)
I think this is a better measure than popular votes for the presidency, because you have twice as many elections to look at, and because it reduces the effect of a single party leader.
Here's the latest for those who would like to check my hasty work:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections
*1992 because I think that is when the "modern" party system started. Others would probably pick 1994.
Caveat: The totals are not as clean as one would like, because some House districts are not contested by both parties, sometimes because a party is so weak in a district it can't find a candidate, and sometimes because the state has "top-two" primaries, so that members of the same party can end up facing each other in the general election.
There are ways of compensating for both problems, but I haven't decided which is best.
https://x.com/kirkegaardemil/status/1749016579419803908?s=46&t=CW4pL-mMpTqsJXCdjW0Z6Q
I guess I should expect a bumpy ride...
https://x.com/margommartin/status/1749183820186652696
1: Two thirds of Congress and three quarters of state legislatures.
2: Two thirds of Congress and three quarters of states conventions.
3: Two thirds of state legislatures and three quarters of state legislatures.
4: Two thirds of state legislatures and three quarters of state conventions.
5: Five ninths of the US Supreme Court dictating that the US constitution is different to how it is written.
The first four are all impossible, but the last one has come rocketing up from nowhere to now be in prime position.
"The North Karelia Project: Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in Finland Through Population-Based Lifestyle Interventions"
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7444010/#:~:text=The North Karelia Project was,cholesterol, hypertension, and smoking.
AIUI the Welsh Assembly Govt already has monitoring and review built in to their process via their trial areas, 6 months, 12 months, 18 months and then annual reporting process.
And LHAs have considerable leeway to consider exceptions.
"RFK Jr.: We Need Disclosure On UFOs"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lu1CMHkLXnc