Mid-Week Open Thread

 

Sarah Brett on 5Live talking about the NHS (31 mins)…her personal experience:

‘I know that it is incredibly frustrating when a family member is in hospital, particularly over a weekend when you think nothing is being done until Monday morning starts again…it happened to me very recently…’

Better have a 7 day service then….let’s talk about it…..or we could talk about BBC bias….floor’s yours….

 

 

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568 Responses to Mid-Week Open Thread

  1. scribblingscribe says:

    Brexit plunges UK economy to worst level since 2009, data suggests – is main headline on BBC news web site.
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news

    Before you reach for your tin foil hat and run around in ever decreasing circles, screaming the brexiteers are ignorant, stupid bigots, please take a moment to read the detail.

    First it is based on business data for July. What? you say. But it’s only the 22nd of July, we are only 2/3rds of the way through the month. Anyone who suggests these are the figures for July are clearly twisting the truth.

    Check-able facts:
    The footsie is maintaining its amazing climb after Brexit, now roughly matching its highest levels of the year: Select 1Y in the box above the graph
    http://www.bloomberg.com/quote/UKX:IND

    The pound was equal to 1.3 euros a month ago and is now equal to 1.2 euros, a fall of 0.1 of a euro. Surely not sufficient to even think about reaching for the tin foil hat. Goto link below and select 1M in box above graph.
    http://www.bloomberg.com/quote/GBPEUR:CUR

    The bank of England, who might know more about these matters than BBC Guardian reading Arts and Humanities graduates, said “it had seen no clear signs yet of damage to British companies after the vote to leave the European Union.”
    http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-eu-boe-idUKKCN1000SP

    So there you have it, you believe the facts or the hysterics from the BBC. Only one question, why are they allowed to get away with it? Where is OFCOM when you need them.

       27 likes

    • Up2snuff says:

      Scribbling, you are correct not to panic. This is a survey result. If I recall correctly it is a monthly survey and is dependent on responses from those surveyed. They do not all reply. It derives a measure of accuracy from surveying, IIRC, a large number of purchasing managers, usually several thousand. The reference to July is merely the survey release date. It would have been done probably toward the end of June.

      You are correct to read the article thoroughly and relate it to actual market data. I wish all would do that, especially at the BBC. This time there is a very low number of responses, just 650. It is an emotive survey: although it asks for hard data, IIRC, there is a let-out for commercially sensitive information and it also asks for feelings about future trends, optimism v. pessimism, etc..

      As we all know a majority of the media, especially the broadcast media, has been loaded with post-Brexit vote doom & gloom. That may well have influenced the responses to the survey.

         19 likes

      • Up2snuff says:

        Am here to apologise for misleading your, scribblingscribe; the Purchasing Managers Survey is not just of Purchasing Managers but also Directors and Chief Executives as well.

        I have just listened to Chris Williamson (of Markit) ‘do a Gerald Ratner’, but in not so quite a direct and blunt way, on WatO. (BBC R4 1pm, today)

        For “Yes, the survey result is bad because it is so much more than Managers” read – Directors and Boards of companies of any size generally get monthly or quarterly data, so this data is more like guesswork, an extrapolation that doesn’t really relate to the EU Referendum result.

        Other useful information: it is biased (accurately – hooray!) to reflect the proportion of manufacturing to services in the UK economy. On the other hand, Paul Johnson (IFS) is a bit cool about it.

           4 likes

        • scribblingscribe says:

          Anyone know if Paul Johnson of the FSA will continue to plump out his pockets with tax payers cash via the EU, after Brexit is complete?

             3 likes

  2. Mr.Golightly says:

    Mr.Farage goes to Cleveland. Not reported on the BBC (of course)

    “Nigel Farage, welcome to America. It’s one hell of a place, let me tell you”

       16 likes

    • Mr.Golightly says:

      Nigel at the Republican National Convention. Note how he is treated very differently by Fox than by the BBC. Does he have a future career in the USA? He certainly seems more appreciated over there than he is here.

         19 likes

      • chrisH says:

        Ta again Mr G!
        What is it?…whenever I see Nigel on the telly, I break out into a big grin.
        And-imagine-Trump and his team are not inviting Nigel over to see them right.
        What a turnaround-all that crap about not having new markets to find and trade in…and there`s Nigel, already HUGE in the USA…
        Mr Export…and what tributes from his pal on the sofa(Lew Dobbs is it?).
        And listen to that background music…Free, Bad Company?…”All Right Now”/Can`t Get Enough”!
        God Bless Paul Rodgers and the Middlesborough posse!

        One more observation.
        Big Sam voted to leave, certainly spoke of it
        He manages Sunderland-town immortalised in British History forever more.
        Within a month-he`s ENGLAND Manager!
        Being a Brexiteer made good career sense after all.
        That said-lets back Ashley( The Toon Army Corbyn)-and let`s look after Sunderland this year.
        Moyes will hopefully be their Ranieri!
        Hat tip to Mr Goldstein.
        Funny how the BBC lauded plonkers like Colin Welland and his “British are Coming” bullcrap at the Oscars in 81.
        Yet when Nigel lands -and a REAL revolution that the British have inspired, and are starting anew-the Gompertz slugs seem not to want THAT kind of bravado…they talk it, but want us all below stairs.
        “From the floorboards up though” BBC…marsh, mustard, classical..it`s all gas from now on…
        Rent or Kill…time to meet the local BBC very soon I`d guess…

           17 likes

        • Kennedy says:

          Chris,

          You wrote “and there`s Nigel, already HUGE in the USA…”. I think that we all have to start learning Trump-Speak”. You should have written “and there`s Nigel, already YUGE in the USA…”. It’s the way he tell’s ’em.

             2 likes

          • chrisH says:

            Might be worthwhile getting a Theresa May haircut, and then affecting a Noo Yawk drawl.
            Start drinking at 11 am and refuse to leave the bar until 4pm as Nigel would wish.
            All the BBCs nightmares in one person…

               3 likes

      • Maria Brewin says:

        “He certainly seems more appreciated over there than he is here.”

        By the MSM, you mean? Please don’t assume that the BBC represents anybody important any more.

           20 likes

      • Old Goat says:

        Eat THAT, stupid, dumb, nasty, biased BBC, with knobs on!

