As an aside, I had never even heard of Naomi Osaka before today. She's a tennis player. She said she was depressed and therefore decided not to do a press conference.
I am struggling to see a story here.
But Piers Morgan decided there was one. Apparently, she's a "brat" and a "madam", because she chose to skip questions from the press.
Now Piers is entitled to his opinions. But didn't Piers Morgan walk off a Good Morning Britain show when faced with questions he didn't like?
Naomi Osaka defeated Sabrina Williams last year IIRC. Her leaving the French Open is a HUGE blow for the event and the sport.
She's had some mental health issues, specifically difficulty dealing with being cross-examined about her ups & esp downs on the tennis court. There appears to have been a basic communications breakdown between her and French Open officials.
For which both share blame, but more goes on them methinks, because it sure seems she has a legitimate personal issue AND she's one of the more interesting & potentially great players on the court today? Or NOT on the court in this case.
I know we have the cult of the individual today and the mere mention of mental health means we must feel sorry for whoever claims it as an issue (despite how badly behaved they are) but the French open exists to play a tennis tournament. The prize money the players get (females now get as much as males and it is a lot) comes mainly from TV rights . So it stands to reason players have to engage with it. The French open needs to be about the tennis not her. Just wish the French Open would say that without having to take her issues into account.
I know nothing of this, but my understanding is that these tournaments should be about evaluating via series of competitive match ups who is the best tennis player.
If someone wishes only to play tennis, and not to appear at press conferences, that doesn't seem unreasonable.
Of course, if that is unacceptable to the competition organizer, then they are free to make appearance a condition of play, and players are free to find that either tolerable or intolerable.
My issue - such that it was - was more about Piers Morgan being a dickwad.
The problem is that the competition is professional, and the prize money is being paid for by the media.
Appearance at the press conferences is very much a condition of playing in the tournament, which Miss Osaka has now decided is unacceptable to her and withdrawn.
When you say "very much", is it a contractual requirement of playing, or something that is just assumed?
It is contractual. Players sign up to the rules. Article III.H of the Grand Slam rules requires players to attend a post-match media conference within 30 minutes of the end of the match unless they are injured and physically unable to appear or the tournament referee agrees otherwise. Non-appearance makes the player liable to a fine of up to $20k.
30 mins feels unnecessary, especially as some of the mens matches last five hours plus. Why not make it same day? That is probably easier on the players who have lost a long tough match without losing access for the journalists. They might even get better answers if they let the players get a bit refreshed.
You seem to be under the impression that the media want “better answers”. The conditions under which they are forced to perform are deliberate. The media want them to explode under pressure or emotion of the immediate aftermath. Or refuse to answer questions so that, yes, they can sell column inches describing their mental state. The one thing they absolutely DON’T want out of the press conferences is considered sensible answers to considered sensible questions.
And the level of emotion to be exploited in the aftermath of high intensity tennis matches is probably at least the equal of, if not greater than, any other high profile sport.
Addendum - interesting to note which way the actual big-time tennis players are going on this.
The last paragraph is brilliant. I would like to think it’s deliberate dry wit:
Two hours after Osaka’s announcement, Moretton conducted a press conference in which he read out a statement in French and English, calling Osaka’s withdrawal “unfortunate” and wishing her “the quickest possible recovery.” He left without fielding any questions from the press.
This guy will be VERY lucky IF he's still the head of the French tennis federation next week.
Remember that his customers, those who pay his wages, are the media and sponsors.
Addendum - interesting to note which way the actual big-time tennis players are going on this.
The last paragraph is brilliant. I would like to think it’s deliberate dry wit:
Two hours after Osaka’s announcement, Moretton conducted a press conference in which he read out a statement in French and English, calling Osaka’s withdrawal “unfortunate” and wishing her “the quickest possible recovery.” He left without fielding any questions from the press.
This guy will be VERY lucky IF he's still the head of the French tennis federation next week.
I was thinking more of the delightful hypocrisy it revealed.
‘We have disqualified a player for not answering questions from the media as it stressed her out. I will not answer questions from the media on this subject.’
The head of the French tennis federation has apparently been on the job for about 15 minutes or thereabouts. And has made his debut by mishandling this situation, so that one of the best and most interesting tennis stars of the day will NOT be competing.
He's gonna end up with his fool head rolling around at the bottom of the guillotine.
On topic this is an example of the problems that arise trying to do anything in such a densely populated and democratic country. We find overriding property rights hard and so we should. Article 1 of Protocol 1 of the ECHR provides: "Every natural or legal person is entitled to the peaceful enjoyment of his possessions. No one shall be deprived of his possessions except in the public interest and subject to the conditions provided for by law and by the general principles of international law.
The preceding provisions shall not, however, in any way impair the right of the State to enforce such laws as it deems necessary to control the use of property in accordance with the general interest or to secure payment of taxes or other contributions or penalties."
So this is something fairly fundamental in human nature and in many respects the very basis of the rule of law.
Its frustrating we take so long to do these things but the alternative is a State with the power to run roughshod over our property rights: would we really want that?
In China it seems that owners don’t have to sell, leading to what are called “nail houses”:
If you look at Narita airport in Tokyo, they built the taxiways around a farmhouse and a couple of fields that a stubborn farmer wouldn’t sell to the airport developer!
Isn't that the same principle that has given us the M62's Little House on the Prairie? Or is that story apocryphal?
Addendum - interesting to note which way the actual big-time tennis players are going on this.
The last paragraph is brilliant. I would like to think it’s deliberate dry wit:
Two hours after Osaka’s announcement, Moretton conducted a press conference in which he read out a statement in French and English, calling Osaka’s withdrawal “unfortunate” and wishing her “the quickest possible recovery.” He left without fielding any questions from the press.
This guy will be VERY lucky IF he's still the head of the French tennis federation next week.
Remember that his customers, those who pay his wages, are the media and sponsors.
Who are shortly gonna join the hue & cry for his head.
Addendum - interesting to note which way the actual big-time tennis players are going on this.
The last paragraph is brilliant. I would like to think it’s deliberate dry wit:
Two hours after Osaka’s announcement, Moretton conducted a press conference in which he read out a statement in French and English, calling Osaka’s withdrawal “unfortunate” and wishing her “the quickest possible recovery.” He left without fielding any questions from the press.
This guy will be VERY lucky IF he's still the head of the French tennis federation next week.
Remember that his customers, those who pay his wages, are the media and sponsors.
What those need most of all are good-quality tennis matches that people will want to watch. That’s just become a bit less likely.
Addendum - interesting to note which way the actual big-time tennis players are going on this.
The last paragraph is brilliant. I would like to think it’s deliberate dry wit:
Two hours after Osaka’s announcement, Moretton conducted a press conference in which he read out a statement in French and English, calling Osaka’s withdrawal “unfortunate” and wishing her “the quickest possible recovery.” He left without fielding any questions from the press.
This guy will be VERY lucky IF he's still the head of the French tennis federation next week.
Remember that his customers, those who pay his wages, are the media and sponsors.
What those need most of all are good-quality tennis matches that people will want to watch. That’s just become a bit less likely.
We are talking about a player who has never made it passed the third round of the French...
On topic this is an example of the problems that arise trying to do anything in such a densely populated and democratic country. We find overriding property rights hard and so we should. Article 1 of Protocol 1 of the ECHR provides: "Every natural or legal person is entitled to the peaceful enjoyment of his possessions. No one shall be deprived of his possessions except in the public interest and subject to the conditions provided for by law and by the general principles of international law.
The preceding provisions shall not, however, in any way impair the right of the State to enforce such laws as it deems necessary to control the use of property in accordance with the general interest or to secure payment of taxes or other contributions or penalties."
So this is something fairly fundamental in human nature and in many respects the very basis of the rule of law.
Its frustrating we take so long to do these things but the alternative is a State with the power to run roughshod over our property rights: would we really want that?
In China it seems that owners don’t have to sell, leading to what are called “nail houses”:
If you look at Narita airport in Tokyo, they built the taxiways around a farmhouse and a couple of fields that a stubborn farmer wouldn’t sell to the airport developer!
Isn't that the same principle that has given us the M62's Little House on the Prairie? Or is that story apocryphal?
I believe it’s more than the rock is prohibitively expensive to remove so they just left it there
Addendum - interesting to note which way the actual big-time tennis players are going on this.
The last paragraph is brilliant. I would like to think it’s deliberate dry wit:
Two hours after Osaka’s announcement, Moretton conducted a press conference in which he read out a statement in French and English, calling Osaka’s withdrawal “unfortunate” and wishing her “the quickest possible recovery.” He left without fielding any questions from the press.
This guy will be VERY lucky IF he's still the head of the French tennis federation next week.
Remember that his customers, those who pay his wages, are the media and sponsors.
What those need most of all are good-quality tennis matches that people will want to watch. That’s just become a bit less likely.
We are talking about a player who has never made it passed the third round of the French...
And who may now be banned from Wimbledon and the US Open, one of which she’s the reigning champion of.
On topic this is an example of the problems that arise trying to do anything in such a densely populated and democratic country. We find overriding property rights hard and so we should. Article 1 of Protocol 1 of the ECHR provides: "Every natural or legal person is entitled to the peaceful enjoyment of his possessions. No one shall be deprived of his possessions except in the public interest and subject to the conditions provided for by law and by the general principles of international law.
The preceding provisions shall not, however, in any way impair the right of the State to enforce such laws as it deems necessary to control the use of property in accordance with the general interest or to secure payment of taxes or other contributions or penalties."
So this is something fairly fundamental in human nature and in many respects the very basis of the rule of law.
Its frustrating we take so long to do these things but the alternative is a State with the power to run roughshod over our property rights: would we really want that?
In China it seems that owners don’t have to sell, leading to what are called “nail houses”:
If you look at Narita airport in Tokyo, they built the taxiways around a farmhouse and a couple of fields that a stubborn farmer wouldn’t sell to the airport developer!
Isn't that the same principle that has given us the M62's Little House on the Prairie? Or is that story apocryphal?
Apparently, the M62 house was caused by the local geology, rather than a stubborn farmer.
Good heavens! R4 have found a commentator, Prof James Naismith who says "we will know more in two weeks" whether the case numbers rise is a blip or a problem.
He also argues that "track & trace doesn't work" - it certainly worked in Guernsey - which may mean its best run at local government and not national level.
Addendum - interesting to note which way the actual big-time tennis players are going on this.
The last paragraph is brilliant. I would like to think it’s deliberate dry wit:
Two hours after Osaka’s announcement, Moretton conducted a press conference in which he read out a statement in French and English, calling Osaka’s withdrawal “unfortunate” and wishing her “the quickest possible recovery.” He left without fielding any questions from the press.
This guy will be VERY lucky IF he's still the head of the French tennis federation next week.
Remember that his customers, those who pay his wages, are the media and sponsors.
Who are shortly gonna join the hue & cry for his head.
No chance. The last thing they want is for their access to the players to be optional.
Meanwhile the island is awash with tourists, yet the problems with progressing vaccinations among our under-40s, as discussed in a PB thread two weeks' back, are still unresolved, with many of our under-40s - the very people working in travel and hospitality - still unvaccinated, being told to wait, or that they have to travel to Portsmouth or Southampton for the Pfizer. That after nearly a month of under-40s being eligible, we still don't have a local Pfizer centre that is bookable through the national NHS website is a scandal.
