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The Masque of the Red Death – politicalbetting.com

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  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 43,338
    edited November 2020
    IshmaelZ said:

    This country now runs on institutionalised mawkishness. Picture an extended family gathering of obese poppy wearing retards standing round the Christmas table toasting Our NHS Carers at the end of the Queen's (gawd bless her) speech. Mess with that vision at your peril.
    Don't forget a Battle of Britain flight flypast, crews in Santa costumes, bomb doors of Lanc' opening to scatter Made in China crap upon the land 'for the kiddies'.
  • https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/nov/21/donald-trump-jr-coronavirus-isolation

    Donald Trump Jr to spend self-isolation "cleaning his guns". Let's hope he doesn't have any kind of accident, right?
  • RogerRoger Posts: 20,458

    The issue is that wearing a mask mainly protects others, not the wearer.

    Thus we see once again the country (and indeed all humankind) divide broadly into the two great tribes of the Altruists and the Selfish.
    In this country would that be roughly 48% - 52% ?
  • Sean_FSean_F Posts: 38,507

    In response to the header, are people really being irrational, though? For a very large majority, it's not a disease that threatens them. One can argue that is selfish, but that's a different argument.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 55,180
    Stocky said:

    I love that Minchin song too, a real tear-jerker.
    I saw him perform it live in Edinburgh shortly before Christmas last year. It was an excellent concert, courtesy of my daughter who is also a fan. The lyrics are so brilliant:

    I don't go in for ancient wisdom,
    I don't believe just because ideas are tenacious
    it means that they're worthy.
  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 34,569

    I've spent a couple of Christmases on a tropical beach. Don't knock it till you've tried it!
    The 2020 plan WAS to go to Thailand, to Younger Son's for a couple of weeks before, and a couple of weeks after.Did it a few years ago; I've got a picture of me somewhere by his swimming pool in a silly hat and swimming shorts, with a drink in my hand.
    It was a good one.
  • Roger said:

    In this country would that be roughly 48% - 52% ?
    Roger, just let it go.
  • I'm already getting the 'well, we'll have to get together at some point around xmas' pressure.

  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 34,569

    Don't forget a Battle of Britain flight flypast, crews in Santa costumes, bomb doors of Lanc' opening to scatter Made in China crap upon the land 'for the kiddies'.
    Have you been round to Malc's for a drink?
  • Sean_FSean_F Posts: 38,507
    Roger said:

    In this country would that be roughly 48% - 52% ?
    The divide between altrusim and selfishness runs more within, rather than between, people.
  • Have you been round to Malc's for a drink?
    That sounds like a party worth breaking lockdown for!
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 51,263

    OKC, take vitamin D
    http://www.drdavidgrimes.com/2020/04/vitamin-d-and-immunity-important.html

    I'll wait. I fail to see how normal safety testing of any vaccine can be complete before end 2021, even though governments have signed blank cheques (and as usual, indemnified producers against legal claims).
    Personally I would rather take my chances with the vaccine rather than the virus.

    Not that I may get that choice, Isolating with covid positive Mrs Foxy. So far so good, but must have been exposed to viral Russian roulette, and another 10 days to go of it.
  • StockyStocky Posts: 10,279
    DavidL said:

    I saw him perform it live in Edinburgh shortly before Christmas last year. It was an excellent concert, courtesy of my daughter who is also a fan. The lyrics are so brilliant:

    I don't go in for ancient wisdom,
    I don't believe just because ideas are tenacious
    it means that they're worthy.
    Minchin is a fellow skeptic, he used to crop up a lot in the many science/skeptic podcasts that I used to listen to before politics podcasts grabbed me.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 127,059
    I think in terms of Christmas we will still be in a tiers system and rule of 6 even if lockdown is lifted
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 76,733
    ydoethur said:

    Seriously? They haven’t even given us enough info to plan Brexit.

