NPR

The mere fact that no airlines appear to want to commit and the RAF is very unwilling hasn't hit home it seems

Apparently Huw Merriman now thinks a satirical radio show is biased against the current Gov and is his example of BBC bias! 24 hours of preparation for this interview in order to find examples of BBC bias and this is what he has got! Then he quotes another example using the wrong name of journalist he claims is biased. These fuckers run the county folks ... albeit very very badly!

dpedin wrote: Tue Jan 23, 2024 11:12 am Apparently Huw Merriman now thinks a satirical radio show is biased against the current Gov and is his example of BBC bias! 24 hours of preparation for this interview in order to find examples of BBC bias and this is what he has got! Then he quotes another example using the wrong name of journalist he claims is biased. These fuckers run the county folks ... albeit very very badly!

Kay Burley openly laughed at him when he trotted out the "Labour has no plan" line

https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/news/t ... 83157.html

dpedin wrote: Tue Jan 23, 2024 11:12 am Apparently Huw Merriman now thinks a satirical radio show is biased against the current Gov and is his example of BBC bias! 24 hours of preparation for this interview in order to find examples of BBC bias and this is what he has got! Then he quotes another example using the wrong name of journalist he claims is biased. These fuckers run the county folks ... albeit very very badly!

The fucking snowflake wants to cancel a satirical show because it lampooned his party's policies - they are everything they accuse others of being. The tradition of using comedy to lampoon the powerful in the this country goes back hundreds of years to cartoonists and travelling shows. You'd think a "conservative" would want to uphold traditions.

Rusbridger was correct at the end to ask why GB News isn't being mentioned in this vendetta, I watched it whilst flicking through channels the other week and I sat there open-jawed at it, and that's before mentioning the fact that members of the current government and the wider party have their own shows or make paid appearances on that channel.

sturginho wrote: Tue Jan 23, 2024 11:24 am

dpedin wrote: Tue Jan 23, 2024 11:12 am Apparently Huw Merriman now thinks a satirical radio show is biased against the current Gov and is his example of BBC bias! 24 hours of preparation for this interview in order to find examples of BBC bias and this is what he has got! Then he quotes another example using the wrong name of journalist he claims is biased. These fuckers run the county folks ... albeit very very badly!

Kay Burley openly laughed at him when he trotted out the "Labour has no plan" line

https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/news/t ... 83157.html

The Gov have lost all credibility now in eyes of wider population, journalists and even their own party members. Everyone is laughing now at their feeble attempts to gain any foothold in public ratings and they the Tories are throwing everything they have at it - racist Rwanda policy, promised NI and tax cuts, culture wars with BBC, National Trust and RNLI, personal attacks on Starmer's time as DPP, starting to bomb foreigners, etc. However nothing is working for them, the voters have made their mind up. Meanwhile every week a new issue resulting from their war on the working classes comes to light - the Panorama programme last night on dodgy schools investments was shockingly bad.

There are now too many shitshows of their own making - collapsing NHS with huge waiting lists, devastation of NHS dentistry, disaster in affordable housing and rise in homelessness, police cuts, train services too expensive and falling apart, HS2, lack of social care for everyones granny and grandpa, falling down hospitals and schools, shit in rivers and seas, rising legal immigration, shortage of pharmacy supplies and drrugs of a range of chronic conditions, etc - for them to have any chance of convincing the voting public to vote for them. Folk are now feeling the impact of all of this on their everyday life and they know who to blame. The Tories will do what Tories do and will try and gerrymander the GE with voter ID to get rid of non existent voter fraud, give overseas migrants a chance to vote for them and mobilize their foreign based media Barons to throw every ounce of shit they can find at Starmer and Labour in run up to the GE.

However there now seems to be an over whelming realization across the country that the Gov are essentially crooked ensuing their big business mates do well whilst everyone else suffers. Covid PPE scandals and disgraced Tory MPs, exorbitant profits in previous nationalized industries such as gas, electric, water, rail, Post Office, steel, etc has led a majority to believe, rightly, they are just being ripped off. The Tory rush to make all their mates Lords, Dames, Sirs, etc without any scrutiny or probity just rubs salt into the wounds. In essence all Labour have to do is stand back and let the Squatter and his mates dig the hole deeper and deeper and avoid any man traps laid by the Tories. Ok he will be accused of being boring and lacking charisma but I suspect that is exactly what voters want - someone who is principled, competent and focused on their problems. I cant see the Head Boy going the full term at this rate, the potential impact of Brexit checks etc being implemented at the borders in the next couple of weeks with increasing shortages/increased costs of some foodstuffs could be decisive. He might decide to cut his losses and my view is he will go of a May election ... hopefully!

