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Hypothetical polls, a history showing they are consistently bobbins – politicalbetting.com

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  • isamisam Posts: 42,222

    I've just unsubscribed from Hampshire Libraries.

    It was for an excessively Woke monthly email for July.

    It's the school holidays; an ideal time to advertise how to get kids interested in reading, and discuss all the fun holiday reading activities they have coming up. Talk about reading and how libraries can help. Maybe the great weather.

    Instead, I was treated to Juche on Happy Disability Pride month, for July, on Celebrating South Asian Heritage month, in August, and a treatise on celebrating women in football.

    Enough.

    My the. 4yo son had this mob come and lecture them on diversity in his first week whilst their leader, Aisha Thomas, ‘audited’ the schools curriculum and teachers micro aggressions. I was up there like a shot in order to dirty my name with the headmaster early doors. Ended up in a parent meeting with Aisha telling me Katherine Birbalsingh was only black on the outside and the new name for non white people was “global majority’, while my sons black mates dad and I agreed that pointing out differences in skin colour to four year olds would likely do more harm than good

    https://www.repmatters.co.uk/services-for-education

    https://www.ted.com/talks/aisha_thomas_why_representation_really_matters
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 63,723
    isam said:

    I've just unsubscribed from Hampshire Libraries.

    It was for an excessively Woke monthly email for July.

    It's the school holidays; an ideal time to advertise how to get kids interested in reading, and discuss all the fun holiday reading activities they have coming up. Talk about reading and how libraries can help. Maybe the great weather.

    Instead, I was treated to Juche on Happy Disability Pride month, for July, on Celebrating South Asian Heritage month, in August, and a treatise on celebrating women in football.

    Enough.

    My the. 4yo son had this mob come and lecture them on diversity in his first week whilst their leader, Aisha Thomas, ‘audited’ the schools curriculum and teachers micro aggressions. I was up there like a shot in order to dirty my name with the headmaster early doors. Ended up in a parent meeting with Aisha telling me Katherine Birbalsingh was only black on the outside and the new name for non white people was “global majority’, while my sons black mates dad and I agreed that pointing out differences in skin colour to four year olds would likely do more harm than good

    https://www.repmatters.co.uk/services-for-education

    https://www.ted.com/talks/aisha_thomas_why_representation_really_matters
    It's insane.

    Everyone is fed up of this shit.
  • MustaphaMondeoMustaphaMondeo Posts: 339

    I've just unsubscribed from Hampshire Libraries.

    It was for an excessively Woke monthly email for July.

    It's the school holidays; an ideal time to advertise how to get kids interested in reading, and discuss all the fun holiday reading activities they have coming up. Talk about reading and how libraries can help. Maybe the great weather.

    Instead, I was treated to Juche on Happy Disability Pride month, for July, on Celebrating South Asian Heritage month, in August, and a treatise on celebrating women in football.

    Enough.

    Isn’t an interest in reading read?

    I once took offence at a veggie restaurant because I couldn’t have a lamb Rogan Josh. I mean, really, what was that all about?
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 63,723
    Also, BBC News has now become more Guardian than the Guardian. It's all Gaza and Palestine, with some Wokey stuff littered in with stuff about the weather and Epstein.

    I read it because it's free, and there's no paywall, and it's a habit - but it's becoming unreadable.

    Where else can you go for good, regular free news?
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 79,395
    I think it's fair to say that Bessent does not represent an upgrade.

    Yellen: I don't talk to Secretary Bessent. He has undone everything I worked on at Treasury.

    Bessent: "I couldn't even tell you what Secretary Yellen's China policy was, aside from consuming beer and mushrooms."

    https://x.com/NickTimiraos/status/1946273159021306139
  • viewcodeviewcode Posts: 25,218
    edited 1:23PM

    Also, BBC News has now become more Guardian than the Guardian. It's all Gaza and Palestine, with some Wokey stuff littered in with stuff about the weather and Epstein.

    I read it because it's free, and there's no paywall, and it's a habit - but it's becoming unreadable.

    Where else can you go for good, regular free news?

    If you are willing to put the time in, you can assemble your own feed from PA or Associated Press If you don't want to do that then you can subscribe to Ground News I disagree with Ground News because it only acknowledges the left-right axis (which is inadequate), and that's the American left-right axis, not the British one. But it may meet your needs

    Failing that, I am reduced to recommending that you make your own list of providers that meet your needs. I could create one for you, but it would inevitably reflect my biases, such as https://bylinetimes.com/ or https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/ . Right-winger PBers prefer Unherd https://unherd.com/ or CityAM https://www.cityam.com/

    Conversely I could recommend individual journalists/researchers (Tom McTague, Tom Harwood, John Harris, Danny Dorling), but I don't think that would work for you
  • Frank_BoothFrank_Booth Posts: 383

    I've just unsubscribed from Hampshire Libraries.

    It was for an excessively Woke monthly email for July.

    It's the school holidays; an ideal time to advertise how to get kids interested in reading, and discuss all the fun holiday reading activities they have coming up. Talk about reading and how libraries can help. Maybe the great weather.

    Instead, I was treated to Juche on Happy Disability Pride month, for July, on Celebrating South Asian Heritage month, in August, and a treatise on celebrating women in football.

    Enough.

    Part of the problem, I would suggest, is that they don't really have anything to say on the important subjects you wish to consider. These identitarian campaigns are all they have left to offer.
  • Frank_BoothFrank_Booth Posts: 383
    viewcode said:

    Also, BBC News has now become more Guardian than the Guardian. It's all Gaza and Palestine, with some Wokey stuff littered in with stuff about the weather and Epstein.

    I read it because it's free, and there's no paywall, and it's a habit - but it's becoming unreadable.

    Where else can you go for good, regular free news?

    If you are willing to put the time in, you can assemble your own feed from PA or Associated Press If you don't want to do that then you can subscribe to Ground News I disagree with Ground News because it only acknowledges the left-right axis (which is inadequate), and that's the American left-right axis, not the British one. But it may meet your needs9

    Failing that, I am reduced to recommending that you make your own list of providers that meet your needs. I could create one for you, but it would inevitably reflect my biases, such as https://bylinetimes.com/ or https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/ . Right-winger PBers prefer Unherd https://unherd.com/ or CityAM https://www.cityam.com/

    Conversely I could recommend individual journalists/researchers (Tom McTague, Tom Harwood, John Harris, Danny Dorling), but I don't think that would work for you
    Harris used to be interesting but his serious column about Glastonbury representing the best of England (silent majority?) being white middle class public sector workers was a real laugh.
  • TresTres Posts: 2,938
    i guess getting triggered by your own inbox makes a change from getting triggered by the billboards at waterloo station
  • Frank_BoothFrank_Booth Posts: 383

    Also, BBC News has now become more Guardian than the Guardian. It's all Gaza and Palestine, with some Wokey stuff littered in with stuff about the weather and Epstein.

    I read it because it's free, and there's no paywall, and it's a habit - but it's becoming unreadable.

    Where else can you go for good, regular free news?

    Haven't they fused their national and international news teams into one?

    My guess is they are trying to produce content that aligns with the tastes of the global majority.
  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 35,291

    Also, BBC News has now become more Guardian than the Guardian. It's all Gaza and Palestine, with some Wokey stuff littered in with stuff about the weather and Epstein.

    I read it because it's free, and there's no paywall, and it's a habit - but it's becoming unreadable.

    Where else can you go for good, regular free news?

    Haven't they fused their national and international news teams into one?

    My guess is they are trying to produce content that aligns with the tastes of the global majority.
    The BBC gives far too much coverage to Farage. Although Laura K did this morning draw attention to the Horlicks that Reform is making in the County Councils they control.
  • TazTaz Posts: 19,696
    As much as I dislike the Lib Dem’s I find it hard to be outraged at this story.

    I would have claimed for it when I was doing contract work.

    It’s an expense. Not a gift.

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/07/18/lib-dem-mp-gilmour-expenses-claim-half-pint-cider-card/?recomm_id=0b152f48-eea1-47ad-8840-517d5aede071
  • MattWMattW Posts: 28,372
    Catching up no Farage, most of it is flummery and diversions, but he also cites a couple of examples of "obstructionism" where Reform Council Leaders have been denied access to things which they do not have a right to under rules or law.

    An example is the minority leader of Warwickshire Council trying unilaterally to change "flags" policy using a personal authority he did not possess, as it was a decision for the Council.

    Nigel does not like checks and balances.
  • TazTaz Posts: 19,696

    Also, BBC News has now become more Guardian than the Guardian. It's all Gaza and Palestine, with some Wokey stuff littered in with stuff about the weather and Epstein.

    I read it because it's free, and there's no paywall, and it's a habit - but it's becoming unreadable.

    Where else can you go for good, regular free news?

    Haven't they fused their national and international news teams into one?

    My guess is they are trying to produce content that aligns with the tastes of the global majority.
    I look forward to the day where the people who consume the BBC’s services pay for it and those of us who do not wish to fund it don’t.

  • FairlieredFairliered Posts: 6,043

    isam said:

    I've just unsubscribed from Hampshire Libraries.

    It was for an excessively Woke monthly email for July.

    It's the school holidays; an ideal time to advertise how to get kids interested in reading, and discuss all the fun holiday reading activities they have coming up. Talk about reading and how libraries can help. Maybe the great weather.

    Instead, I was treated to Juche on Happy Disability Pride month, for July, on Celebrating South Asian Heritage month, in August, and a treatise on celebrating women in football.

    Enough.

    My the. 4yo son had this mob come and lecture them on diversity in his first week whilst their leader, Aisha Thomas, ‘audited’ the schools curriculum and teachers micro aggressions. I was up there like a shot in order to dirty my name with the headmaster early doors. Ended up in a parent meeting with Aisha telling me Katherine Birbalsingh was only black on the outside and the new name for non white people was “global majority’, while my sons black mates dad and I agreed that pointing out differences in skin colour to four year olds would likely do more harm than good

    https://www.repmatters.co.uk/services-for-education

    https://www.ted.com/talks/aisha_thomas_why_representation_really_matters
    It's insane.

    Everyone is fed up of this shit.
    I believe the pendulum is starting to swing back. We are seeing it with gender/trans issues following recent legal judgments. It will need parental action, almost certainly legal action, for the swingback to take place in education, and there will be resistance and anger from vested interests, as there is with gender/trans, but common sense legal rulings are required.

    I don’t want to see a swing right back to the attitudes of the 1950s, which I suspect some would wish, but you and your son’s mates dad are more sensible than those who have inveigled themselves into positions of authority and influence.
  • Frank_BoothFrank_Booth Posts: 383

    Also, BBC News has now become more Guardian than the Guardian. It's all Gaza and Palestine, with some Wokey stuff littered in with stuff about the weather and Epstein.

    I read it because it's free, and there's no paywall, and it's a habit - but it's becoming unreadable.

    Where else can you go for good, regular free news?

    Haven't they fused their national and international news teams into one?

    My guess is they are trying to produce content that aligns with the tastes of the global majority.
    The BBC gives far too much coverage to Farage. Although Laura K did this morning draw attention to the Horlicks that Reform is making in the County Councils they control.
    You realise they are currently ahead in the opinion polls? Is that the fault of the BBC?
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 99,121

    isam said:

    I've just unsubscribed from Hampshire Libraries.

    It was for an excessively Woke monthly email for July.

