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Will all of England’s isthmuses come at once against Panama tonight? – politicalbetting.com

SystemSystem Posts: 13,221
edited 7:53AM in General
Will all of England’s isthmuses come at once against Panama tonight? – politicalbetting.com

The confluence of the heat, the World Cup, test cricket, F1, and Supergirl means blogging will be very light this weekend.

Read the full story here

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Comments

  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 46,673
    first
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 137,282
    England are now through to the last 32 anyway atfer Uruguay beat Spain, would be a bit embarsassing to lose to Panama though
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 64,034
    Apparently, Plato was a wrestler who competed at the Isthmian Games before becoming a philosopher.
  • Brixian59Brixian59 Posts: 2,544
    England

    Two proper wingers including Saka on from the start
    Drop either of tippy tappy Rice or Anderson who cannot play quick ball forwards and simply allow opposition low press to set and reset.
    Move Bellingham in to deeper Rice / Anderson role where his far greater passing range and also world class ability to run hard and directly will terrifty Panamanian defence. Play Rogers in front of Bellingham to link with Kane .

  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 51,098
    HYUFD said:

    England are now through to the last 32 anyway atfer Uruguay beat Spain, would be a bit embarsassing to lose to Panama though

    More than embarrassing. It'd be a total canality. But it won't happen. I'll eat my hat if it does.

    Cmon I'm trying!
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 55,701
    It's on late, and the score isn't critical to our tournament; I'll probably just watch until England has scored the first couple of goals, and then switch off leave them to it.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 129,164
    edited 8:03AM
    HYUFD said:

    England are now through to the last 32 anyway atfer Uruguay beat Spain, would be a bit embarsassing to lose to Panama though

    Which match did you watch?

    Anyhoo.

    Cape Verde are the big story,

    The Scots must be frustrated in that they are likely to be eliminated on three points (which led to a third place finish) whereas Cape Verde have finished second with three points.
  • bondegezoubondegezou Posts: 21,304
    US conservative activist and notable anti-trans campaigner Riley Gaines claims Helen Keller never existed: https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/celebrity/articles/swimmer-riley-gaines-says-helen-181752026.html … in case you wanted to know what mad conspiracy theory the US right was onto now.
  • OmniumOmnium Posts: 12,971
    edited 8:04AM
    kinabalu said:

    HYUFD said:

    England are now through to the last 32 anyway atfer Uruguay beat Spain, would be a bit embarsassing to lose to Panama though

    More than embarrassing. It'd be a total canality. But it won't happen. I'll eat my hat if it does.

    Cmon I'm trying!
    You should be locked up.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 66,903
    FPT - Andy Burnham has been SoS for Health, DEFRA (or its previous equivalent) and Chief Secretary to the Treasury,as well as Mayor of Manchester, so despite never having held a GOS he probably has enough executive experience.

    That said, being PM is going to be a shock to him and he doesn't know what's coming.
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 51,098
    IanB2 said:

    It's on late, and the score isn't critical to our tournament; I'll probably just watch until England has scored the first couple of goals, and then switch off leave them to it.

    Build up then full match and punditry afterwards. England shirt on.

    That's how I roll for World Cups.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 137,282
    kinabalu said:

    HYUFD said:

    England are now through to the last 32 anyway atfer Uruguay beat Spain, would be a bit embarsassing to lose to Panama though

    More than embarrassing. It'd be a total canality. But it won't happen. I'll eat my hat if it does.

    Cmon I'm trying!
    I expect England to win but it makes no difference, they qualify even if they lose (and apologies it was Spain that beat Uruguay to ensure England went through)
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 51,098
    Omnium said:

    kinabalu said:

    HYUFD said:

    England are now through to the last 32 anyway atfer Uruguay beat Spain, would be a bit embarsassing to lose to Panama though

    More than embarrassing. It'd be a total canality. But it won't happen. I'll eat my hat if it does.

    Cmon I'm trying!
    You should be locked up.
    Harsh but fair.
  • SelebianSelebian Posts: 10,198
    kinabalu said:

    HYUFD said:

    England are now through to the last 32 anyway atfer Uruguay beat Spain, would be a bit embarsassing to lose to Panama though

    More than embarrassing. It'd be a total canality. But it won't happen. I'll eat my hat if it does.

    Cmon I'm trying!
    A man, a plan, a canal: Panama

    (Kinabalu, eating of hat, England's defence, Panama)
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 55,701
    kinabalu said:

    IanB2 said:

    It's on late, and the score isn't critical to our tournament; I'll probably just watch until England has scored the first couple of goals, and then switch off leave them to it.

    Build up then full match and punditry afterwards. England shirt on.

    That's how I roll for World Cups.
    Now I am imagining you sitting in front of the TV on election night wearing your red rose rosette
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 129,164
    Anyhoo, even in this heat my punning skills are still brilliant.
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 51,098
    IanB2 said:

    kinabalu said:

    IanB2 said:

    It's on late, and the score isn't critical to our tournament; I'll probably just watch until England has scored the first couple of goals, and then switch off leave them to it.

    Build up then full match and punditry afterwards. England shirt on.

    That's how I roll for World Cups.
    Now I am imagining you sitting in front of the TV on election night wearing your red rose rosette
    Ha yes. I don't have one but the emotion is just as intense. The exit poll is as visceral as any goal, scored or conceded.
  • Northern_AlNorthern_Al Posts: 9,679
    IanB2 said:

    It's on late, and the score isn't critical to our tournament; I'll probably just watch until England has scored the first couple of goals, and then switch off leave them to it.

    You'll probably be watching the whole game then.

  • BattlebusBattlebus Posts: 3,470

    Anyhoo, even in this heat my punning skills are still brilliant.

    Your commitment to PB while on holiday is amazing - unless of course I am responding to a bot.
  • LostPasswordLostPassword Posts: 24,612
    edited 8:15AM
    On Russia there are a few interesting financial developments that could be straws in the wind of trouble on the horizon.

    The balance in the government treasury accounts have reached a two-year low, apparently due to bond auctions being cancelled.

    This comes as the rate on 10-year bonds continues to increase, now ~16.5%.

    The rate at which Russians are withdrawing cash from the banks is steadily increasing (though no sign of panic following the suggestion by the Communists to seize bank deposits to fund the war).

    As global oil prices continue to decrease, the Ruble/Dollar exchange rate is moving in the opposite direction.

