williamglenn said:

Perhaps Labour will ultimately be extinguished through the financial burden of a PPE-style mis-selling scandal.

UKIP will have their work cut out to top this for a leadership election farce.

Presumably you mean PPI...not PPE!

(Corbyn didn't qualify for Oxford, despite his two Es at A level)

MTimT said:

John_M said:

PlatoSaid said:

Holy crap

The Daily Beast has removed the article, which provoked widespread criticism for containing specific details about closeted athletes, including their nationalities.

It is believed at least one of the athletes referred to in the piece is from a country where homosexuality is illegal.

Straight journalist Nico Hines used the gay dating app Grindr to meet homosexual athletes in the Olympic village.

The article was later removed by editor John Avlon, before an apology appeared on the website.


Read more: http://metro.co.uk/2016/08/12/news-website-says-sorry-for-article-outing-gay-olympians-6063743/#ixzz4H7jdBiVS

It's easy to forget how illiberal the world is - even the USA isn't _that_ keen on LGBT folk. As my favourite author says "The future is already here. It's just unevenly distributed."

So who would you rate higher, Gibson or Stephenson? Snow Crash was a real eye opener for me when I read it back in 1992 at the suggestion of a friend who had set up a company to create photorealistic avatars. I find Stephenson's work high on amazing ideas, but ultimately failing as literature.

I know of Neuromancer but have not read it or other of Gibson's works.

The early Stephenson novels are usually awesome... Right up until the end. Man, that guy can't write endings.

That being said, I very much enjoyed Seveneves. I think it'll be the first work of his I've reread since The Diamond Age.

not_on_fire said:

John_M said:

MTimT said:

John_M said:

PlatoSaid said:

Holy crap

The Daily Beast has removed the article, which provoked widespread criticism for containing specific details about closeted athletes, including their nationalities.

It is believed at least one of the athletes referred to in the piece is from a country where homosexuality is illegal.

Straight journalist Nico Hines used the gay dating app Grindr to meet homosexual athletes in the Olympic village.

The article was later removed by editor John Avlon, before an apology appeared on the website.


Read more: http://metro.co.uk/2016/08/12/news-website-says-sorry-for-article-outing-gay-olympians-6063743/#ixzz4H7jdBiVS

It's easy to forget how illiberal the world is - even the USA isn't _that_ keen on LGBT folk. As my favourite author says "The future is already here. It's just unevenly distributed."

So who would you rate higher, Gibson or Stephenson? Snow Crash was a real eye opener for me when I read it back in 1992 at the suggestion of a friend who had set up a company to create photorealistic avatars. I find Stephenson's work high on amazing ideas, but ultimately failing as literature.

I know of Neuromancer but have not read it or other of Gibson's works.

The Neuromancer trilogy is a must read, though you'd have to treat them as historical novels now. Reading the first in '85 was mind blowing. Gibson is a far better writer, but Stephenson is more entertaining (though he desperately needs a stronger editor).

I love, love, love Cryptonomicon (while accepting it's an acquired taste), but Neuromancer is much the better novel.

If you'll allow me to digress & recommend others- Charlie Stross's Accelerando is a valiant failure that attempts to deal with the the Singularity., while Ted Chiang is my current favourite. I believe 'Story of your Life' is being made into a film.

Neal Stephenson's novels are great but he can't do endings. The finish to Cryptonomicon is a real let-down.

The finish to The Diamond Age is rubbish too.

TheScreamingEagles said:

Harsh

Breaking: Permission to appeal in Supreme Court is refused

Court of Appeal also orders five new Labour members to pay costs in 28 days

That is very harsh indeed.

Anorak said:

Philip_Thompson said:

Anorak said:

ThreeQuidder said:

How can there have been six rounds in a six candidate election and four rounds in a four candidate election?

The sixth round is when there is only one candidate left, and they're given the preference votes from the candidate in second place. There would be two rounds even if there were only two candidates!

Seems a bit pointless to me, but there you have it.

Surely once you reach the round where you only have two candidates left then one has a majority already? Unless they tied and it was decided by drawing lots etc

I agree!! But this sets it all out for the six-rounder from yesterday...

http://www.north-ayrshire.gov.uk/Documents/CorporateServices/ChiefExecutive/Communications/Election-ResultsWard-1---Irvine-WestBreakdown.pdf

It seems they're counting "non-transferable votes" as a valid option, hence making it seven candidates and no majority reached in round 5.