    It's the school holidays; an ideal time to advertise how to get kids interested in reading, and discuss all the fun holiday reading activities they have coming up. Talk about reading and how libraries can help. Maybe the great weather.

    Instead, I was treated to Juche on Happy Disability Pride month, for July, on Celebrating South Asian Heritage month, in August, and a treatise on celebrating women in football.

    Enough.

    My the. 4yo son had this mob come and lecture them on diversity in his first week whilst their leader, Aisha Thomas, ‘audited’ the schools curriculum and teachers micro aggressions. I was up there like a shot in order to dirty my name with the headmaster early doors. Ended up in a parent meeting with Aisha telling me Katherine Birbalsingh was only black on the outside and the new name for non white people was “global majority’, while my sons black mates dad and I agreed that pointing out differences in skin colour to four year olds would likely do more harm than good

    https://www.repmatters.co.uk/services-for-education

    https://www.ted.com/talks/aisha_thomas_why_representation_really_matters
    It's insane.

    Everyone is fed up of this shit.
    My unpopular opinion (though more popular on here than elsewhere) is that hyperfocus on race and identity is counterproductive to good societal relations, and quite distinct from initial goals of raising awareness.

    And that a term like global majority is just bloody stupid and offensive on its own terms, lumping together a lot of disparate people together like they are the same.
  • TazTaz Posts: 19,696

    Also, BBC News has now become more Guardian than the Guardian. It's all Gaza and Palestine, with some Wokey stuff littered in with stuff about the weather and Epstein.

    I read it because it's free, and there's no paywall, and it's a habit - but it's becoming unreadable.

    Where else can you go for good, regular free news?

    Haven't they fused their national and international news teams into one?

    My guess is they are trying to produce content that aligns with the tastes of the global majority.
    The BBC gives far too much coverage to Farage. Although Laura K did this morning draw attention to the Horlicks that Reform is making in the County Councils they control.
    You realise they are currently ahead in the opinion polls? Is that the fault of the BBC?
    According to the online left and the Hammer of the Subpostmasters, Ed Davey, yes it is.

    It’s all a bit ‘how dare you have someone on I disagree with’
  • AbandonedHopeAbandonedHope Posts: 160

    Also, BBC News has now become more Guardian than the Guardian. It's all Gaza and Palestine, with some Wokey stuff littered in with stuff about the weather and Epstein.

    I read it because it's free, and there's no paywall, and it's a habit - but it's becoming unreadable.

    Where else can you go for good, regular free news?

    The problem I have with the BBC News site is that it’s so difficult to find anything. The top bit is news stories, then it’s scroll left or right for Tik Tok style shorts, then it’s “ Elsewhere on the BBC”, then maybe some local news stories, then a section on BBC Sounds, then the podcasts, sign up to this or that service and then… news? No. It’s the bottom of the page.

    And then there’s the navigation bar which is ‘thematic’ rather than ‘sectional’. Trying to find business or politics is next to impossible. They know that more people access the BBC via the news website than any other point of entry. Hence they’ve made the BBC News homepage a mini-BBC homepage.

    If you want an alternative, try France24 (not perfect but one of them few that discuses world news in the same breath as domestic news) or the ABC website (Australia, not the USA). I start most mornings with the ABC and the Sydney Morning Herald before moving on to France24 and the CBC. Then I get to the BBC…

  • TazTaz Posts: 19,696

    isam said:

    I've just unsubscribed from Hampshire Libraries.

    It was for an excessively Woke monthly email for July.

    It's the school holidays; an ideal time to advertise how to get kids interested in reading, and discuss all the fun holiday reading activities they have coming up. Talk about reading and how libraries can help. Maybe the great weather.

    Instead, I was treated to Juche on Happy Disability Pride month, for July, on Celebrating South Asian Heritage month, in August, and a treatise on celebrating women in football.

    Enough.

    My the. 4yo son had this mob come and lecture them on diversity in his first week whilst their leader, Aisha Thomas, ‘audited’ the schools curriculum and teachers micro aggressions. I was up there like a shot in order to dirty my name with the headmaster early doors. Ended up in a parent meeting with Aisha telling me Katherine Birbalsingh was only black on the outside and the new name for non white people was “global majority’, while my sons black mates dad and I agreed that pointing out differences in skin colour to four year olds would likely do more harm than good

    https://www.repmatters.co.uk/services-for-education

    https://www.ted.com/talks/aisha_thomas_why_representation_really_matters
    It's insane.

    Everyone is fed up of this shit.
    All of this bollocks, non value added bollocks, at the taxpayers expense.

    Yet there’s no waste we can cut and we have to rinse the productive economy to pay for these parasites.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 55,759
    edited 2:01PM
    kinabalu said:

    Nigelb said:

    IanB2 said:

    All these Norwegians running up this mountain are making me feel old. Especially the ones that are also old. Time to have a fiddle with the phone...

    I've never felt older than when Korean septuagenarians were passing me on the way up Hallasan.
    A couple of ajummas stopped in passing to offer tangerines.
    I remember walking up Ayers Rock (back when you could) and I was passed by a guy jogging up there ... backwards. I was more irritated than impressed. Why do that?
    There’s multiple subcultures of people who live for the harder and more difficult.

    I worked with a guy who went to see a friend run a competitive race up the path on the Eiger. As it happened, there was a spare entrance slot. So, with no prep, he ran up the Eiger.

    Made him grin, ear to ear.

    As to social utility - such people are often volunteer mountain rescue, lifeboat crew or part time special forces.
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 55,121

    I've just unsubscribed from Hampshire Libraries.

    It was for an excessively Woke monthly email for July.

    It's the school holidays; an ideal time to advertise how to get kids interested in reading, and discuss all the fun holiday reading activities they have coming up. Talk about reading and how libraries can help. Maybe the great weather.

    Instead, I was treated to Juche on Happy Disability Pride month, for July, on Celebrating South Asian Heritage month, in August, and a treatise on celebrating women in football.

    Enough.

    So you're racist against South Asians?
  • Frank_BoothFrank_Booth Posts: 383
    kle4 said:

    isam said:

    I've just unsubscribed from Hampshire Libraries.

    It was for an excessively Woke monthly email for July.

    It's the school holidays; an ideal time to advertise how to get kids interested in reading, and discuss all the fun holiday reading activities they have coming up. Talk about reading and how libraries can help. Maybe the great weather.

    Instead, I was treated to Juche on Happy Disability Pride month, for July, on Celebrating South Asian Heritage month, in August, and a treatise on celebrating women in football.

    Enough.

    My the. 4yo son had this mob come and lecture them on diversity in his first week whilst their leader, Aisha Thomas, ‘audited’ the schools curriculum and teachers micro aggressions. I was up there like a shot in order to dirty my name with the headmaster early doors. Ended up in a parent meeting with Aisha telling me Katherine Birbalsingh was only black on the outside and the new name for non white people was “global majority’, while my sons black mates dad and I agreed that pointing out differences in skin colour to four year olds would likely do more harm than good

    https://www.repmatters.co.uk/services-for-education

    https://www.ted.com/talks/aisha_thomas_why_representation_really_matters
    It's insane.

    Everyone is fed up of this shit.
    My unpopular opinion (though more popular on here than elsewhere) is that hyperfocus on race and identity is counterproductive to good societal relations, and quite distinct from initial goals of raising awareness.

    And that a term like global majority is just bloody stupid and offensive on its own terms, lumping together a lot of disparate people together like they are the same.
    My opinion is that it is more popular on here than it is out there.

    Global majority might be offensive to your ears but it's also a favoured term of the CCP.

    https://socialistchina.org/2024/03/14/china-is-blazing-a-trail-towards-modernisation-for-the-global-majority/

    So I suspect the fellow travellers and useful idiots will be using it more and more.
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 55,121

    Also, BBC News has now become more Guardian than the Guardian. It's all Gaza and Palestine, with some Wokey stuff littered in with stuff about the weather and Epstein.

    I read it because it's free, and there's no paywall, and it's a habit - but it's becoming unreadable.

    Where else can you go for good, regular free news?

    Haven't they fused their national and international news teams into one?

    My guess is they are trying to produce content that aligns with the tastes of the global majority.
    The BBC gives far too much coverage to Farage. Although Laura K did this morning draw attention to the Horlicks that Reform is making in the County Councils they control.
    You realise they are currently ahead in the opinion polls? Is that the fault of the BBC?
    Isn't the BBC absolutely to blame for everything nowadays?
  • TazTaz Posts: 19,696

    Also, BBC News has now become more Guardian than the Guardian. It's all Gaza and Palestine, with some Wokey stuff littered in with stuff about the weather and Epstein.

    I read it because it's free, and there's no paywall, and it's a habit - but it's becoming unreadable.

    Where else can you go for good, regular free news?

    Haven't they fused their national and international news teams into one?

    My guess is they are trying to produce content that aligns with the tastes of the global majority.
    The BBC gives far too much coverage to Farage. Although Laura K did this morning draw attention to the Horlicks that Reform is making in the County Councils they control.
    You realise they are currently ahead in the opinion polls? Is that the fault of the BBC?
    Isn't the BBC absolutely to blame for everything nowadays?
    No.

    It’s becoming less and less relevant.
  • isamisam Posts: 42,222
    edited 2:17PM
    Taz said:

    isam said:

    I've just unsubscribed from Hampshire Libraries.

    It was for an excessively Woke monthly email for July.

    It's the school holidays; an ideal time to advertise how to get kids interested in reading, and discuss all the fun holiday reading activities they have coming up. Talk about reading and how libraries can help. Maybe the great weather.

    Instead, I was treated to Juche on Happy Disability Pride month, for July, on Celebrating South Asian Heritage month, in August, and a treatise on celebrating women in football.

    Enough.

    My the. 4yo son had this mob come and lecture them on diversity in his first week whilst their leader, Aisha Thomas, ‘audited’ the schools curriculum and teachers micro aggressions. I was up there like a shot in order to dirty my name with the headmaster early doors. Ended up in a parent meeting with Aisha telling me Katherine Birbalsingh was only black on the outside and the new name for non white people was “global majority’, while my sons black mates dad and I agreed that pointing out differences in skin colour to four year olds would likely do more harm than good

    https://www.repmatters.co.uk/services-for-education

    https://www.ted.com/talks/aisha_thomas_why_representation_really_matters
    It's insane.

    Everyone is fed up of this shit.
    All of this bollocks, non value added bollocks, at the taxpayers expense.

    Yet there’s no waste we can cut and we have to rinse the productive economy to pay for these parasites.
    Well yes, this is a connected point, and one I can imagine occurs across the board in both state services and corporates, the difference being the corporates pay for it themselves; hiring ‘Representation Matters’ for two or three days must have cost the school a small fortune, yet they constantly have the begging bowl out asking parents to chip in for this, that and the other as they’re so dreadfully underfunded.

    The catalyst for approaching RM was a black pupil being racially abused by a white child of EU/UK parentage. To be fair the mother of the child on the end of the abuse spoke v eloquently in the meeting, and was pleased that the school did something, but personally I think the teachers should have punished the perpetrator individually rather than outsourced it to a private company and made it a school wide issue
  • nunu2nunu2 Posts: 1,473
    I just reported my local barbers for hiring illegal workers. If we don't do anything we will be taken for fools. In fact we already are.

