FlyTheNest

55DegreesNorth

Evening folks, Here's an interesting article about how and why the Guardian's (and Observer's) views on Jeremy *whomustnotbenamed* changed. Found it on twitter. http://novaramedia.com/2017/01/08/how-the-guardian-changed-tack-on-corbyn-despite-its-readers/" onclick="window.open(this.href);r...

55DegreesNorth

Morning folks,
Chakrabortty on good form in the Graun, about the UK's fractured, disconnected economy.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfr ... gdp-london" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

55DegreesNorth

citizenJA wrote:
55DegreesNorth wrote:You need to see the last Metro out of town. Carnage.
Find people going in the same direction and hire a cab/van instead.

The crazy thing is, it's cheaper to get a cab than the metro, which is run by Deutsche Bahn, that state owned company loved by my mate in Munich. Bloody state owned industries.

55DegreesNorth

That's a bit different though. It's basically making passengers feel safe from other passengers. Is that needed on all that many routes? It was by no means uniform under BR. I'm more objecting to the implication that if drivers open doors, then carnage ensues. If there is trouble or (say) a passeng...

55DegreesNorth

Morning folks, More immigration pearls here. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jan/05/theresa-may-faces-calls-to-implement-regional-immigration-policy" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Im no expert, but i struggle to see how a regional immigration policy could work wit...

55DegreesNorth

From last night... Yorkshire's 'bookseller from hell' regrets calling customer 'a pain in the arse' Steve Bloom, who runs Bloomindales in the Yorkshire Dales, asks customers for a 50p entry fee and has received more than 20 complaints about rudeness 50p ? I charge a pound in case of damage and/or u...

55DegreesNorth

Morning folks, More immigration pearls here. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jan/05/theresa-may-faces-calls-to-implement-regional-immigration-policy" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Im no expert, but i struggle to see how a regional immigration policy could work with...

55DegreesNorth

Top tip ,do not presume a small white hardish substance found is a half eaten extra strong mint,lest on ingestion it is in fact a piece of Dove soap.The difference in taste is noticeable. Other mouth washing products are available. Similarly, green stuff in a plastic bottle next to the bathroom sin...

55DegreesNorth

@HindleA Please give your brother and family my love. I wish them every happiness. Belgian citizenship sounds like a good idea given current affairs though I've only superficial experience on that topic. Dramatic, complicated citizenship decisions are before many of us. Sadly, not for me. I'm stuck...

55DegreesNorth

Afternoon folks, And a happy festive period to all, present or lurking. 2016 will be a good year to see the back of. Here's hoping for a better year to come. So, here's an article about Newcastle from the Graun. Quite accurate, surprisingly. https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2016/dec/21/alternative...

55DegreesNorth

Evening folks, As usual, I have little to say, but will do so anyway. One of my retirement activities is maintaining a website for a local community group. This includes updating it, posting on social media, and administering the forum. It's a pain in the tits, and pretty time-consuming. @Refitman @...

55DegreesNorth

Evening folks, https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg23231020-500-changing-minds-how-to-trump-delusion-and-restore-the-power-of-facts/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; IN NOVEMBER, Donald Trump defied the pollsters to be elected the 45th US president. A few months earlier, U...

55DegreesNorth

Though the line in the latest OJ piece that "much of the left" supposedly believe the WWC are thick brainwashed sheep is surely better directed at our political/media elite? He's right to be critical of those who lazily label the white working class as thick, but the "brainwashed&quo...

55DegreesNorth

Morning folks, That page of scribbled Brexit notes was so obviously staged, its almost embarrasing. But to what purpose and at whose behest? Presumably, Remainers are keen to sabotage the Hard Brexiteers. I can't wait for the press to be all over this Tory split/ incompetence etc. On a different not...

55DegreesNorth

Oh dear...two academy trusts in a spot of bother. http://schoolsweek.co.uk/academy-sponsored-by-top-performing-bright-tribe-placed-in-special-measures" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Take a look at where their academies are based. See a problem with the location of that sch...

55DegreesNorth

Oh dear...two academy trusts in a spot of bother. http://schoolsweek.co.uk/academy-sponsored-by-top-performing-bright-tribe-placed-in-special-measures" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Take a look at where their academies are based. See a problem with the location of that sch...

