In the news

Sooo... the moral is that if you treat your PA like shit your enemies will eventually find out and snatch them away from you? Sounds good to me.

Jesus. I thought Gove was having a bad weekend, David Cameron must be a mess.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/picture/2019/jun/09/ben-jennings-drug-use-conservatives-cartoon

You always jump a bit when a tower block fire happens these days, but fortunately everybody seems to have escaped:

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/barking-fire-huge-blaze-breaks-out-at-block-of-flats-in-east-london-a4163006.html

The ground floor to the sixth floor was alight and 20 flats were completely destroyed by the inferno. A further 10 flats were also damaged by heat and smoke, the force added.

tower, lol

There was a minor fire in Gooch House, a tower block on Kenninghall Road, E5, a few weeks ago, and people who were just leaving the mosque nearby rushed in to wake everybody up and get them out.

https://www.hackneygazette.co.uk/news/madina-mosque-worshippers-risk-lives-to-save-neighbours-from-fire-1-6082979

I'm not sure that was in keeping with recommended fire procedures, but following the 'stay put' disaster at Grenfell Tower, I don't blame them.

Ah yes, I've only just looked at it on StreetView. It turns out it's a wooden slats-faced six-storey building. Too jumpy by half in jumping to conclusions.

More on this:

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/jun/09/fire-flats-barking-east-london-de-pass-gardens

In an email seen by the Guardian from the firm’s fire safety helpline last month, Bellway told him not to worry. In a section headed Your Home it said the construction method used on the development in Scotland examined by Watchdog was different and so the Barking homes were not affected in the same way.

It concluded: “We understand that these news articles are highly alarming for all residents of new homes and I hope that the above statement has allayed any fears you may have over the safety and construction of your Bellway home.”

[...]

Venilia Batista Amorim, who lives opposite the flats told the Guardian: “People started running, some said the fire alarm was not working, the sprinklers were not working, residents knocked on neighbours doors to tell them to leave.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-48577579

Tory leadership contest: Boris Johnson pledges income tax cut for high earners

Getting those priorities in early

Taking career back-benchers just out of higher rate with that £80k figure is not a coincidence.

What do you Green Eco-terrorists do when the wind isn't blowing?

Would have preferred to see a Flow Battery than Li-ion.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/mmajunkie.com/2019/06/justin-bieber-calls-out-tom-cruise-mma-fight-conor-mcgregor-oscar-de-la-hoya-promote/amp

???

I know there is a current obsession with live-action remakes in the movie business, but this is a bit weird.

It feels a bit like that.

Definitely shows the level of Bieber's arrogance to think he could take TC.

Justin Bieber is the last living true rock and roll superstar don't @ me.

Cruise is known for his weak ankles. Plucky but he'll go down like a sack of spuds.

Unsporting. Cruise is 12 years older than Bieber's dad.

I don't really watch the news so don't know if this has had much coverage, but it seems like it should be a big story.

When I was in Shanghai last month it was front page news on the English language papers but it was just starting then.

Jon Stewart's statement to Congress in support of gov funding for 9/11 first responders is one for the ages

https://mobile.twitter.com/MSNBC/status/1138491895758430208

Love that man. The hypocrisy of American patriotism laid bare.

Over 10 years ago Universal Music lost the tape masters for hundreds of thousands of classic recordings in a fire and kept it a secret

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/11/magazine/universal-fire-master-recordings.html

That's a long, but very interesting, read. Thanks.

jon stewart, ladies and germs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2QMqsNvWuc

Oh no.

kicking off here in HK tear gas and rubber bullets fired by police at peaceful demonstrators. one kid hurt badly by rubber bullet. Apparently no warning given to crowd befor they fired.
lots of over eager police ready to use force I think.
think it could kick off quite badly tonight if it continues.