Wednesday 12th April 2017

[tinyclanger2]

Two in every five GPs are planning to quit the NHS, a new survey suggests, amid warnings that “perilously” low morale among family doctors is fuelling an “enormous crisis” in frontline healthcare.

Jeremy Hunt has said GP surgeries should be open seven days a week, from 8am to 8pm, and has announced plans to place doctor generalists in A&E departments to help ease overwhelming pressures faced by NHS hospitals.

But the British Medical Association (BMA) said GPs across the country were already “struggling to cope with rising patient demand, stagnating budgets and widespread staff shortages” – and warned this could get worse if Brexit results in an exodus of doctors from overseas.

[citizenJA]

While accepting there is not direct evidence of an attack, the committee report said: “We do not rule out the possibility that there was foreign interference in the EU referendum caused by a DDOS (distributed denial of service) using botnets, though we do not believe that any such interference had any material effect on the outcome of the EU referendum.”

So there's nothing to suggest there was an attack, but it's possible that there was, and while we have no idea whether there was or not then we think we know what effect it had.

This information in the article came from the Parliamentary report I've linked above.

"The Register to Vote website crashed on the evening of Tuesday 7 June. The Government has stated that this was due to an exceptional surge in demand. It is clear that the level of public interest in the referendum, allied to the sheer numbers of duplicate applications and confusion as to whether individuals needed to re-register to vote for the referendum, created a much higher demand for the Register to Vote website.

The Government has consistently argued that the Register to Vote website’s collapse was the product of a significant, last minute spike in applications to register to vote, magnified by the large number of duplicate applications. However, the Government clearly failed to undertake the necessary level of testing and precautions required to mitigate against any such surge in applications. It is worrying that when testing identified issues in system performance, mistaken assumptions meant that these issues were not investigated further and corrected.

It is disappointing that the local electoral administrators who play a key role in delivering the referendum on the ground, including the implementation of the extended registration deadline, had to rely on news sources for updates on the Government’s decision to introduce emergency legislation.

Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee (PACAC) does not rule out the possibility that the crash may have been caused by a DDOS (distributed denial of service attack) using botnets. Lessons in respect of the protection and resilience against possible foreign interference in IT systems that are critical for the functioning of the democratic process must extend beyond the technical. The US and UK understanding of ‘cyber’ is predominantly technical and computer-network based.

For example, Russia and China use a cognitive approach based on understanding of mass psychology and of how to exploit individuals. The implications of this different understanding of cyber-attack, as purely technical or as reaching beyond the digital to influence public opinion, for the interference in elections and referendums are clear. PACAC is deeply concerned about these allegations about foreign interference."

https://www.publications.parliament.uk/ ... /49610.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[PorFavor]

http://schoolsweek.co.uk/government-con ... -families/


"Govt consults on definition of "ordinary working families"

https://consult.education.gov.uk/school ... ucation-1/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

"Ordinary working families" means "ordinary working families".

[citizenJA]

Parliamentary sovereignty, and the associated principle that no Parliament can bind a successor, makes the concept of a legally binding referendum impossible in theory.
However, it is clear that, in reality, referendums are seen by the public as conferring an obligation on parliamentarians to deliver the result. Parliament has delivered this, and the EU (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill completed its passage through both Houses, and received Royal Assent on 16 March 2017."

https://www.publications.parliament.uk/ ... /49610.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Which members of the public were outside your window with their torches and pitchforks telling you that, please?
I've quite upset Mr citizen by sounding my barbaric yawlp.
Though not directed at him, the language I used was intemperate.

[tinyclanger2]

FTW means FTW

[tinyclanger2]

etc

[PaulfromYorkshire]

'Boris Johnson: a weakened foreign secretary?'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-39580761" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[citizenJA]

Thirty years after the Great Pestilence and King Edward III's Statute of Labourers 1351 legislation requiring everyone remaining alive were to bow and scrape like before and work twice as hard for less money because Austerity Comes After Pestilence & That, labourers went on a rampage in protest. Edward's grandson, Rick2, crushed the labourers and told them they were born villeins and they'd die villeins and they'd do as they're told because He Was A Tory and There Was No Alternative.

