leicsmac

Yeah, certainly principle without the power to apply it is worth zilch. That being said, sometimes highlighting the policy differences/issues with framing does have a utility because it states, very clearly, for the record, what people are voting for and that they should own it. And perhaps when things are revisited a while into the future when accountability is sought (or maybe even demanded), who might be held accountable. In short, in this case; yes, the winning is the important part, but if you lose, it's also better to make sure it's known for posterity that you did what you could, and perhaps so not go down in historical infamy. (But then those who suffer as a result of the events that might about to happen might not be that discerning when it comes to who to blame anyway.)

Not sure how much foreign policy driven pretty much by "oh, whatever you want, Mr Putin" owes much to charm or flattery, but fair enough on the ego part. In any case, he can have all the wins he wants in terms of domestic and foreign policy, but if he gets the very largest issues wrong (which he is), all of those wins will be rendered unfortunately meaningless.

Previous post still applies, also unfortunately.

An explanation but in no way an excuse and shouldn't be spun as one, by anyone, not now and certainly not when bad stuff happens later.

Really? Wow - if that's not a peak example of turkeys voting for Christmas then it's damn close. It would be darkly hilarious were the stakes not so high and the consequences so severe. The laws of physics (pertaining to thermodynamics) and their consequences are what they are and are predictable. There's no reason whatsoever to not plan for the future beyond one's own four walls, barring basic nihilism.

Not sure how many times this has to be stated, but that system isn't sustainable, and while I know civilisational collapse makes some people excited, I'd rather not treat this as a done deal.

Let us hope, for the sake of lots of people, that you're wrong on this one, mate. There's a lot at stake.

NZ away next up will be a serious test. And NZ is probably the most beautiful country to play cricket in.

Season 1 was very good. Season 2 was... alright.

Fairly and timely, but in a way that, quite frankly, doesn't cause more issues with the way vaccination is perceived, because that could be infinitely more damaging.

Looking more broadly though, it's good that the likes of Pakistan and NZ are challenging the "big 3" at Test level, it's better for the game as a whole.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn0d24w28qno The headlines are pretty grim - without action the world could warm by a massive 3.1C this century, the UN says in a new report published today. But how likely is that? As is often the case with climate change and the science behind it - the answer is complicated. The UN Emissions Gap report indicates that if only “current policies” are implemented the world could warm by up to 3.1C. This would be “catastrophic” for the world according to the UN, leading to dramatic increases in extreme weather events including heatwaves and floods. Working outside under that level of warming would be extremely difficult if not impossible. Nothing new under the sun (pun not intended) from this report, but it is a reminder that without change, things go bad (or worse), and they go bad pretty quickly.

Agree that there needs to be adequate compensation when the link is proven. It does need to be handled with nuance, however - there's already far too much antivax sentiment that causes far more harm through people not getting jabbed than the jabs do, there really needs not to be further harm caused by such a scandal and the ripple effect it would have.

Nah, can't get there on the cost being justified for the cause it's being spent on. Not in this particular case. I don't think trading lives is necessary when a different way to neutralise the problem those scumbags pose through removing them from society for life exists.

... because the moment the system executes an innocent person (and given that the justice system is not infallible, that outcome is a mathematical certainty), everyone becomes complicit in the death of innocent people as collateral damage to maintain that system.

It's utterly grotesque. The subculture that people like Andrew Tate have facilitated has a lot to answer for.

It's truly horrific. Unless he's watched over every second in jail, I'm reasonably sure someone there will look to enact their own brand of justice on him, though. Would assume that he would be at the very bottom of the hierarchy.

Unfortunately, by no means alone in the sentiment, either.

Yeah, doctored pitches piss me off during the course of the game (usually during India tours) but at the end of the day it's part and parcel of the game and why winning away (especially in India, Oz or indeed England) is so difficult and so prized.

Also, have to bear in mind that until the last tour, England had won the sum total of 2 (two) Test matches in Pakistan in all their tours there.

Such concepts are fine, but the inequality between them, whether between individuals, groups or nations, is where the problem arises. Honestly though, I like to think it's more a pragmatic viewpoint regarding survival more than an idealistic one anyway. Perhaps you could call it mutual self interest; help your species and your biosphere out, because sooner or later you will need its help in return. That's true of every person, group or nation. Individualism and isolationism, whether of person or country, is one of the biggest fallacies going.

That it wasn't full of foaming at the mouth rednecks and there was a lot of enthusiasm and there's clearly something to the movement that he embodies. Which is all fair enough, but changes nothing about the policies that movement is in favour of and the consequences thereof.

I can see the broad argument. Truth is though, for one thing, if these nations aren't helped to develop, the methods they use to develop will cause great harm to themselves and everyone else over time.

Target of 200 minimum needed, 250 makes England favourites IMO.

Probably think that the NZ bats would fare worse against spin on those pitches in spite of Bumrah. Clearly a lapse of judgement. Says a lot though that India even in a transitional period are at the top of the table.