Wall Street Journal headline (subscription to read link..sorry). Which makes sense as I thought. They have an aging population so unfortunately more people susceptible.

Italy, With Aging Population, Has World’s Highest Daily Deaths From Virus

5-6 percent kill rate reported in parts of Italy, that's an insanely high rate. 2 percent is pandemic level. Nationally they have a serious, serious issue on their hands.

For the record I think you’re jumping to conclusions you can’t really justify, but if you want to do something about it, here’s a petition for lockdown.

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/301397

There are coherent arguments against a lockdown, closing schools and work places, etc.

Personally I just don’t think there’s going to be anything like the hundreds of thousands of deaths this year from this. But what do I know, thats just more speculation.

Please give one minute special remembrance today, as it is 15 years that my Son Steve,
the founder of this wonderful Forum has passed away!
I am very grateful to Roger and a few others who have kept it going and bring pleasure
to so many Arsenal lovers all over the world!
Steve would be so happy to see his beloved site going strong after so many years!
Thanks to ALL of you, without you all, his dream would of died with him!
Look after yourselves in these traitorous times!

All the best to you and the family. Always in remembrance. I try to (but sometimes fail) to remember that when posting on here. And my conduct. I'm happy to be part of his continued legacy via this forum. Stay blessed, and please above all with the current events, stay safe!

Steve
Thanks for this wonderful forum!

Take care Judith & family

My word Judith - 15 years!! Has it really been that long?

Steve did something very special, but you know that. Your lad’s name and his legacy endures, despite Rog’s surly indolence over pay rates.

It was a great privilege to meet with you all those years ago at the Arse. I hope you are well? I also hope I reflect the views of all who contribute to this still vibrant and vital forum when I say we all give thanks for Steve’s prescience. He did a remarkable thing from which we have all benefitted.

Currently, we face a global issue that was never anticipated back then, but this forum draws us all together nonetheless. We are a group, a fellowship, a gathering that spans continents and time zones. Our common interest is the Arse - but there’s so much more. Long may it continue.

All of it thanks to Steve Gleiber.

You should be proud - I know you are.

xx

The FA continues to read this forum for my advice.
https://www.yahoo.com/sports/report-liv ... 51465.html

I join with these sentiments.

Thanks Judith !

Thanks Judith for your lovely message. Wishing you and your family all the best wishes, and RIP Steve - unbelievable it's been 15 years.

OK so me, the wife and son have all come down with flu symptoms over the weekend. We're not at deaths door or anything but we have decided to keep locked away and self-isolate for the next week as per government guidelines. So if I'm posting more rubbish than normal please excuse me I'm sitting around bored at home.

Judith, I’ll join others in expressing my gratitude to Steve for this forum, and of course to all those who have kept it going. Your son will be remembered by many for a very long time.

Best wishes to you and your family.

Thanks Judith. Steve will always be remembered. He created something lovely.

Hi Judith,

Thank you for the message and timely reminder.

I am sure that is still a very sad time for you all even though you have wonderful memories and I am thinking of you on this day.

The forum is an amazing place, bringing together fans from different countries and all walks of life and you should be very proud that your son's vision has endured the passage of time and remains the best Arsenal forum around. If it was judged in terms of titles it would have won 15 in a row!.

Regards.....Soc

Thank you Bernard.

Same here. Started feeling unwell on Friday evening when I was gigging. Nothing too drastic, aches, pains coughing and bit of a temp. I work from home anyway during the week so doesn't really change much for me.

Wishing you all better Bromley.

Brom and Darren...........I'm sure your symptoms are just a bit of seasonal flu/cold.

Best wishes to you and your family as well Darren. Hopefully socrates is right as not every incident of feeling a bit under the weather will be the Coronavirus. Good luck anyway.

And to you Darren.

Probably Soc, but a bit freaked out with what's going on. Bit of an overreaction, thinking better safe than sorry.

The more right wing your Government the less likely a lockdown will be and it will be met with extreme resistance. I.e look at the US and UK

Basically socialism looks after all (maybe too much but that’s another argument) capitalism looks after the strong only. It’s a very simple problem with the answer being somewhere in the middle.

Now we have reached a moment where temporarily and only temporarily extreme socialism is required to combat a common evil for a short period of time and the government don’t have the answer built into their belief system.


