politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » Jeb Bush’s bid for the GOP nomination looks even more in do

OldKingCole · October 2015

Cyclefree said:

DavidBrackenbury said:

Cyclefree said:

JEO said:

DecrepitJohnL said:

AndyJS said:
This is leading the BBC's news website:

"Collapsed charity Kids Company given £46m in public cash"

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34661273
What is the political import of this story? It's been all over pb for months but I still do not see how it affects betting on politics. Is it good for Corbyn, bad for Sturgeon? Does it impact the Conservative succession: was Osborne in favour but Boris against? Is this scandal the death knell of Cameron's big society?

I'm not trying to have a pop at anyone who's been regularly posting about KC but as the lawyers say, it all looks a bit sui generis.
It has political relevance for why Cameron was giving away so much money to someone without basic scrutiny.
Not just Cameron. Labour handed over money too. It's an example of a total waste of public money when politicians' eyes are dazzled by fantasists. It also makes me wonder how many other examples there are of money being paid over to less high profile organisations with equal lack of scrutiny. It's our money after all.
But once you get into a situation that it is down to Ministers to pull the plug, party politics get in the way. Hence the reluctance of Labour and Conservative and Coalition Ministers to do so. Eventually someone had to bite the bullet..

Yentob and Batmanghellgdh need to account for their actions and there should be pressure for them to do so.
Well, there is a police inquiry into allegations of child abuse. And the Charity Commission and those who are winding up the charity should also be taking action.

I'm a bit surprised anyone took this woman seriously. She had no therapeutic or professional training at all. Why would anyone put children, damaged or difficult children, with someone like that? It's the obvious first question to ask a charity headed by someone like that. Anyone who has or has dealt with a child with emotional or mental problems knows that good intentions are not enough: skilled experienced therapy and care is needed. Was there ever any evidence that Camilla or her acolytes had any of that?

I’ve got a 40 page document on my desk from the Charity Commission, setting out what a Trustee nneds to know and what they need to do.
One of the first things it says is “Ensure your charity is carrying out it’s purposes to the public benefit’ and that section ends with the warning spending on the wrong purposes is very sious, and that te Trustees are liable. Trustees also “must” make balanced and adequately informed decisions’
How many other trustees did KC have?

Edit. answering my own question 6

Morris_Dancer · October 2015

Miss Cyclefree, one suspects the metropolitans were unwilling to accept the Emperor had no clothes.

Mr. F, thanks. Romm's book (Ghost on the Throne, which I highly recommend) has a more limited time frame than the two books by Bennett and Roberts on the same subject, but that does mean there's more depth over the shorter period.

Does make smile wryly when people claim women would be more pacifist leaders.

I'll try and remember that book (and the two previous in the series), though I've got a couple to read now and really need to whittle away the contents of my Amazon basket (a shade over 250 items...).

CD13 · October 2015

Dr Fox,

Worthy charities. Thanks for the link.

Morris_Dancer · October 2015

Mr. 1000, not only that, but if a charity's dependent on government for its existence then it's effectively public, not third, sector.

TCPoliticalBetting · October 2015

Sandpit said:

JosiasJessop said:

richardDodd said:
bb63 I think the PB Tories were apoplectic..this crap crosses the political boundaries..Yentbob and Batwoman looked very shifty at the Select Committee hearing..too shifty
I fear Yentob was a bit like Ant and Dec (with their 'assistant director' role at the time of the phone-in scandal): he'd accepted a position for the glamour (and perhaps money) of being associated with a charity that was well-known and acknowledged amongst his luncheon crowd.

I'm not sure he fulfilled the actual role; he appeared fairly clueless at the select committee. Perhaps he treated it more like a sinecure.

*If* that is right, he's going to get all he deserves.
Unlike a TV programme, the responsibilities of a charity's Trustees are clearly set out in law. Yentob is the person legally responsible for the oversight of the charity's activities in much the same way that a company Director might be, even if they are non-executive and only attend a few meetings a year.

Yentob should be barred from any Trustee or Director role because of his gross incompetence in chairing KC. But what are the chances?

JosiasJessop · October 2015

Cyclefree said:
Well, there is a police inquiry into allegations of child abuse. And the Charity Commission and those who are winding up the charity should also be taking action.

I'm a bit surprised anyone took this woman seriously. She had no therapeutic or professional training at all. Why would anyone put children, damaged or difficult children, with someone like that? It's the obvious first question to ask a charity headed by someone like that. Anyone who has or has dealt with a child with emotional or mental problems knows that good intentions are not enough: skilled experienced therapy and care is needed. Was there ever any evidence that Camilla or her acolytes had any of that?

Speaking as someone who was taken in, it's a question I asked myself. Why did I take her seriously? From memory (and it was many, many years ago, which is part of the problem): she was saying things I felt needed saying.

Even before Rotherham, Oxford, Rochdale and others, it was clear that many children were being left behind. This was despite the vast funds being spent on childrens services, and has only been confirmed by the scandals. It was a change to hear someone who could speak passionately and forcefully about the problems facing many of our children.

I sort-of assumed that if she was being taken this seriously, then she was competent, and had other competent people behind her. That assumption is where I went wrong. Perhaps many others did as well.

And that's the problem. I'm the sort of person who digs fairly deeply into things I'm interested in. I wasn't fired up about this topic, so I didn't dig (and if I did, I wonder if the information was publicly available). I just went on the information available, and that was everyone saying the Queen's clothes were the finest in the land.

(Mind bleach alert)

MarqueeMark · October 2015

I never did get Batmanghelidjh. She spouted vacuous nothingness in her many and varied outings on the BBC. But having that media presence bolstered her credibility, apparently. It made it difficult to take her on, so Govts. of all hues threw some money at her and let her get on with it - so they could say they were engaged with those who were engaged with Da Yoof.

But surely, when someone looks like Carmen Miranda at risk of imminent cardiac arrest in an exploding paint factory, the less gullible tend to think - what are they hiding? For me, the only role I would have had for her in working with kids was pictured on a health warning campaign: "Kids, this is what happens if you don't eat your five a day..."

Sean_F · October 2015

Morris_Dancer said:
Miss Cyclefree, one suspects the metropolitans were unwilling to accept the Emperor had no clothes.

Mr. F, thanks. Romm's book (Ghost on the Throne, which I highly recommend) has a more limited time frame than the two books by Bennett and Roberts on the same subject, but that does mean there's more depth over the shorter period.

Does make smile wryly when people claim women would be more pacifist leaders.

I'll try and remember that book (and the two previous in the series), though I've got a couple to read now and really need to whittle away the contents of my Amazon basket (a shade over 250 items...).

My own view is that powerful men and women operate a kind of good cop/bad cop strategy. Usually (but by no means always) men act as the bad cops, women as the good cops. But, in the absence of a bad cop, the good cop has to become a good deal more unfriendly and frightening. The great female rulers of history were (and are) no pushover.

JosiasJessop · October 2015

MarqueeMark said:
I never did get Batmanghelidjh. She spouted vacuous nothingness in her many and varied outings on the BBC. But having that media presence bolstered her credibility, apparently. It made it difficult to take her on, so Govts. of all hues threw some money at her and let her get on with it - so they could say they were engaged with those who were engaged with Da Yoof.

But surely, when someone looks like Carmen Miranda at risk of imminent cardiac arrest in an exploding paint factory, the less gullible tend to think - what are they hiding? For me, the only role I would have had for her in working with kids was pictured on a health warning campaign: "Kids, this is what happens if you don't eat your five a day..."

This is where we differ. I might well be wrong, but I can't recall her spouting 'vacuous nothingness' when she first came to my attention. Perhaps that started later.

As I say below, I'd like to see interviews with her from ten or more years ago, at the time I first formed my opinions.

foxinsoxuk · October 2015

AndyJS said:
He's not really a misanthrope. People who meet him always come away with the opposite impression, apparently.

