I agonized for weeks about what to name this thread. The Official Everything UK Thread, or the unofficial..., or the official unofficial...., or the unofficial official...Finally, at my wits end, I gave up and went with...The UK Discussion Thread.
I was pointed to the first link below by another blog I read daily, which (not for the first time) reprinted Tom Forth in full. Looking at the Tom Forth site it's clear that he writes a lot but not exclusively about Northern England and its relative poverty viz a vis the south. For those interested there's a lot on his site. His indexing of posts is a bit confusing. Seems he did it via tags and there is a lot of duplication under the "all my posts" button.
I include the link to the blog that pointed me to Tom Forth, "Marginal Revolution" because there you'll find at least 60 comments on the post vs just two on the original post. The MR comments section tends to be quite informative, just a few trolls who are permitted but generally ignored.
https://tomforth.co.uk/whynorthenglandispoor/ (https://tomforth.co.uk/whynorthenglandispoor/)
https://marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2025/01/why-northern-england-is-poor.html (https://marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2025/01/why-northern-england-is-poor.html)
Separately, I see Brexit issues continue to bubble up. I'll bet that continues until it's reversed.
https://www.gbnews.com/politics/labour-brexit-jonathan-reynolds-maros-sefcovic (https://www.gbnews.com/politics/labour-brexit-jonathan-reynolds-maros-sefcovic)
https://inews.co.uk/opinion/benefits-brexit-uk-about-to-3499800 (https://inews.co.uk/opinion/benefits-brexit-uk-about-to-3499800)
Here's the longer version of the link above. It contains all of the first link so you have to scroll to get to the new stuff.
Interesting graphics and links, plus 20 new comments.
https://tomforth.co.uk/whynorthenglandispoor/ (https://tomforth.co.uk/whynorthenglandispoor/)
Although he did apologise, the writer of the article predictably ignores the existence of the Midlands.
Quote from: jimmy jazz on Jan 28, 2025, 07:14 PMAlthough he did apologise, the writer of the article predictably ignores the existence of the Midlands.
I don't know what you mean by "predictably" in this context, but it seems like it might be a good opportunity for you to let fly with your observations on the Midlands.
Quote from: Buck_Mulligan on Jan 28, 2025, 07:35 PMI don't know what you mean by "predictably" in this context, but it seems like it might be a good opportunity for you to let fly with your observations on the Midlands.
The Midlands is always lumped in with the North.
You can find that people in the Midlands are just as frustrated.
Can you read this? https://www.economist.com/blighty/2013/05/31/how-to-kill-a-city
^^^ Can't read it, but I've been to Brum. Have driven the length of the M6 many times, though not recently.
Quote from: Buck_Mulligan on Jan 28, 2025, 07:58 PM^^^ Can't read it, but I've been to Brum. Have driven the length of the M6 many times, though not recently.
Fuck. I'll try to find it and post it if I can.
Quote from: jimmy jazz on Jan 28, 2025, 07:44 PMThe Midlands is always lumped in with the North.
You can find that people in the Midlands are just as frustrated.
Can you read this? https://www.economist.com/blighty/2013/05/31/how-to-kill-a-city
That is a good point. I dunno why Birmingham was always considered a long way from other places. I mean it's only about an hour and a half away from London on the M40 so not exactly far.
What's the latest on the new high speed HS2 train line, JJ? They've spent enough money on the consultation stages. Do you think this important line will go ahead?
I always remember in the 80s when we lived in Macclesfield and drove to Coventry to see our grandparents, we would go past the behemoth of the Dunlop factory. I can't remember if that was the M6 or the M60.
(https://64.media.tumblr.com/a34801bb4d01c42ccbad5f28b60d2566/27f232276fb555e2-1c/s1280x1920/4a1e0626ac18ad04bf8e2cd4f7fbb51d56430dea.jpg)
Quote from: Saulaac on Jan 28, 2025, 11:43 PMThat is a good point. I dunno why Birmingham was always considered a long way from other places. I mean it's only about an hour and a half away from London on the M40 so not exactly far.
I think London is a big part of it. If you ask Londoners many of them will say anywhere north of Watford is the North.
