Teenagers go in big numbers for something that is only slightly illegal, doesn't land you in prison, highly addictive, oils the wheels of social interaction, is disapproved of the the Guardian and parents, somewhat cool, and is designed to be the alternative to the one that kills you.
Can you talk me through how vaping is somewhat cool?
Step 1. Teenagers think a lot of stupid things are cool Step 2. See above
People thought even smoking was cool for crying out loud, well beyond teenage years.
I was more interested in why Algakirk thought it was cool, since I sense like myself he is at some distance from teenagedom. I somewhat atavistically still think smoking is cool, love old photos of people dexterously juggling the slim white cylinders of death. Otoh a gaggle of folk outside pubs or workplaces in a cloud of confectionary scented steam doesn’t do it for me, I find those metal steampunk vaping devices particularly dorky (I’ve used up my annual use of the word dork quota in one hour).
Yes. It brings particular memories. I gave up smoking at age 21. But the 60s and 70s have special smoking memories, and under age drinking. Remember how in cinemas you could see the light from the projector all the way through the air because it was full of smoke.
Tube trains full of smoke. Coffee bars, cafes, on top in buses.
Your clothes always smelling of smoke after you had been to the pub.
I've never smoked but both my parents did in the house. It was only after I left home that I realised my clothes at school must have reeked every day. Never noticed at the time of course.
My father smoked a pipe, to within days of his death, and I had to take his car round various dealers to sell it. I didn’t smoke by then …. hadn’t for 20 years…and the vehicle smelled disgusting. It was also difficult to sell because the reg. no was 666.
My late father’s car smells like a tobacconist after a fire.
It’s one reason why I kept it and sold mine.
The smoking ban is why you don't see so many dry cleaners nowadays.
No longer having to get rid of the tell-tale smoke after a sneaky night out with the floozy/fellah?
Could we see net Tory gains in Scotland at the next general election 👀?
The SNP will have no realistic prospect of delivering independence for several governments, probably for several decades. All they can really fall back on "Is let us negotiate the very best devo maximus - and let us continue to govern Scotland whilst we do."
Indy was their offer; meanwhile, they have been exposed to be shite - possibly worse - when it comes to actually governing Scotland. You can imagine the Scots saying an emphatic "no...." to that SNP offer. We have already seen SNP membership drop by 30%. It could realistically be down 50% by the next election. If that drop in members is reflected in voters, they are going to lose in a tsunami of seats.
Would not take much to send it soaring again. Someone actually for independence and you would see a huge surge.
South Africa is legally obliged to execute an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin during his planned visit to the country for a summit in August, British TV channel Sky News reports. https://twitter.com/Hromadske/status/1637053735506698241
Strangely, I never minded fag smoke in pubs. Or people doing it in my garden /patio at house parties.
Bothered me virtually everywhere, particularly in restaurants where some people couldn't read the room (or didn't give a crap) and were doing it right up until it was banned in 2007.
I didn't like that my clothes stank when I got home afterwards, but I didn't mind it in pubs at the time. I just accepted that it was normal.
It was smoking carriages on trains that really annoyed me.
South Africa is legally obliged to execute an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin during his planned visit to the country for a summit in August, British TV channel Sky News reports. https://twitter.com/Hromadske/status/1637053735506698241
Why would the South African government be interested in the law?
I reckon Starmer must have offered the souls of his children to the devil to be this lucky.
Looks like we could see 2015 in reverse in Scotland at next GE! SNP near wipeout possible!!
I would not bet on it
Nor would I. The fundamentals haven't changed: the unionist vote is split and the anti-unionist vote isn't. The SNP core vote have nowhere else to go.
Only if you think independence supporters will not for vote for a unionist party. But that doesn't appear to be true. The current opinion polls suggest that Labour has picked up yes voters from the SNP, and even before then a chunk of the Labour vote supported indy.
WOS on Twitter has a leak from the emergency NEC meeting - possible reballot in the SNP leadership election.
Would be explosive if true, but all options lead to a flaming binfire, so might be the least bad option.
Indeed. Less argument about the result this time, though issues remain (a) validity of membership list data (which should be sorted out against financial records) and (b) whether to havwe the same candidates or start again.
I reckon Starmer must have offered the souls of his children to the devil to be this lucky.
Looks like we could see 2015 in reverse in Scotland at next GE! SNP near wipeout possible!!
