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Most Brits do not consider Die Hard to be a Christmas film – politicalbetting.com

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  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 52,268
    The person whose image is being used in that tube advert as a supposed terminal cancer patient is actually in remission. This is her:

    https://x.com/sophieRblake/status/1838934022451327215
  • Bill Sweeney, the Rugby Football Union’s chief executive, will be paid £1.1 million this year having received a pre-agreed performance bonus, despite recent redundancies and cost-cutting at Twickenham. Sweeney’s annual base salary included a pay rise of 8.5 per cent from £684,000 to £742,000. According to the annual report, he has also received a one-off performance-based payment of £358,000.

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2024/11/25/rfu-chief-executive-bill-sweeney-paid-record-salary/

    You lose £40 million and you get a performance bonus.....

    That's the private sector for you.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 49,114
    Andy_JS said:

    Being released in July, it can't really be a Christmas film, can it?

    Wasn't "It's a Wonderful Life" also released in the summer?

    It's a no brainer that "The Muppet Christmas Carol" is the best Christmas film.

    I have never seen a Die Hard film so have no opinion on it.
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 28,807

    I'm still trying to think what my favourite Christmas film is.

    Is The Railway Children a Christmas film?

    If it were, it would be called the "Closed for engineering works" Children.
    :lol:

    'Wrong kind of snow' Children.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 56,496

    The person whose image is being used in that tube advert as a supposed terminal cancer patient is actually in remission. This is her:

    https://x.com/sophieRblake/status/1838934022451327215

    It's beyond bizarre. It is the single most inappropriate ad I have ever seen, given the context. WTAF
  • Leon said:

    The person whose image is being used in that tube advert as a supposed terminal cancer patient is actually in remission. This is her:

    https://x.com/sophieRblake/status/1838934022451327215

    It's beyond bizarre. It is the single most inappropriate ad I have ever seen, given the context. WTAF
    The lady in the ad is a big supporters of assisted dying.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 52,268

    Leon said:

    The person whose image is being used in that tube advert as a supposed terminal cancer patient is actually in remission. This is her:

    https://x.com/sophieRblake/status/1838934022451327215

    It's beyond bizarre. It is the single most inappropriate ad I have ever seen, given the context. WTAF
    The lady in the ad is a big supporters of assisted dying.
    Would it be legal to claim someone has terminal cancer in an advert like that when they don't?

    https://www.dignityindying.org.uk/blog-post/let-us-choose-legalise-assisted-dying/
  • Bill Sweeney, the Rugby Football Union’s chief executive, will be paid £1.1 million this year having received a pre-agreed performance bonus, despite recent redundancies and cost-cutting at Twickenham. Sweeney’s annual base salary included a pay rise of 8.5 per cent from £684,000 to £742,000. According to the annual report, he has also received a one-off performance-based payment of £358,000.

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2024/11/25/rfu-chief-executive-bill-sweeney-paid-record-salary/

    You lose £40 million and you get a performance bonus.....

    That's the private sector for you.
    RFU isn't really private sector is a society owned by and to support the 1000s of member rugby clubs. But it is true that we have seen the same shit elsewhere, Natwest Banking scandal lady not only got her pay off is now in another big job, Howard Davies is a walking scandal magnet that has bounced between public and private sector.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 56,496

    Leon said:

    The person whose image is being used in that tube advert as a supposed terminal cancer patient is actually in remission. This is her:

    https://x.com/sophieRblake/status/1838934022451327215

    It's beyond bizarre. It is the single most inappropriate ad I have ever seen, given the context. WTAF
    The lady in the ad is a big supporters of assisted dying.
    I don't care if she is Martian

    The ad is crass, creepy. weird, repugnant and they put it in a Tube station on a Tube network where thousands attempt suicide every year
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,505
    edited November 25
    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    The person whose image is being used in that tube advert as a supposed terminal cancer patient is actually in remission. This is her:

    https://x.com/sophieRblake/status/1838934022451327215

    It's beyond bizarre. It is the single most inappropriate ad I have ever seen, given the context. WTAF
    The lady in the ad is a big supporters of assisted dying.
    I don't care if she is Martian

    The ad is crass, creepy. weird, repugnant and they put it in a Tube station on a Tube network where thousands attempt suicide every year
    I don't if its 1000s, but I think that is a valid criticism. Particularly when you set the bar very low with "causing offense" can be ladies in bikinis and comedians eating hot dogs is junk food ad*....although at the same time you can have a hate preacher advertising money apps. Two tier....

    * https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2024/mar/27/ed-gamble-comic-hot-dog-banned-transport-for-london-tube-ads
  • LeonLeon Posts: 56,496
    edited November 25

    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    The person whose image is being used in that tube advert as a supposed terminal cancer patient is actually in remission. This is her:

    https://x.com/sophieRblake/status/1838934022451327215

    It's beyond bizarre. It is the single most inappropriate ad I have ever seen, given the context. WTAF
    The lady in the ad is a big supporters of assisted dying.
    I don't care if she is Martian

    The ad is crass, creepy. weird, repugnant and they put it in a Tube station on a Tube network where thousands attempt suicide every year
    I don't if its 1000s, but I think that is a valid criticism.
    I just read some TFL stats which said Tube staff actively intervene in 2000+ incidents per year, where people are either contemplating or attempting suicide. So, yes, 1000s. Only a few dozen die but that's a few dozen too many

    Imagine you are considering suicide in a Tube station right now. And then you see this cheerful ad exhorting you to go ahead, so "you won't be a burden on your family"

    MPs should vote down this Bill. Something about it is deeply sinister
  • FlatlanderFlatlander Posts: 4,720
    edited November 25
    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    The person whose image is being used in that tube advert as a supposed terminal cancer patient is actually in remission. This is her:

    https://x.com/sophieRblake/status/1838934022451327215

    It's beyond bizarre. It is the single most inappropriate ad I have ever seen, given the context. WTAF
    The lady in the ad is a big supporters of assisted dying.
    I don't care if she is Martian

    The ad is crass, creepy. weird, repugnant and they put it in a Tube station on a Tube network where thousands attempt suicide every year
    The more I see of (some of) the people who are for assisted dying, the more I worry that it isn't a good idea.

    I am all for it in principle, but like many good principles it might not survive meeting real world people.

    [Edit - though are we _sure_ who posted the advert?]
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 39,032
    edited November 25

    It turns out that the Starmer ham pasta bake story is fake news. In fact he says “a hand-made sauce” which was misheard as ham.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mvkiv4DuF6g

    That actually makes so much more sense. Il sugo fatto in casa è anche mio piatto preferito.