    I would encourage everyone to do the same.
  • BartholomewRobertsBartholomewRoberts Posts: 25,346
    Taz said:

    Also, BBC News has now become more Guardian than the Guardian. It's all Gaza and Palestine, with some Wokey stuff littered in with stuff about the weather and Epstein.

    I read it because it's free, and there's no paywall, and it's a habit - but it's becoming unreadable.

    Where else can you go for good, regular free news?

    Haven't they fused their national and international news teams into one?

    My guess is they are trying to produce content that aligns with the tastes of the global majority.
    I look forward to the day where the people who consume the BBC’s services pay for it and those of us who do not wish to fund it don’t.

    I've opted against funding it.

    Means I can't have Sky Sports live anymore, but that's the only live TV I still watched. Ridiculous that watching Sky Sports requires a TV licence, that should be abolished and the BBC should become a subscription service.

    Trying to have their cake and eat it too in requiring it for any live TV, even streaming rivals, or for streaming iPlayer. Should be one or the other.
  • TazTaz Posts: 19,696
    nunu2 said:

    I just reported my local barbers for hiring illegal workers. If we don't do anything we will be taken for fools. In fact we already are.

    I would encourage everyone to do the same.

    We have a couple of Turkish Barbers in town but, unlike some, they seem legit and they have an online presence as well as local employees.

    I’d be reluctant to do that unless I was 100% sure.

    Meanwhile some home food delivery services carry on regardless.
  • BartholomewRobertsBartholomewRoberts Posts: 25,346
    nunu2 said:

    I just reported my local barbers for hiring illegal workers. If we don't do anything we will be taken for fools. In fact we already are.

    I would encourage everyone to do the same.

    How do you know they are illegal?
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 32,110
    edited 2:47PM
    isam said:

    Taz said:

    isam said:

    I've just unsubscribed from Hampshire Libraries.

    It was for an excessively Woke monthly email for July.

    It's the school holidays; an ideal time to advertise how to get kids interested in reading, and discuss all the fun holiday reading activities they have coming up. Talk about reading and how libraries can help. Maybe the great weather.

    Instead, I was treated to Juche on Happy Disability Pride month, for July, on Celebrating South Asian Heritage month, in August, and a treatise on celebrating women in football.

    Enough.

    My the. 4yo son had this mob come and lecture them on diversity in his first week whilst their leader, Aisha Thomas, ‘audited’ the schools curriculum and teachers micro aggressions. I was up there like a shot in order to dirty my name with the headmaster early doors. Ended up in a parent meeting with Aisha telling me Katherine Birbalsingh was only black on the outside and the new name for non white people was “global majority’, while my sons black mates dad and I agreed that pointing out differences in skin colour to four year olds would likely do more harm than good

    https://www.repmatters.co.uk/services-for-education

    https://www.ted.com/talks/aisha_thomas_why_representation_really_matters
    It's insane.

    Everyone is fed up of this shit.
    All of this bollocks, non value added bollocks, at the taxpayers expense.

    Yet there’s no waste we can cut and we have to rinse the productive economy to pay for these parasites.
    Well yes, this is a connected point, and one I can imagine occurs across the board in both state services and corporates, the difference being the corporates pay for it themselves; hiring ‘Representation Matters’ for two or three days must have cost the school a small fortune, yet they constantly have the begging bowl out asking parents to chip in for this, that and the other as they’re so dreadfully underfunded.

    The catalyst for approaching RM was a black pupil being racially abused by a white child of EU/UK parentage. To be fair the mother of the child on the end of the abuse spoke v eloquently in the meeting, and was pleased that the school did something, but personally I think the teachers should have punished the perpetrator individually rather than outsourced it to a private company and made it a school wide issue
    One of the worst thing about the disease is how it has re-routed all Government funding to serve it. Research projects, projects in the arts etc., looking for grant funding must prove either their diversity credentials or their green credentials (or both) - it is society funding its own division and impoverishment.

    Imagine if all initiatives looking for Government funding had to prove they were working toward social cohesion, highlighting universal themes and pride in our shared heritage, or enhancing the success of the economy. That would throw the whole thing into forward gear instead of backeard gear.
  • Sean_FSean_F Posts: 39,149

    I've just unsubscribed from Hampshire Libraries.

    It was for an excessively Woke monthly email for July.

    It's the school holidays; an ideal time to advertise how to get kids interested in reading, and discuss all the fun holiday reading activities they have coming up. Talk about reading and how libraries can help. Maybe the great weather.

    Instead, I was treated to Juche on Happy Disability Pride month, for July, on Celebrating South Asian Heritage month, in August, and a treatise on celebrating women in football.

    Enough.

    And @Leon and @isam

    The reasons for voting Reform just keep coming.

    CR you have a notionally Conservative County Council, but I'm sure they give no sign of it.
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 30,332
    This is a local shop for local people to shop.
  • stodgestodge Posts: 14,910
    Taz said:

    Also, BBC News has now become more Guardian than the Guardian. It's all Gaza and Palestine, with some Wokey stuff littered in with stuff about the weather and Epstein.

    I read it because it's free, and there's no paywall, and it's a habit - but it's becoming unreadable.

    Where else can you go for good, regular free news?

    Haven't they fused their national and international news teams into one?

    My guess is they are trying to produce content that aligns with the tastes of the global majority.
    The BBC gives far too much coverage to Farage. Although Laura K did this morning draw attention to the Horlicks that Reform is making in the County Councils they control.
    You realise they are currently ahead in the opinion polls? Is that the fault of the BBC?
    According to the online left and the Hammer of the Subpostmasters, Ed Davey, yes it is.

    It’s all a bit ‘how dare you have someone on I disagree with’
    As you well know, that’s not the issue at all.

    The problem is when the only two viewpoints consistently aired across a range of issues are that of the Government and Reform. I recognize adversarial two party politics is about all most people can manage but there are other nuanced viewpoints whether from the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, Greens or whoever which should be heard to fully inform the debate,

    Just because a party leads the polls is no reason to give them extra coverage. In July 2024, more people didn’t vote than voted for the current Government. That should entitle them to some time in these debates, shouldn’t it?

  • nunu2nunu2 Posts: 1,473

    nunu2 said:

    I just reported my local barbers for hiring illegal workers. If we don't do anything we will be taken for fools. In fact we already are.

    I would encourage everyone to do the same.

    How do you know they are illegal?
    One of the barbers wanted me to pose as his brother to get citizenship/asylum

  • stodgestodge Posts: 14,910
    MattW said:

    Catching up no Farage, most of it is flummery and diversions, but he also cites a couple of examples of "obstructionism" where Reform Council Leaders have been denied access to things which they do not have a right to under rules or law.

    An example is the minority leader of Warwickshire Council trying unilaterally to change "flags" policy using a personal authority he did not possess, as it was a decision for the Council.

    Nigel does not like checks and balances.

    I don’t believe Farage has ever been a Councillor so he’s probably as ignorant of the Member-Officer protocols which exist in every authority (and to which all Reform councillors will have to abide) as he is about so many other things.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 66,896
    kle4 said:

    isam said:

    I've just unsubscribed from Hampshire Libraries.

    It was for an excessively Woke monthly email for July.

    It's the school holidays; an ideal time to advertise how to get kids interested in reading, and discuss all the fun holiday reading activities they have coming up. Talk about reading and how libraries can help. Maybe the great weather.

    Instead, I was treated to Juche on Happy Disability Pride month, for July, on Celebrating South Asian Heritage month, in August, and a treatise on celebrating women in football.

    Enough.

    My the. 4yo son had this mob come and lecture them on diversity in his first week whilst their leader, Aisha Thomas, ‘audited’ the schools curriculum and teachers micro aggressions. I was up there like a shot in order to dirty my name with the headmaster early doors. Ended up in a parent meeting with Aisha telling me Katherine Birbalsingh was only black on the outside and the new name for non white people was “global majority’, while my sons black mates dad and I agreed that pointing out differences in skin colour to four year olds would likely do more harm than good

    https://www.repmatters.co.uk/services-for-education

    https://www.ted.com/talks/aisha_thomas_why_representation_really_matters
    It's insane.

    Everyone is fed up of this shit.
    My unpopular opinion (though more popular on here than elsewhere) is that hyperfocus on race and identity is counterproductive to good societal relations, and quite distinct from initial goals of raising awareness.

    And that a term like global majority is just bloody stupid and offensive on its own terms, lumping together a lot of disparate people together like they are the same.
    Whether you agree with all this woke 'training' or not it seems they are all living on borrowed time. The next government will be ending it all.
  • nico67nico67 Posts: 5,675
    nunu2 said:

    nunu2 said:

    I just reported my local barbers for hiring illegal workers. If we don't do anything we will be taken for fools. In fact we already are.

    I would encourage everyone to do the same.

    How do you know they are illegal?
    One of the barbers wanted me to pose as his brother to get citizenship/asylum

    Bizarre . He can’t have been serious . Maybe he was just having a laugh .
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 44,529

    I've just unsubscribed from Hampshire Libraries.

    It was for an excessively Woke monthly email for July.

    It's the school holidays; an ideal time to advertise how to get kids interested in reading, and discuss all the fun holiday reading activities they have coming up. Talk about reading and how libraries can help. Maybe the great weather.

    Instead, I was treated to Juche on Happy Disability Pride month, for July, on Celebrating South Asian Heritage month, in August, and a treatise on celebrating women in football.

    Enough.

    So you're racist against South Asians?
    there speaks a woke arsehole
  • TazTaz Posts: 19,696
    nico67 said:

    nunu2 said:

    nunu2 said:

    I just reported my local barbers for hiring illegal workers. If we don't do anything we will be taken for fools. In fact we already are.

    I would encourage everyone to do the same.

    How do you know they are illegal?
    One of the barbers wanted me to pose as his brother to get citizenship/asylum

    Bizarre . He can’t have been serious . Maybe he was just having a laugh .
    Didn’t realise you were there too.
  • TazTaz Posts: 19,696


    Fire up the Centrist Dad wankfodder
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 46,279
    edited 3:43PM

    kinabalu said:

    Nigelb said:

    IanB2 said:

    All these Norwegians running up this mountain are making me feel old. Especially the ones that are also old. Time to have a fiddle with the phone...

    I've never felt older than when Korean septuagenarians were passing me on the way up Hallasan.
    A couple of ajummas stopped in passing to offer tangerines.
    I remember walking up Ayers Rock (back when you could) and I was passed by a guy jogging up there ... backwards. I was more irritated than impressed. Why do that?
    There’s multiple subcultures of people who live for the harder and more difficult.

    I worked with a guy who went to see a friend run a competitive race up the path on the Eiger. As it happened, there was a spare entrance slot. So, with no prep, he ran up the Eiger.

    Made him grin, ear to ear.

    As to social utility - such people are often volunteer mountain rescue, lifeboat crew or part time special forces.
    I'm sure. But this one had a 'plonker' air about him. It was like he was sticking his tongue out at everyone.
  • nico67nico67 Posts: 5,675
    Taz said:

    nico67 said:

    nunu2 said:

    nunu2 said:

    I just reported my local barbers for hiring illegal workers. If we don't do anything we will be taken for fools. In fact we already are.

    I would encourage everyone to do the same.

