Its also possible I guess that many MPs might opt to keep Johnson, but use his lust for power to force him to change course radically.
[snip]
As in 'I know he's lied to me and broken all his marriage vows, but he's assured me he'll be different in the future'
Its an outlier sure, but not impossible if you believe Johnson will do absolutely anything to hold on - including sacking Sunak, reversing tax increases and scrapping net zero.
Oh, sure, he'll certainly promise anything to hold on. The question is whether the wife, or in this case the party, will fall for it.
The tory MPs aren't exactly renowned for their intellectual firepower and there are many policy stunts that Johnson could pull out of his commodious arse to woo them. Confect a Brexit crisis, massive tax cut, another national flegship, etc.
And if the price is net zero (as I suspect it will be), what will he do then? File for divorce?
Of all the migrants and asylum seekers I spoke to in Calais and Dunkirk, none of them are deterred by Priti Patel’s policy of sending illegal arrivals to Rwanda
And on to the airport! It’s a really nice one, but because it’s depressingly empty. There are two departure boards; less than half of one is filled.
I grabbed a quick beer before moving into the departure lounge. I was entertained by the little girl (four years old, I heard her declare) in the background, who’s been dancing and singing, in excellent English - I think to a Disney song - to her mum on the right.
Quite odd that the airport is so empty. Travel is experiencing a boom, especially in the USA and Europe (ex Ukraine, Moldova, etc). Who knows if it will continue, but Yay for the Return of Holibobs!
In my opinion, travel will continue to boom despite everything. There is SO much pent-up demand, so many people are yearning to get out and explore. It's a primal human need that has been repressed for two long terrible years, so people will sacrifice a lot of other things (Netflix subs, dinners out) to get their weeks in the sun or just Be Somewhere Else
I believe it’s almost empty because they overbuilt the airport, hoping for masses of Ryanair etc flights that never came. I’ve been called for boarding, but thought I could grab another beer given the queue!
Ooh yes - not sure what the Speaker is doing medling with the press.
Because a newspaper came out with a particularly nasty sexual smear against someone who operates in a facility for which the Speaker is responsible, and to which the press are allowed privileged access, and the alleged activity in question was alleged to occur in that facility? It would be irresponsible of Mr Hoyle not to thump the table and remind the media they are expected not to go too low in their standards, particularly in terms of personal attacks.
Ah, SLH on the Graun feed:
"I said to the house last week, in response to a point of order about a different article, that I took the issue of media freedom very seriously, that I took the issue of media freedom very seriously. It is one of the building blocks of our democracy.
However, I share the views expressed by a wide range of members, including I believe the prime minister, that yesterday’s article was reporting unsubstantial claims [that were] misogynistic and offensive. Those are what we believe.
I express my sympathy to [Rayner], subject to this type of comment. In being demeaning, offensive to women in parliament, it can only deter women who might considering standing for election to the detriment of us all.
That is why I have arranged a meeting with the chair of the press lobby [and] the editor of the Mail on Sunday to discuss the issue affecting our parliamentary community."
THis sort of thing [edit] does not make a MP an acceptable Member, or a journo a welcome or acceptable visitor to Parliament (whoever the leaker was: might be member of staff). Indeed if it were a normal workplace allowing the relevant person to remain would probably trigger a major row with the union and a constructive dismissal claim.
And on to the airport! It’s a really nice one, but because it’s depressingly empty. There are two departure boards; less than half of one is filled.
I grabbed a quick beer before moving into the departure lounge. I was entertained by the little girl (four years old, I heard her declare) in the background, who’s been dancing and singing, in excellent English - I think to a Disney song - to her mum on the right.
Quite odd that the airport is so empty. Travel is experiencing a boom, especially in the USA and Europe (ex Ukraine, Moldova, etc). Who knows if it will continue, but Yay for the Return of Holibobs!
In my opinion, travel will continue to boom despite everything. There is SO much pent-up demand, so many people are yearning to get out and explore. It's a primal human need that has been repressed for two long terrible years, so people will sacrifice a lot of other things (Netflix subs, dinners out) to get their weeks in the sun or just Be Somewhere Else
I believe it’s almost empty because they overbuilt the airport, hoping for masses of Ryanair etc flights that never came. I’ve been called for boarding, but thought I could grab another beer given the queue!
Or it could just be a quiet Monday in late April. Very much Not Peak Season, yet
Pointless speculating because there's only one person who knows and it's a person who would never tell. You could threaten him, get him drunk, try to bribe him, whatever, it wouldn't work. His lips are sealed.
Its also possible I guess that many MPs might opt to keep Johnson, but use his lust for power to force him to change course radically.
[snip]
As in 'I know he's lied to me and broken all his marriage vows, but he's assured me he'll be different in the future'
Its an outlier sure, but not impossible if you believe Johnson will do absolutely anything to hold on - including sacking Sunak, reversing tax increases and scrapping net zero.
Oh, sure, he'll certainly promise anything to hold on. The question is whether the wife, or in this case the party, will fall for it.
The tory MPs aren't exactly renowned for their intellectual firepower and there are many policy stunts that Johnson could pull out of his commodious arse to woo them. Confect a Brexit crisis, massive tax cut, another national flegship, etc.
And if the price is net zero (as I suspect it will be), what will he do then? File for divorce?
Why not? It's probably overdue anyway. He'll be chucking it up some other batter trap before long anyway.
Graun on PM in promises to root out culprit re Ms Rayner:
"Sky News has just broadcast the clip now. As he talks about the “terrors of the earth”, Johnson frowns, and looks serious, but hyperbole like this normally implies Johnson is exaggerating for comic effect. There is a risk that a quote intended to show he is taking this seriously could have the opposite effect.
As the Lib Dems have argued in the past, if Johnson is keen to root out people in the Conservative party who have expressed sexist views, other culprits are available."
Ooh yes - not sure what the Speaker is doing medling with the press.
Because a newspaper came out with a particularly nasty sexual smear against someone who operates in a facility for which the Speaker is responsible, and to which the press are allowed privileged access, and the alleged activity in question was alleged to occur in that facility? It would be irresponsible of Mr Hoyle not to thump the table and remind the media they are expected not to go too low in their standards, particularly in terms of personal attacks.
Ah, SLH on the Graun feed:
"I said to the house last week, in response to a point of order about a different article, that I took the issue of media freedom very seriously, that I took the issue of media freedom very seriously. It is one of the building blocks of our democracy.
However, I share the views expressed by a wide range of members, including I believe the prime minister, that yesterday’s article was reporting unsubstantial claims [that were] misogynistic and offensive. Those are what we believe.
I express my sympathy to [Rayner], subject to this type of comment. In being demeaning, offensive to women in parliament, it can only deter women who might considering standing for election to the detriment of us all.
That is why I have arranged a meeting with the chair of the press lobby [and] the editor of the Mail on Sunday to discuss the issue affecting our parliamentary community."
THis sort of thing [edit] does not make a MP an acceptable Member, or a journo a welcome or acceptable visitor to Parliament (whoever it was: might be member of staff). Indeed if it were a normal workplace allowing the relevant person to remain would probably trigger a major row with the union and a constructive dismissal claim.
That's all fair enough. If that's the way he wants it to be played, then I hope he applies it equally and fairly in the future.
Ooh yes - not sure what the Speaker is doing medling with the press.
Because a newspaper came out with a particularly nasty sexual smear against someone who operates in a facility for which the Speaker is responsible, and to which the press are allowed privileged access, and the alleged activity in question was alleged to occur in that facility? It would be irresponsible of Mr Hoyle not to thump the table and remind the media they are expected not to go too low in their standards, particularly in terms of personal attacks.
Ah, SLH on the Graun feed:
"I said to the house last week, in response to a point of order about a different article, that I took the issue of media freedom very seriously, that I took the issue of media freedom very seriously. It is one of the building blocks of our democracy.
However, I share the views expressed by a wide range of members, including I believe the prime minister, that yesterday’s article was reporting unsubstantial claims [that were] misogynistic and offensive. Those are what we believe.
I express my sympathy to [Rayner], subject to this type of comment. In being demeaning, offensive to women in parliament, it can only deter women who might considering standing for election to the detriment of us all.
That is why I have arranged a meeting with the chair of the press lobby [and] the editor of the Mail on Sunday to discuss the issue affecting our parliamentary community."
THis sort of thing [edit] does not make a MP an acceptable Member, or a journo a welcome or acceptable visitor to Parliament (whoever it was: might be member of staff). Indeed if it were a normal workplace allowing the relevant person to remain would probably trigger a major row with the union and a constructive dismissal claim.
That's all fair enough. If that's the way he wants it to be played, then I hope he applies it equally and fairly in the future.
And on to the airport! It’s a really nice one, but because it’s depressingly empty. There are two departure boards; less than half of one is filled.
I grabbed a quick beer before moving into the departure lounge. I was entertained by the little girl (four years old, I heard her declare) in the background, who’s been dancing and singing, in excellent English - I think to a Disney song - to her mum on the right.
Quite odd that the airport is so empty. Travel is experiencing a boom, especially in the USA and Europe (ex Ukraine, Moldova, etc). Who knows if it will continue, but Yay for the Return of Holibobs!
In my opinion, travel will continue to boom despite everything. There is SO much pent-up demand, so many people are yearning to get out and explore. It's a primal human need that has been repressed for two long terrible years, so people will sacrifice a lot of other things (Netflix subs, dinners out) to get their weeks in the sun or just Be Somewhere Else
I believe it’s almost empty because they overbuilt the airport, hoping for masses of Ryanair etc flights that never came. I’ve been called for boarding, but thought I could grab another beer given the queue!
Thanks for the updates. I've never been to mainland Spain apart from Barcelona for a few days in 2008. Something to look forward to.
The co-leader of Germany’s Social Democratic party (SPD) has urged the former chancellor Gerhard Schröder to hand in his party membership after he made clear in an interview that he had no intention to resign from his seats on the boards of Russian energy companies over the war in Ukraine.
Can the SPD not expel members?
It's also a matter of Schröder's friends and influence in the party. Imagine trying to expel Tony Blair from Labour....
If he was shilling for Putin, then hell yeah.
Labour have managed to successfully purge their last leader, to the new leader’s credit.
The difference is that Schröder has lots and lots of friends in the SPD. He was a middle of the road guy implementing the common, agreed policy of Germany.
A lot of people would be nervous if he got binned - what might he say? Who might be next?
This looks like a massive scandal in waiting. Lots of accounts on Twitter of jollies to Moscow for members, booked through the SPD travel agency etc. We think the oligarch donations to the tories are bad, but this looks potentially catastrophic and existential, given the conduct of the Russian Army in Ukraine. It is everything the German state professes to be against.
Ja. Ja ja ja. I was just reading a Guardian report on Russian atrocities. In Kyiv they are doing autopsies on dead Ukrainian women - to find out if they were raped before they were tortured or shot to death. But sometimes the mutilations are so bad, the corpses so disfigured, they cannot tell
There are no photos (thank God, tho that is probably cowardly of me) but just READING about it is almost unbearable. Russia is reverting to a mix of World War 2/medieval barbarity. Unspeakable.
I would not mind if Schroder chokes to death on his gold-plated bratwurst-with-borscht
The co-leader of Germany’s Social Democratic party (SPD) has urged the former chancellor Gerhard Schröder to hand in his party membership after he made clear in an interview that he had no intention to resign from his seats on the boards of Russian energy companies over the war in Ukraine.
Can the SPD not expel members?
It's also a matter of Schröder's friends and influence in the party. Imagine trying to expel Tony Blair from Labour....
If he was shilling for Putin, then hell yeah.
Labour have managed to successfully purge their last leader, to the new leader’s credit.
The difference is that Schröder has lots and lots of friends in the SPD. He was a middle of the road guy implementing the common, agreed policy of Germany.
A lot of people would be nervous if he got binned - what might he say? Who might be next?
This looks like a massive scandal in waiting. Lots of accounts on Twitter of jollies to Moscow for members, booked through the SPD travel agency etc. We think the oligarch donations to the tories are bad, but this looks potentially catastrophic and existential, given the conduct of the Russian Army in Ukraine. It is everything the German state professes to be against.