Dalrymple can't hate people that much if he chose to work in a prison hospital in Birmingham for 15 years when he could have chosen to work as a doctor pretty much anywhere. (In fact he did work as a doctor in the Pacific Islands in 1982-3, something he recounts in his book Fool or Physician).

foxinsoxuk said:

JosiasJessop said:

blackburn63 said:
Re kids company.

If this had happened exclusively under Labour the Tories on here would be apoplectic, but of course because Dave was chucking money around like confetti its brushed under the carpet. It seems that Mrs Cameron may, possibly, have used pillow talk in influencing her husband.

The whole thing stinks, somebody wrote on here last night about losing an elderly relative in an overstretched hospital while Batman and Yentob are whispering in the ears of ministers against the instructions of civil servants.
As I've said before, I was taken in by this. I liked the idea that someone was looking at the problems amongst our youth, seeming to get to the nub of the issues and explaining them clearly (as Batmanghelidjh did, at least in my eyes), and being proactive in finding solutions.

One thing that's annoying me is the BBC's attitude. Batmanghelidjh appeared on the BBC frequently, but they seem to be rather reticent in mentioning this. Are they going to admit they were taken in as well?
AndyJS linked to this piece by my misanthopic colleague Dalrymple last night:

http://takimag.com/article/something_is_rotten_theodore_dalrymple/print#axzz3paxk5pOV

But read down to the bottom bit on Save the Children. Something indeed is rotten in the state of Denmark.

His books are a very bleak (and very well written) account of underclass Britain, and while he is unsparing in his comments about how self inflicted many of their problems are, there is also a good deal of affection and humanity.

Read this link: about a quarter of the households in Leics could be out of poverty if they gave up smoking:

http://m.leicestermercury.co.uk/8-300-households-city-county-poverty-line-smoking/story-28073462-detail/story.html

So much more effective than tax credits! (Though presumably the tobacco tax is currently funding tax credits that are spent on fags!).

Though perhaps the underlying reason why poor people smoke so much needs to be addressed. How bleak a life must be if a cigarette is a pleasure worth 10% or more of your income.

DavidBrackenbury · October 2015

rcs1000 said:

Cyclefree said:

JEO said:

DecrepitJohnL said:

AndyJS said:
This is leading the BBC's news website:

"Collapsed charity Kids Company given £46m in public cash"

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34661273
What is the political import of this story? It's been all over pb for months but I still do not see how it affects betting on politics. Is it good for Corbyn, bad for Sturgeon? Does it impact the Conservative succession: was Osborne in favour but Boris against? Is this scandal the death knell of Cameron's big society?

I'm not trying to have a pop at anyone who's been regularly posting about KC but as the lawyers say, it all looks a bit sui generis.
It has political relevance for why Cameron was giving away so much money to someone without basic scrutiny.
Not just Cameron. Labour handed over money too. It's an example of a total waste of public money when politicians' eyes are dazzled by fantasists. It also makes me wonder how many other examples there are of money being paid over to less high profile organisations with equal lack of scrutiny. It's our money after all.
I'm not sure the government should give money to charities, full stop. The whole point of charities is that they enable people to do something good - in a tax efficient manner - that is not being provided by the government. If people aren't willing to give money, either it should be the government's responsibility to do it directly, or it shouldn't be done. There should be no "half way house" where the government gives the money, but someone else spends it.

I think the Kids Company exposed another issue. Certain people take on "charity boards" like baubles. Being associated with a high profile charity is seen as a good way of boosting one's career, prestige, etc.

But I think in many cases there is minimal genuine oversight of the activities of charities. There needs to be a change in both law and perception: being on the board of a charity is about proper supervision to make sure that things are done in the correct way. This will make being a board member much harder and less attractive. But it should mean that charities are much better regulated.

Seconded! 100%

Sean_F · October 2015

TCPoliticalBetting said:

Sean_F said:

Morris_Dancer said:
Mr. Dodd, important to get the plumbing in order to avoid burst pipes.
I enjoyed your piece on the Macedonian She Wolves.

If you haven't read it, I'd recommend Funeral Games, by Mary Renault, which covers this period. It's extremely gripping, but so dark I can only bring myself to read it about once a decade.
I second that. Her books were an essential element on one holiday on a greek island.

Even more than in A Game of Thrones, every half-decent character gets stamped on mercilessly.

OldKingCole · October 2015

MarqueeMark said:
I never did get Batmanghelidjh. She spouted vacuous nothingness in her many and varied outings on the BBC. But having that media presence bolstered her credibility, apparently. It made it difficult to take her on, so Govts. of all hues threw some money at her and let her get on with it - so they could say they were engaged with those who were engaged with Da Yoof.

But surely, when someone looks like Carmen Miranda at risk of imminent cardiac arrest in an exploding paint factory, the less gullible tend to think - what are they hiding? For me, the only role I would have had for her in working with kids was pictured on a health warning campaign: "Kids, this is what happens if you don't eat your five a day..."

Mr M you and I have often disagreed, and no doubt will do so again, but on this occasion I couldn’t agree more. Never liked the woman from the first time she came onto TV.

Morris_Dancer · October 2015

Mr. Foxinsox, I think that question at the end is not, perhaps, the right way of looking at it.

Smoking's addictive, apparently enjoyable, and lots of people are rubbish with money.

But are they really poor if they choose to spend a fortune on cigarettes?

Mr. Jessop, it was probably that says broad things (we must help children left behind by society) and then your mind fills in the specifics and your seeming agreement lends her credibility.

Mr. F, perhaps. Another comparison could be blunt weapon, sharp weapon. Men are much more up front when it comes to being brutally honest, insulting, or violent. Women tend to be cruel behind another's back, and favour poison over a punch to the face (in general). Power in society as well as nature probably makes more women subtler, on average, than men.

Hmm. But then, Olympias and Adea leading armies against one another would be an exception to that.

Casino_Royale · October 2015

JEO said:

MP_SE said:

JEO said:

MP_SE said:
Yesterday David Cameron stated that "Norway pays as much per head to the EU as we do".

Norway's net payment, per annum, is £68 per head.

The UK's net payment, per annum, is £153 per head.

So much for having an honest debate.
Do you have a link?
Fourth paragraph down for the calculations:

http://eureferendum.com/blogview.aspx?blogno=85795
That is deeply concerning. I hope David Cameron comes out with a correction. We can all make mistakes once. I will judge him more harshly if he repeats the line.

David Cameron decided our long-term future was as a member of the EU over 20 years ago.

He hasn't changed his mind since.

RodCrosby · October 2015

JosiasJessop said:

MarqueeMark said:
I never did get Batmanghelidjh. She spouted vacuous nothingness in her many and varied outings on the BBC. But having that media presence bolstered her credibility, apparently. It made it difficult to take her on, so Govts. of all hues threw some money at her and let her get on with it - so they could say they were engaged with those who were engaged with Da Yoof.

But surely, when someone looks like Carmen Miranda at risk of imminent cardiac arrest in an exploding paint factory, the less gullible tend to think - what are they hiding? For me, the only role I would have had for her in working with kids was pictured on a health warning campaign: "Kids, this is what happens if you don't eat your five a day..."
This is where we differ. I might well be wrong, but I can't recall her spouting 'vacuous nothingness' when she first came to my attention. Perhaps that started later.

As I say below, I'd like to see interviews with her from ten or more years ago, at the time I first formed my opinions.

Unsurprisingly, the British Brainwashing Corporation was intimately associated with the relentless promotion of the make-believe of this multi-coloured mendicant.

Diversity is cool...

Diversity is smart ...

Diversity is good...

Diversity can do no wrong...

And the lickspittle politicians queued to write her cheques.

currystar · October 2015

Innocent_Abroad said:

currystar said:

DavidL said:

blackburn63 said:
Re kids company.

If this had happened exclusively under Labour the Tories on here would be apoplectic, but of course because Dave was chucking money around like confetti its brushed under the carpet. It seems that Mrs Cameron may, possibly, have used pillow talk in influencing her husband.

