There are dead towns like Horden across the country. It’s easy for those of us in leafier places to look at the broken economy and say “Brexit”. But too many of these places were dead before Brexit and are dead after Brexit. Brexit has failed, but isn’t the reason that towns like Horden are broken.
Reform - with a pile of cash, wall to wall Twitter support and an influx of angry and motivated activists - can do a serious amount of business in places like this. It is hopium and denialism to insist that Farage is too x or y for that to happen.
This also shows that Dominic Cummings was right about levelling up (and also he was right, albeit cynical, about selling Brexit as a panacea to dying towns).
I know it’s bad to say it, but Cummings was right about a lot of problems facing the country, and he was the first to take a modern data-driven approach to looking at issues.
It was invaluable during the pandemic, especially in the early days. “Yes of course the Cabinet Office and No.10 need massive f***ing screens full of data”.
Other governments could learn a lot from that approach.
Dominic Cummings has an interesting gift
100% right on the problems 100% wrong on the solutions
I don't think there are any plausible solutions to the problems (beyond getting people on their bikes to where work still exists) so Cummings went for the approach of abusing those people to get the result he wanted...
There are potential solutions just are politicians tend to be so london centric that they aren't that bothered finding them because they don't see deprived areas as that important apart from every five years
Go on then - how would you generate employment in say Loftus or Redcar?
Mentioned some the other day however if I was in charge I would do the following
1) First categorise each area in five ratings from 1) doing fine...to 5) severely deprived 2) Target transport improvements from 5 to 1 3) Reduce employer ni for employees depending on zone catergory...cat 1 = 12%..cat2 10% all the way to cat 5 full 2% 4) Give tax breaks for training based on zone, zone 1 they can offset training cost against tax, zone 2 training costs+10% to zone 5 training costs+50% 5) Make the rule that training is not allowable just for current job but for a higher paid position in the company....for example training an it support person in coding 6) Encourage setting up teams in small subsidiary offices in deprived area using business rate relief 7) Reassess zone categorisation every 5 years
I think a lot of that might encourage employers to consider more deprived areas
That falls apart on 4 and 5. Apprenticeship levy means training already costs nothing and yet an awful lot of it isn't used...
6 fails because who wants to manage a regional office which limits your future career options..
Ah perfection being the enemy of good I see, so your solution is just do nothing. As to 6) frankly that objection is bollocks....you have a team of 5 and a team leader. Why is him team leading the same team limiting his options whether he does it in scunthorpe or central london? He doesn't even necessarily be need to be based there himself.
as to 4 and 5 you seem to have misunderstood, training would supply higher tax relief so 1000 pounds of training in a zone 5 would give an offset of 1500 against tax. The reason few firms make use of the apprenticeship levy is it isnt suitable for most on the job training....for example it is useless for training a warehouse person to drive an hgv
“The Industrial Degree Bill”
In it, the government sets up and funds departments in universities.
1) Said departments train in various skills - plumbing, bricklaying, CNC operation etc etc 2) The courses are modules towards a degree. So your CORGI becomes a degree module. 3) mixing between practical and intellectual skills gets you more points towards your degree. So doing Welding & Elizabethan poetry gets you a degree faster (and with slightly less effort) than either just welding or poetry. 4) the training levy is used to part fund the “practical” departments.
This would massively break down the current class barrier between the degree’d and non-degree’d
In favour of 1,2 and 4 not so much 3. To me that actually keeps the snobbery of intellectual skills being superior if you make the degree quicker because of it. I would much rather have a plumber that knows how to safely fix my plumbing than one that can sort of fix it while quoting sonnets
None if this is happening, of course.
Instead, we have stuff with exactly the opposite effect.
English councils pay millions to move homeless families out of big cities https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/dec/31/english-councils-pay-millions-to-move-homeless-families-out-of-big-cities … The companies find cheap homes in areas where rents and local housing allowance (LHA), the amount those claiming housing benefit can claim towards rent, align. Rents in much of the country have not kept pace with LHA, meaning these properties are often located in smaller, deprived towns in the Midlands and north of England.