Ja. Ja ja ja. I was just reading a Guardian report on Russian atrocities. In Kyiv they are doing autopsies on dead Ukrainian women - to find out if they were raped before they were tortured or shot to death. But sometimes the mutilations are so bad, the corpses so disfigured, they cannot tell
There are no photos (thank God, tho that is probably cowardly of me) but just READING about it is almost unbearable. Russia is reverting to a mix of World War 2/medieval barbarity. Unspeakable.
I would not mind if Schroder chokes to death on his gold-plated bratwurst-with-borscht
There were reports the other day that used World War 1 munitions on them. Some dart things.
Graun on PM in promises to root out culprit re Ms Rayner:
"Sky News has just broadcast the clip now. As he talks about the “terrors of the earth”, Johnson frowns, and looks serious, but hyperbole like this normally implies Johnson is exaggerating for comic effect. There is a risk that a quote intended to show he is taking this seriously could have the opposite effect.
As the Lib Dems have argued in the past, if Johnson is keen to root out people in the Conservative party who have expressed sexist views, other culprits are available."
From the distant perspective of Tuscumbia, Alabama, this looks like a load of kerpiffle about very little
It was a silly, stupid, faintly squalid story, but it not really malign Ms Rayner. It implied she is sexy, and it also implied Boris is such a pathetic lech he can be totally distracted by a middle aged woman with decent legs sitting ten feet away in a mildly short skirt. Boris was made to look worse in the article than Rayner
The Guardian reportage of the reportage was also odd. They talk about the Basic Instinct comparison, and they say "the movie is notorious for the scene where the suspect briefly reveals her vulva"
"Vulva"??
Where did they get that from? Is *vagina* now incorrect? Could this be a trans thingy thingy? Why not say genitals? Vee-jay-jay? Intimate parts? Loins? Groin?
Put it this way, the PM has a majority of nearly 80 and doesn't have the support to stop Labour's motion last week.
That alone tells you they are close to the 54 letters.
Out of interest, say Hunt wins any leadership election, would that be enough for you to rejoin the blue meanies?
I rejoined just before Christmas because I knew there was a leadership election coming.
I’d be chuffed to buggery if Hunt won.
I'm afraid I really don't see that. He's last year's model. And too much of a man in a suit (like Starmer and the LibDem bloke). Hopefully back in cabinet though as he's clearly highly competent and the Tories could do with a few ministers like that.
They really need someone who can bedazzle, and contrast with the alternatives. Otherwise they'll be toast in 24.
Just had my energy statement for April(+10 days of March). It really made me sit up. I spent the whole month turning off lights etc and turning down heating where I could. This resulted in a 12% reduction in electrical energy and a 6% reduction in gas. I felt quite proud, until I saw that my electricity bill had gone up 45% and my gas bill had gone up 104%.
We are 2 pensioners who have savings to whittle down, God knows what the majority of younger people with families are going to do this year.
Graun on PM in promises to root out culprit re Ms Rayner:
"Sky News has just broadcast the clip now. As he talks about the “terrors of the earth”, Johnson frowns, and looks serious, but hyperbole like this normally implies Johnson is exaggerating for comic effect. There is a risk that a quote intended to show he is taking this seriously could have the opposite effect.
As the Lib Dems have argued in the past, if Johnson is keen to root out people in the Conservative party who have expressed sexist views, other culprits are available."
From the distant perspective of Tuscumbia, Alabama, this looks like a load of kerpiffle about very little
It was a silly, stupid, faintly squalid story, but it not really malign Ms Rayner. It implied she is sexy, and it also implied Boris is such a pathetic lech he can be totally distracted by a middle aged woman with decent legs sitting ten feet away in a mildly short skirt. Boris was made to look worse in the article than Rayner
The Guardian reportage of the reportage was also odd. They talk about the Basic Instinct comparison, and they say "the movie is notorious for the scene where the suspect briefly reveals her vulva"
"Vulva"??
Where did they get that from? Is *vagina* now incorrect? Could this be a trans thingy thingy? Why not say genitals? Vee-jay-jay? Intimate parts? Loins? Groin?
The co-leader of Germany’s Social Democratic party (SPD) has urged the former chancellor Gerhard Schröder to hand in his party membership after he made clear in an interview that he had no intention to resign from his seats on the boards of Russian energy companies over the war in Ukraine.
Can the SPD not expel members?
It's also a matter of Schröder's friends and influence in the party. Imagine trying to expel Tony Blair from Labour....
If he was shilling for Putin, then hell yeah.
Labour have managed to successfully purge their last leader, to the new leader’s credit.
The difference is that Schröder has lots and lots of friends in the SPD. He was a middle of the road guy implementing the common, agreed policy of Germany.
A lot of people would be nervous if he got binned - what might he say? Who might be next?
This looks like a massive scandal in waiting. Lots of accounts on Twitter of jollies to Moscow for members, booked through the SPD travel agency etc. We think the oligarch donations to the tories are bad, but this looks potentially catastrophic and existential, given the conduct of the Russian Army in Ukraine. It is everything the German state professes to be against.
Ja. Ja ja ja. I was just reading a Guardian report on Russian atrocities. In Kyiv they are doing autopsies on dead Ukrainian women - to find out if they were raped before they were tortured or shot to death. But sometimes the mutilations are so bad, the corpses so disfigured, they cannot tell
There are no photos (thank God, tho that is probably cowardly of me) but just READING about it is almost unbearable. Russia is reverting to a mix of World War 2/medieval barbarity. Unspeakable.
I would not mind if Schroder chokes to death on his gold-plated bratwurst-with-borscht
There were reports the other day that used World War 1 munitions on them. Some dart things.
Graun on PM in promises to root out culprit re Ms Rayner:
"Sky News has just broadcast the clip now. As he talks about the “terrors of the earth”, Johnson frowns, and looks serious, but hyperbole like this normally implies Johnson is exaggerating for comic effect. There is a risk that a quote intended to show he is taking this seriously could have the opposite effect.
As the Lib Dems have argued in the past, if Johnson is keen to root out people in the Conservative party who have expressed sexist views, other culprits are available."
From the distant perspective of Tuscumbia, Alabama, this looks like a load of kerpiffle about very little
It was a silly, stupid, faintly squalid story, but it not really malign Ms Rayner. It implied she is sexy, and it also implied Boris is such a pathetic lech he can be totally distracted by a middle aged woman with decent legs sitting ten feet away in a mildly short skirt. Boris was made to look worse in the article than Rayner
The Guardian reportage of the reportage was also odd. They talk about the Basic Instinct comparison, and they say "the movie is notorious for the scene where the suspect briefly reveals her vulva"
"Vulva"??
Where did they get that from? Is *vagina* now incorrect? Could this be a trans thingy thingy? Why not say genitals? Vee-jay-jay? Intimate parts? Loins? Groin?
“The pound is dealing with a rapidly slowing economy plagued by surging prices, along with a dovish central bank likely to bring rate hikes to a (perhaps, brief) halt next month”
Given the current bout of inflation is mostly external (energy/food/global supply chains), the £’s fall is only going to make things worse.
Graun on PM in promises to root out culprit re Ms Rayner:
"Sky News has just broadcast the clip now. As he talks about the “terrors of the earth”, Johnson frowns, and looks serious, but hyperbole like this normally implies Johnson is exaggerating for comic effect. There is a risk that a quote intended to show he is taking this seriously could have the opposite effect.
As the Lib Dems have argued in the past, if Johnson is keen to root out people in the Conservative party who have expressed sexist views, other culprits are available."
From the distant perspective of Tuscumbia, Alabama, this looks like a load of kerpiffle about very little
It was a silly, stupid, faintly squalid story, but it not really malign Ms Rayner. It implied she is sexy, and it also implied Boris is such a pathetic lech he can be totally distracted by a middle aged woman with decent legs sitting ten feet away in a mildly short skirt. Boris was made to look worse in the article than Rayner
The Guardian reportage of the reportage was also odd. They talk about the Basic Instinct comparison, and they say "the movie is notorious for the scene where the suspect briefly reveals her vulva"
"Vulva"??
Where did they get that from? Is *vagina* now incorrect? Could this be a trans thingy thingy? Why not say genitals? Vee-jay-jay? Intimate parts? Loins? Groin?
Vulva??
Is that now the word We Must Use?
Where I do agree with you is that it has backfired massively, in narrow political terms. Probably most people in the UK had never heard of Angela Rayner before now. Now the Man on the Clapham Omnibus probably has. It's not really damaging of her at all, although of course it should not have been said.
Graun on PM in promises to root out culprit re Ms Rayner:
"Sky News has just broadcast the clip now. As he talks about the “terrors of the earth”, Johnson frowns, and looks serious, but hyperbole like this normally implies Johnson is exaggerating for comic effect. There is a risk that a quote intended to show he is taking this seriously could have the opposite effect.
As the Lib Dems have argued in the past, if Johnson is keen to root out people in the Conservative party who have expressed sexist views, other culprits are available."
From the distant perspective of Tuscumbia, Alabama, this looks like a load of kerpiffle about very little
It was a silly, stupid, faintly squalid story, but it not really malign Ms Rayner. It implied she is sexy, and it also implied Boris is such a pathetic lech he can be totally distracted by a middle aged woman with decent legs sitting ten feet away in a mildly short skirt. Boris was made to look worse in the article than Rayner
The Guardian reportage of the reportage was also odd. They talk about the Basic Instinct comparison, and they say "the movie is notorious for the scene where the suspect briefly reveals her vulva"
"Vulva"??
Where did they get that from? Is *vagina* now incorrect? Could this be a trans thingy thingy? Why not say genitals? Vee-jay-jay? Intimate parts? Loins? Groin?
Vulva??
Is that now the word We Must Use?
The Vulva is the entry point to the vagina, sometimes called the vestibule believe it or not.
Put it this way, the PM has a majority of nearly 80 and doesn't have the support to stop Labour's motion last week.
That alone tells you they are close to the 54 letters.
Out of interest, say Hunt wins any leadership election, would that be enough for you to rejoin the blue meanies?
I rejoined just before Christmas because I knew there was a leadership election coming.
I’d be chuffed to buggery if Hunt won.
I'm afraid I really don't see that. He's last year's model. And too much of a man in a suit (like Starmer and the LibDem bloke). Hopefully back in cabinet though as he's clearly highly competent and the Tories could do with a few ministers like that.
They really need someone who can bedazzle, and contrast with the alternatives. Otherwise they'll be toast in 24.
Nice as that would be, who fits the bill?
Rishi was clearly pitching for "Dazzling AND Competent", and we know how that turned out.
Graun on PM in promises to root out culprit re Ms Rayner:
"Sky News has just broadcast the clip now. As he talks about the “terrors of the earth”, Johnson frowns, and looks serious, but hyperbole like this normally implies Johnson is exaggerating for comic effect. There is a risk that a quote intended to show he is taking this seriously could have the opposite effect.
As the Lib Dems have argued in the past, if Johnson is keen to root out people in the Conservative party who have expressed sexist views, other culprits are available."
From the distant perspective of Tuscumbia, Alabama, this looks like a load of kerpiffle about very little
It was a silly, stupid, faintly squalid story, but it not really malign Ms Rayner. It implied she is sexy, and it also implied Boris is such a pathetic lech he can be totally distracted by a middle aged woman with decent legs sitting ten feet away in a mildly short skirt. Boris was made to look worse in the article than Rayner
The Guardian reportage of the reportage was also odd. They talk about the Basic Instinct comparison, and they say "the movie is notorious for the scene where the suspect briefly reveals her vulva"
"Vulva"??
Where did they get that from? Is *vagina* now incorrect? Could this be a trans thingy thingy? Why not say genitals? Vee-jay-jay? Intimate parts? Loins? Groin?
Vulva??
Is that now the word We Must Use?
I see you stick to the Latin words (with the honourable exception of groin). Why not insist on using the most specific English word?
Ooh yes - not sure what the Speaker is doing medling with the press.
