Brian Barnard
@brianbarnard.bsky.social
Ex-university administrator. Chelsea fan since 1956. Arts lover. Europhile. Believe in rule of law, but tempered by morality.
She probably pleaded guilty on the advice of her lawyers after they assessed the strength of the case against her. Her sentence, severe as it was, included a discount for pleading guilty.
August 16, 2025 at 3:06 AM
She probably pleaded guilty on the advice of her lawyers after they assessed the strength of the case against her. Her sentence, severe as it was, included a discount for pleading guilty.
Reposted by Brian Barnard
US troops out of Europe wd be Putin's wish come true. I don't know if US pays rent for its bases. If they do it shd be at least tripled. And the 5 Eyes intelligence network cd start charging the US if the US generals and CIA don't want it to become 4 Eyes. Tactics Trump wd understand.
February 16, 2025 at 6:01 PM
US troops out of Europe wd be Putin's wish come true. I don't know if US pays rent for its bases. If they do it shd be at least tripled. And the 5 Eyes intelligence network cd start charging the US if the US generals and CIA don't want it to become 4 Eyes. Tactics Trump wd understand.
It's being openly suggested that 'walking away' could mean withdrawing from NATO (or threatening to). That would raise the serious question of what the US military top brass would do. A discreet revolt by the generals is not impossible, with uncalculable results for the Trump presidency.
February 16, 2025 at 5:30 PM
It's being openly suggested that 'walking away' could mean withdrawing from NATO (or threatening to). That would raise the serious question of what the US military top brass would do. A discreet revolt by the generals is not impossible, with uncalculable results for the Trump presidency.
I respectfully demur. My pension is paid from a pension fund with shares in Thames Water. As a STW customer I suspect I'm already getting shit from my tap. I have no say in the matter and don't want it in my pension as well. More complex than just 'greedy' shareholders.
January 28, 2025 at 1:01 PM
I respectfully demur. My pension is paid from a pension fund with shares in Thames Water. As a STW customer I suspect I'm already getting shit from my tap. I have no say in the matter and don't want it in my pension as well. More complex than just 'greedy' shareholders.
Unfortunately I'm compromised as I'm retired & my pension scheme is a shareholder in Thames Water & I have no say in the matter.
Did Labour in opposition whisper something about need to renationalise water, or did I imagine that?
Did Labour in opposition whisper something about need to renationalise water, or did I imagine that?
January 28, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Unfortunately I'm compromised as I'm retired & my pension scheme is a shareholder in Thames Water & I have no say in the matter.
Did Labour in opposition whisper something about need to renationalise water, or did I imagine that?
Did Labour in opposition whisper something about need to renationalise water, or did I imagine that?
STW customer here. BBC revealed it created a £30bn subsidiary out of thin air by internal IOU & interest payments to boost its balance sheet, so it cd maintain high dividends. CEO is highest paid in industry. Reward for hard work in creative accounting and pulling wool over regulator's eyes.
January 28, 2025 at 12:43 PM
STW customer here. BBC revealed it created a £30bn subsidiary out of thin air by internal IOU & interest payments to boost its balance sheet, so it cd maintain high dividends. CEO is highest paid in industry. Reward for hard work in creative accounting and pulling wool over regulator's eyes.
That's my point. Gives them voice in parliament, tick, but anti-populist coalitions just continue grievances. Elites naively think can let populists in & then 'control' them. History says not, populism is essentially revolutionary. Dilemma. Removing root causes seems only answer, I think.
January 28, 2025 at 7:34 AM
That's my point. Gives them voice in parliament, tick, but anti-populist coalitions just continue grievances. Elites naively think can let populists in & then 'control' them. History says not, populism is essentially revolutionary. Dilemma. Removing root causes seems only answer, I think.
Not just Maresca, all of us do. Sanchez makes brilliant saves ... and brain-dead passes to his defenders within a few seconds of each other. Part of the problem is Maresca's obsession with working from the back even when a gk's quick long kick upfield would be the best attacking option.
January 25, 2025 at 8:07 AM
Not just Maresca, all of us do. Sanchez makes brilliant saves ... and brain-dead passes to his defenders within a few seconds of each other. Part of the problem is Maresca's obsession with working from the back even when a gk's quick long kick upfield would be the best attacking option.
Congratulations -- and belated thanks for your clear explanations of the law (esp the covid regs) for lay people like me.
January 25, 2025 at 7:35 AM
Congratulations -- and belated thanks for your clear explanations of the law (esp the covid regs) for lay people like me.