Another Drive4show 'Anything goes' thread

[super_realist]

First topic message reminder :

Just wondering what ailment you have which does not have a proven cure from modern medicine but for which Chinese "medicine" does.
Mac is the secretive one, not me.

[I'm never wrong]

I am thinking that the Premier League teams will want to resume playing more to avoid having to return millions to broadcasters than the welfare of everyone involved.

[super_realist]

I am thinking that the Premier League teams will want to resume playing more to avoid having to return millions to broadcasters than the welfare of everyone involved.

Football has long been unsustainable. This should bring it down to earth a bit.

[beninho]

I think paid consultancy should be banned for Mps. Don't think Mps should be lobbying on behalf of big business.

In regard to this case, if the company is best placed to carry out the work, why oay the mp 100k a year?

[super_realist]

Why don't you present a petition to your MP seeing as you're so bothered by it? I don't know they employ them, but I'll tell you what, I'd rather have an MP in a  consultancy position lobby for a British firm over a foreign firm for the benefit of British jobs and the British economy wouldn't you? For example, wouldn't you rather see British steel favoured over Chinese steel? How about ships being built in Britain rather than Busan?


Why do Facebook employ Clegg? Unicef Milliband or The Evening Standard Osbourne? None of them have any experience in those fields.

[beninho]

Having an opinion doesn't mean I need to start a petition.

I'm not sure about the #whataboutery but clegg, militant and Gideon aren't mps, I have little to care about their jobs.

The things about British jobs for British people shtick, I thought of you as more of a global markets kind of person.

[beninho]

And regarding football. No idea, but not keen on league one using a formula to calculate future results rather then just a straight ppg. Not that a ppg benefits Wycombe, who move from 8th to 3rd, as played a game less.

[westisbest]

Haven’t league 1&2 finished now till the new season, whenever that maybe?

Premier league hoping to start early June.
Crazy.

3 Brighton player have just been tested positive.
Villa, who are in a relegation scrap, have 2 players who are unable to play.

Am sure there will be other players who test positive in the coming months.

Have t really been following it, (not really missing football), but heard they want to play games at neutral venues, which some teams have voted against.

Also there will be relegation, maybe wrong, but think some teams had voted against that?

[super_realist]

Having an opinion doesn't mean I need to start a petition.

I'm not sure about the #whataboutery but clegg, militant and Gideon aren't mps, I have little to care about their jobs.

The things about British jobs for British people shtick, I thought of you as more of a global markets kind of person.

I generally am, however there are a lot of industries in Britain which employ thousands of people and are industries we genuinely need to protect and I don't see the harm in doing so.

I understand why you don't like one firm being awarded a contract for this, but there simply isn't time to conduct a full tendering process. I've been involved in them before in terms of picking the tender and it takes forever for the brief to be written and for the tenders to come back in, then there's the decision on which one to go with. Normal business practices simply have to go out of the window at the current time. We are effectively on a war footing and don't have time for normal process. Leave the fake offence for the likes of the disgusting Owen Jones, you're better than him and his arse wiping rag of a newspaper.

[beninho]

League 1/2 are being canned but not worked out how to finalise the table.

[beninho]

Having an opinion doesn't mean I need to start a petition.

I'm not sure about the #whataboutery but clegg, militant and Gideon aren't mps, I have little to care about their jobs.

The things about British jobs for British people shtick, I thought of you as more of a global markets kind of person.

I generally am, however there are a lot of industries in Britain which employ thousands of people and are industries we genuinely need to protect and I don't see the harm in doing so.

I understand why you don't like one firm being awarded a contract for this, but there simply isn't time to conduct a full tendering process. I've been involved in them before in terms of picking the tender and it takes forever for the brief to be written and for the tenders to come back in, then there's the decision on which one to go with. Normal business practices simply have to go out of the window at the current time. We are effectively on a war footing and don't have time for normal process. Leave the fake offence for the likes of the disgusting Owen Jones, you're better than him and his arse wiping rag of a newspaper.

I can see why its done, and I gather they are the biggest firm. I just don't like the look to it, with the links to a senior mp who was at a visit in December with Hancock. On top of the other appointment of an mps wife. Just the look of it, more than the overall act.

Still don't like most earning vast amounts for lobbying.

[dynamark]

Re the testing contract pretty sure we wouldn't want to se a headline about 6 week delay due to tender process.It wont be a blank cheque there will be some sort of financial governance in place.Every sizable company has all manner of financial regs.
ive just had to stop using a really good value reliable roofer who Ive known for years for a another company based 40 miles away who don't appear to be anywhere near as good because they have satisfied a bunch of financial tests and rules.

