Danny
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Post by Danny on Aug 17, 2023 18:37:22 GMT
Arent these schemes which encourage people to scrap perfectly serviceable and not that much more polluting vehicles an absolute godssnd to the vehicle manufacturing industry? Sooo much money they make for friends of the conservative party. |
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graham
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Post by graham on Aug 17, 2023 18:42:02 GMT
Parkinson's passing does rather bring home the point that people born as late as the mid-1930s are now seriously old - rather than elderly.Indeed that probably applies to anyone born before World War 2. He was born in 1935 some nineteen years before myself, and it makes me realise that I am now on the cusp of being old - rather than elderly - particularly when faced with the reality that at 69 I have reached what was normal male life expectancy in mid-1975 however recent that still seems in many ways.
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Danny
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Post by Danny on Aug 17, 2023 18:42:42 GMT
Pure deflection. Reflecting onto others your own feelings and emotions. ?!? I feel a bit bad (guilt?) for putting on 4lbs in weight but I've no idea if colin wants to lose a bit of weight or not. As a nation we do need to lighten up as being overweight costs the NHS a lot of money every year. There is always the paradox that the longer people live, the sicker they get. If you take away a risk factor such as overweight, they do indeed live longer and hopefully will have more healthy years they can enjoy. Thats great. But in the end it will not save the NHS money, because they will still eventually sicken and die expensively. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 17, 2023 18:44:15 GMT
crossbat11 You've got a point but I quite like demolishing the veracity of the links. For some reason the rather trite and obvious funeral guff “age shall not weary them” (as though this is an excellent yet sadly often disregarded benefit of being dead) came to mind, but with this variation: ”Facts and reason will not change their minds or affect them in any way.” So, if the Biden criminal family being an evil, fascist/communist conspiracy, trying to destroy the good ole US of A family from inside is what “folks” believe, what is the point of asking them : “Where is your evidence?” - because none is required. Ditto any other groups in other countries including ours. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 17, 2023 18:45:41 GMT
crossbat11 You've got a point but I quite like demolishing the veracity of the links. He does after all take up so much space posting them perhaps a simple View AttachmentWould suffice as a response to all of them though. The thing is some of his other posts like the R&W link above are actually quite interesting. Finding a nugget amongst the dross. Yes, his Google searching does occasionally dig up an interesting poll or two, but isn't that a bit like the probability that if you allowed a monkey to play around with a typewriter for hundreds of years it would eventually come up with the complete works of Shakespeare? But you have a mountain of moronic gibberish to wade through too. Same with Shakespeare. |
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Post by mercian on Aug 17, 2023 18:55:44 GMT
As it's nearly midnight and Crofty's dropped me from the midnight shift, I thought I'd share a little anecdote that happened today. We needed some sort of cable connector because I'd mowed the cable of our mower. We went to B&Q together because I couldn't be trusted to get the right thing on my own. While going round, I confided to my wife that I always felt uncomfortable in these places because I know nothing about practical stuff, and that all the hefty blokes carrying sheets of plasterboard or mysterious tools to the checkout could spot that I was an imposter immediately - a bit like going into a country pub and immediately being recognised as a townie. Anyway, we found what was needed and went to the self-checkout. Instantly a shop assistant rushed over to show us how to use it. I looked at my wife and said "You see, they always know". ----------------- Anyway I wired it all up today and will attempt mowing tomorrow if it doesn't rain. If you don't hear from me again, the wiring didn't go too well. 😁 You're either winding me up or the Scots have some weird sort of connectors. This was a little plastic box about 1 inch by a half inch with a hole at each end for cut ends of the cable and 4 terminals inside secured by little screws for the actual wires. Anyway, I'm still here. 👍😄 |
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Post by mercian on Aug 17, 2023 18:58:26 GMT
As it's nearly midnight and Crofty's dropped me from the midnight shift, I thought I'd share a little anecdote that happened today. We needed some sort of cable connector because I'd mowed the cable of our mower. We went to B&Q together because I couldn't be trusted to get the right thing on my own. While going round, I confided to my wife that I always felt uncomfortable in these places because I know nothing about practical stuff, and that all the hefty blokes carrying sheets of plasterboard or mysterious tools to the checkout could spot that I was an imposter immediately - a bit like going into a country pub and immediately being recognised as a townie. Anyway, we found what was needed and went to the self-checkout. Instantly a shop assistant rushed over to show us how to use it. I looked at my wife and said "You see, they always know". ----------------- Anyway I wired it all up today and will attempt mowing tomorrow if it doesn't rain. If you don't hear from me again, the wiring didn't go too well. 😁 I just don't believe this anecdote. You seriously expect me to believe you saw an assistant in B&Q and what's more they 'rushed over' to help you....nah didn't happen....not at B&Q. 🤣 I've forgotten what part of the country you're from but Mercians are unfailingly polite and helpful to those they perceive to be in distress. Perfectly true story. |
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Post by mercian on Aug 17, 2023 19:00:44 GMT
I'm happy to give Wellington credit for accepting that denying Catholics the franchise wasn't wise, but it's a little imaginative to suggest that if Catholic Emancipation hadn't happened, then Ireland would be a contented component of a UK state! Obviously true, which is why nowhere did I suggest that. He's just trying to start a fight in an empty room, as is their way. |
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Post by mercian on Aug 17, 2023 19:06:14 GMT
ChatGPT holds ‘systemic’ left-wing bias, researchers sayFindings come amid heightened regulatory scrutiny of generative AI models “ ChatGPT has been accused of a “systematic” left-wing bias that reflects the positions of Labour and US Democrat politicians, raising concerns over its use in policymaking and education.
