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  • isamisam Posts: 41,118
    SeanT said:

    Oh come on. Someone please ask me why I'm being smug.

    Heh, hah, etc

    I saw the good news about your book...

    Hope you don't mind me asking, I am not having a pop, just curious, but isn't it a bit odd to have it hailed as "the debut novel" when you are already an accomplished novelist? Or is that standard practice?
  • bigjohnowls missed out it is from an article in Daily Mirror.

    It's hard to take any article seriously, from a newspaper that hacked so many phones.
    Funny how uninterested some media outlets are interested in this fact.
    Fair play to The Independent, though I wonder how many read it these days.

    http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/hacking-by-mirror-worse-than-at-murdoch-papers-9996698.html
    I expect it will get equally extensive coverage on the BBC and in the Guardian......|: InnocentFace :|
  • Speedy said:

    Speedy said:

    Inevitable result of Lansley conflict of interest reforms IMO

    Trusted doctors are being offered bribes to send their patients to private ­hospitals, it has been claimed.

    The lucrative kickbacks for GPs and hospital specialists were “widespread” and worth “tens of thousands of pounds”, according to the concerned medic who lifted the lid on the scandal.

    Giving evidence to MPs, Dr Simon Peck claimed doctors were encouraged to use specific hospitals and laboratories for tests, drugs, referrals and even operations.

    In return, they received regular secret “commission” payments and free property rentals.

    He said the “profit-share” schemes made the NHS spend more and were not in patients’ best interests.

    In one case, a doctor is said to have earned enough to pay private school fees for his or her children.

    Give a source so we can fry Lansley for turning the NHS into a Greek version of the NHS.
    http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/nhs-doctors-taking-bribes-private-5142035

    GP Commissioning Healthcare is a MASSIVE conflict of interests
    Take the pitchforks.
    Lansley deformed British Healthcare into Greek Healthcare (I read that the greek healthcare system is notorious for bribes).
    It will be interesting to see if any evidence is brought forward to back up these claims. After all any doctor receiving these payments could face being struck off and any rep making them could face bribery charges
    According to the Mirror article Dr Peck could not name a single Doctor doing this to the GMC, so the GMC threw out the complaint.

    Meanwhile Dr Peck's employer, AXA-PPP negotiates sweetheart deals with certain private hospitals and providers.
    Hmmm, there is some truth in that but they are trying to keep costs down in the private sector, as I am sure you are aware Bupa are doing the same. PMI premiums are fast becoming unsustainable so I understand where open referral and such like is coming from and what it is trying to achieve, though as a broker choice is all important when I advise my clients and open referral takes away from that.

    And before bigjohn and the other Lefties say it serves them right for being able to afford private healthcare, ask yourself how the NHS would cope with another six million people to look after.
  • With reference to today's discussions about 'austerity' and who gets the blame and how long it will continue two facts:

    During the last decade government debt has increased by £1.033 TRILLION pounds (or 229%).

    The UK is currently running the largest balance of payments deficit since records began.

    The bonkers thing is that most of the public think the government is reducing the national debt.

    They have no grasp of the difference between debt and deficit (although the deficit has also risen in the short term).
  • SeanT said:

    Oh come on. Someone please ask me why I'm being smug.

    Heh, hah, etc

    There's an "R" in the month?
  • SpeedySpeedy Posts: 12,100
    They don't vote in the GE.
  • SeanT said:

    Oh come on. Someone please ask me why I'm being smug.

    Heh, hah, etc

    You have just enjoyed a threesome with Salma Hayek and Rosamund Pike, while simultaneously winning a screenplay deal with Universal?
  • foxinsoxukfoxinsoxuk Posts: 23,548

    More good news!!

    The NHS has set aside £26billion – almost a quarter of its annual budget – to cover legal claims for negligence.

    Indemnity (excluding maternity related) for my NHS organisation costs £12 million per year. We have not paid out more the £1 million per year in the last decade.

    This fee is set centrally by the DoH and compulsory. It looks to me to be a way of clawing back some of the budget.
  • SeanT said:

    Oh come on. Someone please ask me why I'm being smug.

    Heh, hah, etc

    You've just had a pasty from Philps?
  • TheWatcherTheWatcher Posts: 5,262
    SeanT said:

    Oh come on. Someone please ask me why I'm being smug.

    Heh, hah, etc

    Does it involve desperate Thai ladies?
  • saddened said:

    saddened said:

    Speedy said:

    I've been a bit busy. Anyone get a sight of Jack's ARSE today?

    Yes,

    http://politicalbetting.vanillaforums.com/discussion/comment/541853/#Comment_541853
    Those who prefer polling have ... the polls.

    We plumbed new depths today when Jack informed us that some Arse seats* were decided by just three votes. This in what is a made up forecast.



    *One for the pun-fans to enjoy
    Jack got the last election spot on.

    I've been a bit busy. Anyone get a sight of Jack's ARSE today?

    Yes,

    http://politicalbetting.vanillaforums.com/discussion/comment/541853/#Comment_541853
    Those who prefer polling have ... the polls.

    We plumbed new depths today when Jack informed us that some Arse seats* were decided by just three votes. This in what is a made up forecast.



    *One for the pun-fans to enjoy
    Jack got the last election spot on.
    And bobaknob still hasn't got over it.
    It was putting my house on a Tory majority that did for me in 2010. I lost my shirt listening to the shills on here - more than I have ever lost betting in a single day ever.
    Most pundits here are praetorian Tories, why did you listen to them?
    You should never take partisan advise seriously.
    Biggest betting mistake I ever made. I resolved never to back PB Tory advice ever again – so far it has been very profitable, including a nice earner on how many seats will be contested in 2015.

    They said 600.

    I backed 650.
    More fibs.
    Entirely true. I'll dig out the bet slip sometime if you continue to obsessively hound me.
    Do so
    06/08/2012 Single To Win
    650 @ 11/10
    Size Of House Of Commons
    Size Of House Of Commons After Next General Election
    Pending

    Now fuck off.
  • Is that the sound of tumbling PB Hodges falling down the Crossover Polling Hill......AGAIN?

    The Last 19 polls, three Tory leads from Super Leader and Political Strategist Extraordinaire Cameron and only 11 polling leads for Ed is crap.

    January is the crossover month......February pulling away month.

    BASILISCIOUS!

    Number of posts analysing 1pt Tory leads: 10,653
    Number of posts analysing polling average (forecast): 6
    Number of variations of the login 'boba job': 537

    Is that the sound of tumbling PB Hodges falling down the Crossover Polling Hill......AGAIN?

    The Last 19 polls, three Tory leads from Super Leader and Political Strategist Extraordinaire Cameron and only 11 polling leads for Ed is crap.

    January is the crossover month......February pulling away month.

    BASILISCIOUS!

    Number of posts analysing 1pt Tory leads: 10,653
    Number of posts analysing polling average (forecast): 6
    Are you sure you're not confusing 10,653 with the number of screen names you have on here?
    ECHO....ECHO.....ECHO....ECHO
    A strong candidate for the most boringly obsessive meme ever on PB, among very stiff competition.

    Bournemouth
    Cocktails
    JackW's advanced age
    Muslims

    I could go on, but I won't, amid fear of actually boring my dear PB Tories to death.
    Oh no, the worst memes on PB were

    1) The time Dave went to Morrisons
    2) The time Dave rode a horse (which would lead to his resignation)
    3) The time George Osborne cried at a funeral
    Not to forget the Scottish subset:

    1) We've heard it all before
    2) You don't understand
    3) It's all about GOTV

    CHORTLE
  • FlightpathFlightpath Posts: 4,012

    bigjohnowls missed out it is from an article in Daily Mirror.

    It's hard to take any article seriously, from a newspaper that hacked so many phones.
    Funny how uninterested some media outlets are interested in this fact.
    Fair play to The Independent, though I wonder how many read it these days.

    http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/hacking-by-mirror-worse-than-at-murdoch-papers-9996698.html
    I expect it will get equally extensive coverage on the BBC and in the Guardian......|: InnocentFace :|
    Why do you think Piers Morgan went to America? Note it all happened under Labour and the Police decided not to investigate further. Where have I heard that before?
  • SpeedySpeedy Posts: 12,100
    SeanT said:

    isam said:

    SeanT said:

    Oh come on. Someone please ask me why I'm being smug.

    Heh, hah, etc

    I saw the good news about your book...

    Hope you don't mind me asking, I am not having a pop, just curious, but isn't it a bit odd to have it hailed as "the debut novel" when you are already an accomplished novelist? Or is that standard practice?
    Danke.

    I AM A SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLER.

    For the first time in my life. Probably the only time. But it was something I dreamed of doing since I was about 7.. any author in the UK knows the feeling.... The Sunday Times list is THE list. The only one that counts. God knows why. Kinda ridiculous. But there it is.

    I never necessarily wanted to be number 1. Just be there. In the top ten. One day. Yet the dream faded over time even as I made money and had fun.....