Tichtheid wrote: Tue Jan 23, 2024 11:37 am

dpedin wrote: Tue Jan 23, 2024 11:12 am Apparently Huw Merriman now thinks a satirical radio show is biased against the current Gov and is his example of BBC bias! 24 hours of preparation for this interview in order to find examples of BBC bias and this is what he has got! Then he quotes another example using the wrong name of journalist he claims is biased. These fuckers run the county folks ... albeit very very badly!

The fucking snowflake wants to cancel a satirical show because it lampooned his party's policies - they are everything they accuse others of being. The tradition of using comedy to lampoon the powerful in the this country goes back hundreds of years to cartoonists and travelling shows. You'd think a "conservative" would want to uphold traditions.

Rusbridger was correct at the end to ask why GB News isn't being mentioned in this vendetta, I watched it whilst flicking through channels the other week and I sat there open-jawed at it, and that's before mentioning the fact that members of the current government and the wider party have their own shows or make paid appearances on that channel.

Regulators in this country have no teeth whatsoever and basically exist to provide a pathway for their heads to enter the industries they're supposed to be overseeing.

If nothing else, MPs on GB news are clearly and repeatedly in breach OFCOM regulations. It reflects incredibly poorly on the regulator that nothing has been done.

They just don't care anymore do they? They know enough people will bite without any interest in checking for themselves

Satire is dead, but this Government as exhumed and reanimated its corpse and then killed it again by announcing an official WhatsApp account.

Sign up and get your very own personalised video message from the head boy!!
Er no thanks!!!!

_Os_ wrote: Mon Jan 22, 2024 10:11 am The issue with "the national interest" you mention, is there's never a strong sense the UK has one, never much of a plan. When there is a plan it's often not fully implemented (eg HS2). Does anyone know what the UK's desired energy mix is, there was a plan for a large nuclear build but most of that never went anywhere. It's the same for trade, there's no sense of what the UK is trying to achieve, each new development is disconnected from the last. A focus of the TCA was the automotive industry and requirements for reduced tariff access, central to that is rules of origin. If there was a joined up plan there would be a desire to retain UK steel production because that safeguards meeting rule of origin requirements in the TCA (and any other trade deals). The lower the value of UK inputs into the finished product the higher the value of EU inputs into the finished product needed, to be rules of origin compliant.

This is a quote that will get lost and be forgotten but it says a lot. Mark Harper is the transport secretary, his position is that there should be no rail plan and customers in a free market must dictate. Not sure how a customer or the free market can send a signal that a city should have a new metro, or a new bullet train should connect large cities. But I'm sure the invisible hand will find a way if everyone believes hard enough.



I suspect most people in the UK would find this completely mad. If you explained to someone who found it mad, that this is some variety of libertarian/Thatcherite/neoliberal ideology, that any plan is regarded as totalitarian and anti-freedom and instead there should never be a plan and the market must dictate (this definitely in no way also being a plan, just a shit one), they wouldn't believe you or think you yourself were crazy.

At the Tory conference Mark Harper was the one ranting about the 15 minute city conspiracy theory, "councils telling you how often you can go to the shops". It was said at the time that it was just rhetoric that he couldn't possibly believe. Since then long standing policies and planning around encouraging people to walk and cycle and making it easier to do so, have been ended, seemingly with the 15 minute city conspiracy informing this choice. Can't have any plans!

... ironically one of the main Tory attack lines against Labour is that they have no plans, something which isn't true.

There's definitely a push within Tory ranks to remove Sunak. But they know that's not happening before an election. It's about framing Sunak after an election defeat, and moving the Tory party further towards the radical/far right after that defeat. Their goal is to permanently turn the Tories into an even more loony party, potentially with Farage as the pilot. Sunak should've tried to copy Major as soon as he got in by purging the Tory party asap, instead he took too long and is still persisting with the Rwanda scheme which was a Johnson joke policy in the same category as a bridge to Ireland.

There's two new groups making the moves. Neither are part of the five families, these would be the sixth and seventh families, but going through all the various families is a different post.