Researchers found that the chatbot’s responses generally favour left-leaning political beliefs, despite efforts to reduce bias.
The study, led by academics at the University of East Anglia (UEA), claims to be the first large-scale research into ChatGPT’s political slant.
Companies and governments around the world are racing to develop large language models (LLMs) with similar technology to the OpenAI-made chatbot.
“ChatGPT presents a significant and systematic political bias toward the Democrats in the US, Lula in Brazil, and the Labour Party in the UK,” the UEA study’s authors wrote.
“These results translate into real concerns that ChatGPT, and LLMs in general, can extend or even amplify the existing challenges involving political processes posed by the internet and social media.” I wonder if that is because it was fed a random selection of source material, and the overall bias of that material is what would be considered left wing. In other words, that politicians around the world tend to be more right wing than their populations? Or lefties post more because they're all garrulous little g-bsh-tes (not sure if that's offensive). Unlike me. 🤣 |
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Post by mercian on Aug 17, 2023 19:09:24 GMT
I have just seen a report that concerns me a little about the welfare of Mercian, especially since he has warned us already about the possible fatal consequences of his DIY lawn-mower re-wiring. 🤣 I escaped unscathed. Of course if we were still in the EU I'd have had to get an electrical engineer with a university degree to do it for me so there would have been no danger. |
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Mr Poppy
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Post by Mr Poppy on Aug 17, 2023 19:10:40 GMT
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Post by jib on Aug 17, 2023 19:18:38 GMT
Wondering why you don't see so many babies The number of babies born in England and Wales in a year dropped in 2022 to the lowest level in two decades, according to official figures. It follows the recent trend of decreasing live births, which had been the case before the pandemic, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. The number has been steadily decreasing for the past decade – returning to roughly the level seen in the early 2000s. It has recently recovered twice from relative lows – on that occasion, and in the mid-1970s – before reaching relative highs in 1990 and 2012. The ONS data, released on Thursday, showed there were 605,479 live births in England and Wales in 2022. That was down 3.1% from 624,828 in 2021 – and the lowest number since 2002, when there were 596,122. My daughter Izzie should be adding one to the total within the next few days🤗 Cause and effect my friend. Gordon Brown blasts Tories and Liberal Democrats over child tax credit cuts Labour leader Gordon Brown says he 'shocked and angry' over what he calls the opposition's 'coalition of cuts against children' www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/apr/28/general-election-child-tax-creditsYou reap what you sow with your Tory mates. |
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pjw1961
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Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one.
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Post by pjw1961 on Aug 17, 2023 19:44:41 GMT
Some folk really do take life on this board far too seriously. Dear oh dear. As they say. For someone who seems to take offence at virtually everything that is particularly risible. It is mildly amusing that colin came on to have a quite gentle dig at the LoC for squabbling with each other again and has ended up in a contretemps with Trevor  |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 17, 2023 19:50:07 GMT
For someone who seems to take offence at virtually everything that is particularly risible. It is mildly amusing that colin came on to have a quite gentle dig at the LoC for squabbling with each other again and has ended up in a contretemps with Trevor Well I suppose it’s a first for him to actually be mildly amusing. |
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pjw1961
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Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one.
