Seen in the News

[Stanley]

Sounds like a plan Peter.... Why aren't we doing it?

[Tizer]

Probably because our leaders and military are not thinking outside the box?

[Tripps]

"The UK and its allies should declare Wagner mercenaries to be terrorists and go after them wherever they operate, "

Really? I don't think so. Do you have any other groups in mind that we should 'go after' ? We can't even cope wth 'No more Oil'

Why were we not interested when Putin annexed Crimea, and had his local difficulties in Chechnya, Georgia, etc etc. There is something different about Ukraine. I doubt we have a functioning 'gun boat' even if we were minded to send one.

We should wake up and realise we are not in the Premier League any more - in fact the Beazer Homes League beckons.

I watched Portillo in Djakarta recently. The Town centre made London look run down.

[Stanley]

I can remember getting that feeling 25 years ago David when I saw how towns and cities on the continent had rebuilt and smartened themselves up. It made home look shabby and it has gone downhill ever since.

[Tizer]

`Russia using stolen Swedish speed cameras in drones, claims military author: The Swedish authorities have had to pay more than 40 million Kronor to replace the stolen speed devices with some commentators suggesting Moscow could be sourcing components on the black market' Scot. Daily Express

[Big Kev]

The 'Just Stop Oil' protesters are just behaving like naughty children. Going around damaging property is not really protest, it's vandalism.
They've been throwing custard pies at King Charles' waxwork at Tussauds in that there London.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5149gjwnl7o

[Stanley]

Have a look at THIS account of what Guy Hands said yesterday, well worth careful study as it recommends renegotiation with Europe.... Will the Tories listen? I doubt it, that would blow the party apart but that doesn't detract from his arguments....

[plaques]

Have a look at THIS account of what Guy Hands said yesterday, well worth careful study as it recommends renegotiation with Europe.... Will the Tories listen? I doubt it, that would blow the party apart but that doesn't detract from his arguments....

Rishi Sunak is a confirmed Brexiteer that of course was when he was climbing up the ranks and working for Johnson. It all depends on whether he is trying to beat Truss's record of the shortest serving PM if so there may be a shootout with the ERG where both finish up in Boot Hill.

[Stanley]

I thought about that yesterday while I was listening to Sunak speaking. And wasn't he Chancellor as well? Two things strike me about the tack the spin doctors are taking, first is the injunction to all speakers to speak slowly and in a disjointed manner as this signifies gravitas.... (I think the first time I heard this was when IDS made his 'Quiet Man' speech, it was ridiculous then and it is now.) the second is 'blame everything on Tuss/Kwarte3ng disruptive economics. No mention of twelve years of mismanagement going back to Cameron/Osborne austerity. It isn't Truss economics that has sent Moody@s and Poor's ratings of the UK economy tumbling. It's the combined effects of austerity, the self-harm of cutting off our biggest export market, the EU and then the final straw of the infamous non-budget.
As for the ERG.... the one thing all commentators agree on is that there are 'fault lines' in the Party. This is short hand for groups of radical fanatics who will stop at nothing to get their way. The activities of the ERG will not be made any quieter or less disruptive by the sacking of Rees Mogg yesterday. (Yes he was sacked, never mind the resignation claim....)
So, keep an eye on the news. We live in interesting times and remember Harold's dictum, events dear boy.

[Tripps]

Do you remember when Anthony Wedgwood Benn gave up his father's title Viscount Stansgate, and reverted to being just a prole.He went by the name Tony Benn for the rest of his life. That's the end of that thought I. Actually I saw an interview with his dad, and thought he was a decent cove.

Well - I've just seen a Viscount Stansgate on the news. he is found to be Tony's eldest son and brother to Hilary Benn. The tightness of his collar seems to indicate he makes full use of the House of Lords subsidised menus.

So his dad just parked the title for a while to make him feel a little more virtuous, and now his son revives it. How clever.

Does it need garlic and a wooden stake?

[Stanley]

Too attractive a prospect to let it lapse David. A peerage carries much more than the privileges of the House with the attendance allowance and subsidised school dinners. Wedgie Benn was a moveable feast. He had very good principles embedded in him (Dare to be a Daniel) but then did what to me were inexplicable things.
I think my views on peerages are well known, I would like to see the whole of the Honours System scrapped.

[Tizer]

The other war that's playing out at the moment...
`Inside a US military cyber team’s defence of Ukraine' LINK

[Stanley]

That link is really scary and when you put it alongside knowledge of autonomous drones and vehicles it makes you realise that troops are often redundant today actually on the battlefield. They can be at home ........
I'm glad I don't know all that is going on.
Later..... See THIS BBC report of the firebombing of an immigrant centre in Dover. Later a man was found dead....

[Tizer]

As we all know, Elon Musk has taken over Twitter in recent days. The Telegraph today reports that he has already posted a conspiracy tweet about Nancy Pelosi's husband (who was violently attacked in his home last week) and then had to retract it almost immediately.

[Stanley]

I saw that report Peter and once again wondered how mature the man is? Is he really to be trusted with all that power?
We live in a very scary world and I freely admit I bury my head in the sand, it's the only way I can survive mentally!

[Tripps]

In the Parish magazine actually -

The village pub reports the fact that they had had a theft of new and used cooking oil from their outside store.

Well I never. . . .

[Stanley]

Used for making bio-diesel David and from what I can see, a lucrative trade in retrieving it. All the vans I have seen are late reg..

[Tripps]

1. Seen in the news the increasingly common sight of the Royals working the crowd, with the lots of selfies and hugs. I'm not a fan, but wouldn't want to see anyone come to any harm. Their behaviour has become predictable and I think it's probably inevitable.

2.Just read the account of the Manchester bomb enquiry in 'The Mill' (thanks for the tip Sue) . It is outstandingly the best summary of an enormous report that I've seen today. Just the plain facts - no emotional pictures of "could she have survived" little girls. I don't know what the terms of reference were, buit I'd like to have seen the name, antecedents and motivation of the perpetrator get more prominence.
The emergency services were poor but they did not cause the explosion. Manchester has a new Chief Constable who is off to a good start.

[Stanley]

That's a positive summary of the report on the Manchester bombing David. Thank you. I've just glanced at the BBC news page and there is nothing positive there!

[Tripps]

Not just down here. .

Cooking oil theft

[Stanley]

I note that the Heifer has flit to Barnoldswick....
There must be money in the oil David. I tell you, the delivery and collection services all have late registered vans, no bangers!

[Tripps]

No links - 'call it homework' but plenty are easily found - if this is of any interest check out any combination of National Gallery exhibtion, Winslow Homer and Cullercoats. I thought I was his on'y fan in UK. Seems not - that pleases me.

[Big Kev]

I note that the Heifer has flit to Barnoldswick....

I'd blame the postal address
400 Colne Rd, Kelbrook, Barnoldswick BB18 6TF

[Big Kev]

There must be money in the oil

There is, legitimate companies buy it from restaurants and takeaways for around 50p a litre. It's then processed, turning it into biodiesel, which is currently more expensive than regular diesel (£1.83 a litre when I filled up on Thirsday).

[Stanley]