Were these people complaining when some of their fellow citizens were surviving on £74 a weeK?
One thing I very much hope this crisis does is lead to radical changes in sick pay law, because it's frankly bloody awful at the moment. It doesn't need to be 50 years on full pay, but it wouldn't be unreasonable to say full pay until absent for a consecutive fortnight as a minimum, then 50% of full wage for a further month as another minimum.
Responsible employers who want to attract and retain good staff should be doing more than that anyway. Everyone gets ill at times and you really don't want people with colds coming into work and infecting everyone else because they can't afford to take time off.
Now that all news interviews seem to be via webcam from some expert's house, I'm loving how people try and shoehorn things into the background. It's usually a bookcase filled with heavy reading, or pictures of them with powerful people or certificates and commendations. I'd have a selection of old jizz mags strewn over my unmade bed and the Mrs wandering about trying to tidy up.
Also shows we don't need to be ferrying people all around the country to studios. Loads of BBC bods are ferried between London and Salford every week just to tick the box of having programmes made in the regions.
If you watch any Twitch and YouTube channels that have decent following, it is clear they can produce live streaming that top notch quality in terms of the video and audio.
Not suggesting MOTD presented by Gary Lineker from home in his pants. But there are loads of segments they could.
Chromecast (or whatever) your favourite Youtube videos onto your 52" wall-mounted telly and you will find the quality is dire. And while I follow many YT channels, often even the content is a bit samey. What YT does show, I think, is there is an appetite for factual content presented more-or-less straight: whatever is the telly equivalent of chalk and talk.
I have to admit my view of humanity has taken a bit of a hit over the last couple of days. My whole philosophy and that which drives my political views is that as a rule the vast majority of people are okay. Good people just trying to do their best and not hurt those around them. They have an innate wisdom which informs their decisions and Government's purpose should be to advise, help and do the big bits that individuals and collectives can't do on their own rather than to 'rule'.
As I say the reaction to the necessary actions and advise being given by the Government along with the political points scoring from some sections has given that world view a good kicking. In the end I still believe it is the right way to view things but I need to rebuild my faith in humanity a bit.
My view is that the guidelines and rules being passed down by the Government are clear, timely and obvious. There is a combination of genuine stupidity, wilful ignorance for political point scoring and arrogant disregard from a small minority that is making this more of a problem than it should be. It is a sad indictment of a small part of our society today.
I don't trust Boris at least half the time, but imagine the opportunity this would be for the likes of McDonnell and Milne to create a permanent socialist state.
Now that Johnson has had a sniff of being Britain Pinochet he is not easily going to relinquish those powers.
Since we're going full totalitär, BJ should get our lads kitted out like the Chilean army.
The spirit of the times demands something a little more... imperial.
On one occasion I was taking my morning coffee in Place Des Allemand in Trujillo, Peru.
I heard a crunch-crunch... turned my head to see the School marching practise...
They teach marching in the schools - and being inspired by Fredrick the Great, it's all goose step.
So I sat there as the girls and boys (separate formations) crunched past. Deeply weird - kept expecting someone to start singing the Panzerlied.
They teach marching in British schools too, though only the posh ones that most of the government and half the opposition attended. CCF or OTC or whatever it is called now.
CCF. I was worried when grandson 2 joined in his 2nd or 3rd year. However he only lasted about a year, then he got interested in golf.
You know something is a bit odd about your school if your reaction to seeing a student with a (functional) rifle is to tell them off for holding it incorrectly...
On 25 July 1953 the school's Combined Cadet Force armoury was raided by the Irish Republican Army (1922–69), making off with 8 Bren guns, 12 Sten guns, an anti-tank gun, a mortar and 109 rifles. Their van was stopped by a police patrol and Cathal Goulding, Sean Stephenson, later known as Seán Mac Stíofáin and Manus Canning each received 8 years in prison
Jesus, an anti-tank gun.
In If, a favourite of my adolescent years, the finale depends on the rebels finding a secret stash of arms in the school cellar. Looks like all they had to do was turn up for OTC.
I love that film! I guess a lot of public schools inherited some pretty nifty/scary WW2 surplus...
Staff made redundant with only wages for hours already worked, they will only get any other money if & when JDW gets a government grant. Also advised them to try for jobs with Tescos.
Scumbag. People work really hard in there too.
Also I don't understand it, with them getting 80% of salaries paid by the government, they could just offer them that without any it costing them anything and avoid this terrible PR.
Yay - well done Owen - the boy's finally growing up.
What is wrong with people that they cannot appreciate a clever and humorous (and supportive of the government) remark by a pundit simply because the pundit is Owen Jones?
Is there anybody in 2020 Britain more unfairly maligned and sadly under-appreciated?
Staff made redundant with only wages for hours already worked, they will only get any other money if & when JDW gets a government grant. Also advised them to try for jobs with Tescos.
Were these people complaining when some of their fellow citizens were surviving on £74 a weeK?
One thing I very much hope this crisis does is lead to radical changes in sick pay law, because it's frankly bloody awful at the moment. It doesn't need to be 50 years on full pay, but it wouldn't be unreasonable to say full pay until absent for a consecutive fortnight as a minimum, then 50% of full wage for a further month as another minimum.
Responsible employers who want to attract and retain good staff should be doing more than that anyway. Everyone gets ill at times and you really don't want people with colds coming into work and infecting everyone else because they can't afford to take time off.
It's worth nothing long-term sick pay was routinely abused prior to 2010 and it's reform was one reason so many moved from benefits into work. The benefit pay was designed for basic subsistence not to support a decent lifestyle.
The circumstances are different now and rightly so.
I don't trust Boris at least half the time, but imagine the opportunity this would be for the likes of McDonnell and Milne to create a permanent socialist state.
Now that Johnson has had a sniff of being Britain Pinochet he is not easily going to relinquish those powers.
Since we're going full totalitär, BJ should get our lads kitted out like the Chilean army.
The spirit of the times demands something a little more... imperial.
On one occasion I was taking my morning coffee in Place Des Allemand in Trujillo, Peru.
I heard a crunch-crunch... turned my head to see the School marching practise...
They teach marching in the schools - and being inspired by Fredrick the Great, it's all goose step.
So I sat there as the girls and boys (separate formations) crunched past. Deeply weird - kept expecting someone to start singing the Panzerlied.
They teach marching in British schools too, though only the posh ones that most of the government and half the opposition attended. CCF or OTC or whatever it is called now.
CCF. I was worried when grandson 2 joined in his 2nd or 3rd year. However he only lasted about a year, then he got interested in golf.
You know something is a bit odd about your school if your reaction to seeing a student with a (functional) rifle is to tell them off for holding it incorrectly...