    How do you know they are illegal?
    One of the barbers wanted me to pose as his brother to get citizenship/asylum

    Bizarre . He can’t have been serious . Maybe he was just having a laugh .
    Didn’t realise you were there too.
    Very funny ! Maybe the alleged illegal worker was unaware that you can’t just say he’s my brother job done !
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 66,896
    Aaron Rupar
    @atrupar
    ·
    41m
    Tulsi Gabbard accused Obama of directing a "treasonous conspiracy" and "years-long coup against President Trump"

    Aaron Rupar
    @atrupar
    ·
    33m
    Gabbard on Obama's alleged coup against Trump: "For the American people to have any sense of trust in the integrity of our democratic republic, accountability, action, prosecution, indictments for those who are responsible for trying to steal our democracy is essential."

    https://x.com/atrupar/status/1946950460046180822
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 52,371
    kinabalu said:

    kinabalu said:

    Nigelb said:

    IanB2 said:

    All these Norwegians running up this mountain are making me feel old. Especially the ones that are also old. Time to have a fiddle with the phone...

    I've never felt older than when Korean septuagenarians were passing me on the way up Hallasan.
    A couple of ajummas stopped in passing to offer tangerines.
    I remember walking up Ayers Rock (back when you could) and I was passed by a guy jogging up there ... backwards. I was more irritated than impressed. Why do that?
    There’s multiple subcultures of people who live for the harder and more difficult.

    I worked with a guy who went to see a friend run a competitive race up the path on the Eiger. As it happened, there was a spare entrance slot. So, with no prep, he ran up the Eiger.

    Made him grin, ear to ear.

    As to social utility - such people are often volunteer mountain rescue, lifeboat crew or part time special forces.
    I'm sure. But this one had a 'plonker' air about him. It was like he was sticking his tongue out at everyone.
    Nevertheless, if the Russians invade and we need a load of people to run up a mountain in a hurry, I can confirm that the Norwegians are trained and good to go….
  • EabhalEabhal Posts: 11,280
    nunu2 said:

    nunu2 said:

    I just reported my local barbers for hiring illegal workers. If we don't do anything we will be taken for fools. In fact we already are.

    I would encourage everyone to do the same.

    How do you know they are illegal?
    One of the barbers wanted me to pose as his brother to get citizenship/asylum

    MI5 plant, obvs.

    It's a bit like when my firm does one of those fake phishing emails to catch the boomers who will click on anything.
  • nico67nico67 Posts: 5,675

    Aaron Rupar
    @atrupar
    ·
    41m
    Tulsi Gabbard accused Obama of directing a "treasonous conspiracy" and "years-long coup against President Trump"

    Aaron Rupar
    @atrupar
    ·
    33m
    Gabbard on Obama's alleged coup against Trump: "For the American people to have any sense of trust in the integrity of our democratic republic, accountability, action, prosecution, indictments for those who are responsible for trying to steal our democracy is essential."

    https://x.com/atrupar/status/1946950460046180822

    And she said that with a straight face after Trump tried to steal the 2020 election.
  • TazTaz Posts: 19,696
    edited 3:57PM
    nico67 said:

    Taz said:

    nico67 said:

    nunu2 said:

    nunu2 said:

    I just reported my local barbers for hiring illegal workers. If we don't do anything we will be taken for fools. In fact we already are.

    I would encourage everyone to do the same.

    How do you know they are illegal?
    One of the barbers wanted me to pose as his brother to get citizenship/asylum

    Bizarre . He can’t have been serious . Maybe he was just having a laugh .
    Didn’t realise you were there too.
    Very funny ! Maybe the alleged illegal worker was unaware that you can’t just say he’s my brother job done !
    There’s always someone who comes along to share their ‘wisdom’ on a scenario they have not been party to and have little,knowledge about.

    ‘Maybe’ doing some heavy lifting there
  • nico67nico67 Posts: 5,675
    Taz said:

    nico67 said:

    Taz said:

    nico67 said:

    nunu2 said:

    nunu2 said:

    I just reported my local barbers for hiring illegal workers. If we don't do anything we will be taken for fools. In fact we already are.

    I would encourage everyone to do the same.

    How do you know they are illegal?
    One of the barbers wanted me to pose as his brother to get citizenship/asylum

    Bizarre . He can’t have been serious . Maybe he was just having a laugh .
    Didn’t realise you were there too.
    Very funny ! Maybe the alleged illegal worker was unaware that you can’t just say he’s my brother job done !
    There’s always someone who comes along to share their ‘wisdom’ on a scenario they have not been party to and have little,knowledge about.

    ‘Maybe’ doing some heavy lifting there
    The alleged illegal worker clearly hadn’t thought it through. It was an idiotic proposal.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 55,759
    nico67 said:

    nunu2 said:

    nunu2 said:

    I just reported my local barbers for hiring illegal workers. If we don't do anything we will be taken for fools. In fact we already are.

    I would encourage everyone to do the same.

    How do you know they are illegal?
    One of the barbers wanted me to pose as his brother to get citizenship/asylum

    Bizarre . He can’t have been serious . Maybe he was just having a laugh .
    I’ve had contractors suggesting VAT fraud. Within minutes of meeting me. As start.

    Maybe I have that kind of face? Alternatively there is little come back. If I phoned the police, no one would actually do anything.

    Makes you wonder just how far to take some fun.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 66,896
    nico67 said:

    Aaron Rupar
    @atrupar
    ·
    41m
    Tulsi Gabbard accused Obama of directing a "treasonous conspiracy" and "years-long coup against President Trump"

    Aaron Rupar
    @atrupar
    ·
    33m
    Gabbard on Obama's alleged coup against Trump: "For the American people to have any sense of trust in the integrity of our democratic republic, accountability, action, prosecution, indictments for those who are responsible for trying to steal our democracy is essential."

    https://x.com/atrupar/status/1946950460046180822

    And she said that with a straight face after Trump tried to steal the 2020 election.
    It is just projection, projection, projection with this administration. Everything they accuse their enemies of is actually what they are doing.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 63,723
    viewcode said:

    Also, BBC News has now become more Guardian than the Guardian. It's all Gaza and Palestine, with some Wokey stuff littered in with stuff about the weather and Epstein.

    I read it because it's free, and there's no paywall, and it's a habit - but it's becoming unreadable.

    Where else can you go for good, regular free news?

    If you are willing to put the time in, you can assemble your own feed from PA or Associated Press If you don't want to do that then you can subscribe to Ground News I disagree with Ground News because it only acknowledges the left-right axis (which is inadequate), and that's the American left-right axis, not the British one. But it may meet your needs

    Failing that, I am reduced to recommending that you make your own list of providers that meet your needs. I could create one for you, but it would inevitably reflect my biases, such as https://bylinetimes.com/ or https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/ . Right-winger PBers prefer Unherd https://unherd.com/ or CityAM https://www.cityam.com/

    Conversely I could recommend individual journalists/researchers (Tom McTague, Tom Harwood, John Harris, Danny Dorling), but I don't think that would work for you
    Thanks for this.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 55,759
    nico67 said:

    Taz said:

    nico67 said:

    Taz said:

    nico67 said:

    nunu2 said:

    nunu2 said:

    I just reported my local barbers for hiring illegal workers. If we don't do anything we will be taken for fools. In fact we already are.

    I would encourage everyone to do the same.

    How do you know they are illegal?
    One of the barbers wanted me to pose as his brother to get citizenship/asylum

    Bizarre . He can’t have been serious . Maybe he was just having a laugh .
    Didn’t realise you were there too.
    Very funny ! Maybe the alleged illegal worker was unaware that you can’t just say he’s my brother job done !
    There’s always someone who comes along to share their ‘wisdom’ on a scenario they have not been party to and have little,knowledge about.

    ‘Maybe’ doing some heavy lifting there
    The alleged illegal worker clearly hadn’t thought it through. It was an idiotic proposal.
    When I lived with an immigration lawyer, years ago, fake papers and fraudulent attestations of kinship etc were rife.

    My ex spent a fair bit of time filtering out the clients who were lying to her and ditching them. They simply moved to less scrupulous advocates.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 63,723
    Sean_F said:

    I've just unsubscribed from Hampshire Libraries.

    It was for an excessively Woke monthly email for July.

    It's the school holidays; an ideal time to advertise how to get kids interested in reading, and discuss all the fun holiday reading activities they have coming up. Talk about reading and how libraries can help. Maybe the great weather.

    Instead, I was treated to Juche on Happy Disability Pride month, for July, on Celebrating South Asian Heritage month, in August, and a treatise on celebrating women in football.

    Enough.

    And @Leon and @isam

    The reasons for voting Reform just keep coming.

    CR you have a notionally Conservative County Council, but I'm sure they give no sign of it.
    Yes, this is what occured to me.

    I've met Conservative county councillors before, and they gave no sign of it - if challenged, they instinctively defended their officers.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 55,759
    IanB2 said:

    kinabalu said:

    kinabalu said:

    Nigelb said:

    IanB2 said:

    All these Norwegians running up this mountain are making me feel old. Especially the ones that are also old. Time to have a fiddle with the phone...

    I've never felt older than when Korean septuagenarians were passing me on the way up Hallasan.
    A couple of ajummas stopped in passing to offer tangerines.
    I remember walking up Ayers Rock (back when you could) and I was passed by a guy jogging up there ... backwards. I was more irritated than impressed. Why do that?
    There’s multiple subcultures of people who live for the harder and more difficult.

    I worked with a guy who went to see a friend run a competitive race up the path on the Eiger. As it happened, there was a spare entrance slot. So, with no prep, he ran up the Eiger.

    Made him grin, ear to ear.

    As to social utility - such people are often volunteer mountain rescue, lifeboat crew or part time special forces.
    I'm sure. But this one had a 'plonker' air about him. It was like he was sticking his tongue out at everyone.
    Nevertheless, if the Russians invade and we need a load of people to run up a mountain in a hurry, I can confirm that the Norwegians are trained and good to go….
    1940, USSR invaded Finland in winter.

    Pre Internet, there was *nothing* to in Finland in the depths of winter.

    So the Russians invaded a country where the national sport is skiing through the forests and shooting at things. In the season where everyone was fucking bored…..

    Strangely, events did not transpire to the advantage of the Soviet Union.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 63,723
    kle4 said:

    isam said:

    I've just unsubscribed from Hampshire Libraries.

    It was for an excessively Woke monthly email for July.

    It's the school holidays; an ideal time to advertise how to get kids interested in reading, and discuss all the fun holiday reading activities they have coming up. Talk about reading and how libraries can help. Maybe the great weather.

    Instead, I was treated to Juche on Happy Disability Pride month, for July, on Celebrating South Asian Heritage month, in August, and a treatise on celebrating women in football.

    Enough.

    My the. 4yo son had this mob come and lecture them on diversity in his first week whilst their leader, Aisha Thomas, ‘audited’ the schools curriculum and teachers micro aggressions. I was up there like a shot in order to dirty my name with the headmaster early doors. Ended up in a parent meeting with Aisha telling me Katherine Birbalsingh was only black on the outside and the new name for non white people was “global majority’, while my sons black mates dad and I agreed that pointing out differences in skin colour to four year olds would likely do more harm than good

    https://www.repmatters.co.uk/services-for-education

    https://www.ted.com/talks/aisha_thomas_why_representation_really_matters
    It's insane.

    Everyone is fed up of this shit.
    My unpopular opinion (though more popular on here than elsewhere) is that hyperfocus on race and identity is counterproductive to good societal relations, and quite distinct from initial goals of raising awareness.

