Covid 19 Coronavirus

[Mosel Bikes]

Well said sir.
Just a pity we don't seem in a position to truly do something about it.
Sadness and anger in equal measure.

[Oop North John]

Interesting quote from Fiona Hill (the US/Russia relations expert who testified at Trump's impeachment):

I think that's from a Guardian article, if so, the rest of it is pretty scathing of Donald and Boris.

I'm from the North-East of England, quite close to Bishop Auckland where she comes from, and it's a sad reminder of what's happened over the years there. I'm in a well paid job and the remarks about moving for work ring very true down south, heaven knows how today's young adults will afford a property of their own down there, unless the bank of Mum and Dad is very generous / inheritance is sufficient.

[daveuprite]

Interesting quote from Fiona Hill (the US/Russia relations expert who testified at Trump's impeachment):

I think that's from a Guardian article, if so, the rest of it is pretty scathing of Donald and Boris.

Yes, it's a good feature on Fiona Hill. As you say, she has a strong understanding of how under-investing in post-industrialising regions (whether that be US, UK or Russia) has doomed so many communities to a lack of opportunity, hope or ambition.

All the unevidenced crap about trickle down economics and social mobility we've heard from centre-right-wing politicians over the years... It never happened. The wealth just got further concentrated at the top and clung on to with more ruthless enthusiasm than ever. It's still where you are born and to whom that determines your prospects in life to a very great extent, often in a way that is very hard to alter, and no recent US or UK government has made any in-roads into solving it. Some just made it worse. Clement Attlee's 1945 government probably made the biggest effort, and what it did is now considered to be some kind of appalling heretical socialism by American republicans and the tory right. Radical things like modest redistribution of wealth, decent housing and health care for all! I don't think I ever expected as a 1970s/early 80s teenager that opportunity would actually go backwards over time for so many. The pandemic and the deep recession we're now entering could either be a golden opportunity to address inequality, poverty and the ecological crisis or the chance for selfishness to flourish even more - and I'm not optimistic.

[Jak*]

At least the Yanks have got an election later this year and hopefully will understand it is not in their interests to have a blithering idiot in charge. After Trump’s handling of Covid 19 and BLM you would think they would get rid of him. As for us, we are potential stuck with his disciple for the next four and a half years. Boris and his cronies are hell bent on sending us down a no deal Brexit route as quickly as possible. They need to do it quickly, as more and more people are realising they were sold a lie. We are already seeing farmers up in arms at what they see as a betrayal by the government in relation to food standards and the CBI warning of the catastrophe that a hard Brexit will mean on top of the Covid crisis, and yet Boris kept Dom in post because he needs him to push a no deal through.
Whilst I support much of the aims of the BLM movement, I feel that we all might be better off turning our attention the the current racists in the White House and Downing St if we are going to get anything changed.

[Asgard]

All the unevidenced crap about trickle down economics and social mobility we've heard from centre-right-wing politicians over the years... It never happened. The wealth just got further concentrated at the top and clung on to with more ruthless enthusiasm than ever. It's still where you are born and to whom that determines your prospects in life to a very great extent, often in a way that is very hard to alter, and no recent US or UK government has made any in-roads into solving it. Some just made it worse. Clement Attlee's 1945 government probably made the biggest effort, and what it did is now considered to be some kind of appalling heretical socialism by American republicans and the tory right. Radical things like modest redistribution of wealth, decent housing and health care for all! I don't think I ever expected as a 1970s/early 80s teenager that opportunity would actually go backwards over time for so many. The pandemic and the deep recession we're now entering could either be a golden opportunity to address inequality, poverty and the ecological crisis or the chance for selfishness to flourish even more - and I'm not optimistic.

Well put Dave.

[Flipflop]

Interesting quote from Fiona Hill (the US/Russia relations expert who testified at Trump's impeachment):

I think that's from a Guardian article, if so, the rest of it is pretty scathing of Donald and Boris.

Yes, it's a good feature on Fiona Hill. As you say, she has a strong understanding of how under-investing in post-industrialising regions (whether that be US, UK or Russia) has doomed so many communities to a lack of opportunity, hope or ambition.

We have been visiting the Nantes (France) area for 25 years. It’s a city I compare with Hull in England (I worked in the community there for over 3 years), a former industrial port with a fishing and ship building industry that fell on hard times.
The difference between the two now is that the French government heavily invested in Nantes - refurbishing the Napolionic/Victorian buildings and turning the industrial dock side into an international tourist attraction (the elephant is amazing). It’s now a beautiful, buzzing city full of tourists in the summer.
Hull on the other side is one of Europe’s most deprived cities - the places I worked were horrendous.

