As a man of advanced years, I have to say there are few greater pleasures than sitting in a rooftop bar in Bangkok, under the tropic stars, sipping a splendid Tanqueray 10 and tonic, and reading about the SNP fucking up YET AGAIN
You need to get out more.
On this occasion I think Leon has it right! I only wish I could get to Bangkok again.
i wish you the best of luck in getting out here
Thankfully, the truly hideous heat has abated, somewhat, and it is all much more tolerable. The evenings are soft and sweet, again, rather than baking and humid. The pollution has cleared as well
And Bangkok has the amazing energy, still, if not even more than before. I was just in the Food Court at the basement of Siam Paragon - about 90 hectares of thousands of people eating every cuisine in the world, and doing it noisily, happily, enjoyably (because the food is GOOD). Across the city the bars are full, the whisky pop ups are back, the cocktail VW combis with dancing tattooed ladyboys are back, the squid sellers in their carts trundle the streets, behind the blind accordion players and the hi society Chinese women in their limos, it’s as sensational as city as it ever was, and yet more skyscrapers rise even as I speak
There is no sense the Great Asian Boom is over, quite the opposite. Asia is still overtaking the west. No western city, not NYC, London, Paris, Rome, Berlin, LA (lol), anywhere, has the sheer vivacity and exuberance of Bangkok
Nor, thank God, the pollution, humidity, mosquitoes, sprawl and general squalor.
Bangkok is the worst part of Thailand - best to head to the hills, beaches or islands asap.
If you love the hedonistic pleasures of great cities - food, wine, fun, sex, bars, weird people, orgies, meeting Nick Palmer in a sauna, spectacular strangeness - Bangkok is fabulous.
Does "hedonistic" mean "depraved"? Not convinced that I am cut out for so many hedonistic pleasures....
"Hedonistic pleasures" is a bit of a tautology, since hedonistic means primarily motivated by the pursuit of pleasure.
Though a rough approximation of the phrase might also be "self-indulgent pleasures".
As a man of advanced years, I have to say there are few greater pleasures than sitting in a rooftop bar in Bangkok, under the tropic stars, sipping a splendid Tanqueray 10 and tonic, and reading about the SNP fucking up YET AGAIN
You need to get out more.
On this occasion I think Leon has it right! I only wish I could get to Bangkok again.
i wish you the best of luck in getting out here
Thankfully, the truly hideous heat has abated, somewhat, and it is all much more tolerable. The evenings are soft and sweet, again, rather than baking and humid. The pollution has cleared as well
And Bangkok has the amazing energy, still, if not even more than before. I was just in the Food Court at the basement of Siam Paragon - about 90 hectares of thousands of people eating every cuisine in the world, and doing it noisily, happily, enjoyably (because the food is GOOD). Across the city the bars are full, the whisky pop ups are back, the cocktail VW combis with dancing tattooed ladyboys are back, the squid sellers in their carts trundle the streets, behind the blind accordion players and the hi society Chinese women in their limos, it’s as sensational as city as it ever was, and yet more skyscrapers rise even as I speak
There is no sense the Great Asian Boom is over, quite the opposite. Asia is still overtaking the west. No western city, not NYC, London, Paris, Rome, Berlin, LA (lol), anywhere, has the sheer vivacity and exuberance of Bangkok
Nor, thank God, the pollution, humidity, mosquitoes, sprawl and general squalor.
Bangkok is the worst part of Thailand - best to head to the hills, beaches or islands asap.
Absolute bollocks
If you love the hedonistic pleasures of great cities - food, wine, fun, sex, bars, weird people, orgies, meeting Nick Palmer in a sauna, spectacular strangeness - Bangkok is fabulous. Anyone who says otherwise is a twat, or just a slower lower-watt type who likes sitting on a mountain
Fair enough. Mountains can be fun. But so can cities. And Bangkok is brilliant for fun
Janan Ganesh captured it well in the FT last summer, and it has only got livelier since then
You've started quoting Remoaners. The end is nigh.
“I think the press is underestimating the damage RFK Jr. could do to Biden. He’s polling at 14%. If he keeps this up, it’ll matter. No president in the past half-century has won reelection after surviving a primary challenger who got into the double digits.”
Kennedy's an idiot or a conman, or probably both. Yuk.
But there's a maximum of 4 sitting presidents who didn't get re-elected in the past half-century so we're looking at a fairly small sample size being extrapolated from.
