[Gurnelista]

I think 64’s point was more about dedicating 10 mins to this story, more than the comeback itself.
On slow news days ‘that’s the way it is’ (sorry!) …

[Gurnelista]

Very true, and applies to so many on here.

The way people can be made to believe almost anything which confirms their prejudices and suspicions, no matter what the evidence to the contrary, is probably more dangerous than anything AI can do.

How does the saying go? The truth has no defence against a fool determined to believe a lie.

1 user thanked author for this post.

Northumbiron

[Gurnelista]

Well that’s quite funny but GPT seems to be hallucinating because when I asked it what it made of the poster called Sid it commented “muddled thinking, poor communication, and may be a friend of Dorothy”, which of course is based on zilch evidence or professional opinion, and probably has as much foundation in reality as any of its other observations on posters…

[Gurnelista]

Y’know Siderite, after reading your post above I went back and reconsidered what the good dame had to say in your youtube vid. and began to think that maybe she’s right. She really knew what she was about, and so did you.

Even tho’ I didn’t know if Letby was innocent or not, I was persuaded by Edna’s cosy homily from the suburban sofa, and decided to ignore all the flim-flam about new evidence from so-called experts.

And then today I read an article by some know-all, holding forth in some trashy magazine called BMJ. I mean, what does he know, a nobody sounding off in some new-age rag-mag, compared to star witness and commentator Dame Edna and her pooch?

https://www.bmj.com/content/394/bmj-2026-100786

[Gurnelista]

Just ask GenAI

[Gurnelista]

alcazar wrote:

Gurnelista wrote:

C’mon Alcy, a young woman is violently attacked for shouting in a public meeting, and elected representatives of this country are celebrating.

Is this the kind of country you and your parents grew up in?

It is now.
When you can be imprisoned for posting hurty words on line, yet not for gang rape, something is wrong for sure.

This sort of violence towards women is typical of so many fascist and totalitarian regimes, yet Reform like to claim they’re protecting women, hypocrites that they are! It’s all BS. They are a violent, misogynist party led by a racist, bully and liar, same as the fascists of the 30s, and attracting similar support.

As for those rapists you mention, they were aged about 13-14 at the time, and were later given custodial sentences.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/two-teenage-boys-given-custodial-sentences-after-attorney-general-intervenes

Also, that writing stuff online can now lead to a prison sentence isn’t anything new. It’s not unlike publishing. If you publish something in a newspaper that’s inflammatory and likely to incite racial hatred / violence, you’re likely to get porridge, especially if you have previous convictions, see.

But you’re right about things being wrong – yet why aren’t we talking more about inequality, child poverty, social care, housing, energy prices, etc. etc. instead of following an agenda set for us by the billionaire media owners and Tory MP’s? Remember how they told us that Britain’s problems were the fault of Eastern Europeans (!) and then they told us Brexit was the solution, and now everything is the fault of brown people in small boats! They just carry on making stuff up to deflect attention away from themselves.

Yet, who looked after you and the missus last time you were at the doctors / in hospital / at a care home? Who’d do it if they all left?

Thing is, Farage and Reform know how to press your buttons and tap into people’s prejudices. But remember, these billionaires and their lackeys in politics are the ones who ushered in a succession of miserable governments led by Cameron, May, Johnson, Truss, Sunak. They’ve ruined the country. Then many of the same ran away to Reform, where given half a chance, they’ll do it again, starting by cutting your welfare “because the country can’t afford it”. And so many would meekly nod along in agreement, masochists that they are.

One last question. Why is it that even after having this explained and the facts made clear, and even after acknowledging that a lot of what appears online is nonsense and that an algorithm continues to feed it to you, that you’ll still go back to thinking Farage is a right-on guy and you and your family would be better off under Reform?

[Gurnelista]

C’mon Alcy, a young woman is violently attacked for shouting in a public meeting, and elected representatives of this country are celebrating.

Is this the kind of country you and your parents grew up in?

[Gurnelista]

Yep, and all those on here that told us to support him, vote for him, send propaganda to your aunt Doris, and that one who gleefully took his shilling while living it up in Brussels instead of doing a proper, real-world job teaching maths to Sheffield schoolkids, where are they now, eh?

[Gurnelista]

We will fail again, but we must fail better.

2 users thanked author for this post.

Rene Artois, alcazar

[Gurnelista]

The pleasures of conformity – American style. Very Mar a Lago.

