Why the Guardian is going down the pan!

[redsquirrel]

Nauseating Editorial - note, not an individual comment piece but the offical view of the newspaper - on the death of King fuckface of saud.

"a skillful manager ... not a bad man"

http://www.theguardian.com/commenti...audi-arabia-king-abdullah-death?commentpage=1

Yeah I saw that, revolting.

 

[phildwyer]

Nauseating Editorial - note, not an individual comment piece but the offical view of the newspaper - on the death of King fuckface of saud.

"a skillful manager ... not a bad man"

http://www.theguardian.com/commenti...audi-arabia-king-abdullah-death?commentpage=1

The worst part is they don't get around to mentioning that Saudi Arabia is a Western creation, wholly created and sustained by Western interests, until the final paragraph. So the reader is left with the impression that this strange fundamentalist chap just happened to become ruler of the greatest oil fields in the world by some kind of freakish accident or something. And we're left to debate whether or not the deceased was a "bad man," while being kept in ignorance of the single salient point: that he was our man, and will be replaced by another one of our men until the Arabs finally put a stop to external meddling in their affairs.

 

[J Ed]

He made the beheadings run on time

 

[seventh bullet]

Nauseating Editorial - note, not an individual comment piece but the offical view of the newspaper - on the death of King fuckface of saud.

"a skillful manager ... not a bad man"

http://www.theguardian.com/commenti...audi-arabia-king-abdullah-death?commentpage=1

Also, the plebs should be silent, invisible and wait for scraps (if any) to be thrown down from the table of any future 'reform.'

 

[J Ed]

Compare to the Graunid's obituary of Chavez

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/mar/05/hugo-chavez

An elected assembly, almost entirely composed of his supporters, produced a constitution – approved by referendum in December 1999 – that extended the presidential term to six years and allowed immediate re-election. The senate was abolished, the role of the armed forces expanded, and new "moral" and "electoral" branches of government created

What an odd way to say that someone who was democratically elected pursued electoral reform, I thought that the Graunid liked that sort of thing or is that only when their Lib Dems do it?

The former lieutenant-colonel had always insisted that his revolution was "peaceful, but armed". After purging the armed forces of all those suspected of disloyalty to the leader, he obliged officers and troops to adopt the Cuban-inspired slogan "socialist motherland or death", and created a militia answerable only to him. Thuggish, armed civilian groups also swore to defend the revolution against enemies within and without. These included opponents in the media, the universities and the church.

Emboldened by his election victory, Chávez moved to close down RCTV, the country's oldest television channel and a determined opponent of his regime. A hitherto dormant student movement re-awoke, took to the streets and – though it failed to save RCTV – helped stave off a bid by the president to rewrite the constitution yet again, this time along overtly dictatorial lines.

...

At the same time, a couple of dozen laws – rushed through parliament with minimal debate – completed the process of implementing the bulk of the constitutional reform rejected by the electorate in 2007. In particular, a package of five laws aimed at setting up a "communal state" threatened to render what remained of representative democracy in Venezuela a purely decorative matter.


...

Internationally, Chávez posed as an anti-imperialist and lavished aid on ideological allies. Venezuela would, he claimed, play a vital role in saving the planet from the evils of capitalism. In a notorious speech to the UN general assembly in 2006, he called US president George W Bush "the devil", claiming the podium still smelled of sulphur. It went down well in some quarters, but economic failure at home and the cosy relations he had enjoyed with dictators such as Robert Mugabe and Muammar Gaddafi would ultimately limit his appeal, even on the international left.

Graunid: Spinning tyrants asdemocratically elected leaders and democratically elected leaders as tyrants

 

[DotCommunist]

fucking hell, that hatchet job passed me by

Emboldened by his election victory, Chávez moved to close down RCTV, the country's oldest television channel and a determined opponent of his regime

that would be a TV station owned by the interests who attempted a coup on him, which wasn't shut down but denied a broadcast license so continued on cable service.

 

[J Ed]

The Graunid can't even report on what our intelligence services are doing without having hard drives smashed up, can you imagine what would happen to a newspaper in this country after a coup during which a PM was kidnapped and flown out for execution? I bet it would be a lot less pretty than a license not being renewed.