Popular Conservativism = Truss looks like the leader/figurehead of the group. Also involves Rees-Mogg, Simon Clarke, and Jayawardena (who?). Looks like an IEA front, Whois registry and some searching shows Littlewood (the IEA boss) is connected to the group's web domain.

The Conservative Britain Alliance = David Frost is heading this up. Lots of cash behind it, two YouGov polls in the Telegraph that are damaging for Sunak. A good guess at who is funding it would involve looking at who is funding or wants to buy the Telegraph. A lot of Tory members only read the Telegraph, by extension whoever owns it controls a lot of what the Tory membership thinks. Editorially the Telegraph seems to favour the bid by the owners of GB News but it's hard to tell.

... part of the Tory party doesn't give a fuck about the election and is trying to win the leadership election that will come after the defeat. The likes of Simon Clarke don't care about openly saying Sunak/Tories are shit, because they're betting on that improving their personal position a year from now.

_Os_ wrote: Wed Jan 24, 2024 7:48 am

_Os_ wrote: Mon Jan 22, 2024 10:11 am The issue with "the national interest" you mention, is there's never a strong sense the UK has one, never much of a plan. When there is a plan it's often not fully implemented (eg HS2). Does anyone know what the UK's desired energy mix is, there was a plan for a large nuclear build but most of that never went anywhere. It's the same for trade, there's no sense of what the UK is trying to achieve, each new development is disconnected from the last. A focus of the TCA was the automotive industry and requirements for reduced tariff access, central to that is rules of origin. If there was a joined up plan there would be a desire to retain UK steel production because that safeguards meeting rule of origin requirements in the TCA (and any other trade deals). The lower the value of UK inputs into the finished product the higher the value of EU inputs into the finished product needed, to be rules of origin compliant.

This is a quote that will get lost and be forgotten but it says a lot. Mark Harper is the transport secretary, his position is that there should be no rail plan and customers in a free market must dictate. Not sure how a customer or the free market can send a signal that a city should have a new metro, or a new bullet train should connect large cities. But I'm sure the invisible hand will find a way if everyone believes hard enough.



I suspect most people in the UK would find this completely mad. If you explained to someone who found it mad, that this is some variety of libertarian/Thatcherite/neoliberal ideology, that any plan is regarded as totalitarian and anti-freedom and instead there should never be a plan and the market must dictate (this definitely in no way also being a plan, just a shit one), they wouldn't believe you or think you yourself were crazy.

At the Tory conference Mark Harper was the one ranting about the 15 minute city conspiracy theory, "councils telling you how often you can go to the shops". It was said at the time that it was just rhetoric that he couldn't possibly believe. Since then long standing policies and planning around encouraging people to walk and cycle and making it easier to do so, have been ended, seemingly with the 15 minute city conspiracy informing this choice. Can't have any plans!

... ironically one of the main Tory attack lines against Labour is that they have no plans, something which isn't true.

It just demonstrates a complete lack of understanding of what a free market actually is. Rail can never be a free market as there are massive barriers to entry for suppliers, the size of the market is constrained and the number of suppliers means any one can exert undue influence on the market efficiency if they're not regulated. These people are morons who don't even understand their own ideology.

_Os_ wrote: Wed Jan 24, 2024 7:48 am

_Os_ wrote: Mon Jan 22, 2024 10:11 am The issue with "the national interest" you mention, is there's never a strong sense the UK has one, never much of a plan. When there is a plan it's often not fully implemented (eg HS2). Does anyone know what the UK's desired energy mix is, there was a plan for a large nuclear build but most of that never went anywhere. It's the same for trade, there's no sense of what the UK is trying to achieve, each new development is disconnected from the last. A focus of the TCA was the automotive industry and requirements for reduced tariff access, central to that is rules of origin. If there was a joined up plan there would be a desire to retain UK steel production because that safeguards meeting rule of origin requirements in the TCA (and any other trade deals). The lower the value of UK inputs into the finished product the higher the value of EU inputs into the finished product needed, to be rules of origin compliant.

This is a quote that will get lost and be forgotten but it says a lot. Mark Harper is the transport secretary, his position is that there should be no rail plan and customers in a free market must dictate. Not sure how a customer or the free market can send a signal that a city should have a new metro, or a new bullet train should connect large cities. But I'm sure the invisible hand will find a way if everyone believes hard enough.



