Paul Rigby Wrote:To this end, I propose the following yardsticks:


Fluent balls:
https://youtu.be/GjB7USAdrAw

Paul Rigby Wrote:All of us talk balls at some point, but absent obvious external indicators an adjacent dinner guest engaging in minor self-harming with a spoon or fork; an erstwhile friend suddenly hastily recalling a hitherto non-existent prior engagement; or perhaps a spouse's stiletto heel quietly applied to your toe just how much balls is difficult to gauge. I believe we can do better, with benchmarks against which we can objectively rank our balls. To this end, I propose the following yardsticks:

The new gold standard of balls:
https://youtu.be/frO1T3vZNrA

Total balls:
https://youtu.be/t-S6F9E0hvk

Fluent balls:
https://youtu.be/GjB7USAdrAw

Balls by another name:
https://youtu.be/jZzBC25akNM

Paul Rigby Wrote:The new gold standard of balls:
https://youtu.be/frO1T3vZNrA

Quote:The White House has issued a pointed statement declaring it hopes and expects the UK will use its influence to ensure that high standards of governance are upheld in a new Chinese-led investment bank that Britain is to join.

In a rare public breach in the special relationship, the White House signalled its unease at Britain's decision to become a founder member of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) by raising concerns about whether the new body would meet the standards of the World Bank.

The $50bn (£33.5bn) bank, which is designed to provide infrastructure funds to the Asia-Pacific region, is viewed with great suspicion by Washington officials, who see it as a rival to the World Bank. They believe Beijing will use the bank to extend its soft power in the region.

The White House statement reads: "This is the UK's sovereign decision. We hope and expect that the UK will use its voice to push for adoption of high standards."

Quote:

France, Germany and Italy to join China-led AIIB following Britain

• 
  By Jerin Mathew
  March 17, 2015 06:24 GMT
  
• 
  

China's President Xi Jinping (front C) poses for photos with guests at the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank launch ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on 24 October, 2014.Reuters
Following Britain, major US allies such as France, Germany and Italy have agreed to join the China-backed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the Financial Times reported, citing European officials.
In addition, Australia, a key US ally in the Asia Pacific region, is set to decide on joining the international bank next week. China's state-owned Xinhua news agency said South Korea, Switzerland and Luxembourg were also considering joining the AIIB.
The moves from the countries come as a severe blow to the Obama administration that was working hard to keep them out of the institution.
Britain has earlier announced its intention to become a founding member of the AIIB a Chinese-led initiative that is expected to rival the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank in the Asian region.
The move has angered Washington, which said it is wary of Britain's "constant accommodation" of China.
In October 2014, representatives of 21 Asian nations convened in Beijing to inaugurate the AIIB, which is focused on providing funding to infrastructure projects within Asia. The bank was initially capitalised with $50bn (£31bn, €39.5bn), half of which was funded by China.
Britain is the first major Western country to apply to become an AIIB member. It will meet other founding members in March to discuss governance and accountability arrangements.
George Osborne sees opportunities
"Joining the AIIB at the founding stage will create an unrivalled opportunity for the UK and Asia to invest and grow together," said Chancellor George Osborne.
"We are wary about a trend toward constant accommodation of China, which is not the best way to engage a rising power," a US official earlier told the Financial Times, expressing concern.
Subsequently, Australia indicated its desire to join the bank, with Prime Minister Tony Abbot saying Canberra was "looking very carefully at this and we'll make a decision in the next week or so".
Responding to the media reports, Washington's top diplomat for East Asia said the US concerns about the AIIB remained, but it was up to individual nations to decide on whether to join the bank.
"Every government can make its own decision about whether the way to achieve that goal is by joining before the articles of agreement are clarified or by waiting to see what the evidence looks like as the bank starts to operate," US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Russel said in Seoul.

Quote:There were less saintly sides to that personality. He may have been, as New York's liberal mayor Bill de Blasio said after Cuomo died, "a man of unwavering principle". But no one ever said he did not know how to look after himself. The bachelor politician Ed Koch never forgave the posters in a New York mayoral primary campaign in 1977, proclaiming "Vote for Cuomo, Not the Homo", though Cuomo always denied responsibility

Paul Rigby Wrote:Blimey, this is one straight to the knackers, courtesy of an old clipping I came across rooting through a chaotic drawer:

Quote:There were less saintly sides to that personality. He may have been, as New York's liberal mayor Bill de Blasio said after Cuomo died, "a man of unwavering principle". But no one ever said he did not know how to look after himself. The bachelor politician Ed Koch never forgave the posters in a New York mayoral primary campaign in 1977, proclaiming "Vote for Cuomo, Not the Homo", though Cuomo always denied responsibility

.
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jan/02/mario-cuomo

Quote:David Cameron blames 'brain fade' for getting his football team wrong

Sports stars, politicians and football fans react with amused disbelief after PM says he supports West Ham United when he is in fact an Aston Villa fan

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/apr/25/david-cameron-blames-brain-fade-for-getting-his-football-team-wrong

In footballing parlance, which David Cameron may not be that familiar with, mixing up your favourite team is quite a considerable own goal. But it seems that any claret-and-blue team will do for the prime minister after he said he supported West Ham United when he is supposedly an Aston Villa fan.

Cameron blamed the gaffe, made during a speech in south London, on "brain fade".

The campaign pressure may be on, the polls are tight and election day is less than two weeks away, but sports stars, fellow politicians and football fans around the country have reacted with amused disbelief.

In a speech outlining his vision for ethnic minority communities, Cameron said: "We are a shining example of a country where multiple identities work.

"Where you can be Welsh and Hindu and British, Northern Irish and Jewish and British, where you can wear a kilt and a turban, where you can wear a hijab covered in poppies. Where you can support Man Utd, the Windies and Team GB all at the same time.

"Of course, I'd rather you supported West Ham."

Attempting to explain what many on Twitter have judged to be the inexplicable, Cameron later clarified: "I had what Natalie Bennett described as a brain fade.

"I'm a Villa fan ... I must have been overcome by something ... this morning. But there we are, these things sometimes happen when you are on the stump."

It was not an explanation likely to satisfy many, no matter the attempts by Cameron supporters to excuse away the mishap on the basis that the teams share the same colours of claret and sky blue.

Famous sporting and political names were quick to react. Gary Lineker was one of the first to respond on social media, noting that the prime minister had been keen last week to use the official prime ministerial Twitter feed to congratulate Aston Villa on their recent FA cup triumph over Liverpool.

David Guyatt Wrote:Maybe the old alliance is beginning to fracture? ..... But fingers crossed.