Good heavens! R4 have found a commentator, Prof James Naismith who says "we will know more in two weeks" whether the case numbers rise is a blip or a problem.
He also argues that "track & trace doesn't work" - it certainly worked in Guernsey - which may mean its best run at local government and not national level.
Or in a relatively small confined community without constant comings and going from outside the affected area...
To be fair also “works” depends on the objectives. If it is to identify every case and rapidly therefore isolate the problem completely to prevent further spread then clearly it has little or no chance in a place like the U.K. once the number of cases exceeds a basic threshold. Doesn’t mean it does no good at at - even one case identified and isolated will have some minute impact.
How odd that tennis puts this contractual demand on the players. If someone wants to do their talking on the court and be an enigma off it, fine. If it harms their personal earnings capacity from endorsements then that’s their choice. But I doubt it. I’m not big into tennis but will make sure I tune in for her at Wimbledon.
As an aside, I had never even heard of Naomi Osaka before today. She's a tennis player. She said she was depressed and therefore decided not to do a press conference.
I am struggling to see a story here.
But Piers Morgan decided there was one. Apparently, she's a "brat" and a "madam", because she chose to skip questions from the press.
Now Piers is entitled to his opinions. But didn't Piers Morgan walk off a Good Morning Britain show when faced with questions he didn't like?
Naomi Osaka defeated Sabrina Williams last year IIRC. Her leaving the French Open is a HUGE blow for the event and the sport.
She's had some mental health issues, specifically difficulty dealing with being cross-examined about her ups & esp downs on the tennis court. There appears to have been a basic communications breakdown between her and French Open officials.
For which both share blame, but more goes on them methinks, because it sure seems she has a legitimate personal issue AND she's one of the more interesting & potentially great players on the court today? Or NOT on the court in this case.
I know we have the cult of the individual today and the mere mention of mental health means we must feel sorry for whoever claims it as an issue (despite how badly behaved they are) but the French open exists to play a tennis tournament. The prize money the players get (females now get as much as males and it is a lot) comes mainly from TV rights . So it stands to reason players have to engage with it. The French open needs to be about the tennis not her. Just wish the French Open would say that without having to take her issues into account.
I know nothing of this, but my understanding is that these tournaments should be about evaluating via series of competitive match ups who is the best tennis player.
If someone wishes only to play tennis, and not to appear at press conferences, that doesn't seem unreasonable.
Of course, if that is unacceptable to the competition organizer, then they are free to make appearance a condition of play, and players are free to find that either tolerable or intolerable.
My issue - such that it was - was more about Piers Morgan being a dickwad.
The problem is that the competition is professional, and the prize money is being paid for by the media.
Appearance at the press conferences is very much a condition of playing in the tournament, which Miss Osaka has now decided is unacceptable to her and withdrawn.
When you say "very much", is it a contractual requirement of playing, or something that is just assumed?
It is contractual. Players sign up to the rules. Article III.H of the Grand Slam rules requires players to attend a post-match media conference within 30 minutes of the end of the match unless they are injured and physically unable to appear or the tournament referee agrees otherwise. Non-appearance makes the player liable to a fine of up to $20k.
30 mins feels unnecessary, especially as some of the mens matches last five hours plus. Why not make it same day? That is probably easier on the players who have lost a long tough match without losing access for the journalists. They might even get better answers if they let the players get a bit refreshed.
You seem to be under the impression that the media want “better answers”. The conditions under which they are forced to perform are deliberate. The media want them to explode under pressure or emotion of the immediate aftermath. Or refuse to answer questions so that, yes, they can sell column inches describing their mental state. The one thing they absolutely DON’T want out of the press conferences is considered sensible answers to considered sensible questions.
And the level of emotion to be exploited in the aftermath of high intensity tennis matches is probably at least the equal of, if not greater than, any other high profile sport.
And in doing that, the media are probably delivering what a large chunk of the watching public want. I'm sure that includes me. Can anyone remember any football manager comment from 25 years ago other than Kevin Keegan's "Love it" rant?
As an aside, I had never even heard of Naomi Osaka before today. She's a tennis player. She said she was depressed and therefore decided not to do a press conference.
I am struggling to see a story here.
But Piers Morgan decided there was one. Apparently, she's a "brat" and a "madam", because she chose to skip questions from the press.
Now Piers is entitled to his opinions. But didn't Piers Morgan walk off a Good Morning Britain show when faced with questions he didn't like?
Naomi Osaka defeated Sabrina Williams last year IIRC. Her leaving the French Open is a HUGE blow for the event and the sport.
She's had some mental health issues, specifically difficulty dealing with being cross-examined about her ups & esp downs on the tennis court. There appears to have been a basic communications breakdown between her and French Open officials.
For which both share blame, but more goes on them methinks, because it sure seems she has a legitimate personal issue AND she's one of the more interesting & potentially great players on the court today? Or NOT on the court in this case.
I know we have the cult of the individual today and the mere mention of mental health means we must feel sorry for whoever claims it as an issue (despite how badly behaved they are) but the French open exists to play a tennis tournament. The prize money the players get (females now get as much as males and it is a lot) comes mainly from TV rights . So it stands to reason players have to engage with it. The French open needs to be about the tennis not her. Just wish the French Open would say that without having to take her issues into account.
I know nothing of this, but my understanding is that these tournaments should be about evaluating via series of competitive match ups who is the best tennis player.
If someone wishes only to play tennis, and not to appear at press conferences, that doesn't seem unreasonable.
Of course, if that is unacceptable to the competition organizer, then they are free to make appearance a condition of play, and players are free to find that either tolerable or intolerable.
My issue - such that it was - was more about Piers Morgan being a dickwad.
The problem is that the competition is professional, and the prize money is being paid for by the media.
Appearance at the press conferences is very much a condition of playing in the tournament, which Miss Osaka has now decided is unacceptable to her and withdrawn.
When you say "very much", is it a contractual requirement of playing, or something that is just assumed?
It is contractual. Players sign up to the rules. Article III.H of the Grand Slam rules requires players to attend a post-match media conference within 30 minutes of the end of the match unless they are injured and physically unable to appear or the tournament referee agrees otherwise. Non-appearance makes the player liable to a fine of up to $20k.
30 mins feels unnecessary, especially as some of the mens matches last five hours plus. Why not make it same day? That is probably easier on the players who have lost a long tough match without losing access for the journalists. They might even get better answers if they let the players get a bit refreshed.
You seem to be under the impression that the media want “better answers”. The conditions under which they are forced to perform are deliberate. The media want them to explode under pressure or emotion of the immediate aftermath. Or refuse to answer questions so that, yes, they can sell column inches describing their mental state. The one thing they absolutely DON’T want out of the press conferences is considered sensible answers to considered sensible questions.
And the level of emotion to be exploited in the aftermath of high intensity tennis matches is probably at least the equal of, if not greater than, any other high profile sport.
And in doing that, the media are probably delivering what a large chunk of the watching public want. I'm sure that includes me. Can anyone remember any football manager comment from 25 years ago other than Kevin Keegan's "Love it" rant?
Western Civilization really would be a good idea.
Joe Kinnear once called Yohan Cabaye "Yohan Kebab". That was a good one.
As an aside, I had never even heard of Naomi Osaka before today. She's a tennis player. She said she was depressed and therefore decided not to do a press conference.
I am struggling to see a story here.
But Piers Morgan decided there was one. Apparently, she's a "brat" and a "madam", because she chose to skip questions from the press.
Now Piers is entitled to his opinions. But didn't Piers Morgan walk off a Good Morning Britain show when faced with questions he didn't like?
Naomi Osaka defeated Sabrina Williams last year IIRC. Her leaving the French Open is a HUGE blow for the event and the sport.
She's had some mental health issues, specifically difficulty dealing with being cross-examined about her ups & esp downs on the tennis court. There appears to have been a basic communications breakdown between her and French Open officials.
For which both share blame, but more goes on them methinks, because it sure seems she has a legitimate personal issue AND she's one of the more interesting & potentially great players on the court today? Or NOT on the court in this case.
I know we have the cult of the individual today and the mere mention of mental health means we must feel sorry for whoever claims it as an issue (despite how badly behaved they are) but the French open exists to play a tennis tournament. The prize money the players get (females now get as much as males and it is a lot) comes mainly from TV rights . So it stands to reason players have to engage with it. The French open needs to be about the tennis not her. Just wish the French Open would say that without having to take her issues into account.
I know nothing of this, but my understanding is that these tournaments should be about evaluating via series of competitive match ups who is the best tennis player.
If someone wishes only to play tennis, and not to appear at press conferences, that doesn't seem unreasonable.
Of course, if that is unacceptable to the competition organizer, then they are free to make appearance a condition of play, and players are free to find that either tolerable or intolerable.
My issue - such that it was - was more about Piers Morgan being a dickwad.
The problem is that the competition is professional, and the prize money is being paid for by the media.
Appearance at the press conferences is very much a condition of playing in the tournament, which Miss Osaka has now decided is unacceptable to her and withdrawn.
Utter bilge.
She's a professional tennis player, yes, and one of the best in the world. She talks with her racket.
She should NOT have to perform off court if it affects her wellbeing.
Tennis is displaying the fact that it is antediluvian and arrogant and, like football, that it stinks.
There’s bits of my job that I hate too, like having to attend meetings and write reports to management, to justify what I’m doing and how I’m spending their money.
I don’t tell them that I don’t want to report to them because it stresses me out, and expect them to just keep paying me regardless. I get on and do what I’m being paid to do, the good bits and the bad bits. It’s called being a professional.
How bad would it be if they just stopped the press conferences after the matches? Do we ever get any startling revelations from them that is worth the hassle?
A simple solution:
For missing the press conference in the final 20% of your prize money goes to charity. For each press conference you miss when you win a match 10% of your tournament prize money goes to charity. For each press conference after you have lost a match 5% of your tournament prize money goes to charity. Players can choose to attend/not attend on that basis.
A finalist missing all their press conferences would lose 80% of their tournament fee.
Incentivises enough players to attend, but allows those with an issue to skip if needed and raises some cash for charity.
Better than a public spat over mental health.
That is an interesting suggestions. I've argued with myself the the pros and cons of each side and always lose the argument with myself.
As an aside, I had never even heard of Naomi Osaka before today. She's a tennis player. She said she was depressed and therefore decided not to do a press conference.
I am struggling to see a story here.
But Piers Morgan decided there was one. Apparently, she's a "brat" and a "madam", because she chose to skip questions from the press.
Now Piers is entitled to his opinions. But didn't Piers Morgan walk off a Good Morning Britain show when faced with questions he didn't like?
Naomi Osaka defeated Sabrina Williams last year IIRC. Her leaving the French Open is a HUGE blow for the event and the sport.
She's had some mental health issues, specifically difficulty dealing with being cross-examined about her ups & esp downs on the tennis court. There appears to have been a basic communications breakdown between her and French Open officials.
For which both share blame, but more goes on them methinks, because it sure seems she has a legitimate personal issue AND she's one of the more interesting & potentially great players on the court today? Or NOT on the court in this case.