    And at the very late age of 51 I've done it. I'll stop now. But the remnants of my Oedipus Complex died today, and that's quite a big deal for me.
    That is something to celebrate.
  • bigjohnowlsbigjohnowls Posts: 22,736

    More good news!!

    The NHS has set aside £26billion – almost a quarter of its annual budget – to cover legal claims for negligence.

    Indemnity (excluding maternity related) for my NHS organisation costs £12 million per year. We have not paid out more the £1 million per year in the last decade.

    This fee is set centrally by the DoH and compulsory. It looks to me to be a way of clawing back some of the budget.
    NHSLA fees are generally the largest non pay item at most NHS acute organisations.

    A risk pooling scheme as you note is rather expensive in an increasingly litigious society
  • Speedy said:

    They don't vote in the GE.
    But they can make Ed look foolish, out of his depth and not in command of the facts.....
  • foxinsoxukfoxinsoxuk Posts: 23,548

    Speedy said:

    Speedy said:

    Inevitable result of Lansley conflict of interest reforms IMO

    Trusted doctors are being offered bribes to send their patients to private ­hospitals, it has been claimed.

    The lucrative kickbacks for GPs and hospital specialists were “widespread” and worth “tens of thousands of pounds”, according to the concerned medic who lifted the lid on the scandal.

    Giving evidence to MPs, Dr Simon Peck claimed doctors were encouraged to use specific hospitals and laboratories for tests, drugs, referrals and even operations.

    In return, they received regular secret “commission” payments and free property rentals.

    He said the “profit-share” schemes made the NHS spend more and were not in patients’ best interests.

    In one case, a doctor is said to have earned enough to pay private school fees for his or her children.

    Give a source so we can fry Lansley for turning the NHS into a Greek version of the NHS.
    http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/nhs-doctors-taking-bribes-private-5142035

    GP Commissioning Healthcare is a MASSIVE conflict of interests
    Take the pitchforks.
    Lansley deformed British Healthcare into Greek Healthcare (I read that the greek healthcare system is notorious for bribes).
    It will be interesting to see if any evidence is brought forward to back up these claims. After all any doctor receiving these payments could face being struck off and any rep making them could face bribery charges
    According to the Mirror article Dr Peck could not name a single Doctor doing this to the GMC, so the GMC threw out the complaint.

    Meanwhile Dr Peck's employer, AXA-PPP negotiates sweetheart deals with certain private hospitals and providers.
    Hmmm, there is some truth in that but they are trying to keep costs down in the private sector, as I am sure you are aware Bupa are doing the same. PMI premiums are fast becoming unsustainable so I understand where open referral and such like is coming from and what it is trying to achieve, though as a broker choice is all important when I advise my clients and open referral takes away from that.

    And before bigjohn and the other Lefties say it serves them right for being able to afford private healthcare, ask yourself how the NHS would cope with another six million people to look after.
    Doctors fees have been frozen ( or reduced ) by the insurers for over two decades, meaning a real terms reduction. Strangely the PMI rates charged to the punters have increased at an above inflation rate, as have pracice costs. Who is pocketing the difference? Not me, that is for sure.

  • StereotomyStereotomy Posts: 4,092
    SeanT said:


    And at the very late age of 51 I've done it. I'll stop now. But the remnants of my Oedipus Complex died today, and that's quite a big deal for me.

    Lucky for your mother, too

  • More good news!!

    The NHS has set aside £26billion – almost a quarter of its annual budget – to cover legal claims for negligence.

    Indemnity (excluding maternity related) for my NHS organisation costs £12 million per year. We have not paid out more the £1 million per year in the last decade.

    This fee is set centrally by the DoH and compulsory. It looks to me to be a way of clawing back some of the budget.
    NHSLA fees are generally the largest non pay item at most NHS acute organisations.

    A risk pooling scheme as you note is rather expensive in an increasingly litigious society
    You must have missed my post as you haven't answered it, how much do they set aside to pay the pensions, particularly of those that retire long before someone in the private sector would be able to.
  • SeanT said:

    isam said:

    SeanT said:

    Oh come on. Someone please ask me why I'm being smug.

    Heh, hah, etc

    I saw the good news about your book...

    Hope you don't mind me asking, I am not having a pop, just curious, but isn't it a bit odd to have it hailed as "the debut novel" when you are already an accomplished novelist? Or is that standard practice?
    Danke.

    I AM A SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLER.

    For the first time in my life. Probably the only time. But it was something I dreamed of doing since I was about 7.. any author in the UK knows the feeling.... The Sunday Times list is THE list. The only one that counts. God knows why. Kinda ridiculous. But there it is.

    I never necessarily wanted to be number 1. Just be there. In the top ten. One day. Yet the dream faded over time even as I made money and had fun.....

    And at the very late age of 51 I've done it. I'll stop now. But the remnants of my Oedipus Complex died today, and that's quite a big deal for me.
    Congratulations!

    Is it on Kindle?
  • More good news!!

    The NHS has set aside £26billion – almost a quarter of its annual budget – to cover legal claims for negligence.

    Indemnity (excluding maternity related) for my NHS organisation costs £12 million per year. We have not paid out more the £1 million per year in the last decade.

    This fee is set centrally by the DoH and compulsory. It looks to me to be a way of clawing back some of the budget.
    Out of interest how much might you have to pay out if you had a really big disaster / scandal ?

  • SeanT said:

    isam said:

    SeanT said:

    Oh come on. Someone please ask me why I'm being smug.

    Heh, hah, etc

    I saw the good news about your book...

    Hope you don't mind me asking, I am not having a pop, just curious, but isn't it a bit odd to have it hailed as "the debut novel" when you are already an accomplished novelist? Or is that standard practice?
    Danke.

    I AM A SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLER.

    For the first time in my life. Probably the only time. But it was something I dreamed of doing since I was about 7.. any author in the UK knows the feeling.... The Sunday Times list is THE list. The only one that counts. God knows why. Kinda ridiculous. But there it is.

    I never necessarily wanted to be number 1. Just be there. In the top ten. One day. Yet the dream faded over time even as I made money and had fun.....

    And at the very late age of 51 I've done it. I'll stop now. But the remnants of my Oedipus Complex died today, and that's quite a big deal for me.
    Is that the new style book which you sold the rights to for big money a couple of years ago ?

  • Tim_BTim_B Posts: 7,669
    SeanT said:

    isam said:

    SeanT said:

    Oh come on. Someone please ask me why I'm being smug.

    Heh, hah, etc

    I saw the good news about your book...

    Hope you don't mind me asking, I am not having a pop, just curious, but isn't it a bit odd to have it hailed as "the debut novel" when you are already an accomplished novelist? Or is that standard practice?
    Danke.

    I AM A SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLER.

    For the first time in my life. Probably the only time. But it was something I dreamed of doing since I was about 7.. any author in the UK knows the feeling.... The Sunday Times list is THE list. The only one that counts. God knows why. Kinda ridiculous. But there it is.

    I never necessarily wanted to be number 1. Just be there. In the top ten. One day. Yet the dream faded over time even as I made money and had fun.....

    And at the very late age of 51 I've done it. I'll stop now. But the remnants of my Oedipus Complex died today, and that's quite a big deal for me.
    Congratulations!

    I made a note on my calendar to go to Big Lots in the fall and pick up the hardback for $2 :-)
  • foxinsoxukfoxinsoxuk Posts: 23,548

    More good news!!

    The NHS has set aside £26billion – almost a quarter of its annual budget – to cover legal claims for negligence.

    Indemnity (excluding maternity related) for my NHS organisation costs £12 million per year. We have not paid out more the £1 million per year in the last decade.

    This fee is set centrally by the DoH and compulsory. It looks to me to be a way of clawing back some of the budget.
    NHSLA fees are generally the largest non pay item at most NHS acute organisations.

    A risk pooling scheme as you note is rather expensive in an increasingly litigious society
    Why should my low risk organisation subsidise the high risk ones? We could save over £10 million per year to put back into patient care if we were not forced to pay this fee.

    Who are the organisations that regularly take out more than they pay in? And why are they not being seriously investigated?
  • bigjohnowlsbigjohnowls Posts: 22,736

    More good news!!

    The NHS has set aside £26billion – almost a quarter of its annual budget – to cover legal claims for negligence.

    Indemnity (excluding maternity related) for my NHS organisation costs £12 million per year. We have not paid out more the £1 million per year in the last decade.

    This fee is set centrally by the DoH and compulsory. It looks to me to be a way of clawing back some of the budget.
    NHSLA fees are generally the largest non pay item at most NHS acute organisations.

    A risk pooling scheme as you note is rather expensive in an increasingly litigious society
    You must have missed my post as you haven't answered it, how much do they set aside to pay the pensions, particularly of those that retire long before someone in the private sector would be able to.
    You are on ignore.

    Oh bugger realizes shouldn't have replied.
  • With reference to today's discussions about 'austerity' and who gets the blame and how long it will continue two facts:

    During the last decade government debt has increased by £1.033 TRILLION pounds (or 229%).

