INcidentally, I'm not going to repost them but my comments here from last week still have relevance to @John_M and @MTimT's discussion.
Just to reiterate, in light of subsequent comments - I do not know when OFSTED are coming in. The only reason I am doing all this extra paperwork is because it is what they insist on seeing when they do come in. It is totally irrelevant to the education I am giving my children, and putting me under a colossal and unnecessary strain. However, if I don't do it, the outstanding exam results don't matter and we will get a 4 for having the wrong paperwork. It has made me wonder whether I should also quit teaching in favour of a profession where you are not constantly bossed about by a bunch of pompous failures (does anyone know of such a profession)? So these figures do not surprise me.
If paperwork is due to be done then it should be due to be done at all times and not just when an inspection is expected. If it isn't required it should be scrapped if it is, it should always be completed. Either way it is not the fault of OFSTED. That is like a chef complaining because the EHO demand to see completed temperature checks. They're required for a reason not for the EHO or OFSTED respectively.
Every profession I know has paperwork requirements.
No-one minds (much) doing paperwork if there’s a point to it. Like your chefs. My understanding of teaching is that there’s a lot of paperwork which isn’t reasonably obviously necessary,
If paperwork is being required that shouldn't be needed, it should be scrapped with or without OFSTED though. If it is required then OFSTED should be able to go in unannounced at any time and it should be done.
Either way it isn't OFSTED's fault.
As I have said, OFSTED require it. Not the government, not teachers, not children, not anybody else. But if this completely useless paperwork is not done, they fail the school, sack staff and usually force the school to become an academy - regardless of how good/bad the school actually is. We CANNOT scrap it, therefore, unless either (1) OFSTED comes to its senses, presumably carried there by flying pigs, or (2) OFSTED is abolished.
So yes, either way it is very definitely OFSTED's fault.
Apparently, making sure someone is in the UK legally is the equivalent to no dogs, no blacks, no Irish signs.
Well the path between the two is very much shorter than you think....
We'll have to see how this plays out but I for one am not pleased about it...
Burnham is unnecessarily racialising a non-racial issue to play to the Labour gallery. It is bitter and inflammatory politics, which Labour supporters would heavily criticise if UKIP did the same thing to stir up white anger.
Thank god Labour would never set out to make the white man angry...........
INcidentally, I'm not going to repost them but my comments here from last week still have relevance to @John_M and @MTimT's discussion.
Just to reiterate, in light of subsequent comments - I do not know when OFSTED are coming in. The only reason I am doing all this extra paperwork is because it is what they insist on seeing when they do come in. It is totally irrelevant to the education I am giving my children, and putting me under a colossal and unnecessary strain. However, if I don't do it, the outstanding exam results don't matter and we will get a 4 for having the wrong paperwork. It has made me wonder whether I should also quit teaching in favour of a profession where you are not constantly bossed about by a bunch of pompous failures (does anyone know of such a profession)? So these figures do not surprise me.
If paperwork is due to be done then it should be due to be done at all times and not just when an inspection is expected. If it isn't required it should be scrapped if it is, it should always be completed. Either way it is not the fault of OFSTED. That is like a chef complaining because the EHO demand to see completed temperature checks. They're required for a reason not for the EHO or OFSTED respectively.
Every profession I know has paperwork requirements.
The point is, it is expected to be completed AT ALL TIMES for the benefit of the inspectors. They demand it so that they can 'see continuous progress' (although, frustratingly, they often then don't check it). It has no use whatsoever apart from that. It does nothing to improve my teaching - in fact, given the vast amount of time it wastes, quite the reverse. So it is undoubtedly the fault of OFSTED, and I am at a loss to see your point.
Paperwork? I'm chair of a local charity helping people with mental health issues. We have copious amounts of paperwork to complete. It is a massive issue.
However we have to do it for our funders, staff, clients and trustees. It may appear tiresome or unnecessary, but at every point we have to be able to show we have taken every step to protect vulnerable people.
Paperwork is inescapable in a modern world.
Am I allowed to finish with donations welcome at www.growing-people.org.uk. ? (or message me for info)
Paperwork? I'm chair of a local charity helping people with mental health issues. We have copious amounts of paperwork to complete. It is a massive issue.
However we have to do it for our funders, staff, clients and trustees. It may appear tiresome or unnecessary, but at every point we have to be able to show we have taken every step to protect vulnerable people.
Paperwork is inescapable in a modern world.
Am I allowed to finish with donations welcome at www.growing-people.org.uk. ?
Philip, neither I nor any other teacher have any objection to keeping records or doing paperwork, when there is a valid reason to do so. We have been doing it since 1870. What I object to is doing additional paperwork that is no good to man or beast, only to OFSTED, which militates against good teaching and is ruining my own health.
Good luck with the fundraising . I used to be a charity secretary, many many moons ago, so I know something about the requirements of safeguarding!
Plato - you will be pleased to learn that the Get Carter car park was demolished a couple of years ago. I mourn its passing but I do have a coffee mug featuring this Geordie icon.
Another landmark featured in the film - Dunston coal staithes - are now open to the public to walk along. When I was young, I used to watch the coal wagons being shunted up to the top, and the empty wagons heading back down under gravity. Happy days.
In some ways the film was a miserable advert for Newcastle, in other ways it was magnificent. Nicol Williamson I remember was in a similar film a few years before. Shame about Ian Hendry.
I don't think it will be very effective to attack Zac's perceived out of touchedness, but I don't think it will exactly be a 'mistake' in the sense I doubt it would harm Khan to do it. What would be a mistake would be to focus too much on it, as since you point out it's not going to win the day if Zac is perceived to have good qualities elsewhere. Probably best for Khan to attack the policies, as you say, since those people who are going to vote based on Zac being supposedly out of touch, will not need any encouragement from the candidate to decide on that basis.
I think the "too rich, out of touch" jibes only work when paired with actual policy. Whenever Labour tried it in the 2005-10 Parliament against Cameron, it always seemed gratuitous and irrelevant. It was only when they got into government, and they started simultaneously clobbering poor people while showering the rich with goodies, that the public started to feel their posh-ness was relevant.
Which brings me onto the next point: I think it's just wrong to say the "posh/out of touch" attacks didn't work at all in the last parliament. How people vote in a general election, and how they vote in mid-term elections are very different things. In the mid-term elections, the sense that the Tories were a bunch of rich kids was one of the main reasons the Tories got dustings (especially in 2012 immediately after the tax giveaway to millionaires). At the general election, people felt it was more important to go with the party who was best on the economy and which leader would look less out-of-place at world summits, but nobody thinks the Mayor of London is going to affect either of those things so people will vote on personality.
It did work and was effective. Happily the fact that Lab was perceived as fiscally incompetent worked more effectively. However, as a shall we say to the right of the party economically and wet/left of it socially Cons supporter, I did cringe every time yet another OE was appointed to some position of power. Being voted in by the GBP is ofc different but my heart does sink at Zac's profile.
The question I asked throughout 05-10 remains - are there really no super-bright, intellectually gigantic, switched on, streetwise Cons candidates from Worksop? Or in this case Dagenham (no offence)?
Re the Red Road flats demolition, seems it was a disaster and 2500 people unable to return to their homes , one tower block still hanging on , people predicted this would be result.
defensiblespace.com is a good place to start in taking a look at community architecture and design. Oscar Newman was its originator. Lots of hits on Google. Something for the Infrastructure Commission perhaps.
What do you think natural wastage is? Retirements alone? There isn't a single industry where that is true.