Because a newspaper came out with a particularly nasty sexual smear against someone who operates in a facility for which the Speaker is responsible, and to which the press are allowed privileged access, and the alleged activity in question was alleged to occur in that facility? It would be irresponsible of Mr Hoyle not to thump the table and remind the media they are expected not to go too low in their standards, particularly in terms of personal attacks.
Graun on PM in promises to root out culprit re Ms Rayner:
"Sky News has just broadcast the clip now. As he talks about the “terrors of the earth”, Johnson frowns, and looks serious, but hyperbole like this normally implies Johnson is exaggerating for comic effect. There is a risk that a quote intended to show he is taking this seriously could have the opposite effect.
As the Lib Dems have argued in the past, if Johnson is keen to root out people in the Conservative party who have expressed sexist views, other culprits are available."
Apologies if this has already been identified. it is Lear being shown as without power.
“Lear:
I will have such revenges on you both, That all the world shall—I will do such things— What they are, yet I know not, but they shall be The terrors of the earth!”
Do we have any Alabama experts on the board today?
I have one day here in the far north west bit. Tuscumbia/Muscle Shoals. By the mighty Tennessee River
I was gonna hike the river or some canyons.... but it's decided to rain. Heavily (the first day of bad weather after a week of pure sun - which returns tomorrow, huzzah)
Things To Do In Alabama When It Rains. Are there any? I thought of driving to Alabama's Most Depressing Town, say Selma, or Bessemer, to indulge in a day of Full on Feasting on American Declinism, but are they that bad? I want BAD. I want Mississippi BAD. Detroit BAD. Shuttered streets, empty factories, fentanyl addicts, desolate malls, maybe a rich Woke student shouting at poor white people about their privilege - in the rain.
Graun on PM in promises to root out culprit re Ms Rayner:
"Sky News has just broadcast the clip now. As he talks about the “terrors of the earth”, Johnson frowns, and looks serious, but hyperbole like this normally implies Johnson is exaggerating for comic effect. There is a risk that a quote intended to show he is taking this seriously could have the opposite effect.
As the Lib Dems have argued in the past, if Johnson is keen to root out people in the Conservative party who have expressed sexist views, other culprits are available."
From the distant perspective of Tuscumbia, Alabama, this looks like a load of kerpiffle about very little
It was a silly, stupid, faintly squalid story, but it not really malign Ms Rayner. It implied she is sexy, and it also implied Boris is such a pathetic lech he can be totally distracted by a middle aged woman with decent legs sitting ten feet away in a mildly short skirt. Boris was made to look worse in the article than Rayner
The Guardian reportage of the reportage was also odd. They talk about the Basic Instinct comparison, and they say "the movie is notorious for the scene where the suspect briefly reveals her vulva"
"Vulva"??
Where did they get that from? Is *vagina* now incorrect? Could this be a trans thingy thingy? Why not say genitals? Vee-jay-jay? Intimate parts? Loins? Groin?
Vulva??
Is that now the word We Must Use?
I beg to disagree. As your own analysis does actually indicate, the original story basically accused Ms Rayner of sexual harassment of Mr Johnson in the workplace.
One of the most useful mental techniques for considering politicians' behaviour is, what would happen if you tried it on in an ordinary workplace? E.g. claiming for duck houses or moats.
Do we have any Alabama experts on the board today?
I have one day here in the far north west bit. Tuscumbia/Muscle Shoals. By the mighty Tennessee River
I was gonna hike the river or some canyons.... but it's decided to rain. Heavily (the first day of bad weather after a week of pure sun - which returns tomorrow, huzzah)
Things To Do In Alabama When It Rains. Are there any? I thought of driving to Alabama's Most Depressing Town, say Selma, or Bessemer, to indulge in a day of Full on Feasting on American Declinism, but are they that bad? I want BAD. I want Mississippi BAD. Detroit BAD. Shuttered streets, empty factories, fentanyl addicts, desolate malls, maybe a rich Woke student shouting at poor white people about their privilege - in the rain.
Ooh yes - not sure what the Speaker is doing medling with the press.
Because a newspaper came out with a particularly nasty sexual smear against someone who operates in a facility for which the Speaker is responsible, and to which the press are allowed privileged access, and the alleged activity in question was alleged to occur in that facility? It would be irresponsible of Mr Hoyle not to thump the table and remind the media they are expected not to go too low in their standards, particularly in terms of personal attacks.
Free speech.
But with responsibility. One can't just make accusations willy nilly.
SLH makes the free speech point here himself anyway.
Graun on PM in promises to root out culprit re Ms Rayner:
"Sky News has just broadcast the clip now. As he talks about the “terrors of the earth”, Johnson frowns, and looks serious, but hyperbole like this normally implies Johnson is exaggerating for comic effect. There is a risk that a quote intended to show he is taking this seriously could have the opposite effect.
As the Lib Dems have argued in the past, if Johnson is keen to root out people in the Conservative party who have expressed sexist views, other culprits are available."
From the distant perspective of Tuscumbia, Alabama, this looks like a load of kerpiffle about very little
It was a silly, stupid, faintly squalid story, but it not really malign Ms Rayner. It implied she is sexy, and it also implied Boris is such a pathetic lech he can be totally distracted by a middle aged woman with decent legs sitting ten feet away in a mildly short skirt. Boris was made to look worse in the article than Rayner
The Guardian reportage of the reportage was also odd. They talk about the Basic Instinct comparison, and they say "the movie is notorious for the scene where the suspect briefly reveals her vulva"
"Vulva"??
Where did they get that from? Is *vagina* now incorrect? Could this be a trans thingy thingy? Why not say genitals? Vee-jay-jay? Intimate parts? Loins? Groin?
Vulva??
Is that now the word We Must Use?
I disagree. As your own analysis does actually indicate, the original story basically accused Ms Rayner of sexual harassment of Mr Johnson in the workplace.
One of the most useful mental techniques for considering politicians' behaviour is, what would happen if you tried it on in an ordinary workplace? E.g. claiming for duck houses or moats.
I found the story so immediately ludicrous I dismissed it as pitiful nonsense from the off. It was also REALLY badly written, even by the standards of tabloidese - often an indication the journalist is desperately trying to cobble a story out of nothing.
Perhaps others are more sensitive than me; probably they are; fair enough
Mind, the entire Irish Navy has a complement of just over 1,000 officers and ratings. One of the benefits of being contiguous to a nuclear-armed G7 NATO member.
It's difficult to predict how the political scandal in Germany will play out, but the one thing that would really make it go nuclear is if Russia turned off the taps. At the moment Schröder and his fellow travellers still think that what they did was basically in Germany's interests.
Just had my energy statement for April(+10 days of March). It really made me sit up. I spent the whole month turning off lights etc and turning down heating where I could. This resulted in a 12% reduction in electrical energy and a 6% reduction in gas. I felt quite proud, until I saw that my electricity bill had gone up 45% and my gas bill had gone up 104%.
We are 2 pensioners who have savings to whittle down, God knows what the majority of younger people with families are going to do this year.
Energy reduction is always great. Is that year on year or month on month? That gas increase looks overlarge for current changes, unless you were artificially low (eg just came off long term fix or have gone for one of the current on-offer fixes, which are very over inflated.)
I'd tend to trust my own meter readings more than information from the supply company - unless a Smart Meter is in place. I'm currently had to correct one supplier where they overestimated the electricity usage by 10x (property has been empty long term, which they know - being rented this week).
Mine at home were £500 out on Electricity at last Christmas, which is more than a year of consumption.
Chatting to a T who is now single, with 3 young kids, she is now restricting Central Heating to 1 hour a day am and pm, but it is about to go off completely for the summer as we have now warmed up.
Graun on PM in promises to root out culprit re Ms Rayner:
"Sky News has just broadcast the clip now. As he talks about the “terrors of the earth”, Johnson frowns, and looks serious, but hyperbole like this normally implies Johnson is exaggerating for comic effect. There is a risk that a quote intended to show he is taking this seriously could have the opposite effect.
As the Lib Dems have argued in the past, if Johnson is keen to root out people in the Conservative party who have expressed sexist views, other culprits are available."
From the distant perspective of Tuscumbia, Alabama, this looks like a load of kerpiffle about very little
It was a silly, stupid, faintly squalid story, but it not really malign Ms Rayner. It implied she is sexy, and it also implied Boris is such a pathetic lech he can be totally distracted by a middle aged woman with decent legs sitting ten feet away in a mildly short skirt. Boris was made to look worse in the article than Rayner
The Guardian reportage of the reportage was also odd. They talk about the Basic Instinct comparison, and they say "the movie is notorious for the scene where the suspect briefly reveals her vulva"
"Vulva"??
Where did they get that from? Is *vagina* now incorrect? Could this be a trans thingy thingy? Why not say genitals? Vee-jay-jay? Intimate parts? Loins? Groin?
Vulva??
Is that now the word We Must Use?
I disagree. As your own analysis does actually indicate, the original story basically accused Ms Rayner of sexual harassment of Mr Johnson in the workplace.
One of the most useful mental techniques for considering politicians' behaviour is, what would happen if you tried it on in an ordinary workplace? E.g. claiming for duck houses or moats.
I found the story so immediately ludicrous I dismissed it as pitiful nonsense from the off. It was also REALLY badly written, even by the standards of tabloidese - often an indication the journalist is desperately trying to cobble a story out of nothing.
Perhaps others are more sensitive than me; probably they are; fair enough
Alas, doing a shite job of writing a story doesn't obviate the issue of whether it is true or not.
Mind, the entire Irish Navy has a complement of just over 1,000 officers and ratings. One of the benefits of being contiguous to a nuclear-armed G7 NATO member.
Yeah being next door to Britain has tended to work out really well for them, no longer they talk about the luck of the Irish!
Mind, the entire Irish Navy has a complement of just over 1,000 officers and ratings. One of the benefits of being contiguous to a nuclear-armed G7 NATO member.
The latest RN warship class naming scheme is completely convoluted - modern marketing colliding with RN tradition and history and the latter rather sinking ...
Graun on PM in promises to root out culprit re Ms Rayner:
"Sky News has just broadcast the clip now. As he talks about the “terrors of the earth”, Johnson frowns, and looks serious, but hyperbole like this normally implies Johnson is exaggerating for comic effect. There is a risk that a quote intended to show he is taking this seriously could have the opposite effect.
As the Lib Dems have argued in the past, if Johnson is keen to root out people in the Conservative party who have expressed sexist views, other culprits are available."
From the distant perspective of Tuscumbia, Alabama, this looks like a load of kerpiffle about very little
It was a silly, stupid, faintly squalid story, but it not really malign Ms Rayner. It implied she is sexy, and it also implied Boris is such a pathetic lech he can be totally distracted by a middle aged woman with decent legs sitting ten feet away in a mildly short skirt. Boris was made to look worse in the article than Rayner
The Guardian reportage of the reportage was also odd. They talk about the Basic Instinct comparison, and they say "the movie is notorious for the scene where the suspect briefly reveals her vulva"
"Vulva"??
Where did they get that from? Is *vagina* now incorrect? Could this be a trans thingy thingy? Why not say genitals? Vee-jay-jay? Intimate parts? Loins? Groin?
Vulva??
Is that now the word We Must Use?
I see you stick to the Latin words (with the honourable exception of groin). Why not insist on using the most specific English word?
Which one:
Noonoo?
El Gruffalo?
Ting?
In all seriousness, I have had girlfriends who've all used those terms to refer to their Naughty Parts
As for the C-word, it is one of the few words which Our Genial Host really dislikes, and it can get you banned; moreover, it always looks stupid if you put an asterisk in, so I did not bother
Put it this way, the PM has a majority of nearly 80 and doesn't have the support to stop Labour's motion last week.
That alone tells you they are close to the 54 letters.
Out of interest, say Hunt wins any leadership election, would that be enough for you to rejoin the blue meanies?
I rejoined just before Christmas because I knew there was a leadership election coming.
I’d be chuffed to buggery if Hunt won.
I'm afraid I really don't see that. He's last year's model. And too much of a man in a suit (like Starmer and the LibDem bloke). Hopefully back in cabinet though as he's clearly highly competent and the Tories could do with a few ministers like that.