People relocated using these firms are discharged into the private rented sector and are deemed permanently rehoused. Usually, any connection with the original council ends, making it near impossible for them to return home.
In London, families living in costly temporary accommodation, which is paid for by councils, are sometimes given only 24 hours by councils to accept the offer of a new home in another part of the country and are told they will be kicked out of emergency housing if they refuse.
Experts raised concerns about what they called “social cleansing” and “racialised, coercive displacement”, where people of colour are moved to largely white areas where they know nobody. MPs in the north-east said people were being relocated to already very deprived communities with no additional support provided...
If they are getting free houses then they shouold not be complaining , they can always say no and pay their own way. Should be a mandatory item for benefits after a short period.
You’re missing the point, malc. This is the richer cities exporting their social problems to poorer areas.
Levelling down, not up.
Is Brum rich?
Doesn't it merely reflect how little social housing and how little funding these councils have?
How much social housing in London is occupied by people who weren't born here?
I was, and still hope to be again, a big fan of Kemi
I've been disappointed so far
She seems to still be playing student politics. Starmer did the same when he first got the LOTO job; he ran off to John Lewis with a team to get photos of him pointing at wallpaper
I think that she's smart enough to learn the new rules for this job
But I won't be massively surprised if she fails as predicted by so many others
Slightly on topic about the uselessness of the current Conservative Party, who have been briefing their client press on twice reelected Sadiq Khan being rewarded for failure with a knighthood.
They don't say whether the not reelected Conservative mayor for West Midlands also got his knighthood as a reward for failure.
Two of three Tory candidates so far beaten by Khan were rewarded with peerages - not mere knights they - as an indication of their success?
Under Khan my taxes have gone up, the services have got worse and there is no cheerleader for London.
Boris as Mayor was an effective cheerleader.
Which area? Council tax in Central London is really cheap.
Westminster - ever since Khan came in the precept has gone up by the maximum while council tax was controlled
Since 2022 Labour has also controlled the council, increasing taxes, cutting services and sending me letters asking for voluntary contributions
Same as me. I pay three times as much in France. I don't know if you have connections in the UK outside London but Westminster is as cheap as it gets.
Are the local council services better?
Not really easy to judge. The bins get collected. The streets get cleaned. Things seem cleaner in France but you have less people vomiting on the streets or sleeping in doorways. The police are the police. What other services are there
On topic. Badenoch needs to do something unexpected. The Blair playbook is still the best. I remember early on him being asked what he thought about people making obscene amounts of money and he said he had no problem with David Beckham making a million.
Chasing the farmers and rich pensioners isn't the way to go for a Tory. Just too predictable. The best advice I was given was to Zig whenever everyone else Zagged. At the moment she's in lockstep with farage
The big missed opportunity in my opinion is that Badenoch's backstory is genuinely interesting. An immigrant who is one step away from being prime minister of a major country. Not the child of immigrants, but actual immigrant.
Problem is immigration is seen as so toxic even to Badenoch herself it seems, they don't dare to admit any of this of this, or try weave it into an Abraham Lincoln style log cabin narrative.
Slightly on topic about the uselessness of the current Conservative Party, who have been briefing their client press on twice reelected Sadiq Khan being rewarded for failure with a knighthood.
They don't say whether the not reelected Conservative mayor for West Midlands also got his knighthood as a reward for failure.
Two of three Tory candidates so far beaten by Khan were rewarded with peerages - not mere knights they - as an indication of their success?
Under Khan my taxes have gone up, the services have got worse and there is no cheerleader for London.
Boris as Mayor was an effective cheerleader.
Which area? Council tax in Central London is really cheap.
Westminster - ever since Khan came in the precept has gone up by the maximum while council tax was controlled
Since 2022 Labour has also controlled the council, increasing taxes, cutting services and sending me letters asking for voluntary contributions
Same as me. I pay three times as much in France. I don't know if you have connections in the UK outside London but Westminster is as cheap as it gets.
Do we have analysis of this? On income sources by sector, expenditure for Council.
