BBC News covers the new app. Wastes most of the report with vox pops of people saying they will use it because it might save lives.
Tiny mention of privacy issues. No analysis of those issues or the letter from dozens of computer scientists warning of the centralised system. No analysis either of the way UK is going down a different road to say Germany. No discussion of The Registers complete take down of the issue of the app not being on most of the time.
Etc etc etc.
This is a rare occassion where the vox pops are relevant though.
The app will work [if it works technically which seems highly probably] if people are willing to download it.
The concerns the computer scientists have about a centralised system, the different road etc are all moot in that case. What matters is (a) does it work - which the Isle of Wight test will reveal and (b) will people install it?
Short of an opinion poll the vox pops addresses point (b). Its actually relevant for once.
You lost me at the highly probably bit - nothing I have seen today tells me that it's going to work. And speaking to a mate at NHSX I suspect it doesn't.
However it will provide a nice comfort blanket for people..
Given the wide publicity to the supposed very basic flaw and the fact those involved with the project are still confidently saying it will work that implies to me they have checked this and have reason to be confident it is working. It would take nothing to test this and there's no lack of awareness of the supposed issue.
There may be more complicated bugs but it seems hard to believe the project has reached this stage, with this commensurate level of publicity, without something so basic that has repeatedly been discussed being tested.
Surely "Blitz Spirit" "Our Finest Hour" and even the 1943 Bengal Famine are all beside the point. The 75th Anniversary of all of those are fading into history. This weekend marks a different event, the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe.
It was not us standing alone (not that we were in 1940 either with our worldwide empire), VE day came about because of our alliance particularly with the USA and USSR, and of these it was the Red Army under Marshal Zhukov who "got WW2 done".
I shall raise a silent toast to our veterans, but also to our allies veterans on Friday. We are at our best when we coordinate our efforts with international friends and allies. This is a day to remember the end of the evils of Nazism, and the beginning of the post war world. Between VE and VJ day we changed government, with a landslide victory for Attlee. It was the end of Churchillism*, not its apogee.
*Yes, I know, he stayed on as LOTO, and returned briefly for an undistinguished second government in 1951.
There is an irony in the Daily Mail/Johnson style VE Day glorification when the mood at the actual VE Day was, thank God the miserable affair was over with and we can get on with our lives.
When we stood alone in WWII, it was our finest hour as a nation.
It is part of our national character, etched on our psyche, one of defiance, resiliance - it is a history to be proud of.
It's a myth. We were an empire.
The speech recognises that
And kyf_100's comment doesn't.
Yawn. Pathetic.
If I'd said "the finest hour in our empire's history" you would have accused me of being a fascist, racist, imperialist for mere mention of the word "empire".
I used the words part of our national character because that is what it is.
I think your problem is that you think it's disgusting to be proud of your country so you want to use semantics to justify your hatred. Fair enough, but that's hardly my problem.
Empires are by definition undemocratic.
Not sure that tracks completely. You could say that about kingdoms, yet many kingdoms are in all ways that matter democratic. Not that I think historical examples of empires have been democratic, and in most ways of defining what an empire is being undemocratic is almost certainly a big part of it. But take the first line of the wikipedia definition 'An empire is a multi-ethnic or multinational state with political and/or military dominion of populations who are culturally and ethnically distinct from the imperial (ruling) ethnic group and its culture'. It's unlikely, but if it was political domination alone that could theoretically be democratic. Other definitions are less ambiguous, but them empire is a very varied term and many have little in common with one another.
Surely "Blitz Spirit" "Our Finest Hour" and even the 1943 Bengal Famine are all beside the point. The 75th Anniversary of all of those are fading into history. This weekend marks a different event, the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe.
It was not us standing alone (not that we were in 1940 either with our worldwide empire), VE day came about because of our alliance particularly with the USA and USSR, and of these it was the Red Army under Marshal Zhukov who "got WW2 done".
I shall raise a silent toast to our veterans, but also to our allies veterans on Friday. We are at our best when we coordinate our efforts with international friends and allies. This is a day to remember the end of the evils of Nazism, and the beginning of the post war world. Between VE and VJ day we changed government, with a landslide victory for Attlee. It was the end of Churchillism*, not its apogee.