    The ingredients for a major liquidity crisis are there, with the question being when, and can the state do anything to turn things around? Meanwhile there is an ongoing fuel crisis which will be disrupting the economy, with a consequent impact on tax revenues.
  • BatteryCorrectHorseBatteryCorrectHorse Posts: 7,623
    edited 8:16AM
    CorrectHorseBottery
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 79,761

    Anyhoo, even in this heat my punning skills are still brilliant.

    CAn Mr Carns give us something to combine the two?

    So as England attempt to conquer in the Isthmus, Can Al cut Burnham's campaign in half?
  • Alphabet_SoupAlphabet_Soup Posts: 3,867
    Great photo in the threader.

    Reminds me of JFK's classic Why England Slept.

    "The book addressed Kennedy's belief in the need for objective and detached calculation in foreign policy decisions." (Wiki)
  • turbotubbsturbotubbs Posts: 23,581
    kinabalu said:

    IanB2 said:

    kinabalu said:

    IanB2 said:

    It's on late, and the score isn't critical to our tournament; I'll probably just watch until England has scored the first couple of goals, and then switch off leave them to it.

    Build up then full match and punditry afterwards. England shirt on.

    That's how I roll for World Cups.
    Now I am imagining you sitting in front of the TV on election night wearing your red rose rosette
    Ha yes. I don't have one but the emotion is just as intense. The exit poll is as visceral as any goal, scored or conceded.
    No fan of Corbyn I rather enjoyed 2019, but of course it lumbered us with Johnson. 2015 was a surprise. 2024 no surprise at all.
  • LostPasswordLostPassword Posts: 24,612
    Ukraine hit another factory in Russia's missile supply chain.

    It will be interesting to see if they can succeed in reducing the number of missiles Russia uses against them.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 66,903

    CorrectHorseBottery

    Bottery? Freudian Slip?
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 57,239

    Anyhoo, even in this heat my punning skills are still brilliant.

    Sizzling...
  • turbotubbsturbotubbs Posts: 23,581

    IanB2 said:

    It's on late, and the score isn't critical to our tournament; I'll probably just watch until England has scored the first couple of goals, and then switch off leave them to it.

    You'll probably be watching the whole game then.

    I’ve worked out one of the reasons I’ve not got into this WC yet. Apart from having bed time with my son at the key evening times of 8-9, it’s the inconsistent start times of the games. If it’s a European WC you get a game at 2, 5 and 8. Reliably, every day in the group stages. So you know where you are. But with the huge geographical spread here the games are all over the place time wise.
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 48,128
    kinabalu said:

    HYUFD said:

    England are now through to the last 32 anyway atfer Uruguay beat Spain, would be a bit embarsassing to lose to Panama though

    More than embarrassing. It'd be a total canality. But it won't happen. I'll eat my hat if it does.

    Cmon I'm trying!
    Are you predicting a darien match strategy from Thomas T. and a big gap in the quality of the two groups of players?
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 57,239

    HYUFD said:

    England are now through to the last 32 anyway atfer Uruguay beat Spain, would be a bit embarsassing to lose to Panama though

    Which match did you watch?

    Anyhoo.

    Cape Verde are the big story,

    The Scots must be frustrated in that they are likely to be eliminated on three points (which led to a third place finish) whereas Cape Verde have finished second with three points.
    Are you Darien to presume a Scottish fiasco?
  • Dura_AceDura_Ace Posts: 15,730
    rcs1000 said:

    Taz said:

    kle4 said:

    Dura_Ace said:

    CatMan said:

    Why physical media is important

    https://kotaku.com/playstation-store-movies-digital-studio-canal-terminator-2000711013

    PlayStation Is Deleting 551 Movies From Customers’ Accounts, Reminding Us Nothing Digital Is Ever Truly Ours

    I have everything I have ever torrented (40Tb+) for almost 20 years on a server. This is the way.
    External harddrives for me, probably should back those up.
    I’ve got everything on a range of small drives from 500GB to 5TB and backed up on a 12TB and 14TB hard drive.

    Not only torrented but my entire DVD collection was ripped to it too.
    Why would you backup torrented files? You can simply redownload them if you need. You could, perhaps, save the .torrent files.
    Some torrents, particularly for less popular media, have a finite lifespan. The seeders gradually evaporate then it eventually becomes moribund. Seed retention is way better on private trackers but that comes with its own different set of challenges.
  • AnneJGPAnneJGP Posts: 5,561
    All of the heat, the World Cup test cricket and F1 I've heard of, but who or what is Supergirl?
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 79,761
    edited 8:28AM

    FPT - Andy Burnham has been SoS for Health, DEFRA (or its previous equivalent) and Chief Secretary to the Treasury,as well as Mayor of Manchester, so despite never having held a GOS he probably has enough executive experience.

    That said, being PM is going to be a shock to him and he doesn't know what's coming.

    I have to say - not from personal experience, obviously, but from observation - that being PM doesn't appear to be a job you can prepare for. You do it and then find out whether or not you are good at it.

    Many people had vast experience and careful grooming for national leadership. Balfour. Eden. Neville Chamberlain. James Callaghan. Edward Heath. None of those turned out to be any good. We could add Asquith, whose record was at best decidedly mixed.

    Meanwhile, several fairly successful PMs were either totally unexpected (Major, Baldwin, Salisbury, Thatcher on becoming party leader) or had been considered and discarded as possibilities due to the glaring faults they had displayed (Lloyd George, Churchill, Palmerston, although we should note they were all wartime leaders).

    So maybe Andy will crash and Burnham. Or maybe he will turn out OK. But his previous experience is not of fundamental importance either way.

    After all, Liz Truss had lots of experience. Just no brain cells.
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 64,034
    AnneJGP said:

    All of the heat, the World Cup test cricket and F1 I've heard of, but who or what is Supergirl?

    It's the latest log being laid on the flaming pyre of the superhero genre. (New film).
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 62,155

    IanB2 said:

    It's on late, and the score isn't critical to our tournament; I'll probably just watch until England has scored the first couple of goals, and then switch off leave them to it.

    You'll probably be watching the whole game then.

    I’ve worked out one of the reasons I’ve not got into this WC yet. Apart from having bed time with my son at the key evening times of 8-9, it’s the inconsistent start times of the games. If it’s a European WC you get a game at 2, 5 and 8. Reliably, every day in the group stages. So you know where you are. But with the huge geographical spread here the games are all over the place time wise.
    The timings are horrible, and as you say there’s about a nine-hour spread of kick-off times because of the geographical spacing of the tournament. Being three hours ahead of the UK, as many matches are get-up-early as stay-up-late.