Teachers leaving their profession is not higher than other rates of change.
Any figures to support that? I somehow doubt that 50% of new insurance brokers quit the profession in five years.
What makes you think that? Actually IIRC the average is 70% of new employees quit their profession within the first five years. The teaching profession (like most public sector ones) has a significantly lower turnover rate than other sectors. Never seen any figures to suggest otherwise.
My next door neighbour had a bull of epic proportions - I've lived cheek by jowl with many large farm animals - but this thing was the bovine version of King Kong. She rode it and the first time I saw it, I couldn't believe my eyes.
It was 6ft at the shoulder, huge wide horns and 800lbs at least. No idea what breed - but !!!!!!
Plato.. I never eat roast beef here mainly because there is never a cow seen in in a field..they spend their lives locked up in sheds..
I seem to bump into cows whenever I wander the local fields down my way - they often follow people around, and it makes me nervous I must say, coward that I am.
Cows are actually very curious and very dangerous. If you are used to animals, the bluff and courage is enough to get them to do what you want without causing panic.
Cows with calves are very defensive and will stampede if they perceive you as a threat, while everyone knows about older bulls, and why they arent allowed on public walkways, the same isnt for young bulls up to a certain age. They get very aggressive and territorial.
I often run along a river, with cows to the other side of the path. You have to be very careful and aware with them.
My city dwelling friends do not, I think, realise quite how big a cow is...
Can we have a moment of silence for Picston Shottle who died earlier this year after producing nearly 1.2 million units of semen
What do you think natural wastage is? Retirements alone? There isn't a single industry where that is true.
Teachers leaving their profession is not higher than other rates of change.
Any figures to support that? I somehow doubt that 50% of new insurance brokers quit the profession in five years.
What makes you think that? Actually IIRC the average is 70% of new employees quit their profession within the first five years. The teaching profession (like most public sector ones) has a significantly lower turnover rate than other sectors. Never seen any figures to suggest otherwise.
Good advice 101 Don't stay a square peg on a round hole. Get out. I imagine this is related to early turnover.
Re the Red Road flats demolition, seems it was a disaster and 2500 people unable to return to their homes , one tower block still hanging on , people predicted this would be result.
Hopefully that ha now changed:
BBC Scotland News @BBCScotlandNews 3m3 minutes ago Exclusion zone lifted - all residents told they can go home after #redroadflats demolition http://bbc.in/1P7YEOF
I am sure people don't like being out of their homes at all but a ngiht away would have been a catasrophy.
My next door neighbour had a bull of epic proportions - I've lived cheek by jowl with many large farm animals - but this thing was the bovine version of King Kong. She rode it and the first time I saw it, I couldn't believe my eyes.
It was 6ft at the shoulder, huge wide horns and 800lbs at least. No idea what breed - but !!!!!!
Plato.. I never eat roast beef here mainly because there is never a cow seen in in a field..they spend their lives locked up in sheds..
I seem to bump into cows whenever I wander the local fields down my way - they often follow people around, and it makes me nervous I must say, coward that I am.
Cows are actually very curious and very dangerous. If you are used to animals, the bluff and courage is enough to get them to do what you want without causing panic.
Cows with calves are very defensive and will stampede if they perceive you as a threat, while everyone knows about older bulls, and why they arent allowed on public walkways, the same isnt for young bulls up to a certain age. They get very aggressive and territorial.
I often run along a river, with cows to the other side of the path. You have to be very careful and aware with them.
My city dwelling friends do not, I think, realise quite how big a cow is...
Can we have a moment of silence for Picston Shottle who died earlier this year after producing nearly 1.2 million units of semen
I don't think it will be very effective to attack Zac's perceived out of touchedness, but I don't think it will exactly be a 'mistake' in the sense I doubt it would harm Khan to do it. What would be a mistake would be to focus too much on it, as since you point out it's not going to win the day if Zac is perceived to have good qualities elsewhere. Probably best for Khan to attack the policies, as you say, since those people who are going to vote based on Zac being supposedly out of touch, will not need any encouragement from the candidate to decide on that basis.
I think the "too rich, out of touch" jibes only work when paired with actual policy. Whenever Labour tried it in the 2005-10 Parliament against Cameron, it always seemed gratuitous and irrelevant. It was only when they got into government, and they started simultaneously clobbering poor people while showering the rich with goodies, that the public started to feel their posh-ness was relevant.
Which brings me onto the next point: I think it's just wrong to say the "posh/out of touch" attacks didn personality.
It did work and was effective. Happily the fact that Lab was perceived as fiscally incompetent worked more effectively. However, as a shall we say to the right of the party economically and wet/left of it socially Cons supporter, I did cringe every time yet another OE was appointed to some position of power. Being voted in by the GBP is ofc different but my heart does sink at Zac's profile.
The question I asked throughout 05-10 remains - are there really no super-bright, intellectually gigantic, switched on, streetwise Cons candidates from Worksop? Or in this case Dagenham (no offence)?
We have the bus drivers son from Rochdale.
His speech at conference was poor. I was there. Badly crafted and delivered with no pizazz. There was no spontaneity in any of it.
Of all the speeches, with the exception of Cameron and Boris who you expect to be very good anyway, it was IDS who spoke well.
Most of it was by the numbers, then he moved away from the lectern and spoke from the heart for a few minutes. He had the audience lapping up his words of wisdom.
Have we increduled here (in which case apologies) about the pathetic Cam "four musts" (as though he is living in 1970s PRC) yet and at sufficient length?
We have indeed. The person in charge of the REMAIN team has been named and his characteristics and background have been listed and excoriated. The demands by Cameron for renegotiation have been listed and characterised as insufficient/irrelevant/unachievable, with both Cameron and Brussels disparaged passim
The fact that the above paragraph would have been true whoever was appointed to REMAIN, and whatever Cameron had demanded, was...not entirely surprising...:-)
[EDIT: "demands to Cameron"->"demands by Cameron"]
INcidentally, I'm not going to repost them but my comments here from last week still have relevance to @John_M and @MTimT's discussion.
Just to reiterate, in light of subsequent comments - I do not know when OFSTED are coming in. The only reason I am doing all this extra paperwork is because it is what they insist on seeing when they do come in. It is totally irrelevant to the education I am giving my children, and putting me under a colossal and unnecessary strain. However, if I don't do it, the outstanding exam results don't matter and we will get a 4 for having the wrong paperwork. It has made me wonder whether I should also quit teaching in favour of a profession where you are not constantly bossed about by a bunch of pompous failures (does anyone know of such a profession)? So these figures do not surprise me.
If paperwork is due to be done then it should be due to be done at all times and not just when an inspection is expected. If it isn't required it should be scrapped if it is, it should always be completed. Either way it is not the fault of OFSTED. That is like a chef complaining because the EHO demand to see completed temperature checks. They're required for a reason not for the EHO or OFSTED respectively.
Every profession I know has paperwork requirements.
The point is, it is expected to be completed AT ALL TIMES for the benefit of the inspectors. They demand it so that they can 'see continuous progress' (although, frustratingly, they often then don't check it). It has no use whatsoever apart from that. It does nothing to improve my teaching - in fact, given the vast amount of time it wastes, quite the reverse. So it is undoubtedly the fault of OFSTED, and I am at a loss to see your point.
Paperwork? I'm chair of a local charity helping people with mental health issues. We have copious amounts of paperwork to complete. It is a massive issue.
However we have to do it for our funders, staff, clients and trustees. It may appear tiresome or unnecessary, but at every point we have to be able to show we have taken every step to protect vulnerable people.
