Football Thread 2017 | January | Jim White Appreciation Day

By Ciaran Go To PostYes Zabooo I vote concave!!

I love how you bothered to include your posters

is that figure Cloud, Marchisio or Shanks?

I'll judge you either way

By Hitch Go To PostI like the concave a lot

Yeah, definitely leaning towards concave myself. The only reason I'm considering the Apex design is because it would mean having the bottom left corner of the desk further away from the last guitar hanger. It's actually positioned a fair bit closer to the desk than in the models. No biggie tho.

Yurto, the albums on the acoustic panels:

http://i.imgur.com/dtk4BCr.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/Xf4QTNU.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/7R1UiRG.jpg

I'm not 100% sure these are the final designs, but even if not, I haven't changed much, if anything. Came out amazing printed on fabric.

Just read this (I know it's the guardian so it's gonna be lefty leaning but still) and got a lump in my throat - https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2017/jan/19/barack-obama-farewell-letters-president

Obviously I am nowhere near as well versed in US politics as many, and there are many infuriating things that the Obama administration have done... but in a few hours, we are going from one of the most measured, sensible, human leaders any country could ever wish for to a man who has a dog's bleached arsehole for each of his eye sockets.

Imagine if Trump turned out to be some altruistic diplomatic Machiavellian (in a good way) genius, pretending to be a hate-filled knobend to get into power before being the best President they've ever had

Imagine it

Imagine

Then he's been putting up quite the act during my entire time on earth.

By subtles Go To PostThen he's been putting up quite the act during my entire time on earth.

Machiavellian wouldn't begin to do it justice. We'd have to relabel it as Trumpian.

Maybe the bombs will drop before Griezmann goes to Man Utd, small mercies and all that.

By Hitch Go To PostImagine if Trump turned out to be some altruistic diplomatic Machiavellian (in a good way) genius, pretending to be a hate-filled knobend to get into power before being the best President they've ever had

Imagine it

Imagine

His cabinet appointments put paid to that idea.

By Fintan Go To PostHis cabinet appointments put paid to that idea.

was going to type these exact words

Yum.

By Fintan Go To PostHis cabinet appointments put paid to that idea.

What if they are also in on it?

Woke up way too early and while waiting for the Friday mixtape to come in from our resident DJ LFM I got into a rabbit hole (like 16 years back) of listening to Teddybears. Could have done worse I guess.

As someone who is getting the switch for reasons I feel like people do want the thing to fail (not anyone here) or that I'm being screwed over, infact I'm aware I'm probably being fucked somewhat and a consent to it... but I'd like to how many of those same people who feel this way own any apple products.

This club statement from Leyton Orient is pure gold.

http://www.leytonorient.com/news/article/2016-17/orient-club-statement-3528608.aspx

In regards to player departures, since last February Jay Simpson had scored six goals, and from last summer he had been trying to leave the club. Andy Edwards rightly decided to leave him out of the squad because of his lack of commitment to Leyton Orient.

Jordan Bowery’s contribution during the first half of the season was imperceptible, so his departure can be considered neutral, while Alan Dunne was out of the plans under both Andy Hessenthaler and Andy Edwards.

I think that my absence due to ill health could have had some negative effect, but I believe even further that the absence of Mr Becchetti during the last three months has had a more negative impact on the squad. His personal business did not allow him to be close to the team, when he would usually come to the training ground every Friday and to the games on a Saturday. Mr Becchetti has a great charisma and the players definitely feel his absence.

Police Taser their own race relations adviser after mistaking him for a criminal
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jan/20/police-taser-race-relations-adviser-bristol-judah-adunbi
What a world

In regards to player departures, since last February Jay Simpson had scored six goals, and from last summer he had been trying to leave the club. Andy Edwards rightly decided to leave him out of the squad because of his lack of commitment to Leyton Orient.

Jordan Bowery’s contribution during the first half of the season was imperceptible, so his departure can be considered neutral, while Alan Dunne was out of the plans under both Andy Hessenthaler and Andy Edwards.

