I am booked on a bus to take me over the Ukrainian border, in the carpathians, and down into Romania
I have no idea if the bus will turn up (the last few haven’t) or if I will make it over the frontier even if I do (I’ve heard tales of major difficulties)
Johnson would have happily spent a billion quid every four years to do that but I highly doubt anyone else would.
The Birmingham organisers suggest they will make money next time around as the infrastructure is in place. Since Birmingham is no longer Motorcity UK, it needs a tagline. How about "Home of the Poundland Games"?
For LOLs I just clicked onto 'Rachel Riley' on the 'trending' section on the dumpster-fire formerly known as Twitter.
The amount of hate towards her from the left is frankly worrying. I haven't investigated the allegations against her (*), but the froth-mouthed, spittle-flecked screeching against her kinda makes me feel that she's in the right.
(*) Partly because the mere fact of her existence seems to annoy them.
Mostly it's because she is Jewish, albeit Atheist.
She is vegan too, so something to offend the other headbangers...
That last bit has put me off.
Like finding out someone you really fancy is a smoker.
I'm sure she'll reconsider her dietary choices, if you let her know.
One day, yes.
This is a just a phase we are living through: like prohibition in the 1920s. It's a quasi-religious movement. As prohibition was to over-consumption of alcohol and its "evils", veganism is the same with animal products.
Because it's irrational, dogmatic and illogical it will eventually die out, as prohibition did, and everyone who was taken in by it will be embarrassed to admit they ever were one.
Much of what you say may be true, but the prediction that veganism will die out is unlikely given that various forms of vegetarianism have persisted throughout history.
I think we will look back at meat-eating in 100 years time like we now look back at the slave trade.
Bacon and sausage roll for me this morning.
In a hundred years? Most assuredly, folk will be posting on PB how eating venison but not bacon is part of the Woke plague rotting the soul of the West.
Which then leads to a the following philosophical conundrum -
Is venison bacon woke or un-woke?
Or is it both at the same time and the wave form collapses to one or other depending on whether the person eating it is a Gay Trans Illegal Immigrant Alien AI?
I am booked on a bus to take me over the Ukrainian border, in the carpathians, and down into Romania
I have no idea if the bus will turn up (the last few haven’t) or if I will make it over the frontier even if I do (I’ve heard tales of major difficulties)
Exciting. It’s like being in a war
Ah, that’s it
Or just like using busses anywhere in the UK countryside.
For LOLs I just clicked onto 'Rachel Riley' on the 'trending' section on the dumpster-fire formerly known as Twitter.
The amount of hate towards her from the left is frankly worrying. I haven't investigated the allegations against her (*), but the froth-mouthed, spittle-flecked screeching against her kinda makes me feel that she's in the right.
(*) Partly because the mere fact of her existence seems to annoy them.
Mostly it's because she is Jewish, albeit Atheist.
She is vegan too, so something to offend the other headbangers...
That last bit has put me off.
Like finding out someone you really fancy is a smoker.
Why does it put you off?
I know / have known a fair few vegans. Some are the 'vegan police' style people who wear their suffering for their superpower on their sleeve. Most are perfectly ordinary people who do not want to put any inconvenience on anybody.
It's nothing like smoking. If someone smokes near me, it gets in my lungs even if they're ten feet away. Someone eating a nut roast at the seat next to me has zero effect on me.
Because they are preachy, whiny and annoying.
And they absolutely do inconvenience people. It means every time you hook up with them you can't cook or eat what you want and you've got to reduce your meals to the lowest common denominator so they can eat with you, which is antisocial.
So it absolutely has an effect on me.
Some are 'preachy, whiny and annoying', as I mentioned. Most are not.
People make other life choices from you: if you cannot deal with that, then that is your problem, not theirs.
Er, no. I was talking about what I found attractive and what put me on or off.
Their choices would cause problems for me and restrict my lifestyle and this would put me off.
The fact you might make a different choice is quite beside the point, unless you think the only acceptable choices in life are ones that you would make - which would be stunningly arrogant.
But as I said, that's your issue, and your problem.
As an example: I don't like tattoos. For some reason, I just don't like them. They're a bit of a turn-off, and I have to try not to judge people who have them.
But the important point is this: I understand that's my issue, and my problem, and I try not to let that judgement affect the way I interact with people who have tattoos. Now if they start suggesting I get a tattoo, I'd laugh at them - because I don't like tattoos. But I won't treat them any differently because of their choice.
In fact, I recognise that some tattoos are cool: like the lady I met who got one star / dot added for every year she had been clear of cancer, on the anniversary of receiving the all-clear.
Most of all: I think your comparison of veganism with smoking to be utterly ridiculous and childish. Pathetic, in fact. Oh dear, you might occasionally have to change what you eat to cater for someone else. What an *awful* imposition. It's exactly the same as killing me with second-hand smoke.
However, I don't agree about tattoos. In *my* case, my dislike *is* irrational. There are good reasons to dislike tattoos, but my dislike isn't based in any of those. I don't know where it comes from; certainly not my parents. But it is irrational.
I think particulates from tyres are an issue? Not an expert on this.
Tyres lose tiny particles of rubber as they wear. All tyres. Heavy vehicles wear tyres out the most. So a 44 tonne truck will make lots of tyre dust, and a 0.1 tonne bicycle very little. In between, a 7.5 tonne van is worse than a 2 tonne Range Rover, is worse than a 1.5 tonne EV, is worse than a 1 tonne petrol city car.
Particulates are graded by size. Tyre particles are of the size PM100. Diesel exhaust particulates are of the size PM10 down to PM2.5. For comparison, silt is PM20 to PM50 sand is PM50 to PM2000. PM10s are so small they stay floating in the air and you breathe them in. Go to Weymouth beach (where the sand is so fine it is almost silt) and on a dry, windy day, there is a slight haze of silt dust hovering over the beach. PM50s will float at shin level but quickly fall to the ground. PM100s from tyres don't float in the air, so you don't breathe them in.
People who quote EV tyre particulates are grasping at straws in the hope of not getting rid of petrol cars. They neglect that their 2 tonne Range Rover is worse than the electric hatchback they oppose, and that lorries are 20 times worse than their Range Rover.
Of course PB had to have an expert on tyre particulates.
Johnson would have happily spent a billion quid every four years to do that but I highly doubt anyone else would.
The Birmingham organisers suggest they will make money next time around as the infrastructure is in place. Since Birmingham is no longer Motorcity UK, it needs a tagline. How about "Home of the Poundland Games"?
Without the ludicrous "Build zillion dollar facilities to use once, while paying commissions to lots of shady characters" part of international sport, it is quite easy to make money on sporting events.
When my daughter was in her teens, she decided to become a vegetarian. There's a happy ending - the smell of frying bacon was enough to bring her back to sanity.
I work with a guy at work whose mother raised him as a vegetarian, until he reached the age of 17, stayed with his Uncle and ate a roast. His mother wasn't happy.
People do move in and out of vegetarianism. I was vegetarian for 7 years, as was Mrs Foxy, though Fox Jr wasn't, he was preschool at the time. I started eating meat again during foot and mouth as the lake district without sheep just looked too desolate.
I now take a more CWF approach and support their campaigns for higher welfare standards for farm animals. I eat meat maybe a couple of times per week, so am flexitarian in the modern jargon. I generally choose the vegetarian option when dining, unless it is really uninspired. I avoid cured meats too for health reasons.
It’s funny what love can do. My wife’s uncle was a ukip/Tory type. In late life he’s met a lady and fell in love. He is now a vegan and delivers Labour leaflets in his classic Bentley.
I once knew of someone who was as unreconstructed as you can imagine, a total sweary, boozy, right wing, perhaps there were drugs in there at some time who knows, kind of guy. No time for any left wing bollocks and a Brexiter to boot.
I think particulates from tyres are an issue? Not an expert on this.
Tyres lose tiny particles of rubber as they wear. All tyres. Heavy vehicles wear tyres out the most. So a 44 tonne truck will make lots of tyre dust, and a 0.1 tonne bicycle very little. In between, a 7.5 tonne van is worse than a 2 tonne Range Rover, is worse than a 1.5 tonne EV, is worse than a 1 tonne petrol city car.
Particulates are graded by size. Tyre particles are of the size PM100. Diesel exhaust particulates are of the size PM10 down to PM2.5. For comparison, silt is PM20 to PM50 sand is PM50 to PM2000. PM10s are so small they stay floating in the air and you breathe them in. Go to Weymouth beach (where the sand is so fine it is almost silt) and on a dry, windy day, there is a slight haze of silt dust hovering over the beach. PM50s will float at shin level but quickly fall to the ground. PM100s from tyres don't float in the air, so you don't breathe them in.
People who quote EV tyre particulates are grasping at straws in the hope of not getting rid of petrol cars. They neglect that their 2 tonne Range Rover is worse than the electric hatchback they oppose, and that lorries are 20 times worse than their Range Rover.
Of course PB had to have an expert on tyre particulates.
In addition, all serious attempts at EVs needs cooling for the motors and batteries. This means lots of air coming in. This is filtered, so as not to gum up the works. Which means that most EVs hoover up more particulates than they produce.
I am booked on a bus to take me over the Ukrainian border, in the carpathians, and down into Romania
I have no idea if the bus will turn up (the last few haven’t) or if I will make it over the frontier even if I do (I’ve heard tales of major difficulties)
Exciting. It’s like being in a war
Ah, that’s it
I think you need to ration your warzone jeopardy posts to keep the necessary excitement up. Keep it to 12a or 15 rated dangers at least. Worrying a bus to Romania may be a bit late is more U: occasional mild threat.
I very rarely agree with CasinoRoyale, but I do think Airplane is the funniest film ever.
Though I wonder whether under 30s would find it funny.
Comedy films date very fast. It’s a miracle it’s lasted this long.
Life of Brian hasn’t aged either. Indeed it only gets more prescient and relevant
And Life if Brian is cleverer. But Airplane probably has more belly laughs
Spinal Tap completes the Top Three
We are close to agreement, Leon. This is worrying.
Airplane has be be the most un-PC film ever made. I'm surprised it hasn't now been banned. It makes me laugh still, although one or two or the jokes make me squirm a bit.
When my daughter was in her teens, she decided to become a vegetarian. There's a happy ending - the smell of frying bacon was enough to bring her back to sanity.
Quite a few vegetarians, vegans, diabetics in my extended family, as well as allergies including nuts, oats and lactose. It really isn't that much of a problem with a bit of thought. At family functions we tend to do a buffet, and label things.
When you are living with a vegan you have to consider this stuff every day at home, as well as when you cater or go out for a meal. That's why it isn't for me.
(Snip)
We've always managed to have very good Sunday roasts despite Mrs J's pescatarianism/vegetarianism/veganism. The vast majority of ingredients are suitable for everyone, or can be made so. Just fry the potatoes in vegetable oil rather than fat, use a veggie gravy powder, and put in a veggie alternative alongside the meat. All the veg, the Yorkshire puds, etc, they are all vegan, or can be made vegan with very little effort. And you won't notice the difference.
Mrs J was veggie when I met her, and was very open about wanting to be vegan. If I'd been 'turned off' by that, then I would have missed out on nineteen wonderful years with her. Besides, she puts up with a lot more from me; like my fondness for trains.
Johnson would have happily spent a billion quid every four years to do that but I highly doubt anyone else would.
The Birmingham organisers suggest they will make money next time around as the infrastructure is in place. Since Birmingham is no longer Motorcity UK, it needs a tagline. How about "Home of the Poundland Games"?
Without the ludicrous "Build zillion dollar facilities to use once, while paying commissions to lots of shady characters" part of international sport, it is quite easy to make money on sporting events.
One problem is that bids are supposed to have a permanent legacy on national sport. The reality is that they are often just white elephants, like the abandoned stadia in South Africa.
If planning a party, enjoy a party and hire a marquee, don't expect it to build an extension on your house.
I am booked on a bus to take me over the Ukrainian border, in the carpathians, and down into Romania
I have no idea if the bus will turn up (the last few haven’t) or if I will make it over the frontier even if I do (I’ve heard tales of major difficulties)
Exciting. It’s like being in a war
Ah, that’s it
I think you need to ration your warzone jeopardy posts to keep the necessary excitement up. Keep it to 12a or 15 rated dangers at least. Worrying a bus to Romania may be a bit late is more U: occasional mild threat.
Worrying that a bus might be late - it's Oxford on the Woodstock road on a Thursday evening, when you might miss the happy hour at The Duke of Cambridge.
I very rarely agree with CasinoRoyale, but I do think Airplane is the funniest film ever.
Though I wonder whether under 30s would find it funny.
Comedy films date very fast. It’s a miracle it’s lasted this long.
Life of Brian hasn’t aged either. Indeed it only gets more prescient and relevant
And Life if Brian is cleverer. But Airplane probably has more belly laughs
Spinal Tap completes the Top Three
We are close to agreement, Leon. This is worrying.
Airplane has be be the most un-PC film ever made. I'm surprised it hasn't now been banned. It makes me laugh still, although one or two or the jokes make me squirm a bit.
The bit where the old lady speaks “jive” may be the single funniest moment in cinematic history.
I very rarely agree with CasinoRoyale, but I do think Airplane is the funniest film ever.
Though I wonder whether under 30s would find it funny.
Comedy films date very fast. It’s a miracle it’s lasted this long.
Airplane works by sheer density of jokes- even if one fails or dates, it doesn't matter because there's another one along before you've noticed.
Ditton "The Play That Goes Wrong" which I got round to seeing last night. Blimey, the Elizabeth Line is a miracle; I don't see how the "Romford isn't London" meme survives it.
I am booked on a bus to take me over the Ukrainian border, in the carpathians, and down into Romania
I have no idea if the bus will turn up (the last few haven’t) or if I will make it over the frontier even if I do (I’ve heard tales of major difficulties)
Exciting. It’s like being in a war
Ah, that’s it
I think you need to ration your warzone jeopardy posts to keep the necessary excitement up. Keep it to 12a or 15 rated dangers at least. Worrying a bus to Romania may be a bit late is more U: occasional mild threat.
They aren’t late. They just don’t show up. I admit this isn’t exactly the Blitz but it will leave me stranded In Chernowitz and I really need to be back in London tomorrow for a stag night
What makes it iffier is I’ve no evidence of anyone else using this route out of Ukraine
I very rarely agree with CasinoRoyale, but I do think Airplane is the funniest film ever.