I know we have the cult of the individual today and the mere mention of mental health means we must feel sorry for whoever claims it as an issue (despite how badly behaved they are) but the French open exists to play a tennis tournament. The prize money the players get (females now get as much as males and it is a lot) comes mainly from TV rights . So it stands to reason players have to engage with it. The French open needs to be about the tennis not her. Just wish the French Open would say that without having to take her issues into account.
I know nothing of this, but my understanding is that these tournaments should be about evaluating via series of competitive match ups who is the best tennis player.
If someone wishes only to play tennis, and not to appear at press conferences, that doesn't seem unreasonable.
Of course, if that is unacceptable to the competition organizer, then they are free to make appearance a condition of play, and players are free to find that either tolerable or intolerable.
My issue - such that it was - was more about Piers Morgan being a dickwad.
The problem is that the competition is professional, and the prize money is being paid for by the media.
Appearance at the press conferences is very much a condition of playing in the tournament, which Miss Osaka has now decided is unacceptable to her and withdrawn.
When you say "very much", is it a contractual requirement of playing, or something that is just assumed?
It is contractual. Players sign up to the rules. Article III.H of the Grand Slam rules requires players to attend a post-match media conference within 30 minutes of the end of the match unless they are injured and physically unable to appear or the tournament referee agrees otherwise. Non-appearance makes the player liable to a fine of up to $20k.
30 mins feels unnecessary, especially as some of the mens matches last five hours plus. Why not make it same day? That is probably easier on the players who have lost a long tough match without losing access for the journalists. They might even get better answers if they let the players get a bit refreshed.
You seem to be under the impression that the media want “better answers”. The conditions under which they are forced to perform are deliberate. The media want them to explode under pressure or emotion of the immediate aftermath. Or refuse to answer questions so that, yes, they can sell column inches describing their mental state. The one thing they absolutely DON’T want out of the press conferences is considered sensible answers to considered sensible questions.
And the level of emotion to be exploited in the aftermath of high intensity tennis matches is probably at least the equal of, if not greater than, any other high profile sport.
And in doing that, the media are probably delivering what a large chunk of the watching public want. I'm sure that includes me. Can anyone remember any football manager comment from 25 years ago other than Kevin Keegan's "Love it" rant?
Western Civilization really would be a good idea.
Joe Kinnear once called Yohan Cabaye "Yohan Kebab". That was a good one.
You are right about that!
And good luck with the new job & profession. Just keep in mind, that auditor TSE may be monitoring you paper clip consumption!
As an aside, I had never even heard of Naomi Osaka before today. She's a tennis player. She said she was depressed and therefore decided not to do a press conference.
I am struggling to see a story here.
But Piers Morgan decided there was one. Apparently, she's a "brat" and a "madam", because she chose to skip questions from the press.
Now Piers is entitled to his opinions. But didn't Piers Morgan walk off a Good Morning Britain show when faced with questions he didn't like?
Naomi Osaka defeated Sabrina Williams last year IIRC. Her leaving the French Open is a HUGE blow for the event and the sport.
She's had some mental health issues, specifically difficulty dealing with being cross-examined about her ups & esp downs on the tennis court. There appears to have been a basic communications breakdown between her and French Open officials.
For which both share blame, but more goes on them methinks, because it sure seems she has a legitimate personal issue AND she's one of the more interesting & potentially great players on the court today? Or NOT on the court in this case.
I know we have the cult of the individual today and the mere mention of mental health means we must feel sorry for whoever claims it as an issue (despite how badly behaved they are) but the French open exists to play a tennis tournament. The prize money the players get (females now get as much as males and it is a lot) comes mainly from TV rights . So it stands to reason players have to engage with it. The French open needs to be about the tennis not her. Just wish the French Open would say that without having to take her issues into account.
I know nothing of this, but my understanding is that these tournaments should be about evaluating via series of competitive match ups who is the best tennis player.
If someone wishes only to play tennis, and not to appear at press conferences, that doesn't seem unreasonable.
Of course, if that is unacceptable to the competition organizer, then they are free to make appearance a condition of play, and players are free to find that either tolerable or intolerable.
My issue - such that it was - was more about Piers Morgan being a dickwad.
The problem is that the competition is professional, and the prize money is being paid for by the media.
Appearance at the press conferences is very much a condition of playing in the tournament, which Miss Osaka has now decided is unacceptable to her and withdrawn.
When you say "very much", is it a contractual requirement of playing, or something that is just assumed?
It is contractual. Players sign up to the rules. Article III.H of the Grand Slam rules requires players to attend a post-match media conference within 30 minutes of the end of the match unless they are injured and physically unable to appear or the tournament referee agrees otherwise. Non-appearance makes the player liable to a fine of up to $20k.
30 mins feels unnecessary, especially as some of the mens matches last five hours plus. Why not make it same day? That is probably easier on the players who have lost a long tough match without losing access for the journalists. They might even get better answers if they let the players get a bit refreshed.
You seem to be under the impression that the media want “better answers”. The conditions under which they are forced to perform are deliberate. The media want them to explode under pressure or emotion of the immediate aftermath. Or refuse to answer questions so that, yes, they can sell column inches describing their mental state. The one thing they absolutely DON’T want out of the press conferences is considered sensible answers to considered sensible questions.
And the level of emotion to be exploited in the aftermath of high intensity tennis matches is probably at least the equal of, if not greater than, any other high profile sport.
And in doing that, the media are probably delivering what a large chunk of the watching public want. I'm sure that includes me. Can anyone remember any football manager comment from 25 years ago other than Kevin Keegan's "Love it" rant?
Western Civilization really would be a good idea.
Joe Kinnear once called Yohan Cabaye "Yohan Kebab". That was a good one.
Meanwhile the island is awash with tourists, yet the problems with progressing vaccinations among our under-40s, as discussed in a PB thread two weeks' back, are still unresolved, with many of our under-40s - the very people working in travel and hospitality - still unvaccinated, being told to wait, or that they have to travel to Portsmouth or Southampton for the Pfizer. That after nearly a month of under-40s being eligible, we still don't have a local Pfizer centre that is bookable through the national NHS website is a scandal.
To be honest I cannot think of a more lame excuse then they cannot travel for their vaccine, no matter they are on the Isle of Wight
Most anyone sensible would travel anywhere in the UK at this time to be vaccinated
As an aside, I had never even heard of Naomi Osaka before today. She's a tennis player. She said she was depressed and therefore decided not to do a press conference.
I am struggling to see a story here.
But Piers Morgan decided there was one. Apparently, she's a "brat" and a "madam", because she chose to skip questions from the press.
Now Piers is entitled to his opinions. But didn't Piers Morgan walk off a Good Morning Britain show when faced with questions he didn't like?
Naomi Osaka defeated Sabrina Williams last year IIRC. Her leaving the French Open is a HUGE blow for the event and the sport.
She's had some mental health issues, specifically difficulty dealing with being cross-examined about her ups & esp downs on the tennis court. There appears to have been a basic communications breakdown between her and French Open officials.
For which both share blame, but more goes on them methinks, because it sure seems she has a legitimate personal issue AND she's one of the more interesting & potentially great players on the court today? Or NOT on the court in this case.
I know we have the cult of the individual today and the mere mention of mental health means we must feel sorry for whoever claims it as an issue (despite how badly behaved they are) but the French open exists to play a tennis tournament. The prize money the players get (females now get as much as males and it is a lot) comes mainly from TV rights . So it stands to reason players have to engage with it. The French open needs to be about the tennis not her. Just wish the French Open would say that without having to take her issues into account.
I know nothing of this, but my understanding is that these tournaments should be about evaluating via series of competitive match ups who is the best tennis player.
If someone wishes only to play tennis, and not to appear at press conferences, that doesn't seem unreasonable.
Of course, if that is unacceptable to the competition organizer, then they are free to make appearance a condition of play, and players are free to find that either tolerable or intolerable.
My issue - such that it was - was more about Piers Morgan being a dickwad.
The problem is that the competition is professional, and the prize money is being paid for by the media.
Appearance at the press conferences is very much a condition of playing in the tournament, which Miss Osaka has now decided is unacceptable to her and withdrawn.
When you say "very much", is it a contractual requirement of playing, or something that is just assumed?
It is contractual. Players sign up to the rules. Article III.H of the Grand Slam rules requires players to attend a post-match media conference within 30 minutes of the end of the match unless they are injured and physically unable to appear or the tournament referee agrees otherwise. Non-appearance makes the player liable to a fine of up to $20k.
30 mins feels unnecessary, especially as some of the mens matches last five hours plus. Why not make it same day? That is probably easier on the players who have lost a long tough match without losing access for the journalists. They might even get better answers if they let the players get a bit refreshed.
You seem to be under the impression that the media want “better answers”. The conditions under which they are forced to perform are deliberate. The media want them to explode under pressure or emotion of the immediate aftermath. Or refuse to answer questions so that, yes, they can sell column inches describing their mental state. The one thing they absolutely DON’T want out of the press conferences is considered sensible answers to considered sensible questions.
And the level of emotion to be exploited in the aftermath of high intensity tennis matches is probably at least the equal of, if not greater than, any other high profile sport.
And in doing that, the media are probably delivering what a large chunk of the watching public want. I'm sure that includes me. Can anyone remember any football manager comment from 25 years ago other than Kevin Keegan's "Love it" rant?
Western Civilization really would be a good idea.
I wouldn’t say they’re necessarily delivering what the public want. They are delivering what will make the public pay any attention to press conferences. Which isn’t quite the same thing. Without the press conferences many of them would be out of a job. Or might actually have to pay greater attention to and write about the tennis matches themselves.
Meanwhile the island is awash with tourists, yet the problems with progressing vaccinations among our under-40s, as discussed in a PB thread two weeks' back, are still unresolved, with many of our under-40s - the very people working in travel and hospitality - still unvaccinated, being told to wait, or that they have to travel to Portsmouth or Southampton for the Pfizer. That after nearly a month of under-40s being eligible, we still don't have a local Pfizer centre that is bookable through the national NHS website is a scandal.
To be honest I cannot think of a more lame excuse then they cannot travel for their vaccine, no matter they are on the Isle of Wight
Most anyone sensible would travel anywhere in the UK at this time to be vaccinated
I did a 40 mile round trip for my 2nd one — to the lovely Hexham and back. However in fairness I didn't have to wait for a ferry.
Can anyone remember any football manager comment from 25 years ago other than Kevin Keegan's "Love it" rant?
There was the time Ian "Hollo" Holloway first coined the term "bouncebackability" and embarked on a laboured metaphor about how football was like pulling an ugly bird on a nightclub. Also Trapattoni going full "Downfall" in fractured German at a Bayern press conference.
I'm also pretty sure I'll remember Bielsa's Powerpoint based destruction of Derby County for many years hence.
Meanwhile the island is awash with tourists, yet the problems with progressing vaccinations among our under-40s, as discussed in a PB thread two weeks' back, are still unresolved, with many of our under-40s - the very people working in travel and hospitality - still unvaccinated, being told to wait, or that they have to travel to Portsmouth or Southampton for the Pfizer. That after nearly a month of under-40s being eligible, we still don't have a local Pfizer centre that is bookable through the national NHS website is a scandal.
