Tuesday 23rd May 2017

[StephenDolan]

Morning all.

Terrible news from Manchester last night, thoughts are with all those directly and indirectly affected.

[Willow904]

Morning.

Horrible news.

[seeingclearly]

No words. Thoughts are all with the families.

[HindleA]

#Ally Fogg


Wherever you are, if you want to do something for Manchester, go out and commit a random act of beauty or kindness #WeStandTogether

[AnatolyKasparov]

Yes, not much else to say is there?

Save to point out that far too much FAKE NEWS gets treated as gospel at times like this.

Inevitable to an extent, but still annoying.

[StephenDolan]

Deficit grows as the public cutback on spending. Not a good look in the final weeks of the campaign.

[HindleA]

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistic ... s-bulletin" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[HindleA]

(you can hear the thanking footsteps of cja,she's on her way)

[citizenJA]

Good-afternoon, everyone

[AnatolyKasparov]

Credit to the POTUS - not something I often say, but his response to this was actually quite good.

[citizenJA]

Oil bosses have given £390,000 to Tories under Theresa May
Oil executives whose industry is promised further government support if Conservatives returned to power have given more than £390,000 to the party since Theresa May became prime minister.

[AnatolyKasparov]

One of the confirmed dead was 8 years old. Unspeakably grim.

[pk1]

The Manchester Evening News opened a just giving page for donations with a target of £50,000.

That target was reached in 3 hours so they have now increased the target to £250,000.

The page is here if you wish to donate:

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding ... =mjrAgGA4x" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Good always rises from the deepest depths of evil.

[AnatolyKasparov]

RIP Sir Roger Moore.

[HindleA]

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/m ... james-bond" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[SpinningHugo]

I can't remember the time I was left sadder by an event that didn't involve my immediate family. 9/11 and 7/7 killed more people (in the first case far more) but these seems a new low because of those there. Innocent children at a pop concert.

Trying to rationalise it so that it seemed smaller in my mind, I cam up with.

1. The numbers killed by terrorism is lower in western Europe than in the 70s/80s

http://www.datagraver.com/case/people-k ... -1970-2015" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

2. The numbers killed by terrorism in the UK is far lower than in the 70s/80s

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/0/many- ... ttacks-uk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

3. Worldwide, violence is in longterm decline
" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
(I know some dissent from Pinker's thesis, but I think he is right),

4. And from a UK perspective, as I once had to explain to some Americans students on 7/7 who thought it was just as bad

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

But, as I get older my ability to accept things like this seems to have left me. I attend church most weeks, and do pro bono bits and pieces, but I have a hard time with any belief.

[AnatolyKasparov]

Identity of bomber is confirmed. I won't bother naming them.

[refitman]

Didn't Alison Pearson used to not be a moron? Or am I thinking of someone else?

[AnatolyKasparov]

Didn't Alison Pearson used to not be a moron? Or am I thinking of someone else?

Oh no, you are quite right - she used to be very intelligent and readable.

Her political evolution over the past quarter century or so is........interesting.

[HindleA]

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

[HindleA]

http://www.newstatesman.com/world/2017/ ... ctims-down" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[gilsey]

We are ready for Brexit talks, says EU's chief negotiator
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/ ... el-barnier" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

“From the day the UK decided to leave, the EU has gone through an intense preparatory process,” Barnier said. “We are ready and well-prepared.”

This is going to be really embarrassing, isn't it.

I've seen rumours that the govt are preparing to walk out of talks after the German elections. Otherwise no sign of preparations at all.

“We have clearly, the 27, confirmed that position that we must defend … a negotiation is a negotiation.”

Now he's taking the piss.

[refitman]

Great story about Roger Moore: " onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[HindleA]

Threat level raised to critical.



https://www.mi5.gov.uk/threat-levels" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[HindleA]

PK1 linked donation page standing at £652,000



Night,peace and love.x
[youtube]Q1eyq0oFDkc[/youtube]

[SpinningHugo]

Threat level raised to critical.



https://www.mi5.gov.uk/threat-levels" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Ok, well unfortunately some political points now arise.

1) I have no doubt the decision to do this was honestly made. If you don't, you're only at one remove from the falseflag morons on facebook.

2) We need to restart the election campaign proper asap. This is for several reasons

i) it is good for democracy
ii) is is what the murderer and sympathisers wouldn't want
iii) May is getting to look prime ministerial in a way she is good at (she has had practice at this as Home Sec).

3) If there is, God forbid, a serious terrorist incident the question then arises of postponing the vote. I hope that question never has to be answered.