Democratic vice-presidential nomination: unlike yesterday morning, when Betfair paid out very promptly, they still haven't paid out on Kamala Harris this morning.
Interesting article on the underreported rise in organised far right violence in the US. https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/.premium-militias-proud-boys-trump-u-s-armed-violence-1.9069770 Since the killing of George Floyd, I’ve been tracking vigilante incidents against anti-racist protesters and people of color across the U.S. My count is up to about 425: they include the throwing of lighter fluid and burning an 18-year old bi-racial Jewish woman in her car in Wisconsin, the attempted lynch of a Black man in the woods in Indiana, and the gang beating and stabbing-by-flagpole of a small group of antifascists in a ditch by "Blue Lives Matter" protesters in Colorado.
Most recently, and a drastic example, was a pipe bomb attack on protesters in Portland, Oregon: the perpetrator has been identified as an ex-Navy SEAL with a history of posting antisemitic Nazi propaganda and Soros conspiracy theories on social media.
Most of these incidents appear to have been carried out by violent radicalized individuals with little to no specific training. However, the Portland incident fits an emerging pattern: an increasingly coordinated right-wing vigilante movement, fueled by organizers with counterinsurgency skills, committed to using their military or security forces experience against Black Lives Matter and the ever-amorphous "Antifa."...
Good morning, fellow Pb-ers. Thankfully the weather here, according to the forecast, seems to be on the mend. I only wish the world was, but, if anything, there seems to be even less cause for optimism. And I'm normally one who looks on the bright side.
It was Ofqual who made the appointment and even the Guardian says Gove had nothing to do with it
Apparently it was a "Cabinet Office spokesperson" who excused Gove, not the Guardian. Keep up, Mr Wales!
The Guardian paras is: 'A Cabinet Office spokesperson told the Guardian that Gove had not been involved in Ofqual’s appointment of Public First. They said: “The Cabinet Office had no involvement in the contract and did not discuss it with Ofqual.”' Pass the salt, please. I need to take a pinch!
I do wonder about the US comparisons though. Over there 50%+ of older people are Republicans. They (on average) don't think the virus is such a big deal.
Here in the UK at least, older people seem pretty scared, so perhaps they will continue to see people less and so protect themselves.
It was Ofqual who made the appointment and even the Guardian says Gove had nothing to do with it
G do you ever see the venality of these crooks, how blind can Tories be to worship these crooks to such a level.
I worship nobody.
Ofqual are an independent quango and as such are responsible for who they appoint.
Apparently they explained the appointment but of course the government opponents will always be looking for conspiracies
As well as the venality of it all, it is pretty obvious that Cummings mates did a crap job of it. If it had been tendered then the job might have gone to someone who knows the difference between their arse and elbow.
The rumour is that the ‘camping holiday’ story put about by Boris is actually fake.
I don't believe it...
I am not at all content with Boris and hope the backbenchers start to wake up and send in letters
However, the one thing that you are obsessed with, brexit, is going to happen with or without Boris
Very sadly Brexit has happened. All that we wait for now is the customs posts and consequent delays and confusion.
But that’s the evil EU’s fault because they won’t give the UK what they want, look at the Express front page. For some reason they think that the UK should retain the benefits of membership without being one. The message will increasingly be blame the EU It’s not our fault.
The rumour is that the ‘camping holiday’ story put about by Boris is actually fake.
No way is the famously undomesticated lardarse camping with a 3 month old baby and dog amongst the midges.
Its amazing how people think he should not be allowed a holiday. he nearly died in April and came striaght back to work.
What evidence is there that he nearly died? Moving the current PM into ICU was a good arse covering move by the hospital who wouldn’t want him dying on them. Yes he deserves a holiday after the crisis is over, if he’s not up to it he should move over and let someone who is take over.
Well at least they did a great job on the comms around the A-level grades. It'd be terrible if the government were handing out our money hand over fist to various Tory cronies and then they were to do an absolutely fucking terrible job on top of everything else. Wait, what?
GCSEs: my daughter has just received her GCSE results. She took nine subjects, eight were exactly what we thought she would have got if she had took the exams, one subject was graded one a grade higher. We are all so relieved, it`s been a nightmare few days.
