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The French election looking even more likely to be a 2017 re-run – politicalbetting.com

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  • kle4kle4 Posts: 96,083
    edited March 2022
    Farooq said:

    Fishing said:

    Cookie said:

    MaxPB said:

    darkage said:

    kle4 said:

    Farooq said:

    MaxPB said:

    Omnium said:

    Omnium said:

    TimT said:
    No idea about Russian IT skills, but the Ukranians are very good.
    Aslan said:

    Another French company looking to expand in Russia:

    https://www.businessinsider.com/retailer-looks-expand-russia-business-as-more-firms-pull-out-2022-3?utm_source=reddit.com

    The French are scum. And yet the usual Europhiles on PB give more shit to Boris for an inelegant comparison than bankrolling war criminals.

    "The French are scum."

    Clearly, and by definition.

    However the French are in fact wonderful, warm, and truly lovely people. I'll have to think about whether they're charming us for a while prior to revealing their true nature!

    They also have the best national anthem. By miles.
    Not really - The Welsh anthem is the best in the world
    Well anything actually sung by the Welsh is the best in the world. Welshman singing the Marsiellais - that'd be a thing.


    I really like 'Flower of Sctland' too - suits their peasant voice :)
    I've always thought the Welsh National Anthem unsurpassable. The Marseillaise and the Stars and Stripes are pretty good too. I find it hard to think of another worthy of mention - maybe Flower of Scotland, or Australia Fair.

    The Londonderry Air is a bit special but it's not an anthem of course. Somebody should nick it for their own.
    I know the climate is wrong for making this admission and with all due apologies to people's sensibilities, but the old Soviet National Anthem is just a wonderful piece of music.
    Yes, it's a truly rousing anthem. I wish ours was less boring, I think it's part of the reason we're shit at sport. Other teams have great national anthems to really get them going before a match, we have the world's dullest anthem.
    The English/British anthem is utter shit. I can only think of two people on here who would possibly feel any pride when hearing it: @HYUFD and @malcolmg
    I think it's fine. It's often played too slowly, but it is simple and straightforward to belt out, which is handy, even if it is certainly not as rousing or exciting as many others.
    It will never happen, but "I vow to thee my country" by Gustav Holst would be a far better national anthem.

    EDIT - I see some others have suggested the same.
    I don't actually think it would be in the running as the CoE says it is heretical, placing the love of the nation above the love for God. Still a great song and before football matches it would get the team and crowd going.
    The CofE can, quite frankly, fuck right off. None of their business.
    Anyway, I prefer Jerusalem. Though obviously that is English not British.
    Putting God’s teaching and wisdom before nation is exactly their business.

    CoE don’t like Jerusalem too, it’s banned from the hymnal’s 😝
    The national anthem should be Rule Britannia. It is anti-French, pro-Navy and anti-slavery. What's not to like?
    Surely it's only against British people being slaves?
    Once all peoples are absorbed within the British Imperium then none can be enslaved then. Problem solved.

    Shit, I think I just turned into Vladimir Putin. In fairness, the signs were there.
  • CookieCookie Posts: 13,793

    MaxPB said:

    darkage said:

    kle4 said:

    Farooq said:

    MaxPB said:

    Omnium said:

    Omnium said:

    TimT said:
    No idea about Russian IT skills, but the Ukranians are very good.
    Aslan said:

    Another French company looking to expand in Russia:

    https://www.businessinsider.com/retailer-looks-expand-russia-business-as-more-firms-pull-out-2022-3?utm_source=reddit.com

    The French are scum. And yet the usual Europhiles on PB give more shit to Boris for an inelegant comparison than bankrolling war criminals.

    "The French are scum."

    Clearly, and by definition.

    However the French are in fact wonderful, warm, and truly lovely people. I'll have to think about whether they're charming us for a while prior to revealing their true nature!

    They also have the best national anthem. By miles.
    Not really - The Welsh anthem is the best in the world
    Well anything actually sung by the Welsh is the best in the world. Welshman singing the Marsiellais - that'd be a thing.


    I really like 'Flower of Sctland' too - suits their peasant voice :)
    I've always thought the Welsh National Anthem unsurpassable. The Marseillaise and the Stars and Stripes are pretty good too. I find it hard to think of another worthy of mention - maybe Flower of Scotland, or Australia Fair.

    The Londonderry Air is a bit special but it's not an anthem of course. Somebody should nick it for their own.
    I know the climate is wrong for making this admission and with all due apologies to people's sensibilities, but the old Soviet National Anthem is just a wonderful piece of music.
    Yes, it's a truly rousing anthem. I wish ours was less boring, I think it's part of the reason we're shit at sport. Other teams have great national anthems to really get them going before a match, we have the world's dullest anthem.
    The English/British anthem is utter shit. I can only think of two people on here who would possibly feel any pride when hearing it: @HYUFD and @malcolmg
    I think it's fine. It's often played too slowly, but it is simple and straightforward to belt out, which is handy, even if it is certainly not as rousing or exciting as many others.
    It will never happen, but "I vow to thee my country" by Gustav Holst would be a far better national anthem.

    EDIT - I see some others have suggested the same.
    I don't actually think it would be in the running as the CoE says it is heretical, placing the love of the nation above the love for God. Still a great song and before football matches it would get the team and crowd going.
    Awful scanning: "I-I vow... t'thee my cou-untry..."

    Should have got W.S.Gilbert to write the lyrics, at least they'd have scanned (and been funnier). (Ok, so he was dead but a dead WSG would have been better than Sir Cecil Spring Pancake Rice.)

    Plus, ridiculous sentiments. "...her shining bounds increase, ...and all her paths are peace" Er, how to those two work ? Empire-building by peace offensive?

    Apart from that - great choice.
    What about the EU?
    On which subject, the EU anthem is possibly the best of the lot. Lyrically a little confusing (but that is true of many), but a sentiment I can fully get on board with, and preferable to grinding ones enemies into the dust.
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 43,319
    Farooq said:

    malcolmg said:

    ydoethur said:

    Cookie said:

    MaxPB said:

    darkage said:

    kle4 said:

    Farooq said:

    MaxPB said:

    Omnium said:

    Omnium said:

    TimT said:
    No idea about Russian IT skills, but the Ukranians are very good.
    Aslan said:

    Another French company looking to expand in Russia:

    https://www.businessinsider.com/retailer-looks-expand-russia-business-as-more-firms-pull-out-2022-3?utm_source=reddit.com

    The French are scum. And yet the usual Europhiles on PB give more shit to Boris for an inelegant comparison than bankrolling war criminals.

    "The French are scum."

    Clearly, and by definition.

    However the French are in fact wonderful, warm, and truly lovely people. I'll have to think about whether they're charming us for a while prior to revealing their true nature!

    They also have the best national anthem. By miles.
    Not really - The Welsh anthem is the best in the world
    Well anything actually sung by the Welsh is the best in the world. Welshman singing the Marsiellais - that'd be a thing.


    I really like 'Flower of Sctland' too - suits their peasant voice :)
    I've always thought the Welsh National Anthem unsurpassable. The Marseillaise and the Stars and Stripes are pretty good too. I find it hard to think of another worthy of mention - maybe Flower of Scotland, or Australia Fair.

    The Londonderry Air is a bit special but it's not an anthem of course. Somebody should nick it for their own.
    I know the climate is wrong for making this admission and with all due apologies to people's sensibilities, but the old Soviet National Anthem is just a wonderful piece of music.
    Yes, it's a truly rousing anthem. I wish ours was less boring, I think it's part of the reason we're shit at sport. Other teams have great national anthems to really get them going before a match, we have the world's dullest anthem.
    The English/British anthem is utter shit. I can only think of two people on here who would possibly feel any pride when hearing it: @HYUFD and @malcolmg
    I think it's fine. It's often played too slowly, but it is simple and straightforward to belt out, which is handy, even if it is certainly not as rousing or exciting as many others.
    It will never happen, but "I vow to thee my country" by Gustav Holst would be a far better national anthem.

    EDIT - I see some others have suggested the same.
    I don't actually think it would be in the running as the CoE says it is heretical, placing the love of the nation above the love for God. Still a great song and before football matches it would get the team and crowd going.
    The CofE can, quite frankly, fuck right off. None of their business.
    Anyway, I prefer Jerusalem. Though obviously that is English not British.
    Putting God’s teaching and wisdom before nation is exactly their business.

    CoE don’t like Jerusalem too, it’s banned from the hymnal’s 😝
    Really? Which ones?
    @Farooq
    This absolute looney tune Farooq is really barking. Does the idiot know anything or ever read posts , me like the butcher's apron , more than one screw lose with that halfwit for sure coming out with drivel like that. Seriously strange troll.
    Beneath that tough and gruff English-hating exterior is a heart bursting with BRITISH pride, malc.
    On your bike spammer boy
  • AnabobazinaAnabobazina Posts: 23,485

    Farooq said:

    MaxPB said:

    Omnium said:

    Omnium said:

    TimT said:
    No idea about Russian IT skills, but the Ukranians are very good.
    Aslan said:

    Another French company looking to expand in Russia:

    https://www.businessinsider.com/retailer-looks-expand-russia-business-as-more-firms-pull-out-2022-3?utm_source=reddit.com

    The French are scum. And yet the usual Europhiles on PB give more shit to Boris for an inelegant comparison than bankrolling war criminals.

    "The French are scum."

    Clearly, and by definition.

    However the French are in fact wonderful, warm, and truly lovely people. I'll have to think about whether they're charming us for a while prior to revealing their true nature!

    They also have the best national anthem. By miles.
    Not really - The Welsh anthem is the best in the world
    Well anything actually sung by the Welsh is the best in the world. Welshman singing the Marsiellais - that'd be a thing.


    I really like 'Flower of Sctland' too - suits their peasant voice :)
    I've always thought the Welsh National Anthem unsurpassable. The Marseillaise and the Stars and Stripes are pretty good too. I find it hard to think of another worthy of mention - maybe Flower of Scotland, or Australia Fair.

    The Londonderry Air is a bit special but it's not an anthem of course. Somebody should nick it for their own.
    I know the climate is wrong for making this admission and with all due apologies to people's sensibilities, but the old Soviet National Anthem is just a wonderful piece of music.
    Yes, it's a truly rousing anthem. I wish ours was less boring, I think it's part of the reason we're shit at sport. Other teams have great national anthems to really get them going before a match, we have the world's dullest anthem.
    The English/British anthem is utter shit. I can only think of two people on here who would possibly feel any pride when hearing it: @HYUFD and @malcolmg
    It is an uninspiring dirge and needs replacement
    Agreed. We should use Jerusalem as I believe we already do in the Commonwealth Games?
  • AslanAslan Posts: 1,673
    Farooq said:

    Aslan said:

    Another French company looking to expand in Russia:

    https://www.businessinsider.com/retailer-looks-expand-russia-business-as-more-firms-pull-out-2022-3?utm_source=reddit.com

    The French are scum. And yet the usual Europhiles on PB give more shit to Boris for an inelegant comparison than bankrolling war criminals.

    So you think it's fine to judge "the French" on the actions of what one company does, but it's not ok to judge Boris on what Boris says?

    It's an eclectic view, but good on you for putting it out there.
    It's not what one company does though is it? It is plenty of French companies, including at least one with the French govt as a major shareholder.

    And I never said Boris shouldn't be judged. I have judged him repeatedly. You can't read words.
  • LostPasswordLostPassword Posts: 18,357
    Farooq said:

    Fishing said:

    Cookie said:

    MaxPB said:

    darkage said:

    kle4 said:

    Farooq said:

    MaxPB said:

    Omnium said:

    Omnium said:

    TimT said:
    No idea about Russian IT skills, but the Ukranians are very good.
    Aslan said:

    Another French company looking to expand in Russia:

    https://www.businessinsider.com/retailer-looks-expand-russia-business-as-more-firms-pull-out-2022-3?utm_source=reddit.com

    The French are scum. And yet the usual Europhiles on PB give more shit to Boris for an inelegant comparison than bankrolling war criminals.

    "The French are scum."

    Clearly, and by definition.

    However the French are in fact wonderful, warm, and truly lovely people. I'll have to think about whether they're charming us for a while prior to revealing their true nature!

    They also have the best national anthem. By miles.
    Not really - The Welsh anthem is the best in the world
    Well anything actually sung by the Welsh is the best in the world. Welshman singing the Marsiellais - that'd be a thing.


    I really like 'Flower of Sctland' too - suits their peasant voice :)
    I've always thought the Welsh National Anthem unsurpassable. The Marseillaise and the Stars and Stripes are pretty good too. I find it hard to think of another worthy of mention - maybe Flower of Scotland, or Australia Fair.

    The Londonderry Air is a bit special but it's not an anthem of course. Somebody should nick it for their own.
    I know the climate is wrong for making this admission and with all due apologies to people's sensibilities, but the old Soviet National Anthem is just a wonderful piece of music.
    Yes, it's a truly rousing anthem. I wish ours was less boring, I think it's part of the reason we're shit at sport. Other teams have great national anthems to really get them going before a match, we have the world's dullest anthem.
    The English/British anthem is utter shit. I can only think of two people on here who would possibly feel any pride when hearing it: @HYUFD and @malcolmg
    I think it's fine. It's often played too slowly, but it is simple and straightforward to belt out, which is handy, even if it is certainly not as rousing or exciting as many others.
    It will never happen, but "I vow to thee my country" by Gustav Holst would be a far better national anthem.

    EDIT - I see some others have suggested the same.
    I don't actually think it would be in the running as the CoE says it is heretical, placing the love of the nation above the love for God. Still a great song and before football matches it would get the team and crowd going.
    The CofE can, quite frankly, fuck right off. None of their business.
    Anyway, I prefer Jerusalem. Though obviously that is English not British.
    Putting God’s teaching and wisdom before nation is exactly their business.

    CoE don’t like Jerusalem too, it’s banned from the hymnal’s 😝
    The national anthem should be Rule Britannia. It is anti-French, pro-Navy and anti-slavery. What's not to like?
    Surely it's only against British people slaves?
    We used to have quite a wide definition of who was British.

    This might suggest an alternative approach to healing the rift with Europe created by Brexit. We could suggest terms for an Act of Union that would give the Europeans representation in the Commons, and a number of Peers in the Lords, in return for them accepting the primacy of Westminster.

    We'd be willing to let them keep their legal system, and sports teams, like the Scots do.
  • BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 34,663
    Fishing said:

    Cookie said:

    MaxPB said:

    darkage said:

    kle4 said:

    Farooq said:

    MaxPB said:

    Omnium said:

    Omnium said:

    TimT said:
    No idea about Russian IT skills, but the Ukranians are very good.
    Aslan said:

    Another French company looking to expand in Russia:

    https://www.businessinsider.com/retailer-looks-expand-russia-business-as-more-firms-pull-out-2022-3?utm_source=reddit.com

    The French are scum. And yet the usual Europhiles on PB give more shit to Boris for an inelegant comparison than bankrolling war criminals.

    "The French are scum."

    Clearly, and by definition.

    However the French are in fact wonderful, warm, and truly lovely people. I'll have to think about whether they're charming us for a while prior to revealing their true nature!

    They also have the best national anthem. By miles.
    Not really - The Welsh anthem is the best in the world
    Well anything actually sung by the Welsh is the best in the world. Welshman singing the Marsiellais - that'd be a thing.


    I really like 'Flower of Sctland' too - suits their peasant voice :)
    I've always thought the Welsh National Anthem unsurpassable. The Marseillaise and the Stars and Stripes are pretty good too. I find it hard to think of another worthy of mention - maybe Flower of Scotland, or Australia Fair.

    The Londonderry Air is a bit special but it's not an anthem of course. Somebody should nick it for their own.
    I know the climate is wrong for making this admission and with all due apologies to people's sensibilities, but the old Soviet National Anthem is just a wonderful piece of music.
    Yes, it's a truly rousing anthem. I wish ours was less boring, I think it's part of the reason we're shit at sport. Other teams have great national anthems to really get them going before a match, we have the world's dullest anthem.
    The English/British anthem is utter shit. I can only think of two people on here who would possibly feel any pride when hearing it: @HYUFD and @malcolmg
    I think it's fine. It's often played too slowly, but it is simple and straightforward to belt out, which is handy, even if it is certainly not as rousing or exciting as many others.
    It will never happen, but "I vow to thee my country" by Gustav Holst would be a far better national anthem.

    EDIT - I see some others have suggested the same.
    I don't actually think it would be in the running as the CoE says it is heretical, placing the love of the nation above the love for God. Still a great song and before football matches it would get the team and crowd going.
    The CofE can, quite frankly, fuck right off. None of their business.
    Anyway, I prefer Jerusalem. Though obviously that is English not British.
    Putting God’s teaching and wisdom before nation is exactly their business.

    CoE don’t like Jerusalem too, it’s banned from the hymnal’s 😝
    The national anthem should be Rule Britannia. It is anti-French, pro-Navy and anti-slavery. What's not to like?
    Which bit is anti-French?
  • moonshinemoonshine Posts: 5,747
    kle4 said:

    A discussion on Russian state TV about launching a nuclear attack on Poland and opening a corridor to Kaliningrad:

    https://twitter.com/b_judah/status/1506334785270173702

    We could really use Superman to come by and destroy all the world's nukes right now.
    Superman was an alien. So maybe. Don’t think so though.

    The Pentagon UAP whistleblower Lue Elizondo was asked about this last week. He made a good point. The intelligence behind UAP is either benevolent, malevolent or agnostic to our fate.

    There’s nothing in the history of the last century that suggests we have benevolent overseers protecting humanity from our worst instincts. No deus ex machina did anything to stop us testing the bomb. Or stop it being used twice in anger. Nothing to stop multiple genocides. Or technology sharing to arrest global warming etc…

    As Dr Rubenstein remarked after the Holocaust, “God is dead”.

    All of which makes the high preponderance of recorded UAP activity near nuclear sites slightly concerning, given we are left with agnostic and malevolent on the list.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 71,385

    ydoethur said:

    ydoethur said:

    ydoethur said:

    MaxPB said:

    darkage said:

    kle4 said:

    Farooq said:

    MaxPB said:

    Omnium said:

    Omnium said:

    TimT said:
    No idea about Russian IT skills, but the Ukranians are very good.
    Aslan said:

    Another French company looking to expand in Russia:

    https://www.businessinsider.com/retailer-looks-expand-russia-business-as-more-firms-pull-out-2022-3?utm_source=reddit.com

    The French are scum. And yet the usual Europhiles on PB give more shit to Boris for an inelegant comparison than bankrolling war criminals.

    "The French are scum."

    Clearly, and by definition.

    However the French are in fact wonderful, warm, and truly lovely people. I'll have to think about whether they're charming us for a while prior to revealing their true nature!

    They also have the best national anthem. By miles.
    Not really - The Welsh anthem is the best in the world
    Well anything actually sung by the Welsh is the best in the world. Welshman singing the Marsiellais - that'd be a thing.


    I really like 'Flower of Sctland' too - suits their peasant voice :)
    I've always thought the Welsh National Anthem unsurpassable. The Marseillaise and the Stars and Stripes are pretty good too. I find it hard to think of another worthy of mention - maybe Flower of Scotland, or Australia Fair.

    The Londonderry Air is a bit special but it's not an anthem of course. Somebody should nick it for their own.
    I know the climate is wrong for making this admission and with all due apologies to people's sensibilities, but the old Soviet National Anthem is just a wonderful piece of music.
    Yes, it's a truly rousing anthem. I wish ours was less boring, I think it's part of the reason we're shit at sport. Other teams have great national anthems to really get them going before a match, we have the world's dullest anthem.
    The English/British anthem is utter shit. I can only think of two people on here who would possibly feel any pride when hearing it: @HYUFD and @malcolmg
    I think it's fine. It's often played too slowly, but it is simple and straightforward to belt out, which is handy, even if it is certainly not as rousing or exciting as many others.
    It will never happen, but "I vow to thee my country" by Gustav Holst would be a far better national anthem.

    EDIT - I see some others have suggested the same.
    I don't actually think it would be in the running as the CoE says it is heretical, placing the love of the nation above the love for God. Still a great song and before football matches it would get the team and crowd going.
    Awful scanning: "I-I vow... t'thee my cou-untry..."

    Should have got W.S.Gilbert to write the lyrics, at least they'd have scanned (and been funnier). (Ok, so he was dead but a dead WSG would have been better than Sir Cecil Spring Pancake Rice.)

    Plus, ridiculous sentiments. "...her shining bounds increase, ...and all her paths are peace" Er, how to those two work ? Empire-building by peace offensive?

    Apart from that - great choice.
    We should confuse the hell out of everybody and choose Jerusalem the Golden, in its full version (which so clearly confuses England and Heaven in Neale's translation that the first half is almost never sung now).

    that aside, it is a grand tune. Far better than Jerusalem which is one of Parry's weaker and less interesting efforts.

    If we have to go with Parry at least have something rousing like I Was Glad.
    Trying to get your average international crowd to divide themselves into the required two choirs would be a bit of a challenge for those of us not of Welsh blood.
    That wouldn't be a problem. After all, it is builded as a city that is at unity in itself.
    Eight part harmony (at least: I can't remember if any of the parts in the two choirs divide) is not my idea of unity.

    I was quoting the words where it divides...
    Given that the city is Jerusalem, that always struck me as overly optimistic.
    Not nearly as bad as at the end where it says 'peace be within thy walls!'
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 71,385

    Farooq said:

    MaxPB said:

    Omnium said:

    Omnium said:

    TimT said:
    No idea about Russian IT skills, but the Ukranians are very good.
    Aslan said:

    Another French company looking to expand in Russia:

    https://www.businessinsider.com/retailer-looks-expand-russia-business-as-more-firms-pull-out-2022-3?utm_source=reddit.com

    The French are scum. And yet the usual Europhiles on PB give more shit to Boris for an inelegant comparison than bankrolling war criminals.

    "The French are scum."

    Clearly, and by definition.

    However the French are in fact wonderful, warm, and truly lovely people. I'll have to think about whether they're charming us for a while prior to revealing their true nature!

    They also have the best national anthem. By miles.
    Not really - The Welsh anthem is the best in the world
    Well anything actually sung by the Welsh is the best in the world. Welshman singing the Marsiellais - that'd be a thing.


    I really like 'Flower of Sctland' too - suits their peasant voice :)
    I've always thought the Welsh National Anthem unsurpassable. The Marseillaise and the Stars and Stripes are pretty good too. I find it hard to think of another worthy of mention - maybe Flower of Scotland, or Australia Fair.