*Yes, I know, he stayed on as LOTO, and returned briefly for an undistinguished second government in 1951.
There is an irony in the Daily Mail/Johnson style VE Day glorification when the mood at the actual VE Day was, thank God the miserable affair was over with and we can get on with our lives.
Surely "Blitz Spirit" "Our Finest Hour" and even the 1943 Bengal Famine are all beside the point. The 75th Anniversary of all of those are fading into history. This weekend marks a different event, the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe.
It was not us standing alone (not that we were in 1940 either with our worldwide empire), VE day came about because of our alliance particularly with the USA and USSR, and of these it was the Red Army under Marshal Zhukov who "got WW2 done".
I shall raise a silent toast to our veterans, but also to our allies veterans on Friday. We are at our best when we coordinate our efforts with international friends and allies. This is a day to remember the end of the evils of Nazism, and the beginning of the post war world. Between VE and VJ day we changed government, with a landslide victory for Attlee. It was the end of Churchillism*, not its apogee.
*Yes, I know, he stayed on as LOTO, and returned briefly for an undistinguished second government in 1951.
Re second para, I believe we and France were actually the only two nations to declare war on Nazi Germany. Not for a moment suggesting the others were dragged into it.
On topic: Alastair is half right. We should remember, and reflect on, the enduring lessons of WWII, the defining event of the modern era. But he's right that the hijacking of it by ignoramuses like Mark Francois should be treated with contempt.
More generally, I find the indignation by some at the metaphor of 'waging war' against the virus to be totally bizarre. It's actually rather a good metaphor, in that the battle [another metaphor] involves the total mobilisation [another] of society, and especially of frontline [there I go again..] workers to defeat [and again..] it.
I don't recall indignant Guardian articles complaining about War on Want or Lyndon Johnson's War on Poverty - a theme taken up by Gordon Brown.
It's a metaphor. We're grown-ups who can handle that sort of stuff, right?
Surely "Blitz Spirit" "Our Finest Hour" and even the 1943 Bengal Famine are all beside the point. The 75th Anniversary of all of those are fading into history. This weekend marks a different event, the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe.
It was not us standing alone (not that we were in 1940 either with our worldwide empire), VE day came about because of our alliance particularly with the USA and USSR, and of these it was the Red Army under Marshal Zhukov who "got WW2 done".
I shall raise a silent toast to our veterans, but also to our allies veterans on Friday. We are at our best when we coordinate our efforts with international friends and allies. This is a day to remember the end of the evils of Nazism, and the beginning of the post war world. Between VE and VJ day we changed government, with a landslide victory for Attlee. It was the end of Churchillism*, not its apogee.
*Yes, I know, he stayed on as LOTO, and returned briefly for an undistinguished second government in 1951.
There is an irony in the Daily Mail/Johnson style VE Day glorification when the mood at the actual VE Day was, thank God the miserable affair was over with and we can get on with our lives.
That is complete rubbish. There were massive celebrations. The sense of relief was huge. God knows where you get your ideas from.
On topic: Alastair is half right. We should remember, and reflect on, the enduring lessons of WWII, the defining event of the modern era. But he's right that the hijacking of it by ignoramuses like Mark Francois should be treated with contempt.
More generally, I find the indignation by some at the metaphor of 'waging war' against the virus to be totally bizarre. It's actually rather a good metaphor, in that the battle [another metaphor] involves the total mobilisation [another] of society, and especially of frontline [there I go again..] workers to defeat [and again..] it.
I don't recall indignant Guardian articles complaining about War on Want or Lyndon Johnson's War on Poverty - a theme taken up by Gordon Brown.
It's a metaphor. We're grown-ups who can handle that sort of stuff, right?
Except everything we wage our wars on seems to get worse. See 'terror' and 'drugs'.
Surely "Blitz Spirit" "Our Finest Hour" and even the 1943 Bengal Famine are all beside the point. The 75th Anniversary of all of those are fading into history. This weekend marks a different event, the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe.