They really need someone who can bedazzle, and contrast with the alternatives. Otherwise they'll be toast in 24.
Nice as that would be, who fits the bill?
Rishi was clearly pitching for "Dazzling AND Competent", and we know how that turned out.
Too true. Penny Mordaunt? She was named after WW2 cruiser, after all. (Even if it was torpedoed.)
Mind, the entire Irish Navy has a complement of just over 1,000 officers and ratings. One of the benefits of being contiguous to a nuclear-armed G7 NATO member.
Do we have any Alabama experts on the board today?
I have one day here in the far north west bit. Tuscumbia/Muscle Shoals. By the mighty Tennessee River
I was gonna hike the river or some canyons.... but it's decided to rain. Heavily (the first day of bad weather after a week of pure sun - which returns tomorrow, huzzah)
Things To Do In Alabama When It Rains. Are there any? I thought of driving to Alabama's Most Depressing Town, say Selma, or Bessemer, to indulge in a day of Full on Feasting on American Declinism, but are they that bad? I want BAD. I want Mississippi BAD. Detroit BAD. Shuttered streets, empty factories, fentanyl addicts, desolate malls, maybe a rich Woke student shouting at poor white people about their privilege - in the rain.
Where can I get that?
Quick YouTube (there are channels dedicated to driving the "hood" of these kind of places), Bessemer looks pretty bad. Worst of those kind of places I have been, Gary, Indiana.
Just had my energy statement for April(+10 days of March). It really made me sit up. I spent the whole month turning off lights etc and turning down heating where I could. This resulted in a 12% reduction in electrical energy and a 6% reduction in gas. I felt quite proud, until I saw that my electricity bill had gone up 45% and my gas bill had gone up 104%.
We are 2 pensioners who have savings to whittle down, God knows what the majority of younger people with families are going to do this year.
Energy reduction is always great. Is that year on year or month on month? That gas increase looks overlarge for current changes, unless you were artificially low (eg just came off long term fix or have gone for one of the current on-offer fixes, which are very over inflated.)
I'd tend to trust my own meter readings more than information from the supply company - unless a Smart Meter is in place. I'm currently had to correct one supplier where they overestimated the electricity usage by 10x (property has been empty long term, which they know - being rented this week).
Mine at home were £500 out on Electricity at last Christmas, which is more than a year of consumption.
Chatting to a T who is now single, with 3 young kids, she is now restricting Central Heating to 1 hour a day am and pm, but it is about to go off completely for the summer as we have now warmed up.
My electricity 'smart' meter seems to have a mind of it's own, switching to whatever mode it thinks is appropriate. I've been on the Eon website, but that's remarkably unhelpful. Plan now is to be reasonably economical, and wait until renewal date (July) to see what happens.
Do we have any Alabama experts on the board today?
I have one day here in the far north west bit. Tuscumbia/Muscle Shoals. By the mighty Tennessee River
I was gonna hike the river or some canyons.... but it's decided to rain. Heavily (the first day of bad weather after a week of pure sun - which returns tomorrow, huzzah)
Things To Do In Alabama When It Rains. Are there any? I thought of driving to Alabama's Most Depressing Town, say Selma, or Bessemer, to indulge in a day of Full on Feasting on American Declinism, but are they that bad? I want BAD. I want Mississippi BAD. Detroit BAD. Shuttered streets, empty factories, fentanyl addicts, desolate malls, maybe a rich Woke student shouting at poor white people about their privilege - in the rain.
Where can I get that?
Looks like the area immediately to the west of Montgomery. Wilcox (Camden) and Perry (Marion) counties are to two poorest counties in the state and are adjacent to each other. Per capita income is $12,573 and $13,433 compared to $66,060 for the US as a whole.
Must be some real poverty in the backcountry there ...
Mind, the entire Irish Navy has a complement of just over 1,000 officers and ratings. One of the benefits of being contiguous to a nuclear-armed G7 NATO member.
What boy or girl ever grows up with a desperate yearning to "join the Irish Navy and", er, "see the coast of Ireland from about 5 miles offshore"?
Just had my energy statement for April(+10 days of March). It really made me sit up. I spent the whole month turning off lights etc and turning down heating where I could. This resulted in a 12% reduction in electrical energy and a 6% reduction in gas. I felt quite proud, until I saw that my electricity bill had gone up 45% and my gas bill had gone up 104%.
We are 2 pensioners who have savings to whittle down, God knows what the majority of younger people with families are going to do this year.
Energy reduction is always great. Is that year on year or month on month? That gas increase looks overlarge for current changes, unless you were artificially low (eg just came off long term fix or have gone for one of the current on-offer fixes, which are very over inflated.)
I'd tend to trust my own meter readings more than information from the supply company - unless a Smart Meter is in place. I'm currently had to correct one supplier where they overestimated the electricity usage by 10x (property has been empty long term, which they know - being rented this week).
Mine at home were £500 out on Electricity at last Christmas, which is more than a year of consumption.
Chatting to a T who is now single, with 3 young kids, she is now restricting Central Heating to 1 hour a day am and pm, but it is about to go off completely for the summer as we have now warmed up.
The comparisons were with April 2021, and yes, you are right we were coming towards the end of a fixed then. We do have a smart meter, and it is actually accurate and up to date. It's a shock though, because our pensions only went up 3.1%. I suppose I will have to bite the bullett until next April.
Put it this way, the PM has a majority of nearly 80 and doesn't have the support to stop Labour's motion last week.
That alone tells you they are close to the 54 letters.
Out of interest, say Hunt wins any leadership election, would that be enough for you to rejoin the blue meanies?
I thought he already had? It would certainly make it likely that I would. The Conservative Party would be a serious party of government again.
Hunt will be as popular in the red wall as a f8rt in a space suit.
"The Red Wall" is already lost to the Tories, it always was once Corbyn was gone. Hunt would need to shore up support elsewhere and maybe retain a few of the so-called "Red Wall" seats. The mythology that Johnson apologists put up about his "man of the people" status with the "red wall" plebs (as most of his apologists see them) makes me want to laugh and simultaneously vomit.
Need to look at the latest polling but indeed I thought the Red Wall had swung more to Labour than the rest of the country?
Yep, that is also my understanding. I think Johnson apologists also want us to believe it was all about "get Brexit done" that caused the proletariat to vote for the fat Etonian, but in reality it was a revulsion of all things Corbyn.
The polling confirms this no? Biggest reason people swapped was Corbyn’s leadership.
Ed M held these seats and was almost as unpopular as Corbyn. Just didn’t hate British foreign policy
Mike has put up a number of polls that point to it. HYUFD wants you believe it was because "Boris" promised to GBD, because this is what Conservative Central Office would like us to believe
In 2017 Corbyn got a hung parliament against May, in 2019 he lost by a landslide to Boris.
The Tories could get most seats in a hung parliament to keep Corbyn out. However only having Boris as leader with the promise to get Brexit done got them that big majority of 80
Mind, the entire Irish Navy has a complement of just over 1,000 officers and ratings. One of the benefits of being contiguous to a nuclear-armed G7 NATO member.
The latest RN warship class naming scheme is completely convoluted - modern marketing colliding with RN tradition and history and the latter rather sinking ...
As you're on, what should the ships in the prospective Indy Scottish fleet be called? Obviously the "Rabbie Burns". But, who else?
Sir Walter was a unionist as was Buchan. Not sure about RLS. Maybe the "Irvine Welsh" and the "Hugh MacDiarmid"?
The projected national shares at the local elections 4 years ago were Con 35%, Lab 35%, LD 16%. The Conservatives are not expected to get less than 35% this time, although Labour could be slightly higher.
Given the seats up for election, one would expect the Greens to have quite a decent night, so I'm not entirely sure where an upward move for Labour is liekly to come from.
The LDs, plus gains from the Tories in London especially
If the local election results are poor for the Tories I expect the 54 letters for a VONC threshold to be reached.
How poor the results and polls are will determine whether Johnson survives or not
Given the Tories were projected to have polled 35% in 2018 and they'll probably get close to 35% this time, it might be more difficult to get rid of Johnson that some people are expecting.
Mind, the entire Irish Navy has a complement of just over 1,000 officers and ratings. One of the benefits of being contiguous to a nuclear-armed G7 NATO member.
What boy or girl ever grows up with a desperate yearning to "join the Irish Navy and", er, "see the coast of Ireland from about 5 miles offshore"?
To be fair, the GBS made it as far as Scotland without sinking.
Do we have any Alabama experts on the board today?
I have one day here in the far north west bit. Tuscumbia/Muscle Shoals. By the mighty Tennessee River
I was gonna hike the river or some canyons.... but it's decided to rain. Heavily (the first day of bad weather after a week of pure sun - which returns tomorrow, huzzah)
Things To Do In Alabama When It Rains. Are there any? I thought of driving to Alabama's Most Depressing Town, say Selma, or Bessemer, to indulge in a day of Full on Feasting on American Declinism, but are they that bad? I want BAD. I want Mississippi BAD. Detroit BAD. Shuttered streets, empty factories, fentanyl addicts, desolate malls, maybe a rich Woke student shouting at poor white people about their privilege - in the rain.
Where can I get that?
Quick YouTube (there are channels dedicated to driving the "hood" of these kind of places), Bessemer looks pretty bad. Worst of those kind of places I have been, Gary, Indiana.
I was in a debate the other night with some Americans about The Worst Place in America and they decided Terre Haute Indiana takes some beating (I've never been there, so I have no idea)
It does sound like Indiana is pretty grim
The thing about Cities of American Decline in the south is that they still have the nice climate. OK you're dirt poor, but you can sit on a pile of used tyres and take ket in your tee shirt
In the Rustbelt north, they have those long bitter winters and grey skies, which must make it way more depressing
Do we have any Alabama experts on the board today?
I have one day here in the far north west bit. Tuscumbia/Muscle Shoals. By the mighty Tennessee River
I was gonna hike the river or some canyons.... but it's decided to rain. Heavily (the first day of bad weather after a week of pure sun - which returns tomorrow, huzzah)
Things To Do In Alabama When It Rains. Are there any? I thought of driving to Alabama's Most Depressing Town, say Selma, or Bessemer, to indulge in a day of Full on Feasting on American Declinism, but are they that bad? I want BAD. I want Mississippi BAD. Detroit BAD. Shuttered streets, empty factories, fentanyl addicts, desolate malls, maybe a rich Woke student shouting at poor white people about their privilege - in the rain.
Where can I get that?
Get in your car and drive.
One road trip I did was from north to south Kentucky. From the white picket fences and immaculate paddocks of the stud farms in and around Louisville/Lexington to people selling pairs of (their own) socks from their porches in the Cumberland Gap.
There will be a grindingly poor part of Alabama but not sure exactly where.
Mind, the entire Irish Navy has a complement of just over 1,000 officers and ratings. One of the benefits of being contiguous to a nuclear-armed G7 NATO member.
The latest RN warship class naming scheme is completely convoluted - modern marketing colliding with RN tradition and history and the latter rather sinking ...
As you're on, what should the ships in the prospective Indy Scottish fleet be called? Obviously the "Rabbie Burns". But, who else?
Sir Walter was a unionist as was Buchan. Not sure about RLS. Maybe the "Irvine Welsh" and the "Hugh MacDiarmid"?
Cochrane Duncan of Camperdown Forth Clyde Caledonia Edinburgh Glasgow
to name a few at random
but if you want writers, plenty of others to choose from.
Graun on PM in promises to root out culprit re Ms Rayner:
"Sky News has just broadcast the clip now. As he talks about the “terrors of the earth”, Johnson frowns, and looks serious, but hyperbole like this normally implies Johnson is exaggerating for comic effect. There is a risk that a quote intended to show he is taking this seriously could have the opposite effect.
As the Lib Dems have argued in the past, if Johnson is keen to root out people in the Conservative party who have expressed sexist views, other culprits are available."
