serrac

How would you like to see it "improved"?

With the black hole(s) in the economy, assisted dying will eventually become a duty rather than a right. There's also the question of how assisted dying will interface with Power of Attorney. Will POAs be allowed to make the decision for mum and dad when they are also beneficiaries of their estate? Bit of a conflict of interest there.

Come on now, show some compassion and understanding...

A Kirby can pick up spilled lead shot, cartridge cases, dead rats, pheasants, deer guts, you name it 😆

We used to have a Kirby! I think my wife filled in a card for a draw at the Ideal Homes exhibition 30+ years ago and a guy came to our house to do the demonstration. We were very impressed but the £700 price tag was like 4 months mortgage payment so it was a no. Later on I saw one for sale in the yellow paper (remember those) for £170 with all the attachments. We used it for a while but her indoors found it too heavy to cart up and down the stairs so it sat in the cupboard until we eventually sold it on. We've had numerous Dysons since but I really liked the Kirby apart from the weight issue. I've no doubt the one we had way back then is still going strong somewhere - or probably languishing in a cupboard under someone's stairs.

Yeah, ethics is sooo passé now. kill 'em kill 'em all!

Always been the way with at least some vets, I think. I remember reading (and loving) the James Herriot books and one of his stories was about a small animal practice vet who was absolutely loaded. With NHS dentists, we're shielded from the true cost of treatments since the NHS co-pays. Nowadays many are dropping out of NHS practice and anyone who can't find a NHS dentist and has to go private experiences some sticker shock.

Contraception is healthcare, abortion is murder.

Hard to tell if the injection was a factor. I think Izzy was close to the end anyway, but it may have given her a bit of a nudge which would have been a good thing in my opinion. A week too early is better than a day late when there's the possibility of suffering and a rabbit can't tell you how they are feeling. I wouldn't have thought of asking for a refund - the vet did what we asked of them and the outcome was just one of these things.

There's also the small matter of all the lawfare that's been directed at Trump and his associates. Many of the legal arguments which have been used entrap them could be used with equal effect against the other side (and should be where appropriate). If Trump can be convicted of a felony for "election interference" for an accounting irregularity regarding a payment to Stormy Daniels, then Hillary Clinton must be at risk for paying for the fake Russian collusion dossier and reporting the expense as "legal costs".

Indeed...

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) “Let people vote for Trump if they want. We’re not going to certify his election anyway. He may be elected, but we’re not going to let him be inaugurated.”

We feel your pain, winter fuel allowance for pensioners removed, swingeing tax increases, but billions for Ukraine and to fight global warming in Africa. I've seen speculation that the powers-that-be know it's coming, allowed Trump to win, and will make sure it all goes down during his term. Then: "look what Trump and the Republicans did to you, never vote for them again or it will be more of the same - we need a communist Democrat regime to keep us all safe and happy"

But what sort of lifestyle will the majority enjoy under the 4th industrial revolution? Hint: "We are in a global situation where we can distinguish between an elite population which will have the benefits of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and at the lower end we have what you call the proletariat" - Klaus Schwab

What do you see as the benefits of the 4th industrial revolution to the man in the street, average intelligence, semi-skilled or unskilled worker?

Hmm, what return on investment do you anticipate from offering free education on AI? 🤔

If Bill Clinton is right and it comes down to "the economy, stupid", it should be a walkover for Trump. The American people have suffered doubling and trebling of basic essentials since Biden/Harris came to power, and that's something that's hard not to notice, and Kamala says she can't think of anything she wishes she'd have done differently, so they can expect more of the same if she wins. I guess it will come down to how well oiled "the most extensive and inclusive voter fraud organization in the history of American politics" is this time round. The dems don't have the cover of Covid this time, so it will be fascinating to watch as all their creative new cheating strategies are uncovered.

Those coming on Work Visas will have met criteria such as skill level and job offers to reach the required points for a grant of visa, so they are less likely to meet the definition of "low-skilled workers" than someone stepping off a boat. It's reasonable to allow such workers to bring spouse and immediate dependents with them. If some are bringing extended family over, that needs looked at. I'd also like to see the government doing more to close the labour/skills gap with native talent rather than importing from around the world - not holding my breath on that one though.

So then what are we going to do with all the new low-skilled workers who are flooding across the Channel from France, who are allegedly needed to fill all the low skilled jobs that Brits refuse to do?

I'm sure it helps but vehicles are increasingly complex devices, and come with numerous possible points of failure, so luck probably plays a bigger role. A guy a couple of doors up from me bought a brand new Audi A4 a number of years ago. He'd done barely 1k miles in it when one day one of the con-rods made it's escape through the crank case. Not much opportunity for preventative maintenance to prevent things like that.

My son's car broke down as he was leaving an appointment at a private hospital in Edinburgh Unfortunately he was partially blocking the only entry/exit route. RAC took something like 10 hours to attend, while he was quite understandably being badgered by hospital staff to get the vehicle removed. I think he's with another service now...

Living in Scotland, I thought it was a joke when visiting my Mum in Gosport and someone told me you needed a licence for a fishing rod. How many fishing rods are used in bank robberies and murders each year in England?

"Pump installation and warranty guide for the CT range of pumps Important - read this first! Correct installation is the guarantee of safety and a trouble free system. It is therefore important to read these instructions thoroughly and ensure you comply with them. Incorrect fitting will invalidate the warranty. If your installation is complicated or you have any questions please CONSULT THE PUMPWISE TECHNICAL HELPLINE IMMEDIATELY on 0191 516 2002 (01844-3212 ROI). We encourage installers to consult the PumpWise helpline, where our representatives can give you first-rate advice regarding installation DO NOT REMOVE YOUR PUMP FROM THE SYSTEM WITHOUT FIRST RINGING PUMPWISE ON 0191 516 2002 (01844-3212 ROI). Please leave this instruction booklet with the customer for reference to maintenance, safety information and details of warranty cover. Thank you for choosing Salamander Pumps."

Wondering if maybe it has a safety device that lets the cold water run for 15 seconds before the hot comes through to prevent scalding. Or maybe the opposite, the cold water doesn't come on until the hot reaches a certain temperature to avoid ruining your prospects for the evening? 😆 If the hot and cold supply were fitted the wrong way round you might get weird behaviour. If you post the make model of the pump we could do some communal research to see if the above is plausible. Ugh, technology - what was wrong with the tin bath in front of a coal fire anyways..?

So sorry to hear this. PW is like a gathering of brothers and sisters, and we will be poorer for your leaving us, whether or not we have ever interacted with you directly.