News

London buses change colour because of COVID

Published

3 weeks ago

January 5, 2021

Redbridge borough in London has many cases of coronavirus, it is in third worst place in the UK for the number of current infections. The situation was so bad that it was decided to repaint some of its red buses black.

In addition to being all black these buses have messages written in yellow and red reminding everyone to be careful. The messages are like, “Keep your family safe”. Every day 2-3 people die of Covid in Redbridge. “The number of infections in Redbridge is increasing dramatically”.

London buses are traditionally red and seeing them black really makes us think we are in a truly extraordinary situation.

London buses have been changed from red to black due to rising Covid-19 cases https://t.co/QEU3j9NaPI
— Open Mind (@anpecaro) January 5, 2021

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News

Edinburgh the happiest city in the UK

Published

7 hours ago

January 24, 2021

Laura S Hamlin

A Smart Survey survey revealed that the happiest city in the UK is Edinburgh. The reasons are the quality of life, the high salaries, the average working hours per week and the beauty of the city.

Two seaside towns follow in second and third place: Bournemouth and Brighton.

In fourth place we find Southend and in fifth Bristol. Followed by Colchester and then Glasgow in eighth place.

In ninth place we have both Liverpool and Manchester and in tenth Milton Keynes.

London is in thirteenth place, takes points for the average high salaries but loses some for the many hours of average work per week.

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Museum

A virtual visit with augmented reality to the Met in New York

Published

1 day ago

January 23, 2021

Laura S Hamlin

Get your mobile and visit this website to experience something quite special, even if stuck at home. This is not your typical virtual exhibition but an example of what happens when technology meets art.

The project is called The Met Unframed and will take you across a series of digital galleries with works of art coming to live with augmented reality. There are 12 digital galleries and over 40 works of art all from the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

You will works by contemporary artists but also a Chinese mural that is over 700 years old and the Egyptian Temple of Dendur. There are also games and interactive experiences that are also meant to teach you more about art while you are having fun.

The experience is free online but only for a month, therefore don’t waste any time and go and try it.

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News

One million pensioners over 75 refuse to pay TV licence fee

Published

2 days ago

January 22, 2021

Carole Ford

Since 31st July 2020, pensioners over 75 years were served with notice, that their exemption from the BBC licence fee had come to an end. The Government was no longer prepared to subsidise this, so the cost now fell on the Corporation. People approaching the age of 75 are required to continue the annual payment of £157.50, so for many, what would have been a welcome saving has vanished.

2.7 million over 75s have complied and renewed payment of the fee. Only the poorest pensioners, claiming pension credit, can claim exemption. 750.000 pensioners, receiving this extra state benefit have done so.However, not all pensioners ineligible for pension credit are wealthy. Indeed many face a choice between heating and eating, so finding the money for the licence fee has caused hardship. They dig into their pockets because the TV is often their main form of companionship. The radio of course is free, but nonetheless only a minority would choose to live without the visual medium of television.

Taking this into consideration, it is no surprise to learn that there are 1million over 75 year old “refuseniks” This has led to a £160 million deficit in BBC finances. What to do in this impasse?

This is a brave stance by the pensioners, as non payment of the licence fee is actually a criminal offence! Apart from log jamming the magistrate’s courts, the BBC faces a difficult task in recovering the money by civil means.

Newspaper coverage of bailiffs hassling pensioners would make for very bad publicity, so we can only watch this space!

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