86 thoughts on “Friday’s Papers

  1. Cian

    Sinn Fein showing their true colours up north. They don’t care about the people. Not closing schools or sending people home.

    1. Rosette of Sirius

      I am very curious to see how Mary Lou is gonna blame Leo for Sinn Fein’s schizophrenia on this.

      Down south they’ve been banging on for days now about the government’s lack of action but there’s Michelle up there beside Aaaarlene lock stepping to Boris’s sombrero madness…

      1. ReproBertie

        Is that a decision the Assembly can make? I don’t see Scotland closing schools or suspending the SPL either. Is it something that the devolved governments have no power over?

          1. some old queen

            Playing the ‘all UK or nothing’ card on this one is incredibly stupid and will cost lives.

            Michelle should take the lead and in a personal capacity advise people to follow the ROI lock down. If the DUP object- then let them say why.

      1. Shayna

        Sure – I know that – Provided a majority.
        Kinda repeating myself there. But what is your point?

      2. some old queen

        As above- there is no reason SF members cannot give an opinion in a personal capacity.

    2. GiggidyGoo

      Ah trust Cian to produce the old lemon.
      Northern Ireland is governed and financed by London.
      In the meantime 35,000 horsie people will return from Cheltenham shortly having snuggled up with each other and 50,000+ over many days, and will be handed leaflets. Also, despite having seen what happened in Italy, Dr. Varadkar did nothing to prevent the spread from people arriving from there. Leaflets again. Dr. Death.

      And there’s Cian trying to divert. You’ve changed your tune from last week. Like the rest of FG, it’s a case of ostriches burying their heads in the hope it’ll go away – or until the population tells you how it is.

      1. Rosette of Sirius

        None of that takes away from the fact that Michelle and Sinn Fein appears split from their republican comrades down south. And when the heck has Sinn Fein even given a rats about what London sez?! It’s extremely frustrating this because for those of us who have family up there, Boris is endangering them.

        Behind it all I wonder if he’s actually trying to collapse the NHS as part of his master plan for it?!

        1. GiggidyGoo

          I don’t see how you come to the conclusion that they seem split. If Michelle O Neill actually says anything contrary, then there may be a difference of opinion (not a split), but i don’t think that’s happened.

          In the meantime Trudeau’s wife, Sophie, has caught the virus – while in the UK. Which gets back to the point of the 35,000 returning potential carriers from Cheltenham. England is a dangerous place. Boris is doing a Leo on it, and both of them are coming out with the same type phrases. Boris will be dragged kicking and screaming to do the right thing – same as Leo was.

          Boris hasn’t a clue. On his word, England, Scotland, Wales and NI could shut down like we eventually did. He is up to something alright. An evil man.

          1. Clampers Outside

            *Best panto voice*

            “He’s up to something alright” Ooooooohhh.

            Your commentary is childish drivel.

          2. GiggidyGoo

            Turn of phrase Clampers. Still waiting though for your solution to 35,000+ people arriving from Cheltenham. Is it a ‘sure it’ll be alright’ approach, same as Leo’s up to yesterday?
            And Boris – well he never does anything without an ulterior motive.Why would this be any different?

      2. Clampers Outside

        Ok.

        What then would he have done with the people other than require them to act like responsible adults?
        Contain / quarantine them?…. Where?

        Rather than say what he did was wrong, it’s clear you believe that,but could you at least say what you think should be done for Cheltenham returnees / should’ve been done for those coming from Italy.

        1. GiggidyGoo

          Your first paragraph. The answer to that is – where are they going to do so now?

          Your other paragraph. RTE reporting today that the HSE are going to identify 10,000 beds for a worst case scenario. The first case was a worst case scenario as far as it arriving here. Those beds should have been identified at that stage at least, and any arrivals from hot spots like italy should have been sent to them for 2 weeks for testing.

          As regards Cheltenham folk, they should at least be monitored when arriving here. They’ve spent a week in Cheltenham at this stage, so testing at the ports and airports should be done upon their return. (the incubation period is 1 to 14 days, but most commonly 5 days according to the WHO, so there’s an excellent chance of catching anyone that has it coming from Cheltenham.

