401 Responses to Start the Week Thread 23 March 2020

  1. Terminal Moraine says:

    Speaking of vaccines, BBC home page: “Coronavirus: How close are we to a vaccine or drug?”

    By the looks of the pics and video, it’s being entirely researched and developed by women. Which means it’ll naturally be less toxic than a male vaccine, and there’ll be some extra genetic code that’ll make everyone finally want to watch all the ladyball on the BBC

       16 likes

  2. Guest Who says:

    Local, but an interesting way of looking at things.

    I wonder if Mishal has a chart?

       9 likes

  3. Halifax says:

    That’s it I’m not watching another one of these briefings. It’s just a load of left wing reporters trying to trip up the political and scientific community. It must stop as they add no value to the war we are currently fighting. The tossers asking the questions will have there jobs after this me and the likes of many of you may not.
    So back in your box tosser journalists and let the government and scientific community get on with saving lives.
    These “question times” add nothing I repeat nothing to the on-going war we have with this virus.
    Boris and Dom stop these meetings now.

       28 likes

    • The WestWyvern says:

      H, I gave up after the display on Sunday. I fell asleep during the million questions the SLY TV reporter tabled.

         12 likes

  4. Emmanuel Goldstein says:

    Halifax.
    Have you also noticed that when they get to ask their question it turns into at least 3 questions….(and can I ask the medical person…the minister…the business…)
    I’ve usually forgotten some of the questions by the time they get round to replying to each one.

    I would just answer the first question.

    What I would like is to go back to the questioner (did that answer your question) for a comment.

       14 likes

  5. The WestWyvern says:

    Share index, up 450 points today.

    Something is working.

       12 likes

    • Fedup2 says:

      West – if the increase continues over coming days then it has meaning -.if it drops 5 % Wednesday morning I’m sure that will be reported as well .

      The press conferences amounting to “ you should have done more earlier” is really useful – if you are anti BoJo like the BBC .

      87 dead in the last 24 hours exceeds the predicted number ( 81) heading for 120 coming Thursday …. but others here are better informed ( stew )

      In London – the mayor continues his policy of spreading the virus by cutting the number of tube trains thus forcing people together .
      That character spends most of his time either bitching about POTUS or bitching about not being allowed into Cobra . I wouldn’t let him into a public toilet .

         25 likes

      • StewGreen says:

        Fed point of order
        When stats come out they are usually for the day before
        So I refer to the new stats as Monday’s number
        My 81 prediction was based on the Sunday downward blip and was actually for results that come out tomorrow.

           3 likes

        • Fedup2 says:

          Stew You ve fried me head ????

          I’m getting to thinking that big cities – especially londonistan – will be merrily passing on the Chinese virus whilst the rest of the country ‘moves on ‘ .

          I used to wonder if the m25 was the first step to a wall when they were building it ….

             8 likes

      • LastChanceSaloon says:

        I wouldn’t let him into a public toilet .
        I would, then flush him away, he is the right size, colour, smell and value.

           4 likes

  6. The WestWyvern says:

    Sent home from work today.

    During the drive home,

    Roads busy with all manner of vehicles from white vans to buses and private cars.

    Footpaths filled with dog walkers, joggers, the occasional cyclist and many over 70s out for a stroll.

    BandQ open, shed sale on, car park busy.

    Turned into my road, kids playing football in the street.

    Interesting times.

       22 likes

    • Non Snowflake says:

      Possibly (and this is a general feeling, not just because of Corona) people are just sick and tired of being told what to do, what to say, how to act, how to think, and this is one way to give two fingers to the establishment.

      Also of course, people have weighed up the odds, and the chances of actually being directly affected by this virus is so small that you may as well just carry on with life.

      Far too much scaremongering over this whole issue for my liking. When I see schoolkids/teenagers walking around wearing masks, or a 10 year old girl crying because she’s run out of hand lotion, then we really are on a slippery slope.

         13 likes

  7. The WestWyvern says:

    If anyone is a bit stuck either at home ‘working’ or staying safe, why not take the time to email your local MP, Conservative home or indeed fill out the consultation into the future of Anti-BBC detailing just how shameful and disgraceful they have been acting in recent days wrt Boris, the Tories and the country in general during the time of Chinese Wuhan Corona virus.