However what happens then if round 6 had been won by "non-transferable votes"? If more SNP votes had not listed Labour as next preference that would have happened.

TheScreamingEagles said:

Harsh

Breaking: Permission to appeal in Supreme Court is refused

Court of Appeal also orders five new Labour members to pay costs in 28 days

That's 30k in 28 days.

That seems unbelievably punitive, especially when they won the first court case. Any chance the Supreme Court will hear the case even with permission refused?

SimonStClare said:

Blimey – Team Pommey bastards leap-frogs over the Aussies into 4th - Hah, take that..

Are we ahead of France? That's the true benchmark for glory.

Philip_Thompson said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

Harsh

Breaking: Permission to appeal in Supreme Court is refused

Court of Appeal also orders five new Labour members to pay costs in 28 days

That's 30k in 28 days.

That seems unbelievably punitive, especially when they won the first court case. Any chance the Supreme Court will hear the case even with permission refused?

By right they can ask...!

Haven't seen the judgment.

Interesting

@georgeeaton: Some Owen Smith supporters were hopeful that 130,000 could favour them. Small chance of upset reduced.

TheScreamingEagles said:

Interesting

@georgeeaton: Some Owen Smith supporters were hopeful that 130,000 could favour them. Small chance of upset reduced.

This really is all becoming very confusing. I guess we'll never know now which way these supporters would vote.

Philip_Thompson said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

Harsh

Breaking: Permission to appeal in Supreme Court is refused

Court of Appeal also orders five new Labour members to pay costs in 28 days

That's 30k in 28 days.

That seems unbelievably punitive, especially when they won the first court case. Any chance the Supreme Court will hear the case even with permission refused?

Others will know better than me but in days of yore an appeal to the House of Lords could only be made if there was an important point of public law at issue. That is to say only with the permission of the Court of Appeal.

A.P. Herbert, well known satirist of the legal profession, once wrote a short story in which a judge refused to hear a case because it would inevitably got to appeal, so what was the point of wasting everyone's time.

HurstLlama said:

PlatoSaid said:

Ben
Farage has grown a tash.. https://t.co/kQ4Lahi2Yj

A so he should, his upper lip always looked like it needed one. He could cope with a full walrus but he must not let it get too wide as he seems to be doing in that picture.

Tricky things to get right are moustaches. I let my new barber trim mine the other day, out went the walrus and in came a nicely shaped and well clipped job as one would expect to see on a Turkish gentleman. Herself was not happy, not happy at all and has forbidden me meeting any of her friends until it has grown back.

waitaminute

Ex-HMF....moustache....

You are Windsor Davies!

Feel sorry for YouGov.

They had a poll in the field that got binned because of the original court ruling.

They then did a new poll which has to be binned because of today's appellate court decision.

TheScreamingEagles said:

SimonStClare said:

Blimey – Team Pommey bastards leap-frogs over the Aussies into 4th - Hah, take that..

Are we ahead of France? That's the true benchmark for glory.

France aren't in the top 10...

SeanT said:

PlatoSaid said:

SimonStClare said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

SimonStClare said:

Blimey – Team Pommey bastards leap-frogs over the Aussies into 4th - Hah, take that..

Are we ahead of France? That's the true benchmark for glory.

Gave up counting after 10th place but France is below Italy – that’s how bad it is for them.

What sports are Italians/French known for? I instinctively thought of equestrian events, but could be totally wrong.

In the postwar era, and until the UK upped its Olympic game in the late 90s, Italy and France would nearly always finish above us in the medals table. Sometimes way above us e.g. Atlanta

See here. France 5th, Italy 6th, Britain.... 36th.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1996_Summer_Olympics_medal_table

As others have said, it was likely that John Major can take the credit due to his decision to create the National Lottery in '93.

It is brilliant to see GB 4th!

HurstLlama said:

PlatoSaid said:

Ben
Farage has grown a tash.. https://t.co/kQ4Lahi2Yj

A so he should, his upper lip always looked like it needed one. He could cope with a full walrus but he must not let it get too wide as he seems to be doing in that picture.

Tricky things to get right are moustaches. I let my new barber trim mine the other day, out went the walrus and in came a nicely shaped and well clipped job as one would expect to see on a Turkish gentleman. Herself was not happy, not happy at all and has forbidden me meeting any of her friends until it has grown back.

Are you quietly enjoying yourself Mr L, or regretting the development?