On 25 July 1953 the school's Combined Cadet Force armoury was raided by the Irish Republican Army (1922–69), making off with 8 Bren guns, 12 Sten guns, an anti-tank gun, a mortar and 109 rifles. Their van was stopped by a police patrol and Cathal Goulding, Sean Stephenson, later known as Seán Mac Stíofáin and Manus Canning each received 8 years in prison
Jesus, an anti-tank gun.
In If, a favourite of my adolescent years, the finale depends on the rebels finding a secret stash of arms in the school cellar. Looks like all they had to do was turn up for OTC.
My CCF armoury had a Boyes 0.55 anti-tank rifle in it. Complete with ammo. The master in charge politely explained that every year someone asked too fire it. And every year he didn't let them.
For those who don't know - it's basically a normal rifle that has got magnified by 3x. Quite good for hunting mammoths, railway trains and..... small, light tanks.
Yay - well done Owen - the boy's finally growing up.
What is wrong with people that they cannot appreciate a clever and humorous (and supportive of the government) remark by a pundit simply because the pundit is Owen Jones?
Is there anybody in 2020 Britain more unfairly maligned and sadly under-appreciated?
Not sure there is. Maybe Peter Crouch.
Yep. The Jones comment was clearly a bit of (very welcome) ironic humour that reflects well on him. And no I am not generally a fan.
Staff made redundant with only wages for hours already worked, they will only get any other money if & when JDW gets a government grant. Also advised them to try for jobs with Tescos.
Scumbag. People work really hard in there too.
Also I don't understand it, with them getting 80% of salaries paid by the government, they could just offer them that without any it costing them anything and avoid this terrible PR.
The loud laughter you can hear is coming from Marston's.
Yay - well done Owen - the boy's finally growing up.
What is wrong with people that they cannot appreciate a clever and humorous (and supportive of the government) remark by a pundit simply because the pundit is Owen Jones?
Is there anybody in 2020 Britain more unfairly maligned and sadly under-appreciated?
Not sure there is. Maybe Peter Crouch.
Absolutely bloody typical that tosser Owen Jones making a party political point when the nation is in crisis.
I have to admit my view of humanity has taken a bit of a hit over the last couple of days. My whole philosophy and that which drives my political views is that as a rule the vast majority of people are okay. Good people just trying to do their best and not hurt those around them. They have an innate wisdom which informs their decisions and Government's purpose should be to advise, help and do the big bits that individuals and collectives can't do on their own rather than to 'rule'.
As I say the reaction to the necessary actions and advise being given by the Government along with the political points scoring from some sections has given that world view a good kicking. In the end I still believe it is the right way to view things but I need to rebuild my faith in humanity a bit.
My view is that the guidelines and rules being passed down by the Government are clear, timely and obvious. There is a combination of genuine stupidity, wilful ignorance for political point scoring and arrogant disregard from a small minority that is making this more of a problem than it should be. It is a sad indictment of a small part of our society today.
I don't think your faith is misplaced. I think 60-70% of people were doing as required.
But, 90%+ were not. Hence the need for the lockdown.
So a minority has basically ruined it for everyone else.
Were these people complaining when some of their fellow citizens were surviving on £74 a weeK?
One thing I very much hope this crisis does is lead to radical changes in sick pay law, because it's frankly bloody awful at the moment. It doesn't need to be 50 years on full pay, but it wouldn't be unreasonable to say full pay until absent for a consecutive fortnight as a minimum, then 50% of full wage for a further month as another minimum.
Responsible employers who want to attract and retain good staff should be doing more than that anyway. Everyone gets ill at times and you really don't want people with colds coming into work and infecting everyone else because they can't afford to take time off.
It's worth nothing long-term sick pay was routinely abused prior to 2010 and it's reform was one reason so many moved from benefits into work. The benefit pay was designed for basic subsistence not to support a decent lifestyle.
The circumstances are different now and rightly so.
I would agree - IF statutory sick pay provided a level of basic subsistence.
Were these people complaining when some of their fellow citizens were surviving on £74 a weeK?
One thing I very much hope this crisis does is lead to radical changes in sick pay law, because it's frankly bloody awful at the moment. It doesn't need to be 50 years on full pay, but it wouldn't be unreasonable to say full pay until absent for a consecutive fortnight as a minimum, then 50% of full wage for a further month as another minimum.
Responsible employers who want to attract and retain good staff should be doing more than that anyway. Everyone gets ill at times and you really don't want people with colds coming into work and infecting everyone else because they can't afford to take time off.
When we applied for our first mortgage five years ago we also discussed life cover with our mortgage adviser and she was surprised how good our sick pay cover was (me, university employer 8 months full pay and 4 months half, that's maximum after five years employment; my wife, private sector, though employee owned, 4 weeks full pay direct from company and a further 6 months full pay through company paid insurance, then tapering down for up to another 6 months). We'd both assumed that was fairly standard, but it's not something people tend to think about when looking for jobs. Perhaps, after this, it will be.
I have to admit my view of humanity has taken a bit of a hit over the last couple of days. My whole philosophy and that which drives my political views is that as a rule the vast majority of people are okay. Good people just trying to do their best and not hurt those around them. They have an innate wisdom which informs their decisions and Government's purpose should be to advise, help and do the big bits that individuals and collectives can't do on their own rather than to 'rule'.
As I say the reaction to the necessary actions and advise being given by the Government along with the political points scoring from some sections has given that world view a good kicking. In the end I still believe it is the right way to view things but I need to rebuild my faith in humanity a bit.
My view is that the guidelines and rules being passed down by the Government are clear, timely and obvious. There is a combination of genuine stupidity, wilful ignorance for political point scoring and arrogant disregard from a small minority that is making this more of a problem than it should be. It is a sad indictment of a small part of our society today.
I don't think your faith is misplaced. I think 60-70% of people were doing as required.
But, 90%+ were not. Hence the need for the lockdown.
So a minority has basically ruined it for everyone else.
I'd agree with that. One needs over 75% of people to comply and there is a minority that were not. But most people have taken the advice over the last week or so seriously so I hope this also has an effect upon the rate of growth of the epidemic in our country.
Were these people complaining when some of their fellow citizens were surviving on £74 a weeK?
One thing I very much hope this crisis does is lead to radical changes in sick pay law, because it's frankly bloody awful at the moment. It doesn't need to be 50 years on full pay, but it wouldn't be unreasonable to say full pay until absent for a consecutive fortnight as a minimum, then 50% of full wage for a further month as another minimum.
Responsible employers who want to attract and retain good staff should be doing more than that anyway. Everyone gets ill at times and you really don't want people with colds coming into work and infecting everyone else because they can't afford to take time off.
It's worth nothing long-term sick pay was routinely abused prior to 2010 and it's reform was one reason so many moved from benefits into work. The benefit pay was designed for basic subsistence not to support a decent lifestyle.
The circumstances are different now and rightly so.
