[worry]

Yah, pretty weird week, both mood threads got a political workout (at least in the US, hopefully everyone else had fun observing the roller coaster).

[pathos]

Muse will probably be touring Australia at the end of the eyar when i am there

[Solidsnape]

Tax rebate for £645. FUCK YEAH!!!!

[Satan]

I've got about £2000 worth of taxes coming back to me or left to pay, I can never figure which it is on my tax return form.

[King Lear]

Starling: "There's no way that's going to fit in my mouth"

Oh yeahhhhh

[Solidsnape]

Satan, on 27 June 2013 - 11:09 AM, said:

I've got about £2000 worth of taxes coming back to me or left to pay, I can never figure which it is on my tax return form.

Haha. That's exactly what just happened to me. I rang them to make sure.
It's MINE!!!!

[Illuyankas]

worry, on 27 June 2013 - 01:14 AM, said:

Yah, pretty weird week, both mood threads got a political workout (at least in the US, hopefully everyone else had fun observing the roller coaster).

Yeah, some horrible stuff happening on this side of the pond but your lot have had ups to go with the downs, observe:

[worry]

Illuyankas, on 27 June 2013 - 02:59 PM, said:

Yeah, some horrible stuff happening on this side of the pond

I assume you mean the morbid curiosity deathbed watch over Nelson Mandela, since that is literally the only non-US story I've seen reported on in the past couple weeks. Otherwise, zero things have happened anywhere else on Earth.

[Illuyankas]

worry, on 27 June 2013 - 06:57 PM, said:

Illuyankas, on 27 June 2013 - 02:59 PM, said:

Yeah, some horrible stuff happening on this side of the pond

I assume you mean the morbid curiosity deathbed watch over Nelson Mandela, since that is literally the only non-US story I've seen reported on in the past couple weeks. Otherwise, zero things have happened anywhere else on Earth.

Well, things like the Spending Review the Tories put forward which, among other things, will mean:

Quote

The chancellor announces that automatic annual rises up pay grades in the public sector will end. So-called "automatic progression pay" is "antiquated" and will go by 2015-16. The armed forces will be excluded from this reform.
Council Tax freeze being extended for the next two years.
Communities budget already cut by more than 50% in real terms since 2010 - Chancellor says there is now another 10% in 2015-16.
7% cut to the Culture of Sports will take a. 5% to Museums and Art Galleries. Though Osborne hinted at more power from the state.
10% Savings from Scotland and Wales & NI offices.
3.5% increase in Intelligence Budget. 1% equipment budget increase.
10% cut to the Ministry of Justice. Short Term sentences will lead to more probations.
Visa Fees going up, Police Forces encouraged to 'share'. Counter Terrorism budget unchanged.
9% general spending cut in Transport. 100 billion investment to Road/Rail. Hope to greenlight HS2
8% cut in the Department of Energy 10% cut to Rural Affairs
6% to Business, Innovations and Skills. Central Department cut further. More money going into Apprenticeships.
9% increase in capital investment into Science.
Resource Budget on Science will be maintained.
National Funding to Formula for School Funding. 'Pupil Premium' to help children in low income background and to be protected in real terms.
Investment for 183 for more 'Free Schools'.
5% cut to HM Revenue and Customs. Rich will pay a greater proportion of income tax.
5 billion more expected in tax revenues.
11 billion for the Department of International Development.
3 billion will be spent by Local NHS and Councils for Social Care.
9.5% savings in DWP
3 Welfare reforms:
Welfare cap system wise.
Will be annual and will reflect inflation and set in cash terms. Will have measures to stop overspending on welfare. (Excluding State Pensions)
Winter Fuel Payments for people abroad will be linked to a 'temperature test'.
Work Search. Stricter conditions on work 'searching' (bringing CV's, looking online). Job Centre claimants will have to attend weekly. More time with advisers.
7 day wait before claiming benefits.
Mandatory English Language lessons for those on benefits who cannot speak the English language.

Which our centre-right wing 'left' party declared they were going to continue if they won, because the world is awful, oh, and then the coalition government announced they were privatising the fucking student loan book because the Tories are fucking awful and if you voted for them I want you to be thrown into the fucking sun, oh! And then the Scottish Daily Mail had this as a front page:



Where the fact women can now be as paid as much NOT MORE AS MUCH as men is framed purely as a terrible thing for businesses, who are now in turmoil and chaos at the fact they legally have to pay their employees properly.


So the UK's had better days. On the plus side, I got a payrise in my shitty part time job! And then an extra six hours of work this week! And even with more hours there'll finally be enough time free for both me and my girlfriend to see each other in person again for the first time in what feels like forever!


(not kidding though if you voted Tory no one would mourn your painful demise)

[worry]

Man...not sure how analogous the systems are, but de-privatizing federal student loans was actually something the Obama admin got done before the really big Tea Party push in 2010. Kinda shocking you guys are going the other way. It's especially important here as even the public universities are seeing skyrocketing tuitions and fees (and cut programs). A lot of that other stuff is dispiriting as well.

It's times like these I'm grateful that the US at least has The Onion...you guys have anything equivalent? Even after horrible events, it's at least a great way to remind yourself that you aren't actually going crazy.

For instance, a great story from today: http://www.theonion....prisoner,32985/

[Illuyankas]

Our closest thing is Private Eye, which isn't... quite the same. Also the Onion has Ward Sutton Kelly who is a national treasure.

That story and the 'Dissenting Supreme Court judges realise they will be villains in future pro gay marriage movie' one are great, though.

[Tiste Simeon]

Amazing gig last night! 65daysofstatic supported by Eschar. Well worth all the travelling to get there!

[High House Dark]

Briar King, on 28 June 2013 - 09:30 PM, said:

Oh neat there is a baby wild hog(pig) in my yard. My kids are freaking out but I feel bad for it cause its obv sepertared from its mom and its like 95 degrees out today.

Not sure about hogs specifically, but a lot of times mammal moms will leave their kids for hours at a time to go forage, rest, and let the kid learn a little independence/how-to-hide (it's why you never bother baby bunnies or call attention to baby deer that you may think are 'abandoned'). Just so you know and don't get worried? but maybe it really is separated. Hopefully not.

[Tapper]

Was in Berlin, now in Warszawa. Pretty awesome trip so far!

[A Demon Llama!]

Really busy with work but I cant complain about the setting.

Spoiler

[High House Dark]

I have remedied my cholula problem. Yay!

[Grimjust Bearegular]

The road trip was awesome!!! It might be all the farts I've inhaled talking, but I love spending three weeks in a car with three dudes in the desert an stuff!



We should all go on a road trip together. Route 66 comes highly recommended by me.

[Mrs Savagely Wishy Washy]

550 pages into TCG and by all the wimpy gods and boneless ascendants of the Malazan pantheons I enjoy this book.

[worry]

Bearmione TROUBLEMAKER Grimger, on 01 July 2013 - 09:49 AM, said:

The road trip was awesome!!! It might be all the farts I've inhaled talking, but I love spending three weeks in a car with three dudes in the desert an stuff!



We should all go on a road trip together. Route 66 comes highly recommended by me.

In celebration of your Route 66 trip, a local story from our good friends in Barstow (somewhat local I mean, I swear I don't actually live in Barstow):
http://www.vvdailypr...-cup-fetus.html

[Tiste Simeon]

Finished Bioshock Infinite last night, what a game!