Interesting. The first two graphs are obvious. The third which shows wealthier voters have never trusted him is slightly harder to work out. Why did people with money realise he was crooked when those without took a lot longer? Is it the Tory deferential vote rearing its head again? He's an Old Etonian so he's got to be OK even when all the evidence pointed to the fact that he wasn't?
They've met entitled chancers before?
True. Even if you did an unglamorous subject at an unfashionable college, mini-Borises were ten a penny.
So the question any Boris successor (except Hunt) needs a good answer to-
"He fooled you for years, didn't he?"
Labour need to pin the blame on the culprits - the Tory party. They knew he was unfit for office yet picked him because they thought (correctly) that he could fool the public.
This was different to Corbyn. Labour MPs didn't choose him, only the members did. And they did so because of political values and principles, misguided as many might feel them to be.
This whole Johnson thing, whether it ends next week or not, has been unremittingly sordid. No way must the Cons be allowed to shrug it off just by ditching him now. They must pay a price. I'd suggest a decade in opposition commencing 2024. If you do the crime you do the time.
It is not particularly different to Corbyn. Kier Starmer campaigned twice for Jeremy Corbyn to become Prime Minister (unless we think Starmer is a liar, of course).
Starmer did not openly demonstrate any sort of rebellion - whether through extreme (joining a different party) or moderate (refusing to serve on the front bench) methods. This was an acceptance of the decision of the party membership. It was also the right strategy to secure the subsequent leadership.
Indeed, Starmer sat in Shadow Cabinet meetings with Corbyn for more than three years, but didn't seem to notice that Corbyn was racist until a few days after he took the leadership in 2020.
No doubt the next Tory leader will suddenly discover that Johnson is an unprincipled liar the day after they become leader as well.
Well, this happens all the time. Johnson voted for May's deal, Thatcher was in Heath's cabinet etc.
Yes, exactly. It happens every time there is a leadership succession in the main political parties. This is why I think the likely successor to Johnson will come from within the cabinet, rather than be a backbencher (even if that backbencher has previously served in government).
I don't think Starmer could have become leader (or it certainly would have been much harder) had he not been serving in the shadow cabinet at the time.
Been busy here in Tbilisi so I only just caught up with the Platinum Party at the Palace
Outstanding. Simply outstanding showmanship. At times it edged uneasily towards a Britannia Nuremberg Rally on speed - it was that well done. The lights, the drones, the fireworks, the flags, most of the songs - impeccable
And the Paddington thing was inspired
Whatever you think of the royals, patriotism, Britain, that was a show and a half. Someone deserves a dukedom
Nah, Dukedoms are tainted by Randy Andy, friend of nonces.
Tough weekend to be a republican. You have my sympathies
I see it was watched live by 13m - the most watched event of the year. And there will be millions more like me who watched it on catch-up, at home and abroad
The cricket was more entertaining.
Anyhoo the country expects the monarchy to be gone.
This polling confirms that as well as showing the monarchy is becoming less popular and less relevant.
Rubbish, 62% of voters still want a monarchy on that poll and more prefer a monarchy to a republic in every age group, even normally Labour voting under 35s
Germany’s economy might again become the “sick man of Europe,” slipping back into a role from two decades ago as policies that kept factories humming turn sour.
After years of pushing exports to China and building up energy links to Russia, Europe’s largest economy faces a poisonous cocktail of risks. Its heavy reliance on manufacturing makes it more vulnerable than European peers to war-related disruptions in Russian energy supplies and bottlenecks in trade.
Been busy here in Tbilisi so I only just caught up with the Platinum Party at the Palace
Outstanding. Simply outstanding showmanship. At times it edged uneasily towards a Britannia Nuremberg Rally on speed - it was that well done. The lights, the drones, the fireworks, the flags, most of the songs - impeccable
And the Paddington thing was inspired
Whatever you think of the royals, patriotism, Britain, that was a show and a half. Someone deserves a dukedom
Nah, Dukedoms are tainted by Randy Andy, friend of nonces.
Tough weekend to be a republican. You have my sympathies
I see it was watched live by 13m - the most watched event of the year. And there will be millions more like me who watched it on catch-up, at home and abroad
As a Republican I can report I had a great weekend and avoided the whole load of bollox jingoism/pretence that England is great. The chickens are coming home to roost, merde sandwiches all round.
There's something deliciously glorious and imperial about this, isn't it?
A pageant like this could have been held at almost any time in the last 200 years, and with more or less exactly the same uniforms and marching order.
It must really hurt to see the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards participate so handsomely.
But this is really all about the ending of an era, never to be recovered. Surely even you can see that?
No. The era of The Queen may be coming to an end, but the monarchy and commonwealth will continue and go from strength to strength.
Watch this space.
I will.
Republicans and "progressives" want to take advantage of the disorientation, listlessness and upheaval resulting from the end of the reign of our longest serving monarch to push for radical constitutional change.
But they will fail. Abysmally. Because as wonderful and marvelous as Elizabeth Windsor is as an individual - and she really is an incredible woman - the institution is stronger than just the person who inhabits it. Even for someone as amazing as her.
You and many others like you are calling this wrong. Badly wrong.
I think most progressives would put replacing the monarchy well down their list of desired radical constitutional changes. Evidence? Well no Labour politician seems keen, even Corbyn didn't want to make it a priority.
It's not even that clear to me what would actually change in any practical respect if we just retired the UK monarchy. Given the amount of political capital it would require, I can't see why anyone sensible would want to prioritize it.
This could change though if future King Charles ends up interfering in government. If he starts refusing to sign laws - then yes, sorry Casino, your worst nightmares will come true and we will be marching up the Mall to turf him out.