          1. some old queen

            Agreed- test at airports and ports if for no other reason but to remind these idiots of how serious the thing is.

            Also self isolate for 14 days.

          2. GiggidyGoo

            Yep – and I’m waiting for Clampers to tell us what his solutions are.

            We’ve closed down the country almost, so the cost of testing 35,000 is a drop in the ocean.

          3. Clampers Outside

            That’s better, isn’t it. Constructive commentary from you at last, and good points.

            But I’d also say, this is hindsight and it is far easier to say this now than earlier.

            I would certainly like to see more done with thecheltenham crowd returning.

            I don’t think it is a cost issue with regards testing but a staffing and kit sourcing issue.

            As was mentioned yesterday by amother commenter, Sth Korea, who have had experience with SARS and MERS and so have way more experience prep with these matters can at maximum push do 20,000 tests a day because they have the infrastructure. We don’t have the experience, the labs, the knowledge nor the infrastructure.

            My point, simply saying we should do ‘X’ is one thing. Implementation is another.

          4. Clampers Outside

            I never did say I had a solution by the way.
            And I do believe a lot of how we beat this will be down to personal responsibility at an individual level.

          5. GiggidyGoo

            Cool – so your ‘constructive’ suggestion is “I would certainly like to see more done with the cheltenham crowd returning.”

            Any chance you could suggest what could be done? Any ideas? And, by the way, I’ve said that about the Cheltenham crowd already yesterday. You mightn’t have read it as you’d disappeared.

          6. Clampers Outside

            I think what is being done currently is correct regarding the continuing situation.
            You seem to take the approach of… I have an idea, and like magic, items implemented there and then. I’m sorry but that kind of magical thinking is poppy cock and completely removed from reality, in all fairness.

          7. Clampers Outside

            Again, I never said I had a solution. I know things I’d like done, but I watch, just as you do, and I see things moving, not as swiftly as I may like, because that is the reality of required planning and implementation on a nationally coordinated basis with multiple stakeholder requirements.

            (I sure hope you don’t work in anything related to project management)

          8. Clampers Outside

            To answer your question re the Cheltenham crowd:
            They should all follow the instructions given to all of us.

            Take personal responsibility.

            That being, they’ve just come from a mass gathering, and should head home and self isolate.

          9. ReproBertie

            It’s too late to do anything about people returning from Cheltenham because they are already home. Not all of them went for the full festival.

            Perhaps the government are waiting for them all to get home before they shut the country down on Monday at 8am (according to another post on BS).

          10. some old queen

            clamps they only opened regional testing labs TWO DAYS AGO. That is nothing to do with test kits- that is downright incompetence.

          11. Clampers Outside

            Is it though? What was required to get them set up and staffed etc?

            Do you know?
            If you feel you can confidently label the current effort incompetent you should be able to tell me what is involved in getting the professional staff, locations, equipment, etc in order to open these facilities.

            And I don’t think you do know.

          12. some old queen

            No I don’t know but tell me, what lab requirements have changed since the this started two and a half months ago?

          13. Clampers Outside

            Of course, everyone should’ve been ‘on the ready, prepping’ from the first announcement.

            I’m not biting that start date, you know it’s not the real world reality of things.

          14. Clampers Outside

            No, I don’t. One needn’t. One would just need a basic CPD Project Management course, and one would learn of multiple shareholder requirements on day one, in fairness.

            PM 101 if you will :)

          15. Cian

            @SOQ less of your scaremongering and fake facts please.
            “what lab requirements have changed since the this started two and a half months ago ”

            – China only alerted the World Health Organization (WHO) of several flu-like cases in Wuhan on 31st December.
            – The virus was only uniquely identified as a new virus on 7th Jan.
            – The first confirmed death in China was 11 Jan
            – WHO declares a global emergency on 31st Jan – six weeks ago

          16. some old queen

            @ Clamps + Cian- it is very obvious that the decision to not open regional labs until now 3 days ago was a decision made by HSE management and/or government- probably on cost. To suggest they could have been more proactive 2 months, even 1 month ago, is not scaremongering- but it is sharp criticism and I make no apology for that.

