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Two new VI voting polls out today adding to the confusion – politicalbetting.com

SystemSystem Posts: 11,002
edited August 2021 in General
imageTwo new VI voting polls out today adding to the confusion – politicalbetting.com

After my piece yesterday suggesting that this week’s Redfield poll might be an outlier we’ve had two other Westminster VI poll out today. ComRes has a CON lead of 7% while Kantar has it down to 3%.

Read the full story here

«13456

Comments

  • Kaboom!
  • LeonLeon Posts: 46,239

    Kaboom!

    Er, is that in the best possible taste?

    You may have to ban yourself
  • Leon said:

    Kaboom!

    Er, is that in the best possible taste?

    You may have to ban yourself
    It is a word synonymous with Martin Boon of ICM and now DeltaPoll.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 46,239
    Footage of the Kabul Airport explosion (NB, no gore or blood or people visible)

    It seems to be at least two or three different explosions? The last one is enormous. Suggests at least two or more suicide bombers. A well organised, sophisticated attack


    https://twitter.com/LeakedReality/status/1430937364831035394?s=20
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 91,392
    Since it seems to be a recent tradition I can report that my tesco shop arrived with all items, which is actually pretty unusual pre-Covid and pre-Brexit.
  • isamisam Posts: 40,730
    Cricket thread from @GeoffLemonSport

    Joe Root started the day on 1277 Test runs in 2021, which was 41st on the list for the most runs in a calendar year.

    Since then he has gone past:

    https://twitter.com/geofflemonsport/status/1430888609092018179?s=21
  • LeonLeon Posts: 46,239
    Confirmed:


    Iran International English
    @IranIntl_En
    ·
    18s
    #BREAKING: The Wall Street Journal is reporting the U.S. ambassador in Kabul has told staff there that four U.S. Marines were killed in an explosion at the city’s airport and three wounded, a U.S. official with knowledge of the briefing said. #Afghanistan
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 47,787
    edited August 2021
    Leon said:

    Footage of the Kabul Airport explosion (NB, no gore or blood or people visible)

    It seems to be at least two or three different explosions? The last one is enormous. Suggests at least two or more suicide bombers. A well organised, sophisticated attack


    https://twitter.com/LeakedReality/status/1430937364831035394?s=20

    German journalists were earlier complaining that the US forced them to leave, but they might consider themselves lucky now.

    https://twitter.com/ronzheimer/status/1430649098961555458
  • Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,820
    Leon said:

    Footage of the Kabul Airport explosion (NB, no gore or blood or people visible)

    It seems to be at least two or three different explosions? The last one is enormous. Suggests at least two or more suicide bombers. A well organised, sophisticated attack


    https://twitter.com/LeakedReality/status/1430937364831035394?s=20

    Is it real (i.e. really this attack) though?
  • jonny83jonny83 Posts: 1,261
    Leon said:

    Footage of the Kabul Airport explosion (NB, no gore or blood or people visible)

    It seems to be at least two or three different explosions? The last one is enormous. Suggests at least two or more suicide bombers. A well organised, sophisticated attack


    https://twitter.com/LeakedReality/status/1430937364831035394?s=20

    Very Al-Qaeda like, no surprise as ISIS-K reportedly has former AQ members.
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 49,614
    To be fair, the UK and US authorities in Kabul have been warning people for two days to not go to the airport, because of the threat of an imminent terrorist attack.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 46,239
    edited August 2021

    Leon said:

    Footage of the Kabul Airport explosion (NB, no gore or blood or people visible)

    It seems to be at least two or three different explosions? The last one is enormous. Suggests at least two or more suicide bombers. A well organised, sophisticated attack


    https://twitter.com/LeakedReality/status/1430937364831035394?s=20

    Is it real (i.e. really this attack) though?
    I'm pretty sure it is (but obviously can't be certain) because there are other videos of the same explosion which look similar, and they all hit social media today. Seems an odd thing to fake


    EDIT: however there are also videos which seem to show the 1st bomb exploding at twilight, which makes this video questionable
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 26,279
    edited August 2021
    Some captains would take the ultra-attacking move of declaring before the end of play, but I don't think Joe Root will do it.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 91,392
    Andy_JS said:

    Some captains would take the ultra-attacking move of declaring before the end of play, but I don't think Joe Root will do it.

    There's no point even for an attacking captain, not with three full days left.
  • pingping Posts: 3,724
    edited August 2021
    Leon said:

    Confirmed:


    Iran International English
    @IranIntl_En
    ·
    18s
    #BREAKING: The Wall Street Journal is reporting the U.S. ambassador in Kabul has told staff there that four U.S. Marines were killed in an explosion at the city’s airport and three wounded, a U.S. official with knowledge of the briefing said. #Afghanistan

    Indeed. This is significant.

    The Wall Street Journal
    @WSJ
    ·
    7m
    Four U.S. Marines were among those killed in the explosions at Kabul airport, and three were wounded, the U.S. ambassador told staff, an official said



    Very very bad for Biden
  • Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,820
    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    Footage of the Kabul Airport explosion (NB, no gore or blood or people visible)

    It seems to be at least two or three different explosions? The last one is enormous. Suggests at least two or more suicide bombers. A well organised, sophisticated attack


    https://twitter.com/LeakedReality/status/1430937364831035394?s=20

    Is it real (i.e. really this attack) though?
    I'm pretty sure it is (but obviously can't be certain) because there are other videos of the same explosion which look similar, and they all hit social media today. Seems an odd thing to fake
    Looks to me like the wrong time of day.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 76,274
    edited August 2021
    Andy_JS said:

    Some captains would take the ultra-attacking move of declaring before the end of play, but I don't think Joe Root will do it.

    Joe Root is great test player, but a poor test captain.
  • CookieCookie Posts: 11,183

    Leon said:

    Footage of the Kabul Airport explosion (NB, no gore or blood or people visible)

    It seems to be at least two or three different explosions? The last one is enormous. Suggests at least two or more suicide bombers. A well organised, sophisticated attack


    https://twitter.com/LeakedReality/status/1430937364831035394?s=20

    Is it real (i.e. really this attack) though?
    I'm a bit puzzled that this is a suicide attack.
    Normally suicide attacks are the cry of rage of the powerless. But the taliban are winning. Everyone is getting out. All their dreams are coming true. Who can be induced to blow themselves up in these circumstances?
  • CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 59,540
    That wound be fun….

    Présidentielle 2022: Michel Barnier va annoncer sa candidature à la primaire de la droite

    https://twitter.com/bfmtv/status/1430885855053312002?s=21
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 91,392
    edited August 2021
    Sandpit said:

    To be fair, the UK and US authorities in Kabul have been warning people for two days to not go to the airport, because of the threat of an imminent terrorist attack.

