My predictions for Labour post the election are, assuming a win.
They will get a very easy first year and will remain significantly ahead in the polls. If things aren't improving going into year two, they will start to go backwards assuming the Tories don't eat themselves, otherwise it's very possible "sensible" is enough and the Tories lose more badly the second time.
I think we are in for 10 years of Labour Government but I've thought that since SKS was elected (originally I thought it would be Lab/Lib Dems then Labour alone).
Most radical things they will go I think are, Great British Energy, planning reform and HoL reform assuming they get to 10 years. PR I think is a possibility right at the end of a second term but won't be a priority.
For my own selfish reasons, I would like them to update planning to allow taller masts to be built and to allow masts to be built next to the railway. I would mandate 100% coverage of all lines by 2030 which shouldn't be difficult as Network Rail already achieved it, just force them to give up their assets.
I think Starmer's plans to reduce British electricity bills by getting undocumented migrants to spend time in giant hamster wheels is absolutely brilliant. The more boats there are, the lower your bills.
Has someone been seen drinking tea in a sinister fashion?
Fu Manchu - known for it!
More this
He’s the chap who enabled the heir to the empire of idiots his moment.
Seems familiar. Is he a GOP spin doctor?
Quite probably.
What do you want?
"No really, what do you want?" "A quiet flight?" "That's what you want now. What do you want generally? Why do all this work, what are you aiming for? What do you want to achieve? What do you want?" "Go away, pester someone else." "We'e in a plane. I can hardly leave here until you've answered my question. What do you want?" "This is a silly conversation." "Yes it is. What do you want?" "To be left alone." "Is that it? Is that really all? What do you want?" "All right, fine. You really want to know what I want? You really want to know the truth?"
Thornton paused, tried to focus, and continued.
"We used to be great. We built cars, ships, planes, spacecraft, starships and made them fly and spin. We lit them, painted them and filmed them, on rolling roads and shining wires. We built objects of great beauty and persuaded the world they were real. We created images that looked like nothing before or since, and they were utterly, utterly wonderful. We gave the world beauty...and now we don't. I want us to be what we used to be. I want, I want it all back the way that it was. Does that answer your question?"
Netter gaped, lost for words. Was this what Thornton wanted? A renaissance of...what? The British special effects industry? Modelmaking? His own reputation? Whatever it was, it was clear that Thornton was gripped by his own muse, and...
My predictions for Labour post the election are, assuming a win.
They will get a very easy first year and will remain significantly ahead in the polls. If things aren't improving going into year two, they will start to go backwards assuming the Tories don't eat themselves, otherwise it's very possible "sensible" is enough and the Tories lose more badly the second time.
I think we are in for 10 years of Labour Government but I've thought that since SKS was elected (originally I thought it would be Lab/Lib Dems then Labour alone).
Most radical things they will go I think are, Great British Energy, planning reform and HoL reform assuming they get to 10 years. PR I think is a possibility right at the end of a second term but won't be a priority.
For my own selfish reasons, I would like them to update planning to allow taller masts to be built and to allow masts to be built next to the railway. I would mandate 100% coverage of all lines by 2030 which shouldn't be difficult as Network Rail already achieved it, just force them to give up their assets.
I think Starmer's plans to reduce British electricity bills by getting undocumented migrants to spend time in giant hamster wheels is absolutely brilliant. The more boats there are, the lower your bills.
I prefer my plan to use thermonuclear weapons in an internal combustion engine system.
Aside from providing the power to run the country it offers a small strategic advantage - imagine facing a nation that nukes *itself* once every 60 seconds or so.
Just had a sub-optimal experience at a barbers I haven't been to before. For about 25 minutes the rather intense bloke cutting my hair worked in studied silence (fine by me, means he's concentrating) and then, apropos of nothing at all, he just barked out "How's your day going?" Despite being thrown by the abrupt change in atmosphere, I manage to mumble a "great thanks". At which point this guy who's been mute for nearly half an hour breaks into song ("That's the way aha aha I like it") and starts jigging around the chair. It's like he's all of a sudden exploded, and bear in mind he's holding a sharp pair of scissors. That horrid scene in Reservoir Dogs was coming to mind. I was genuinely frightened. I live to tell the tale, and it was a decent haircut in the end, but I doubt I'll be going back.
Was it one of these new-fangled "Turkish" barbers that seem to be springing up like mushrooms?
Yes. a lot of them about. Restaurants too. Some people say they are just cleaning money, surely not
The Sun says Turkish drug dealers are teaming up with The Guardian’s favourite innovative businessman, Barking’s Hellbanianz
Plan A clearly is 2nd May, for a whole stack of reasons.
I don't expect much recovery in the polls by March so the temptation to delay would be there. But to what end?
They must expect a kicking in the locals, so go beyond May and people really will punish those councillors up for reelection. And then there are less activists to campaign for the GE.
In my recent experience, the willingness of Tory councillors to campaign for Tory parliamentary candidates is somewhat limited. And a fair number of the few who would campaign would do so Spring or Autumn, win or lose. I don't think it should be (or will be) a significant factor in CCHQ's thinking.
It would provide a lot of data for “can’t win here” type bar charts.
People like to vote for winners not losers - they should consider that
Plus the inevitable recrimination when the results are poor wouldn’t be a good backdrop to a GE
Just had a sub-optimal experience at a barbers I haven't been to before. For about 25 minutes the rather intense bloke cutting my hair worked in studied silence (fine by me, means he's concentrating) and then, apropos of nothing at all, he just barked out "How's your day going?" Despite being thrown by the abrupt change in atmosphere, I manage to mumble a "great thanks". At which point this guy who's been mute for nearly half an hour breaks into song ("That's the way aha aha I like it") and starts jigging around the chair. It's like he's all of a sudden exploded, and bear in mind he's holding a sharp pair of scissors. That horrid scene in Reservoir Dogs was coming to mind. I was genuinely frightened. I live to tell the tale, and it was a decent haircut in the end, but I doubt I'll be going back.
Was it one of these new-fangled "Turkish" barbers that seem to be springing up like mushrooms?
A friend of mine gets his hair cut at a Turkish barber* in Ireland (where he lives - he doesn't make a special trip). He was telling us about not liking the bit of a haircut where 'they set fire to your ears'. We all looked at him in incomprehension, before his wife piped up 'No wonder your so reluctant to get your haircut'.
*as opposed to a barber who just happens to be Turkish. Round here practically everyone who cuts hair professionally appears to be from somewhere just beyond Bulgaria. No idea why. Presumably hair and the need for it to be cut is universal; it seems unlikely that a region would emerge with a specialism for it.
Just had a sub-optimal experience at a barbers I haven't been to before. For about 25 minutes the rather intense bloke cutting my hair worked in studied silence (fine by me, means he's concentrating) and then, apropos of nothing at all, he just barked out "How's your day going?" Despite being thrown by the abrupt change in atmosphere, I manage to mumble a "great thanks". At which point this guy who's been mute for nearly half an hour breaks into song ("That's the way aha aha I like it") and starts jigging around the chair. It's like he's all of a sudden exploded, and bear in mind he's holding a sharp pair of scissors. That horrid scene in Reservoir Dogs was coming to mind. I was genuinely frightened. I live to tell the tale, and it was a decent haircut in the end, but I doubt I'll be going back.
Was it one of these new-fangled "Turkish" barbers that seem to be springing up like mushrooms?
A friend of mine gets his hair cut at a Turkish barber* in Ireland (where he lives - he doesn't make a special trip). He was telling us about not liking the bit of a haircut where 'they set fire to your ears'. We all looked at him in incomprehension, before his wife piped up 'No wonder your so reluctant to get your haircut'.
*as opposed to a barber who just happens to be Turkish. Round here practically everyone who cuts hair professionally appears to be from somewhere just beyond Bulgaria. No idea why. Presumably hair and the need for it to be cut is universal; it seems unlikely that a region would emerge with a specialism for it.
Isn’t the flame/ear issue just a hygienic way of removing ear hairs and also slowing their re growth - apparently plucking hairs in the ear and nose can allow infections in so it makes sense for the more hirsute.
My predictions for Labour post the election are, assuming a win.
They will get a very easy first year and will remain significantly ahead in the polls. If things aren't improving going into year two, they will start to go backwards assuming the Tories don't eat themselves, otherwise it's very possible "sensible" is enough and the Tories lose more badly the second time.
I think we are in for 10 years of Labour Government but I've thought that since SKS was elected (originally I thought it would be Lab/Lib Dems then Labour alone).
Most radical things they will go I think are, Great British Energy, planning reform and HoL reform assuming they get to 10 years. PR I think is a possibility right at the end of a second term but won't be a priority.
For my own selfish reasons, I would like them to update planning to allow taller masts to be built and to allow masts to be built next to the railway. I would mandate 100% coverage of all lines by 2030 which shouldn't be difficult as Network Rail already achieved it, just force them to give up their assets.
It really does seem a coin toss as to whether, emboldened by the Tories’ abject defeat, we get a bold, brave, reforming Labour government, that uses its political capital to push through significant changes, whether initially welcomed or not, or on the other hand we get five years of Blairite timidity and Clintonite triangulation, scared to depart from the landmine plans the Tories bequeathed them and frightened to raise new money or upset vested interest, followed by who knows what….
I live in the US, on a non-immigrant visa. (That is, I'm not planning on staying in the US permanently.)
I own an apartment in London, where I am currently staying.
Camden Council is busy doing the electoral roll. Do I put my wife and me on it? Are we - British citizens - eligible to vote in the election next year?
I think you should if you plan to vote Labour. If not, hmmm, I'm really not sure of the rules, maybe best to play it safe and assume you're not eligible.
I'm in the Holborn and St Pancras constituency, so my vote could be the crucial difference between Keir Starmer getting 69.99% or instead cracking that psychologically important 70% barrier.
I personally know only two people who have contested Parliamentary elections. Both of them, quite separately and at different elections for different parties, contested Holborn & St Pancras. Both lost. The quality of my anecdata continues to amaze.
I've done three parliamentary elections - but none in Holborn & St Pancras.
On the substantive point for @rcs1000, email Camden Council - they will let you know if you are on the register, and if not will confirm if you are eligible to be on the register and send you the forms.
The big change in recent years is that you can only be on the register if it’s your primary residence.
Just had a sub-optimal experience at a barbers I haven't been to before. For about 25 minutes the rather intense bloke cutting my hair worked in studied silence (fine by me, means he's concentrating) and then, apropos of nothing at all, he just barked out "How's your day going?" Despite being thrown by the abrupt change in atmosphere, I manage to mumble a "great thanks". At which point this guy who's been mute for nearly half an hour breaks into song ("That's the way aha aha I like it") and starts jigging around the chair. It's like he's all of a sudden exploded, and bear in mind he's holding a sharp pair of scissors. That horrid scene in Reservoir Dogs was coming to mind. I was genuinely frightened. I live to tell the tale, and it was a decent haircut in the end, but I doubt I'll be going back.
Was it one of these new-fangled "Turkish" barbers that seem to be springing up like mushrooms?
Yes. a lot of them about. Restaurants too. Some people say they are just cleaning money, surely not
The Sun says Turkish drug dealers are teaming up with The Guardian’s favourite innovative businessman, Barking’s Hellbanianz
Just had a suboptimal experience at a barbers I haven't been to before. For about 25 minutes the rather intense bloke cutting my hair worked in studied silence (fine by me, means he's concentrating) and then, apropos of nothing at all, he just barked out "How's your day going?" Despite being thrown by the abrupt change in atmosphere, I manage to mumble a "great thanks". At which point this guy who's been mute for nearly half an hour breaks into song ("That's the way aha aha I like it") and starts jigging around the chair. It's like he's all of a sudden exploded, and bear in mind he's holding a sharp pair of scissors. That horrid scene in Reservoir Dogs was coming to mind. I was genuinely frightened. I live to tell the tale, and it was a decent haircut in the end, but I doubt I'll be going back.
