In the news

I'd like to see him try a self-lobotomy, but as he's from Bristol, I doubt anyone would notice the difference post-op.

Calm down Clive

I think this is more of an exception. Teaching strikes generally aren't received that well.

I think the difference is strikes where people can see the action directly affecting them (having to look after kids, tube not running, etc) whereas a far smaller number will be affected by the junior doctors being on strike.

The other issue too is the high turnout and high percentage in favour. Some of the tube strikes over the years have had turnouts under 50% and those in favour just over 50% so you're looking at an absolute value of only about 25% in favour.

There's obviously a whole other argument about permissible voting methods, etc but ~ 75% being in favour makes it seem a much bigger issue.

This is Sacha Baron Cohen, right?

I think frequency has an effect, teachers were always on strike when I were at skool and tube drivers always seem to be striking for any reason at all so people are fatigued by them. The occasional doctors or fireman (and woman) strike is less frequent so tolerated when it does happen.

There are tube strikes?

Apparently.

I notice that people don't whinge the same way when the drones go on strike.

Nah - It's David Blaine.

"Is this your card?"

It's a drone strike joke.

And I like it.

something may or may not be going down at baker street station.

Controlled explosion on a suspect abandoned car, according to twitter.

someone's gonna be mightily pissed off when they get out of madame tussauds.

Will probably affect No Claims Bonus.

How would you even begin to explain that to the insurance company?
"So, um...."

This is a classic: http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/driver-livid-after-police-blew-up-his-broken-down-taxi-in-terror-scare-near-the-gherkin-9809597.html

He's met the Met....

How fucking thick do you have to be to 'abandon' a car in central London less than a week after a massive terrorist attack?

They blew up a suspect vehicle that seemed to be abandoned near the gate of Camp Bastion while I was in Afghan, and it turned out to belong to the family of some little kid who had been injured by an IED and was being treated in the hospital.
There was an almighty hoo-ha about it, and the army ended up buying the family a brand new people-carrier to keep them sweet.
Once the word got round, we were plagued by people parking their clapped-out Toyota Corollas near the gate in the hope they'd be given a new one.

Maybe it was abandoned before last Friday?

Also, ^ lol. Apart from the part about the kid being injured by an IED. That sucks.

They dragged us out the Wetherspoons by Baker Street to blow that car up.

Thanks Obama.

I'm gonna be putting in for a free beer and burger because of the disruption

I know it's not news, but the NHS thread is a bit quiet...

Open consultation:
Setting the mandate to NHS England for 2016 to 2017
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/setting-the-mandate-to-nhs-england-for-2016-to-2017
Closes 23rd November - 3 days left.

Some more info here: https://www.opendemocracy.net/ournhs/caroline-molloy/dont-want-government-to-let-nhs-die-one-crucial-thing-you-can-do-now

The photos I saw on twitter suggest it hadn't been left there very long.

proof that karma never sleeps.