I suspect most people in the UK would find this completely mad. If you explained to someone who found it mad, that this is some variety of libertarian/Thatcherite/neoliberal ideology, that any plan is regarded as totalitarian and anti-freedom and instead there should never be a plan and the market must dictate (this definitely in no way also being a plan, just a shit one), they wouldn't believe you or think you yourself were crazy.

At the Tory conference Mark Harper was the one ranting about the 15 minute city conspiracy theory, "councils telling you how often you can go to the shops". It was said at the time that it was just rhetoric that he couldn't possibly believe. Since then long standing policies and planning around encouraging people to walk and cycle and making it easier to do so, have been ended, seemingly with the 15 minute city conspiracy informing this choice. Can't have any plans!

... ironically one of the main Tory attack lines against Labour is that they have no plans, something which isn't true.

I think I can answer where this one came from !

"The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the Government, and I'm here to help."

Yes, the words of that colossus of Conservative thought; Ronald Reagan !

It's a very clever statement, that panders to everyone's belief that Governments (& Civil Services), are slow, & hopelessly inefficient, & that they themselves are much better able to help themselves, if the Government would only get out of their way.

It's bullshit of course.

None of us is able to construct roads to our home, or build hospitals off our own bat, & have a whole raft of surgeons & specialists solely occupied with keeping us healthy. If a hurricane rolls in, & knocks our house down, with us inside, do we maintain rescue services just for ourselves ?

But the Right has used this argument in the US to fight against every Federal initiative that benefited the majority over the minority.

Veterans Benefits - Check
Food stamps - Check
COVID Supports - Check
Voting Rights - Check
Social Security - Check
Obamacare - Check
Federal Disaster Relief - Eh, only when it isn't Texas or Florida

_Os_ wrote: Wed Jan 17, 2024 10:45 pm They're useless, the UK hasn't been governed for years now. But you have to laugh at these fucking morons.

Brendan Clarke-Smith and Lee Anderson "resigned on principle". Anderson has the piss taken out of him by Labour MPs when he votes no, so instead abstains on his resigning matter. Clarke-Smith votes for the thing he resigned over.

From resigning on principle, to abstaining because Labour MPs took the piss, now attempting to un-resign on principle. Lee Anderson = moron.

_Os_ wrote: Wed Jan 24, 2024 3:05 pm

_Os_ wrote: Wed Jan 17, 2024 10:45 pm They're useless, the UK hasn't been governed for years now. But you have to laugh at these fucking morons.

Brendan Clarke-Smith and Lee Anderson "resigned on principle". Anderson has the piss taken out of him by Labour MPs when he votes no, so instead abstains on his resigning matter. Clarke-Smith votes for the thing he resigned over.

From resigning on principle, to abstaining because Labour MPs took the piss, now attempting to un-resign on principle. Lee Anderson = moron.

Yeah, but watch Sunak fold quicker than laundry and take him back in the name of party unity or somesuchfuckingshite. Demonstrating just how weak he is, once again. Thatcher would have had Tebbit horsewhip the cunt.

30p Lee would not look out of place running a concentration camp.

ASMO wrote: Wed Jan 24, 2024 3:37 pm 30p Lee would not look out of place running a concentration camp.

I doubt he could concentrate for more than 15 seconds without a blood vessel bursting somewhere.

Biffer wrote: Wed Jan 24, 2024 10:12 am It just demonstrates a complete lack of understanding of what a free market actually is. Rail can never be a free market as there are massive barriers to entry for suppliers, the size of the market is constrained and the number of suppliers means any one can exert undue influence on the market efficiency if they're not regulated. These people are morons who don't even understand their own ideology.

Even in the retail sector a literal market, they favour large corporates that raise barriers to entry. Almost anyone should be able to open a shop without risking their entire life savings, and provided they've done their homework etc have a reasonable chance of some success. The likes of corner shops/bakers/butchers/grocers, weren't owned by privileged people. The lack of retail regulation has meant concentration in supermarkets/chain stores, they're all leveraged to the eyeballs to artificially outcompete rivals, all have economies of scale and sell product lines at a loss to artificially outcompete rivals. Against this most small new entrants go under inside 5 years. The end result is dead UK highstreets, there's a bookies/Weatherspoons/Greggs/bank/supermarket and not much else, it's corporates or "to let" signs. The UK copied HK, Hutchison and Jardines are two holding companies that between them own some massive percentage of HK's retail sector (including the largest supermarket chains), low regulation tends to produce near monopolies and higher costs for the consumer (because there's no market).