I would agree - IF statutory sick pay provided a level of basic subsistence.
It doesn't.
The problem is that decision makers are more likely to have had employment contracts that include partial to full salary sick pay.
They don’t understand that a lot of employees literally only have SSP, even if in full-time employment.
I wonder can the BBC manage do any report without criticism? The text been sent out to everybody, apparently South Korea has a system where the government can override all the mobile operators and send direct messages to the people, we don't and that is really really bad. Austerity you see is to blame.
Perhaps, the government maybe also thought that's rather creepy and authoritarian to be able to beam direct government propaganda to people like this.
It has to be supported by phones to work anyway, which it probably is on most phones but it tends to be hidden away in the settings.
Using SMS short codes with the kind of SMS services that exist nowadays (Twilio) should be quite effective anyway. I think carriers have to approve the codes, so it should quite safe too.
Staff made redundant with only wages for hours already worked, they will only get any other money if & when JDW gets a government grant. Also advised them to try for jobs with Tescos.
Scumbag. People work really hard in there too.
Also I don't understand it, with them getting 80% of salaries paid by the government, they could just offer them that without any it costing them anything and avoid this terrible PR.
Stock market approves. Their shares are +11% today compared to +4% for the FTSE.
Perhaps Owen Jones will be able to reflect how few on the left, and on the right, genuinely don't want people's lives controlled by the state and all sorts of self righteous busybodies, and become an independent minded writer.
He IS independent in that he pushes the Left case regardless of party affiliation. He is not partisan in the "my party right or wrong" fashion of some, including several posters on here. If, for example, Labour proposed privatization of the NHS he would attack them for it. Conversely if the Cons proposed scrapping Trident and private schools, he would be fully supportive. Or as a less outlandish and real example, he has trenchantly criticized Labour for being insufficiently pro free movement and immigration - and that was under Corbyn.
I've responded under the assumption that the bolded word was a typo and shouldn't be there. Otherwise you are making a VERY fruity claim!
I don't trust Boris at least half the time, but imagine the opportunity this would be for the likes of McDonnell and Milne to create a permanent socialist state.
Now that Johnson has had a sniff of being Britain Pinochet he is not easily going to relinquish those powers.
Since we're going full totalitär, BJ should get our lads kitted out like the Chilean army.
The spirit of the times demands something a little more... imperial.
On one occasion I was taking my morning coffee in Place Des Allemand in Trujillo, Peru.
I heard a crunch-crunch... turned my head to see the School marching practise...
They teach marching in the schools - and being inspired by Fredrick the Great, it's all goose step.
So I sat there as the girls and boys (separate formations) crunched past. Deeply weird - kept expecting someone to start singing the Panzerlied.
They teach marching in British schools too, though only the posh ones that most of the government and half the opposition attended. CCF or OTC or whatever it is called now.
CCF. I was worried when grandson 2 joined in his 2nd or 3rd year. However he only lasted about a year, then he got interested in golf.
You know something is a bit odd about your school if your reaction to seeing a student with a (functional) rifle is to tell them off for holding it incorrectly...
On 25 July 1953 the school's Combined Cadet Force armoury was raided by the Irish Republican Army (1922–69), making off with 8 Bren guns, 12 Sten guns, an anti-tank gun, a mortar and 109 rifles. Their van was stopped by a police patrol and Cathal Goulding, Sean Stephenson, later known as Seán Mac Stíofáin and Manus Canning each received 8 years in prison
Jesus, an anti-tank gun.
In If, a favourite of my adolescent years, the finale depends on the rebels finding a secret stash of arms in the school cellar. Looks like all they had to do was turn up for OTC.
My CCF armoury had a Boyes 0.55 anti-tank rifle in it. Complete with ammo. The master in charge politely explained that every year someone asked too fire it. And every year he didn't let them.
For those who don't know - it's basically a normal rifle that has got magnified by 3x. Quite good for hunting mammoths, railway trains and..... small, light tanks.
We had WW2 jungle issue Lee Enfield 303s and bren guns, plus a few GMPGs. We also had a classics teacher who told us it was our duty to learn to shoot the working classes if there was a revolution. Given a lot of the boys were on scholarships, the general agreement was that we would put the classics teacher in front of a wall first and then join the revolution. We also had a visiting squaddie Sargeant Major who used to turn up and get grumpy at how bad we were at drill. The deal was we'd get him plastered at the last parade of the year and then tow him in his car back to barracks behind our bedford lorry.
I don't trust Boris at least half the time, but imagine the opportunity this would be for the likes of McDonnell and Milne to create a permanent socialist state.
Now that Johnson has had a sniff of being Britain Pinochet he is not easily going to relinquish those powers.
Since we're going full totalitär, BJ should get our lads kitted out like the Chilean army.
The spirit of the times demands something a little more... imperial.
On one occasion I was taking my morning coffee in Place Des Allemand in Trujillo, Peru.
I heard a crunch-crunch... turned my head to see the School marching practise...
They teach marching in the schools - and being inspired by Fredrick the Great, it's all goose step.
So I sat there as the girls and boys (separate formations) crunched past. Deeply weird - kept expecting someone to start singing the Panzerlied.
They teach marching in British schools too, though only the posh ones that most of the government and half the opposition attended. CCF or OTC or whatever it is called now.
CCF. I was worried when grandson 2 joined in his 2nd or 3rd year. However he only lasted about a year, then he got interested in golf.
You know something is a bit odd about your school if your reaction to seeing a student with a (functional) rifle is to tell them off for holding it incorrectly...
On 25 July 1953 the school's Combined Cadet Force armoury was raided by the Irish Republican Army (1922–69), making off with 8 Bren guns, 12 Sten guns, an anti-tank gun, a mortar and 109 rifles. Their van was stopped by a police patrol and Cathal Goulding, Sean Stephenson, later known as Seán Mac Stíofáin and Manus Canning each received 8 years in prison
We only had .303s which the fun police had reduced to single shot .22L. And a 7.62 Moisin-Nagant which sadly had no ammo but was the subject of more feverish adolescent 80s fantasies than Suzanne Mizzi and the Audi Quattro combined.
Were these people complaining when some of their fellow citizens were surviving on £74 a weeK?
One thing I very much hope this crisis does is lead to radical changes in sick pay law, because it's frankly bloody awful at the moment. It doesn't need to be 50 years on full pay, but it wouldn't be unreasonable to say full pay until absent for a consecutive fortnight as a minimum, then 50% of full wage for a further month as another minimum.
Responsible employers who want to attract and retain good staff should be doing more than that anyway. Everyone gets ill at times and you really don't want people with colds coming into work and infecting everyone else because they can't afford to take time off.