I would not bet on it
Nor would I. The fundamentals haven't changed: the unionist vote is split and the anti-unionist vote isn't. The SNP core vote have nowhere else to go.
Only if you think independence supporters will not for vote for a unionist party. But that doesn't appear to be true. The current opinion polls suggest that Labour has picked up yes voters from the SNP, and even before then a chunk of the Labour vote supported indy.
Those are just the troughers who left labour when their gravy train hit the buffers. Anyone interested in independence will not be going to London unionist parties.
So story on Twitter saying Donald Trump will be indicted on Tuesday - to which the response is
Elon Musk @elonmusk If this happens, Trump will be re-elected in a landslide victory
As I said at the time, the only way for the GOP to escape Trump was to bring him down in 2021/2.
Trump may be hard to stop becoming the GOP nominee, but the 2020 election suggests the Democrats have a big advantage in getting out the vote. Even if Trump can get 74m votes again, he won't win unless he can persuade a lot of people who voted for Biden to stay at home.
I reckon Starmer must have offered the souls of his children to the devil to be this lucky.
Looks like we could see 2015 in reverse in Scotland at next GE! SNP near wipeout possible!!
I would not bet on it
Nor would I. The fundamentals haven't changed: the unionist vote is split and the anti-unionist vote isn't. The SNP core vote have nowhere else to go.
Only if you think independence supporters will not for vote for a unionist party. But that doesn't appear to be true. The current opinion polls suggest that Labour has picked up yes voters from the SNP, and even before then a chunk of the Labour vote supported indy.
And only yesterday:
Last night's Dunblane and Bridge of Allan (Stirling) council by-election result, first preferences:
Strangely, I never minded fag smoke in pubs. Or people doing it in my garden /patio at house parties.
Bothered me virtually everywhere, particularly in restaurants where some people couldn't read the room (or didn't give a crap) and were doing it right up until it was banned in 2007.
I didn't like that my clothes stank when I got home afterwards, but I didn't mind it in pubs at the time. I just accepted that it was normal.
It was smoking carriages on trains that really annoyed me.
Working split shifts in a pub with smoking meant two sets of clothes. I hated it, and still hate smoking and smokers. It’s terrible for your health, just give it up.
I reckon Starmer must have offered the souls of his children to the devil to be this lucky.
Looks like we could see 2015 in reverse in Scotland at next GE! SNP near wipeout possible!!
I would not bet on it
Nor would I. The fundamentals haven't changed: the unionist vote is split and the anti-unionist vote isn't. The SNP core vote have nowhere else to go.
Only if you think independence supporters will not for vote for a unionist party. But that doesn't appear to be true. The current opinion polls suggest that Labour has picked up yes voters from the SNP, and even before then a chunk of the Labour vote supported indy.
And only yesterday:
Last night's Dunblane and Bridge of Allan (Stirling) council by-election result, first preferences:
I reckon Starmer must have offered the souls of his children to the devil to be this lucky.
Looks like we could see 2015 in reverse in Scotland at next GE! SNP near wipeout possible!!
I would not bet on it
Nor would I. The fundamentals haven't changed: the unionist vote is split and the anti-unionist vote isn't. The SNP core vote have nowhere else to go.
Only if you think independence supporters will not for vote for a unionist party. But that doesn't appear to be true. The current opinion polls suggest that Labour has picked up yes voters from the SNP, and even before then a chunk of the Labour vote supported indy.
And only yesterday:
Last night's Dunblane and Bridge of Allan (Stirling) council by-election result, first preferences:
WOS on Twitter has a leak from the emergency NEC meeting - possible reballot in the SNP leadership election.
Would be explosive if true, but all options lead to a flaming binfire, so might be the least bad option.
Very likely outcome
Only option that doesn't lead to an immediate legal challenge.
Whether Humza has the brass neck to stay in the race...who am I kidding, of course he does.
Surely he will know the game is up and go now rather than have to rerun and be humiliated even further.
He'll be reluctant to stand aside, and the Sturgeon gang would have to find another candidate to go up against Kate and Ash. Angus Robertson seems somewhat reluctant to wade in.
I reckon Starmer must have offered the souls of his children to the devil to be this lucky.
Looks like we could see 2015 in reverse in Scotland at next GE! SNP near wipeout possible!!
I would not bet on it
Nor would I. The fundamentals haven't changed: the unionist vote is split and the anti-unionist vote isn't. The SNP core vote have nowhere else to go.
