Looks like Kemi wants a despatch box commitment to no tax rises to get Tory support. SKS in a real pincer here. I think his only way out is to pull the bill and agree to await the Impact assessments and commit to a full consultation with disabled people. And maybe shuffle out Kendall to a different role.
Actually one of the first astute, strategic moves I’ve seen Badenoch play. Yes, it’s playing politics, but walking into unconditional support would probably have been a bit of a misstep.
It leaves Starmer in an incredibly difficult position. I don’t quite see how he can avoid pulling the bill now, or significantly watering it down. Which means Reeves comes back with the begging bowl in the Autumn.
Reeves was ALWAYS coming back with the begging bowl in the autumn.
The only question was only ever how big a bowl does she need?
I'm sure there was a lot going on behind the scenes, but given the reactions to his outbursts it makes Trump look very individually powerful, which will please him greatly.
"What a time to be alive with a POTUS dropping the F bomb so publicly."
I don't think sexual swearwords are the taboos they used to be. Taboos have changed.
In the Middle Ages, the worst curse-words were religious, because everyone was terrified that using them could send whole cities to burn in eternity. In the Victorian period the worst such words were sexual, because of social neuroses about sex. Now they are racial, because white Americans are crippled by guilt that a large part of their country was founded on slavery and all of it on the dispossession of its existing inhabitants (like every other state in history).
Had Trump dropped the N-bomb rather than the F-bomb, I imagine the reaction would have been much more explosive.
In fact of course having these hangups is hugely damaging - they prevent free discussion of different viewpoints. In the Middle Ages, people were burned at the stake for trivial religious differences. In the Victorian period, women were so terrified of appearing immodest that some would die rather than discuss medical symptoms with their doctors. Our over-sensitivity about racial matters has analogous, damaging effects today.
I like a good swear word, but it needs to still be rarely used in order to have genuine impact.
Looks like Kemi wants a despatch box commitment to no tax rises to get Tory support. SKS in a real pincer here. I think his only way out is to pull the bill and agree to await the Impact assessments and commit to a full consultation with disabled people. And maybe shuffle out Kendall to a different role.
Actually one of the first astute, strategic moves I’ve seen Badenoch play. Yes, it’s playing politics, but walking into unconditional support would probably have been a bit of a misstep.
It leaves Starmer in an incredibly difficult position. I don’t quite see how he can avoid pulling the bill now, or significantly watering it down. Which means Reeves comes back with the begging bowl in the Autumn.
Reeves was ALWAYS coming back with the begging bowl in the autumn.
The only question was only ever how big a bowl does she need?
Bigger than the country can take, yet less than the demands from the public require.
Ben Duckett played exceptionally well today, and Crawley supported him superbly
I can’t remember such a strong fourth innings start
There was a famous West Indian victory in the 80s in England which I think outdoes it. Test Match Special made the commentary available on their podcast recently when they were celebrating their anniversary.
NEW: Kemi Badenoch says the Tories will lend support to the welfare bill if PM commits to three conditions: bringing down welfare budget, getting people back to work, and promising no new tax rises. The last of those is impossible for the government to deliver.
Dozens of pro-Indy accounts go dark after Israeli strikes
On 12 June 2025, dozens of anonymous X (formerly Twitter) accounts advocating Scottish independence abruptly went silent.
Many had posted hundreds of times per week, often using pro-independence slogans, anti-UK messaging, and identity cues like “NHS nurse” or “Glaswegian socialist.”
Their sudden disappearance coincided with a major Israeli airstrike campaign against Iranian military and cyber infrastructure. Within days, Iran had suffered severe power outages, fuel shortages, and an internet blackout affecting 95 percent of national connectivity.
Ben Duckett played exceptionally well today, and Crawley supported him superbly
I can’t remember such a strong fourth innings start
There was a famous West Indian victory in the 80s in England which I think outdoes it. Test Match Special made the commentary available on their podcast recently when they were celebrating their anniversary.
Now look at the Windies. Their test team is poor and one of their best players, Pooran, has stepped down from the test team.
Ben Duckett played exceptionally well today, and Crawley supported him superbly
I can’t remember such a strong fourth innings start
There was a famous West Indian victory in the 80s in England which I think outdoes it. Test Match Special made the commentary available on their podcast recently when they were celebrating their anniversary.
The one I was thinking of isn't on the list. Perhaps it wasn't an opening partnership. (Indeed, the 1984 victory at Lord's was win by an impressive partnership for the second wicket)
Dozens of pro-Indy accounts go dark after Israeli strikes
On 12 June 2025, dozens of anonymous X (formerly Twitter) accounts advocating Scottish independence abruptly went silent.
Many had posted hundreds of times per week, often using pro-independence slogans, anti-UK messaging, and identity cues like “NHS nurse” or “Glaswegian socialist.”
Their sudden disappearance coincided with a major Israeli airstrike campaign against Iranian military and cyber infrastructure. Within days, Iran had suffered severe power outages, fuel shortages, and an internet blackout affecting 95 percent of national connectivity.
I’m sorry but I quite admire Trump dropping the F nuke, on Israel, in public
It will be popular. And of course they deserve it
Quite. And now he should just let them run out of missiles. Sorry.
Tremendously strong man, dropping some huge bunker buster bombs on Iran and the next day saying sweary words about Israel as he walks to his helicopter.
A great test match, and a magnificent win for England. But I can't help thinking that both sides have weak bowling attacks, which goes a long way to explaining the various batting accomplishments. With the exception of Bumrah (who did nothing today), the quality of bowling on both sides is pretty mediocre.
Dozens of pro-Indy accounts go dark after Israeli strikes
On 12 June 2025, dozens of anonymous X (formerly Twitter) accounts advocating Scottish independence abruptly went silent.
Many had posted hundreds of times per week, often using pro-independence slogans, anti-UK messaging, and identity cues like “NHS nurse” or “Glaswegian socialist.”
Their sudden disappearance coincided with a major Israeli airstrike campaign against Iranian military and cyber infrastructure. Within days, Iran had suffered severe power outages, fuel shortages, and an internet blackout affecting 95 percent of national connectivity.
Dozens of pro-Indy accounts go dark after Israeli strikes
On 12 June 2025, dozens of anonymous X (formerly Twitter) accounts advocating Scottish independence abruptly went silent.
Many had posted hundreds of times per week, often using pro-independence slogans, anti-UK messaging, and identity cues like “NHS nurse” or “Glaswegian socialist.”
Their sudden disappearance coincided with a major Israeli airstrike campaign against Iranian military and cyber infrastructure. Within days, Iran had suffered severe power outages, fuel shortages, and an internet blackout affecting 95 percent of national connectivity.