    The UK is currently running the largest balance of payments deficit since records began.

    The bonkers thing is that most of the public think the government is reducing the national debt.

    They have no grasp of the difference between debt and deficit (although the deficit has also risen in the short term).
    The contortions which the politicians will make to avoid explaining the details during the election campaign will be amusing.
  • Speedy said:

    They don't vote in the GE.
    But they can make Ed look foolish, out of his depth and not in command of the facts.....
    Unlike the UK, Guernsey's company law contains provisions on obtaining and recording beneficial ownership information. Unlike the UK, Guernsey has had a robust regulatory framework for trusts and corporate service providers in place for almost a decade and a half.
  • isamisam Posts: 41,118
    SeanT said:

    isam said:

    SeanT said:

    Oh come on. Someone please ask me why I'm being smug.

    Heh, hah, etc

    I saw the good news about your book...

    Hope you don't mind me asking, I am not having a pop, just curious, but isn't it a bit odd to have it hailed as "the debut novel" when you are already an accomplished novelist? Or is that standard practice?
    Danke.

    I AM A SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLER.

    For the first time in my life. Probably the only time. But it was something I dreamed of doing since I was about 7.. any author in the UK knows the feeling.... The Sunday Times list is THE list. The only one that counts. God knows why. Kinda ridiculous. But there it is.

    I never necessarily wanted to be number 1. Just be there. In the top ten. One day. Yet the dream faded over time even as I made money and had fun.....

    And at the very late age of 51 I've done it. I'll stop now. But the remnants of my Oedipus Complex died today, and that's quite a big deal for me.
    Well done, must be a great feeling
  • foxinsoxukfoxinsoxuk Posts: 23,548

    More good news!!

    The NHS has set aside £26billion – almost a quarter of its annual budget – to cover legal claims for negligence.

    Indemnity (excluding maternity related) for my NHS organisation costs £12 million per year. We have not paid out more the £1 million per year in the last decade.

    This fee is set centrally by the DoH and compulsory. It looks to me to be a way of clawing back some of the budget.
    Out of interest how much might you have to pay out if you had a really big disaster / scandal ?

    Most years we have several payouts of about £100 thousand. It is onĺy really Obstetrics and paediatric disasters that wind up more than that, and they usually top out at a couple of million.
  • bigjohnowlsbigjohnowls Posts: 22,736

    More good news!!

    The NHS has set aside £26billion – almost a quarter of its annual budget – to cover legal claims for negligence.

    Indemnity (excluding maternity related) for my NHS organisation costs £12 million per year. We have not paid out more the £1 million per year in the last decade.

    This fee is set centrally by the DoH and compulsory. It looks to me to be a way of clawing back some of the budget.
    Out of interest how much might you have to pay out if you had a really big disaster / scandal ?

    Bugger all the NHSLA pays hence the MASSIVE premium.

    A maternity incident is generally the most expensive as someones life is fooked up for longest
  • bigjohnowlsbigjohnowls Posts: 22,736
    edited February 2015

    More good news!!

    The NHS has set aside £26billion – almost a quarter of its annual budget – to cover legal claims for negligence.

    Indemnity (excluding maternity related) for my NHS organisation costs £12 million per year. We have not paid out more the £1 million per year in the last decade.

    This fee is set centrally by the DoH and compulsory. It looks to me to be a way of clawing back some of the budget.
    Out of interest how much might you have to pay out if you had a really big disaster / scandal ?

    Most years we have several payouts of about £100 thousand. It is onĺy really Obstetrics and paediatric disasters that wind up more than that, and they usually top out at a couple of million.
    Your Trust has a zero or £10K excess though if part of NHSLA scheme doesnt it
  • Tim_BTim_B Posts: 7,669

    More good news!!

    The NHS has set aside £26billion – almost a quarter of its annual budget – to cover legal claims for negligence.

    Indemnity (excluding maternity related) for my NHS organisation costs £12 million per year. We have not paid out more the £1 million per year in the last decade.

    This fee is set centrally by the DoH and compulsory. It looks to me to be a way of clawing back some of the budget.
    NHSLA fees are generally the largest non pay item at most NHS acute organisations.

    A risk pooling scheme as you note is rather expensive in an increasingly litigious society
    Why should my low risk organisation subsidise the high risk ones? We could save over £10 million per year to put back into patient care if we were not forced to pay this fee.

    Who are the organisations that regularly take out more than they pay in? And why are they not being seriously investigated?
    Wouldn't it be cheaper to ditch this government outfit and deal directly with insurance companies who are good at risk and litigation ? I doubt a government body is as efficient as a private insurer, who would take your record into account in setting the premium.


  • He said the “profit-share” schemes made the NHS spend more and were not in patients’ best interests.

    In one case, a doctor is said to have earned enough to pay private school fees for his or her children.

    Give a source so we can fry Lansley for turning the NHS into a Greek version of the NHS.
    http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/nhs-doctors-taking-bribes-private-5142035

    GP Commissioning Healthcare is a MASSIVE conflict of interests

    Take the pitchforks.
    Lansley deformed British Healthcare into Greek Healthcare (I read that the greek healthcare system is notorious for bribes).

    It will be interesting to see if any evidence is brought forward to back up these claims. After all any doctor receiving these payments could face being struck off and any rep making them could face bribery charges

    According to the Mirror article Dr Peck could not name a single Doctor doing this to the GMC, so the GMC threw out the complaint.

    Meanwhile Dr Peck's employer, AXA-PPP negotiates sweetheart deals with certain private hospitals and providers.

    Hmmm, there is some truth in that but they are trying to keep costs down in the private sector, as I am sure you are aware Bupa are doing the same. PMI premiums are fast becoming unsustainable so I understand where open referral and such like is coming from and what it is trying to achieve, though as a broker choice is all important when I advise my clients and open referral takes away from that.

    And before bigjohn and the other Lefties say it serves them right for being able to afford private healthcare, ask yourself how the NHS would cope with another six million people to look after.

    Doctors fees have been frozen ( or reduced ) by the insurers for over two decades, meaning a real terms reduction. Strangely the PMI rates charged to the punters have increased at an above inflation rate, as have pracice costs. Who is pocketing the difference? Not me, that is for sure.



    Most PMI providers struggle to make a profit, at least in the SME sector. However medical inflation runs around 9% presumably due to increased hospital charges and the cost of drugs such as Avastin.

    If you recall Bupa had a stand off with BMI hospitals a couple of years ago in protest at increased hospital charges, it worked too.
  • With reference to today's discussions about 'austerity' and who gets the blame and how long it will continue two facts:

    During the last decade government debt has increased by £1.033 TRILLION pounds (or 229%).

    The UK is currently running the largest balance of payments deficit since records began.

    The bonkers thing is that most of the public think the government is reducing the national debt.

    They have no grasp of the difference between debt and deficit (although the deficit has also risen in the short term).
    The contortions which the politicians will make to avoid explaining the details during the election campaign will be amusing.
    The most pernicious construction is "paying down the deficit" - when of course you can only "reduce" a deficit - but "pay down" a debt.....and we're a long way from doing the latter....
  • SeanT said:

    SeanT said:

    isam said:

    SeanT said:

    Oh come on. Someone please ask me why I'm being smug.

    Heh, hah, etc

    I saw the good news about your book...

    Hope you don't mind me asking, I am not having a pop, just curious, but isn't it a bit odd to have it hailed as "the debut novel" when you are already an accomplished novelist? Or is that standard practice?
    Danke.

    I AM A SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLER.

    For the first time in my life. Probably the only time. But it was something I dreamed of doing since I was about 7.. any author in the UK knows the feeling.... The Sunday Times list is THE list. The only one that counts. God knows why. Kinda ridiculous. But there it is.

    I never necessarily wanted to be number 1. Just be there. In the top ten. One day. Yet the dream faded over time even as I made money and had fun.....

    And at the very late age of 51 I've done it. I'll stop now. But the remnants of my Oedipus Complex died today, and that's quite a big deal for me.
    Is that the new style book which you sold the rights to for big money a couple of years ago ?

    Exactly right. But big advances mean nothing until you actually sell a book. Happily it has been very well received. Lots of eager readers, it seems, so far

    Inshallah!
    Didn't I have a good suggestion when you were struggling with the plot? I'll settle for 5%!
  • foxinsoxukfoxinsoxuk Posts: 23,548

    More good news!!

    The NHS has set aside £26billion – almost a quarter of its annual budget – to cover legal claims for negligence.

    Indemnity (excluding maternity related) for my NHS organisation costs £12 million per year. We have not paid out more the £1 million per year in the last decade.

    This fee is set centrally by the DoH and compulsory. It looks to me to be a way of clawing back some of the budget.
    Out of interest how much might you have to pay out if you had a really big disaster / scandal ?

    Bugger all the NHSLA pays hence the MASSIVE premium.

    A maternity incident is generally the most expensive as someones life is fooked up for longest
    The whole scheme is a way of clandestinely loading costs onto low risk NHS providers in order to subsidise higher risk areas like obstertics and paediatrics and A/E.

