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  • AndyJSAndyJS Posts: 29,395
    edited 2016 22
    Pulpstar said:

    AndyJS said:

    O/T:

    Bizarre odds on Betfair for the SA/Eng Test Match which has just started. For some reason South Africa are favourites with punters:

    https://www.betfair.com/exchange/plus/#/cricket/market/1.121959912
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/cricket/34404834

    South Africa are batting first. That's all there is to it really.
    That must be it. Pleased I put a bet on England just before the first wicket.

    It may also be statistically correct, in terms of regression to the mean.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 120,757
    edited 2016 22

    Martin Kettle notes this morning that we are approaching the 100th anniversary of the October Revolution. If Jeremy Corbyn is still in power in October 2017, what words do you think he will find to mark this centenary?

    Years ago I debated that with one of my hard left friends. I had said that it was a tragedy for Russia given how many Russians were killed by Communism.

    He said that number was fewer than the number of Russian soldiers that were saved by the Communists pulling out of World War I. So the Communist take over was a net positive for Russia.

    I reckon Corbyn might use that line.

    (Obviously I think that line of thinking is complete and utter bollocks)
  • Plato_SaysPlato_Says Posts: 11,822
    Happy Birthday
    malcolmg said:

    Patrick said:

    I'm disappointed. I dropped a deliberate troll into today's thread for Malc but he hasn't bitten. Shucks.

    Patrick , did not spot it , please repeat and I will be outraged. It is my birthday today so I am unlikely to be grumpy ( though a few may make me break my vow ). Was shocked to hear you lived in Holland and indulged in gay sex naked in the streets whilst taking drugs. I had you down as a pillar of society , a kind of more sophisticated Mr Mannering.
  • NickPalmerNickPalmer Posts: 21,598
    philiph said:



    It would be fun to run that poll on PB and see how the PB readership differs from the general outside world.

    More sceptical about pollsters?
  • TGOHFTGOHF Posts: 21,633
    malcolmg said:

    TGOHF said:


    rcs1000 said:

    rcs1000 said:

    I can't remember who but recently somebody asked if pb had ever changed one's view on something, I have to say yes it has. I've discovered this week that our police force's role is to investigate spelling mistakes and guard Russian spies.

    There's never been a better time to be a crook, no wonder our prisons are full.

    Guard Russian spies!

    The police's job is to prevent and investigate crime. Do you believe that the murder of Litvenko is not a crime?

    If so, what is it that makes it not a crime?
    This gets better. Look, the Russuans killed one of their spies, I have no interest in how they did it or how they arrived at the conclusion.

    I'm sorry if that offends you.

    PS was Litivinenko the one chasing Roger Moore along that moving train?

    They killed a British citizen on British soil.

    I have heard some bat shit crazy views on this site before. But the view that - because someone is or was a spy - that it's OK for a foreign government to murder them in the UK is just staggering.

    As an aside: is it only OK for the Russians to kill people on British streets, or do you extend the courtesy to the Iranians, the French, ISIS, the EU, and the Vatican?
    I am quite amazed at how many people on here - outside of the obvious Putin stooges like LondonBob and Luckyguy - are trying to defend this murder.
    It's almost a prerequisite of the left and the Nats to despise Britain so much that any enemy of ours is somehow heroic.
    It is also a prerequisite of the jackboot right wingers on here to despise parts of Britain , especially the Toom Tabards / plastic Scots.
    I don't despise any part of Britain malc - just the SNP Ustashi types.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 61,451
    AndyJS said:

    I'm so much on the fence on the EU question that I'll probably end up voting Remain while simultaneously hoping that Leave wins. Or vice versa. Maybe others have similar feelings.

    Why? Of all the people on this forum I had you down as one of the firmest Leavers.
  • LondonBobLondonBob Posts: 467
    edited 2016 22
    malcolmg said:

    Mr. 63, you seem quite relaxed a British citizen was assassinated on British soil.

    Was he threatening to behead Russians or bomb Russia?

    British my butt MD, he was a paid patsy of the British state , as said a traitor in any normal world. Not very nice the way they topped him but working for MI5 was baiting them too far.
    Unsurprisingly the loons have little concern for the British, they seem to have a a passionate attachment to lands farther afield. Or maybe they have been recipients of largesse from our 'fellow Brits' like

    Boris Berezovsky.
    http://www.forbes.com/sites/richardbehar/2013/03/24/did-boris-berezovsky-kill-himself-more-compelling-did-he-kill-forbes-editor-paul-klebnikov/#42c59f0c666b

    or William Browder.
    https://newrepublic.com/article/126760/fighting-putin-doesnt-make-saint

    Throw a little money around and it is depressing how quickly the political/media class are at your beck and call.
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 43,756
    Patrick said:

    I'm disappointed. I dropped a deliberate troll into today's thread for Malc but he hasn't bitten. Shucks.

    Patrick , I see it now you rascal. I saw green vegetables in the first sentence and gave up so did not see your scurrilous libel.
  • RobDRobD Posts: 60,234
    Nice avatar Pulpstar ;)
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 62,138
    Happy birthday, Mr. G. Hope you got some nice whisky.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 120,757
    RobD said:

    Nice avatar Pulpstar ;)

    No it bloody well isn't.
  • RobDRobD Posts: 60,234

    RobD said:

    Nice avatar Pulpstar ;)

    No it bloody well isn't.
    Yours is nice too :p
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 43,756
    TGOHF said:

    malcolmg said:

    TGOHF said:


    rcs1000 said:

    rcs1000 said:

    I can't remember who but recently somebody asked if pb had ever changed one's view on something, I have to say yes it has. I've discovered this week that our police force's role is to investigate spelling mistakes and guard Russian spies.

    There's never been a better time to be a crook, no wonder our prisons are full.

    Guard Russian spies!

    The police's job is to prevent and investigate crime. Do you believe that the murder of Litvenko is not a crime?

    If so, what is it that makes it not a crime?
    This gets better. Look, the Russuans killed one of their spies, I have no interest in how they did it or how they arrived at the conclusion.

    I'm sorry if that offends you.

    PS was Litivinenko the one chasing Roger Moore along that moving train?

    They killed a British citizen on British soil.