My son just had his best experience at a barbers. Also his first experience, as he's previously had his hair cut with his grandparents (and mum, when hers needs doing) by a mobile hairdresser. He was quite taken by the big mirror to watch the action, the little mirror to show the back of the head in the big mirror and, particuarly, by the discovery of hair gel
25 minutes sounds a bit fancy - don't think mine takes more than about 10, normally. Were you having some highlights in? As for the sudden change - 25 minutes or so could be consistent with popping some LSD just before you arrived. Maybe thought he was in Reservoir Dogs himsef
It must be a day for barbers*. I also went today. Nothing bad happened, other than the sight of tumbling locks of grey hair covering the floor, but as always I got nervous when he got out the cut throat razor and started shaving around my ears.
Just one momentary impulse and my ear would be off - they must surely be troubled by the little voice in their heads saying “do it, do it”. It’s the same voice that tells you as a child to open the car door on the motorway.
Plan A clearly is 2nd May, for a whole stack of reasons.
I don't expect much recovery in the polls by March so the temptation to delay would be there. But to what end?
They must expect a kicking in the locals, so go beyond May and people really will punish those councillors up for reelection. And then there are less activists to campaign for the GE.
In my recent experience, the willingness of Tory councillors to campaign for Tory parliamentary candidates is somewhat limited. And a fair number of the few who would campaign would do so Spring or Autumn, win or lose. I don't think it should be (or will be) a significant factor in CCHQ's thinking.
It would provide a lot of data for “can’t win here” type bar charts.
People like to vote for winners not losers - they should consider that
Plus the inevitable recrimination when the results are poor wouldn’t be a good backdrop to a GE
I doubt it makes any difference. Remember Opposition turnout would also be up if the local elections were held on the same day as the general election not just Tory turnout. As the last time the District seats up next year were contested was in 2021 (which was a good year for the Tories when they comfortably won most votes and seats) they are going to lose council seats whether the local elections are on general election day or not given current polls.
If a general election is not held until the autumn the results of the May locals will long be forgotten by the media by then anyway.
Just had a sub-optimal experience at a barbers I haven't been to before. For about 25 minutes the rather intense bloke cutting my hair worked in studied silence (fine by me, means he's concentrating) and then, apropos of nothing at all, he just barked out "How's your day going?" Despite being thrown by the abrupt change in atmosphere, I manage to mumble a "great thanks". At which point this guy who's been mute for nearly half an hour breaks into song ("That's the way aha aha I like it") and starts jigging around the chair. It's like he's all of a sudden exploded, and bear in mind he's holding a sharp pair of scissors. That horrid scene in Reservoir Dogs was coming to mind. I was genuinely frightened. I live to tell the tale, and it was a decent haircut in the end, but I doubt I'll be going back.
Was it one of these new-fangled "Turkish" barbers that seem to be springing up like mushrooms?
Yes. a lot of them about. Restaurants too. Some people say they are just cleaning money, surely not
The Sun says Turkish drug dealers are teaming up with The Guardian’s favourite innovative businessman, Barking’s Hellbanianz
Plan A clearly is 2nd May, for a whole stack of reasons.
I don't expect much recovery in the polls by March so the temptation to delay would be there. But to what end?
They must expect a kicking in the locals, so go beyond May and people really will punish those councillors up for reelection. And then there are less activists to campaign for the GE.
In my recent experience, the willingness of Tory councillors to campaign for Tory parliamentary candidates is somewhat limited. And a fair number of the few who would campaign would do so Spring or Autumn, win or lose. I don't think it should be (or will be) a significant factor in CCHQ's thinking.
It would provide a lot of data for “can’t win here” type bar charts.
People like to vote for winners not losers - they should consider that
Plus the inevitable recrimination when the results are poor wouldn’t be a good backdrop to a GE
I doubt it makes any difference. Remember Opposition turnout would also be up if the local elections were held on the same day as the general election not just Tory turnout. As the last time the District seats up next year were contested was in 2021 (which was a good year for the Tories when they comfortably won most votes and seats) they are going to lose council seats whether the local elections are on general election day or not given current polls.
If a general election is not held until the autumn the results of the May locals will long be forgotten by the media by then anyway.
Plus of course the LDs normally do better locally than nationally, so if they start pushing out leaflets with 'Labour can't win here' based on good results in the 2024 May locals in marginal Tory parliamentary seats Labour are targeting then that could split the opposition vote
I live in the US, on a non-immigrant visa. (That is, I'm not planning on staying in the US permanently.)
I own an apartment in London, where I am currently staying.
Camden Council is busy doing the electoral roll. Do I put my wife and me on it? Are we - British citizens - eligible to vote in the election next year?
Contra the skepticism on the prior thread, I can happily report that J Sheekeys (after a post-pandemic wobble) is back to its oyster shucking best
The Jersey natives are incredible: morsels of intense oceanic sweetness
And the fruits de mer for one is spiffingly generous (ie. enough for two, easily). With pukka chips. And a whole load of Xmas cheer in central London taaaaan, which is ebullient and full of life. Charlotte St in particular seems entirely healed from Covid now, indeed better than ever, and is rocking the festive season
Absolutely mental, the bastards will not get a penny from me, I will just stick more in pension and get tax relief and they will miss out on the VAT, spending etc. Morons could not run a bath
Big up AverageNinja for the Mean Girls reference. Probably my favourite film of the last twenty years. Also honourable mention to TimS for introducing Slay - my 11yo daughter's favourite word - to PB. Perhaps this is the defining word of the SE London female year 6 demographic. I wonder if his daughter also worships Zendaya?
I checked and she's never heard of Zendaya. But now she has. Clearly not as slay as your girl.
Ha my girl is obsessed with her. She thinks that Tom Holland is punching well above his weight.
Contra the skepticism on the prior thread, I can happily report that J Sheekeys (after a post-pandemic wobble) is back to its oyster shucking best
The Jersey natives are incredible: morsels of intense oceanic sweetness
And the fruits de mer for one is spiffingly generous (ie. enough for two, easily). With pukka chips. And a whole load of Xmas cheer in central London taaaaan, which is ebullient and full of life. Charlotte St in particular seems entirely healed from Covid now, indeed better than ever, and is rocking the festive season
9/10
“ The Jersey natives are incredible: morsels of intense oceanic sweetness” the amount of times a girl has said that about me to her friends…
Absolutely mental, the bastards will not get a penny from me, I will just stick more in pension and get tax relief and they will miss out on the VAT, spending etc. Morons could not run a bath
My lunching friend (ex SAS) insisted I stop being a pussy about WHELKS and try one. So I did. I discovered that if you douse them with Tabasco they are fucking delicious
Contra the skepticism on the prior thread, I can happily report that J Sheekeys (after a post-pandemic wobble) is back to its oyster shucking best
The Jersey natives are incredible: morsels of intense oceanic sweetness
And the fruits de mer for one is spiffingly generous (ie. enough for two, easily). With pukka chips. And a whole load of Xmas cheer in central London taaaaan, which is ebullient and full of life. Charlotte St in particular seems entirely healed from Covid now, indeed better than ever, and is rocking the festive season
9/10
My ex-Boss was a big fan of J Sheekeys. He took me there. After lunch, by mid-afternoon, I was performing an intestinal pyrotechnic show in the gents so loud people in the corridor, probably the street, could hear. No one at that firm ever looked at me the same way again. I spent most of the journey home on the floor of the train toilet praying for death’s merciful release.
My predictions for Labour post the election are, assuming a win.
They will get a very easy first year and will remain significantly ahead in the polls. If things aren't improving going into year two, they will start to go backwards assuming the Tories don't eat themselves, otherwise it's very possible "sensible" is enough and the Tories lose more badly the second time.
I think we are in for 10 years of Labour Government but I've thought that since SKS was elected (originally I thought it would be Lab/Lib Dems then Labour alone).
Most radical things they will go I think are, Great British Energy, planning reform and HoL reform assuming they get to 10 years. PR I think is a possibility right at the end of a second term but won't be a priority.
For my own selfish reasons, I would like them to update planning to allow taller masts to be built and to allow masts to be built next to the railway. I would mandate 100% coverage of all lines by 2030 which shouldn't be difficult as Network Rail already achieved it, just force them to give up their assets.
It really does seem a coin toss as to whether, emboldened by the Tories’ abject defeat, we get a bold, brave, reforming Labour government, that uses its political capital to push through significant changes, whether initially welcomed or not, or on the other hand we get five years of Blairite timidity and Clintonite triangulation, scared to depart from the landmine plans the Tories bequeathed them and frightened to raise new money or upset vested interest, followed by who knows what….
I really don't want to find out what 'significant changes, whether initially welcomed or not' would form your brilliant plan for a brave new Britain. Ignorance is definitely bliss in this instance.
Absolutely mental, the bastards will not get a penny from me, I will just stick more in pension and get tax relief and they will miss out on the VAT, spending etc. Morons could not run a bath
Is that the sound of the Laffer Curve… laffing?
Thing is, most of the time the laffer curve is (proven) rubbish. But when you have a devolved administration that’s in the same country as and right next door to - and defines itself by its difference to - another regime where the rate is very visibly lower, it does rather focus the mind.
We see the same in the US with state taxes. But this is good. We need experimentation. If higher taxes mean better services then there’s a trade off for people to consider.
Absolutely mental, the bastards will not get a penny from me, I will just stick more in pension and get tax relief and they will miss out on the VAT, spending etc. Morons could not run a bath
Is that the sound of the Laffer Curve… laffing?
Thing is, most of the time the laffer curve is (proven) rubbish. But when you have a devolved administration that’s in the same country as and right next door to - and defines itself by its difference to - another regime where the rate is very visibly lower, it does rather focus the mind.
We see the same in the US with state taxes. But this is good. We need experimentation. If higher taxes mean better services then there’s a trade off for people to consider.
You won't have any issue presenting that proof in simple and assimilable terms I take it.
Contra the skepticism on the prior thread, I can happily report that J Sheekeys (after a post-pandemic wobble) is back to its oyster shucking best
The Jersey natives are incredible: morsels of intense oceanic sweetness
And the fruits de mer for one is spiffingly generous (ie. enough for two, easily). With pukka chips. And a whole load of Xmas cheer in central London taaaaan, which is ebullient and full of life. Charlotte St in particular seems entirely healed from Covid now, indeed better than ever, and is rocking the festive season
9/10
My ex-Boss was a big fan of J Sheekeys. He took me there. After lunch, by mid-afternoon, I was performing an intestinal pyrotechnic show in the gents so loud people in the corridor, probably the street, could hear. No one at that firm ever looked at me the same way again. I spent most of the journey home on the floor of the train toilet praying for death’s merciful release.
The wine was good though, IIRC. So 5/10.
The business has of course since gone full on MOR chainy with its Ivy outlets, but they do still do a decent menu.
Having said that the worst, grittiest and most rubbery razor clam I’ve ever eaten was at J Sheekeys.
Contra the skepticism on the prior thread, I can happily report that J Sheekeys (after a post-pandemic wobble) is back to its oyster shucking best
The Jersey natives are incredible: morsels of intense oceanic sweetness
And the fruits de mer for one is spiffingly generous (ie. enough for two, easily). With pukka chips. And a whole load of Xmas cheer in central London taaaaan, which is ebullient and full of life. Charlotte St in particular seems entirely healed from Covid now, indeed better than ever, and is rocking the festive season
9/10
My ex-Boss was a big fan of J Sheekeys. He took me there. After lunch, by mid-afternoon, I was performing an intestinal pyrotechnic show in the gents so loud people in the corridor, probably the street, could hear. No one at that firm ever looked at me the same way again. I spent most of the journey home on the floor of the train toilet praying for death’s merciful release.
The wine was good though, IIRC. So 5/10.
Sheekey's is the equal second best oyster bar in London. alongside Bentleys
Scott's is first
Randall and Aubin is probably fourth, Wright Brothers fifth, or Fishworks maybe?
Sheeks has the best atmos especially around Xmas, coz of Soho, Covent Garden and theatreland
Scott's is supreme for absolutely food quality, however
Absolutely mental, the bastards will not get a penny from me, I will just stick more in pension and get tax relief and they will miss out on the VAT, spending etc. Morons could not run a bath
Is that the sound of the Laffer Curve… laffing?
