Its funny multitasking and streaming the Test abroad. See people on here write thing like "Broad!" then pay absolute attention and two deliveries later see the wicket ...
Whichever way this goes, the endings of the matches this series have been so tight. You can bet Old Trafford would have had a sting in the tail too…What a series.
Put simply: I don't trust those who are pushing air-source heat pumps; they all have an agenda.
I'm not risking the comfort and wellbeing of my family and a warm home until I go round to a trusted friend or neighbours house (on a cold and dark night) and feel it for myself, including having a hot bath.
I now have an image in my head of a bloke of a certain age turning up on doorsteps in a frayed shorty terrycloth bathrobe and a towel over his arm, angrily demanding a bath. Not good.
Who's in the bathroom? That angry bloke from next door. He took a picture of the old queen and a cucumber in with him.
I've just cried myself silly laughing. My wife and dog thought I was having a breakdown.
To be fair, even I laughed at that one!
At least @Dura_Ace would offer me a bath, even if not a cucumber.
Picture of a cucumber and the Queen wasn't it?
Or was there a missing Oxford comma?
Not required.
I always carry a picture of the Queen with me.
Paging @Anabobazina - we've got another cash user!
Cash only at the Fairlop Waters fun fair!
My local Thai restaurant (very good, btw) has a sign saying they prefer cash, as the charges on card payments are many hundreds a month.
That's funny because typical card handling charges dropped to less than cash handling charges about a decade ago.
If a business is trying to avoid card transactions nowadays its probably because they're seeking to evade (not avoid) HMRC rather than avoid bank charges.
Let's not associate cash with dodgy practices when most fraud these days is probably electronic.
Seen at Fairlop Waters fun fair a few days ago:
We keep 100% of cash probably means they don’t give any to HMRC.
The counter revolution has begun. There was a thing a few days ago about traders in Suffolk suggesting use of cash.
It's a particular issue which divides opinion, including PB opinion, with no middle ground SFAICS.
Basically I think that up to amount £X (£500?) it ought to be compulsory to take cash in face to face transactions; the other side is happy to see the stuff abolished.
Why the hell should it ever be compulsory to take cash?
People get killed over cash. I had a friend, pregnant, working in retail in Liverpool who had a machete held to her throat by armed robbers to get the Manager to open the safe.
If both sides want to handle cash, that's their choice. If either side does not, then respect free choice.
This is absolutely spot on.
If governments don't actively protect cash - by forcing people to take it - then it will die out. And it will die out because the vast majority of merchants benefit from not having cash handling charges. (And because most of the young people of today are entirely contactless.)
The question, therefore, is to what extent should the government force merchants to do something they don't want to do in order to protect those who cannot (or do not want to) go contactless?
If the government wants to compel merchants to take cash, then the taxpayer should pay for cash handling charges, cash collection services, security, insurance etc too.
The taxpayer is not going to do that. So compulsion is not remotely reasonable.
Phew, it's a difficult one.
What of the unbanked, like Nigel Farage? What of kids? What of the aged?
Perhaps there's a compromise here. During the transition period - i.e. the next five years - all firms with more than 40 employees are required to have at least one till able to accept cash payments for sums under £100?
That means you don't totally fuck over the old and the young and the unbanked. But you don't unduly burden small businesses.
Change the law so that people can't be unbanked, any more than they can have their water supply cut off.
Simples.
My guess is that when it comes to tipping you are Mr Pink from Reservoir Dogs
I have to admit that film is on my Bucket List, I've never seen it. Before my time and I've just never gotten around to watching it.
Card machines handle tipping for you nowadays though. Most restaurant card machines will give you a choice between the option of no tip, a couple of recommended percentage to select, or manually enter your own amount.
I did get round to watching it about 5 years ago. One of the best films of the 1990s IMO.
If you are in a taxi being driven at blood-chilling speeds over roads pockmarked with the inevitable damage consequent to being a warzone, is your upper lip stiff enough, and your loyalty to King and Country firm enough, that you still support England in a cricket match against Australia?
Another week and the Labour lead remains over 20 points.
What is Sunak's strategy?
At this point in the GE19 cycle the intelligent people of which I was not one, were calling a landslide for Johnson and there was no way back for Corbyn. Yet these same people seem reluctant to say the same now, why is this? What am I missing.
Hmm. I assume you haven't missed the fact that Johnson and Corbyn are no longer around.
I assume the reason people aren't predicting a Tory landslide is that the Tories are so far behind in the polls.
As for Sunak's strategy, I think if a poll showed an extraterrestrial takeover would be popular, Sunak would be pledging billions to the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence.
We had that in indyref - Scotland shouldn't become independent because aliens reasons aliens.
Put it this way, if you do die you can console yourself with the thought this will always be remembered as the day Stuart Broad finished his test career with a 6 and the last 2 wickets of one of the best Ashes series in history.
If you are in a taxi being driven at blood-chilling speeds over roads pockmarked with the inevitable damage consequent to being a warzone, is your upper lip stiff enough, and your loyalty to King and Country firm enough, that you still support England in a cricket match against Australia?
Put simply: I don't trust those who are pushing air-source heat pumps; they all have an agenda.
I'm not risking the comfort and wellbeing of my family and a warm home until I go round to a trusted friend or neighbours house (on a cold and dark night) and feel it for myself, including having a hot bath.
I now have an image in my head of a bloke of a certain age turning up on doorsteps in a frayed shorty terrycloth bathrobe and a towel over his arm, angrily demanding a bath. Not good.
Who's in the bathroom? That angry bloke from next door. He took a picture of the old queen and a cucumber in with him.
I've just cried myself silly laughing. My wife and dog thought I was having a breakdown.
To be fair, even I laughed at that one!
At least @Dura_Ace would offer me a bath, even if not a cucumber.
Picture of a cucumber and the Queen wasn't it?
Or was there a missing Oxford comma?
Not required.
I always carry a picture of the Queen with me.
Paging @Anabobazina - we've got another cash user!
Cash only at the Fairlop Waters fun fair!
My local Thai restaurant (very good, btw) has a sign saying they prefer cash, as the charges on card payments are many hundreds a month.
