9pm soon. Is everyone turning over to ITV? Or are they arranging for a dripping tap to watch instead?
I shall be watching a freshly painted wall dry.
My wife is insisting we watch it.
So far, Meghan is a consummate actor. Her answers seem clear, fluid, and also rehearsed and insecure.
I think that’s my issue with this whole farrago - she is an actor, so I find it hard to believe she’s not playing a role here, in a way that perhaps Diana didn’t way back when.
Actress surely?
Whoopi Goldberg thinks that actress is sexist because it implies you can only play women, rather than any character.
So she prefers actor.
See this is the problem.
"Actress" isn't sexist. That's ridiculous.
However I personally don't see the need to gender the word "actor". I also don't care if people use the word "actress".
I agree with you.
And I just get more confused. I struggle to see the difference between ‘coloured people’ and ‘people of colour’. I have no desire to upset anyone, so will use whatever I am supposed to, but I have never had the email to say that the former is now verboten and we should use the latter.
When I was young an entire country was plastered with notices along the lines of “no coloureds” or “coloureds only”, and you wonder why the term is now tainted?
No, that’s not my point. I don’t follow things closely enough so I missed when the currently approved term became ‘people of colour’. I also suspect it will change again. I wonder if the use of language in this context is a bit like the evolution of business speak? Everyone uses it to fit in.
Seems like a rather hyperbolic reaction. Why would the UK's reputation take a significant hit because the royal family has infighting? What nation is going to treat the UK differently because there is negative press involving people connected with the Head of State?
It's like when people cry about Boris bring mocked abroad. Yes, that's embarrasing for those of us who don't like him, I imagine some americans felt even worse about how people mocked Trump for what it said about america, but such things are never as big of a deal in practical terms as we think.
It's all tomorrow's chip paper, but I think in the short term it is pretty harmful. They're actually stating that they moved from the UK to the USA because the UK is so racist. That isn't likely to be questioned by the average US viewer - their ideas about the UK are limited to say the least. We must be getting on for the least racist and most integrated of any Western nation, but a narcissistic airhead and the utter gimp she's married to are sitting there making us look like Missisipi without the gumbo.
Trump and BLM has done way more damage to the reputation of America than this will do to the UK. Indeed, part of the eagerness with which some Americans have seized on this is because they are relieved that another country’s institutions are being questioned and scorned, after four years of humiliation for the USA (from which I do not think it will ever quite recover, Trump and then Covid were too much to take)
That said, you’re right. Some major short-medium term damage is done to the monarchy. A smaller short term hit will impact the UK, mostly in American perceptions
Well other than the Queen, the rest of the family have totally shut them out. The bust up has clearly been enourmous, his own dad wouldn't take his calls nor will they speak to them about his grandfather condition in hospital.
I'm not watching the interview because I quite frankly don't care however if it's true that Harry's dad wont talk to him about his grandfather's health, that's very sad.
That was a big take away for me, very sad situation for Harry, all he has been through, especially with his brother and it has come to this. It is much bigger bust up than we don't really want to do the royal duty thing, it is proper your out....he claims they literally just cut his money off one day, no warning, they told them you don't get any security, your on your own.
Quite right. The security was government provided and it would have been scandalous for our taxes to continue to cover it. His lack of self awareness and understanding of who was paying for his lifestyle is breathtaking.
And frankly that goes for the Duchy of Cornwall too. If you’re out, you’re out.
That is the one element I have little sympathy for, when even if I don't buy all the claims on the rest I can have sympathy with the personal situation, as it merely confuses me. Harry clearly despised royal work, such as it is, and wanted to do his own thing, why would he not expect to be cut off from royal or family funds? Isn't that what he wanted, to be his own man with his own family, doing the work he wants to do?
That the family relationships have broken down along with the money is very sad, but the money? What of it?
There was a time when large deficits and some loose lending was sufficient to have inflation roaring. Since 2009 we have had hundreds of billions of QE, frankly crazy lending on new cars fuelling more consumer debt than we had in 2008, a gradual relaxation on mortgage lending with government help, significant asset inflation, absolutely stonking, almost unbelievable levels of borrowing and...nada. Inflation currently below 1%.
Something has very materially changed and monetarist theory needs rewritten (again). We have an incredible number of problems coming up. I am very reluctant to believe that inflation is one of them.
Her version of that story doesn't really add up. She doesn't say what Kate was 'upset' about.
Will and Kate cannot respond in the same way, it does make that part of the battle one sided. Harry and Meghan cannot orchestrate as many leaks of course (whoever is behind that), so there are weapons of different strength at hand.
Well other than the Queen, the rest of the family have totally shut them out. The bust up has clearly been enourmous, his own dad wouldn't take his calls nor will they speak to them about his grandfather condition in hospital.
I'm not watching the interview because I quite frankly don't care however if it's true that Harry's dad wont talk to him about his grandfather's health, that's very sad.
That was a big take away for me, very sad situation for Harry, all he has been through, especially with his brother and it has come to this. It is much bigger bust up than we don't really want to do the royal duty thing, it is proper your out....he claims they literally just cut his money off one day, no warning, they told them you don't get any security, your on your own.
I reckon lots of pb'ers are but not admitting it since the comment rate has dropped off a cliff since 9pm.
I've just seen a highlight reel. Least convincing thing ever. Markle has dropped even further in my estimation.
It's quite funny watching dyed in the wool Republicans (as in, supporters of the Republican party) come out swinging for the Royal family by default, because of how much they want to hate on Markle. Somewhat unedifying, but still funny.
Well other than the Queen, the rest of the family have totally shut them out. The bust up has clearly been enourmous, his own dad wouldn't take his calls nor will they speak to them about his grandfather condition in hospital.
I'm not watching the interview because I quite frankly don't care however if it's true that Harry's dad wont talk to him about his grandfather's health, that's very sad.
