The sad thing about the Venezuela/Guyana stuiation is that even if Venezuela were to control Guyana and its oil reserves, it still wouldn't make them any better off or richer either as a country or citizens.
Venezuela already has the largest oil reserves in the world. They should be pretty much on eof the the richest countries on earth per capita. But they cannot exploit any of this wealth. This is because when Chavez came to power and Nationalised all the oil fields, he went much further and banned anyone who had previously worked for any of the privatised oil companies from working in the Oil industry in the country. So they all left. I was actually having dinner with a couple of them who are old friends of mine on Tuesday night in Aberdeen. They are still barred from working in their own country with the result that, at least until the Chevron deal earlier this year, there is simply no knowledge in Venezuela of how to exploit the vast wealth they have beneath their feet.
So whatever happens with Guyana, Venezuela will continue to be tragically poor, corrupt and backward.
Argentina otoh is about to exploit oodles of shale gas, from what I read …plus a bonanza in lithium mining. What with closing down 16 government departments and dollarization to boot, this is one to contrast and campare with Venezuela
I'd be staggered if the (forced nationalized YPF) got its act together to produce decent quantities of natural gas.
There are certainly the resources there. But the willingness of companies to invest has been rather impacted by years of poor governance.
“You are trolling folks and trying to play political games so you can out-Trump Trump,” Newsom said. “How is that going for you, Ron? You are down 41 points in your own home state.”
Re Newsom, he seems to be the Dems 'Haley', ie seen as the most likely nomination if the frontrunner for some reason isn't. So I compared them (him and her) on betfair and it's interesting. They are similar (about 7) for their noms but Haley is a fair bit shorter (at 9 something) for the WH, implying that punters think she's almost nailed on in November if she's the candidate whereas he is definitely not.
I guess this means educated opinion is that Biden is more beatable by a Not Trump than Trump is by a Not Biden. And maybe that's right due to Trump's bigger 'core', ie of voters who think of him positively and passionately. Hate to stumble my way to a point supporting Trump's chances, so hopefully there's another and better explanation.
Fairly simple, surely? Trump is a drag on the Republican ticket and still won one of two presidential elections as the electoral college as it stands favours the GOP. Biden is the only person with proof he can overcome that against Trump, but is currently polling level or behind Trump - with the former or a small lead likely resulting in a loss. All other things being equal and were the nomination not an issue, the person with the best chance in a theoretical election is a non-Trump Republican.
Except if Trump as is likely ran as an Independent in such a scenario that is also Biden's best chance of re election
Hmmm...I can't see Trump losing the GOP nomination unless there's a conviction or loss in one of his cases. If that happened and the air went out of his balloon somewhat, I wonder if he would run as an indy - knowing it means likely humiliation. He'd certainly threaten to and explore it, but one of the few things Trump can actually do properly is read polls.
As for Biden, I do think he might beat even a nominated Trump. At the moment Trump is in something of a sweetspot where his base are riled, but normies have kind of forgotten the chaos he brings a bit. Once we get into a full campaign Trump's craziness and dangerousness will be in people's faces again.
If Trump is convicted and jailed you can guarantee he will run as an Independent if he doesn't get the nomination and probably get the highest third party vote since 1912.
His ego would demand it as his act of defiance to the establishment in both parties
As I say, he'll certainly threaten and explore it - and if he runs it's very likely he does break recent third party records. But he does also hate losing. If he's, say, at 20-25 per cent and knows it would that appeal? I think there's a fair chance he'd find an excuse to drop out, claim it's because everything is rigged and he would have won if he'd stood but can't/won't as it's all so unfair. That might appeal more than the hard work of an actual campaign that would end up with him losing fairly comprehensively - even with the strongest third party showing in recent history.
Given his exposure to further criminal proceedings should a Democrat win, a face and arse saving deal with the Republican nominee would be appealing if it came to that and would allow him to claim some kind of personal victory.
But who knows, we really are in uncharted territory with Trump.
"The new synthetic opioids stronger than heroin that are being cut into drugs Nitazenes are being discovered in drugs in the UK and are said to be up to 300 times stronger than heroin."
“You are trolling folks and trying to play political games so you can out-Trump Trump,” Newsom said. “How is that going for you, Ron? You are down 41 points in your own home state.”
