Is there any word on fracking in their vicinity, though?
It’s like when people support tax rises to pay for stuff. They always support it if it’s someone else paying
The problem with fracking is it tends to be most viable in Tory seats. Which is why it isn't likely.
Given rising energy bills and bans on energy supplies from Russia, supply has to be increased somehow. The US has had success keeping energy prices down expanding fracking and shale extraction
Different country, indeed continent. Wide sedimentary basins vs the small, faulted and cooked shale basins of the UK. HMG are insane if they think that fracking and nukes are the answer. But of course the most informed electorate in the world like them (Tory MPs).
Edit: AIUI there is a role for a from of fracking - but in the offshore basins where it s ALREADY used.
Let the fracking pilots continue. Any investment risk will be private sector, they won't drill for production unless very sure it will be worthwhile.
If fracking does cause earthquakes, I doubt it will be the investors who pick up the tab.
I’ve had a gentler day today. I’ve mostly been wandering around, occasionally stopping at bars for a quick refresher (beer for these three weeks!) and a tapes. I went to the Dali theatre museum this afternoon but had stupidly forgotten to take my phone battery pack and my useless phone battery irritatingly ran out as I arrived. I found it funny and fascinating once I’d forgotten my infuriating phone..
Even on my ‘rest’ day I’ve managed to walk over eleven miles. And I might yet walk some more; I’ve come out to treat myself to my first proper dinner (it’s all been tapes so far) and I like a stroll between food and bed. It’s not an especially fancy place, but it’s a nice mix of Catalan, Spanish and French with a really lovely waitress who I think runs and probably owns the place. I’ve had a plate of Bellota jamon with tomato bread, and waiting for my scallop bowl with truffle oil and caviar..
It’s just arrived! And going down very nicely with the house red 😀
I lost an inch off my waist yesterday (or my belt and jeans grew an inch) so I’ve ordered some more food.. grilled foie gras with black bread, onion and Grenache jam. And another glass of red.
I think the Trans activism is ultimately self-defeating because the more traction it gets the more political resistance it will face.
Put simply: most people aren't nutters. So they'll be ignored until it causes real problems and then they'll lose.
This is a complicated issue. What concerns me is that allegations of 'transphobia' have a chilling effect on any public discussion of it. It would surely be better if people felt able to speak freely in exploring the issues. This is more likely to ultimately lead to genuine acceptance and understanding. Otherwise you are just storing up a lot of hatred and resentment, which will eventually find an expression.
In my Ward, I have three Labour, three Conservative, three Green, three Christian People's Alliance, one Reform UK and one Independent chasing the three seats.
Some choice!
Newham has been 100% Labour for quite some time I think? Any hope of anyone clawing out one or two seats?
Edit: Looking at the last election, it wasn't even close in a single ward - well done other parties finding people to even stand.
Been saying since January we're going down Shockingly tough fixtures to come. That and we're no good.
As someone who has seen my team relegated a number of times, including to League One, I can sympathise. It was on a number of occasions the trigger to a turn in fortunes. Indeed I really enjoyed winning League One. Its great to watch a winning team, even when playing Cheltenham or Yeovil.
No idea why we didn't close the game down at halftime? We were going for it all second half. They needed to win more than we did. Would have taken a point before kick off. Yet we never sat back. Now they play Norwich with confidence. Bah!!
I’ve had a gentler day today. I’ve mostly been wandering around, occasionally stopping at bars for a quick refresher (beer for these three weeks!) and a tapes. I went to the Dali theatre museum this afternoon but had stupidly forgotten to take my phone battery pack and my useless phone battery irritatingly ran out as I arrived. I found it funny and fascinating once I’d forgotten my infuriating phone..
Even on my ‘rest’ day I’ve managed to walk over eleven miles. And I might yet walk some more; I’ve come out to treat myself to my first proper dinner (it’s all been tapes so far) and I like a stroll between food and bed. It’s not an especially fancy place, but it’s a nice mix of Catalan, Spanish and French with a really lovely waitress who I think runs and probably owns the place. I’ve had a plate of Bellota jamon with tomato bread, and waiting for my scallop bowl with truffle oil and caviar..
It’s just arrived! And going down very nicely with the house red 😀
I lost an inch off my waist yesterday (or my belt and jeans grew an inch) so I’ve ordered some more food.. grilled foie gras with black bread, onion and Grenache jam. And another glass of red.
I'm not allowed to order foie gras if my wife is around: she gives me a look that I know means serious consequences...
