Seen in the News

[Stanley]

See THIS BBC report on the low levels of savings people have as the pressures increase on them. This is what politicians ought to be concentrating on and acting at the moment. We haven't seen anything yet compared with what is coming. I see nurses are being asked to think again about striking by people on comfortable salaries and with inflation proofed pension plans. We are in for a very hard winter.....

[Tizer]

On top of all that we've got a serious collapse in the services and products provided by organisations in general. Latest example: Mrs Tiz ordered two items from Lands End. The delivery has just arrived. One item is correct, the other is nothing like what she ordered.

We've been increasingly affected by such problems in recent weeks. We booked the car in for service - the garage changed the booking without telling us. I provided my licence details for the courtesy car using the DVLA widget that gives you a code to send to the garage instead of needing to dig out your licence. They were bewildered and claimed they've never heard of it! Then I had to book the car in again because of a recall needing a software update. The Honda letter said it would take 2.5 hours; the garage said no, it takes 4 hours! Mrs Tiz has had ongoing problems with the ophthalmologist, optician, doctor and pharmacist over her eye prescription - they kept giving her the wrong one (she has to have preservative-free). There've been plenty of other silly mistakes, foul-ups etc but I won't bore you with them.

Talking of collapses, have a listen to this 15 minute Radio 4 episode: 'Stop the Steal' LINK
A data-breach at an election office in Georgia leads to the leak of highly sensitive voting software. The perpetrators believe that they are working to protect the future of American democracy.
The crucial bit is that the woman in charge of the election office let the perpetrators come in and take what they wanted - because she supports Trump. Good bye democracy!

[Stanley]

That would read in normal circumstances like an extended whinge but unfortunately it isn't. It's an accurate report of the general climate in anything to do with service these days from police and NHS to garages and retail.
When I read Piketty on Capital in 2014 I agreed with his contention that if the imbalance that was being fostered by government policies was allowed to continue it could lead to the erosion of the society we live in. Eight years later I think we are seeing the proof of his assertion. What was once seen as 'normal' in terms of service is eroded to the point where it simply doesn't function. The government responds by making wild statements about the public not understanding what is expected of them, like working for wages that don't even allow you to feed your kids adequately, this by people with good salaries and pension provision.
The bad news Peter is that it will get worse. I think we are going to see another facet of Piketty's thesis surface this winter, social unrest.Deep Joy!

[Stanley]

Have a look at THIS for the consequences of austerity on crime in real life.
" Oak Grove is a quiet cul-de-sac of 14 bungalows in Doncaster. But in the past 18 months, residents living on the street or in neighbouring streets have been burgled 10 times, with other unsolved crimes going back years. Those include thieves seriously assaulting pensioners, and stealing cars, bikes and scooters, leaving residents terrified. "
I wonder whether things like this are at the front of Hunt's mind as he ponders where to cut.....

[Tizer]

Australia is suffering what we usually get...
`Once a comfort, rain is now ruining Australia's mood' LINK

[Cathy]

Yes , our east coast is certainly getting a hammering. So many homes and livelihoods lost.

[Tripps]

I'm not a fan, but wouldn't want to see anyone come to any harm. Their behaviour has become predictable and I think it's probably inevitable.

Well that didn't take long. Egg thrown at King

Today an egg - tomorrow what? Where is he getting his security advice from? Not on here obviously?

[Stanley]

David, your link took me to a tsunami of click bait news in Mail Online about Matt Hancock and Boy George plus cleavages but no mention of eggs being thrown....

[Tripps]

your link took me to a tsunami of click bait news in Mail Online

Sorry about that - should have had a trigger warning for the Mail. I thought it would lead to a particular aricle. Anyway the incident has been well covered elswhere now. My point remains that the new touchy feely popularity seeking attitude of the Royal Family will lead to trouble.

[Tizer]

The Grenfell Tower `web of blame'....
`Grenfell Tower fire: Contractors slammed for blaming each other' Grenfell

[Stanley]

I have seen the reports Peter. So many people and bodies are culpable. I think the conclusions are correct but then we get the news yesterday from Bristol that eight years after Grenfell we have the same danger in Bristol with expanded polystyrene foam filled cladding.
How much difference will the Grenfell enquiry make? Will there be prosecutions or other sanctions? We have seen too many enquiries reach the right conclusions and then they have been quietly buried.....

