Midweek Thread 25 March 2020

Over to you – maybe we should a notional prize for the most biased BBC ‘journalist ‘- but it’s stiff competition .

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456 Responses to Midweek Thread 25 March 2020

  1. Celtic_Mist says:

    “Our closeness makes us vulnerable,” Mr Cuomo warned.

    Cuomo is the new Obama just because he’s a Democrat

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-52044452

       11 likes

  2. Celtic_Mist says:

    This is tampering with a video, if they did that on YouTube…

    They did and got away with it! Maybe not on Twitter though?

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-us-canada-51848140/coronavirus-five-takeaways-from-trump-s-oval-office-address

       5 likes

  3. Halifax says:

    Have you noticed somthing ? Somthing that up until this week you would hear regularly????
    Ambulances. I live near the hospital and your hear them all day every ten minutes or so, now………nothing. it’s wierd.

       21 likes

    • Up2snuff says:

      Yes, hashtag metoo-ish. I’m within hearing range of a major road and nearby is a ‘cottage hospital’. Not many police sirens, either.

         11 likes

    • Up2snuff says:

      Halifax, the thought has since occurred that the local ambulances may have been sent to major cities where the infection rate is higher.

         2 likes

  4. Darcy3 says:

    Bit confused with all these new phrases used in the msm, I may be wrong but as I understand it:

    “Superspreader” : gobshites like Greta Thunberg imposing their views upon all via the bbc

    “Flattening the curve” : the inevitable effect of rationing on the likes of Diane Abbot / Jo Brand and various labour / liberal fatsos

       40 likes

  5. Guest Who says:

    So the bbc is pausing the job cuts to continue bringing the bronzed strumpet squawking like a parrot to try and score a Paxo gong?

    Seems from the comments that Maxi has been redeployed.

       38 likes

  6. Foscari says:

    Whilst the Labour Party is showing” some” unity in its
    support to what the government is doing, the BBC is
    becoming even more than considering itself to be the
    official opposition to the government, It is becoming
    an enemy of the state !
    We know that there are anarchist’s, socialist worker,
    Trotskyist editors, sub editors , researchers working for the
    BBC , and this is their time. Of course there are the usual subject
    liberal bigot presenters who make no pretence in hiding their
    personal animosity to the government and particularly
    Boris Jonson. Laura Kuensberg is getting more and more
    facetious in her questioning of the Prime Minister. Emily
    Maitlis with her liberal bigotry is irredeemable. And those
    of you who live outside London ,aint seen nothing like
    the Londonistan Programme. You would think that the UK
    was responsible for the outbreak for the CHINESE virus that
    the communist dictatorship has exported to the whole world. This after Asian Flu and SARS!!
    Am I the only one that suspects that one of the main reasons
    that London is by far the worse centre for the outbreak is because
    of the near to 100,000 illegal immigrants in the capitol ?
    What are these folk supposed to do when they cannot use
    any of the help being offered to the rest of us. They have to
    work to survive. Just look at pictures of the crowded tube
    trains, look at the make up of the passengers. If they get
    symptoms which they are, they cannot phone 111.
    The great majority will survive BUT can you imagine how
    much of the infection they are spreading? Yes, they are going
    to stand two meters away from others in their 4 in a room
    bedsits or on the streets. There needs to be some kind of amnesty to help stop them spreading the disease.

       30 likes

  7. Fedup2 says:

    Fos – I think the BBC isn’t doing itself much of a service ( which is good ) . It is claiming to be holding ministers to account but is really undermining messages and thereby increasing fear in the public – which at the moments needs to be reassured rather than terrified .

    I’m glad I don’t hear much of it .

    I’m bored enough to be listening to chirpy weather forecasters delivering their 3 minute ditties as though life is normal . I even heard some -er- chap say “if you’re out and about “ which almost led to the need for a new ratio as I sought to weaponise the nearest object ….

       26 likes

  8. Celtic_Mist says:

    BBC always trying to undermine Trump

       16 likes

  9. Guest Who says:

    BREAKING:

    The BBC is remaking Blake’s 7 with an all female cast.

    With either Emily Meritless or Kay Burley in the Jacqueline Pearce role.

    The ‘7’ now refers to the number of viewers they each have.

    Or awards they give each other at galas.

    Sources close to the BBC have learned.

       38 likes

    • Guest Who says:

      She’s mental. Essentially.

         30 likes

      • JamesArthur says:

        She is a knob….how does she know he didn’t pay for it likes 1000’s of private people have been doing….
        but besides that…yes he is heir to the throne..

        I bet she has jumped the NHS queues for healthcare with her private medical insurance….

        Is this journalism nowadays?

           37 likes

    • john in cheshire says:

      Here’s an idea:
      What if Dr Who, Star Trek and Star Wars were all rewritten to put women and emotions as the key features in their storylines? I wonder if that would keep their fans interested?

      Hmmm. Just a thought. But I doubt anyone will try it.

         14 likes

      • JamesArthur says:

        john

        They tried it with the last Terminator movie and surprise surprise it went down the pan……..even Arnie couldn’t rescue it.

        How to ruin a classic Trilogy…….

           11 likes

    • Celtic_Mist says:

      Guest,
      Blake’s 7 was every young man’s fav because of Jacqueline Pearce now sadly gone

      Enjoy!

         6 likes

      • TrickCyclist says:

        I used to love Blake’s 7 when I was young. Jacqueline Pearce, Gareth Thomas, Paul Darrow and creator Terry Nation, all gone now.
        Just to lower the tone (nudge, nudge), will the new all-female Blake’s 7 use the same peculiar guns the old Liberator crew had? They might find them useful!
        gun2.png6da3326e-64d5-47b7-8443-1fd0ce33e2afOriginal.jpg

           7 likes

      • Fedup2 says:

        Celtic – what a pleasant 5minutes 48 seconds . Thank you , when I saw that they are remaking Blake’s 7 I thought it was a joke … it is isn’t it ?