    I hope all those people in the previous thread defending the stupid ham pasta will now repent. Home made sauce is such a better choice and much less weird for a guy with a Jewish family and much more authentic for anyone who cooks at home.
  • ‘I’m not coming back with more borrowing or more taxes’, says Rachel Reeves
    The Chancellor told the CBI conference she would not be coming back with more borrowing or taxes.

    Asked if she could confirm there would be no more big tax rises on businesses, Rachel Reeves said: “I faced a problem, and I faced into it, and we have now drawn a line under the fiction peddled by the previous government.

    “We’ve put our public finances back on a firm footing, and we’ve now set the budgets for public services for the duration of this Parliament.

    “Public services now need to live within their means because I’m really clear, I’m not coming back with more borrowing or more taxes.”

    ----------

    The IFS have already looked at this and said unless she is going to accept austerity (which she has already said is an absolute no no), then further public service spending increases will be required in year 3 which are currently unfunded.

    Why would anyone believe a word she says ?
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 36,099
    Of recent Christmas movies, I quite enjoyed Fatman
  • Shecorns88Shecorns88 Posts: 279

    Leon said:

    The person whose image is being used in that tube advert as a supposed terminal cancer patient is actually in remission. This is her:

    https://x.com/sophieRblake/status/1838934022451327215

    It's beyond bizarre. It is the single most inappropriate ad I have ever seen, given the context. WTAF
    The lady in the ad is a big supporters of assisted dying.
    Would it be legal to claim someone has terminal cancer in an advert like that when they don't?

    https://www.dignityindying.org.uk/blog-post/let-us-choose-legalise-assisted-dying/
    She is a former Sky Sports Reporter and Presenter. Former wife of a GP Speedway Rider. She 100% has terminal Cancer.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 56,496

    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    The person whose image is being used in that tube advert as a supposed terminal cancer patient is actually in remission. This is her:

    https://x.com/sophieRblake/status/1838934022451327215

    It's beyond bizarre. It is the single most inappropriate ad I have ever seen, given the context. WTAF
    The lady in the ad is a big supporters of assisted dying.
    I don't care if she is Martian

    The ad is crass, creepy. weird, repugnant and they put it in a Tube station on a Tube network where thousands attempt suicide every year
    The more I see of (some of) the people who are for assisted dying, the more I worry that it isn't a good idea.

    I am all for it in principle, but like many good principles it might not survive meeting real world people.
    I am exactly the same. I started off marginally in favour, but I've seen too much weirdness and these ads are the clincher

    Back to the drawing board and start again, and do it slowly, carefully
  • I rarely watch films, have never watched Die Hard, but the great escape and the railway children get a pass mark for me
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,934
    edited November 25

    ...

    You need to watch Die Hard after watching Love Actually to see Alan Rickman get his just deserts.

    It's not Christmas until Hans Gruber falls from Nakatomi Tower.
    Let that be a warning to you, Santa, poncing around on rooftops of a Christmas Eve.

    They might be rigged with explosives.

    "Dear Santa, for Christmas can I have a box of detonators? Hans x x "
  • LeonLeon Posts: 56,496

    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    The person whose image is being used in that tube advert as a supposed terminal cancer patient is actually in remission. This is her:

    https://x.com/sophieRblake/status/1838934022451327215

    It's beyond bizarre. It is the single most inappropriate ad I have ever seen, given the context. WTAF
    The lady in the ad is a big supporters of assisted dying.
    I don't care if she is Martian

    The ad is crass, creepy. weird, repugnant and they put it in a Tube station on a Tube network where thousands attempt suicide every year
    The more I see of (some of) the people who are for assisted dying, the more I worry that it isn't a good idea.

    I am all for it in principle, but like many good principles it might not survive meeting real world people.

    [Edit - though are we _sure_ who posted the advert?]
    Yes, we are. Charlotte Gill has done the sleuthing. It's a bunch of companies with names like "Dignity in Dying"
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,934
    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    The person whose image is being used in that tube advert as a supposed terminal cancer patient is actually in remission. This is her:

    https://x.com/sophieRblake/status/1838934022451327215

    It's beyond bizarre. It is the single most inappropriate ad I have ever seen, given the context. WTAF
    The lady in the ad is a big supporters of assisted dying.
    I don't care if she is Martian

    The ad is crass, creepy. weird, repugnant and they put it in a Tube station on a Tube network where thousands attempt suicide every year
    The more I see of (some of) the people who are for assisted dying, the more I worry that it isn't a good idea.

    I am all for it in principle, but like many good principles it might not survive meeting real world people.
    I am exactly the same. I started off marginally in favour, but I've seen too much weirdness and these ads are the clincher

    Back to the drawing board and start again, and do it slowly, carefully
    Look, just let them die if they are that weird....
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 52,268

    Leon said:

    The person whose image is being used in that tube advert as a supposed terminal cancer patient is actually in remission. This is her:

    https://x.com/sophieRblake/status/1838934022451327215

    It's beyond bizarre. It is the single most inappropriate ad I have ever seen, given the context. WTAF
    The lady in the ad is a big supporters of assisted dying.
    Would it be legal to claim someone has terminal cancer in an advert like that when they don't?

    https://www.dignityindying.org.uk/blog-post/let-us-choose-legalise-assisted-dying/
    She is a former Sky Sports Reporter and Presenter. Former wife of a GP Speedway Rider. She 100% has terminal Cancer.
    Her cancer status is "no evidence of active disease". It sounds like she's an attention seeker.

    https://x.com/sophieRblake/status/1838934022451327215
  • Shecorns88Shecorns88 Posts: 279
    On topic Miracle on 34th Street
  • Big_G_NorthWalesBig_G_NorthWales Posts: 63,610
    edited November 25
    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    The person whose image is being used in that tube advert as a supposed terminal cancer patient is actually in remission. This is her:

    https://x.com/sophieRblake/status/1838934022451327215

    It's beyond bizarre. It is the single most inappropriate ad I have ever seen, given the context. WTAF
    The lady in the ad is a big supporters of assisted dying.
    I don't care if she is Martian

    The ad is crass, creepy. weird, repugnant and they put it in a Tube station on a Tube network where thousands attempt suicide every year
    The more I see of (some of) the people who are for assisted dying, the more I worry that it isn't a good idea.

