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That's the good bit about debate. Because different people see things different ways. In my career, I had the dubious pleasure of advising both for and against many paedophiles. They are not just 1 group of people to be lumped into the same box. Life is more complicated than that.

Was Epstein a paedophile? We will never know. Not least because, while he was charged with various offences involving 14-yr-olds (in 2008), those cases were dropped.

The next point to make is that what constitutes either a "paedo" or a "sex trafficker" varies. Not only from Country to Country, but also from State to State.

The US (unlike the UK) has different rules relating to the legal age of consent, both for the act itself, and again for the age someone can charge for it. And, in some States, what me might term "pimping" has a lot wider definition.

To put that in a context that might resonate with Poker Players, what might meet the legal definitions in, say, Nevada, is 21. So any porn involving people who have not been proved to be over 21 is illegal. And anybody viewing UK porn in, say, Las Vegas is likely to be viewed as, technically, a paedophile.

In this instance, various legal arrangements in Florida became illegal once 17-20 year-olds were flown elsewhere.

The idea that there is something inherently wrong with trading trips to Buck House in return for cash or favours is faintly amusing. It's why we have a Royal Family. Why else do you think that Intellectual pygmy Andrew was a Trade Envoy for years? Why else is Trump (or various mass murderers) invited to Buck House?

Epstein's specialties were 2 fold.

1. Giving specialised financial and tax advice to the mega-rich; and
2. Being a supremely gifted networker. Long before Andrew. And to people infinitely wealthier. Which is, of course why the American Left just shout about Trump and Musk, while the American Right shout about Clinton and Gates.

Whereas, of course, the 1 thing both sides can agree on is finger-pointing at foreigners. And our Press love selling papers with lurid details dressed up as outrage. Always have. Always will.

Having said all that, the Maitliss interview was funny. I suspected Andrew was the man who put "genital" in "congenital idiot". What I didn't know is that there was no-one capable of stopping him making such a public fool out of himself.

I take your points - they are well made and provoked some thinking.
It doesn’t make me change my view of the piss-artist formerly known as…

Inviting The Donald to a State Visit in hopes of a favourable trade deal is a very different thing to arranging for Epstein and Maxwell to enjoy hospitality in hopes of a shag. Apart from anything else the hope seems more likely to be realised in the latter case.

Should we not add a third category to Epstein’s specials board? Or was that just part of his networking prowess?

Glad we agree on the comedy side.

I guess none of us were surprised that Mandelson had his snout in the trough.

That's the good bit about debate. Because different people see things different ways. In my career, I had the dubious pleasure of advising both for and against many paedophiles. They are not just 1 group of people to be lumped into the same box. Life is more complicated than that.

Was Epstein a paedophile? We will never know. Not least because, while he was charged with various offences involving 14-yr-olds (in 2008), those cases were dropped.

The next point to make is that what constitutes either a "paedo" or a "sex trafficker" varies. Not only from Country to Country, but also from State to State.

The US (unlike the UK) has different rules relating to the legal age of consent, both for the act itself, and again for the age someone can charge for it. And, in some States, what me might term "pimping" has a lot wider definition.

To put that in a context that might resonate with Poker Players, what might meet the legal definitions in, say, Nevada, is 21. So any porn involving people who have not been proved to be over 21 is illegal. And anybody viewing UK porn in, say, Las Vegas is likely to be viewed as, technically, a paedophile.

In this instance, various legal arrangements in Florida became illegal once 17-20 year-olds were flown elsewhere.

The idea that there is something inherently wrong with trading trips to Buck House in return for cash or favours is faintly amusing. It's why we have a Royal Family. Why else do you think that Intellectual pygmy Andrew was a Trade Envoy for years? Why else is Trump (or various mass murderers) invited to Buck House?

Epstein's specialties were 2 fold.

1. Giving specialised financial and tax advice to the mega-rich; and
2. Being a supremely gifted networker. Long before Andrew. And to people infinitely wealthier. Which is, of course why the American Left just shout about Trump and Musk, while the American Right shout about Clinton and Gates.

Whereas, of course, the 1 thing both sides can agree on is finger-pointing at foreigners. And our Press love selling papers with lurid details dressed up as outrage. Always have. Always will.

Having said all that, the Maitliss interview was funny. I suspected Andrew was the man who put "genital" in "congenital idiot". What I didn't know is that there was no-one capable of stopping him making such a public fool out of himself.

The 26yo's claim is obviously idiotic. The idea is probably to stimulate a denial (as windsor is too stupid to kep his mouth shut) and then instigate libel proceedings.

Seriously?

What exactly did he do wrong?

Mr Mountbatten-Windsor and his ex-wife peddled themselves to the paedophile for years. Trips to Balmoral, Windsor and Buck House were traded for cash and for sexual opportunity. The excuses/rationalisations you make for him would apply to most of Epstein’s acolytes.
He added a veneer of respectability to Epstein, offered him access to society, stayed ‘loyal’ despite the earlier conviction, and lied about it. On the plus side, the Maitliss interview was hilarious in an Alan Partridgr/David Brent way but I don’t think he meant it to be.

We live in an increasingly mad World.

