Quote:This Christmas in the New Normal

1. How the EU saved Christmas
It’s as predictable and as it is dull, but “bird flu” is here to increase the cost of poultry this holiday season, create shortages and yada yada yada.

We all knew this would happen, but we have a new little wrinkle – The EU is here to save the day!

Quote:Several of the UK’s big supermarkets have been forced to source turkeys from elsewhere in Europe to keep shelves stocked this Christmas, after avian flu curtailed UK production.


Asda, Lidl and Morrisons are understood to be stocking branded turkey imported from mainland Europe – a move industry sources described as “unprecedented” – to “protect availability” and ensure sufficient supply for festive meals.

All three retailers’ own-label fresh and frozen turkeys will be entirely British-sourced. However, Morrisons is stocking Bernard Matthews-branded turkey from Poland, and Asda is selling a Cherrywood-branded turkey crown from mainland Europe.

I’ll bet all that Brexiting doesn’t sound like such a good idea anymore, huh?
Besides, we should have cabbage instead of turkey, anyway.


2. Chocs Away

The BBC has noticed that chocolate bars are getting smaller, less chocolatey and yet more expensive.
It’s not just chocolate, of course. Smaller, worse and more expensive is the mantra of the age (covered brilliantly here). It’s also the goal.

They want us to own nothing and be happy. They want us eating gruel with protein cubes to save the planet and they want us to smile while we’re doing it.

But the BBC isn’t going to talk about that, instead they jovially have a light hearted banter about the cost of living spiralling while companies adulterate our food, shrink their portion sizes and charge us more for the privilege.

Haha, what japes.

There’s nothing to be done about it, because it’s all climate change’s fault, and that’s totally real.

So just buy less stuff and stop whining.


3. They’re (still) coming for those wood burners

Labour might forced to slightly ban wood burning stoves, moving forward.
The updated “environment improvement plan” released earlier this month and covered exclusively in the Guardian calls for stricter targets on air pollution, and that means more limitations on stoves – including who can have them, and what they can burn.

Quote:This could involve pollution limits being tightened in smoke control areas, which already limit what fuels can be burned: for example, setting out that wood can be burned only in approved types of stoves or burners, not in fireplaces.

It could mean an effective ban on older appliances and that, in some places, it will not be possible to use a wood-burning stove at all.

In a startling coincidence, just a short while after the government said they were going to do this, an “independent report” confirmed it was a really good idea!

It turns out banning wood burning stoves is going to save us all money and stop us dying and make food taste better and just generally make things kinda awesome:

Quote:Prohibiting the use of solid fuels like wood and log burners in UK homes could prevent 1,500 deaths annually and save a whopping £54m in NHS funds, according to a recent report.

Environmental consultancy firm Ricardo has urged for stricter regulations on the use of solid fuel burners in homes, including wood burners and log fireplaces, which it links to heart conditions, lung disease, strokes, cancer, and more.

Weird, right?

But amid all this panic, nobody is asking the obvious question: Can Santa even fit down a heat pump?


4. “Generation Scrooge”

Writing for LBC, Thomas Ruys Smith argues young people aren’t giving enough money to charity:

Quote:Young people must give more to charity – or risk becoming Generation Scrooge

Apparently it’s not enough that the general cost of existing is increasing month-on-month, while taxation likewise increases, we must also accept that these taxes don’t actually solve society’s problems, and should give money to charity as well.

Charities, you understand, NOT homeless people or the poor directly. They can’t be trusted, instead just give your money to billionaire-founded corporate tax-dodges who will never tell you how they will spend it.

Taxation under threat of prison, charitable donation as a social duty. Your money isn’t really yours.


BONUS: Propaganda of the season

Mean Russian wolves are killing cuddly NATO rindeer, did you know?

I’m not exaggerating:

Quote:‘Santa’s reindeer’ are under threat. Are Russia’s wolves to blame?

Apparently wolf attacks on reindeer in Finland are increasing, and the war in Ukraine is to blame. There’s no evidence the wolves are Russian, of course. And even if they are, it’s just wolves being wolves.

Still, let’s have a xenophobic national panic and shoot some endangered animals. Merry Christmas!


BONUS II: Good news of the season!

Researchers have found that flavonoids in chocolate can protect you from the harmful effects of sitting at a desk for too long:

Quote:A team of researchers found that there might be a way to reverse the effects of sitting, and it comes in the form of another indulgence that could kill you: cocoa.

Specifically, researchers from the University of Birmingham England say that the flavanols in cocoa can counteract the effects of too much sitting. This is the same compound that gives dark chocolate and red wine their reputation for being somewhat healthy, despite the sugar and alcohol being unhealthy.