Does anyone know how many tanks they had before they launched the invasion?
No, but I've seen it suggested that some of their tanks are not really tanks but more like armoured personnel carrier/tank hybrids, and not always the latest model. It looks like the Russians believed their own propaganda that they'd just whizz in, destroy any Ukrainian roadblocks and be garlanded by a grateful populace.
I think you are referring to Armed Infantry Fighting Vehicles (AIFV) , and other similar types, which typically both carry some troops inside (like an armed personnel career) and have some offensive weapons, typically in a turrets on the top. The Russians have lost a lot of these too, as well as almost all Russian military equipment.
As to how many Tanks does Russia have? I don't think anybody really know including Putin, a starting point being Wikipedia, lists Just under 3,000 active and just over 11,000 in reserve, how accurate is this? don't know it might be ball park stuff, but even then at any point in time some active stuff be be down for maintenance, some of the best reserve stuff might have been activated before the war and there is a lot to suggest that a lot of the reserve stuff has been so neglected and looted that it would take a lot of time money and skilled personnel to get it back to usable state.
Do we know how many tanks have been sent in to Ukraine, not really but we can probably be a bit more accurate. Russia main manuver unit is the 'battalion tactical Group' BTG each of which normal has 10 Tanks, Russia clams to have 170 BTGs and 125 are thought to have been there at the start of the campaign, so that would be 1250 Tanks, however, its probably that some higher level commands will have some tanks, that report direct to them that could be tasked separately of a normal BTG, its also probably that the Logistics teams, would have brought some tanks to replace broken destroyed tanks in the field. Some estimates suggest that Russia may have started with 2,000 tanks in the area, so 1250-2,000. Its also probably that the few extra units Russia has brought in over the last month will have had tanks with them, and Russia has tried to pull some more tanks form there 'reserves'
For what its worth apart form the 450 tanks confirmed lost, Ukraine clamed to have taken out 700 tanks, and personally I think that's reasonable.
Is there any word on fracking in their vicinity, though?
It’s like when people support tax rises to pay for stuff. They always support it if it’s someone else paying
The problem with fracking is it tends to be most viable in Tory seats. Which is why it isn't likely.
Given rising energy bills and bans on energy supplies from Russia, supply has to be increased somehow. The US has had success keeping energy prices down expanding fracking and shale extraction
Different country, indeed continent. Wide sedimentary basins vs the small, faulted and cooked shale basins of the UK. HMG are insane if they think that fracking and nukes are the answer. But of course the most informed electorate in the world like them (Tory MPs).
Edit: AIUI there is a role for a from of fracking - but in the offshore basins where it s ALREADY used.
Let the fracking pilots continue. Any investment risk will be private sector, they won't drill for production unless very sure it will be worthwhile.
If fracking does cause earthquakes, I doubt it will be the investors who pick up the tab.
Yes it will, that's why they have to have a lot of insurance, and anyway people have been fracking for a long time and, no Fracking does not cause earthquakes.
On topic, I think Sunak has totally misjudged the Zeitgeist.
He's obsessed with balancing the current account and thinks voters will reward him for fiscal conservatism, alone, at the ballot box if he takes "tough decisions" now.
They won't - and especially not if it hits them in the pocket.
Do you think the CotE should spend like there's no tomorrow? On reflection, perhaps he should.
Sunak faces terrible choices but I think it's better for the Tories to run on long NHS waiting lists than it is on high taxes and still fairly long NHS waiting lists.
I don't think anyone will notice the effects of this "extra" money; they will notice their paypackets and eyewatering energy bills.
On topic, I think Sunak has totally misjudged the Zeitgeist.
He's obsessed with balancing the current account and thinks voters will reward him for fiscal conservatism, alone, at the ballot box if he takes "tough decisions" now.
They won't - and especially not if it hits them in the pocket.
Do you think the CotE should spend like there's no tomorrow? On reflection, perhaps he should.
The only way to be popular in modern British politics is to spend like a drunken sailor. There are very few votes in fiscal responsibility.
In my Ward, I have three Labour, three Conservative, three Green, three Christian People's Alliance, one Reform UK and one Independent chasing the three seats.
Some choice!
has anybody yet tabulated how many candadidits each party are standing this year, compared to 4 years ago?
I think the Trans activism is ultimately self-defeating because the more traction it gets the more political resistance it will face.
Put simply: most people aren't nutters. So they'll be ignored until it causes real problems and then they'll lose.
Sorry, what exactly would you need to be a "nutter" to support? I'm not sure if there's a specific story you're on about because "trans activism" seems like a broad target.
