benchwarmer

Ipsquit to go up automatically? Ipsquit to beat us in the playoff final? Ipsquit to beat us in playoff semi then lose in the final?

I understand your prejudice, for I used to share it. Thank goodness I've found a friend who has opened my eyes. Try watching 45 minutes of uncut YouTube footage by Shady Shae (Nigerian Londoner) showing what's really happening at this event. Instead of clickbait headlines by all the mainstream media, even the Daily Mail.

Labour: "If we'd had a candidate Galloway wouldn't have won". Starmer nowhere to be seen. I despair. Let's nail the lie that only Muslims care about Gaza. Two-thirds of the UK population (and, remarkably, the US population too) now want an immediately ceasefire. We're utterly ashamed of our governments allowing Israel to use our weapons to annihilate Gaza.

Last night's events had very little to do with Gaza and nearly everything to do with it being a general election year. Gaza was collateral damage in the political bloodletting that can only get worse between now and November. In terms of winning votes Labour has probably come off worst, but no one has emerged with any credit whatsoever. The overwhelming response of the electorate, no matter where they stand on Israel/Gaza, is utter contempt. For the sake of British democracy, KICK THEM ALL OUT NOW.

I wonder if the death of Alexei Navalny will be a wake-up call for Ukraine's allies? Not exactly what Putin intended. Did he use the West's flagging support as an opportunity to eliminate him?

After Biden's latest faux pas, a senior Democrat was asked for his reaction: "I slept like a baby - woke up every two hours crying and wetting myself" Only in America . . .

That's a no then . . . Brexit has left us with no other options when it comes to foreign policy. America's poodle, that's all we are now. Sovereignty my a*se. Now who would we like to be the next US President? Do we get a vote? Thought not . . .

This is getting serious now. For three months, Israel's allies led by the US have tried to restrain the excesses of the Netanyahu government in Gaza. Said government has responded with a two-fingered salute. What does that tell the rest of the world? That the US has lost its influence in the Middle East. How far will the US go to try and regain it? That's the name of the game now; yesterday's air strikes were far in excess of a proportional response to the attack on the US base in Jordan, and had no direct bearing on the war in Gaza. And how far will the UK go in support? Do we even have a choice?

Impeachment by the Senate is not impartial. It isn't the equivalent of a trial in a court of law. A two-thirds majority is required for conviction. The makeup of the Senate was almost evenly split between Democrats and Republicans. A record number of Republicans did vote against their President, resulting in a simple majority of 57-43, but a two-thirds majority was never a remote possibility. Trump's acquittal by the Senate has no bearing on what a court decides.

I was thinking more in terms of canine welfare - promoting responsible ownership - than the nuisance issue. I take your point about enforcement though - it could be done quite easily with digital records but only if the political will was there.

Bring back dog licences and make chipping compulsory. Reintroducing dog wardens would also be a good idea but I guess they're gone forever, like bus conductors. This is what's known as progress.

For years I've resolved not to make any, but in 2024 I shall stop using old age as an excuse for bone idleness and learn enough about tech to upload and post wildlife pics from my camera.

My grandmother wouldn't have drink in the house, except for a bottle of Stone's Green Ginger Wine at Christmas.

I find coriander rather unpleasant but didn't realise there was a gene involved. Cheers Herman.

Many Christmas foods - stuffing, stollen, panetone, cake, trifle, mince pies etc. - contain gluten so are off limits for me. Most gluten-free options aren't a patch on the original so I tend to look for alternatives. The exception though is GF Christmas pudding which more than compensates for less stodge with more fruit and of course alcohol . . .