Friday 22nd April 2016

Post by **refitman** » Fri 22 Apr, 2016 7:03 am

Morning all.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Fri 22 Apr, 2016 7:49 am

Morning.

Woken up sadder about Prince than I was yesterday - if that's possible.

Who are the music / artistic icons of the generation after him? Genuine question because in my befuddled state this morning I can't think of them.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Fri 22 Apr, 2016 7:52 am

Oh - I've just heard that Nick Gibb has cancelled the schools spelling test that had already been leaked online ....

You really would have to be living the most isolated and narrow of existences not to have experienced Tory incompetence by now - surely?

ephemerid · Post by **ephemerid** » Fri 22 Apr, 2016 7:54 am

Good morning, Refitman, and all.

There is a copy of a letter from Nicky Morgan doing the rounds on Twitter. "Don't do as I do, do as I say" - as she insists that 7 to 8 year-olds use diagonal/horizontal strokes for their joined-up writing, she, er, doesn't. She signs off "yours sincerilly". Whoops!
Meanwhile, Nick Gibb tells the Today R4 show that he wants all schools to be academies so that primary schools can belong to chains.
Earth to Nick - I think we knew that....

ephemerid · Post by **ephemerid** » Fri 22 Apr, 2016 8:21 am

rebeccariots2 wrote:Morning.

Woken up sadder about Prince than I was yesterday - if that's possible.

Who are the music / artistic icons of the generation after him? Genuine question because in my befuddled state this morning I can't think of them.

Me too. And all the others.

Eric Clapton was asked once what it felt like to be the world's greatest guitarist. He said "Ask Prince".

I have no idea who the current "icons" are. That twerp Gaga? Kanye West? The only one who comes close is Pharrell Williams for me.
Or perhaps I'm too muddled today (or too old!) to think.....

mbc1955 · Post by **mbc1955** » Fri 22 Apr, 2016 9:00 am

ephemerid wrote:
rebeccariots2 wrote:Morning.

Woken up sadder about Prince than I was yesterday - if that's possible.

Who are the music / artistic icons of the generation after him? Genuine question because in my befuddled state this morning I can't think of them.

Me too. And all the others.

Eric Clapton was asked once what it felt like to be the world's greatest guitarist. He said "Ask Prince".

I have no idea who the current "icons" are. That twerp Gaga? Kanye West? The only one who comes close is Pharrell Williams for me.
Or perhaps I'm too muddled today (or too old!) to think.....

I have to confess that I feel the same, but then again I'm equally aware that in thinking so, I may be completely unfair.

A long time ago, I saw something on Top of the Pops (anyone remember Sigue Sigue Sputnik? If you've forgotten, tell me how you did it) and went to apologise to my mother, because I now understood what she'd thought about my music all her life.

That's still the same. I haven't 'followed' contemporary music for the best part of thirty years, because in general it doesn't contain anything that interests me. There have been exceptions - Shawn Colvin, Doves, The Pearces - but for the most part music isn't being made for people like me. Either, like all kinds of dance/r'n'b/hip-hop, it just doesn't mean anything to me or if it's music arising from a genre that appeals to me - jangly guitars, three-part harmony choruses - then it's hampered by the fact that I've been listening to that style of music for 30 - 40 years, and I've heard so much of it that it is extremely hard for any new example to stand out.

And why should it? The Beatles and the Stones, the Who, Kinks, Small Faces et al, weren't out to appeal to our parents. Why on Earth should the artists of today be expected to make music for us?

We think the music that we grew up on was better than what's around today. Of course we do! I think that as well. But I'm also aware that I'm repeating what my parents thought and said, and I have no better reason than my own, ultimately subjective opinions to say that.

The reason that we cannot seethe iconjc artists for our succeeding generations is largely because they're not our icons.

Or maybe music nowadays really is total shit, and the world is going to hell in a handbasket. All I really know is that I had my musical epiphanies, and I don't feel inclined to stand in the way of younger folk having theirs, whether I recognise it as music or not.

