OfCom seems comfortable enough with it's wholly partisan content, which if it were any other broadcaster would be sanctioned by means of licence withdrawal with immediate effect.
Hang on - media is allowed to be partisan. The Guardian and the Telegraph espouse different world views.
Surely what you can't do is lie?
Broadcast media isn't. The OfCom charter insists on impartiality.
Yet, as you acknowledge yesterday ITV News has a left of centre bias and Channel 4 clearly does. The Last Leg recently featured Zack attack and was verging on the deferential in its coverage.
Last week I was in London for a few days again, I had my iPhone 17 Pro Max 2TB in Cosmic Orange out on public display whilst wearing an expensive watch and I wasn’t mugged, again.
Crazy day in London yesterday. I wasn't mugged. I wasn't subject to Sharia Law. I somehow avoided all the no go areas for white prople. All this despite the absence of protective flags on lampposts. Insane!
Go to London, I guarantee you'll either be mugged or not appreciated. Catch the train to London, stopping at Rejection, Disappointment, Backstabbing Central and Shattered Dreams Parkway.
Network Rail reflecting their architecture in those names.
Last week I was in London for a few days again, I had my iPhone 17 Pro Max 2TB in Cosmic Orange out on public display whilst wearing an expensive watch and I wasn’t mugged, again.
Crazy day in London yesterday. I wasn't mugged. I wasn't subject to Sharia Law. I somehow avoided all the no go areas for white prople. All this despite the absence of protective flags on lampposts. Insane!
Ditto. Trip to Islington and Highgate. Meal out then went to see Dea Matrona at The Garage. I was at Activate at the O2 the previous week and walked to the Southbank for dinner and the week before that I visited my son in Tottenham. Helping him move from Cambridge. Still got my wallet and phone. Shockingly disappointing.
OfCom seems comfortable enough with it's wholly partisan content, which if it were any other broadcaster would be sanctioned by means of licence withdrawal with immediate effect.
Hang on - media is allowed to be partisan. The Guardian and the Telegraph espouse different world views.
Surely what you can't do is lie?
Broadcast media is not allowed to be partisan in the UK. That's the law.
How does that work in practice? Watch say 'The Last Leg' and you see some pretty partisan stuff. Is it ok because its not news?
News specifically has to be impartial. The Last Leg is not a news programme, neither it would seem is any GBNews content despite the oxymoron that is "GBNews".
OfCom seems comfortable enough with it's wholly partisan content, which if it were any other broadcaster would be sanctioned by means of licence withdrawal with immediate effect.
Hang on - media is allowed to be partisan. The Guardian and the Telegraph espouse different world views.
Surely what you can't do is lie?
Broadcast media isn't. The OfCom charter insists on impartiality.
Been clarified on here - news must be impartial. I guess the grey areas is what counts as news. A channel called GB News might be expected to be ALL news...
OfCom seems comfortable enough with it's wholly partisan content, which if it were any other broadcaster would be sanctioned by means of licence withdrawal with immediate effect.
Hang on - media is allowed to be partisan. The Guardian and the Telegraph espouse different world views.
Surely what you can't do is lie?
Broadcast media isn't. The OfCom charter insists on impartiality.
Been clarified on here - news must be impartial. I guess the grey areas is what counts as news. A channel called GB News might be expected to be ALL news...
You're reading it wrongly: it's GBN Ews. Because you go "ew" when you watch it.
OfCom seems comfortable enough with it's wholly partisan content, which if it were any other broadcaster would be sanctioned by means of licence withdrawal with immediate effect.
Hang on - media is allowed to be partisan. The Guardian and the Telegraph espouse different world views.
Surely what you can't do is lie?
Broadcast media is not allowed to be partisan in the UK. That's the law.
How does that work in practice? Watch say 'The Last Leg' and you see some pretty partisan stuff. Is it ok because its not news?
News specifically has to be impartial. The Last Leg is not a news programme, neither it would seem is any GBNews content despite the oxymoron that is "GBNews".
OfCom seems comfortable enough with it's wholly partisan content, which if it were any other broadcaster would be sanctioned by means of licence withdrawal with immediate effect.
Hang on - media is allowed to be partisan. The Guardian and the Telegraph espouse different world views.
Surely what you can't do is lie?
Broadcast media isn't. The OfCom charter insists on impartiality.
Been clarified on here - news must be impartial. I guess the grey areas is what counts as news. A channel called GB News might be expected to be ALL news...
On a slightly more benign note you’d have expected the old MTV, Music TV, to be full of music.
I’m guessing Talk TV does what it says on the tin.
Always wondered with a Dyson sphere - would it not just get really really hot as its absorbing ALL the solar radiation? And then become an emitter itself? Are any red dwarves actually very hot Dyson spheres? Or is that nonsense?
Of course. SETI actually looks for infra red emitters which might match the theoretical signature, and has come up with various candidates.
Which are likely just stars, or even dust clouds... but who knows ?
OfCom seems comfortable enough with it's wholly partisan content, which if it were any other broadcaster would be sanctioned by means of licence withdrawal with immediate effect.
Hang on - media is allowed to be partisan. The Guardian and the Telegraph espouse different world views.
Surely what you can't do is lie?
Broadcast media isn't. The OfCom charter insists on impartiality.
Yet, as you acknowledge yesterday ITV News has a left of centre bias and Channel 4 clearly does. The Last Leg recently featured Zack attack and was verging on the deferential in its coverage.
The ITV News bias is not to criticise the Government, but to report. They do not offer an opinion. One could argue that by not offering an opinion they are partial, but if they do not offer an opinion against any other political party I don't envisage a problem.
Chris Mason on the BBC has come close to offering an opinion on this government's incompetence.
OfCom seems comfortable enough with it's wholly partisan content, which if it were any other broadcaster would be sanctioned by means of licence withdrawal with immediate effect.
Hang on - media is allowed to be partisan. The Guardian and the Telegraph espouse different world views.
Surely what you can't do is lie?
Broadcast media isn't. The OfCom charter insists on impartiality.
Been clarified on here - news must be impartial. I guess the grey areas is what counts as news. A channel called GB News might be expected to be ALL news...
I suppose being as it's entire content is fictional it navigates around the rules.
Last week I was in London for a few days again, I had my iPhone 17 Pro Max 2TB in Cosmic Orange out on public display whilst wearing an expensive watch and I wasn’t mugged, again.
Crazy day in London yesterday. I wasn't mugged. I wasn't subject to Sharia Law. I somehow avoided all the no go areas for white prople. All this despite the absence of protective flags on lampposts. Insane!
Ditto. Trip to Islington and Highgate. Meal out then went to see Dea Matrona at The Garage. I was at Activate at the O2 the previous week and walked to the Southbank for dinner and the week before that I visited my son in Tottenham. Helping him move from Cambridge. Still got my wallet and phone. Shockingly disappointing.
My wife and I celebrated our 50th birthdays on Saturday with a big party in New Cross. We walked home around 3.30am without incident, although one guy in a passing BMW did note the "50" helium balloons I was carrying back from the venue and was inspired to shout "old c*nt" at me. In SE London the c word is largely used with affection, though.
Last week I was in London for a few days again, I had my iPhone 17 Pro Max 2TB in Cosmic Orange out on public display whilst wearing an expensive watch and I wasn’t mugged, again.
Crazy day in London yesterday. I wasn't mugged. I wasn't subject to Sharia Law. I somehow avoided all the no go areas for white prople. All this despite the absence of protective flags on lampposts. Insane!
Ditto. Trip to Islington and Highgate. Meal out then went to see Dea Matrona at The Garage. I was at Activate at the O2 the previous week and walked to the Southbank for dinner and the week before that I visited my son in Tottenham. Helping him move from Cambridge. Still got my wallet and phone. Shockingly disappointing.
My wife and I celebrated our 50th birthdays on Saturday with a big party in New Cross. We walked home around 3.30am without incident, although one guy in a passing BMW did note the "50" helium balloons I was carrying back from the venue and was inspired to shout "old c*nt" at me. In SE London the c word is largely used with affection, though.