    The Londonderry Air is a bit special but it's not an anthem of course. Somebody should nick it for their own.
    I know the climate is wrong for making this admission and with all due apologies to people's sensibilities, but the old Soviet National Anthem is just a wonderful piece of music.
    Yes, it's a truly rousing anthem. I wish ours was less boring, I think it's part of the reason we're shit at sport. Other teams have great national anthems to really get them going before a match, we have the world's dullest anthem.
    The English/British anthem is utter shit. I can only think of two people on here who would possibly feel any pride when hearing it: @HYUFD and @malcolmg
    It is an uninspiring dirge and needs replacement
    Agreed. We should use Jerusalem as I believe we already do in the Commonwealth Games?
    Oh great. One uninspiring dirge replaced with another.
  • moonshine said:

    kle4 said:

    A discussion on Russian state TV about launching a nuclear attack on Poland and opening a corridor to Kaliningrad:

    https://twitter.com/b_judah/status/1506334785270173702

    We could really use Superman to come by and destroy all the world's nukes right now.
    Superman was an alien. So maybe. Don’t think so though.

    The Pentagon UAP whistleblower Lue Elizondo was asked about this last week. He made a good point. The intelligence behind UAP is either benevolent, malevolent or agnostic to our fate.

    There’s nothing in the history of the last century that suggests we have benevolent overseers protecting humanity from our worst instincts. No deus ex machina did anything to stop us testing the bomb. Or stop it being used twice in anger. Nothing to stop multiple genocides. Or technology sharing to arrest global warming etc…

    As Dr Rubenstein remarked after the Holocaust, “God is dead”.

    All of which makes the high preponderance of recorded UAP activity near nuclear sites slightly concerning, given we are left with agnostic and malevolent on the list.
    I think agnostic is the most likely.
  • IshmaelZIshmaelZ Posts: 21,830
    ydoethur said:

    MaxPB said:

    darkage said:

    kle4 said:

    Farooq said:

    MaxPB said:

    Omnium said:

    Omnium said:

    TimT said:
    No idea about Russian IT skills, but the Ukranians are very good.
    Aslan said:

    Another French company looking to expand in Russia:

    https://www.businessinsider.com/retailer-looks-expand-russia-business-as-more-firms-pull-out-2022-3?utm_source=reddit.com

    The French are scum. And yet the usual Europhiles on PB give more shit to Boris for an inelegant comparison than bankrolling war criminals.

    "The French are scum."

    Clearly, and by definition.

    However the French are in fact wonderful, warm, and truly lovely people. I'll have to think about whether they're charming us for a while prior to revealing their true nature!

    They also have the best national anthem. By miles.
    Not really - The Welsh anthem is the best in the world
    Well anything actually sung by the Welsh is the best in the world. Welshman singing the Marsiellais - that'd be a thing.


    I really like 'Flower of Sctland' too - suits their peasant voice :)
    I've always thought the Welsh National Anthem unsurpassable. The Marseillaise and the Stars and Stripes are pretty good too. I find it hard to think of another worthy of mention - maybe Flower of Scotland, or Australia Fair.

    The Londonderry Air is a bit special but it's not an anthem of course. Somebody should nick it for their own.
    I know the climate is wrong for making this admission and with all due apologies to people's sensibilities, but the old Soviet National Anthem is just a wonderful piece of music.
    Yes, it's a truly rousing anthem. I wish ours was less boring, I think it's part of the reason we're shit at sport. Other teams have great national anthems to really get them going before a match, we have the world's dullest anthem.
    The English/British anthem is utter shit. I can only think of two people on here who would possibly feel any pride when hearing it: @HYUFD and @malcolmg
    I think it's fine. It's often played too slowly, but it is simple and straightforward to belt out, which is handy, even if it is certainly not as rousing or exciting as many others.
    It will never happen, but "I vow to thee my country" by Gustav Holst would be a far better national anthem.

    EDIT - I see some others have suggested the same.
    I don't actually think it would be in the running as the CoE says it is heretical, placing the love of the nation above the love for God. Still a great song and before football matches it would get the team and crowd going.
    Awful scanning: "I-I vow... t'thee my cou-untry..."

    Should have got W.S.Gilbert to write the lyrics, at least they'd have scanned (and been funnier). (Ok, so he was dead but a dead WSG would have been better than Sir Cecil Spring Pancake Rice.)

    Plus, ridiculous sentiments. "...her shining bounds increase, ...and all her paths are peace" Er, how to those two work ? Empire-building by peace offensive?

    Apart from that - great choice.
    We should confuse the hell out of everybody and choose Jerusalem the Golden, in its full version (which so clearly confuses England and Heaven in Neale's translation that the first half is almost never sung now).

    that aside, it is a grand tune. Far better than Jerusalem which is one of Parry's weaker and less interesting efforts.

    If we have to go with Parry at least have something rousing like I Was Glad.
    Jerusalem the golden,
    With milk and honey blest,
    Beneath thy contemplation
    Sink heart and voice oppressed.

    And so on for about 20 verses of the sort of paranoid euphoria I associate with class A psychedelics. Strange
    poem.
  • Fysics_TeacherFysics_Teacher Posts: 6,285

    Fishing said:

    Cookie said:

    MaxPB said:

    darkage said:

    kle4 said:

    Farooq said:

    MaxPB said:

    Omnium said:

    Omnium said:

    TimT said:
    No idea about Russian IT skills, but the Ukranians are very good.
    Aslan said:

    Another French company looking to expand in Russia:

    https://www.businessinsider.com/retailer-looks-expand-russia-business-as-more-firms-pull-out-2022-3?utm_source=reddit.com

    The French are scum. And yet the usual Europhiles on PB give more shit to Boris for an inelegant comparison than bankrolling war criminals.

    "The French are scum."

    Clearly, and by definition.

    However the French are in fact wonderful, warm, and truly lovely people. I'll have to think about whether they're charming us for a while prior to revealing their true nature!

    They also have the best national anthem. By miles.
    Not really - The Welsh anthem is the best in the world
    Well anything actually sung by the Welsh is the best in the world. Welshman singing the Marsiellais - that'd be a thing.


    I really like 'Flower of Sctland' too - suits their peasant voice :)
    I've always thought the Welsh National Anthem unsurpassable. The Marseillaise and the Stars and Stripes are pretty good too. I find it hard to think of another worthy of mention - maybe Flower of Scotland, or Australia Fair.

    The Londonderry Air is a bit special but it's not an anthem of course. Somebody should nick it for their own.
    I know the climate is wrong for making this admission and with all due apologies to people's sensibilities, but the old Soviet National Anthem is just a wonderful piece of music.
    Yes, it's a truly rousing anthem. I wish ours was less boring, I think it's part of the reason we're shit at sport. Other teams have great national anthems to really get them going before a match, we have the world's dullest anthem.
    The English/British anthem is utter shit. I can only think of two people on here who would possibly feel any pride when hearing it: @HYUFD and @malcolmg
    I think it's fine. It's often played too slowly, but it is simple and straightforward to belt out, which is handy, even if it is certainly not as rousing or exciting as many others.
    It will never happen, but "I vow to thee my country" by Gustav Holst would be a far better national anthem.

    EDIT - I see some others have suggested the same.
    I don't actually think it would be in the running as the CoE says it is heretical, placing the love of the nation above the love for God. Still a great song and before football matches it would get the team and crowd going.
    The CofE can, quite frankly, fuck right off. None of their business.
    Anyway, I prefer Jerusalem. Though obviously that is English not British.
    Putting God’s teaching and wisdom before nation is exactly their business.

    CoE don’t like Jerusalem too, it’s banned from the hymnal’s 😝
    The national anthem should be Rule Britannia. It is anti-French, pro-Navy and anti-slavery. What's not to like?
    Which bit is anti-French?
    The pro-navy and anti-slavery bits obviously...
  • moonshinemoonshine Posts: 5,747

    moonshine said:

    kle4 said:

    A discussion on Russian state TV about launching a nuclear attack on Poland and opening a corridor to Kaliningrad:

    https://twitter.com/b_judah/status/1506334785270173702

    We could really use Superman to come by and destroy all the world's nukes right now.
    Superman was an alien. So maybe. Don’t think so though.

    The Pentagon UAP whistleblower Lue Elizondo was asked about this last week. He made a good point. The intelligence behind UAP is either benevolent, malevolent or agnostic to our fate.

    There’s nothing in the history of the last century that suggests we have benevolent overseers protecting humanity from our worst instincts. No deus ex machina did anything to stop us testing the bomb. Or stop it being used twice in anger. Nothing to stop multiple genocides. Or technology sharing to arrest global warming etc…

    As Dr Rubenstein remarked after the Holocaust, “God is dead”.

    All of which makes the high preponderance of recorded UAP activity near nuclear sites slightly concerning, given we are left with agnostic and malevolent on the list.
    I think agnostic is the most likely.
    Indeed. I was agnostic to the fate of the wasp on my bedroom window until just now, when I decided it was too much faff to open the window and squashed it instead.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,561

    Farooq said:

    MaxPB said:

    Omnium said:

    Omnium said:

    TimT said:
    No idea about Russian IT skills, but the Ukranians are very good.
    Aslan said:

    Another French company looking to expand in Russia:

    https://www.businessinsider.com/retailer-looks-expand-russia-business-as-more-firms-pull-out-2022-3?utm_source=reddit.com

    The French are scum. And yet the usual Europhiles on PB give more shit to Boris for an inelegant comparison than bankrolling war criminals.

    "The French are scum."

    Clearly, and by definition.

    However the French are in fact wonderful, warm, and truly lovely people. I'll have to think about whether they're charming us for a while prior to revealing their true nature!

    They also have the best national anthem. By miles.
    Not really - The Welsh anthem is the best in the world
    Well anything actually sung by the Welsh is the best in the world. Welshman singing the Marsiellais - that'd be a thing.


    I really like 'Flower of Sctland' too - suits their peasant voice :)
    I've always thought the Welsh National Anthem unsurpassable. The Marseillaise and the Stars and Stripes are pretty good too. I find it hard to think of another worthy of mention - maybe Flower of Scotland, or Australia Fair.

    The Londonderry Air is a bit special but it's not an anthem of course. Somebody should nick it for their own.
    I know the climate is wrong for making this admission and with all due apologies to people's sensibilities, but the old Soviet National Anthem is just a wonderful piece of music.
    Yes, it's a truly rousing anthem. I wish ours was less boring, I think it's part of the reason we're shit at sport. Other teams have great national anthems to really get them going before a match, we have the world's dullest anthem.
    The English/British anthem is utter shit. I can only think of two people on here who would possibly feel any pride when hearing it: @HYUFD and @malcolmg
    It is an uninspiring dirge and needs replacement
    Agreed. We should use Jerusalem as I believe we already do in the Commonwealth Games?
    I've never checked the national anthem of Tuvalu, but would love to think it was just chanting the name of the country to the tune of Vindaloo.....
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 41,958
    kle4 said:

    A discussion on Russian state TV about launching a nuclear attack on Poland and opening a corridor to Kaliningrad:

    https://twitter.com/b_judah/status/1506334785270173702

    We could really use Superman to come by and destroy all the world's nukes right now.
    There is ALWAYS a (shit) Photoshop.


  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 48,647
    dixiedean said:

    Always Look on the Bright Side of Life should be the National Anthem.

    Too cheerful.

  • Northern_AlNorthern_Al Posts: 8,377
    Every worker? That's generous.
  • nico679nico679 Posts: 6,275
    Fishing said:

    Cookie said:

    MaxPB said:

    darkage said:

    kle4 said:

    Farooq said:

    MaxPB said:

    Omnium said:

    Omnium said:

    TimT said:
    No idea about Russian IT skills, but the Ukranians are very good.
    Aslan said:

    Another French company looking to expand in Russia:

    https://www.businessinsider.com/retailer-looks-expand-russia-business-as-more-firms-pull-out-2022-3?utm_source=reddit.com

    The French are scum. And yet the usual Europhiles on PB give more shit to Boris for an inelegant comparison than bankrolling war criminals.

    "The French are scum."

    Clearly, and by definition.

    However the French are in fact wonderful, warm, and truly lovely people. I'll have to think about whether they're charming us for a while prior to revealing their true nature!

    They also have the best national anthem. By miles.
    Not really - The Welsh anthem is the best in the world
    Well anything actually sung by the Welsh is the best in the world. Welshman singing the Marsiellais - that'd be a thing.


    I really like 'Flower of Sctland' too - suits their peasant voice :)
    I've always thought the Welsh National Anthem unsurpassable. The Marseillaise and the Stars and Stripes are pretty good too. I find it hard to think of another worthy of mention - maybe Flower of Scotland, or Australia Fair.

    The Londonderry Air is a bit special but it's not an anthem of course. Somebody should nick it for their own.
    I know the climate is wrong for making this admission and with all due apologies to people's sensibilities, but the old Soviet National Anthem is just a wonderful piece of music.
    Yes, it's a truly rousing anthem. I wish ours was less boring, I think it's part of the reason we're shit at sport. Other teams have great national anthems to really get them going before a match, we have the world's dullest anthem.
    The English/British anthem is utter shit. I can only think of two people on here who would possibly feel any pride when hearing it: @HYUFD and @malcolmg
    I think it's fine. It's often played too slowly, but it is simple and straightforward to belt out, which is handy, even if it is certainly not as rousing or exciting as many others.
    It will never happen, but "I vow to thee my country" by Gustav Holst would be a far better national anthem.

    EDIT - I see some others have suggested the same.
    I don't actually think it would be in the running as the CoE says it is heretical, placing the love of the nation above the love for God. Still a great song and before football matches it would get the team and crowd going.
    The CofE can, quite frankly, fuck right off. None of their business.
    Anyway, I prefer Jerusalem. Though obviously that is English not British.
    Putting God’s teaching and wisdom before nation is exactly their business.

    CoE don’t like Jerusalem too, it’s banned from the hymnal’s 😝
    The national anthem should be Rule Britannia. It is anti-French, pro-Navy and anti-slavery. What's not to like?
    They certainly need to change the current anthem . Can’t we have a totally new one. Something uplifting.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 48,647

    Fishing said:

    Cookie said:

    MaxPB said:

    darkage said:

    kle4 said:

    Farooq said:

    MaxPB said:

    Omnium said:

    Omnium said:

    TimT said:
    No idea about Russian IT skills, but the Ukranians are very good.
    Aslan said:

    Another French company looking to expand in Russia:

    https://www.businessinsider.com/retailer-looks-expand-russia-business-as-more-firms-pull-out-2022-3?utm_source=reddit.com

    The French are scum. And yet the usual Europhiles on PB give more shit to Boris for an inelegant comparison than bankrolling war criminals.

    "The French are scum."

    Clearly, and by definition.

    However the French are in fact wonderful, warm, and truly lovely people. I'll have to think about whether they're charming us for a while prior to revealing their true nature!

    They also have the best national anthem. By miles.
    Not really - The Welsh anthem is the best in the world
    Well anything actually sung by the Welsh is the best in the world. Welshman singing the Marsiellais - that'd be a thing.


    I really like 'Flower of Sctland' too - suits their peasant voice :)
    I've always thought the Welsh National Anthem unsurpassable. The Marseillaise and the Stars and Stripes are pretty good too. I find it hard to think of another worthy of mention - maybe Flower of Scotland, or Australia Fair.

    The Londonderry Air is a bit special but it's not an anthem of course. Somebody should nick it for their own.
    I know the climate is wrong for making this admission and with all due apologies to people's sensibilities, but the old Soviet National Anthem is just a wonderful piece of music.
    Yes, it's a truly rousing anthem. I wish ours was less boring, I think it's part of the reason we're shit at sport. Other teams have great national anthems to really get them going before a match, we have the world's dullest anthem.
    The English/British anthem is utter shit. I can only think of two people on here who would possibly feel any pride when hearing it: @HYUFD and @malcolmg
    I think it's fine. It's often played too slowly, but it is simple and straightforward to belt out, which is handy, even if it is certainly not as rousing or exciting as many others.
    It will never happen, but "I vow to thee my country" by Gustav Holst would be a far better national anthem.

    EDIT - I see some others have suggested the same.
    I don't actually think it would be in the running as the CoE says it is heretical, placing the love of the nation above the love for God. Still a great song and before football matches it would get the team and crowd going.
    The CofE can, quite frankly, fuck right off. None of their business.
    Anyway, I prefer Jerusalem. Though obviously that is English not British.
    Putting God’s teaching and wisdom before nation is exactly their business.

    CoE don’t like Jerusalem too, it’s banned from the hymnal’s 😝
    The national anthem should be Rule Britannia. It is anti-French, pro-Navy and anti-slavery. What's not to like?
    Which bit is anti-French?
    The pro-navy and anti-slavery bits obviously...
    Not so much anti-slavery as anti-Britons as slaves. Africans as slaves not mentioned.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 51,627

    Fishing said:

    Cookie said:

    MaxPB said:

    darkage said:

    kle4 said:

    Farooq said:

    MaxPB said:

    Omnium said:

    Omnium said:

    TimT said:
    No idea about Russian IT skills, but the Ukranians are very good.
    Aslan said:

    Another French company looking to expand in Russia:

    https://www.businessinsider.com/retailer-looks-expand-russia-business-as-more-firms-pull-out-2022-3?utm_source=reddit.com

    The French are scum. And yet the usual Europhiles on PB give more shit to Boris for an inelegant comparison than bankrolling war criminals.

    "The French are scum."

    Clearly, and by definition.

    However the French are in fact wonderful, warm, and truly lovely people. I'll have to think about whether they're charming us for a while prior to revealing their true nature!

    They also have the best national anthem. By miles.
    Not really - The Welsh anthem is the best in the world
    Well anything actually sung by the Welsh is the best in the world. Welshman singing the Marsiellais - that'd be a thing.


    I really like 'Flower of Sctland' too - suits their peasant voice :)
    I've always thought the Welsh National Anthem unsurpassable. The Marseillaise and the Stars and Stripes are pretty good too. I find it hard to think of another worthy of mention - maybe Flower of Scotland, or Australia Fair.

    The Londonderry Air is a bit special but it's not an anthem of course. Somebody should nick it for their own.
    I know the climate is wrong for making this admission and with all due apologies to people's sensibilities, but the old Soviet National Anthem is just a wonderful piece of music.
    Yes, it's a truly rousing anthem. I wish ours was less boring, I think it's part of the reason we're shit at sport. Other teams have great national anthems to really get them going before a match, we have the world's dullest anthem.
    The English/British anthem is utter shit. I can only think of two people on here who would possibly feel any pride when hearing it: @HYUFD and @malcolmg
    I think it's fine. It's often played too slowly, but it is simple and straightforward to belt out, which is handy, even if it is certainly not as rousing or exciting as many others.
    It will never happen, but "I vow to thee my country" by Gustav Holst would be a far better national anthem.

    EDIT - I see some others have suggested the same.
    I don't actually think it would be in the running as the CoE says it is heretical, placing the love of the nation above the love for God. Still a great song and before football matches it would get the team and crowd going.
    The CofE can, quite frankly, fuck right off. None of their business.
    Anyway, I prefer Jerusalem. Though obviously that is English not British.
    Putting God’s teaching and wisdom before nation is exactly their business.

    CoE don’t like Jerusalem too, it’s banned from the hymnal’s 😝
    The national anthem should be Rule Britannia. It is anti-French, pro-Navy and anti-slavery. What's not to like?
    Which bit is anti-French?
    The pro-navy and anti-slavery bits obviously...
    Not to mention the bit about being the envy of them all.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 71,385
    edited March 2022
    IshmaelZ said:

    ydoethur said:

    MaxPB said:

    darkage said:

    kle4 said:

    Farooq said:

    MaxPB said:

    Omnium said:

    Omnium said:

    TimT said:
    No idea about Russian IT skills, but the Ukranians are very good.
    Aslan said:

    Another French company looking to expand in Russia:

    https://www.businessinsider.com/retailer-looks-expand-russia-business-as-more-firms-pull-out-2022-3?utm_source=reddit.com

    The French are scum. And yet the usual Europhiles on PB give more shit to Boris for an inelegant comparison than bankrolling war criminals.

    "The French are scum."

    Clearly, and by definition.

    However the French are in fact wonderful, warm, and truly lovely people. I'll have to think about whether they're charming us for a while prior to revealing their true nature!

    They also have the best national anthem. By miles.
    Not really - The Welsh anthem is the best in the world
    Well anything actually sung by the Welsh is the best in the world. Welshman singing the Marsiellais - that'd be a thing.


    I really like 'Flower of Sctland' too - suits their peasant voice :)
    I've always thought the Welsh National Anthem unsurpassable. The Marseillaise and the Stars and Stripes are pretty good too. I find it hard to think of another worthy of mention - maybe Flower of Scotland, or Australia Fair.

    The Londonderry Air is a bit special but it's not an anthem of course. Somebody should nick it for their own.
    I know the climate is wrong for making this admission and with all due apologies to people's sensibilities, but the old Soviet National Anthem is just a wonderful piece of music.
    Yes, it's a truly rousing anthem. I wish ours was less boring, I think it's part of the reason we're shit at sport. Other teams have great national anthems to really get them going before a match, we have the world's dullest anthem.
    The English/British anthem is utter shit. I can only think of two people on here who would possibly feel any pride when hearing it: @HYUFD and @malcolmg
    I think it's fine. It's often played too slowly, but it is simple and straightforward to belt out, which is handy, even if it is certainly not as rousing or exciting as many others.
    It will never happen, but "I vow to thee my country" by Gustav Holst would be a far better national anthem.

    EDIT - I see some others have suggested the same.
    I don't actually think it would be in the running as the CoE says it is heretical, placing the love of the nation above the love for God. Still a great song and before football matches it would get the team and crowd going.
    Awful scanning: "I-I vow... t'thee my cou-untry..."

    Should have got W.S.Gilbert to write the lyrics, at least they'd have scanned (and been funnier). (Ok, so he was dead but a dead WSG would have been better than Sir Cecil Spring Pancake Rice.)

    Plus, ridiculous sentiments. "...her shining bounds increase, ...and all her paths are peace" Er, how to those two work ? Empire-building by peace offensive?

    Apart from that - great choice.
    We should confuse the hell out of everybody and choose Jerusalem the Golden, in its full version (which so clearly confuses England and Heaven in Neale's translation that the first half is almost never sung now).

    that aside, it is a grand tune. Far better than Jerusalem which is one of Parry's weaker and less interesting efforts.

