The way our politicians have played with our constitution since Blair it is remarkable that we are all still together. It seems to be a competition to see how far the elastic can be stretched before something seriously breaks.
I'm winding down now and will have little access to PCs as I visit my relatives, so until I return you'll just have to make mistakes uncorrected...:-) Until then I'll just leave you with this:
I'll just point out that the station in Sheffield is called "Sheffield Midland" and it is at the northern end of the Midland Main Line, served by East Midland Trains. The only possible conclusion is that Sheffield is in the Midlands, rather than the North.
I'll just point out that the station in Sheffield is called "Sheffield Midland" and it is at the northern end of the Midland Main Line, served by East Midland Trains. The only possible conclusion is that Sheffield is in the Midlands, rather than the North.
It's in the middle of a triad - Chesterfield, Sheffield, Wakefield - of crap places you don't want to go to, ending in "field".
I'll just point out that the station in Sheffield is called "Sheffield Midland" and it is at the northern end of the Midland Main Line, served by East Midland Trains. The only possible conclusion is that Sheffield is in the Midlands, rather than the North.
It's in the middle of a triad - Chesterfield, Sheffield, Wakefield - of crap places you don't want to go to, ending in "field".
Chesterfield at least has the crooked church spire, again visible from the train
I suppose we should just make federation official, with five nations, Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland, England, and London.
Not a bad idea. London is now so far removed from the rest of England in so many ways it really has become the "5th" country. Generally I'd be dead against carving England up (imagine if that had been proposed in Scotland or Wales - the howls of anguish!), after all it's been around since about 925AD, but London really is so "other" now I think I may have to revise my thinking.
I'd like the English Parliament to be situated somewhere like Nottingham.
I have finally got round to seeing Star Wars: The Force Awakens and in my opinion it is the worst Star Wars movie so far. The Phantom Menace was significantly better. I think we have reached peak Star Wars.
Mr. SE, not seen it (and probably won't for ages, not much of a cinema-goer) but that's surprising. Most people think it's better than the prequels but not as good as the originals.
The Phantom Menace comment makes me wonder if you're being mischievous.
I suppose we should just make federation official, with five nations, Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland, England, and London.
Not a bad idea. London is now so far removed from the rest of England in so many ways it really has become the "5th" country. Generally I'd be dead against carving England up (imagine if that had been proposed in Scotland or Wales - the howls of anguish!), after all it's been around since about 925AD, but London really is so "other" now I think I may have to revise my thinking.
I'd like the English Parliament to be situated somewhere like Nottingham.
I've yet to do the NET tram network.
I haven't been there since I was little, but I feel it ticks the boxes. It doesn't seem too sprawlingly urban or too beautifully rural, it is historical but it has suffered from industrial decline (you can't just plump the parliamant in Tunbridge Wells or Bath), etc.
Mr. SE, not seen it (and probably won't for ages, not much of a cinema-goer) but that's surprising. Most people think it's better than the prequels but not as good as the originals.
The Phantom Menace comment makes me wonder if you're being mischievous.
"YOU WERE THE CHOSEN ONE! It was said you would destroy the Prequels, not join them! Bring balance to the Franchise, not leave it in Darkness!"
Mr. SE, not seen it (and probably won't for ages, not much of a cinema-goer) but that's surprising. Most people think it's better than the prequels but not as good as the originals.
The Phantom Menace comment makes me wonder if you're being mischievous.
I am genuinely confused as to how it is getting such good reviews.
The Phantom Menace had a reasonable battle. There were two giant armies, massive creatures, interesting vehicles, etc. There was also the underwater kingdom on Naboo. It didn't have a lot going for it but significantly more than The Force Awakens.
