Friday 3rd October

Post by **letsskiptotheleft** » Fri 03 Oct, 2014 5:18 pm

Where's John Cole when you need him, or Robin Oakley, political reporters you respected?!

Upstarts all over the shop!

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Fri 03 Oct, 2014 5:25 pm

NickRobinson wrote:
Tubby Isaacs wrote:Do you see any hope for Mr Miliband, Andrew?

Just a glimmer. The electoral system is totally unfair and Mr Miliband could sneak into Downing Street. By the back door, disguised as an errand boy sent by Len McCluskey which is how the public see him. Mr Cameron has pointed out that the Coalition won 59% of the vote last time. So as Mr Cameron will say, Mr Miliband will have to step aside if he wins any less than that.

But, doesn't Mr Cameron have questions to answer about unfunded tax cuts?

Not from me. I wouldn't be doing my job if I asked him about economic credibility. The public don't have any questions about that. I met them the other day. They told me I should just let the Prime Minister waffle on as long as he wanted next time I was on my show.
I'm glad you asked me that Andrew, thanks. Well, as you've astutely surmised, Ed Miliband, son of a man who, let's not forget, hated Britain, has a huge electoral advantage from the current imbalance in the system that favours Labour. Let's not forget that Prime Minister Sir David Cameron has already climbed a huge electoral mountain in the shape of Gordon Brown, to come within an ace's hair of an outright majority, and after that speech, who would bet against him? A week is a long time in politics, but being weak means there's not a lot of time for Ed Miliband. Back to you in the studio.

Nick, you're right there on the ground, where the politics is literally happening. From here, it seems that David Cameron is right at the heart of the big issues. Revamping the European Union, paying down the debt, bold tax cuts for the average Briton, reclaiming human rights. He's not run out of ideas at all. Yet it seems that all Labour is offering is Ed Balls setting out a load of numbers. Or am I being unfair on Mr Cameron?

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Fri 03 Oct, 2014 5:28 pm

JackPranker wrote:
dfhodges wrote:
ohsocynical wrote:Britain Elects ‏@britainelects 2h2 hours ago
National Opinion Poll (Populus);
LAB - 38% (+2),
CON - 33% (-1)
UKIP - 13% (-1)
LDEM - 8% (+1)
GRN - 3% (-2)
That's a disaster for David's brother.

ephemerid · Post by **ephemerid** » Fri 03 Oct, 2014 5:33 pm

Back to normal now the LSD's worn off......

My hero for today - Chris Leslie.
He has written to that nice Mr.Dilnot at the UK Statistics Authority to clarify Our Glorious Ronsealed Leader's assertion in his speech that Britain is "paying down it's debts".
Mr.Dilnot has informed Mr.Leslie that Public Sector Net Debt as at June 2010 was £997.4BN/64% of GDP, and as at the end of August 2014 was £1.432.3BN/79.1% of GDP.
Mr.Dilnot says that his lovely people at the ONS published this information on 30th.September. He didn't mention that this was a whole day before the Prime Minister told his lie.

So - Leslie now has it in writing that "paying down" the country's debts actually means increasing it by £434.9 Billion. I am left wondering if Mr.Dilnot will, yet again, feel the need to write to the PM for the umpteenth time on the misrepresentation of official figures.....

Meanwhile, on Planet Grayling - the poor dab has no idea just how thick he is, does he? Having expressed his view that the ECHR was founded to stop the formation of dictatorships, he now wants to get rid of it. The logical progression must be that he wants to form a dictatorship.

Whoops! He's just gorn and given the game away.....

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Fri 03 Oct, 2014 5:34 pm

@NickRobinson:

See you at the shoot at Chequers, Lady Moggy

And Nanny and Teddy too.