    If we have to go with Parry at least have something rousing like I Was Glad.
    Jerusalem the golden,
    With milk and honey blest,
    Beneath thy contemplation
    Sink heart and voice oppressed.

    And so on for about 20 verses of the sort of paranoid euphoria I associate with class A psychedelics. Strange
    poem.
    This is the original opening:

    For thee, O dear, dear country,
    Mine eyes their vigils keep;
    For very love, beholding
    Thy happy name, they weep;
    The mention of thy glory
    Is unction to the breast,
    And medicine in sickness,
    And love, and life, and rest.

    O one, O only mansion,
    O Paradise of joy!
    Where tears are ever banished,
    And smiles have no alloy;
    The Cross is all thy splendor,
    The Crucified thy praise;
    His laud and benediction
    Thy ransomed people raise.

    Thou hast no shore, fair ocean;
    Thou hast no time, bright day;
    Dear fountain of refreshment
    To pilgrims far away!
    Upon the Rock of Ages
    They raise thy holy tower;
    Thine is the victor's laurel,
    And thine the golden dower.

    O sweet and blessèd country,
    The home of God's elect;
    O sweet and blessèd country,
    That eager hearts expect!
    Jesus, in mercy bring us,
    To that dear land of rest,
    Who art, with God the Father
    And Spirit, ever blest.
  • moonshinemoonshine Posts: 5,747
    nico679 said:

    Fishing said:

    Cookie said:

    MaxPB said:

    darkage said:

    kle4 said:

    Farooq said:

    MaxPB said:

    Omnium said:

    Omnium said:

    TimT said:
    No idea about Russian IT skills, but the Ukranians are very good.
    Aslan said:

    Another French company looking to expand in Russia:

    https://www.businessinsider.com/retailer-looks-expand-russia-business-as-more-firms-pull-out-2022-3?utm_source=reddit.com

    The French are scum. And yet the usual Europhiles on PB give more shit to Boris for an inelegant comparison than bankrolling war criminals.

    "The French are scum."

    Clearly, and by definition.

    However the French are in fact wonderful, warm, and truly lovely people. I'll have to think about whether they're charming us for a while prior to revealing their true nature!

    They also have the best national anthem. By miles.
    Not really - The Welsh anthem is the best in the world
    Well anything actually sung by the Welsh is the best in the world. Welshman singing the Marsiellais - that'd be a thing.


    I really like 'Flower of Sctland' too - suits their peasant voice :)
    I've always thought the Welsh National Anthem unsurpassable. The Marseillaise and the Stars and Stripes are pretty good too. I find it hard to think of another worthy of mention - maybe Flower of Scotland, or Australia Fair.

    The Londonderry Air is a bit special but it's not an anthem of course. Somebody should nick it for their own.
    I know the climate is wrong for making this admission and with all due apologies to people's sensibilities, but the old Soviet National Anthem is just a wonderful piece of music.
    Yes, it's a truly rousing anthem. I wish ours was less boring, I think it's part of the reason we're shit at sport. Other teams have great national anthems to really get them going before a match, we have the world's dullest anthem.
    The English/British anthem is utter shit. I can only think of two people on here who would possibly feel any pride when hearing it: @HYUFD and @malcolmg
    I think it's fine. It's often played too slowly, but it is simple and straightforward to belt out, which is handy, even if it is certainly not as rousing or exciting as many others.
    It will never happen, but "I vow to thee my country" by Gustav Holst would be a far better national anthem.

    EDIT - I see some others have suggested the same.
    I don't actually think it would be in the running as the CoE says it is heretical, placing the love of the nation above the love for God. Still a great song and before football matches it would get the team and crowd going.
    The CofE can, quite frankly, fuck right off. None of their business.
    Anyway, I prefer Jerusalem. Though obviously that is English not British.
    Putting God’s teaching and wisdom before nation is exactly their business.

    CoE don’t like Jerusalem too, it’s banned from the hymnal’s 😝
    The national anthem should be Rule Britannia. It is anti-French, pro-Navy and anti-slavery. What's not to like?
    They certainly need to change the current anthem . Can’t we have a totally new one. Something uplifting.
    I hope Simon Cowell isn’t reading this and getting any ideas
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 28,432
    rcs1000 said:

    TimS said:

    Taz said:

    Leon said:

    Anti-Woke Culture Wars are working in the USA

    Ramp them up over here, Boris

    “Democrats working to save their slim majority in the House in November’s elections have been sounding alarm bells lately over research showing that Republican attacks on culture-war issues are working, particularly with center-left, Hispanic and independent voters.”

    NYT ($$)

    How about concentrating on the real issues, rather than a phony war.

    Inflation, cost of living crisis, energy security, levelling up, growing the economy and not weaponising division ?
    Most of those are either caused by government actions or, at best, are global tides that Johnson can do no more about than Canute did.

    They bang on about Culture Wars because that's pretty much all they've got.
    Let's be honest the identitarian left and right both love nothing more than a bit of culture war. It's a nice playground game that helps them to get outraged under controlled conditions, is distracting from real tricky political issues and leaves them with a feeling of virtue. It's the wars of religion de nos jours.

    I would hazard a guess based on social media that perhaps 15-20% of the population really indulge in culture warring, with roughly a 50:50 split between those outraged by "far right bigotry" and those equally offended by "left wing woke nonsense". Perhaps another 40-50% of the population have a mild leaning towards one side or the other, the Anglican church of these particular wars of religion (I'd put myself in that camp), and the rest don't even know it's happening.
    Much as there is supposedly a 'culture war', the 'right' aren't really in it at the moment, beyond huffing about the ridiculousness of it all and then rolling over. If you want to win something, you articulate an alternative vision
    Leon said:

    "Renault's board has decided to keep its presence intact in Russia for the time being, while complying with international sanctions and with the backing of its main shareholder, the French state, two sources close to the matter told Reuters."

    https://europe.autonews.com/automakers/renault-resumes-production-moscow-plant

    I don't think this is entirely fair. What Renault are doing may or may not be wrong, but Turkey and its companies, India and its companies, China and its companies, are doing nothing at all (except taking advantage of the juicy discounts). Why do they get away with it with no wrath at all, where Renault by virtue of being 'Western' deserve to go bankrupt for this business decision? Why are Western companies expected to compete on such a pitched playing field. It can only result in more business and capital flowing East.
    Because Macron would have us believe that his lengthy phone calls with Putin were about putting pressure on Russia not to invade/to cease hostilities.

    When what he was actually doing was extolling the virtues of the legroom in the Renault Mégane
    But nobody here is going on about 'Chinese scum'. They get a totally free pass for some reason.
    It's a fair point: the reality is that the Chinese in particular have rubbed their hands in glee and continued trading with Russia. With the French, there's been a (immoral) attempt to maintain investments, but as far as I'm aware they are abiding by the sanctions.
    Its almost like an expectations management thing. Countries that have made it clear they don't give a fuck are just left alone; everyone else is expected to self harm with wild abandon to hurt the Russians. If there was a mildly condemnatory speech about the war from Xi tomorrow, he would be the toast of PB, with no actual activity from China at all.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 81,991

    kle4 said:

    A discussion on Russian state TV about launching a nuclear attack on Poland and opening a corridor to Kaliningrad:

    https://twitter.com/b_judah/status/1506334785270173702

    We could really use Superman to come by and destroy all the world's nukes right now.
    There is ALWAYS a (shit) Photoshop.


    For once showing off his muscular build....
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 41,958
    IshmaelZ said:

    Roger said:

    Foxy said:

    Leon said:

    French retailer Leroy Merlin announced that they were expanding in Russia to benefit from other brands pulling out. This was the Ukrainian Defence Ministry's response:

    https://twitter.com/DefenceU/status/1505872338037923841

    LEROY MERLIN became the first company in the world to finance the bombing of its own stores and killing its own employees.

    Inhumane, harrowing greed.


    image

    Even as Leroy Merlin’s store in Kyiv was bombed by the Russians, killing an employee

    The shamelessness is astounding

    Imagine if Marks and Sparks decided to expand trade in Russia even as its Kharkiv branch was shelled, slaughtering a cashier

    Goes to show the spinelessness of French media and social media as well. No british company doing this would survive the outrage
    What on earth is going on with France and sanction busting ?
    Personally I won't be buying French fries, French bread or French letters until Putin has been deposed.
    I'm partitioning my en suite bathroom as we speak
    I shall be shitting in the bidet till further notice. If that doesn't show them, nothing will.
    Dropping one on the bonnet of the nearest Clio might be a viable compromise on torching it.
  • IshmaelZIshmaelZ Posts: 21,830

    Fishing said:

    Cookie said:

    MaxPB said:

    darkage said:

    kle4 said:

    Farooq said:

    MaxPB said:

    Omnium said:

    Omnium said:

    TimT said:
    No idea about Russian IT skills, but the Ukranians are very good.
    Aslan said:

    Another French company looking to expand in Russia:

    https://www.businessinsider.com/retailer-looks-expand-russia-business-as-more-firms-pull-out-2022-3?utm_source=reddit.com

    The French are scum. And yet the usual Europhiles on PB give more shit to Boris for an inelegant comparison than bankrolling war criminals.

    "The French are scum."

    Clearly, and by definition.

    However the French are in fact wonderful, warm, and truly lovely people. I'll have to think about whether they're charming us for a while prior to revealing their true nature!

    They also have the best national anthem. By miles.
    Not really - The Welsh anthem is the best in the world
    Well anything actually sung by the Welsh is the best in the world. Welshman singing the Marsiellais - that'd be a thing.


    I really like 'Flower of Sctland' too - suits their peasant voice :)
    I've always thought the Welsh National Anthem unsurpassable. The Marseillaise and the Stars and Stripes are pretty good too. I find it hard to think of another worthy of mention - maybe Flower of Scotland, or Australia Fair.

    The Londonderry Air is a bit special but it's not an anthem of course. Somebody should nick it for their own.
    I know the climate is wrong for making this admission and with all due apologies to people's sensibilities, but the old Soviet National Anthem is just a wonderful piece of music.
    Yes, it's a truly rousing anthem. I wish ours was less boring, I think it's part of the reason we're shit at sport. Other teams have great national anthems to really get them going before a match, we have the world's dullest anthem.
    The English/British anthem is utter shit. I can only think of two people on here who would possibly feel any pride when hearing it: @HYUFD and @malcolmg
    I think it's fine. It's often played too slowly, but it is simple and straightforward to belt out, which is handy, even if it is certainly not as rousing or exciting as many others.
    It will never happen, but "I vow to thee my country" by Gustav Holst would be a far better national anthem.

    EDIT - I see some others have suggested the same.
    I don't actually think it would be in the running as the CoE says it is heretical, placing the love of the nation above the love for God. Still a great song and before football matches it would get the team and crowd going.
    The CofE can, quite frankly, fuck right off. None of their business.
    Anyway, I prefer Jerusalem. Though obviously that is English not British.
    Putting God’s teaching and wisdom before nation is exactly their business.

    CoE don’t like Jerusalem too, it’s banned from the hymnal’s 😝
    The national anthem should be Rule Britannia. It is anti-French, pro-Navy and anti-slavery. What's not to like?
    Which bit is anti-French?
    The pro-navy and anti-slavery bits obviously...
    What? the French were fucking amateurs when it came to slavery, though I suppose they can claim some sort of share in Leopold of Belgium, who spoke the language. It was always Portugal first, britain second and the rest also ran.
  • IshmaelZIshmaelZ Posts: 21,830

    IshmaelZ said:

    Roger said:

    Foxy said:

    Leon said:

    French retailer Leroy Merlin announced that they were expanding in Russia to benefit from other brands pulling out. This was the Ukrainian Defence Ministry's response:

    https://twitter.com/DefenceU/status/1505872338037923841

    LEROY MERLIN became the first company in the world to finance the bombing of its own stores and killing its own employees.

    Inhumane, harrowing greed.


    image

    Even as Leroy Merlin’s store in Kyiv was bombed by the Russians, killing an employee

    The shamelessness is astounding

    Imagine if Marks and Sparks decided to expand trade in Russia even as its Kharkiv branch was shelled, slaughtering a cashier

    Goes to show the spinelessness of French media and social media as well. No british company doing this would survive the outrage
    What on earth is going on with France and sanction busting ?
    Personally I won't be buying French fries, French bread or French letters until Putin has been deposed.
    I'm partitioning my en suite bathroom as we speak
    I shall be shitting in the bidet till further notice. If that doesn't show them, nothing will.
    Dropping one on the bonnet of the nearest Clio might be a viable compromise on torching it.
    I can see a Papa/Nicole ad in that.
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 28,432

    kle4 said:

    A discussion on Russian state TV about launching a nuclear attack on Poland and opening a corridor to Kaliningrad:

    https://twitter.com/b_judah/status/1506334785270173702

    We could really use Superman to come by and destroy all the world's nukes right now.
    There is ALWAYS a (shit) Photoshop.


    So that's what Boris would look like with the addition of a neck.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 96,083
    Foxy said:

    Fishing said:

    Cookie said:

    MaxPB said:

    darkage said:

    kle4 said:

    Farooq said:

    MaxPB said:

    Omnium said:

    Omnium said:

    TimT said:
    No idea about Russian IT skills, but the Ukranians are very good.
    Aslan said:

    Another French company looking to expand in Russia:

    https://www.businessinsider.com/retailer-looks-expand-russia-business-as-more-firms-pull-out-2022-3?utm_source=reddit.com

    The French are scum. And yet the usual Europhiles on PB give more shit to Boris for an inelegant comparison than bankrolling war criminals.

    "The French are scum."

    Clearly, and by definition.

    However the French are in fact wonderful, warm, and truly lovely people. I'll have to think about whether they're charming us for a while prior to revealing their true nature!

    They also have the best national anthem. By miles.
    Not really - The Welsh anthem is the best in the world
    Well anything actually sung by the Welsh is the best in the world. Welshman singing the Marsiellais - that'd be a thing.


    I really like 'Flower of Sctland' too - suits their peasant voice :)
    I've always thought the Welsh National Anthem unsurpassable. The Marseillaise and the Stars and Stripes are pretty good too. I find it hard to think of another worthy of mention - maybe Flower of Scotland, or Australia Fair.

    The Londonderry Air is a bit special but it's not an anthem of course. Somebody should nick it for their own.
    I know the climate is wrong for making this admission and with all due apologies to people's sensibilities, but the old Soviet National Anthem is just a wonderful piece of music.
    Yes, it's a truly rousing anthem. I wish ours was less boring, I think it's part of the reason we're shit at sport. Other teams have great national anthems to really get them going before a match, we have the world's dullest anthem.
    The English/British anthem is utter shit. I can only think of two people on here who would possibly feel any pride when hearing it: @HYUFD and @malcolmg
    I think it's fine. It's often played too slowly, but it is simple and straightforward to belt out, which is handy, even if it is certainly not as rousing or exciting as many others.
    It will never happen, but "I vow to thee my country" by Gustav Holst would be a far better national anthem.

    EDIT - I see some others have suggested the same.
    I don't actually think it would be in the running as the CoE says it is heretical, placing the love of the nation above the love for God. Still a great song and before football matches it would get the team and crowd going.
    The CofE can, quite frankly, fuck right off. None of their business.
    Anyway, I prefer Jerusalem. Though obviously that is English not British.
    Putting God’s teaching and wisdom before nation is exactly their business.

    CoE don’t like Jerusalem too, it’s banned from the hymnal’s 😝
    The national anthem should be Rule Britannia. It is anti-French, pro-Navy and anti-slavery. What's not to like?
    Which bit is anti-French?
    The pro-navy and anti-slavery bits obviously...
    Not so much anti-slavery as anti-Britons as slaves. Africans as slaves not mentioned.
    A bit of creative re-interpretation could see us presume it means all should be treated as honorary Britons for this purpose. People mostly decided slavery and christianity was totally compatible for a very long time, then reinterpreted the same texts to a better end, and US Supreme Court justices are adept at inventing new ideas on what some 18th century men thought about things to suit their current politics, so Im sure we could manage that.
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 28,432
    ydoethur said:

    Farooq said:

    MaxPB said:

    Omnium said:

    Omnium said:

    TimT said:
    No idea about Russian IT skills, but the Ukranians are very good.
    Aslan said:

    Another French company looking to expand in Russia:

    https://www.businessinsider.com/retailer-looks-expand-russia-business-as-more-firms-pull-out-2022-3?utm_source=reddit.com

    The French are scum. And yet the usual Europhiles on PB give more shit to Boris for an inelegant comparison than bankrolling war criminals.

    "The French are scum."

    Clearly, and by definition.

    However the French are in fact wonderful, warm, and truly lovely people. I'll have to think about whether they're charming us for a while prior to revealing their true nature!

    They also have the best national anthem. By miles.
    Not really - The Welsh anthem is the best in the world
    Well anything actually sung by the Welsh is the best in the world. Welshman singing the Marsiellais - that'd be a thing.


    I really like 'Flower of Sctland' too - suits their peasant voice :)
    I've always thought the Welsh National Anthem unsurpassable. The Marseillaise and the Stars and Stripes are pretty good too. I find it hard to think of another worthy of mention - maybe Flower of Scotland, or Australia Fair.

    The Londonderry Air is a bit special but it's not an anthem of course. Somebody should nick it for their own.
    I know the climate is wrong for making this admission and with all due apologies to people's sensibilities, but the old Soviet National Anthem is just a wonderful piece of music.
    Yes, it's a truly rousing anthem. I wish ours was less boring, I think it's part of the reason we're shit at sport. Other teams have great national anthems to really get them going before a match, we have the world's dullest anthem.
    The English/British anthem is utter shit. I can only think of two people on here who would possibly feel any pride when hearing it: @HYUFD and @malcolmg
    It is an uninspiring dirge and needs replacement
    Agreed. We should use Jerusalem as I believe we already do in the Commonwealth Games?
    Oh great. One uninspiring dirge replaced with another.
    Jerusalem is a wonderful song, but it is a solely English anthem.
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 57,153
    kle4 said:

    kle4 said:

    kle4 said:

    mwadams said:

    Aslan said:

    Aslan said:

    Another French company looking to expand in Russia:

    https://www.businessinsider.com/retailer-looks-expand-russia-business-as-more-firms-pull-out-2022-3?utm_source=reddit.com

    The French are scum. And yet the usual Europhiles on PB give more shit to Boris for an inelegant comparison than bankrolling war criminals.

    Has @Scott_xP made any comment as I assume he will be embarrassed by this behaviour and call it out
    The PB Remoaners are staying quiet. The only voices responding are those condemning this despicable act and the outright Putin apologists engaging in whataboutism.
    I’m a Libdem and speaking up. The only way to steer something like this is to reform yourself and lead by example. How squeaking clean and brilliant are we before shouting about everyone else (I agree the French undercutting sanctions and pressure on Putin is disgusting)

    The night of the invasion of Ukraine Britains Tory Prime Minister was at a fund raising do shamelessly courting yet more dirty money, the Murdoch press claim.

    Maybe the PM can actually make it to PMQs this week and answer these questions for himself rather than hiding from awkward questions? Maybe then we will have a clearer picture how squeaky clean and brilliant our own government is?
    Much as I can't stand the Government, that's whataboutery, not speaking up, I'm afraid.
    Indeed. We do need to be cleaner, in a lot of ways, but that doesn't prevent commentary on others. Sometimes stones need to be cast before waiting for someone sin free to do it.

    But the anti-French stuff has been a bit overblown.
    “Sometimes stones need to be cast before waiting for someone sin free to do it“

    Are you sure?
    Yes, I am sure. Sin free people (and nations) do not exist in the real world. And waiting for a perfect world before addressing a problem would be a greater sin than acting despite having some sin.

    Scaled down, that means that you can still criticise others without being perfect yourself, so long as you are aware of your own failings.
    What sort of world is that?
    The one we live in.

    No one is saying we cannot aspire to do better and behave better, but there's a reason 'Don't let perfect be the enemy of the good' is a saying.
    In our family, the saying is "don't let average be the enemy of barely acceptable."
  • Northern_AlNorthern_Al Posts: 8,377
    edited March 2022
    Putin's played a blinder today. He's managed to get almost all the PB cognoscenti to transfer their wrath and fury from him and his army to Macron and the French. Clever.

    In the immortal words of Kenny Everett, "let's bomb Paris!". Or something like that.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 71,385

    ydoethur said:

    Farooq said:

    MaxPB said:

    Omnium said:

    Omnium said:

    TimT said:
    No idea about Russian IT skills, but the Ukranians are very good.
    Aslan said:

    Another French company looking to expand in Russia:

    https://www.businessinsider.com/retailer-looks-expand-russia-business-as-more-firms-pull-out-2022-3?utm_source=reddit.com

    The French are scum. And yet the usual Europhiles on PB give more shit to Boris for an inelegant comparison than bankrolling war criminals.

    "The French are scum."

    Clearly, and by definition.

    However the French are in fact wonderful, warm, and truly lovely people. I'll have to think about whether they're charming us for a while prior to revealing their true nature!

    They also have the best national anthem. By miles.
    Not really - The Welsh anthem is the best in the world
    Well anything actually sung by the Welsh is the best in the world. Welshman singing the Marsiellais - that'd be a thing.


    I really like 'Flower of Sctland' too - suits their peasant voice :)
    I've always thought the Welsh National Anthem unsurpassable. The Marseillaise and the Stars and Stripes are pretty good too. I find it hard to think of another worthy of mention - maybe Flower of Scotland, or Australia Fair.

    The Londonderry Air is a bit special but it's not an anthem of course. Somebody should nick it for their own.
    I know the climate is wrong for making this admission and with all due apologies to people's sensibilities, but the old Soviet National Anthem is just a wonderful piece of music.
    Yes, it's a truly rousing anthem. I wish ours was less boring, I think it's part of the reason we're shit at sport. Other teams have great national anthems to really get them going before a match, we have the world's dullest anthem.
    The English/British anthem is utter shit. I can only think of two people on here who would possibly feel any pride when hearing it: @HYUFD and @malcolmg
    It is an uninspiring dirge and needs replacement
    Agreed. We should use Jerusalem as I believe we already do in the Commonwealth Games?
    Oh great. One uninspiring dirge replaced with another.
    Jerusalem is a wonderful song, but it is a solely English anthem.
    It really isn't. Terrible piece of music.

