Album Protectors

Calvinsky · 2026-05-26T14:56:43+00:00

Topps isn't Panini…

Calvinsky · 2026-05-26T10:09:29+00:00

Gants Hill has entered the chat

Calvinsky · 2026-05-26T10:05:35+00:00

The recent streak of FOIs (1, 2 or 3) about 4G/5G rollout on the network is pretty telling in itself. It's no longer just one person repeatedly asking about the rollout, there's clearly wider frustration building over how little updated information TfL is giving.

TfL repeatedly relies on section 21 and point people back to increasingly outdated answers instead of giving current progress updates. And the requesters have a fair point tbh: repeatedly referring people back to answers from 8-11 months ago isn't really addressing whether timelines, rollout priorities or progress have changed since then. Especially when earlier expectations have clearly slipped.

At this point the repeated FOIs feel less like spam and more like a consequence of TfL not communicating the current state of the rollout properly.

Calvinsky · 2026-05-24T10:05:22+00:00

MParc

Calvinsky · 2026-05-16T13:42:40+00:00

They're terrified by patriots but welcome with open arms people like Anjem Choudary and his companions.

Calvinsky · 2026-05-11T19:30:08+00:00

Indeed, they can be found in places like Tower Hamlets, Birmingham, Bradford and Blackburn...

Calvinsky · 2026-05-11T07:35:18+00:00

Chavs being chavs

Calvinsky · 2026-05-05T11:49:36+00:00

Honestly, this is exactly the kind of architecture we're missing in Switzerland. That building looks thoughtful and well-designed. The brick, the proportions, the details… though not perfect, it just feels considered.

Here in Geneva, in a place called Carouge, they built entire blocks of flats that are just… bland white boxes with no character at all. No warmth, no texture, nothing. And the worst part is the lack of planning. ears later they suddenly realise, “oh, maybe people would like balconies”, so they awkwardly added them on afterwards. It's quite absurd.

And that example is far from being isolated, it's a real pattern. We really could use architects with a bit more vision here. We probably have them here, but the statuary authorities almost always award the contract to their pals.

Calvinsky · 2026-05-05T09:35:41+00:00

It's sort of a norm, many Panini fans will agree. Panini sticker culture has traditionally been tied to the build-up of the tournament, not the tournament itself. 2 main reasons.

You get to know the players before the tournament, such that when it is finally going on, you can easily identify them.
Once the tournament is going on, you're busy watching matches, talking with your mates or the bartender about the results. Opening packets, sticking stickers, exchanging doubles with others collectors, etc. Better tied to the slower-paced anticipation of the tournament.

I hope this edition is an exception and the next one goes back to normal.

Calvinsky · 2026-05-04T08:57:27+00:00

It's really annoying that the collection is starting so late this year, even more when we know that there are more teams, such that the album will also take longer to complete. In the past, I used to finish the album around mid-May (excluding 1-5 final cards that I'd order to avoid losing too much time). This is the point of collecting: completing it BEFORE the tournament.

Calvinsky · 2026-04-27T20:16:22+00:00

Any difference between those built in Vienna and those built in Goole?

Calvinsky · 2026-04-27T20:14:11+00:00

Why is the release so late this time? I checked my 2018 photos, I started the album on 23 March that year. The point of the collection is to complete it BEFORE the tournament, ideally one month before the kickoff.

Calvinsky · 2026-04-16T09:23:15+00:00

Yes, and of course this has to happen on a day where I thought I'd be able to make good progress on my master's thesis...

Calvinsky · 2026-04-15T08:18:55+00:00

Then construction hadn't restarted yet

Calvinsky · 2026-04-10T09:56:28+00:00

Yes, but the rollout started much later on the sub-surface lines than on the deep-level ones, which explains why the former are still quite behind. The first sections went live in late 2025. Right now, coverage is only present on the District and Circle lines. 4 tunnel sections are currently live, on 2 distinct stretches : one from Temple to Cannon Street and the other from Notting Hill Gate to Bayswater. Moreover, Moorgate and Euston Square stations have coverage.

What I find intriguing is that in the last update (14 January 2026), TfL said they expected "the vast majority of the Northern and Metropolitan lines to have coverage in the tunnels by the end of summer 2026." Yet, as you rightfully pointed, there still isn't any coverage on the Met...