Been busy here in Tbilisi so I only just caught up with the Platinum Party at the Palace
Outstanding. Simply outstanding showmanship. At times it edged uneasily towards a Britannia Nuremberg Rally on speed - it was that well done. The lights, the drones, the fireworks, the flags, most of the songs - impeccable
And the Paddington thing was inspired
Whatever you think of the royals, patriotism, Britain, that was a show and a half. Someone deserves a dukedom
Nah, Dukedoms are tainted by Randy Andy, friend of nonces.
Tough weekend to be a republican. You have my sympathies
I see it was watched live by 13m - the most watched event of the year. And there will be millions more like me who watched it on catch-up, at home and abroad
The cricket was more entertaining.
Anyhoo the country expects the monarchy to be gone.
This polling confirms that as well as showing the monarchy is becoming less popular and less relevant.
Even 18-24 year olds think we should keep the monarchy. Not a single cohort thinks we should get rid of it. And, as you know as well as anyone, people become more conservative as they age. Remember they kept telling us in 2014 in Scotland that the young YESSERS would soon outnumber the old NO-voters, as the crumbling unionists died out
Hasn’t happened. Not gonna happen. We won’t be a republic in the lifetime of anyone on this forum. Beyond that the question is farcically irrelevant it is so imponderable
Just look at the number of Commonwealth countries fleeing to become republics.
In the next decade or so we shall see the departure of Australia and Charles ascend to the throne.
The monarchy is going to be vastly different shortly.
Also do you not find the Royals a bit woke, that speech by the Duke of Cambridge was so bloody woke, it could have been written by Caroline Lucas.
19 Commonwealth realms became republics or got their own monarch in the reign of the Queen or her father, only 1 has become a republic in the last 30 years.
Australia voted 55% to keep the monarchy in 1999 and still less than 50% of Australians want to become a republic
I did wonder if it was a fake in the UAE, given that this is where you live
But then I thought: even the UAE would not be that tacky….
So, for identifying historical spots, how about this one (which the dog very sensibly watered just after the photo, last year ):
Christ, you’re not making it easy
That’s basically a lump of concrete with a car park and a sports ground in the back
OK, without googling (how would you even google something like this?) the sports ground has an air of venerability. Decay. And a distinct shape
So I will say - given that the preceding photos are all in Italy and your cute dog doesn’t seem older or younger - that this is the same trip?
And I will therefore guess that this is some kind of Roman hippodrome in Trentino or Veneto? Or it is a Roman hippodrome in that region… and Mussolini gave a speech from that concrete podium in front of it?
In general feel it reminds me of the Forest Recreation Ground in Nottingham (Goose Fair site), which is a flat very large grass/sports area at the bottom of a hill.
Clare Balding and various people they invited along to help her fawn all over Her Maj currently explaining how two old people pushing a sign thing with shopping trolley wheels, one of which is broken, down the Mall shows how Britain is the envy of the world.
nd Mussolini gave a speech from that concrete podium in front of it?
In general feel it reminds me of the Forest Recreation Ground in Nottingham (Goose Fair site), which is a flat very large grass/sports area at the bottom of a hill.
You google it with Reverse Image Search.
I did so I'll keep quiet.
+++++++
How does Reverse Image Search work? Do you type in keywords? Or paste in the photo? Genuinely curious, Sounds useful (but ruinous for fun quizzes like this)
nd Mussolini gave a speech from that concrete podium in front of it?
In general feel it reminds me of the Forest Recreation Ground in Nottingham (Goose Fair site), which is a flat very large grass/sports area at the bottom of a hill.
You google it with Reverse Image Search.
I did so I'll keep quiet.
+++++++
How does Reverse Image Search work? Do you type in keywords? Or paste in the photo? Genuinely curious, Sounds useful (but ruinous for fun quizzes like this)
Paste in the photo (as a file) or, if it is online, give the URL.
I’ll be impressed if anyone can get it. Not obvious (albeit spectacular)
Volcanic crater in the Galapagos?
No… but impressively close
Geologically or geographically?
Both, which is why I am impressed. The Spanish is a hefty clue, of course. There is another hint in the attire of the girls, but it is quite an obscure clue
nd Mussolini gave a speech from that concrete podium in front of it?
In general feel it reminds me of the Forest Recreation Ground in Nottingham (Goose Fair site), which is a flat very large grass/sports area at the bottom of a hill.
You google it with Reverse Image Search.
I did so I'll keep quiet.
+++++++
How does Reverse Image Search work? Do you type in keywords? Or paste in the photo? Genuinely curious, Sounds useful (but ruinous for fun quizzes like this)
Paste in the photo (as a file) or, if it is online, give the URL.
===
Fuck I just did it with my recent photo. Got it in a milisecond.
nd Mussolini gave a speech from that concrete podium in front of it?
In general feel it reminds me of the Forest Recreation Ground in Nottingham (Goose Fair site), which is a flat very large grass/sports area at the bottom of a hill.
You google it with Reverse Image Search.
I did so I'll keep quiet.
+++++++
How does Reverse Image Search work? Do you type in keywords? Or paste in the photo? Genuinely curious, Sounds useful (but ruinous for fun quizzes like this)
The service that has existed for ages is called http://tineye.com, and you put in either a url or an upload. It does not keep any traces of your activity.
Google have integrated that into their service with something called Google Lens which is in my right-click menu on an image as I use a Google web browser. Google Lens has extra facilities like matching parts of an image.
I’ll be impressed if anyone can get it. Not obvious (albeit spectacular)
Volcanic crater in the Galapagos?
No… but impressively close
Geologically or geographically?
Both, which is why I am impressed. The Spanish is a hefty clue, of course. There is another hint in the attire of the girls, but it is quite an obscure clue
Obviously a sea level crater/caldera with the lava basalt layers. Spanish is a strong hint, so it can't be the eastern or middle Med. I wondered about the Canary Islands or Ecuador/Peru but can't recall any sea level craters. THe youngf ladies' dress may have Japanese characters which points to Ecuador a bit but otherwise stuck!
