Jury selection starts on Monday.
Or does it?

Trump can sack his defence team to enforce a delay...

Trump the superfit genius could have a sudden illness...

Do you regard the first criminal trial of an ex US President as really important?

NB the trial is expected to take 6 weeks - this might be a long running post.

Over half of US adults have a literacy rate below the sixth-grade level, according to the National Literacy Institute. If you think education is expensive, the cost of not educating kids is higher. Three-quarters of people on welfare can’t read, while kids who drop out of school end up costing society over $40 billion a year in social services and lost tax dollars. Numeracy rates are even lower.

One reason no one talks about things like literacy is that it’s just too embarrassing to admit that, in the richest countries in the world, literary rates are so low. Talking about a president's sex life is now normal, but when it comes to reading and writing … it seems that’s better left unsaid.

Source GZero

Your thoughts?

What do you think?

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-13403643/amp/Willie-Kirk-Leicester-manager-sacked-breaks-silence-treated-criminal-WSL.html?ico=amp_related_replace

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/full-list-of-84-areas-in-the-uk-where-landlines-will-be-switched-off-check-postcode/ar-BB1mgeOa?ocid=msedgntphdr&cvid=5fefb6ecadd64253a52b8078571850e7&ei=65

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/joe-biden-calls-kim-jong-un-president-of-south-korea-in-yet-another-awkward-gaffe/ar-BB1mg3ik?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=86fbf46e947640c3905708f07c13cbf9&ei=61

Hi

In a couple of weeks (Sunday 12th May) I'll be taking part in the Marsden March - A fifteen mile sponsored walk from near the Marsden Hospital in Chelsea to the other Marsden Hospital in Sutton, passing through Putney, Wimbledon Common, Raynes Park, Stonecot Hill, North Cheam, Cheam and Belmont. The aim is to raise money for the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity - The Marsden's target this year is to raise one and a half million pounds with around 5000 walkers.

Some of you have already donated to my Marsden fund (thank you for that). If anybody else would like to contribute my fundraising page can be found at:

https://march.royalmarsden.org/fundraisers/tonylang/marsden-march

I've lost a lot of friends and family to various forms of cancer and the Marsden cured the cancer of a good friend, so I'd like to raise as much money as I can.

The website of the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity gives more detail about the March at:
https://www.royalmarsden.org/support-us/banham-marsden-march

Every donation helps to make a difference, so please support me however you can.

I'll be starting at around 9am and I'm aiming for a time of four and a half hours or better, which I think is a reasonable time as I'm 63.

I have a tracking app on my phone and I'll post the results and some photos later.

Thanks in advance.

Cheers.

Tony

On a recent trip, I fell head over heels in love with Scotland. From Edinburgh to Loch Ness, its beauty left me speechless.
Over the last year, visiting various places in the UK, I've been struck at how beautiful so many places around us are. Countryside, villages, meeting friendly welcoming locals has been such fun
We should all be very proud x

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGeQsmCNu/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy63wwp50jjo

https://news.sky.com/story/amp/auriol-grey-woman-who-caused-cyclist-to-fall-into-road-has-manslaughter-conviction-overturned-13131427?dicbo=v2-vqB3dVG

I can't believe how beautiful it is tonight In Iver Heath.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/gallery/2024/may/10/2024-comedy-pet-photo-awards-in-pictures

Very sad that he is still struggling to get compensation and astonishing how few actually realise it - less than 10%

https://amp.theguardian.com/commentisfree/article/2024/may/11/wrongly-imprisoned-17-years-legal-maze

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/crime/christopher-gregor-corey-micciolo-treadmill-new-jersey-b2538881.html

Magna Carta

https://news.sky.com/story/amp/just-stop-oil-protesters-in-their-80s-target-magna-carta-13132732

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8vz02lrnz7o.amp

Chases parked cars.

https://www.theguardian.com/science/article/2024/may/09/uk-toddler-has-hearing-restored-in-world-first-gene-therapy-trial

Apologies for posting a depressing report, but if your pharmacy can’t supply your medicine, this is why https://www.theguardian.com/society/article/2024/may/09/medicine-shortages-in-england-beyond-critical-pharmacists-warn

A nine-year-old double amputee boy, Tony Hudgell, missed the King's garden party due to a traffic jam on the M20. Buckingham Palace responded to Tony's disappointment on social media, inviting him to attend another day.

Tony, who had both legs amputated after being abused as a baby, had received a special invitation to the party.

The family's journey to London was hindered by a lorry fire on the motorway, causing them to abandon their trip.

Despite the setback, Tony remained in good spirits throughout the ordeal.

Due to upcoming surgery, the family is uncertain when they will be able to reschedule their visit to Buckingham Palace.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp4geqq5ydlo.amp

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-68966497

https://amp.theguardian.com/uk-news/article/2024/may/05/north-yorkshires-dropped-apostrophe-for-street-signs-upsets-residents

Scientists postulate the Universe is made up of protons, neutrons and electrons.

Yet to explain why we meet morons regularly?