           13 likes

    • chrisH says:

      Ta Mr G.
      You`ve hopped the Pacific and continue to “Bring Home The Revolution”…good old Jonathan Freedland eh?
      Ta-keep these coming…sense you`ve got a role as Shadow Commonwealth and Colonials Minister!
      “Mr Smith goes To Washington!”
      Got to be a film there-bet they`ll not be remaking THAT one though eh?

         5 likes

      • Mr.Golightly says:

        Yes chrisH. In the absence of any right-of-centre broadcasting in the UK, I am forced to go virtual globe-trotting to countries where the views and opinions are somewhat different to BBC, Ch4, Sky, ITV etc etc.
        I’ve taken my malaria pills, stuff Zika. Now, where did I put my Pith Helmet?

           7 likes

        • Richard Pinder says:

          It does seem quite bizarre when you consider that the best place to go for an intellectual debate about Brexit or Atmospheric Physics on a British Freeview Channel, is to catch an occasional 15 minute session amongst mainly irrelevant left-wing concerns, on George Galloway’s weekly half-hour program on RT UK Channel 135.

             9 likes

  3. chrisH says:

    Peter( on the Is The BBC Biased thread-“Out of this World”) refers to the BBC Estate.
    Great analogy-wonder if we`re talking “Castle Howard” “Chatsworth” or “Longleat”…or maybe another that you know of.
    Very “Country House”.
    Have had a good mosey around the BBC Estate, and nice though it is to all meet here at reception…moles, rats and a lot of whispering grass seem to be let in…Wank Marvin, Lesson Zero and Edward and his jumblies to name but three.
    Think we servants below stairs need to find other forums sometimes…too many saps , not enough sappers maybe?
    Trying to book a Nasty Party Seminar somewhere nearby, will keep you posted…won`t be open to the Quislingtons anyway.
    We here at the YooniWes6 can predict that
    a) Mc Guinness in Cardiff will be part of one of the top 5 BBC News stories tonight at 6pm
    b) Booze causing 7types of cancer will be fourth on the list tonight-with regional additions for the 6.30 local crap”in your areas” as Huw, Fiona or someone big says “religiously”.
    We need to focus and to target…which is surely what Lefty Summer Schools would want of us all on CampS.

       8 likes

  4. Up2snuff says:

    The last couple of days have been informative BBC-wise.

    Yesterday on WatO, Mark Mardell ‘did a Naughtie’ and let slip that he’s a Labour Party member, making a reference in conversation with a contributor to ‘our Party’.

    Today, it would seem evidence is piling up that Kamal Ahmed is none too impartial over the EU and is very firmly in the Remain camp. He is thus very happy about the Referendum result, ‘cue: serious, slightly slow, gloomy voice at correct point in broadcast’.

    I expect him to now be talking down Brexit at every opportunity unless, of course, he reads this or is informed about this post.

       19 likes

  5. St George says:

    Goodbye to the greatest pilot ever: How Eric ‘Winkle’ Brown helped liberate Belsen, interrogated Goering – and, oh yes, test-piloted more planes than anyone on earth

    Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3702370/Goodbye-greatest-pilot-ever.html#ixzz4F8TiwJGY
    Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook Lets see if our friends at the BBC will find time to report on this Great man …True Hero!!!!!

       17 likes

    • chrisH says:

      Course not-not when there`s a transgender poet who achieved nothing in herzee lifetime, but an award from some Community Centre twenty years ago.
      But got the Guardian and never paid a poll tax, let alone any tax at all.
      THESE parasites get Last Word eulogies and bloody Ian McMillan puff ups…but heroes like Eric don`t make the cut…didn`t stab his country in the back and pimp off the “Yeats on the rates” troughs like they require.
      Ta Eric…sorry we can`t do any better-but we will PG.

         4 likes

  6. GCooper says:

    “Brexit causes ‘dramatic drop in economy'” shrieks the BBC’s hysterical headline this lunchtime.

    As is pointed out above by ScribblingScribe and Up2Snuff, this is a single survey, out of date (all surveys are by the time they have been ‘adjusted’ and sent out as press releases) and open to various interpretations. And which interpretation does the BBC put on this dodgy data? Need you ask?

    And this from the organisation that prides itself of not ‘rushing to judgement’. The organisation that can take days if not longer to reveal the motives behind terror attacks – or even to reveal that terror attacks took place at all, claiming it needs to be absolutely certain of its facts before publishing.

    The BBC lies as assuredly as did Lord Haw Haw and is every bit as great an enemy of this country. It must go.

       28 likes

    • Cranmer says:

      GCooper, I’d known for years that the BBC had a left wing bias but they seemed to at least make an effort towards impartiality. When the migrant crisis broke last year, I noticed that the impartiality had slipped, badly. The Brexit vote was another watershed moment – after that the BBC seemed to abandon any pretence at it. If Trump wins in November, I think the mask will finally and irrecoverably slip.

         24 likes

      • chrisH says:

        And we`re getting ready-the anti-Christian long term bias will surely get the churches true members riled…they have finally seen what the BBC thinks of them, now they voted to leave the EU.

           2 likes

    • Richard Pinder says:

      It seems as if bias causes memory loss at the BBC:

      (1) With Global Warming, they cant remember anything after 1997.
      (2) With Brexit, they cant remember anything after the middle of the Friday morning of Brexit day. The Share price fell up to that point, but from then on, the share price has been volatile.

         9 likes

  7. Winstons Homburg says:

    (reply to Brissles July 21 @ 01:45)

    Fatima (Manji) seemed to be on a moral crusade (that word again) with her Liverpool Echo piece, which was a reply to his criticism of her hosting the C4 news on the aftermath of the Nice attack:

    “After all, this is the man who slurred survivors of one of our most tragic national atrocities of recent decades. It took him 23 years to apologise and four more to claim he was “caught up” in a government conspiracy to tarnish Hillsborough victims, only after being confronted by brave campaigners and responsible journalists, including my Channel 4 News colleague Alex Thomson and the tireless team at the Liverpool Echo.”
    There have been two seperate enquiries into the Hillsborough tragedy and both refer to it as a disaster. Maybe she mixed the atrocity, committed by people who share her faith, in London in 2005 (7th July) with the disaster in Sheffield (1989).