It was not us standing alone (not that we were in 1940 either with our worldwide empire), VE day came about because of our alliance particularly with the USA and USSR, and of these it was the Red Army under Marshal Zhukov who "got WW2 done".
I shall raise a silent toast to our veterans, but also to our allies veterans on Friday. We are at our best when we coordinate our efforts with international friends and allies. This is a day to remember the end of the evils of Nazism, and the beginning of the post war world. Between VE and VJ day we changed government, with a landslide victory for Attlee. It was the end of Churchillism*, not its apogee.
*Yes, I know, he stayed on as LOTO, and returned briefly for an undistinguished second government in 1951.
There is an irony in the Daily Mail/Johnson style VE Day glorification when the mood at the actual VE Day was, thank God the miserable affair was over with and we can get on with our lives.
What is it with all these quips about gay televangelists tonight? Oh wait, my God is @TheScreamingEagles Toby Young? Or just a case of great minds think alike? 😊
It was not us standing alone (not that we were in 1940 either with our worldwide empire), VE day came about because of our alliance particularly with the USA and USSR, and of these it was the Red Army under Marshal Zhukov who "got WW2 done".
On topic: Alastair is half right. We should remember, and reflect on, the enduring lessons of WWII, the defining event of the modern era. But he's right that the hijacking of it by ignoramuses like Mark Francois should be treated with contempt.
More generally, I find the indignation by some at the metaphor of 'waging war' against the virus to be totally bizarre. It's actually rather a good metaphor, in that the battle [another metaphor] involves the total mobilisation [another] of society, and especially of frontline [there I go again..] workers to defeat [and again..] it.
I don't recall indignant Guardian articles complaining about War on Want or Lyndon Johnson's War on Poverty - a theme taken up by Gordon Brown.
It's a metaphor. We're grown-ups who can handle that sort of stuff, right?
People got a bit wobbly during the War on Terror. Although frankly, a couple of deacdes on and it has won no victories over my terror of big spiders....
On topic: Alastair is half right. We should remember, and reflect on, the enduring lessons of WWII, the defining event of the modern era. But he's right that the hijacking of it by ignoramuses like Mark Francois should be treated with contempt.
More generally, I find the indignation by some at the metaphor of 'waging war' against the virus to be totally bizarre. It's actually rather a good metaphor, in that the battle [another metaphor] involves the total mobilisation [another] of society, and especially of frontline [there I go again..] workers to defeat [and again..] it.
I don't recall indignant Guardian articles complaining about War on Want or Lyndon Johnson's War on Poverty - a theme taken up by Gordon Brown.
It's a metaphor. We're grown-ups who can handle that sort of stuff, right?
It's not a useful metaphor because managing the epidemic requires discipline and the highest standards of hygiene. Wrestling with a virus is the last thing you want to do.
War on Want, War on Poverty and War on Drugs aren't helpful metaphors either.
Topical point about War on Poverty. We don't need a fight; we need more affordable accommodation. I note with cynicism that the intractable problem of accommodating the homeless was solved the instant those homeless people threatened to infect the rest of us,
It's not a useful metaphor because managing the epidemic requires discipline and the highest standards of hygiene. Wrestling with a virus is the last thing you want to do
Requiring discipline is exactly the point, surely?
On topic: Alastair is half right. We should remember, and reflect on, the enduring lessons of WWII, the defining event of the modern era. But he's right that the hijacking of it by ignoramuses like Mark Francois should be treated with contempt.
More generally, I find the indignation by some at the metaphor of 'waging war' against the virus to be totally bizarre. It's actually rather a good metaphor, in that the battle [another metaphor] involves the total mobilisation [another] of society, and especially of frontline [there I go again..] workers to defeat [and again..] it.
I don't recall indignant Guardian articles complaining about War on Want or Lyndon Johnson's War on Poverty - a theme taken up by Gordon Brown.
It's a metaphor. We're grown-ups who can handle that sort of stuff, right?
People got a bit wobbly during the War on Terror. Although frankly, a couple of deacdes on and it has won no victories over my terror of big spiders....
It's not a useful metaphor because managing the epidemic requires discipline and the highest standards of hygiene. Wrestling with a virus is the last thing you want to do
Requiring discipline is exactly the point, surely?