    And that a term like global majority is just bloody stupid and offensive on its own terms, lumping together a lot of disparate people together like they are the same.
    I'm not sure that's unpopular.

    Most would regard it as common sense.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 63,723

    Also, BBC News has now become more Guardian than the Guardian. It's all Gaza and Palestine, with some Wokey stuff littered in with stuff about the weather and Epstein.

    I read it because it's free, and there's no paywall, and it's a habit - but it's becoming unreadable.

    Where else can you go for good, regular free news?

    Haven't they fused their national and international news teams into one?

    My guess is they are trying to produce content that aligns with the tastes of the global majority.
    Perhaps they've forgotten what their acronym stands for, who funds them, and in whose public interest they exist to promote.
  • nico67nico67 Posts: 5,675
    edited 4:17PM
    I’m beginning to think that the US aid points in Gaza were set up to allow the IDF target practice ! Strangely when it was other agencies handing out food we didn’t see these daily executions.

    https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8rp62480r3o

    So another 67 souls executed for the crime of starvation . And the IDF say they were firing warning shots but don’t dispute people were killed just the numbers . I thought warning shots were supposed to be non-lethal .
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 63,723
    MattW said:

    Catching up no Farage, most of it is flummery and diversions, but he also cites a couple of examples of "obstructionism" where Reform Council Leaders have been denied access to things which they do not have a right to under rules or law.

    An example is the minority leader of Warwickshire Council trying unilaterally to change "flags" policy using a personal authority he did not possess, as it was a decision for the Council.

    Nigel does not like checks and balances.

    Amused as you might be the ultimate consequence of institutional obstructionism to block elected councillors should be very obvious to you.

    It does nothing but increase the likelihood of a nationwide Reform administration which would change primary legislation left, right and centre to overturn what you care most about and feel should be immutable.
  • KnightOutKnightOut Posts: 171

    isam said:

    I've just unsubscribed from Hampshire Libraries.

    It was for an excessively Woke monthly email for July.

    It's the school holidays; an ideal time to advertise how to get kids interested in reading, and discuss all the fun holiday reading activities they have coming up. Talk about reading and how libraries can help. Maybe the great weather.

    Instead, I was treated to Juche on Happy Disability Pride month, for July, on Celebrating South Asian Heritage month, in August, and a treatise on celebrating women in football.

    Enough.

    My the. 4yo son had this mob come and lecture them on diversity in his first week whilst their leader, Aisha Thomas, ‘audited’ the schools curriculum and teachers micro aggressions. I was up there like a shot in order to dirty my name with the headmaster early doors. Ended up in a parent meeting with Aisha telling me Katherine Birbalsingh was only black on the outside and the new name for non white people was “global majority’, while my sons black mates dad and I agreed that pointing out differences in skin colour to four year olds would likely do more harm than good

    https://www.repmatters.co.uk/services-for-education

    https://www.ted.com/talks/aisha_thomas_why_representation_really_matters
    It's insane.

    Everyone is fed up of this shit.
    I believe the pendulum is starting to swing back. We are seeing it with gender/trans issues following recent legal judgments. It will need parental action, almost certainly legal action, for the swingback to take place in education, and there will be resistance and anger from vested interests, as there is with gender/trans, but common sense legal rulings are required.

    I don’t want to see a swing right back to the attitudes of the 1950s, which I suspect some would wish, but you and your son’s mates dad are more sensible than those who have inveigled themselves into positions of authority and influence.
    Somebody needs to wrest control of the rudder from the current bunch of plant-based Mary Whitehouses.

    What is needed is a swing back to genuine social liberalism. Live and let live. The freedom to simply 'be', as opposed to the compulsion, censorship, thought-policing and curtain-twitching of Hyperwokeism.

    I reckon we had it about right in the mid-1990s. And possibly again in the early 2010s. But then I would say that...
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 63,723
    malcolmg said:

    I've just unsubscribed from Hampshire Libraries.

    It was for an excessively Woke monthly email for July.

    It's the school holidays; an ideal time to advertise how to get kids interested in reading, and discuss all the fun holiday reading activities they have coming up. Talk about reading and how libraries can help. Maybe the great weather.

    Instead, I was treated to Juche on Happy Disability Pride month, for July, on Celebrating South Asian Heritage month, in August, and a treatise on celebrating women in football.

    Enough.

    So you're racist against South Asians?
    there speaks a woke arsehole
    I think Sunil is just trying to be funny.

    I'm not even sure what South Asian actually means, although I think they mean it's the old borders of the Raj plus (maybe) Afghanistan and the Maldives.
  • isamisam Posts: 42,222
    kle4 said:

    isam said:

    I've just unsubscribed from Hampshire Libraries.

    It was for an excessively Woke monthly email for July.

    It's the school holidays; an ideal time to advertise how to get kids interested in reading, and discuss all the fun holiday reading activities they have coming up. Talk about reading and how libraries can help. Maybe the great weather.

    Instead, I was treated to Juche on Happy Disability Pride month, for July, on Celebrating South Asian Heritage month, in August, and a treatise on celebrating women in football.

    Enough.

    My the. 4yo son had this mob come and lecture them on diversity in his first week whilst their leader, Aisha Thomas, ‘audited’ the schools curriculum and teachers micro aggressions. I was up there like a shot in order to dirty my name with the headmaster early doors. Ended up in a parent meeting with Aisha telling me Katherine Birbalsingh was only black on the outside and the new name for non white people was “global majority’, while my sons black mates dad and I agreed that pointing out differences in skin colour to four year olds would likely do more harm than good

    https://www.repmatters.co.uk/services-for-education

    https://www.ted.com/talks/aisha_thomas_why_representation_really_matters
    It's insane.

    Everyone is fed up of this shit.
    My unpopular opinion (though more popular on here than elsewhere) is that hyperfocus on race and identity is counterproductive to good societal relations, and quite distinct from initial goals of raising awareness.

    And that a term like global majority is just bloody stupid and offensive on its own terms, lumping together a lot of disparate people together like they are the same.
    Yes, the idea of multi culturalism was surely not to create half a dozen special interest groups, of which ‘white British’ is now one, competing for funding and favouritism. But it feels like that’s where it is heading, especially amongst academics. As I say, the parents seemed to use common sense and nuance whilst the ‘auditors’ sowed division
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 60,726

    MattW said:

    Catching up no Farage, most of it is flummery and diversions, but he also cites a couple of examples of "obstructionism" where Reform Council Leaders have been denied access to things which they do not have a right to under rules or law.

    An example is the minority leader of Warwickshire Council trying unilaterally to change "flags" policy using a personal authority he did not possess, as it was a decision for the Council.

    Nigel does not like checks and balances.

    Amused as you might be the ultimate consequence of institutional obstructionism to block elected councillors should be very obvious to you.

    It does nothing but increase the likelihood of a nationwide Reform administration which would change primary legislation left, right and centre to overturn what you care most about and feel should be immutable.
    If I read it correctly, Matt's comment is that the flag decision is one where (legally) the whole council must vote on, not for the council leader to unilaterally decide. So I don't think this is a case of official obstructionism, more a case of the executive v legislature.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 63,723
    @Sean_F the problem is I doubt the Reform team has the skill or competence to carry out its programme, particularly under Farage, and it lives in a world of fantasy economics.

    Otherwise, I might be tempted.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 63,723

    isam said:

    I've just unsubscribed from Hampshire Libraries.

    It was for an excessively Woke monthly email for July.

    It's the school holidays; an ideal time to advertise how to get kids interested in reading, and discuss all the fun holiday reading activities they have coming up. Talk about reading and how libraries can help. Maybe the great weather.

    Instead, I was treated to Juche on Happy Disability Pride month, for July, on Celebrating South Asian Heritage month, in August, and a treatise on celebrating women in football.

    Enough.

    My the. 4yo son had this mob come and lecture them on diversity in his first week whilst their leader, Aisha Thomas, ‘audited’ the schools curriculum and teachers micro aggressions. I was up there like a shot in order to dirty my name with the headmaster early doors. Ended up in a parent meeting with Aisha telling me Katherine Birbalsingh was only black on the outside and the new name for non white people was “global majority’, while my sons black mates dad and I agreed that pointing out differences in skin colour to four year olds would likely do more harm than good

    https://www.repmatters.co.uk/services-for-education

    https://www.ted.com/talks/aisha_thomas_why_representation_really_matters
    It's insane.

    Everyone is fed up of this shit.
    I believe the pendulum is starting to swing back. We are seeing it with gender/trans issues following recent legal judgments. It will need parental action, almost certainly legal action, for the swingback to take place in education, and there will be resistance and anger from vested interests, as there is with gender/trans, but common sense legal rulings are required.

    I don’t want to see a swing right back to the attitudes of the 1950s, which I suspect some would wish, but you and your son’s mates dad are more sensible than those who have inveigled themselves into positions of authority and influence.
    In my experience, few of them think - they just parrot what they think is needed to get on. It's another flavour of what Cyclefree has highlighted in the past of echoing and promoting the right sentiments to the right people, and not doing the right thing.

    And, I agree with you. There's a whole empire of the process State, and middle-class welfare, that needs to be dismantled.
  • isamisam Posts: 42,222
    edited 4:30PM
    rcs1000 said:

    viewcode said:

    Also, BBC News has now become more Guardian than the Guardian. It's all Gaza and Palestine, with some Wokey stuff littered in with stuff about the weather and Epstein.

    I read it because it's free, and there's no paywall, and it's a habit - but it's becoming unreadable.

    Where else can you go for good, regular free news?

    If you are willing to put the time in, you can assemble your own feed from PA or Associated Press If you don't want to do that then you can subscribe to Ground News I disagree with Ground News because it only acknowledges the left-right axis (which is inadequate), and that's the American left-right axis, not the British one. But it may meet your needs

    Failing that, I am reduced to recommending that you make your own list of providers that meet your needs. I could create one for you, but it would inevitably reflect my biases, such as https://bylinetimes.com/ or https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/ . Right-winger PBers prefer Unherd https://unherd.com/ or CityAM https://www.cityam.com/

    Conversely I could recommend individual journalists/researchers (Tom McTague, Tom Harwood, John Harris, Danny Dorling), but I don't think that would work for you
    Only reading things you agree with politically is a very dangerous place to be.

    It's important to feel uncomfortable. And it's important to understand why other human beings have views other than yours.
    I thought that to myself, and gave an internal telling off, after watching Farage on the Laura Kuenssberg show this morning, then switching over when Ed Davey came on
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 63,723

    IanB2 said:

    kinabalu said:

    kinabalu said:

    Nigelb said:

    IanB2 said:

    All these Norwegians running up this mountain are making me feel old. Especially the ones that are also old. Time to have a fiddle with the phone...

    I've never felt older than when Korean septuagenarians were passing me on the way up Hallasan.
    A couple of ajummas stopped in passing to offer tangerines.
    I remember walking up Ayers Rock (back when you could) and I was passed by a guy jogging up there ... backwards. I was more irritated than impressed. Why do that?
    There’s multiple subcultures of people who live for the harder and more difficult.

    I worked with a guy who went to see a friend run a competitive race up the path on the Eiger. As it happened, there was a spare entrance slot. So, with no prep, he ran up the Eiger.

    Made him grin, ear to ear.