        Maybe Gold will repeat the original . …..

           7 likes

    • Non Snowflake says:

      I hope between them they can steer the Liberator.

         5 likes

      • TrickCyclist says:

        In the very first episode of the original Blake’s 7, Roj Blake was framed by the Federation for child abuse.
        Think they’ll have that in the new version?

           3 likes

  10. Guest Who says:

    BBC Moaning Emole

    Personal stories

    As many countries grow accustomed to increasingly stringent lockdowns, personal stories are emerging that demonstrate how dramatically life has changed. For example, the world of dating has got a lot more complicated. One dad tells us how he’s told his daughter he’s gone to Africa when, in reality, he’s self-isolating in a campervan parked in the field next door. And we hear from young gay people forced into isolation with homophobic parents.

    ***

    Sounds a typical national selection.

       25 likes

  11. Guest Who says:

    Titter ye not.

       16 likes

  12. infoquest says:

    Dyson have won an order to manufacture ventilators.
    Listening to Toady they are clearly anti-Dyson.
    Is this historic, or what is the background?

       26 likes

    • john in cheshire says:

      Mr Dyson is white, he’s a man, he’s successful, he’s doing something rather than criticising everything.

      What’s to like?

         42 likes

      • Sluff says:

        He doesn’t however have a working design yet that passes the tests. And what about the other industry groups trying to come up with something?

        No issue with Dyson or his company but the nature of the announcement did sound a little fishy.

           8 likes

        • Up2snuff says:

          Sluff, “No issue with Dyson or his company but the nature of the announcement did sound a little fishy.”

          as did Rachel Reeves’s response for the Labour Party. “10,000 is not enough. We need the Government to make 30,000.”

          Those with memories, unlike the BBC, remember Gordon Brown as PM wasting several billion on influenza variant vaccines in, I think, 2009.

             29 likes

          • Rob in Cheshire says:

            The brainless socialist bimbo obviously thinks “the Government” has secret ventilator making factories lying idle at the orders of the fascist Johnson clique.

               11 likes

      • honestus says:

        JIC,
        all the above but above all he supported Brexit, something that BBC find absolutely unforgivable and will remain so until Dyson is gone or the BBC are.

           20 likes

    • Ian Rushlow says:

      There is the slight matter of James Dyson’s complaints about patent infringements by Chinese companies plus his reported comments about Chinese students (“British universities were allowing Chinese nationals to study engineering and spy on the departments where they were working, enabling them to take technology back to China after completing their studies”). As globalist shrills, the BBC cannot forgive that sort of blasphemy.
      https://web.archive.org/web/20110329092655/http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/8606286-chinese-students-in-uk-stealing-tecnology-secrets-james-dyson-told-uks-sunday-times-newspaper

         31 likes

      • BRISSLES says:

        I’m a huge fan of G-Tech products. Their lawnmower was a life game changer for me. His company was one of the first to jump in to invent the wanted ventilators, and he was interviewed 10 days ago with his R & D team in Worcester. They maintained they were just weeks away from a prototype. Now all of a sudden Dyson are getting all the publicity with a massive 10000 order from the Government – but its not in the production stage yet. I just hope Mr Graham gets to the post first !

           17 likes

        • Celtic_Mist says:

          Brissles,

          I had assumed that G-Tech were just cheap copies of Dyson.

          Seems maybe that was incorrect, must do my homework better

          Thanks

             5 likes

        • JimS says:

          G-tech have demonstrated their ventilator here. It uses existing medically approved items and is powered by the hospital’s oxgen supply.

          CR Clarke have also produced a ventilator. Their model is electrically powered and uses filtered ambient air.

          Clearly there are different classes of ventilator, like comparing a racing car to a pick-up. Some patients might just need assistance with breathing whereas others, with reduced lung function need extra oxygen.

          It wouldn’t surprise me if the NHS has got used to buying all-singing, all-dancing models, and paying the price. Perhaps there are other areas where equipment is being bought-in that is over-specified too?

          I bet no NHS administrator ever got promoted for cutting costs.

             17 likes

  13. Guest Who says:

    Maybe Sweeney! is in with a chance with Emily or Kay?

       14 likes

    • Celtic_Mist says:

      Guest,

      It’s quite touching really that folks here are interested in Sweeney’s career post-BBC

         4 likes

  14. Sluff says:

    One of the top news prominent on the Toady 7 am news.

    A guy in New Zealand has pleaded guilty to murder and terrorist offences in connection with his attack on ………….a Mosque.

    Now, why would the BBC prioritise that story?

       30 likes

  15. Sluff says:

    Mrs S had a good idea.
    If the government are going to financially assist the self-employed then just base it in their previous tax returns !!!!

    Those doing cash-in-hand jobs off the books will therefore not qualify. Those declaring and paying tax will gain.

    A sadly rare case of honesty yielding a clear benefit.
    How hard is that?

       33 likes

    • Ian Rushlow says:

      Logical and sensible. And consistent with current practice, as HMRC estimates your tax liability for the current year based upon the previous one (and which, as self-employed readers will know, has partly to be paid in advance).

         18 likes

  16. fakenewswatcher says:

    Sluff- New Zealand: This story will get a lot of publicity from beeb – it’s an unusual reversal of the ‘normal’ terrorism we see, and this time-for a rare change, for beeb, the bad guy and the good guys are ones who support the narrative beeb would like to promote.