When we applied for our first mortgage five years ago we also discussed life cover with our mortgage adviser and she was surprised how good our sick pay cover was (me, university employer 8 months full pay and 4 months half, that's maximum after five years employment; my wife, private sector, though employee owned, 4 weeks full pay direct from company and a further 6 months full pay through company paid insurance, then tapering down for up to another 6 months). We'd both assumed that was fairly standard, but it's not something people tend to think about when looking for jobs. Perhaps, after this, it will be.
8 months full pay?? Eight?
That's unbelievable. what planet are you on thinking that is normal? Sorry but...wow
Are you still on strike about your pension by the way? I hate to tell you what's happening to those in the private sector...
Staff made redundant with only wages for hours already worked, they will only get any other money if & when JDW gets a government grant. Also advised them to try for jobs with Tescos.
Scumbag. People work really hard in there too.
Also I don't understand it, with them getting 80% of salaries paid by the government, they could just offer them that without any it costing them anything and avoid this terrible PR.
Stock market approves. Their shares are +11% today compared to +4% for the FTSE.
Wonder if we've hit the bottom? Possibly not quite yet. The US will deteriorate further first I think.
Staff made redundant with only wages for hours already worked, they will only get any other money if & when JDW gets a government grant. Also advised them to try for jobs with Tescos.
Scumbag. People work really hard in there too.
Also I don't understand it, with them getting 80% of salaries paid by the government, they could just offer them that without any it costing them anything and avoid this terrible PR.
Stock market approves. Their shares are +11% today compared to +4% for the FTSE.
Wonder if we've hit the bottom? Possibly not quite yet. The US will deteriorate further first I think.
FTSE up 4% today. US futures showing Dow and S&P up 5%.
Working from my office (which is upstairs) I have just seen the children's playground behind my house being locked up.
This will be about as effective as a chocolate kettle, as the fence is only waist high and a fairly athletic chihuahua would clear it. However, I suppose the message is the key thing.
There are plenty of people out there whose instincts would be to do the opposite of whatever Boris Johnson wants them to do. To have someone like Owen Jones, who is known for being fiercely anti-Tory, essentially saying "this may seem crazy, but he is right" might be the only way to persuade some of them.
Exactly! Faced with the awkward task (duty?) of supporting Tory government measures at this time of national crisis, he found an elegant way to do it and raised a chuckle at the same time. I'll post that one on PB.com, I thought. They'll appreciate it. I was expecting either no reaction or a "Don't usually like Jones but that is quite good" type of thing. Ah well. I'm not in love with him or anything - he writes and says things sometimes that I disagree with - but I do think some people on the right of politics just see his name and hackles are raised.
I don't trust Boris at least half the time, but imagine the opportunity this would be for the likes of McDonnell and Milne to create a permanent socialist state.
Now that Johnson has had a sniff of being Britain Pinochet he is not easily going to relinquish those powers.
Since we're going full totalitär, BJ should get our lads kitted out like the Chilean army.
The spirit of the times demands something a little more... imperial.
On one occasion I was taking my morning coffee in Place Des Allemand in Trujillo, Peru.
I heard a crunch-crunch... turned my head to see the School marching practise...
They teach marching in the schools - and being inspired by Fredrick the Great, it's all goose step.
So I sat there as the girls and boys (separate formations) crunched past. Deeply weird - kept expecting someone to start singing the Panzerlied.
They teach marching in British schools too, though only the posh ones that most of the government and half the opposition attended. CCF or OTC or whatever it is called now.
CCF. I was worried when grandson 2 joined in his 2nd or 3rd year. However he only lasted about a year, then he got interested in golf.
You know something is a bit odd about your school if your reaction to seeing a student with a (functional) rifle is to tell them off for holding it incorrectly...
On 25 July 1953 the school's Combined Cadet Force armoury was raided by the Irish Republican Army (1922–69), making off with 8 Bren guns, 12 Sten guns, an anti-tank gun, a mortar and 109 rifles. Their van was stopped by a police patrol and Cathal Goulding, Sean Stephenson, later known as Seán Mac Stíofáin and Manus Canning each received 8 years in prison
Jesus, an anti-tank gun.
In If, a favourite of my adolescent years, the finale depends on the rebels finding a secret stash of arms in the school cellar. Looks like all they had to do was turn up for OTC.
My CCF armoury had a Boyes 0.55 anti-tank rifle in it. Complete with ammo. The master in charge politely explained that every year someone asked too fire it. And every year he didn't let them.
For those who don't know - it's basically a normal rifle that has got magnified by 3x. Quite good for hunting mammoths, railway trains and..... small, light tanks.
What a softy, everyone knows smashed collar bones are character forming.
One wonders about the efficacy of those weapons, though the Germans & Soviets also had their own versions also so I guess they had their uses.
I don't trust Boris at least half the time, but imagine the opportunity this would be for the likes of McDonnell and Milne to create a permanent socialist state.
Now that Johnson has had a sniff of being Britain Pinochet he is not easily going to relinquish those powers.
Since we're going full totalitär, BJ should get our lads kitted out like the Chilean army.
The spirit of the times demands something a little more... imperial.
On one occasion I was taking my morning coffee in Place Des Allemand in Trujillo, Peru.
I heard a crunch-crunch... turned my head to see the School marching practise...
They teach marching in the schools - and being inspired by Fredrick the Great, it's all goose step.
So I sat there as the girls and boys (separate formations) crunched past. Deeply weird - kept expecting someone to start singing the Panzerlied.
They teach marching in British schools too, though only the posh ones that most of the government and half the opposition attended. CCF or OTC or whatever it is called now.
CCF. I was worried when grandson 2 joined in his 2nd or 3rd year. However he only lasted about a year, then he got interested in golf.
You know something is a bit odd about your school if your reaction to seeing a student with a (functional) rifle is to tell them off for holding it incorrectly...
On 25 July 1953 the school's Combined Cadet Force armoury was raided by the Irish Republican Army (1922–69), making off with 8 Bren guns, 12 Sten guns, an anti-tank gun, a mortar and 109 rifles. Their van was stopped by a police patrol and Cathal Goulding, Sean Stephenson, later known as Seán Mac Stíofáin and Manus Canning each received 8 years in prison
Jesus, an anti-tank gun.
In If, a favourite of my adolescent years, the finale depends on the rebels finding a secret stash of arms in the school cellar. Looks like all they had to do was turn up for OTC.
My CCF armoury had a Boyes 0.55 anti-tank rifle in it. Complete with ammo. The master in charge politely explained that every year someone asked too fire it. And every year he didn't let them.
For those who don't know - it's basically a normal rifle that has got magnified by 3x. Quite good for hunting mammoths, railway trains and..... small, light tanks.
We had WW2 jungle issue Lee Enfield 303s and bren guns, plus a few GMPGs. We also had a classics teacher who told us it was our duty to learn to shoot the working classes if there was a revolution. Given a lot of the boys were on scholarships, the general agreement was that we would put the classics teacher in front of a wall first and then join the revolution. We also had a visiting squaddie Sargeant Major who used to turn up and get grumpy at how bad we were at drill. The deal was we'd get him plastered at the last parade of the year and then tow him in his car back to barracks behind our bedford lorry.