I grew a full set once and my wife hated it. Said it was bristly, and was glad when I eventually went back to being clean shaven..

Grandson one however had grown one and his girl-friend says it’s silky and she likes him even more.

SeanT said:

PlatoSaid said:

SimonStClare said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

SimonStClare said:

Blimey – Team Pommey bastards leap-frogs over the Aussies into 4th - Hah, take that..

Are we ahead of France? That's the true benchmark for glory.

Gave up counting after 10th place but France is below Italy – that’s how bad it is for them.

What sports are Italians/French known for? I instinctively thought of equestrian events, but could be totally wrong.

In the postwar era, and until the UK upped its Olympic game in the late 90s, Italy and France would nearly always finish above us in the medals table. Sometimes way above us e.g. Atlanta

See here. France 5th, Italy 6th, Britain.... 36th.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1996_Summer_Olympics_medal_table

We should count the gold won by Hong Kong for sailing, at the time still one of our colonies.

That would have taken us to 29th.

SeanT said:

John_M said:

SeanT said:

PlatoSaid said:

SimonStClare said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

SimonStClare said:

Blimey – Team Pommey bastards leap-frogs over the Aussies into 4th - Hah, take that..

Are we ahead of France? That's the true benchmark for glory.

Gave up counting after 10th place but France is below Italy – that’s how bad it is for them.

What sports are Italians/French known for? I instinctively thought of equestrian events, but could be totally wrong.

In the postwar era, and until the UK upped its Olympic game in the late 90s, Italy and France would nearly always finish above us in the medals table. Sometimes way above us e.g. Atlanta

See here. France 5th, Italy 6th, Britain.... 36th.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1996_Summer_Olympics_medal_table

As others have said, it was likely that John Major can take the credit due to his decision to create the National Lottery in '93.

Yep. And New Labour investment in sport, to be fair

You Tory!

On the US Senate front a Dem majority has got to be odds on now i'd imagine.

Of the toss-ups, they look good to pick up: IL,WI,NH,IN,PA,NV - OH,FL,NC looking less good but 6 pick ups is more than enough.

Holy shit. Almaz Ayana just broke the Olympic 5000m record. It was during the second half of her 10000m world record..

Well done to Almaz Ayana, completely obliterated the world record in the 10k, 14 seconds faster than has ever been run before.

SeanT said:

John_M said:

SeanT said:

PlatoSaid said:

SimonStClare said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

SimonStClare said:

Blimey – Team Pommey bastards leap-frogs over the Aussies into 4th - Hah, take that..

Are we ahead of France? That's the true benchmark for glory.

Gave up counting after 10th place but France is below Italy – that’s how bad it is for them.

What sports are Italians/French known for? I instinctively thought of equestrian events, but could be totally wrong.

In the postwar era, and until the UK upped its Olympic game in the late 90s, Italy and France would nearly always finish above us in the medals table. Sometimes way above us e.g. Atlanta

See here. France 5th, Italy 6th, Britain.... 36th.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1996_Summer_Olympics_medal_table

As others have said, it was likely that John Major can take the credit due to his decision to create the National Lottery in '93.

Yep. And New Labour investment in sport, to be fair

Blair winning the 2012 Olympics for London (over Paris) is a huge factor in our success. Only he could have pulled it off.

SeanT said:

OldKingCole said:

HurstLlama said:

PlatoSaid said:

Ben
Farage has grown a tash.. https://t.co/kQ4Lahi2Yj

A so he should, his upper lip always looked like it needed one. He could cope with a full walrus but he must not let it get too wide as he seems to be doing in that picture.

Tricky things to get right are moustaches. I let my new barber trim mine the other day, out went the walrus and in came a nicely shaped and well clipped job as one would expect to see on a Turkish gentleman. Herself was not happy, not happy at all and has forbidden me meeting any of her friends until it has grown back.

Are you quietly enjoying yourself Mr L, or regretting the development?

I grew a full set once and my wife hated it. Said it was bristly, and was glad when I eventually went back to being clean shaven..

Grandson one however had grown one and his girl-friend says it’s silky and she likes him even more.

Wife of a friend of mine says she will never sleep with him again, if he ever shaves off his stubble.

Relatedly, 3-5mm of stubble is said by researchers to be the most sexually desirable facial hair growth in men, for women. Full beards and taches are seen as TOO masculine, clean-shaven is seen as not masculine enough. But DYOR

Ahh - the stubble is on his chin!