Though I wonder whether under 30s would find it funny.
Comedy films date very fast. It’s a miracle it’s lasted this long.
Life of Brian hasn’t aged either. Indeed it only gets more prescient and relevant
And Life if Brian is cleverer. But Airplane probably has more belly laughs
Spinal Tap completes the Top Three
We are close to agreement, Leon. This is worrying.
Airplane has be be the most un-PC film ever made. I'm surprised it hasn't now been banned. It makes me laugh still, although one or two or the jokes make me squirm a bit.
The bit where the old lady speaks “jive” may be the single funniest moment in cinematic history.
Mirrored of course, in Life of Brian where the (was it?) jailer has a bad stammer and then when the Roman has gone speaks fluently to his mate.
I am booked on a bus to take me over the Ukrainian border, in the carpathians, and down into Romania
I have no idea if the bus will turn up (the last few haven’t) or if I will make it over the frontier even if I do (I’ve heard tales of major difficulties)
Exciting. It’s like being in a war
Ah, that’s it
I think you need to ration your warzone jeopardy posts to keep the necessary excitement up. Keep it to 12a or 15 rated dangers at least. Worrying a bus to Romania may be a bit late is more U: occasional mild threat.
They aren’t late. They just don’t show up. I admit this isn’t exactly the Blitz but it will leave me stranded In Chernowitz and I really need to be back in London tomorrow for a stag night
What makes it iffier is I’ve no evidence of anyone else using this route out of Ukraine
Cbernovtsi, Ukraine - Suceava, Romania
David Niven made several good films. Was also wise about other stuff:
"Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences."
I very rarely agree with CasinoRoyale, but I do think Airplane is the funniest film ever.
Though I wonder whether under 30s would find it funny.
Comedy films date very fast. It’s a miracle it’s lasted this long.
Life of Brian hasn’t aged either. Indeed it only gets more prescient and relevant
And Life if Brian is cleverer. But Airplane probably has more belly laughs
Spinal Tap completes the Top Three
We are close to agreement, Leon. This is worrying.
Airplane has be be the most un-PC film ever made. I'm surprised it hasn't now been banned. It makes me laugh still, although one or two or the jokes make me squirm a bit.
Yes, but comedy needs it's reference points. Airplane is funny mostly because it is a send up of Seventies "disaster" movies, Blazing Saddles because of Fifties and Sixties Westerns, Spinal Tap because of Eighties rock clichés.
Without their cultural hinterland a lot of the jokes are less funny or simply missed. A large part of humour is in transgressing expectations, so the expectations have to exist in order to be transgressed.
I find all these films hilarious, but as GenX I get them. Would GenZ?.
I very rarely agree with CasinoRoyale, but I do think Airplane is the funniest film ever.
Though I wonder whether under 30s would find it funny.
Comedy films date very fast. It’s a miracle it’s lasted this long.
Life of Brian hasn’t aged either. Indeed it only gets more prescient and relevant
And Life if Brian is cleverer. But Airplane probably has more belly laughs
Spinal Tap completes the Top Three
We are close to agreement, Leon. This is worrying.
Airplane has be be the most un-PC film ever made. I'm surprised it hasn't now been banned. It makes me laugh still, although one or two or the jokes make me squirm a bit.
The bit where the old lady speaks “jive” may be the single funniest moment in cinematic history.
Mirrored of course, in Life of Brian where the (was it?) jailer has a bad stammer and then when the Roman has gone speaks fluently to his mate.
It is tbf quite a common comedic device.
Speaking of stammers, A Fish Called Wanda hasn’t aged terribly well. Let alone its feeble follow up, Fierce Creatures.
Through the latter does bring Ronnie Corbett and Jamie Lee Curtis together in the same film.
On the Trump case: It really does look like he could be facing meaningful prison time. He needs a presidential pardon, and it's not clear whether or not a president can pardon themselves.
Say he gets to early 2024, he's locked up a majority of delegates for the GOP nomination, but it looks like he may well lose to Biden, who is nevertheless unpopular. Isn't the move to chose someone who can actually win the election, and can be relied on to pardon him? I know there's a question of whether he's psychologically able to process the evidence that he might lose the election and I don't know either way, but let's suppose he is. Who would he pick? The required traits are loyalty to Trump, and a high probability of winning, given a Trump endorsement. I don't think he cares much about policies and so forth.
Well done Sadiq on making the scrappage scheme available to all Londoners. Funny how he has managed that as in the last couple of weeks regularly been told on here that would be impossible.
Have you?
Regularly might be stretching it - it wasn't at 10am every Tuesday and Thursday for example, but yes have been told repeatedly that the scrappage scheme was limited by central government and beyond Sadiq's control.
When my daughter was in her teens, she decided to become a vegetarian. There's a happy ending - the smell of frying bacon was enough to bring her back to sanity.
I work with a guy at work whose mother raised him as a vegetarian, until he reached the age of 17, stayed with his Uncle and ate a roast. His mother wasn't happy.
People do move in and out of vegetarianism. I was vegetarian for 7 years, as was Mrs Foxy, though Fox Jr wasn't, he was preschool at the time. I started eating meat again during foot and mouth as the lake district without sheep just looked too desolate.
I now take a more CWF approach and support their campaigns for higher welfare standards for farm animals. I eat meat maybe a couple of times per week, so am flexitarian in the modern jargon. I generally choose the vegetarian option when dining, unless it is really uninspired. I avoid cured meats too for health reasons.
Yes, I avoid cured meats for the same reason. It's a shame, because I like them, but I like being alive too.
The vegetarian option is sometimes the best on the menu, so I'l often take it, especially as I tend to eat too much meat anyway.
I like the term 'flexitarian'. Never come across that before.
Mrs PtP is a 'cute-vegetarian', by which she means she doesn't eat cute looking animals. So, beef and pork are OK, because cows are stupid and pigs are ugly. Venison, lamb and rabbit is definitely out.
Btw, she is half Jewish, so if you give a pork chop, she only eats half of it.
Shrink the Commonwealth Games, and perma-host in Birmingham, with the Cotswolds Olympicks down the road as a kind of sports fringe festival.
Why not?
It offers the chance to smaller countries, who'd never normally qualify for hosting the Olympics, to have their chance in the limelight as well as compete more broadly.
But, it might have got ahead of its station a bit and trying too hard with being another Olympics and it shouldn't try and play in that league.
And the biggest beneficiaries of that would be Moscow and Beijing. For the Commonwealth is a key tool for keeping African, South Asian and Caribbean nations in the orbit of the West, Anglosphere and liberal democracy. Without it many Commonwealth nations would move into the realm of Russia and China.
In any case there is no need for the Commonwealth Games to be Olympics 2, they should be done cheaply on a budget and just be the friendly games they were set up to be
Paragraph 1. Too late. Particularly Chinese economic colonialism in Africa.
Paragraph 2. A permanent home in Birmingham?
No it isn't too late, that is just the defeatist tone of the liberal left who would hand over most of the developing world to Chinese influence without more than a shrug
I very rarely agree with CasinoRoyale, but I do think Airplane is the funniest film ever.
Though I wonder whether under 30s would find it funny.
Comedy films date very fast. It’s a miracle it’s lasted this long.
Airplane works by sheer density of jokes- even if one fails or dates, it doesn't matter because there's another one along before you've noticed.
Ditton "The Play That Goes Wrong" which I got round to seeing last night. Blimey, the Elizabeth Line is a miracle; I don't see how the "Romford isn't London" meme survives it.
I get belly laughs either from surreal silliness, which is essentially what airplane is about and shares a lineage with something like Shooting Stars as well as much of Monty Python, or well executed farce, which is how the Hangover works and what made Fawlty Towers so excruciating. When occasionally you have surreal silliness combined with farce you get Father Ted.
I very rarely agree with CasinoRoyale, but I do think Airplane is the funniest film ever.
Though I wonder whether under 30s would find it funny.
Comedy films date very fast. It’s a miracle it’s lasted this long.
I know one who doesn't get it but that's because it goes after virtually every special interest group one can imagine, and they've been brought up to cringe at all that as potentially offensive and inappropriate.
For LOLs I just clicked onto 'Rachel Riley' on the 'trending' section on the dumpster-fire formerly known as Twitter.
The amount of hate towards her from the left is frankly worrying. I haven't investigated the allegations against her (*), but the froth-mouthed, spittle-flecked screeching against her kinda makes me feel that she's in the right.
(*) Partly because the mere fact of her existence seems to annoy them.
Mostly it's because she is Jewish, albeit Atheist.
She is vegan too, so something to offend the other headbangers...
That last bit has put me off.
Like finding out someone you really fancy is a smoker.
Why does it put you off?
I know / have known a fair few vegans. Some are the 'vegan police' style people who wear their suffering for their superpower on their sleeve. Most are perfectly ordinary people who do not want to put any inconvenience on anybody.
It's nothing like smoking. If someone smokes near me, it gets in my lungs even if they're ten feet away. Someone eating a nut roast at the seat next to me has zero effect on me.
Because they are preachy, whiny and annoying.
And they absolutely do inconvenience people. It means every time you hook up with them you can't cook or eat what you want and you've got to reduce your meals to the lowest common denominator so they can eat with you, which is antisocial.
So it absolutely has an effect on me.
Some are 'preachy, whiny and annoying', as I mentioned. Most are not.
People make other life choices from you: if you cannot deal with that, then that is your problem, not theirs.
Er, no. I was talking about what I found attractive and what put me on or off.
Their choices would cause problems for me and restrict my lifestyle and this would put me off.
The fact you might make a different choice is quite beside the point, unless you think the only acceptable choices in life are ones that you would make - which would be stunningly arrogant.
But as I said, that's your issue, and your problem.
As an example: I don't like tattoos. For some reason, I just don't like them. They're a bit of a turn-off, and I have to try not to judge people who have them.
But the important point is this: I understand that's my issue, and my problem, and I try not to let that judgement affect the way I interact with people who have tattoos. Now if they start suggesting I get a tattoo, I'd laugh at them - because I don't like tattoos. But I won't treat them any differently because of their choice.
In fact, I recognise that some tattoos are cool: like the lady I met who got one star / dot added for every year she had been clear of cancer, on the anniversary of receiving the all-clear.
Most of all: I think your comparison of veganism with smoking to be utterly ridiculous and childish. Pathetic, in fact. Oh dear, you might occasionally have to change what you eat to cater for someone else. What an *awful* imposition. It's exactly the same as killing me with second-hand smoke.
However, I don't agree about tattoos. In *my* case, my dislike *is* irrational. There are good reasons to dislike tattoos, but my dislike isn't based in any of those. I don't know where it comes from; certainly not my parents. But it is irrational.
I'm completely with you. Can't stand them. My girlfriend is talking about getting one and I really don't like the idea. But why? What harm does it do me?
Johnson would have happily spent a billion quid every four years to do that but I highly doubt anyone else would.
The Birmingham organisers suggest they will make money next time around as the infrastructure is in place. Since Birmingham is no longer Motorcity UK, it needs a tagline. How about "Home of the Poundland Games"?
Without the ludicrous "Build zillion dollar facilities to use once, while paying commissions to lots of shady characters" part of international sport, it is quite easy to make money on sporting events.
One problem is that bids are supposed to have a permanent legacy on national sport. The reality is that they are often just white elephants, like the abandoned stadia in South Africa.
If planning a party, enjoy a party and hire a marquee, don't expect it to build an extension on your house.
The 2012 Olympics made a difference to Stratford in East London though
When my daughter was in her teens, she decided to become a vegetarian. There's a happy ending - the smell of frying bacon was enough to bring her back to sanity.
I work with a guy at work whose mother raised him as a vegetarian, until he reached the age of 17, stayed with his Uncle and ate a roast. His mother wasn't happy.
People do move in and out of vegetarianism. I was vegetarian for 7 years, as was Mrs Foxy, though Fox Jr wasn't, he was preschool at the time. I started eating meat again during foot and mouth as the lake district without sheep just looked too desolate.
I now take a more CWF approach and support their campaigns for higher welfare standards for farm animals. I eat meat maybe a couple of times per week, so am flexitarian in the modern jargon. I generally choose the vegetarian option when dining, unless it is really uninspired. I avoid cured meats too for health reasons.
I very rarely agree with CasinoRoyale, but I do think Airplane is the funniest film ever.
Though I wonder whether under 30s would find it funny.
Comedy films date very fast. It’s a miracle it’s lasted this long.
Life of Brian hasn’t aged either. Indeed it only gets more prescient and relevant
And Life if Brian is cleverer. But Airplane probably has more belly laughs
Spinal Tap completes the Top Three
In modern times I would add The Hangover. But I am avoiding belly laughs like the plague currently due to my broken ribs.
Informed chuckling, as experienced in say The Death of Stalin or Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa, is fine for ribs but belly laughs are excruciating.
It's each to his or her own though. I tried to get my wife into the Naked Gun and she found it completely unfunny, "puerile nonsense".
I LOLed, literally, watching Grimsby on a plane once. All the other passengers thought I was deranged (not wholly wrong, that said).
Never heard of that film, so I looked it up on Wiki.
"To outrun Chilcott's men, the brothers are forced to hide inside an elephant's vagina, but end up covered in elephant semen after several males have sex with the female while they are inside."
It’s funny what love can do. My wife’s uncle was a ukip/Tory type. In late life he’s met a lady and fell in love. He is now a vegan and delivers Labour leaflets in his classic Bentley.
I once knew of someone who was as unreconstructed as you can imagine, a total sweary, boozy, right wing, perhaps there were drugs in there at some time who knows, kind of guy. No time for any left wing bollocks and a Brexiter to boot.
Well.
He only went and fell for a Corbynista.
It's amazing indeed what love can do.
Funnily enough, politics is one thing I wouldn't rule out dating anyone over.
I'd have no problem with hooking up with someone with different politics to me, same as befriending them, as long as it was done on the basis of mutual respect.
Johnson would have happily spent a billion quid every four years to do that but I highly doubt anyone else would.
The Birmingham organisers suggest they will make money next time around as the infrastructure is in place. Since Birmingham is no longer Motorcity UK, it needs a tagline. How about "Home of the Poundland Games"?
Without the ludicrous "Build zillion dollar facilities to use once, while paying commissions to lots of shady characters" part of international sport, it is quite easy to make money on sporting events.
One problem is that bids are supposed to have a permanent legacy on national sport. The reality is that they are often just white elephants, like the abandoned stadia in South Africa.