Only if you think independence supporters will not for vote for a unionist party. But that doesn't appear to be true. The current opinion polls suggest that Labour has picked up yes voters from the SNP, and even before then a chunk of the Labour vote supported indy.
And only yesterday:
Last night's Dunblane and Bridge of Allan (Stirling) council by-election result, first preferences:
Standard mistake when looking at Scottish local elections is to compare a 2nd won seat in an election with the first and only in a by election. Torries won first seats on both occasions. Plus different and lower turnout favouring postal voting.
Posters often put good news up on here - they’ve had a baby, they’ve got a promotion, they have saved 30p by filling a flask with hot water from the kettle and I’m happy for them but I have honestly never felt such happiness for another poster as for Malcolm today - I can feel the warmth of his joy all the way here.
I raise a glass to you and hope that you are enjoying every moment.
I reckon Starmer must have offered the souls of his children to the devil to be this lucky.
Looks like we could see 2015 in reverse in Scotland at next GE! SNP near wipeout possible!!
I would not bet on it
Nor would I. The fundamentals haven't changed: the unionist vote is split and the anti-unionist vote isn't. The SNP core vote have nowhere else to go.
Only if you think independence supporters will not for vote for a unionist party. But that doesn't appear to be true. The current opinion polls suggest that Labour has picked up yes voters from the SNP, and even before then a chunk of the Labour vote supported indy.
Those are just the troughers who left labour when their gravy train hit the buffers. Anyone interested in independence will not be going to London unionist parties.
Plenty of Unionists voted for the SNP. Might be Nationalists are less transfer friendly, but if there is anything that would persuade soft-nats to vote for a Unionist party surely it would be this shit show?
WOS on Twitter has a leak from the emergency NEC meeting - possible reballot in the SNP leadership election.
Would be explosive if true, but all options lead to a flaming binfire, so might be the least bad option.
Very likely outcome
Only option that doesn't lead to an immediate legal challenge.
Whether Humza has the brass neck to stay in the race...who am I kidding, of course he does.
Surely he will know the game is up and go now rather than have to rerun and be humiliated even further.
He'll be reluctant to stand aside, and the Sturgeon gang would have to find another candidate to go up against Kate and Ash. Angus Robertson seems somewhat reluctant to wade in.
Yes Macbeth is keeping the head down, he will just be hoping to survive.
I reckon Starmer must have offered the souls of his children to the devil to be this lucky.
Looks like we could see 2015 in reverse in Scotland at next GE! SNP near wipeout possible!!
I would not bet on it
Nor would I. The fundamentals haven't changed: the unionist vote is split and the anti-unionist vote isn't. The SNP core vote have nowhere else to go.
Only if you think independence supporters will not for vote for a unionist party. But that doesn't appear to be true. The current opinion polls suggest that Labour has picked up yes voters from the SNP, and even before then a chunk of the Labour vote supported indy.
And only yesterday:
Last night's Dunblane and Bridge of Allan (Stirling) council by-election result, first preferences:
Standard mistake when looking at Scottish local elections is to compare a 2nd won seat in an election with the first and only in a by election. Torries won first seats on both occasions. Plus different and lower turnout favouring postal voting.
Yes, the local proportional representation system in Scottish local government doesn't really work very well with bye elections. I think it probably needs looked at.
Comments
This could be huge.
Would be explosive if true, but all options lead to a flaming binfire, so might be the least bad option.
https://twitter.com/Hromadske/status/1637053735506698241
It was smoking carriages on trains that really annoyed me.
But that doesn't appear to be true. The current opinion polls suggest that Labour has picked up yes voters from the SNP, and even before then a chunk of the Labour vote supported indy.
Whether Humza has the brass neck to stay in the race...who am I kidding, of course he does.
https://twitter.com/BeschlossDC/status/1637090124797190148
In "Sunset Boulevard" (1950), law enforcement descends on Norma Desmond's tropical mansion:
https://twitter.com/BeschlossDC/status/1637095148508119042
Last night's Dunblane and Bridge of Allan (Stirling) council by-election result, first preferences:
CON: 41.0% (+10.9)
SNP: 26.9% (+1.1)
LAB: 13.4% (+1.6)
LDEM: 8.9% (-0.4)
GRN: 8.7% (-7.3)
Votes cast: 4,472
Seat change: Conservative GAIN from SNP.
Green to Con strikes me as - improbable.
I raise a glass to you and hope that you are enjoying every moment.
So what happens now?
Re-ballot, narrow Forbes win?