Thane of Cawdor

Why is the Scottish Government flying the flag of the Russian Navy? Are they keeping something from us?

Unlike yourself, I am not an authority on the subject, but what the guy wrote seems to be the opposite of sociopathic behaviour.

VAR will always get stick as long as it is operated by morons. How Everton don't get a penalty for that jersey pull on Rondon right on half time I really can't comprehend. The pundits invariably say that awarding penalties for such incidents would result in matches ending 22-all or similar. Personally, I think that would be great, but more likely defenders would stop committing these ridiculous acts.

you're not making sense. You wrote: Quite apart from the pollution, there does seem to be a lot of stuff floating around in the sea causing a hazard to shipping lanes. So, whatever you were referring to it wasn't pollution.

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume this isn't a 'joke' about asylum seekers/migrants and dinghies. But that's only because I can't believe anyone would post something as crass as this on the site. If I am in any way doing you an injustice you could maybe clarify what you did mean.

If his next name change is to Tyniesteerforth you'll see a pattern emerging.

Yes, I noticed that. What the Dickens is going on?

Myriad reasons including: I'd been there before when it was well sign-posted; the site is a desert of new road building; and my out-of-date Satnav doesn't recognise anything more recent than The Domesday Book.

The other side of the persecution coin concerns the anti-vaxxers. Last week I went for a booster jag at a Nightingale Hospital in the north east of England. No signage on the main road or after taking the slip road. Drove around aimlessly but optimistically until we happened on the building. Made me about an hour late for my jag but that wasn't a problem. On whingeing about the lack of directions,. I was told that anti-vaxxers were removing what were effectively temporary, free-standing road signs. Presumably their motives are benign rather than murderous, but I prefer to make these decisions myself. Inability to find destinations is. admittedly, one of my many failings being in the 'couldn't find his arse with both hands' category. However, my daughter navigates like St Brendan and she found the place very hard to find. No-one in the hospital seemed remotely concerned by these acts of sabotage and I haven't seen any reference to these actions in the media.

I don't think ignorance of the gender of foreign language words is particularly relevant to linguistics. Even if that were the case linguistics, like most areas of study, is a branch of science. If we're discussing 'proper' science, I'm sure you'll agree that the ability to distinguish gender is an important element of biology without which life would be very complicated.

The French would not say that. They might say bonne chance. I hope this isn't an example of your scientific rigour.

Toryism isn't a permanent condition. Look at the political journey of someone like John Bercow - from mad hanger/flogger to floor-crossing member of the Labour Party. But even unrepentant Tories can have redeeming qualities and likable characteristics when not in Tory mode. Alan Clark was clearly odious in a political context, but did add greatly to the gaiety of the nation. His simultaneous (consecutive) shagging of the South African woman and both daughters was undeniably impressive. Turning up half-cut for a Parliamentary session was inexcusable, but also a good laugh. He popularised the revisionist 'lions led by donkeys' perception of World War 1 with the poor bloody infantry used as cannon fodder by the generals. He was also a subscriber to Viz, and you can't say that about many aristocratic Tory MPs.

... and a Peerage.

No idea. He's performing a public service in telling us that Satan possesses brain-washed cattle. But I'm certainly not waking any of these fuckers up.

He would rush out with limbs failing and not always collect ... No wonder he didn't always collect. He did very well to rush anywhere. in that state.

I thought this was a cryptic reference to the Saudi judicial system, but I'm not the sharpest sword in the block.

Here's a picture of a 'Bovril Boat'. I hope it doesn't put anyone off that iconic and tasty beverage.

Will the new owners join the fans in The Strawberry for a post-match pint?

I do understand what a synonym is. I was trying to point out that the correct word is minuscule, and that the word miniscule is incorrect. Petty perhaps, but we must protect our precious linguistic heritage.

Why does this exhaustive list not include the word minuscule?

They weren't masquerading. They're the genuine article.

Keeping to the subject of the Royals - people who can't distinguish between reign and rein. The former applies to what Royals do, and the latter to what is used to control animals that look like the Royals.

Sponsored The Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000 as a Private Members' Bill which, astonishingly, made it on to the Statute Book. Noble objectives of eradicating fuel poverty and making homes more energy efficient. Clearly targeted by the Insulate Britain nutters for failing miserably in the attempt.

Don't know about that. One of the more memorable bits of skill in the Israel Game involved his controlling a high ball on his chest, squaring up the defender, going past him and getting in a left-footed (not very convincing) shot that the keeper saved for a corner. More worrying is the suggestion by someone in this, or the Israel thread, that we were fine for the foreseeable because he and Adams are in their prime. Now that's a dispiriting thought, that we won't produce better strikers while these two are playing.

Yes, I've learned my lesson and have nothing to say on this issue.