If stopped en route to work, I will calmly explain that I cannot work from home. That is perfectly allowed within the law. It shouldn't go any further than that.
The onus would be on the police to prove that I am not in fact en route to work. Otherwise we're not far off 'ihre papier, bitte'
There was a time when Conservatives supported the idea of identity cards.
And Labour.
New Labour
Like old labour are less authoritarian? Socialists have always been authoritarian because its the only way the system works because you can't let people opt out of it
When did Old Labour support identity cards outside of wartime?
Hey, was just informed that here in WA State, based on my age (mid 60s) and condition (diabetes & hbp) am scheduled to get vaccinated against COVID sometime in March.
How do you think that stacks up with other places? BTW first priority (Jan) are health care workers & other essential, then people over 70 (February) then yours truly. So the priority seems fair enough. But is the timeline reasonably reasonable?
Personally have always been pessimistic re: timetable, so am not stressed (at least not now). BUT do know folks who are, for example friend of mine whose's husband is recovering from lung cancer. Hopefully they won't have to wait two months.
There are a few modest apps in the UK which allow you to input your postcode, age, ailments (or lack of), and thereby get a decent prediction for the date of your first jab.
I am 55+. in good health despite my sinful nature, and have a London postcode. I am priority 6 or 7 or something, and can thereby expect my initial needle in late March. Apparently.
Personally, I am tempted to jet off to the UAE where I could, it is said, buy a a jab NOW. The one thing that stops me is the fear of catching it on the damn plane.
"Don't Hit Families with Inflation Busting Council Tax Hikes" said SKS.
He is becoming ridiculous.
In Wales -- where SKS seems not have realised Labour are in charge -- "inflation busting" increase have already been announced by Cardiff and Caerffili Councils.
Caerffili, a Labour controlled Council since forever, is one of the most corrupt Councils in the UK.
The Council Leader resigned in November following the discovery of the fact that he held shares in a company that benefited from a £38.5 million investment of Caerffili Council funds.
Maybe if the Valleys Councillors (like Councillor Poole) didn't steal public money, SKS could have his wish.
Welsh Labour are this separate entity that have no connection to the party Starmer leads...or so some try to claim. They are like the crazy inappropriate uncle that nobody in the family like to admit they are related to.
Toomey says Trump ‘committed impeachable offenses’ But the Pennsylvania senator said he doesn’t know whether it’s “practical” to move ahead with impeachment proceedings.
I do NOT agree very often with Senator Toomey, some we're both pretty glad about for the most part.
However, in this instance, I agree with him 100%
Suggest that PBers start looking at the list of Republican elected leaders - elected by the people, not some hack committee - who support Trumpsky after his failed Putsch, and how many oppose him directly, some to the point of calling for his removal ASAP.
With respect to both camps within the GOP, there is a complex interplay between each individual's conviction, circumspection, situation, self-interest and self-respect. For example, at least on paper Governors of Maryland and Vermont to come out against POTUS than say a US Senator (or Congressman or state legislator) from Alabama or West Virginia.
Speaking of the Mountain State, the Putchist who was (newly-elected) Republican member of WV House of Delegates has resigned, as noted down-thred, following his arrest in DC and public condemnation of him by WV Sentators, Governor & fellow GOP legislators including Speaker of HoD. Which I interpret as, them telling him he'd damn well better resign, and if he did they just MIGHT put in a good word for him.
Anyway, pretty standard procedure in cases of legislative scandal, on both side of the aisle. Though charges of sedition & attempted overthrow of US Constitution ARE somewhat novel if not entirely unique in our history.
In Senator Toomey's case, the risk on paper looks low, given that he's in state Biden carried AND is NOT running for re-election. HOWEVER his statement is breath-taking. Note that MOST of the PA House Republicans actively supported the Rudi-Sidney charade of objections, along with Hawley, Cruz, etc. in the Senate.
IF Pat Toomey is NOT conservative enough for you, they you are a TRUE wing-nut. AND your own political base is in SERIOUS jeopardy, enhanced by the longer you fail to recognized their has been a sea change since - or rather because of - the Trumpsky Putsch.
OK: Republican Senators that might vote to convict:
Romney, Murkowski, Sasse, Toomey, Collins: anyone else? I struggle to get past the five.
That being said, if McConnell were say "fuck it" (& I don't think he will), then you could easily see sufficient Republicans line up. Trump's habit of shafting everyone, left, right and centre might come back to haunt him.
One quibble: I am not sure what impact the changes between 1967 and 1981 have on today's politics.
The point was to show how things had changed between those two periods. Basically from the end of WW2 up to around the start of the 1990s the Middle Classes in America were expanding and becoming wealthier and more secure. This is captured in those numbers for the period 1967 to 1981 which Stephen Rose used to illustrate his point. Failure and slipping back were relatively rare and aspiration was still very much alive.
From 2000 onwards we see a huge change. Incomes fall and social mobility goes into reverse. The American dream effectively starts to die. Even if they don't feel the immediate effects themselves, millions of Americans see it happening all around them and the idea of betterment becomes nothing more than a bitter memory.
I didn't include them because I needed to get verification but there are some figures from 1991 released by the US Department of Labour which estimates that at that point less than 150,000 jobs were offshored by American companies. By 2018 that was, as I mentioned in the piece, over 14 million. Even if there was absolutely no connection between the two, combining that fact with the horribly deteriorating economic situation for many, if not most, Americans, whilst at the same time the political classes are claiming great hikes in GDP and companies are making their shareholders millionaires and their owners billionaires is a sure fire way to foment the sort of anger and rebellion we have seen over the last decade and which led to the election of Trump.
I certainly agree with this last point, but the way to tackle that has to be to tax and regulate extremem wealth surely?
One other issue we all have to face into is that it's irrational to expect incomes to go on increasing forever. There are not resources enough on the earth for us all to have super-yachts; we cannot all live in mansions.
The problem however is not necessarily incomes not increasing but the fact that the cost of living is ever increasing
Sorry, I meant "it's irrational to expect real incomes to go on increasing forever".
But a lot of the time real incomes are falling artificially. Housing costs for many for example are rising for many because we don't build enough houses. Product costs are rising because we get the courts siding with companies over consumers.
On the first, housing costs there are many people for example that are paying more in rent by a couple of hundred than the mortgage would cost for a similar place in the same area but if you apply for a mortgage you will be told you can't afford that mortgage on your salary.
We have companies producing product x in bangladesh and it costs 100£. They wholesale it to retail in Bangladesh for 130£ and in the uk they wholesale it for 600£ and yet if a retailer tries to buy from a wholesaler in bangladesh and sell it for 200£ instead the company will take them to court over it and the court will protect them.
if a retailer tries to buy from a wholesaler in bangladesh and sell it for 200£ instead the company will take them to court over it and the court will protect them
Who would they sue? Where would they sue? And what case would they have?
@rcs1000 This is the Tesco Levi's case being referenced is it not?
The most utterly ridiculous case.
That wasn't about Tesco buying jeans from a factory in Bangladesh (which they are free to do). It was about whether Tesco could market Levi jeans that it had grey market imported into the UK. (Therefore benefiting from Levi's marketing budget, without contributing.)
Now, I think the decision was wrong - ultimately grey market imports should be allowed - but it was not about whether a retailer could import and sell jeans from Bangladesh.
Well for one the jeans were sourced in the US if you read the article. Sorry I don't agree at all about the branded bit. An IPhone is an IPhone wherever its sourced same for designer goods. Levi's marketing budget is irrelevant to this and it isn't that Levi's were making a loss on the jeans they merely weren't making as much profit as they wanted to.
