frakenfox

There's potential there, that's for real. I wasn't quite sure what it was trying to be as it seemed to be hamming it up/playing stuff for laughs etc. I read a review and apparently it does settle into something a little more serious in the 2nd episode, so that's made me feel a little more inclined to watch on.

Re left v right (particularly in France) I read an interesting opinion piece, I thought in the Guardian but I can't now find it so I'll have to summarising badly. The French results could be seen not so much as a traditional left v right alignment (and such divisions have been firm in France for yonks) but as urban v rural division, or educated v uneducated (and by that, I don't mean thick, I mean formally university educated etc), or a wage v salary even. Le Pen was popular, and indeed won, in many rural areas, outside of urban centres. Her 'cost of living' platform resonated with so many poorly paid rural/small town dwellers that they ignored the 'far right' label (indeed, rejected it) These people NEED their cars and travel hundreds of km per week, the petrol cost increases simply reignited the discontent. Le Pen saw the mood that rose and gave rise to the 'gilets jaunes' movement and she played to it. Macron largely appeased/smoothed over the disquiet back then but he would be wise to be aware that it's not gone away. Cholera might have beaten the plague this time around but Macron is not Mr Popularity. The parliamentary elections will be very interesting and Macron could end up as a leader with limited effective power. I don't personally think that'll happen but I'll watch with interest, particularly to see how Melonchon's green alliance might do.

wecrashed an intriguing watch if not the best tele ever. Hard to believe such a transparent albeit charming/enigmatic bullshit artist can persuade banks & investors to loan him so much money (and we're talking millions upon millions) And his dippy hippy shit misses takes entitlement to a different level. The series is perhaps most interesting if viewed primarily as about their mutual self-agrandising relationship. Utterly unreal.

And sometimes contract extensions just get signed without the pre-match fanfare. Fofana for instance. I didn't even know the club and he were in discussion then, bouf, announcement. Yes, different circumstances, and we obviously wanted to lock him down a bit more but my point is that it can happen on the quiet.

Sorry, what was that? Clean sheet at the KP with a well earned point with some good chances to take all three. Credit to the women, they play some very neat football.

Thanks for the Intel on Ozark, I've been waiting for the final episodes. Slow Horses is good tele, well worth a watch. I wouldn't put it up in my favourites list, more a good story well told. I suspect the source material wasn't the fullest perhaps aiming more at stylised genre than original or creative. But don't let that put you off, the TV series is better than most of the Tele out there.

Lopped down a small plum tree yesterday and dug the stump out. They're buggers are plum (this variety anyway) they send roots out and pop up elsewhere, given the chance. Got another to do today, rather than watch us get beat by Spurs with goals from both the chuckle brothers - that just puts me in a crap mood, rather be outside.

French crowd booing is starting to get on my wick. Every time a decision goes against them... not the ref's fault if the French women are making mistakes. Physical game, as expected, but England showing the greater control and deservedly ahead.

Now perhaps somewhat contradictory but I would give Vardy some minutes. He hardly got a lookin last night and I'd like to see him get a bit more target practice.

I believe Maddison is tasked with having a pop. Or at least that's how I've read his comments. It's noticeable that some players won't, or rarely, take it on. Team orders? Dunno but it's certainly noticeable that Madders will let fly in positions where other players would be knocking it square.

We're on for a tonking. It's Spurs, it's what happens. In a perfect storm scenario too. I'm still uncertain as to whether I want to see Youri anywhere near this fixture. KDH too, to a lesser extent. Youri looks out on his feet at the moment. Roma is definitely the more important fixture and whilst there is a little time to rest and recover, I'd want players to be fully fit, rested and focused for it.

No. Not to my mind.

They'll shut up shop now.... I hope. Castagne OK d'ya reckon?

That's arguably as strong a side as we can put out. Dunno why though (usual pre-match nerves?) but I'm not feeling confident. Youri and KDH have both played a lot of games and must be close to empty. Vardy bags one in the opening 10 minutes and I'll be right as rain!

Which team are you referring to? Good chance the women will concede fewer than the men!

As far as I can make out, Diabaté was an 'inspired' purchase, a punt if you prefer, that didn't pay off. I wouldn't go much further than that. The photo of him, blue dyed dreds, pulling a wheelie on an mtb made me smile though.

I suspect there's more to the Benko story than perhaps we'll ever know so I personally would not put him on any 'worst' list.

I did a lot of cycling once upon a time and found it conditioned my leg muscles in such a way that I'd cramp very quickly if I ran. I was fit but it would have taken me ages to run 5k.

Going to be tough at theirs.

Benzi-MA ?? Who he?

Maybe one for 'unpopular opinions you hold' and I admittedly know little about Musk, but I kinda like him! I think he's the kind of person society needs; a bit of an 'out there' thinker, somewhat eccentric maybe and liable to say daft (and no doubt offensive sometimes too) stuff, but they manage to push the boundaries, and alert us to where the boundaries are even. They encourage debate, intentionally or otherwise. And, in Musk's case, push technological development.

That was kinda my meaning, there was intended irony in my remark. There's a debate to had about what constitutes free speech, and I'm personally undecided though have my leanings, but I think it clear that there are different ideas in play as to what free speech is.

I'll probably watch this in preference to the men's game.

You want the right kind of free speech. I'm not a twitter user so not familiar with it really, not having first hand experience etc. Equally, I know little about Musk. I thought he had Asperger's or something so tend to view his actions and statements partly through that lens. I believe he's a 'hands on' kinda guy rather just a couch lounging investor but as I also believe that a good deal of the purchase price has come from such sorts, and they'll want to see a return on investment, it's going to be interesting to see in which direction this goes. I kinda sense a sort of irony somewhere in this deal.

Tbh, I don't know if it's good or not! It's more the surprise element at the moment. All my life, I've been in good health, never been to hospital etc. Not a care in the world kind of thing. Then this, kinda out of the blue. I don't really know how to process it tbh... other than to acknowledge that there's certainly a helluva lot worse things could happen. DM sent. I will be looking for options when it comes to having implants (or dentures) done.