BaaLocks

We should bring beck "chinny reck-on" complete with stroking of the chin. I think it would work well at PMQs or for football journalists to use in post match interviews

It is an interesting point - compare the outrage to Sinclair with the support seen over the past few days prior to Lineker - he was criticised by a Commons select committee for expressing political views and his woke (I'm joking) legion of followers lept to his defence. They were dealt with very differently, one time it is made clear Sinclair is not entitled to have radical views, Lineker was pretty much exclusively supported for his.
That said Sinclair deserved it, his comments were ill thought through and ill timed. There's always one (sometimes more) who ill judge the moment and write a few words that cost them for years. His choice, his error, his consequences.
To the point on freedom of speech, I can't add more than that freedom of speech does not come without freedom of consequences (I shall use that one more than once). My challenge that I have with people who claim to value it is pretty much always that they do it with the aim of talking 'to' rather than 'with' - it comes as a one sided privilege and some sort of free pass to express views as sacroscant.
I really think so much of the last few years could have been avoided (or better dealt with) if we'd just be a little bit more "live and let live" in our approach to dealing with others.

Oh, and please don't read anything into the fact that the wife of a Shell executive donated £100k to the Liz Truss PM campaign. Totally unrelated.

Oh, and please don't read anything into the fact that the wife of a Shell executive donated £100k to the Liz Truss PM campaign. Totally unrelated.

Oh, and please don't read anything into the fact that the wife of a Shell executive donated £100k to the Liz Truss PM campaign. Totally unrelated.

Tell that story about investing profits back into the infrastructure to the water companies and the rail providers. Yeah, they've really gone all out on that one haven't they? She's also - as many have - completely missing the point of definition of profit, that is what is left over once you have invested all you deem necessary into infrastructure. Profit (EBITDA) is, quite simply, the cream that gets shared among shareholders.
Actually, the EU have passed a decree for windfall taxes to be applied in all member states so - strangely - we have one of the first major benefits of Brexit now being played out, the the tune of £150bn (albeit that the benefit is for a limited few and not you and me). The only way this will be paid back will be by us, in future taxes or - as Trussolini doesn't want higher taxes - from stripping public assets like the NHS even further back.
It's happening today, in plain sight, and there is three bits of nothing we can do about it (and, strangely, not too much that many really seem to want to do). I repeat £150bn - from public coffers to private bank accounts.

Tell that story about investing profits back into the infrastructure to the water companies and the rail providers. Yeah, they've really gone all out on that one haven't they? She's also - as many have - completely missing the point of definition of profit, that is what is left over once you have invested all you deem necessary into infrastructure. Profit (EBITDA) is, quite simply, the cream that gets shared among shareholders.
Actually, the EU have passed a decree for windfall taxes to be applied in all member states so - strangely - we have one of the first major benefits of Brexit now being played out, the the tune of £150bn (albeit that the benefit is for a limited few and not you and me). The only way this will be paid back will be by us, in future taxes or - as Trussolini doesn't want higher taxes - from stripping public assets like the NHS even further back.
It's happening today, in plain sight, and there is three bits of nothing we can do about it (and, strangely, not too much that many really seem to want to do). I repeat £150bn - from public coffers to private bank accounts.

Kinky so and sos

Make yer mind up fella....

Trying to catch up on a few here, but here goes:
- Graeme Sounness is actually not a dinosaur, by his own admission he has done a lot to re-educate himself and worked in many areas of football to do so. There are many in the game with a far less progressive views than his. It was actually a shame he was the one who said what he did (I am minded of Ron Atkinson, who did so much for black players but his comments were beyond reproach so maybe not). It was a turn of phrase, not meant as a sexist one imho, but he should have let himself be corrected - that was his error.
- The use of 'man' as a phrase, in cricket or as a coloquialism, will recede - and needs to. I'm not saying we are going to rename it Personchester but they are the quiet indicators that woman do not enjoy true equality. There are phrases that were racist in tone that we used to use (n***er in the woodpile being one) and people back then said "I'm not being racist, it's just a phrase". But we stopped, because it's the right thing to do. Don't sweat it...
- Woke is a vile term, I've never heard used in anything other than a disparaging manner. And I've only ever heard it used by people who seem to fear that they are being directed by others (normally people who seem to want to then direct others). It is a phrase of our time that, on inspection, shows how much many value imposing their view rather than considering others.
- Grown men in football shirts, outside match day, is just wrong (and, for me, only just tolerable on match days - by others, I never do it). But I don't want to stop others doing it, even if I don't like it. That's the difference, I think - I might not like others doing it, it might annoy me, but I'm not on a mission to stop those who choose to do it. Those who use the term 'woke' about others do seem to think they are at risk of being told how to behave, what to say and what to wear - they see challenge to their belief systems as pure threat. It really shouldn't get your blood pressure rising, it should be chance to learn and grow a bit yourself.
- The purpose of this thread (I understood) is to sneer a little in the lightest of terms at those things in life that grind your gears. If you are going to lose your lunch over someone wearing a football shirt (I don't think anyone truly is btw) then you maybe need a few minutes in a dark room on your own.
In conclusion, some (in all walks of life) may benefit from being a little less concerned about imposing views and value systems on others and a little more focused on understanding why people hold those views and whether it really will damage the fabric of their lives to just let it go, smile and let them be happy in their decision.
Grown men in football shirts, however, nahhhhh....