    I am all for it in principle, but like many good principles it might not survive meeting real world people.
    I am exactly the same. I started off marginally in favour, but I've seen too much weirdness and these ads are the clincher

    Back to the drawing board and start again, and do it slowly, carefully
    Election maps has it as a voting tie at present

    What's the odds 52/48 either way ?

    https://x.com/ElectionMapsUK/status/1861095459688689705?t=I4pk3TzhDAW1NiSwuCCIKA&s=19
  • FrankBoothFrankBooth Posts: 9,928
    edited November 25
    A load of media talk about the threat of cyber war and how Russia might turn the lights off. I refuse to believe that Russia's cyber capabilities are greater than Nato's but we clearly aren't deterring them from doing it. Is it really beyond the wit of everyone in Nato to see that they only way to deal with Putin is through the threat of retaliation. At no point does the suggestion even appeared to have been on the table.
  • Smart51Smart51 Posts: 63


    I cannot imagine anybody not having a favourite Christmas film

    I don't have a favourite Christmas film. I have some that I can tolerate, and others not.

  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 54,012
    Muppets Christmas Carol is indeed the right answer.
  • Smart51 said:


    I cannot imagine anybody not having a favourite Christmas film

    I don't have a favourite Christmas film. I have some that I can tolerate, and others not.

    Hi Keir, did you have a nice time on This Morning?
  • LeonLeon Posts: 56,496

    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    The person whose image is being used in that tube advert as a supposed terminal cancer patient is actually in remission. This is her:

    https://x.com/sophieRblake/status/1838934022451327215

    It's beyond bizarre. It is the single most inappropriate ad I have ever seen, given the context. WTAF
    The lady in the ad is a big supporters of assisted dying.
    I don't care if she is Martian

    The ad is crass, creepy. weird, repugnant and they put it in a Tube station on a Tube network where thousands attempt suicide every year
    The more I see of (some of) the people who are for assisted dying, the more I worry that it isn't a good idea.

    I am all for it in principle, but like many good principles it might not survive meeting real world people.
    I am exactly the same. I started off marginally in favour, but I've seen too much weirdness and these ads are the clincher

    Back to the drawing board and start again, and do it slowly, carefully
    Election maps has it as a voting tie at present

    What's the odds 52/48 either way ?

    https://x.com/ElectionMapsUK/status/1861095459688689705?t=I4pk3TzhDAW1NiSwuCCIKA&s=19
    These repulsive adverts are all over Westminster Tube Station. Ironically, they could clinch it for the Nay sayers, by being so crass, and being seen by MPs going to vote
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 54,012

    On topic Miracle on 34th Street

    The Attenborough version.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,505
    edited November 25

    A load of media talk about the threat of cyber war and how Russia might turn the lights off. I refuse to believe that Russia's cyber capabilities are greater than Nato's but we clearly aren't deterring them from doing it. Is it really beyond the wit of everyone in Nato to see that they only way to deal with Putin is through the threat of retaliation. At no point does the suggestion even appeared to have been on the table.

    Russian, Ukrainian and North Korean cybercriminals are some of the best around. Where as in the UK we pay buttons for "experts" in cyber security to work in government roles. The head of cyber security is on £100k a year another senior role was advertised at £60k. Any decent tech company will pay way more than these numbers.


    The posting for the head of cyber security role at the Treasury offered a salary of between £50,550 and £57,500, which is far below industry norms. A Twitter user compared the Treasury role with an identical one at "a trading company no-one has ever heard of", which offered a starting salary of £450,000.

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2023/03/30/ex-gchq-chief-treasury-cyber-security-job-advert-salary/

    It is something Big Dom banged on about and was right.
  • BlancheLivermoreBlancheLivermore Posts: 5,980
    edited November 25

    Groundhog Day

    Not my favourite Christmas movie, but what it's like on here every year when Eagles decides that this Die Hard thing needs to be addressed

    It's a fucking weird obsession

    In fact, Groundhog Day is my favourite Christmas movie. The snow makes it one
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,934
    Russia is getting through it's National Wealth Fund to pay for the Ukraine War:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldofr6JFDtY
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 54,012
    Watched a film last night. Lee. I appreciate I am several weeks behind but anyone who hasn’t caught it don’t miss out. It was one of the most affecting films I have seen in a long time and Kate Winslett is simply stunning. It probably doesn’t have enough big studio support but she deserves an Oscar.
  • Former Australia coach Darren Lehmann says Joe Root needs to score a century down under to be considered an "all-time great" alongside fellow batters Virat Kohli of India, Australia's Steve Smith and New Zealander Kane Williamson.

    https://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/articles/c8xpk95rxw4o

    Well you can f##k right off.
  • CookieCookie Posts: 14,069


    Groundhog Day

    Not my favourite Christmas movie, but what it's like on here every year when Eagles decides that this Die Hard thing needs to be addressed

    It's a fucking weird obsession

    In fact, Groundhog Day is my favourite Christmas movie. The snow makes it one

    Groundhog Day is a Groundhog Day film.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,934

    A load of media talk about the threat of cyber war and how Russia might turn the lights off. I refuse to believe that Russia's cyber capabilities are greater than Nato's but we clearly aren't deterring them from doing it. Is it really beyond the wit of everyone in Nato to see that they only way to deal with Putin is through the threat of retaliation. At no point does the suggestion even appeared to have been on the table.

    Russian, Ukrainian and North Korean cybercriminals are some of the best around. Where as in the UK we pay buttons for "experts" in cyber security to work in government roles. The head of cyber security is on £100k a year another senior role was advertised at £60k. Any decent tech company will pay way more than these numbers.


    The posting for the head of cyber security role at the Treasury offered a salary of between £50,550 and £57,500, which is far below industry norms. A Twitter user compared the Treasury role with an identical one at "a trading company no-one has ever heard of", which offered a starting salary of £450,000.

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2023/03/30/ex-gchq-chief-treasury-cyber-security-job-advert-salary/

    It is something Big Dom banged on about and was right.
    If they were that good at hacking, they'd alter the ads to make the pay £200K....
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 43,437

    A load of media talk about the threat of cyber war and how Russia might turn the lights off. I refuse to believe that Russia's cyber capabilities are greater than Nato's but we clearly aren't deterring them from doing it. Is it really beyond the wit of everyone in Nato to see that they only way to deal with Putin is through the threat of retaliation. At no point does the suggestion even appeared to have been on the table.

    Cyber warfare is the duck that has yet to really quack in this war. A decade ago, Russian hacker groups were regularly attempting, or managing, to penetrate our systems. Back in Feb 22, I expected more of the same. There's been some, but nowhere near as much as I expected, and not as disruptive. Cyber warfare is a potentially very cheap and exceptionally disruptive form of warfare.