That was a big take away for me, very sad situation for Harry, all he has been through, especially with his brother and it has come to this. It is much bigger bust up than we don't really want to do the royal duty thing, it is proper your out....he claims they literally just cut his money off one day, no warning, they told them you don't get any security, your on your own.
Quite right. The security was government provided and it would have been scandalous for our taxes to continue to cover it. His lack of self awareness and understanding of who was paying for his lifestyle is breathtaking.
And frankly that goes for the Duchy of Cornwall too. If you’re out, you’re out.
"If you’re out, you’re out."
This makes perfect sense apparently to the Royal Family and to the chinless wonders they employ at The Firm, and also to millions of traditional monarchical geezers and apprentice-geezers.
BUT doubt that it washes, at least whole hog, with many others.
Popular impression was that the break between H&M and the rest, was being negotiated and finessed with reasonable finesse, as indeed it SHOULD have been. As in the best interests of the Royal Family itself.
Her version of that story doesn't really add up. She doesn't say what Kate was 'upset' about.
Luckily for her it doesn't have to add up. I don't think Oprah is a renowned cross-examiner.
The Washington Post has got an article today calling Oprah the "greatest celebrity interviewer of all time".
I like Oprah, but almost any randomly chosen British interviewer would be tougher. People like Parkinson, Russell Harty, and even Wogan would have been picking holes in their story.
Presumably they mean 'interviewer of the greatest celebrities' which is pushing it but plausible. From the pieces I've seen I think that it's more 'discussion host' rather than 'interviewer' but...
Rishi knows that inflation is coming which is why he has frozen the tax thresholds!
Yet he continues to throw stimulus at the economy - QE, borrowing which isn't needed. Of course, there will be a huge rebound as all the cash that's not been spent on the Internet in suburban working-at-home households is unleashed.
That's human nature after the year we've been through.
The problem will be too much money chasing too few goods and services. I suspect we'll be the progressive gouging of middle class Britain this summer.
Well other than the Queen, the rest of the family have totally shut them out. The bust up has clearly been enourmous, his own dad wouldn't take his calls nor will they speak to them about his grandfather condition in hospital.
I'm not watching the interview because I quite frankly don't care however if it's true that Harry's dad wont talk to him about his grandfather's health, that's very sad.
That was a big take away for me, very sad situation for Harry, all he has been through, especially with his brother and it has come to this. It is much bigger bust up than we don't really want to do the royal duty thing, it is proper your out....he claims they literally just cut his money off one day, no warning, they told them you don't get any security, your on your own.
Quite right. The security was government provided and it would have been scandalous for our taxes to continue to cover it. His lack of self awareness and understanding of who was paying for his lifestyle is breathtaking.
And frankly that goes for the Duchy of Cornwall too. If you’re out, you’re out.
Popular impression was that the break between H&M and the rest, was being negotiated and finessed with reasonable finesse,
No it wasn't, there's was an almight hoo-hah about it and the suddenness of announcements made it clear it was a shit show. That word of relationship issues between the various parties have been rumbling for ages also demonstrate that.
There was a time when large deficits and some loose lending was sufficient to have inflation roaring. Since 2009 we have had hundreds of billions of QE, frankly crazy lending on new cars fuelling more consumer debt than we had in 2008, a gradual relaxation on mortgage lending with government help, significant asset inflation, absolutely stonking, almost unbelievable levels of borrowing and...nada. Inflation currently below 1%.
Something has very materially changed and monetarist theory needs rewritten (again). We have an incredible number of problems coming up. I am very reluctant to believe that inflation is one of them.
Globalisation and China etc
When production can switch from domestic to imported practically instantly then it becomes difficult to substantiate price rises.
There was a time when large deficits and some loose lending was sufficient to have inflation roaring. Since 2009 we have had hundreds of billions of QE, frankly crazy lending on new cars fuelling more consumer debt than we had in 2008, a gradual relaxation on mortgage lending with government help, significant asset inflation, absolutely stonking, almost unbelievable levels of borrowing and...nada. Inflation currently below 1%.
Something has very materially changed and monetarist theory needs rewritten (again). We have an incredible number of problems coming up. I am very reluctant to believe that inflation is one of them.
I hope not because I'm on a tracker mortgage and I am not in a position to remortgage at present!
Well other than the Queen, the rest of the family have totally shut them out. The bust up has clearly been enourmous, his own dad wouldn't take his calls nor will they speak to them about his grandfather condition in hospital.
I'm not watching the interview because I quite frankly don't care however if it's true that Harry's dad wont talk to him about his grandfather's health, that's very sad.
That was a big take away for me, very sad situation for Harry, all he has been through, especially with his brother and it has come to this. It is much bigger bust up than we don't really want to do the royal duty thing, it is proper your out....he claims they literally just cut his money off one day, no warning, they told them you don't get any security, your on your own.
Quite right. The security was government provided and it would have been scandalous for our taxes to continue to cover it. His lack of self awareness and understanding of who was paying for his lifestyle is breathtaking.
And frankly that goes for the Duchy of Cornwall too. If you’re out, you’re out.
Popular impression was that the break between H&M and the rest, was being negotiated and finessed with reasonable finesse,
No it wasn't, there's was an almight hoo-hah about it and the suddenness of announcements made it clear it was a shit show. That word of relationship issues between the various parties have been rumbling for ages also demonstrate that.
You are likely correct as to substance, but still think that impression was this was part of the warp & woof of negotiation.
Seems like a rather hyperbolic reaction. Why would the UK's reputation take a significant hit because the royal family has infighting? What nation is going to treat the UK differently because there is negative press involving people connected with the Head of State?