    Yes. The desperate may for good reason feel they had little other option, but notwithstanding how we got to this situation of the airport evac and the ticking clock, escaping violent incident would probably need a miracle.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 76,274
    edited August 2021
    Cookie said:

    Leon said:

    Footage of the Kabul Airport explosion (NB, no gore or blood or people visible)

    It seems to be at least two or three different explosions? The last one is enormous. Suggests at least two or more suicide bombers. A well organised, sophisticated attack


    https://twitter.com/LeakedReality/status/1430937364831035394?s=20

    Is it real (i.e. really this attack) though?
    I'm a bit puzzled that this is a suicide attack.
    Normally suicide attacks are the cry of rage of the powerless. But the taliban are winning. Everyone is getting out. All their dreams are coming true. Who can be induced to blow themselves up in these circumstances?
    There are ISIS units (former AQ) don't get on with the Taliban, see them a Guardianista types of Islamism. They have been fighting one another even before this.
  • Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,820
    Cookie said:

    Leon said:

    Footage of the Kabul Airport explosion (NB, no gore or blood or people visible)

    It seems to be at least two or three different explosions? The last one is enormous. Suggests at least two or more suicide bombers. A well organised, sophisticated attack


    https://twitter.com/LeakedReality/status/1430937364831035394?s=20

    Is it real (i.e. really this attack) though?
    I'm a bit puzzled that this is a suicide attack.
    Normally suicide attacks are the cry of rage of the powerless. But the taliban are winning. Everyone is getting out. All their dreams are coming true. Who can be induced to blow themselves up in these circumstances?
    It's not the Taliban who did this, it's (probably) an ISIS offshoot called the ISIS-Khorasan group (ISKP), no friends of the Taliban:

    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/26/isis-affiliate-iskp-is-prime-suspect-for-kabul-airport-suicide-bomb
  • MonkeysMonkeys Posts: 755
    LD on 14%?
  • Proper group of death for Liverpool.

    Atletico Madrid, Porto, and AC Milan.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 46,239
    Cookie said:

    Leon said:

    Footage of the Kabul Airport explosion (NB, no gore or blood or people visible)

    It seems to be at least two or three different explosions? The last one is enormous. Suggests at least two or more suicide bombers. A well organised, sophisticated attack


    https://twitter.com/LeakedReality/status/1430937364831035394?s=20

    Is it real (i.e. really this attack) though?
    I'm a bit puzzled that this is a suicide attack.
    Normally suicide attacks are the cry of rage of the powerless. But the taliban are winning. Everyone is getting out. All their dreams are coming true. Who can be induced to blow themselves up in these circumstances?
    ISIS-K want a civil war with the Taliban, apparently
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 49,614

    Proper group of death for Liverpool.

    Atletico Madrid, Porto, and AC Milan.

    Ouch!
  • LeonLeon Posts: 46,239

    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    Footage of the Kabul Airport explosion (NB, no gore or blood or people visible)

    It seems to be at least two or three different explosions? The last one is enormous. Suggests at least two or more suicide bombers. A well organised, sophisticated attack


    https://twitter.com/LeakedReality/status/1430937364831035394?s=20

    Is it real (i.e. really this attack) though?
    I'm pretty sure it is (but obviously can't be certain) because there are other videos of the same explosion which look similar, and they all hit social media today. Seems an odd thing to fake
    Looks to me like the wrong time of day.
    Yes, you might be right. Apologies if I have misled the forum
  • turbotubbsturbotubbs Posts: 14,878
    kle4 said:

    Andy_JS said:

    Some captains would take the ultra-attacking move of declaring before the end of play, but I don't think Joe Root will do it.

    There's no point even for an attacking captain, not with three full days left.
    Quite. There are some very odd ideas out there. It’s not day four! You dont get the wickets back if you declare, and as has been pointed out, big runs have been made to win here in the recent past.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 91,392

    That wound be fun….

    Présidentielle 2022: Michel Barnier va annoncer sa candidature à la primaire de la droite

    https://twitter.com/bfmtv/status/1430885855053312002?s=21

    I would be very interested to see what Barnier would be like as president. He was a hard nosed negotiator, and the snide commentary that surrounded the Brexit negotiations made lots of people look like children, but he was doing the job he was supposed to do. I'd be curious to see what his priorities and style would be when acting for France first.
  • AlistairAlistair Posts: 23,670
    Cookie said:

    Leon said:

    Footage of the Kabul Airport explosion (NB, no gore or blood or people visible)

    It seems to be at least two or three different explosions? The last one is enormous. Suggests at least two or more suicide bombers. A well organised, sophisticated attack


    https://twitter.com/LeakedReality/status/1430937364831035394?s=20

    Is it real (i.e. really this attack) though?
    I'm a bit puzzled that this is a suicide attack.
    Normally suicide attacks are the cry of rage of the powerless. But the taliban are winning. Everyone is getting out. All their dreams are coming true. Who can be induced to blow themselves up in these circumstances?
    It is not the Taliban
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 39,748
    Monkeys said:

    LD on 14%?

    Alex Cole-Hamilton effect spreading from Scotland.
  • Cookie said:

    Leon said:

    Footage of the Kabul Airport explosion (NB, no gore or blood or people visible)

    It seems to be at least two or three different explosions? The last one is enormous. Suggests at least two or more suicide bombers. A well organised, sophisticated attack


    https://twitter.com/LeakedReality/status/1430937364831035394?s=20

    Is it real (i.e. really this attack) though?
    I'm a bit puzzled that this is a suicide attack.
    Normally suicide attacks are the cry of rage of the powerless. But the taliban are winning. Everyone is getting out. All their dreams are coming true. Who can be induced to blow themselves up in these circumstances?
    ISIS K are the sworn enemies of the Taliban and causing chaos now suits their agenda of driving division
  • BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 31,274

    Cookie said:

    Leon said:

    Footage of the Kabul Airport explosion (NB, no gore or blood or people visible)

    It seems to be at least two or three different explosions? The last one is enormous. Suggests at least two or more suicide bombers. A well organised, sophisticated attack


    https://twitter.com/LeakedReality/status/1430937364831035394?s=20

    Is it real (i.e. really this attack) though?
    I'm a bit puzzled that this is a suicide attack.
    Normally suicide attacks are the cry of rage of the powerless. But the taliban are winning. Everyone is getting out. All their dreams are coming true. Who can be induced to blow themselves up in these circumstances?
    There are ISIS units (former AQ) don't get on with the Taliban, see them a Guardianista types of Islamism. They have been fighting one another even before this.
    That's a bit harsh on we true Guardianistas!