To be honest I cannot think of a more lame excuse then they cannot travel for their vaccine, no matter they are on the Isle of Wight
Most anyone sensible would travel anywhere in the UK at this time to be vaccinated
And some are. But it's a series of bus and boat trips with a travel cost for most people of £25 or more. As well as generating unnecessary travel for people who are unvaccinated.
For an island with population of nearly 150,000, expecting a local bookable vaccination site doesn't seem unreasonable.
Meanwhile the island is awash with tourists, yet the problems with progressing vaccinations among our under-40s, as discussed in a PB thread two weeks' back, are still unresolved, with many of our under-40s - the very people working in travel and hospitality - still unvaccinated, being told to wait, or that they have to travel to Portsmouth or Southampton for the Pfizer. That after nearly a month of under-40s being eligible, we still don't have a local Pfizer centre that is bookable through the national NHS website is a scandal.
To be honest I cannot think of a more lame excuse then they cannot travel for their vaccine, no matter they are on the Isle of Wight
Most anyone sensible would travel anywhere in the UK at this time to be vaccinated
And some are. But it's a series of bus and boat trips with a travel cost for most people of £25 or more. As well as generating unnecessary travel for people who are unvaccinated.
Is the local MP not doing anything about it? You'd think he'd be on the blower to No.10 pronto.
Meanwhile the island is awash with tourists, yet the problems with progressing vaccinations among our under-40s, as discussed in a PB thread two weeks' back, are still unresolved, with many of our under-40s - the very people working in travel and hospitality - still unvaccinated, being told to wait, or that they have to travel to Portsmouth or Southampton for the Pfizer. That after nearly a month of under-40s being eligible, we still don't have a local Pfizer centre that is bookable through the national NHS website is a scandal.
To be honest I cannot think of a more lame excuse then they cannot travel for their vaccine, no matter they are on the Isle of Wight
Most anyone sensible would travel anywhere in the UK at this time to be vaccinated
And some are. But it's a series of bus and boat trips with a travel cost for most people of £25 or more. As well as generating unnecessary travel for people who are unvaccinated.
If there are vaccination centres in every district of Staffordshire offering Pfizer, it seems bizarre to me that there isn’t at least one on the Isle of Wight which has a much larger population than any district of Staffs and much worse transport links.
Meanwhile the island is awash with tourists, yet the problems with progressing vaccinations among our under-40s, as discussed in a PB thread two weeks' back, are still unresolved, with many of our under-40s - the very people working in travel and hospitality - still unvaccinated, being told to wait, or that they have to travel to Portsmouth or Southampton for the Pfizer. That after nearly a month of under-40s being eligible, we still don't have a local Pfizer centre that is bookable through the national NHS website is a scandal.
To be honest I cannot think of a more lame excuse then they cannot travel for their vaccine, no matter they are on the Isle of Wight
Most anyone sensible would travel anywhere in the UK at this time to be vaccinated
And some are. But it's a series of bus and boat trips with a travel cost for most people of £25 or more. As well as generating unnecessary travel for people who are unvaccinated.
Is the local MP not doing anything about it? You'd think he'd be on the blower to No.10 pronto.
Re: vaccination, think that the LACK of serious focus on jabbing hospitality workers of whatever age, is a SERIOUS mistake, in UK, USA and no doubt many other places.
Especially in the last month or so, when it's been clear that the vax supply situation is under control for UK & US.
Last time I went to a restaurant, on Seattle waterfront, made a point of telling our twenty-something server that we were vaccinated. He replied that he was also. But know there are MANY of his co-workers who are still un-vaxxed for one reason or another.
And that govt - including public health (dis)establishment has NOT done enough in this respect, not by a long shot.
Blame the short-sightedness of Dr. Beeching and the DfT in closing the varsity line in the 1960s and then selling off the land.
Remarkably stupid and now makes the reopening of the line very difficult and expensive, because it needs to be effectively rebuilt from scratch east of Bedford.
The Government are doing some remarkable things on this front with their 'Restoring your Railways' expansion.
The first of their rollout is Exeter to Okehampton where they have already laid the new 15 miles of track. Two hourly services will begin 7 days a week later this year, rising to hourly next year.
In due course it's possible they may complete the link around the north side of Dartmoor from Exeter to Plymouth. The line won't be a true alternative to the beautiful but precarious section around Dawlish but it would certainly provide an important emergency backup:
It's great, but of course the Okehampton line was low-hanging fruit and already had a summer Sunday service.
It's much harder to reopen a line where Farmer Giles has ploughed over an embankment or two, the local authority used the odd cutting as a cheap and easy landfill, and the old station was demolished and sold to Barratts for a mini-housing estate in the 1980s.
Meanwhile the island is awash with tourists, yet the problems with progressing vaccinations among our under-40s, as discussed in a PB thread two weeks' back, are still unresolved, with many of our under-40s - the very people working in travel and hospitality - still unvaccinated, being told to wait, or that they have to travel to Portsmouth or Southampton for the Pfizer. That after nearly a month of under-40s being eligible, we still don't have a local Pfizer centre that is bookable through the national NHS website is a scandal.
To be honest I cannot think of a more lame excuse then they cannot travel for their vaccine, no matter they are on the Isle of Wight
Most anyone sensible would travel anywhere in the UK at this time to be vaccinated
Why not just have Pfizer there though? The local health people are letting under 40s down by not having one.
Jesus College wants to hide a plaque (and put it in a side room) of a guy who gave them 2000 quid in 1671 equivalent to 450k now to fund scholarships for orphaned children of Anglican clergy, because of his links to the slave trade.
Jesus College wants to hide a plaque and out it in a side room to a guy who gave them 2000 quid in 1671 equivalent to 450k now to fund scholarships for orphaned children of Anglican clergy because of his links to the slave trade.
Eastasia has always been at war with Oceania.
Who cares? That's a matter for "Jesus College", whatever that is.
Good heavens! R4 have found a commentator, Prof James Naismith who says "we will know more in two weeks" whether the case numbers rise is a blip or a problem.
He also argues that "track & trace doesn't work" - it certainly worked in Guernsey - which may mean its best run at local government and not national level.
Or in a relatively small confined community without constant comings and going from outside the affected area...
To be fair also “works” depends on the objectives. If it is to identify every case and rapidly therefore isolate the problem completely to prevent further spread then clearly it has little or no chance in a place like the U.K. once the number of cases exceeds a basic threshold. Doesn’t mean it does no good at at - even one case identified and isolated will have some minute impact.
I think it is very significant that we have not heard from the scientists that matter, Patrick Valance, Chris Whitty, and JVT, and I assume they are not talking to the press as they respect the confidentiality HMG needs in their consideration over this momentous decision
In this vacuum our ridiculous media, in desperation to make a story, are clinging to those scientists, mainly from Independent Sage, to provide a one sided narrative that becomes more extreme by the day, including hearing Deepti Gurdasani forecast thousands of unnecessary deaths unless we immediately reverse all unlocking, on last night's BBC news
However, 5 live provided a ray of sunlight when their scientist said this morning that we have to wait for the 14th June to be able to make a considered judgment and anything just now is virtually noise
l expect on the 14th June Boris will have his scientists alongside him and he will open the economy on the 21st June with one or two minor tweaks
Meanwhile the island is awash with tourists, yet the problems with progressing vaccinations among our under-40s, as discussed in a PB thread two weeks' back, are still unresolved, with many of our under-40s - the very people working in travel and hospitality - still unvaccinated, being told to wait, or that they have to travel to Portsmouth or Southampton for the Pfizer. That after nearly a month of under-40s being eligible, we still don't have a local Pfizer centre that is bookable through the national NHS website is a scandal.
To be honest I cannot think of a more lame excuse then they cannot travel for their vaccine, no matter they are on the Isle of Wight
Most anyone sensible would travel anywhere in the UK at this time to be vaccinated
Why not just have Pfizer there though? The local health people are letting under 40s down by not having one.
Yep. There is Pfizer - but it's out at GP practices having been used for the elderly, and the dribbling tail of second doses. These sites aren't bookable via the national (English) NHS system, whereas the main vaccination centre in the sports hall, where I had my AZN, is. They've clearly been caught on the hop by the effective withdrawal of the AZN from the under-40s, but after three weeks of faffing about the failure to deliver a solution is pitifully poor.
Those under-40s who, following advice like my own, are making a big fuss are being redirected to GP practices on a case-by-case basis. But there is no 'system' for the majority, and we still have 38 and 39-year olds kept "on hold" while Northern Ireland and SW London throws it open to all over-18s. Meanwhile we're awash with tourists.
If there is a third wave, put your money on it starting here....
On topic this is an example of the problems that arise trying to do anything in such a densely populated and democratic country. We find overriding property rights hard and so we should. Article 1 of Protocol 1 of the ECHR provides: "Every natural or legal person is entitled to the peaceful enjoyment of his possessions. No one shall be deprived of his possessions except in the public interest and subject to the conditions provided for by law and by the general principles of international law.
The preceding provisions shall not, however, in any way impair the right of the State to enforce such laws as it deems necessary to control the use of property in accordance with the general interest or to secure payment of taxes or other contributions or penalties."
So this is something fairly fundamental in human nature and in many respects the very basis of the rule of law.
Its frustrating we take so long to do these things but the alternative is a State with the power to run roughshod over our property rights: would we really want that?
No.
A large chunk of the problem though is the decision to sell off old railway line trackbeds for housing, which was based on the - to put it mildly - naive belief of Civil Servants over three decades that all railways would be closing in the near future so there was no chance they would be required again.
And of course, some never will be. Nobody’s going to rebuild the Littleton Colliery line from Penkridge to Huntington. And I can’t see anyone reopening the Mid Wales railway from Talyllyn Junction to Three Cocks junction, although ironically the track bed is probably mostly in situ there.
But to assume there was not and never would be a need for a railway from Cambridge to Oxford? Bizarre.
But that's the overcrowded point, isn't it? Valuable land cannot be left idle on the off chance that we might need it again some day. It needs to be used now. The examples of where the track beds are available are where the land does not have an alternative use. Land in or near Oxford, London or Cambridge is never going to fall into that category.
In contrast near my house there is the old railway track from Dundee to Newtyle which disappeared the best part of 100 years ago. It is now a delightful walk very popular with horses too. Used it a lot during lockdown.
There’s some good ones like that round here. Ashbourne to Buxton is a gorgeous cycle route. Also the old Stafford-Wellington railway via Market Drayton, although there’s talk of reopening that for freight.
Old railway lines make great cycle paths.
Well, yes. But a lot of them would make even better railway lines.
To quote Rolt, ‘Dr Beeching and his ilk have a great deal to answer for.’
Beeching thought the march of history was only one way, and the railways were antiquated history, so pursued a purely commercial network.
It wasn't just him though. There was a lot of wanton modernist destruction in the 1960s and Milton Keynes was designed for the motorcar.
It could have been worse. There were inner London ring roads proposed too, which thankfully never saw the light of day:
Meanwhile the island is awash with tourists, yet the problems with progressing vaccinations among our under-40s, as discussed in a PB thread two weeks' back, are still unresolved, with many of our under-40s - the very people working in travel and hospitality - still unvaccinated, being told to wait, or that they have to travel to Portsmouth or Southampton for the Pfizer. That after nearly a month of under-40s being eligible, we still don't have a local Pfizer centre that is bookable through the national NHS website is a scandal.