The whole thing stinks, somebody wrote on here last night about losing an elderly relative in an overstretched hospital while Batman and Yentob are whispering in the ears of ministers against the instructions of civil servants.
The reason I am apoplectic about Kids Company is that there have not yet been criminal charge of what is patently large scale fraud. The politicians, particularly Cameron, do not look very clever about this but their intentions were honest, unlike the management.

I think it is yet another body blow against the charity sector which has fallen further in public esteem in recent years than any other part of our public life. This is unfortunate but the stench of greed, self-serving and politicking has become overwhelming.
I stopped giving to charity years ago, simply because I lost trust in the people that ran them and the extraordinary salaries they were paying themselves. I just give to individuals now and cut out the middle man.
What do you mean? You encourage beggars?

I suppose I am, although I do try to work out the professional beggar to those in most need. My normal donations go to old chaps in Betting Shops who are a bit skint. I realise that they will probably just gamble it away but it least it gives them a bit of pleasure

Casino_Royale · October 2015

Cyclefree said:

DavidBrackenbury said:

Cyclefree said:

JEO said:

DecrepitJohnL said:

AndyJS said:
This is leading the BBC's news website:

"Collapsed charity Kids Company given £46m in public cash"

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34661273
What is the political import of this story? It's been all over pb for months but I still do not see how it affects betting on politics. Is it good for Corbyn, bad for Sturgeon? Does it impact the Conservative succession: was Osborne in favour but Boris against? Is this scandal the death knell of Cameron's big society?

I'm not trying to have a pop at anyone who's been regularly posting about KC but as the lawyers say, it all looks a bit sui generis.
It has political relevance for why Cameron was giving away so much money to someone without basic scrutiny.
Not just Cameron. Labour handed over money too. It's an example of a total waste of public money when politicians' eyes are dazzled by fantasists. It also makes me wonder how many other examples there are of money being paid over to less high profile organisations with equal lack of scrutiny. It's our money after all.
But once you get into a situation that it is down to Ministers to pull the plug, party politics get in the way. Hence the reluctance of Labour and Conservative and Coalition Ministers to do so. Eventually someone had to bite the bullet..

Yentob and Batmanghellgdh need to account for their actions and there should be pressure for them to do so.
Well, there is a police inquiry into allegations of child abuse. And the Charity Commission and those who are winding up the charity should also be taking action.

I'm a bit surprised anyone took this woman seriously. She had no therapeutic or professional training at all. Why would anyone put children, damaged or difficult children, with someone like that? It's the obvious first question to ask a charity headed by someone like that. Anyone who has or has dealt with a child with emotional or mental problems knows that good intentions are not enough: skilled experienced therapy and care is needed. Was there ever any evidence that Camilla or her acolytes had any of that?

Quite literally style and charisma over substance. Had she been more boring, less colourfully dressed and with a less flamboyant name, would any of this have happened?

Casino_Royale · October 2015

Sean_F said:

TCPoliticalBetting said:

Sean_F said:

Morris_Dancer said:
Mr. Dodd, important to get the plumbing in order to avoid burst pipes.
I enjoyed your piece on the Macedonian She Wolves.

If you haven't read it, I'd recommend Funeral Games, by Mary Renault, which covers this period. It's extremely gripping, but so dark I can only bring myself to read it about once a decade.
I second that. Her books were an essential element on one holiday on a greek island.
Even more than in A Game of Thrones, every half-decent character gets stamped on mercilessly.

I just finished S3 of Games of Thrones.

To be honest, I'm finding it a bit much now: I don't want to see a man's penis being sliced off, or a pregnant woman being stabbed to death through her unborn baby.

DavidBrackenbury · October 2015

Image is key!

Casino_Royale · October 2015

rcs1000 said:

Cyclefree said:

JEO said:

DecrepitJohnL said:

AndyJS said:
This is leading the BBC's news website:

"Collapsed charity Kids Company given £46m in public cash"

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34661273
What is the political import of this story? It's been all over pb for months but I still do not see how it affects betting on politics. Is it good for Corbyn, bad for Sturgeon? Does it impact the Conservative succession: was Osborne in favour but Boris against? Is this scandal the death knell of Cameron's big society?

I'm not trying to have a pop at anyone who's been regularly posting about KC but as the lawyers say, it all looks a bit sui generis.
It has political relevance for why Cameron was giving away so much money to someone without basic scrutiny.
Not just Cameron. Labour handed over money too. It's an example of a total waste of public money when politicians' eyes are dazzled by fantasists. It also makes me wonder how many other examples there are of money being paid over to less high profile organisations with equal lack of scrutiny. It's our money after all.
I'm not sure the government should give money to charities, full stop. The whole point of charities is that they enable people to do something good - in a tax efficient manner - that is not being provided by the government. If people aren't willing to give money, either it should be the government's responsibility to do it directly, or it shouldn't be done. There should be no "half way house" where the government gives the money, but someone else spends it.

I think the Kids Company exposed another issue. Certain people take on "charity boards" like baubles. Being associated with a high profile charity is seen as a good way of boosting one's career, prestige, etc.

But I think in many cases there is minimal genuine oversight of the activities of charities. There needs to be a change in both law and perception: being on the board of a charity is about proper supervision to make sure that things are done in the correct way. This will make being a board member much harder and less attractive. But it should mean that charities are much better regulated.

It was a flag carrier for the Big Society. That's the political problem.

Sean_F · October 2015

Casino_Royale said:

Sean_F said:

TCPoliticalBetting said:

Sean_F said:

Morris_Dancer said:
Mr. Dodd, important to get the plumbing in order to avoid burst pipes.
I enjoyed your piece on the Macedonian She Wolves.

If you haven't read it, I'd recommend Funeral Games, by Mary Renault, which covers this period. It's extremely gripping, but so dark I can only bring myself to read it about once a decade.
I second that. Her books were an essential element on one holiday on a greek island.
Even more than in A Game of Thrones, every half-decent character gets stamped on mercilessly.

I just finished S3 of Games of Thrones.

To be honest, I'm finding it a bit much now: I don't want to see a man's penis being sliced off, or a pregnant woman being stabbed to death through her unborn baby.

Those are just love pats, compared to what follows.

Morris_Dancer · October 2015

Mr. Brackenbury, aye. I'm convinced that the title, cover (and perhaps author name) make a critical difference to a book's sales.

Mr. Royale, whilst I enjoy Game of Thrones a lot, you may wish to stop now. Episode 8 of Season 4 has an ending which, even though I knew it was coming, was pretty extreme.

Casino_Royale · October 2015

Sean_F said:

Casino_Royale said:

Sean_F said:

TCPoliticalBetting said:

Sean_F said:

Morris_Dancer said:
Mr. Dodd, important to get the plumbing in order to avoid burst pipes.
I enjoyed your piece on the Macedonian She Wolves.

If you haven't read it, I'd recommend Funeral Games, by Mary Renault, which covers this period. It's extremely gripping, but so dark I can only bring myself to read it about once a decade.
I second that. Her books were an essential element on one holiday on a greek island.
Even more than in A Game of Thrones, every half-decent character gets stamped on mercilessly.

I just finished S3 of Games of Thrones.

To be honest, I'm finding it a bit much now: I don't want to see a man's penis being sliced off, or a pregnant woman being stabbed to death through her unborn baby.
Those are just love pats, compared to what follows.

Thanks for the warning. Not sure I'll continue.

TheScreamingEagles · October 2015

Casino_Royale said:

Sean_F said:

Casino_Royale said:

Sean_F said:

TCPoliticalBetting said:

Sean_F said:

Morris_Dancer said:
Mr. Dodd, important to get the plumbing in order to avoid burst pipes.
I enjoyed your piece on the Macedonian She Wolves.

If you haven't read it, I'd recommend Funeral Games, by Mary Renault, which covers this period. It's extremely gripping, but so dark I can only bring myself to read it about once a decade.
I second that. Her books were an essential element on one holiday on a greek island.
Even more than in A Game of Thrones, every half-decent character gets stamped on mercilessly.

