sadoldgit

Last night Question Time came from Liverpool. Liverpool returned more Labour MPs than Tories. Because of the current political landscape they selection more Tory supporters in the audience. WTF? Here’s a thought BBC. If you don’t want to be accused of biased, when selecting audiences for Question Time why not select a cross section of views for balance rather than load it in favour of one party?

Yes. Why not?

Who’d have thought a Tory would unashamedly display an I’m alright Jack attitude. Do you have any kids or grandkids Duckie?

As much as I want and expect to see Johnson cock up Brexit part of me is hoping that it is a success. I have three children in their early 20’s, 2 in uni and 1 graduated last year and if the Tories continue to make a pigs ear of running the UK as they have done for the last decade I fear for their futures.

It got a bit fiesty one question time last night when someone described the criticism against MM as racism. I have read of lot of critical articles against her but wouldn’t describe them as racist. The press have certainly taken against her but I think that has more to do with her behaviour than the colour of her skin.

I love you too Whelk. Kathy Bates has joined the fray today by saying that there are no parts in for “beautiful women over the age of 40.” Hollywood only seems interested in making comic book movies nowadays. There are some really good films being produced elsewhere so perhaps the whole Hollywoodcentric thing is dying off anyway.

It sounds like the preferred candidate will not be available until the summer. As for new players, due to recent improvement in results and form, do you think that perhaps we don’t need to panic now? We all know that it is harder and more expensive to recruit in January. If Ralph has decided that he thinks this squad is ok until summer, better to wait until then instead of possibly getting stuck with more average players.

We probably won’t. But European nations have been a lot closer since the formation Common Market and the EU. Moves back to nationalism and all that follows with pursuing national interests takes us right back to times when conflict of interests can lead to instability. The more tribes you have the greater the chances of tribal conflict.

Planned? I was just curious about what people thought about what has been said recently re the Oscars and the criticism that Stephen King has received over his comments. Cracked it? Hardly. Any sensible thoughts or are you just doing a Batman?

I think there are two issues here. I agree that the prejudice doesn’t seem to effect the choice of winners. You can only vote for what’s in front of you. Where the problem seems to lie in is opportunities to direct the biggest movies, have movies made, have screenplays accepted etc. A studio isn’t going to give their latest potential blockbuster to someone lower down the food chain so you can see where the glass ceiling comes from. When no one comments on a black person or a woman being nominated because it is the norm (because there are plenty to choose from) then we know we have cracked it. If people progress in the film industry (or anywhere) should be because they have ability. If you constantly have a procession of white males on the ballot forms you can see why diversity is called into question.

It’s never good to go into a negotiation with a party that knows you are desperate to buy. Maybe it is just poker face?

Given that the nuclear deterrent did stop Argentina invading the Falklands, didn’t stop the ethnic cleansing in Eastern Europe and has had no effect on the conflicts in the Middle East, I don’t have a great deal of faith in the MAD concept. Would you expect anyone in Europe to launch nuclear weapons next door to themselves?

It was a tongue in cheek remark, but I do wish that peace was contagious. We have been very lucky to live in relatively peaceful times (for us). The world is shrinking all the time and narrow, introspective thinking of the 19th century no longer serves us in the 21st century. It makes more sense to work more closely with our neighbours (and I mean that for all European countries) than it does to go back to the self interests of nationalism. The EU may not be perefect, but it is far better for us all than that old system of alliances that not only divided us, but brought about devastation across Europe and beyond.

The last thing we need is yet another bang average bench warmer. It makes sense to wait if the right player isn’t available right now.

That’s where I have been going wrong!!

You don’t believe that the EU has contributed to the outbreak of peace in Europe since 1945 then?

What will be unsustainable will be dozens of countries thinking that they can go it alone like us when they are already in the second largest market in the world. It is in everyone’s interest to see that it works, including ours.

Starmer with his QC background would give Johnson the toughest time but Labour could well be suckered into elected someone just because they have ovaries and a northern accent. Elect the best person for the job and stop ticking boxes.

Back in the mid 70’s the changing room would be full of clouds of the stuff after a match. After one game a team mate mentioned that he had stopped using it because of the threat of cancer. I didn’t look into the veracity of his claim but never used it again myself.

Apparently not!

It’s kicked off again. Another year at the Oscars, another row about lack of diversity. Stephen King made what seemed to be a reasonable remark about art and diversity and has been pilloried for it. Why should it matter who made the film? If the best films are up for an Oscar and the best one wins it (given that choices are always going to be subjective) what does it matter what gender or what colour the director is? Perhaps they should have a male/female category for directors as they do for actors? Perhaps they should just let normal cimemagoers vote instead of academy members? Maybe they should just do away with awards all together? Instead of being a celebration of the cinema it just seems to end up being an excuse for a row nowadays.

I stopped using it way back in the 70’s when someone told me it caused cancer. I decided that I would rather get chaffing.

Whenever I have had a pop at them you usually pitch up to defend them. You spend a lot of time defending people of a far right persuasion. Got any names of people I have called a racist yet? You are in danger of becoming more like poor old Batman who has finally lost the plot.

Why are you so protective of racists? You are the same with Katie Hopkins and Tommy Robinson too. Anyone would think you were an alt right supporter. Who have I called a racist?