I think the Trans activism is ultimately self-defeating because the more traction it gets the more political resistance it will face.
Put simply: most people aren't nutters. So they'll be ignored until it causes real problems and then they'll lose.
Sorry, what exactly would you need to be a "nutter" to support? I'm not sure if there's a specific story you're on about because "trans activism" seems like a broad target.
On the subject of energy, I though in situ coal gasification looked to be by far the most energy efficient method of extracting additional hydrocarbon resource in the UK.
Andrew Neil @afneil · 52m Exact numbers hard to calculate but little doubt that in 6 weeks since invasion of Ukraine, Russia has seen largest exodus of its people since the October Revolution 1917. Certainly several hundred thousand. Perhaps as many as 1m. Huge brain drain of young and educated.
Can Nato ships escort Ukrainian ships out of Odessa? Would the rest of the world be outraged by this attempt to keep the Ukrainian economy going and the world's poorest from starving?
I think the biggest problem might be mines, both sides have lade mine fields at sea, Russia is unlikely to tell us where theirs are, and if a ship military or civilian where to sink on a Russian mine they will blame it on Ukrainian mines, we would send minesweepers, but a) they take time to do there thing, and be they would be in danger themselves
The biggest problem will be that the Turks have closed the Dardanelles and Bosphorus to all warships.
Have they? I thought they had only closed them to warships of nations involved in the conflict, which foamily does not include us. have I misunderstood?
Whilst there are still plenty of possible outcomes the most pressing concern now ought to be how does Putin handle defeat? We have to seriously consider that he might try to take Ukraine/the world with him.
On the subject of energy, I though in situ coal gasification looked to be by far the most energy efficient method of extracting additional hydrocarbon resource in the UK.
As long as you combine it with CCS, or else the Carbon balance is horrendous.
Is there any word on fracking in their vicinity, though?
It’s like when people support tax rises to pay for stuff. They always support it if it’s someone else paying
The problem with fracking is it tends to be most viable in Tory seats. Which is why it isn't likely.
Given rising energy bills and bans on energy supplies from Russia, supply has to be increased somehow. The US has had success keeping energy prices down expanding fracking and shale extraction
Different country, indeed continent. Wide sedimentary basins vs the small, faulted and cooked shale basins of the UK. HMG are insane if they think that fracking and nukes are the answer. But of course the most informed electorate in the world like them (Tory MPs).
Edit: AIUI there is a role for a from of fracking - but in the offshore basins where it s ALREADY used.
Let the fracking pilots continue. Any investment risk will be private sector, they won't drill for production unless very sure it will be worthwhile.
If fracking does cause earthquakes, I doubt it will be the investors who pick up the tab.
I'm in 2 minds here. When I worked in the oil industry it was commonplace to pump chemicals etc downhole in a depleted oil well to get the last possible oil. It was called stimulation and never caused any issues. On the other hand, it would take years to get gas surely? Better to exploit tidal and more offshore wind.
The new Electoral registration figures are out for Dec 2021. These are one year since the Dec 2020 figures which are being used for the boundary review.
Overall registration is up 0.4% in Scotland and up 0.1% in Wales (both had elections last year) and up 3.4% in NI (not sure why). On the other hand in England it has fallen -1.0%. What is noticeable is that apart from the university seats the biggest drops in registration have tended to come in Inner London:
Hampstead and Kilburn -8.9% Bermondsey and Old Southwark -6.6% Camberwell and Peckham -5.1% Vauxhall -4.7% Islington North -4.6% Tooting -4.5% Ealing Central and Acton -4.4% Islington South and Finsbury -4.1% Streatham -4.1% Putney -3.4% Dulwich and West Norwood -3.3% Twickenham -3.1% Lewisham East -2.9% Westminster North -2.8% Kensington -2.7% Lewisham, Deptford -2.7% Ealing, Southall -2.7% Finchley and Golders Green -2.6% Ealing North -2.6% Hornsey and Wood Green -2.5%
it will be interesting to see if London recovers at all this year. London is gaining 2 seats in the boundary review based on the 2020 figures but probably wouldn't on the 2021 figures
Somewhat oddly the biggest increase apart from in NI is Holborn and St Pancras up 3.2%, probably due to the massive King's Cross Central development
Andrew Neil @afneil · 52m Exact numbers hard to calculate but little doubt that in 6 weeks since invasion of Ukraine, Russia has seen largest exodus of its people since the October Revolution 1917. Certainly several hundred thousand. Perhaps as many as 1m. Huge brain drain of young and educated.