Re Newsom, he seems to be the Dems 'Haley', ie seen as the most likely nomination if the frontrunner for some reason isn't. So I compared them (him and her) on betfair and it's interesting. They are similar (about 7) for their noms but Haley is a fair bit shorter (at 9 something) for the WH, implying that punters think she's almost nailed on in November if she's the candidate whereas he is definitely not.
I guess this means educated opinion is that Biden is more beatable by a Not Trump than Trump is by a Not Biden. And maybe that's right due to Trump's bigger 'core', ie of voters who think of him positively and passionately. Hate to stumble my way to a point supporting Trump's chances, so hopefully there's another and better explanation.
Fairly simple, surely? Trump is a drag on the Republican ticket and still won one of two presidential elections as the electoral college as it stands favours the GOP. Biden is the only person with proof he can overcome that against Trump, but is currently polling level or behind Trump - with the former or a small lead likely resulting in a loss. All other things being equal and were the nomination not an issue, the person with the best chance in a theoretical election is a non-Trump Republican.
Except if Trump as is likely ran as an Independent in such a scenario that is also Biden's best chance of re election
Hmmm...I can't see Trump losing the GOP nomination unless there's a conviction or loss in one of his cases. If that happened and the air went out of his balloon somewhat, I wonder if he would run as an indy - knowing it means likely humiliation. He'd certainly threaten to and explore it, but one of the few things Trump can actually do properly is read polls.
As for Biden, I do think he might beat even a nominated Trump. At the moment Trump is in something of a sweetspot where his base are riled, but normies have kind of forgotten the chaos he brings a bit. Once we get into a full campaign Trump's craziness and dangerousness will be in people's faces again.
If Trump is convicted and jailed you can guarantee he will run as an Independent if he doesn't get the nomination and probably get the highest third party vote since 1912.
His ego would demand it as his act of defiance to the establishment in both parties
As I say, he'll certainly threaten and explore it - and if he runs it's very likely he does break recent third party records. But he does also hate losing. If he's, say, at 20-25 per cent and knows it would that appeal? I think there's a fair chance he'd find an excuse to drop out, claim it's because everything is rigged and he would have won if he'd stood but can't/won't as it's all so unfair. That might appeal more than the hard work of an actual campaign that would end up with him losing fairly comprehensively - even with the strongest third party showing in recent history.
Given his exposure to further criminal proceedings should a Democrat win, a face and arse saving deal with the Republican nominee would be appealing if it came to that and would allow him to claim some kind of personal victory.
But who knows, we really are in uncharted territory with Trump.
I just don't see Trump being that rational. Look at the story upthread of him going after Judge Engoron's wife on social media. Is that the behaviour of someone acting rationally?
Elon Musk: We're less than 3 years from AGI, AI that "writes novels as good as JK Rowling, discovers new physics, invents new technology
If this is true - LESS THAN THREE YEARS - then that calls for a proper
BRACE
Nope.
Let me know when it can do Kafka or Conrad or Beowulf.
The AI Panic Years are becoming hilarious.
“This is it. This is the singularity”
#OpenAI's new #Q* algorithm is reportedly so powerful "its scaring researchers". Is this beginning of the #Singularity? Mitch Randall discusses OpenAI & the Singularity. FULL INTERVIEW: youtu.be/yW70P3x06e0
Enough very well informed people are now ringing the klaxons for us, at the least, to be concerned. Dismissing it like you do as “hilarious” is simply inane
Of all people I would have thought you would be one of the first to appreciate the difference between prose generated by AI and prose generated by frail, mortal, imperfect, infinitely creative humans.
Julia was twenty-six years old... and she worked, as he had guessed, on the novel-writing machines in the Fiction Department. She enjoyed her work, which consisted chiefly in running and servicing a powerful but tricky electric motor... She could describe the whole process of composing a novel, from the general directive issued by the Planning Committee down to the final touching-up by the Rewrite Squad. But she was not interested in the final product. She "didn't much care for reading," she said. Books were just a commodity that had to be produced, like jam or bootlaces.
She sounds like a 'prompt engineer'. And might well be good enough to fill 90% of Amazon's book listings in a year or two.