            If there is a question to be answered, it is why the HSE were so slavishly following Britain’s approach- which appears to be to run the country straight into a wartime health care crisis. Why the British want to do that is another story.

          17. Cian

            The HSE can’t just decide to open a lab, and hey presto – a lab is immediately opened. It actually takes time. If the labs opened 3 days ago – the decision to open them, and the necessary planning would have happened more than 3 days ago (I’ve no idea how long ago).

            You keep glossing over the fact that two months ago this was a local issue in China. (although you have stopped asking banging on about “3 months”).

            And yes, cost is an issue. If the HSE decided to spend money “just in case” a new virus might become a global pandemic what happens all the times it is a false alarm? A – people like you would be winging about how wasteful the HSE is.

          18. some old queen

            Are you employed by the HSE or any other such governmental funded organisation please Cian? It is a honest question of which I expect an honest answer.

      3. Cian

        What, exactly, do you want Leo to do with the 35,000 Irish people returning from Cheltenham ?

        Stop Irish citizens entering the country?
        Arrest them all and put them in prison?
        Shoot them?
        Corral them into Croke Park for 14 days?
        Tell them they are all naughty and spank them?

    3. dav

      Cian better read up on the concept of “power-sharing” especially when they rebrand as ffg

    1. Shayna

      I met (Sir)Trevor Reeve – Maggie Thatcher’s scriptwriter. A terrible, misogynistic, narcissistic, self-important type . What about Chris Addisson, who wrote/produced ; Veep/The Thick of it/Curb Your Enthusiasm – he’s the guy?

      1. Shayna

        Oh, and Armando Iannucci would certainly have an influence, on a word, or two .Are they the guys? The two of them together, there’d be effing and jeffing in speeches. I salute the master and his protége.

      2. V

        You’re gas Shayna

        A terrible, misogynistic, narcissistic, self-important type

        Yet in all your name-drops there
        You could only find men

        You obviously have a type

        1. Shayna

          Didn’t mean to name drop, as you put it – he was responsible for, “The Lady is not for turning” – in reference to the Hunger Strike. When one meets/works with a completely horrible person – it kinda leaves an impact.
          My obvious type? Tell me more.

  2. 01101101 01100011

    across many of the interviews on tv with UK officialdom yesterday evening I noticed that the terminology “herd immunity” made its way into the narrative….along with statements like the one that’s splashed across the papers it seems to me that this is in fact their play here…which if true beggars belief.

    Gotta wonder what are NI playing at? Is that clown Boris playing games with this, divide, amplify the border? Stormont frightened of going against the flow losing their £12 bil…all about the money yet again?? Confusing.

    1. Redbeard

      To add to your comment, the term “Herd Immunity” is being badly abused at the moment. Herd Immunity is an important factor in a vaccinated herd. There is no vaccine for COVID19.

      THERE IS NO HERD IMMUNITY.

      We may achieve Herd Immunity two or three years from now, if and when any survivors are vaccinated en masse.

      1. ReproBertie

        I believe the term is being used to reflect the need to contain the spread from those less able for it. That’s how herd immunity works after all, by spreading immunity through the herd we prevent the spread of diseases that can harm those without it. In this case we’re trying to prevent the spread by limiting social contact. That was the same reason that people showing symptoms were, and still are, being asked to self isolate.

        1. Redbeard

          “Herd immunity is a form of immunity that occurs when the vaccination of a significant portion of a population (or herd) provides a measure of protection for individuals who have not developed immunity.’

          https://www.vaccinestoday.eu/stories/what-is-herd-immunity/

          There is no vaccine for COVID19, nor is one expected for the next 18 months according to the WHO. Ergo, there is currently no Herd Immunity in the human population.

          1. ReproBertie

            I know there’s no vaccine FFS. I’m not saying there’s a vaccine. I’m expressing an opinion on why they are using the phrase. It’s easily understandable after all and the principle of protecting the “herd” is the same.