    Let us insure ourselves on the commercial market, or "go bare", and let the high risk areas pay their own way.
  • With reference to today's discussions about 'austerity' and who gets the blame and how long it will continue two facts:

    During the last decade government debt has increased by £1.033 TRILLION pounds (or 229%).

    The UK is currently running the largest balance of payments deficit since records began.

    The bonkers thing is that most of the public think the government is reducing the national debt.

    They have no grasp of the difference between debt and deficit (although the deficit has also risen in the short term).
    The contortions which the politicians will make to avoid explaining the details during the election campaign will be amusing.
    Yes it will be niche entertainment for nerds on PB. I include myself in that :)
  • More good news!!

    The NHS has set aside £26billion – almost a quarter of its annual budget – to cover legal claims for negligence.

    Indemnity (excluding maternity related) for my NHS organisation costs £12 million per year. We have not paid out more the £1 million per year in the last decade.

    This fee is set centrally by the DoH and compulsory. It looks to me to be a way of clawing back some of the budget.
    NHSLA fees are generally the largest non pay item at most NHS acute organisations.

    A risk pooling scheme as you note is rather expensive in an increasingly litigious society
    You must have missed my post as you haven't answered it, how much do they set aside to pay the pensions, particularly of those that retire long before someone in the private sector would be able to.
    You are on ignore.

    Oh bugger realizes shouldn't have replied.
    Question a bit awkward for you is it? Don't worry we all understand.
  • SeanT said:

    SeanT said:

    isam said:

    SeanT said:

    Oh come on. Someone please ask me why I'm being smug.

    Heh, hah, etc

    I saw the good news about your book...

    Hope you don't mind me asking, I am not having a pop, just curious, but isn't it a bit odd to have it hailed as "the debut novel" when you are already an accomplished novelist? Or is that standard practice?
    Danke.

    I AM A SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLER.

    For the first time in my life. Probably the only time. But it was something I dreamed of doing since I was about 7.. any author in the UK knows the feeling.... The Sunday Times list is THE list. The only one that counts. God knows why. Kinda ridiculous. But there it is.

    I never necessarily wanted to be number 1. Just be there. In the top ten. One day. Yet the dream faded over time even as I made money and had fun.....

    And at the very late age of 51 I've done it. I'll stop now. But the remnants of my Oedipus Complex died today, and that's quite a big deal for me.
    Congratulations!

    Is it on Kindle?
    It is! See here:

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ice-Twins-S-K-Tremayne/dp/0007563035/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1423611508&sr=1-1
    Thank you - that's one more sale - something for tomorrow's flight(s)!
  • bigjohnowlsbigjohnowls Posts: 22,736

    More good news!!

    The NHS has set aside £26billion – almost a quarter of its annual budget – to cover legal claims for negligence.

    Indemnity (excluding maternity related) for my NHS organisation costs £12 million per year. We have not paid out more the £1 million per year in the last decade.

    This fee is set centrally by the DoH and compulsory. It looks to me to be a way of clawing back some of the budget.
    NHSLA fees are generally the largest non pay item at most NHS acute organisations.

    A risk pooling scheme as you note is rather expensive in an increasingly litigious society
    You must have missed my post as you haven't answered it, how much do they set aside to pay the pensions, particularly of those that retire long before someone in the private sector would be able to.
    You are on ignore.

    Oh bugger realizes shouldn't have replied.
    Question a bit awkward for you is it? Don't worry we all understand.
    If you know the answer enlighten us
  • More good news!!

    The NHS has set aside £26billion – almost a quarter of its annual budget – to cover legal claims for negligence.

    Indemnity (excluding maternity related) for my NHS organisation costs £12 million per year. We have not paid out more the £1 million per year in the last decade.

    This fee is set centrally by the DoH and compulsory. It looks to me to be a way of clawing back some of the budget.
    NHSLA fees are generally the largest non pay item at most NHS acute organisations.

    A risk pooling scheme as you note is rather expensive in an increasingly litigious society
    You must have missed my post as you haven't answered it, how much do they set aside to pay the pensions, particularly of those that retire long before someone in the private sector would be able to.
    You are on ignore.

    Oh bugger realizes shouldn't have replied.
    You jest, but years ago, apparently there used to be widget on PB, whereby you could block out entire posters entirely. The likes of Plato - a bizarre character from Planet Cat – was a purported fan.
  • With reference to today's discussions about 'austerity' and who gets the blame and how long it will continue two facts:

    During the last decade government debt has increased by £1.033 TRILLION pounds (or 229%).

    The UK is currently running the largest balance of payments deficit since records began.

    The bonkers thing is that most of the public think the government is reducing the national debt.

    They have no grasp of the difference between debt and deficit (although the deficit has also risen in the short term).
    The contortions which the politicians will make to avoid explaining the details during the election campaign will be amusing.
    The most pernicious construction is "paying down the deficit" - when of course you can only "reduce" a deficit - but "pay down" a debt.....and we're a long way from doing the latter....
    That's an understatement – it's rocketing upwards!!
  • FlightpathFlightpath Posts: 4,012

    Speedy said:

    Speedy said:

    Inevitable result of Lansley conflict of interest reforms IMO

    Trusted doctors are being offered bribes to send their patients to private ­hospitals, it has been claimed.

    ...

    Give a source so we can fry Lansley for turning the NHS into a Greek version of the NHS.
    http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/nhs-doctors-taking-bribes-private-5142035

    GP Commissioning Healthcare is a MASSIVE conflict of interests
    Take the pitchforks.
    Lansley deformed British Healthcare into Greek Healthcare (I read that the greek healthcare system is notorious for bribes).
    It will be interesting to see if any evidence is brought forward to back up these claims. After all any doctor receiving these payments could face being struck off and any rep making them could face bribery charges
    According to the Mirror article Dr Peck could not name a single Doctor doing this to the GMC, so the GMC threw out the complaint.

    Meanwhile Dr Peck's employer, AXA-PPP negotiates sweetheart deals with certain private hospitals and providers.
    Yes - its absurd. If all these people are going to private hospitals why is the NHS 'overcrowded'?

    IF healthcare was 'GP commissioning', the charge could be investigated. But we have Clinical Commissioning Groups not individual GPs. As far as the CCGs are concerned, just 'a quarter of accountable officers were GPs in October 2014, but 80% of CCG Chairs were GPs'. (HSJ)
    'NHS England' is in fact 'the' NHS commissioning board for England.
  • When is it going to end? Though if they are taking on a big Gypsy family they may get more than they bargained for.
  • Hope SeanT is pleased by this Amazon review.

    " There is something so audaciously shocking about S.K. Tremayne's "The Ice Twins" that I can not shake loose and will spoil me for any other book for a long time to come. I have awarded it five stars on the basis that a writer this good deserves all the praise she can get."

    Might it have been an idea to pop a forename on the pseudonym?
  • When is it going to end? Though if they are taking on a big Gypsy family they may get more than they bargained for.
    I suspect if you asked for a Muslim corpse to be removed you'd get a visit from the plod's hate crimes squad.

  • foxinsoxukfoxinsoxuk Posts: 23,548
    First that I have heard of it. If it is a non denominational cemetary and Shady's family bought it fair and square then I would be surprised to see the objection stand.
  • Tim_BTim_B Posts: 7,669

    SeanT said:

    SeanT said:

    isam said:

    SeanT said:

    Oh come on. Someone please ask me why I'm being smug.

    Heh, hah, etc

    I saw the good news about your book...

    Hope you don't mind me asking, I am not having a pop, just curious, but isn't it a bit odd to have it hailed as "the debut novel" when you are already an accomplished novelist? Or is that standard practice?
    Danke.

    I AM A SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLER.

    For the first time in my life. Probably the only time. But it was something I dreamed of doing since I was about 7.. any author in the UK knows the feeling.... The Sunday Times list is THE list. The only one that counts. God knows why. Kinda ridiculous. But there it is.

    I never necessarily wanted to be number 1. Just be there. In the top ten. One day. Yet the dream faded over time even as I made money and had fun.....

    And at the very late age of 51 I've done it. I'll stop now. But the remnants of my Oedipus Complex died today, and that's quite a big deal for me.
    Congratulations!

    Is it on Kindle?
    It is! See here:

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ice-Twins-S-K-Tremayne/dp/0007563035/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1423611508&sr=1-1
    Thank you - that's one more sale - something for tomorrow's flight(s)!
    It doesn't come out here until May 19 - just as well I'm not flying anywhere....
  • Hope SeanT is pleased by this Amazon review.

    " There is something so audaciously shocking about S.K. Tremayne's "The Ice Twins" that I can not shake loose and will spoil me for any other book for a long time to come. I have awarded it five stars on the basis that a writer this good deserves all the praise she can get."

    Might it have been an idea to pop a forename on the pseudonym?

    I believe SeanT is aiming at a female readership with this new genre.