    Of all the Parry I know - and I know an awful lot of his work one way and another - I'd say it's the one I like least.
  • solarflaresolarflare Posts: 3,705

    kle4 said:

    A discussion on Russian state TV about launching a nuclear attack on Poland and opening a corridor to Kaliningrad:

    https://twitter.com/b_judah/status/1506334785270173702

    We could really use Superman to come by and destroy all the world's nukes right now.
    There is ALWAYS a (shit) Photoshop.


    Better off photoshopping the "S" on a binbag full of custard.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 81,991
    edited March 2022

    Putin's played a blinder today. He's managed to get almost all the PB cognoscenti to transfer their wrath and fury from him and his army to Macron and the French. Clever.

    In the immortal words of Kenny Everett, "let's bomb Paris". Or something like that.

    Are you suggesting Macron is in cahoots with Putin?
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 48,647
    kle4 said:

    Foxy said:

    Fishing said:

    Cookie said:

    MaxPB said:

    darkage said:

    kle4 said:

    Farooq said:

    MaxPB said:

    Omnium said:

    Omnium said:

    TimT said:
    No idea about Russian IT skills, but the Ukranians are very good.
    Aslan said:

    Another French company looking to expand in Russia:

    https://www.businessinsider.com/retailer-looks-expand-russia-business-as-more-firms-pull-out-2022-3?utm_source=reddit.com

    The French are scum. And yet the usual Europhiles on PB give more shit to Boris for an inelegant comparison than bankrolling war criminals.

    "The French are scum."

    Clearly, and by definition.

    However the French are in fact wonderful, warm, and truly lovely people. I'll have to think about whether they're charming us for a while prior to revealing their true nature!

    They also have the best national anthem. By miles.
    Not really - The Welsh anthem is the best in the world
    Well anything actually sung by the Welsh is the best in the world. Welshman singing the Marsiellais - that'd be a thing.


    I really like 'Flower of Sctland' too - suits their peasant voice :)
    I've always thought the Welsh National Anthem unsurpassable. The Marseillaise and the Stars and Stripes are pretty good too. I find it hard to think of another worthy of mention - maybe Flower of Scotland, or Australia Fair.

    The Londonderry Air is a bit special but it's not an anthem of course. Somebody should nick it for their own.
    I know the climate is wrong for making this admission and with all due apologies to people's sensibilities, but the old Soviet National Anthem is just a wonderful piece of music.
    Yes, it's a truly rousing anthem. I wish ours was less boring, I think it's part of the reason we're shit at sport. Other teams have great national anthems to really get them going before a match, we have the world's dullest anthem.
    The English/British anthem is utter shit. I can only think of two people on here who would possibly feel any pride when hearing it: @HYUFD and @malcolmg
    I think it's fine. It's often played too slowly, but it is simple and straightforward to belt out, which is handy, even if it is certainly not as rousing or exciting as many others.
    It will never happen, but "I vow to thee my country" by Gustav Holst would be a far better national anthem.

    EDIT - I see some others have suggested the same.
    I don't actually think it would be in the running as the CoE says it is heretical, placing the love of the nation above the love for God. Still a great song and before football matches it would get the team and crowd going.
    The CofE can, quite frankly, fuck right off. None of their business.
    Anyway, I prefer Jerusalem. Though obviously that is English not British.
    Putting God’s teaching and wisdom before nation is exactly their business.

    CoE don’t like Jerusalem too, it’s banned from the hymnal’s 😝
    The national anthem should be Rule Britannia. It is anti-French, pro-Navy and anti-slavery. What's not to like?
    Which bit is anti-French?
    The pro-navy and anti-slavery bits obviously...
    Not so much anti-slavery as anti-Britons as slaves. Africans as slaves not mentioned.
    A bit of creative re-interpretation could see us presume it means all should be treated as honorary Britons for this purpose. People mostly decided slavery and christianity was totally compatible for a very long time, then reinterpreted the same texts to a better end, and US Supreme Court justices are adept at inventing new ideas on what some 18th century men thought about things to suit their current politics, so Im sure we could manage that.
    Rule Brytania was written in the first half of the 18th Century, so we'll before the abolitionist movement really got going, or indeed the peak of the British slave trade.

    It presumably refers to the taking of British and Irish slaves by the Barbary corsairs, which was quite a thing in the 18th century.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 96,083
    rcs1000 said:

    kle4 said:

    kle4 said:

    kle4 said:

    mwadams said:

    Aslan said:

    Aslan said:

    Another French company looking to expand in Russia:

    https://www.businessinsider.com/retailer-looks-expand-russia-business-as-more-firms-pull-out-2022-3?utm_source=reddit.com

    The French are scum. And yet the usual Europhiles on PB give more shit to Boris for an inelegant comparison than bankrolling war criminals.

    Has @Scott_xP made any comment as I assume he will be embarrassed by this behaviour and call it out
    The PB Remoaners are staying quiet. The only voices responding are those condemning this despicable act and the outright Putin apologists engaging in whataboutism.
    I’m a Libdem and speaking up. The only way to steer something like this is to reform yourself and lead by example. How squeaking clean and brilliant are we before shouting about everyone else (I agree the French undercutting sanctions and pressure on Putin is disgusting)

    The night of the invasion of Ukraine Britains Tory Prime Minister was at a fund raising do shamelessly courting yet more dirty money, the Murdoch press claim.

    Maybe the PM can actually make it to PMQs this week and answer these questions for himself rather than hiding from awkward questions? Maybe then we will have a clearer picture how squeaky clean and brilliant our own government is?
    Much as I can't stand the Government, that's whataboutery, not speaking up, I'm afraid.
    Indeed. We do need to be cleaner, in a lot of ways, but that doesn't prevent commentary on others. Sometimes stones need to be cast before waiting for someone sin free to do it.

    But the anti-French stuff has been a bit overblown.
    “Sometimes stones need to be cast before waiting for someone sin free to do it“

    Are you sure?
    Yes, I am sure. Sin free people (and nations) do not exist in the real world. And waiting for a perfect world before addressing a problem would be a greater sin than acting despite having some sin.

    Scaled down, that means that you can still criticise others without being perfect yourself, so long as you are aware of your own failings.
    What sort of world is that?
    The one we live in.

    No one is saying we cannot aspire to do better and behave better, but there's a reason 'Don't let perfect be the enemy of the good' is a saying.
    In our family, the saying is "don't let average be the enemy of barely acceptable."
    Good move. Makes it easier for you to say how proud you are for exceeding all expectations.
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 28,432
    IshmaelZ said:

    Fishing said:

    Cookie said:

    MaxPB said:

    darkage said:

    kle4 said:

    Farooq said:

    MaxPB said:

    Omnium said:

    Omnium said:

    TimT said:
    No idea about Russian IT skills, but the Ukranians are very good.
    Aslan said:

    Another French company looking to expand in Russia:

    https://www.businessinsider.com/retailer-looks-expand-russia-business-as-more-firms-pull-out-2022-3?utm_source=reddit.com

    The French are scum. And yet the usual Europhiles on PB give more shit to Boris for an inelegant comparison than bankrolling war criminals.

    "The French are scum."

    Clearly, and by definition.

    However the French are in fact wonderful, warm, and truly lovely people. I'll have to think about whether they're charming us for a while prior to revealing their true nature!

    They also have the best national anthem. By miles.
    Not really - The Welsh anthem is the best in the world
    Well anything actually sung by the Welsh is the best in the world. Welshman singing the Marsiellais - that'd be a thing.


    I really like 'Flower of Sctland' too - suits their peasant voice :)
    I've always thought the Welsh National Anthem unsurpassable. The Marseillaise and the Stars and Stripes are pretty good too. I find it hard to think of another worthy of mention - maybe Flower of Scotland, or Australia Fair.

    The Londonderry Air is a bit special but it's not an anthem of course. Somebody should nick it for their own.
    I know the climate is wrong for making this admission and with all due apologies to people's sensibilities, but the old Soviet National Anthem is just a wonderful piece of music.
    Yes, it's a truly rousing anthem. I wish ours was less boring, I think it's part of the reason we're shit at sport. Other teams have great national anthems to really get them going before a match, we have the world's dullest anthem.
    The English/British anthem is utter shit. I can only think of two people on here who would possibly feel any pride when hearing it: @HYUFD and @malcolmg
    I think it's fine. It's often played too slowly, but it is simple and straightforward to belt out, which is handy, even if it is certainly not as rousing or exciting as many others.
    It will never happen, but "I vow to thee my country" by Gustav Holst would be a far better national anthem.

    EDIT - I see some others have suggested the same.
    I don't actually think it would be in the running as the CoE says it is heretical, placing the love of the nation above the love for God. Still a great song and before football matches it would get the team and crowd going.
    The CofE can, quite frankly, fuck right off. None of their business.
    Anyway, I prefer Jerusalem. Though obviously that is English not British.
    Putting God’s teaching and wisdom before nation is exactly their business.

    CoE don’t like Jerusalem too, it’s banned from the hymnal’s 😝
    The national anthem should be Rule Britannia. It is anti-French, pro-Navy and anti-slavery. What's not to like?
    Which bit is anti-French?
    The pro-navy and anti-slavery bits obviously...
    What? the French were fucking amateurs when it came to slavery, though I suppose they can claim some sort of share in Leopold of Belgium, who spoke the language. It was always Portugal first, britain second and the rest also ran.
    America deserves an honorable mention. Apparently when Britain ended the slave trade, they turned to slave-breeding camps.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 96,083

    Putin's played a blinder today. He's managed to get almost all the PB cognoscenti to transfer their wrath and fury from him and his army to Macron and the French. Clever.

    In the immortal words of Kenny Everett, "let's bomb Paris!". Or something like that.

    I don't think of cognoscenti as the defining characteristic of PB, if I'm honest.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 81,991
    edited March 2022
    The UK factories response for making NLAWs are going have to start working overtime.

    “I don’t think ours have failed. I’ve got the details of ours. We’ve given you over 4,000. We’ve got more coming,” he said. “We’re running out of our own. I speak to Reznikov and text him every day.”

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/mar/22/uk-anti-tank-weapons-defence-secretary-russian-hoax-call
  • IshmaelZIshmaelZ Posts: 21,830
    ydoethur said:

    IshmaelZ said:

    ydoethur said:

    MaxPB said:

    darkage said:

    kle4 said:

    Farooq said:

    MaxPB said:

    Omnium said:

    Omnium said:

    TimT said:
    No idea about Russian IT skills, but the Ukranians are very good.
    Aslan said:

    Another French company looking to expand in Russia:

    https://www.businessinsider.com/retailer-looks-expand-russia-business-as-more-firms-pull-out-2022-3?utm_source=reddit.com

    The French are scum. And yet the usual Europhiles on PB give more shit to Boris for an inelegant comparison than bankrolling war criminals.

    "The French are scum."

    Clearly, and by definition.

    However the French are in fact wonderful, warm, and truly lovely people. I'll have to think about whether they're charming us for a while prior to revealing their true nature!

    They also have the best national anthem. By miles.
    Not really - The Welsh anthem is the best in the world
    Well anything actually sung by the Welsh is the best in the world. Welshman singing the Marsiellais - that'd be a thing.


    I really like 'Flower of Sctland' too - suits their peasant voice :)
    I've always thought the Welsh National Anthem unsurpassable. The Marseillaise and the Stars and Stripes are pretty good too. I find it hard to think of another worthy of mention - maybe Flower of Scotland, or Australia Fair.

    The Londonderry Air is a bit special but it's not an anthem of course. Somebody should nick it for their own.
    I know the climate is wrong for making this admission and with all due apologies to people's sensibilities, but the old Soviet National Anthem is just a wonderful piece of music.
    Yes, it's a truly rousing anthem. I wish ours was less boring, I think it's part of the reason we're shit at sport. Other teams have great national anthems to really get them going before a match, we have the world's dullest anthem.
    The English/British anthem is utter shit. I can only think of two people on here who would possibly feel any pride when hearing it: @HYUFD and @malcolmg
    I think it's fine. It's often played too slowly, but it is simple and straightforward to belt out, which is handy, even if it is certainly not as rousing or exciting as many others.
    It will never happen, but "I vow to thee my country" by Gustav Holst would be a far better national anthem.

    EDIT - I see some others have suggested the same.
    I don't actually think it would be in the running as the CoE says it is heretical, placing the love of the nation above the love for God. Still a great song and before football matches it would get the team and crowd going.
    Awful scanning: "I-I vow... t'thee my cou-untry..."

    Should have got W.S.Gilbert to write the lyrics, at least they'd have scanned (and been funnier). (Ok, so he was dead but a dead WSG would have been better than Sir Cecil Spring Pancake Rice.)

    Plus, ridiculous sentiments. "...her shining bounds increase, ...and all her paths are peace" Er, how to those two work ? Empire-building by peace offensive?

    Apart from that - great choice.
    We should confuse the hell out of everybody and choose Jerusalem the Golden, in its full version (which so clearly confuses England and Heaven in Neale's translation that the first half is almost never sung now).

    that aside, it is a grand tune. Far better than Jerusalem which is one of Parry's weaker and less interesting efforts.

    If we have to go with Parry at least have something rousing like I Was Glad.
    Jerusalem the golden,
    With milk and honey blest,
    Beneath thy contemplation
    Sink heart and voice oppressed.

    And so on for about 20 verses of the sort of paranoid euphoria I associate with class A psychedelics. Strange
    poem.
    This is the original opening:

    For thee, O dear, dear country,
    Mine eyes their vigils keep;
    For very love, beholding
    Thy happy name, they weep;
    The mention of thy glory
    Is unction to the breast,
    And medicine in sickness,
    And love, and life, and rest.

    O one, O only mansion,
    O Paradise of joy!
    Where tears are ever banished,
    And smiles have no alloy;
    The Cross is all thy splendor,
    The Crucified thy praise;
    His laud and benediction
    Thy ransomed people raise.

    Thou hast no shore, fair ocean;
    Thou hast no time, bright day;
    Dear fountain of refreshment
    To pilgrims far away!
    Upon the Rock of Ages
    They raise thy holy tower;
    Thine is the victor's laurel,
    And thine the golden dower.

    O sweet and blessèd country,
    The home of God's elect;
    O sweet and blessèd country,
    That eager hearts expect!
    Jesus, in mercy bring us,
    To that dear land of rest,
    Who art, with God the Father
    And Spirit, ever blest.
    Thou hast no shore, fair ocean;
    Thou hast no time, bright day;

    is absolutely a trip report from a dreary subreddit about drugs.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 62,715

    A discussion on Russian state TV about launching a nuclear attack on Poland and opening a corridor to Kaliningrad:

    https://twitter.com/b_judah/status/1506334785270173702

    Although a clear overall toning down of the rhetoric on that front today, from Peskov - "Russia would only use nuclear weapons if its very existence were under threat". I think the war has reached a stalemate, and the Russians are under-supplied.

    Negotiations are looking the much more likely route out today.
    I read something from a US analyst earlier to the effect that one of the regular wargames of RU military involves a strike with nukes on Poland.

    Bleak.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 71,385
    IshmaelZ said:

    ydoethur said:

    IshmaelZ said:

    ydoethur said:

    MaxPB said:

    darkage said:

    kle4 said:

    Farooq said:

    MaxPB said:

    Omnium said:

    Omnium said:

    TimT said:
    No idea about Russian IT skills, but the Ukranians are very good.
    Aslan said:

    Another French company looking to expand in Russia:

    https://www.businessinsider.com/retailer-looks-expand-russia-business-as-more-firms-pull-out-2022-3?utm_source=reddit.com

    The French are scum. And yet the usual Europhiles on PB give more shit to Boris for an inelegant comparison than bankrolling war criminals.

    "The French are scum."

    Clearly, and by definition.

    However the French are in fact wonderful, warm, and truly lovely people. I'll have to think about whether they're charming us for a while prior to revealing their true nature!

    They also have the best national anthem. By miles.
    Not really - The Welsh anthem is the best in the world
    Well anything actually sung by the Welsh is the best in the world. Welshman singing the Marsiellais - that'd be a thing.


    I really like 'Flower of Sctland' too - suits their peasant voice :)
    I've always thought the Welsh National Anthem unsurpassable. The Marseillaise and the Stars and Stripes are pretty good too. I find it hard to think of another worthy of mention - maybe Flower of Scotland, or Australia Fair.

    The Londonderry Air is a bit special but it's not an anthem of course. Somebody should nick it for their own.
    I know the climate is wrong for making this admission and with all due apologies to people's sensibilities, but the old Soviet National Anthem is just a wonderful piece of music.
    Yes, it's a truly rousing anthem. I wish ours was less boring, I think it's part of the reason we're shit at sport. Other teams have great national anthems to really get them going before a match, we have the world's dullest anthem.
    The English/British anthem is utter shit. I can only think of two people on here who would possibly feel any pride when hearing it: @HYUFD and @malcolmg
    I think it's fine. It's often played too slowly, but it is simple and straightforward to belt out, which is handy, even if it is certainly not as rousing or exciting as many others.
    It will never happen, but "I vow to thee my country" by Gustav Holst would be a far better national anthem.

    EDIT - I see some others have suggested the same.
    I don't actually think it would be in the running as the CoE says it is heretical, placing the love of the nation above the love for God. Still a great song and before football matches it would get the team and crowd going.
    Awful scanning: "I-I vow... t'thee my cou-untry..."

    Should have got W.S.Gilbert to write the lyrics, at least they'd have scanned (and been funnier). (Ok, so he was dead but a dead WSG would have been better than Sir Cecil Spring Pancake Rice.)

    Plus, ridiculous sentiments. "...her shining bounds increase, ...and all her paths are peace" Er, how to those two work ? Empire-building by peace offensive?

    Apart from that - great choice.
    We should confuse the hell out of everybody and choose Jerusalem the Golden, in its full version (which so clearly confuses England and Heaven in Neale's translation that the first half is almost never sung now).

    that aside, it is a grand tune. Far better than Jerusalem which is one of Parry's weaker and less interesting efforts.

    If we have to go with Parry at least have something rousing like I Was Glad.
    Jerusalem the golden,
    With milk and honey blest,
    Beneath thy contemplation
    Sink heart and voice oppressed.

    And so on for about 20 verses of the sort of paranoid euphoria I associate with class A psychedelics. Strange
    poem.
    This is the original opening:

    For thee, O dear, dear country,
    Mine eyes their vigils keep;
    For very love, beholding
    Thy happy name, they weep;
    The mention of thy glory
    Is unction to the breast,
    And medicine in sickness,
    And love, and life, and rest.

    O one, O only mansion,
    O Paradise of joy!
    Where tears are ever banished,
    And smiles have no alloy;
    The Cross is all thy splendor,
    The Crucified thy praise;
    His laud and benediction
    Thy ransomed people raise.

    Thou hast no shore, fair ocean;
    Thou hast no time, bright day;
    Dear fountain of refreshment
    To pilgrims far away!
    Upon the Rock of Ages
    They raise thy holy tower;
    Thine is the victor's laurel,
    And thine the golden dower.

    O sweet and blessèd country,
    The home of God's elect;
    O sweet and blessèd country,
    That eager hearts expect!
    Jesus, in mercy bring us,
    To that dear land of rest,
    Who art, with God the Father
    And Spirit, ever blest.
    Thou hast no shore, fair ocean;
    Thou hast no time, bright day;

    is absolutely a trip report from a dreary subreddit about drugs.
    What would the 'fountain of refreshment' stand for in this metaphor?
  • IshmaelZIshmaelZ Posts: 21,830
    ydoethur said:

    IshmaelZ said:

    ydoethur said:

    IshmaelZ said:

    ydoethur said:

    MaxPB said:

    darkage said:

    kle4 said:

    Farooq said:

    MaxPB said:

    Omnium said:

    Omnium said:

    TimT said:
    No idea about Russian IT skills, but the Ukranians are very good.
    Aslan said:

    Another French company looking to expand in Russia:

    https://www.businessinsider.com/retailer-looks-expand-russia-business-as-more-firms-pull-out-2022-3?utm_source=reddit.com

    The French are scum. And yet the usual Europhiles on PB give more shit to Boris for an inelegant comparison than bankrolling war criminals.

    "The French are scum."

    Clearly, and by definition.

    However the French are in fact wonderful, warm, and truly lovely people. I'll have to think about whether they're charming us for a while prior to revealing their true nature!

    They also have the best national anthem. By miles.
    Not really - The Welsh anthem is the best in the world
    Well anything actually sung by the Welsh is the best in the world. Welshman singing the Marsiellais - that'd be a thing.


    I really like 'Flower of Sctland' too - suits their peasant voice :)
    I've always thought the Welsh National Anthem unsurpassable. The Marseillaise and the Stars and Stripes are pretty good too. I find it hard to think of another worthy of mention - maybe Flower of Scotland, or Australia Fair.

    The Londonderry Air is a bit special but it's not an anthem of course. Somebody should nick it for their own.
    I know the climate is wrong for making this admission and with all due apologies to people's sensibilities, but the old Soviet National Anthem is just a wonderful piece of music.
    Yes, it's a truly rousing anthem. I wish ours was less boring, I think it's part of the reason we're shit at sport. Other teams have great national anthems to really get them going before a match, we have the world's dullest anthem.
    The English/British anthem is utter shit. I can only think of two people on here who would possibly feel any pride when hearing it: @HYUFD and @malcolmg
    I think it's fine. It's often played too slowly, but it is simple and straightforward to belt out, which is handy, even if it is certainly not as rousing or exciting as many others.
    It will never happen, but "I vow to thee my country" by Gustav Holst would be a far better national anthem.

    EDIT - I see some others have suggested the same.
    I don't actually think it would be in the running as the CoE says it is heretical, placing the love of the nation above the love for God. Still a great song and before football matches it would get the team and crowd going.
    Awful scanning: "I-I vow... t'thee my cou-untry..."

    Should have got W.S.Gilbert to write the lyrics, at least they'd have scanned (and been funnier). (Ok, so he was dead but a dead WSG would have been better than Sir Cecil Spring Pancake Rice.)

    Plus, ridiculous sentiments. "...her shining bounds increase, ...and all her paths are peace" Er, how to those two work ? Empire-building by peace offensive?

    Apart from that - great choice.
    We should confuse the hell out of everybody and choose Jerusalem the Golden, in its full version (which so clearly confuses England and Heaven in Neale's translation that the first half is almost never sung now).

    that aside, it is a grand tune. Far better than Jerusalem which is one of Parry's weaker and less interesting efforts.

    If we have to go with Parry at least have something rousing like I Was Glad.
    Jerusalem the golden,
    With milk and honey blest,
    Beneath thy contemplation
    Sink heart and voice oppressed.