QuoteWhat's the latest on the new high speed HS2 train line, JJ? They've spent enough money on the consultation stages. Do you think this important line will go ahead?
I always remember in the 80s when we lived in Macclesfield and drove to Coventry to see our grandparents, we would go past the behemoth of the Dunlop factory. I can't remember if that was the M6 or the M60.
You're on about London to Brum or something else? That one is going ahead. The last I knew, Birmingham to Manchester was cancelled. After that I don't know mate.
https://x.com/PolitlcsUK/status/1884511830640324966?t=iysk7AmJzfhSu0XdeIaZmg&s=19
Not really sure what to make of this. Not even sure I'm surprised.
Something I'm wondering is.. Now that it's been a while, how do brits feel about brexit?
For a country that has such a woeful history of getting it wrong, miscarriages of justice and just plain fit-ups to suit the police/government, I'd hold off on bringing the rope back just yet.
#CantApologise2TheDead
Quote from: Guybrush on Jan 29, 2025, 11:51 PMSomething I'm wondering is.. Now that it's been a while, how do brits feel about brexit?
No change. Too much of a political football. People support their side and don't budge.
If you voted for it you support it still. If you didn't, you don't.
Maybe a very small amount of people who voted for it at the time would undo it now, but I've rarely encountered them.
Quote from: jimmy jazz on Jan 30, 2025, 01:37 AMNo change. Too much of a political football. People support their side and don't budge.
If you voted for it you support it still. If you didn't, you don't.
Maybe a very small amount of people who voted for it at the time would undo it now, but I've rarely encountered them.
According to this August 2024 poll by YouGov 59/41 favored reversal. I suspect that over time those numbers will diverge further.
https://www.politico.eu/article/uk-poll-vote-rejoin-eu-brexit-new-referendum-pm-keir-starmer/ (https://www.politico.eu/article/uk-poll-vote-rejoin-eu-brexit-new-referendum-pm-keir-starmer/)
Quote from: Buck_Mulligan on Jan 30, 2025, 02:05 AMAccording to this August 2024 poll by YouGov 59/41 favored reversal. I suspect that over time those numbers will diverge further.
https://www.politico.eu/article/uk-poll-vote-rejoin-eu-brexit-new-referendum-pm-keir-starmer/ (https://www.politico.eu/article/uk-poll-vote-rejoin-eu-brexit-new-referendum-pm-keir-starmer/)
Yeah but if you look at the study there's not much of a change between remain and leave voters. Young people becoming eligible to vote probably explains that poll.
I think generally speaking we're all a bit stubborn, and it would take a lot for any of us to say we voted wrongly. You'll find this everywhere, but particularly in America now: people will, for the most part, double down on having voted for Trump, will tell you how it would have been worse under Harris even if Trump and Musk do a deal with the Horrible Million Tentacled Entity from the Terror Dimension to sell off Earth cheaply and throw in all our souls into the bargain. It takes a lot for people to admit they've been wrong. I'm the exception: I'm wrong so often I'm just used to it now.
Woman accused of using 'array of wigs' in elaborate citizenship scheme (https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/woman-arrested-using-array-wigs-fraudulently-take-citizenship-tests-rcna189758)
Quote from: jimmy jazz on Jan 30, 2025, 02:22 AMYeah but if you look at the study there's not much of a change between remain and leave voters. Young people becoming eligible to vote probably explains that poll.
Since 2016 about 5M have died and dropped off the voting rolls, while another 5M have been added at the other end, and that disparity is only going to continue to increase.
This certainly looks like gubbermint overreach.
WaPo...
QuoteSecret U.K. order demands Apple allow access to all cloud content from users worldwide
The British government's undisclosed order, issued last month, requires blanket capability to view fully encrypted material, not merely assistance in cracking a specific account, people familiar with the matter told The Post. There is no known precedent for an order like this in major democracies.
Quote from: Buck_Mulligan on Feb 07, 2025, 08:32 PMThis certainly looks like gubbermint overreach.
WaPo...
Yet another reason not to trust cloud data storage or government.
UK touts a clampdown on illegal working as it seeks to look tough on immigration (https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/uk-touts-clampdown-illegal-working-seeks-tough-immigration-118644025)
Reform are gonna win the next election.