Perhaps develop a spine and stand up and point out they don’t do too badly all things considered.
Not all of them are entitled whiners like the WASPI lot.
I think the issue is the admin nightmare which will ensue once the standard state pension is above the personal allowance.
The issue arises because DWP appear to have no way of deducting PAYE, so for those with no other income apart from the state pension all HMRC can do is issue tax demands, which will cause immense confusion for many pensioners. (For those with other income, HMRC can pass the PAYE collection onto the other income provide by weighting the recipient's tax code.)
OfCom seems comfortable enough with it's wholly partisan content, which if it were any other broadcaster would be sanctioned by means of licence withdrawal with immediate effect.
Hang on - media is allowed to be partisan. The Guardian and the Telegraph espouse different world views.
Surely what you can't do is lie?
Broadcast media isn't. The OfCom charter insists on impartiality.
Yet, as you acknowledge yesterday ITV News has a left of centre bias and Channel 4 clearly does. The Last Leg recently featured Zack attack and was verging on the deferential in its coverage.
Chris Mason on the BBC has come close to offering an opinion on this government's incompetence.
Mason also opined at the finale of the Reform Conference how dynamic all their politicians and delegates were.
In the interests of balance perhaps he could have highlighted their racist tendencies.
Last week I was in London for a few days again, I had my iPhone 17 Pro Max 2TB in Cosmic Orange out on public display whilst wearing an expensive watch and I wasn’t mugged, again.
Crazy day in London yesterday. I wasn't mugged. I wasn't subject to Sharia Law. I somehow avoided all the no go areas for white prople. All this despite the absence of protective flags on lampposts. Insane!
Did you see anyone fare dodging? Every time I visit London these days I see it happening.
Always wondered with a Dyson sphere - would it not just get really really hot as its absorbing ALL the solar radiation? And then become an emitter itself? Are any red dwarves actually very hot Dyson spheres? Or is that nonsense?
They would have a very peculiar spectral signature, very different from a red dwarf. There have been searches for them, but nothing has been found (yet).
Last week I was in London for a few days again, I had my iPhone 17 Pro Max 2TB in Cosmic Orange out on public display whilst wearing an expensive watch and I wasn’t mugged, again.
Crazy day in London yesterday. I wasn't mugged. I wasn't subject to Sharia Law. I somehow avoided all the no go areas for white prople. All this despite the absence of protective flags on lampposts. Insane!
Did you see anyone fare dodging? Every time I visit London these days I see it happening.
So No10/the PM's attempts to quell speculation about any challenge to his leadership seem to have led to every speech or interview by one of his colleagues being viewed as some sort of leadership pitch
It's political stunt karma
One should be very careful saying "stunt karma" when talking about Sir Keir
Last week I was in London for a few days again, I had my iPhone 17 Pro Max 2TB in Cosmic Orange out on public display whilst wearing an expensive watch and I wasn’t mugged, again.
Crazy day in London yesterday. I wasn't mugged. I wasn't subject to Sharia Law. I somehow avoided all the no go areas for white prople. All this despite the absence of protective flags on lampposts. Insane!
Did you see anyone fare dodging? Every time I visit London these days I see it happening.
On my 3 trips in the last 2 weeks I visited umpteen underground stations and several mainline stations at busy times and not so busy times. Not a single fare dodger spotted. They obviously exist, but no evidence and the staff were alert as twice I had to be let through as my travel card did not open the gates. That seems to be a regular problem at Vauxhall, but it also happens elsewhere.
Last week I was in London for a few days again, I had my iPhone 17 Pro Max 2TB in Cosmic Orange out on public display whilst wearing an expensive watch and I wasn’t mugged, again.
Crazy day in London yesterday. I wasn't mugged. I wasn't subject to Sharia Law. I somehow avoided all the no go areas for white prople. All this despite the absence of protective flags on lampposts. Insane!
Ditto. Trip to Islington and Highgate. Meal out then went to see Dea Matrona at The Garage. I was at Activate at the O2 the previous week and walked to the Southbank for dinner and the week before that I visited my son in Tottenham. Helping him move from Cambridge. Still got my wallet and phone. Shockingly disappointing.
My wife and I celebrated our 50th birthdays on Saturday with a big party in New Cross. We walked home around 3.30am without incident, although one guy in a passing BMW did note the "50" helium balloons I was carrying back from the venue and was inspired to shout "old c*nt" at me. In SE London the c word is largely used with affection, though.
I too had a bit of a London jaunt last weekend - Enfield, Shepherd's Bush, Islington and Hackney. The only vague bit of aggro we had was with this bloke cycling along the pavement with no lights at midnight, but he looked and sounded like hearty Anglo-Saxon stock.
So No10/the PM's attempts to quell speculation about any challenge to his leadership seem to have led to every speech or interview by one of his colleagues being viewed as some sort of leadership pitch
It's political stunt karma
One should be very careful saying "stunt karma" when talking about Sir Keir
"Nigel Farage has backed Shabana Mahmood’s asylum crackdown after the home secretary told the Reform UK leader to “sod off”. Mr Farage told a central London press conference on Tuesday: “Rhetorically we would agree with a lot of what the Home Secretary said.”"
Marjorie Taylor Greene: "I was called a traitor by a man that I fought for 6 years for. I gave him my loyalty for free. I've never owed him anything. Let me tell you what a traitor is -- a traitor is an American that serves foreign countries."
Perhaps develop a spine and stand up and point out they don’t do too badly all things considered.
Not all of them are entitled whiners like the WASPI lot.
I think the issue is the admin nightmare which will ensue once the standard state pension is above the personal allowance.
The issue arises because DWP appear to have no way of deducting PAYE, so for those with no other income apart from the state pension all HMRC can do is issue tax demands, which will cause immense confusion for many pensioners. (For those with other income, HMRC can pass the PAYE collection onto the other income provide by weighting the recipient's tax code.)
Ah, right, that wasn’t made clear.
Perhaps they could simply collect the tax for people with private pensions through a reduced tax code ?
They do it to recoup tax owed, it’s happened to me.
Doesn’t do anything for the tax liability for those with no private pension.
Other than that I don’t know but they cannot have the working people penalised with limits not moving while pensioners avoid the freeze on the state pension.
Okay this cloudfare thing is affecting my work now - this is getting serious! Can't access reaxys to check on a new compound... Will have to spend more time on PB or go to the library...
Last week I was in London for a few days again, I had my iPhone 17 Pro Max 2TB in Cosmic Orange out on public display whilst wearing an expensive watch and I wasn’t mugged, again.
Crazy day in London yesterday. I wasn't mugged. I wasn't subject to Sharia Law. I somehow avoided all the no go areas for white prople. All this despite the absence of protective flags on lampposts. Insane!
Ditto. Trip to Islington and Highgate. Meal out then went to see Dea Matrona at The Garage. I was at Activate at the O2 the previous week and walked to the Southbank for dinner and the week before that I visited my son in Tottenham. Helping him move from Cambridge. Still got my wallet and phone. Shockingly disappointing.
My wife and I celebrated our 50th birthdays on Saturday with a big party in New Cross. We walked home around 3.30am without incident, although one guy in a passing BMW did note the "50" helium balloons I was carrying back from the venue and was inspired to shout "old c*nt" at me. In SE London the c word is largely used with affection, though.
Wiper-snapper. My wife got me tickets for my 71st birthday (even though there are a few days to go). Dea Matrona were excellent. Supported by the Garage Flowers who were described as 'punk infused scuzz pop' whatever that means. I was dreading them so headed to the bar at the back of the venue. Apart from the fact that they should have been home doing their homework they actually weren't bad, but I couldn't have taken more than 30 minutes of it. I thought another member of the audience summed them up well saying 'I've heard worse'.
Perhaps develop a spine and stand up and point out they don’t do too badly all things considered.
Not all of them are entitled whiners like the WASPI lot.
