Avoid the racists and trolls come and chat/post about anything friendly, helpful, interesting or funny. No racist/religious remarks, politics, abusive or personal comments. Thanks.
Open Loop 36
Price of first class stamps to rise to £1.80
Royal Mail prioritises parcels over letters despite the amount charged.
Last year Royal Mail was fined £21m after a quarter of first-class post arrived late.
It sounds as though Royal Mail intends to resolve the situation by making the post too expensive to use. No letters - no problem!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgv497gndno
Soham murderer Ian Huntley seriously injured in prison attack
Huntley is currently serving a life sentence after he was convicted of murdering schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in August 2002.
Although the Prison Service did not confirm the identity of the injured prisoner, it confirmed an inmate is receiving treatment.
"It would be inappropriate to comment further while police investigate," a Prison Service spokesperson added.
It is understood the attack on Huntley happened in a prison workshop just before 09:30 GMT.
An air ambulance was dispatched to HMP Frankland, but the North East Ambulance Service spokesperson said the injured inmate was taken to hospital by road.
Durham Constabulary confirmed a police investigation is under way and that detectives are liaising with staff at the prison.
"Police were alerted to an assault which had taken place within HMP Frankland in Durham this morning," a Durham police spokesman said.
"A male prisoner suffered serious injuries during the incident and was transported to hospital."
The deaths of 10-year-olds Jessica and Holly in the quiet Cambridgeshire village of Soham on 4 August 2002 shocked the country.
Their bodies were found in a ditch near an air base in Lakenheath, Suffolk, two weeks after they disappeared.
Huntley, who was a caretaker at Soham Village College, was arrested and then convicted on 17 December 2003 following a trial at the Old Bailey.
He was ordered to serve a minimum of 40 years in prison before he could be considered for release.
His girlfriend Maxine Carr, a teaching assistant at the girls' primary school, was also jailed in 2003 after being found guilty of conspiring to pervert the course of justice.
After his arrest, it emerged Huntley - now aged 52 - had been able to work with children despite being the subject of rape and sexual assault complaints.
Huntley had been the subject of a series of complaints made to police in Humberside, where he had worked before.
A subsequent inquiry led to criminal checks on anyone working with children.
It is not the first time Huntley has been injured while serving time in prison.
In September 2005 Huntley was scalded with boiling water at HMP Wakefield. He had been in the health care wing of the West Yorkshire jail at the time of the attack.
In 2008 Huntley was moved to HMP Frankland, a Category A high security men's prison.
While at HMP Frankland he was attacked and slashed across the throat in March 2010 by a prisoner who was said to have been armed with a razor blade.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1mjx1grj3yo
A post in the Politics group on the state of the UK's defences prompted me to carry out some research and I came across this. Some of you may remember the advert.
Anyone with rudimentary knowledge of contract law would know the claim could not succeed - but this was in America.
https://www.slashgear.com/1104315/the-incredible-story-of-pepsis-harrier-jet-giveaway/
Signs of Spring (Edited)
More daylights, earlier sunrise, dawn chorus....and the sounds of building works!
I didn't ask why neighbour need to dig up concrete when they gave us advanced notice
A war bunker should come in handy with how the human race are heading!! :-(
Or are they just telling it like it is
Most of the time
https://youtube.com/shorts/T6HnbY1e870?si=1jXeXW5AQ2wP8axo
Birthday treat (Edited)
A woman decided to celebrate her 70th birthday by treating herself to one night in a very nice hotel. The next morning, when she went to check out, the desk clerk gave her a bill for £250. She was shocked and asked why it was so expensive. “I agree it’s a nice hotel, but the room isn’t worth £250 for just one night — I didn’t even have breakfast,” she said. The clerk explained that £250 was the standard rate, and breakfast was included if she had chosen to have it.
She asked to speak with the manager. The manager came out, already informed about the complaint, and said, “Our hotel has an Olympic-sized swimming pool and a large conference centre that guests can use.”
“But I didn’t use them,” she replied.
“Well, they are available, and you could have used them,” he answered.
He continued, saying the hotel also offered famous in-house shows with top entertainers from around the world.
“But I didn’t attend any of those shows,” she said.
“They are available, and you could have gone,” the manager repeated.
Every time the manager mentioned another facility, she answered, “But I didn’t use it,” and he kept giving the same reply.
After several minutes of going back and forth, and seeing that the manager would not change his mind, she agreed to pay. She wrote a check and handed it to him.
The manager looked at it and said, “Madam, this check is for only £50.”
“That’s right,” she said. “I charged you £200 for sleeping with me.”