It's like when people cry about Boris bring mocked abroad. Yes, that's embarrasing for those of us who don't like him, I imagine some americans felt even worse about how people mocked Trump for what it said about america, but such things are never as big of a deal in practical terms as we think.
It's all tomorrow's chip paper, but I think in the short term it is pretty harmful. They're actually stating that they moved from the UK to the USA because the UK is so racist. That isn't likely to be questioned by the average US viewer - their ideas about the UK are limited to say the least. We must be getting on for the least racist and most integrated of any Western nation, but a narcissistic airhead and the utter gimp she's married to are sitting there making us look like Missisipi without the gumbo.
From the sounds of most of it it is very much pitched to US audiences, which makes sense - they are probably planning to make their future and family in the US as a permanent thing.
9pm soon. Is everyone turning over to ITV? Or are they arranging for a dripping tap to watch instead?
I shall be watching a freshly painted wall dry.
My wife is insisting we watch it.
So far, Meghan is a consummate actor. Her answers seem clear, fluid, and also rehearsed and insecure.
I think that’s my issue with this whole farrago - she is an actor, so I find it hard to believe she’s not playing a role here, in a way that perhaps Diana didn’t way back when.
Actress surely?
Whoopi Goldberg thinks that actress is sexist because it implies you can only play women, rather than any character.
So she prefers actor.
See this is the problem.
"Actress" isn't sexist. That's ridiculous.
However I personally don't see the need to gender the word "actor". I also don't care if people use the word "actress".
I agree with you.
And I just get more confused. I struggle to see the difference between ‘coloured people’ and ‘people of colour’. I have no desire to upset anyone, so will use whatever I am supposed to, but I have never had the email to say that the former is now verboten and we should use the latter.
When I was young an entire country was plastered with notices along the lines of “no coloureds” or “coloureds only”, and you wonder why the term is now tainted?
That's true, but I think it is also pretty easy to see how someone might be confused by that particular example, as they are so similar. It'd be easier to non-malevolently stumble on that one than other examples (for instance, I think it is not very credible if someone were to claim use of paki as innocent error, since it is pretty improbable every time someone used it they genuinely believed they were using it as a non-offensive abbreviation for someone from pakistan or whatever).
There was a time when large deficits and some loose lending was sufficient to have inflation roaring. Since 2009 we have had hundreds of billions of QE, frankly crazy lending on new cars fuelling more consumer debt than we had in 2008, a gradual relaxation on mortgage lending with government help, significant asset inflation, absolutely stonking, almost unbelievable levels of borrowing and...nada. Inflation currently below 1%.
Something has very materially changed and monetarist theory needs rewritten (again). We have an incredible number of problems coming up. I am very reluctant to believe that inflation is one of them.
Globalisation and China etc
When production can switch from domestic to imported practically instantly then it becomes difficult to substantiate price rises.
That has undoubtedly created a deflationary bias in the real price of goods but why is sterling still worth more than the bolívar soberano? How have our reckless policies not trashed it with the result that nominal inflation goes through the roof? It's bloody mysterious.
Well other than the Queen, the rest of the family have totally shut them out. The bust up has clearly been enourmous, his own dad wouldn't take his calls nor will they speak to them about his grandfather condition in hospital.
I'm not watching the interview because I quite frankly don't care however if it's true that Harry's dad wont talk to him about his grandfather's health, that's very sad.
That was a big take away for me, very sad situation for Harry, all he has been through, especially with his brother and it has come to this. It is much bigger bust up than we don't really want to do the royal duty thing, it is proper your out....he claims they literally just cut his money off one day, no warning, they told them you don't get any security, your on your own.
Quite right. The security was government provided and it would have been scandalous for our taxes to continue to cover it. His lack of self awareness and understanding of who was paying for his lifestyle is breathtaking.
And frankly that goes for the Duchy of Cornwall too. If you’re out, you’re out.
I mean that's quite hyperbolic. If ISIS or whoever kidnapped Harry and Meghan it would be a pretty significant national problem, despite what has gone on.
I do fear something like is quite likely. Maybe not a kidnapping but I've got a horrible feeling harm will come to one or both of them at some point (most likely to be Harry given he's the Queens grandson and he fought in Afghanistan )
Oprah just described Canada as a commonwealth of Britain.
She obviously hasn't heard of the 1931 Statute of Westminster.
Is that one that BLMers tore down?
In case you missed it:
Due to having fessed up to suffering from excessive boredom during lockdown, PB's resident flint-knapper @Leon was commissioned by CCHQ to knap the perfect sculpture of Boris Johnson! Finally able to take a break from knapping strangely shaped sex-toys, he accepted the work in a heatbeat, and got to sculpting the same day. Arduous work, but he felt that, over the course of several weeks of almost continuous knapping, that he got it almost completely spot on.
However, @Leon had found that he had knapped so meticulously that his hands were thoroughly knackered and sore. He wondered about taking some time off in order to finish off his masterpiece at a later date. Boris's office phoned him back reasonably promptly, but to @Leon's horror, he was told in no uncertain terms that he would lose his fee if he stopped work!
There was a time when large deficits and some loose lending was sufficient to have inflation roaring. Since 2009 we have had hundreds of billions of QE, frankly crazy lending on new cars fuelling more consumer debt than we had in 2008, a gradual relaxation on mortgage lending with government help, significant asset inflation, absolutely stonking, almost unbelievable levels of borrowing and...nada. Inflation currently below 1%.
Something has very materially changed and monetarist theory needs rewritten (again). We have an incredible number of problems coming up. I am very reluctant to believe that inflation is one of them.
I've thought about this since you made the point in response to me before, and I recall there was some analysis showing high inflation in those parts of the economy not touched by the deflation from China or the digital revolution.
It's possible that the pandemic will kick-start another phase of the latter, giving a boost to deflationary pressures that would offset the inflationary deficit spending.