Hhahaha no fucking way, I went school with Jay Simpson we both played together, we were good mates before our lives took different paths.

By Kidjr Go To PostHhahaha no fucking way, I went school with Jay Simpson we both played together, we were good mates before our lives took different paths.

We've been linked to signing him multiple times. Probably too ambitious for us.

Is there a more disgunting company in the world than G4s

I don't have the heart to tell them.

People wash meat?

By n8 dogg Go To PostJust read this (I know it's the guardian so it's gonna be lefty leaning but still) and got a lump in my throat - https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2017/jan/19/barack-obama-farewell-letters-president

Obviously I am nowhere near as well versed in US politics as many, and there are many infuriating things that the Obama administration have done… but in a few hours, we are going from one of the most measured, sensible, human leaders any country could ever wish for to a man who has a dog's bleached arsehole for each of his eye sockets.

Obamas legacy has taken a massive upward turn because it's Trump who's replacing him. Doesn't strike me as somebody who cares too much about his legacy but in that respect he's lucky. A lot of what he did was not measured or sensible.

Of course - there were significant positive achievements and he does deserve all the credit for those.

By Shanks D Zoro Go To PostPeople wash meat?

depends on the meat,

but chicken should be cleaned

By Bold 2 in One Go To Postdepends on the meat,

but chicken should be cleaned

why?

what type of chicken do people buy that would require it to be cleaned?

Probably my favorite gif from Obama's time as president.

By Kidjr Go To PostAs someone who is getting the switch for reasons I feel like people do want the thing to fail (not anyone here) or that I'm being screwed over, infact I'm aware I'm probably being fucked somewhat and a consent to it… but I'd like to how many of those same people who feel this way own any apple products.

the reception of the switch has been acrimonious for legitimate reasons, most people don't need to want it to fail. It simply won't succeed due to Nintendo's own asinine practices.

By Shanks D Zoro Go To Postwhy?

what type of chicken do people buy that would require it to be cleaned?

I buy right after slaughter, so getting the blood out fully, and then storing it

You shouldn't clean the chicken right before the cooking is what I meant to say

Bit depressing that Jake Livermore at £10 million is the third largest transfer this window.

By Vivalapizza Go To PostObamas legacy has taken a massive upward turn because it's Trump who's replacing him. Doesn't strike me as somebody who cares too much about his legacy but in that respect he's lucky. A lot of what he did was not measured or sensible.

Of course - there were significant positive achievements and he does deserve all the credit for those.

Can't really think of lots he did that wasn't measured or sensible, especially with a Congress blockage.

Drones strikes and surveillance seem to be the big no-nos of his presidency, and I'd argue the surveillance is an unfortunate byproduct of living in such a heavily digitalised age.

I wash my meat after I cooked it.

By n8 dogg Go To PostCan't really think of lots he did that wasn't measured or sensible, especially with a Congress blockage.

Drones strikes and surveillance seem to be the big no-nos of his presidency, and I'd argue the surveillance is an unfortunate byproduct of living in such a heavily digitalised age.

It's not an unfortunate byproduct, it's a concerted policy decision.

But some of the failings...

- Complete failure to address immigration reform. He made a big deal of this in his original campaign. His presidency is responsible for deporting more people from the USA than any President ever before.
- Zero attempt to address any criminal justice issues
- America is more unequal than its ever been. They went through a huge financial crisis caused by the richest few and those people are somehow richer than ever before. Now look at how that same situation is played out in the U.K. where we have a Conservative government. Obamas efforts to rebalance that economy and redistribute wealth are pitiful.
- His foreign policy has been a joke and will potentially set America back years. Now for some of us that might be a good thing but as an American president his performance has been disastrous. Syria, Libya, Yemen - huge huge failures. Ukraine - failure.
- There is so much blood on this mans hands it's incredible how the left forgive him for it because he "seems like a good guy". The USA is more active in a military sense than ever before, more than 2x as active as they were under Bush who started two wars for fucks sake. There was a stat I saw somewhere that last year the USA dropped almost 30,000 bombs. In one year.
- Oft repeated fact that he's authorised over TEN TIMES as many drone strikes as Bush. TEN!