    My WAG (and hope!) is that this is because their earlier incursions gave us warning, and allowed corporations and governmental organisations to improve security. Perhaps.
  • Cookie said:


    Groundhog Day

    Not my favourite Christmas movie, but what it's like on here every year when Eagles decides that this Die Hard thing needs to be addressed

    It's a fucking weird obsession

    In fact, Groundhog Day is my favourite Christmas movie. The snow makes it one

    Groundhog Day is a Groundhog Day film.
    Disappointingly, it was released on Feb 4th - two days after Groundhog Day
  • Alphabet_SoupAlphabet_Soup Posts: 3,316

    On topic Miracle on 34th Street

    That's the answer to my quiz at 4.43! Macy's department store is (probably to its detriment) little changed since the original movie was made in 1947. But as a helpless pedant I can't help applauding their (literally) punctilious façade.
  • FrankBoothFrankBooth Posts: 9,928

    A load of media talk about the threat of cyber war and how Russia might turn the lights off. I refuse to believe that Russia's cyber capabilities are greater than Nato's but we clearly aren't deterring them from doing it. Is it really beyond the wit of everyone in Nato to see that they only way to deal with Putin is through the threat of retaliation. At no point does the suggestion even appeared to have been on the table.

    Cyber warfare is the duck that has yet to really quack in this war. A decade ago, Russian hacker groups were regularly attempting, or managing, to penetrate our systems. Back in Feb 22, I expected more of the same. There's been some, but nowhere near as much as I expected, and not as disruptive. Cyber warfare is a potentially very cheap and exceptionally disruptive form of warfare.

    My WAG (and hope!) is that this is because their earlier incursions gave us warning, and allowed corporations and governmental organisations to improve security. Perhaps.
    It's all very well patting ourselves on the back about our defensive capabilities but when are we going to threaten to go on the offensive?
  • FrankBoothFrankBooth Posts: 9,928

    A load of media talk about the threat of cyber war and how Russia might turn the lights off. I refuse to believe that Russia's cyber capabilities are greater than Nato's but we clearly aren't deterring them from doing it. Is it really beyond the wit of everyone in Nato to see that they only way to deal with Putin is through the threat of retaliation. At no point does the suggestion even appeared to have been on the table.

    Russian, Ukrainian and North Korean cybercriminals are some of the best around. Where as in the UK we pay buttons for "experts" in cyber security to work in government roles. The head of cyber security is on £100k a year another senior role was advertised at £60k. Any decent tech company will pay way more than these numbers.


    The posting for the head of cyber security role at the Treasury offered a salary of between £50,550 and £57,500, which is far below industry norms. A Twitter user compared the Treasury role with an identical one at "a trading company no-one has ever heard of", which offered a starting salary of £450,000.

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2023/03/30/ex-gchq-chief-treasury-cyber-security-job-advert-salary/

    It is something Big Dom banged on about and was right.
    If they were that good at hacking, they'd alter the ads to make the pay £200K....
    As Shashank Joshi pointed out they can't turn the lights out in Ukraine. We ought to stop wetting the bed. Latest culprit being one Joe Rogan.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 54,012

    A load of media talk about the threat of cyber war and how Russia might turn the lights off. I refuse to believe that Russia's cyber capabilities are greater than Nato's but we clearly aren't deterring them from doing it. Is it really beyond the wit of everyone in Nato to see that they only way to deal with Putin is through the threat of retaliation. At no point does the suggestion even appeared to have been on the table.

    Cyber warfare is the duck that has yet to really quack in this war. A decade ago, Russian hacker groups were regularly attempting, or managing, to penetrate our systems. Back in Feb 22, I expected more of the same. There's been some, but nowhere near as much as I expected, and not as disruptive. Cyber warfare is a potentially very cheap and exceptionally disruptive form of warfare.

    My WAG (and hope!) is that this is because their earlier incursions gave us warning, and allowed corporations and governmental organisations to improve security. Perhaps.
    It's all very well patting ourselves on the back about our defensive capabilities but when are we going to threaten to go on the offensive?
    I think the problem is that our much more technologically advanced systems are vastly more vulnerable than Russia’s basic systems. I don’t think it’s a fight that we think we can win.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 51,082

    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    The person whose image is being used in that tube advert as a supposed terminal cancer patient is actually in remission. This is her:

    https://x.com/sophieRblake/status/1838934022451327215

    It's beyond bizarre. It is the single most inappropriate ad I have ever seen, given the context. WTAF
    The lady in the ad is a big supporters of assisted dying.
    I don't care if she is Martian

    The ad is crass, creepy. weird, repugnant and they put it in a Tube station on a Tube network where thousands attempt suicide every year
    I don't if its 1000s, but I think that is a valid criticism. Particularly when you set the bar very low with "causing offense" can be ladies in bikinis and comedians eating hot dogs is junk food ad*....although at the same time you can have a hate preacher advertising money apps. Two tier....

    * https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2024/mar/27/ed-gamble-comic-hot-dog-banned-transport-for-london-tube-ads
    A friend who works on the tube - worked his way up to station manager - says that the only thing he prays for is no suicides. Any other shit that life throws at him - he’ll grin and bear it. Just not that.
  • Alphabet_SoupAlphabet_Soup Posts: 3,316


    Groundhog Day

    Not my favourite Christmas movie, but what it's like on here every year when Eagles decides that this Die Hard thing needs to be addressed

    It's a fucking weird obsession

    In fact, Groundhog Day is my favourite Christmas movie. The snow makes it one

    In that case The Shining is worth a mention, too.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 96,578
    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    The person whose image is being used in that tube advert as a supposed terminal cancer patient is actually in remission. This is her:

    https://x.com/sophieRblake/status/1838934022451327215

    It's beyond bizarre. It is the single most inappropriate ad I have ever seen, given the context. WTAF
    The lady in the ad is a big supporters of assisted dying.
    I don't care if she is Martian

    The ad is crass, creepy. weird, repugnant and they put it in a Tube station on a Tube network where thousands attempt suicide every year
    The more I see of (some of) the people who are for assisted dying, the more I worry that it isn't a good idea.