Over six hundred years later, I'm noticing fundamental tensions between the aristocracy and regular people haven't really changed much.

I'm reading Barbara Tuchman's, A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century.

[HindleA]

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfr ... ns-cartoon" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Steve Bell on Boris Johnson and sanctions



" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Tubby Isaacs]

Two in every five GPs are planning to quit the NHS, a new survey suggests, amid warnings that “perilously” low morale among family doctors is fuelling an “enormous crisis” in frontline healthcare.

Jeremy Hunt has said GP surgeries should be open seven days a week, from 8am to 8pm, and has announced plans to place doctor generalists in A&E departments to help ease overwhelming pressures faced by NHS hospitals.

But the British Medical Association (BMA) said GPs across the country were already “struggling to cope with rising patient demand, stagnating budgets and widespread staff shortages” – and warned this could get worse if Brexit results in an exodus of doctors from overseas.

Doctor generalists? Like, doctors?

[Tubby Isaacs]

Steve Bell's lucky to be in a job after his "you can't say anything without Jews taking offence, can you?" effort from last week.

[Tubby Isaacs]

'Boris Johnson: a weakened foreign secretary?'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-39580761" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

He is.

David Davis does the EU, Michael Fallon does the military.

[HindleA]

Government to consult on definition of "Doctor generalists"

[tinyclanger2]

I have a strong suspicion that Doctor generalist means Doctor generalist.

In this day and age.

[HindleA]

#Paul Lewis

So sad that the progressive policies of the last quarter of the 20century which gave disabled people extras they need are being dismantled.



At vast increased cost,not just financial.

[HindleA]

"Forty years on, I well remember Harold Wilson telling me in the 1970s that there was no cause for me to worry about cuts in help for disabled people when the economy was under such daunting stress and the IMF became involved. He said that his policy would be that "the broadest backs must bear the biggest burden", and he assured me that since my role was to help people with broken backs, among other severe disabilities, he would go on giving it high priority, and he was as good as his word.

Much apart from being cut, my budget increased, enabling me to legislate for the mobility allowance, the carers allowance and many more new benefits during the crisis. When I left the post of Minister for Disabled People after Labour's defeat in the 1979 general election, I told the House of Commons that there remained a long unfinished agenda of unmet need and, sadly, that is still the case today.

I conclude with the closing paragraph of my speech commending my Bill to the House of Commons on 5 December 1969. I said, Mr Speaker, if we could bequeath one precious gift to posterity, I would choose a society in which there is genuine compassion for the long-term sick and disabled people; where understanding is unostentatious and sincere; where needs come before means; where, if years cannot be added to the lives of the chronically sick, at least life can be added to their years; where the mobility of disabled people is restricted only by the bounds of technical progress and discovery; where people with disabilities have the fundamental right to participate in industry and society according to ability; where socially preventable distress is unknown; and where no one has cause to be ill at ease because of his or her disability."

Alf Morris

[citizenJA]

I have a strong suspicion that Doctor generalist means Doctor generalist.

In this day and age.

sick freak Tory health minister probably designing 'zines
'Assorted Health Care professionals'
'All Yours For the Super Low Price of a Tory Contribution'
'Guaranteed to work on a bowl of rice a day...'

[HindleA]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/ ... are_btn_tw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;



French election shaken by surge in support for far-left candidate

[HindleA]

http://labourlist.org/2017/04/conferenc ... hey-stand/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Updated: CLP nominations for Labour’s key committees

[TechnicalEphemera]

Steve Bell's lucky to be in a job after his "you can't say anything without Jews taking offence, can you?" effort from last week.

Having seen his Livingstone coverage I have classified Steve into the complete arse group of political commentators.