Re this family of 2 adult males and 9 children being banned from entry to the US it will be interesting what the media find out once they have gone into the detail with one of the Adults allegedly being refused entry into Israel and one of the children allegedly having a link on the facebook page to ISIL. This needs further responsible journalism to find out the real reasons behind the ban
Pew Research For the first time since the 1940s, more immigrants from Mexico are leaving the U.S. than coming into the country. https://t.co/OITsmMrKQ0
Mr. SE, not seen it (and probably won't for ages, not much of a cinema-goer) but that's surprising. Most people think it's better than the prequels but not as good as the originals.
The Phantom Menace comment makes me wonder if you're being mischievous.
I am genuinely confused as to how it is getting such good reviews.
The Phantom Menace had a reasonable battle. There were two giant armies, massive creatures, interesting vehicles, etc. There was also the underwater kingdom on Naboo. It didn't have a lot going for it but significantly more than The Force Awakens.
Each to their own. I was ambivalent on a few aspects on my first viewing but felt more and more positive as I went along, and second viewing cemented that view. Acting, look, feel, all excellent, I'd say the acting is significantly better than the original trilogy to be honest. I get some people disliking it though, there are some deeper issues some people are fine with me - as with me, after some thought - and which others will detest.
Reviews are definitely hit or miss - loads of well reviewed movies I think are awful (and not always just because they aren't my type of film).
Mr. SE, not seen it (and probably won't for ages, not much of a cinema-goer) but that's surprising. Most people think it's better than the prequels but not as good as the originals.
The Phantom Menace comment makes me wonder if you're being mischievous.
I am genuinely confused as to how it is getting such good reviews.
The Phantom Menace had a reasonable battle. There were two giant armies, massive creatures, interesting vehicles, etc. There was also the underwater kingdom on Naboo. It didn't have a lot going for it but significantly more than The Force Awakens.
Each to their own. I was ambivalent on a few aspects on my first viewing but felt more and more positive as I went along, and second viewing cemented that view. Acting, look, feel, all excellent, I'd say the acting is significantly better than the original trilogy to be honest. I get some people disliking it though, there are some deeper issues some people are fine with me - as with me, after some thought - and which others will detest.
Reviews are definitely hit or miss - loads of well reviewed movies I think are awful (and not always just because they aren't my type of film).
Tangentially, I feel like confessing that I think Marlon Brando's stupid voice made his performance in the Godfather bloody awful, and seeing praise for it drives me up the wall.
Tim Bale 'The Return of Opinion Polling' https://t.co/cClSoFh7Ds neat piece by @pghoskin, tho should have called it 'The Opinion Polls Strike Back'.
A New Opinion Hope The Polling Industry Strikes Back Return of the YouGov The Phantom MORI Attack of the ComRes Revenge of the Spiral of Silence The Opinion Poll Awakens
Scotty National Iranian leader meets Salmond:'Although a hardline, ideology driven leader who doesn't tolerate dissent, he was okay' said the Iranian leader
Re this family of 2 adult males and 9 children being banned from entry to the US it will be interesting what the media find out once they have gone into the detail with one of the Adults allegedly being refused entry into Israel and one of the children allegedly having a link on the facebook page to ISIL. This needs further responsible journalism to find out the real reasons behind the ban
It all looks quite dodgy. 2 blokes and 9 kids with no wives/mums. I'm willing to hear the Americans out here and not just jump to any kind of conclusions that its just racism etc...
Ahoy, Cap'n, Doc! I am trying to plan some rail journeys and am getting very confused by the prices being shown. For example, if I leave Hassocks on the 10:36, the fare to Lincoln is £28 but if I go on the 10:45, which gets in later, the fare is £85.50 and although a single fare might be £28 a return starts at £92.10). Do you know of a site that actually gives sensible and understandable information about fares.
Andy JS..Who said they don't give a toss about their own country..they probably do, but find the hysteria from some about where their cities are perceived to be..in terms of North,South,East or West ..just a tad juvenile....they are all in the UK
Ahoy, Cap'n, Doc! I am trying to plan some rail journeys and am getting very confused by the prices being shown. For example, if I leave Hassocks on the 10:36, the fare to Lincoln is £28 but if I go on the 10:45, which gets in later, the fare is £85.50 and although a single fare might be £28 a return starts at £92.10). Do you know of a site that actually gives sensible and understandable information about fares.
