Best Of

Good evening

Family day with our daughter on her 54th Birthday, and now they have gone home I turn on Sky news and watch as what seems like civil war breaking out in California

Then they feature Trump's anger at Labour's involvement in negotiations for the Chinese Embassy in London and his threat to cancel the so-called trade deal with Starmer

Where is all this going to end?

I live in LA, and you wouldn't know anything was going on. There are no helicopters or sirens or anything else.

There is trouble, sure, but it's in a tiny part of downtown. 99.9% of people here aren't seeing anything.

Sky make it look as if a very real civil war is taking place, and suggesting there are 1 million undocumented citizens in LA !!!!!!!!!

That's because news organizations are chasing viewing figures. There's more money to be made - from either side of the political aisle - by pretending civil war is happening, than reporting that there's a small amount of trouble, but nothing that most people will notice.

I have stopped chasing 24 hour news channels as they are depressingly over the top. It's all whose to blame.

On topic -

The tragedy of DOGE style slashing goes beyond the damage it will do, in the short term.

For a political generation or two, all reasonable attempts to increase productivity in government will be tarred with this shite.

The main saving the US DOGE seems to have made is the shuttering of USAID.

That can't be done in the UK as between the asylum bills, Sunak’s cut, and Starmer’s cut, UK aid has already been shuttered.

Good.

The corrupt circlejerk of "charities" hiring the likes of David Miliband, who then lobby for taxpayers money to go to those charities, should never return.

Taxpayers money should go on public services.

Charity should be something people choose to donate to, not get taxed to go towards.

If you donate to Water Aid, or World Vision, or Comic Relief, or CAFOD or anything else then all power to your elbow. I regularly do too. But that's a choice, it shouldn't be compelled by the State, and those donations shouldn't be funding ex-
politicians who exist to lobby for more taxpayers money.

International development is not charity

Correctly implemented it address our strategic objectives, increases international security (by downregulating radicalism), builds alliances and creates new markets for commercial activities.

As third world countries get richer the people in them are more able to afford people smugglers

But the incentive for economic migration decreases.

No, it doesn't.

All economic data shows emigration increases as countries develop, until past the point they're classed as a developed country.

Because migration is higher up the order of needs. It's a want to have, not a need to have. People who are too poor to afford food, shelter, travel or tourism aren't booking trips abroad.

At some point it must. Why would I be an economic migrant to a poorer country?

Pensioners move to spain all the time

They are not 'economic migrants'.

Edit: And they don't now, at least not from the UK since Brexit - it's not allowed for mere mortals.

The has been no migration of retirees from the UK to Spain since Brexit?

Ben is talking absolute bollocks, people went to settle in spain before the eu, they still do because countries like spain and portugal have put in place schemes to encourage them to do so.

To be fair, a lot of them went to settle in Spain before the EU because Spain was (a) poor, (b) was desperate for people to come and bring their savings, and (c) didn't have an extradition treaty with the UK.

Yes and only c has changed

I’m in the Canary Islands right now and it doesn’t feel poor

Nowhere feels poor when you stick to the tourist areas....I was in casablance morroco a few years back...didnt feel poor till I wandered of the tourist areas and got lost in the slums where the poverty was totally apparent

When I was staying in Rabat, a number of years ago, the family put us up in the old house in the Old Town. They told all the neighbours about us - was a unique experience, since we were living, for a few days in the heart of a really ancient district. We were quite safe - but noticed family & friends keeping an eye on us.

I will say I never felt in danger in those slum lands of either casablanca or vegas,,,,when residents realised you werent on some sort of poverty tour they were quite welcoming. In casablanca for example ended up drinking hot mint tea in a cafe with a load of mad islamics, mad in the sense they were a hoot rather than mad in the sense they wanted to cut my head off. Vegas did get a gun pointed at me but when they realised I wasn't american got invited back for a few smokes and a party

Rabat was safe because we were protected as known friends of the family. I wouldn't have set foot in the area otherwise.