"BBC is too politically correct, say working-class audiences Ofcom study has found viewers miss days when BBC was ‘fun’, with output becoming ‘dry’, ‘cringey’ and out of touch
By Anita Singh, ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR and India McTaggart, ENTERTAINMENT & ROYAL CORRESPONDENT'
How does the Telegraph know what ‘working class’ audiences think? Have they been talking to the cleaner and the gardener?
Unless you think Ofcom and the Telegraph are the same what is your point?
Just being facetious. Pb on a Friday evening!
You made an interesting point. The Telegraph reporting of the Ofcom findings bears no resemblance to it's survey. 55% of working class audiences are quite happy with the BBC reporting.
"The new synthetic opioids stronger than heroin that are being cut into drugs Nitazenes are being discovered in drugs in the UK and are said to be up to 300 times stronger than heroin."
Similar to the Guineas in Africa. Has anyone been to any of them? Guinea-Bissau sounds like the sort of place hardly anyone visits.
No, but Guinea-Bissau is on my to do list. Salt water Hippos, amongst the offshore islands, but also an infestation of drug smugglers.
It has a fascinating history as Amilcar Cabral was one of the most interesting of African Independence leaders. Probably it was him more than anyone else that brought down the Portuguese Colonial regime. He was an excellent writer, but sadly neglected nowadays.
"The new synthetic opioids stronger than heroin that are being cut into drugs Nitazenes are being discovered in drugs in the UK and are said to be up to 300 times stronger than heroin."
Also, people in the AB social bracket kept telling us: it's on too late. Professionals go to bed earlier, and the news cycle wraps earlier, so the value of a 22:30 programme diminished. Ditto because Gen Z are simply not interested in TV News.
Just discovered that it's impossible to drive from Panama to Colombia. All attempts at building a road have failed, due to it being one of the rainiest places on the planet.
"Darien Gap is a lethal break in the Pan-American Highway
Darien Gap is a break in the Pan-American Highway with a length of 60 miles (96 km) without roads. It makes that overland travel across Central America is pretty much impossible. This gap has been successfully crossed a handful of times -usually by expeditions equipped with off-road vehicles and staffed by special forces types, a near-impenetrable jungle that guerrilla fighters and drug runners call home."
I don't think there is a technical reason why a road cannot be built, it is just there is no political will to do so.
"...Julia was twenty-six years old... and she worked, as he had guessed, on the novel-writing machines in the Fiction Department. She enjoyed her work, which consisted chiefly in running and servicing a powerful but tricky electric motor... She could describe the whole process of composing a novel, from the general directive issued by the Planning Committee down to the final touching-up by the Rewrite Squad. But she was not interested in the final product. She "didn't much care for reading," she said. Books were just a commodity that had to be produced, like jam or bootlaces.."
She sounds like a 'prompt engineer'. And might well be good enough to fill 90% of Amazon's book listings in a year or two.
Probably, although she'll have to get transferred out of Pornosec first
“You are trolling folks and trying to play political games so you can out-Trump Trump,” Newsom said. “How is that going for you, Ron? You are down 41 points in your own home state.”
Re Newsom, he seems to be the Dems 'Haley', ie seen as the most likely nomination if the frontrunner for some reason isn't. So I compared them (him and her) on betfair and it's interesting. They are similar (about 7) for their noms but Haley is a fair bit shorter (at 9 something) for the WH, implying that punters think she's almost nailed on in November if she's the candidate whereas he is definitely not.
I guess this means educated opinion is that Biden is more beatable by a Not Trump than Trump is by a Not Biden. And maybe that's right due to Trump's bigger 'core', ie of voters who think of him positively and passionately. Hate to stumble my way to a point supporting Trump's chances, so hopefully there's another and better explanation.
Fairly simple, surely? Trump is a drag on the Republican ticket and still won one of two presidential elections as the electoral college as it stands favours the GOP. Biden is the only person with proof he can overcome that against Trump, but is currently polling level or behind Trump - with the former or a small lead likely resulting in a loss. All other things being equal and were the nomination not an issue, the person with the best chance in a theoretical election is a non-Trump Republican.
Except if Trump as is likely ran as an Independent in such a scenario that is also Biden's best chance of re election
Hmmm...I can't see Trump losing the GOP nomination unless there's a conviction or loss in one of his cases. If that happened and the air went out of his balloon somewhat, I wonder if he would run as an indy - knowing it means likely humiliation. He'd certainly threaten to and explore it, but one of the few things Trump can actually do properly is read polls.
As for Biden, I do think he might beat even a nominated Trump. At the moment Trump is in something of a sweetspot where his base are riled, but normies have kind of forgotten the chaos he brings a bit. Once we get into a full campaign Trump's craziness and dangerousness will be in people's faces again.
If Trump is convicted and jailed you can guarantee he will run as an Independent if he doesn't get the nomination and probably get the highest third party vote since 1912.
His ego would demand it as his act of defiance to the establishment in both parties
As I say, he'll certainly threaten and explore it - and if he runs it's very likely he does break recent third party records. But he does also hate losing. If he's, say, at 20-25 per cent and knows it would that appeal? I think there's a fair chance he'd find an excuse to drop out, claim it's because everything is rigged and he would have won if he'd stood but can't/won't as it's all so unfair. That might appeal more than the hard work of an actual campaign that would end up with him losing fairly comprehensively - even with the strongest third party showing in recent history.
Given his exposure to further criminal proceedings should a Democrat win, a face and arse saving deal with the Republican nominee would be appealing if it came to that and would allow him to claim some kind of personal victory.
But who knows, we really are in uncharted territory with Trump.
If a non Trump GOP nominee made a deal with a convicted Trump to keep him out of jail they instantly lose swing voters and Independents.
If they don't they lose the Trump base and face a Trump Independent bid
"BBC is too politically correct, say working-class audiences Ofcom study has found viewers miss days when BBC was ‘fun’, with output becoming ‘dry’, ‘cringey’ and out of touch
By Anita Singh, ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR and India McTaggart, ENTERTAINMENT & ROYAL CORRESPONDENT'
How does the Telegraph know what ‘working class’ audiences think? Have they been talking to the cleaner and the gardener?
Unless you think Ofcom and the Telegraph are the same what is your point?
The report itself has one mention of the term "politically correct" on page 20 of the 34 page document: "A key issue, raised by a number of people that we spoke to, was that BBC programming is increasingly seen as dry and serious compared to other PSB channels and the major streaming services. While this was seen as appropriate for some genres (such as news and current affairs, and certain dramas), overall our participants felt there was more ‘fun’ content available elsewhere and often turned to other channels or to streaming services for more light-hearted programming. BBC content was also seen as increasingly ‘safe’ and, by some, overly politically correct. In explaining how the BBC has become ‘safe’ people mentioned past programming they had enjoyed but felt wouldn’t be made any more , or they mentioned presenters and talent that they felt the BBC used to employ but wouldn’t now (e.g. Ricky Gervais, Jeremy Clarkson)."
Not unexpectedly, the Telegraph's take on it probably isn't a balanced representation of the main points in the report.
Bring back Jim'll Fix It and the Black and White Minstrels. Great days.
They could bring back Top of the Pops, showing Jim, Garry Glitter, and Jonathan King, all having fun together. And Animal Hospital with Rolf.
I know this is a joke post, but I would very much like to see TOTP reinstated. I am not connected to current pop music enough to know how the format should evolve and who should present it, but I think it has a value as an aid to social cohesion, and supports our domestic music industry. If the BBC is for anything, it's surely for this.
No one buys music anymore. We all pay some streaming service 15 quid a month to listen to everything whenever we want. Bands make money from touring and merch. TOTP would do nothing to help "domestic"music as we listen to artists from all over the world.
There is an advantage to domestic artists who are likelier to be able to perform on the show. Of course global artists are also free to do so if their schedules allow. TOTP and the Brit Awards were cornerstones of the UK musoc industry - something we were once 'world-beating' in.
The sad thing about the Venezuela/Guyana stuiation is that even if Venezuela were to control Guyana and its oil reserves, it still wouldn't make them any better off or richer either as a country or citizens.
Venezuela already has the largest oil reserves in the world. They should be pretty much on eof the the richest countries on earth per capita. But they cannot exploit any of this wealth. This is because when Chavez came to power and Nationalised all the oil fields, he went much further and banned anyone who had previously worked for any of the privatised oil companies from working in the Oil industry in the country. So they all left. I was actually having dinner with a couple of them who are old friends of mine on Tuesday night in Aberdeen. They are still barred from working in their own country with the result that, at least until the Chevron deal earlier this year, there is simply no knowledge in Venezuela of how to exploit the vast wealth they have beneath their feet.
So whatever happens with Guyana, Venezuela will continue to be tragically poor, corrupt and backward.
Guyana should annex ALL the Guianas into one state: Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Amapa State (Brazil), plus the eastern provinces of Venezuela: Amazonas, Bolivar and Delta Amacuro!
One of the really sad bits about Venezuela is that Chavez and Co mucked up the extraction structure.
They had some oil that was cheap and easy to get out. They had lots of oil that was hard to extract and refine. The usual plan, in that circumstance was to use the cheap oil to find the investment to work the other fields. This is what previous Venezuelan governments did.
Chavez demanded an a massive reduction in the investment and maximum production from the cheap fields. They ended up injecting water into the fields to push more oil out, faster, IIRC. Which ended up wrecking the geology as well.
When oil professionals wouldn’t go along with this, they got fired. I presume the people mentioned above were in that category.
So they have no cheap production to fund the other fields. No one will invest the money in a country where they’ve expropriated all foreign investments. And even if they get the oil out of the ground, it can only be refined at a small number of refineries - mostly in the US…
So even if the idiots are got rid off, the Venezuelan oil industry is fucked. Which is why they are looking at the neighbours…
One of my Venezuelan friends was a leading expert in heavy oil extraction. Basically drilling 3 parallel horizontal wells and pumping steam down two of them to drive the oil out via the third.
Nick Wallis's report on the latest Post Office witness.
"There has been some rank incompetence on display from various Post Office witnesses over the course of this inquiry, but I think we’ll have to go some way to find a worse performance than this."
The sad thing about the Venezuela/Guyana stuiation is that even if Venezuela were to control Guyana and its oil reserves, it still wouldn't make them any better off or richer either as a country or citizens.
Oil is a curse for second and third world countries. (Slap on the wrist for using outdated language).
I travel a lot to Madagascar. A staggeringly beautiful but run-down place. When the place was abandoned by the French all infrastructure investment stopped, and has only restarted recently led by China (with huge strings attached). They have large undeveloped offsore oil and gas deposits in the Mozambique Straits which could transform the country, but nothing is happening.
I then met one of my partners cousins who works for oil ministry (i was shocked they had one) and had a long conversation with him about how to develop the industry. He said that government did not want to rely on foreign investment because they would prefer to just use Madagascar resources, and had previously turned down an investment proposal from Total. He honestly believed that Mad could develop and operate its oilfields entirely without international help. I pointed out that no country in the world has ever done that and used Venezuela as an example.
The reality is nobody will make a decision until they ensure that they personally will proft. The Chinese will eventually run the oilfields and rob Madagascar blind ... while the oil ministry staff will all live like Russian oligarchs in France.
Nick Wallis's report on the latest Post Office witness.
"There has been some rank incompetence on display from various Post Office witnesses over the course of this inquiry, but I think we’ll have to go some way to find a worse performance than this."
Just discovered that it's impossible to drive from Panama to Colombia. All attempts at building a road have failed, due to it being one of the rainiest places on the planet.
"Darien Gap is a lethal break in the Pan-American Highway
Darien Gap is a break in the Pan-American Highway with a length of 60 miles (96 km) without roads. It makes that overland travel across Central America is pretty much impossible. This gap has been successfully crossed a handful of times -usually by expeditions equipped with off-road vehicles and staffed by special forces types, a near-impenetrable jungle that guerrilla fighters and drug runners call home."
I don't think there is a technical reason why a road cannot be built, it is just there is no political will to do so.
According to this article 500,000 migrants are set to walk across it this year.
"UNtil 2021 the numbers of people crossing the jungle were relatively inconsequential in comparison with other migratory pathways in the Americas. That year, more than 130,000 migrants successfully crossed the jungle on foot, up from an average of fewer than 11,000 per year during the previous decade. In 2022, arrivals jumped to almost 250,000 people. That number was surpassed in just the first eight months of 2023, and more than 500,000 people are on pace to cross by the end of this year."
Nick Wallis's report on the latest Post Office witness.
"There has been some rank incompetence on display from various Post Office witnesses over the course of this inquiry, but I think we’ll have to go some way to find a worse performance than this."
An excellent piece of writing making it clear for the first time how this actually happened. People signing off on prosecutions with absolutely no understanding of the evidence, the process, the source or the reliability of that material. Utterly incompetent. The banality of evil is deeply depressing.
Nick Wallis's report on the latest Post Office witness.
"There has been some rank incompetence on display from various Post Office witnesses over the course of this inquiry, but I think we’ll have to go some way to find a worse performance than this."
An excellent piece of writing making it clear for the first time how this actually happened. People signing off on prosecutions with absolutely no understanding of the evidence, the process, the source or the reliability of that material. Utterly incompetent. The banality of evil is deeply depressing.
Well, that’s what he’s claiming. Given his emails strongly suggest that he was withholding evidence from discovery processes, I’m not sure that works.
Nick Wallis's report on the latest Post Office witness.
"There has been some rank incompetence on display from various Post Office witnesses over the course of this inquiry, but I think we’ll have to go some way to find a worse performance than this."
An excellent piece of writing making it clear for the first time how this actually happened. People signing off on prosecutions with absolutely no understanding of the evidence, the process, the source or the reliability of that material. Utterly incompetent. The banality of evil is deeply depressing.
Well, that’s what he’s claiming. Given his emails strongly suggest that he was withholding evidence from discovery processes, I’m not sure that works.
I am not excusing him in any way. He should be prosecuted for perverting the course of justice. He should, of course, be struck off. But I do think that he found the idea that he was actually responsible for the decisions he made totally alien to him.
Nick Wallis's report on the latest Post Office witness.
"There has been some rank incompetence on display from various Post Office witnesses over the course of this inquiry, but I think we’ll have to go some way to find a worse performance than this."
An excellent piece of writing making it clear for the first time how this actually happened. People signing off on prosecutions with absolutely no understanding of the evidence, the process, the source or the reliability of that material. Utterly incompetent. The banality of evil is deeply depressing.
Well, that’s what he’s claiming. Given his emails strongly suggest that he was withholding evidence from discovery processes, I’m not sure that works.
I am not excusing him in any way. He should be prosecuted for perverting the course of justice. He should, of course, be struck off. But I do think that he found the idea that he was actually responsible for the decisions he made totally alien to him.
Serious question.
What are the chances of him being struck off?
My understanding is it’s quite unusual for lawyers to suffer professional penalties, no matter what they’ve done. But I am, of course, not a lawyer.
Nick Wallis's report on the latest Post Office witness.
"There has been some rank incompetence on display from various Post Office witnesses over the course of this inquiry, but I think we’ll have to go some way to find a worse performance than this."
An excellent piece of writing making it clear for the first time how this actually happened. People signing off on prosecutions with absolutely no understanding of the evidence, the process, the source or the reliability of that material. Utterly incompetent. The banality of evil is deeply depressing.
Well, that’s what he’s claiming. Given his emails strongly suggest that he was withholding evidence from discovery processes, I’m not sure that works.
I am not excusing him in any way. He should be prosecuted for perverting the course of justice. He should, of course, be struck off. But I do think that he found the idea that he was actually responsible for the decisions he made totally alien to him.
Serious question.
What are the chances of him being struck off?
My understanding is it’s quite unusual for lawyers to suffer professional penalties, no matter what they’ve done. But I am, of course, not a lawyer.
It used to be that few outside legal circles appreciated what a self-serving clique the legal profession was. Now, thanks to the PO Inquiry, a great many more know.
For that at least, we should be gratefuly to the Investigation.
Nick Wallis's report on the latest Post Office witness.
"There has been some rank incompetence on display from various Post Office witnesses over the course of this inquiry, but I think we’ll have to go some way to find a worse performance than this."
An excellent piece of writing making it clear for the first time how this actually happened. People signing off on prosecutions with absolutely no understanding of the evidence, the process, the source or the reliability of that material. Utterly incompetent. The banality of evil is deeply depressing.
Well, that’s what he’s claiming. Given his emails strongly suggest that he was withholding evidence from discovery processes, I’m not sure that works.
I am not excusing him in any way. He should be prosecuted for perverting the course of justice. He should, of course, be struck off. But I do think that he found the idea that he was actually responsible for the decisions he made totally alien to him.
I watched a bit of it. He talked about how hurt he was when he found out that someone had gone to prison.
But later (or perhaps before) there was a curious moment when he described the prosecutions as a "paper exercise", and something that he couldn't have done in person.
Just... cowardice, I suppose? A bit like ghosting or dumping someone by text.
Nick Wallis's report on the latest Post Office witness.
"There has been some rank incompetence on display from various Post Office witnesses over the course of this inquiry, but I think we’ll have to go some way to find a worse performance than this."
An excellent piece of writing making it clear for the first time how this actually happened. People signing off on prosecutions with absolutely no understanding of the evidence, the process, the source or the reliability of that material. Utterly incompetent. The banality of evil is deeply depressing.
Well, that’s what he’s claiming. Given his emails strongly suggest that he was withholding evidence from discovery processes, I’m not sure that works.
I am not excusing him in any way. He should be prosecuted for perverting the course of justice. He should, of course, be struck off. But I do think that he found the idea that he was actually responsible for the decisions he made totally alien to him.
I watched a bit of it. He talked about how hurt he was when he found out that someone had gone to prison.
But later (or perhaps before) there was a curious moment when he described the prosecutions as a "paper exercise", and something that he couldn't have done in person.
Just... cowardice, I suppose? A bit like ghosting or dumping someone by text.
My impression of him - and I think I met a number like him in my professional career - is that he had very limited abilities but was good at bullshitting his way through life and made himself useful to others by doing what they wanted without questioning the worth or morality of his actions.
It speaks volumes of the Post Office that it would actually employ such an individual in a position of authority.
"The new synthetic opioids stronger than heroin that are being cut into drugs Nitazenes are being discovered in drugs in the UK and are said to be up to 300 times stronger than heroin."
"The new synthetic opioids stronger than heroin that are being cut into drugs Nitazenes are being discovered in drugs in the UK and are said to be up to 300 times stronger than heroin."
Nick Wallis's report on the latest Post Office witness.
"There has been some rank incompetence on display from various Post Office witnesses over the course of this inquiry, but I think we’ll have to go some way to find a worse performance than this."
An excellent piece of writing making it clear for the first time how this actually happened. People signing off on prosecutions with absolutely no understanding of the evidence, the process, the source or the reliability of that material. Utterly incompetent. The banality of evil is deeply depressing.
Well, that’s what he’s claiming. Given his emails strongly suggest that he was withholding evidence from discovery processes, I’m not sure that works.
I am not excusing him in any way. He should be prosecuted for perverting the course of justice. He should, of course, be struck off. But I do think that he found the idea that he was actually responsible for the decisions he made totally alien to him.
Serious question.
What are the chances of him being struck off?
My understanding is it’s quite unusual for lawyers to suffer professional penalties, no matter what they’ve done. But I am, of course, not a lawyer.
It all sounds like Scottish system at present, one big clique getting whoever and whatever they want. they can just ignorance evidence or get the government to refuse to release it or the crown office does it for them etc. Banana republic stuff here as well.
"The new synthetic opioids stronger than heroin that are being cut into drugs Nitazenes are being discovered in drugs in the UK and are said to be up to 300 times stronger than heroin."
"The new synthetic opioids stronger than heroin that are being cut into drugs Nitazenes are being discovered in drugs in the UK and are said to be up to 300 times stronger than heroin."
what idiot buys crap from a skanky stranger not knowing what is in it, idiots.
Don't knock it, Malc. It is Natural Selection at work.
Agree Peter, just amazed at the efforts and money spent on it when ordinary people cannot get any help or assistance etc. If someone is stupid enough to inject crap into themselves then they should be left to get on with it.
Nick Wallis's report on the latest Post Office witness.
"There has been some rank incompetence on display from various Post Office witnesses over the course of this inquiry, but I think we’ll have to go some way to find a worse performance than this."
An excellent piece of writing making it clear for the first time how this actually happened. People signing off on prosecutions with absolutely no understanding of the evidence, the process, the source or the reliability of that material. Utterly incompetent. The banality of evil is deeply depressing.
Well, that’s what he’s claiming. Given his emails strongly suggest that he was withholding evidence from discovery processes, I’m not sure that works.