Charm, grace and smooth book promotion skills https://twitter.com/MollyJongFast/status/1780215571327451265 (click the vid for sound)

A 5 month old baby has died of a cardiac arrest whilst visiting Legoland with its parent. A woman has been arrested for neglect but sounds to me like the baby probably had a medical condition and just died naturally.
But we haven't seen pictures of the baby. Did it look mistreated, dirty clothes etc.
Keeping an open mind
https://www.gbnews.com/news/legoland-baby-dies-cardiac-arrest-neglect-incident

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/road-rage-driver-dorset-viral-court-b2540782.html

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68716467.amp

And the most he can get is five years!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-68961875

For followers of fashion

https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/gallery/2024/may/06/met-gala-in-pictures

My thoughts

I liked Donatella Versace’s, I thought Lizzo’s ridiculous 😂

When cyclists overtake me as well as motorbikes and scooters, I think surely the speed limit applies to them too, apparently it doesn’t.
Hilda Griffiths, aged 81, died two months after the collision which happened shortly after 7am on a Saturday morning in June 2022, in which she sustained injuries including several broken bones and bleeding on the brain, reports Telegraph.co.uk (link is external).
Inner West London Coroner’s Court heard that the cyclist, Brian Fitzgerald, who works as a banker with Credit Suisse, was riding at a speed of between 25mph and 29mph as he undertook laps of the park, a popular destination with the capital’s cyclists, in a pace line with fellow members of the Muswell Hill Peloton club.
The speed limit in the park is 20mph, but the Metropolitan Police Service confirmed that it does not apply to people riding bicycles, and that the case had been closed because there was “insufficient evidence for a real prospect of conviction.”

After being ordered to rebuild it the owners appealed , they even asked to build it in a different place, now the enquiry that was to take place has also stalled as the 6 people arrested are yet to go to court

https://www.itv.com/news/central/2024-04-30/inquiry-into-crooked-house-rebuild-postponed-after-owners-appeal

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/anti-monarchy-group-holds-rally-ahead-of-anniversary-of-king-s-coronation/ar-BB1lRtwT?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=784ee5c8f03d458afe1438913fc46597&ei=33

A question for all the good cooks on Scooploop.
I have guests coming for dinner on Wednesday and I'm planning to serve roast leg of lamb will all the trimmings.
The problem is how long to cook it.
I have a 3.116kg leg of lamb and the label says 8 minutes per 100g at 170 degrees, which adds up to 249 minutes or over four hours, which seems a lot.
I've looked up various websites to see how long it needs to be in the oven and the suggested times include 158 minutes, 186 minutes, 124 minutes, 140 minutes and 207 minutes, with temperatures varying from 170 degrees to 200 degrees.
I like lamb well done rather than pink.
So if you cook leg of lamb on a regular basis how long would you cook it for and at what temperature for it to be well done?
I have a fan oven.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cw0vnkp8rzro

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-68962192.amp

Does anyone remember when he was Yosser in Boys from the Blackstuff ?

I don’t think so

https://www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/news/2024/05/three-teenagers-jailed-for-killing-mikey-roynon/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-68950907

What a shame it has now come to this

All these years on - her daughter dispels the myth she died of choking on a sandwich

Mama Cass died of a heart attack

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-68949240

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13383431/amp/britain-fattest-man-dies-organ-failure-birthday.html?ico=amp_mostReadNews

Four men have been arrested after £40 million of cocaine was found in a van in a village pub car park.

Around 500kg of the drug was discovered in the back of a Vauxhall Vivaro in the car park in Lelley, East Yorkshire, the National Crime Agency said.

Officers believe a few hours before the haul was found it had been transferred to shore in a rigid-hulled inflatable boat (RHIB) travelling from a larger vessel off the Hull coast.

The RHIB was abandoned at Easington Beach, the NCA added.

The beach is around 18 miles from the Stags Head Inn in Lelley, where the drugs “with a potential street value of around £40 million” were found.

A 22-year-old from Argyll, a 32-year-old from Oban and a 24-year-old from Campbeltown, all in Scotland, were arrested at 8.30am on Saturday in Lelley, as well as a 39-year-old from Colombia, the NCA added.

Senior investigating officer Alan French said: “This was a significant amount of cocaine and its seizure will be a sizeable blow to the organised crime group which attempted to smuggle it into the UK.

“There’s no doubt these drugs would have been sold into communities around the UK, fuelling further crime and exploitation.

“Working with our law enforcement partners we are determined to do all we can to disrupt criminal activity, and protect the UK’s border security.

“Our investigation continues following these arrests.”

The NCA operation was supported by Humberside Police, Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit and Border Force.

(Source: Press Association)

Today they are playing in the National League play-off final at Wembley against Solihull Moors. Both teams are hoping to be promoted to the Football League or EFL for the first time in their history.

Live on TNT Sports 2, kick off 3pm.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13378575/karma-yob-vicious-attack-elderly-man-street-justice.html?ito=rss-connatix

Click on

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-68952923.amp