But you could also envisage a scenario where geopolitical conflict with China put an end to a source of deflationary pressure, and inflation suddenly came back (perhaps analogous to the oil shock in the 70s.)
Oprah just described Canada as a commonwealth of Britain.
She obviously hasn't heard of the 1931 Statute of Westminster.
She really said that?! This must be going out in Canada. Ouch.
"Commonwealth of Britain" is to "British Commonwealth" as "Colored People" is to "People of Color"
Canadians will know, that dinging an American for such a faux pas, is as ridiculous a criticizing a Brit for ignorance of the infield fly rule.
Nah, loads of yanks think that Britain still rules Canada at some level because the Queen is on the money, there are statues and pictures everywhere, and she's still Queen there too.
Harry's far more concerned about the media and the fate of his mother.
It's still clearly affecting him deeply.
I always thought his mother was destroyed by her husband, herself and a couple of immature arseholes who thought drunk driving at very high speeds without seat belts is clever and funny, in that order, with the media chronicling the whole thing. You can see why Harry would want to redirect the blame of course.
I think her fundamental problem is that *to be kind to her* she fundamentally misunderstands the monarchy. An HR department ? Really ?!
The Royal household has an HR department, yes. Google it.
Sure but that'll be for the actual salaried staff such as *checks notes* the digital learning adviser role currently being advertised, not the actual blimming firm. Granny is the HR department for that
Oprah just described Canada as a commonwealth of Britain.
She obviously hasn't heard of the 1931 Statute of Westminster.
She really said that?! This must be going out in Canada. Ouch.
"Commonwealth of Britain" is to "British Commonwealth" as "Colored People" is to "People of Color"
Canadians will know, that dinging an American for such a faux pas, is as ridiculous a criticizing a Brit for ignorance of the infield fly rule.
Nah, loads of yanks think that Britain still rules Canada at some level because the Queen is on the money, there are statues and pictures everywhere, and she's still Queen there too.
They don't understand.
Well, the Queen's viceroy in Ottawa COULD tell the Prime Minister to take a hike, under certain circumstances. And has (just) within living memory.
It isn't, it had 17 million viewers in the US, the superbowl had over 90 million. It is going down a storm with a few elitist coastal liberals, Middle America could not care less and Trump and his voters are openly hostile to the Sussexes
There was a time when large deficits and some loose lending was sufficient to have inflation roaring. Since 2009 we have had hundreds of billions of QE, frankly crazy lending on new cars fuelling more consumer debt than we had in 2008, a gradual relaxation on mortgage lending with government help, significant asset inflation, absolutely stonking, almost unbelievable levels of borrowing and...nada. Inflation currently below 1%.
Something has very materially changed and monetarist theory needs rewritten (again). We have an incredible number of problems coming up. I am very reluctant to believe that inflation is one of them.
Time for some unpalatable truths - first, cheap labour. In the past, inflation was caused by the economy overheating - I remember the mid 1980s in London and the South East - full employment and that meant skilled workers could demand whatever money they wanted. This wasn't Union power - this was the market. As wages went up and costs went up, inflation roared ack and by 1990 it was back to double figures.
Since 2008, cheap labour has enabled companies to keep costs down - that era may be ending with Freedom of Movement, we'll see.
This time we have a huge volume of cash which has been stored up by individuals and families working at home not going out and not spending (the Internet has provided somewhat of a safety valve without which it would be much worse). All that cash not spent on commuting, work lunches, work clothes, holidays, theatres, Glastonbury, Lingfield Park and the like in 2020 is sitting ready to explode into the economy.
As I've said before, too much money chasing too few goods and services equals inflation. If everyone wants to go on holiday in the UK and you have a cottage in St Ives, how much do you think you can charge in July and August? In 2019, you charged say £2000 for a week, last year you got nothing, this year your phone is ringing off the hook - perhaps you can charge £3000 or even £4000 - the cash rich suburban middle class family will pay it.
Seems like a rather hyperbolic reaction. Why would the UK's reputation take a significant hit because the royal family has infighting? What nation is going to treat the UK differently because there is negative press involving people connected with the Head of State?
It's like when people cry about Boris bring mocked abroad. Yes, that's embarrasing for those of us who don't like him, I imagine some americans felt even worse about how people mocked Trump for what it said about america, but such things are never as big of a deal in practical terms as we think.
It's all tomorrow's chip paper, but I think in the short term it is pretty harmful. They're actually stating that they moved from the UK to the USA because the UK is so racist. That isn't likely to be questioned by the average US viewer - their ideas about the UK are limited to say the least. We must be getting on for the least racist and most integrated of any Western nation, but a narcissistic airhead and the utter gimp she's married to are sitting there making us look like Missisipi without the gumbo.
Trump and BLM has done way more damage to the reputation of America than this will do to the UK. Indeed, part of the eagerness with which some Americans have seized on this is because they are relieved that another country’s institutions are being questioned and scorned, after four years of humiliation for the USA (from which I do not think it will ever quite recover, Trump and then Covid were too much to take)
That said, you’re right. Some major short-medium term damage is done to the monarchy. A smaller short term hit will impact the UK, mostly in American perceptions
Well, except the racist Americans I suppose. They'll probably be delighted.
Seems like a rather hyperbolic reaction. Why would the UK's reputation take a significant hit because the royal family has infighting? What nation is going to treat the UK differently because there is negative press involving people connected with the Head of State?
It's like when people cry about Boris bring mocked abroad. Yes, that's embarrasing for those of us who don't like him, I imagine some americans felt even worse about how people mocked Trump for what it said about america, but such things are never as big of a deal in practical terms as we think.