That's funny because typical card handling charges dropped to less than cash handling charges about a decade ago.
If a business is trying to avoid card transactions nowadays its probably because they're seeking to evade (not avoid) HMRC rather than avoid bank charges.
Let's not associate cash with dodgy practices when most fraud these days is probably electronic.
Seen at Fairlop Waters fun fair a few days ago:
We keep 100% of cash probably means they don’t give any to HMRC.
The counter revolution has begun. There was a thing a few days ago about traders in Suffolk suggesting use of cash.
It's a particular issue which divides opinion, including PB opinion, with no middle ground SFAICS.
Basically I think that up to amount £X (£500?) it ought to be compulsory to take cash in face to face transactions; the other side is happy to see the stuff abolished.
Why the hell should it ever be compulsory to take cash?
People get killed over cash. I had a friend, pregnant, working in retail in Liverpool who had a machete held to her throat by armed robbers to get the Manager to open the safe.
If both sides want to handle cash, that's their choice. If either side does not, then respect free choice.
This is absolutely spot on.
If governments don't actively protect cash - by forcing people to take it - then it will die out. And it will die out because the vast majority of merchants benefit from not having cash handling charges. (And because most of the young people of today are entirely contactless.)
The question, therefore, is to what extent should the government force merchants to do something they don't want to do in order to protect those who cannot (or do not want to) go contactless?
If the government wants to compel merchants to take cash, then the taxpayer should pay for cash handling charges, cash collection services, security, insurance etc too.
The taxpayer is not going to do that. So compulsion is not remotely reasonable.
But the taxpayer doesn't get his tax accountant paid for him ...
If you are in a taxi being driven at blood-chilling speeds over roads pockmarked with the inevitable damage consequent to being a warzone, is your upper lip stiff enough, and your loyalty to King and Country firm enough, that you still support England in a cricket match against Australia?
Leon fails.
More imagining him explaining to some western Ukrainian gent what cricket is.
Put simply: I don't trust those who are pushing air-source heat pumps; they all have an agenda.
I'm not risking the comfort and wellbeing of my family and a warm home until I go round to a trusted friend or neighbours house (on a cold and dark night) and feel it for myself, including having a hot bath.
I now have an image in my head of a bloke of a certain age turning up on doorsteps in a frayed shorty terrycloth bathrobe and a towel over his arm, angrily demanding a bath. Not good.
Who's in the bathroom? That angry bloke from next door. He took a picture of the old queen and a cucumber in with him.
I've just cried myself silly laughing. My wife and dog thought I was having a breakdown.
To be fair, even I laughed at that one!
At least @Dura_Ace would offer me a bath, even if not a cucumber.
Picture of a cucumber and the Queen wasn't it?
Or was there a missing Oxford comma?
Not required.
I always carry a picture of the Queen with me.
Paging @Anabobazina - we've got another cash user!
Cash only at the Fairlop Waters fun fair!
My local Thai restaurant (very good, btw) has a sign saying they prefer cash, as the charges on card payments are many hundreds a month.
That's funny because typical card handling charges dropped to less than cash handling charges about a decade ago.
If a business is trying to avoid card transactions nowadays its probably because they're seeking to evade (not avoid) HMRC rather than avoid bank charges.
Let's not associate cash with dodgy practices when most fraud these days is probably electronic.
Seen at Fairlop Waters fun fair a few days ago:
We keep 100% of cash probably means they don’t give any to HMRC.
The counter revolution has begun. There was a thing a few days ago about traders in Suffolk suggesting use of cash.
It's a particular issue which divides opinion, including PB opinion, with no middle ground SFAICS.
Basically I think that up to amount £X (£500?) it ought to be compulsory to take cash in face to face transactions; the other side is happy to see the stuff abolished.
Why the hell should it ever be compulsory to take cash?
People get killed over cash. I had a friend, pregnant, working in retail in Liverpool who had a machete held to her throat by armed robbers to get the Manager to open the safe.
If both sides want to handle cash, that's their choice. If either side does not, then respect free choice.
This is absolutely spot on.
If governments don't actively protect cash - by forcing people to take it - then it will die out. And it will die out because the vast majority of merchants benefit from not having cash handling charges. (And because most of the young people of today are entirely contactless.)
The question, therefore, is to what extent should the government force merchants to do something they don't want to do in order to protect those who cannot (or do not want to) go contactless?
If the government wants to compel merchants to take cash, then the taxpayer should pay for cash handling charges, cash collection services, security, insurance etc too.
The taxpayer is not going to do that. So compulsion is not remotely reasonable.
Phew, it's a difficult one.
What of the unbanked, like Nigel Farage? What of kids? What of the aged?
Perhaps there's a compromise here. During the transition period - i.e. the next five years - all firms with more than 40 employees are required to have at least one till able to accept cash payments for sums under £100?
That means you don't totally fuck over the old and the young and the unbanked. But you don't unduly burden small businesses.
Change the law so that people can't be unbanked, any more than they can have their water supply cut off.
Simples.
My guess is that when it comes to tipping you are Mr Pink from Reservoir Dogs
I have to admit that film is on my Bucket List, I've never seen it. Before my time and I've just never gotten around to watching it.
Card machines handle tipping for you nowadays though. Most restaurant card machines will give you a choice between the option of no tip, a couple of recommended percentage to select, or manually enter your own amount.
I did get round to watching it about 5 years ago. One of the best films of the 1990s IMO.
I saw it in the cinema when it was released. I found it a very disturbing film.
With respect to issue of members of Congress, in particular US Senators, who are incapacitated to some degree, often quite significant, due to age or other infirmity:
This is NOT a new situation, not hardly.
Can well recall as a kid in the mid-1960s, watching the State of the Union on TV, and seeing LBJ flanked by two super-geezers who looked like they were ready to keel over then and there - House Speaker John McCormack, and Senate President Pro Tempore Carl Hayden.
McCormack had been first elected to Massachusetts legislature n 1920, and to Congress in 1928.
Hayden was elected Sheriff of Maricopa County in 1906 (leading posses on horseback) and as first US Representative from Arizona in 1912 when AZ achieved statehood; he was elected to US Senate in 1926.