Noticing a lot of people, even long time Labour voters who have had enough.
Quote from: jimmy jazz on Feb 12, 2025, 06:57 PMReform are gonna win the next election.
Noticing a lot of people, even long time Labour voters who have had enough.
You're in early with your opinion. :o Could be 2029 before the next election. A politician once said, (might even have been a UK PM), that a week is a long time in politics.
Quote from: Buck_Mulligan on Feb 13, 2025, 02:15 AMYou're in early with your opinion. :o Could be 2029 before the next election. A politician once said, (might even have been a UK PM), that a week is a long time in politics.
Just a hunch. Most people are fed up of both Labour and the Tories. Reform are winning in the polls and Farage is popular.
I honestly think it's going to happen.
The bookies have got Reform tied with the Tories and Labour only slightly ahead. That's insane for a party that isn't red or blue.
Quote from: jimmy jazz on Feb 13, 2025, 02:18 AMJust a hunch. Most people are fed up of both Labour and the Tories. Reform are winning in the polls and Farage is popular.
I honestly think it's going to happen.
The bookies have got Reform tied with the Tories and Labour only slightly ahead. That's insane for a party that isn't red or blue.
I agree that people are fed up with both. I haven't watched Jonathan Pie (Tom Walker) in a while and in the past he seemed to be more Labour than Tory, but in a recent rant he had a good go at both parties, basically for being in bed together and deliberately doing a crap job, (well, doing a crap job for the majority of the country; I'm sure "Mega-Bastard Utilities" and their shareholders are not complaining).
Defo need a new radical party. I just don't think Reform would actually do anything to change the status quo, or to make higher education more affordable, or to increase domestic production of goods and services, or to better regulate massive outflows of the public purse from the British economy to the Middle East for example.
Jonathan Pie is pretty good.
I discovered him from this video:
Really good.
^ :laughing: I never saw that one.
There was a time when everyone was on tenterhooks. Can't remember if it was pre-covid or post-covid. Come to think of it, it was probably during covid coz we were all going crazy at that point.
Zelensky will meet with King Charles in London tomorrow. The King apparently wants to show public support. Unfortunate he has to do it so soon after inviting Trump for a state visit. Probably too much to expect that the invitation be withdrawn, but we can live in hope.
Look out Brits! The Yanks are coming!...
Record number of Americans applied for UK citizenship after Trump re-election (https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/05/europe/record-americans-uk-citizenship-trump-intl-hnk/index.html)
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg19gx7vl4o
QuoteThe Conservatives have called for the government to overrule planned changes which would make the ethnicity or faith of an offender a bigger factor when deciding whether to jail them.
Labour need to sort this quickly.
I've been reading up on old Viz comics. Favourites were Biffa Bacon, Finbar Saunders etc. They were an absolute laugh back in the 90s and 2000s. The accents and cultural references were very funny.
I think I'm going through a Biffa Bacon stage with my in-laws, as they beat me up whenever they can...
Jeez, they sail close to the wind by today's standards...
Are print copies still available in local newsagents today? JJ or TH any chance you could check next time you are in the local newsagents. Cheers.
For example: https://www.theguardian.com/culture/cartoon/2009/nov/07/1
(https://i.ibb.co/NnGfcyPp/Biffa-Bacon-006.jpg) (https://ibb.co/wr285zXC)
I'm aware of it but have never read it myself.
I post on a football forum full of old farts (most are 50+ years old) and they rave about Viz.
Next time I'm in the shop I'll have a little look.
There was an app called the Viz Profanisaurus that was pretty good but they got rid of it a few years back.
Also speaking of sailing close to the wind...
This wasn't even that long ago really 😂
Quote from: Psy-Fi on Mar 06, 2025, 01:11 PMLook out Brits! The Yanks are coming!...
Record number of Americans applied for UK citizenship after Trump re-election (https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/05/europe/record-americans-uk-citizenship-trump-intl-hnk/index.html)
Record number of Brits 15,000, applied for an Irish Passport in 2024, in an attempt to bypass Brexit.
https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/08/travel/london-big-ben-palestine-protest-intl/index.html
If I had to imagine what someone who would do this would look and sound like, it would be pretty much this man here.