From the distant perspective of Tuscumbia, Alabama, this looks like a load of kerpiffle about very little
It was a silly, stupid, faintly squalid story, but it not really malign Ms Rayner. It implied she is sexy, and it also implied Boris is such a pathetic lech he can be totally distracted by a middle aged woman with decent legs sitting ten feet away in a mildly short skirt. Boris was made to look worse in the article than Rayner
The Guardian reportage of the reportage was also odd. They talk about the Basic Instinct comparison, and they say "the movie is notorious for the scene where the suspect briefly reveals her vulva"
"Vulva"??
Where did they get that from? Is *vagina* now incorrect? Could this be a trans thingy thingy? Why not say genitals? Vee-jay-jay? Intimate parts? Loins? Groin?
Vulva??
Is that now the word We Must Use?
Where I do agree with you is that it has backfired massively, in narrow political terms. Probably most people in the UK had never heard of Angela Rayner before now. Now the Man on the Clapham Omnibus probably has. It's not really damaging of her at all, although of course it should not have been said.
There is no downside for AR at all. If this was part of a political novel about an ambitious female politician she'd have supplied the story herself. From out of nowhere she's acquired a USP and all accompanied by a photo she might well have chosen for heself
Graun on PM in promises to root out culprit re Ms Rayner:
"Sky News has just broadcast the clip now. As he talks about the “terrors of the earth”, Johnson frowns, and looks serious, but hyperbole like this normally implies Johnson is exaggerating for comic effect. There is a risk that a quote intended to show he is taking this seriously could have the opposite effect.
As the Lib Dems have argued in the past, if Johnson is keen to root out people in the Conservative party who have expressed sexist views, other culprits are available."
From the distant perspective of Tuscumbia, Alabama, this looks like a load of kerpiffle about very little
It was a silly, stupid, faintly squalid story, but it not really malign Ms Rayner. It implied she is sexy, and it also implied Boris is such a pathetic lech he can be totally distracted by a middle aged woman with decent legs sitting ten feet away in a mildly short skirt. Boris was made to look worse in the article than Rayner
The Guardian reportage of the reportage was also odd. They talk about the Basic Instinct comparison, and they say "the movie is notorious for the scene where the suspect briefly reveals her vulva"
"Vulva"??
Where did they get that from? Is *vagina* now incorrect? Could this be a trans thingy thingy? Why not say genitals? Vee-jay-jay? Intimate parts? Loins? Groin?
Vulva??
Is that now the word We Must Use?
The two are different parts of the whole, but vulva is the correct name for the bit you can see.
It was a minor mistake for vagina to be used as a word for the whole thing (a bit like someone referring to the UK as England, say).
This is not a new thing, nor a big deal. Surprised you were ignorant of the details.
Mind, the entire Irish Navy has a complement of just over 1,000 officers and ratings. One of the benefits of being contiguous to a nuclear-armed G7 NATO member.
The latest RN warship class naming scheme is completely convoluted - modern marketing colliding with RN tradition and history and the latter rather sinking ...
As you're on, what should the ships in the prospective Indy Scottish fleet be called? Obviously the "Rabbie Burns". But, who else?
Sir Walter was a unionist as was Buchan. Not sure about RLS. Maybe the "Irvine Welsh" and the "Hugh MacDiarmid"?
Cochrane Duncan of Camperdown Forth Clyde Caledonia Edinburgh Glasgow
to name a few at random
but if you want writers, plenty of others to choose from.
The "Sturgeon" and "Salmond" would make a formidable pair. Like the "Bismarck" and "Tirpitz".
Mind, the entire Irish Navy has a complement of just over 1,000 officers and ratings. One of the benefits of being contiguous to a nuclear-armed G7 NATO member.
The two new ones that the 26 counties have just bought off the RNZN are going to be called the Shackleton and the Bransfield. Unless SF are in government before they arrive in which we can expect a more Fenian flavour to the names.
Mind, the entire Irish Navy has a complement of just over 1,000 officers and ratings. One of the benefits of being contiguous to a nuclear-armed G7 NATO member.
The latest RN warship class naming scheme is completely convoluted - modern marketing colliding with RN tradition and history and the latter rather sinking ...
As you're on, what should the ships in the prospective Indy Scottish fleet be called? Obviously the "Rabbie Burns". But, who else?
Sir Walter was a unionist as was Buchan. Not sure about RLS. Maybe the "Irvine Welsh" and the "Hugh MacDiarmid"?
Cochrane Duncan of Camperdown Forth Clyde Caledonia Edinburgh Glasgow
to name a few at random
but if you want writers, plenty of others to choose from.
Thew MalcG? Would be a fearsome vessel, firing red-hot turnips.
It explains so much of the mess we are in. If you are a homeowner, life has challenges but is still fundamentally fairly peachy. If you aren't, well- good luck.
And any fiddling with tax rates, fuel bills or anything else is tiny in comparison.
Put it this way, the PM has a majority of nearly 80 and doesn't have the support to stop Labour's motion last week.
That alone tells you they are close to the 54 letters.
Out of interest, say Hunt wins any leadership election, would that be enough for you to rejoin the blue meanies?
I rejoined just before Christmas because I knew there was a leadership election coming.
I’d be chuffed to buggery if Hunt won.
I'm afraid I really don't see that. He's last year's model. And too much of a man in a suit (like Starmer and the LibDem bloke). Hopefully back in cabinet though as he's clearly highly competent and the Tories could do with a few ministers like that.
They really need someone who can bedazzle, and contrast with the alternatives. Otherwise they'll be toast in 24.
Nice as that would be, who fits the bill?
Rishi was clearly pitching for "Dazzling AND Competent", and we know how that turned out.
Too true. Penny Mordaunt? She was named after WW2 cruiser, after all. (Even if it was torpedoed.)
"The assertion by the top U.S. defense officials that America wants to degrade the Russian war machine reflected an increasingly emboldened approach from the Biden administration."
Pointless speculating because there's only one person who knows and it's a person who would never tell. You could threaten him, get him drunk, try to bribe him, whatever, it wouldn't work. His lips are sealed.
Sir Graham Brady.
It's maybe a good thing he doesn't sit opposite Angela Rayner
Do we have any Alabama experts on the board today?
I have one day here in the far north west bit. Tuscumbia/Muscle Shoals. By the mighty Tennessee River
I was gonna hike the river or some canyons.... but it's decided to rain. Heavily (the first day of bad weather after a week of pure sun - which returns tomorrow, huzzah)
Things To Do In Alabama When It Rains. Are there any? I thought of driving to Alabama's Most Depressing Town, say Selma, or Bessemer, to indulge in a day of Full on Feasting on American Declinism, but are they that bad? I want BAD. I want Mississippi BAD. Detroit BAD. Shuttered streets, empty factories, fentanyl addicts, desolate malls, maybe a rich Woke student shouting at poor white people about their privilege - in the rain.
Where can I get that?
Looks like the area immediately to the west of Montgomery. Wilcox (Camden) and Perry (Marion) counties are to two poorest counties in the state and are adjacent to each other. Per capita income is $12,573 and $13,433 compared to $66,060 for the US as a whole.
Must be some real poverty in the backcountry there ...
Can I prey on your wisdom once more?
At the end of this trip I have ten days spare when it is better for me to be out of the UK (long story, not as exciting as it sounds)
This road trip has been such fun I'm tempted to do another on my own dime. But where? I've seen the southwest deserts many times, so appealing as they are: no. I am sorely tempted by the Wyoming/Dakota area, all that natural spleandour, but the weather looks a bit cold, and I am enjoying the warmth. That also rules out the northern bits of New England like Maine which I have not seen
Which leaves more of the Deep South?
I am drawn to the Carolinas, nice mix of mountains, cities, poverty, wealth, coastline, history? Or is Georgia better? Virginia? Kentucky? Any thoughts? I want variety and history and a feel of remoteness on the backroads....
Put it this way, the PM has a majority of nearly 80 and doesn't have the support to stop Labour's motion last week.
That alone tells you they are close to the 54 letters.
Out of interest, say Hunt wins any leadership election, would that be enough for you to rejoin the blue meanies?
I thought he already had? It would certainly make it likely that I would. The Conservative Party would be a serious party of government again.
Hunt will be as popular in the red wall as a f8rt in a space suit.
"The Red Wall" is already lost to the Tories, it always was once Corbyn was gone. Hunt would need to shore up support elsewhere and maybe retain a few of the so-called "Red Wall" seats. The mythology that Johnson apologists put up about his "man of the people" status with the "red wall" plebs (as most of his apologists see them) makes me want to laugh and simultaneously vomit.
Need to look at the latest polling but indeed I thought the Red Wall had swung more to Labour than the rest of the country?
Yep, that is also my understanding. I think Johnson apologists also want us to believe it was all about "get Brexit done" that caused the proletariat to vote for the fat Etonian, but in reality it was a revulsion of all things Corbyn.
The polling confirms this no? Biggest reason people swapped was Corbyn’s leadership.
Ed M held these seats and was almost as unpopular as Corbyn. Just didn’t hate British foreign policy
Mike has put up a number of polls that point to it. HYUFD wants you believe it was because "Boris" promised to GBD, because this is what Conservative Central Office would like us to believe
In 2017 Corbyn got a hung parliament against May, in 2019 he lost by a landslide to Boris.
The Tories could get most seats in a hung parliament to keep Corbyn out. However only having Boris as leader with the promise to get Brexit done got them that big majority of 80
Total rubbish. See the many posts from Mike on the real motivations in 2019. You just want to believe this shite. If you were Russian Putin would love you. (Actually he probably does even though you are not). In 2017 nobody believed Corbyn would get close. 2019 was a reaction to 2017, people began to realise how close he got. 2019 was an anti-Corbyn vote.
Do we have any Alabama experts on the board today?
I have one day here in the far north west bit. Tuscumbia/Muscle Shoals. By the mighty Tennessee River
I was gonna hike the river or some canyons.... but it's decided to rain. Heavily (the first day of bad weather after a week of pure sun - which returns tomorrow, huzzah)
Things To Do In Alabama When It Rains. Are there any? I thought of driving to Alabama's Most Depressing Town, say Selma, or Bessemer, to indulge in a day of Full on Feasting on American Declinism, but are they that bad? I want BAD. I want Mississippi BAD. Detroit BAD. Shuttered streets, empty factories, fentanyl addicts, desolate malls, maybe a rich Woke student shouting at poor white people about their privilege - in the rain.
Where can I get that?
Looks like the area immediately to the west of Montgomery. Wilcox (Camden) and Perry (Marion) counties are to two poorest counties in the state and are adjacent to each other. Per capita income is $12,573 and $13,433 compared to $66,060 for the US as a whole.
Must be some real poverty in the backcountry there ...
Can I prey on your wisdom once more?
At the end of this trip I have ten days spare when it is better for me to be out of the UK (long story, not as exciting as it sounds)
This road trip has been such fun I'm tempted to do another on my own dime. But where? I've seen the southwest deserts many times, so appealing as they are: no. I am sorely tempted by the Wyoming/Dakota area, all that natural spleandour, but the weather looks a bit cold, and I am enjoying the warmth. That also rules out the northern bits of New England like Maine which I have not seen
Which leaves more of the Deep South?
I am drawn to the Carolinas, nice mix of mountains, cities, poverty, wealth, coastline, history? Or is Georgia better? Virginia? Kentucky? Any thoughts? I want variety and history and a feel of remoteness on the backroads....
I personally would recommend the Carolinas. You could do places like Asheville which very cool town with the Great Smoky Mountains via the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Mind, the entire Irish Navy has a complement of just over 1,000 officers and ratings. One of the benefits of being contiguous to a nuclear-armed G7 NATO member.
What boy or girl ever grows up with a desperate yearning to "join the Irish Navy and", er, "see the coast of Ireland from about 5 miles offshore"?
They semi-regularly go to Argentina for a piss up. The Argentine Navy being founded by an Irishman.
Unbelievable. Cheering on the transferring of assets from the inheritanceless young to the asset-rich old and their offspring.
An insane ideology.
Once upon a time, the conservatives were about making work pay. No more.
They deserve to lose power and spend a long time in opposition, until they can come up with a coherent ideology.
