Vagueness and the Aftermath - A sporadic diary

[kinboshi]

It's a lot of VAT into the public coffers though.

How is it?

Transfers between UK football clubs are subject to VAT apparently.

[TightEnd]

Theroux was superb, has a great habit of asking the most innocent question and people open up their darkest thoughts

The programme itself was depressing. Not much room for compromise when you believe your "enemy" is a lower lifeform

A follow up programme on the Palestinians would be good, as the Ultra Zionists just appeared bonkers, but I suspect both sides are.

[Woodsey]

Theroux was superb, has a great habit of asking the most innocent question and people open up their darkest thoughts

The programme itself was depressing. Not much room for compromise when you believe your "enemy" is a lower lifeform

A follow up programme on the Palestinians would be good, as the Ultra Zionists just appeared bonkers, but I suspect both sides are.

Yeah I saw that, he is always good though. I get sick of hearing about all this Israel/Palestine BS on the news constantly and really don't care about it, this was interesting though..........

[tikay]

I think Tom SO wants someone to say, "sorry, I'm offline today, as I'm at The House of Lords. Again".

Such a name-dropper.

He sent me a text yesterday, "you'll never guess what I'm doing?" - then left it at that. Proper tease merchant.

[StuartHopkin]

It's a lot of VAT into the public coffers though.

How is it?

Transfers between UK football clubs are subject to VAT apparently.

But the other purchasing club would be VAT registered and just claim it back no?

[RED-DOG]

I think Tom SO wants someone to say, "sorry, I'm offline today, as I'm at The House of Lords. Again".

Such a name-dropper.

He sent me a text yesterday, "you'll never guess what I'm doing?" - then left it at that. Proper tease merchant.

Sigh.  The lengths you go to to wheedle information out of me....

[tikay]

I think Tom SO wants someone to say, "sorry, I'm offline today, as I'm at The House of Lords. Again".

Such a name-dropper.

He sent me a text yesterday, "you'll never guess what I'm doing?" - then left it at that. Proper tease merchant.

Sigh.  The lengths you go to to wheedle information out of me....

2 Texts & 3 PM's later, & you have still not told me!

PS - Hope today goes well. Don't forget Russell Square, & the Cabbies Shelter.

[Jon MW]

I think Tom SO wants someone to say, "sorry, I'm offline today, as I'm at The House of Lords. Again".

Such a name-dropper.

He sent me a text yesterday, "you'll never guess what I'm doing?" - then left it at that. Proper tease merchant.

Sigh.  The lengths you go to to wheedle information out of me....

2 Texts & 3 PM's later, & you have still not told me!

PS - Hope today goes well. Don't forget Russell Square, & the Cabbies Shelter.

I read a book which mentioned the cabbies shelters - there's a wikipedia article on them (obviously) - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabmen's_Shelter_Fund - something it doesn't mention there is that only cabbies can sit in them to eat but, some of them have a takeaway option for the general public. If I had the book to hand I'd look at the details of that, but I haven't, so I won't.

[The Camel]

Couple of questions arising from the Gypsy weddings prog last night if you could indulge me please Tom...

First, is it common for Gypsy families to take the eldest daughter out of school as young as 12 to look after the family dwelling/younger siblings.

Second, is divorce as rare as claimed in yesterday's programme among Gypsy couples?

[pokerfan]

As this thread is clearly the home of good TV discussion () I thought I'd post this here...

I watched the Louis Theroux programme on today about "Ultra Zionists" (iplayer link) and wondered if you saw it?

I found the whole thing rather sad and also rather puzzling.

This is the home of good TV discussion Bongo. It is also the place to discuss Radio 4 pogrammes, serious newspaper articles, and books.

Note: This list by definition excludes Eastenders, Strictly come dancing, X factor, Celebrity anything, extracts from the red-tops, and works of fiction. (Unless it's to slag them off of course).

I don't have time to watch the Louis Theroux prog at the moment, but I definitely will, and I will report back.

BTW- I finally got around to watching "Human Planet" as suggested by Mr Boldie. It was one of the most astounding things I have ever seen.

The subject of this edition was the effect the sea has had on various peoples around the world.

One third world group made a living by diving to extraordinary depths for the purpose of laying out trawler type fishing nets nets, and then actually chasing the fish inside.


Many of these divers regularly suffer the effects of decompressiom sickness. (The Bends)

Their lives depend on air sucked from one end of a thin plastic tube, several hundred feet long. At the other end of the tube, way up on the surface, is a small wheezy compressor, no bigger than a lawnmower engine. This engine is directly responsible for the lives of the men and boys below. If it stops, they die. Simple as that. They are diving to such a depth, that they can't return to the surface without stopping to decompress.

Elsewhere in the world, we saw a tribe of people who live their entire lives at sea in little floating villages of boats. the only time they ever go ashore is to trade for the amazingly few goods that the sea can't provide.

These people ate so adapted to a life on the water, that the get "Land sick" when they go ashore. their childeren's eyes have actually mutated so that they can see equally well under water.

Wow!


 

Link pls, apols if posted missed it.

[RED-DOG]

Couple of questions arising from the Gypsy weddings prog last night if you could indulge me please Tom...

First, is it common for Gypsy families to take the eldest daughter out of school as young as 12 to look after the family dwelling/younger siblings.

Second, is divorce as rare as claimed in yesterday's programme among Gypsy couples?

It is common for Gypsy children to be taken out of school at around 12, but that's all children, both sexes, not just the eldest, and for reasons that I have explained several times in my diary, but certainty not to clean the home or look after sibling.

Divorce used to be virtually non existent in my day, it's a little more common now, but still quite rare.

[RED-DOG]

Currently stranded at Leicester station (Again) due to "Theft of cable"

I discussed this with a fellow stranded passenger (Dark suit, briefcase, well spoken) he leaned towards me, "I bet the Gypsies have had it".   

[gatso]

at least he used a capital G

[AndrewT]

There's a lot of cable theft from railway tracks of late - the price of copper has gone through the roof.

Was an incident of it on the Tube in London a couple of days ago.

[titaniumbean]

There's a lot of cable theft from railway tracks of late - the price of copper has gone through the roof.

Was an incident of it on the Tube in London a couple of days ago.

That was near me, goddam thieves, thank goodness I never try and get the train!