    As to social utility - such people are often volunteer mountain rescue, lifeboat crew or part time special forces.
    I'm sure. But this one had a 'plonker' air about him. It was like he was sticking his tongue out at everyone.
    Nevertheless, if the Russians invade and we need a load of people to run up a mountain in a hurry, I can confirm that the Norwegians are trained and good to go….
    1940, USSR invaded Finland in winter.

    Pre Internet, there was *nothing* to in Finland in the depths of winter.

    So the Russians invaded a country where the national sport is skiing through the forests and shooting at things. In the season where everyone was fucking bored…..

    Strangely, events did not transpire to the advantage of the Soviet Union.
    Is there much to do in Finland in the Summer?
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 60,726
    isam said:

    rcs1000 said:

    viewcode said:

    Also, BBC News has now become more Guardian than the Guardian. It's all Gaza and Palestine, with some Wokey stuff littered in with stuff about the weather and Epstein.

    I read it because it's free, and there's no paywall, and it's a habit - but it's becoming unreadable.

    Where else can you go for good, regular free news?

    If you are willing to put the time in, you can assemble your own feed from PA or Associated Press If you don't want to do that then you can subscribe to Ground News I disagree with Ground News because it only acknowledges the left-right axis (which is inadequate), and that's the American left-right axis, not the British one. But it may meet your needs

    Failing that, I am reduced to recommending that you make your own list of providers that meet your needs. I could create one for you, but it would inevitably reflect my biases, such as https://bylinetimes.com/ or https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/ . Right-winger PBers prefer Unherd https://unherd.com/ or CityAM https://www.cityam.com/

    Conversely I could recommend individual journalists/researchers (Tom McTague, Tom Harwood, John Harris, Danny Dorling), but I don't think that would work for you
    Only reading things you agree with politically is a very dangerous place to be.

    It's important to feel uncomfortable. And it's important to understand why other human beings have views other than yours.
    I thought that to myself, and gave an internal telling off, after watching Farage on the Laura Kuenssberg show this morning, then switching over when Ed Davey came on
    Nah, it's ok not to want to watch him.
  • DopermeanDopermean Posts: 1,296

    MattW said:

    Catching up no Farage, most of it is flummery and diversions, but he also cites a couple of examples of "obstructionism" where Reform Council Leaders have been denied access to things which they do not have a right to under rules or law.

    An example is the minority leader of Warwickshire Council trying unilaterally to change "flags" policy using a personal authority he did not possess, as it was a decision for the Council.

    Nigel does not like checks and balances.

    Amused as you might be the ultimate consequence of institutional obstructionism to block elected councillors should be very obvious to you.

    It does nothing but increase the likelihood of a nationwide Reform administration which would change primary legislation left, right and centre to overturn what you care most about and feel should be immutable.
    MattW is pointing out that the Reform councillor was trying a exercise a power they don't legally have.
    You'd be exceptionally unhappy if Labour or Green councils were exceeding their authority and quite rightly.
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 60,726
    edited 4:32PM

    IanB2 said:

    kinabalu said:

    kinabalu said:

    Nigelb said:

    IanB2 said:

    All these Norwegians running up this mountain are making me feel old. Especially the ones that are also old. Time to have a fiddle with the phone...

    I've never felt older than when Korean septuagenarians were passing me on the way up Hallasan.
    A couple of ajummas stopped in passing to offer tangerines.
    I remember walking up Ayers Rock (back when you could) and I was passed by a guy jogging up there ... backwards. I was more irritated than impressed. Why do that?
    There’s multiple subcultures of people who live for the harder and more difficult.

    I worked with a guy who went to see a friend run a competitive race up the path on the Eiger. As it happened, there was a spare entrance slot. So, with no prep, he ran up the Eiger.

    Made him grin, ear to ear.

    As to social utility - such people are often volunteer mountain rescue, lifeboat crew or part time special forces.
    I'm sure. But this one had a 'plonker' air about him. It was like he was sticking his tongue out at everyone.
    Nevertheless, if the Russians invade and we need a load of people to run up a mountain in a hurry, I can confirm that the Norwegians are trained and good to go….
    1940, USSR invaded Finland in winter.

    Pre Internet, there was *nothing* to in Finland in the depths of winter.

    So the Russians invaded a country where the national sport is skiing through the forests and shooting at things. In the season where everyone was fucking bored…..

    Strangely, events did not transpire to the advantage of the Soviet Union.
    Is there much to do in Finland in the Summer?
    Yes, you can get the ferry to Estonia and get pissed.
  • DopermeanDopermean Posts: 1,296
    nico67 said:

    I’m beginning to think that the US aid points in Gaza were set up to allow the IDF target practice ! Strangely when it was other agencies handing out food we didn’t see these daily executions.

    https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8rp62480r3o

    So another 67 souls executed for the crime of starvation . And the IDF say they were firing warning shots but don’t dispute people were killed just the numbers . I thought warning shots were supposed to be non-lethal .

    Surely you're not suggesting that they've set up a system which requires people to walk miles and carry 20kg bags of supplies so that only able-bodied adults and older teenagers are able to access it?
    Then they shoot 80-100 of them daily.
    That would be like using facial recognition to single out medics from groups then imprisoning and torturing them.
  • isamisam Posts: 42,222
    edited 4:38PM
    Sub sample alert, but the trend is not good for those Labour MPs & ministers with slim majorities, esp vs the Islamic Independents

    🚨 Polling amongst Asian voters (sub-sample):

    🔴 LAB – 26% (-13)
    🟢 GRN – 25% (+17)
    🔵 CON – 18% (-)
    🟠 LD – 13% (+5)
    ➡️ REF – 7% (+4)

    Via @focaldataHQ, 14-18 Jul (+/- vs 2024)

    https://x.com/leftiestats/status/1946969293461045756?s=46&t=CW4pL-mMpTqsJXCdjW0Z6Q
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 52,217

    Also, BBC News has now become more Guardian than the Guardian. It's all Gaza and Palestine, with some Wokey stuff littered in with stuff about the weather and Epstein.

    I read it because it's free, and there's no paywall, and it's a habit - but it's becoming unreadable.

    Where else can you go for good, regular free news?

    Haven't they fused their national and international news teams into one?

    My guess is they are trying to produce content that aligns with the tastes of the global majority.
    Perhaps they've forgotten what their acronym stands for, who funds them, and in whose public interest they exist to promote.
    Bolsheveiks Broadcasting Communism was the joke acronym way back in the 1960's.

    As we all know, trolling drives engagement on Social Media. Is it any surprise that broadcasters fawn over Farage as a way of trolling the middle classes too?
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 63,723
    rcs1000 said:

    MattW said:

    Catching up no Farage, most of it is flummery and diversions, but he also cites a couple of examples of "obstructionism" where Reform Council Leaders have been denied access to things which they do not have a right to under rules or law.

    An example is the minority leader of Warwickshire Council trying unilaterally to change "flags" policy using a personal authority he did not possess, as it was a decision for the Council.

    Nigel does not like checks and balances.

    Amused as you might be the ultimate consequence of institutional obstructionism to block elected councillors should be very obvious to you.

    It does nothing but increase the likelihood of a nationwide Reform administration which would change primary legislation left, right and centre to overturn what you care most about and feel should be immutable.
    If I read it correctly, Matt's comment is that the flag decision is one where (legally) the whole council must vote on, not for the council leader to unilaterally decide. So I don't think this is a case of official obstructionism, more a case of the executive v legislature.
    That is by the by.

    The point is that cheering any technical obstruction to a political agenda that's been democratically endorsed only fuels it.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 74,277

    nico67 said:

    Aaron Rupar
    @atrupar
    ·
    41m
    Tulsi Gabbard accused Obama of directing a "treasonous conspiracy" and "years-long coup against President Trump"

    Aaron Rupar
    @atrupar
    ·
    33m
    Gabbard on Obama's alleged coup against Trump: "For the American people to have any sense of trust in the integrity of our democratic republic, accountability, action, prosecution, indictments for those who are responsible for trying to steal our democracy is essential."

    https://x.com/atrupar/status/1946950460046180822

    And she said that with a straight face after Trump tried to steal the 2020 election.
    It is just projection, projection, projection with this administration. Everything they accuse their enemies of is actually what they are doing.
    In this particular case, I think it’s just trying to deflect attention from certain paedo files.
  • algarkirkalgarkirk Posts: 14,992
    isam said:

    rcs1000 said:

    viewcode said:

    Also, BBC News has now become more Guardian than the Guardian. It's all Gaza and Palestine, with some Wokey stuff littered in with stuff about the weather and Epstein.

    I read it because it's free, and there's no paywall, and it's a habit - but it's becoming unreadable.

    Where else can you go for good, regular free news?

    If you are willing to put the time in, you can assemble your own feed from PA or Associated Press If you don't want to do that then you can subscribe to Ground News I disagree with Ground News because it only acknowledges the left-right axis (which is inadequate), and that's the American left-right axis, not the British one. But it may meet your needs

    Failing that, I am reduced to recommending that you make your own list of providers that meet your needs. I could create one for you, but it would inevitably reflect my biases, such as https://bylinetimes.com/ or https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/ . Right-winger PBers prefer Unherd https://unherd.com/ or CityAM https://www.cityam.com/

    Conversely I could recommend individual journalists/researchers (Tom McTague, Tom Harwood, John Harris, Danny Dorling), but I don't think that would work for you
    Only reading things you agree with politically is a very dangerous place to be.

    It's important to feel uncomfortable. And it's important to understand why other human beings have views other than yours.
    I thought that to myself, and gave an internal telling off, after watching Farage on the Laura Kuenssberg show this morning, then switching over when Ed Davey came on
    Farage, even though given a dead easy ride with a load of questions about trivial local council bits of spending, was not all that good on Laura K this morning. In particular he was notably clear about how many zillions he would save by abandoning Net Zero, and notably unclear to the point of apophaticism on how much his water plans would cost. He sounded, as they say, 'like all the others'.

  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 63,723
    Dopermean said:

    MattW said:

    Catching up no Farage, most of it is flummery and diversions, but he also cites a couple of examples of "obstructionism" where Reform Council Leaders have been denied access to things which they do not have a right to under rules or law.

    An example is the minority leader of Warwickshire Council trying unilaterally to change "flags" policy using a personal authority he did not possess, as it was a decision for the Council.

    Nigel does not like checks and balances.

    Amused as you might be the ultimate consequence of institutional obstructionism to block elected councillors should be very obvious to you.

    It does nothing but increase the likelihood of a nationwide Reform administration which would change primary legislation left, right and centre to overturn what you care most about and feel should be immutable.
    MattW is pointing out that the Reform councillor was trying a exercise a power they don't legally have.
    You'd be exceptionally unhappy if Labour or Green councils were exceeding their authority and quite rightly.
    I find myself unmoved by this argument.

    It's straight from the Gina Miller school.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 28,372
    stodge said:

    MattW said:

    Catching up no Farage, most of it is flummery and diversions, but he also cites a couple of examples of "obstructionism" where Reform Council Leaders have been denied access to things which they do not have a right to under rules or law.

    An example is the minority leader of Warwickshire Council trying unilaterally to change "flags" policy using a personal authority he did not possess, as it was a decision for the Council.

    Nigel does not like checks and balances.