    I have heard some bat shit crazy views on this site before. But the view that - because someone is or was a spy - that it's OK for a foreign government to murder them in the UK is just staggering.

    As an aside: is it only OK for the Russians to kill people on British streets, or do you extend the courtesy to the Iranians, the French, ISIS, the EU, and the Vatican?
    I am quite amazed at how many people on here - outside of the obvious Putin stooges like LondonBob and Luckyguy - are trying to defend this murder.
    It's almost a prerequisite of the left and the Nats to despise Britain so much that any enemy of ours is somehow heroic.
    It is also a prerequisite of the jackboot right wingers on here to despise parts of Britain , especially the Toom Tabards / plastic Scots.
    I don't despise any part of Britain malc - just the SNP Ustashi types.
    Sour grapes that Tories are incompetent losers in the sub regional London northern division. We have decent government for a change, just a pity that the parasitic ruling elite cannot be turfed out. Worst case is it will be different bloodsuckers hence the need for independence.
  • AndyJSAndyJS Posts: 29,395
    edited 2016 22

    AndyJS said:

    I'm so much on the fence on the EU question that I'll probably end up voting Remain while simultaneously hoping that Leave wins. Or vice versa. Maybe others have similar feelings.

    Why? Of all the people on this forum I had you down as one of the firmest Leavers.
    I used to be fanatically pro-EU until a couple of years ago, including the Euro. I still like the original ideas of the European project, it's just that they've gone off the rails recently.
  • CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 60,281
    LondonBob said:

    malcolmg said:

    Mr. 63, you seem quite relaxed a British citizen was assassinated on British soil.

    Was he threatening to behead Russians or bomb Russia?

    British my butt MD, he was a paid patsy of the British state , as said a traitor in any normal world. Not very nice the way they topped him but working for MI5 was baiting them too far.
    Unsurprisingly the loons have little concern for the British,
    Actually....we're the ones complaining about the trail of radioactive poison left across London on three occasions - its the Putin apologists who seem to be going 'meh'.....he was a spy he had it coming, whats a few alpha particles between friends....
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 97,052

    rcs1000 said:

    rcs1000 said:

    I

    Guard Russian spies!

    The police's?
    This

    They killed aIS, the EU?
    You see this is where hysteria clouds judgement. I have never said its ok for anybody to kill anybody, I'm simply poking a stick at those who are pretending to be surprised and outraged.

    The man was clearly seen by the Russians as being a traitor, it seems he wanted us to protect him, I've no idea what he'd done. He would have known his life was in danger when he began double crossing Russia.

    There are bad people in the world, if you don't want an umbrella up your arse on a tube station don't work for the KGB.

    You lot sound like a lion tamer who moans when he gets mauled,

    That would be perfectly reasonable to moan about. Even if we know such things occur, it doesn't mean you cannot complain when they do. Your logic is ridiculous and torturous in explaining why murder on British streets, in a high profile and potentially publicly dangerous way, is not something that we should worry about, because apparently we should expect the Russians to be murderin gpeople on our streets so why worry about it.

    Murder by a foreign power on our territory is a concern no matter who they kill, particularly when they do so fairly openly apparently. That it happens in the world does not diminish that it is still something that is concerning.

    And BTW, that you keep on blaming the victim does the lie to your pretence you are not defending the Russians. It shouldn't matter if he brought it on himself, if he worked for the KGB once, it was still, apparently, a public assassination in our country. But you very clearly are saying if someone betrays another country, they should expect to be killed, and if it happens on our soil when that person is now our citizen, how dare we get upset.

    I have on I believe only 6-7 occasions lost my rag while posting on this site, and I really try never to directly criticise another poster (turnabout's fair play after all) but your sheer odiousness on this issue astounds me, and your twisted logic to try to explain how it is not is laughable, making hysterical comparisons then complaining people are being hysterical without any sense of irony. Criticising people for being concerned at a public murder, whoever it was of? What next, ridiculing people for crying at a funeral? People are all going to die, what are you moaning about?

    The other reason I try so hard not to lose my rag is the provoker invariably regards other people getting irate as a victory for their 'reasoned' arguments, no matter how absurd or offensive they were being, but I will try to accept your no doubt shocked response to my 'hysteria' in good grace.
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 39,450
    rcs1000 said:

    rcs1000 said:

    I can't remember who but recently somebody asked if pb had ever changed one's view on something, I have to say yes it has. I've discovered this week that our police force's role is to investigate spelling mistakes and guard Russian spies.

    There's never been a better time to be a crook, no wonder our prisons are full.

    Guard Russian spies!

    The police's job is to prevent and investigate crime. Do you believe that the murder of Litvenko is not a crime?

    If so, what is it that makes it not a crime?
    This gets better. Look, the Russuans killed one of their spies, I have no interest in how they did it or how they arrived at the conclusion.

    I'm sorry if that offends you.

    PS was Litivinenko the one chasing Roger Moore along that moving train?

    They killed a British citizen on British soil.

    I have heard some bat shit crazy views on this site before. But the view that - because someone is or was a spy - that it's OK for a foreign government to murder them in the UK is just staggering.

    As an aside: is it only OK for the Russians to kill people on British streets, or do you extend the courtesy to the Iranians, the French, ISIS, the EU, and the Vatican?
    Indeed. All of this guff about him being a spy is just a sideshow to make it look like they were assassinating an enemy of the state when in fact he was just critical of Putin so Putin ordered his murder.
  • philiphphiliph Posts: 4,704

    philiph said:



    It would be fun to run that poll on PB and see how the PB readership differs from the general outside world.

    More sceptical about pollsters?
    No, I suspect PBers are not typical of the public as a whole.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 120,757
    RobD said:

    RobD said:

    Nice avatar Pulpstar ;)

    No it bloody well isn't.
    Yours is nice too :p
    Mine combines the two finest flags in human history.

    Just needs The White Rose in another quadrant and it would be awesome.
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 58,161
    AndyJS said:

    I'm so much on the fence on the EU question that I'll probably end up voting Remain while simultaneously hoping that Leave wins. Or vice versa. Maybe others have similar feelings.