    England’s game tonight is a 1am start for me, although the local pub is kindly running a late happy hour from midnight!
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 104,183

    F1: meanwhile in democracy news: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/articles/ckg8kz8jpz0o

    Glad F1 isn't a country. It'd be a step away from declaring itself a Democratic Republic.

    Why did this guy want to take over F1 in the first place? It's comical.
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 64,034
    I read somewhere that one of the next World Cups was in Saudi Arabia, and the other jointly between Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, which should both have rather closer times.
  • LostPasswordLostPassword Posts: 24,612
    AnneJGP said:

    All of the heat, the World Cup test cricket and F1 I've heard of, but who or what is Supergirl?

    A fillum.
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supergirl_(2026_film)
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 48,128
    'Romping'

    I hardly ever recommend summary execution for media folk but in this case..

    .
    @LouiseRawAuthor
    I will be pursuing a press complaint against you @DailyMail
    for this revolting, dangerous, damaging headline.

    His poor daughter went to live with him after a difficult life, hoping for love and stability. He got her blind drunk & raped her. She killed herself.
    Shame on you.

    https://x.com/LouiseRawAuthor/status/2070610767926239397?s=20

  • kle4kle4 Posts: 104,183
    rcs1000 said:

    Taz said:

    kle4 said:

    Dura_Ace said:

    CatMan said:

    Why physical media is important

    https://kotaku.com/playstation-store-movies-digital-studio-canal-terminator-2000711013

    PlayStation Is Deleting 551 Movies From Customers’ Accounts, Reminding Us Nothing Digital Is Ever Truly Ours

    I have everything I have ever torrented (40Tb+) for almost 20 years on a server. This is the way.
    External harddrives for me, probably should back those up.
    I’ve got everything on a range of small drives from 500GB to 5TB and backed up on a 12TB and 14TB hard drive.

    Not only torrented but my entire DVD collection was ripped to it too.
    Why would you backup torrented files? You can simply redownload them if you need. You could, perhaps, save the .torrent files.
    Many things torrented will no longer be available as no one is still uploading them. The popular stuff, yes.
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 64,034
    kle4 said:

    F1: meanwhile in democracy news: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/articles/ckg8kz8jpz0o

    Glad F1 isn't a country. It'd be a step away from declaring itself a Democratic Republic.

    Why did this guy want to take over F1 in the first place? It's comical.
    Small man syndrome, perhaps? Napoleon complex? Just a bit of a dick?
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 55,701
    edited 8:33AM

    kinabalu said:

    IanB2 said:

    kinabalu said:

    IanB2 said:

    It's on late, and the score isn't critical to our tournament; I'll probably just watch until England has scored the first couple of goals, and then switch off leave them to it.

    Build up then full match and punditry afterwards. England shirt on.

    That's how I roll for World Cups.
    Now I am imagining you sitting in front of the TV on election night wearing your red rose rosette
    Ha yes. I don't have one but the emotion is just as intense. The exit poll is as visceral as any goal, scored or conceded.
    No fan of Corbyn I rather enjoyed 2019, but of course it lumbered us with Johnson. 2015 was a surprise. 2024 no surprise at all.
    The Tories getting their justified long-overdue payoff for all the years of scandal and grift and incompetence made 2024 the most fun
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 62,155
    edited 8:35AM

    Ukraine hit another factory in Russia's missile supply chain.

    It will be interesting to see if they can succeed in reducing the number of missiles Russia uses against them.

    It’s been another very good week for Ukraine, with a number of strategically important defence industry sites hit and hit hard. It will take some time for supply chain shortages to filter through to the operational front lines, but it’s hard not to think that there’s now severe constraints on production of many weapons systems.
  • LostPasswordLostPassword Posts: 24,612

    I read somewhere that one of the next World Cups was in Saudi Arabia, and the other jointly between Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, which should both have rather closer times.

    What are the odds on a heatwave affecting the 2030 world cup in Spain/Portugal/Morocco?

    They should be asking Scandinavia to host.
  • I thought Johnson would lose in 2019
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 104,183
    edited 8:35AM
    HYUFD said:

    kle4 said:

    HYUFD said:



    John Major can’t pronounce Makerfield

    https://x.com/independent/status/2070582940237447193

    'Sir John Major throws shade on the new prime minister in waiting. "Mr Burnham has had great success, I'm told, with buses," he says. "A little different from dealing with Xi, Putin, Trump, Macron, Merz."
    A dumb take from Sir John - who else but an existing or former PM has had any equivalent experience? If he thinks he lacks the quality to step up just say so, but you coukd substitute the buses comment with any new PMs background.
    Most new PMs have either held a Great Office of State though ie Chancellor, Home Secretary or Foreign Secretary or won a general election as LOTO. Burnham will become PM having done neither, though he has had some executive experience as Manchester Mayor and was a former Health Secretary.

    Major was making the argument that Burnham should at least face a contest before becoming PM to clarify his policies and how we would approach the world stage too
    Then he was dumb for not saying that plainly enough and instead making a facetious remark about buses.

    Since Major is not dumb I have to assume he chose to make the point in a dumb way, rather than your way, intentionally.

    And that's worse.
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 64,034

    I read somewhere that one of the next World Cups was in Saudi Arabia, and the other jointly between Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, which should both have rather closer times.

    What are the odds on a heatwave affecting the 2030 world cup in Spain/Portugal/Morocco?

    They should be asking Scandinavia to host.
    Not to worry, it'll be heading back to cash-gouging America if they get their way in 2038.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 129,164
    kle4 said:

    F1: meanwhile in democracy news: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/articles/ckg8kz8jpz0o

    Glad F1 isn't a country. It'd be a step away from declaring itself a Democratic Republic.

    Why did this guy want to take over F1 in the first place? It's comical.
    There's a lot of money in F1.

    The hosting fees are ridiculous and leads to shameful decisions like Spa going two years between races.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 137,282
    edited 8:37AM
    kle4 said:

    HYUFD said:

    kle4 said:

    HYUFD said:



    John Major can’t pronounce Makerfield

    https://x.com/independent/status/2070582940237447193

    'Sir John Major throws shade on the new prime minister in waiting. "Mr Burnham has had great success, I'm told, with buses," he says. "A little different from dealing with Xi, Putin, Trump, Macron, Merz."
    A dumb take from Sir John - who else but an existing or former PM has had any equivalent experience? If he thinks he lacks the quality to step up just say so, but you coukd substitute the buses comment with any new PMs background.
    Most new PMs have either held a Great Office of State though ie Chancellor, Home Secretary or Foreign Secretary or won a general election as LOTO. Burnham will become PM having done neither, though he has had some executive experience as Manchester Mayor and was a former Health Secretary.