Every president, every leader, faces challenges and obstacles and isn't able to deliver everything for everyone. And Obama has had a hell of a lot of obstacles. But the way he is regarded and will be remembered is massively coloured by the fact he followed one of the most incompetent world leaders of this era and is about to followed by perhaps the very worst.

Viva are you a tory like Dc89 says

Cute, they're pretending to put up a fight.

By Vivalapizza Go To PostIt's not an unfortunate byproduct, it's a concerted policy decision.

But some of the failings…

- Complete failure to address immigration reform. He made a big deal of this in his original campaign. His presidency is responsible for deporting more people from the USA than any President ever before.
- Zero attempt to address any criminal justice issues
- America is more unequal than its ever been. They went through a huge financial crisis caused by the richest few and those people are somehow richer than ever before. Now look at how that same situation is played out in the U.K. where we have a Conservative government. Obamas efforts to rebalance that economy and redistribute wealth are pitiful.
- His foreign policy has been a joke and will potentially set America back years. Now for some of us that might be a good thing but as an American president his performance has been disastrous. Syria, Libya, Yemen - huge huge failures. Ukraine - failure.
- There is so much blood on this mans hands it's incredible how the left forgive him for it because he "seems like a good guy". The USA is more active in a military sense than ever before, more than 2x as active as they were under Bush who started two wars for fucks sake. There was a stat I saw somewhere that last year the USA dropped almost 30,000 bombs. In one year.
- Oft repeated fact that he's authorised over TEN TIMES as many drone strikes as Bush. TEN!

Every president, every leader, faces challenges and obstacles and isn't able to deliver everything for everyone. And Obama has had a hell of a lot of obstacles. But the way he is regarded and will be remembered is massively coloured by the fact he followed one of the most incompetent world leaders of this era and is about to followed by perhaps the very worst.

What would the solution have been.... regarding Syria specifically? Put troops on the ground or ignore the whole thing?

after the fiasco of Afghanistan and Iraq and the entire middle east in-fact, there were no right moves for the US regarding international conflicts

#NeverFollow

At least he had swag though.

Unlike Hillary, who I doubt we will continue see dabbing.

By Woodenpapangus Go To PostI wash my meat after I cooked it.

Plebs, the lot of you.

I don't ever let water touch my meats. Sous vide, bitches.

By Zabojnik Go To PostPlebs, the lot of you.

I don't ever let water touch my meats. Sous vide, bitches.

I was kidding if that wasn't obvious. I never even heard of washing your meat.

By Vivalapizza Go To PostIt's not an unfortunate byproduct, it's a concerted policy decision.

But some of the failings…

Some of this is again just changing times though. His presidency is responsible for deporting more people because there is more illegal immigrants, surely? Not that I'm not sympathetic to the plight of so many of them, but they ARE illegal. Absolutely, immigration reform is necessary, but - to play devil's advocate for a moment - if a lot of immigrants aren't deported, he's then in th shit for being the president who let the most stay, causing population density and cutting into jobs more, right?

Criminal justice you got there, and the failing to close Guantanamo is big, the shootings, the black people dying day after day... but America is so much more fractured from state to state than we are here, with more stringent state laws than our counties, with so many variables and differences in one country. It's a failing of Obama's that he hasn't sorted this out, absolutely, but can you realistically see any President sorting out the colossal monster America has become?

I don't see it, really. I don't see any utopian scenario where criminal justice and immigration and the financial inequality is all to an acceptable level, because its all at such a gross grandiose level now that it doesn't really seem fixable. So all you can do is try and paper over cracks.

As for foreign policy, that's also a shitshow, and he could have gone further. But the reason Libya and Syria is fucked in the first place isn't an Obama decision; he was playing catch up. I know it isn't your job, but what would you suggest doing in Syria? Go in with full force? Risk losing a huge number of lives of their military? Stop the bombs and drones to save the civilian lives, but give ISIS and Assad's forces more leeway to act because there is less American presence? Aren't drone strikes also a sign of changing times? Are they preferable to loss of American life, extenuating circumstances like tiredness and weather conditions and the terrors of physical engagement? Not arguing with you, I'm curious as to why they're seen as so bad overall; I know they - and bombs - are responsible for so many civilians' deaths, but is there a good alternative?

