Sod's Law

A veteran of a time when a politician had the guts to say what was really on their mind, and at least a few braincells to back it up. RIP.

Julie Kavner must really love working on the show as I'd have otherwise put good money on her being the first to call it quits.

I spotted this book in Waterstones the other day. It was in the 'humour' section but I just think it looks sad:

Damn, now THAT is a demotion.

You know, it took me until now to realise the corgis are no longer 'the Royal dogs'. Seems they've been demoted. I kind of assumed Charles kept them around after his mother's death because they're that strongly associated with the monarchy as a breed. And weirdly enough, corgis seem to have become more popular as a breed in my personal experience since the Queen died. I never saw so many out with their owners back when she was still going.

He would be a hilarious character if he and all of the people who follow him were a work of fiction.

Still unbelievable how horribly Blair and Brown have aged compared with Major. Without looking them up, I would have guessed they were all born roughly the same year.

I remember everyone here breathing a big sigh of relief and wishing him well when he said back in March he was taking everyone's advice on board and taking a break from the site for a while. Lasted maybe five days tops before he was back posting the same drivel as always.

Don't be harsh on yourself, pal. We don't think ALL of your contributions are that bad.

In fairness, Jimmy may be far from the only American who voted for the last time in this election...

What I find depressing is that realpolitik demands that for the next four years, every other US-allied world leader has no other option but to slavishly appease this unstable childish lunatic and his every wish or he can use America's whole economic clout to tank their economies with a single finger. Like an outsourced Liz Truss but even worse, because at least we COULD get rid of her before she did even more damage to our economy. And the checks and balances which restrained him to a degree in his first term no longer apply now, since his party controls every branch of the most powerful government on Earth. I just wish Americans voted while paying more attention to the global consequences of their choice, because it's not only them who have to put up with him.

Starmer will be blamed if four years of Trump and his protectionist tariffs cripples that economic growth he promised us, and trying to mitigate the damage by taking us back into the common market would also get him savaged in the press for 'breaking another election promise'. I wouldn't want to be in his shoes now.

Could he refuse a state funeral if he really really doesn't want Trump involved with it anywhere? He (or his family) could have a plan B for a smaller scale local burial with ex-president Biden invited as a guest speaker.

There's still the chance he'll keel over from the excitement. Or from whatever Musk will be handing out at the viewing party.

Please. Go. To bed.

I'm still not totally unconvinced he's not actually Crem's sockpuppet account for when he has an opinion that's 'too hot' for his main account.

First past the post voting makes the problem even worse though. I voted for Labour in the last general election and I'm as happy to see the Tories gone as anyone, but let's not pretend winning 63% of seats on 34% of the vote is a great look for the UK (or US) electoral system as a whole.

I just can't wait for this ridiculous pantomime to be over. It's like waiting for the results of a cancer screening.

Weird random thought, but... that 'Highwayman' quote in the caption... if he manages to survive through next year, wouldn't that become an even more impressive boast?

Could also be partly based on the influence of a certain Mr. Musk who, for better or worse, is seen by many as America's best hope for getting to Mars one day. NASA funding has cratered and private investment is seen as essential for America's spaceflight aspirations these days. Buzz has always been a strong advocate for a manned Mars mission.

How disappointing that must have been for you.

Reform would be helped if turnout is extremely low even by by-election standards, which wouldn't surprise me. It's only months after a general election, a potentially painful budget will still be fresh in everyone's minds and no party is drumming up much enthusiasm for its cause at the moment.

Depends how many Maccy D's shifts Trump manages to fill before the election.

To be fair, I had no idea he'd go downhill THIS fast. I just thought about it again today.

My parents saw him at the Stonedead Festival in August. He came on in a wheelchair and mentioned how he didn't know how long he could keep performing because of his ill health. He never seemed to reveal what his ill health was down to though.