    “I was grief-stricken by the massacre in Nice, particularly by the haunting image of a little girl’s corpse laying next to the doll that was once her companion.
    Mr MacKenzie seemed to find my appearance on his screen equally horrific: ‘The scenes from Nice shocked audiences around the world, but did the C4 hosts (sic) headress (sic)?”
    Equally horrific? Perhaps Fatima is so self-absorbed to notice

    “Was it done to stick one in the eye of the ordinary viewer who looks at the hijab as a sign of the slavery of Muslim women by a male-dominated and clearly violent religion?”
    Well Fatima, an increasingly amount of people would overwhelmingly answer with an affirmative to your question.

    “In response to this, I have received kind messages from friends, colleagues, acquaintances and even those I have never met, expressing solidarity and anger at his words.”
    Hmm, sticks and stones.

    “The truth is I always pride myself on journalistic integrity regardless of who I’m interviewing or what story I’m covering.”
    Integrity: the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles

    “THE TRUTH? I confess. I pi**ed on Kelvin MacKenzie’s apparent ambitions to force anyone who looks a little different off our screens, and I’ll keep doing it.”
    Yet another truth. Seems Mackenzie may have hit a raw nerve.

       7 likes

    • chrisH says:

      Might it not have been nice had she dared to remove her scarf in honour of all those killed.
      You know-like we`d wear a dark tie or tip a hat as the hearse passes by.
      No prizes for guessing why she`d not do so-and Kelvin was right-why the hell was SHE not sent to Nice to report, and not Junket Jon?
      Would have been good to get her to talk to the French about what HER religion had just done…good telly I`d have said.
      But no-keep the scarf, keep your head eh Muslimah?
      No reasons for guessing why SHE got her job….Channel 4 needs deep cleansing like the most rancid of hospitals.

         5 likes

  8. Beltane says:

    Interesting to compare Corbyn’s latest interview gems with current opinions as gifted us by all those BBGuardianas. That ‘Look, don’t take this the wrong way but you really must accept the fact that I’m immeasurably more intelligent than you…’ is reflected in all the anti-Brexit rhetoric but, just like climate change, they simply can’t resist the urge to make their spurious claims ever more absurd. In increasingly transparent attempts to assure us that black is merely an alternative shade of white – no racial implication intended – they unconsciously align themselves with all those irrational and truly fascist Corbynistas and bring themselves down to the same level with embarrassing ease.
    Thus we have today the inspirationally named ‘Markit Flash UK’ – almost guaranteed to conjure pictures of white vans and Pakistani-run stalls, bowed under the weight of substandard and unwanted garbage – attempting to assure us through incomplete and unsubstantiated data that the world as we know it is about to implode, accompanied by a chorus line chortling ‘We told you so, we told you so…’
    Surely someone a few rungs up the ladder might have questioned the merit of using data from such a patently suspect outfit?

       12 likes

    • chrisH says:

      AS May said-only the Tories promote women…the Labour Party prefer to given them pink buses, and refuse to vote them into anything other than window dressing or creche roles…as Caroline Flint said.
      And when they DO try to give us women in power-we get dominatrix porn pervs like Jackboots Jacqui Smith and faceache lezzies like…well, where do we start?
      So then-we get the luscious Liz Truss filling out Goves frock rather fetchingly-meanwhile Labour harrumpers like Lord Falconer and Lord Faulks say her Lord Chancellor dress up is NOT intended for the ladies…we need such legal luminaries as Falconer-windbag, private schools for himself and his family-and Blairs seedy flatmate and yoyo dieter.
      And he DARES to tell us that Liz Truss won`t be better than HE was?
      Typical smelly socks fetid blokes who don`t like women-and Jewish women even less.
      How long do we think the BBC will plug that life support of fetid leftiness with our money?

         5 likes

  9. BRISSLES says:

    I know the D/Mail is not the favourite rag of many on here, BUT please read the article today by Richard Littlejohn – its priceless.
    His headline ? “Who DID try to knife RAF man ? Alan Partridge? ” ….. he then takes the p..s out of Norfolk police, who stated there is nothing to suggest the incident is ‘terrorism-related’.
    He follows it up with “perhaps the suspects were members of the local Lawrence of Arabia Appreciation Society, or a couple of luvvies dressed as Wilson Keppel & Betty on their way to Stephen Fry’s summer fancy dress party”.

    I’ll let you read the rest.

       30 likes

  10. scribblingscribe says:

    also worth reading, though sadly behind a pay wall:
    http://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/comment/when-you-mess-up-just-blame-it-on-brexit-9xwbq65cm

    Ed Conway says ‘That’s far and away the best thing about Brexit. Whether you’re a company, a country or a journalist, no matter how deep your problems you can probably find a way to blame them on the referendum result.’

    ‘ Italy’s finance minister was first out of the blocks a few hours after the result, blaming the referendum for the imminent decline in his country’s public finances. Shortly afterwards his Japanese counterpart declared that the aftermath would worsen his country’s outlook (little mention of the fact that it is already the world’s most indebted). This week the International Monetary Fund said Brexit was the “spanner in the works” that meant almost every major economy in the world would grow a bit more slowly this year.’

    Worth reading if you can.

       9 likes

    • Richard Pinder says:

      Has the Italian Finance Minister realised that we have not left the EU yet? So we are still propping up the EU with our payments.
      I guess that economic collapse will be caused by Italian banks collapsing. But Brexit could only be blamed if it happens in three years or more time, as the EU losses our money. So it would be best if we divorce ourselves quickly from the mess that is called the European Union, and play safe by pretending that Italian banks do not exist as recognised financial institutions, while at the same time encourage BBC staff to invest and save money in Italian Banks.

         5 likes

  11. Maria Brewin says:

    On TV this morning (TBH it could have been SKY – not always easy to tell the difference) a “report” from Acro, a Crawley company which manufactures aircraft seating, about the downturn in business following the referendum.

    Now please correct me if this sounds a little simplistic, I’m not an expert on aircraft parts, but isn’t it a little early for the vote to have had an impact on this?

    Surely aircraft are ordered well in advance and I very much doubt whether seating is bought off the peg, on impulse? Unless we’re talking about replacements for occasional damage, I would have thought it would take months at the very least for a downturn to work its way through the system.