    And so on for about 20 verses of the sort of paranoid euphoria I associate with class A psychedelics. Strange
    poem.
    This is the original opening:

    For thee, O dear, dear country,
    Mine eyes their vigils keep;
    For very love, beholding
    Thy happy name, they weep;
    The mention of thy glory
    Is unction to the breast,
    And medicine in sickness,
    And love, and life, and rest.

    O one, O only mansion,
    O Paradise of joy!
    Where tears are ever banished,
    And smiles have no alloy;
    The Cross is all thy splendor,
    The Crucified thy praise;
    His laud and benediction
    Thy ransomed people raise.

    Thou hast no shore, fair ocean;
    Thou hast no time, bright day;
    Dear fountain of refreshment
    To pilgrims far away!
    Upon the Rock of Ages
    They raise thy holy tower;
    Thine is the victor's laurel,
    And thine the golden dower.

    O sweet and blessèd country,
    The home of God's elect;
    O sweet and blessèd country,
    That eager hearts expect!
    Jesus, in mercy bring us,
    To that dear land of rest,
    Who art, with God the Father
    And Spirit, ever blest.
    Thou hast no shore, fair ocean;
    Thou hast no time, bright day;

    is absolutely a trip report from a dreary subreddit about drugs.
    What would the 'fountain of refreshment' stand for in this metaphor?
    Same thing as "medicine in sickness" I imagine. Freebase DMT.
  • RogerRoger Posts: 19,910

    Farooq said:

    MaxPB said:

    Omnium said:

    Omnium said:

    TimT said:
    No idea about Russian IT skills, but the Ukranians are very good.
    Aslan said:

    Another French company looking to expand in Russia:

    https://www.businessinsider.com/retailer-looks-expand-russia-business-as-more-firms-pull-out-2022-3?utm_source=reddit.com

    The French are scum. And yet the usual Europhiles on PB give more shit to Boris for an inelegant comparison than bankrolling war criminals.

    "The French are scum."

    Clearly, and by definition.

    However the French are in fact wonderful, warm, and truly lovely people. I'll have to think about whether they're charming us for a while prior to revealing their true nature!

    They also have the best national anthem. By miles.
    Not really - The Welsh anthem is the best in the world
    Well anything actually sung by the Welsh is the best in the world. Welshman singing the Marsiellais - that'd be a thing.


    I really like 'Flower of Sctland' too - suits their peasant voice :)
    I've always thought the Welsh National Anthem unsurpassable. The Marseillaise and the Stars and Stripes are pretty good too. I find it hard to think of another worthy of mention - maybe Flower of Scotland, or Australia Fair.

    The Londonderry Air is a bit special but it's not an anthem of course. Somebody should nick it for their own.
    I know the climate is wrong for making this admission and with all due apologies to people's sensibilities, but the old Soviet National Anthem is just a wonderful piece of music.
    Yes, it's a truly rousing anthem. I wish ours was less boring, I think it's part of the reason we're shit at sport. Other teams have great national anthems to really get them going before a match, we have the world's dullest anthem.
    The English/British anthem is utter shit. I can only think of two people on here who would possibly feel any pride when hearing it: @HYUFD and @malcolmg
    It is an uninspiring dirge and needs replacement
    I don't agree, it's an OK melody and easy to sing. I'm astonished we've had a vote in favour of Flower of Scotland from a non-Scot. It's heinous. Hearing a crowd drone it out all at different times and in different keys is bad, really bad. That's a dirge. It's nothing to do with Scotland by the way Nats - The Bonny Bonny Banks of Loch Lomond is about the best song in the world.
    It is good to disagree but I have never liked the national anthem and to be honest my Scottish wife does not like Scotlands

    Of course our Welsh anthem is fantastic
    This is the saddest Welsh song ever writen. We used to sing it on the first day of term at my prep school in Penmaenmawr. Not a dry eye in the house. All we wanted was to go home....

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHVA9lME2qA

  • Fysics_TeacherFysics_Teacher Posts: 6,285
    IshmaelZ said:

    Fishing said:

    Cookie said:

    MaxPB said:

    darkage said:

    kle4 said:

    Farooq said:

    MaxPB said:

    Omnium said:

    Omnium said:

    TimT said:
    No idea about Russian IT skills, but the Ukranians are very good.
    Aslan said:

    Another French company looking to expand in Russia:

    https://www.businessinsider.com/retailer-looks-expand-russia-business-as-more-firms-pull-out-2022-3?utm_source=reddit.com

    The French are scum. And yet the usual Europhiles on PB give more shit to Boris for an inelegant comparison than bankrolling war criminals.

    "The French are scum."

    Clearly, and by definition.

    However the French are in fact wonderful, warm, and truly lovely people. I'll have to think about whether they're charming us for a while prior to revealing their true nature!

    They also have the best national anthem. By miles.
    Not really - The Welsh anthem is the best in the world
    Well anything actually sung by the Welsh is the best in the world. Welshman singing the Marsiellais - that'd be a thing.


    I really like 'Flower of Sctland' too - suits their peasant voice :)
    I've always thought the Welsh National Anthem unsurpassable. The Marseillaise and the Stars and Stripes are pretty good too. I find it hard to think of another worthy of mention - maybe Flower of Scotland, or Australia Fair.

    The Londonderry Air is a bit special but it's not an anthem of course. Somebody should nick it for their own.
    I know the climate is wrong for making this admission and with all due apologies to people's sensibilities, but the old Soviet National Anthem is just a wonderful piece of music.
    Yes, it's a truly rousing anthem. I wish ours was less boring, I think it's part of the reason we're shit at sport. Other teams have great national anthems to really get them going before a match, we have the world's dullest anthem.
    The English/British anthem is utter shit. I can only think of two people on here who would possibly feel any pride when hearing it: @HYUFD and @malcolmg
    I think it's fine. It's often played too slowly, but it is simple and straightforward to belt out, which is handy, even if it is certainly not as rousing or exciting as many others.
    It will never happen, but "I vow to thee my country" by Gustav Holst would be a far better national anthem.

    EDIT - I see some others have suggested the same.
    I don't actually think it would be in the running as the CoE says it is heretical, placing the love of the nation above the love for God. Still a great song and before football matches it would get the team and crowd going.
    The CofE can, quite frankly, fuck right off. None of their business.
    Anyway, I prefer Jerusalem. Though obviously that is English not British.
    Putting God’s teaching and wisdom before nation is exactly their business.

    CoE don’t like Jerusalem too, it’s banned from the hymnal’s 😝
    The national anthem should be Rule Britannia. It is anti-French, pro-Navy and anti-slavery. What's not to like?
    Which bit is anti-French?
    The pro-navy and anti-slavery bits obviously...
    What? the French were fucking amateurs when it came to slavery, though I suppose they can claim some sort of share in Leopold of Belgium, who spoke the language. It was always Portugal first, britain second and the rest also ran.
    Napoleon re-introduced slavery after it had been abolished.
  • MoonRabbitMoonRabbit Posts: 13,501
    kle4 said:

    kle4 said:

    kle4 said:

    mwadams said:

    Aslan said:

    Aslan said:

    Another French company looking to expand in Russia:

    https://www.businessinsider.com/retailer-looks-expand-russia-business-as-more-firms-pull-out-2022-3?utm_source=reddit.com

    The French are scum. And yet the usual Europhiles on PB give more shit to Boris for an inelegant comparison than bankrolling war criminals.

    Has @Scott_xP made any comment as I assume he will be embarrassed by this behaviour and call it out
    The PB Remoaners are staying quiet. The only voices responding are those condemning this despicable act and the outright Putin apologists engaging in whataboutism.
    I’m a Libdem and speaking up. The only way to steer something like this is to reform yourself and lead by example. How squeaking clean and brilliant are we before shouting about everyone else (I agree the French undercutting sanctions and pressure on Putin is disgusting)

    The night of the invasion of Ukraine Britains Tory Prime Minister was at a fund raising do shamelessly courting yet more dirty money, the Murdoch press claim.

    Maybe the PM can actually make it to PMQs this week and answer these questions for himself rather than hiding from awkward questions? Maybe then we will have a clearer picture how squeaky clean and brilliant our own government is?
    Much as I can't stand the Government, that's whataboutery, not speaking up, I'm afraid.
    Indeed. We do need to be cleaner, in a lot of ways, but that doesn't prevent commentary on others. Sometimes stones need to be cast before waiting for someone sin free to do it.

    But the anti-French stuff has been a bit overblown.
    “Sometimes stones need to be cast before waiting for someone sin free to do it“

    Are you sure?
    Yes, I am sure. Sin free people (and nations) do not exist in the real world. And waiting for a perfect world before addressing a problem would be a greater sin than acting despite having some sin.

    Scaled down, that means that you can still criticise others without being perfect yourself, so long as you are aware of your own failings.
    What sort of world is that?
    The one we live in.

    No one is saying we cannot aspire to do better and behave better, but there's a reason 'Don't let perfect be the enemy of the good' is a saying.
    A world where sinners throw stones at one another? Where exactly do you draw the line? Do you give more leeway to those who vote the same as you, pray the same as you, belong to the same Nation, less leeway to those who don’t tolerate depictions of their God’s and Prophet’s, or who identify as French?

    The only way to change the world for what you regard as better is to reform your own spirit and set the example to follow. 😇
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,561

    The UK factories response for making NLAWs are going have to start working overtime.

    “I don’t think ours have failed. I’ve got the details of ours. We’ve given you over 4,000. We’ve got more coming,” he said. “We’re running out of our own. I speak to Reznikov and text him every day.”

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/mar/22/uk-anti-tank-weapons-defence-secretary-russian-hoax-call

    In any call, all Ministers should stuff Russian hoaxers by constantly referring to the 16,000 Russian dead, the 25,000 injured and the total destruction of the Russian armour.

    Then see if that gets played in public....
  • Fysics_TeacherFysics_Teacher Posts: 6,285
    ydoethur said:

    ydoethur said:

    Farooq said:

    MaxPB said:

    Omnium said:

    Omnium said:

    TimT said:
    No idea about Russian IT skills, but the Ukranians are very good.
    Aslan said:

    Another French company looking to expand in Russia:

    https://www.businessinsider.com/retailer-looks-expand-russia-business-as-more-firms-pull-out-2022-3?utm_source=reddit.com

    The French are scum. And yet the usual Europhiles on PB give more shit to Boris for an inelegant comparison than bankrolling war criminals.

    "The French are scum."

    Clearly, and by definition.

    However the French are in fact wonderful, warm, and truly lovely people. I'll have to think about whether they're charming us for a while prior to revealing their true nature!

    They also have the best national anthem. By miles.
    Not really - The Welsh anthem is the best in the world
    Well anything actually sung by the Welsh is the best in the world. Welshman singing the Marsiellais - that'd be a thing.


    I really like 'Flower of Sctland' too - suits their peasant voice :)
    I've always thought the Welsh National Anthem unsurpassable. The Marseillaise and the Stars and Stripes are pretty good too. I find it hard to think of another worthy of mention - maybe Flower of Scotland, or Australia Fair.

    The Londonderry Air is a bit special but it's not an anthem of course. Somebody should nick it for their own.
    I know the climate is wrong for making this admission and with all due apologies to people's sensibilities, but the old Soviet National Anthem is just a wonderful piece of music.
    Yes, it's a truly rousing anthem. I wish ours was less boring, I think it's part of the reason we're shit at sport. Other teams have great national anthems to really get them going before a match, we have the world's dullest anthem.
    The English/British anthem is utter shit. I can only think of two people on here who would possibly feel any pride when hearing it: @HYUFD and @malcolmg
    It is an uninspiring dirge and needs replacement
    Agreed. We should use Jerusalem as I believe we already do in the Commonwealth Games?
    Oh great. One uninspiring dirge replaced with another.
    Jerusalem is a wonderful song, but it is a solely English anthem.
    It really isn't. Terrible piece of music.

    Of all the Parry I know - and I know an awful lot of his work one way and another - I'd say it's the one I like least.
    This one is definitely better: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GArUrAWJZsg
  • IshmaelZIshmaelZ Posts: 21,830

    IshmaelZ said:

    Fishing said:

    Cookie said:

    MaxPB said:

    darkage said:

    kle4 said:

    Farooq said:

    MaxPB said:

    Omnium said:

    Omnium said:

    TimT said:
    No idea about Russian IT skills, but the Ukranians are very good.
    Aslan said:

    Another French company looking to expand in Russia:

    https://www.businessinsider.com/retailer-looks-expand-russia-business-as-more-firms-pull-out-2022-3?utm_source=reddit.com

    The French are scum. And yet the usual Europhiles on PB give more shit to Boris for an inelegant comparison than bankrolling war criminals.

    "The French are scum."

    Clearly, and by definition.

    However the French are in fact wonderful, warm, and truly lovely people. I'll have to think about whether they're charming us for a while prior to revealing their true nature!

    They also have the best national anthem. By miles.
    Not really - The Welsh anthem is the best in the world
    Well anything actually sung by the Welsh is the best in the world. Welshman singing the Marsiellais - that'd be a thing.


    I really like 'Flower of Sctland' too - suits their peasant voice :)
    I've always thought the Welsh National Anthem unsurpassable. The Marseillaise and the Stars and Stripes are pretty good too. I find it hard to think of another worthy of mention - maybe Flower of Scotland, or Australia Fair.

    The Londonderry Air is a bit special but it's not an anthem of course. Somebody should nick it for their own.
    I know the climate is wrong for making this admission and with all due apologies to people's sensibilities, but the old Soviet National Anthem is just a wonderful piece of music.
    Yes, it's a truly rousing anthem. I wish ours was less boring, I think it's part of the reason we're shit at sport. Other teams have great national anthems to really get them going before a match, we have the world's dullest anthem.
    The English/British anthem is utter shit. I can only think of two people on here who would possibly feel any pride when hearing it: @HYUFD and @malcolmg
    I think it's fine. It's often played too slowly, but it is simple and straightforward to belt out, which is handy, even if it is certainly not as rousing or exciting as many others.
    It will never happen, but "I vow to thee my country" by Gustav Holst would be a far better national anthem.

    EDIT - I see some others have suggested the same.
    I don't actually think it would be in the running as the CoE says it is heretical, placing the love of the nation above the love for God. Still a great song and before football matches it would get the team and crowd going.
    The CofE can, quite frankly, fuck right off. None of their business.
    Anyway, I prefer Jerusalem. Though obviously that is English not British.
    Putting God’s teaching and wisdom before nation is exactly their business.

    CoE don’t like Jerusalem too, it’s banned from the hymnal’s 😝
    The national anthem should be Rule Britannia. It is anti-French, pro-Navy and anti-slavery. What's not to like?
    Which bit is anti-French?
    The pro-navy and anti-slavery bits obviously...
    What? the French were fucking amateurs when it came to slavery, though I suppose they can claim some sort of share in Leopold of Belgium, who spoke the language. It was always Portugal first, britain second and the rest also ran.
    Napoleon re-introduced slavery after it had been abolished.
    That can be restated as, France was the first nation to abolish slavery
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 71,385
    edited March 2022

    The UK factories response for making NLAWs are going have to start working overtime.

    “I don’t think ours have failed. I’ve got the details of ours. We’ve given you over 4,000. We’ve got more coming,” he said. “We’re running out of our own. I speak to Reznikov and text him every day.”

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/mar/22/uk-anti-tank-weapons-defence-secretary-russian-hoax-call

    In any call, all Ministers should stuff Russian hoaxers by constantly referring to the 16,000 Russian dead, the 25,000 injured and the total destruction of the Russian armour.

    Then see if that gets played in public....
    And Dobby the House Elf.

    Although Dobby was brave enough to fight in the front line. Unlike Putin.
  • FrankBoothFrankBooth Posts: 9,826
    One of the big unknowns.

    The Ukrainians have stopped men under 65 leaving the country. We have quite a few young women training as reservists. If they are as committed as we're led to believe what kind of size of reserve army will they get to? Is there any reason why it could not be one million? Two million? If you are talking about a war for national survival, is this inconceivable.

    They will of course need training and kit.
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 28,432
    ydoethur said:

    IshmaelZ said:

    ydoethur said:

    IshmaelZ said:

    ydoethur said:

    MaxPB said:

    darkage said:

    kle4 said:

    Farooq said:

    MaxPB said:

    Omnium said:

    Omnium said:

    TimT said:
    No idea about Russian IT skills, but the Ukranians are very good.
    Aslan said:

    Another French company looking to expand in Russia:

    https://www.businessinsider.com/retailer-looks-expand-russia-business-as-more-firms-pull-out-2022-3?utm_source=reddit.com

    The French are scum. And yet the usual Europhiles on PB give more shit to Boris for an inelegant comparison than bankrolling war criminals.

    "The French are scum."

    Clearly, and by definition.

    However the French are in fact wonderful, warm, and truly lovely people. I'll have to think about whether they're charming us for a while prior to revealing their true nature!

    They also have the best national anthem. By miles.
    Not really - The Welsh anthem is the best in the world
    Well anything actually sung by the Welsh is the best in the world. Welshman singing the Marsiellais - that'd be a thing.


    I really like 'Flower of Sctland' too - suits their peasant voice :)
    I've always thought the Welsh National Anthem unsurpassable. The Marseillaise and the Stars and Stripes are pretty good too. I find it hard to think of another worthy of mention - maybe Flower of Scotland, or Australia Fair.

    The Londonderry Air is a bit special but it's not an anthem of course. Somebody should nick it for their own.
    I know the climate is wrong for making this admission and with all due apologies to people's sensibilities, but the old Soviet National Anthem is just a wonderful piece of music.
    Yes, it's a truly rousing anthem. I wish ours was less boring, I think it's part of the reason we're shit at sport. Other teams have great national anthems to really get them going before a match, we have the world's dullest anthem.
    The English/British anthem is utter shit. I can only think of two people on here who would possibly feel any pride when hearing it: @HYUFD and @malcolmg
    I think it's fine. It's often played too slowly, but it is simple and straightforward to belt out, which is handy, even if it is certainly not as rousing or exciting as many others.
    It will never happen, but "I vow to thee my country" by Gustav Holst would be a far better national anthem.

    EDIT - I see some others have suggested the same.
    I don't actually think it would be in the running as the CoE says it is heretical, placing the love of the nation above the love for God. Still a great song and before football matches it would get the team and crowd going.
    Awful scanning: "I-I vow... t'thee my cou-untry..."

    Should have got W.S.Gilbert to write the lyrics, at least they'd have scanned (and been funnier). (Ok, so he was dead but a dead WSG would have been better than Sir Cecil Spring Pancake Rice.)

    Plus, ridiculous sentiments. "...her shining bounds increase, ...and all her paths are peace" Er, how to those two work ? Empire-building by peace offensive?

    Apart from that - great choice.
    We should confuse the hell out of everybody and choose Jerusalem the Golden, in its full version (which so clearly confuses England and Heaven in Neale's translation that the first half is almost never sung now).

    that aside, it is a grand tune. Far better than Jerusalem which is one of Parry's weaker and less interesting efforts.

    If we have to go with Parry at least have something rousing like I Was Glad.
    Jerusalem the golden,
    With milk and honey blest,
    Beneath thy contemplation
    Sink heart and voice oppressed.

    And so on for about 20 verses of the sort of paranoid euphoria I associate with class A psychedelics. Strange
    poem.
    This is the original opening:

    For thee, O dear, dear country,
    Mine eyes their vigils keep;
    For very love, beholding
    Thy happy name, they weep;
    The mention of thy glory
    Is unction to the breast,
    And medicine in sickness,
    And love, and life, and rest.

    O one, O only mansion,
    O Paradise of joy!
    Where tears are ever banished,
    And smiles have no alloy;
    The Cross is all thy splendor,
    The Crucified thy praise;
    His laud and benediction
    Thy ransomed people raise.

    Thou hast no shore, fair ocean;
    Thou hast no time, bright day;
    Dear fountain of refreshment
    To pilgrims far away!
    Upon the Rock of Ages
    They raise thy holy tower;
    Thine is the victor's laurel,
    And thine the golden dower.

    O sweet and blessèd country,
    The home of God's elect;
    O sweet and blessèd country,
    That eager hearts expect!
    Jesus, in mercy bring us,
    To that dear land of rest,
    Who art, with God the Father
    And Spirit, ever blest.
    Thou hast no shore, fair ocean;
    Thou hast no time, bright day;

    is absolutely a trip report from a dreary subreddit about drugs.
    What would the 'fountain of refreshment' stand for in this metaphor?
    It anticipates my idea of adding an extravagant 'Boris Jet' to the Swansea Tidal Barrage.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 62,715
    It is utterly astounding that the Russians, who liberated Auschwitz, are now killing 90 year old camp survivors in their own homes.

    We must never forget this new crime. It is one for the ages.

    No way back for Russian for a generation after this.



  • kle4kle4 Posts: 96,083
    edited March 2022

    kle4 said:

    kle4 said:

    kle4 said:

    mwadams said:

    Aslan said:

    Aslan said:

    Another French company looking to expand in Russia:

    https://www.businessinsider.com/retailer-looks-expand-russia-business-as-more-firms-pull-out-2022-3?utm_source=reddit.com

    The French are scum. And yet the usual Europhiles on PB give more shit to Boris for an inelegant comparison than bankrolling war criminals.

    Has @Scott_xP made any comment as I assume he will be embarrassed by this behaviour and call it out
    The PB Remoaners are staying quiet. The only voices responding are those condemning this despicable act and the outright Putin apologists engaging in whataboutism.
    I’m a Libdem and speaking up. The only way to steer something like this is to reform yourself and lead by example. How squeaking clean and brilliant are we before shouting about everyone else (I agree the French undercutting sanctions and pressure on Putin is disgusting)

    The night of the invasion of Ukraine Britains Tory Prime Minister was at a fund raising do shamelessly courting yet more dirty money, the Murdoch press claim.

    Maybe the PM can actually make it to PMQs this week and answer these questions for himself rather than hiding from awkward questions? Maybe then we will have a clearer picture how squeaky clean and brilliant our own government is?
    Much as I can't stand the Government, that's whataboutery, not speaking up, I'm afraid.
    Indeed. We do need to be cleaner, in a lot of ways, but that doesn't prevent commentary on others. Sometimes stones need to be cast before waiting for someone sin free to do it.

    But the anti-French stuff has been a bit overblown.
    “Sometimes stones need to be cast before waiting for someone sin free to do it“

    Are you sure?
    Yes, I am sure. Sin free people (and nations) do not exist in the real world. And waiting for a perfect world before addressing a problem would be a greater sin than acting despite having some sin.

