134 thoughts on “Sunday’s Papers

  1. Politico

    Isn’t it weird that none of the newspapers are warning people against physically handling newspapers?

  2. f_lawless

    Just another of the numerous suspected instances of voter suppression that have been happening recently in the Democratic primaries in the US. This time party officials in Maricopa County, Arizona announcing that they’re going to close over a third of polling locations because they can’t get enough cleaning supplies! Even if it were true, which it probably isn’t, as if it’s some how a reasonable solution. Larger groups of voters expected to cram together in less polling stations. No doubt the stations closing are in areas where Sanders is deemed to have higher support.

    The official in this video seems to be having a panic attack as he makes the announcement and walks off before finishing, saying “I’m sorry. I can’t do this” https://twitter.com/sperkins718/status/1238984824238624768

    1. Lush

      Done.
      Fully briefed as to the wonders of Vitamin C and have taken out a 20,000€ loan.
      Thanks Bodger!

      1. Janet, I ate my avatar

        I clicked…I know have a hiking holiday planned to MT. Everest in underwear that should be illegal…thanks Bodger ( fun game Lush)

      1. Lush

        Now that you mention it.
        Well at least I’m now rich and in bouncing good health.
        Would’ve liked Janet’s undies to complete my shopping spree though.

          1. jamesjoist

            what’s going to happen when we need a haircut , will the country be full of straggly longhaired men who don’t give a poo poo ?

    2. Cú Chulainn

      Now look here Bodger, as a late night texter, and regular to the Sunday morning totes morto brigade.. I have nothing but pronounced sympathy for your plight .. however, I notice that you’re able to withdraw your late contributions and I am not.. I don’t think that’s very fair.. ps: I’ve been hitting those ads even though I don’t need a wife or car insurance..

      1. some old queen

        Wait a couple of hours then post again- it is the underlying platform- he is a cheap date. Also- Brave browser removes those ads.

  3. some old queen

    Just thinking of the social implications of people spending so much time at home together.

    Well the obvious is there will be a spike in new borns at year end as that particular ‘to do’ list gets ticked. On the other hand there may also be a spike in divorce proceedings as things which were avoided get confronted.

    Money worries are certain to rise, especially for the self-employed or freelance but people will also have more time to spend with their children, in some cases actually get to know them- especially teenagers.

    The impact of schools being off will bring its own issues because a lot of grandparents will need to self-isolate. That in turn is going to reduce the number of people who can actually get to work. Even working from home will become a challenge when the little darlings are wrecking the place.

    Then there is the whole shared accommodation thing. Friendships will be made but some may need to find somewhere else to live if tempers flare. Fast food delivery will boom but also, some people might learn to cook- imagine that?

    All in all, it is quite a social experiment- our priorities have changed- stay safe and keep well people.

    1. Clampers Outside

      We did home made brown bread yesterday :)

      I kept herself company while she made it and I watched the young fella, in fairness. My turn next time! Looking forward to it too, it’ll my first stab at baking! :)

      1. Janet, I ate my avatar

        you’ll have perfected the scoan and a Victoria sponge by the end !
        My wardrobe is now alphabetical and it’s day 3…

        1. Clampers Outside

          LOL! :0)

          I was told to slow down yesterday…
          “it’s only Day 2, you’ll have no jobs to do by the end of the week!”

          1. Janet, I ate my avatar

            I keep getting adds to be an online coder, like I could sit still for that long

          1. Janet, I ate my avatar

            I’m trying to sneakily get the country to pronounce it correctly ;)
            I tell you my time laid off won’t be wasted !

          1. Clampers Outside

            Hah! Her good self just said to me “was mune not good enough for ya” lol!
            I’m getting above me station with that ‘fancy’ bread :) Defo going to have to try it now.

  4. some old queen

    In light of recent of panic buying supermarkets have introduced purchase limits.

    Dunnes: 2 hand sanitisers, 24 toilet rolls max.

    Tesco: 1 Hand sanitiser, 18 toilet rolls & 2kg rice.

    SuperValue: 12 rolls toilet paper, 1Kg rice.

    Lidl: 2 Deluxe Smoked Salmon and Asparagus Linguine, 1 Bratwurst, 1 kettle bell.

    Aldi: 2 Trumpets, 1 diving suit & a MIG welder.

          1. Janet, I ate my avatar

            except dole, btw they are taking peoples bank account details…do no post office day

    1. Ringsend Incinerator

      This joke has been doing the rounds for days. You might not want to spread it in the interests of boredom.

