47 thoughts on “Monday’s Papers

  1. Charger Salmons

    Charger’s Vax Facts™ #62 ( Bullseye edition )

    The UK has hit its target of delivering at least one Covid vaccine to 15 million people by February 15th one day early, offering jabs to everyone in the top four most vulnerable groups. When immunity kicks in, it should cut 88% of deaths.
    Letters offering appointments to everyone over 65 start going out this week.
    An incredible achievement by the NHS.
    And great leadership from Boris.
    https://mobile.twitter.com/BorisJohnson/status/1360962200714764290

    Ireland has added 4392 vaccinated people to its overall total of 261,073.It expects everyone aged 85+ to be jabbed within three weeks.

    A reminder of the rate of vaccinations currently being carried out.
    Israel: 72 doses per 100 population.
    U.K.: 22 doses per 100.
    U.S.: 15 doses per 100.
    Ireland: 4.9 per 100
    E.U.: 4.4 doses per 100.

    Europeans should be far, far angrier about this abject political failure than they are. But the EU has so far achieved its aim of quelling dissent in the populace and serious questioning by the media.

    Meanwhile, in case you missed it, a great background piece on the two people behind the UK/AstraZeneca jab that will save millions of lives across the world, particularly in poorer countries because of its low price and ease of delivery.
    Worthy Nobel Prize contenders I would vouchsafe.

    http://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/14/life-savers-story-oxford-astrazeneca-coronavirus-vaccine-scientists

    1. Unreconstructed

      https://www.theguardian.com/world/commentisfree/2021/feb/14/brexit-britain-eu-covid-vaccination-fiasco?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

      “But, and there’s a very big but, the UK’s “success” is a really an illusion: because to be fully effective, the vaccine requires two doses. And only 0.80% of the UK population has received both shots, less than that
      of France (0.92%), and a long way behind Denmark, which has 2.87% of its population fully vaccinated.”

      By ignoring scientific advice and giving 15 million people one dose, and only 0.5 million two doses, the UK is playing with fire, appearing to be engaging in vaccine propaganda, that may result in drug resistant virus variants…but carry on. It’s all about the numbers…

      1. Otis Blue

        Here’s a good piece in the FT on the UK’s impressive vaccine rollout strategy.

        https://www.ft.com/content/cd66ae57-657e-4579-be19-85efcfa5d09b

        The Guardian article is particularly interesting as it has a link to the British Medical Journal which reveals what the EU, UK and the US are paying per vaccine dose. Worth mentioning too that the EU, unlike the UK, refuses to provide a liability waiver to the producers of the vaccine.

        All in all, a marathon rather than a sprint, I’d say.

      2. Charger Salmons

        Simple question to ask.
        If you have elderly parents would you rather they had had a single vaccination three weeks ago that has given them 67% immunity from Covid now or have no immunity at all until late Spring or early summer when they might have two doses ?
        Bearing in mind that virtually every adult over the age of 70 in the UK has or will shortly have that protection and twice as many of them have already received a second jab than Ireland’s entire vaccination total so far.
        And the EMA, the WHO and every vaccine makers research data shows excellent immunity from a single jab for up to three months until a second shot is delivered.
        And that the money the EU saved on vaccines – bearing in mind the AZ is delivered at cost price – is tiny compared to the mammoth cost across Europe of keeping countries in lockdown and on fuloughed payments months longer than they would have if the EU hadn’t haggled over procurement for months longer than the US or UK.
        Or would you rather believe a French journalist writing in the Guardian ?
        Take your time.

        1. Brother Barnabas

          “Or would you rather believe a French journalist writing in the Guardian?”

          no matter how hard you try, you just can’t conceal your fundamental rottenness, can you? seeps out like puss

        2. Charger Salmons

          Of course there comes a critical point whereby, in order to meet the requirments to administer second doses, the UK will have to slow down the rate of first doses.
          But this won’t be a major issue until the end of March.
          There are 6 and a half weeks before then and at the current rate of three million a week Blighty could get through all 17million people in the 5-9 cohorts by then which is basically everyone in the UK over the aged of 50.
          Much of the EU will still be struggling to get everyone over the age of 70 jabbed by then.
          Boris has always been a gambler but going right back to when he was Mayor of London he’s also surrounded himself with talented organisers.
          He’s reaping the rewards today.