    I am all for it in principle, but like many good principles it might not survive meeting real world people.
    I am exactly the same. I started off marginally in favour, but I've seen too much weirdness and these ads are the clincher

    Back to the drawing board and start again, and do it slowly, carefully
    I was not really in favour from the start, and I accept private member bills can do significant things, but I do still feel its huge consequences have been downplayed and not enough time allocated for discussion even accepting it is not the final vote or anything. I still don't get the criticism of ministers speaking out against even though its a free vote and to deny them a voice would be unfair, nor some online criticism of those with religious motivations weighing in.

    Theere seems to be broad support for the principle, but more concern over some major details, and you cannot fix everything in committee if the skeleton of it is flawed, so I don't even buy that this is the only chance that will ever happen for it to be tried again if it were voted down now. It may even benefit from it.
  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 22,161
    It is with regret that I need to inform you all that my wife has just put up some Christmas lights outside our house.

  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 54,012

    It is with regret that I need to inform you all that my wife has just put up some Christmas lights outside our house.

    Divorce is a terrible thing but sometimes there are no options.
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 32,945

    It is with regret that I need to inform you all that my wife has just put up some Christmas lights outside our house.

    Colourful ones, I hope. 😊
  • BlancheLivermoreBlancheLivermore Posts: 5,980
    edited November 25
    The only baked pasta dish I make is Greek!

    Pastitsio is a layer of bucatini pasta, under a layer of beef ragu spiced with cinnamon and cloves, topped with a bechamel sauce

    https://www.mygreekdish.com/recipe/pastitsio/
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 32,945

    Former Australia coach Darren Lehmann says Joe Root needs to score a century down under to be considered an "all-time great" alongside fellow batters Virat Kohli of India, Australia's Steve Smith and New Zealander Kane Williamson.

    https://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/articles/c8xpk95rxw4o

    Well you can f##k right off.

    Didn't realise he hadn't scored one in Australia. But I don't keep as close an eye on cricket as I used to. Used to be utterly obsessed with the game a few years ago.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 96,578

    Former Australia coach Darren Lehmann says Joe Root needs to score a century down under to be considered an "all-time great" alongside fellow batters Virat Kohli of India, Australia's Steve Smith and New Zealander Kane Williamson.

    https://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/articles/c8xpk95rxw4o

    Well you can f##k right off.

    That's one of those attempts at slyly digging at someone which just fall flat, because his chosen reason is so clearly arbitrarily picked to make the point he wants.

    Since 2021 Root has scored more centuries than Smith, Kohli and Williamson combined (or he had a month ago when Cricinfo ran those numbers). He does play more Tests than all of them, but his average was 11 better than Smiths and 22 better than Kohlis in that period (and 4 behind Williamson).

    Now perhaps someone would say compare them all over the course of their entire careers, but he's still at least comparable (with his average of 51 vs between 48-56 for the rest, and 35 centuries to their 30-32 - his in 149 matches to their 102-119).
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 96,578

    It is with regret that I need to inform you all that my wife has just put up some Christmas lights outside our house.

    And you permit this?

    Good, we are supposed to keep the spirit of Christmas with us all year round.
  • bigglesbiggles Posts: 6,198

    It is with regret that I need to inform you all that my wife has just put up some Christmas lights outside our house.

    £50 and I can make sure they don’t last through tomorrow night….

    Wait - I’ve stumbled on a whole concept for a business!
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 63,114
    Featured, key, farm protester last week moaning about his acres in scotland turns out to be retired stock broker and former chair of LSE says Torsten Bell:


    https://x.com/TorstenBell/status/1861091299912237493
  • bigglesbiggles Posts: 6,198
    kle4 said:

    Former Australia coach Darren Lehmann says Joe Root needs to score a century down under to be considered an "all-time great" alongside fellow batters Virat Kohli of India, Australia's Steve Smith and New Zealander Kane Williamson.

    https://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/articles/c8xpk95rxw4o

    Well you can f##k right off.

    That's one of those attempts at slyly digging at someone which just fall flat, because his chosen reason is so clearly arbitrarily picked to make the point he wants.

    Since 2021 Root has scored more centuries than Smith, Kohli and Williamson combined (or he had a month ago when Cricinfo ran those numbers). He does play more Tests than all of them, but his average was 11 better than Smiths and 22 better than Kohlis in that period (and 4 behind Williamson).

    Now perhaps someone would say compare them all over the course of their entire careers, but he's still at least comparable (with his average of 51 vs between 48-56 for the rest, and 35 centuries to their 30-32 - his in 149 matches to their 102-119).
    Plus if not injured, I back him to get some runs next time.
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 32,945
    One of the things that put me off assisted dying was that interview with the Canadian doctor who refused to shake hands with the disabled British interviewer.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 96,578
    Andy_JS said:

    One of the things that put me off assisted dying was that interview with the Canadian doctor who refused to shake hands with the disabled British interviewer.

    WTF?
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 43,437
    kle4 said:

    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    The person whose image is being used in that tube advert as a supposed terminal cancer patient is actually in remission. This is her:

    https://x.com/sophieRblake/status/1838934022451327215

    It's beyond bizarre. It is the single most inappropriate ad I have ever seen, given the context. WTAF
    The lady in the ad is a big supporters of assisted dying.
    I don't care if she is Martian

    The ad is crass, creepy. weird, repugnant and they put it in a Tube station on a Tube network where thousands attempt suicide every year
    The more I see of (some of) the people who are for assisted dying, the more I worry that it isn't a good idea.

    I am all for it in principle, but like many good principles it might not survive meeting real world people.
    I am exactly the same. I started off marginally in favour, but I've seen too much weirdness and these ads are the clincher

    Back to the drawing board and start again, and do it slowly, carefully
    I was not really in favour from the start, and I accept private member bills can do significant things, but I do still feel its huge consequences have been downplayed and not enough time allocated for discussion even accepting it is not the final vote or anything. I still don't get the criticism of ministers speaking out against even though its a free vote and to deny them a voice would be unfair, nor some online criticism of those with religious motivations weighing in.

    Theere seems to be broad support for the principle, but more concern over some major details, and you cannot fix everything in committee if the skeleton of it is flawed, so I don't even buy that this is the only chance that will ever happen for it to be tried again if it were voted down now. It may even benefit from it.
    I don't see it coming back, especially if it fails by anything other than a sliver. And no new significant funding will be given for palliative and end-of-life care - at least nothing like what is required. So people will continue to suffer appallingly. Not that palliative care is enough anyway.

