The Off Topic Topic

[Tamas]

Dogs walk behind their owners.

[Josquius]

Damn Kim is a funny looking bugger. His legs are way too small for his body.

[HVC]

Huh, slovakia is one of the baddies? Didn't know.

[Syt]

Huh, slovakia is one of the baddies? Didn't know.

Robert Fico (pronounced fit-so): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Fico

Responding to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Slovakia's neighbor, Fico opposed helping Ukraine to defend itself militarily.[143][144][145] He also vowed to block Ukraine from joining NATO and argued that the accession of Ukraine to the EU by 2025 was unrealistic.[43][146] Fico said that selling or sending Ukraine weapons and military equipment to defend itself has only encouraged more violence. In September 2023, he vowed that if his party won the election "We will not send a single bullet to Ukraine".[143] Fico said that efforts should instead focus on reaching a ceasefire and pushing Ukraine and Russia toward peace talks. He said "Why don't we force the warring parties [to] sit down and find some sort of compromise that would guarantee security for Ukraine?".[143][147] In May 2023, Fico praised the peace plans put forward by the Holy See, Brazil and China.[148] In October 2023, after his re-election, Fico announced Slovakia would not sell or send any more military equipment to Ukraine but would continue to help Ukraine in a humanitarian way and would try to start peace talks.[149][150] Former Minister of Defence Robert Kaliňák has launched a company that started to sell ammunition to Ukraine.[151]

In January 2024, Fico said that "Ukraine is not an independent and sovereign country" and said the only way to end Russia's invasion is for Ukraine to give up some of its land to the invaders.[152] Fico has been accused of spreading pro-Russian disinformation about the Ukrainian war,[153][154][155] for example repeating Kremlin claims that the Donbas War began when "Ukrainian Nazis and fascists started murdering the Russian population of Donbas".[156][157] Members of the Party of European Socialists called for Fico's party to be expelled from the group for allegedly spreading Russian propaganda and for seeking a coalition with the neo-fascist Republic Movement.[155]

[Tamas]

Fico has like proper Italian Maffia links.

[HVC]

Maybe we should let the Czechs step in

[Norgy]

Fico has like proper Italian Maffia links.

Leadership skills.

[Josquius]

Ah recruiters.
Went on linked in for the first time in a while and got 4 of them contacting me about what seems to be the same job. I guess its terrible.
One was especially great.

I'm a recruiter, and I saw your profile. Your experience in [mention a specific skill or past role from their profile] caught my attention.

[Sheilbh]

Dogs walk behind their owners.

Yeah - although also at ceremonial events like this, heads of government come after heads of state (and ministers are definitely last in the queue). And this is formally China's big 80th anniversary commemoration.

(I'm not totally sure but I sort of feel that just out of politeness we should have sent the Foreign Secretary and other countries their foreign ministers - WW2 has a huge ongoing legacy in East Asia, no country suffered more or longer than China and I think it would be respectful even with all the issues to mark that with them.)

Edit: I'd add that apparently, and I find really interestingly, the Eastern Front is also still a pretty big part of CCP documents. Obviously it makes sense why that is important but, for example, it's apparently not unusual to have references to Stalingrad and the like within the CCP's rhetorical devices.

[Syt]

Reaction of my Slovakian colleague in the office when I showed her the image.



And: "Maybe time to trade my Slovakian passport for an Austrian one!"

I told her to wait and see how FPÖ does in next elections. Especially with Austria still having high inflation (highest in EUR land).

[Crazy_Ivan80]

Maybe we should let the Czechs step in

Don't think they want it back, but maybe as a puppet

[Valmy]

Huh, slovakia is one of the baddies? Didn't know.

Well it isn't like there isn't a precedent for the Slovaks being assholes: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slovak_Republic_(1939%E2%80%931945)

[Baron von Schtinkenbutt]

Damn Kim is a funny looking bugger. His legs are way too small for his body.

I think that's a combination of the perspective, the tailoring of his suit pants, and lack of a thigh gap.

[Sheilbh]

Knew it would happen but still - one of my favourite listens

Melvyn Bragg decides to step down from presenting In Our Time
After 26 years on the programme, the legendary presenter bids farewell to the series
Published: 11:00 am, 3 September 2025

    Melvyn's passion for the arts, his intellectual curiosity, and his unwavering commitment to public service broadcasting over the last 60-plus years have enriched the lives of millions. Through In Our Time on Radio 4 he has brought depth, insight, and humanity to our airwaves every single week for more than a quarter of a century.
    — Tim Davie, BBC Director General

Having presented well over 1,000 episodes of the much-loved BBC Radio 4 series, Melvyn Bragg has made the decision to step down from In Our Time following the series which aired earlier this year. Melvyn has presented every episode of In Our Time since the series first launched in 1998.

In Our Time is regularly one of the BBC's most listened to on-demand programmes around the world, its appeal spanning generations. It is one of BBC Sounds' most popular podcasts amongst under 35s.

Over the last quarter of a century, Melvyn has skilfully led conversations about everything from the age of the Universe to 'Zenobia', Queen of the Palmyrene Empire. He has welcomed the company of the brightest and best academics in their fields, sharing their passion and knowledge with a fascinated audience right around the globe.
...

An absolutely outstanding broadcasting achievement for those 1,000+ episodes over more than 25 years. And exactly the sort of broadcasting I think is legitimately public good, which I think the BBC needs to do. I also love that it's one of the most popular shows with under 35s because I do think if you get people who are passionate and interested, then there is an audience for it - I strongly believe that if you assume people are interested and curious about things then you will find an audience that is interested and curious, if you talk down to them they will live down to your condescension. Also I think the BBC has absolutely slashed arts and culture broadcasting (which is so cheap!).

Very difficult to replace (although Amol Rajan feels inevitable ) because I'm not sure if many broadcasters have the hinterland to do it. I feel like you need to be interested in everything and fantastically intolerant of hazy waffle by academics, which is a really difficult balance - I'm reminded of the Alan Bennett line on him hosting the South Bank show "Melvyn has always possessed the vitality, appetite and, of course, hair of a much younger man." I think Kirsty Wark might be good. I always particularly enjoy the science ones where Bragg (and I!) have no idea about anything - the episodes on the evolution of teeth and echolocation have both stuck in my head for years.

Although I think the standout moment is the Industrial Revolution (part 1) episode when he gets into a full-blown row with an academic emphasising that it could have happened anywhere in North-West Europe really and not sufficiently acknowledging the genius and technical gifts of the Northern working class in making it happen here

[crazy canuck]

I could sense it coming - he has become far too congenial in this last season