C 19 - When it's all over...

It might be of interest for all to know that the combination of a perceived sense of superiority , allied to a deep sense of grievance , characteristics which you generously display in abundance, (and are consistent with the strongly held anti EU belief allied to your oft- expressed view of Englands position in the world) is well-recognised (by psychologists) as self-pity. Appreciating this would help us all to sympathise with you as ir would explain the emotions behind your contributions, which many would otherwise think are delusional. I hope this helps you in these difficult times.

 

Could we get back on topic please?

 

First on my mind will be an outpouring of appreciation for those who served the nation during this time and for those who gave their lives in the process.... ❤️

 

My apologies for drifting off topic. Irritation got the better of me. But I ws trying to help.

 

I expect we will return to a news diet of
Stabbings
Car accidents
Natural disasters
Maniacs with guns in america
Terrorist bombs, bombers
Dare I say it Brexit (this is not intended to start the usual "conversations")
Football

There doesn't seem to be any other news these days? why?

Seems self isolating is a good idea as a lot of these nasty activities become rather pointless as there is no one to stab or blow up...

 

It is going to be very different when this does come to an end because the world economic order is going to be shot to pieces for the next five or ten years. Looking at the economic data that is starting to appear the world is going to be in a deep depression. The experts are saying that already things are worse than in the crash of 2008 and is likely to be worse than the great depression of 1929. In 1929 China was hidden behind a wall and wasn't a great player in world affairs. As with the 2008 crash it started in the USA with the failure of the stock markets and banks. It had a worldwide effect because as of today it was the largest economy. It brought about individual countries trying to protect themselves as best they could, and it brought about a lurch towards nationalistic governments. Germany was very badly hit as it was still owing huge sums to other countries banks as it tried to rebuild after WWI. In the UK it brought about the formation of the all party National Government, which had to borrow money from both the Federal Reserve, and the Bank of France. The UK was in a better situation than some countries because it still had a large manufacturing base, whereas others did their trade with agricultural products. Despite this advantage it is believed that after a decade since the crash, the economy had barely recovered before it found itself in another world war.
By the time of the 2008 crash the UK was no longer a manufacturing country on any scale, with China having entered the world trade market in a massive way. The USA was still the largest economy, but the rest of the world had formed itself into various trading blocks that could compete with both the USA and China. Because the UK didn't have the manufacturing base anymore, it took longer to recover, in fact some have shown how the policies adopted actually held it back. During 2008-9 world GDP fell by 1%, yet the figures for the 1929 crash brought about a 15% loss. The world largely got together through agreement after the 2008 crash and with agreed tariffs etc rebuilt the economy over the next ten years., and it avoided the nationalistic approach that had been such a disaster. It will be a major opportunity for countries to get their blocks stronger again, which they desperately will need to do if the crash is as bad as is now looking possible.
In both crashes it took the UK at least 10 years to recover, and in many ways this time it is in a weaker position. Quite how any government will go about rebuilding after the massive hit that the many small businesses have taken I don't know. There are figures suggesting that around 25% of those now shut will not open again. State investments will be required in many countries as you cannot rely on private companies to rebuild an economy if they are no longer trading.

 

Won’t have to wait long for this - Coronavirus has brought out the best in Americans. Record monthly gun sales in America this March has seen long queues () outside gun-stores.

 

Typical redneck reaction
If you kill them first they can't breathe on you

 

Unless they start waking up again and try to eat them

 

You say that but a young girl was killed in Bolton the other week.

Would have been massive headline news and then there was the case of the Manchester bomber's brother and Alex Salmond.

All would have been headline news.

People will probably rush to pubs and clubs and maybe even football games if they know clubs at the lower levels need the money.

 

I missed that the girl in Bolton had been killed. That’s a very sad story and, as you say, would’ve garnered more coverage in less extraordinary times.

 

There is a real upsurge in domestic violence sadly.. On the other hand for some families they have become much closer... Both my son and son in law typically work away for most of the week so they have been able to support their children so much more.
Mind you William, three, put a toy through the tv screen yesterday.. Not good news..

 

Oh my goodness!

 

Well I liked the general comment but not the last bit!

So no TV for a whille ?!

 

Seems like it was by a stranger with big mental issues so would have created a big debate in the papers.

 

We spend a lot of time together as a family usually. The boys don’t have televisions or computer game consoles in their bedrooms, which I think is a common parenting mistake, they have a variety of consoles attached to our downstairs television. Although it has about seven or eight different video inputs, we decided to keep our television to 32” (although it is attached to massive sound system), as we didn’t want the television to become the focal point of the lounge. Many friends seem to have beautiful fireplaces then a 70”+ screen competing for attention, which confuses us. Mrs Andy’s sister has a superb home cinema screen, 8’ tall and about 15’ wide, but their sound system is not fabulous yet (mind you, they’ve only just set it up), but this disappears at the flick of a switch and sofas and chairs are put back quickly. We watched ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ with them and it was terrific.
But board games are big with us.
A few days ago, I commandeered dining room table and set up a roulette table. I bought a decent amateur wheel a few years ago, and with an 8’ roulette cloth, the boys’ gaming experience was ready. I’m fairly anti-gambling, and with the increased pressure young people are put under from its normalisation over recent years, I wanted the boys to understand how the House wins. I only expected it to be up for a day, but the boys have enjoyed losing all their chips each day for about three or four days now. We get 500 chips each at the start of the day, and once they are all gone we stop. I’ve shown the boys ‘systems’, which effectively are ways of losing more slowly, although they can give the impression that you are beating the odds (which of course you’re not), the seduction of which I wanted Matej and Seb to understand.
I have a craps cloth, too, but I’m not au fait with its use as much, so I have to gen up a bit before we break that out.
Mrs Andy is bored stupid by all this, but she approves of my motives. Although she doesn’t have the interest to stick around.
I used to play a lot of poker years ago, and both the boys are very good mathematicians, so that will be next. I want them to learn that can be fun, for exceptionally small stakes amongst friends, as their is no bookmaker or House to skim the pot, and as long as the fun is beating your opponents and not for a second the money, I think that’s ok. We’ll play 1000 chips each with a quid ‘buy-in’ (no further buy-ins in any one session). Again, the green felt makes all the difference though.

 

Before it sounds like we all wear nothing but green visors in our house, I should point out that contract whist is the big winner at this time. We and the boys love that. A bottle of Bénédictine at the ready for me, vodka cokes for Mrs Andy and iced water for the boys (crazy fools). Green felt and brutal banter, particularly from Seb who is a quick-witted, cheeky, little sod.

 

Shouldn't the crap cloth be kept for an emergency?

 

Brilliant, sir.