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Post by pjw1961 on Aug 17, 2023 19:51:32 GMT
And another one @gud appears to be an associate of " red collective" who ever the fuck they are, another group of potential Tory shrills who seem particularly keen to libel Keir Starmer's period as DPP with posts remarkably similar to the previous geezer. Any Labour supporters who feel the urge to defend your own party please feel free!Good rule of the internet is "don't feed the trolls". Some things are best ignored. |
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Post by mercian on Aug 17, 2023 20:09:10 GMT
Has anybody heard anything from Mercian yet? I'm getting worried and the news from Oldbury is a little disturbing. Let's hope it's just a terrible coincidence. Sorry old chum. I only look in here from time to time hence the need to catch up and do multiple posts. But fear not! While you owe me a pint I am immortal. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 17, 2023 20:12:14 GMT
It’s going to be a big problem for ole graham to know who to lend his - and god’s- support to in the World Cup Final on Sunday. He Obviously the England wimmin, collectively, represent the worst of the Tory government but what, exactly, is the complexion of the Spanish government?! Might the Spanish girls actually represent something even worse instead of better?!?!?!?!? Que condundrumo senor!!!! |
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Post by mercian on Aug 17, 2023 20:12:56 GMT
Michael Parkinson RIP. The great days of BBC Saturday night television. The Generation Game, Kojak, Parkinson and Match of the Day. All drew vast audiences and ITV more or less packed in and went home for the night. Parky was a great journalist too. Wrote for the Times for many years. Cricket lover and Yorkshireman to this core. Yes very sad. I used to read his column but it would have been in the Telegraph. Perhaps he wrote for both? After a few years he did keep recycling the same old stories about 'Skinner' Normanton at Barnsley FC in the 1950s, and how he (Parkie) opened the batting with Dickie Bird playing for Heckmondwike or some other Yorkshire name. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 17, 2023 20:16:28 GMT
Has anybody heard anything from Mercian yet? I'm getting worried and the news from Oldbury is a little disturbing. Let's hope it's just a terrible coincidence. Sorry old chum. I only look in here from time to time hence the need to catch up and do multiple posts. But fear not! While you owe me a pint I am immortal. Look I promoted you to the much sought after midnight spot and you clocked off early. Now your timing is all over the place. Get yerself back to B and Q to see your new chum and buy some spanners for your chess board or something.  (pawn to a3 - unscrew that!) |
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graham
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Post by graham on Aug 17, 2023 20:30:01 GMT
It’s going to be a big problem for ole graham to know who to lend his - and god’s- support to in the World Cup Final on Sunday. He Obviously the England wimmin, collectively, represent the worst of the Tory government but what, exactly, is the complexion of the Spanish government?! Might the Spanish girls actually represent something even worse instead of better?!?!?!?!? Que condundrumo senor!!!! I won't root for either team - though I suppose a win for Spain will spare us some of the likely hysteria which follows. To be fair, there have not yet been excessive displays of emotion when compared to Italia90 and other tournaments. I have certainly had noone at my supermarket trying to foist World Cup soup or cereal bowls on me such as I experienced in 2006. It is much more low key - and reasonable to that extent - a bit like the ParaOlympics v the real Olympics. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 17, 2023 20:34:18 GMT
It’s going to be a big problem for ole graham to know who to lend his - and god’s- support to in the World Cup Final on Sunday. He Obviously the England wimmin, collectively, represent the worst of the Tory government but what, exactly, is the complexion of the Spanish government?! Might the Spanish girls actually represent something even worse instead of better?!?!?!?!? Que condundrumo senor!!!! I won't root for either team - though I suppose a win for Spain will spare us some of the likely hysteria which follows. To be fair, there have not yet been excessive displays of emotion when compared to Italia90 and other tournaments. I have certainly had noone at my supermarket trying to foist World Cup soup or cereal bowls on me such as I experienced in 2006. It is much more low key - and reasonable to that extent - a bit like the ParaOlympics v the real Olympics. Very fair minded. |
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Post by mercian on Aug 17, 2023 20:35:27 GMT
I think i prefer the other theory- that we actually hate them & its fun to let them know. !?!? The Royal "We"? I hope no one thinks it is "fun". I'm disappointed if you see it that way. We (as in I) are not amused! was joking |
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Post by mercian on Aug 17, 2023 20:41:02 GMT
The political centre ground is constantly in flux and over time, shifts both leftwards and rightwards, hence, what is essentially a computer program deigned to find a centre ground will miss it in the opposite direction to where the current overton window has shifted. Yes, so greater weight should be given to more recent data to counter that problem. Whether this is actually done I don't know. It would also be interesting to know whether academic works are given any greater weight than random musings on social media sites. One would like to think so, but who knows? |
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Mr Poppy
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Post by Mr Poppy on Aug 17, 2023 20:54:24 GMT
!?!? The Royal "We"? I hope no one thinks it is "fun". I'm disappointed if you see it that way. We (as in I) are not amused! was joking We (as in colin and I) cleared it up. Try to keep up  |
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Post by mercian on Aug 17, 2023 20:58:06 GMT
Parkinson's passing does rather bring home the point that people born as late as the mid-1930s are now seriously old - rather than elderly.Indeed that probably applies to anyone born before World War 2. He was born in 1935 some nineteen years before myself, and it makes me realise that I am now on the cusp of being old - rather than elderly - particularly when faced with the reality that at 69 I have reached what was normal male life expectancy in mid-1975 however recent that still seems in many ways. You youngsters! Always moaning about something. 😁 |