    Major was making the argument that Burnham should at least face a contest before becoming PM to clarify his policies and how we would approach the world stage too
    Then he was dumb for not saying that plainly enough and instead making a facetious remark about buses.

    Since Major is not dumb I have to assume he chose to make the point in a dumb way, rather than your way, intentionally.

    And that's worse.
    Major did say Burnham should face a leadership contest and the remarks he made were part of his reasoning for that
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 129,164
    edited 8:38AM

    I read somewhere that one of the next World Cups was in Saudi Arabia, and the other jointly between Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, which should both have rather closer times.

    2030 World Cup is in Spain, Portugal, and Morroco with one off matches in Uruguay, Paraguay, and Argentina.

    2034 is in Saudia Arabia, however, because of Ramadan and with it likely to be a 64 team World Cup, then the tournament is going to be held between January and March.

    RIP Christmas football that season.
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 62,155
    edited 8:38AM
    kle4 said:

    F1: meanwhile in democracy news: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/articles/ckg8kz8jpz0o

    Glad F1 isn't a country. It'd be a step away from declaring itself a Democratic Republic.

    Why did this guy want to take over F1 in the first place? It's comical.
    To be fair he’s not taking over F1, he’s the elected President of the FIA. Similar to FIFA or the IOC, with a worldwide political structure underneath and somewhat less than transparent governance.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 137,282

    I thought Johnson would lose in 2019

    Well the polls didn't
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 104,183
    edited 8:39AM

    kle4 said:

    F1: meanwhile in democracy news: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/articles/ckg8kz8jpz0o

    Glad F1 isn't a country. It'd be a step away from declaring itself a Democratic Republic.

    Why did this guy want to take over F1 in the first place? It's comical.
    There's a lot of money in F1.

    The hosting fees are ridiculous and leads to shameful decisions like Spa going two years between races.
    There have to be ways to be corrupt without making it too in your face though - Fifa do it every day and at least pretend not to be. Laughably so, but they pretend at least.
  • AnneJGPAnneJGP Posts: 5,561

    AnneJGP said:

    All of the heat, the World Cup test cricket and F1 I've heard of, but who or what is Supergirl?

    It's the latest log being laid on the flaming pyre of the superhero genre. (New film).
    Ah, thank you - one of those busty young lasses whose armour covers everything but the most vulnerable body parts?
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 62,155

    kle4 said:

    F1: meanwhile in democracy news: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/articles/ckg8kz8jpz0o

    Glad F1 isn't a country. It'd be a step away from declaring itself a Democratic Republic.

    Why did this guy want to take over F1 in the first place? It's comical.
    There's a lot of money in F1.

    The hosting fees are ridiculous and leads to shameful decisions like Spa going two years between races.
    Hosting fees go to FOM not to FIA.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 79,761
    kle4 said:

    kle4 said:

    F1: meanwhile in democracy news: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/articles/ckg8kz8jpz0o

    Glad F1 isn't a country. It'd be a step away from declaring itself a Democratic Republic.

    Why did this guy want to take over F1 in the first place? It's comical.
    There's a lot of money in F1.

    The hosting fees are ridiculous and leads to shameful decisions like Spa going two years between races.
    There have to be ways to be corrupt without making it too in your face though - Fifa do it every day.
    Really?

    I'd hate to see them trying for 'absolutely blatant' if this is their idea of not 'too much in your face.'
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 104,183

    I read somewhere that one of the next World Cups was in Saudi Arabia, and the other jointly between Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, which should both have rather closer times.

    Would you believe there's suspicion the award to Saudi Arabia was not on the up and up?
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 48,128
    ydoethur said:

    'Romping'

    I hardly ever recommend summary execution for media folk but in this case..

    .
    @LouiseRawAuthor
    I will be pursuing a press complaint against you @DailyMail
    for this revolting, dangerous, damaging headline.

    His poor daughter went to live with him after a difficult life, hoping for love and stability. He got her blind drunk & raped her. She killed herself.
    Shame on you.

    https://x.com/LouiseRawAuthor/status/2070610767926239397?s=20

    Even leaving aside the headline, just on the details we have how on earth did this disgusting excuse for a human being only get one year in prison?

    What was the judge smoking?
    'Look, the poor man had a few drinks and the situation got out of hand. His whole life shouldn't be destroyed by a moment of madness.'
    Is how it usually works, with the complicity of cesspits like the Mail.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 129,164
    Sandpit said:

    kle4 said:

    F1: meanwhile in democracy news: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/articles/ckg8kz8jpz0o

    Glad F1 isn't a country. It'd be a step away from declaring itself a Democratic Republic.

    Why did this guy want to take over F1 in the first place? It's comical.
    There's a lot of money in F1.

    The hosting fees are ridiculous and leads to shameful decisions like Spa going two years between races.
    Hosting fees go to FOM not to FIA.
    I know but some of the introduction fees make your eyes water.

    This is the guy we're dealing with

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/68465516
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 64,034
    AnneJGP said:

    AnneJGP said:

    All of the heat, the World Cup test cricket and F1 I've heard of, but who or what is Supergirl?

    It's the latest log being laid on the flaming pyre of the superhero genre. (New film).
    Ah, thank you - one of those busty young lasses whose armour covers everything but the most vulnerable body parts?
    Not paying much attention (hardly ever go to the cinema) but I don't think she's necessarily the curviest of ladies.
    kle4 said:

    I read somewhere that one of the next World Cups was in Saudi Arabia, and the other jointly between Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, which should both have rather closer times.

    Would you believe there's suspicion the award to Saudi Arabia was not on the up and up?
    Sacre bleu!
  • TresTres Posts: 3,711
    Sandpit said:

    Credit where it’s due, to at least one UK government agency.

    Mon 9th June, midday. Mr Sandpit applies for a new passport online.

    The website is easy to understand, has a reading age of about 8, uses details from existing passport to verify identity, uploads new photo, no setting up of an ‘account’ or passwords required. Overseas payment card worked just fine. Tracking number given and told to send old passport back to them.

    Saturday 27th June, 9am, new passport arrives by courier 3,500 miles from the UK.

    19 days total, including three days each way for the courier.

    A number of email follow ups given at each stage of the process, often enough to be reassuring but not too often as to be annoying.

    Well done to the Passport Office. 👏

    Now, how can we get all of the other UK Gov agencies to be this efficient?

    require a three figure payment for every interaction?
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 129,164
    kle4 said:

    I read somewhere that one of the next World Cups was in Saudi Arabia, and the other jointly between Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, which should both have rather closer times.