HindleA · Post by **HindleA** » Fri 22 Apr, 2016 9:21 am

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/disability-35705488" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Running blind: How do you run the London Marathon without sight?

Some runs print your name on your number,it took me a while to realise those shouting mine,didn't actually know me,surprisingly helpful and uplifting,more likely to spot mine as there isn't many others about,especially towards the end

nickyinnorfolk · Post by **nickyinnorfolk** » Fri 22 Apr, 2016 9:22 am

ephemerid wrote:Good morning, Refitman, and all.

There is a copy of a letter from Nicky Morgan doing the rounds on Twitter. "Don't do as I do, do as I say" - as she insists that 7 to 8 year-olds use diagonal/horizontal strokes for their joined-up writing, she, er, doesn't. She signs off "yours sincerilly". Whoops!
Meanwhile, Nick Gibb tells the Today R4 show that he wants all schools to be academies so that primary schools can belong to chains.
Earth to Nick - I think we knew that....

Good grief, I've just seen that on Twitter - I assumed from your post that 'sincerilly' must have been typed (in which case NiMo would've blamed a minion) but she's written it herself! She really goes beyond self parody - preaching about handwriting as well, when her own is pretty terrible.

Michael Rosen's blog today:

Nick Gibb addressed the DfE this morning: transcript

I've called this meeting this morning because of the extremely unfortunate matter of the leaked Key Stage 1 Spelling paper. I'm taking the chair because Nicky is practising how to spell 'sincerely'. Perhaps, Nicky you could do some work on your handwriting too. Thank you.

Thanks, John, bringing a leek to the meeting is fine as a satirical point but this is serious. Deadly serious.

Thousands of parents, teachers and children are going to school today laughing at us. I've had to come away from some really important work on exclamation marks and now this!

First: do we know who was responsible for the leak? No, John, not the leek. No need to wave it every time I say 'leak'.

We don't.

Second: do we know how to find out who was responsible for the leak? John I warned you. No one's laughing.

We don't.

Third: do we know what to do next?

We don't.

No, John, I don't like leek soup.

Meeting over.

Nicky, the down strokes should be parallel. Parallel. It means lined up in the same...er...line.

yahyah · Post by **yahyah** » Fri 22 Apr, 2016 9:27 am

Is it any surprise a Tory can't spell sincerely ? Just look at the dictionary definition of the word.

utopiandreams · Post by **utopiandreams** » Fri 22 Apr, 2016 9:28 am

Cameron: I can call you friend, can't I, Barak, I've been accused of racism in the last few days?

Obama: Yes, David, if it helps.

Cameron: Just one more thing before we share a platform together. You're not Muslim, are you?

nickyinnorfolk · Post by **nickyinnorfolk** » Fri 22 Apr, 2016 9:29 am

Link to NiMo's letter via English teacher Lauren Kearney on Twitter:

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danesclose · Post by **danesclose** » Fri 22 Apr, 2016 9:30 am

yahyah wrote:Is it any surprise a Tory can't spell sincerely ? Just look at the dictionary definition of the word.

First chuckle of the day. Thanks yahyah!

Temulkar · Post by **Temulkar** » Fri 22 Apr, 2016 9:39 am

ephemerid wrote:
rebeccariots2 wrote:Morning.

Woken up sadder about Prince than I was yesterday - if that's possible.

Who are the music / artistic icons of the generation after him? Genuine question because in my befuddled state this morning I can't think of them.

Me too. And all the others.

Eric Clapton was asked once what it felt like to be the world's greatest guitarist. He said "Ask Prince".

I have no idea who the current "icons" are. That twerp Gaga? Kanye West? The only one who comes close is Pharrell Williams for me.
Or perhaps I'm too muddled today (or too old!) to think.....