Without increasing the minimum wage and cutting NI bills for those earning below £34,000 and a proposed income tax cut it would be even worse for workers.
Inflation is rising because of the sanctions on Russia and increased demand putting pressure on supplies post lockdown. Nothing whatsoever to do with home ownership which remains something Tories should want to expand
"The assertion by the top U.S. defense officials that America wants to degrade the Russian war machine reflected an increasingly emboldened approach from the Biden administration."
NY Times.
It can't be all out war though. The Russians would lose so heavily that they'd probably resort to Nukes.
NATO has 3 options
- Do nothing (so basically what's happening now) - Intervene (Very hard to control) - First strike
Mind, the entire Irish Navy has a complement of just over 1,000 officers and ratings. One of the benefits of being contiguous to a nuclear-armed G7 NATO member.
The latest RN warship class naming scheme is completely convoluted - modern marketing colliding with RN tradition and history and the latter rather sinking ...
As you're on, what should the ships in the prospective Indy Scottish fleet be called? Obviously the "Rabbie Burns". But, who else?
Sir Walter was a unionist as was Buchan. Not sure about RLS. Maybe the "Irvine Welsh" and the "Hugh MacDiarmid"?
Name the ships after the mountains - Ben Nevis, Ben MacDui, Braeriach, etc.
If the local election results are poor for the Tories I expect the 54 letters for a VONC threshold to be reached.
How poor the results and polls are will determine whether Johnson survives or not
Given the Tories were projected to have polled 35% in 2018 and they'll probably get close to 35% this time, it might be more difficult to get rid of Johnson that some people are expecting.
Indeed, May went after the 2019 local elections but then the Tories got just 28% NEV and lost over 1,000 council seats
Graun on PM in promises to root out culprit re Ms Rayner:
"Sky News has just broadcast the clip now. As he talks about the “terrors of the earth”, Johnson frowns, and looks serious, but hyperbole like this normally implies Johnson is exaggerating for comic effect. There is a risk that a quote intended to show he is taking this seriously could have the opposite effect.
As the Lib Dems have argued in the past, if Johnson is keen to root out people in the Conservative party who have expressed sexist views, other culprits are available."
From the distant perspective of Tuscumbia, Alabama, this looks like a load of kerpiffle about very little
It was a silly, stupid, faintly squalid story, but it not really malign Ms Rayner. It implied she is sexy, and it also implied Boris is such a pathetic lech he can be totally distracted by a middle aged woman with decent legs sitting ten feet away in a mildly short skirt. Boris was made to look worse in the article than Rayner
The Guardian reportage of the reportage was also odd. They talk about the Basic Instinct comparison, and they say "the movie is notorious for the scene where the suspect briefly reveals her vulva"
"Vulva"??
Where did they get that from? Is *vagina* now incorrect? Could this be a trans thingy thingy? Why not say genitals? Vee-jay-jay? Intimate parts? Loins? Groin?
But Sharon Stone does not "expose her vulva" in Basic Instinct
ie, she does not open her legs wide allowing Michael Douglas a long scrutiny of her "labia minora, labia majora, vagina, clitoris, and urethra", that would have been about ten minutes of expert gynaecology
What Douglas gets is a brief flash of pubic hair. Which is probably what the Guardian should have said, to avoid looking pompously ridic
Put it this way, the PM has a majority of nearly 80 and doesn't have the support to stop Labour's motion last week.
That alone tells you they are close to the 54 letters.
Out of interest, say Hunt wins any leadership election, would that be enough for you to rejoin the blue meanies?
I thought he already had? It would certainly make it likely that I would. The Conservative Party would be a serious party of government again.
Hunt will be as popular in the red wall as a f8rt in a space suit.
"The Red Wall" is already lost to the Tories, it always was once Corbyn was gone. Hunt would need to shore up support elsewhere and maybe retain a few of the so-called "Red Wall" seats. The mythology that Johnson apologists put up about his "man of the people" status with the "red wall" plebs (as most of his apologists see them) makes me want to laugh and simultaneously vomit.
Need to look at the latest polling but indeed I thought the Red Wall had swung more to Labour than the rest of the country?
Yep, that is also my understanding. I think Johnson apologists also want us to believe it was all about "get Brexit done" that caused the proletariat to vote for the fat Etonian, but in reality it was a revulsion of all things Corbyn.
The polling confirms this no? Biggest reason people swapped was Corbyn’s leadership.
Ed M held these seats and was almost as unpopular as Corbyn. Just didn’t hate British foreign policy
Mike has put up a number of polls that point to it. HYUFD wants you believe it was because "Boris" promised to GBD, because this is what Conservative Central Office would like us to believe
In 2017 Corbyn got a hung parliament against May, in 2019 he lost by a landslide to Boris.
The Tories could get most seats in a hung parliament to keep Corbyn out. However only having Boris as leader with the promise to get Brexit done got them that big majority of 80
Total rubbish. See the many posts from Mike on the real motivations in 2019. You just want to believe this shite. If you were Russian Putin would love you. (Actually he probably does even though you are not). In 2017 nobody believed Corbyn would get close. 2019 was a reaction to 2017, people began to realise how close he got. 2019 was an anti-Corbyn vote.
“People didn’t vote for Brexit in 2016 because they wanted Brexit.”
“People didn’t vote to get Brexit Done in 2019 because they wanted to get Brexit done.”
I mean really, are we still doing this?
I think it’s fair to say Boris would not have secured an 80 seat majority against a Starmer led Labour in 2019. But equally he wouldn’t have got that without the Brexit electoral wedge factor either.
Put it this way, the PM has a majority of nearly 80 and doesn't have the support to stop Labour's motion last week.
That alone tells you they are close to the 54 letters.
Out of interest, say Hunt wins any leadership election, would that be enough for you to rejoin the blue meanies?
I thought he already had? It would certainly make it likely that I would. The Conservative Party would be a serious party of government again.
Hunt will be as popular in the red wall as a f8rt in a space suit.
"The Red Wall" is already lost to the Tories, it always was once Corbyn was gone. Hunt would need to shore up support elsewhere and maybe retain a few of the so-called "Red Wall" seats. The mythology that Johnson apologists put up about his "man of the people" status with the "red wall" plebs (as most of his apologists see them) makes me want to laugh and simultaneously vomit.
Need to look at the latest polling but indeed I thought the Red Wall had swung more to Labour than the rest of the country?
Yep, that is also my understanding. I think Johnson apologists also want us to believe it was all about "get Brexit done" that caused the proletariat to vote for the fat Etonian, but in reality it was a revulsion of all things Corbyn.
The polling confirms this no? Biggest reason people swapped was Corbyn’s leadership.
Ed M held these seats and was almost as unpopular as Corbyn. Just didn’t hate British foreign policy
Mike has put up a number of polls that point to it. HYUFD wants you believe it was because "Boris" promised to GBD, because this is what Conservative Central Office would like us to believe
In 2017 Corbyn got a hung parliament against May, in 2019 he lost by a landslide to Boris.
The Tories could get most seats in a hung parliament to keep Corbyn out. However only having Boris as leader with the promise to get Brexit done got them that big majority of 80
Total rubbish. See the many posts from Mike on the real motivations in 2019. You just want to believe this shite. If you were Russian Putin would love you. (Actually he probably does even though you are not). In 2017 nobody believed Corbyn would get close. 2019 was a reaction to 2017, people began to realise how close he got. 2019 was an anti-Corbyn vote.
Corbyn was Labour leader in 2017 and 2019, only one Tory leader managed to win a majority against him, Boris. Boris also still won the biggest Conservative majority since Thatcher in 1987 however much you wish to deny it
Do we have any Alabama experts on the board today?
I have one day here in the far north west bit. Tuscumbia/Muscle Shoals. By the mighty Tennessee River
I was gonna hike the river or some canyons.... but it's decided to rain. Heavily (the first day of bad weather after a week of pure sun - which returns tomorrow, huzzah)
Things To Do In Alabama When It Rains. Are there any? I thought of driving to Alabama's Most Depressing Town, say Selma, or Bessemer, to indulge in a day of Full on Feasting on American Declinism, but are they that bad? I want BAD. I want Mississippi BAD. Detroit BAD. Shuttered streets, empty factories, fentanyl addicts, desolate malls, maybe a rich Woke student shouting at poor white people about their privilege - in the rain.
Where can I get that?
Looks like the area immediately to the west of Montgomery. Wilcox (Camden) and Perry (Marion) counties are to two poorest counties in the state and are adjacent to each other. Per capita income is $12,573 and $13,433 compared to $66,060 for the US as a whole.
Must be some real poverty in the backcountry there ...
Can I prey on your wisdom once more?
At the end of this trip I have ten days spare when it is better for me to be out of the UK (long story, not as exciting as it sounds)
This road trip has been such fun I'm tempted to do another on my own dime. But where? I've seen the southwest deserts many times, so appealing as they are: no. I am sorely tempted by the Wyoming/Dakota area, all that natural spleandour, but the weather looks a bit cold, and I am enjoying the warmth. That also rules out the northern bits of New England like Maine which I have not seen
Which leaves more of the Deep South?
I am drawn to the Carolinas, nice mix of mountains, cities, poverty, wealth, coastline, history? Or is Georgia better? Virginia? Kentucky? Any thoughts? I want variety and history and a feel of remoteness on the backroads....
Drive up the Blue Ridge Parkway, starting in Ashville NC where you can check out the faded glory of the Biltmore for a touch of decadence. Beautiful scenery, good food, great local music. Then proceed north. The Daniel Boone forest is a good diversion to see the back country.
This is SSI's original home turf. Check with him too.
PS You might enjoy the Woodrow Wilson Museum in Staunton, which is only a short diversion from the Parkway.
Do we have any Alabama experts on the board today?
I have one day here in the far north west bit. Tuscumbia/Muscle Shoals. By the mighty Tennessee River
I was gonna hike the river or some canyons.... but it's decided to rain. Heavily (the first day of bad weather after a week of pure sun - which returns tomorrow, huzzah)
Things To Do In Alabama When It Rains. Are there any? I thought of driving to Alabama's Most Depressing Town, say Selma, or Bessemer, to indulge in a day of Full on Feasting on American Declinism, but are they that bad? I want BAD. I want Mississippi BAD. Detroit BAD. Shuttered streets, empty factories, fentanyl addicts, desolate malls, maybe a rich Woke student shouting at poor white people about their privilege - in the rain.
Where can I get that?
Looks like the area immediately to the west of Montgomery. Wilcox (Camden) and Perry (Marion) counties are to two poorest counties in the state and are adjacent to each other. Per capita income is $12,573 and $13,433 compared to $66,060 for the US as a whole.
Must be some real poverty in the backcountry there ...
Can I prey on your wisdom once more?
At the end of this trip I have ten days spare when it is better for me to be out of the UK (long story, not as exciting as it sounds)
This road trip has been such fun I'm tempted to do another on my own dime. But where? I've seen the southwest deserts many times, so appealing as they are: no. I am sorely tempted by the Wyoming/Dakota area, all that natural spleandour, but the weather looks a bit cold, and I am enjoying the warmth. That also rules out the northern bits of New England like Maine which I have not seen
Which leaves more of the Deep South?
I am drawn to the Carolinas, nice mix of mountains, cities, poverty, wealth, coastline, history? Or is Georgia better? Virginia? Kentucky? Any thoughts? I want variety and history and a feel of remoteness on the backroads....
Drive up the Blue Ridge Parkway, starting in Ashville NC where you can check out the faded glory of the Biltmore for a touch of decadence. Beautiful scenery, good food, great local music. Then proceed north. The Daniel Boone forest is a good diversion to see the back country.
This is SSI's original home turf. Check with him too.
Mind, the entire Irish Navy has a complement of just over 1,000 officers and ratings. One of the benefits of being contiguous to a nuclear-armed G7 NATO member.
The latest RN warship class naming scheme is completely convoluted - modern marketing colliding with RN tradition and history and the latter rather sinking ...
As you're on, what should the ships in the prospective Indy Scottish fleet be called? Obviously the "Rabbie Burns". But, who else?