The rumour is that the ‘camping holiday’ story put about by Boris is actually fake.
No way is the famously undomesticated lardarse camping with a 3 month old baby and dog amongst the midges.
Its amazing how people think he should not be allowed a holiday. he nearly died in April and came striaght back to work.
I don't think anyone would deny Mr Johnson his four weeks plus bank holidays.
Mr Johnson does seem to choose to take his vacations during moments of crisis.
As for camping. I have spent nights in tents and days towing caravans. I am a hardy peasant and I prefer a country house hotel, Mr Johnson will not like camping!
There seems to be a consensus that the exam fiasco must not happen again and in that regard it is essential that no matter what happens with covid future examinations must take place
It is therefore incumbent on all of us to support the full return to school in September
GCSEs: my daughter has just received her GCSE results. She took nine subjects, eight were exactly what we thought she would have got if she had took the exams, one subject was graded one a grade higher. We are all so relieved, it`s been a nightmare few days.
The rumour is that the ‘camping holiday’ story put about by Boris is actually fake.
No way is the famously undomesticated lardarse camping with a 3 month old baby and dog amongst the midges.
The midges are bastards. Although my 7 year old daughter hasn't quite understood the terminology - she told us she'd been "bitten on my butt by some midgets".
I do wonder about the US comparisons though. Over there 50%+ of older people are Republicans. They (on average) don't think the virus is such a big deal.
Here in the UK at least, older people seem pretty scared, so perhaps they will continue to see people less and so protect themselves.
I’d add that thus far our infection rates have remained much lower than in the US. With sensible measures, they should stay so. Until there’s a vaccine, we’re not returning to normal, but if we’re sensible, life should be liveable.
GCSEs: my daughter has just received her GCSE results. She took nine subjects, eight were exactly what we thought she would have got if she had took the exams, one subject was graded one a grade higher. We are all so relieved, it`s been a nightmare few days.
Many congratulations to your daughter and the relief must be very welcome
Well at least they did a great job on the comms around the A-level grades. It'd be terrible if the government were handing out our money hand over fist to various Tory cronies and then they were to do an absolutely fucking terrible job on top of everything else. Wait, what?
Yeah, it could have gone really badly if they didn't have a first rate comms team on the case.
The rumour is that the ‘camping holiday’ story put about by Boris is actually fake.
No way is the famously undomesticated lardarse camping with a 3 month old baby and dog amongst the midges.
Its amazing how people think he should not be allowed a holiday. he nearly died in April and came striaght back to work.
What evidence is there that he nearly died? Moving the current PM into ICU was a good arse covering move by the hospital who wouldn’t want him dying on them. Yes he deserves a holiday after the crisis is over, if he’s not up to it he should move over and let someone who is take over.
So your first two sentences contradict each other. If he was in no danger of death why cover their arse at all?
Phew! Jonathan Jr received the GCSEs he deserved today. Not at the mercy of some crappy algorithm.
Congrats to him. Opportunity to move forward.
The last few weeks have been difficult for him. He worked really hard and the idea that he was at the mercy of some random algorithm was so unfair to him.
The rumour is that the ‘camping holiday’ story put about by Boris is actually fake.
No way is the famously undomesticated lardarse camping with a 3 month old baby and dog amongst the midges.
Its amazing how people think he should not be allowed a holiday. he nearly died in April and came striaght back to work.
What evidence is there that he nearly died? Moving the current PM into ICU was a good arse covering move by the hospital who wouldn’t want him dying on them. Yes he deserves a holiday after the crisis is over, if he’s not up to it he should move over and let someone who is take over.
So your first two sentences contradict each other. If he was in no danger of death why cover their arse at all?
Belt and braces, why take the risk if you managed the hospital even if he had a slight cough. No doubting he was ill and if he’s still not 100% he should move over for another incompetent
The rumour is that the ‘camping holiday’ story put about by Boris is actually fake.
No way is the famously undomesticated lardarse camping with a 3 month old baby and dog amongst the midges.
The midges are bastards. Although my 7 year old daughter hasn't quite understood the terminology - she told us she'd been "bitten on my butt by some midgets".