If planning a party, enjoy a party and hire a marquee, don't expect it to build an extension on your house.
The 2012 Olympics made a difference to Stratford in East London though
A few fewer weeds and buddleias, sure. But at £8.77bn, you'd damn well expect it.
I very rarely agree with CasinoRoyale, but I do think Airplane is the funniest film ever.
Though I wonder whether under 30s would find it funny.
Comedy films date very fast. It’s a miracle it’s lasted this long.
Life of Brian hasn’t aged either. Indeed it only gets more prescient and relevant
And Life if Brian is cleverer. But Airplane probably has more belly laughs
Spinal Tap completes the Top Three
In modern times I would add The Hangover. But I am avoiding belly laughs like the plague currently due to my broken ribs.
Informed chuckling, as experienced in say The Death of Stalin or Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa, is fine for ribs but belly laughs are excruciating.
It's each to his or her own though. I tried to get my wife into the Naked Gun and she found it completely unfunny, "puerile nonsense".
I LOLed, literally, watching Grimsby on a plane once. All the other passengers thought I was deranged (not wholly wrong, that said).
Never heard of that film, so I looked it up on Wiki.
"To outrun Chilcott's men, the brothers are forced to hide inside an elephant's vagina, but end up covered in elephant semen after several males have sex with the female while they are inside."
When my daughter was in her teens, she decided to become a vegetarian. There's a happy ending - the smell of frying bacon was enough to bring her back to sanity.
Quite a few vegetarians, vegans, diabetics in my extended family, as well as allergies including nuts, oats and lactose. It really isn't that much of a problem with a bit of thought. At family functions we tend to do a buffet, and label things.
When you are living with a vegan you have to consider this stuff every day at home, as well as when you cater or go out for a meal. That's why it isn't for me.
(Snip)
We've always managed to have very good Sunday roasts despite Mrs J's pescatarianism/vegetarianism/veganism. The vast majority of ingredients are suitable for everyone, or can be made so. Just fry the potatoes in vegetable oil rather than fat, use a veggie gravy powder, and put in a veggie alternative alongside the meat. All the veg, the Yorkshire puds, etc, they are all vegan, or can be made vegan with very little effort. And you won't notice the difference.
Mrs J was veggie when I met her, and was very open about wanting to be vegan. If I'd been 'turned off' by that, then I would have missed out on nineteen wonderful years with her. Besides, she puts up with a lot more from me; like my fondness for trains.
Casino and all things woke reminds me somehow of the Rev Paisley and the Catholic Church. I look forward to his future incarnation as a Chuckle Brother.
I very rarely agree with CasinoRoyale, but I do think Airplane is the funniest film ever.
Though I wonder whether under 30s would find it funny.
Comedy films date very fast. It’s a miracle it’s lasted this long.
Life of Brian hasn’t aged either. Indeed it only gets more prescient and relevant
And Life if Brian is cleverer. But Airplane probably has more belly laughs
Spinal Tap completes the Top Three
In modern times I would add The Hangover. But I am avoiding belly laughs like the plague currently due to my broken ribs.
Informed chuckling, as experienced in say The Death of Stalin or Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa, is fine for ribs but belly laughs are excruciating.
It's each to his or her own though. I tried to get my wife into the Naked Gun and she found it completely unfunny, "puerile nonsense".
I LOLed, literally, watching Grimsby on a plane once. All the other passengers thought I was deranged (not wholly wrong, that said).
Never heard of that film, so I looked it up on Wiki.
"To outrun Chilcott's men, the brothers are forced to hide inside an elephant's vagina, but end up covered in elephant semen after several males have sex with the female while they are inside."
Shrink the Commonwealth Games, and perma-host in Birmingham, with the Cotswolds Olympicks down the road as a kind of sports fringe festival.
Why not?
It offers the chance to smaller countries, who'd never normally qualify for hosting the Olympics, to have their chance in the limelight as well as compete more broadly.
But, it might have got ahead of its station a bit and trying too hard with being another Olympics and it shouldn't try and play in that league.
The Olympics itself seems to have got ahead of its station. I am working on something for Paris and the research says “GenZ” don’t give a fuck.
There’s always an opportunity for focused events that occupy a certain niche and the Commonwealth Games needs to figure that out.
For LOLs I just clicked onto 'Rachel Riley' on the 'trending' section on the dumpster-fire formerly known as Twitter.
The amount of hate towards her from the left is frankly worrying. I haven't investigated the allegations against her (*), but the froth-mouthed, spittle-flecked screeching against her kinda makes me feel that she's in the right.
(*) Partly because the mere fact of her existence seems to annoy them.
Mostly it's because she is Jewish, albeit Atheist.
She is vegan too, so something to offend the other headbangers...
That last bit has put me off.
Like finding out someone you really fancy is a smoker.
Why does it put you off?
I know / have known a fair few vegans. Some are the 'vegan police' style people who wear their suffering for their superpower on their sleeve. Most are perfectly ordinary people who do not want to put any inconvenience on anybody.
It's nothing like smoking. If someone smokes near me, it gets in my lungs even if they're ten feet away. Someone eating a nut roast at the seat next to me has zero effect on me.
Because they are preachy, whiny and annoying.
And they absolutely do inconvenience people. It means every time you hook up with them you can't cook or eat what you want and you've got to reduce your meals to the lowest common denominator so they can eat with you, which is antisocial.
So it absolutely has an effect on me.
Some are 'preachy, whiny and annoying', as I mentioned. Most are not.
People make other life choices from you: if you cannot deal with that, then that is your problem, not theirs.
Er, no. I was talking about what I found attractive and what put me on or off.
Their choices would cause problems for me and restrict my lifestyle and this would put me off.
The fact you might make a different choice is quite beside the point, unless you think the only acceptable choices in life are ones that you would make - which would be stunningly arrogant.
But as I said, that's your issue, and your problem.
As an example: I don't like tattoos. For some reason, I just don't like them. They're a bit of a turn-off, and I have to try not to judge people who have them.
But the important point is this: I understand that's my issue, and my problem, and I try not to let that judgement affect the way I interact with people who have tattoos. Now if they start suggesting I get a tattoo, I'd laugh at them - because I don't like tattoos. But I won't treat them any differently because of their choice.
In fact, I recognise that some tattoos are cool: like the lady I met who got one star / dot added for every year she had been clear of cancer, on the anniversary of receiving the all-clear.
Most of all: I think your comparison of veganism with smoking to be utterly ridiculous and childish. Pathetic, in fact. Oh dear, you might occasionally have to change what you eat to cater for someone else. What an *awful* imposition. It's exactly the same as killing me with second-hand smoke.
However, I don't agree about tattoos. In *my* case, my dislike *is* irrational. There are good reasons to dislike tattoos, but my dislike isn't based in any of those. I don't know where it comes from; certainly not my parents. But it is irrational.
I'm completely with you. Can't stand them. My girlfriend is talking about getting one and I really don't like the idea. But why? What harm does it do me?
She could get “I’m with stupid” tattooed on her forehead which would potentially harm your feelings.
I am booked on a bus to take me over the Ukrainian border, in the carpathians, and down into Romania
I have no idea if the bus will turn up (the last few haven’t) or if I will make it over the frontier even if I do (I’ve heard tales of major difficulties)
Exciting. It’s like being in a war
Ah, that’s it
I think you need to ration your warzone jeopardy posts to keep the necessary excitement up. Keep it to 12a or 15 rated dangers at least. Worrying a bus to Romania may be a bit late is more U: occasional mild threat.
They aren’t late. They just don’t show up. I admit this isn’t exactly the Blitz but it will leave me stranded In Chernowitz and I really need to be back in London tomorrow for a stag night
What makes it iffier is I’ve no evidence of anyone else using this route out of Ukraine
Cbernovtsi, Ukraine - Suceava, Romania
David Niven made several good films. Was also wise about other stuff:
"Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences."
Er, I’m commenting anonymously on a forum for political geeks, not writing about my derring-do in The Times
Besides, public transport is PB’s obsession of the week. I’m offering my experiences of long distant coach services during a war
For LOLs I just clicked onto 'Rachel Riley' on the 'trending' section on the dumpster-fire formerly known as Twitter.
The amount of hate towards her from the left is frankly worrying. I haven't investigated the allegations against her (*), but the froth-mouthed, spittle-flecked screeching against her kinda makes me feel that she's in the right.
(*) Partly because the mere fact of her existence seems to annoy them.
Mostly it's because she is Jewish, albeit Atheist.
She is vegan too, so something to offend the other headbangers...
That last bit has put me off.
Like finding out someone you really fancy is a smoker.
Why does it put you off?
I know / have known a fair few vegans. Some are the 'vegan police' style people who wear their suffering for their superpower on their sleeve. Most are perfectly ordinary people who do not want to put any inconvenience on anybody.
It's nothing like smoking. If someone smokes near me, it gets in my lungs even if they're ten feet away. Someone eating a nut roast at the seat next to me has zero effect on me.
Because they are preachy, whiny and annoying.
And they absolutely do inconvenience people. It means every time you hook up with them you can't cook or eat what you want and you've got to reduce your meals to the lowest common denominator so they can eat with you, which is antisocial.
So it absolutely has an effect on me.
Some are 'preachy, whiny and annoying', as I mentioned. Most are not.
People make other life choices from you: if you cannot deal with that, then that is your problem, not theirs.
Er, no. I was talking about what I found attractive and what put me on or off.
Their choices would cause problems for me and restrict my lifestyle and this would put me off.
The fact you might make a different choice is quite beside the point, unless you think the only acceptable choices in life are ones that you would make - which would be stunningly arrogant.
But as I said, that's your issue, and your problem.
As an example: I don't like tattoos. For some reason, I just don't like them. They're a bit of a turn-off, and I have to try not to judge people who have them.
But the important point is this: I understand that's my issue, and my problem, and I try not to let that judgement affect the way I interact with people who have tattoos. Now if they start suggesting I get a tattoo, I'd laugh at them - because I don't like tattoos. But I won't treat them any differently because of their choice.
In fact, I recognise that some tattoos are cool: like the lady I met who got one star / dot added for every year she had been clear of cancer, on the anniversary of receiving the all-clear.
Most of all: I think your comparison of veganism with smoking to be utterly ridiculous and childish. Pathetic, in fact. Oh dear, you might occasionally have to change what you eat to cater for someone else. What an *awful* imposition. It's exactly the same as killing me with second-hand smoke.
However, I don't agree about tattoos. In *my* case, my dislike *is* irrational. There are good reasons to dislike tattoos, but my dislike isn't based in any of those. I don't know where it comes from; certainly not my parents. But it is irrational.
I'm completely with you. Can't stand them. My girlfriend is talking about getting one and I really don't like the idea. But why? What harm does it do me?
The problem with tattoos is that people rarely stop at one. They really do seem addictive.
Tatoos are part of the female mid life crisis as much as sports cars are to men.
I very rarely agree with CasinoRoyale, but I do think Airplane is the funniest film ever.
Though I wonder whether under 30s would find it funny.
Comedy films date very fast. It’s a miracle it’s lasted this long.
Life of Brian hasn’t aged either. Indeed it only gets more prescient and relevant
And Life if Brian is cleverer. But Airplane probably has more belly laughs
Spinal Tap completes the Top Three
We are close to agreement, Leon. This is worrying.
Airplane has be be the most un-PC film ever made. I'm surprised it hasn't now been banned. It makes me laugh still, although one or two or the jokes make me squirm a bit.
The bit where the old lady speaks “jive” may be the single funniest moment in cinematic history.
Mirrored of course, in Life of Brian where the (was it?) jailer has a bad stammer and then when the Roman has gone speaks fluently to his mate.
When my daughter was in her teens, she decided to become a vegetarian. There's a happy ending - the smell of frying bacon was enough to bring her back to sanity.
I work with a guy at work whose mother raised him as a vegetarian, until he reached the age of 17, stayed with his Uncle and ate a roast. His mother wasn't happy.
People do move in and out of vegetarianism. I was vegetarian for 7 years, as was Mrs Foxy, though Fox Jr wasn't, he was preschool at the time. I started eating meat again during foot and mouth as the lake district without sheep just looked too desolate.
I now take a more CWF approach and support their campaigns for higher welfare standards for farm animals. I eat meat maybe a couple of times per week, so am flexitarian in the modern jargon. I generally choose the vegetarian option when dining, unless it is really uninspired. I avoid cured meats too for health reasons.
Yes, I avoid cured meats for the same reason. It's a shame, because I like them, but I like being alive too.
The vegetarian option is sometimes the best on the menu, so I'l often take it, especially as I tend to eat too much meat anyway.
I like the term 'flexitarian'. Never come across that before.
Mrs PtP is a 'cute-vegetarian', by which she means she doesn't eat cute looking animals. So, beef and pork are OK, because cows are stupid and pigs are ugly. Venison, lamb and rabbit is definitely out.
Btw, she is half Jewish, so if you give a pork chop, she only eats half of it.
The Spanish subsist almost entirely on cured meat, and they have one of the longest life expectancies in the world
After being expelled from the TN legislature for peacefully protesting— Justin Jones has won re-election to his house seat in Nashville after he was forced into a special election.
I am booked on a bus to take me over the Ukrainian border, in the carpathians, and down into Romania
I have no idea if the bus will turn up (the last few haven’t) or if I will make it over the frontier even if I do (I’ve heard tales of major difficulties)
Exciting. It’s like being in a war
Ah, that’s it
I think you need to ration your warzone jeopardy posts to keep the necessary excitement up. Keep it to 12a or 15 rated dangers at least. Worrying a bus to Romania may be a bit late is more U: occasional mild threat.
They aren’t late. They just don’t show up. I admit this isn’t exactly the Blitz but it will leave me stranded In Chernowitz and I really need to be back in London tomorrow for a stag night
What makes it iffier is I’ve no evidence of anyone else using this route out of Ukraine
Cbernovtsi, Ukraine - Suceava, Romania
David Niven made several good films. Was also wise about other stuff:
"Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences."
Er, I’m commenting anonymously on a forum for political geeks, not writing about my derring-do in The Times
Besides, public transport is PB’s obsession of the week. I’m offering my experiences of long distant coach services during a war
A valuable service much appreciated. What was the tyre spec of the coaches?
For LOLs I just clicked onto 'Rachel Riley' on the 'trending' section on the dumpster-fire formerly known as Twitter.