Thing is, most of the time the laffer curve is (proven) rubbish. But when you have a devolved administration that’s in the same country as and right next door to - and defines itself by its difference to - another regime where the rate is very visibly lower, it does rather focus the mind.
We see the same in the US with state taxes. But this is good. We need experimentation. If higher taxes mean better services then there’s a trade off for people to consider.
You won't have any issue presenting that proof in simple and assimilable terms I take it.
Laffer curve aside there’s definitely an iron rule - let’s call it the Lucky Guy curve - that states that when TimS posts something at a time of day LuckyGuy is online, it will be met within seconds by a withering riposte. Even when the original post is actually sympathetic to his world view.
The original claim was made based on zero actual data. Subsequent analysis shows what is common sense: that higher tax rates raise more tax, unless they go completely bonkers and lead to behavioural change (usually emigration).
Tax policy is complicated and there are no simple rules that can explain taxpayer behaviour. If there were we’d long ago have solved our fiscal problems.
Absolutely mental, the bastards will not get a penny from me, I will just stick more in pension and get tax relief and they will miss out on the VAT, spending etc. Morons could not run a bath
Is that the sound of the Laffer Curve… laffing?
Thing is, most of the time the laffer curve is (proven) rubbish. But when you have a devolved administration that’s in the same country as and right next door to - and defines itself by its difference to - another regime where the rate is very visibly lower, it does rather focus the mind.
We see the same in the US with state taxes. But this is good. We need experimentation. If higher taxes mean better services then there’s a trade off for people to consider.
You won't have any issue presenting that proof in simple and assimilable terms I take it.
Laffer curve aside there’s definitely an iron rule - let’s call it the Lucky Guy curve - that states that when TimS posts something at a time of day LuckyGuy is online, it will be met within seconds by a withering riposte. Even when the original post is actually sympathetic to his world view.
The original claim was made based on zero actual data. Subsequent analysis shows what is common sense: that higher tax rates raise more tax, unless they go completely bonkers and lead to behavioural change (usually emigration).
Tax policy is complicated and there are no simple rules that can explain taxpayer behaviour. If there were we’d long ago have solved our fiscal problems.
I'm very flattered you classified my response as withering; I'd have said it was more weary.
Contra the skepticism on the prior thread, I can happily report that J Sheekeys (after a post-pandemic wobble) is back to its oyster shucking best
The Jersey natives are incredible: morsels of intense oceanic sweetness
And the fruits de mer for one is spiffingly generous (ie. enough for two, easily). With pukka chips. And a whole load of Xmas cheer in central London taaaaan, which is ebullient and full of life. Charlotte St in particular seems entirely healed from Covid now, indeed better than ever, and is rocking the festive season
9/10
My ex-Boss was a big fan of J Sheekeys. He took me there. After lunch, by mid-afternoon, I was performing an intestinal pyrotechnic show in the gents so loud people in the corridor, probably the street, could hear. No one at that firm ever looked at me the same way again. I spent most of the journey home on the floor of the train toilet praying for death’s merciful release.
The wine was good though, IIRC. So 5/10.
Sheekey's is the equal second best oyster bar in London. alongside Bentleys
Scott's is first
Randall and Aubin is probably fourth, Wright Brothers fifth, or Fishworks maybe?
Sheeks has the best atmos especially around Xmas, coz of Soho, Covent Garden and theatreland
Scott's is supreme for absolutely food quality, however
Contra the skepticism on the prior thread, I can happily report that J Sheekeys (after a post-pandemic wobble) is back to its oyster shucking best
The Jersey natives are incredible: morsels of intense oceanic sweetness
And the fruits de mer for one is spiffingly generous (ie. enough for two, easily). With pukka chips. And a whole load of Xmas cheer in central London taaaaan, which is ebullient and full of life. Charlotte St in particular seems entirely healed from Covid now, indeed better than ever, and is rocking the festive season
9/10
My ex-Boss was a big fan of J Sheekeys. He took me there. After lunch, by mid-afternoon, I was performing an intestinal pyrotechnic show in the gents so loud people in the corridor, probably the street, could hear. No one at that firm ever looked at me the same way again. I spent most of the journey home on the floor of the train toilet praying for death’s merciful release.
The wine was good though, IIRC. So 5/10.
Sheekey's is the equal second best oyster bar in London. alongside Bentleys
Scott's is first
Randall and Aubin is probably fourth, Wright Brothers fifth, or Fishworks maybe?
Sheeks has the best atmos especially around Xmas, coz of Soho, Covent Garden and theatreland
Scott's is supreme for absolutely food quality, however
I acted for the head chef of Bentleys when it was owned by this bloke -
A fucking mental piece of litigation, from which I barely escaped with my career, let alone my sanity. It wasn’t a very good restaurant then, as my client testified, but a great place to pick up hookers.
Absolutely mental, the bastards will not get a penny from me, I will just stick more in pension and get tax relief and they will miss out on the VAT, spending etc. Morons could not run a bath
Is that the sound of the Laffer Curve… laffing?
Thing is, most of the time the laffer curve is (proven) rubbish. But when you have a devolved administration that’s in the same country as and right next door to - and defines itself by its difference to - another regime where the rate is very visibly lower, it does rather focus the mind.
We see the same in the US with state taxes. But this is good. We need experimentation. If higher taxes mean better services then there’s a trade off for people to consider.
You won't have any issue presenting that proof in simple and assimilable terms I take it.
Laffer curve aside there’s definitely an iron rule - let’s call it the Lucky Guy curve - that states that when TimS posts something at a time of day LuckyGuy is online, it will be met within seconds by a withering riposte. Even when the original post is actually sympathetic to his world view.
The original claim was made based on zero actual data. Subsequent analysis shows what is common sense: that higher tax rates raise more tax, unless they go completely bonkers and lead to behavioural change (usually emigration).
Tax policy is complicated and there are no simple rules that can explain taxpayer behaviour. If there were we’d long ago have solved our fiscal problems.
I'm very flattered you classified my response as withering; I'd have said it was more weary.
Because you and Liz are right and nobody else understands?
Contra the skepticism on the prior thread, I can happily report that J Sheekeys (after a post-pandemic wobble) is back to its oyster shucking best
The Jersey natives are incredible: morsels of intense oceanic sweetness
And the fruits de mer for one is spiffingly generous (ie. enough for two, easily). With pukka chips. And a whole load of Xmas cheer in central London taaaaan, which is ebullient and full of life. Charlotte St in particular seems entirely healed from Covid now, indeed better than ever, and is rocking the festive season
9/10
My ex-Boss was a big fan of J Sheekeys. He took me there. After lunch, by mid-afternoon, I was performing an intestinal pyrotechnic show in the gents so loud people in the corridor, probably the street, could hear. No one at that firm ever looked at me the same way again. I spent most of the journey home on the floor of the train toilet praying for death’s merciful release.
The wine was good though, IIRC. So 5/10.
Sheekey's is the equal second best oyster bar in London. alongside Bentleys
Scott's is first
Randall and Aubin is probably fourth, Wright Brothers fifth, or Fishworks maybe?
Sheeks has the best atmos especially around Xmas, coz of Soho, Covent Garden and theatreland
Scott's is supreme for absolutely food quality, however
I acted for the head chef of Bentleys when it was owned by this bloke -
A fucking mental piece of litigation, from which I barely escaped with my career, let alone my sanity. It wasn’t a very good restaurant then, as my client testified, but a great place to pick up hookers.
Yes, Bentley's is old and was crap for a long time, but it has been saved by Richard Corrigan. It's one of my favourite restaurants (not just oyster houses) in London
It is one of those places which is supremely comforting, you know you are going to be fed superbly yet simply, there is bustle and shucking to be seen, there is people watching to be done (Mayfair hookers still patrol), there will be a weird couple of spies in the corner banquette, you can watch the idiots from outside London go to the restaurant (the boring bit), the wine flows and flows, and then you fall out into the opulence of Mayfair
Love it
Jay Rayner nails it here. It is indeed the kind of place I daydreamed of, during lockdown
My predictions for Labour post the election are, assuming a win.
They will get a very easy first year and will remain significantly ahead in the polls. If things aren't improving going into year two, they will start to go backwards assuming the Tories don't eat themselves, otherwise it's very possible "sensible" is enough and the Tories lose more badly the second time.
I think we are in for 10 years of Labour Government but I've thought that since SKS was elected (originally I thought it would be Lab/Lib Dems then Labour alone).
Most radical things they will go I think are, Great British Energy, planning reform and HoL reform assuming they get to 10 years. PR I think is a possibility right at the end of a second term but won't be a priority.
For my own selfish reasons, I would like them to update planning to allow taller masts to be built and to allow masts to be built next to the railway. I would mandate 100% coverage of all lines by 2030 which shouldn't be difficult as Network Rail already achieved it, just force them to give up their assets.
I think Starmer's plans to reduce British electricity bills by getting undocumented migrants to spend time in giant hamster wheels is absolutely brilliant. The more boats there are, the lower your bills.
I prefer my plan to use thermonuclear weapons in an internal combustion engine system.
Aside from providing the power to run the country it offers a small strategic advantage - imagine facing a nation that nukes *itself* once every 60 seconds or so.
I did suggest SMRs to replace the coal fired boilers on old steam engines, but I think that’s excessive.
For those who are politically involved and interested, the Prime Minister has effectively fired the gun for the start of the 2024 General Election campaign.
We can probably assume a giveaway Budget in March as an overt attempt to bribe the voters with their own money irrespective of whether such an approach is what the country wants or needs.
Sunak will probably not to talk too much about the Government's record - instead, it'll be the usual old schtick of a "better tomorrow" and the more insidious "don't let Labour ruin it". Whether or not the likes of Farage and Tice play a decisive role or whether they act primarily as spoilers is one of many questions to be answered.
I'm also sure there will be contradictory messages and plenty of misinformation about the actual date. If the polls continue to look bad, is Sunak going to hope, as did Major, a long campaign will reveal fractures on the Labour side while if the polls do start to narrow will we see a short, sharp camapign to build on that momentum?
Absolutely mental, the bastards will not get a penny from me, I will just stick more in pension and get tax relief and they will miss out on the VAT, spending etc. Morons could not run a bath
Is that the sound of the Laffer Curve… laffing?
Thing is, most of the time the laffer curve is (proven) rubbish. But when you have a devolved administration that’s in the same country as and right next door to - and defines itself by its difference to - another regime where the rate is very visibly lower, it does rather focus the mind.
We see the same in the US with state taxes. But this is good. We need experimentation. If higher taxes mean better services then there’s a trade off for people to consider.
You won't have any issue presenting that proof in simple and assimilable terms I take it.
Laffer curve aside there’s definitely an iron rule - let’s call it the Lucky Guy curve - that states that when TimS posts something at a time of day LuckyGuy is online, it will be met within seconds by a withering riposte. Even when the original post is actually sympathetic to his world view.
The original claim was made based on zero actual data. Subsequent analysis shows what is common sense: that higher tax rates raise more tax, unless they go completely bonkers and lead to behavioural change (usually emigration).
Tax policy is complicated and there are no simple rules that can explain taxpayer behaviour. If there were we’d long ago have solved our fiscal problems.
I'm very flattered you classified my response as withering; I'd have said it was more weary.
Because you and Liz are right and nobody else understands?
I suppose being patronisingly dismissed as as a halfwit Liz Truss groupie is more Lucky Guy curve fun.
My predictions for Labour post the election are, assuming a win.
They will get a very easy first year and will remain significantly ahead in the polls. If things aren't improving going into year two, they will start to go backwards assuming the Tories don't eat themselves, otherwise it's very possible "sensible" is enough and the Tories lose more badly the second time.
I think we are in for 10 years of Labour Government but I've thought that since SKS was elected (originally I thought it would be Lab/Lib Dems then Labour alone).
Most radical things they will go I think are, Great British Energy, planning reform and HoL reform assuming they get to 10 years. PR I think is a possibility right at the end of a second term but won't be a priority.
For my own selfish reasons, I would like them to update planning to allow taller masts to be built and to allow masts to be built next to the railway. I would mandate 100% coverage of all lines by 2030 which shouldn't be difficult as Network Rail already achieved it, just force them to give up their assets.