I think the most unsafe I've felt was in New Orleans (pre-flood). Some idiot said to go a few blocks out of the tourist area in the Quarter. We ended up in a bar that was seriously edgy and had the vibe of a clubhouse that we weren't invited to.

Precisely what I mean by going off the tourist area, new orleans the french quarter you are pretty safe, wander off and you need to know how to handle yourself

Sadly even the French Quarter is no longer safe. In truth it was never “that” safe - but now the danger is overt almost everywhere

A good friend of mine has lived in Nawlins for 15 years - and has now moved away for that reason

The closest I’ve come to being shot - outside actual warzones - was NOLA. It is an extremely hostile place if you are unlucky

Such a shame. It should be marvellous

I have friends from new orleans that came over last year they would disagree with you, had more guns pointed at me in the uk by far than abroad....6 times in the uk once in vegas

How on earth have you managed to have guns pointed at you 6 times in the UK?

Laserquest?

@Pagan2 is an armed robber, and it was the police who were pointing the guns at him.

@Pagan2 is an adrenaline junky?

Nope just lived the life with the hands I was dealt

I've been to some interesting places - Algeria in their civil war, Somalia, Colombia, Yemen, Equatorial Guinea after the "Wonga" coup attempt, where the President who took power reputedly ate his deposed uncle's bollocks - but I have had ex SAS/ex French Foreign Legion Special Forces as close protection. So no real risk.

My most "interesting" journey was between the Nairobi Club and the Lilian Towers hotel. The taxi was called for us by this very odd old colonial gentleman with who we had a meeting (for a legitimate business arrangement). The car that picked us up (this is circa 1985) was late 1960s Toyota Corona with a driver who when we got back into Nairobi didn't know the way to the Hotel (there weren't many Western Hotels in Nairobi in 1985). So the driver wanted to stop to pick up a random guy on a random street corner to help him with directions. My boss was a lot more worldly wiser than me and grabbed the driver around the neck calmly explaining if he stopped and let the guy in he would snap his neck. Remarkably the driver remembered the directions to the hotel. My boss released him from the neck hold only on arrival.

I treated myself to a beer. My boss treated himself to a hooker.

I woke up in Huntingdon once at 2am after falling asleep on the train. I tell you it was vicious: it was drizzling. Luckily I phoned an enquiry number and got a taxi. Whew, that was close. The taxi driver and I laughed about it on the way, but it could have gone horribly wrong.

I've heard market town Cambridgeshire can be a bit lairy these days.

Anyway, we have both broken the cardinal rule of PB. No posts about taxi drivers! I'll apologise now.

Unless you play the Albanian Gambit.

On topic -

The tragedy of DOGE style slashing goes beyond the damage it will do, in the short term.

For a political generation or two, all reasonable attempts to increase productivity in government will be tarred with this shite.

The main saving the US DOGE seems to have made is the shuttering of USAID.

That can't be done in the UK as between the asylum bills, Sunak’s cut, and Starmer’s cut, UK aid has already been shuttered.

Good.

The corrupt circlejerk of "charities" hiring the likes of David Miliband, who then lobby for taxpayers money to go to those charities, should never return.

Taxpayers money should go on public services.

Charity should be something people choose to donate to, not get taxed to go towards.

If you donate to Water Aid, or World Vision, or Comic Relief, or CAFOD or anything else then all power to your elbow. I regularly do too. But that's a choice, it shouldn't be compelled by the State, and those donations shouldn't be funding ex-
politicians who exist to lobby for more taxpayers money.

International development is not charity

Correctly implemented it address our strategic objectives, increases international security (by downregulating radicalism), builds alliances and creates new markets for commercial activities.

As third world countries get richer the people in them are more able to afford people smugglers

But the incentive for economic migration decreases.

No, it doesn't.

All economic data shows emigration increases as countries develop, until past the point they're classed as a developed country.

Because migration is higher up the order of needs. It's a want to have, not a need to have. People who are too poor to afford food, shelter, travel or tourism aren't booking trips abroad.