To be honest I cannot think of a more lame excuse then they cannot travel for their vaccine, no matter they are on the Isle of Wight
Most anyone sensible would travel anywhere in the UK at this time to be vaccinated
My brother struggles to pay bus fare just to visit his daughter who lives 8 miles away. He's wary of paying to journey to a vaccination centre more than 5-6 miles away, which he'll walk, when theres so little Covid about now.
An extreme example, no doubt, but some will have to wait for a closer jab. They might not be able to spare travel time either.
Jesus College wants to hide a plaque and out it in a side room to a guy who gave them 2000 quid in 1671 equivalent to 450k now to fund scholarships for orphaned children of Anglican clergy because of his links to the slave trade.
Eastasia has always been at war with Oceania.
Who cares? That's a matter for "Jesus College", whatever that is.
It matters because they are denying the truth to pretend it never happened.
Jesus College wants to hide a plaque (and put it in a side room) of a guy who gave them 2000 quid in 1671 equivalent to 450k now to fund scholarships for orphaned children of Anglican clergy, because of his links to the slave trade.
Eastasia has always been at war with Oceania.
Net net the guy probably created more orphans than he helped. At least now others facing a similar quandary about how to deal with these issues can ask "what would Jesus do?"
Jesus College wants to hide a plaque (and put it in a side room) of a guy who gave them 2000 quid in 1671 equivalent to 450k now to fund scholarships for orphaned children of Anglican clergy, because of his links to the slave trade.
Eastasia has always been at war with Oceania.
Net net the guy probably created more orphans than he helped. At least now others facing a similar quandary about how to deal with these issues can ask "what would Jesus do?"
On topic this is an example of the problems that arise trying to do anything in such a densely populated and democratic country. We find overriding property rights hard and so we should. Article 1 of Protocol 1 of the ECHR provides: "Every natural or legal person is entitled to the peaceful enjoyment of his possessions. No one shall be deprived of his possessions except in the public interest and subject to the conditions provided for by law and by the general principles of international law.
The preceding provisions shall not, however, in any way impair the right of the State to enforce such laws as it deems necessary to control the use of property in accordance with the general interest or to secure payment of taxes or other contributions or penalties."
So this is something fairly fundamental in human nature and in many respects the very basis of the rule of law.
Its frustrating we take so long to do these things but the alternative is a State with the power to run roughshod over our property rights: would we really want that?
No.
A large chunk of the problem though is the decision to sell off old railway line trackbeds for housing, which was based on the - to put it mildly - naive belief of Civil Servants over three decades that all railways would be closing in the near future so there was no chance they would be required again.
And of course, some never will be. Nobody’s going to rebuild the Littleton Colliery line from Penkridge to Huntington. And I can’t see anyone reopening the Mid Wales railway from Talyllyn Junction to Three Cocks junction, although ironically the track bed is probably mostly in situ there.
But to assume there was not and never would be a need for a railway from Cambridge to Oxford? Bizarre.
But that's the overcrowded point, isn't it? Valuable land cannot be left idle on the off chance that we might need it again some day. It needs to be used now. The examples of where the track beds are available are where the land does not have an alternative use. Land in or near Oxford, London or Cambridge is never going to fall into that category.
In contrast near my house there is the old railway track from Dundee to Newtyle which disappeared the best part of 100 years ago. It is now a delightful walk very popular with horses too. Used it a lot during lockdown.
One motivation behind sell off was to rid the DfT/BR (and equivalents back then) of its liability for the land but it's still short sighted.
In most cases, aside from station sites, a formation width of 18-20ft isn't particularly valuable in and of itself. On the continent they were far better at just mothballing routes and protecting them from development long-term.
Meanwhile the island is awash with tourists, yet the problems with progressing vaccinations among our under-40s, as discussed in a PB thread two weeks' back, are still unresolved, with many of our under-40s - the very people working in travel and hospitality - still unvaccinated, being told to wait, or that they have to travel to Portsmouth or Southampton for the Pfizer. That after nearly a month of under-40s being eligible, we still don't have a local Pfizer centre that is bookable through the national NHS website is a scandal.
To be honest I cannot think of a more lame excuse then they cannot travel for their vaccine, no matter they are on the Isle of Wight
Most anyone sensible would travel anywhere in the UK at this time to be vaccinated
And some are. But it's a series of bus and boat trips with a travel cost for most people of £25 or more. As well as generating unnecessary travel for people who are unvaccinated.
For an island with population of nearly 150,000, expecting a local bookable vaccination site doesn't seem unreasonable.
I am not actual disagreeing with your point about an island hub, but surely in the absence of the hub you will move heaven and earth to go almost anywhere to be vaccinated
Interesting university counter-woke story from a while back.
Newcastle University main student bar was called "Mens Bar". The origins of the name are a bit myth/legend but the agreed rational was that it comes from the University Motto — mens agitat molem.
Anyway — the SU kept trying to change the name because they were embarrassed by it and over and over again the students kept voting to keep it, because well, we liked it.
In the end the SU decided to get rid of it as an option in the "referendum" as a name change so now the bar is called "Luthers" because Martin Luther King visited Newcastle, maybe once.
That sucked, but student unions have always sucked.
Meanwhile the island is awash with tourists, yet the problems with progressing vaccinations among our under-40s, as discussed in a PB thread two weeks' back, are still unresolved, with many of our under-40s - the very people working in travel and hospitality - still unvaccinated, being told to wait, or that they have to travel to Portsmouth or Southampton for the Pfizer. That after nearly a month of under-40s being eligible, we still don't have a local Pfizer centre that is bookable through the national NHS website is a scandal.
To be honest I cannot think of a more lame excuse then they cannot travel for their vaccine, no matter they are on the Isle of Wight
Most anyone sensible would travel anywhere in the UK at this time to be vaccinated
Why not just have Pfizer there though? The local health people are letting under 40s down by not having one.
Yep. There is Pfizer - but it's out at GP practices having been used for the elderly, and the dribbling tail of second doses. These sites aren't bookable via the national (English) NHS system, whereas the main vaccination centre in the sports hall, where I had my AZN, is. They've clearly been caught on the hop by the effective withdrawal of the AZN from the under-40s, but after three weeks of faffing about the failure to deliver a solution is pitifully poor.
Those under-40s who, following advice like my own, are making a big fuss are being redirected to GP practices on a case-by-case basis. But there is no 'system' for the majority, and we still have 38 and 39-year olds kept "on hold" while Northern Ireland and SW London throws it open to all over-18s. Meanwhile we're awash with tourists.
If there is a third wave, put your money on it starting here....
Jesus College wants to hide a plaque and out it in a side room to a guy who gave them 2000 quid in 1671 equivalent to 450k now to fund scholarships for orphaned children of Anglican clergy because of his links to the slave trade.
Eastasia has always been at war with Oceania.
Who cares? That's a matter for "Jesus College", whatever that is.
It matters because they are denying the truth to pretend it never happened.
What they are doing is the opposite of pretending it never happened.
Jesus College wants to hide a plaque and out it in a side room to a guy who gave them 2000 quid in 1671 equivalent to 450k now to fund scholarships for orphaned children of Anglican clergy because of his links to the slave trade.
Eastasia has always been at war with Oceania.
Who cares? That's a matter for "Jesus College", whatever that is.
It matters because they are denying the truth to pretend it never happened.
I've donated some money to various charities and I didn't expect a plaque. Not sure what that has to do with "the truth".
Meanwhile the island is awash with tourists, yet the problems with progressing vaccinations among our under-40s, as discussed in a PB thread two weeks' back, are still unresolved, with many of our under-40s - the very people working in travel and hospitality - still unvaccinated, being told to wait, or that they have to travel to Portsmouth or Southampton for the Pfizer. That after nearly a month of under-40s being eligible, we still don't have a local Pfizer centre that is bookable through the national NHS website is a scandal.
To be honest I cannot think of a more lame excuse then they cannot travel for their vaccine, no matter they are on the Isle of Wight
Most anyone sensible would travel anywhere in the UK at this time to be vaccinated
And some are. But it's a series of bus and boat trips with a travel cost for most people of £25 or more. As well as generating unnecessary travel for people who are unvaccinated.
For an island with population of nearly 150,000, expecting a local bookable vaccination site doesn't seem unreasonable.
Mr. kle4, I was able to get a lift for my first jab, and hope I can for my second (both chosen based on proximity, the latter still being 8 miles away).
If there's no vaccination centre on the Isle of Wight that's crackers.
Jesus College wants to hide a plaque (and put it in a side room) of a guy who gave them 2000 quid in 1671 equivalent to 450k now to fund scholarships for orphaned children of Anglican clergy, because of his links to the slave trade.
Eastasia has always been at war with Oceania.
Net net the guy probably created more orphans than he helped. At least now others facing a similar quandary about how to deal with these issues can ask "what would Jesus do?"
What's the extent of his connection?
If he had the readies to hand over £450k in today's money I am guessing it was more than tangential.
Interesting university counter-woke story from a while back.
Newcastle University main student bar was called "Mens Bar". The origins of the name are a bit myth/legend but the agreed rational was that it comes from the University Motto — mens agitat molem.
Anyway — the SU kept trying to change the name because they were embarrassed by it and over and over again the students kept voting to keep it, because well, we liked it.
In the end the SU decided to get rid of it as an option in the "referendum" as a name change so now the bar is called "Luthers" because Martin Luther King visited Newcastle, maybe once.
That sucked, but student unions have always sucked.
Students Unions have been like that for decades.
Most students simply laugh at them, and drink elsewhere by 2nd year.
Jesus College wants to hide a plaque (and put it in a side room) of a guy who gave them 2000 quid in 1671 equivalent to 450k now to fund scholarships for orphaned children of Anglican clergy, because of his links to the slave trade.
Eastasia has always been at war with Oceania.
We've got a full month (at least) of Pride ahead of us now, so that'll soon overtake it in the Woke annual calendar.
They can only do one Big Thing at once and it always has to be the right Big Thing.
Interesting university counter-woke story from a while back.
Newcastle University main student bar was called "Mens Bar". The origins of the name are a bit myth/legend but the agreed rational was that it comes from the University Motto — mens agitat molem.
Anyway — the SU kept trying to change the name because they were embarrassed by it and over and over again the students kept voting to keep it, because well, we liked it.
In the end the SU decided to get rid of it as an option in the "referendum" as a name change so now the bar is called "Luthers" because Martin Luther King visited Newcastle, maybe once.
That sucked, but student unions have always sucked.
Students Unions have been like that for decades.
Most students simply laugh at them, and drink elsewhere by 2nd year.
But where else can you get 4 pints of Diesel (cider + lager + blackcurrant squash) for £5? (Note, I don't think this offer is available anymore).
Interesting university counter-woke story from a while back.
Newcastle University main student bar was called "Mens Bar". The origins of the name are a bit myth/legend but the agreed rational was that it comes from the University Motto — mens agitat molem.
Anyway — the SU kept trying to change the name because they were embarrassed by it and over and over again the students kept voting to keep it, because well, we liked it.