    Would you believe there's suspicion the award to Saudi Arabia was not on the up and up?
    It's the reason why The Englsh FA have decided to no longer bid to host future World Cups.
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 62,155
    kle4 said:

    I read somewhere that one of the next World Cups was in Saudi Arabia, and the other jointly between Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, which should both have rather closer times.

    Would you believe there's suspicion the award to Saudi Arabia was not on the up and up?
    When the previous two World Cups were in Qatar and Russia…
  • turbotubbsturbotubbs Posts: 23,581

    I thought Johnson would lose in 2019

    The Novaro Media reaction was hilarious.
  • RattersRatters Posts: 2,060

    I read somewhere that one of the next World Cups was in Saudi Arabia, and the other jointly between Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, which should both have rather closer times.

    What are the odds on a heatwave affecting the 2030 world cup in Spain/Portugal/Morocco?

    They should be asking Scandinavia to host.
    Close to 100%?

    And of course none of them will have custom air conditioned stadiums like Qatar, Saudi or Texas.

    Madrid this week has high temperatures consistently above 35 degrees for as far as the forecast goes. Not just the few days like we've had here. Lisbon isn't far off. Morocco is actually cooler.

    I wonder if it's worth moving the world cup to May or September.
  • AnneJGPAnneJGP Posts: 5,561

    I read somewhere that one of the next World Cups was in Saudi Arabia, and the other jointly between Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, which should both have rather closer times.

    I thought one of the criteria for hosting the World Cup was plenty of beer.
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 62,155

    kle4 said:

    I read somewhere that one of the next World Cups was in Saudi Arabia, and the other jointly between Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, which should both have rather closer times.

    Would you believe there's suspicion the award to Saudi Arabia was not on the up and up?
    It's the reason why The Englsh FA have decided to no longer bid to host future World Cups.
    Along with the US, the UK is one of very few countries who could hold the World Cup at short notice, with sufficient stadia already extant.
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 64,034
    AnneJGP said:

    I read somewhere that one of the next World Cups was in Saudi Arabia, and the other jointly between Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, which should both have rather closer times.

    I thought one of the criteria for hosting the World Cup was plenty of beer.
    This is probably part of Saudi Arabia's urgent mission to diversify its economy away from oil (tourism being one aspect).
  • turbotubbsturbotubbs Posts: 23,581

    I read somewhere that one of the next World Cups was in Saudi Arabia, and the other jointly between Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, which should both have rather closer times.

    2030 World Cup is in Spain, Portugal, and Morroco with one off matches in Uruguay, Paraguay, and Argentina.

    2034 is in Saudia Arabia, however, because of Ramadan and with it likely to be a 64 team World Cup, then the tournament is going to be held between January and March.

    RIP Christmas football that season.
    You just need to support a non Prem team. It’s fun!*

    *I tell myself this all the time. It’s sometimes true.
  • AnneJGPAnneJGP Posts: 5,561

    ydoethur said:

    'Romping'

    I hardly ever recommend summary execution for media folk but in this case..

    .
    @LouiseRawAuthor
    I will be pursuing a press complaint against you @DailyMail
    for this revolting, dangerous, damaging headline.

    His poor daughter went to live with him after a difficult life, hoping for love and stability. He got her blind drunk & raped her. She killed herself.
    Shame on you.

    https://x.com/LouiseRawAuthor/status/2070610767926239397?s=20

    Even leaving aside the headline, just on the details we have how on earth did this disgusting excuse for a human being only get one year in prison?

    What was the judge smoking?
    'Look, the poor man had a few drinks and the situation got out of hand. His whole life shouldn't be destroyed by a moment of madness.'
    Is how it usually works, with the complicity of cesspits like the Mail.
    When the law takes that view, it's hard to point a finger at the MSM.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 104,183
    edited 8:50AM
    HYUFD said:

    kle4 said:

    HYUFD said:

    kle4 said:

    HYUFD said:



    John Major can’t pronounce Makerfield

    https://x.com/independent/status/2070582940237447193

    'Sir John Major throws shade on the new prime minister in waiting. "Mr Burnham has had great success, I'm told, with buses," he says. "A little different from dealing with Xi, Putin, Trump, Macron, Merz."
    A dumb take from Sir John - who else but an existing or former PM has had any equivalent experience? If he thinks he lacks the quality to step up just say so, but you coukd substitute the buses comment with any new PMs background.
    Most new PMs have either held a Great Office of State though ie Chancellor, Home Secretary or Foreign Secretary or won a general election as LOTO. Burnham will become PM having done neither, though he has had some executive experience as Manchester Mayor and was a former Health Secretary.

    Major was making the argument that Burnham should at least face a contest before becoming PM to clarify his policies and how we would approach the world stage too
    Then he was dumb for not saying that plainly enough and instead making a facetious remark about buses.

    Since Major is not dumb I have to assume he chose to make the point in a dumb way, rather than your way, intentionally.

    And that's worse.
    Major did say Burnham should face a leadership contest and the remarks he made were part of his reasoning for that
    And I've said that was dumb of him. It distracts from his point, is unworthy of Major, and whatever other salient points he made was just plain idiotic.

    And I respect Major's intellect so I am sure he knows it was a dumb point. But i guess he's not above a childish dig.

    Including a bad point alongside a good one undermines the latter. That's why you don't do it even if it makes you chuckle.

    "Hah hah, being PM is not like running buses, i'm so clever. But seriously now..."
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 104,183
    AnneJGP said:

    ydoethur said:

    'Romping'

    I hardly ever recommend summary execution for media folk but in this case..

    .
    @LouiseRawAuthor
    I will be pursuing a press complaint against you @DailyMail
    for this revolting, dangerous, damaging headline.

    His poor daughter went to live with him after a difficult life, hoping for love and stability. He got her blind drunk & raped her. She killed herself.
    Shame on you.

    https://x.com/LouiseRawAuthor/status/2070610767926239397?s=20

    Even leaving aside the headline, just on the details we have how on earth did this disgusting excuse for a human being only get one year in prison?

    What was the judge smoking?
    'Look, the poor man had a few drinks and the situation got out of hand. His whole life shouldn't be destroyed by a moment of madness.'
    Is how it usually works, with the complicity of cesspits like the Mail.
    When the law takes that view, it's hard to point a finger at the MSM.
    To a point. But their headline was egregious in this case.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 90,269
    Is "Supergirl" the new squeeze, TSE ?
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 104,183

    AnneJGP said:

    I read somewhere that one of the next World Cups was in Saudi Arabia, and the other jointly between Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, which should both have rather closer times.