It's all tomorrow's chip paper, but I think in the short term it is pretty harmful. They're actually stating that they moved from the UK to the USA because the UK is so racist. That isn't likely to be questioned by the average US viewer - their ideas about the UK are limited to say the least. We must be getting on for the least racist and most integrated of any Western nation, but a narcissistic airhead and the utter gimp she's married to are sitting there making us look like Missisipi without the gumbo.
Saying, or implying, that UK is more racist that US is actually quite shocking to most Americans.
We KNOW that we are a very racist nation, it's too obvious to deny. But we a) do NOT know that much about UK, not most of us; and b) we tend to think that you are more civilized and less crude than (many if not most) of us.
So these allegations are just as shocking for Americans as for Brits, but in a somewhat different way.
I read they are beginning to choose the jury for the George Floyd cop trial.
Yes, that's big news and that trial will knock this out the headlines in the next week or so.
Looking at that photo I've realised why Meghan slightly unnerves me, even as I am compelled to look at her. She is the spitting image of a young girlfriend I had about 20 years ago, who I loved very much but who went on to break my heart. Like Meghan she was mixed race (in her case Indian, Jewish, Portuguese, English), like Meghan she was strikingly beautiful.
It is remarkable, the power of female beauty, over men.
And maybe that's why I also sympathise with Harry
It makes you wonder how much of world history over the millennia has been actuated by female beauty and the pursuit of it by powerful men.
Pretty much most of it, I reckon
"Men test ideas. Women test men."
Solid gold, 24 carat, misogynistic drivel.
Biological fact. The desire to procreate drives all of life, it is THE goal of any living being, such that they will go hungry, thirsty. whatever to achieve it; many organisms die when it is finally done. Many creatures fight to the death for the best mates
The male pursuit of beautiful women - fitted ideally for reproduction, as that is what beauty signals - is just a particular form of this. So, yes, it is a primary driver of humanity, and thus shapes all of human society, civilisation and history
If you have an issue with this, I suggest you take it up with God, Darwin, or your psycho-therapist (you must have one) as you are arguing with basic reality, not with me
Human procreation and mating is a crux and fascinating area. But discussion of it often presents as Swiss Toni style barroom musing - as in cartoon patriarchal nonsense like "human history is driven by the pursuit of beautiful women by powerful men".
So I was kind of hoping if I jumped on that now, it wouldn't develop and potentially get even more crass. Because you know what can happen on here if you are allowed to set the tone. It gets whiffy. Not always but quite often.
Tedious
You are sometimes, yes. My point.
Be your best self.
You have an obnoxious tone of voice when you enter this ‘weary moral arbiter’ mode.
But you know it’s obnoxious. That’s why you do it. To irritate
So you carry on obnoxing and I’ll carry on ignoring your appeals to desist
Yes ok. Although I honestly wasn't trying to moralize or irritate in this particular case. I just thought you were being a bit dim, that's all, and that's why I commented. You write plenty of good posts. I'll respond to a few of them over the next few days - assuming there are some - to show balance.
I think her fundamental problem is that *to be kind to her* she fundamentally misunderstands the monarchy. An HR department ? Really ?!
The Royal household has an HR department, yes. Google it.
Sure but that'll be for the actual salaried staff such as *checks notes* the digital learning adviser role currently being advertised, not the actual blimming firm. Granny is the HR department for that
Can you imagine HM turning up for her quarterly performance review?
It isn't, it had 17 million viewers in the US, the superbowl had over 90 million. It is going down a storm with a few elitist coastal liberals, Middle America could not care less and Trump and his voters are openly hostile to the Sussexes
It's weird how you keep calling them "the Sussexes" rather than Harry and Meghan like everyone else.
Well other than the Queen, the rest of the family have totally shut them out. The bust up has clearly been enourmous, his own dad wouldn't take his calls nor will they speak to them about his grandfather condition in hospital.
I'm not watching the interview because I quite frankly don't care however if it's true that Harry's dad wont talk to him about his grandfather's health, that's very sad.
That was a big take away for me, very sad situation for Harry, all he has been through, especially with his brother and it has come to this. It is much bigger bust up than we don't really want to do the royal duty thing, it is proper your out....he claims they literally just cut his money off one day, no warning, they told them you don't get any security, your on your own.
I reckon lots of pb'ers are but not admitting it since the comment rate has dropped off a cliff since 9pm.
Could just be that there’s no escape from it here, either. Just turned off R4 news for the same reason.
It isn't, it had 17 million viewers in the US, the superbowl had over 90 million. It is going down a storm with a few elitist coastal liberals, Middle America could not care less and Trump and his voters are openly hostile to the Sussexes
It's weird how you keep calling them "the Sussexes" rather than Harry and Meghan like everyone else.
I wonder how the Japanese royal family, another ancient monarchy, deals with these family issues. I recall an article on the now Emperor of Japan having to work very hard to convince his now wife to marry him due to concerns about the pressures of royal life.
I think her fundamental problem is that *to be kind to her* she fundamentally misunderstands the monarchy. An HR department ? Really ?!
The Royal household has an HR department, yes. Google it.
Sure but that'll be for the actual salaried staff such as *checks notes* the digital learning adviser role currently being advertised, not the actual blimming firm. Granny is the HR department for that
"She said she went to "one of the most senior people" within the institution and then to the palace human resources department. "Nothing was ever done," she added."
Which sounds as if she knew they were not the obvious people to talk to but felt out of options.
It isn't, it had 17 million viewers in the US, the superbowl had over 90 million. It is going down a storm with a few elitist coastal liberals, Middle America could not care less and Trump and his voters are openly hostile to the Sussexes
It's weird how you keep calling them "the Sussexes" rather than Harry and Meghan like everyone else.
There was a time when large deficits and some loose lending was sufficient to have inflation roaring. Since 2009 we have had hundreds of billions of QE, frankly crazy lending on new cars fuelling more consumer debt than we had in 2008, a gradual relaxation on mortgage lending with government help, significant asset inflation, absolutely stonking, almost unbelievable levels of borrowing and...nada. Inflation currently below 1%.