Avast Mr Llama I had a look at the National Rail website with your Hassocks to Lincoln journey for first full week of January. Those £28 tickets are in fact "advance" fares, only available online, and only valid for a specific train and time (and in this case via Virgin East Coast Trains - via King's Cross presumably).
If a new capital for a new England is required I think the claims of Leicester shouldn't be overlooked since recent sporting events show that the Mandate of Heaven has been conferred on the city.
Re this family of 2 adult males and 9 children being banned from entry to the US it will be interesting what the media find out once they have gone into the detail with one of the Adults allegedly being refused entry into Israel and one of the children allegedly having a link on the facebook page to ISIL. This needs further responsible journalism to find out the real reasons behind the ban
It all looks quite dodgy. 2 blokes and 9 kids with no wives/mums. I'm willing to hear the Americans out here and not just jump to any kind of conclusions that its just racism etc...
Agreed.
It's also worth remembering that people get refused entry into countries all the time.
I was prevented from boarding a plane to South Africa a few years ago.
Reading the comments on online newspapers, where did some people get the idea that they have an automatic right to travel to the United States and other countries? The US can pick and choose whom they allow in, just like any other country. They don't have to give a reason.
Ahoy, Cap'n, Doc! I am trying to plan some rail journeys and am getting very confused by the prices being shown. For example, if I leave Hassocks on the 10:36, the fare to Lincoln is £28 but if I go on the 10:45, which gets in later, the fare is £85.50 and although a single fare might be £28 a return starts at £92.10). Do you know of a site that actually gives sensible and understandable information about fares.
Avast Mr Llama I had a look at the National Rail website with your Hassocks to Lincoln journey for first full week of January. Those £28 tickets are in fact "advance" fares, only available online, and only valid for a specific train and time (and in this case via Virgin East Coast Trains - via King's Cross presumably).
Thanks, Doc, I shall give up on the idea of trying to travel by train. If the bloody rail companies cannot produce a comprehensible pricing structure for a simple thing like travelling from A to B and back again two days later, then to hell with them. I shall drive.
Mr. Penkridge, if Heaven is to decide, God's Own County must be the capital's home.
My original choice for a new parliament was The Peace Memorial Hall in Penkridge but, as everyone pointed out, parking on Pinfold Lane is a near impossibility.
AndyJS..Absolutely agree..but maybe the problem should have been tackled a little earlier..at Visa application time..
Better to be refused on the ground before you board than to be turned back at immigration in the US.
We probably need to know more, but I'd guess they hadn't got ESTAs before arriving at the airport (perhaps deliberately, perhaps accidentally), and when they tried to get them before boarding they were refused. (Sometimes it takes two minutes to get an ESTA, sometimes it can take a few days if you throw up red flags.)
I'll just point out that the station in Sheffield is called "Sheffield Midland" and it is at the northern end of the Midland Main Line, served by East Midland Trains. The only possible conclusion is that Sheffield is in the Midlands, rather than the North.
It's in the middle of a triad - Chesterfield, Sheffield, Wakefield - of crap places you don't want to go to, ending in "field".
Chesterfield at least has the crooked church spire, again visible from the train
Indeed, though when a badly built spire is your only claim to fame...
Well, not only. Hilary Benn's father won it in a by-election.
May I propose Workington as the new place for Parliament...only absolutely dedicated politicians would want to spend five days a week there..it certainly is a place that sorts the men from the boys..I was born and raised there..then left.
Full Fiscal Autonomy for Scotland will be the long term result with Westminster mainly focused on foreign policy in terms of its impact on Scottish affairs
AndyJS..Absolutely agree..but maybe the problem should have been tackled a little earlier..at Visa application time..
