Seen in the News

[Stanley]

I noted Ray's death in Obituaries but saw THIS tribute this morning....
Former world snooker champion Ray Reardon has died at the age of 91. The Welshman, who had previously been diagnosed with cancer, died on Friday evening, his wife Carol said. Reardon dominated snooker in the 1970s, claiming six world titles between 1970 and 1978. Nicknamed 'Dracula' because of his distinctive widow's peak hairstyle, he became a star as the game enjoyed a television boom. He won the first Pot Black series on BBC Two in 1969 and was made an MBE in the 1985 Queen's Birthday honours. Reardon retired in 1991 aged 58 and later worked as a consultant for Ronnie O'Sullivan, helping him win the world title in 2004. In 2016 the trophy awarded to the winner of the Welsh Open was named the Ray Reardon Trophy in his honour.
A good man and a great player.

[Stanley]

See THIS news of a shooting....
A teenage boy has died after being found shot in a park in west London, police have said. The Metropolitan Police said officers and paramedics were called at about 19:20 BST on Sunday to the location near Hazlewood Crescent in Ladbroke Grove. The boy, believed to be aged 15, was found with injuries and pronounced dead at the scene. Police said six males have been arrested on suspicion of murder and remain in custody. They added the London Air Ambulance also attended the incident, but there were "no reports of any other injuries". Work is taking place to identify the victim and notify his next of kin.
Such a waste....

And THIS seen in W Yorkshire news....
Four adults and two children have died after a car and a motorbike crashed in West Yorkshire, police said. The Ford Focus car and motorcycle collided on the A61 Wakefield Road between Wakefield and Barnsley at about 15:55 BST. A man and a woman along with two girls who were travelling in the car were pronounced dead at the scene, West Yorkshire Police said. A man and a woman who were on the motorcycle were also confirmed dead at the scene.
Six dead in one accident is terrible......

[Tizer]

The accident was near a petrol station and the car might have pulled out in front of the bike. That's what resulted in the death of my Aunt Janie riding on the back of her boyfriend's motorbike about 90 years ago. Some things don't change.

[Tripps]

The drone video doing the rounds on the web shows no garage - just a straight road alongside a golf course.
I don''t know whether it's the truth or not. It looks credible.

[Stanley]

I saw THIS in the newsw this morning and it saddened me....
Former Prime Minister Harold Wilson agreed late in life to sell his entire archive of personal and political papers to help fund his care, according to documents released by the National Archives. Lord Wilson initially planned to sell the collection to McMaster University in Canada for £212,500 – about £700,000 in today’s money. He was suffering from Alzheimer’s and required “continuing care, the costs of which are heavy and will increase”, according to one document. However, the proposal to sell the papers abroad prompted alarm among senior officials in Margaret Thatcher’s government. In early January 1990, the Cabinet Secretary Sir Robin Butler wrote to another official, alerting her that Lord Wilson’s former secretary, Lady Marcia Falkender, was “orchestrating a proposal” to set up an archive for the former prime minister’s papers in Canada. Part of the proceeds would support Lord and Lady Wilson who were “now not well off”, as reported to Sir Robin by his predecessor Lord Armstrong.
I think it's astounding that no way could have been found to ease the Wilson's financial problems.
What a penny pinching bunch we have at the head of the state!

[Tripps]

This matter which I have mentioned before, surfaced again yesterday - in creditable detail. I wonder what the reason was for the agreed apology to be delayed for so long.

Pendle Mayor Muhammad Aslam

[Stanley]

I don't think I want to destroy anyone...... Question is, should he have been let off with a slap on the wrist in the first place.....

THIS is what is going to hold reform of our political system back.
Seven Labour MPs have had the whip suspended for six months after voting against the government on an amendment to scrap the two-child benefit cap. Ex-shadow chancellor John McDonnell was among the Labour MPs who voted for an SNP motion calling for an end to the policy, which prevents almost all parents from claiming Universal Credit or child tax credit for more than two children. Mr McDonnell backed the SNP motion alongside Richard Burgon, Ian Byrne, Rebecca Long-Bailey, Imran Hussain, Apsana Begum and Zarah Sultana. MPs rejected the SNP amendment by 363 votes to 103, in the first major test of the new Labour government’s authority.
Starmer is conducting a vendetta against anyone with socialist leanings and especially if they can be linked to Jeremy Corbyn. He is convinced that he won his election victory because he has dragged the Labour Party into the Centre ground. He is wrong actually, he got his majority not because of his moderate policies but because the Tories are so awful.
These MPs were protesting against a policy that sends children to bed hungry. If Starmer can't see that is a legitimate concern he is in deep trouble.....