The amount of hate towards her from the left is frankly worrying. I haven't investigated the allegations against her (*), but the froth-mouthed, spittle-flecked screeching against her kinda makes me feel that she's in the right.
(*) Partly because the mere fact of her existence seems to annoy them.
Mostly it's because she is Jewish, albeit Atheist.
She is vegan too, so something to offend the other headbangers...
That last bit has put me off.
Like finding out someone you really fancy is a smoker.
Why does it put you off?
I know / have known a fair few vegans. Some are the 'vegan police' style people who wear their suffering for their superpower on their sleeve. Most are perfectly ordinary people who do not want to put any inconvenience on anybody.
It's nothing like smoking. If someone smokes near me, it gets in my lungs even if they're ten feet away. Someone eating a nut roast at the seat next to me has zero effect on me.
Because they are preachy, whiny and annoying.
And they absolutely do inconvenience people. It means every time you hook up with them you can't cook or eat what you want and you've got to reduce your meals to the lowest common denominator so they can eat with you, which is antisocial.
So it absolutely has an effect on me.
Some are 'preachy, whiny and annoying', as I mentioned. Most are not.
People make other life choices from you: if you cannot deal with that, then that is your problem, not theirs.
Er, no. I was talking about what I found attractive and what put me on or off.
Their choices would cause problems for me and restrict my lifestyle and this would put me off.
The fact you might make a different choice is quite beside the point, unless you think the only acceptable choices in life are ones that you would make - which would be stunningly arrogant.
But as I said, that's your issue, and your problem.
As an example: I don't like tattoos. For some reason, I just don't like them. They're a bit of a turn-off, and I have to try not to judge people who have them.
But the important point is this: I understand that's my issue, and my problem, and I try not to let that judgement affect the way I interact with people who have tattoos. Now if they start suggesting I get a tattoo, I'd laugh at them - because I don't like tattoos. But I won't treat them any differently because of their choice.
In fact, I recognise that some tattoos are cool: like the lady I met who got one star / dot added for every year she had been clear of cancer, on the anniversary of receiving the all-clear.
Most of all: I think your comparison of veganism with smoking to be utterly ridiculous and childish. Pathetic, in fact. Oh dear, you might occasionally have to change what you eat to cater for someone else. What an *awful* imposition. It's exactly the same as killing me with second-hand smoke.
However, I don't agree about tattoos. In *my* case, my dislike *is* irrational. There are good reasons to dislike tattoos, but my dislike isn't based in any of those. I don't know where it comes from; certainly not my parents. But it is irrational.
I'm completely with you. Can't stand them. My girlfriend is talking about getting one and I really don't like the idea. But why? What harm does it do me?
She could get “I’m with stupid” tattooed on her forehead which would potentially harm your feelings.
Sadly the natural gas network is utterly unsuited for storing or transporting hydrogen. You would lose vast amounts of hydrogen in leaks and probably vast numbers of people in domestic explosions. It is not a viable alternative.
Agreed. Your point is not emphasised enough, and is certainly not understood enough.
I am biting my lip with frustration at the fact that we are jumping into options like heat pumps and hydrogen without any thoughts to the expense and logistics, even when those logistics have obvious difficulties and the expenses are obviously large.
Heat pumps, for those with well insulated homes, are usually pretty efficient. And they also cool in summer
What's your beef with them?
I went thru this at some length last time, so I'll give you the TL:DR
In general
i) they're too expensive
ii) they're not suitable in existing leasehold properties and/or flats, especially for those above the ground floor
iii) I don't like the element of compulsion
Other people advanced arguments saying they were inefficient/inadequate: I agree with those arguments but they do not constitute my beef.
We have heat pump units (combined heating/dehumidifying/ac) everywhere in Japan (and most of Asia) and they're mostly just bolted on after the fact. They're cheap and you can fit them basically anywhere. If the landlord doesn't want it when you move you can remove them when you go and put them in your next place, the only damage is a single, easily-filled hole in the wall.
I don't understand how the British manage to make it so difficult.
Most flats in England are leasehold. You don't own the house, you own the lease which gives you the right to live in the house but you must obey certain conditions which are set out in that lease. One of those conditions is "don't make structural additions or alterations". You don't own the walls and will have to ask permission to drill a hole thru the wall and bolt it to the outside. And no you can't fit them into the windows either, for the same reason.
As has become sadly, wearily, very, obvious, many people on PB are rich or very rich, and find it difficult to understand why you can't just do things. This is the third, fourth or fifth time I've had to explain that there are things you just can't do in flats, and no doubt there'll be a sixth.
During a fuel crises a Conservative MP was criticised for saying "But why can't people just store fuel in a jerry can in the garage", and people had to patiently explain to him that most people don't have a garage. I get the same vibes here.
Peter, I can safely say I have never given it much thought but I do not in any way find it racist at all unless it was someone applying the strap to the jock. I had enough of that at school.
We've had the Australian job adverts, now X wants me to go to work in Germany. Is our own government advertising for foreign workers? https://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/
I very rarely agree with CasinoRoyale, but I do think Airplane is the funniest film ever.
Though I wonder whether under 30s would find it funny.
Comedy films date very fast. It’s a miracle it’s lasted this long.
Life of Brian hasn’t aged either. Indeed it only gets more prescient and relevant
And Life if Brian is cleverer. But Airplane probably has more belly laughs
Spinal Tap completes the Top Three
In modern times I would add The Hangover. But I am avoiding belly laughs like the plague currently due to my broken ribs.
Informed chuckling, as experienced in say The Death of Stalin or Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa, is fine for ribs but belly laughs are excruciating.
It's each to his or her own though. I tried to get my wife into the Naked Gun and she found it completely unfunny, "puerile nonsense".
I LOLed, literally, watching Grimsby on a plane once. All the other passengers thought I was deranged (not wholly wrong, that said).
Never heard of that film, so I looked it up on Wiki.
"To outrun Chilcott's men, the brothers are forced to hide inside an elephant's vagina, but end up covered in elephant semen after several males have sex with the female while they are inside."
You had to be there...
Sacha Baron-Cohens films are genius. He really knows how to push a joke too far.
I very rarely agree with CasinoRoyale, but I do think Airplane is the funniest film ever.
Though I wonder whether under 30s would find it funny.
Comedy films date very fast. It’s a miracle it’s lasted this long.
Life of Brian hasn’t aged either. Indeed it only gets more prescient and relevant
And Life if Brian is cleverer. But Airplane probably has more belly laughs
Spinal Tap completes the Top Three
In modern times I would add The Hangover. But I am avoiding belly laughs like the plague currently due to my broken ribs.
Informed chuckling, as experienced in say The Death of Stalin or Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa, is fine for ribs but belly laughs are excruciating.
It's each to his or her own though. I tried to get my wife into the Naked Gun and she found it completely unfunny, "puerile nonsense".
I LOLed, literally, watching Grimsby on a plane once. All the other passengers thought I was deranged (not wholly wrong, that said).
Never heard of that film, so I looked it up on Wiki.
"To outrun Chilcott's men, the brothers are forced to hide inside an elephant's vagina, but end up covered in elephant semen after several males have sex with the female while they are inside."
You had to be there...
Evidently!
Not dissimilar to the 'back end of the cow' gag in 'Top Secret!'.
I very rarely agree with CasinoRoyale, but I do think Airplane is the funniest film ever.
Though I wonder whether under 30s would find it funny.
Comedy films date very fast. It’s a miracle it’s lasted this long.
Life of Brian hasn’t aged either. Indeed it only gets more prescient and relevant
And Life if Brian is cleverer. But Airplane probably has more belly laughs
Spinal Tap completes the Top Three
We are close to agreement, Leon. This is worrying.
Airplane has be be the most un-PC film ever made. I'm surprised it hasn't now been banned. It makes me laugh still, although one or two or the jokes make me squirm a bit.
Yes, but comedy needs it's reference points. Airplane is funny mostly because it is a send up of Seventies "disaster" movies, Blazing Saddles because of Fifties and Sixties Westerns, Spinal Tap because of Eighties rock clichés.
Without their cultural hinterland a lot of the jokes are less funny or simply missed. A large part of humour is in transgressing expectations, so the expectations have to exist in order to be transgressed.
I find all these films hilarious, but as GenX I get them. Would GenZ?.
Yes, I take your point.
The cringe moments me for me include the blow-up doll that grins on getting a blowjob, and the queue that forms to shag the young woman who wants to try sex before she dies. These rely on a cultural hinterland that views oral sex as an exotic treat and a willing girl as a rare opportunity.
I am pretty sure that such assumptions don't apply to GenX.
And @Gardenwalker we actually agree on stuff far more often than you'd care to mention.
You just want to be seen to very rarely agree with me.
The corrosive effect of social media and the culture wars.
We are roughly the same age and class. But very much most of your political opinions “shit me to tears” to borrow an colourful Australianism.
What I will say is that in London I live in Hackney, surrounded by good coffee and lesbian knitting circles, and I absolutely love it. Whereas you are in semi-suburban Hampshire, and presumably very happy there.
So we want different things. Nothing to do with social media, which I eschew apart from this very board.
For LOLs I just clicked onto 'Rachel Riley' on the 'trending' section on the dumpster-fire formerly known as Twitter.
The amount of hate towards her from the left is frankly worrying. I haven't investigated the allegations against her (*), but the froth-mouthed, spittle-flecked screeching against her kinda makes me feel that she's in the right.
(*) Partly because the mere fact of her existence seems to annoy them.
Mostly it's because she is Jewish, albeit Atheist.
She is vegan too, so something to offend the other headbangers...
That last bit has put me off.
Like finding out someone you really fancy is a smoker.
I'm sure she'll reconsider her dietary choices, if you let her know.
One day, yes.
This is a just a phase we are living through: like prohibition in the 1920s. It's a quasi-religious movement. As prohibition was to over-consumption of alcohol and its "evils", veganism is the same with animal products.
Because it's irrational, dogmatic and illogical it will eventually die out, as prohibition did, and everyone who was taken in by it will be embarrassed to admit they ever were one.
Much of what you say may be true, but the prediction that veganism will die out is unlikely given that various forms of vegetarianism have persisted throughout history.
Veganism is more like teetotalism than prohibition. A bit sanctimonious at times, but not forcing a lifestyle on others.
Teetotalism is going strong. Indeed we have a teetotal PM.
Humans have been eating animal products since the dawn of time, and indeed we've evolved to need some of them in our diet.
The issue today might be that there are too many of us and we're overconsuming them, but the answer to that isn't total abstinence. It's to eat a lower more moderate amount.
Vegans are simply a religious anti-reaction to this, and it does not follow through to a logical conclusion.
I only date people who scavenge for berries and hunt deer with their bare hands.
Raquel Welch obviously had a big impact on the young Eabhal, I see.
Being from up north , perhaps it was the attractive sheep.
For LOLs I just clicked onto 'Rachel Riley' on the 'trending' section on the dumpster-fire formerly known as Twitter.
The amount of hate towards her from the left is frankly worrying. I haven't investigated the allegations against her (*), but the froth-mouthed, spittle-flecked screeching against her kinda makes me feel that she's in the right.
(*) Partly because the mere fact of her existence seems to annoy them.
Mostly it's because she is Jewish, albeit Atheist.
She is vegan too, so something to offend the other headbangers...
That last bit has put me off.
Like finding out someone you really fancy is a smoker.
Why does it put you off?
I know / have known a fair few vegans. Some are the 'vegan police' style people who wear their suffering for their superpower on their sleeve. Most are perfectly ordinary people who do not want to put any inconvenience on anybody.
It's nothing like smoking. If someone smokes near me, it gets in my lungs even if they're ten feet away. Someone eating a nut roast at the seat next to me has zero effect on me.
Because they are preachy, whiny and annoying.
And they absolutely do inconvenience people. It means every time you hook up with them you can't cook or eat what you want and you've got to reduce your meals to the lowest common denominator so they can eat with you, which is antisocial.
So it absolutely has an effect on me.
Some are 'preachy, whiny and annoying', as I mentioned. Most are not.
People make other life choices from you: if you cannot deal with that, then that is your problem, not theirs.
Er, no. I was talking about what I found attractive and what put me on or off.
Their choices would cause problems for me and restrict my lifestyle and this would put me off.
The fact you might make a different choice is quite beside the point, unless you think the only acceptable choices in life are ones that you would make - which would be stunningly arrogant.
But as I said, that's your issue, and your problem.
As an example: I don't like tattoos. For some reason, I just don't like them. They're a bit of a turn-off, and I have to try not to judge people who have them.
But the important point is this: I understand that's my issue, and my problem, and I try not to let that judgement affect the way I interact with people who have tattoos. Now if they start suggesting I get a tattoo, I'd laugh at them - because I don't like tattoos. But I won't treat them any differently because of their choice.
In fact, I recognise that some tattoos are cool: like the lady I met who got one star / dot added for every year she had been clear of cancer, on the anniversary of receiving the all-clear.
Most of all: I think your comparison of veganism with smoking to be utterly ridiculous and childish. Pathetic, in fact. Oh dear, you might occasionally have to change what you eat to cater for someone else. What an *awful* imposition. It's exactly the same as killing me with second-hand smoke.
However, I don't agree about tattoos. In *my* case, my dislike *is* irrational. There are good reasons to dislike tattoos, but my dislike isn't based in any of those. I don't know where it comes from; certainly not my parents. But it is irrational.
I'm completely with you. Can't stand them. My girlfriend is talking about getting one and I really don't like the idea. But why? What harm does it do me?
The problem with tattoos is that people rarely stop at one. They really do seem addictive.
Tatoos are part of the female mid life crisis as much as sports cars are to men.
I don't object to them per se. But I don't think I have ever seen a tattoo which lools as good as the absence of a tattoo would.
What if it's not possible to increase the standard of living of 8 billion people while reducing the global impact of humanity on the environment?
It is.
Don't underestimate human ingenuity. The one thing worse than Luddites is Malthusians.
How many more cars than today are we talking about? How many more flights? How much more meat will be consumed? How much more food will we have to take out of the oceans?
Thomas Malthus, is that you?
The past fifty years have seen an unprecedented increase in the number of people living developed world lifestyles. More people eat well. More people survive childbirth.
Politics excepted, the world has never been in better shape. We now have the technology to provide *all* of humanity's needs from renewable sources. We have battery technology. We can keep homes warm or cold.
We've even solved the problem of the world's population growing out of control.