Other notable examples of superannuated senators include Strom Thurmond of SC and Robert Byrd of WV.
Note that the physical and/or mental conditions of aged lawmakers under the DC Big Top has, and still, varies greatly.
What's remained pretty constant, is disinclination of other members of Congress to publicly call for removal, either voluntarily or (especially) otherwise.
Why? Because they realize, instinctively, that some less-than-fine day, THEY might just end up on the wrong end of THAT argument, either directly OR indirectly (say from removal of critical vote for their party or faction).
Put simply: I don't trust those who are pushing air-source heat pumps; they all have an agenda.
I'm not risking the comfort and wellbeing of my family and a warm home until I go round to a trusted friend or neighbours house (on a cold and dark night) and feel it for myself, including having a hot bath.
I now have an image in my head of a bloke of a certain age turning up on doorsteps in a frayed shorty terrycloth bathrobe and a towel over his arm, angrily demanding a bath. Not good.
Who's in the bathroom? That angry bloke from next door. He took a picture of the old queen and a cucumber in with him.
I've just cried myself silly laughing. My wife and dog thought I was having a breakdown.
To be fair, even I laughed at that one!
At least @Dura_Ace would offer me a bath, even if not a cucumber.
Picture of a cucumber and the Queen wasn't it?
Or was there a missing Oxford comma?
Not required.
I always carry a picture of the Queen with me.
Paging @Anabobazina - we've got another cash user!
Cash only at the Fairlop Waters fun fair!
My local Thai restaurant (very good, btw) has a sign saying they prefer cash, as the charges on card payments are many hundreds a month.
That's funny because typical card handling charges dropped to less than cash handling charges about a decade ago.
If a business is trying to avoid card transactions nowadays its probably because they're seeking to evade (not avoid) HMRC rather than avoid bank charges.
Let's not associate cash with dodgy practices when most fraud these days is probably electronic.
Seen at Fairlop Waters fun fair a few days ago:
We keep 100% of cash probably means they don’t give any to HMRC.
The counter revolution has begun. There was a thing a few days ago about traders in Suffolk suggesting use of cash.
It's a particular issue which divides opinion, including PB opinion, with no middle ground SFAICS.
Basically I think that up to amount £X (£500?) it ought to be compulsory to take cash in face to face transactions; the other side is happy to see the stuff abolished.
Why the hell should it ever be compulsory to take cash?
People get killed over cash. I had a friend, pregnant, working in retail in Liverpool who had a machete held to her throat by armed robbers to get the Manager to open the safe.
If both sides want to handle cash, that's their choice. If either side does not, then respect free choice.
This is absolutely spot on.
If governments don't actively protect cash - by forcing people to take it - then it will die out. And it will die out because the vast majority of merchants benefit from not having cash handling charges. (And because most of the young people of today are entirely contactless.)
The question, therefore, is to what extent should the government force merchants to do something they don't want to do in order to protect those who cannot (or do not want to) go contactless?
If the government wants to compel merchants to take cash, then the taxpayer should pay for cash handling charges, cash collection services, security, insurance etc too.
The taxpayer is not going to do that. So compulsion is not remotely reasonable.
Phew, it's a difficult one.
What of the unbanked, like Nigel Farage? What of kids? What of the aged?
Perhaps there's a compromise here. During the transition period - i.e. the next five years - all firms with more than 40 employees are required to have at least one till able to accept cash payments for sums under £100?
That means you don't totally fuck over the old and the young and the unbanked. But you don't unduly burden small businesses.
Change the law so that people can't be unbanked, any more than they can have their water supply cut off.
Simples.
My guess is that when it comes to tipping you are Mr Pink from Reservoir Dogs
I have to admit that film is on my Bucket List, I've never seen it. Before my time and I've just never gotten around to watching it.
Card machines handle tipping for you nowadays though. Most restaurant card machines will give you a choice between the option of no tip, a couple of recommended percentage to select, or manually enter your own amount.
The problem with card machines and tipping is the money goes to the restaurant and IF it is then passed on to the waitress it pays tax and NI. And it is shameful how many restaurants don't pass it on at all or only pass on a small percentage.
If I tip the waitresses I want that money to go in their pocket not the owners and the Government's. Hence why I always tip in cash.
Tips have always been supposed to be subject to tax (NI only if the business handles it). That they haven't in the past was tax evasion people turned a blind eye to - America is much tougher on this, for obvious reasons.
Restaurants absolutely should pass on 100% and if I ever found out in that past a restaurant doesn't then I would never return to that restaurant. However a law has been passed in Parliament I believe that firms aren't allowed to deduct from tips, as it should be.
If you are in a taxi being driven at blood-chilling speeds over roads pockmarked with the inevitable damage consequent to being a warzone, is your upper lip stiff enough, and your loyalty to King and Country firm enough, that you still support England in a cricket match against Australia?
Leon fails.
More imagining him explaining to some western Ukrainian gent what cricket is.
Given his comments on Ukraine Trump needs to lose every primary and caucus.
Realpolitik will prevail, as it always does. All that will actually change is the language used.
Under Trump, there will be announcements of the acceleration of loads of new military systems for the wonderful brave men and women who serve, and creating or protecting tens of thousands of jobs in the MIC who fund the Republican Party. There might be a footnote somewhere about the systems they replace being sold to the UK (or other NATO allies) for $1.
My criticism of Biden through this conflict, has been his constant championing of large dollar numbers on all the military aid packages to Ukraine. Which allows his political opponents to say that the money is better spent elsewhere, forgetting that the money was actually spent decades ago. No other country does this.
Realpolitik like those who said when Russia invaded Crimea that there's nothing to be done about it?
Realpolitik like those who said at the start of last year's new invasion "there's no point sending arms to Ukraine, Kiev will fall within days anyway"?
Or Realpolitik like those who said "Ukrainian lives will be lost in this war, they should settle with Russia"?
Or Realpolitik like those who said "its not possible for Ukraine to liberate land like Kharkiv or Kherson from Russia" so don't send arms to Ukraine?
Or Realpolitik like those who say "Russia has nukes, we should anger them".
Or Realpolitik like those who still say "its not possible for Ukraine to liberate Crimea or other lands back to its own borders, so settle with Russia in a stalemate"?
