A Horse Named Stranger

About Wales. It's almost like a NYT article is based on an observable reality. It's almost like some people don't like that narrative and ignore stuff that supports it. Who would have thought that?

Nope. Those call have been made on the ground of the unnatural positioning/extension of his body. I could see how Liverpool's would've been screaming bloody murder if the penalty had been awarded. But it would've hardly been the first time such a penalty had been called.

But the Tory party at large has their own problems with racism. Johnson has a very clear history of using racist language, and he is not even hiding it from The Spectator and pretty much Telegraphed it to the world, so to speak. And this has been brought up again and again, most recently during his Tory leadership bid. Yet, the Tory membership overwhelmingly voted him in as party leader. I mean, either they were okay with it, they agreed with it, or at the very least thought his racism wasn't a deal breaker. And no, the it was a joke defense does not fly. So to argue that Labour is morally compromised by the ongoing anti-semitism scandals is true, while it's also a bit rich coming as an argument from a party that has put Johnson in charge. Like I said, I find Tories and Labour to be pretty appaling atm, and I don't think the Tory party has a leg moral leg to stand on in this debate. Esp. not if you look at the other stories concerning Tory members mormont linked. So in that context this Corbyn is a dangerous anti-semite feels a bit like mere political point scoring.

Let's just say, there have been penalties called on those handballs. So Liverpool's certainly been on the lucky side of VAR decissions today. As for the second. Close call whether Salah was offside. Personally I think the camera angle might be a bit deceiving, so Salah was probably onside (close call however).

Yeah, looks like both Dortmund and Bayern might be shopping for a new manager before too soon. My prediction FWIW. ten Hag will join Bayern next season. Bayern will reveal who will take over until the end of the season after the International break. From their retired manager list. Heynckes won't do it. They might turn to Hitzfeld in their desperation. Wenger is confirmed as not a candidate. My guess is they will pull Labbadia out of their hat, and hope he and his wife will stay away from the WAGs.

VAR madness from the Bundesliga. But this time it was more down to the on field ref. During the Berlin Leipzig game. Berlin's Stark gets Laimer's (Leipzig) elbow in his face (he had to be subbed with a broken nose) in the Leipzig box. On field ref (Storks) waves on, awards a corner to Berlin. VAR calls in, tells him to review the scene. Storks: Nah, I am perfectly happy with my decission.

He is a chimp not a gorilla. Do all apes looks the same to you? You sir, are an Apist.

Ah, the fun, having plaid during schoolbreaks in the mid-late 90s. The group playing grew so big, we had to play with two decks. Anyway rules. +2 on +2 and +4 on +4 obviously (but not +4 on +2 or any such ungodly thing, it's Adam and Steve not Adam and Eve or something). But also tossing in cards from any given position, if you happened to have the same one. So Red 4 on a Red 4. Particularly fun when you happened to hold numerous +4s.

North London Metropolitan Liberal Elite. Let's be accurate please. Somehow I have the vague feeling, if somebody from Corbyn's circle had uttered those words, you wouldn't be as dismissive. Nope, it doesn't. Which is kinda my point. I am just pointing out, that you bringing up the very ghastly bits of Corbyn's cult, that has infected the Labour party, while being pretty dismissive about the Tories own racist problems, doesn't feel particularly balanced. I think that's a neutral way to put it (at least I hope so). I am refraining from two explanations, one being, that you are ok, with one form of racism (Islamophobia from the Tories (the Muslim terrorist trope in various shape and forms)), whie you are appaled by another form racism (anti-semitism as displayed by the Cult of Corbyn); or that you don't really care for either form of racism, but that you just want to weaponize the anti-semitism claim against Labour. Personally I think, it's more of case of not wanting to look too closely at your own (former?) party. But that's obviously speculation on my part. Anyway, like I said, I find both British parties major parties to be pretty appaling at the moment. And I really don't think either of them have the moral high ground on the issue of racism.

Not bothered about the anti-British/unpatriotic bit. Patriotism has never been my cup of tea. However, WRT to the anti-semitism bit. It's not like Petty Pity Priti Patel is above anti-semitic dogwhistles, and she is not on the Labour frontbench, is she? So you are selling the Tories short on that front, same with Johnson. He is so much more than a mere charlatan. He is also racists, we don't need to talk about the Letterbox ladies again, do we? Or the pickaninnies? Anyway, part of me wished JRM would be Tory party leader now. Just for the fun of having an 18th century aristocrat facing off against a 19th century Marxist to become British PM in the 21st century. Anyway, has Labour announced who will run in Vauxhall? I am really curious.

Ok, that was proper rubbish. Not sure whether this was an improvement over last week, when we threw away a two goal lead against the worst team I've seen this season. But there we at least played football. Today was just bad football by two very limited teams. If our resident scousers start with their high level whining about their team playing crap and not winning by 3 goals, I recommend them watching one of those games. At the very least it should help them appreciate their players more, and see the difference between Origi/Wijnaldum and actual championship level footballers. Sorry, I am just porperly annoyed.

It shouldn't hinge on the goodwill of private actors, that they may or may not act. Let's take the energy market as an example. Renewables are the way to go (to combat climate change). The private sector will not go there (fast enough or in sufficient numbers) as long as fossils outprice the competition. So there the state has to act. Either by subsidies for renewables, or by taxing fossils (or a combination of both). We can go thru some other businesses. Airlines. People fly too much, in huge part because it's become too effing cheap. Add an emission tax on SUVs and they become a lot less attractive to drive (or just increase taxes on fuel, which makes smaller less thirsty models more attractive).

So Leverkusen is finally starting to play football. Too bad they messed up the first three group games. I had them as second place in that group ahead of Atletico after the draw. Yes, that prediction had not aged well.

Dunt's summary of the beginning of the Tory capaign. Funny and terrifying at the same time. How will the Tories be able to keep that amount of crazy up till December?

Didn't I literally call it a Glorified International Friendly Cup? Anyway, I think the global coverage (like in outside England) for it is much bigger than the League Cup, I mean the League Cup is the secondary Cup competition in England. The FA Cup, I would get, why Liverpool could prioritize it over the those Friendlies, but the League Cup, I don't think you can find anybody outside England who gives a toss. I mean, I only managed to remember that City is the reigning League Cup champion by cleverly deducing (yes, I want a cookie), that they won all the domestic titles, thus they also must have won the League Cup, and I am kind of a football nerd.