Look, I'm in agreement with you that the decision was stupid. But this is a fight over whether companies control their brandname and how their products are sold, not over whether you can import from Bangladesh.
Here in the US, it's illegal (actually go to prison illegal) for a pharmacy to buy drugs from Canada (where wholesale prcies are cheaper) and to sell them. The argument is exactly the same: we created the drug, it's our brand name, you can't benefit the advertising spend if you're not sharing in it by buying it officially.
But that's a very different argument from: supermarkets aren't allowed to buy identical unbranded jeans from Bangladesh (or identical generic drugs from India).
However wrong it is, it's not about your freedom to import, it's about your sale of trademarked goods.
The goods however were trademarked as Levi where they were sourced which was the US, trademark is protecting you from knock off imitations or should be. It is a company merely manipulating law to protect their bottom line and avoiding the costs of globalisation while reaping the benefits. I am sure those us jeans were made in the same factories to the same specifications and had the same Brand name label.
Corporations should be told to f off over this sort of practise
Hey, was just informed that here in WA State, based on my age (mid 60s) and condition (diabetes & hbp) am scheduled to get vaccinated against COVID sometime in March.
How do you think that stacks up with other places? BTW first priority (Jan) are health care workers & other essential, then people over 70 (February) then yours truly. So the priority seems fair enough. But is the timeline reasonably reasonable?
Personally have always been pessimistic re: timetable, so am not stressed (at least not now). BUT do know folks who are, for example friend of mine whose's husband is recovering from lung cancer. Hopefully they won't have to wait two months.
There are a few modest apps in the UK which allow you to input your postcode, age, ailments (or lack of), and thereby get a decent prediction for the date of your first jab.
I am 55+. in good health despite my sinful nature, and have a London postcode. I am priority 6 or 7 or something, and can thereby expect my initial needle in late March. Apparently.
Personally, I am tempted to jet off to the UAE where I could, it is said, buy a a jab NOW. The one thing that stops me is the fear of catching it on the damn plane.
You can get it in Dubai now? For a fee?
I love the Madinat Jumeriah. That's almost worth considering. Three weeks in Dubai. School be damned. Come back in early February, not worrying about the virus at all. There's a lot to recommend about that.
Not that people are entirely defined by their spouses, but I'm amazed that the spouse of someone in such a powerful and sensitive position would, for so long, be so politically vocal without it seeming to have any impact, despite suggestions he should recuse himself from various things.
But then that may partly be as I struggle to wrap my head around such partisan judges in the first place, despite its long standing nature.
If stopped en route to work, I will calmly explain that I cannot work from home. That is perfectly allowed within the law. It shouldn't go any further than that.
The onus would be on the police to prove that I am not in fact en route to work. Otherwise we're not far off 'ihre papier, bitte'
There was a time when Conservatives supported the idea of identity cards.
And Labour.
New Labour
Like old labour are less authoritarian? Socialists have always been authoritarian because its the only way the system works because you can't let people opt out of it
When did Old Labour support identity cards outside of wartime?
I didnt claim they did I merely was observing that trying to blame new labour for id cards which is true did not mean old labour wasn't authoritarian.
Hey, was just informed that here in WA State, based on my age (mid 60s) and condition (diabetes & hbp) am scheduled to get vaccinated against COVID sometime in March.
How do you think that stacks up with other places? BTW first priority (Jan) are health care workers & other essential, then people over 70 (February) then yours truly. So the priority seems fair enough. But is the timeline reasonably reasonable?
Personally have always been pessimistic re: timetable, so am not stressed (at least not now). BUT do know folks who are, for example friend of mine whose's husband is recovering from lung cancer. Hopefully they won't have to wait two months.
There are a few modest apps in the UK which allow you to input your postcode, age, ailments (or lack of), and thereby get a decent prediction for the date of your first jab.
I am 55+. in good health despite my sinful nature, and have a London postcode. I am priority 6 or 7 or something, and can thereby expect my initial needle in late March. Apparently.
Personally, I am tempted to jet off to the UAE where I could, it is said, buy a a jab NOW. The one thing that stops me is the fear of catching it on the damn plane.
You can get it in Dubai now? For a fee?
I love the Madinat Jumeriah. That's almost worth considering. Three weeks in Dubai. School be damned. Come back in early February, not worrying about the virus at all. There's a lot to recommend about that.
You know you will have to put up with basically every social media influencer being bloody annoying...
Toomey says Trump ‘committed impeachable offenses’ But the Pennsylvania senator said he doesn’t know whether it’s “practical” to move ahead with impeachment proceedings.
I do NOT agree very often with Senator Toomey, some we're both pretty glad about for the most part.
However, in this instance, I agree with him 100%
Suggest that PBers start looking at the list of Republican elected leaders - elected by the people, not some hack committee - who support Trumpsky after his failed Putsch, and how many oppose him directly, some to the point of calling for his removal ASAP.
With respect to both camps within the GOP, there is a complex interplay between each individual's conviction, circumspection, situation, self-interest and self-respect. For example, at least on paper Governors of Maryland and Vermont to come out against POTUS than say a US Senator (or Congressman or state legislator) from Alabama or West Virginia.
Speaking of the Mountain State, the Putchist who was (newly-elected) Republican member of WV House of Delegates has resigned, as noted down-thred, following his arrest in DC and public condemnation of him by WV Sentators, Governor & fellow GOP legislators including Speaker of HoD. Which I interpret as, them telling him he'd damn well better resign, and if he did they just MIGHT put in a good word for him.
Anyway, pretty standard procedure in cases of legislative scandal, on both side of the aisle. Though charges of sedition & attempted overthrow of US Constitution ARE somewhat novel if not entirely unique in our history.
In Senator Toomey's case, the risk on paper looks low, given that he's in state Biden carried AND is NOT running for re-election. HOWEVER his statement is breath-taking. Note that MOST of the PA House Republicans actively supported the Rudi-Sidney charade of objections, along with Hawley, Cruz, etc. in the Senate.
IF Pat Toomey is NOT conservative enough for you, they you are a TRUE wing-nut. AND your own political base is in SERIOUS jeopardy, enhanced by the longer you fail to recognized their has been a sea change since - or rather because of - the Trumpsky Putsch.
OK: Republican Senators that might vote to convict:
Romney, Murkowski, Sasse, Toomey, Collins: anyone else? I struggle to get past the five.
That being said, if McConnell were say "fuck it" (& I don't think he will), then you could easily see sufficient Republicans line up. Trump's habit of shafting everyone, left, right and centre might come back to haunt him.
An interesting possibility would be mass abstentions on the Republican side. 55-27 would be enough to convict
Of course the Police should also follow the rules and police them fairly and sensibly
Outrageous.
If I was walking with one other person, by a reservoir, say, in Derbyshire, with a coffee (all perfectly legal) and told to return home, I would refuse. Because we don't live in a police state.
In my area all fines issued are reviewed by the police commissioners office.
As for outrageous, I criticise the police overstepping their bounds plenty, and they will no doubt fine people not in breach of the law by mistake, but they are trying to carry out the law so I wouldn't blame them for the outrageousness of the law.
The police are not legally entitled to do this. If you are out taking exercise, there is no limit in the rules on the amount of time you are allowed to be out. Simply sitting down on a park bench in the middle of your exercise does not put you in breach.
I did just that before embarking on a short hill climb this afternoon, as I had got a bit breathless (I know, I need to get fitter) but if some officious policeman had ordered me to leave I'm sure I'd have had enough breath to give him a lesson on the law.