    I’ve been considering a complaint to the ASA about that ad they’ve put out telling people to look at their website for new information, when actually they don’t have the information yet.
    Every business in the country received a letter last week from the Business Dept, telling them to be prepared for Jan 1st.
    I wonder how many copies they received back with the note ‘you first’, or something less polite. Perhaps it was just me.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 54,552
    We will have to make a decision in early February on whether the Dart Music Festival is a go for May. I would love to think that we will have enough encouraging signs that we will be good to go. But, being realistic, a week of Christmas merriment paid for by five more weeks of lockdown leaves me thinking we just can't take the financial risk.

    Our suppliers of things like stages etc might well not be there as functioning businesses in 2022. So we might already have had the last one. And I can sit back and think this will be what we lost....

    https://www.dartmusicfestival.co.uk/?utm_source=Business news subscribers&utm_campaign=a88aee3e7f-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_06_05_08_59_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_4788e290db-a88aee3e7f-141813397&mc_cid=a88aee3e7f&mc_eid=8f50bbd53e&fbclid=IwAR1hl0qzPiz_w-zapuYRgDQUco9U7-OyZCksCnUMBeg7n1rukD42VfEAHyY
  • https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/nov/21/donald-trump-jr-coronavirus-isolation

    Donald Trump Jr to spend self-isolation "cleaning his guns". Let's hope he doesn't have any kind of accident, right?

    I was assuming "cleaning his gun" was a euphemism. I think it's unwise - best to keep his strength up to fight the virus really.
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 39,823

    Personally, now there is definitely a vaccine on the horizon I find myself becoming more risk averse.

    If we had no prospect of a vaccine, I'd be shrugging my shoulders and thinking I'm going to catch it at some point anyway - but with a vaccine only months away why risk catching Covid now?

    How stupid that would be.
    Yes, that's just sensible though, if AZ reports 90%+ efficacy in a few days then everyone in the country should receive a vaccine by the end of April and serious restrictions should be lifted by the end of January. It doesn't seem worth it to take any risks at this point.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 127,059
    edited November 2020
    IDS again showing he is a No Deal hardliner as Boris edges towards a Deal with the EU

    https://twitter.com/MPIainDS/status/1330348939057516546?s=20

    Adonis on the other side refusing to accept anything but a BINO Deal

    https://twitter.com/Andrew_Adonis/status/1330420896130011138?s=20

    Montie gets it right

    https://twitter.com/montie/status/1330426424323403776?s=20
  • DeClareDeClare Posts: 483
    Has something just happened in America?

    Donald Trump has just gone from 20/1 to 25/1 on Betfair in just the last 10mins and there was £thousands available to lay.
  • nichomarnichomar Posts: 7,483

    I'm already getting the 'well, we'll have to get together at some point around xmas' pressure.

    Why though!
  • StockyStocky Posts: 10,279

    We will have to make a decision in early February on whether the Dart Music Festival is a go for May. I would love to think that we will have enough encouraging signs that we will be good to go. But, being realistic, a week of Christmas merriment paid for by five more weeks of lockdown leaves me thinking we just can't take the financial risk.

    Our suppliers of things like stages etc might well not be there as functioning businesses in 2022. So we might already have had the last one. And I can sit back and think this will be what we lost....

    https://www.dartmusicfestival.co.uk/?utm_source=Business news subscribers&utm_campaign=a88aee3e7f-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_06_05_08_59_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_4788e290db-a88aee3e7f-141813397&mc_cid=a88aee3e7f&mc_eid=8f50bbd53e&fbclid=IwAR1hl0qzPiz_w-zapuYRgDQUco9U7-OyZCksCnUMBeg7n1rukD42VfEAHyY

    That`s a very good promotional video. A shame when it comes down to financial risk.
  • nichomarnichomar Posts: 7,483
    Foxy said:

    Personally I would rather take my chances with the vaccine rather than the virus.

    Not that I may get that choice, Isolating with covid positive Mrs Foxy. So far so good, but must have been exposed to viral Russian roulette, and another 10 days to go of it.
    When will the treatment for those who can’t tie the vaccine be ready?
  • RogerRoger Posts: 20,458
    HYUFD said:

    IDS again showing he is a No Deal hardliner as Boris edges towards a Deal with the EU

    https://twitter.com/MPIainDS/status/1330348939057516546?s=20

    The Great British patriot Rupert Murdoch has spoken
  • DeClare said:

    Has something just happened in America?