Perhaps stopping the flights form Russia to the west, was not the best plan, otherwise maybe a lot more might have left?
Incidentally there are some Russians fighting on the Ukrainian side in this, I think its small numbers but still there are Russians who hate what Putin is doing.
I think the Trans activism is ultimately self-defeating because the more traction it gets the more political resistance it will face.
Put simply: most people aren't nutters. So they'll be ignored until it causes real problems and then they'll lose.
This is a complicated issue. What concerns me is that allegations of 'transphobia' have a chilling effect on any public discussion of it. It would surely be better if people felt able to speak freely in exploring the issues. This is more likely to ultimately lead to genuine acceptance and understanding. Otherwise you are just storing up a lot of hatred and resentment, which will eventually find an expression.
I agree with you except in the inference that lots of people wanting to take part in the debate are interested in the quality of the process. From where I sit, a lot of the people who pipe up on either side are looking to just drop bombs on the other side. It's pretty dispiriting because I think both sides have important points and I'd like to understand them both a bit better, but every single discussion ends up (or even starts off as) vexatious, low-grade sneering. It really is the most toxic subject.
Really? I don't detect toxicity here, and I've never come across anyone outside really thick American Christians who is in principle anti trans people, it seems baffling position to adopt. I also don't see the complications. You need 4 rules:
1. Women only spaces remain *or* become no penis spaces
2. Women's sports = sex at puberty
3. Incredible caution around children and the otherwise vulnerable to ensure they are not being pressured into irreversible decisions
Questions for the PB brains trust. So, I have my itineraries for my visits to Azerbaijan.
Trip 1: Arrive into Baku, then Lankaran, Qakh, Shamkir, Naftalan, depart Baku Trip 2: Arrive into Baku, then Sabirabad, Ismishlli, Guba, Khachmaz, depart Baku.
I pretty much know what I want to do and see in Baku. Any ideas for the other locations, or en route between?
PS Not telling the wife that this takes me within 10 miles of Russia (Dagestan), 5 miles of Nagorno-Kharabakh, and 20 miles of Iran.
I’ve had a gentler day today. I’ve mostly been wandering around, occasionally stopping at bars for a quick refresher (beer for these three weeks!) and a tapes. I went to the Dali theatre museum this afternoon but had stupidly forgotten to take my phone battery pack and my useless phone battery irritatingly ran out as I arrived. I found it funny and fascinating once I’d forgotten my infuriating phone..
Even on my ‘rest’ day I’ve managed to walk over eleven miles. And I might yet walk some more; I’ve come out to treat myself to my first proper dinner (it’s all been tapes so far) and I like a stroll between food and bed. It’s not an especially fancy place, but it’s a nice mix of Catalan, Spanish and French with a really lovely waitress who I think runs and probably owns the place. I’ve had a plate of Bellota jamon with tomato bread, and waiting for my scallop bowl with truffle oil and caviar..
It’s just arrived! And going down very nicely with the house red 😀
I lost an inch off my waist yesterday (or my belt and jeans grew an inch) so I’ve ordered some more food.. grilled foie gras with black bread, onion and Grenache jam. And another glass of red.
I'm not allowed to order foie gras if my wife is around: she gives me a look that I know means serious consequences...
Is there any word on fracking in their vicinity, though?
It’s like when people support tax rises to pay for stuff. They always support it if it’s someone else paying
The problem with fracking is it tends to be most viable in Tory seats. Which is why it isn't likely.
Given rising energy bills and bans on energy supplies from Russia, supply has to be increased somehow. The US has had success keeping energy prices down expanding fracking and shale extraction
Different country, indeed continent. Wide sedimentary basins vs the small, faulted and cooked shale basins of the UK. HMG are insane if they think that fracking and nukes are the answer. But of course the most informed electorate in the world like them (Tory MPs).
Edit: AIUI there is a role for a from of fracking - but in the offshore basins where it s ALREADY used.
Let the fracking pilots continue. Any investment risk will be private sector, they won't drill for production unless very sure it will be worthwhile.
If fracking does cause earthquakes, I doubt it will be the investors who pick up the tab.
Yes it will, that's why they have to have a lot of insurance, and anyway people have been fracking for a long time and, no Fracking does not cause earthquakes.
The principal cause of earthquakes is sodomy, as we have known since the days of Justinian. The fracking thing is a cover up.