NEW: Kemi Badenoch says the Tories will lend support to the welfare bill if PM commits to three conditions: bringing down welfare budget, getting people back to work, and promising no new tax rises. The last of those is impossible for the government to deliver.
Well played Kemi.
I didn't realise she'd batted. How many did she get?
Dozens of pro-Indy accounts go dark after Israeli strikes
On 12 June 2025, dozens of anonymous X (formerly Twitter) accounts advocating Scottish independence abruptly went silent.
Many had posted hundreds of times per week, often using pro-independence slogans, anti-UK messaging, and identity cues like “NHS nurse” or “Glaswegian socialist.”
Their sudden disappearance coincided with a major Israeli airstrike campaign against Iranian military and cyber infrastructure. Within days, Iran had suffered severe power outages, fuel shortages, and an internet blackout affecting 95 percent of national connectivity.
I’m sorry but I quite admire Trump dropping the F nuke, on Israel, in public
It will be popular. And of course they deserve it
Quite. And now he should just let them run out of missiles. Sorry.
Tremendously strong man, dropping some huge bunker buster bombs on Iran and the next day saying sweary words about Israel as he walks to his helicopter.
Most US Presidents of recent times would have used the Iranian's attack on their base to go to war. I think Trump has been rather wise.
A great test match, and a magnificent win for England. But I can't help thinking that both sides have weak bowling attacks, which goes a long way to explaining the various batting accomplishments. With the exception of Bumrah (who did nothing today), the quality of bowling on both sides is pretty mediocre.
Jofra Archer should hopefully be back in the latter tests.
NEW: Kemi Badenoch says the Tories will lend support to the welfare bill if PM commits to three conditions: bringing down welfare budget, getting people back to work, and promising no new tax rises. The last of those is impossible for the government to deliver.
Well played Kemi.
I didn't realise she'd batted. How many did she get?
I'd say she bowled a slow ball but with a fairly vicious amount of spin.
Dozens of pro-Indy accounts go dark after Israeli strikes
On 12 June 2025, dozens of anonymous X (formerly Twitter) accounts advocating Scottish independence abruptly went silent.
Many had posted hundreds of times per week, often using pro-independence slogans, anti-UK messaging, and identity cues like “NHS nurse” or “Glaswegian socialist.”
Their sudden disappearance coincided with a major Israeli airstrike campaign against Iranian military and cyber infrastructure. Within days, Iran had suffered severe power outages, fuel shortages, and an internet blackout affecting 95 percent of national connectivity.
I presume we all agree that it shouldn't be allowed..
I don't believe any of the political parties are running on a platform of criminalising cousin marriage.
I'm surprised that Reform aren't
I suspect that they will, and it'll be popular
I can imagine it being the sort of thing that Kemi would go for too
But my point was that I'd be astonished to see any regular PBer try to make a real case for first cousin marriage
I can imagine a few "Well, Royal Family" non arguments
I guess the case for it is that we tend not to make things illegal in this country unless there's a very good reason for it. Having children with your cousin raises the risk of health problems in children, but so do other things like having children later in life. How enforceable is it? Are you going to jail people for having sex with their cousin? What are you going to do about people already married? I'm not in favour of cousin marriage BTW, I'm just not convinced prohibition will be an effective strategy. Things like targeted information campaigns seem a better way to go. It feels like there's a fair amount of prejudice involved here, ie it's based more on who's doing it than what they're doing.
I think the “who’s doing it” factor is also influenced by the level of arranged (forced) and underage marriage that happens among that same “who”
I hope that sort of marriage isn’t something that you support
That would be too far woke
Marriage of first cousins in the UK has basically always been legal, and was formalised in the Marriage Act of 1835, which listed those relatives to whom you were not allowed to marry.
The bar for banning anything needs to be a high one. I don't think the fact it's a bit "icky" clears that bar.
Didn't people used to need a Papal dispensation for marriages up to a very high number of cousins - think it might have been including fifth cousins at one point, because they misinterpreted the Roman rules.
So it might not have been illegal in civil law, but I'm sure it was contrary to canon law.
There is a reason why churches had the Banns read out - because you needed the old women to go - hang on
I've just had a bit of a run in with esure. Bunch of, well you know
My insurance with them was a few years ago, with an almost new car 500 quid. It's ratcheted up to they say 1100 quid. No claims, and my car is obviously worth about half what it was.
I've placed my risk elsewhere for 470 quid.
I hate all these crap companies. It'd be good if their top bods got their just deserts.
This reminds me of the classic law journal article Fuck (Ohio State Public Law Working Paper No. 59) on the history of the word in US legal jurisprudence. A particularly piquant exchange was when a case, in which a guy was prosecuted for wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with "Fuck the Draft" in a court house, got to the supreme court:
On February 22, 1971, Chief Justice Burger, obviously gripped by his own view of fuck as taboo, called the case for oral argument, but admonished petitioner’s counsel to keep it clean: “the Court is thoroughly familiar with the factual setting of this case and it will not be necessary for you . . . to dwell on the facts.” Paul Cohen’s lawyer, Professor Melville Nimmer, responded: “At Mr. Chief Justice’s suggestion, I certainly will keep very brief the statement of facts. . . . What this young man did was to walk through a courthouse corridor . . . wearing a jacket on which were inscribed the words ‘Fuck the Draft.’” The Chief was irritated; the rest of the Court refused to say fuck, referring instead to “that word.” Nimmer was brilliant, and in that tête-à-tête, Cohen won. If Nimmer had acquiesced to Burger’s word taboo, he would have conceded that there were places where fuck shouldn’t be said like the sanctified courthouse. The case would have been lost .
I’m sorry but I quite admire Trump dropping the F nuke, on Israel, in public
It will be popular. And of course they deserve it
Quite. And now he should just let them run out of missiles. Sorry.
Tremendously strong man, dropping some huge bunker buster bombs on Iran and the next day saying sweary words about Israel as he walks to his helicopter.
Most US Presidents of recent times would have used the Iranian's attack on their base to go to war. I think Trump has been rather wise.
Or, wiser counsel around him said "Sir, we have agreed that the Iranians should fire 16 missiles at our bases. We know where, we know when. We know the type - we can swat them all down like flies. Do you want to be remembered as the President who took America to war for two Humvees and a latrine block? Because that is what they are going to hit..."
A bit of a catch up for me. The air tanker repairs are looking expensive.
They sprayed paint *into* the engines, which I had not picked up on. That's potentially the engines trashed, and costs into the tens of millions.
If they are caught and prosecuted, the maximum Criminal Damage sentence is 10 years.
I'm still predicted that if caught these will be made an example of, and hardened aircraft shelters will be incoming - rapidly.
It's probably not entirely trashed, jet engines are designed to ingest all kinds of crap and survive. The engine wasn't running, which helps a lot as the paint would not be drawn into the core of the jet. But it'll need to be stripped down and have the fan and some other parts replaced. That will easily run to several hundred thousand pounds.
