What Do You Think Today?

[Skyweir]

Peter, It seems that the media has forever caned Charles. Diana was such a hit that he was always going to come off second best. The scandal created through myths and rumours concerning Dianas death, and the parentage of their youngest son is pretty awful.
Sometimes when people have big ears and a lot of money, they are an easy target for the easily led.
That is just my opinion, and for what it is worth I am no big fan of the royal family. My wife on the other hand........

yeah its definitely an ears thing

And when I think of some of his foot in mouth comments sometimes he just comes off a bit of a dick

But to be honest I dont even think the Queen is all that fond of him lol and shes his mum

[peter]

I've never noticed much personality of any kind in ay of them - but in fairness I've never looked!
Harry has his amusing moments and seems the most human of the bunch, but by and large they are a closed book to me. I am neither anti nor pro royal, I just think they're probably a better and cheaper option than the alternative and a better tourist draw with all of the pageantry and whatnot.

[Skyweir]

Very true they are indeed a significant tourist attraction.

Yeah the boys seem quite a lot more normal

[Avatar]

Think old Charles got a bit of a rough deal really...when he was young he was sorta the next great hope of the Monarchy, but that all kinda faded away for him and got transferred over to William.

And I'm sure his mother hanging on so long hasn't made it any easier either...he's probably not going to have long left by the time he actually does become King...

--A

[peter]

Robbie Collin said in his review of the new film adaptation of Beatrix Potter's Peter Rabbit that it could only be improved by one thing - myxomatosis.

[Avatar]

--A

[Skyweir]

.. well not for the bunnies

[peter]

Potentially nasty little spat developing inside the Brexit umbrella over post Brexit use of the Galileo satellite, EU owned and operated, but dependant upon British infrastructure such as dishes in the Falklands. It has been suggested that the UK will be 'locked out' of the system after it's leaving of the EU - a damaging blow to both business and government who rely heavily upon it's data transmission abilities. Whitehall has responded by saying that should this happens UK infrastructure will be 'turned off', effectively crippling the system for all users. All a bit silly, but potentially nasty - and indicative I expect, of the shape of much that is yet to come!

[Avatar]

Surely some sort of lease / exchange should be possible? (I mean obviously it is, this is just some sort of pissing contest no doubt.)

--A

[Kizza]

In my time as a "younger man" I played rugby league and union at reasonably high levels. Only ever played a bit of social or scratch cricket. Summer for me was always tennis and the beach.
Anyway, more recently I always took my sons to their cricket matches each weekend, for years. I used to stay in the car or find a spot to read the newspaper. One year the local cricket club had trouble finding a coach. My name got pushed forward for some bizarre team sports related reason, and after some coaxing I took on the job as U/15s coach. We lost the first match, and then went on to win every game for the year including the grand final! It was pretty stressful making sure all of the boys got a fair go.... Actually some parents were bigger problems to deal with than the kids! ("Why isn't my son the opening batsman?", "Why isn't my son the opening bowler?",,,,)
The thing that sticks with me was how sincere and earnest all of the people who volunteer to score, umpire, set up wickets, run canteens and generally support were. All with the understanding that we play hard but fair. It is such a cruel game too. A player can sit with pads and bat in hand waiting for hours to get in at bat, only to be immediately bowled out. But that is the game, and it is always about honouring the game.
There has been considerable uproar about the Australian cricket team trio who have found to be tampering with the ball outside of the rules in the recent international match in South Africa - they used sandpaper to promote swing for the bowlers. The public here want heads to roll, and really couldn't care less for the welfare of any of the people involved.
All I can say is that I think that the people who deliver such respect to the game of cricket for their kids every weekend, have every right to feel very disappointed. I am sure we will all eventually get over it, I just hope that the players named find peace without self harm.
Sure there is a price to pay, but it is not as if they took a life or raped, or sold dangerous drugs!!!

[peter]

Saw the report in the UK Kizza - very much "not cricket", but yes - not a crime against humanity either. Would they get a life ban....... Surely not - seems a bit harsh; I'd have thought the embarrassment of being caught would be penalty enough almost.

The establishment controlled media continues its pathological campaign to cripple Corbyn by drip drip attrition. This before the next general election gives him a chance to actually implement some of the radical social policies (to this day and age at least) that would re-enfranchise huge swathes of ordinary people into a system that, for three decades, has been run for the sole advantage of a business elite and the lackeys that feed on the scraps thrown from their table. To date he has been branded an IRA sympathiser, a sitter down with middle eastern terrorist representatives, a pro-russian communist and most lately the head of, and chief culprit of a Labour Party seething with anti-Semitism. And all this because he has tapped into a populism that says 'enough is enough' and has garnered support towards point where the 'golden egg' system of unrestrained capitalism might actually be threatened. There is no critique of his ideas, his raft of policies; political debate has gone way beyond that in our country; if you don't like a person's ideas you besmear their reputation with contrived accusations about their past, if they disagree with the actions of the day, then they are a traitor to the national cause. This is how it is - and sadly it seems to work.