TBH I don’t even know who RFK is. Is he the anti vaxxer?
I just noticed that tidbit on Twitter and thought it might be of interest to the more committed PB bettors
Titbit, not tidbit. Bettor is American too, come to think of it. You are filtering posts through ChatGPT AICMFP.
Bettor is better than better because it distinguishes a bettor from better
The problem is not how we distinguish a bettor from a better, it's how we distinguish a better from a better. If we can't do that, then when we compare a bettor to a better we don't know if we're comparing it to a better or to a better. We should use different terms. That would be much...more preferable.
As a man of advanced years, I have to say there are few greater pleasures than sitting in a rooftop bar in Bangkok, under the tropic stars, sipping a splendid Tanqueray 10 and tonic, and reading about the SNP fucking up YET AGAIN
You need to get out more.
I really do. I have basically and voluntarily locked myself in this hotel for two-three weeks, to finish a long term project. My food is delivered, my laundry is delivered, my female company is delivered, my only modest solace is this rooftop bar and the Tanqueray. Then back to work
“I think the press is underestimating the damage RFK Jr. could do to Biden. He’s polling at 14%. If he keeps this up, it’ll matter. No president in the past half-century has won reelection after surviving a primary challenger who got into the double digits.”
Kennedy's an idiot or a conman, or probably both. Yuk.
But there's a maximum of 4 sitting presidents who didn't get re-elected in the past half-century so we're looking at a fairly small sample size being extrapolated from.
TBH I don’t even know who RFK is. Is he the anti vaxxer?
I just noticed that tidbit on Twitter and thought it might be of interest to the more committed PB bettors
Titbit, not tidbit. Bettor is American too, come to think of it. You are filtering posts through ChatGPT AICMFP.
Bettor is better than better because it distinguishes a bettor from better
The problem is not how we distinguish a bettor from a better, it's how we distinguish a better from a better. If we can't do that, then when we compare a bettor to a better we don't know if we're comparing it to a better or to a better. We should use different terms. That would be much...more preferable.
“I think the press is underestimating the damage RFK Jr. could do to Biden. He’s polling at 14%. If he keeps this up, it’ll matter. No president in the past half-century has won reelection after surviving a primary challenger who got into the double digits.”
Kennedy's an idiot or a conman, or probably both. Yuk.
But there's a maximum of 4 sitting presidents who didn't get re-elected in the past half-century so we're looking at a fairly small sample size being extrapolated from.
TBH I don’t even know who RFK is. Is he the anti vaxxer?
I just noticed that tidbit on Twitter and thought it might be of interest to the more committed PB bettors
Titbit, not tidbit. Bettor is American too, come to think of it. You are filtering posts through ChatGPT AICMFP.
Bettor is better than better because it distinguishes a bettor from better
The problem is not how we distinguish a bettor from a better, it's how we distinguish a better from a better. If we can't do that, then when we compare a bettor to a better we don't know if we're comparing it to a better or to a better. We should use different terms. That would be much...more preferable.
We should also, always, respect our elders and betters (or is it bettors?)
I just got an impressively mental PMC Wagner recruitment advert on Telegram. It promises that recruits will be delivered from bankruptcy, all bad habits and, I'm not making this up, "сварливая теща". Lit. "grumpy mother in law".
I guess you got it because one of the Kremlin's bots is programmed to identify shitheads and numbskulls who refer to Putin's murderous war as an "SMO"
As a man of advanced years, I have to say there are few greater pleasures than sitting in a rooftop bar in Bangkok, under the tropic stars, sipping a splendid Tanqueray 10 and tonic, and reading about the SNP fucking up YET AGAIN
You need to get out more.
I really do. I have basically and voluntarily locked myself in this hotel for two-three weeks, to finish a long term project. My food is delivered, my laundry is delivered, my female company is delivered, my only modest solace is this rooftop bar and the Tanqueray. Then back to work
“I think the press is underestimating the damage RFK Jr. could do to Biden. He’s polling at 14%. If he keeps this up, it’ll matter. No president in the past half-century has won reelection after surviving a primary challenger who got into the double digits.”
Kennedy's an idiot or a conman, or probably both. Yuk.
But there's a maximum of 4 sitting presidents who didn't get re-elected in the past half-century so we're looking at a fairly small sample size being extrapolated from.
TBH I don’t even know who RFK is. Is he the anti vaxxer?