If you're talking about this 'young' generation, there hasn't really been any musical revolution since the mid 80s-90s and Hip Hop going mainstream. No BIG or Tupac, no sex pistols, or Beatles or Elvis that has completely changed musical taste. Prince was one of the last of those I think. I've been waiting for this generations Pistols with some anticipation, because music is so bland and commercialised and packaged as to have lost the rebellion. So they have icons but most of them seem to be my generation or earlier - thats wrong - they really need someone that us old gits scream to turn down.

RogerOThornhill · Post by **RogerOThornhill** » Fri 22 Apr, 2016 9:43 am

Morning all.

Think this easily fit the You Couldn't Make It Up category.

Exclusive: Wilshaw, Seldon and Young behind new college to parachute NQTs into school leadership

https://www.tes.com/news/school-news/br ... chute-nqts

Ministers are in talks about funding a new school leadership college that would parachute graduates fresh out of university into headteacher, deputy and assistant headteacher positions after just two years of training, TES can reveal.

The college is the brainchild of three of education’s most high-profile figures: Ofsted chief inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw; Sir Anthony Seldon, former master of Wellington College; and free-school pioneer Toby Young.

Mr Young said it was “highly likely” that students leaving the college – which will be based at the University of Buckingham – would have qualified teacher status before they led schools. But even this has yet to be confirmed.

The founders of the Buckingham Institute of School Leadership argue that it is needed to tackle a shortfall in good headteachers, described as a “crisis” by Mr Young.

Er...that'll be the Toby Young who had to get rid of the 1st and 2nd HTs of the WLFS before getting Sally Coates in to choose the 3rd (who is still there)?

Right...fills one with confidence that does.

Willow904 · Post by **Willow904** » Fri 22 Apr, 2016 9:44 am

@mbc1955

I think you're right. A cursory glance at the 80s would suggest a decade dominated by Stock, Aitkin and Waterman rather in the way the X-Factor dominates today. I'm waiting for my kids to become teenagers to find out more about what's happening under the surface! At the moment my son listens to music based on what he hears on computer games, which was quite grungy when he was into Shaun White Skateboarding, but is more drum and bass currently. He listens to stuff self-published on online platforms like Beatport or promoted on Youtube, people like Tryhardninja or Skrillix. My daughter is really into a Canadian dance show called The Next Step and loves the music featured on it. I couldn't name a single artist, but some of it's ok, pretty standard North American rock and pop. I was probably into Fame at a similar age, if I'm completely honest, despite liking much cooler stuff like The Cure and The Specials as well. Oh, and Duran Duran and A-ha, of course, I can't pretend I was immune to pin-ups! I guess modern day equivalents would be New Direction or the Vamps? Agree about Pharrell Williams. I don't follow music much anymore but "Happy" cut through. A stonking track. It must all still be happening out there, but there was a trend 10 - 15 years ago for guitar based bands that I liked - Kings of Leon, Editors, the Strokes, Greenday - which seems to have gone out of fashion now and so I don't have much new to get me interested at the moment.

Temulkar · Post by **Temulkar** » Fri 22 Apr, 2016 9:54 am

The corporate music world today is far more risk averse than it was, new underground and danngerous is an anathema to profits, so they regurgitate the past in different packages that they know will sell.

ephemerid · Post by **ephemerid** » Fri 22 Apr, 2016 9:57 am

Showmaster is pretty good on new music - he DJ'd for some time along with his events production thing.
He knows a lot about dance music (leaves me cold...) but as he gets older he keeps going back to his old fave - Ry Cooder.
I like what Robert Plant has been doing with his Concerts in the Desert and other collaborations - but he's an oldie too.