Yes, it’s just vice. And yes, modern science is usually rubbish. And Yes, flavinoids can be found in things other than cocoa – fruits, nuts, etc. – but ignore all of that.

Chocolate will save your life, that’s the headline.

So try not to sit still for too long, but if you have to, well then make sure you have a cup of cocoa too.

Christmas Recommendations

We’re four or five deep with This Christmases now, and I’m running out of recommendations to make. Christmases keep on coming, but the production of decent Christmas-related media is decidedly slower. And I suppose it’s the nature of seasonal viewing that we repeat traditions and find comfort in the familiar.

So, I’m going to listen to Carols from Kings and watch Arthur Christmas like I do every year, and invite all of you do whatever evokes the season of giving and allows you to relax and enjoy the moment.

*

All told a pretty hectic Christmas season for the new normal crowd, and we didn’t even mention pigs-in-blankets causing cancer, how to talk to racist relatives at the dinner table or how “the far right stole Christmas”.

There’s a lot of change in the air, a lot of agendas in the works, but there are times to let all of that go and just try and relax and live your life. Remember to take that time, and from all of us here at OffG, please try and have yourself a merry little Christmas.

(12-29-2025, 09:38 AM)F2d5thCav Wrote: From your 'up my way' comment, it sounds like you are in the south of the UK.  I used to enjoy the view of the Chiltern Hills on the way from Heathrow to the Oxford area.  I suspect I could get lost for years in the UK just wandering around, but getting too old for that these days.

Quote:Afghan man, 20, is arrested after 'attacking five people with a crowbar' in hospital
waiting room 'when he was refused an appointment'

'An Afghan national has been arrested after allegedly attacking five people with a crowbar in
a hospital waiting room while demanding an appointment. Merseyside Police scrambled to
Newton Community Hospital in Newton-Le-Willows, Merseyside, just after midday.


Hitting the fan... again.

The harrowing incident started when a man, who is originally from Afghanistan, arrived at the
hospital to request an appointment. When his demand was denied he became increasingly
agitated and attacked several people with a weapon - believed to be a crowbar. 
Paramedics tended to the victims whose injuries are reportedly not life threatening.

The 20-year-old Afghan has been arrested on suspicion of five counts of wounding with intent,
affray and criminal damage. He has been taken to a local police station and remains in custody.
A large police presence remains at the scene and members of the public have been advised to
avoid the area.

St Helens Neighbourhood Superintendent Sarah Rotherham said: 'We were called to reports
of a man behaving aggressively at the hospital who had assaulted a number of people.
'Officers attended immediately and the male was swiftly located and arrested. 'Paramedics
attended at the hospital and carried out first aid to those who had been injured. 'I would like
to take this opportunity for anyone who witnessed this incident at the hospital to contact us
with any information.'

A spokesperson for the Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said: 'We
can confirm that an incident occurred at Newton Hospital today (30 December 2025), and the
Trust is working closely with Merseyside Police as they conduct their investigations.

'Our priority is the safety and wellbeing of our staff, patients, and visitors, and we are providing
full support to those affected. If you have an appointment at Newton Hospital or are the next of
kin of an inpatient, our team will contact you directly with any updates.'

In a statement Merseyside Police said: 'We have arrested a 20-year-old man after reports five
people were assaulted at Newton Community Hospital in Newton-Le-Willows this afternoon.
'Just after 12pm we received a report that a man attended the hospital to request an appointment.
'At this stage it is believed that his request was declined and when he was asked to leave he
became increasingly agitated and damaged a counter before assaulting several people inside
the hospital, with a weapon (possibly a crowbar).

'Those who were injured are currently being treated by paramedics at the hospital for injuries,
which are not life-threatening. Anyone with information on the incident should contact the
Merseyside Police social media desk @MerPolCC on X and Facebook quoting reference
25001060801. You can also report information via our website or call 101.
Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.'

Newton Le-Willows councillor Seve Gomez-Aspron said his father, who lives next door to the
hospital, had told him about the attack. Cllr Gomez-Aspron said: 'At around 12.10pm I got a
phone call from my dad, who lives next to the hospital, to say a family friend had run to his
house to tell him that someone was attacking staff within the hospital and damaging the
reception area.

'I live nearby, so I told him to call the police and I rushed to the hospital and so I got there within
a few minutes.' He thanked Merseyside Police and North West Ambulance Service for their swift
response and 'running into a scenario where danger is unknown'...'

(12-30-2025, 07:02 PM)BIAD Wrote: They banged pots and pans together on a Thursday evening for Britain's National Health Service
during the Covid carnival and the politicians constantly tell their public that respect for the NHS is
a vital ingredient in keeping it alive.

I guess that esteem only involves the legitimate residents of this invaded land.

