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Off Topic Thread 4.0

Zzippy

Thread continued from here

The usual rules apply. Non-rugby talk here. Consider this a social place, but like a pub, things like religion and politics can be divisive, so don't say things here you wouldn't say to someone's face in the pub. Sober

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Bazzo

The only viable stick anybody had to beat Putin with was trade sanctions and now he knows he has nothing to fear from the largest economy in the world.

[Deleted User]

Interested Observer wrote: »

If they ever manage to pin this on Russia, with evidence, surely that is an incredibly serious incident? It's almost an attack on the UK by a foreign actor at this point surely?

Have Russia not effectively pinned this on themselves through state media yesterday:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/09/russian-state-tv-warns-traitors-not-to-settle-in-england

Zzippy

Interested Observer wrote: »

Of course I remember him but I don't remember a load of collateral damage along with him.

The investigation found traces of polonium everywhere Litvinenko had been after the poisoning, and everywhere the two assassins had been. His house was declared uninhabitable, a car he travelled in was unusable. They even found traces on the BA jet the Russians flew back to Moscow on. The difference is he ingested it whereas anyone else only came in contact with it.

[Deleted User]

Zzippy wrote: »

Have you forgotten Litvinenko? No repercussions there. Putin doesn't give a f*ck anyway...

Of course I remember him but I don't remember a load of collateral damage along with him.

Zzippy

Interested Observer wrote: »

If they ever manage to pin this on Russia, with evidence, surely that is an incredibly serious incident? It's almost an attack on the UK by a foreign actor at this point surely?

Have you forgotten Litvinenko? No repercussions there. Putin doesn't give a f*ck anyway...

[Deleted User]

prawnsambo wrote: »

Apparently 21 people have now been treated after the attack on Sergei Skripal. Frightening to think that innocent passers-by could be poisoned by a nerve agent like that. Also they are saying that it was a 'very rare' nerve agent which to me means that the perpetrators want it to be attributed to them.

If they ever manage to pin this on Russia, with evidence, surely that is an incredibly serious incident? It's almost an attack on the UK by a foreign actor at this point surely?

Podge_irl

It's frightening to think the intended targets could be poisoned by a nerve agent like that!

prawnsambo

Apparently 21 people have now been treated after the attack on Sergei Skripal. Frightening to think that innocent passers-by could be poisoned by a nerve agent like that. Also they are saying that it was a 'very rare' nerve agent which to me means that the perpetrators want it to be attributed to them.

errlloyd

Zzippy wrote: »

I thought it was 6 months, no? The agency I work in has a law enforcement role as well and we have 6 months after an incident to issue a summons. I was under the impression that for summary offences the Gardai were the same.

Stheno wrote: »

I think it is six months

Could very well be tbh. A year is way too long.

Stheno

Zzippy wrote: »

I thought it was 6 months, no? The agency I work in has a law enforcement role as well and we have 6 months after an incident to issue a summons. I was under the impression that for summary offences the Gardai were the same.

I think it is six months

Zzippy

errlloyd wrote: »

They have like a year to issue the fine. It seems a lot of Gardai tend to let them build up, do all the paperwork in one go, and give themselves only one day in court. I used to sit in on the district court a fair bit because I was studying law, and one Gardai would be summoning an absolute ton of offenders.

I thought it was 6 months, no? The agency I work in has a law enforcement role as well and we have 6 months after an incident to issue a summons. I was under the impression that for summary offences the Gardai were the same.

prawnsambo

I'm just so disappointed in Neil for driving whilst on the phone. And what makes it worse is his brazen admission of doing it on here. :pac:

errlloyd

Neil3030 wrote: »

Was caught driving while on the phone over the Xmas period. The Gard said I'd have 90 days to pay the ensuing fine, or else it ramps up, both in terms of points and size of fine. Fair enough.

They have like a year to issue the fine. It seems a lot of Gardai tend to let them build up, do all the paperwork in one go, and give themselves only one day in court. I used to sit in on the district court a fair bit because I was studying law, and one Gardai would be summoning an absolute ton of offenders.