In time, we'll solve the long-distance travel problem. And you know what: maybe it'll be more by hyperloop than by planes. And that's great! Whatever works. Maybe it'll be by fanprops. Maybe synthetic fuel. Maybe battery powered planes.
The challenges the world faces are not from real emergencies - absent places like Ukraine - but an unwillingness to listen to the concerns of, and empathize with, our fellow human beings.
Microbe in laboratory jar, population doubling every day, on day when jar is at 50% capacity:
The past fifty doublings have seen an unprecedented increase in the number of microbes living developed laboratory jar lifestyles.
Sure.
But here's the thing. We're not running out of resources!
In fact, quite the opposite. We're successfully moving away from burning shit to power our lives, and moving to capturing solar energy through wind turbines and panels. How insanely great is that?
We've already - in the UK - stopped burning coal. And the cost of solar and wind and batteries is only going in one direction. So we'll soon stop burning gas. And our petrol usage will shrink.
Why aren't people saying "this is amazing!"
Instead they are claiming things are worse, when they are obviously massively better than they have been.
It's weird because we have already fixed the problem. We just need to implement it against a little political opposition. It's lung cancer and smoking, round two.
Transport is the last big chunk of carbon emissions where we haven't made much progress, and we are already well on the way to electric cars, electric buses, trams, electrification of trains and - dare I say it - cycling for shorter journeys.
You're completely right for once, electric cars and electric buses and electric trains etc are the solution. Combined with clean electricity they are zero carbon, so they are the solution. The sole solution.
Cycling of course is fun, so throw that in the mix if you want to, for recreational purposes, but not as a relevant solution to the climate since it represents not even a significant percentage of transportation on any country in the planet, even after more than half a century of extremely heavily promoting it in the likes of the Netherlands its still an almost inconsequential sub-10% of km travelled. And we need to be making 100% of travel clean, not below 10% of travel.
But electric cars? Yes, they eliminate the climate problem in its entirety and eliminate any reason to be concerned about driving. Problem is solved, you are completely right. 👍
The one things that's not yet technologically solved is clean aviation. It will be over time. Its why we do not need to be cutting flights either, we need to be incentivising clean aviation technology in the same way as we incentivised clean automobile technology, until the solution for that exists too.
What if it's not possible to increase the standard of living of 8 billion people while reducing the global impact of humanity on the environment?
It is.
Don't underestimate human ingenuity. The one thing worse than Luddites is Malthusians.
How many more cars than today are we talking about? How many more flights? How much more meat will be consumed? How much more food will we have to take out of the oceans?
Thomas Malthus, is that you?
The past fifty years have seen an unprecedented increase in the number of people living developed world lifestyles. More people eat well. More people survive childbirth.
Politics excepted, the world has never been in better shape. We now have the technology to provide *all* of humanity's needs from renewable sources. We have battery technology. We can keep homes warm or cold.
We've even solved the problem of the world's population growing out of control.
In time, we'll solve the long-distance travel problem. And you know what: maybe it'll be more by hyperloop than by planes. And that's great! Whatever works. Maybe it'll be by fanprops. Maybe synthetic fuel. Maybe battery powered planes.
The challenges the world faces are not from real emergencies - absent places like Ukraine - but an unwillingness to listen to the concerns of, and empathize with, our fellow human beings.
Microbe in laboratory jar, population doubling every day, on day when jar is at 50% capacity:
The past fifty doublings have seen an unprecedented increase in the number of microbes living developed laboratory jar lifestyles.
Sure.
But here's the thing. We're not running out of resources!
In fact, quite the opposite. We're successfully moving away from burning shit to power our lives, and moving to capturing solar energy through wind turbines and panels. How insanely great is that?
We've already - in the UK - stopped burning coal. And the cost of solar and wind and batteries is only going in one direction. So we'll soon stop burning gas. And our petrol usage will shrink.
Why aren't people saying "this is amazing!"
Instead they are claiming things are worse, when they are obviously massively better than they have been.
It's weird because we have already fixed the problem. We just need to implement it against a little political opposition. It's lung cancer and smoking, round two.
Transport is the last big chunk of carbon emissions where we haven't made much progress, and we are already well on the way to electric cars, electric buses, trams, electrification of trains and - dare I say it - cycling for shorter journeys.
You're completely right for once, electric cars and electric buses and electric trains etc are the solution. Combined with clean electricity they are zero carbon, so they are the solution. The sole solution.
Cycling of course is fun, so throw that in the mix if you want to, for recreational purposes, but not as a relevant solution to the climate since it represents not even a significant percentage of transportation on any country in the planet, even after more than half a century of extremely heavily promoting it in the likes of the Netherlands its still an almost inconsequential sub-10% of km travelled. And we need to be making 100% of travel clean, not below 10% of travel.
But electric cars? Yes, they eliminate the climate problem in its entirety and eliminate any reason to be concerned about driving. Problem is solved, you are completely right. 👍
The one things that's not yet technologically solved is clean aviation. It will be over time. Its why we do not need to be cutting flights either, we need to be incentivising clean aviation technology in the same way as we incentivised clean automobile technology, until the solution for that exists too.
My argument for cycling is less about emissions and more about other problems like air pollution, road wear, and congestion though.
I think you suggested that people weren't scared of cycling in the UK? Here ya go:
Yes, and I respect your opinion even if I completely disagree with it. You aren't masquerading that cycling is the solution to climate change unlike other anti-car fanatics. That's why we can have an intelligent conversation with differing opinions because you aren't claiming something patently absurd as those who say cycling resolves the climate does.
As for your graph, it doesn't prove anything about "scared". If people choose to drive 2km because they want to, because they don't want to get wet, because they're lazy, because its convenient, because its easy, or any other reason - that is their choice. And in a free society, their choice should be respected.
Indeed the fact that the UK is well, well below the line suggests that choice, more than fear, is the reason.
Furthermore as I said, people are dishonest in polls, and virtue signal. This is well known. The percentage who claim they'll vote in polls is far more than the percentage who actually do. Given people are choosing not to ride a bike, as demonstrated by the fact the UK dot is well underneath the line of the chart, it is entirely reasonable to suppose that a significant proportion of people are saying "its too dangerous" as a more virtuous reason why they don't than "I'm too lazy".
Ahem; the numbers commuting by bike has increased markedly in the UK in the last quarter century. Now, it's still small in the general scale of things (and mostly concentrated in London), but it is definitely increasing.
Oh, absolutely, they have markedly increased on a proportionate like-for-like basis of cycling stats versus cycling stats.
They have not markedly increased as a percentage of total travel.
As far as total km* travelled, cycling has in the past quarter of a century risen from a low of less than 1% of total km travelled ... to a new high of less than 1% of total km travelled.
* or miles, using km for international comparison purposes.
Total km travelled is a poor measure, given the large proportion of journeys that are below 5 km.
We could have a massive increase in cycling journeys with very little impact on total kilometres.
That's why for me at least, it's not an emissions issue. It's a congestion and other stuff issue.
As far as the climate emissions is concerned, it is the only measure that matters.
Which is why yes, its not an emissions issue.
For me things like air pollution, noise pollution, pedestrian deaths, congestion are important too.
For me they matter too, I just differ on the proposed solutions.
Air & noise pollution - electric vehicles resolve these, just as much as emissions.
The idea electric vehicles cause air pollution is a lie spread by climate change denialists who want to preserve ICE technology. Electric cars are so quiet they have a deliberately added noise in order to maintain road safety, so you don't get the revving loud noises of ICE technology.
Pedestrian deaths need to be, and are, improved by better road safety awareness. Both for pedestrians and for drivers.
Congestion is a matter of population demand exceeding capacity. Increasing capacity fixes this.
If population growth occurs, demand goes up, so capacity supply needs to go up accordingly.
On congestion, I think this is where we get into aesthetics, and people should be honest about this.
By which I mean there’s a segment of society that would like British towns and cities to be more like some utopian vision of Northern Europe. Pedestrian streets, bikes, trams, svelte young townspeople pottering along the cycle lane with philosophy books in their baskets.
And there is another segment that dreams of a Britain more like Florida or Texas. Wide open freeways, people cruising in big wide sedans and pulling up at the barbecue joint for two pounds of ribs and a bud light.
These are aesthetic choices but they get dressed up in moral codes.
One is possible, one is not (unless you want to knock down lots of buildings). 71% of all journeys are under 5 miles. The cost-effective thing is to get people either using public transport, walking, or cycling (in descending order).
For that you need decent public transport , ie mnot standing for anything up to several hours for your bus, who is going to walk 5 miles for a pint of milk , lots of people would not ever wish to be on a bike. Stop eating quinoa salads, dump teh sandals and get your head into the real world.
I agree! Bus services are rubbish in this country (outside of Edinburgh), and the cost has gone up far more than motoring over the last 20 years.
Other thing is that there is no joined up thinking on transport , in other countries they have busses that go to stations and match up with train systems etc , not here. Rather than use smaller busses/minibusses theywould rather close a route down etc. The UK is just shit at any decent public services, due to being constantly run by competing Tory like parties, Blue or red.
An example of this was the train to Oban that arrives 5 minutes after the ferry left.
When my daughter was in her teens, she decided to become a vegetarian. There's a happy ending - the smell of frying bacon was enough to bring her back to sanity.
Quite a few vegetarians, vegans, diabetics in my extended family, as well as allergies including nuts, oats and lactose. It really isn't that much of a problem with a bit of thought. At family functions we tend to do a buffet, and label things.
When you are living with a vegan you have to consider this stuff every day at home, as well as when you cater or go out for a meal. That's why it isn't for me.
I've also had - more than once - vegan meal choices being inflicted on me at work for "sustainability" or some other moralising, preaching BS, which has grated my goat.
When my daughter was in her teens, she decided to become a vegetarian. There's a happy ending - the smell of frying bacon was enough to bring her back to sanity.
I work with a guy at work whose mother raised him as a vegetarian, until he reached the age of 17, stayed with his Uncle and ate a roast. His mother wasn't happy.
People do move in and out of vegetarianism. I was vegetarian for 7 years, as was Mrs Foxy, though Fox Jr wasn't, he was preschool at the time. I started eating meat again during foot and mouth as the lake district without sheep just looked too desolate.
I now take a more CWF approach and support their campaigns for higher welfare standards for farm animals. I eat meat maybe a couple of times per week, so am flexitarian in the modern jargon. I generally choose the vegetarian option when dining, unless it is really uninspired. I avoid cured meats too for health reasons.
Yes, I avoid cured meats for the same reason. It's a shame, because I like them, but I like being alive too.
The vegetarian option is sometimes the best on the menu, so I'l often take it, especially as I tend to eat too much meat anyway.
I like the term 'flexitarian'. Never come across that before.
Mrs PtP is a 'cute-vegetarian', by which she means she doesn't eat cute looking animals. So, beef and pork are OK, because cows are stupid and pigs are ugly. Venison, lamb and rabbit is definitely out.
Btw, she is half Jewish, so if you give a pork chop, she only eats half of it.
The Spanish subsist almost entirely on cured meat, and they have one of the longest life expectancies in the world
They also smoke a lot, and get the least sleep in Europe.
I’ve raised this conundrum before and haven’t seen a satisfactory explanation.
When my daughter was in her teens, she decided to become a vegetarian. There's a happy ending - the smell of frying bacon was enough to bring her back to sanity.
Quite a few vegetarians, vegans, diabetics in my extended family, as well as allergies including nuts, oats and lactose. It really isn't that much of a problem with a bit of thought. At family functions we tend to do a buffet, and label things.
When you are living with a vegan you have to consider this stuff every day at home, as well as when you cater or go out for a meal. That's why it isn't for me.
(Snip)
We've always managed to have very good Sunday roasts despite Mrs J's pescatarianism/vegetarianism/veganism. The vast majority of ingredients are suitable for everyone, or can be made so. Just fry the potatoes in vegetable oil rather than fat, use a veggie gravy powder, and put in a veggie alternative alongside the meat. All the veg, the Yorkshire puds, etc, they are all vegan, or can be made vegan with very little effort. And you won't notice the difference.
Mrs J was veggie when I met her, and was very open about wanting to be vegan. If I'd been 'turned off' by that, then I would have missed out on nineteen wonderful years with her. Besides, she puts up with a lot more from me; like my fondness for trains.
Casino and all things woke reminds me somehow of the Rev Paisley and the Catholic Church. I look forward to his future incarnation as a Chuckle Brother.
Or you could just engage with the argument upthread, like everyone else did.
1. Turn the sound off and he looks like a wild animal. 2. Is he suffering from a respiratory illness? He was practically wheezing when inhaling. Could be the stress. 3. Then again he did well on the aeroplane steps. 4. His nightmare wasteland vision of Washington is important. Yes, he has previously insulted NYC, but this is a bit different. I'd concentrate on the broken buildings more than the filth. 5. "America" won't stand for his persecution, so he says. Seems he's planning to call for a general insurrection. 6. Might he just be given something to drink à la Michele Sindona? 7. Why doesn't he use Musk's X? Is it because he's making profit from Truth Social?
For LOLs I just clicked onto 'Rachel Riley' on the 'trending' section on the dumpster-fire formerly known as Twitter.
The amount of hate towards her from the left is frankly worrying. I haven't investigated the allegations against her (*), but the froth-mouthed, spittle-flecked screeching against her kinda makes me feel that she's in the right.
(*) Partly because the mere fact of her existence seems to annoy them.
Mostly it's because she is Jewish, albeit Atheist.
She is vegan too, so something to offend the other headbangers...
That last bit has put me off.
Like finding out someone you really fancy is a smoker.
Why does it put you off?
I know / have known a fair few vegans. Some are the 'vegan police' style people who wear their suffering for their superpower on their sleeve. Most are perfectly ordinary people who do not want to put any inconvenience on anybody.
It's nothing like smoking. If someone smokes near me, it gets in my lungs even if they're ten feet away. Someone eating a nut roast at the seat next to me has zero effect on me.
Because they are preachy, whiny and annoying.
And they absolutely do inconvenience people. It means every time you hook up with them you can't cook or eat what you want and you've got to reduce your meals to the lowest common denominator so they can eat with you, which is antisocial.
So it absolutely has an effect on me.
Some are 'preachy, whiny and annoying', as I mentioned. Most are not.
People make other life choices from you: if you cannot deal with that, then that is your problem, not theirs.
Er, no. I was talking about what I found attractive and what put me on or off.
Their choices would cause problems for me and restrict my lifestyle and this would put me off.