I just noticed that tidbit on Twitter and thought it might be of interest to the more committed PB bettors
Titbit, not tidbit. Bettor is American too, come to think of it. You are filtering posts through ChatGPT AICMFP.
Bettor is better than better because it distinguishes a bettor from better
The problem is not how we distinguish a bettor from a better, it's how we distinguish a better from a better. If we can't do that, then when we compare a bettor to a better we don't know if we're comparing it to a better or to a better. We should use different terms. That would be much...more preferable.
We should also, always, respect our elders and betters (or is it bettors?)
“I think the press is underestimating the damage RFK Jr. could do to Biden. He’s polling at 14%. If he keeps this up, it’ll matter. No president in the past half-century has won reelection after surviving a primary challenger who got into the double digits.”
Kennedy's an idiot or a conman, or probably both. Yuk.
But there's a maximum of 4 sitting presidents who didn't get re-elected in the past half-century so we're looking at a fairly small sample size being extrapolated from.
TBH I don’t even know who RFK is. Is he the anti vaxxer?
I just noticed that tidbit on Twitter and thought it might be of interest to the more committed PB bettors
Titbit, not tidbit. Bettor is American too, come to think of it. You are filtering posts through ChatGPT AICMFP.
Bettor is better than better because it distinguishes a bettor from better
The problem is not how we distinguish a bettor from a better, it's how we distinguish a better from a better. If we can't do that, then when we compare a bettor to a better we don't know if we're comparing it to a better or to a better. We should use different terms. That would be much...more preferable.
Also a better bettor, or a better better ?
I refer you to m'learned colleague, Beter Biper, who will deal with the matter after his present assignment involving bicking a beck of bickled bepper.
“I think the press is underestimating the damage RFK Jr. could do to Biden. He’s polling at 14%. If he keeps this up, it’ll matter. No president in the past half-century has won reelection after surviving a primary challenger who got into the double digits.”
Kennedy's an idiot or a conman, or probably both. Yuk.
But there's a maximum of 4 sitting presidents who didn't get re-elected in the past half-century so we're looking at a fairly small sample size being extrapolated from.
TBH I don’t even know who RFK is. Is he the anti vaxxer?
I just noticed that tidbit on Twitter and thought it might be of interest to the more committed PB bettors
Titbit, not tidbit. Bettor is American too, come to think of it. You are filtering posts through ChatGPT AICMFP.
Bettor is better than better because it distinguishes a bettor from better
The problem is not how we distinguish a bettor from a better, it's how we distinguish a better from a better. If we can't do that, then when we compare a bettor to a better we don't know if we're comparing it to a better or to a better. We should use different terms. That would be much...more preferable.
We should also, always, respect our elders and betters (or is it bettors?)
In what way is National insurance not a tax - most tax avoidance schemes focus more on avoiding NI than avoiding income tax.
The clue is in the title.
The clue is in what it is and not its title. In what way is it not a tax? Not having the word tax in the name is the least impressive way of deciding it's not a tax. If government thought the population were that gullible they would be renaming lots of taxes and not include the word tax.
What do you think the treasury does with the money?
It is effectively a group insurance policy that pays out when someone is sick or on maternity leave and covers as payment towards state pension.
No it isn't. Honestly @squareroot2 I had you down as someone who was cynical. I'm glad to see there is a more trusting side to you, but you shouldn't believe that sort of propaganda. None of NI is ring fenced for those things. It all goes into a great big bucket of money that is spent on anything.
That is it is a tax just like Income tax, or Vat or IHT or CGT, etc, etc. The government doesn't even pretend it is ring fenced.
NI is recognised in international taxation treaties as a tax. By the Inland Revenue/HMG and foreign governments.
I tend to agree that, even though 2019 was a bad year for the Conservatives, this year will be worse.
I think they will lose around 700 councillors, with Labour adding 600, and the libdems grabbing around 100.
Tories won’t be upset with 700, considering the backdrop of historic financial pain they have weathered and closed the polling gap. Especially if Labour underperform the polling by 5 points to only get 40%.
Stodge’s post yesterday predicting Labour to fail to win places like Walsall and Dudley, because 13 from 13 etc is too steep an ask, will give Tories much to crow about too.
As a man of advanced years, I have to say there are few greater pleasures than sitting in a rooftop bar in Bangkok, under the tropic stars, sipping a splendid Tanqueray 10 and tonic, and reading about the SNP fucking up YET AGAIN
You need to get out more.