Neil3030

Zzippy wrote: »

I had to go to court last year for a speeding fine that never arrived either. It's a pain in the hole alright. You can call the office that issues the fines (https://www.goldenpages.ie/garda-fixed-charge-processing-office-thurles/) and they can tell you if one was issued and the date. You might be lucky and the garda never got around to processing it.

Perfect, yeah I'll give them a buzz tomorrow, cheers!

Zzippy

Neil3030 wrote: »

Was caught driving while on the phone over the Xmas period. The Gard said I'd have 90 days to pay the ensuing fine, or else it ramps up, both in terms of points and size of fine. Fair enough.

However nothing has apparently arrived at my folks' place (address I still use on my Irish license).

Is there anyone I can contact to see what the story is? I've heard of a fair few people who have been called to appear in court because they didn't pay an on-the-spot fine that they genuinely never received. I live on the other side of the planet, so a court appearance would be most inconvenient!

I had to go to court last year for a speeding fine that never arrived either. It's a pain in the hole alright. You can call the office that issues the fines (https://www.goldenpages.ie/garda-fixed-charge-processing-office-thurles/) and they can tell you if one was issued and the date. You might be lucky and the garda never got around to processing it.

prawnsambo

Neil3030 wrote: »

Was caught driving while on the phone over the Xmas period. The Gard said I'd have 90 days to pay the ensuing fine, or else it ramps up, both in terms of points and size of fine. Fair enough.

However nothing has apparently arrived at my folks' place (address I still use on my Irish license).

Is there anyone I can contact to see what the story is? I've heard of a fair few people who have been called to appear in court because they didn't pay an on-the-spot fine that they genuinely never received. I live on the other side of the planet, so a court appearance would be most inconvenient!

If it hasn't come yet, it mightn't be coming at all.

Neil3030

Was caught driving while on the phone over the Xmas period. The Gard said I'd have 90 days to pay the ensuing fine, or else it ramps up, both in terms of points and size of fine. Fair enough.

However nothing has apparently arrived at my folks' place (address I still use on my Irish license).

Is there anyone I can contact to see what the story is? I've heard of a fair few people who have been called to appear in court because they didn't pay an on-the-spot fine that they genuinely never received. I live on the other side of the planet, so a court appearance would be most inconvenient!

Zzippy

prawnsambo wrote: »

Oh yeah. Absolutely. It's reminiscent of how the Mafia operate. Unsurprisingly.

Speaking of the Mafia, there's a joke going around Brussels recently relating to Brexit:

The Mafia, they offer you a deal you can't refuse.
The British, well, they offer you a deal you can't understand.

prawnsambo

Zzippy wrote: »

Putin is happy to play the long game. Unlike Western politicians, he is not worried about an electoral cycle and keeping citizens happy. A prisoner exchange suits him if he gets some of his people back, but it doesn't mean he will just let the Russian traitors live out their lives. Taking his "vengeance" years later will boost his image as a hard man in Russia - his supporters love that.

Oh yeah. Absolutely. It's reminiscent of how the Mafia operate. Unsurprisingly.

Zzippy

prawnsambo wrote: »

Well maybe he was willing to accept the prisoner exchange to get the Russian guys back, but he said this in a televised interview at the time:

"Traitors will kick the bucket. Trust me. These people betrayed their friends, their brothers in arms. Whatever they got in exchange for it, those 30 pieces of silver they were given, they will choke on them." :eek:

In the interim, Skripal's wife (natural causes), his son and his brother have all died. Very unlucky family. :rolleyes:

Putin is happy to play the long game. Unlike Western politicians, he is not worried about an electoral cycle and keeping citizens happy. A prisoner exchange suits him if he gets some of his people back, but it doesn't mean he will just let the Russian traitors live out their lives. Taking his "vengeance" years later will boost his image as a hard man in Russia - his supporters love that.

prawnsambo

Zzippy wrote: »

Medvedev was Putin's puppet while he played prime minister for a couple of years til they could change the law and remove term limits for presidents. No one in their right mind thinks Putin wasn't 100% in charge at all times.
This is just Putin sending a message, Skripal was a convenient example to make, that's all. Perhaps an easy example due to not having security.