Paperwork is inescapable in a modern world.
Am I allowed to finish with donations welcome at www.growing-people.org.uk. ? (or message me for info)
Paperwork? I'm chair of a local charity helping people with mental health issues. We have copious amounts of paperwork to complete. It is a massive issue.
However we have to do it for our funders, staff, clients and trustees. It may appear tiresome or unnecessary, but at every point we have to be able to show we have taken every step to protect vulnerable people.
Paperwork is inescapable in a modern world.
Am I allowed to finish with donations welcome at www.growing-people.org.uk. ?
Philip, neither I nor any other teacher have any objection to keeping records or doing paperwork, when there is a valid reason to do so. We have been doing it since 1870. What I object to is doing additional paperwork that is no good to man or beast, only to OFSTED, which militates against good teaching and is ruining my own health.
Good luck with the fundraising . I used to be a charity secretary, many many moons ago, so I know something about the requirements of safeguarding!
And, remember this paperwork is on top of marking homework. Given a shortage of teachers there are no free periods in which to do this in "normal working time",so has to be done at home.
Dear 'notme' Yes well I was not commenting particularly about competence,rather background. I understand that the main notion at the conference was anti triumphalism. Javid will of course have to demonstrate competence to go with the ambitions of his cheerleaders
OT: Just watched the first two episodes of The Last Kingdom. Not a bad effort, but it looks poorly compared to the History Channels Vikings. As a stand alone show, its fairly good. It just looks like a poor mans Viking though.
Vikings is exceptional drama, considering it's History Channels first live drama, it has *substantially* higher production values than The Last Kingdom, which from the BBC, you would expect a bit of experienced polish.
Maybe its down to budget. Perhaps Vikings has had more money thrown at it.
OT: Just watched the first two episodes of The Last Kingdom. Not a bad effort, but it looks poorly compared to the History Channels Vikings. As a stand alone show, its fairly good. It just looks like a poor mans Viking though.
Vikings is exceptional drama, considering it's History Channels first live drama, it has *substantially* higher production values than The Last Kingdom, which from the BBC, you would expect a bit of experienced polish.
Maybe its down to budget. Perhaps Vikings has had more money thrown at it.
Dear 'notme' Yes well I was not commenting particularly about competence,rather background. I understand that the main notion at the conference was anti triumphalism. Javid will of course have to demonstrate competence to go with the ambitions of his cheerleaders
I genuinely dont think us Conservatives are that in to Identity Politics. Some of the Cameroons maybe. There might be a desire to annoy Labour, by electing the first minority Prime Minister.
Its been forty years since we elected our first female Party Leader, and to this day, it smarts Labour. But that wasnt why she was chosen.
OT: Just watched the first two episodes of The Last Kingdom. Not a bad effort, but it looks poorly compared to the History Channels Vikings. As a stand alone show, its fairly good. It just looks like a poor mans Viking though.
Vikings is exceptional drama, considering it's History Channels first live drama, it has *substantially* higher production values than The Last Kingdom, which from the BBC, you would expect a bit of experienced polish.
Maybe its down to budget. Perhaps Vikings has had more money thrown at it.
I have narcos sitting on my server ready to watch.
OT: Just watched the first two episodes of The Last Kingdom. Not a bad effort, but it looks poorly compared to the History Channels Vikings. As a stand alone show, its fairly good. It just looks like a poor mans Viking though.
Vikings is exceptional drama, considering it's History Channels first live drama, it has *substantially* higher production values than The Last Kingdom, which from the BBC, you would expect a bit of experienced polish.
Maybe its down to budget. Perhaps Vikings has had more money thrown at it.
Couldn't agree more, I detest identity politics = and if I catch myself thinking someone is a good choice because of their religion or skin colour, I know I don't think much of them.
Dear 'notme' Yes well I was not commenting particularly about competence,rather background. I understand that the main notion at the conference was anti triumphalism. Javid will of course have to demonstrate competence to go with the ambitions of his cheerleaders
I genuinely dont think us Conservatives are that in to Identity Politics. Some of the Cameroons maybe. There might be a desire to annoy Labour, by electing the first minority Prime Minister.
Its been forty years since we elected our first female Party Leader, and to this day, it smarts Labour. But that wasnt why she was chosen.
OT: Just watched the first two episodes of The Last Kingdom. Not a bad effort, but it looks poorly compared to the History Channels Vikings. As a stand alone show, its fairly good. It just looks like a poor mans Viking though.
Vikings is exceptional drama, considering it's History Channels first live drama, it has *substantially* higher production values than The Last Kingdom, which from the BBC, you would expect a bit of experienced polish.
Maybe its down to budget. Perhaps Vikings has had more money thrown at it.
INcidentally, I'm not going to repost them but my comments here from last week still have relevance to @John_M and @MTimT's discussion.
Just to reiterate, in light of subsequent comments - I do not know when OFSTED are coming in. The only reason I am doing all this extra paperwork is because it is what they insist on seeing when they do come in. It is totally irrelevant to the education I am giving my children, and putting me under a colossal and unnecessary strain. However, if I don't do it, the outstanding exam results don't matter and we will get a 4 for having the wrong paperwork. It has made me wonder whether I should also quit teaching in favour of a profession where you are not constantly bossed about by a bunch of pompous failures (does anyone know of such a profession)? So these figures do not surprise me.
If paperwork is due to be done then it should be due to be done at all times and not just when an inspection is expected. If it isn't required it should be scrapped if it is, it should always be completed. Either way it is not the fault of OFSTED. That is like a chef complaining because the EHO demand to see completed temperature checks. They're required for a reason not for the EHO or OFSTED respectively.
Every profession I know has paperwork requirements.
The point is, it is expected to be completed AT ALL TIMES for the benefit of the inspectors. They demand it so that they can 'see continuous progress' (although, frustratingly, they often then don't check it). It has no use whatsoever apart from that. It does nothing to improve my teaching - in fact, given the vast amount of time it wastes, quite the reverse. So it is undoubtedly the fault of OFSTED, and I am at a loss to see your point.
Paperwork? I'm chair of a local charity helping people with mental health issues. We have copious amounts of paperwork to complete. It is a massive issue.
However we have to do it for our funders, staff, clients and trustees. It may appear tiresome or unnecessary, but at every point we have to be able to show we have taken every step to protect vulnerable people.
Paperwork is inescapable in a modern world.
Am I allowed to finish with donations welcome at www.growing-people.org.uk. ? (or message me for info)
A Youtube channel I enjoy quite a lot (lots of historical stuff and so on) is Lindy Beige, who recently did this video about the non-existence of Vikings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHHLFFy6CWs
Speaking of them, I'm still hoping Banner Saga comes out for the PS4.
A Youtube channel I enjoy quite a lot (lots of historical stuff and so on) is Lindy Beige, who recently did this video about the non-existence of Vikings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHHLFFy6CWs
Speaking of them, I'm still hoping Banner Saga comes out for the PS4.
Good game - I hear the sequel won't be too much longer.
Couldn't agree more, I detest identity politics = and if I catch myself thinking someone is a good choice because of their religion or skin colour, I know I don't think much of them.
Dear 'notme' Yes well I was not commenting particularly about competence,rather background. I understand that the main notion at the conference was anti triumphalism. Javid will of course have to demonstrate competence to go with the ambitions of his cheerleaders
I genuinely dont think us Conservatives are that in to Identity Politics. Some of the Cameroons maybe. There might be a desire to annoy Labour, by electing the first minority Prime Minister.
