Covid, review of the season to date

Another week of Covid-19 starts and frankly now we are on episode eighteen the real action is now starting to take place.

On the political front, the poorly scripted revolutionary rabble of BLM continue to make bizarre ground. With a huge following of what seem to be death-cultists, their franky bizarre demands are only now getting minimal attention. Such is the zeitgeist prevalent though, they are able to act with impuntiy against the weak police and inaction of the Government who are intent on letting the thing blow out.

The Government itself has largely been ignored by the writers since the "Prime Minister gets Covid" story of a couple of months ago. Not really capable of doing anything much about the virus, the Government characters come out to make little speeches about not mch, building towards what should be big economic announcement, but it is a toss up as to whether they give Rishi Sunak a big script or just ignore him. For the opposition, it is easy to give some time to the dashing and hand-wringing lawyer Sir Keir Starmer, without him having any actual impact on events.

The references to the global impact of the virus are the weakest bit of the writing and presentation. The US is portrayed as if some sort of dictatorial revultion is going on when in fact it is an election year. Lots of places around the world are mentioned as doing better or doing worse seemingly only on the basis of if they have a right of centre Government. It is a silly approach becuase the same statistics they have used show the virus being virulent basically everywhere there is high population density and has to spread into the population.

The effect on day to day lives is a better view, the little people they throw into the show every now and again add some good colour to what is a very complex story. No one really comes close to the Colonel Tom Moore character though.

Overall though the whole show feels like it is building to a point, but equally could just fizzle out into a not very compelling conclusion - the whole thing is a morass of intertwined stories and the effort to make it a morality tale ring very hollow.

How is everyone else enjoying it?

The final week

It could be for England, 6 changes to the team and a banana skin awaits them tonight...


no wait, wrong blog post...oops




I meant to say Leave has drifted to 5-1 today on Betfair - no doubt as the tragic Jo Cox murder sinks in as somehow Leave related and also the final big guns for Remain are joined in battle.




Plus  every down movement in the stock market is Leave related in the media, every up movement is ignored or because magically polling has changed.




Still we will see, even I as a total political anorak, am now thoroughly bored to tears and want it over and done with. Still, 1/5 in a two horse race, back to the Footie analogy its like Scotland playing away to Spain...

'Allo 'Allo !

Someone's leedle tank seems to be on our lawn.


And she seems to be wearing the uniform ...

Greece: Life Imitates Art

"We're not proud. We take any currency, including goats"
- Michael O'Leary, RyanAir, 3 November 2011, announcing flights to Greece

"I thought you said you'd need to give them all a goat, not a vote !"
- Angela Merkel, 2 November 2011, announcing flight from Greece


ND

German Constitutional Court Ruling

Another urgently-convened meeting of the German Constitutional Court has been held to put words into the mouth of Merkel. It broke up twice in disarray, firstly when a motion was put that Idle's voluminous submission be debarred on the grounds of it being dialogue (albeit of high quality).

A second adjournment was called when rival supporters of the more pithy submissions of Budgie and Helga clashed rowdily in open session.

Finally, however, the Court was brought to order, and declared: (a) that Peter Whale is the winner; (b) his 12-month austerity programme is to commence with immediate effect; (c) upon successful completion in December 2012 he may nominate his bailout sum in either EUR (125 billion) or Deutschmark (12.50). In time for Weihnachten.

By order of the Court.

Carry On Merkel

Yes, our favourite comedy act is back on the road.

How we all laughed.

Now, your turn. Compo: what is the fun-loving Frau saying this time ? Answers in the comments, please.Prize - a genuine "Merkel" bailout + austerity package of your very own ! Worth over € 120 billion !!

(Must be over 18, have own parliamentary majority, no referendums or plebiscites, the decision of the German Constitutional Court is final, euro may go down as well as up)

ND

Bugger.

 FTSE down 3.39%
DOW down 5.5%
NASDAQ down 6.9%

FTSE futures at -200 for the morning.

Croydon burns, hope Mr Drew is still in Germany.

Only Monday too. they call August the Silly Season - a very odd kind of silly this year's vintage.