I've just had a bit of a run in with esure. Bunch of, well you know
My insurance with them was a few years ago, with an almost new car 500 quid. It's ratcheted up to they say 1100 quid. No claims, and my car is obviously worth about half what it was.
I've placed my risk elsewhere for 470 quid.
I hate all these crap companies. It'd be good if their top bods got their just deserts.
This came up on one of the football podcasts recently, talking about new professionals buying the first expensive cars, only to find out the insurance can run into six figures on the off-chance they drive Mo Salah down to Micky D's after training.
A bit of a catch up for me. The air tanker repairs are looking expensive.
They sprayed paint *into* the engines, which I had not picked up on. That's potentially the engines trashed, and costs into the tens of millions.
If they are caught and prosecuted, the maximum Criminal Damage sentence is 10 years.
I'm still predicted that if caught these will be made an example of, and hardened aircraft shelters will be incoming - rapidly.
Do them for treason.
I might be quite sympathetic to that. We have had a culture of breaching bases being viewed as acceptable since at least the early 1980s - and I think we need a point of inflection to change culture given a) the international security environment, and b) the current cut-to-the-skeleton nature of everything around defence estate (security setup is an obvious easy target).
Dozens of pro-Indy accounts go dark after Israeli strikes
On 12 June 2025, dozens of anonymous X (formerly Twitter) accounts advocating Scottish independence abruptly went silent.
Many had posted hundreds of times per week, often using pro-independence slogans, anti-UK messaging, and identity cues like “NHS nurse” or “Glaswegian socialist.”
Their sudden disappearance coincided with a major Israeli airstrike campaign against Iranian military and cyber infrastructure. Within days, Iran had suffered severe power outages, fuel shortages, and an internet blackout affecting 95 percent of national connectivity.
I’m sorry but I quite admire Trump dropping the F nuke, on Israel, in public
It will be popular. And of course they deserve it
Quite. And now he should just let them run out of missiles. Sorry.
Tremendously strong man, dropping some huge bunker buster bombs on Iran and the next day saying sweary words about Israel as he walks to his helicopter.
What would Kamala have done. Necked some vodka and have a kip?
What a fantastic day at Headingley. I was sitting 2 rows behind the unofficial England trumpeter who you could probably hear on the TV and radio broadcasts. Well worth paying the £20 ticket price.
A great test match, and a magnificent win for England. But I can't help thinking that both sides have weak bowling attacks, which goes a long way to explaining the various batting accomplishments. With the exception of Bumrah (who did nothing today), the quality of bowling on both sides is pretty mediocre.
Jofra Archer should hopefully be back in the latter tests.
We should be very clear that Trump is close to abandoning Ukraine. If Europe allows them to be defeated and occupied, Russia will eventually turn their military/industrial base against us.
A bit of a catch up for me. The air tanker repairs are looking expensive.
They sprayed paint *into* the engines, which I had not picked up on. That's potentially the engines trashed, and costs into the tens of millions.
If they are caught and prosecuted, the maximum Criminal Damage sentence is 10 years.
I'm still predicted that if caught these will be made an example of, and hardened aircraft shelters will be incoming - rapidly.
I mentioned the other day being shocked how angry many social media comments were as they debated what the charge should be. Some said treason but the soft lefty types said terrorism.
But this really does need to serve as a wake up call to the authorities and government who talk a lot about hostile elements and protecting infrastructure but do not seem to have done anything to keep us safe.
Same with the various inquiries into recent scandals that have turned into talking shops for expensive lawyers rather than calls to action.
I’m sorry but I quite admire Trump dropping the F nuke, on Israel, in public
It will be popular. And of course they deserve it
Quite. And now he should just let them run out of missiles. Sorry.
Tremendously strong man, dropping some huge bunker buster bombs on Iran and the next day saying sweary words about Israel as he walks to his helicopter.
Most US Presidents of recent times would have used the Iranian's attack on their base to go to war. I think Trump has been rather wise.
Similar things happened in spring 2022 and late 2023, and Biden did not go to war.
I’m sorry but I quite admire Trump dropping the F nuke, on Israel, in public
It will be popular. And of course they deserve it
Quite. And now he should just let them run out of missiles. Sorry.
Tremendously strong man, dropping some huge bunker buster bombs on Iran and the next day saying sweary words about Israel as he walks to his helicopter.
What would Kamala have done. Necked some vodka and have a kip?
It’s about what gets substantially achieved Taz, not next days front pages.
The 12 day war is over. The terrorist equipping Iran regime still there - still committed to get the bomb. The threat to Israel still there. Iran today even more determined to rebuild and do even better in the next war.
There’s no negotiations guaranteed as part of Trumps ceasefire.
The rally to the flag in Iran was pretty comprehensive. Quips about “regime change in Tehran” now fish and chip wrapping. Claims of obliterating Irans nuclear programme - and destroying countdown clock to the end of Israel - all unraveling.
An Israel offensive of both unclear and unachievable militarily aims for Israel alone - end of Irans nuclear programme, with Iranian regime change too, neither achieved either because the US president dropped F Bomb to halt the operation prematurely, or because they were rather fanciful and unachievable military aims boasted from the start - must be one or the other.
Israel come out if it having proved what little support remains for them in the international community, because how they are seen to be piddling around as politically unable to extract themselves from Gaza operation where civilian deaths mount up daily - AND with the US President swearing directly at them in public that they don’t have a clue.
What’s Barties take. Now it’s over, Interested to hear Barty on the winners and losers from the 12 day war, can PBs most vociferous cheerleader for the war claim an Israel win?
"What a time to be alive with a POTUS dropping the F bomb so publicly."
I don't think sexual swearwords are the taboos they used to be. Taboos have changed.
In the Middle Ages, the worst curse-words were religious, because everyone was terrified that using them could send whole cities to burn in eternity. In the Victorian period the worst such words were sexual, because of social neuroses about sex. Now they are racial, because white Americans are crippled by guilt that a large part of their country was founded on slavery and all of it on the dispossession of its existing inhabitants (like every other state in history).
Had Trump dropped the N-bomb rather than the F-bomb, I imagine the reaction would have been much more explosive.
In fact of course having these hangups is hugely damaging - they prevent free discussion of different viewpoints. In the Middle Ages, people were burned at the stake for trivial religious differences. In the Victorian period, women were so terrified of appearing immodest that some would die rather than discuss medical symptoms with their doctors. Our over-sensitivity about racial matters has analogous, damaging effects today.
Iirc, Quebecois French used church items - calice (chalice) - as swear words.
I've just had a bit of a run in with esure. Bunch of, well you know
My insurance with them was a few years ago, with an almost new car 500 quid. It's ratcheted up to they say 1100 quid. No claims, and my car is obviously worth about half what it was.