Post by **PaulfromYorkshire** » Fri 03 Oct, 2014 5:36 pm

http://disabilitynewsservice.com/2014/1 ... o-benefits" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

minister-insists-dwp-is-right-to-ignore-reports-of-deaths-linked-to-benefits

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Fri 03 Oct, 2014 5:36 pm

NickRobinson wrote:
ephemerid wrote:
ErnstRemarx wrote:I'm pleased that we've got new posters here - rather than the spambots we've been getting - but I get a horrible feeling that the political antennae of the newest posters isn't quite as sharply developed as some of the more established contributors.

How can you be so dismissive, Ernst?

I am sufficiently impressed to announce that, suitably fortified after Nanny's tea (the nightingales on toast were a bit overdone, but obviously staff aren't what they used to be) I now intend to be known as Jacobia Rees-Moggy.

Clearly, dfhodges and this robinson person are not entirely PLU, but they seem to have the right ideas. I'm quite convinced I read them with my customary accuracy, as I had my monocle cleaned by my under-footman just the other day.

Honestly, Ernsters my dear old thing, we must be nice to the poor chaps. It's not as though they're normal, is it? One has a sense of noblesse oblige even if some oiks think this is a bit fogeyish for their taste, and new servants are always to be encouraged.

Toodlepip.
Well, I think we've just learned something very important from that interview with Jacobia Rees Moggy, and that's that we can no longer regard the Tories as the party solely of the rich. The party of David Cameron can now be seen to be attracting support from right across the board, after that virile speech, and let's not forget that this is a man who's been described as 'vigorous, glossy and unbending' by the Guardian, of all newspapers. You will have noticed the reference to Lady Mogg's footman, who is now just as likely to be voting for Mr Cameron as Lady Mogg herself, if he know's what's good for him. The footman is just in that group of people who won't benefit in the least from the Prime Minister's flexibly funded tax cut even though the Express is treating him as though he will so he'll vote for it. And let's not forget that by refusing to be drawn on where the tax cuts will be funded from, Prime Minister Cameron, the Prime Minister, keeps the pressure on Ed Miliband, whose economic credibility goes from bad to worse.

See you at the shoot at Chequers, Lady Moggy

That's what's terrifying key modernisers in the Labour Party. As a former GMB official whose mum played Elizabeth I on film told me, there is no way David Miliband would have been trapped on the bag foot while misreading the economic runes. And it's impossible not to agree. The voters have decided Ed Miliband is a geek with no vision. Sadly, trying to cost policies just confirms to them he lacks Mr Cameron's boldness. A boldness that will doubtless earn him a discount from the moneymarkets, if, and it's a very remote, if, he doesn't wipe out Labour's deficit by next week.

ErnstRemarx · Post by **ErnstRemarx** » Fri 03 Oct, 2014 5:37 pm

Here's one that goes beyond laughable, and stretches my incredulity of both the Graun and the Tories to the absolute limit.

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/201 ... ree-market" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Unsurprisingly, commenters are pretty much of a single mind. I'd like to see Osborne face them...

ephemerid · Post by **ephemerid** » Fri 03 Oct, 2014 5:38 pm

[quote="NickRobinson]

Well, I think we've just learned something very important from that interview with Jacobia Rees Moggy, and that's that we can no longer regard the Tories as the party solely of the rich. The party of David Cameron can now be seen to be attracting support from right across the board, after that virile speech, and let's not forget that this is a man who's been described as 'vigorous, glossy and unbending' by the Guardian, of all newspapers. You will have noticed the reference to Lady Mogg's footman, who is now just as likely to be voting for Mr Cameron as Lady Mogg herself, if he know's what's good for him. The footman is just in that group of people who won't benefit in the least from the Prime Minister's flexibly funded tax cut even though the Express is treating him as though he will so he'll vote for it. And let's not forget that by refusing to be drawn on where the tax cuts will be funded from, Prime Minister Cameron, the Prime Minister, keeps the pressure on Ed Miliband, whose economic credibility goes from bad to worse.

See you at the shoot at Chequers, Lady Moggy[/quote]

Shooting? In the Chilterns? Are you quite quite mad?

One nevah shoots in Berks, Bucks, or Beds. One HUNTS, you ghastly little oik.