Westminster Band D Council Tax: £2000 Ashfield Band D Council Tax: £2400
One big item difference will be Mayoral Expenditure in London, who will do things covered by NCC - he will be in the revenue side but not the expenditure side.
Slightly on topic about the uselessness of the current Conservative Party, who have been briefing their client press on twice reelected Sadiq Khan being rewarded for failure with a knighthood.
They don't say whether the not reelected Conservative mayor for West Midlands also got his knighthood as a reward for failure.
Two of three Tory candidates so far beaten by Khan were rewarded with peerages - not mere knights they - as an indication of their success?
Under Khan my taxes have gone up, the services have got worse and there is no cheerleader for London.
Boris as Mayor was an effective cheerleader.
Which area? Council tax in Central London is really cheap.
Westminster - ever since Khan came in the precept has gone up by the maximum while council tax was controlled
Since 2022 Labour has also controlled the council, increasing taxes, cutting services and sending me letters asking for voluntary contributions
Same as me. I pay three times as much in France. I don't know if you have connections in the UK outside London but Westminster is as cheap as it gets.
Are the local council services better?
Not really easy to judge. The bins get collected. The streets get cleaned. Things seem cleaner in France but you have less people vomiting on the streets or sleeping in doorways. The police are the police. What other services are there
Schools, libraries, cemeteries, social services, transport links, old people's services including meals on wheels and social care, pest control...
He's making a serious play for younger voters with all the wittering on about Churchill.
Do younger voters know/care who Churchill was? Especially if they haven't 'done' WWII in history at school!
They'll know who he was, almost certainly. Caring will depend on if a particular perception or Churchill becomes part of the intended tribal experience.
Like how people who continue to bang on about Thatcher, on left and right, with the kind of passion as if they had been there at the time. You don't seen it quite as much now. (not that people cannot care about political history, but the intensity was so overblown for a long time).
My Chemistry teacher mate told me that whenever he covered a history class, they were doing the second world war in one aspect or another, so the kids will know who Churchill is, although these days, following the rise of Indian nationalism, they may see Churchill as a war criminal for killing millions in the Bengal Famine. Churchill is also on the £5 note if anyone still uses cash.
The Thatcher thing is slightly different. One reason for banging on about Mrs T is to point out to Conservatives that they have departed from her one true path even while professing to venerate her.
It is a bit like banging on about Reagan to remind American Republicans that Trump's isolationism is far removed from Reagan's shining city upon a hill and defender of freedom and democracy throughout the world. (Although even under Reagan, it was more rhetoric than policy!)
On topic. Badenoch needs to do something unexpected. The Blair playbook is still the best. I remember early on him being asked what he thought about people making obscene amounts of money and he said he had no problem with David Beckham making a million.
Chasing the farmers and rich pensioners isn't the way to go for a Tory. Just too predictable. The best advice I was given was to Zig whenever everyone else Zagged. At the moment she's in lockstep with farage
The big missed opportunity in my opinion is that Badenoch's backstory is genuinely interesting. An immigrant who is one step away from being prime minister of a major country. Not the child of immigrants, but actual immigrant.
Problem is immigration is seen as so toxic even to Badenoch herself it seems, they don't dare to admit any of this of this, or try weave it into an Abraham Lincoln style log cabin narrative.
Spending your career demonising immigrants when you are one yourself could be problematic even for a Tory. I used to wonder how Braverman could talk about immigrants as if they were something she'd scraped off her shoe when there but for fortune they could be her parents or grandparents as it could be with many of us.
On topic. Badenoch needs to do something unexpected. The Blair playbook is still the best. I remember early on him being asked what he thought about people making obscene amounts of money and he said he had no problem with David Beckham making a million.
Chasing the farmers and rich pensioners isn't the way to go for a Tory. Just too predictable. The best advice I was given was to Zig whenever everyone else Zagged. At the moment she's in lockstep with farage
The big missed opportunity in my opinion is that Badenoch's backstory is genuinely interesting. An immigrant who is one step away from being prime minister of a major country. Not the child of immigrants, but actual immigrant.