Its been forty years since we elected our first female Party Leader, and to this day, it smarts Labour. But that wasnt why she was chosen.
It's a dead end. Look at how theyve ended up with a parliamentary party with third and fourth rate women in safe seats. There for life. You would think in a parliamentary party of a few hundred, a few duds wont matter, but when the party starts to look dull, theres no new life. The talent pool has been diminished.
Look who we hear about for the next labour leader. They keep talking about Dan Jarvis. Not because he might be a good party leader, or that he is a passionate speaker who can persuade people and carry the House, or that he has good appeal. No, he is talked about because Labour look a bit weak on defence and he has had a pretty meteoric rise in the armed forces, and he doesnt look like a character out of The Hobbit.
Mr. kle4, aye, I've heard that. Good to see smaller studios (like CD Projekt Red) and independent ones are making some top quality games. Mind you, Bethesda's only got something like 100 staff, which is why there's such a gap between games.
Mr. kle4, aye, but I do wish they'd hire some more people so it's not a 4 year wait from Skyrim to Fallout 4. Not only that, they'd make quite a lot of money if they doubled their team and put out games every 2 years instead.
On the other hand, it's not a Duke Nukem or FFVII remake time scale...
If the Washington Beltway find it hard to grasp him, as they say, he's close to another planet for Europeans - he seems an inarticulate man with zero experience whose religion dominates his intellect. But he's of course highly skilled in his field and does seem a nice, polite chap, and perhaps politeness is a quality whose appeal we underestimate. Do our US experts think he actually has any chance at all?
Mr. kle4, aye, I've heard that. Good to see smaller studios (like CD Projekt Red) and independent ones are making some top quality games. Mind you, Bethesda's only got something like 100 staff, which is why there's such a gap between games.
Doesn't happen any more but some of the best games I ever played were written by just one person or just a handful and could be mainly credited to just one or two eg Roberta Williams and Sid Meier's early work.
Mr. kle4, aye, I've heard that. Good to see smaller studios (like CD Projekt Red) and independent ones are making some top quality games. Mind you, Bethesda's only got something like 100 staff, which is why there's such a gap between games.
Doesn't happen any more but some of the best games I ever played were written by just one person or just a handful and could be mainly credited to just one or two eg Roberta Williams and Sid Meier's early work.
There's still a few near single person designed games that draw acclaim - Papers Please being one I can think of, what a strangely absorbing game that was.
If the Washington Beltway find it hard to grasp him, as they say, he's close to another planet for Europeans - he seems an inarticulate man with zero experience whose religion dominates his intellect. But he's of course highly skilled in his field and does seem a nice, polite chap, and perhaps politeness is a quality whose appeal we underestimate. Do our US experts think he actually has any chance at all?
Inarticulate with zero experience? He is a retired neurosurgeon with a degree from Yale, he is probably better qualified and brighter than most European leaders at the moment with the exception of maybe Merkel. I would not vote for him but he looks the best bet of the present GOP field and could certainly beat Hillary, Sanders or Biden, though luckily for the Democrats it still looks like they will pick Trump
OT: Just watched the first two episodes of The Last Kingdom. Not a bad effort, but it looks poorly compared to the History Channels Vikings. As a stand alone show, its fairly good. It just looks like a poor mans Viking though.
Vikings is exceptional drama, considering it's History Channels first live drama, it has *substantially* higher production values than The Last Kingdom, which from the BBC, you would expect a bit of experienced polish.
Maybe its down to budget. Perhaps Vikings has had more money thrown at it.
Vikings was great tv.
Agreed.
The Vikings, a la Tony Curtis and Kirk Douglas, was a good film.
If the Washington Beltway find it hard to grasp him, as they say, he's close to another planet for Europeans - he seems an inarticulate man with zero experience whose religion dominates his intellect. But he's of course highly skilled in his field and does seem a nice, polite chap, and perhaps politeness is a quality whose appeal we underestimate. Do our US experts think he actually has any chance at all?
I actually give him a 45% chance of getting the nomination, with Trump also getting 45%.
"Most Republican primary voters give Trump, Carson, and Fiorina high marks on many of these candidate qualities, but Ben Carson is perceived as the most honest: Eight-one percent think he is honest and trustworthy, compared to 60 percent for Fiorina and 53 percent for Trump. Thirty-nine percent do not think Trump is honest and trustworthy, far more than either Carson or Fiorina.
Ben Carson is also seen as the candidate who most cares about people like them. Fifty-six percent think he cares a lot, more than twice as many as say the same for Trump or Fiorina.
But Donald Trump is seen as the strongest leader: Eighty-four percent think Trump has strong qualities of leadership, compared to 72 percent for Carson and 60 percent for Fiorina.
Most think both Trump (59 percent) and Carson (53 percent) have the right kind of experience to be president, though they are less sure of Fiorina (43 percent)."
Meanwhile the bookies favourite:
"Former Governor Jeb Bush is now viewed more unfavorably (38 percent) than favorably (32 percent) by Republican primary voters.
While the favorable ratings of both Donald Trump and Marco Rubio have risen slightly since August among Republican primary voters, Bush's favorable rating has dropped 11 points."
Mr. kle4, aye, I've heard that. Good to see smaller studios (like CD Projekt Red) and independent ones are making some top quality games. Mind you, Bethesda's only got something like 100 staff, which is why there's such a gap between games.
What do you think natural wastage is? Retirements alone? There isn't a single industry where that is true.
Teachers leaving their profession is not higher than other rates of change.
Any figures to support that? I somehow doubt that 50% of new insurance brokers quit the profession in five years.
What makes you think that? Actually IIRC the average is 70% of new employees quit their profession within the first five years. The teaching profession (like most public sector ones) has a significantly lower turnover rate than other sectors. Never seen any figures to suggest otherwise.
Good advice 101 Don't stay a square peg on a round hole. Get out. I imagine this is related to early turnover.
Exactly. Great advice and there isn't a major industry out there where it isn't the case.
Mind you, Bethesda's only got something like 100 staff, which is why there's such a gap between games.
Really?! Blimey, that's some impressive work they put out then, even with the time between releases.
True, but there really is no excuse for them wasting the small, but very good, talent pool that they have in producing Fall Out 4, which from the pre-release blurb looks like a simple update of Fall Out 3. - a good game in its day but that was 10 years ago. Surely Bethesda could come up with something more original.
Mr. kle4, aye, I've heard that. Good to see smaller studios (like CD Projekt Red) and independent ones are making some top quality games. Mind you, Bethesda's only got something like 100 staff, which is why there's such a gap between games.
Agreed. The witcher 3 was bloody brilliant.
I'm part way through Witcher 2 - the jump in quality from the first one in all areas - design, narrative, etc - is quite stark, and from all reports it seems they've done better with each one.
If the Washington Beltway find it hard to grasp him, as they say, he's close to another planet for Europeans - he seems an inarticulate man with zero experience whose religion dominates his intellect. But he's of course highly skilled in his field and does seem a nice, polite chap, and perhaps politeness is a quality whose appeal we underestimate. Do our US experts think he actually has any chance at all?
Inarticulate with zero experience? He is a retired neurosurgeon with a degree from Yale, he is probably better qualified and brighter than most European leaders at the moment with the exception of maybe Merkel. I would not vote for him but he looks the best bet of the present GOP field and could certainly beat Hillary, Sanders or Biden, though luckily for the Democrats it still looks like they will pick Trump
Since when was a neurosurgeon something impressive?