One shoots only on one's own estates when not in Scotland. Shooting is what Scotland is FOR.

Where DID they send you to school?

JustMom · Post by **JustMom** » Fri 03 Oct, 2014 5:39 pm

ErnstRemarx wrote:I'm pleased that we've got new posters here - rather than the spambots we've been getting - but I get a horrible feeling that the political antennae of the newest posters isn't quite as sharply developed as some of the more established contributors.

Hi Ernst, I know I'm a relative newcomer here and I mainly lurk,but I can assure you that I really love this board. I don't say a lot because I am too busy lapping it up here,nodding and agreeing with the posts.
Just wanted you to know how much I appreciate this place.
I'll go back to lurking now.

RogerOThornhill · Post by **RogerOThornhill** » Fri 03 Oct, 2014 5:40 pm

Oh dear.

Catholic school breaches ‘Trojan Horse’ Ofsted rules

http://www.theguardian.com/education/20 ... sted-rules

Basically it's the result of Morgan getting Ofsted to check for something that she can't empower schools to do. And guess what - it results in the farcical situation of a Catholic school being told that they should be teaching about the dangers of extremism and radicalisation.

Post by **PaulfromYorkshire** » Fri 03 Oct, 2014 5:41 pm

Great post from Richard Murphy

http://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2014 ... ant-stand/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

memo-to-george-trade-unions-and-charities-arent-opposed-to-business-its-exploitation-and-abuse-we-cant-stand

ShirleyWilliams · Post by **ShirleyWilliams** » Fri 03 Oct, 2014 5:43 pm

Tubby Isaacs wrote:
NickRobinson wrote:
Tubby Isaacs wrote:Do you see any hope for Mr Miliband, Andrew?

Just a glimmer. The electoral system is totally unfair and Mr Miliband could sneak into Downing Street. By the back door, disguised as an errand boy sent by Len McCluskey which is how the public see him. Mr Cameron has pointed out that the Coalition won 59% of the vote last time. So as Mr Cameron will say, Mr Miliband will have to step aside if he wins any less than that.

But, doesn't Mr Cameron have questions to answer about unfunded tax cuts?

Not from me. I wouldn't be doing my job if I asked him about economic credibility. The public don't have any questions about that. I met them the other day. They told me I should just let the Prime Minister waffle on as long as he wanted next time I was on my show.
I'm glad you asked me that Andrew, thanks. Well, as you've astutely surmised, Ed Miliband, son of a man who, let's not forget, hated Britain, has a huge electoral advantage from the current imbalance in the system that favours Labour. Let's not forget that Prime Minister Sir David Cameron has already climbed a huge electoral mountain in the shape of Gordon Brown, to come within an ace's hair of an outright majority, and after that speech, who would bet against him? A week is a long time in politics, but being weak means there's not a lot of time for Ed Miliband. Back to you in the studio.
Nick, you're right there on the ground, where the politics is literally happening. From here, it seems that David Cameron is right at the heart of the big issues. Revamping the European Union, paying down the debt, bold tax cuts for the average Briton, reclaiming human rights. He's not run out of ideas at all. Yet it seems that all Labour is offering is Ed Balls setting out a load of numbers. Or am I being unfair on Mr Cameron?

Sorry I'm late. Nick has read the notes. He agrees...

NickRobinson · Post by **NickRobinson** » Fri 03 Oct, 2014 5:43 pm

Tubby Isaacs wrote: Nick, you're right there on the ground, where the politics is literally happening. From here, it seems that David Cameron is right at the heart of the big issues. Revamping the European Union, paying down the debt, bold tax cuts for the average Briton, reclaiming human rights. He's not run out of ideas at all. Yet it seems that all Labour is offering is Ed Balls setting out a load of numbers. Or am I being unfair on Mr Cameron?