Something has very materially changed and monetarist theory needs rewritten (again). We have an incredible number of problems coming up. I am very reluctant to believe that inflation is one of them.
I've thought about this since you have the point in response to me before, and I recall there was some analysis showing high inflation in those parts of the economy not touched by the deflation from China or the digital revolution.
It's possible that the pandemic will kick-start another phase of the latter, giving a boost to deflationary pressures that would offset the inflationary deficit spending.
But you could also envisage a scenario where geopolitical conflict with China put an end to a source of deflationary pressure, and inflation suddenly came back (perhaps analogous to the oil shock in the 70s.)
We have definitely had asset inflation, you only need to look at the stock market for that. There is a lot of money chasing yield and bonds for large companies have done very well as a result. But as seen in the graph downthread house prices are overall going nowhere special, goods continue to trend lower or at least offer more and more for pretty similar prices, oil and other commodities are not doing anything special, it gets hard to see where all this inflation is.
My guess for several years after 2008 was that the unwinding of the absurd chains of cash created on CDOs was causing significant deflationary pressure by reducing the money supply which was at best being offset by QE but that argument gets increasingly hard to sustain a decade on.
The problem is that QE is looking relatively risk free at the moment which makes it look incredibly attractive to politicians until it isn't.
It isn't, it had 17 million viewers in the US, the superbowl had over 90 million. It is going down a storm with a few elitist coastal liberals, Middle America could not care less and Trump and his voters are openly hostile to the Sussexes
It's weird how you keep calling them "the Sussexes" rather than Harry and Meghan like everyone else.
I wonder how the Japanese royal family, another ancient monarchy, deals with these family issues. I recall an article on the now Emperor of Japan having to work very hard to convince his now wife to marry him due to concerns about the pressures of royal life.
I think her fundamental problem is that *to be kind to her* she fundamentally misunderstands the monarchy. An HR department ? Really ?!
The Royal household has an HR department, yes. Google it.
Sure but that'll be for the actual salaried staff such as *checks notes* the digital learning adviser role currently being advertised, not the actual blimming firm. Granny is the HR department for that
"She said she went to "one of the most senior people" within the institution and then to the palace human resources department. "Nothing was ever done," she added."
Which sounds as if she knew they were not the obvious people to talk to but felt out of options.
The members of the family are autonomous units. They don’t all report to a line manager or something.
Well other than the Queen, the rest of the family have totally shut them out. The bust up has clearly been enourmous, his own dad wouldn't take his calls nor will they speak to them about his grandfather condition in hospital.
I'm not watching the interview because I quite frankly don't care however if it's true that Harry's dad wont talk to him about his grandfather's health, that's very sad.
That was a big take away for me, very sad situation for Harry, all he has been through, especially with his brother and it has come to this. It is much bigger bust up than we don't really want to do the royal duty thing, it is proper your out....he claims they literally just cut his money off one day, no warning, they told them you don't get any security, your on your own.
I reckon lots of pb'ers are but not admitting it since the comment rate has dropped off a cliff since 9pm.
Could just be that there’s no escape from it here, either. Just turned off R4 news for the same reason.
I’m off to bed with a book. Goodnight all.
Sorry. Like I said, my wife is insisting we watch it.
It isn't, it had 17 million viewers in the US, the superbowl had over 90 million. It is going down a storm with a few elitist coastal liberals, Middle America could not care less and Trump and his voters are openly hostile to the Sussexes
You are seriously underestimating US viewership, as 17m was just audience for last night's TV broadcast, thus does NOT count internet, youtube, etc., etc. over the next days & weeks.
And the pro-Meghan lobby is NOT just "a few elitist coastal liberals" because in fact large swaths of Middle America DO care, at least somewhat, and NOT all of them are Putinists, far from it. \
Especially younger Americans and woman who are more likely to give a hoot about the whole business in the first place.
So essentially repeat of the Lady Di experience (pre-crash) on this side of the Atlantic (and Pacific).
It isn't, it had 17 million viewers in the US, the superbowl had over 90 million. It is going down a storm with a few elitist coastal liberals, Middle America could not care less and Trump and his voters are openly hostile to the Sussexes
It's weird how you keep calling them "the Sussexes" rather than Harry and Meghan like everyone else.
It's also weird how he knows only "elitist coastal liberals" (whoever they are) are interested and "Middle America" (whatever that is) couldn't care less. It's ludicrous pigeonholing based on simplistic politics. Perhaps he thinks the 81 million who voted for Biden only live near the sea.
It isn't, it had 17 million viewers in the US, the superbowl had over 90 million. It is going down a storm with a few elitist coastal liberals, Middle America could not care less and Trump and his voters are openly hostile to the Sussexes
The parallel British-American , cultural polarisation issue popping up again. This is the much more recent cultural split in common between Britain and America, than the older American proclivity to believe the rebel side in any monarchical conflict. Hardcore Trump fans are indeed just as hostile to Meghan as hardcore Brexiters, although still much less historically enamoured of "decadent snobs" and aristos.
It isn't, it had 17 million viewers in the US, the superbowl had over 90 million. It is going down a storm with a few elitist coastal liberals, Middle America could not care less and Trump and his voters are openly hostile to the Sussexes
The parallel British-American , cultural polarisation issue popping up again. This is the separate and more recent split than the much older American proclivity to believe the rebel in any monarchical conflict. Hardcore Trump fans are indeed just as hostile to Meghan as hardcore Brexiters, although still much less historically enamoured of "snobs" .
