In 1889, Charles H. Duell was the Commissioner of US patent office. He is widely quoted as having stated that the patent office would soon shrink in size, and eventually close, because…

“Everything that can be invented has been invented.”

How wrong can you be 😎.

P&O sacks EVERY crew member with immediate effect and uses agency staff to sail ships as it kicks baffled passengers off at ports amid huge row with unions over pay
Existing staff can apply to the agency for work, in a move branded 'outrageous' by furious union leaders
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said his officials were in urgent talks with P&0 Ferries over the situation
Firm operates four routes: Dover to Calais; Hull to Rotterdam; Liverpool to Dublin; and Cairnryan to Larne
By RORY TINGLE, HOME AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT FOR MAILONLINE

PUBLISHED: 09:59, 17 March 2022 | UPDATED: 11:57, 17 March 2022


P&O Ferries today made all its crew members redundant with immediate effect and replaced them with agency staff as it kicked baffled passengers off at ports amid a huge row with unions over pay.

Existing employees can apply to the agency for work, in a move branded 'outrageous' by furious union leaders. One woman who said her father had lost his job accused P&O of a 'callous attack on working people'.

Meanwhile, furious passengers scrambled to find alternative routes, with one Northern Ireland councillor unable to travel to a funeral because of the sudden disruption.

The company said customers should continue to come to ports and they would be provided with alternative transportation.

P&O Ferries - which operates four routes between the UK and Europe - ordered all its ships to return to port this morning to prepare for an announcement that would 'secure' its 'long-term viability'.

Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union general secretary Mick Lynch earlier said there was 'growing speculation that the company were planning to sack hundreds of UK seafarers and replace them with foreign labour'.

He added: 'We have instructed our members to remain on board and are demanding our members across P&O's UK operations are protected, and that the Secretary of State intervenes to save UK seafarers from the dole queue.'

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps told the House of Commons this morning he was 'concerned' by the situation and his officials were holding urgent talks with bosses.

It came as DUP MP Jim Shannon claimed in the Commons that nearly half of P&O Ferries is owned by a Russian business. 'I understand that 40% of the holdings of P&O Ferries is held by a Russian company,' he said.

Three P&O ferries, Spirit of Britain, Pride of Canterbury and Pride of Kent moor up in the cruise terminal at the Port of Dover in Kent after the company suspended sailing

P&O said it had halted operations ahead of a "major announcement" but insisted it is "not going into liquidation
+5

Today confused customers took to Twitter to reveal the chaos they are facing after P&O's unexpected announcement today. One Northern Ireland councillor (top left) was unable to travel to a funeral because of the sudden disruption

Mr Shapps said earlier today: 'I understand they have temporarily paused their operations and that's causing disruption at the short straits - Calais-Dover - as well as some other ports.

'I'm working with the Kent Resilience Forum and I've just instructed them to become intricately involved, and other partners in this, and we'll be taking steps later today - including ensuring that my officials will be having urgent discussions with P&O about the situation, particularly of concern for their workers.'

In an earlier post the question of how we form our opinions was raised and Joss suggested that it would form an interesting subject to debate in a new post, which I undertook to investigate and report back on. The following are the results of my efforts.
Immediately upon starting this exercise I realized that there was a snag, namely, that whatever the conclusions reached, would be MY OPINION and therefore open to question. To overcome this difficulty I propose to express my thoughts as a series of observations for members to consider, challenge and debate. The following are the results of that research.

A) FOUNDATION. Dr J Goebbels realized that it is possible to make the majority of people believe ANYTHING that you want them to believe. To achieve this all you have to do is to constantly tell them what it is that they WANT TO HEAR until they BELIEVE IN YOU, and then to tell them what it is that YOU WANT THEM TO BELIEVE. It is called propaganda, a form of brainwashing, and it ultimately led to the Holocaust.
We have a classic example of this in the Guardian that continually boasts that it is a charity which owes no allegiance and is therefore believable, as opposed to the remainder of the press, owned by billionaires with axes to grind. What we must remember is that, like all newspapers, it has one objective and that is to SELL PAPERS.