“But I didn’t do that!” the manager replied.
“Well,” she answered calmly, “I was here, and you could have.”
How do you record your passwords? (Edited)
Click below to comment.
https://www.scooploop.com/thread/how-do-you-record-your-passwords
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-15605689/Boil-bag-funerals-Britain-Scotland.html
Interesting story about Doris Day in the music loop.
https://www.scooploop.com/thread/the-truth-about-doris-day
Forever Chemicals in our water.
This subject was brought up by a presenter in my former workplace, but the subject has reared its ugly head again.
Does anyone filter their drinking water? If not should you? Read the following piece. I bought myself a Brita filter jug a long time ago that uses removable activated carbon filters. Each one lasts about 4-5 weeks.
“There are about 15,000 chemicals, technically known as per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), used in a wide range of products – including clothing, cookware and cosmetics. They are prized for their non-stick properties and their indestructibility, making everyday products stain- and water-resistant. But that also means they can take centuries to break down in soil or water.
When it comes to health risks, scientists have only really scratched the surface. Many PFAS are extremely rare or unlikely to cause any harm. But others are toxic and much more prevalent. The Drinking Water Inspectorate says that the levels of PFAS detected in some water abstracted for drinking “has no acute or immediate impact on human health,” and the Government says there’s no evidence that PFAS concentration has exceeded its safety guidelines. I’d take that statement with a pinch of salt.
Prolonged exposure to PFAS has been linked to health problems, such as kidney cancer, pregnancy complications and suppressed immune systems. They are also known to disrupt reproduction, metabolism and development in fish, have been linked to impacts on immune, blood and kidney function in bottlenose dolphins and have even been connected to neurological impacts on polar bears. PFAS pause a substantial risk to human health.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq57j559eq4o?at_link_type=web_link&at_campaign_type=owned&at_format=link&at_medium=social&at_ptr_name=facebook_page&at_link_id=AF904E50-1492-11F1-AAF5-8112697EE535&at_bbc_team=editorial&at_campaign=Social_Flow&at_link_origin=BBC_News&fbclid=IwY2xjawQPyMRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeZWuGbuOWBv1NVLzylYMrUXMn-UEZsxKCs9qJV1NGViA53og4U2birv228ak_aem_frYKgkYNPVSjpoMffU15fw
Seen at the side of the road, does he/she ger a choice of shampoo? Head and Shoulders is a bit limiting maybe Pantene.
Woman posted her luggage for £2.59 rather than paying to take it on the plane
A woman shipped a month's worth of clothing to her destination for £2.59 instead of paying Ryanair's £30 luggage charge on her flight.
Laura Poole, 33, from Cardiff, avoided the additional charge and squeezed her outfits into a gym bag wrapped it in a Lidl carrier bag and dropped it off at her local Tesco Express InPost locker. She then flew from Bristol to Glasgow on February 22, paying just £57.48 for her return flights.
Laura, who was staying in Glasgow for a month on business, shipped at least five outfits including suit jackets and dresses all for just £2.59, saving £27.41 on the trip.
She dropped off her parcel on the Thursday evening before her Sunday morning flight and it arrived safely in Glasgow just after she arrived.
Inspired by Vinted and their parcel shipping process, Laura has received comments from trolls saying she is "stupid", but has also been hailed a "genius" online.
Laura, a public speaker and trainer, said: "I have better things to spend my money on. I actually did it before, this is the second time I've done it. So I knew it worked.
"I got the idea from Vinted because they're using InPost lockers for that. I was curious and thought: 'I wonder how much it is?' If it's only that much for postage on Vinted it can't be as much as Royal Mail.
"I've always been really frugal and am part of the FIRE community - financial independence and retire early. Lots of people are super frugal and I have better things to spend my money on than really expensive baggage fees.
"I'm here for a month this time as well and I thought I'm going to need more than a backpack, so I got my gym bag, stuffed it with clothes and wrapped it in a Lidl bag and taped it up. People on Vinted send stuff in anything - I thought 'that'll do'."
Laura also packed enough clothes to last her two to three days in her cabin backpack. "I would not post anything that I loved," she added.
"For example I've got a scarf I've had for 10 years and my grandad's T-shirts - who is not around anymore. That stuff goes in my backpack.
"Obviously I don't want to lose my clothes and there are lots of clothes in there. It's insured for up to £50. My thought process is if anything goes wrong, or it doesn't arrive in time, I've got time to buy news clothes.
"I do public speaking so I need to look good. Suit jackets, trousers, all sorts I threw it all in, dresses as well. I must have at least five different outfits and then loungewear and stuff as well."