    With me, it's very simple. When Casino Royale, and Richard Tyndall write on this board, I am a firm and committed BOOer (albeit with EFTA/EEA as the destination).

    But then when ЛондонBob and Lovinputin1983 write about how we should leave I find myself being pulled toward abstention. I physically struggle with being on the same side as the Putin propagandists.
  • RobDRobD Posts: 60,234

    RobD said:

    RobD said:

    Nice avatar Pulpstar ;)

    No it bloody well isn't.
    Yours is nice too :p
    Mine combines the two finest flags in human history.

    Just needs The White Rose in another quadrant and it would be awesome.
    Surely at the center of the cross, heart of England and all that.
  • Moses_Moses_ Posts: 4,865

    Martin Kettle notes this morning that we are approaching the 100th anniversary of the October Revolution. If Jeremy Corbyn is still in power in October 2017, what words do you think he will find to mark this centenary?

    Not sure really. I do think the he will demand that the US should give back that submarine they nicked in 1990 as a token gesture.
    Marko Raimius should be able to stay in the US of course given recent events for Russian defectors.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 120,757
    RobD said:

    RobD said:

    RobD said:

    Nice avatar Pulpstar ;)

    No it bloody well isn't.
    Yours is nice too :p
    Mine combines the two finest flags in human history.

    Just needs The White Rose in another quadrant and it would be awesome.
    Surely at the center of the cross, heart of England and all that.
    I like your thinking.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 53,244

    Martin Kettle notes this morning that we are approaching the 100th anniversary of the October Revolution. If Jeremy Corbyn is still in power in October 2017, what words do you think he will find to mark this centenary?

    Years ago I debated that with one of my hard left friends. I had said that it was a tragedy for Russia given how many Russians were killed by Communism.

    He said that number was fewer than the number of Russian soldiers that were saved by the Communists pulling out of World War I. So the Communist take over was a net positive for Russia.

    I reckon Corbyn might use that line.

    (Obviously I think that line of thinking is complete and utter bollocks)
    Putin yesterday accused Lenin of destroying Russia and being concerned with a world revolution which they didn't need.
  • Plato_SaysPlato_Says Posts: 11,822
    The CIA operation to grab the earlier sub was amazing https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Azorian
    Moses_ said:

    Martin Kettle notes this morning that we are approaching the 100th anniversary of the October Revolution. If Jeremy Corbyn is still in power in October 2017, what words do you think he will find to mark this centenary?

    Not sure really. I do think the he will demand that the US should give back that submarine they nicked in 1990 as a token gesture.
    Marko Raimius should be able to stay in the US of course given recent events for Russian defectors.
  • LondonBobLondonBob Posts: 467

    LondonBob said:

    malcolmg said:

    Mr. 63, you seem quite relaxed a British citizen was assassinated on British soil.

    Was he threatening to behead Russians or bomb Russia?

    British my butt MD, he was a paid patsy of the British state , as said a traitor in any normal world. Not very nice the way they topped him but working for MI5 was baiting them too far.
    Unsurprisingly the loons have little concern for the British,
    Actually....we're the ones complaining about the trail of radioactive poison left across London on three occasions - its the Putin apologists who seem to be going 'meh'.....he was a spy he had it coming, whats a few alpha particles between friends....
    Three times! Twice wasn't a particularly credible claim, not that poisoning someone with polonium really ever was, interesting.

    To quote from that Forbes article:

    Scotland Yard might want to consider focusing its attention on how and why England has become a retirement paradise for hundreds, if not thousands, of toxic Russian gangsters. For more than a decade, many of them have abused the country’s legal system and financial markets with relative impunity.

    I wouldn't hold my breath.
  • WandererWanderer Posts: 3,838
    Scott_P said:

    Jeremy Corbyn has a personal rating of -39, the worst ever recorded. Unless Labour changes its leader, the 2020 election is already over. There is nothing to see or say. Politics has gone on holiday, on a motorbike to eastern Europe with Diane Abbott
    http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/opinion/columnists/article4671343.ece

    That's a good piece by Philip Collins. He's taking the leader and economic competence ratings trump VI line.
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 44,251

    The CIA operation to grab the earlier sub was amazing https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Azorian

    Moses_ said:

    Martin Kettle notes this morning that we are approaching the 100th anniversary of the October Revolution. If Jeremy Corbyn is still in power in October 2017, what words do you think he will find to mark this centenary?

    Not sure really. I do think the he will demand that the US should give back that submarine they nicked in 1990 as a token gesture.
    Marko Raimius should be able to stay in the US of course given recent events for Russian defectors.
    Sadly, the Glomar Explorer's going to be scrapped.

    Hughes really was a fascinating character.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,624
    I seems PB has picked up a nasty case of Putin-itis.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 120,757
    From the Phil Collins article.

    Does anyone suppose that if Labour had employed Crosby that Ed Miliband would now be prime minister? The Tories could put Crispin Blunt in a room full of poppers and ask him to run the 2020 campaign. They’d still win.
  • watford30watford30 Posts: 3,474

    I seems PB has picked up a nasty case of Putin-itis.

    RCS1000 should run a Geiger counter over the server to see if it's been poisoned.
  • malcolmg said:

    Patrick said:

    I'm disappointed. I dropped a deliberate troll into today's thread for Malc but he hasn't bitten. Shucks.

    Patrick , did not spot it , please repeat and I will be outraged. It is my birthday today so I am unlikely to be grumpy ( though a few may make me break my vow ). Was shocked to hear you lived in Holland and indulged in gay sex naked in the streets whilst taking drugs. I had you down as a pillar of society , a kind of more sophisticated Mr Mannering.
    Happy B Malc!
  • Plato_SaysPlato_Says Posts: 11,822
    No one could accuse the CIA of not thinking outside the box. Argo was another corker.

    The CIA operation to grab the earlier sub was amazing https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Azorian

    Moses_ said:

    Martin Kettle notes this morning that we are approaching the 100th anniversary of the October Revolution. If Jeremy Corbyn is still in power in October 2017, what words do you think he will find to mark this centenary?

    Not sure really. I do think the he will demand that the US should give back that submarine they nicked in 1990 as a token gesture.
    Marko Raimius should be able to stay in the US of course given recent events for Russian defectors.
    Sadly, the Glomar Explorer's going to be scrapped.