I’ll be impressed if anyone can get it. Not obvious (albeit spectacular)
Volcanic crater in the Galapagos?
No… but impressively close
Geologically or geographically?
Both, which is why I am impressed. The Spanish is a hefty clue, of course. There is another hint in the attire of the girls, but it is quite an obscure clue
Obviously a sea level crater/caldera with the lava basalt layers. Spanish is a strong hint, so it can't be the eastern or middle Med. I wondered about the Canary Islands or Ecuador/Peru but can't recall any sea level craters. THe youngf ladies' dress may have Japanese characters which points to Ecuador a bit but otherwise stuck!
I’ll be impressed if anyone can get it. Not obvious (albeit spectacular)
Volcanic crater in the Galapagos?
No… but impressively close
Geologically or geographically?
Both, which is why I am impressed. The Spanish is a hefty clue, of course. There is another hint in the attire of the girls, but it is quite an obscure clue
Obviously a sea level crater/caldera with the lava basalt layers. Spanish is a strong hint, so it can't be the eastern or middle Med. I wondered about the Canary Islands or Ecuador/Peru but can't recall any sea level craters. THe youngf ladies' dress may have Japanese characters which points to Ecuador a bit but otherwise stuck!
Easter Island?
Wondering what the ladies' dress has to do with it, though ...
Didn't bother with the "Jubilee Party" but the meeting of two icons (three if you include the marmalade sandwich) was sublime.
Yet, just a sense of it being the last show.
Down the road, we'll have the funeral, the coronation of George VII and the investiture of William as Prince of Wales - will any of those convey the joy and patriotism of this weekend? Perhaps, perhaps not.
It's unlikely Charles (as George VII) will make his Silver Jubilee so we'll be waiting on William who will probably get to the throne in his late 50s or early 60s. The circumstances of a Monarch ascending the throne in their 20s look unlikely to be repeated for some time baring accident. Our next three Kings will probably be older men when they ascend.
Dunno. i reckon they realise this, and William is going to be thrust forward much more. See last night
The Firm is nothing if not ruthless at preserving itself (for the good of the nation). “Prince Andrew has Covid”, yeah, right. He’s being kept in a lead lined vault with no means of escape. Quite sensibly
I'm not suggesting the Monarchy will end, nor should it - it's infinitely preferable to any of the alternatives.
If Charles becomes King in his late 70s, he could easily have 15-20 years on the throne which will make William King in his mid 60s. Say he rules 30 years and George becomes king in his 60s and so on.
I know Charles isn't universally liked but are we still suggesting he should voluntarily step aside for his son because that isn't going to happen.
The Prince of Wales is no Vladimir Putin but wasn't there some recent speculation that Charles did not look at all well, photographed in full uniform for something-or-other (dad's funeral maybe)? Something about fat fingers and a florid complexion.
I’ll be impressed if anyone can get it. Not obvious (albeit spectacular)
Volcanic crater in the Galapagos?
No… but impressively close
Geologically or geographically?
Both, which is why I am impressed. The Spanish is a hefty clue, of course. There is another hint in the attire of the girls, but it is quite an obscure clue
Obviously a sea level crater/caldera with the lava basalt layers. Spanish is a strong hint, so it can't be the eastern or middle Med. I wondered about the Canary Islands or Ecuador/Peru but can't recall any sea level craters. THe youngf ladies' dress may have Japanese characters which points to Ecuador a bit but otherwise stuck!
Easter Island?
Bingo, yes. If you didn’t use Google, well done
Rano Kau volcanic crater on Easter Island. The crater is associated with a weird bird-man cult of the 18th century
The girls are wearing national colours associated with Easter Island, because this photo was taken around the time of Tapati, the annual island festival (which is a fucking hoot, a massive drunken orgy, with people wandering around half naked. Or naked)
The world in which we grew up is passing away before our eyes. Yet few are seeing it.
If so, it is not for the lack of you saying it. You have now made this point maybe 5 times
When I first joined this site, someone long forgotten gave me some very sage advice: keep on making a point until even Sean notices, and you won’t go far wrong,..
I’ll be impressed if anyone can get it. Not obvious (albeit spectacular)
Volcanic crater in the Galapagos?
No… but impressively close
Geologically or geographically?
Both, which is why I am impressed. The Spanish is a hefty clue, of course. There is another hint in the attire of the girls, but it is quite an obscure clue
Obviously a sea level crater/caldera with the lava basalt layers. Spanish is a strong hint, so it can't be the eastern or middle Med. I wondered about the Canary Islands or Ecuador/Peru but can't recall any sea level craters. THe youngf ladies' dress may have Japanese characters which points to Ecuador a bit but otherwise stuck!
The sea-level view surprised me.
I was first wondering about Lake Titicaca or Mono Lake in California, but the background does not match.
I was also half wondering about an extra crater at the top of Santorini, where I have never been.
I'll go with South America or Islands in the Eastern Pacific off SA.
I’ll be impressed if anyone can get it. Not obvious (albeit spectacular)
Volcanic crater in the Galapagos?
No… but impressively close
Geologically or geographically?
Both, which is why I am impressed. The Spanish is a hefty clue, of course. There is another hint in the attire of the girls, but it is quite an obscure clue
Obviously a sea level crater/caldera with the lava basalt layers. Spanish is a strong hint, so it can't be the eastern or middle Med. I wondered about the Canary Islands or Ecuador/Peru but can't recall any sea level craters. THe youngf ladies' dress may have Japanese characters which points to Ecuador a bit but otherwise stuck!
Easter Island?
Wondering what the ladies' dress has to do with it, though ...
Not the foggiest, but I've done the obligatory Google image search now and I'm sure I'm right.
