Alf Bentley

"Any other twat" More specifically, these twats.....

Have you hit the grog early, just fancied expressing an opinion - or has Keir done something to justify this claim, like being caught live on TV pleasuring himself in the chamber (the parliamentary chamber, not someone else's)?

I certainly understand how you feel. I have a daughter only recently emerged from teenage years. Her mother was ultra-nervous about what might happen to her when she went out - particularly to the city centre at night in recent years. I'd try to offset that - saying that daughter would almost certainly be fine, so long as she exercised a certain amount of caution and common sense. But I was well aware that, although nightmare scenarios are unlikely, they do sometimes happen - even to people who exercise caution. Thankfully nothing bad has happened so far - but daughter is out and about living in London now....

I'm not pretending everything is great or that the future looks bright, but.... I believe stats show that murder and violent crime rates have actually fallen somewhat in the last few years. Saturated media coverage can easily give the opposite impression. In truth, in an imperfect nation, most people in the UK are at low risk of suffering violence.

I hesitate to comment, knowing that you had a long career as a paramedic, whereas I only have limited, anecdotal experience of mental illness... But my impression is that sufferers are only likely to "turn on a dime" due to a mood/situation if they are already suffering a psychotic episode (having deluded thoughts, hearing voices etc.)? They won't suddenly be triggered into severe mental illness by a mood/situation? Having said that, at least 2 of my direct experiences of schizophrenic episodes did involve people going from apparently fine to psychotic and a danger to themselves within 24 hours. My experience of trying to get medical help for people suffering psychotic episodes dates back 25-30 years. Back then, it was very hard to get help, particularly if the ill person doesn't accept they're ill (usually the case, in my experience). Your only chance of getting someone hospital care was if they/you convinced the medics that they were a serious, imminent danger to themselves or to others. It's very hard to manage that if someone is in denial and perfectly capable of acting fairly normally. I've no recent experience, but would expect things have got tougher, not easier since then, due to the worsened under-funding of mental health services. Yes, indeed. Mental health patients being in denial about their illness - and so refusing/stopping medication - is a very common problem, I believe. Obviously, the stigmas about mental illness, "nutters/psychos" and dangerous schizophrenics partly explain that. Must be tough to accept that you're one of those schizophrenics most commonly depicted in media stories like this - about a crazed knifeman attacking people (if that is confirmed to be what happened). Public perceptions have improved a bit, but nowhere near enough. I've no sources for this info but have read that, although schizophrenics are statistically somewhat more likely than average to commit violence, they are actually much more likely to be the victims of violence. It is certainly widely accepted that the schizophrenics who become violent are a small minority - and that schizophrenics are much more likely to be a danger to themselves than to others.

