The Kraken

“In the mean time, Mark Robins handed the gloves to Tommy Simkin and confirmed that Bazunu has suffered an unspecified injury that has made him unavailable for the last two matches.” Genuine injury or getting the lad out of the limelight? There is a post on Stoke’s forum saying that after the Millwall game Baz was angry and punched a wall, and that’s the injury.

I’d be surprised if we lost Tonda. It would have to be to a Premier League club surely, not sure his stock would be high enough for Bundesliga. Would an PL club go for him? I don’t see it. Also in his interests to build his CV with us and stick a promotion on there.

Really awful start, reminds me of Stillball.

Wake up

How on earth is a direct train from Soton to Waterloo taking 2 hours?

Robbins is being grilled as we speak. No killer shots yet but more reinforcement of what we assumed: strong influence from number 10 to get it done (even number 10 arguing that Mandelson didn’t need clearance in the first place due to his ‘status’). Starmer and MPs hiding behind the “I didn’t know guv, honest” line is looking more and more shady. Robbins is claiming that Mandelson’s DV was “borderline but leaning towards being denied”. Other reports state that the initial recommendation was for a firm denial. So the question remains, who exerted power on the decision, and is it really credible to believe that not one single minister was aware of it, as Starmer has claimed.

Starmer when asked yesterday “did you inadvertently mislead the House of Commons?” Starmer: “No, I did not mislead the house. I accept that information that I should have had and information that the house should have had should have been before the house. But I did not mislead the house”. In amongst that word salad, I must admit I’m struggling to see how he didn’t, even if it was done inadvertently.

Yep, decent line up. Fellows has got to be doing more to push his way into the side, I like Matsuki but Fellows IMO has got a bit more to him.

I think this is the only logical assumption to make at this stage. As someone who voted Labour in (only the second time I’ve ever voted for them in my life) I can’t hide how disappointed I am by their performance in general, but particularly from this whole episode. It’s utter naivety and stupidity from start to finish and just a completely avoidable situation. I can’t see Starmer lasting out a whole term, and quite frankly nor should he. Nor should the cretins who advise him.

The whole thing from start to finish is just utterly bizarre and reflects terribly on the government. Appointing such a toxic and repulsive figure as Mandelson in the first place was a shocking decision. Sounds like there might be a foreign office committee investigation with Olly Robbins as early as next week so maybe that will shine some light on it. Starmer is being forthright that Downing St were not told Mandelson failed then was passed, so there are monumental questions to be asked about how that happened, and who put the pressure on vetting to grant Mandelson his DV. Really, really bad judgement all round and entirely avoidable.

Two different things you’re talking about there. I have no problem tipping waiting staff, usually around 10% for me. I’m just wondering why tipping culture means that waiting staff should be tipped, but not bar staff, for doing a very similar job in the same establishment. An example. I’m in Spain at the moment and played golf yesterday, afterwards we had a pint in the sun outside the clubhouse. I ordered at the bar and the chap said ‘go and sit down, I’ll bring them over’. He came over with the drinks and a card machine, it was 17 euros (bargain for 4 drinks btw) and I paid and told him to make it twenty. Obviously no problem with doing that. Yet if I had paid at the bar, I reckon I may not have tipped. But, really, I should do if I want to be consistent. It doesn’t make much sense really. We tip because culture tells us we should, and not because logic dictates it.

Why is it different? What is the difference between a barman keeping his bar clean, taking my order, pouring drinks, maybe making a cocktail, and serving me the end products; and a waitress who keeps my table clean, takes my order and serves me the end products?

What’s the customary tip for buying a meal from McDonalds drive thru ? Or Costa coffee for a takeaway coffee? Or my local sandwich shop? Or my local pub when buying a pint? I don’t want to be seen as a tight sod.

I have absolutely no evidence to relate to, so it’s only a personal opinion. I just think darts isn’t quite as point and shoot as one might think. Mostly it is a reasonably equal game, but the 7ft 9” oche distance brings a tiny element of strength into the equation. It may be only a small difference, but I just think that at the very top level it makes a difference.

I think it breaks down into two broad sides. Societal issues are probably by far the biggest ones that affect the situation. Snooker halls, pubs with darts club etc are massively male dominated, and that’s the route to the professional game. So the amount of men to pick from is going to be massively higher. Genetics, much less of a factor (to my non scientific brain) but a small factor nonetheless.