 

[DotCommunist]

The Graunid can't even report on what our intelligence services are doing without having hard drives smashed up, can you imagine what would happen to a newspaper in this country after a coup during which a PM was kidnapped and flown out for execution? I bet it would be a lot less pretty than a license not being renewed.

goddamn liberals, anything left of chamberlain is a force to be suppresed. Because they can mediate with power and tame it. Despite every example of liberals siding with rightists ends in thier destruction. Hello, clegg

 

[J Ed]

A few! Still say that the Beevor book is the best basic intro to the historical context, the international issues, the internal issues, the internal factions, the competing ideologies and strategies etc and a great guide to further exploration. And Homage to Catalonia for how one person experienced all this and what options it opened up and also closed.

Beevor's updated version here

I don't suppose that you have a pdf of Spain Betrayed: The Soviet Union in the Spanish Civil War?

 

[butchersapron]

Afraid not comrade.

 

[Artaxerxes]

New look!

People are not amused

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jan/28/introducing-new-look-comment-is-free#comments

 

[killer b]

That's the nature of new looks. they'll have forgotten about it by next week.

 

[butchersapron]

Ooh you can get the internet on your big london phone now!

 

[brogdale]

christ on a bike!

..and I'll not even bother with the men in tights stuff

 

[J Ed]

Article about conditions of free hot drinks in Waitrose attracts quite a crowd BTL

Waitrose = "great chav free shopping"

 

[brogdale]

Article about conditions of free hot drinks in Waitrose attracts quite a crowd BTL

Waitrose = "great chav free shopping"

Well this "chav" will carry a banana in my rucsack (I normally do anyway) and keep an old Waitrose receipt including bananas on me then, if challenged by the Waitrose 'police', I'll be able to prove that I've understood the "etiquette" of drinking my free coffee in their nice, warm cafe (where I read all the papers...for free).

DLTBGYD

 

[ska invita]

That's the nature of new looks. they'll have forgotten about it by next week.

the problem is the front page list of stories are all text, no pictures and no headline-to-subtext - it all just turns into a blur of text - i find it impossible to focus on to read
its pandering to phone and tablet users
this isnt just a case of getting used to a new design i dont think
*The Al JAzeera site is all messed up too - theyve gotten rid of the regions from the front page

 

[phildwyer]

Well this "chav" will carry a banana in my rucsack (I normally do anyway) and keep an old Waitrose receipt including bananas on me then, if challenged by the Waitrose 'police', I'll be able to prove that I've understood the "etiquette" of drinking my free coffee in their nice, warm cafe (where I read all the papers...for free).

I wouldn't hang out there if you paid me. But if I understand correctly, you can just walk into Waitrose, grab a free coffee and walk out again?

Is that right? That's brilliant if so, I'm having some of that next time I'm in London.

 

[brogdale]

I wouldn't hang out there if you paid me. But if I understand correctly, you can just walk into Waitrose, grab a free coffee and walk out again?

Is that right? That's brilliant if so, I'm having some of that next time I'm in London.

Yes, that is right, though you will need to have a "my waitrose" card and, technically have the card swiped to record the 'free' coffee. Waitrose do have stores outside of London; is there not one nearer to you?

Where is the "there" that you wouldn't "hang out"?

 

[DotCommunist]

I wouldn't drink thier bourgeois coffee

 

[phildwyer]

Yes, that is right, though you will need to have a "my waitrose" card and, technically have the card swiped to record the 'free' coffee. Waitrose do have stores outside of London; is there not one nearer to you?

I don't think so, I'm in the USA.

So you need a loyalty card to get this "free" coffee eh? That gives me pause, I don't trust them cards. But I suppose it doesn't matter if you never buy anything?

Where is the "there" that you wouldn't "hang out"?

Waitrose. Always full of tossers when I go there. Can't imagine anyone hanging out there frankly.

 

[brogdale]

I don't think so, I'm in the USA.

So you need a loyalty card to get this "free" coffee eh? That gives me pause, I don't trust them cards. But I suppose it doesn't matter if you never buy anything?



Waitrose. Always full of tossers when I go there. Can't imagine anyone hanging out there frankly.