    Donald Trump has just gone from 20/1 to 25/1 on Betfair in just the last 10mins and there was £thousands available to lay.

    Matched, or withdrawn unmatched?
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 98,594
    Roger said:
    I just dont know how people can justify to themselves lying so blatantly when it will be so easily shown as a lie, as she must have known or been made aware of the past comments, which could be checked. I get justifying lying in order to win, but lying in a press conference wont contribute to winning, so why do it rather than just obfuscste? Lying for a perceived greater good, however dumb, is one thing, but just lying and looking a fool?

    Have some goddamn self respect.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 98,594
    Cant we all celebrate orthodox Christmas instead or something?
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 31,317

    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/nov/21/donald-trump-jr-coronavirus-isolation

    Donald Trump Jr to spend self-isolation "cleaning his guns". Let's hope he doesn't have any kind of accident, right?

    Etching specific names on his ammunition with a Dremel?

    He would be better employed spending some "quality" time with Kimberly Guilfoyle, while he still can. She doesn't look like the sort of girl who would be keen to wait around for his, in all likelihood, lengthy sentence to end.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 127,059
    edited November 2020
    Scottish Labour once again likely to get squeezed next year outside Glasgow and central Scotland, with Nationalists voting SNP and Unionists voting Tory

    https://twitter.com/ScotTories/status/1330443847902629888?s=20
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 39,823
    nichomar said:

    When will the treatment for those who can’t tie the vaccine be ready?
    Aiui everyone over 18 is eligible and Pfizer are planning a new trial for 13-17 year olds in the new year. I think even immunodeficient people can take the vaccine.
  • Mr. kle4, Coptic Christmas?
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 127,059
    edited November 2020
    Rishi Sunak on Marr confirms he would prefer an EU trade deal though not at any price but the impact of Covid remains the main threat
  • DeClare said:

    Has something just happened in America?

    Donald Trump has just gone from 20/1 to 25/1 on Betfair in just the last 10mins and there was £thousands available to lay.

    Some previously-wealthy person finally sobered up after a 10-day binge, logged into their betfair account and said OMG what did I do
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 31,317
    HYUFD said:

    Scottish Labour once again likely to get squeezed next year outside Glasgow and central Scotland, with Nationalists voting SNP and Unionists voting Tory

    https://twitter.com/ScotTories/status/1330443847902629888?s=20

    It worked so well, post Sindyref, for Scottish Labour, so what's their problem?
  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 34,569
    kle4 said:

    Cant we all celebrate orthodox Christmas instead or something?

    Good thought. One of my late grandfather's (well they both are, of course) birthday was Jan 6th, so his large family used to celebrate Christmas then, so that the workers on the mixed farm he ran could have Christmas Day off and the family would do all the necessary. This was about 100-120 years ago!
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 98,594

    Mr. kle4, Coptic Christmas?

    Pushes it back 2 weeks, a christmas firebreak.
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 31,317
    kle4 said:

    Cant we all celebrate orthodox Christmas instead or something?

    Christmas without the Coca Cola Santa Claus is Communism!
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 98,594

    Christmas without the Coca Cola Santa Claus is Communism!
    I only meant date wise, I'm not mad.
  • Deep thought: Maybe Boris plans to Get Brexit Done then resign in the New Year, that would explain him not caring much who gets infected over Christmas.
  • nichomarnichomar Posts: 7,483

    It worked so well, post Sindyref, for Scottish Labour, so what's their problem?
    Work with the tories and have your hahds bitten off as a minimum.
  • Sean_F said:

    I find driving on Christmas Day a pretty frightening experience, as so many other drivers are drunk,
    I drove my eldest to Heathrow on a Christmas Day once as he was flying back to New Zealand

    The roads were absolutely empty
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 76,733

    Some previously-wealthy person finally sobered up after a 10-day binge, logged into their betfair account and said OMG what did I do
    The judge in the Pennsylvania case handed Giuliani and his team their asses.
    With prejudice.
  • nichomarnichomar Posts: 7,483

    Mr. kle4, Coptic Christmas?