I've placed my risk elsewhere for 470 quid.
I hate all these crap companies. It'd be good if their top bods got their just deserts.
This came up on one of the football podcasts recently, talking about new professionals buying the first expensive cars, only to find out the insurance can run into six figures on the off-chance they drive Mo Salah down to Micky D's after training.
Well it's a 2016 Macan.
I'm 61. Hardly high risk.
The initial cost of insurance on a new expensive car is understandably high. Brand new shiny thing, and the fact I had zero no claims (just hadn't owned a car) - sure. That the cost of insurance should increase every year with any and all insurance companies, and yet I've managed to radically reduce the cost every time I've gone elsewhere tells a story of a completely criminal industry.
A bit of a catch up for me. The air tanker repairs are looking expensive.
They sprayed paint *into* the engines, which I had not picked up on. That's potentially the engines trashed, and costs into the tens of millions.
If they are caught and prosecuted, the maximum Criminal Damage sentence is 10 years.
I'm still predicted that if caught these will be made an example of, and hardened aircraft shelters will be incoming - rapidly.
Startling to think that Banksy could take out the RAF overnight...
Try that on a US base in the UK and you'd probably get shot. We need to start doing security again.
Was base security provided by the RAF Regiment or by a security contractor? If the latter then end the contract. If the former, court martial the commanding officer and update the rules of engagement,
A bit of a catch up for me. The air tanker repairs are looking expensive.
They sprayed paint *into* the engines, which I had not picked up on. That's potentially the engines trashed, and costs into the tens of millions.
If they are caught and prosecuted, the maximum Criminal Damage sentence is 10 years.
I'm still predicted that if caught these will be made an example of, and hardened aircraft shelters will be incoming - rapidly.
It's probably not entirely trashed, jet engines are designed to ingest all kinds of crap and survive. The engine wasn't running, which helps a lot as the paint would not be drawn into the core of the jet. But it'll need to be stripped down and have the fan and some other parts replaced. That will easily run to several hundred thousand pounds.
I have yet to see authoritative reports. However media (yes I know) are mentioning overall numbers of £30-50+ million.
Dozens of pro-Indy accounts go dark after Israeli strikes
On 12 June 2025, dozens of anonymous X (formerly Twitter) accounts advocating Scottish independence abruptly went silent.
Many had posted hundreds of times per week, often using pro-independence slogans, anti-UK messaging, and identity cues like “NHS nurse” or “Glaswegian socialist.”
Their sudden disappearance coincided with a major Israeli airstrike campaign against Iranian military and cyber infrastructure. Within days, Iran had suffered severe power outages, fuel shortages, and an internet blackout affecting 95 percent of national connectivity.
We should be very clear that Trump is close to abandoning Ukraine. If Europe allows them to be defeated and occupied, Russia will eventually turn their military/industrial base against us.
"The US military strikes on 3 of Iran’s nuclear facilities did not destroy the core components of the country’s nuclear program and likely only set it back by months, according to an early US intelligence assessment described by 4 people briefed on it."
We should be very clear that Trump is close to abandoning Ukraine. If Europe allows them to be defeated and occupied, Russia will eventually turn their military/industrial base against us.
It is already fighting a hybrid war of subversion, cyberattacks and the full panoply of KGB originated tricks.
I’m sorry but I quite admire Trump dropping the F nuke, on Israel, in public
It will be popular. And of course they deserve it
Quite. And now he should just let them run out of missiles. Sorry.
Tremendously strong man, dropping some huge bunker buster bombs on Iran and the next day saying sweary words about Israel as he walks to his helicopter.
Most US Presidents of recent times would have used the Iranian's attack on their base to go to war. I think Trump has been rather wise.
"What a time to be alive with a POTUS dropping the F bomb so publicly."
I don't think sexual swearwords are the taboos they used to be. Taboos have changed.
In the Middle Ages, the worst curse-words were religious, because everyone was terrified that using them could send whole cities to burn in eternity. In the Victorian period the worst such words were sexual, because of social neuroses about sex. Now they are racial, because white Americans are crippled by guilt that a large part of their country was founded on slavery and all of it on the dispossession of its existing inhabitants (like every other state in history).
Had Trump dropped the N-bomb rather than the F-bomb, I imagine the reaction would have been much more explosive.
In fact of course having these hangups is hugely damaging - they prevent free discussion of different viewpoints. In the Middle Ages, people were burned at the stake for trivial religious differences. In the Victorian period, women were so terrified of appearing immodest that some would die rather than discuss medical symptoms with their doctors. Our over-sensitivity about racial matters has analogous, damaging effects today.
You'd think that no matter what time period you're living in it would be unacceptable to use strong sexual swear words in front of young children. Yet that's what I hear quite often these days.
English Test Cricket desperately needs a way to get back on free-to-air TV
It's no coincidence that the last time the exploits of the England cricket team resonated with the nation was the last time it was on free TV.
It was a great series 2005. But there have been other great series since. And they go largely unnoticed.
Free to air tests would do more for the profile of cricket than the hundred will ever achieve.
Famously the West Indies went into a tailspin when cricket moved to satellite and the kids grew up watching American college basketball instead.
I've heard this explanation for the WIndies decline many times but how correct is it really ?
There's far more money in cricket now than there was in the era of great West Indian cricketers and the number of potential cricketers they've lost to basketball must be minimal.
Dozens of pro-Indy accounts go dark after Israeli strikes
On 12 June 2025, dozens of anonymous X (formerly Twitter) accounts advocating Scottish independence abruptly went silent.
Many had posted hundreds of times per week, often using pro-independence slogans, anti-UK messaging, and identity cues like “NHS nurse” or “Glaswegian socialist.”
Their sudden disappearance coincided with a major Israeli airstrike campaign against Iranian military and cyber infrastructure. Within days, Iran had suffered severe power outages, fuel shortages, and an internet blackout affecting 95 percent of national connectivity.
Weird thing to do when there's sufficient support for Sindy to have home grown prolific tweeters I'd have thought.
I'm imagining a Channel 4 comedy set in a Tehran basement, where a bunch of former University of Glasgow Ph.D students are seeing who can be the most sweary about the SNP's relationship with the Greens...
I’m sorry but I quite admire Trump dropping the F nuke, on Israel, in public
It will be popular. And of course they deserve it
Quite. And now he should just let them run out of missiles. Sorry.
Tremendously strong man, dropping some huge bunker buster bombs on Iran and the next day saying sweary words about Israel as he walks to his helicopter.
What would Kamala have done. Necked some vodka and have a kip?
It’s about what gets substantially achieved Taz, not next days front pages.