It's not a useful metaphor because managing the epidemic requires discipline and the highest standards of hygiene. Wrestling with a virus is the last thing you want to do
Requiring discipline is exactly the point, surely?
So does ballet dancing. That's not a war is it?
No, because it doesn't require mass discipline.
Really, this is the silliest of complaints. The English language is absolutely stuffed to the gunwales [sorry, can't help myself] with examples of military metaphors. So what?
Am I the only one who couldn’t give a lockdown fuck about Professor Pantsdown and the blonde?
All it really shows is that it's human nature. You can't keep people under house arrest indefintely and expect them to give up on the things that make life good.
For some that means a pint with their mates, for others it means hugging their grandchildren again. For the prof it meant getting his end away.
Wonder why they’ve thrown Ferguson under the bus now.
He seems to have thrown himself under it.
Either Ferguson has lost faith in the politicians and was looking for a way out, or he's lost faith in his own modeling and wanted to get out before it was exposed as inaccurate, is what this is probably about.
The most disappointing thing about the Professor Ferguson story is the Sun headline. Far too wordy. Surely they could have done better than 'Professor Lockdown broke lockdown to get his trousers down'? Standards have really dropped.
On topic: Alastair is half right. We should remember, and reflect on, the enduring lessons of WWII, the defining event of the modern era. But he's right that the hijacking of it by ignoramuses like Mark Francois should be treated with contempt.
More generally, I find the indignation by some at the metaphor of 'waging war' against the virus to be totally bizarre. It's actually rather a good metaphor, in that the battle [another metaphor] involves the total mobilisation [another] of society, and especially of frontline [there I go again..] workers to defeat [and again..] it.
I don't recall indignant Guardian articles complaining about War on Want or Lyndon Johnson's War on Poverty - a theme taken up by Gordon Brown.
It's a metaphor. We're grown-ups who can handle that sort of stuff, right?
Except everything we wage our wars on seems to get worse. See 'terror' and 'drugs'.
Isn’t the expert view that the drugs have got considerably better since we waged war on them?
Wonder why they’ve thrown Ferguson under the bus now.
He seems to have thrown himself under it.
Either Ferguson has lost faith in the politicians and was looking for a way out, or he's lost faith in his own modeling and wanted to get out before it was exposed as inaccurate, is what this is probably about.
Nah, it's just too good a story for the press not to jump on it.
Well done Bobby in what was a gutsy attempt to kick the Brits out of Northern Ireland.
Note. Britain, we, are still here, but fair play for trying.
Only 8 Unionist MPs out of 18 available seats elected in 2019...
Irrelevant. Do better and understand the people who live here and for that matter those who live south of the border. There isn't enough of an appetite to lift that rock.
I expect those who want the lockdown to end sooner rather than later will be happier about the prof's actions than those who think it should be maintained. When you're near the top pushing a stay home, don't go out unless it's an essential trip and regularly inviting a non household member into your property it desperately undermines the messaging.
That can't be right. I thought only Brexiteer Tories were allowed on SAGE....
Johnson got rid of all the remainers in the cabinet so he could replace them with inadequate sops, only to let one make the biggest decision in the country’s history!
The most disappointing thing about the Professor Ferguson story is the Sun headline. Far too wordy. Surely they could have done better than 'Professor Lockdown broke lockdown to get his trousers down'? Standards have really dropped.
When we stood alone in WWII, it was our finest hour as a nation.
It is part of our national character, etched on our psyche, one of defiance, resiliance - it is a history to be proud of.
It's a myth. We were an empire.
The speech recognises that
And kyf_100's comment doesn't.
Yawn. Pathetic.
If I'd said "the finest hour in our empire's history" you would have accused me of being a fascist, racist, imperialist for mere mention of the word "empire".
I used the words part of our national character because that is what it is.
I think your problem is that you think it's disgusting to be proud of your country so you want to use semantics to justify your hatred. Fair enough, but that's hardly my problem.
I'm very patriotic, but the UK is an artificial political union that should be abolished.