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Mr Poppy
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Post by Mr Poppy on Aug 17, 2023 21:00:08 GMT
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Post by mercian on Aug 17, 2023 21:14:19 GMT
Wondering why you don't see so many babies The number of babies born in England and Wales in a year dropped in 2022 to the lowest level in two decades, according to official figures. It follows the recent trend of decreasing live births, which had been the case before the pandemic, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. The number has been steadily decreasing for the past decade – returning to roughly the level seen in the early 2000s. It has recently recovered twice from relative lows – on that occasion, and in the mid-1970s – before reaching relative highs in 1990 and 2012. The ONS data, released on Thursday, showed there were 605,479 live births in England and Wales in 2022. That was down 3.1% from 624,828 in 2021 – and the lowest number since 2002, when there were 596,122. My daughter Izzie should be adding one to the total within the next few days🤗 Cause and effect my friend. Gordon Brown blasts Tories and Liberal Democrats over child tax credit cuts Labour leader Gordon Brown says he 'shocked and angry' over what he calls the opposition's 'coalition of cuts against children' www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/apr/28/general-election-child-tax-creditsYou reap what you sow with your Tory mates. Well I blame the pill for allowing women to choose not to have babies. 😁 The eventual drop in population when this idea spreads to Africa and other fecund places will cause major problems which we in the West (and China) are already beginning to see. A relatively small number of workers will be supporting more and more retirees. Something will have to give. Possibilities: 1) The young will never be able to vote in a government that they want because they will always be heavily outnumbered. Therefore they will rebel and install dictators who will introduce voluntary and then compulsory euthanasia. Actually some of this happens unofficially anyway with Do Not Resuscitate notices over beds and the 'Liverpool pathway' in the NHS. 2) We will develop, and have the resources to build enough robots to do nearly all work including care for the elderly and create enough wealth to give everyone a living wage whether they work or not. The last bit seems very unlikely because more and more wealth seems to be being channelled to fewer and fewer people because of multi-nationals. There may be others. |
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Post by alec on Aug 17, 2023 21:22:12 GMT
Danny - "But in the end it will not save the NHS money, because they will still eventually sicken and die expensively." Real life doesn't actually work like that. Yes, everyone does eventually die, but the aggregate health burden, and consequent costs, are far greater for unhealthy people than for those who looked after their health.
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Post by mercian on Aug 17, 2023 21:22:36 GMT
Look I promoted you to the much sought after midnight spot and you clocked off early. Now your timing is all over the place. Get yerself back to B and Q to see your new chum and buy some spanners for your chess board or something. (pawn to a3 - unscrew that!) 🤣 you did it again you old b*gger. Belly laugh that time! Hard though it is to imagine I think I might even like you if we ever met. BTW have you ever come across this couple? www.wildwoodjack.com/I don't know much about different genres but their style of plinky-plonk music seemed like the sort of thing you'd do. Apparently they sold their house a while back and started just touring around playing music. I really admire that sort of thing. |
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oldnat
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Extremist - Undermining the UK state and its institutions
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Post by oldnat on Aug 17, 2023 21:33:10 GMT
Always interesting to see the views of folk, who have different perspectives, on here. It's especially interesting to see how those, for whom the current constitutional structure of the UK, quite suits them are so keen that it should continue.
There is no particularly obvious reason why, even in a federal structure, defence and foreign policy are best handled at UK level - it was precisely that arrangement that dragged NI and Scotland out of the EU!
As for defence, it's seems unlikely that any part of the UK will be invaded, without intervention from other states who are similarly threatened/attacked. "Defence" is one of those weasel words, designed to divert attention from the real purpose - which is to pursue the foreign policy directions of the state. In reality, it can only operate in conjunction with allies. My preference would be for that alliance to be based on membership of the EU, with each state contributing the forces that are most appropriate to its geographic position, but planned to form an integrated military force when required. What has independent direction by UK/GB/England got to offer, than is based on the need for its government members to posture on the world stage?
There is also no reason to blindly accept that it would somehow be better if "we all rejoined the EU together"? Why should that be the case? In reality it means that Scotland and NI remain excluded until a political party in England both has the guts to advocate rejoining, and has the support of sufficient people to become the UKGov.
It would be to the benefit of the Scottish economy if all of rUK was also in membership, but it is not an essential factor.
I'm quite happy to accept pjw1961's terminology of localists. I'm both a Scottish and European localist. I really don't fancy a world government dominated by China, any more than a UK government dominated by England.
I do agree that a federal UK, where the parliaments of the member states (including England) had autonomy, would be preferable to the devolution system currently in place - just as devolution is preferable to graham's dream of all power being centralised at Westminster. What none of the UK localists on here have suggested, however, is a considered rationale for the continuation of the UK state at all.
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