    (The answer is obviously to have both: assisted dying *and* massively better funding for palliative care. We will get neither.)
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 43,437

    A load of media talk about the threat of cyber war and how Russia might turn the lights off. I refuse to believe that Russia's cyber capabilities are greater than Nato's but we clearly aren't deterring them from doing it. Is it really beyond the wit of everyone in Nato to see that they only way to deal with Putin is through the threat of retaliation. At no point does the suggestion even appeared to have been on the table.

    Cyber warfare is the duck that has yet to really quack in this war. A decade ago, Russian hacker groups were regularly attempting, or managing, to penetrate our systems. Back in Feb 22, I expected more of the same. There's been some, but nowhere near as much as I expected, and not as disruptive. Cyber warfare is a potentially very cheap and exceptionally disruptive form of warfare.

    My WAG (and hope!) is that this is because their earlier incursions gave us warning, and allowed corporations and governmental organisations to improve security. Perhaps.
    It's all very well patting ourselves on the back about our defensive capabilities but when are we going to threaten to go on the offensive?
    That's a good question. Perhaps we don't want to, as we cannot be sure that the Russians don't have a really effective attack ready in response. If they're not attacking us in a major way, we will not attack them. Also, we are *technically* not at war with Russia. The stuff we're doing (sanctions, etc) are legal, non-war actions.
  • bigglesbiggles Posts: 6,198

    Featured, key, farm protester last week moaning about his acres in scotland turns out to be retired stock broker and former chair of LSE says Torsten Bell:


    https://x.com/TorstenBell/status/1861091299912237493

    So?
  • A load of media talk about the threat of cyber war and how Russia might turn the lights off. I refuse to believe that Russia's cyber capabilities are greater than Nato's but we clearly aren't deterring them from doing it. Is it really beyond the wit of everyone in Nato to see that they only way to deal with Putin is through the threat of retaliation. At no point does the suggestion even appeared to have been on the table.

    Cyber warfare is the duck that has yet to really quack in this war. A decade ago, Russian hacker groups were regularly attempting, or managing, to penetrate our systems. Back in Feb 22, I expected more of the same. There's been some, but nowhere near as much as I expected, and not as disruptive. Cyber warfare is a potentially very cheap and exceptionally disruptive form of warfare.

    My WAG (and hope!) is that this is because their earlier incursions gave us warning, and allowed corporations and governmental organisations to improve security. Perhaps.
    It's all very well patting ourselves on the back about our defensive capabilities but when are we going to threaten to go on the offensive?
    Perhaps the MoD could learn from PB's handling of Russian Trolls.

    In the right hands, mockery is a deadly weapon.
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 43,437
    MaxPB said:

    It turns out that the Starmer ham pasta bake story is fake news. In fact he says “a hand-made sauce” which was misheard as ham.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mvkiv4DuF6g

    That actually makes so much more sense. Il sugo fatto in casa è anche mio piatto preferito.

    I hope all those people in the previous thread defending the stupid ham pasta will now repent. Home made sauce is such a better choice and much less weird for a guy with a Jewish family and much more authentic for anyone who cooks at home.
    No. You were being a prat.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 54,012
    kle4 said:

    Former Australia coach Darren Lehmann says Joe Root needs to score a century down under to be considered an "all-time great" alongside fellow batters Virat Kohli of India, Australia's Steve Smith and New Zealander Kane Williamson.

    https://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/articles/c8xpk95rxw4o

    Well you can f##k right off.

    That's one of those attempts at slyly digging at someone which just fall flat, because his chosen reason is so clearly arbitrarily picked to make the point he wants.

    Since 2021 Root has scored more centuries than Smith, Kohli and Williamson combined (or he had a month ago when Cricinfo ran those numbers). He does play more Tests than all of them, but his average was 11 better than Smiths and 22 better than Kohlis in that period (and 4 behind Williamson).

    Now perhaps someone would say compare them all over the course of their entire careers, but he's still at least comparable (with his average of 51 vs between 48-56 for the rest, and 35 centuries to their 30-32 - his in 149 matches to their 102-119).
    Root is indeed one of the GOAT but it’s also a fact that his game, developed on English pitches with Dukes balls built on the glide to third man is not ideally suited to a high bouncing pitch like Perth. Seems to suit the Indian batsmen though.
  • Andy_JS said:

    Former Australia coach Darren Lehmann says Joe Root needs to score a century down under to be considered an "all-time great" alongside fellow batters Virat Kohli of India, Australia's Steve Smith and New Zealander Kane Williamson.

    https://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/articles/c8xpk95rxw4o

    Well you can f##k right off.

    Didn't realise he hadn't scored one in Australia. But I don't keep as close an eye on cricket as I used to. Used to be utterly obsessed with the game a few years ago.
    It's a rather meaningless curiosity. Root's place in the pantheon of great batsmen is secure whatever he does in Australia.

    It would be nice to see him score some tons there, of course, but only because it is always good to see Aussies chasing leather across the barren wastes of their outfields.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 123,864
    Katya Adler interview with Merkel on BBC2 now
  • eekeek Posts: 28,585
    biggles said:

    Featured, key, farm protester last week moaning about his acres in scotland turns out to be retired stock broker and former chair of LSE says Torsten Bell:


    https://x.com/TorstenBell/status/1861091299912237493

    So?
    It's not exactly a long held generational family farm if he bought...
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 63,114
    edited November 25
    biggles said:

    Featured, key, farm protester last week moaning about his acres in scotland turns out to be retired stock broker and former chair of LSE says Torsten Bell:


    https://x.com/TorstenBell/status/1861091299912237493

    So?
    He's not a tenth generation farmer who has worked all his life from day to dusk scraping a living off the unyielding earth, he's a retired stockbroker who may well have always wanted to have a farm as a retirement hobby but is also trying to avoid IHT.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,405

    Former Australia coach Darren Lehmann says Joe Root needs to score a century down under to be considered an "all-time great" alongside fellow batters Virat Kohli of India, Australia's Steve Smith and New Zealander Kane Williamson.

    https://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/articles/c8xpk95rxw4o

    Well you can f##k right off.

    Need to change the subject from the absolute tonking they took in Perth lol
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 51,082

    A load of media talk about the threat of cyber war and how Russia might turn the lights off. I refuse to believe that Russia's cyber capabilities are greater than Nato's but we clearly aren't deterring them from doing it. Is it really beyond the wit of everyone in Nato to see that they only way to deal with Putin is through the threat of retaliation. At no point does the suggestion even appeared to have been on the table.