       13 likes

  17. Guest Who says:

    Joke media taking joke pols very seriously.

    Sadly, #CCBGB

       6 likes

  18. digg says:

    Just released:

    Eating meat helps protect against coronavirus

    Car Exhaust fumes kill coronavirus

    A coating of cow manure on your face helps protect against coronavirus.

    All not true but wouldn’t it be interesting?

       18 likes

    • john in cheshire says:

      You forgot to mention that smoking protects against the China virus.
      That’s a fact because lots of people in white lab coats and with serious faces have most probably said so. Also, the science is settled on this matter because I say so.

         12 likes

    • Darcy3 says:

      RE cow manure, this actually guaranteed to help with chapped lips, it does not cure but stops you licking your lips

         15 likes

  19. Guest Who says:

    A ‘former’ talks to Rog.

    Essential.

       16 likes

    • NameNotNumber says:

      Meanwhile, Guest, from the front page of The Times this morning:
      ‘The scientist whose models precipitated the tougher measures imposed last week said that the death toll could end up being ‘‘substantially lower’’ than 20,000, with most of those fatalities among those who would have died this year anyway.’

      I’ve read that paragraph at least a dozen times this morning.

         23 likes

  20. Dover Sentry says:

    500K people have volunteered to be NHS responders.

    But will there be proper representation from communities who disproportionately need organ transplants but are very reluctant donors?

    Or need blood transfusions but don’t donate for that either?

    Or those who rely heavily on the NHS due to other genetic problems caused by cosanguinity? – doubtful 🙁

    All volunteers so far are white.

    Where’s BBC Panorama when you need her?

    (Information/Post From Guido).

       34 likes

    • JimS says:

      Of course the volunteers are white, didn’t you know that the NHS is exclusively staffed by BAMEs, some just ‘rescued’ from the Channel!

      Not entirely unrelated: Who picks the crops in the countries that send us those essential seasonal workers? How come ‘the rest of the world’ can train doctors and nurses and we can’t? Or to put it another way, why do we need more doctors and nurses, (and crop pickers), than the rest of the world?

         28 likes

  21. Guest Who says:

    ‘Essential’ Norm really serving well today.

    If he isn’t punting out ‘Really?’, it’s ‘Hmnn’.

       13 likes

    • JamesArthur says:

      Boris just needs to deal with the BBC after the corona virus. The BBC is a virus…it serves no purpose except to replicate itself and its ideology throughout a system and make many people sick as a consequence.

      They have tried to undermine the Government at just about every level…

         53 likes

      • Fedup2 says:

        James – permit me to nag everyone about the need to submit views to the public consultation about the compulsory licencing arrangement again.

        I’ll be getting even more boring about this in the days leading up to consultation closure . And yes I know it’s only a tiny step ….

           15 likes

  22. AsISeeIt says:

    Forgive me while I make a serious point today.
    In Parliament yesterday, on two occasions, and sadly without a word of correction from any quarter, Corbyn boldly asserted that the purpose of the House was to Hold The Government To Account.
    I’m afraid he has allowed himself to be brainwashed into the misapprehension that Britain has an American-style system built on the concept of checks and balances. The real purpose of Parliament is not to be the seat of permanent opposition to the Executive. It is to be the forum for debate, for amending and honing legislation. As opposition party MPs have fallen into a mindset of Resistance and performative negative reaction to anything and everything the PM proposes, so our representatives gave up their serious job of law-making to those faceless unelected bureaucrats of both a domestic and a European flavour. How much easier and more fun it was to stage gotcha interventions and pious virtue signals readily clip-able for social media, than it was to think of and take responsibility for positive contributions to new regulations. At the same time the attitude of relentless opposition ignored those many voters in constituencies who may have made their precious mark against the winning MP who ended up on the opposition benches. So, faith in our previously tried and tested least-worst First Past The Post system is undermined. And one more thing. This current tiresome and persistent cliché that it is imperative that we have a Strong Opposition. Think about that notion for a moment. Presumably the thinking goes that this Strong Opposition is able to trash just about every manifesto pledge made and initiative the Government tries to take? So the ideal equilibrium is political log-jam? Meanwhile, the Permanent Civil Service, Corporate Lobbyists, Single Issue Campaigners, Legal Activists and Quango Placemen are free to rule us as they please.

       53 likes

    • Up2snuff says:

      Excellent post, AISI. Good points all.

         15 likes

    • JimS says:

      Well it would be nice if there had been some real opposition in parliament over the years with scarce a ‘fag paper’ between the parties!

      Opposition for its own sake is wrong. Some years ago when my local authority was wanting to introduce a blanket 20 mph limit I had a look to see what other authorities were up to. It was fascinating to see that where the LibDems were in power they wanted lower speed limits but where they weren’t they opposed it. (The same with wind farms!)

      What we really need are MPs who can think for themselves and who are prepared to stand up for what they believe. Unfortunately many are now ‘professional’ politicians, schooled in PPE and PR, selected by quota – “Thank you for selecting me. Now what are our policies?”

         18 likes

      • honestus says:

        AISI and JimS,
        Your points are well made and for the apolitical observer a sad reflection on our political class.
        I would also however include the table rattlers of the MSM and in particular BBC. They are ‘vital’, apparently, in ‘holding power to account’, except they are not representative, they are not elected and they are drawn from a very narrow prism of leftthink orthodoxy that colours and distorts most everything they say and broadcast.
        I would go as so as they are the bigger threat to representative democracy for their corrosive bias, always playing the man and never the ball.

