pap

Good signing for us, although watching the armchair football managers pretend they'd know what the fúck to do with £12m was a grim spectacle to see. Very different types of threat going forward now, which could be very interesting. Welcome aboard, Mr Long.

Been on the radar for yonks. His name comes up almost every time a new person set to be named.

I'm not sure that "democracy" (the package) is something that we should be trying to export to places that may not be ready for it. I'm with Russell Brand on the voting thing; I'm not sure it has much practical consequence. It's all neo-liberal, all the time. Mileage varies around the world. The most important thing about established democratic countries is freedom of speech and the right of protest. I'm not sure that you can just "give" these concepts to people, particularly if they have lived under a dictatorship, or already moderate themselves on the basis of cultural consideration. The West was never really interested in promoting democracy in Iraq, just creating enough tension to reap the benefits of the invasion. That's why we were training death squads, and perhaps why the British army had to attack a police station with a tank, after two SAS operatives, dressed as Arabs and going around planting bombs, were arrested by Iraqi locals. ISIS probably aren't the answer for nation building, but saying that, I don't know what the answer is. The West has acted in poor faith throughout, and has helped to hand much of the Islamic world to extremists, in many cases funding them via proxy. I wouldn't be at all surprised to learn that ISIS was an intelligence operation. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/mar/08/west-training-syrian-rebels-jordan http://republicbroadcasting.org/blowback-u-s-trained-isis-at-secret-jordan-base/

Yeah, that'd be the pity of letting much of our manufacturing go overseas, with the notable exception of military industrial. If all you've got to sell is weapons, fair chance your customers might be a bit dodgy. Oil doesn't hurt either.

We already do support dictators, rather hypocritically. I really liked all the "Russia is anti-gay" stuff in the media, when a law was passed making it illegal to promote homosexual lifestyles to children. Homosexuality carries the death penalty in Saudi Arabia. The dictators that run that country have been our allies for decades, and they are not the only autocracy we're mates with. You don't see much press about their intolerance.

ISIS wouldn't exist without the dismantling of the Iraqi state. We could have been dealing with one dictator quite happy to dictate within his own borders. See also: Libya.

Was quite lucky; Juvenile Unit #1's mates are all quite swotty. They all got into their first choices too - one of them is going to Cambridge. Bit more worried about Juvenile Unit #2, as despite being academic, she does cheer-leading and has mates with different priorities. I think #1 is secretly bricking it about moving to London.

World was really dangerous with Saddam about, wasn't it?

She needed 3 A's. My particular motivation in this instance was to put on my best 'Ampshire accent and say "there's no fkn way you'll get those grades!!!" early on. She knew it was crappy reverse psychology (she was doing the subject, FFS!). All things are now known. She got her grades and her first choice place.

What, and be like this? Nah, ta.

A Level results out today. Anyone else bricking it on behalf of a kid they know? Juvenile Unit #1 is off to pick hers up now-ish.

Not permanent, apparently. http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-08-13-microsoft-confirms-rise-of-the-tomb-raider-xbox-exclusivity-deal-has-a-duration Looks to be exclusive for the Holiday 2015 period. Should be out on other consoles afterwards.

Better late than never in this case, though. First season is 13 years old, but it still had the Southampton clan chuckling into the wee hours. Kicks off really well with Cyrus

He doesn't need to answer your strawman nonsense, Charlie. His initial point was already constrained to Israel and Gazans, and the likely US action if the ratio of Israel/Gazan casualties were reversed. When he said "the darker coloured of the two races", I'm sure he was only referring to the "two races" in the Israel/Gazan conflict. It's not like he wrote a novel either. I expect he's just confused at how someone is able to take his very specific point and turn it into an argument that he, or indeed no-one else, has made. Your responses look like those of a exam student that didn't read the question properly.

Couple of other bits and pieces. In the world of live entertainment, a lot of big names are pulling out of planned performances in Israel. Few have cited political reasons for doing so; it's mostly on the grounds of safety and insurance, etc. http://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2014/08/11/cancelled-israeli-concerts-have-cost-the-industry-20-million/ The other news is from Hollywood. Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz signed an open letter along with other high profile Spaniards, calling for stronger action from the EU and using the word genocide to describe proceedings:- http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/penelope-cruz-and-javier-bardem-sign-open-letter-condemning-israel-for-genocide-in-gaza-9637188.html Strongly rumoured that they'll be blacklisted for speaking out. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/cruz-and-bardem-face-fury-of-hollywood-following-genocide-letter-condemning-israel-9659707.html

Be careful what you wish for. One man's relief is another's pain.

Stop the War UK have done an excellent job of not only promoting the Gazan cause, but also defusing any of the nastier charges that have been levelled at supporters. This piece enumerates a list of quotes from famous Jews that oppose Israel. A few tasters. http://stopwar.org.uk/news/from-albert-einstein-to-noam-chomsky-famous-jews-who-have-opposed-israel#.U-s2Q_ldXcg

I've been watching Trailer Park Boys, a mockumentary set on a Nova Scotia trailer park. Inexplicably, it follows the exploits of three pals that are involved in serial crime. Two of them normally get banged up at the end of each season. Ricky in particular is awesomely stupid.

If the only problem people have with the player is the money, then it's not really a problem, is it? No-one apart from the club is going to have a 12m bill land on their doorsteps.

Posted in Transfer Rumours thread:- http://www.football365.com/west-bromwich-albion/9229699/Ben-Foster-questions-West-Brom-s-decision-to-sell-Shane-Long-to-Hull-City

http://www.football365.com/west-bromwich-albion/9229699/Ben-Foster-questions-West-Brom-s-decision-to-sell-Shane-Long-to-Hull-City

Long was highly thought of at WBA. Form dipped when tensions arose over contract situation. Might not have been settled up north either. Possibly a good player that needs a fresh start.

So far, there's no indication that it's timed. It'll give prospective buyers long-term confidence. Forza Horizon 2 looks a much better exclusive; that's out this year, TR will be out next. Christmas system sellers.

Have you heard about this? Hamas offered a decade long truce, based on ten conditions. http://mondoweiss.net/2014/07/report-israel-conditions.html Quite reasonable, heavily reported in the Israeli press, but not something I've seen reported here. Isn't Hamas' inflexibility supposed to be the justification for these attacks? Article dated 16th July 2014.

Missed this from Alexei Sayle when the interview first came out. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4tMvefZAsw