Renton

Do you know how much power your gifs take Mr Giffy? 😗 Actually, feeling a bit guilty about this I did some deep research*. Apparently if I generate 1000 images that is equivalent to a 4.2 mile drive in a standard ICE car. The energy use comes from training, not its application. If true I can live with that. * This was what AI said, so, yer knarr.

If Farage is in government none of this is relevant.

Personally, I'm now of the opinion this issue is literally tearing our society apart, rightly or wrongly. Am also aware that it doesn’t directly affect me cos I don't eat Just Eats, but if I recognise it is a real issue for some. If we can reduce small boat crossings whilst staying within international law I'd say yes. That's the red line for me.

Hey, why the fuck should I pay more?

That's the badger. Was struggling to think what it reminded me of.

How would you tell the difference?

This has been covered already. Plenty of other types have the same or even better effect than liberty caps, just ask AI.

You've described guinea pigs perfectly. Their social animals with personalities. Mrs Rents does all the cleaning which cumulatively is an insane amount of time. I get the benefit of their company next to my work desk. I mentioned before about the "guinea pig cycle", it's cruel for them to live alone. We'll probably keep in this until the kids have left home, 5 to 8 years. Despite the food and vets bills. Love the little fuckers and mildly ashamed of my pharmacologist pass when I went through these daily. Anyway, job front, your right I hope although my age now worries me. Ageism is definitely a thing. Problem is, to break into this organisation I accepted a role I am way over qualified for. I find I get on really well with the leaders 2 or more places above me, but I am having massive issues with immediate superiors about doing things above my level. My line manager in particular is an issue. Now probably as a result of Streeting there are just no opportunities at all to progress through official channels. In 6 months Ive had 3 applications and 2 interviews, neither of which I got (with no real clue on feedback other than the competition was exceptional, with >120 applications per job). So my last chance is to doorstop senior staff directly, some of whom I know. Can they manufacture something? Probably not. But if/when I go back to Pharma or consultancy, my world view is very much changed. Will just try to make as much money as possible for them by extracting as much as possible from the NHS, and hioe for a cut. Ive learnt the hard way too that these arm length bodies aren't really in the game to improve things for the tax payers, their primary goal is self perpetuation. Don't think this was always the case but here we are.

I'm as low as I can be. You'll recall I took a huge pay cut to move jobs. Been a disaster and because I had genuinely thought this would be a stepping stone that hasnt materialised, I am now well and truly in the financial shit. I don't think there is much I can do this side of Christmas but the guilt I feel for putting my family in this situation is crippling me. Then last week something completely out of my control and potentially disastrous happened. I can't go into it on here, but it is potentially truly life changing. And to top that off our pet guinea pig passed yesterday. We knew she was on the way out, she just went to the corner of her cage and went to sleep, with the other two snuggled into her. I swear they knew. D1 devastated, spent the whole evening stroking her with dead pig on her lap. Honestly, I know it's only a rodent but fuck me it's sad. Why I never want pets personally. So aye, when it rains etc. Now got pretty much permanent anxiety and insomnia. This will probably lead to depression (the grind of anxiety does this). And last time that happened, uh oh. At least I'm aware I guess and can do my best to manage it, keep keeping off the drink etc. I know things will get better (except one thing I need to cope with), but life is tough at the moment. Seriously dreading Xmas.

Really sorry to hear that, I completely get your point. I don't do anniversaries either, I just get random attacks of poignancy about the sad events in my life, nothing which touch yours. But yeah, some people are into official anniversaries and you've got to respect that whilst wanting no part of it.

I agree, but at the same time, nobody ever addresses the simple elephant in the room of the demographic shift, the changing working/retired shift. The young are being shafted though, definitely. I don't know what the solution is but I'm pretty sure it's not as simple as saying "wealth tax" three times and everything being fine and dandy.

Yeah, I agree a lot of it is just platitudes. I'd love someone that had a workable long term plan and was charismatic enough to sell it. I don't see anyone in that category unfortunately.

I think they have been relatively honest about it. They were elected on a manifesto of fiscal responsibility and no working tax rises. I think they've tried to keep to it, but for various reasons the productivity and growrltg curves have matched the pessimistic scenarios more than the optimistic ones they sold. So they are probably going to row back on the tax pledges next. I get you don't like it but I don't think it's dishonest, well not compared with the previous 14 years anyway where the tories lied constantly. I think Farage is a liar. I think Polanski will turn out to be a liar. That's what populist do, sell a vision that resonates with certain groups regardless of reality.

Not just personal careers though is it? No party can get re-elected with long term projects, and that's the crux of the matter, or one of the cruxes. Made worse by the ultra partisan nature of British politics currently. Starmer is Mr Anti-charisma but he has inherited an absolute shit show that will take more than a decade to turn around with conventional economics. He won't get the chance as an individual and the party won't get the chance. The media, particularly social media, control the narrative and they are against Starmer. Anything good they do, like for instance abolishing the child benefit cap, is ignored or claimed as frivolous. Has anyone here even mentioned it? The realities of their economic constraints are simply ignored. You can ignore them if you want, but they are still there I mean it's not been great but holy shit, 3 years ago we had Boris fucking Johnson at the helm. I think the criticism on here of the government has been disproportionate tbh things aren't going to change in 16 months. But hey ho, let's roll the dice and get Farage in, let's see where that gets us.

Yeah. I'd also say that Burnham is now the centre left's last hope. I don't think Starmer will see it to the next GE. How many of you Greenies would stick with labour if Burnham were in charge?

Well why when MF will do it for free?

Well if you watch traitors you'd know that's what any traitor would say. But anyeay, perfectly normal now also for a top positioned cabinet minister to draw metaphors with a game show on the day it is confirmed thousands of jobs are being axed from NHS England.

Actually I think nit might be and the masked slipped, because he refers to the NUFC one as "our" flag. But the funny thing is doesn't stop him being accepted as an MLF because thus stuff us within the window of their normality.

Had a look at the SMB through my fingers tonight. You can imagine what it's like. They're very excited about the display for the derby, it's gonna be real classy marra. Nothing says classy like "FROM THE RIVER TO THE SEA, SUNDERLAND AFC" and the NUFC crest with the burning twin towers coming out of it. Jesus H tap dancing Christ man.

We. Are. A. Disgrace.

Odd time to spark the stander sitter debate? I reckon he's civilised so going for sitter. 👍

☝️ Case in point.

Campbell was Blair's spin doctor, most hated for his role in the Iraq war and the dodgy dossier. Feels like a cuddly puppy now since the absolute ghouls like Cummings we've had involved. Comes across as a fundamentally fair and decent person on TRIP.