Excuse me, but I have no faith in Realpolitik, I want to see Ukraine supported despite the claims of those engaging in Realpolitik, not because of it. I thought you did too?
When Biden says that he can't give Ukraine more because it would split the EU and NATO, how do you feel? His policy is to do only as much as it takes to avoid countries like Poland getting directly involved while placating Germany and France.
I feel he's doing as much as he thinks he can.
Which I do not feel Trump would do - and Trump has said as much himself and I believe him.
Quite so. There is definitely a distinction between them (and the Senate GOP hawks are in a minority of their party representatives, if current trends continue), even if Biden is not doing as much as plenty woud like.
England played the better cricket by.a distance. They were more energetic, entertaining, aggressive, innovative and they dominated more sessions. They also came back from 2-0 down - not easy
Put simply: I don't trust those who are pushing air-source heat pumps; they all have an agenda.
I'm not risking the comfort and wellbeing of my family and a warm home until I go round to a trusted friend or neighbours house (on a cold and dark night) and feel it for myself, including having a hot bath.
I now have an image in my head of a bloke of a certain age turning up on doorsteps in a frayed shorty terrycloth bathrobe and a towel over his arm, angrily demanding a bath. Not good.
Who's in the bathroom? That angry bloke from next door. He took a picture of the old queen and a cucumber in with him.
I've just cried myself silly laughing. My wife and dog thought I was having a breakdown.
To be fair, even I laughed at that one!
At least @Dura_Ace would offer me a bath, even if not a cucumber.
Picture of a cucumber and the Queen wasn't it?
Or was there a missing Oxford comma?
Not required.
I always carry a picture of the Queen with me.
Paging @Anabobazina - we've got another cash user!
Cash only at the Fairlop Waters fun fair!
My local Thai restaurant (very good, btw) has a sign saying they prefer cash, as the charges on card payments are many hundreds a month.
That's funny because typical card handling charges dropped to less than cash handling charges about a decade ago.
If a business is trying to avoid card transactions nowadays its probably because they're seeking to evade (not avoid) HMRC rather than avoid bank charges.
Let's not associate cash with dodgy practices when most fraud these days is probably electronic.
Seen at Fairlop Waters fun fair a few days ago:
We keep 100% of cash probably means they don’t give any to HMRC.
The counter revolution has begun. There was a thing a few days ago about traders in Suffolk suggesting use of cash.
It's a particular issue which divides opinion, including PB opinion, with no middle ground SFAICS.
Basically I think that up to amount £X (£500?) it ought to be compulsory to take cash in face to face transactions; the other side is happy to see the stuff abolished.
Why the hell should it ever be compulsory to take cash?
People get killed over cash. I had a friend, pregnant, working in retail in Liverpool who had a machete held to her throat by armed robbers to get the Manager to open the safe.
If both sides want to handle cash, that's their choice. If either side does not, then respect free choice.
This is absolutely spot on.
If governments don't actively protect cash - by forcing people to take it - then it will die out. And it will die out because the vast majority of merchants benefit from not having cash handling charges. (And because most of the young people of today are entirely contactless.)
The question, therefore, is to what extent should the government force merchants to do something they don't want to do in order to protect those who cannot (or do not want to) go contactless?
If the government wants to compel merchants to take cash, then the taxpayer should pay for cash handling charges, cash collection services, security, insurance etc too.
The taxpayer is not going to do that. So compulsion is not remotely reasonable.
Phew, it's a difficult one.
What of the unbanked, like Nigel Farage? What of kids? What of the aged?
Perhaps there's a compromise here. During the transition period - i.e. the next five years - all firms with more than 40 employees are required to have at least one till able to accept cash payments for sums under £100?
That means you don't totally fuck over the old and the young and the unbanked. But you don't unduly burden small businesses.
Change the law so that people can't be unbanked, any more than they can have their water supply cut off.
Simples.
My guess is that when it comes to tipping you are Mr Pink from Reservoir Dogs
I have to admit that film is on my Bucket List, I've never seen it. Before my time and I've just never gotten around to watching it.
Card machines handle tipping for you nowadays though. Most restaurant card machines will give you a choice between the option of no tip, a couple of recommended percentage to select, or manually enter your own amount.
The problem with card machines and tipping is the money goes to the restaurant and IF it is then passed on to the waitress it pays tax and NI. And it is shameful how many restaurants don't pass it on at all or only pass on a small percentage.
If I tip the waitresses I want that money to go in their pocket not the owners and the Government's. Hence why I always tip in cash.
Tips have always been supposed to be subject to tax (NI only if the business handles it). That they haven't in the past was tax evasion people turned a blind eye to - America is much tougher on this, for obvious reasons.
Restaurants absolutely should pass on 100% and if I ever found out in that past a restaurant doesn't then I would never return to that restaurant. However a law has been passed in Parliament I believe that firms aren't allowed to deduct from tips, as it should be.
Law or not I think you would be very surprised how many establishments do not pass on tips.
And I do not consider a tip as part of pay. I consider it a personal thanks to someone for their service and I vary the amount accordingly. I certainly do not want either the employer or the Givernment to get hold of any of it as they were not the ones being thanked. Hence I always tip in cash.
Given his comments on Ukraine Trump needs to lose every primary and caucus.
Realpolitik will prevail, as it always does. All that will actually change is the language used.
Under Trump, there will be announcements of the acceleration of loads of new military systems for the wonderful brave men and women who serve, and creating or protecting tens of thousands of jobs in the MIC who fund the Republican Party. There might be a footnote somewhere about the systems they replace being sold to the UK (or other NATO allies) for $1.
My criticism of Biden through this conflict, has been his constant championing of large dollar numbers on all the military aid packages to Ukraine. Which allows his political opponents to say that the money is better spent elsewhere, forgetting that the money was actually spent decades ago. No other country does this.
Realpolitik like those who said when Russia invaded Crimea that there's nothing to be done about it?
Realpolitik like those who said at the start of last year's new invasion "there's no point sending arms to Ukraine, Kiev will fall within days anyway"?
Or Realpolitik like those who said "Ukrainian lives will be lost in this war, they should settle with Russia"?
