Zear0

Think we'd be rubbing shoulders in that thread if it survived.

Must have misread the title, didn't realise it was "unpopular opinions that aren't allowed to be challenged". Apologies.

Not sure why people are so bothered by what bands other people want to see. Coldplay, Oasis, some folk band in a pub, who gives a flip. Stinks of the insecurity of the rugby bores who can't go five minutes without saying its a game for "real men". Enjoy what you enjoy and don't let other people's taste upset you this much, it's so weird.

A threat yes, a partner yes and a place I have visited and would recommend if you can turn a blind eye to the negatives of the country. When my Mum was still with us, she used to work in pharmaceutical research and spent many years out there working in their manufacturing plants and I was able to visit a few times in my late teens/early twenties. As a tourist, it is an extraordinary place to visit with places of exceptional history, culture and architecture. I have such vivid memories of my trip to the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and the street food cuisine that stand out more than any other place I've visited. There's not really anywhere else in the world like it and from a "tourist" perspective, it's well worth a visit. Thankfully due to my mum's work out there, we had a full time translator with us that made life considerably easier! The people too are generally wonderful. There's a bit of a running joke over there that they tell Westerners about "how do you tell the difference between the Japanese and the Chinese? The Chinese are the ones that smile" and there's some truth in that as it's a happy place. One of the most bizarre things that ever happened to me out there was when we visited our translators village. I was the first Western bloke that most of them had ever seen and I was gawped at like a zoo before they all mobbed me with big smiles. Really nice, if not weird, experience. That being said, it's increasingly hard to view them favourably and I'd struggle to visit again with a clear conscience given they're locking up a million people in concentration camps, state sponsored intellectual property theft, currency manipulation, operate a cult of personality autocratic government and will likely screw the world in 2027 when they make a trip across the Taiwan Straight (probably). One of the darkest memories I have from the visits was that we weren't too far from a miliary barracks and you could hear the gunshots from executions on occasion. I guess doing it centrally was a good way to keep the locals in line.

I get the desire for encrypted messages, but the following statement I just find baffling. "Telegram’s CEO, Pavel Durov, has nothing to hide and travels frequently in Europe,” it said. “It is absurd to claim that a platform, or its owner, are responsible for abuse of that platform.” The above is absolute bullsh*t and is such a clear example of the social media leadership's view. You can't create a service that hosts criminal activity, terrorism and paedophilia and say "not our problem". Yes, it is your problem and you need to sort it one way or another. I've seen the false equivalence arguments that car manufacturers aren't responsible for drivers speeding etc but this is so different and the lack of accountability, whilst raking in the cash, does irk me.

Call them up. You can usually transfer existing tariffs when you move house so moving shouldn't really affect your decision (bar not having the panels so will be paying more).

You not got Oasis membership?

Bargain

£185...

There was a time I dreaded school due to one individual being an absolute ****. Used to arrive at school as late as possible and hide at lunches for a few months. It was awful. For some young children with smart phones, there is potential zero escape from this sort of behaviour and can imagine it being utterly unbearable.

There was an interesting piece from the ISW a few weeks ago I was going to post. Specifically, they talk about one of Putin's greatest success during the war is how he's framed the Western narrative on what they can and cannot do to such an extent it's become defined as a rule of the war in people's minds. I only post this now as the constant "don't do this or it'll become a nuclear war" are words that come right out of the mouth of Peskov. https://understandingwar.org/backgrounder/putin-vulnerable-western-policy-masks-russian-weakness Above all, the Kremlin depends on the West’s accepting Russia’s fabricated assertions about reality, which often cause the West to reason to conclusions that advance Russia’s interests and not ours.[19] Key examples include the false assertion that Russia has the right to a self-defined sphere of influence, and, therefore, a right to do whatever it wants to those within this sphere — including invading — with no repercussions. Another example is a false assertion that any provision of advanced military capability to Ukraine is a red line that will result in a nuclear escalation, and therefore, the US should de facto grant a veto to any nuclear power over US national security policy. Kremlin’s strategy in Ukraine disproportionately depends on the West accepting these premises, making Russia vulnerable to changes in Western perceptions. Russian dependencies give the West opportunities to exploit or dismantle Russia’s capability to sustain the war against Ukraine.

Adult friends who are genuinely excited about the new series of Bluey. Whilst I find most "cringe" attributes in people genuinely wholesome, this is just pathetic and makes me think they're juvenile weirdos.

Ashtray Maze bit was a classic gaming moment.

Think those offences are a slap on the wrist in France.

Markers signature "Tom from Norths.?" Great effort that though! Screw the 12th putting that one mark on the nine.

"Tell my family I'm being treated well". Another hostage video from Seagrave.

I mean, it's lower than 1971 and that's also not from this election's manifesto.

Minimum alcohol pricing has made a massive difference to the utter chaos that was that era. Remember every bar during that time would have roulette games that would amend your order. In Bishops, my double vodka coke got an upgrade to a six shot for the same price and I didn't even ask for it (still sunk it). Used to come home with change from a twenty. Nearly had a heart attack when I check my bank account following a night out nowadays.

Can't believe you missed out Goat Sim Remastered.

Survived the over fence chuck then?

What a weird game. First half we looked like we'd already been relegated. After the goal we just seemed to give it a go. Feeling more optimistic than I did before kick off which is a good start.

Argh close

Spursy?