A combination of Siberian winds (Beast from the East) and Storm Emma (coming up from the South) are causing havoc in the UK and Ireland, with Status Red warnings in effect. For ireland, the worst is due tomorrow evening with the winds of Storm Emma causing snow drifts.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/uk-weather-latest-updates-snow-storm-emma-travel-trains-cancelled-roads-a8233836.html

Blizzards, gales and sleet are expected to blight the UK towards the latter half of the week as Storm Emma rolls in from the Atlantic.

The weather system, named by the Portuguese Met Service, is set to hit the UK after the so-called “Beast from the East” blanketed large swathes of the UK with snow.

The Met Office issued a red warning for snow for central Scotland on Wednesday that was extended to 10am on Thursday morning.

Forecaster Craig Snell said that although Thursday marks the first day of meteorological spring, “winter is still firmly in charge across the UK”.

He also warned that extreme weather will grip Britain for another 48 hours.

Drivers were advised to avoid travelling to or from Scotland, with Traffic Scotland telling people to ask themselves whether their journey was “worth risking lives for” before they set out.

and

https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/sights-and-sounds-from-day-1-of-the-beast-from-the-east-830249.html





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Tower of London


Barge on the River Barrow, county Kildare, Ireland

https://twitter.com/tancredipalmeri/status/966799965141061633

https://twitter.com/EiFSoccer/status/966792389770797056

Incredible, though not surprising.

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/965773283554668544

https://twitter.com/MittRomney/status/965782061503062016

Not 100% definite to happen but a good news step (as long as they keep the Summer time !).

Changing the clocks every summer and winter could soon be a thing of the past after the European Parliament today voted in favour of retaining the same time all-year round.

MEPs say it now puts the pressure firmly on the European Commission - which has in the past been reluctant to change the system - to implement their decision.

Fine Gael MEP Sean Kelly, who has been campaigning for the change, said: "I'm very pleased that after years of discussions at Committee level in the European Parliament, of which I'm the only Irish member, that out proposal was debated and voted on today in Parliament, and that Parliament accepted our proposal to ask the European Commission to come forward with a recommendation that we would end the bi-annual clock change."

SNIP

Many believe the clock change negatively impacts on people's mental and physical health.

Fine Gael MEP Sean Kelly has been pushing to end the bi-annual clock change.

"We think that there's no need to change the clocks," he said.

"It came in during World War One, it was supposed to be for energy savings - the indications are that there are very few energy savings, if any - and there are an awful lot of disadvantages to both human beings and animals that make it outdated at this point.

"We're working to try and end it."

The European Parliament's Research Service published a study on EU summer-time arrangements last October, which found that the health implications of Daylight Saving Time are "more severe" than previously thought.

"Beyond considerations on the effects, repeal of the Summer Time Directive would not automatically abolish summer time across the EU," the report stated.

"It would just end EU-wide harmonisation and bring the issue of summer time back into the competence of the member states.

https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/latest-european-parliament-approves-proposal-to-end-bi-annual-clock-change-826985.html

Well that was an interesting first week !

Wales v Scotland in Cardiff 74,000

Even though they had to travel to Wales, Scotland were expected to perform under new coach Gregor Townsend, but Warren Gatland's Wales blitzed them, winning 34-7, collecting the bonus point for 4 tries also.





France v Ireland in Paris 80,000

Ireland traveled to France, after a successful Autumn International series, but wary of a France under a new coach, Jacques Brunel. The former Italy and La Rochelle coach took over this French side, determined to re-energize his squad. It was a close game of ferocious hits, tackles, one magical try and a match winning outstanding drop goal. The French team made about 250 tackles in the game to Ireland's 91, 34% territory versus Ireland's 66%, yet the game was tight until 3 minutes into injury time, Jonny Sexton kicked a 45m drop goal from almost the half way line, on a wet field.





Italy v England, Rome 61,000

Despite a gallant 60 minutes from Italy, England powered away to 15-46 and claim the bonus point win. Italian coach Conor O'Shea sees signs of improvement but there are big underlying problems in the structure of the Italian game, but O'Shea has been appointed not just to coach the national team but to address those problems and put the necessary stucture in place. Italy have been in the 6 Nations since 2000, and there had been calls from some quarters to replace them with Georgia (no, not that Georgia !), so it's vital that they show signs of kicking on.





NEXT WEEK

IRELAND V ITALY
Aviva Stadium

Feb 10 2018

KO - 14:15 (GMT) / 14:15 (Local)

ITV, FR2, TV3, DMAX, NBC

ENGLAND V WALES
Twickenham Stadium

Feb 10 2018

KO - 16:45 (GMT) / 16:45 (Local)

ITV, S4C, FR2, TV3, DMAX, NBC

SCOTLAND V FRANCE
BT Murrayfield

Feb 11 2018

KO - 15:00 (GMT) / 15:00 (Local)

BBC, FR2, TV3, DMAX, NBC

Last night Rachel said

1 that Carter Page, on his last interview with Chris Hayes (10/30/17), said that the truth will come out

HAYES: Did you bring an attorney to you when you spent five hours before
the senate?

PAGE: Nope. No. I`m very, very open and happy to give all the
information I can. In the interest of really getting the truth out there,
because I think when the truth comes out, when Speaker Paul Ryan says the
FISA warrant or the details about the dodgy dossier and what happened and
all this documents around that is going to be released, that`s what I`m
really excited about. And I think the truth will set a lot of people free.

2 that Carter Page had been under FISA surveillance since Oct 2016.

Rachel was struck by the fact that Page was so confident that Ryan would square this all away.

Now Rachel never joined the two together, but isn't it possible that the deal to keep Page's mouth sealed was taped by the FBI ? More to the point since Page was so confident Ryan would do this, Nunes, Ryan and possibly more, are on tape agreeing to this ?

I have not yet seen any evidence as to why Nunes would run around like an idiot for Trump, so this is at least a possible scenario.