@syllopsium.bsky.social
Yep. I know the reviewer has a point to highlight, but *this is an entertainment experience designed to make money*. It's not primarily an artistic political statement, except in passing.
You'd have more success arguing 40% for Monkey Island 2 based on the monkey puzzle, & few will agree with that.
You'd have more success arguing 40% for Monkey Island 2 based on the monkey puzzle, & few will agree with that.
November 11, 2025 at 11:11 AM
Yep. I know the reviewer has a point to highlight, but *this is an entertainment experience designed to make money*. It's not primarily an artistic political statement, except in passing.
You'd have more success arguing 40% for Monkey Island 2 based on the monkey puzzle, & few will agree with that.
You'd have more success arguing 40% for Monkey Island 2 based on the monkey puzzle, & few will agree with that.
It's nothing new, a deliberate attempt to gatekeep benefits to save money. This is also why I have an aversion to any change that requires additional bureaucracy as it will be late, inefficient, broken, and bung huge amounts of money to preying consultancies (again.
November 9, 2025 at 2:26 PM
It's nothing new, a deliberate attempt to gatekeep benefits to save money. This is also why I have an aversion to any change that requires additional bureaucracy as it will be late, inefficient, broken, and bung huge amounts of money to preying consultancies (again.
Thank you! I also feel my wellbeing is improved by this.
November 7, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Thank you! I also feel my wellbeing is improved by this.
May we have a picture of the Enhancement of Wellbeing manager, please?
November 7, 2025 at 5:29 PM
May we have a picture of the Enhancement of Wellbeing manager, please?
3/2 (I lied). Aside from 'we need more tax' I find it incredible regular revaluations are even being suggested because it will necessitate another level of bureaucracy, expense, strife, legal challenges, bungs to large consultancies, & the council trying to game valuations to increase revenue.
November 7, 2025 at 5:05 PM
3/2 (I lied). Aside from 'we need more tax' I find it incredible regular revaluations are even being suggested because it will necessitate another level of bureaucracy, expense, strife, legal challenges, bungs to large consultancies, & the council trying to game valuations to increase revenue.
2/2 It would surely be more sensible to base on surface area, number of non bathrooms or other criteria which are (hopefully) easy to track & also under the control of the homeowner. Build a conservatory or extension? Tax goes up
As opposed to buying in an area that gentrifies, & getting a big bill
As opposed to buying in an area that gentrifies, & getting a big bill
November 7, 2025 at 5:02 PM
2/2 It would surely be more sensible to base on surface area, number of non bathrooms or other criteria which are (hopefully) easy to track & also under the control of the homeowner. Build a conservatory or extension? Tax goes up
As opposed to buying in an area that gentrifies, & getting a big bill
As opposed to buying in an area that gentrifies, & getting a big bill
1/2 Is it nonsense? Unless the aim is 'get more money from the voter over time' (an entirely valid government viewpoint), tying to 1991 prices is only a problem if the 1991 valuation is incorrect, otherwise it's just a banding issue.
House price increases are largely not under the owner's control
House price increases are largely not under the owner's control
November 7, 2025 at 5:02 PM
1/2 Is it nonsense? Unless the aim is 'get more money from the voter over time' (an entirely valid government viewpoint), tying to 1991 prices is only a problem if the 1991 valuation is incorrect, otherwise it's just a banding issue.
House price increases are largely not under the owner's control
House price increases are largely not under the owner's control
Have to say I spectacularly disagree Doug, from a quick look. Several of the proposals appear to be a complete vote loser, regardless of their viewpoint.
Unfortunately I don't know enough about corporate taxation to be informed either, but it seems to be dunking on the populace to help business
Unfortunately I don't know enough about corporate taxation to be informed either, but it seems to be dunking on the populace to help business
November 7, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Have to say I spectacularly disagree Doug, from a quick look. Several of the proposals appear to be a complete vote loser, regardless of their viewpoint.
Unfortunately I don't know enough about corporate taxation to be informed either, but it seems to be dunking on the populace to help business
Unfortunately I don't know enough about corporate taxation to be informed either, but it seems to be dunking on the populace to help business
4/4 It's bollocks to disguise the reality of tax 'we need more money, reckon you can be targeted, and want to skew the rules so we keep getting more'
Change the criteria or hike up the bands. Don't punish people with something they largely can't control, such as rising property prices over time.
Change the criteria or hike up the bands. Don't punish people with something they largely can't control, such as rising property prices over time.
November 7, 2025 at 2:00 PM
4/4 It's bollocks to disguise the reality of tax 'we need more money, reckon you can be targeted, and want to skew the rules so we keep getting more'
Change the criteria or hike up the bands. Don't punish people with something they largely can't control, such as rising property prices over time.
Change the criteria or hike up the bands. Don't punish people with something they largely can't control, such as rising property prices over time.
3/4 In other words the house band is correctly valued, possibly even *over* valued. It's more valuable now *but it's the same house*.
Don't even consider re-evaluation - it's pointless, or change the whole system to rate based on rooms or usable square feet, not property price.
Don't even consider re-evaluation - it's pointless, or change the whole system to rate based on rooms or usable square feet, not property price.
November 7, 2025 at 2:00 PM
3/4 In other words the house band is correctly valued, possibly even *over* valued. It's more valuable now *but it's the same house*.
Don't even consider re-evaluation - it's pointless, or change the whole system to rate based on rooms or usable square feet, not property price.
Don't even consider re-evaluation - it's pointless, or change the whole system to rate based on rooms or usable square feet, not property price.
2/4 Yes, fortunate! About 2 years before prices started really going upwards.
Council tax bands are based on property values as of 1991. These aren't easily available online, but I can find figures for 1995.
