gary1979666

A bit gutted at first not to be able to make the NOFX night, but then when I thought on it, I've seen them so many times (esp at SD over the last few years), it's not too bad a loss.

Big ole Thanos thought that killing half the population of the universe would sort everything out. (Needed 6 special gems to do this, but the pesky Avengers try to stop him - decent set of films if you have time / inclanation)

Thoroughly enjoyed this world cup. My lad loves his footie - he's 9; over the Euros last year and the WC, it has been a great chance to really share it with him. Have managed to get tickets for England v Ukraine in the Euro24 qualifiers for his birthday - he's going to go nuts. (Had tickets for the Ivory Coast friendly earlier in the year, but he had Covid).

No sure we were in the weakest group - when you look at the FIFA rankings, we had ranks 16,19& 20. France were up against 10,30 & 38. You could argue that on the day some played better or worse than their rankings, but then that would also point to Denmark's poor showing. France only lost to Tunisia as the played a light team. Similarly in the knock outs - Senegal = 18 and Poland = 26. But yeah, I'm gearing myself up for a France win - part expectation management, part realism.

I played on my phone while my better half watched it. It's utter horseshit. I'm no big fan of the royals, but there's some pretty low blows from the ginge and the terrible actress. I'm not sure if many people in the country actually care that she is mixed race, but they paint Britain as out to get her. I'd imagine the main reason they are hated is because of the attention seeking behaviour.

I'm looking forward to Frankie Boyle on the next full season. I love how consistently good Taskmaster is - nothing else makes me laugh as much.

Well, at least when the UK goes full Hunger Games, we know Cumbria is District 12!

You make it sound so simple. The recent budget shows that there just isn't that much money to go spreading it on double digit pay rises. If it could afford it, I'm pretty sure it would - would be a big vote winner to give the NHS the 19% it's asking for. But there just isn't the funds to do it. Plus if you give one group a big rise, then the next group will want a similar amount, which will then feed inflation, plus rises in the private sector. My other half is head of a couple of schools and due to funding issues, is already looking at reducing TA's. If there's a further increase to her teachers' pay, then that's more cuts to staff. The rail sector has a fair offer on the table from the gov't but includes funding from necessary reforms, because trains are getting more expensive to run (pay rises on top of already decent salaries) and few people using them (more WFH). My company is looking to put through a budget of 6% increase, on the back of very little rises the last few years and I'm sure a large chunk of the rest of the private sector would be doing inflation busting rises, so not sure the argument is there for a lot of the public sector to get huge increases. I'd love to be able to put through more into the people's pocket at work, but it's not the responsible thing to do on the brink of a recession.

A lot of problems in the UK education sector are the fault of the parents. The kids just aren't ready for school and some parents don't put the effort in. I was a school governor of my son's primary and the head there said that only 20% of parent read to their kids at night regularly - which gives them a step up with reading themselves - generally this is the better off parents (no, not the nanny...well not all the time). Same during lockdown, the inequality grew, as the home provision was different. It's also the same with homework support. So the teachers have to catch up on a lot of the basics that really should have been started at home. Many start school without being properly toilet trained! My lad had his parents evening last week (local state school) - doing pretty well, but the teacher said it would be hard to actually challenge him in maths, as there isn't the time. I'd love to send him privately, but it's not practical (logistics & the exwife factor) or affordable where I live, plus he has his friends there. If the price went up 20%, it's completely out of the question. We're reasonably well off and it's too costly in Cambs/Herts area, so it's a luxury only the 250k+ households can afford. Adding VAT just makes it more exclusive. Not saying that's wrong, but doesn't feel right in the state sector that the bright kids are held back because some can't wipe their arses.

But it's wider than just education, isn't it? There's private education, private healthcare, private cars (vs public transport), private housing, all the way through to speedy boarding, VIP festival tickets, etc. If you are rich, you can afford to do many/all of those things. But many middle earners will pay for some at the expense of other. It's people choosing how to spend their cash.

It's quite positive.....he's assuming we beat Wales and qualify!

Like Kaos, I'm fine with more votes, but when it becomes the overriding issue all the time, it gets very tiresome. It's only 8 years since the last referendum - if Remain wins this time, does it mean another one in 2030? If Leave had won back in 2014, I'm sure many of the nationalists would be telling anyone who wanted a vote to rejoin the UK that they are sore losers. Much like in the aftermath of the Brexit vote. Sadly Brexit won't be undone and should Scotland leave the UK, I very much doubt it could rejoin - these are massive decisions and shouldn't be on an 8, 10, 12 year cycle (or fewer had the SNP got their way). Maybe the SNP should focus some of their energy working on improving Scottish schools and the SNHS, rather that seeking another vote.....

That could be said over any period - it's constantly changing. In 2014 it wasn't inconceivable that the Tories would lose their shit over Europe. That's baked in.

Pitchshifter - haven't seen them in years - used to be amazing.

I was expecting her to appear with Wong in the post credits!

Don't want to spook the markets again!

Even with Slam Dunk's famous clashes, I can't see them clashing Rancid and Offspring.

Same ole Slam Dunk problem - a great problem to have! I struggle to find 5 or 6 bands a day i like at most festivals, but SD can fill a couple of days for me.

Not much in that announcement for me - Yellowcard are decent and don't mind Millencolin, but the first announcement sold it for me - Offspring, BFS, LTJ, FYS, Zebrahead, Greyscale. There's going to be a few more i like on the way, no doubt.

Didn't see a proper reply to this one, so thought best explain to Skip... A mortgage is a loan - so the amount owed doesn't change. Only the interest rate on the loan can change, so if rates are going up now, then the repayments go up. This is independent to the value of the house. If house prices drop, then there is a risk that you owe more than the value of the house....so if you sell, then the proceeds won't cover the debt. This is negative equity. It's also why there was a move away from 100% mortgages, as even the slightest drop puts you in negative equity.

Oh no it isn't!

I don't think he meant that the undercard was shite for a typical DL goer, but for a bog standard Biffy fan. A few more Biffy style bands would have tempted them to go.

Him and Raab too.....as shit as they were, I think I'm going to miss them - just look at the new bunch!

I think he was coughing on people in carehomes too!

Johnson was his own undoing. However, I reckon you're right about him best Truss.