At some point it must. Why would I be an economic migrant to a poorer country?

Pensioners move to spain all the time

They are not 'economic migrants'.

Edit: And they don't now, at least not from the UK since Brexit - it's not allowed for mere mortals.

The has been no migration of retirees from the UK to Spain since Brexit?

Ben is talking absolute bollocks, people went to settle in spain before the eu, they still do because countries like spain and portugal have put in place schemes to encourage them to do so.

To be fair, a lot of them went to settle in Spain before the EU because Spain was (a) poor, (b) was desperate for people to come and bring their savings, and (c) didn't have an extradition treaty with the UK.

Yes and only c has changed

I’m in the Canary Islands right now and it doesn’t feel poor

Nowhere feels poor when you stick to the tourist areas....I was in casablance morroco a few years back...didnt feel poor till I wandered of the tourist areas and got lost in the slums where the poverty was totally apparent

When I was staying in Rabat, a number of years ago, the family put us up in the old house in the Old Town. They told all the neighbours about us - was a unique experience, since we were living, for a few days in the heart of a really ancient district. We were quite safe - but noticed family & friends keeping an eye on us.

I will say I never felt in danger in those slum lands of either casablanca or vegas,,,,when residents realised you werent on some sort of poverty tour they were quite welcoming. In casablanca for example ended up drinking hot mint tea in a cafe with a load of mad islamics, mad in the sense they were a hoot rather than mad in the sense they wanted to cut my head off. Vegas did get a gun pointed at me but when they realised I wasn't american got invited back for a few smokes and a party

Rabat was safe because we were protected as known friends of the family. I wouldn't have set foot in the area otherwise.

I think the most unsafe I've felt was in New Orleans (pre-flood). Some idiot said to go a few blocks out of the tourist area in the Quarter. We ended up in a bar that was seriously edgy and had the vibe of a clubhouse that we weren't invited to.

Precisely what I mean by going off the tourist area, new orleans the french quarter you are pretty safe, wander off and you need to know how to handle yourself

Sadly even the French Quarter is no longer safe. In truth it was never “that” safe - but now the danger is overt almost everywhere

A good friend of mine has lived in Nawlins for 15 years - and has now moved away for that reason

The closest I’ve come to being shot - outside actual warzones - was NOLA. It is an extremely hostile place if you are unlucky

Such a shame. It should be marvellous

I have friends from new orleans that came over last year they would disagree with you, had more guns pointed at me in the uk by far than abroad....6 times in the uk once in vegas

How on earth have you managed to have guns pointed at you 6 times in the UK?

Laserquest?

@Pagan2 is an armed robber, and it was the police who were pointing the guns at him.

@Pagan2 is an adrenaline junky?

Nope just lived the life with the hands I was dealt

I've been to some interesting places - Algeria in their civil war, Somalia, Colombia, Yemen, Equatorial Guinea after the "Wonga" coup attempt, where the President who took power reputedly ate his deposed uncle's bollocks - but I have had ex SAS/ex French Foreign Legion Special Forces as close protection. So no real risk.

My most "interesting" journey was between the Nairobi Club and the Lilian Towers hotel. The taxi was called for us by this very odd old colonial gentleman with who we had a meeting (for a legitimate business arrangement). The car that picked us up (this is circa 1985) was late 1960s Toyota Corona with a driver who when we got back into Nairobi didn't know the way to the Hotel (there weren't many Western Hotels in Nairobi in 1985). So the driver wanted to stop to pick up a random guy on a random street corner to help him with directions. My boss was a lot more worldly wiser than me and grabbed the driver around the neck calmly explaining if he stopped and let the guy in he would snap his neck. Remarkably the driver remembered the directions to the hotel. My boss released him from the neck hold only on arrival.

I treated myself to a beer. My boss treated himself to a hooker.