    Cyber warfare is the duck that has yet to really quack in this war. A decade ago, Russian hacker groups were regularly attempting, or managing, to penetrate our systems. Back in Feb 22, I expected more of the same. There's been some, but nowhere near as much as I expected, and not as disruptive. Cyber warfare is a potentially very cheap and exceptionally disruptive form of warfare.

    My WAG (and hope!) is that this is because their earlier incursions gave us warning, and allowed corporations and governmental organisations to improve security. Perhaps.
    It's all very well patting ourselves on the back about our defensive capabilities but when are we going to threaten to go on the offensive?
    1982, according to some…

    https://www.wired.com/2004/03/soviets-burned-by-cia-hackers/
  • Northern_AlNorthern_Al Posts: 8,471
    edited November 25
    Has anybody mentioned Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence?

    Well, it's got Christmas in the title. What more do you need?
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 54,012
    HYUFD said:

    Katya Adler interview with Merkel on BBC2 now

    Heard some of that on the Today program this morning. If that was the highlights I wouldn’t be bothered about the rest. Still smug, conceited and keen to blame everyone else for her egregious failures.
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 43,437
    Mortgage rates in Russia have allegedly reached 30%.

    Ouch.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 96,578
    DavidL said:

    HYUFD said:

    Katya Adler interview with Merkel on BBC2 now

    Still smug, conceited and keen to blame everyone else for her egregious failures.
    Not so groundbreaking a politician as some might have liked to believe then.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 52,268

    Mortgage rates in Russia have allegedly reached 30%.

    Ouch.

    If it's not hurting, it's not working.
  • Pulpstar said:

    Former Australia coach Darren Lehmann says Joe Root needs to score a century down under to be considered an "all-time great" alongside fellow batters Virat Kohli of India, Australia's Steve Smith and New Zealander Kane Williamson.

    https://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/articles/c8xpk95rxw4o

    Well you can f##k right off.

    Need to change the subject from the absolute tonking they took in Perth lol
    And by the side that was just recently hammered by NZ!
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 63,114
    Insurrection case against Trump dropped by Jack Smith. What a surprise.


    Special Counsel Moves to Dismiss 2 Felony Cases Against Trump

    NY Times blog
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 96,578
    edited November 25

    Insurrection case against Trump dropped by Jack Smith. What a surprise.


    Special Counsel Moves to Dismiss 2 Felony Cases Against Trump

    NY Times blog

    They should have appointed him a year earlier - he got things moving, but they really underestimated how successfully matters could be delayed.
  • Northern_AlNorthern_Al Posts: 8,471
    edited November 25
    DavidL said:

    HYUFD said:

    Katya Adler interview with Merkel on BBC2 now

    Heard some of that on the Today program this morning. If that was the highlights I wouldn’t be bothered about the rest. Still smug, conceited and keen to blame everyone else for her egregious failures.
    I've no strong view on Merkel, but I do get the impression that much of the scathing criticism of her is made with a huge dollop of hindsight.
    My memory is that she was highly regarded by most people, of various political stripes, for much of the 16 years she was in power.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 52,268
    Merkel says that allowing Ukraine to join NATO would have compromised NATO's security and she hoped it would have a relationship like Finland.
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 57,608

    Mortgage rates in Russia have allegedly reached 30%.

    Ouch.

    Personally, I think the much bigger issue for the Russian economy is the price of food. The Russian government has been most afraid of civil unrest breaking out in its major cities. As a result, it has raised the bulk of its forces from smaller towns and the countryside. This has severely affected food production and distribution, meaning that the price of many perishable foodstuffs - particularly vegetables - have risen 70-100% this year.

    It is a testament to Putin's machinery of control that Russians have taken a fairly horrible hit to their living standards and not yet risen up... At the same time, if they need more and more soldiers at the front, the problem is going to keep getting worse.

  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 32,945
    I don't like these petitions because they, if only very slightly, help to undermine parliamentary democracy, which isn't good.
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 32,945
    kle4 said:

    Andy_JS said:

    One of the things that put me off assisted dying was that interview with the Canadian doctor who refused to shake hands with the disabled British interviewer.

    WTF?
    It wasn't because she was disabled, it was due to some sort of hangover from the Covid pandemic, but I still didn't like it much.
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 57,608
    kle4 said:

    Insurrection case against Trump dropped by Jack Smith. What a surprise.


    Special Counsel Moves to Dismiss 2 Felony Cases Against Trump

    NY Times blog

    They should have appointed him a year earlier - he got things moving, but they really underestimated how successfully matters could be delayed.
    I suspect if they hadn't appointed him at all, then there would have been a much more competitive Republican Primary. Prosecuting Donald put him back in the public eye.
  • CookieCookie Posts: 14,069

    DavidL said:

    HYUFD said:

    Katya Adler interview with Merkel on BBC2 now

    Heard some of that on the Today program this morning. If that was the highlights I wouldn’t be bothered about the rest. Still smug, conceited and keen to blame everyone else for her egregious failures.
    I've no strong view on Merkel, but I do get the impression that much of the scathing criticism of her is made with a huge dollop of hindsight.
    My memory is that she was highly regarded by most people, of various political stripes, for much of the 16 years she was in power.
    Well yes. I think it was commented earlier that there are almost no politicians on the world stage whise star has fallen so far after leaving office. Apart from Gerhard Schroder.

    Even when she elected to import 1 million people from the Middle East, the median reaction was just a "that's brave". Because it was assumed she was caoable and knew what she was doing.
    Only belatedly did it become apparent hiw catastrophic her decision making had been.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 54,012

    biggles said:

    Featured, key, farm protester last week moaning about his acres in scotland turns out to be retired stock broker and former chair of LSE says Torsten Bell:


    https://x.com/TorstenBell/status/1861091299912237493

    So?
    He's not a tenth generation farmer who has worked all his life from day to dusk scraping a living off the unyielding earth, he's a retired stockbroker who may well have always wanted to have a farm as a retirement hobby but is also trying to avoid IHT.
    One of the greatest judgments in English law is Lord Dennings judgment in the appeal of Lloyd’s Bank v Bundy. When I taught written pleadings I used to use the start as an example of how they should be done. It starts:
    “ Broadchalke is one of the most pleasing villages in England. Old Herbert Bundy was a farmer there. His home was at Yew Tree Farm, It went back for 300 years. His family had been there for generations. It was his only asset. But he did a very foolish thing. He mortgaged it to the bank.”

    Anyone who has not realised that this was not going to go well for the bank isn’t paying attention.
  • I wonder if @TheScreamingEagles considers Miracle on 34th Street, first released 4 June 1947, to be a Christmas Movie?
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 96,578
    edited November 25
    Andy_JS said:

    I don't like these petitions because they, if only very slightly, help to undermine parliamentary democracy, which isn't good.

