sethoflagos

Actually, Lagos taxi drivers tend to be pretty good. They have to drive safely as anything but a minor scrape will leave them without an income. Employed drivers ferrying you about in a company vehicle (or worse still, your own) are an entirely different kettle of fish. For ten years, all my comings and goings in Lagos have been by taxi. Cheap and safe.

Yes, though I wasn't necessarily limiting the discussion to just acting skills. Some degree of stage presence is quite enough for, say, the 'Fast & Furious' franchise. Agree with Bowie (obviously) and Jennifer Lopez. Just not familiar with Lady Gaga and Mandy Patinkin. Quite like Beyonce in... actually I just quite like Beyonce 😏 Rap Music isn't really my thing so I'd quite overlooked Idris Elba - that man definitely has serious acting chops. Guess that means the likes of Ice Cube and Tupac Shakur deserve consideration. Aretha Franklin too. I thought she was superb in the Blues Brothers. Blew everyone else off stage.

Saw these guys at the Manchester Opera House in 1977. Still sends tingles through my spine. A couple of years later, I saw Frank at the Ardwick Apollo Just wow! While I'm on with American music - Love were something special But all pale into insignificance when we get to King Crimsom Quite possibly one of my favourite tracks in 13 time.

Bowie, Jagger, Whitney Houston, the cast of the Blues Brothers?, Few can hold a candle to Elton John and Roger Daltrey Except maybe Keith Moon and Tina Turner

A conservative (small 'c') critique of Thatcher vs Farage Obviously. I'm no fan of Thatcher, so for those uncomfortable with my social democratic leanings, this is where another POV thinks we are at.

Not a problem. Have all the sub-committees chaired by the engineers. Experts in limited tolerance and strict deadlines.

E.g. A RAF nod at Ayr war awry a tad on Farage

That IS the purpose of a routine safety check. To that extent, it did its job. This is curious, since I cannot think of an engineering design consultancy in the world that has a better reputation for quality and excellence than the Arup Group. They're really one of a kind, and do not do shortcuts. It will be interesting to see the root cause analysis. Shouldn't prejudge, but this tells a story.

Good point!

This guy always makes me titter.

Use it or lose it?

I'm already weeping into my sour grape curry for them.

I see this sort of thing as a kind of Darwinian intelligence test. We could quite reasonably view every occurrence of the words "edible", "inedible", "poisonous" etc. in non-fiction literature as a little gravestone commemorating the nameless and countless thousands who gave their lives in long past trial and error experiments to establish this knowledge. Those cultures with an inbuilt distrust of "book larnin" may be doomed to repeat those experiments and have themselves removed from the gene pool in true Darwinian fashion.

Burgum eats a pasta emu grub? I've wondered a while whether our House of Lords should be replaced by a House of Nerds appointed not by birth, church, or the ruling polital group in the House of Commons, but by the senates of the 24 Russell group universities in the UK with comprehensive expertise covering all the major academic disciplines. Their major role would be a constitutional power of veto on acts of utter stupidity emanating from the lower house, free (in principal) of the toxic corrupting influences of privilege, ideology, and plutocratic manipulation. Let the climate deniers try and get past that one.

Glad to see that, at least, we can both agree that privatisation of the water industry (another US inspired move) was an unmitigated disaster for the nation. Though I don't quite see how this connects to our discussion of UK immigration. However, since we appear to be allowing the topic to slide into alternative areas, perhaps I can take this opportunity to reassure you that in addition to following Phil Moorhouses centre left oriented channel, I like to balance this with a daily look at the centre-right perspective of Professor Tim Wilson. Hidden amongst the deluge of coverage of today's Clacton election is this hilarious little gem.

Turnip in rut? Putin I tup? Musk Uruk sum? Orban AI-Diana bro?

Ironic you should say that of another former mathematics teacher. I like Phil because his approach is methodical and scientific, he is NOT given to hyperbole, he fiercely defends the correct use of statistics, he researches quite thoroughly, and above all I find him honest and truthful. You probably won't agree with that last virtue, but another thread has clearly established that we have a very different understanding of what that word actually means. We living on the same planet?

Interesting perspective given by Phil Moorhouse today on the "A Different Bias" channel that links our discussion here with other recent topics on rapd technological change. Rather than just repost the video, I've filched the transcript so you can have a careful read (if you're so inclined.

Some recent threads on politics had me reminiscing about a life I left behind many years ago. Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band are not the most famous in the region, but they're based in South Elmsall, the pit village where my father spent his early years. His uncles were all miners. 7 miles away is Grimethorpe, the home of Grimethorpe Colliery Band stars of the film "Brassed Off", Had to follow this lot on-stage once. That was a bit nerve-wracking. 13 miles North of Grimethorpe is Rothwell, the home of the Yorkshire Imps whose Lead Cornet was my first trumpet teacher. A schoolmate, Ian Bousfield, joined them as a 13-year-old (!) before he f####d off to lead the trombone section of the Vienna Symphony. The West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service Band are based 7 miles West of Rothwell in Birkenshaw. I include them if only for letting me play 1st cornet there for 7 or 8 years. Now back to the bigger hitters. Five miles from Birkenshaw is Brighouse, where my children were schooled and the home of Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band Another five miles from Brighouse is Queensbury, the home of the legendary Black Dyke Band See how close all these places are? Every 5 miles or so Bingo! another world class community band, and even though most of the founding coal mines and textile mills are long gone, they all remain primarily community based, recruiting new members from among the local schools. The right wing really loathe this stuff and they get precious little coverage in the London-based national media. Why? Way too northern, way too working class, way too united in common purpose, and way, way too good at what they do for their liking. Best in the world!

It's generally well recognized that one reason for the survival of the Coptic churches over the millenia is that their followers are both physically and genetically indistinguishable from the broader Egyptian population - both being descended from the same ancient Egyptians. So you're lying again.

I think this clears up the confusion.

You're absolutely right, it is always there simmering below the surface in a certain percentage of the British population (and most, if not all other populations). I think that in general the psychological root cause is a sense of weakness, insecurity, inferiority even, that makes them relatively easy to face down when they stick their heads above the parapet. They're basisically cowards, and when called out, they go scurrying back under their safety stone at the bottom of the pond. However, if society stops facing them down while they're isolated, they'll gain confidence, club together, and find strength in numbers, especially when powerful interest groups begin encouraging them and facilitating their activities with finance and infrastructure. Then they're difficult to stop. There is no reasoning with them, since they're driven by negative emotion, not reason. Ultimately, there's only one language they truly understand, and that comes from the pointy end of a bayonet. Not recommending that as a course of action at all, you understand. It's just what the history books tell me. And an afternoon in my youth spent deep in thought at Bergen-Belsen.

And now the US tax payer is funding the attacks on traditional British culture https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/08/us-accused-of-meddling-in-british-politics-with-500000-grant-scheme-promoting-shared-values

Only option available (2014-ish). I did research at the time and knew it was BS. Demanded to speak to the departmental consultant, mentioned my aunt after whom the hospital's flagship renal unit was named, and asked politely for my wife to be referred to an alternative specialist. Didn't see the old one for dust.

Before my time. Ghanaian wasn't he? Never been there.