Better to be refused on the ground before you board than to be turned back at immigration in the US.
We probably need to know more, but I'd guess they hadn't got ESTAs before arriving at the airport (perhaps deliberately, perhaps accidentally), and when they tried to get them before boarding they were refused. (Sometimes it takes two minutes to get an ESTA, sometimes it can take a few days if you throw up red flags.)
Apparently they had ESTAs organised six weeks before the flight.
I have finally got round to seeing Star Wars: The Force Awakens and in my opinion it is the worst Star Wars movie so far. The Phantom Menace was significantly better. I think we have reached peak Star Wars.
Am seeing it tonight so no spoilers, however given Phantom Menace has only a 56% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and The Force Awakens 95% you are in a minority. I would also be wary as today's Times reports Star Wars fans have issued death threats to any critic who gives the film a poor rating!
Mr. Penkridge, if Heaven is to decide, God's Own County must be the capital's home.
We should ignore this nonsense about God's Own County, which everyone knows is Sussex, but the idea of putting the new English Parliament at York, I wouldn't object to. Winchester is where it should be of course, but the thought of inflicting all those politicians and their ghastly entourages (to say nothing of the journalists and other low-life that follow them) on that lovely town is too much. So let it be York, or maybe Scunthorpe or perhaps Middlesborough (the last two would be improved by having hundreds of con-artists and assorted toe-rags descend upon them).
P.S. If they really want it in the South then Reading should be the place, can't be made much worse and it was where Parliament and the Law ran off to during the plague years.
I have finally got round to seeing Star Wars: The Force Awakens and in my opinion it is the worst Star Wars movie so far. The Phantom Menace was significantly better. I think we have reached peak Star Wars.
Am seeing it tonight so no spoilers, however given Phantom Menace has only a 56% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and The Force Awakens 95% you are in a minority. I would also be wary as today's Times reports Star Wars fans have issued death threats to any critic who gives the film a poor rating!
Did they give an indication about how poor a rating was too poor? I'd give it a 7-8 out of ten, so might need to watch my back from fanatics.
The tax raising powers for Scotland - if it ever chooses to use then - are the direct and inevitable consequence of Labour's devolution. We also have the likely prospect now of more devolution for various city areas which have directly elected mayors.
I'll just point out that the station in Sheffield is called "Sheffield Midland" and it is at the northern end of the Midland Main Line, served by East Midland Trains. The only possible conclusion is that Sheffield is in the Midlands, rather than the North.
I am not sure it is possible to spoil Reading. It has been a dump since Victorian times (see Jerome) if not longer. Whilst it is true that places like Basingstoke and Newbury are offering it serious competition in the places you really don't want to be stakes, Reading I think stands out in its awfulness.
I am not sure it is possible to spoil Reading. It has been a dump since Victorian times (see Jerome) if not longer. Whilst it is true that places like Basingstoke and Newbury are offering it serious competition in the places you really don't want to be stakes, Reading I think stands out in its awfulness.
Come now. Slough, Didcot. Reading isn't even in the same division of the shitness championship.
I'll just point out that the station in Sheffield is called "Sheffield Midland" and it is at the northern end of the Midland Main Line, served by East Midland Trains. The only possible conclusion is that Sheffield is in the Midlands, rather than the North.
By that logic London is also in the midlands!
And the (Great) Western, and South West (Trains), Southern, Southeastern, (Abellio) Greater Anglia, (Virgin) East Coast, and Chiltern!
Reading the comments on online newspapers, where did some people get the idea that they have an automatic right to travel to the United States and other countries? The US can pick and choose whom they allow in, just like any other country. They don't have to give a reason.
And equally, people have the right to express their disagreement with who the US bans from entering, no?
I have finally got round to seeing Star Wars: The Force Awakens and in my opinion it is the worst Star Wars movie so far. The Phantom Menace was significantly better. I think we have reached peak Star Wars.