Some schizophrenics can remain well and lead fully normal lives on medication. Some may have isolated relapses but remain well most of the time. For others, their lives may be diminished to varying degrees either by the illness or by the sedation or other side-effects of medication (though this is improving all the time). Some can recover completely and come off medication without relapse. Others remain chronically unwell but with the severity of the illness limited by medication. About 20-30 years ago, I knew 5 people who all got hospitalised with schizophrenia diagnoses. I still know 2 of them well and know what has become of the other 3: - Man 1: Has suffered 2 further hospitalisations in the last 25 years - one of which involved him being sectioned for several months after some crazy, but non-violent behaviour in public. At one point, he was beaten up by a "sane" person alarmed by his conduct. However, he's remained well on medication apart from those 2 episodes, has worked as a F/T teaching assistant for 20+ years (condition fully declared to employer). He also helps out at a food bank, helps his aging parents, plays & attends football and enjoys a few beers. He's remained single. He's a good and supportive friend. - Man 2: Has remained well, but a bit fragile, on medication since being hospitalised 30+ years ago. He's mostly worked F/T or P/T since then, but gave up work in his late 50s, I'm told. I've not met him for 10 years but he was always a witty, kind and intelligent chap. He's remained single and still lives with his sister, I'm told. - Woman 1: A few years after hospitalisation 25 years ago, she suffered a minor relapse. Otherwise, she has remained well - though again I've not met her in 10 years. By then, her marriage had broken down but she had successfully brought up her son as a single parent. Last I heard, she was still well and had been in paid employment for several years as an advocate for other mental health patients. - Woman 2: Was hospitalised with psychotic/schizophrenic episodes 5 times in the 1990s. On the last occasion, she nearly died and suffered serious injuries after running in front of a car - doubtless due to deluded thoughts (psychosis). It is much more common for schizophrenics to be a danger to themselves than to others. For 25+ years, she has remained well on medication, with no further episodes. She thinks she may have grown out of schizophrenia (this sometimes happens in middle-age) but has only reduced her medication, not stopped it for fear of being wrong. Due to her injuries, she was unable to return to F/T work, but has worked P/T for the past 25 years, while successfully raising her daughter with her partner, though their marriage broke down. - Woman 3 (sister of the above): Returned to work and independent living after 3 months in hospital in 1996. For the next 20 years, she spent periods lasting years perfectly well, working and living independently. She moved to other areas/jobs, got married, then divorced. But she suffered at least 3 relapses leading to hospitalisation. On the last occasion, she was sectioned for 6 months, as a danger to herself, was then discharged with inadequate support and remained chronically unwell and unable to lead any sort of worthwhile life for 10 years - but with her illness controlled by monthly injections. Family recently arranged for her to move to residential care, where she seems to be improving - still having deluded thoughts/voices at times, but increasingly fine a lot of the time, with still some prospect of leading an independent life again at some point in the medium-term. I suspect that the cross-section of schizophrenics I've known have fared somewhat better than the norm. But it does show how, to varying degrees, many schizophrenics can lead happy and productive lives. However, I've heard second-hand of quite a few other people ending up in the life-limiting circumstances of Woman 3. I'm sure stats exist somewhere analysing outcomes for schizophrenics.

Sounds like the latter. Transport Police have quoted an address in Peterborough, despite the "no fixed address" reference. Perhaps he wouldn't confirm his address but the police confirmed it via other means?

Quite true. My cotton socks always feel more comfortable than socks made from synthetic blends - for the same reason.

All 3 great - and very different - albums. The River seems somewhat forgotten these days, but I'd rate it as one of his best. In a way, with The River, he'd already done what he considered doing in combining Nebraska and Born in the USA as a double album (though I'm glad he decided not to do that): 3/4 of the tracks lively and upbeat, some more fun/lightweight, but 4-5 quieter, darker songs. I'd still rate Darkness on the Edge of Town as his best album, but I really like all 3 you mention. More recently and more surprisingly given my usual tastes, I love his 2 crooner-ish albums, Western Stars and Twilight Hours (the best of the Tracks II albums?). Anyway, I'll stop there....don't want to annoy folk by turning the film thread into a music thread!

Bear battered cod isn't cost-effective. Takes too long to train the bears to apply the batter. They'd be better advised to slaughter the bears and serve them up in a traditional beer batter. Just baring my sole, er, I mean soul. My heart's in the right plaice.... Can anyone confirm whether this story is true or just bullshit from the OP or from his source (insert ketchup joke here)? Their web site doesn't mention a change of ownership or halal - and lists saveloys on menu....but might just be out of date? OP, you say you were told all this....but told by who? The new owner? A disgruntled customer? Tommy Robinson? A bear? The world needs to know...

Given all the other penalties, it seems a bit of an anomaly that Andrew retains 8th place in the royal order of succession - unless parliament rules otherwise. It's highly unlikely he'd ever succeed, but parliament surely should remove that right, in the circumstances? Interesting that Harry still holds 5th place, too. Again, he's highly unlikely to ever succeed, but it's not entirely impossible, as William and his 3 kids (1st-4th in line) spend a lot of time together. Car crash, terrorist attack....not that I'm planning to arrange any such event....though Harry, as King over the water, might want to consider it (echoes of Richard III)...