    Also misleading since real Guardianistas are sensible middle-class lefties who love to espouse left causes but rarely man (or woman) the barricades - we're usually far too busy shopping in Waitrose.
  • Sandpit said:

    Proper group of death for Liverpool.

    Atletico Madrid, Porto, and AC Milan.

    Ouch!
    To be fair we've hammered Porto in the last few seasons and AC Milan aren't quite the beast they used to be.

    Simeone is the only manager who has ever managed to get under Klopp's skin.

    I think Liverpool will win all three home gains, we've missed the fans on European nights.
  • AlistairAlistair Posts: 23,670
    85 deaths is the highest deatg figure this year in Afghanistan for a terrorist bombing when a school in Kabul was attacked.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 76,274
    edited August 2021

    Cookie said:

    Leon said:

    Footage of the Kabul Airport explosion (NB, no gore or blood or people visible)

    It seems to be at least two or three different explosions? The last one is enormous. Suggests at least two or more suicide bombers. A well organised, sophisticated attack


    https://twitter.com/LeakedReality/status/1430937364831035394?s=20

    Is it real (i.e. really this attack) though?
    I'm a bit puzzled that this is a suicide attack.
    Normally suicide attacks are the cry of rage of the powerless. But the taliban are winning. Everyone is getting out. All their dreams are coming true. Who can be induced to blow themselves up in these circumstances?
    There are ISIS units (former AQ) don't get on with the Taliban, see them a Guardianista types of Islamism. They have been fighting one another even before this.
    That's a bit harsh on we true Guardianistas!

    Also misleading since real Guardianistas are sensible middle-class lefties who love to espouse left causes but rarely man (or woman) the barricades - we're usually far too busy shopping in Waitrose.
    I didn't say the Taliban are, I said ISIS units see them as such i.e. all a bit too liberal and easy going for proper Islamists.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 46,239
    ping said:

    Leon said:

    Confirmed:


    Iran International English
    @IranIntl_En
    ·
    18s
    #BREAKING: The Wall Street Journal is reporting the U.S. ambassador in Kabul has told staff there that four U.S. Marines were killed in an explosion at the city’s airport and three wounded, a U.S. official with knowledge of the briefing said. #Afghanistan

    Indeed. This is significant.

    The Wall Street Journal
    @WSJ
    ·
    7m
    Four U.S. Marines were among those killed in the explosions at Kabul airport, and three were wounded, the U.S. ambassador told staff, an official said



    Very very bad for Biden
    What can he do? Nothing but terrible choices from here

    If he retaliates (and many will demand that) who can he hit, and where will it end up? What's the point?

    If he just accepts the deaths, and ends the evacuation, and scuttles, that looks appalling, and he will leave thousands behind

    If he continues with the evacuation, more US soldiers, citizens and others will likely die
  • turbotubbsturbotubbs Posts: 14,878

    Andy_JS said:

    Some captains would take the ultra-attacking move of declaring before the end of play, but I don't think Joe Root will do it.

    Joe Root is great test player, but a poor test captain.
    He’s not the best skipper, but there is no need to declare on day 2 when 333 up. Problem is who else is (a) guaranteed his place and (b) captain material? Butler? Not really fixed in the team, and not a huge fan of keepers as skippers.
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 49,614
    edited August 2021
    Andy_JS said:

    Some captains would take the ultra-attacking move of declaring before the end of play, but I don't think Joe Root will do it.

    Yep, give them half an hour in the fading light. A wicket or two from their top order, is worth more than a wicket or two from our bottom order.

    Too late now.
  • CookieCookie Posts: 11,183

    Cookie said:

    Leon said:

    Footage of the Kabul Airport explosion (NB, no gore or blood or people visible)

    It seems to be at least two or three different explosions? The last one is enormous. Suggests at least two or more suicide bombers. A well organised, sophisticated attack


    https://twitter.com/LeakedReality/status/1430937364831035394?s=20

    Is it real (i.e. really this attack) though?
    I'm a bit puzzled that this is a suicide attack.
    Normally suicide attacks are the cry of rage of the powerless. But the taliban are winning. Everyone is getting out. All their dreams are coming true. Who can be induced to blow themselves up in these circumstances?
    ISIS K are the sworn enemies of the Taliban and causing chaos now suits their agenda of driving division
    Ah - so a separate lot of nutters to the ones we've been dealing with.
  • Andy_JS said:

    Some captains would take the ultra-attacking move of declaring before the end of play, but I don't think Joe Root will do it.

    Joe Root is great test player, but a poor test captain.
    He’s not the best skipper, but there is no need to declare on day 2 when 333 up. Problem is who else is (a) guaranteed his place and (b) captain material? Butler? Not really fixed in the team, and not a huge fan of keepers as skippers.
    Stokes when available.
  • turbotubbsturbotubbs Posts: 14,878
    Sandpit said:

    Andy_JS said:

    Some captains would take the ultra-attacking move of declaring before the end of play, but I don't think Joe Root will do it.

    Yep, give them half an hour in the fading light. A wicket or two from their top order, is worth more than a wicket or two from our bottom order.
    On day 4 I’d agree, not on day 2.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 46,239
    Sandpit said:

    To be fair, the UK and US authorities in Kabul have been warning people for two days to not go to the airport, because of the threat of an imminent terrorist attack.

    One quite fierce irony (if it is true, there is so much misleading news) is this: apparently the intel that warned the US and UK about the imminent ISIS attack came from..... The Taliban

    Which kinda makes sense. They would know
  • IshmaelZIshmaelZ Posts: 21,830

    kle4 said:

    Andy_JS said:

    Some captains would take the ultra-attacking move of declaring before the end of play, but I don't think Joe Root will do it.