That's right Andrew. Let's not forget that human rights are unpopular at the moment, unless you're the trade-unionist, Paedophile Information Exchange-affiliated paymasters of the Labour Party, the party of Mid-Staffs. My sources tell me that Mr Prime Minister Cameron, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, which let's not forget he saved in the face of opposition from the likes of Alex Salmond and Gordon Brown, is relaxed about criticism in his own party, which is absolutely not a problem for him, but might cause sleepless nights for Ed Miliband if he has any hope of being the leader of the largest party on the second of May 2015. It's a divided Labour Party we see at the moment, with irreconcilable differences between Dan Hodges on the one side and everyone else on the other side, and Ed Miliband is running out of time to persuade people. His unpopular stance on people actually having some rights is not going to help him with the insurmountable problems he faces.

ephemerid · Post by **ephemerid** » Fri 03 Oct, 2014 5:45 pm

PaulfromYorkshire wrote:http://disabilitynewsservice.com/2014/1 ... o-benefits

minister-insists-dwp-is-right-to-ignore-reports-of-deaths-linked-to-benefits

Mark Harper is worse - if such a thing is possible - than Miller and McVey combined.

They at least attempted to lie - he simply refuses to consider even looking at the deaths. He's a nasty nasty piece of work.

ErnstRemarx · Post by **ErnstRemarx** » Fri 03 Oct, 2014 5:45 pm

JustMom wrote:
ErnstRemarx wrote:I'm pleased that we've got new posters here - rather than the spambots we've been getting - but I get a horrible feeling that the political antennae of the newest posters isn't quite as sharply developed as some of the more established contributors.
Hi Ernst, I know I'm a relative newcomer here and I mainly lurk,but I can assure you that I really love this board. I don't say a lot because I am too busy lapping it up here,nodding and agreeing with the posts.
Just wanted you to know how much I appreciate this place.
I'll go back to lurking now.

Feel free to pitch at any time! Nice to see you on here. I'm afraid that today's board appears to have been overwhelmed by a mass outbreak of silliness, and I'm heartily sorry that I changed the registration system. At least the bloody spambots actually posted a few decent Viagra links.

NickRobinson · Post by **NickRobinson** » Fri 03 Oct, 2014 5:46 pm

letsskiptotheleft wrote:Where's John Cole when you need him, or Robin Oakley, political reporters you respected?! Upstarts all over the shop!

I'm glad you asked me that Eddie, thanks

ephemerid · Post by **ephemerid** » Fri 03 Oct, 2014 5:47 pm

JustMom wrote:
ErnstRemarx wrote:I'm pleased that we've got new posters here - rather than the spambots we've been getting - but I get a horrible feeling that the political antennae of the newest posters isn't quite as sharply developed as some of the more established contributors.
Hi Ernst, I know I'm a relative newcomer here and I mainly lurk,but I can assure you that I really love this board. I don't say a lot because I am too busy lapping it up here,nodding and agreeing with the posts.
Just wanted you to know how much I appreciate this place.
I'll go back to lurking now.

Don't lurk! Talk to us!

I for one would be interested in anything you have to say.

Please.

Post by **letsskiptotheleft** » Fri 03 Oct, 2014 5:48 pm

NickRobinson wrote:
letsskiptotheleft wrote:Where's John Cole when you need him, or Robin Oakley, political reporters you respected?! Upstarts all over the shop!
I'm glad you asked me that Eddie, thanks

Shut it slap head! Spat out better than you before breakfast.