    Scaled down, that means that you can still criticise others without being perfect yourself, so long as you are aware of your own failings.
    What sort of world is that?
    The one we live in.

    No one is saying we cannot aspire to do better and behave better, but there's a reason 'Don't let perfect be the enemy of the good' is a saying.
    A world where sinners throw stones at one another? Where exactly do you draw the line? Do you give more leeway to those who vote the same as you, pray the same as you, belong to the same Nation, less leeway to those who don’t tolerate depictions of their God’s and Prophet’s, or who identify as French?

    The only way to change the world for what you regard as better is to reform your own spirit and set the example to follow. 😇
    You appear to be deliberately misreading me, since nothing in what I wrote suggests a cavalier view of throwing stones at one another, and in fact I directly talk about aspiring to be better rather than give in to baser instincts such as enacting vengeance or ignoring our own sins.

    I simply rejected the idea we can be without sin, and therefore unable to act at all, causing a greater sin. I don't think that is particularly controversial.

    We cannot be perfect, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't try to be better. We also shouldn't act like a failure to attain perfection is a problem. Hence the stones throwing analogy. Not all sins are equal, some need dealing with, and we cannot ignore them because we are imperfect and in no place to judge.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 71,385

    ydoethur said:

    ydoethur said:

    Farooq said:

    MaxPB said:

    Omnium said:

    Omnium said:

    TimT said:
    No idea about Russian IT skills, but the Ukranians are very good.
    Aslan said:

    Another French company looking to expand in Russia:

    https://www.businessinsider.com/retailer-looks-expand-russia-business-as-more-firms-pull-out-2022-3?utm_source=reddit.com

    The French are scum. And yet the usual Europhiles on PB give more shit to Boris for an inelegant comparison than bankrolling war criminals.

    "The French are scum."

    Clearly, and by definition.

    However the French are in fact wonderful, warm, and truly lovely people. I'll have to think about whether they're charming us for a while prior to revealing their true nature!

    They also have the best national anthem. By miles.
    Not really - The Welsh anthem is the best in the world
    Well anything actually sung by the Welsh is the best in the world. Welshman singing the Marsiellais - that'd be a thing.


    I really like 'Flower of Sctland' too - suits their peasant voice :)
    I've always thought the Welsh National Anthem unsurpassable. The Marseillaise and the Stars and Stripes are pretty good too. I find it hard to think of another worthy of mention - maybe Flower of Scotland, or Australia Fair.

    The Londonderry Air is a bit special but it's not an anthem of course. Somebody should nick it for their own.
    I know the climate is wrong for making this admission and with all due apologies to people's sensibilities, but the old Soviet National Anthem is just a wonderful piece of music.
    Yes, it's a truly rousing anthem. I wish ours was less boring, I think it's part of the reason we're shit at sport. Other teams have great national anthems to really get them going before a match, we have the world's dullest anthem.
    The English/British anthem is utter shit. I can only think of two people on here who would possibly feel any pride when hearing it: @HYUFD and @malcolmg
    It is an uninspiring dirge and needs replacement
    Agreed. We should use Jerusalem as I believe we already do in the Commonwealth Games?
    Oh great. One uninspiring dirge replaced with another.
    Jerusalem is a wonderful song, but it is a solely English anthem.
    It really isn't. Terrible piece of music.

    Of all the Parry I know - and I know an awful lot of his work one way and another - I'd say it's the one I like least.
    This one is definitely better: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GArUrAWJZsg
    Yes, but that's not only in eight parts but unaccompanied. If you think an English crowd would find I was Glad hard work...
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 81,991
    edited March 2022

    Putin's played a blinder today. He's managed to get almost all the PB cognoscenti to transfer their wrath and fury from him and his army to Macron and the French. Clever.

    In the immortal words of Kenny Everett, "let's bomb Paris". Or something like that.

    Are you suggesting Macron is in cahoots with Putin?
    No.

    I've always found the anti-French rhetoric on PB quite unpleasant, and it's really the only thing that turns me off this forum. I know some of it is in jest, but sadly some of it isn't, and quite a few posters seem to have a vitriolic and irrational dislike of everything and everybody French.

    On the specific issue, it sounds like the French deserve criticism. But I wouldn't be surprised at all if, in due course, we discover that several international and multinational companies are still trading or doing some sort of dealings with Russia, including some in the UK. I'll bet there's still UK money washing around in Moscow (as well as Russian money washing around in London), but we may never know as it wouldn't be high profile like Renault.
    There are still UK companies still operating in Russia e.g. I believe AZN is still running drug trials there. There are also brands like M&S who have licensing deal with a Turkish company, who then operate in Russia, so although they can't force the closure of stores, are indirectly profiting. And there are also supply chain links e.g. the Scottish seed potato producers who have a deal with PepsiCo to provide those to their Russian farmers to grow the spuds for Walkers / Lays in Russia.

    The criticism here is specifically that the French government own a big stake in Renault and have told them to go on and get cracking again building Ladas.
  • Jerusalem is a fucking dirge.

    If you want that piece of music as your national anthem you really hate your country.
  • Does anyone believe Ange?

    "Corbyn would have sent missiles to Ukraine, says Angela Rayner"
    https://www.lbc.co.uk/radio/presenters/andrew-marr/corbyn-send-missiles-to-ukraine-angela-rayner/
  • Fysics_TeacherFysics_Teacher Posts: 6,285
    IshmaelZ said:

    IshmaelZ said:

    Fishing said:

    Cookie said:

    MaxPB said:

    darkage said:

    kle4 said:

    Farooq said:

    MaxPB said:

    Omnium said:

    Omnium said:

    TimT said:
    No idea about Russian IT skills, but the Ukranians are very good.
    Aslan said:

    Another French company looking to expand in Russia:

    https://www.businessinsider.com/retailer-looks-expand-russia-business-as-more-firms-pull-out-2022-3?utm_source=reddit.com

    The French are scum. And yet the usual Europhiles on PB give more shit to Boris for an inelegant comparison than bankrolling war criminals.

    "The French are scum."

    Clearly, and by definition.

    However the French are in fact wonderful, warm, and truly lovely people. I'll have to think about whether they're charming us for a while prior to revealing their true nature!

    They also have the best national anthem. By miles.
    Not really - The Welsh anthem is the best in the world
    Well anything actually sung by the Welsh is the best in the world. Welshman singing the Marsiellais - that'd be a thing.


    I really like 'Flower of Sctland' too - suits their peasant voice :)
    I've always thought the Welsh National Anthem unsurpassable. The Marseillaise and the Stars and Stripes are pretty good too. I find it hard to think of another worthy of mention - maybe Flower of Scotland, or Australia Fair.

    The Londonderry Air is a bit special but it's not an anthem of course. Somebody should nick it for their own.
    I know the climate is wrong for making this admission and with all due apologies to people's sensibilities, but the old Soviet National Anthem is just a wonderful piece of music.
    Yes, it's a truly rousing anthem. I wish ours was less boring, I think it's part of the reason we're shit at sport. Other teams have great national anthems to really get them going before a match, we have the world's dullest anthem.
    The English/British anthem is utter shit. I can only think of two people on here who would possibly feel any pride when hearing it: @HYUFD and @malcolmg
    I think it's fine. It's often played too slowly, but it is simple and straightforward to belt out, which is handy, even if it is certainly not as rousing or exciting as many others.
    It will never happen, but "I vow to thee my country" by Gustav Holst would be a far better national anthem.

    EDIT - I see some others have suggested the same.
    I don't actually think it would be in the running as the CoE says it is heretical, placing the love of the nation above the love for God. Still a great song and before football matches it would get the team and crowd going.
    The CofE can, quite frankly, fuck right off. None of their business.
    Anyway, I prefer Jerusalem. Though obviously that is English not British.
    Putting God’s teaching and wisdom before nation is exactly their business.

    CoE don’t like Jerusalem too, it’s banned from the hymnal’s 😝
    The national anthem should be Rule Britannia. It is anti-French, pro-Navy and anti-slavery. What's not to like?
    Which bit is anti-French?
    The pro-navy and anti-slavery bits obviously...
    What? the French were fucking amateurs when it came to slavery, though I suppose they can claim some sort of share in Leopold of Belgium, who spoke the language. It was always Portugal first, britain second and the rest also ran.
    Napoleon re-introduced slavery after it had been abolished.
    That can be restated as, France was the first nation to abolish slavery
    According to Wikipedia, not first by over two thousand years: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyrus_the_Great
  • MoonRabbitMoonRabbit Posts: 13,501
    ydoethur said:

    MaxPB said:

    darkage said:

    kle4 said:

    Farooq said:

    MaxPB said:

    Omnium said:

    Omnium said:

    TimT said:
    No idea about Russian IT skills, but the Ukranians are very good.
    Aslan said:

    Another French company looking to expand in Russia:

    https://www.businessinsider.com/retailer-looks-expand-russia-business-as-more-firms-pull-out-2022-3?utm_source=reddit.com

    The French are scum. And yet the usual Europhiles on PB give more shit to Boris for an inelegant comparison than bankrolling war criminals.

    "The French are scum."

    Clearly, and by definition.

    However the French are in fact wonderful, warm, and truly lovely people. I'll have to think about whether they're charming us for a while prior to revealing their true nature!

    They also have the best national anthem. By miles.
    Not really - The Welsh anthem is the best in the world
    Well anything actually sung by the Welsh is the best in the world. Welshman singing the Marsiellais - that'd be a thing.


    I really like 'Flower of Sctland' too - suits their peasant voice :)
    I've always thought the Welsh National Anthem unsurpassable. The Marseillaise and the Stars and Stripes are pretty good too. I find it hard to think of another worthy of mention - maybe Flower of Scotland, or Australia Fair.

    The Londonderry Air is a bit special but it's not an anthem of course. Somebody should nick it for their own.
    I know the climate is wrong for making this admission and with all due apologies to people's sensibilities, but the old Soviet National Anthem is just a wonderful piece of music.
    Yes, it's a truly rousing anthem. I wish ours was less boring, I think it's part of the reason we're shit at sport. Other teams have great national anthems to really get them going before a match, we have the world's dullest anthem.
    The English/British anthem is utter shit. I can only think of two people on here who would possibly feel any pride when hearing it: @HYUFD and @malcolmg
    I think it's fine. It's often played too slowly, but it is simple and straightforward to belt out, which is handy, even if it is certainly not as rousing or exciting as many others.
    It will never happen, but "I vow to thee my country" by Gustav Holst would be a far better national anthem.

    EDIT - I see some others have suggested the same.
    I don't actually think it would be in the running as the CoE says it is heretical, placing the love of the nation above the love for God. Still a great song and before football matches it would get the team and crowd going.
    Awful scanning: "I-I vow... t'thee my cou-untry..."

    Should have got W.S.Gilbert to write the lyrics, at least they'd have scanned (and been funnier). (Ok, so he was dead but a dead WSG would have been better than Sir Cecil Spring Pancake Rice.)

    Plus, ridiculous sentiments. "...her shining bounds increase, ...and all her paths are peace" Er, how to those two work ? Empire-building by peace offensive?

    Apart from that - great choice.
    We should confuse the hell out of everybody and choose Jerusalem the Golden, in its full version (which so clearly confuses England and Heaven in Neale's translation that the first half is almost never sung now).

    that aside, it is a grand tune. Far better than Jerusalem which is one of Parry's weaker and less interesting efforts.

    If we have to go with Parry at least have something rousing like I Was Glad.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7ilvzYmBow
  • Northern_AlNorthern_Al Posts: 8,377
    edited March 2022

    Putin's played a blinder today. He's managed to get almost all the PB cognoscenti to transfer their wrath and fury from him and his army to Macron and the French. Clever.

    In the immortal words of Kenny Everett, "let's bomb Paris". Or something like that.

    Are you suggesting Macron is in cahoots with Putin?
    No.

    I've always found the anti-French rhetoric on PB quite unpleasant, and it's really the only thing that turns me off this forum. I know some of it is in jest, but sadly some of it isn't, and quite a few posters seem to have a vitriolic and irrational dislike of everything and everybody French.

    On the specific issue, it sounds like the French deserve criticism. But I wouldn't be surprised at all if, in due course, we discover that several international and multinational companies are still trading or doing some sort of dealings with Russia, including some in the UK. I'll bet there's still UK money washing around in Moscow (as well as Russian money washing around in London), but we may never know as it wouldn't be high profile like Renault.
    There are still UK companies still operating in Russia e.g. I believe AZN is still running drug trials there. There are also brands like M&S who have licensing deal with a Turkish company, who then operate in Russia. And there are also supply chain links e.g. the Scottish seed potato producers who have a deal with PepsiCo to provide those to their Russian farmers to grow the spuds for Walkers / Lays in Russia.

    The criticism here is specifically that the French government own a big stake in Renault and have told them to go on and get cracking again building Ladas.
    Which is why I wrote the following words: On the specific issue, it sounds like the French deserve criticism.
  • IshmaelZIshmaelZ Posts: 21,830

    It is utterly astounding that the Russians, who liberated Auschwitz, are now killing 90 year old camp survivors in their own homes.

    We must never forget this new crime. It is one for the ages.

    No way back for Russian for a generation after this.

    The liberation of Auschwitz or anywhere else by the Russians was not part of a Being lovely blokes drive.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 81,991
    edited March 2022

    Putin's played a blinder today. He's managed to get almost all the PB cognoscenti to transfer their wrath and fury from him and his army to Macron and the French. Clever.

    In the immortal words of Kenny Everett, "let's bomb Paris". Or something like that.

    Are you suggesting Macron is in cahoots with Putin?
    No.

    I've always found the anti-French rhetoric on PB quite unpleasant, and it's really the only thing that turns me off this forum. I know some of it is in jest, but sadly some of it isn't, and quite a few posters seem to have a vitriolic and irrational dislike of everything and everybody French.

    On the specific issue, it sounds like the French deserve criticism. But I wouldn't be surprised at all if, in due course, we discover that several international and multinational companies are still trading or doing some sort of dealings with Russia, including some in the UK. I'll bet there's still UK money washing around in Moscow (as well as Russian money washing around in London), but we may never know as it wouldn't be high profile like Renault.
    There are still UK companies still operating in Russia e.g. I believe AZN is still running drug trials there. There are also brands like M&S who have licensing deal with a Turkish company, who then operate in Russia. And there are also supply chain links e.g. the Scottish seed potato producers who have a deal with PepsiCo to provide those to their Russian farmers to grow the spuds for Walkers / Lays in Russia.

    The criticism here is specifically that the French government own a big stake in Renault and have told them to go on and get cracking again building Ladas.
    Which is why I wrote the following words: On the specific issue, it sounds like the French deserve criticism.
    I was clarifying that it isn't just a French company, it is the French government. There are French companies that don't appear to have any particular issues with exploiting the situation to expand their business, but that's a slightly different matter, as noted there will be others from a range of countries who probably won't be moralising either.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,561
    ydoethur said:

    The UK factories response for making NLAWs are going have to start working overtime.

    “I don’t think ours have failed. I’ve got the details of ours. We’ve given you over 4,000. We’ve got more coming,” he said. “We’re running out of our own. I speak to Reznikov and text him every day.”

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/mar/22/uk-anti-tank-weapons-defence-secretary-russian-hoax-call

    In any call, all Ministers should stuff Russian hoaxers by constantly referring to the 16,000 Russian dead, the 25,000 injured and the total destruction of the Russian armour.

    Then see if that gets played in public....
    And Dobby the House Elf.

    Although Dobby was brave enough to fight in the front line. Unlike Putin.
    Dobby paid the ultimate price. All for a pair of socks.

    Which is more than Russian conscripts get.
  • darkagedarkage Posts: 5,398

    Putin's played a blinder today. He's managed to get almost all the PB cognoscenti to transfer their wrath and fury from him and his army to Macron and the French. Clever.

    In the immortal words of Kenny Everett, "let's bomb Paris". Or something like that.

    Are you suggesting Macron is in cahoots with Putin?
    No.

    I've always found the anti-French rhetoric on PB quite unpleasant, and it's really the only thing that turns me off this forum. I know some of it is in jest, but sadly some of it isn't, and quite a few posters seem to have a vitriolic and irrational dislike of everything and everybody French.

    On the specific issue, it sounds like the French deserve criticism. But I wouldn't be surprised at all if, in due course, we discover that several international and multinational companies are still trading or doing some sort of dealings with Russia, including some in the UK. I'll bet there's still UK money washing around in Moscow (as well as Russian money washing around in London), but we may never know as it wouldn't be high profile like Renault.
    I recall a sketch from Yes Minister where Sir Humphrey concludes that the French are our actual enemies, and the only reason to join the EU was to undermine them from within. I read the comments about the French on PB in this vein. Probably best not to take them too seriously.
  • Fysics_TeacherFysics_Teacher Posts: 6,285
    test
    ydoethur said:

    ydoethur said:

    ydoethur said:

    Farooq said:

    MaxPB said:

    Omnium said:

    Omnium said:

    TimT said:
    No idea about Russian IT skills, but the Ukranians are very good.
    Aslan said:

    Another French company looking to expand in Russia:

    https://www.businessinsider.com/retailer-looks-expand-russia-business-as-more-firms-pull-out-2022-3?utm_source=reddit.com

    The French are scum. And yet the usual Europhiles on PB give more shit to Boris for an inelegant comparison than bankrolling war criminals.

    "The French are scum."

    Clearly, and by definition.

    However the French are in fact wonderful, warm, and truly lovely people. I'll have to think about whether they're charming us for a while prior to revealing their true nature!

    They also have the best national anthem. By miles.
    Not really - The Welsh anthem is the best in the world
    Well anything actually sung by the Welsh is the best in the world. Welshman singing the Marsiellais - that'd be a thing.


    I really like 'Flower of Sctland' too - suits their peasant voice :)
    I've always thought the Welsh National Anthem unsurpassable. The Marseillaise and the Stars and Stripes are pretty good too. I find it hard to think of another worthy of mention - maybe Flower of Scotland, or Australia Fair.

    The Londonderry Air is a bit special but it's not an anthem of course. Somebody should nick it for their own.
    I know the climate is wrong for making this admission and with all due apologies to people's sensibilities, but the old Soviet National Anthem is just a wonderful piece of music.
    Yes, it's a truly rousing anthem. I wish ours was less boring, I think it's part of the reason we're shit at sport. Other teams have great national anthems to really get them going before a match, we have the world's dullest anthem.
    The English/British anthem is utter shit. I can only think of two people on here who would possibly feel any pride when hearing it: @HYUFD and @malcolmg
    It is an uninspiring dirge and needs replacement
    Agreed. We should use Jerusalem as I believe we already do in the Commonwealth Games?
    Oh great. One uninspiring dirge replaced with another.
    Jerusalem is a wonderful song, but it is a solely English anthem.
    It really isn't. Terrible piece of music.

    Of all the Parry I know - and I know an awful lot of his work one way and another - I'd say it's the one I like least.
    This one is definitely better: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GArUrAWJZsg
    Yes, but that's not only in eight parts but unaccompanied. If you think an English crowd would find I was Glad hard work...
    How about this then? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoAbXwr3qkg
  • MoonRabbitMoonRabbit Posts: 13,501
    kle4 said:

    kle4 said:

    kle4 said:

    kle4 said:

    mwadams said:

    Aslan said:

    Aslan said:

    Another French company looking to expand in Russia:

    https://www.businessinsider.com/retailer-looks-expand-russia-business-as-more-firms-pull-out-2022-3?utm_source=reddit.com

    The French are scum. And yet the usual Europhiles on PB give more shit to Boris for an inelegant comparison than bankrolling war criminals.

    Has @Scott_xP made any comment as I assume he will be embarrassed by this behaviour and call it out
    The PB Remoaners are staying quiet. The only voices responding are those condemning this despicable act and the outright Putin apologists engaging in whataboutism.
    I’m a Libdem and speaking up. The only way to steer something like this is to reform yourself and lead by example. How squeaking clean and brilliant are we before shouting about everyone else (I agree the French undercutting sanctions and pressure on Putin is disgusting)

    The night of the invasion of Ukraine Britains Tory Prime Minister was at a fund raising do shamelessly courting yet more dirty money, the Murdoch press claim.

    Maybe the PM can actually make it to PMQs this week and answer these questions for himself rather than hiding from awkward questions? Maybe then we will have a clearer picture how squeaky clean and brilliant our own government is?
    Much as I can't stand the Government, that's whataboutery, not speaking up, I'm afraid.
    Indeed. We do need to be cleaner, in a lot of ways, but that doesn't prevent commentary on others. Sometimes stones need to be cast before waiting for someone sin free to do it.

    But the anti-French stuff has been a bit overblown.
    “Sometimes stones need to be cast before waiting for someone sin free to do it“

    Are you sure?
    Yes, I am sure. Sin free people (and nations) do not exist in the real world. And waiting for a perfect world before addressing a problem would be a greater sin than acting despite having some sin.

    Scaled down, that means that you can still criticise others without being perfect yourself, so long as you are aware of your own failings.
    What sort of world is that?
    The one we live in.

    No one is saying we cannot aspire to do better and behave better, but there's a reason 'Don't let perfect be the enemy of the good' is a saying.
    A world where sinners throw stones at one another? Where exactly do you draw the line? Do you give more leeway to those who vote the same as you, pray the same as you, belong to the same Nation, less leeway to those who don’t tolerate depictions of their God’s and Prophet’s, or who identify as French?

    The only way to change the world for what you regard as better is to reform your own spirit and set the example to follow. 😇
    You appear to be deliberately misreading me, since nothing in what I wrote suggests a cavalier view of throwing stones at one another, and in fact I directly talk about aspiring to be better rather than give in to baser instincts such as enacting vengeance or ignoring our own sins.

    I simply rejected the idea we can be without sin, and therefore unable to act at all, causing a greater sin. I don't think that is particularly controversial.

    We cannot be perfect, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't try to be better. We also shouldn't act like a failure to attain perfection is a problem. Hence the stones throwing analogy. Not all sins are equal, some need dealing with, and we cannot ignore them because we are imperfect and in no place to judge.
    Not misreading you at all, merely asked if you are to tolerate sinful people throwing stones at each other, which you are, then where and how are you drawing line between lesser and greater sin? Considering you are chock full of your own prejudices.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 71,385

    Does anyone believe Ange?