       20 likes

  8. StewGreen says:

    Latest stats up to Monday are out
    Not great cos it went opposite way of yesterdays calming trends
    daily death trend more than expected
    growth in positive tests more than expected

    Monday 87 new deaths
    Pattern Wed 40, Thu 33, Fri 56 , Sat 48, Sun 54

    New Cases: 1427 from 6491 new tests, Daily Increase: 21.4%
    and Daily Positivity Rate: 21.9% (wow recently positive tests were lower like 17% even 12% )
    Overall Positivity Rate: 8.93%
    The daily new case pattern has gone up to 1427 …Fri 1035, Sat 665, Sun 967
    So Saturdays down was a blip
    I wonder if today is an upward blip or will it be sustained for Tuesday

       11 likes

    • Fedup2 says:

      Stew judging by the need for the excel hospital I’m guessing Londonistan is to be the proud UK hub of those badly affected to need hospital care . Dense populations on top of ‘cultural ‘ issues might make Newhamistan the ideal place for 2000 beds .

      Gotta fix that tube

         14 likes

      • Beltane says:

        When the Italians have the brave and creative thinking to use massive, unused exhibition halls as temporary hospitals, they are hailed as innovators.
        When the government and the army get together to use the enormous facilities of the Excel Centre in east London, to create a potential 4,000 bed treatment centre, the BBC text pages describe it as ‘makeshift’ while adding the essential information that it has in the past been used as a venue for Crufts.
        Could this be the nadir of BBC reporting? Somehow I doubt it.

           25 likes

  9. digg says:

    Tim Martin of Wetherspoons being vilified by all the usual suspects for supposedly telling his laid-off staff to go and work for Tesco’s

    The headlines try to suggest that he came up with this of own accord and to protect his fortune and therefore was uncaring about their futures.

    In fact the long read, as usual reveals the truth…

    He was actually saying that while awaiting government help it would be a wise move for all staff to keep earning by seeking temporary employment elsewhere where in fact it was needed rather than sitting at home, plus eventually they would all be offered to continue their employment with Wetherspoon in due course.

    This suggestion actually came from Tesco itself but the hacks conveniently “forgot” to mention this in their bile-ridden headlines.

    He ACTUALLY said…

    “Wetherspoon has had urgent calls from supermarkets asking for help in recruitment. Tesco alone urgently needs 20,000 staff, we understand. Tim Martin said in the video that staff who wanted to work for Tesco should do so and they will be given first priority when Wetherspoon pubs reopen.”

    But then again he was all for Brexit so he’s scum to them…

       34 likes

    • StewGreen says:

      Misrepresentation is one of their main tools
      .. we see it’s the troll’s main trick.

         15 likes

  10. G.W.F. says:

    Something to reflect on as I sit in my window photographing neighbours I wish to snitch on for resisting the lockdown

    90631957_2918651591513801_9023063029981380608_o.jpg?_nc_cat=101&_nc_sid=110474&_nc_eui2=AeGqMP27R6SqRi3-Ft0JJLW5FaYIPkAOGW-rxkVsJXNEMOgd9CsNo2qZj45xp95w9nCFeCQKfefM1aJXmx0Nf_T37nm0oFq_pcfoQa6WeJDX8w&_nc_ohc=0uVepQqg9EcAX9jx-oB&_nc_ht=scontent.flhr4-1.fna&_nc_tp=7&oh=92dded22da90cc4bcc91faae9bb7751c&oe=5E9EA336

       8 likes

    • Oldspeaker says:

      Observation after having the mutt out, going to be a lot of lean fit dogs in a few weeks. Encountered a few porky looking hounds not on the ‘regulars’ checklist.

         9 likes

  11. Guest Who says:

    It’s the little things…

       7 likes

  12. Guest Who says:

    Hope she didn’t give it to Sir Boaty.

       12 likes

  13. Guest Who says:

    This tall tool seems to have shouldered the task of BBC Press Office, or been issued it.

    Quite what he is trying to convey, who knows.

