 | Forum
Thread | Do you know all the words?
at 17:18 9 Oct 2025
Following on the threads about bands you're meant to like and gigs etc, I would stick my neck out and say that you know all the words to some songs from bands you don't like or listen to regularly.
For example, I think I could "sing" a dozen or more Abba songs and perhaps the same number of Paul Simon songs but they're not bands/artists I listen to at all.
On the other hand I know the first verse and chorus of songs from some favourite artists (Lumineers, Drew Holcombe, The Brevet) but am basically making it up after that.
You? |
| Forum
Reply | Survey results as reported in the Times
at 17:09 9 Oct 2025
Why do you associate a stance of caring about people who have taken desperate measures to get here as "leftie"?
In your mind does "leftie" mean somebody who is a soft touch, a bit too PC, too welcoming, too tolerant?
If that is correct, then does it mean that a "rightie" is somebody who is intolerant, hard nosed and willing to discriminate? |
| Forum
Reply | Top 3 Hidden Gem Cities
at 13:06 9 Oct 2025
Been to Portsmouth NH many times.
They have a couple of very good breweries there and an open air museum which is basically some of the older houses in the town relocated to a park. Think it's called Strawberry Bank?
Also full of sports bars and most weekends the vibe is good if you like sport. (Luckily my wife does).
Rural NH is more of an acquired taste. Bear in mind that the state logo is "Live Free or Die", many of those outside the few towns, do live by that credo and don't always take kindly to "incomers". |
| Forum
Reply | Survey results as reported in the Times
at 10:07 8 Oct 2025
There can be no real "solution" unless the root causes for people seeking to come to the UK etc are removed.
Some of those causes are specific to their country of origin. These might be hunger, corruption, political or religious oppression. There are probably very limited things that the "destination countries" - i.e. UK and Europe can do. Equally these destination countries are not helping themselves by reducing the amount of financial and humanitarian aid that is provided.
Some are the result of political meddling by the Western countries in particular. It suits the US and many European countries to fight proxy wars far from their borders but to deny sanctuary to people displaced by those wars.
Most of the EU countries are signed up to the ECHR (which is of course very much based on UK legislation developed after the second war in order to deal with millions of refugees within Europe). That sign up allows them to claim to be powerless in preventing migrants moving into and through their own country.
The "criminal" activity we see is however mainly from those people smugglers charging huge sums to get people to and around Europe. There is a real need for a European police campaign to limit these activities and to use political means to put pressure on some countries who allow these crooks such access.
This is not a single country issue and the claims of the far right in the UK that this is a problem caused by weak (usually leftist) political parties and that they could "solve" it within days of winning an election are all fairy tales swallowed by the gullible. |
| Forum
Reply | Top 3 Hidden Gem Cities
at 09:51 8 Oct 2025
Some great suggestions above, some of which I've been to and some I have not. I am though now "semi retired" at least according to my wife and we have begun to create a bucket list and have managed to cross a few places off.
Recently we were in Lisbon. And loved it. Great food/wine, friendly people, lots of history to indulge in, great weather.
For the more adventurous, we were in New Zealand last November. The scenery in the Southern Alps is stunning. The North island geothermals are not unique - then the first time we had witnessed them. People fabulous. Auckland has a great vibe. The wine is incredible.
Honourable mentions also for Seville and Puglia.
We travel a lot in the US (worked there and have US born daughter in laws) and whilst there are some US cities and areas I would revisit (New Orleans, San Francisco), there is unfortunately an increasing number of cities in particular which would be way down my list.
These include New York (too busy and up itself), Washington (too many politicians), Seattle (too much rain).
Boston and many East Coast cities are still quite European in style and outlook but we do avoid Philadelphia. |
| Forum
Reply | Russell Martin to be sacked in the morning
at 15:32 6 Oct 2025
Well 40 years ago (85/86 season) we managed to lose 7-0 to Luton.
We don't want a return to that situation.
