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.

R999

I don't think anyone saw the 'black hole' approaching, otherwise the country wouldn't be in the mess we are now. The carriers and all other defence projects were predicated upon the strategic vision at the time (we're talking some years ago). The RN service chiefs believed (and still do) that the CVS project is critical to the future shape of the Navy. Procurement is certainly a complicated business and Grand Strategic planning is always going to be flawed by the lack of a crystal ball.

Also, I don't think build quality will be any more of a problem now than it ever has been Greek, I doubt the Yards that are constructing each bit of the ships are too worried where they might end up and your final comment is entirely correct.

Defending overseas safe havens!

Just read a report where the general opinion given by the forces hierarchy and leading politician are convinced that if we have another Falklands incident, we would not be able to defend the Islands. I appreciate that they have their own agendas, thereby putting a bias on their thinking, but can anyone see how the hell we could defend another attack anywhere near the scale of the last one.
I wonder what the Argies are thinking. Probably rubbing their hands with glee, thinking 'oil lots of oil, which is probably many times value of the total defense budget.
And to say that we would be relying on the French to supply aircraft in the event of our future carriers requirements is living in plain cloud cuckoo land.
When have we ever been able to rely on France to come to our aid.
France put themselves, first, second and last. Perhaps we should.
We should have drastically cut overseas aid instead of cutting our defense budget so drastically. Remember much of this aid goes to countries who have a nuclear bomb capability. They put their defense above the care of their people. We put the care of their people above our defense.
How can that make sense.
Also remember that a vast amount of the aid never reaches those to whom it is intended.
It's about time we stopped playing the rich uncle, when we are often looked at by those countries we assist with disdain and hate.

That's my boy!



So it's "All friends once again". Isn't it nice to see everything's turned out well in the end?

It could be that Rooney will be put on a basic of 150k -160k a week but will more than double that figure through image rights.

Hmmm? I think they've missed their chance. I could have played as well as that for them for 1,000 per week and only on a 1 year contract.

Good.

About time we realised we are attempting to punch above our weight.

It would seem a sensible time to become a full member of the EU.

But I guess they wouldn't want England.

Looking at the picture, anyone else think that Alex is Rooney's dad.

Come on son, on me ead

pth, when you think that 30odd billion in the defence budget was unfunded someone must have known about the shortfall. That amount of money is not pocket change even to the last gov.

If (when) the argies want to try again for the falklands we will truly see how the US views our special relationship.

Wifey is postulating that Alex Ferguson and Rooney might have actually conspired together against with a view to getting Rooney's pay increased to a sum, which was substantially more than the 90k per week he was currently getting.

Makes a bit of sense, too. Although, it does seem to be a quite far-fetched scheme.

Sir Alex could not have been seen to take a stance against 'Gill and/or the Glazers' beforehand. And yet Rooney's pay, in comparison with the pay of others, did seem to be on the low side. So there was the nub: "How to do something about it?"

In the last punch-up, it was the Argy Etendards(french),
armed with Exocets,(progammed into our navy detection
as nato friendly) that did our ships in.
A commando raid to their base in the south
fixed their wagon.
With Astute hanging around(when they get it of the scottish seabed)
seaborne seems unlikely and
I don't think they have ability to do an airborne invasion.

Forces chefs are saying that if the Argies wanted they could occupy the Falklands and I quote, 'without a shot being fired', and with little to no risk of any military action being taken against them. And with a possible multi billion pounds of oil deposits, it must be a false economic move to deplete of forces budget so drastically.
I intend to take these matter up with our local Conservative MP later today. It will at least give me a chance to vent my strong opinion on this, along with the increased overseas aid budget.

I think many in America are more afraid of China's economic and IT strength, than the their nuclear armaments and aircraft carriers.

We are still seem to be talking "caveman" on a little island.

Sign over a Gynecologist's Office:

"Dr. Jones, at your cervix."




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In a Podiatrist's office:

"Time wounds all heels."

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On a Septic Tank Truck:

Yesterday's Meals on Wheels

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At a Proctologist's door:

"To expedite your visit, please back in. "

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On a Plumber's truck:

"We repair what your husband fixed."

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On another Plumber's truck:

"Don't sleep with a drip. Call your plumber."

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On a Church's Bill board:

"7 days without God makes one weak."

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At a Tyre Shop in :

"Invite us to your next blowout."

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At a Towing company:

"We don't charge an arm and a leg. We want tows.."