L am no particular fan of the Royal Family. I have never met Andrew. Various friends of mine have, and were generally pretty unimpressed.

But this pile-on is ridiculous. What exactly is he supposed to have done wrong? Entitled rich middle-aged man partakes of some beautiful 20-something women? Ooh, he must be really unique there. Not.

I can see various American Lawyers circling. Trying to get rich. Since when is a 26 year old woman choosing to fly halfway round the World to shag a man she has never previously met, in return for large amounts of cash, a "victim" ?

The World has gone mad. If a 26 year old woman gives it away, she is still in danger of being derided as a slag (for reasons that escape me, women are never "players"). If they charge £200 they are derided as a prostitute. Charge £20,000? A "victim".

The Man is a fool. A liar. And not someone who lives by values that I agree with.

All of this is just a smokescreen to divert attention away from the people who are still rich and powerful. Presidents. And ex-Presidents. Republicans. And Democrats.

Rant over

Nice writeage Mr Dazzler, thank you.

If anyone is looking for a fun bet, the League of Ireland football season is starting (runs from Feb-Oct) and odds are;
https://www.oddschecker.com/football/ireland/premier-division/irish-premier-division/winner

Shamrock Rovers 13/10
Derry 4/1
Shelbourne 6/1
St Patrick’s Athletic 6/1
Bohemians 11/1
66/1 bar.

Rovers have won 5 of the last 6 titles, are defending champions and are historically the most successful team in Ireland.
They have however just sold league team of the season left back Josh Holohan to Lincoln for €500k. Money is scarce in League of Ireland and the clubs can’t compete financially on wages with English League One clubs, so the best players get picked off regularly. It appeared they had agreed terms with Hoffenheim for €1.8m plus add ons for their very promising 17 year striker Michael Noonan (he’s the youngest ever Conference League goalscorer at 16yrs 197 days) but apparently he’s pulled the plug on that. He may be waiting until he’s 18 in the summer to join a British side. Brexit has been great for league of Ireland as previously young players were constantly moving to UK at 15/16 yrs but now they can’t until 18 yrs. If Noonan doesn’t go to EU in this window, he’ll be gone in the summer.

Last season Rovers started slowly and didn’t hit the top spot in the league until nearly halfway through but eventually won, beating Derry by 3pts. In 2024, they started slowly and couldn’t catch Shelbourne, finishing 2nd. In 2023 they didn’t win until their 7th match but ended up winning the title.
This slow start is becoming a pattern and may be related to success in Europe. In the season just gone, they qualified for Europa Conference league phase finishing their final game on 18th December, when their last domestic game was the cup final on 9th November.
The previous season they again qualified for Conference league phase. They’re missing over a month of their off season due to Europe. They’re also playing a lot of European games (12 and 14 games in the last 2 years) which they maybe don’t have the strength in depth of squad to be always competitive at home and in Europe.

Derry have finished 2nd to Rovers in 3 of the last 4 years. They just beat Rovers in the Presidents Cup (Community Shield) 1-0 yesterday in the season opener in a feisty affair. They are backed by a wealthy local billionaire benefactor. He’s not pouring money in, it’s slow and steady but they are making strides. It’s generally accepted they have recruited well this window and most fans believe it’s going to be a straight shoot out between the two of them.

I’ll be backing Derry, hoping Rovers have another slow start and maybe hedge on a bet on Rovers later if the prices start to reverse. If not, happy to let the bet on Derry run.

I’m feeling good today

i bet you are . must be nice to see football , and character like that . its been a while .. thats not a dig btw

no idea whats happened up the M62 but its safe to say that my may 2nd prediction has gone long ago .

champions league it is then  , when we won it in istanbul 2005 we had a terrible league season , finishing 5th (below everton ffs) , and 37 points off chelsea . 

and it looks very likely that prem will get 6 places next season

champions league my arse

To my mind it’s pretty simple, post-Amorim we are playing in a structure that the players understand and have them playing in positions for which they are well suited.

We’ve been here before when OGS took over, but I am cautiously optimistic.

What number are you?



The billionaire brothers behind gambling giant Betfred have topped a list of the UK's 100 biggest taxpayers, which also features Harry Styles, Anthony Joshua and JK Rowling.

Fred and Peter Done, who founded the Warrington-based business in 1967, entered the annual Sunday Times Tax List, external for the first time, having paid an estimated £400.1m tax bill over the past year.

Manchester City's Erling Haaland is the youngest person to appear on the list - at number 72 - with a projected £16.9m tax payment, while Liverpool's Mo Salah is believed to have a £14.5m bill.

The list shows a total of £5.758bn was paid by the top 100 taxpayers, up from £4.985bn the previous year.

Harry Potter author and tax list regular JK Rowling ranked 36 with a £47.5m bill, musician Ed Sheeran came in at 64 paying £19.9m, while boxer Joshua, who is 100th on the list, paid £11m.

Styles, the former One Direction member-turned-solo artist, made a £24.7m tax payment and was among the new entries on the list.

Wetherspoon's founder Sir Tim Martin appeared eighth on the list with a tax contribution of an estimated £199.7m.

Today, my smartphone photography, short golf game, listening pleasure, and self grooming skills are apparently going to the next level.