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Politicians, they're all cunts. Each and every one of them only interested in lining their own pockets.

When Robin Thicke has the moral high ground over you, you know you've fucked up.

Would be funny if the first thing the new Conservative MP for Southend did on arriving in Westminster was to hand a letter of no-confidence in the Prime Minister to Graham Brady

Times Obit for Tommy Brennan, convenor of the shop stewards at Ravenscraig who walked to London to confront Thatcher about its closure: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/tommy-brennan-obituary-hlwbgqnb7 More readable version here: https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/in-your-area/lanarkshire/tributes-paid-ravenscraig-union-hero-26095862 Close to home, OldWillz worked at Ravenscraig. Brennan was big news back then. None of yer namby pamby Len McCluskeys and the like now....

This compilation of Jamaican doo-wop from the 50s and early 60s: https://open.spotify.com/album/15lTFGfA4nLklbReiT6wy7?si=GLjOszWJRFCxGRDmxNv9xA

Alberto Bailleres, a Mexican billionaire who once owned the world’s largest refined silver company, has died, according to a statement from his business conglomerate Grupo Bal SA. He was 90. Bailleres’s vast mining fortune earned him the nickname “King of Silver” or Mexico’s “King Midas.” He had a net worth of $8.5 billion, making him Mexico’s fourth richest person, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. He also held stakes in insurance, retail and financial companies. SC

Look, I was never a Labour supporter, but they had some heavyweights which even along with Thatcher you could respect for their position, even if you hated them. It's a generational issue I guess. I can just about remember the effects of the Heath government right through to the present day. And I'd say that ever since Major left office, the political sphere at Westminster is populated by opportunists rather than passionate advocates, with little outside Parliament. Sure there is the odd one on any side, but few seem to believe what they say with any conviction. And that's why we are where we are. Imo.

Yeah not trying to take anything away from you. Merely trying to diverge onto something that I can give an opinion from personal experience on. I'll just gently remind you that I wasn't born when Ravenscraig was an issue.

No. That is the reason we're stuck with this rotten mob. The priority should be to vote for whoever else is most likely to win the seat. For instance, my constituency has been held by the Lib Dems in the past, they had quite a run at one time. There is next to no support for Labour. So last time I voted Lib Dem, as it was the best chance of dislodging the Tories. Sadly it wasn't enough, but if a few more people do that instead of wasting their votes on Labour or the Greens, it might work next time.

This lot are a breed apart (and by 'this lot'... well you know who I mean).

Given the circumstances, that's one for the list of "names that make you chuckle", isn't it.

Updated the Cold War leaders list following the death of Christos Sartzetakis. Just Constantine II left from Greece. Still a pretty "young" name. 82 in June, though admittedly I know nothing of his current health.

Obit by the Jewish Standard/Times of Israel as confirmation.

al-Qurayshi/Qurashi reportedly dead: https://www.lbc.co.uk/world-news/isis-leader-al-qurayshi-killed-in-us-special-forces-raid/ DDP Pick. Suicide blast allegedly. Good luck with that ISIS confirmation as required.

Abdul Alim, one of Pakistan's oldest COVID survivors, died of natural causes on Jan. 27 at age 104. SC

The 2022/2023 Nobel Prize Dead Pool has started just now. Please keep an eye on the chart above in case I miss some hit. Good luck to all contestants! PS: Last year's competition will be evaluated in the next few days.

Unconfirmed report that Nicaraguan-born David Green (wiki) has died from a heart attack aged 61. Spent 5 years with the St. Louis Cardinals, then one season with the San Fran Giants.

Tweet reporting the death of American blues and jazz drummer Sam Lay (wiki), aged 86. A member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, he worked with Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Willie Dixon and The Paul Butterfield Blues Band.

Death notice for Michael Richard Hope, 5th Baron Rankeillour aged 81: http://announcements.telegraph.co.uk/deaths/254751/hope As far as I know, baronetcies still pass through the male line, so despite having two elder daughters, succession would appear to pass to Hope's youngest child James Francis Hope (b. 1968)

Renato Cattaneo dead

Well, his successor Sir Nigel Forbes Adam, 5th Baronet gets just under three years service in the Baronetcy: http://announcements.telegraph.co.uk/deaths/254633/forbes-adam Son Charles (b. 1957) succeeds.

Death notice for Silvia Tortora (59), italian journalist daughter of Enzo Tortora, italian presenter died in the '80s after a controversial trial. Her husband is french actor Philippe Leroy (91). Edit: actually not sure if this was the best topic for breaking the news. It fits for Leroy, tho.

Sir Keith Skinner, 4th Baronet, aged 93 Death Notice: http://announcements.telegraph.co.uk/deaths/253165/skinner They are all called Thomas (after the first baronet) but they don't seem to use the name, even the heir is James rather than Thomas. Instructional in the ways of the aristos, the baronetcy relates to a fucking street in Chelsea. Yes, m'lord, until he's 3 blocks away.

It'll be a shame to delete this thread when you're finished.