I think the issue is the admin nightmare which will ensue once the standard state pension is above the personal allowance.
The issue arises because DWP appear to have no way of deducting PAYE, so for those with no other income apart from the state pension all HMRC can do is issue tax demands, which will cause immense confusion for many pensioners. (For those with other income, HMRC can pass the PAYE collection onto the other income provide by weighting the recipient's tax code.)
You get to set the rules if you're Chancellor. The easiest way to deal with this problem is to ignore it. As long as you have no income other than the pension, no tax is payable - maybe a percentage is deducted from the Triple Lock to cover the notional tax. Any other PAYE earnings take the pension into account as now.
Perhaps develop a spine and stand up and point out they don’t do too badly all things considered.
Not all of them are entitled whiners like the WASPI lot.
I think the issue is the admin nightmare which will ensue once the standard state pension is above the personal allowance.
The issue arises because DWP appear to have no way of deducting PAYE, so for those with no other income apart from the state pension all HMRC can do is issue tax demands, which will cause immense confusion for many pensioners. (For those with other income, HMRC can pass the PAYE collection onto the other income provide by weighting the recipient's tax code.)
Ah, right, that wasn’t made clear.
1. Perhaps they could simply collect the tax for people with private pensions through a reduced tax code ?
They do it to recoup tax owed, it’s happened to me.
2. Doesn’t do anything for the tax liability for those with no private pension.
3. Other than that I don’t know but they cannot have the working people penalised with limits not moving while pensioners avoid the freeze on the state pension.
I added numbers to simplify my response:
1. They do. 2. That's my point, that's the issue. 3. I agree, but no one's asked me to be CoE yet.
Last week I was in London for a few days again, I had my iPhone 17 Pro Max 2TB in Cosmic Orange out on public display whilst wearing an expensive watch and I wasn’t mugged, again.
Crazy day in London yesterday. I wasn't mugged. I wasn't subject to Sharia Law. I somehow avoided all the no go areas for white prople. All this despite the absence of protective flags on lampposts. Insane!
Ditto. Trip to Islington and Highgate. Meal out then went to see Dea Matrona at The Garage. I was at Activate at the O2 the previous week and walked to the Southbank for dinner and the week before that I visited my son in Tottenham. Helping him move from Cambridge. Still got my wallet and phone. Shockingly disappointing.
My wife and I celebrated our 50th birthdays on Saturday with a big party in New Cross. We walked home around 3.30am without incident, although one guy in a passing BMW did note the "50" helium balloons I was carrying back from the venue and was inspired to shout "old c*nt" at me. In SE London the c word is largely used with affection, though.
Wiper-snapper. My wife got me tickets for my 71st birthday (even though there are a few days to go). Dea Matrona were excellent. Supported by the Garage Flowers who were described as 'punk infused scuzz pop' whatever that means. I was dreading them so headed to the bar at the back of the venue. Apart from the fact that they should have been home doing their homework they actually weren't bad, but I couldn't have taken more than 30 minutes of it. I thought another member of the audience summed them up well saying 'I've heard worse'.
Last week I was in London for a few days again, I had my iPhone 17 Pro Max 2TB in Cosmic Orange out on public display whilst wearing an expensive watch and I wasn’t mugged, again.
Crazy day in London yesterday. I wasn't mugged. I wasn't subject to Sharia Law. I somehow avoided all the no go areas for white prople. All this despite the absence of protective flags on lampposts. Insane!
Ditto. Trip to Islington and Highgate. Meal out then went to see Dea Matrona at The Garage. I was at Activate at the O2 the previous week and walked to the Southbank for dinner and the week before that I visited my son in Tottenham. Helping him move from Cambridge. Still got my wallet and phone. Shockingly disappointing.
My wife and I celebrated our 50th birthdays on Saturday with a big party in New Cross. We walked home around 3.30am without incident, although one guy in a passing BMW did note the "50" helium balloons I was carrying back from the venue and was inspired to shout "old c*nt" at me. In SE London the c word is largely used with affection, though.
Wiper-snapper. My wife got me tickets for my 71st birthday (even though there are a few days to go). Dea Matrona were excellent. Supported by the Garage Flowers who were described as 'punk infused scuzz pop' whatever that means. I was dreading them so headed to the bar at the back of the venue. Apart from the fact that they should have been home doing their homework they actually weren't bad, but I couldn't have taken more than 30 minutes of it. I thought another member of the audience summed them up well saying 'I've heard worse'.
Sounds like a good night out. I hope I am still going to gigs in 21 years!
Last week I was in London for a few days again, I had my iPhone 17 Pro Max 2TB in Cosmic Orange out on public display whilst wearing an expensive watch and I wasn’t mugged, again.
Crazy day in London yesterday. I wasn't mugged. I wasn't subject to Sharia Law. I somehow avoided all the no go areas for white prople. All this despite the absence of protective flags on lampposts. Insane!
Did you see anyone fare dodging? Every time I visit London these days I see it happening.
Depends on the station. Kew not so much - they have a heavy presence of staff to guide people through who are visiting the gardens. Hammersmith - non stop.
Last week I was in London for a few days again, I had my iPhone 17 Pro Max 2TB in Cosmic Orange out on public display whilst wearing an expensive watch and I wasn’t mugged, again.
Crazy day in London yesterday. I wasn't mugged. I wasn't subject to Sharia Law. I somehow avoided all the no go areas for white prople. All this despite the absence of protective flags on lampposts. Insane!
Ditto. Trip to Islington and Highgate. Meal out then went to see Dea Matrona at The Garage. I was at Activate at the O2 the previous week and walked to the Southbank for dinner and the week before that I visited my son in Tottenham. Helping him move from Cambridge. Still got my wallet and phone. Shockingly disappointing.
My wife and I celebrated our 50th birthdays on Saturday with a big party in New Cross. We walked home around 3.30am without incident, although one guy in a passing BMW did note the "50" helium balloons I was carrying back from the venue and was inspired to shout "old c*nt" at me. In SE London the c word is largely used with affection, though.
I too had a bit of a London jaunt last weekend - Enfield, Shepherd's Bush, Islington and Hackney. The only vague bit of aggro we had was with this bloke cycling along the pavement with no lights at midnight, but he looked and sounded like hearty Anglo-Saxon stock.
Central London always feels a lot safer than Central_Any_Regional_UK_Town to me.
Okay this cloudfare thing is affecting my work now - this is getting serious! Can't access reaxys to check on a new compound... Will have to spend more time on PB or go to the library...
You think that's bad? Board Game Arena is down. I'm suffering from serious Terraforming Mars withdrawal symptoms.
Last week I was in London for a few days again, I had my iPhone 17 Pro Max 2TB in Cosmic Orange out on public display whilst wearing an expensive watch and I wasn’t mugged, again.
Crazy day in London yesterday. I wasn't mugged. I wasn't subject to Sharia Law. I somehow avoided all the no go areas for white prople. All this despite the absence of protective flags on lampposts. Insane!
Ditto. Trip to Islington and Highgate. Meal out then went to see Dea Matrona at The Garage. I was at Activate at the O2 the previous week and walked to the Southbank for dinner and the week before that I visited my son in Tottenham. Helping him move from Cambridge. Still got my wallet and phone. Shockingly disappointing.
My wife and I celebrated our 50th birthdays on Saturday with a big party in New Cross. We walked home around 3.30am without incident, although one guy in a passing BMW did note the "50" helium balloons I was carrying back from the venue and was inspired to shout "old c*nt" at me. In SE London the c word is largely used with affection, though.
Wiper-snapper. My wife got me tickets for my 71st birthday (even though there are a few days to go). Dea Matrona were excellent. Supported by the Garage Flowers who were described as 'punk infused scuzz pop' whatever that means. I was dreading them so headed to the bar at the back of the venue. Apart from the fact that they should have been home doing their homework they actually weren't bad, but I couldn't have taken more than 30 minutes of it. I thought another member of the audience summed them up well saying 'I've heard worse'.