    I thought one of the criteria for hosting the World Cup was plenty of beer.
    This is probably part of Saudi Arabia's urgent mission to diversify its economy away from oil (tourism being one aspect).
    Still looking forward to the 150 mile long 250 metre wide 1km tall futuristic city of the line, to have more tourists than Paris and more densely populated than London.

    Why not just build a futuristic city that isn't shaped like a line? Screw you, that's why.
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 48,128
    AnneJGP said:

    ydoethur said:

    'Romping'

    I hardly ever recommend summary execution for media folk but in this case..

    .
    @LouiseRawAuthor
    I will be pursuing a press complaint against you @DailyMail
    for this revolting, dangerous, damaging headline.

    His poor daughter went to live with him after a difficult life, hoping for love and stability. He got her blind drunk & raped her. She killed herself.
    Shame on you.

    https://x.com/LouiseRawAuthor/status/2070610767926239397?s=20

    Even leaving aside the headline, just on the details we have how on earth did this disgusting excuse for a human being only get one year in prison?

    What was the judge smoking?
    'Look, the poor man had a few drinks and the situation got out of hand. His whole life shouldn't be destroyed by a moment of madness.'
    Is how it usually works, with the complicity of cesspits like the Mail.
    When the law takes that view, it's hard to point a finger at the MSM.
    It’s pretty interconnected though I’d say the tabloid press has a far greater (toxic) effect on social mores than the law.
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 64,034
    kle4 said:

    AnneJGP said:

    I read somewhere that one of the next World Cups was in Saudi Arabia, and the other jointly between Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, which should both have rather closer times.

    I thought one of the criteria for hosting the World Cup was plenty of beer.
    This is probably part of Saudi Arabia's urgent mission to diversify its economy away from oil (tourism being one aspect).
    Still looking forward to the 150 mile long 250 metre wide 1km tall futuristic city of the line, to have more tourists than Paris and more densely populated than London.

    Why not just build a futuristic city that isn't shaped like a line? Screw you, that's why.
    Pretty sure the utter madness that was The Line has been axed.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 104,183
    AnneJGP said:

    I read somewhere that one of the next World Cups was in Saudi Arabia, and the other jointly between Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, which should both have rather closer times.

    I thought one of the criteria for hosting the World Cup was plenty of beer.
    If they pay to compensate for advertising loss i'm sure it's fine. But MBS and co can drink all they like anyway.
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 35,480
    ydoethur said:

    'Romping'

    I hardly ever recommend summary execution for media folk but in this case..

    .
    @LouiseRawAuthor
    I will be pursuing a press complaint against you @DailyMail
    for this revolting, dangerous, damaging headline.

    His poor daughter went to live with him after a difficult life, hoping for love and stability. He got her blind drunk & raped her. She killed herself.
    Shame on you.

    https://x.com/LouiseRawAuthor/status/2070610767926239397?s=20

    Even leaving aside the headline, just on the details we have how on earth did this disgusting excuse for a human being only get one year in prison?

    What was the judge smoking?
    I suspect it he won't be long in there before a different form of justice takes its course.
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 62,155
    edited 8:57AM
    AnneJGP said:

    I read somewhere that one of the next World Cups was in Saudi Arabia, and the other jointly between Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, which should both have rather closer times.

    I thought one of the criteria for hosting the World Cup was plenty of beer.
    It will be interesting to see how that one plays out in practice.

    In Qatar there was no beer in the stadia other than the prawn sandwich seats, although they do have bars in many of the 4-5* hotels in the country. With a shortage of hotel rooms, many fans based themselves in more liberal places in the region such as UAE, Oman, and Bahrain, and flew in to Qatar for the matches.

    It wouldn’t be much of a surprise to see much the same thing happening in Saudi in 2034.

    Dubai was pretty fun at the time, with large tents set up in hotels, fans from all the countries mingling well.

    The US has outdone everyone this year though, with all the city takeovers and road trips. Big up to the Scots in Boston especially, but also the English, Japanese, Germans, Dutch, Norwegians, all bringing tens of thousands of fans to each game and having a whale of a time with very little disorder noted. Perhaps the high cost of going to the tournament has kept out most of the unsavoury types this year.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 104,183

    kle4 said:

    AnneJGP said:

    I read somewhere that one of the next World Cups was in Saudi Arabia, and the other jointly between Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, which should both have rather closer times.

    I thought one of the criteria for hosting the World Cup was plenty of beer.
    This is probably part of Saudi Arabia's urgent mission to diversify its economy away from oil (tourism being one aspect).
    Still looking forward to the 150 mile long 250 metre wide 1km tall futuristic city of the line, to have more tourists than Paris and more densely populated than London.

    Why not just build a futuristic city that isn't shaped like a line? Screw you, that's why.
    Pretty sure the utter madness that was The Line has been axed.
    Damn, the blows keep coming this morning.
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 62,155

    kle4 said:

    AnneJGP said:

    I read somewhere that one of the next World Cups was in Saudi Arabia, and the other jointly between Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, which should both have rather closer times.

    I thought one of the criteria for hosting the World Cup was plenty of beer.
    This is probably part of Saudi Arabia's urgent mission to diversify its economy away from oil (tourism being one aspect).
    Still looking forward to the 150 mile long 250 metre wide 1km tall futuristic city of the line, to have more tourists than Paris and more densely populated than London.

    Why not just build a futuristic city that isn't shaped like a line? Screw you, that's why.
    Pretty sure the utter madness that was The Line has been axed.
    They’re still building a version of it, but it will be a few hundred metres long rather than a couple of hundred kilometres!
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 90,269

    Anyhoo, even in this heat my punning skills are still brilliant.

    That divides two continents.
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 64,034
    Sandpit said:

    kle4 said:

    AnneJGP said:

    I read somewhere that one of the next World Cups was in Saudi Arabia, and the other jointly between Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, which should both have rather closer times.

    I thought one of the criteria for hosting the World Cup was plenty of beer.
    This is probably part of Saudi Arabia's urgent mission to diversify its economy away from oil (tourism being one aspect).
    Still looking forward to the 150 mile long 250 metre wide 1km tall futuristic city of the line, to have more tourists than Paris and more densely populated than London.

    Why not just build a futuristic city that isn't shaped like a line? Screw you, that's why.
    Pretty sure the utter madness that was The Line has been axed.
    They’re still building a version of it, but it will be a few hundred metres long rather than a couple of hundred kilometres!
    "...a version..." is certainly a kind way to put it.
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 48,128
    Sandpit said:

    kle4 said:

    AnneJGP said:

    I read somewhere that one of the next World Cups was in Saudi Arabia, and the other jointly between Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, which should both have rather closer times.