Quote from: jimmy jazz on Mar 08, 2025, 11:06 PMhttps://www.cnn.com/2025/03/08/travel/london-big-ben-palestine-protest-intl/index.html
If I had to imagine what someone who would do this would look and sound like, it would be pretty much this man here.
He looks about as Brit as they come...
Quote from: Buck_Mulligan on Mar 08, 2025, 11:09 PMHe looks about as Brit as they come...
Yeah but nail polish, shit tattoos, no shoes, middle class accent, big, thick glasses.
Quote from: Buck_Mulligan on Mar 07, 2025, 02:43 AMRecord number of Brits 15,000, applied for an Irish Passport in 2024, in an attempt to bypass Brexit.
I confused numbers and percentages...
Quote15: Applications by Britons for Irish citizenship hit a post-Brexit high last year as a growing number of workers and pensioners tried to gain "backdoor" access into the EU. British applications to the Foreign Births Register, a citizenship route for people with Irish grandparents or parents, jumped 15% in 2024 to 23,456.
Separately, I read that a total of 130,000 Brits have applied for EU passports since Brexit. It would seem that a plurality, if not a majority were for Irish.
My cousin did it. She goes all over the world doing Irish dancing. She's done really well out of it.
I might do it when my current passport expires. Still got a while on it. Will you welcome me with open arms?
Quote from: jimmy jazz on Mar 08, 2025, 11:24 PMMy cousin did it. She goes all over the world doing Irish dancing. She's done really well out of it.
I might do it when my current passport expires. Still got a while on it. Will you welcome me with open arms?
Can you not hold two passports simultaneously? Dunno about the open arms, I'm not that fond of Villa supporters, or for that matter the Brummie accent (ouch!). Might not want to be seen down the boozer with you.
Quote from: Buck_Mulligan on Mar 08, 2025, 11:33 PMCan you not hold two passports simultaneously? Dunno about the open arms, I'm not that fond of Villa supporters, or for that matter the Brummie accent (ouch!). Might not want to be seen down the boozer with you.
Yeah but I don't see the point while my current one is still valid. I may as well just wait until I have to renew.
You'd love to be seen down the boozer with me. I'm great fun and I'd buy you a beer or ten.
Who do you support?
Quote from: jimmy jazz on Mar 08, 2025, 11:40 PMYeah but I don't see the point while my current one is still valid. I may as well just wait until I have to renew.
You'd love to be seen down the boozer with me. I'm great fun and I'd buy you a beer or ten.
Who do you support?
There's no downside, and several upsides to doing it now. In the event of any medical issues like a long NHS wait, you can go to any EU country and get the benefits offered to that country's citizens. You might have to establish residence but that's usually just a formality. Tell you what, why don't you FedEx me a case of the best Brit non-alcoholic beers?
Don't support anybody today. Lost touch in the US. Back in the day it was the Red Devils . I did belly up to the bar at 9.00 am today to watch Ireland get mauled by France.
Quote from: Buck_Mulligan on Mar 08, 2025, 11:51 PMThere's no downside, and several upsides to doing it now. In the event of any medical issues like a long NHS wait, you can go to any EU country and get the benefits offered to that country's citizens. You might have to establish residence but that's usually just a formality. Tell you what, why don't you FedEx me a case of the best Brit non-alcoholic beers?
Don't support anybody today. Lost touch in the US. Back in the day it was the Red Devils . I did belly up to the bar at 9.00 am today to watch Ireland get mauled by France.
Cost is a downside. I have to register as a foreign birth which is about £200. As I'm not likely to go abroad now or within the next two years the £80 or so I'd spend doesn't need to be spent yet.
I don't actually know any good non-alcoholic UK beers tbh, I heard the 0% Guinness is good though.
The Guinness 0% is pretty good. I think I mentioned already there has been an explosion of 0% micro brews in the US, for the sober-curious.
Crossbow killer who murdered 3 women is sentenced to a whole-life order in UK prison (https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/crossbow-killer-murdered-3-women-sentenced-life-order-119672791)
Lads this Online Safety Act seems a bit mad.
From what I understand, any app you can message one to one, will require confirmation of age (18+).
