kevinjohnsonmbe

I think you misinterpret my intent old chap. There’s no ‘high and mighty’, on the contrary - in relation to UK / Western attitudes towards alternative PoVs. More often than not, I find myself in that alternative mindset so I have no flag for the suppression of freedom of speech / expression. The ‘not good’ reference to Putin implementing martial law in the face of domestic protest was more focused upon what might be interpreted by his actions and what / where his behaviour might take us. You just read it wrong...

Putin places RUSSIA under martial law over Ukraine invasion public protests. That’s not good..... Russia 'to introduce martial law' over war in Ukraine WWW.TELEGRAPH.CO.UK Such a move would allow the Kremlin to announce general mobilisation, tighten censorship, shut the borders and...

I’d like to visit the forests surrounding the area (briefly). Apparently there are amazing examples of nature doing ‘it’s thing’ to recover and reclaim the area. Like you say though, no good worrying, just as well have a glass and relax.

Not surprised - was the similar when Chernobyl happened. You still got your AGR in the loft David??

It’s an obvious next step in building the “bogey man” persona. Regardless of whatever justification Putin may present - the actions he has directed are likely to qualify under existing international law of armed conflict as war crimes. If / once they have got that ‘label’ attached to him it adds legitimacy to subsequent suppression - unless he:

I purposely didn’t mention the jam / cream “issue” since I’m geographically displaced in regard to my jam on top disposition 😂

With the price of all the mainstream heating sources going through the roof it wouldn’t be a good time to strike out at the alternatives. That said, when did logic ever come in to it? Im dropping RHI registration for pellet / log production. Simply not work the hassle - unless this mystical ‘small producer’ scheme materialises in time and represents a relative reduction in admin balls.

I totally agree - it’s bizarre but apparently contradiction and hypocrisy seem to be de rigueur in what currently passes for politics. Example: Footballers are best keeping out politics when talking about school meals or racial equality but should be taking an active role when talking about Ukraine? Similarly, big money and lobbying (apparently) has no place in politics - unless the big money can influence your adversary..... And where’s it going after it’s been seized?? Like you say with the truckers - hardly inspires public confidence in conventional banking systems and like it or not, if the banks collapse, all hell breaks loose.

Certainly boosted stock value for the big weapon tech firms....

Did you see Biden state of the nation speech last night? His closing rallying call “Go get him” (meaning Putin). (Not to mention his geographical confusion over Ukraine / Iran 🤨) What with the likes of Biden, and Truss, and the EU making such blatantly aggressive statements we seem to be genuinely in a massive void of competent statecraft. Combine that with (what certainly appears to be) an increasingly unhinged Putin..... head in hands emoji.....

Understood. The question remains though - is the current situation an appropriate and proportionate response by Russia? If the Kernish were to cross the Tamar and impose side crimp on Tavistock - that “might be appropriate”, but if they wanted Exeter, Okehampton and beyond..... Well,, that would just be too much - unachievable / unenforceable / unsustainable. I have excluded Plymuff on purpose - they Janner bey’s are like a separate ethnic group all on them own 😂

I don’t know Andy. It’s an interesting question but I don’t think it is entirely relevant since in that case it was Nazis invading neighbours - I can’t think of a scenario where Ukraine might have invaded Russia. If we were to take Germany as an example, it probably would be interesting to know what the %s were since then we might extrapolate a justification for external intervention before the nazi affiliation becomes established at a similar level. The more I think about it, the more I (think) I see where you’re going with that....

Nope, not sure but fairly confident on the basis that: (a) whilst there ‘may’ be a greater than might be desirable (by more Western European standards) proportion of self declared Nazis or those that belong to Nazi style affiliated organisations, that it wouldn’t be anything like a % per capita which could directly influence governance nor that would warrant / justify an armed neighbour invasion. (b) what proportion of self declared Nazis would justify an invasion? 10% - nah.... 20% - nah.... 40% - maybe needs looking at... 50% - maybe needs addressing.... What is your assessment of the % per population of Nazis in Ukraine? (c) They bastards across the Tamar in Devon crimp their pasty on the top! All of ‘em - heaven bastards. Doesn’t mean the Cornish can cross the Tamar and inflict a side crimp on ‘em though....

The enemy underground: how 'Putin apologists' brought London to a standstill APPLE.NEWS As a Tube strike causes travel chaos across the capital, we ask: just how close is the RMT union to Putin's Russia?

There may well be a slack handful of repugnant nazi ideologies in Ukraine - maybe even more so than elsewhere, or at least they are less constrained in Ukraine. But certainly not enough to make a toss of difference to anything - and certainly not enough to warrant them being used as a primary justification for a neighbour invasion.

Ah.... I see what you've done there 😜 There's a danger of grouping don't you think Mick - I mean, I am staunch covid vaccine skeptic (probably one of the few that hasn't had it) but by no means anti Ukraine. I mean, it's patently obvious WHY it's not a NATO article 5 and the literal catastrophe that would ensue if NATO, US, EU went stomping in. In fact, the speech I heard from some complete EU fruit loop earlier today suggesting that Ukraine be immediately entered into the EU was as clear an example of why I voted out as was ever needed. Ukraine is an emerging nation but by no means ready for EU membership - frankly, it is part nationalist / nazi, part basket case with massive nuclear safety issues, part medieval, and part corrupt with a psychotic neighbour.... Plus, of course, it is that very perception of 'western' expansionism which has got Vlad the invader all riled up. Ukraine in EU / NATO is going to help that how exactly? It would be a decades (if ever) before Ukraine would be a net contributor to the EU huh...

As Doobs says, mini digger self drive - certainly round here - is literally as cheap as chips! If you can combine the machine with a good driver you’ll save a bundle over skip hire. Probably something like a 3 or 4 to 1 cash saving I’d suggest.

Bloody madness but doubtless a consequence of previous examples of (perhaps) unscrupulous exploitation of loopholes in order to achieve ‘new’ developments in the open countryside. We’ve been down a similar path with a former traditional stone built cow shed. Regs often appeared shortsighted, awkward and pathetic but them was the rules. If you were interested I could link some video footage of MultiOne doing a range of tasks in that project (only likely to be of marginal interest to those with a direct interest in such things 😂)

You can reclaim VAT on a commercial (possibly domestic too but not sure) new build project under most circumstances. Thats 20% straight away! 👍🏻

That looks like a genuinely awesome project to be getting into. Sounds like you’ve fully evaluated, and dismissed, the retention / renovation options. What a shame that “rules & regs” end up being a disincentive to renovation but at least there is some recycling / up cycling to be had. Looking at your pic, and not knowing what sort of machinery you might have, my very first thought was, what a super task for a 6/7/8 series MultiOne with a range of suitable attachments (other, less capable brands exist) That looks like a great task and looking forward to seeing progress....

That totally WINS the internet for today!

The ‘quote’ is an incomplete analysis of the the tactical deployment of close - med range anti armour weapons Whilst the focus upon the urban situation is reasonably comprehensive, the overall analysis appears to lack any estimate of the effect of channelling onto established road and transport infrastructure and the ability to inflict casualties at the head of an armoured column effectively fixing the remainder behind in a desperately vulnerable situation. Since the weather has not provided the hard frost necessary for swift and trouble free cross-country advance, it may be possible to slow / stop an armoured advance which is constrained to metalled surface.

Made me chuckle... Im no fan of fracking but I suspect the ‘enthusiasm’ for a vastly reduced oil / gas dependency may wane as the prices / availability issues emerge.