I think Starmer's plans to reduce British electricity bills by getting undocumented migrants to spend time in giant hamster wheels is absolutely brilliant. The more boats there are, the lower your bills.
I prefer my plan to use thermonuclear weapons in an internal combustion engine system.
Aside from providing the power to run the country it offers a small strategic advantage - imagine facing a nation that nukes *itself* once every 60 seconds or so.
I did suggest SMRs to replace the coal fired boilers on old steam engines, but I think that’s excessive.
I see Average Ninja has failed to specify the function of the masts beside the railway. They can't be railway signals as those are "poles". Drying laundry perhaps?
If they are for the telegraph then the Post Office and assorted odds and sods of railway companies had terrible trouble agreeing anything about a centuiry and a half ago.
Just had a suboptimal experience at a barbers I haven't been to before. For about 25 minutes the rather intense bloke cutting my hair worked in studied silence (fine by me, means he's concentrating) and then, apropos of nothing at all, he just barked out "How's your day going?" Despite being thrown by the abrupt change in atmosphere, I manage to mumble a "great thanks". At which point this guy who's been mute for nearly half an hour breaks into song ("That's the way aha aha I like it") and starts jigging around the chair. It's like he's all of a sudden exploded, and bear in mind he's holding a sharp pair of scissors. That horrid scene in Reservoir Dogs was coming to mind. I was genuinely frightened. I live to tell the tale, and it was a decent haircut in the end, but I doubt I'll be going back.
My son just had his best experience at a barbers. Also his first experience, as he's previously had his hair cut with his grandparents (and mum, when hers needs doing) by a mobile hairdresser. He was quite taken by the big mirror to watch the action, the little mirror to show the back of the head in the big mirror and, particuarly, by the discovery of hair gel
25 minutes sounds a bit fancy - don't think mine takes more than about 10, normally. Were you having some highlights in? As for the sudden change - 25 minutes or so could be consistent with popping some LSD just before you arrived. Maybe thought he was in Reservoir Dogs himsef
It must be a day for barbers*. I also went today. Nothing bad happened, other than the sight of tumbling locks of grey hair covering the floor, but as always I got nervous when he got out the cut throat razor and started shaving around my ears.
Just one momentary impulse and my ear would be off - they must surely be troubled by the little voice in their heads saying “do it, do it”. It’s the same voice that tells you as a child to open the car door on the motorway.
*in this instance Turkish Cypriot owned.
Ah, but the latter is solved by child locks. How do you stop the Sweeney Todds?
(Aside: there's a George Ezra song in which he sings the line "You said you needed a haircut, I recommended Mr Todd" which my kids - big George fans - find hilarious as to them 'Mr Todd' is a fox in Peter Rabbit. I have not enlightened them)
My predictions for Labour post the election are, assuming a win.
They will get a very easy first year and will remain significantly ahead in the polls. If things aren't improving going into year two, they will start to go backwards assuming the Tories don't eat themselves, otherwise it's very possible "sensible" is enough and the Tories lose more badly the second time.
I think we are in for 10 years of Labour Government but I've thought that since SKS was elected (originally I thought it would be Lab/Lib Dems then Labour alone).
Most radical things they will go I think are, Great British Energy, planning reform and HoL reform assuming they get to 10 years. PR I think is a possibility right at the end of a second term but won't be a priority.
For my own selfish reasons, I would like them to update planning to allow taller masts to be built and to allow masts to be built next to the railway. I would mandate 100% coverage of all lines by 2030 which shouldn't be difficult as Network Rail already achieved it, just force them to give up their assets.
I think Starmer's plans to reduce British electricity bills by getting undocumented migrants to spend time in giant hamster wheels is absolutely brilliant. The more boats there are, the lower your bills.
I prefer my plan to use thermonuclear weapons in an internal combustion engine system.
Aside from providing the power to run the country it offers a small strategic advantage - imagine facing a nation that nukes *itself* once every 60 seconds or so.
I did suggest SMRs to replace the coal fired boilers on old steam engines, but I think that’s excessive.
The best bit is that if you line the combustion chamber with the right materials, you can make tritium. By the ton.
Absolutely mental, the bastards will not get a penny from me, I will just stick more in pension and get tax relief and they will miss out on the VAT, spending etc. Morons could not run a bath
Is that the sound of the Laffer Curve… laffing?
Thing is, most of the time the laffer curve is (proven) rubbish. But when you have a devolved administration that’s in the same country as and right next door to - and defines itself by its difference to - another regime where the rate is very visibly lower, it does rather focus the mind.
We see the same in the US with state taxes. But this is good. We need experimentation. If higher taxes mean better services then there’s a trade off for people to consider.
You won't have any issue presenting that proof in simple and assimilable terms I take it.
Laffer curve aside there’s definitely an iron rule - let’s call it the Lucky Guy curve - that states that when TimS posts something at a time of day LuckyGuy is online, it will be met within seconds by a withering riposte. Even when the original post is actually sympathetic to his world view.
The original claim was made based on zero actual data. Subsequent analysis shows what is common sense: that higher tax rates raise more tax, unless they go completely bonkers and lead to behavioural change (usually emigration).
Tax policy is complicated and there are no simple rules that can explain taxpayer behaviour. If there were we’d long ago have solved our fiscal problems.
I'm very flattered you classified my response as withering; I'd have said it was more weary.
Because you and Liz are right and nobody else understands?
I suppose being patronisingly dismissed as as a halfwit Liz Truss groupie is more Lucky Guy curve fun.
No true follower of Liz Truss could ever be thought of as a halfwit by anyone who understands THE PLAN
Just had a sub-optimal experience at a barbers I haven't been to before. For about 25 minutes the rather intense bloke cutting my hair worked in studied silence (fine by me, means he's concentrating) and then, apropos of nothing at all, he just barked out "How's your day going?" Despite being thrown by the abrupt change in atmosphere, I manage to mumble a "great thanks". At which point this guy who's been mute for nearly half an hour breaks into song ("That's the way aha aha I like it") and starts jigging around the chair. It's like he's all of a sudden exploded, and bear in mind he's holding a sharp pair of scissors. That horrid scene in Reservoir Dogs was coming to mind. I was genuinely frightened. I live to tell the tale, and it was a decent haircut in the end, but I doubt I'll be going back.
Was it one of these new-fangled "Turkish" barbers that seem to be springing up like mushrooms?
A friend of mine gets his hair cut at a Turkish barber* in Ireland (where he lives - he doesn't make a special trip). He was telling us about not liking the bit of a haircut where 'they set fire to your ears'. We all looked at him in incomprehension, before his wife piped up 'No wonder your so reluctant to get your haircut'.
*as opposed to a barber who just happens to be Turkish. Round here practically everyone who cuts hair professionally appears to be from somewhere just beyond Bulgaria. No idea why. Presumably hair and the need for it to be cut is universal; it seems unlikely that a region would emerge with a specialism for it.
The Jack the Clipper chain in London was always my go-to, owned by the same bloke who ran the Ted Baker Grooming Room franchise. Got chatting to him once, claimed to recruit the best from Turkey - and to be fair they do seem to take grooming very seriously over there, have an apprentice system etc. Always very good cuts for the money.
But yes, more recently I have also noticed the explosion of "Turkish" shops in the provinces, and I think the jury is very much out on how many of the staff have set foot in Turkey. And no, I wouldn't be surprised if there was dodgy business afoot. My current one is highly variable, but is "only" £20 a go so is working at the moment. The flaming of the ears is excellent, highly recommended but I wouldn't be brave enough to try at home.
Absolutely mental, the bastards will not get a penny from me, I will just stick more in pension and get tax relief and they will miss out on the VAT, spending etc. Morons could not run a bath
Is that the sound of the Laffer Curve… laffing?
Thing is, most of the time the laffer curve is (proven) rubbish. But when you have a devolved administration that’s in the same country as and right next door to - and defines itself by its difference to - another regime where the rate is very visibly lower, it does rather focus the mind.
We see the same in the US with state taxes. But this is good. We need experimentation. If higher taxes mean better services then there’s a trade off for people to consider.
You won't have any issue presenting that proof in simple and assimilable terms I take it.
Laffer curve aside there’s definitely an iron rule - let’s call it the Lucky Guy curve - that states that when TimS posts something at a time of day LuckyGuy is online, it will be met within seconds by a withering riposte. Even when the original post is actually sympathetic to his world view.
The original claim was made based on zero actual data. Subsequent analysis shows what is common sense: that higher tax rates raise more tax, unless they go completely bonkers and lead to behavioural change (usually emigration).
Tax policy is complicated and there are no simple rules that can explain taxpayer behaviour. If there were we’d long ago have solved our fiscal problems.
I'm very flattered you classified my response as withering; I'd have said it was more weary.
Because you and Liz are right and nobody else understands?
I suppose being patronisingly dismissed as as a halfwit Liz Truss groupie is more Lucky Guy curve fun.
No true follower of Liz Truss could ever be thought of as a halfwit by anyone who understands THE PLAN
You know... You know what I've noticed? Nobody panics when things go "according to plan." Even if the plan is horrifying! If, tomorrow, I tell the press that, like, a gang banger will get shot, or a truckload of soldiers will be blown up, nobody panics, because it's all "part of the plan".
Tonight I'm cooking myself some Lebanese food; a baked kibbeh with onion
I got the recipe from a lovely book my sister bought me for Christmas called Saffron In The Souks
It's a really simple recipe. It's like like an upside down onion and meat cake with allspice
You fry thinly sliced onions in olive oil with allspice. Once they start to brown take off the heat and add toasted pinenuts. Liberally line a cake tin with this mixture
Absolutely thoroughly rinse bulgur wheat then drain and dry; then blend with lamb mince and allspice. Make this mixture into the thinnest layer you can that covers all of the onions but doesn't quite reach the edge
Bake at 200C for 25-30 minutes
I can provide rough numbers for amounts of things if anyone wants them
Absolutely mental, the bastards will not get a penny from me, I will just stick more in pension and get tax relief and they will miss out on the VAT, spending etc. Morons could not run a bath
Is that the sound of the Laffer Curve… laffing?
Thing is, most of the time the laffer curve is (proven) rubbish. But when you have a devolved administration that’s in the same country as and right next door to - and defines itself by its difference to - another regime where the rate is very visibly lower, it does rather focus the mind.
We see the same in the US with state taxes. But this is good. We need experimentation. If higher taxes mean better services then there’s a trade off for people to consider.
You won't have any issue presenting that proof in simple and assimilable terms I take it.
Laffer curve aside there’s definitely an iron rule - let’s call it the Lucky Guy curve - that states that when TimS posts something at a time of day LuckyGuy is online, it will be met within seconds by a withering riposte. Even when the original post is actually sympathetic to his world view.
The original claim was made based on zero actual data. Subsequent analysis shows what is common sense: that higher tax rates raise more tax, unless they go completely bonkers and lead to behavioural change (usually emigration).
Tax policy is complicated and there are no simple rules that can explain taxpayer behaviour. If there were we’d long ago have solved our fiscal problems.
I'm very flattered you classified my response as withering; I'd have said it was more weary.
Because you and Liz are right and nobody else understands?
I suppose being patronisingly dismissed as as a halfwit Liz Truss groupie is more Lucky Guy curve fun.
For what it's worth, plenty of PBer have started picking up on your "Sunak must go!" months after you began demanding it, like Cato the Elder calling for the destruction of Carthage.
Contra the skepticism on the prior thread, I can happily report that J Sheekeys (after a post-pandemic wobble) is back to its oyster shucking best
The Jersey natives are incredible: morsels of intense oceanic sweetness
And the fruits de mer for one is spiffingly generous (ie. enough for two, easily). With pukka chips. And a whole load of Xmas cheer in central London taaaaan, which is ebullient and full of life. Charlotte St in particular seems entirely healed from Covid now, indeed better than ever, and is rocking the festive season
9/10
My ex-Boss was a big fan of J Sheekeys. He took me there. After lunch, by mid-afternoon, I was performing an intestinal pyrotechnic show in the gents so loud people in the corridor, probably the street, could hear. No one at that firm ever looked at me the same way again. I spent most of the journey home on the floor of the train toilet praying for death’s merciful release.