Well maybe he was willing to accept the prisoner exchange to get the Russian guys back, but he said this in a televised interview at the time:

"Traitors will kick the bucket. Trust me. These people betrayed their friends, their brothers in arms. Whatever they got in exchange for it, those 30 pieces of silver they were given, they will choke on them." :eek:

In the interim, Skripal's wife (natural causes), his son and his brother have all died. Very unlucky family. :rolleyes:

Zzippy

prawnsambo wrote: »

Russia's president at the time was Medvedev afaik. Our pal Vlad wasn't at all happy with the prisoner exchange that got Skripal released.

Medvedev was Putin's puppet while he played prime minister for a couple of years til they could change the law and remove term limits for presidents. No one in their right mind thinks Putin wasn't 100% in charge at all times.
This is just Putin sending a message, Skripal was a convenient example to make, that's all. Perhaps an easy example due to not having security.

prawnsambo

molloyjh wrote: »

Wasn’t he in prison in Russia for years? Why not kill him there? I’m not sure I understand what’s going on here at all or why. I’m fairly sure it is the Russians, but I don’t get why. Or more to the point, why now.

Russia's president at the time was Medvedev afaik. Our pal Vlad wasn't at all happy with the prisoner exchange that got Skripal released.

prawnsambo

Deleted User wrote: »

To be fair nerve agents were discovered by accident whilst trying to make stronger insecticides. The science behind it isn't extravagant, the science behind weaponising and delivering it is a different kettle of fish, but producing a fatal sample in an direct contact environment isn't the same as the WMD type stuff from movies like the Rock.

I'm not suggesting this wasn't the Russian's, but whilst nerve agents are heavily prohibited, the manufacturing process wouldn't be limited to state or military institutions unfortunately.

You'd still need experienced people and top quality labs to make it safely. Definitely not something you could cook up in your kitchen. And that's just making the stuff. Getting it into a delivery mechanism that won't kill the operator is a whole other level of sticking your head between your knees...

b.gud

Deleted User wrote: »

but producing a fatal sample in an direct contact environment isn't the same as the WMD type stuff from movies like the Rock..

molloyjh

Wasn’t he in prison in Russia for years? Why not kill him there? I’m not sure I understand what’s going on here at all or why. I’m fairly sure it is the Russians, but I don’t get why. Or more to the point, why now.

[Deleted User]

Zzippy wrote: »

And the Russians will still deny it. Yeah, like any old criminal can get their hands on a nerve agent... :rolleyes:

To be fair nerve agents were discovered by accident whilst trying to make stronger insecticides. The science behind it isn't extravagant, the science behind weaponising and delivering it is a different kettle of fish, but producing a fatal sample in an direct contact environment isn't the same as the WMD type stuff from movies like the Rock.

I'm not suggesting this wasn't the Russian's, but whilst nerve agents are heavily prohibited, the manufacturing process wouldn't be limited to state or military institutions unfortunately.

The Russians must be breathing a sigh of relief that the police office has pulled through all the same.

Zzippy

prawnsambo wrote: »

I see that they have identified the nerve agent used in the attempted murder of Skripal and his daughter. They aren't naming it, but they say they know what it is. The police officer who came in contact with it when he went to their aid is now considered out of danger. Crazy stuff.

And the Russians will still deny it. Yeah, like any old criminal can get their hands on a nerve agent... :rolleyes:

prawnsambo

I see that they have identified the nerve agent used in the attempted murder of Skripal and his daughter. They aren't naming it, but they say they know what it is. The police officer who came in contact with it when he went to their aid is now considered out of danger. Crazy stuff.

stephen_n

dregin wrote: »

Was always into heavier music than most of what they covered, but this is ****: https://www.theguardian.com/media/2018/mar/07/nme-ceases-print-edition-weekly-music-magazine

Print media is dead, it's a surprise they have lasted this long. Used to buy the NME every week in the late 80's and early 90's. But it's always had a certain demographic that you move out of as you get older. The current generation of indie kids would have no interest in print.