Or Realpolitik like those who said "its not possible for Ukraine to liberate land like Kharkiv or Kherson from Russia" so don't send arms to Ukraine?
Or Realpolitik like those who say "Russia has nukes, we should anger them".
Or Realpolitik like those who still say "its not possible for Ukraine to liberate Crimea or other lands back to its own borders, so settle with Russia in a stalemate"?
Excuse me, but I have no faith in Realpolitik, I want to see Ukraine supported despite the claims of those engaging in Realpolitik, not because of it. I thought you did too?
When Biden says that he can't give Ukraine more because it would split the EU and NATO, how do you feel? His policy is to do only as much as it takes to avoid countries like Poland getting directly involved while placating Germany and France.
I feel he's doing as much as he thinks he can.
Which I do not feel Trump would do - and Trump has said as much himself and I believe him.
Whichever way this goes, the endings of the matches this series have been so tight. You can bet Old Trafford would have had a sting in the tail too…What a series.
Despite making some bad calls England have vindicated their approach - they are not as good a side as Australia on paper, yet each match bar one has been tight, and the exception was so disrupted it cannot be truly judged.
"Had this crazy Englishman in the back seat, thought I'd have some fun and give him a scare by roaring down those pocked backroads you know, stupid overtaking, the whole nine yards.
He looked tense as hell, but turns out the whole time he was just worried about his phone signal and news about ashes he cared about, probably a dead relative."
I find the prospect of Iowa to be pretty dull this time around, if to be accompanied by a great deal of bitterness and rage.
Iowa is RARELY dull . . . every four years in the dead of winter, that is!
Addendum - for example, when yours truly was involved with Iowa Democratic precinct caucuses, on my 2nd day in the great Hawkeye State, my car radiator froze.
AND one of the local sights to see, were large grocery-store, etc. parking lots . . . with piles of snow that had been plowed, dumped and shoved almost to the tiptop of very tall light poles.
PLUS the water pipes froze in our local campaign office.
To name but a few of the signs that Jack Frost was nipping at one's nose, and then some!
Put simply: I don't trust those who are pushing air-source heat pumps; they all have an agenda.
I'm not risking the comfort and wellbeing of my family and a warm home until I go round to a trusted friend or neighbours house (on a cold and dark night) and feel it for myself, including having a hot bath.
I now have an image in my head of a bloke of a certain age turning up on doorsteps in a frayed shorty terrycloth bathrobe and a towel over his arm, angrily demanding a bath. Not good.
Who's in the bathroom? That angry bloke from next door. He took a picture of the old queen and a cucumber in with him.
I've just cried myself silly laughing. My wife and dog thought I was having a breakdown.
To be fair, even I laughed at that one!
At least @Dura_Ace would offer me a bath, even if not a cucumber.
Picture of a cucumber and the Queen wasn't it?
Or was there a missing Oxford comma?
Not required.
I always carry a picture of the Queen with me.
Paging @Anabobazina - we've got another cash user!
Cash only at the Fairlop Waters fun fair!
My local Thai restaurant (very good, btw) has a sign saying they prefer cash, as the charges on card payments are many hundreds a month.
That's funny because typical card handling charges dropped to less than cash handling charges about a decade ago.
If a business is trying to avoid card transactions nowadays its probably because they're seeking to evade (not avoid) HMRC rather than avoid bank charges.
Let's not associate cash with dodgy practices when most fraud these days is probably electronic.
Seen at Fairlop Waters fun fair a few days ago:
We keep 100% of cash probably means they don’t give any to HMRC.
The counter revolution has begun. There was a thing a few days ago about traders in Suffolk suggesting use of cash.
It's a particular issue which divides opinion, including PB opinion, with no middle ground SFAICS.
Basically I think that up to amount £X (£500?) it ought to be compulsory to take cash in face to face transactions; the other side is happy to see the stuff abolished.
Why the hell should it ever be compulsory to take cash?
People get killed over cash. I had a friend, pregnant, working in retail in Liverpool who had a machete held to her throat by armed robbers to get the Manager to open the safe.
If both sides want to handle cash, that's their choice. If either side does not, then respect free choice.
This is absolutely spot on.
If governments don't actively protect cash - by forcing people to take it - then it will die out. And it will die out because the vast majority of merchants benefit from not having cash handling charges. (And because most of the young people of today are entirely contactless.)
The question, therefore, is to what extent should the government force merchants to do something they don't want to do in order to protect those who cannot (or do not want to) go contactless?
If the government wants to compel merchants to take cash, then the taxpayer should pay for cash handling charges, cash collection services, security, insurance etc too.
The taxpayer is not going to do that. So compulsion is not remotely reasonable.
Phew, it's a difficult one.
What of the unbanked, like Nigel Farage? What of kids? What of the aged?
Perhaps there's a compromise here. During the transition period - i.e. the next five years - all firms with more than 40 employees are required to have at least one till able to accept cash payments for sums under £100?
That means you don't totally fuck over the old and the young and the unbanked. But you don't unduly burden small businesses.
Change the law so that people can't be unbanked, any more than they can have their water supply cut off.
Simples.
My guess is that when it comes to tipping you are Mr Pink from Reservoir Dogs
I have to admit that film is on my Bucket List, I've never seen it. Before my time and I've just never gotten around to watching it.
Card machines handle tipping for you nowadays though. Most restaurant card machines will give you a choice between the option of no tip, a couple of recommended percentage to select, or manually enter your own amount.
The problem with card machines and tipping is the money goes to the restaurant and IF it is then passed on to the waitress it pays tax and NI. And it is shameful how many restaurants don't pass it on at all or only pass on a small percentage.
If I tip the waitresses I want that money to go in their pocket not the owners and the Government's. Hence why I always tip in cash.
Tips have always been supposed to be subject to tax (NI only if the business handles it). That they haven't in the past was tax evasion people turned a blind eye to - America is much tougher on this, for obvious reasons.
Restaurants absolutely should pass on 100% and if I ever found out in that past a restaurant doesn't then I would never return to that restaurant. However a law has been passed in Parliament I believe that firms aren't allowed to deduct from tips, as it should be.
Law or not I think you would be very surprised how many establishments do not pass on tips.