    Hughes really was a fascinating character.
  • Moses_Moses_ Posts: 4,865

    The CIA operation to grab the earlier sub was amazing https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Azorian

    Moses_ said:

    Martin Kettle notes this morning that we are approaching the 100th anniversary of the October Revolution. If Jeremy Corbyn is still in power in October 2017, what words do you think he will find to mark this centenary?

    Not sure really. I do think the he will demand that the US should give back that submarine they nicked in 1990 as a token gesture.
    Marko Raimius should be able to stay in the US of course given recent events for Russian defectors.
    Indeed it was. I have actually seen this vessel in the US many years later while I was working over there in the offshore sector.
  • isamisam Posts: 41,118
    Wanderer said:

    Scott_P said:

    Jeremy Corbyn has a personal rating of -39, the worst ever recorded. Unless Labour changes its leader, the 2020 election is already over. There is nothing to see or say. Politics has gone on holiday, on a motorbike to eastern Europe with Diane Abbott
    http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/opinion/columnists/article4671343.ece
    That's a good piece by Philip Collins. He's taking the leader and economic competence ratings trump VI line.

    Portillo also said last night, when discussing the GE Polls, that he should have looked at the ratings of the leaders and economic competence .. crossed my mind that #sadmanonatrain may read this site
  • WandererWanderer Posts: 3,838
    Boycott speculating that the sun is setting on Jimmy Anderson.
  • Plato_SaysPlato_Says Posts: 11,822
    David Cameron
    Trying to profit from spurious claims lodged against our brave servicemen & women is unacceptable. My statement: https://t.co/94CBPZYKTG
  • AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 25,738
    malcolmg said:

    Patrick said:

    I'm disappointed. I dropped a deliberate troll into today's thread for Malc but he hasn't bitten. Shucks.

    Patrick , did not spot it , please repeat and I will be outraged. It is my birthday today so I am unlikely to be grumpy ( though a few may make me break my vow ). Was shocked to hear you lived in Holland and indulged in gay sex naked in the streets whilst taking drugs. I had you down as a pillar of society , a kind of more sophisticated Mr Mannering.
    many happy returns malc

    one step closer to the pension :-)
  • WandererWanderer Posts: 3,838

    David Cameron
    Trying to profit from spurious claims lodged against our brave servicemen & women is unacceptable. My statement: https://t.co/94CBPZYKTG

    "Firm action against firms" - dear me. Good statement though, imo.
  • Plato_SaysPlato_Says Posts: 11,822
    Dec 2015 borrowing at £7.5bn. Down £4.3bn compared to Dec 2014, and better than expected borrowing of £10.5bn: https://t.co/UhviuBr8JC #ons
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,755
    Putin only has 2 more years left in charge of Russia, whereupon a new face will take charge.

    Remember from 2008 - 2012, we had Dmitry Medvedev in charge - his own man and very much a fresh face for Russia.
  • isamisam Posts: 41,118
    Maurice Micklewhite to lead the LEAVE campaign!
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 62,138
    Mr. Pulpstar, a fair point, but every leader has an expiry date. Putin's not immortal, after all.
  • Plato_SaysPlato_Says Posts: 11,822
    Can't he become PM again and carry on?
    Pulpstar said:

    Putin only has 2 more years left in charge of Russia, whereupon a new face will take charge.

    Remember from 2008 - 2012, we had Dmitry Medvedev in charge - his own man and very much a fresh face for Russia.

  • RobDRobD Posts: 60,234

    The CIA operation to grab the earlier sub was amazing https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Azorian

    Moses_ said:

    Martin Kettle notes this morning that we are approaching the 100th anniversary of the October Revolution. If Jeremy Corbyn is still in power in October 2017, what words do you think he will find to mark this centenary?

    Not sure really. I do think the he will demand that the US should give back that submarine they nicked in 1990 as a token gesture.
    Marko Raimius should be able to stay in the US of course given recent events for Russian defectors.
    I'm gonna be stuck in Wikipedia for hours now, thanks :p
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 120,757
    Pulpstar said:

    Putin only has 2 more years left in charge of Russia, whereupon a new face will take charge.

    Remember from 2008 - 2012, we had Dmitry Medvedev in charge - his own man and very much a fresh face for Russia.

    You owe me a new irony meter.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 52,556
    Wanderer said:

    David Cameron
    Trying to profit from spurious claims lodged against our brave servicemen & women is unacceptable. My statement: https://t.co/94CBPZYKTG

    "Firm action against firms" - dear me. Good statement though, imo.
    At least one of the firms is going down. Solicitors stuck off etc..

    Why do you think that they are giving whining press interviews about how they (the solicitors) are the real victims in all this? Whining about the "chilling effect" that this will have in this area of law....
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 43,756
    LondonBob said:

    LondonBob said:

    malcolmg said:

    Mr. 63, you seem quite relaxed a British citizen was assassinated on British soil.

    Was he threatening to behead Russians or bomb Russia?

    British my butt MD, he was a paid patsy of the British state , as said a traitor in any normal world. Not very nice the way they topped him but working for MI5 was baiting them too far.
    Unsurprisingly the loons have little concern for the British,
    Actually....we're the ones complaining about the trail of radioactive poison left across London on three occasions - its the Putin apologists who seem to be going 'meh'.....he was a spy he had it coming, whats a few alpha particles between friends....
    Three times! Twice wasn't a particularly credible claim, not that poisoning someone with polonium really ever was, interesting.

    To quote from that Forbes article:

    Scotland Yard might want to consider focusing its attention on how and why England has become a retirement paradise for hundreds, if not thousands, of toxic Russian gangsters. For more than a decade, many of them have abused the country’s legal system and financial markets with relative impunity.

    I wouldn't hold my breath.
    laundry capital of the world so it attracts all the dirty articles
  • AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 25,738
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,755

    Wanderer said:

    David Cameron
    Trying to profit from spurious claims lodged against our brave servicemen & women is unacceptable. My statement: https://t.co/94CBPZYKTG

    "Firm action against firms" - dear me. Good statement though, imo.
    At least one of the firms is going down. Solicitors stuck off etc..

