Saturday 23rd to Wednesday 27th December 2017

PorFavor · Post by **PorFavor** » Sun 24 Dec, 2017 10:08 am

And here we are . . .

HindleA · Post by **HindleA** » Sun 24 Dec, 2017 10:11 am

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

Theresa May 'set to abandon free vote pledge on foxhunting ban'

HindleA · Post by **HindleA** » Sun 24 Dec, 2017 10:13 am

https://www.theguardian.com/science/dat ... t-it-takes" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Royal Statistical Society christmas quiz

HindleA · Post by **HindleA** » Sun 24 Dec, 2017 10:15 am

Keep warm,safe and healthy, regular utterations of bah humbug I find helps.

Bah humbug.

PorFavor · Post by **PorFavor** » Sun 24 Dec, 2017 10:17 am

HindleA wrote:https://www.theguardian.com/science/dat ... t-it-takes

Royal Statistical Society christmas quiz

Cracking the 13 problems below will require a blend of general knowledge, logic, and lateral thinking (Guardian)

Well, that's me doomed, then.

Edited - typo

HindleA · Post by **HindleA** » Sun 24 Dec, 2017 10:18 am

~~Happy~~.~~Merry~~ ~~Christ~~..,oh fuck it have a good one.

PorFavor · Post by **PorFavor** » Sun 24 Dec, 2017 10:21 am

@HindleA

Any chance of your offering round these humbugs?

HindleA · Post by **HindleA** » Sun 24 Dec, 2017 10:31 am

[youtube]12h_x3Y0ifg[/youtube]

gilsey · Post by **gilsey** » Sun 24 Dec, 2017 10:44 am

Have we had this?
Huge health gap revealed between UK’s rich and poor
https://www.theguardian.com/inequality/ ... h-and-poor" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A comprehensive study that examined hundreds of thousands of patient records found inequalities between children from the poorest and richest families were costing the NHS hundreds of millions a year and contributing to pressures on the health system.

Across the 10 most common conditions leading to unplanned hospital visits, the rates of admission were consistently highest among children and young people from the most deprived areas. The study, by the Nuffield Trust, found inequalities in some areas of child health had increased over the last decade in England, despite advances in care.

School-age children from the poorest areas are two and a half times more likely to be admitted to hospital in an emergency for asthma than those in the richest areas. The research shows the gap has grown substantially in a decade.

SpinningHugo · Post by **SpinningHugo** » Sun 24 Dec, 2017 10:45 am

Merry Christmas, or else...

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

Willow904 · Post by **Willow904** » Sun 24 Dec, 2017 11:04 am

Morning all.

It seems one person's major inconvenience is another person's exciting opportunity to rush and buy themselves a brand new 4K TV just in time for Christmas (ah well, he'll be the one doing the extra overtime to pay for it in the New Year).

Anyway, it's that time of year again, so Happy Christmas everyone:

: Xmas card.jpg (142.73 KiB) Viewed 7872 times

PorFavor · Post by **PorFavor** » Sun 24 Dec, 2017 11:26 am

Ed Miliband on the blue passport thing -

“It is an expression of how mendacious, absurd and parochial we look to the world.” (Guardian)

The article from which the above quote is taken has been around for a day or so (so you may well have already seen it) - but here's the link, anyway:

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... les-powell

AnatolyKasparov · Post by **AnatolyKasparov** » Sun 24 Dec, 2017 11:33 am

The usual laments BTL of "why weren't you like this as leader, Ed?"

Quite frequently, he was. Our media had little interest in making people aware of it, though.

HindleA · Post by **HindleA** » Sun 24 Dec, 2017 11:40 am

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

Homelessness in England rises by 75% among vulnerable groups

howsillyofme1 · Post by **howsillyofme1** » Sun 24 Dec, 2017 11:42 am

Can I just add that this is still a fantastic board and the quality of discussion is still very high - just to say thanks to those who put time and resources into maintaining it.

Despite the occasional spats and 'toy throwing' (mainly from my side) I still see this as an important place to come and discuss.

Thanks and let it continue into 2018

PS...sorry to say this, but Hugo, can we just have a few days off from snideness please........you are the cloud that dims the light

frog222 · Post by **frog222** » Sun 24 Dec, 2017 11:51 am

Began my net day with another laugh —

Ms May tweeted: “The UK passport is an expression of our independence and sovereignty – symbolising our citizenship of a proud, great nation.

“That’s why we have announced that the iconic blue passport will return after we leave the European Union in 2019.”

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/po ... 26381.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Apart from the colour change which we all know about, the vid at the top explains that the ‘new’ passport must be exactly the same size as the burgundy one .