I just finished S3 of Games of Thrones.

To be honest, I'm finding it a bit much now: I don't want to see a man's penis being sliced off, or a pregnant woman being stabbed to death through her unborn baby.
Those are just love pats, compared to what follows.
Thanks for the warning. Not sure I'll continue.

Did you enjoy SPECTRE?

NickPalmer · October 2015

When Hillary had what most people judged as a successful defence against the Congressional committee, I suggested that it wasn't going to have a lasting benefit, because it was still a defence. I feel the same about Rubio - he gives a vigorous defence of poor attendance, but it's basically hey, you excused other people's poor attendance too. The take-away story is that he has a poor attendance record.

BUT, I seem to have been wrong about Hillary, who has had a big poll jump since the hearing. And I wonder if that's because the media declared her the victor, and whether Rubio may benefit in just the same way?

MarqueeMark · October 2015

OldKingCole said:

MarqueeMark said:
I never did get Batmanghelidjh. She spouted vacuous nothingness in her many and varied outings on the BBC. But having that media presence bolstered her credibility, apparently. It made it difficult to take her on, so Govts. of all hues threw some money at her and let her get on with it - so they could say they were engaged with those who were engaged with Da Yoof.

But surely, when someone looks like Carmen Miranda at risk of imminent cardiac arrest in an exploding paint factory, the less gullible tend to think - what are they hiding? For me, the only role I would have had for her in working with kids was pictured on a health warning campaign: "Kids, this is what happens if you don't eat your five a day..."
Mr M you and I have often disagreed, and no doubt will do so again, but on this occasion I couldn’t agree more. Never liked the woman from the first time she came onto TV.

I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.....

Tim_B · October 2015

CNN has now joined Fox and said that Yes, Republicans are right to be angry at the way CNBC set up the debate and questioning last night.

CNBC has issued a 1 sentence statement in response to the firestorm now engulfing it from all sides - I think I have it verbatim - "Candidates for POTUS should be able to answer difficult questions." That's it.

Here's a sample review of the debate.

http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2015/10/cnbc-gop-debate-criticism

a couple of tweets featured in the article..

Wow. Cruz made the only good point at this debate, which is that the moderation is shit.

I hate Ted Cruz with the power of a million chainsaws revving but I agree with everything he just said.

Sean_F · October 2015

Morris_Dancer said:
Mr. Brackenbury, aye. I'm convinced that the title, cover (and perhaps author name) make a critical difference to a book's sales.

Mr. Royale, whilst I enjoy Game of Thrones a lot, you may wish to stop now. Episode 8 of Season 4 has an ending which, even though I knew it was coming, was pretty extreme.

Season 5, Episode 9 has perhaps the most horrific scene I've ever witnessed.

Casino_Royale · October 2015

TheScreamingEagles said:

Casino_Royale said:

Sean_F said:

Casino_Royale said:

Sean_F said:

TCPoliticalBetting said:

Sean_F said:

Morris_Dancer said:
Mr. Dodd, important to get the plumbing in order to avoid burst pipes.
I enjoyed your piece on the Macedonian She Wolves.

If you haven't read it, I'd recommend Funeral Games, by Mary Renault, which covers this period. It's extremely gripping, but so dark I can only bring myself to read it about once a decade.
I second that. Her books were an essential element on one holiday on a greek island.
Even more than in A Game of Thrones, every half-decent character gets stamped on mercilessly.

I just finished S3 of Games of Thrones.

To be honest, I'm finding it a bit much now: I don't want to see a man's penis being sliced off, or a pregnant woman being stabbed to death through her unborn baby.
Those are just love pats, compared to what follows.
Thanks for the warning. Not sure I'll continue.
Did you enjoy SPECTRE?

Yes, very much - did you see my 'review' about 10.30pm last night FPT?

TheScreamingEagles · October 2015

On topic, Rubio as candidates makes it more likely that the Republicans take Florida which in turns boosts their chances of taking back the White House, so that also should help him.

TheScreamingEagles · October 2015

Casino_Royale said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

Casino_Royale said:

Sean_F said:

Casino_Royale said:

Sean_F said:

TCPoliticalBetting said:

Sean_F said:

Morris_Dancer said:
Mr. Dodd, important to get the plumbing in order to avoid burst pipes.
I enjoyed your piece on the Macedonian She Wolves.

If you haven't read it, I'd recommend Funeral Games, by Mary Renault, which covers this period. It's extremely gripping, but so dark I can only bring myself to read it about once a decade.
I second that. Her books were an essential element on one holiday on a greek island.
Even more than in A Game of Thrones, every half-decent character gets stamped on mercilessly.

I just finished S3 of Games of Thrones.

To be honest, I'm finding it a bit much now: I don't want to see a man's penis being sliced off, or a pregnant woman being stabbed to death through her unborn baby.
Those are just love pats, compared to what follows.
Thanks for the warning. Not sure I'll continue.
Did you enjoy SPECTRE?
Yes, very much - did you see my 'review' about 10.30pm last night FPT?

No I haven't, I'll check it out now.

Glad you enjoyed it. Had a feeling you would.

Tim_B · October 2015

Wow - even ultra-liberal MSNBC (they give race baiter Al Sharpton a daily show) has just come out and said that Republicans should be angry at the moderators of the CNBC debate on their sister network.

Pulpstar · October 2015

@Tim_B Is online gambling banned in the USA btw ? The law around gambling seems completely odd - I didn't get the Fantasy Football question at the time as it conjured up memories of sending a team off with a £2 entry fee on a postcard to the Daily Telegraph or some such.

isam · October 2015

Pulpstar said:
@Tim_B Is online gambling banned in the USA btw ? The law around gambling seems completely odd - I didn't get the Fantasy Football question at the time as it conjured up memories of sending a team off with a £2 entry fee on a postcard to the Daily Telegraph or some such.

Fantasy Football is the way round gambling in the U.S. isn't it? Weekly big prizes instead of yearly

About to be the next big thing here I'm told

Pulpstar · October 2015

@isam Fantasy football has never really been about money in the UK though ! Know loads of players who aren't really gamblers

Is why the question sounded so odd

Pulpstar · October 2015

Offtopic

My colleague is going to see Spectre at Cineworld at 8:10 tonight.

One Direction's final concert is also in Sheffield. Told him he's making a big error

Andy_Cooke · October 2015

Sean_F said:

Morris_Dancer said:
Mr. Brackenbury, aye. I'm convinced that the title, cover (and perhaps author name) make a critical difference to a book's sales.

Mr. Royale, whilst I enjoy Game of Thrones a lot, you may wish to stop now. Episode 8 of Season 4 has an ending which, even though I knew it was coming, was pretty extreme.
Season 5, Episode 9 has perhaps the most horrific scene I've ever witnessed.

Ah, yes. That particular episode broke me of defending the TV series. Not only was it a horrific scene, they completely butchered (in the literary sense, I hasten to add) one particular character and made a number of prior scenes and decisions inconsistent.

I doubt I'll watch Season 6

AlastairMeeks · October 2015

isam said:

Pulpstar said:
@Tim_B Is online gambling banned in the USA btw ? The law around gambling seems completely odd - I didn't get the Fantasy Football question at the time as it conjured up memories of sending a team off with a £2 entry fee on a postcard to the Daily Telegraph or some such.
Fantasy Football is the way round gambling in the U.S. isn't it? Weekly big prizes instead of yearly

About to be the next big thing here I'm told

When I was in the US in September it was being plugged as relentlessly as the betting ads on Sky Sports. Presumably its legality is dependent on it being a game of skill rather than a game of chance.

TheScreamingEagles · October 2015

Pulpstar said:
Offtopic

My colleague is going to see Spectre at Cineworld at 8:10 tonight.

One Direction's final concert is also in Sheffield. Told him he's making a big error

One Direction's final concert is on Saturday.

I'm seeing One Direction tonight.