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On an Electrician's truck:

"Let us remove your shorts."

******** ******************

In a Nonsmoking A rea:

"If we see smoke, we will assume you are on fire and take appropriate action."

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On a Maternity Room door:

"Push. Push. Push."

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At an Optometrist's Office:

"If you don't see what you're looking for, you've come to the right place."

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On a Taxidermist's window:

"We really know our stuff."

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On a Fence:

"Salesmen welcome! Dog food is expensive!"

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At a Car Dealership:

"The best way to get back on your feet - miss a car payment."

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Outside a Muffler Shop:

"No appointment necessary. We hear you coming.."

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In a Veterinarian's waiting room:

"Be back in 5 minutes. Sit! Stay!"

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At the Electric Company

"We would be delighted if you send in your payment.

However, if you don't, you will be."

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In a Restaurant window:

"Don't stand there and be hungry; come on in and get fed up."

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In the front yard of a Funeral Home:

"Drive carefully. We'll wait."

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At a Propane Filling Station:

"Thank heaven for little grills."

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And don't forget the sign at a

RADIATOR SHOP:

"Best place in town to take a leak."

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Sign on the back of another Septic Tank Truck:

"Caution - This Truck is full of Labour Party Promises and Guardian leaders"

the overseas aid budget should be axed and the money put into the defence budget.

Caution - This Truck is full of Labour Party Promises and Guardian leaders"


In view of Porky's recent budget proposals, I would suggest the truck should be renamed.

===========

Is there a level of paranoia behind your suggestion?

Renamed what Fred ?

How about,

The George Porky's bus!

""Under new management of Nick and Dave."

Terminus Chaos.

Fred

Do you think foreign aid should be cut back ?

Edited for ADL
=---

No, in general.

Much of what is paid out, is in lieu of hoped for future (private company) contracts. (Often, this is a form of bribery and corrupting, or used corruptly.)

But, I do think that the payments should be traceable from the source to the recipient.

If the payments are not going to the intended source, or "cause", or being misappropriate, then in general, it would be sensible to cease such payments.

The devil is in knowing which are which, and the damage which can follow the "cutting" the inappropriate.

This form of evaluation could be applied to "private initiative" payments to various industry and small companies in this country.

Some of the donations are appropriated and reasonable to give, but these "donations" also need suitable overseeing as how they are being used. (These are donations from the "state" to private enterprise) and I would think these are opened to abuse and wastage in these areas could also be reduced.

=============

There is abuses in use of Wealthfare and NHS funding etc., I think these should be exposed or "reveal" and prevented from continuing.

But when you consider the false claims for expenses by made by MPS
(some ministers) and that many will receive only a minor rap on the knuckles, I think the stances of many order paper shaking members of the HP is laughable.

The scatter gun attack of this present government in its said attempts to reduce inappropriate claims etc, is likely to be neither fair, and is nor are they reality based. I think, it is based on blind unthinking ideology. I am not sure of the consequences of such action.

But the "harmony", built over the last century in this country, with its "reasonable" standards of social law and order and improving standards of "mutual care", may be opening to be fractionalised by some of the proposed changes or their implementation.

==================================

How many weeks of the year do MPS sit in the HPs?
I know they have other areas of work.

Some may have the odd board meeting, the chambers, or even exploratory trips abroad.

Judge their poor pay against somebody on disability benefit.

Have a good weekend. 8-)

Much of what is paid out is in lieu of hope for, future (private company) contracts.

Then the Chinese come along and say we are not interested about your human right's abuse we just want to invest in your country, ok then you can have the contract's

ALD,

Edited previous post.

Confusion over my lamb in the oven.

Superficially the "aid" to somewhere in China seems a little bizarre.

But can you tell me where the aid is suppose to be going.

If it is for "cultural education", for English/Welsh Language schools.

For help to social medicine in "poorer" areas.

Improvement in communication skills, etc.

I wouldn't be too unhappy.

Depends on how much and what are the benefits.

========
PS.

A long time ago, we had a Chinese student in this country who acted
for a short period as a intermittent baby sitter.

My children adopted her and in a short while she moved in with us. (No payments, our house often seemed to perform the same function as a hotel.). Made her a member of he club which we as a family used or belonged to, and passed off as a daughter of mine from a previous marriage.

(My children went along with story and it was fascinating to hear the rumours, which were spread when it was leaked.)

I thought the "aid" we gave to the student was well spent and handsomely repaid over time.

I think suitable addressed aid can be mutually beneficial.