Years ago, the Hundred Club used to mix up their announcements and the actual schedules.
One night, was full of people expecting 40s music, but they had a punk band on.
Being the Hundred Club, everyone just got on with it.
Perhaps develop a spine and stand up and point out they don’t do too badly all things considered.
Not all of them are entitled whiners like the WASPI lot.
I think the issue is the admin nightmare which will ensue once the standard state pension is above the personal allowance.
The issue arises because DWP appear to have no way of deducting PAYE, so for those with no other income apart from the state pension all HMRC can do is issue tax demands, which will cause immense confusion for many pensioners. (For those with other income, HMRC can pass the PAYE collection onto the other income provide by weighting the recipient's tax code.)
You get to set the rules if you're Chancellor. The easiest way to deal with this problem is to ignore it. As long as you have no income other than the pension, no tax is payable - maybe a percentage is deducted from the Triple Lock to cover the notional tax. Any other PAYE earnings take the pension into account as now.
A thought that this problem will already exist for pensioners who increase their State Pension payments b by working beyond retirement age.
Last week I was in London for a few days again, I had my iPhone 17 Pro Max 2TB in Cosmic Orange out on public display whilst wearing an expensive watch and I wasn’t mugged, again.
Crazy day in London yesterday. I wasn't mugged. I wasn't subject to Sharia Law. I somehow avoided all the no go areas for white prople. All this despite the absence of protective flags on lampposts. Insane!
Ditto. Trip to Islington and Highgate. Meal out then went to see Dea Matrona at The Garage. I was at Activate at the O2 the previous week and walked to the Southbank for dinner and the week before that I visited my son in Tottenham. Helping him move from Cambridge. Still got my wallet and phone. Shockingly disappointing.
My wife and I celebrated our 50th birthdays on Saturday with a big party in New Cross. We walked home around 3.30am without incident, although one guy in a passing BMW did note the "50" helium balloons I was carrying back from the venue and was inspired to shout "old c*nt" at me. In SE London the c word is largely used with affection, though.
Wiper-snapper. My wife got me tickets for my 71st birthday (even though there are a few days to go). Dea Matrona were excellent. Supported by the Garage Flowers who were described as 'punk infused scuzz pop' whatever that means. I was dreading them so headed to the bar at the back of the venue. Apart from the fact that they should have been home doing their homework they actually weren't bad, but I couldn't have taken more than 30 minutes of it. I thought another member of the audience summed them up well saying 'I've heard worse'.
Sounds like a good night out. I hope I am still going to gigs in 21 years!
If you are in good health (luckily I am), why not. I stopped Catamaran sailing, Squash and Skiing a few years ago (although I have considered resuming the skiing, but I do like black runs, so might be too risky), but otherwise I still do stuff I did when I was young, plus now I can afford to drive a racing car.
Last week I was in London for a few days again, I had my iPhone 17 Pro Max 2TB in Cosmic Orange out on public display whilst wearing an expensive watch and I wasn’t mugged, again.
Crazy day in London yesterday. I wasn't mugged. I wasn't subject to Sharia Law. I somehow avoided all the no go areas for white prople. All this despite the absence of protective flags on lampposts. Insane!
Ditto. Trip to Islington and Highgate. Meal out then went to see Dea Matrona at The Garage. I was at Activate at the O2 the previous week and walked to the Southbank for dinner and the week before that I visited my son in Tottenham. Helping him move from Cambridge. Still got my wallet and phone. Shockingly disappointing.
My wife and I celebrated our 50th birthdays on Saturday with a big party in New Cross. We walked home around 3.30am without incident, although one guy in a passing BMW did note the "50" helium balloons I was carrying back from the venue and was inspired to shout "old c*nt" at me. In SE London the c word is largely used with affection, though.
I too had a bit of a London jaunt last weekend - Enfield, Shepherd's Bush, Islington and Hackney. The only vague bit of aggro we had was with this bloke cycling along the pavement with no lights at midnight, but he looked and sounded like hearty Anglo-Saxon stock.
Central London always feels a lot safer than Central_Any_Regional_UK_Town to me.
Slough or Bedford makes you understand Judge Dredd.
Last week I was in London for a few days again, I had my iPhone 17 Pro Max 2TB in Cosmic Orange out on public display whilst wearing an expensive watch and I wasn’t mugged, again.
Crazy day in London yesterday. I wasn't mugged. I wasn't subject to Sharia Law. I somehow avoided all the no go areas for white prople. All this despite the absence of protective flags on lampposts. Insane!
Ditto. Trip to Islington and Highgate. Meal out then went to see Dea Matrona at The Garage. I was at Activate at the O2 the previous week and walked to the Southbank for dinner and the week before that I visited my son in Tottenham. Helping him move from Cambridge. Still got my wallet and phone. Shockingly disappointing.
My wife and I celebrated our 50th birthdays on Saturday with a big party in New Cross. We walked home around 3.30am without incident, although one guy in a passing BMW did note the "50" helium balloons I was carrying back from the venue and was inspired to shout "old c*nt" at me. In SE London the c word is largely used with affection, though.
Wiper-snapper. My wife got me tickets for my 71st birthday (even though there are a few days to go). Dea Matrona were excellent. Supported by the Garage Flowers who were described as 'punk infused scuzz pop' whatever that means. I was dreading them so headed to the bar at the back of the venue. Apart from the fact that they should have been home doing their homework they actually weren't bad, but I couldn't have taken more than 30 minutes of it. I thought another member of the audience summed them up well saying 'I've heard worse'.
That's the monkeys at Longleat, shirley?
We have memberships (annual pass) at Longleat. My two year old is very insistent that we DO NOT take the car through the naughty monkeys.
Last week I was in London for a few days again, I had my iPhone 17 Pro Max 2TB in Cosmic Orange out on public display whilst wearing an expensive watch and I wasn’t mugged, again.
Crazy day in London yesterday. I wasn't mugged. I wasn't subject to Sharia Law. I somehow avoided all the no go areas for white prople. All this despite the absence of protective flags on lampposts. Insane!
Ditto. Trip to Islington and Highgate. Meal out then went to see Dea Matrona at The Garage. I was at Activate at the O2 the previous week and walked to the Southbank for dinner and the week before that I visited my son in Tottenham. Helping him move from Cambridge. Still got my wallet and phone. Shockingly disappointing.
My wife and I celebrated our 50th birthdays on Saturday with a big party in New Cross. We walked home around 3.30am without incident, although one guy in a passing BMW did note the "50" helium balloons I was carrying back from the venue and was inspired to shout "old c*nt" at me. In SE London the c word is largely used with affection, though.
I too had a bit of a London jaunt last weekend - Enfield, Shepherd's Bush, Islington and Hackney. The only vague bit of aggro we had was with this bloke cycling along the pavement with no lights at midnight, but he looked and sounded like hearty Anglo-Saxon stock.
Central London always feels a lot safer than Central_Any_Regional_UK_Town to me.
I always assumed that was because I was familiar with central London, but I wasn't familiar with the centre of random other UK towns.
Perhaps develop a spine and stand up and point out they don’t do too badly all things considered.
Not all of them are entitled whiners like the WASPI lot.
I think the issue is the admin nightmare which will ensue once the standard state pension is above the personal allowance.
The issue arises because DWP appear to have no way of deducting PAYE, so for those with no other income apart from the state pension all HMRC can do is issue tax demands, which will cause immense confusion for many pensioners. (For those with other income, HMRC can pass the PAYE collection onto the other income provide by weighting the recipient's tax code.)
Ah, right, that wasn’t made clear.
1. Perhaps they could simply collect the tax for people with private pensions through a reduced tax code ?
They do it to recoup tax owed, it’s happened to me.
2. Doesn’t do anything for the tax liability for those with no private pension.
3. Other than that I don’t know but they cannot have the working people penalised with limits not moving while pensioners avoid the freeze on the state pension.