dfhodges · Post by **dfhodges** » Fri 03 Oct, 2014 5:50 pm

NickRobinson wrote:
Tubby Isaacs wrote: Nick, you're right there on the ground, where the politics is literally happening. From here, it seems that David Cameron is right at the heart of the big issues. Revamping the European Union, paying down the debt, bold tax cuts for the average Briton, reclaiming human rights. He's not run out of ideas at all. Yet it seems that all Labour is offering is Ed Balls setting out a load of numbers. Or am I being unfair on Mr Cameron?
That's right Andrew. Let's not forget that human rights are unpopular at the moment, unless you're the trade-unionist, Paedophile Information Exchange-affiliated paymasters of the Labour Party, the party of Mid-Staffs. My sources tell me that Mr Prime Minister Cameron, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, which let's not forget he saved in the face of opposition from the likes of Alex Salmond and Gordon Brown, is relaxed about criticism in his own party, which is absolutely not a problem for him, but might cause sleepless nights for Ed Miliband if he has any hope of being the leader of the largest party on the second of May 2015. It's a divided Labour Party we see at the moment, with irreconcilable differences between Dan Hodges on the one side and everyone else on the other side, and Ed Miliband is running out of time to persuade people. His unpopular stance on people actually having some rights is not going to help him with the insurmountable problems he faces.

It's an unpalatable fact to David's brother but David very, very much agrees with me on what's wrong with the Labour party. Watching the death throes of the party as it spirals into a six point lead in the opinion polls is heartbreaking for someone like myself, whose years of hard work at the GMB, Progress and the Telegraph looks to be all in vain.

Oh David; where art thou in the time of thy country's need?

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Fri 03 Oct, 2014 5:54 pm

ErnstRemarx wrote:
JustMom wrote:
ErnstRemarx wrote:I'm pleased that we've got new posters here - rather than the spambots we've been getting - but I get a horrible feeling that the political antennae of the newest posters isn't quite as sharply developed as some of the more established contributors.
Hi Ernst, I know I'm a relative newcomer here and I mainly lurk,but I can assure you that I really love this board. I don't say a lot because I am too busy lapping it up here,nodding and agreeing with the posts.
Just wanted you to know how much I appreciate this place.
I'll go back to lurking now.
Feel free to pitch at any time! Nice to see you on here. I'm afraid that today's board appears to have been overwhelmed by a mass outbreak of silliness, and I'm heartily sorry that I changed the registration system. At least the bloody spambots actually posted a few decent Viagra links.

JustMom · Post by **JustMom** » Fri 03 Oct, 2014 6:03 pm

Thanks Ephemerid,I have spent all naffin afternoon trying to work out how to put my avatar on but its too big and I can see nowt to make it smaller.

Post by **letsskiptotheleft** » Fri 03 Oct, 2014 6:04 pm

More evidence, if needed of the bollocks spouted by #FailingGrayling is wholly unworkable.

http://press.labour.org.uk/post/9906306 ... plain-that" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Fri 03 Oct, 2014 6:05 pm

Mike Smithson ‏@MSmithsonPB 8h8 hours ago
LAB extends lead in today's Populis online poll. No sign of another cross-over
Lab 38 (+2), Con 33 (-1), LD 8 (+1), UKIP 13 (-1)

Post by **letsskiptotheleft** » Fri 03 Oct, 2014 6:06 pm

JustMom wrote:Thanks Ephemerid,I have spent all naffin afternoon trying to work out how to put my avatar on but its too big and I can see nowt to make it smaller.

Try to reduce the pixel size, that's an easier way to do it I usually find?

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Fri 03 Oct, 2014 6:11 pm

ephemerid wrote:
PaulfromYorkshire wrote:http://disabilitynewsservice.com/2014/1 ... o-benefits

minister-insists-dwp-is-right-to-ignore-reports-of-deaths-linked-to-benefits

Mark Harper is worse - if such a thing is possible - than Miller and McVey combined.

They at least attempted to lie - he simply refuses to consider even looking at the deaths. He's a nasty nasty piece of work.

Yep.

If only they had a David Drew in the Forest. He could get Harper out next time.

AnatolyKasparov · Post by **AnatolyKasparov** » Fri 03 Oct, 2014 6:16 pm

PaulfromYorkshire wrote:Getting very Fridayish on here except no by-election round up yet?

It's up at the other place now.

I see it has recieved a Graun "pick" btw, which it is hard not to see as a thinly disguised "please don't leave us as well!" plea

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Fri 03 Oct, 2014 6:18 pm

@NickRobinson: If you're still reading.