    "Corbyn would have sent missiles to Ukraine, says Angela Rayner"
    https://www.lbc.co.uk/radio/presenters/andrew-marr/corbyn-send-missiles-to-ukraine-angela-rayner/

    Yes. He would have taken out Kherson first...
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 81,991
    edited March 2022

    Does anyone believe Ange?

    "Corbyn would have sent missiles to Ukraine, says Angela Rayner"
    https://www.lbc.co.uk/radio/presenters/andrew-marr/corbyn-send-missiles-to-ukraine-angela-rayner/

    I think she is mixing up the word missiles with mediators....
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,561

    Ha, I'd forgotten that there's a Moscow in Ayrshire.


    Destination for HYFUD's tanks?
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 71,385

    test

    ydoethur said:

    ydoethur said:

    ydoethur said:

    Farooq said:

    MaxPB said:

    Omnium said:

    Omnium said:

    TimT said:
    No idea about Russian IT skills, but the Ukranians are very good.
    Aslan said:

    Another French company looking to expand in Russia:

    https://www.businessinsider.com/retailer-looks-expand-russia-business-as-more-firms-pull-out-2022-3?utm_source=reddit.com

    The French are scum. And yet the usual Europhiles on PB give more shit to Boris for an inelegant comparison than bankrolling war criminals.

    "The French are scum."

    Clearly, and by definition.

    However the French are in fact wonderful, warm, and truly lovely people. I'll have to think about whether they're charming us for a while prior to revealing their true nature!

    They also have the best national anthem. By miles.
    Not really - The Welsh anthem is the best in the world
    Well anything actually sung by the Welsh is the best in the world. Welshman singing the Marsiellais - that'd be a thing.


    I really like 'Flower of Sctland' too - suits their peasant voice :)
    I've always thought the Welsh National Anthem unsurpassable. The Marseillaise and the Stars and Stripes are pretty good too. I find it hard to think of another worthy of mention - maybe Flower of Scotland, or Australia Fair.

    The Londonderry Air is a bit special but it's not an anthem of course. Somebody should nick it for their own.
    I know the climate is wrong for making this admission and with all due apologies to people's sensibilities, but the old Soviet National Anthem is just a wonderful piece of music.
    Yes, it's a truly rousing anthem. I wish ours was less boring, I think it's part of the reason we're shit at sport. Other teams have great national anthems to really get them going before a match, we have the world's dullest anthem.
    The English/British anthem is utter shit. I can only think of two people on here who would possibly feel any pride when hearing it: @HYUFD and @malcolmg
    It is an uninspiring dirge and needs replacement
    Agreed. We should use Jerusalem as I believe we already do in the Commonwealth Games?
    Oh great. One uninspiring dirge replaced with another.
    Jerusalem is a wonderful song, but it is a solely English anthem.
    It really isn't. Terrible piece of music.

    Of all the Parry I know - and I know an awful lot of his work one way and another - I'd say it's the one I like least.
    This one is definitely better: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GArUrAWJZsg
    Yes, but that's not only in eight parts but unaccompanied. If you think an English crowd would find I was Glad hard work...
    How about this then? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoAbXwr3qkg
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAEppFUWLfc
  • MoonRabbitMoonRabbit Posts: 13,501

    test

    ydoethur said:

    ydoethur said:

    ydoethur said:

    Farooq said:

    MaxPB said:

    Omnium said:

    Omnium said:

    TimT said:
    No idea about Russian IT skills, but the Ukranians are very good.
    Aslan said:

    Another French company looking to expand in Russia:

    https://www.businessinsider.com/retailer-looks-expand-russia-business-as-more-firms-pull-out-2022-3?utm_source=reddit.com

    The French are scum. And yet the usual Europhiles on PB give more shit to Boris for an inelegant comparison than bankrolling war criminals.

    "The French are scum."

    Clearly, and by definition.

    However the French are in fact wonderful, warm, and truly lovely people. I'll have to think about whether they're charming us for a while prior to revealing their true nature!

    They also have the best national anthem. By miles.
    Not really - The Welsh anthem is the best in the world
    Well anything actually sung by the Welsh is the best in the world. Welshman singing the Marsiellais - that'd be a thing.


    I really like 'Flower of Sctland' too - suits their peasant voice :)
    I've always thought the Welsh National Anthem unsurpassable. The Marseillaise and the Stars and Stripes are pretty good too. I find it hard to think of another worthy of mention - maybe Flower of Scotland, or Australia Fair.

    The Londonderry Air is a bit special but it's not an anthem of course. Somebody should nick it for their own.
    I know the climate is wrong for making this admission and with all due apologies to people's sensibilities, but the old Soviet National Anthem is just a wonderful piece of music.
    Yes, it's a truly rousing anthem. I wish ours was less boring, I think it's part of the reason we're shit at sport. Other teams have great national anthems to really get them going before a match, we have the world's dullest anthem.
    The English/British anthem is utter shit. I can only think of two people on here who would possibly feel any pride when hearing it: @HYUFD and @malcolmg
    It is an uninspiring dirge and needs replacement
    Agreed. We should use Jerusalem as I believe we already do in the Commonwealth Games?
    Oh great. One uninspiring dirge replaced with another.
    Jerusalem is a wonderful song, but it is a solely English anthem.
    It really isn't. Terrible piece of music.

    Of all the Parry I know - and I know an awful lot of his work one way and another - I'd say it's the one I like least.
    This one is definitely better: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GArUrAWJZsg
    Yes, but that's not only in eight parts but unaccompanied. If you think an English crowd would find I was Glad hard work...
    How about this then? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoAbXwr3qkg
    The second and third movements dragged a bit.
  • NickPalmerNickPalmer Posts: 21,523

    Does anyone believe Ange?

    "Corbyn would have sent missiles to Ukraine, says Angela Rayner"
    https://www.lbc.co.uk/radio/presenters/andrew-marr/corbyn-send-missiles-to-ukraine-angela-rayner/

    I do. He has one defining belief, anti-imperialism. He will see Russia's war as czarism, pure and simple - one of the reasons for the Russian Revolution was to stop the war ("Bread and peace"). It's a right-wing myth that left-wingers (except George Galloway and a few similar contrarians) are fond of Putin. Putin has got us all on more or less the same side in opposition - we may argue about NATO's role pre-war, but really that's dwarfed by what's happening now.

    But I should probably retire from the argument about Corbyn - I'm not sure it should matter any more. Let him cultivate his allotment in peace.
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 38,802

    Putin's played a blinder today. He's managed to get almost all the PB cognoscenti to transfer their wrath and fury from him and his army to Macron and the French. Clever.

    In the immortal words of Kenny Everett, "let's bomb Paris". Or something like that.

    Are you suggesting Macron is in cahoots with Putin?
    No.

    I've always found the anti-French rhetoric on PB quite unpleasant, and it's really the only thing that turns me off this forum. I know some of it is in jest, but sadly some of it isn't, and quite a few posters seem to have a vitriolic and irrational dislike of everything and everybody French.

    On the specific issue, it sounds like the French deserve criticism. But I wouldn't be surprised at all if, in due course, we discover that several international and multinational companies are still trading or doing some sort of dealings with Russia, including some in the UK. I'll bet there's still UK money washing around in Moscow (as well as Russian money washing around in London), but we may never know as it wouldn't be high profile like Renault.
    Renault aren't the worst example from French industry. Total are helping Russian companies extract and sell gas, Total's expertise is helping fund the Russian war effort. BP and Exxon both pulled out of their Russian investments, Shell pulled out of their investments in NS and NS2. Total are a disgrace, they are helping Putin fund the bombing of Ukrainian civilians. The gas they extract in Russia and sell to Germany is funding the bombs that kill civilians.

    You can't even bring yourself to admit this, just mealy mouthed "it sounds like the French deserve criticism". You want to see equivalence between what French companies are doing in Russia with what UK companies are doing, yet our two major oil and gas companies (BP, Shell) wrote down tens of billions in Russian investments while Total have just continued as normal. Why should Total be allowed to continue to line their pockets and Putin's pockets? What makes them exempt from the western business withdrawal from Russia?

    I think you want to see France as some kind of foil for Brexit Britain and therefore are incapable of doing anything as bad as the UK. French companies are contributing to Putin's war effort. There's not a lot more else to it.
  • RogerRoger Posts: 19,910

    Putin's played a blinder today. He's managed to get almost all the PB cognoscenti to transfer their wrath and fury from him and his army to Macron and the French. Clever.

    In the immortal words of Kenny Everett, "let's bomb Paris". Or something like that.

    Are you suggesting Macron is in cahoots with Putin?
    No.

    I've always found the anti-French rhetoric on PB quite unpleasant, and it's really the only thing that turns me off this forum. I know some of it is in jest, but sadly some of it isn't, and quite a few posters seem to have a vitriolic and irrational dislike of everything and everybody French.

    On the specific issue, it sounds like the French deserve criticism. But I wouldn't be surprised at all if, in due course, we discover that several international and multinational companies are still trading or doing some sort of dealings with Russia, including some in the UK. I'll bet there's still UK money washing around in Moscow (as well as Russian money washing around in London), but we may never know as it wouldn't be high profile like Renault.
    Aren't the UK getting Russian oil till the end of the year? That's nine months!
  • Fysics_TeacherFysics_Teacher Posts: 6,285
    ydoethur said:

    test

    ydoethur said:

    ydoethur said:

    ydoethur said:

    Farooq said:

    MaxPB said:

    Omnium said:

    Omnium said:

    TimT said:
    No idea about Russian IT skills, but the Ukranians are very good.
    Aslan said:

    Another French company looking to expand in Russia:

    https://www.businessinsider.com/retailer-looks-expand-russia-business-as-more-firms-pull-out-2022-3?utm_source=reddit.com

    The French are scum. And yet the usual Europhiles on PB give more shit to Boris for an inelegant comparison than bankrolling war criminals.

    "The French are scum."

    Clearly, and by definition.

    However the French are in fact wonderful, warm, and truly lovely people. I'll have to think about whether they're charming us for a while prior to revealing their true nature!

    They also have the best national anthem. By miles.
    Not really - The Welsh anthem is the best in the world
    Well anything actually sung by the Welsh is the best in the world. Welshman singing the Marsiellais - that'd be a thing.


    I really like 'Flower of Sctland' too - suits their peasant voice :)
    I've always thought the Welsh National Anthem unsurpassable. The Marseillaise and the Stars and Stripes are pretty good too. I find it hard to think of another worthy of mention - maybe Flower of Scotland, or Australia Fair.

    The Londonderry Air is a bit special but it's not an anthem of course. Somebody should nick it for their own.
    I know the climate is wrong for making this admission and with all due apologies to people's sensibilities, but the old Soviet National Anthem is just a wonderful piece of music.
    Yes, it's a truly rousing anthem. I wish ours was less boring, I think it's part of the reason we're shit at sport. Other teams have great national anthems to really get them going before a match, we have the world's dullest anthem.
    The English/British anthem is utter shit. I can only think of two people on here who would possibly feel any pride when hearing it: @HYUFD and @malcolmg
    It is an uninspiring dirge and needs replacement
    Agreed. We should use Jerusalem as I believe we already do in the Commonwealth Games?
    Oh great. One uninspiring dirge replaced with another.
    Jerusalem is a wonderful song, but it is a solely English anthem.
    It really isn't. Terrible piece of music.

    Of all the Parry I know - and I know an awful lot of his work one way and another - I'd say it's the one I like least.
    This one is definitely better: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GArUrAWJZsg
    Yes, but that's not only in eight parts but unaccompanied. If you think an English crowd would find I was Glad hard work...
    How about this then? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoAbXwr3qkg
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAEppFUWLfc
    Can you imagine 20,000 people trying to play guitar for that?
  • AnabobazinaAnabobazina Posts: 23,485

    Putin's played a blinder today. He's managed to get almost all the PB cognoscenti to transfer their wrath and fury from him and his army to Macron and the French. Clever.

    In the immortal words of Kenny Everett, "let's bomb Paris". Or something like that.

    Are you suggesting Macron is in cahoots with Putin?
    No.

    I've always found the anti-French rhetoric on PB quite unpleasant, and it's really the only thing that turns me off this forum. I know some of it is in jest, but sadly some of it isn't, and quite a few posters seem to have a vitriolic and irrational dislike of everything and everybody French.

    On the specific issue, it sounds like the French deserve criticism. But I wouldn't be surprised at all if, in due course, we discover that several international and multinational companies are still trading or doing some sort of dealings with Russia, including some in the UK. I'll bet there's still UK money washing around in Moscow (as well as Russian money washing around in London), but we may never know as it wouldn't be high profile like Renault.
    Good post.

    Yes, the nasty and unpleasant francophobia on here is pretty vile. That is not to say this move by Renault is not worthy of censure, it clearly is.
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 51,821
    ydoethur said:

    IshmaelZ said:

    ydoethur said:

    IshmaelZ said:

    ydoethur said:

    MaxPB said:

    darkage said:

    kle4 said:

    Farooq said:

    MaxPB said:

    Omnium said:

    Omnium said:

    TimT said:
    No idea about Russian IT skills, but the Ukranians are very good.
    Aslan said:

    Another French company looking to expand in Russia:

    https://www.businessinsider.com/retailer-looks-expand-russia-business-as-more-firms-pull-out-2022-3?utm_source=reddit.com

    The French are scum. And yet the usual Europhiles on PB give more shit to Boris for an inelegant comparison than bankrolling war criminals.

    "The French are scum."

    Clearly, and by definition.

    However the French are in fact wonderful, warm, and truly lovely people. I'll have to think about whether they're charming us for a while prior to revealing their true nature!

    They also have the best national anthem. By miles.
    Not really - The Welsh anthem is the best in the world
    Well anything actually sung by the Welsh is the best in the world. Welshman singing the Marsiellais - that'd be a thing.


    I really like 'Flower of Sctland' too - suits their peasant voice :)
    I've always thought the Welsh National Anthem unsurpassable. The Marseillaise and the Stars and Stripes are pretty good too. I find it hard to think of another worthy of mention - maybe Flower of Scotland, or Australia Fair.

    The Londonderry Air is a bit special but it's not an anthem of course. Somebody should nick it for their own.
    I know the climate is wrong for making this admission and with all due apologies to people's sensibilities, but the old Soviet National Anthem is just a wonderful piece of music.
    Yes, it's a truly rousing anthem. I wish ours was less boring, I think it's part of the reason we're shit at sport. Other teams have great national anthems to really get them going before a match, we have the world's dullest anthem.
    The English/British anthem is utter shit. I can only think of two people on here who would possibly feel any pride when hearing it: @HYUFD and @malcolmg
    I think it's fine. It's often played too slowly, but it is simple and straightforward to belt out, which is handy, even if it is certainly not as rousing or exciting as many others.
    It will never happen, but "I vow to thee my country" by Gustav Holst would be a far better national anthem.

    EDIT - I see some others have suggested the same.
    I don't actually think it would be in the running as the CoE says it is heretical, placing the love of the nation above the love for God. Still a great song and before football matches it would get the team and crowd going.
    Awful scanning: "I-I vow... t'thee my cou-untry..."

    Should have got W.S.Gilbert to write the lyrics, at least they'd have scanned (and been funnier). (Ok, so he was dead but a dead WSG would have been better than Sir Cecil Spring Pancake Rice.)

    Plus, ridiculous sentiments. "...her shining bounds increase, ...and all her paths are peace" Er, how to those two work ? Empire-building by peace offensive?

    Apart from that - great choice.
    We should confuse the hell out of everybody and choose Jerusalem the Golden, in its full version (which so clearly confuses England and Heaven in Neale's translation that the first half is almost never sung now).

    that aside, it is a grand tune. Far better than Jerusalem which is one of Parry's weaker and less interesting efforts.

    If we have to go with Parry at least have something rousing like I Was Glad.
    Jerusalem the golden,
    With milk and honey blest,
    Beneath thy contemplation
    Sink heart and voice oppressed.

    And so on for about 20 verses of the sort of paranoid euphoria I associate with class A psychedelics. Strange
    poem.
    This is the original opening:

    For thee, O dear, dear country,
    Mine eyes their vigils keep;
    For very love, beholding
    Thy happy name, they weep;
    The mention of thy glory
    Is unction to the breast,
    And medicine in sickness,
    And love, and life, and rest.

    O one, O only mansion,
    O Paradise of joy!
    Where tears are ever banished,
    And smiles have no alloy;
    The Cross is all thy splendor,
    The Crucified thy praise;
    His laud and benediction
    Thy ransomed people raise.

    Thou hast no shore, fair ocean;
    Thou hast no time, bright day;
    Dear fountain of refreshment
    To pilgrims far away!
    Upon the Rock of Ages
    They raise thy holy tower;
    Thine is the victor's laurel,
    And thine the golden dower.

    O sweet and blessèd country,
    The home of God's elect;
    O sweet and blessèd country,
    That eager hearts expect!
    Jesus, in mercy bring us,
    To that dear land of rest,
    Who art, with God the Father
    And Spirit, ever blest.
    Thou hast no shore, fair ocean;
    Thou hast no time, bright day;

    is absolutely a trip report from a dreary subreddit about drugs.
    What would the 'fountain of refreshment' stand for in this metaphor?
    "Font of misplaced rage".
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 62,715

    Does anyone believe Ange?

    "Corbyn would have sent missiles to Ukraine, says Angela Rayner"
    https://www.lbc.co.uk/radio/presenters/andrew-marr/corbyn-send-missiles-to-ukraine-angela-rayner/

    Luckily, most of the British voting public didn't trust that such a statement would be remotely true and decided to make sure he was nowhere near Downing Street.

  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 57,153

    Does anyone believe Ange?

    "Corbyn would have sent missiles to Ukraine, says Angela Rayner"
    https://www.lbc.co.uk/radio/presenters/andrew-marr/corbyn-send-missiles-to-ukraine-angela-rayner/

    He would: he would have fired them at Kyiv if his mate in Moscow had asked nicely.
  • IshmaelZIshmaelZ Posts: 21,830
    ydoethur said:

    Does anyone believe Ange?

    "Corbyn would have sent missiles to Ukraine, says Angela Rayner"
    https://www.lbc.co.uk/radio/presenters/andrew-marr/corbyn-send-missiles-to-ukraine-angela-rayner/

    Yes. He would have taken out Kherson first...
    My name is George Nathaniel Kherson
    I am a most superior person...
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 41,958
    IshmaelZ said:

    It is utterly astounding that the Russians, who liberated Auschwitz, are now killing 90 year old camp survivors in their own homes.

    We must never forget this new crime. It is one for the ages.

    No way back for Russian for a generation after this.

    The liberation of Auschwitz or anywhere else by the Russians was not part of a Being lovely blokes drive.
    Didn't Stalin blow up the gas chambers in his drive to stop Jews feeling that they were any more persecuted than other SU citizens?
  • MattWMattW Posts: 23,149
    Fishing said:

    Cookie said:

    MaxPB said:

    darkage said:

    kle4 said:

    Farooq said:

    MaxPB said:

    Omnium said:

    Omnium said:

    TimT said:
    No idea about Russian IT skills, but the Ukranians are very good.
    Aslan said:

    Another French company looking to expand in Russia:

    https://www.businessinsider.com/retailer-looks-expand-russia-business-as-more-firms-pull-out-2022-3?utm_source=reddit.com

    The French are scum. And yet the usual Europhiles on PB give more shit to Boris for an inelegant comparison than bankrolling war criminals.

    "The French are scum."

    Clearly, and by definition.

    However the French are in fact wonderful, warm, and truly lovely people. I'll have to think about whether they're charming us for a while prior to revealing their true nature!

    They also have the best national anthem. By miles.
    Not really - The Welsh anthem is the best in the world
    Well anything actually sung by the Welsh is the best in the world. Welshman singing the Marsiellais - that'd be a thing.


    I really like 'Flower of Sctland' too - suits their peasant voice :)
    I've always thought the Welsh National Anthem unsurpassable. The Marseillaise and the Stars and Stripes are pretty good too. I find it hard to think of another worthy of mention - maybe Flower of Scotland, or Australia Fair.

    The Londonderry Air is a bit special but it's not an anthem of course. Somebody should nick it for their own.
    I know the climate is wrong for making this admission and with all due apologies to people's sensibilities, but the old Soviet National Anthem is just a wonderful piece of music.
    Yes, it's a truly rousing anthem. I wish ours was less boring, I think it's part of the reason we're shit at sport. Other teams have great national anthems to really get them going before a match, we have the world's dullest anthem.
    The English/British anthem is utter shit. I can only think of two people on here who would possibly feel any pride when hearing it: @HYUFD and @malcolmg
    I think it's fine. It's often played too slowly, but it is simple and straightforward to belt out, which is handy, even if it is certainly not as rousing or exciting as many others.
    It will never happen, but "I vow to thee my country" by Gustav Holst would be a far better national anthem.

    EDIT - I see some others have suggested the same.
    I don't actually think it would be in the running as the CoE says it is heretical, placing the love of the nation above the love for God. Still a great song and before football matches it would get the team and crowd going.
    The CofE can, quite frankly, fuck right off. None of their business.
    Anyway, I prefer Jerusalem. Though obviously that is English not British.
    Putting God’s teaching and wisdom before nation is exactly their business.

    CoE don’t like Jerusalem too, it’s banned from the hymnal’s 😝
    The national anthem should be Rule Britannia. It is anti-French, pro-Navy and anti-slavery. What's not to like?
    I'd say the songs in Church of England hymnbooks is precisely Church of England business.

    And quite reasonable to note that the theology in Jerusalem is ... even being kind ... bollocks.

    But does anyone have any evidence that it is banned?

    It's very un-CofE to ban anything outright. Far more the sort of thing done in Scotland or by Atheists who both tend to be far more dogmatic about such things.

    The last time I knew of it was Colin Slee, as the man with control of Worship at Southwark Cathedral.

    Why is anyone in a flap?
  • Northern_AlNorthern_Al Posts: 8,377
    edited March 2022
    MaxPB said:

    Putin's played a blinder today. He's managed to get almost all the PB cognoscenti to transfer their wrath and fury from him and his army to Macron and the French. Clever.

    In the immortal words of Kenny Everett, "let's bomb Paris". Or something like that.

    Are you suggesting Macron is in cahoots with Putin?
    No.

    I've always found the anti-French rhetoric on PB quite unpleasant, and it's really the only thing that turns me off this forum. I know some of it is in jest, but sadly some of it isn't, and quite a few posters seem to have a vitriolic and irrational dislike of everything and everybody French.