          2. Redbeard

            Can you point to a single medical authority who support your assertion? I’m open to changing my position if you have compelling evidence from verified sources.

          3. ReproBertie

            You think I was arguing with you? I wasn’t arguing with you. I wasn’t even disagreeing with you. I am well aware the term is being used incorrectly. I was suggesting a possible reason for it being used, i.e. a shorthand that people will understand, that’s all.

          4. ReproBertie

            From watching the experts on Channel 4 it turns out the UK are planning to create “herd immunity” by letting people get and then recover from the virus.

        2. Nigel

          “The strategy of the govt in minimising the impact of #Covid19 is to allow the virus to pass through the entire population so we acquire herd immunity.”

          Have to say I’m feeling fairly vindicated about the ‘taking it on the chin’ BoJo quote I used yesterday to illustrate what a dangerous clown he is. ‘Out of context’ my behind. The misuse of ‘herd immunity’ is further proof that that fool does not deserve the benefit of any doubt.

          1. ReproBertie

            Hey Nigel, when I said he was taken out of context I wasn’t having a go at you. It was more to clarify that he hadn’t said it was policy, just an option.

          2. Nigel

            To say it was taken out of context is to completely miss the point. THERE IS NO THEORY OF LETTING IT RUN THROUGH THE POPULATION. He was ‘striking a balance’ between taking the recommended measures and a non-existent made-up ‘theory.’ THAT is why he is clearly a dangerous clown (as opposed to Varadkar, which is the point I was making.) Now they’re lying about what herd immunity means to justify it. Abominable.

  3. jamesjoist

    Is there press censorship at work ? Reading a piece in the Guardian ‘ Visual the Global Crisis ‘ all the text is readily available but in the panels where presumably graphs and world maps would be , a message reads , sorry we can’t show you this as you have no internet connection! Anybody else?

  4. ReproBertie

    Chelsea, Aresnal and Everton’s teams are all in self isolation. Looks like the EPL and FA will take the action that Britain’s tea-boy Taoiseach lacked the liathróidí to do.

    1. jamesjoist

      I mean with regard to that particular Guardian piece , surely I couldn’t be the only one getting a ‘no inter net connection ‘ message when it comes to the data panels

        1. jamesjoist

          Just checked again , same message, maybe its only available to those who purchase the digital paper . Same as the crossword in the I.T.

          1. jamesjoist

            checked again , still the same , it must be some sort of server glitch , I’m in Clane using Virgin Broadband, I can access Utube no problem , just not those data panels . I’m a realist and will go with the glitch explanation , don’t want to get all paranoid with what’s happening across the planet

  5. Rosette of Sirius

    After getting seriously caught on the hop yesterday, and resulting onslaught she got on Twitter, Michelle O’Neill is now saying it’s time to take action in Northern Ireland and close schools.

    Well Madam Deputy First Minister, step in from the side of Arlene and have at it.

    1. Rosette of Sirius

      Oh, and with the spectacular timing of the cash for ash release, I wonder how many politicians up there will ‘self isolate’ today….?

      1. Clampers Outside

        And “dragged kicking and screaming” to that decision I’m sure…. s/

        Of course she wasn’t. Just pointing our how ridiculous it sounds saying so, just as it is in saying Leo was.

        1. Rosette of Sirius

          Thing is, she’s not a passenger here. She’s using language as if she was. She should not have taken a different position from her party down south. She needs to get the finger out and make it happen.

          1. Clampers Outside

            She’s moving that direction now. Better to encourage that than disparage yesterday’s position.

          2. Rosette of Sirius

            Well of course it’s more positive. But look at the evisceration Leo and the gang get from the usual suspects and not a whisper about this. It’s infuriating that a supposedly all ireland party could get this so wrong.

          3. Clampers Outside

            I hear ya.
            Show yourself to be the bigger biscuit. It’s much more satisfying in the present state if things than going off on one… not saying you did mind :)

          4. some old queen

            In fairness Rosette, half of The Ulster Taliban probably think it is a fake news conspiracy and the others think it is the will of God. These are not reasonable people so Michelle has a way more difficult situation than Mary Lou here.

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