    I thought one of the criteria for hosting the World Cup was plenty of beer.
    This is probably part of Saudi Arabia's urgent mission to diversify its economy away from oil (tourism being one aspect).
    Still looking forward to the 150 mile long 250 metre wide 1km tall futuristic city of the line, to have more tourists than Paris and more densely populated than London.

    Why not just build a futuristic city that isn't shaped like a line? Screw you, that's why.
    Pretty sure the utter madness that was The Line has been axed.
    They’re still building a version of it, but it will be a few hundred metres long rather than a couple of hundred kilometres!
    Obviously brought Trump in as an Over Promise and Under Deliver advisor.
  • StuartinromfordStuartinromford Posts: 23,138
    ydoethur said:

    FPT - Andy Burnham has been SoS for Health, DEFRA (or its previous equivalent) and Chief Secretary to the Treasury,as well as Mayor of Manchester, so despite never having held a GOS he probably has enough executive experience.

    That said, being PM is going to be a shock to him and he doesn't know what's coming.

    I have to say - not from personal experience, obviously, but from observation - that being PM doesn't appear to be a job you can prepare for. You do it and then find out whether or not you are good at it.

    Many people had vast experience and careful grooming for national leadership. Balfour. Eden. Neville Chamberlain. James Callaghan. Edward Heath. None of those turned out to be any good. We could add Asquith, whose record was at best decidedly mixed.

    Meanwhile, several fairly successful PMs were either totally unexpected (Major, Baldwin, Salisbury, Thatcher on becoming party leader) or had been considered and discarded as possibilities due to the glaring faults they had displayed (Lloyd George, Churchill, Palmerston, although we should note they were all wartime leaders).

    So maybe Andy will crash and Burnham. Or maybe he will turn out OK. But his previous experience is not of fundamental importance either way.

    After all, Liz Truss had lots of experience. Just no brain cells.
    Two ways of reading that, though.

    One is that preparation isn't that important. The other is that, even with optimal preparation, you still have a decent chance of failing. There's no precedent for someone like Burnham coming in and taking over from a standing start. It's not so much about whether he has good answers to the nation's questions, or even whether he has the administrative competence to make those answers happen... It's more- does he have a full list of those questions in his head? We're about to find out.

    And whilst I hate to question my learned friend, was Major becoming PM that much of a shock? If he was hiding, it was in pretty plain sight. Chancellor, before that Foreign Secretary. Becoming PM in 1990 was a surprise, because we hadn't been paying attention, but not that he got to the top. (Also, he'd had a stint in the Whip's office, which is a pretty good way to get an overview of everything. That's what AB doesn't seem to have.)
  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 25,656
    A man, and plan, a turgid goalless draw, Panama!
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 36,780
    Sandpit said:

    Credit where it’s due, to at least one UK government agency.

    Mon 9th June, midday. Mr Sandpit applies for a new passport online.

    The website is easy to understand, has a reading age of about 8, uses details from existing passport to verify identity, uploads new photo, no setting up of an ‘account’ or passwords required. Overseas payment card worked just fine. Tracking number given and told to send old passport back to them.

    Saturday 27th June, 9am, new passport arrives by courier 3,500 miles from the UK.

    19 days total, including three days each way for the courier.

    A number of email follow ups given at each stage of the process, often enough to be reassuring but not too often as to be annoying.

    Well done to the Passport Office. 👏

    Now, how can we get all of the other UK Gov agencies to be this efficient?

    Just a renewal then? My experience getting a completely new passport was the opposite. Uploading photos straight from photo booths is good but the rest involved jumping through hoops to prove I am me, including buying new hardware to install new software because the Passport Office does not know Teams (and similar) can be used via a browser as well as the app, and have not set up proper infrastructure on their side. Only a cynic would suggest the government deliberately creates problems in order to solve them by rolling out digital IDs; it could easily be incompetence.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 63,974
    ydoethur said:

    'Romping'

    I hardly ever recommend summary execution for media folk but in this case..

    .
    @LouiseRawAuthor
    I will be pursuing a press complaint against you @DailyMail
    for this revolting, dangerous, damaging headline.

    His poor daughter went to live with him after a difficult life, hoping for love and stability. He got her blind drunk & raped her. She killed herself.
    Shame on you.

    https://x.com/LouiseRawAuthor/status/2070610767926239397?s=20

    Even leaving aside the headline, just on the details we have how on earth did this disgusting excuse for a human being only get one year in prison?

    What was the judge smoking?
    Uncle Malmesbury’s simple rules for not being in a Sentencing Mob (either direction)

    1) Find out what the defendant was charged with
    2) Look up the sentencing guidelines - they are online and easy to read
    3) read the judges sentencing remarks. They very often contain references to the tables in the sentencing guidelines that constrain the sentence.

    The number of sentences that get changed on appeal is very small, because judges follow the sentencing guidelines carefully.

    The issue is often (1)
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 35,480
    It's seeming like Wes Streeting is out of contention for COTE, with a choice of Milliband or Mahmoud. Along with a few other straws in the wind, it's really just a reminder that Labour always, always contrives a way to shoot itself (and us) in the foot.
  • algarkirkalgarkirk Posts: 17,604

    HYUFD said:

    England are now through to the last 32 anyway atfer Uruguay beat Spain, would be a bit embarsassing to lose to Panama though

    Which match did you watch?

    Anyhoo.

    Cape Verde are the big story,

    The Scots must be frustrated in that they are likely to be eliminated on three points (which led to a third place finish) whereas Cape Verde have finished second with three points.
    If I calculate correctly it is possible to come third on 6 points (three teams win two games, fourth team lose all = 6660) and to come second with two points (one team wins all games, the other three games all drawn = 9222). This may be wrong of course. I am sure I shall find out.


  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 62,155

    Sandpit said:

    Credit where it’s due, to at least one UK government agency.

    Mon 9th June, midday. Mr Sandpit applies for a new passport online.

    The website is easy to understand, has a reading age of about 8, uses details from existing passport to verify identity, uploads new photo, no setting up of an ‘account’ or passwords required. Overseas payment card worked just fine. Tracking number given and told to send old passport back to them.

    Saturday 27th June, 9am, new passport arrives by courier 3,500 miles from the UK.

    19 days total, including three days each way for the courier.

    A number of email follow ups given at each stage of the process, often enough to be reassuring but not too often as to be annoying.

    Well done to the Passport Office. 👏

    Now, how can we get all of the other UK Gov agencies to be this efficient?

