Mark Holtom (aka Kingbeard)

Sadio Mane, The Liverpool Star from Senegal (earning approximately 10.2 million dollars annually),has given the world a lesson in modesty after some fans spotted him carrying a cracked Iphone.His response is legendary: "Why would I want ten Ferraris, 20 diamond watches and two jet planes? What would that do for the world? I starved, I worked in the fields, I played barefoot, and I didn't go to school. Now I can help people. I prefer to build schools and give poor people food or clothing. I have built schools [and] a stadium; we provide clothes, shoes, and food for people in extreme poverty. In addition, I give 70 euros per month to all people from a very poor Senegalese region in order to contribute to their family economy. I do not need to display luxury cars, luxury homes, trips, and even planes. I prefer that my people receive a little of what life has given me," Mane said.

The Royal Family are said to be devastated after Prince Andrew's car crash next Wednesday.

Here is some info on how Reform's economic policies will work,

You remember yesterdays periscope video of a US sub sinking an Iranian ship off Sri Lanka? I thought this was propaganda, but find several sources see below) as to what really happened. So, what do we think about the almighty US sinking a defenceless ship - and watching survivors drown.

Today was a Difficult Day," said Pooh. There was a pause. "Do you want to talk about it?" asked Piglet. "No," said Pooh after a bit. "No, I don't think I do." "That's okay," said Piglet, and he came and sat beside his friend. "What are you doing?" asked Pooh. "Nothing, really," said Piglet. "Only, I know what Difficult Days are like. I quite often don't feel like talking about it on my Difficult Days either. "But goodness," continued Piglet, "Difficult Days are so much easier when you know you've got someone there for you. And I'll always be here for you, Pooh." And as Pooh sat there, working through in his head his Difficult Day, while the solid, reliable Piglet sat next to him quietly, swinging his little legs...he thought that his best friend had never been more right." A.A. Milne Sending thoughts to those having a Difficult Day today and hope you have your own Piglet to sit beside you 🧡

The sad thing is that if we hadn’t expanded NATO, Putin would have tirelessly devoted himself to world peace and the brotherhood of man.

Funny how the US never asks Israel to pay back the money America gives it, but it seems that the US's relationship with everyone else is 100% transactional.

@Walrus@toot.wales Americans think themselves exceptional. This is something that they are taught. One thing about being exceptional is never being wrong, or having to say, I'm sorry. Its a sign of weakness.

This is an old story (from 10 years ago). The Conservatives cut the funds and closed down the library.

I love this photo. It's captioned "a final act of emancipation in 1925"

If you are one of those who support the intervention in Iran, don't EVER criticise and complain about the wave upon wave of refugees and asylum seekers who will come to our countries to escape.

Private Eye,

It's not that have few friends. It's that I'm a 'nano-influencer'. Makes me feel so much better.

Now why would #Reform be interested in making the UK health system more like the (failed) US system? It is initially surprising that the US system might be a favoured destination. But there is a dimension, which is not a concern to UK taxpayers or patients but is vitally important to other stakeholders: PROFIT. The US system is particularly good as a profit generator. Estimates suggest that the profit opportunity available to healthcare corporations if the UK adopted the US system is of the order of $28 Billion per annum. So, using this approach, this Reform government could reduce the effectiveness of our health system (earlier deaths), and reduce efficiency (for higher costs), whilst making a nice little profit for themselves and their mates.

"Somehow, in the war between Russia and Ukraine, the first country to surrender was America." ‪ ~ Tristan Snell

According to a survey by the sociologist Putnam in 1950 just 12pc agreed with the statement “I’m a very important person”. By 1990 it was 80pc. A phenomenal societal change. In lovely piece by ⁦Matthew Syed in Sunday Times

Finally my Winter Fat has gone. Now I am left with Spring Rolls

Susie Dent: A reminder that 'ruthful' - 'compassionate' - exists alongside 'ruthless'. We can be feckful as well as feckless, and placable, wieldy, ept, couth, kempt, ruly, sipid, and full of 'gorm' (care and attention). Let's bring back the lost positives.

English has a so-called ‘instrumental’ suffix, –LE, that can be attached to root words to create the names of tools relating to them. So HANDLE comes from ‘hand’. LADLE comes from ‘lade’. GIRDLE comes from ‘gird’. TREADLE comes from ‘tread’. And THIMBLE comes from ‘thumb’.

John O’Reilly’s Winning Toast John raised his beer and proudly declared, “Here’s to spending the rest of me life… between the legs of me wife!” The pub erupted in laughter, and John took home the prize for the best toast of the night. That evening, he told his wife, Mary, “Guess what, love? I won the prize for the best toast at the pub!” “Oh, did ye now?” Mary said. “And what exactly was this fine toast of yours?” Thinking quickly, John smiled and said, “Here’s to spending the rest of me life… sitting in church beside me wife.” Mary beamed. “Ah, John, that’s a lovely sentiment!” The next day, Mary bumped into one of John’s drinking buddies on the street corner. With a cheeky grin, the man said, “Mary, you should’ve heard John’s toast at the pub the other night—it was about you!” “Aye, I know,” Mary said, “and I’ll admit, I was surprised. After all, he’s only been in there twice in the last four years—once when I dragged him by the ears, and the other time when he fell asleep!”

Stock markets slides as Trump says, "No Iran deal with out 'unconditional surrender'" The surrender has to be unconditional because Trump has set no conditions or objectives for the war in the first place. The other problem is dealing with and accepting the word of lying, two-faced, religious fanatics, said Iran.

The Bad Shepherds: Ace of Spades with Ade Edmunson on thrash madolin https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceiNfA8vpLs&list=OLAK5uy_nxXJXyLDcw7vqkG7EADJUyODZqMLFMT9E&index=15

The Bad Shepherds: Up the Junction https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFUxWzibBio&list=OLAK5uy_nxXJXyLDcw7vqkG7EADJUyODZqMLFMT9E&index=3

Million dollar idea: A smoke detector that shuts off when you yell, "I'm just cooking!"