Ah, the GPMG. We had one which had the bolt set for the buzz-saw rate of fire. Only saw it fired once. Makes you understand what going against an MG-42 must have been like.
For those who haven't had the.... experience, watch the film Anthropoid. There is a scene where they actually use an MG-42 at the full 1,200 rounds a minute. In keeping with the rest of the film - this is not a nice, cinematic experience...
I have been to the real church in Prague. Worth a visit. Makes an atheist say a prayer....
We had WW2 jungle issue Lee Enfield 303s and bren guns, plus a few GMPGs. We also had a classics teacher who told us it was our duty to learn to shoot the working classes if there was a revolution. Given a lot of the boys were on scholarships, the general agreement was that we would put the classics teacher in front of a wall first and then join the revolution. We also had a visiting squaddie Sargeant Major who used to turn up and get grumpy at how bad we were at drill. The deal was we'd get him plastered at the last parade of the year and then tow him in his car back to barracks behind our bedford lorry.
I went to school for two years in Washington DC. We were allowed to blaze away with full auto AR-10s there at age 13!
Working from my office (which is upstairs) I have just seen the children's playground behind my house being locked up.
This will be about as effective as a chocolate kettle, as the fence is only waist high and a fairly athletic chihuahua would clear it. However, I suppose the message is the key thing.
They used to padlock the swings in Stornoway on Sundays; we are all Free Presbyterians now.
Though ironically the Weefrees are now getting pelters for trying to carry on with church services.
I don't trust Boris at least half the time, but imagine the opportunity this would be for the likes of McDonnell and Milne to create a permanent socialist state.
Now that Johnson has had a sniff of being Britain Pinochet he is not easily going to relinquish those powers.
Since we're going full totalitär, BJ should get our lads kitted out like the Chilean army.
The spirit of the times demands something a little more... imperial.
On one occasion I was taking my morning coffee in Place Des Allemand in Trujillo, Peru.
I heard a crunch-crunch... turned my head to see the School marching practise...
They teach marching in the schools - and being inspired by Fredrick the Great, it's all goose step.
So I sat there as the girls and boys (separate formations) crunched past. Deeply weird - kept expecting someone to start singing the Panzerlied.
They teach marching in British schools too, though only the posh ones that most of the government and half the opposition attended. CCF or OTC or whatever it is called now.
CCF. I was worried when grandson 2 joined in his 2nd or 3rd year. However he only lasted about a year, then he got interested in golf.
You know something is a bit odd about your school if your reaction to seeing a student with a (functional) rifle is to tell them off for holding it incorrectly...
On 25 July 1953 the school's Combined Cadet Force armoury was raided by the Irish Republican Army (1922–69), making off with 8 Bren guns, 12 Sten guns, an anti-tank gun, a mortar and 109 rifles. Their van was stopped by a police patrol and Cathal Goulding, Sean Stephenson, later known as Seán Mac Stíofáin and Manus Canning each received 8 years in prison
Jesus, an anti-tank gun.
In If, a favourite of my adolescent years, the finale depends on the rebels finding a secret stash of arms in the school cellar. Looks like all they had to do was turn up for OTC.
My CCF armoury had a Boyes 0.55 anti-tank rifle in it. Complete with ammo. The master in charge politely explained that every year someone asked too fire it. And every year he didn't let them.
For those who don't know - it's basically a normal rifle that has got magnified by 3x. Quite good for hunting mammoths, railway trains and..... small, light tanks.
What a softy, everyone knows smashed collar bones are character forming.
One wonders about the efficacy of those weapons, though the Germans & Soviets also had their own versions also so I guess they had their uses.
Even late war tanks had thin sides. A brave, smart man could kill the driver of a tank with one - even a Panther.
Were these people complaining when some of their fellow citizens were surviving on £74 a weeK?
One thing I very much hope this crisis does is lead to radical changes in sick pay law, because it's frankly bloody awful at the moment. It doesn't need to be 50 years on full pay, but it wouldn't be unreasonable to say full pay until absent for a consecutive fortnight as a minimum, then 50% of full wage for a further month as another minimum.
Responsible employers who want to attract and retain good staff should be doing more than that anyway. Everyone gets ill at times and you really don't want people with colds coming into work and infecting everyone else because they can't afford to take time off.
When we applied for our first mortgage five years ago we also discussed life cover with our mortgage adviser and she was surprised how good our sick pay cover was (me, university employer 8 months full pay and 4 months half, that's maximum after five years employment; my wife, private sector, though employee owned, 4 weeks full pay direct from company and a further 6 months full pay through company paid insurance, then tapering down for up to another 6 months). We'd both assumed that was fairly standard, but it's not something people tend to think about when looking for jobs. Perhaps, after this, it will be.
8 months full pay?? Eight?
That's unbelievable. what planet are you on thinking that is normal? Sorry but...wow
Are you still on strike about your pension by the way? I hate to tell you what's happening to those in the private sector...
I think if you re-read the post you'll appreciate that I don't think that's normal (now - at the time we were getting our mortgage I neither knew what my cover was or that it varied so much between employers). You'll also note that my wife's private sector cover is not much less generous (and she gets paid more and has other benefits such as private health cover, although we're similarly qualified - both PhD).
Also, sorry if this shatters some dearly held stereotype of academics/scientists but I have not been on strike at all* (in fact I'm not a UCU member). I take the view that if I'm not happy with the pay and conditions I can look for better alternatives elsewhere - I've been offered better paid jobs, but not with defined benefit pension, probably not as good sick pay and certainly less flexibility and freedom to pursue my own interests (as long as I can persuade a funder to fund them!). I appreciate that I'm very fortunate to be able to work from home effectively and to still have a job (through funding that I secured that covers the next two years - if I want to still have a job after that I have to secure more funding).
* I do think that USS are not handling things particularly well and also note that I pay about double (as a % of salary) into my pension compared to my wife who is on a defined contribution scheme - defined benefit is great, of course, but it doesn't come cheap to employer or employee, which tends to push down salary a bit, but that's swings and roundabouts.
Staff made redundant with only wages for hours already worked, they will only get any other money if & when JDW gets a government grant. Also advised them to try for jobs with Tescos.
Scumbag. People work really hard in there too.
Also I don't understand it, with them getting 80% of salaries paid by the government, they could just offer them that without any it costing them anything and avoid this terrible PR.
Stock market approves. Their shares are +11% today compared to +4% for the FTSE.
Wonder if we've hit the bottom? Possibly not quite yet. The US will deteriorate further first I think.