And I do not consider a tip as part of pay. I consider it a personal thanks to someone for their service and I vary the amount accordingly. I certainly do not want either the employer or the Givernment to get hold of any of it as they were not the ones being thanked. Hence I always tip in cash.
Any establishments that don't pass on tips in full are scum that deserve to go out of business and closed down. Same as those paying less than minimum wage etc.
You do you, I have no qualms with you paying cash if you want to, that's your choice. And if the waitress is happy to accept it, then I have no qualms with that either.
Personally I tip via my card. As I've said, I'm pro-choice both parties should be free to choose what they want to do and if both parties are happy to exchange cash its not a problem. Nobody should ever be obliged to, that doesn't want to (and the same with cards too incidentally).
PS and that can of course include incidents where a restaurant is card-only for the bill, but you still tip in cash. Nothing wrong with that either, if the waitress is willing to accept cash but the premises isn't.
PPS many restaurants operate a tip jar policy and your cash will end up in the same pot and distributed the exact same way as a card tip is anyway.
This week Swift announced she would be closing York House antiques at Christmas. The Fleece Hotel, Cross View Tearooms and Ravensworth Nurseries, which has traded for 57 years, said they were closing with immediate effect.
“Richmond is reeling with shock,” said Paul Harrison, chair of the Original Richmond Business and Tourism Association. “In one week four significant businesses have announced closure, two of which have been very long established. It is a very bleak situation.
“The thing with a small independent business is the emotional investment … you invest your life in it. I feel ever so sorry for the businesses which are closing.”
Richmond is a Conservative stronghold, and when the Guardian visited on a wet Monday afternoon few people wanted to blame everything on their MP. But Harrison said: “I think the environment that has been created for businesses now is the most difficult I’ve ever known.
“It is the combination of all these different things and, yes, Brexit is part of the formula. People don’t want to talk about Brexit and I don’t understand why. Even the most straightforward thing like the exchange rate – anything that has been imported, including food, has been impacted by Brexit...
Just heard Labour confirm on ITV it will not cancel Sunak's new North Sea licences even though it is against them
Gift to the Greens and SNP no doubt
But that's not news. Labour has always said they won't rescind any licences in place when/if they come to power; they just won't grant any more. So, no change in policy.
Just heard Labour confirm on ITV it will not cancel Sunak's new North Sea licences even though it is against them
Gift to the Greens and SNP no doubt
But that's not news. Labour has always said they won't rescind any licences in place when/if they come to power; they just won't grant any more. So, no change in policy.
Are you saying labour are in favour of these new licences or is it just another fudge
Put simply: I don't trust those who are pushing air-source heat pumps; they all have an agenda.
I'm not risking the comfort and wellbeing of my family and a warm home until I go round to a trusted friend or neighbours house (on a cold and dark night) and feel it for myself, including having a hot bath.
I now have an image in my head of a bloke of a certain age turning up on doorsteps in a frayed shorty terrycloth bathrobe and a towel over his arm, angrily demanding a bath. Not good.
Who's in the bathroom? That angry bloke from next door. He took a picture of the old queen and a cucumber in with him.
I've just cried myself silly laughing. My wife and dog thought I was having a breakdown.
To be fair, even I laughed at that one!
At least @Dura_Ace would offer me a bath, even if not a cucumber.
Picture of a cucumber and the Queen wasn't it?
Or was there a missing Oxford comma?
Not required.
I always carry a picture of the Queen with me.
Paging @Anabobazina - we've got another cash user!
Cash only at the Fairlop Waters fun fair!
My local Thai restaurant (very good, btw) has a sign saying they prefer cash, as the charges on card payments are many hundreds a month.
That's funny because typical card handling charges dropped to less than cash handling charges about a decade ago.
If a business is trying to avoid card transactions nowadays its probably because they're seeking to evade (not avoid) HMRC rather than avoid bank charges.
Let's not associate cash with dodgy practices when most fraud these days is probably electronic.
Seen at Fairlop Waters fun fair a few days ago:
We keep 100% of cash probably means they don’t give any to HMRC.
The counter revolution has begun. There was a thing a few days ago about traders in Suffolk suggesting use of cash.
It's a particular issue which divides opinion, including PB opinion, with no middle ground SFAICS.
Basically I think that up to amount £X (£500?) it ought to be compulsory to take cash in face to face transactions; the other side is happy to see the stuff abolished.
Why the hell should it ever be compulsory to take cash?
People get killed over cash. I had a friend, pregnant, working in retail in Liverpool who had a machete held to her throat by armed robbers to get the Manager to open the safe.
If both sides want to handle cash, that's their choice. If either side does not, then respect free choice.
Well that is a very good point I hadn't thought of. As someone who lived through the 60s and 70s bank robberies and wages snatches with sawn off shotguns were a thing. Not now. All internet fraud now.
Not now? You're kidding yourself.
Armed robberies happen routinely across Merseyside - and presumably elsewhere - all the time. That they don't get attention is sad, but it happens and only makes the news if someone actually dies and even then it doesn't typically stay in the news for long.
An average of 200 robberies a day happened last year, 365 days a year. Actual robberies with the threat of force involved, not simple theft.
And people here wonder why businesses don't want the burden of handling cash.
Well that will teach me to agree with you 😀
Seriously though I assume you weren't around in the 60s and 70s. Much safer now. I think the stats support that or I might be basing it on reruns of the Sweeney.
We’ve had the starter in the Ashes, now for the main course, the hundred.
Nah. It lacks everything that makes the Ashes and Test cricket in general special.
I do agree, and I am being a bit glib here, but the cricket authorities have delivered the game a disservice by its scheduling of this meaningless contest in August, with the season grinding to a halt to accommodate it.
Just heard Labour confirm on ITV it will not cancel Sunak's new North Sea licences even though it is against them
Gift to the Greens and SNP no doubt
But that's not news. Labour has always said they won't rescind any licences in place when/if they come to power; they just won't grant any more. So, no change in policy.
Are you saying labour are in favour of these new licences or is it just another fudge
No, I'm saying that Labour never intended to retrospectively rescind licences.
The only match of the five that wasn't close was also the only one to end in a draw. Cricket, eh?