Be careful from my experience pointing out what the law actually says to a police officer can be construed as causing a breach of the peace in some of their minds
I have a fair amount of experience dealing with the police. But thanks.
I pity the poor bloody cop who wrongfully crosses Ms Cyclefree!
Yeah, but it's those out for their many "essential" purposes that explains why our lockdowns are failing to control the disease. This is essential shopping, an essential takeaway, an essential work journey, essential exercise, essential that my child is at school etc etc, and we wind up with the streets, shops and schools all teeming with folk.
Perhaps BoZo is right. The reason that we have bad covid figures is that people see the measures as an attack on their freedom.
Er.... it's the government which has widened the definition of key workers so that many more children are at school than in Lockdown 1. Given how key schools are to the virus's spread that is a daft thing to do. That is down to the government.
Rather than berating some poor woman having exercise maybe the government could require supermarkets to enforce social distancing in their stores a bit better. Because while my daughter is leaving takeaways for her customers on a table outside her premises at a preordained time so that there is no interaction at all and then delivering alcohol to other customers, again without any interaction, the local Tesco's the last time I went was an absolute free-for-all.
I won't be going there again for a long long while. My daily walk is my only escape from the house. Indeed, I'd quite welcome some police officer to berate because it'd be nice to see a different human being for a change.
If government wants the strictest possible lockdown it can do that but it will have to pay the cost of that - and it doesn't want to. IMO Sunak is responsible for undermining the government's health strategy by failing to properly support those whose activities need to be temporarily stopped. He never does enough and what he does do is too late.
British lockdowns are essentially voluntary for individuals, though compulsory for businesses. Compared to my Greek friends, it is a joke.
I shop in small supermarkets at odd hours. Even at 2200 hours Sainsbury was quite busy before Christmas.
Toomey says Trump ‘committed impeachable offenses’ But the Pennsylvania senator said he doesn’t know whether it’s “practical” to move ahead with impeachment proceedings.
I do NOT agree very often with Senator Toomey, some we're both pretty glad about for the most part.
However, in this instance, I agree with him 100%
Suggest that PBers start looking at the list of Republican elected leaders - elected by the people, not some hack committee - who support Trumpsky after his failed Putsch, and how many oppose him directly, some to the point of calling for his removal ASAP.
With respect to both camps within the GOP, there is a complex interplay between each individual's conviction, circumspection, situation, self-interest and self-respect. For example, at least on paper Governors of Maryland and Vermont to come out against POTUS than say a US Senator (or Congressman or state legislator) from Alabama or West Virginia.
Speaking of the Mountain State, the Putchist who was (newly-elected) Republican member of WV House of Delegates has resigned, as noted down-thred, following his arrest in DC and public condemnation of him by WV Sentators, Governor & fellow GOP legislators including Speaker of HoD. Which I interpret as, them telling him he'd damn well better resign, and if he did they just MIGHT put in a good word for him.
Anyway, pretty standard procedure in cases of legislative scandal, on both side of the aisle. Though charges of sedition & attempted overthrow of US Constitution ARE somewhat novel if not entirely unique in our history.
In Senator Toomey's case, the risk on paper looks low, given that he's in state Biden carried AND is NOT running for re-election. HOWEVER his statement is breath-taking. Note that MOST of the PA House Republicans actively supported the Rudi-Sidney charade of objections, along with Hawley, Cruz, etc. in the Senate.
IF Pat Toomey is NOT conservative enough for you, they you are a TRUE wing-nut. AND your own political base is in SERIOUS jeopardy, enhanced by the longer you fail to recognized their has been a sea change since - or rather because of - the Trumpsky Putsch.
OK: Republican Senators that might vote to convict:
Romney, Murkowski, Sasse, Toomey, Collins: anyone else? I struggle to get past the five.
That being said, if McConnell were say "fuck it" (& I don't think he will), then you could easily see sufficient Republicans line up. Trump's habit of shafting everyone, left, right and centre might come back to haunt him.
Given how many are needed it seems out of reach simply with the independent minded and those driven too far by Trump, despite the limited remaining time on his presidency, without someone of McConnell's pull on board. More time to think about it, more time to talk themselves out of it though, and few seem to be chomping at the bit now, let alone later.
If stopped en route to work, I will calmly explain that I cannot work from home. That is perfectly allowed within the law. It shouldn't go any further than that.
The onus would be on the police to prove that I am not in fact en route to work. Otherwise we're not far off 'ihre papier, bitte'
There was a time when Conservatives supported the idea of identity cards.
And Labour.
New Labour
Like old labour are less authoritarian? Socialists have always been authoritarian because its the only way the system works because you can't let people opt out of it
When did Old Labour support identity cards outside of wartime?
Nice try, Labour did - lets not try to pretend they were another party
Thanks for another great PB header. Well done Richard.
Recently the quality of the leading articles here has been excellent. Every day now is a "big news day" and PBers are rising to the moment by providing insightful commentary and analysis.
One aspect not addressed in the article is how the various media have stoked up so much hatred and division. It's hard to comprehend what we have witnessed in the US over the last few days. Yes, individual dissatisfaction and disaffection are partial explanations. But there's more to it than this. People are being encouraged to blame, despise and scapegoat each other by some mainstream media, influencers on social media and shock jocks etc. Appealing to prejudices with their own fake news.
I think this is may be the bigliest problem of them all.
Hey, was just informed that here in WA State, based on my age (mid 60s) and condition (diabetes & hbp) am scheduled to get vaccinated against COVID sometime in March.
How do you think that stacks up with other places? BTW first priority (Jan) are health care workers & other essential, then people over 70 (February) then yours truly. So the priority seems fair enough. But is the timeline reasonably reasonable?
Personally have always been pessimistic re: timetable, so am not stressed (at least not now). BUT do know folks who are, for example friend of mine whose's husband is recovering from lung cancer. Hopefully they won't have to wait two months.
There are a few modest apps in the UK which allow you to input your postcode, age, ailments (or lack of), and thereby get a decent prediction for the date of your first jab.
I am 55+. in good health despite my sinful nature, and have a London postcode. I am priority 6 or 7 or something, and can thereby expect my initial needle in late March. Apparently.
Personally, I am tempted to jet off to the UAE where I could, it is said, buy a a jab NOW. The one thing that stops me is the fear of catching it on the damn plane.
You can get it in Dubai now? For a fee?
I love the Madinat Jumeriah. That's almost worth considering. Three weeks in Dubai. School be damned. Come back in early February, not worrying about the virus at all. There's a lot to recommend about that.
This is what I am told by a well-informed intel-kinda friend of mine. Private clinics in the UAE are offering the needle.
The fee is hefty, but, like you, I can see the temptation. Three weeks of expensive, boring sunshine with cocktails by a pool. You come back immune. Pretty enticing. So it costs a bomb: what price is a life, especially MINE??
It's literally the flight out there which daunts me.
One quibble: I am not sure what impact the changes between 1967 and 1981 have on today's politics.
The point was to show how things had changed between those two periods. Basically from the end of WW2 up to around the start of the 1990s the Middle Classes in America were expanding and becoming wealthier and more secure. This is captured in those numbers for the period 1967 to 1981 which Stephen Rose used to illustrate his point. Failure and slipping back were relatively rare and aspiration was still very much alive.
From 2000 onwards we see a huge change. Incomes fall and social mobility goes into reverse. The American dream effectively starts to die. Even if they don't feel the immediate effects themselves, millions of Americans see it happening all around them and the idea of betterment becomes nothing more than a bitter memory.