The 12 day war is over. The terrorist equipping Iran regime still there - still committed to get the bomb. The threat to Israel still there. Iran today even more determined to rebuild and do even better in the next war.
There’s no negotiations guaranteed as part of Trumps ceasefire.
The rally to the flag in Iran was pretty comprehensive. Quips about “regime change in Tehran” now fish and chip wrapping. Claims of obliterating Irans nuclear programme - and destroying countdown clock to the end of Israel - all unraveling.
An Israel offensive of both unclear and unachievable militarily aims for Israel alone - end of Irans nuclear programme, with Iranian regime change too, neither achieved either because the US president dropped F Bomb to halt the operation prematurely, or because they were rather fanciful and unachievable military aims boasted from the start - must be one or the other.
Israel come out if it having proved what little support remains for them in the international community, because how they are seen to be piddling around as politically unable to extract themselves from Gaza operation where civilian deaths mount up daily - AND with the US President swearing directly at them in public that they don’t have a clue.
What’s Barties take. Now it’s over, Interested to hear Barty on the winners and losers from the 12 day war, can PBs most vociferous cheerleader for the war claim an Israel win?
Israel claimed an Israeli win earlier and, in a tweet I shared, claimed the Iranian nuclear threat was eliminated. I felt that was interesting and they must have had some intel.
Quite frankly I couldn’t care less what happens. I’m sick to death of the lot of them. Trump had a point earlier.
English Test Cricket desperately needs a way to get back on free-to-air TV
It's no coincidence that the last time the exploits of the England cricket team resonated with the nation was the last time it was on free TV.
It was a great series 2005. But there have been other great series since. And they go largely unnoticed.
Free to air tests would do more for the profile of cricket than the hundred will ever achieve.
Famously the West Indies went into a tailspin when cricket moved to satellite and the kids grew up watching American college basketball instead.
I've heard this explanation for the WIndies decline many times but how correct is it really ?
There's far more money in cricket now than there was in the era of great West Indian cricketers and the number of potential cricketers they've lost to basketball must be minimal.
English Test Cricket desperately needs a way to get back on free-to-air TV
It's no coincidence that the last time the exploits of the England cricket team resonated with the nation was the last time it was on free TV.
It was a great series 2005. But there have been other great series since. And they go largely unnoticed.
Free to air tests would do more for the profile of cricket than the hundred will ever achieve.
Famously the West Indies went into a tailspin when cricket moved to satellite and the kids grew up watching American college basketball instead.
I've heard this explanation for the WIndies decline many times but how correct is it really ?
There's far more money in cricket now than there was in the era of great West Indian cricketers and the number of potential cricketers they've lost to basketball must be minimal.
They’ve lost plenty to T20 where there is real money to be made.
"What a time to be alive with a POTUS dropping the F bomb so publicly."
I don't think sexual swearwords are the taboos they used to be. Taboos have changed.
In the Middle Ages, the worst curse-words were religious, because everyone was terrified that using them could send whole cities to burn in eternity. In the Victorian period the worst such words were sexual, because of social neuroses about sex. Now they are racial, because white Americans are crippled by guilt that a large part of their country was founded on slavery and all of it on the dispossession of its existing inhabitants (like every other state in history).
Had Trump dropped the N-bomb rather than the F-bomb, I imagine the reaction would have been much more explosive.
In fact of course having these hangups is hugely damaging - they prevent free discussion of different viewpoints. In the Middle Ages, people were burned at the stake for trivial religious differences. In the Victorian period, women were so terrified of appearing immodest that some would die rather than discuss medical symptoms with their doctors. Our over-sensitivity about racial matters has analogous, damaging effects today.
You'd think that no matter what time period you're living in it would be unacceptable to use strong sexual swear words in front of young children. Yet that's what I hear quite often these days.
Curious what you define as a strong sexual swear word, let alone plural of them. Apart from the c-word, I can't think of any.
The f-word is a very mild swear word nowadays.
We don't swear in front of the kids, and the kids know they're not allowed to either, but I won't skip songs with some swear words in them. I will skip them if there's lots of them, or strong swear words like the n-word which we won't play.
The kids are good, if singing along to a song with swear words in it, they'll skip those words.
"What a time to be alive with a POTUS dropping the F bomb so publicly."
I don't think sexual swearwords are the taboos they used to be. Taboos have changed.
In the Middle Ages, the worst curse-words were religious, because everyone was terrified that using them could send whole cities to burn in eternity. In the Victorian period the worst such words were sexual, because of social neuroses about sex. Now they are racial, because white Americans are crippled by guilt that a large part of their country was founded on slavery and all of it on the dispossession of its existing inhabitants (like every other state in history).
Had Trump dropped the N-bomb rather than the F-bomb, I imagine the reaction would have been much more explosive.
In fact of course having these hangups is hugely damaging - they prevent free discussion of different viewpoints. In the Middle Ages, people were burned at the stake for trivial religious differences. In the Victorian period, women were so terrified of appearing immodest that some would die rather than discuss medical symptoms with their doctors. Our over-sensitivity about racial matters has analogous, damaging effects today.
You'd think that no matter what time period you're living in it would be unacceptable to use strong sexual swear words in front of young children. Yet that's what I hear quite often these days.
So, some on PB want to ban cousin marriages, pregnancy if you're 40+ and bad language in front of children. It seems a bit authoritarian!
"The US military strikes on 3 of Iran’s nuclear facilities did not destroy the core components of the country’s nuclear program and likely only set it back by months, according to an early US intelligence assessment described by 4 people briefed on it."
"The US military strikes on 3 of Iran’s nuclear facilities did not destroy the core components of the country’s nuclear program and likely only set it back by months, according to an early US intelligence assessment described by 4 people briefed on it."
English Test Cricket desperately needs a way to get back on free-to-air TV
It's no coincidence that the last time the exploits of the England cricket team resonated with the nation was the last time it was on free TV.
It was a great series 2005. But there have been other great series since. And they go largely unnoticed.
Free to air tests would do more for the profile of cricket than the hundred will ever achieve.
Famously the West Indies went into a tailspin when cricket moved to satellite and the kids grew up watching American college basketball instead.
I've heard this explanation for the WIndies decline many times but how correct is it really ?
There's far more money in cricket now than there was in the era of great West Indian cricketers and the number of potential cricketers they've lost to basketball must be minimal.
They would have lost Joel Garner...
He was tall enough to be a basketball player but was he good enough ?
I’m sorry but I quite admire Trump dropping the F nuke, on Israel, in public
It will be popular. And of course they deserve it
Quite. And now he should just let them run out of missiles. Sorry.
Tremendously strong man, dropping some huge bunker buster bombs on Iran and the next day saying sweary words about Israel as he walks to his helicopter.
What would Kamala have done. Necked some vodka and have a kip?