The wine was good though, IIRC. So 5/10.
Sheekey's is the equal second best oyster bar in London. alongside Bentleys
Scott's is first
Randall and Aubin is probably fourth, Wright Brothers fifth, or Fishworks maybe?
Sheeks has the best atmos especially around Xmas, coz of Soho, Covent Garden and theatreland
Scott's is supreme for absolutely food quality, however
I acted for the head chef of Bentleys when it was owned by this bloke -
A fucking mental piece of litigation, from which I barely escaped with my career, let alone my sanity. It wasn’t a very good restaurant then, as my client testified, but a great place to pick up hookers.
Tonight I'm cooking myself some Lebanese food; a baked kibbeh with onion
I got the recipe from a lovely book my sister bought me for Christmas called Saffron In The Souks
It's a really simple recipe. It's like like an upside down onion and meat cake with allspice
You fry thinly sliced onions in olive oil with allspice. Once they start to brown take off the heat and add toasted pinenuts. Liberally line a cake tin with this mixture
Absolutely thoroughly rinse bulgur wheat then drain and dry; then blend with lamb mince and allspice. Make this mixture into the thinnest layer you can that covers all of the onions but doesn't quite reach the edge
Bake at 200C for 25-30 minutes
I can provide rough numbers for amounts of things if anyone wants them
Can't be doing with Lebanese food, soz. Likewise all Mid east food. Ottolenghi's food generally makes me puke
Spice with nuts with fruit with rice with fish with lamb with UGH
Too much. And fuck those little flecks of pomegranates, bleh
Contra the skepticism on the prior thread, I can happily report that J Sheekeys (after a post-pandemic wobble) is back to its oyster shucking best
The Jersey natives are incredible: morsels of intense oceanic sweetness
And the fruits de mer for one is spiffingly generous (ie. enough for two, easily). With pukka chips. And a whole load of Xmas cheer in central London taaaaan, which is ebullient and full of life. Charlotte St in particular seems entirely healed from Covid now, indeed better than ever, and is rocking the festive season
9/10
My ex-Boss was a big fan of J Sheekeys. He took me there. After lunch, by mid-afternoon, I was performing an intestinal pyrotechnic show in the gents so loud people in the corridor, probably the street, could hear. No one at that firm ever looked at me the same way again. I spent most of the journey home on the floor of the train toilet praying for death’s merciful release.
The wine was good though, IIRC. So 5/10.
Sheekey's is the equal second best oyster bar in London. alongside Bentleys
Scott's is first
Randall and Aubin is probably fourth, Wright Brothers fifth, or Fishworks maybe?
Sheeks has the best atmos especially around Xmas, coz of Soho, Covent Garden and theatreland
Scott's is supreme for absolutely food quality, however
I acted for the head chef of Bentleys when it was owned by this bloke -
A fucking mental piece of litigation, from which I barely escaped with my career, let alone my sanity. It wasn’t a very good restaurant then, as my client testified, but a great place to pick up hookers.
SO did you receive discount(s)?
I was suing the place. I’m not sure I’d be allowed in even now!
That said I had some jolly nice oysters at the Red Lion and Sun, a gastropub in Highgate, yesterday
You can find oyster quality in odd places, but the more peripheral tend to be more variable (and you do NOT want variablity in oysters)
Your right I do not want variability in my oysters. I want no oysters.
Can't trust a man who doesn't love oysters. Sorry. It is the ultimate test of masculine soundness
It means you have overcome your natural but childish aversion to something that looks like donkey phlegm in an ashtray, and you have thought: I can do this. And you've girded your loins and you've tipped back your half shell and you've slurped it all up and then you've realised OMFG they're fantastic!!! And a lifelong love is born: because you were brave
My predictions for Labour post the election are, assuming a win.
They will get a very easy first year and will remain significantly ahead in the polls. If things aren't improving going into year two, they will start to go backwards assuming the Tories don't eat themselves, otherwise it's very possible "sensible" is enough and the Tories lose more badly the second time.
I think we are in for 10 years of Labour Government but I've thought that since SKS was elected (originally I thought it would be Lab/Lib Dems then Labour alone).
Most radical things they will go I think are, Great British Energy, planning reform and HoL reform assuming they get to 10 years. PR I think is a possibility right at the end of a second term but won't be a priority.
For my own selfish reasons, I would like them to update planning to allow taller masts to be built and to allow masts to be built next to the railway. I would mandate 100% coverage of all lines by 2030 which shouldn't be difficult as Network Rail already achieved it, just force them to give up their assets.
I think Starmer's plans to reduce British electricity bills by getting undocumented migrants to spend time in giant hamster wheels is absolutely brilliant. The more boats there are, the lower your bills.
I prefer my plan to use thermonuclear weapons in an internal combustion engine system.
Aside from providing the power to run the country it offers a small strategic advantage - imagine facing a nation that nukes *itself* once every 60 seconds or so.
Tonight I'm cooking myself some Lebanese food; a baked kibbeh with onion
I got the recipe from a lovely book my sister bought me for Christmas called Saffron In The Souks
It's a really simple recipe. It's like like an upside down onion and meat cake with allspice
You fry thinly sliced onions in olive oil with allspice. Once they start to brown take off the heat and add toasted pinenuts. Liberally line a cake tin with this mixture
Absolutely thoroughly rinse bulgur wheat then drain and dry; then blend with lamb mince and allspice. Make this mixture into the thinnest layer you can that covers all of the onions but doesn't quite reach the edge
Bake at 200C for 25-30 minutes
I can provide rough numbers for amounts of things if anyone wants them
Can't be doing with Lebanese food, soz. Likewise all Mid east food. Ottolenghi's food generally makes me puke
Spice with nuts with fruit with rice with fish with lamb with UGH
Too much. And fuck those little flecks of pomegranates, bleh
Tonight I'm cooking myself some Lebanese food; a baked kibbeh with onion
I got the recipe from a lovely book my sister bought me for Christmas called Saffron In The Souks
It's a really simple recipe. It's like like an upside down onion and meat cake with allspice
You fry thinly sliced onions in olive oil with allspice. Once they start to brown take off the heat and add toasted pinenuts. Liberally line a cake tin with this mixture
Absolutely thoroughly rinse bulgur wheat then drain and dry; then blend with lamb mince and allspice. Make this mixture into the thinnest layer you can that covers all of the onions but doesn't quite reach the edge
Bake at 200C for 25-30 minutes
I can provide rough numbers for amounts of things if anyone wants them
Can't be doing with Lebanese food, soz. Likewise all Mid east food. Ottolenghi's food generally makes me puke
Spice with nuts with fruit with rice with fish with lamb with UGH
Too much. And fuck those little flecks of pomegranates, bleh
Even the Lebanese microwave rice?
Even that. And FUCK the Syrian pre-shaved parmesan
That said I had some jolly nice oysters at the Red Lion and Sun, a gastropub in Highgate, yesterday
You can find oyster quality in odd places, but the more peripheral tend to be more variable (and you do NOT want variablity in oysters)
Your right I do not want variability in my oysters. I want no oysters.
Can't trust a man who doesn't love oysters. Sorry. It is the ultimate test of masculine soundness
It means you have overcome your natural but childish aversion to something that looks like donkey phlegm in an ashtray, and you have thought: I can do this. And you've girded your loins and you've tipped back your half shell and you've slurped it all up and then you've realised OMFG they're fantastic!!! And a lifelong love is born: because you were brave
THAT, my friends, THAT is a man
I like Oysters. I was brought up in a village just south of Whitstable so there were a lot of them about.
That said I had some jolly nice oysters at the Red Lion and Sun, a gastropub in Highgate, yesterday
You can find oyster quality in odd places, but the more peripheral tend to be more variable (and you do NOT want variablity in oysters)
Your right I do not want variability in my oysters. I want no oysters.
Can't trust a man who doesn't love oysters. Sorry. It is the ultimate test of masculine soundness
It means you have overcome your natural but childish aversion to something that looks like donkey phlegm in an ashtray, and you have thought: I can do this. And you've girded your loins and you've tipped back your half shell and you've slurped it all up and then you've realised OMFG they're fantastic!!! And a lifelong love is born: because you were brave
THAT, my friends, THAT is a man
I like Oysters. I was brought up in a village just south of Whitstable so there were a lot of them about.
I had my first age 16. Was unsure. By my third I was a total addict
Weirdly similar to my heroin-taking career, actually
Contra the skepticism on the prior thread, I can happily report that J Sheekeys (after a post-pandemic wobble) is back to its oyster shucking best
The Jersey natives are incredible: morsels of intense oceanic sweetness
And the fruits de mer for one is spiffingly generous (ie. enough for two, easily). With pukka chips. And a whole load of Xmas cheer in central London taaaaan, which is ebullient and full of life. Charlotte St in particular seems entirely healed from Covid now, indeed better than ever, and is rocking the festive season
9/10
My ex-Boss was a big fan of J Sheekeys. He took me there. After lunch, by mid-afternoon, I was performing an intestinal pyrotechnic show in the gents so loud people in the corridor, probably the street, could hear. No one at that firm ever looked at me the same way again. I spent most of the journey home on the floor of the train toilet praying for death’s merciful release.
The wine was good though, IIRC. So 5/10.
Sheekey's is the equal second best oyster bar in London. alongside Bentleys
Scott's is first
Randall and Aubin is probably fourth, Wright Brothers fifth, or Fishworks maybe?
Sheeks has the best atmos especially around Xmas, coz of Soho, Covent Garden and theatreland
Scott's is supreme for absolutely food quality, however
I acted for the head chef of Bentleys when it was owned by this bloke -
A fucking mental piece of litigation, from which I barely escaped with my career, let alone my sanity. It wasn’t a very good restaurant then, as my client testified, but a great place to pick up hookers.
Yes, Bentley's is old and was crap for a long time, but it has been saved by Richard Corrigan. It's one of my favourite restaurants (not just oyster houses) in London
It is one of those places which is supremely comforting, you know you are going to be fed superbly yet simply, there is bustle and shucking to be seen, there is people watching to be done (Mayfair hookers still patrol), there will be a weird couple of spies in the corner banquette, you can watch the idiots from outside London go to the restaurant (the boring bit), the wine flows and flows, and then you fall out into the opulence of Mayfair
Love it
Jay Rayner nails it here. It is indeed the kind of place I daydreamed of, during lockdown
Absolutely mental, the bastards will not get a penny from me, I will just stick more in pension and get tax relief and they will miss out on the VAT, spending etc. Morons could not run a bath
Is that the sound of the Laffer Curve… laffing?
Thing is, most of the time the laffer curve is (proven) rubbish. But when you have a devolved administration that’s in the same country as and right next door to - and defines itself by its difference to - another regime where the rate is very visibly lower, it does rather focus the mind.
We see the same in the US with state taxes. But this is good. We need experimentation. If higher taxes mean better services then there’s a trade off for people to consider.
You won't have any issue presenting that proof in simple and assimilable terms I take it.
Laffer curve aside there’s definitely an iron rule - let’s call it the Lucky Guy curve - that states that when TimS posts something at a time of day LuckyGuy is online, it will be met within seconds by a withering riposte. Even when the original post is actually sympathetic to his world view.
The original claim was made based on zero actual data. Subsequent analysis shows what is common sense: that higher tax rates raise more tax, unless they go completely bonkers and lead to behavioural change (usually emigration).
Tax policy is complicated and there are no simple rules that can explain taxpayer behaviour. If there were we’d long ago have solved our fiscal problems.
There are one or two things about the Laffer curve which have to be true. At 0% tax rate you raise nothing, and at 100% rate you will in the medium run raise nothing, while making people with any assets at all cross.
As the same basically will apply to a 0.001% rate (there are exceptions) and a 99.8% rate then it follows that there must be a figure somewhere between the two which is the sweet spot. This could be called the Colbert point, after the man who pointed out that "the art of taxation consists in so plucking the goose as to obtain the largest possible amount of feathers with the smallest possible amount of hissing".