    Why do you think that they are giving whining press interviews about how they (the solicitors) are the real victims in all this? Whining about the "chilling effect" that this will have in this area of law....
    If ever a "chilling effect" needed to happen...
  • watford30watford30 Posts: 3,474

    Wanderer said:

    David Cameron
    Trying to profit from spurious claims lodged against our brave servicemen & women is unacceptable. My statement: https://t.co/94CBPZYKTG

    "Firm action against firms" - dear me. Good statement though, imo.
    At least one of the firms is going down. Solicitors stuck off etc..

    Why do you think that they are giving whining press interviews about how they (the solicitors) are the real victims in all this? Whining about the "chilling effect" that this will have in this area of law....
    They're whinging because their business model is about to implode, that much is obvious. A few of them should be looking at jail time for the document shredding incident.
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 62,138
    Mr. Brooke, not sure I've ever fried a vegetable.

    Do like roast parsnips, though.
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 43,756

    malcolmg said:

    Patrick said:

    I'm disappointed. I dropped a deliberate troll into today's thread for Malc but he hasn't bitten. Shucks.

    Patrick , did not spot it , please repeat and I will be outraged. It is my birthday today so I am unlikely to be grumpy ( though a few may make me break my vow ). Was shocked to hear you lived in Holland and indulged in gay sex naked in the streets whilst taking drugs. I had you down as a pillar of society , a kind of more sophisticated Mr Mannering.
    many happy returns malc

    one step closer to the pension :-)
    Thanks Alan, in touching distance now, plan is two years at most.
  • isamisam Posts: 41,118
    Last night I stir fried broccoli and asparagus in extra virgin olive oil for dinner and then read on the internet that I had made a horrendous fox paz

    This morning I find I have added years to my life and improved my eyesight, Happy Days!
  • Tissue_PriceTissue_Price Posts: 9,039

    Pulpstar said:

    Putin only has 2 more years left in charge of Russia, whereupon a new face will take charge.

    Remember from 2008 - 2012, we had Dmitry Medvedev in charge - his own man and very much a fresh face for Russia.

    You owe me a new irony meter.
    Love the Wiki box on Medvedev:

    3rd President of Russia
    In office 7 May 2008 – 7 May 2012
    Prime Minister Vladimir Putin
    Preceded by Vladimir Putin
    Succeeded by Vladimir Putin
  • Innocent_AbroadInnocent_Abroad Posts: 3,294
    TGOHF said:


    rcs1000 said:

    rcs1000 said:

    I can't remember who but recently somebody asked if pb had ever changed one's view on something, I have to say yes it has. I've discovered this week that our police force's role is to investigate spelling mistakes and guard Russian spies.

    There's never been a better time to be a crook, no wonder our prisons are full.

    Guard Russian spies!

    The police's job is to prevent and investigate crime. Do you believe that the murder of Litvenko is not a crime?

    If so, what is it that makes it not a crime?
    This gets better. Look, the Russuans killed one of their spies, I have no interest in how they did it or how they arrived at the conclusion.

    I'm sorry if that offends you.

    PS was Litivinenko the one chasing Roger Moore along that moving train?

    They killed a British citizen on British soil.

    I have heard some bat shit crazy views on this site before. But the view that - because someone is or was a spy - that it's OK for a foreign government to murder them in the UK is just staggering.

    As an aside: is it only OK for the Russians to kill people on British streets, or do you extend the courtesy to the Iranians, the French, ISIS, the EU, and the Vatican?
    I am quite amazed at how many people on here - outside of the obvious Putin stooges like LondonBob and Luckyguy - are trying to defend this murder.
    It's almost a prerequisite of the left and the Nats to despise Britain so much that any enemy of ours is somehow heroic.
    And a prerequisite of the right to claim a monopoly on patriotism.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,624
    Thirty-five restaurants across China have been found illegally using opium poppies as a seasoning, officials have revealed.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-35381169
  • Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    malcolmg said:

    just a pity that the parasitic ruling elite cannot be turfed out.

    True, especially when they control the judiciary...

    @AgentP22: The message from Ms Sturgeon is clear.

    Join the SNP & you can do what you want.

    Normal rules don't apply. https://t.co/YTzjcVYSUA
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 58,161
    Pulpstar said:

    Putin only has 2 more years left in charge of Russia, whereupon a new face will take charge.

    Remember from 2008 - 2012, we had Dmitry Medvedev in charge - his own man and very much a fresh face for Russia.

    I thought you were allowed two consecutive terms in charge
  • AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 25,738

    Mr. Brooke, not sure I've ever fried a vegetable.

    Do like roast parsnips, though.

    Mr Dancer time to get the wok out and start experimenting. Those opium seeds could be good for you too.
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 43,756
    isam said:

    Last night I stir fried broccoli and asparagus in extra virgin olive oil for dinner and then read on the internet that I had made a horrendous fox paz

    This morning I find I have added years to my life and improved my eyesight, Happy Days!
    Next option will be that you should marinade them in wine/beer, that will kill you if you drink more than 1 unit, prior to frying and it will be twice as beneficial
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 39,450
    It looks like PSND will peak at 81% of GDP, it has hit that twice now but not gone over it. With a big January expected (I have it pencilled in at a £13.5bn surplus) it doesn't look likely we will go above 81% net debt because nominal GDP growth should outstrip the deficit from next year with inflation normalising.
  • Plato_SaysPlato_Says Posts: 11,822
    A summary of the UK government’s financial position #debt #borrowing https://t.co/AtuLoQynic https://t.co/EvFpP7tSiF
  • AlastairMeeksAlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340
    Poppy seeds are very popular in eastern European cooking.
  • kingbongokingbongo Posts: 393
    rcs1000 said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Putin only has 2 more years left in charge of Russia, whereupon a new face will take charge.

    Remember from 2008 - 2012, we had Dmitry Medvedev in charge - his own man and very much a fresh face for Russia.

