FlyTheNest

Morning all.

Good-morning, everyone

Morning


http://www.internationaldisabilityallia ... 18-session" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/tr ... 58&Lang=en" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Morning.

Bit quiet on the politics front, isn't it?

Whitby was warm and sunny all week, it didn't rain on us once, which wasn't what I was expecting from Yorkshire, I have to say! We caught the purple heather up on the moors in full bloom and even braved the North Sea for a paddle with the kids.

It was nice to get away from Tory Brexit bullshit for a bit. Back home to drizzle, though. Oh well. I hope everyone's well and Mrs RogerOThornhill is getting on OK with her diagnosis and treatment.

The myth that Westminster’s voting system is ‘strong and stable’ has been bust for good
https://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/the ... -for-good/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

For the third time in a row, Westminster’s voting system failed to do what it says on the tin – produce a big government majority.

Today the Electoral Reform Society launch our report on June’s vote: ‘The 2017 General Election: Volatile Voting, Random Results’.

It shows the General Election saw the second highest level of electoral volatility – the movement of votes between parties – since 1931. People are switching sides and shopping around at astonishing levels.

But millions of those people’s votes are being thrown on the electoral scrapheap. 68% of votes had no impact on the result. That’s 22 million votes going to waste.

Willow904 wrote:Morning.

Bit quiet on the politics front, isn't it?

Whitby was warm and sunny all week, it didn't rain on us once, which wasn't what I was expecting from Yorkshire, I have to say! We caught the purple heather up on the moors in full bloom and even braved the North Sea for a paddle with the kids.

It was nice to get away from Tory Brexit bullshit for a bit. Back home to drizzle, though. Oh well. I hope everyone's well and Mrs RogerOThornhill is getting on OK with her diagnosis and treatment.

Hello! Nice to see you back. I hope you're rested and recharged.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/d ... 020579.amp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Disability campaigners from Britain tell the United Nations the Government has betrayed people in the UK

Activists will give evidence to a committee sitting in Geneva

Willow904 wrote:Morning.

Bit quiet on the politics front, isn't it?

Whitby was warm and sunny all week, it didn't rain on us once, which wasn't what I was expecting from Yorkshire, I have to say! We caught the purple heather up on the moors in full bloom and even braved the North Sea for a paddle with the kids.

It was nice to get away from Tory Brexit bullshit for a bit. Back home to drizzle, though. Oh well. I hope everyone's well and Mrs RogerOThornhill is getting on OK with her diagnosis and treatment.

I didn't realise you'd gone to Whitby, you picked a good time for it, driest weather we've had for about 6 weeks. Did you go to Hadley's, that's our favoured fish & chip spot.

gilsey wrote:

Willow904 wrote:Morning.

Bit quiet on the politics front, isn't it?

Whitby was warm and sunny all week, it didn't rain on us once, which wasn't what I was expecting from Yorkshire, I have to say! We caught the purple heather up on the moors in full bloom and even braved the North Sea for a paddle with the kids.

It was nice to get away from Tory Brexit bullshit for a bit. Back home to drizzle, though. Oh well. I hope everyone's well and Mrs RogerOThornhill is getting on OK with her diagnosis and treatment.

I didn't realise you'd gone to Whitby, you picked a good time for it, driest weather we've had for about 6 weeks. Did you go to Hadley's, that's our favoured fish & chip spot.

I did wonder if the weather was a bit unusually sunny, on account of so many people out and about! We got our fish and chips from Quayside, which got thumbs up all round, though we don't really get good fish and chips here in Somerset (too far from the sea) so we're easily impressed.

PorFavor wrote:

Willow904 wrote:Morning.

Bit quiet on the politics front, isn't it?

Whitby was warm and sunny all week, it didn't rain on us once, which wasn't what I was expecting from Yorkshire, I have to say! We caught the purple heather up on the moors in full bloom and even braved the North Sea for a paddle with the kids.

It was nice to get away from Tory Brexit bullshit for a bit. Back home to drizzle, though. Oh well. I hope everyone's well and Mrs RogerOThornhill is getting on OK with her diagnosis and treatment.

Hello! Nice to see you back. I hope you're rested and recharged.

I am, thanks. Amazing the difference a bit of sunshine can make. And no cooking for a week, bliss!

Willow904 wrote:Morning.

Bit quiet on the politics front, isn't it?

Whitby was warm and sunny all week, it didn't rain on us once, which wasn't what I was expecting from Yorkshire, I have to say! We caught the purple heather up on the moors in full bloom and even braved the North Sea for a paddle with the kids.

It was nice to get away from Tory Brexit bullshit for a bit. Back home to drizzle, though. Oh well. I hope everyone's well and Mrs RogerOThornhill is getting on OK with her diagnosis and treatment.

Welcome back! I wish I'd something more clever to write you this morning. Please have some toast with honey. It's the best I can do.

Ah. I'll make additional rounds for all company this morning.