Forums will be read-only to those who haven't confirmed ID. It's to stop noncing, kids being targeted online etc.
Coming into affect this weekend.
Have my fellow Brits paid much attention to this? It seems a bit extreme. Apparently OFCOM can request VPN data to enforce this as well. Need more info. Doesn't look good?
@Marie Monday @Saulaac @FETCHER. @Thelonious Monkey @Lisnaholic
Quote from: jimmy jazz on Mar 14, 2025, 01:42 AMLads this Online Safety Act seems a bit mad.
From what I understand, any app you can message one to one, will require confirmation of age (18+).
Forums will be read-only to those who haven't confirmed ID. It's to stop noncing, kids being targeted online etc.
Coming into affect this weekend.
Have my fellow Brits paid much attention to this? It seems a bit extreme. Apparently OFCOM can request VPN data to enforce this as well. Need more info. Doesn't look good?
@Marie Monday @Saulaac @FETCHER. @Thelonious Monkey @Lisnaholic
I wasn't aware of it, so had a look on the gov.uk website. Couldn't specifically find where they talk about ID verification.
But if I have to start scanning my passport, national insurance number and bank details in order to discuss 70's library jazz or the latest puns, then no thank you ma'am.
Court convicts thief who stole golden toilet from English palace (https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/court-convicts-thief-stole-golden-toilet-english-palace-119919868) :poop:
QuoteLONDON -- A thief who swiped a golden toilet from an English palace was convicted Tuesday along with an accomplice who helped cash in on the spoils of the 18-carat work of art insured for nearly 5 million pounds (more than $6 million).
Michael Jones had used the fully functioning one-of-a-kind latrine as he did reconnaissance at Blenheim Palace — the country mansion where British wartime leader Winston Churchill was born — the day before the theft, prosecutors said. He described the experience as "splendid."
He returned before dawn on Sept. 14, 2019, with at least two other men armed with sledgehammers and crowbars. They smashed a window and pried the toilet from its plumbing within five minutes, leaving a damaging flood in their wake as they escaped in stolen vehicles.
The purloined potty has never been recovered but is believed to have been cut up and sold.
The satirical work, titled "America" by Italian conceptual artist Maurizio Cattelan, poked fun at excessive wealth. It weighed just over 215 pounds (98 kilograms). The value of the gold at the time was 2.8 million ($3.6 million).
Looks like Reform just took a massive step toward being our next government, as Labour's proposed cuts to the welfare system, in particular the PIP support, is very harsh.
Targeting disabled people is not what a Labour government should be doing and yet they've out-Toried the Tories.
I suspect the fallout from this will be so severe they will have to go back on it.
Garbage piles up on streets of UK's 2nd-largest city amid monthlong sanitation strike (https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/garbage-piles-streets-uks-largest-city-after-monthlong-120565909) :poop:
Quote from: Psy-Fi on Apr 08, 2025, 01:11 PMGarbage piles up on streets of UK's 2nd-largest city amid monthlong sanitation strike (https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/garbage-piles-streets-uks-largest-city-after-monthlong-120565909) :poop:
This is a terrible for the city. As the article says, the council is now bankrupt because they had to pay a lot of compensation to women.
Regarding this:
Quote"You can see the juice flowing out of the bags onto the road. It stinks," Naeem Yousef said. "It's bringing down the areas. People are saying, 'Look at these areas, how dirty these people are.'"
I'll probably get shit for this but I don't care, I live here and you lot don't. It's mostly certain places that are like this (the ones with Asians). Some people are just choosing to be lazy and dump it all in the streets, or fly-tipping.
Quote from: jimmy jazz on Apr 08, 2025, 05:26 PMThis is a terrible for the city. As the article says, the council is now bankrupt because they had to pay a lot of compensation to women.
Regarding this:
I'll probably get shit for this but I don't care, I live here and you lot don't. It's mostly certain places that are like this (the ones with Asians). Some people are just choosing to be lazy and dump it all in the streets, or fly-tipping.
What are people in non-asian hoods doing differently?
Quote from: Buck_Mulligan on Apr 09, 2025, 03:41 AMWhat are people in non-asian hoods doing differently?