Briefcase Michael ‏@BriefcaseMike 13m13 minutes ago
#PM get Steve Nallon to read a speech that Thatcher never gave. Somewhere, Nick Robinson has just lit a post-orgasm cigarette.

Post by **refitman** » Fri 03 Oct, 2014 6:24 pm

RobertSnozers wrote:
tinyclanger2 wrote:
adam wrote:Join me next week on 'let's make no fucking sense' when I'll be waxing an owl.

Excellent.
Interestingly, one possible title for Monty Python's Flying Circus was 'Owl Stretching Time'. I think what we'd all like to know is does one stretch the owl before or after waxing, and what each says about your social class and upbringing?

Does waxing the owl help with the rotations?

[youtube]9hBpF_Zj4OA[/youtube]

Post by **refitman** » Fri 03 Oct, 2014 6:35 pm

AnatolyKasparov wrote:
PaulfromYorkshire wrote:Getting very Fridayish on here except no by-election round up yet?
It's up at the other place now.

I see it has recieved a Graun "pick" btw, which it is hard not to see as a thinly disguised "please don't leave us as well!" plea

Here we go:

AnatolyKasparov wrote:Six local council contests (for seven vacancies) this week:

Cardiff - Labour hold with almost exactly half the vote, with little change or swing since 2012 when they won both seats here from the LibDems with a local Independent group (spearheaded by a former prominent LD) taking second but losing to Labour by about 2 to 1 - and that remained the case now. UKIP stood here for the first time here and came third with 11%, ahead of the Tories who were slightly up on last time. And that was enough to edge ahead of the LibDems who saw their share more than halved on two years ago when they had already been well beaten in a ward where they won both seats in 2008 and shared the spoils with Labour four years earlier - they are fifth and last now.

South Lakeland DC/Cumbria CC - this "double header", in contrast, saw LibDems hold both seats - though their victory margins were somewhat less crushing than has recently been the norm in Tim Farron's fortress in Westmorland. This was especially true of the county vacancy with the LibDems taking "only" about half the vote as there was a swing of 15% to the Tories last year (their candidate being one of the few Tory district councillors in these parts) with Independents and Greens making up the numbers (in both seats neither Labour or UKIP stood this time in spite of doing so previously - to little effect, admittedly) The district contest was more one sided but even this saw a clear swing to the Tories since the previous recent contests here (2008, 2011 and a 2012 by-election) Greens performing a bit better here than in the CC division, with nearly 8%.

South Northamptonshire DC - an unusual double vacancy for one ward (both the seats in this two member division) saw a less remarkable result as the Tories easily held with over 60% - though that was down somewhat on the previous contests since this ward, which is almost entirely comprised of new housing on the outskirts of Northampton, was formed (shares of 70-80% throughout against a lone LibDem in 2009 and 2012 by-elections, and a sole Independent in 2011, after the Tories won the original 2007 contest unopposed) Labour will be quite pleased to have come second (albeit distantly) here, ahead of UKIP who will be disappointed in their share of 15% given they did well in the Northants CC division covering this area last year.

South Tyneside - UKIP gain from Independent, confirming the recent trend that has seen them emerge as the main opposition to Labour here as other groups have steadily declined. This has historically been one of Labour's weaker wards here, they scraped a seat here in the 2004 all outs but lost it two years later and did not win again until 2010, only for an Independent to triumph a year later. Labour beat the Indies in 2012 and held on earlier this year, only for UKIP to move into a strong second. A small swing to UKIP since then was enough for them to triumph (Tories declining further helped them there) but Labour will look in anguish at the Greens standing here and taking over 5%. LibDems last with just 2.5%.

Haringey - Labour hold with over half the vote - a swing to the LibDems since May but still a far cry from 2006 when this was a knife edge marginal which helped decide control of the council when the LibDems fell just short, and even in 2010 it was relatively close. Still a Labour win by almost 3 to 1 this time, though - as for the also rans Greens Tories and UKIP all slightly down on last time (and in the same order) whilst TUSC, despite scoring their usual derisory level (1.5%) avoided last place for once, that dubious honour being taken by an Independent.

