Agenda 2019

https://paper.li/f-1346065353#/ Good morning everybody. Donald Trump, who is the New President of the United States, has banned practically everyone from going to America, which has sparked protests and demonstrations not only on the streets of towns and cities in the US, but also in countries around the world. Trump is a very dangerous individual who now occupies the position of the most powerful man in the world. It seems that the "hand holding" incident was nothing to do with some romantic affection, but was Theresa May supporting the 70 year old son of immigrant parents, who suffers from Bathmophobia, a fear of slopes or stairs . (I had to Google the word too.) With Trump in the lead, and Theresa May "standing shoulder to shoulder", (or more accurately peeping out from Trump's pocket), will anyone hold our hands as we are dragged down the slippery slope of international tension? In an historic judgement on the 24th January 2017...

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/jan/24/what-happens-next-with-article-50-and-brexit Parliament alone is sovereign. Brexit Supreme Court ruling on Article 50 vote In an historic judgement yesterday (24th January 2017), the Supreme Court ruled that government executive prerogative powers do not take precedence over Parliament, and that Parliament shall debate Brexit, prior to the triggering of Article 50. There are those who will still argue that the judiciary are interfering on the question of United Kingdom membership of the EU and there are elements of the media who continue to contend that judges are attempting to overturn the decision of the British people as expressed in the Referendum result of 23rd June 2016. Their argument either by accident, or more probably design, fails to address the fundamental issue involved in this controversy , which has been raging since the Prime Minister announced that Executive powers would be used to trigger Article 50 and co...

https://paper.li/f-1346065353 Good morning everyone In case you may have missed the story, Donald Trump is the new President of the United States and hundreds of thousands of people (predominately women according to reports) have marched in protest, in towns and cities around the world. The inauguration ceremony was watched by either 250,000 people who braved the intermittent rain in Washington or "by the largest audience ever to watch an inauguration, PERIOD".  The Whitehouse Press Secretary Sean Spicer seems to be an excitable little chap who promises more "gems" over the rest of his time in front of the assembled media. Meanwhile, the rest of us look forward to the next four years with mild anticipation, or do I mean trepidation? Our NHS is in crisis with chronic overcrowding in many hospitals and reports of A&E facilities in many areas of the verge of collapse. It may therefore come as something of a surprise to learn that ye...

http://www.torquayheraldexpress.co.uk/breaking-news-plans-to-sell-paignton-hospital-approved/story-30074294-detail/story.html Another CCG is recommending more hospital closures in their areas.  Our NHS is in crisis with chronic overcrowding in many hospitals and reports of A&E facilities in many areas of the verge of collapse. It may therefore come as something of a surprise to learn that yet another CCG is recommending more hospital closures in their areas. This time the South Devon and Torbay Clinical Commissioning Group is proposing that Ashburton, Bovey Tracey, Dartmouth and Paignton hospital be shut and the sites sold off "for development". This is not however a unique situation in our NHS where hospitals, beds, Doctors surgeries and other health facilities around the country are being systematically closed and sold off by a government hell bent on dismantling the NHS in preparation for the private companies, not least of all Richard Branson's ...

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/jan/17/theresa-may-britain-prime-minister-speech Prime minister gives tough speech outlining government’s 12 priorities for Brexit negotiations  Which ever way you may have voted in last year's referendum on continued membership of the European Union, one thing is today, in January of 2017, abundantly clear. The United Kingdom is in complete and utter chaos regarding our exit, or even non exit of the EU. There is no doubt that 17,410,742, (51.89%) of those voting, opted for Brexit, while 16,141,241 (48.11%) voted Remain. There is also no doubt that Cameron was completely unprepared for a Leave result, and quickly scurried off, standing down as first as Prime Minister and then as the MP for Witney, to do other things outside Parliament. The departure of Cameron left others to clean up the mess that the lack of planning and foresight had created, but unfortunately for the Country, the new Prime Minister and her party h...

https://paper.li/f-1346065353 Good morning everyone Jan Leeming is sick of actors mumbling their way through shows J an Leeming, (remember her with the exploding studio lights?), has revealed that she resorts to the use of subtitles when watching some recent television drama. Me too. The latest, Sherlock (and the Halcyon) episodes had my wife reaching for the "Zapper" quite early in the broadcast, to turn of the subtitles.  Rillington Place Jamaica Inn The Halcyon Sherlock This seems to be the latest "style" for productions of television drama on all channels over recent years. The more incoherent and mumbling the dialogue, then the more atmospheric and dramatic each scene becomes according to the director. Never mind the viewers who immediately have to switch on the "subtitles" option in an attempt to follow the story. Good drama ruined by intentionally poor quality sound. Perhaps the production...