[Elmer J Fudd]

Hulls problems are mainly geographical, as it is at the end of the line - both rail and road. There is literally nowhere to go once you get there except the ferry (assuming you can get through the traffic). The Humber bridge goes nowhere in reality as to go south its quicker to go down the M18 then A1 / M1. No decent sized airport. York is the main attraction east of the A1.

The city is also so small as to be the size of a town as lots of the surrounding villages are not within the city boundary.

It is also a shame that there are so few old buildings left as the Germans bombed the shit out of Hull during the war. And post war Town Planning / Modern Architecture has left a lot to be desired with sprawling estates to the North and West.

City of culture was, in reality, a flop. Despite the great pretence, it did nothing for the city.

Nantes of course is accessible on through routes, has through train services and an airport, and has retained a lot of its old buildings. It was always going to be better off in recovering. Only ever seen the centre and not the outlaying parts.

The question for Hull is where to go? Manufacturing will always be cheaper elsewhere, there's not much to see apart from the old town, the parks and maybe The Deep. Even the scheme to sink the road and link the marina area is doomed to failure. The university is good, but locals seem to head off to York, Leeds or Sheffield. I know folk who commute to Leeds as the housing is cheaper in Hull, but salaries much higher in Leeds. I suppose it has to manage the decline of the City and become a good large Town instead.

[johnnyboxer]

Interesting quote from Fiona Hill (the US/Russia relations expert who testified at Trump's impeachment):

I think that's from a Guardian article, if so, the rest of it is pretty scathing of Donald and Boris.

Yes, it's a good feature on Fiona Hill. As you say, she has a strong understanding of how under-investing in post-industrialising regions (whether that be US, UK or Russia) has doomed so many communities to a lack of opportunity, hope or ambition.

We have been visiting the Nantes (France) area for 25 years. It’s a city I compare with Hull in England (I worked in the community there for over 3 years), a former industrial port with a fishing and ship building industry that fell on hard times.
The difference between the two now is that the French government heavily invested in Nantes - refurbishing the Napolionic/Victorian buildings and turning the industrial dock side into an international tourist attraction (the elephant is amazing). It’s now a beautiful, buzzing city full of tourists in the summer.
Hull on the other side is one of Europe’s most deprived cities - the places I worked were horrendous.

Hull is having the same treatment

It has some amazing buildings and many connected to the Trinity in bygone times

Everywhere is being regenerated and money pumped in, when it was City of Culture in 2017 and onwards to the present day

It has many tongues in the City, each bringing their own taste of culture, some of the Baltic and Russian influences are positive

Yes, it has areas of deprivation - but these are being addressed and the rest is getting much improvement

Land of Green Ginger is worth watching

It centres on the lack of opportunities in the 1970’s and when looked back at, from the 21st century’s eyes, you can see where was then (demise of trawler fleet and shipbuilding) and where it is now - Siemens is a massive employer now

I really like Hull now and I never thought I would say that, having spent time working in the area in the 1990’s

[johnnyboxer]

Hulls problems are mainly geographical, as it is at the end of the line - both rail and road. There is literally nowhere to go once you get there except the ferry (assuming you can get through the traffic). The Humber bridge goes nowhere in reality as to go south its quicker to go down the M18 then A1 / M1. No decent sized airport. York is the main attraction east of the A1.

The city is also so small as to be the size of a town as lots of the surrounding villages are not within the city boundary.

It is also a shame that there are so few old buildings left as the Germans bombed the shit out of Hull during the war. And post war Town Planning / Modern Architecture has left a lot to be desired with sprawling estates to the North and West.

City of culture was, in reality, a flop. Despite the great pretence, it did nothing for the city.

Nantes of course is accessible on through routes, has through train services and an airport, and has retained a lot of its old buildings. It was always going to be better off in recovering. Only ever seen the centre and not the outlaying parts.

The question for Hull is where to go? Manufacturing will always be cheaper elsewhere, there's not much to see apart from the old town, the parks and maybe The Deep. Even the scheme to sink the road and link the marina area is doomed to failure. The university is good, but locals seem to head off to York, Leeds or Sheffield. I know folk who commute to Leeds as the housing is cheaper in Hull, but salaries much higher in Leeds. I suppose it has to manage the decline of the City and become a good large Town instead.

I agree with some of that, but disagree with other bits, as much energy and money is being pumped in to Hull

[Jak*]

Both Liverpool and Hull seem to have benefitted in many ways from being the European city of culture. I wonder where Boris will pick for the first English city of culture post Brexit?