  5. some old queen

    An experimental antiviral drug called remdesivir appears to be at least somewhat effective against COVID-19. What is interesting is that the patients were all elderly and almost certainly going to die so they were able to get ‘compassionate use permission’ from the FDA- there was nothing to lose.

    This is exactly what happened with HIV where people not only became human guinea pigs but gay activists demanded the widespread distribution of certain treatments to others, even to the point of smuggling the drugs into the US.

    In relation to HIV, it had the effect of shaking the FDA and big Pharma up so who knows, maybe the same thing will happen with COVID-19.

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8113093/Two-experts-reveal-experimental-drug-helped-SAVE-American-coronavirus-patients.html

  6. Clampers Outside

    New York Times have postponed their paywall.

    The following is an NYT link to an interview with “Dr. Bruce Aylward, of the W.H.O., got a rare glimpse into Beijing’s campaign to stop the epidemic. Here’s what he saw.” from March 4th, but still relevant.

    Alternatively, here’s an analysis of the main points in that interview – https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1236680328875474944.html

    NYT piece:
    https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/04/health/coronavirus-china-aylward.html

  7. 01101101 01100011

    Can I just share this one with Broadsheeters that I caught on one of the news bulletins this morning?

    If you think about it not all elderly people are clued in on tech – this is a simple printable postcard that you can fill in, print off and put thru letterbox of anybody in your community you are minded and able to assist…the google drive link for the download is in the twitter feed:

    https://mobile.twitter.com/MrJonnyGreen/status/1238454626019684355

    or knock out your own

    myself and the two brothers will be out and about later ourselves, nice weather no excuses! :)

      1. White Dove

        Great idea, well done! Nothing like a bit of positivity (apart from Coronavirus positivity of course!)

  8. 01101101 01100011

    Can I just share this one with Broadsheeters that I caught on one of the news bulletins this morning?

    If you think about it not all elderly people are clued in on even basic tech – this is a simple printable postcard that you can fill in, print off and put thru letterbox of anybody in your community you are minded and able to assist…the google drive link for the download is in the twitter feed:

    https://mobile.twitter.com/MrJonnyGreen/status/1238454626019684355

    or knock out your own

    myself and the two bros will be out and about having a go at this later ourselves, nice weather so no excuses! :)

  9. GiggidyGoo

    Paschal Donohue ducking and diving with non answers on RTE News. No straight answers. Using the ‘we are looking at…’ phrase and the like. He was asked if he had spoken with the banks as regards mortgages etc. Duck, dive, duck, dive.
    The longer this goes on, the more vultures will hover. and the greater the % of homes and apartments they will own.

    1. Cian

      And? This is a massive. Look what happened the last time an Irish government said it would cover the banks debts. Do you want another late night agreement?

      1. GiggidyGoo

        No – just would like some straight answers for a change, instead of them sending out apologists to try divert.

        Did Varadkar also get tested after being exposed to Trump? Or is he waiting for an opportune moment to make a #meetoo type announcement to keep him in kilter with the current mood?

  10. GiggidyGoo

    RTE just advertised John Sheahan’s 80th birthday do – Live from Vicar Street on St. Patrick’s Day. Not a great signal to be sending when their news items are dealing with the Temple Bar clowns.

  11. some old queen

    Schools in north should strike – they’re not more expendable than other side of border.

    So, whether they’re in the UK system or not, the schools in the north, their teachers, their students, their cleaners and their canteen workers, they should take their own stand and say no more- Conan Doherty,

    https://www.joe.ie/fitness-health/schools-northern-ireland-694739

    Surely the Unions should be on this one?

  12. Matt Pilates

    Isn’t aul’ Leo a doctor? He should be back here working in a hospital….. until we get a proper govt…

    1. Cian

      He has resigned. But he obliged to keep doing the job until there is a replacement – a TD that has the support of 50% or more of the Dáil.

  13. Toe Up

    Temple Bar pubs and nightclubs will be voluntarily shutting their doors from today, according to RTE.

    “Temple Bar publicans have announced a complete shutdown of all bars and nightclubs with immediate effect.

    It will mean no bars open in the area for St Patrick’s Day and the closure could last for weeks.

    The decision was reached following a meeting of around 35 publicans and advice from gardaí and the health authorities.

    Martin Harte of the Temple Bar Company said the decision was taken voluntarily “this is the owners of all pubs sitting down and deciding this is the best thing to do in terms of public health and safety”.

    It is estimated that the hospitality industry in Temple Bar takes in excess of €20 million every week.