    Sounded like complete rubbish to me.

       11 likes

    • Tabs says:

      Just the the airline redundancies right after 9-11. It’s a perfect time to bury bad news.

         2 likes

    • Sluff says:

      Think youll find the oil service sector is down after Brexit.
      But then it was anyway, driven by oil down around $50 a barrel. So Brexit has made jack all difference but the headline can be made.
      The reaction of the market? The ft100 is……errr…..up again today.

      Meanwhile the bBBC are wanking themselves silly at the Purchasing Manager’s index going below 50.

         4 likes

      • chrisH says:

        Going to be a bumper year for our tourist industry then?
        No terrorist nonsense that you`ll get if you`re fool enough to go to Egypt, Turkey or Tunisia.
        No secondary terrors if you take Eurostar, or risk the ferry to the contiental ports like Calais.
        So-and given the falling pound-this year it`ll be a bugger to get a campsite, B&B etc maybe.
        So Brexit is doing us good.
        Not that the BBC will tell us this.
        They prefer to look for the only whistle manufacturer in the UK to sum up the catastrophe that is Leaving the EU.
        Will the BBC ever give up?…not until we smash their teeth down their treacherous throats, and stop paying for their blatherings.
        Ex pats buying up our properties too, so I`m told…again-no mention from the BBC.
        Time to shut them up…they`re taking the pickey!

           8 likes

  12. Some_People_are_Saying... says:

    Just seen the BBC news channel for a few minutes (or should that be minarets) & watched the news bint almost choke over the words ‘men of middle eastern appearance’ you’d have thought Donald Trump had gone all Clinton on her! And bingo! the next item was about said Trump’s nomination for POTUS: now she looked like she’d been given a dog turd sandwich to chew on. Following the clip of Trumpton blowing his trumper to a trumped-up crowd we were taken back to the news bint who now looked like she’d been possessed: back arched; demonic eyes; cocks in hell etc.! God I was enjoying this live water boarding of the news bint…..but alas the bastards had to shoot us un-assimilated shits back down like naughty school kids: Well I’ll fuck me old boots, they’ve gone & found a gob in a headscarf to bitch about Trump having the audacity to mention the ‘i’ word & how he was breaking tons of constitutional this n thats for blocking entry to the US of A based on religion! They couldn’t just find a Trump supporter could they? because there’s non there are there? . . . New telly required. I’m going to laugh my arse off & glue it back on and laugh it off again when Trumpy gets his rug in the Oval Office & I’ll be sitting watching you BBC lot wet your pink nappies.

       13 likes

    • taffman says:

      Some_People_are_Saying..
      After calling him “divisive, stupid and wrong”, It would have been very awkward and embarrassing for Cameron had he remained Prime Minister.
      http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-36300005

         7 likes

      • Some_People_are_Saying... says:

        That’s probably why he couldn’t wait to get out as quick as he did, talk about a fast exit, I bet Terry May even found an un-flushed ministerial log waiting for her such was the haste!

           7 likes

    • chrisH says:

      Noted the Foreign Office stand accused of letting the Saudis and the Mexicans off from their child abuse allegations, their people trafficking charges.
      Diplomatic immunity apparently.
      Still though eh?…backs Trump 100% given HIS views on Mexican rapists and Muslim terrorists doesn`t it?
      Good Man Trump-one bloke who clearly DOES intend to take care of HIS country.
      Let Europe float off to hell…we`re taking the Trump route.
      So f*** the BBC!

         9 likes

  13. taffman says:

    Those “Men” again or is it a ‘lone wolf’ ?
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news

       6 likes

    • DYKEVISIONS says:

      UPDATE 1805 BST — Germans told to expect more terrorism – briebart

      The attacks have come only 48 hours after a warning by German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere who claimed that Germans should prepare themselves for more terror attacks in the wake of the axe attack in Wuerzburg. “In Germany we must also expect attacks by small groups of radicalised ‘lone-wolf’ attackers,” he said.

      Minister de Maiziere, you have obviously already surrendered..like your PM Manuel ‘Balls’ up.

      I am sick of this, cowardly butchers strike again.. this time in Munich. Merkel, you reap what you sow, there is blood on your hands!

      An Eu’s nightmare that we do not want to import….

      Al beeb, please no pictures of candles and useless hashtags for this further atrocity and the terrible concern of our phobias of the ‘Muslim community’ by Londonistan’s Mayor Khan’t.

      So sad for the families of the terrorised innocent; it makes you want to clean your old Lee Enfield in the loft… oh dear is that the police knocking at my door?

         15 likes

      • chrisH says:

        Munich Interflora shares surely on the rise…and a German translation of Wie Sind Die Welt or Imagine would be a good idea to print off for the usual grief thieves and lefty idiots currently in the process of banning beer and sausages for fear of offending Der Musselmann,
        Still though eh?…it`ll be described as natural precautions against getting cancer this weekend, after the Uni of Otaga (N.Z) say we`ll not be wanting that booze and hotdog.
        Oh shove it Beeb…we know your game…..

           9 likes

      • Cranmer says:

        Dykevisions, I don’t want to see any more teddy bears, candles, hashtags or chalked slogans anymore. They are as empty and impotent as Mr Chamberlain’s ‘piece of paper’ now. Really, I can’t do much more than weep for the stupidity of Europe and lament, with the thirteenth psalm: ‘How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily?/How long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?’

           12 likes

        • DYKEVISIONS says:

          Apologies,… of course should have typed …’like ‘French’ PM Manule Balls up’, anyway it is still the EU mindset of the ‘head in the sand’ statements trotted out lately by European leaders..

          It is only a matter of time before the UK has to face theses daily barbarities like we did in the 70’s, as our friends across the water regularly lobbed bombs into London West End restaurants and pubs in England.

          Cranmer, I need a verse from the good book to cheer me up!

             3 likes

  14. Kennedy says:

    An interesting comment from Jonathan Agnew of Test Match Special at the New Statesman:

    I remain in contact with many of our guests and could not avoid a chuckle when, within seconds of each other, texts arrived from Nigel Farage and Ed Miliband. It probably will not be appreciated by either of them, but they are in fact united, albeit through cricket. Farage was wearing a Primary Club tie as he celebrated his victory in a private box in the Mound Stand. Supporting cricket for the blind and partially sighted, the Primary Club is open to all those who have been dismissed first ball in any form of cricket, and the tie is adorned with shattered stumps and flying bails.