Sharing her plans on Facebook, her post went viral. She added: "There are always trolls whenever anything goes that big and people are always negative, but overall I've never been called a genius so much in my life."
She will use the InPost locker system when she returns from the trip next month and will save another £27.41.
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/woman-posted-her-luggage-2-101321644.html
It's lovely to see what the warmer weather does.
It brings out new little friends.
My back garden this morning.
You've probably done it in the past without knowing what it was called, or that it even had a name.
Jeffing is when you run for a while, then walk for a few minutes, then run again.
Warning - Check First Aid Kits
I have received this message from the local Hampshire County Council Community Engagement Ranger (Access Team).
I appreciate that not everyone on this email list is an Access team Path Warden, however I wanted to contact everyone who has a Path Warden kit to please check the sterile wound cleansing wipes in the first aid kit.
If you have any matching the brands detailed below, please throw them away!
(Please see image for information.)
Two prawns were swimming around in the ocean.
One called Justin and the other called Kristian.
The prawns were constantly being harassed and threatened by sharks that inhabited the area:
Finally one day Justin said to Kristian. "I'm fed up with being a prawn. I wish I was a shark and then I wouldn't have any worries about being eaten."
A large mysterious cod appeared and said. "Your wish is granted"
Low and behold, Justin turned into a shark.
Horrified, Kristian immediately swam away, afraid of being eaten by his old mate.
Time passed (as it does) and Justin found life as a shark boring and lonely All his old mates simply swam away whenever he came close to them. Justin didn't realise that his new menacing appearance was the cause of his sad plight.
While swimming alone one day he saw the mysterious cod again and he thought perhaps the mysterious fish could change him back into a prawn..
He approached the cod and begged to be changed back, and, lo and behold, he found himself turned back into a prawn.
With tears of joy in his tiny little eyes Justin swam to Kristian's home. As he opened the coral gate, memories came flooding back.
He banged on the door and shouted. "It's me, Justin, your old friend, come out and see me again."
Kristian replied. "No way man, you'll eat me. You're now a shark, the enemy and I'll not be tricked into being your dinner."
Justin cried back. "No, I'm not. That was the old me. I've changed.......
I've found Cod. I'm a Prawn again Kristian."
First British baby born using transplanted womb from dead donor
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg53xp5857o
The BBC transmitted the BAFTAls with a two hour delay so it could be edited to fit in the schedules. Plenty of time to also edit out anything offensive, or bleep it.
Yet they kept in the edit someone in the audience shouting the N word at two black men on the stage. But they did edit out someone who mentioned free Palestine in their acceptance speech.
The man who shouted does have Tourettes, so he couldn't help it really.
I streamed all three episodes last night. It was a real eye opener. What surprised me was, The Environment Agency were complicit in the cover up of water companies dumping UNTREATED SEWAGE into the environment ie rivers etc even in fine weather. They are disgraceful.
Water companies in England and Wales have been releasing large amounts of untreated or partially treated wastewater into rivers, lakes, and the sea — often far beyond what many people would expect or accept:
In 2024 English water companies collectively discharged untreated sewage for over 3.6 million hours into waterways, a record high.
Some companies have been accused of illegal discharges or operating outside their environmental permits — including through emergency pipes not meant for regular dumping.
In recent years, individual companies such as Yorkshire Water and others have been fined for pollution offences for repeatedly allowing sewage to enter local waters.
🧪 Impacts on health and environment
Sewage in waterways carries bacteria and pathogens like E. coli and cryptosporidium, harming wildlife and posing health risks to people who swim or recreate in affected rivers and coasts.
Contamination has been linked to swimmers falling ill and aquatic ecosystems suffering from reduced water quality.
High levels of pollution have sparked media, public health, and political reactions — including a drama highlighting the crisis’ severity.
An eight year old changed a family’s life (Edited)
I saw this on Facebook but wasn’t sure if it was true so looked it up. From 2023 . A little boy’s hunch and suggestion to set up a go fund me made a big difference
https://www.upworthy.com/boy-raises-100000-waffle-house
It made her feel like legging it
A wife comes home late one night and quietly opens the door to her bedroom. Under the blanket she sees four legs instead of just her husband's two.
She reaches for a baseball bat and starts hitting the blanket as hard as she can. Once she's done, she goes to the kitchen to have a drink.
As she enters. she sees her husband there. reading a magazine.
He says, "Hi darling, your parents have come to visit us, so I let them stay in our bedroom. Did you say hello?"
Sarah Ferguson checked herself into the world's most expensive wellness clinic
Sarah Ferguson checked herself into the most expensive wellness clinic as details about her close friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein ruined her, the Daily Mail can reveal.