    I thought you were allowed two consecutive terms in charge
    Medvedev was never and never will be 'his own man' - Putin will run Russia for as long as he wants to, technicalities like the constitution mean nothing; law in Russia, like everything else is just the beginning of a discussion about what to do in any situation where ultimately the biggest thug gets his way - I don't know anybody in Russia who has ever thought Medvedev was really ever anything more than Putin's lapdog - though many will now admit to convincing themselves of his independence when he first took up the presidency - My PutMedev fridge magnet from Moscow is a pretty accurate depiction of the two kleptocratic murdering b4stards
  • flightpath01flightpath01 Posts: 4,903
    rcs1000 said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Putin only has 2 more years left in charge of Russia, whereupon a new face will take charge.

    Remember from 2008 - 2012, we had Dmitry Medvedev in charge - his own man and very much a fresh face for Russia.

    I thought you were allowed two consecutive terms in charge
    The notion that Putin is not going to fiddle it so he is in charge permanently or until someone sticks him in the leg with a sharp umbrella is naive to say the least.
    The Times is reporting that he/Russia is responsible for at least another 6 assassinations.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 120,757
    Oh my God.

    I've just found out what the Hungarian word for 'abyss' is and how it is pronounced.

    Just go here and listen to the translation

    https://translate.google.com/m/translate#en/hu/abyss
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 39,450
    VAT growth at just 3.5% points to a slow down in consumer spending which might be a bit worrying if it continues.
  • CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758
    TOPPING said:

    Charles said:

    TOPPING said:

    Interesting to see the row-back and expansion by the police on the "terrorist house" incident.

    Because, in shock news to some here on PB (good morning @Charles, @Plato_Says), police interviewing a family because of a seeming spelling mistake in isolation, whatever it was,

    ...WOULD BE RIDICULOUS.

    My point still stands: that they had proceedures to follow and it was good they followed them. It was not some outrage to civil liberties as @blackburn63 believed. I never commented on whether the spelling mistake should be sufficent to trigger the proceedures because I have no idea what the appropriate threshold should be.

    But if you'd rather go "Yah! Boo! Sucks!" than engaged in a nuanced and sophisticated debate then knock yourself out buddy

    It was reported yesterday that a 10-yr old boy wrote that he lived in a terrorist house and as a result, the school called the police who went to investigate by talking to the boy's family about it.

    As reported (one perhaps spelling mistake, a police response) that was ludicrous because I am sure other measures short of calling the police could have been taken to determine whether he came from a long line of dumb terrorists, or whether it was a spelling mistake, or whether there was some other reason.

    It now turns out that the police visited the house for several reasons unrelated to terrorism and they criticised the BBC for sexing up the story. Which makes much more sense.

    To call the police for one isolated incident, as reported, yet which you and others here thought was entirely justified, would have been ludicrous.

    Nuanced and sophisticated enough for you? Buddy.
    But not the teacher, the police or the social workers fault. They were following proceedures. That is a good thing: there is a reason why they are not allowed to exercise discretion at this stage
  • flightpath01flightpath01 Posts: 4,903
    watford30 said:

    Wanderer said:

    David Cameron
    Trying to profit from spurious claims lodged against our brave servicemen & women is unacceptable. My statement: https://t.co/94CBPZYKTG

    "Firm action against firms" - dear me. Good statement though, imo.
    At least one of the firms is going down. Solicitors stuck off etc..

    Why do you think that they are giving whining press interviews about how they (the solicitors) are the real victims in all this? Whining about the "chilling effect" that this will have in this area of law....
    They're whinging because their business model is about to implode, that much is obvious. A few of them should be looking at jail time for the document shredding incident.
    All of which makes it a good reason for politicians not to spout until the facts are clear.
  • RobDRobD Posts: 60,234
    rcs1000 said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Putin only has 2 more years left in charge of Russia, whereupon a new face will take charge.

    Remember from 2008 - 2012, we had Dmitry Medvedev in charge - his own man and very much a fresh face for Russia.

    I thought you were allowed two consecutive terms in charge
    Max of two consecutive terms, but no max number of two consecutive terms ;)
  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 34,022

    Mr. Brooke, not sure I've ever fried a vegetable.

    Do like roast parsnips, though.

    Mr Dancer time to get the wok out and start experimenting. Those opium seeds could be good for you too.
    Fried potatoes? When I was a child we used to have the surplus mashed potato from the evening meal fried for breakfast next fday. Delicious with fried egg.
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 39,450

    A summary of the UK government’s financial position #debt #borrowing https://t.co/AtuLoQynic https://t.co/EvFpP7tSiF

    The best source of information is the PDF which can be found here:

    http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/dcp171778_431174.pdf
  • AlastairMeeksAlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340

    Oh my God.

    I've just found out what the Hungarian word for 'abyss' is and how it is pronounced.

    Just go here and listen to the translation

    https://translate.google.com/m/translate#en/hu/abyss

    Conversely , you have to be very careful how you pronounce "bus" in Hungarian.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 52,556

    watford30 said:

    Wanderer said:

    David Cameron
    Trying to profit from spurious claims lodged against our brave servicemen & women is unacceptable. My statement: https://t.co/94CBPZYKTG

    "Firm action against firms" - dear me. Good statement though, imo.
    At least one of the firms is going down. Solicitors stuck off etc..

    Why do you think that they are giving whining press interviews about how they (the solicitors) are the real victims in all this? Whining about the "chilling effect" that this will have in this area of law....
    They're whinging because their business model is about to implode, that much is obvious. A few of them should be looking at jail time for the document shredding incident.
    All of which makes it a good reason for politicians not to spout until the facts are clear.
    The facts are quite clear - solictors guilty of destroying documents, padding billing, paying witnesses vast sums of money etc. The only question is how hard they fall - stuck off, giant fines etc...
  • CyclefreeCyclefree Posts: 25,548

    Poppy seeds are very popular in eastern European cooking.

    I once did an insider dealing investigation in Eastern Europe involving poppy seeds.

  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 53,244
    kingbongo said:

    rcs1000 said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Putin only has 2 more years left in charge of Russia, whereupon a new face will take charge.

    Remember from 2008 - 2012, we had Dmitry Medvedev in charge - his own man and very much a fresh face for Russia.