    I don’t believe Farage has ever been a Councillor so he’s probably as ignorant of the Member-Officer protocols which exist in every authority (and to which all Reform councillors will have to abide) as he is about so many other things.
    Possibly. However he now has ~800 councillors and the incident he cites as his poster-child for 'obstructionism' was nearly 3 weeks ago, so he should have brought himself up to speed by now. He aspires to drive DOLGE into Councils from the centre, so he needs to understand the legal and procedural requirements.

    Farage has now relaxed the Reform vetting system, and invited rejectees to reapply. And he has appointed Paul Nuttall as his Party Chairman, who has a habit of making things up and embracing strange theories.

    Even more interesting times are a-coming, perhaps.
  • TazTaz Posts: 19,696

    malcolmg said:

    I've just unsubscribed from Hampshire Libraries.

    It was for an excessively Woke monthly email for July.

    It's the school holidays; an ideal time to advertise how to get kids interested in reading, and discuss all the fun holiday reading activities they have coming up. Talk about reading and how libraries can help. Maybe the great weather.

    Instead, I was treated to Juche on Happy Disability Pride month, for July, on Celebrating South Asian Heritage month, in August, and a treatise on celebrating women in football.

    Enough.

    So you're racist against South Asians?
    there speaks a woke arsehole
    I think Sunil is just trying to be funny.

    I'm not even sure what South Asian actually means, although I think they mean it's the old borders of the Raj plus (maybe) Afghanistan and the Maldives.
    ‘Trying’ being the operative word.
  • TazTaz Posts: 19,696

    Dopermean said:

    MattW said:

    Catching up no Farage, most of it is flummery and diversions, but he also cites a couple of examples of "obstructionism" where Reform Council Leaders have been denied access to things which they do not have a right to under rules or law.

    An example is the minority leader of Warwickshire Council trying unilaterally to change "flags" policy using a personal authority he did not possess, as it was a decision for the Council.

    Nigel does not like checks and balances.

    Amused as you might be the ultimate consequence of institutional obstructionism to block elected councillors should be very obvious to you.

    It does nothing but increase the likelihood of a nationwide Reform administration which would change primary legislation left, right and centre to overturn what you care most about and feel should be immutable.
    MattW is pointing out that the Reform councillor was trying a exercise a power they don't legally have.
    You'd be exceptionally unhappy if Labour or Green councils were exceeding their authority and quite rightly.
    I find myself unmoved by this argument.

    It's straight from the Gina Miller school.
    It’s okay when they do it.
  • TazTaz Posts: 19,696
    isam said:

    Sub sample alert, but the trend is not good for those Labour MPs & ministers with slim majorities, esp vs the Islamic Independents

    🚨 Polling amongst Asian voters (sub-sample):

    🔴 LAB – 26% (-13)
    🟢 GRN – 25% (+17)
    🔵 CON – 18% (-)
    🟠 LD – 13% (+5)
    ➡️ REF – 7% (+4)

    Via @focaldataHQ, 14-18 Jul (+/- vs 2024)

    https://x.com/leftiestats/status/1946969293461045756?s=46&t=CW4pL-mMpTqsJXCdjW0Z6Q

    Gaza obsessives ?
  • RogerRoger Posts: 20,755
    nico67 said:

    I’m beginning to think that the US aid points in Gaza were set up to allow the IDF target practice ! Strangely when it was other agencies handing out food we didn’t see these daily executions.

    https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8rp62480r3o

    So another 67 souls executed for the crime of starvation . And the IDF say they were firing warning shots but don’t dispute people were killed just the numbers . I thought warning shots were supposed to be non-lethal .

    This is going to rebound on this country in general and Labour in particular in ways that are difficult to imagine. They have put themselves on the wrong side of one of the worst atrocities of our time. I'd be amazed if Starmer is still PM by the next election
  • MattWMattW Posts: 28,372
    Taz said:



    Fire up the Centrist Dad wankfodder

    He needs Rory & Bad 'Al, and Emily and Lewis and Jpn on the other, with a ticket allowing entry to one only. Then we get to judge who is popular.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 28,372
    edited 5:00PM

    Dopermean said:

    MattW said:

    Catching up no Farage, most of it is flummery and diversions, but he also cites a couple of examples of "obstructionism" where Reform Council Leaders have been denied access to things which they do not have a right to under rules or law.

    An example is the minority leader of Warwickshire Council trying unilaterally to change "flags" policy using a personal authority he did not possess, as it was a decision for the Council.

    Nigel does not like checks and balances.

    Amused as you might be the ultimate consequence of institutional obstructionism to block elected councillors should be very obvious to you.

    It does nothing but increase the likelihood of a nationwide Reform administration which would change primary legislation left, right and centre to overturn what you care most about and feel should be immutable.
    MattW is pointing out that the Reform councillor was trying a exercise a power they don't legally have.
    You'd be exceptionally unhappy if Labour or Green councils were exceeding their authority and quite rightly.
    I find myself unmoved by this argument.

    It's straight from the Gina Miller school.
    No - it's straight from the process matters school. The alternative is to be Trumpish.

    I'm not particularly impressed by virtue signalling, and I have always criticised it - I'll especially contemptuous of rainbow crossing (no problem if they want, but it should be a mural on the wall not something in the way of assistance dogs and that motorists might miss).

    For flags the points that annoy me are Reform's hare-brained dogmatism, and withdrawing indicated support for Ukraine - plus a belief that things can just be rammed through regardless.
  • TazTaz Posts: 19,696

    @Sean_F the problem is I doubt the Reform team has the skill or competence to carry out its programme, particularly under Farage, and it lives in a world of fantasy economics.

    Otherwise, I might be tempted.

    If they showed any fiscal discipline I’d be tempted.

    Otherwise it’s probably not bothering in 2029
  • sarissasarissa Posts: 2,192
    rcs1000 said:

    viewcode said:

    Also, BBC News has now become more Guardian than the Guardian. It's all Gaza and Palestine, with some Wokey stuff littered in with stuff about the weather and Epstein.

    I read it because it's free, and there's no paywall, and it's a habit - but it's becoming unreadable.

    Where else can you go for good, regular free news?

    If you are willing to put the time in, you can assemble your own feed from PA or Associated Press If you don't want to do that then you can subscribe to Ground News I disagree with Ground News because it only acknowledges the left-right axis (which is inadequate), and that's the American left-right axis, not the British one. But it may meet your needs

    Failing that, I am reduced to recommending that you make your own list of providers that meet your needs. I could create one for you, but it would inevitably reflect my biases, such as https://bylinetimes.com/ or https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/ . Right-winger PBers prefer Unherd https://unherd.com/ or CityAM https://www.cityam.com/

    Conversely I could recommend individual journalists/researchers (Tom McTague, Tom Harwood, John Harris, Danny Dorling), but I don't think that would work for you
    Only reading things you agree with politically is a very dangerous place to be.

    It's important to feel uncomfortable. And it's important to understand why other human beings have views other than yours.
    Damn - You’ve rumbled my reason for visiting PB
  • TazTaz Posts: 19,696
    MattW said:

    Taz said:



    Fire up the Centrist Dad wankfodder

    He needs Rory & Bad 'Al, and Emily and Lewis and Jpn on the other, with a ticket allowing entry to one only. Then we get to judge who is popular.
    He used to podcast with Jacqui Smith who moved on when a govt role beckoned. If she was around you could have a three way tag match

    He really is a tit of the first order

  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 36,313
    edited 5:02PM
    viewcode said:

    Also, BBC News has now become more Guardian than the Guardian. It's all Gaza and Palestine, with some Wokey stuff littered in with stuff about the weather and Epstein.

    I read it because it's free, and there's no paywall, and it's a habit - but it's becoming unreadable.

    Where else can you go for good, regular free news?

    If you are willing to put the time in, you can assemble your own feed from PA or Associated Press If you don't want to do that then you can subscribe to Ground News I disagree with Ground News because it only acknowledges the left-right axis (which is inadequate), and that's the American left-right axis, not the British one. But it may meet your needs

    Failing that, I am reduced to recommending that you make your own list of providers that meet your needs. I could create one for you, but it would inevitably reflect my biases, such as https://bylinetimes.com/ or https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/ . Right-winger PBers prefer Unherd https://unherd.com/ or CityAM https://www.cityam.com/

    Conversely I could recommend individual journalists/researchers (Tom McTague, Tom Harwood, John Harris, Danny Dorling), but I don't think that would work for you
    What I've always done is simply read all the newspapers. It means you get every shade of opinion. Even in the 1990s I would regularly buy a copy of the Times and the Guardian at the same time to get alternative views.
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 52,371

    IanB2 said:

    kinabalu said:

    kinabalu said:

    Nigelb said:

    IanB2 said:

    All these Norwegians running up this mountain are making me feel old. Especially the ones that are also old. Time to have a fiddle with the phone...

    I've never felt older than when Korean septuagenarians were passing me on the way up Hallasan.
    A couple of ajummas stopped in passing to offer tangerines.
    I remember walking up Ayers Rock (back when you could) and I was passed by a guy jogging up there ... backwards. I was more irritated than impressed. Why do that?
    There’s multiple subcultures of people who live for the harder and more difficult.

    I worked with a guy who went to see a friend run a competitive race up the path on the Eiger. As it happened, there was a spare entrance slot. So, with no prep, he ran up the Eiger.

    Made him grin, ear to ear.

    As to social utility - such people are often volunteer mountain rescue, lifeboat crew or part time special forces.
    I'm sure. But this one had a 'plonker' air about him. It was like he was sticking his tongue out at everyone.
    Nevertheless, if the Russians invade and we need a load of people to run up a mountain in a hurry, I can confirm that the Norwegians are trained and good to go….
    1940, USSR invaded Finland in winter.

    Pre Internet, there was *nothing* to in Finland in the depths of winter.

    So the Russians invaded a country where the national sport is skiing through the forests and shooting at things. In the season where everyone was fucking bored…..

    Strangely, events did not transpire to the advantage of the Soviet Union.
    Is there much to do in Finland in the Summer?
    Yksi, kaksi, kolme…..
  • Northern_AlNorthern_Al Posts: 8,956
    MattW said:

    stodge said:

    MattW said:

    Catching up no Farage, most of it is flummery and diversions, but he also cites a couple of examples of "obstructionism" where Reform Council Leaders have been denied access to things which they do not have a right to under rules or law.

    An example is the minority leader of Warwickshire Council trying unilaterally to change "flags" policy using a personal authority he did not possess, as it was a decision for the Council.

    Nigel does not like checks and balances.

    I don’t believe Farage has ever been a Councillor so he’s probably as ignorant of the Member-Officer protocols which exist in every authority (and to which all Reform councillors will have to abide) as he is about so many other things.
    Possibly. However he now has ~800 councillors and the incident he cites as his poster-child for 'obstructionism' was nearly 3 weeks ago, so he should have brought himself up to speed by now. He aspires to drive DOLGE into Councils from the centre, so he needs to understand the legal and procedural requirements.

    Farage has now relaxed the Reform vetting system, and invited rejectees to reapply. And he has appointed Paul Nuttall as his Party Chairman, who has a habit of making things up and embracing strange theories.

    Even more interesting times are a-coming, perhaps.
    Paul Nuttall is Vice-Chair, I believe. David Bull is Chairman of Reform. Understandable, though, as Bull seems to have disappeared since replacing Yusuf.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 28,372

    DavidL said:

    Foxy said:

    DavidL said:

    Foxy said:

    On topic (some mistake shurely?)

    What hypothetical polls do tell us is that significant sections of the voting public are not happy with what is on offer from existing parties.