The former Duchess of York, 66, fled the UK as she and her ex-husband became embroiled in the growing Epstein scandal which culminated in his arrest on Thursday.
While Andrew was photographed repeatedly in Windsor and then on the Sandringham estate, Ms Ferguson has not been seen in public since her fleeting appearance at her granddaughter Athena’s Christening at St James’s Palace on December 12.
This prompted global speculation about where the former royal has been living - and the Daily Mail has now established that, for much of the time, she has been sheltering in a famous Swiss clinic.
Fergie secretly took refuge in the world-renowned £13,000-a-day Paracelsus Recovery Clinic in Zurich, Switzerland, over a month ago.
A Swiss source told the Daily Mail: ‘Sarah left for Zurich just after Christmas, and stayed until the end of January.
‘She always feels at home at Paracelsus, and knows she’ll get love and attention there, as well as expert health treatment when she’s feeling at her most vulnerable.’
The lakeside clinic offers several different month-long recovery programmes for ultra-wealthy clients. Individuals will have access to 15 medical experts, as well as a chauffeur and a private chef.
Another friend in Switzerland told the Daily Mail Ms Ferguson - a regular Paracelsus client - was said to have been ‘absolutely crushed’ by the email exchanges being publicly released.
The friend said: ‘Sarah has built up a strong relationship with Paracelsus, so it was the obvious place for her to get away from everything.’
Following the prolonged stay at the clinic, thought to have lasted several weeks, the globe-trotting former royal is subsequently thought to have spent time in both the French Alps and the United Arab Emirates.
Following the release of millions of the so-called Epstein files by the United States’ Justice Department, Ms Ferguson’s entangled relationship with the financier became clear.
Emails revealed that the former duchess and her beleaquered ex-husband Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, hac kept up their close friendship with the paedophile even after he was first convicted of procuring a minor for prostiution.
Embarrassing emails showed her begging Epstein to help pay off her mounting debts, even asking him to employ her as his house assistant as she 'desperately' needed cash - despite knowing he was still under house arrest in Florida for child prostitution.
In another email, she issued a grovelling apology for publicly denouncing him claiming it had only been to protect her career as a children's author, teling him he had been a 'steadfast, generous and supreme friend"
The most damning evidence, however revealed that she took her dauahters Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, ta have lunch with Epstein five days after his release.
It is perhaps unsurprising then that Ms Ferguson took to Paracelsus, which has been described as a ‘sanctuary where individuals can receive the highest standard of care, free of judgement’, according to its founder, Jan Gerber.
The former duchess has previously visited the clinic and was involved in its promotional work last vear where she appeared in a social media video with Mr Gerber.
Throughout the conversation, she describes how the traumatic experiences surrounding her childhood and being in the public eve, combined with her cancer diagnosis, led her ta seek mental health support.
She went on to allege that she was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) while at the clinic.
Following the conversation in June, she wrote on Facebook: 'I recently spent time at Paracelsus Recovery in Zurich, a clinic known for its discreet, bespoke care for those facing complex mental health and addiction challenges, to learn more.
What I found was not onlv a centre of clinical excellence, but a place of deep humanity.
She later added while speaking with the Daily Telegraph: '1 am not embarrassed to reveal the clinic offered me a sanctuary, renowned as it is for its bespoke, cutting-edge treatment for those grappling with mental health and addiction issues - particularly those whose struggles are often hidden behino the facade of a public role.'
Paracelsus treatment is 'one client at a time'. as a team of at least 15 experts including doctors, therapists ana nutritionists, 'create a space where you can feel safe, understood and fully supporteď.
The clinic specialises in the treatment of a number of conditions, including addiction, burnout, depression, anxiety and trauma' and is widely considerea the most expensive wellness clinic in the world.
It charges around £110,000 for a three-day 'comprehensive check-up' or £350,000 for a one-month residential programme, which is fully customised
Celebrities, oligarchs, and royalty who stay here are given top-tier treatment and access to the best addiction treatment providers anywhere,' the clinic boasts on its website.
Clients stay in a penthouse with lake views and have access to concierge ana imousine services as well as a personal chef, butler, and an on-site therapist.
The costly nature of the clinic, however, begs the question of how Ms Ferquson, who over the vears has suffered from various money woes, could pay for her stay.
The former duchess last week openly told friends in the UAE, where she is currently residing: 'I need to get back ta work. I need money.
Yet the fact that Ms Ferguson appears in an endorsement on the Paracelsus website - published just days ago - where she said her stay showed her mental health knows no boundaries' suggests the visit could have been free.