    Clean bowled! The referendum claimed more than its share of those.

    As an Irishman who grew up playing hurling, I could never manage to play cricket and was always bowled first time so I’d qualify for the Primary Club . A friend tells me that it is due to different wrist action in hurling and cricket. I think that it is the difference between the Irish and the English. The English player will stand and let the opponent hurl a hard, leather ball at him. The Irishman will run at him and either take out the ball or the man. Still, doesn’t Agnew’s tale show Nigel as a thorough gentleman?

    http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2016/07/lord-s-test-match-wonderful-social-event-not-least-because-who-shows-interview

       5 likes

    • chrisH says:

      Concur with that English-Irish split Kennedy.
      Always a shoo-in for the football teams at school…but the only one of the players not to play cricket.
      Ball way too hard for the Irish…
      Worth research-and I don`t do skiing either-yet I met an Irishman who did a few years back!
      Crazy days!

         4 likes

  15. Tabs says:

    ‘Shots fired’ in Munich shopping centre, German police deployed
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-36870874

    Place your bets now on how this will be reported later by the BBC, will it be:
    a) disgruntled German/Afghan trying to return a faulty item he bought
    b) Lone wolf shopper
    c) mentally ill
    d) Muslim terrorist

       11 likes

    • Sluff says:

      Tabs.
      Your comments would be amusing except that they are of course very close to the truth.
      Because……
      On the bBBC1 6pm news, security correspondent (lol) Frank Gardener said we don’t know anything about the shooter. He could need ‘psychiatric help’ he could have ‘a personal feud’.

      Now Frank, I just wonder what else it might be? We all know on this website, I wonder why you don’t?

      And hot news at 1812, distinctly not amusing………multiple deaths………

         15 likes

      • Oaknash says:

        Tabs – I reckon it could be another water fight.
        One of the participants probably mistook his glock 19 for the super soaker – Mistake any one can make.

           9 likes

        • scribblingscribe says:

          Does anyone know what Angela Merkle thought would happen when she invited 1.1 million Muslims into her lovely country – and Germany is wonderful.

          By the start of this year the authorities had to admit they had lost over half these people. Yes, lost them. Over 600,000 young Muslims in Germany that are unaccounted for.

          If 1 percent of the 1 million immigrants were Jihadis then that would give Isis an army of 10,000 within a country before invasion. Makes the Trojan Horse look an ill prepared idea.

             11 likes

    • G says:

      Lorry parked two blocks away for quick getaway?

         4 likes

  16. taffman says:

    Hate crime ‘still far too high’ post-Brexit – police
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36869000
    How many arrests have there been made ? It would be interesting to know .
    Just what is considered to be a hate crime? I have hated Brussels sprouts since Brexit, should I report it ?

       12 likes

    • Number 6 says:

      So called bbc

      ‘We dont know who did it or what the motives were and it would be wise not to jump to conclusions’

      Well Martine Croxall,ill give you 2/1 on its the ROP

      care to take my bet you apologist bitch?

         9 likes

      • Dazed and Confused says:

        I’m worried about “Islamophobia” after hearing about these careless German shoppers deliberately getting in the way of “bullets of peace”….

           14 likes

    • Dave666 says:

      Taffman I have also been wondering about the multitude of arrests that would follow the Everest of post BREXITY hate crimes. However there appears to be a singular lack of reported arrests. Apparently a hate crime is anything that you consider to be a hate crime. Maybe I should report the BBc for their anti English anti BREXIT agenda?

         6 likes

      • G says:

        On a serious note, download the CPS Code for State Prosecutors. Read up on what is a hate crime. The ‘crime’ is not as easy to commit as you would think.

           1 likes

        • manchesterlad says:

          I have downloaded this as suggested, it seems to me the ‘crime’ is very easy to commit.

          What do we mean by racially and religiously aggravated crime?
          When prosecuting cases of racially and religiously aggravated crime, and to help us apply our policy on dealing with such cases, we adopt the following definition:
          “Any criminal offence which is perceived to be motivated by hostility towards a person’s race or religion or perceived race or religion, by the victim or any other person.”
          Safety and security and the right to live free from fear and harassment are basic human rights. Our policy is to prosecute racist and religious crime fairly, firmly and robustly.

          (from: https://www.cps.gov.uk/publications/prosecution/racially_and_religiously_aggravated_crime_leaflet.pdf)

          So it is all about the “victim’s” perception of the ‘crime’. This is a nonsense and effectively gives the state the license to prosecute anyone who says anything someone might disapprove of.

             6 likes

  17. manchesterlad says:

    Looking at the BBC web page for the latest shootings in Munich, my eye is caught by the headline:

    Hate crime ‘still far too high’ post-Brexit – police

    which goes on to to describe the heinous crimes as “violence against the person”, which includes harassment and common assault, as well as verbal abuse, spitting and “barging”.

    While no actual violence is acceptable, we must wonder what exactly most of these ‘crimes’ consist of? And what is barging? As far as I know, people can barge into queues but that is pretty much it. Perhaps there has been a spike in inconsiderate narrow-boating?

    Of course, the BBC did not bother to ask how many of these hate crimes required hospital treatment, even if just to secure a later claim for victims compensation? I would guess the answer therefore is none.

    I’m surprised they did not mention so-called Islamophobia as a specific category. This is an interesting one. Again, apart from unacceptable actual violence, you can get imprisoned for just ‘Islamophobically’ telling the truth about Islam! This makes it not a crime at all in my book. In fact, I would go so far as to suggest the rise in reported ‘Islamophobia’ might even be a good sign – reflecting the increasing number of people who are becoming knowledgeable about Islam.

    I do not believe that any normally intelligent person could learn about the true nature of Islam without being disgusted. Just then expressing this natural disgust would be islamophobic to our left-wing fascist friends.

       19 likes

    • Cranmer says:

      Haha Manchesterlad – coming from a city of canals you should know you can’t ‘barge’ in a narrowboat!