LOL. Children are cute when they say things just wrong. My 4 year old daughter has suddenly become a big fan of "Poop Bear" as she calls Winnie the Pooh.
The rumour is that the ‘camping holiday’ story put about by Boris is actually fake.
No way is the famously undomesticated lardarse camping with a 3 month old baby and dog amongst the midges.
Its amazing how people think he should not be allowed a holiday. he nearly died in April and came striaght back to work.
What evidence is there that he nearly died? Moving the current PM into ICU was a good arse covering move by the hospital who wouldn’t want him dying on them. Yes he deserves a holiday after the crisis is over, if he’s not up to it he should move over and let someone who is take over.
The New Zealand nurse who treated him confirmed how ill he was, but hey he just got admitted to ICU for fun!
So the BBC keeps reporting stories of how people who'd been told they'd missed out on university places (pre u turn) now being told their university places have been confirmed after all. Despite the fact that I was very confidently being told by @eek and others that it was too late for a u turn and all the universities would be full already. Doesn't look like that's the case at all.
The u turn was the right thing to do. Glad it happened and good to see all these young people getting into their university of choice and not missing out because "computer says no".
There seems to be a consensus that the exam fiasco must not happen again and in that regard it is essential that no matter what happens with covid future examinations must take place
It is therefore incumbent on all of us to support the full return to school in September
But that's just motherhood and apple pie.
How do you run schools to minimise the risk of infections in schools?
What do you do when (and it will happen somewhere) you get infections in schools?
What do you do if the number of available staff falls below the normal safe limit?
How do you get pupils and staff to and from schools?
It's boring fiddly stuff, and the schools I know have done their best. But it doesn't look entirely robust.
But saying "we must all support full reopening in September" contributes very little to ensuring that schools can reopen and stay open.
There seems to be a consensus that the exam fiasco must not happen again and in that regard it is essential that no matter what happens with covid future examinations must take place
It is therefore incumbent on all of us to support the full return to school in September
With respect Big_G, I am not really sure that follows.
A full return to school in September would be great for a whole host of reasons but should not happen if there is proven to be a serious risk of prompting a wave 2. Exams could be held physically, socially-distanced, even if the teaching remained on-line.
Having said that, I do expect a more or less full return to school in September. We have probably moved into the phase of localised lockdowns (schools included) where necessary now.
So the BBC keeps reporting stories of how people who'd been told they'd missed out on university places (pre u turn) now being told their university places have been confirmed after all. Despite the fact that I was very confidently being told by @eek and others that it was too late for a u turn and all the universities would be full already. Doesn't look like that's the case at all.
The u turn was the right thing to do. Glad it happened and good to see all these young people getting into their university of choice and not missing out because "computer says no".
The fact remains that these results are not results at all, they are what teachers have decided a student will get, often vastly inflating their likely grades. No exams have been taken. Whilst it was probably the only way forward its not a good situation.
The rumour is that the ‘camping holiday’ story put about by Boris is actually fake.
No way is the famously undomesticated lardarse camping with a 3 month old baby and dog amongst the midges.
Its amazing how people think he should not be allowed a holiday. he nearly died in April and came striaght back to work.
I don't think anyone would deny Mr Johnson his four weeks plus bank holidays.
Mr Johnson does seem to choose to take his vacations during moments of crisis.
As for camping. I have spent nights in tents and days towing caravans. I am a hardy peasant and I prefer a country house hotel, Mr Johnson will not like camping!
Personally, I love camping and do so every year, mostly at music festivals, but I love the whole outdoor thing. Sleep in a bed? You can do that at home.
Only people who camp as children love it as adults though. If you start as an adult at best you can tolerate it, but never enjoy it.
Good to hear some positives on the GCSEs from PB stalwarts. Congratulations!
It is clear what the government’s overriding priority is - to make its mates richer by throwing public money at them. Blessed are those who are friends of Johnson, Gove and Cummings, for they will be levelled up as all around are scorned.
So the BBC keeps reporting stories of how people who'd been told they'd missed out on university places (pre u turn) now being told their university places have been confirmed after all. Despite the fact that I was very confidently being told by @eek and others that it was too late for a u turn and all the universities would be full already. Doesn't look like that's the case at all.