Contra the skepticism on the prior thread, I can happily report that J Sheekeys (after a post-pandemic wobble) is back to its oyster shucking best
The Jersey natives are incredible: morsels of intense oceanic sweetness
And the fruits de mer for one is spiffingly generous (ie. enough for two, easily). With pukka chips. And a whole load of Xmas cheer in central London taaaaan, which is ebullient and full of life. Charlotte St in particular seems entirely healed from Covid now, indeed better than ever, and is rocking the festive season
9/10
My ex-Boss was a big fan of J Sheekeys. He took me there. After lunch, by mid-afternoon, I was performing an intestinal pyrotechnic show in the gents so loud people in the corridor, probably the street, could hear. No one at that firm ever looked at me the same way again. I spent most of the journey home on the floor of the train toilet praying for death’s merciful release.
The wine was good though, IIRC. So 5/10.
Sheekey's is the equal second best oyster bar in London. alongside Bentleys
Scott's is first
Randall and Aubin is probably fourth, Wright Brothers fifth, or Fishworks maybe?
Sheeks has the best atmos especially around Xmas, coz of Soho, Covent Garden and theatreland
Scott's is supreme for absolutely food quality, however
I acted for the head chef of Bentleys when it was owned by this bloke -
A fucking mental piece of litigation, from which I barely escaped with my career, let alone my sanity. It wasn’t a very good restaurant then, as my client testified, but a great place to pick up hookers.
Yes, Bentley's is old and was crap for a long time, but it has been saved by Richard Corrigan. It's one of my favourite restaurants (not just oyster houses) in London
It is one of those places which is supremely comforting, you know you are going to be fed superbly yet simply, there is bustle and shucking to be seen, there is people watching to be done (Mayfair hookers still patrol), there will be a weird couple of spies in the corner banquette, you can watch the idiots from outside London go to the restaurant (the boring bit), the wine flows and flows, and then you fall out into the opulence of Mayfair
Love it
Jay Rayner nails it here. It is indeed the kind of place I daydreamed of, during lockdown
So as well as a travel writer, you are also a restaurant critic.
Are you Grace Dent?
WEIRDLY, you tend to go a fuck of a lot of restaurants - for free - if you are the Knapper's Gazette travel writer, employed to write about hotels and restaurants
Tonight I'm cooking myself some Lebanese food; a baked kibbeh with onion
I got the recipe from a lovely book my sister bought me for Christmas called Saffron In The Souks
It's a really simple recipe. It's like like an upside down onion and meat cake with allspice
You fry thinly sliced onions in olive oil with allspice. Once they start to brown take off the heat and add toasted pinenuts. Liberally line a cake tin with this mixture
Absolutely thoroughly rinse bulgur wheat then drain and dry; then blend with lamb mince and allspice. Make this mixture into the thinnest layer you can that covers all of the onions but doesn't quite reach the edge
Bake at 200C for 25-30 minutes
I can provide rough numbers for amounts of things if anyone wants them
Bulgur wheat is now sadly part of the culture wars. It's (I'm told) the next 'soy boy' meme.
I live in the US, on a non-immigrant visa. (That is, I'm not planning on staying in the US permanently.)
I own an apartment in London, where I am currently staying.
Camden Council is busy doing the electoral roll. Do I put my wife and me on it? Are we - British citizens - eligible to vote in the election next year?
As others have said; yes. But others have not pointed out that the right to vote only lasts 15 years living overseas. I think it is 15 years from the last time you registered to vote at a UK address.
Owning a house and where it is has nothing to do with wheter you can vote or where you vote. Your constituency is the last constituncy where you were registered to vote at a UK address.
Setting up overseas voting is a bit of a faff, but keeping it going is easy. You just need to return a form each year. GE 2024 will probably be my last UK election as I moved to Germany in 2013.
That said I had some jolly nice oysters at the Red Lion and Sun, a gastropub in Highgate, yesterday
You can find oyster quality in odd places, but the more peripheral tend to be more variable (and you do NOT want variablity in oysters)
Your right I do not want variability in my oysters. I want no oysters.
Can't trust a man who doesn't love oysters. Sorry. It is the ultimate test of masculine soundness
It means you have overcome your natural but childish aversion to something that looks like donkey phlegm in an ashtray, and you have thought: I can do this. And you've girded your loins and you've tipped back your half shell and you've slurped it all up and then you've realised OMFG they're fantastic!!! And a lifelong love is born: because you were brave
THAT, my friends, THAT is a man
I like Oysters. I was brought up in a village just south of Whitstable so there were a lot of them about.
I had my first age 16. Was unsure. By my third I was a total addict
Weirdly similar to me heroin-taking career, actually
I had my first at 14 on holiday in France. Oysters that is. I’ve yet to experience the delights of smack.
That said I had some jolly nice oysters at the Red Lion and Sun, a gastropub in Highgate, yesterday
You can find oyster quality in odd places, but the more peripheral tend to be more variable (and you do NOT want variablity in oysters)
Your right I do not want variability in my oysters. I want no oysters.
Can't trust a man who doesn't love oysters. Sorry. It is the ultimate test of masculine soundness
It means you have overcome your natural but childish aversion to something that looks like donkey phlegm in an ashtray, and you have thought: I can do this. And you've girded your loins and you've tipped back your half shell and you've slurped it all up and then you've realised OMFG they're fantastic!!! And a lifelong love is born: because you were brave
THAT, my friends, THAT is a man
It has nothing to do with donkey phlegm. In fact I might consider eating donkey phlegm. It has everything to do with I don't eat animals.
That said I had some jolly nice oysters at the Red Lion and Sun, a gastropub in Highgate, yesterday
You can find oyster quality in odd places, but the more peripheral tend to be more variable (and you do NOT want variablity in oysters)
Your right I do not want variability in my oysters. I want no oysters.
Can't trust a man who doesn't love oysters. Sorry. It is the ultimate test of masculine soundness
It means you have overcome your natural but childish aversion to something that looks like donkey phlegm in an ashtray, and you have thought: I can do this. And you've girded your loins and you've tipped back your half shell and you've slurped it all up and then you've realised OMFG they're fantastic!!! And a lifelong love is born: because you were brave
THAT, my friends, THAT is a man
I like Oysters. I was brought up in a village just south of Whitstable so there were a lot of them about.
I had my first age 16. Was unsure. By my third I was a total addict
Weirdly similar to me heroin-taking career, actually
I had my first at 14 on holiday in France. Oysters that is. I’ve yet to experience the delights of smack.
Give heroin at least three goes, is my advice. The first time you often just puke, and it's horrid. The second time is commonly mixed, you get the sense of a high, but there is still nausea, and maybe a little fear
It's the third time when you get the peculiar blissful but unequalled heroin rush: like you've been kidnapped by the world's most loving gangsters and been rushed to a velvet brothel in the richest part of town where they are feeding you, blindfold, the exquisite sorbets of orgasm
That said I had some jolly nice oysters at the Red Lion and Sun, a gastropub in Highgate, yesterday
You can find oyster quality in odd places, but the more peripheral tend to be more variable (and you do NOT want variablity in oysters)
Your right I do not want variability in my oysters. I want no oysters.
Can't trust a man who doesn't love oysters. Sorry. It is the ultimate test of masculine soundness
It means you have overcome your natural but childish aversion to something that looks like donkey phlegm in an ashtray, and you have thought: I can do this. And you've girded your loins and you've tipped back your half shell and you've slurped it all up and then you've realised OMFG they're fantastic!!! And a lifelong love is born: because you were brave
THAT, my friends, THAT is a man
I have eaten oysters on several occasions they are fucking disgusting. However I am enough of a man to say they are fucking disgusting rather than to go with the flow because they are seen as haute cuisine by people like you who I suspect mostly go along with this shit because to not like oysters or champagne or caviar somehow marks you down as one of the hoi polloi....Oysters really are disgusting, fizzy wine is foul as for caviar it tastes salty is about the only thing you can say about it. You want to pay huge prices for overrated trash be my guest
My predictions for Labour post the election are, assuming a win.
They will get a very easy first year and will remain significantly ahead in the polls. If things aren't improving going into year two, they will start to go backwards assuming the Tories don't eat themselves, otherwise it's very possible "sensible" is enough and the Tories lose more badly the second time.
I think we are in for 10 years of Labour Government but I've thought that since SKS was elected (originally I thought it would be Lab/Lib Dems then Labour alone).
Most radical things they will go I think are, Great British Energy, planning reform and HoL reform assuming they get to 10 years. PR I think is a possibility right at the end of a second term but won't be a priority.
For my own selfish reasons, I would like them to update planning to allow taller masts to be built and to allow masts to be built next to the railway. I would mandate 100% coverage of all lines by 2030 which shouldn't be difficult as Network Rail already achieved it, just force them to give up their assets.
I think Starmer's plans to reduce British electricity bills by getting undocumented migrants to spend time in giant hamster wheels is absolutely brilliant. The more boats there are, the lower your bills.
I prefer my plan to use thermonuclear weapons in an internal combustion engine system.
Aside from providing the power to run the country it offers a small strategic advantage - imagine facing a nation that nukes *itself* once every 60 seconds or so.
That said I had some jolly nice oysters at the Red Lion and Sun, a gastropub in Highgate, yesterday
You can find oyster quality in odd places, but the more peripheral tend to be more variable (and you do NOT want variablity in oysters)
Your right I do not want variability in my oysters. I want no oysters.
Can't trust a man who doesn't love oysters. Sorry. It is the ultimate test of masculine soundness
It means you have overcome your natural but childish aversion to something that looks like donkey phlegm in an ashtray, and you have thought: I can do this. And you've girded your loins and you've tipped back your half shell and you've slurped it all up and then you've realised OMFG they're fantastic!!! And a lifelong love is born: because you were brave
THAT, my friends, THAT is a man
I have eaten oysters on several occasions they are fucking disgusting. However I am enough of a man to say they are fucking disgusting rather than to go with the flow because they are seen as haute cuisine by people like you who I suspect mostly go along with this shit because to not like oysters or champagne or caviar somehow marks you down as one of the hoi polloi....Oysters really are disgusting, fizzy wine is foul as for caviar it tastes salty is about the only thing you can say about it. You want to pay huge prices for overrated trash be my guest
Ah, Pagan2, and your native speaking Cornish mother. Never change, my andsome, never change
Just had a sub-optimal experience at a barbers I haven't been to before. For about 25 minutes the rather intense bloke cutting my hair worked in studied silence (fine by me, means he's concentrating) and then, apropos of nothing at all, he just barked out "How's your day going?" Despite being thrown by the abrupt change in atmosphere, I manage to mumble a "great thanks". At which point this guy who's been mute for nearly half an hour breaks into song ("That's the way aha aha I like it") and starts jigging around the chair. It's like he's all of a sudden exploded, and bear in mind he's holding a sharp pair of scissors. That horrid scene in Reservoir Dogs was coming to mind. I was genuinely frightened. I live to tell the tale, and it was a decent haircut in the end, but I doubt I'll be going back.
Was it one of these new-fangled "Turkish" barbers that seem to be springing up like mushrooms?
A friend of mine gets his hair cut at a Turkish barber* in Ireland (where he lives - he doesn't make a special trip). He was telling us about not liking the bit of a haircut where 'they set fire to your ears'. We all looked at him in incomprehension, before his wife piped up 'No wonder your so reluctant to get your haircut'.
*as opposed to a barber who just happens to be Turkish. Round here practically everyone who cuts hair professionally appears to be from somewhere just beyond Bulgaria. No idea why. Presumably hair and the need for it to be cut is universal; it seems unlikely that a region would emerge with a specialism for it.
Absolutely mental, the bastards will not get a penny from me, I will just stick more in pension and get tax relief and they will miss out on the VAT, spending etc. Morons could not run a bath
Is that the sound of the Laffer Curve… laffing?
Thing is, most of the time the laffer curve is (proven) rubbish. But when you have a devolved administration that’s in the same country as and right next door to - and defines itself by its difference to - another regime where the rate is very visibly lower, it does rather focus the mind.
We see the same in the US with state taxes. But this is good. We need experimentation. If higher taxes mean better services then there’s a trade off for people to consider.
You won't have any issue presenting that proof in simple and assimilable terms I take it.
Laffer curve aside there’s definitely an iron rule - let’s call it the Lucky Guy curve - that states that when TimS posts something at a time of day LuckyGuy is online, it will be met within seconds by a withering riposte. Even when the original post is actually sympathetic to his world view.