I'm not trying to absolve him of blame at all. But it's the impossible job to sell that country and all its bullshit of the American Dream and infinite freedom and all that rubbish and do right by 300m people without turning it into some totalitarian regime. It's just endless compromise and pissing people off daily. I just think they're lucky they had someone with good intentions to do that. For every loss he had - and of course there were loads - he also brought in gay marriage, he acknowledged gender diversity, he bailed them out of that financial crisis. Unemployment has been falling month after month for almost his entire presidency. He revolutionised the health care system in a way that so many of them are too dumb and racist to recognise.

Like you said, every leader faces challenges. But I can't think of many with a harder job than the President of the United States. People like Putin or Assad face challenges with aggression and fear. People like May face challenges with veiled xenophobia and small-time assertions that yes this tiny little country really do matter etcera etcetera. But I mean, do you think many people could have done a better job than Obama considering the absolute Frankenstein's monster of a fuck up that country is?

By Kidjr Go To PostWhat would the solution have been…. regarding Syria specifically? Put troops on the ground or ignore the whole thing?

The 'solution' - im not sure. But he has literally been all talk and no action. There were some options available. He could have given the rebels more support if he wanted to overthrow the government, but he didn't follow through on that. He could have enforced a no fly zone to protect civilians, but he shied away from that also. He drew the 'red line' and when Assad crossed it he did nothing, and then he allowed Putin to take the lead on 'negotiating', a position that Russia has not and will not give up. Russia are now the leading influencer there.

I don't know which if any of these options would have worked or led to a solution but it was clear that inactivity would not do any good. Not for the Syrian people or for the US geopolitical position. Now the US are letting IS troops through positions they hold to go and fight Assad. Complete fuck up.

Fucking hell.

By n8 dogg Go To PostSome of this is again just changing times though. His presidency is responsible for deporting more people because there is more illegal immigrants, surely? Not that I'm not sympathetic to the plight of so many of them, but they ARE illegal. Absolutely, immigration reform is necessary, but - to play devil's advocate for a moment - if a lot of immigrants aren't deported, he's then in th shit for being the president who let the most stay, causing population density and cutting into jobs more, right?

Criminal justice you got there, and the failing to close Guantanamo is big, the shootings, the black people dying day after day… but America is so much more fractured from state to state than we are here, with more stringent state laws than our counties, with so many variables and differences in one country. It's a failing of Obama's that he hasn't sorted this out, absolutely, but can you realistically see any President sorting out the colossal monster America has become?

I don't see it, really. I don't see any utopian scenario where criminal justice and immigration and the financial inequality is all to an acceptable level, because its all at such a gross grandiose level now that it doesn't really seem fixable. So all you can do is try and paper over cracks.

As for foreign policy, that's also a shitshow, and he could have gone further. But the reason Libya and Syria is fucked in the first place isn't an Obama decision; he was playing catch up. I know it isn't your job, but what would you suggest doing in Syria? Go in with full force? Risk losing a huge number of lives of their military? Stop the bombs and drones to save the civilian lives, but give ISIS and Assad's forces more leeway to act because there is less American presence? Aren't drone strikes also a sign of changing times? Are they preferable to loss of American life, extenuating circumstances like tiredness and weather conditions and the terrors of physical engagement? Not arguing with you, I'm curious as to why they're seen as so bad overall; I know they - and bombs - are responsible for so many civilians' deaths, but is there a good alternative?

I'm not trying to absolve him of blame at all. But it's the impossible job to sell that country and all its bullshit of the American Dream and infinite freedom and all that rubbish and do right by 300m people without turning it into some totalitarian regime. It's just endless compromise and pissing people off daily. I just think they're lucky they had someone with good intentions to do that. For every loss he had - and of course there were loads - he also brought in gay marriage, he acknowledged gender diversity, he bailed them out of that financial crisis. Unemployment has been falling month after month for almost his entire presidency. He revolutionised the health care system in a way that so many of them are too dumb and racist to recognise.