B) SOURCING. Next we must consider where we obtain the information upon which we base our opinion, which, for most of us will be TV, newspapers, conversation, social media and personal experience.

C) QUANTIFICATION. Since people rely upon the above sources, they are all influenced/brainwashed by the way in which any source chooses to present that information, together with the intellect of the person receiving it, therefore it is vital that the source, and its possible bias, is subject to careful scrutiny.

D) EVALUATION. Finally we reach the most important and most difficult task, namely, how do we process all of the data into a reasonable valid opinion. Since there is no prescribed formula for achieving this one can only offer suggestions as a basis for debate.
1) Start with an open mind, a very difficult requirement.
2) Check as many and varied sources as possible.
3) Impartially evaluate each source as to its leaning and credibility.
4) Consider both pro’s and con’s, where something/somebody is bad, look for the good, and vice versa.
5) Avoid “bees in the bonnet” syndrome, however passionately one believes in a cause try to be objective at all times.
6) Finally, carefully, using reason and logic, form an OPINION and having done so stay with it until you get a reasoned and logical argument, SUPPORTED BY FACT, to alter/modify it.
Finally, having given this subject some thought I am forced to the conclusion that forming a sound opinion is a most difficult process and that “off the cuff” hasty opinions are worthless.
I look forward, with interest to any responses you may wish to make upon the subject covered by the above.

To The Manor Born star Peter Bowles dead: TV smoothie, 85, who was best known for playing wealthy landlord Richard DeVere in much-loved 80s BBC sitcom loses battle with cancer
The actor starred in the BBC hit show from 1979-1981, playing Richard DeVere
He returned in an hour-long 2007 special alongside co-star Penelope Keith
Today his agent said the London-born actor had died, aged 85, from cancer
By JAMES ROBINSON FOR MAILONLINE

PUBLISHED: 11:14, 17 March 2022 | UPDATED: 11:23, 17 March 2022

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To The Manor Born star Peter Bowles has died from cancer at the age of 85, his agent has said today.

The London-born actor starred in the BBC hit show from 1979-1981, playing Richard DeVere.

He starred alongside Penelope Keith in the smash-hit sitcom, which had audiences of over 20 million for all of its twenty-one episodes.

He reprised the role during an hour long 2007 special, in which the two charters celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary.

Breaking news... more to follow..

Just seen a litter picker down my banjo - first time I have ever seen that.

This is a Europa League round of 16, 2nd leg. Sevilla won 1-0 in Spain, so West Ham have to win to avoid being knocked out. Get your predictions in by 7.15pm
Good luck

It annoys me that the Delivery man from Yell just rang the Door Bell and Dropped my Parcel and did not even wait for me to answer the Door. As he rang the Door Bell I picked up my keys and I did not even see him through the Glass Panel in the Door he had gone.It is a good thing that I have a Door Bell so I can see who he is.😡

I lost my beautiful staffy Flash 3 weeks ago suddenly. Those of you who have lost pets know the pain.
I was part of a staffy group on FB, one of the members sent me a link to their offshoot group on senior staffies over the rainbow bridge.
I posted about my boy and put up a photo, within a day I had 300 fellow staffy owners send me messages of support. I looked back over previous posts and there isn't one cross word in the whole thing, just an outpouring of sympathy and support for those who are struggling with losing a beloved pet. A safe place to talk about how you are feeling and a place to remember our lost pets.
Sometimes we forget there is a positive side to social media

Happy St Patrick's Day to anyone celebrating it today ☘️💚

https://bmmagazine.co.uk/news/food-shortage-warning-as-fertiliser-rationed/

As restrictions are cut and tests are soon to stop here we go again with another variant

https://www.cambridgeindependent.co.uk/news/what-is-the-deltacron-variant-of-covid-19-and-what-impact-wi-9244605/