I added numbers to simplify my response:
1. They do. 2. That's my point, that's the issue. 3. I agree, but no one's asked me to be CoE yet.
4. DWP, as I have moaned passim, are indeed incapable of PAYE deductions. Worse still, 5, Their way of calculating annual income isn't that of HMRC (except possibly actors and similar). It's arcane and irrational. The methodology they themselves give is *not* reliable. 6. Buggers can't even do P60s, which means that it's even more impossible to do PAYE on other income, or at least to check the figure given is correct.
Perhaps develop a spine and stand up and point out they don’t do too badly all things considered.
Not all of them are entitled whiners like the WASPI lot.
I think the issue is the admin nightmare which will ensue once the standard state pension is above the personal allowance.
The issue arises because DWP appear to have no way of deducting PAYE, so for those with no other income apart from the state pension all HMRC can do is issue tax demands, which will cause immense confusion for many pensioners. (For those with other income, HMRC can pass the PAYE collection onto the other income provide by weighting the recipient's tax code.)
You get to set the rules if you're Chancellor. The easiest way to deal with this problem is to ignore it. As long as you have no income other than the pension, no tax is payable - maybe a percentage is deducted from the Triple Lock to cover the notional tax. Any other PAYE earnings take the pension into account as now.
A thought that this problem will already exist for pensioners who increase their State Pension payments b by working beyond retirement age.
All round, would be easier to increase the personal allowance. The tax gained probably won’t pay for the admin, for a start.
And we are back to pensioner tax. The issue isn’t people on just the basic pension. Making that free of tax is just sensible.
Perhaps develop a spine and stand up and point out they don’t do too badly all things considered.
Not all of them are entitled whiners like the WASPI lot.
I think the issue is the admin nightmare which will ensue once the standard state pension is above the personal allowance.
The issue arises because DWP appear to have no way of deducting PAYE, so for those with no other income apart from the state pension all HMRC can do is issue tax demands, which will cause immense confusion for many pensioners. (For those with other income, HMRC can pass the PAYE collection onto the other income provide by weighting the recipient's tax code.)
You get to set the rules if you're Chancellor. The easiest way to deal with this problem is to ignore it. As long as you have no income other than the pension, no tax is payable - maybe a percentage is deducted from the Triple Lock to cover the notional tax. Any other PAYE earnings take the pension into account as now.
There are already people for whom State Pension is their only income who are receiving HMRC tax demands. I know because I have had to explain why to two CAB clients (and help them make the payments). These are people on the old-style SP with an earnings-related component.
There would have to be an explicit higher personal allowance - HMRC can't decide not to collect tax because it's a lot of admin.
Perhaps develop a spine and stand up and point out they don’t do too badly all things considered.
Not all of them are entitled whiners like the WASPI lot.
I think the issue is the admin nightmare which will ensue once the standard state pension is above the personal allowance.
The issue arises because DWP appear to have no way of deducting PAYE, so for those with no other income apart from the state pension all HMRC can do is issue tax demands, which will cause immense confusion for many pensioners. (For those with other income, HMRC can pass the PAYE collection onto the other income provide by weighting the recipient's tax code.)
You get to set the rules if you're Chancellor. The easiest way to deal with this problem is to ignore it. As long as you have no income other than the pension, no tax is payable - maybe a percentage is deducted from the Triple Lock to cover the notional tax. Any other PAYE earnings take the pension into account as now.
A thought that this problem will already exist for pensioners who increase their State Pension payments b by working beyond retirement age.
All round, would be easier to increase the personal allowance. The tax gained probably won’t pay for the admin, for a start.
And we are back to pensioner tax. The issue isn’t people on just the basic pension. Making that free of tax is just sensible.
One other point - there is a State Pension which will [edit] often be above HMRC IT limit: the SERPS. (From a scheme where one could pay extra into the state pension instead of an employer scheme - to ensure some relation of the pension to earnings.) No idea how they handle tax on that.
Last week I was in London for a few days again, I had my iPhone 17 Pro Max 2TB in Cosmic Orange out on public display whilst wearing an expensive watch and I wasn’t mugged, again.
Crazy day in London yesterday. I wasn't mugged. I wasn't subject to Sharia Law. I somehow avoided all the no go areas for white prople. All this despite the absence of protective flags on lampposts. Insane!
Ditto. Trip to Islington and Highgate. Meal out then went to see Dea Matrona at The Garage. I was at Activate at the O2 the previous week and walked to the Southbank for dinner and the week before that I visited my son in Tottenham. Helping him move from Cambridge. Still got my wallet and phone. Shockingly disappointing.
My wife and I celebrated our 50th birthdays on Saturday with a big party in New Cross. We walked home around 3.30am without incident, although one guy in a passing BMW did note the "50" helium balloons I was carrying back from the venue and was inspired to shout "old c*nt" at me. In SE London the c word is largely used with affection, though.
Wiper-snapper. My wife got me tickets for my 71st birthday (even though there are a few days to go). Dea Matrona were excellent. Supported by the Garage Flowers who were described as 'punk infused scuzz pop' whatever that means. I was dreading them so headed to the bar at the back of the venue. Apart from the fact that they should have been home doing their homework they actually weren't bad, but I couldn't have taken more than 30 minutes of it. I thought another member of the audience summed them up well saying 'I've heard worse'.
Sounds like a good night out. I hope I am still going to gigs in 21 years!
If you are in good health (luckily I am), why not. I stopped Catamaran sailing, Squash and Skiing a few years ago (although I have considered resuming the skiing, but I do like black runs, so might be too risky), but otherwise I still do stuff I did when I was young, plus now I can afford to drive a racing car.
PS If you think I might have been too old for that, I did Activate at the O2 the week before. Myself and my wife had a considerable impact on the average age of the participants and leaping over lasers was ok as was ducking under them, but getting up before the next one was a challenge.
The situation is a little bit like Theresa May. She held on as long as she did as it was unclear what would happen in the leadership contest. Whether he can make it to the election (the timing of which is in his gift), is another matter.
Perhaps develop a spine and stand up and point out they don’t do too badly all things considered.
Not all of them are entitled whiners like the WASPI lot.
I think the issue is the admin nightmare which will ensue once the standard state pension is above the personal allowance.
The issue arises because DWP appear to have no way of deducting PAYE, so for those with no other income apart from the state pension all HMRC can do is issue tax demands, which will cause immense confusion for many pensioners. (For those with other income, HMRC can pass the PAYE collection onto the other income provide by weighting the recipient's tax code.)
You get to set the rules if you're Chancellor. The easiest way to deal with this problem is to ignore it. As long as you have no income other than the pension, no tax is payable - maybe a percentage is deducted from the Triple Lock to cover the notional tax. Any other PAYE earnings take the pension into account as now.
There are already people for whom State Pension is their only income who are receiving HMRC tax demands. I know because I have had to explain why to two CAB clients (and help them make the payments). These are people on the old-style SP with an earnings-related component.
There would have to be an explicit higher personal allowance - HMRC can't decide not to collect tax because it's a lot of admin.
Indeed. The Chancellor on the other hand can decide tax need not be collected in those circumstances - if she wants to.
Perhaps develop a spine and stand up and point out they don’t do too badly all things considered.
Not all of them are entitled whiners like the WASPI lot.
I think the issue is the admin nightmare which will ensue once the standard state pension is above the personal allowance.
The issue arises because DWP appear to have no way of deducting PAYE, so for those with no other income apart from the state pension all HMRC can do is issue tax demands, which will cause immense confusion for many pensioners. (For those with other income, HMRC can pass the PAYE collection onto the other income provide by weighting the recipient's tax code.)
Ah, right, that wasn’t made clear.
1. Perhaps they could simply collect the tax for people with private pensions through a reduced tax code ?
They do it to recoup tax owed, it’s happened to me.
2. Doesn’t do anything for the tax liability for those with no private pension.
3. Other than that I don’t know but they cannot have the working people penalised with limits not moving while pensioners avoid the freeze on the state pension.