You are patriotic in the sense you want England, Scotland and Wales to join Ireland and become mere states in a Federal EU superstate of no more influence than California or Wyoming or Vermont
But more influence than Scotland and Wales currently have in the UK. England might have its gas put at a peep tho'.
Am I the only one who couldn’t give a lockdown fuck about Professor Pantsdown and the blonde?
All it really shows is that it's human nature. You can't keep people under house arrest indefintely and expect them to give up on the things that make life good.
For some that means a pint with their mates, for others it means hugging their grandchildren again. For the prof it meant getting his end away.
Doomed though. If his Scottish counterpart had to walk the plank for just checking their second house....
The most disappointing thing about the Professor Ferguson story is the Sun headline. Far too wordy. Surely they could have done better than 'Professor Lockdown broke lockdown to get his trousers down'? Standards have really dropped.
My favourite (possibly apocryphal) Sun headline was about a writer who complained to the editor about how much money the headline writers got paid "for doing so little" - so he was despatched to a town in Essex, then at the end of the Central line, to write about problems with the local Library - after he submitted his piece the editor showed him the headline: "Book Lack in Ongar".
On the current Sun headline "Prof breaks lockdown to get pants down" would have been a better effort....
Am I the only one who couldn’t give a lockdown fuck about Professor Pantsdown and the blonde?
All it really shows is that it's human nature. You can't keep people under house arrest indefintely and expect them to give up on the things that make life good.
For some that means a pint with their mates, for others it means hugging their grandchildren again. For the prof it meant getting his end away.
Doomed though. If his Scottish counterpart had to walk the plank for just checking their second house....
I thought the Prof had recovered from coronavirus so failing to see what he did wrong.
What is it with all these quips about gay televangelists tonight? Oh wait, my God is @TheScreamingEagles Toby Young? Or just a case of great minds think alike? 😊
Figures from the Italian statistics agency IStat show that deaths in Lombardy during March 2020 were 186.5% above the five-year average for that time of year, but in the province around the city of Bergamo they were 567.6% above the average.
That helps explain why the shocking scenes of overcrowding that were seen in some Italian hospitals have not been replicated in London hospitals.
Am I the only one who couldn’t give a lockdown fuck about Professor Pantsdown and the blonde?
All it really shows is that it's human nature. You can't keep people under house arrest indefintely and expect them to give up on the things that make life good.
For some that means a pint with their mates, for others it means hugging their grandchildren again. For the prof it meant getting his end away.
Doomed though. If his Scottish counterpart had to walk the plank for just checking their second house....
I thought the Prof had recovered from coronavirus so failing to see what he did wrong.
He may have been tested and deffo had it. But it completely undermines the lockdown with that not insubstantial number out there who will say "Yeah, I had that virus weeks back. Tested? Nah. But I had the symptoms and that..."
Maybe asking the Prof to get caught breaking the lockdown himself was the only way the government thought they could get people out of the house and back to work
It does show how fatuous are the attempts at compiling league tables relating to fatalities/ infections. Whether such comparisons will ever serve a useful purpose is not an issue which should be determined by obviously under-qualified newspaper workers.
Maybe asking the Prof to get caught breaking the lockdown himself was the only way the government thought they could get people out of the house and back to work
When we stood alone in WWII, it was our finest hour as a nation.
It is part of our national character, etched on our psyche, one of defiance, resiliance - it is a history to be proud of.
It's a myth. We were an empire.
The speech recognises that
And kyf_100's comment doesn't.
Yawn. Pathetic.
If I'd said "the finest hour in our empire's history" you would have accused me of being a fascist, racist, imperialist for mere mention of the word "empire".
I used the words part of our national character because that is what it is.
I think your problem is that you think it's disgusting to be proud of your country so you want to use semantics to justify your hatred. Fair enough, but that's hardly my problem.
I'm very patriotic, but the UK is an artificial political union that should be abolished.
You are patriotic in the sense you want England, Scotland and Wales to join Ireland and become mere states in a Federal EU superstate of no more influence than California or Wyoming or Vermont
But more influence than Scotland and Wales currently have in the UK. England might have its gas put at a peep tho'.
Far from it, Scotland produced a UK PM only last decade and Scottish MPs are a higher percentage of Westminster MPs than they are of Brussels MEPs.