Kurt Zouma is set to be prosecuted under the Animal Welfare Act after being filmed kicking and slapping one of his pet cats.
News of the RSPCA's intention to bring a prosecution against the 27-year-old French defender - and his brother, Yoan, the Dagenham & Redbridge player who filmed the footage which went viral last month - came on the eve of the biggest game of West Ham's season.

https://www.aol.co.uk/currys-launches-recycling-scheme-old-151155239.html

Corn flakes were originally designed by Dr. Kellogg as part of a bland vegetarian diet meant to reduce sexual desire. See article:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/priceonomics/2016/05/17/the-surprising-reason-why-dr-john-harvey-kellogg-invented-corn-flakes/?sh=778a04826997

https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/cars/1581364/Parking-row-driveway-Manchester-Airport-Range-Rover-car-Wythenshawe

This is the Woke mob being spiteful because something didn't go their way.
https://www.dailyadvent.com/gb/news/8f3b506ea2fb2ad89a38fed9fb4eaba7-Tony-Sewell-labels-University-of-Nottingham-cowards-after-honorary-degree-offer-withdrawn

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10618677/Nazanin-Zaghari-Ratcliffe-released-Iran.html

Premier League match tonight on Sky Premier League, although I will be watching a better match on BT Sport. Get your predictions in by 7.30pm
Good luck

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/13/is-there-any-justification-for-putins-war?utm_source=eml&utm_medium=emlf&utm_campaign=MK_SU_SOINewsletterCanvasSentFromTest&utm_term=Email_RC_UKA&utm_content=variant

Botulinum is a toxin produced by Clostridium botulinum bacteria. It is the deadliest natural or artificial toxin known to man. A lethal dose weighs less than a grain of sand. Surprisingly, it is commonly (and safely) injected into people's faces to prevent wrinkles.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-60730945 These children got out. Others are dead in the rubble of shelled apartment blocks and in mass graves. I know it's not the will of the Russian people en masse - at least not those who aren't entirely brainwashed – but I don't think I could ever bear to go to Putin's Russia again.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-60733391

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMLPqUGyw/

This is the 2nd leg of their Round of 16 tie. It was 1-1 after the match in Spain, so it's all to play for. There is no "Away goals count double" rule anymore so any draw result at 90 minutes would mean extra time and possibly penalties. But as per usual I want your predictions for the result at 90 minutes. Get them in by 7pm.
Good luck

https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/dog-walker-pinned-in-dog-poo-ex-military-victim/

What does everybody thing of this? Does it terrify you as it does me? -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKnGxdb4Nf0

I assume we're allowed to tell Russian jokes at the moment.............

A man in Moscow buys a newspaper, glances at the front page, and throws it away.
He does the same thing every day.
Eventually, the seller snaps "Why DO you do that?"
"I'm just checking for an obituary."
"But obituaries aren't on the front page!"
"The one I'm looking for will be."

Has anyone used and can recommend Physiotherapist (or Practice) in Stevenage?

Time for some Monday Night Football. Get your predictions in by 7pm.
Good luck

This made me cry 😭😭

When you first have children they talk about the challenges of parenting....the struggles of a baby waking in the night,
the toddler who won’t stay in their bed, the cost of childcare, injuries from sports...

Having to take off work to pick them up from school when they don’t feel well, helping them with homework, a messy house, the never ending laundry, the cost to buy school clothes, packing their lunches....

You watch their eyes light up on Christmas morning....and try to soak in the magic of those moments.

You coach them in sports, rushing to practices and ballgames...and tote them all over the country to let them play the game they love...no matter how exhausting or expensive it becomes.

Life is just so busy that you rarely even stop to think what the end of those days look like.

In fact, it’s not really even something you can wrap your mind around.

You go into it thinking that 18-20 years sounds like a long time....

Then suddenly hours turn into days...days into months...and months into years.