          1. Joe F

            Of course you just ignore his approval ratings Kate. The last ones are -16% but you just pretend they don’t exist and select only things you like. Bit like the cricket this morning. England getting a good old hammering from India. Last week when England beat India you were very fast to tell us all about it Admiral Nelson.
            Marvelous.

    2. MacGafraidh

      You can sit there bragging about the amount of vaccines the UK is administering however you should consider the fact that the only reason this is the case is because the UK thought herd immunization was the be all and end all. 117,000 peoples lives is what it took for Johnson to realize this wasn’t the case. 117,000 people dead. Your vaccination program won’t undo those deaths. Do you really still want to applaud the vaccinations?

      1. Charger Salmons

        Why not ?
        Your government is applauding the UK’s outstanding vaccine success.
        And when you finally receive your vaccines they will, more than likely, have been invented by two British scientists.
        And developed using British taxpayers money.
        I hope you show some gratitude and applaud then.

        1. Joe F

          So you just completely ignore the deaths of 117,000 people and counting Kate? It doesn’t matter at all to you. As I said the UK is 5th highest out of 221 countries for deaths per million. Over twice the Irish rate for deaths. That shocking facts doesn’t bother you. I suppose it’s the same as the lives of the 39 Vietnamese. You disgustingly joked about their situation in a post here. Just shows the silly billy you are.

        2. Nigel

          ‘I hope you show some gratitude and applaud then.’

          At the end of the day you really just want our approval, don’t you?

    3. Formerly known as @ireland.com

      Fishy retreater –

      Australia: Zero vaccines given.
      Also Australia, 35 deaths per million.

      Let me know which number is the important one.

  2. Joe F

    Oh good man Kate, thought you might forget to give us your update tonight. Silly me!
    You still don’t seem too concerned about deaths from the virus. Now over 117,000 in the UK, still 5th highest out of 221 countries, over TWICE the rate in Ireland.
    Don’t forget to set your alarm for the cricket, I think you must have forgot last night as you failed to update us on how England were doing against India. Last time I heard on the BBC, they were getting a bit of a thrashing Admiral.
    Marvelous.

    1. Charger Salmons

      It’s certainly feverish.
      Like a frustrated sense of impotence gnawing away at their souls.
      They’ve put their lives in the hands of unelected bureaucrats in Brussels who have badly let them down and will cost tens of thousands of lives across Europe.
      And there is not a jot they can do about it.
      They can’t demand answers of them because they don’t give interviews.
      And they can’t vote them out so they’re stuck with second-rate failures insulated from the results of their incompetence by the luxurious lifestyle they lead funded by you.
      It is the fundamental flaw that rots away at the heart of the EU – power without accountability.
      You hand over the keys to your country and the EU uses them to lock you out of the decision-making processes that rule your lives.
      So each day when I post about vaccines no-one talks about them.
      They hurl abuse or shout loudly in the hope no-one will notice they’re drowning in their own shame of selling out their lives so cheaply.
      The EU have you exactly where they want you.
      On your knees.
      Crying in frustration.
      And defeat.

      1. bisted

        …fairplay to the UK on achieving the 15million vaccinations targeted…all will be forgotten and forgiven and Boris’ place in history is assured…the man who single-handedly delivered brexit and halted a pandemic…and as our brit in residence shows already…we’ll never hear the end of it!

        1. bisted

          …whatever it’s driven by, you can’t argue with the figures…the EU has let down it’s members in the one area that it is supposed to excel – procurement…the matter has been compounded here by the unedifying sight of vested interests jockeying for position…Mehole would be better apologising for all the deaths he caused since December by prioritising private interests rather than public health…

          1. Charger Salmons

            The slow roll-out is going to have profound consequences for the EU’s reputation.
            Hungary has ordered the Russian Sputnik jab and Germany has already ordered an extra 30 million vaccines independent of the EU procurement.
            If some EU countries are still struggling to vax their citizens by the summer when others across the world are opening up the knock-on effect will be enormous.
            Never mind the social and economic impact of prolonged lockdown.