The u turn was the right thing to do. Glad it happened and good to see all these young people getting into their university of choice and not missing out because "computer says no".
The fact remains that these results are not results at all, they are what teachers have decided a student will get, often vastly inflating their likely grades. No exams have been taken. Whilst it was probably the only way forward its not a good situation.
It was not a good situation but it was still the best solution, considering the situation we were in.
Going forwards schools need to get back to normal and next year have their exams.
So the BBC keeps reporting stories of how people who'd been told they'd missed out on university places (pre u turn) now being told their university places have been confirmed after all. Despite the fact that I was very confidently being told by @eek and others that it was too late for a u turn and all the universities would be full already. Doesn't look like that's the case at all.
The u turn was the right thing to do. Glad it happened and good to see all these young people getting into their university of choice and not missing out because "computer says no".
Indeed. Just a shame it took a fortnight for what was relatively obvious to sink in; meanwhile thousands of 18-year-olds were left hanging while ministers slagged off Scottish ministers for recognising the same inevitability a lot more swiftly.
The very first words written into the record of the Scottish Parliament in 1999 were that it was specifically a reconvention of that closed in 1707. That was not challenged at the time.
Welcome to this, the first meeting of the Scottish Parliament established under the Scotland Act 1998. We are gathered on this day and at this time and place, in accordance with The Scottish Parliament (First Ordinary General Election and First Meeting) Order 1999. As provided by the standing orders, my role is to preside over the proceedings to enable the oldest qualified member to take the oath or make a solemn affirmation.
Which accepts this was a new Parliament established under a new act.
I’m getting really quite worried that even sensible Nats are getting more and more divorced from reality, like Cummings or Farage. Business for Scotland and the National are we all know fake news websites that can’t be trusted, but Carnyx is a sensible and intelligent poster.
Yet even he(?) has swallowed the lies of the Nats’ propagandists whole. No wonder support for independence is increasing if this horseshit is swallowed without question.
The very first words written into the record of the Scottish Parliament in 1999 were that it was specifically a reconvention of that closed in 1707. That was not challenged at the time.
Welcome to this, the first meeting of the Scottish Parliament established under the Scotland Act 1998. We are gathered on this day and at this time and place, in accordance with The Scottish Parliament (First Ordinary General Election and First Meeting) Order 1999. As provided by the standing orders, my role is to preside over the proceedings to enable the oldest qualified member to take the oath or make a solemn affirmation.
Which accepts this was a new Parliament established under a new act.
I’m getting really quite worried that even sensible Nats are getting more and more divorced from reality, like Cummings or Farage. Business for Scotland and the National are we all know fake news websites that can’t be trusted, but Carnyx is a sensible and intelligent poster.
Yet even he(?) has swallowed the lies of the Nats’ propagandists whole. No wonder support for independence is increasing if this horseshit is swallowed without question.
Ydoethur , you are getting increasingly shrill about independence, is it worrying you that much. Seeing conspiracy everywhere, I am getting concerned about you. Just relax and accept the union is dead , Saor Alba.
The rumour is that the ‘camping holiday’ story put about by Boris is actually fake.
No way is the famously undomesticated lardarse camping with a 3 month old baby and dog amongst the midges.
Its amazing how people think he should not be allowed a holiday. he nearly died in April and came striaght back to work.
What evidence is there that he nearly died? Moving the current PM into ICU was a good arse covering move by the hospital who wouldn’t want him dying on them. Yes he deserves a holiday after the crisis is over, if he’s not up to it he should move over and let someone who is take over.
So your first two sentences contradict each other. If he was in no danger of death why cover their arse at all?
Of course, once the government has curtailed judicial review it will become even easier for it to throw public money at its mates and to prevent this becoming public.
The rumour is that the ‘camping holiday’ story put about by Boris is actually fake.
No way is the famously undomesticated lardarse camping with a 3 month old baby and dog amongst the midges.
Its amazing how people think he should not be allowed a holiday. he nearly died in April and came striaght back to work.
What evidence is there that he nearly died? Moving the current PM into ICU was a good arse covering move by the hospital who wouldn’t want him dying on them. Yes he deserves a holiday after the crisis is over, if he’s not up to it he should move over and let someone who is take over.