[McLaren]

Wuhan going to test 11 million people because 6 people are currently infected. UKG take note, that is how to act in a crisis.

[Soul Requiem]

Wuhan going to test 11 million people because 6 people are currently infected. UKG take note, that is how to act in a crisis.

You mean let the virus spread in the first place, bravo great work.

[super_realist]

Wuhan going to test 11 million people because 6 people are currently infected. UKG take note, that is how to act in a crisis.

Oh yeah, I really believe that Mac. You haven't believed anything coming out of China, but you believe this?

[dynamark]

Mac please .
Just had e mail from the golf club re opening on Thursday saying 'members may play in 2 balls with another person outside their household '
Is it me or what ? Its singles surely unless its a member of your household

[Soul Requiem]

Mac please .
Just had e mail from the golf club re opening on Thursday saying 'members may play in 2 balls with another person outside their household '
Is it me or what ? Its singles surely unless its a member of your household

New government guidelines that come into force tomorrow state that you can partake in exercise with one person outside of your household as long as social distancing is observed.

[dynamark]

If that's correct sounds sensible and good I was sure on sunday it was sports alone unless it was a family member.They are not opening toilets in clubhouse but putting in portaloos which seems a bit odd but a small step.

[super_realist]

In Scotland in summer the sun doesn't go down until its really late, I've been playing past 11pm before so it's likely we'll get a lot of people playing together once the proshop /starter shuts at courses.

One of my clubs is planning on canning the 2 stroke play qualifying rounds of the Club Championship and just going to straight matchplay for the lowest guys at the club. Makes sense to me.

[super_realist]

If that's correct sounds sensible and good I was sure on sunday it was sports alone unless it was a family member.They are not opening toilets in clubhouse but putting in portaloos which seems a bit odd but a small step.

Don't most people just slash in the trees or bushes?

[dynamark]

Yes but they need somewhere to go to the toilet as well .
My standard of golf at present is the epitome of social distancing .

[dynamark]

Are there any bushes or trees on the Old Course other than a couple of gorse which could be an issue

[super_realist]

Are there any bushes or trees on the Old Course other than a couple of gorse which could be an issue

Plenty

[kwinigolfer]

If that's correct sounds sensible and good I was sure on sunday it was sports alone unless it was a family member.They are not opening toilets in clubhouse but putting in portaloos which seems a bit odd but a small step.

Don't most people just slash in the trees or bushes?

Who was the bloke a few years ago who used to take very unsanitary-sounding dumps at various spots during his rounds, and used such available items as golf towels for a quick clean up before going to his ball and playing his next shot? Think he was from the West Country, but certainly wouldn't want to be playing in the following groups.

[super_realist]

What sort of barbarian takes a dump anywhere but their own home?

[McLaren]

Kwini

I think you are thinking of Tarka.


Super

If you gotta go and all that.




I have a mate who shat in a bush during a round last season.

[McLaren]

Navy/super/soul

Do you fancy jumping off the Boris appolgist bandwagon?

https://www.ft.com/content/40fc8904-febf-4a66-8d1c-ea3e48bbc034

[super_realist]

Who said I was ever on it? Furthermore, your article tells me nothing. It's a quote behind a pay wall, no evidence, no figures, no data, no context, just a claim. Do you believe everything you read simply because it's online?

[Soul Requiem]

Navy/super/soul

Do you fancy jumping off the Boris appolgist bandwagon?

https://www.ft.com/content/40fc8904-febf-4a66-8d1c-ea3e48bbc034

That link has changed everything for me now.

I'm baffled every week when Chris Giles comes out with his newest set of figures, as an economist I expected him to be able to contextualise figures far better than he has done thus far. The excess death statistic in such a narrow frame of reference doesn't mean a massive amount, it's something that really needs looking at after a year when you can compare annual figures.

[kwinigolfer]

Kwini

I think you are thinking of Tarka.

Mac,
I think you're right!
He seemed a likeable guy until he started to reveal his personal habits!!

[JAS]

Mac please .
Just had e mail from the golf club re opening on Thursday saying 'members may play in 2 balls with another person outside their household '
Is it me or what ? Its singles surely unless its a member of your household

New government guidelines that come into force tomorrow state that you can partake in exercise with one person outside of your household as long as social distancing is observed.