I’ve had a gentler day today. I’ve mostly been wandering around, occasionally stopping at bars for a quick refresher (beer for these three weeks!) and a tapes. I went to the Dali theatre museum this afternoon but had stupidly forgotten to take my phone battery pack and my useless phone battery irritatingly ran out as I arrived. I found it funny and fascinating once I’d forgotten my infuriating phone..
Even on my ‘rest’ day I’ve managed to walk over eleven miles. And I might yet walk some more; I’ve come out to treat myself to my first proper dinner (it’s all been tapes so far) and I like a stroll between food and bed. It’s not an especially fancy place, but it’s a nice mix of Catalan, Spanish and French with a really lovely waitress who I think runs and probably owns the place. I’ve had a plate of Bellota jamon with tomato bread, and waiting for my scallop bowl with truffle oil and caviar..
It’s just arrived! And going down very nicely with the house red 😀
Keep the charming reports coming
I love food and travel anecdotes, esp with photos
With a fierce appetite (the kind you get from walking 20 km in a day) simple pan con tomate can be the best dish EVER
The new Electoral registration figures are out for Dec 2021. These are one year since the Dec 2020 figures which are being used for the boundary review.
Overall registration is up 0.4% in Scotland and up 0.1% in Wales (both had elections last year) and up 3.4% in NI (not sure why). On the other hand in England it has fallen -1.0%. What is noticeable is that apart from the university seats the biggest drops in registration have tended to come in Inner London:
Hampstead and Kilburn -8.9% Bermondsey and Old Southwark -6.6% Camberwell and Peckham -5.1% Vauxhall -4.7% Islington North -4.6% Tooting -4.5% Ealing Central and Acton -4.4% Islington South and Finsbury -4.1% Streatham -4.1% Putney -3.4% Dulwich and West Norwood -3.3% Twickenham -3.1% Lewisham East -2.9% Westminster North -2.8% Kensington -2.7% Lewisham, Deptford -2.7% Ealing, Southall -2.7% Finchley and Golders Green -2.6% Ealing North -2.6% Hornsey and Wood Green -2.5%
it will be interesting to see if London recovers at all this year. London is gaining 2 seats in the boundary review based on the 2020 figures but probably wouldn't on the 2021 figures
Somewhat oddly the biggest increase apart from in NI is Holborn and St Pancras up 3.2%, probably due to the massive King's Cross Central development
All those twenty-somethings who used to rent in London and now WFH back at their parents' place.
Is there any word on fracking in their vicinity, though?
It’s like when people support tax rises to pay for stuff. They always support it if it’s someone else paying
The problem with fracking is it tends to be most viable in Tory seats. Which is why it isn't likely.
Given rising energy bills and bans on energy supplies from Russia, supply has to be increased somehow. The US has had success keeping energy prices down expanding fracking and shale extraction
Different country, indeed continent. Wide sedimentary basins vs the small, faulted and cooked shale basins of the UK. HMG are insane if they think that fracking and nukes are the answer. But of course the most informed electorate in the world like them (Tory MPs).
Edit: AIUI there is a role for a from of fracking - but in the offshore basins where it s ALREADY used.
Let the fracking pilots continue. Any investment risk will be private sector, they won't drill for production unless very sure it will be worthwhile.
If fracking does cause earthquakes, I doubt it will be the investors who pick up the tab.
Yes it will, that's why they have to have a lot of insurance, and anyway people have been fracking for a long time and, no Fracking does not cause earthquakes.
The principal cause of earthquakes is sodomy, as we have known since the days of Justinian. The fracking thing is a cover up.
If I remember the little French I learned decades ago correctly, as a French woman Le Pen should change her name to "La Plume". (She certainly looks female to me.)
(Those who know more French than I do may be able to think of better alternatives than La Plume.)
Does anyone know how many tanks they had before they launched the invasion?
Wikipedia has figures for the army as a whole. Not sure if there's an estimate for the forces assembled around Ukraine on Feb 24th.
Total for army as a whole is 2,945 active tanks (11,200 in reserve, supposedly).
So (confirmed by photo) losses are now at just over 15% of active tanks for the army as a whole.
This year's Moscow May Day parade is going to look like it happened in 1957, such will be the need to raid the museums for some tanks to trundle past...
To some extend,
One question about the invasion is why has Russia not used its lutes Tank the T14. so far there are no reports of any destroyed/captured T 14 Tanks, nor I believe any photos/videos of any in acction. so if they have used it will be on a very small scale. there are a few possible reasons, and it could be a combination.
a) There are still teething troubles to be sorted out before its battle ready.
b) Putin does not what to risk one be captured by the Ukrainians who might give/sell to USA.
c) Its not nearly as good as the west fears and if it failed in combat that would look bad,
One other option I had not thought about till now, is maybe Putin planes to use them all in his big parade in May?