         4 likes

  18. Dazed and Confused says:

    Do remember that today is the anniversary of Anders Breivik atrocity …

    Just sayin…

       7 likes

    • Al Shubtill says:

      Roshit Kangaroo was helpful enough to just point that out on itv news at ten, as part of his report on just who it could possibly be that is responsible for the Munich attacks and what on earth might their motivation be?

         0 likes

  19. Dazed and Confused says:

    Current events in Munich..

       1 likes

    • Beltane says:

      This picture is from a ‘potential terrorist atrocity’ rehearsal in Trafford Centre a year ago.

         1 likes

  20. scribblingscribe says:

    Does anyone know what Angela Merkle thought would happen when she invited 1.1 million Muslims into her lovely country – and Germany is wonderful.

    By the start of this year the authorities had to admit they had lost over half these people. Yes, lost them. Over 600,000 Muslims in Germany that are unaccounted for.

    If 1 percent of the 1 million immigrants were Jihadis then that would give Isis an army of 10,000 within a country before invasion. Makes the Trojan Horse look an ill prepared idea.

       10 likes

  21. taffman says:

    Since when were Terrorists called ‘shooters’?

       7 likes

  22. Lurkio says:

    Just heard a talking head on the Beeb say the gunman on the roof (Munich shopping centre) ‘appeared to be non-bearded’. I’m struggling to work out the significance of letting the viewer know that. Is this a new tactic in catching (alleged) criminals? The attacker wasn’t wearing an anorak/didn’t appear to be left-wing/doesn’t have spectacles…

       16 likes

  23. Steve Jones says:

    Have the Munich police issued even the vaguest description of the attacker(s) so people know who to be on the lookout for?

    Thought not.

       16 likes

    • embolden says:

      Just seen footage from Munich on BBC news24….mum in a hijab, dad, handicapped kid in wheelchair looking scared…..

      The image that says……………”Muslims are the real victims here”.

         24 likes

      • ID says:

        Some of the German media is still tallking about an “Amoklauf”, a “running amok”. German is a great language for obscuring personal agency. These things just happen, you know. Ther ARD/ZDF are now pointing out the ridiculousness of an “Amoklauf à trois”. Of course, it’s still to early to tell if anything islamic is afoot. The more deluded are still hoping that it might be a right wing commemmoration of the anniversary of the Norwegian atrocity.

           11 likes

      • Brett says:

        Just saw the news brief at 8pm on bbbc1, showing footage of people running scared in munich, guess what, camera focused in muslim lady adjusting her letterbox outfit.

           14 likes

      • Tabs says:

        The BBC will almost certainly have a BBC News website article tomorrow titled “What’s it like being a Muslim in Munich?”

           6 likes

    • Cranmer says:

      Mr Jones, as far as I can see no description of the attackers has been issued, despite there being lots of witnesses nearby and lots of mobile phone footage of the incidents. I have watched some footage (of a man shooting outside a McDonald’s). It is not possible, due to the resolution, to give any kind of description, but whoever filmed it must be able to, which leads me to suspect we are not being told what they look like deliberately.

         12 likes

      • Steve Jones says:

        Cranmer, my thoughts exactly. How ludicrous, and dangerous, to tell a whole city to stay indoors and give no information on the suspects. Munich residents are offering refuge to anyone stuck in the city due to the shootings; so if someone does show up at your house/flat how do you vet them. Europe is going f*cking mad right now.

           18 likes

      • Lobster says:

        Cranmer, you are quite correct. What do the authorities hope to gain by NOT issuing a description? It beats me.

           10 likes

        • Tabs says:

          The authorities and the BBC must think that hate crime will go up if they announce, for example, the gunman are Muslim.

          Doesn’t matter to them how many people are killed as long as the anti-muslim hate crime can be controlled.

             5 likes

      • ID says:

        German TV helpfully blanks out the face of the shooter in this video???. Some legal constraint?

           11 likes

  24. Dave S says:

    I suggest you all read Matt Bracken’s essay on GatesofVienna published November 30th last year. Eerily prescient in that he postulates a Vietnam era Tet style offensive in Europe.
    I hope this is not the start of it. An elite that had no care for us or desire to protect or lives and civilisation has bought us to this pass. We are in uncharted territory now.

       14 likes

    • Al Shubtill says:

      DS, almost as worrying as these attacks and the failure of our leaders to combat it, is the thought as to what kind of new laws they’ll try and put on tha statute book in response to them; because you can be certain that they won’t just target those that should be.

         3 likes

  25. Thoughtful says:

    Just a note on the enrichment & vibrancy that is the outrage to freedom known as ‘hate’ crime.

    cannot provide definitive proof for these reports, but one of them came first hand. Both relate to cases of ‘hate’ crime ‘committed’ by Tescos checkout staff.

    The first one concerns a Paki who on being asked whether she would “like some help with her packing” complained to the manager that this was a ‘racist’ statement because it implied she should pack her bags and return to Pakistan !

    The second ‘hate crime’ is even more bizarre, as it was a simple case that the checkout operator had run out of £5 notes and had to give him the change in pound coins. Apparently he got very angry poking his finger in her face and shouting the meaningless bully word ‘racist’. Alas the management caved and took his side. A ‘hate crime’ was reported.

    No doubt Tesco not wishing for bad publicity paid compensation and up goes the statistics for ‘hate crime’.

    Hate crime is an affront to freedom and humanity. There is a list of the Fascists favourites and if you are on it then you are favoured, if not then you’re screwed.
    So the Islamist woman who has her veil removed in public is protected, the ‘racist’ is open season.

    If you were stabbed, would it matter to you if the motive was because the attacker thought you were gay (for instance) or some other reason ?

       15 likes

    • Lobster says:

      Were the pound coins posted through the letterbox in the burqua?

         5 likes

    • zero says:

      Thoughtful,

      The first one concerns a Paki who on being asked whether she would “like some help with her packing” complained to the manager that this was a ‘racist’ statement because it implied she should pack her bags and return to Pakistan !

      This appears to be a retread of a story from four years ago:

      http://goo.gl/zx3Cb

      A story that’s rather more nuanced than your tale of; “A Paki in Tescos”.

      Hate crime is an affront to freedom and humanity.”