What I have running through my head this morning is Nothing Compares 2 U. Appropriate, in the circs.

mbc1955 · Post by **mbc1955** » Fri 22 Apr, 2016 10:04 am

Willow904 wrote:@mbc1955

I think you're right. A cursory glance at the 80s would suggest a decade dominated by Stock, Aitkin and Waterman rather in the way the X-Factor dominates today. I'm waiting for my kids to become teenagers to find out more about what's happening under the surface! At the moment my son listens to music based on what he hears on computer games, which was quite grungy when he was into Shaun White Skateboarding, but is more drum and bass currently. He listens to stuff self-published on online platforms like Beatport or promoted on Youtube, people like Tryhardninja or Skrillix. My daughter is really into a Canadian dance show called The Next Step and loves the music featured on it. I couldn't name a single artist, but some of it's ok, pretty standard North American rock and pop. I was probably into Fame at a similar age, if I'm completely honest, despite liking much cooler stuff like The Cure and The Specials as well. Oh, and Duran Duran and A-ha, of course, I can't pretend I was immune to pin-ups! I guess modern day equivalents would be New Direction or the Vamps? Agree about Pharrell Williams. I don't follow music much anymore but "Happy" cut through. A stonking track. It must all still be happening out there, but there was a trend 10 - 15 years ago for guitar based bands that I liked - Kings of Leon, Editors, the Strokes, Greenday - which seems to have gone out of fashion now and so I don't have much new to get me interested at the moment.

To be very honest, I really don't hear new music today at all. The only radio I listen to is Sounds of the Sixties on Saturday mornings and, usually but not always, some of Graham Norton afterwards. That's where I first heard The Pearces.

And I don't have a television to watch things that music appears on (not that I would if I had a set). I know that Pharrell Williams' 'Happy' is well regarded but I have never consciously heard it, and whilst I know I could YouTube it at any time, I honestly don't care. If it happens to be generationally-crossing brilliant, then I'm losing out, but for the past half decade and more, my musical attention has been resolutely retro. I comb YouTube for late Sixties pop that was never heard at the time, and I have filled several CDs with compilations of stuff that is astonishingly good. I also assiduously plumb my memories for Seventies music that's now lost, discarded, forgotten, but which sound tracked the early years of my exposure to music.

Maybe modern music will one day turn in a direction that stimulates my tastes: probably it won't. But there is so much stuff out there still unheard: stuff that preceded when my ears first turned to pop and rock, stuff that I missed experiencing. And my increasingly small group of favourites still record from time to time: Pere Ubu, Aimee Mann, maybe Doves will once again record together.

I don't need modern music, I've already got more stuff than I can possibly listen to, to add to everything I've still not heard.

StephenDolan · Post by **StephenDolan** » Fri 22 Apr, 2016 10:05 am

Morning all.

Thanks for the reminder yesterday of 17 days, I haven't heard that for a long long time. (Gladly) have it stuck in my head today.

Willow904 · Post by **Willow904** » Fri 22 Apr, 2016 10:07 am

Temulkar wrote:The corporate music world today is far more risk averse than it was, new underground and danngerous is an anathema to profits, so they regurgitate the past in different packages that they know will sell.

You can publish music yourself these days, sell it as downloads through Beatport or Soundcloud and promote it on Youtube. I think the corporate music world is concentrating on bland music for the older generation because they're the ones still buying music in traditional, profit generating formats. The online revolution is, in some ways, the equivalent of the musical revolutions of the past, changing how we discover and listen to music.

mbc1955 · Post by **mbc1955** » Fri 22 Apr, 2016 10:08 am

Temulkar wrote:The corporate music world today is far more risk averse than it was, new underground and danngerous is an anathema to profits, so they regurgitate the past in different packages that they know will sell.

Agreed. It does feel as if everything is under greater corporate control that it ever was, which can only be detrimental. But there are still ways for people to sneak in from the side, and those who want to experiment will always find somewhere that enables them to do it.

ephemerid · Post by **ephemerid** » Fri 22 Apr, 2016 10:10 am

mbc1955 wrote:

I don't need modern music, I've already got more stuff than I can possibly listen to, to add to everything I've still not heard.

I know what you mean......