If he'd never spat at a Tory then he clearly can't articulate. Unless he's worn a Never Kissed A Tory tshirt at a protest rally he has zero experience.
Mind you, Bethesda's only got something like 100 staff, which is why there's such a gap between games.
Really?! Blimey, that's some impressive work they put out then, even with the time between releases.
True, but there really is no excuse for them wasting the small, but very good, talent pool that they have in producing Fall Out 4, which from the pre-release blurb looks like a simple update of Fall Out 3. - a good game in its day but that was 10 years ago. Surely Bethesda could come up with something more original.
Fallout and the Elder Scrolls pays the bills - plenty of truly innovative stuff out there, but sometimes polishing something perhaps not as original to its best possible state, such being the aim, is good too. The parent company releases some other decent stuff through other teams. All things considered it's not perfect, but I've got a lot of time for the Bethesda folks.
Mr. kle4, aye, I've heard that. Good to see smaller studios (like CD Projekt Red) and independent ones are making some top quality games. Mind you, Bethesda's only got something like 100 staff, which is why there's such a gap between games.
Agreed. The witcher 3 was bloody brilliant.
I'm part way through Witcher 2 - the jump in quality from the first one in all areas - design, narrative, etc - is quite stark, and from all reports it seems they've done better with each one.
The witcher 3 just ramps everything up- the stories, the graphics, the world. Honestly, hands down, the best game I've ever played. Part of me would say just forget the witcher 2 and jump right into 3, they are just not comparable in terms of quality.
Mr. Abode, if Me. kle4 hasn't got 3 yet, I'd give the opposite advice. The first expansion comes out in a couple of days, and if he waits a bit, he might be able to pick up a GOTY version.
It's a generation-defining game, as The Last Of Us was for the PS3. The approach to DLC (giving away 16 free bits weekly after launch) was clever. Voice-acting, graphics, story, the fantastic world, it's a staggeringly good game. Upon checking, I gave it 9.5/10.
OT: Just watched the first two episodes of The Last Kingdom. Not a bad effort, but it looks poorly compared to the History Channels Vikings. As a stand alone show, its fairly good. It just looks like a poor mans Viking though.
Vikings is exceptional drama, considering it's History Channels first live drama, it has *substantially* higher production values than The Last Kingdom, which from the BBC, you would expect a bit of experienced polish.
Maybe its down to budget. Perhaps Vikings has had more money thrown at it.
Narcos is on my "to do" list
Outlander (series not film) on Amazon prime is in my opinion stunning tv. The best I have seen bar none.
Feels a bit weird saying that as it's not my usual viewing :-)
Game I'm most excited for is Stellaris. 4x space games have frankly been a disappointment for a long time but I'm a big fan of Paradox grand strategy games. If you can get past the learning curve (and don't need the prettiest graphics) they're great fun. Although they've never done a space game before I hope this one can live up to its potential.
If the Washington Beltway find it hard to grasp him, as they say, he's close to another planet for Europeans - he seems an inarticulate man with zero experience whose religion dominates his intellect. But he's of course highly skilled in his field and does seem a nice, polite chap, and perhaps politeness is a quality whose appeal we underestimate. Do our US experts think he actually has any chance at all?
Inarticulate with zero experience? He is a retired neurosurgeon with a degree from Yale, he is probably better qualified and brighter than most European leaders at the moment with the exception of maybe Merkel. I would not vote for him but he looks the best bet of the present GOP field and could certainly beat Hillary, Sanders or Biden, though luckily for the Democrats it still looks like they will pick Trump
Since when was a neurosurgeon something impressive?
If he'd never spat at a Tory then he clearly can't articulate. Unless he's worn a Never Kissed A Tory tshirt at a protest rally he has zero experience.
Yes, I think the left does sometimes verge on the self parody. Had Carson studied politics and sociology and then spent his life as a researcher and professional politician he would be better qualified I suppose!
OT: Just watched the first two episodes of The Last Kingdom. Not a bad effort, but it looks poorly compared to the History Channels Vikings. As a stand alone show, its fairly good. It just looks like a poor mans Viking though.
Vikings is exceptional drama, considering it's History Channels first live drama, it has *substantially* higher production values than The Last Kingdom, which from the BBC, you would expect a bit of experienced polish.
Maybe its down to budget. Perhaps Vikings has had more money thrown at it.
Narcos is on my "to do" list
Outlander (series not film) on Amazon prime is in my opinion stunning tv. The best I have seen bar none.
Feels a bit weird saying that as it's not my usual viewing :-)
Game I'm most excited for is Stellaris. 4x space games have frankly been a disappointment for a long time but I'm a big fan of Paradox grand strategy games. If you can get past the learning curve (and don't need the prettiest graphics) they're great fun. Although they've never done a space game before I hope this one can live up to its potential.
I play an embarrassingly large amount of Europa Universalis IV. Such a great game.
If the Washington Beltway find it hard to grasp him, as they say, he's close to another planet for Europeans - he seems an inarticulate man with zero experience whose religion dominates his intellect. But he's of course highly skilled in his field and does seem a nice, polite chap, and perhaps politeness is a quality whose appeal we underestimate. Do our US experts think he actually has any chance at all?
I actually give him a 45% chance of getting the nomination, with Trump also getting 45%.
"Most Republican primary voters give Trump, Carson, and Fiorina high marks on many of these candidate qualities, but Ben Carson is perceived as the most honest: Eight-one percent think he is honest and trustworthy, compared to 60 percent for Fiorina and 53 percent for Trump. Thirty-nine percent do not think Trump is honest and trustworthy, far more than either Carson or Fiorina.
Ben Carson is also seen as the candidate who most cares about people like them. Fifty-six percent think he cares a lot, more than twice as many as say the same for Trump or Fiorina.
But Donald Trump is seen as the strongest leader: Eighty-four percent think Trump has strong qualities of leadership, compared to 72 percent for Carson and 60 percent for Fiorina.
Most think both Trump (59 percent) and Carson (53 percent) have the right kind of experience to be president, though they are less sure of Fiorina (43 percent)."
Meanwhile the bookies favourite:
"Former Governor Jeb Bush is now viewed more unfavorably (38 percent) than favorably (32 percent) by Republican primary voters.
While the favorable ratings of both Donald Trump and Marco Rubio have risen slightly since August among Republican primary voters, Bush's favorable rating has dropped 11 points."
The best candidates for the Republicans are Carson then Rubio in my view, if the GOP nomination ends up being between Trump and Cruz Hillary has hit the jackpot!
Mr. Abode, if Me. kle4 hasn't got 3 yet, I'd give the opposite advice. The first expansion comes out in a couple of days, and if he waits a bit, he might be able to pick up a GOTY version.
It's a generation-defining game, as The Last Of Us was for the PS3. The approach to DLC (giving away 16 free bits weekly after launch) was clever. Voice-acting, graphics, story, the fantastic world, it's a staggeringly good game. Upon checking, I gave it 9.5/10.
Mr. kle4, aye, I've heard that. Good to see smaller studios (like CD Projekt Red) and independent ones are making some top quality games. Mind you, Bethesda's only got something like 100 staff, which is why there's such a gap between games.
About a year ago I started buying indie / older games off Steam. Found some very enjoyable games over the last year.
Strangely the only one I gave up on after half an hour of play was Civ - Beyond earth.
Mr. Thompson, to be fair, Corbyn's renowned for his loyalty to the Labour whip.
Mr. Abode, could always have a second playthrough. Unless you went on a completionist run, there's probably a lot of stuff you missed before.