55DegreesNorth

Thanks all. A milestone along the journey that took me from thinking about doing an OU degree just out of interest...to today. Congrats to RogerOThornhill btw. I imagine they're going to miss you down at the library :D Well...the next thing I'm going to do is write a proposal so that I get taken on...

55DegreesNorth

Black Friday news: Edinburgh Bicycle Cooperative 6 hrs · Get zero percent off ALL OUR BIKES today for Black Friday! (Except for the ones that are already discounted - they're still up to 40% off). More of our Black Friday deals include BUY ONE, GET NONE FREE, and PAY HALF PRICE ON OUR GLOVES AND SHO...

55DegreesNorth

Just had an email... I am pleased to inform you that the University's Research Degrees Committee has confirmed that your thesis meets the academic requirements for the award of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy of The Open University. Congratulations on your success! :) Many congrats DrRoT (from s...

55DegreesNorth

I agree with the PLP and not the leadership on the most important issue of our era. http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/nov/23/eu-brexit-labour-leadership-article-50?CMP=share_btn_tw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Such a shame Starmer has proven so useless. Are t...

55DegreesNorth

From the Indie: Mr Green said in a speech at the Reform think-tank on Wednesday morning: “Just a few years ago the idea of a proper job meant a job that brings in a fixed monthly salary, with fixed hours, paid holidays, sick pay, a pension scheme and other contractual benefits. “But the gig economy ...

55DegreesNorth

From John Oliver “Our president-elect has, at various times, said he would bomb civilians, loot oil and waterboard, which isn’t a military strategy so much as the series of words that Donald Rumsfeld mutters so he can stay hard while he’s masturbating,” he said. Oliver went on to say: “We are faced...

55DegreesNorth

Afternoon folks, A few years ago, I saw Leonard Cohen perform at Weybridge. Despite it pissing down all night (it was outdoors), it was fantastic. At the end of the gig, we hurried off to get the first bus back to the hotel and bought a pint in the bar. I was about to sit down, when in walked Leonar...

55DegreesNorth

Thanks Johnny, that paper was a bit technical, but yes, I agree, it looks like we're fucked. Mind you, according to this bloke, our societies are likely to collapse anyway. Time to buy that farm away up in Northumberland... https://medium.com/@theonlytoby/history-tells-us-what-will-happen-next-with-...

55DegreesNorth

Start at the top. Why, oh why, did it have to be Hillary Clinton? Yes, she has an impressive resume; yes, she worked hard on the campaign trail. But she was exactly the wrong candidate for this angry, populist moment. An insider when the country was screaming for an outsider. A technocrat who offer...

55DegreesNorth

He was there to praise Assad for housing Palestinians. Does giving shelter to Palestinians gain one enough brownie points to cancel out crimes against one's own citizens ? My issue with this picture is that it is apparently from 2009, before the bombing etc in Syria. I can see why it's damaging in ...

55DegreesNorth

This looks like positive news. A way of converting carbon dioxide back into 'fuel' has been accidentally discovered. Interesting to hear views from our FTN scientists. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/carbon-dioxide-ethanol-fuel-scientists-turn-greenhouse-gas-accidentally-reverse-combustio...

55DegreesNorth

He was there to praise Assad for housing Palestinians. Does giving shelter to Palestinians gain one enough brownie points to cancel out crimes against one's own citizens ? My issue with this picture is that it is apparently from 2009, before the bombing etc in Syria. I can see why it's damaging in ...

55DegreesNorth

http://www.middleeasteye.net/columns/reign-british-neo-cons-and-party-war-128790447 Oborne's take on the Saudi vote This bears repeating in case anyone missed it. I was going to share the link to this news when it first broke on Wednesday evening but my comment was 90% swearing so didn't. From Obor...

55DegreesNorth

Morning folks. Here's a taste of things to come. http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/health/anger-private-firm-given-power-12072724" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Durham CCG gives a private London based firm oversight of GP referrals. North Durham CCG has entered a new cont...

55DegreesNorth

I posted this link a while ago, but it didn't seem to resonate with anyone, which I think is a shame, as it really brings home the reality of what councils (not Tory ones, obvs) are facing. It's from Newcastle council, and invites you to find the £30M cuts they have to put in place next year. http:/...