The New Zealand nurse who treated him confirmed how ill he was, but hey he just got admitted to ICU for fun!
You are easily taken in, do you expect them to come out and say we rolled out the red carpet, he had nurses at his beck and call 24 hours a day. I have a few bridges going cheap , give me a call.
I do wonder about the US comparisons though. Over there 50%+ of older people are Republicans. They (on average) don't think the virus is such a big deal.
Here in the UK at least, older people seem pretty scared, so perhaps they will continue to see people less and so protect themselves.
The lack of concern shown by Republicans also has an anchoring effect on those who say they are concerned. They only have to do a little more than Republicans to feel that their being sensible and virtuous - when they're taking actions that would be viewed as reckless by many in Europe.
So the BBC keeps reporting stories of how people who'd been told they'd missed out on university places (pre u turn) now being told their university places have been confirmed after all. Despite the fact that I was very confidently being told by @eek and others that it was too late for a u turn and all the universities would be full already. Doesn't look like that's the case at all.
The u turn was the right thing to do. Glad it happened and good to see all these young people getting into their university of choice and not missing out because "computer says no".
Indeed. Just a shame it took a fortnight for what was relatively obvious to sink in; meanwhile thousands of 18-year-olds were left hanging while ministers slagged off Scottish ministers for recognising the same inevitability a lot more swiftly.
It took the UK Government exactly the same amount of time as the Scottish Government to do the U turn. Of course in Scotland the u turn was fantastic, in England it is terrible.
The rumour is that the ‘camping holiday’ story put about by Boris is actually fake.
No way is the famously undomesticated lardarse camping with a 3 month old baby and dog amongst the midges.
Its amazing how people think he should not be allowed a holiday. he nearly died in April and came striaght back to work.
I don't think anyone would deny Mr Johnson his four weeks plus bank holidays.
Mr Johnson does seem to choose to take his vacations during moments of crisis.
As for camping. I have spent nights in tents and days towing caravans. I am a hardy peasant and I prefer a country house hotel, Mr Johnson will not like camping!
He is not camping , someone would have spotted an 80 foot pavilion with a line of Range Rovers and Jaguars parked outside, with flunkeys in white jackets bowing and scraping at the entrance, by now.
The rumour is that the ‘camping holiday’ story put about by Boris is actually fake.
No way is the famously undomesticated lardarse camping with a 3 month old baby and dog amongst the midges.
Its amazing how people think he should not be allowed a holiday. he nearly died in April and came striaght back to work.
What evidence is there that he nearly died? Moving the current PM into ICU was a good arse covering move by the hospital who wouldn’t want him dying on them. Yes he deserves a holiday after the crisis is over, if he’s not up to it he should move over and let someone who is take over.
The New Zealand nurse who treated him confirmed how ill he was, but hey he just got admitted to ICU for fun!
You are easily taken in, do you expect them to come out and say we rolled out the red carpet, he had nurses at his beck and call 24 hours a day. I have a few bridges going cheap , give me a call.
You are one sad man if you think his illness was made up. He still does not look right.
“I think some ministers had, until that point, seen the issue as a bit of a distraction,” says one person at the cabinet meeting. “Michael made it clear that while Covid and Brexit were huge issues, the government would be unlikely to survive the break-up of the union.” Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, was among the first to speak after Mr Gove’s call to arms. “I now understand why this is so important,” he said.
Scary stuff. But the denialist tendency is very strong ("Nothing is happening, or there's nothing we can do, or there's nothing we need to do, or nothing works, or doing anything is too damaging - so we can just go back to how things were when I was happy and everything will be fine again").
We see it all the time. The almost religious ability to cruise the internet, looking for reports, cherrypicking away ("No, not that one... not that one... nope, that one says it's bad... not that one, he says it's better to lockdown... ah! This one says something that means it's fine to do nothing! Ignore anything else that's predicted by them that's obviously wrong, handwave over definitions to imply whatever I want to be true, act like this person is a prophet of truth, and I'm away!")
Overall, most leaders correctly reject the most overt denialism, but it has its attractions in everyone and a mild form of it will, as she says, affect all leaders. Who know that everyone's sick of this, everyone wants it to be back to normal, and any leader announcing that it's not and we have to go back a bit will get huge pushback.