It isn't, it had 17 million viewers in the US, the superbowl had over 90 million. It is going down a storm with a few elitist coastal liberals, Middle America could not care less and Trump and his voters are openly hostile to the Sussexes
It's weird how you keep calling them "the Sussexes" rather than Harry and Meghan like everyone else.
That’s their collective noun, isn’t it?
It is but it's weird
I’ve seen it from time to time. It’s a touch more formal.
Well other than the Queen, the rest of the family have totally shut them out. The bust up has clearly been enourmous, his own dad wouldn't take his calls nor will they speak to them about his grandfather condition in hospital.
I'm not watching the interview because I quite frankly don't care however if it's true that Harry's dad wont talk to him about his grandfather's health, that's very sad.
That was a big take away for me, very sad situation for Harry, all he has been through, especially with his brother and it has come to this. It is much bigger bust up than we don't really want to do the royal duty thing, it is proper your out....he claims they literally just cut his money off one day, no warning, they told them you don't get any security, your on your own.
I reckon lots of pb'ers are but not admitting it since the comment rate has dropped off a cliff since 9pm.
Could just be that there’s no escape from it here, either. Just turned off R4 news for the same reason.
I’m off to bed with a book. Goodnight all.
It'll die down in a week if no further claims and the Palace don't shoot themselves in the foot. Given some claims dont have details, thus designed for further reveals, and the Palace's hamfisted leaking, that's unlikely.
I wonder how the Japanese royal family, another ancient monarchy, deals with these family issues. I recall an article on the now Emperor of Japan having to work very hard to convince his now wife to marry him due to concerns about the pressures of royal life.
I honestly wouldn't wish membership of the Royal family on my worst enemy. I have not watched any of this nonsense tonight but it shows the price of membership and simply confirms my view. It's cruel.
I think her fundamental problem is that *to be kind to her* she fundamentally misunderstands the monarchy. An HR department ? Really ?!
The Royal household has an HR department, yes. Google it.
Sure but that'll be for the actual salaried staff such as *checks notes* the digital learning adviser role currently being advertised, not the actual blimming firm. Granny is the HR department for that
IF any institution needs an active, effective Ombuds office, surely it is the Royal Family!
Am I correct, they've been having these messy family feuds (that would disgrace the Hatfields & McCoys) since at least 1066?
The white shirt and sunglasses one is almost beyond belief, and the Wallis Simpson dress?!
It's all on a new, meta-level.
Talking of new levels, if someone was REALLY pissed at Harry over this, it is quite obvious what rumour they could verify. It would be devastating. This could all get quite explosive.
"The Oprah chat came wrapped in blather about Meghan telling ‘her truth’. In reality this was a coronation of two leading members of the neo-aristocracy. Harry and Meghan have successfully positioned themselves as key figureheads of the new feudalism in which cultural power resides in the hands of small numbers of very wealthy people around Silicon Valley and Hollywood, and in which the little people’s role is to receive moral instruction from the likes of Facebook, Netflix, Oprah, Harry, Meghan… That’s the great irony of Harry and Meghan juxtaposing themselves to the monarchy, and being witlessly cheered on by the left for doing so: these two behave in a far more old-world monarchical fashion than the queen does."
It isn't, it had 17 million viewers in the US, the superbowl had over 90 million. It is going down a storm with a few elitist coastal liberals, Middle America could not care less and Trump and his voters are openly hostile to the Sussexes
You are seriously underestimating US viewership, as 17m was just audience for last night's TV broadcast, thus does NOT count internet, youtube, etc., etc. over the next days & weeks.
And the pro-Meghan lobby is NOT just "a few elitist coastal liberals" because in fact large swaths of Middle America DO care, at least somewhat, and NOT all of them are Putinists, far from it. \
Especially younger Americans and woman who are more likely to give a hoot about the whole business in the first place.
So essentially repeat of the Lady Di experience (pre-crash) on this side of the Atlantic (and Pacific).
Lady Di was popular across the partisan divide, Meghan isn't.
The polling is clear, on both sides of the Atlantic if you are on the conservative right you dislike the Sussexes, if you are on the liberal left you like them.
63% of UK Conservative voters sympathise more with the Royal Family and only 6% with the Sussexes, 23% of US Republican voters sympathise more with the Royal family and 17% more with the Sussexes.
By contrast 36% of UK Labour voters sympathise more with the Sussexes and 18% with the Royal family, 44% of US Democratic party voters sympathise more with the Sussexes and only 10% more with the Royal family.
"The Oprah chat came wrapped in blather about Meghan telling ‘her truth’. In reality this was a coronation of two leading members of the neo-aristocracy. Harry and Meghan have successfully positioned themselves as key figureheads of the new feudalism in which cultural power resides in the hands of small numbers of very wealthy people around Silicon Valley and Hollywood, and in which the little people’s role is to receive moral instruction from the likes of Facebook, Netflix, Oprah, Harry, Meghan… That’s the great irony of Harry and Meghan juxtaposing themselves to the monarchy, and being witlessly cheered on by the left for doing so: these two behave in a far more old-world monarchical fashion than the queen does."
Comments
That said, you’re right. Some major short-medium term damage is done to the monarchy. A smaller short term hit will impact the UK, mostly in American perceptions
Softly spoken, quiet and constantly fiddling with his ring.
That the family relationships have broken down along with the money is very sad, but the money? What of it?
Hmmmm....
She obviously hasn't heard of the 1931 Statute of Westminster.
Something has very materially changed and monetarist theory needs rewritten (again). We have an incredible number of problems coming up. I am very reluctant to believe that inflation is one of them.
This makes perfect sense apparently to the Royal Family and to the chinless wonders they employ at The Firm, and also to millions of traditional monarchical geezers and apprentice-geezers.
BUT doubt that it washes, at least whole hog, with many others.