Pulpstar · October 2015

antifrank said:

When I was in the US in September it was being plugged as relentlessly as the betting ads on Sky Sports. Presumably its legality is dependent on it being a game of skill rather than a game of chance.

So is betting on the nags in the long run ! Or anything for that matter.

Tim_B · October 2015

Pulpstar said:
@Tim_B Is online gambling banned in the USA btw ? The law around gambling seems completely odd - I didn't get the Fantasy Football question at the time as it conjured up memories of sending a team off with a £2 entry fee on a postcard to the Daily Telegraph or some such.

The sports leagues furiously lobbied to have DFS (daily fantasy sports) to NOT be gambling. It has exploded here. There are 2 main sites - Draft Kings and Fan Duel. They will pay out $2 billions this season.

Major League Baseball has an ownership stake in one of the sites. One of the dirty little secrets is that fantasy players will watch the games their fantasy players are in. In other words it boosts ratings for poor games, particularly football.

It's a standing rule that employees cannot bet on their own sites. But they played on each other's sites using key stroke software to upload thousands of fantasy teams in a few minutes. They also won a lot of money. That's the reason that the government is taking an interest and exploring regulation.

It's hard to look dispassionately and say it's not gambling.

Pulpstar · October 2015

TheScreamingEagles said:

I'm seeing One Direction tonight.

Blimey, I could understand if you'd bought a ticket to flog at the gates for a big profit but you're actually going to watch them o_O ?!

malcolmg · October 2015

JosiasJessop said:

MarqueeMark said:
I never did get Batmanghelidjh. She spouted vacuous nothingness in her many and varied outings on the BBC. But having that media presence bolstered her credibility, apparently. It made it difficult to take her on, so Govts. of all hues threw some money at her and let her get on with it - so they could say they were engaged with those who were engaged with Da Yoof.

But surely, when someone looks like Carmen Miranda at risk of imminent cardiac arrest in an exploding paint factory, the less gullible tend to think - what are they hiding? For me, the only role I would have had for her in working with kids was pictured on a health warning campaign: "Kids, this is what happens if you don't eat your five a day..."
This is where we differ. I might well be wrong, but I can't recall her spouting 'vacuous nothingness' when she first came to my attention. Perhaps that started later.

As I say below, I'd like to see interviews with her from ten or more years ago, at the time I first formed my opinions.

I agree with MM , she came across as a pompous full of herself windbag. Full of wind and piss about how great she was, a con artist.

malcolmg · October 2015

TheScreamingEagles said:

Pulpstar said:
Offtopic

My colleague is going to see Spectre at Cineworld at 8:10 tonight.

One Direction's final concert is also in Sheffield. Told him he's making a big error
One Direction's final concert is on Saturday.

I'm seeing One Direction tonight.

How sad is that for anyone over the age of ten

TOPPING · October 2015

A friend recently joined a charit and I read through the accounts. I couldn't understand why they were so fixated on reserves. Now I see why.

TheScreamingEagles · October 2015

Pulpstar said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

I'm seeing One Direction tonight.
Blimey, I could understand if you'd bought a ticket to flog at the gates for a big profit but you're actually going to watch them o_O ?!

I'm doing penance. I understand the tickets I bought for £60 each were/are going for £1000 a pop.

Means I miss the PB bash too.

I may be one of the few people who will have attended Girls Aloud and One Direction's final ever gigs.

runnymede · October 2015

Re, charities the original idea years ago was that well-run charities like Barnados might bid for some public contracts. This seems to have been perverted into a general spraying of money at pet projects by ministers. Frankly, I think the ministers responsible should be personally surcharged.

But if we did that we would have to call them to account for the far vaster frauds they finance via our payments to the EU...

Tim_B · October 2015

TheScreamingEagles said:

Pulpstar said:
Offtopic

My colleague is going to see Spectre at Cineworld at 8:10 tonight.

One Direction's final concert is also in Sheffield. Told him he's making a big error
One Direction's final concert is on Saturday.

I'm seeing One Direction tonight.

Michael Jackson thought Boyz II Men was a delivery service........

Morris_Dancer · October 2015

Mr. Cooke, and Mr. F, hmm/ I haven't pre-ordered the season 5 DVD yet. Do you think it might be better stopping now?

isam · October 2015

Pulpstar said:
@isam Fantasy football has never really been about money in the UK though ! Know loads of players who aren't really gamblers

Is why the question sounded so odd

All the better for people who play that are gamblers if the weekly prizes are huge.. Bit like the jackpot or scoop 6

I sent that dough yesterday by the way, sorry I forgot on Monday

Speaking of money owed, what happened to @Neil ? Will he be at the drinks tonight? He always was, his bezzy mates used to go on about meeting up w him I seem to recall

david_herdson · October 2015

Tim_B said:

david_herdson said:

Tim_B said:

Innocent_Abroad said:

david_herdson said:

Innocent_Abroad said:
Rubio's too short.
Taller than Hillary though, so it doesn't matter. Were he debating Obama, it might be different.
Dunno how the rule applies with a female nominee - there's never been one

Geraldine Ferraro ran for veep
So did Palin.
But Ferraro couldn't see Russia from her bedroom

I'd forgotten about Palin......

Perhaps for the best. Ferraro is only memorable as 'the first female on a presidential ticket' - who knows anything else about her? Guardians of Palin's reputation might aspire for it to achieve that kind of pub-quiz anonymity!

richardDodd · October 2015

Re Batman..my con alert system went into beep overload as soon as I saw her and my suspicions were confirmed at the moment she started spouting gobblywank..A total con artist..

Pulpstar · October 2015

TheScreamingEagles said:

Pulpstar said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

I'm seeing One Direction tonight.
Blimey, I could understand if you'd bought a ticket to flog at the gates for a big profit but you're actually going to watch them o_O ?!
I'm doing penance. I understand the tickets I bought for £60 each were/are going for £1000 a pop.

Means I miss the PB bash too.

I may be one of the few people who will have attended Girls Aloud and One Direction's final ever gigs.

How old is your date.

DavidBrackenbury · October 2015

Off topic, I am looking forward to this evening's festivities with a mixture of fascination and worry. I have a mind's eye image of everyone and will there be ... Changes? Are you the titanic beasts I imagine? Shall the floor be covered in gnawed bones? Actually, after the Game of Thrones references just now, I rather hope not!!! Later...

TheScreamingEagles · October 2015

Pulpstar said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

Pulpstar said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

I'm seeing One Direction tonight.
Blimey, I could understand if you'd bought a ticket to flog at the gates for a big profit but you're actually going to watch them o_O ?!
I'm doing penance. I understand the tickets I bought for £60 each were/are going for £1000 a pop.

Means I miss the PB bash too.

I may be one of the few people who will have attended Girls Aloud and One Direction's final ever gigs.
How old is your date.

23

isam · October 2015

antifrank said:

isam said:

Pulpstar said:
@Tim_B Is online gambling banned in the USA btw ? The law around gambling seems completely odd - I didn't get the Fantasy Football question at the time as it conjured up memories of sending a team off with a £2 entry fee on a postcard to the Daily Telegraph or some such.
Fantasy Football is the way round gambling in the U.S. isn't it? Weekly big prizes instead of yearly

About to be the next big thing here I'm told
When I was in the US in September it was being plugged as relentlessly as the betting ads on Sky Sports. Presumably its legality is dependent on it being a game of skill rather than a game of chance.

I guess so... It is betting really... The people I work with are quite excited about the prospect of daily prizes here... they are big in the tote jackpot and scoop 6, and we work a lot on player stats betting, so could be big

Pulpstar · October 2015

Good old Victor still 6-1 on Rubio for the presidency. Technically it's a buy. I have an account in good order there if anyone wants to put some on btw (Trusted PBers I've dealt with before only, sorry on this offer)

TheScreamingEagles · October 2015

As someone who always, proudly wears a poppy, I really do get annoyed with Poppy fascism.