           21 likes

  23. Up2snuff says:

    TOADY Watch #1 – Spot the balls

    Interesting interview with Sir Stuart Rose, Chairman of Ocado Group at 8.10 a.m.. There was a little contradiction and a little misrepresentation of statistics. I’m very tempted to annoy our very own StewGreen with a competition.

    But I won’t. 🙂

    Stuart Rose started by talking about how instantaneous food production was in the UK, farm to fork. Nick Rob helpfully agreed that supermarkets no longer have warehouses! (Untrue.) Later, Stuart was saying that there is plenty of food for all in the supermarkets’ supply chains. Both cannot be true.

    He also mentioned that there was £1 billion of panic buying in peoples’ cupboards now. Cannot remember if he said ‘extra’ or not but just to put that into perspective, the UK food expenditure in supermarkets works out around four times that figure every single week in ‘normal times’.

    Next item: a Martha Moan about PPE equipment, lack thereof. OFF-switch activated.

       23 likes

    • Nibor says:

      Up2 ,

      The supermarkets have huge warehouses that are called Regional Distribution Centres ( RDCs) .

      Normally the food goes from factory to the RDCs , where it is sorted for the stores and delivered by the liveried lorries .
      The RDCs and lorries are not owned or run by the supermarkets , but by what are now called logistics companies eg DHL , XPO , Wincanton .

         8 likes

      • Up2snuff says:

        Nibor, yes indeed, I have driven past a few in my time, North Circular, A13, M1, etc..

        The internet also gives the lie to what Nick Robinson said and Stuart Rose agreed with. You do not even have to switch to RAM-hungry Earth View on a well known on-line map provider. The RDCs and sub-warehouses are helpfully identified on Street View.

           4 likes

  24. Emmanuel Goldstein says:

    Radio bbc newcastle this morning.

    Each day they report the new number of deaths from the coronavirus. Probably the most accurate indicator of how the virus is spreading.
    They give out the number of deaths and the running death total.

    However.
    This morning, they said, at the end of each of the news bulletins, the death total has now risen to 465.
    You could almost feel the disappointment that ‘only’ 28 died over the last 24 hours.
    This is a huge drop in numbers.
    It may well be a one off but instead of dropping to about a third it had gone up by three times do you think they might have mentioned it?
    Why the reluctance to give out this improvement in death numbers.
    By saying the total has gone up to 465 the impression is another big rise as many will not remember yesterday’s total was 437.

    They gave out the number of confirmed cases and then added ‘but the true total will be much higher’

    That’s how to manipulate news.
    It’s what you expect from the bbc.

       47 likes

    • john in cheshire says:

      Just wait until there is a death of one of their current or former employees. It will be as though the deceased is the acme of rectitude and wonderfully represents the indefatigable nature of their heroic workforce.

      I wonder if the cynics in the hive are having bets on who the first one is likely to be?

         20 likes

      • Ian Rushlow says:

        Harsh. But when it happens we can guarantee the eulogy will include one or more of the following phrases:

        “She overcame discrimination as a woman to find a career within the BBC…”

        “She/he/they overcame discrimination as a person of colour to find a career within the BBC…”

        “She/he/they overcame discrimination as an LGTBQWERTY person to find a career within the BBC…”

        “She/he/they overcame discrimination as a muslim to find a career within the BBC…”

        “They were a passionate advocate of public service broadcasting and had argued the case for the television license to continue…”

           32 likes

        • honestus says:

          She,he/they resisted their inclination toward open mindedness to embrace the hive to find a career within the BBC.

             13 likes

  25. Up2snuff says:

    TOADY Watch #2 – More spot the balls

    Stuart Rose interview again. The internet is the undoing of bias, propaganda and half-truths while it may help disseminate all of those and worse.

    Supermarket recruitment. Sir Stuart claimed that the supermarkets needed staff to help in the crisis in things like filling the shelves. I just happened to look at one supermarket on-line that has stated that it needs extra workers. I looked for shelf-stacker positions.

    No jobs available. All taken.

       23 likes

    • Fedup2 says:

      Up2
      I’m surprised after Stuart Rose’ Brexit experience he’d keep a low profile . I read stuff about the remain campaign – he was lead speaker for – I think – 4 days before they sacked him –
      And this bloke was supposed to be the ‘talent ‘

         18 likes

      • Up2snuff says:

        Fed, you are right and I was wondering if there was something behind the ‘the supply chain is short’ and ‘just in time’ when we now know that it is anything but. The BBC just cannot resist their relentless push of their agendas.

           7 likes

  26. digg says:

    I can’t quite get my head around why the BBC are so fixated on how the UK is “behind the curve” on Coronavirus testing.

    For the general public I can see no value in testing whatsoever, surely even if you have a negative test you could contract the virus minutes later anyway!

    Plus getting the all-clear might make you more relaxed about mingling and going out etc. and therefore exposed to picking up the virus anyway.

    The only place I can see a use for it is within the medical sector where staff could be tested before EACH shift to make it any use at all as they could very well pick it up on the ward 10 minutes after being tested anyway!

       36 likes

    • Tabs says:

      I think the reason for the UK not testing very much is that a lot of NHS staff would test positive and then be sent home leaving a much bigger NHS problem.

      But the governement dare not explain their reasoning otherwise they will have Emily Maitlis and Laura Kuenssberg both screwing their faces up. I think we can all agree that Coronavirus non testing is better than Emily Maitlis and Laura Kuenssberg gurning on TV.

         29 likes

      • Ian Rushlow says:

        Tabs… but how can we tell when Emily Maitlis and Laura Kuenssberg are screwing their faces up?