On this occasion I think Leon has it right! I only wish I could get to Bangkok again.
i wish you the best of luck in getting out here
Thankfully, the truly hideous heat has abated, somewhat, and it is all much more tolerable. The evenings are soft and sweet, again, rather than baking and humid. The pollution has cleared as well
And Bangkok has the amazing energy, still, if not even more than before. I was just in the Food Court at the basement of Siam Paragon - about 90 hectares of thousands of people eating every cuisine in the world, and doing it noisily, happily, enjoyably (because the food is GOOD). Across the city the bars are full, the whisky pop ups are back, the cocktail VW combis with dancing tattooed ladyboys are back, the squid sellers in their carts trundle the streets, behind the blind accordion players and the hi society Chinese women in their limos, it’s as sensational as city as it ever was, and yet more skyscrapers rise even as I speak
There is no sense the Great Asian Boom is over, quite the opposite. Asia is still overtaking the west. No western city, not NYC, London, Paris, Rome, Berlin, LA (lol), anywhere, has the sheer vivacity and exuberance of Bangkok
Nor, thank God, the pollution, humidity, mosquitoes, sprawl and general squalor.
Bangkok is the worst part of Thailand - best to head to the hills, beaches or islands asap.
Agreed. I was there in March for a few days visiting a friend on my way further out in Asia.
Bangkok has lost a lot of its charm and (it may surprise @Leon to know) much of its pizzazz. My friend insisted on taking me to some of his favourite spots and I'm afraid that the old go-to areas that the likes of Leon enjoyed back in the day are now faded and jaded. A couple of them are very sorry affairs compared to what they once were.
I hope I never return to the city. There are parts of Thailand which remain charming and lovely, as you rightly point out.
There are really 2 points. The first is that even if they lose they may restrict the scope for any future s35 order by having contingencies built into it. This is tactically wrong. If they lose there is every chance that the comments of the court will be wide and permissive making future orders easier, not more difficult. Generally speaking, if cases are going to set the criteria for other cases you want them to be cases that you win and that the other side is going to have to distinguish rather than rely upon.
The second is that the UK government behaved irrationally or unreasonably by failing to engage with the Scottish government during the legislative process. Engagement, however, is a two way street. Is there any evidence that (unlike the bottle fiasco) the Scottish government ever asked for such engagement? I suspect not, otherwise there would be more about it in the petition. What the SG are seeking to argue is that the onus is on Westminster to initiate and continue that dialogue, even when not asked to do so. It's possible the court may come to such a conclusion but it is equally possible that they will not. There is also no evidence that I am aware of of the SG engaging with the Equalities Commission, for example, who are the designated body for overseeing the principles of the EA.
The argument that the law remains the same in that it is guided by the principles in the original Act, s9, that the certificate is good for all purposes, when all the safeguards for obtaining the certificate are being removed strikes me as bordering on unstateable.
As a man of advanced years, I have to say there are few greater pleasures than sitting in a rooftop bar in Bangkok, under the tropic stars, sipping a splendid Tanqueray 10 and tonic, and reading about the SNP fucking up YET AGAIN
You need to get out more.
On this occasion I think Leon has it right! I only wish I could get to Bangkok again.
i wish you the best of luck in getting out here
Thankfully, the truly hideous heat has abated, somewhat, and it is all much more tolerable. The evenings are soft and sweet, again, rather than baking and humid. The pollution has cleared as well
And Bangkok has the amazing energy, still, if not even more than before. I was just in the Food Court at the basement of Siam Paragon - about 90 hectares of thousands of people eating every cuisine in the world, and doing it noisily, happily, enjoyably (because the food is GOOD). Across the city the bars are full, the whisky pop ups are back, the cocktail VW combis with dancing tattooed ladyboys are back, the squid sellers in their carts trundle the streets, behind the blind accordion players and the hi society Chinese women in their limos, it’s as sensational as city as it ever was, and yet more skyscrapers rise even as I speak
There is no sense the Great Asian Boom is over, quite the opposite. Asia is still overtaking the west. No western city, not NYC, London, Paris, Rome, Berlin, LA (lol), anywhere, has the sheer vivacity and exuberance of Bangkok
Nor, thank God, the pollution, humidity, mosquitoes, sprawl and general squalor.