I didn't include them because I needed to get verification but there are some figures from 1991 released by the US Department of Labour which estimates that at that point less than 150,000 jobs were offshored by American companies. By 2018 that was, as I mentioned in the piece, over 14 million. Even if there was absolutely no connection between the two, combining that fact with the horribly deteriorating economic situation for many, if not most, Americans, whilst at the same time the political classes are claiming great hikes in GDP and companies are making their shareholders millionaires and their owners billionaires is a sure fire way to foment the sort of anger and rebellion we have seen over the last decade and which led to the election of Trump.
I certainly agree with this last point, but the way to tackle that has to be to tax and regulate extremem wealth surely?
One other issue we all have to face into is that it's irrational to expect incomes to go on increasing forever. There are not resources enough on the earth for us all to have super-yachts; we cannot all live in mansions.
The problem however is not necessarily incomes not increasing but the fact that the cost of living is ever increasing
Sorry, I meant "it's irrational to expect real incomes to go on increasing forever".
But a lot of the time real incomes are falling artificially. Housing costs for many for example are rising for many because we don't build enough houses. Product costs are rising because we get the courts siding with companies over consumers.
On the first, housing costs there are many people for example that are paying more in rent by a couple of hundred than the mortgage would cost for a similar place in the same area but if you apply for a mortgage you will be told you can't afford that mortgage on your salary.
We have companies producing product x in bangladesh and it costs 100£. They wholesale it to retail in Bangladesh for 130£ and in the uk they wholesale it for 600£ and yet if a retailer tries to buy from a wholesaler in bangladesh and sell it for 200£ instead the company will take them to court over it and the court will protect them.
if a retailer tries to buy from a wholesaler in bangladesh and sell it for 200£ instead the company will take them to court over it and the court will protect them
Who would they sue? Where would they sue? And what case would they have?
@rcs1000 This is the Tesco Levi's case being referenced is it not?
The most utterly ridiculous case.
That wasn't about Tesco buying jeans from a factory in Bangladesh (which they are free to do). It was about whether Tesco could market Levi jeans that it had grey market imported into the UK. (Therefore benefiting from Levi's marketing budget, without contributing.)
Now, I think the decision was wrong - ultimately grey market imports should be allowed - but it was not about whether a retailer could import and sell jeans from Bangladesh.
Well for one the jeans were sourced in the US if you read the article. Sorry I don't agree at all about the branded bit. An IPhone is an IPhone wherever its sourced same for designer goods. Levi's marketing budget is irrelevant to this and it isn't that Levi's were making a loss on the jeans they merely weren't making as much profit as they wanted to.
Look, I'm in agreement with you that the decision was stupid. But this is a fight over whether companies control their brandname and how their products are sold, not over whether you can import from Bangladesh.
Here in the US, it's illegal (actually go to prison illegal) for a pharmacy to buy drugs from Canada (where wholesale prcies are cheaper) and to sell them. The argument is exactly the same: we created the drug, it's our brand name, you can't benefit the advertising spend if you're not sharing in it by buying it officially.
But that's a very different argument from: supermarkets aren't allowed to buy identical unbranded jeans from Bangladesh (or identical generic drugs from India).
However wrong it is, it's not about your freedom to import, it's about your sale of trademarked goods.
The goods however were trademarked as Levi where they were sourced which was the US, trademark is protecting you from knock off imitations or should be. It is a company merely manipulating law to protect their bottom line and avoiding the costs of globalisation while reaping the benefits. I am sure those us jeans were made in the same factories to the same specifications and had the same Brand name label.
Corporations should be told to f off over this sort of practise
I agree, but this protectionism dates all the way back to the Merchandise Marks Act in 1862 and the Trade Marks Registration Act of 1875: basically, the rules are different for Trademarked goods.
And yes, I agree, restrictions on grey market imports are wrong.
Toomey says Trump ‘committed impeachable offenses’ But the Pennsylvania senator said he doesn’t know whether it’s “practical” to move ahead with impeachment proceedings.
I do NOT agree very often with Senator Toomey, some we're both pretty glad about for the most part.
However, in this instance, I agree with him 100%
Suggest that PBers start looking at the list of Republican elected leaders - elected by the people, not some hack committee - who support Trumpsky after his failed Putsch, and how many oppose him directly, some to the point of calling for his removal ASAP.
With respect to both camps within the GOP, there is a complex interplay between each individual's conviction, circumspection, situation, self-interest and self-respect. For example, at least on paper Governors of Maryland and Vermont to come out against POTUS than say a US Senator (or Congressman or state legislator) from Alabama or West Virginia.
Speaking of the Mountain State, the Putchist who was (newly-elected) Republican member of WV House of Delegates has resigned, as noted down-thred, following his arrest in DC and public condemnation of him by WV Sentators, Governor & fellow GOP legislators including Speaker of HoD. Which I interpret as, them telling him he'd damn well better resign, and if he did they just MIGHT put in a good word for him.
Anyway, pretty standard procedure in cases of legislative scandal, on both side of the aisle. Though charges of sedition & attempted overthrow of US Constitution ARE somewhat novel if not entirely unique in our history.
In Senator Toomey's case, the risk on paper looks low, given that he's in state Biden carried AND is NOT running for re-election. HOWEVER his statement is breath-taking. Note that MOST of the PA House Republicans actively supported the Rudi-Sidney charade of objections, along with Hawley, Cruz, etc. in the Senate.
IF Pat Toomey is NOT conservative enough for you, they you are a TRUE wing-nut. AND your own political base is in SERIOUS jeopardy, enhanced by the longer you fail to recognized their has been a sea change since - or rather because of - the Trumpsky Putsch.
OK: Republican Senators that might vote to convict:
Romney, Murkowski, Sasse, Toomey, Collins: anyone else? I struggle to get past the five.
That being said, if McConnell were say "fuck it" (& I don't think he will), then you could easily see sufficient Republicans line up. Trump's habit of shafting everyone, left, right and centre might come back to haunt him.
An interesting possibility would be mass abstentions on the Republican side. 55-27 would be enough to convict
Would be interesting, but it just seems weird to me that someone will have been driven the point that they are willing to take that step, and the lifelong ire of the Trumpsters and some number of their more regular colleagues, but not one step further and just vote to convict. If abstention sees it happen it makes no difference at that point.
Hey, was just informed that here in WA State, based on my age (mid 60s) and condition (diabetes & hbp) am scheduled to get vaccinated against COVID sometime in March.
How do you think that stacks up with other places? BTW first priority (Jan) are health care workers & other essential, then people over 70 (February) then yours truly. So the priority seems fair enough. But is the timeline reasonably reasonable?
Personally have always been pessimistic re: timetable, so am not stressed (at least not now). BUT do know folks who are, for example friend of mine whose's husband is recovering from lung cancer. Hopefully they won't have to wait two months.
There are a few modest apps in the UK which allow you to input your postcode, age, ailments (or lack of), and thereby get a decent prediction for the date of your first jab.
I am 55+. in good health despite my sinful nature, and have a London postcode. I am priority 6 or 7 or something, and can thereby expect my initial needle in late March. Apparently.
Personally, I am tempted to jet off to the UAE where I could, it is said, buy a a jab NOW. The one thing that stops me is the fear of catching it on the damn plane.
You can get it in Dubai now? For a fee?
I love the Madinat Jumeriah. That's almost worth considering. Three weeks in Dubai. School be damned. Come back in early February, not worrying about the virus at all. There's a lot to recommend about that.
This is what I am told by a well-informed intel-kinda friend of mine. Private clinics in the UAE are offering the needle.