I think it's great that whilst there's still a lot of games aimed at children/younger adults for simplistic gratification (FPS, for example), we're now seeing more games with a mature slant. Interesting, now I think of it, both TW3 and TLOU had a father-daughter [but not quite] relationship at the heart of the story.
Edited extra bit: Mr. Floater, last Civ I played was II [I'm a console gamer]. Still got it.
Edited extra bit: just realised I own games older than some posters. [Not seen Ms. Apocalypse on of late, though...]
For anyone with Netflix - I've been pleasantly surprised by Heroes. Worth watching for amusing dialogue and good baddies, I also enjoy Dawn Til Dust version of the Tarantino movie.
OT: Just watched the first two episodes of The Last Kingdom. Not a bad effort, but it looks poorly compared to the History Channels Vikings. As a stand alone show, its fairly good. It just looks like a poor mans Viking though.
Vikings is exceptional drama, considering it's History Channels first live drama, it has *substantially* higher production values than The Last Kingdom, which from the BBC, you would expect a bit of experienced polish.
Maybe its down to budget. Perhaps Vikings has had more money thrown at it.
Narcos is on my "to do" list
Outlander (series not film) on Amazon prime is in my opinion stunning tv. The best I have seen bar none.
Feels a bit weird saying that as it's not my usual viewing :-)
Can't wait for series two.
If you have not yet seen it, Mr Robot is the best show this year (new or returning). It is quite phenomenal television.
Miss Plato, first series of Heroes? I quite liked it, but the subsequent ones were disappointing. Heard a rumour it might be coming back.
To mix games and TV, Until Dawn (videogame) stars numerous TV stars [both voice and face], such as Brett Dalton (Grant Ward from Supermodels of SHIELD) and Hayden Panettiere [cheerleader from Heroes]. It's a horror flick style game, where you make certain choices to try and keep as many people alive as possible. It's not so much playing as the characters, as the director.
I assume Outlander is not going to squander its gorgeous leads by following the books and jumping 20 years in the future for forthcoming seasons?
The show is fabulous, and it gives a bit of a kick to know some of the filming was done at a castle i grew up visiting. Its one of those shows that nobody seems to know about.
I love Mr Robot, but thought it got a bit lost around E7, then recovered. E1 is just perfectly perfect - watched it 5x.
Good Wife fall season looking strong, ditto Homeland. Not impressed by Vampire Diaries E1 S6 but love all the rest so hoping for better things. Continuum next half of season is pretty good, Lost Girl final half okay, have Haven fall to watch next.
OT: Just watched the first two episodes of The Last Kingdom. Not a bad effort, but it looks poorly compared to the History Channels Vikings. As a stand alone show, its fairly good. It just looks like a poor mans Viking though.
Vikings is exceptional drama, considering it's History Channels first live drama, it has *substantially* higher production values than The Last Kingdom, which from the BBC, you would expect a bit of experienced polish.
Maybe its down to budget. Perhaps Vikings has had more money thrown at it.
Narcos is on my "to do" list
Outlander (series not film) on Amazon prime is in my opinion stunning tv. The best I have seen bar none.
Feels a bit weird saying that as it's not my usual viewing :-)
Can't wait for series two.
If you have not yet seen it, Mr Robot is the best show this year (new or returning). It is quite phenomenal television.
I love Mr Robot, but thought it got a bit lost around E7, then recovered. E1 is just perfectly perfect - watched it 5x.
Good Wife fall season looking strong, ditto Homeland. Not impressed by Vampire Diaries E1 S6 but love all the rest so hoping for better things. Continuum next half of season is pretty good, Lost Girl final half okay, have Haven fall to watch next.
OT: Just watched the first two episodes of The Last Kingdom. Not a bad effort, but it looks poorly compared to the History Channels Vikings. As a stand alone show, its fairly good. It just looks like a poor mans Viking though.
Vikings is exceptional drama, considering it's History Channels first live drama, it has *substantially* higher production values than The Last Kingdom, which from the BBC, you would expect a bit of experienced polish.
Maybe its down to budget. Perhaps Vikings has had more money thrown at it.
Narcos is on my "to do" list
Outlander (series not film) on Amazon prime is in my opinion stunning tv. The best I have seen bar none.
Feels a bit weird saying that as it's not my usual viewing :-)
Can't wait for series two.
If you have not yet seen it, Mr Robot is the best show this year (new or returning). It is quite phenomenal television.
It's a travesty Continuum will end its run with barely 40 episodes. Tremendous TV.
Oh right, politics - With both not super well known yet, I'm surprised the likability of the two mayoral candidates is pretty close.
Pretty sure it's just a play on the main character being doubly an outsider - in time as being from the 40s sent back to the 18th century, and as an Englishwoman finding herself amidst the Scots. I'd never heard the word Sassanach before.
I stuck with all of Heroes and glad I did - harmless fun with a bit of suspense.
I found Supermodels of SHIELD too boring during the last season - I'll watch it as a filler. I gave up on Arrow as it's too angry. I loved DareDevil and Agent Carter is back despite predictions of cancellation. Big fan of The Flash. And catching up on Teen Wolf S3-5 now.
Miss Plato, first series of Heroes? I quite liked it, but the subsequent ones were disappointing. Heard a rumour it might be coming back.
To mix games and TV, Until Dawn (videogame) stars numerous TV stars [both voice and face], such as Brett Dalton (Grant Ward from Supermodels of SHIELD) and Hayden Panettiere [cheerleader from Heroes]. It's a horror flick style game, where you make certain choices to try and keep as many people alive as possible. It's not so much playing as the characters, as the director.
I love Mr Robot, but thought it got a bit lost around E7, then recovered. E1 is just perfectly perfect - watched it 5x.
I think it depends whether you think the writer was guilty of fridging. Personally I don't think it was but I can understand why some people might think it lost a beat around there.
I'm trying to find time to rewatch it now the various reveals are out but haven't had the time yet.
I think Continuum didn't think ahead to S5 so have lost the plot. If you look at say Supernatural which had a clear five season arc that worked exceptionally well - it can be done. Swan Song - the final show of S5 was clearly The End of Kripke's reign as showrunner. It's bumbled along since.
My complaints about Supernatural now on S11 is that it's nothing cohesive. I liked S1-7 not so keen on S8 and HATED most of S9 and loathed S10 - I can't watch those again, yet plot perfect on S1-8
I love Mr Robot, but thought it got a bit lost around E7, then recovered. E1 is just perfectly perfect - watched it 5x.
Good Wife fall season looking strong, ditto Homeland. Not impressed by Vampire Diaries E1 S6 but love all the rest so hoping for better things. Continuum next half of season is pretty good, Lost Girl final half okay, have Haven fall to watch next.
OT: Just watched the first two episodes of The Last Kingdom. Not a bad effort, but it looks poorly compared to the History Channels Vikings. As a stand alone show, its fairly good. It just looks like a poor mans Viking though.
Vikings is exceptional drama, considering it's History Channels first live drama, it has *substantially* higher production values than The Last Kingdom, which from the BBC, you would expect a bit of experienced polish.
Maybe its down to budget. Perhaps Vikings has had more money thrown at it.
Narcos is on my "to do" list
Outlander (series not film) on Amazon prime is in my opinion stunning tv. The best I have seen bar none.
Feels a bit weird saying that as it's not my usual viewing :-)
Can't wait for series two.
If you have not yet seen it, Mr Robot is the best show this year (new or returning). It is quite phenomenal television.
It's a travesty Continuum will end its run with barely 40 episodes. Tremendous TV.