Fergie has also repeatedly promoted the clinic on her own social media pages, such as Facebook and Instagram.
She added: 'It affects individuals across all walks of life, and it is imperative that we continue to break down the barriers of stiqma and silence.
'As a society, we need to foster an environment where seeking help is seen as a strength, not a weakness.
Since her stay, Fergie has been spending time in the UAE, and, according to royal watchers, linking up with her daughter Princess Eugenie, 35, who was in Qatar for the Art Basel fair.
She is said to be lying low in Doha Qatar, as she continues to 'get her head together' and plot a comeback.
She is understood to be already scouting around for a new PR team to represent her as she plans her return to the UK, however. some friends are sceptical she would be able to restart her life here.
Royal author Andrew Lownie, who wrote a damning book on the scandal-hit couple, believes that multi-millionaires in Dubai and the surrounding countries of Bahrain and Qatar will probably be bankrolling Fergie already.
He said: 'In Britain, neither Sarah nor Andrew will be socially accepted aqain, whatever they try to do or wherever they go. But in the Middle East. no one will care about what they have got up to.
'There are people there - royalty politicians and business types - whom Sarah can quite happily sponge off and who will be happy to bankroll both of them.
‘These types of people in the Middle East simply couldn’t care less what Sarah has done. And even if she doesn’t have her title of the Duchess of York anymore, she will still be seen as royalty and treated as such - and she knows it.’
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15577273/Sarah-Ferguson-wellness-clinic-friendship-Jeffrey-Epstein.html
GB's Zoe Atkin has just won bronze in the Women's Free Ski Halfpipe, 0.5 points behind the silver medal.
Gold - Eileen Gu (China) - 94.75 points
Silver - Li Fanghui (China) - 93.00
Bronze - Zoe Atkin (Great Britain) - 92.50
Received this today. I've been with the same dentist for over 30 years, from NHS to Denplan and currently pay about £40 pm. I have to say I think this is shocking. Cut and pasted.
We would like to take this opportunity to remind all patients of our practice policy regarding treatment deposits.
A £50 deposit is required at the time of booking any treatment appointment. This policy has been in place at the practice for many years and applies to all patients, regardless of how long you have been registered with us.
For more extensive or longer appointments, a higher deposit may be requested at the clinician’s discretion. This will be discussed with you at the time of booking.
Please note that if a treatment appointment is cancelled within 48 hours, the deposit may be forfeited at the discretion of the practice. In such cases, a new deposit will be required in order to secure a further treatment appointment.
This policy allows us to manage our clinical diary effectively and ensure appointment availability for all patients who require care.
We thank you for your understanding and continued support.
Men's Curling Final tonight at 18:05.
It's all been brilliant so far and I've thoroughly enjoyed the skill, teamwork and camaraderie.
I have no idea how I'm going to fill my time once it's over, but sincerely hope the lads keep it together and win Gold. 🇬🇧🏆🇬🇧💛🇬🇧
A TFL advert which was shown on social media has been banned. The ad features a black teenage boy harrassing a white girl on a bus. It asks other passengers to "become the girls friend" to diffuse the situation.
The complaint was it showed a black stereotype.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1w50zzvj1jo
Feeling guilty..... (Edited)
Today, I had a delivery for some composite fence panels, I had to manually sign & print my name twice on two pieces of papers, he then gave me one of them to keep as proof of delivery
After the delivery has been completed, I picked up the delivery form I've left in the hallway, and there was his pen underneath
I do hope he has more pens in his lorry....
Andrew Mountbatten Windsor has been arrested
Andrew Mountbatten Windsor has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office
Police say King Charles's brother is in custody and officers are carrying out searches at addresses in Berkshire and Norfolk - read the police statement in full
Photos show cars arriving at the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk earlier this morning
It comes after Thames Valley Police said they were assessing a complaint over the alleged sharing of confidential material by the former prince with late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein
Andrew, who turns 66 today, has consistently and strenuously denied any wrongdoing
An AI-generated video shows a crowd of young - mostly black - men, wearing balaclavas and padded jackets, slipping down a water slide into a dirty swimming pool with litter bobbing on the surface. The caption describes the scene as a taxpayer-funded water park in Croydon.
It is one of a wave of deepfakes showing often absurd scenes of urban decline, and regularly purporting to be in the same south London neighbourhood. Dozens of copycat accounts have begun producing similar content and collectively they have racked up millions of views across TikTok and Instagram Reels.
...to tell me a joke. She said...
"What do you call a dinosaur fart?"
"A blast from the past!"
What have you got Alexa to do?