Am seeing it tonight so no spoilers, however given Phantom Menace has only a 56% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and The Force Awakens 95% you are in a minority. I would also be wary as today's Times reports Star Wars fans have issued death threats to any critic who gives the film a poor rating!
Rotten Tomatoes produces some interesting ratings, such as Indiana Jones 4 scoring 78% and Die Hard 4 scoring 82%.
I have finally got round to seeing Star Wars: The Force Awakens and in my opinion it is the worst Star Wars movie so far. The Phantom Menace was significantly better. I think we have reached peak Star Wars.
Am seeing it tonight so no spoilers, however given Phantom Menace has only a 56% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and The Force Awakens 95% you are in a minority. I would also be wary as today's Times reports Star Wars fans have issued death threats to any critic who gives the film a poor rating!
Did they give an indication about how poor a rating was too poor? I'd give it a 7-8 out of ten, so might need to watch my back from fanatics.
That sounds above average so you may avoid a beheading in your Odeon foyer!
I have finally got round to seeing Star Wars: The Force Awakens and in my opinion it is the worst Star Wars movie so far. The Phantom Menace was significantly better. I think we have reached peak Star Wars.
Am seeing it tonight so no spoilers, however given Phantom Menace has only a 56% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and The Force Awakens 95% you are in a minority. I would also be wary as today's Times reports Star Wars fans have issued death threats to any critic who gives the film a poor rating!
Rotten Tomatoes produces some interesting ratings, such as Indiana Jones 4 scoring 78% and Die Hard 4 scoring 82%.
If you are on around 50% or less on Rotten Tomatoes your film is pretty dire which shows how bad Phantom Menace was
I have finally got round to seeing Star Wars: The Force Awakens and in my opinion it is the worst Star Wars movie so far. The Phantom Menace was significantly better. I think we have reached peak Star Wars.
Am seeing it tonight so no spoilers, however given Phantom Menace has only a 56% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and The Force Awakens 95% you are in a minority. I would also be wary as today's Times reports Star Wars fans have issued death threats to any critic who gives the film a poor rating!
Rotten Tomatoes produces some interesting ratings, such as Indiana Jones 4 scoring 78% and Die Hard 4 scoring 82%.
If you are on around 50% or less on Rotten Tomatoes your film is pretty dire which shows how bad Phantom Menace was
Actually the boundary between "Rotten" and "Fresh" is 55%
I have finally got round to seeing Star Wars: The Force Awakens and in my opinion it is the worst Star Wars movie so far. The Phantom Menace was significantly better. I think we have reached peak Star Wars.
Am seeing it tonight so no spoilers, however given Phantom Menace has only a 56% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and The Force Awakens 95% you are in a minority. I would also be wary as today's Times reports Star Wars fans have issued death threats to any critic who gives the film a poor rating!
Rotten Tomatoes produces some interesting ratings, such as Indiana Jones 4 scoring 78% and Die Hard 4 scoring 82%.
If you are on around 50% or less on Rotten Tomatoes your film is pretty dire which shows how bad Phantom Menace was
Actually the boundary between "Rotten" and "Fresh" is 55%
Even on that it was only 1% above Rotten. Rotten Tomatoes gives Return of the Jedi 80% and Star Wars and Empire Strikes Back 94% making The Force Awakens the best Star Wars movie ever on its ratings as it gave it 95%
I have finally got round to seeing Star Wars: The Force Awakens and in my opinion it is the worst Star Wars movie so far. The Phantom Menace was significantly better. I think we have reached peak Star Wars.
Am seeing it tonight so no spoilers, however given Phantom Menace has only a 56% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and The Force Awakens 95% you are in a minority. I would also be wary as today's Times reports Star Wars fans have issued death threats to any critic who gives the film a poor rating!
Rotten Tomatoes produces some interesting ratings, such as Indiana Jones 4 scoring 78% and Die Hard 4 scoring 82%.