Why would we ever bring back Martin after the damage he did? |
| Forum
Thread | One last gig
at 12:16 6 Oct 2025
If you were able to attend only one more gig in your entire life, not a festival but a main artist and perhaps some support, who would it be? |
| Forum
Reply | 5 Things About Derby
at 12:15 6 Oct 2025
I'm sure you are correct and am also sure that with a bit of planning, some of these issues could be solved. It's all irrelevant now anyway.
I come in from 30 miles away. By car, in order to arrive in time for a pint of what passes as beer at the stadium, I need to leave home no later than 1pm for a 3pm kick off. I park about a mile away, paying heaven's knows what, walk 25/30 minutes to the stadium.
If I leave the stadium at the final whistle, I'm back at the car by say 5:20. If I'm home before 7pm after queuing to get out of the city, I've had a good journey.
If I go by train, it's perhaps an hour quicker on the day but more walking.
DO you know, by the way, why there is not a train platform at the stadium given that the train from Parkway literally goes past the ground? |
| Forum
Thread | Who is going to the World Cup?
at 10:23 6 Oct 2025
The next World Cup is in the USA, Canada and Mexico in 2026. Details are emerging and whilst it may be the way they are reported, it seems that there are going to be some issues.
Kick off times may be delayed until evenings which means that in Europe some games may not kick off until the early hours. FIFA seem happy with this (because Infantino is sucking up to the orange baby) and UEFA are saying very little, happy to take the money and ignore the fans.
Tickets were promised to be at reasonable prices. There are some tickets for group games at around $60. They are behind the temporary toilets in the car park. (I jest but they are certainly "restricted" and there are few of them).
The cheapest ticket for the final is $2,000. That is more than twice the price of the last final. You can buy such a ticket via the official FIFA resale platform for between 3 and 5 times the face value - with FIFA charging buyer and seller 30% commission.
We are all perhaps very cynical when it comes to FIFA who care for nothing except money ? |
| Forum
Reply | 5 Things About Derby
at 10:16 6 Oct 2025
Have to disagree about Stoneham. One of the major reasons I'm an irregular attender these days is because of the difficulties of getting to and away from the stadium. |
| Forum
Reply | Rangers Sack Ex Southampton Boss Russell Martin
at 10:14 6 Oct 2025
In my view, he is somebody who struggles to "read the room" when it comes to football tactics on the pitch.
Aside from trying to impose a style upon players who either cannot or will not play that way, he fails to appreciate that in the English Championship and probably the SPL, teams are a lot more direct and physical. As we know he got lucky with us when Leeds fell apart in the play offs and his weaknesses were ruthlessly exposed in the PL.
He then compounded his lack of understanding of how to play, by refusing to change. Literal insanity or astounding arrogance?
His only hope now is to rebuild from the third division of Albanian football and hope that in a few years, some team newly promoted to the pro ranks needs somebody looking for redemption. |
| Forum
Reply | Hypocrisy of the highest order or genuine concern?
at 10:07 6 Oct 2025
Some interesting points above.
I'll clarify a few points that were perhaps addressed a little clumsily.
In my opinion, Reform has taken the issue of potential immigrants arriving other than via the "official" channels and blown it out of proportion in terms of presenting it as a "problem". The last figures I saw said that those arriving via small boat/lorry made up between 3% and 4% of those arriving. Of those, a few have been deported but perhaps not enough yet to make a significant dent in the numbers. However Reform claim that this 3/4% is a threat to the "British" way of life and a major cost. I'm not convinced and only by being creative with what this group receives from the taxpayer, can this argument have any weight.
Reform also say that they will address the issue of those immigrants who arrived via the official channels. It's quite difficult to work out their policy here as there are contradictory statements in their manifesto and their speeches. To the best of my ability to untangle this, it seems that they will continue to admit those with necessary or desired skills but only for a limited period. Indefinite Leave to Remain will be ended. As will the ability to bring family members to the UK.
The assumption behind this "policy" appears to be a belief that it will deter people from coming here and over a period "TBA" will reduce net migration to a much lower value than it is now.
This policy it seems may be extended to include those who have been in the UK for a long time (more than five years). Again, statements from the various mouthpieces are difficult to reconcile - some say this is correct, others say that those with ILR now will not be impacted - but we'll see. One concern here is that all the economic data seems to indicate that long term migrants to the UK actually contribute to the economy. Presumably if they are required to leave - even ignoring the cost of such an exercise - that contribution would be lost.