Bangkok is the worst part of Thailand - best to head to the hills, beaches or islands asap.
Agreed. I was there in March for a few days visiting a friend on my way further out in Asia.
Bangkok has lost a lot of its charm and (it may surprise @Leon to know) much of its pizzazz. My friend insisted on taking me to some of his favourite spots and I'm afraid that the old go-to areas that the likes of Leon enjoyed back in the day are now faded and jaded. A couple of them are very sorry affairs compared to what they once were.
I hope I never return to the city. There are parts of Thailand which remain charming and lovely, as you rightly point out.
Ahahahahaha
Can you name these go-to areas which I once enjoyed? Seeing as you know Bangkok better than me? Even though I have been coming here for 30 years, and spent 3 months here earlier in 2023?
As a man of advanced years, I have to say there are few greater pleasures than sitting in a rooftop bar in Bangkok, under the tropic stars, sipping a splendid Tanqueray 10 and tonic, and reading about the SNP fucking up YET AGAIN
You need to get out more.
On this occasion I think Leon has it right! I only wish I could get to Bangkok again.
i wish you the best of luck in getting out here
Thankfully, the truly hideous heat has abated, somewhat, and it is all much more tolerable. The evenings are soft and sweet, again, rather than baking and humid. The pollution has cleared as well
And Bangkok has the amazing energy, still, if not even more than before. I was just in the Food Court at the basement of Siam Paragon - about 90 hectares of thousands of people eating every cuisine in the world, and doing it noisily, happily, enjoyably (because the food is GOOD). Across the city the bars are full, the whisky pop ups are back, the cocktail VW combis with dancing tattooed ladyboys are back, the squid sellers in their carts trundle the streets, behind the blind accordion players and the hi society Chinese women in their limos, it’s as sensational as city as it ever was, and yet more skyscrapers rise even as I speak
There is no sense the Great Asian Boom is over, quite the opposite. Asia is still overtaking the west. No western city, not NYC, London, Paris, Rome, Berlin, LA (lol), anywhere, has the sheer vivacity and exuberance of Bangkok
As a man of advanced years, I have to say there are few greater pleasures than sitting in a rooftop bar in Bangkok, under the tropic stars, sipping a splendid Tanqueray 10 and tonic, and reading about the SNP fucking up YET AGAIN
You need to get out more.
On this occasion I think Leon has it right! I only wish I could get to Bangkok again.
i wish you the best of luck in getting out here
Thankfully, the truly hideous heat has abated, somewhat, and it is all much more tolerable. The evenings are soft and sweet, again, rather than baking and humid. The pollution has cleared as well
And Bangkok has the amazing energy, still, if not even more than before. I was just in the Food Court at the basement of Siam Paragon - about 90 hectares of thousands of people eating every cuisine in the world, and doing it noisily, happily, enjoyably (because the food is GOOD). Across the city the bars are full, the whisky pop ups are back, the cocktail VW combis with dancing tattooed ladyboys are back, the squid sellers in their carts trundle the streets, behind the blind accordion players and the hi society Chinese women in their limos, it’s as sensational as city as it ever was, and yet more skyscrapers rise even as I speak
There is no sense the Great Asian Boom is over, quite the opposite. Asia is still overtaking the west. No western city, not NYC, London, Paris, Rome, Berlin, LA (lol), anywhere, has the sheer vivacity and exuberance of Bangkok
Do they still have the bar with the glass ceiling, where young women without knickers dance for the amusement of Japanese businessmen?
As a man of advanced years, I have to say there are few greater pleasures than sitting in a rooftop bar in Bangkok, under the tropic stars, sipping a splendid Tanqueray 10 and tonic, and reading about the SNP fucking up YET AGAIN
Why is Phil Mitchell actually working for the SNP?
There are really 2 points. The first is that even if they lose they may restrict the scope for any future s35 order by having contingencies built into it. This is tactically wrong. If they lose there is every chance that the comments of the court will be wide and permissive making future orders easier, not more difficult. Generally speaking, if cases are going to set the criteria for other cases you want them to be cases that you win and that the other side is going to have to distinguish rather than rely upon.