I woke up in Huntingdon once at 2am after falling asleep on the train. I tell you it was vicious: it was drizzling. Luckily I phoned an enquiry number and got a taxi. Whew, that was close. The taxi driver and I laughed about it on the way, but it could have gone horribly wrong.

I've heard market town Cambridgeshire can be a bit lairy these days.

Anyway, we have both broken the cardinal rule of PB. No posts about taxi drivers! I'll apologise now.

I've had a few whiskies with my wife on the Caledonian Sleeper leaving Euston (yes, London does have a railway station) and then retired to our sleeping compartment to have sex there - pre kids - before waking up, very hungover, in Edinburgh Waverley the next morning.

Does that count?

The rules only apply to public carriages.

I am fortunate enough to have been availed of those Agatha Christie style carriages still used on local trains into the 1980s.

Can you post the video of your arrest when you give it a go in a 60 seat modern carriage?

The cycle storage might work - I can provide a detailed spreadsheet of the facilities available in the current rolling stock.

That's just the thing to get my wife excited in the heat of the moment.

A detailed spreadsheet of the facilities available in the current rolling stock.

When I last lived with a woman I found the way to get her excited was to chop raw chillis then touch her clit without washing my hands it certainly gave her the heat of the moment and got her excited in the hopping mad sense of excited....nods

Christ. At this rate the Mods are going to introduce another new rule!

On topic -

The tragedy of DOGE style slashing goes beyond the damage it will do, in the short term.

For a political generation or two, all reasonable attempts to increase productivity in government will be tarred with this shite.

The main saving the US DOGE seems to have made is the shuttering of USAID.

That can't be done in the UK as between the asylum bills, Sunak’s cut, and Starmer’s cut, UK aid has already been shuttered.

Good.

The corrupt circlejerk of "charities" hiring the likes of David Miliband, who then lobby for taxpayers money to go to those charities, should never return.

Taxpayers money should go on public services.

Charity should be something people choose to donate to, not get taxed to go towards.

If you donate to Water Aid, or World Vision, or Comic Relief, or CAFOD or anything else then all power to your elbow. I regularly do too. But that's a choice, it shouldn't be compelled by the State, and those donations shouldn't be funding ex-
politicians who exist to lobby for more taxpayers money.

International development is not charity

Correctly implemented it address our strategic objectives, increases international security (by downregulating radicalism), builds alliances and creates new markets for commercial activities.

As third world countries get richer the people in them are more able to afford people smugglers

But the incentive for economic migration decreases.

No, it doesn't.

All economic data shows emigration increases as countries develop, until past the point they're classed as a developed country.

Because migration is higher up the order of needs. It's a want to have, not a need to have. People who are too poor to afford food, shelter, travel or tourism aren't booking trips abroad.

At some point it must. Why would I be an economic migrant to a poorer country?

Pensioners move to spain all the time

They are not 'economic migrants'.

Edit: And they don't now, at least not from the UK since Brexit - it's not allowed for mere mortals.

The has been no migration of retirees from the UK to Spain since Brexit?

Ben is talking absolute bollocks, people went to settle in spain before the eu, they still do because countries like spain and portugal have put in place schemes to encourage them to do so.

To be fair, a lot of them went to settle in Spain before the EU because Spain was (a) poor, (b) was desperate for people to come and bring their savings, and (c) didn't have an extradition treaty with the UK.

Yes and only c has changed

I’m in the Canary Islands right now and it doesn’t feel poor

Nowhere feels poor when you stick to the tourist areas....I was in casablance morroco a few years back...didnt feel poor till I wandered of the tourist areas and got lost in the slums where the poverty was totally apparent

When I was staying in Rabat, a number of years ago, the family put us up in the old house in the Old Town. They told all the neighbours about us - was a unique experience, since we were living, for a few days in the heart of a really ancient district. We were quite safe - but noticed family & friends keeping an eye on us.