           30 likes

    • honestus says:

      Digg,
      ‘why the BBC are so fixated on how the UK is “behind the curve” on Coronavirus testing’.
      If the government suddenly embarked upon mass testing, the BBC, bless their cottons, would sulk off to find a bigger and better stick. They exist not to inform or to enlighten but to attack. Even during these trying times the tories are still tories and are the bastards to be challenged, undermined and belittled at every opportunity. Once this is understood, then the sniping and pettiness and aggressiveness becomes easier to understand.
      Johnson needs to keep his powder dry but forget nothing.

         22 likes

    • JamesArthur says:

      Digg
      exactly right – I was tested and negative – really wanted to have it just to avoid another period of unnecessary lock down

         3 likes

  27. Up2snuff says:

    BBC Web-site Watch #1 ‘Virus surges in US as death toll passes 1,000.’

    ‘The country is just behind Italy in terms of cases, with more that 30,000 in New York State alone.’

    Italian cases of Covid-19 at 25 March: over 74,000
    USA cases of Covid-19 at 25 March: nearly 66,000
    (Source – Johns Hopkins Uni)

    Population of USA: over 330 million.
    Population of Italy: just over 60 million
    Population of New York State: 19 million.

       21 likes

    • Frustrated says:

      Like many others, I’m avoiding BBC as much as possible and getting most of my BBC info from this site (thanks to all those putting themselves through it), so maybe I have just missed the reports but why does BBC / the MSM not seem at all interested in finding out the truth behind the Chinese Covid19 figures?

      Do they REALLY believe only 3287 (to date) have died in China, that Italy has more than double that number (7503), and Spain – which “started” slightly later has already overtaken with 3647? Much more interesting to concentrate on the US figures …

      Seems the only really UNNECESSARY people still “working” (;o) out there are the journalists spreading hysteria/panic and providing misinformation (and of course continually bashing the govt) – no sign of genuine investigative research anywhere.

      Or have I just missed it?

         30 likes

    • Fedup2 says:

      Up2
      The experience of New York City / Londonistan will be a bit of a case study once this Chinese virus has been dealt with methinks -.

      Similar population sizes amongst other comparatives . Not quite sure now of demographics but I’m sure that will shake out .

      As for Londonistan – I wonder how the BBC will report the behaviour of the Muslims on Friday ? Particularly those competing to out Muslim the others ?

         25 likes

  28. Fedup2 says:

    Not BBC but London supermarket update .
    Tesco NE London 0800. Escalators not working to get in and out so it’s walk or lift / elevator .
    TIP- avoid lifts if you can at the best to times

    Limited shelf supplies and shop now laid out to encourage distancing except at the checkouts where cross infection most likely .
    Wear gloves if you have them .
    I wrote something here last week about my personal suffering by having to buy full fat cravendale . This time – bris – semi !

    BBC – 8 thousand ventilators or 12000 ? Someone’s lying says BBC – it’s all lies says BBC – have government of unity says BBC . Every other country on the planet is doing everything better says BBC . Norway’s giving every one everything . We should be like Norway says BBC .

    I’m ranting and I’m not even fully exposed to it .

    On a more serious note – has anyone got a ronco groomer ?

       27 likes

  29. Fedup2 says:

    If anyone ( anorak )is looking for something to watch today – Thursday – it may be that BBC parliament covers the EU parliament debating the response to the Chinese virus . It will be interesting to hear who countries got help from .

       13 likes

  30. Jeff says:

    I think we’re being bombarded by bad news at the moment. Negative stories about the conduct of our fellow countrymen are always popular with the BBC. We’re constantly seeing pictures of people crammed into trains or inconsiderate folk congregating en mass in public places. I think sections of the media are determined to show the British in as a negative a light as they possibly can, but most of us (I beleive) are pretty well behaved and sensible.
    I did my weekly shop yesterday. I was really impressed. We all queued in an orderly fashion, keeping a good couple of yards between us…and it was all very good natured.
    I suppose it was all a bit of a novelty and there was a lot of banter.
    Now, it certainly helped that it was a bright Spring morning. And from my perspective It didn’t do any harm that my rear neighbour was a fine looking and chatty blonde and in front was a pretty little brunette. I wouldn’t have been unduly upset if I’d had to stand there for a couple of hours!
    The shelves were well stocked. The staff were helpful and the customers considerate.
    Oh, and I managed to pick up a decent bottle of claret.
    Phew…

       35 likes

    • TrickCyclist says:

      Jeff,
      I had a similar experience this morning shopping both for myself and my parents, who are in their 80s.
      My Mum has COPD and can’t walk far and my Dad had a heart attack in January that he’s struggling to recover from. He can’t drive until he’s been assessed by a cardio consultant, and that appointment isn’t until late May, but who knows when it will take place. As you can appreciate, it’s already been a stressful year and for people like them, who view the current crisis remotely through the (distorting) lenses of the BBC and ITV, the situation can seem pretty unnerving. The unavailability of shopping from home doesn’t help.
      So I’m happy to say that my local Tesco really have got their s*** together, good organisation and helpful staff with a calm atmosphere among the customers. My Mum was relieved that I managed to get her everything she needed.
      Tesco: Two thumbs up.
      MSM: Thumbs down.

      Footnote: While in the queue outside, waiting for security to admit the limited numbers (2 metre spacing marked on the ground with tape), I saw at least three people baulk at the length of the queue and push their trolleys away again. So you didn’t really need the stuff, did you? I only heard one of them speak, and he turned out to be East European. Just an aberration, I’m sure.

         35 likes

    • Dover Sentry says:

      The Sun reported yesterday that police were outside supermarkets to protect against violent shoppers.

      However, it applied to only two supermarkets. Both were in east London. Mile End and Stratford to be exact.