Sir Walter was a unionist as was Buchan. Not sure about RLS. Maybe the "Irvine Welsh" and the "Hugh MacDiarmid"?
Name the ships after the mountains - Ben Nevis, Ben MacDui, Braeriach, etc.
There's not a mountain called Ben Dinghy though. I struggle to see how it would work.
Do we have any Alabama experts on the board today?
I have one day here in the far north west bit. Tuscumbia/Muscle Shoals. By the mighty Tennessee River
I was gonna hike the river or some canyons.... but it's decided to rain. Heavily (the first day of bad weather after a week of pure sun - which returns tomorrow, huzzah)
Things To Do In Alabama When It Rains. Are there any? I thought of driving to Alabama's Most Depressing Town, say Selma, or Bessemer, to indulge in a day of Full on Feasting on American Declinism, but are they that bad? I want BAD. I want Mississippi BAD. Detroit BAD. Shuttered streets, empty factories, fentanyl addicts, desolate malls, maybe a rich Woke student shouting at poor white people about their privilege - in the rain.
Where can I get that?
Looks like the area immediately to the west of Montgomery. Wilcox (Camden) and Perry (Marion) counties are to two poorest counties in the state and are adjacent to each other. Per capita income is $12,573 and $13,433 compared to $66,060 for the US as a whole.
Must be some real poverty in the backcountry there ...
Can I prey on your wisdom once more?
At the end of this trip I have ten days spare when it is better for me to be out of the UK (long story, not as exciting as it sounds)
This road trip has been such fun I'm tempted to do another on my own dime. But where? I've seen the southwest deserts many times, so appealing as they are: no. I am sorely tempted by the Wyoming/Dakota area, all that natural spleandour, but the weather looks a bit cold, and I am enjoying the warmth. That also rules out the northern bits of New England like Maine which I have not seen
Which leaves more of the Deep South?
I am drawn to the Carolinas, nice mix of mountains, cities, poverty, wealth, coastline, history? Or is Georgia better? Virginia? Kentucky? Any thoughts? I want variety and history and a feel of remoteness on the backroads....
I personally would recommend the Carolinas. You could do places like Asheville which very cool town with the Great Smoky Mountains via the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Or do the coast, Savannah, Charleston, and up.
Yes, others have recommended Asheville. Ta. That might be the answer!
Mind, the entire Irish Navy has a complement of just over 1,000 officers and ratings. One of the benefits of being contiguous to a nuclear-armed G7 NATO member.
The latest RN warship class naming scheme is completely convoluted - modern marketing colliding with RN tradition and history and the latter rather sinking ...
As you're on, what should the ships in the prospective Indy Scottish fleet be called? Obviously the "Rabbie Burns". But, who else?
Sir Walter was a unionist as was Buchan. Not sure about RLS. Maybe the "Irvine Welsh" and the "Hugh MacDiarmid"?
Cochrane Duncan of Camperdown Forth Clyde Caledonia Edinburgh Glasgow
to name a few at random
but if you want writers, plenty of others to choose from.
Thew MalcG? Would be a fearsome vessel, firing red-hot turnips.
Not very fearsome, as it would be completely intellectually rudderless, always easily outmanoeuvred due to it's dull predictability and terrible to sail on as it is always full of shit
Do we have any Alabama experts on the board today?
I have one day here in the far north west bit. Tuscumbia/Muscle Shoals. By the mighty Tennessee River
I was gonna hike the river or some canyons.... but it's decided to rain. Heavily (the first day of bad weather after a week of pure sun - which returns tomorrow, huzzah)
Things To Do In Alabama When It Rains. Are there any? I thought of driving to Alabama's Most Depressing Town, say Selma, or Bessemer, to indulge in a day of Full on Feasting on American Declinism, but are they that bad? I want BAD. I want Mississippi BAD. Detroit BAD. Shuttered streets, empty factories, fentanyl addicts, desolate malls, maybe a rich Woke student shouting at poor white people about their privilege - in the rain.
Where can I get that?
Looks like the area immediately to the west of Montgomery. Wilcox (Camden) and Perry (Marion) counties are to two poorest counties in the state and are adjacent to each other. Per capita income is $12,573 and $13,433 compared to $66,060 for the US as a whole.
Must be some real poverty in the backcountry there ...
Can I prey on your wisdom once more?
At the end of this trip I have ten days spare when it is better for me to be out of the UK (long story, not as exciting as it sounds)
This road trip has been such fun I'm tempted to do another on my own dime. But where? I've seen the southwest deserts many times, so appealing as they are: no. I am sorely tempted by the Wyoming/Dakota area, all that natural spleandour, but the weather looks a bit cold, and I am enjoying the warmth. That also rules out the northern bits of New England like Maine which I have not seen
Which leaves more of the Deep South?
I am drawn to the Carolinas, nice mix of mountains, cities, poverty, wealth, coastline, history? Or is Georgia better? Virginia? Kentucky? Any thoughts? I want variety and history and a feel of remoteness on the backroads....
I personally would recommend the Carolinas. You could do places like Asheville which very cool town with the Great Smoky Mountains via the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Or do the coast, Savannah, Charleston, and up.
Yes, others have recommended Asheville. Ta. That might be the answer!
Very arty town and will find plenty of great food.
How are you finding the price inflation in restaurants? Mrs U normally spends several months a year in US and everybody is telling her she will get a terrible shock when she heads back over for work shortly. Prices through the roof compared to pre-pandemic.
Eric Zemmour is proposing a 'National Union' alliance with Marine Le Pen's Rassemblement Nationale for the legislative elections. It's also aimed at including Nicolas Dupont-Aignan's Debout La France and members of Les Republicains who don't want to support Macron.
I've been wanting to say this for weeks, and now the opportunity has arisen:
Just had my energy statement for April(+10 days of March). It really made me sit up. I spent the whole month turning off lights etc and turning down heating where I could. This resulted in a 12% reduction in electrical energy and a 6% reduction in gas. I felt quite proud, until I saw that my electricity bill had gone up 45% and my gas bill had gone up 104%.
We are 2 pensioners who have savings to whittle down, God knows what the majority of younger people with families are going to do this year.
Energy reduction is always great. Is that year on year or month on month? That gas increase looks overlarge for current changes, unless you were artificially low (eg just came off long term fix or have gone for one of the current on-offer fixes, which are very over inflated.)
I'd tend to trust my own meter readings more than information from the supply company - unless a Smart Meter is in place. I'm currently had to correct one supplier where they overestimated the electricity usage by 10x (property has been empty long term, which they know - being rented this week).
Mine at home were £500 out on Electricity at last Christmas, which is more than a year of consumption.
Chatting to a T who is now single, with 3 young kids, she is now restricting Central Heating to 1 hour a day am and pm, but it is about to go off completely for the summer as we have now warmed up.
The comparisons were with April 2021, and yes, you are right we were coming towards the end of a fixed then. We do have a smart meter, and it is actually accurate and up to date. It's a shock though, because our pensions only went up 3.1%. I suppose I will have to bite the bullett until next April.
The shock for most people, certainly for me, is likely to be gas heating kicking in next autumn, as that is up more than electric - especially if they have kept the monthly payment reduced over the summer.
Energy saving is always simple and basic or long term and expensive, and none of it is complex. Perhaps 2 worth mentioning are getting to 250mm loft insulation if you are not there already - as it may be free under the ECO programme, and to keep CH flow temperature below 55C (and ideally lower) as condensing gas boilers are less efficient above that as they don't condense at temperatures above 56C (which cuts efficiency from 95% to 75-80%).
The T I was chatting to is also planning to start using a washing line rather than a tumble dryer, and has gone from daily washer loads to 3 per week.
Mind, the entire Irish Navy has a complement of just over 1,000 officers and ratings. One of the benefits of being contiguous to a nuclear-armed G7 NATO member.
What boy or girl ever grows up with a desperate yearning to "join the Irish Navy and", er, "see the coast of Ireland from about 5 miles offshore"?
They semi-regularly go to Argentina for a piss up. The Argentine Navy being founded by an Irishman.
There was a comment somewhere recently (Drachinifel?) that many of the 19th-Century naval battles around the world were strategised by bored Royal Navy officers; sometimes the officers being on differing sides of the same battle.
Mind, the entire Irish Navy has a complement of just over 1,000 officers and ratings. One of the benefits of being contiguous to a nuclear-armed G7 NATO member.
The latest RN warship class naming scheme is completely convoluted - modern marketing colliding with RN tradition and history and the latter rather sinking ...
As you're on, what should the ships in the prospective Indy Scottish fleet be called? Obviously the "Rabbie Burns". But, who else?
Sir Walter was a unionist as was Buchan. Not sure about RLS. Maybe the "Irvine Welsh" and the "Hugh MacDiarmid"?
Cochrane Duncan of Camperdown Forth Clyde Caledonia Edinburgh Glasgow
to name a few at random
but if you want writers, plenty of others to choose from.
Thew MalcG? Would be a fearsome vessel, firing red-hot turnips.
Not very fearsome, as it would be completely intellectually rudderless, always easily outmanoeuvred due to it's dull predictability and terrible to sail on as it is always full of shit
Put it this way, the PM has a majority of nearly 80 and doesn't have the support to stop Labour's motion last week.
That alone tells you they are close to the 54 letters.
Out of interest, say Hunt wins any leadership election, would that be enough for you to rejoin the blue meanies?
I thought he already had? It would certainly make it likely that I would. The Conservative Party would be a serious party of government again.
Hunt will be as popular in the red wall as a f8rt in a space suit.
"The Red Wall" is already lost to the Tories, it always was once Corbyn was gone. Hunt would need to shore up support elsewhere and maybe retain a few of the so-called "Red Wall" seats. The mythology that Johnson apologists put up about his "man of the people" status with the "red wall" plebs (as most of his apologists see them) makes me want to laugh and simultaneously vomit.
Need to look at the latest polling but indeed I thought the Red Wall had swung more to Labour than the rest of the country?
Yep, that is also my understanding. I think Johnson apologists also want us to believe it was all about "get Brexit done" that caused the proletariat to vote for the fat Etonian, but in reality it was a revulsion of all things Corbyn.
The polling confirms this no? Biggest reason people swapped was Corbyn’s leadership.
Ed M held these seats and was almost as unpopular as Corbyn. Just didn’t hate British foreign policy
Mike has put up a number of polls that point to it. HYUFD wants you believe it was because "Boris" promised to GBD, because this is what Conservative Central Office would like us to believe
In 2017 Corbyn got a hung parliament against May, in 2019 he lost by a landslide to Boris.
The Tories could get most seats in a hung parliament to keep Corbyn out. However only having Boris as leader with the promise to get Brexit done got them that big majority of 80
Total rubbish. See the many posts from Mike on the real motivations in 2019. You just want to believe this shite. If you were Russian Putin would love you. (Actually he probably does even though you are not). In 2017 nobody believed Corbyn would get close. 2019 was a reaction to 2017, people began to realise how close he got. 2019 was an anti-Corbyn vote.
The other difference is how Corbyn was viewed. Outside the deep Conservative bubble, 2017 Jez really was seen as Magic Grandpa by a meaningful slice of normal people. "Oh Jeremy Corbyn" wasn't just the song of the Great Unwashed. The 2019 model was viewed much more negatively.
(The reality was probably less interesting than either Magic Grandpa or Commie Worzel Gummidge. He strikes me as a bit dim, and having taken on a set of ideas decades ago, couldn't be bothered to change them. Totally unsutiable for high office, but not evil.)
The size of Johnson's 2019 win (broad but shallow) hides the "lesser of two evils" vibe of a lot of the campaign. Otherwise, we have to say that Jacques Chirac was about the best democratic politician ever, because he got over 80% in the 2002 French Presidential election.
"The assertion by the top U.S. defense officials that America wants to degrade the Russian war machine reflected an increasingly emboldened approach from the Biden administration."
NY Times.
All it takes now is one FAB-500 to land on the wrong side of the Poland Ukraine border and it's Neunundneunzig Luftballons.