    But Mr Harte said the problem is that social distancing and limiting of numbers is impossible to enforce in bars.

    There is also the question of garda resources being diverted trying to monitor this.

    The shutdown will not apply to hotels as they have guests while individual restaurants may be able to distance their customers from one another.”

    1. some old queen

      The cynic in me thinks this is because of all the bad press they have been getting but either way- it is good news. No mention of paying staff of course.

      1. Paulus

        …and the fact that it was prob going yo be imposed on them anyway.
        I’d have sympathy for staff…but not the owners of these overpriced, cultural vacuums.

          1. ReproBertie

            Don’t shoot the messenger. It wasn’t my call but the VFI are saying they’ll be on the dole.

          2. some old queen

            They can apply online if they have the now deemed illegal PSC card, otherwise- starve.

          3. Janet, I ate my avatar

            I had to sign on as my museum closed, right after a promotion too..
            temporary lay off, but I think that will depend on how long they close for, the line was out the door, lots of people with no cards being told where they could run and get the right picture taken, I hope they did because I fear next week will be worse

  14. Italiano

    Old lady in park , wrapped her scarf around her mouth and wagged a finger in my direction, screeching at her companion , that I looked Italian. I was flattered.

    1. Andyourpointiswhatexactly?

      You should’ve replied in pretend Chinese to really have wound her up.

  15. GiggidyGoo

    Pubs in the Temple Bar area have had it good for many years. They should volunteer two weeks pay at least for staff out of their profits built up over the years.

    1. 01101101 01100011

      christ some of the responses on that feed are as unreal as the idea itself, this is my favourite so far:

      Good, that’s Trump’s job, protecting Americans no matter what. I have no problem with this. Trump can help non-Americans once Americans are taken care of

      1. Nigel

        Trump supporters sometimes give the scary impression that they actually think they are the only real people in the world.

        1. Janet, I ate my avatar

          as my dear grandad used to say..a little bit of lead in the left ear…would sort that

  16. 01101101 01100011

    so today’s count
    +40 = total 169
    (+11 = total 45 in NI)

    still with the vague-ass “in the East of the country” nonsense…

    when are we going to start getting an area specific view from the HSE? a map showing at least by county/Dublin postal district where the detected cases are present?

    can we start acting like adults now please?

    1. Ghost of Yep

      Say they announce a case in D9 and you’re in D9. How differently will you behave?

      These people would most likely have been in contact iwith people indifferent parts of the city before being diagnosed. Would you need to know if they got the same bus?

      1. 01101101 01100011

        why not do it?

        do you think I’ll feel better being told “in the East of the country”?
        does it make you feel much safer when you know you’re been fed and kept like a mushroom?

        I’m not looking for anyone’s home address I just want to know what the breakdown is, as it escalates it’s bad psychology in my opinion to pursue this angle

        1. Ghost of Yep

          So you would do nothing different? You would just be more at ease if you knew you were what you consider a safe distance?

          1. 01101101 01100011

            Hi Yep,
            here are excerpts from the WHO’s own whitepaper (link to full paper at bottom), for me its transparency all day long!!

            Transparency during public health emergencies: from rhetoric to reality

            upsides to transparency?
            Ongoing work to address the challenge of public health emergencies has increasingly recognized the role that public communication plays in their effective management. Pro-active communication, as one example, allows the public to adopt protective behaviours, facilitates heightened disease surveillance, reduces confusion and allows for a better use of resources, all of which are necessary for an effective response.

            downsides to transparency?
            While the goal of transparency suggests that all relevant information ought to be communicated or made accessible, it has to be recognized there may be legitimate reasons for withholding certain types of information in any public health emergency. For example, the following types of information might justifiably affect how information about risk is communicated:

            information that jeopardizes national security or an ongoing police investigation, that unnecessarily violates the privacy and confidentiality rights of individuals, that might lead to undue stigmatization of individuals or groups within society and
            information that, if released, might lead to behaviours that would result in increased spread of disease.

            https://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/87/8/08-056689/en/

          2. Ghost of Yep

            Do you not see how being overly specific about the location of infection could be considered “certain types of information”?

          3. f_lawless

            I agree. I think we’re such a small island that the virus can spread very rapidly from one region to the next. If the HSE started pinpointing the location of cases, then it may promote complacent thinking among members of the public- ie. “Oh I see they’re telling us that those are the affected places, but I’m miles away from there, grand so, I can carry on as with my normal routine”.