I didn't need interweb cheating to get the answer, though. I recognised that crater from an Attenborough documentary. It's where the last dead stump of the last native tree on the island was found.
nd Mussolini gave a speech from that concrete podium in front of it?
In general feel it reminds me of the Forest Recreation Ground in Nottingham (Goose Fair site), which is a flat very large grass/sports area at the bottom of a hill.
You google it with Reverse Image Search.
I did so I'll keep quiet.
+++++++
How does Reverse Image Search work? Do you type in keywords? Or paste in the photo? Genuinely curious, Sounds useful (but ruinous for fun quizzes like this)
Paste in the photo (as a file) or, if it is online, give the URL.
===
Fuck I just did it with my recent photo. Got it in a milisecond.
No Googling!
But wow, what powerful technology
If it becomes necessary, can we save ourselves from the AI takeover by feeding the output from DALL-E into Google Image Search?
I’ll be impressed if anyone can get it. Not obvious (albeit spectacular)
Volcanic crater in the Galapagos?
No… but impressively close
Geologically or geographically?
Both, which is why I am impressed. The Spanish is a hefty clue, of course. There is another hint in the attire of the girls, but it is quite an obscure clue
Obviously a sea level crater/caldera with the lava basalt layers. Spanish is a strong hint, so it can't be the eastern or middle Med. I wondered about the Canary Islands or Ecuador/Peru but can't recall any sea level craters. THe youngf ladies' dress may have Japanese characters which points to Ecuador a bit but otherwise stuck!
The sea-level view surprised me.
I was first wondering about Lake Titicaca or Mono Lake in California, but the background does not match.
I was also half wondering about an extra crater at the top of Santorini, where I have never bean.
Nuclear test crater, even?
Oj checking, the lake is about 100m above sea level. One would normally expect a tide mark if it was a sea inlet, but there is a little bit of a band of the kind one can get from drying/refilling, and how does one know it isn't high tide anyway?
The world in which we grew up is passing away before our eyes. Yet few are seeing it.
If so, it is not for the lack of you saying it. You have now made this point maybe 5 times
"Just the place for a Snark!" the Bellman cried, As he landed his crew with care; Supporting each man on the top of the tide By a finger entwined in his hair.
"Just the place for a Snark! I have said it twice: That alone should encourage the crew. Just the place for a Snark! I have said it thrice: What I tell you three times is true."
Does anyone really think we’ll see the likes of this again?
No. The world in which we grew up is passing away before our eyes. Yet few are seeing it.
They've been complaining about that for, oh, millennia, e.g. the old Greeks: πάντα ῥει̃: everything flows [, like a river, even if it seems to stay the same]
Does anyone really think we’ll see the likes of this again?
Probably not.
A drizzly bank holiday weekend, and I am tired of dossing and procrastinating over DiY. Even beginning to look forward to work tomorrow. Such is life in the Second Elizabethan age.
Didn't bother with the "Jubilee Party" but the meeting of two icons (three if you include the marmalade sandwich) was sublime.
Yet, just a sense of it being the last show.
Down the road, we'll have the funeral, the coronation of George VII and the investiture of William as Prince of Wales - will any of those convey the joy and patriotism of this weekend? Perhaps, perhaps not.
It's unlikely Charles (as George VII) will make his Silver Jubilee so we'll be waiting on William who will probably get to the throne in his late 50s or early 60s. The circumstances of a Monarch ascending the throne in their 20s look unlikely to be repeated for some time baring accident. Our next three Kings will probably be older men when they ascend.
Dunno. i reckon they realise this, and William is going to be thrust forward much more. See last night
The Firm is nothing if not ruthless at preserving itself (for the good of the nation). “Prince Andrew has Covid”, yeah, right. He’s being kept in a lead lined vault with no means of escape. Quite sensibly
I'm not suggesting the Monarchy will end, nor should it - it's infinitely preferable to any of the alternatives.
If Charles becomes King in his late 70s, he could easily have 15-20 years on the throne which will make William King in his mid 60s. Say he rules 30 years and George becomes king in his 60s and so on.
I know Charles isn't universally liked but are we still suggesting he should voluntarily step aside for his son because that isn't going to happen.
The Prince of Wales is no Vladimir Putin but wasn't there some recent speculation that Charles did not look at all well, photographed in full uniform for something-or-other (dad's funeral maybe)? Something about fat fingers and a florid complexion.
Living high on the hog, greedy porker
When Louis XIV died, both his eldest son and his eldest son's eldest son were already dead. Louis XV, his great grandson, inherited the throne as a toddler and lived to near 70. France thus had only two kings spanning something like 130 years.
XVI was a grandson not a son, and could have lasted quite a time too. Dis aliter visum.
Today on normal island, The BBC is interviewing a Dalek live on the news channel, and it just stated its aim is to "destroy London" https://t.co/iNIj7SL7Sf
I’ll be impressed if anyone can get it. Not obvious (albeit spectacular)
Volcanic crater in the Galapagos?
No… but impressively close
Geologically or geographically?
Both, which is why I am impressed. The Spanish is a hefty clue, of course. There is another hint in the attire of the girls, but it is quite an obscure clue
Obviously a sea level crater/caldera with the lava basalt layers. Spanish is a strong hint, so it can't be the eastern or middle Med. I wondered about the Canary Islands or Ecuador/Peru but can't recall any sea level craters. THe youngf ladies' dress may have Japanese characters which points to Ecuador a bit but otherwise stuck!
Today on normal island, The BBC is interviewing a Dalek live on the news channel, and it just stated its aim is to "destroy London" https://t.co/iNIj7SL7Sf
It’s possible that when historians come to write the history of these times, the Platty Joobs will be seen as the final collapse of the Boris project.
It just makes Boris look so mendacious, mean-spirited, and divisive.