We’re in exactly the same boat Dyna, reopening Thursday. After screeds of whatsapps the guys in our playing group who want to play Sat had sorted themselves into 6 pairs. Booking phone lines opened at 12:00 today, as at 3:00pm 5 of the 6 pairs have got a tee. I spent 2 and a half hours trying to get through :-/ Anyways off at 11:28 Saturday, dont think I’ve ever been as excited looking forward to playing my home course:-p

To add to Souls bit, England Golf are saying it doesn’t have to be the same person outside your household each time although some booking bods are interpreting it that way I.e. I could play with Super Saturday then Mac Sunday.

[McLaren]

Super

It was an FT article. UK excess deaths now at 50000+over covid period.

[super_realist]

Super

It was an FT article. UK excess deaths now at 50000+over covid period.

Mac, it gave no context. It was a headline and zero article. It was a paywall. It didn't give anything more than your sensationalist headline.

[JAS]

He's not on the board, you keep saying that. He's a paid consultant, 100k per year.

You find me things, and ill tell you if I think it looks bad. I'll stick with my view on this, that it looks bad for the government, on top of the other appointment.  

I tell you what though both sr1 and sr2 are needed at the presser, you have a better idea of what is going on then waffley Boris and the boys.

In that case you'll find even more companies with paid consultants with political histories.
Why are you so bothered? You can find such people "consulting" for virtually every large company, yet you don't bat an eyelid.
All of a sudden you're outraged because the Daily Owen Jones finds an example of nepotism and you lose your head. Well guess what, it's endemic in business with consultants from all parties.
Would you prefer that the procurements of tests waited until a full tender process was undertaken?

Just tracking back though as I missed this part of the discussion yesterday. Unsurprisingly I’m with Ben on this one and no not because of the implication that Tories have their snouts in the trough. It’s not the Tories that are the problem here it’s the lack of scrutiny of the abuse of outside interests generally. Of course politicians of all persuasions are guilty of it (it is quite amusing how you immediately jump to their defence though). The worst/more sinister example I can remember (apart from Mark Thatcher’s) holding in a foreign coal company in the mid 80’s - so no conflict of interest there then :-p) was Patricia Hewitt being Blair’s Trade and industry Sec, sitting on the Board of Andersen Consulting and lobbying for the implementation of IR35 - a supposed to be draconian wipeout of individual freelance consultants through-out the economy therefore leaving the landscape completely wide open for big multinational consultancies to body shop cheap labour in from developing economies oversees e.g. India). It was such an ill conceived policy that they’re still trying to implement it properly 20 years on. Whatever the rights and wrongs of freelance consultancy, for a government minister to promote such a measure whilst she had a directorship and holding in a company that would be one of the major beneficiaries of the implementation was a conflict of interest too far for me. I was a card carrying LP member at the time and when it was first attempted to be introduced they got my torn up membership card posted back to them with a “nice” letter. It’s taken nigh on 20 years for me to feel comfortable about being prepared to support them again, mainly because the last 10 years have shown how much worse the alternative is.

[JAS]

I did have a further thought on the supposed tube crowding. So vids were posted at the start of the lockdown and pictures were posted yesterday that were supposedly indicating the chaos of the mixed messages coming out of Downing St. There are various stories about how crowded or otherwise the Tubes have been throughout the lockdown but....let’s just think for a minute, what if it wasn’t just the first few days and yesterday that certain trains were packed, what if it was the case all the way through lockdown. How do we stack that against the falling infection rate in London? If on the other hand the Tube has been relatively empty until yesterday I guess if it’s a big deal we’ll see the infection rate start to surge from next week and the death rate to start ticking back up late May into June. That I think will give the most definitive answer.

Meanwhile and not altogether unrelated... For all the U.S. have been bleating on about China manipulating the numbers, I had the US on a trajectory for over 100000 deaths by now but somehow their death rate has slowed, despite all the bonkers anti lockdown protests and lack of social distancing. Are the US lying, manipulating their numbers or is there really case for saying that maybe, just maybe, lockdowns are overly draconian and not as effective as we’re being led to believe?

I’m not wedded to any particular view, gut instinct says lockdown will save 1000s of lives but...there MUST be more to it than that. If the London and US death rates don’t re take off exponentially then maybe, just maybe we should stop trying to wrap ourselves in cotton wool.

[super_realist]

I'm not jumping to their defence JAS, I'm adding balance which is something that Beninho seldom does. For every example of perceived Tory skullduggery, you could find an exact example from Labour, so really what's the point in highlighting one and reacting like it's an amazing piece of undercover journalism, when it's endemic in all British politics and always has been?
Beninho might refer to that as "whataboutery", but you can't have a go at an isolated example of suspected dodgy practices and just ignore when your own party does exactly the same.