StephenDolan · Post by **StephenDolan** » Fri 22 Apr, 2016 10:13 am

Willow904 wrote:
Temulkar wrote:The corporate music world today is far more risk averse than it was, new underground and danngerous is an anathema to profits, so they regurgitate the past in different packages that they know will sell.
You can publish music yourself these days, sell it as downloads through Beatport or Soundcloud and promote it on Youtube. I think the corporate music world is concentrating on bland music for the older generation because they're the ones still buying music in traditional, profit generating formats. The online revolution is, in some ways, the equivalent of the musical revolutions of the past, changing how we discover and listen to music.

Post Napster the music industry business model for artists appears to be release the music at a loss (bar the mega stars) and generate huge revenues from touring and festivals.

Bonnylad · Post by **Bonnylad** » Fri 22 Apr, 2016 10:17 am

Give yourselves a new experience-try some grindcore or death metal. Some lovely band names to choose from-such as Anal Vomit, Bathtub Shitter and Agarophobic nosebleed!

ephemerid · Post by **ephemerid** » Fri 22 Apr, 2016 10:25 am

Now that the POTUS has arrived, as cool and impressive as ever (whatever you may think of his record), I just can't help comparing his style and statesmanship with the florid flabby insincere plonker we have as our leader. I'm embarrassed by him, to be honest.

I'm wondering what OGRPPFGTCC will say to impress upon us how close he and "my friend Barack" are, and that Obama's visit is nothing to do with his charm offensive in Europe over the next few days but an intervention that he, Cameron, has arranged because he's soooooo worth that.

Obviously, it suits the US for us to Remain; this Obama thing has everything to do with US interests and not a lot to do with Little Britain.
Our "special relationship" will go straight down the pan if we do something the US doesn't approve of.

Meanwhile, all the Brexit camp has to offer in terms of international political support is that charming neo-fascist racist Marine Le Pen. And Putin.
Boris, an ex-American, is telling Obama, a real American, to butt out; Murdoch, a new American, is telling us not to listen to, er, America.

We've got Project Fear from the In crowd - viz: We'll all lose £4,300! We'll lose our American friends! We'll lose our everything!
We've got Project Fantasy from the Outers - viz: No more austerity! No more immigration! Free trade with absolutely everyone!

I wonder why our leaders hold us in such contempt. Do they think we are as thick as they are?

I mean that most sincerrily, folks.

gilsey · Post by **gilsey** » Fri 22 Apr, 2016 10:29 am

My sadness about VW and Prince has been overtaken by the news that our local farmer died suddenly this morning. Our next door neighbour died in February, both lovely men.
There are only 20-odd houses in the village/hamlet.

RogerOThornhill · Post by **RogerOThornhill** » Fri 22 Apr, 2016 10:31 am

I tend not to be too fussed about most modern rock bands and listen to mainly jazz/improvised stuff now but there's still some great music out there to be had - Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp A Butterfly from last year was great, Flying Lotus from the same stable, Julia Holter, The Unthanks, Wire (new album just out), Joanna Newsom, Godspeed You Black Emperor.

I went to see Sunn O))) at the Festival Hall last year - oh my word, that was loud. Like being flattened by a wall of noise for an hour and a half. Amazing experience

AnatolyKasparov · Post by **AnatolyKasparov** » Fri 22 Apr, 2016 10:34 am

The point about modern popular music is, those who say "its all been done before" really do have a point.

A nice topic to discuss on Friday morning

Maeght · Post by **Maeght** » Fri 22 Apr, 2016 10:44 am

RogerOThornhill wrote:Morning all.

Think this easily fit the You Couldn't Make It Up category.

Exclusive: Wilshaw, Seldon and Young behind new college to parachute NQTs into school leadership

https://www.tes.com/news/school-news/br ... chute-nqts

Ministers are in talks about funding a new school leadership college that would parachute graduates fresh out of university into headteacher, deputy and assistant headteacher positions after just two years of training, TES can reveal.