      Go figure…

         40 likes

  31. theisland says:

    I have no idea whether the government is doing the right things overall, but what I do know is that the usual suspects are using covid-19 to their advantage.
    e.g.
    bBC
    EU
    Globalists

       27 likes

    • LastChanceSaloon says:

      ti
      From your link, from Nandy the candidate.
      “There is absolutely no reason I can see why someone like Gordon Brown wouldn’t be in the meeting room, helping to steer us through this. He’s dealt with not just the global financial crash, but foot and mouth as well. We really do need to start drawing on a wider pool of expertise.”

      Foot and mouth, Brown opens mouth and inserts foot.
      Brown who funded the Iraq war.
      Brown who sold UK gold for next to nothing.
      Brown who assisted in wasting billions on the identity card project which never became airborne.
      Brown, I could continue ad libitum.
      Even by historical Labour failures Brown is a ****.
      I would not put Brown in charge of emptying a chamber pot.

         12 likes

  32. Oldspeaker says:

    Sure I’m not the first to have this thought (not sharpest tool in box) Maybe supermarkets could move bread and milk to the shop entrance for the duration.
    Should add not just for me because I’m bone idle but for all the bone idle.

       22 likes

    • Tabs says:

      It will never happen. The front of store is reserved for fags and lottery tickets. The more life essential the item is, the further back it is placed ie. pharmacy right at the back to make the elderly walk as far as possible whilst unemployed tracksuited yobs can park right outside and nip in for fags.

         26 likes

      • TrickCyclist says:

        Tabs,
        I don’t suppose they can put the pharmacy near the doors – it would make it easier for those same yobs to rob it.

           12 likes

      • BigBrotherCorporation says:

        The placing of various items in supermarkets is very carefully, and scientifically analysed to maximise profits and send the ‘right messages’.

        Bread (bakery) is placed towards the rear of the shop, as is milk, as they’re ‘essentials’ which most customers will regularly buy, and as they walk past the chocolate bars and wine bottles (carefully arranged with the more profitable/heavily marketed brands in eyeline, cheaper on the bottom shelf, almost out of sight) most will be tempted to pick something up – even if that wasn’t their intention on entering the shop.

        Lottery tickets and fags are placed in a separate booth, to show how ‘virtuous’ the supermarket are (even though they still, through gritted teeth have to, customer demand don’t you know? sell these ‘naughty’ items), whilst the fresh fruit and veg makes a big, attractive display as you enter. Which sends the message “See, we’re looking after your health… aren’t we virtuous?”

        Meat is no longer centre stage, but increasingly shifted into a side alley, so as not to offend vegans and vegetarians. Clothing and toiletries have also been shifted sideways, in recognition that men do as much household shopping as women now. Meanwhile, children’s toys and sweets are placed where they can’t be avoided and the high premium items a shelf lower at ‘kid’s eye line’.

        Which all makes me wonder about the current situation, and how the supermarkets are handling it, do they know what they’re doing? Yes, they certainly do. Are they doing what’s best for customers? No, they’re doing what’s best for their shareholders.

        A short supply of rationed items like bog rolls and pasta is quite nice for the supermarkets really – it ensures customers return more often, and as each visit is bound to result in the purchase of a few ‘extras’, it’s all extra money syphoned out of customer’s pockets. Funny how the only pasta they’re restocking is the premium brand, isn’t it?

        It makes me laugh that supermarkets are moaning about having to take on extra staff, with the extra sales (something like £1billion in the first week of the pandemic alone!) they can afford to take on extra staff.

           25 likes

  33. Old Goat says:

    Just thought I’d comment about food shopping in this part of France, for a change.

    I drove 10 Km into the local town, this morning. Streets virtually empty, and not a single gendarme. Filled up with diesel (down to 1.25 Euros a litre). Also 20 litres of petrol for the garden equipment. No queue.

    Went shopping in our local Casino. Few people there, plenty of stock on ALL the shelves – and extra cashiers. Otherwise there was absolutely nothing extraordinary, other than the cashiers wearing gloves and face masks.

    The whole trip lasted an hour, door to door.

    When mme Goat goes shopping, it usually takes her all morning…

       34 likes

    • Fedup2 says:

      Goat
      Is it true that you have to complete a form before your trip stating the purpose ?

      I saw one posted on Le Twitter

         5 likes

      • Northern Voter says:

        It’s quite true about the form, they are bringing in a new one shortly where if you are going out for exercise ,you have to put the time you left your house on it, as you can only exercise for an hour. You can only move within a kilometre of your house. As for the supermarkets here, I went this morning to do the shopping, only 1 person per trolley. However, the staff had removed all the trolleys, except for a small number, people queued for a trolley, which was disinfected every time it was returned. Shop was relatively empty but no shortages on the shelves.Quite a decent experience compared to that seen on UK TV.

           0 likes

  34. AsISeeIt says:

    ‘Prince Charles is facing growing criticism for travelling to his Scottish retreat while showing symptoms of the illness.’ – The Times.

    But what of Idris Elba, Angela Merkel, Greta Thunderbird… all jumping the testing queue?

    Our Mainstream Media, eh?

    Apologies to Marlon Brando.

    “… and then I realised, like I was shot with a diamond, a diamond bullet, right through my forehead, and I thought the genius of that, the will to do that… then I realised that they were stronger than we…”

       20 likes

    • G says:

      AslSeelt,
      He’s probably secreted away his own ventilator in his Scottish retreat. ‘Case things go wrong…………

         6 likes

      • Up2snuff says:

        G, well, he is next in line and the way things go for some with this virus …. he may have a bit of glimmer in the eye yet.

        PS: Think we must pray for HerMaj to stay well and strong for a good few more years.