Willow904 wrote: I did wonder if the weather was a bit unusually sunny, on account of so many people out and about!

No, it's always like that through the summer holidays, honestly.
Regatta this week, it's even busier.

Yesterday evening's public transportation discussion is good and worth reading if you have time

On a different topic entirely, I'm taking the liberty of posting a link to a RogerOThornhill post from last night.
It's a twitter short video briefly describing research analysis of when US Confederate monuments were raised.
I'd no idea about this. I can't recommend it enough.

viewtopic.php?p=171581#p171581

https://twitter.com/mic/status/898941499550736384

Willow904 wrote:Morning.

Bit quiet on the politics front, isn't it?

That is often (though not always) the case in mid-August tbf.

Says it all that the main issue for too many at the moment appears to be a bell's bongs

AnatolyKasparov wrote:

Willow904 wrote:Morning.

Bit quiet on the politics front, isn't it?

That is often (though not always) the case in mid-August tbf.

Says it all that the main issue for too many at the moment appears to be a bell's bongs

That, and how much Labour antisemitism there is.

gilsey wrote:

Willow904 wrote: I did wonder if the weather was a bit unusually sunny, on account of so many people out and about!

No, it's always like that through the summer holidays, honestly.
Regatta this week, it's even busier.

I had no idea Whitby was such a tourist hotspot. I can see why, though. Definitely worth the 6 hour trip.

AnatolyKasparov wrote:

Willow904 wrote:Morning.

Bit quiet on the politics front, isn't it?

That is often (though not always) the case in mid-August tbf.

Says it all that the main issue for too many at the moment appears to be a bell's bongs

The Big Ben thing is so symptomatic of this government. No forward planning, no imagination. You could have a lot of fun with it, putting up a replica somewhere with recorded bongs. A Big Ben app for a portable experience. Mini Big Bens scattered round London with a trail to follow.

But instead they stand around gloomily moaning and doing bugger all. Utterly useless.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/201 ... are_btn_tw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Hi.

I can't dismiss Big Ben as mere silly season frivolity I'm afraid. Everything about it is symbolic of a country that's totally lost its way. I find it enraging.

StephenDolan wrote:

AnatolyKasparov wrote:

Willow904 wrote:Morning.

Bit quiet on the politics front, isn't it?

That is often (though not always) the case in mid-August tbf.

Says it all that the main issue for too many at the moment appears to be a bell's bongs

That, and how much Labour antisemitism there is.

Any amount is too much. But the usual suspects only want to weaponise it for their own cynical purposes.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/posi ... gotiations" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... tion-paper" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... tion-paper" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

NonOxCol wrote:Hi.

I can't dismiss Big Ben as mere silly season frivolity I'm afraid. Everything about it is symbolic of a country that's totally lost its way. I find it enraging.

More like how the right wing media are losing their way in some respects.

It is indeed bad that we have a PM obeying Dacre's every passing whim. But this too will pass.

There have been several articles about the imminent repairs to Big Ben over the last couple of years, all saying the repairs could take several months.

It's only now that repairs are about to start that several years are being referred to.

It does seem quite rum. Either the government misled the press by accident or on purpose. It's not like the person in charge of the project suddenly discovered a couple of days ago it would take 4 years rather than 4 months. They must have known, so why is it a "surprise"?

https://www.theguardian.com/social-care ... rtbreaking" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Simon Wren-Lewis is right here. Hard Brexit damage was forecast to be long term. If Labour goes with it, it'll inherit the damage and it'll get blamed on its "far left agenda".

https://mainlymacro.blogspot.co.uk/2017 ... ption.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I don't underestimate the difficulty in turning this around, but it needs to happen.

A total eclipse is to take place today in the US. The "Tweets" should be entertaining.

"I’ve talked to people at the BBC, including their economics editor, about why they cannot apply the BBC Trust’s recommendations on science coverage to economics. (The Trust’s conclusion, in summary, is that in controversial areas the BBC should go with the overwhelming scientific consensus. In other words recognise scientific knowledge, and not treat it as just an opinion.) I think a summary of their response to my question is that economics should not be regarded as a science: there is no economic knowledge, just opinions. What that attitude means in practice is that the public do not hear from the many experts in international trade we have in the UK (and there are many), but instead they hear from Patrick Minford."

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultat ... ent-policy" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Open consultation
Northern Ireland (NI) transfer of rail operator penalising: changes to regulation guidance and economic enforcement policy

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


Policy paper
Functional review of bodies providing expert advice to government

http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/bu ... sabilities" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


https://www.change.org/p/google-maps-cr ... dly-routes" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/dc ... ents-51987" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


DCLG considering allowing shared ownership for RTB replacements


"Virtually all the homes sold under the Right to Buy are social rent properties, and the policy move would raise fears over the further depletion of social rented stock.

Figures released by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) last month revealed council homes are being sold off nearly three times faster than they are being replaced.