Even in the best of times the job of politics is to deal with division and strife without resorting to communal violence and civil war. Multi party democracy is by definition disunited. It's a feature not a bug.
The purpose of monarchy is the opposite. Politicians would do better to find a way of keeping completely out of national monarchy events by total absence.
Today on normal island, The BBC is interviewing a Dalek live on the news channel, and it just stated its aim is to "destroy London" https://t.co/iNIj7SL7Sf
More BBC programme adverts masquerading as news then?
Today on normal island, The BBC is interviewing a Dalek live on the news channel, and it just stated its aim is to "destroy London" https://t.co/iNIj7SL7Sf
Dalek, is from the Russian, Daleko... far away. so... more a vox pop than a Dr Who documentary.
It’s possible that when historians come to write the history of these times, the Platty Joobs will be seen as the final collapse of the Boris project.
It just makes Boris look so mendacious, mean-spirited, and divisive.
Even in the best of times the job of politics is to deal with division and strife without resorting to communal violence and civil war. Multi party democracy is by definition disunited. It's a feature not a bug.
The purpose of monarchy is the opposite. Politicians would do better to find a way of keeping completely out of national monarchy events by total absence.
The Firm are not silly - they arranged for Andrew to be absent, Harry to appear very briefly, and a lot of politicians to turn up. Have a very clear outlet for any boos that the crowd might have in them.
Been busy here in Tbilisi so I only just caught up with the Platinum Party at the Palace
Outstanding. Simply outstanding showmanship. At times it edged uneasily towards a Britannia Nuremberg Rally on speed - it was that well done. The lights, the drones, the fireworks, the flags, most of the songs - impeccable
And the Paddington thing was inspired
Whatever you think of the royals, patriotism, Britain, that was a show and a half. Someone deserves a dukedom
Nah, Dukedoms are tainted by Randy Andy, friend of nonces.
Tough weekend to be a republican. You have my sympathies
I see it was watched live by 13m - the most watched event of the year. And there will be millions more like me who watched it on catch-up, at home and abroad
As a Republican I can report I had a great weekend and avoided the whole load of bollox jingoism/pretence that England is great. The chickens are coming home to roost, merde sandwiches all round.
It's a curious form of logic, that argues that the UK must remain a monarchy just because HMG can hire some pretty decent sound and lighting techs.
I'd imagine what has Unionist/Royalist (is there any separation?) sphincters fluttering is the mass indifference in Scotland to the 'party' which has surprised even me. As we see here the more enthusiastic of them prefer to engage in rage and bait, portaying those not on board as traitors and red clawed republicans; the thought that loads of folk think wtf has this got to do with me should be more worrying. If they think aprés Lilibet that more exposure to sausage fingers Charlie and Prince Bawheid is going to fix it, I for one look forward with enthusiasm to this strategy.
If this couple weren't such dimwits I'd think they had a nice ironical sense of humour.
This may come as a surprise, but it is not exactly a revelation to the rest of us in Britain that Scotland is a dour, joyless, drizzly, Presbyterian place, not given to smiling, let alone having a nice time
Does anyone really think we’ll see the likes of this again?
I'm not seeing it now because of the tennis. Rubbish match as it turns out.
Yes... I would've watched the Nadal procession but I'm currently enduring the purgatory of an elderly mother-in-law visit, so sitting through the Royal procession instead.
Sounds like the Royal procession was more entertaining though, sadly.
We have now moved on from Clare Balding and some other people fawning over HM to Kirsty Young and some other people fawning over HM. We are presently learning how Britain is the best country in the world because the Queen's wardrobe contains clothes in a variety of jaunty colours.
Been busy here in Tbilisi so I only just caught up with the Platinum Party at the Palace
Outstanding. Simply outstanding showmanship. At times it edged uneasily towards a Britannia Nuremberg Rally on speed - it was that well done. The lights, the drones, the fireworks, the flags, most of the songs - impeccable
And the Paddington thing was inspired
Whatever you think of the royals, patriotism, Britain, that was a show and a half. Someone deserves a dukedom
Nah, Dukedoms are tainted by Randy Andy, friend of nonces.
Tough weekend to be a republican. You have my sympathies
I see it was watched live by 13m - the most watched event of the year. And there will be millions more like me who watched it on catch-up, at home and abroad
The cricket was more entertaining.
Anyhoo the country expects the monarchy to be gone.
This polling confirms that as well as showing the monarchy is becoming less popular and less relevant.
Even 18-24 year olds think we should keep the monarchy. Not a single cohort thinks we should get rid of it. And, as you know as well as anyone, people become more conservative as they age. Remember they kept telling us in 2014 in Scotland that the young YESSERS would soon outnumber the old NO-voters, as the crumbling unionists died out
Hasn’t happened. Not gonna happen. We won’t be a republic in the lifetime of anyone on this forum. Beyond that the question is farcically irrelevant it is so imponderable
Just look at the number of Commonwealth countries fleeing to become republics.
In the next decade or so we shall see the departure of Australia and Charles ascend to the throne.
The monarchy is going to be vastly different shortly.
Also do you not find the Royals a bit woke, that speech by the Duke of Cambridge was so bloody woke, it could have been written by Caroline Lucas.
Can Italy join instead? Absolutely wall to wall Jubilee on Rai Uno.
The commentators are far more enthusiastic than I am. It looks like amateur hour (day). Even Johnson looks bored. Maybe if it was all about World King, Big Dog rather than Lillibet he would be happier...or has he had a text from Brady?
Been busy here in Tbilisi so I only just caught up with the Platinum Party at the Palace
Outstanding. Simply outstanding showmanship. At times it edged uneasily towards a Britannia Nuremberg Rally on speed - it was that well done. The lights, the drones, the fireworks, the flags, most of the songs - impeccable
And the Paddington thing was inspired
Whatever you think of the royals, patriotism, Britain, that was a show and a half. Someone deserves a dukedom
Nah, Dukedoms are tainted by Randy Andy, friend of nonces.