@SkyNews: Barbara Windsor's message to people who don't wear a poppy? 'They can sod off.' #LDNPoppyDay https://t.co/k1joDAvgR2 https://t.co/BN1Cblc9CY

TOPPING · October 2015

Pulpstar said:
Offtopic

My colleague is going to see Spectre at Cineworld at 8:10 tonight.

One Direction's final concert is also in Sheffield. Told him he's making a big error

I mentioned this last night, perhaps at the witching hour, but it really really really worth while going to see or streaming Beasts of No Nation.

It is a pretty gruelling tale of child soldiers and as they say really does pull no punches. The phenomenon of child soldiers is one of the most egregious horrors of our age, IMO, and it is great that a "mainstream" (Netflix but being mentioned in terms of Oscar nominations) film addresses it head on.

DecrepitJohnL · October 2015

antifrank said:

isam said:

Pulpstar said:
@Tim_B Is online gambling banned in the USA btw ? The law around gambling seems completely odd - I didn't get the Fantasy Football question at the time as it conjured up memories of sending a team off with a £2 entry fee on a postcard to the Daily Telegraph or some such.
Fantasy Football is the way round gambling in the U.S. isn't it? Weekly big prizes instead of yearly

About to be the next big thing here I'm told
When I was in the US in September it was being plugged as relentlessly as the betting ads on Sky Sports. Presumably its legality is dependent on it being a game of skill rather than a game of chance.

Surely that can't be right: poker and horses are also games of skill. Cynics would say the US Government's main objection to online gambling is that it was mainly run from abroad.

Pulpstar · October 2015

Kate Hoey was talking real sense on the Radio this morning. Making a good case for out.

Tim_B · October 2015

DecrepitJohnL said:

antifrank said:

isam said:

Pulpstar said:
@Tim_B Is online gambling banned in the USA btw ? The law around gambling seems completely odd - I didn't get the Fantasy Football question at the time as it conjured up memories of sending a team off with a £2 entry fee on a postcard to the Daily Telegraph or some such.
Fantasy Football is the way round gambling in the U.S. isn't it? Weekly big prizes instead of yearly

About to be the next big thing here I'm told
When I was in the US in September it was being plugged as relentlessly as the betting ads on Sky Sports. Presumably its legality is dependent on it being a game of skill rather than a game of chance.
Surely that can't be right: poker and horses are also games of skill. Cynics would say the US Government's main objection to online gambling is that it was mainly run from abroad.

Yes, Uncle Sam made it illegal to do online gambling on a US based credit card.

chestnut · October 2015

Britain Elects ‏@britainelects 6m6 minutes ago
EU referendum poll:
Remain: 45% (+1)
Leave: 38% (-)
(via ICM / 23 - 25 Oct)

DecrepitJohnL · October 2015

AndyJS said:

blackburn63 said:
Re kids company.

If this had happened exclusively under Labour the Tories on here would be apoplectic, but of course because Dave was chucking money around like confetti its brushed under the carpet. It seems that Mrs Cameron may, possibly, have used pillow talk in influencing her husband.

The whole thing stinks, somebody wrote on here last night about losing an elderly relative in an overstretched hospital while Batman and Yentob are whispering in the ears of ministers against the instructions of civil servants.
What I can't help noticing is that the same people who don't think we should get angry about this and don't want to talk about it tend to be the same people who do get worked up about a white van man dodging a few pounds here and there on his tax bill.

Which people? You can get as angry as you like. I merely questioned where it was leading: what is the betting angle?

Kids Company is a Rorschach test scandal. Different people take it to show David Cameron shouldn't be allowed out on his own, or that the BBC should be closed down. Charities should be small with no overheads, or large with extensive financial controls and professional management. Charities should have large reserves or minimal ones. And so on.

Scott_P · October 2015

@thomasknox: Spectre is worst Bond EVER. No plot. No sex. No jokes. 150 minutes. The exciting gizmo was an "exploding watch" https://t.co/Tg6eExX9CS

Tim_B · October 2015

The next Republican debate is in 2 weeks on Fox Business Network. I believe the moderators will be the same as the first Fox News debate.

Cromwell · October 2015

Rubio is the obvious nomonee and probably the only one capable of beating Hillary ; he is young , dynamic and ''Kennedy-esque''..it is ironic that a Rubio/Clinton runoff will be the opposite of the Obama /Mccain insomuch that now there is a young smooth talking Republican taking on an aging establishment figure
Furthermore , Hillary has such a smug and preening sense of entitlement ; she is like an aging actress or former Rock Star who cannot accept that she is just not wanted anymore !

DecrepitJohnL · October 2015

Scott_P said:
@thomasknox: Spectre is worst Bond EVER. No plot. No sex. No jokes. 150 minutes. The exciting gizmo was an "exploding watch" https://t.co/Tg6eExX9CS

Spectre does divide the crowd.

Pulpstar · October 2015

Offtopic speaking of fantasy sports I've gone for the following Jumps stable this NH season !

Don Cossack; Vautour; Un De Sceuax
Faugheen; Douvan; Annie Power
Vibrato Valtat; Ma Filleule; Tea for Two
Many Clouds; Rocky Creek; Unioniste
Admiral Bob; Solway Bay; Nebula Storm.

Luckyguy1983 · October 2015

ReggieCide said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

DaemonBarber said:

HurstLlama said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

No, because overall health is key. Chronic diseases that coincide with age are not inevitable. If people are healthy, robust, and free of sickness until very late in life, they will cost the NHS less. It's being ill and weak but treatable where the problem lies. Most here seem to be advocating not treating - I'm advocating not being sick.

Alas, it is those chronic illnesses that are contracted in later life that are so expensive. You can eat well, exercise and follow every fad you like but at some stage your body will, in some way, start to fail. You may advocate not contracting, say, dementia but you cannot decide whether you will or will not spend the last years of your live as a drooling vegetable in a nursing home. Nor can you decide whether you will or will not contract some viral disease for which there is no cure but which can be managed.
The NHS spends huge amounts treating conditions related to diet, type 2 diabetes etc. If we weren't spending so much on this, then later life illnesses would not be unaffordable.
Also cancer, allergic conditions, pregnancy complications and childhood illnesses - all running wild. All to a great extent a result of aspects of modern lifestyles.

Where's the research into cancer prevention vs. cancer treatment? Could this be because there's no money in prevention but treatment is a gravy train?
no money in prevention but treatment is a gravy train

What are you on?

Was something unclear? Cancer has spiralled out of all control in recent years. This is due to lifestyle and environmental factors. But instead of addressing these factors, we have a massive campaign to find 'a cure', which is actually (as cancers are all different) a campaign to fund a series of therapies to use once people have cancer. Surely it would be far more economical to focus on removing those factors which are causing cancers - but this would involve
1. Confronting huge cosmetic, pharmaceutical and food corporations, and potentially banning their products.
2. Decimating the vast cancer industry

More about prevention here:
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2005/04/13/cancer-risk-part-one.aspx

TheScreamingEagles · October 2015

Scott_P said:
@thomasknox: Spectre is worst Bond EVER. No plot. No sex. No jokes. 150 minutes. The exciting gizmo was an "exploding watch" https://t.co/Tg6eExX9CS

No jokes ?

Well we know what C stands for.

MarqueeMark · October 2015

Sean_F said:

Morris_Dancer said:
Mr. Brackenbury, aye. I'm convinced that the title, cover (and perhaps author name) make a critical difference to a book's sales.

Mr. Royale, whilst I enjoy Game of Thrones a lot, you may wish to stop now. Episode 8 of Season 4 has an ending which, even though I knew it was coming, was pretty extreme.
Season 5, Episode 9 has perhaps the most horrific scene I've ever witnessed.

I imagine that was particularly hard to watch for any parent.

That said, the previous episode - with the attack by the White Walkers - was exceptionally good.

Pulpstar · October 2015

MarqueeMark said:

Sean_F said:

Morris_Dancer said:
Mr. Brackenbury, aye. I'm convinced that the title, cover (and perhaps author name) make a critical difference to a book's sales.