Since the 1980s when the policy was introduced, more than 1.5 million council homes have been sold under the Right to Buy. Councils were first allowed to spend receipts on replacements in 2012, and have since sold more than 54,000 homes and started just under 11,000 replacements.

In May, Inside Housing revealed only 48% of these replacements were social rent, with the remainder affordable rent – up to 80% of market rates."

PorFavor wrote:A total eclipse is to take place today in the US. The "Tweets" should be entertaining.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/21/scie ... lipse.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

StephenDolan wrote:

AnatolyKasparov wrote:

Willow904 wrote:Morning.

Bit quiet on the politics front, isn't it?

That is often (though not always) the case in mid-August tbf.

Says it all that the main issue for too many at the moment appears to be a bell's bongs

That, and how much Labour antisemitism there is.

citizenJA has successfully washed her hair
alert the media

[youtube]myyZyIMEZrY[/youtube]

Reminds me I still have deep cherry hair colouring to use.

HindleA wrote:Reminds me I still have deep cherry hair colouring to use.

What's holding you back?

https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... ce#history" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;



Guidance
Budget representations: guidance

@PF cowardice.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... igh-school" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


The schools adjudicator's admission objection decision about Sacred Heart Catholic High School.

HindleA wrote:"I’ve talked to people at the BBC, including their economics editor, about why they cannot apply the BBC Trust’s recommendations on science coverage to economics. (The Trust’s conclusion, in summary, is that in controversial areas the BBC should go with the overwhelming scientific consensus. In other words recognise scientific knowledge, and not treat it as just an opinion.) I think a summary of their response to my question is that economics should not be regarded as a science: there is no economic knowledge, just opinions. What that attitude means in practice is that the public do not hear from the many experts in international trade we have in the UK (and there are many), but instead they hear from Patrick Minford."

The way the BBC treated that "story" was pretty scandalous.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/201 ... e-families" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


http://www.cpag.org.uk/content/inflatio ... -basic-fam" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

AnatolyKasparov wrote:

HindleA wrote:"I’ve talked to people at the BBC, including their economics editor, about why they cannot apply the BBC Trust’s recommendations on science coverage to economics. (The Trust’s conclusion, in summary, is that in controversial areas the BBC should go with the overwhelming scientific consensus. In other words recognise scientific knowledge, and not treat it as just an opinion.) I think a summary of their response to my question is that economics should not be regarded as a science: there is no economic knowledge, just opinions. What that attitude means in practice is that the public do not hear from the many experts in international trade we have in the UK (and there are many), but instead they hear from Patrick Minford."

The way the BBC treated that "story" was pretty scandalous.

Treated in the sense of covered it at all?

Anyone know anything about this James Chapman? His twitter presence has gone a bit off the wall. Fisticuffs among once Tory friends?:

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

David Davis' ex-aide claims Brexit Sec is lazy & only works three-day week in bizarre rant

DAVID Davis is lazy and only works a three-day week, the Brexit Secretary's former chief of staff has claimed.

Sorry for the Express link, but it is gossip, after all.

Tubby Isaacs wrote:

AnatolyKasparov wrote:

HindleA wrote:"I’ve talked to people at the BBC, including their economics editor, about why they cannot apply the BBC Trust’s recommendations on science coverage to economics. (The Trust’s conclusion, in summary, is that in controversial areas the BBC should go with the overwhelming scientific consensus. In other words recognise scientific knowledge, and not treat it as just an opinion.) I think a summary of their response to my question is that economics should not be regarded as a science: there is no economic knowledge, just opinions. What that attitude means in practice is that the public do not hear from the many experts in international trade we have in the UK (and there are many), but instead they hear from Patrick Minford."

The way the BBC treated that "story" was pretty scandalous.

Treated in the sense of covered it at all?

Well, that is certainly one view

But its a common failing at the BBC now, and I don't think its even deliberate bias much of the time.

Willow904 wrote:Anyone know anything about this James Chapman? His twitter presence has gone a bit off the wall. Fisticuffs among once Tory friends?:

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

David Davis' ex-aide claims Brexit Sec is lazy & only works three-day week in bizarre rant

DAVID Davis is lazy and only works a three-day week, the Brexit Secretary's former chief of staff has claimed.

Sorry for the Express link, but it is gossip, after all.

I seem to remember, vaguely, that when the Davids Cameron and Davis leadership contest was going on there was quite a lot of muttering about David Davis's "laziness".

Have to admit, that was brilliant trolling from Stephen Pound MP today

(what, you mean he's SERIOUS??!!??)

Tubby Isaacs wrote:Simon Wren-Lewis is right here. Hard Brexit damage was forecast to be long term. If Labour goes with it, it'll inherit the damage and it'll get blamed on its "far left agenda".

https://mainlymacro.blogspot.co.uk/2017 ... ption.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I don't underestimate the difficulty in turning this around, but it needs to happen.

The Campaign group in control of the party don't want to turn it around.

https://www.buzzfeed.com/fionarutherfor ... dqG1z6b6jK" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;