On topic, the Royals are just another thing to be added to the growing pile of stuff that makes the average Scot think what the fuck has this got to do with me.
Some others (not a definitive list):
Brexit The Tory party Small boats Farage The triumphs and tribulations of the English cricket team The triumphs and tribulations of the English football team The triumphs and tribulations of the English rugby team (See also the women’s versions of these and whatever stupid name the marketing guys have come up with for them) The nonce-tolerant Church of England The House of Lords Eastenders The sewage ridden waterways of England HS2 England’s energy poverty GAVIN AND FCKNG STACEY
All of these topics are of course extensively and endlessly amplified by the state broadcaster. Only this morning I’ve learned via several news bulletins that Wills & Kate did not attend the traditional pre Christmas lunch at the Palace.
I haven’t regularly watched or listened to BBC news in YEARS. Why the fuck are you?
It’s mildly Woke pap aimed at low-watt morons
And despite our many stramashes I’ve never seen you as dumb; quite the opposite
I listen to a lot of BBC R4/World Service, out of lifelong habit more than anything. I doubt you've ever listened to BBC Radio Scotland but if you had it might give you some insight into why I stick with the lesser of two evils.
The only news program I genuinely enjoy and find informative is the PM program on R4, especially when Evan Davis is doing it. It just seems a bit more grown up and genuinely tries to look beyond the headlines to what is coming next. A bit like Today did 20 years ago.
The quality of news media generally is so much poorer than it was. I think that the volume of space and bandwidth the likes of the BBC has to cover now must contribute to this.
The US House of Representatives has voted against a Donald Trump-backed funding measure, bringing a government shutdown this weekend a step closer.
A revised spending plan failed to reach the two-thirds majority needed in the lower chamber of Congress, with 38 Republicans voting against the bill on Thursday night, defying the president-elect.
If Trump cannot even get his spending plan passed I don't see much chance of David Herdson's fear of Trump being appointed God-Emperor happening.
The bill was brought up under House suspension rules, so required a two thirds majority. It was never going to pass that hurdle, so was effectively a free vote for the GOP awkward squad.
But it does illustrate the difficulty Trump will have in pushing controversial measures through Congress.
The question is how far he can push things, governing via executive action.
"Borrowing – the difference between public sector spending and income – was £11.2 billion in November 2024, £3.4 billion less than in November 2023 and the lowest November borrowing for three years.
Current budget deficit – borrowing to fund day-to-day public sector activities – was £6.8 billion in November 2024, £3.5 billion less than in November 2023 and the lowest November current budget deficit for three years."
Just as well given the trajectory of borrowing costs and let's hope the forecasts for next year do not come to pass.
Any idea what their track record is like? I would honestly have expected bond yields to fall next year as global interest rates continue to fall and the world economy teeters on recession given Trump's proposed policies. Their forecast is based on an "algorithm" which may be no more than a projection of very recent trends forward.
I think they are just an aggregator who pull data from other sites. Trading Economics is forecasting 4.35% in 12 months time.
Same here but will global interest rates continue to fall given the inflationary pressures.
The fed is alot more hawkish after the meeting this week.
While clearly it will take some time for people to adapt, the return of positive real interest rates is a good thing. We have had 15 years of effective negative interest rates that penalise savers and those buying annuities with their pension pots.
Low interest rates are not a a good thing for everyone.
Savers have the option of investing in something other than cash if they want higher returns.
Which leads to asset bubbles, especially in housing.
Housing prices are not coming down despite higher interest rates. I wonder why?
Aren't they going down in real terms? There's been quite a bit of inflation in recent years. So 20% or whatever of your mortgage has evaporated just like that. (Just trying to cheer you up, but it's also a valid point.)
Yes, they peaked in 2006 according the Nationwide data and have come down versus inflation since then.
"Borrowing – the difference between public sector spending and income – was £11.2 billion in November 2024, £3.4 billion less than in November 2023 and the lowest November borrowing for three years.
Current budget deficit – borrowing to fund day-to-day public sector activities – was £6.8 billion in November 2024, £3.5 billion less than in November 2023 and the lowest November current budget deficit for three years."
Just as well given the trajectory of borrowing costs and let's hope the forecasts for next year do not come to pass.
Any idea what their track record is like? I would honestly have expected bond yields to fall next year as global interest rates continue to fall and the world economy teeters on recession given Trump's proposed policies. Their forecast is based on an "algorithm" which may be no more than a projection of very recent trends forward.
I think they are just an aggregator who pull data from other sites. Trading Economics is forecasting 4.35% in 12 months time.
Same here but will global interest rates continue to fall given the inflationary pressures.
The fed is alot more hawkish after the meeting this week.
While clearly it will take some time for people to adapt, the return of positive real interest rates is a good thing. We have had 15 years of effective negative interest rates that penalise savers and those buying annuities with their pension pots.
Low interest rates are not a a good thing for everyone.
Savers have the option of investing in something other than cash if they want higher returns.
Which leads to asset bubbles, especially in housing.
Housing prices are not coming down despite higher interest rates. I wonder why?
They did in 2023 and still are in real terms.
What we need is a decade or two of flat house prices and rising wages.
The US House of Representatives has voted against a Donald Trump-backed funding measure, bringing a government shutdown this weekend a step closer.
A revised spending plan failed to reach the two-thirds majority needed in the lower chamber of Congress, with 38 Republicans voting against the bill on Thursday night, defying the president-elect.
Budget has caused economy to stagnate, Bank of England says
Andrew Bailey downgrades growth forecasts and says businesses are cutting costs and raising prices after Rachel Reeves’s raid on employers’ NI
The Bank of England has warned that the economy is stagnating after Rachel Reeves’s budget as businesses have responded by raising prices and cutting jobs.
Andrew Bailey, governor of the Bank, said that there would be a gradual approach to cutting interest rates because of concerns over the impact of tax rises and a higher minimum wage.
Officials at the Bank downgraded their forecasts and said that they now expect “zero growth” in the final three months of 2024.
UK car production fell to the lowest level since 1980 last month. The economy faces headwinds well beyond those generated by the dismal budget.
The UK only has 3.5 volume manufacturers who are all facing headwinds. JLR LOL. Nissan, right in the shit with a mediocre product line, only redemeed by a very effective dealer network. Mini, moved the brand up a segment where competition is stiffer and don't make the BEV models in the UK. Stellantis might get off their deathbed in the UK if their BEV vans are cheap enough - product quality being utterly irrelevant in that segment.
Traded the M1000RR for a Bimota KB988. Bought a rusty E30 318is for its minty interior that's going in my S54 engined Bauer E30. All the lambda sensors on the Tributo are dead. That's my fleet update.
When I worked in the NMUK supply chain I worked on the parts supply for the Pulsar. The vehicle they moved from Washington to Spain to make way for the top branded range which they were going to compete with Mercedes on. Real heap of junk it was too. Lasted a few years. Cannot remember the name of it but a few of the guys at work had them as their company cars. Never going to take on Mercedes.
The Pulsar. Again, what a heap of junk that was but got a few trips to Spain out of it.
Without doubt the most ridiculous poll I have ever seen posted on here. No surprise Carnyx highlighted it. Believe in Scotland is a fanatical far left Yes to independence group so the idea they would commission any poll which doesn't suit their agenda is absurd.
The US House of Representatives has voted against a Donald Trump-backed funding measure, bringing a government shutdown this weekend a step closer.
A revised spending plan failed to reach the two-thirds majority needed in the lower chamber of Congress, with 38 Republicans voting against the bill on Thursday night, defying the president-elect.
If Trump cannot even get his spending plan passed I don't see much chance of David Herdson's fear of Trump being appointed God-Emperor happening.
The bill was brought up under House suspension rules, so required a two thirds majority. It was never going to pass that hurdle, so was effectively a free vote for the GOP awkward squad.
But it does illustrate the difficulty Trump will have in pushing controversial measures through Congress.
The question is how far he can push things, governing via executive action.
He'll find liberals going to a friendly judge to put a block on him.
In the same way that MAGA judge in Texas kept putting a block on Biden's executive actions.
Now those blocks might be overturned by a higher court but that can take time.
Before dispensing with a direct descendent of Mary Queen of Scots and St Margaret of Scotland as their head of state, Scots might ruminate thoughtfully on all the bullets they have dodged by not having to elect one in recent years.
Budget has caused economy to stagnate, Bank of England says
Andrew Bailey downgrades growth forecasts and says businesses are cutting costs and raising prices after Rachel Reeves’s raid on employers’ NI
The Bank of England has warned that the economy is stagnating after Rachel Reeves’s budget as businesses have responded by raising prices and cutting jobs.
Andrew Bailey, governor of the Bank, said that there would be a gradual approach to cutting interest rates because of concerns over the impact of tax rises and a higher minimum wage.
Officials at the Bank downgraded their forecasts and said that they now expect “zero growth” in the final three months of 2024.
UK car production fell to the lowest level since 1980 last month. The economy faces headwinds well beyond those generated by the dismal budget.
The UK only has 3.5 volume manufacturers who are all facing headwinds. JLR LOL. Nissan, right in the shit with a mediocre product line, only redemeed by a very effective dealer network. Mini, moved the brand up a segment where competition is stiffer and don't make the BEV models in the UK. Stellantis might get off their deathbed in the UK if their BEV vans are cheap enough - product quality being utterly irrelevant in that segment.
Traded the M1000RR for a Bimota KB988. Bought a rusty E30 318is for its minty interior that's going in my S54 engined Bauer E30. All the lambda sensors on the Tributo are dead. That's my fleet update.
Western car companies failed to read the writing on the wall about a decade back.
They're now scrambling around in search of a strategy.
Fortunately we off loaded ours including the parts supply sector so the bump will be softer.
When I ran a hazardous fluid recovery service to industry here in Wales in the 1990s my customers included the Ford Engine plant in Bridgend, Ford drive train plant in Swansea, Allied Signal, Signode, TRW, Ate-Teves, Valeo, the Bosch distributor plant, the BMW (old Austin) pressings plant, Lucas (Cwmbran and Ystradgynlais), Smiths Industries, Borg Warner, Ina Bearings, Dura and many , many more. All gone. Two former Morris Commercial plants remain in Llanelli and a TRW plant in Glyneath, I can't think of many more.
So when the European automotive sector succumbs to BYD, Omodo and SAIC it doesn't have far to fall over here.
"Borrowing – the difference between public sector spending and income – was £11.2 billion in November 2024, £3.4 billion less than in November 2023 and the lowest November borrowing for three years.
Current budget deficit – borrowing to fund day-to-day public sector activities – was £6.8 billion in November 2024, £3.5 billion less than in November 2023 and the lowest November current budget deficit for three years."
Just as well given the trajectory of borrowing costs and let's hope the forecasts for next year do not come to pass.
Any idea what their track record is like? I would honestly have expected bond yields to fall next year as global interest rates continue to fall and the world economy teeters on recession given Trump's proposed policies. Their forecast is based on an "algorithm" which may be no more than a projection of very recent trends forward.
I think they are just an aggregator who pull data from other sites. Trading Economics is forecasting 4.35% in 12 months time.
Same here but will global interest rates continue to fall given the inflationary pressures.
The fed is alot more hawkish after the meeting this week.
While clearly it will take some time for people to adapt, the return of positive real interest rates is a good thing. We have had 15 years of effective negative interest rates that penalise savers and those buying annuities with their pension pots.
Low interest rates are not a a good thing for everyone.
Savers have the option of investing in something other than cash if they want higher returns.
Which leads to asset bubbles, especially in housing.
Housing prices are not coming down despite higher interest rates. I wonder why?
Aren't they going down in real terms? There's been quite a bit of inflation in recent years. So 20% or whatever of your mortgage has evaporated just like that. (Just trying to cheer you up, but it's also a valid point.)
The key is to try and be lucky enough to have a remortgage window when everyone is feeling optimistic about inflation and rates are relatively low. Locked in 3.79 at the start of October when there was a certain amount of optimism in the air.
Budget has caused economy to stagnate, Bank of England says
Andrew Bailey downgrades growth forecasts and says businesses are cutting costs and raising prices after Rachel Reeves’s raid on employers’ NI
The Bank of England has warned that the economy is stagnating after Rachel Reeves’s budget as businesses have responded by raising prices and cutting jobs.
Andrew Bailey, governor of the Bank, said that there would be a gradual approach to cutting interest rates because of concerns over the impact of tax rises and a higher minimum wage.
Officials at the Bank downgraded their forecasts and said that they now expect “zero growth” in the final three months of 2024.
UK car production fell to the lowest level since 1980 last month. The economy faces headwinds well beyond those generated by the dismal budget.