The second is that the UK government behaved irrationally or unreasonably by failing to engage with the Scottish government during the legislative process. Engagement, however, is a two way street. Is there any evidence that (unlike the bottle fiasco) the Scottish government ever asked for such engagement? I suspect not, otherwise there would be more about it in the petition. What the SG are seeking to argue is that the onus is on Westminster to initiate and continue that dialogue, even when not asked to do so. It's possible the court may come to such a conclusion but it is equally possible that they will not. There is also no evidence that I am aware of of the SG engaging with the Equalities Commission, for example, who are the designated body for overseeing the principles of the EA.
The argument that the law remains the same in that it is guided by the principles in the original Act, s9, that the certificate is good for all purposes, when all the safeguards for obtaining the certificate are being removed strikes me as bordering on unstateable.
It seems an uphill battle to win this, but I guess Yousaf wants to show the Greens that he tried.
As a man of advanced years, I have to say there are few greater pleasures than sitting in a rooftop bar in Bangkok, under the tropic stars, sipping a splendid Tanqueray 10 and tonic, and reading about the SNP fucking up YET AGAIN
You need to get out more.
On this occasion I think Leon has it right! I only wish I could get to Bangkok again.
i wish you the best of luck in getting out here
Thankfully, the truly hideous heat has abated, somewhat, and it is all much more tolerable. The evenings are soft and sweet, again, rather than baking and humid. The pollution has cleared as well
And Bangkok has the amazing energy, still, if not even more than before. I was just in the Food Court at the basement of Siam Paragon - about 90 hectares of thousands of people eating every cuisine in the world, and doing it noisily, happily, enjoyably (because the food is GOOD). Across the city the bars are full, the whisky pop ups are back, the cocktail VW combis with dancing tattooed ladyboys are back, the squid sellers in their carts trundle the streets, behind the blind accordion players and the hi society Chinese women in their limos, it’s as sensational as city as it ever was, and yet more skyscrapers rise even as I speak
There is no sense the Great Asian Boom is over, quite the opposite. Asia is still overtaking the west. No western city, not NYC, London, Paris, Rome, Berlin, LA (lol), anywhere, has the sheer vivacity and exuberance of Bangkok
Do they still have the bar with the glass ceiling, where young women without knickers dance for the amusement of Japanese businessmen?
As a man of advanced years, I have to say there are few greater pleasures than sitting in a rooftop bar in Bangkok, under the tropic stars, sipping a splendid Tanqueray 10 and tonic, and reading about the SNP fucking up YET AGAIN
Why is Phil Mitchell actually working for the SNP?
So Biden is currently aged 80. If he wins the race to be re-elected, he will stand down on Jan 20th, 2029, aged 86. Can’t help thinking it’s the wrong call, but there does appear to be something of a dearth of talent at the top of his party. And the other party.
I'm not actually sure there really is a dearth of talent in either party - there are several credible Senators, Governors, and cabinet members who might not all survive the hard kicking of the tyres provided by a primary process, but on paper are the equivalent of major party nominees of the past.
Ultimately, Biden promised to be a "bridge to the future" but is enjoying it too much and has become a bed-blocker. I don't mind him, but that's the reality.
I think he's doing quite well, and is evidence for the case that a veteran Senator is a good choice for President as he knows how to work the system. He stumbles and misspeaks occasionally, but if that's the worst he can do, we can live with that.
Sure, one can make observations about what people in their 80s are on average like. But like all average they can obscure rather than illuminate. He's a moderate chap who is a good operator. They could do much worse, and may yet do so.
That's very much a "hold on to nurse, for fear of something worse" argument.
That is indeed the Biden pitch - he's the most known of known quantities, and will surely be competitive against any Republican candidate, and particularly THAT Republican candidate, as he was in 2020.
We are almost certainly not about to discover a new side of Biden, in the 50th anniversary year of him first coming to national prominence as a Senator. He is their Charles III. Whether you like him or dislike him, there really isn't anything new to learn. He is part of the furniture, and all the positives and negatives have been raked over forever.
But isn't that just dreadfully grim even if you and I think Biden is probably a decent enough man and a moderately okay President? My view is the US badly needs the injection of energy and ideas that comes from a fresh generation. Where does America want to be in 20 or 50 years? It's all hopelessly stale, and refreshing the body politic is being delayed by a lengthy, slow motion battle between dinosaurs.
There are really 2 points. The first is that even if they lose they may restrict the scope for any future s35 order by having contingencies built into it. This is tactically wrong. If they lose there is every chance that the comments of the court will be wide and permissive making future orders easier, not more difficult. Generally speaking, if cases are going to set the criteria for other cases you want them to be cases that you win and that the other side is going to have to distinguish rather than rely upon.