The college is the brainchild of three of education’s most high-profile figures: Ofsted chief inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw; Sir Anthony Seldon, former master of Wellington College; and free-school pioneer Toby Young.

Mr Young said it was “highly likely” that students leaving the college – which will be based at the University of Buckingham – would have qualified teacher status before they led schools. But even this has yet to be confirmed.

This must be a joke? I really cannot believe it.

The founders of the Buckingham Institute of School Leadership argue that it is needed to tackle a shortfall in good headteachers, described as a “crisis” by Mr Young.
Er...that'll be the Toby Young who had to get rid of the 1st and 2nd HTs of the WLFS before getting Sally Coates in to choose the 3rd (who is still there)?

Right...fills one with confidence that does.

Maeght · Post by **Maeght** » Fri 22 Apr, 2016 10:47 am

Somehow I managed not to post the comment.

It wasn't very long but I still am convinced it's right:

You cannot be serious? This must be a joke.

StephenDolan · Post by **StephenDolan** » Fri 22 Apr, 2016 11:10 am

From CorbynHasToGoMate BTL of the McDonalds piece.

" Corbyn Has To Go 2016.
First I heavily criticised the fact that he had decided against hosting McDonald's at the Labour Conference- which proved he was a snob and anti-business, as well as anti-employment.
Now that I've found out he wasn't involved in the decision to ban McDonald's, I'm critical of him for not being involved in the decision.
Corbyn is damned if he does, damned if he don't. The man can't win. This proves he is unelectable. For the good of the Labour Party (which I have no interest in the success of, since I am a Conservative) Corbyn Has To Go 2016. "

danesclose · Post by **danesclose** » Fri 22 Apr, 2016 11:17 am

AnatolyKasparov wrote:The point about modern popular music is, those who say "its all been done before" really do have a point.

A nice topic to discuss on Friday morning

You can argue that because there are a finite number of chords & about 13 notes then all music is to an extent derivative. However to me its like saying that The Rolling Stones were derivative of Howling Wolf and Ike Turner and other blues/R&B acts.
Someone earlier mentioned that there had been nothing new since mid-80's. That's to ignore Grunge and the massive rise in hip-hop & its derivatives. Metal music has evolved into numerous different genres, some of them interesting, some not to my taste, but that's how it goes. Modern music isn't for us, its for our children & grandchildren - I have to stop myself reacting to some my kids' music in the same way my parents reacted to mine .
As Roger said, there's also bands like Godspeed You Black Emperor, to which I would add the likes of My Bloody Valentine & other "post-rock" bands.
If anyone's interested, there's the ArcTanGent festival in Bristol in August.

http://www.arctangent.co.uk/line-up/

Listen to some of these bands on YouTube - you may hate them, you may like them, but at least they're trying to do something different!

PorFavor · Post by **PorFavor** » Fri 22 Apr, 2016 11:50 am

Good morfternoon.

He [Boris Johnson] described Obama as “part-Kenyan”, saying some people thought his “ancestral dislike of the British empire” explained why he removed a bust of Churchill from the Oval Office when he became president. (Politics Live, Guardian)

danesclose · Post by **danesclose** » Fri 22 Apr, 2016 11:53 am

PorFavor wrote:Good morfternoon.

He [Boris Johnson] described Obama as “part-Kenyan”, saying some people thought his “ancestral dislike of the British empire” explained why he removed a bust of Churchill from the Oval Office when he became president. (Politics Live, Guardian)

Surprised Johnson didn't call him a "piccaninny" and refer to his "water-melon smile"

ephemerid · Post by **ephemerid** » Fri 22 Apr, 2016 12:05 pm

StephenDolan wrote:From CorbynHasToGoMate BTL of the McDonalds piece.