Well they don't just dump the bin bags full of rubbish on the street. You can actually still take it to the tip and there are some designated places for it as well as agency workers doing collections. It's just laziness.
https://x.com/dave24144975/status/1904631966537752873?t=SrRmbO8-Ay0R-fPmC1rC8Q&s=19
Quote from: jimmy jazz on Apr 09, 2025, 04:10 AMWell they don't just dump the bin bags full of rubbish on the street. You can actually still take it to the tip and there are some designated places for it as well as agency workers doing collections. It's just laziness.
https://x.com/dave24144975/status/1904631966537752873?t=SrRmbO8-Ay0R-fPmC1rC8Q&s=19
That assumes everyone has access to a suitable vehicle. I doubt taxis want to be used as dump trucks, unless they're getting extra for the work.
Quote from: Buck_Mulligan on Apr 09, 2025, 05:37 PMThat assumes everyone has access to a suitable vehicle. I doubt taxis want to be used as dump trucks, unless they're getting extra for the work.
They've got cars. Often multiple cars. There is actually also a problem with car culture in the same communities. There's no excuse really mate.
Also who do you think is driving the taxis?
New report yesterday on the UK's declining productivity vs. the US. TBH it applies equally to the other G7 and much of Europe, albeit maybe for slightly different reasons.
https://www.resolutionfoundation.org/publications/yanked-away/ (https://www.resolutionfoundation.org/publications/yanked-away/)
^ Thank you for a depressing read ! ;)
British government takes over running of UK's last major steel plant from Chinese owner Jingye (https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/12/europe/uk-takeover-british-steel-chinese-jingye-intl-latam/index.html)
The article says the plant is losing 700,000 pounds per day but there's no mention of how the government takeover would stop that daily loss.
UK Supreme Court: Equalities law defines a woman as someone born biologically female (https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/uk-supreme-court-rules-equalities-law-defines-woman-120854059)
(https://i.ibb.co/wZCQSBHC/Screenshot-20250424-224543-com-twitter-android-Tweet-Detail-Activity.jpg)
😂😂😂
Quote from: jimmy jazz on Apr 24, 2025, 11:47 PM(https://i.ibb.co/wZCQSBHC/Screenshot-20250424-224543-com-twitter-android-Tweet-Detail-Activity.jpg)
😂😂😂
I think we need
@DJChameleon on this for his opinion. :laughing:
Isn't it advised on British public transportation NOT to play music from personal devices ? It is here in Australia.
Cant remember the last time I really had to put up with some thoughtless person playing obnoxiously loud music on the bus, but I definitely get a bit of this at work. Certain entitled folks seem to think that their youtube viewings are EVERYONE ELSES interests and jam the volume up way too loudly, when most of us just want some peace and quiet for 10-15 minutes.
Im with Jack on this one 100%.
Late response to
@Saulaac but VIZ is still available on the newsstands here in the Emerald Isle. If you want copies bought and sent over let me know. Just bear in mind my 150% shipping fee.
Sorry, what am I thinking? 150%? You must have nearly choked.
I meant 1500% of course. :laughing:
Oh, and two words: FAT SLAGS!
(Though personally for me it's Roger Melly the Man on the Telly (Bollocks!) and The Pathetic Sharks, but each to their own). Ere! Did you spill my pint?
Quote from: Trollheart on Apr 25, 2025, 04:44 AMLate response to @Saulaac but VIZ is still available on the newsstands here in the Emerald Isle. If you want copies bought and sent over let me know. Just bear in mind my 150% shipping fee.
Sorry, what am I thinking? 150%? You must have nearly choked.
I meant 1500% of course. :laughing:
Oh, and two words: FAT SLAGS!
(Though personally for me it's Roger Melly the Man on the Telly (Bollocks!) and The Pathetic Sharks, but each to their own). Ere! Did you spill my pint?
Good to know, TH. Thanks. (Note the comma between "know" and "TH", otherwise it would have come out like it's good to know TH. Which, incidentally, of course it is! :checkmark: )
And it's great to know you are willing to supply the French market with some naughty magazine-based material. What's more, customs wouldn't understand a fking word let alone the humour so no fear of copies being seized at the border. I'll ask around and get back to you.