That’s it, if you are wondering why you don’t understand the UK response it’s entirely this.

Take care of your families and make the decisions based on what you feel is right for you as it’s beyond the government.

Speedy recovery !

Speedy Recovery !

I would like to thank one and all for your kind comments!
Please look after yourselves and hopefully this horrible thing will pass sooner rather than later!!
One has to be optimistic! Best wishes!

Best wishes to you Judith.

Darren and Brom, same to you and look after you and yours.

Plenty of fluids! (And by that I mean non-alcoholic - there's no truth in the rumour that vodka/gin/rum deactivate the virus - someone best let kiwipete know!!).

Cheers John, and gooner 7.

Stalin. Mao, Pol Pot, Mengitsu yes a lot of tender loving Socialists in there.

I really love these old stories (not all are that old obviously). On another note, a very elderly uncle of mine who has cancer and who I told i was into football spoke of a visit he made to England late 50s, early 60s and became a temporary Wolves fan. Interesting about him. Never knew that. But he said he'll look out for The Arsenal from now on.
https://www.yahoo.com/sports/stanley-ma ... 00125.html
From Stanley Matthews to Steven Gerrard, five classic FA Cup finals

American dictatorship in the making?

By law, we have a presidential election on the first Tuesday in November every 4 years. This year its November 3rd. I tend to read a lot of information from sites that are not too 'tin foil hat' worthy but reasoned, ideologically indifferent.

What if....what if the virus' reach gets worse which is likely and Trump suspends the election? His reasoning is obvious. People can't meet in public places, it won't be a free and fair election. He will have likely have an even lower approval rating by November as the recession (or depression by that time) really kicks in. The Democrats fight back. Trump goes to the courts and the Supreme Court has a conservative majority right now. They back him. Stay with me here...legal dictatorship. Indefinitely as the virus can be used for all manner of things to strengthen power and do pretty much whatever he wants. Doesn't matter how many Democrats get voted in the Congress.IF there is an election.

If you read the post I didn’t say complete socialism was the answer you Wally. Actually the opposite

Best of luck Darren & Brom. It sounds as if you have things under control but I sincerely hope it goes well for you and your families. There’s a part of me that envies you for getting it over with. There’s still not a single case here in Barbados but the last of the Americans and Canadians are leaving now. We leave on Saturday though BA have given us the option of an earlier flight. Can’t see the point of that though. Just have to hope that BA still exist on Saturday.

Just catching up with the forum.
Dec Sorry to hear about your father. I wish him a speedy recovery and hope things get better for him and you.
Brom/Darren. I hope you and your families are recovering well and that it is just the normal flu which will pass quickly.
Judith , 15 years!
What Steve did all those years ago resonates to this present day. As DHD eloquently(as ever) put it this forum transcends time zones and continents.
It is a bit like a fellowship and a group of people 'down the pub'.
We may never probably meet but I love being part of this forum.
The amount of times this place has been a healing place for a defeat or to vent some frustrations. Thank you Steve. God rest your soul.

Me....
I was 50 yesterday. Spent it with my Princess who is now 14(going on 24) and we also visited family. I feel very loved and appreciated. My Princess made me 4 layers of photos of us and the family which all turn into a box with several lids. As you take a lid off the photos all splay out. Was so touched , She went to so much trouble.
Been a tough time recently on a personal level. 18 months with a woman who you put your heart and soul into it(who seemed to be on the same page) and then dumped a week after valentines day....
Oh well as my Sister succinctly put it you have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find your true woman.
A lot of pain shed but i'm getting there day by day.

Best wishes Darren.

Thanks DHD. Presumably you are on your hols, with no cases there you should be fine getting home. Quite a few Brits are stranded in Spain under lockdown, waiting on a flight home. Safe journey to you.

Thanks American.

Sorry to hear of your breakup David. Difficult business. All the best to you.

Thank you Brom.

Blimey sometimes I think to myself it's not such a wonderful world. Hard times for us all. Good job thanks to Stevie G we've all got this place to come and share. Bless you mate.

Stay healthy and happy folks. Speedy recovery to those of you feeling under the weather. David, tough gig fella. Chin up. Been there. It will get better.