Jenny1

I saw five bees feeding on the winter-flowering cherry blossom today. I had no idea that bees would be active at this time of year - let alone on a morning after the kind of frost we had last night.

I don't think this has anything to do with 'left' and 'right' though ????. I think it's about the crossing of the public/private boundary. I don't agree with the politics represented by McDonnell or Paisley - and to comment in such a way about Margaret Thatcher or the Pope was clearly mad and very wrong. But Thatcher and Pope John Paul The Second were about the most public figures you could imagine - and both in their own ways highly controversial. So critical comments (even crazy ones from political extremists) were to be expected. But Farage was talking about a private individual and an associated charity. I don't think his outbursts fall into the McDonnell/Paisley category. We can agree on the nasty, divisive idiot definition though.

Yes - I think Farage is 'new'. 'New' in that he says things which no mainstream politician in this country would have thought acceptable before. As Otta says if this becomes the new 'normal' we're in very deep trouble.

Non modo sed etiam

It's the first year that I've really appreciated the beautiful, delicate winter-flowering cherries in several front gardens in the area. It seems almost miraculous that such fragile blossoms flourish at the darkest time of the year.

Hi Suffer-not. I'm no expert on birds, but I believe both chaffinches and goldfinches do form flocks at certain times of the year. I've never spotted this phenomenon in the East Dulwich area though. What a lovely thing to see!

I have never seen a flock of chaffinches Suffer-not - that's pretty special. I did notice a pair of them on the trees in our road earlier in the year. Very jealous of your sighting!

That on, or around, the 4th of May swifts will return to East Dulwich.

I think the emphasis in the Jenkins article is misplaced. I believe that people only really get worried about 'identity' when they're beleaguered. I would say that the political shifts and upsets we're seeing at the moment are all about the economy, and more specifically the glaring (and growing) inequalities within it. There's a sense that governments are unable, or unwilling, to shield their citizens when times get tough. Everything else grows out of that - surely. And the roots of this are much more about the failure to respond adequately to the financial crash of 2007-8 than broader issues of globalisation. I think that's the story in the UK, anyway. The US is probably a bit different. And there lies another problem - conflating the UKIP vote and the Trump vote - I don't think they're quite the same thing (however much Mr 'Lift Doors of Gold' Farage might like to believe they are).

Can we just agree that neither the Labour or Conservative leadership teams inspire great confidence at present?

Very timely article, rahrahrah, thanks for posting link.

All useful and helpful stuff. Thank you.

???? Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > > anti-democratic gnashing of teeth But it's quite possible to democratically elect a fascist, isn't it?

???? Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Is Donald Trump a fascist? - > The problem is that Trump says a lot of things and promised to do a lot of things that are very reminiscent of fascism. So by some measures, yes, he can be called a fascist. And I would argue that by pointing this out Aodhan O'Riordain isn't 'virtue signalling', but speaking out in a climate where most political leaders are too shocked and scared to 'call a spade a spade'.

Is not one person's 'virtue signalling', another person's 'telling the truth'?

I'm sure many of you will have already seen this video of Irish Senator (and former Equality Minister) Aodhan O'Riordain. According to The Times this morning it has now been viewed 3.5 million times in the US after being posted on Facebook. Carried here by the Irish Independent. http://www.independent.ie/videos/irish-news/must-watch-aodhn-oriordins-passionate-speech-regarding-the-governments-reaction-to-trumps-victory-35207187.html

Thanks for letting us know about this Chazzle. I've just put in an objection based on my view that these new proposals are damaging to the character and appearance of houses which are of regional and local importance (See earlier reference in this thread to the fact that 1,2 and 3 Railway Rise are possibly the only remaining examples of the houses built by the London, Brighton and Southern railway to house rail workers in the 1860s across the whole of Southern England. They are also some of the oldest houses in East Dulwich). I have also suggested that the scale of the development is disproportionate to the existing footprint and plot size of the cottages.

Wanted to second Dulwich Fox's mentions of Dulwich DIY and A J Farmer's. Two of the most satisfyingly useful shops imaginable. I have a friend who visits me every now and then from the rural midlands. When asked what she wants to do as a treat in South London she requests a visit to A J Farmer's!

The friendly atmosphere in the vintage clothes shop on Melbourne Grove. I enjoy browsing, and occasionally purchasing. The people who work there are very welcoming.

I wouldn't have expressed it exactly as jaywalker did, and of course I had to look up 'autochtonous', but I do agree with the spirit of what he's saying (in my interpretation). This would be that isolationism is very economically damaging. I'd add my own two pennyworth, which is that globalisation is not new. The Celts traded, and indeed migrated, over great distances. Turning one's back on the rest of the world has never been a route to prosperity.

That was a great ad!

Haven't been for many years but want to repeat the recommendation for the High Line. Also Central Park is lovely. Have a great time!

I certainly won't be voting Labour if an election comes up in the near future, as I'm a firm believer in the centre ground of politics and don't feel they represent that right now. But do explain your thinking a little more ????.

P.O.U.S.theWonderCat Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > > You can vote for a candidate without endorsing > everything they do and say. Absolutely agreed. But doesn't there come a point when what someone does and says become so extreme that alarm bells need to go off in your head, and if they don't, there's something wrong? I also saw the story that Nigello notes about 'The Klan' . Wouldn't people have been concerned about voting for a candidate who played to this section of the electorate? We're known by the company we keep.

One term - or less - would be good. I'm sceptical that Sanders could have done it - but I guess we'll never know.