It took two and a half years after the dotcom bubble burst, and one and a half years after the pre-credit crunch peak for the FTSE100 to reach its bottom. I'd expect it to take at least several months, for the extent of the value destruction to become apparent, even if the virus situation improves everywhere from today onwards.
I have to admit my view of humanity has taken a bit of a hit over the last couple of days. My whole philosophy and that which drives my political views is that as a rule the vast majority of people are okay. Good people just trying to do their best and not hurt those around them. They have an innate wisdom which informs their decisions and Government's purpose should be to advise, help and do the big bits that individuals and collectives can't do on their own rather than to 'rule'.
As I say the reaction to the necessary actions and advise being given by the Government along with the political points scoring from some sections has given that world view a good kicking. In the end I still believe it is the right way to view things but I need to rebuild my faith in humanity a bit.
My view is that the guidelines and rules being passed down by the Government are clear, timely and obvious. There is a combination of genuine stupidity, wilful ignorance for political point scoring and arrogant disregard from a small minority that is making this more of a problem than it should be. It is a sad indictment of a small part of our society today.
I have always been of the view that a significant proportion of people are total and utter scum.
Hope that the action from Johnson last night will be enough to turn the corner on this thing? You often see temporary relief rallies like this, before reality reasserts and the selling resumes.
Better, fever is down, still coughing, still got body ache. Yesterday was awful. I'd like to know whether I've had it now.
Best wishes for swift recovery. My brother (NHS worker) has it - inevitably - and he says that for him it is like a bad flu and the muscle pain is quite something. He is 4 days in with it, measuring from first feeling shit.
I have to admit my view of humanity has taken a bit of a hit over the last couple of days. My whole philosophy and that which drives my political views is that as a rule the vast majority of people are okay. Good people just trying to do their best and not hurt those around them. They have an innate wisdom which informs their decisions and Government's purpose should be to advise, help and do the big bits that individuals and collectives can't do on their own rather than to 'rule'.
As I say the reaction to the necessary actions and advise being given by the Government along with the political points scoring from some sections has given that world view a good kicking. In the end I still believe it is the right way to view things but I need to rebuild my faith in humanity a bit.
My view is that the guidelines and rules being passed down by the Government are clear, timely and obvious. There is a combination of genuine stupidity, wilful ignorance for political point scoring and arrogant disregard from a small minority that is making this more of a problem than it should be. It is a sad indictment of a small part of our society today.
I have always been of the view that a significant proportion of people are total and utter scum.
Recent posting behaviour by some just reinforces this.
Forget bog roll, there is a global shortage of yeast for home bread making. Can't buy it from the supermarkets, none on Amazon and on ebay it's only available from China or Turkey!
I like eating, me. I've been baking my own bread for 40 years or so (these days gluten free), four loaves at a time, so I have a stash. I add lots of seeds: baking your own allows one to customise. Delicious toasted with Marmite.
I would be interested in your GF bread recipe if you care to post it up here
Do you know, I have no fixed recipe. I even measure quantities by eye governed by experience. I suppose it's a bit analogous to how birds make nests. Obviously it involves yeast, salt, Dove's Farm flour (usually) egg-whites whipped (sometimes), sugar or honey, mixed seeds (making it rise less, but tasty), xanthan gum, and considerable manual dexterity. I use old-fashioned bread tins made from folded sheet metal. I mix it all in a circular plastic dedicated washing-up bowl, keeping some warm water in the kettle to fine-tune the mix. Use a wooden spoon to separate the dough into loaves with a liberal sprinklings of fresh flour on your hands to shape the loaves. Any such flour left in the bowl can be used to make fritters or pancakes the next day, so there is no waste. Lacking gluten, the dough is somewhat sticky---hence the liberal use of dusting flour---and your hands will be a mess. As I'm tactile I don't mind. At age 18 a personality test indicated a 90 percent rating to be a surgeon, but my bedside manner would have been diabolical.
I broke 25 mins for 5k yesterday for the first time in ages, inspired completely by @Pulpstar.
I'm a 3k in 15 man. As in I can do that but not another step. And even then only on one of my "going days". Few and far between right now, which is just as well with lockdown on. A "going day" is the last thing you want at the moment.
Yes, I managed a few seconds under 15 minutes to 3k this morning. My fastest every run.
Were these people complaining when some of their fellow citizens were surviving on £74 a weeK?
One thing I very much hope this crisis does is lead to radical changes in sick pay law, because it's frankly bloody awful at the moment. It doesn't need to be 50 years on full pay, but it wouldn't be unreasonable to say full pay until absent for a consecutive fortnight as a minimum, then 50% of full wage for a further month as another minimum.
Responsible employers who want to attract and retain good staff should be doing more than that anyway. Everyone gets ill at times and you really don't want people with colds coming into work and infecting everyone else because they can't afford to take time off.
When we applied for our first mortgage five years ago we also discussed life cover with our mortgage adviser and she was surprised how good our sick pay cover was (me, university employer 8 months full pay and 4 months half, that's maximum after five years employment; my wife, private sector, though employee owned, 4 weeks full pay direct from company and a further 6 months full pay through company paid insurance, then tapering down for up to another 6 months). We'd both assumed that was fairly standard, but it's not something people tend to think about when looking for jobs. Perhaps, after this, it will be.
8 months full pay?? Eight?
That's unbelievable. what planet are you on thinking that is normal? Sorry but...wow
Are you still on strike about your pension by the way? I hate to tell you what's happening to those in the private sector...
I think if you re-read the post you'll appreciate that I don't think that's normal (now - at the time we were getting our mortgage I neither knew what my cover was or that it varied so much between employers). You'll also note that my wife's private sector cover is not much less generous (and she gets paid more and has other benefits such as private health cover, although we're similarly qualified - both PhD).
Also, sorry if this shatters some dearly held stereotype of academics/scientists but I have not been on strike at all* (in fact I'm not a UCU member). I take the view that if I'm not happy with the pay and conditions I can look for better alternatives elsewhere - I've been offered better paid jobs, but not with defined benefit pension, probably not as good sick pay and certainly less flexibility and freedom to pursue my own interests (as long as I can persuade a funder to fund them!). I appreciate that I'm very fortunate to be able to work from home effectively and to still have a job (through funding that I secured that covers the next two years - if I want to still have a job after that I have to secure more funding).
* I do think that USS are not handling things particularly well and also note that I pay about double (as a % of salary) into my pension compared to my wife who is on a defined contribution scheme - defined benefit is great, of course, but it doesn't come cheap to employer or employee, which tends to push down salary a bit, but that's swings and roundabouts.
@JonCisBack My first paragraph was unnecessarily snarky, sorry - my initial post was unclear. I didn't know at that point what my entitlement was - I'd never really thought about it - but I assumed everywhere was pretty similar. I was of course pleasantly surprised at how good our cover was and did not assume at that point that everywhere was as good.