In the end the SU decided to get rid of it as an option in the "referendum" as a name change so now the bar is called "Luthers" because Martin Luther King visited Newcastle, maybe once.
That sucked, but student unions have always sucked.
Students Unions have been like that for decades.
Most students simply laugh at them, and drink elsewhere by 2nd year.
But where else can you get 4 pints of Diesel (cider + lager + blackcurrant squash) for £5? (Note, I don't think this offer is available anymore).
Not sure why there’s a picture of a soon to be scrapped plastic pig (Class 442) on one of the posters. Perhaps if there was a promise for the trains to be loco hauled then that would make all the difference.
It’s hard to see how the government doesn’t go ahead with this railway. They can’t build HS2 and then pull the plug on anything else.
Well - the plug was pulled on various elements of schemes in the North. At least for a time.
ISTM that building it in 5 years would be commendably quick.
Jesus College wants to hide a plaque (and put it in a side room) of a guy who gave them 2000 quid in 1671 equivalent to 450k now to fund scholarships for orphaned children of Anglican clergy, because of his links to the slave trade.
Jesus College wants to hide a plaque (and put it in a side room) of a guy who gave them 2000 quid in 1671 equivalent to 450k now to fund scholarships for orphaned children of Anglican clergy, because of his links to the slave trade.
Eastasia has always been at war with Oceania.
Net net the guy probably created more orphans than he helped. At least now others facing a similar quandary about how to deal with these issues can ask "what would Jesus do?"
What's the extent of his connection?
If he had the readies to hand over £450k in today's money I am guessing it was more than tangential.
The slave trade was the only way to make money? Do you know who the donor was?
Interesting university counter-woke story from a while back.
Newcastle University main student bar was called "Mens Bar". The origins of the name are a bit myth/legend but the agreed rational was that it comes from the University Motto — mens agitat molem.
Anyway — the SU kept trying to change the name because they were embarrassed by it and over and over again the students kept voting to keep it, because well, we liked it.
In the end the SU decided to get rid of it as an option in the "referendum" as a name change so now the bar is called "Luthers" because Martin Luther King visited Newcastle, maybe once.
That sucked, but student unions have always sucked.
Students Unions have been like that for decades.
Most students simply laugh at them, and drink elsewhere by 2nd year.
But where else can you get 4 pints of Diesel (cider + lager + blackcurrant squash) for £5? (Note, I don't think this offer is available anymore).
Jesus College wants to hide a plaque (and put it in a side room) of a guy who gave them 2000 quid in 1671 equivalent to 450k now to fund scholarships for orphaned children of Anglican clergy, because of his links to the slave trade.
Eastasia has always been at war with Oceania.
Net net the guy probably created more orphans than he helped. At least now others facing a similar quandary about how to deal with these issues can ask "what would Jesus do?"
What's the extent of his connection?
If this is the guy the OP is talking about, quite a significant one, apparently.
Jesus College wants to hide a plaque (and put it in a side room) of a guy who gave them 2000 quid in 1671 equivalent to 450k now to fund scholarships for orphaned children of Anglican clergy, because of his links to the slave trade.
Eastasia has always been at war with Oceania.
Which Jesus? There are two as far as I know.
It's Cambridge.
Personally I don't understand the issue.
At my college we were (notionally) praying for the immortal souls of two people who died in the 1600s, whose endowment of the colleague was their principal contribution to the universe.
I think 350 years of praising them might already be fair recompense.
Jesus College wants to hide a plaque (and put it in a side room) of a guy who gave them 2000 quid in 1671 equivalent to 450k now to fund scholarships for orphaned children of Anglican clergy, because of his links to the slave trade.
Eastasia has always been at war with Oceania.
Net net the guy probably created more orphans than he helped. At least now others facing a similar quandary about how to deal with these issues can ask "what would Jesus do?"
What's the extent of his connection?
If he had the readies to hand over £450k in today's money I am guessing it was more than tangential.
The slave trade was the only way to make money? Do you know who the donor was?
Interesting university counter-woke story from a while back.
Newcastle University main student bar was called "Mens Bar". The origins of the name are a bit myth/legend but the agreed rational was that it comes from the University Motto — mens agitat molem.
Anyway — the SU kept trying to change the name because they were embarrassed by it and over and over again the students kept voting to keep it, because well, we liked it.
In the end the SU decided to get rid of it as an option in the "referendum" as a name change so now the bar is called "Luthers" because Martin Luther King visited Newcastle, maybe once.
That sucked, but student unions have always sucked.
Do you think someone should tell them they have accidentally named it after someone who regarded Islam as the work of the devil?
Jesus College wants to hide a plaque (and put it in a side room) of a guy who gave them 2000 quid in 1671 equivalent to 450k now to fund scholarships for orphaned children of Anglican clergy, because of his links to the slave trade.
Eastasia has always been at war with Oceania.
Which Jesus? There are two as far as I know.
Cambridge. It's a story that Charles Moore is all over. (And rightly so).
To be honest, the Beeching reopening that'd most directly impact my life would be the reopening of the mid-Hants line from Alton to Winchester, with new track required from Alresford to Winchester.
That would give a diversionary route from Woking to Winchester for the SWML and also allow direct Southampton-Winchester-Guildford (and even Gatwick Airport) trains avoiding London.
The Watercress line literally finishes 6.5 miles short. Unfortunately, you'd have to: slice up a school playing field, CPO a few businesses, reexcavate a cutting, demolish 10-15 houses at Itchen Abbas (and rebuild the station), build a new bridge across the M3, demolish two houses at Springvale built right on the line and then resignal in at Winchester junction - with lots of civils around to restabilise the bridges and formation. You'd also have to work out a way of a regular service operating without affecting the heritage operations, which would be challenging.
Do'able? Absolutely but it'd probably be a £250+ million project.
Jesus College wants to hide a plaque (and put it in a side room) of a guy who gave them 2000 quid in 1671 equivalent to 450k now to fund scholarships for orphaned children of Anglican clergy, because of his links to the slave trade.
Eastasia has always been at war with Oceania.
Net net the guy probably created more orphans than he helped. At least now others facing a similar quandary about how to deal with these issues can ask "what would Jesus do?"
What's the extent of his connection?
If he had the readies to hand over £450k in today's money I am guessing it was more than tangential.
The slave trade was the only way to make money? Do you know who the donor was?
Interesting university counter-woke story from a while back.
Newcastle University main student bar was called "Mens Bar". The origins of the name are a bit myth/legend but the agreed rational was that it comes from the University Motto — mens agitat molem.
Anyway — the SU kept trying to change the name because they were embarrassed by it and over and over again the students kept voting to keep it, because well, we liked it.
In the end the SU decided to get rid of it as an option in the "referendum" as a name change so now the bar is called "Luthers" because Martin Luther King visited Newcastle, maybe once.
That sucked, but student unions have always sucked.
Students Unions have been like that for decades.
Most students simply laugh at them, and drink elsewhere by 2nd year.
But where else can you get 4 pints of Diesel (cider + lager + blackcurrant squash) for £5? (Note, I don't think this offer is available anymore).
Spoons?
In Bristol there were loads of midweek student offers. I managed to have a night out for £10 several times, with vodka redbull at £1.50 and club entry at £3.
Jesus College wants to hide a plaque (and put it in a side room) of a guy who gave them 2000 quid in 1671 equivalent to 450k now to fund scholarships for orphaned children of Anglican clergy, because of his links to the slave trade.
Eastasia has always been at war with Oceania.
Which Jesus? There are two as far as I know.
It's Cambridge.
Personally I don't understand the issue.
At my college we were (notionally) praying for the immortal souls of two people who died in the 1600s, whose endowment of the colleague was their principal contribution to the universe.
I think 350 years of praising them might already be fair recompense.
Our list of benefactors in the college prayer started with “our memorable founder, Edward the Second”.
Interesting university counter-woke story from a while back.
Newcastle University main student bar was called "Mens Bar". The origins of the name are a bit myth/legend but the agreed rational was that it comes from the University Motto — mens agitat molem.
Anyway — the SU kept trying to change the name because they were embarrassed by it and over and over again the students kept voting to keep it, because well, we liked it.
In the end the SU decided to get rid of it as an option in the "referendum" as a name change so now the bar is called "Luthers" because Martin Luther King visited Newcastle, maybe once.
That sucked, but student unions have always sucked.
Do you think someone should tell them they have accidentally named it after someone who regarded Islam as the work of the devil?
I am not actual disagreeing with your point about an island hub, but surely in the absence of the hub you will move heaven and earth to go almost anywhere to be vaccinated
Some people will, sure. Other people (especially younger people) who might be a bit less convinced about how much difference a vaccine would make to them, or who would have to organise time off or child care, might put it off in the hope that the situation gets sorted out. We're trying to drive the count of vaccinated people up as fast as we can, so we need to make getting jabbed easy, not a logistical pain.
Interesting university counter-woke story from a while back.
Newcastle University main student bar was called "Mens Bar". The origins of the name are a bit myth/legend but the agreed rational was that it comes from the University Motto — mens agitat molem.
Anyway — the SU kept trying to change the name because they were embarrassed by it and over and over again the students kept voting to keep it, because well, we liked it.
In the end the SU decided to get rid of it as an option in the "referendum" as a name change so now the bar is called "Luthers" because Martin Luther King visited Newcastle, maybe once.
That sucked, but student unions have always sucked.
Do you think someone should tell them they have accidentally named it after someone who regarded Islam as the work of the devil?
Yes, some of his comments were X rated.
I was thinking of the person after whom MLK was named.
Interesting university counter-woke story from a while back.
Newcastle University main student bar was called "Mens Bar". The origins of the name are a bit myth/legend but the agreed rational was that it comes from the University Motto — mens agitat molem.
Anyway — the SU kept trying to change the name because they were embarrassed by it and over and over again the students kept voting to keep it, because well, we liked it.
In the end the SU decided to get rid of it as an option in the "referendum" as a name change so now the bar is called "Luthers" because Martin Luther King visited Newcastle, maybe once.
That sucked, but student unions have always sucked.
Students Unions have been like that for decades.
Most students simply laugh at them, and drink elsewhere by 2nd year.
But where else can you get 4 pints of Diesel (cider + lager + blackcurrant squash) for £5? (Note, I don't think this offer is available anymore).
Jesus College wants to hide a plaque (and put it in a side room) of a guy who gave them 2000 quid in 1671 equivalent to 450k now to fund scholarships for orphaned children of Anglican clergy, because of his links to the slave trade.
Eastasia has always been at war with Oceania.
That’s impressive, dragging up 350 year old stories.
Meanwhile the island is awash with tourists, yet the problems with progressing vaccinations among our under-40s, as discussed in a PB thread two weeks' back, are still unresolved, with many of our under-40s - the very people working in travel and hospitality - still unvaccinated, being told to wait, or that they have to travel to Portsmouth or Southampton for the Pfizer. That after nearly a month of under-40s being eligible, we still don't have a local Pfizer centre that is bookable through the national NHS website is a scandal.
To be honest I cannot think of a more lame excuse then they cannot travel for their vaccine, no matter they are on the Isle of Wight
Most anyone sensible would travel anywhere in the UK at this time to be vaccinated
And some are. But it's a series of bus and boat trips with a travel cost for most people of £25 or more. As well as generating unnecessary travel for people who are unvaccinated.