Oh right, politics - With both not super well known yet, I'm surprised the likability of the two mayoral candidates is pretty close.
Pretty sure it's just a play on the main character being doubly an outsider - in time as being from the 40s sent back to the 18th century, and as an Englishwoman finding herself amidst the Scots. I'd never heard the word Sassanach before.
Re the Swiss referendum, didn't the Swiss sign a treaty with the EU about access to the Single Market which included provisions re immigration.
This was then broken down into two different referendum questions: 1. re access to the Single Market and 2. re Immigration.
The Swiss said no to 2, and yes to 1. And the EU said, you get to choose on the whole package, not to segment it as you please.
I.e., you can have 1 & 2, or not 1 and not 2. But you cannot have 1 and not 2.
Yes, basically. The proposers of the ultimately successful initiative opposed the freedom of movement part of the deal, and the EU then said you can't cherry-pick the package (the actual words used by the negotiator), it's all or none.
Didn't she say "the single market is not Swiss cheese" ?
It's a travesty Continuum will end its run with barely 40 episodes. Tremendous TV.
Season 1 was one of the best hard sci fi shows of recent years but something went badly wrong in the middle of Season 2 and while I kept watching it never really recovered.
It was very guilty of trying to run quite deep and intriguing Season and Series Arcs while the writers were Making It Up As They Went Along. Never a good recipe.
I love Mr Robot, but thought it got a bit lost around E7, then recovered. E1 is just perfectly perfect - watched it 5x.
Good Wife fall season looking strong, ditto Homeland. Not impressed by Vampire Diaries E1 S6 but love all the rest so hoping for better things. Continuum next half of season is pretty good, Lost Girl final half okay, have Haven fall to watch next.
OT: Just watched the first two episodes of The Last Kingdom. Not a bad effort, but it looks poorly compared to the History Channels Vikings. As a stand alone show, its fairly good. It just looks like a poor mans Viking though.
Vikings is exceptional drama, considering it's History Channels first live drama, it has *substantially* higher production values than The Last Kingdom, which from the BBC, you would expect a bit of experienced polish.
Maybe its down to budget. Perhaps Vikings has had more money thrown at it.
Narcos is on my "to do" list
Outlander (series not film) on Amazon prime is in my opinion stunning tv. The best I have seen bar none.
Feels a bit weird saying that as it's not my usual viewing :-)
Can't wait for series two.
If you have not yet seen it, Mr Robot is the best show this year (new or returning). It is quite phenomenal television.
It's a travesty Continuum will end its run with barely 40 episodes. Tremendous TV.
Oh right, politics - With both not super well known yet, I'm surprised the likability of the two mayoral candidates is pretty close.
Pretty sure it's just a play on the main character being doubly an outsider - in time as being from the 40s sent back to the 18th century, and as an Englishwoman finding herself amidst the Scots. I'd never heard the word Sassanach before.
It only got the shortened fourth season to wrap up (I haven't seen any of S4 yet) I had thought - I figure any problems will be like a Babylon5 type situation. That show had a very well planned series of story arcs, but thought it was getting cancelled in S4 so wrapped up the biggest ones in a bit of a rush, then got its final season and didn't have enough plot to go around. So I expect Continuum to have had to jettison plans and rework things for the final bunch of episodes
If they are accurate then they're entirely right. If UK pilots are "endangered" then they should have the right to engage. It's hard to judge as everything is quoted anonymously but I can't disagree with the rules of engagement that if a British pilot is fired upon then he can defend himself.
Of course like a nuclear deterrent that is something that should hopefully never come to pass. But if you were to do a Corbyn and say that even if our pilots are fired upon they must not retaliate then what is to prevent other states from firing at our planes and our pilots?
The hypocrisy of Abbott wanting unswerving loyalty to a party leader is breathtaking in its audacity.
The obvious answer for any Labour MP with balls is to say that they will provide Corbyn with exactly the same level of loyalty he showed the leader of the Labour party when he was a backbench MP.
Caught up on i-player to watch Question Time. Priti Patel used the phrase "£12 billion of consolidation". I do hope that "consolidation" is not going to be used often in place of "cuts"...I really do
My complaints about Supernatural now on S11 is that it's nothing cohesive. I liked S1-7 not so keen on S8 and HATED most of S9 and loathed S10 - I can't watch those again, yet plot perfect on S1-8
It's ratings means its there for a few more years yet.
Vampire Diaries is starting to look dead though and unless the CW's Netflix deal has a bias towards it then it may end up ending this or next season. It's sister show is on it's last legs but sometimes the CW gives shows extra life to get the episode count up for it's Netflix deal and/or overseas markets.
The hypocrisy of Abbott wanting unswerving loyalty to a party leader is breathtaking in its audacity.
The obvious answer for any Labour MP with balls is to say that they will provide Corbyn with exactly the same level of loyalty he showed the leader of the Labour party when he was a backbench MP.
OMG - Has Morris Dancer been educating Owen Paterson on history?
MSmithsonPB: @Owen_PattersonMP "EU referendum biggest political decision since reformation". What about Churchill cabinet decision to fight on in 1940?
Comments
So yes, either way it is very definitely OFSTED's fault.
oh
However we have to do it for our funders, staff, clients and trustees. It may appear tiresome or unnecessary, but at every point we have to be able to show we have taken every step to protect vulnerable people.
Paperwork is inescapable in a modern world.
Am I allowed to finish with donations welcome at www.growing-people.org.uk. ? (or message me for info)
Good luck with the fundraising
Oscar Newman was its originator.
Lots of hits on Google.
Something for the Infrastructure Commission perhaps.
Panorama, The VIP Paedophile Ring: What's the Truth?: http://t.co/cy2y7GL8FD via @bbciplayer
http://www.fwi.co.uk/livestock/dairy-bull-legend-picston-shottle-dies+.htm
Don't stay a square peg on a round hole. Get out. I imagine this is related to early turnover.
BBC Scotland News @BBCScotlandNews 3m3 minutes ago
Exclusion zone lifted - all residents told they can go home after #redroadflats demolition http://bbc.in/1P7YEOF
I am sure people don't like being out of their homes at all but a ngiht away would have been a catasrophy.
I used to keep Angora goats and told dozens of times that my goats were sheep by visitors. I kept pointing out their eyes... https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2015/08/10/heres-why-goats-have-those-freaky-eyes/
Of all the speeches, with the exception of Cameron and Boris who you expect to be very good anyway, it was IDS who spoke well.
Most of it was by the numbers, then he moved away from the lectern and spoke from the heart for a few minutes. He had the audience lapping up his words of wisdom.
The fact that the above paragraph would have been true whoever was appointed to REMAIN, and whatever Cameron had demanded, was...not entirely surprising...:-)
[EDIT: "demands to Cameron"->"demands by Cameron"]
Is it me, or were there a significant number of lovely lady supporters of the Ireland team in attendance at the Millennium Stadium?
Good match, although the Irish appear to have suffered many an injury.
Yes well I was not commenting particularly about competence,rather background.
I understand that the main notion at the conference was anti triumphalism.
Javid will of course have to demonstrate competence to go with the ambitions of his cheerleaders
Just watched the first two episodes of The Last Kingdom. Not a bad effort, but it looks poorly compared to the History Channels Vikings. As a stand alone show, its fairly good. It just looks like a poor mans Viking though.
Vikings is exceptional drama, considering it's History Channels first live drama, it has *substantially* higher production values than The Last Kingdom, which from the BBC, you would expect a bit of experienced polish.