Kinky so and sos

Adjusted for lost gate receipts, in 20/21, Leicester's revenue was £239m. Higher than the four clubs you listed: West Ham (£214m), Everton (£205m), Villa (£186m), and Newcastle (£157m)

Trying to catch up on a few here, but here goes:
- Graeme Sounness is actually not a dinosaur, by his own admission he has done a lot to re-educate himself and worked in many areas of football to do so. There are many in the game with a far less progressive views than his. It was actually a shame he was the one who said what he did (I am minded of Ron Atkinson, who did so much for black players but his comments were beyond reproach so maybe not). It was a turn of phrase, not meant as a sexist one imho, but he should have let himself be corrected - that was his error.
- The use of 'man' as a phrase, in cricket or as a coloquialism, will recede - and needs to. I'm not saying we are going to rename it Personchester but they are the quiet indicators that woman do not enjoy true equality. There are phrases that were racist in tone that we used to use (n***er in the woodpile being one) and people back then said "I'm not being racist, it's just a phrase". But we stopped, because it's the right thing to do. Don't sweat it...
- Woke is a vile term, I've never heard used in anything other than a disparaging manner. And I've only ever heard it used by people who seem to fear that they are being directed by others (normally people who seem to want to then direct others). It is a phrase of our time that, on inspection, shows how much many value imposing their view rather than considering others.
- Grown men in football shirts, outside match day, is just wrong (and, for me, only just tolerable on match days - by others, I never do it). But I don't want to stop others doing it, even if I don't like it. That's the difference, I think - I might not like others doing it, it might annoy me, but I'm not on a mission to stop those who choose to do it. Those who use the term 'woke' about others do seem to think they are at risk of being told how to behave, what to say and what to wear - they see challenge to their belief systems as pure threat. It really shouldn't get your blood pressure rising, it should be chance to learn and grow a bit yourself.
- The purpose of this thread (I understood) is to sneer a little in the lightest of terms at those things in life that grind your gears. If you are going to lose your lunch over someone wearing a football shirt (I don't think anyone truly is btw) then you maybe need a few minutes in a dark room on your own.
In conclusion, some (in all walks of life) may benefit from being a little less concerned about imposing views and value systems on others and a little more focused on understanding why people hold those views and whether it really will damage the fabric of their lives to just let it go, smile and let them be happy in their decision.
Grown men in football shirts, however, nahhhhh....

Trying to catch up on a few here, but here goes:
- Graeme Sounness is actually not a dinosaur, by his own admission he has done a lot to re-educate himself and worked in many areas of football to do so. There are many in the game with a far less progressive views than his. It was actually a shame he was the one who said what he did (I am minded of Ron Atkinson, who did so much for black players but his comments were beyond reproach so maybe not). It was a turn of phrase, not meant as a sexist one imho, but he should have let himself be corrected - that was his error.
- The use of 'man' as a phrase, in cricket or as a coloquialism, will recede - and needs to. I'm not saying we are going to rename it Personchester but they are the quiet indicators that woman do not enjoy true equality. There are phrases that were racist in tone that we used to use (n***er in the woodpile being one) and people back then said "I'm not being racist, it's just a phrase". But we stopped, because it's the right thing to do. Don't sweat it...
- Woke is a vile term, I've never heard used in anything other than a disparaging manner. And I've only ever heard it used by people who seem to fear that they are being directed by others (normally people who seem to want to then direct others). It is a phrase of our time that, on inspection, shows how much many value imposing their view rather than considering others.
- Grown men in football shirts, outside match day, is just wrong (and, for me, only just tolerable on match days - by others, I never do it). But I don't want to stop others doing it, even if I don't like it. That's the difference, I think - I might not like others doing it, it might annoy me, but I'm not on a mission to stop those who choose to do it. Those who use the term 'woke' about others do seem to think they are at risk of being told how to behave, what to say and what to wear - they see challenge to their belief systems as pure threat. It really shouldn't get your blood pressure rising, it should be chance to learn and grow a bit yourself.
- The purpose of this thread (I understood) is to sneer a little in the lightest of terms at those things in life that grind your gears. If you are going to lose your lunch over someone wearing a football shirt (I don't think anyone truly is btw) then you maybe need a few minutes in a dark room on your own.
In conclusion, some (in all walks of life) may benefit from being a little less concerned about imposing views and value systems on others and a little more focused on understanding why people hold those views and whether it really will damage the fabric of their lives to just let it go, smile and let them be happy in their decision.
Grown men in football shirts, however, nahhhhh....