[Gurnelista]

Tarot cards? He could do worse than use modern, up-to-date methods like asking ChatGPT. I asked:

“What would be Scunthorpe United’s best team for this Saturday at Eastleigh?”

And the cyber guru came up with the following:

“Yes. I’ve checked the latest 2026/27 team news and results, and Scunthorpe’s next match is Eastleigh away on Saturday 22 August, 12:30pm.
The key thing is that Andy Butler made nine changes for Tuesday’s 4–0 win over Stoke U21s, so I wouldn’t use that XI as the basis for Saturday. The previous Saturday against Southend gives us a much better indication of his preferred league side.

My best XI for Eastleigh
4-3-3

Louis Jones

Ross Barrows Callum Howe Will Evans Branden Horton

Jordan Richards Jacob Butterfield
Alfie Beestin

Pat Jones Declan Howe James Gale

Why I’d go with this:

GK – Louis Jones
Easy choice. He started the first two league matches and was excellent despite the 1–0 defeat at Southend.

Defence – Barrows, C. Howe, Evans, Horton

I’d restore Ross Barrows at right-back after he was rested against Stoke. Will Evans should retain his place centrally, while Branden Horton has established himself at left-back after replacing the injured Tyler Denton at Southend.

The interesting decision is Callum Howe vs Jean Belehouan at centre-back. I’d slightly favour Howe for an away league game, although Belehouan is a very good alternative.

Midfield – Richards, Butterfield, Beestin
This is where I think Scunthorpe could improve considerably.
• Jacob Butterfield gives you experience and control.
• Alfie Beestin provides energy and attacking quality.
• Jordan Richards looked trusted enough to start at Southend and gives the midfield some athleticism.
Butterfield was introduced at half-time against Southend and then played in Tuesday’s cup game, so he should be ready for Saturday.

Front three – Pat Jones, Declan Howe, James Gale
This would be my preferred attacking trio.
Pat Jones is probably the most dangerous player in the squad when running at defenders. He had one of Scunthorpe’s better opportunities at Southend and was involved in their attacking threat.
Declan Howe should lead the line. He started against Southend and had a couple of opportunities, including narrowly missing a cross from Jones.
And I’d give James Gale another start. He made his first start of the season at Southend and then scored twice after coming off the bench against Stoke, which is about as strong an argument as you can make for keeping your place.

Bench
I’d probably have:
Campbell, Belehouan, Rowley, Hurst, Brennan, Parker, Barrows/Shipstone
with Kyle Hurst particularly useful as an impact substitute. He started Tuesday and contributed to the opening goal.

One big selection question:
For me, the biggest question is Butterfield vs Rowley.
If Butler wants more energy and pressing, I’d start Rowley. If he wants experience and control away from home, I’d choose Butterfield.
I’d personally go Butterfield, because Eastleigh away could be a game where Scunthorpe need someone who can slow the game down and dictate possession.

So my strongest XI is:
Jones; Barrows, C. Howe, Evans, Horton; Richards, Butterfield, Beestin; P. Jones, D. Howe, Gale.
That would be my team as things stand on Wednesday morning, rather than claiming it’s Butler’s confirmed XI. The club hasn’t yet published Saturday’s team news.”

Maybe the club should give GPT a job (other types of AI are available).

[Gurnelista]

We’ve seen peak NF. The party is as bedraggled as those tatty lampost flags.

[Gurnelista]

alcazar wrote:

Would that it were so.
When you’ve supported this club for as long as I have, you’ll realize that disappointment is the name of the game.
From selling promising players on the relatively cheap, as soon as the first offer comes in, to failing to sign a decent player or two when we could. Jamie Vardy, anyone?
And as for having a poor season, we are on non-league. And we have been lower.
Every week we play non-league sides and watch non-league standard officials make the same mistakes over and over.
Even our manager is the same… makes the same mistakes, refuses, or can’t seem, to learn.
Yet we keep going because it’s our team.
When I started supporting I had no idea of the name of the manager or directors.
But I do know we’ve had some poor ones… of both.

The aim should be to fail better each time. Last season we failed pretty well. Hard to see us failing better this season. We’ll either go up (success) or it will be a worse failure, and Butler will go.

1 user thanked author for this post.

alcazar

[Gurnelista]

Great choice DM. It really evokes the era.

[Gurnelista]

True hero – local, national and international.

[Gurnelista]

And even worse are those who come on social media and blame foriegners, blacks etc. for the country’s woes knowing its a political opportunity to manipulate the racists.

