One per household, just pay £1.99 postage
https://www.westminstercollection.com/commemoratives/popular-culture/2025/the-ve-day-pin-badge-upsell.aspx?prodsn=u&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0BMABhZGlkAAAGCzz5_7IBHRvoDkXmmywLGpw19RAYis6RzVU8KLr0BuMBGv1AUlFrih72NbeW3cqTOQ_aem_QiiMVfpJmAhuRiVjFlMoOg&utm_medium=paid&utm_source=fb&utm_id=6645253987594_v2_s02&utm_content=6645324181194&utm_term=6645324180994&utm_campaign=6645253987594
Anything !
An open Group where anything can be discussed by anybody, as long as you are polite, respect others opinions, and behave !!!
Open Loop 911
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The BBC's 2023/24 annual report shows that senior managers who are LGBT earn 15.6% more than those who are not, with senior managers from Black, Asian, and ethnic minority backgrounds (BAME) earning 12.6% more than their white counterparts.
Here's a more detailed breakdown of the information:
LGBT Senior Managers:
The BBC's 2023/24 annual report reveals that senior managers identifying as LGBT earn 15.6% more than those who do not.
BAME Senior Managers:
Senior managers from Black, Asian, and other ethnic minority backgrounds (BAME) earn a median average 12.6% more than those who are white.
Other Pay Gaps:
The report also shows that those with a recognized disability earn around 8% more than colleagues without one, while women earn 5% more than men.
Criticism and Context:
These figures have led to criticism and questions about the BBC's commitment to equal pay, with some arguing that the corporation is not paying staff based on merit.
BBC's Response:
The BBC has committed to equal pay, but the figures have led to questions about how equal the licence fee funded pay scales are. -
This is why many Americans are ignorant of science.
With teachers like that I'm not surprised that many Americans are so ignorant of science.
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Musk offers to pay for a new party!!
https://youtu.be/_2uXGuvyazo?si=pxfnUg2S5M6TXiEC -
Vance misrepresents actions in the UK
Saying there is no freedom of speech
but he misses out the important detail of why the man was prosecuted
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNdeVusQq/ -
There was an interesting programme on BBC1 this afternoon, the Commonwealth Day service from Westminster Abbey.
Twenty one years ago I was asked if I would give permission to allow my daughter to join with her Brownie pack, to escort the Queen down the aisle of Westminster Abbey, to celebrate Commonwealth Day. Of course it wasn't something you needed to think about, permission was instantaneous. Then there was the thought of how can you get a ticket to attend a Royal event. In reality quite easily, a phone call to the Abbey, a redirection from them and I was talking to the lady organising the event. A quick chat and the ticket was mine.
The Commonwealth remains an important body of nation/people throughout the world and then, as today, there were people from many nations in the Abbey.
That set me wondering! If Trump decides he will attempt a land grab over Canada, will he in fact be taking on a host of other nations as well. And what reaction would he expect from the King as Head of the Commonwealth, especially as he feels slighted by the King meeting Zelensky before meeting him?
Greenland may not want Denmark to help if there is a grab there, but would Canada, hope for, want and expect the rest of the Commonwealth to assist in fighting off the pariah known as Trump? -
The uncomfortable truth about solar panels. (Edited)
This was on an Al Jazeera programme called 101 East. So there is no weblink.
In China they are increasing the output of coal fired power stations to meet the demand for producing solar panels for The West; so we can feel good about "saving the planet".
And we all know about the child labour in Congolese lithium and cobalt mines which is needed for EVs.
Is the rush to get to NetZero by a target date really a good thing for the whole world? -
History Teaches... (Edited)
There was a rich man who owned a national chain of jewellery shops who announced that his best sellers were c**p.
Gerald Ratner's stupidity is legend. He destroyed his own business.
Elon Musk is an Immensely rich man whose wealth revolves round his company's car sales.
He has away of saluting people's intelligence too.
Would you buy a new or used Tesla car now?
https://futurism.com/numbers-consumers-against-tesla -
Ex Bank of England Chief to be next Canadian PM
Mark Carney will replace Justin Trudeau as the next Canadian Prime Minister.