I will say I never felt in danger in those slum lands of either casablanca or vegas,,,,when residents realised you werent on some sort of poverty tour they were quite welcoming. In casablanca for example ended up drinking hot mint tea in a cafe with a load of mad islamics, mad in the sense they were a hoot rather than mad in the sense they wanted to cut my head off. Vegas did get a gun pointed at me but when they realised I wasn't american got invited back for a few smokes and a party

Rabat was safe because we were protected as known friends of the family. I wouldn't have set foot in the area otherwise.

I think the most unsafe I've felt was in New Orleans (pre-flood). Some idiot said to go a few blocks out of the tourist area in the Quarter. We ended up in a bar that was seriously edgy and had the vibe of a clubhouse that we weren't invited to.

Precisely what I mean by going off the tourist area, new orleans the french quarter you are pretty safe, wander off and you need to know how to handle yourself

Sadly even the French Quarter is no longer safe. In truth it was never “that” safe - but now the danger is overt almost everywhere

A good friend of mine has lived in Nawlins for 15 years - and has now moved away for that reason

The closest I’ve come to being shot - outside actual warzones - was NOLA. It is an extremely hostile place if you are unlucky

Such a shame. It should be marvellous

I have friends from new orleans that came over last year they would disagree with you, had more guns pointed at me in the uk by far than abroad....6 times in the uk once in vegas

How on earth have you managed to have guns pointed at you 6 times in the UK?

Laserquest?

@Pagan2 is an armed robber, and it was the police who were pointing the guns at him.

@Pagan2 is an adrenaline junky?

Nope just lived the life with the hands I was dealt

I've been to some interesting places - Algeria in their civil war, Somalia, Colombia, Yemen, Equatorial Guinea after the "Wonga" coup attempt, where the President who took power reputedly ate his deposed uncle's bollocks - but I have had ex SAS/ex French Foreign Legion Special Forces as close protection. So no real risk.

My most "interesting" journey was between the Nairobi Club and the Lilian Towers hotel. The taxi was called for us by this very odd old colonial gentleman with who we had a meeting (for a legitimate business arrangement). The car that picked us up (this is circa 1985) was late 1960s Toyota Corona with a driver who when we got back into Nairobi didn't know the way to the Hotel (there weren't many Western Hotels in Nairobi in 1985). So the driver wanted to stop to pick up a random guy on a random street corner to help him with directions. My boss was a lot more worldly wiser than me and grabbed the driver around the neck calmly explaining if he stopped and let the guy in he would snap his neck. Remarkably the driver remembered the directions to the hotel. My boss released him from the neck hold only on arrival.

I treated myself to a beer. My boss treated himself to a hooker.

I woke up in Huntingdon once at 2am after falling asleep on the train. I tell you it was vicious: it was drizzling. Luckily I phoned an enquiry number and got a taxi. Whew, that was close. The taxi driver and I laughed about it on the way, but it could have gone horribly wrong.

On topic -

The tragedy of DOGE style slashing goes beyond the damage it will do, in the short term.

For a political generation or two, all reasonable attempts to increase productivity in government will be tarred with this shite.

The main saving the US DOGE seems to have made is the shuttering of USAID.

That can't be done in the UK as between the asylum bills, Sunak’s cut, and Starmer’s cut, UK aid has already been shuttered.

Good.

The corrupt circlejerk of "charities" hiring the likes of David Miliband, who then lobby for taxpayers money to go to those charities, should never return.

Taxpayers money should go on public services.

Charity should be something people choose to donate to, not get taxed to go towards.

If you donate to Water Aid, or World Vision, or Comic Relief, or CAFOD or anything else then all power to your elbow. I regularly do too. But that's a choice, it shouldn't be compelled by the State, and those donations shouldn't be funding ex-
politicians who exist to lobby for more taxpayers money.

International development is not charity

Correctly implemented it address our strategic objectives, increases international security (by downregulating radicalism), builds alliances and creates new markets for commercial activities.

As third world countries get richer the people in them are more able to afford people smugglers

But the incentive for economic migration decreases.

No, it doesn't.

All economic data shows emigration increases as countries develop, until past the point they're classed as a developed country.