Like you said, every leader faces challenges. But I can't think of many with a harder job than the President of the United States. People like Putin or Assad face challenges with aggression and fear. People like May face challenges with veiled xenophobia and small-time assertions that yes this tiny little country really do matter etcera etcetera. But I mean, do you think many people could have done a better job than Obama considering the absolute Frankenstein's monster of a fuck up that country is?

Come on Nate, this is poor. What is the alternative to drone strikes, really? How about not dropping any bombs in the first place? Surely that just means there's more immigrants, really? Firstly, no, there aren't, and secondly at least out some kind of framework in place. Don't just fuck them off. He's playing catch up in Syria? I'm not even taking the piss this is the kind of shit people who voted for Trump say. This is not a logical examination – it’s exactly what I said, excuse after excuse for this mans failings.

If I said to you that you can’t blame David Cameron for the wealth disparity in the UK. Yeah, the richer are richer and if you walked around London you see homeless people on every street corner and food banks overflowing…that sucks, but it’s changing times…and hey, he did bail the banks out. And unemployment goes down every month.

What would you say? Okay shitty situation good effort.

Again – not saying he is an awful President, that he didn’t do good things…or that he didn’t achieve a lot. But people are reluctant to say in outright terms where he failed. They get very defensive. And that is a big problem for the left and IMO is a directly responsible for what is happening across the western world right now. The people he is supposed to represent and protect…he’s forgotten about a lot of them. And we should call him out for that and hold him to account. It hasn't been good enough.

Gotta agree with Viva here. Fun to compare Obama's reputation with the 60s perception of LBJ.

By Woodenpapangus Go To PostAt least he had swag though.

Unlike Hillary, who I doubt we will continue see dabbing.

I always thought 'slow jamming Obamacare' and the like was really Chavez-esque

Also in terms of congressmen, state representatives, governorships and so on I think the Democratic Party declined quite badly under Obama, right?

By Fintan Go To PostAlso in terms of congressmen, state representatives, governorships and so on I think the Democratic Party declined quite badly under Obama, right?

Republicans aren't far from having the ability to pass constitutional amendments. Think of what that's do to LGBT rights, voting rights etc

By batong Go To PostWoke up way too early and while waiting for the Friday mixtape to come in from our resident DJ LFM I got into a rabbit hole (like 16 years back) of listening to Teddybears. Could have done worse I guess.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m66bhJ9T8iA

Unfortunately, Kickstart The Weekend will not make it's return this week.
Been busy with Mobile Device Programming project which leaves me very little time for anything else.
Things will be back to normal next week.

I, for one, continue to miss the optimism he brought to my club.

Stupidly excited for the Pillars of Eternity 2 announcement. Looks like Obsidian are gearing up for it. I had quite a few gripes with PoE1, but it still ended up being one of my favourite games from the past 5 years. If they succeed in making the jump Baldur's Gate made going from BG1 to BG2 ...

Hold me.

By Punished Go To PostRepublicans aren't far from having the ability to pass constitutional amendments. Think of what that's do to LGBT rights, voting rights etc

Repeal the 22nd Amendment, Trump 2024.

Lol today is the day. Its actually happening.

By Zabojnik Go To PostStupidly excited for the Pillars of Eternity 2 announcement. Looks like Obsidian are gearing up for it. I had quite a few gripes with PoE1, but it still ended up being one of my favourite games from the past 5 years. If they succeed in making the jump Baldur's Gate made going from BG1 to BG2 …

Hold me.

Recently finished PoE after the DLC went on sale, after aborting my first playthrough at release.

Will spend raheem pound sterlings on a sequel, especially after Tyranny.

By Mister0084 Go To Postnobody's perfect ok

Wooden had already said the same thing and I didn't notice fml I hate when this happens I'm sorry wood I need to go ly dow,

Alison Brie..... You've been MIA for a year and you come back like this????? Thanks Trump.