    Just a renewal then? My experience getting a completely new passport was the opposite. Uploading photos straight from photo booths is good but the rest involved jumping through hoops to prove I am me, including buying new hardware to install new software because the Passport Office does not know Teams (and similar) can be used via a browser as well as the app, and have not set up proper infrastructure on their side. Only a cynic would suggest the government deliberately creates problems in order to solve them by rolling out digital IDs; it could easily be incompetence.
    Interesting. Yes mine was a renewal, AIUI getting a first passport requires much tighter identify verification than a renewal.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 104,183
    Sandpit said:

    kle4 said:

    AnneJGP said:

    I read somewhere that one of the next World Cups was in Saudi Arabia, and the other jointly between Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, which should both have rather closer times.

    I thought one of the criteria for hosting the World Cup was plenty of beer.
    This is probably part of Saudi Arabia's urgent mission to diversify its economy away from oil (tourism being one aspect).
    Still looking forward to the 150 mile long 250 metre wide 1km tall futuristic city of the line, to have more tourists than Paris and more densely populated than London.

    Why not just build a futuristic city that isn't shaped like a line? Screw you, that's why.
    Pretty sure the utter madness that was The Line has been axed.
    They’re still building a version of it, but it will be a few hundred metres long rather than a couple of hundred kilometres!
    They should have tried that wheeze with HS2.
  • GallowgateGallowgate Posts: 22,155

    It's seeming like Wes Streeting is out of contention for COTE, with a choice of Milliband or Mahmoud. Along with a few other straws in the wind, it's really just a reminder that Labour always, always contrives a way to shoot itself (and us) in the foot.

    Why don’t you just wait and see
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 104,183
    Sandpit said:

    Sandpit said:

    Credit where it’s due, to at least one UK government agency.

    Mon 9th June, midday. Mr Sandpit applies for a new passport online.

    The website is easy to understand, has a reading age of about 8, uses details from existing passport to verify identity, uploads new photo, no setting up of an ‘account’ or passwords required. Overseas payment card worked just fine. Tracking number given and told to send old passport back to them.

    Saturday 27th June, 9am, new passport arrives by courier 3,500 miles from the UK.

    19 days total, including three days each way for the courier.

    A number of email follow ups given at each stage of the process, often enough to be reassuring but not too often as to be annoying.

    Well done to the Passport Office. 👏

    Now, how can we get all of the other UK Gov agencies to be this efficient?

    Just a renewal then? My experience getting a completely new passport was the opposite. Uploading photos straight from photo booths is good but the rest involved jumping through hoops to prove I am me, including buying new hardware to install new software because the Passport Office does not know Teams (and similar) can be used via a browser as well as the app, and have not set up proper infrastructure on their side. Only a cynic would suggest the government deliberately creates problems in order to solve them by rolling out digital IDs; it could easily be incompetence.
    Interesting. Yes mine was a renewal, AIUI getting a first passport requires much tighter identify verification than a renewal.
    I had mine renewed, marvelously efficient process.
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 62,155

    ydoethur said:

    'Romping'

    I hardly ever recommend summary execution for media folk but in this case..

    .
    @LouiseRawAuthor
    I will be pursuing a press complaint against you @DailyMail
    for this revolting, dangerous, damaging headline.

    His poor daughter went to live with him after a difficult life, hoping for love and stability. He got her blind drunk & raped her. She killed herself.
    Shame on you.

    https://x.com/LouiseRawAuthor/status/2070610767926239397?s=20

    Even leaving aside the headline, just on the details we have how on earth did this disgusting excuse for a human being only get one year in prison?

    What was the judge smoking?
    Uncle Malmesbury’s simple rules for not being in a Sentencing Mob (either direction)

    1) Find out what the defendant was charged with
    2) Look up the sentencing guidelines - they are online and easy to read
    3) read the judges sentencing remarks. They very often contain references to the tables in the sentencing guidelines that constrain the sentence.

    The number of sentences that get changed on appeal is very small, because judges follow the sentencing guidelines carefully.

    The issue is often (1)
    The issue is often (2), that the sentencing guidelines don’t match up with what the public sees as the significance of the crime.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 104,183

    It's seeming like Wes Streeting is out of contention for COTE, with a choice of Milliband or Mahmoud. Along with a few other straws in the wind, it's really just a reminder that Labour always, always contrives a way to shoot itself (and us) in the foot.

    Hmm, go with the super popular (with Labour Members) Miliband, or the super unpopular (with Labour Members) Mahmoud? Tough choice for a PM.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 63,974
    Sandpit said:

    ydoethur said:

    'Romping'

    I hardly ever recommend summary execution for media folk but in this case..

    .
    @LouiseRawAuthor
    I will be pursuing a press complaint against you @DailyMail
    for this revolting, dangerous, damaging headline.

    His poor daughter went to live with him after a difficult life, hoping for love and stability. He got her blind drunk & raped her. She killed herself.
    Shame on you.

    https://x.com/LouiseRawAuthor/status/2070610767926239397?s=20

    Even leaving aside the headline, just on the details we have how on earth did this disgusting excuse for a human being only get one year in prison?

    What was the judge smoking?
    Uncle Malmesbury’s simple rules for not being in a Sentencing Mob (either direction)

    1) Find out what the defendant was charged with
    2) Look up the sentencing guidelines - they are online and easy to read
    3) read the judges sentencing remarks. They very often contain references to the tables in the sentencing guidelines that constrain the sentence.

    The number of sentences that get changed on appeal is very small, because judges follow the sentencing guidelines carefully.

    The issue is often (1)
    The issue is often (2), that the sentencing guidelines don’t match up with what the public sees as the significance of the crime.
    I think you are wrong on that - feel free to find an example though.

    Very often the issue is down charging - a lesser offence than the one apparently commited.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 72,817
    kle4 said:

    Sandpit said:

    kle4 said:

    AnneJGP said:

    I read somewhere that one of the next World Cups was in Saudi Arabia, and the other jointly between Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, which should both have rather closer times.

    I thought one of the criteria for hosting the World Cup was plenty of beer.
    This is probably part of Saudi Arabia's urgent mission to diversify its economy away from oil (tourism being one aspect).
    Still looking forward to the 150 mile long 250 metre wide 1km tall futuristic city of the line, to have more tourists than Paris and more densely populated than London.

    Why not just build a futuristic city that isn't shaped like a line? Screw you, that's why.
    Pretty sure the utter madness that was The Line has been axed.
    They’re still building a version of it, but it will be a few hundred metres long rather than a couple of hundred kilometres!
    They should have tried that wheeze with HS2.
    There's still time.
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