Wikipedia might not be up to date, but it seems to think there are only, possibly, 20 of them, that the Russian Army might have for evaluation purposes.
I don't think it makes any difference either way if they are used in Ukraine or not.
I’ve had a gentler day today. I’ve mostly been wandering around, occasionally stopping at bars for a quick refresher (beer for these three weeks!) and a tapes. I went to the Dali theatre museum this afternoon but had stupidly forgotten to take my phone battery pack and my useless phone battery irritatingly ran out as I arrived. I found it funny and fascinating once I’d forgotten my infuriating phone..
Even on my ‘rest’ day I’ve managed to walk over eleven miles. And I might yet walk some more; I’ve come out to treat myself to my first proper dinner (it’s all been tapes so far) and I like a stroll between food and bed. It’s not an especially fancy place, but it’s a nice mix of Catalan, Spanish and French with a really lovely waitress who I think runs and probably owns the place. I’ve had a plate of Bellota jamon with tomato bread, and waiting for my scallop bowl with truffle oil and caviar..
It’s just arrived! And going down very nicely with the house red 😀
I lost an inch off my waist yesterday (or my belt and jeans grew an inch) so I’ve ordered some more food.. grilled foie gras with black bread, onion and Grenache jam. And another glass of red.
I'm not allowed to order foie gras if my wife is around: she gives me a look that I know means serious consequences...
Next time you are In London, I shall invite you to dinner somewhere your wife can’t find you
Is there any word on fracking in their vicinity, though?
It’s like when people support tax rises to pay for stuff. They always support it if it’s someone else paying
The problem with fracking is it tends to be most viable in Tory seats. Which is why it isn't likely.
Given rising energy bills and bans on energy supplies from Russia, supply has to be increased somehow. The US has had success keeping energy prices down expanding fracking and shale extraction
Different country, indeed continent. Wide sedimentary basins vs the small, faulted and cooked shale basins of the UK. HMG are insane if they think that fracking and nukes are the answer. But of course the most informed electorate in the world like them (Tory MPs).
Edit: AIUI there is a role for a from of fracking - but in the offshore basins where it s ALREADY used.
Let the fracking pilots continue. Any investment risk will be private sector, they won't drill for production unless very sure it will be worthwhile.
If fracking does cause earthquakes, I doubt it will be the investors who pick up the tab.
Yes it will, that's why they have to have a lot of insurance, and anyway people have been fracking for a long time and, no Fracking does not cause earthquakes.
The principal cause of earthquakes is sodomy, as we have known since the days of Justinian. The fracking thing is a cover up.
TSE's sexual skills are the principal cause of earthquakes in Yorkshire I understand.
If I remember the little French I learned decades ago correctly, as a French woman Le Pen should change her name to "La Plume". (She certainly looks female to me.)
(Those who know more French than I do may be able to think of better alternatives than La Plume.)
And now for something different. I hope people won’t mind if I post a link to a podcast some of our students have created based on my research. It’s free from Spotify. Gives a bit of insight into what I do when I get the chance to research cool stuff. https://open.spotify.com/show/2C36cnqCZb70hHwMY4I1to?si=214c0e66b9b84566
There’s also a feedback form to help them with their project.
20 minutes in. A Youtube video might have been better, as it would facilitate better presentation of results, and we could play it at double speed. Siobhan sounds more at ease with a microphone than does Sean. It seems odd that the three of you cannot agree on how to pronounce capsaicin. And surely there are large parts of the world where they do eat spicy food every day without having to worry about the pricelist at the local curry house. Is cancer unheard of in these countries, and not just because everyone's dropped dead of heart disease at 40? I might go back for the rest later.
On topic, I think Sunak has totally misjudged the Zeitgeist.
He's obsessed with balancing the current account and thinks voters will reward him for fiscal conservatism, alone, at the ballot box if he takes "tough decisions" now.
They won't - and especially not if it hits them in the pocket.
Lots of his policies aren't even that fiscally conservative though. Yes, he says no to lots of spending requests, and, yes, he uses every trick in the Treasury's history to increase taxes, but he isn't doing this to balance the books, he's doing it to create a fund he can use to give away in favoured tax cuts and gimmicks to win votes.