The second is that the UK government behaved irrationally or unreasonably by failing to engage with the Scottish government during the legislative process. Engagement, however, is a two way street. Is there any evidence that (unlike the bottle fiasco) the Scottish government ever asked for such engagement? I suspect not, otherwise there would be more about it in the petition. What the SG are seeking to argue is that the onus is on Westminster to initiate and continue that dialogue, even when not asked to do so. It's possible the court may come to such a conclusion but it is equally possible that they will not. There is also no evidence that I am aware of of the SG engaging with the Equalities Commission, for example, who are the designated body for overseeing the principles of the EA.
The argument that the law remains the same in that it is guided by the principles in the original Act, s9, that the certificate is good for all purposes, when all the safeguards for obtaining the certificate are being removed strikes me as bordering on unstateable.
It seems an uphill battle to win this, but I guess Yousaf wants to show the Greens that he tried.
Yes, it is all about maintaining the Green Coalition at Holyrood, to the considerable frustration of many in the SNP. Opposition to that coalition brought Kate Forbes within 2% of victory.
I just got an impressively mental PMC Wagner recruitment advert on Telegram. It promises that recruits will be delivered from bankruptcy, all bad habits and, I'm not making this up, "сварливая теща". Lit. "grumpy mother in law".
Given the reported life expectancy of their recruits, isn’t this just “truth in advertising” ?
“I think the press is underestimating the damage RFK Jr. could do to Biden. He’s polling at 14%. If he keeps this up, it’ll matter. No president in the past half-century has won reelection after surviving a primary challenger who got into the double digits.”
Kennedy's an idiot or a conman, or probably both. Yuk.
But there's a maximum of 4 sitting presidents who didn't get re-elected in the past half-century so we're looking at a fairly small sample size being extrapolated from.
TBH I don’t even know who RFK is. Is he the anti vaxxer?
I just noticed that tidbit on Twitter and thought it might be of interest to the more committed PB bettors
Titbit, not tidbit. Bettor is American too, come to think of it. You are filtering posts through ChatGPT AICMFP.
Bettor is better than better because it distinguishes a bettor from better
The problem is not how we distinguish a bettor from a better, it's how we distinguish a better from a better. If we can't do that, then when we compare a bettor to a better we don't know if we're comparing it to a better or to a better. We should use different terms. That would be much...more preferable.
We should also, always, respect our elders and betters (or is it bettors?)
As a man of advanced years, I have to say there are few greater pleasures than sitting in a rooftop bar in Bangkok, under the tropic stars, sipping a splendid Tanqueray 10 and tonic, and reading about the SNP fucking up YET AGAIN
You need to get out more.
On this occasion I think Leon has it right! I only wish I could get to Bangkok again.
i wish you the best of luck in getting out here
Thankfully, the truly hideous heat has abated, somewhat, and it is all much more tolerable. The evenings are soft and sweet, again, rather than baking and humid. The pollution has cleared as well
And Bangkok has the amazing energy, still, if not even more than before. I was just in the Food Court at the basement of Siam Paragon - about 90 hectares of thousands of people eating every cuisine in the world, and doing it noisily, happily, enjoyably (because the food is GOOD). Across the city the bars are full, the whisky pop ups are back, the cocktail VW combis with dancing tattooed ladyboys are back, the squid sellers in their carts trundle the streets, behind the blind accordion players and the hi society Chinese women in their limos, it’s as sensational as city as it ever was, and yet more skyscrapers rise even as I speak
There is no sense the Great Asian Boom is over, quite the opposite. Asia is still overtaking the west. No western city, not NYC, London, Paris, Rome, Berlin, LA (lol), anywhere, has the sheer vivacity and exuberance of Bangkok
Are they still wearing facemasks?
Yes, but much less than they were in January. They are slowly disappearing. Thank god!
I just got an impressively mental PMC Wagner recruitment advert on Telegram. It promises that recruits will be delivered from bankruptcy, all bad habits and, I'm not making this up, "сварливая теща". Lit. "grumpy mother in law".
The question is can two men over the age of 75 maintain an election for the next 18 months or so.
What is dismaying about Trump is how energetic he is. Not much sign of him slowing down. And little evidence of physical frailty. He seems energised by crowds and campaigning. So I dont think being a candidate will be a problem for him. Unfortunately.