It’s about what gets substantially achieved Taz, not next days front pages.
The 12 day war is over. The terrorist equipping Iran regime still there - still committed to get the bomb. The threat to Israel still there. Iran today even more determined to rebuild and do even better in the next war.
There’s no negotiations guaranteed as part of Trumps ceasefire.
The rally to the flag in Iran was pretty comprehensive. Quips about “regime change in Tehran” now fish and chip wrapping. Claims of obliterating Irans nuclear programme - and destroying countdown clock to the end of Israel - all unraveling.
An Israel offensive of both unclear and unachievable militarily aims for Israel alone - end of Irans nuclear programme, with Iranian regime change too, neither achieved either because the US president dropped F Bomb to halt the operation prematurely, or because they were rather fanciful and unachievable military aims boasted from the start - must be one or the other.
Israel come out if it having proved what little support remains for them in the international community, because how they are seen to be piddling around as politically unable to extract themselves from Gaza operation where civilian deaths mount up daily - AND with the US President swearing directly at them in public that they don’t have a clue.
What’s Barties take. Now it’s over, Interested to hear Barty on the winners and losers from the 12 day war, can PBs most vociferous cheerleader for the war claim an Israel win?
Israel claimed an Israeli win earlier and, in a tweet I shared, claimed the Iranian nuclear threat was eliminated. I felt that was interesting and they must have had some intel.
Quite frankly I couldn’t care less what happens. I’m sick to death of the lot of them. Trump had a point earlier.
Does that mean they must have had some intel? Couldn't it just be wishful thinking?
"The US military strikes on 3 of Iran’s nuclear facilities did not destroy the core components of the country’s nuclear program and likely only set it back by months, according to an early US intelligence assessment described by 4 people briefed on it."
English Test Cricket desperately needs a way to get back on free-to-air TV
It's no coincidence that the last time the exploits of the England cricket team resonated with the nation was the last time it was on free TV.
It was a great series 2005. But there have been other great series since. And they go largely unnoticed.
Free to air tests would do more for the profile of cricket than the hundred will ever achieve.
Famously the West Indies went into a tailspin when cricket moved to satellite and the kids grew up watching American college basketball instead.
I've heard this explanation for the WIndies decline many times but how correct is it really ?
There's far more money in cricket now than there was in the era of great West Indian cricketers and the number of potential cricketers they've lost to basketball must be minimal.
I suspect they lost more to US college athletics (or track and field as they call it).
I’m sorry but I quite admire Trump dropping the F nuke, on Israel, in public
It will be popular. And of course they deserve it
Quite. And now he should just let them run out of missiles. Sorry.
Tremendously strong man, dropping some huge bunker buster bombs on Iran and the next day saying sweary words about Israel as he walks to his helicopter.
What would Kamala have done. Necked some vodka and have a kip?
It’s about what gets substantially achieved Taz, not next days front pages.
The 12 day war is over. The terrorist equipping Iran regime still there - still committed to get the bomb. The threat to Israel still there. Iran today even more determined to rebuild and do even better in the next war.
There’s no negotiations guaranteed as part of Trumps ceasefire.
The rally to the flag in Iran was pretty comprehensive. Quips about “regime change in Tehran” now fish and chip wrapping. Claims of obliterating Irans nuclear programme - and destroying countdown clock to the end of Israel - all unraveling.
An Israel offensive of both unclear and unachievable militarily aims for Israel alone - end of Irans nuclear programme, with Iranian regime change too, neither achieved either because the US president dropped F Bomb to halt the operation prematurely, or because they were rather fanciful and unachievable military aims boasted from the start - must be one or the other.
Israel come out if it having proved what little support remains for them in the international community, because how they are seen to be piddling around as politically unable to extract themselves from Gaza operation where civilian deaths mount up daily - AND with the US President swearing directly at them in public that they don’t have a clue.
What’s Barties take. Now it’s over, Interested to hear Barty on the winners and losers from the 12 day war, can PBs most vociferous cheerleader for the war claim an Israel win?
Israel claimed an Israeli win earlier and, in a tweet I shared, claimed the Iranian nuclear threat was eliminated. I felt that was interesting and they must have had some intel.
Quite frankly I couldn’t care less what happens. I’m sick to death of the lot of them. Trump had a point earlier.
Does that mean they must have had some intel? Couldn't it just be wishful thinking?
I don’t know, I just said that was my feeling, as I’m not sure they’d make such a bold statement like that without some evidence.
Could be wishful thinking. I think it’s something we all hope is the case
English Test Cricket desperately needs a way to get back on free-to-air TV
It's no coincidence that the last time the exploits of the England cricket team resonated with the nation was the last time it was on free TV.
It was a great series 2005. But there have been other great series since. And they go largely unnoticed.
Free to air tests would do more for the profile of cricket than the hundred will ever achieve.
Famously the West Indies went into a tailspin when cricket moved to satellite and the kids grew up watching American college basketball instead.
I've heard this explanation for the WIndies decline many times but how correct is it really ?
There's far more money in cricket now than there was in the era of great West Indian cricketers and the number of potential cricketers they've lost to basketball must be minimal.
I suspect they lost more to US college athletics (or track and field as they call it).
Possibly some but these days its very rare that an international level cricketer is good enough at another sport to make a better living from it.
Tip: if you arrive at Headingley cricket ground with a laptop, you can leave it at the nearby Boundary Hotel for £5. The ground doesn't allow laptops because they think you can place bets marginally faster than on a phone. Is this really true?!
English Test Cricket desperately needs a way to get back on free-to-air TV
It's no coincidence that the last time the exploits of the England cricket team resonated with the nation was the last time it was on free TV.
It was a great series 2005. But there have been other great series since. And they go largely unnoticed.
Free to air tests would do more for the profile of cricket than the hundred will ever achieve.
Famously the West Indies went into a tailspin when cricket moved to satellite and the kids grew up watching American college basketball instead.
I've heard this explanation for the WIndies decline many times but how correct is it really ?
There's far more money in cricket now than there was in the era of great West Indian cricketers and the number of potential cricketers they've lost to basketball must be minimal.
I suspect they lost more to US college athletics (or track and field as they call it).
Possibly some but these days its very rare that an international level cricketer is good enough at another sport to make a better living from it.
Jeff Wilson, NZ guy who played Rugger for the All Blacks, is the last I can think of
"What a time to be alive with a POTUS dropping the F bomb so publicly."
I don't think sexual swearwords are the taboos they used to be. Taboos have changed.
In the Middle Ages, the worst curse-words were religious, because everyone was terrified that using them could send whole cities to burn in eternity. In the Victorian period the worst such words were sexual, because of social neuroses about sex. Now they are racial, because white Americans are crippled by guilt that a large part of their country was founded on slavery and all of it on the dispossession of its existing inhabitants (like every other state in history).