            The reality is we should be just as vigilant regardless of where outbreaks are occurring so pinpointing areas is not really in the public interest IMO

          4. Cian

            @01101101 01100011
            You didn’t answer the question.
            If the infected cases were located to a granular level, what difference would it make to you if there was (a) a case in your district (b) no cases in your district. (You can reference the WHO document).

            In my opinion it is meaningless to know the location because
            1. Most people work, live and socialise in different areas (especially in Dublin) – or do ypu publish all three areas?
            2. If you know there is a case in an area then you may be over cautious and avoid it – This could have (unfair) detrimental affects
            3. If you think there are no cases in an area you may become complacent.
            4. At this stage the virus is all over Ireland.

          5. 01101101 01100011

            Hi Cian
            I did answer.
            I’m following the logic in that WHO whitepaper there.
            I already pre-established above that I’m not looking for anyone’s home address. I then gave Ghost a link to that whitepaper from the WHO which I surmised the pros (which I believe to be common sense and true) and the cons (none of which apply here I believe)

            Short of writing you a 200 page essay I’m not sure what you need to establish here?

            y’know I think you just sit on here reading comments and attack anything that challenges or pokes a hole in the Govt/authorities argument. I have no interest in sitting here playing chess with you explaining myself, arguing with you “how long is a piece of string” my response is clear, I gave my answer.

          6. 01101101 01100011

            Hi Ghost,

            Q. Why would I like the Government/HSE to, in my opinion, stop treating us like children and publish more accurate, transparent information about the environment presently around us, for example to publish the figures relating to Co. Wicklow? or Dublin 9?

            A. I favour transparency and taking a more pro-active approach to communication with the public during a public health emergency because in the opinion of the WHO it:
            – allows the public to adopt protective behaviours
            – facilitates heightened disease surveillance
            – reduces confusion
            – allows for a better use of resources

            Would an improvement in transparency damage us in this scenario, what are it’s limitations according to the WHO?
            – jeopardize national security or an ongoing police investigation? NO
            – unnecessarily violate the privacy and confidentiality rights of individuals? NO I’ve already stated I’m happy to have a limited area defined, Dublin 9 is fine by me
            – lead to undue stigmatization of individuals or groups within society? NO I cannot see how that materialises from stating the numbers for say Dublin 9
            – might lead to behaviours that would result in increased spread of disease? NO

            My belief is the current approach tends towards being a form of empty rhetoric. per definition Rhetoric = language designed to have a persuasive or impressive effect, but which is often regarded as lacking in sincerity or meaningful content My belief is beating the march of this thing is really public-led. That has been demonstrated in China and elsewhere. So we shouldn’t treat the public like mushrooms.

            So for me it’s transparency over rhetoric. Just my opinion.

          7. Cian

            @01101101 01100011
            You still didn’t answer the question.
            1. You said transparency is important. And I wholey agree. You just didn’t say how giving more accurate addresses fall under:
            Pro-active communication, as one example, allows the public to adopt protective behaviours, facilitates heightened disease surveillance, reduces confusion and allows for a better use of resources, all of which are necessary for an effective response.
            Again. How would more accurate addresses make any difference to you? (I’m not looking for 200 pages…a 20 word answer would be fine).

            2. If you don’t agree with a government policy and want it changed you need to provide a good reason. I have given reasons why I think it is sufficient to give areas.

          8. Ghost of Yep

            @ 01101101 01100011

            – jeopardize national security or an ongoing police investigation?

            Possibly. If people decide to leave their home for the week because they saw someone cough in Super Valu and they saw on the news someone in the area is infected, this may hamper an investigation into who the infected came in contact with.

            – unnecessarily violate the privacy and confidentiality rights of individuals?

            Rumors could start about Tony down the road who always has red eyes this time of year because of allergies. Now people know someone in the area has been admitted to hospital from the area. New to the area and already stressed parent sees Tony wandering the streets to do some shopping as he himself is heading down that way with his young child because of the school closure. Confrontation ensues.

            – lead to undue stigmatization of individuals or groups within society?

            Southside infection “irresponsible s**** with too much money flipping of to ski and putting people in danger. Northside infection ” Knack bags hardly wash themselves anyway. Sure they all smoke and drink and don’t care about their own health”

            – might lead to behaviours that would result in increased spread of disease?

            “Mary did you see there are 2 cases in the area? Can you get time off work?” A family of 4 who are possibly infected already decide to take a road trip.

            Very simple to see how these things could happen. I’m still not sure of the benefit you see in more detailed information.

            If you found out someone in your area is infected it shouldn’t change your behaviour. You should already be washing hands, social distancing and be aware of possible symptoms.