" Corbyn Has To Go 2016.
First I heavily criticised the fact that he had decided against hosting McDonald's at the Labour Conference- which proved he was a snob and anti-business, as well as anti-employment.
Now that I've found out he wasn't involved in the decision to ban McDonald's, I'm critical of him for not being involved in the decision.
Corbyn is damned if he does, damned if he don't. The man can't win. This proves he is unelectable. For the good of the Labour Party (which I have no interest in the success of, since I am a Conservative) Corbyn Has To Go 2016. "

And who, pray, is "CorbynHasToGoMate"? The piss-artist formerly known as "MarshalWade"?
Has anyone spotted, erm, "PaleoLabour" (a.k.a. someone-or-other) recently?

I'm sick to death of all these bloody posters pretending to be someone else. CIF is riddled with 'em.

So - Corbyn was wrong to ban (ie. refuse to take cash from) McDonalds. Except he didn't.
Then - Corbyn was wrong NOT to ban. Or whatever it was he didn't actually do.
Ergo - Corbyn is unelectable.

McDonald's is a global company which is not only known to avoid tax by offshoring profits, it has a horrendous record as an employer.
Some bright spark on the Abi Wilkinson thread opined that McDonald's wanted to be there to big up British farming. FFS.
The same poster says that McDonald's food is healthy and the company is an example to other employers...... because it is now not offering ZHCs but minimum-hours contracts of anything between 4 and 16 hours (ie. not enough for employers' NI liability) FFS again.

Idiotic posts from deeply stupid individuals on a comment thread are one thing - but Labour MPs who spout similar drivel should be given a very severe talking-to. I am fed up to the back teeth with them.

AnatolyKasparov · Post by **AnatolyKasparov** » Fri 22 Apr, 2016 12:27 pm

Talking of idiotic Labour MPs, Ian Austin demonstrated yesterday that he didn't know his Abi Wilkinson from his Abby Tomlinson

Rebecca · Post by **Rebecca** » Fri 22 Apr, 2016 12:29 pm

ephemerid wrote:
StephenDolan wrote:From CorbynHasToGoMate BTL of the McDonalds piece.

" Corbyn Has To Go 2016.
First I heavily criticised the fact that he had decided against hosting McDonald's at the Labour Conference- which proved he was a snob and anti-business, as well as anti-employment.
Now that I've found out he wasn't involved in the decision to ban McDonald's, I'm critical of him for not being involved in the decision.
Corbyn is damned if he does, damned if he don't. The man can't win. This proves he is unelectable. For the good of the Labour Party (which I have no interest in the success of, since I am a Conservative) Corbyn Has To Go 2016. "

And who, pray, is "CorbynHasToGoMate"? The piss-artist formerly known as "MarshalWade"?
Has anyone spotted, erm, "PaleoLabour" (a.k.a. someone-or-other) recently?

I'm sick to death of all these bloody posters pretending to be someone else. CIF is riddled with 'em.

So - Corbyn was wrong to ban (ie. refuse to take cash from) McDonalds. Except he didn't.
Then - Corbyn was wrong NOT to ban. Or whatever it was he didn't actually do.
Ergo - Corbyn is unelectable.

McDonald's is a global company which is not only known to avoid tax by offshoring profits, it has a horrendous record as an employer.
Some bright spark on the Abi Wilkinson thread opined that McDonald's wanted to be there to big up British farming. FFS.
The same poster says that McDonald's food is healthy and the company is an example to other employers...... because it is now not offering ZHCs but minimum-hours contracts of anything between 4 and 16 hours (ie. not enough for employers' NI liability) FFS again.

Idiotic posts from deeply stupid individuals on a comment thread are one thing - but Labour MPs who spout similar drivel should be given a very severe talking-to. I am fed up to the back teeth with them.

You know,ephe,the corbynhastogo guy,(or not,as the case may be),is being satirical.Always.I find the posts quite funny,but some people do think he is being serious.Read his posts again and I think you will agree.

StephenDolan · Post by **StephenDolan** » Fri 22 Apr, 2016 12:45 pm

Post EU referendum, any chance Cameron can make Johnson foreign secretary then send him to the US?