The UK only has 3.5 volume manufacturers who are all facing headwinds. JLR LOL. Nissan, right in the shit with a mediocre product line, only redemeed by a very effective dealer network. Mini, moved the brand up a segment where competition is stiffer and don't make the BEV models in the UK. Stellantis might get off their deathbed in the UK if their BEV vans are cheap enough - product quality being utterly irrelevant in that segment.
Traded the M1000RR for a Bimota KB988. Bought a rusty E30 318is for its minty interior that's going in my S54 engined Bauer E30. All the lambda sensors on the Tributo are dead. That's my fleet update.
A Bimoto is an absurdly fast and expensive widowmaker, but a Bauer converted E30 even with an S54 motor is a bit Centrist Dad with pipe, slippers and a spaniel. Do you still have the crazy, ape bonkers, Porsches?
I had to flip my 997 GT3 to get my Tributo but still have 2 x 993. I might sell the silver slicktop because it's a 100 point, matching numbers, low mileage, two owner car and is now worth a fucking fortune. I'll never sell the white 993 vert because it's literally made of bits from 12 different cars (3.8RS motor and trans, Turbo suspension and brakes, etc.) and it'll never be worth anything (in 911 terms).
Without doubt the most ridiculous poll I have ever seen posted on here. No surprise Carnyx highlighted it. Believe in Scotland is a fanatical far left Yes to independence group so the idea they would commission any poll which doesn't suit their agenda is absurd.
Budget has caused economy to stagnate, Bank of England says
Andrew Bailey downgrades growth forecasts and says businesses are cutting costs and raising prices after Rachel Reeves’s raid on employers’ NI
The Bank of England has warned that the economy is stagnating after Rachel Reeves’s budget as businesses have responded by raising prices and cutting jobs.
Andrew Bailey, governor of the Bank, said that there would be a gradual approach to cutting interest rates because of concerns over the impact of tax rises and a higher minimum wage.
Officials at the Bank downgraded their forecasts and said that they now expect “zero growth” in the final three months of 2024.
UK car production fell to the lowest level since 1980 last month. The economy faces headwinds well beyond those generated by the dismal budget.
The headwinds are, by and large, not the government's fault. Their response to them is. Reeves said before the election that every policy would be tested against the criteria of whether it was good for growth. And then did the opposite. I think she is going to drive us into a mild technical recession which will make the terrible state of the public books (despite today's modest improvement on the month) even worse.
Car production is a good deal the governments fault. The attempts to force sales of EVs onto buyers who don't want them is rapidly destroying all of Europe's car makers.
They should let the transition happen naturally - if EVs are good enough and the price is right, people will buy them. Currently they aren't really good enough and are 30% too expensive, but that will change in time. Nuking the entire European car industry and handling the lot to China to get us to the same outcome five years earlier is complete insanity.
FFS listening to Amol Rajan interviewing some bod from Southern Water and it’s the most ridiculous sort of torches and pitchforks type kill the monster interview ever. Instead of a sensible deep discussion about the problems in Hampshire and general issues you would think the poor chap being interviewed had personally decided to fuck up the water system and to start crying and begging forgiveness under the moral battering from Amol.
When did all journalists become such massive dickheads? Why are they so totally focussed on feels and moralising instead of facts and answers? I know I should stop listening but I’ve been listening for decades and it feels like a case of Today leaving me rather than me leaving Today.
I’m waiting for Emma Barnett to ask people from Hampshire to hone in with their stories about why they couldn’t shower yesterday is a sign of the continued oppression of WASPI women.
Yes, that Southern Water. But the guy who came on didn’t arrange the pricing or mess up the company, he was a technical chap on about the Hampshire mess and by trying to make him feel bad about all the world’s problems the actual details and facts were lost in some mad moralistic shaming.
It was just absolutely ridiculous. Listen to it and tell me it wasn’t just “feels” journalism rather than, let’s get someone on and get the facts and answers. The journalists don’t need to be outraged for people, people can do that themselves, they are there to get information not judgement.
Thanks to “The Unique Way the BBC is Funded”™, they should be above all this clickbait and concentrate on the serious journalism.
If they’re going to go for the same lowest common denominator as every other media outlet, then it’s obviously time to take a good look at that unique funding model.
Budget has caused economy to stagnate, Bank of England says
Andrew Bailey downgrades growth forecasts and says businesses are cutting costs and raising prices after Rachel Reeves’s raid on employers’ NI
The Bank of England has warned that the economy is stagnating after Rachel Reeves’s budget as businesses have responded by raising prices and cutting jobs.
Andrew Bailey, governor of the Bank, said that there would be a gradual approach to cutting interest rates because of concerns over the impact of tax rises and a higher minimum wage.
Officials at the Bank downgraded their forecasts and said that they now expect “zero growth” in the final three months of 2024.
UK car production fell to the lowest level since 1980 last month. The economy faces headwinds well beyond those generated by the dismal budget.
The UK only has 3.5 volume manufacturers who are all facing headwinds. JLR LOL. Nissan, right in the shit with a mediocre product line, only redemeed by a very effective dealer network. Mini, moved the brand up a segment where competition is stiffer and don't make the BEV models in the UK. Stellantis might get off their deathbed in the UK if their BEV vans are cheap enough - product quality being utterly irrelevant in that segment.
Traded the M1000RR for a Bimota KB988. Bought a rusty E30 318is for its minty interior that's going in my S54 engined Bauer E30. All the lambda sensors on the Tributo are dead. That's my fleet update.
When I worked in the NMUK supply chain I worked on the parts supply for the Pulsar. The vehicle they moved from Washington to Spain to make way for the top branded range which they were going to compete with Mercedes on. Real heap of junk it was too. Lasted a few years. Cannot remember the name of it but a few of the guys at work had them as their company cars. Never going to take on Mercedes.
The Pulsar. Again, what a heap of junk that was but got a few trips to Spain out of it.
Primera? You could get it with the blacktop SR20 and it won a few BTCC races but that's about all you can say about it.
"Borrowing – the difference between public sector spending and income – was £11.2 billion in November 2024, £3.4 billion less than in November 2023 and the lowest November borrowing for three years.
Current budget deficit – borrowing to fund day-to-day public sector activities – was £6.8 billion in November 2024, £3.5 billion less than in November 2023 and the lowest November current budget deficit for three years."
Just as well given the trajectory of borrowing costs and let's hope the forecasts for next year do not come to pass.
Any idea what their track record is like? I would honestly have expected bond yields to fall next year as global interest rates continue to fall and the world economy teeters on recession given Trump's proposed policies. Their forecast is based on an "algorithm" which may be no more than a projection of very recent trends forward.
I think they are just an aggregator who pull data from other sites. Trading Economics is forecasting 4.35% in 12 months time.
Same here but will global interest rates continue to fall given the inflationary pressures.
The fed is alot more hawkish after the meeting this week.
While clearly it will take some time for people to adapt, the return of positive real interest rates is a good thing. We have had 15 years of effective negative interest rates that penalise savers and those buying annuities with their pension pots.
Low interest rates are not a a good thing for everyone.
Savers have the option of investing in something other than cash if they want higher returns.
Which leads to asset bubbles, especially in housing.
Housing prices are not coming down despite higher interest rates. I wonder why?
Because the population is rising faster than the housing stock, because increasing regulation puts a higher floor on the costs of new builds, and the Byzantine planning system is designed to favour large developers over smaller or individual builders.
On topic, the Royals are just another thing to be added to the growing pile of stuff that makes the average Scot think what the fuck has this got to do with me.
Some others (not a definitive list):
Brexit The Tory party Small boats Farage The triumphs and tribulations of the English cricket team The triumphs and tribulations of the English football team The triumphs and tribulations of the English rugby team (See also the women’s versions of these and whatever stupid name the marketing guys have come up with for them) The nonce-tolerant Church of England The House of Lords Eastenders The sewage ridden waterways of England HS2 England’s energy poverty GAVIN AND FCKNG STACEY
All of these topics are of course extensively and endlessly amplified by the state broadcaster. Only this morning I’ve learned via several news bulletins that Wills & Kate did not attend the traditional pre Christmas lunch at the Palace.
I haven’t regularly watched or listened to BBC news in YEARS. Why the fuck are you?
It’s mildly Woke pap aimed at low-watt morons
And despite our many stramashes I’ve never seen you as dumb; quite the opposite
I listen to a lot of BBC R4/World Service, out of lifelong habit more than anything. I doubt you've ever listened to BBC Radio Scotland but if you had it might give you some insight into why I stick with the lesser of two evils.
The only news program I genuinely enjoy and find informative is the PM program on R4, especially when Evan Davis is doing it. It just seems a bit more grown up and genuinely tries to look beyond the headlines to what is coming next. A bit like Today did 20 years ago.
The quality of news media generally is so much poorer than it was. I think that the volume of space and bandwidth the likes of the BBC has to cover now must contribute to this.
Generally agree. The BBC does not have an overt editorial line of course, but it takes this too far. It should be much more ruthless at analysing, questioning and explaining what the government/parliament is actually doing and saying in its formal arenas of parliament, reports, announcements etc.
It should be rare and special occasions only when it bothers to interview people who don't address serious questions seriously. The deal should be: we don't do 'gotcha' interviews, you answer the question in a grown up way. Otherwise stop inviting them and be prepared to analyse objectively as newsworthy their non-replies.
Budget has caused economy to stagnate, Bank of England says
Andrew Bailey downgrades growth forecasts and says businesses are cutting costs and raising prices after Rachel Reeves’s raid on employers’ NI
The Bank of England has warned that the economy is stagnating after Rachel Reeves’s budget as businesses have responded by raising prices and cutting jobs.
Andrew Bailey, governor of the Bank, said that there would be a gradual approach to cutting interest rates because of concerns over the impact of tax rises and a higher minimum wage.
Officials at the Bank downgraded their forecasts and said that they now expect “zero growth” in the final three months of 2024.
UK car production fell to the lowest level since 1980 last month. The economy faces headwinds well beyond those generated by the dismal budget.
The headwinds are, by and large, not the government's fault. Their response to them is. Reeves said before the election that every policy would be tested against the criteria of whether it was good for growth. And then did the opposite. I think she is going to drive us into a mild technical recession which will make the terrible state of the public books (despite today's modest improvement on the month) even worse.
Car production is a good deal the governments fault. The attempts to force sales of EVs onto buyers who don't want them is rapidly destroying all of Europe's car makers.
They should let the transition happen naturally - if EVs are good enough and the price is right, people will buy them. Currently they aren't really good enough and are 30% too expensive, but that will change in time. Nuking the entire European car industry and handling the lot to China to get us to the same outcome five years earlier is complete insanity.
I am not one for finding excuses for the government, especially anything that Miliband has a hand in, but there is a chicken and egg situation here. If EVs are to work there has to be a substantial investment in infrastructure (both charging stations and electrical production). Without guaranteed demand that is not going to happen making it difficult for EVs to take off.
But I really don't like the way the government uses penalties to force notionally private bodies to distort their investment policies. Smart meters were another bad example, if not so economically significant.
Budget has caused economy to stagnate, Bank of England says
Andrew Bailey downgrades growth forecasts and says businesses are cutting costs and raising prices after Rachel Reeves’s raid on employers’ NI
The Bank of England has warned that the economy is stagnating after Rachel Reeves’s budget as businesses have responded by raising prices and cutting jobs.
Andrew Bailey, governor of the Bank, said that there would be a gradual approach to cutting interest rates because of concerns over the impact of tax rises and a higher minimum wage.
Officials at the Bank downgraded their forecasts and said that they now expect “zero growth” in the final three months of 2024.
UK car production fell to the lowest level since 1980 last month. The economy faces headwinds well beyond those generated by the dismal budget.
The UK only has 3.5 volume manufacturers who are all facing headwinds. JLR LOL. Nissan, right in the shit with a mediocre product line, only redemeed by a very effective dealer network. Mini, moved the brand up a segment where competition is stiffer and don't make the BEV models in the UK. Stellantis might get off their deathbed in the UK if their BEV vans are cheap enough - product quality being utterly irrelevant in that segment.
Traded the M1000RR for a Bimota KB988. Bought a rusty E30 318is for its minty interior that's going in my S54 engined Bauer E30. All the lambda sensors on the Tributo are dead. That's my fleet update.
When I worked in the NMUK supply chain I worked on the parts supply for the Pulsar. The vehicle they moved from Washington to Spain to make way for the top branded range which they were going to compete with Mercedes on. Real heap of junk it was too. Lasted a few years. Cannot remember the name of it but a few of the guys at work had them as their company cars. Never going to take on Mercedes.