It's like he's absorbed the last twenty years or so of British budgets and reduced them down to a set of cliches which he's now reproducing. That's why I called him a paint-by-numbers Chancellor.
The planned cut to income tax after putting up National Insurance was just so obvious. I called it as soon as the National Insurance increase was announced.
Is there any word on fracking in their vicinity, though?
It’s like when people support tax rises to pay for stuff. They always support it if it’s someone else paying
The problem with fracking is it tends to be most viable in Tory seats. Which is why it isn't likely.
Given rising energy bills and bans on energy supplies from Russia, supply has to be increased somehow. The US has had success keeping energy prices down expanding fracking and shale extraction
Different country, indeed continent. Wide sedimentary basins vs the small, faulted and cooked shale basins of the UK. HMG are insane if they think that fracking and nukes are the answer. But of course the most informed electorate in the world like them (Tory MPs).
Edit: AIUI there is a role for a from of fracking - but in the offshore basins where it s ALREADY used.
Let the fracking pilots continue. Any investment risk will be private sector, they won't drill for production unless very sure it will be worthwhile.
If fracking does cause earthquakes, I doubt it will be the investors who pick up the tab.
Yes it will, that's why they have to have a lot of insurance, and anyway people have been fracking for a long time and, no Fracking does not cause earthquakes.
The principal cause of earthquakes is sodomy, as we have known since the days of Justinian. The fracking thing is a cover up.
And now for something different. I hope people won’t mind if I post a link to a podcast some of our students have created based on my research. It’s free from Spotify. Gives a bit of insight into what I do when I get the chance to research cool stuff. https://open.spotify.com/show/2C36cnqCZb70hHwMY4I1to?si=214c0e66b9b84566
There’s also a feedback form to help them with their project.
20 minutes in. A Youtube video might have been better, as it would facilitate better presentation of results, and we could play it at double speed. Siobhan sounds more at ease with a microphone than does Sean. It seems odd that the three of you cannot agree on how to pronounce capsaicin. And surely there are large parts of the world where they do eat spicy food every day without having to worry about the pricelist at the local curry house. Is cancer unheard of in these countries, and not just because everyone's dropped dead of heart disease at 40? I might go back for the rest later.
Thanks for listening. The students are on a public engagement unit and choose the podcast idea, but that’s an interesting point about YouTube. Clearly cancer is prevalent everywhere, but the effects on reduced mortality associating with spicy food is robust from a number of studies. We don’t really know if the mechanism is related to capsaicin, but there are many, many studies on capsaicin and cancer. If you do go back for the rest I talk about the novel molecules we’ve made that are more potent than capsaicin. We don’t yet know why, but experiments are ongoing. Thanks for taking the time.
Edit. Yes, Siobahn was much more natural talking than Sean!
Interesting example of how the war is confusing traditional politics. The Polish Prime Minister Morawiec is far-right but also anti-Russian. He's attacked Macron for being willing to even talk to Putin. Macron has responded by accusing him of wanting to help Le Pen, whose party is allied with Morawiec's party but who is less anti-Putin than Macron.
I think the Trans activism is ultimately self-defeating because the more traction it gets the more political resistance it will face.
Put simply: most people aren't nutters. So they'll be ignored until it causes real problems and then they'll lose.
This is a complicated issue. What concerns me is that allegations of 'transphobia' have a chilling effect on any public discussion of it. It would surely be better if people felt able to speak freely in exploring the issues. This is more likely to ultimately lead to genuine acceptance and understanding. Otherwise you are just storing up a lot of hatred and resentment, which will eventually find an expression.
I agree with you except in the inference that lots of people wanting to take part in the debate are interested in the quality of the process. From where I sit, a lot of the people who pipe up on either side are looking to just drop bombs on the other side. It's pretty dispiriting because I think both sides have important points and I'd like to understand them both a bit better, but every single discussion ends up (or even starts off as) vexatious, low-grade sneering. It really is the most toxic subject.
But why is it so toxic? Is it because people are uncomfortable with the idea of trans, is it because Stonewall et al are extremists, or is it just twitter?
Comments
Edit: Looking at the last election, it wasn't even close in a single ward - well done other parties finding people to even stand.
Would have taken a point before kick off. Yet we never sat back.
Now they play Norwich with confidence. Bah!!
I've never seen any of the Godfather films.
But I do know that Percy Main is nowhere near Hartlepool.