[Tizer]

I was pleased to see this US news. I hope the same happens here...

[Tripps]

"According to Leo Rosten, a mensch is "someone to admire and emulate, someone of noble character. The key to being 'a real mensch' is nothing less than character, rectitude, dignity, a sense of what is right, responsible, decorous."[2] The term is used as a high compliment, implying the rarity and value of that individual's qualities."

I suppose his name would translate as Joshua Goodfellow.

[Stanley]

One of the great mysteries of the time in my book is how Netanyahu has been able to get away with avoiding Gaol, forming his alliance with the extreme right and above all persecuting the Palestinians.
I have said it before but it's worth saying again, I am not Anti Semitic but I hate Netanyahu and his policies. I agree with Peter, we need more rabbis to join in the protests.
I also hate the two child benefit cap, should that nice Mr Starmer be expelling me from the Party?

I saw THIS also in the news....
A man has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving after six people, including four members of the same family, were killed in a crash. Nine-year-old Rubie Morgan-Roller and Lillie Morgan-Roller, four, died alongside their mother Shannen Morgan and father Shane Roller when their car collided with a motorbike. Christopher and Janine Barton, who were both travelling on the motorcycle, also died in the crash on the A61 between Barnsley and Wakefield on Sunday afternoon. Police have appealed for anyone who saw a grey Porsche 911 being driven in the area around the time of the collision to come forward.
We learn more about this shocking accident.......

[Big Kev]

I also hate the two child benefit cap, should that nice Mr Starmer be expelling me from the Party?

Personally I agree with it. My understanding is the average family has 2.4 children. At most, child benefit should be worked out on that. I once heard a young mum say that 'she was going to have another baby so she could get more money'. That's not the reason to have a child, families should plan to suit their available budget.
That's just my opinion.

[Tizer]

This is what happens when humans ignore ecology...
`How decline of Indian vultures led to 500,000 human deaths' LINK

[Tripps]

I'mn surorised there is no mention of the effect on Parsee funeral ritual, which involves leaving bodies on the "Towers of Silence" and let the birds carry on with the job.

*************************


Ref the Manchester Airport / Rochdale I read that the erstwhile MP George Galloway has rushed back to the town to be present at the Bilal Mosque in the town, this sabbath afternoon - travelling several hundred miles to do so. Let's hope he is a power for good order.

I don't know how true this is - but I think it most probably is. He was the first to point out the family / police link. I too am "bemused" at the behaviour of people with such a connection.

Today I met with the victims of the #ManchesterAirport incident. I paid my commiserations which but for the grace of God could have been condolences. The brothers are in a bad way physically and emotionally. Their brother a police officer with @gmpolice and their uncle a detective with @metpoliceuk were also present alongside their lawyer @Akhmedyakoob1
There are no fewer than EIGHT police officers in their extended family. One of those was given a Police honour guard at his funeral three months ago in the Bilal Mosque which I attended. That such a family could find themselves in the middle of this situation is bemusing to say the least. I welcome the @policeconduct announcement of a criminal investigation into the actions of one officer. ALL of the officers involved should be suspended from duty forthwith and further criminal investigations launched. But the system is finally working and should be allowed to do so. I am firmly of the view that the protest at the airport this weekend should NOT go ahead. Everyone should display patience and calm at this time. We believe in justice, no matter who it's for or who it is against.

[Stanley]

There was a time many years ago when George Galloway had taken me in and I listened to some of the things he said and approved. (Mainly in support of the Arabs in what is now Israel.) since then I have realised that he is nothing more than a pathetic trouble chaser who is desperate for publicity.

[Stanley]

See THIS piece by Chris Mason in BBC News.
For the first time since the general election, party politics will come roaring back at Westminster on Monday. Yes, there was a bit of it at the State Opening of Parliament a few weeks back, but ceremony and civility took centre stage then really. I don’t expect much of either later. When the chancellor gets to her feet in the House of Commons this afternoon, she will claim a whole graveyard’s worth of political skeletons have been crashing out of every cupboard in Whitehall since Labour won the election. For Rachel Reeves, it won’t be "things can only get better" as Labour’s victory anthem in 1997 claimed, but "it turns out things are a whole lot worse" or words to that effect.
This is all good knock-about stuff but now is not the time for treating politics as a spectator sport. It's a time for looking at what failed in the past and what worked.
I have a fear that this is not what is about to happen. Knee-jerk politics is about to prevail. I hope I am wrong.