    There's no point even for an attacking captain, not with three full days left.
    Quite. There are some very odd ideas out there. It’s not day four! You dont get the wickets back if you declare, and as has been pointed out, big runs have been made to win here in the recent past.
    OK I am obviously having an unusually stupid day but what does You dont get the wickets back mean?
  • CookieCookie Posts: 11,183
    edited August 2021
    Leon said:

    Cookie said:

    Leon said:

    Footage of the Kabul Airport explosion (NB, no gore or blood or people visible)

    It seems to be at least two or three different explosions? The last one is enormous. Suggests at least two or more suicide bombers. A well organised, sophisticated attack


    https://twitter.com/LeakedReality/status/1430937364831035394?s=20

    Is it real (i.e. really this attack) though?
    I'm a bit puzzled that this is a suicide attack.
    Normally suicide attacks are the cry of rage of the powerless. But the taliban are winning. Everyone is getting out. All their dreams are coming true. Who can be induced to blow themselves up in these circumstances?
    ISIS-K want a civil war with the Taliban, apparently
    Of course they do. Just what Afghanistan needs right now, obviously.
    Good grief, these people.
    Unresolvable differences about what sort of dystopia they want?
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 26,279
    Cookie said:

    Leon said:

    Footage of the Kabul Airport explosion (NB, no gore or blood or people visible)

    It seems to be at least two or three different explosions? The last one is enormous. Suggests at least two or more suicide bombers. A well organised, sophisticated attack


    https://twitter.com/LeakedReality/status/1430937364831035394?s=20

    Is it real (i.e. really this attack) though?
    I'm a bit puzzled that this is a suicide attack.
    Normally suicide attacks are the cry of rage of the powerless. But the taliban are winning. Everyone is getting out. All their dreams are coming true. Who can be induced to blow themselves up in these circumstances?
    It's not impossible to imagine the Taliban arranging a suicide attack in order to show the Americans they're serious about the deadline for leaving the country.
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 49,614
    IshmaelZ said:

    kle4 said:

    Andy_JS said:

    Some captains would take the ultra-attacking move of declaring before the end of play, but I don't think Joe Root will do it.

    There's no point even for an attacking captain, not with three full days left.
    Quite. There are some very odd ideas out there. It’s not day four! You dont get the wickets back if you declare, and as has been pointed out, big runs have been made to win here in the recent past.
    OK I am obviously having an unusually stupid day but what does You dont get the wickets back mean?
    It means that 350/7 is the same as 350/10, if you declare. Those three wickets have gone, and with them the opportunity to score more runs.
  • turbotubbsturbotubbs Posts: 14,878

    Andy_JS said:

    Some captains would take the ultra-attacking move of declaring before the end of play, but I don't think Joe Root will do it.

    Joe Root is great test player, but a poor test captain.
    He’s not the best skipper, but there is no need to declare on day 2 when 333 up. Problem is who else is (a) guaranteed his place and (b) captain material? Butler? Not really fixed in the team, and not a huge fan of keepers as skippers.
    Stokes when available.
    Not sure burdening a chap who is needing a break for his mental well being is the best idea.
  • DeClareDeClare Posts: 483
    edited August 2021
    Monkeys said:

    LD on 14%?

    More surprising that the Greens are supposedly on 6% and one poll has them on 8%!
    In 2017 they got 1.6% and when many on the left were disillusioned with Corbyn they only crept up to 2.7%
    These figures are for England and Wales because there is a separate Green party in Scotland.
  • Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,820
    Leon said:

    ping said:

    Leon said:

    Confirmed:


    Iran International English
    @IranIntl_En
    ·
    18s
    #BREAKING: The Wall Street Journal is reporting the U.S. ambassador in Kabul has told staff there that four U.S. Marines were killed in an explosion at the city’s airport and three wounded, a U.S. official with knowledge of the briefing said. #Afghanistan

    Indeed. This is significant.

    The Wall Street Journal
    @WSJ
    ·
    7m
    Four U.S. Marines were among those killed in the explosions at Kabul airport, and three were wounded, the U.S. ambassador told staff, an official said



    Very very bad for Biden
    What can he do? Nothing but terrible choices from here

    If he retaliates (and many will demand that) who can he hit, and where will it end up? What's the point?

    If he just accepts the deaths, and ends the evacuation, and scuttles, that looks appalling, and he will leave thousands behind

    If he continues with the evacuation, more US soldiers, citizens and others will likely die
    There's not much of the evacuation left. The plan is to be out completely - that's all US military personnel and all the equipment they are taking with them - by Tuesday. He'll go ahead with that, and tough luck for any allies and for the Afghanis at fear of their lives, and probably also dual-nationals, who get left behind.

    The mission will be accomplished.
  • turbotubbsturbotubbs Posts: 14,878
    IshmaelZ said:

    kle4 said:

    Andy_JS said:

    Some captains would take the ultra-attacking move of declaring before the end of play, but I don't think Joe Root will do it.

    There's no point even for an attacking captain, not with three full days left.
    Quite. There are some very odd ideas out there. It’s not day four! You dont get the wickets back if you declare, and as has been pointed out, big runs have been made to win here in the recent past.
    OK I am obviously having an unusually stupid day but what does You dont get the wickets back mean?
    If you declare with 4 wickets in hand, and then need to chase a total you still only have 10 wickets. Better to get more runs with those first innings wickets, than have to chase them without.
  • AlistairAlistair Posts: 23,670
    Andy_JS said:

    Cookie said:

    Leon said:

    Footage of the Kabul Airport explosion (NB, no gore or blood or people visible)

    It seems to be at least two or three different explosions? The last one is enormous. Suggests at least two or more suicide bombers. A well organised, sophisticated attack


    https://twitter.com/LeakedReality/status/1430937364831035394?s=20

    Is it real (i.e. really this attack) though?
    I'm a bit puzzled that this is a suicide attack.
    Normally suicide attacks are the cry of rage of the powerless. But the taliban are winning. Everyone is getting out. All their dreams are coming true. Who can be induced to blow themselves up in these circumstances?
    It's not impossible to imagine the Taliban arranging a suicide attack in order to show the Americans they're serious about the deadline for leaving the country.
    No, having ISIL-K blowong thenselves up shows that the Taliban do not have control of the country.

    It is terrible for their standing and their abilty to project control over the scattered provinces.
  • BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 31,274
    Andy_JS said:

    Some captains would take the ultra-attacking move of declaring before the end of play, but I don't think Joe Root will do it.


    What's the point? The Indians are not going to bat out the best part of three days There's no rain forecast; a decalration just before lunch tomorrow will be plenty early enough.
  • Andy_JS said:

    Some captains would take the ultra-attacking move of declaring before the end of play, but I don't think Joe Root will do it.

    Joe Root is great test player, but a poor test captain.
    He’s not the best skipper, but there is no need to declare on day 2 when 333 up. Problem is who else is (a) guaranteed his place and (b) captain material? Butler? Not really fixed in the team, and not a huge fan of keepers as skippers.
    Stokes when available.
    Stokes has lost every test he has captained.

    (Ok, only one test, but I think all rounders have made terrible test captains for England, Flintoff and Botham for example.)
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 49,958
    Sandpit said:

    IshmaelZ said:

    kle4 said:

    Andy_JS said:

    Some captains would take the ultra-attacking move of declaring before the end of play, but I don't think Joe Root will do it.