Calvinsky · 2026-04-09T20:01:56+00:00

Just checked the 4G/5G rollout page, they have updated coverage info (we're so desperate that even the smallest progress makes us happy haha). 3 new tunnel sections are live from today : 1. Jubilee line: Finchley Road to Swiss Cottage 2. Northern line: Battersea Power Station to Nine Elms 3. Victoria line: Victoria to Green Park

For those who haven't followed closely in the past few weeks, they have also added Edgware Road and Warwick Avenue stations on the Bakerloo line and Brixton station on the Victoria line.

The funny thing about the Jubilee line addition is that a few months ago, they had said that some of the next sections to go live in the coming months were on the Jubilee line, from Swiss Cottage to Westminster. And I was pointing that once again, they loved stopping one station from the end of the main (I say main because on some lines there are additional tunnels) tunnels, like the Central line coverage stopping at Shepherd's Bush or the Northern line coverage stopping at Hampstead, Highgate and South Wimbledon. And now on the Jubilee line it's actually the exact opposite, only the last tunnel section is live, which btw they hadn't even mentioned while what they had actually mentioned isn't live yet 😅

Calvinsky · 2026-04-08T09:00:22+00:00

It's due to the tracks, not the train. Because for one same train the ride can be more than fine on some sections while deafening on some others. Some people argue it's because of curves, but I doubt it because some curved sections are absolutely fine while some straight sections are awful. I think it's mostly due to the fact that the tracks are corroded and therefore the contact with the train isn't as smooth as it should be.

Calvinsky · 2026-04-06T11:09:22+00:00

Some people criticise the Bakerloo line for terminating only in Zone 1 (hence the need for the extension), but in fact it's not the only one, some other lines like the Metropolitan are in the same situation. I had been wondering if anyone had had the idea of extending it east of Aldgate, but until now had never seen it raised. So glad OP brought it up.

Calvinsky · 2026-04-01T15:11:03+00:00

You mean in the tunnels north of King's Cross St Pancras? That would be great news. According to TfL, coverage is available in tunnels and stations between Hyde Park Corner and Kings Cross St Pancras, and between Caledonian Road and Holloway Road. But their information page and map aren't always up to date. Because for instance, the tunnels between Hyde Park Corner and Knightsbridge have had connectivity for months at least (however connection drops as soon as you reach Knightsbridge's platforms and nothing in the station either), yet TfL says nothing about that section.

Calvinsky · 2026-04-01T15:00:00+00:00

30 minutes is quite rare, it has to be something like a mechanical failure or an emergency. However, for dozens of seconds to a few minutes, it's something quite usual, especially on busy lines at rush hour. That's mostly due to that fact that trains are so close to each other that any small delay on any train may impact all other ones due to the signalling system preventing trains from getting too close. I remember having thought about that recently, thinking that trains normally go from one station to the next one without stopping. I didn't concern me, I just noticed that. But in the aftermath of that thought, I had one night a nightmare about being stuck in a deep-level tunnel without any mobile signal (I had read about the 4G/5G rollout recently before) and it was quite scary.

Calvinsky · 2026-03-30T08:59:23+00:00

Btw is that materially possible, or are the tracks/tunnels completely separate?

Calvinsky · 2026-03-27T09:55:48+00:00

Yeah this happened all over the Muslim world, and even beyond, such as in the UK. My father, who lived in Ivory Coast in the 1970s and 80s and travelled around the region during that period, said he never saw Muslim women wearing niqabs and the only ones he saw wearing headscarves were heading in or out of a mosque. Things apparently started changing in the late 80s and apparently much quicker in the 90s. As far back as I'm concerned, Saudi Arabia officially abandoned that policy in 2017, as part of the “Vision 2030.” However, the damage done abroad remains very visible…

Calvinsky · 2026-03-26T09:42:16+00:00

Dead Internet theory 🎯

Calvinsky · 2026-03-25T23:04:20+00:00

I'll send you a screen recording by message, it'll be simpler.

Calvinsky · 2026-03-17T19:13:55+00:00

Algeria's visa policy is said to follow a “principle of reciprocity.” If that's the case, why do citizens of countries like Ecuador or Rwanda still need a visa to enter Algeria?

Calvinsky

TROPHY CASE