On The Bus

I'd actually like Rob to present one of the Covid-19 press conferences so we can hear what the hardworking boys and girls of the DfE Motorsport Team have been doing...

Why isn't Rob being allowed to present any of the media briefings? I thought he had received media training?

On 4/14/2020 at 10:49 PM, Destinymoon said:

 

Does everyone use the theatre, or gaiety?

Should be run on a commercial basis.

2 hours ago, dilligaf said:

Sheeint. 

Bless you! Sounds like a nasty cough. Maybe give 111 a call? Just to be safe! 

51 minutes ago, John Wright said:

I’m drawing conclusions, based on evidence, but I may be wrong. And “plague ship” is both over emotive and  inaccurate. No one who has symptoms will be allowed to board. Presumably they’ll take temperatures.

People who are carrying corona quite often don't display any kind of symptoms for a few days. So it may be entirely possible for someone to pass a temperature test and still be infected. 

Perhaps there are better terms than plague ship, but that is potentially what it could be. 

So the Ben will be used as a dedicated Plague Ship for the next 2 weeks? 

The teaching of Manx in schools should be culled. A dead language. 

As should jobs like the Culture Vannin job that was advertised for a Manx language teacher. It should be left to volunteers to do. 

30 minutes ago, Mr Helmut Fromage said:

I'm certain @Stu Peters could confirm that all non content staff at The Nations Station have been told not to return for 12 weeks - advertising staff etc etc ?

No doubt on full pay like all the other public sector slackers 

2 hours ago, monasqueen said:

On the news this morning, he was referred to as "The Lieutenant", and then "Sir Gozney".

She was probably just reading the script.

Not good.

The Goz, to give him his official title.

20 minutes ago, Uhtred said:

Braddan Commissioners have been a basket case for 40 years.

As have Douglas, as have Port St. Mary, as have Port Erin, as have Ramsey Town Commissioners. 

2 minutes ago, Max Power said:

Some of the Covid media briefing questions are inane and repetitive, can you imagine the questions when nothing much is happening?

You're right. How many times are Glover & Co. going to ask for a list of cases by address. Then to be told they'll only get them by postcode region which isn't really much use to anyone. 

Moulton acting up and trying to be some professional journalist is equally as embarrassing. 

They should actually open it to public questions. Although that would unleash the "U ok him?" brigade, it would perhaps offer some more original and interesting questions. 

How are the media people chosen for questions anyway?

12 hours ago, Stu Peters said:

No, I'm choosing to believe what I know to be a fact. You're choosing to believe somebody with an axe to grind.

Strange. There certainly was a time when I was advertising with Energy that Manx Radio suddenly started offering substantially cheaper rates. But as I wasn't chasing the geriatric market there was very little sense in going with MR. 

7 hours ago, Andy Onchan said:

 Nothing stops Hartley's HIdeaway.... but what amazes me is that people respond to it!.

They could tell people to shit in their hands and clap. And Manx Radio listeners would. 

3 minutes ago, dilligaf said:

Just by coincidence, all three tenders came in at the same price too

What was the price? I'm guessing Braddan commissioners stated it was a £7m project and the quotes were for £6,999,999.99? 

6 minutes ago, dilligaf said:

Did I just hear correctly that Braddan Comms want be build a new centre at the Strang, with estimates of £7,000,000. ?

How could they ever justify that money ?just heard Jessie Jessop on the radio, but he hasn’t got a clue about anything , let alone finance.

So glad I don’t pay rates there anymore, or I would be getting my pitchfork out.

https://www.manxradio.com/news/isle-of-man-news/braddan-commissioners-face-decision-over-7-million-community-center/

They'll need Government approval to fund the borrowing. Government should tell all 22 local authorities that all capital borrowing on their part is off the table for the next 3 - 5 years.

Stick to core services and that's that. 

14 minutes ago, gettafa said:

Actually the time was nearly 9 years ago when the phrase appeared on election manifestos, and then again 5 years later. 

Statistics show government has grown bigger and of course somewhat dumber.

We have become immune to the phrase and it is a standard throwaway homily to be seen on manifestos next year. It does sound rather good though and is a sure vote catcher. Seriously though, what does that mean and how do you make a government smarter - answer by voting 'me' in. No one ever got a vote by saying make government thicker and bigger.

Both times there was still plenty of that lovely VAT money sloshing about in the accounts. 

Now there no longer is. 

The answer of what smarter is, well that's a Government that is only doing the minimum essentials. 

4 hours ago, piebaps said:

The expenditure is less than 1% of Government expenditure.

An therein lies the problem. Anything that could/should be cut is always defended as being 'only 1%' or 'only 2%'. The trainspotters use exactly the same logic. 

At the end of the day it's all stuff the Government should not be spending money on. The time for smaller and smarter Government is now.

On 2/29/2020 at 11:36 AM, Non-Believer said:

I'm led to believe that some members of the resurrected Andreas Racing Association are intending to field some sort of event at Jurby to replace the defunct VMCC event on the MGP Sunday for this year.

The VMCC bid to use the Willaston circuit this year has been turned down by the DOI on the grounds that the prom is dug up and they can't afford to close any more arteries around Douglas.

MGP will be cancelled. 

47 minutes ago, dilligaf said:

Manx Radio is great value, community radio, with presenters worth their weight in gold

It would probably be cheaper to commission gold statues of the presenters than to keep funding Manx Radio. 

As has already been said it is hospital radio at best. 

Is lockdown getting to you Jessie? There's no need to be so aggressive - I simply asked a question. 

Manx Radio run a live blog, we pay them a pretty penny for their reporting so I'm sure a link to that would be enough. 

It's a fact that (although possibly well meaning) MHKs posting their own blogs just adds to confusion.

On a sort of related issue, Moorhouse. What's the deal with him posting his own version of events on Faceache after every news conference, causing loads of random questions. Why not just share the official Government post?

22 hours ago, Dave Hedgehog said:

Just read an FOI response on facebook. Rather than replacing the cracked concrete they are planning on seeing if they can glue it together using a red coloured resin.

 

They've totally disregarded the scenario of a summer like 2018 when there will be even more thermal expansion of the rails leading to even greater expansion. 

They're acting as if it's cracked and that's it. The exact opposite is true. It's dynamic. The rails will continue to expand and contract for years to come and will continue to crack the concrete. 

Virtual airline - is this Manx3.com?

7 minutes ago, Derek Flint said:

This is one of the things that really frustrates me about LA’s. It’s like Ramsey and the Courthouse. And wasn’t there another building in Port St Mary?

If they just stuck to emptying the bins, sweeping the streets and cutting the verges we might all not be paying even increasing rates up here. I just don’t get all the other stuff like housing, amenity sites etc being run by them. This could be done more effectively and cheaply from a central Centre. 

Add that lot to my manifesto!

Manxonia House.

6 hours ago, display name said:

Pfft,who cares?

Presumably the ratepayers of Port Erin. The same ones who had their Commissionere do a big song and dance about why their costs were (already) so much higher than neighbouring Rushen. 

Is it the fashion among local authorities to saddle their ratepayers with debts from white elephant projects? Ramsey Courthouse, Manxonia House (PSM), Castletown Fire Station etc.