Five contests next week.

Post by **refitman** » Fri 03 Oct, 2014 6:38 pm

JustMom wrote:Thanks Ephemerid,I have spent all naffin afternoon trying to work out how to put my avatar on but its too big and I can see nowt to make it smaller.

Hello. You can use the re-size instructions here: http://flythenest.org/viewtopic.php?p=1636#p1636" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. You need to make it a maximum of 90 pixels by 90 pixels.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Fri 03 Oct, 2014 6:38 pm

JustMom wrote:Thanks Ephemerid,I have spent all naffin afternoon trying to work out how to put my avatar on but its too big and I can see nowt to make it smaller.

This was pretty foolproof when I used it to do mine.
http://www.shrinkpictures.com/create-avatar/
Does what it says on the tin.

TechnicalEphemera · Post by **TechnicalEphemera** » Fri 03 Oct, 2014 6:43 pm

Fair play to Grayling, he has just killed off the left wing protest vote at the GE and moved it back into a Labour tactical vote.

Vote Labour or lose your human rights - a fairly clear dividing line between the parties.

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Fri 03 Oct, 2014 6:46 pm

rebeccariots2 wrote:
JustMom wrote:Thanks Ephemerid,I have spent all naffin afternoon trying to work out how to put my avatar on but its too big and I can see nowt to make it smaller.
This was pretty foolproof when I used it to do mine.
http://www.shrinkpictures.com/create-avatar/
Does what it says on the tin.

I've bookmarked it. Dead easy.

Post by **refitman** » Fri 03 Oct, 2014 6:51 pm

There is a pretty good piece over at Pieria, skewering both Osborne's conference speech and the Graun/Wintour's reporting of it: http://www.pieria.co.uk/articles/mr_osb ... t_disorder" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

(courtesy of Sputnikkers on the Politics Blog)

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Fri 03 Oct, 2014 6:52 pm

TechnicalEphemera wrote:Fair play to Grayling, he has just killed off the left wing protest vote at the GE and moved it back into a Labour tactical vote.

Vote Labour or lose your human rights - a fairly clear dividing line between the parties.

I've seen quite a lot of comments and tweets today saying that with the assault on the ECHR and the tax cuts announcement there is now a big gap opened up in the centre of politics as the Tories have shifted so far right.

Tax cuts for middle and higher earners and reducing / ignoring human rights ..... they've stopped pretending they're nice haven't they.

Just listening to Radio 4 and the comedy half hour is pillorying the Tories unfunded 7 billion tax giveaway ... and making a lot of references to that wonderful Eddie Mair interview with Nicky Morgan. Merciless.

Post by **letsskiptotheleft** » Fri 03 Oct, 2014 6:53 pm

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/da ... bt-4374387" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

One for you tweeters, succinct and to the point.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Fri 03 Oct, 2014 6:55 pm

Retweeted by Ian Dunt
Jess Brammar ‏@jessbrammar 32m32 minutes ago
Geoffrey Robertson QC tells us Chris Grayling is "widely despised, no more than a constitutional vandal"

Ouch.

Post by **letsskiptotheleft** » Fri 03 Oct, 2014 6:59 pm

Now I shouldn't laugh, but:

Dai Lama @Welshdalailama ''Ebola'' and ''Jeremy Clarkson'' trending. *fingers crossed*

TechnicalEphemera · Post by **TechnicalEphemera** » Fri 03 Oct, 2014 7:01 pm

Can somebody tweet

Osborne - business to speak up about markets. Redwood - business to shut up about Europe. WTF.

