RANT CORNER

[Derek27]

As you'd expect from an inept government, there was a lot of hype and rumours that it can't be switched off

And you learned that from the "inept Government" or some stupid LL trying to make political capital from such?

No, I learned there was a lot of hype and rumours from my ears.

Frankly, I don't see the problem of being warned there may be a threat to life on the way and I thank any Government, inept or otherwise, for the warning.

Neither do I. I was talking about the lack of information from the inept government, leaving non-technical people to rely on rumours.

You seem keen to start an argument firlandsfarm, even when I haven't disagreed with you.

[Derek27]

This morning I had a nice breakfast in a Brazilian Cafe. I thanked the staff and praised them for their food and service. Now I'm trading a Brazilian match with a suspend monkey that decided he needed to use the toilet after 50 seconds!

[firlandsfarm]

Frankly, I don't see the problem of being warned there may be a threat to life on the way and I thank any Government, inept or otherwise, for the warning.

You seem keen to start an argument firlandsfarm, even when I haven't disagreed with you.

Not at all D27, I was commenting generally re the number of comments given to the media from people who don't want their privacy invaded.

[Derek27]

Frankly, I don't see the problem of being warned there may be a threat to life on the way and I thank any Government, inept or otherwise, for the warning.

You seem keen to start an argument firlandsfarm, even when I haven't disagreed with you.

Not at all D27, I was commenting generally re the number of comments given to the media from people who don't want their privacy invaded.

Fair enough, wires crossed again.

[Derek27]

I remember when I was 11 or 12, my older brother predicted that in 10 years time the world would run out of new songs. Every time somebody writes a new song it would have been already written.

Obviously wrong, even at the time, but there is some degree of truth in it. Poor old Ed Sheeran can't produce a song without somebody claiming some part of the melody's been copied.

[Derek27]

I've just deleted all my passwords!!

[Derek27]

Last time I ever use Microsoft Edge for password management. They ask you if you're sure before doing anything.....except deleting all your passwords!

[ShaunWhite]

I was wondering why we're so broke as a country and thinking back to some of the businesses we used to own before they were sold off by Tories...

British Aerospace
British Airways
British Coal
British Gas
British Petroleum
British Rail
British Steel
British Telecom
Britoil
Cable & Wireless
Jaguar
National Power
Powergen
Rolls Royce
Water

People talk about a puny windfall tax on the likes of BP, imagine the days when all the profit on all of the above was ours!

[firlandsfarm]

all the profit on all of the above was ours!

Shaun, the job of Government is to run the country, not be a portfolio investment manager! The 'profit' on some of those was questionable and don't forget they were sold for a capital sum. To sell them was no different to any investment manager selling any shareholding. You take a view as to whether you can use the capital raised in a better way.

[Michael5482]

all the profit on all of the above was ours!

Shaun, the job of Government is to run the country, not be a portfolio investment manager! The 'profit' on some of those was questionable and don't forget they were sold for a capital sum. To sell them was no different to any investment manager selling any shareholding. You take a view as to whether you can use the capital raised in a better way.

If they were sold in a way not to different to any investment manager selling any shareholding I'd make a comparison between the Tory's and Nick Leeson.

[sionascaig]

Water selloff was an awful decision that made no sense - basically each company has a captive market and between them since selloff have raised c£60b in debt and paid out c£60b to shareholders - cant blame the capitalists for being capitalists but the gov & water regulator have a lot to answer for.

No idea how you unpick that mess.

[ShaunWhite]

Shaun, the job of Government is to run the country, not be a portfolio investment manager!

Running the country is running it's infrastructure. We'll have to agree to differ on that.

[sniffer66]

Water selloff was an awful decision that made no sense - basically each company has a captive market and between them since selloff have raised c£60b in debt and paid out c£60b to shareholders - cant blame the capitalists for being capitalists but the gov & water regulator have a lot to answer for.

No idea how you unpick that mess.

and I think the number of new reservoirs built in the last 30 years is zero, or very close to it. So we constantly have water shortages as the private companies are too quick to pay out dividends and not invest in the future

[firlandsfarm]

and I think the number of new reservoirs built in the last 30 years is zero, or very close to it. So we constantly have water shortages as the private companies are too quick to pay out dividends and not invest in the future

But there's nowhere to build a reservoir after all the houses built on the floodplains!!

[firlandsfarm]

Running the country is running it's infrastructure.

I agree with that but you were talking of profits which is investment management and not infrastructure! Infrastructure should be government owned and run efficiently but for no profit other than to create funds for future investment in the infrastructure.