The fact you might make a different choice is quite beside the point, unless you think the only acceptable choices in life are ones that you would make - which would be stunningly arrogant.
But as I said, that's your issue, and your problem.
As an example: I don't like tattoos. For some reason, I just don't like them. They're a bit of a turn-off, and I have to try not to judge people who have them.
But the important point is this: I understand that's my issue, and my problem, and I try not to let that judgement affect the way I interact with people who have tattoos. Now if they start suggesting I get a tattoo, I'd laugh at them - because I don't like tattoos. But I won't treat them any differently because of their choice.
In fact, I recognise that some tattoos are cool: like the lady I met who got one star / dot added for every year she had been clear of cancer, on the anniversary of receiving the all-clear.
Most of all: I think your comparison of veganism with smoking to be utterly ridiculous and childish. Pathetic, in fact. Oh dear, you might occasionally have to change what you eat to cater for someone else. What an *awful* imposition. It's exactly the same as killing me with second-hand smoke.
However, I don't agree about tattoos. In *my* case, my dislike *is* irrational. There are good reasons to dislike tattoos, but my dislike isn't based in any of those. I don't know where it comes from; certainly not my parents. But it is irrational.
I'm completely with you. Can't stand them. My girlfriend is talking about getting one and I really don't like the idea. But why? What harm does it do me?
My wealthy uncle has made it a condition in his will that any of his many nieces and nephews that have tattoos will be excluded. It’s already culled a lot of them so I’m holding on.
I very rarely agree with CasinoRoyale, but I do think Airplane is the funniest film ever.
Though I wonder whether under 30s would find it funny.
Comedy films date very fast. It’s a miracle it’s lasted this long.
Life of Brian hasn’t aged either. Indeed it only gets more prescient and relevant
And Life if Brian is cleverer. But Airplane probably has more belly laughs
Spinal Tap completes the Top Three
We are close to agreement, Leon. This is worrying.
Airplane has be be the most un-PC film ever made. I'm surprised it hasn't now been banned. It makes me laugh still, although one or two or the jokes make me squirm a bit.
Yes, but comedy needs it's reference points. Airplane is funny mostly because it is a send up of Seventies "disaster" movies, Blazing Saddles because of Fifties and Sixties Westerns, Spinal Tap because of Eighties rock clichés.
Without their cultural hinterland a lot of the jokes are less funny or simply missed. A large part of humour is in transgressing expectations, so the expectations have to exist in order to be transgressed.
I find all these films hilarious, but as GenX I get them. Would GenZ?.
Sadly the natural gas network is utterly unsuited for storing or transporting hydrogen. You would lose vast amounts of hydrogen in leaks and probably vast numbers of people in domestic explosions. It is not a viable alternative.
Agreed. Your point is not emphasised enough, and is certainly not understood enough.
I am biting my lip with frustration at the fact that we are jumping into options like heat pumps and hydrogen without any thoughts to the expense and logistics, even when those logistics have obvious difficulties and the expenses are obviously large.
Heat pumps, for those with well insulated homes, are usually pretty efficient. And they also cool in summer
What's your beef with them?
I went thru this at some length last time, so I'll give you the TL:DR
In general
i) they're too expensive
ii) they're not suitable in existing leasehold properties and/or flats, especially for those above the ground floor
iii) I don't like the element of compulsion
Other people advanced arguments saying they were inefficient/inadequate: I agree with those arguments but they do not constitute my beef.
We have heat pump units (combined heating/dehumidifying/ac) everywhere in Japan (and most of Asia) and they're mostly just bolted on after the fact. They're cheap and you can fit them basically anywhere. If the landlord doesn't want it when you move you can remove them when you go and put them in your next place, the only damage is a single, easily-filled hole in the wall.
I don't understand how the British manage to make it so difficult.
Most flats in England are leasehold. You don't own the house, you own the lease which gives you the right to live in the house but you must obey certain conditions which are set out in that lease. One of those conditions is "don't make structural additions or alterations". You don't own the walls and will have to ask permission to drill a hole thru the wall and bolt it to the outside. And no you can't fit them into the windows either, for the same reason.
As has become sadly, wearily, very, obvious, many people on PB are rich or very rich, and find it difficult to understand why you can't just do things. This is the third, fourth or fifth time I've had to explain that there are things you just can't do in flats, and no doubt there'll be a sixth.
During a fuel crises a Conservative MP was criticised for saying "But why can't people just store fuel in a jerry can in the garage", and people had to patiently explain to him that most people don't have a garage. I get the same vibes here.
For LOLs I just clicked onto 'Rachel Riley' on the 'trending' section on the dumpster-fire formerly known as Twitter.
The amount of hate towards her from the left is frankly worrying. I haven't investigated the allegations against her (*), but the froth-mouthed, spittle-flecked screeching against her kinda makes me feel that she's in the right.
(*) Partly because the mere fact of her existence seems to annoy them.
Mostly it's because she is Jewish, albeit Atheist.
She is vegan too, so something to offend the other headbangers...
That last bit has put me off.
Like finding out someone you really fancy is a smoker.
I'm sure she'll reconsider her dietary choices, if you let her know.
One day, yes.
This is a just a phase we are living through: like prohibition in the 1920s. It's a quasi-religious movement. As prohibition was to over-consumption of alcohol and its "evils", veganism is the same with animal products.
Because it's irrational, dogmatic and illogical it will eventually die out, as prohibition did, and everyone who was taken in by it will be embarrassed to admit they ever were one.
Much of what you say may be true, but the prediction that veganism will die out is unlikely given that various forms of vegetarianism have persisted throughout history.
I think we will look back at meat-eating in 100 years time like we now look back at the slave trade.
Bacon and sausage roll for me this morning.
In a hundred years? Most assuredly, folk will be posting on PB how eating venison but not bacon is part of the Woke plague rotting the soul of the West.
Which then leads to a the following philosophical conundrum -
Is venison bacon woke or un-woke?
Or is it both at the same time and the wave form collapses to one or other depending on whether the person eating it is a Gay Trans Illegal Immigrant Alien AI?
Personally I think a little less of people with tattoos. It’s my one private little id-ish prejudice which I have to actively correct for with my superego.
It also ages me, because tattoos became a thing about six months into my adulthood.
When my daughter was in her teens, she decided to become a vegetarian. There's a happy ending - the smell of frying bacon was enough to bring her back to sanity.
I work with a guy at work whose mother raised him as a vegetarian, until he reached the age of 17, stayed with his Uncle and ate a roast. His mother wasn't happy.
People do move in and out of vegetarianism. I was vegetarian for 7 years, as was Mrs Foxy, though Fox Jr wasn't, he was preschool at the time. I started eating meat again during foot and mouth as the lake district without sheep just looked too desolate.
I now take a more CWF approach and support their campaigns for higher welfare standards for farm animals. I eat meat maybe a couple of times per week, so am flexitarian in the modern jargon. I generally choose the vegetarian option when dining, unless it is really uninspired. I avoid cured meats too for health reasons.
Yes, I avoid cured meats for the same reason. It's a shame, because I like them, but I like being alive too.
The vegetarian option is sometimes the best on the menu, so I'l often take it, especially as I tend to eat too much meat anyway.
I like the term 'flexitarian'. Never come across that before.
Mrs PtP is a 'cute-vegetarian', by which she means she doesn't eat cute looking animals. So, beef and pork are OK, because cows are stupid and pigs are ugly. Venison, lamb and rabbit is definitely out.
Btw, she is half Jewish, so if you give a pork chop, she only eats half of it.
The Spanish subsist almost entirely on cured meat, and they have one of the longest life expectancies in the world
Yes, but I suspect it is the rest of their lifestyle which accounts for that.
For LOLs I just clicked onto 'Rachel Riley' on the 'trending' section on the dumpster-fire formerly known as Twitter.
The amount of hate towards her from the left is frankly worrying. I haven't investigated the allegations against her (*), but the froth-mouthed, spittle-flecked screeching against her kinda makes me feel that she's in the right.
(*) Partly because the mere fact of her existence seems to annoy them.
Mostly it's because she is Jewish, albeit Atheist.
She is vegan too, so something to offend the other headbangers...
That last bit has put me off.
Like finding out someone you really fancy is a smoker.
Why does it put you off?
I know / have known a fair few vegans. Some are the 'vegan police' style people who wear their suffering for their superpower on their sleeve. Most are perfectly ordinary people who do not want to put any inconvenience on anybody.
It's nothing like smoking. If someone smokes near me, it gets in my lungs even if they're ten feet away. Someone eating a nut roast at the seat next to me has zero effect on me.
Because they are preachy, whiny and annoying.
And they absolutely do inconvenience people. It means every time you hook up with them you can't cook or eat what you want and you've got to reduce your meals to the lowest common denominator so they can eat with you, which is antisocial.
So it absolutely has an effect on me.
Some are 'preachy, whiny and annoying', as I mentioned. Most are not.
People make other life choices from you: if you cannot deal with that, then that is your problem, not theirs.
Er, no. I was talking about what I found attractive and what put me on or off.
Their choices would cause problems for me and restrict my lifestyle and this would put me off.
The fact you might make a different choice is quite beside the point, unless you think the only acceptable choices in life are ones that you would make - which would be stunningly arrogant.
But as I said, that's your issue, and your problem.
As an example: I don't like tattoos. For some reason, I just don't like them. They're a bit of a turn-off, and I have to try not to judge people who have them.
But the important point is this: I understand that's my issue, and my problem, and I try not to let that judgement affect the way I interact with people who have tattoos. Now if they start suggesting I get a tattoo, I'd laugh at them - because I don't like tattoos. But I won't treat them any differently because of their choice.
In fact, I recognise that some tattoos are cool: like the lady I met who got one star / dot added for every year she had been clear of cancer, on the anniversary of receiving the all-clear.
Most of all: I think your comparison of veganism with smoking to be utterly ridiculous and childish. Pathetic, in fact. Oh dear, you might occasionally have to change what you eat to cater for someone else. What an *awful* imposition. It's exactly the same as killing me with second-hand smoke.
However, I don't agree about tattoos. In *my* case, my dislike *is* irrational. There are good reasons to dislike tattoos, but my dislike isn't based in any of those. I don't know where it comes from; certainly not my parents. But it is irrational.
I'm completely with you. Can't stand them. My girlfriend is talking about getting one and I really don't like the idea. But why? What harm does it do me?
The problem with tattoos is that people rarely stop at one. They really do seem addictive.
Tatoos are part of the female mid life crisis as much as sports cars are to men.
I don't object to them per se. But I don't think I have ever seen a tattoo which lools as good as the absence of a tattoo would.
The other thing is that tattoo pigments migrate and disperse over time. That cute picture becomes a blurry blue blob as the decades pass.
The desire for tattoos and piercings strikes me as a mild form of body dysphoria, as indeed is much cosmetic surgery. An awful lot of trans folk seem to start with tattoos.
And @Gardenwalker we actually agree on stuff far more often than you'd care to mention.
You just want to be seen to very rarely agree with me.
The corrosive effect of social media and the culture wars.
We are roughly the same age and class. But very much most of your political opinions “shit me to tears” to borrow an colourful Australianism.
What I will say is that in London I live in Hackney, surrounded by good coffee and lesbian knitting circles, and I absolutely love it. Whereas you are in semi-suburban Hampshire, and presumably very happy there.
So we want different things. Nothing to do with social media, which I eschew apart from this very board.
And, yet, we agree often and find lots of common ground.
You just want to think you're really different, I think.
I very rarely agree with CasinoRoyale, but I do think Airplane is the funniest film ever.
Though I wonder whether under 30s would find it funny.
Comedy films date very fast. It’s a miracle it’s lasted this long.
Life of Brian hasn’t aged either. Indeed it only gets more prescient and relevant
And Life if Brian is cleverer. But Airplane probably has more belly laughs
Spinal Tap completes the Top Three
In modern times I would add The Hangover. But I am avoiding belly laughs like the plague currently due to my broken ribs.
Informed chuckling, as experienced in say The Death of Stalin or Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa, is fine for ribs but belly laughs are excruciating.
It's each to his or her own though. I tried to get my wife into the Naked Gun and she found it completely unfunny, "puerile nonsense".
I LOLed, literally, watching Grimsby on a plane once. All the other passengers thought I was deranged (not wholly wrong, that said).
Never heard of that film, so I looked it up on Wiki.
"To outrun Chilcott's men, the brothers are forced to hide inside an elephant's vagina, but end up covered in elephant semen after several males have sex with the female while they are inside."
You had to be there...
Sacha Baron-Cohens films are genius. He really knows how to push a joke too far.
Personally I think a little less of people with tattoos. It’s my one private little id-ish prejudice which I have to actively correct for with my superego.
It also ages me, because tattoos became a thing about six months into my adulthood.
I find them cringe and not particularly attractive. I prefer the real person unimpeded.
No doubt @JosiasJessop will be on here in a second to tell me that's my problem in his usual histrionic and petulant manner like a fourteen year old boy.
For LOLs I just clicked onto 'Rachel Riley' on the 'trending' section on the dumpster-fire formerly known as Twitter.
The amount of hate towards her from the left is frankly worrying. I haven't investigated the allegations against her (*), but the froth-mouthed, spittle-flecked screeching against her kinda makes me feel that she's in the right.
(*) Partly because the mere fact of her existence seems to annoy them.
Mostly it's because she is Jewish, albeit Atheist.
She is vegan too, so something to offend the other headbangers...
That last bit has put me off.
Like finding out someone you really fancy is a smoker.
Why does it put you off?
I know / have known a fair few vegans. Some are the 'vegan police' style people who wear their suffering for their superpower on their sleeve. Most are perfectly ordinary people who do not want to put any inconvenience on anybody.
It's nothing like smoking. If someone smokes near me, it gets in my lungs even if they're ten feet away. Someone eating a nut roast at the seat next to me has zero effect on me.
Because they are preachy, whiny and annoying.
And they absolutely do inconvenience people. It means every time you hook up with them you can't cook or eat what you want and you've got to reduce your meals to the lowest common denominator so they can eat with you, which is antisocial.
So it absolutely has an effect on me.
Some are 'preachy, whiny and annoying', as I mentioned. Most are not.
People make other life choices from you: if you cannot deal with that, then that is your problem, not theirs.
Er, no. I was talking about what I found attractive and what put me on or off.
Their choices would cause problems for me and restrict my lifestyle and this would put me off.