I added numbers to simplify my response:
1. They do. 2. That's my point, that's the issue. 3. I agree, but no one's asked me to be CoE yet.
4. DWP, as I have moaned passim, are indeed incapable of PAYE deductions. Worse still, 5, Their way of calculating annual income isn't that of HMRC (except possibly actors and similar). It's arcane and irrational. The methodology they themselves give is *not* reliable. 6. Buggers can't even do P60s, which means that it's even more impossible to do PAYE on other income, or at least to check the figure given is correct.
17.5% of their cars may have had an accident but if they all have done 200 journeys that’s a little lower.
Not that the data should be entirely discounted. But Fred Lambert of electrek has an agenda. He was an early investor, of the leftist / green warrior type. He sold out for emotional reasons and as the stock has soared, he has become saltier and saltier.
With Tesla robotaxi, the proof will be in the pudding. We should know within the next few months whether this is a solution that can be quickly scaled or not.
Perhaps develop a spine and stand up and point out they don’t do too badly all things considered.
Not all of them are entitled whiners like the WASPI lot.
I think the issue is the admin nightmare which will ensue once the standard state pension is above the personal allowance.
The issue arises because DWP appear to have no way of deducting PAYE, so for those with no other income apart from the state pension all HMRC can do is issue tax demands, which will cause immense confusion for many pensioners. (For those with other income, HMRC can pass the PAYE collection onto the other income provide by weighting the recipient's tax code.)
Ah, right, that wasn’t made clear.
1. Perhaps they could simply collect the tax for people with private pensions through a reduced tax code ?
They do it to recoup tax owed, it’s happened to me.
2. Doesn’t do anything for the tax liability for those with no private pension.
3. Other than that I don’t know but they cannot have the working people penalised with limits not moving while pensioners avoid the freeze on the state pension.
I added numbers to simplify my response:
1. They do. 2. That's my point, that's the issue. 3. I agree, but no one's asked me to be CoE yet.
4. DWP, as I have moaned passim, are indeed incapable of PAYE deductions. Worse still, 5, Their way of calculating annual income isn't that of HMRC (except possibly actors and similar). It's arcane and irrational. The methodology they themselves give is *not* reliable. 6. Buggers can't even do P60s, which means that it's even more impossible to do PAYE on other income, or at least to check the figure given is correct.
My wife and I have just received £150 each WFP from this spineless Chancellor who hasn't a clue
Labour cannot cut benefits no matter their landslide win, seems likely they will lift the 2 child cap, and are looking at paying WASPIs
They are intoxicated by spending our grandchildren's future on today's giveaways in total dereliction of responsibility to address our economic crisis opening the door to Reform and Greens who are the last people who should be in charge
My wife is 86 today and we said how much we fear for the young and a terribly divided country far beyond our likely lifetime
There’s one project stalled - for example - because they want to build a ramp up the side of a railway embankment so that people in the flats can access the railway station.
The local NIMBYs are claiming that one zillion rare species live on the slope of a railway embankment…
* Nigel Farage and Zia Yusuf will announce plans to strip EU nationals of benefits, more than double the cost of the NHS surcharge and cut foreign aid spending by more than 70%
* They will say this would avoid the need for tax rises in the Budget. Yusuf says Labour can either 'raise taxes on British citizens' or 'ask foreign nationals to bear the brunt'
* Farage will give EU citizens who are claiming universal credit in the UK three months' notice before ending their benefit payments. If the EU refuses to accept the terms Reform will take unilateral action regardless of the threat of 'trade retaliation"
* Reform UK will also pledge to increase the NHS surcharge for foreigners in Britain from £1,035 to £2,718 a year, raising £5billion a year. Farage argues that the increased charge would be fair because it would reflect the cost per person of the total NHS budget for England
* Yusuf said that £2,718 represented "great value", particularly because foreign nationals are more likely to have children than British nationals increasing the pressure on the NHS. "It's a matter of principle," he said. "Why should a foreign national get a 65 per cent discounts. It's great value, somebody can pay more and get vastly more out of the NHS."
Perhaps develop a spine and stand up and point out they don’t do too badly all things considered.
Not all of them are entitled whiners like the WASPI lot.
I think the issue is the admin nightmare which will ensue once the standard state pension is above the personal allowance.
The issue arises because DWP appear to have no way of deducting PAYE, so for those with no other income apart from the state pension all HMRC can do is issue tax demands, which will cause immense confusion for many pensioners. (For those with other income, HMRC can pass the PAYE collection onto the other income provide by weighting the recipient's tax code.)
Ah, right, that wasn’t made clear.
1. Perhaps they could simply collect the tax for people with private pensions through a reduced tax code ?
They do it to recoup tax owed, it’s happened to me.
2. Doesn’t do anything for the tax liability for those with no private pension.
3. Other than that I don’t know but they cannot have the working people penalised with limits not moving while pensioners avoid the freeze on the state pension.
I added numbers to simplify my response:
1. They do. 2. That's my point, that's the issue. 3. I agree, but no one's asked me to be CoE yet.
4. DWP, as I have moaned passim, are indeed incapable of PAYE deductions. Worse still, 5, Their way of calculating annual income isn't that of HMRC (except possibly actors and similar). It's arcane and irrational. The methodology they themselves give is *not* reliable. 6. Buggers can't even do P60s, which means that it's even more impossible to do PAYE on other income, or at least to check the figure given is correct.
Cannot the system be rationalised ?
Of course it can, but it won't because it creates lots of work for numbers people, it obfuscates true taxation levels, and it allows for occasional tweaks that can be claimed as 'tax cuts' so politicians can bask in momentary adulation.
All existing tax, benefits, pensions etc. could be rolled into a very simple, highly transparent system, but there's no will to do it because there are so many vested interests right across the board.
Maybe the need for UBI will finally be the catalyst, but I suspect not, somehow...
My wife and I have just received £150 each WFP from this spineless Chancellor who hasn't a clue
Labour cannot cut benefits no matter their landslide win, seems likely they will lift the 2 child cap, and are looking at paying WASPIs
They are intoxicated by spending our grandchildren's future on today's giveaways in total dereliction of responsibility to address our economic crisis opening the door to Reform and Greens who are the last people who should be in charge
My wife is 86 today and we said how much we fear for the young and a terribly divided country far beyond our likely lifetime
It is all so sad
Happy birthday to Mrs Big_G!
We had a bit of a conversation earlier on how bleak or otherwise this all is in historic terms. My view is that compared to 1914, 1929, 1934, 1939, 1962, 1973, 1982, 2008 and 2020 it's actually no too bad.
So cheer up! Think how worried you'd be for your grandchildren were we posting in 1939.
There’s one project stalled - for example - because they want to build a ramp up the side of a railway embankment so that people in the flats can access the railway station.
The local NIMBYs are claiming that one zillion rare species live on the slope of a railway embankment…
Maybe they do. If I were in the market for rare plants and animals, I'd be looking at motorway verges and railway cuttings, the sorts of places sensible species avoid.
Perhaps develop a spine and stand up and point out they don’t do too badly all things considered.
Not all of them are entitled whiners like the WASPI lot.
I think the issue is the admin nightmare which will ensue once the standard state pension is above the personal allowance.
The issue arises because DWP appear to have no way of deducting PAYE, so for those with no other income apart from the state pension all HMRC can do is issue tax demands, which will cause immense confusion for many pensioners. (For those with other income, HMRC can pass the PAYE collection onto the other income provide by weighting the recipient's tax code.)
Ah, right, that wasn’t made clear.
1. Perhaps they could simply collect the tax for people with private pensions through a reduced tax code ?
They do it to recoup tax owed, it’s happened to me.
2. Doesn’t do anything for the tax liability for those with no private pension.
3. Other than that I don’t know but they cannot have the working people penalised with limits not moving while pensioners avoid the freeze on the state pension.