In his acceptance speech, the former head of the UK and Canada's central banks says his nation faces "dark, dark days, brought on by a country we can no longer trust"
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cg4k2l204zqt?post=asset%3A90b8b45d-43e2-4a62-b8f7-909b6ca43e97 -
https://www.politico.eu/article/european-council-summit-donald-trump-war-in-ukraine-peace-talks/
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Is there a war on dogs where you live?
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/feb/26/poo-and-punishment-is-there-really-a-war-on-dogs-in-england-and-wales
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Gene Hackman and his wife found dead
Developing story 😢
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14442071/amp/Gene-Hackman-wife-Betsy-Arakawa-dead-Santa-Fe-home.html -
Overturning the last governments policy
Brings a Ukrainian family together
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cqjd78jpqj9o.amp -
Here’s a long and very interesting piece on Donald Trump by Sidney Blumenthal https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/mar/09/sycophancy-toadying-trump-self-aggrandizement It could have done with a little copy-editing in places to reconstruct a few sentences to make them clearer, but I dare say the Guardian may have agreed to leave it untouched. It really is a horrifying tale. Would the British electorate vote in such numbers for someone so appallingly unsuitable? I do hope not. And I really, really wish someone would assassinate Trump before more damage is done.
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Skype Shutdown - 5 May 2025 (Edited)
No problem. Microsoft Teams Personal is exactly the same in layout, format and operation. There is no difference I can see. Messaging (chat), audio and video.
You will have to download the appropriate app for desktop or mobile. I have a desktop, the Teams app is shown below, it may also cover mobile.
When installing, use the same email address as you have for Skype. It goes quite easy.
Teams searches your email and Skype for those contacts who are on Teams and lists them.
You will have to invite your contacts not listed to join Teams using their email address in the search box. An email will then be sent to them.
I myself and two friends have already done this and Teams is working perfectly, exactly as on Skype.
Try this -
https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/microsoft-teams/teams-for-home?msockid=3a67d2a3fab964d508bdc70bfb8165d0 -
Land Register search fees may be dropped
https://whoownsengland.org/2025/03/06/huge-win-government-announces-plan-to-open-up-land-registry/
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Racist eats in a Mexican restaurant
Then tells them she hopes they get deported!
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNderwUaL/ -
...but I've stopped laughing now!
https://news.stv.tv/west-central/trump-turnberry-golf-courses-dug-up-and-buildings-daubed-with-red-paint-by-protesters -
Unlike Trump and the US, Brazil’s tariffs on incoming food is being taken off
https://www.ft.com/content/7605b78d-610e-4dea-b253-e75a3d816cde -
Ranked in Order Most Influential Countries in the World
What a surprise - the UK is held in such a high esteem, astronomically higher than Russia.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/the-30-most-influential-countries-in-the-world-where-does-the-uk-rank/ss-AA1AoQ29?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=458b277f283b4c8bbe0701bf85b5d832&ei=22 -
So when will the USA start bombing Ukraine?
They've withdrawn the possibility of defending Ukraine.
They've withdrawn the ability to know when and where attacks will occur, which will undoubtedly cause deaths.
There is only one action the Americans have not done, and that is to attack Ukraine!
Trump is out to get an unconditional surrender to and for the Russians. I presume he has made a rare earth deal with Putin to share whatever is under the sovereign land we know as Ukraine.
I doubt it will be long before there is a name change. The new country could be called Pump! -
Free Meat Grinders to Mothers who's Sons have been killed
Very appropriate,, but disgustingly insulting bad taste.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14472623/Fury-Putin-gifts-grieving-war-mothers-MEAT-GRINDERS-1-000-soldiers-die-one-day-Ukrainian-frontline.html -
Shifty Shift... (Edited)
US President Donald Trump has decided to give a one-month tariff exemption on vehicles coming into the United States through a trade agreement between the US, Mexico and Canada, the White House spokesperson said Wednesday, a decision meant to support US automakers.
Karoline Leavitt, the spokesperson, made the announcement, after Trump held a call with the leaders of the big three automakers -- General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis.
[ Is it possible Trump needed reminding Ford and GM each donated $1 million and contributed vehicles to Trump's inauguration and Automaker Stellantis NV contributed $1 million to President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration too? ]
Give the man credit, he openly approves of business "facilated by financial inducements". -
BlackRock (US Company) to buy Panama ports
https://www.financialexpress.com/world-news/blackrock-to-buy-panama-ports-heres-what-it-means/3767537/