           13 likes

  35. Tabs says:

    Chloe Middleton: Coronavirus victim, 21, ‘had no health issues’
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-52041709

    Apart from being mildly asthmatic as reported by more trustworthy news sources.

       29 likes

    • LastChanceSaloon says:

      T
      Pretty girl, let us hope her death may encourage others to act in a manner which reduces the overall casualties.

      I have no hope that racist Islamic child rape pandemic will show any signs of cessation or that ALBeeb-Guardian will provide any criticism thereof.

         3 likes

  36. G says:

    Just before 0800 earlier on Toady, a brilliant example was made of our “Beauty” and its utter hatred of the POTUS and its adoration of all things Communist. Indeed, a stark contrast.
    With regard to the “Wuhan Virus”, that was an “Attack” on China whereas, for the Chinese to claim the virus is American is, “Disinformation”. I guess, ‘par for the course’ with us, Biased BBC identifiers, experienced in understanding ‘Beauty double-speak’.

       33 likes

    • fakenewswatcher says:

      G – At least, we -on this site- share a contempt for our “Beauty” and its propaganda, which -in this ‘virus’ time- strengthens our feeling of solidarity.
      If we weren’t all great POTUS fans to begin with, I suspect the lying, propagandistic, ‘know better’ beeb are turning us into such?

         25 likes

  37. AsISeeIt says:

    My local super-grocers have queues just to get inside. I’m sorry but why queue when they may not even have the items I need? Plus, just as Old Goat alludes above, the street outside was packed with cars waiting and engines running – don’t tell Greta.

    I’m somewhat dismayed that people appear to be enjoying this. As a dedicated contrarian this goes against my nature. Much of the guff is nothing but distraction, superstition. I wouldn’t be surprised if next week people start wearing crow-beaked plague masks.

    Can’t help but feel if we were told the NHS needed us to pull down our trousers, place a lamp shade on our heads and begin whistling Dixie – many people would simply do it.

    I ask myself if this state of complient nonesense can be achieved for the supposed common good, then how come the Government doesn’t ever order us to stop thieving… or – just for example – have stable marriages?

       21 likes

    • TrickCyclist says:

      AsISeeIt,
      Shops are urging customers to pay with cards, presumably to avoid spreading the virus by handling cash. Another move towards a cash-less economy, once all this is over? I mean, contactless only works if you’re spending less than £30 in one place – then you’ve got to press the buttons that every infected person before you already has.

         19 likes

  38. JimS says:

    Incredible!

    Apparently there are people ‘stuck’ in a hotel and they ‘don’t know what is going on’!

    Yet somehow they manage to telephone the BBC.

       31 likes

  39. s.trubble says:

    AM i alone in thinking “CLAP” for carers is not such a good idea?

       19 likes

    • Sluff says:

      Nope, s., and I would have thought this was an ‘underlying condition’ best avoided.

         12 likes

  40. BRISSLES says:

    Well, there’s a thing. Amongst those who decided to holiday abroad and now find themselves stuck and wanting the Government to get them home (why?), are British Citizens stuck in Pakistan.

    A Consultant was interviewed (at his Pakistani holiday home?) pleading his case for requesting a mercy flight for him and fellow citizens to get back to the UK – so they can get back to work in the NHS. He failed to mention how many of this potential plane load he wants the ‘government’ to send, were actual NHS employees, but its funny how they all suddenly want to get back to the UK. Surely if they were medics of any description, then their help now in any part of the world would be of use.

    I saw a couple also stuck in Sydney who were clinicians, surely they could offer their assistance where they are.

       28 likes

    • TrickCyclist says:

      BRISSLES,
      A colleague of mine has spent the last few weeks in Pakistan, his home country. He is due back at work on Monday. I hope he either can’t make it back or decides to stay where he is. He has a very nasty habit of sneezing openly onto the floor – this happens several times a day.

         11 likes

    • Frustrated says:

      Exactly!!

      All these “Brits” wanting to be brought home because there are no more (affordable) flights …

      How long have they been abroad?

      OK, some may be students on a year out who’ve been away for months and now want to get home (though the way the press is going on, one would think it’s not necessarily safer to return to the UK and our overstretched NHS!)

      But the majority have obviously continued to travel abroad when the warning signs were already there.

      All these people on holiday/ stuck in hotels in the Philippines etc. (note: how many emphasise they are nurses i.e. they think it’s important to get them home) now begging their MPs/the government to charter planes etc. to bring them back.

      (KentOnline, no doubt will be picked up by BBC at some point): one particular guy (nurse) flew to Manila on March 7th to celebrate his grandfather‘s 90th birthday. His parents (note: both also work for the NHS) arrived a few days earlier. The country announced it’s going into quarantine and they are now desperate to get home (+ father‘s meds are running out).

      Wasn’t it naïve/stupid to go in the first place? Why fly in times like these? Surely they could be endangering the grandfather themselves?

      I have a certain amount of empathy with these individuals but most of them seem to have got themselves into the situation they are in and now just expect to be bailed out.

      As you say – they could probably be of as much help in the (home?!) countries where they are now stuck?

         13 likes

      • john in cheshire says:

        Surely most if not all of these people aren’t British, so not our problem.

           2 likes

  41. Tabs says:

    Just when you thought the BBC had dropped LGBT for the wall to wall Coronavirus coverage they bring us a perfect fusion of the two in one article:

    Coronavirus: ‘I’m stuck in isolation with my homophobic parents’
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52039832

       17 likes

  42. Terminal Moraine says:

       13 likes

  43. Peter Grimes says:

    Al Beeb’s grievance programme ‘You & Yours (and I’ll take whatever you’ve got)” today managed to get a Welsh NHS worker who was still suffering from flood damage and who claimed she couldn’t get flood cover after claiming previously. I thought that the Government had mandated insurers to continue cover, but nevertheless if that caller (primed? solicited?) had also been LGBTwhatever I would have claimed ‘bingo’!!