    JW Xmas would be fine
  • DeClare said:

    Has something just happened in America?

    Donald Trump has just gone from 20/1 to 25/1 on Betfair in just the last 10mins and there was £thousands available to lay.

    Presumably a late reaction to Trump's latest setback in the Pennsylvania courts overnight - brutally scathing from a staunch Republican judge.

    But he remains poor value to back at any price, whatever the fantasists say - if you burn the money, at least it'll keep you warm.
  • IshmaelZIshmaelZ Posts: 21,830

    Christmas is a load of old wank at the best of times. Our lives are ordered by the approach of the next celebration, and each celebration makes us spend money we don't have on stuff we don't need or really even want. On Boxing Day there will be Easter eggs on supermarket shelves. Once Easter is out the way, it'll be holidays, then whatever celebration the marketing departments try to foist on us next. Chuck in Comic Relief and Children in Need. In September we have to get ready for Halloween, but you'll find mince pies and chocolate reindeer on the shelves as well. A quick sprint to Bonfire Night, Poppy Wearing, maybe a bit of Diwali and then It's Christmaaaaas!
    Somebody shoot me.

    Narnia under the White Witch, where it was always winter but never Christmas, sounds unimprovable to me.
  • DeClareDeClare Posts: 483
    Roy_G_Biv said:

    Matched, or withdrawn unmatched?
    Dunno could be, beginning to move back again now, maybe there's a high roller who cancelled his bets because he's having a restful Sunday away from it.

    Nothing new on ABC breaking news website, but it highlights a problem, if Donald Trump wakes up this morning has a row with his missus and thinks 'sod it, I've had enough of this now, I'm off' then people not paying attention will be stuffed.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 98,594
    edited November 2020
    We already have the 12 days of Christmas, so different regions can celebrate on different days and make a jingle of it.

    On the 1st day of Christmas Boris gave to me, a lockdown end to the north east.

    And so on. I'm not doing the whole song :)
  • DeClare said:

    Dunno could be, beginning to move back again now, maybe there's a high roller who cancelled his bets because he's having a restful Sunday away from it.

    Nothing new on ABC breaking news website, but it highlights a problem, if Donald Trump wakes up this morning has a row with his missus and thinks 'sod it, I've had enough of this now, I'm off' then people not paying attention will be stuffed.
    To be honest, anyone backing Trump is already stuffed. Doesn't matter whether he has a domestic, a change of heart, or a heart attack. He's already lost the election.
  • Christmas has been ruined for years what with things like the rampant commercialisation and people thinking Die Hard is a Christmas film.

    Without wanting to perpetuate the Daily Mail/Farage myth that Muslims want to cancel Christmas, I'm sure delaying Christmas to next summer will be fine, it used to be in the summer did it not, plus there's this precedent.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_in_July
  • Roy_G_Biv said:

    To be honest, anyone backing Trump is already stuffed. Doesn't matter whether he has a domestic, a change of heart, or a heart attack. He's already lost the election.
    "The Trump campaign’s legal efforts to challenge election results in Pennsylvania met with a sharp defeat Saturday night, and some fellow Republicans began to signal their desire to move on, acknowledging that the president had lost both the state and his bid for re-election"

    NYTimes
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 51,263
    nichomar said:

    When will the treatment for those who can’t tie the vaccine be ready?
    Trial starting this week, I think, so probably a few months.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 76,733
    ydoethur said:

    Yes, but they’re much weaker than ours. As a rough rule of thumb, you can say what you like about someone as long as it’s not overtly motivated by malice, and as long as you do not falsely attribute words or phrases to them.

    And the burden of proof is on the plaintiff.
    Which might stop Frank Luntz suing Giuliani’s co-counsel in the Pennsylvania case....
    https://twitter.com/JennaEllisEsq/status/1330346436760903682
  • Deep thought: Maybe Boris plans to Get Brexit Done then resign in the New Year, that would explain him not caring much who gets infected over Christmas.

