I found two shots at the same time (flu + Covid) no big deal, just didn't want to have to return later to the pharmacy. Shingles & RSV shots were readily available for us, we just had to pay for them. For two of us, Shingles ($1,000), RSV ($500). Flu & Covld free, no age limit.
Turns out this fella told the prison officers he shouldn't be released, and after they'd kicked him out tried four times to get back in again because he wants to be deported. You couldn't make it up indeed.
After Jenrick complaining that he'd been confronted with too many black and brown faces whilst filming one of his populist stunts in Handsworth, we now have Reform MP Sarah Pochin moaning that TV ads with too many black and Asian people 'drive her mad' (where've I heard that one before?). They're winning aren't they? The 'war on woke', whereby racists demand the right to say racist things without being called racist, is being won by the racists. Goldie was ahead of his time.
This advert culture war has been done before. Not sure what will be different this time. Who’s even watching TV adverts when we’re constantly on our phones? It is a bit odd but there isn’t some sinister agenda from massive corporations trying to flog you their brand of toilet paper or a holiday. There’s probably just a lot of market research and data science to say the advert will generate a better return by showing a certain demographic. Also the added benefit now in the mental world we live in that if some people are frothing about Brand X then Brand X gets more coverage and sells more than it loses just because people hear it and it’s in their head. I worked for a big evil conglomerate who had their best ever sales on a particular brand when it got some negative press because of a decision to make the product worse for profitability.
The most ridiculous part of Pochin's rant was the suggestion that the over-representation of black and Asian people in TV ads was down to the 'woke liberati' in the 'arty-farty world'. The thought that advertisers would do this to be 'woke' rather than to sell more product is laughable. Even more ridiculous, though, is Farage's denial that Pochin's comments were racist.
I’m almost entirely on your side on this but it’s probably not totally inaccurate. The biggest companies I’ve worked for have gone to great lengths to present themselves as woke so it’s not too unbelievable. Ultimately the finances are the key determinant so either more minorities in adverts leads to better sales for some brands or it makes no difference and that’s what they choose to do. Either way it’s incredibly unimportant.
I agree completely but sadly there are some people who think it is important, or who are prepared to use it as a lever to get people wound up and angry. Farage is a master of this kind of bullshit.
Frankly the vast majority of TV adverts are absolute dross. As you say most people don't bother watching them especially on catch up. The most memorable are often those that push extreme boundaries and often the product plays second fiddle...
Just read this… Dawn Butler MP says Sarah Pochin MP's comment was racist Deputy Speaker tells her off and tells her to withdraw the remark Butler repeats, Pochin's comment was racist Deputy Speaker tells her off again for calling another MP a racist Butler repeats what Pochin said and says that is a racist comment Deputy Speaker says its not the comment, but the fact that you called another MP racist Butler, "You're giving me deja vu. I appreciate in this house we have to be respectful and not call MPs what they actually are. The comment is a racist comment. It's strange I can't call her out for being a racist, having made a racist comment" Deputy Speaker, "Please, time and time again, please consider withdrawing the comment about a member of this house being a racist" Butler, "I don't want to be thrown out of parliament again. So I will withdraw the fact that I am referring to the member of parliament as a racist because of her racist comment" Deputy Speaker waffles on for a bit How tragic for our democracy that it is more important to be polite about an MP than to point out that the MP is a racist based on actual racist remarks from said MP What a farce of a system we have, where you can’t tell the truth in Parliament.
Forgive me Butler never said Pochin was a racist..( she is) But she said the comment was racist ( which it is) Can't see anything wrong, even in a parliamentary sense, with what Butler said
'Half of the members opposite are racist'. 'You must withdraw that' 'OK, half of the members opposite aren't racist'
It's not just in Parliament, though. The 'anti-woke' brigade have made calling a racist a racist more of a crime than the racism itself. They've won, and the racists now say out loud what they were previously only thinking.
Sadly, Parliament itself is an anachronism. The 'Honourable and Right Honourable' members are not allowed to call each other liars yet it is their stock-in trade. As today proves, telling the truth can get you into trouble. And we wonder why the country is such a bloody shambles...