    That manufactured piece followed Al Beeb proselytising for Ukrainian fruit pickers to be allowed in to protect the harvest season. For fuck’s sake, and no apology for swearing given the situation, we’ve just had upwards of half a million new UC claimants and the Government is paying millions more 80% of their previous wage. If ever direction of labour in return for Government payments was needed, surely it is now.

       24 likes

  44. AsISeeIt says:

    Listening to a Government information ad broadcast on the radio just now, I’m struck by the phrase ‘protect our NHS’.

    Wasn’t the point of the NHS to protect us?

    My suspicion grows that the point of much of the restrictions on our lives and economic costs imposed are being done simply to save face for an outmoded health system unfit for the first national health emergency is has actually ever had since its inception in 1945.

    How do we feel about the national hand clap for the NHS? Virtue Signalling gone stark raving mad?

    Funny there was no call for a slow hand clap for Harold Shipman or Mid Staffs.

       29 likes

  45. Non Snowflake says:

    Since approx 2015, on average 17000 people died in the UK each year due to seasonal flu.

    In 2018, there were more than 7000 deaths in the UK due to alcohol.

    Approx 78000 people die from smoking, each year in the UK.

    Nearly 2000 people died in the UK from car crashes in 2018.

    This Chinese glorified hayfever has killed less than 500, and virtually all those already had underlying health problems.

    Why the hysteria?, the scaremongering?, the draconian measures?

    More to this than meets the eye.

       32 likes

    • Terminal Moraine says:

      Non, I agree. Some interesting reading here also if you haven’t come across it: “12 Experts Questioning the Coronavirus Panic.”

      ”We are afraid that 1 million infections with the new virus will lead to 30 deaths per day over the next 100 days. But we do not realise that 20, 30, 40 or 100 patients positive for normal coronaviruses are already dying every day.

      [The government’s anti-COVID19 measures] are grotesque, absurd and very dangerous […] The life expectancy of millions is being shortened. The horrifying impact on the world economy threatens the existence of countless people. The consequences on medical care are profound […] All these measures are leading to self-destruction and collective suicide based on nothing but a spook.”

         19 likes

  46. Sluff says:

    Reference the latest virtue-signalling purity spiral a.k.a ‘Clap for Carers’.
    Now no doubt many in the NHS are working hard just now, in A and E, I C U, and behind the scenes all those logistic professionals who are not ‘doctors and nurses’ but managers whose value suddenly we discover.
    But how stressed are the chiropodists, physio, eye hospitals, X ray, MRI departments to name just a few?

    And the NHS is not a charity. We pay £110 bn a year for it in normal times. We pay for it to help us through health difficulties of all kinds. So are they not just doing their job?
    Should we clap for window cleaners, who in a past Lancet or BMJ article were shown to have higher mortality per capita than ‘our brave firefighters’.

    Clap for carers? Just the latest woke virtue-signaling. So an ideal topic for the BBC ‘journalists’.

       36 likes

    • AsISeeIt says:

      To somewhat misquote Margaret Thatcher: You clap if you want to, this chap is not for clapping.

         31 likes

    • Non Snowflake says:

      A few days ago, virtually every radio station played “You’ll never walk alone” simultaneously.

      We really are becoming a nation of zombie-like, gullible, snowflakes who readily accept anything that the government or MSM tell us.

         36 likes

    • gb123 says:

      We should have clap beeb journos. Clap them in irons and send them away so we can get on with solving problems instead of creating them.

         24 likes

    • john in cheshire says:

      So we’re being told to applaud people for doing the job they’re paid to do?

      I know let’s all go to a building site and applaud the brickies.
      Let’s go to the local sewage farm and applaud the sewage workers.

      Let’s not applaud the police because they don’t do the job they’re supposed to do or socialist workers, or the CPS, or local councils. Let’s boo them.

      But

      Let’s applaud pub landlords, breweries and distillery workers.

      And

      Pig farmers because we’ll know we aren’t eating halal meat.

         3 likes

  47. Roland Deschain says:

    Am I the only one uneasy about this? Being told to join in something because someone else thinks it’s worthy tends to bring out the rebel in me.

    What next, a Two Minute Hate across all channels for those who wouldn’t join in? With the ‘off’ button disabled.

       45 likes

    • scribblingscribe says:

      Odd that the praise isnt about health care workers, just those in the NHS. I guess those doctors and nurses working in the private sector don’t count.

         20 likes

  48. AsISeeIt says:

    Make of this what you will…

    My home street have started a neighbours’ messaging group. Fair enough, it might be useful for the elderly or isolated to get advice or assistance. Personally I shan’t be actively contributing. The passed on information that some healthworker needed plastic protective eyeglasses was vauguely interesting but the fact that number 15 offered to transport them if anyone had any spare was less so and the fact that number 28 thought they had once had some for DIY, searched their cupboards, but failed to find any was, frankly, typical useless virtue signalling.

    Then someone really annoyed me. They complained that a window cleaner had turned up. Now this poor bloke was obviously a cash in hand worker who would likely go broke were he not to work. Apart from anything else he has his hands in soapy water more often during his working day than a whore has her knickers off. I was tempted to ask the complainant what they did for a living and whether they would get their monthly salary transferred come what may. But thought – best let sleeping dogs lie.

    I’m beginning to realise there are two types of people in the world – people like us hereabouts – the potential Oskar Schindlers – and the rest.

       33 likes