    There's no point even for an attacking captain, not with three full days left.
    Quite. There are some very odd ideas out there. It’s not day four! You dont get the wickets back if you declare, and as has been pointed out, big runs have been made to win here in the recent past.
    OK I am obviously having an unusually stupid day but what does You dont get the wickets back mean?
    It means that 350/7 is the same as 350/10, if you declare. Those three wickets have gone, and with them the opportunity to score more runs.
    It's still only Day 2 - why wold you declare? We have probably got three days to bowl them out and a target they won't reach whenever we let them bat again.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 76,274
    edited August 2021

    Andy_JS said:

    Some captains would take the ultra-attacking move of declaring before the end of play, but I don't think Joe Root will do it.


    What's the point? The Indians are not going to bat out the best part of three days There's no rain forecast; a decalration just before lunch tomorrow will be plenty early enough.
    I think the point is you get to bowl at them when they are tired and in fading light. Nobody likes to do that.

    I don't think its a slam dunk one way or another.
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 49,614
    That sub fielder is having a good day.

    (Still no Gary Pratt though).
  • LeonLeon Posts: 46,239

    Leon said:

    ping said:

    Leon said:

    Confirmed:


    Iran International English
    @IranIntl_En
    ·
    18s
    #BREAKING: The Wall Street Journal is reporting the U.S. ambassador in Kabul has told staff there that four U.S. Marines were killed in an explosion at the city’s airport and three wounded, a U.S. official with knowledge of the briefing said. #Afghanistan

    Indeed. This is significant.

    The Wall Street Journal
    @WSJ
    ·
    7m
    Four U.S. Marines were among those killed in the explosions at Kabul airport, and three were wounded, the U.S. ambassador told staff, an official said



    Very very bad for Biden
    What can he do? Nothing but terrible choices from here

    If he retaliates (and many will demand that) who can he hit, and where will it end up? What's the point?

    If he just accepts the deaths, and ends the evacuation, and scuttles, that looks appalling, and he will leave thousands behind

    If he continues with the evacuation, more US soldiers, citizens and others will likely die
    There's not much of the evacuation left. The plan is to be out completely - that's all US military personnel and all the equipment they are taking with them - by Tuesday. He'll go ahead with that, and tough luck for any allies and for the Afghanis at fear of their lives, and probably also dual-nationals, who get left behind.

    The mission will be accomplished.
    Will it?

    There are reports coming in that all gates to the airport have been sealed

    Can they really persist with the evacuation if suicide bombers are menacing the thousands on the airport perimeter, and US and allied troops?
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 91,392

    Andy_JS said:

    Some captains would take the ultra-attacking move of declaring before the end of play, but I don't think Joe Root will do it.

    Joe Root is great test player, but a poor test captain.
    He’s not the best skipper, but there is no need to declare on day 2 when 333 up. Problem is who else is (a) guaranteed his place and (b) captain material? Butler? Not really fixed in the team, and not a huge fan of keepers as skippers.
    Stokes when available.
    Stokes has lost every test he has captained.

    (Ok, only one test, but I think all rounders have made terrible test captains for England, Flintoff and Botham for example.)
    Can we not find a player who is a dead cert for their place but not carrying the team or talismanic, so they don't have the captaincy pressure on top of that?
  • kle4 said:

    Andy_JS said:

    Some captains would take the ultra-attacking move of declaring before the end of play, but I don't think Joe Root will do it.

    Joe Root is great test player, but a poor test captain.
    He’s not the best skipper, but there is no need to declare on day 2 when 333 up. Problem is who else is (a) guaranteed his place and (b) captain material? Butler? Not really fixed in the team, and not a huge fan of keepers as skippers.
    Stokes when available.
    Stokes has lost every test he has captained.

    (Ok, only one test, but I think all rounders have made terrible test captains for England, Flintoff and Botham for example.)
    Can we not find a player who is a dead cert for their place but not carrying the team or talismanic, so they don't have the captaincy pressure on top of that?
    At the moment other than Root and Anderson, nobody is a certainty.
  • CookieCookie Posts: 11,183
    IshmaelZ said:

    kle4 said:

    Andy_JS said:

    Some captains would take the ultra-attacking move of declaring before the end of play, but I don't think Joe Root will do it.

    There's no point even for an attacking captain, not with three full days left.
    Quite. There are some very odd ideas out there. It’s not day four! You dont get the wickets back if you declare, and as has been pointed out, big runs have been made to win here in the recent past.
    OK I am obviously having an unusually stupid day but what does You dont get the wickets back mean?
    I disagree about there being no point. There is almost no danger at all in losing the game for lack of runs. Even if India recover the lead, England get to bat again. But there is a danger in not getting the wickets, particularly if Sunday is rainy. If you get a half hour to bowl at the end of the day from this position, take it.
    But too late now to do that so all academic anyway.
  • BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 31,274

    Andy_JS said:

    Some captains would take the ultra-attacking move of declaring before the end of play, but I don't think Joe Root will do it.


    What's the point? The Indians are not going to bat out the best part of three days There's no rain forecast; a decalration just before lunch tomorrow will be plenty early enough.
    I think the point is you get to bowl at them when they are tired and in fading light. Nobody likes to do that.

    I don't think its a slam dunk one way or another.
    I can see the benefit in saving Anderson from having to bat if they lose the ninth wicket.
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 39,748
    Alistair said:

    85 deaths is the highest deatg figure this year in Afghanistan for a terrorist bombing when a school in Kabul was attacked.

    That was then when no one gave a fuck.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 46,239

    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    Footage of the Kabul Airport explosion (NB, no gore or blood or people visible)

    It seems to be at least two or three different explosions? The last one is enormous. Suggests at least two or more suicide bombers. A well organised, sophisticated attack


    https://twitter.com/LeakedReality/status/1430937364831035394?s=20

    Is it real (i.e. really this attack) though?
    I'm pretty sure it is (but obviously can't be certain) because there are other videos of the same explosion which look similar, and they all hit social media today. Seems an odd thing to fake
    Looks to me like the wrong time of day.
    I've changed my mind again. The terrible footage of the dead people in the sewage canal shows that it is clearly daylight, afternoon, in Kabul, when the first bombs hit

    So the first bombs went off when it was still sunny, it was the second bomb, at Baron Hotel, that took place around dusk

    Which means my original video of the multiple explosions might well be real
  • turbotubbsturbotubbs Posts: 14,878

    Andy_JS said:

    Some captains would take the ultra-attacking move of declaring before the end of play, but I don't think Joe Root will do it.


    What's the point? The Indians are not going to bat out the best part of three days There's no rain forecast; a decalration just before lunch tomorrow will be plenty early enough.
    I think the point is you get to bowl at them when they are tired and in fading light. Nobody likes to do that.