       12 likes

    • Ian Rushlow says:

      Or expressed in alternative language:
      “The BBC’s faltering claim on the TV license took a further hammering last night. Around 25 million people watched the Prime Minister’s statement, but only around 60% did so on BBC1 whereas a massive 40% did so elsewhere. The BBC claims to speak for and represent the nation, yet in this once-in-a-generation moment it achieved not much more than half the audience. Meanwhile, as people return to the proven mechanisms of family, community, tradition and nation, the BBC pushes ahead unperturbed with promoting the catastrophes of globalism, open borders, hedonistic consumerism and general freakery.”

         18 likes

      • Dystopian says:

        I bet those of you who have been promised visits from the tv tax goons are gutted that they are now unable to attend due to the lockdown

           5 likes

  14. Third Duke says:

    This could be me, but just watched the 4.00 p.m. re-run of State Media and both my wife and I noted with considerable alarm a ‘Breaking’ headline stating, ‘ Health workers in Spain account for nearly 14% of Spain’s total losses’. This was posted several times and then seemingly changed to read, ‘ . . . Spain’s total cases’. Rather an important statement to get right I’d have thought.
    Are Al Beeb simply guilty of genuine error or are they (as usual) giving the pot a bloody good stir?
    Did anyone else here see it?

       12 likes

  15. Jeff says:

    At tough times like these it’s interesting to note how our trusted state broadcaster decides to report events.
    The Beeb seem absolutely smitten with London’s Muslim mayor. He can’t do a thing wrong.
    Today they’re reporting the mayor warning the underground commuters not to pack into trains. The BBC tell us that he has “issued an alert” after the recent photos of the crowded carriages. It makes him seem like a decisive leader. I’m sure they’re trying to portray the little runt as some sort of latter day Churchill. “We will fight them on the Bakerloo line…”
    However, for some inexplicable reason, known only to themselves, they don’t mention that it was the mayor himself who deemed it a good idea to reduce the service at the outbreak of the virus..
    Undoubtedly there are far fewer people travelling on the tube. But, due to this dipstick, there are also far fewer trains, thus negating any benefit. That’s why there’s such a crush.

    Do you hear any of that on the Beeb?
    Do you heck as like…

       34 likes

  16. Guest Who says:

    Trouble in paradise.

       3 likes

    • Oldspeaker says:

      Interesting article, I liked the rather prosaic comment, “maybe being out of work they couldn’t pay their mobile bills anymore” , or similar.
      I’ve heard a few wild stories that those whisked away in white crates were due the same treatment as a broken leg at a frosty point to point. No evidence to substantiate that of course, they did put up a good fight however.

         7 likes

  17. Fedup2 says:

    Jeff
    I think this is one of the clearest examples of all those BBC biases – pro Muslim – pro ethnics – getting in the way of The Truth – that he is becoming a vector for the virus with all those poor devils having to use it .

    Having used the tube all my life I developed the kind of mad coping methods to try to avoid the crush ; but it looks like the current arrangements don’t allow for that .

       10 likes

  18. Guest Who says:

    OT, but my timeline is rammed with petitions from Compass, 38 Bee Gees, Open Democracy, etc… all trying to ‘demand’ this, or ‘force’ that?

    How do these outfits exist to fund staff and promo to churn this out constantly
    ,

       8 likes

  19. Sluff says:

    BBC London w—-k—g( pleasuring -edited – Fed ) themselves silly and popping the champagne corks (not necessarily simultaneously, you understand) as they identify some possible differences in approach between Sadiq Khan, mayor of Londonistan, and the government.
    Then its off to some highly selective agenda-driven voxpop.
    Totally cretinous but entirely predictable.

       14 likes

  20. Guest Who says:

    Well, she has added a sentence, albeit totally redundant.

       1 likes

  21. scribblingscribe says:

    Great news. The stock market has had its biggest gain for over 10 years. A rise of over 9% in one day. I bet the BBC will be clearing all other news to celebrate this great British success.

    er … odd, they haven’t done so yet. perhaps Newsnight will devout an hour to celebrations.

       15 likes

  22. Fedup2 says:

    Thank you every one for your comments .. time for the midweek thread . ……

       3 likes

  23. Up2snuff says:

    If you want a really good laugh at some complete idiocy then I’m afraid you have missed it. You’ll have to listen again on the Radio iPlayer or BBC Noises.

    The Goon Show: The Fireball of Milton Street BBC R4extra 7pm today.

    A classic. And rather pertinent to our present situation in the UK as well as the AGW/CC/CE thing.

       4 likes