TOPPING said:

HurstLlama said:

PlatoSaid said:

Ben
Farage has grown a tash.. https://t.co/kQ4Lahi2Yj

A so he should, his upper lip always looked like it needed one. He could cope with a full walrus but he must not let it get too wide as he seems to be doing in that picture.

Tricky things to get right are moustaches. I let my new barber trim mine the other day, out went the walrus and in came a nicely shaped and well clipped job as one would expect to see on a Turkish gentleman. Herself was not happy, not happy at all and has forbidden me meeting any of her friends until it has grown back.

waitaminute

Ex-HMF....moustache....

You are Windsor Davies!

Alas no, Mr. Topping, I couldn't cope with the waxed tips.

My moustache came about because I contracted Chicken Pox and was therefore give permission to stop shaving for two weeks. At the end of that period the beard came off but the moustache stayed.

Please bear in mind that in the sixties and seventies moustaches were much more common than they are today and in tightly hierarchical organisation were a way of harmless rebellion. Keeping one's moustache long/drooping just enough that the RSM didn't like it but could actually do anything about it was something of an art form.

Once, when I was courting Herself, I lost a bet with her and my forfeit was to remove the 'tash. She took one look at me and told me to grow it again, urgently.

Sandpit said:

Well done to Almaz Ayana, completely obliterated the world record in the 10k, 14 seconds faster than has ever been run before.

Surely many men have run faster?

SeanT said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

SeanT said:

John_M said:

SeanT said:

PlatoSaid said:

SimonStClare said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

SimonStClare said:

Blimey – Team Pommey bastards leap-frogs over the Aussies into 4th - Hah, take that..

Are we ahead of France? That's the true benchmark for glory.

Gave up counting after 10th place but France is below Italy – that’s how bad it is for them.

What sports are Italians/French known for? I instinctively thought of equestrian events, but could be totally wrong.

In the postwar era, and until the UK upped its Olympic game in the late 90s, Italy and France would nearly always finish above us in the medals table. Sometimes way above us e.g. Atlanta

See here. France 5th, Italy 6th, Britain.... 36th.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1996_Summer_Olympics_medal_table

As others have said, it was likely that John Major can take the credit due to his decision to create the National Lottery in '93.

Yep. And New Labour investment in sport, to be fair

We wouldn't have been awarded the 2012 Olympics had it not been for Tony Blair (and Tessa Jowell)

Is one of the reasons I've not been able to get involved in this year's Olympics. I was emotionally involved with London 2012 and went to a few events.

I'm into this Olympics now, and not just coz we're winning medals. It's fun. I've remembered how fun it is.

Of course it won't match London. An Olympics in my home city. It was amazing.

But Rio is still very enjoyable.

I think it was Russian doping that was putting me off and the limp wristed therein.

Plus I don't I'll have a better experience moment than women's beach volleyball at Horse Guards Parade, a true spiritual Olympic moment.

SimonStClare said:

Factoid - The 1908 Summer Olympics, featured "water motorsports" – it was the only year competitors could be pushed along whilst sitting down. – The French won Gold natch…

Motorboating and watersports, eh.

Paging TSE.

OldKingCole said:

SeanT said:

OldKingCole said:

HurstLlama said:

PlatoSaid said:

Ben
Farage has grown a tash.. https://t.co/kQ4Lahi2Yj

A so he should, his upper lip always looked like it needed one. He could cope with a full walrus but he must not let it get too wide as he seems to be doing in that picture.

Tricky things to get right are moustaches. I let my new barber trim mine the other day, out went the walrus and in came a nicely shaped and well clipped job as one would expect to see on a Turkish gentleman. Herself was not happy, not happy at all and has forbidden me meeting any of her friends until it has grown back.

Are you quietly enjoying yourself Mr L, or regretting the development?

I grew a full set once and my wife hated it. Said it was bristly, and was glad when I eventually went back to being clean shaven..

Grandson one however had grown one and his girl-friend says it’s silky and she likes him even more.

Wife of a friend of mine says she will never sleep with him again, if he ever shaves off his stubble.

Relatedly, 3-5mm of stubble is said by researchers to be the most sexually desirable facial hair growth in men, for women. Full beards and taches are seen as TOO masculine, clean-shaven is seen as not masculine enough. But DYOR

Sadly, at my age, the best I can hope for is a beard which I can stroke as an aid to looking wise!