HindleA · Post by **HindleA** » Fri 22 Apr, 2016 1:07 pm

It is all relative,my family seems to go to the extremes,either in their 80/90's still going to the gym,flying around the world etc.or barely making 50.All,I would say,made/make the World the better place.I suppose all you can do is celebrate the lives/or continuation of them.

RogerOThornhill · Post by **RogerOThornhill** » Fri 22 Apr, 2016 1:09 pm

StephenDolan wrote:Post EU referendum, any chance Cameron can make Johnson foreign secretary then send him to the US?

Kinda reminds me of the Yes Prime Minister episode around St George's island where the very pro-Arab No 10 aide gets a posting to Tel Aviv...

danesclose · Post by **danesclose** » Fri 22 Apr, 2016 1:26 pm

StephenDolan wrote:Post EU referendum, any chance Cameron can make Johnson foreign secretary then send him to the US?

Did Johnson ever pay his American tax bill?

AnatolyKasparov · Post by **AnatolyKasparov** » Fri 22 Apr, 2016 1:33 pm

Even better, make him Ambassador to Washington

ephemerid · Post by **ephemerid** » Fri 22 Apr, 2016 1:40 pm

Rebecca wrote:
You know,ephe,the corbynhastogo guy,(or not,as the case may be),is being satirical.Always.I find the posts quite funny,but some people do think he is being serious.Read his posts again and I think you will agree.

I daresay you're right. Haven't read his/her posts really and I'm sure I would find them funny.

I'm not wrong about the rest, though.

HindleA · Post by **HindleA** » Fri 22 Apr, 2016 1:43 pm

http://www.itv.com/news/london/2016-04- ... -no-lifts/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Disabled commuters face tube journeys four times longer because of no lifts

Willow904 · Post by **Willow904** » Fri 22 Apr, 2016 1:44 pm

I still don't understand why the MacDonald's thing is even a "thing". Labour don't have any kind of history or shared culture with the brand, it's not like they told the Co-op they couldn't have a stand or something.

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Fri 22 Apr, 2016 1:57 pm

StephenDolan wrote:Morning all.

Thanks for the reminder yesterday of 17 days, I haven't heard that for a long long time. (Gladly) have it stuck in my head today.

Oh, thank you, StephenDolan! It's likely my favourite, my younger sister and I listened to it on vinyl repeatedly. We spoke of the song years later, having forgotten it for years. Young girls we were when we owned the single.

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Fri 22 Apr, 2016 1:58 pm

Apologies, I've not offered my good-afternoon to everyone yet. I've been running around, reading a post, thinking of it, something else gets my attention, come back to the computer and it's two o'clock in the afternoon!

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Fri 22 Apr, 2016 2:11 pm

danesclose wrote:
PorFavor wrote:Good morfternoon.

He [Boris Johnson] described Obama as “part-Kenyan”, saying some people thought his “ancestral dislike of the British empire” explained why he removed a bust of Churchill from the Oval Office when he became president. (Politics Live, Guardian)
Surprised Johnson didn't call him a "piccaninny" and refer to his "water-melon smile"

Thank you for this, danesclose, I'll remember it later on and laugh tea out of my nose

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Fri 22 Apr, 2016 2:16 pm

Willow904 wrote:I still don't understand why the MacDonald's thing is even a "thing". Labour don't have any kind of history or shared culture with the brand, it's not like they told the Co-op they couldn't have a stand or something.

It appropriate for Labour to ban McDonald's from their conference for all the reasons Ephemerid gave in her post. I agree with you, Willow904. It's a global multinational corporation selling junk food to people without a lot fast food choices.

Willow904 · Post by **Willow904** » Fri 22 Apr, 2016 2:22 pm

http://www.somersetguardian.co.uk/MP-Ja ... story.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

North East Somerset MP Jacob Rees-Mogg has raised £5,000 for the Brexit campaign by auctioning off the chance to enjoy afternoon tea with his former nanny.