Comments
Though a rough approximation of the phrase might also be "self-indulgent pleasures".
It will surprise some on here to note that I voted for no fewer than 3 Liberal Democrat candidates, along with one Labour obvs.
Why? Because I moved to a council area which is a LibDem-Cons marginal and I will do ANYTHING to vote the bastard tories out of office.
I am not untypical of the electoral tsunami that is coming the tory way.
@MikeSmithson please note!
They misunderstood his request...
The "Rose Garden strategy".
I think they will lose around 700 councillors, with Labour adding 600, and the libdems grabbing around 100.
They will not lose a single council seat in Scotland 😁
Stodge’s post yesterday predicting Labour to fail to win places like Walsall and Dudley, because 13 from 13 etc is too steep an ask, will give Tories much to crow about too.
Bangkok has lost a lot of its charm and (it may surprise @Leon to know) much of its pizzazz. My friend insisted on taking me to some of his favourite spots and I'm afraid that the old go-to areas that the likes of Leon enjoyed back in the day are now faded and jaded. A couple of them are very sorry affairs compared to what they once were.
I hope I never return to the city. There are parts of Thailand which remain charming and lovely, as you rightly point out.
There are really 2 points. The first is that even if they lose they may restrict the scope for any future s35 order by having contingencies built into it. This is tactically wrong. If they lose there is every chance that the comments of the court will be wide and permissive making future orders easier, not more difficult. Generally speaking, if cases are going to set the criteria for other cases you want them to be cases that you win and that the other side is going to have to distinguish rather than rely upon.
The second is that the UK government behaved irrationally or unreasonably by failing to engage with the Scottish government during the legislative process. Engagement, however, is a two way street. Is there any evidence that (unlike the bottle fiasco) the Scottish government ever asked for such engagement? I suspect not, otherwise there would be more about it in the petition. What the SG are seeking to argue is that the onus is on Westminster to initiate and continue that dialogue, even when not asked to do so. It's possible the court may come to such a conclusion but it is equally possible that they will not. There is also no evidence that I am aware of of the SG engaging with the Equalities Commission, for example, who are the designated body for overseeing the principles of the EA.
The argument that the law remains the same in that it is guided by the principles in the original Act, s9, that the certificate is good for all purposes, when all the safeguards for obtaining the certificate are being removed strikes me as bordering on unstateable.
Remember in May 2019 the Tories were already at a low ebb on 28% and the LDs peaking at 19% NEV.
Indeed even on current polls the Tories could regain a few seats lost to the LDs in the 2019 locals
Can you name these go-to areas which I once enjoyed? Seeing as you know Bangkok better than me? Even though I have been coming here for 30 years, and spent 3 months here earlier in 2023?
Britons ‘need to accept’ they’re poorer, says Bank of England economist
Chief economist Huw Pill says workers and firms should stop trying to pass on rising costs by hiking prices or demanding better wages
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/apr/25/britons-need-to-accept-theyre-poorer-says-bank-of-england-economist
Succession planning.
That is indeed the Biden pitch - he's the most known of known quantities, and will surely be competitive against any Republican candidate, and particularly THAT Republican candidate, as he was in 2020.
We are almost certainly not about to discover a new side of Biden, in the 50th anniversary year of him first coming to national prominence as a Senator. He is their Charles III. Whether you like him or dislike him, there really isn't anything new to learn. He is part of the furniture, and all the positives and negatives have been raked over forever.
But isn't that just dreadfully grim even if you and I think Biden is probably a decent enough man and a moderately okay President? My view is the US badly needs the injection of energy and ideas that comes from a fresh generation. Where does America want to be in 20 or 50 years? It's all hopelessly stale, and refreshing the body politic is being delayed by a lengthy, slow motion battle between dinosaurs.
@BritainElects
Public opinion towards the [X] brand:
LAB: 37% positive / 35% negative
GRN: 28% / 31%
LDEM: 23% / 36%
CON: 20% / 52%
REF: 13% / 38%
via
@IpsosUK
https://sotn.newstatesman.com/2023/04/can-greens-sustain-gains-may-local-elections
Trans-identified teen died from vaginoplasty complications during landmark Dutch study used to justify “gender-affirming care”.
https://twitter.com/genspect/status/1650655326583107585
SKS fans please explain 😈
ETA: And I guess I should head over to the new thread...
NEW THREAD