Mr Rowson or nothing for me.

By the way, was the Jackie Walker on that list of signatories in the G the same Jackie Walker of the "I have never found a definition of anti-semitism I could work with." comment. Who is also currently expelled from Labour for making comments seen as anti-semitic?

[PaulfromYorkshire]

Johnson really is a pillock. Why say this like this (my emphasis)?

Mr Johnson said: "It was once again only the Russians that were the significant country to veto this. Even the Chinese, who are normally their ally, abstained.

Let's try that again.

Mr Johnson said: "It was once again only the Russians that were the significant country to veto this. Even t[T]he Chinese, who are normally their ally, abstained.

[HindleA]

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/201 ... rokenshire" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;



Northern Ireland power-sharing talks given extended deadline

[Tubby Isaacs]

Steve Bell's lucky to be in a job after his "you can't say anything without Jews taking offence, can you?" effort from last week.

Having seen his Livingstone coverage I have classified Steve into the complete arse group of political commentators.

Mr Rowson or nothing for me.

By the way, was the Jackie Walker on that list of signatories in the G the same Jackie Walker of the "I have never found a definition of anti-semitism I could work with." comment. Who is also currently expelled from Labour for making comments seen as anti-semitic?

This is the only political cartoonist for me.

[tinybgoat]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/ ... are_btn_tw



French election shaken by surge in support for far-left candidate

Not sure how you can have a race on a roller coaster, especially with four horses.

[PorFavor]

Steve Bell's lucky to be in a job after his "you can't say anything without Jews taking offence, can you?" effort from last week.

Having seen his Livingstone coverage I have classified Steve into the complete arse group of political commentators.

Mr Rowson or nothing for me.

By the way, was the Jackie Walker on that list of signatories in the G the same Jackie Walker of the "I have never found a definition of anti-semitism I could work with." comment. Who is also currently expelled from Labour for making comments seen as anti-semitic?

I've never been a fan of Steve Bell. He's the Ian Hislop of the political "cartoon"-smiths.

It's Martin Rowson for me, too.

Edited to add -

Although there was a bloke (whose name eludes me) on the Independent who was often very good.

[citizenJA]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/ ... are_btn_tw



French election shaken by surge in support for far-left candidate

thank you jesus

[citizenJA]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/ ... are_btn_tw



French election shaken by surge in support for far-left candidate

Not sure how you can have a race on a roller coaster, especially with four horses.

unexpectedly turning France’s roller-coaster presidential race into a possible four-way contest.

Jon Henley
European affairs correspondent

Where's Henley based? What was his first language? Where does he live, what films does he watch, what does he read and how tired is he?

[citizenJA]

But Mélenchon, an acid-tongued political showman with a radical tax-and-spend platform

How old is he?

[HindleA]

65

[citizenJA]

Goodnight, everyone.
love,
cJA

[tinybgoat]

UN security council:

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/201 ... conference" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

In a remarkable confrontation in the council chamber, Safronkov rounded on Rycroft. “You’re scared,” he yelled at the British envoy. “Your dream has slipped away, because we’re going to work with the United States. You’re afraid of this. You’re doing everything you can to sabotage this teamwork … Look at me! Don’t turn your eyes away! Why are you looking away?”
He accused Rycroft of behaving “irresponsibly, offensively, and obscenely” before concluding: “Don’t you dare insult Russia again!”

[tinybgoat]

(apologies if already seen)

https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2017 ... ss-tourism" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

From Prague to Los Angeles, tours led by homeless guides are showing visitors the dark heart of familiar cities – but does it help, or is it just poverty porn?

also

http://museumofhomelessness.org" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

On April 8-9th 2017, the Museum of Homelessness launches its first major program at the Tate Modern in London.
Homelessness is on the rise across the UK – a 102% increase in rough sleeping alone since 2010 – but is poorly understood despite the lessons it can teach us about society.