Had Trump dropped the N-bomb rather than the F-bomb, I imagine the reaction would have been much more explosive.
In fact of course having these hangups is hugely damaging - they prevent free discussion of different viewpoints. In the Middle Ages, people were burned at the stake for trivial religious differences. In the Victorian period, women were so terrified of appearing immodest that some would die rather than discuss medical symptoms with their doctors. Our over-sensitivity about racial matters has analogous, damaging effects today.
You'd think that no matter what time period you're living in it would be unacceptable to use strong sexual swear words in front of young children. Yet that's what I hear quite often these days.
So, some on PB want to ban cousin marriages, pregnancy if you're 40+ and bad language in front of children. It seems a bit authoritarian!
The problem with cousin marriages is not the first one. You can just about get away with that. So as a one off event it maybe doesn't do enough harm to ban it, even if it really isn't a good idea.
The problems really start in the second generation, and the third...
Dozens of pro-Indy accounts go dark after Israeli strikes
On 12 June 2025, dozens of anonymous X (formerly Twitter) accounts advocating Scottish independence abruptly went silent.
Many had posted hundreds of times per week, often using pro-independence slogans, anti-UK messaging, and identity cues like “NHS nurse” or “Glaswegian socialist.”
Their sudden disappearance coincided with a major Israeli airstrike campaign against Iranian military and cyber infrastructure. Within days, Iran had suffered severe power outages, fuel shortages, and an internet blackout affecting 95 percent of national connectivity.
Fuckgate and The Stranglers. I was there, dear reader, and in binging to check the year, I've found the band's account:-
W/C 30th January 1977 – Whilst appearing as special guests of the Climax Blues Band at the Rainbow, the GLC (Greater London Council) cut the power during the band’s set as they were upset at the tshirt that Hugh was wearing, bearing the word ‘Fuck’ in the style of the Ford logo. https://thestranglers.co.uk/40th-anniversary-of-1977-part-1/
"What a time to be alive with a POTUS dropping the F bomb so publicly."
I don't think sexual swearwords are the taboos they used to be. Taboos have changed.
In the Middle Ages, the worst curse-words were religious, because everyone was terrified that using them could send whole cities to burn in eternity. In the Victorian period the worst such words were sexual, because of social neuroses about sex. Now they are racial, because white Americans are crippled by guilt that a large part of their country was founded on slavery and all of it on the dispossession of its existing inhabitants (like every other state in history).
Had Trump dropped the N-bomb rather than the F-bomb, I imagine the reaction would have been much more explosive.
In fact of course having these hangups is hugely damaging - they prevent free discussion of different viewpoints. In the Middle Ages, people were burned at the stake for trivial religious differences. In the Victorian period, women were so terrified of appearing immodest that some would die rather than discuss medical symptoms with their doctors. Our over-sensitivity about racial matters has analogous, damaging effects today.
You'd think that no matter what time period you're living in it would be unacceptable to use strong sexual swear words in front of young children. Yet that's what I hear quite often these days.
Curious what you define as a strong sexual swear word, let alone plural of them. Apart from the c-word, I can't think of any.
The f-word is a very mild swear word nowadays.
We don't swear in front of the kids, and the kids know they're not allowed to either, but I won't skip songs with some swear words in them. I will skip them if there's lots of them, or strong swear words like the n-word which we won't play.
The kids are good, if singing along to a song with swear words in it, they'll skip those words.
It's so funny how offensive Chaucer's C word has become
Tip: if you arrive at Headingley cricket ground with a laptop, you can leave it at the nearby Boundary Hotel for £5. The ground doesn't allow laptops because they think you can place bets marginally faster than on a phone. Is this really true?!
Perhaps a grain of truth. Not due to the connectivity, but due to how shite mobile website design is.
More likely, they simply can't practically ban phones.
We should be very clear that Trump is close to abandoning Ukraine. If Europe allows them to be defeated and occupied, Russia will eventually turn their military/industrial base against us.
Europe's needs a strategy for victory that doesn't rely on any US participation.
"What a time to be alive with a POTUS dropping the F bomb so publicly."
I don't think sexual swearwords are the taboos they used to be. Taboos have changed.
In the Middle Ages, the worst curse-words were religious, because everyone was terrified that using them could send whole cities to burn in eternity. In the Victorian period the worst such words were sexual, because of social neuroses about sex. Now they are racial, because white Americans are crippled by guilt that a large part of their country was founded on slavery and all of it on the dispossession of its existing inhabitants (like every other state in history).
Had Trump dropped the N-bomb rather than the F-bomb, I imagine the reaction would have been much more explosive.
In fact of course having these hangups is hugely damaging - they prevent free discussion of different viewpoints. In the Middle Ages, people were burned at the stake for trivial religious differences. In the Victorian period, women were so terrified of appearing immodest that some would die rather than discuss medical symptoms with their doctors. Our over-sensitivity about racial matters has analogous, damaging effects today.
You'd think that no matter what time period you're living in it would be unacceptable to use strong sexual swear words in front of young children. Yet that's what I hear quite often these days.
So, some on PB want to ban cousin marriages, pregnancy if you're 40+ and bad language in front of children. It seems a bit authoritarian!
Have you got an argument that is pro first cousin marriage?
I’m sorry but I quite admire Trump dropping the F nuke, on Israel, in public
It will be popular. And of course they deserve it
Quite. And now he should just let them run out of missiles. Sorry.
Tremendously strong man, dropping some huge bunker buster bombs on Iran and the next day saying sweary words about Israel as he walks to his helicopter.
Most US Presidents of recent times would have used the Iranian's attack on their base to go to war. I think Trump has been rather wise.
Similar things happened in spring 2022 and late 2023, and Biden did not go to war.
Biden is possibly the only president in my lifetime who didn't actually go to war with anyone, and still gets zero credit for that.
"What a time to be alive with a POTUS dropping the F bomb so publicly."
I don't think sexual swearwords are the taboos they used to be. Taboos have changed.
In the Middle Ages, the worst curse-words were religious, because everyone was terrified that using them could send whole cities to burn in eternity. In the Victorian period the worst such words were sexual, because of social neuroses about sex. Now they are racial, because white Americans are crippled by guilt that a large part of their country was founded on slavery and all of it on the dispossession of its existing inhabitants (like every other state in history).
Had Trump dropped the N-bomb rather than the F-bomb, I imagine the reaction would have been much more explosive.
In fact of course having these hangups is hugely damaging - they prevent free discussion of different viewpoints. In the Middle Ages, people were burned at the stake for trivial religious differences. In the Victorian period, women were so terrified of appearing immodest that some would die rather than discuss medical symptoms with their doctors. Our over-sensitivity about racial matters has analogous, damaging effects today.