I was going to make a dirty joke about the sort of beards I'm stroking at my age are very definitely not my own.

But that would be inappropriate.

surbiton said:

SeanT said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

SeanT said:

John_M said:

SeanT said:

PlatoSaid said:

SimonStClare said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

SimonStClare said:

Blimey – Team Pommey bastards leap-frogs over the Aussies into 4th - Hah, take that..

Are we ahead of France? That's the true benchmark for glory.

Gave up counting after 10th place but France is below Italy – that’s how bad it is for them.

What sports are Italians/French known for? I instinctively thought of equestrian events, but could be totally wrong.

In the postwar era, and until the UK upped its Olympic game in the late 90s, Italy and France would nearly always finish above us in the medals table. Sometimes way above us e.g. Atlanta

See here. France 5th, Italy 6th, Britain.... 36th.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1996_Summer_Olympics_medal_table

As others have said, it was likely that John Major can take the credit due to his decision to create the National Lottery in '93.

Yep. And New Labour investment in sport, to be fair

We wouldn't have been awarded the 2012 Olympics had it not been for Tony Blair (and Tessa Jowell)

Is one of the reasons I've not been able to get involved in this year's Olympics. I was emotionally involved with London 2012 and went to a few events.

I'm into this Olympics now, and not just coz we're winning medals. It's fun. I've remembered how fun it is.

Of course it won't match London. An Olympics in my home city. It was amazing.

But Rio is still very enjoyable.

We could win more medals in Rio at a fraction of the costs.

The discussion below about the resurgence in British Olympic sports got me thinking: do we get a lot of bang for the buck with these results (i.e. is it worth the money spent), and are there any lessons that can be applied to business and/or government?

I've always thought that government (or any large organisation) find it hard to pick winners. Yet the Olympic sports pick talent and nurture them into winners. Could the same be done with some small companies?

SandyRentool said:

williamglenn said:

Perhaps Labour will ultimately be extinguished through the financial burden of a PPE-style mis-selling scandal.

UKIP will have their work cut out to top this for a leadership election farce.

PPE mis-selling - typo of the day!

Is that when Dave says he'd campaign to leave the EU?

Casino_Royale said:

OldKingCole said:

SeanT said:

OldKingCole said:

HurstLlama said:

PlatoSaid said:

Ben
Farage has grown a tash.. https://t.co/kQ4Lahi2Yj

A so he should, his upper lip always looked like it needed one. He could cope with a full walrus but he must not let it get too wide as he seems to be doing in that picture.

Tricky things to get right are moustaches. I let my new barber trim mine the other day, out went the walrus and in came a nicely shaped and well clipped job as one would expect to see on a Turkish gentleman. Herself was not happy, not happy at all and has forbidden me meeting any of her friends until it has grown back.

Are you quietly enjoying yourself Mr L, or regretting the development?

I grew a full set once and my wife hated it. Said it was bristly, and was glad when I eventually went back to being clean shaven..

Grandson one however had grown one and his girl-friend says it’s silky and she likes him even more.

Wife of a friend of mine says she will never sleep with him again, if he ever shaves off his stubble.

Relatedly, 3-5mm of stubble is said by researchers to be the most sexually desirable facial hair growth in men, for women. Full beards and taches are seen as TOO masculine, clean-shaven is seen as not masculine enough. But DYOR

Sadly, at my age, the best I can hope for is a beard which I can stroke as an aid to looking wise!

I was going to make a dirty joke about the sort of beards I'm stroking at my age are very definitely not my own.

But that would be inappropriate.

Wait until you see the pun/innuendo I've got lined up for Sunday.

One of my all time best.

ThreeQuidder said:

Anorak said:

Holy shit. Almaz Ayana just broke the Olympic 5000m record. It was during the second half of her 10000m world record..

https://twitter.com/benbloomsport/status/764112367961726976

Ha, hope they measured it right!

Shame that only a fraction of the seats were occupied to watch Almaz smash the world record.

Casino_Royale said:

Right, advice please.

Wife and I looking at a property tomorrow. We both really like the look of it. It's a 5 bed and way cheaper than it should be - on for £550k but should be around £600k (it was on for sale in 2012 at 495k and failed to sell) and been with present owner since 1996.

Estate agent didn't flinch when I said I couldn't beat £525k and we got a viewing on Sat at a time of our choice with two days notice. It's been on the market since early Feb. Kitchen is small and internally the space could be used better, but I'm astonished it hasn't shifted yet.