The Pulsar. Again, what a heap of junk that was but got a few trips to Spain out of it.
Primera? You could get it with the blacktop SR20 and it won a few BTCC races but that's about all you can say about it.
God, no, not that heap of shit although they did call it a premium brand. That was the time they had the equally awful Almera and old style Micra.
The range I was thinking of was this, it came back to me (thanks to Google), Nissan really thought these would take off in the UK.
Budget has caused economy to stagnate, Bank of England says
Andrew Bailey downgrades growth forecasts and says businesses are cutting costs and raising prices after Rachel Reeves’s raid on employers’ NI
The Bank of England has warned that the economy is stagnating after Rachel Reeves’s budget as businesses have responded by raising prices and cutting jobs.
Andrew Bailey, governor of the Bank, said that there would be a gradual approach to cutting interest rates because of concerns over the impact of tax rises and a higher minimum wage.
Officials at the Bank downgraded their forecasts and said that they now expect “zero growth” in the final three months of 2024.
UK car production fell to the lowest level since 1980 last month. The economy faces headwinds well beyond those generated by the dismal budget.
The UK only has 3.5 volume manufacturers who are all facing headwinds. JLR LOL. Nissan, right in the shit with a mediocre product line, only redemeed by a very effective dealer network. Mini, moved the brand up a segment where competition is stiffer and don't make the BEV models in the UK. Stellantis might get off their deathbed in the UK if their BEV vans are cheap enough - product quality being utterly irrelevant in that segment.
Traded the M1000RR for a Bimota KB988. Bought a rusty E30 318is for its minty interior that's going in my S54 engined Bauer E30. All the lambda sensors on the Tributo are dead. That's my fleet update.
A Bimoto is an absurdly fast and expensive widowmaker, but a Bauer converted E30 even with an S54 motor is a bit Centrist Dad with pipe, slippers and a spaniel. Do you still have the crazy, ape bonkers, Porsches?
I had to flip my 997 GT3 to get my Tributo but still have 2 x 993. I might sell the silver slicktop because it's a 100 point, matching numbers, low mileage, two owner car and is now worth a fucking fortune. I'll never sell the white 993 vert because it's literally made of bits from 12 different cars (3.8RS motor and trans, Turbo suspension and brakes, etc.) and it'll never be worth anything (in 911 terms).
I thought all 993s were gold now. I remember them selling a really nice blue targa for £16,000 about a dozen years ago on Wheeler Dealers. I hate it when I don't see the investment potential of a car. In 2007 I was offered a Terry-Thomas and Laurence Harvey (at different times) owned 1960 Bentley Continental convertible for £7 grand. It would be worth in excess of £300,000 today. A little earlier I did buy a Crayford Converted Morris 1300 for £3,500 which is now worth around £3,500.
FFS listening to Amol Rajan interviewing some bod from Southern Water and it’s the most ridiculous sort of torches and pitchforks type kill the monster interview ever. Instead of a sensible deep discussion about the problems in Hampshire and general issues you would think the poor chap being interviewed had personally decided to fuck up the water system and to start crying and begging forgiveness under the moral battering from Amol.
When did all journalists become such massive dickheads? Why are they so totally focussed on feels and moralising instead of facts and answers? I know I should stop listening but I’ve been listening for decades and it feels like a case of Today leaving me rather than me leaving Today.
I’m waiting for Emma Barnett to ask people from Hampshire to hone in with their stories about why they couldn’t shower yesterday is a sign of the continued oppression of WASPI women.
Yes, that Southern Water. But the guy who came on didn’t arrange the pricing or mess up the company, he was a technical chap on about the Hampshire mess and by trying to make him feel bad about all the world’s problems the actual details and facts were lost in some mad moralistic shaming.
It was just absolutely ridiculous. Listen to it and tell me it wasn’t just “feels” journalism rather than, let’s get someone on and get the facts and answers. The journalists don’t need to be outraged for people, people can do that themselves, they are there to get information not judgement.
Thanks to “The Unique Way the BBC is Funded”™, they should be above all this clickbait and concentrate on the serious journalism.
If they’re going to go for the same lowest common denominator as every other media outlet, then it’s obviously time to take a good look at that unique funding model.
It has long been time to get rid of the license fee and change to a different means of funding where the consumer pays similar to streaming or they take ads.
The US House of Representatives has voted against a Donald Trump-backed funding measure, bringing a government shutdown this weekend a step closer.
A revised spending plan failed to reach the two-thirds majority needed in the lower chamber of Congress, with 38 Republicans voting against the bill on Thursday night, defying the president-elect.
If Trump cannot even get his spending plan passed I don't see much chance of David Herdson's fear of Trump being appointed God-Emperor happening.
Those 38 voted against though as they opposed any rise in government spending under pressure from Musk, indeed the renegotiated bill Trump backed was too moderate still for the hardliners. Certainly no real common ground between them and the Democrats who opposed it as it could have been used to cut taxes for wealthy
Budget has caused economy to stagnate, Bank of England says
Andrew Bailey downgrades growth forecasts and says businesses are cutting costs and raising prices after Rachel Reeves’s raid on employers’ NI
The Bank of England has warned that the economy is stagnating after Rachel Reeves’s budget as businesses have responded by raising prices and cutting jobs.
Andrew Bailey, governor of the Bank, said that there would be a gradual approach to cutting interest rates because of concerns over the impact of tax rises and a higher minimum wage.
Officials at the Bank downgraded their forecasts and said that they now expect “zero growth” in the final three months of 2024.
UK car production fell to the lowest level since 1980 last month. The economy faces headwinds well beyond those generated by the dismal budget.
That’s almost entirely as a result of regulation, by governments of all stripes, trying to introduce EVs faster than the market (apart from Tesla and the Chinese) can provide and without the infrastructure in place to support them.
Without doubt the most ridiculous poll I have ever seen posted on here. No surprise Carnyx highlighted it. Believe in Scotland is a fanatical far left Yes to independence group so the idea they would commission any poll which doesn't suit their agenda is absurd.
In the extremely unlikely event this poll was correct, Scotland can leave anyway, no way we give up our royal family to appease them
Calling polling companies bent is it?
It was a poll commissioned to get the result far left republicans Believe in Scotland wanted, indeed even diehard nationalist James Kelly says it is very dangerous for the indy campaign to follow it. For while nationalists and Yes backers in Scotland are almost all republicans, swing voters who voted No in 2014 are largely monarchist and as I posted beyond this outlier poll Yougov for instance has just 38% of Scots for a republic when even in 2014 45% of Scots voted Yes to independence
Yes, the big fights next year are going to be if Trump can get his cost-cutting agenda past a Congress wholly owned and sponsored by the big donors and lobbyists.
The past couple of days have been an early example of what the next few months is going to bring. It’s going to be fascinating to watch (from a distance of many time zones!).
Without doubt the most ridiculous poll I have ever seen posted on here. No surprise Carnyx highlighted it. Believe in Scotland is a fanatical far left Yes to independence group so the idea they would commission any poll which doesn't suit their agenda is absurd.
In the extremely unlikely event this poll was correct, Scotland can leave anyway, no way we give up our royal family to appease them
Calling polling companies bent is it?
It was a poll commissioned to get the result far left republicans Believe in Scotland wanted, indeed even diehard nationalist James Kelly says it is very dangerous for the indy campaign to follow it. For while nationalists and Yes backers in Scotland are almost all republicans, swing voters who voted No in 2014 are largely monarchist
On topic, the Royals are just another thing to be added to the growing pile of stuff that makes the average Scot think what the fuck has this got to do with me.
Some others (not a definitive list):
Brexit The Tory party Small boats Farage The triumphs and tribulations of the English cricket team The triumphs and tribulations of the English football team The triumphs and tribulations of the English rugby team (See also the women’s versions of these and whatever stupid name the marketing guys have come up with for them) The nonce-tolerant Church of England The House of Lords Eastenders The sewage ridden waterways of England HS2 England’s energy poverty GAVIN AND FCKNG STACEY
All of these topics are of course extensively and endlessly amplified by the state broadcaster. Only this morning I’ve learned via several news bulletins that Wills & Kate did not attend the traditional pre Christmas lunch at the Palace.
To be fair, most of those are irrelevant south of the border. I mean, who watches Eastenders or has a Tory MP anymore?
But have a look at PB passim. With the possible exception of Eastenders, and the addition of London Underground's naming schemes, electric jamjars, and some industrial archaeology other than HS2, it's actually quite an accurate synopsis of perennial obsessions.
Not sure it is these days. We all live in our personalised bubbles.
The algorithm filters it out, unless of course it amplifies the rage. Perhaps you see more of this stuff north of the border precisely because it pisses you off.
Without doubt the most ridiculous poll I have ever seen posted on here. No surprise Carnyx highlighted it. Believe in Scotland is a fanatical far left Yes to independence group so the idea they would commission any poll which doesn't suit their agenda is absurd.
In the extremely unlikely event this poll was correct, Scotland can leave anyway, no way we give up our royal family to appease them
Calling polling companies bent is it?
I think there's something in HYUFD's analysis here, though I don't share his level of rage at it. It does at best look very dubious. When I first saw the poll it struck me as the sort of hypothetical question which doesn't tend to produce reliable answers. I didn't look into the numbers but the details which HYUFD picks up do suggest the conclusions are questionable.
The conclusion that there is a small but countable body of Scottish public opinion whose main objection to the union is that it has a hereditary monarch as head of state doesn't seem to me unfeasible, and that this outweighs the small but countable body of people whose main objection to independence is that an independent Scotland does not have a hereditary monarch, does not seem to me unfeasible. But for the reasons set out above I am not convinced that this polling demonstrates it.
Scottish relationship to the aristocracy is a bit hard to get a finger on. Well, in particular, Highland relationship to the aristocracy. The Highlands appear to be dominated by old families and old money in a much more visible way to England. At a casual glance, pretty much everyone is a Laird with 10,000 acres of land. Clearly this can't be true. But blur your eyes and that's what it looks like. The big landowners in England tend by and large to be rather more discreet. Granted the Highlands are a tiny percentage of Scotland by population, of course.
It was more damaging for the EU than the UK. The loss of UK pragmatism and liberalism has led directly to the EU’s self defeating regulatory bonanza, destroying innovation and crushing flexibility
Wolfgang is a great guy. He is probably the most astute reader of European politics out there but he does have some biases, including excessive optimism on the ability of the UK to capitalise on Brexit, as well as an excessive degree of Anglophilia more broadly. I would agree that Brexit has harmed the EU materially, though. More than it has harmed the UK? No. As much as it has harmed the UK? Possibly.
Merkel’s memoir is revealing in her angst over Brexit - and how much it damaged the EU, reputationally at first, then practically
On topic, the Royals are just another thing to be added to the growing pile of stuff that makes the average Scot think what the fuck has this got to do with me.
Some others (not a definitive list):
Brexit The Tory party Small boats Farage The triumphs and tribulations of the English cricket team The triumphs and tribulations of the English football team The triumphs and tribulations of the English rugby team (See also the women’s versions of these and whatever stupid name the marketing guys have come up with for them) The nonce-tolerant Church of England The House of Lords Eastenders The sewage ridden waterways of England HS2 England’s energy poverty GAVIN AND FCKNG STACEY
All of these topics are of course extensively and endlessly amplified by the state broadcaster. Only this morning I’ve learned via several news bulletins that Wills & Kate did not attend the traditional pre Christmas lunch at the Palace.
I haven’t regularly watched or listened to BBC news in YEARS. Why the fuck are you?
It’s mildly Woke pap aimed at low-watt morons
And despite our many stramashes I’ve never seen you as dumb; quite the opposite
Ever watched GB News?
Literally, never
You should do, you could be a great travel correspondent and ad hoc commentator on it too
Yes, the big fights next year are going to be if Trump can get his cost-cutting agenda past a Congress wholly owned and sponsored by the big donors and lobbyists.
The past couple of days have been an early example of what the next few months is going to bring. It’s going to be fascinating to watch (from a distance of many time zones!).
Who are Trump and Musk owned by? Other big donors, lobbyists, and foreign entities.
Budget has caused economy to stagnate, Bank of England says
Andrew Bailey downgrades growth forecasts and says businesses are cutting costs and raising prices after Rachel Reeves’s raid on employers’ NI
The Bank of England has warned that the economy is stagnating after Rachel Reeves’s budget as businesses have responded by raising prices and cutting jobs.
Andrew Bailey, governor of the Bank, said that there would be a gradual approach to cutting interest rates because of concerns over the impact of tax rises and a higher minimum wage.