Hope that the action from Johnson last night will be enough to turn the corner on this thing? You often see temporary relief rallies like this, before reality reasserts and the selling resumes.
I think that 5000 is proving to be a powerful resistance level. I`ve been investing for nearly 40 years and I don`t recall a time when at one point in the day I`m convinced that the market is heading sharply in one direction only to change my opinion completely within the same day.
At the moment I`m feeling that we could be at the low point. My guess is that sufficient people agree with this view (at least today) and that is why the market is rising today.
If we get through this crisis with companies able to maintain their dividends (or only moderately cutting them) this could prove to be the best buying opportunity of my investing career. I saw a report that Buffet is buying now. As always DYOR and I`d suggest dripping in rather than all in one go.
Yay - well done Owen - the boy's finally growing up.
What is wrong with people that they cannot appreciate a clever and humorous (and supportive of the government) remark by a pundit simply because the pundit is Owen Jones?
Is there anybody in 2020 Britain more unfairly maligned and sadly under-appreciated?
Not sure there is. Maybe Peter Crouch.
Actually now I think you are losing it - I said well done and made a bit of a joke. Clearly meant to be so.
I broke 25 mins for 5k yesterday for the first time in ages, inspired completely by @Pulpstar.
I'm a 3k in 15 man. As in I can do that but not another step. And even then only on one of my "going days". Few and far between right now, which is just as well with lockdown on. A "going day" is the last thing you want at the moment.
Yes, I managed a few seconds under 15 minutes to 3k this morning. My fastest every run.
Amazing how much faster you can go in these days if you see anybody coming anywhere near you!
I broke 25 mins for 5k yesterday for the first time in ages, inspired completely by @Pulpstar.
I'm a 3k in 15 man. As in I can do that but not another step. And even then only on one of my "going days". Few and far between right now, which is just as well with lockdown on. A "going day" is the last thing you want at the moment.
Yes, I managed a few seconds under 15 minutes to 3k this morning. My fastest every run.
That's what happens when there is someone running behind you coughing their head off.
I'd have thought that the FTSE was up because the data from Italy tentatively seems to show that lockdowns are going to be effective, and Britain has just put a lockdown in place.
Yay - well done Owen - the boy's finally growing up.
What is wrong with people that they cannot appreciate a clever and humorous (and supportive of the government) remark by a pundit simply because the pundit is Owen Jones?
Is there anybody in 2020 Britain more unfairly maligned and sadly under-appreciated?
Not sure there is. Maybe Peter Crouch.
Actually now I think you are losing it - I said well done and made a bit of a joke. Clearly meant to be so.
@kinabalu just condones Jones' shameless party political partisanship. They should be ashamed of themselves in these difficult times.
They've been a bit slow but finally German states are helping. NRW is taking 10 Italian coronavirus patients. 6 have been sent to Dresden. I'd like to see the German army sending a few ventilators to Lombardy too, they've supposedly got a few. Sure we'll need them too in a week or two, but we Germans should be doing more to help our worst hit neighbours, even if it can't be much more than a gesture at this point
Were these people complaining when some of their fellow citizens were surviving on £74 a weeK?
One thing I very much hope this crisis does is lead to radical changes in sick pay law, because it's frankly bloody awful at the moment. It doesn't need to be 50 years on full pay, but it wouldn't be unreasonable to say full pay until absent for a consecutive fortnight as a minimum, then 50% of full wage for a further month as another minimum.
Responsible employers who want to attract and retain good staff should be doing more than that anyway. Everyone gets ill at times and you really don't want people with colds coming into work and infecting everyone else because they can't afford to take time off.
When we applied for our first mortgage five years ago we also discussed life cover with our mortgage adviser and she was surprised how good our sick pay cover was (me, university employer 8 months full pay and 4 months half, that's maximum after five years employment; my wife, private sector, though employee owned, 4 weeks full pay direct from company and a further 6 months full pay through company paid insurance, then tapering down for up to another 6 months). We'd both assumed that was fairly standard, but it's not something people tend to think about when looking for jobs. Perhaps, after this, it will be.
8 months full pay?? Eight?
That's unbelievable. what planet are you on thinking that is normal? Sorry but...wow
Are you still on strike about your pension by the way? I hate to tell you what's happening to those in the private sector...
Aside from the fact that the actual point of the post you replied to was that it was not normal, yes, we all know that the public sector tends to have more job security and better support through hard times, in exchange for a much lower salary compared with an equivalent level private sector job. The best way of channelling that envy of public sector conditions is to campaign for the private sector to align with them, accepting that this will mean a lower salary.
None of this applies to low-paid workers in either sector, of course, who are the ones we should really care about.
Better, fever is down, still coughing, still got body ache. Yesterday was awful. I'd like to know whether I've had it now.
Best wishes for swift recovery. My brother (NHS worker) has it - inevitably - and he says that for him it is like a bad flu and the muscle pain is quite something. He is 4 days in with it, measuring from first feeling shit.
Hope he makes a quick recovery and the rest of your family are okay.
Better, fever is down, still coughing, still got body ache. Yesterday was awful. I'd like to know whether I've had it now.
Best wishes for swift recovery. My brother (NHS worker) has it - inevitably - and he says that for him it is like a bad flu and the muscle pain is quite something. He is 4 days in with it, measuring from first feeling shit.
Hope he makes a quick recovery and the rest of your family are okay.
Serbia adopting the Chines approach (no, not the welding part) (My emphasis added)
After speaking with the Chinese experts, Aleksandar Vučić said Serbia would move to a regime of MASS testing, and would ISOLATE those who tested positive in MAKESHIFT FACILITIES, even if they had light symptoms, as LOCKDOWN ALONE WILL NOT WORK. He said he hoped the new strategy would be able to contain coronavirus in the country within a month. Serbia currently has 249 cases, and three confirmed deaths from coronavirus, though until now testing has been minimal.
“We are ready to put up 3,000 beds right away, these are the easiest patients, who will get in and out quickly, but we will see their illness through to the end so that they cannot infect anyone else,” said Vučić. More serious cases will be placed in hospitals. China has provided Serbia with shipments of masks and other medical equipment.
It is another sign that China is positioning itself as a saviour for European countries hit by the coronavirus. When the medical team arrived in Belgrade on Saturday, Vučić met the plane at the airport, and kissed the Chinese flag in gratitude. “Although China hasn’t finished the fight against Coronavirus yet, they say they will help Serbia. The Serbian people will never forget this kindness,” he said.
I'd have thought that the FTSE was up because the data from Italy tentatively seems to show that lockdowns are going to be effective, and Britain has just put a lockdown in place.