It's all very well to pick individual instances where The Daily Owen Jones fakes outrage because in this case it happens to be a Tory, yet not a single eff is ever given if its a Labour MP, or ex MP. That's the point, double standards, where I'm the one being reasonable and stating that they're all at it, and that virtually every business or global process has elements that you could find unsavoury should you dig deep enough.

The main point remains though, we simply don't have time to enter a tender process in the current environment. Guaranteed the public would be happy to give it to one supplier and get on with it.

[kwinigolfer]

JAS,
Fauci told Bernie in today's hearing that the number of deaths will be higher than the official count (close to 82K at the moment), but would not bite on Bernie's 50% higher suggestion. So take your 100,000 deaths to the bank, with most "hotspots" now in Cities & States that had avoided the worst so far.
Would think 150K will be closer to the mark by end of June.

[beninho]

Unsurprisingly, my point has been twisted away from what it was. I think it looks bad, I only ever said looks bad. And I think that Mps shouldn't be allowed to act as consultants/ lobbyists. On this case its a tory case. Show me a similar labour case and I'll give an answer on that.

I still think it looks bad though.

Do people have no issue with MPs being paid lobbyists?

[super_realist]

JAS, just gave you an example of that. The point is you'd never raise a Labour one, because everything you post has to be an attack on the government, which would be fine if they were the only ones at it.

As I stated earlier, yes it can look bad if you only look at it from one point of view, but on the other hand it can be used to protect our industries. You need to look at the entire picture, rather than through the lens of The Guardian.

[JAS]

JAS, just gave you an example of that. The point is you'd never raise a Labour one, because everything you post has to be an attack on the government, which would be fine if they were the only ones at it.

As I stated earlier, yes it can look bad if you only look at it from one point of view, but on the other hand it can be used to protect our industries. You need to look at the entire picture, rather than through the lens of The Guardian.

Hewitt wasn’t really proper Labour though was she, typical Blairite neoliberal suck up. In many ways worse than Tories. Pretending to be representing the working class while consorting with global multinationals to shaft them. Clause IV totally alien to them

[super_realist]

Ah the old "new true Scotsman" excuse.

[beninho]

JAS, just gave you an example of that. The point is you'd never raise a Labour one, because everything you post has to be an attack on the government, which would be fine if they were the only ones at it.

As I stated earlier, yes it can look bad if you only look at it from one point of view, but on the other hand it can be used to protect our industries. You need to look at the entire picture, rather than through the lens of The Guardian.

Of course I'm going to attack the government, mainly because they are bl00dy sh1t.

I have no quibbles with what Jas said either. Think I've made my point pretty clear, I don't think mps should be lobbyist or consultants. I've not mentioned anything party specific.

[McLaren]

Am I overreacting in thinking that Nicola or the health Secretary should go for the Edinburgh covid cover up. And that I think it is in fact a cover up?

[beninho]

Bloody hell, Peter bone the right wingers right winger has laid into Boris. Never saw that cumming.

[super_realist]

Am I overreacting in thinking that Nicola or the health Secretary should go for the Edinburgh covid cover up. And that I think it is in fact a cover up?

Care to elaborate Mac, your point is vague.

[beninho]

https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/18443335.nicola-sturgeon-denies-claims-cover-up-edinburgh-covid-19-outbreak/

[super_realist]

https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/18443335.nicola-sturgeon-denies-claims-cover-up-edinburgh-covid-19-outbreak/

Funny that Nike would have conference in the least healthy nation in Europe.

[McLaren]

Super

There was a covid outbreak in Edinburgh in February that the Scottish government decided not to reveal to the public. Happened at a Nike conference at the hilton in town.

[super_realist]

Super

There was a covid outbreak in Edinburgh in February that the Scottish government decided not to reveal to the public. Happened at a Nike conference at the hilton in town.

Wonder how Krankie will spin that one. Blame the government no doubt.

[McLaren]

Just seems like a poor decision not to be totally transparent about how/when covid entered the country.

For example this info could have altered the publics willingness to act cautiously or provided useful to academics studying covid.

A pointless erosion of of public trust of government.

[super_realist]

Just seems like a poor decision not to be totally transparent about how/when covid entered the country.

For example this info could have altered the publics willingness to act cautiously or provided useful to academics studying covid.

A pointless erosion of of public trust of government.

. Surprised they didn't weaponise it and use it against the government by starting lockdown sooner than the rest of the UK. They never normally miss such an opportunity.
If it was the Tories who'd covered this up Ben would be all over it, but it's the SNP, so it's as if it didn't happen.

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