Problem is immigration is seen as so toxic even to Badenoch herself it seems, they don't dare to admit any of this of this, or try weave it into an Abraham Lincoln style log cabin narrative.
Spending your career demonising immigrants when you are one yourself could be problematic even for a Tory. I used to wonder how Braverman could talk about immigrants as if they were something she'd scraped off her shoe when there but for fortune they could be her parents or grandparents as it could be with many of us.
On topic. Badenoch needs to do something unexpected. The Blair playbook is still the best. I remember early on him being asked what he thought about people making obscene amounts of money and he said he had no problem with David Beckham making a million.
Chasing the farmers and rich pensioners isn't the way to go for a Tory. Just too predictable. The best advice I was given was to Zig whenever everyone else Zagged. At the moment she's in lockstep with farage
The big missed opportunity in my opinion is that Badenoch's backstory is genuinely interesting. An immigrant who is one step away from being prime minister of a major country. Not the child of immigrants, but actual immigrant.
Problem is immigration is seen as so toxic even to Badenoch herself it seems, they don't dare to admit any of this of this, or try weave it into an Abraham Lincoln style log cabin narrative.
Spending your career demonising immigrants when you are one yourself could be problematic even for a Tory. I used to wonder how Braverman could talk about immigrants as if they were something she'd scraped off her shoe when there but for fortune they could be her parents or grandparents as it could be with many of us.
"actual immigrant."
Wasn't she born in London?
Yeah but she's not white, to racists like him that means she'll always be an immigrant even if born in this country.
He's making a serious play for younger voters with all the wittering on about Churchill.
Do younger voters know/care who Churchill was? Especially if they haven't 'done' WWII in history at school!
They'll know who he was, almost certainly. Caring will depend on if a particular perception or Churchill becomes part of the intended tribal experience.
Like how people who continue to bang on about Thatcher, on left and right, with the kind of passion as if they had been there at the time. You don't seen it quite as much now. (not that people cannot care about political history, but the intensity was so overblown for a long time).
My Chemistry teacher mate told me that whenever he covered a history class, they were doing the second world war in one aspect or another, so the kids will know who Churchill is, although these days, following the rise of Indian nationalism, they may see Churchill as a war criminal for killing millions in the Bengal Famine. Churchill is also on the £5 note if anyone still uses cash.
The Thatcher thing is slightly different. One reason for banging on about Mrs T is to point out to Conservatives that they have departed from her one true path even while professing to venerate her.
It is a bit like banging on about Reagan to remind American Republicans that Trump's isolationism is far removed from Reagan's shining city upon a hill and defender of freedom and democracy throughout the world. (Although even under Reagan, it was more rhetoric than policy!)
You're quite optimistic.
Something being taught in school and kids actually knowing it are two completely different things!
Everyone is taught Pythagoras Theorem, but I wonder how many actually know it?
On topic. Badenoch needs to do something unexpected. The Blair playbook is still the best. I remember early on him being asked what he thought about people making obscene amounts of money and he said he had no problem with David Beckham making a million.
Chasing the farmers and rich pensioners isn't the way to go for a Tory. Just too predictable. The best advice I was given was to Zig whenever everyone else Zagged. At the moment she's in lockstep with farage
The big missed opportunity in my opinion is that Badenoch's backstory is genuinely interesting. An immigrant who is one step away from being prime minister of a major country. Not the child of immigrants, but actual immigrant.
Problem is immigration is seen as so toxic even to Badenoch herself it seems, they don't dare to admit any of this of this, or try weave it into an Abraham Lincoln style log cabin narrative.
Spending your career demonising immigrants when you are one yourself could be problematic even for a Tory. I used to wonder how Braverman could talk about immigrants as if they were something she'd scraped off her shoe when there but for fortune they could be her parents or grandparents as it could be with many of us.
"actual immigrant."
Wasn't she born in London?
She has described herself as one. She was born in London but brought up in Nigeria and seems to have returned to the UK to do her A Levels. From Wiki: During her parliamentary maiden speech Badenoch stated that she was "to all intents and purposes a first-generation immigrant".