[Stanley]

THIS is at the head of the domestic news.
Two children have been killed and nine injured, six critically, in a "ferocious" knife attack at a children's dance workshop. Two adults are also in a critical condition after being stabbed as they tried to protect children at the Taylor Swift-themed event on Hart Street in Southport, Merseyside Police said. A 17-year-old boy, from Banks in Lancashire, has been arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder. Police said the motivation for the attack was "unclear" but it was not being treated as terror-related.
There is more information in the report. What can one say about things like this....?

[Cathy]

It’s shocking. It’s been on our News.
Mental Illness, Jealousy?

[Stanley]

Nobody is saying anything yet Cathy...... Only thing that's been let slip was, if I heard it right, he was originally from Rwanda.

[Tripps]

I would recommend watching (at least) the first part of this video from Simon Webb. Shows how the information void is filled by social media - as it quickly was yesterday. Whether it was malicious or not I don't know. His explanation of the Arabic name is priceless, and I doubt you will find it anywhere else. False narrative

[Wendyf]

I'm wondering if the perpetrator was obsessed with Taylor Swift and saw this terrible act as a way to get her attention.

[PanBiker]

Apparently the name of the boy that has been doing the rounds on social media is wrong, so say the police.

He was born in Cardiff, his parents were immigrants from Rwanda.

[Stanley]

See THIS BBC report. Things get worse....
Thirty-nine police officers have been injured during a protest in Southport hours after a vigil took place to remember the victims of a knife attack in which three children were killed, the North West Ambulance Service said. Earlier, Merseyside Police said eight officers sustained serious injuries including fractures, lacerations, a suspected broken nose and concussion. Other injuries included one officer being knocked unconscious, as well as some suffering head and serious facial injuries. Three police dogs were also hurt, with two having bricks thrown at them. The protest, which police said was believed to involve English Defence League supporters, began only a few streets away from Wednesday's vigil location, near to a mosque on St Luke's Road in Southport. Those involved threw bricks at the mosque, set fire to cars and wheelie bins and caused damage to a local convenience store, police said. In total, 27 officers were taken to hospital, and 12 were treated and discharged at the scene, the ambulance service said.
There is much more in the report including this:
Merseyside Police said those behind the violence had been fired up by social media posts which incorrectly suggested an Islamist link to Monday’s stabbings.

[Tizer]

Merseyside Police said those behind the violence had been fired up by social media posts which incorrectly suggested an Islamist link to Monday’s stabbings.

We need to hold the big social media companies to account. They make massive profits and should spend it on effective monitoring of all posts.

[Tripps]

Some of us (myself included) have been predicting civil unrest for some time now on here. Looks like it may be here. Leeds, Southport yesterday, London tonight, and god help us - now Hartlepool. Various triggers some real, some fake, and some imaginary.

I can't help thinking of Mr Dylan's take on the matter. Indulge me (again).

And the riot squad they’re restless
They need somewhere to go
As Lady and I look out tonight
From Desolation Row.

[Stanley]

I have to agree with both of you. I saw the writing on the wall when Cameron and Osborne started withdrawing funds from society in pursuit, as they said, of sound money. Remember what I also said about the wealthy retreating to gated communities with private security? Expect to see that as the next stage in our decline to a more and more dystopian society. Start by looking at the report from Andrew Dilnot yesterday.
This is why I have been banging on about Reeves and her policies.....

One thing that occurred to me this morning was to doubt if it is wise to give people like the English Defence League the oxygen of publicity. Could we not just refer to them as 'rioters' or even 'mindless thugs'....

THIS caught my attention this morning.
See this section.
The Old Age Pensions Act 1908 introduced pensions for over-70s, but many Irish Catholics prior to the Registration of Births and Deaths (Ireland) Act 1863 had no birth registration. One of the questions used to establish proof of age was whether the applicant remembered the Night of the Big Wind.
The Irish were not daft and soon realised that they had only to say that they remembered the night of the big wind to get the pension. The government realised that there were far more 'pensioners' than there should have been and so the criteria had to be adjusted,
Historians refer to these people as 'The Big Winders'.