I added numbers to simplify my response:
1. They do. 2. That's my point, that's the issue. 3. I agree, but no one's asked me to be CoE yet.
4. DWP, as I have moaned passim, are indeed incapable of PAYE deductions. Worse still, 5, Their way of calculating annual income isn't that of HMRC (except possibly actors and similar). It's arcane and irrational. The methodology they themselves give is *not* reliable. 6. Buggers can't even do P60s, which means that it's even more impossible to do PAYE on other income, or at least to check the figure given is correct.
Cannot the system be rationalised ?
Of course it can, but it won't because it creates lots of work for numbers people, it obfuscates true taxation levels, and it allows for occasional tweaks that can be claimed as 'tax cuts' so politicians can bask in momentary adulation.
All existing tax, benefits, pensions etc. could be rolled into a very simple, highly transparent system, but there's no will to do it because there are so many vested interests right across the board.
Maybe the need for UBI will finally be the catalyst, but I suspect not, somehow...
That's the conspiracy argument.
If in doubt I'd always assume it the cock-up argument, which in this case is: "there's no will to do it because it's just too f*cking hard".
My wife and I have just received £150 each WFP from this spineless Chancellor who hasn't a clue
Labour cannot cut benefits no matter their landslide win, seems likely they will lift the 2 child cap, and are looking at paying WASPIs
They are intoxicated by spending our grandchildren's future on today's giveaways in total dereliction of responsibility to address our economic crisis opening the door to Reform and Greens who are the last people who should be in charge
My wife is 86 today and we said how much we fear for the young and a terribly divided country far beyond our likely lifetime
It is all so sad
Happy birthday to Mrs Big_G!
We had a bit of a conversation earlier on how bleak or otherwise this all is in historic terms. My view is that compared to 1914, 1929, 1934, 1939, 1962, 1973, 1982, 2008 and 2020 it's actually no too bad.
So cheer up! Think how worried you'd be for your grandchildren were we posting in 1939.
My wife and I have just received £150 each WFP from this spineless Chancellor who hasn't a clue
Labour cannot cut benefits no matter their landslide win, seems likely they will lift the 2 child cap, and are looking at paying WASPIs
They are intoxicated by spending our grandchildren's future on today's giveaways in total dereliction of responsibility to address our economic crisis opening the door to Reform and Greens who are the last people who should be in charge
My wife is 86 today and we said how much we fear for the young and a terribly divided country far beyond our likely lifetime
It is all so sad
Happy birthday to Mrs Big_G!
We had a bit of a conversation earlier on how bleak or otherwise this all is in historic terms. My view is that compared to 1914, 1929, 1934, 1939, 1962, 1973, 1982, 2008 and 2020 it's actually no too bad.
So cheer up! Think how worried you'd be for your grandchildren were we posting in 1939.
You've hardly ever had it so good!
I'm feeling quite chipper today tbh. Listing the crap that was going on in the early 70s made me realise we're a helluva lot better off now than then.
Wait, have I been doing sex wrong all this time?!?
You probably need to ask someone more intimate.
If only we had an expert on kinky sex and the internet as a member of the PB community...
There was that Conservative MP who died in an asphyxiation game gone wrong, back in the Major years.
And for all that many things about relationships are healthier now than in the past, teenaged boys learning their moves from the internet is not a positive thing.
Wait, have I been doing sex wrong all this time?!?
You probably need to ask someone more intimate.
If only we had an expert on kinky sex and the internet as a member of the PB community...
There was that Conservative MP who died in an asphyxiation game gone wrong, back in the Major years.
And for all that many things about relationships are healthier now than in the past, teenaged boys learning their moves from the internet is not a positive thing.
For years I wondered why he died with an orange his mouth, I then went to university and found the reasons why.
My wife and I have just received £150 each WFP from this spineless Chancellor who hasn't a clue
Labour cannot cut benefits no matter their landslide win, seems likely they will lift the 2 child cap, and are looking at paying WASPIs
They are intoxicated by spending our grandchildren's future on today's giveaways in total dereliction of responsibility to address our economic crisis opening the door to Reform and Greens who are the last people who should be in charge
My wife is 86 today and we said how much we fear for the young and a terribly divided country far beyond our likely lifetime
It is all so sad
Happy birthday to Mrs Big_G!
We had a bit of a conversation earlier on how bleak or otherwise this all is in historic terms. My view is that compared to 1914, 1929, 1934, 1939, 1962, 1973, 1982, 2008 and 2020 it's actually no too bad.
So cheer up! Think how worried you'd be for your grandchildren were we posting in 1939.
You've hardly ever had it so good!
Never had it so good was 1957, which is the sepia-tinged time some seem to hanker for. It's not easy to say it's worse now than then.
Seriously, who flipping cares? It's like the endless debate over whether Keir Starmer went to a private school if it changed before he left. It was all a long time ago and it's not like Farage has done nothing objectionable as an adult politician.
Seriously, who flipping cares? It's like the endless debate over whether Keir Starmer went to a private school if it changed before he left. It was all a long time ago and it's not like Farage has done nothing objectionable as an adult politician.
Indeed, let us focus on how in recent years Farage has been condemned by, inter alia, the Board of Deputies for sharing/repeating antisemitic tropes/conspiracy theories.
Seriously, who flipping cares? It's like the endless debate over whether Keir Starmer went to a private school if it changed before he left. It was all a long time ago and it's not like Farage has done nothing objectionable as an adult politician.
It matters because Farage and Reform have denied any of it happened, so it raises questions of truthfulness and trust.
Wait, have I been doing sex wrong all this time?!?
You probably need to ask someone more intimate.
If only we had an expert on kinky sex and the internet as a member of the PB community...
There was that Conservative MP who died in an asphyxiation game gone wrong, back in the Major years.
And for all that many things about relationships are healthier now than in the past, teenaged boys learning their moves from the internet is not a positive thing.
For years I wondered why he died with an orange his mouth, I then went to university and found the reasons why.
"I met a woman named Skylar on Hinge, a dating app, in July 2025, her profile is no longer findable. We had two dates (August 4 and August 16). She claimed to be an au pair in Georgetown. She gave no clues that she was a reporter or recording our dates. Had I a clue, the first date would have ended immediately and there never would have been a second one...."
Wait, have I been doing sex wrong all this time?!?
You probably need to ask someone more intimate.
If only we had an expert on kinky sex and the internet as a member of the PB community...
There was that Conservative MP who died in an asphyxiation game gone wrong, back in the Major years.
And for all that many things about relationships are healthier now than in the past, teenaged boys learning their moves from the internet is not a positive thing.
Stephen Milligan MP. Because it was hilariously funny to this teenager and his friends in 1994.
When Milligan’s death was closely followed by those of Kurt Cobain and Ayrton Senna, we all quickly realised that death really wasn’t funny after all.
Wait, have I been doing sex wrong all this time?!?
You probably need to ask someone more intimate.
If only we had an expert on kinky sex and the internet as a member of the PB community...
There was that Conservative MP who died in an asphyxiation game gone wrong, back in the Major years.
And for all that many things about relationships are healthier now than in the past, teenaged boys learning their moves from the internet is not a positive thing.
For years I wondered why he died with an orange his mouth, I then went to university and found the reasons why.
Shortly before Stephen Milligan, there was a councillor in Stockport who died in similar circumstances in 1992. But in an analog of the relative levels of glamour of national and local politics, he was dressed not a la Milligan, but in an old lady's nightie.
This is one of the saddest thing I've ever read on PB, not including deaths. Choking is dangerous and not erotic either to the strangler or enstrangled, it's nasty, a waste of time and makes ugly what should be beautiful. Plus it has a high chance of death or serious life-changing damage. Urgh, horrid.
I'm sure we are very close to the point where AI will monitor all aspects of our life - and tax/regulate accordingly. I worry we are the last people who will have any degree of autonomy from all-pervasive technology. Kinda glad I'm (at best) in the final couple of decades of my life. It's going to be a lot less fun than I've experienced throughout my time. Safer, maybe. Healthier - as we have best outcomes imposed. And with no ability to effectively complain. The computer says - meh. Leave me alone.