Fat Slags were indeed a hoot. They loved bonking. I haven't read it in years, but Finbar Saunders and Morris Day still crop up in every day life. Innuendos and voyeurs everywhere, I tell you!
Quote from: Saulaac on Apr 25, 2025, 10:35 PMGood to know, TH. Thanks. (Note the comma between "know" and "TH", otherwise it would have come out like it's good to know TH. Which, incidentally, of course it is! :checkmark: )
^ Full marks for the precision of your punctuation !
I'm glad to hear that Viz is still around. I read it a couple of times year ago, although my preferred casual-reading mag was Private Eye. ( Note the hyphen between "casual" and "reading", otherwise it would have come across like Private Eye is a casual magazine for reading, when it's actually a magazine for casual reading.)
Quote from: Meatwad on Apr 25, 2025, 03:01 AMIsn't it advised on British public transportation NOT to play music from personal devices ? It is here in Australia.
^ No research, but I'm sure there are long-established rules about not playing music loud on public transport. I'm surprised that it's a news item in 2025, because in my experience people have been grumbling about noisy rule breakers for decades. The only difference, imo, has been the shifting technology: transistor radios, boom-boxes, Sony Walkmen, and now mobiles.
Remember the scandal about the Horizon software system, and how the Post Office, relying on its data, falsely accused a bunch of innocent sub-postmasters?
Here's an update to the scandal that just won't stop: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgm8lmz1xk1o
My take-away from this is that government is not an easy job at all: to do the job properly, you need to be super-aware of various arcane details because if you don't get them right, the ramifications of mistakes can just roll on for years, at huge expense. With hindsight, it's pretty clear that someone dropped the ball bigtime when awarding Horizon the P.O. contract.
Quote from: Lisnaholic on Apr 25, 2025, 11:56 PMRemember the scandal about the Horizon software system, and how the Post Office, relying on its data, falsely accused a bunch of innocent sub-postmasters?
Here's an update to the scandal that just won't stop: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgm8lmz1xk1o
My take-away from this is that government is not an easy job at all: to do the job properly, you need to be super-aware of various arcane details because if you don't get them right, the ramifications of mistakes can just roll on for years, at huge expense. With hindsight, it's pretty clear that someone dropped the ball bigtime when awarding Horizon the P.O. contract.
Been watching the Post Office scandal from the early dayz. It was horrible to learn how many innocent postmasters (who had an incredidbly responsible job looking after people's money) were consistently bullied and denied justice, due to a grave and repeated error in a supposedly reputable computer system which had a 'good' reputation in troubleshooting and QA management. And that's the politest way I can put it.
Former lawyer Dan Neidle (who used to head up the tax arm of Clifford Chance in London) has quite a good blog about how Horizon continously and systematically pressured the government into believing that they (Horizon) were innocent, and that it was the fault of the plebs (excuse me, I mean the postmasters). https://taxpolicy.org.uk/2024/01/17/fujitsu/
Quote from: Lisnaholic on Apr 25, 2025, 11:08 PM^ Full marks for the precision of your punctuation!
I'm glad to hear that Viz is still around. I read it a couple of times year ago, although my preferred casual-reading mag was Private Eye. ( Note the hyphen between "casual" and "reading", otherwise it would have come across like Private Eye is a casual magazine for reading, when it's actually a magazine for casual reading.)
Thanks, Lisna. There's hope for me yet! (to be an English teacher that is).
Quote from: jimmy jazz on Mar 14, 2025, 01:42 AMLads this Online Safety Act seems a bit mad.
From what I understand, any app you can message one to one, will require confirmation of age (18+).
Forums will be read-only to those who haven't confirmed ID. It's to stop noncing, kids being targeted online etc.
Coming into affect this weekend.
Have my fellow Brits paid much attention to this? It seems a bit extreme. Apparently OFCOM can request VPN data to enforce this as well. Need more info. Doesn't look good?
@Marie Monday @Saulaac @FETCHER. @Thelonious Monkey @Lisnaholic
Did this actually happen? Mad is not the word. God almighty.