If you are on around 50% or less on Rotten Tomatoes your film is pretty dire which shows how bad Phantom Menace was
The prequels were plausible enough but we did not need 3 of them. They broached Tarrantino levels of slowness and set piece pointlessness.
Comments
Rumours of an interesting new deal in the word of driverless cars.
http://www.technologyreview.com/view/544991/ford-and-google-could-be-making-the-model-t-of-automated-driving/
The way our politicians have played with our constitution since Blair it is remarkable that we are all still together. It seems to be a competition to see how far the elastic can be stretched before something seriously breaks.
(For the avoidance of doubt, I am not from there)
"...Statistical thinking will one day be as necessary for efficient citizenship as the ability to read and write..."
All the best for Xmas and 2016.
http://www.xpatloop.com/news/83056
Mr. L, Blair was a short-sighted fool in many ways. The constitutional meddling was not the least of his idiocy.
Well, that, and the willingness to kill and eat humans. But mostly it's getting north/south things wrong.
https://twitter.com/TSEofPB/status/679700486409338880
The Phantom Menace comment makes me wonder if you're being mischievous.
I think I've got my outfit for the next PB meet sorted.
The Phantom Menace had a reasonable battle. There were two giant armies, massive creatures, interesting vehicles, etc. There was also the underwater kingdom on Naboo. It didn't have a lot going for it but significantly more than The Force Awakens.
For the first time since the 1940s, more immigrants from Mexico are leaving the U.S. than coming into the country. https://t.co/OITsmMrKQ0
Sometimes, reviews can be baffling. I shan't say what, but one recent fantasy book, very well-reviewed, was utterly lost on me.
Reviews are definitely hit or miss - loads of well reviewed movies I think are awful (and not always just because they aren't my type of film).
'The Return of Opinion Polling' https://t.co/cClSoFh7Ds neat piece by @pghoskin, tho should have called it 'The Opinion Polls Strike Back'.
This festive tube map will make you wish the Underground was open on Christmas Day https://t.co/0xX0RXjPIo https://t.co/vA5LG9FNIl
The Polling Industry Strikes Back
Return of the YouGov
The Phantom MORI
Attack of the ComRes
Revenge of the Spiral of Silence
The Opinion Poll Awakens
Iranian leader meets Salmond:'Although a hardline, ideology driven leader who doesn't tolerate dissent, he was okay' said the Iranian leader
https://cdn.royal-flags.co.uk/media/image/2835r.jpg
and
http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01614/stGeorgeFlag_1614013c.jpg
Probably not ...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/Jeremy_Corbyn/12066323/Jeremy-Corbyn-cancels-Christmas-and-refuses-to-issue-festive-message.html
I had a look at the National Rail website with your Hassocks to Lincoln journey for first full week of January.
Those £28 tickets are in fact "advance" fares, only available online, and only valid for a specific train and time (and in this case via Virgin East Coast Trains - via King's Cross presumably).
http://muslimnews.co.uk/news/uk/uk-celebrating-values-of-islam-says-corbyn-in-eid-message/
It's also worth remembering that people get refused entry into countries all the time.
I was prevented from boarding a plane to South Africa a few years ago.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/oilprices/12066692/Opec-says-demand-for-oil-will-fall-but-prices-will-rise-eventually.html
We probably need to know more, but I'd guess they hadn't got ESTAs before arriving at the airport (perhaps deliberately, perhaps accidentally), and when they tried to get them before boarding they were refused. (Sometimes it takes two minutes to get an ESTA, sometimes it can take a few days if you throw up red flags.)
Well, not only. Hilary Benn's father won it in a by-election.
P.S. If they really want it in the South then Reading should be the place, can't be made much worse and it was where Parliament and the Law ran off to during the plague years.
We also have the likely prospect now of more devolution for various city areas which have directly elected mayors.