The general split is that everything east of the Dneiper is Russian Orthodox and looks towards the east, everything west is Catholic and looks to the west.
All I am saying is that it is great that we (generic :-)) seem to confidently know what every part of Ukraine wants when we drape our flags over the front porch, maybe ask some of these regions where they want to belong - especially Crimea.
If Zelensky wanted this over tomorrow all he would have to say would be that he would be open to a referendum in the three disputed regions, watched over by third parties to prevent fraud, and he would comply with the result. I can all but guarantee Putin would agree to that also. Of course Russia is every part of wrong in their invasion, both in undertaking it and the actions since, but it is a naive view to believe that just defeating the Russians will resolve the situation indefinitely.
To your last paragraph, not everyone views it as an invasion, some view it as a liberation. Russia has not invaded (and I do see it as an invasion btw) to expand (or, more correctly, create) an empire. They have done this to liberate those in Eastern Ukraine they see as their rightful citizens. You can disagree with that point, but you likely won't progress the discussion until you understand it.

Don't buy stuff Don't buy stuff you can't afford Don't buy stuff you can't afford using a credit card / Klarna or any other line of credit Don't beat yourself up when you didn't buy the thing you couldn't afford. You didn't need it anyway.  

Ah, but he won’t be as he’ll be too busy supping tea and reading The Sun.

True this.  Used to do some training courses down there and come 5 o clock everyone is driving away fast as they can

Bracknell, the whole town is a complete ghost town after about 7pm. And even the ghosts are wearing ankle tags.

You missed the opportunity - should have said "I'm a plasterer so I spread it about a bit"

You missed the opportunity - should have said "I'm a plasterer so I spread it about a bit"

You missed the opportunity - should have said "I'm a plasterer so I spread it about a bit"

And that's England - get yourself to some of the places on the M8 corridor in Scotland - Bathgate, Cumbernauld, Wishaw, Hamilton. Euurgghhhh!

I'm a plasterer so I get around ?

Helps if you actually read posts before replying to them. And yes, legal invasions are generally the way to go - to pick up on your tautological conclusion.
As for the rest, thx for the pocket lecture on Soviet history - Orlando Figes, Simon Sebeg Montefiore and others would be proud.
Three points though:
1: You incorrectly conflate the U in USSR with Russia. Pretty basic error but you're not the first and won't be the last.
2: Russian actions against Crimean Tatars are deplorable and reprehensible, but even bodies supporting and documenting their discrimination do not suggest deportations are happening since annexation. I'm 99% sure you'll find some post suggesting they do, I'm just saying it's a stretch beyond even what those who are the voice in opposition are claiming.
3: Again, read the post before going into full bore "they are trying to blow the world up" maybe try to get to the section of your Wikpedia cut and paste to see that Russia has been claiming, consistently, that areas of Ukraine are their rightful territory and have been since before 1991, 1954 or whichever date you choose to reference. They have been trying to resolve this since before Feb 23rd, nobody woke up on that date and said "Anyone bored? I fancy invading Ukraine. Let's do it!". For Russians, this is their rightful land, stretching back to before Khruschev signed it away. 
And, again, I come back to the point - it doesn't matter one bit if I personally feel Crimea should be part of Russia, Ukraine or bongo-bongo land. The point is that many Russians (and many Crimeans and Ukranians) do in the same way many Brits believe Gibraltar, Falklands or Diego Garcia is theirs. In the way that many Chinese believe Taiwan is theirs. It. Makes. Sense. To. Them.