    I don't think that would explain it at all. He'd still be blamed for a surge in cases, and it would further damage his reputation.

    I actually think this actually more suggests Johnson is intending to stay and is worried that "spoiling" Xmas for people would run into a lot of resistence among the public and his own MPs. Similarly, the recent Number 10 internal shenanigans strongly suggests he's in it for the longer run - why bother with it if you're on your way out?
  • What an incredibly patronising article from this author. He says 'If you’re young enough, maybe you have your grandparents in your sights'. Assuming the grandparents are aged 70 plus more than 9 in 10 would survive a bout of this infection even if someone was stupid enough to repeatedly get close to them. If they're younger the odds of this disease fall dramatically. The cost of lockdowns is greater, much greater than the effects of this disease.
  • CyclefreeCyclefree Posts: 25,651
    FFS! Another day, another example of sleazy cronyism.


    https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/matt-hancock-gave-key-covid-role-to-lobbyist-pal-tppg75t5c

    If Sunak needs the money he could charge a tax rate of 100% on all these lobbyists and the Ministers they supposedly “advise”.
  • The cost of lockdowns is greater, much greater than the effects of this disease.

    What's the monetary value of your life?
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 76,733
    IshmaelZ said:

    Narnia under the White Witch, where it was always winter but never Christmas, sounds unimprovable to me.
    You could always try on top ?
  • I drove my eldest to Heathrow on a Christmas Day once as he was flying back to New Zealand

    The roads were absolutely empty
    I once drove from Birmingham to Newcastle on Boxing Day. A1 empty. It was a real joy.
  • Andy_CookeAndy_Cooke Posts: 5,045
    kle4 said:

    I just dont know how people can justify to themselves lying so blatantly when it will be so easily shown as a lie, as she must have known or been made aware of the past comments, which could be checked. I get justifying lying in order to win, but lying in a press conference wont contribute to winning, so why do it rather than just obfuscste? Lying for a perceived greater good, however dumb, is one thing, but just lying and looking a fool?

    Have some goddamn self respect.
    I think that’s part of the point of it.
    It’s not to convince people of something (although it provides a crutch for certain people to cling to as “the truth”), but as a display of loyalty. She will hold the line given to her, regardless of how indefensible it is. She will be loyal to her leader, even if it sacrifices her own self-respect.

    It’s a display. Posturing. Showing off her reliability to those she needs to impress.
  • IshmaelZIshmaelZ Posts: 21,830

    Christmas has been ruined for years what with things like the rampant commercialisation and people thinking Die Hard is a Christmas film.

    Without wanting to perpetuate the Daily Mail/Farage myth that Muslims want to cancel Christmas, I'm sure delaying Christmas to next summer will be fine, it used to be in the summer did it not, plus there's this precedent.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_in_July

    You just know an idea is not going to hit the feelgood spot when you learn it derives from Goethe's The Sorrows of Young Werther.

    My best Christmas was spent camping in the desert a bit North of Khartoum. It feels very different in 35 centigrade, and the knowledge that singing Oh Little Town of Bethlehem probably carries a prison sentence.
  • twistedfirestopper3twistedfirestopper3 Posts: 2,526
    edited November 2020

    Christmas has been ruined for years what with things like the rampant commercialisation and people thinking Die Hard is a Christmas film.

    Without wanting to perpetuate the Daily Mail/Farage myth that Muslims want to cancel Christmas, I'm sure delaying Christmas to next summer will be fine, it used to be in the summer did it not, plus there's this precedent.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_in_July

    Die Hard is a Christmas film. My old watch used to insist on Christmas jumpers if we were on duty over the 25th/26th. They'd have jumpers with flashing reindeer noses, and sparkly snowmen. Vomit inducing. Me? I had a grey sweatshirt with "Now I have a machine gun Ho! Ho! Ho!" on it in red.
    Now that's Christmas!
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 76,733

    I think that’s part of the point of it.
    It’s not to convince people of something (although it provides a crutch for certain people to cling to as “the truth”), but as a display of loyalty. She will hold the line given to her, regardless of how indefensible it is. She will be loyal to her leader, even if it sacrifices her own self-respect.