Comparing the two before me now the old one is much more impressive, but Theresa May, Nigel Farage and those other enthusiasts are not getting it back !

Sorry about that

HindleA · Post by **HindleA** » Sun 24 Dec, 2017 12:14 pm

https://santatracker.google.com/tracker.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Track Santa

gilsey · Post by **gilsey** » Sun 24 Dec, 2017 12:28 pm

tinybgoat wrote:https://www.politico.eu/article/brexit-christmas-carol/
"A Brexit Christmas Carol"
.."Listen, Theresa,” the spirit began. “Brexit is a shambles. The party is all over the place. You need some discipline!”

May shivered. The stentorian voice hadn’t changed one jot. The whole situation seemed unbelievable, the very opposite of strong and stable, as much of a waking nightmare as when the letters had started falling off the backdrop when she was making her conference speech. The specter fixed her with an iron glare.

Enjoyed this, so just moving it over the page in case anyone missed it.

gilsey · Post by **gilsey** » Sun 24 Dec, 2017 12:32 pm

frog222 wrote:Began my net day with another laugh —

Ms May tweeted: “The UK passport is an expression of our independence and sovereignty – symbolising our citizenship of a proud, great nation.

“That’s why we have announced that the iconic blue passport will return after we leave the European Union in 2019.”

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/po ... 26381.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Apart from the colour change which we all know about, the vid at the top explains that the ‘new’ passport must be exactly the same size as the burgundy one .

Comparing the two before me now the old one is much more impressive, but Theresa May, Nigel Farage and those other enthusiasts are not getting it back !

Sorry about that

I think the fuss when they were originally changed was much more about the size and flimsy nature of the new one and less about the colour.
They know they're not getting that back so they were complaining about the colour instead.

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Sun 24 Dec, 2017 1:05 pm

tinybgoat wrote:
HindleA wrote:https://www.gov.uk/government/news/prim ... ssage-2017
Prime Minister Theresa May's Christmas message 2017
How thoughtful of them to provide an "Is there anything wrong with this page?" button.

Thank you for this. I've the fortitude required to read it now.

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Sun 24 Dec, 2017 1:06 pm

Good-afternoon, everyone

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Sun 24 Dec, 2017 1:20 pm

ephemerid wrote:Hello Nesters!

Just popped in to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy new year.

x

Merry Christmas, beautiful friend! Give my love to those you love.

frog222 · Post by **frog222** » Sun 24 Dec, 2017 1:21 pm

citizenJA wrote:
tinybgoat wrote:
HindleA wrote:https://www.gov.uk/government/news/prim ... ssage-2017
Prime Minister Theresa May's Christmas message 2017
How thoughtful of them to provide an "Is there anything wrong with this page?" button.

Thank you for this. I've the fortitude required to read it now.

I typed "No mention of other faiths !"

frog222 · Post by **frog222** » Sun 24 Dec, 2017 1:24 pm

gilsey wrote:
frog222 wrote:Began my net day with another laugh —

Ms May tweeted: “The UK passport is an expression of our independence and sovereignty – symbolising our citizenship of a proud, great nation.

“That’s why we have announced that the iconic blue passport will return after we leave the European Union in 2019.”

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/po ... 26381.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Apart from the colour change which we all know about, the vid at the top explains that the ‘new’ passport must be exactly the same size as the burgundy one .

Comparing the two before me now the old one is much more impressive, but Theresa May, Nigel Farage and those other enthusiasts are not getting it back !

Sorry about that
I think the fuss when they were originally changed was much more about the size and flimsy nature of the new one and less about the colour.
They know they're not getting that back so they were complaining about the colour instead.

I wonder how many of the delighted brexiters are imagining getting back the original size and solidity ???

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Sun 24 Dec, 2017 1:24 pm

howsillyofme1 wrote:Merry Christmas everyone

Hope everyone has as great a Christmas as possible and enjoys good health

Thank you for these wishes, have a Merry Christmas

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Sun 24 Dec, 2017 1:27 pm

PorFavor wrote:Good morfternoon.

And Merry Christmas to everyone - regular posters, poppers-in, and "lurkers". (And Bing and Bot.)

I neglect Bing and Bot disgracefully - thank you for the reminder - Merry Christmas, Bing & Bot

Merry Christmas, PorFavor

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Sun 24 Dec, 2017 1:30 pm

HindleA wrote:Keep warm,safe and healthy, regular utterations of bah humbug I find helps.

Bah humbug.