Mr. Royale, whilst I enjoy Game of Thrones a lot, you may wish to stop now. Episode 8 of Season 4 has an ending which, even though I knew it was coming, was pretty extreme.
Season 5, Episode 9 has perhaps the most horrific scene I've ever witnessed.
I imagine that was particularly hard to watch for any parent.

That said, the previous episode - with the attack by the White Walkers - was exceptionally good.

S5E9: Needs must, and all that. It was a gamble he needed to take !

isam · October 2015

Some people will think they enjoy a film because they are hooked on the franchise.... Much like political parties and their policies

TheScreamingEagles · October 2015

@chrisshipitv: BREAKING: Sir John Chilcot's Iraq Inquiry FINALLY has a date. It will be published. But not until June/July. SEVEN years after it started

Scott_P · October 2015

TheScreamingEagles said:
No jokes ?

Well we know what C stands for.

The jokes, both of them, were just about the only thing I liked about it

Theuniondivvie · October 2015

Harry Aagaard Evans ‏@HarryAEvans 3 mins3 minutes ago
Watched #SPECTRE last night. It was pretty farfetched... They all owned their own flats in London like that's an actual thing.

MarqueeMark · October 2015

Scott_P said:
@thomasknox: Spectre is worst Bond EVER. No plot. No sex. No jokes. 150 minutes. The exciting gizmo was an "exploding watch" https://t.co/Tg6eExX9CS

I know they had real problems with the script of SPECTRE. Part way through filming they were reportedly begging previous writers to come on board...which is never a good sign. That said, surely it can't be as bad as Quantum of Solace - which made no sense AT ALL. What was with the exploding fireball of a hotel? Tha they get blown out of through a wall. And Bond crashing a plane into a sink hole in the desert, which he and the love-interest climb out of and are magically back in civilization in moments - despite the main baddy later being left in a said desert to walk to his dehydrating fate.

The only reason I know this is that I watched it again recently. Despite seeing it in the cinema, it had left no memories with me whatsover.

Theuniondivvie · October 2015

TheScreamingEagles said:
@chrisshipitv: BREAKING: Sir John Chilcot's Iraq Inquiry FINALLY has a date. It will be published. But not until June/July. SEVEN years after it started

Looks like Tony's 'apology' spin was a little premature.

AlastairMeeks · October 2015

DecrepitJohnL said:

antifrank said:

isam said:

Pulpstar said:
@Tim_B Is online gambling banned in the USA btw ? The law around gambling seems completely odd - I didn't get the Fantasy Football question at the time as it conjured up memories of sending a team off with a £2 entry fee on a postcard to the Daily Telegraph or some such.
Fantasy Football is the way round gambling in the U.S. isn't it? Weekly big prizes instead of yearly

About to be the next big thing here I'm told
When I was in the US in September it was being plugged as relentlessly as the betting ads on Sky Sports. Presumably its legality is dependent on it being a game of skill rather than a game of chance.
Surely that can't be right: poker and horses are also games of skill. Cynics would say the US Government's main objection to online gambling is that it was mainly run from abroad.

In Britain, poker is legally not just a game of skill:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6267603.stm

Bridge is a game of skill. You can add your own comment about the class system here if you like. However, you can find similar judgments in the US:

http://law.justia.com/cases/california/supreme-court/2d/59/5.html

TheScreamingEagles · October 2015

Scott_P said:

TheScreamingEagles said:
No jokes ?

Well we know what C stands for.
The jokes, both of them, were just about the only thing I liked about it

Eventually you'll like the film.

The thing about the Craig era films is the lack of gizmos. I thought the Brosnan era was too reliant on gizmos and gadgets to the detriment of the characters.

Scott_P · October 2015

MarqueeMark said:
What was with the exploding fireball of a hotel? Tha they get blown out of through a wall. And Bond crashing a plane into a sink hole in the desert, which he and the love-interest climb out of and are magically back in civilization in moments - despite the main baddy later being left in a said desert to walk to his dehydrating fate.

If only Spectre had as much substance as that...

Scott_P · October 2015

TheScreamingEagles said:
Eventually you'll like the film.

Possibly, but unlikely.

I saw Skyfall 3 times in short succession. I would happily have sat through it again as soon as I saw it the first time.

I couldn't wait for Spectre to end

TheScreamingEagles · October 2015

Theuniondivvie said:
Harry Aagaard Evans ‏@HarryAEvans 3 mins3 minutes ago
Watched #SPECTRE last night. It was pretty farfetched... They all owned their own flats in London like that's an actual thing.

These public sector jobs pay so much more than the private sector so it plausible.

I mean 009 was getting a 3 million quid company car.

Plato_Says · October 2015

That reminds me of 51st State - a terrible film that I think starred Bruce Willis. We were stopped at a routine police checkpoint on the way back from the film, and I couldn't tell the officer what the movie was about, but that it was dire.

MarqueeMark said:

Scott_P said:
@thomasknox: Spectre is worst Bond EVER. No plot. No sex. No jokes. 150 minutes. The exciting gizmo was an "exploding watch" https://t.co/Tg6eExX9CS
I know they had real problems with the script of SPECTRE. Part way through filming they were reportedly begging previous writers to come on board...which is never a good sign. That said, surely it can't be as bad as Quantum of Solace - which made no sense AT ALL. What was with the exploding fireball of a hotel? Tha they get blown out of through a wall. And Bond crashing a plane into a sink hole in the desert, which he and the love-interest climb out of and are magically back in civilization in moments - despite the main baddy later being left in a said desert to walk to his dehydrating fate.

The only reason I know this is that I watched it again recently. Despite seeing it in the cinema, it had left no memories with me whatsover.

Scott_P · October 2015

MarqueeMark said:
I know they had real problems with the script of SPECTRE. Part way through filming they were reportedly begging previous writers to come on board...which is never a good sign.

What's interesting about that is that the Spectre that emerged looks like nothing more than a rehash of Bond's greatest hits. I can't recall a single scene that hasn't appeared in a previous Bond film

I might be entertaining to recreate the film using only cuts from the rest of the canon

Tim_B · October 2015

Interesting comment Morning Joe on MSNBC - It's Colorado so there should be pot in every chicken, not a chicken in every pot.

Tim_B · October 2015

Plato_Says said:
That reminds me of 51st State - a terrible film that I think starred Bruce Willis. We were stopped at a routine police checkpoint on the way back from the film, and I couldn't tell the officer what the movie was about, but that it was dire.

MarqueeMark said:

Scott_P said:
@thomasknox: Spectre is worst Bond EVER. No plot. No sex. No jokes. 150 minutes. The exciting gizmo was an "exploding watch" https://t.co/Tg6eExX9CS
I know they had real problems with the script of SPECTRE. Part way through filming they were reportedly begging previous writers to come on board...which is never a good sign. That said, surely it can't be as bad as Quantum of Solace - which made no sense AT ALL. What was with the exploding fireball of a hotel? Tha they get blown out of through a wall. And Bond crashing a plane into a sink hole in the desert, which he and the love-interest climb out of and are magically back in civilization in moments - despite the main baddy later being left in a said desert to walk to his dehydrating fate.

The only reason I know this is that I watched it again recently. Despite seeing it in the cinema, it had left no memories with me whatsover.

OK, spill the beans - who is 'we'?

Plato_Says · October 2015

No one exciting - my husband at the time! It was such a bizarre thing to have no memory of the plot or what the movie was even called and we'd only left the cinema 10 mins before!

Tim_B said:

Plato_Says said:
That reminds me of 51st State - a terrible film that I think starred Bruce Willis. We were stopped at a routine police checkpoint on the way back from the film, and I couldn't tell the officer what the movie was about, but that it was dire.