I also mentioned the issue of the ex Welsh Reform leader who has admitted taking bribes and the reaction of the high profile Reform "leaders" who now claim - hilariously - that they never knew him. I did this to demonstrate that like all politicians caught in the act of a mistake, are liable to try and lie their way out of it. In my view, this is a pointer toward their character and integrity. |
| Forum
Reply | Bands or artists you are supposed to like.....
at 15:17 2 Oct 2025
Coldplay and Snow Patrol make my list. Have either of them ever produced a happy song? NO? Just the same monotonous dreary dirge over and again.
Pretty much anything in the bubblegum pop and/or boy/girl band genre. There are probably half a dozen each boys/girls who all sound the same and I certainly can't tell them apart. For instance, Jessie J, Dua Lipa, Rita Ora, etc Just not for me.
Bruce Springstein. Basically has made the same four chords last for decades in his brand of Americana and "Bored in the USA" sums him up.
I have a huge gap in my knowledge and perhaps appreciation of popular music from about 1985 when my first son was born to 2000 when my youngest son was born. In those years a number of more important matters occupied me so that today I struggle to appreciate anything from that 15 years.
Music I will either turn off or switch stations if it comes on - Beyonce, Elton John, Guns n roses, T'Pau, Wham, Take That, (have met Gary Barlow who seems a nice enough type but thankfully he was talking and not singing).
There is of course another thread which is "artists you're not supposed to like, but do.." |
| Forum
Reply | Hypocrisy of the highest order or genuine concern?
at 15:05 2 Oct 2025
The immigration argument is based on a false presentation of the facts.
Like Trump, Fartage and Tice and the others seems to have only a passing acquaintance with facts and truth, happily able to ignore or use oof context pretty much anything.
Amusingly they are now claiming that the former head of reform in Wales - recently admitting to have taken bribes from Russia - is somebody they do not know, have never met and is a stranger. Very odd when pictures of them together circulate. |
| Forum
Thread | Hypocrisy of the highest order or genuine concern?
at 09:08 2 Oct 2025
Like all of us, I've been bombarded with media coverage of Reform and how they react to events around them.
My view is that Reform does not really "stand for" anything other than the self aggrandisement of their cult leaders.
Instead they are just "against" everything. Their purpose is to either make people angry or ramp up frustrations and create a "protest vote".
Their economic plans are utterly bonkers and they have reached a place where the Truss Budget looks tame! In simple terms, they want to cut taxes, cut the working population by deporting even those who have been here (contributing) for decades and yet still fund world class welfare and services.
And when a PM calls them out, their reaction? To claim that the PM is encouraging some lunatic to take a pop at Fartage and friends.
I'm sorry, but if your trade is to be against everything and to make outrageous claims and encourage people to believe outright lies, are you then surprised if you create enemies? |
| Forum
Reply | Isle of Wight Festival 2026 Line-up...
at 08:56 2 Oct 2025
You may have stumbled on a truth here.
Yes I agree that some of the "old" songs that resonate with our youth have connections beyond the merits of the music and we like to be transported back to those times. That old song performed by a new singer will always, in my opinion, be not quite the same which rather taints the experience.
I'm also of the view that a band which has a "big" hit and which is played at every gig must get bored rigid and sometimes that comes across in the performance. Music is not static and bands have to move on and develop (or fold). |
| Forum
Reply | Isle of Wight Festival 2026 Line-up...
at 08:51 2 Oct 2025
And do you think any of the bands mentioned are as good now as they were with the original line up?
I was a Kasabian fan and saw them several times in their original form. Saw them at Victorious (two years ago?) without Meighan and frankly they are not a patch on what they were.
The Manics I've never followed so have no opinion. Oasis? aka The Cheapskate Beatles? Saw them at Wembley about two gigs before they folded. Enjoyed the show, great energy, but even then I think the drummer was not the original? |
| | saint901
|
Site Scores| Prediction League: | 0 | | TOTAL: | 0 |
|
By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions.