Leon is not far from the old National Road. Which more-or-less followed the route hacked out of the wilderness by Gen. Braddock and his fellow hapless Brits (and colonials including George Washington and Daniel Boone) on their was to getting massacred by French & Indians just before they got to their objective - Fort Duquene.
The latter commemorated in Pittsburgh's local Duquene Beer.
As in classic "boilermaker" - shot of whiskey with "Duke" chaser.
Isn't Fort Duquesne preserved as the old blockhouse in that rather nice public park where the Ohio and Monongahela Rivers meet in the centre of Pittsburgh? Was there for a conference years ago.
Yes! Have in my possession a glass model of that blockhouse, a commemorative produced by local foundry.
Right at the tip of the Golden Triangle.
Thanks! Didn't have much time off there but it was just before Halloween so did get to see the pumpkins on the stoops of the houses atop the southern heights above the old R.R. yards and the preserved submarine not far from the park. Memorable also as my first experience of dry cold continental interior weather.
Pittsburgh is also famous for its museum with the original dinosaur Diplodocus funded by Carnegie - itself a huge cultural icon in its own right (the one in London NHM is merely a plaster cast of it). (And btw his birthplace in Dunfermline not far from here is quite something to see, not least the way it is dwarfed by the commemorative museum and hall that he built next to it.)
A lovely moment toward the end of Friday’s Any Questions when the audience erupts in wild cheers as the news that the clown has resigned from parliament came through….
Plus Donald Trump sinks further into the mire. Not the worst political day, was it?
Being indicted is - so far - BOOSTING polling for Sage of Mar-a-Lardo aka former Security-Risk-in-Chief.
Yeah but with who?
With likely Republican primary voters.
Timothy Snyder was on R4 this morning saying Trump was getting a boost with those already likely to vote for him but the independents/non-aligned were still turned off. I hope he’s right.
I cannot imagine liking someone so much that them being charged with crimes not only didn't see me even hesitate in my support, but actually propelled me to support them even more.
A lovely moment toward the end of Friday’s Any Questions when the audience erupts in wild cheers as the news that the clown has resigned from parliament came through….
Plus Donald Trump sinks further into the mire. Not the worst political day, was it?
Being indicted is - so far - BOOSTING polling for Sage of Mar-a-Lardo aka former Security-Risk-in-Chief.
Yeah but with who?
With likely Republican primary voters.
Timothy Snyder was on R4 this morning saying Trump was getting a boost with those already likely to vote for him but the independents/non-aligned were still turned off. I hope he’s right.
I really fail to see how you could be neutral or hostile to Trump and then, looking at the last few days, suddenly think "actually, yeah, I like the cut of this guy's jib"
Trump's not all wrong. He's perhaps the most astute and brave observer of our age. An idiot though.
Quite how he can be the fool that he is and yet observe wisely in some things escapes me. The most likely confusion is that I have somehow misjudged him. Perhaps not a Chump. Ok, so moving on....
It has just been voted “Americas most beloved building”
No googling!
Taliesin?
Dammit, wrong Frank Lloyd Wright house!
Great guess in correct ball park.
However, when I saw you surmise, knew the correct answer; because Leon said he was on the way to Pennsylvania NOT Wisconsin.
Thank you. I was biting my lip. I used to know all this stuff, back when I had a memory. Couldn't pass a test now of course, and even then it was enthusiast-level only, but...well, the hopes of long ago. Still hope to do this:
Has Johnson taken the Chiltern Hundreds or the Manor of Northstead then? I didn't know an MP could resign off his own bat with immediate effect. Or is he sticking two fingers up at parliamentary procedure the same way he gestured at lockdown law, and the same way he once walked out of a parliamentary inquiry?
Also is it true that he's got the words "I don't half have it coming to me" tattooed on the blubber somewhere?
It has to be such a route in that you actually can't resign as an MP.
The Chiltern Hundreds thing seems to have been forgotten about by the entire media. It's reminiscent of how king's (or queen's) consent was forgotten for a few decades too. The Guardian reported it as though they'd discovered this weird procedure that nobody had noticed before. Has anyone even pointed out that Johnson is insulting his constituents? Harriet Harman and other members of the Privileges Committee could be the worst devils in Westminster, but he was elected to represent his constituents, not them. Does he think his constituents would vote against him in a recall election solely because they're Harman's robots? He's got no guts.
Brits in general are remarkably ignorant regarding the workings of the British "constitution".
And journos tend to be more remarkably ignorant than average, except maybe about factoids they stumble upon in course of business.
As for the "insulting his constituents" argument, even as a certified (and certifiable) anti-BoJoite, hard for me to follow your logic. Even IF he makes a chicken run to bluer pastures.
The logic is this. His constituents elected him to represent them for the duration of this parliament. He's got himself into a spot of bother. A committee seems about to sanction him and he thinks the committee is wrong and biased. His constituents haven't rejected him - or not yet. But he tells them he won't represent them any more, because he's having a disagreement with some committee or other, whose main power seems to be to act so that his constituents get a chance to look at him again and decide whether they still want him. If he had any courage he'd say fine, I don't fear putting my case to the people I represent, not at all, and you can come here and say what you think, too, Harriet, if you wish. But nope. He flounces.
A lovely moment toward the end of Friday’s Any Questions when the audience erupts in wild cheers as the news that the clown has resigned from parliament came through….
Plus Donald Trump sinks further into the mire. Not the worst political day, was it?
Being indicted is - so far - BOOSTING polling for Sage of Mar-a-Lardo aka former Security-Risk-in-Chief.
Yeah but with who?
With likely Republican primary voters.
Timothy Snyder was on R4 this morning saying Trump was getting a boost with those already likely to vote for him but the independents/non-aligned were still turned off. I hope he’s right.
I cannot imagine liking someone so much that them being charged with crimes not only didn't see me even hesitate in my support, but actually propelled me to support them even more.
Partly no publicity is bad publicity if you're Trump, and partly his supporters believe the Establishment is out to get him, and what better proof than a bunch of charges?
Think of it this way: imagine a Chinese dissident who we really like: our support for him might be strengthened if the Chinese authorities prosecuted him - more evidence of state repression, isn't it? Conversely, if they leave him alone, maybe he's not that persecuted after all?
It's nuts in the case of Trump, but it has a sort of internal logic.
I see from Tomorrow's MPs that some CLPs are having a tantrum about that Driscoll chap. All seems very self defeating.
Labour Party in Blyth Valley have joined those constituency parties refusing to nominate in North East mayoral selection process, in protest at exclusion of Jamie Driscoll.
According to someone on the media lately, even the regional Conservatives respect Driscoll in his current Mayoralty. Starmer may have called this one wrong.
A lovely moment toward the end of Friday’s Any Questions when the audience erupts in wild cheers as the news that the clown has resigned from parliament came through….
Plus Donald Trump sinks further into the mire. Not the worst political day, was it?
Being indicted is - so far - BOOSTING polling for Sage of Mar-a-Lardo aka former Security-Risk-in-Chief.
Yeah but with who?
With likely Republican primary voters.
Timothy Snyder was on R4 this morning saying Trump was getting a boost with those already likely to vote for him but the independents/non-aligned were still turned off. I hope he’s right.
I cannot imagine liking someone so much that them being charged with crimes not only didn't see me even hesitate in my support, but actually propelled me to support them even more.
Partly no publicity is bad publicity if you're Trump, and partly his supporters believe the Establishment is out to get him, and what better proof than a bunch of charges?
Think of it this way: imagine a Chinese dissident who we really like: our support for him might be strengthened if the Chinese authorities prosecuted him - more evidence of state repression, isn't it? Conversely, if they leave him alone, maybe he's not that persecuted after all?
It's nuts in the case of Trump, but it has a sort of internal logic.
Generation ago, Lyndon LaRouche campaigned for President with the slogan
"The only candidate George Bush [the Elder] fears enough to put in jail".
Did NOT do wonders for LLR but then his starting base was wee bit more limited that DJT's.
A lovely moment toward the end of Friday’s Any Questions when the audience erupts in wild cheers as the news that the clown has resigned from parliament came through….
Plus Donald Trump sinks further into the mire. Not the worst political day, was it?
Being indicted is - so far - BOOSTING polling for Sage of Mar-a-Lardo aka former Security-Risk-in-Chief.
Yeah but with who?
With likely Republican primary voters.
Timothy Snyder was on R4 this morning saying Trump was getting a boost with those already likely to vote for him but the independents/non-aligned were still turned off. I hope he’s right.
I really fail to see how you could be neutral or hostile to Trump and then, looking at the last few days, suddenly think "actually, yeah, I like the cut of this guy's jib"
Trump's not all wrong. He's perhaps the most astute and brave observer of our age. An idiot though.
Quite how he can be the fool that he is and yet observe wisely in some things escapes me. The most likely confusion is that I have somehow misjudged him. Perhaps not a Chump. Ok, so moving on....
Trump's not a fool. Nor is he all wrong. What he is, is insane. That amount of "positive thinking" (see Norman Vincent Peale) can drive a person insane and there's a literature on it. In his case that's not the whole of the causation, though. Nor is he the most astute and brave observer of our age. I don't know how closely you've looked at him. If you haven't done so already, you might read up on how he rates "Memories, Dreams, Reflections" by Carl Gustav Jung, not omitting to consider the God-sent turd that Jung writes about in it near the beginning. His engaging in name-calling is (in his mind) Jung-inspired. Dunno about judging or misjudging, but there's a lot out there about this guy and how he thinks. I studied him in depth in 2016.
I see from Tomorrow's MPs that some CLPs are having a tantrum about that Driscoll chap. All seems very self defeating.
Labour Party in Blyth Valley have joined those constituency parties refusing to nominate in North East mayoral selection process, in protest at exclusion of Jamie Driscoll.
According to someone on the media lately, even the regional Conservatives respect Driscoll in his current Mayoralty. Starmer may have called this one wrong.
Driscoll is the biggest non-entity in the country. Totally useless.
Calgie @christiancalgie EXCLUSIVE: A frontrunner to be the Tory candidate for London mayor, Samuel Kasumu, has been blocked and has not even made the candidate long list.
His team is accusing CCHQ of blocking him because of close links to Boris Johnson.
Tough titties mate.
Yes, its factional, but complaints of this nature ultimately boil down to a sense of entitlement to be on a list. If he'd made the list and then not got it no doubt he'd be complaining on the same basis - so why not just exclude him now?
Video of a guardsman after fainting. The band keeps playing and none of the people near him help. This country is fucking weird sick.
Fainting is embarrassing but not usually dangerous. I doubt the guardsman would want a fuss. On a serious note, maybe the army should look into wearing cooling packs when the mercury heads north.
Video of a guardsman after fainting. The band keeps playing and none of the people near him help. This country is fucking weird sick.
I think that would happen in any self-respecting military in the world. Military personnel can’t just stop what they’re doing (having been specifically ordered to do it) whatever the circumstances
A lovely moment toward the end of Friday’s Any Questions when the audience erupts in wild cheers as the news that the clown has resigned from parliament came through….
Plus Donald Trump sinks further into the mire. Not the worst political day, was it?
Being indicted is - so far - BOOSTING polling for Sage of Mar-a-Lardo aka former Security-Risk-in-Chief.
Yeah but with who?
With likely Republican primary voters.
Timothy Snyder was on R4 this morning saying Trump was getting a boost with those already likely to vote for him but the independents/non-aligned were still turned off. I hope he’s right.
I really fail to see how you could be neutral or hostile to Trump and then, looking at the last few days, suddenly think "actually, yeah, I like the cut of this guy's jib"
Trump's not all wrong. He's perhaps the most astute and brave observer of our age. An idiot though.
Quite how he can be the fool that he is and yet observe wisely in some things escapes me. The most likely confusion is that I have somehow misjudged him. Perhaps not a Chump. Ok, so moving on....
Trump's not a fool. Nor is he all wrong. What he is, is insane. That amount of "positive thinking" (see Norman Vincent Peale) can drive a person insane and there's a literature on it. In his case that's not the whole of the causation, though. Nor is he the most astute and brave observer of our age. I don't know how closely you've looked at him. If you haven't done so already, you might read up on how he rates "Memories, Dreams, Reflections" by Carl Gustav Jung, not omitting to consider the God-sent turd that Jung writes about in it near the beginning. His engaging in name-calling is (in his mind) Jung-inspired. Dunno about judging or misjudging, but there's a lot out there about this guy and how he thinks. I studied him in depth in 2016.
I bet on Trump to win in 2016 (more exactly, on Clinton to lose, because if Trump wasn't going to win I thought he'd drop out) and then on him to lose in 2020. Haven't formed a view yet on 2024. I'm sure he's pleased that Biden has said he'll stand for re-election.
Yep, inflation is like acceleration, people think it’s connected to speed and not the rate of change of the speed
To be fair, inflation is an aggregate measure, so "halving inflation" might mean the prices of some things actually coming down.
Humour me if you will, as my head is starting to hurt.
If we go back to the speed example, which I like, halving the rate of speed increase (inflation) means having achieved a hundred miles an hour in ten seconds then reaching just 150 mph in the next ten seconds.then the rate of increase/ inflation has dropped by half in the next 10 seconds. The speed may only rise to 175 mph and in the next ten seconds 182.5 mph. This after that initial acceleration the speed inflation remains constant but your top speed is ever rising.
So how does halving inflation mean prices come down. Until the denominator reaches a point of zero inflation, won't the prices always increase?
Video of a guardsman after fainting. The band keeps playing and none of the people near him help. This country is fucking weird sick.
I think that would happen in any self-respecting military in the world. Military personnel can’t just stop what they’re doing (having been specifically ordered to do it) whatever the circumstances
Not when you're doing something of vital importance, maybe.
Yep, inflation is like acceleration, people think it’s connected to speed and not the rate of change of the speed
To be fair, inflation is an aggregate measure, so "halving inflation" might mean the prices of some things actually coming down.
Humour me if you will, as my head is starting to hurt.
If we go back to the speed example, which I like, halving the rate of speed increase (inflation) means having achieved a hundred miles an hour in ten seconds then reaching just 150 mph in the next ten seconds.then the rate of increase/ inflation has dropped by half in the next 10 seconds. The speed may only rise to 175 mph and in the next ten seconds 182.5 mph. This after that initial acceleration the speed inflation remains constant but your top speed is ever rising.
So how does halving inflation mean prices come down. Until the denominator reaches a point of zero inflation, won't the prices always increase?
If prices are coming down in a month, the annual level will reduce, not reverse, but prices are still falling. They are higher than at the start of the year (so inflation) but the percentage rate was lower than in previous months.
However, until they've fallen back to below where they started (deflation) they are still higher. So kicking the can on pay rises doesn't help in the end.
Video of a guardsman after fainting. The band keeps playing and none of the people near him help. This country is fucking weird sick.
I think that would happen in any self-respecting military in the world. Military personnel can’t just stop what they’re doing (having been specifically ordered to do it) whatever the circumstances
Not when you're doing something of vital importance, maybe.
But they're playing trombones.
Armies tend not to like soldiers deciding for themselves what is or is not important. When the chips are down, they want our soldiers to keep shooting at the enemy even when the sensible thing is to run away into the forest. Maybe the colonel could have noticed it was a bit warm out and arranged some sort of contingency plan.
Video of a guardsman after fainting. The band keeps playing and none of the people near him help. This country is fucking weird sick.
I think that would happen in any self-respecting military in the world. Military personnel can’t just stop what they’re doing (having been specifically ordered to do it) whatever the circumstances
Not when you're doing something of vital importance, maybe.
But they're playing trombones.
It's the other way round.
PS Service personnel follow orders regardless of what they consider to be mission importance.
This little rustic corner of Pennsylvania (near the Virginia border) is definitely Trump Country, FWIW
Lots of “don’t blame me I voted for Trump” placards outside houses. Even the odd Confederate flag
Slightly unexpected. In my simplistic British way I always presume Trump supporters are way inland and further south. America is such a patchwork
I came across some in Maine and in California - being a "hiker" means you often come across people out in the sticks with views contrary to your hosts (neo-nazi naturalist in the Tatras another example).
Even in cities though: one of my neighbours is a right wing columnist and I live in the most fervently left wing part of Edinburgh.
Video of a guardsman after fainting. The band keeps playing and none of the people near him help. This country is fucking weird sick.
I think that would happen in any self-respecting military in the world. Military personnel can’t just stop what they’re doing (having been specifically ordered to do it) whatever the circumstances
Not when you're doing something of vital importance, maybe.
But they're playing trombones.
Armies tend not to like soldiers deciding for themselves what is or is not important. When the chips are down, they want our soldiers to keep shooting at the enemy even when the sensible thing is to run away into the forest. Maybe the colonel could have noticed it was a bit warm out and arranged some sort of contingency plan.
think of the psychological effect on Putin as he was watching it live - “these animals don’t even pick up fainted trombonists, just think what they would do with their oboes to our brave heterosexual soldiers”.
Video of a guardsman after fainting. The band keeps playing and none of the people near him help. This country is fucking weird sick.
I think that would happen in any self-respecting military in the world. Military personnel can’t just stop what they’re doing (having been specifically ordered to do it) whatever the circumstances
Not when you're doing something of vital importance, maybe.
But they're playing trombones.
That’s not the way it works. Soldiers can’t judge for yourself themselves if a lawful order is of vital importance and prioritise accordingly. That’s what military discipline is all about. That’s true in all armies, at least the ones that function properly, not just the British one. I’m no soldier but being on parade, which is what they were doing, I understand has a role in promoting that discipline so military types may say it is of vital importance. Saying they’re not helping just because they’re from this specific country is plain wrong.
It has just been voted “Americas most beloved building”
No googling!
Taliesin?
Dammit, wrong Frank Lloyd Wright house!
Great guess in correct ball park.
However, when I saw you surmise, knew the correct answer; because Leon said he was on the way to Pennsylvania NOT Wisconsin.
Reading up a little Taliesin was early FLW - 1911, whilst Fallingwater was 1935 (FLW was 67).
I *think* the distinctive in the piccie shown is that horizontally orientated windows are a later feature of FLW, whilst early on he was aiui doing more like bands of squarer casement windows inspired by "prairie" houses.
As you can (or cannot) see, area that Leon's currently infesting, is mostly angry shades of red(ass) with only significant batches of blue in Pittsburgh to the north and Morgantown, WEST Virginia to the south.
Video of a guardsman after fainting. The band keeps playing and none of the people near him help. This country is fucking weird sick.
I think that would happen in any self-respecting military in the world. Military personnel can’t just stop what they’re doing (having been specifically ordered to do it) whatever the circumstances
Not when you're doing something of vital importance, maybe.
But they're playing trombones.
That’s not the way it works. Soldiers can’t judge for yourself themselves if a lawful order is of vital importance and prioritise accordingly. That’s what military discipline is all about. That’s true in all armies, at least the ones that function properly, not just the British one. I’m no soldier but being on parade, which is what they were doing, I understand has a role in promoting that discipline so military types may say it is of vital importance. Saying they’re not helping just because they’re from this specific country is plain wrong.
Most countries don't put people out in the hot sunshine wearing enormous fur hats though!
I find it hard to believe many countries do not have soldiers in inappropriate gear in hot weather.
That's not to say it may not be a problem, but it seems a poor case to do a 'woe is the UK' about.
“Imagine a society that subjects people to conditions that make them terribly unhappy then gives them the drugs to take away their unhappiness. Science fiction? It is already happening to some extent in our own society. Instead of removing the conditions that make people depressed modern society gives them antidepressant drugs. In effect antidepressants are a means of modifying an individual's internal state in such a way as to enable him to tolerate social conditions that he would otherwise find intolerable.”
The guy was, for obvious reasons, barking mad, but he made some good points about the modern condition, and how people aren't biologically geared to live the way we live now.
Video of a guardsman after fainting. The band keeps playing and none of the people near him help. This country is fucking weird sick.
I think that would happen in any self-respecting military in the world. Military personnel can’t just stop what they’re doing (having been specifically ordered to do it) whatever the circumstances
Not when you're doing something of vital importance, maybe.
But they're playing trombones.
That’s not the way it works. Soldiers can’t judge for yourself themselves if a lawful order is of vital importance and prioritise accordingly. That’s what military discipline is all about. That’s true in all armies, at least the ones that function properly, not just the British one. I’m no soldier but being on parade, which is what they were doing, I understand has a role in promoting that discipline so military types may say it is of vital importance. Saying they’re not helping just because they’re from this specific country is plain wrong.
Most countries don't put people out in the hot sunshine wearing enormous fur hats though!
I find it hard to believe many countries do not have soldiers in inappropriate gear in hot weather.
That's not to say it may not be a problem, but it seems a poor case to do a 'woe is the UK' about.
Far more concerned about hot weather exercises in the Brecons etc leading to deaths, than someone fainting on parade.
I see from Tomorrow's MPs that some CLPs are having a tantrum about that Driscoll chap. All seems very self defeating.
Labour Party in Blyth Valley have joined those constituency parties refusing to nominate in North East mayoral selection process, in protest at exclusion of Jamie Driscoll.
According to someone on the media lately, even the regional Conservatives respect Driscoll in his current Mayoralty. Starmer may have called this one wrong.
Will be interesting how many front pages run with how divided Labour is and having a civil war meltdown.
Travel tip for Leon - IF you plan your route rightly (or wrongly depending on perspective, you can drive across the State of Maryland in a few minutes, at Hancock where distance is just 5 miles or so, between Mason-Dixon line (PA-MD border) to the north, and the North Branch of Potomac River (MD-WV border) to the south.
Years ago on a road trip, did just that with a friend of mine.
Since the statute of limitation expired long ago, can confess we celebrated the occasion by smoking a tri-state spliff.
I have placed political bets before the narrative settles and odds tighten. Uxbridge is a near certain win for Sunak in my opinion, because of the number of people of Indian heritage who can vote in Uxbridge.
Mid staffs I see as toss up, but I have placed the bet on Lib Dem’s, because their by election machine not let me down in the past, and Boris Tories actually want to give Rishi a bloody nose.
Video of a guardsman after fainting. The band keeps playing and none of the people near him help. This country is fucking weird sick.
I think that would happen in any self-respecting military in the world. Military personnel can’t just stop what they’re doing (having been specifically ordered to do it) whatever the circumstances
Not when you're doing something of vital importance, maybe.
But they're playing trombones.
That’s not the way it works. Soldiers can’t judge for yourself themselves if a lawful order is of vital importance and prioritise accordingly. That’s what military discipline is all about. That’s true in all armies, at least the ones that function properly, not just the British one. I’m no soldier but being on parade, which is what they were doing, I understand has a role in promoting that discipline so military types may say it is of vital importance. Saying they’re not helping just because they’re from this specific country is plain wrong.
Most countries don't put people out in the hot sunshine wearing enormous fur hats though!
Video of a guardsman after fainting. The band keeps playing and none of the people near him help. This country is fucking weird sick.
Fainting is embarrassing but not usually dangerous. I doubt the guardsman would want a fuss. On a serious note, maybe the army should look into wearing cooling packs when the mercury heads north.
Yep, inflation is like acceleration, people think it’s connected to speed and not the rate of change of the speed
To be fair, inflation is an aggregate measure, so "halving inflation" might mean the prices of some things actually coming down.
Humour me if you will, as my head is starting to hurt.
If we go back to the speed example, which I like, halving the rate of speed increase (inflation) means having achieved a hundred miles an hour in ten seconds then reaching just 150 mph in the next ten seconds.then the rate of increase/ inflation has dropped by half in the next 10 seconds. The speed may only rise to 175 mph and in the next ten seconds 182.5 mph. This after that initial acceleration the speed inflation remains constant but your top speed is ever rising.
So how does halving inflation mean prices come down. Until the denominator reaches a point of zero inflation, won't the prices always increase?
It doesn't. If inflation is positive, prices in bulk are going up. But some prices will be rising faster than others, and some might even be falling. It's the bulk that counts.
Take a beach. If the tide is coming in, the water level is generally rising. But in one place it might be falling due to a wave just having passed. Of course, it's rising in more places than it's falling.
Yes, and it's also how you measure it that counts.
Inflation is based on a representative basket of goods but no two individuals will have exactly the same pattern of purchases so when there is volatility, one person might be experiencing relatively stable prices, another might be seeing increases, and another might be seeing price falls.
Just glancing at it, some of that stuff about "leftists" doesn't half remind me of the way a couple of people on here talk. If HYUFD is a large language model, he for sure was trained in part on this.
Talking of manifesto’s, if you are in Scotland, why are you using a Forest Green Rovers avatar - they are the just stop oil hooligans over in West Country somewhere, who are underwriting Labours next general election and writing the Labour manifesto!
Video of a guardsman after fainting. The band keeps playing and none of the people near him help. This country is fucking weird sick.
I think that would happen in any self-respecting military in the world. Military personnel can’t just stop what they’re doing (having been specifically ordered to do it) whatever the circumstances
Not when you're doing something of vital importance, maybe.
But they're playing trombones.
That’s not the way it works. Soldiers can’t judge for yourself themselves if a lawful order is of vital importance and prioritise accordingly. That’s what military discipline is all about. That’s true in all armies, at least the ones that function properly, not just the British one. I’m no soldier but being on parade, which is what they were doing, I understand has a role in promoting that discipline so military types may say it is of vital importance. Saying they’re not helping just because they’re from this specific country is plain wrong.
Most countries don't put people out in the hot sunshine wearing enormous fur hats though!
No, but many have parades in equally inappropriate whether and dress. In India the school I worked at had close links with the local military bases and I saw teenage cadet soldiers parade in insane temperatures (hotter than London today) wearing some form of hat with huge feathers on it. That was miserable just watching in a short sleeved shirt in the shade.
I'm reading "Values, Voice and Virtue" at the moment. They do have a similar style (although to be fair to Goodwin, he's not ever going to be a bomber)
I have placed political bets before the narrative settles and odds tighten. Uxbridge is a near certain win for Sunak in my opinion, because of the number of people of Indian heritage who can vote in Uxbridge.
Mid staffs I see as toss up, but I have placed the bet on Lib Dem’s, because their by election machine not let me down in the past, and Boris Tories actually want to give Rishi a bloody nose.
How many people of Indian heritage can vote in Uxbridge?
Based on all the vox popping on TV news it’s like down town Delhi!
If you disagree with me and feel Labour have a chance of beating the Sunak fan club in Uxbridge, by all means place your own bet.
Just glancing at it, some of that stuff about "leftists" doesn't half remind me of the way a couple of people on here talk. If HYUFD is a large language model, he for sure was trained in part on this.
Talking of manifesto’s, if you are in Scotland, why are you using a Forest Green Rovers avatar - they are the just stop oil hooligans over in West Country somewhere, who are underwriting Labours next general election and writing the Labour manifesto!
They were very nice when they played Ipswich this season. Particularly given we did the double over them. Not hard TBF.
Video of a guardsman after fainting. The band keeps playing and none of the people near him help. This country is fucking weird sick.
I think that would happen in any self-respecting military in the world. Military personnel can’t just stop what they’re doing (having been specifically ordered to do it) whatever the circumstances
Not when you're doing something of vital importance, maybe.
But they're playing trombones.
That’s not the way it works. Soldiers can’t judge for yourself themselves if a lawful order is of vital importance and prioritise accordingly. That’s what military discipline is all about. That’s true in all armies, at least the ones that function properly, not just the British one. I’m no soldier but being on parade, which is what they were doing, I understand has a role in promoting that discipline so military types may say it is of vital importance. Saying they’re not helping just because they’re from this specific country is plain wrong.
Most countries don't put people out in the hot sunshine wearing enormous fur hats though!
I find it hard to believe many countries do not have soldiers in inappropriate gear in hot weather.
That's not to say it may not be a problem, but it seems a poor case to do a 'woe is the UK' about.
Which ones? I remember seen Greek ones but that were furry bobbles on the toes... funny but not mad. I've tried googling a few other countries and I don't see much in the way of giant furry hats. It's insane. It's literally mad. We are a mad country.
I said inappropriate gear specifically because it can be a wider matter. Breastplates, multiple layers, constricting garb, helmets, it's all the same thing, as DougSeal notes.
Your principal issue now seems to be that they have silly hats, which is undoubtedly true, and I'm sure did not help one bit, but the issue of concern was presumably more about them being in hot weather in outfits which are not conducive to that environment rather than the specifics of the attire.
I have placed political bets before the narrative settles and odds tighten. Uxbridge is a near certain win for Sunak in my opinion, because of the number of people of Indian heritage who can vote in Uxbridge.
Mid staffs I see as toss up, but I have placed the bet on Lib Dem’s, because their by election machine not let me down in the past, and Boris Tories actually want to give Rishi a bloody nose.
How many people of Indian heritage can vote in Uxbridge?
Uxbridge is in LB Hillingdon. You can get a fair idea from the below link-
I have placed political bets before the narrative settles and odds tighten. Uxbridge is a near certain win for Sunak in my opinion, because of the number of people of Indian heritage who can vote in Uxbridge.
Mid staffs I see as toss up, but I have placed the bet on Lib Dem’s, because their by election machine not let me down in the past, and Boris Tories actually want to give Rishi a bloody nose.
How many people of Indian heritage can vote in Uxbridge?
9%. Even if we assume they are heavily Tory, say 6-3, I doubt if it will be enough.
where am I? There are enough clues in here to guess
I’m playing catch up. I know the answer has already been established, but… Fallingwater is one of the most outstanding pieces of architecture I’ve ever seen. That being said… I have to say that Kentuck Knob is just as magnificent. The low profile of the latter is reminiscent of some Australian and New Zealand architecture (the Napier Wallace house in Melbourne.)
“Three courts decide the fate of a politician. There is the House, there is the privileges committee and there is the electorate — and Boris has decided that he doesn’t want to face any of them.”
J.D. Vance @JDVance1 · 3h My message to conservatives: this is the most important thing that’s happened in our government in at least a decade. I think you should vote for Trump. But whoever your candidate is, if the opposition can use the legal system like this with no consequence, the Republic is over.
I tend to think the betting for the two by-elections is under estimating the Tories chances. I’m not convinced punters are looking at this logically and seem to have been caught up in all the drama .
Video of a guardsman after fainting. The band keeps playing and none of the people near him help. This country is fucking weird sick.
Fainting is embarrassing but not usually dangerous. I doubt the guardsman would want a fuss. On a serious note, maybe the army should look into wearing cooling packs when the mercury heads north.
Isn't it about sweating out too much salt?
Reducing the temperature will reduce sweating but I suspect the immediate problem is a drop in blood pressure as veins expand in an effort to cool the body. Either way, cooling should help. Ask Foxy when he is next around.
I have placed political bets before the narrative settles and odds tighten. Uxbridge is a near certain win for Sunak in my opinion, because of the number of people of Indian heritage who can vote in Uxbridge.
Mid staffs I see as toss up, but I have placed the bet on Lib Dem’s, because their by election machine not let me down in the past, and Boris Tories actually want to give Rishi a bloody nose.
How many people of Indian heritage can vote in Uxbridge?
9%. Even if we assume they are heavily Tory, say 6-3, I doubt if it will be enough.
I assume you're using the census figures for Hindus as a proxy, but it's not quite the question I asked. Reason why it might be different is the census might have a disproportionate number of non-voters in that area (foreign, under 18). Also there maybe people of Indian heritage who don't identify as Hindu. Correct me if my assumption about your 9% figure is wrong, I assumed that because it's the same figure I was looking at earlier with regards to HYUFD's Hindus-vote-for-Sunak thesis.
Happy to have you on my side for once, but don’t forget who’s the boss.
Video of a guardsman after fainting. The band keeps playing and none of the people near him help. This country is fucking weird sick.
I think that would happen in any self-respecting military in the world. Military personnel can’t just stop what they’re doing (having been specifically ordered to do it) whatever the circumstances
Not when you're doing something of vital importance, maybe.
But they're playing trombones.
That’s not the way it works. Soldiers can’t judge for yourself themselves if a lawful order is of vital importance and prioritise accordingly. That’s what military discipline is all about. That’s true in all armies, at least the ones that function properly, not just the British one. I’m no soldier but being on parade, which is what they were doing, I understand has a role in promoting that discipline so military types may say it is of vital importance. Saying they’re not helping just because they’re from this specific country is plain wrong.
Most countries don't put people out in the hot sunshine wearing enormous fur hats though!
I find it hard to believe many countries do not have soldiers in inappropriate gear in hot weather.
That's not to say it may not be a problem, but it seems a poor case to do a 'woe is the UK' about.
Which ones? I remember seen Greek ones but that were furry bobbles on the toes... funny but not mad. I've tried googling a few other countries and I don't see much in the way of giant furry hats. It's insane. It's literally mad. We are a mad country.
You are an arse or the worst order.
A list of the other countries that use bearskin caps, including Canada, Sweden, Sri Lanka (notably chilly there) and Belgium, is at the below link -
Sadly I guessed Falling Water as soon as I saw the first photo but I am some hours too late.
I’m not surprised it is Trump country. As far as I can tell, Leon is actually in Northern Appalachia.
Although I’d previously thought it purely southern hillbilly high country, Appalachia actually continues north and really only peters out in New York State with the Catskills.
There’s a kind of isobar in the Catskills where the bitter people with guns meet the hipster Brooklyn refugees, leftover Bob Dylan wannabes, abandoned Jewish holiday camps, and yoghurt-knitting lesbians.
where am I? There are enough clues in here to guess
I’m playing catch up. I know the answer has already been established, but… Fallingwater is one of the most outstanding pieces of architecture I’ve ever seen. That being said… I have to say that Kentuck Knob is just as magnificent. The low profile of the latter is reminiscent of some Australian and New Zealand architecture (the Napier Wallace house in Melbourne.)
Those tree trunks are quite slender. Was there a recentish forest fire?
J.D. Vance @JDVance1 · 3h My message to conservatives: this is the most important thing that’s happened in our government in at least a decade. I think you should vote for Trump. But whoever your candidate is, if the opposition can use the legal system like this with no consequence, the Republic is over.
Just glancing at it, some of that stuff about "leftists" doesn't half remind me of the way a couple of people on here talk. If HYUFD is a large language model, he for sure was trained in part on this.
Talking of manifesto’s, if you are in Scotland, why are you using a Forest Green Rovers avatar - they are the just stop oil hooligans over in West Country somewhere, who are underwriting Labours next general election and writing the Labour manifesto!
I have this as my avatar because months and months ago I saw someone bitterly and angrily denouncing them for reasons I couldn't begin to comprehend. It was quite funny and so I changed my avatar.
Oddly, I don't remember them mentioning anything about JSO. They seemed to be angry about vegetarianism. I can't resist that kind of bait so it was my gentle fuck you to all that nonsense.
I'm very pleased to note that there are even more reasons it might annoy. It should not be taken as endorsement of the Labour Party, though, but I don't think anybody normal would leap to that conclusion.
That was probably me banging on about vegetarianism, because vegetarianism is completely stupid.
Is a football club both brainwashing vegetarian is good as well as just stop oil?
Something is very wrong here! If we tolerate Forest Green Rovers our own children could be next. 😠
Just glancing at it, some of that stuff about "leftists" doesn't half remind me of the way a couple of people on here talk. If HYUFD is a large language model, he for sure was trained in part on this.
Talking of manifesto’s, if you are in Scotland, why are you using a Forest Green Rovers avatar - they are the just stop oil hooligans over in West Country somewhere, who are underwriting Labours next general election and writing the Labour manifesto!
I have this as my avatar because months and months ago I saw someone bitterly and angrily denouncing them for reasons I couldn't begin to comprehend. It was quite funny and so I changed my avatar.
Oddly, I don't remember them mentioning anything about JSO. They seemed to be angry about vegetarianism. I can't resist that kind of bait so it was my gentle fuck you to all that nonsense.
I'm very pleased to note that there are even more reasons it might annoy. It should not be taken as endorsement of the Labour Party, though, but I don't think anybody normal would leap to that conclusion.
That was probably me banging on about vegetarianism, because vegetarianism is completely stupid.
Is a football club both brainwashing vegetarian is good as well as just stop oil?
Something is very wrong here! If we tolerate Forest Green Rovers our own children could be next. 😠
They’re not very good though. Why kick a club when they’re down?
Just glancing at it, some of that stuff about "leftists" doesn't half remind me of the way a couple of people on here talk. If HYUFD is a large language model, he for sure was trained in part on this.
Talking of manifesto’s, if you are in Scotland, why are you using a Forest Green Rovers avatar - they are the just stop oil hooligans over in West Country somewhere, who are underwriting Labours next general election and writing the Labour manifesto!
I have this as my avatar because months and months ago I saw someone bitterly and angrily denouncing them for reasons I couldn't begin to comprehend. It was quite funny and so I changed my avatar.
Oddly, I don't remember them mentioning anything about JSO. They seemed to be angry about vegetarianism. I can't resist that kind of bait so it was my gentle fuck you to all that nonsense.
I'm very pleased to note that there are even more reasons it might annoy. It should not be taken as endorsement of the Labour Party, though, but I don't think anybody normal would leap to that conclusion.
That was probably me banging on about vegetarianism, because vegetarianism is completely stupid.
Is a football club both brainwashing vegetarian is good as well as just stop oil?
Something is very wrong here! If we tolerate Forest Green Rovers our own children could be next. 😠
They’re not very good though. Why kick a club when they’re down?
That’s a bit like saying, why kick Michael Foot’s walking stick away.
So either Sunak tried to play 4D chess and it blew up in his face and/or Boris Johnson didn't listen properly.
Dorries, Sharma and Adams were removed by Holac because, under the rules, for them to remain on Johnson’s list they would have had to have resigned as MPs within six months. None of them signalled to Holac they would do so. That left them with only one alternative: that Sunak would, at a later date and in his own name, formally nominate them for peerages. He was not prepared to do so.
This technical process appears to have been lost on Johnson and his nominees, who were under the mistaken belief they could be automatically re-vetted every six months without needing to be renominated as long as they announced they were standing down before the election.
Both Dorries and Sharma sought to get clarification from No 10 and Holac. “That information was deliberately withheld,” said one of the would-be peers. “If anyone had said to us that we needed to stand down to be on the list, that is what we would have done. They withheld the process to stop by-elections and look what has happened. I think there was something much more devious and sinister about it. They want Boris and his allies out of Westminster.”
Dorries first got wind that there might be a problem around 7pm on Thursday, when a journalist contacted her having been tipped off by someone in No 10. In conversations with a senior minister on Friday morning, she is understood to have repeatedly stated that Johnson had been given personal assurances that she could be re-vetted and nominated at a later date. She was informed he was in no position to be giving her personal assurances, and that she would have needed to have either resigned already, or have notified Holac of her intention to do so.
Dorries then asked whether it was possible for her to be put back on the list if she resigned that day. The answer was no. She then asked whether Sunak would submit her name for a peerage at the next election in 2024. She was told he would not be making personal assurances to anyone. She resigned hours later.
Sadly I guessed Falling Water as soon as I saw the first photo but I am some hours too late.
I’m not surprised it is Trump country. As far as I can tell, Leon is actually in Northern Appalachia.
Although I’d previously thought it purely southern hillbilly high country, Appalachia actually continues north and really only peters out in New York State with the Catskills.
There’s a kind of isobar in the Catskills where the bitter people with guns meet the hipster Brooklyn refugees, leftover Bob Dylan wannabes, abandoned Jewish holiday camps, and yoghurt-knitting lesbians.
Culturally "Northern Appalachia" is quite different from Appalachia proper (or improper if you prefer). Both with lots of Scots-Irish heritage, ditto German, but one is definitely NORTHERN in way the other is NOT.
Have personally lived in, and with, both - the difference is pretty stark really.
But plenty of lifestyle, economic, ideological and political similarity these days.
However, in the Pennsylvania Outback, between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg - famously called "Alabama with coal mines" by James Carvel) there are damn few of the hipsters, etc. cited for Catskills. Except for State College = home of Pennsylvania State University, aka Penn State NOT to be confused with Trump's alma mater (sorta) the University of Pennsylvania (in Philly).
After the meeting with Sunak, Johnson messaged Nadine Dorries to say: “Just finished the meeting with Rishi. List being published imminently. You’re on it.” When it finally dropped on Friday, it was shorn of peerages for Dorries, Adams and Sharma, as well as gongs for two Tory donors, David Ross and Stuart Marks.
A Johnson ally accused Sunak of “a sleight of hand we regard as deceitful”, accusing him of being “clever-clever” and misreading the politics. “He thinks he’s being very clever when he’s being very stupid. He’s like a shit batsman who completely misreads the delivery.” Another accused Sunak of sophistry and speaking in tongues.
The problem for Johnson is that the only person taking notes was the Sunak aide. In this account, Sunak said to Johnson: “I don’t want you to leave this room thinking I have made you a promise as that will be a problem in our relationship going forward.”
So either Sunak tried to play 4D chess and it blew up in his face and/or Boris Johnson didn't listen properly.
Dorries, Sharma and Adams were removed by Holac because, under the rules, for them to remain on Johnson’s list they would have had to have resigned as MPs within six months. None of them signalled to Holac they would do so. That left them with only one alternative: that Sunak would, at a later date and in his own name, formally nominate them for peerages. He was not prepared to do so.
This technical process appears to have been lost on Johnson and his nominees, who were under the mistaken belief they could be automatically re-vetted every six months without needing to be renominated as long as they announced they were standing down before the election.
Both Dorries and Sharma sought to get clarification from No 10 and Holac. “That information was deliberately withheld,” said one of the would-be peers. “If anyone had said to us that we needed to stand down to be on the list, that is what we would have done. They withheld the process to stop by-elections and look what has happened. I think there was something much more devious and sinister about it. They want Boris and his allies out of Westminster.”
Dorries first got wind that there might be a problem around 7pm on Thursday, when a journalist contacted her having been tipped off by someone in No 10. In conversations with a senior minister on Friday morning, she is understood to have repeatedly stated that Johnson had been given personal assurances that she could be re-vetted and nominated at a later date. She was informed he was in no position to be giving her personal assurances, and that she would have needed to have either resigned already, or have notified Holac of her intention to do so.
Dorries then asked whether it was possible for her to be put back on the list if she resigned that day. The answer was no. She then asked whether Sunak would submit her name for a peerage at the next election in 2024. She was told he would not be making personal assurances to anyone. She resigned hours later.
where am I? There are enough clues in here to guess
I’m playing catch up. I know the answer has already been established, but… Fallingwater is one of the most outstanding pieces of architecture I’ve ever seen. That being said… I have to say that Kentuck Knob is just as magnificent. The low profile of the latter is reminiscent of some Australian and New Zealand architecture (the Napier Wallace house in Melbourne.)
Those tree trunks are quite slender. Was there a recentish forest fire?
Looks pretty much like standard eastern deciduous USA forest to me.
Bigger trees tend not to grow right up against streams. Also possible trees may have been thinned out near house, in part to lessen fire danger.
But like I just said, looks pretty normal to me, a native (sorta) of those woods.
It is blindingly obvious that Boris Johnson should never have been allowed to stand to be the leader of the Tory Party. It is a disgrace that Tory MPs voted for him in the first place.
It is blindingly obvious that Boris Johnson should never have been allowed to stand to be the leader of the Tory Party. It is a disgrace that Tory MPs voted for him in the first place.
It’s quite funny though. Peace talks ending in a civil war. Reminds me of this -
So either Sunak tried to play 4D chess and it blew up in his face and/or Boris Johnson didn't listen properly.
Dorries, Sharma and Adams were removed by Holac because, under the rules, for them to remain on Johnson’s list they would have had to have resigned as MPs within six months. None of them signalled to Holac they would do so. That left them with only one alternative: that Sunak would, at a later date and in his own name, formally nominate them for peerages. He was not prepared to do so.
This technical process appears to have been lost on Johnson and his nominees, who were under the mistaken belief they could be automatically re-vetted every six months without needing to be renominated as long as they announced they were standing down before the election.
Both Dorries and Sharma sought to get clarification from No 10 and Holac. “That information was deliberately withheld,” said one of the would-be peers. “If anyone had said to us that we needed to stand down to be on the list, that is what we would have done. They withheld the process to stop by-elections and look what has happened. I think there was something much more devious and sinister about it. They want Boris and his allies out of Westminster.”
Dorries first got wind that there might be a problem around 7pm on Thursday, when a journalist contacted her having been tipped off by someone in No 10. In conversations with a senior minister on Friday morning, she is understood to have repeatedly stated that Johnson had been given personal assurances that she could be re-vetted and nominated at a later date. She was informed he was in no position to be giving her personal assurances, and that she would have needed to have either resigned already, or have notified Holac of her intention to do so.
Dorries then asked whether it was possible for her to be put back on the list if she resigned that day. The answer was no. She then asked whether Sunak would submit her name for a peerage at the next election in 2024. She was told he would not be making personal assurances to anyone. She resigned hours later.
Those pointing out Labour used to hold Selby, beware. They did, between 1997 and 2010. Marginally. But it wasn't this Selby. That Selby was Selby and a substantial bit of York. Including the University. This Selby and Ainsty is Selby and a collection of villages near Harrogate. Not the same thing at all. Bet accordingly.
Yeah, not a million miles from me, or the glittering metropolis of that Leeds, but very rural, farm-y, lots of big detached houses with mahoosive gardens and mahoosive Beamers and Rangies on the mahoosive drives. Be surprised if it goes anything but Tory.
It's not quite as you depict. There have been more than enough changes in demographics of the constituency to move it from the Conservatives to... any of the three parties with a bit of effort. It'sone of those areas that acts as a feeder to lots of larger economically important centres, eg. Leeds.
A lot of those living in places like Sherburn in Elmet or Tadcaster commute either to Leeds or to York. They're college and university educated and gravitate towards the Liberals more than Labour. There are still some areas which are dyed in the wool Tory - think around Tockwith, Kirk Hammerton or the parts skirting Harrogate and Knaresborough. It's the areas around Eggborough, Drax, Chapel Haddesley, North Duffield which could be interesting. Some of these areas commute to other areas (Doncaster, Hull, Sheffield).
There are plenty of local issues at play that have never really been addressed properly: flooding around Selby can be an issue, especially in places to the north such as Cawood or to the south (such as closer to Snaith). The proposal for a new village to be built off the A19 close to Escrick and Stillingfleet has not been received well: the area is a massive flood plain and putting extra pressure on an already overworked A19 from Selby to York is only asking for trouble.
Would I bet against the Conservatives? No. Then again, this is one I wouldn't bet on. There are far too many issues and variables that could influence the outcome.
Yes you’re right. I was making a sweeping generalisation. I have family in Sherburn, it’s precisely as you describe. Lots of new housing full of well paid, younger, professional types with young families and two nice SUVs on the drive.
But whether it’s enough to get the Cons out I don’t know. They’ll be angry at their mortgages and food and everything else rising, they’ll have grown up enjoying freedom of movement, they’ll be socially liberal. Starmer won’t scare them. Will they vote tactically?
It’s going to be interesting.
There are some constituencies I’ll bet on. No problem. Selby and Ainsty… I’m avoiding. Everything says that the Cons should win but I’m not so sure. Everything says Labour or the Lib Dem’s should take it, but…
I grew up in Sherburn. I know the constituency as it is today (esp. the villages like Hillam, etc) and as it was before the last rounds of mergers. It has always been a commuter constituency - my parents worked in York, Leeds and Sheffield. To be blunt, it’s a bugger of a constituency to pin down.
So many of the people I was at school with - in the 1980s and 1990s - went to uni, and thought they experienced the strikes and industrial action and voting Labour was entrenched with some families, they vote Tory. That being said, they’ve become socially liberal and enjoyed the benefits of Blair’s Labour government. Now they’re being hammered by interest rates, inflation and mortgage rates, the like of which haven’t been seen since their parents were clobbered in the 1980s.
This doesn’t apply just in Sherburn. It’s the same throughout the constituency, in places like Knottingley or Monk Fryston, Tockwith or Tadcaster. Genuinely can’t call this one. The commuter element and the younger demographic make this a tough one.
Just glancing at it, some of that stuff about "leftists" doesn't half remind me of the way a couple of people on here talk. If HYUFD is a large language model, he for sure was trained in part on this.
Talking of manifesto’s, if you are in Scotland, why are you using a Forest Green Rovers avatar - they are the just stop oil hooligans over in West Country somewhere, who are underwriting Labours next general election and writing the Labour manifesto!
I have this as my avatar because months and months ago I saw someone bitterly and angrily denouncing them for reasons I couldn't begin to comprehend. It was quite funny and so I changed my avatar.
Oddly, I don't remember them mentioning anything about JSO. They seemed to be angry about vegetarianism. I can't resist that kind of bait so it was my gentle fuck you to all that nonsense.
I'm very pleased to note that there are even more reasons it might annoy. It should not be taken as endorsement of the Labour Party, though, but I don't think anybody normal would leap to that conclusion.
That was probably me banging on about vegetarianism, because vegetarianism is completely stupid.
Is a football club both brainwashing vegetarian is good as well as just stop oil?
Something is very wrong here! If we tolerate Forest Green Rovers our own children could be next. 😠
Well, I'm more tolerant of veggies than you, but I do eat meat. Nothing quite like rabbit stew.
Looks like Johnson's lack of attention to detail has bitten him in his fat lardy ass again.
Relying on Boris Johnson for anything, is just as stupid as relying on Donald Trump.
Also visa versa.
As my card carrying New Englander wife never ceases to remind me, they were both born in New York City. She doesn’t buy the whole correlation doesn’t equal causation thing.
Boris Johnson was clearly prepared to put his principles to one side and campaign for Rishi in the red wall, so I am surprised that a way was not found for his honours list to make it through the process. It seems like an unnecessary own goal. I would say Rishi is getting too big for his boots, if that were not a physical impossibility.
Boris Johnson was clearly prepared to put his principles to one side and campaign for Rishi in the red wall, so I am surprised that a way was not found for his honours list to make it through the process. It seems like an unnecessary own goal. I would say Rishi is getting too big for his boots, if that were not a physical impossibility.
What principles does he have to relocate in the manner suggested?
After the meeting with Sunak, Johnson messaged Nadine Dorries to say: “Just finished the meeting with Rishi. List being published imminently. You’re on it.” When it finally dropped on Friday, it was shorn of peerages for Dorries, Adams and Sharma, as well as gongs for two Tory donors, David Ross and Stuart Marks.
A Johnson ally accused Sunak of “a sleight of hand we regard as deceitful”, accusing him of being “clever-clever” and misreading the politics. “He thinks he’s being very clever when he’s being very stupid. He’s like a shit batsman who completely misreads the delivery.” Another accused Sunak of sophistry and speaking in tongues.
The problem for Johnson is that the only person taking notes was the Sunak aide. In this account, Sunak said to Johnson: “I don’t want you to leave this room thinking I have made you a promise as that will be a problem in our relationship going forward.”
A neat demonstration of the lazy cluelessness and entitlement of the Johnson coterie.
I have placed political bets before the narrative settles and odds tighten. Uxbridge is a near certain win for Sunak in my opinion, because of the number of people of Indian heritage who can vote in Uxbridge.
Mid staffs I see as toss up, but I have placed the bet on Lib Dem’s, because their by election machine not let me down in the past, and Boris Tories actually want to give Rishi a bloody nose.
How many people of Indian heritage can vote in Uxbridge?
9%. Even if we assume they are heavily Tory, say 6-3, I doubt if it will be enough.
I assume you're using the census figures for Hindus as a proxy, but it's not quite the question I asked. Reason why it might be different is the census might have a disproportionate number of non-voters in that area (foreign, under 18). Also there maybe people of Indian heritage who don't identify as Hindu. Correct me if my assumption about your 9% figure is wrong, I assumed that because it's the same figure I was looking at earlier with regards to HYUFD's Hindus-vote-for-Sunak thesis.
Yes, actually my figure is unreliable - I'm quoting someone else (and can't remember who). Ignore me, sorry.
Boris Johnson was clearly prepared to put his principles to one side and campaign for Rishi in the red wall, so I am surprised that a way was not found for his honours list to make it through the process. It seems like an unnecessary own goal. I would say Rishi is getting too big for his boots, if that were not a physical impossibility.
So you think that even Boris-loving voters, are gonna be outraged because Mad Nad, etc. did NOT get their promised peerages? Really?
For every vote Sunak looses on THAT basis, likely to pick up two or more for refusing BoJo's dishounours list.
Won't save him or the Tories at next general election. But at least sign that he & they have stopped digging their hole deeper.
It is blindingly obvious that Boris Johnson should never have been allowed to stand to be the leader of the Tory Party. It is a disgrace that Tory MPs voted for him in the first place.
It’s quite funny though. Peace talks ending in a civil war. Reminds me of this -
Looks like Johnson's lack of attention to detail has bitten him in his fat lardy ass again.
Relying on Boris Johnson for anything, is just as stupid as relying on Donald Trump.
Also visa versa.
As my card carrying New Englander wife never ceases to remind me, they were both born in New York City. She doesn’t buy the whole correlation doesn’t equal causation thing.
Perhaps they are secretly half brothers and no one has put two and two together
Have the people saying Boris will be making a comeback realised that if his supporters resign as MPs then he won't have their votes in a future leadership election.
Dorries and Adams would have been certain Johnson votes - he's now lost them!
Some may say it's only two votes so who cares - but if others resign / don't stand at next GE then it would be significant in any future leadership election. Truss only just edged Mordaunt in the final MPs ballot - every vote counts.
This is yet another reason, of course, why Boris will not become leader again.
Comments
Pittsburgh is also famous for its museum with the original dinosaur Diplodocus funded by Carnegie - itself a huge cultural icon in its own right (the one in London NHM is merely a plaster cast of it). (And btw his birthplace in Dunfermline not far from here is quite something to see, not least the way it is dwarfed by the commemorative museum and hall that he built next to it.)
Quite how he can be the fool that he is and yet observe wisely in some things escapes me. The most likely confusion is that I have somehow misjudged him. Perhaps not a Chump. Ok, so moving on....
Whereas I know more about North American geography, for what it's worth.
Even Bairstow would have caught that.
Think of it this way: imagine a Chinese dissident who we really like: our support for him might be strengthened if the Chinese authorities prosecuted him - more evidence of state repression, isn't it? Conversely, if they leave him alone, maybe he's not that persecuted after all?
It's nuts in the case of Trump, but it has a sort of internal logic.
"The only candidate George Bush [the Elder] fears enough to put in jail".
Did NOT do wonders for LLR but then his starting base was wee bit more limited that DJT's.
Nor is he the most astute and brave observer of our age.
I don't know how closely you've looked at him. If you haven't done so already, you might read up on how he rates "Memories, Dreams, Reflections" by Carl Gustav Jung, not omitting to consider the God-sent turd that Jung writes about in it near the beginning. His engaging in name-calling is (in his mind) Jung-inspired.
Dunno about judging or misjudging, but there's a lot out there about this guy and how he thinks. I studied him in depth in 2016.
Luke Barr
@LukeLBarr
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26m
NEW: Ted Kaczynski known as the Unabomber died in his prison cell this morning, according to a BOP spokesperson.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/06/03/samuel-kasumu-london-mayoral-election/ (£££)
He impersonates BorIs and does that girl that goes "Yeah but, no but."
The 2 characters have become one.
Lots of “don’t blame me I voted for Trump” placards outside houses. Even the odd Confederate flag
Slightly unexpected. In my simplistic British way I always presume Trump supporters are way inland and further south. America is such a patchwork
Humour me if you will, as my head is starting to hurt.
If we go back to the speed example, which I like, halving the rate of speed increase (inflation) means having achieved a hundred miles an hour in ten seconds then reaching just 150 mph in the next ten seconds.then the rate of increase/ inflation has dropped by half in the next 10 seconds. The speed may only rise to 175 mph and in the next ten seconds 182.5 mph. This after that initial acceleration the speed inflation remains constant but your
top speed is ever rising.
So how does halving inflation mean prices come down. Until the denominator reaches a point of zero inflation, won't the prices always increase?
I love LBC's Legal Hour lol
(Aren't they actually ordered not to respond to such an incident?)
However, until they've fallen back to below where they started (deflation) they are still higher. So kicking the can on pay rises doesn't help in the end.
AKA Suella rather than Boris, on gender grounds.
PS Service personnel follow orders regardless of what they consider to be mission importance.
Even in cities though: one of my neighbours is a right wing columnist and I live in the most fervently left wing part of Edinburgh.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/unabomber/manifesto.text.htm
I *think* the distinctive in the piccie shown is that horizontally orientated windows are a later feature of FLW, whilst early on he was aiui doing more like bands of squarer casement windows inspired by "prairie" houses.