The fact you might make a different choice is quite beside the point, unless you think the only acceptable choices in life are ones that you would make - which would be stunningly arrogant.
But as I said, that's your issue, and your problem.
As an example: I don't like tattoos. For some reason, I just don't like them. They're a bit of a turn-off, and I have to try not to judge people who have them.
But the important point is this: I understand that's my issue, and my problem, and I try not to let that judgement affect the way I interact with people who have tattoos. Now if they start suggesting I get a tattoo, I'd laugh at them - because I don't like tattoos. But I won't treat them any differently because of their choice.
In fact, I recognise that some tattoos are cool: like the lady I met who got one star / dot added for every year she had been clear of cancer, on the anniversary of receiving the all-clear.
Most of all: I think your comparison of veganism with smoking to be utterly ridiculous and childish. Pathetic, in fact. Oh dear, you might occasionally have to change what you eat to cater for someone else. What an *awful* imposition. It's exactly the same as killing me with second-hand smoke.
However, I don't agree about tattoos. In *my* case, my dislike *is* irrational. There are good reasons to dislike tattoos, but my dislike isn't based in any of those. I don't know where it comes from; certainly not my parents. But it is irrational.
I'm completely with you. Can't stand them. My girlfriend is talking about getting one and I really don't like the idea. But why? What harm does it do me?
My wealthy uncle has made it a condition in his will that any of his many nieces and nephews that have tattoos will be excluded. It’s already culled a lot of them so I’m holding on.
Does laser removal count? I have to ask, as it's blindingly obvious. If he hasn't dealt with that provision, there'll be trouble ahead for the executors.
(Had to deal with one or two odd provisions in wills as an executor myself, but nothing that divisive. But it does sensitise me to issues.)
Personally I think a little less of people with tattoos. It’s my one private little id-ish prejudice which I have to actively correct for with my superego.
It also ages me, because tattoos became a thing about six months into my adulthood.
I find them cringe and not particularly attractive. I prefer the real person unimpeded.
No doubt @JosiasJessop will be on here in a second to tell me that's my problem in his usual histrionic and petulant manner like a fourteen year old boy.
If you don't want that to happen my suggestion would be not to tag him in.
I am booked on a bus to take me over the Ukrainian border, in the carpathians, and down into Romania
I have no idea if the bus will turn up (the last few haven’t) or if I will make it over the frontier even if I do (I’ve heard tales of major difficulties)
Exciting. It’s like being in a war
Ah, that’s it
I think you need to ration your warzone jeopardy posts to keep the necessary excitement up. Keep it to 12a or 15 rated dangers at least. Worrying a bus to Romania may be a bit late is more U: occasional mild threat.
They aren’t late. They just don’t show up. I admit this isn’t exactly the Blitz but it will leave me stranded In Chernowitz and I really need to be back in London tomorrow for a stag night
What makes it iffier is I’ve no evidence of anyone else using this route out of Ukraine
Cbernovtsi, Ukraine - Suceava, Romania
David Niven made several good films. Was also wise about other stuff:
"Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences."
Er, I’m commenting anonymously on a forum for political geeks, not writing about my derring-do in The Times
Besides, public transport is PB’s obsession of the week. I’m offering my experiences of long distant coach services during a war
A valuable service much appreciated. What was the tyre spec of the coaches?
I can only offer this
Which all looks great until you see this. Basically it’s a shit show and a lottery. AND I am trying a route hitherto unused by many as far as I can see. The established routes are Poland-Lviv and Moldova-Odessa
So, yes, it’s a tiny bit tricker than “the late bus from Oxford to Woodstock”
Sadly the natural gas network is utterly unsuited for storing or transporting hydrogen. You would lose vast amounts of hydrogen in leaks and probably vast numbers of people in domestic explosions. It is not a viable alternative.
Agreed. Your point is not emphasised enough, and is certainly not understood enough.
I am biting my lip with frustration at the fact that we are jumping into options like heat pumps and hydrogen without any thoughts to the expense and logistics, even when those logistics have obvious difficulties and the expenses are obviously large.
Heat pumps, for those with well insulated homes, are usually pretty efficient. And they also cool in summer
What's your beef with them?
I went thru this at some length last time, so I'll give you the TL:DR
In general
i) they're too expensive
ii) they're not suitable in existing leasehold properties and/or flats, especially for those above the ground floor
iii) I don't like the element of compulsion
Other people advanced arguments saying they were inefficient/inadequate: I agree with those arguments but they do not constitute my beef.
We have heat pump units (combined heating/dehumidifying/ac) everywhere in Japan (and most of Asia) and they're mostly just bolted on after the fact. They're cheap and you can fit them basically anywhere. If the landlord doesn't want it when you move you can remove them when you go and put them in your next place, the only damage is a single, easily-filled hole in the wall.
I don't understand how the British manage to make it so difficult.
Most flats in England are leasehold. You don't own the house, you own the lease which gives you the right to live in the house but you must obey certain conditions which are set out in that lease. One of those conditions is "don't make structural additions or alterations". You don't own the walls and will have to ask permission to drill a hole thru the wall and bolt it to the outside. And no you can't fit them into the windows either, for the same reason.
As has become sadly, wearily, very, obvious, many people on PB are rich or very rich, and find it difficult to understand why you can't just do things. This is the third, fourth or fifth time I've had to explain that there are things you just can't do in flats, and no doubt there'll be a sixth.
During a fuel crises a Conservative MP was criticised for saying "But why can't people just store fuel in a jerry can in the garage", and people had to patiently explain to him that most people don't have a garage. I get the same vibes here.
Ummm:
I'm about to put an air conditioning unit in my flat in London. Most leaseholders are perfectly willing to let you make changes, so long as you pay for them.
Sure, you need to get permission, but you make it sound like that is impossible rather than (as most contracts say) "not to be unreasonably withheld".
Ummm back at you.
"Most leaseholders are perfectly willing to let you make changes, so long as you pay for them": the Tchenguiz Brothers at one point owned 1% of all the residential properties. I'm not going to comment on them because you have strict rules about libel.
My mother always said the three things that would most upset her if I did them were taking drugs, riding a motorbike and getting a tattoo.
I get the sense the tattoo thing was a bit of a millennial fad and the younger generations aren’t so into them.
The younger generation are totally into them. Either as sleeve-type extravaganzas or as, increasingly, random (to me) doodles and squiggles and line drawings.
Great comedy reflects on the human condition - which is why some ages a lot better than others. A lot of Airplane!’s references were to the then popular disaster movie genre - which contemporary audiences may miss.
When my daughter was in her teens, she decided to become a vegetarian. There's a happy ending - the smell of frying bacon was enough to bring her back to sanity.
I work with a guy at work whose mother raised him as a vegetarian, until he reached the age of 17, stayed with his Uncle and ate a roast. His mother wasn't happy.
"Sanity" and "seen the light", eh? Vegetarians live on average about 9 years longer than the dimwitted amoral turds who munch pieces of dead animal and think they're being sane and enlightened.
I love meat. The meatier the better. I like offal a lot. When in France, I love the tripe sausage and the waiters are always surprised since I am obviously not an elderly red-faced Frenchman (ie the usual market for tripe sausage).
For LOLs I just clicked onto 'Rachel Riley' on the 'trending' section on the dumpster-fire formerly known as Twitter.
The amount of hate towards her from the left is frankly worrying. I haven't investigated the allegations against her (*), but the froth-mouthed, spittle-flecked screeching against her kinda makes me feel that she's in the right.
(*) Partly because the mere fact of her existence seems to annoy them.
Mostly it's because she is Jewish, albeit Atheist.
She is vegan too, so something to offend the other headbangers...
That last bit has put me off.
Like finding out someone you really fancy is a smoker.
Why does it put you off?
I know / have known a fair few vegans. Some are the 'vegan police' style people who wear their suffering for their superpower on their sleeve. Most are perfectly ordinary people who do not want to put any inconvenience on anybody.
It's nothing like smoking. If someone smokes near me, it gets in my lungs even if they're ten feet away. Someone eating a nut roast at the seat next to me has zero effect on me.
Because they are preachy, whiny and annoying.
And they absolutely do inconvenience people. It means every time you hook up with them you can't cook or eat what you want and you've got to reduce your meals to the lowest common denominator so they can eat with you, which is antisocial.
So it absolutely has an effect on me.
Some are 'preachy, whiny and annoying', as I mentioned. Most are not.
People make other life choices from you: if you cannot deal with that, then that is your problem, not theirs.
Er, no. I was talking about what I found attractive and what put me on or off.
Their choices would cause problems for me and restrict my lifestyle and this would put me off.
The fact you might make a different choice is quite beside the point, unless you think the only acceptable choices in life are ones that you would make - which would be stunningly arrogant.
But as I said, that's your issue, and your problem.
As an example: I don't like tattoos. For some reason, I just don't like them. They're a bit of a turn-off, and I have to try not to judge people who have them.
But the important point is this: I understand that's my issue, and my problem, and I try not to let that judgement affect the way I interact with people who have tattoos. Now if they start suggesting I get a tattoo, I'd laugh at them - because I don't like tattoos. But I won't treat them any differently because of their choice.
In fact, I recognise that some tattoos are cool: like the lady I met who got one star / dot added for every year she had been clear of cancer, on the anniversary of receiving the all-clear.
Most of all: I think your comparison of veganism with smoking to be utterly ridiculous and childish. Pathetic, in fact. Oh dear, you might occasionally have to change what you eat to cater for someone else. What an *awful* imposition. It's exactly the same as killing me with second-hand smoke.
However, I don't agree about tattoos. In *my* case, my dislike *is* irrational. There are good reasons to dislike tattoos, but my dislike isn't based in any of those. I don't know where it comes from; certainly not my parents. But it is irrational.
I'm completely with you. Can't stand them. My girlfriend is talking about getting one and I really don't like the idea. But why? What harm does it do me?
My wealthy uncle has made it a condition in his will that any of his many nieces and nephews that have tattoos will be excluded. It’s already culled a lot of them so I’m holding on.
Great idea for a will. Hadn't heard that one before. "Your body's yours, but my assets are mine."
Tattoos are revolting, a complete and utter turnoff.
I am booked on a bus to take me over the Ukrainian border, in the carpathians, and down into Romania
I have no idea if the bus will turn up (the last few haven’t) or if I will make it over the frontier even if I do (I’ve heard tales of major difficulties)
Exciting. It’s like being in a war
Ah, that’s it
I think you need to ration your warzone jeopardy posts to keep the necessary excitement up. Keep it to 12a or 15 rated dangers at least. Worrying a bus to Romania may be a bit late is more U: occasional mild threat.
They aren’t late. They just don’t show up. I admit this isn’t exactly the Blitz but it will leave me stranded In Chernowitz and I really need to be back in London tomorrow for a stag night
What makes it iffier is I’ve no evidence of anyone else using this route out of Ukraine
Cbernovtsi, Ukraine - Suceava, Romania
David Niven made several good films. Was also wise about other stuff:
"Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences."
Er, I’m commenting anonymously on a forum for political geeks, not writing about my derring-do in The Times
Besides, public transport is PB’s obsession of the week. I’m offering my experiences of long distant coach services during a war
A valuable service much appreciated. What was the tyre spec of the coaches?
I can only offer this
Which all looks great until you see this. Basically it’s a shit show and a lottery. AND I am trying a route hitherto unused by many as far as I can see. The established routes are Poland-Lviv and Moldova-Odessa
So, yes, it’s a tiny bit tricker than “the late bus from Oxford to Woodstock”
"Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences."
I am booked on a bus to take me over the Ukrainian border, in the carpathians, and down into Romania
I have no idea if the bus will turn up (the last few haven’t) or if I will make it over the frontier even if I do (I’ve heard tales of major difficulties)
Exciting. It’s like being in a war
Ah, that’s it
I think you need to ration your warzone jeopardy posts to keep the necessary excitement up. Keep it to 12a or 15 rated dangers at least. Worrying a bus to Romania may be a bit late is more U: occasional mild threat.
They aren’t late. They just don’t show up. I admit this isn’t exactly the Blitz but it will leave me stranded In Chernowitz and I really need to be back in London tomorrow for a stag night
What makes it iffier is I’ve no evidence of anyone else using this route out of Ukraine
Cbernovtsi, Ukraine - Suceava, Romania
David Niven made several good films. Was also wise about other stuff:
"Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences."
Er, I’m commenting anonymously on a forum for political geeks, not writing about my derring-do in The Times
Besides, public transport is PB’s obsession of the week. I’m offering my experiences of long distant coach services during a war
A valuable service much appreciated. What was the tyre spec of the coaches?
I can only offer this
Which all looks great until you see this. Basically it’s a shit show and a lottery. AND I am trying a route hitherto unused by many as far as I can see. The established routes are Poland-Lviv and Moldova-Odessa
So, yes, it’s a tiny bit tricker than “the late bus from Oxford to Woodstock”
You want to be careful there - you appear to have posted the ticket of your infamous stalker rather than your own...
I very rarely agree with CasinoRoyale, but I do think Airplane is the funniest film ever.
Though I wonder whether under 30s would find it funny.
Comedy films date very fast. It’s a miracle it’s lasted this long.
Life of Brian hasn’t aged either. Indeed it only gets more prescient and relevant
And Life if Brian is cleverer. But Airplane probably has more belly laughs
Spinal Tap completes the Top Three
We are close to agreement, Leon. This is worrying.
Airplane has be be the most un-PC film ever made. I'm surprised it hasn't now been banned. It makes me laugh still, although one or two or the jokes make me squirm a bit.
The bit where the old lady speaks “jive” may be the single funniest moment in cinematic history.
Yes, and that is perfectly fine, because it sends up ridiculous contrived argots.
Btw, overindulgence in cockney rhyming slang is a very good example of this affectation. In my experience, real Cockneys use it sparingly.
I very rarely agree with CasinoRoyale, but I do think Airplane is the funniest film ever.
Though I wonder whether under 30s would find it funny.
Comedy films date very fast. It’s a miracle it’s lasted this long.
Life of Brian hasn’t aged either. Indeed it only gets more prescient and relevant
And Life if Brian is cleverer. But Airplane probably has more belly laughs
Spinal Tap completes the Top Three
In modern times I would add The Hangover. But I am avoiding belly laughs like the plague currently due to my broken ribs.
Informed chuckling, as experienced in say The Death of Stalin or Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa, is fine for ribs but belly laughs are excruciating.