Maybe its down to budget. Perhaps Vikings has had more money thrown at it.
Its been forty years since we elected our first female Party Leader, and to this day, it smarts Labour. But that wasnt why she was chosen.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHHLFFy6CWs
Speaking of them, I'm still hoping Banner Saga comes out for the PS4.
Look who we hear about for the next labour leader. They keep talking about Dan Jarvis. Not because he might be a good party leader, or that he is a passionate speaker who can persuade people and carry the House, or that he has good appeal. No, he is talked about because Labour look a bit weak on defence and he has had a pretty meteoric rise in the armed forces, and he doesnt look like a character out of The Hobbit.
FFS. It's all about ticking the boxes.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/11925253/Furious-Labour-MPs-accuse-Diane-Abbott-of-bullying-over-Syria-vote.html
" Christine Shawcroft, one of Labour's National Executive committee members, threatened to "string up" shadow cabinet members who defy the leader."
They'll give them a neck-hug with a rope of love.
On the other hand, it's not a Duke Nukem or FFVII remake time scale...
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2015/10/08/bloomberg_focus_group_undecided_nh_iowa_republicans_believe_ben_carson_can_be_president.html
If the Washington Beltway find it hard to grasp him, as they say, he's close to another planet for Europeans - he seems an inarticulate man with zero experience whose religion dominates his intellect. But he's of course highly skilled in his field and does seem a nice, polite chap, and perhaps politeness is a quality whose appeal we underestimate. Do our US experts think he actually has any chance at all?
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/poll-trump-still-leads-carson-in-second/
"Most Republican primary voters give Trump, Carson, and Fiorina high marks on many of these candidate qualities, but Ben Carson is perceived as the most honest: Eight-one percent think he is honest and trustworthy, compared to 60 percent for Fiorina and 53 percent for Trump. Thirty-nine percent do not think Trump is honest and trustworthy, far more than either Carson or Fiorina.
Ben Carson is also seen as the candidate who most cares about people like them. Fifty-six percent think he cares a lot, more than twice as many as say the same for Trump or Fiorina.
But Donald Trump is seen as the strongest leader: Eighty-four percent think Trump has strong qualities of leadership, compared to 72 percent for Carson and 60 percent for Fiorina.
Most think both Trump (59 percent) and Carson (53 percent) have the right kind of experience to be president, though they are less sure of Fiorina (43 percent)."
Meanwhile the bookies favourite:
"Former Governor Jeb Bush is now viewed more unfavorably (38 percent) than favorably (32 percent) by Republican primary voters.
While the favorable ratings of both Donald Trump and Marco Rubio have risen slightly since August among Republican primary voters, Bush's favorable rating has dropped 11 points."
Worth noting that whilst Geralt will not star in another game, there may be more games in that world (new protagonist[s], of course).
Edited extra bit: Mr. Llama, not sure that's fair. The axing of skills and new approach to SPECIAL stats and perks is a fundamental shift in gameplay.
There's also a substantial change regarding item-crafting (weapons/armour) and settlement creation/design.
If he'd never spat at a Tory then he clearly can't articulate. Unless he's worn a Never Kissed A Tory tshirt at a protest rally he has zero experience.
It's a generation-defining game, as The Last Of Us was for the PS3. The approach to DLC (giving away 16 free bits weekly after launch) was clever. Voice-acting, graphics, story, the fantastic world, it's a staggeringly good game. Upon checking, I gave it 9.5/10.
http://thaddeusthesixth.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/review-witcher-3-ps4.html
Outlander (series not film) on Amazon prime is in my opinion stunning tv. The best I have seen bar none.
Feels a bit weird saying that as it's not my usual viewing :-)
Can't wait for series two.
When Mr Robot turns up - watch it. Very solid 9/10.
Fargo S2 is on C4 next week - I loved S1 - let's see how S2 works out. It can't be more disappointing than True Detective 2.
Good advice. I get excitable reminiscing about my experience with it really. I got the reasonably good ending (failed miserably with relationships)
Strangely the only one I gave up on after half an hour of play was Civ - Beyond earth.
Hate it - but love Civ 5
Mr. Abode, could always have a second playthrough. Unless you went on a completionist run, there's probably a lot of stuff you missed before.
I think it's great that whilst there's still a lot of games aimed at children/younger adults for simplistic gratification (FPS, for example), we're now seeing more games with a mature slant. Interesting, now I think of it, both TW3 and TLOU had a father-daughter [but not quite] relationship at the heart of the story.
Edited extra bit: Mr. Floater, last Civ I played was II [I'm a console gamer]. Still got it.
Edited extra bit: just realised I own games older than some posters. [Not seen Ms. Apocalypse on of late, though...]
To mix games and TV, Until Dawn (videogame) stars numerous TV stars [both voice and face], such as Brett Dalton (Grant Ward from Supermodels of SHIELD) and Hayden Panettiere [cheerleader from Heroes]. It's a horror flick style game, where you make certain choices to try and keep as many people alive as possible. It's not so much playing as the characters, as the director.
Good Wife fall season looking strong, ditto Homeland. Not impressed by Vampire Diaries E1 S6 but love all the rest so hoping for better things. Continuum next half of season is pretty good, Lost Girl final half okay, have Haven fall to watch next.
Oh right, politics - With both not super well known yet, I'm surprised the likability of the two mayoral candidates is pretty close. Pretty sure it's just a play on the main character being doubly an outsider - in time as being from the 40s sent back to the 18th century, and as an Englishwoman finding herself amidst the Scots. I'd never heard the word Sassanach before.
I found Supermodels of SHIELD too boring during the last season - I'll watch it as a filler. I gave up on Arrow as it's too angry. I loved DareDevil and Agent Carter is back despite predictions of cancellation. Big fan of The Flash. And catching up on Teen Wolf S3-5 now.
I really have no idea if these are accurate orders given to the RAF, but the whole whole scene seems demented.
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/raf-given-green-light-shoot-down-hostile-russian-jets-syria-1523488
So, I'll be running off then
The Walking Dead (which I have a bad habit of missing) does seem to be coming to the UK soon, but not Freeview.
Thanks for the TV chat leading to a heads-up for Homeland, otherwise I would've missed the start of the season.
I'm trying to find time to rewatch it now the various reveals are out but haven't had the time yet.
I do like the Supermodels of SHIELD.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBGaSURW3is
My complaints about Supernatural now on S11 is that it's nothing cohesive. I liked S1-7 not so keen on S8 and HATED most of S9 and loathed S10 - I can't watch those again, yet plot perfect on S1-8
The second comment is quite funny though.
http://oxfordstudent.com/2015/10/10/student-activist-annie-teriba-to-resign-from-political-campaigning/
It was very guilty of trying to run quite deep and intriguing Season and Series Arcs while the writers were Making It Up As They Went Along. Never a good recipe.
http://enormo-haddock.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/russia-post-race-analysis.html
Of course like a nuclear deterrent that is something that should hopefully never come to pass. But if you were to do a Corbyn and say that even if our pilots are fired upon they must not retaliate then what is to prevent other states from firing at our planes and our pilots?
Vampire Diaries is starting to look dead though and unless the CW's Netflix deal has a bias towards it then it may end up ending this or next season. It's sister show is on it's last legs but sometimes the CW gives shows extra life to get the episode count up for it's Netflix deal and/or overseas markets.
Spending has becomes investment. Cuts may become consolidation.
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MSmithsonPB: @Owen_PattersonMP "EU referendum biggest political decision since reformation". What about Churchill cabinet decision to fight on in 1940?