55DegreesNorth

Evening folks,
My MP has a few words of praise for Corbyn.
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/nor ... n-12036376" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

55DegreesNorth

Morning, folks,
Drop in and say hello when you come to visit the Great Exhibition of the North
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/nor ... s-12005579" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

55DegreesNorth

Hard Brexit. Labeling foreigners. Inheritance tax cuts. What has given the Tory party this opportunity to move right I wonder? A rabid press owned by offshored billionaires, an emasculated BBC and an opposition dominated by MPs who don't believe in their own parties core values and despise its memb...

55DegreesNorth

This junior doctor nails *unt.
https://www.facebook.com/DrRaviJ/?hc_ref=NEWSFEED" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Oh, and TC, there's plenty of ##### on my iPad. Help yourself.

55DegreesNorth

Evening folks, As promised, I've just been to the Tyneside Film Theatre to see a special premiere of "I, Daniel Blake", Ken Loach's latest movie, and a winner of the Palm D'Or at Cannes. He, the leading actors, writer and screenplay blokey were there to lead a discussion afterwards. For th...

55DegreesNorth

From @Nick_Forbes, leader of Newcastle Council:

Govt support for Newcastle City Council in 2010: £164m. By 2020: £0m. This is what Tory / Lib Dem austerity means. We're on our own

.

55DegreesNorth

On a completely unrelated note, here's what I'm doing tomorrow evening.

https://www.tynesidecinema.co.uk/whats- ... review-q-a

Ken Loach, the actors, writer and director are there for a Q&A. Very excited.

55DegreesNorth

Cash-strapped schools consider introducing four-day week Schools in West Sussex are considering ‘modifying school hours’ as a last-ditch attempt to cut costs (Guardian) https://www.theguardian.com/education/2016/oct/03/cash-strapped-schools-consider-introducing-four-day-week The last paragraph incl...

55DegreesNorth

The Conservative party is a ticking time bomb ready to explode over the issue of Brexit. http://en.francais-express.com/news/money/-75372-the-tories-are-on-the-brink-of-warfare-over-brexit/ Despite the Tory leadership's best efforts to portray unity, the party is in the early stages of a split whic...

55DegreesNorth

From New Scientist. IT’S rare that scientists are moved to tears by their research projects, but for Harvard neuroscientist Charles Nelson, that was once a daily experience. In the late 1990s he and his team set up a long-running study of children living in Romanian orphanages. What they witnessed w...

55DegreesNorth

One of the top grammar schools in the country is passing the begging bowl around its parents, as Latymers is feeling the pinch. If you want a master class in bollocks, read the DfE quote at the end of the article. I reckon there's a 21year old Spad with one of those Jargon Generators churning out th...

55DegreesNorth

And so the Brexit fog gets thicker.
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/nor ... s-11967722" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

55DegreesNorth

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/jeremy-hunt-brexit-replace-foreign-doctors-british-nhs-eu-a7341256.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Brits to replace foreign doctors post Brexit. Of course they'll all be people who can afford to pay 5 years of increased tu...

55DegreesNorth

Here's Newcastle City Council's way of letting everyone know the impact of the next round of cuts. http://www.letstalkbudget.org.uk/budget" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; It's a modeller that allows users to attempt to balance th budget, then submit their results to the coun...

55DegreesNorth

Yorkshire Tea is a black tea blend produced by The Bettys & Taylors Group. It is the third most popular tea brand in the UK, and was introduced in 1886 by Charles Edward Taylor. Founded as CE Taylor & Co., later shortened to "Taylor's", the company was purchased by rival 'Betty's ...

55DegreesNorth

At least the private sector delivers on time, without the secrecy of those local authorities. http://schoolsweek.co.uk/financial-investigation-into-bright-tribe-trust-remains-hidden-by-education-secretary/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Oops. The education secretary has bee...

55DegreesNorth

I have some (not much) sympathy for the idea in London. None at all in Oxford and Camrbidge where the Universities dwarf the cities. So? Why is it a sound idea that universities should run schools while at the same time, they're being forced to run down their ITE provision because the very same gov...

55DegreesNorth

Heres a good article by Owen Jones: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/sep/22/voters-back-corbyn-policies-but-wont-accept-freakshow" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; It makes the point that the ordinary voter will not care about the sort of things that obsess polit...

55DegreesNorth

Morning All. I'm sitting in a café in Central Leeds while reading that George Osborne is to chair a new Northern Powerhouse "think tank". Seriously? Well, I was very relieved to read that the Northern Powce is back on track. Maybe for down there in Leeds or Manchester. There's nowt going ...

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