Officials at the Bank downgraded their forecasts and said that they now expect “zero growth” in the final three months of 2024.
UK car production fell to the lowest level since 1980 last month. The economy faces headwinds well beyond those generated by the dismal budget.
The UK only has 3.5 volume manufacturers who are all facing headwinds. JLR LOL. Nissan, right in the shit with a mediocre product line, only redemeed by a very effective dealer network. Mini, moved the brand up a segment where competition is stiffer and don't make the BEV models in the UK. Stellantis might get off their deathbed in the UK if their BEV vans are cheap enough - product quality being utterly irrelevant in that segment.
Traded the M1000RR for a Bimota KB988. Bought a rusty E30 318is for its minty interior that's going in my S54 engined Bauer E30. All the lambda sensors on the Tributo are dead. That's my fleet update.
A Bimoto is an absurdly fast and expensive widowmaker, but a Bauer converted E30 even with an S54 motor is a bit Centrist Dad with pipe, slippers and a spaniel. Do you still have the crazy, ape bonkers, Porsches?
I had to flip my 997 GT3 to get my Tributo but still have 2 x 993. I might sell the silver slicktop because it's a 100 point, matching numbers, low mileage, two owner car and is now worth a fucking fortune. I'll never sell the white 993 vert because it's literally made of bits from 12 different cars (3.8RS motor and trans, Turbo suspension and brakes, etc.) and it'll never be worth anything (in 911 terms).
I thought all 993s were gold now. I remember them selling a really nice blue targa for £16,000 about a dozen years ago on Wheeler Dealers. I hate it when I don't see the investment potential of a car. In 2007 I was offered a Terry-Thomas and Laurence Harvey (at different times) owned 1960 Bentley Continental convertible for £7 grand. It would be worth in excess of £300,000 today. A little earlier I did buy a Crayford Converted Morris 1300 for £3,500 which is now worth around £3,500.
993s are quickly turning into gold dust, and even 996s are starting to go up if they still have five figures of miles on them. The 997s already went back up, the last of the naturally aspirated models, and anything with a GT badge is a serious long-term investment.
Does the Telegraph think these examples they find (Bear in mind most won't see past the headline due to the paywall, so if there is some btl mitigation it's not going to be read by 99% of people) are actually positive for the reputation of landlords ?!
On topic, the Royals are just another thing to be added to the growing pile of stuff that makes the average Scot think what the fuck has this got to do with me.
Some others (not a definitive list):
Brexit The Tory party Small boats Farage The triumphs and tribulations of the English cricket team The triumphs and tribulations of the English football team The triumphs and tribulations of the English rugby team (See also the women’s versions of these and whatever stupid name the marketing guys have come up with for them) The nonce-tolerant Church of England The House of Lords Eastenders The sewage ridden waterways of England HS2 England’s energy poverty GAVIN AND FCKNG STACEY
All of these topics are of course extensively and endlessly amplified by the state broadcaster. Only this morning I’ve learned via several news bulletins that Wills & Kate did not attend the traditional pre Christmas lunch at the Palace.
Nearly 40% of Scots voted for Brexit and Reform are surging there. There is a UK Olympics team, there are more Roman Catholics in Scotland than England percentage wise and percentage wise child abuse amongst priests is higher with them than the C of E (Smyth for starters was a barrister not a priest).
The House of Lords now includes Scottish hereditary peers, sadly to be removed by Labour but also many Scottish life peers from Lord Robertson to Lord Reid and Lord Ming Campbell and Baron Livingston.
Without doubt the most ridiculous poll I have ever seen posted on here. No surprise Carnyx highlighted it. Believe in Scotland is a fanatical far left Yes to independence group so the idea they would commission any poll which doesn't suit their agenda is absurd.
In the extremely unlikely event this poll was correct, Scotland can leave anyway, no way we give up our royal family to appease them
Calling polling companies bent is it?
It was a poll commissioned to get the result far left republicans Believe in Scotland wanted, indeed even diehard nationalist James Kelly says it is very dangerous for the indy campaign to follow it. For while nationalists and Yes backers in Scotland are almost all republicans, swing voters who voted No in 2014 are largely monarchist
You will be banned if you repeat these defamatory allegations about pollsters.
Do you understand?
@HYUFD has a point. Have you seen the question that Believe in Scotland asked, to get this specific result? James Kelly, Scot Nat and ex PB parishioner, does indeed query its validity, and you can see why. Here it is
“If Scottish independence meant that Scotland would be a republic - meaning the King would no longer be the head of state, so Scotland’s governance would be fully democratic and not a monarchy - how would you vote if there were an independence referendum tomorrow?
Yes 59% No 41%”
That’s a slanted and leading question. “Fully democratic”.
Yes, the big fights next year are going to be if Trump can get his cost-cutting agenda past a Congress wholly owned and sponsored by the big donors and lobbyists.
The past couple of days have been an early example of what the next few months is going to bring. It’s going to be fascinating to watch (from a distance of many time zones!).
Who are Trump and Musk owned by? Other big donors, lobbyists, and foreign entities.
Trump maybe, Musk isn't. He's worth $447 Bn. Even if you take the value of say X down to zero he's still the richest man on the planet by a distance. ITAR regulations mean SpaceX is pretty much entirely American in fact and law.
It was more damaging for the EU than the UK. The loss of UK pragmatism and liberalism has led directly to the EU’s self defeating regulatory bonanza, destroying innovation and crushing flexibility
Although obviously a poorer EU means a poorer Britain, it is a minor benefit to the British that our representatives are no longer having to waste countless hours of energy trying to persuade the rest of the bloc out of doing something stupid and self-damaging, and compromising at something only mildly stupid and self-damaging. As an uninvolved observer I remember finding the ratchet process of ever stupider government immensely irritating.
Of course, as Fishing points out, government since have shown we are more than capable of imposing stupidity on ourselves. But at least it's within a framework we could, in theory, get rid of.
Yes, the big fights next year are going to be if Trump can get his cost-cutting agenda past a Congress wholly owned and sponsored by the big donors and lobbyists.
The past couple of days have been an early example of what the next few months is going to bring. It’s going to be fascinating to watch (from a distance of many time zones!).
Who are Trump and Musk owned by? Other big donors, lobbyists, and foreign entities.
The difference between Musk, and the likes of Soros, Adelson, and the existing lobbying industry, is that Musk does the dirty work in public rather than in private, so the American people are now finally starting to see how the sausage is made in Washington.
Without doubt the most ridiculous poll I have ever seen posted on here. No surprise Carnyx highlighted it. Believe in Scotland is a fanatical far left Yes to independence group so the idea they would commission any poll which doesn't suit their agenda is absurd.
In the extremely unlikely event this poll was correct, Scotland can leave anyway, no way we give up our royal family to appease them
Calling polling companies bent is it?
It was a poll commissioned to get the result far left republicans Believe in Scotland wanted, indeed even diehard nationalist James Kelly says it is very dangerous for the indy campaign to follow it. For while nationalists and Yes backers in Scotland are almost all republicans, swing voters who voted No in 2014 are largely monarchist
Yes, the big fights next year are going to be if Trump can get his cost-cutting agenda past a Congress wholly owned and sponsored by the big donors and lobbyists.
The past couple of days have been an early example of what the next few months is going to bring. It’s going to be fascinating to watch (from a distance of many time zones!).
Who are Trump and Musk owned by? Other big donors, lobbyists, and foreign entities.
Trump maybe, Musk isn't. He's worth $447 Bn. Even if you take the value of say X down to zero he's still the richest man on the planet by a distance. ITAR regulations mean SpaceX is pretty much entirely American in fact and law.
Musk is. He absolutely is. He did not finance the purchase of Twitter out of only his own money; he is in hock to loads of people.
Whenever I see criticism of polls on bias I am reminded of the one, commissioned allegedly by the Boy Scouts many years ago, which purported to show that employers preferred to employ boys who had worked in small groups of about 6.
It all depends, doesn't it, on the way the questions are written. There are weighty tomes on the subject, and the leader of the Sociology course I'm engaged on at the moment can get quite exercised by the subject.
Yes, the big fights next year are going to be if Trump can get his cost-cutting agenda past a Congress wholly owned and sponsored by the big donors and lobbyists.
The past couple of days have been an early example of what the next few months is going to bring. It’s going to be fascinating to watch (from a distance of many time zones!).
Who are Trump and Musk owned by? Other big donors, lobbyists, and foreign entities.
The difference between Musk, and the likes of Soros, Adelson, and the existing lobbying industry, is that Musk does the dirty work in public rather than in private, so the American people are now finally starting to see how the sausage is made in Washington.
Absolute rubbish. Musk tried to keep secret his talks with Putin, and the names of the investors in Twitter.
He lets the public see what he wants them to see. Nothing more.
Yes, the big fights next year are going to be if Trump can get his cost-cutting agenda past a Congress wholly owned and sponsored by the big donors and lobbyists.
The past couple of days have been an early example of what the next few months is going to bring. It’s going to be fascinating to watch (from a distance of many time zones!).
Who are Trump and Musk owned by? Other big donors, lobbyists, and foreign entities.
Trump maybe, Musk isn't. He's worth $447 Bn. Even if you take the value of say X down to zero he's still the richest man on the planet by a distance. ITAR regulations mean SpaceX is pretty much entirely American in fact and law.
Yeah, the idea Musk is “owned by lobbyists and foreign entities” is quite sensationally dumb even by the standards of PB’s resident mental tardigrade, @JosiasJessop
The reason so many - esp on the left - fear and loathe Musk is because he is extremely wealthy and powerful in his own right. Autonomous
No, they'd just move on to the next made up grievance.
And surely we can all question the validity of a poll. The SNP paid IPSOS £5m in 12 months (from public money) that gave results that were entirely out of line with every other pollsters - all in favour of SNP outcomes. IPSOS haven't sued any newspaper that pointed this out. The fact that someone paid for this polling and received the outcome they wanted, should be noted.
On 'Reeves is s**t' latest - some relief in a small rebound in retail sales and a recovery in borrowing figures against a very bad November. Will give her some breathing space. Haven't looked at revisions, they may have a sting in the tail.
On topic, the Royals are just another thing to be added to the growing pile of stuff that makes the average Scot think what the fuck has this got to do with me.
Some others (not a definitive list):
Brexit The Tory party Small boats Farage The triumphs and tribulations of the English cricket team The triumphs and tribulations of the English football team The triumphs and tribulations of the English rugby team (See also the women’s versions of these and whatever stupid name the marketing guys have come up with for them) The nonce-tolerant Church of England The House of Lords Eastenders The sewage ridden waterways of England HS2 England’s energy poverty GAVIN AND FCKNG STACEY
All of these topics are of course extensively and endlessly amplified by the state broadcaster. Only this morning I’ve learned via several news bulletins that Wills & Kate did not attend the traditional pre Christmas lunch at the Palace.
On Gavin and Stacey - I have wondered a lot what it would be like to live in Scotland, either indepedent or not. One of the issues I have considered is whether a country of 5 million people has the cultural capacity to produce all its own sitcoms. I don't think it does. One of the great things about the UK is that it is of sufficient size to produce a steady supply of culturally relevant sitcoms. Wonderful as "Two Doors Down" might be, I think a diet of purely Scottish telly might get a little limited quite quickly. This isn't a jibe at the Scots. The North West of England is comparable in population, and brilliant and creative though we may be, a diet of purely North Western culture might also quickly get a bit barrel-scrapey.
Anyway, I genuinely like Gavin and Stacey. Essex and South Wales are more culturally alien to me than Glasgow is, but it's very very well written.
But you're not alone. BBC coverage of pretty much anything is trite from a South Manchester perspective too.
Yes, the big fights next year are going to be if Trump can get his cost-cutting agenda past a Congress wholly owned and sponsored by the big donors and lobbyists.
The past couple of days have been an early example of what the next few months is going to bring. It’s going to be fascinating to watch (from a distance of many time zones!).
Who are Trump and Musk owned by? Other big donors, lobbyists, and foreign entities.
Trump maybe, Musk isn't. He's worth $447 Bn. Even if you take the value of say X down to zero he's still the richest man on the planet by a distance. ITAR regulations mean SpaceX is pretty much entirely American in fact and law.
Yeah, the idea Musk is “owned by lobbyists and foreign entities” is quite sensationally dumb even by the standards of PB’s resident mental tardigrade, @JosiasJessop
The reason so many - esp on the left - fear and loathe Musk is because he is extremely wealthy and powerful in his own right. Autonomous
Agree. He's completely beyond the law and democracy but is shaping the future of the US. That's why "they" are probably going to have to kill him,.