    S K Tremayne sounds like he'd be a right pretentious ponce if he was a bloke so it might be best if potential readers thought the author was a woman.

    I'll have a look out for the book in a few months when its in Asda's 'books for a quid' box.
  • FlightpathFlightpath Posts: 4,012

    More good news!!

    The NHS has set aside £26billion – almost a quarter of its annual budget – to cover legal claims for negligence.

    Excellent news, helps enrich poor hard working solicitors.
    More than £1.2 million has been paid out to 120 victims of poor care at Mid Staffordshire Foundation trust...

    As I recall these figures of billions are spread over several years - not annually.
    Last year the figure was 1.3 billion (big enough). There are more cases true, but the awards are getting a lot bigger.
  • First that I have heard of it. If it is a non denominational cemetary and Shady's family bought it fair and square then I would be surprised to see the objection stand.
    No way it should stand, but we all know it will.
  • perdixperdix Posts: 1,806

    Anybody who thinks the Mirror should be taken seriously these days, take one look at tomorrows front page....They make the Daily Express front pages sound reasonable.

    If they are to be believed, the Tories have sold off the NHS, but all they care about are apparently the "panicking Tories begging the city" for dosh.

    Haven't you seen the Mirror's recent ad? They call themselves "the intelligent tabloid"!

  • foxinsoxukfoxinsoxuk Posts: 23,548

    First that I have heard of it. If it is a non denominational cemetary and Shady's family bought it fair and square then I would be surprised to see the objection stand.
    No way it should stand, but we all know it will.
    Will it? Sounds like an anti-Romany hate crime to me!
  • Hope SeanT is pleased by this Amazon review.

    " There is something so audaciously shocking about S.K. Tremayne's "The Ice Twins" that I can not shake loose and will spoil me for any other book for a long time to come. I have awarded it five stars on the basis that a writer this good deserves all the praise she can get."

    Might it have been an idea to pop a forename on the pseudonym?

    I believe SeanT is aiming at a female readership with this new genre.

    S K Tremayne sounds like he'd be a right pretentious ponce if he was a bloke so it might be best if potential readers thought the author was a woman.

    I'll have a look out for the book in a few months when its in Asda's 'books for a quid' box.
    In retrospect that is delightfully, genderbendingly ambivalent. Bravo. Still think she could have gone all-out with a forename though. Sandra?
  • Tim_BTim_B Posts: 7,669

    Hope SeanT is pleased by this Amazon review.

    " There is something so audaciously shocking about S.K. Tremayne's "The Ice Twins" that I can not shake loose and will spoil me for any other book for a long time to come. I have awarded it five stars on the basis that a writer this good deserves all the praise she can get."

    Might it have been an idea to pop a forename on the pseudonym?

    I believe SeanT is aiming at a female readership with this new genre.

    S K Tremayne sounds like he'd be a right pretentious ponce if he was a bloke so it might be best if potential readers thought the author was a woman.

    I'll have a look out for the book in a few months when its in Asda's 'books for a quid' box.
    I wonder what the S K stands for?

    Sebastian Knox?
  • notmenotme Posts: 3,293

    When is it going to end? Though if they are taking on a big Gypsy family they may get more than they bargained for.
    I suspect if you asked for a Muslim corpse to be removed you'd get a visit from the plod's hate crimes squad.

    Its an interesting case of Tolerance Top Trumps.

    It seems a Romany Gypsy doesnt out trump a muslim. Both are groups that are known for kicking off and are usually given whatever they demand from public authorities. The problem is when they face off against each other.
  • MTimTMTimT Posts: 7,034
    SeanT said:

    SeanT said:

    isam said:

    SeanT said:

    Oh come on. Someone please ask me why I'm being smug.

    Heh, hah, etc

    I saw the good news about your book...

    Hope you don't mind me asking, I am not having a pop, just curious, but isn't it a bit odd to have it hailed as "the debut novel" when you are already an accomplished novelist? Or is that standard practice?
    Danke.

    I AM A SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLER.

    For the first time in my life. Probably the only time. But it was something I dreamed of doing since I was about 7.. any author in the UK knows the feeling.... The Sunday Times list is THE list. The only one that counts. God knows why. Kinda ridiculous. But there it is.

    I never necessarily wanted to be number 1. Just be there. In the top ten. One day. Yet the dream faded over time even as I made money and had fun.....

    And at the very late age of 51 I've done it. I'll stop now. But the remnants of my Oedipus Complex died today, and that's quite a big deal for me.
    Is that the new style book which you sold the rights to for big money a couple of years ago ?

    Exactly right. But big advances mean nothing until you actually sell a book. Happily it has been very well received. Lots of eager readers, it seems, so far

    Inshallah!
    I see the blurb says SK Tremayne was born in Devon. I thought you were a Corn. Which part of Devon. I too have a Tre- name, but was born in Plymouth.
  • EPGEPG Posts: 6,653
    c. 75% correlation between opinion on "immigration enriches" in the 2015 British Election Study and Ashcroft Ukip scores in England. North Warwickshire is the 7th most immigration-sceptic constituency in England. Ultra-marginal Lab-Con in 2010; available at good prices for the brave if you think Labour will falter in this type of constituency.
  • More good news!!

    The NHS has set aside £26billion – almost a quarter of its annual budget – to cover legal claims for negligence.

    Indemnity (excluding maternity related) for my NHS organisation costs £12 million per year. We have not paid out more the £1 million per year in the last decade.

    This fee is set centrally by the DoH and compulsory. It looks to me to be a way of clawing back some of the budget.
    NHSLA fees are generally the largest non pay item at most NHS acute organisations.

    A risk pooling scheme as you note is rather expensive in an increasingly litigious society
    You must have missed my post as you haven't answered it, how much do they set aside to pay the pensions, particularly of those that retire long before someone in the private sector would be able to.
    You are on ignore.

    Oh bugger realizes shouldn't have replied.
    You jest, but years ago, apparently there used to be widget on PB, whereby you could block out entire posters entirely. The likes of Plato - a bizarre character from Planet Cat – was a purported fan.
    Still works on Firefox, with the Greasemonkey extension.
  • notme said:

    When is it going to end? Though if they are taking on a big Gypsy family they may get more than they bargained for.
    I suspect if you asked for a Muslim corpse to be removed you'd get a visit from the plod's hate crimes squad.

    Its an interesting case of Tolerance Top Trumps.

    It seems a Romany Gypsy doesnt out trump a muslim. Both are groups that are known for kicking off and are usually given whatever they demand from public authorities. The problem is when they face off against each other.
    Actually it could be real fireworks, as Romany Gypsies do not stand for being messed around and will gather support from groups across the country. I could see this getting nasty.
  • SeanT said:

    SeanT said:

    isam said:

    SeanT said:

    Oh come on. Someone please ask me why I'm being smug.

    Heh, hah, etc

    I saw the good news about your book...

    Hope you don't mind me asking, I am not having a pop, just curious, but isn't it a bit odd to have it hailed as "the debut novel" when you are already an accomplished novelist? Or is that standard practice?
    Danke.

    I AM A SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLER.

    For the first time in my life. Probably the only time. But it was something I dreamed of doing since I was about 7.. any author in the UK knows the feeling.... The Sunday Times list is THE list. The only one that counts. God knows why. Kinda ridiculous. But there it is.

    I never necessarily wanted to be number 1. Just be there. In the top ten. One day. Yet the dream faded over time even as I made money and had fun.....

    And at the very late age of 51 I've done it. I'll stop now. But the remnants of my Oedipus Complex died today, and that's quite a big deal for me.
    Is that the new style book which you sold the rights to for big money a couple of years ago ?

    Exactly right. But big advances mean nothing until you actually sell a book. Happily it has been very well received. Lots of eager readers, it seems, so far

    Inshallah!
    There are some impressively good reviews.

    How many pseudonyms are you aiming for, do you think? Is this a sort of literary contest, to collect the greatest number?
  • Hope SeanT is pleased by this Amazon review.

    " There is something so audaciously shocking about S.K. Tremayne's "The Ice Twins" that I can not shake loose and will spoil me for any other book for a long time to come. I have awarded it five stars on the basis that a writer this good deserves all the praise she can get."

    Might it have been an idea to pop a forename on the pseudonym?

    I believe SeanT is aiming at a female readership with this new genre.

    S K Tremayne sounds like he'd be a right pretentious ponce if he was a bloke so it might be best if potential readers thought the author was a woman.

    I'll have a look out for the book in a few months when its in Asda's 'books for a quid' box.
    In retrospect that is delightfully, genderbendingly ambivalent. Bravo. Still think she could have gone all-out with a forename though. Sandra?
    Seanetta Knoxina Tremayne perhaps ?

  • MTimTMTimT Posts: 7,034

    More good news!!

    The NHS has set aside £26billion – almost a quarter of its annual budget – to cover legal claims for negligence.

    Indemnity (excluding maternity related) for my NHS organisation costs £12 million per year. We have not paid out more the £1 million per year in the last decade.

