Thursday 20th August 2020
Posted: Thu 20 Aug, 2020 7:00 am
Morning all.
https://bylinetimes.com/2020/08/19/sale ... embership/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;The political motivations of populist Brexiteers have been long speculated upon by this paper and others. Nostalgic xenophobia; libertarian fanaticism; pure political expediency – all play a role. However, more important is how these abstract ideals impact lives.
In their treatment of asylum seekers, Farage and Johnson are salesmen of misfortune. They have built a political campaign on the pain, separation and emotional torture suffered by those fleeing war zones. Their measure of success is how many asylum seekers are turned away at the gate, forced like lepers to seek a safe haven somewhere else. It’s possible to win votes or gain political notoriety in a thousand different ways; they have chosen the way that involves fomenting foreign loathing.
The world is more complex than Johnson and Farage make it out to be. If they actually spoke to an asylum seeker, they would probably find that out.
https://bylinetimes.com/2020/08/19/covi ... on-police/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;"" The whole experience was bizarre and a little unnerving. How have we allowed Government to become so shadowy and remote?
For all of my efforts to get to the bottom of what was happening, I could find no part of the state machinery that might have been able to answer basic questions about who wanted to contact me or why. No switchboard, web page or even social media feed that might have allowed me to clear up what in retrospect was obviously either a misunderstanding or a system error.
It seems to me in the aftermath that the whole process had been automated from the beginning, involving no human agency until the police were dispatched to my home. Only recorded voicemails and a computer-generated text message. Was I the victim of a technical glitch or some dreaded algorithm? Is this now the future of the citizen’s relationship with the state? To be pursued by computer programmes with no clear means of redress?
The main purpose is clear – to save money – although in this case the result was an unnecessary waste of police time and resources. The greater long-term cost may be to public trust in Government. ""
David Clark was a special advisor to Robin Cook at the Foreign Office from 1997 to 2001 and now works as an independent analyst specialising in foreign policy and European affairs
I knew that Jonathan Simons - Policy Exchange and ex-DfE adviser - was at Public First but just noticed that Luke Tryl - ex-Mew Schools Network and Ofsted is there too.PaulfromYorkshire wrote:Morning All
One for Roger here!
https://amp.theguardian.com/education/2 ... n-a-levels" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
firm-linked-to-gove-and-cummings-hired-to-work-with-ofqual-on-a-levels?
Yes it’s almost a full house isn’t it?RogerOThornhill wrote:I knew that Jonathan Simons - Policy Exchange and ex-DfE adviser - was at Public First but just noticed that Luke Tryl - ex-Mew Schools Network and Ofsted is there too.PaulfromYorkshire wrote:Morning All
One for Roger here!
https://amp.theguardian.com/education/2 ... n-a-levels" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
firm-linked-to-gove-and-cummings-hired-to-work-with-ofqual-on-a-levels?
Wait. Ed Dorrell is going there now as well? Interesting...edit - been there for a few months apparently.
http://www.publicfirst.co.uk/our-people.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Wouldn't betting that this seems to be building up into a full-scale private government communications team.
Natascha Engel...
James Williams
@edujdw
·
1h
I am still reeling from
@NickGibbUK
interview on
@BBCBreakfast
He still maintains the algorithm is robust and did not disadvantage the disadvantaged. Apparently it was the maths that was the problem. Does he even know what an algorithm is?
Well, tbf there aren't as many opportunities for her to shill for fracking now.RogerOThornhill wrote: Natascha Engel...
Robbie Gibb
@RobbieGibb
Is there anyone more damaging to the BBC's reputation for impartiality than
@lewis_goodall
? This is so off the scale I don't even know where to begin.
Sounds just slightly Kafkaesque!Willow904 wrote:I'm having a bit of an up and down day. Some of my son's GCSE grades were disappointing but mostly as expected given the time him missed when ill and he's ok to go on to sixth form, so not too bad. He didn't get anything for French, though, not even a U. They said he wasn't entered because of "insufficient evidence" and I'm a bit cross really because they didn't even bother to tell us, today was the first we knew. They also said he couldn't resit it because he hadn't been entered, yet I'm sure he'd been entered for the exam before they were cancelled so I'm a bit confused. I'm not even sure if we can appeal. It's left me a bit upset because it's happened because he's been so unwell and it just feels unfair. It's not his fault they couldn't be bothered to reschedule tests that he missed. So feeling a bit down at the moment.
Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon has been arrested after being charged with defrauding hundreds of thousands of donors.
(cJA edit)frog222 wrote:BLT busy this morning !
COVID-19 ROBO-GOVERNMENT
What Happened When I Was Pursued by the Self-Isolation Police
Stalked by a shadowy, faceless entity, David Clark thought the Government’s attempts to contact him were a hoax
( Lucky man, the cops listened to his explanation ... )https://bylinetimes.com/2020/08/19/covi ... on-police/"" The whole experience was bizarre and a little unnerving. How have we allowed Government to become so shadowy and remote?
For all of my efforts to get to the bottom of what was happening, I could find no part of the state machinery that might have been able to answer basic questions about who wanted to contact me or why. No switchboard, web page or even social media feed that might have allowed me to clear up what in retrospect was obviously either a misunderstanding or a system error.
It seems to me in the aftermath that the whole process had been automated from the beginning, involving no human agency until the police were dispatched to my home. Only recorded voicemails and a computer-generated text message. Was I the victim of a technical glitch or some dreaded algorithm? Is this now the future of the citizen’s relationship with the state? To be pursued by computer programmes with no clear means of redress?
The main purpose is clear – to save money – although in this case the result was an unnecessary waste of police time and resources. The greater long-term cost may be to public trust in Government. ""
David Clark was a special advisor to Robin Cook at the Foreign Office from 1997 to 2001 and now works as an independent analyst specialising in foreign policy and European affairs
Administration By Algorithm, gotta love it !
---
now we're getting somewhereRogerOThornhill wrote:Oh dear...
Former Trump advisor Steve Bannon arrested on charges of defrauding donors in fundraising scheme
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/08/20/former- ... cheme.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon has been arrested after being charged with defrauding hundreds of thousands of donors.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/ ... t-22552737" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;AnatolyKasparov wrote:Well, as ever when we have these longuers I am glad somebody posted