For an island with population of nearly 150,000, expecting a local bookable vaccination site doesn't seem unreasonable.
I am not actual disagreeing with your point about an island hub, but surely in the absence of the hub you will move heaven and earth to go almost anywhere to be vaccinated
I probably would, but I'm in a secure well-paid job that lets me do that at relatively low cost to myself while also being very interested in Covid. I think you're failing to understand the perspective of someone who has very little personal risk from the disease and very limited money and time.
Jesus College wants to hide a plaque (and put it in a side room) of a guy who gave them 2000 quid in 1671 equivalent to 450k now to fund scholarships for orphaned children of Anglican clergy, because of his links to the slave trade.
Eastasia has always been at war with Oceania.
Net net the guy probably created more orphans than he helped. At least now others facing a similar quandary about how to deal with these issues can ask "what would Jesus do?"
What's the extent of his connection?
If he had the readies to hand over £450k in today's money I am guessing it was more than tangential.
The slave trade was the only way to make money? Do you know who the donor was?
Tobias Rustat.
However, Rustat’s involvement in the Royal African Company, which transported almost 150,000 slaves to the Americas, led the college to address his legacy by removing a portrait and renaming the “Rustat feast” previously held in his honour.
IIRC The RAC (not the rival to the AA) transported more slaves to America during the transAtlantic slave trade than any other company.
Interesting university counter-woke story from a while back.
Newcastle University main student bar was called "Mens Bar". The origins of the name are a bit myth/legend but the agreed rational was that it comes from the University Motto — mens agitat molem.
Anyway — the SU kept trying to change the name because they were embarrassed by it and over and over again the students kept voting to keep it, because well, we liked it.
In the end the SU decided to get rid of it as an option in the "referendum" as a name change so now the bar is called "Luthers" because Martin Luther King visited Newcastle, maybe once.
That sucked, but student unions have always sucked.
Students Unions have been like that for decades.
Most students simply laugh at them, and drink elsewhere by 2nd year.
But where else can you get 4 pints of Diesel (cider + lager + blackcurrant squash) for £5? (Note, I don't think this offer is available anymore).
Diesel? That was a Snakebite back in my day.
Snakebite is without the blackcurrant, I believe.
We called it a "Snakebite and Black".
After a bad experience with it while at school, snakebite is one thing I have never touched since. Beer, yes. Cider, yes. Mixed? Noooooo.
Jesus College wants to hide a plaque (and put it in a side room) of a guy who gave them 2000 quid in 1671 equivalent to 450k now to fund scholarships for orphaned children of Anglican clergy, because of his links to the slave trade.
Eastasia has always been at war with Oceania.
Which Jesus? There are two as far as I know.
Cambridge. It's a story that Charles Moore is all over. (And rightly so).
I just read it.. it has a problem of serious hypocrisy.
To be honest, the Beeching reopening that'd most directly impact my life would be the reopening of the mid-Hants line from Alton to Winchester, with new track required from Alresford to Winchester.
That would give a diversionary route from Woking to Winchester for the SWML and also allow direct Southampton-Winchester-Guildford (and even Gatwick Airport) trains avoiding London.
The Watercress line literally finishes 6.5 miles short. Unfortunately, you'd have to: slice up a school playing field, CPO a few businesses, reexcavate a cutting, demolish 10-15 houses at Itchen Abbas (and rebuild the station), build a new bridge across the M3, demolish two houses at Springvale built right on the line and then resignal in at Winchester junction - with lots of civils around to restabilise the bridges and formation. You'd also have to work out a way of a regular service operating without affecting the heritage operations, which would be challenging.
Do'able? Absolutely but it'd probably be a £250+ million project.
ORR considers that the weight of safety evidence creates a presumption against new-build or extended third rail being reasonably practicable. A duty holder will therefore need to demonstrate, to ORR’s satisfaction, that any proposed new-build or extended third rail proposal complies with the applicable legislation and be able to explain how and why it rebuts this presumption.
It's why we still have diesels on the North Downs Line - an obvious candidate for third rail infill.
On topic this is an example of the problems that arise trying to do anything in such a densely populated and democratic country. We find overriding property rights hard and so we should. Article 1 of Protocol 1 of the ECHR provides: "Every natural or legal person is entitled to the peaceful enjoyment of his possessions. No one shall be deprived of his possessions except in the public interest and subject to the conditions provided for by law and by the general principles of international law.
The preceding provisions shall not, however, in any way impair the right of the State to enforce such laws as it deems necessary to control the use of property in accordance with the general interest or to secure payment of taxes or other contributions or penalties."
So this is something fairly fundamental in human nature and in many respects the very basis of the rule of law.
Its frustrating we take so long to do these things but the alternative is a State with the power to run roughshod over our property rights: would we really want that?
In China it seems that owners don’t have to sell, leading to what are called “nail houses”:
Weird. If I had been guessing a country where property rights were overridden easily China would have been pretty high up the list.
The article is six years old I noticed as I linked to it. I wonder if the same conditions still apply.
If you’ve lived in Shanghai and have seen the forced destruction of the older city to build steel and concrete you’d be inclined to think it is rubbish.
To be honest, the Beeching reopening that'd most directly impact my life would be the reopening of the mid-Hants line from Alton to Winchester, with new track required from Alresford to Winchester.
That would give a diversionary route from Woking to Winchester for the SWML and also allow direct Southampton-Winchester-Guildford (and even Gatwick Airport) trains avoiding London.
The Watercress line literally finishes 6.5 miles short. Unfortunately, you'd have to: slice up a school playing field, CPO a few businesses, reexcavate a cutting, demolish 10-15 houses at Itchen Abbas (and rebuild the station), build a new bridge across the M3, demolish two houses at Springvale built right on the line and then resignal in at Winchester junction - with lots of civils around to restabilise the bridges and formation. You'd also have to work out a way of a regular service operating without affecting the heritage operations, which would be challenging.
Do'able? Absolutely but it'd probably be a £250+ million project.
ORR considers that the weight of safety evidence creates a presumption against new-build or extended third rail being reasonably practicable. A duty holder will therefore need to demonstrate, to ORR’s satisfaction, that any proposed new-build or extended third rail proposal complies with the applicable legislation and be able to explain how and why it rebuts this presumption.
It's why we still have diesels on the North Downs Line - an obvious candidate for third rail infill.
Yes, the line I described would be a very obvious candidate for third rail infill - the only challenge being it would interfere/pose a safety challenge to heritage railway operations.
The Mid-Hants just got unlucky. It closed in 1973. If it had made it another 8-9 years it never would have closed, and it'd have been electrified in the 1980s.
Interesting university counter-woke story from a while back.
Newcastle University main student bar was called "Mens Bar". The origins of the name are a bit myth/legend but the agreed rational was that it comes from the University Motto — mens agitat molem.
Anyway — the SU kept trying to change the name because they were embarrassed by it and over and over again the students kept voting to keep it, because well, we liked it.
In the end the SU decided to get rid of it as an option in the "referendum" as a name change so now the bar is called "Luthers" because Martin Luther King visited Newcastle, maybe once.
That sucked, but student unions have always sucked.
Students Unions have been like that for decades.
Most students simply laugh at them, and drink elsewhere by 2nd year.
But where else can you get 4 pints of Diesel (cider + lager + blackcurrant squash) for £5? (Note, I don't think this offer is available anymore).
Diesel? That was a Snakebite back in my day.
Snakebite is without the blackcurrant, I believe.
We called it a "Snakebite and Black".
After a bad experience with it while at school, snakebite is one thing I have never touched since. Beer, yes. Cider, yes. Mixed? Noooooo.
didn't they ban snakebite back in the 80s?- I remember pubs started saying they couldn't sell my mate a snakebite and black but if he bought the ingredients separately....
As an aside, I had never even heard of Naomi Osaka before today. She's a tennis player. She said she was depressed and therefore decided not to do a press conference.
I am struggling to see a story here.
But Piers Morgan decided there was one. Apparently, she's a "brat" and a "madam", because she chose to skip questions from the press.
Now Piers is entitled to his opinions. But didn't Piers Morgan walk off a Good Morning Britain show when faced with questions he didn't like?
Agree , however given she has made millions from tennis and it stipulates in her contract that she has to do press interviews it seems that instead she would rather make more money from her own media sites seems to point to her being a greedy git. They should chase her.
didn't they ban snakebite back in the 80s?- I remember pubs started saying they couldn't sell my mate a snakebite and black but if he bought the ingredients separately....
Several pubs would only sell it in halves. You could, of course, buy 2...
Agree , however given she has made millions from tennis and it stipulates in her contract that she has to do press interviews it seems that instead she would rather make more money from her own media sites seems to point to her being a greedy git. They should chase her.
Chase her for what?
She has paid a fine and sacrificed all earnings from the tournament.
Interesting university counter-woke story from a while back.
Newcastle University main student bar was called "Mens Bar". The origins of the name are a bit myth/legend but the agreed rational was that it comes from the University Motto — mens agitat molem.
Anyway — the SU kept trying to change the name because they were embarrassed by it and over and over again the students kept voting to keep it, because well, we liked it.
In the end the SU decided to get rid of it as an option in the "referendum" as a name change so now the bar is called "Luthers" because Martin Luther King visited Newcastle, maybe once.
That sucked, but student unions have always sucked.
Students Unions have been like that for decades.
Most students simply laugh at them, and drink elsewhere by 2nd year.
But where else can you get 4 pints of Diesel (cider + lager + blackcurrant squash) for £5? (Note, I don't think this offer is available anymore).
Diesel? That was a Snakebite back in my day.
Snakebite is without the blackcurrant, I believe.
We called it a "Snakebite and Black".
After a bad experience with it while at school, snakebite is one thing I have never touched since. Beer, yes. Cider, yes. Mixed? Noooooo.
When I was at uni a few pubs in town refused to serve snakebite.
So instead we would order a pint of cider and black, a pint of lager, and mix it ourselves.
Although the route between Bicester and Oxford was completed by Chiltern Railway to run trains to London Marylebone, and a recent proposal to add an additional platform at Oxford, they are still looking at addition lines and platforms in the area to cater for additional trains from Oxford to Cambridge.
Between Bletchley and Cambridge there is a potential for closing and resiting the village stations along the existing railway.
Near Cambridge there is a big campaign by those in the South West to route the railway in Cambridge by the north.
I had a lovely long weekend with friends and the other half.
It was wonderful, have to say if the government changes the roadmap date of June 21st I suspect not many people will follow it.
Unless Covid-19 mutates into a flesh eating variant then lockdown is dead and never coming back.
Isn't the problem more that 21 June is things that you have no choice about following? If businesses are forced to maintain social distancing and keep the rule of 6 at risk of being shut down or large events are banned then there isn't much customers can do about it.
In my own life, the biggest impact other than the rule of 6 is social distancing on martial arts training. Sure we could ignore it, but then (I understand) the instructor's insurance would be invalidated and that would put him and anyone who gets injured in a very uncomfortable position.
On the naming of Student Union facilities. Whilst at Sheffield Poly (no sniggering) a competition was held to propose and then vote on a name for a new salad bar. Inevitably, the winner was “Seaview”. Equally inevitably, the bar was named the Nelson Mandela Salad Bar. The average student thought it a right laugh and felt no need to have an attack of the anti-woke vapours.