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Sun 24 Dec, 2017 1:34 pm

I'm probably best described as pagan but I like a lot of the Jesus stories

HindleA · Post by **HindleA** » Sun 24 Dec, 2017 1:36 pm

[youtube]Yers68SeV-Y[/youtube]

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Sun 24 Dec, 2017 1:38 pm

@Willow904
Merry Christmas
Please give my love to your loves

SpinningHugo · Post by **SpinningHugo** » Sun 24 Dec, 2017 2:53 pm

AnatolyKasparov wrote:The usual laments BTL of "why weren't you like this as leader, Ed?"

Quite frequently, he was. Our media had little interest in making people aware of it, though.

He was like that before.

But those qualities were not enough, and it wasn't the media's fault. He had plenty of exposire. He was the wrong person for the job, and tragically lacked the self-awareness to know it.

He doesn't deserve rehabilitation. The left has always been hopelessly sentimental about losers. It is his personal fault Labour lost in 2015, and as a result all that followed.

PorFavor · Post by **PorFavor** » Sun 24 Dec, 2017 2:55 pm

Oh, give it a rest.

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Sun 24 Dec, 2017 2:56 pm

I like Jeremy Corbyn's Christmas message

PorFavor · Post by **PorFavor** » Sun 24 Dec, 2017 3:00 pm

Donald Trump-owned Scottish golf resort loses tax break

Change in Scottish government budget will remove Trump Turnberry in South Ayrshire from business rates relief scheme (Guardian)

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/201 ... -tax-break

howsillyofme1 · Post by **howsillyofme1** » Sun 24 Dec, 2017 3:16 pm

I am not going to respond to that post up above

It is Christmas and I have no more really to say on politics this year that has not already be said - I am in a pretty okay mood and enjoying some time to reflect

Perhaps the poster should also reflect on the patience and goodwill of most of the people on this board to allow him to come and express himself in the way he does. As part of that reflection perhaps he could think about how he approaches 2018 and learns the lessons of previous years and why other boards are not as welcoming to him as this one

AnatolyKasparov · Post by **AnatolyKasparov** » Sun 24 Dec, 2017 3:25 pm

SpinningHugo wrote:
AnatolyKasparov wrote:The usual laments BTL of "why weren't you like this as leader, Ed?"

Quite frequently, he was. Our media had little interest in making people aware of it, though.

He was like that before.

But those qualities were not enough, and it wasn't the media's fault. He had plenty of exposire. He was the wrong person for the job, and tragically lacked the self-awareness to know it.

He doesn't deserve rehabilitation. The left has always been hopelessly sentimental about losers. It is his personal fault Labour lost in 2015, and as a result all that followed.

I disagree with this post in almost every detail. Since it is the season of goodwill, I will leave it at that

tinybgoat · Post by **tinybgoat** » Sun 24 Dec, 2017 3:56 pm

Ah, proper black & white Humbugs, not like the funny coloured ones you get nowadays.

TobyLatimer · Post by **TobyLatimer** » Sun 24 Dec, 2017 4:00 pm

Have yourselves a Merry Little Christmas.

Or whatever ballad is swirling around the hit parade at the moment. My wireless hasn't worked since 1963.

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Sun 24 Dec, 2017 4:05 pm

TobyLatimer wrote:Have yourselves a Merry Little Christmas.

Or whatever ballad is swirling around the hit parade at the moment. My wireless hasn't worked since 1963.

Merry Christmas, TobyLatimer!

Post by **PaulfromYorkshire** » Sun 24 Dec, 2017 4:07 pm

SpinningHugo wrote:
AnatolyKasparov wrote:The usual laments BTL of "why weren't you like this as leader, Ed?"

Quite frequently, he was. Our media had little interest in making people aware of it, though.

He was like that before.

But those qualities were not enough, and it wasn't the media's fault. He had plenty of exposire. He was the wrong person for the job, and tragically lacked the self-awareness to know it.

He doesn't deserve rehabilitation. The left has always been hopelessly sentimental about losers. It is his personal fault Labour lost in 2015, and as a result all that followed.

Amidst the Craig Revel-Horwood pastiche of this post, the highlighted comment perhaps merits some attention.

I got stuck immediately defining what a "loser" is. Most leaders essentially lose in the end, however they present it.

I don't see much sentimentality about Neil Kinnock these days, though maybe there was more respect for him in the past. I wonder if what you detect is an ability for those on the left to see the best in people. For example, I was never sentimental about Foot. But I could see some truly brilliant qualities that make me smile even now as I type.

PorFavor · Post by **PorFavor** » Sun 24 Dec, 2017 5:02 pm

@TobyLatimer

Merry Christmas!

SpinningHugo · Post by **SpinningHugo** » Sun 24 Dec, 2017 5:23 pm

PaulfromYorkshire wrote:
SpinningHugo wrote:
AnatolyKasparov wrote:The usual laments BTL of "why weren't you like this as leader, Ed?"