The fee is hefty, but, like you, I can see the temptation. Three weeks of expensive, boring sunshine with cocktails by a pool. You come back immune. Pretty enticing. So it costs a bomb: what price is a life, especially MINE??
It's literally the flight out there which daunts me.
Emirates Business Class. It'd be a breeze.
You know, it'd be a great travel journalism story. My illicit trip to Dubai to get vaccinated.
Hey, was just informed that here in WA State, based on my age (mid 60s) and condition (diabetes & hbp) am scheduled to get vaccinated against COVID sometime in March.
How do you think that stacks up with other places? BTW first priority (Jan) are health care workers & other essential, then people over 70 (February) then yours truly. So the priority seems fair enough. But is the timeline reasonably reasonable?
Personally have always been pessimistic re: timetable, so am not stressed (at least not now). BUT do know folks who are, for example friend of mine whose's husband is recovering from lung cancer. Hopefully they won't have to wait two months.
There are a few modest apps in the UK which allow you to input your postcode, age, ailments (or lack of), and thereby get a decent prediction for the date of your first jab.
I am 55+. in good health despite my sinful nature, and have a London postcode. I am priority 6 or 7 or something, and can thereby expect my initial needle in late March. Apparently.
Personally, I am tempted to jet off to the UAE where I could, it is said, buy a a jab NOW. The one thing that stops me is the fear of catching it on the damn plane.
You can get it in Dubai now? For a fee?
I love the Madinat Jumeriah. That's almost worth considering. Three weeks in Dubai. School be damned. Come back in early February, not worrying about the virus at all. There's a lot to recommend about that.
This is what I am told by a well-informed intel-kinda friend of mine. Private clinics in the UAE are offering the needle.
The fee is hefty, but, like you, I can see the temptation. Three weeks of expensive, boring sunshine with cocktails by a pool. You come back immune. Pretty enticing. So it costs a bomb: what price is a life, especially MINE??
It's literally the flight out there which daunts me.
Emirates Business Class. It'd be a breeze.
You know, it'd be a great travel journalism story. My elicit trip to Dubai to get vaccinated.
Hope said journalist can "illicit" a good sub to check their spelling..
Hey, was just informed that here in WA State, based on my age (mid 60s) and condition (diabetes & hbp) am scheduled to get vaccinated against COVID sometime in March.
How do you think that stacks up with other places? BTW first priority (Jan) are health care workers & other essential, then people over 70 (February) then yours truly. So the priority seems fair enough. But is the timeline reasonably reasonable?
Personally have always been pessimistic re: timetable, so am not stressed (at least not now). BUT do know folks who are, for example friend of mine whose's husband is recovering from lung cancer. Hopefully they won't have to wait two months.
There are a few modest apps in the UK which allow you to input your postcode, age, ailments (or lack of), and thereby get a decent prediction for the date of your first jab.
I am 55+. in good health despite my sinful nature, and have a London postcode. I am priority 6 or 7 or something, and can thereby expect my initial needle in late March. Apparently.
Personally, I am tempted to jet off to the UAE where I could, it is said, buy a a jab NOW. The one thing that stops me is the fear of catching it on the damn plane.
You can get it in Dubai now? For a fee?
I love the Madinat Jumeriah. That's almost worth considering. Three weeks in Dubai. School be damned. Come back in early February, not worrying about the virus at all. There's a lot to recommend about that.
This is what I am told by a well-informed intel-kinda friend of mine. Private clinics in the UAE are offering the needle.
The fee is hefty, but, like you, I can see the temptation. Three weeks of expensive, boring sunshine with cocktails by a pool. You come back immune. Pretty enticing. So it costs a bomb: what price is a life, especially MINE??
It's literally the flight out there which daunts me.
Emirates Business Class. It'd be a breeze.
You know, it'd be a great travel journalism story. My elicit trip to Dubai to get vaccinated.
Hope said journalist can "illicit" a good sub to check their spelling..
I wouldn't be surprised if Turkish private clincs get in on the vaccine tourism hussle using the Russian or Chinese vaccine, as they have become a hub for cut price over medical treatments.
Without eye watering council tax increases many councils will go bust however. Too many are highly invested in commercial property that will no longer be wanted post lockdown, not only the councils but local government pension schemes will also be demanding more top up money as they are similarly highly invested
Yes, no one likes such increases, but it was hard enough after significant savings (there were many to be found in fairness) to keep going with the increases that could be had without a referendum, something the government clearly recognised by allowing them to raise additional for socal care. Going to be a lot of pain in councils next year.
Subsample alert! Btw. If that is Gospel that's a big boost for Labour in E+W of course.
The poll does indeed have Labour doing better in England, Labour now lead in the North and Midlands as well as London according to the subsample with the Tories just ahead in the South of England.
The Tories are ahead in Wales though according to the subsample, suggesting Drakeford is hitting Labour's support there
Hey, was just informed that here in WA State, based on my age (mid 60s) and condition (diabetes & hbp) am scheduled to get vaccinated against COVID sometime in March.
How do you think that stacks up with other places? BTW first priority (Jan) are health care workers & other essential, then people over 70 (February) then yours truly. So the priority seems fair enough. But is the timeline reasonably reasonable?
Personally have always been pessimistic re: timetable, so am not stressed (at least not now). BUT do know folks who are, for example friend of mine whose's husband is recovering from lung cancer. Hopefully they won't have to wait two months.
There are a few modest apps in the UK which allow you to input your postcode, age, ailments (or lack of), and thereby get a decent prediction for the date of your first jab.
I am 55+. in good health despite my sinful nature, and have a London postcode. I am priority 6 or 7 or something, and can thereby expect my initial needle in late March. Apparently.
Personally, I am tempted to jet off to the UAE where I could, it is said, buy a a jab NOW. The one thing that stops me is the fear of catching it on the damn plane.
Priority group 6 is for 60 + with underlying health conditions.
According to the app someone in that group should get it this month. It seems unlikely because the focus is on groups 1-4 by mid to end February.
I'm assuming house arrest monotony until at least Easter.
When I was a kid, when people talked about "mixed marriages" they mean between Catholics and Protestants, or Christians and Jews. Now, nobody cares about that; the kids of today cannot even conceive of it, unless part of some seriously off-the-beaten-track sub-culture, say Amish or Snake Handlers.
As for African immigrants, well we just elected one last year to the King County Council, from a district that has a concentration of East Africans plus Seattle's historically-Black Central District, but is predominately White. Son of Somali parents, he grew up in poor neighborhood, went to local schools - then on to Harvard.
Of course he's unique. Much more ubiquitous are the Eritrean, Ethiopian and Somali women you see here and there (especially on the bus pre-COVID) and who stand out because of their (generally) colorful headscarves.
Which I personally like, in a city where the predominate wardrobe colors are black, brown and blackish-brown. Of course a fair number of those who are too short for their weight sport the all-black look. Which does little for the jollification of me or anyone else.
Thus greatly appreciate the splashes of color that come with our African newcomers, especially on a cold, overcast winter day!
Hey, was just informed that here in WA State, based on my age (mid 60s) and condition (diabetes & hbp) am scheduled to get vaccinated against COVID sometime in March.
How do you think that stacks up with other places? BTW first priority (Jan) are health care workers & other essential, then people over 70 (February) then yours truly. So the priority seems fair enough. But is the timeline reasonably reasonable?
Personally have always been pessimistic re: timetable, so am not stressed (at least not now). BUT do know folks who are, for example friend of mine whose's husband is recovering from lung cancer. Hopefully they won't have to wait two months.
There are a few modest apps in the UK which allow you to input your postcode, age, ailments (or lack of), and thereby get a decent prediction for the date of your first jab.