Whenever I see criticism of polls on bias I am reminded of the one, commissioned allegedly by the Boy Scouts many years ago, which purported to show that employers preferred to employ boys who had worked in small groups of about 6.
It all depends, doesn't it, on the way the questions are written. There are weighty tomes on the subject, and the leader of the Sociology course I'm engaged on at the moment can get quite exercised by the subject.
One lad is half a man Two lads is half a lad More than two lads is no lad at all
On topic, the Royals are just another thing to be added to the growing pile of stuff that makes the average Scot think what the fuck has this got to do with me.
Some others (not a definitive list):
Brexit The Tory party Small boats Farage The triumphs and tribulations of the English cricket team The triumphs and tribulations of the English football team The triumphs and tribulations of the English rugby team (See also the women’s versions of these and whatever stupid name the marketing guys have come up with for them) The nonce-tolerant Church of England The House of Lords Eastenders The sewage ridden waterways of England HS2 England’s energy poverty GAVIN AND FCKNG STACEY
All of these topics are of course extensively and endlessly amplified by the state broadcaster. Only this morning I’ve learned via several news bulletins that Wills & Kate did not attend the traditional pre Christmas lunch at the Palace.
I haven’t regularly watched or listened to BBC news in YEARS. Why the fuck are you?
It’s mildly Woke pap aimed at low-watt morons
And despite our many stramashes I’ve never seen you as dumb; quite the opposite
I listen to a lot of BBC R4/World Service, out of lifelong habit more than anything. I doubt you've ever listened to BBC Radio Scotland but if you had it might give you some insight into why I stick with the lesser of two evils.
The only news program I genuinely enjoy and find informative is the PM program on R4, especially when Evan Davis is doing it. It just seems a bit more grown up and genuinely tries to look beyond the headlines to what is coming next. A bit like Today did 20 years ago.
The quality of news media generally is so much poorer than it was. I think that the volume of space and bandwidth the likes of the BBC has to cover now must contribute to this.
PM and Broadcasting House are the only two news (well, BH is a bit broader) programmes left that I listen to on the Beeb. Someone on here recommended The Economist's podcasts to me a while ago - and I've been very impressed with them. Much more in depth and basically none of the "Senior source told me some tittle-tattle" that is so pervasive across BBC/Sky/etc.
Yes, the big fights next year are going to be if Trump can get his cost-cutting agenda past a Congress wholly owned and sponsored by the big donors and lobbyists.
The past couple of days have been an early example of what the next few months is going to bring. It’s going to be fascinating to watch (from a distance of many time zones!).
Who are Trump and Musk owned by? Other big donors, lobbyists, and foreign entities.
Trump maybe, Musk isn't. He's worth $447 Bn. Even if you take the value of say X down to zero he's still the richest man on the planet by a distance. ITAR regulations mean SpaceX is pretty much entirely American in fact and law.
Yeah, the idea Musk is “owned by lobbyists and foreign entities” is quite sensationally dumb even by the standards of PB’s resident mental tardigrade, @JosiasJessop
The reason so many - esp on the left - fear and loathe Musk is because he is extremely wealthy and powerful in his own right. Autonomous
Agree. He's completely beyond the law and democracy but is shaping the future of the US. That's why "they" are probably going to have to kill him,.
Possibly. It’s incredible how quickly we’ve memory holed the two sassytempts on Trump. One of which made him bleed and was 2cm from killing him
Yes, the big fights next year are going to be if Trump can get his cost-cutting agenda past a Congress wholly owned and sponsored by the big donors and lobbyists.
The past couple of days have been an early example of what the next few months is going to bring. It’s going to be fascinating to watch (from a distance of many time zones!).
Who are Trump and Musk owned by? Other big donors, lobbyists, and foreign entities.
Trump maybe, Musk isn't. He's worth $447 Bn. Even if you take the value of say X down to zero he's still the richest man on the planet by a distance. ITAR regulations mean SpaceX is pretty much entirely American in fact and law.
Yeah, the idea Musk is “owned by lobbyists and foreign entities” is quite sensationally dumb even by the standards of PB’s resident mental tardigrade, @JosiasJessop
The reason so many - esp on the left - fear and loathe Musk is because he is extremely wealthy and powerful in his own right. Autonomous
Agree. He's completely beyond the law and democracy but is shaping the future of the US. That's why "they" are probably going to have to kill him,.
Possibly. It’s incredible how quickly we’ve memory holed the two sassytempts on Trump. One of which made him bleed and was 2cm from killing him
"Borrowing – the difference between public sector spending and income – was £11.2 billion in November 2024, £3.4 billion less than in November 2023 and the lowest November borrowing for three years.
Current budget deficit – borrowing to fund day-to-day public sector activities – was £6.8 billion in November 2024, £3.5 billion less than in November 2023 and the lowest November current budget deficit for three years."
Just as well given the trajectory of borrowing costs and let's hope the forecasts for next year do not come to pass.
Any idea what their track record is like? I would honestly have expected bond yields to fall next year as global interest rates continue to fall and the world economy teeters on recession given Trump's proposed policies. Their forecast is based on an "algorithm" which may be no more than a projection of very recent trends forward.
I think they are just an aggregator who pull data from other sites. Trading Economics is forecasting 4.35% in 12 months time.
Same here but will global interest rates continue to fall given the inflationary pressures.
The fed is alot more hawkish after the meeting this week.
While clearly it will take some time for people to adapt, the return of positive real interest rates is a good thing. We have had 15 years of effective negative interest rates that penalise savers and those buying annuities with their pension pots.
Low interest rates are not a a good thing for everyone.
Savers have the option of investing in something other than cash if they want higher returns.
Which leads to asset bubbles, especially in housing.
Housing prices are not coming down despite higher interest rates. I wonder why?
They did in 2023 and still are in real terms.
What we need is a decade or two of flat house prices and rising wages.
The sweet spot would be house prices rising, so no negative equity, but by by less than inflation.
On topic, the Royals are just another thing to be added to the growing pile of stuff that makes the average Scot think what the fuck has this got to do with me.
Some others (not a definitive list):
Brexit The Tory party Small boats Farage The triumphs and tribulations of the English cricket team The triumphs and tribulations of the English football team The triumphs and tribulations of the English rugby team (See also the women’s versions of these and whatever stupid name the marketing guys have come up with for them) The nonce-tolerant Church of England The House of Lords Eastenders The sewage ridden waterways of England HS2 England’s energy poverty GAVIN AND FCKNG STACEY
All of these topics are of course extensively and endlessly amplified by the state broadcaster. Only this morning I’ve learned via several news bulletins that Wills & Kate did not attend the traditional pre Christmas lunch at the Palace.
Nearly 40% of Scots voted for Brexit and Reform are surging there. There is a UK Olympics team, there are more Roman Catholics in Scotland than England percentage wise and percentage wise child abuse amongst priests is higher with them than the C of E (Smyth for starters was a barrister not a priest).
The House of Lords now includes Scottish hereditary peers, sadly to be removed by Labour but also many Scottish life peers from Lord Robertson to Lord Reid and Lord Ming Campbell and Baron Livingston.
Gavin and Stacey are half WELSH
To be fair to TUD, it's worth clarifying that Wales isn't in Scotland.
Does the Telegraph think these examples they find (Bear in mind most won't see past the headline due to the paywall, so if there is some btl mitigation it's not going to be read by 99% of people) are actually positive for the reputation of landlords ?!
Renters groups lobbied for the changes coming in.
They are getting what they wanted. They never thought there may be consequences. Oh dear. How sad.
Landlords are hardly loved anyway, I think they will take the hit to protect themselves.
Private landlords are fleeing the market. Selling up. Sadly for the renters they are not likely to be the ones acquiring the properties and this will merely shrink the amount of properties available to rent.
Add rent controls into the mix, if that happens, then that will really see rental property availability contract and be focussed in the hands of a few large businesees.
On topic, the Royals are just another thing to be added to the growing pile of stuff that makes the average Scot think what the fuck has this got to do with me.
Some others (not a definitive list):
Brexit The Tory party Small boats Farage The triumphs and tribulations of the English cricket team The triumphs and tribulations of the English football team The triumphs and tribulations of the English rugby team (See also the women’s versions of these and whatever stupid name the marketing guys have come up with for them) The nonce-tolerant Church of England The House of Lords Eastenders The sewage ridden waterways of England HS2 England’s energy poverty GAVIN AND FCKNG STACEY
All of these topics are of course extensively and endlessly amplified by the state broadcaster. Only this morning I’ve learned via several news bulletins that Wills & Kate did not attend the traditional pre Christmas lunch at the Palace.
To be fair, most of those are irrelevant south of the border. I mean, who watches Eastenders or has a Tory MP anymore?
But have a look at PB passim. With the possible exception of Eastenders, and the addition of London Underground's naming schemes, electric jamjars, and some industrial archaeology other than HS2, it's actually quite an accurate synopsis of perennial obsessions.
Not sure it is these days. We all live in our personalised bubbles.
The algorithm filters it out, unless of course it amplifies the rage. Perhaps you see more of this stuff north of the border precisely because it pisses you off.
Not if one doesn't use social media with filter algorithms. I certainly don't.
Alas you can’t escape, where do you think journalists, politicians and folks on PB and in the pub their material. We are all slaves to the algorithm
Channelling your inner Grace Jones, I like that.
A friend's son pulled her in a Jamaican night club.
He had no idea who she was.
Or that she was in her mid-seventies.
I was in the YabYum club in Amsterdam (I would have been early- mid twenties) in the early- mid 1980s. I got talking to this girl from London who was a little younger than me. She was obviously a hooker and spent around an hour talking to me. She clearly thought I looked far more affluent than I was. I could barely afford a pint in that place. She told me her first name which I remembered and someone with that first name later became very, very famous. I won't say in what field as she is now very litigiously protective of her past.
No names as I will not confirm, but I suspect you have guessed correctly.
It was more damaging for the EU than the UK. The loss of UK pragmatism and liberalism has led directly to the EU’s self defeating regulatory bonanza, destroying innovation and crushing flexibility
I don't know about more damaging but certainly damaging, I thought as much at the time of the Referendum. My Remain vote was informed by this. Sort of person I am. Holistic. Big picture.
Yes, the big fights next year are going to be if Trump can get his cost-cutting agenda past a Congress wholly owned and sponsored by the big donors and lobbyists.
The past couple of days have been an early example of what the next few months is going to bring. It’s going to be fascinating to watch (from a distance of many time zones!).
Who are Trump and Musk owned by? Other big donors, lobbyists, and foreign entities.
Trump maybe, Musk isn't. He's worth $447 Bn. Even if you take the value of say X down to zero he's still the richest man on the planet by a distance. ITAR regulations mean SpaceX is pretty much entirely American in fact and law.
Yeah, the idea Musk is “owned by lobbyists and foreign entities” is quite sensationally dumb even by the standards of PB’s resident mental tardigrade, @JosiasJessop
The reason so many - esp on the left - fear and loathe Musk is because he is extremely wealthy and powerful in his own right. Autonomous
Agree. He's completely beyond the law and democracy but is shaping the future of the US. That's why "they" are probably going to have to kill him,.
Possibly. It’s incredible how quickly we’ve memory holed the two sassytempts on Trump. One of which made him bleed and was 2cm from killing him
The fucking useless Ukrainians used Fiverr.
I’m glad you agree with my theory it was the Ukrainians. One day it will be revealed
On topic, the Royals are just another thing to be added to the growing pile of stuff that makes the average Scot think what the fuck has this got to do with me.
Some others (not a definitive list):
Brexit The Tory party Small boats Farage The triumphs and tribulations of the English cricket team The triumphs and tribulations of the English football team The triumphs and tribulations of the English rugby team (See also the women’s versions of these and whatever stupid name the marketing guys have come up with for them) The nonce-tolerant Church of England The House of Lords Eastenders The sewage ridden waterways of England HS2 England’s energy poverty GAVIN AND FCKNG STACEY
All of these topics are of course extensively and endlessly amplified by the state broadcaster. Only this morning I’ve learned via several news bulletins that Wills & Kate did not attend the traditional pre Christmas lunch at the Palace.
To be fair, most of those are irrelevant south of the border. I mean, who watches Eastenders or has a Tory MP anymore?
But have a look at PB passim. With the possible exception of Eastenders, and the addition of London Underground's naming schemes, electric jamjars, and some industrial archaeology other than HS2, it's actually quite an accurate synopsis of perennial obsessions.
Not sure it is these days. We all live in our personalised bubbles.