In a Federal EU superstate Germany, then France and England would run the show (assuming Scotland voted for independence then both Scotland and England voted to rejoin the EU) with London the EU's richest and most powerful city, Scotland would be a backwater as influential as Montana is in the USA
I expect those who want the lockdown to end sooner rather than later will be happier about the prof's actions than those who think it should be maintained. When you're near the top pushing a stay home, don't go out unless it's an essential trip and regularly inviting a non household member into your property it desperately undermines the messaging.
I suppose I'm showing an inner authoritarian here, but I wouldn't have minded a D-notice on this until after the crisis is over - lives will be lost as a result of the idiocy and the gleeful reception.
In Italy the wealthiest region has been hardest hit, and the poorest areas the least worst. Maybe this shows that population density and pollution are more important factors.
This guys situation may have been a rather unfortunate one, if self inflicted, but its getting way more coverage than it deserves. Its one guy, there are plenty of other big brains working away in the background.
Figures from the Italian statistics agency IStat show that deaths in Lombardy during March 2020 were 186.5% above the five-year average for that time of year, but in the province around the city of Bergamo they were 567.6% above the average.
That helps explain why the shocking scenes of overcrowding that were seen in some Italian hospitals have not been replicated in London hospitals.
Some parts of Italy were affected to an incredible level while some others were barely touched. It’s odd given the mass exodus from the north that occurred when the partial lockdown happened.
When we stood alone in WWII, it was our finest hour as a nation.
It is part of our national character, etched on our psyche, one of defiance, resiliance - it is a history to be proud of.
It's a myth. We were an empire.
The speech recognises that
And kyf_100's comment doesn't.
Yawn. Pathetic.
If I'd said "the finest hour in our empire's history" you would have accused me of being a fascist, racist, imperialist for mere mention of the word "empire".
I used the words part of our national character because that is what it is.
I think your problem is that you think it's disgusting to be proud of your country so you want to use semantics to justify your hatred. Fair enough, but that's hardly my problem.
I'm very patriotic, but the UK is an artificial political union that should be abolished.
You are patriotic in the sense you want England, Scotland and Wales to join Ireland and become mere states in a Federal EU superstate of no more influence than California or Wyoming or Vermont
But more influence than Scotland and Wales currently have in the UK. England might have its gas put at a peep tho'.
Far from it, Scotland produced a UK PM only last decade and Scottish MPs are a higher percentage of Westminster MPs than they are of Brussels MEPs.
In a Federal EU superstate Germany, then France and England would run the show (assuming Scotland voted for independence then both Scotland and England voted to rejoin the EU) with London the EU's richest and most powerful city, Scotland would be a backwater as influential as Montana is in the USA
Just like New York and California run the show in the USA?
The most disappointing thing about the Professor Ferguson story is the Sun headline. Far too wordy. Surely they could have done better than 'Professor Lockdown broke lockdown to get his trousers down'? Standards have really dropped.
This guys situation may have been a rather unfortunate one, if self inflicted, but its getting way more coverage than it deserves. Its one guy, there are plenty of other big brains working away in the background.
It's a news story though and currently there isn't actually that many to fill the hours.
It is a valid news story to point out that the UK official death toll passed that of Italy today, given the attention Italy was getting earlier. In terms of actual comparisons, the UK can be grouped with Belgium, Spain, Italy and France as the European countries with very high death rates. If you want to rank those counties further, France comes fifth and the other countries, it depends on what point you are trying to make.
This guys situation may have been a rather unfortunate one, if self inflicted, but its getting way more coverage than it deserves. Its one guy, there are plenty of other big brains working away in the background.
However, either off his own bat or at the government request, has been basically on every tv show, YouTube channel and newspaper channel going. I am not sure even Chris Witty has given as much copy.
Plenty of the other "big brains" have quietly got on with their work in virtual anonymity.
On topic the real injustice is that every anniversary VJ Day is largely ignored. Even with Colonel Tom's walking heroics only a few would have noticed his service was in India and Burma.