    I thought you were allowed two consecutive terms in charge
    Medvedev was never and never will be 'his own man' - Putin will run Russia for as long as he wants to, technicalities like the constitution mean nothing; law in Russia, like everything else is just the beginning of a discussion about what to do in any situation where ultimately the biggest thug gets his way - I don't know anybody in Russia who has ever thought Medvedev was really ever anything more than Putin's lapdog - though many will now admit to convincing themselves of his independence when he first took up the presidency - My PutMedev fridge magnet from Moscow is a pretty accurate depiction of the two kleptocratic murdering b4stards
    That's an oversimplification. The moment when Putin and Medvedev announced that Putin would run for President again was when the scales fell from a lot of people's eyes. Nevertheless, this was all done entirely constitutionally and Medvedev did serve a full term during which he could have turned against Putin if circumstances had been different.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,755
    edited 2016 22
    Markets go down. Panic !

    Markets head up, not a peep.

    This is precisely why people leave their money in 0% savings accounts for years on end...
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 43,756
    Scott_P said:

    malcolmg said:

    just a pity that the parasitic ruling elite cannot be turfed out.

    True, especially when they control the judiciary...

    @AgentP22: The message from Ms Sturgeon is clear.

    Join the SNP & you can do what you want.

    Normal rules don't apply. https://t.co/YTzjcVYSUA
    Take off your blue specs Scott, the same elite unionists and business people/landowners are still running the country. They prevent the SNP really changing Scotland for the better. They are miffed though that the SNP have got out of control and not completely joined the club , hence the unionist panic at present.
    The parasites are worried.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,624

    Oh my God.

    I've just found out what the Hungarian word for 'abyss' is and how it is pronounced.

    Just go here and listen to the translation

    https://translate.google.com/m/translate#en/hu/abyss

    Conversely , you have to be very careful how you pronounce "bus" in Hungarian.
    LOL
  • CyclefreeCyclefree Posts: 25,548
    Happy Birthday @MalcolmG. Have a wonderful day!
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 39,450
    Finally, interesting to note that the government might have the budget in balance this year excluding debt servicing costs (a primary surplus), but because debt servicing costs are so high and government investment is running at ~£25bn per year the deficit will run to 2020 on the current rate of reduction barring any slowdown or recession.
  • flightpath01flightpath01 Posts: 4,903
    MaxPB said:

    rcs1000 said:

    rcs1000 said:

    I can't remember who but recently somebody asked if pb had ever changed one's view on something, I have to say yes it has. I've discovered this week that our police force's role is to investigate spelling mistakes and guard Russian spies.

    There's never been a better time to be a crook, no wonder our prisons are full.

    Guard Russian spies!

    The police's job is to prevent and investigate crime. Do you believe that the murder of Litvenko is not a crime?

    If so, what is it that makes it not a crime?
    This gets better. Look, the Russuans killed one of their spies, I have no interest in how they did it or how they arrived at the conclusion.

    I'm sorry if that offends you.

    PS was Litivinenko the one chasing Roger Moore along that moving train?

    They killed a British citizen on British soil.

    I have heard some bat shit crazy views on this site before. But the view that - because someone is or was a spy - that it's OK for a foreign government to murder them in the UK is just staggering.

    As an aside: is it only OK for the Russians to kill people on British streets, or do you extend the courtesy to the Iranians, the French, ISIS, the EU, and the Vatican?
    Indeed. All of this guff about him being a spy is just a sideshow to make it look like they were assassinating an enemy of the state when in fact he was just critical of Putin so Putin ordered his murder.
    Correct. The nasty excuses for murder that are coming out are sickening.
  • RobDRobD Posts: 60,234
    Pulpstar said:

    Markets go down. Panic !

    Markets head up, not a peep.

    This is precisely why people leave their money in 0% savings accounts for years on end...

    The converse:

    Tories go up, Rejoice!
    Tories go down, not a peep.

    ;)
  • LondonBobLondonBob Posts: 467
    Pulpstar said:

    Putin only has 2 more years left in charge of Russia, whereupon a new face will take charge.

    Remember from 2008 - 2012, we had Dmitry Medvedev in charge - his own man and very much a fresh face for Russia.

    I am sure you will find someone new to froth and obsess about, and bore everyone else silly with it too.

    I don't why but you just come across as that sort of person.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 52,556
    Charles said:

    TOPPING said:

    Charles said:

    TOPPING said:

    Interesting to see the row-back and expansion by the police on the "terrorist house" incident.

    Because, in shock news to some here on PB (good morning @Charles, @Plato_Says), police interviewing a family because of a seeming spelling mistake in isolation, whatever it was,

    ...WOULD BE RIDICULOUS.

    My point still stands: that they had proceedures to follow and it was good they followed them. It was not some outrage to civil liberties as @blackburn63 believed. I never commented on whether the spelling mistake should be sufficent to trigger the proceedures because I have no idea what the appropriate threshold should be.

    But if you'd rather go "Yah! Boo! Sucks!" than engaged in a nuanced and sophisticated debate then knock yourself out buddy

    It was reported yesterday that a 10-yr old boy wrote that he lived in a terrorist house and as a result, the school called the police who went to investigate by talking to the boy's family about it.

    As reported (one perhaps spelling mistake, a police response) that was ludicrous because I am sure other measures short of calling the police could have been taken to determine whether he came from a long line of dumb terrorists, or whether it was a spelling mistake, or whether there was some other reason.

    It now turns out that the police visited the house for several reasons unrelated to terrorism and they criticised the BBC for sexing up the story. Which makes much more sense.

    To call the police for one isolated incident, as reported, yet which you and others here thought was entirely justified, would have been ludicrous.

    Nuanced and sophisticated enough for you? Buddy.
    But not the teacher, the police or the social workers fault. They were following proceedures. That is a good thing: there is a reason why they are not allowed to exercise discretion at this stage
    The problem is that a lack of discretion doesn't help. In the baby P case, Shoesmith was appalled at being blamed. She had followed every procedure and her paperwork was impeccable. She'd even vigorously investigated the woman who'd tried to help baby P for child abuse - for shouting back at a teenager who being ranting death threats at her.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,624
    Amazon has says it will take on 2,500 new permanent staff in the UK this year, bringing its total number of UK employees to 14,000.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-35379861
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,755
    "government investment" is that a technical term or actual investment ?
  • RobDRobD Posts: 60,234
    Cyclefree said:

    Happy Birthday @MalcolmG. Have a wonderful day!

