bickster

The responses (the clue is in his name you dimwits)

I have no faith in "the system." We only live in a quasi-democracy at present. But the system as you call it is only as good as the people we allow to put themselves forward to represent both the people and the system. It is as broken as it is because the people allow it to be. Having said that, I'd still rather this current system with all it's many flaws than a one party dictatorship. I want our system of democracy to be much changed but I wouldn't describe voting to be a futile exercise either because it clearly isn't

There is nothing logical about that conclusion, Britain's place in the World is not the only thing a party can affect. The UK Government should be able to influence our allies and voting for a paticular party is the population chosing which way they want that influence to be used.

They aren't Johnson’s sanctions, they are to use that silly term The West's sanctions. It doesn’t matter who the PM was at the time, those sanctions would be happening. If the UK hadn't applied the sanctions the situation would actually be worse. The energy crisis would still be here AND our Allies may well even be applying other sanctions against us, both at a governmental level and a personal level

And when did they introduce self service checkouts?

Because it seems he's playing a different game tactically to last season

Think I forgot to play the last couple of days Wordle 436 3/6*

Reports in the last hour of something happening on the Kherson front There have been messages telling residents to stock up on water, charge their devices (to keep up to date with news) and have Ukrainian flags at the ready (for identity purposes not celebration) There are also messages on Russian telegram channels reporting heavy tank / Artilery / Airbourne activity against them. Ukrainian sources claiming the first line of Russian defence has been broken (this won't be the most heavily defended) It's also rumoured that an awful lot of officers buggered off a few days ago There's nothing concrete obviously and you wouldn't expect there to be either but it does seem like some sort of large Ukrainian offensive is taking place

For the start of the season yes, I'd agree but we're hitting the two games a week and rotation time amongst the top teams. I'm very much aware that Haaland is unlikely to start every game from Pep's comments. I'm also mindful of the fact that I'm doing the wildcard earlier than I intended but Salah is kind of forcing my hand. I also have another build I'm toying with that comes down from Salah to KDB It also has the current top 2 keepers, 4 of the top ten defenders, the top 5 midfielders and 3 of the top 5 strikers (yes all based on current points which I know isn't the best way to build a team) and fixtures over the next few weeks all look fairly decent for those teams too

I have my finger hovering over a wildcard wk with 9 changes and the only reason I'm not doing it right now is that it leaves me with 1.6 million sloshing about so I'm still trying to work out if I can spend more to improve If I'm getting rid of Salah and going for a more even spread of pounds and points. I could go this way... But I'll never get Salah back if his form / Liverppol's tactics change. So I'm still undecided. (Massively!)

VAT cuts are likely to be just extra profit for retailers. Retailers and suppliers will just put the price up stating increased costs as the reason. We’re back to this not being a household budget again. The government will have to issue gilts or something to stop people dying of cold, pissing around with VAT won’t do diddly squat to help.

Absolute godsend, I do it on my phone, don't even need one of their handsets. Turn up to till, bags already packed, scan code, no bags needed, use vouchers, pay and unless theres alcohol involved, done in two minutes flat

Rather brave of the promoters putting that on the same weekend as WordRemovedFields in Runcorn. And what have K-Klass done to James Barton to not be on at WordRemovedFields

I have contacts in the PSoNI, they are hunting you (in) down as I type

It's nonsense too, as far as I know, they haven't reduced staff numbers, just freed up more staff to stack shelves

I have reported to YouTube, there's no way they can condone such deviant behaviour on their platform

Everyone's favourite French Psyche combo have released a career spanning retrospective compilation - Electrified (What do you mean that you've never heard of them, shame on you!). It Spans their career from start to Present Day (and before) There's a standard double album and a very limited edition Orange vinyl triple album, the third disc being taken up with one side of 'rarities' and the other side has 7 tracks from Les Bellas, Lionel and Marie Liminana's group before The Liminanas I have the three record set as it's the third record that interests me most. Definitely one of my favourite bands

Don't know about Germany but French Govt wholly owning the national energy supplier EDF has certainly had a part to play in France (and if someone could punch Corbyn and whichever Union Leaders along with Uncle Joe McLuskey stated this wasn't possible in the EU that'd be grand)

PIcked this up today for the princly sum of £6. A very early Rough Trade album. Rough 16. I bought it because the track Jazz is the Teacher (Funk is the Preacher) was a track on the precursor to the now famous C86 NME Cassette, the C81 NME / Rough Trade cassette. And C81 was actually much better than C86 IMO. This copy isn't in the best nick, it noticeably crackles between the tracks on side 1 but plays absolutely fine. At the price I paid, I'm happy. It combines Free & Comtemporary Jazz with Funk and it makes perfect sense that it was released on Rough Trade in 1980 as this was abolutely on point for where one strand of Post-Punk was heading with the likes of the Pop Group / Rip Rig and Panic / Pig Bag / Maximum Joy et al. I find it really does fit in with that scene. Anyway... James 'Blood' Ulmer - Are You Glad to be in America?

The idea that Gerrard is using this job as a step up to the job at Liverpool when Klopp eventually goes is a somewhat fanciful. He seems tactically inept and that out there is a team completely lacking in motivation, there's absolutely no sense of urgency at all

What on earth does this mean?

Well no, not really at all. Firstly they are selling a lot at discount prices to India / Turkey etc. secondly because they turned off the pipelines to certain EU countries they are literally burning billions of dollars of gas a day. Burning it off into the atmosphere, that’s all they can do with it. Giant plumes of gas flames burning away across the country

Not convinced.Liverpool seem to have changed their approach. Salah seems to stay outside more with TTA cutting into the box. Two games in a row I've watched their full game and it’s happened both games. Mind you Salah also missed two sitters having said that but there seems to be some sort of club record he’s one goal away from taking off Gerrard so maybe that is also playing tricks with his mind

Inflation is being driven by energy costs, what else do think is driving it?