Indeed, what a series.
At the start I pondered paying for TV coverage - decided against. What a mistake that was! Still, the BBC radio coverage, as always, has been excellent. Jim Maxwell has been a great highlight.
“It is the combination of all these different things and, yes, Brexit is part of the formula. People don’t want to talk about Brexit and I don’t understand why. Even the most straightforward thing like the exchange rate – anything that has been imported, including food, has been impacted by Brexit...
What a load of crap.
The exchange rate has been stable versus the Euro for years and is at a comparable rate to what it was 2008 - 2014 too. Indeed since 2008 apart from a brief spike, the pound/euro exchange rate has been remarkably stable Brexit or no Brexit. The only time there was a change was nearly a decade ago where a spike was reversed and that did not cause inflation.
The US Dollar has in recent years risen against the Euro and Pound and a basket of other currencies. That has √(fuck all) to do with Brexit.
One possible issue for 2024, or more likely post-2024, is the massive flouting of the pathetic fig-leaves that are all that remains of US federal campaign financial disclosure requirements.
In particular, by Republican POTUS hopefuls AND their (allegedly) separate-by-way-more than equal superPACs.
For example, due to Ron DeSantis campaign's notable paucity of contributors combined by notorious prolificacy of expenditures (esp. chartered jets for RDS) his superPAC has taken over paying for his upcoming Iowa bus tour.
This despite fact that, by law, coordination between campaigns and their superPACs is banned.
HA! HA! HA!
However, is does appear that, for 2024, more than one Republican candidate is pushing even this extraordinarily-leaky (in more ways than one?) envelope.
Just heard Labour confirm on ITV it will not cancel Sunak's new North Sea licences even though it is against them
Gift to the Greens and SNP no doubt
But that's not news. Labour has always said they won't rescind any licences in place when/if they come to power; they just won't grant any more. So, no change in policy.
Are you saying labour are in favour of these new licences or is it just another fudge
If they were to reconfirm the licenses a year or more after their grant, you'd be among those chuntering about the damage to investment confidence.
A bit surprised that Starc has been judged player of the series for the Aussies. I reckon that Khawaja would be entitled to be a bit peeved, given how instrumental he was in their two victories. Not that it matters.
Interesting comment made on TMS earlier this afternoon and which has now come to pass.
There have been no run outs in this Ashes series at all. 178 dismisals and no run outs.
I believe the previous record was 177 dismisals in a series without a run out.
But one contentious stumping!
Indeed. But it is an interesting observation when the teams - or at least England - are being so gung ho in terms of scoring runs and taking chances, that no one on either side was run out in the whole series.
Just heard Labour confirm on ITV it will not cancel Sunak's new North Sea licences even though it is against them
Gift to the Greens and SNP no doubt
But that's not news. Labour has always said they won't rescind any licences in place when/if they come to power; they just won't grant any more. So, no change in policy.
Are you saying labour are in favour of these new licences or is it just another fudge
If they were to reconfirm the licenses a year or more after their grant, you'd be among those chuntering about the damage to investment confidence.
Are you saying Sunak is just playing games ?
Not at all
I support Sunak's decision and it seems opinion is changing as todays YouGov has 42%/27% approval for the decision:-
Rishi Sunak has announced more than 100 new North Sea oil and gas licences
Our poll in May found Britons preferred to ban new developments by 40% to 32%
Now asked whether the government was right or wrong to issue new licences
Interesting comment made on TMS earlier this afternoon and which has now come to pass.
There have been no run outs in this Ashes series at all. 178 dismisals and no run outs.
I believe the previous record was 177 dismisals in a series without a run out.
But one contentious stumping!
Indeed. But it is an interesting observation when the teams - or at least England - are being so gung ho in terms of scoring runs and taking chances, that no one on either side was run out in the whole series.
Though partially that's because when taking chances they were more likely to get stumped (much more than the controversial one) or caught instead.
People hooking to the boundary tend to either go out by missing the ball and getting stumped, or getting caught rather. Run outs are more due to taking quick singles that shouldn't be taken and we were swinging for the boundary more than that.
Still a very interesting stat, but there were from memory a lot of stumpings this series.
With regards to Sunak and new drilling licenses. As we transition to net zero we will still need oil.
Does it make sense for that to be our own oil, or oil bought from the middle east and shipped by supertanker?
Of course Labour aren't reversing the decision. Sunak has done them a favour.
Indeed, but what happens when those new licences expire and more new licences are needed? Even post net zero we will still need oil, it is asinine to be saying supertanker oil is better than getting our own.
Comments
Yes. I know. Selfish
If you are in a taxi being driven at blood-chilling speeds over roads pockmarked with the inevitable damage consequent to being a warzone, is your upper lip stiff enough, and your loyalty to King and Country firm enough, that you still support England in a cricket match against Australia?
Leon fails.
Now I have to survive so o can watch the highlight
What a shame about Manchester.
Miss Foy would be most disappointed in Leon.
This is NOT a new situation, not hardly.
Can well recall as a kid in the mid-1960s, watching the State of the Union on TV, and seeing LBJ flanked by two super-geezers who looked like they were ready to keel over then and there - House Speaker John McCormack, and Senate President Pro Tempore Carl Hayden.
McCormack had been first elected to Massachusetts legislature n 1920, and to Congress in 1928.
Hayden was elected Sheriff of Maricopa County in 1906 (leading posses on horseback) and as first US Representative from Arizona in 1912 when AZ achieved statehood; he was elected to US Senate in 1926.
Other notable examples of superannuated senators include Strom Thurmond of SC and Robert Byrd of WV.
Note that the physical and/or mental conditions of aged lawmakers under the DC Big Top has, and still, varies greatly.
What's remained pretty constant, is disinclination of other members of Congress to publicly call for removal, either voluntarily or (especially) otherwise.
Why? Because they realize, instinctively, that some less-than-fine day, THEY might just end up on the wrong end of THAT argument, either directly OR indirectly (say from removal of critical vote for their party or faction).
Restaurants absolutely should pass on 100% and if I ever found out in that past a restaurant doesn't then I would never return to that restaurant. However a law has been passed in Parliament I believe that firms aren't allowed to deduct from tips, as it should be.