The algorithm filters it out, unless of course it amplifies the rage. Perhaps you see more of this stuff north of the border precisely because it pisses you off.
Not if one doesn't use social media with filter algorithms. I certainly don't.
Alas you can’t escape, where do you think journalists, politicians and folks on PB and in the pub their material. We are all slaves to the algorithm
Channelling your inner Grace Jones, I like that.
A friend's son pulled her in a Jamaican night club.
He had no idea who she was.
Or that she was in her mid-seventies.
I was in the YabYum club in Amsterdam (I would have been early- mid twenties) in the early- mid 1980s. I got talking to this girl from London who was a little younger than me. She was obviously a hooker and spent around an hour talking to me. She clearly thought I looked far more affluent than I was. I could barely afford a pint in that place. She told me her first name which I remembered and someone with that first name later became very, very famous. I won't say in what field as she is now very litigiously protective of her past.
No names as I will not confirm, but I suspect you have guessed correctly.
"Borrowing – the difference between public sector spending and income – was £11.2 billion in November 2024, £3.4 billion less than in November 2023 and the lowest November borrowing for three years.
Current budget deficit – borrowing to fund day-to-day public sector activities – was £6.8 billion in November 2024, £3.5 billion less than in November 2023 and the lowest November current budget deficit for three years."
Just as well given the trajectory of borrowing costs and let's hope the forecasts for next year do not come to pass.
Any idea what their track record is like? I would honestly have expected bond yields to fall next year as global interest rates continue to fall and the world economy teeters on recession given Trump's proposed policies. Their forecast is based on an "algorithm" which may be no more than a projection of very recent trends forward.
I think they are just an aggregator who pull data from other sites. Trading Economics is forecasting 4.35% in 12 months time.
Same here but will global interest rates continue to fall given the inflationary pressures.
The fed is alot more hawkish after the meeting this week.
While clearly it will take some time for people to adapt, the return of positive real interest rates is a good thing. We have had 15 years of effective negative interest rates that penalise savers and those buying annuities with their pension pots.
Low interest rates are not a a good thing for everyone.
Savers have the option of investing in something other than cash if they want higher returns.
Which leads to asset bubbles, especially in housing.
Housing prices are not coming down despite higher interest rates. I wonder why?
They did in 2023 and still are in real terms.
What we need is a decade or two of flat house prices and rising wages.
The sweet spot would be house prices rising, so no negative equity, but by by less than inflation.
House prices can fall about 5% per year in money terms for a decade, without anyone with a 90% 25-year mortgage ending up with a negative equity problem.
It was more damaging for the EU than the UK. The loss of UK pragmatism and liberalism has led directly to the EU’s self defeating regulatory bonanza, destroying innovation and crushing flexibility
I don't know about more damaging but certainly damaging, I thought as much at the time of the Referendum. My Remain vote was informed by this. Sort of person I am. Holistic. Big picture.
One reason I voted Leave WAS to damage the EU. Fucking wankers with their “rerun that referendum til you get the right result” ethos. They even tried it on us. I am deeply proud that in the end the British said “Nah, fuck off, we’re democratic, we will respect the result of our referendum, we’re not doing an EU re-run like everyone else, we’re better than them”
It's only 30 thousand a year he gets, but it seems a pretty clear conflict of interest to me. He should relinquish the pension upon joining the British diplomatic service.
It's a bit of antisemitic trope or two to accuse a Jewish man of having split loyalties and is being influenced by money.
You need to redo your Conflicts of Interest training. I can give it to you and look forward to sending you an invoice so outrageous it would make even @Dura_Ace blush.
It is a potential conflict of interest and would be one were he an atheist, paid up member of the CoE or Hindu. There is every possibility of the EU and Britain having conflicting interests with regard to whatever policies Trump comes out with. It needs to be declared and appropriate steps taken to ensure that it is mitigated. I expect the people behind the scenes who do the work any Ambassador relies on will be well able to ensure this. But lazily dismissing it as you have done is not on.
Too many recent governance failures and scandals have had conflicts of interest at their heart. There is another potential one in the Business Department with the appointment of Ian Anderson as a director to its Board. He is also the founder and executive chair of Cicero Group which advises many leading businesses. Again another potential conflict of interest which needs to be properly managed.
Governments - of whichever type - are very poor at recognising, let alone effectively managing, such conflicts of interest. The need to do so is not even mentioned in the Nolan Principles for Public Life - which is a big gap. Any bank which had such a gap in its Code of Conduct would get a spanking from the regulators. Government should do better.
They need to be every 6 years based on the 2014 act
So next review should be completed by 2029.
An interim review was ordered in 2023:
A rise in the state pension age to 68 will not be brought forward yet, the government has announced.
Those born on or after 5 April 1977 will be the first cohort to work to 68, under current plans. A 2017 government review suggested expanding this to include those born in the late 1960s.
The work and pensions secretary said the pension age would not be changed until a further review was carried.
A decision is now expected in 2026, after the next general election.
Yes, the big fights next year are going to be if Trump can get his cost-cutting agenda past a Congress wholly owned and sponsored by the big donors and lobbyists.
The past couple of days have been an early example of what the next few months is going to bring. It’s going to be fascinating to watch (from a distance of many time zones!).
Who are Trump and Musk owned by? Other big donors, lobbyists, and foreign entities.
Trump maybe, Musk isn't. He's worth $447 Bn. Even if you take the value of say X down to zero he's still the richest man on the planet by a distance. ITAR regulations mean SpaceX is pretty much entirely American in fact and law.
Yeah, the idea Musk is “owned by lobbyists and foreign entities” is quite sensationally dumb even by the standards of PB’s resident mental tardigrade, @JosiasJessop
The reason so many - esp on the left - fear and loathe Musk is because he is extremely wealthy and powerful in his own right. Autonomous
Agree. He's completely beyond the law and democracy but is shaping the future of the US. That's why "they" are probably going to have to kill him,.
Possibly. It’s incredible how quickly we’ve memory holed the two sassytempts on Trump. One of which made him bleed and was 2cm from killing him
The fucking useless Ukrainians used Fiverr.
I’m glad you agree with my theory it was the Ukrainians. One day it will be revealed
It wasn’t the Ukranians. The Ukranian assassination attempts are successful, and they use bombs rather than guns.
Yes, the big fights next year are going to be if Trump can get his cost-cutting agenda past a Congress wholly owned and sponsored by the big donors and lobbyists.
The past couple of days have been an early example of what the next few months is going to bring. It’s going to be fascinating to watch (from a distance of many time zones!).
Who are Trump and Musk owned by? Other big donors, lobbyists, and foreign entities.
Trump maybe, Musk isn't. He's worth $447 Bn. Even if you take the value of say X down to zero he's still the richest man on the planet by a distance. ITAR regulations mean SpaceX is pretty much entirely American in fact and law.
Yeah, the idea Musk is “owned by lobbyists and foreign entities” is quite sensationally dumb even by the standards of PB’s resident mental tardigrade, @JosiasJessop
The reason so many - esp on the left - fear and loathe Musk is because he is extremely wealthy and powerful in his own right. Autonomous
Agree. He's completely beyond the law and democracy but is shaping the future of the US. That's why "they" are probably going to have to kill him,.
Possibly. It’s incredible how quickly we’ve memory holed the two sassytempts on Trump. One of which made him bleed and was 2cm from killing him
The fucking useless Ukrainians used Fiverr.
I’m glad you agree with my theory it was the Ukrainians. One day it will be revealed
It wasn’t the Ukranians. The Ukranian assassination attempts are successful, and they use bombs rather than guns.
But they have to be a tad more discreet taking out a US president in the USA
Yes, the big fights next year are going to be if Trump can get his cost-cutting agenda past a Congress wholly owned and sponsored by the big donors and lobbyists.
The past couple of days have been an early example of what the next few months is going to bring. It’s going to be fascinating to watch (from a distance of many time zones!).
Who are Trump and Musk owned by? Other big donors, lobbyists, and foreign entities.
Trump maybe, Musk isn't. He's worth $447 Bn. Even if you take the value of say X down to zero he's still the richest man on the planet by a distance. ITAR regulations mean SpaceX is pretty much entirely American in fact and law.
Yeah, the idea Musk is “owned by lobbyists and foreign entities” is quite sensationally dumb even by the standards of PB’s resident mental tardigrade, @JosiasJessop
The reason so many - esp on the left - fear and loathe Musk is because he is extremely wealthy and powerful in his own right. Autonomous
Musk is not autonomous: much of his wealth is tied up in things like Tesla: when Tesla's share price goes up, so does his wealth. Therefore, if he values his wealth, it is in his interests to do stuff that increases the share price. And that involves lots of deals. The idea he is 'autonomous' is laughable.
F1: I don't mean to cause undue excitement, but it seems the 6-0 Tsunoda qualifying whitewash of Lawson is a bit misleading.
Interesting to learn, as I've heard the stat parroted a bit. Essentially, three of the gaps are tiny (under a tenth), one was due to a DNS in Q2 and Lawson's Q1 time was better than Tsunoda's Q2 best, and the others were in Brazil (super wet) and Las Vegas (low grip).
So, yes, not ideal for Lawson, but in a normal qualifying session he was within 0.06s of Tsunoda.
Yes, the big fights next year are going to be if Trump can get his cost-cutting agenda past a Congress wholly owned and sponsored by the big donors and lobbyists.
The past couple of days have been an early example of what the next few months is going to bring. It’s going to be fascinating to watch (from a distance of many time zones!).
Who are Trump and Musk owned by? Other big donors, lobbyists, and foreign entities.
Trump maybe, Musk isn't. He's worth $447 Bn. Even if you take the value of say X down to zero he's still the richest man on the planet by a distance. ITAR regulations mean SpaceX is pretty much entirely American in fact and law.
Yeah, the idea Musk is “owned by lobbyists and foreign entities” is quite sensationally dumb even by the standards of PB’s resident mental tardigrade, @JosiasJessop
The reason so many - esp on the left - fear and loathe Musk is because he is extremely wealthy and powerful in his own right. Autonomous
Agree. He's completely beyond the law and democracy but is shaping the future of the US. That's why "they" are probably going to have to kill him,.
Possibly. It’s incredible how quickly we’ve memory holed the two sassytempts on Trump. One of which made him bleed and was 2cm from killing him
The fucking useless Ukrainians used Fiverr.
I’m glad you agree with my theory it was the Ukrainians. One day it will be revealed
It wasn’t the Ukranians. The Ukranian assassination attempts are successful, and they use bombs rather than guns.
They shot Mikhail Shatsky in Kuzminsky Park in Moscow last week.
E2A: and they are not always successful. They killed Dugin's daughter instead of the Bearded Genius of Geopolitics himself.
"Borrowing – the difference between public sector spending and income – was £11.2 billion in November 2024, £3.4 billion less than in November 2023 and the lowest November borrowing for three years.
Current budget deficit – borrowing to fund day-to-day public sector activities – was £6.8 billion in November 2024, £3.5 billion less than in November 2023 and the lowest November current budget deficit for three years."
Just as well given the trajectory of borrowing costs and let's hope the forecasts for next year do not come to pass.
Any idea what their track record is like? I would honestly have expected bond yields to fall next year as global interest rates continue to fall and the world economy teeters on recession given Trump's proposed policies. Their forecast is based on an "algorithm" which may be no more than a projection of very recent trends forward.
I think they are just an aggregator who pull data from other sites. Trading Economics is forecasting 4.35% in 12 months time.
Same here but will global interest rates continue to fall given the inflationary pressures.
The fed is alot more hawkish after the meeting this week.
While clearly it will take some time for people to adapt, the return of positive real interest rates is a good thing. We have had 15 years of effective negative interest rates that penalise savers and those buying annuities with their pension pots.
Low interest rates are not a a good thing for everyone.
Because savers and those with pension pots are the priority of course
It's just a return to historic norm. It's the last 15 years that have been the aberration.
Savers should get a real return, and the return of decent annuity rates are a good thing for pension schemes.
Absolutely right. We have just reverted to the norm. The last 10-15 years have been the aberration.
OTOH the return to this norm, ie the end of the years of cheap money and money printing brought in to keep things afloat after the 08 crash, means we're probably in for a prolonged period of relatively low growth. It's a political impossibility, esp now with these moronic "populist" movements on the rise, but I'd quite like to see this economic reality accepted and planned for rather than railed against as "managed decline".
They need to be every 6 years based on the 2014 act
So next review should be completed by 2029.
An interim review was ordered in 2023:
A rise in the state pension age to 68 will not be brought forward yet, the government has announced.
Those born on or after 5 April 1977 will be the first cohort to work to 68, under current plans. A 2017 government review suggested expanding this to include those born in the late 1960s.