[Avatar]

Pretty much agree about the whole cricket thing...I'm not much of a sports fan, so not invested I guess. Figured a ban from a couple matches should be sufficient.

People certainly seem to be taking it seriously though. (That said, there are some funny memes doing the rounds about it. )

--A

[Skyweir]

Ack its embarrassing but theyve got their bans .. itll take a while to claw back from .. it was stupid .. theyre getting a lot of shit for it .. but theres always tomorrow

[Revan]

What do I think today? How great it'd be to have leprosy so I could use my handless existence as an excuse to call in sick for work....



Of course being handless might present an obstacle to making that call; but I'd take the risk.



Work blows. It's like our weather.

[Skyweir]

[peter]

The pernicious effect of this new practice of 'unfriending' is one of the beastliest aspects of the already highly questionable activity of social media trawling. A woman I work with has (along with all the rest of her family) become estranged from her son over his forthcoming wedding plans. After a tearful explanation to me of the circumstances she finished with a final emotionally charged wail that he had even "unfriended us on Facebook!"
So many times I have had people in the shop bemoaning the final breakdown of friendships/relationships with this practice, that it is apparent that it has become the almost ultimate act of severence that one can commit. What people fail to get of course is that the whole thing is reflective of the shallow vacuous nature of the 'friendships' carried out over the platforms in the first place (at least the faster majority of them anyway). When social media becomes just an indolent replacement for actually maintaining physical contact with our circle of valued friends, all the value is lost anyway and by far the largest proportion of unfriending is done between those who were not in any true sense friends anyway. But for poor people like my work mate, the process is elevated into a symbolic gesture from which something as important as a mother - son relationship may never recover.

[Sorus]

Totally agree. 'Friend' is not synonymous with 'person who is aware of my existence' and 'unfriend' is just a distasteful concept.

[Cord Hurn]

When social media becomes just an indolent replacement for actually maintaining physical contact with our circle of valued friends, all the value is lost anyway and by far the largest proportion of unfriending is done between those who were not in any true sense friends anyway.

Agreed, peter. FB shouldn't be taken that seriously, IMO. I have on rare occasions purged my circle of FB friends, getting rid of the ones that never respond or give a "like", and also getting rid of the ones that I liked because they were friends of friends, even though I really didn't know them, myself.

[peter]

Whether you see it from a Christian perspective or just as a significant marker point in the year heralding the approach of seasonal shift (toward spring in the UK), Happy Easter guys - be lucky!

[Skyweir]

Happy Easter, Passover, Eostre.. happy long weekend .. to all.

I found this intriguing .. but not in a good way

The pernicious effect of this new practice of 'unfriending' is one of the beastliest aspects of the already highly questionable activity of social media trawling. A woman I work with has (along with all the rest of her family) become estranged from her son over his forthcoming wedding plans. After a tearful explanation to me of the circumstances she finished with a final emotionally charged wail that he had even "unfriended us on Facebook!"
So many times I have had people in the shop bemoaning the final breakdown of friendships/relationships with this practice, that it is apparent that it has become the almost ultimate act of severence that one can commit. What people fail to get of course is that the whole thing is reflective of the shallow vacuous nature of the 'friendships' carried out over the platforms in the first place (at least the faster majority of them anyway). When social media becomes just an indolent replacement for actually maintaining physical contact with our circle of valued friends, all the value is lost anyway and by far the largest proportion of unfriending is done between those who were not in any true sense friends anyway. But for poor people like my work mate, the process is elevated into a symbolic gesture from which something as important as a mother - son relationship may never recover.

Theres none so strange as folk Pete .. its kinda ironic because I joined Facebook to keep in touch with my ever scattering offspring. And it has been good for that over the years. Especially now I have a much adored grandchild. I love the pics they post, almost on a daily basis on either Facey, Instagram, Snapchat or messenger.

The problem I see is people. And this is going to sound awful .. but am a Brit, but theyre right in to family dramas. Or maybe its limited to my perverted experience with Brit rellies. My cousin had a falling out with my Aunt and they havent spoken for years. Its an anathema to me.

Facebook is only as effective as the peeps that use it. I actually dont like unfriending on principle .. though I have. I expect the best of people until they prove otherwise.

Its a social media button, it means only that you dont see that persons goings on in your feed. If youre momentarily pissed that can be an advantage.

You can be friends with whoever you like, or not. Up to each individual.

She should, as we all should be more worried about real life relationships ... and care less about that act on social media. People can become over invested in things like this.

I like that Facebook or messenger connects me with people Id rarely or never see, like some of the Watchers here that I get to meet and see. I love it for that

I do hope to organise a Down Under Watchy get together .. cos nothing beats catching up in RL.

Theres a lot of negativity about Facebook.. but I think you use it how you want to. Youre an adult and if youre not happy with this or that .. then you need to deal with that.

Not wanting to sound harsh .. but also knowing that kinda does sound harsh.