    I don't think its a slam dunk one way or another.
    I fundamentally disagree. Maybe I’m just scarred by being an England fan, but on this pitch on the third and fourth day, this Indian top 6 could easily score 400+ and then exert pressure. Not saying it’s likely, but surely on day 2(!) you maximise your runs, as time is not an issue. I repeat, if this was day 4, I’d agree.
  • Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,820
    Leon said:


    Will it?

    There are reports coming in that all gates to the airport have been sealed

    Can they really persist with the evacuation if suicide bombers are menacing the thousands on the airport perimeter, and US and allied troops?

    What I meant was that the evacuation is all but over anyway, except for those who are already in the airport secure zone. They will need most of the remaining few days to get the military personnel and remaining civilians at the airport out.
  • turbotubbsturbotubbs Posts: 14,878
    kle4 said:

    Andy_JS said:

    Some captains would take the ultra-attacking move of declaring before the end of play, but I don't think Joe Root will do it.

    Joe Root is great test player, but a poor test captain.
    He’s not the best skipper, but there is no need to declare on day 2 when 333 up. Problem is who else is (a) guaranteed his place and (b) captain material? Butler? Not really fixed in the team, and not a huge fan of keepers as skippers.
    Stokes when available.
    Stokes has lost every test he has captained.

    (Ok, only one test, but I think all rounders have made terrible test captains for England, Flintoff and Botham for example.)
    Can we not find a player who is a dead cert for their place but not carrying the team or talismanic, so they don't have the captaincy pressure on top of that?
    I’d almost say Burns, but not sure of his skipper merit.
  • BBC News - Afghanistan: Evacuation will continue despite Kabul attack, says PM
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-58339762
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 53,770
    edited August 2021

    Conv w CEO last night "There is no 'return to work.' We've hired more than half our team in the last 18 months. They are all over the country, and we don't have office space. I don't know what the future model will be, but it certainly will look nothing like it did in 2019..."

    https://twitter.com/jrichlive/status/1430927247192444929?s=20

    Two anecdotes.

    Firstly, Just:

    Back in March 2020, our entire US workforce was in Los Angeles / Orange County, and our entire UK workforce was in London. Now, our US workforce is spread out across the US - we have two people in Ohio, one in Sacramento, etc. We no longer require people to be based near us. If they are, great! If they aren't, it's not the end of the world.

    In the UK, we have actually given up our office space. We have more employees in the UK (and in the EU) than before, but they are all remote. This has also meant we can get people in Spain and Poland, and pay them local rates, rather than paying them London rates. Until we get really big, I wouldn't expect us to actually have a permanent London office again.

    Secondly, PythonAnywhere:

    PA is also going to be giving up its London office, and it's employees have "scattered". One is spending half his time in Lisbon and half in London. One has returned to Hong Kong (probably temporarily). Two new hires are in Poland. And the London based people are all working from home.

    I think Covid is good for places with cheap, technically savvy young people. They can work for British (or American) companies without moving country.

    It is bad for places with poor technological infrastructure. There is - for example - a massive gulf between Portugal (amazing connectivity) and Greece (dreadful).

    It is good for places with good technical universities, and low cost of living. And bad for expensive places which don't.
  • BBC News - Covid travel: Seven locations moved to Covid travel green list
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-58348541
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 26,279
    O/T

    Dex Dexter and Ted Dexter have sadly died at almost the same time. Dex Dexter was Joan Collins' boyfriend in Dynasty, real name Michael Nader.
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 53,770
    Sandpit said:

    IshmaelZ said:

    kle4 said:

    Andy_JS said:

    Some captains would take the ultra-attacking move of declaring before the end of play, but I don't think Joe Root will do it.

    There's no point even for an attacking captain, not with three full days left.
    Quite. There are some very odd ideas out there. It’s not day four! You dont get the wickets back if you declare, and as has been pointed out, big runs have been made to win here in the recent past.
    OK I am obviously having an unusually stupid day but what does You dont get the wickets back mean?
    It means that 350/7 is the same as 350/10, if you declare. Those three wickets have gone, and with them the opportunity to score more runs.
    Exactly.

    You should never declare when you could have the tailenders have a slog.
  • rcs1000 said:

    Conv w CEO last night "There is no 'return to work.' We've hired more than half our team in the last 18 months. They are all over the country, and we don't have office space. I don't know what the future model will be, but it certainly will look nothing like it did in 2019..."

    https://twitter.com/jrichlive/status/1430927247192444929?s=20

    Two anecdotes.

    Firstly, Just:

    Back in March 2020, our entire US workforce was in Los Angeles / Orange County, and our entire UK workforce was in London. Now, our US workforce is spread out across the US - we have two people in Ohio, one in Sacramento, etc. We no longer require people to be based near us. If they are, great! If they aren't, it's not the end of the world.

    In the UK, we have actually given up our office space. We have more employees in the UK (and in the EU) than before, but they are all remote. This has also meant we can get people in Spain and Poland, and pay them local rates, rather than paying them London rates. Until we get really big, I wouldn't expect us to actually have a permanent London office again.

    Secondly, PythonAnywhere:

    PA is also going to be giving up its London office, and it's employees have "scattered". One is spending half his time in Lisbon and half in London. One has returned to Hong Kong (probably temporarily). Two new hires are in Poland. And the London based people are all working from home.

    I think Covid is good for places with cheap, technically savvy young people. They can work for British (or American) companies without moving country.

    It is bad for places with poor technological infrastructure. There is - for example - a massive gulf between Portugal (amazing connectivity) and Greece (dreadful).

    It is good for places with good technical universities, and low cost of living. And bad for expensive places which don't.
    Estonia..... cheap, tech savvy, great English, amazing internet.
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 53,770

    That wound be fun….

    Présidentielle 2022: Michel Barnier va annoncer sa candidature à la primaire de la droite

    https://twitter.com/bfmtv/status/1430885855053312002?s=21

    I quite like M. Barnier - he was by far the pick of the EU negotiators and AIUI, was usually sober.
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 53,770

    rcs1000 said:

    Conv w CEO last night "There is no 'return to work.' We've hired more than half our team in the last 18 months. They are all over the country, and we don't have office space. I don't know what the future model will be, but it certainly will look nothing like it did in 2019..."

    https://twitter.com/jrichlive/status/1430927247192444929?s=20

    Two anecdotes.

    Firstly, Just:

    Back in March 2020, our entire US workforce was in Los Angeles / Orange County, and our entire UK workforce was in London. Now, our US workforce is spread out across the US - we have two people in Ohio, one in Sacramento, etc. We no longer require people to be based near us. If they are, great! If they aren't, it's not the end of the world.