      In what way? Care to explain how your “freedom and humanity” has been effected by hate crime legislation?

      If you were stabbed, would it matter to you if the motive was because the attacker thought you were gay (for instance) or some other reason ?

      Of course it bloody well would!

      Have you even thought about that for more than three seconds?

      Furthermore, it doesn’t just involve the individual who was stabbed, but every gay (for instance) person who just became a proxy target; and has to live in fear that it might of been them.

         3 likes

  26. Thoughtful says:

    Be very careful with the Munich shootings, because there are a lot of conflicting stories. Readers should google Samuel Hydberg who has allegedly been identified as one of the shooters and allegations that only Muslims have been shot.

       5 likes

    • Cranmer says:

      Thanks Thoughtful – although I still think it is suspicious as to why descriptions have not been issued. Let’s keep an open mind on this.

         5 likes

      • Number 6 says:

        Isnt Samuel Hydberg an internet meme?

        See below

           1 likes

      • G.W.F. says:

        Cranmer,
        Agree,
        Something does not fit with this shooting.
        No description of the gunmen.
        Guardian hints that it might be far right
        ‘Luan Zequiri, a witness who was near the restaurant at the time of the initial shooting, has told the broadcaster n-tv that he saw only one attacker, wearing boots and a backpack, who shouted “an anti-foreigner slur”.’
        ‘No claim of responsibility has been made and there is no indication so far of the attackers’ motives. Police have said they cannot confirm any Islamist link.’
        https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jul/22/munich-shooting-what-we-know-so-far

        Anniversary of the Brevick shooting.

        Suppose it is a set up to implicate the far right and show that the current spate of killings is not all done by the ROP

        Best to await facts. Many red herrings in the waters

           2 likes

        • Al Shubtill says:

          GWF, if the “Far Right” were going to target Muslims or other foreigners, there are many other more target rich areas and places they could attack than these: refugee centres for example.

          I would be amazed if this isn’t the usual suspects, but you never know; suffice to say that if it isn’t RoPers we will never hear the end of it.

             4 likes

    • Beltane says:

      Yes, well, then again your average McDonalds is an unlikely venue for high concentrations of RoPers on a Friday night…..don’t you think?

         8 likes

  27. Tothepoint says:

    It’s now a part of my every day routine to post about Islamic acts carried out against innocent men, women and children on European streets. I’m getting sick and tired of having to keep talking about the damage caused by our traitorous establishment and the horrific acts of brutality and violence carried out by Muslims… the very same Muslims who’s death cult compells them to butcher the infidels.

    Todays Islamic act has been carried out by 3 lone wolves. The followers of pure Islam are taking enrichment to deathcon 1 on a country that has welcomed their Muslim brothers and sisters with open arms and were not involved in the wars in the middle east…..

    Looks like the back stabbing, lying, traitorous, spineless, islamophilic, bastards that infest our political parties and media elite (particularly Al Islam Loving Beeb) will have to look again at their bullshit response to the daily Islamic acts. This has everything to do with lslam and Islam was always going to make this happen. Islam will never conform to western ideology/philosophy and the mechanisms to protect this death cult and the purity of Muhammads instructions are now being being carried out daily for the whole world to see

    Allahu Akbar!!

       22 likes

  28. Lock13 says:

    What time do Herod and Mervyn clock on ? or are they wetting their knickers about some bloke and his thermometer

       9 likes

  29. chrisH says:

    Couple of questions.
    How come that Patrick Minford-long respected monetarist economist ( Thatcher supporter, proved correct and therefore unforgiven) is labelled a Brexiteer on Channel 4 and the Today show this morning…but his oppo is described not as a One Love Oxbridge fake from New Zealand , but a Prof in Global Governance or suchlike from Oxford…as opposed to a paid Blavatnik EU funded/supported Remainer with a vested interest in us staying in the EU.
    Both Minford and Woods were set against each other on radio AND telly-but same intros, same bias.
    Funny though-Ngaire Woods is a Kiwi who Patrick says were global pioneers in free trade..she seemed to squirm at that on telly, radio not as clear here!

    My next?…how come Crick is always able to shoehorn his way into UKIP or Tory meetings-usually mouthing off so others can`t hear the speakers…yet is always placed respectfully outside Labours shindigs and bunfights, and never interrupting any speeches from THEM?
    Why so libtardies?…as if we`ve not noticed it.

       11 likes

  30. The Old Bloke says:

    Some of the forum members are asking where have the trolls gone? Well, I have noticed that when they post, it is when the student union bar has closed and rarely post when the universities have closed for term breaks.

       13 likes

    • G.W.F. says:

      The Old Bloke,
      Makes sense. And when the BBC comes recruiting students, they offer print outs of their wisdom here and show their Soc Soc membership cards.

         6 likes

  31. The Old Bloke says:

    My brother in Germany informs me there were three gunmen at different locations and so far 11 people confirmed dead.

       7 likes

  32. chrisH says:

    I predicted this morning that the “boozing causes seven types of cancer” story would be a big one tonight on the news.
    AND I though that Sturgeon, McGuinness and Jones with their British-Irish Council “summit meeting” would have been a shoo-in for one of the flagships of BBC stortytellings, seeing as its Nicola, its Celtic and it worries the eejits who still listen to the BBC for news.
    Oh dear-the cancer one seems to have tanked-and the Sturgeon footstampies barely makes to the red button, unless you`re Scottish or Welsh.
    Didn`t reckon on the Munich story-but we here at Wuss6 Watch have no excuse,and throw ourselves upon the mercy of the court.
    The BBC continue to surprise us eh?

       9 likes

    • Lock13 says:

      Chris I clocked that bllx on a tv as I walked past today – currently half a bottle of red down and 10 fags

         2 likes

      • chrisH says:

        Can`t imagine that they`ll not be back to the booze=cancer story once again.
        After all the world-renowned Uni of Otega say it-and an NHS drop in centre in Sheffield that`s attached to the Uni agrees…so who`s going to argue with that?
        I myself think all this fuss over alcohol is the BBCs way of making us all sharia compliant without having to give Islam a row over it.
        No-booze=cancer will be back again, when some NHS nanny , or SNP poppet or Health England need a credit to get funding for next year.

           3 likes

  33. Wild Bill says:

    One of my friends posted this on Facebook tonight.