Fortunately, we have a strong, wartime-like leader who... oh. Bollocks.
The rumour is that the ‘camping holiday’ story put about by Boris is actually fake.
No way is the famously undomesticated lardarse camping with a 3 month old baby and dog amongst the midges.
Its amazing how people think he should not be allowed a holiday. he nearly died in April and came striaght back to work.
What evidence is there that he nearly died? Moving the current PM into ICU was a good arse covering move by the hospital who wouldn’t want him dying on them. Yes he deserves a holiday after the crisis is over, if he’s not up to it he should move over and let someone who is take over.
The New Zealand nurse who treated him confirmed how ill he was, but hey he just got admitted to ICU for fun!
You are easily taken in, do you expect them to come out and say we rolled out the red carpet, he had nurses at his beck and call 24 hours a day. I have a few bridges going cheap , give me a call.
You are one sad man if you think his illness was made up. He still does not look right.
So the BBC keeps reporting stories of how people who'd been told they'd missed out on university places (pre u turn) now being told their university places have been confirmed after all. Despite the fact that I was very confidently being told by @eek and others that it was too late for a u turn and all the universities would be full already. Doesn't look like that's the case at all.
The u turn was the right thing to do. Glad it happened and good to see all these young people getting into their university of choice and not missing out because "computer says no".
Indeed. Just a shame it took a fortnight for what was relatively obvious to sink in; meanwhile thousands of 18-year-olds were left hanging while ministers slagged off Scottish ministers for recognising the same inevitability a lot more swiftly.
It took the UK Government exactly the same amount of time as the Scottish Government to do the U turn. Of course in Scotland the u turn was fantastic, in England it is terrible.
You'd hope politicians would be able to learn from what they see happening around them, and from those that have gone before.
Comments
https://twitter.com/juliaioffe/status/1296301790619668480?s=09
https://twitter.com/Samfr/status/1296153216305037314
https://twitter.com/firefoxx66/status/1296080742607355904
I'll give it until 9am and then email them.
https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/.premium-militias-proud-boys-trump-u-s-armed-violence-1.9069770
Since the killing of George Floyd, I’ve been tracking vigilante incidents against anti-racist protesters and people of color across the U.S. My count is up to about 425: they include the throwing of lighter fluid and burning an 18-year old bi-racial Jewish woman in her car in Wisconsin, the attempted lynch of a Black man in the woods in Indiana, and the gang beating and stabbing-by-flagpole of a small group of antifascists in a ditch by "Blue Lives Matter" protesters in Colorado.
Most recently, and a drastic example, was a pipe bomb attack on protesters in Portland, Oregon: the perpetrator has been identified as an ex-Navy SEAL with a history of posting antisemitic Nazi propaganda and Soros conspiracy theories on social media.
Most of these incidents appear to have been carried out by violent radicalized individuals with little to no specific training. However, the Portland incident fits an emerging pattern: an increasingly coordinated right-wing vigilante movement, fueled by organizers with counterinsurgency skills, committed to using their military or security forces experience against Black Lives Matter and the ever-amorphous "Antifa."...
And I'm normally one who looks on the bright side.
'A Cabinet Office spokesperson told the Guardian that Gove had not been involved in Ofqual’s appointment of Public First. They said: “The Cabinet Office had no involvement in the contract and did not discuss it with Ofqual.”'
Pass the salt, please. I need to take a pinch!
The Greater Manchester town is currently the most infected place in the country.
Inzamam Rashid"
https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-they-dont-care-here-anymore-oldham-on-the-verge-of-a-full-lockdown-12052647
https://twitter.com/Grouse_Beater/status/1296320617654956032/photo/1
Ofqual are an independent quango and as such are responsible for who they appoint.
Apparently they explained the appointment but of course the government opponents will always be looking for conspiracies
However, the one thing that you are obsessed with, brexit, is going to happen with or without Boris
https://twitter.com/FraserNelson/status/1296334609052061697
I am fully aware it's happening.
https://twitter.com/politicalhackuk/status/1295435449855545344
I do wonder about the US comparisons though. Over there 50%+ of older people are Republicans. They (on average) don't think the virus is such a big deal.