Put it this way, the PM has a majority of nearly 80 and doesn't have the support to stop Labour's motion last week.
That alone tells you they are close to the 54 letters.
Out of interest, say Hunt wins any leadership election, would that be enough for you to rejoin the blue meanies?
I rejoined just before Christmas because I knew there was a leadership election coming.
I’d be chuffed to buggery if Hunt won.
I'm afraid I really don't see that. He's last year's model. And too much of a man in a suit (like Starmer and the LibDem bloke). Hopefully back in cabinet though as he's clearly highly competent and the Tories could do with a few ministers like that.
They really need someone who can bedazzle, and contrast with the alternatives. Otherwise they'll be toast in 24.
Nice as that would be, who fits the bill?
Rishi was clearly pitching for "Dazzling AND Competent", and we know how that turned out.
Too true. Penny Mordaunt? She was named after WW2 cruiser, after all. (Even if it was torpedoed.)
Comments
Many different stories from people from very different backgrounds, but all with one goal: 1/9
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/threat-of-africa-wont-stop-us-insist-dunkirk-camps-refugees-g7xrrb9q0
Sharon Stone'sRed Rayner's next Commons gig. Reckon she'll have a few choice lines."I said to the house last week, in response to a point of order about a different article, that I took the issue of media freedom very seriously, that I took the issue of media freedom very seriously. It is one of the building blocks of our democracy.
However, I share the views expressed by a wide range of members, including I believe the prime minister, that yesterday’s article was reporting unsubstantial claims [that were] misogynistic and offensive. Those are what we believe.
I express my sympathy to [Rayner], subject to this type of comment. In being demeaning, offensive to women in parliament, it can only deter women who might considering standing for election to the detriment of us all.
That is why I have arranged a meeting with the chair of the press lobby [and] the editor of the Mail on Sunday to discuss the issue affecting our parliamentary community."
THis sort of thing [edit] does not make a MP an acceptable Member, or a journo a welcome or acceptable visitor to Parliament (whoever the leaker was: might be member of staff). Indeed if it were a normal workplace allowing the relevant person to remain would probably trigger a major row with the union and a constructive dismissal claim.
"Sky News has just broadcast the clip now. As he talks about the “terrors of the earth”, Johnson frowns, and looks serious, but hyperbole like this normally implies Johnson is exaggerating for comic effect. There is a risk that a quote intended to show he is taking this seriously could have the opposite effect.
As the Lib Dems have argued in the past, if Johnson is keen to root out people in the Conservative party who have expressed sexist views, other culprits are available."
There are no photos (thank God, tho that is probably cowardly of me) but just READING about it is almost unbearable. Russia is reverting to a mix of World War 2/medieval barbarity. Unspeakable.
I would not mind if Schroder chokes to death on his gold-plated bratwurst-with-borscht
Air defence was supposed to be one of the more capable areas of the Russian military.
https://twitter.com/UAWeapons/status/1518591504499023873
The Syria The Media Won't Show You
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6d0zw-DxpU&t=580s
It was a silly, stupid, faintly squalid story, but it not really malign Ms Rayner. It implied she is sexy, and it also implied Boris is such a pathetic lech he can be totally distracted by a middle aged woman with decent legs sitting ten feet away in a mildly short skirt. Boris was made to look worse in the article than Rayner
The Guardian reportage of the reportage was also odd. They talk about the Basic Instinct comparison, and they say "the movie is notorious for the scene where the suspect briefly reveals her vulva"
"Vulva"??
Where did they get that from? Is *vagina* now incorrect? Could this be a trans thingy thingy? Why not say genitals? Vee-jay-jay? Intimate parts? Loins? Groin?
Vulva??
Is that now the word We Must Use?
They really need someone who can bedazzle, and contrast with the alternatives. Otherwise they'll be toast in 24.
Just had my energy statement for April(+10 days of March). It really made me sit up. I spent the whole month turning off lights etc and turning down heating where I could. This resulted in a 12% reduction in electrical energy and a 6% reduction in gas. I felt quite proud, until I saw that my electricity bill had gone up 45% and my gas bill had gone up 104%.
We are 2 pensioners who have savings to whittle down, God knows what the majority of younger people with families are going to do this year.
I think he is going to get seriously mullered by SKS and by Gray and is gone by end q3, but this is a thing I keep being serially wrong about
Yes. And UGH
£/$ 1.273
From Caxton’s morning email;
“The pound is dealing with a rapidly slowing economy plagued by surging prices, along with a dovish central bank likely to bring rate hikes to a (perhaps, brief) halt next month”
Given the current bout of inflation is mostly external (energy/food/global supply chains), the £’s fall is only going to make things worse.
Rishi was clearly pitching for "Dazzling AND Competent", and we know how that turned out.
“Lear:
I will have such revenges on you both,
That all the world shall—I will do such things—
What they are, yet I know not, but they shall be
The terrors of the earth!”
I have one day here in the far north west bit. Tuscumbia/Muscle Shoals. By the mighty Tennessee River
I was gonna hike the river or some canyons.... but it's decided to rain. Heavily (the first day of bad weather after a week of pure sun - which returns tomorrow, huzzah)
Things To Do In Alabama When It Rains. Are there any? I thought of driving to Alabama's Most Depressing Town, say Selma, or Bessemer, to indulge in a day of Full on Feasting on American Declinism, but are they that bad? I want BAD. I want Mississippi BAD. Detroit BAD. Shuttered streets, empty factories, fentanyl addicts, desolate malls, maybe a rich Woke student shouting at poor white people about their privilege - in the rain.
Where can I get that?
One of the most useful mental techniques for considering politicians' behaviour is, what would happen if you tried it on in an ordinary workplace? E.g. claiming for duck houses or moats.
SLH makes the free speech point here himself anyway.
https://www.thenational.scot/news/20080748.speaker-wont-suspend-access-journalist-quentin-letts-accusation-sexist-article/
Perhaps others are more sensitive than me; probably they are; fair enough
The "Samuel Beckett" class also includes the "William Butler Yeats", and the "James Joyce". Rather sweet.
https://twitter.com/RNinScotland/status/1518573823444013058
Mind, the entire Irish Navy has a complement of just over 1,000 officers and ratings. One of the benefits of being contiguous to a nuclear-armed G7 NATO member.
I'd tend to trust my own meter readings more than information from the supply company - unless a Smart Meter is in place. I'm currently had to correct one supplier where they overestimated the electricity usage by 10x (property has been empty long term, which they know - being rented this week).
Mine at home were £500 out on Electricity at last Christmas, which is more than a year of consumption.
Chatting to a T who is now single, with 3 young kids, she is now restricting Central Heating to 1 hour a day am and pm, but it is about to go off completely for the summer as we have now warmed up.
Which one:
Noonoo?
El Gruffalo?
Ting?
In all seriousness, I have had girlfriends who've all used those terms to refer to their Naughty Parts
As for the C-word, it is one of the few words which Our Genial Host really dislikes, and it can get you banned; moreover, it always looks stupid if you put an asterisk in, so I did not bother
Plan now is to be reasonably economical, and wait until renewal date (July) to see what happens.
How poor the results and polls are will determine whether Johnson survives or not
Must be some real poverty in the backcountry there ...
The Tories could get most seats in a hung parliament to keep Corbyn out. However only having Boris as leader with the promise to get Brexit done got them that big majority of 80
Sir Walter was a unionist as was Buchan. Not sure about RLS. Maybe the "Irvine Welsh" and the "Hugh MacDiarmid"?
It does sound like Indiana is pretty grim
The thing about Cities of American Decline in the south is that they still have the nice climate. OK you're dirt poor, but you can sit on a pile of used tyres and take ket in your tee shirt
In the Rustbelt north, they have those long bitter winters and grey skies, which must make it way more depressing
One road trip I did was from north to south Kentucky. From the white picket fences and immaculate paddocks of the stud farms in and around Louisville/Lexington to people selling pairs of (their own) socks from their porches in the Cumberland Gap.
There will be a grindingly poor part of Alabama but not sure exactly where.
Duncan of Camperdown
Forth
Clyde
Caledonia
Edinburgh
Glasgow
to name a few at random
but if you want writers, plenty of others to choose from.
It was a minor mistake for vagina to be used as a word for the whole thing (a bit like someone referring to the UK as England, say).
This is not a new thing, nor a big deal. Surprised you were ignorant of the details.
https://www.webmd.com/women/picture-of-the-vagina
Readying us for a cancelled flight? I hope they have somewhere for me to have my siesta..
An insane ideology.
Once upon a time, the conservatives were about making work pay. No more.
They deserve to lose power and spend a long time in opposition, until they can come up with a coherent ideology.
And any fiddling with tax rates, fuel bills or anything else is tiny in comparison.
"The assertion by the top U.S. defense officials that America wants to degrade the Russian war machine reflected an increasingly emboldened approach from the Biden administration."
NY Times.
https://youtu.be/eUDcTLaWJuo
At the end of this trip I have ten days spare when it is better for me to be out of the UK (long story, not as exciting as it sounds)
This road trip has been such fun I'm tempted to do another on my own dime. But where? I've seen the southwest deserts many times, so appealing as they are: no. I am sorely tempted by the Wyoming/Dakota area, all that natural spleandour, but the weather looks a bit cold, and I am enjoying the warmth. That also rules out the northern bits of New England like Maine which I have not seen
Which leaves more of the Deep South?
I am drawn to the Carolinas, nice mix of mountains, cities, poverty, wealth, coastline, history? Or is Georgia better? Virginia? Kentucky? Any thoughts? I want variety and history and a feel of remoteness on the backroads....
Or do the coast, Savannah, Charleston, and up.
Inflation is rising because of the sanctions on Russia and increased demand putting pressure on supplies post lockdown. Nothing whatsoever to do with home ownership which remains something Tories should want to expand
NATO has 3 options
- Do nothing (so basically what's happening now)
- Intervene (Very hard to control)
- First strike
ie, she does not open her legs wide allowing Michael Douglas a long scrutiny of her "labia minora, labia majora, vagina, clitoris, and urethra", that would have been about ten minutes of expert gynaecology
What Douglas gets is a brief flash of pubic hair. Which is probably what the Guardian should have said, to avoid looking pompously ridic
“People didn’t vote to get Brexit Done in 2019 because they wanted to get Brexit done.”
I mean really, are we still doing this?
I think it’s fair to say Boris would not have secured an 80 seat majority against a Starmer led Labour in 2019. But equally he wouldn’t have got that without the Brexit electoral wedge factor either.
This is SSI's original home turf. Check with him too.
PS You might enjoy the Woodrow Wilson Museum in Staunton, which is only a short diversion from the Parkway.
How are you finding the price inflation in restaurants? Mrs U normally spends several months a year in US and everybody is telling her she will get a terrible shock when she heads back over for work shortly. Prices through the roof compared to pre-pandemic.
Oh Zemmour
What's a boy in love supposed to do?
Energy saving is always simple and basic or long term and expensive, and none of it is complex. Perhaps 2 worth mentioning are getting to 250mm loft insulation if you are not there already - as it may be free under the ECO programme, and to keep CH flow temperature below 55C (and ideally lower) as condensing gas boilers are less efficient above that as they don't condense at temperatures above 56C (which cuts efficiency from 95% to 75-80%).
The T I was chatting to is also planning to start using a washing line rather than a tumble dryer, and has gone from daily washer loads to 3 per week.
https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/how-scot-helped-forge-us-navy-1484538
There was a comment somewhere recently (Drachinifel?) that many of the 19th-Century naval battles around the world were strategised by bored Royal Navy officers; sometimes the officers being on differing sides of the same battle.
(The reality was probably less interesting than either Magic Grandpa or Commie Worzel Gummidge. He strikes me as a bit dim, and having taken on a set of ideas decades ago, couldn't be bothered to change them. Totally unsutiable for high office, but not evil.)
The size of Johnson's 2019 win (broad but shallow) hides the "lesser of two evils" vibe of a lot of the campaign. Otherwise, we have to say that Jacques Chirac was about the best democratic politician ever, because he got over 80% in the 2002 French Presidential election.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_guSr3hW2I