    It’s a display. Posturing. Showing off her reliability to those she needs to impress.
    The crucifix around her neck is a nice touch.
  • IshmaelZ said:

    You just know an idea is not going to hit the feelgood spot when you learn it derives from Goethe's The Sorrows of Young Werther.

    My best Christmas was spent camping in the desert a bit North of Khartoum. It feels very different in 35 centigrade, and the knowledge that singing Oh Little Town of Bethlehem probably carries a prison sentence.
    I have enjoyed Christmas in Brugge. Bars and restaurants are open and public transport is running. You are actually allowed to enjoy yourself, unlike the 2 and a bit day shutdown in the UK.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 73,548

    Die Hard is a Christmas film. My old watch used to insist on Christmas jumpers if we were on duty over the 25th/26th. They'd have jumpers with flashing reindeer noses, and sparkly snowmen. Vomit inducing. Me? I had a grey sweatshirt with "Now I have a machine gun Ho! Ho! Ho!" on it in red.
    Now that's Christmas!
    Uh-oh, here we go....
  • ydoethur said:

    Uh-oh, here we go....
    I know. It's all wrong.
    It should be "HO - HO - HO", not "Ho! Ho! Ho!"
  • Roy_G_Biv said:

    I know. It's all wrong.
    It should be "HO - HO - HO", not "Ho! Ho! Ho!"
    It was 10 quid from ebay, and that was 10 quid more than I wanted to pay!
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 127,059

    Christmas has been ruined for years what with things like the rampant commercialisation and people thinking Die Hard is a Christmas film.

    Without wanting to perpetuate the Daily Mail/Farage myth that Muslims want to cancel Christmas, I'm sure delaying Christmas to next summer will be fine, it used to be in the summer did it not, plus there's this precedent.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_in_July

    In Australia of course Christmas is always in Summer anyway
  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 22,689
    Well said Mr Meeks.

    The government is sending us all a hand grenade and inviting us to pull out the pin.
  • DeClareDeClare Posts: 483
    Roy_G_Biv said:

    To be honest, anyone backing Trump is already stuffed. Doesn't matter whether he has a domestic, a change of heart, or a heart attack. He's already lost the election.
    Yes but one of the things people do on betting exchanges, when there's this sort of stalemate is to keep backing and laying to corner a profit, that's why there appears to be nearly £900million staked, most of it is the same money going backwards and forwards.

    For example, I offer to back Trump for £50 but I want 22/1 after a while someone lays it, so then I offer 21/1 about Trump but I only put up £48. If someone takes it, I've cornered £2 before commission.

    You could keep doing this over and over again, but if prices change suddenly because of events, you could be caught holding the baby if you're not careful.
  • Roy_G_Biv said:

    I know. It's all wrong.
    It should be "HO - HO - HO", not "Ho! Ho! Ho!"
    Is Albert involved?
  • Nigelb said:

    The judge in the Pennsylvania case handed Giuliani and his team their asses.
    With prejudice.
    Right but that was like 15 hours ago, DeClare is talking about the price moving just now.
  • It was 10 quid from ebay, and that was 10 quid more than I wanted to pay!
    I'm just pulling your leg. Trying to pretend that was the controversial bit of your post rather than the fact that some people -- sad, weird, bitter people -- refuse to acknowledge that Die Hard is a Christmas movie.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 73,548

    Is Albert involved?
    That question was positively Malachious...
  • nichomarnichomar Posts: 7,483
    Roy_G_Biv said:

    What's the monetary value of your life?
    -ve these days
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 55,180
    Blimey, when people said that the application in Pennsylvania had been dismissed with prejudice they weren't kidding: https://www.democracydocket.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/45/2020/11/Order-Granting-MTD.pdf

    Just a taster:

    Although this case was initiated less than two weeks ago, it has already
    developed its own tortured procedural history. Plaintiffs have made multiple
    attempts at amending the pleadings, and have had attorneys both appear and
    withdraw in a matter of seventy-two hours. There have been at least two perceived
    discovery disputes, one oral argument, and a rude and ill-conceived voicemail
    which distracted the Court’s attention from the significant issues at hand.
  • RogerRoger Posts: 20,458
    DeClare said:

    Has something just happened in America?