I expect those who want the lockdown to end sooner rather than later will be happier about the prof's actions than those who think it should be maintained. When you're near the top pushing a stay home, don't go out unless it's an essential trip and regularly inviting a non household member into your property it desperately undermines the messaging.
I suppose I'm showing an inner authoritarian here, but I wouldn't have minded a D-notice on this until after the crisis is over - lives will be lost as a result of the idiocy and the gleeful reception.
Overdoing it surely. Why will lives be lost? The guy isn't unique, talented & capable maybe but he isn't a one off that carries all knowledge with him like an old, pardon the pun, Sage. The strategy is well set, the statistical methods by which things are looked are well set , there are welters of people involved here not just him. How the 'gleeful reception' will cost lives is a mystery. Did any more people die when the Chief Medical Officer decided to dip off to check the holiday home and had to go?
The responsible will continue to be so, those who aren't never were. Most of the public wont give a rats arse after a day or two about him.
Its the media that keep the story up. Lead on the World Tonight on Radio 4. really? Is it really that big? No.
When we stood alone in WWII, it was our finest hour as a nation.
It is part of our national character, etched on our psyche, one of defiance, resiliance - it is a history to be proud of.
It's a myth. We were an empire.
The speech recognises that
And kyf_100's comment doesn't.
Yawn. Pathetic.
If I'd said "the finest hour in our empire's history" you would have accused me of being a fascist, racist, imperialist for mere mention of the word "empire".
I used the words part of our national character because that is what it is.
I think your problem is that you think it's disgusting to be proud of your country so you want to use semantics to justify your hatred. Fair enough, but that's hardly my problem.
I'm very patriotic, but the UK is an artificial political union that should be abolished.
You are patriotic in the sense you want England, Scotland and Wales to join Ireland and become mere states in a Federal EU superstate of no more influence than California or Wyoming or Vermont
But more influence than Scotland and Wales currently have in the UK. England might have its gas put at a peep tho'.
Far from it, Scotland produced a UK PM only last decade and Scottish MPs are a higher percentage of Westminster MPs than they are of Brussels MEPs.
In a Federal EU superstate Germany, then France and England would run the show (assuming Scotland voted for independence then both Scotland and England voted to rejoin the EU) with London the EU's richest and most powerful city, Scotland would be a backwater as influential as Montana is in the USA
Just like New York and California run the show in the USA?
They and Texas and Florida yes.
New York is the US financial capital, California the tech and entertainment capital, Texas the energy capital and Florida the retirement and space capital.
The former are the basis of Democratic EC wins, the latter the basis of GOP EC wins
I expect those who want the lockdown to end sooner rather than later will be happier about the prof's actions than those who think it should be maintained. When you're near the top pushing a stay home, don't go out unless it's an essential trip and regularly inviting a non household member into your property it desperately undermines the messaging.
I suppose I'm showing an inner authoritarian here, but I wouldn't have minded a D-notice on this until after the crisis is over - lives will be lost as a result of the idiocy and the gleeful reception.
By the way, a D-Notice over this story is just nonsense.
It is a valid news story to point out that the UK official death toll passed that of Italy today, given the attention Italy was getting earlier. In terms of actual comparisons, the UK can be grouped with Belgium, Spain, Italy and France as the European countries with very high death rates. If you want to rank those counties further, France comes fifth and the other countries, it depends on what point you are trying to make.
Am I the only one who couldn’t give a lockdown fuck about Professor Pantsdown and the blonde?
No. Me too. The public had steadfastly refused to see the Telegraphs anti Lockdown logic. Remove the figurehead and the logic does not become more logical.
Figures from the Italian statistics agency IStat show that deaths in Lombardy during March 2020 were 186.5% above the five-year average for that time of year, but in the province around the city of Bergamo they were 567.6% above the average.
That helps explain why the shocking scenes of overcrowding that were seen in some Italian hospitals have not been replicated in London hospitals.
Some parts of Italy were affected to an incredible level while some others were barely touched. It’s odd given the mass exodus from the north that occurred when the partial lockdown happened.
Labour MPs are starting to question the fact that 18.1 million people entered the UK in the run-up to the lockdown, with just 273 of them being quarantined.