That little person that used to crawl up next to you in bed and cuddle up to watch cartoons...suddenly becomes this young adult who hugs you in the hallway as they come and go.

And the chaos and laughter that used to echo throughout your home....gets filled with silence and solitude.

You’ve learned how to parent a child who needs you to care for and protect them....but have no clue how the whole “letting go” thing is supposed to work.

So you hold on as tight as you can...wondering how time passed so quickly...feeling guilty that you missed something....

Because even though you had 20 years.....it just somehow doesn’t seem like it was enough.

You ask yourself so many questions...

Did you teach them the right lessons?
Did you read them enough books as a child?
Spend enough time playing with them?
How many school parties did you have to miss?
Do they really know how much you love them?
What could I have done better as a parent?

.....When it’s time for them to go, it all hits you like a ton of bricks.

Parenting is by far the most amazing experience of your life....that at times leaves you exhilarated....while others leave you heartbroken.

But one thing is certain.....it’s never enough time...💕

So for all the parents with young children...whose days are spent trying to figure out how to make it through the madness...
Exhausted day in and day out...

Soak. It. All. In.

Because one day....all those crazy days full of cartoons, snuggles, sleep overs, Christmas morning magic, ballgames, practices and late night dinners...

All come to an end.

And you’re left hoping that you did enough right, so that when they spread their wings....

They’ll fly...💕💕💕

Credit to the Amazing Author:
@MistyBrewerLee

Oscar winning actor William Hurt dies aged 71.

Had a microwave for ages and used any handy dish. Browsed through book, advise-- never put any containers in with silver/gold --they turn black. One is never too old to learn new tricks.

Person A sends a text to Person B. Most times the text shows on B's phone in seconds but sometimes it can take hours to be delivered or only show when a follow up, "did you get my text from this morning" is sent. When Person B sends a reply text that always gets delivered in minutes.
When they meet face to face, A always blames B's network for the problem.
Whose mobile network is really to blame?

Today's Super Sunday later kick off. Get your predictions in by 4pm.
Good luck

https://www.essexlive.news/news/celebs-tv/sir-rod-stewart-repairs-road-6792703

My CT has gone up £3 per month [ not as much as I thought it would be] so £36 per year.
Got the £150 government grant to come so will be £114 better off.
Don't understand why the council didn't just take the £150 off the bill thereby decreasing the monthly amount instead of charging as normal and the £150 to be debited to bank account [ although they don't say when].

Back to the Premier League for some Saturday Night Football. Get your predictions in by 5pm.
Good luck

https://www.express.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/1579509/payment-warning-shoppers-credit-card-debit-card-declined-identity-check-fraud

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-60692167

https://metro.co.uk/2022/03/11/india-fires-missile-into-pakistan-in-deeply-regrettable-accident-16259402/

Went there this morning but the entrance road where we usually go in is shut and traffic is madness. Just wondering if anyone knows when the road is likely to be re-opened?

https://metro.co.uk/2022/03/11/ukraine-british-public-will-be-asked-to-offer-their-homes-to-refugees-16256535/?ito=newsnow-feed

In 1889, parts of Oklahoma, previously reserved for Native Americans, were opened up for white settlement. On a day in April, over 50,000 people lined up outside. The rules were simple: first come, first served. At noon, the signal was given and they rushed into the land to claim what they could with. Unfortunately for them, other people had got there "sooner" and claimed much of the good land. This is why today Oklahoma is known as the "Sooner State"

Sam who started singing on the TikTok app and has over 12 million followers was chosen as our Eurovision singer for 2022

Here’s the song

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMLfYG6ga/

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10597849/Fury-Pakistan-father-shoots-dead-seven-day-old-baby-girl-wanted-boy.html

Forecast is £50 per week extra.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/everything-will-be-%c2%a32553-more-expensive-this-year-with-half-down-to-war/ar-AAUS8Qq?ocid=msedgntphdr

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10595685/Around-20-Ukrainian-children-cancer-flown-UK-treatment.html