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.

Thanks for the trading tip, Hils.

On Donald Trump, who is doing well in the USA's Republican Presidential polls....

I think Trump is a potential political disaster waiting to happen and is someone who has the capability to maybe start a 'nuclear' WWIII.

However, Trump does speak his mind and you get it straight from the heart

A lot of people might care what Gene Simmons has to say about Trump. I'm a fan of his (Gene's) and he certainly does have his head screwed on the right way round, so here's what it is (By the way, like Gene, I'm a Hilary voter):

Wan`t Gene Simmons married to Stewart Grainger, must have been one of the earliest of such?

Spoiled Son Sets Fire To Gifted Ferrari In Order To Upgrade To New Model

In a bizarre case out of Europe, a 20-year-old Swiss man reportedly set fire to a Ferrari 458 Italia given to him by his father in a half-baked scheme to use the insurance money to upgrade to a new model. Incredibly, the spoiled brat is said to have had 14 other cars (including a Lamborghini) at his disposal in addition to a property portfolio worth close to $30 million and a monthly allowance that fluctuated between $5,000 and $10,000.

As Swiss publication 20 Minutes first reported, the 20-year-old in March of 2014 visited a dealership to get his car valued so that he could trade it in for a new model, possibly the 458 Speciale which went on sale about then. The quote he received was $193,500, which wasn’t enough to cover the cost of the new model.

It’s alleged the man was short of funds at the time so one of the dealers suggested he destroy his car in order to claim the insurance value, which presumably was higher than the quoted value. Three accomplices were recruited, including a person working at the dealership, and to avoid suspicion the group crossed the border into Germany to do the dirty deed.

Once they found a quiet area, the 20-year-old and one of the accomplices visited a massage parlor while the other two set fire to the car. However, security camera footage and telephone recordings led to a prompt arrest of those involved.

The information surrounding the case was divulged in court proceedings that took place last week in Augsburg, Germany, close to where the car was destroyed. The 20-year-old was sentenced to 22 months of probation and was given a fine of $33,000. The accomplices received probations of between 14 and 16 months each. In court, the 20-year-old said he didn’t have the courage to tell his father that he no longer liked his gifted Ferrari.

Julian Assange will be cleared of his sex assault charges next week as they expire after 5 years under Swedish law.

ICM have released their August poll for the Guardian. Topline voting intention figures are

CON 40%, LAB 31%, LDEM 7%, UKIP 10%, GRN 4%

So 60% don't want the torrid party!

That's right Fred!

And 69% don't want labour (old or nu)

I know.

That is why I hoped for a coalition Gov.

Can't remember.

How many conned themselves and voted neo-faragist?

They don't want any of them Fred, no one can command a simple majority.

From http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/labour/11797857/Jeremy-Corbyn-will-be-ousted-on-day-one-as-leader-Labour-MP-Simon-Danczuk-warns.html

Jeremy Corbyn will be ousted 'on day one' as leader, Labour MP Simon Danczuk warns

Simon Danczuk warns of coup if Jeremy Corbyn wins as Labour extends deadline for people wishing to vote in leadership contest after website crashes
by Michael Wilkinson Aug. 12, 2015
2:00PM BST

Can Labour really be serious about this guy?


Jeremy Corbyn's supporters have flooded into Labour's voter registration Photo: PA
A plot to oust Jeremy Corbyn will be launched “on day one” if he becomes leader, Labour MP Simon Danczuk has warned.

Mr Danczuk said Labour’s parliamentary group would “not put up” with the “crazy left-wing policies” set out by Mr Corbyn.

Asked by LBC if a plot to depose Mr Corbyn would begin “on day one”, he said: “Yeah, if not before. As soon as the result comes out.”


Labour MP for Rochdale, Simon DanczukSimon Danczuk warns MPs will oust Jeremy Corbyn as leader Photo: Paul Cousans/ZENPIX

He said: "Am I going to put up with some crazy left wing policies that he is putting forward and traipse through the voting lobby to support him? It's not going to happen is it? So I would give him about twelve months if he does become leader."

Labour’s leadership contest was thrown into disarray today after the party admitted that thousands of supporters would not be able to cast their vote until it had determined they are not an infiltrator.

Party bosses were forced to extend the deadline for voter registrations by three hours today after Labour’s website crashed repeatedly.

If you are trying to register as a supporter and are experiencing difficulties, the deadline has been extended to 3pm if you want to vote.

— The Labour Party (@UKLabour) August 12, 2015
A flurry of last-minute applications to become registered supporters, thought to have mainly come from Jeremy Corbyn’s backers, may have led to the crash.

Labour's voting registration website crashed hours before deadlineLabour's voting registration website crashed hours before deadline

Senior Labour MPs have called for the election to be halted after it emerged that 1,200 “entryists” from other parties had had their applications weeded out. A further 800 were under investigation.

Labour revealed on Tuesday that 88,000 people who had registered to vote had not yet been vetted.

How Labour's registered voters for the leadership contest compare to before the General Election

Eligible voters
Members (May 2015) 201,000
TOTAL VOTERS (August 2015) 444,000
Full members (August 2015) 282,000
Union affiliates (August 2015) 92,000
Supporters (August 2015) 70,000

Since the election 92,000 "affiliate" voters have signed up through unions – with 70,000 of them still awaiting vetting – and of the 70,000 new registered supporters, some 10,000 are still awaiting vetting. There are 8,000 of the party's 82,000 new full members also awaiting checks.