    On the specific issue, it sounds like the French deserve criticism. But I wouldn't be surprised at all if, in due course, we discover that several international and multinational companies are still trading or doing some sort of dealings with Russia, including some in the UK. I'll bet there's still UK money washing around in Moscow (as well as Russian money washing around in London), but we may never know as it wouldn't be high profile like Renault.
    Renault aren't the worst example from French industry. Total are helping Russian companies extract and sell gas, Total's expertise is helping fund the Russian war effort. BP and Exxon both pulled out of their Russian investments, Shell pulled out of their investments in NS and NS2. Total are a disgrace, they are helping Putin fund the bombing of Ukrainian civilians. The gas they extract in Russia and sell to Germany is funding the bombs that kill civilians.

    You can't even bring yourself to admit this, just mealy mouthed "it sounds like the French deserve criticism". You want to see equivalence between what French companies are doing in Russia with what UK companies are doing, yet our two major oil and gas companies (BP, Shell) wrote down tens of billions in Russian investments while Total have just continued as normal. Why should Total be allowed to continue to line their pockets and Putin's pockets? What makes them exempt from the western business withdrawal from Russia?

    I think you want to see France as some kind of foil for Brexit Britain and therefore are incapable of doing anything as bad as the UK. French companies are contributing to Putin's war effort. There's not a lot more else to it.
    Thanks for confirming my first paragraph. Sorry that my invective (the French deserve criticism) wasn't sufficiently apoplectic for you. I'm not sure why you mentioned Brexit - I certainly didn't, and very rarely do.
  • Does anyone believe Ange?

    "Corbyn would have sent missiles to Ukraine, says Angela Rayner"
    https://www.lbc.co.uk/radio/presenters/andrew-marr/corbyn-send-missiles-to-ukraine-angela-rayner/

    I do. He has one defining belief, anti-imperialism. He will see Russia's war as czarism, pure and simple - one of the reasons for the Russian Revolution was to stop the war ("Bread and peace"). It's a right-wing myth that left-wingers (except George Galloway and a few similar contrarians) are fond of Putin. Putin has got us all on more or less the same side in opposition - we may argue about NATO's role pre-war, but really that's dwarfed by what's happening now.

    But I should probably retire from the argument about Corbyn - I'm not sure it should matter any more. Let him cultivate his allotment in peace.
    The question Marr asked her was about whether a Corbyn government would have sent weapons to Ukraine, like Johnson's government did, BEFORE the invasion.

    You don't believe that.
  • MoonRabbitMoonRabbit Posts: 13,501
    IshmaelZ said:

    ydoethur said:

    IshmaelZ said:

    ydoethur said:

    MaxPB said:

    darkage said:

    kle4 said:

    Farooq said:

    MaxPB said:

    Omnium said:

    Omnium said:

    TimT said:
    No idea about Russian IT skills, but the Ukranians are very good.
    Aslan said:

    Another French company looking to expand in Russia:

    https://www.businessinsider.com/retailer-looks-expand-russia-business-as-more-firms-pull-out-2022-3?utm_source=reddit.com

    The French are scum. And yet the usual Europhiles on PB give more shit to Boris for an inelegant comparison than bankrolling war criminals.

    "The French are scum."

    Clearly, and by definition.

    However the French are in fact wonderful, warm, and truly lovely people. I'll have to think about whether they're charming us for a while prior to revealing their true nature!

    They also have the best national anthem. By miles.
    Not really - The Welsh anthem is the best in the world
    Well anything actually sung by the Welsh is the best in the world. Welshman singing the Marsiellais - that'd be a thing.


    I really like 'Flower of Sctland' too - suits their peasant voice :)
    I've always thought the Welsh National Anthem unsurpassable. The Marseillaise and the Stars and Stripes are pretty good too. I find it hard to think of another worthy of mention - maybe Flower of Scotland, or Australia Fair.

    The Londonderry Air is a bit special but it's not an anthem of course. Somebody should nick it for their own.
    I know the climate is wrong for making this admission and with all due apologies to people's sensibilities, but the old Soviet National Anthem is just a wonderful piece of music.
    Yes, it's a truly rousing anthem. I wish ours was less boring, I think it's part of the reason we're shit at sport. Other teams have great national anthems to really get them going before a match, we have the world's dullest anthem.
    The English/British anthem is utter shit. I can only think of two people on here who would possibly feel any pride when hearing it: @HYUFD and @malcolmg
    I think it's fine. It's often played too slowly, but it is simple and straightforward to belt out, which is handy, even if it is certainly not as rousing or exciting as many others.
    It will never happen, but "I vow to thee my country" by Gustav Holst would be a far better national anthem.

    EDIT - I see some others have suggested the same.
    I don't actually think it would be in the running as the CoE says it is heretical, placing the love of the nation above the love for God. Still a great song and before football matches it would get the team and crowd going.
    Awful scanning: "I-I vow... t'thee my cou-untry..."

    Should have got W.S.Gilbert to write the lyrics, at least they'd have scanned (and been funnier). (Ok, so he was dead but a dead WSG would have been better than Sir Cecil Spring Pancake Rice.)

    Plus, ridiculous sentiments. "...her shining bounds increase, ...and all her paths are peace" Er, how to those two work ? Empire-building by peace offensive?

    Apart from that - great choice.
    We should confuse the hell out of everybody and choose Jerusalem the Golden, in its full version (which so clearly confuses England and Heaven in Neale's translation that the first half is almost never sung now).

    that aside, it is a grand tune. Far better than Jerusalem which is one of Parry's weaker and less interesting efforts.

    If we have to go with Parry at least have something rousing like I Was Glad.
    Jerusalem the golden,
    With milk and honey blest,
    Beneath thy contemplation
    Sink heart and voice oppressed.

    And so on for about 20 verses of the sort of paranoid euphoria I associate with class A psychedelics. Strange
    poem.
    This is the original opening:

    For thee, O dear, dear country,
    Mine eyes their vigils keep;
    For very love, beholding
    Thy happy name, they weep;
    The mention of thy glory
    Is unction to the breast,
    And medicine in sickness,
    And love, and life, and rest.

    O one, O only mansion,
    O Paradise of joy!
    Where tears are ever banished,
    And smiles have no alloy;
    The Cross is all thy splendor,
    The Crucified thy praise;
    His laud and benediction
    Thy ransomed people raise.

    Thou hast no shore, fair ocean;
    Thou hast no time, bright day;
    Dear fountain of refreshment
    To pilgrims far away!
    Upon the Rock of Ages
    They raise thy holy tower;
    Thine is the victor's laurel,
    And thine the golden dower.

    O sweet and blessèd country,
    The home of God's elect;
    O sweet and blessèd country,
    That eager hearts expect!
    Jesus, in mercy bring us,
    To that dear land of rest,
    Who art, with God the Father
    And Spirit, ever blest.
    Thou hast no shore, fair ocean;
    Thou hast no time, bright day;

    is absolutely a trip report from a dreary subreddit about drugs.
    Thou hast no shore, fair ocean;
    Thou hast no time, bright day;
    Up above the streets and houses,
    Rainbow climbing high?
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 38,802

    MaxPB said:

    Putin's played a blinder today. He's managed to get almost all the PB cognoscenti to transfer their wrath and fury from him and his army to Macron and the French. Clever.

    In the immortal words of Kenny Everett, "let's bomb Paris". Or something like that.

    Are you suggesting Macron is in cahoots with Putin?
    No.

    I've always found the anti-French rhetoric on PB quite unpleasant, and it's really the only thing that turns me off this forum. I know some of it is in jest, but sadly some of it isn't, and quite a few posters seem to have a vitriolic and irrational dislike of everything and everybody French.

    On the specific issue, it sounds like the French deserve criticism. But I wouldn't be surprised at all if, in due course, we discover that several international and multinational companies are still trading or doing some sort of dealings with Russia, including some in the UK. I'll bet there's still UK money washing around in Moscow (as well as Russian money washing around in London), but we may never know as it wouldn't be high profile like Renault.
    Renault aren't the worst example from French industry. Total are helping Russian companies extract and sell gas, Total's expertise is helping fund the Russian war effort. BP and Exxon both pulled out of their Russian investments, Shell pulled out of their investments in NS and NS2. Total are a disgrace, they are helping Putin fund the bombing of Ukrainian civilians. The gas they extract in Russia and sell to Germany is funding the bombs that kill civilians.

    You can't even bring yourself to admit this, just mealy mouthed "it sounds like the French deserve criticism". You want to see equivalence between what French companies are doing in Russia with what UK companies are doing, yet our two major oil and gas companies (BP, Shell) wrote down tens of billions in Russian investments while Total have just continued as normal. Why should Total be allowed to continue to line their pockets and Putin's pockets? What makes them exempt from the western business withdrawal from Russia?

    I think you want to see France as some kind of foil for Brexit Britain and therefore are incapable of doing anything as bad as the UK. French companies are contributing to Putin's war effort. There's not a lot more else to it.
    Thanks for confirming my first paragraph. Sorry that my invective (the French deserve criticism) wasn't sufficiently apoplectic for you.
    Thanks for confirming that you can't bring yourself to see what French industry is doing, you want the UK to be the bad guy and France to be the good guy. That's not what's happening. Bury your head in the sand if you want. Hopefully Biden and Boris will grow a pair and sanction Total. Macron is clearly either too weak to force them to pull out or doesn't care that French industrial expertise is funding Putin's war against Ukrainian civilians.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 62,715

    Visegrád 24
    @visegrad24
    ·
    2h
    Mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko:

    “This is the biggest war since World War II. If you think this won’t involve you, you are wrong.”
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 71,385
    edited March 2022
    MattW said:

    Fishing said:

    Cookie said:

    MaxPB said:

    darkage said:

    kle4 said:

    Farooq said:

    MaxPB said:

    Omnium said:

    Omnium said:

    TimT said:
    No idea about Russian IT skills, but the Ukranians are very good.
    Aslan said:

    Another French company looking to expand in Russia:

    https://www.businessinsider.com/retailer-looks-expand-russia-business-as-more-firms-pull-out-2022-3?utm_source=reddit.com

    The French are scum. And yet the usual Europhiles on PB give more shit to Boris for an inelegant comparison than bankrolling war criminals.

    "The French are scum."

    Clearly, and by definition.

    However the French are in fact wonderful, warm, and truly lovely people. I'll have to think about whether they're charming us for a while prior to revealing their true nature!

    They also have the best national anthem. By miles.
    Not really - The Welsh anthem is the best in the world
    Well anything actually sung by the Welsh is the best in the world. Welshman singing the Marsiellais - that'd be a thing.


    I really like 'Flower of Sctland' too - suits their peasant voice :)
    I've always thought the Welsh National Anthem unsurpassable. The Marseillaise and the Stars and Stripes are pretty good too. I find it hard to think of another worthy of mention - maybe Flower of Scotland, or Australia Fair.

    The Londonderry Air is a bit special but it's not an anthem of course. Somebody should nick it for their own.
    I know the climate is wrong for making this admission and with all due apologies to people's sensibilities, but the old Soviet National Anthem is just a wonderful piece of music.
    Yes, it's a truly rousing anthem. I wish ours was less boring, I think it's part of the reason we're shit at sport. Other teams have great national anthems to really get them going before a match, we have the world's dullest anthem.
    The English/British anthem is utter shit. I can only think of two people on here who would possibly feel any pride when hearing it: @HYUFD and @malcolmg
    I think it's fine. It's often played too slowly, but it is simple and straightforward to belt out, which is handy, even if it is certainly not as rousing or exciting as many others.
    It will never happen, but "I vow to thee my country" by Gustav Holst would be a far better national anthem.

    EDIT - I see some others have suggested the same.
    I don't actually think it would be in the running as the CoE says it is heretical, placing the love of the nation above the love for God. Still a great song and before football matches it would get the team and crowd going.
    The CofE can, quite frankly, fuck right off. None of their business.
    Anyway, I prefer Jerusalem. Though obviously that is English not British.
    Putting God’s teaching and wisdom before nation is exactly their business.

    CoE don’t like Jerusalem too, it’s banned from the hymnal’s 😝
    The national anthem should be Rule Britannia. It is anti-French, pro-Navy and anti-slavery. What's not to like?
    I'd say the songs in Church of England hymnbooks is precisely Church of England business.

    And quite reasonable to note that the theology in Jerusalem is ... even being kind ... bollocks.

    But does anyone have any evidence that it is banned?

    It's very un-CofE to ban anything outright. Far more the sort of thing done in Scotland or by Atheists who both tend to be far more dogmatic about such things.

    The last time I knew of it was Colin Slee, as the man with control of Worship at Southwark Cathedral.

    Why is anyone in a flap?
    The only major hymn book I can think of that it isn't in is Mission Praise. Which is American Evangelical although it is widely used in the Church of England (unfortunately).
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 51,821

    IshmaelZ said:

    ydoethur said:

    IshmaelZ said:

    ydoethur said:

    MaxPB said:

    darkage said:

    kle4 said:

    Farooq said:

    MaxPB said:

    Omnium said:

    Omnium said:

    TimT said:
    No idea about Russian IT skills, but the Ukranians are very good.
    Aslan said:

    Another French company looking to expand in Russia:

    https://www.businessinsider.com/retailer-looks-expand-russia-business-as-more-firms-pull-out-2022-3?utm_source=reddit.com

    The French are scum. And yet the usual Europhiles on PB give more shit to Boris for an inelegant comparison than bankrolling war criminals.

    "The French are scum."

    Clearly, and by definition.

    However the French are in fact wonderful, warm, and truly lovely people. I'll have to think about whether they're charming us for a while prior to revealing their true nature!

    They also have the best national anthem. By miles.
    Not really - The Welsh anthem is the best in the world
    Well anything actually sung by the Welsh is the best in the world. Welshman singing the Marsiellais - that'd be a thing.


    I really like 'Flower of Sctland' too - suits their peasant voice :)
    I've always thought the Welsh National Anthem unsurpassable. The Marseillaise and the Stars and Stripes are pretty good too. I find it hard to think of another worthy of mention - maybe Flower of Scotland, or Australia Fair.

    The Londonderry Air is a bit special but it's not an anthem of course. Somebody should nick it for their own.
    I know the climate is wrong for making this admission and with all due apologies to people's sensibilities, but the old Soviet National Anthem is just a wonderful piece of music.
    Yes, it's a truly rousing anthem. I wish ours was less boring, I think it's part of the reason we're shit at sport. Other teams have great national anthems to really get them going before a match, we have the world's dullest anthem.
    The English/British anthem is utter shit. I can only think of two people on here who would possibly feel any pride when hearing it: @HYUFD and @malcolmg
    I think it's fine. It's often played too slowly, but it is simple and straightforward to belt out, which is handy, even if it is certainly not as rousing or exciting as many others.
    It will never happen, but "I vow to thee my country" by Gustav Holst would be a far better national anthem.

    EDIT - I see some others have suggested the same.
    I don't actually think it would be in the running as the CoE says it is heretical, placing the love of the nation above the love for God. Still a great song and before football matches it would get the team and crowd going.
    Awful scanning: "I-I vow... t'thee my cou-untry..."

    Should have got W.S.Gilbert to write the lyrics, at least they'd have scanned (and been funnier). (Ok, so he was dead but a dead WSG would have been better than Sir Cecil Spring Pancake Rice.)

    Plus, ridiculous sentiments. "...her shining bounds increase, ...and all her paths are peace" Er, how to those two work ? Empire-building by peace offensive?

    Apart from that - great choice.
    We should confuse the hell out of everybody and choose Jerusalem the Golden, in its full version (which so clearly confuses England and Heaven in Neale's translation that the first half is almost never sung now).

    that aside, it is a grand tune. Far better than Jerusalem which is one of Parry's weaker and less interesting efforts.

    If we have to go with Parry at least have something rousing like I Was Glad.
    Jerusalem the golden,
    With milk and honey blest,
    Beneath thy contemplation
    Sink heart and voice oppressed.

    And so on for about 20 verses of the sort of paranoid euphoria I associate with class A psychedelics. Strange
    poem.
    This is the original opening:

    For thee, O dear, dear country,
    Mine eyes their vigils keep;
    For very love, beholding
    Thy happy name, they weep;
    The mention of thy glory
    Is unction to the breast,
    And medicine in sickness,
    And love, and life, and rest.

    O one, O only mansion,
    O Paradise of joy!
    Where tears are ever banished,
    And smiles have no alloy;
    The Cross is all thy splendor,
    The Crucified thy praise;
    His laud and benediction
    Thy ransomed people raise.

    Thou hast no shore, fair ocean;
    Thou hast no time, bright day;
    Dear fountain of refreshment
    To pilgrims far away!
    Upon the Rock of Ages
    They raise thy holy tower;
    Thine is the victor's laurel,
    And thine the golden dower.

    O sweet and blessèd country,
    The home of God's elect;
    O sweet and blessèd country,
    That eager hearts expect!
    Jesus, in mercy bring us,
    To that dear land of rest,
    Who art, with God the Father
    And Spirit, ever blest.
    Thou hast no shore, fair ocean;
    Thou hast no time, bright day;

    is absolutely a trip report from a dreary subreddit about drugs.
    Thou hast no shore, fair ocean;
    Thou hast no time, bright day;
    Up above the streets and houses,
    Rainbow climbing high?
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgbcQIT7BMc
  • MoonRabbitMoonRabbit Posts: 13,501
    edited March 2022

    Does anyone believe Ange?

    "Corbyn would have sent missiles to Ukraine, says Angela Rayner"
    https://www.lbc.co.uk/radio/presenters/andrew-marr/corbyn-send-missiles-to-ukraine-angela-rayner/

    I do. He has one defining belief, anti-imperialism. He will see Russia's war as czarism, pure and simple - one of the reasons for the Russian Revolution was to stop the war ("Bread and peace"). It's a right-wing myth that left-wingers (except George Galloway and a few similar contrarians) are fond of Putin. Putin has got us all on more or less the same side in opposition - we may argue about NATO's role pre-war, but really that's dwarfed by what's happening now.

    But I should probably retire from the argument about Corbyn - I'm not sure it should matter any more. Let him cultivate his allotment in peace.
    The question Marr asked her was about whether a Corbyn government would have sent weapons to Ukraine, like Johnson's government did, BEFORE the invasion.

    You don't believe that.
    Isn’t that the sort of goings on though which so peeved Putin up into the invasion, Corbyn would answer. Then there would be a proper ding dong Corbyn accuses Tories and Pentagon of causing the bloodthirsty invasion! 😈

    There is no arguing with the fact, given only two choices, a natural Ukraine under Zelenskyy is far better for the West than annexed Ukraine under Putin, a Corbyn government would also argue, before the war. Much as the same as Germany and France did say to Zelenskyy, before the war, so there would be unity between the three great powers of Europe no less!

    Boris meanwhile merely told the Ukrainian’s what they wanted to hear, whilst courting Oligarch money for himself and party, being the shameless cad he is.
  • Fysics_TeacherFysics_Teacher Posts: 6,285
    ydoethur said:

    MattW said:

    Fishing said:

    Cookie said:

    MaxPB said:

    darkage said:

    kle4 said:

    Farooq said:

    MaxPB said:

    Omnium said:

    Omnium said:

    TimT said:
    No idea about Russian IT skills, but the Ukranians are very good.
    Aslan said:

    Another French company looking to expand in Russia:

    https://www.businessinsider.com/retailer-looks-expand-russia-business-as-more-firms-pull-out-2022-3?utm_source=reddit.com

    The French are scum. And yet the usual Europhiles on PB give more shit to Boris for an inelegant comparison than bankrolling war criminals.

    "The French are scum."

    Clearly, and by definition.

    However the French are in fact wonderful, warm, and truly lovely people. I'll have to think about whether they're charming us for a while prior to revealing their true nature!

    They also have the best national anthem. By miles.
    Not really - The Welsh anthem is the best in the world
    Well anything actually sung by the Welsh is the best in the world. Welshman singing the Marsiellais - that'd be a thing.


    I really like 'Flower of Sctland' too - suits their peasant voice :)
    I've always thought the Welsh National Anthem unsurpassable. The Marseillaise and the Stars and Stripes are pretty good too. I find it hard to think of another worthy of mention - maybe Flower of Scotland, or Australia Fair.

    The Londonderry Air is a bit special but it's not an anthem of course. Somebody should nick it for their own.
    I know the climate is wrong for making this admission and with all due apologies to people's sensibilities, but the old Soviet National Anthem is just a wonderful piece of music.
    Yes, it's a truly rousing anthem. I wish ours was less boring, I think it's part of the reason we're shit at sport. Other teams have great national anthems to really get them going before a match, we have the world's dullest anthem.
    The English/British anthem is utter shit. I can only think of two people on here who would possibly feel any pride when hearing it: @HYUFD and @malcolmg
    I think it's fine. It's often played too slowly, but it is simple and straightforward to belt out, which is handy, even if it is certainly not as rousing or exciting as many others.
    It will never happen, but "I vow to thee my country" by Gustav Holst would be a far better national anthem.

    EDIT - I see some others have suggested the same.
    I don't actually think it would be in the running as the CoE says it is heretical, placing the love of the nation above the love for God. Still a great song and before football matches it would get the team and crowd going.
    The CofE can, quite frankly, fuck right off. None of their business.
    Anyway, I prefer Jerusalem. Though obviously that is English not British.
    Putting God’s teaching and wisdom before nation is exactly their business.

    CoE don’t like Jerusalem too, it’s banned from the hymnal’s 😝
    The national anthem should be Rule Britannia. It is anti-French, pro-Navy and anti-slavery. What's not to like?
    I'd say the songs in Church of England hymnbooks is precisely Church of England business.

    And quite reasonable to note that the theology in Jerusalem is ... even being kind ... bollocks.

    But does anyone have any evidence that it is banned?

    It's very un-CofE to ban anything outright. Far more the sort of thing done in Scotland or by Atheists who both tend to be far more dogmatic about such things.

    The last time I knew of it was Colin Slee, as the man with control of Worship at Southwark Cathedral.

    Why is anyone in a flap?
    The only major hymn book I can think of that it isn't in is Mission Praise. Which is American Evangelical although it is widely used in the Church of England (unfortunately).
    Does it qualify as a hymn book? I thought it contained only "songs".
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 71,385


    Visegrád 24
    @visegrad24
    ·
    2h
    Mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko:

    “This is the biggest war since World War II. If you think this won’t involve you, you are wrong.”

    I hate to be pedantic at this time and to this person, but Korea was considerably larger by any measure whatsoever.

    Heck, in terms of the numbers involved the Six Day War was larger.

    Not to mention the Iran-Iraq war.
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