The original claim was made based on zero actual data. Subsequent analysis shows what is common sense: that higher tax rates raise more tax, unless they go completely bonkers and lead to behavioural change (usually emigration).
Tax policy is complicated and there are no simple rules that can explain taxpayer behaviour. If there were we’d long ago have solved our fiscal problems.
I'm very flattered you classified my response as withering; I'd have said it was more weary.
Because you and Liz are right and nobody else understands?
I suppose being patronisingly dismissed as as a halfwit Liz Truss groupie is more Lucky Guy curve fun.
That said I had some jolly nice oysters at the Red Lion and Sun, a gastropub in Highgate, yesterday
You can find oyster quality in odd places, but the more peripheral tend to be more variable (and you do NOT want variablity in oysters)
Your right I do not want variability in my oysters. I want no oysters.
Can't trust a man who doesn't love oysters. Sorry. It is the ultimate test of masculine soundness
It means you have overcome your natural but childish aversion to something that looks like donkey phlegm in an ashtray, and you have thought: I can do this. And you've girded your loins and you've tipped back your half shell and you've slurped it all up and then you've realised OMFG they're fantastic!!! And a lifelong love is born: because you were brave
THAT, my friends, THAT is a man
I have eaten oysters on several occasions they are fucking disgusting. However I am enough of a man to say they are fucking disgusting rather than to go with the flow because they are seen as haute cuisine by people like you who I suspect mostly go along with this shit because to not like oysters or champagne or caviar somehow marks you down as one of the hoi polloi....Oysters really are disgusting, fizzy wine is foul as for caviar it tastes salty is about the only thing you can say about it. You want to pay huge prices for overrated trash be my guest
Pagan2. Enough of a man to say he doesn’t like oysters. Will we ever see such bravery again? Such a profile in courage. I for one would never dare to post anonymously on a message board and proudly declare to the world “I have no taste for this salt-water bivalve mollusc”. Astonishing.
Expect very straight Lab/Tory fight with the interesting question of whether the odds for a Tory victory could be or become value. At this moment I don't think it could be classed as impossible.
That said I had some jolly nice oysters at the Red Lion and Sun, a gastropub in Highgate, yesterday
You can find oyster quality in odd places, but the more peripheral tend to be more variable (and you do NOT want variablity in oysters)
Your right I do not want variability in my oysters. I want no oysters.
Good, more for us oyster lovers.
First encountered the bivalve in New Orleans at Acme & Felix oyster bars (can't remember which I went to first) on Iberville Street in the French Quarter.
Plump oysters - typical pronounced "ersters" by the locals - on the half shell. Ordered half dozen, washed down with cold Dixie and/or Jax beer then the hometown brews of NO.
Then I ordered another half dozen. Then went across street to the other oyster bar . . .
About same time, discovered the Po' Boy. My favorites being oyster and shrimp in that order.
And my friends, this was back when a po' boy damn sure WAS a po' boy. Very traditional, with very fresh French bread, oysters deep fried while you waited and sometimes watched, then "dressed" (also very traditionally) with mayonnaise, lettuce & tomato, with ketchup and Tabasco sauce to taste.
AND BIG. Huge sandwiches. With at least half-dozen plump, juicy, meaty perfectly-fried oysters.
That said I had some jolly nice oysters at the Red Lion and Sun, a gastropub in Highgate, yesterday
You can find oyster quality in odd places, but the more peripheral tend to be more variable (and you do NOT want variablity in oysters)
Your right I do not want variability in my oysters. I want no oysters.
Can't trust a man who doesn't love oysters. Sorry. It is the ultimate test of masculine soundness
It means you have overcome your natural but childish aversion to something that looks like donkey phlegm in an ashtray, and you have thought: I can do this. And you've girded your loins and you've tipped back your half shell and you've slurped it all up and then you've realised OMFG they're fantastic!!! And a lifelong love is born: because you were brave
THAT, my friends, THAT is a man
I have eaten oysters on several occasions they are fucking disgusting. However I am enough of a man to say they are fucking disgusting rather than to go with the flow because they are seen as haute cuisine by people like you who I suspect mostly go along with this shit because to not like oysters or champagne or caviar somehow marks you down as one of the hoi polloi....Oysters really are disgusting, fizzy wine is foul as for caviar it tastes salty is about the only thing you can say about it. You want to pay huge prices for overrated trash be my guest
Ah, Pagan2, and your native speaking Cornish mother. Never change, my andsome, never change
It was my grandparents that didnt really speak much english. However doesnt stop you being an idiot who values things because they are seen as posh. Anything where you have to say its an aquired taste whether tripe or caviar means its something no one would eat if they actually had a choice then it becomes rarer and suddenly the in thing to have....you are merely a food fashion victim
Just had a suboptimal experience at a barbers I haven't been to before. For about 25 minutes the rather intense bloke cutting my hair worked in studied silence (fine by me, means he's concentrating) and then, apropos of nothing at all, he just barked out "How's your day going?" Despite being thrown by the abrupt change in atmosphere, I manage to mumble a "great thanks". At which point this guy who's been mute for nearly half an hour breaks into song ("That's the way aha aha I like it") and starts jigging around the chair. It's like he's all of a sudden exploded, and bear in mind he's holding a sharp pair of scissors. That horrid scene in Reservoir Dogs was coming to mind. I was genuinely frightened. I live to tell the tale, and it was a decent haircut in the end, but I doubt I'll be going back.
My son just had his best experience at a barbers. Also his first experience, as he's previously had his hair cut with his grandparents (and mum, when hers needs doing) by a mobile hairdresser. He was quite taken by the big mirror to watch the action, the little mirror to show the back of the head in the big mirror and, particuarly, by the discovery of hair gel
25 minutes sounds a bit fancy - don't think mine takes more than about 10, normally. Were you having some highlights in? As for the sudden change - 25 minutes or so could be consistent with popping some LSD just before you arrived. Maybe thought he was in Reservoir Dogs himsef
It must be a day for barbers*. I also went today. Nothing bad happened, other than the sight of tumbling locks of grey hair covering the floor, but as always I got nervous when he got out the cut throat razor and started shaving around my ears.
Just one momentary impulse and my ear would be off - they must surely be troubled by the little voice in their heads saying “do it, do it”. It’s the same voice that tells you as a child to open the car door on the motorway.
*in this instance Turkish Cypriot owned.
I know that voice well, shouting out obscenities in a very formal meeting or presentation, putting my foot down on the road when on a motorbike travelling at 90mph,....
My predictions for Labour post the election are, assuming a win.
They will get a very easy first year and will remain significantly ahead in the polls. If things aren't improving going into year two, they will start to go backwards assuming the Tories don't eat themselves, otherwise it's very possible "sensible" is enough and the Tories lose more badly the second time.
I think we are in for 10 years of Labour Government but I've thought that since SKS was elected (originally I thought it would be Lab/Lib Dems then Labour alone).
Most radical things they will go I think are, Great British Energy, planning reform and HoL reform assuming they get to 10 years. PR I think is a possibility right at the end of a second term but won't be a priority.
For my own selfish reasons, I would like them to update planning to allow taller masts to be built and to allow masts to be built next to the railway. I would mandate 100% coverage of all lines by 2030 which shouldn't be difficult as Network Rail already achieved it, just force them to give up their assets.
I think Starmer's plans to reduce British electricity bills by getting undocumented migrants to spend time in giant hamster wheels is absolutely brilliant. The more boats there are, the lower your bills.
I prefer my plan to use thermonuclear weapons in an internal combustion engine system.
Aside from providing the power to run the country it offers a small strategic advantage - imagine facing a nation that nukes *itself* once every 60 seconds or so.
Expect very straight Lab/Tory fight with the interesting question of whether the odds for a Tory victory could be or become value. At this moment I don't think it could be classed as impossible.
Nothing’s impossible. Except the things you can’t do.
Absolutely mental, the bastards will not get a penny from me, I will just stick more in pension and get tax relief and they will miss out on the VAT, spending etc. Morons could not run a bath
Is that the sound of the Laffer Curve… laffing?
Thing is, most of the time the laffer curve is (proven) rubbish. But when you have a devolved administration that’s in the same country as and right next door to - and defines itself by its difference to - another regime where the rate is very visibly lower, it does rather focus the mind.
We see the same in the US with state taxes. But this is good. We need experimentation. If higher taxes mean better services then there’s a trade off for people to consider.
You won't have any issue presenting that proof in simple and assimilable terms I take it.
Laffer curve aside there’s definitely an iron rule - let’s call it the Lucky Guy curve - that states that when TimS posts something at a time of day LuckyGuy is online, it will be met within seconds by a withering riposte. Even when the original post is actually sympathetic to his world view.
The original claim was made based on zero actual data. Subsequent analysis shows what is common sense: that higher tax rates raise more tax, unless they go completely bonkers and lead to behavioural change (usually emigration).
Tax policy is complicated and there are no simple rules that can explain taxpayer behaviour. If there were we’d long ago have solved our fiscal problems.
There are one or two things about the Laffer curve which have to be true. At 0% tax rate you raise nothing, and at 100% rate you will in the medium run raise nothing, while making people with any assets at all cross.
As the same basically will apply to a 0.001% rate (there are exceptions) and a 99.8% rate then it follows that there must be a figure somewhere between the two which is the sweet spot. This could be called the Colbert point, after the man who pointed out that "the art of taxation consists in so plucking the goose as to obtain the largest possible amount of feathers with the smallest possible amount of hissing".
It will likely very considerably between societies, in the real world - but I've seen a few academic papers which put it somewhere between 60 and 70%.
Which would probably have given poor old Laffer conniptions. The great bluffer.
Absolutely mental, the bastards will not get a penny from me, I will just stick more in pension and get tax relief and they will miss out on the VAT, spending etc. Morons could not run a bath
Is that the sound of the Laffer Curve… laffing?
Thing is, most of the time the laffer curve is (proven) rubbish. But when you have a devolved administration that’s in the same country as and right next door to - and defines itself by its difference to - another regime where the rate is very visibly lower, it does rather focus the mind.
We see the same in the US with state taxes. But this is good. We need experimentation. If higher taxes mean better services then there’s a trade off for people to consider.
You won't have any issue presenting that proof in simple and assimilable terms I take it.
Laffer curve aside there’s definitely an iron rule - let’s call it the Lucky Guy curve - that states that when TimS posts something at a time of day LuckyGuy is online, it will be met within seconds by a withering riposte. Even when the original post is actually sympathetic to his world view.
The original claim was made based on zero actual data. Subsequent analysis shows what is common sense: that higher tax rates raise more tax, unless they go completely bonkers and lead to behavioural change (usually emigration).
Tax policy is complicated and there are no simple rules that can explain taxpayer behaviour. If there were we’d long ago have solved our fiscal problems.
There are one or two things about the Laffer curve which have to be true. At 0% tax rate you raise nothing, and at 100% rate you will in the medium run raise nothing, while making people with any assets at all cross.
As the same basically will apply to a 0.001% rate (there are exceptions) and a 99.8% rate then it follows that there must be a figure somewhere between the two which is the sweet spot. This could be called the Colbert point, after the man who pointed out that "the art of taxation consists in so plucking the goose as to obtain the largest possible amount of feathers with the smallest possible amount of hissing".
Quite.
And I invite those who believe that people will sit still for just about any tax rate, to talk to the low paid on benefits. Who are on enormous effective rates of tax. Do they smile and just pay it? No, not really.
That said I had some jolly nice oysters at the Red Lion and Sun, a gastropub in Highgate, yesterday
You can find oyster quality in odd places, but the more peripheral tend to be more variable (and you do NOT want variablity in oysters)
Your right I do not want variability in my oysters. I want no oysters.
Can't trust a man who doesn't love oysters. Sorry. It is the ultimate test of masculine soundness
It means you have overcome your natural but childish aversion to something that looks like donkey phlegm in an ashtray, and you have thought: I can do this. And you've girded your loins and you've tipped back your half shell and you've slurped it all up and then you've realised OMFG they're fantastic!!! And a lifelong love is born: because you were brave
THAT, my friends, THAT is a man
I like Oysters. I was brought up in a village just south of Whitstable so there were a lot of them about.