    No one arranged a whip round to get him a golden turnip??
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 120,757

    Oh my God.

    I've just found out what the Hungarian word for 'abyss' is and how it is pronounced.

    Just go here and listen to the translation

    https://translate.google.com/m/translate#en/hu/abyss

    Conversely , you have to be very careful how you pronounce "bus" in Hungarian.
    How shouldn't I pronounce it ?

    I'm sorely tempted to start learning Hungarian now
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 43,756

    Mr. Brooke, not sure I've ever fried a vegetable.

    Do like roast parsnips, though.

    Mr Dancer time to get the wok out and start experimenting. Those opium seeds could be good for you too.
    Fried potatoes? When I was a child we used to have the surplus mashed potato from the evening meal fried for breakfast next fday. Delicious with fried egg.
    We had them made into Tattie Scones
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,755
    LondonBob said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Putin only has 2 more years left in charge of Russia, whereupon a new face will take charge.

    Remember from 2008 - 2012, we had Dmitry Medvedev in charge - his own man and very much a fresh face for Russia.

    I am sure you will find someone new to froth and obsess about, and bore everyone else silly with it too.

    I don't why but you just come across as that sort of person.
    Отвали обратно в Москву
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 52,556

    rcs1000 said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Putin only has 2 more years left in charge of Russia, whereupon a new face will take charge.

    Remember from 2008 - 2012, we had Dmitry Medvedev in charge - his own man and very much a fresh face for Russia.

    I thought you were allowed two consecutive terms in charge
    The notion that Putin is not going to fiddle it so he is in charge permanently or until someone sticks him in the leg with a sharp umbrella is naive to say the least.
    The Times is reporting that he/Russia is responsible for at least another 6 assassinations.
    Hell, even the Russian press was printing cartoons of Medvedev as Putin's puppet the last time round.
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 43,756
    edited 2016 22
    Cyclefree said:

    Happy Birthday @MalcolmG. Have a wonderful day!

    Thank you Cyclefree, appreciated.

    I had planned to visit the Turner Exhibition but my wife has bad cold so will just have a quiet day. Haggis Neeps and tatties for dinner.
  • glwglw Posts: 10,085
    TGOHF said:


    I am quite amazed at how many people on here - outside of the obvious Putin stooges like LondonBob and Luckyguy - are trying to defend this murder.

    It's almost a prerequisite of the left and the Nats to despise Britain so much that any enemy of ours is somehow heroic.
    I find this completely baffling. I was no fan of Brown, but never would I jump to siding with our enemies as a consequence.

    They can hate the EU and Cameron as he's not a "real Conservative", but Russia remains a real threat to this country and Putin is a murderous crook, not a hero or ally.
  • RobDRobD Posts: 60,234
    malcolmg said:

    Scott_P said:

    malcolmg said:

    just a pity that the parasitic ruling elite cannot be turfed out.

    True, especially when they control the judiciary...

    @AgentP22: The message from Ms Sturgeon is clear.

    Join the SNP & you can do what you want.

    Normal rules don't apply. https://t.co/YTzjcVYSUA
    Take off your blue specs Scott, the same elite unionists and business people/landowners are still running the country. They prevent the SNP really changing Scotland for the better. They are miffed though that the SNP have got out of control and not completely joined the club , hence the unionist panic at present.
    The parasites are worried.
    What? I thought the SNP had a majority up there?
  • Plato_SaysPlato_Says Posts: 11,822
    Martin Boon
    Apol for late arrival. @ICMResearch #euref weekly tracker: Remain In 42%, Leave 40% DK 17% (51 v 49). website post of data shortly.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,624

    Charles said:

    TOPPING said:

    Charles said:

    TOPPING said:

    Interesting to see the row-back and expansion by the police on the "terrorist house" incident.

    Because, in shock news to some here on PB (good morning @Charles, @Plato_Says), police interviewing a family because of a seeming spelling mistake in isolation, whatever it was,

    ...WOULD BE RIDICULOUS.

    My point still stands: that they had proceedures to follow and it was good they followed them. It was not some outrage to civil liberties as @blackburn63 believed. I never commented on whether the spelling mistake should be sufficent to trigger the proceedures because I have no idea what the appropriate threshold should be.

    But if you'd rather go "Yah! Boo! Sucks!" than engaged in a nuanced and sophisticated debate then knock yourself out buddy

    It was reported yesterday that a 10-yr old boy wrote that he lived in a terrorist house and as a result, the school called the police who went to investigate by talking to the boy's family about it.

    As reported (one perhaps spelling mistake, a police response) that was ludicrous because I am sure other measures short of calling the police could have been taken to determine whether he came from a long line of dumb terrorists, or whether it was a spelling mistake, or whether there was some other reason.

    It now turns out that the police visited the house for several reasons unrelated to terrorism and they criticised the BBC for sexing up the story. Which makes much more sense.

    To call the police for one isolated incident, as reported, yet which you and others here thought was entirely justified, would have been ludicrous.

    Nuanced and sophisticated enough for you? Buddy.
    But not the teacher, the police or the social workers fault. They were following proceedures. That is a good thing: there is a reason why they are not allowed to exercise discretion at this stage
    The problem is that a lack of discretion doesn't help. In the baby P case, Shoesmith was appalled at being blamed. She had followed every procedure and her paperwork was impeccable. She'd even vigorously investigated the woman who'd tried to help baby P for child abuse - for shouting back at a teenager who being ranting death threats at her.
    And ultimately she got a massive payout....
  • CyclefreeCyclefree Posts: 25,548

    Mr. Brooke, not sure I've ever fried a vegetable.

    Do like roast parsnips, though.

    Mr Dancer time to get the wok out and start experimenting. Those opium seeds could be good for you too.
    Fried potatoes? When I was a child we used to have the surplus mashed potato from the evening meal fried for breakfast next fday. Delicious with fried egg.
    Any spaghetti or other pasta which is left over can be mixed with a beaten egg and then fried to make a frittata - a sort of pasta Spanish omelette. Delicious!

This discussion has been closed.