    In the UK, we have actually given up our office space. We have more employees in the UK (and in the EU) than before, but they are all remote. This has also meant we can get people in Spain and Poland, and pay them local rates, rather than paying them London rates. Until we get really big, I wouldn't expect us to actually have a permanent London office again.

    Secondly, PythonAnywhere:

    PA is also going to be giving up its London office, and it's employees have "scattered". One is spending half his time in Lisbon and half in London. One has returned to Hong Kong (probably temporarily). Two new hires are in Poland. And the London based people are all working from home.

    I think Covid is good for places with cheap, technically savvy young people. They can work for British (or American) companies without moving country.

    It is bad for places with poor technological infrastructure. There is - for example - a massive gulf between Portugal (amazing connectivity) and Greece (dreadful).

    It is good for places with good technical universities, and low cost of living. And bad for expensive places which don't.
    Estonia..... cheap, tech savvy, great English, amazing internet.
    Yep; alongside Poland and Portugal that would be in my tier one, with Spain and the Czech Republic in tier two.
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 49,614

    Sandpit said:

    Proper group of death for Liverpool.

    Atletico Madrid, Porto, and AC Milan.

    Ouch!
    To be fair we've hammered Porto in the last few seasons and AC Milan aren't quite the beast they used to be.

    Simeone is the only manager who has ever managed to get under Klopp's skin.

    I think Liverpool will win all three home gains, we've missed the fans on European nights.
    The Anfield atmosphere on European nights is utterly electric, have to get back for one once this damn pandemic is over.
  • BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 31,274
    rcs1000 said:

    Conv w CEO last night "There is no 'return to work.' We've hired more than half our team in the last 18 months. They are all over the country, and we don't have office space. I don't know what the future model will be, but it certainly will look nothing like it did in 2019..."

    https://twitter.com/jrichlive/status/1430927247192444929?s=20

    Two anecdotes.

    Firstly, Just:

    Back in March 2020, our entire US workforce was in Los Angeles / Orange County, and our entire UK workforce was in London. Now, our US workforce is spread out across the US - we have two people in Ohio, one in Sacramento, etc. We no longer require people to be based near us. If they are, great! If they aren't, it's not the end of the world.

    In the UK, we have actually given up our office space. We have more employees in the UK (and in the EU) than before, but they are all remote. This has also meant we can get people in Spain and Poland, and pay them local rates, rather than paying them London rates. Until we get really big, I wouldn't expect us to actually have a permanent London office again.

    Secondly, PythonAnywhere:

    PA is also going to be giving up its London office, and it's employees have "scattered". One is spending half his time in Lisbon and half in London. One has returned to Hong Kong (probably temporarily). Two new hires are in Poland. And the London based people are all working from home.

    I think Covid is good for places with cheap, technically savvy young people. They can work for British (or American) companies without moving country.

    It is bad for places with poor technological infrastructure. There is - for example - a massive gulf between Portugal (amazing connectivity) and Greece (dreadful).

    It is good for places with good technical universities, and low cost of living. And bad for expensive places which don't.
    A friend who works for South Somerset District Council tells me that one of their planning officers is based in Alberta, Canada. You're probably not going to get a site visit if your planning applications gets allocated to him.
  • tlg86tlg86 Posts: 25,164
    rcs1000 said:

    Sandpit said:

    IshmaelZ said:

    kle4 said:

    Andy_JS said:

    Some captains would take the ultra-attacking move of declaring before the end of play, but I don't think Joe Root will do it.

    There's no point even for an attacking captain, not with three full days left.
    Quite. There are some very odd ideas out there. It’s not day four! You dont get the wickets back if you declare, and as has been pointed out, big runs have been made to win here in the recent past.
    OK I am obviously having an unusually stupid day but what does You dont get the wickets back mean?
    It means that 350/7 is the same as 350/10, if you declare. Those three wickets have gone, and with them the opportunity to score more runs.
    Exactly.

    You should never declare when you could have the tailenders have a slog.
    I disagree. There's always the danger of an injury to a bowler and there is something to be said for bowling before the close. Here's a list of matches where team's declared twice in the same test:

    http://www.howstat.com/cricket/statistics/Matches/MatchBothInningsDeclared.asp
  • Counter to all this WFH, I am about to give up my long time WFHing and involved in a new opportunity that will be office based....always liked to go against the flow.
  • jonny83jonny83 Posts: 1,261
    Is Biden going to do a press conference? 4 dead US Marines, surely he is going to have to speak to the nation?
  • jonny83 said:

    Is Biden going to do a press conference? 4 dead US Marines, surely he is going to have to speak to the nation?

    Afternoon nap time....
  • Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,820
    rcs1000 said:

    That wound be fun….

    Présidentielle 2022: Michel Barnier va annoncer sa candidature à la primaire de la droite

    https://twitter.com/bfmtv/status/1430885855053312002?s=21

    I quite like M. Barnier - he was by far the pick of the EU negotiators and AIUI, was usually sober.
    He has a good, sly, sense of humour.
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 49,614

    Counter to all this WFH, I am about to give up my long time WFHing and involved in a new opportunity that will be office based....always liked to go against the flow.

    Good luck!
  • isamisam Posts: 40,730
    Andy_JS said:

    O/T

    Dex Dexter and Ted Dexter have sadly died at almost the same time. Dex Dexter was Joan Collins' boyfriend in Dynasty, real name Michael Nader.

    Ted Dexter always makes me think "day-boo"
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 76,274
    edited August 2021
    Sandpit said:

    Counter to all this WFH, I am about to give up my long time WFHing and involved in a new opportunity that will be office based....always liked to go against the flow.

    Good luck!
    Not sure the wisest move (although I will still be working from home some of the time)...but extremely interesting opportunity and couldn't pass it up.

    Mrs U probably be happy to get me out the house and out from under her feet.
  • MrEdMrEd Posts: 5,578
    jonny83 said:

    Is Biden going to do a press conference? 4 dead US Marines, surely he is going to have to speak to the nation?

    I would imagine the risk now is that Biden feels the need to act tough by retaliating which makes things x100 times worse on the ground. His poll ratings are already sinking and this event will plunge them down further.

    You then have the Harris factor. Latest poll out shows not only a very bad rating for her but also unprecedented negative numbers when it comes to people feeling very negative about her.

    Not looking good.
  • DeClare said:

    Monkeys said:

    LD on 14%?