What's wrong with it? What should I ask?

Structure? Neighbours? Divorce (once bought a property for a song as husband was determined to shaft wife in settlement)? Local developments (once viewed a house that was about to have a coal merchants next door)?

TheScreamingEagles said:

Harsh

Breaking: Permission to appeal in Supreme Court is refused

Court of Appeal also orders five new Labour members to pay costs in 28 days

That's 30k in 28 days.

Does seem somewhat unreasonable that the costs award will have been ramped up due to the apparently incorrect ruling of a lower court.

NEW THREAD NEW THREAD

TheScreamingEagles said:

Casino_Royale said:

Right, advice please.

Wife and I looking at a property tomorrow. We both really like the look of it. It's a 5 bed and way cheaper than it should be - on for £550k but should be around £600k (it was on for sale in 2012 at 495k and failed to sell) and been with present owner since 1996.

Estate agent didn't flinch when I said I couldn't beat £525k and we got a viewing on Sat at a time of our choice with two days notice. It's been on the market since early Feb. Kitchen is small and internally the space could be used better, but I'm astonished it hasn't shifted yet.

What's wrong with it? What should I ask?

Get a mining report/full conveyancing done, also check it isn't near a train track.

Some PBers would pay extra if it was near a train track!

SeanT said:

PlatoSaid said:

SimonStClare said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

SimonStClare said:

Blimey – Team Pommey bastards leap-frogs over the Aussies into 4th - Hah, take that..

Are we ahead of France? That's the true benchmark for glory.

Gave up counting after 10th place but France is below Italy – that’s how bad it is for them.

What sports are Italians/French known for? I instinctively thought of equestrian events, but could be totally wrong.

In the postwar era, and until the UK upped its Olympic game in the late 90s, Italy and France would nearly always finish above us in the medals table. Sometimes way above us e.g. Atlanta

See here. France 5th, Italy 6th, Britain.... 36th.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1996_Summer_Olympics_medal_table

Interesting to see how many medals we have sucked in from the rest of Europe and that's with a poor road cycling return.

Just seen this 10k record. The previous record was an obvious product of doping, back when doping meant pushing north of 50% Hcrit, so colour me sceptical to see anyone easily beat it without assistance.

HurstLlama said:

TOPPING said:

HurstLlama said:

PlatoSaid said:

Ben
Farage has grown a tash.. https://t.co/kQ4Lahi2Yj

A so he should, his upper lip always looked like it needed one. He could cope with a full walrus but he must not let it get too wide as he seems to be doing in that picture.

Tricky things to get right are moustaches. I let my new barber trim mine the other day, out went the walrus and in came a nicely shaped and well clipped job as one would expect to see on a Turkish gentleman. Herself was not happy, not happy at all and has forbidden me meeting any of her friends until it has grown back.

waitaminute

Ex-HMF....moustache....

You are Windsor Davies!

Alas no, Mr. Topping, I couldn't cope with the waxed tips.

My moustache came about because I contracted Chicken Pox and was therefore give permission to stop shaving for two weeks. At the end of that period the beard came off but the moustache stayed.

Please bear in mind that in the sixties and seventies moustaches were much more common than they are today and in tightly hierarchical organisation were a way of harmless rebellion. Keeping one's moustache long/drooping just enough that the RSM didn't like it but could actually do anything about it was something of an art form.

Once, when I was courting Herself, I lost a bet with her and my forfeit was to remove the 'tash. She took one look at me and told me to grow it again, urgently.

Pretty good cross-section of 'taches here. Sure you've seen this series.

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

Casino_Royale said:

Right, advice please.

Wife and I looking at a property tomorrow. We both really like the look of it. It's a 5 bed and way cheaper than it should be - on for £550k but should be around £600k (it was on for sale in 2012 at 495k and failed to sell) and been with present owner since 1996.

Estate agent didn't flinch when I said I couldn't beat £525k and we got a viewing on Sat at a time of our choice with two days notice. It's been on the market since early Feb. Kitchen is small and internally the space could be used better, but I'm astonished it hasn't shifted yet.

What's wrong with it? What should I ask?

Don't go near it, Mr Royale, don't touch it with a barge pole. If there is one thing I have learned in my journey through this vale of tears is that something appears to be too good to be true (or too cheap), it is. Why did it fail to sell in 2012? A dang good reason, I'll bet. Stay away from it.