France still has boulangeries and all the rest, but they have a combination of regulation and business rates that don't eat anything close to the entire profit. In the UK anyone starting in retail is online in some small niche, using US websites and other than paying UK taxes is oddly peripheral to the UK and could relocate.

Hmm I think it’s possible to over-romanticise the shopping experience of the nation of the hyper-market.

Wealthier and quainter parts of France have kept more of that tradition than others. The same principle explains why my town has multiple low beamed pubs with open fires and a butchers along its high street, and Watford up the road has a spoons and charity shops on its.

Paddington Bear wrote: Wed Jan 24, 2024 10:03 pm Hmm I think it’s possible to over-romanticise the shopping experience of the nation of the hyper-market.

Wealthier and quainter parts of France have kept more of that tradition than others. The same principle explains why my town has multiple low beamed pubs with open fires and a butchers along its high street, and Watford up the road has a spoons and charity shops on its.

It is obvious that some supermarkets are heavily indebted to the point where they can't stock stuff (particularly fresh fruit and veg) of decent quality anymore (I think the local fruit and veg shop now undercuts them if you are buying the more expensive supermarket options that get near the taste though not sure if people have noticed). Morrisons is the most obvious example of a supermarket gone to shit due to the debt loaded on to it. I am very anti ultra processed food/food like substances so don't touch what passes for bread that you can buy in a supermarket and would say I about 1/3rd of the food I buy is from the supermarket.

petej wrote: Wed Jan 24, 2024 11:59 pm

Paddington Bear wrote: Wed Jan 24, 2024 10:03 pm Hmm I think it’s possible to over-romanticise the shopping experience of the nation of the hyper-market.

Wealthier and quainter parts of France have kept more of that tradition than others. The same principle explains why my town has multiple low beamed pubs with open fires and a butchers along its high street, and Watford up the road has a spoons and charity shops on its.

It is obvious that some supermarkets are heavily indebted to the point where they can't stock stuff (particularly fresh fruit and veg) of decent quality anymore (I think the local fruit and veg shop now undercuts them if you are buying the more expensive supermarket options that get near the taste though not sure if people have noticed). Morrisons is the most obvious example of a supermarket gone to shit due to the debt loaded on to it. I am very anti ultra processed food/food like substances so don't touch what passes for bread that you can buy in a supermarket and would say I about 1/3rd of the food I buy is from the supermarket.

Funny you should say that - I was in Morrisons yesterday to pick up some fruit and veg and ended up having to leave and go elsewhere to get what I needed. Morrisons used to be pretty good for fruit and veg, stocking loads of local produce plus they kept their butchers which meant I could get what I wanted rather than the usual pre packed supermarket fare. However even their meat supplies were badly affected and what they had was pretty poor shit.

At Christmas I went to a traditional butchers a couple of miles away and got a huge roast rib of beef which cost a packet, more that the supermarket. However it cooked beautifully, there was little lost to shrinkage and it carved well. It tasted fantastic. I now go to them for all my meat and it is just so much better quality and value.

Bread I buy locally from an artisan baker and yes it is very middle class and expensive but far far tastier and doesnt bloat me. Their sourdough is just fantastic.

I have been to France and Belgium in the last 9 months and the quality of food from markets and their supermarkets in infinitely superior to what we have on offer here in the UK. After the end of this month with Brexit checks on EU goods this is only going to get worse.

I am lucky, I can afford to buy good stuff and can drive to get it. The family on the breadline are stuck with the cheap supermarket shit which is a major cause of ill health and obesity, particularly for kids.

What with one thing and another I haven't left these shores since Autumn 2019, but I would generally go city hopping round Europe for a couple of weeks prior to that and loved gorging myself on bread. It's something I very rarely eat here at home because it's rubbish unless you go the pricey, artisanal route. Even basic supermarket stuff on the continent is just much better.

I have to say that in my experience, Scotland is a lot better for local butchers, fishmongers, greengrocers, than the parts of England I know.

We get all our fresh stuff from local shops and never buy meat or fish from a supermarket.

One thing that does make me laugh is that the UK must be the only place on earth where it is more expensive to buy produce at a market than at the shops.

sockwithaticket wrote: Thu Jan 25, 2024 10:44 am What with one thing and another I haven't left these shores since Autumn 2019, but I would generally go city hopping round Europe for a couple of weeks prior to that and loved gorging myself on bread. It's something I very rarely eat here at home because it's rubbish unless you go the pricey, artisanal route. Even basic supermarket stuff on the continent is just much better.