    This fee is set centrally by the DoH and compulsory. It looks to me to be a way of clawing back some of the budget.
    NHSLA fees are generally the largest non pay item at most NHS acute organisations.

    A risk pooling scheme as you note is rather expensive in an increasingly litigious society
    You must have missed my post as you haven't answered it, how much do they set aside to pay the pensions, particularly of those that retire long before someone in the private sector would be able to.
    You are on ignore.

    Oh bugger realizes shouldn't have replied.
    You jest, but years ago, apparently there used to be widget on PB, whereby you could block out entire posters entirely. The likes of Plato - a bizarre character from Planet Cat – was a purported fan.
    Still works on Firefox, with the Greasemonkey extension.
    Edmund, were you not the inventor/author of said widget?
  • notmenotme Posts: 3,293

    notme said:

    When is it going to end? Though if they are taking on a big Gypsy family they may get more than they bargained for.
    I suspect if you asked for a Muslim corpse to be removed you'd get a visit from the plod's hate crimes squad.

    Its an interesting case of Tolerance Top Trumps.

    It seems a Romany Gypsy doesnt out trump a muslim. Both are groups that are known for kicking off and are usually given whatever they demand from public authorities. The problem is when they face off against each other.
    Actually it could be real fireworks, as Romany Gypsies do not stand for being messed around and will gather support from groups across the country. I could see this getting nasty.
    They certainly do not. If you sleight one, you sleight them all (as they see themselves as one extended family).

    Ive found a disturbing lack of proportionality for sleights. You get a warning (a severe sh*t kicking) you do it again and you get a visit from accelerant and a naked flame.

    They are a community that lives by their wits (they have to), it makes them hardened, generally for most of us in our lives we dont have to live on our toes and are fairly soft.

  • notme said:

    notme said:

    When is it going to end? Though if they are taking on a big Gypsy family they may get more than they bargained for.
    I suspect if you asked for a Muslim corpse to be removed you'd get a visit from the plod's hate crimes squad.

    Its an interesting case of Tolerance Top Trumps.

    It seems a Romany Gypsy doesnt out trump a muslim. Both are groups that are known for kicking off and are usually given whatever they demand from public authorities. The problem is when they face off against each other.
    Actually it could be real fireworks, as Romany Gypsies do not stand for being messed around and will gather support from groups across the country. I could see this getting nasty.
    They certainly do not. If you sleight one, you sleight them all (as they see themselves as one extended family).

    Ive found a disturbing lack of proportionality for sleights. You get a warning (a severe sh*t kicking) you do it again and you get a visit from accelerant and a naked flame.

    They are a community that lives by their wits (they have to), it makes them hardened, generally for most of us in our lives we dont have to live on our toes and are fairly soft.

    Exactly right, which is why I have a horrible feeling this won't end well
  • notmenotme Posts: 3,293

    SeanT said:

    SeanT said:

    isam said:

    SeanT said:

    Oh come on. Someone please ask me why I'm being smug.

    Heh, hah, etc

    I saw the good news about your book...

    Hope you don't mind me asking, I am not having a pop, just curious, but isn't it a bit odd to have it hailed as "the debut novel" when you are already an accomplished novelist? Or is that standard practice?
    Danke.

    I AM A SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLER.

    For the first time in my life. Probably the only time. But it was something I dreamed of doing since I was about 7.. any author in the UK knows the feeling.... The Sunday Times list is THE list. The only one that counts. God knows why. Kinda ridiculous. But there it is.

    I never necessarily wanted to be number 1. Just be there. In the top ten. One day. Yet the dream faded over time even as I made money and had fun.....

    And at the very late age of 51 I've done it. I'll stop now. But the remnants of my Oedipus Complex died today, and that's quite a big deal for me.
    Is that the new style book which you sold the rights to for big money a couple of years ago ?

    Exactly right. But big advances mean nothing until you actually sell a book. Happily it has been very well received. Lots of eager readers, it seems, so far

    Inshallah!
    There are some impressively good reviews.

    How many pseudonyms are you aiming for, do you think? Is this a sort of literary contest, to collect the greatest number?
    SeanT is PB's very own Hank Moody. The parallels are there.
  • fitalassfitalass Posts: 4,320
    Twitter
    Reuters Top News ‏@Reuters 11m11 minutes ago
    Greek PM easily wins confidence vote, EU showdown looms http://reut.rs/1AV37hh

    And one for those that can reach behind the Times pay wall
    Fraser Nelson @FraserNelson · 2h 2 hours ago
    "The Conservatives are both the party of the rich and the party with the best policies for the poor" -vg Times leader http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/opinion/le

  • fitalassfitalass Posts: 4,320
    Has HurstLlama been about recently on PB?
  • Tim_BTim_B Posts: 7,669
    After a botched execution by lethal injection, Oklahoma is considering using the gas chamber for future executions.

    It is an excruciating death.
  • fitalass said:

    Twitter
    Reuters Top News ‏@Reuters 11m11 minutes ago
    Greek PM easily wins confidence vote, EU showdown looms http://reut.rs/1AV37hh

    And one for those that can reach behind the Times pay wall
    Fraser Nelson @FraserNelson · 2h 2 hours ago
    "The Conservatives are both the party of the rich and the party with the best policies for the poor" -vg Times leader http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/opinion/le

    I see the Greeks are claiming €11 billion in reparation and forced loan repayments from the Germans, that would help to solve the crisis, I bet Hollande and the rest would love them to settle, easy way out for all concerned.

    Apart from the Germans, and they control Europe.
  • foxinsoxukfoxinsoxuk Posts: 23,548
    fitalass said:

    Has HurstLlama been about recently on PB?

    He is communicating as Italy in PB Diplomcy 5, mostly lurking on here it seems.
  • SeanT said:

    SeanT said:

    SeanT said:

    isam said:

    SeanT said:

    Oh come on. Someone please ask me why I'm being smug.

    Heh, hah, etc

    I saw the good news about your book...

    Hope you don't mind me asking, I am not having a pop, just curious, but isn't it a bit odd to have it hailed as "the debut novel" when you are already an accomplished novelist? Or is that standard practice?
    Danke.

    I AM A SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLER.

    For the first time in my life. Probably the only time. But it was something I dreamed of doing since I was about 7.. any author in the UK knows the feeling.... The Sunday Times list is THE list. The only one that counts. God knows why. Kinda ridiculous. But there it is.

    I never necessarily wanted to be number 1. Just be there. In the top ten. One day. Yet the dream faded over time even as I made money and had fun.....

    And at the very late age of 51 I've done it. I'll stop now. But the remnants of my Oedipus Complex died today, and that's quite a big deal for me.
    Congratulations!

    Is it on Kindle?
    It is! See here:

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ice-Twins-S-K-Tremayne/dp/0007563035/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1423611508&sr=1-1
    Thank you - that's one more sale - something for tomorrow's flight(s)!
    Ta, muchness.

    Call me Sandra.
    Congratulations Sean, I shall be back down in Cornwall next month, I shall have a pasty and a pint of Tribute in your honor.
  • fitalass said:

    Twitter
    Reuters Top News ‏@Reuters 11m11 minutes ago
    Greek PM easily wins confidence vote, EU showdown looms http://reut.rs/1AV37hh

    And one for those that can reach behind the Times pay wall
    Fraser Nelson @FraserNelson · 2h 2 hours ago
    "The Conservatives are both the party of the rich and the party with the best policies for the poor" -vg Times leader http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/opinion/le

    I see the Greeks are claiming €11 billion in reparation and forced loan repayments from the Germans, that would help to solve the crisis, I bet Hollande and the rest would love them to settle, easy way out for all concerned.

    Apart from the Germans, and they control Europe.
    If the Greeks get €11 billion in reparation from the Germans I think the UK should put in its claim. That would solve the deficit problem for the next few years.
  • fitalassfitalass Posts: 4,320
    Thanks @Foxinsoxuk, will send him a message via vanilla in the hope he is lurking.

    fitalass said:

    Has HurstLlama been about recently on PB?

    He is communicating as Italy in PB Diplomcy 5, mostly lurking on here it seems.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,411
    Tim_B said:

    After a botched execution by lethal injection, Oklahoma is considering using the gas chamber for future executions.

    It is an excruciating death.

    Guillotine ?

    I'm serious !
  • fitalassfitalass Posts: 4,320
    Wow, well done @Seant, what an incredible journey you have had a journalist and writer over the last decade. I remember when you were an impoverished writer on PB a decade ago! It was odd, I saw the blurb about this book and immediately thought of you because of the location. I had remembered you staying on that isolated and eerie island up on the West Coast a while back and wondered if you had branched out under a new pseudonym.. And the Cornish sounding surname just seemed such a coincidence.
    SeanT said:

    SeanT said:

    SeanT said:

    isam said:

    SeanT said:

    Oh come on. Someone please ask me why I'm being smug.

    Heh, hah, etc

    I saw the good news about your book...

