El Pibe

The off the leash nutters will be dealt with soon enough. They're useful idiots for the baathists in sunni iraq, but i can't see them making the same mistake's as they did in 2006. Plus those nutters are more intertested in toppling the house of Saud (oh the irony) once they've dealt with the shia, which demographically won't happen either. Short term prognosis for iraq, a nasty prang outside baghdad with a lesser prang on the borders of kurdistan, long term prognosis, 3 iraqs on those lines. How long the fighting lasts depends on how quickly they agree to divvy up the oil fields rather than fight to retain them. Syria, ISIS spending most of its time fighting moderate rebels; uneasy peace in the next year or so between them and gov't, some sort of compromise will ensue, but Assad will stay in power, with perhaps increased autonomy for certain regions. Israel really is a total side issue in this, which works in Israel's favour. Iran and Hamas have had a bit of a falling out, hezbollah are stuck in Syria's civil war and trying to prevent meltdown in Lebanon, and everyone else in the region is too busy, weak and/or paranoid to give this spat a second thought. As DaveR quoted earlier "when i'm strong why should i compromise"

scans better though doesn't it, or is that just familiarity with the line

I always thought that line was a bit tautological, a thunderbolt being thunder and lightning and all. I'll get my (rain)coat...

a forumite set up this site, he promoted it using the best south london restaurant, but it's quite a neat idea. You can add your own nominations by clicking the add item at the bottom, and just get an image url link by right clicking on google image search for your album cover, added a couple myself. http://www.gridde.com/list/view/5345025e78abba0200630f8b

or shopping...

I think overanlysing there Louisa, I suspect it's closing because it's basically awful! Just like the first wave of alcopops disappeared; there's only so much oversugared alcohol anyone can cope with.

way to throw everyone off the scent ;)

One of Dulwichmum's strengths was her ability to add just enough of herself in, whether voicing real concerns or satirising the chintzier aspects of gentrification, to lend it a bit of authenticity. Of course one of her weaknesses was her occassional struggle in knowing where that line should be, but at least there was a line. This is just cheap tat, an iceland frozen burger dressed up as a ?6-12 hach?.

glamorous or uncanny valley? ;-P

I guess the limit of info could just as easily be explained by sensitivity to the parents until the full facts are known. Conspiracy type stuff sounds ludicrous to me, but that Netanyahu would take advantage is no surprise, he's a cynical bastard at the best of times and could only gain from derailing detente between Hamas and Fatah for a unified PA. He'd have had to say Hamas' presence delegitimised it, in face of the fact that it was the opposite, how much nicer a good ramp of tensions. Same reason that it didn't make sense that Hamas had done it as they would only lose following the deal. Rival groups likewise only had something to gain from the deal as Hamas eased its way to pragmatism and ultimately to muddy compromise, portraying themselves as the true inheritors of armed struggle and HAmas as betrayers (just as Hamas had done with Fatah). Dissidents in Fatah or Hamas always seemed the most likely, and Netanyahu's insistence otherwise reminded me of Aznar's insistence of ETA culpability in the Madrid bombs.

well his dad had a minor stab at it..... Fortunately he has no say, he's the Katie Hopkins of arab-israeli commentary.

interesting perspective here http://politicalviolenceataglance.org/2014/07/15/why-hamas-escalated-when-before-they-didnt/ "This pattern concurs with the assertion that the early round of missiles was largely the work of the PFLP or other factions with less firepower and an interest in demonstrating their resistance bonafides. It is not until July 7, after Israel struck a tunnel and killed 7 Hamas militants that Hamas unleashed its long-range arsenal and the overall number of launches jumps to over 80. In other words, the macabre peeing contests currently taking place is not between Israel and Hamas, nor even Hamas and the PA, but between Hamas and the rest of the resistance camp. "

It made me chuckle, a nice pastiche of the actually pointless clickbait swamping t'interweb.

Courtney Barnett is very good, and then there's Nick Cave and the Ba....oh yeah, sorry ;-)

Colonial as in from one of the colonies, the one with Ramsay St? Or as in General Gordon?

something about apples falling from trees http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Op-Ed-Contributors/A-decisive-conclusion-is-necessary gilad sone of ariel. To be extrememly generous, I guess he has a point that the pretence that it isn't an occupied territory benefits noone.

another funky interactive infographic thingy, who played where http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/06/20/sports/worldcup/how-world-cup-players-are-connected.html

19 MAPS THAT WILL BLOW YOUR MIND AND CHANGE THE WAY EVERYTHING IS EVER FOR REAL THIS TIME HONEST GUV http://flowingdata.com/2014/07/07/19-maps-that-will-blow-your-mind/

Oh cool, will do. The other mental leap over here, is taht it's never nice and sunny, and its pretty much always raining, so you're freed up from it being a nice weather activity ;)

interesting analysis of who supported whom as the tournament progresses. A quick glance proves us to be the Miwwaw of international footie. Christ we could only muster 25% in Britain!!!! http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/07/12/upshot/how-fan-loyalty-changed-during-the-world-cup.html?_r=0

a nice sized kettle barbecue (with lid!!), a handful of chips just adds a nice flavour. Did a roast boned shoulder of lamb on sunday which was divine, and doing a roast chicken tonight (sans beer can)

My chimney starter. hassle free barbecuing, however did i cope before?!?! And woodchips!!!

I got your point jeremy, but if pele and co had turned up in mobility scooters I'd still describe them as a great team!