I am 55+. in good health despite my sinful nature, and have a London postcode. I am priority 6 or 7 or something, and can thereby expect my initial needle in late March. Apparently.
Personally, I am tempted to jet off to the UAE where I could, it is said, buy a a jab NOW. The one thing that stops me is the fear of catching it on the damn plane.
You can get it in Dubai now? For a fee?
I love the Madinat Jumeriah. That's almost worth considering. Three weeks in Dubai. School be damned. Come back in early February, not worrying about the virus at all. There's a lot to recommend about that.
This is what I am told by a well-informed intel-kinda friend of mine. Private clinics in the UAE are offering the needle.
The fee is hefty, but, like you, I can see the temptation. Three weeks of expensive, boring sunshine with cocktails by a pool. You come back immune. Pretty enticing. So it costs a bomb: what price is a life, especially MINE??
It's literally the flight out there which daunts me.
Emirates Business Class. It'd be a breeze.
You know, it'd be a great travel journalism story. My illicit trip to Dubai to get vaccinated.
Don't encourage him! (He might not be able to get a good internet connection!)
Travelling for a vaccine is rather fraught, and not just for the flight. You need to be able to trust the supply chain. What if you get there and it IS a Russian or Chinese vaccine?Then you discover "Pfizer - that will be US$800 more...." And you'd need confidence that the storage requirements have been met - and it hasn't been sat in a standard fridge disintegrating somewhere along the line.
And if it doesn't work (for maybe one of the above reasons, but how will you ever know?) - who can you - or your estate - sue?
One US immigrant group that (maybe) most PBers don't hear too much about, are Filipinos.
The are one of the largest in Seattle, thanks to long-standing ties via the US Navy and canneries. Today they are prevalent in health care and related fields such as drug stores. In these and in many other ways, they've made great contributions to our entire city, state and nation.
Was privileged to know the late, great Bob Santos, a Filipino American activist who was one of Seattle's "Gang of Four" minority community leaders. Bob was a great, down-to-earth guy, a handsome fellow with oodles of charm and a wicked sense of humor. PLUS a long record of Saul-Alinsky-style community organizing, agitating and deal-making.
Bob told me this story: At one point, he was lobbying the state legislature for something, and getting nowhere, thanks to lack of actual (as opposed to rhetorical) support from the Democrats. SO he decided to run for state representative, in district of WA with the most minority voters - as a Republican.
The GOP, eager to spotlight their new recruit in this proto-Rainbow Coalition district, assigned one of their best local campaign operatives to help him as campaign manager.
Bob lost the election, though he accomplished his objective, which was to get the Dems to stop bullshitting & stonewalling him. And it certainly wasn't the campaign manager's fault, who Bob says did a great job.
You may have heard of the campaign manager: Ted Bundy.
Subsample alert! Btw. If that is Gospel that's a big boost for Labour in E+W of course.
The poll does indeed have Labour doing better in England, Labour now lead in the North and Midlands as well as London according to the subsample with the Tories just ahead in the South of England.
The Tories are ahead in Wales though according to the subsample, suggesting Drakeford is hitting Labour's support there
Which would seem to make sense, for the moment at least. Not saying it's a permanent condition - not saying it ain't.
Travelling for a vaccine is rather fraught, and not just for the flight. You need to be able to trust the supply chain. What if you get there and it IS a Russian or Chinese vaccine?Then you discover "Pfizer - that will be US$800 more...." And you'd need confidence that the storage requirements have been met - and it hasn't been sat in a standard fridge disintegrating somewhere along the line.
And if it doesn't work (for maybe one of the above reasons, but how will you ever know?) - who can you - or your estate - sue?
Decent private hospital in Dubai, with a confirmed Pfizer or Moderna vaccine at the other end. I mean I'm not sure I'd go through a 15 hour flight and a 12 hour time gap for it.
What remarkly poor timing of the new variant, it couldn't have waited, like, 2 months as a minimum? Darned inconvenient.
Wait until vaccine escape. That really will stuff things. Hopefully that will be a while off yet.
I read that someone had been testing how the virus mutates against antibodies in a test tube, and found that two of the first mutations to turn up are those causing the problems with Cockney Covid. They also found a third mutation that was potentially even worse, but hasn't happened in the wild yet.
Presumably, with these mRNA vaccines it would be theoretically possible to make vaccines against _future_ variants which had likely mutations fast-forwarded in a test tube? A cure for a virus that doesn't even exist yet.
Starmer has had a branch (Camberwell Green) pass a motion of no confidence in him - old Labour, new Labour, same old Labour.
In the early (still) days of his leadership, maybe it might help Keir Starmer to have this kind of opposition? For one thing, might motivate his supporters to get the lead out.
Anyway, my view of Starmer is same as with Biden: give him his way, give him lea-way, and do NOT give guff or grief.
I wouldn't be surprised if Turkish private clincs get in on the vaccine tourism hussle using the Russian or Chinese vaccine, as they have become a hub for cut price over medical treatments.
Perhaps I can interest you in a one-price, two-week, fun-filled (among other things) dental vacation in Honduras?>
The big question for me is why have so many western societies been messing everything up since the 1990s? Especially the USA and UK. Okay, mobile phones and internet connectivity have improved since then, but really not much else IMO.
The big question for me is why have so many western societies been messing everything up since the 1990s? Especially the USA and UK. Okay, mobile phones and internet connectivity have improved since then, but really not much else IMO.
Maybe that's WHY they have been messing up? Too MUCH mobility & connectivity? Believe these same factors (early 20th-century style) were involved in the leadup to and outbreak of World War One.
Like familiarity, they seem too often to breed contempt. Which is NOT good for societies and other living things.
Of course the Police should also follow the rules and police them fairly and sensibly
Outrageous.
If I was walking with one other person, by a reservoir, say, in Derbyshire, with a coffee (all perfectly legal) and told to return home, I would refuse. Because we don't live in a police state.
In my area all fines issued are reviewed by the police commissioners office.
As for outrageous, I criticise the police overstepping their bounds plenty, and they will no doubt fine people not in breach of the law by mistake, but they are trying to carry out the law so I wouldn't blame them for the outrageousness of the law.
The police are not legally entitled to do this. If you are out taking exercise, there is no limit in the rules on the amount of time you are allowed to be out. Simply sitting down on a park bench in the middle of your exercise does not put you in breach.
I did just that before embarking on a short hill climb this afternoon, as I had got a bit breathless (I know, I need to get fitter) but if some officious policeman had ordered me to leave I'm sure I'd have had enough breath to give him a lesson on the law.
Be careful from my experience pointing out what the law actually says to a police officer can be construed as causing a breach of the peace in some of their minds
I have a fair amount of experience dealing with the police. But thanks.
I pity the poor bloody cop who wrongfully crosses Ms Cyclefree!
Yeah, but it's those out for their many "essential" purposes that explains why our lockdowns are failing to control the disease. This is essential shopping, an essential takeaway, an essential work journey, essential exercise, essential that my child is at school etc etc, and we wind up with the streets, shops and schools all teeming with folk.
Perhaps BoZo is right. The reason that we have bad covid figures is that people see the measures as an attack on their freedom.
Er.... it's the government which has widened the definition of key workers so that many more children are at school than in Lockdown 1. Given how key schools are to the virus's spread that is a daft thing to do. That is down to the government.
Rather than berating some poor woman having exercise maybe the government could require supermarkets to enforce social distancing in their stores a bit better. Because while my daughter is leaving takeaways for her customers on a table outside her premises at a preordained time so that there is no interaction at all and then delivering alcohol to other customers, again without any interaction, the local Tesco's the last time I went was an absolute free-for-all.