Depending on which stats you look at, about 535-550 people were murdered in the UK last year (down on previous years). Admittedly, some incidents involve the murder of more than 1 person, but that rate equates to about 1.5 murders per day.I certainly don't see 1-2 murders being reported every day on mainstream media, so a fair few murders aren't mentioned at all. I'm guessing that the only reason this isolated stabbing was reported is precisely because the alleged murderer being Afghan gave it some limited newsworthiness....as opposed to, say, some gang member killed by another gang or a "routine" domestic murder. Of course, some murders get more media coverage due to their shocking nature: e.g. the Southport attacks, the synagogue murder (+1 accidentally shot by the police), the Sheffield school stabbing.

A quick reminder of our record for the 2007-08 season, when we went down.... P46 W12 D16 L18 F42 A45 GD-3 Pts 52 Astonishing to go down with 52 points and a GD of only -3, having won points in 28 of 46 matches. WBA won the title with 81 points. In a typical season, dire as it was, our 2007-08 record would have a team finishing 16th-20th. But back then, failing to create enough chances and score enough goals was also the problem.... Even if this is one of the weakest squads for years, it's still strong enough that it shouldn't go down, even with a points deduction. But keep failing to create and score, get a points deduction and relegation certainly isn't impossible.

Saints, Ipswich and us having the highest possession but being well down the table is certainly interesting. But is that because all 3 are still playing too much like PL sides and failing to deploy more mixed tactics against weaker Championship defences? Or is it because Championship sides are using deeper defensive tactics against perceived "PL big boys"? Could be a bit of both... Under Enzo, I don't remember us often playing long through balls to strikers - Mads and Jannik, occasionally. I do remember a lot of long cross-field balls from one wing to the other and long balls from defence (usually Vestergaard, sometimes Faes?) to wide on the wings. Whether that would work again, I don't know, but it certainly seems like we need to mix up tactics more...

Yes. I saw it and thought it was brilliant. Reviews have been mixed and I can understand why. It's not a classic biopic, telling a life story enlivened by dramatic plot lines and perhaps a moral arc. I'd say it's very much a film for (a) people who're really into music - particularly Bruce, obviously - as it looks at the creative & recording process; (b) those who like films about people, their psychology and relationships more than dramatic plots. It focuses on the narrow period (early 80s) after his first mass-market success, The River, when he ended up releasing Nebraska, a decidedly non-commercial album, so very much NOT what was expected, including by his record company. Though he was simultaneously writing Born in the USA, his biggest-selling, very commercial album - and initially planned to release the 2 as a double album. It also has a lot about his personal issues - particularly his problematic relationship with his father, and (possibly connected) issues with depression and commitment phobia re. relationships - as well as the whole artistic integrity v. commercial success dilemma. I've been a massive Bruce fan since the late 70s and read his autobiography, so it wasn't telling me much I didn't already know. But I thought it was a great film with Allen White superb as lead. Drop a review if you do go and see it. I know from other threads that you're a big music fan, but whether you like such films or like Bruce, I don't know. Personally, I genuinely see him as someone with the status of a modern-day Shakespeare - no hyperbole intended. The film probably doesn't really show that, due to its narrow focus on 1982ish, but does give an interesting insight into an individual man and major creative artist at a key career moment.