It's each to his or her own though. I tried to get my wife into the Naked Gun and she found it completely unfunny, "puerile nonsense".
I LOLed, literally, watching Grimsby on a plane once. All the other passengers thought I was deranged (not wholly wrong, that said).
Never heard of that film, so I looked it up on Wiki.
"To outrun Chilcott's men, the brothers are forced to hide inside an elephant's vagina, but end up covered in elephant semen after several males have sex with the female while they are inside."
You had to be there...
Evidently!
Not dissimilar to the 'back end of the cow' gag in 'Top Secret!'.
I very rarely agree with CasinoRoyale, but I do think Airplane is the funniest film ever.
Though I wonder whether under 30s would find it funny.
Comedy films date very fast. It’s a miracle it’s lasted this long.
Life of Brian hasn’t aged either. Indeed it only gets more prescient and relevant
And Life if Brian is cleverer. But Airplane probably has more belly laughs
Spinal Tap completes the Top Three
We are close to agreement, Leon. This is worrying.
Airplane has be be the most un-PC film ever made. I'm surprised it hasn't now been banned. It makes me laugh still, although one or two or the jokes make me squirm a bit.
The bit where the old lady speaks “jive” may be the single funniest moment in cinematic history.
Yes, and that is perfectly fine, because it sends up ridiculous contrived argots.
Btw, overindulgence in cockney rhyming slang is a very good example of this affectation. In my experience, real Cockneys use it sparingly.
I don’t think it sends up contrived argots. I think it packs a tonne of quite complex racial baggage into a deliriously surreal moment of hilarity.
When my daughter was in her teens, she decided to become a vegetarian. There's a happy ending - the smell of frying bacon was enough to bring her back to sanity.
I work with a guy at work whose mother raised him as a vegetarian, until he reached the age of 17, stayed with his Uncle and ate a roast. His mother wasn't happy.
"Sanity" and "seen the light", eh? Vegetarians live on average about 9 years longer than the dimwitted amoral turds who munch pieces of dead animal and think they're being sane and enlightened.
I am booked on a bus to take me over the Ukrainian border, in the carpathians, and down into Romania
I have no idea if the bus will turn up (the last few haven’t) or if I will make it over the frontier even if I do (I’ve heard tales of major difficulties)
Exciting. It’s like being in a war
Ah, that’s it
I think you need to ration your warzone jeopardy posts to keep the necessary excitement up. Keep it to 12a or 15 rated dangers at least. Worrying a bus to Romania may be a bit late is more U: occasional mild threat.
They aren’t late. They just don’t show up. I admit this isn’t exactly the Blitz but it will leave me stranded In Chernowitz and I really need to be back in London tomorrow for a stag night
What makes it iffier is I’ve no evidence of anyone else using this route out of Ukraine
Cbernovtsi, Ukraine - Suceava, Romania
David Niven made several good films. Was also wise about other stuff:
"Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences."
Er, I’m commenting anonymously on a forum for political geeks, not writing about my derring-do in The Times
Besides, public transport is PB’s obsession of the week. I’m offering my experiences of long distant coach services during a war
A valuable service much appreciated. What was the tyre spec of the coaches?
I can only offer this
Which all looks great until you see this. Basically it’s a shit show and a lottery. AND I am trying a route hitherto unused by many as far as I can see. The established routes are Poland-Lviv and Moldova-Odessa
So, yes, it’s a tiny bit tricker than “the late bus from Oxford to Woodstock”
"Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences."
Should never be far from your mind.
Oh give over. You don't find it interesting that one of our number is bumbling around Ukraine?
When my daughter was in her teens, she decided to become a vegetarian. There's a happy ending - the smell of frying bacon was enough to bring her back to sanity.
I work with a guy at work whose mother raised him as a vegetarian, until he reached the age of 17, stayed with his Uncle and ate a roast. His mother wasn't happy.
"Sanity" and "seen the light", eh? Vegetarians live on average about 9 years longer than the dimwitted amoral turds who munch pieces of dead animal and think they're being sane and enlightened.
9 more years of misery, you can keep it , I will stick with Bacon sandwiches, roast chicken , steak, etc
I love meat. The meatier the better. I like offal a lot. When in France, I love the tripe sausage and the waiters are always surprised since I am obviously not an elderly red-faced Frenchman (ie the usual market for tripe sausage).
(I also love venison, for the record).
But vegans can do their thing, who cares?
This started when I said I wouldn't date a vegan.
JJ lost his shit, and then it started a full blown culture wars spat.
I love meat. The meatier the better. I like offal a lot. When in France, I love the tripe sausage and the waiters are always surprised since I am obviously not an elderly red-faced Frenchman (ie the usual market for tripe sausage).
(I also love venison, for the record).
But vegans can do their thing, who cares?
This started when I said I wouldn't date a vegan.
JJ lost his shit, and then it started a full blown culture wars spat.
It’s tedious stuff. Let’s talk about mixer taps instead.
I am booked on a bus to take me over the Ukrainian border, in the carpathians, and down into Romania
I have no idea if the bus will turn up (the last few haven’t) or if I will make it over the frontier even if I do (I’ve heard tales of major difficulties)
Exciting. It’s like being in a war
Ah, that’s it
I think you need to ration your warzone jeopardy posts to keep the necessary excitement up. Keep it to 12a or 15 rated dangers at least. Worrying a bus to Romania may be a bit late is more U: occasional mild threat.
They aren’t late. They just don’t show up. I admit this isn’t exactly the Blitz but it will leave me stranded In Chernowitz and I really need to be back in London tomorrow for a stag night
What makes it iffier is I’ve no evidence of anyone else using this route out of Ukraine
Cbernovtsi, Ukraine - Suceava, Romania
David Niven made several good films. Was also wise about other stuff:
"Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences."
Er, I’m commenting anonymously on a forum for political geeks, not writing about my derring-do in The Times
Besides, public transport is PB’s obsession of the week. I’m offering my experiences of long distant coach services during a war
A valuable service much appreciated. What was the tyre spec of the coaches?
I can only offer this
Which all looks great until you see this. Basically it’s a shit show and a lottery. AND I am trying a route hitherto unused by many as far as I can see. The established routes are Poland-Lviv and Moldova-Odessa
So, yes, it’s a tiny bit tricker than “the late bus from Oxford to Woodstock”
If that's your real ticket, you must be mental posting it here. Did you not get any opsec advice?
Comments
I have no idea if the bus will turn up (the last few haven’t) or if I will make it over the frontier even if I do (I’ve heard tales of major difficulties)
Exciting. It’s like being in a war
Ah, that’s it
Is venison bacon woke or un-woke?
Or is it both at the same time and the wave form collapses to one or other depending on whether the person eating it is a Gay Trans Illegal Immigrant Alien AI?
Why not?
However, I don't agree about tattoos. In *my* case, my dislike *is* irrational. There are good reasons to dislike tattoos, but my dislike isn't based in any of those. I don't know where it comes from; certainly not my parents. But it is irrational.
Though I wonder whether under 30s would find it funny.
Comedy films date very fast.
It’s a miracle it’s lasted this long.
I now take a more CWF approach and support their campaigns for higher welfare standards for farm animals. I eat meat maybe a couple of times per week, so am flexitarian in the modern jargon. I generally choose the vegetarian option when dining, unless it is really uninspired. I avoid cured meats too for health reasons.
My friend, whose father gave her a house - now worth circa £3M - is currently living the life of Riley.
My other friend, down the road from her, is taking their kids out of private school and cutting down on restaurants so they can service the mortgage.
Inherited wealth feels especially egregious right now.
Well.
He only went and fell for a Corbynista.
It's amazing indeed what love can do.
And Life if Brian is cleverer. But Airplane probably has more belly laughs
Spinal Tap completes the Top Three
Dive your car and clean the air....
Contra to my previous point, I think Kind Hearts and Coronets has aged wonderfully. Ladykillers is also pretty good, and so is Whisky Galore.
But none I think are belly-laughers.
She loves Holy Grail and Life of Brian. Movies that are nearly half a century old!
Airplane has be be the most un-PC film ever made. I'm surprised it hasn't now been banned. It makes me laugh still, although one or two or the jokes make me squirm a bit.
Mrs J was veggie when I met her, and was very open about wanting to be vegan. If I'd been 'turned off' by that, then I would have missed out on nineteen wonderful years with her. Besides, she puts up with a lot more from me; like my fondness for trains.
If planning a party, enjoy a party and hire a marquee, don't expect it to build an extension on your house.
That level of danger and urgency.
Informed chuckling, as experienced in say The Death of Stalin or Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa, is fine for ribs but belly laughs are excruciating.
It's each to his or her own though. I tried to get my wife into the Naked Gun and she found it completely unfunny, "puerile nonsense".
Ditton "The Play That Goes Wrong" which I got round to seeing last night. Blimey, the Elizabeth Line is a miracle; I don't see how the "Romford isn't London" meme survives it.
The little girl with the coffee.
What makes it iffier is I’ve no evidence of anyone else using this route out of Ukraine
Cbernovtsi, Ukraine - Suceava, Romania
It is tbf quite a common comedic device.
"Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences."
Without their cultural hinterland a lot of the jokes are less funny or simply missed. A large part of humour is in transgressing expectations, so the expectations have to exist in order to be transgressed.
I find all these films hilarious, but as GenX I get them. Would GenZ?.
Through the latter does bring Ronnie Corbett and Jamie Lee Curtis together in the same film.
The vegetarian option is sometimes the best on the menu, so I'l often take it, especially as I tend to eat too much meat anyway.
I like the term 'flexitarian'. Never come across that before.
Mrs PtP is a 'cute-vegetarian', by which she means she doesn't eat cute looking animals. So, beef and pork are OK, because cows are stupid and pigs are ugly. Venison, lamb and rabbit is definitely out.
Btw, she is half Jewish, so if you give a pork chop, she only eats half of it.
But, it might have got ahead of its station a bit and trying too hard with being another Olympics and it shouldn't try and play in that league.
Another way we've misserved our youth.
"To outrun Chilcott's men, the brothers are forced to hide inside an elephant's vagina, but end up covered in elephant semen after several males have sex with the female while they are inside."
I'd have no problem with hooking up with someone with different politics to me, same as befriending them, as long as it was done on the basis of mutual respect.
I look forward to his future incarnation as a Chuckle Brother.
I am working on something for Paris and the research says “GenZ” don’t give a fuck.
There’s always an opportunity for focused events that occupy a certain niche and the Commonwealth Games needs to figure that out.
Besides, public transport is PB’s obsession of the week. I’m offering my experiences of long distant coach services during a war
You just want to be seen to very rarely agree with me.
The corrosive effect of social media and the culture wars.
Tatoos are part of the female mid life crisis as much as sports cars are to men.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=bhDJxEPRDek
Polls closed an hour ago. The race was already called because of the sheer volume of his lead.
https://twitter.com/0liviajulianna/status/1687270740595187712
https://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/
The cringe moments me for me include the blow-up doll that grins on getting a blowjob, and the queue that forms to shag the young woman who wants to try sex before she dies. These rely on a cultural hinterland that views oral sex as an exotic treat and a willing girl as a rare opportunity.
I am pretty sure that such assumptions don't apply to GenX.
But very much most of your political opinions “shit me to tears” to borrow an colourful Australianism.
What I will say is that in London I live in Hackney, surrounded by good coffee and lesbian knitting circles, and I absolutely love it. Whereas you are in semi-suburban Hampshire, and presumably very happy there.
So we want different things.
Nothing to do with social media, which I eschew apart from this very board.
I’ve raised this conundrum before and haven’t seen a satisfactory explanation.
1. Turn the sound off and he looks like a wild animal.
2. Is he suffering from a respiratory illness? He was practically wheezing when inhaling. Could be the stress.
3. Then again he did well on the aeroplane steps.
4. His nightmare wasteland vision of Washington is important. Yes, he has previously insulted NYC, but this is a bit different. I'd concentrate on the broken buildings more than the filth.
5. "America" won't stand for his persecution, so he says. Seems he's planning to call for a general insurrection.
6. Might he just be given something to drink à la Michele Sindona?
7. Why doesn't he use Musk's X? Is it because he's making profit from Truth Social?
I think it stands on its own merits.
It’s my one private little id-ish prejudice which I have to actively correct for with my superego.
It also ages me, because tattoos became a thing about six months into my adulthood.
The desire for tattoos and piercings strikes me as a mild form of body dysphoria, as indeed is much cosmetic surgery. An awful lot of trans folk seem to start with tattoos.
You just want to think you're really different, I think.
Which I suppose makes the point about how events suich as the Olympics and the CG are right up their institutional backsides as foreign policy events.
Even the original Olympics were like that, only with added death combats and sprints in hoplite armour for extra variety.
No doubt @JosiasJessop will be on here in a second to tell me that's my problem in his usual histrionic and petulant manner like a fourteen year old boy.
(Had to deal with one or two odd provisions in wills as an executor myself, but nothing that divisive. But it does sensitise me to issues.)
I get the sense the tattoo thing was a bit of a millennial fad and the younger generations aren’t so into them.
Which all looks great until you see this. Basically it’s a shit show and a lottery. AND I am trying a route hitherto unused by many as far as I can see. The established routes are Poland-Lviv and Moldova-Odessa
So, yes, it’s a tiny bit tricker than “the late bus from Oxford to Woodstock”
"Most leaseholders are perfectly willing to let you make changes, so long as you pay for them": the Tchenguiz Brothers at one point owned 1% of all the residential properties. I'm not going to comment on them because you have strict rules about libel.
https://youtu.be/jlo7YZW8vPA
Great comedy reflects on the human condition - which is why some ages a lot better than others. A lot of Airplane!’s references were to the then popular disaster movie genre - which contemporary audiences may miss.
The meatier the better.
I like offal a lot. When in France, I love the tripe sausage and the waiters are always surprised since I am obviously not an elderly red-faced Frenchman (ie the usual market for tripe sausage).
(I also love venison, for the record).
But vegans can do their thing, who cares?
Tattoos are revolting, a complete and utter turnoff.
Should never be far from your mind.
Btw, overindulgence in cockney rhyming slang is a very good example of this affectation. In my experience, real Cockneys use it sparingly.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsNIaHgH4do
I think it packs a tonne of quite complex racial baggage into a deliriously surreal moment of hilarity.
JJ lost his shit, and then it started a full blown culture wars spat.
Let’s talk about mixer taps instead.