You'd think that no matter what time period you're living in it would be unacceptable to use strong sexual swear words in front of young children. Yet that's what I hear quite often these days.
Curious what you define as a strong sexual swear word, let alone plural of them. Apart from the c-word, I can't think of any.
The f-word is a very mild swear word nowadays.
We don't swear in front of the kids, and the kids know they're not allowed to either, but I won't skip songs with some swear words in them. I will skip them if there's lots of them, or strong swear words like the n-word which we won't play.
The kids are good, if singing along to a song with swear words in it, they'll skip those words.
It's so funny how offensive Chaucer's C word has become
Comments
The only question was only ever how big a bowl does she need?
I can’t remember such a strong fourth innings start
CPS Chauhan, always a bridesmaid, never a bride. Highest test score of 97.
On 12 June 2025, dozens of anonymous X (formerly Twitter) accounts advocating Scottish independence abruptly went silent.
Many had posted hundreds of times per week, often using pro-independence slogans, anti-UK messaging, and identity cues like “NHS nurse” or “Glaswegian socialist.”
Their sudden disappearance coincided with a major Israeli airstrike campaign against Iranian military and cyber infrastructure. Within days, Iran had suffered severe power outages, fuel shortages, and an internet blackout affecting 95 percent of national connectivity.
What appeared at first glance to be a curious coincidence has since emerged as the most visible rupture to date in a long-running foreign influence operation.
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/dozens-of-pro-indy-accounts-go-dark-after-israeli-strikes/
Duckett and Crawley's opening partnership was the 5th highest opening partnership in the 4th innings.
https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=1;filter=advanced;innings_number=4;orderby=fow_score;partnership_wicketmax1=1;partnership_wicketval1=partnership_wicket;template=results;type=fow;view=innings
It does make you wonder how much social media activity is fake in similar ways.
https://x.com/reshetz/status/1937569456064287090
It was a great series 2005. But there have been other great series since. And they go largely unnoticed.
Free to air tests would do more for the profile of cricket than the hundred will ever achieve.
English Cricket has been immeasurably better post-2005 than it was in all my time following it before 2005 (starting early 90s).
So swings and roundabouts.
They sprayed paint *into* the engines, which I had not picked up on. That's potentially the engines trashed, and costs into the tens of millions.
If they are caught and prosecuted, the maximum Criminal Damage sentence is 10 years.
I'm still predicted that if caught these will be made an example of, and hardened aircraft shelters will be incoming - rapidly.
My insurance with them was a few years ago, with an almost new car 500 quid. It's ratcheted up to they say 1100 quid. No claims, and my car is obviously worth about half what it was.
I've placed my risk elsewhere for 470 quid.
I hate all these crap companies. It'd be good if their top bods got their just deserts.
When will Donald understand that the Ayatollahs, Putin, Netanyahu, Carney, etc don't give a Fuck what he thinks.
We need to start doing security again.
The law doesn't support that.
Bang them up for criminal damage.
England to win the series 5-0?
https://x.com/JayinKyiv/status/1937548251583889576
But this really does need to serve as a wake up call to the authorities and government who talk a lot about hostile elements and protecting infrastructure but do not seem to have done anything to keep us safe.
Same with the various inquiries into recent scandals that have turned into talking shops for expensive lawyers rather than calls to action.
The 12 day war is over. The terrorist equipping Iran regime still there - still committed to get the bomb. The threat to Israel still there. Iran today even more determined to rebuild and do even better in the next war.
There’s no negotiations guaranteed as part of Trumps ceasefire.
The rally to the flag in Iran was pretty comprehensive. Quips about “regime change in Tehran” now fish and chip wrapping. Claims of obliterating Irans nuclear programme - and destroying countdown clock to the end of Israel - all unraveling.
An Israel offensive of both unclear and unachievable militarily aims for Israel alone - end of Irans nuclear programme, with Iranian regime change too, neither achieved either because the US president dropped F Bomb to halt the operation prematurely, or because they were rather fanciful and unachievable military aims boasted from the start - must be one or the other.
Israel come out if it having proved what little support remains for them in the international community, because how they are seen to be piddling around as politically unable to extract themselves from Gaza operation where civilian deaths mount up daily - AND with the US President swearing directly at them in public that they don’t have a clue.
What’s Barties take. Now it’s over, Interested to hear Barty on the winners and losers from the 12 day war, can PBs most vociferous cheerleader for the war claim an Israel win?
"THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER!"
I'm 61. Hardly high risk.
The initial cost of insurance on a new expensive car is understandably high. Brand new shiny thing, and the fact I had zero no claims (just hadn't owned a car) - sure. That the cost of insurance should increase every year with any and all insurance companies, and yet I've managed to radically reduce the cost every time I've gone elsewhere tells a story of a completely criminal industry.
https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/uk/costs-damage-palestine-action-attacks-raf-brize-norton-30-million/
I think most people wouldn't ban it because it would be an unacceptable infringement on people's liberty.
He's Putin’s bitxh.
Oh, fuck
@atrupar.com
"The US military strikes on 3 of Iran’s nuclear facilities did not destroy the core components of the country’s nuclear program and likely only set it back by months, according to an early US intelligence assessment described by 4 people briefed on it."
https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3lsetdmm2bs2v
There's far more money in cricket now than there was in the era of great West Indian cricketers and the number of potential cricketers they've lost to basketball must be minimal.
Quite frankly I couldn’t care less what happens. I’m sick to death of the lot of them. Trump had a point earlier.
The f-word is a very mild swear word nowadays.
We don't swear in front of the kids, and the kids know they're not allowed to either, but I won't skip songs with some swear words in them. I will skip them if there's lots of them, or strong swear words like the n-word which we won't play.
The kids are good, if singing along to a song with swear words in it, they'll skip those words.
Hmmm Lammy ducked out of questions for a bit earlier
PM is doing a presser at NATO tomorrow
May be a damp squib, but strong Something Is Up vibe
https://x.com/NeilDotObrien/status/1937595617317982437
Could be wishful thinking. I think it’s something we all hope is the case
Breaking News: The U.S. strikes on Iran set the country’s nuclear program back by only a few months, a classified report said. https://nyti.ms/4lr3Z62
@alaynatreene
“The White House acknowledged the existence of the assessment but said they disagreed with it”
The problems really start in the second generation, and the third...
Bring on the dueling banjos.
W/C 30th January 1977 – Whilst appearing as special guests of the Climax Blues Band at the Rainbow, the GLC (Greater London Council) cut the power during the band’s set as they were upset at the tshirt that Hugh was wearing, bearing the word ‘Fuck’ in the style of the Ford logo.
https://thestranglers.co.uk/40th-anniversary-of-1977-part-1/
More likely, they simply can't practically ban phones.