Here in the UK at least, older people seem pretty scared, so perhaps they will continue to see people less and so protect themselves.
Perhaps he meant a "campaigning" holiday.
I have no problem with him being on paternity leave. Hopefully it will allow him to recognise his newest child, unlike some previous ones.
The question is whether what he has told the media is actually true.
Wait, what?
Mr Johnson does seem to choose to take his vacations during moments of crisis.
As for camping. I have spent nights in tents and days towing caravans. I am a hardy peasant and I prefer a country house hotel, Mr Johnson will not like camping!
It is therefore incumbent on all of us to support the full return to school in September
Until there’s a vaccine, we’re not returning to normal, but if we’re sensible, life should be liveable.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/24/new-zealand-nurse-i-treated-boris-johnson-like-any-other-patient
The u turn was the right thing to do. Glad it happened and good to see all these young people getting into their university of choice and not missing out because "computer says no".
How do you run schools to minimise the risk of infections in schools?
What do you do when (and it will happen somewhere) you get infections in schools?
What do you do if the number of available staff falls below the normal safe limit?
How do you get pupils and staff to and from schools?
It's boring fiddly stuff, and the schools I know have done their best. But it doesn't look entirely robust.
But saying "we must all support full reopening in September" contributes very little to ensuring that schools can reopen and stay open.
A full return to school in September would be great for a whole host of reasons but should not happen if there is proven to be a serious risk of prompting a wave 2. Exams could be held physically, socially-distanced, even if the teaching remained on-line.
Having said that, I do expect a more or less full return to school in September. We have probably moved into the phase of localised lockdowns (schools included) where necessary now.
https://twitter.com/Coldwar_Steve/status/1295758683641647105
Only people who camp as children love it as adults though. If you start as an adult at best you can tolerate it, but never enjoy it.
Good to hear some positives on the GCSEs from PB stalwarts. Congratulations!
Going forwards schools need to get back to normal and next year have their exams.
http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=4160
Welcome to this, the first meeting of the Scottish Parliament established under the Scotland Act 1998. We are gathered on this day and at this time and place, in accordance with The Scottish Parliament (First Ordinary General Election and First Meeting) Order 1999. As provided by the standing orders, my role is to preside over the proceedings to enable the oldest qualified member to take the oath or make a solemn affirmation.
Which accepts this was a new Parliament established under a new act.
I’m getting really quite worried that even sensible Nats are getting more and more divorced from reality, like Cummings or Farage. Business for Scotland and the National are we all know fake news websites that can’t be trusted, but Carnyx is a sensible and intelligent poster.
Yet even he(?) has swallowed the lies of the Nats’ propagandists whole. No wonder support for independence is increasing if this horseshit is swallowed without question.
“I think some ministers had, until that point, seen the issue as a bit of a distraction,” says one person at the cabinet meeting. “Michael made it clear that while Covid and Brexit were huge issues, the government would be unlikely to survive the break-up of the union.”
Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, was among the first to speak after Mr Gove’s call to arms. “I now understand why this is so important,” he said.
The Union is fucked.
But the denialist tendency is very strong ("Nothing is happening, or there's nothing we can do, or there's nothing we need to do, or nothing works, or doing anything is too damaging - so we can just go back to how things were when I was happy and everything will be fine again").
We see it all the time. The almost religious ability to cruise the internet, looking for reports, cherrypicking away ("No, not that one... not that one... nope, that one says it's bad... not that one, he says it's better to lockdown... ah! This one says something that means it's fine to do nothing! Ignore anything else that's predicted by them that's obviously wrong, handwave over definitions to imply whatever I want to be true, act like this person is a prophet of truth, and I'm away!")
Overall, most leaders correctly reject the most overt denialism, but it has its attractions in everyone and a mild form of it will, as she says, affect all leaders. Who know that everyone's sick of this, everyone wants it to be back to normal, and any leader announcing that it's not and we have to go back a bit will get huge pushback.
Fortunately, we have a strong, wartime-like leader who... oh. Bollocks.
Big rises in numbers getting high grades in key subjects
I lost £50 of profit by laying Harris back down to zero.
Having said that I ISA'ed up with my savings on Biden over the last week to generate an extra £90 profit to compensate.