leicsmac

And then the same folks who go on about the "waste of money" these projects are, are then shocked when young people start running with criminal organisations and crime skyrockets. It's almost as if creating a group to punish and look down upon and creating the environment in which it can happen is the point for them.

Perhaps I was spoiled by the experience I had, then. I do look at the Korean KTX network, and their intercity and intracity bus network, and do wonder why the UK, with a similar population and land area, can't at least do similarly, though. Japan was superb, as you might expect. So was Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden when I visited, among others.

The world is changing, and it's changing quickly, in a lot of ways. What's not changing is the way our brains appear to be hardwired, and our ability to compensate for and overcome that. That encapsulates a lot of the problems we face today IMO.

Yes, the mighty free market being a force for social equality and reduction of human suffering all over.... ... no, I can't say that with a straight face. The Scandinavian, European and East Asian nations I've tried it with have pretty much been all better tbh. Interesting argument about underusing too - when a service is supplied for the public good, I would think the theory should run that if it benefits just one human being, then it's not underused.

Yep, compare it to other nations of similar size and economic status and it's so far behind some of them it's not even funny. A serious case of underspending in the right areas (particularly infrastructure) and overspending in the wrong ones

Short term self interest and instant gratification seem to be becoming more and more hardwired into people, even when such solutions are neither possible nor actually desirable long term. Not a great state of affairs.

Apparently there's a "major concern" within FIFA about apparent "lack of hype" for the upcoming WC and they "don't know why". Lots of seats still unsold. Hmm... it's a mystery, isn't it?

And there's still over three years before a GE has to be called. So much could happen.

I think the sad truth is that no one at the top table at the moment has both the nous to know what the right pathway to take is, and the strength and charisma to get enough people to follow. There isn't a Carney or a Merz about, sadly.

Take a bow, Nissanka. Aussies going home early.

Could be a grandstand finish here.

This is a superb limiting action from SL. Would be hilarious if the Aussies didn't reach the S8 stage.

Manenti was always going to roll snake eyes eventually. Great show to make it close, though.

Another one where they'll (probably) get enough to defend and come through, but it hardly looks convincing.

Oh, no doubt about the fact, just interesting to see the difference in opinion some folks have about those places in spite of those last wars ending within a few months of each other.

In other news, one Kaja Kallis making a point about current EU/US relations: "Coming from a country that ranks second in the freedom of speech index (Estonia), and for me to hear lectures about free speech from a country that ranks 58th in that same index (the US) is interesting". Quite.

And, as bad as this is, imagine if the punishment had instead been absolute and the police/legal establishment would have had the blood of an entirely innocent man directly on their hands.

Apologies for not getting back on this one until now. Seoul is definitely worth a few days, there's a lot of things to see and do there depending on what you're after. Feel free to inbox with any specific questions, but off the top of my head Gwanghwamun Palace, Namsan Tower and looking around the traditional market in Dongdaemun are all worth a look, as is the Buddhist temple near the last one of those. But, as already said, it's down to your individual ideas.

I'm not sure that difference of a few months really explains the difference in animus that some decide to show, though.

Nail on head. Inaccurate viewing of the past is, imo, directly or indirectly at least in part responsible for a great many troubles we face today as a species.

This is astute imo. Adaptation applies to nations and peoples, as well as species. Those who don't adapt and look back more than forward, don't tend to fare well.

Team GB dealing only in aurum at the moment. Great stuff.

Additionally, the powers that be may as well send the trophy to Paris now. The only question will be is if they can do the Slam along with it.

I would say that this is rugby, not football... but that being said, Arundells dismissal today was both rather contentious and pretty critical to the match outcome, it would seem.

Lump on you guys winning next week. I'm not even vaguely joking there.