    Parliament has long argued how to deal with petitions it receives.

    Note also Yorkshiremen have been groaning for at least 470 years

    9 December 1656

    Resolved, That Mr. Lee's petition, and all the other petitions, touching this business, may be referred to this Committee.

    Lord Eure brought in a Petition from Savoy Hospital, in Yorkshire; desired it might be read.

    Mr. Robinson and Sir William Strickland. Yorkshire does not often trouble you with petitions. It is so just it will soon be granted.

    Mr. Nathaniel Bacon. It is time to go to the order of the day, at eleven o'clock, if you intend to do any thing in it. I desire that no other business may oust a matter of such weight.

    Major-General Whalley. I moved you for a petition in the general, and am content to set that aside. I hope you will not admit a private petition, and reject a general petition.

    Alderman Foot. You should have some respect to poor Yorkshiremen. I desire their petition may be read.

    Mr. Margetts. You might have read this petition in half the time you have been debating it.

    Major Audley. It is too late to go to the order of the day now. I desire you would read both the private and the public petition.

    Resolved, That both these petitions be read to-morrow morning.

    The order of the day read, about Nayler.

    Major-General Howard. I offer a petition from some ministers of the North in relation to this business of the Quakers. Haply it may be some information to your proceedings in this particular.

    Mr. (fn. 3) brought in another long petition from Cheshire, to the same purpose; desired that they might be read.

    Mr. Robinson. I would not have you make any use of these petitions, or admit them upon your records as evidence. It is collateral matter, and ought not to be any direction to you, either to aggravate or extenuate the offence. These petitions may be offered more properly after.

    https://www.british-history.ac.uk/burton-diaries/vol1/pp81-92

    Parliament really hasn't changed all that much.
  • glwglw Posts: 9,954
    edited November 25

    My WAG (and hope!) is that this is because their earlier incursions gave us warning, and allowed corporations and governmental organisations to improve security. Perhaps.

    Perhaps? I see little evidence that corporate or government cybersecurity has improved by much. Only in the last few weeks we've found out that Chinese hackers had widespread access to the CALEA lawful access capabilities of US telecoms networks. i.e. The "safe" backdoor for law enforcement has proved to be the disaster that many expert cryptographers warned it would be.

    I assume that the main reason we don't see large scale attacks is that it is far more valuable for our enemies to surveil systems and emplace malware, and that they are keeping their powder dry.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 96,578
    rcs1000 said:

    kle4 said:

    Insurrection case against Trump dropped by Jack Smith. What a surprise.


    Special Counsel Moves to Dismiss 2 Felony Cases Against Trump

    NY Times blog

    They should have appointed him a year earlier - he got things moving, but they really underestimated how successfully matters could be delayed.
    I suspect if they hadn't appointed him at all, then there would have been a much more competitive Republican Primary. Prosecuting Donald put him back in the public eye.
    That might be so, but he very probably committed crimes, serious ones, if they were going to try to punish him for it they shouldn't half arse it.

    Of course Senators could have dealt with it themselves without that.
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 28,807
    On assisted dying, I don't want anyone to die in pain. But as per Foxy's comment that the NHS can offer 'potentially dangerous' levels of pain medication at the end of life, I don't see why dying in pain would be necessary. Why can't we just agree that nobody suffers at the end unless that's what they want? That's really as far as I think I want the NHS to go. And I don't really know, or see why Dame Diana Rigg apparently died in pain, or why Esther Rantzen thinks she might.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 123,864

    Merkel says that allowing Ukraine to join NATO would have compromised NATO's security and she hoped it would have a relationship like Finland.

    On that she was probably right, it would have seen Putin invade Ukraine much earlier
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 123,864
    edited November 25
    Cookie said:

    DavidL said:

    HYUFD said:

    Katya Adler interview with Merkel on BBC2 now

    Heard some of that on the Today program this morning. If that was the highlights I wouldn’t be bothered about the rest. Still smug, conceited and keen to blame everyone else for her egregious failures.
    I've no strong view on Merkel, but I do get the impression that much of the scathing criticism of her is made with a huge dollop of hindsight.
    My memory is that she was highly regarded by most people, of various political stripes, for much of the 16 years she was in power.
    Well yes. I think it was commented earlier that there are almost no politicians on the world stage whise star has fallen so far after leaving office. Apart from Gerhard Schroder.

    Even when she elected to import 1 million people from the Middle East, the median reaction was just a "that's brave". Because it was assumed she was caoable and knew what she was doing.
    Only belatedly did it become apparent hiw catastrophic her decision making had been.
    Fiscally she left a balanced budget and handled Covid and lockdowns well even if her asylum policies were perhaps too liberal and led to the rise of the AfD.

    She gave a good interview on what she did in office and what she learnt from it
  • Mortgage rates in Russia have allegedly reached 30%.

    Ouch.

    Russia is finding out the hard truth that any large scale war not a grossly one-sided contest is won or lost not on the battlefield but in factories, mines, banks and sea ports.
  • Israel and Lebanon close to ceasefire deal
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0rge45kw4jo

    Just rejoice at that news.
  • JohnLilburneJohnLilburne Posts: 6,312

    A load of media talk about the threat of cyber war and how Russia might turn the lights off. I refuse to believe that Russia's cyber capabilities are greater than Nato's but we clearly aren't deterring them from doing it. Is it really beyond the wit of everyone in Nato to see that they only way to deal with Putin is through the threat of retaliation. At no point does the suggestion even appeared to have been on the table.

    Cyber warfare is the duck that has yet to really quack in this war. A decade ago, Russian hacker groups were regularly attempting, or managing, to penetrate our systems. Back in Feb 22, I expected more of the same. There's been some, but nowhere near as much as I expected, and not as disruptive. Cyber warfare is a potentially very cheap and exceptionally disruptive form of warfare.

    My WAG (and hope!) is that this is because their earlier incursions gave us warning, and allowed corporations and governmental organisations to improve security. Perhaps.
    It's all very well patting ourselves on the back about our defensive capabilities but when are we going to threaten to go on the offensive?
    Why would we make threats? It's just telling the enemy what you plan to do. Just casually turn out the lights in Moscow, pretend it's nothing to do with us, snigger while the Muscovites go on a vodka-fuelled looting spree in the dark.

    At least the Danes have impounded that ship that is supposed to have cut the undersea cables.
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