Quite frequently, he was. Our media had little interest in making people aware of it, though.

He was like that before.

But those qualities were not enough, and it wasn't the media's fault. He had plenty of exposire. He was the wrong person for the job, and tragically lacked the self-awareness to know it.

He doesn't deserve rehabilitation. The left has always been hopelessly sentimental about losers. It is his personal fault Labour lost in 2015, and as a result all that followed.
Amidst the Craig Revel-Horwood pastiche of this post, the highlighted comment perhaps merits some attention.

I got stuck immediately defining what a "loser" is. Most leaders essentially lose in the end, however they present it.

I don't see much sentimentality about Neil Kinnock these days, though maybe there was more respect for him in the past. I wonder if what you detect is an ability for those on the left to see the best in people. For example, I was never sentimental about Foot. But I could see some truly brilliant qualities that make me smile even now as I type.

You obviously don't remember the period after 1992 then. There was enormous sentimentality about Kinnock (his HIGNfY appearance being typical.).

The Tories are neither sentimental about losing, nor do they moan as much about the media (though they've got worse about the BBC).

Which is why they win.

Wilson was never really forgiven for winning, and Blair obviously will be hated forever. If Corbyn died tomorrow hs immortality would be assured.

AnatolyKasparov · Post by **AnatolyKasparov** » Sun 24 Dec, 2017 5:34 pm

Wilson is quite well regarded now it seems?

Actually IMO with him the opposite is true to some extent - quite a few of the "modernising" school saw him as partly responsible for Labour's 1980s wilderness years.

Kinnock's years as leader are still appreciated by some of us. What he did subsequently didn't sit well with everybody (maybe a smaller version of the widespread reaction against Blair's post-PM activities) though I don't personally hold it against him. And yes, it has to be said that his son is totally f***ing dreadful

As for Tories only venerating winners, what was maybe THE most divisive event for them in our lifetimes - one that still has an effect today? I refer, of course, to them knifing Thatcher because she MIGHT have lost an election. Indeed, in my opinion and many others she very likely *would* have lost in 1992 and thus made "loser" Kinnock our PM. But would the large majority of Tories have thought anything less of her if she had? I seriously doubt it.

As so often, these things aren't quite as black and white as you paint them.......

Post by **refitman** » Sun 24 Dec, 2017 5:35 pm

SpinningHugo wrote: You obviously don't remember the period after 1992 then. There was enormous sentimentality about Kinnock (his HIGNfY appearance being typical.).

The Tories are neither sentimental about losing, nor do they moan as much about the media (though they've got worse about the BBC).

Which is why they win.

Wilson was never really forgiven for winning, and Blair obviously will be hated forever. If Corbyn died tomorrow hs immortality would be assured.

Blair obviously will be hated forever

If you think this is why people dislike Blair, you might want to get out more.

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Sun 24 Dec, 2017 5:38 pm

The left are doing okay in the UK. It's tough, always has been tough being left-wing.

Right-wingers...Dave Cameron, George Osborne, Theresa May, Jeremy Hunt, George Smith, Green, Gove, Johnson, Patel...the list goes on...Tory repeat failures all. Media gloss over their repeatedly failing most people and country. Media is expensive, owned by a few depending on them.

A few holding a lot of resources inherited or pilfered want to do what they like, to whomever they like, unaccountable and unrecognised as criminals.

Society can provide everyone with a fine education and meaningful employment, safe, secure housing and excellent healthcare. These tangibles are created through collective effort and that prosperity belongs to us all. There's no shame being left-wing, working for the benefit of everyone instead of just a few.

tinybgoat · Post by **tinybgoat** » Sun 24 Dec, 2017 5:44 pm

Would we have to stick a little red star on the Xmas tree, each year? (re: Hugo's hypothetical imminent canonisation of Corbyn)

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Sun 24 Dec, 2017 5:44 pm

Tories don't admit they're failures
Can't be sentimental when declining acceptance of reality

AnatolyKasparov · Post by **AnatolyKasparov** » Sun 24 Dec, 2017 5:52 pm

Might be worth pointing out, too, that not long ago the most anti-Kinnock people around were the "continuity Blairites".

His expression of joy after Ed M won the leadership in 2010 got a lot of stick in certain circles.

One or two of the *very same people* now have Kinnock backgrounds/avatars on Twitter

howsillyofme1 · Post by **howsillyofme1** » Sun 24 Dec, 2017 5:57 pm

I suggest we ignore Hugo, for a couple of days anyway.

He takes a rather strange pleasure in creating disharmony and then disappearing for a while

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Sun 24 Dec, 2017 6:00 pm

We're united in our condemnation of DisharmonyCreator