The work and pensions secretary said the pension age would not be changed until a further review was carried.
A decision is now expected in 2026, after the next general election.
Yes, the big fights next year are going to be if Trump can get his cost-cutting agenda past a Congress wholly owned and sponsored by the big donors and lobbyists.
The past couple of days have been an early example of what the next few months is going to bring. It’s going to be fascinating to watch (from a distance of many time zones!).
Who are Trump and Musk owned by? Other big donors, lobbyists, and foreign entities.
Trump maybe, Musk isn't. He's worth $447 Bn. Even if you take the value of say X down to zero he's still the richest man on the planet by a distance. ITAR regulations mean SpaceX is pretty much entirely American in fact and law.
Yeah, the idea Musk is “owned by lobbyists and foreign entities” is quite sensationally dumb even by the standards of PB’s resident mental tardigrade, @JosiasJessop
The reason so many - esp on the left - fear and loathe Musk is because he is extremely wealthy and powerful in his own right. Autonomous
Agree. He's completely beyond the law and democracy but is shaping the future of the US. That's why "they" are probably going to have to kill him,.
Possibly. It’s incredible how quickly we’ve memory holed the two sassytempts on Trump. One of which made him bleed and was 2cm from killing him
The fucking useless Ukrainians used Fiverr.
I’m glad you agree with my theory it was the Ukrainians. One day it will be revealed
It wasn’t the Ukranians. The Ukranian assassination attempts are successful, and they use bombs rather than guns.
But they have to be a tad more discreet taking out a US president in the USA
They wouldn’t use a 20-year-old idiot who couldn’t even make his own school’s shooting team, trying to take the shot from 100 yards away on the roof of the bulding the police were using as their base for the day; they’d have used a serious ex-military sniper from half a mile, out of sight of the USSS and likely to get away before they could find him.
Without doubt the most ridiculous poll I have ever seen posted on here. No surprise Carnyx highlighted it. Believe in Scotland is a fanatical far left Yes to independence group so the idea they would commission any poll which doesn't suit their agenda is absurd.
In the extremely unlikely event this poll was correct, Scotland can leave anyway, no way we give up our royal family to appease them
Are you aware that the original poll was commissioned by the Times, and that BiS simply added on a follow up supplementary? I believe that the Times is not a fanatical far left group (mind, almost anything left of Genghiz Khan is f.f.l. in your view in my experience).
It would however have been better to have the two together, because of obvious decline in the public regard of the RF collectively of late.
"Borrowing – the difference between public sector spending and income – was £11.2 billion in November 2024, £3.4 billion less than in November 2023 and the lowest November borrowing for three years.
Current budget deficit – borrowing to fund day-to-day public sector activities – was £6.8 billion in November 2024, £3.5 billion less than in November 2023 and the lowest November current budget deficit for three years."
Just as well given the trajectory of borrowing costs and let's hope the forecasts for next year do not come to pass.
Any idea what their track record is like? I would honestly have expected bond yields to fall next year as global interest rates continue to fall and the world economy teeters on recession given Trump's proposed policies. Their forecast is based on an "algorithm" which may be no more than a projection of very recent trends forward.
I think they are just an aggregator who pull data from other sites. Trading Economics is forecasting 4.35% in 12 months time.
Same here but will global interest rates continue to fall given the inflationary pressures.
The fed is alot more hawkish after the meeting this week.
While clearly it will take some time for people to adapt, the return of positive real interest rates is a good thing. We have had 15 years of effective negative interest rates that penalise savers and those buying annuities with their pension pots.
Low interest rates are not a a good thing for everyone.
Because savers and those with pension pots are the priority of course
It's just a return to historic norm. It's the last 15 years that have been the aberration.
Savers should get a real return, and the return of decent annuity rates are a good thing for pension schemes.
Absolutely right. We have just reverted to the norm. The last 10-15 years have been the aberration.
OTOH the return to this norm, ie the end of the years of cheap money and money printing brought in to keep things afloat after the 08 crash, means we're probably in for a prolonged period of relatively low growth. It's a political impossibility, esp now with these moronic "populist" movements on the rise, but I'd quite like to see this economic reality accepted and planned for rather than railed against as "managed decline".
UK has had a sustained period of poor growth which almost perfectly coincides with the previous Tory govt. If anything we should be expecting a period of higher growth as we catch up with where we should have been. If Labour can't deliver that I think they will be out in 5 years.
It's only 30 thousand a year he gets, but it seems a pretty clear conflict of interest to me. He should relinquish the pension upon joining the British diplomatic service.
It's a bit of antisemitic trope or two to accuse a Jewish man of having split loyalties and is being influenced by money.
You need to redo your Conflicts of Interest training. I can give it to you and look forward to sending you an invoice so outrageous it would make even @Dura_Ace blush.
It is a potential conflict of interest and would be one were he an atheist, paid up member of the CoE or Hindu. There is every possibility of the EU and Britain having conflicting interests with regard to whatever policies Trump comes out with. It needs to be declared and appropriate steps taken to ensure that it is mitigated. I expect the people behind the scenes who do the work any Ambassador relies on will be well able to ensure this. But lazily dismissing it as you have done is not on.
Too many recent governance failures and scandals have had conflicts of interest at their heart. There is another potential one in the Business Department with the appointment of Ian Anderson as a director to its Board. He is also the founder and executive chair of Cicero Group which advises many leading businesses. Again another potential conflict of interest which needs to be properly managed.
Governments - of whichever type - are very poor at recognising, let alone effectively managing, such conflicts of interest. The need to do so is not even mentioned in the Nolan Principles for Public Life - which is a big gap. Any bank which had such a gap in its Code of Conduct would get a spanking from the regulators. Government should do better.
There is obviously a conflict of interest. How serious it is, though is questionable.
Mandleson is well known to be pretty pro-EU irrespective of any financial interests, and Starmer picked him in full knowledge of that. And an important part of his brief is going to be attempting to balance our relationship with Europe with the relationship with the US.
Substantive policy decisions will, in any event, be made by the government, not by the ambassador. Mandleson's job is to smooth the relationship with the US, not sabotage it; if he fails in that, he won't last long in post.
It was more damaging for the EU than the UK. The loss of UK pragmatism and liberalism has led directly to the EU’s self defeating regulatory bonanza, destroying innovation and crushing flexibility
I don't know about more damaging but certainly damaging, I thought as much at the time of the Referendum. My Remain vote was informed by this. Sort of person I am. Holistic. Big picture.
One reason I voted Leave WAS to damage the EU. Fucking wankers with their “rerun that referendum til you get the right result” ethos. They even tried it on us. I am deeply proud that in the end the British said “Nah, fuck off, we’re democratic, we will respect the result of our referendum, we’re not doing an EU re-run like everyone else, we’re better than them”
Without doubt the most ridiculous poll I have ever seen posted on here. No surprise Carnyx highlighted it. Believe in Scotland is a fanatical far left Yes to independence group so the idea they would commission any poll which doesn't suit their agenda is absurd.
In the extremely unlikely event this poll was correct, Scotland can leave anyway, no way we give up our royal family to appease them
Calling polling companies bent is it?
It was a poll commissioned to get the result far left republicans Believe in Scotland wanted, indeed even diehard nationalist James Kelly says it is very dangerous for the indy campaign to follow it. For while nationalists and Yes backers in Scotland are almost all republicans, swing voters who voted No in 2014 are largely monarchist
It was more damaging for the EU than the UK. The loss of UK pragmatism and liberalism has led directly to the EU’s self defeating regulatory bonanza, destroying innovation and crushing flexibility
I don't know about more damaging but certainly damaging, I thought as much at the time of the Referendum. My Remain vote was informed by this. Sort of person I am. Holistic. Big picture.
One reason I voted Leave WAS to damage the EU. Fucking wankers with their “rerun that referendum til you get the right result” ethos. They even tried it on us. I am deeply proud that in the end the British said “Nah, fuck off, we’re democratic, we will respect the result of our referendum, we’re not doing an EU re-run like everyone else, we’re better than them”
And stepping back to see the whole picture, UK companies will still need to comply with those EU regulations to do business in Europe and in other markets that adopt EU regulations. So as argued at the time, Brexit means having no voice in drafting the regulations but still having to follow them.
Yes, the big fights next year are going to be if Trump can get his cost-cutting agenda past a Congress wholly owned and sponsored by the big donors and lobbyists.
The past couple of days have been an early example of what the next few months is going to bring. It’s going to be fascinating to watch (from a distance of many time zones!).
Who are Trump and Musk owned by? Other big donors, lobbyists, and foreign entities.
Trump maybe, Musk isn't. He's worth $447 Bn. Even if you take the value of say X down to zero he's still the richest man on the planet by a distance. ITAR regulations mean SpaceX is pretty much entirely American in fact and law.
Yeah, the idea Musk is “owned by lobbyists and foreign entities” is quite sensationally dumb even by the standards of PB’s resident mental tardigrade, @JosiasJessop
The reason so many - esp on the left - fear and loathe Musk is because he is extremely wealthy and powerful in his own right. Autonomous
Agree. He's completely beyond the law and democracy but is shaping the future of the US. That's why "they" are probably going to have to kill him,.
Possibly. It’s incredible how quickly we’ve memory holed the two sassytempts on Trump. One of which made him bleed and was 2cm from killing him
The fucking useless Ukrainians used Fiverr.
I’m glad you agree with my theory it was the Ukrainians. One day it will be revealed
It wasn’t the Ukranians. The Ukranian assassination attempts are successful, and they use bombs rather than guns.
But they have to be a tad more discreet taking out a US president in the USA
By employing incompetent randoms ? Other than your fevered imagination, do you have any actual ... evidence ?
F1: I don't mean to cause undue excitement, but it seems the 6-0 Tsunoda qualifying whitewash of Lawson is a bit misleading.
Interesting to learn, as I've heard the stat parroted a bit. Essentially, three of the gaps are tiny (under a tenth), one was due to a DNS in Q2 and Lawson's Q1 time was better than Tsunoda's Q2 best, and the others were in Brazil (super wet) and Las Vegas (low grip).
So, yes, not ideal for Lawson, but in a normal qualifying session he was within 0.06s of Tsunoda.
When less than a second regularly covers the whole field of 20 (or at least 18 of them) in Q1, the average gap between cars is less than 0.05s. It’s harsh on Lawson but true, the real reason for his appointment is that Yuki is Honda’s driver, and after next year RB and Honda are parting ways.
The "official" Christmas number one will be announced this afternoon and is based on sales and streams in the week up to midnight last night.
It was #1 in downloads last week, but didn't actually make the top 100 singles because no-one is streaming it. (The main singles chart combines sales and streaming.) The song was at #85 in the midweek chart. I don't see it becoming the Xmas #1.
It was more damaging for the EU than the UK. The loss of UK pragmatism and liberalism has led directly to the EU’s self defeating regulatory bonanza, destroying innovation and crushing flexibility
I don't know about more damaging but certainly damaging, I thought as much at the time of the Referendum. My Remain vote was informed by this. Sort of person I am. Holistic. Big picture.
One reason I voted Leave WAS to damage the EU. Fucking wankers with their “rerun that referendum til you get the right result” ethos. They even tried it on us. I am deeply proud that in the end the British said “Nah, fuck off, we’re democratic, we will respect the result of our referendum, we’re not doing an EU re-run like everyone else, we’re better than them”
That also makes you a fucking wanker.
I hope you say the same about the diehard remainers who want Brexit to damage the UK and the people who supported it.
F1: I don't mean to cause undue excitement, but it seems the 6-0 Tsunoda qualifying whitewash of Lawson is a bit misleading.
Interesting to learn, as I've heard the stat parroted a bit. Essentially, three of the gaps are tiny (under a tenth), one was due to a DNS in Q2 and Lawson's Q1 time was better than Tsunoda's Q2 best, and the others were in Brazil (super wet) and Las Vegas (low grip).
So, yes, not ideal for Lawson, but in a normal qualifying session he was within 0.06s of Tsunoda.
When less than a second regularly covers the whole field of 20 (or at least 18 of them) in Q1, the average gap between cars is less than 0.05s. It’s harsh on Lawson but true, the real reason for his appointment is that Yuki is Honda’s driver, and after next year RB and Honda are parting ways.
Given Lawson only had a few races under his belt and joined at the end of the season I still think that gap speaks well of him, and better than the 6-0 suggests.
I've heard the Honda line, but if Red Bull think he's a better driver they should go for him regardless. I do think it's too early for Lawson and when you've got Tsunoda, Bottas, or Sainz all ready and willing it seems needlessly soon.