It is a valid news story to point out that the UK official death toll passed that of Italy today, given the attention Italy was getting earlier. In terms of actual comparisons, the UK can be grouped with Belgium, Spain, Italy and France as the European countries with very high death rates. If you want to rank those counties further, France comes fifth and the other countries, it depends on what point you are trying to make.
For a man that is supposed a germ-o-phobe and seems very cowardly, I fully expected Trump to be in a hazmat suit like Putin was seen wearing. I actually shocked that the secret service let him out to stuff like this without protection, if there was a chemical attack they wouldn't, if there was a gunman on the loose they wouldn't...
Comments
There may be more complicated bugs but it seems hard to believe the project has reached this stage, with this commensurate level of publicity, without something so basic that has repeatedly been discussed being tested.
https://twitter.com/carolecadwalla/status/1257787731176050691?s=21
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victory_in_Europe_Day#/media/File:Churchill_waves_to_crowds.jpg
https://twitter.com/GwynneMP/status/1256558809285345280?s=19
Yer man Bastani giving solidarity.
Note. Britain, we, are still here, but fair play for trying.
More generally, I find the indignation by some at the metaphor of 'waging war' against the virus to be totally bizarre. It's actually rather a good metaphor, in that the battle [another metaphor] involves the total mobilisation [another] of society, and especially of frontline [there I go again..] workers to defeat [and again..] it.
I don't recall indignant Guardian articles complaining about War on Want or Lyndon Johnson's War on Poverty - a theme taken up by Gordon Brown.
It's a metaphor. We're grown-ups who can handle that sort of stuff, right?
Millionaire socialist FBPE luvvies got to stick together.
https://twitter.com/jamesheartfield/status/1257765833759166467?s=21
A real LOL moment
https://twitter.com/toadmeister/status/1257765799714054146?s=21
War on Want, War on Poverty and War on Drugs aren't helpful metaphors either.
Topical point about War on Poverty. We don't need a fight; we need more affordable accommodation. I note with cynicism that the intractable problem of accommodating the homeless was solved the instant those homeless people threatened to infect the rest of us,
Really, this is the silliest of complaints. The English language is absolutely stuffed to the gunwales [sorry, can't help myself] with examples of military metaphors. So what?
For some that means a pint with their mates, for others it means hugging their grandchildren again. For the prof it meant getting his end away.
https://m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/just-29-in-northern-ireland-would-vote-for-unity-major-study-reveals-38966196.html
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/52530918
When you're near the top pushing a stay home, don't go out unless it's an essential trip and regularly inviting a non household member into your property it desperately undermines the messaging.
On the current Sun headline "Prof breaks lockdown to get pants down" would have been a better effort....
Everyone feels better after a story like that. Aside from the dumbfuck, that is.
Cock
Both barrels
Figures from the Italian statistics agency IStat show that deaths in Lombardy during March 2020 were 186.5% above the five-year average for that time of year, but in the province around the city of Bergamo they were 567.6% above the average.
That helps explain why the shocking scenes of overcrowding that were seen in some Italian hospitals have not been replicated in London hospitals.
In a Federal EU superstate Germany, then France and England would run the show (assuming Scotland voted for independence then both Scotland and England voted to rejoin the EU) with London the EU's richest and most powerful city, Scotland would be a backwater as influential as Montana is in the USA
Plenty of the other "big brains" have quietly got on with their work in virtual anonymity.
The responsible will continue to be so, those who aren't never were. Most of the public wont give a rats arse after a day or two about him.
Its the media that keep the story up. Lead on the World Tonight on Radio 4. really? Is it really that big? No.
New York is the US financial capital, California the tech and entertainment capital, Texas the energy capital and Florida the retirement and space capital.
The former are the basis of Democratic EC wins, the latter the basis of GOP EC wins
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/05/just-273-people-arriving-in-uk-in-run-up-to-lockdown-quarantined
"The figures, provided by the government to the Labour MP and member of the home affairs select committee Stephen Doughty..."
Former Labour advisor Ayesha Hazarika also mentioned this subject on tonight's paper review.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8290511/Donald-Trump-ignores-compulsory-masks-sign-tours-MASK-factory.html