[Tizer]

This report caused some amusement at Tizer HQ. They've gone a long way for their stromatolite fossils - Mrs Tiz went with the local U3A Geology group a couple of weeks ago to a site near Wells, Somerset, to look at the stromatolite fossils exposed there!
`Life on Mars? Australian rocks may hold clues for Nasa rover' LINK
Scientists from London's Natural History Museum working with Nasa have described a range of features, both large and small, in a series of domes in western Australia that appear inarguably to have been made by ancient microbes.

[Stanley]

I heard the report Peter but didn't really understand it.
THIS BBC report caught my attention this morning. I have seen the reports of problems but embattled cryptocurrency exchange FTX has filed for bankruptcy in the US, seeking court protection as it looks for a way to return money to users.
We have expressed doubts about these non-tangible assets and it looks as though we might be justified. Include me out......

[plaques]

THIS BBC report caught my attention this morning. I have seen the reports of problems but embattled cryptocurrency exchange FTX has filed for bankruptcy in the US, seeking court protection as it looks for a way to return money to users.

Man with very wide tie...Psst. Want to buy a pyramid??

[Tripps]

Sign of the times? Interesting to see 'OCG' used without explanation. I imagine it means 'organised criminal gang' - sad that they expect their readers to know that.

Looks like a power struggle between the old gangs and the relative newcomers. ?

Burnley drug wars

Bear this in mind when considering the Albanian 'migrants' fleeing their home country for a 'better life'.

[Tripps]

Couldn't quite believe this was real, but seems it is. . .

Dallas airshow collision

The narrative doesn't seem to fit the video though.

[Stanley]

The air show crash David. At least it was quick!
The thought that went through my mind was that the people who participate in these activities (And I include running steam engines as well.) are very skilled and consider themselves fully qualified but in the end they are only amateurs and may not be as expert as they think they are. I've see this mistake several times in my own spheres of activity.....

[Tizer]

It was probably meant to be an impressive very close pass by the fighter but with the speeds they're going at the slightest deviation can lead to disaster. They were said to be flying low and that can mean more unpredictable air turbulence. Thank goodness they no longer fly directly above the crowds. I can still remember being in a crowd of onlookers when a Mosquito suddenly buzzed right over us at what seemed like treetop level in an air show at Speke airport back in 1970!

[Stanley]

See THIS BBC report on the latest situation in the mid-term US election. Trump is rejected once again as Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, wins a bitterly fought governor’s race, defeating Kari Lake.
More good news for Biden. I like it!
In another part of the forest there are reports that Amazon is to cut 10,000 jobs.....

[Tizer]

Trump is rejected once again as Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, wins a bitterly fought governor’s race, defeating Kari Lake.

And....Rupert Murdoch urges Donald Trump not to run in 2024, threatening to back a Democrat if he does: ExclusiveNews Corp sources reveal the media mogul is backing Republican Ron DeSantis – and could even get behind a ‘non-Biden’ Democrat over the former president i News

[Tripps]

This is from The Guardian. A hedge fund boss poking Alphabet (Google and Youtube) in the ribs to economise like the other tech stocks.

They say when the tide goes out we see who had no trunks. . . .


"TCI singled out the self-driving car experiment Waymo, the biggest source of losses in the division, as an area for cutbacks. Unfortunately, enthusiasm for self-driving cars has collapsed and competitors have exited the market,” said Hohn. “Ford and Volkswagen recently decided to shut down their self-driving car venture. Waymo has not justified its excessive investment and its losses should be reduced dramatically.”"

[Stanley]

Thanks for the Guardian clip David. That explains why I haven't seen anything in the news about autonomous cars. Good news for me, I never liked the idea.....
See THIS breaking news. The Orange Door Knob has announced he is running for President in 2024.

[Big Kev]

This news report made me smile this morning
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-africa-63644365

[Stanley]

Lovely Kev, that put a big smile on my face, never a bad thing especially early in the morning....

[Stanley]

THIS BBC report caught my attention.
Twitter has told employees that the company's office buildings will be temporarily closed, effective immediately.
In a message seen by the BBC, workers were told that the offices would reopen on Monday 21 November.
It did not give a reason for the move. The announcement comes amid reports that large numbers of staff were quitting after new owner Elon Musk called on them to sign up for "long hours at high intensity" or leave.
The message went on to say: "Please continue to comply with company policy by refraining from discussing confidential company information on social media, with the press or elsewhere."

Is this the face of modern industrial management? Management by diktat?
If so, include me out, I'm glad I am no longer 'economically active'!