I am not excusing him in any way. He should be prosecuted for perverting the course of justice. He should, of course, be struck off. But I do think that he found the idea that he was actually responsible for the decisions he made totally alien to him.
The counter-argument, which doesn’t seem to have occurred to him (having only listened to extracts), is that his role was to decide whether cases were strong enough to go before the courts, and since the court cases mostly resulted in prosecutions, the miscarriages aren’t his responsibility.
Which isn’t to say that his evidence isn’t shambolic and, even making allowances for stress, nervousness and the gravity of the situation, one wonders about his competence.
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There are certainly the resources there. But the willingness of companies to invest has been rather impacted by years of poor governance.
Given his exposure to further criminal proceedings should a Democrat win, a face and arse saving deal with the Republican nominee would be appealing if it came to that and would allow him to claim some kind of personal victory.
But who knows, we really are in uncharted territory with Trump.
Nitazenes are being discovered in drugs in the UK and are said to be up to 300 times stronger than heroin."
https://news.sky.com/story/nitazenes-the-new-synthetic-opioids-stronger-than-heroin-that-are-being-cut-into-drugs-13020356
1) it is a brilliant, brilliant film.
2) Turns out Jessica Rabbit was a formative influence on eight year old Ghedebrav.
In all seriousness, point (1) really stands. It’s a film of genius. And could not be made today. And certainly not by AI.
It has a fascinating history as Amilcar Cabral was one of the most interesting of African Independence leaders. Probably it was him more than anyone else that brought down the Portuguese Colonial regime. He was an excellent writer, but sadly neglected nowadays.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amílcar_Cabral
So the Israelis are doing a good job of minimising child casualties?
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/oct/06/synthetic-opioids-may-be-behind-rise-of-fatal-overdoses-in-west-midlands
Also, people in the AB social bracket kept telling us: it's on too late. Professionals go to bed earlier, and the news cycle wraps earlier, so the value of a 22:30 programme diminished. Ditto because Gen Z are simply not interested in TV News.
https://twitter.com/paulmasonnews/status/1730227598544830646
If they don't they lose the Trump base and face a Trump Independent bid
"There has been some rank incompetence on display from various Post Office witnesses over the course of this inquiry, but I think we’ll have to go some way to find a worse performance than this."
https://www.postofficescandal.uk/post/more-singhd-against-than-singh-ing/
I then met one of my partners cousins who works for oil ministry (i was shocked they had one) and had a long conversation with him about how to develop the industry. He said that government did not want to rely on foreign investment because they would prefer to just use Madagascar resources, and had previously turned down an investment proposal from Total. He honestly believed that Mad could develop and operate its oilfields entirely without international help. I pointed out that no country in the world has ever done that and used Venezuela as an example.
The reality is nobody will make a decision until they ensure that they personally will proft. The Chinese will eventually run the oilfields and rob Madagascar blind ... while the oil ministry staff will all live like Russian oligarchs in France.
Saddening to see it all unfold..
"UNtil 2021 the numbers of people crossing the jungle were relatively inconsequential in comparison with other migratory pathways in the Americas. That year, more than 130,000 migrants successfully crossed the jungle on foot, up from an average of fewer than 11,000 per year during the previous decade. In 2022, arrivals jumped to almost 250,000 people. That number was surpassed in just the first eight months of 2023, and more than 500,000 people are on pace to cross by the end of this year."
https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/10/10/how-treacherous-darien-gap-became-migration-crossroads-americas#:~:text=Initially, migrants crossing the Darien,South America in previous years.
What are the chances of him being struck off?
My understanding is it’s quite unusual for lawyers to suffer professional penalties, no matter what they’ve done. But I am, of course, not a lawyer.
For that at least, we should be gratefuly to the Investigation.
But later (or perhaps before) there was a curious moment when he described the prosecutions as a "paper exercise", and something that he couldn't have done in person.
Just... cowardice, I suppose? A bit like ghosting or dumping someone by text.
It speaks volumes of the Post Office that it would actually employ such an individual in a position of authority.
Banana republic stuff here as well.
Which isn’t to say that his evidence isn’t shambolic and, even making allowances for stress, nervousness and the gravity of the situation, one wonders about his competence.