Tough weekend to be a republican. You have my sympathies
I see it was watched live by 13m - the most watched event of the year. And there will be millions more like me who watched it on catch-up, at home and abroad
As a Republican I can report I had a great weekend and avoided the whole load of bollox jingoism/pretence that England is great. The chickens are coming home to roost, merde sandwiches all round.
It's a curious form of logic, that argues that the UK must remain a monarchy just because HMG can hire some pretty decent sound and lighting techs.
I'd imagine what has Unionist/Royalist (is there any separation?) sphincters fluttering is the mass indifference in Scotland to the 'party' which has surprised even me. As we see here the more enthusiastic of them prefer to engage in rage and bait, portaying those not on board as traitors and red clawed republicans; the thought that loads of folk think wtf has this got to do with me should be more worrying. If they think aprés Lilibet that more exposure to sausage fingers Charlie and Prince Bawheid is going to fix it, I for one look forward with enthusiasm to this strategy.
If this couple weren't such dimwits I'd think they had a nice ironical sense of humour.
This may come as a surprise, but it is not exactly a revelation to the rest of us in Britain that Scotland is a dour, joyless, drizzly, Presbyterian place, not given to smiling, let alone having a nice time
Does anyone really think we’ll see the likes of this again?
No. The world in which we grew up is passing away before our eyes. Yet few are seeing it.
They've been complaining about that for, oh, millennia, e.g. the old Greeks: πάντα ῥει̃: everything flows [, like a river, even if it seems to stay the same]
Or indeed "All produced phenomena are impermanent".
I’ll be impressed if anyone can get it. Not obvious (albeit spectacular)
Volcanic crater in the Galapagos?
No… but impressively close
Geologically or geographically?
Both, which is why I am impressed. The Spanish is a hefty clue, of course. There is another hint in the attire of the girls, but it is quite an obscure clue
Obviously a sea level crater/caldera with the lava basalt layers. Spanish is a strong hint, so it can't be the eastern or middle Med. I wondered about the Canary Islands or Ecuador/Peru but can't recall any sea level craters. THe youngf ladies' dress may have Japanese characters which points to Ecuador a bit but otherwise stuck!
I now know where it is, and interestingly I guessed (to myself) the right country but for totally erroneous reasons. See, I thought that crater was WAY above sea level, and we were seeing very distant sea. That country has that kind of topography, though not where this place is.
Classic epistemology case, here. I had a true justified belief, which is how some define "knowledge", but I definitely did not know. In fact, I was off by thousands of kilometres.
Once you know about this problem in epistemology (the Gettier exception) it crops up all the time. It's as difficult to live with as the problem of induction must be for thoughtful scientists.
Been busy here in Tbilisi so I only just caught up with the Platinum Party at the Palace
Outstanding. Simply outstanding showmanship. At times it edged uneasily towards a Britannia Nuremberg Rally on speed - it was that well done. The lights, the drones, the fireworks, the flags, most of the songs - impeccable
And the Paddington thing was inspired
Whatever you think of the royals, patriotism, Britain, that was a show and a half. Someone deserves a dukedom
Nah, Dukedoms are tainted by Randy Andy, friend of nonces.
Tough weekend to be a republican. You have my sympathies
I see it was watched live by 13m - the most watched event of the year. And there will be millions more like me who watched it on catch-up, at home and abroad
The cricket was more entertaining.
Anyhoo the country expects the monarchy to be gone.
This polling confirms that as well as showing the monarchy is becoming less popular and less relevant.
Even 18-24 year olds think we should keep the monarchy. Not a single cohort thinks we should get rid of it. And, as you know as well as anyone, people become more conservative as they age. Remember they kept telling us in 2014 in Scotland that the young YESSERS would soon outnumber the old NO-voters, as the crumbling unionists died out
Hasn’t happened. Not gonna happen. We won’t be a republic in the lifetime of anyone on this forum. Beyond that the question is farcically irrelevant it is so imponderable
Just look at the number of Commonwealth countries fleeing to become republics.
In the next decade or so we shall see the departure of Australia and Charles ascend to the throne.
The monarchy is going to be vastly different shortly.
Also do you not find the Royals a bit woke, that speech by the Duke of Cambridge was so bloody woke, it could have been written by Caroline Lucas.
Can Italy join instead? Absolutely wall to wall Jubilee on Rai Uno.
Wait and see the scale of the events when that eventuality occurs. This is the local town fête by comparison.
The passing of the Monarch will be totally unprecedented to 95% of the population.
The local fete is MUCH bigger than any jubilee these days, at least here.
THough in Edinburgh there is some sort of party going in in Princes Street Gardens, and, just to keep Leon happy, also a Rally for a Scottish Republic up on Calton Hill.
Wait and see the scale of the events when that eventuality occurs. This is the local town fête by comparison.
The passing of the Monarch will be totally unprecedented to 95% of the population.
Let's not overstate things, I am sure any number of people are capable of labelling a Venn diagram Is the queen, Is very old, Is likely to cark it and putting a dot representing her Maj in the intersection
End of an era when it happens, mind, whether or not we see it
Does anyone really think we’ll see the likes of this again?
No. The world in which we grew up is passing away before our eyes. Yet few are seeing it.
They've been complaining about that for, oh, millennia, e.g. the old Greeks: πάντα ῥει̃: everything flows [, like a river, even if it seems to stay the same]
Or indeed "All produced phenomena are impermanent".
Heraclitus — 'No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man.'
Three photos of Tapati on Easter island that I took when I was there. To give you a sense
One part indigenous people doing something, fifty parts tourists taking snaps.
How authentic.