I'm younger than you but wonder about this also. It feels harder to have an adventure than it was before.
The older you get, the more it seems like the world is going to pot. That's been true from time immemorial.
Unfortunately it was also true in 1913 and 1938...
I'm too young to remember that far back but I do distinctly remember the world felt like it was going to pot in the early 70s:
Cold war, Vietnam, Watergate, energy crisis, blackouts, 3 day week, industrial strife, the Troubles, hooliganism, but worst of all goddawful brown fashion, brown sofas, brown wallpaper, brown cars...
When I look at what my parents got up to they definitely had more fun.
“Borrowing” a grand piano from the Ritz, for example, for a white time champagne party in the middle of Piccadilly (while it was closed for the underpass to be built)
“ At just 16 years old, she took a job at Mar a Lago, believing she had secured a dream summer position. But that dream quickly morphed into a nightmare when Ghislaine Maxwell preyed upon her…. They trafficked her”
Comments
17.5% of their cars may have had an accident but if they all have done 200 journeys that’s a little lower.
I’m guessing Talk TV does what it says on the tin.
SETI actually looks for infra red emitters which might match the theoretical signature, and has come up with various candidates.
Which are likely just stars, or even dust clouds... but who knows ?
Chris Mason on the BBC has come close to offering an opinion on this government's incompetence.
Where's Ofcom?
The issue arises because DWP appear to have no way of deducting PAYE, so for those with no other income apart from the state pension all HMRC can do is issue tax demands, which will cause immense confusion for many pensioners. (For those with other income, HMRC can pass the PAYE collection onto the other income provide by weighting the recipient's tax code.)
In the interests of balance perhaps he could have highlighted their racist tendencies.
Shabana Mahmood speaks like a leader" (£)
https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/shabana-mahmood-speaks-like-a-leader
It's political stunt karma
One should be very careful saying "stunt karma" when talking about Sir Keir
@PolliticoUK
🚨 Westminster Voting Intention:
➡️ REF: 27% (+1)
🌹 LAB: 19% (=)
🌳 CON: 17% (-1)
🟢 GRN: 17% (+2)
🔶 LDEM: 13% (-1)
From @YouGov
From 16th - 17th November
Changes with 10th November"
CNN: Epstein survivors presser
BBC: Epstein survivors presser
MSNBC (yes we’re still calling it that): Epstein survivors presser
FOX: “Progressives vs. Schumer”🙃
https://bsky.app/profile/thetnholler.bsky.social/post/3m5vwnq7ynk25
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/labour-starmer-mahmood-asylum-seekers-cabinet-latest-news-b2867118.html
@atrupar.com
Marjorie Taylor Greene: "I was called a traitor by a man that I fought for 6 years for. I gave him my loyalty for free. I've never owed him anything. Let me tell you what a traitor is -- a traitor is an American that serves foreign countries."
https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3m5vws7zun72j
Perhaps they could simply collect the tax for people with private pensions through a reduced tax code ?
They do it to recoup tax owed, it’s happened to me.
Doesn’t do anything for the tax liability for those with no private pension.
Other than that I don’t know but they cannot have the working people penalised with limits not moving while pensioners avoid the freeze on the state pension.
Will have to spend more time on PB or go to the library...
1. They do.
2. That's my point, that's the issue.
3. I agree, but no one's asked me to be CoE yet.
NEW: Keir Starmer tells the Mirror he'll lead Labour to the next election - and says the top focus should be cost of living not time-wasting rows
https://x.com/lizzybuchan/status/1990495317897458139?s=46&t=CW4pL-mMpTqsJXCdjW0Z6Q
One night, was full of people expecting 40s music, but they had a punk band on.
Being the Hundred Club, everyone just got on with it.
5, Their way of calculating annual income isn't that of HMRC (except possibly actors and similar). It's arcane and irrational. The methodology they themselves give is *not* reliable.
6. Buggers can't even do P60s, which means that it's even more impossible to do PAYE on other income, or at least to check the figure given is correct.
And we are back to pensioner tax. The issue isn’t people on just the basic pension. Making that free of tax is just sensible.
There would have to be an explicit higher personal allowance - HMRC can't decide not to collect tax because it's a lot of admin.
Edit: Ah @Benpointer thinks alike ...
I promised we'd get Britain building and that's exactly what we're doing.
We're giving the green light to well-connected built, high-quality homes near train stations.
This is about action: spades in the ground and families finally getting the homes they need.
https://x.com/SteveReedMP/status/1990695225082204485
Devil will be in the detail, as always.
With Tesla robotaxi, the proof will be in the pudding. We should know within the next few months whether this is a solution that can be quickly scaled or not.
My wife and I have just received £150 each WFP from this spineless Chancellor who hasn't a clue
Labour cannot cut benefits no matter their landslide win, seems likely they will lift the 2 child cap, and are looking at paying WASPIs
They are intoxicated by spending our grandchildren's future on today's giveaways in total dereliction of responsibility to address our economic crisis opening the door to Reform and Greens who are the last people who should be in charge
My wife is 86 today and we said how much we fear for the young and a terribly divided country far beyond our likely lifetime
It is all so sad
The local NIMBYs are claiming that one zillion rare species live on the slope of a railway embankment…
And I spoke out
Because I bloody hate Migrants
Then they came for the EU Citizens
And I spoke out
Because I bloody hate EU Citizens
Then they came for the Jocks
And I spoke out
Because I bloody hate Jocks, their haggis and their bagpipes,
Then they came for the Welsh
And I spoke out
Because I bloody hate the Welsh, their singing and their unpronounceable place names
Then they came for the English
And I spoke out
Because I bloody hate the English, the Morris Dancing and weak beer
Then they came for me
And there was no one left
Which was great. Just me, Nigel and Tommy
All existing tax, benefits, pensions etc. could be rolled into a very simple, highly transparent system, but there's no will to do it because there are so many vested interests right across the board.
Maybe the need for UBI will finally be the catalyst, but I suspect not, somehow...
We had a bit of a conversation earlier on how bleak or otherwise this all is in historic terms. My view is that compared to 1914, 1929, 1934, 1939, 1962, 1973, 1982, 2008 and 2020 it's actually no too bad.
So cheer up! Think how worried you'd be for your grandchildren were we posting in 1939.
If in doubt I'd always assume it the cock-up argument, which in this case is: "there's no will to do it because it's just too f*cking hard".
‘Deeply shocking’: Nigel Farage faces fresh claims of racism and antisemitism at school
Bafta-winning director among contemporaries urging contrition and apology from Reform UK leader, who denies the allegations
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-interactive/2025/nov/18/deeply-shocking-nigel-farage-faces-fresh-claims-of-racism-and-antisemitism-at-school
He also revealed that Ghislaine Maxwell was moved to a minimum-security prison ‘to keep her mouth shut.’
https://x.com/Mollyploofkins/status/1990612808526876896
Allegedly.
There was that Conservative MP who died in an asphyxiation game gone wrong, back in the Major years.
And for all that many things about relationships are healthier now than in the past, teenaged boys learning their moves from the internet is not a positive thing.
"I met a woman named Skylar on Hinge, a dating app, in July 2025, her profile is no longer findable. We had two dates (August 4 and August 16). She claimed to be an au pair in Georgetown. She gave no clues that she was a reporter or recording our dates. Had I a clue, the first date would have ended immediately and there never would have been a second one...."
When Milligan’s death was closely followed by those of Kurt Cobain and Ayrton Senna, we all quickly realised that death really wasn’t funny after all.
“Borrowing” a grand piano from the Ritz, for example, for a white time champagne party in the middle of Piccadilly (while it was closed for the underpass to be built)
“ At just 16 years old, she took a job at Mar a Lago, believing she had secured a dream summer position. But that dream quickly morphed into a nightmare when Ghislaine Maxwell preyed upon her…. They trafficked her”
https://bsky.app/profile/acyn.bsky.social/post/3m5vyafsxek2q
At Mar A Lago, not Epstein Island