Thought Id start this one going because its rather dead on this board at the moment and I suppose all my usual muckers are either at the Stella tennis event watching Dim Tim (lose again) or at Henly Regatta eating cucumber sandwiches (they wish,...NOT).

Anyway please feel free to just talk to yourself blast away and let it go on any company or subject you wish. Just wish Id thought of this one before.

cheers GF.

75% of the more than 195,000 charities are reliant on government funding, ie the taxes paid by the tax payer.
2517

195k charities?

Sounds more like a jobs program.

Ed Miliband walks into a bank to cash a cheque. “Good morning”, says Ed, “could you please cash this cheque for me?”

Cashier: “It would be my pleasure Sir, but could you please show me some identification?”

Miliband: “Truthfully… I did not bring my ID with me as I didn’t think there was any need to. But hang on! I’m Ed Miliband, Leader of the Opposition and of the Labour Party!!!”

Cashier: ““Yes Sir, I know who you are, but with all the regulations and monitoring of the banks because of impostors and forgers etc., I must insist on seeing some identification”.

Miliband: “Just ask any of the customers here at the bank who I am and they will tell you. Everybody knows who I am!”

Cashier: “I’m sorry Sir, but these are the bank rules and I must follow them”.

Miliband: “I am urging you please, to cash this cheque for me”.

Cashier: “Look Sir, this is what we can do. One day Colin Montgomery came into the bank without any ID. To prove he was Colin Montgomery he pulled out his putter and putted a ball along the floor and into a small cup. With that sort of skill we knew it was Colin Montgomery and we cashed his cheque. On another occasion, Andy Murray came in without any ID. He pulled out his tennis racquet and lobbed a tennis ball straight into my teacup with such a spectacular shot that we all knew it was Andy Murray.

Ed Miliband stood there thinking and thinking and then finally says, “To be honest, there is nothing that comes to my mind. I can’t think of a single thing that I’m any good at.”

Cashier: “Will it be large or small notes you require Mr Miliband.

http://news.sky.com/story/1410551/uk-economy-set-for-oil-price-fall-dividend

UK Economy Set For Oil Price Fall Dividend

The UK economy is set to grow more than expected this year with falling oil prices boosting consumer spending, according to an influential forecaster.

The EY ITEM Club predicts that GDP will grow by 2.9% in 2015, up 0.5% on its previous estimate in October.

The forecast is also more optimistic than the 2.4% predicted in Chancellor's George Osborne's Autumn Statement in December.

The plunge in oil costs - with Brent crude losing more than 50% of its value since June last year - has seen unleaded petrol costs hit a five-year low, giving a shot in the arm to household budgets.

The ITEM Club report also predicts inflation will average around zero in 2015 - turning negative in the early months of the year.

The low inflation rate will also help hold off a decision by the Bank of England on increasing interest rates.

The report predicts that rates will not rise from their current record low of 0.5% until the spring of 2016, followed by a gradual rise of 0.25% every three months.

Peter Spencer, EY ITEM Club's chief economic adviser, said: "Not every economy will be a winner from oil prices collapsing, but the UK certainly is.

"We have described the previous weakness of commodity prices as a silver lining in the storm clouds gathering over the world economy.

"But with oil prices now down over 50% since last June, this silver lining has turned to gold.

"While it is not a game changer in terms of growth prospects, falling oil prices come just as the recovery was losing momentum and will move the game up to a higher level for a year or two."

Alongside the benefit of low inflation, the ITEM Club is expecting wage growth of 3.5% in 2015, resulting in a rise in real disposable incomes of 3.7%.

As a result, real household consumption is set to increase by 2.9% this year and 2.6% in 2016.
Liberal Democrat Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander said: "Falling oil prices act like a giant tax cut to the economy and will further boost our already established recovery.

"Consumers felt the pain when oil prices were high. It's only fair that they, and the economy, should feel the full benefit when they are falling."

Meanwhile, the Confederation of British Industry said Britain's financial sector reported the biggest upsurge in business in nearly 20 years in the last three months of 2014.

Rain Newton-Smith, the CBI's director of economics, said: "The upswing in growth among financial services firms continues on a solid footing, with overall optimism, business volumes and profits up."

Deflation though is on the horizon though Hays.

Tories taking us into JAP style deflation for 25 years????

stop being an ass!
try the whole of europe currently heading for deflation

"stop being an ass" - Why stop now he's been doing it for over 10 years.

We won't have deflation except in a technical sense. To get real deflation you need prices falling across the board. We have a falling price of oil. That should reduce costs for companies. I expect that those savings will be used up by increased profit margin, reinvestment and pay rises and not falling product prices. The falling oil price should give quite a boost to the economy in general. If that boost puts more money in pockets then that will cause inflation to rise slightly.
It has all come at an ideal time for the run up to the GE.

Just in case Napoleon, Hazy, DB. missed it


In London an old priest lay dying in the hospital.



For years he had faithfully served the people of the nation's capital.



He motioned for his nurse to come near.