    Hope you don't mind me asking, I am not having a pop, just curious, but isn't it a bit odd to have it hailed as "the debut novel" when you are already an accomplished novelist? Or is that standard practice?
    Danke.

    I AM A SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLER.

    For the first time in my life. Probably the only time. But it was something I dreamed of doing since I was about 7.. any author in the UK knows the feeling.... The Sunday Times list is THE list. The only one that counts. God knows why. Kinda ridiculous. But there it is.

    I never necessarily wanted to be number 1. Just be there. In the top ten. One day. Yet the dream faded over time even as I made money and had fun.....

    And at the very late age of 51 I've done it. I'll stop now. But the remnants of my Oedipus Complex died today, and that's quite a big deal for me.
    Congratulations!

    Is it on Kindle?
    It is! See here:

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ice-Twins-S-K-Tremayne/dp/0007563035/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1423611508&sr=1-1
    Thank you - that's one more sale - something for tomorrow's flight(s)!
    Ta, muchness.

    Call me Sandra.
  • RobDRobD Posts: 60,040
    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/11402870/Grandfathers-body-could-be-exhumed-after-relatives-of-Muslim-buried-alongside-complain-he-was-an-unbeliever.html

    Why on Earth did the Muslim family bury their relative in a multi-denominational cemetery if they can't be buried next to non-Muslims??
  • SeanT said:

    SeanT said:

    SeanT said:

    isam said:

    SeanT said:

    Oh come on. Someone please ask me why I'm being smug.

    Heh, hah, etc

    I saw the good news about your book...

    Hope you don't mind me asking, I am not having a pop, just curious, but isn't it a bit odd to have it hailed as "the debut novel" when you are already an accomplished novelist? Or is that standard practice?
    Danke.

    I AM A SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLER.

    For the first time in my life. Probably the only time. But it was something I dreamed of doing since I was about 7.. any author in the UK knows the feeling.... The Sunday Times list is THE list. The only one that counts. God knows why. Kinda ridiculous. But there it is.

    I never necessarily wanted to be number 1. Just be there. In the top ten. One day. Yet the dream faded over time even as I made money and had fun.....

    And at the very late age of 51 I've done it. I'll stop now. But the remnants of my Oedipus Complex died today, and that's quite a big deal for me.
    Congratulations!

    Is it on Kindle?
    It is! See here:

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ice-Twins-S-K-Tremayne/dp/0007563035/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1423611508&sr=1-1
    Thank you - that's one more sale - something for tomorrow's flight(s)!
    Ta, muchness.

    Call me Sandra.

    Which other male name tags are hiding female posters? :)
  • AndyJS said:

    Apparently there was a BBC Woman's Hour poll done by TNS-BRMB giving Labour an 11% lead and putting them on 39% at the end of January. It was completely out of line with all other polls carried out at the time:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polling_for_the_2015_United_Kingdom_general_election#2015

    Yes, we went over that at the time, and Number Cruncher got confirmation from TNS-BRMB that it hadn't been politically weighted. Unfortunately the Wikipedians are following process rather than using common sense.
    But according to TNS' own website, it was (however flawed) intended to be a VI poll, with an "all adult" sample as well as the "women-only" sample.
  • Tim_BTim_B Posts: 7,669
    Pulpstar said:

    Tim_B said:

    After a botched execution by lethal injection, Oklahoma is considering using the gas chamber for future executions.

    It is an excruciating death.

    Guillotine ?

    I'm serious !
    On several occasions lips and eyes were observed moving for a minute or two after being guillotined, so there was concern that the dying brain could still feel pain. This is mainly from the French before they stopped it, and of course our old friends the Nazis, who in their infinite compassion guillotined their victims face up. I don't have a link as I read this about 20 years ago.

    The least painful form of execution is probably hypoxia, which now I've read more about the Oklahoma decision is what they are planning to do, thus rendering my excruciating death comment incorrect. Using hypoxia the victim literally just goes to sleep and it is painless.

    http://rt.com/usa/230775-oklahoma-gas-chambers-executions/


    The other least painful methods are firing squad or judicial long drop hanging, assuming both are done properly.

    The other attraction of hypoxia is that it is easy and needs no expertise - close the door and hit the button.
  • More good news!!

    The NHS has set aside £26billion – almost a quarter of its annual budget – to cover legal claims for negligence.

    More good news!!

    The NHS has set aside £26billion – almost a quarter of its annual budget – to cover legal claims for negligence.

    Except £1.3bn was paid out to cover medical negligence claims last year not £26 billion.
  • Congrats to Smarmy Git Sean T on making the Sunday Times list!

    Best I could manage was "consideration for publication" by Puffin Books roughly 27 years ago, at the tender age of 12...
  • RobDRobD Posts: 60,040
    Tim_B said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Tim_B said:

    After a botched execution by lethal injection, Oklahoma is considering using the gas chamber for future executions.

    It is an excruciating death.

    Guillotine ?

    I'm serious !
    On several occasions lips and eyes were observed moving for a minute or two after being guillotined, so there was concern that the dying brain could still feel pain. This is mainly from the French before they stopped it, and of course our old friends the Nazis, who in their infinite compassion guillotined their victims face up. I don't have a link as I read this about 20 years ago.

    The least painful form of execution is probably hypoxia, which now I've read more about the Oklahoma decision is what they are planning to do, thus rendering my excruciating death comment incorrect. Using hypoxia the victim literally just goes to sleep and it is painless.

    http://rt.com/usa/230775-oklahoma-gas-chambers-executions/


    The other least painful methods are firing squad or judicial long drop hanging, assuming both are done properly.

    The other attraction of hypoxia is that it is easy and needs no expertise - close the door and hit the button.
    Anesthetic + Guillotine??

    Can't believe the last guillotining in France was only about 50 years ago!
  • Tim_BTim_B Posts: 7,669
    RobD said:

    Tim_B said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Tim_B said:

    After a botched execution by lethal injection, Oklahoma is considering using the gas chamber for future executions.

    It is an excruciating death.

    Guillotine ?

    I'm serious !
    On several occasions lips and eyes were observed moving for a minute or two after being guillotined, so there was concern that the dying brain could still feel pain. This is mainly from the French before they stopped it, and of course our old friends the Nazis, who in their infinite compassion guillotined their victims face up. I don't have a link as I read this about 20 years ago.

    The least painful form of execution is probably hypoxia, which now I've read more about the Oklahoma decision is what they are planning to do, thus rendering my excruciating death comment incorrect. Using hypoxia the victim literally just goes to sleep and it is painless.

    http://rt.com/usa/230775-oklahoma-gas-chambers-executions/


    The other least painful methods are firing squad or judicial long drop hanging, assuming both are done properly.

    The other attraction of hypoxia is that it is easy and needs no expertise - close the door and hit the button.
    Anesthetic + Guillotine??

    Can't believe the last guillotining in France was only about 50 years ago!
    One of the lethal injection problems is that autopsies have shown in a surprising number of cases that levels of anesthetic were low enough that the victim may not have been completely unconscious. Placing the IV requires some skill and that also has been problematic.

    With hypoxia the only skill is the strap down team. Other than that simple maintenance of the chamber and the gas cylinder is all that's required.
  • Moses_Moses_ Posts: 4,865
    notme said:

    notme said:

    When is it going to end? Though if they are taking on a big Gypsy family they may get more than they bargained for.
    I suspect if you asked for a Muslim corpse to be removed you'd get a visit from the plod's hate crimes squad.

    Its an interesting case of Tolerance Top Trumps.

    It seems a Romany Gypsy doesnt out trump a muslim. Both are groups that are known for kicking off and are usually given whatever they demand from public authorities. The problem is when they face off against each other.
    Actually it could be real fireworks, as Romany Gypsies do not stand for being messed around and will gather support from groups across the country. I could see this getting nasty.
    They certainly do not. If you sleight one, you sleight them all (as they see themselves as one extended family).

    Ive found a disturbing lack of proportionality for sleights. You get a warning (a severe sh*t kicking) you do it again and you get a visit from accelerant and a naked flame.

    They are a community that lives by their wits (they have to), it makes them hardened, generally for most of us in our lives we dont have to live on our toes and are fairly soft.

    The seriously worrying thing about this situation is the Muslim family knowingly buried their relative in a multi faith cemetery. Then they complain according to the Telegraph days before the burial of the non believer who is actually a Roman Catholic. The council has warned the relatives of the later burial they may have to move.

    We are being dominated in life and now it appears in death also. Personally I am just getting sick and tired of always having to pander day in and day out when no one considers are needs and beliefs or customs. The RC family have vowed to fight tooth and nail to avoid an exhumation. Quite right too.

    This madness has to stop.

  • Tim_BTim_B Posts: 7,669
    Moses_ said:

    notme said:

    notme said:

    When is it going to end? Though if they are taking on a big Gypsy family they may get more than they bargained for.
    I suspect if you asked for a Muslim corpse to be removed you'd get a visit from the plod's hate crimes squad.

    Its an interesting case of Tolerance Top Trumps.