Scale of Labour's massive task of approving members, affiliates and supporters

Type of voter Approved Awaiting approval
Full member 282,000 8,000
Union affiliate 92,000 70,000
Registered supporter 70,000 10,000

A Labour spokesman told The Telegraph that it would not issue votes to registered supporters who signed up by text message until they had been spoken to personally. The party is also ploughing its way through listening to 50,000 recorded phone calls with affiliate supporters from unions before permitting them to vote, he said.

The spokesman added: “There was some suggestion that this system would not stand up but we are putting in the work. It is doable and it is being done.

“I am fully confident we will get through everyone.”

A surge in applications in the final few hours will add to fears that infiltrators from far Left organisations, the Tories, Ukip and Greens could slip through the net.

The party has enlisted 48 workers in its Newcastle office, 30 in its London headquarters and regional officials to help root out more.

The lengthy task of removing infiltrators raises the prospect that some people may only receive their electronic ballot papers just days before the poll closes on September 10.

Labour has not yet revealed how many people signed up in the final hours.

But supporters of Mr Corbyn’s campaign took to social media in their droves to say they had been attempting to register unsuccessfully.

Facebook user Sasha Clarkson said that Labour's staff "must be overwhelmed", while Amarie Elidor said: "Texted last week and not called yet."

Eva Hartley said: "I signed up as a supporter last week and paid my £3. Had an email saying I would be contacted again once my application had been processed but have heard nothing since."

Ann Giacomini simply said: "Can't join, message says bad error", while Clare Williams said: "Website is overburdened and has crashed. I've tried it several times, but no luck."

Other people complained that Labour's process of comparing the applicant's name with their name on the electoral register was adding further complications.

Reuben Jancovich, one supporter who did receive a phone call to verify his application, criticised the "interrogation" he received.

Mr Jancovich said: "Received a phone call today which was more like an interrogation. Why did I sign up as a supporter? Was I motivated by the party's ideals or because I wanted to vote in the leadership election? Did I already have a candidate in mind I wanted to vote for when I signed up. Am I or have I ever been a member or supporter of another party? Who did I vote for at the last election? What is this? McCarthyism?"

Few friends struggling to sign up for #Labour, website says 'bad gateway'. Je suis suspicious #illuminati

— amy corrigan (@AmyIV) August 12, 2015
@Rezeeb Hmm deadline for joining Labour to vote in leadership election is 12pm, and signup form seems to be broken.

— NotInventedHere (@NotInventedHere) August 12, 2015
So many left-wing voters rushed to rejoin the labour party the registr website crashed. Labour shuffles feet uncomfortably in the attention.

— Jack (@CartesianDaemon) August 12, 2015
@UKLabour Sorry Labour, but after the 8th attempt at registering to vote for our new leader, this member has given up. Poignant I feel.

— Pete Gillespie (@tameblue) August 12, 2015
As the voting registration drew to a close, Mr Corbyn's popularity shows no sign of letting up, with a YouGov poll on Tuesday giving him 53 per cent of support.

Labour leadership candidates and YouGov's August 11 pollingThis week's YouGov polling for Jeremy Corbyn, Andy Burnham, Yvette Cooper and Liz Kendall

But two thirds of Labour’s front bench roles would be left unfilled if Jeremy Corbyn wins the leadership because MPs will refuse to back his policies, shadow cabinet ministers have told The Telegraph.

As few as 30 MPs would be willing to sign up to take jobs under Mr Corbyn in a move that would effectively stop the party functioning as an opposition, senior figures have warned.

It would leave dozens of shadow ministerial positions empty – giving the Tories free reign to push ahead with reforms unopposed in the Commons as Labour disintegrates into internal bickering.

Shadow cabinet ministers have said it would leave Labour in a “laughable” position with Mr Corbyn’s leadership amounting to “an end of the party as we know it”.

It is to see that our hardworking prime a minister is having a well earned holiday in the Algarve after keeping his promises on immigration and jobs for the boys.

Nobody government minister could be found for Channel 4news or BBC.

No wonder the tories want to privatise the BBC.

=-=-=-=-=


Also, I forgot he is reassuring the Portuguese and trying to get an ally for further
negotiations on the EU.

What a crew.

With ministers like the present one, government may be better without a cabinet!

Blair Warns His Party of 'Annihilation'
LONDON — Aug 13, 2015, 5:05 AM ET
Associated Press

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair says his party faces "annihilation" should Labour elect far-left lawmaker Jeremy Corbyn as its leader.

Writing in the Guardian on Thursday, Blair urged the party to reject Corbyn, who leads opinion polls and has alarmed centrists with calls to renationalize some industries and withdraw from NATO.

Blair says the contest is no longer just about choosing the next leader — it's about whether Labour will remain a viable party of government.

"If Jeremy Corbyn becomes leader it won't be a defeat like 1983 or 2015 at the next election," Blair wrote. "It will mean rout, possibly annihilation."

Acknowledging that he is a divisive figure, Blair says Labour supporters should reject Corbyn "whether you used to support me or hate me."

A mole in sheep's clothing!

A record number of students have been accepted into university this year. The higher fees do not seem to have dissuaded people.

Whot know cartoon?

Hays,

The effects of University "fees" and "sustenance" changes will not be fully realised, or felt for 3-4 years.

A year before the next election?