I find making bread a relaxing process, and it tastes better if you use good flour, but it's so time consuming. Did it a lot during the pandemic but it's much more occasional now. There are good bakers in Edinburgh that deliver but i live on my own so delivery charges make it ridiculously expensive.

Biffer wrote: Thu Jan 25, 2024 10:56 am

sockwithaticket wrote: Thu Jan 25, 2024 10:44 am What with one thing and another I haven't left these shores since Autumn 2019, but I would generally go city hopping round Europe for a couple of weeks prior to that and loved gorging myself on bread. It's something I very rarely eat here at home because it's rubbish unless you go the pricey, artisanal route. Even basic supermarket stuff on the continent is just much better.

I find making bread a relaxing process, and it tastes better if you use good flour, but it's so time consuming. Did it a lot during the pandemic but it's much more occasional now. There are good bakers in Edinburgh that deliver but i live on my own so delivery charges make it ridiculously expensive.

My wife has just started working for one of the artisan bakeries in Edinburgh so a free supply of the good stuff!

Slick wrote: Thu Jan 25, 2024 10:59 am

Biffer wrote: Thu Jan 25, 2024 10:56 am

sockwithaticket wrote: Thu Jan 25, 2024 10:44 am What with one thing and another I haven't left these shores since Autumn 2019, but I would generally go city hopping round Europe for a couple of weeks prior to that and loved gorging myself on bread. It's something I very rarely eat here at home because it's rubbish unless you go the pricey, artisanal route. Even basic supermarket stuff on the continent is just much better.

I find making bread a relaxing process, and it tastes better if you use good flour, but it's so time consuming. Did it a lot during the pandemic but it's much more occasional now. There are good bakers in Edinburgh that deliver but i live on my own so delivery charges make it ridiculously expensive.

My wife has just started working for one of the artisan bakeries in Edinburgh so a free supply of the good stuff!

I was in an artisan bakery in North Berwick a few months ago - nearly a fiver for a loaf of bread!

Bread making is a thing I’m going to get into when I back home, I enjoy when I do it, I make my own pizza dough as it is.

Tichtheid wrote: Thu Jan 25, 2024 11:07 am

Slick wrote: Thu Jan 25, 2024 10:59 am

Biffer wrote: Thu Jan 25, 2024 10:56 am

I find making bread a relaxing process, and it tastes better if you use good flour, but it's so time consuming. Did it a lot during the pandemic but it's much more occasional now. There are good bakers in Edinburgh that deliver but i live on my own so delivery charges make it ridiculously expensive.

My wife has just started working for one of the artisan bakeries in Edinburgh so a free supply of the good stuff!

I was in an artisan bakery in North Berwick a few months ago - nearly a fiver for a loaf of bread!

Bread making is a thing I’m going to get into when I back home, I enjoy when I do it, I make my own pizza dough as it is.

yeah, it's not cheap! But during the pandemic I quite liked getting a delivery of a small loaf, a few pastries, some scones and bakes once a week.

Slick wrote: Thu Jan 25, 2024 10:55 am I have to say that in my experience, Scotland is a lot better for local butchers, fishmongers, greengrocers, than the parts of England I know.

We get all our fresh stuff from local shops and never buy meat or fish from a supermarket.

One thing that does make me laugh is that the UK must be the only place on earth where it is more expensive to buy produce at a market than at the shops.

Scotland does shopping local, local brands etc much better than England, undoubtedly.

In general I observe less of a ‘middle market’ in Scotland. Things are either very, very high quality or total shit, there’s a lot more that fits somewhere in the middle of that down here IMO.

dpedin wrote: Thu Jan 25, 2024 10:25 am

I am lucky, I can afford to buy good stuff and can drive to get it. The family on the breadline are stuck with the cheap supermarket shit which is a major cause of ill health and obesity, particularly for kids.

Food labelling and advertising are just horrific and so misleading. It really is a smoking level scandal. I've listened/followed Tim Spector and did the whole constant glucose monitor and experiments while wearing it. Really interesting.

I use a breadmaker because I'm lazy and cheap. Mostly rye and spelt flours.

I eat less meat than I used to and again avoid the supermarket. It is noticeable that the quantity doesn't shrink.