On topic. Badenoch needs to do something unexpected. The Blair playbook is still the best. I remember early on him being asked what he thought about people making obscene amounts of money and he said he had no problem with David Beckham making a million.
Chasing the farmers and rich pensioners isn't the way to go for a Tory. Just too predictable. The best advice I was given was to Zig whenever everyone else Zagged. At the moment she's in lockstep with farage
The big missed opportunity in my opinion is that Badenoch's backstory is genuinely interesting. An immigrant who is one step away from being prime minister of a major country. Not the child of immigrants, but actual immigrant.
Problem is immigration is seen as so toxic even to Badenoch herself it seems, they don't dare to admit any of this of this, or try weave it into an Abraham Lincoln style log cabin narrative.
Spending your career demonising immigrants when you are one yourself could be problematic even for a Tory. I used to wonder how Braverman could talk about immigrants as if they were something she'd scraped off her shoe when there but for fortune they could be her parents or grandparents as it could be with many of us.
"actual immigrant."
Wasn't she born in London?
In the sense her mother came specifically to London to give birth and get British nationality for her unborn baby under nationality rules at the time. She immigrated as a teenager.
On topic. Badenoch needs to do something unexpected. The Blair playbook is still the best. I remember early on him being asked what he thought about people making obscene amounts of money and he said he had no problem with David Beckham making a million.
Chasing the farmers and rich pensioners isn't the way to go for a Tory. Just too predictable. The best advice I was given was to Zig whenever everyone else Zagged. At the moment she's in lockstep with farage
The big missed opportunity in my opinion is that Badenoch's backstory is genuinely interesting. An immigrant who is one step away from being prime minister of a major country. Not the child of immigrants, but actual immigrant.
Problem is immigration is seen as so toxic even to Badenoch herself it seems, they don't dare to admit any of this of this, or try weave it into an Abraham Lincoln style log cabin narrative.
Spending your career demonising immigrants when you are one yourself could be problematic even for a Tory. I used to wonder how Braverman could talk about immigrants as if they were something she'd scraped off her shoe when there but for fortune they could be her parents or grandparents as it could be with many of us.
"They can't mean me! I'm a good citizen. It's them. Not me. I'm not one of them. They are the problem. Get them..."
On topic. Badenoch needs to do something unexpected. The Blair playbook is still the best. I remember early on him being asked what he thought about people making obscene amounts of money and he said he had no problem with David Beckham making a million.
Chasing the farmers and rich pensioners isn't the way to go for a Tory. Just too predictable. The best advice I was given was to Zig whenever everyone else Zagged. At the moment she's in lockstep with farage
The big missed opportunity in my opinion is that Badenoch's backstory is genuinely interesting. An immigrant who is one step away from being prime minister of a major country. Not the child of immigrants, but actual immigrant.
Problem is immigration is seen as so toxic even to Badenoch herself it seems, they don't dare to admit any of this of this, or try weave it into an Abraham Lincoln style log cabin narrative.
Spending your career demonising immigrants when you are one yourself could be problematic even for a Tory. I used to wonder how Braverman could talk about immigrants as if they were something she'd scraped off her shoe when there but for fortune they could be her parents or grandparents as it could be with many of us.
"actual immigrant."
Wasn't she born in London?
Yeah but she's not white, to racists like him that means she'll always be an immigrant even if born in this country.
Happy new year to all on PB I’m advance. Hope everyone is happy and healthy.
Here is a picture of a Neolithic grave I visited today in a sand dune area with loads more (photo restrictions on PB prevents more being shared). Anyway I always find it amazing there when I think that people made these graves in this area thousands of years ago looking out to the expanse of the west. Then I realise how little time our lives take up so I hope we all get as much out of life as we can - and what better way than living on PB!
On topic. Badenoch needs to do something unexpected. The Blair playbook is still the best. I remember early on him being asked what he thought about people making obscene amounts of money and he said he had no problem with David Beckham making a million.