Taliesin:
West Virginians are used to being ignored and/or mistook in this manner.
As for unexpected Trump support in - of all places - Pennsylvania, check out this (paywalled?) map:
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/upshot/2020-election-map.html
As you can (or cannot) see, area that Leon's currently infesting, is mostly angry shades of red(ass) with only significant batches of blue in Pittsburgh to the north and Morgantown, WEST Virginia to the south.
That's not to say it may not be a problem, but it seems a poor case to do a 'woe is the UK' about.
The guy was, for obvious reasons, barking mad, but he made some good points about the modern condition, and how people aren't biologically geared to live the way we live now.
Years ago on a road trip, did just that with a friend of mine.
Since the statute of limitation expired long ago, can confess we celebrated the occasion by smoking a tri-state spliff.
Mid staffs I see as toss up, but I have placed the bet on Lib Dem’s, because their by election machine not let me down in the past, and Boris Tories actually want to give Rishi a bloody nose.
Except the bears.
Did Paddington comment on hats made from bears?
Inflation is based on a representative basket of goods but no two individuals will have exactly the same pattern of purchases so when there is volatility, one person might be experiencing relatively stable prices, another might be seeing increases, and another might be seeing price falls.
If you disagree with me and feel Labour have a chance of beating the Sunak fan club in Uxbridge, by all means place your own bet.
Your principal issue now seems to be that they have silly hats, which is undoubtedly true, and I'm sure did not help one bit, but the issue of concern was presumably more about them being in hot weather in outfits which are not conducive to that environment rather than the specifics of the attire.
https://www.hillingdon.gov.uk/article/6618/Who-lives-in-the-borough
“Three courts decide the fate of a politician. There is the House, there is the privileges committee and there is the electorate — and Boris has decided that he doesn’t want to face any of them.”
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/boris-johnson-goes-down-swinging-these-people-are-only-in-parliament-because-of-me-s9qr55l6r
J.D. Vance
@JDVance1
·
3h
My message to conservatives: this is the most important thing that’s happened in our government in at least a decade. I think you should vote for Trump. But whoever your candidate is, if the opposition can use the legal system like this with no consequence, the Republic is over.
https://twitter.com/JDVance1/status/1667537109056385024
A list of the other countries that use bearskin caps, including Canada, Sweden, Sri Lanka (notably chilly there) and Belgium, is at the below link -
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bearskin
You are the reason why the left in the U.K. gets nowhere. You think that insulting the country is the best way of winning votes.
"'If you give me my honours list, nod it through, I will come campaign for you in the Red Wall seats.'"
Tim Shipman explains how 'Peace talks' between Rishi Sunak and Boris Johnson descended into chaos, and led to the former PM's dramatic resignation.
https://twitter.com/TimesRadio/status/1667590648759820291
I’m not surprised it is Trump country.
As far as I can tell, Leon is actually in Northern Appalachia.
Although I’d previously thought it purely southern hillbilly high country, Appalachia actually continues north and really only peters out in New York State with the Catskills.
There’s a kind of isobar in the Catskills where the bitter people with guns meet the hipster Brooklyn refugees, leftover Bob Dylan wannabes, abandoned Jewish holiday camps, and yoghurt-knitting lesbians.
I have a zero tolerance for Trump supporters. They should all be sterilized so they can’t further pollute the US gene pool.
Is a football club both brainwashing vegetarian is good as well as just stop oil?
Something is very wrong here! If we tolerate Forest Green Rovers our own children could be next. 😠
Since yesterday evening David Cameron has been telling friends.
Who knew my recall law was so powerful, everyone called it feeble at the time.
Because we don’t like them, I suppose.
Dorries, Sharma and Adams were removed by Holac because, under the rules, for them to remain on Johnson’s list they would have had to have resigned as MPs within six months. None of them signalled to Holac they would do so. That left them with only one alternative: that Sunak would, at a later date and in his own name, formally nominate them for peerages. He was not prepared to do so.
This technical process appears to have been lost on Johnson and his nominees, who were under the mistaken belief they could be automatically re-vetted every six months without needing to be renominated as long as they announced they were standing down before the election.
Both Dorries and Sharma sought to get clarification from No 10 and Holac. “That information was deliberately withheld,” said one of the would-be peers. “If anyone had said to us that we needed to stand down to be on the list, that is what we would have done. They withheld the process to stop by-elections and look what has happened. I think there was something much more devious and sinister about it. They want Boris and his allies out of Westminster.”
Dorries first got wind that there might be a problem around 7pm on Thursday, when a journalist contacted her having been tipped off by someone in No 10. In conversations with a senior minister on Friday morning, she is understood to have repeatedly stated that Johnson had been given personal assurances that she could be re-vetted and nominated at a later date. She was informed he was in no position to be giving her personal assurances, and that she would have needed to have either resigned already, or have notified Holac of her intention to do so.
Dorries then asked whether it was possible for her to be put back on the list if she resigned that day. The answer was no. She then asked whether Sunak would submit her name for a peerage at the next election in 2024. She was told he would not be making personal assurances to anyone. She resigned hours later.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/boris-johnson-goes-down-swinging-these-people-are-only-in-parliament-because-of-me-s9qr55l6r
I'm leaning on both.
Have personally lived in, and with, both - the difference is pretty stark really.
But plenty of lifestyle, economic, ideological and political similarity these days.
However, in the Pennsylvania Outback, between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg - famously called "Alabama with coal mines" by James Carvel) there are damn few of the hipsters, etc. cited for Catskills. Except for State College = home of Pennsylvania State University, aka Penn State NOT to be confused with Trump's alma mater (sorta) the University of Pennsylvania (in Philly).
A Johnson ally accused Sunak of “a sleight of hand we regard as deceitful”, accusing him of being “clever-clever” and misreading the politics. “He thinks he’s being very clever when he’s being very stupid. He’s like a shit batsman who completely misreads the delivery.” Another accused Sunak of sophistry and speaking in tongues.
The problem for Johnson is that the only person taking notes was the Sunak aide. In this account, Sunak said to Johnson: “I don’t want you to leave this room thinking I have made you a promise as that will be a problem in our relationship going forward.”
Bigger trees tend not to grow right up against streams. Also possible trees may have been thinned out near house, in part to lessen fire danger.
But like I just said, looks pretty normal to me, a native (sorta) of those woods.
https://youtu.be/8NFo3HctQ-o
It is blindingly obvious that Boris Johnson should never have been allowed to stand to be the leader of the Tory Party. It is a disgrace that Tory MPs voted for him in the first place.
https://youtu.be/r3BO6GP9NMY
HA!! HA!! HA!!
I grew up in Sherburn. I know the constituency as it is today (esp. the villages like Hillam, etc) and as it was before the last rounds of mergers. It has always been a commuter constituency - my parents worked in York, Leeds and Sheffield. To be blunt, it’s a bugger of a constituency to pin down.
So many of the people I was at school with - in the 1980s and 1990s - went to uni, and thought they experienced the strikes and industrial action and voting Labour was entrenched with some families, they vote Tory. That being said, they’ve become socially liberal and enjoyed the benefits of Blair’s Labour government. Now they’re being hammered by interest rates, inflation and mortgage rates, the like of which haven’t been seen since their parents were clobbered in the 1980s.
This doesn’t apply just in Sherburn. It’s the same throughout the constituency, in places like Knottingley or Monk Fryston, Tockwith or Tadcaster. Genuinely can’t call this one. The commuter element and the younger demographic make this a tough one.
Also visa versa.
For every vote Sunak looses on THAT basis, likely to pick up two or more for refusing BoJo's dishounours list.
Won't save him or the Tories at next general election. But at least sign that he & they have stopped digging their hole deeper.
I bet Sunak can’t believe his luck.
Trump’s lawyer Christina Bobb says she’s not worried about the indictment because the Special Counsel doesn’t understand how the Presidential Records Act works.
https://twitter.com/RonFilipkowski/status/1667350286669606915
Mentored by Rudy G ?
Dorries and Adams would have been certain Johnson votes - he's now lost them!
Some may say it's only two votes so who cares - but if others resign / don't stand at next GE then it would be significant in any future leadership election. Truss only just edged Mordaunt in the final MPs ballot - every vote counts.
This is yet another reason, of course, why Boris will not become leader again.