    More surprising that the Greens are supposedly on 6% and one poll has them on 8%!
    In 2017 they got 1.6% and when many on the left were disillusioned with Corbyn they only crept up to 2.7%
    These figures are for England and Wales because there is a separate Green party in Scotland.
    Is that right? Surely the Scottish Greens are no different to Scottish Conservatives etc - same name, same party, same vote tally.
  • MrEdMrEd Posts: 5,578

    Counter to all this WFH, I am about to give up my long time WFHing and involved in a new opportunity that will be office based....always liked to go against the flow.

    Good luck indeed.

    To add to the anecdotes - spoke to a CEO of a tech company, fairly well established and sizeable. Said the pandemic for him and other startup CEOs he spoke to has been an absolute Godsend - got rid of expensive space they didn’t need, worked out they could fire 40pc of the staff and things would still work out well and new methods of working. They are not going back to the old ways.
  • CookieCookie Posts: 11,183
    Alistair said:

    Andy_JS said:

    Cookie said:

    Leon said:

    Footage of the Kabul Airport explosion (NB, no gore or blood or people visible)

    It seems to be at least two or three different explosions? The last one is enormous. Suggests at least two or more suicide bombers. A well organised, sophisticated attack


    https://twitter.com/LeakedReality/status/1430937364831035394?s=20

    Is it real (i.e. really this attack) though?
    I'm a bit puzzled that this is a suicide attack.
    Normally suicide attacks are the cry of rage of the powerless. But the taliban are winning. Everyone is getting out. All their dreams are coming true. Who can be induced to blow themselves up in these circumstances?
    It's not impossible to imagine the Taliban arranging a suicide attack in order to show the Americans they're serious about the deadline for leaving the country.
    No, having ISIL-K blowong thenselves up shows that the Taliban do not have control of the country.

    It is terrible for their standing and their abilty to project control over the scattered provinces.
    It still seems odd to blow yourself up for essentially tactical reasons.
    I mean, it seems odd to blow yourself up at all, but if you really insanely believe in something and are otherwise impotent, I can see how the pros and cons work out. But to blow yourself up so your lot of nutters get a slight tactical advantage over the other seemingly identically insane lot of nutters? It's like breaking your leg to prevent a throw-in.
  • Russia reports 820 new coronavirus deaths, the biggest one-day increase on record, and 19,630 new cases
  • MrEd said:

    jonny83 said:

    Is Biden going to do a press conference? 4 dead US Marines, surely he is going to have to speak to the nation?

    I would imagine the risk now is that Biden feels the need to act tough by retaliating which makes things x100 times worse on the ground. His poll ratings are already sinking and this event will plunge them down further.

    You then have the Harris factor. Latest poll out shows not only a very bad rating for her but also unprecedented negative numbers when it comes to people feeling very negative about her.

    Not looking good.
    Is Harris not even in the US at present ?
  • MrEdMrEd Posts: 5,578

    rcs1000 said:

    That wound be fun….

    Présidentielle 2022: Michel Barnier va annoncer sa candidature à la primaire de la droite

    https://twitter.com/bfmtv/status/1430885855053312002?s=21

    I quite like M. Barnier - he was by far the pick of the EU negotiators and AIUI, was usually sober.
    He has a good, sly, sense of humour.
    I like Barnier as well. I’d think he would be a good choice.
  • RazedabodeRazedabode Posts: 2,973
    Interestingly Bidens whole argument to pull out of Afghanistan was because there hadn’t been a terrorist threat for 20 years.

    And here we have ISIS-K (supposedly), looking to move in and fill a vacuum.
  • MrEdMrEd Posts: 5,578

    MrEd said:

    jonny83 said:

    Is Biden going to do a press conference? 4 dead US Marines, surely he is going to have to speak to the nation?

    I would imagine the risk now is that Biden feels the need to act tough by retaliating which makes things x100 times worse on the ground. His poll ratings are already sinking and this event will plunge them down further.

    You then have the Harris factor. Latest poll out shows not only a very bad rating for her but also unprecedented negative numbers when it comes to people feeling very negative about her.

    Not looking good.
    Is Harris not even in the US at present ?
    SE Asia. Basically getting her out of the line of sight.
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 38,851

    Sandpit said:

    IshmaelZ said:

    kle4 said:

    Andy_JS said:

    Some captains would take the ultra-attacking move of declaring before the end of play, but I don't think Joe Root will do it.

    There's no point even for an attacking captain, not with three full days left.
    Quite. There are some very odd ideas out there. It’s not day four! You dont get the wickets back if you declare, and as has been pointed out, big runs have been made to win here in the recent past.
    OK I am obviously having an unusually stupid day but what does You dont get the wickets back mean?
    It means that 350/7 is the same as 350/10, if you declare. Those three wickets have gone, and with them the opportunity to score more runs.
    It's still only Day 2 - why wold you declare? We have probably got three days to bowl them out and a target they won't reach whenever we let them bat again.
    Yes, batting on too long is a risk and does happen, but that's not where this match is at.
  • CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 59,540
    edited August 2021
    Continuing to enjoy Duncan Weldon's "Muddling Through" - on the Dreadnought race:

    "Only in hyper-paranoid Edwardian Britain could eight be seen as a reasonable compromise between four and six."
    (the number of Dreadnought hulls laid down).

    In the end we entered WWI with 30 to the German's 19...

    https://twitter.com/LittleBrownUK/status/1430848260625797124?s=20
  • CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 59,540

    rcs1000 said:

    That wound be fun….

    Présidentielle 2022: Michel Barnier va annoncer sa candidature à la primaire de la droite

    https://twitter.com/bfmtv/status/1430885855053312002?s=21

    I quite like M. Barnier - he was by far the pick of the EU negotiators and AIUI, was usually sober.
    He has a good, sly, sense of humour.
    He's also a realist who will be motivated by what is in the French national interest...rather than the EU's.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 58,038
    MrEd said:

    MrEd said:

    jonny83 said:

    Is Biden going to do a press conference? 4 dead US Marines, surely he is going to have to speak to the nation?

    I would imagine the risk now is that Biden feels the need to act tough by retaliating which makes things x100 times worse on the ground. His poll ratings are already sinking and this event will plunge them down further.

    You then have the Harris factor. Latest poll out shows not only a very bad rating for her but also unprecedented negative numbers when it comes to people feeling very negative about her.

    Not looking good.
    Is Harris not even in the US at present ?
    SE Asia. Basically getting her out of the line of sight.
    Not sure going to Saigon is good optics? :smile:
  • squareroot2squareroot2 Posts: 6,287
    edited August 2021
    Andy_JS said:

    Some captains would take the ultra-attacking move of declaring before the end of play, but I don't think Joe Root will do it.

    Nahh. Keep the scoreboard ticking over...
This discussion has been closed.