I had my first age 16. Was unsure. By my third I was a total addict
Weirdly similar to me heroin-taking career, actually
I had my first at 14 on holiday in France. Oysters that is. I’ve yet to experience the delights of smack.
Give heroin at least three goes, is my advice. The first time you often just puke, and it's horrid. The second time is commonly mixed, you get the sense of a high, but there is still nausea, and maybe a little fear
It's the third time when you get the peculiar blissful but unequalled heroin rush: like you've been kidnapped by the world's most loving gangsters and been rushed to a velvet brothel in the richest part of town where they are feeding you, blindfold, the exquisite sorbets of orgasm
I’m not going to lie. That sounds fucking disturbing.
That said I had some jolly nice oysters at the Red Lion and Sun, a gastropub in Highgate, yesterday
You can find oyster quality in odd places, but the more peripheral tend to be more variable (and you do NOT want variablity in oysters)
Your right I do not want variability in my oysters. I want no oysters.
Can't trust a man who doesn't love oysters. Sorry. It is the ultimate test of masculine soundness
It means you have overcome your natural but childish aversion to something that looks like donkey phlegm in an ashtray, and you have thought: I can do this. And you've girded your loins and you've tipped back your half shell and you've slurped it all up and then you've realised OMFG they're fantastic!!! And a lifelong love is born: because you were brave
THAT, my friends, THAT is a man
I have eaten oysters on several occasions they are fucking disgusting. However I am enough of a man to say they are fucking disgusting rather than to go with the flow because they are seen as haute cuisine by people like you who I suspect mostly go along with this shit because to not like oysters or champagne or caviar somehow marks you down as one of the hoi polloi....Oysters really are disgusting, fizzy wine is foul as for caviar it tastes salty is about the only thing you can say about it. You want to pay huge prices for overrated trash be my guest
Sorry you've had bad oyster experiences. Much depends on the oysters, the setting and of course the consumer.
Will say that where I learned to love 'em, in New Orleans and south Louisiana, very popular in several senses.
Fun fact: along most of the Gulf coast of USA, the use of oyster and other shells where other parts of the country use gravel - for example, for rural driveways and byways - is ubiquitous.
Because in this region, the shells are way more plentiful than gravel, and can be readily dredged up and transported locally, at less expense than shipping in gravel.
Comments
But the cost was exactly what Morden predicted.
https://youtu.be/wR7n4Gg-_ac?si=us79flB_yOYfcb5g
Aside from providing the power to run the country it offers a small strategic advantage - imagine facing a nation that nukes *itself* once every 60 seconds or so.
The Sun says Turkish drug dealers are teaming up with The Guardian’s favourite innovative businessman, Barking’s Hellbanianz
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/25071267/turkish-albanian-drug-gangs-terrorising-london/
People like to vote for winners not losers - they should consider that
Plus the inevitable recrimination when the results are poor wouldn’t be a good backdrop to a GE
There seems to be a special visa for Turkish barbers, I wonder how that came about.
https://thegrumpyowl.co.uk/2019/02/24/why-so-many-turkish-barber-shops/
Helbanianz are namechecked in there and seem to inspire rather a lot of fear to people who move in such circles.
Just one momentary impulse and my ear would be off - they must surely be troubled by the little voice in their heads saying “do it, do it”. It’s the same voice that tells you as a child to open the car door on the motorway.
*in this instance Turkish Cypriot owned.
If a general election is not held until the autumn the results of the May locals will long be forgotten by the media by then anyway.
Yes, Hellbanianz seem like they’re not to be messed with, and nowhere near the top of the Albanian crime list according to this
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/13/kings-of-cocaine-albanian-mafia-uk-drugs-crime
So zero need OR incentive for him to pick the likes of Fucker Carlson, JD Vance, Vivek Ramaswamy, etc.
As in 2016, DJT will go for a VP running mate who can ADD to his MAGA-maniac base.
The Jersey natives are incredible: morsels of intense oceanic sweetness
And the fruits de mer for one is spiffingly generous (ie. enough for two, easily). With pukka chips. And a whole load of Xmas cheer in central London taaaaan, which is ebullient and full of life. Charlotte St in particular seems entirely healed from Covid now, indeed better than ever, and is rocking the festive season
9/10
Who know? WHELKS?!
My lunching friend (ex SAS) insisted I stop being a pussy about WHELKS and try one. So I did. I discovered that if you douse them with Tabasco they are fucking delicious
WHELKS
The wine was good though, IIRC. So 5/10.
We see the same in the US with state taxes. But this is good. We need experimentation. If higher taxes mean better services then there’s a trade off for people to consider.
Having said that the worst, grittiest and most rubbery razor clam I’ve ever eaten was at J Sheekeys.
Scott's is first
Randall and Aubin is probably fourth, Wright Brothers fifth, or Fishworks maybe?
Sheeks has the best atmos especially around Xmas, coz of Soho, Covent Garden and theatreland
Scott's is supreme for absolutely food quality, however
The Wikipedia entry on Laffer is decently balanced and useful: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laffer_curve#:~:text=Case of Wellesley College and,not appear to support this."
The original claim was made based on zero actual data. Subsequent analysis shows what is common sense: that higher tax rates raise more tax, unless they go completely bonkers and lead to behavioural change (usually emigration).
Tax policy is complicated and there are no simple rules that can explain taxpayer behaviour. If there were we’d long ago have solved our fiscal problems.
You can find oyster quality in odd places, but the more peripheral tend to be more variable (and you do NOT want variablity in oysters)
ETA - I mean Sheekey's
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscar_Owide
A fucking mental piece of litigation, from which I barely escaped with my career, let alone my sanity. It wasn’t a very good restaurant then, as my client testified, but a great place to pick up hookers.
It is one of those places which is supremely comforting, you know you are going to be fed superbly yet simply, there is bustle and shucking to be seen, there is people watching to be done (Mayfair hookers still patrol), there will be a weird couple of spies in the corner banquette, you can watch the idiots from outside London go to the restaurant (the boring bit), the wine flows and flows, and then you fall out into the opulence of Mayfair
Love it
Jay Rayner nails it here. It is indeed the kind of place I daydreamed of, during lockdown
https://www.theguardian.com/food/2021/may/02/jay-rayner-on-restaurants-bentleys-oyster-bar-i-dreamt-about-this-in-lockdown
For those who are politically involved and interested, the Prime Minister has effectively fired the gun for the start of the 2024 General Election campaign.
We can probably assume a giveaway Budget in March as an overt attempt to bribe the voters with their own money irrespective of whether such an approach is what the country wants or needs.
Sunak will probably not to talk too much about the Government's record - instead, it'll be the usual old schtick of a "better tomorrow" and the more insidious "don't let Labour ruin it". Whether or not the likes of Farage and Tice play a decisive role or whether they act primarily as spoilers is one of many questions to be answered.
I'm also sure there will be contradictory messages and plenty of misinformation about the actual date. If the polls continue to look bad, is Sunak going to hope, as did Major, a long campaign will reveal fractures on the Labour side while if the polls do start to narrow will we see a short, sharp camapign to build on that momentum?
If they are for the telegraph then the Post Office and assorted odds and sods of railway companies had terrible trouble agreeing anything about a centuiry and a half ago.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_telegraphy_in_the_United_Kingdom#Nationalisation
(Aside: there's a George Ezra song in which he sings the line "You said you needed a haircut, I recommended Mr Todd" which my kids - big George fans - find hilarious as to them 'Mr Todd' is a fox in Peter Rabbit. I have not enlightened them)
Or plutonium by the ton.
But yes, more recently I have also noticed the explosion of "Turkish" shops in the provinces, and I think the jury is very much out on how many of the staff have set foot in Turkey. And no, I wouldn't be surprised if there was dodgy business afoot. My current one is highly variable, but is "only" £20 a go so is working at the moment. The flaming of the ears is excellent, highly recommended but I wouldn't be brave enough to try at home.
You know... You know what I've noticed? Nobody panics when things go "according to plan." Even if the plan is horrifying! If, tomorrow, I tell the press that, like, a gang banger will get shot, or a truckload of soldiers will be blown up, nobody panics, because it's all "part of the plan".
I got the recipe from a lovely book my sister bought me for Christmas called Saffron In The Souks
It's a really simple recipe. It's like like an upside down onion and meat cake with allspice
You fry thinly sliced onions in olive oil with allspice. Once they start to brown take off the heat and add toasted pinenuts. Liberally line a cake tin with this mixture
Absolutely thoroughly rinse bulgur wheat then drain and dry; then blend with lamb mince and allspice. Make this mixture into the thinnest layer you can that covers all of the onions but doesn't quite reach the edge
Bake at 200C for 25-30 minutes
I can provide rough numbers for amounts of things if anyone wants them
Lucky the Younger?
Spice with nuts with fruit with rice with fish with lamb with UGH
Too much. And fuck those little flecks of pomegranates, bleh
https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-67721671
"Nasa beams cat video from deep space with laser
Nasa has streamed an ultra high-definition video of a cat back to Earth from the depths of space.
The 15-second clip of Taters the cat was sent via laser - and fittingly shows it chasing a laser beam.
Footage of the orange tabby travelled 19 million miles - some 80 times the distance from Earth to the Moon."
It means you have overcome your natural but childish aversion to something that looks like donkey phlegm in an ashtray, and you have thought: I can do this. And you've girded your loins and you've tipped back your half shell and you've slurped it all up and then you've realised OMFG they're fantastic!!! And a lifelong love is born: because you were brave
THAT, my friends, THAT is a man
Weirdly similar to my heroin-taking career, actually
Are you Grace Dent?
As the same basically will apply to a 0.001% rate (there are exceptions) and a 99.8% rate then it follows that there must be a figure somewhere between the two which is the sweet spot. This could be called the Colbert point, after the man who pointed out that
"the art of taxation consists in so plucking the goose as to obtain the largest possible amount of feathers with the smallest possible amount of hissing".
Kemi will be coming for you.
Owning a house and where it is has nothing to do with wheter you can vote or where you vote. Your constituency is the last constituncy where you were registered to vote at a UK address.
Setting up overseas voting is a bit of a faff, but keeping it going is easy. You just need to return a form each year. GE 2024 will probably be my last UK election as I moved to Germany in 2013.
It's the third time when you get the peculiar blissful but unequalled heroin rush: like you've been kidnapped by the world's most loving gangsters and been rushed to a velvet brothel in the richest part of town where they are feeding you, blindfold, the exquisite sorbets of orgasm
First encountered the bivalve in New Orleans at Acme & Felix oyster bars (can't remember which I went to first) on Iberville Street in the French Quarter.
Plump oysters - typical pronounced "ersters" by the locals - on the half shell. Ordered half dozen, washed down with cold Dixie and/or Jax beer then the hometown brews of NO.
Then I ordered another half dozen. Then went across street to the other oyster bar . . .
About same time, discovered the Po' Boy. My favorites being oyster and shrimp in that order.
And my friends, this was back when a po' boy damn sure WAS a po' boy. Very traditional, with very fresh French bread, oysters deep fried while you waited and sometimes watched, then "dressed" (also very traditionally) with mayonnaise, lettuce & tomato, with ketchup and Tabasco sauce to taste.
AND BIG. Huge sandwiches. With at least half-dozen plump, juicy, meaty perfectly-fried oysters.
First it was Chris Pincher, now Peter Bone, should Rishi Sunak be worried about Greg Hands?
Which would probably have given poor old Laffer conniptions. The great bluffer.
And I invite those who believe that people will sit still for just about any tax rate, to talk to the low paid on benefits. Who are on enormous effective rates of tax. Do they smile and just pay it? No, not really.
Will say that where I learned to love 'em, in New Orleans and south Louisiana, very popular in several senses.
Fun fact: along most of the Gulf coast of USA, the use of oyster and other shells where other parts of the country use gravel - for example, for rural driveways and byways - is ubiquitous.
Because in this region, the shells are way more plentiful than gravel, and can be readily dredged up and transported locally, at less expense than shipping in gravel.
153/1 after 11.3 overs.