    It seems a Romany Gypsy doesnt out trump a muslim. Both are groups that are known for kicking off and are usually given whatever they demand from public authorities. The problem is when they face off against each other.
    Actually it could be real fireworks, as Romany Gypsies do not stand for being messed around and will gather support from groups across the country. I could see this getting nasty.
    They certainly do not. If you sleight one, you sleight them all (as they see themselves as one extended family).

    Ive found a disturbing lack of proportionality for sleights. You get a warning (a severe sh*t kicking) you do it again and you get a visit from accelerant and a naked flame.

    They are a community that lives by their wits (they have to), it makes them hardened, generally for most of us in our lives we dont have to live on our toes and are fairly soft.

    The seriously worrying thing about this situation is the Muslim family knowingly buried their relative in a multi faith cemetery. Then they complain according to the Telegraph days before the burial of the non believer who is actually a Roman Catholic. The council has warned the relatives of the later burial they may have to move.

    We are being dominated in life and now it appears in death also. Personally I am just getting sick and tired of always having to pander day in and day out when no one considers are needs and beliefs or customs. The RC family have vowed to fight tooth and nail to avoid an exhumation. Quite right too.

    This madness has to stop.

    Indeed it does - but unfortunately that doesn't mean it will.
  • @Sun_Politics: YouGov/Sun poll tonight - Labour have two-point lead over the Tories: CON 33%, LAB 35%, LD 6%, UKIP 13%, GRN 8%

    Another nascent Crossover wiped out??
  • ELBOW last week (w/e 8th Feb) showed a Lab lead of 1.3% across all 10 polls.

    ELBOWing just the five YouGovs, this drops to just 0.3% lead.

    ELBOWing just the five non-YouGovs, this increases to 2.7% lead.
  • Tim_BTim_B Posts: 7,669
    edited February 2015
    NBC News Managing Editor and presenter Brian Williams has been suspended without pay for 6 months

    http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/brian-williams-suspended-six-months-wake-review-n304086
  • Tim_BTim_B Posts: 7,669

    ELBOW last week (w/e 8th Feb) showed a Lab lead of 1.3% across all 10 polls.

    ELBOWing just the five YouGovs, this drops to just 0.3% lead.

    ELBOWing just the five non-YouGovs, this increases to 2.7% lead.

    How do we tell Jack W's ARSE from your ELBOW?
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 52,133
    edited February 2015
    Tim_B said:

    NBC News Managing Editor and presenter Brian Williams has been suspended without pay for 6 months

    http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/brian-williams-suspended-six-months-wake-review-n304086

    In 12 years' time, he'll be recalling the time when he WASN'T suspended for six months :)
  • Tim_BTim_B Posts: 7,669
    edited February 2015

    Tim_B said:

    NBC News Managing Editor and presenter Brian Williams has been suspended without pay for 6 months

    http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/brian-williams-suspended-six-months-wake-review-n304086

    In 12 years' time, he'll be recalling the time when he WASN'T suspended for six months :)
    :smile:
  • RobDRobD Posts: 60,040
    Tim_B said:

    RobD said:

    Tim_B said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Tim_B said:

    After a botched execution by lethal injection, Oklahoma is considering using the gas chamber for future executions.

    It is an excruciating death.

    Guillotine ?

    I'm serious !
    On several occasions lips and eyes were observed moving for a minute or two after being guillotined, so there was concern that the dying brain could still feel pain. This is mainly from the French before they stopped it, and of course our old friends the Nazis, who in their infinite compassion guillotined their victims face up. I don't have a link as I read this about 20 years ago.

    The least painful form of execution is probably hypoxia, which now I've read more about the Oklahoma decision is what they are planning to do, thus rendering my excruciating death comment incorrect. Using hypoxia the victim literally just goes to sleep and it is painless.

    http://rt.com/usa/230775-oklahoma-gas-chambers-executions/


    The other least painful methods are firing squad or judicial long drop hanging, assuming both are done properly.

    The other attraction of hypoxia is that it is easy and needs no expertise - close the door and hit the button.
    Anesthetic + Guillotine??

    Can't believe the last guillotining in France was only about 50 years ago!
    One of the lethal injection problems is that autopsies have shown in a surprising number of cases that levels of anesthetic were low enough that the victim may not have been completely unconscious. Placing the IV requires some skill and that also has been problematic.

    With hypoxia the only skill is the strap down team. Other than that simple maintenance of the chamber and the gas cylinder is all that's required.
    Dunno why they don't do it using nitrogen.
  • Tim_BTim_B Posts: 7,669
    RobD said:

    Tim_B said:

    RobD said:

    Tim_B said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Tim_B said:

    After a botched execution by lethal injection, Oklahoma is considering using the gas chamber for future executions.

    It is an excruciating death.

    Guillotine ?

    I'm serious !
    On several occasions lips and eyes were observed moving for a minute or two after being guillotined, so there was concern that the dying brain could still feel pain. This is mainly from the French before they stopped it, and of course our old friends the Nazis, who in their infinite compassion guillotined their victims face up. I don't have a link as I read this about 20 years ago.

    The least painful form of execution is probably hypoxia, which now I've read more about the Oklahoma decision is what they are planning to do, thus rendering my excruciating death comment incorrect. Using hypoxia the victim literally just goes to sleep and it is painless.

    http://rt.com/usa/230775-oklahoma-gas-chambers-executions/


    The other least painful methods are firing squad or judicial long drop hanging, assuming both are done properly.

    The other attraction of hypoxia is that it is easy and needs no expertise - close the door and hit the button.
    Anesthetic + Guillotine??

    Can't believe the last guillotining in France was only about 50 years ago!
    One of the lethal injection problems is that autopsies have shown in a surprising number of cases that levels of anesthetic were low enough that the victim may not have been completely unconscious. Placing the IV requires some skill and that also has been problematic.

    With hypoxia the only skill is the strap down team. Other than that simple maintenance of the chamber and the gas cylinder is all that's required.
    Dunno why they don't do it using nitrogen.

    That's EXACTLY what Oklahoma wants to do...the aforementioned gas cylinder is full of nitrogen.
  • Tim_B said:

    ELBOW last week (w/e 8th Feb) showed a Lab lead of 1.3% across all 10 polls.

    ELBOWing just the five YouGovs, this drops to just 0.3% lead.

    ELBOWing just the five non-YouGovs, this increases to 2.7% lead.

    How do we tell Jack W's ARSE from your ELBOW?
    As we remind Lord Ashcroft every week, ELBOW is a snapshot, NOT a prediction :)
  • Tim_BTim_B Posts: 7,669

    Tim_B said:

    ELBOW last week (w/e 8th Feb) showed a Lab lead of 1.3% across all 10 polls.

    ELBOWing just the five YouGovs, this drops to just 0.3% lead.

    ELBOWing just the five non-YouGovs, this increases to 2.7% lead.

    How do we tell Jack W's ARSE from your ELBOW?
    As we remind Lord Ashcroft every week, ELBOW is a snapshot, NOT a prediction :)
    So it's a dessert topping AND a floor wax!
  • Tim_BTim_B Posts: 7,669
    NBC News head Deborah Turness has only been in post since last August. Prior to that she was editor of ITV News in the UK, so this was a big promotion.
  • RobDRobD Posts: 60,040
    Tim_B said:

    RobD said:

    Tim_B said:

    RobD said:

    Tim_B said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Tim_B said:

    After a botched execution by lethal injection, Oklahoma is considering using the gas chamber for future executions.

    It is an excruciating death.

    Guillotine ?

    I'm serious !
    On several occasions lips and eyes were observed moving for a minute or two after being guillotined, so there was concern that the dying brain could still feel pain. This is mainly from the French before they stopped it, and of course our old friends the Nazis, who in their infinite compassion guillotined their victims face up. I don't have a link as I read this about 20 years ago.

    The least painful form of execution is probably hypoxia, which now I've read more about the Oklahoma decision is what they are planning to do, thus rendering my excruciating death comment incorrect. Using hypoxia the victim literally just goes to sleep and it is painless.

    http://rt.com/usa/230775-oklahoma-gas-chambers-executions/


    The other least painful methods are firing squad or judicial long drop hanging, assuming both are done properly.

    The other attraction of hypoxia is that it is easy and needs no expertise - close the door and hit the button.
    Anesthetic + Guillotine??

    Can't believe the last guillotining in France was only about 50 years ago!
    One of the lethal injection problems is that autopsies have shown in a surprising number of cases that levels of anesthetic were low enough that the victim may not have been completely unconscious. Placing the IV requires some skill and that also has been problematic.

    With hypoxia the only skill is the strap down team. Other than that simple maintenance of the chamber and the gas cylinder is all that's required.
    Dunno why they don't do it using nitrogen.

    That's EXACTLY what Oklahoma wants to do...the aforementioned gas cylinder is full of nitrogen.
    Oh, sorry, didn't read the article you link (being lazy today)! I've heard stories of scientists dying in enclosed spaces while working with liquid N2. Apparently it is relatively painless.
This discussion has been closed.