It’s not even authentic, or indigenous
It was invented fifty years ago - we have no real idea of the traditional culture of Rapa Nui (the people that erected the Moai). We only have a few hints from the 18th century onwards (by which time the statue builders were long gone). And many of the participants are wealthy Chileans who come to Easter island to smoke weed, get naked, misbehave, for Tapati
But is it Bacchanalian, pagan and wild? Fuck me, yes. Easter Island is wild anyway, it has an edge of violence and anarchy - being so far away from anywhere/plus Polynesian pugnacity (think of the Māori not Tahiti). Kids ride horses bareback and barefoot into the main town, and lash them to posts, Wild West style (but more savage)
And everyone gets off their tits for Tapati, as an added extra
Wait and see the scale of the events when that eventuality occurs. This is the local town fête by comparison.
The passing of the Monarch will be totally unprecedented to 95% of the population.
The local fete is MUCH bigger than any jubilee these days, at least here.
THough in Edinburgh there is some sort of party going in in Princes Street Gardens, and, just to keep Leon happy, also a Rally for a Scottish Republic up on Calton Hill.
I'd vote for independence if they were offering a republic.
Thankfully not even the SNP are offering that and as far left as you
Wait and see the scale of the events when that eventuality occurs. This is the local town fête by comparison.
The passing of the Monarch will be totally unprecedented to 95% of the population.
The real test will be how much the Government is, or is not, willing to shell out for the next Coronation.
They will. Think how much money the events of this weekend have generated for the economy - especially for a number of industries that have really suffered during the pandemic, and almost all attracting VAT.
Throwing a few million at the formal celebration is a no-brainer for the Chancellor.
nd Mussolini gave a speech from that concrete podium in front of it?
In general feel it reminds me of the Forest Recreation Ground in Nottingham (Goose Fair site), which is a flat very large grass/sports area at the bottom of a hill.
You google it with Reverse Image Search.
I did so I'll keep quiet.
+++++++
How does Reverse Image Search work? Do you type in keywords? Or paste in the photo? Genuinely curious, Sounds useful (but ruinous for fun quizzes like this)
Paste in the photo (as a file) or, if it is online, give the URL.
If you're using Chrome, just right click and search with Google Lens. Easy peasy.
Now someone post a picture that cannot be Lensed but is recognisably one specific location, that's the challenge!
Indoors, so possibly cheating - but it's a very unique spot...
The RC seminary at Cardenden. Instantly recogniseable by the mince and tatties-powered processor in my brain.
nd Mussolini gave a speech from that concrete podium in front of it?
In general feel it reminds me of the Forest Recreation Ground in Nottingham (Goose Fair site), which is a flat very large grass/sports area at the bottom of a hill.
You google it with Reverse Image Search.
I did so I'll keep quiet.
+++++++
How does Reverse Image Search work? Do you type in keywords? Or paste in the photo? Genuinely curious, Sounds useful (but ruinous for fun quizzes like this)
Paste in the photo (as a file) or, if it is online, give the URL.
If you're using Chrome, just right click and search with Google Lens. Easy peasy.
Now someone post a picture that cannot be Lensed but is recognisably one specific location, that's the challenge!
Indoors, so possibly cheating - but it's a very unique spot...
The RC seminary at Cardenden. Instantly recogniseable by the mince and tatties-powered processor in my brain.
Wait and see the scale of the events when that eventuality occurs. This is the local town fête by comparison.
The passing of the Monarch will be totally unprecedented to 95% of the population.
The local fete is MUCH bigger than any jubilee these days, at least here.
THough in Edinburgh there is some sort of party going in in Princes Street Gardens, and, just to keep Leon happy, also a Rally for a Scottish Republic up on Calton Hill.
I'd vote for independence if they were offering a republic.
Thankfully not even the SNP are offering that and as far left as you
nd Mussolini gave a speech from that concrete podium in front of it?
In general feel it reminds me of the Forest Recreation Ground in Nottingham (Goose Fair site), which is a flat very large grass/sports area at the bottom of a hill.
You google it with Reverse Image Search.
I did so I'll keep quiet.
+++++++
How does Reverse Image Search work? Do you type in keywords? Or paste in the photo? Genuinely curious, Sounds useful (but ruinous for fun quizzes like this)
Paste in the photo (as a file) or, if it is online, give the URL.
If you're using Chrome, just right click and search with Google Lens. Easy peasy.
Now someone post a picture that cannot be Lensed but is recognisably one specific location, that's the challenge!
Indoors, so possibly cheating - but it's a very unique spot...
The RC seminary at Cardenden. Instantly recogniseable by the mince and tatties-powered processor in my brain.
*****
What's up with the blockquotes?
Yes - recognise that. I think from an Abandoned Engineering programme on one of the minor TV channels.
My other immediate thought was the desert hotel used to film in Quantum of Solace.
Wait and see the scale of the events when that eventuality occurs. This is the local town fête by comparison.
The passing of the Monarch will be totally unprecedented to 95% of the population.
The local fete is MUCH bigger than any jubilee these days, at least here.
THough in Edinburgh there is some sort of party going in in Princes Street Gardens, and, just to keep Leon happy, also a Rally for a Scottish Republic up on Calton Hill.
I'd vote for independence if they were offering a republic.
Thankfully not even the SNP are offering that and as far left as you
Monarchy will be gone within 3 years of scindy
There won't be Scottish Indy anyway though even if there was Australia, Canada, New Zealand etc are independent but still with the Queen as Head of State
Comments
I don't think Starmer could have become leader (or it certainly would have been much harder) had he not been serving in the shadow cabinet at the time.
So, where is this?
I’ll be impressed if anyone can get it. Not obvious (albeit spectacular)
Germany’s economy might again become the “sick man of Europe,” slipping back into a role from two decades ago as policies that kept factories humming turn sour.