@Super_horns @Jon the Hat @Sampson Interesting analysis of Caerphilly implications below from a New Statesman bod. Though he strangely ignores the LDs . There are parts of the country (e.g. Red Wall) where LDs are unlikely to cut through, but they could well be seen as an alternative or tactical option by Lab voters elsewhere. Indeed, now I've moved to S. Devon, I fully expect to be voting LD next time as my seat is likely to be a straight fight between LDs and Reform. That's in addition to their potential to win the votes of moderate Tories - especially in the South. That's very likely if the Tories keep aping Reform - and they're only likely to do that even more if they replace Badenoch with Jenrick after the May elections, which looks quite likely. The Tories could conceivably win back a few Reform switchers that way, but that's not guaranteed as memories of unpopular govts tend to last a few years, as per 1979, 1997 & 2010... New Stateman: "For Welsh Labour, the Caerphilly by-election offered a preview of the grim fate that could await it next May. But did it also show how Reform’s forward march could be halted? For more than a century, Labour has been hegemonic in Wales, its run of victories surpassing that of any other force in the democratic world. Yet when the Caerphilly by-election result was announced this morning there were some inside the party relieved to have kept their deposit. That gives you some sense of the scale of Labour’s humbling. In the Senedd contest, won by Plaid Cymru, its vote plummeted to just 11 per cent (from 45.9 per cent). Labour lost here for many of the same reasons that it is trailing across the UK: a belief that a party that promised change has amounted to more of the same; enduring anger over the winter fuel payment cuts and weariness with squeezed living standards. As Welsh First Minister, Eluned Morgan has routinely distanced herself from Keir Starmer, criticising welfare and immigration policy and championing the “red Welsh way”. But that counted for nothing in Caerphilly. Welsh Labour MPs cite the backlash against the 20mph speed limit – “a general feeling that we are always telling people how to live their lives” – as one of the many drags on the party’s vote. Unless something dramatic changes, it faces a heavy defeat in next May’s Senedd election. But it isn’t only Labour that has cause for reflection today. Reform threw resources at this contest, with Nigel Farage visiting Caerphilly multiple times. Yet while the party won 36 per cent of the vote from a standing start (Tory support collapsed to 2 per cent - from 17%), this was far eclipsed by Plaid Cymru’s 47.4 per cent. And here lies a warning for Farage. A Survation opinion poll published a week ago showed a narrow Reform lead over Plaid Cymru (42 per cent to 38 per cent) and had the effect of mobilising an anti-Farage bloc. Waves of tactical support gave Plaid Cymru almost half the vote – far exceeding support for Welsh independence – and pushed turnout to 50.4 per cent, up from 44.3 per cent in the last devolved contest. Even as Reform has led every UK opinion poll since May, Farage’s opponents have identified his Achilles heel. For a populist Farage is not particularly popular. Polls regularly show that around 60% of voters do not want him to become prime minister. “There’s an anti-Reform majority in Wales and in the UK,” concludes a Labour minister this morning. But is it one that Starmer can harness? As Plaid Cymru’s unprecedented triumph shows, voters pay little heed to tradition in this new era. The SNP, the insurgent Greens and Gaza independents will all similarly frame themselves as the real alternative to Reform. For Starmer, the danger is that disillusioned progressives agree. And the reverse dynamic applies: Reform will win tactical votes from conservatives who, above all, want Labour out of government – a regressive front, if you like. The anti-Farage majority might be enough to deny Reform power but that isn’t the same as a Labour majority.

Dave Ball (66), one half of Soft Cell https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/oct/23/dave-ball-hitmaker-as-one-half-of-soft-cell-dies-aged-66 As flamboyant frontman, Marc Almond was much better known, but Ball's music was a big part of what they had to offer. 1980s music is seriously misremembered as just cliched, New Romantic stuff done by electro-pop acts with big hair - much of which was shite. There was a lot of other stuff, too. Soft Cell did arrive with the New Romantic wave as an electro-pop act with exotic appearance and catchy songs - but were one of the seriously good acts. Their hits, like Tainted Love, Bedsitter & Say Hello, Wave Goodbye are well-known, but they did some great dance mixes, like their cover of Where Did Our Love Go as a medley with Tainted Love, plus the Non-Stop Ecstatic Dancing album. Best of all, though, IMHO was the next, less successful album The Art of Falling Apart.....seriously dark stuff and an outstanding, much under-rated album. They were performing again recently, weren't they - including in Victoria Park a year or two back?

Interesting opinion article about China's approach to global power politics in the Trump era: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/oct/19/donald-trump-xi-jinping-china-trade-tariffs-us-beijing?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