Oh, I see, no you obviously won't have a local 'Waitrose' then. Are you a US citizen of Welsh descent?

Like you I generally don't trust/engage with 'loyalty' cards, but the freebies associated with the JLP cards, and the lack of need to purchase, are enough to have lured me in, albeit with false details.

Not sure about the 'tossers', tbh where I go it mostly seems to be freeloaders like myself...but perhaps that's what you meant?

You can sign up here.

 

[phildwyer]

Are you a US citizen of Welsh descent?

Born and bred in Wales, moved to the USA, became a citizen.

Like you I generally don't trust/engage with 'loyalty' cards, but the freebies associated with the JLP cards, and the lack of need to purchase, are enough to have lured me in, albeit with false details.

I reckon those records are kept forever. In 20 or 30 years time they could be used in ways of which we have no conception today. I'm steering clear of them.

Not sure about the 'tossers', tbh where I go it mostly seems to be freeloaders like myself...but perhaps that's what you meant?

Hardly, I am the world's greatest freeloader myself. When I'm in London my local Waitrose is in Bloomsbury, you can probably imagine what I mean.

You can sign up here.

I'm not signing anything officer.

 

[brogdale]

I wouldn't drink thier bourgeois coffee

Some months ago I was talking to one of the partners, (young guy who seemed very clued-up), and asked him how much each 'free' cup costs and the reply was approx 15p. I have no idea if that was correct, but it kind of sounds credible. Anyway, I'm happy to accept their 'free' (to me) coffee with no obligation to purchase any other product....bourgeois, or not.

 

[belboid]

Some months ago I was talking to one of the partners, (young guy who seemed very clued-up), and asked him how much each 'free' cup costs and the reply was approx 15p. I have no idea if that was correct, but it kind of sounds credible. Anyway, I'm happy to accept their 'free' (to me) coffee with no obligation to purchase any other product....bourgeois, or not.

I was told the average cost of a costa coffee - including staff time, rent etc - was 6p. Money for nothing

 

[brogdale]

Born and bred in Wales, moved to the USA, became a citizen.



I reckon those records are kept forever. In 20 or 30 years time they could be used in ways of which we have no conception today. I'm steering clear of them.



Hardly, I am the world's greatest freeloader myself. When I'm in London my local Waitrose is in Bloomsbury, you can probably imagine what I mean.



I'm not signing anything officer.

Fair enough.
Yeah, the Brunswick one does seem to attract a fair few annoying types, but the Tott Ct Rd branch tends to be OK; mostly student types.

That's an interesting speculation about what might become of all that data, but tbh their records of my use will, I'd imagine, be restricted to where & when "I"* have availed myself of the free coffee; I don't use the card(s)* for any other transactions.

* I have multiple, fictitious cards to max the freeloading.

 

[Greebo]

Some months ago I was talking to one of the partners, (young guy who seemed very clued-up), and asked him how much each 'free' cup costs and the reply was approx 15p. I have no idea if that was correct, but it kind of sounds credible. Anyway, I'm happy to accept their 'free' (to me) coffee with no obligation to purchase any other product....bourgeois, or not.

Hang on a minute - AFAIK the Waitrose card works as a payment card, therefore there's a credit check tied to it, therefore nope, not touching it. And definitely not with a ridiculously common name.

 

[phildwyer]

Yeah, the Brunswick one does seem to attract a fair few annoying types

The Brunswick Starbucks is even worse. The Giraffe restaurant and Scoob Books are that place's only saving grace these days, apart from the proximity of the Lord John Russell.

 

[brogdale]

Hang on a minute - AFAIK the Waitrose card works as a payment card, therefore there's a credit check tied to it, therefore nope, not touching it. And definitely not with a ridiculously common name.

Difference between the cards associated with JLP financial products and the "my waitrose" cards; no, it's not a payment card at all. Relax.

 

[brogdale]

The Brunswick Starbucks is even worse. The Giraffe restaurant and Scoob Books are that place's only saving grace these days, apart from the proximity of the Lord John Russell.

Scoobs
Don't know/use the LJR, cos the spoons next door to Foyles is just too handy/cheap.