          2. Nigel

            Who’s arguing with the figures? (Though yeah, whose second jabs are a bit like the figure stalking the Masque.) Salmon’s astonishing grandstanding suggests a vast untapped well of frustration and fury at how Brexit and the rest of the pandemic response has shown him up in front of the boggers.

          3. bisted

            …whether you call them boggers or deplorables, you of all people should not be broadcasting your obvious disdain for democratic outcomes when they don’t suit you…17.4million voted for brexit and reinforced their vote by electing Boris by a landslide…

          4. Nigel

            Why shouldn’t I? Democratic outcomes can be stupid, too. A deferential respect for democratic outcomes doesn’t mitigate the scathing criticism directed our own democratically elected government gets in these comment sections, does it? Nor should it.

          5. Nigel

            Clearly. You see, blisted when I said ‘shown him up in front of the boggers,’ I meant us. We’re the boggers. He calls us boggers all the time. I’m not sure quite what you thought I meant, but clearly you are still hung up on that Hilary Clinton quote.

        2. Formerly known as @ireland.com

          @Bisted

          Which flavour of Brexit did 17.4M agree on? None, so stop with the lies.

          Boris won in a landslide with 43% of the vote – that the FPTP voting system, not a massive majority of the vote.

          1. Charger Salmons

            There were no flavours of Brexit on the referendum poll.
            Just In or Out.
            A majority chose Out.That’s how referendums work.
            Boris inflicted the worst electoral defeat on Labour since 1932.
            That’s how parliamentary democracy works.
            And not by counting the number of flies in a dunny.

  3. Liam Deliverance

    That fuppin’ first French try was from a forward fuppin’ pass! – its been bugging me all day!

    (yes, yes, they would still have gone on to win, I feel better now :-)

  4. Cú Chulainn

    Close calls and injuries derail Ireland again, suggests the Examiner. I’m not entirely sure that captures the problems Ireland face.

    1. Charger Salmons

      To come within a drop-goal of so-called unstoppable France with their team depleted of so many regular players was a good achievement by Ireland.
      I though they played okay against an admittedly below-par France.
      But it only needs a couple of injuries to turn Ireland from contenders to also-rans which must be a worry.
      Forget about this championship and start planning for a near future without Sexton and Murray.
      And find a captain who is a genuine leader of the pack.
      Farrell won’t last the course – nice bloke but one of life’s assistant coaches rather than top dog.
      Don’t get me started on England …

  5. Cú Chulainn

    Great front page from the Star. They are always prepared to have a pop at pomposity. Oh, and Holly is back on the front page. I know that will make someone’s night.

    1. millie bobby brownie

      The Star gave me a chuckle, must say. I’ve a soft spot for the Express because of their WWII era headlines. They’re the best at evoking the bygone glory days.

  6. GiggidyGoo

    Varadkar took his time contacting the Gardai. Nothing at all to do with Boo Boo Harris making a written statement of course.
    A few more to be interviewed though.

  7. V aka Frilly Keane

    I don’t see anything mentioning Stardust in the Irish front pages today
    either

    anyone?

    BTW, I’ll throw up the recipe for Frilly H♡T Xxxs Buns in about an hour or so
    other stuff to catch up on first

    ingredients etc from Saturdays Papers https://www.broadsheet.ie/2021/02/12/saturdays-papers-71/

    FYI Sunday Bake’Sheeters

    Shopping list for Frilly H♡T Xxxs Buns

    Strong Bread Flour, and some Plain Flour, Butter (just for the paste and the counter top) Caster Sugar, Sunflower Oil, Eggs, Sultanas (Golden ideally) an Orange, 2 Apples or Dried Apple bits (I use dried btw) Cinnamon, Milk – fully leaded, Salt, Glaze – Apricot Jam is best, sachet of Fast Action Yeast, if you’re old school, circa 35 gms of fresh

    tools
    a good sized bowl, clingflim, wooden spoon, weighing scales, baking tray(s) and an oven

  8. V aka Frilly Keane

    Just in time for the Eve of Lent lads

    Frilly H♡T Xxxs Buns

    Ingredients already posted, but here you go again: but in order of the Method

    300 millies of full fat milk, 50 gms of Butter : into a pot, and bring to a just below boil, as it cools whisk to combine
    500gms of strong plain flour (500 tyr and up) 75 gms caster sugar, 7 gms fast action yeast, mix to combine, then add tsp of salt (make sure you mix the above before adding salt otherwise it may interfere with the yeast on first contact) Make a well, and add the baby bobby temp Milk & butter mix. Immediately add a well beaten egg onto the milkish puddle.
    blend with a wooden spoon until you have a roundy sticky dough