Semi detached, 1995 in my area, 50K. Inside the Band B I've been placed in.
Council tax bands are based on property values as of 1991. These aren't easily available online, but I can find figures for 1995.
Semi detached, 1995 in my area, 50K. Inside the Band B I've been placed in.
November 7, 2025 at 2:00 PM
2/4 Yes, fortunate! About 2 years before prices started really going upwards.
Council tax bands are based on property values as of 1991. These aren't easily available online, but I can find figures for 1995.
Semi detached, 1995 in my area, 50K. Inside the Band B I've been placed in.
Council tax bands are based on property values as of 1991. These aren't easily available online, but I can find figures for 1995.
Semi detached, 1995 in my area, 50K. Inside the Band B I've been placed in.
High. In particular it's utter lunacy to re-evaluate all property prices on a regular basis : congratulations, extra expensive and fault filled bureaucracy.
Given the pressures councils are under it is a certainty upwards rebanding will be seen as a regular income stream.
Given the pressures councils are under it is a certainty upwards rebanding will be seen as a regular income stream.
November 7, 2025 at 1:36 PM
High. In particular it's utter lunacy to re-evaluate all property prices on a regular basis : congratulations, extra expensive and fault filled bureaucracy.
Given the pressures councils are under it is a certainty upwards rebanding will be seen as a regular income stream.
Given the pressures councils are under it is a certainty upwards rebanding will be seen as a regular income stream.
5/n I'd have to think further, but even having a not entirely unreasonable salary the whole thing whiffs of 'written by people with quite a bit of money, who want even more money, and willing to kick people at the bottom without thinking about the consequences' even if it *is* supported by Rowntree
November 7, 2025 at 1:30 PM
5/n I'd have to think further, but even having a not entirely unreasonable salary the whole thing whiffs of 'written by people with quite a bit of money, who want even more money, and willing to kick people at the bottom without thinking about the consequences' even if it *is* supported by Rowntree
4/n The UK is a moderately low cost country compared to others with one exception : housing. Partly driven by an extreme lack of housing stock. Landlords are almost the last people who should be offered *any* benefit, & I say that as a home owner, not a renter. Take action to release housing stock.
November 7, 2025 at 1:30 PM
4/n The UK is a moderately low cost country compared to others with one exception : housing. Partly driven by an extreme lack of housing stock. Landlords are almost the last people who should be offered *any* benefit, & I say that as a home owner, not a renter. Take action to release housing stock.
3/n What is the obsession with childcare for the well paid? This is *not* a priority. Tapering so UC claimants aren't punished, yes. Childcare loss over 100K net income? Stick more money in your pension if you're that fussed. 26 quid a week per child for someone on 50K? Nice but not essential
November 7, 2025 at 1:30 PM
3/n What is the obsession with childcare for the well paid? This is *not* a priority. Tapering so UC claimants aren't punished, yes. Childcare loss over 100K net income? Stick more money in your pension if you're that fussed. 26 quid a week per child for someone on 50K? Nice but not essential
2/n Willing to re-evaluate council tax, but not the single person's discount?
'Compensate lower income groups for higher
costs on basic goods.' requires more detail. zero rate VAT is easy, means tested compensation naturally with a bureaucratic & stressful exclusionary application process is not
'Compensate lower income groups for higher
costs on basic goods.' requires more detail. zero rate VAT is easy, means tested compensation naturally with a bureaucratic & stressful exclusionary application process is not
November 7, 2025 at 1:30 PM
2/n Willing to re-evaluate council tax, but not the single person's discount?
'Compensate lower income groups for higher
costs on basic goods.' requires more detail. zero rate VAT is easy, means tested compensation naturally with a bureaucratic & stressful exclusionary application process is not
'Compensate lower income groups for higher
costs on basic goods.' requires more detail. zero rate VAT is easy, means tested compensation naturally with a bureaucratic & stressful exclusionary application process is not
1/n They won't act on it as the list is ill thought out electoral suicide. The whole concept of council tax based on property values is broken, any re-evaluation of prices an expensive nonsense and repeated death at the polling station however deserved. It ends in penalising anyone on a fixed income
November 7, 2025 at 1:30 PM
1/n They won't act on it as the list is ill thought out electoral suicide. The whole concept of council tax based on property values is broken, any re-evaluation of prices an expensive nonsense and repeated death at the polling station however deserved. It ends in penalising anyone on a fixed income
+1=cat
+5=guitars! (not a musician, but five guitars!)
Insufficient monitors though, needs at least two :)
but...
+1 to The Comfy Chair (Spanish Inquisition proof)
+5=guitars! (not a musician, but five guitars!)
Insufficient monitors though, needs at least two :)
but...
+1 to The Comfy Chair (Spanish Inquisition proof)
November 1, 2025 at 10:50 PM
+1=cat
+5=guitars! (not a musician, but five guitars!)
Insufficient monitors though, needs at least two :)
but...
+1 to The Comfy Chair (Spanish Inquisition proof)
+5=guitars! (not a musician, but five guitars!)
Insufficient monitors though, needs at least two :)
but...
+1 to The Comfy Chair (Spanish Inquisition proof)
There's junctions if you're installing under Windows NT, but if it doesn't offer the option to change path I let it install it where it wants to be. Chances are it's poorly written & will break in unexpected ways later when you patch it if it's moved!
November 1, 2025 at 1:24 PM
There's junctions if you're installing under Windows NT, but if it doesn't offer the option to change path I let it install it where it wants to be. Chances are it's poorly written & will break in unexpected ways later when you patch it if it's moved!
oooh pretty!
(and the knitting is very nice too)
(and the knitting is very nice too)
October 26, 2025 at 4:15 PM
oooh pretty!
(and the knitting is very nice too)
(and the knitting is very nice too)