It looks as if it is a reaction to the Fed and others actions
It across the far east and europe with dow futures expect higher opening
I do not think this is a result of Boris last night but to be fair, the pound is also up
Sad, but inevitable. The continued trans-continental travel across the US is absolutely mad. Having lived in the US for a bit, the impact upon the bottom rung of society there is going to be just appalling.
I can't say I particularly like the bloke, but Tim Martin of Wetherspoons was unfairly maligned over his 'Go work at Tesco' remarks. He's just saying that he will completely understand if anyone decides to do that and will give them first preference if they decide to re-join Wetherspoons again.
Comments
Responsible employers who want to attract and retain good staff should be doing more than that anyway. Everyone gets ill at times and you really don't want people with colds coming into work and infecting everyone else because they can't afford to take time off.
I have to admit my view of humanity has taken a bit of a hit over the last couple of days. My whole philosophy and that which drives my political views is that as a rule the vast majority of people are okay. Good people just trying to do their best and not hurt those around them. They have an innate wisdom which informs their decisions and Government's purpose should be to advise, help and do the big bits that individuals and collectives can't do on their own rather than to 'rule'.
As I say the reaction to the necessary actions and advise being given by the Government along with the political points scoring from some sections has given that world view a good kicking. In the end I still believe it is the right way to view things but I need to rebuild my faith in humanity a bit.
My view is that the guidelines and rules being passed down by the Government are clear, timely and obvious. There is a combination of genuine stupidity, wilful ignorance for political point scoring and arrogant disregard from a small minority that is making this more of a problem than it should be. It is a sad indictment of a small part of our society today.
Boris: 'GO, GO, GO!'
Also I don't understand it, with them getting 80% of salaries paid by the government, they could just offer them that without any it costing them anything and avoid this terrible PR.
...says a man with an iPhone, an iPad, a Mac Mini, and an iMac.
Admittedly somebody who also has a Lenovo, an HP laptop, and an HP netbook...
The circumstances are different now and rightly so.
https://twitter.com/MarkFrancois12/status/1242346816466817025?s=20
For those who don't know - it's basically a normal rifle that has got magnified by 3x. Quite good for hunting mammoths, railway trains and..... small, light tanks.
But, 90%+ were not. Hence the need for the lockdown.
So a minority has basically ruined it for everyone else.
It doesn't.
They don’t understand that a lot of employees literally only have SSP, even if in full-time employment.
Using SMS short codes with the kind of SMS services that exist nowadays (Twilio) should be quite effective anyway. I think carriers have to approve the codes, so it should quite safe too.
I've responded under the assumption that the bolded word was a typo and shouldn't be there. Otherwise you are making a VERY fruity claim!
https://twitter.com/heymaish/status/1242340518744514560?s=20
That's unbelievable. what planet are you on thinking that is normal? Sorry but...wow
Are you still on strike about your pension by the way? I hate to tell you what's happening to those in the private sector...
https://money.cnn.com/data/premarket/
Working from my office (which is upstairs) I have just seen the children's playground behind my house being locked up.
This will be about as effective as a chocolate kettle, as the fence is only waist high and a fairly athletic chihuahua would clear it. However, I suppose the message is the key thing.
Police say they will attend
One wonders about the efficacy of those weapons, though the Germans & Soviets also had their own versions also so I guess they had their uses.
For those who haven't had the.... experience, watch the film Anthropoid. There is a scene where they actually use an MG-42 at the full 1,200 rounds a minute. In keeping with the rest of the film - this is not a nice, cinematic experience...
I have been to the real church in Prague. Worth a visit. Makes an atheist say a prayer....
Though ironically the Weefrees are now getting pelters for trying to carry on with church services.
Also, sorry if this shatters some dearly held stereotype of academics/scientists but I have not been on strike at all* (in fact I'm not a UCU member). I take the view that if I'm not happy with the pay and conditions I can look for better alternatives elsewhere - I've been offered better paid jobs, but not with defined benefit pension, probably not as good sick pay and certainly less flexibility and freedom to pursue my own interests (as long as I can persuade a funder to fund them!). I appreciate that I'm very fortunate to be able to work from home effectively and to still have a job (through funding that I secured that covers the next two years - if I want to still have a job after that I have to secure more funding).
* I do think that USS are not handling things particularly well and also note that I pay about double (as a % of salary) into my pension compared to my wife who is on a defined contribution scheme - defined benefit is great, of course, but it doesn't come cheap to employer or employee, which tends to push down salary a bit, but that's swings and roundabouts.
I'd expect it to take at least several months, for the extent of the value destruction to become apparent, even if the virus situation improves everywhere from today onwards.
Recent behaviour by some just reinforces this.
For some reason, it suddenly occurred to me that there's another group of people who will really be struggling at the moment....
Burglars
You often see temporary relief rallies like this, before reality reasserts and the selling resumes.
(For the record I was an Asterix and Blue Peter kind of guy - a pox on the Tintin, Magpie-loving fools.)
At the moment I`m feeling that we could be at the low point. My guess is that sufficient people agree with this view (at least today) and that is why the market is rising today.
If we get through this crisis with companies able to maintain their dividends (or only moderately cutting them) this could prove to be the best buying opportunity of my investing career. I saw a report that Buffet is buying now. As always DYOR and I`d suggest dripping in rather than all in one go.
Hoist by my own petard!
"Coronavirus: US may become global epicentre of COVID-19 outbreak, says World Health Organisation"
Trump is a f-ing idiot.
https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-spains-death-toll-rises-by-514-in-one-day-to-2-696-11962778
None of this applies to low-paid workers in either sector, of course, who are the ones we should really care about.
Always bet with your head, not your heart
After speaking with the Chinese experts, Aleksandar Vučić said Serbia would move to a regime of MASS testing, and would ISOLATE those who tested positive in MAKESHIFT FACILITIES, even if they had light symptoms, as LOCKDOWN ALONE WILL NOT WORK. He said he hoped the new strategy would be able to contain coronavirus in the country within a month. Serbia currently has 249 cases, and three confirmed deaths from coronavirus, though until now testing has been minimal.
“We are ready to put up 3,000 beds right away, these are the easiest patients, who will get in and out quickly, but we will see their illness through to the end so that they cannot infect anyone else,” said Vučić. More serious cases will be placed in hospitals. China has provided Serbia with shipments of masks and other medical equipment.
It is another sign that China is positioning itself as a saviour for European countries hit by the coronavirus. When the medical team arrived in Belgrade on Saturday, Vučić met the plane at the airport, and kissed the Chinese flag in gratitude. “Although China hasn’t finished the fight against Coronavirus yet, they say they will help Serbia. The Serbian people will never forget this kindness,” he said.
xx
It across the far east and europe with dow futures expect higher opening
I do not think this is a result of Boris last night but to be fair, the pound is also up
No, I would not think you are (a fan).
Oh and I really wouldn't lose your faith that most people are in their essence more good than bad if I were you. They are.
Difficult.