Transgender women soccer players to be banned from English women's teams (https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/transgender-women-soccer-players-banned-english-womens-teams-121348530)
Reform UK wins local election by just six votes as populist party's support strengthens (https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/02/uk/uk-local-election-results-farage-reform-party-intl-hnk)
Quote from: Psy-Fi on May 02, 2025, 03:00 PMReform UK wins local election by just six votes as populist party's support strengthens (https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/02/uk/uk-local-election-results-farage-reform-party-intl-hnk)
I know two people who are buzzing about this. One is thick as shit and I don't talk politics with him any more. Let me show you a screenshot so you can get an idea of what he's like:
(https://i.ibb.co/d4dptRC4/Screenshot-20250505-210859-com-whatsapp-Conversation.jpg)
Yes I get accused of being a woke liberal lol.
The other one I know isn't a bad or intolerant person but is easily led and would be affected badly by a Reform government.
The shift is massive and I just can't see them not getting in the way things are going.
By "Getting In" do you mean a working majority or something else?
What does MH stand for? Also, why does your mate capitalise in the middle of a word? "YourSelf" - is this some new way of communicating of which I am unaware? :laughing:
Quote from: Trollheart on May 06, 2025, 01:43 AMWhat does MH stand for? Also, why does your mate capitalise in the middle of a word? "YourSelf" - is this some new way of communicating of which I am unaware? :laughing:
Means mental health.
And because he's thick as shit. He showed me his workout plan once asking for feedback and he does it writing with a pen too.
He's not that bad, just can't take opposing opinions at all.
Quote from: Buck_Mulligan on May 06, 2025, 01:04 AMBy "Getting In" do you mean a working majority or something else?
They'll be in government, either a coalition or whatever else.
Are Reform just UKIP by any other name? Mind you, if you have this kind of shit going on with a LABOUR govt then it looks like all parties that matter in the UK have gone very much to the right. I have to keep reminding myself Starmer isn't a Tory. Are the Labour Party just Tory-lite now?
Quote from: Trollheart on May 06, 2025, 03:20 PMAre Reform just UKIP by any other name? Mind you, if you have this kind of shit going on with a LABOUR govt then it looks like all parties that matter in the UK have gone very much to the right. I have to keep reminding myself Starmer isn't a Tory. Are the Labour Party just Tory-lite now?
Yes although UKIP still exists. Reform are Farage's party. They have a lot of former Tories in it as well.
Wouldn't even say Labour are Tory-lite now. There's no difference between the two. Whoever is in power, the other one just has a go at everything they do and when they get in power it reverses. But in terms of policy no real difference.
Reform are further to the right than both the Tories and Labour though.
What happened with the Lowe vs Farage split? I thought people in Reform were starting to turn on Farage.
Quote from: Jwb on May 07, 2025, 06:29 AMWhat happened with the Lowe vs Farage split? I thought people in Reform were starting to turn on Farage.
Blew over. Nobody really gives a fuck.
I guess at least that technically counts as another L for Elon.
Just wanted to say Happy VE Day and Rule Britannia 🇬🇧
(https://i.postimg.cc/cLPmCYs1/VE.jpg)
Quote from: jimmy jazz on May 08, 2025, 02:34 PMJust wanted to say Happy VE Day and Rule Britannia 🇬🇧
See you haven't lost your colonial inclinations. :laughing:
Quote from: jimmy jazz on May 08, 2025, 02:34 PMJust wanted to say Happy VE Day and Rule Britannia 🇬🇧
Thanks for our freedom. :thumb:
Ford, GM 'disappointed' in Trump's UK trade deal (https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/05/09/trump-trade-deal-uk-automakers-disappointed/83538875007/)QuoteWASHINGTON – A group representing major U.S. automakers complained about President Donald Trump's trade deal giving an advantage to United Kingdom manufacturers, but the White House said it would be a good deal for them, too.
Trump announced a deal May 8 for a 10% tariff on the first 100,000 cars imported each year from the United Kingdom, down from 25% for imports from the rest of the world. That's about the number of vehicles Britain exported last year, according to Reuters.
A group representing General Motors, Ford and Stellantis said the trade deal would hurt domestic companies that manufacture cars or parts in Canada and Mexico. U.S. manufacturers have factories in both countries under the USMCA trade agreement, but cars that are partially produced in those countries are now subject to a 25% tariff.