Jesus College wants to hide a plaque (and put it in a side room) of a guy who gave them 2000 quid in 1671 equivalent to 450k now to fund scholarships for orphaned children of Anglican clergy, because of his links to the slave trade.
Eastasia has always been at war with Oceania.
That’s impressive, dragging up 350 year old stories.
Funnily enough, China and India don’t see maths as being racist, and are turning out millions of mathematicians every year.
Looking at the story it is a bit more reasonable than calculus is racist. It is about the benefits or otherwise of streaming. My experience of teaching Physics is that there is a huge variation in students’ abilities to use maths. My own experience of learning maths is that once you have understood and mastered a topic there is nothing so deadly as being asked to do it again and again while waiting for others to catch up. I’ve seen studies in the UK (which I have no links to, sorry) that in a typical school there may be seven school years difference in ability within a single Y7 maths class: streaming is essential if you are not going t end up with bewildered pupils at one end and terminally bored ones at the other.
I am not actual disagreeing with your point about an island hub, but surely in the absence of the hub you will move heaven and earth to go almost anywhere to be vaccinated
Some people will, sure. Other people (especially younger people) who might be a bit less convinced about how much difference a vaccine would make to them, or who would have to organise time off or child care, might put it off in the hope that the situation gets sorted out. We're trying to drive the count of vaccinated people up as fast as we can, so we need to make getting jabbed easy, not a logistical pain.
Yes, I fear Big_G is trying to project his own attitudes as a vulnerable pensioner with plenty of time and money on his hands, onto youngsters who have different opinions and priorities. Expecting them to spend £25-£30 and an entire half day on the four separate bus trips and a boat journey that it takes to get from here to Southampton Hospital, and then the same again for the return, is glib.
I had a lovely long weekend with friends and the other half.
It was wonderful, have to say if the government changes the roadmap date of June 21st I suspect not many people will follow it.
Unless Covid-19 mutates into a flesh eating variant then lockdown is dead and never coming back.
Isn't the problem more that 21 June is things that you have no choice about following? If businesses are forced to maintain social distancing and keep the rule of 6 at risk of being shut down or large events are banned then there isn't much customers can do about it.
In my own life, the biggest impact other than the rule of 6 is social distancing on martial arts training. Sure we could ignore it, but then (I understand) the instructor's insurance would be invalidated and that would put him and anyone who gets injured in a very uncomfortable position.
I suspect people will ignore the rule of isx in homes and gardens if the roadmap is delayed.
Comments
And the level of emotion to be exploited in the aftermath of high intensity tennis matches is probably at least the equal of, if not greater than, any other high profile sport.
He's gonna end up with his fool head rolling around at the bottom of the guillotine.
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2021/may/31/were-not-the-good-guys-osaka-shows-up-problems-of-press-conferences
Sorry 😁
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/this-is-why-there-is-a-farmhouse-in-the-middle-of-the-m62-a7072986.html
He also argues that "track & trace doesn't work" - it certainly worked in Guernsey - which may mean its best run at local government and not national level.
To be fair also “works” depends on the objectives. If it is to identify every case and rapidly therefore isolate the problem completely to prevent further spread then clearly it has little or no chance in a place like the U.K. once the number of cases exceeds a basic threshold. Doesn’t mean it does no good at at - even one case identified and isolated will have some minute impact.
https://twitter.com/simongerman600/status/1294764565406855170
Western Civilization really would be a good idea.
And good luck with the new job & profession. Just keep in mind, that auditor TSE may be monitoring you paper clip consumption!
Most anyone sensible would travel anywhere in the UK at this time to be vaccinated
I'm also pretty sure I'll remember Bielsa's Powerpoint based destruction of Derby County for many years hence.
There must be loads of others..
For an island with population of nearly 150,000, expecting a local bookable vaccination site doesn't seem unreasonable.
Especially in the last month or so, when it's been clear that the vax supply situation is under control for UK & US.
Last time I went to a restaurant, on Seattle waterfront, made a point of telling our twenty-something server that we were vaccinated. He replied that he was also. But know there are MANY of his co-workers who are still un-vaxxed for one reason or another.
And that govt - including public health (dis)establishment has NOT done enough in this respect, not by a long shot.
It's much harder to reopen a line where Farmer Giles has ploughed over an embankment or two, the local authority used the odd cutting as a cheap and easy landfill, and the old station was demolished and sold to Barratts for a mini-housing estate in the 1980s.
Jesus College wants to hide a plaque (and put it in a side room) of a guy who gave them 2000 quid in 1671 equivalent to 450k now to fund scholarships for orphaned children of Anglican clergy, because of his links to the slave trade.
Eastasia has always been at war with Oceania.
In this vacuum our ridiculous media, in desperation to make a story, are clinging to those scientists, mainly from Independent Sage, to provide a one sided narrative that becomes more extreme by the day, including hearing Deepti Gurdasani forecast thousands of unnecessary deaths unless we immediately reverse all unlocking, on last night's BBC news
However, 5 live provided a ray of sunlight when their scientist said this morning that we have to wait for the 14th June to be able to make a considered judgment and anything just now is virtually noise
l expect on the 14th June Boris will have his scientists alongside him and he will open the economy on the 21st June with one or two minor tweaks
Those under-40s who, following advice like my own, are making a big fuss are being redirected to GP practices on a case-by-case basis. But there is no 'system' for the majority, and we still have 38 and 39-year olds kept "on hold" while Northern Ireland and SW London throws it open to all over-18s. Meanwhile we're awash with tourists.
If there is a third wave, put your money on it starting here....
It wasn't just him though. There was a lot of wanton modernist destruction in the 1960s and Milton Keynes was designed for the motorcar.
It could have been worse. There were inner London ring roads proposed too, which thankfully never saw the light of day:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Ringways
An extreme example, no doubt, but some will have to wait for a closer jab. They might not be able to spare travel time either.
At least now others facing a similar quandary about how to deal with these issues can ask "what would Jesus do?"
In most cases, aside from station sites, a formation width of 18-20ft isn't particularly valuable in and of itself. On the continent they were far better at just mothballing routes and protecting them from development long-term.
Newcastle University main student bar was called "Mens Bar". The origins of the name are a bit myth/legend but the agreed rational was that it comes from the University Motto — mens agitat molem.
Anyway — the SU kept trying to change the name because they were embarrassed by it and over and over again the students kept voting to keep it, because well, we liked it.
In the end the SU decided to get rid of it as an option in the "referendum" as a name change so now the bar is called "Luthers" because Martin Luther King visited Newcastle, maybe once.
That sucked, but student unions have always sucked.
£50 round trip for the family.
If there's no vaccination centre on the Isle of Wight that's crackers.
Most students simply laugh at them, and drink elsewhere by 2nd year.
They can only do one Big Thing at once and it always has to be the right Big Thing.
ISTM that building it in 5 years would be commendably quick.
Or so I am told.
https://www.jesus.cam.ac.uk/articles/legacy-slavery-inquiry-update-proposed-relocation-rustats-memorial
Personally I don't understand the issue.
At my college we were (notionally) praying for the immortal souls of two people who died in the 1600s, whose endowment of the colleague was their principal contribution to the universe.
I think 350 years of praising them might already be fair recompense.
https://www.jesus.cam.ac.uk/articles/legacy-slavery-inquiry-update-proposed-relocation-rustats-memorial
That would give a diversionary route from Woking to Winchester for the SWML and also allow direct Southampton-Winchester-Guildford (and even Gatwick Airport) trains avoiding London.
The Watercress line literally finishes 6.5 miles short. Unfortunately, you'd have to: slice up a school playing field, CPO a few businesses, reexcavate a cutting, demolish 10-15 houses at Itchen Abbas (and rebuild the station), build a new bridge across the M3, demolish two houses at Springvale built right on the line and then resignal in at Winchester junction - with lots of civils around to restabilise the bridges and formation. You'd also have to work out a way of a regular service operating without affecting the heritage operations, which would be challenging.
Do'able? Absolutely but it'd probably be a £250+ million project.
In Bristol there were loads of midweek student offers. I managed to have a night out for £10 several times, with vodka redbull at £1.50 and club entry at £3.
In California, home of the wokest of the woke, they’re now arguing that teaching calculus is racist.
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-05-20/california-controversial-math-overhaul-focuses-on-equity
Funnily enough, China and India don’t see maths as being racist, and are turning out millions of mathematicians every year.
However, Rustat’s involvement in the Royal African Company, which transported almost 150,000 slaves to the Americas, led the college to address his legacy by removing a portrait and renaming the “Rustat feast” previously held in his honour.
IIRC The RAC (not the rival to the AA) transported more slaves to America during the transAtlantic slave trade than any other company.
https://www.orr.gov.uk/media/10702
ORR considers that the weight of safety evidence creates a presumption against new-build or extended third rail being reasonably practicable. A duty holder will therefore need to demonstrate, to ORR’s satisfaction, that any proposed new-build or extended third rail proposal complies with the applicable legislation and be able to explain how and why it rebuts this presumption.
It's why we still have diesels on the North Downs Line - an obvious candidate for third rail infill.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9638009/Unmasked-Red-Don-Oxford-handed-nuclear-secrets-Czech-spies.html
To go with others such as
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5434139/Oxford-traitor-spied-Russia-revealed.html
and
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/historian-threatens-to-expose-oxford-s-own-soviet-spy-ring-0wrzxr3p2
Nuke it from space.
The Mid-Hants just got unlucky. It closed in 1973. If it had made it another 8-9 years it never would have closed, and it'd have been electrified in the 1980s.
It was wonderful, have to say if the government changes the roadmap date of June 21st I suspect not many people will follow it.
Unless Covid-19 mutates into a flesh eating variant then lockdown is dead and never coming back.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-57312162.amp
She has paid a fine and sacrificed all earnings from the tournament.
What more is there?
So instead we would order a pint of cider and black, a pint of lager, and mix it ourselves.
https://eastwestrail.co.uk/consultation
Although the route between Bicester and Oxford was completed by Chiltern Railway to run trains to London Marylebone, and a recent proposal to add an additional platform at Oxford, they are still looking at addition lines and platforms in the area to cater for additional trains from Oxford to Cambridge.
Between Bletchley and Cambridge there is a potential for closing and resiting the village stations along the existing railway.
Near Cambridge there is a big campaign by those in the South West to route the railway in Cambridge by the north.
So lots of Nimby opportunities.
In my own life, the biggest impact other than the rule of 6 is social distancing on martial arts training. Sure we could ignore it, but then (I understand) the instructor's insurance would be invalidated and that would put him and anyone who gets injured in a very uncomfortable position.
Forget the fact that Churchill was a war criminal and racist they should abolish it for being a JCL college.
My experience of teaching Physics is that there is a huge variation in students’ abilities to use maths. My own experience of learning maths is that once you have understood and mastered a topic there is nothing so deadly as being asked to do it again and again while waiting for others to catch up.
I’ve seen studies in the UK (which I have no links to, sorry) that in a typical school there may be seven school years difference in ability within a single Y7 maths class: streaming is essential if you are not going t end up with bewildered pupils at one end and terminally bored ones at the other.