If the Democrats had been aggressive could they have won?
Ditch Biden altogether on illness grounds Install the first female president Enact some high profile 180s and a couple of new policies Be the change Dare the electorate to kick out the first woman in the Oval Office Have Trump call her madam president
This thought has been occupying me this morning. Would have been interesting.
It was more damaging for the EU than the UK. The loss of UK pragmatism and liberalism has led directly to the EU’s self defeating regulatory bonanza, destroying innovation and crushing flexibility
I don't know about more damaging but certainly damaging, I thought as much at the time of the Referendum. My Remain vote was informed by this. Sort of person I am. Holistic. Big picture.
One reason I voted Leave WAS to damage the EU. Fucking wankers with their “rerun that referendum til you get the right result” ethos. They even tried it on us. I am deeply proud that in the end the British said “Nah, fuck off, we’re democratic, we will respect the result of our referendum, we’re not doing an EU re-run like everyone else, we’re better than them”
I know. I have some of that in me too but it's outweighed by the better bits. I think I've said before it wasn't Leavers v Remainers as distinct boundaried individuals because all Leavers have some Remain in them and all Remainers have some Leave. The vote was in essence a weighing up of these two sides of our national brain chemistry, our character if you like, and it was the less enlightened side which narrowly but clearly prevailed. This is how I see it anyway, the EU Referendum of 2016. It's a good way of looking at it because (i) it's true and (ii) it gets away from personal bitterness and division.
Comments
The quality of news media generally is so much poorer than it was. I think that the volume of space and bandwidth the likes of the BBC has to cover now must contribute to this.
And so it begins.
This had Trump's backing - actually, was dictated by him. Musk turned GOP Reps. against, forcing Trump into U-turn.
There were jokes in the chamber about "President Musk". Trump may try to style it out, but this is a direct challenge.
https://x.com/sturdyAlex/status/1870025547511681367
But it does illustrate the difficulty Trump will have in pushing controversial measures through Congress.
The question is how far he can push things, governing via executive action.
https://www.housepricecrash.co.uk/indices-nationwide-national-inflation/
What we need is a decade or two of flat house prices and rising wages.
The Pulsar. Again, what a heap of junk that was but got a few trips to Spain out of it.
The idea that when 85% of Tories back the monarchy they would be 3% more likely to support independence for Scotland shows you just how unreliable this poll is. Indeed a mere 38% of Scots back a republic with Yougov confirming the absurdity of this poll, ignore
https://ygo-assets-websites-editorial-emea.yougov.net/documents/Internal_RoyalFavourability_230831_W.pdf (p7)
In the extremely unlikely event this poll was correct, Scotland can leave anyway, no way we give up our royal family to appease them
In the same way that MAGA judge in Texas kept putting a block on Biden's executive actions.
Now those blocks might be overturned by a higher court but that can take time.
"It's a disaster Reeves"
When I ran a hazardous fluid recovery service to industry here in Wales in the 1990s my customers included the Ford Engine plant in Bridgend, Ford drive train plant in Swansea, Allied Signal, Signode, TRW, Ate-Teves, Valeo, the Bosch distributor plant, the BMW (old Austin) pressings plant, Lucas (Cwmbran and Ystradgynlais), Smiths Industries, Borg Warner, Ina Bearings, Dura and many , many more. All gone. Two former Morris Commercial plants remain in Llanelli and a TRW plant in Glyneath, I can't think of many more.
So when the European automotive sector succumbs to BYD, Omodo and SAIC it doesn't have far to fall over here.
I wonder if it means that the next increase in state pension ages is imminent.
The last review was in 2017:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-40658774
and the one before that in 2011:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-15940392
They should let the transition happen naturally - if EVs are good enough and the price is right, people will buy them. Currently they aren't really good enough and are 30% too expensive, but that will change in time. Nuking the entire European car industry and handling the lot to China to get us to the same outcome five years earlier is complete insanity.
If they’re going to go for the same lowest common denominator as every other media outlet, then it’s obviously time to take a good look at that unique funding model.
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/state-pension-age-review-2023
The 2011 was under prior legislation.
They need to be every 6 years based on the 2014 act
So next review should be completed by 2029.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNvR_ICKc5c&t=1s
It should be rare and special occasions only when it bothers to interview people who don't address serious questions seriously. The deal should be: we don't do 'gotcha' interviews, you answer the question in a grown up way. Otherwise stop inviting them and be prepared to analyse objectively as newsworthy their non-replies.
But I really don't like the way the government uses penalties to force notionally private bodies to distort their investment policies. Smart meters were another bad example, if not so economically significant.
The range I was thinking of was this, it came back to me (thanks to Google), Nissan really thought these would take off in the UK.
https://www.infiniti.com/vehicles/qx60.html
times) owned 1960 Bentley Continental convertible for £7 grand. It would be worth in excess of £300,000 today. A little earlier I did buy a Crayford Converted Morris 1300 for £3,500 which is now worth around £3,500.
https://scotgoespop.blogspot.com/2024/12/no-believe-in-scotland-poll-does-not.html
The past couple of days have been an early example of what the next few months is going to bring. It’s going to be fascinating to watch (from a distance of many time zones!).
Do you understand?
👏
It's from Kopenhagen Fur.
Yes, he gave a vegetarian animal-rights person something made from fur...
‘We’re evicting our 90-year-old tenant because of Labour’
Leftist rent reforms leave many long-term landlords deciding buy-to-let is no longer worth it
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/property/buy-to-let/evicting-90-year-old-tenant-labour/
The conclusion that there is a small but countable body of Scottish public opinion whose main objection to the union is that it has a hereditary monarch as head of state doesn't seem to me unfeasible, and that this outweighs the small but countable body of people whose main objection to independence is that an independent Scotland does not have a hereditary monarch, does not seem to me unfeasible. But for the reasons set out above I am not convinced that this polling demonstrates it.
Scottish relationship to the aristocracy is a bit hard to get a finger on. Well, in particular, Highland relationship to the aristocracy. The Highlands appear to be dominated by old families and old money in a much more visible way to England. At a casual glance, pretty much everyone is a Laird with 10,000 acres of land. Clearly this can't be true. But blur your eyes and that's what it looks like. The big landowners in England tend by and large to be rather more discreet.
Granted the Highlands are a tiny percentage of Scotland by population, of course.
The union will persist, or not, separate to the issue of republicanism.
The House of Lords now includes Scottish hereditary peers, sadly to be removed by Labour but also many Scottish life peers from Lord Robertson to Lord Reid and Lord Ming Campbell and Baron Livingston.
Gavin and Stacey are half WELSH
“If Scottish independence meant that Scotland would be a republic - meaning the King would no longer be the head of state, so Scotland’s governance would be fully democratic and not a monarchy - how would you vote if there were an independence referendum tomorrow?
Yes 59%
No 41%”
That’s a slanted and leading question. “Fully democratic”.
Of course, as Fishing points out, government since have shown we are more than capable of imposing stupidity on ourselves. But at least it's within a framework we could, in theory, get rid of.
I am sure it is 100% reliable, the fact it has nearly double the support for a republic Yougov found in Scotland can be ignored.
There, my mea culpa is done
https://medium.com/predict/musks-ties-to-putin-laid-bare-2d0b0568a42e
Whenever I see criticism of polls on bias I am reminded of the one, commissioned allegedly by the Boy Scouts many years ago, which purported to show that employers preferred to employ boys who had worked in small groups of about 6.
It all depends, doesn't it, on the way the questions are written. There are weighty tomes on the subject, and the leader of the Sociology course I'm engaged on at the moment can get quite exercised by the subject.
He lets the public see what he wants them to see. Nothing more.
The reason so many - esp on the left - fear and loathe Musk is because he is extremely wealthy and powerful in his own right. Autonomous
Winter Fuel Allowance to the over 80s and had half the fuss.
Biggest gainers Reform now on 12% in Scotland, the same level UKIP got UK wide in 2015
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polling_for_the_next_Scottish_Parliament_election
And surely we can all question the validity of a poll. The SNP paid IPSOS £5m in 12 months (from public money) that gave results that were entirely out of line with every other pollsters - all in favour of SNP outcomes. IPSOS haven't sued any newspaper that pointed this out. The fact that someone paid for this polling and received the outcome they wanted, should be noted.
On 'Reeves is s**t' latest - some relief in a small rebound in retail sales and a recovery in borrowing figures against a very bad November. Will give her some breathing space. Haven't looked at revisions, they may have a sting in the tail.
This isn't a jibe at the Scots. The North West of England is comparable in population, and brilliant and creative though we may be, a diet of purely North Western culture might also quickly get a bit barrel-scrapey.
Anyway, I genuinely like Gavin and Stacey. Essex and South Wales are more culturally alien to me than Glasgow is, but it's very very well written.
But you're not alone. BBC coverage of pretty much anything is trite from a South Manchester perspective too.
Two lads is half a lad
More than two lads is no lad at all
So they used to say !
They are getting what they wanted. They never thought there may be consequences. Oh dear. How sad.
Landlords are hardly loved anyway, I think they will take the hit to protect themselves.
Private landlords are fleeing the market. Selling up. Sadly for the renters they are not likely to be the ones acquiring the properties and this will merely shrink the amount of properties available to rent.
Add rent controls into the mix, if that happens, then that will really see rental property availability contract and be focussed in the hands of a few large businesees.
No names as I will not confirm, but I suspect you have guessed correctly.
I suspect if the report is due 2029 they will, conveniently, have it report out just after the election and not tie their hands.
It is a potential conflict of interest and would be one were he an atheist, paid up member of the CoE or Hindu. There is every possibility of the EU and Britain having conflicting interests with regard to whatever policies Trump comes out with. It needs to be declared and appropriate steps taken to ensure that it is mitigated. I expect the people behind the scenes who do the work any Ambassador relies on will be well able to ensure this. But lazily dismissing it as you have done is not on.
Too many recent governance failures and scandals have had conflicts of interest at their heart. There is another potential one in the Business Department with the appointment of Ian Anderson as a director to its Board. He is also the founder and executive chair of Cicero Group which advises many leading businesses. Again another potential conflict of interest which needs to be properly managed.
Governments - of whichever type - are very poor at recognising, let alone effectively managing, such conflicts of interest. The need to do so is not even mentioned in the Nolan Principles for Public Life - which is a big gap. Any bank which had such a gap in its Code of Conduct would get a spanking from the regulators. Government should do better.
A rise in the state pension age to 68 will not be brought forward yet, the government has announced.
Those born on or after 5 April 1977 will be the first cohort to work to 68, under current plans. A 2017 government review suggested expanding this to include those born in the late 1960s.
The work and pensions secretary said the pension age would not be changed until a further review was carried.
A decision is now expected in 2026, after the next general election.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-65120317
It might be politically wise for Labour not to delay the bad news.
I mean, the Twitter investors are on record now.
Interesting to learn, as I've heard the stat parroted a bit. Essentially, three of the gaps are tiny (under a tenth), one was due to a DNS in Q2 and Lawson's Q1 time was better than Tsunoda's Q2 best, and the others were in Brazil (super wet) and Las Vegas (low grip).
So, yes, not ideal for Lawson, but in a normal qualifying session he was within 0.06s of Tsunoda.
E2A: and they are not always successful. They killed Dugin's daughter instead of the Bearded Genius of Geopolitics himself.
It would however have been better to have the two together, because of obvious decline in the public regard of the RF collectively of late.
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/breaking-isack-hadjar-signs-for-rb-tsunoda-final-seat-on-2025-f1-grid.6UMQgndoDfFIH5wtyxucAG
How serious it is, though is questionable.
Mandleson is well known to be pretty pro-EU irrespective of any financial interests, and Starmer picked him in full knowledge of that. And an important part of his brief is going to be attempting to balance our relationship with Europe with the relationship with the US.
Substantive policy decisions will, in any event, be made by the government, not by the ambassador.
Mandleson's job is to smooth the relationship with the US, not sabotage it; if he fails in that, he won't last long in post.
https://x.com/front_ukrainian/status/1869664469472919685
Other than your fevered imagination, do you have any actual ... evidence ?
I've heard the Honda line, but if Red Bull think he's a better driver they should go for him regardless. I do think it's too early for Lawson and when you've got Tsunoda, Bottas, or Sainz all ready and willing it seems needlessly soon.
Ditch Biden altogether on illness grounds
Install the first female president
Enact some high profile 180s and a couple of new policies
Be the change
Dare the electorate to kick out the first woman in the Oval Office
Have Trump call her madam president
This thought has been occupying me this morning. Would have been interesting.