Random political stuff - old news, or not news

[Blazing Saddles]

Good luck with the improved public transport to hospitals idea, Brian.
Family members can then arrive there before their sick or injury relative, since they will be waiting hours for an ambulance.

 

[briantrumpet]

Confused.com – I thought Truss said that the bond markets were woke, and now they're too right wing. Is his parallel suggestion that the bond markets should be ignored, i.e. "not appeased"? How does that work in practice?

 

[First Aspect]

I'm more inclined to believe Andy than Liz.

 

[briantrumpet]

I'm more inclined to believe Andy than Liz.

But at least Liz makes the effort to shave before having her photo taken.

 

[First Aspect]

But at least Liz makes the effort to shave before having her photo taken.

There are thoughts I cannot now un-think.

 

[Pblakeney]

There are thoughts I cannot now un-think.

That has simultaneously made my day, and ruined it! 😂😱

 

[briantrumpet]

That has simultaneously made my day, and ruined it! 😂😱

It was all in the best possible taste.

 

[Dorset Boy]

Saw this on a FB post about an increase in hospital car parking charges, and wasn't sure where to start with the logic, not least as the entire area around the hospital is free parking for residents with a parking permit, or pay & display for visitors. Maybe she means she should be allowed to drive a few hundred metres to park in the hospital car park for free. Baffled.

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Not sure that Residents' Parking Permits are not free Brian - certainly in Oxford you have to pay and there are limited numbers per household.

Hospitals need to balance the car parks being used by people not attending the hospital, with not charging much or anything to those needing treatment and those visiting. As mentioned upthread, there are ways this can be done such as by getting tickets stamped on the ward or by the relevant department reception.

 

[briantrumpet]

Not sure that Residents' Parking Permits are not free Brian - certainly in Oxford you have to pay and there are limited numbers per household.

Hospitals need to balance the car parks being used by people not attending the hospital, with not charging much or anything to those needing treatment and those visiting. As mentioned upthread, there are ways this can be done such as by getting tickets stamped on the ward or by the relevant department reception.

Residents Parking Permits - fair point, though in Exeter it's 10p per day.

Re hospital car parks, I agree with differential charging to the extent that the incentive should still be to nudge people into not driving where feasible, and to leave what spaces there are to those in genuine need. After all, car parks do bear a cost to someone, and I don't think it unreasonable that the NHS should recoup part of that cost from those using theirs.

From my experience of habitual car drivers – those who can't imagine ever going anywhere without driving there, even if it's just round the corner – they will come up with every excuse under the sun why they can't possibly be expected not to drive right to their destination and park there. But presented with a fait accompli, all of a sudden they find a way (whilst carrying on moaning, of course).

 

[Pross]

Residents Parking Permits - fair point, though in Exeter it's 10p per day.

Re hospital car parks, I agree with differential charging to the extent that the incentive should still be to nudge people into not driving where feasible, and to leave what spaces there are to those in genuine need. After all, car parks do bear a cost to someone, and I don't think it unreasonable that the NHS should recoup part of that cost from those using theirs.

From my experience of habitual car drivers – those who can't imagine ever going anywhere without driving there, even if it's just round the corner – they will come up with every excuse under the sun why they can't possibly be expected not to drive right to their destination and park there. But presented with a fait accompli, all of a sudden they find a way (whilst carrying on moaning, of course).

We had a complaint following a running event from a resident at the end of one of the stages that the road had been closed (it hadn't) and the takeaway driver dropping off her post work meal couldn't get down so she had to walk up the hill to collect it which, for some reason, she said was humiliating and the takeaway was cold by time she got home. She also moaned that the road she had to walk up was a 60mph speed limit which technically it is but it is also only just wider than a car and you'd do well to drive it at much more than 20mph.

 

[briantrumpet]

Oops. Guess the NYT did need to correct that one...

"As she campaigns, Ms. Valdez displays few qualms about her identification with the area's newer residents. 'he moved to the city in 2015 to pursue a full life as "a queer in the arts" she said. Instead, she found rising rents and diminishing opportunities, even for those with degrees and cultural capital."

******

A correction was made on June 1, 2026: An earlier version of this article misquoted Claire Valdez's comment about her aspirations after moving to New York City in 2015. She said she moved to pursue a "career in the arts."

 

[briantrumpet]

Interesting engagement stats for Talarico. The difference between Bluesky and Facebook is interesting, given he's got over 10x as many followers on FB.

 

[briantrumpet]

It's really hard to have rational debate when perceptions are so skewed, and so far away from reality. I'm not sure how you deal with this, especially when those wanting to foment division are only to happy to maintain these faulty perceptions.

(The poster here is anything but an unbiased commentator — they are very left wing — but I'm assuming that these stats are reasonably accurate.)

 

[Pblakeney]

It's really hard to have rational debate when perceptions are so skewed, and so far away from reality. I'm not sure how you deal with this, especially when those wanting to foment division are only to happy to maintain these faulty perceptions.

(The poster here is anything but an unbiased commentator — they are very left wing — but I'm assuming that these stats are reasonably accurate.)

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I'm reminded of the - Did you see the bear? video.
People's perceptions tell them what they want to see irrespective of the truth.

 

[Pross]

Surprised at the trans number, I thought it would be way lower.