    Donald Trump has just gone from 20/1 to 25/1 on Betfair in just the last 10mins and there was £thousands available to lay.

    Odd isn't it? You can get a horse with a pretty good chance on the Grand National with those odds.

    Yet trump has none.

  • What an incredibly patronising article from this author. He says 'If you’re young enough, maybe you have your grandparents in your sights'. Assuming the grandparents are aged 70 plus more than 9 in 10 would survive a bout of this infection even if someone was stupid enough to repeatedly get close to them. If they're younger the odds of this disease fall dramatically. The cost of lockdowns is greater, much greater than the effects of this disease.

    The restrictions are really aimed at keeping numbers of cases under control, across the population. Not at individual risk which remains a personal responsibility. I have a heart condition that allegedly makes me higher risk and at 55 I'm edging into the higher risk age category. But I have been out and about, went on holiday to NL, visit pubs, and making my own choice about which are safe (and on some occasions poking my nose through the door and walking away). Life is for living, not simply existing. I hate Christmas but if a family Christmas is one of the things you live for, then maybe that risk is worthwhile. Once you are, say, 80 you probably take a more sanguine view of life anyway. My mum survived the V-weapon onslaught for example.
  • DeClare said:

    Yes but one of the things people do on betting exchanges, when there's this sort of stalemate is to keep backing and laying to corner a profit, that's why there appears to be nearly £900million staked, most of it is the same money going backwards and forwards.

    For example, I offer to back Trump for £50 but I want 22/1 after a while someone lays it, so then I offer 21/1 about Trump but I only put up £48. If someone takes it, I've cornered £2 before commission.

    You could keep doing this over and over again, but if prices change suddenly because of events, you could be caught holding the baby if you're not careful.
    Sure, I get that, but there's much greater profit to be had in backing the outcome that's guaranteed to win. It's not often you can truly say that about an event, but since this one has already finished, and Betfair have (for no good reason) failed to close the market, this is an example.
    Biden has won. You can fiddle around with your 23s and 22s, but laying Trump or backing Biden is free money.
  • Mr. Eagles, "Now I have a machinegun. Ho ho ho."

    What could be more Christmassy?
  • gealbhangealbhan Posts: 2,362
    edited November 2020
    On topic. MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH Who are you planning to kill this Christmas?

    WTF! 😟

    The only thing I would add, the government are making a massive political mistake if they return to tiers and not same Dec Jan for everyone regardless of local difficulties explained by the science.

    “my good people of Suffolk, Chipping Norton, London, my government grants you Fun time, tiers to shop and meet, but for those of you in Redcar, Darlington, Stockton, masque of the red death”.

    The forensic stats and science will be forgotten. The political optics wont on a “Maggie thatcher milk snatcher” scale.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 121,673
    edited November 2020
    DavidL said:

    Blimey, when people said that the application in Pennsylvania had been dismissed with prejudice they weren't kidding: https://www.democracydocket.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/45/2020/11/Order-Granting-MTD.pdf

    Just a taster:

    Although this case was initiated less than two weeks ago, it has already
    developed its own tortured procedural history. Plaintiffs have made multiple
    attempts at amending the pleadings, and have had attorneys both appear and
    withdraw in a matter of seventy-two hours. There have been at least two perceived
    discovery disputes, one oral argument, and a rude and ill-conceived voicemail
    which distracted the Court’s attention from the significant issues at hand.