I won't be going there again for a long long while. My daily walk is my only escape from the house. Indeed, I'd quite welcome some police officer to berate because it'd be nice to see a different human being for a change.
If government wants the strictest possible lockdown it can do that but it will have to pay the cost of that - and it doesn't want to. IMO Sunak is responsible for undermining the government's health strategy by failing to properly support those whose activities need to be temporarily stopped. He never does enough and what he does do is too late.
British lockdowns are essentially voluntary for individuals, though compulsory for businesses. Compared to my Greek friends, it is a joke.
I shop in small supermarkets at odd hours. Even at 2200 hours Sainsbury was quite busy before Christmas.
The bezerker policemen of Derbyshire have also been fining people at the entrance to Calke Abbey Estate, where they have been going for their local exercise as the NT has kept its larger gardens open.
They were slapped down.
Took my own life in my hands and went half a mile over the border to Hardwick Hall in Derbyshire a couple of days ago.
Yeah, it was always clear that the UK had no intention of maintaining a Level Playing Field.
Tarrifs incoming...
Removing the reference to the EU doesn't imply they are changing the legislation in any way what are you mithering about
If it is just a word change, rather than a change in regulation, then it is no bar to a closer EU relationship.
If the purpose is to make distance, then there needs to be change for changes sake. Hence tarrifs incoming.
As the article says, it is being done because the Tories are paranoid that when the penny drops about the true damaging nature of the project they have foisted upon us, someone might endeavour to reverse it.
However, since there will be a record of all the changes they make, it doesn’t seem to me that reversing them would be particularly onerous.
"More people think Boris Johnson should resign as prime minister than think he should continue in office, according to the latest Opinium poll for the Observer.
The first poll of 2021 found that 43% thought he should resign, while 40% said that he should remain as leader."
Why didn't we vaccinate frontline NHS first and tell 80+ to continue to shield for another month?
Because of an ill-informed belief that vaccinating the vulnerable is the quickest way to solve the crisis, when in fact it's vaccinating the key workers (with the most contacts) to contain the spread of the virus.
As of the 1.3 million vaccinated (as of Sunday), 780K (60%) were under 80.
They were a mix of care home staff and front line NHS.
According to the best figures I could find, the total number of doctors and nurses in the NHS is 416,876
It would be interesting to find out what percentage of the NHS has received the first dose.
Yes at least they had the sense to do the NHS and care home staff at the same time as the very old. Should be essential shop workers, teachers, bus drivers and so on next though.
Many of the vaccinations so far won't actually help much with containing the virus in the short term, because it's people who would have stayed at home anyway. They might even be counterproductive if people now start heading out with partial protection.
Yes. Once the pensioners and vulnerable have been done, the next groups need to be people who face the public, who meet lots of people every day in the course of their jobs.
Of course the Police should also follow the rules and police them fairly and sensibly
Outrageous.
If I was walking with one other person, by a reservoir, say, in Derbyshire, with a coffee (all perfectly legal) and told to return home, I would refuse. Because we don't live in a police state.
In my area all fines issued are reviewed by the police commissioners office.
Police shouldn't be handing out fines to people who don't break the law.
I can't believe I am having to write that.
I don't disagree and the police do overstep the law and when that happens it is a disgrace - I've criticised that on many occasions, not least when the guidance does not match the law - but the headline says where they believe people to be in 'breach of the rules', so the implication was where someone appeared to be in breach of the law. Therefore the outrageousness would be the law, not the police action
What law would this be exactly?
I really think people are missing my point and I don't understand why. Some people appear to be objecting to the very principle of the police issuing fines at all, when we know that people are indeed fined for Covid-19 breaches legitimately. I'm saying that having a problem with the police for that is looking in the wrong place.
The police wrongly issuing fines is absolutely their fault, which is why I am glad the fines are reviewed, though they should get it right in the first place.
I don't see what is controversial about that. Parliament has given the police a lot of power, and people can be mad at that, but they have been given it. The police, however, need to utilise that power correctly.
From these responses people seem to be arguing against a non-position that it is ok for them to fine people incorrectly, and no one is suggesing that.
I think you've been missing my point from the start. Going back to the original headline:
Every police officer has been told to fine people £200 if they believe they are in breach of the rules
The police should NOT be issuing any fines UNLESS they have clear evidence of a LAW being broken.
Not a 'rule' or a guideline breeched. A law. The Covid laws are very specific. 2m, for example, is not in law.
They should also have to do more than 'believe' - they should have prima facie evidence. In most cases that will be witnessing breaches of the law. I don't object to them issuing fines for law breakers.
And the review process doesn't negate incorrect imposition of fines. If police are acting on 'beliefs' and 'rules' rather than 'evidence' and 'laws' the rule of law in this country has broken down, and the sacred trust that is policing by consent absolutely violated.
It does appear that police forces are not doing a good job of training officers on the Covid laws. If everyone handed a fine goes to court, the court system will soon be overwhelmed and magistrates will push back against the police.
The big question for me is why have so many western societies been messing everything up since the 1990s? Especially the USA and UK. Okay, mobile phones and internet connectivity have improved since then, but really not much else IMO.
Media and infotainment culture in Britain and the US degraded quite substantially at quite a specific time, between the early and late 1990's.Ten years later, that culture had already consumed and then been vastly accelerated by the internet, which was originally a radically innovative, experimental space.
Hey, was just informed that here in WA State, based on my age (mid 60s) and condition (diabetes & hbp) am scheduled to get vaccinated against COVID sometime in March.
How do you think that stacks up with other places? BTW first priority (Jan) are health care workers & other essential, then people over 70 (February) then yours truly. So the priority seems fair enough. But is the timeline reasonably reasonable?
Personally have always been pessimistic re: timetable, so am not stressed (at least not now). BUT do know folks who are, for example friend of mine whose's husband is recovering from lung cancer. Hopefully they won't have to wait two months.
There are a few modest apps in the UK which allow you to input your postcode, age, ailments (or lack of), and thereby get a decent prediction for the date of your first jab.
I am 55+. in good health despite my sinful nature, and have a London postcode. I am priority 6 or 7 or something, and can thereby expect my initial needle in late March. Apparently.
Personally, I am tempted to jet off to the UAE where I could, it is said, buy a a jab NOW. The one thing that stops me is the fear of catching it on the damn plane.
Sinopharm jab is available for free here, to any UAE resident who wants it. Residence costs about £2k, either via an employer or setting up your own company, and takes a couple of weeks to process.
Pfizer jab is available free to Dubai residence visa holders, but currently only over 60s and vulnerable groups. Should be more widely available in a couple of months’ time though.
Certificate of vaccination is linked to your local ID card number, so if you don’t have an ID card you won’t be getting a certificate.
Life here is like U.K. Level 1 - bars open, but table service only, no standing. Cinemas and theatres running at reduced capacity. Only things not happening are large sporting events.
Of course the Police should also follow the rules and police them fairly and sensibly
Outrageous.
If I was walking with one other person, by a reservoir, say, in Derbyshire, with a coffee (all perfectly legal) and told to return home, I would refuse. Because we don't live in a police state.
In my area all fines issued are reviewed by the police commissioners office.
Police shouldn't be handing out fines to people who don't break the law.
I can't believe I am having to write that.
I don't disagree and the police do overstep the law and when that happens it is a disgrace - I've criticised that on many occasions, not least when the guidance does not match the law - but the headline says where they believe people to be in 'breach of the rules', so the implication was where someone appeared to be in breach of the law. Therefore the outrageousness would be the law, not the police action
What law would this be exactly?