Iraq v Scotland or New Caledonia v Wales would certainly have been fun as play-offs. But I'm not sure, say Kosovo or Albania "would obviously walk it" against Nigeria or Panama. Scotland haven't always walked it against Costa Rica, as I recall. 3 CONCACAF nations qualifying as hosts created a qualification issue, but risking hosts not qualifying would have created a bigger one. Perhaps 3 extra CONCACAF qualifiers plus 2 play-off spots is marginally too many? But perhaps not, as Detroit argues...marginal decision, I'd say. I'd definitely have preferred more finals matches to have been staged in Mexico and Canada, but that's a different issue - and a decision heavily influenced by money, obviously. I can't be arsed to scrutinise the complications arising from UEFA play-off qualification via the Nations League (apparently San Marino could still qualify mathematically?! ). But looking at the 6 lowest-ranked of the 12 sides currently standing 2nd in UEFA WC qualifying groups seems a fair comparison: Czech Rep (42) Scotland (45) Albania (65) North Macedonia (67) Bosnia & Herzegovina (74) Kosovo (99) I wouldn't say that those UEFA nations have a particularly strong case for qualification ahead of the play-off contenders from other confederations - or that they'd have inevitably beaten them, if UEFA had been given more play-off places.....and that's without even considering your implied and correct point that the World Cup is meant to promote football as a global game. p.s. In South America, Peru (48), Venezuela (49) and Chile (57) are all already out without a play-off option.

So, both Nigeria and Cameroon sneak into the African play-offs....but only 1, at most, will make it out alive... Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon and DR Congo, 1 to qualify for the inter-continental play-offs. Inter-continental play-offs (2 to qualify for WC finals): - Bolivia - New Caledonia - UAE or Iraq - 1 of the 4 African nations above - 2 x second-placed CONCACAF teams (perhaps Curaçao & Costa Rica, but groups are tight)

Yep. Despicable as Watkins was, in a democratic society, the rule of law should apply - not vigilante killings, even of those proven guilty of awful crimes. And what if someone wrongly convicted were to be murdered by imprisoned vigilantes? Doesn't apply to Watkins, but plenty of others have been wrongly convicted of foul crimes over the years. The two alleged killers have now been charged: https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/ian-watkins-death-lostprophets-singer-man-charged-wakefield-priosn-b1252604.html Here's food for thought for anyone inclined to celebrate their actions (based on a quick Google News search).... - Alleged killer 1 was serving life for murdering an innocent man. Stabbed him repeatedly while he was lying on the ground in a case of mistaken identity over a drugs/gang feud: https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/23699846.sven-badzaks-killers-jailed-life-murder/ - Alleged killer 2 was serving 23 years for kidnapping a woman unknown to him, holding her prisoner and raping her 5 times: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-46551039

As the gesture of a friendly neighbour, I hope you've popped round and asked to borrow a Teasmaid, a fondue set and a cuddly toy?

So, we could still easily end up with Cameroon v Nigeria in the African play-offs. Only 1 African nation progresses to the global play-offs, as I recall. Mind you, looking at the table, SA might not find it easy to score 2 v. Rwanda. Despite only standing 4th, Rwanda have only conceded 6 goals in 9 qualifiers (and only scored 5). I presume Rwanda favour the 11-0-0 tactical formation...

I saw 2 great films last week: "I Swear": A dramatization of the life of John Davidson, a Scottish bloke with Tourette Syndrome from the 80s to the present. He's gone from facing appalling problems due to his condition (social rejection, family strife, legal charges, unemployment) to acceptance, regular work and doing great things to help others and spread awareness - earning him an MBE from the Queen. What's great about the film is that it successfully treads a fine line between worthiness and humour. It could easily have ended up being either another cheesy man-overcomes-problem feelgood story or entertainment getting cheap laughs. The scrapes he has gets into are often very funny, but it's black comedy. You're laughing with him, not at him. But it also gets across the serious traumas that a lack of understanding of the affliction can cause and how others can help sufferers alleviate them. "Ellis Park": A highly original film loosely blending musical expression, animal rescue documentary and childhood/family relations/life growth themes. It's centred around Warren Ellis, intense violinist with Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds and The Dirty Three. It manages to span sections showing how music is composed/performed and what it means with childhood memories/relations with parents/personal change in life - and with his visit to the sanctuary for wild animals that he funds in Sumatra, including some insight into the horrors of the wild animal trade, the rescue & rehabilitation work done by the Ellis Park team etc. Ellis himself comes across as an unusually thoughtful, humble bloke and the individual themes are interesting in their own right - but the film as a whole somehow adds up to more than its individual parts, like a reminder of what really matters in life.