    “Don’t forget July the 23rd is the day we switch off the BBC TV & Radio. It’s pay back day for all the news blackouts as well as the bias reporting surrounding the referendum. It’s our day to boycott them. It’s time they knew who keeps them.

    Imagine 17.000.000 million of us refusing to pay them their £145 license fee.

    Remember folks, the best fights are won when people stand together.

    Will you join the rest of us? Please like and share.”

       16 likes

    • Lock13 says:

      The thing is WB whilst I agree with you wholeheartedly if I stop paying for this bullshit I become a criminal and that has consequences. I play by the rules for now -I don’t really watch or listen to the BBC anymore but hey I’ll give them the licence fee if that makes them feel better.

         3 likes

      • Number 6 says:

        They havent had a penny off us in over 5 years,and i have also chased a so called inspector from our property

        Easy peasy cos they have no balls when confronted

           8 likes

        • Lock13 says:

          Yes but you take my point don’t you?

             1 likes

        • Glen.ws says:

          I’m with you, Number 6. I’m coming up to 12 months licence free because I simply refuse to pay for the likes of campbell, lineker, allen and co to send their kids to private school, and BUPA, whilst the rest of us send ours to be brainwashed at some shite local comp by a bbc watching, liebour voting, guardian reading remainiac tosser.

          Unlike Lock I don’t see myself as a criminal more someone who is doing the UK a service, if the 17 million followed suit we’d see a real change, we’ve got Brexit the next target should be the ‘so called’ BRITISH b.c.

             11 likes

  34. Steve Jones says:

    I have an idea. Ribbons and bracelets of different colours are very popular these days as a means of expressing support for various movements, organisations or sentiments. Perhaps someone could design an eye catching ribbon that could easily be attached to any Islamic clothing that signals the wearer does not agree with terror attacks being carried out in the name of their peace loving religion. What an easy way for Muslims to demonstrate the oft stated fact that the vast majority of them are peace loving.
    Who could object to that?

       14 likes

    • Lock13 says:

      Good point SJ as always

         4 likes

    • Number 6 says:

      Oh no couldnt have that…….that would be akin to something such as,say,painting a door a certain colour

      Safer to not let the buggers in in the first place

         13 likes

  35. BRISSLES says:

    Well, no-one wants to see an atrocity occurring at Rio, but I wont hold my breath.

       7 likes

  36. Gunner says:

    Merkel- toast today, or toast tomorrow ?

       6 likes

  37. Grant says:

    GWF,

    Stay calm. It is just another Buddhist. But when will the useless, gutless European politicians wake up and do something ?? Maybe the killing has to be brought closer to their own doors ?

       4 likes

  38. Al Shubtill says:

    How many more terrorist attacks or attempted attacks do there need to be? Before the governments of the West realize how existentially dangerous an entity they are allowing to spread and thrive, virtually unchecked, through our societies.

    Islam and its Muslims and Muslimas are incompatible with Western democracies.

    “When there are this many bad apples, there’s something wrong with the orchard.” Bill Maher.

       6 likes

    • Grant says:

      Al,

      I think that you and me and GWF and others on this site are saying the same thing. Until the political elite take a really big hit, nothing will happen. We need a new Guy Fawkes.

         4 likes

    • Tabs says:

      I think political Europe will go through some big changes within 5 to 10 years. There is a vast far right wing movement across Europe gaining strength and more and more far right political parties will be elected starting with Austria, France and Germany.

      Unfortunately Europe will probably end up like it was in 1939 again but the current left wing political parties refuse to do anything apart from showing solidarity and lighting candles. History always repeats itself.

         5 likes

      • Al Shubtill says:

        Tabs, there are commentators in the U.S. who see the present rise of ethno-nationalism as a response to globalization and the ever increasing crime and terrorism brought about by Muslim and other immigration.

        Maybe we’ll get another Cromwell, or someone of his sheer scale, and whose to say that when the situation is reaching a critical point, as it will in 5 to 10 years (IMHO), that the man on the horse isn’t the best way of dealing with it, conclusively.

           3 likes

  39. wronged says:

    Agreed Al Shubtill, the problems from Islamic terrorism is evident, it’s finding the solution that seems to be befuddling our weak politicians.

    Personally I would follow the countries of China, Japan and Russia and accept that Islam is incompatible with their societies and muslims are not welcome.

    In the UK, Iwould ban the faith of Islam, allow currrent religious followers of Islam to either denounce their faith or get deported. A bit extreme maybe, but I feel we have to protect our people and culture from this destructive and subversive religion.

       10 likes

    • Al Shubtill says:

      wronged, you couldn’t be more right; as regards what you suggest being “extreme”: NOTHING is too extreme when the very survival of your country and its people hang in the balance.

      “Necessity knows no law.” Oliver Cromwell.

         6 likes

    • Tabs says:

      Banning the building of any more Mosques would be a good starting point. There are enough Mosques for the Muslim population already and building more is encouraging more converts/immigrants.

      Any building of new Mosques is not going to enrich the area with multiculturalism, in fact it does the total opposite.

         8 likes

      • wronged says:

        Saudi is an enemy of the west. Sadly the west refuse to acccept this fact because it relies on Saudi oil along with the selling of arms.

        Saudi’s funding of terrorist groups are a disgrace. Its refusal to accept Muslim refugees was beyond contempt.Its laws are primitive.The west needs to be more honest with its views on Saudi.

           7 likes

    • zero says:

      wronged,

      In the UK, I would ban the faith of Islam, allow currrent religious followers of Islam to either denounce their faith or get deported.

      So you want “thought-crime” to become an offence in UK Law.

      Because; “we have to protect our people”

      Sounds vaguely familiar…

         2 likes

      • Al Shubtill says:

        Yes, similar to the treatment of British fascists here in the U.K. during WW2.

           3 likes

  40. taffman says:

    Latest news – ‘lone gunman’. Shot himself?

       1 likes

  41. Killer Gorilla says:

    Apparently he was unknown to police but they say he worked alone. How the hell do they know!!! They said there were 3 gunmen. Perhaps the other 2 got away.

    Dual nationality. So he wasn’t an Iranian then? I thought it was a hate crime to refer to people’s mixed origins.

       2 likes