    With such multiple different political currents around we either need an electoral system that treats multiple parties fairly, or genuine democracy within the major parties. Tories, Labour and Reform are all led very much top down, with little or no grass roots say on policy or direction.

    And thank the Lord for that. If you think the leadership are delusional, stupid and plain ignorant, have a look at the membership. Who twice voted for Corbyn. Who voted for IDS and Liz Truss. Who support Farage no matter what. The idea that the membership of any of these parties should be let near policy is frankly frightening.
    Policy shouldn't purely be based on activists, but neither should their opinions be ignored outside leadership contests. The same too for backbenchers.

    I haven't been a member of a political party for more than 30 years. I just never see the point. They really don't care what you think. You have no right to even be listened to. You are just a cashpoint for other peoples' ambitions. The one thing you get in most parties (not Farage's vehicles, of course) is the right to vote for the leadership. And the membership have proven themselves to be consistently useless at that.
    Your point here becomes borderline incoherent. You don't want to be a member because they don't get a say, yet you're appalled at the say they do have.

    As for Tory members electing poor leaders, as I've reminded you several times, they are choosing between a shortlist of two presented to them by the PCP. In IDS's case they rejected someone completely ideologically opposed to the settled Eurosceptical view of the wider party, and in Truss's case they rejected Sunak, who want on to lead the Tories to their most crushing defeat in living memory. Sunak was shit on that campaign trail (as he was in Government, and in the GE) and any sensible electorate would have rejected him for the complete dud he was. It's a deeply flawed system, but it's idiotic (as surely you know) to highlight the members choosing one candidate from two, when the MPs have selected 2 from many.
    Many of the Conservative MPs who thought they were being oh-so-clever in the games they played on who to put to the membership were shown to be complete fuckwits when they were booted out by the voters as a consequence of that twattishness.

    They have a lifetime away from power to think on their actions. I hope every day stings like chilli in the eye.

    No need to be unkind; I'm sure the emotions they felt, first as the results were read out by the Returning Officer, and later when the shock of 'job' and position loss sunk in were penalty enough.

    I've always thought it was notable that only (I think) Ed Davey of the 43 LibDem MP's defeated in 2015 tried to get back into Parliament.
    Davey is the only one remaining.

    There were four who lost in 2015 (says AI) who got back in in 2017, and others presumably who tried but did not make it:

    Sir Vince Cable (Twickenham)
    Sir Ed Davey (Kingston & Surbiton)
    Jo Swinson (East Dunbartonshire)
    Stephen Lloyd (Eastbourne)

    IIRC there are also a couple in the 2024 intake who came back in from earlier periods,
  • MattWMattW Posts: 28,372

    MattW said:

    stodge said:

    MattW said:

    Catching up no Farage, most of it is flummery and diversions, but he also cites a couple of examples of "obstructionism" where Reform Council Leaders have been denied access to things which they do not have a right to under rules or law.

    An example is the minority leader of Warwickshire Council trying unilaterally to change "flags" policy using a personal authority he did not possess, as it was a decision for the Council.

    Nigel does not like checks and balances.

    I don’t believe Farage has ever been a Councillor so he’s probably as ignorant of the Member-Officer protocols which exist in every authority (and to which all Reform councillors will have to abide) as he is about so many other things.
    Possibly. However he now has ~800 councillors and the incident he cites as his poster-child for 'obstructionism' was nearly 3 weeks ago, so he should have brought himself up to speed by now. He aspires to drive DOLGE into Councils from the centre, so he needs to understand the legal and procedural requirements.

    Farage has now relaxed the Reform vetting system, and invited rejectees to reapply. And he has appointed Paul Nuttall as his Party Chairman, who has a habit of making things up and embracing strange theories.

    Even more interesting times are a-coming, perhaps.
    Paul Nuttall is Vice-Chair, I believe. David Bull is Chairman of Reform. Understandable, though, as Bull seems to have disappeared since replacing Yusuf.
    Thanks for the correction - yes, my bad.
  • sarissasarissa Posts: 2,192

    rcs1000 said:

    MattW said:

    Catching up no Farage, most of it is flummery and diversions, but he also cites a couple of examples of "obstructionism" where Reform Council Leaders have been denied access to things which they do not have a right to under rules or law.

    An example is the minority leader of Warwickshire Council trying unilaterally to change "flags" policy using a personal authority he did not possess, as it was a decision for the Council.

    Nigel does not like checks and balances.

    Amused as you might be the ultimate consequence of institutional obstructionism to block elected councillors should be very obvious to you.

    It does nothing but increase the likelihood of a nationwide Reform administration which would change primary legislation left, right and centre to overturn what you care most about and feel should be immutable.
    If I read it correctly, Matt's comment is that the flag decision is one where (legally) the whole council must vote on, not for the council leader to unilaterally decide. So I don't think this is a case of official obstructionism, more a case of the executive v legislature.
    That is by the by.

    The point is that cheering any technical obstruction to a political agenda that's been democratically endorsed only fuels it.
    Scottish Independence says, “Wait, what??”
  • TresTres Posts: 2,938
    Scheffler getting closer to his 2 minutes of satisfaction
  • RogerRoger Posts: 20,755
    edited 5:21PM
    I'm sure this will have been seen before on here but some things just don't date.

    From the country with whom we have a very special relationship.......One of the best straight-man performances I've seen

    https://x.com/tcnetwork/status/1935362461843992720


  • MattWMattW Posts: 28,372

    rcs1000 said:

    MattW said:

    Catching up no Farage, most of it is flummery and diversions, but he also cites a couple of examples of "obstructionism" where Reform Council Leaders have been denied access to things which they do not have a right to under rules or law.

    An example is the minority leader of Warwickshire Council trying unilaterally to change "flags" policy using a personal authority he did not possess, as it was a decision for the Council.

    Nigel does not like checks and balances.

    Amused as you might be the ultimate consequence of institutional obstructionism to block elected councillors should be very obvious to you.

    It does nothing but increase the likelihood of a nationwide Reform administration which would change primary legislation left, right and centre to overturn what you care most about and feel should be immutable.
    If I read it correctly, Matt's comment is that the flag decision is one where (legally) the whole council must vote on, not for the council leader to unilaterally decide. So I don't think this is a case of official obstructionism, more a case of the executive v legislature.
    That is by the by.

    The point is that cheering any technical obstruction to a political agenda that's been democratically endorsed only fuels it.
    I don't buy that. Overthrowing or manipulating the system endorses others doing the same.

    At best, it is something that should only be done in extremis, and this is not extremis.

    That's one difficulty with Trump imo. He is out to destroy the rule of law in favour of personal despotism by him regardless of constitution, or domestic or international law - as we have seen. When others adopt pushing the rules because defeating him is very important, they get criticised on the basis of process. Perhaps the sharpest example is Biden's pre-emptive pardoning of people Trump had indicated he was going to use his political office to target, to protect them; that is now used as a rhetorical justification for the things Trump is doing.

    I would not have liked to have had to makie Biden's judgement call between two bad options.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 28,372
    Taz said:

    MattW said:

    Taz said:



    Fire up the Centrist Dad wankfodder

    He needs Rory & Bad 'Al, and Emily and Lewis and Jpn on the other, with a ticket allowing entry to one only. Then we get to judge who is popular.
    He used to podcast with Jacqui Smith who moved on when a govt role beckoned. If she was around you could have a three way tag match

    He really is a tit of the first order
    I'll defend Dale on this one. I will give you that he is a (self-admitted & perhaps self-regarding) media tart, but he has also done some genuinely innovative and interesting things - perhaps 18 Doughty Street was the most interesting. He also did much to promote online politics, and was pleasant and supportive to people who worked with him (from a friend who was on the staff at Doughty Street).
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 52,371
    nico67 said:

    I’m beginning to think that the US aid points in Gaza were set up to allow the IDF target practice ! Strangely when it was other agencies handing out food we didn’t see these daily executions.

    https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8rp62480r3o

    So another 67 souls executed for the crime of starvation . And the IDF say they were firing warning shots but don’t dispute people were killed just the numbers . I thought warning shots were supposed to be non-lethal .

    Shocking.

    Tromso has, since 2001, been twinned with Gaza City, which has to be one of the most unlikely twinning arrangements ever?
  • PJHPJH Posts: 876
    MattW said:

    DavidL said:

    Foxy said:

    DavidL said:

    Foxy said:

    On topic (some mistake shurely?)

    What hypothetical polls do tell us is that significant sections of the voting public are not happy with what is on offer from existing parties.

    With such multiple different political currents around we either need an electoral system that treats multiple parties fairly, or genuine democracy within the major parties. Tories, Labour and Reform are all led very much top down, with little or no grass roots say on policy or direction.

    And thank the Lord for that. If you think the leadership are delusional, stupid and plain ignorant, have a look at the membership. Who twice voted for Corbyn. Who voted for IDS and Liz Truss. Who support Farage no matter what. The idea that the membership of any of these parties should be let near policy is frankly frightening.
    Policy shouldn't purely be based on activists, but neither should their opinions be ignored outside leadership contests. The same too for backbenchers.

    I haven't been a member of a political party for more than 30 years. I just never see the point. They really don't care what you think. You have no right to even be listened to. You are just a cashpoint for other peoples' ambitions. The one thing you get in most parties (not Farage's vehicles, of course) is the right to vote for the leadership. And the membership have proven themselves to be consistently useless at that.
    Your point here becomes borderline incoherent. You don't want to be a member because they don't get a say, yet you're appalled at the say they do have.

    As for Tory members electing poor leaders, as I've reminded you several times, they are choosing between a shortlist of two presented to them by the PCP. In IDS's case they rejected someone completely ideologically opposed to the settled Eurosceptical view of the wider party, and in Truss's case they rejected Sunak, who want on to lead the Tories to their most crushing defeat in living memory. Sunak was shit on that campaign trail (as he was in Government, and in the GE) and any sensible electorate would have rejected him for the complete dud he was. It's a deeply flawed system, but it's idiotic (as surely you know) to highlight the members choosing one candidate from two, when the MPs have selected 2 from many.
    Many of the Conservative MPs who thought they were being oh-so-clever in the games they played on who to put to the membership were shown to be complete fuckwits when they were booted out by the voters as a consequence of that twattishness.

    They have a lifetime away from power to think on their actions. I hope every day stings like chilli in the eye.

    No need to be unkind; I'm sure the emotions they felt, first as the results were read out by the Returning Officer, and later when the shock of 'job' and position loss sunk in were penalty enough.

    I've always thought it was notable that only (I think) Ed Davey of the 43 LibDem MP's defeated in 2015 tried to get back into Parliament.
    Davey is the only one remaining.

    There were four who lost in 2015 (says AI) who got back in in 2017, and others presumably who tried but did not make it:

    Sir Vince Cable (Twickenham)
    Sir Ed Davey (Kingston & Surbiton)
    Jo Swinson (East Dunbartonshire)
    Stephen Lloyd (Eastbourne)

    IIRC there are also a couple in the 2024 intake who came back in from earlier periods,
    I think quite a few tried in 2017 but most gave up after that.

    In 2024 Andrew George was returned for St Ives, which he had represented from 1997-2015. Tessa Munt won in Wells and Mendip Hills, much of which she had represented as MP for Wells for 2010-15.

    I think a few other ex-MPs stood in 2024, most didn't come close.
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