[Gurnelista]

Same in Spain. Kids rule. And adults by n large are warm and kind, like Alcy’s Italians.
Something clearly wrong with the ‘arse-warming’ approach to parenting, kids should be seen and not heard, etc??

[Gurnelista]

Great post NI, you saved me an hour putting together something not as good…
Alcy, people everywhere often think in the way you describe, that the past was always a better place, things aren’t the same now, everything’s got worse, it’s not like when I was a lad, etc. etc. Just look at how Alf Garnett used to rail against his own time, with its gay lib and blacks ‘everywhere’ and bra burners, and that was in one of your golden eras!
Romanticising the past is pure grandadology, but it’s not history.
True, there were a lot of legal reforms in the 60s and 70s which made life more equal for gays, blacks, and women in terms of pay, discrimination, reproductive rights and and not being locked up for your sexuality. But a lot of the time, and far from ‘that London’, attitudes stayed entrenched. Discrimination of all kinds was widespread, with marriage bars in some jobs, meaning women couldn’t work if they were married, and if they did could expect less pay. Gays were widely seen as either tragic or comic, and had to ‘hide it’, and for blacks and Asians both in society and on the sportsfield, it could be hell, and remained so for many years. For some, it still is.
But taking a critical look at history is not about hating Britain, on the contrary, it’s because we can open our eyes and see things clearly that we like it here.

1 user thanked author for this post.

Northumbiron

[Gurnelista]

1600e was the one, no? Bit boxy, but a great engine.
Boxer engines? I had 3 Alfasud sprints and a 33 estate. 1300 felt underpowered tho’ the 15 and 1700 were lively reliable and bags of fun. Mind, they softened up like pasta when it rained. Often fancied a GTV, great looks and engines. Daily driver? Rust?

[Gurnelista]

What happened to the Lotus Cortina, Alcy? Too slow for you??

[Gurnelista]

Probably a Volvo P1800.
Turned out to be a pile of rust but a great usable classic.
No money to fix, and had to sell it at auction!

[Gurnelista]

Anyone at the Baths Hall last night to see Jules Holland? Rockin good show over some 2.5h from a 20-piece band with a full brass section, and some great support from Ruby Turner and others. PLus the very tuneful Sumudu Jayatilaka, a Scunny lass and a natural talent.

[Gurnelista]

Belief is not enough.

[Gurnelista]

These breaks in play are a likely first step to chucking in adverts. It’s a 3-min. pause with music. Small step away from bringing in quick ad or two …. before a longer break of 5 mins and a riot of ads for washing powder, funerals and pee pants.

[Gurnelista]

Aye DM, ITV has an impressive set and setting there.
The Beeb usually has the best coverage but this time it’s a snooze fest like MOTD. Dull to look at, dull to listen to, only the lack of ads save it.
Pundits? Both sides should both have big squads lined up to reinforce the pre and post match. They’ve had all season to trial and prep them. On the Beeb, up front Lineker’s dry wit and cutting crit are badly missed. The girls can’t deliver on the big occasions. Rooney is unimaginative and just plays it safe, he needs a couple of clever wingmen.
On ITV Pougatch tries too hard and comes over like an estate agent. Wright needs to get stuck in more, he can entertain if he’s allowed. Same with Keane – there’s always a chance he’ll say something off-piste. Maybe they’ll line him up with Duncan disorderly after getting pre-loaded and the fancy riverside set will end up in the Hudson.

[Gurnelista]

Good one! Try selling them something is fun too – tell ’em you’ve got a car for sale, or some CD’s or some old clothes, and they’re just brilliant, just what they need, etc.

1 user thanked author for this post.

alcazar

[Gurnelista]

Yep, multi-factor authentication – another one for the Room 101 of annoying stuff…
Gettting into Victor Meldrew mode now… gotta stop this.

[Gurnelista]

When somebody suddenly sings and shouts at you while you were watching something else – adverts on tv, radio, youtube …
“Just forget whatever you were doing, it’s time to buy something!”
“We know this annoys you, but you can pay to stop it!!” is their message.

2 users thanked author for this post.

Deereyme66, alcazar

[Gurnelista]

Please tick all the boxes containing traffic lights, bicycles, crosswalks …..

[Gurnelista]

No emoji posted knowingly here DM, it appeared spontaneously when trying to quote Alcy. Shurely shome mishtake….

[Author]

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