"Yes, Father?" said the nurse.

"I would really like to see the Prime Minister and the Treasurer

before I die", whispered the priest.

"I'll see what I can do, Father", replied the nurse.

The nurse sent the request to Parliament and waited for a response.

Soon the word arrived; Prime Minister David Camoran and Treasurer

George Osbourne would be delighted to visit the priest.

As they went to the hospital, David commented to George, "I don't

know why the old priest wants to see us, but it will certainly will

help our images and might even get me re-elected Prime Minister. After

all, I need a ratings boost



George agreed that it was a good thing.

When they arrived at the priest's room, the priest took David's hand

in his right hand and George's hand in his left.

There was silence and a look of serenity on the old priest's face.

Finally David Camoron spoke. "Father, of all the people you could have

chosen, why did you choose us to be with you as you near the end?"



The old priest slowly replied, "I have always tried to pattern my life

after that of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

"Amen", said David. "Amen", said George.

The old priest continued, "Jesus died between two lying thieving

b%st*rds; I would like to do the same

Did anyone see Sunday Politics? There was an item where Miliband was shown eating the famous bacon sandwich. The comment was "the way Ed Miliband was eating a bacon sandwich compared to a normal person".

That really sums him up!

"compared to a normal person".

Haze,

What stunted you in early childhood?

didn't see it but sounds something like the way the nazis portrayed and caricatured the jews

cynic
I am not clear what you are implying. If you are talking about Miliband then it is just a caricature of a single person. What surprised me was the casual use of the implication that Miliband is not normal. It does seem to be a widely held belief.

so the nazis said of the jews

Full story of Ed Milliband first buying the bacon sandwich and then deciding on the addition of tomato sauce to it and then scoffing it down like wot good potential Jewish Prime Ministers do - particularly the ones who have stitched their own brother up. (Sorry, that should not be in the plural because, as far as we are aware, he is the only one who ever did that!):

HERE

So that's three massive errors:

1. Jewish guys shouldn't eat bacon sandwiches. The pig is an 'unclean animal' and to do so is famously recognised as being against Jewish teachings.
2. Jewish family members are normally morally above stitching up their own family members (although the Bible does tell us about a few of them).
3. Prime Ministers don't don't scoff their food down. They behave with decorum at all times - particularly when cameras are around.
4. Adding all that up, one has to ask one's self, "Can you trust this guy?" The answer is clearly, "Not really!"

So the Nazis said of the disabled, gypsies, homosexuals etc. I don't see a connection between the TV program and a bunch of megalomaniac psychopaths.

What I am interested in, is that the Sunday Politics is seemingly reflecting a wider view that Miliband is not normal. That the program could take that stance is quite surprising irrespective of whether it is true or not.

Cynic,

What is your opinion?

--=-=-=-=

Is part of the outrage that Netanyahu is whipping up due to seeking a diversion from?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/palestinianauthority/11351242/International-Criminal-Court-opens-investigation-into-war-crimes-against-Palestinians.html

International Criminal Court opens investigation into war crimes against Palestinians

The move comes after Palestinians formally joined the ICC earlier this month, a move condemned by Israel and the US

The International Criminal Court's prosecutor on Friday opened a preliminary probe into possible war crimes committed against Palestinians, including during last year's Gaza war.

Fatou Bensouda said her office would conduct its "analysis in full independence and impartiality".

Her decision comes after Palestinians formally joined the ICC earlier this month allowing it to lodge war crimes and crimes against humanity complaints against Israel as of April.

At the same time, the Palestinians also recognised the ICC's jurisdiction retroactively, to cover the period during last summer's war in Gaza that killed nearly 2,200 Palestinians and 73 Israelis.

"A preliminary examination is not an investigation but a process of examining the information available in order to reach a fully informed determination on whether there is a reasonable basis to proceed with a (full) investigation," Ms Bensouda said.


==========

Perhaps Cynic will you answer the question.#


2000 Palestinians were supposed to be killed and 73 Israelis




Both Israel and the US have condemned the plan, with Washington calling it "counterproductive".

I wonder what is being "counter productive" against,

PS.

I have had Jewish friends who enjoyed Bacon sandwiches and ate pork sausages with smiles on their faces.

Quite happy for others to hold to the beliefs, but content with their own on pigs.

I would think a lot of food "taboos" have a base in self-protection. Ie in case of pork Tape worms.

Centrica the latest to reduce gas prices.
A few more quid added to food and fuel savings will help the consumer, with prices and wages going in the right direction the consumer may well decide to stick with the Tories and the improving economy, especially in view of the 2 Eds latest reported shenanigans.
2517

Execline
Miliband's Jewishness is not relevant. He is an atheist and not a practising Jew. He is regularly attacked by Israel and prominent UK Jews for his support for Palestine. I went to school in Stamford Hill, which is one of the most Jewish areas in Europe. The majority of my Jewish friends eat bacon sandwiches as do my Muslim friends. I don't think you can attack him for not following Jewish dietary rules.