Post by **refitman** » Fri 03 Oct, 2014 7:06 pm

TechnicalEphemera wrote:Can somebody tweet

Osborne - business to speak up about markets. Redwood - business to shut up about Europe. WTF.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Fri 03 Oct, 2014 7:13 pm

10 Holes And Howlers In The New Tory Plans For Human Rights Law
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/10 ... _hp_ref=uk

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Fri 03 Oct, 2014 7:13 pm

Jarlath O'Brien ‏@JarlathOBrien 10m10 minutes ago
You're a fickle bunch. Tweet that I've been within touching distance of Michael Gove and get a raft of unfollowers. He's not the Ebola virus

All together now. Oh yes he is

ephemerid · Post by **ephemerid** » Fri 03 Oct, 2014 7:28 pm

ohsocynical wrote:Jarlath O'Brien ‏@JarlathOBrien 10m10 minutes ago
You're a fickle bunch. Tweet that I've been within touching distance of Michael Gove and get a raft of unfollowers. He's not the Ebola virus

All together now. Oh yes he is

Noooooo!!!!!!

Ebola is a haemorrhagic fever which is frequently fatal, always serious, but can be treated.

Govobola Terminalis is a fulminating infection which is totally incurable and the afflicted are doomed.

Luckily, it's not infectious and has so far only been known to affect one person. The damage, however, in incalculable....

TechnicalEphemera · Post by **TechnicalEphemera** » Fri 03 Oct, 2014 7:32 pm

refitman wrote:
TechnicalEphemera wrote:Can somebody tweet

Osborne - business to speak up about markets. Redwood - business to shut up about Europe. WTF.

So if you are a business wanting to talk about European markets do you step up or shut up? Very confusing.

ephemerid · Post by **ephemerid** » Fri 03 Oct, 2014 7:34 pm

Thank you for the avatar-shrinking links folks - I am now avatared.

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Fri 03 Oct, 2014 7:35 pm

ephemerid wrote:
ohsocynical wrote:Jarlath O'Brien ‏@JarlathOBrien 10m10 minutes ago
You're a fickle bunch. Tweet that I've been within touching distance of Michael Gove and get a raft of unfollowers. He's not the Ebola virus

All together now. Oh yes he is

Noooooo!!!!!!

Ebola is a haemorrhagic fever which is frequently fatal, always serious, but can be treated.

Govobola Terminalis is a fulminating infection which is totally incurable and the afflicted are doomed.

Luckily, it's not infectious and has so far only been known to affect one person. The damage, however, in incalculable....

PorFavor · Post by **PorFavor** » Fri 03 Oct, 2014 7:36 pm

rebeccariots2 wrote:
Retweeted by Ian Dunt
Jess Brammar ‏@jessbrammar 32m32 minutes ago
Geoffrey Robertson QC tells us Chris Grayling is "widely despised, no more than a constitutional vandal"
Ouch.

I've also heard that that Chris Grayling stretches his owls before waxing them. He is rightly widely despised.

PorFavor · Post by **PorFavor** » Fri 03 Oct, 2014 7:37 pm

Goodnight, everyone.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Fri 03 Oct, 2014 7:49 pm

This has nothing to do with politics.

We've had to take one of the dogs to the vets today ... weeing in her bed at night and drinking an awful lot. (Think she'll be OK - not clear what it is yet - but we're hoping it's not serious and we won't be taking an incontinent dog with us when we do our very intensive stint in the cull zone soon .... I have already checked out where the launderettes are in local Gloucestershire towns.)

While we we there the local cat fostering / rehoming lady came in with several carrier baskets containing the latest arrivals and sad stories. We know her well having brought home a small herd / job lot of homeless black cats on hearing that, apparently, no one wants black ones anymore.

One of her carriers was full of tiny black and white kittens. One had a sultry black female cat in it. And the other carrier - skawking at full pelt the entire time - contained 'Barnaby'. She told us he is with her because his owner is very very ill with a rare leukemia - that he is 10 years old and how hard it is to get people to take a cat of that age. Of course - I had to say it - I heard myself saying it - I said, how much I love older cats and how I have often had an urge to get another cat that isn't all black. She whipped off the fleecy blanket covering the carrier. Barnaby is a delicious - screeching - tortoiseshell.

I haven't succumbed yet. But difficult to forget. One to ponder.