I really think people are missing my point and I don't understand why. Some people appear to be objecting to the very principle of the police issuing fines at all, when we know that people are indeed fined for Covid-19 breaches legitimately. I'm saying that having a problem with the police for that is looking in the wrong place.
The police wrongly issuing fines is absolutely their fault, which is why I am glad the fines are reviewed, though they should get it right in the first place.
I don't see what is controversial about that. Parliament has given the police a lot of power, and people can be mad at that, but they have been given it. The police, however, need to utilise that power correctly.
From these responses people seem to be arguing against a non-position that it is ok for them to fine people incorrectly, and no one is suggesing that.
I think you've been missing my point from the start. Going back to the original headline:
Every police officer has been told to fine people £200 if they believe they are in breach of the rules
The police should NOT be issuing any fines UNLESS they have clear evidence of a LAW being broken.
Not a 'rule' or a guideline breeched. A law. The Covid laws are very specific. 2m, for example, is not in law.
They should also have to do more than 'believe' - they should have prima facie evidence. In most cases that will be witnessing breaches of the law. I don't object to them issuing fines for law breakers.
And the review process doesn't negate incorrect imposition of fines. If police are acting on 'beliefs' and 'rules' rather than 'evidence' and 'laws' the rule of law in this country has broken down, and the sacred trust that is policing by consent absolutely violated.
It does appear that police forces are not doing a good job of training officers on the Covid laws. If everyone handed a fine goes to court, the court system will soon be overwhelmed and magistrates will push back against the police.
You'd have to retrain them in the ever changing detail every week.
Comments
I am 55+. in good health despite my sinful nature, and have a London postcode. I am priority 6 or 7 or something, and can thereby expect my initial needle in late March. Apparently.
Personally, I am tempted to jet off to the UAE where I could, it is said, buy a a jab NOW. The one thing that stops me is the fear of catching it on the damn plane.
Romney, Murkowski, Sasse, Toomey, Collins: anyone else? I struggle to get past the five.
That being said, if McConnell were say "fuck it" (& I don't think he will), then you could easily see sufficient Republicans line up. Trump's habit of shafting everyone, left, right and centre might come back to haunt him.
Corporations should be told to f off over this sort of practise
I love the Madinat Jumeriah. That's almost worth considering. Three weeks in Dubai. School be damned. Come back in early February, not worrying about the virus at all. There's a lot to recommend about that.
But then that may partly be as I struggle to wrap my head around such partisan judges in the first place, despite its long standing nature.
I shop in small supermarkets at odd hours. Even at 2200 hours Sainsbury was quite busy before Christmas.
Recently the quality of the leading articles here has been excellent. Every day now is a "big news day" and PBers are rising to the moment by providing insightful commentary and analysis.
One aspect not addressed in the article is how the various media have stoked up so much hatred and division. It's hard to comprehend what we have witnessed in the US over the last few days. Yes, individual dissatisfaction and disaffection are partial explanations. But there's more to it than this. People are being encouraged to blame, despise and scapegoat each other by some mainstream media, influencers on social media and shock jocks etc. Appealing to prejudices with their own fake news.
I think this is may be the bigliest problem of them all.
The fee is hefty, but, like you, I can see the temptation. Three weeks of expensive, boring sunshine with cocktails by a pool. You come back immune. Pretty enticing. So it costs a bomb: what price is a life, especially MINE??
It's literally the flight out there which daunts me.
And yes, I agree, restrictions on grey market imports are wrong.
https://www.opinium.com/resource-center/uk-voting-intention-6th-january-2021/
You know, it'd be a great travel journalism story. My illicit trip to Dubai to get vaccinated.
Btw. If that is Gospel that's a big boost for Labour in E+W of course.
The Tories are ahead in Wales though according to the subsample, suggesting Drakeford is hitting Labour's support there
According to the app someone in that group should get it this month. It seems unlikely because the focus is on groups 1-4 by mid to end February.
I'm assuming house arrest monotony until at least Easter.
As for African immigrants, well we just elected one last year to the King County Council, from a district that has a concentration of East Africans plus Seattle's historically-Black Central District, but is predominately White. Son of Somali parents, he grew up in poor neighborhood, went to local schools - then on to Harvard.
Of course he's unique. Much more ubiquitous are the Eritrean, Ethiopian and Somali women you see here and there (especially on the bus pre-COVID) and who stand out because of their (generally) colorful headscarves.
Which I personally like, in a city where the predominate wardrobe colors are black, brown and blackish-brown. Of course a fair number of those who are too short for their weight sport the all-black look. Which does little for the jollification of me or anyone else.
Thus greatly appreciate the splashes of color that come with our African newcomers, especially on a cold, overcast winter day!
And if it doesn't work (for maybe one of the above reasons, but how will you ever know?) - who can you - or your estate - sue?
The are one of the largest in Seattle, thanks to long-standing ties via the US Navy and canneries. Today they are prevalent in health care and related fields such as drug stores. In these and in many other ways, they've made great contributions to our entire city, state and nation.
Was privileged to know the late, great Bob Santos, a Filipino American activist who was one of Seattle's "Gang of Four" minority community leaders. Bob was a great, down-to-earth guy, a handsome fellow with oodles of charm and a wicked sense of humor. PLUS a long record of Saul-Alinsky-style community organizing, agitating and deal-making.
Bob told me this story: At one point, he was lobbying the state legislature for something, and getting nowhere, thanks to lack of actual (as opposed to rhetorical) support from the Democrats. SO he decided to run for state representative, in district of WA with the most minority voters - as a Republican.
The GOP, eager to spotlight their new recruit in this proto-Rainbow Coalition district, assigned one of their best local campaign operatives to help him as campaign manager.
Bob lost the election, though he accomplished his objective, which was to get the Dems to stop bullshitting & stonewalling him. And it certainly wasn't the campaign manager's fault, who Bob says did a great job.
You may have heard of the campaign manager: Ted Bundy.
But if I were single, I might.
I read that someone had been testing how the virus mutates against antibodies in a test tube, and found that two of the first mutations to turn up are those causing the problems with Cockney Covid. They also found a third mutation that was potentially even worse, but hasn't happened in the wild yet.
Presumably, with these mRNA vaccines it would be theoretically possible to make vaccines against _future_ variants which had likely mutations fast-forwarded in a test tube? A cure for a virus that doesn't even exist yet.
Anyway, my view of Starmer is same as with Biden: give him his way, give him lea-way, and do NOT give guff or grief.
Maybe someday. But not today, not tomorrow.
Like familiarity, they seem too often to breed contempt. Which is NOT good for societies and other living things.
They were slapped down.
Took my own life in my hands and went half a mile over the border to Hardwick Hall in Derbyshire a couple of days ago.
However, since there will be a record of all the changes they make, it doesn’t seem to me that reversing them would be particularly onerous.
The first poll of 2021 found that 43% thought he should resign, while 40% said that he should remain as leader."
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/jan/09/most-think-boris-johnson-should-resign-poll
Pfizer jab is available free to Dubai residence visa holders, but currently only over 60s and vulnerable groups. Should be more widely available in a couple of months’ time though.
Certificate of vaccination is linked to your local ID card number, so if you don’t have an ID card you won’t be getting a certificate.
Life here is like U.K. Level 1 - bars open, but table service only, no standing. Cinemas and theatres running at reduced capacity. Only things not happening are large sporting events.
One advantage of the handling issues with the Pfizer vaccine, is that they’re really difficult to get out into the black market.