As to how many Tanks does Russia have? I don't think anybody really know including Putin, a starting point being Wikipedia, lists Just under 3,000 active and just over 11,000 in reserve, how accurate is this? don't know it might be ball park stuff, but even then at any point in time some active stuff be be down for maintenance, some of the best reserve stuff might have been activated before the war and there is a lot to suggest that a lot of the reserve stuff has been so neglected and looted that it would take a lot of time money and skilled personnel to get it back to usable state.
Do we know how many tanks have been sent in to Ukraine, not really but we can probably be a bit more accurate. Russia main manuver unit is the 'battalion tactical Group' BTG each of which normal has 10 Tanks, Russia clams to have 170 BTGs and 125 are thought to have been there at the start of the campaign, so that would be 1250 Tanks, however, its probably that some higher level commands will have some tanks, that report direct to them that could be tasked separately of a normal BTG, its also probably that the Logistics teams, would have brought some tanks to replace broken destroyed tanks in the field. Some estimates suggest that Russia may have started with 2,000 tanks in the area, so 1250-2,000. Its also probably that the few extra units Russia has brought in over the last month will have had tanks with them, and Russia has tried to pull some more tanks form there 'reserves'
For what its worth apart form the 450 tanks confirmed lost, Ukraine clamed to have taken out 700 tanks, and personally I think that's reasonable.
Chernobyl
House of Cards (new version), first two seasons
Luther
Homeland
Succession
Stranger Things
Clarkson's Farm
The Americans
Andrew Neil
@afneil
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52m
Exact numbers hard to calculate but little doubt that in 6 weeks since invasion of Ukraine, Russia has seen largest exodus of its people since the October Revolution 1917. Certainly several hundred thousand. Perhaps as many as 1m. Huge brain drain of young and educated.
https://twitter.com/afneil/status/1511794706585423882
Overall registration is up 0.4% in Scotland and up 0.1% in Wales (both had elections last year) and up 3.4% in NI (not sure why). On the other hand in England it has fallen -1.0%. What is noticeable is that apart from the university seats the biggest drops in registration have tended to come in Inner London:
Hampstead and Kilburn -8.9%
Bermondsey and Old Southwark -6.6%
Camberwell and Peckham -5.1%
Vauxhall -4.7%
Islington North -4.6%
Tooting -4.5%
Ealing Central and Acton -4.4%
Islington South and Finsbury -4.1%
Streatham -4.1%
Putney -3.4%
Dulwich and West Norwood -3.3%
Twickenham -3.1%
Lewisham East -2.9%
Westminster North -2.8%
Kensington -2.7%
Lewisham, Deptford -2.7%
Ealing, Southall -2.7%
Finchley and Golders Green -2.6%
Ealing North -2.6%
Hornsey and Wood Green -2.5%
it will be interesting to see if London recovers at all this year. London is gaining 2 seats in the boundary review based on the 2020 figures but probably wouldn't on the 2021 figures
Somewhat oddly the biggest increase apart from in NI is Holborn and St Pancras up 3.2%, probably due to the massive King's Cross Central development
Incidentally there are some Russians fighting on the Ukrainian side in this, I think its small numbers but still there are Russians who hate what Putin is doing.
1. Women only spaces remain *or* become no penis spaces
2. Women's sports = sex at puberty
3. Incredible caution around children and the otherwise vulnerable to ensure they are not being pressured into irreversible decisions
4. Subject to 1-3 above, anything goes.
Trip 1: Arrive into Baku, then Lankaran, Qakh, Shamkir, Naftalan, depart Baku
Trip 2: Arrive into Baku, then Sabirabad, Ismishlli, Guba, Khachmaz, depart Baku.
I pretty much know what I want to do and see in Baku. Any ideas for the other locations, or en route between?
PS Not telling the wife that this takes me within 10 miles of Russia (Dagestan), 5 miles of Nagorno-Kharabakh, and 20 miles of Iran.
I love food and travel anecdotes, esp with photos
With a fierce appetite (the kind you get from walking 20 km in a day) simple pan con tomate can be the best dish EVER
And that delicious melting ham…. Mmm
(Those who know more French than I do may be able to think of better alternatives than La Plume.)
I don't think it makes any difference either way if they are used in Ukraine or not.
They have a choice of foie gras on the menu…
It's like he's absorbed the last twenty years or so of British budgets and reduced them down to a set of cliches which he's now reproducing. That's why I called him a paint-by-numbers Chancellor.
The planned cut to income tax after putting up National Insurance was just so obvious. I called it as soon as the National Insurance increase was announced.
Thanks for taking the time.
Edit. Yes, Siobahn was much more natural talking than Sean!