Because migration is higher up the order of needs. It's a want to have, not a need to have. People who are too poor to afford food, shelter, travel or tourism aren't booking trips abroad.

At some point it must. Why would I be an economic migrant to a poorer country?

Pensioners move to spain all the time

They are not 'economic migrants'.

Edit: And they don't now, at least not from the UK since Brexit - it's not allowed for mere mortals.

The has been no migration of retirees from the UK to Spain since Brexit?

Ben is talking absolute bollocks, people went to settle in spain before the eu, they still do because countries like spain and portugal have put in place schemes to encourage them to do so.

To be fair, a lot of them went to settle in Spain before the EU because Spain was (a) poor, (b) was desperate for people to come and bring their savings, and (c) didn't have an extradition treaty with the UK.

Yes and only c has changed

I’m in the Canary Islands right now and it doesn’t feel poor

Nowhere feels poor when you stick to the tourist areas....I was in casablance morroco a few years back...didnt feel poor till I wandered of the tourist areas and got lost in the slums where the poverty was totally apparent

When I was staying in Rabat, a number of years ago, the family put us up in the old house in the Old Town. They told all the neighbours about us - was a unique experience, since we were living, for a few days in the heart of a really ancient district. We were quite safe - but noticed family & friends keeping an eye on us.

I will say I never felt in danger in those slum lands of either casablanca or vegas,,,,when residents realised you werent on some sort of poverty tour they were quite welcoming. In casablanca for example ended up drinking hot mint tea in a cafe with a load of mad islamics, mad in the sense they were a hoot rather than mad in the sense they wanted to cut my head off. Vegas did get a gun pointed at me but when they realised I wasn't american got invited back for a few smokes and a party

Rabat was safe because we were protected as known friends of the family. I wouldn't have set foot in the area otherwise.

I think the most unsafe I've felt was in New Orleans (pre-flood). Some idiot said to go a few blocks out of the tourist area in the Quarter. We ended up in a bar that was seriously edgy and had the vibe of a clubhouse that we weren't invited to.

Precisely what I mean by going off the tourist area, new orleans the french quarter you are pretty safe, wander off and you need to know how to handle yourself

Sadly even the French Quarter is no longer safe. In truth it was never “that” safe - but now the danger is overt almost everywhere

A good friend of mine has lived in Nawlins for 15 years - and has now moved away for that reason

The closest I’ve come to being shot - outside actual warzones - was NOLA. It is an extremely hostile place if you are unlucky

Such a shame. It should be marvellous

I have friends from new orleans that came over last year they would disagree with you, had more guns pointed at me in the uk by far than abroad....6 times in the uk once in vegas

Ok I’ll tell my friend he’s simply wrong. Even though

1 he lives in New Orleans (or did)

and also

2. I’ve been to the city many times. It’s my favourite city in all the Americas - no joke - but on my last visit (2023) it felt obviously more dangerous than any other time

I am currently chatting on discord with my friend from new orleans, she is laughing at you
by chatting I mean voice chat we are watching a movie

New Orelans is the 7th most dangerous city in the USA (for 2023)

Given that the top 6 are total shitholes that no one foreign will ever visit (with the possible exception of Memphis for weirdos), that makes Nawlins the most dangerous American city that any European will likely encounter

1 St. Louis, Missouri
2 Birmingham, Alabama
3 Baltimore, Maryland
4 Memphis, Tennessee
5 Detroit, Michigan
6 Cleveland, Ohio
7 New Orleans, Louisiana


https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurabegleybloom/2023/01/31/report-ranks-americas-15-safest-and-most-dangerous-cities-for-2023/

My wife and I had a dream of a music tour down the mississipi from Memphis to New Orleans.

Maybe we're naive but safety didn't occur to us.

We simply don't have to worry about that in the UK.

Ah don’t worry about it. 99.3% of tourists will have no trouble. Just don’t go exploring in big cities as you might in Europe or Asia

Travel! Do it!