    But tangentially, I did like this.

    https://twitter.com/ChrisMegerian/status/1330321841165111299
  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 22,689

    I once drove from Birmingham to Newcastle on Boxing Day. A1 empty. It was a real joy.
    The only traffic other than cars is milk tankers. The cows don't stop for Christmas!
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 51,108

    I have never been to Nando's and never said I am not going to eat chicken
    Something tells me this one flew past you....
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 127,059
    edited November 2020

    It worked so well, post Sindyref, for Scottish Labour, so what's their problem?
    Opinium's Scottish subsample figures today are SNP 47%, Tories 27% and Labour just 18% and LDs 3%

    https://www.opinium.com/resource-center/uk-voting-intention-19th-november-2020/
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 51,108

    Christmas is a load of old wank at the best of times. Our lives are ordered by the approach of the next celebration, and each celebration makes us spend money we don't have on stuff we don't need or really even want. On Boxing Day there will be Easter eggs on supermarket shelves. Once Easter is out the way, it'll be holidays, then whatever celebration the marketing departments try to foist on us next. Chuck in Comic Relief and Children in Need. In September we have to get ready for Halloween, but you'll find mince pies and chocolate reindeer on the shelves as well. A quick sprint to Bonfire Night, Poppy Wearing, maybe a bit of Diwali and then It's Christmaaaaas!
    Somebody shoot me.

    You forgot Valentines.

    That's the way the economy goes
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 44,101
    Roy_G_Biv said:

    Nandos... was a metaphor ;)
    I know but as Big G is unlikely to have been in one I was just saying they were a decent chicken shack.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 73,548

    But tangentially, I did like this.

    https://twitter.com/ChrisMegerian/status/1330321841165111299
    https://twitter.com/dril/status/460673146451161088
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 76,733

    Right but that was like 15 hours ago, DeClare is talking about the price moving just now.
    Those who had money on Trump are perhaps not that quick on the uptake ?
    The kicking out of the last suit which might have made a difference (utterly implausible though it was) is certainly a significant event.

    And the judgment was excoriating in terms that anyone can understand.
  • Mr. Doethur, victory wine is a great line, reads like a skaldic kenning.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 73,548

    Mr. Doethur, victory wine is a great line, reads like a skaldic kenning.

    He's trying to Klingon to his victory.
  • ydoethur said:

    That question was positively Malachious...
    :D
  • IanB2 said:

    Something tells me this one flew past you....
    Obviously that chicken still had a bit of life in it... :D
  • RogerRoger Posts: 20,458
    Cyclefree said:

    FFS! Another day, another example of sleazy cronyism.


    https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/matt-hancock-gave-key-covid-role-to-lobbyist-pal-tppg75t5c

    If Sunak needs the money he could charge a tax rate of 100% on all these lobbyists and the Ministers they supposedly “advise”.

    The quality of photo editors is getting better. Maybe Harold Evans death got them to take a second look at his excellent book 'Pictures on a page'
  • nichomarnichomar Posts: 7,483
    edited November 2020

    Obviously that chicken still had a bit of life in it... :D
    Had to make it to the cuckoos nest
  • I don't think that would explain it at all. He'd still be blamed for a surge in cases, and it would further damage his reputation.

    I actually think this actually more suggests Johnson is intending to stay and is worried that "spoiling" Xmas for people would run into a lot of resistence among the public and his own MPs. Similarly, the recent Number 10 internal shenanigans strongly suggests he's in it for the longer run - why bother with it if you're on your way out?
    Given what we know of the Johnson temperament, I can't imagine that he's planning anything. He wants to be PM basically forever, so I guess he sort of assumes that is what is going to happen. And since nobody in their right mind would want to take over in 2021, he can continue to bumble along.

    On a related note, if IDS is already stiffening his sinews against any sort of deal with the EU, and Rishi is putting on his best "not bovvered" face, how does the PM get any sort of deal through? Or does he have to let late winter be grim first?
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 51,263
    Why should organisations deal with bullying and harassment? Well this is where it goes if they don't. Bad safety outcomes (in this case contributing to a child's death) and reputational damage. Yet this government continues to defend the indefensible.

    https://twitter.com/Mothers_Inst_UK/status/1330146382666227712?s=19
  • ydoethur said:

    He's trying to Klingon to his victory.
    Did you see yesterday that a Labour MP compared Jeremy Corbyn to Hannibal, finally some Corbynites have realised a couple of lucky victories in battle ain't worth shit if you lose war so badly you get wiped out.

    https://twitter.com/Mendelpol/status/1330105871691632641
This discussion has been closed.