Popular impression was that the break between H&M and the rest, was being negotiated and finessed with reasonable finesse, as indeed it SHOULD have been. As in the best interests of the Royal Family itself.
https://twitter.com/oldsparky6/status/1369032840403357699?s=21
That's human nature after the year we've been through.
The problem will be too much money chasing too few goods and services. I suspect we'll be the progressive gouging of middle class Britain this summer.
It's still clearly affecting him deeply.
When production can switch from domestic to imported practically instantly then it becomes difficult to substantiate price rises.
Canadians will know, that dinging an American for such a faux pas, is as ridiculous a criticizing a Brit for ignorance of the infield fly rule.
Due to having fessed up to suffering from excessive boredom during lockdown, PB's resident flint-knapper @Leon was commissioned by CCHQ to knap the perfect sculpture of Boris Johnson! Finally able to take a break from knapping strangely shaped sex-toys, he accepted the work in a heatbeat, and got to sculpting the same day. Arduous work, but he felt that, over the course of several weeks of almost continuous knapping, that he got it almost completely spot on.
However, @Leon had found that he had knapped so meticulously that his hands were thoroughly knackered and sore. He wondered about taking some time off in order to finish off his masterpiece at a later date. Boris's office phoned him back reasonably promptly, but to @Leon's horror, he was told in no uncertain terms that he would lose his fee if he stopped work!
"Why?" asked @Leon on the phone incredulously.
"Simple!" Boris's underling replied. "You're not entitled to any..." He paused for effect. "...Statue-Tory Sick Pay!"
I thank you!
It's possible that the pandemic will kick-start another phase of the latter, giving a boost to deflationary pressures that would offset the inflationary deficit spending.
But you could also envisage a scenario where geopolitical conflict with China put an end to a source of deflationary pressure, and inflation suddenly came back (perhaps analogous to the oil shock in the 70s.)
They don't understand.
Granny is the HR department for that
Since 2008, cheap labour has enabled companies to keep costs down - that era may be ending with Freedom of Movement, we'll see.
This time we have a huge volume of cash which has been stored up by individuals and families working at home not going out and not spending (the Internet has provided somewhat of a safety valve without which it would be much worse). All that cash not spent on commuting, work lunches, work clothes, holidays, theatres, Glastonbury, Lingfield Park and the like in 2020 is sitting ready to explode into the economy.
As I've said before, too much money chasing too few goods and services equals inflation. If everyone wants to go on holiday in the UK and you have a cottage in St Ives, how much do you think you can charge in July and August? In 2019, you charged say £2000 for a week, last year you got nothing, this year your phone is ringing off the hook - perhaps you can charge £3000 or even £4000 - the cash rich suburban middle class family will pay it.
Just turned off R4 news for the same reason.
I’m off to bed with a book. Goodnight all.
https://twitter.com/AllieHBNews/status/1369049083948728329?s=19
Which sounds as if she knew they were not the obvious people to talk to but felt out of options.
Typical woke Labour
My guess for several years after 2008 was that the unwinding of the absurd chains of cash created on CDOs was causing significant deflationary pressure by reducing the money supply which was at best being offset by QE but that argument gets increasingly hard to sustain a decade on.
The problem is that QE is looking relatively risk free at the moment which makes it look incredibly attractive to politicians until it isn't.
Edit: well, HM may be a line manager of a kind.
I'm going to bed in a minute too though.
And the pro-Meghan lobby is NOT just "a few elitist coastal liberals" because in fact large swaths of Middle America DO care, at least somewhat, and NOT all of them are Putinists, far from it. \
Especially younger Americans and woman who are more likely to give a hoot about the whole business in the first place.
So essentially repeat of the Lady Di experience (pre-crash) on this side of the Atlantic (and Pacific).
And I will be along for every step of the ride, it's like cocaine, need my fix
Give it 2 weeks.
Maybe the inquiry could call Sturgeon back in?
There is no link with Britain at all and the role the Queen plays as Queen of Canada is entirely independent of the role she plays as Queen of the UK.
Am I correct, they've been having these messy family feuds (that would disgrace the Hatfields & McCoys) since at least 1066?
It's all on a new, meta-level.
Talking of new levels, if someone was REALLY pissed at Harry over this, it is quite obvious what rumour they could verify. It would be devastating. This could all get quite explosive.
"The Oprah chat came wrapped in blather about Meghan telling ‘her truth’. In reality this was a coronation of two leading members of the neo-aristocracy. Harry and Meghan have successfully positioned themselves as key figureheads of the new feudalism in which cultural power resides in the hands of small numbers of very wealthy people around Silicon Valley and Hollywood, and in which the little people’s role is to receive moral instruction from the likes of Facebook, Netflix, Oprah, Harry, Meghan… That’s the great irony of Harry and Meghan juxtaposing themselves to the monarchy, and being witlessly cheered on by the left for doing so: these two behave in a far more old-world monarchical fashion than the queen does."
https://www.spiked-online.com/2021/03/08/the-unbearable-victim-complex-of-meghan-markle/
https://eu.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2020/09/16/queen-elizabeth-removed-barbados-head-state-barbados-says/5814409002/
Lady Di was popular across the partisan divide, Meghan isn't.
The polling is clear, on both sides of the Atlantic if you are on the conservative right you dislike the Sussexes, if you are on the liberal left you like them.
63% of UK Conservative voters sympathise more with the Royal Family and only 6% with the Sussexes, 23% of US Republican voters sympathise more with the Royal family and 17% more with the Sussexes.
By contrast 36% of UK Labour voters sympathise more with the Sussexes and 18% with the Royal family, 44% of US Democratic party voters sympathise more with the Sussexes and only 10% more with the Royal family.
https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/survey-results/daily/2021/03/04/d9d4d/1
https://today.yougov.com/topics/international/survey-results/daily/2021/03/05/d38f6/1
Silencing them is Brendan's solution is it?