After years of pushing exports to China and building up energy links to Russia, Europe’s largest economy faces a poisonous cocktail of risks. Its heavy reliance on manufacturing makes it more vulnerable than European peers to war-related disruptions in Russian energy supplies and bottlenecks in trade.
It's not even that clear to me what would actually change in any practical respect if we just retired the UK monarchy. Given the amount of political capital it would require, I can't see why anyone sensible would want to prioritize it.
This could change though if future King Charles ends up interfering in government. If he starts refusing to sign laws - then yes, sorry Casino, your worst nightmares will come true and we will be marching up the Mall to turf him out.
Australia voted 55% to keep the monarchy in 1999 and still less than 50% of Australians want to become a republic
https://amp.smh.com.au/national/no-sense-of-momentum-poll-finds-drop-in-support-for-australia-becoming-a-republic-20210125-p56wpe.html
You google it with Reverse Image Search.
I did so I'll keep quiet.
I paraphrase only slightly.
You google it with Reverse Image Search.
I did so I'll keep quiet.
+++++++
How does Reverse Image Search work? Do you type in keywords? Or paste in the photo? Genuinely curious, Sounds useful (but ruinous for fun quizzes like this)
How does Reverse Image Search work? Do you type in keywords? Or paste in the photo? Genuinely curious, Sounds useful (but ruinous for fun quizzes like this)
Paste in the photo (as a file) or, if it is online, give the URL.
===
Fuck I just did it with my recent photo. Got it in a milisecond.
No Googling!
But wow, what powerful technology
How does Reverse Image Search work? Do you type in keywords? Or paste in the photo? Genuinely curious, Sounds useful (but ruinous for fun quizzes like this)
The service that has existed for ages is called http://tineye.com, and you put in either a url or an upload. It does not keep any traces of your activity.
Google have integrated that into their service with something called Google Lens which is in my right-click menu on an image as I use a Google web browser. Google Lens has extra facilities like matching parts of an image.
My hearts not really in it, but BoJo isn't available.
Rano Kau volcanic crater on Easter Island. The crater is associated with a weird bird-man cult of the 18th century
The girls are wearing national colours associated with Easter Island, because this photo was taken around the time of Tapati, the annual island festival (which is a fucking hoot, a massive drunken orgy, with people wandering around half naked. Or naked)
I was first wondering about Lake Titicaca or Mono Lake in California, but the background does not match.
I was also half wondering about an extra crater at the top of Santorini, where I have never been.
I'll go with South America or Islands in the Eastern Pacific off SA.
Nuclear test crater, even?
I didn't need interweb cheating to get the answer, though. I recognised that crater from an Attenborough documentary. It's where the last dead stump of the last native tree on the island was found.
"Just the place for a Snark!" the Bellman cried,
As he landed his crew with care;
Supporting each man on the top of the tide
By a finger entwined in his hair.
"Just the place for a Snark! I have said it twice:
That alone should encourage the crew.
Just the place for a Snark! I have said it thrice:
What I tell you three times is true."
Here’s the brutal briefing note being shared amongst Tory MP’s over the bank holiday weekend: https://twitter.com/thejonnyreilly/status/1533470597606477824/photo/1
A drizzly bank holiday weekend, and I am tired of dossing and procrastinating over DiY. Even beginning to look forward to work tomorrow. Such is life in the Second Elizabethan age.
How authentic.
The purpose of monarchy is the opposite. Politicians would do better to find a way of keeping completely out of national monarchy events by total absence.
https://media.giphy.com/media/MA65LSg1865A4/giphy.gif
Sounds like the Royal procession was more entertaining though, sadly.
We have now moved on from Clare Balding and some other people fawning over HM to Kirsty Young and some other people fawning over HM. We are presently learning how Britain is the best country in the world because the Queen's wardrobe contains clothes in a variety of jaunty colours.
The commentators are far more enthusiastic than I am. It looks like amateur hour (day). Even Johnson looks bored. Maybe if it was all about World King, Big Dog rather than Lillibet he would be happier...or has he had a text from Brady?
The passing of the Monarch will be totally unprecedented to 95% of the population.
The era of Ianb2 saying "It's the passing of an era." Hopefully.
THough in Edinburgh there is some sort of party going in in Princes Street Gardens, and, just to keep Leon happy, also a Rally for a Scottish Republic up on Calton Hill.
There's something.psychologically damaging about an unending traffic jam of people on the back of trucks for whom it ceased to be fun 5 miles ago.
End of an era when it happens, mind, whether or not we see it
Heraclitus — 'No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man.'
It was invented fifty years ago - we have no real idea of the traditional culture of Rapa Nui (the people that erected the Moai). We only have a few hints from the 18th century onwards (by which time the statue builders were long gone). And many of the participants are wealthy Chileans who come to Easter island to smoke weed, get naked, misbehave, for Tapati
But is it Bacchanalian, pagan and wild? Fuck me, yes. Easter Island is wild anyway, it has an edge of violence and anarchy - being so far away from anywhere/plus Polynesian pugnacity (think of the Māori not Tahiti). Kids ride horses bareback and barefoot into the main town, and lash them to posts, Wild West style (but more savage)
And everyone gets off their tits for Tapati, as an added extra
It’s Trinidad carnival meets Wicker man
Throwing a few million at the formal celebration is a no-brainer for the Chancellor.
The RC seminary at Cardenden. Instantly recogniseable by the mince and tatties-powered processor in my brain.
No Google lensing!
++++
And the girl?
https://twitter.com/UkrWarReport/status/1533473637981896705?cxt=HHwWgoCyhcWJ_8cqAAAA
*****
What's up with the blockquotes?
Yes - recognise that. I think from an Abandoned Engineering programme on one of the minor TV channels.
My other immediate thought was the desert hotel used to film in Quantum of Solace.