    Tip out onto a floured surface for the knead, and keep your hands floured btw
    This is a stretch knead – heel of one hand holding down one end and stretching out t’other, Fold over back on itself, and repeat for 5 mins. At least. You will see it smoothing out and getting more elastic. When you achieve this, it’s ready for its first proof or prove if that’s what you prefer

    Lightly oil a good sized bowl, and a stretch of clingfilm (I usually do that bit first, I layer the clingfilm over the back of the bowl and swipe it all over with a pastry brush and hang it over the tap while I wipe the inside of the bowl) BTW use the lightest oil and barely a drop here, definitely no scented, strong coloured or heavy oil. I use a light thin rapeseed, but one of those pan sprays would do I’d say. Remember you do this so the dough won’t catch the sides as it swells, and the oiled side of the cling film cover is to prevent a rind forming.
    Tip your dough ball in, and cover the top of the bowl with the oil side down sheet of cling film, make sure there is loads of head room between your dough and the cover, so use a pasta pot if you have to.

    Sit it somewhere cosy for a good hour, let it double in size, there is no rush, let it do the work for you. Put the kettle on, watch the telly, do some chores. Don’t be a dough watcher

    you’ll know its ready for the next stage if it’s boldly doubled in size and when you push your finger into it, it leaves a pothole

    Keep your dough in the bowl, and set aside your oily clingfilm

    Tip 75 gms Sultanas, 1 tsp of cinnamon (it can take a second if that’s your taste btw) *25 gms of dried apple pieces, zest of an orange. I have a zester tool and I then rock and roller into finer pieces again, like herbs I suppose
    * Now I use dried apple purely for convenience and sourced from one of my best lockdown round 1 finds https://www.nutsinbulk.ie/category/dried-fruits
    However you can use a fresh apple – but watch the colour and the moisture, you can also add in some candied peels circa 50 gms, I don’t only because I don’t like candied peels

    Knead these dried additions into the dough, while still in the bowl. You don’t want to change the dough’s environment. Its a bit weird but it will come together into an even distribution.

    Cover with your oiled clingfilm again, and leave it back in its cosy spot for another hour – till its doubled in size again.

    When you’re happy with it, weigh the dough ball, and decide how many you want out of it, 12 15 is about right for these measurements.

    Cut into equal potions, and form balls, this can be awkward because of the sultanas etc but they don’t have to be teacake perfect. A tip might be to use a small bowl over them and keep rattling them under it btw.
    Sit each of your bun balls onto lined baking trays, and cover again in lightly oiled clingfilm, or even a clean tea towel. You don’t want a rind forming, and this is its last proof btw. So give it another hour.

    Meanwhile make your paste – 85gms plain flour, + a tbsp of water at a time. When you have achieved a wallpaper paste consistency – spoon or tip it into an icing bag – I used a flat ribbon nozzle.
    When your dough balls are nicely swollen, dispose of the cling film and criss cross away. It might surprise you how easily it’s done btw

    Hot oven – preheated of course : 200º fan or 220º/ Gas mark 7
    20 minutes – don’t flinch here at the strong golden brown colour that will come over them
    Cool
    Loosen up your jam by warming it up, sieve if you have to if its lumpy fruity like, and while your glaze is still warm brush over your buns that should be just the right touch of warm bun about them.
    Now on yesterdays batch I used marmalade with some water, it was a great shiny glaze, but really sticky – licky finger sticky. I know I said Apricot Jam in the ingredients over the weekend, but it turns out I used the last of it in my Christmas bakes.

    Couple of hints folks
    By letting the buns go a deep brown you are getting yourself a cracking Hollywood handshake crust
    And all dough needs is patience – don’t be a dough watcher, arrange your prep around errands chores telly etc, and you’ll not even notice, you might even forget. You can never proof too much, but not enough proofing is a mistake you can’t get your bake back from.

    This bake is way more easier to do, than reading and following this
    I promise

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