Chapter 1,024: In which Kemi Badenoch learns what "negotiations" mean when confronted with serious people.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-68069994

Hal Jordan wrote: Thu Jan 25, 2024 12:19 pm Chapter 1,024: In which Kemi Badenoch learns what "negotiations" mean when confronted with serious people.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-68069994

And there we have it, once again it's someone else's fault™

tabascoboy wrote: Thu Jan 25, 2024 12:39 pm

Hal Jordan wrote: Thu Jan 25, 2024 12:19 pm Chapter 1,024: In which Kemi Badenoch learns what "negotiations" mean when confronted with serious people.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-68069994

And there we have it, once again it's someone else's fault™

She also continues to lie, & mis-attribute who owns Trade Deals in the US, & to ignore the almost complete absence of Trade deals being made by the US, with ...... anyone !

Congress approves Trade deals, & last time I checked, the GOP has been running since the losers term, & none of the dozen or so Trade secretaries since Brexit got anywhere.

A broad trade deal with the US was always a pipe dream, especially when the UK was fucking around with the Belfast agreement, but even if that hadn't happened, the US just doesn't do those kind of deals, unless you drop your pants and assume the position.

Paddington Bear wrote: Thu Jan 25, 2024 11:54 am

Slick wrote: Thu Jan 25, 2024 10:55 am I have to say that in my experience, Scotland is a lot better for local butchers, fishmongers, greengrocers, than the parts of England I know.

We get all our fresh stuff from local shops and never buy meat or fish from a supermarket.

One thing that does make me laugh is that the UK must be the only place on earth where it is more expensive to buy produce at a market than at the shops.

Scotland does shopping local, local brands etc much better than England, undoubtedly.

In general I observe less of a ‘middle market’ in Scotland. Things are either very, very high quality or total shit, there’s a lot more that fits somewhere in the middle of that down here IMO.

That's probably fair

Nicola Sturgeon urged to apologise after leaked WhatsApp messages describing Matt Hancock as “Weaker than a nuns piss,” Liz Truss as “About as much use as a marzipan dildo,” and referring to Suella Braverman as “Shitler.”

TB63 wrote: Thu Jan 25, 2024 4:47 pm

Nicola Sturgeon urged to apologise after leaked WhatsApp messages describing Matt Hancock as “Weaker than a nuns piss,” Liz Truss as “About as much use as a marzipan dildo,” and referring to Suella Braverman as “Shitler.”

That's a satire account that's gone completely mad and people think it's real.

True satire is very believable.

Biffer wrote: Thu Jan 25, 2024 4:53 pm

TB63 wrote: Thu Jan 25, 2024 4:47 pm

Nicola Sturgeon urged to apologise after leaked WhatsApp messages describing Matt Hancock as “Weaker than a nuns piss,” Liz Truss as “About as much use as a marzipan dildo,” and referring to Suella Braverman as “Shitler.”

That's a satire account that's gone completely mad and people think it's real.

True satire is very believable.

Aah bugger...

sockwithaticket wrote: Thu Jan 25, 2024 10:44 am What with one thing and another I haven't left these shores since Autumn 2019, but I would generally go city hopping round Europe for a couple of weeks prior to that and loved gorging myself on bread. It's something I very rarely eat here at home because it's rubbish unless you go the pricey, artisanal route. Even basic supermarket stuff on the continent is just much better.

The Co-op/Scotmid (maybe just in Scotland) do nice well fired rolls IMO.

Hal Jordan wrote: Thu Jan 25, 2024 12:19 pm Chapter 1,024: In which Kemi Badenoch learns what "negotiations" mean when confronted with serious people.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-68069994

Did Obama not state that this would be the result when he was in the UK in 2016 ?

And anybody who thinks that dealing with a Trump administration would have been easier or resulted in a better (for the UK) result, needs their head examined.

TB63 wrote: Thu Jan 25, 2024 4:55 pm

Biffer wrote: Thu Jan 25, 2024 4:53 pm

TB63 wrote: Thu Jan 25, 2024 4:47 pm

That's a satire account that's gone completely mad and people think it's real.

True satire is very believable.

Aah bugger...

Having unloaded a whole load of malcolm tuckers specials on a useless inept project manager on the shopfloor back in 2015-16 after his efforts crapped on 1+ years of work that I spent the next two weeks repairing including the marzipan dildo line i realised this was too good to be true.