King William V and George VII nailed on.
Gift to the Greens and SNP no doubt
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iIWVWmFABY
That, my friends, was the very definition of a “moral victory”
Oz saved by shite Manc weather
It could easily have been England 3-1 or even 4-0
And I do not consider a tip as part of pay. I consider it a personal thanks to someone for their service and I vary the amount accordingly. I certainly do not want either the employer or the Givernment to get hold of any of it as they were not the ones being thanked. Hence I always tip in cash.
It's like the tension and excitement of a General Election campaign, only we actually like some of the participants and respect the opposition.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2023/07/31/nigel-farage-coutts-account-stay-open-debanking-scandal/ (£££)
Just have to hope the highlights are saved on BBC iPlayer for weeks.
It’s really easy to access BBC iPlayer with a VPN
SkyGo is more impervious but I’ve managed it
I am simple
Imagine if we’d won at OT and that has made it 3•2
That would have replaced 2005 as the greatest series of all time
It’s still bloody marvellous
That’s it
He looked tense as hell, but turns out the whole time he was just worried about his phone signal and news about ashes he cared about, probably a dead relative."
England proved their point, and some.
Addendum - for example, when yours truly was involved with Iowa Democratic precinct caucuses, on my 2nd day in the great Hawkeye State, my car radiator froze.
AND one of the local sights to see, were large grocery-store, etc. parking lots . . . with piles of snow that had been plowed, dumped and shoved almost to the tiptop of very tall light poles.
PLUS the water pipes froze in our local campaign office.
To name but a few of the signs that Jack Frost was nipping at one's nose, and then some!
You do you, I have no qualms with you paying cash if you want to, that's your choice. And if the waitress is happy to accept it, then I have no qualms with that either.
Personally I tip via my card. As I've said, I'm pro-choice both parties should be free to choose what they want to do and if both parties are happy to exchange cash its not a problem. Nobody should ever be obliged to, that doesn't want to (and the same with cards too incidentally).
PS and that can of course include incidents where a restaurant is card-only for the bill, but you still tip in cash. Nothing wrong with that either, if the waitress is willing to accept cash but the premises isn't.
PPS many restaurants operate a tip jar policy and your cash will end up in the same pot and distributed the exact same way as a card tip is anyway.
The only match of the five that wasn't close was also the only one to end in a draw. Cricket, eh?
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/jul/31/its-bleak-string-of-family-firms-shut-in-rishi-sunaks-yorkshire-seat
...In Richmond beleaguered shop owners talk of the cost of living crisis, energy bills, interest rates and Brexit all coming together to cause a perfect storm of hardship.
This week Swift announced she would be closing York House antiques at Christmas. The Fleece Hotel, Cross View Tearooms and Ravensworth Nurseries, which has traded for 57 years, said they were closing with immediate effect.
“Richmond is reeling with shock,” said Paul Harrison, chair of the Original Richmond Business and Tourism Association. “In one week four significant businesses have announced closure, two of which have been very long established. It is a very bleak situation.
“The thing with a small independent business is the emotional investment … you invest your life in it. I feel ever so sorry for the businesses which are closing.”
Richmond is a Conservative stronghold, and when the Guardian visited on a wet Monday afternoon few people wanted to blame everything on their MP. But Harrison said: “I think the environment that has been created for businesses now is the most difficult I’ve ever known.
“It is the combination of all these different things and, yes, Brexit is part of the formula. People don’t want to talk about Brexit and I don’t understand why. Even the most straightforward thing like the exchange rate – anything that has been imported, including food, has been impacted by Brexit...
I love it, oh, oh yeah.
Seriously though I assume you weren't around in the 60s and 70s. Much safer now. I think the stats support that or I might be basing it on reruns of the Sweeney.
There have been no run outs in this Ashes series at all. 178 dismisals and no run outs.
I believe the previous record was 177 dismisals in a series without a run out.
At the start I pondered paying for TV coverage - decided against. What a mistake that was! Still, the BBC radio coverage, as always, has been excellent. Jim Maxwell has been a great highlight.
The exchange rate has been stable versus the Euro for years and is at a comparable rate to what it was 2008 - 2014 too. Indeed since 2008 apart from a brief spike, the pound/euro exchange rate has been remarkably stable Brexit or no Brexit. The only time there was a change was nearly a decade ago where a spike was reversed and that did not cause inflation.
The US Dollar has in recent years risen against the Euro and Pound and a basket of other currencies. That has √(fuck all) to do with Brexit.
In particular, by Republican POTUS hopefuls AND their (allegedly) separate-by-way-more than equal superPACs.
For example, due to Ron DeSantis campaign's notable paucity of contributors combined by notorious prolificacy of expenditures (esp. chartered jets for RDS) his superPAC has taken over paying for his upcoming Iowa bus tour.
This despite fact that, by law, coordination between campaigns and their superPACs is banned.
HA! HA! HA!
However, is does appear that, for 2024, more than one Republican candidate is pushing even this extraordinarily-leaky (in more ways than one?) envelope.
Are you saying Sunak is just playing games ?
I reckon that Khawaja would be entitled to be a bit peeved, given how instrumental he was in their two victories. Not that it matters.
Does it make sense for that to be our own oil, or oil bought from the middle east and shipped by supertanker?
Of course Labour aren't reversing the decision. Sunak has done them a favour.
I support Sunak's decision and it seems opinion is changing as todays YouGov has 42%/27% approval for the decision:-
Rishi Sunak has announced more than 100 new North Sea oil and gas licences
Our poll in May found Britons preferred to ban new developments by 40% to 32%
Now asked whether the government was right or wrong to issue new licences
Britons say they were right by 42% to 27%
https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/survey-results/daily/2023/07/31/aac1f/1
People hooking to the boundary tend to either go out by missing the ball and getting stumped, or getting caught rather. Run outs are more due to taking quick singles that shouldn't be taken and we were swinging for the boundary more than that.
Still a very interesting stat, but there were from memory a lot of stumpings this series.
https://cricclubs.com/IowaPremierLeague
Is it some kind of omen, that just yesterday the "Iowa Strikers" forfeited to the "Afghan Blue Tigers"?