          9. GiggidyGoo

            Cian – your reasons for not testing, not giving proper advise in the early stages, allowing infected people from known infected areas into the country and now not telling people the approximate location (not the addresses as you’re trying to spin it) have all added to the risk of caching this. It’s typical you. And you’re ‘you haven’t answered my question’ – when it has been answered – is the usual FG apologists approach.

            How do you deduce that it’s all over Ireland if the location information hasn’t been made known? It’s not in the midlands if your view is correct.

            The result of the government and the HSE complacency supported by apologists is that this has quickly gone out of any semblance of control now.

          10. 01101101 01100011

            Cian,

            I’m not sure if you will get to read…I’ve had a lot on this morning…

            ultimately I believe an information vacuum leads to further distrust in the authorities and will store up bigger problems in that regard down the line when this really starts to bite. I believe that anyway. And it will bite us, I personally don’t believe we’re at the races, we are only being reactive and have underestimated the situation imho.

            I’m being asked to buy the messages being broadcast by a Government machine I don’t trust and why should I trust them? failed promises, corrupt behaviours and demonstrable contempt for poor people in society over the years, elsewhere look at Boris across the water literally feeding his citizenry to the wolves with some mystery software modeled herd immunity “science”, Governments are they trustworthy? then I add on to that (I believe) the major mistakes we ourselves have already made up to this point…when closing the ports and airports was discussed here 3 weeks ago some were more worried about the legal nicetys of citizens travel rights etc. over pulling the shutters down and containing the yoke…well look at Europe now, border closures. tons of evidence already of HSE phoneline failure – we actually know of someone already in our own wider family circle who have tried all weekend to get a response. It all feeds into a narrative of mistrust

            now to digress…I’d call myself a reasonable sort, ok I may not like the idea of trusting these guys but what can I do…so I’m warily with the flow. but I do think as this escalates vague information like “another person in the East…” will feed deeper mistrust, anxiety and lead to people seeking out answers of their own accord. its what humans will do in a vacuum of information – they worry and go looking for answers, speculate and then all that spills out onto socmed and you know where that ends up dontcha? we already got a taste of that with the Provision centre mayhem in Oughterard. I believe better information, better data can help to build trust, that’s where I’m coming from.

          11. 01101101 01100011

            hi Yep

            yep (sorry I just had to :) ) I see where you are worried but when the sht hits the fan I think better information, better data leads to an improved outcome. What I’d say to ya is you might be assuming one thing that I genuinely believe not to be the case – that we are all selfish c—s and will turn on each other when the opportunity comes. If we’re to have the stellar community response that’s needed to battle this yoke when it really bites, fight it on the beaches so to speak, we need more transparency, more trust in each other and in fact to be able to maintain trust in the authorities. I believe we are not going to turn on each other, every man for himself. Straight up if I learned of a family at no. 25 down the road who had the go into isolation the first thing I want to do is get down there and ask if they want help with anything, not cause them distress! now maybe not everyone thinks like that but I fear vague communications will actually create confusion and mistrust and could actually feed into the kind of negativity you described. Look at what happened to that town in Ukraine back in February when they learned they were to receive Corona evacuees from China…serious upheaval, rioting….as the mayor said afterwards: “People spread misinformation because they do not know the truth, all this happened because of the lack of information in the beginning”. Remember the Oughterard scenario? its human nature. I don’t want that to happen here.

        2. Matt Pilates

          There could be more granularity in geographic reporting – and tech could have a role – for example, showing a 5km radius of reported case areas. It could trigger mass panic though, and I am not sure at this stage there is any value. It’s potentially everywhere.

          I think tech companies have been VERY SLOW to step up to the mark with innovations and free services – unlike like Hurricane Katrina, etc. Personally, an Apple Watch proximity sensor that plays Radiohead’s “Just” when someone is within 3 feet of you could be useful. Or Don’t Stand Too Close to Me by yer man, Sting and friends.

          There is funding: https://tech.eu/brief/european-commision-innovation-council-combat-coronavirus/

          I lived to San Francisco for a bit and everyone was required to have an emergency kit in their home in case the big one hit. Could be a coming thing ….

          https://sf.curbed.com/2018/1/4/16849608/earthquake-kit-how-to-make-prepare-items-emergency

    1. some old queen

      Did he actually say that people should stop smoking to prevent COVID-19 or is that just a Reddit rumour?

      1. ReproBertie

        I don’t know if he said it but the data coming out of China was that smokers were more susceptible than non-smokers.

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