Quote:Afghan man, 20, is arrested after 'attacking five people with a crowbar' in hospital
waiting room 'when he was refused an appointment'

...
Archived Daily Mail Article:

(12-30-2025, 07:02 PM)BIAD Wrote: They banged pots and pans together on a Thursday evening for Britain's National Health Service
during the Covid carnival and the politicians constantly tell their public that respect for the NHS is
a vital ingredient in keeping it alive.

I guess that esteem only involves the legitimate residents of this invaded land.

Quote:Afghan man, 20, is arrested after 'attacking five people with a crowbar' in hospital
waiting room 'when he was refused an appointment'

...

Archived Daily Mail Article:

Quote:The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is removing funding for its citizens to study in the United Kingdom, citing concerns they could be radicalised abroad.
The move means the UAE has removed British universities from a list of higher education institutions eligible for state scholarships amid growing tensions over London's decision not to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization, The Financial Times reported.
"[The UAE] don’t want their kids to be radicalized on campus," a person directly involved with the decision told the outlet.

Since then, Emirati students who have applied to their government for scholarships to study in the UK have been denied.

The move also means that the UAE will not recognize qualifications from academic institutions that are not on its accredited list, rendering degrees from UK universities less valuable than others, according to the report.

https://www.skynews.com.au/world-news/global-affairs/uae-cuts-funding-for-citizens-studying-at-uk-universities-over-campus-radicalization-fears-report/news-story/554f19003eeaaff73c46ea55f9a9dfd0

Quote:"All forms of extremism have absolutely no place in our society, and we will stamp them out wherever they are found," Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office said in a statement.
"We offer one of the best education systems in the world and maintain stringent measures on student welfare and on-campus safety."

Watch live breaking news on SkyNews.com.au

(01-10-2026, 11:22 AM)gortex Wrote: The United Arab Emirates have said they have cut funding for students who want to study in the UK because they fear their students risk being radicalised in UK Universities.

...

The Dear Leader of Great Britainstan had this to say.

Quote:"All forms of extremism have absolutely no place in our society, and we will stamp them out wherever they are found," Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office said in a statement.
"We offer one of the best education systems in the world and maintain stringent measures on student welfare and on-campus safety."

Watch live breaking news on SkyNews.com.au

Oxford University 2024.

Quote:As an aside, my great niece came over to the UK to study a year at some university there. I think it might have been Cambridge, but I'm not sure. Anyhow, I've not talked to her since she came back. I'm afraid to. I'm scared she might have caught the crazy. I had another niece that went to university here and caught the batshit crazy while there. I'm glad my days of formal schooling are long over. I wouldn't want to catch anything going around campuses these days. The risk of VD was bad enough in my day, but nowadays you run as much risk or more of catching the brain rot as you do the crotch rot on a college campus.

Quote:Keir Starmer has U-turned on plans for mandatory digital ID cards for workers.

At the time it was announced last year, the government said that digital IDs would become mandatory for the right to work by the end of this parliament - which is 2029.

But Sky News understands this will no longer be the case.
A government spokesperson said: "We are committed to mandatory digital right to work checks. 
"We have always been clear that details on the digital ID scheme will be set out following a full public consultation which will launch shortly. 
"Digital ID will make everyday life easier for people, ensuring public services are more personal, joined-up, and effective, while also remaining inclusive."
According to The Times, while right to work checks will still be mandatory, other forms of documentation, such as an electronic visa or a passport, will be valid. 

https://news.sky.com/story/politics-latest-starmer-labour-trump-lammy-vance-tankers-greenland-threats-nato-12593360

(01-13-2026, 07:41 PM)gortex Wrote: This weeks embarrassing Labour government U-Turn is ..... plans for Mandatory Digital ID are being scrapped.

Quote:...
https://news.sky.com/story/politics-latest-starmer-labour-trump-lammy-vance-tankers-greenland-threats-nato-12593360

They couldn't run a piss-up in a brewery yet alone a Country , do the decent thing Rodney and fall on your sword before the damage is beyond repair.

Quote:Migrant turns up in UK AGAIN despite deportation

'A migrant has turned up in the UK once again despite deportation. Edwin Taha appeared at South
Tyneside Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, January 20, accused of knowingly entering the UK in breach
of a deportation order.


They're just taking the p*ss now. Edwin Taha.

The 25-year-old, of no fixed abode and who previously lived in Teesside, was remanded in custody.
He will next appear at Newcastle Crown Court on February 18. According to Teesside Live, Taha faces
one count of knowingly entering the UK in breach of a deportation order.

A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: “On Sunday (January 18) we arrested a man in the
Gateshead area on suspicion of immigration offences."...'