MarqueeMark said:

Scott_P said:
@thomasknox: Spectre is worst Bond EVER. No plot. No sex. No jokes. 150 minutes. The exciting gizmo was an "exploding watch" https://t.co/Tg6eExX9CS
I know they had real problems with the script of SPECTRE. Part way through filming they were reportedly begging previous writers to come on board...which is never a good sign. That said, surely it can't be as bad as Quantum of Solace - which made no sense AT ALL. What was with the exploding fireball of a hotel? Tha they get blown out of through a wall. And Bond crashing a plane into a sink hole in the desert, which he and the love-interest climb out of and are magically back in civilization in moments - despite the main baddy later being left in a said desert to walk to his dehydrating fate.

The only reason I know this is that I watched it again recently. Despite seeing it in the cinema, it had left no memories with me whatsover.

OK, spill the beans - who is 'we'?

Pulpstar · October 2015

@Antifrank Leaving aside the legal rulings....

There is:

Games of skill:
Go; Chess - Where perfect play will win you every game, every time.

Games of 'luck'
Backgammon; Poker - where perfect play will win over time, but not every time.

Is bridge the first or second category ? Does perfect play win every time in bridge

?

TheScreamingEagles · October 2015

Pulpstar said:
@Antifrank Leaving aside the legal rulings....

There is:

Games of skill:
Go; Chess - Where perfect play will win you every game, every time.

Games of 'luck'
Backgammon; Poker - where perfect play will win over time, but not every time.

Is bridge the first or second category ?

Bridge is more like sex.

If you haven't got a good partner then you're going to need a good hand.

TheScreamingEagles · October 2015

@BBCBreaking: China decides to end decades-long one-child policy, Xinhua news agency reports https://t.co/Lli3d7qQ2s

Barnesian · October 2015

DecrepitJohnL said:

Scott_P said:
@thomasknox: Spectre is worst Bond EVER. No plot. No sex. No jokes. 150 minutes. The exciting gizmo was an "exploding watch" https://t.co/Tg6eExX9CS
Spectre does divide the crowd.

After all the hype I was a bit disappointed with Spectre. I preferred Skyfall. Perhaps because of Adele. Also - I'm really not interested in cars and can't tell one make from another.

Sean_F · October 2015

Andy_Cooke said:

Sean_F said:

Morris_Dancer said:
Mr. Brackenbury, aye. I'm convinced that the title, cover (and perhaps author name) make a critical difference to a book's sales.

Mr. Royale, whilst I enjoy Game of Thrones a lot, you may wish to stop now. Episode 8 of Season 4 has an ending which, even though I knew it was coming, was pretty extreme.
Season 5, Episode 9 has perhaps the most horrific scene I've ever witnessed.
Ah, yes. That particular episode broke me of defending the TV series. Not only was it a horrific scene, they completely butchered (in the literary sense, I hasten to add) one particular character and made a number of prior scenes and decisions inconsistent.

I doubt I'll watch Season 6

The producers have said they disliked that particular character. What I do find strange is the way they've opted to change the personalities of some major characters, compared to the books. Some of them (Tyrion, Cersei,) are significantly nicer; others (Daenerys, Stannis, Melisandre) significantly worse.

TheScreamingEagles · October 2015

This is the sort of thing that will damage Leave.

Major blow for Brexit campaign as US rules out UK-only trade deal

http://bit.ly/1RCNlfe

Sean_F · October 2015

Morris_Dancer said:
Mr. Cooke, and Mr. F, hmm/ I haven't pre-ordered the season 5 DVD yet. Do you think it might be better stopping now?

I've only seen parts of Season 5 on Youtube. I'll still order it on DVD, but it's attracted significantly more criticism than the other series'.

FrancisUrquhart · October 2015

Re the Fantasy Sports stuff.

The reason it is legal, despite is being no different really to poker in terms of having elements of chance and skill game to game / hand to hand, but the pros win out in the end, is due to a specific carve out in the UIEGA.

The major sports lobbied hard to get an exception for fantasy sports, as the current format of fantasy sports game at that time was very much along the lines of pay your $10 and play for the season. Sold to the law makers as a long way from gambling, but also helps interest in the sports.

However, various companies have seen this loophole and created the daily fantasy sports products. These are much closer to traditional sports betting, albeit still different. You are effectively betting that you can pick a better team of players than your opponents, rather than betting on one particular real life team.

In the past year, big companies have pumped $100's million into two companies DraftKings and FanDuel, hence the constant adverts on US tv. However, there has been a reports of basically insider trader scandals i.e. employees from one site have been winning big on the other site and suspicion they have been using insider data in order to know how best to play the games.

This is shone a big spot light on what really is daily fantasy sports, basically gambling with a skill edge, and a long long way from the traditional play your few bucks to enter a fantasy league for the season.

Above and beyond the issue of strong anti-online gambling in US, there is one massive problem with the actual game. It is the pros enter 1000's of teams at all different buy-in levels every day. It is akin to sitting down at any poker table at any buy-in and having to play against a load of the best pros every time.

Tim_B · October 2015

Plato_Says said:
No one exciting - my husband at the time! It was such a bizarre thing to have no memory of the plot or what the movie was even called and we'd only left the cinema 10 mins before!
Tim_B said:

Plato_Says said:
That reminds me of 51st State - a terrible film that I think starred Bruce Willis. We were stopped at a routine police checkpoint on the way back from the film, and I couldn't tell the officer what the movie was about, but that it was dire.

MarqueeMark said:

Scott_P said:
@thomasknox: Spectre is worst Bond EVER. No plot. No sex. No jokes. 150 minutes. The exciting gizmo was an "exploding watch" https://t.co/Tg6eExX9CS
I know they had real problems with the script of SPECTRE. Part way through filming they were reportedly begging previous writers to come on board...which is never a good sign. That said, surely it can't be as bad as Quantum of Solace - which made no sense AT ALL. What was with the exploding fireball of a hotel? Tha they get blown out of through a wall. And Bond crashing a plane into a sink hole in the desert, which he and the love-interest climb out of and are magically back in civilization in moments - despite the main baddy later being left in a said desert to walk to his dehydrating fate.

The only reason I know this is that I watched it again recently. Despite seeing it in the cinema, it had left no memories with me whatsover.

OK, spill the beans - who is 'we'?

I find this with the Walking Dead. By the time the next episode comes on I've completely forgotten what happened last week. Watching Talking Dead, immediately after the episode, they talk about scenes I don't remember. It's a dirge of a series, and glacially slow plot wise.

Plato_Says · October 2015

I don't get Walking Dead at all, and nothing about it appeals to me after watching the start of S1. Cliches, ham acting, plot holes a JCB could hide in...

Tim_B said:

Plato_Says said:
No one exciting - my husband at the time! It was such a bizarre thing to have no memory of the plot or what the movie was even called and we'd only left the cinema 10 mins before!
Tim_B said:

Plato_Says said:
That reminds me of 51st State - a terrible film that I think starred Bruce Willis. We were stopped at a routine police checkpoint on the way back from the film, and I couldn't tell the officer what the movie was about, but that it was dire.

MarqueeMark said:

Scott_P said:
@thomasknox: Spectre is worst Bond EVER. No plot. No sex. No jokes. 150 minutes. The exciting gizmo was an "exploding watch" https://t.co/Tg6eExX9CS
I know they had real problems with the script of SPECTRE. Part way through filming they were reportedly begging previous writers to come on board...which is never a good sign. That said, surely it can't be as bad as Quantum of Solace - which made no sense AT ALL. What was with the exploding fireball of a hotel? Tha they get blown out of through a wall. And Bond crashing a plane into a sink hole in the desert, which he and the love-interest climb out of and are magically back in civilization in moments - despite the main baddy later being left in a said desert to walk to his dehydrating fate.

The only reason I know this is that I watched it again recently. Despite seeing it in the cinema, it had left no memories with me whatsover.

OK, spill the beans - who is 'we'?

I find this with the Walking Dead. By the time the next episode comes on I've completely forgotten what happened last week. Watching Talking Dead, immediately after the episode, they talk about scenes I don't remember. It's a dirge of a series, and glacially slow plot wise.

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