Chasing the farmers and rich pensioners isn't the way to go for a Tory. Just too predictable. The best advice I was given was to Zig whenever everyone else Zagged. At the moment she's in lockstep with farage
The big missed opportunity in my opinion is that Badenoch's backstory is genuinely interesting. An immigrant who is one step away from being prime minister of a major country. Not the child of immigrants, but actual immigrant.
Problem is immigration is seen as so toxic even to Badenoch herself it seems, they don't dare to admit any of this of this, or try weave it into an Abraham Lincoln style log cabin narrative.
Spending your career demonising immigrants when you are one yourself could be problematic even for a Tory. I used to wonder how Braverman could talk about immigrants as if they were something she'd scraped off her shoe when there but for fortune they could be her parents or grandparents as it could be with many of us.
"actual immigrant."
Wasn't she born in London?
Yeah but she's not white, to racists like him that means she'll always be an immigrant even if born in this country.
Libel.
Libel and slander are laws that should be abolished forthwith
On topic. Badenoch needs to do something unexpected. The Blair playbook is still the best. I remember early on him being asked what he thought about people making obscene amounts of money and he said he had no problem with David Beckham making a million.
Chasing the farmers and rich pensioners isn't the way to go for a Tory. Just too predictable. The best advice I was given was to Zig whenever everyone else Zagged. At the moment she's in lockstep with farage
The big missed opportunity in my opinion is that Badenoch's backstory is genuinely interesting. An immigrant who is one step away from being prime minister of a major country. Not the child of immigrants, but actual immigrant.
Problem is immigration is seen as so toxic even to Badenoch herself it seems, they don't dare to admit any of this of this, or try weave it into an Abraham Lincoln style log cabin narrative.
Spending your career demonising immigrants when you are one yourself could be problematic even for a Tory. I used to wonder how Braverman could talk about immigrants as if they were something she'd scraped off her shoe when there but for fortune they could be her parents or grandparents as it could be with many of us.
"actual immigrant."
Wasn't she born in London?
Yeah but she's not white, to racists like him that means she'll always be an immigrant even if born in this country.
Libel.
Apologies to the owners of the site. In case of any concerns I have absolutely no intention of following up. @BartholomewRoberts needs to be a lot more careful what he writes however.
'"Parliament could become the next “Notre Dame inferno”, a former Commons leader has warned, as it was confirmed proposals for a multibillion-pound restoration will not be published until the end of 2025.
Peter Hain, the Labour peer and former Commons leader who was a cabinet minister under Tony Blair, said the restoration of the Paris cathedral showed how fast work could be done when politicians acted decisively.”.
[...] The committee overseeing the project had said the decision should be put off until after the general election, with new cost estimates and timescales due this year.'
They’re damned if they do, and damned if they don’t at this point.
Just agree to move out to the QEII centre for a few years, past the next election.
The longer they leave it the more the price rises, and the project is inevitable.
The problem is the cost is going to be many times the cost of the winter fuel payment that was removed so there is zero chance of it being approved this Parliament.
and that's the problem - there isn't going to be a time when spending £xbn repairing Parliament is acceptable to the general public...
I still think someone with vision could pitch moving parliament temporarily to different areas of country as an anti-elitist thing which saves money whilst repairs go on. Unless anyone seriously thinks we will let parliament fall down and not rebuild, this would save taxpayers billions vs working alongside politicians.
'"Parliament could become the next “Notre Dame inferno”, a former Commons leader has warned, as it was confirmed proposals for a multibillion-pound restoration will not be published until the end of 2025.
Peter Hain, the Labour peer and former Commons leader who was a cabinet minister under Tony Blair, said the restoration of the Paris cathedral showed how fast work could be done when politicians acted decisively.”.
[...] The committee overseeing the project had said the decision should be put off until after the general election, with new cost estimates and timescales due this year.'
They’re damned if they do, and damned if they don’t at this point.
Just agree to move out to the QEII centre for a few years, past the next election.
The longer they leave it the more the price rises, and the project is inevitable.
The problem is the cost is going to be many times the cost of the winter fuel payment that was removed so there is zero chance of it being approved this Parliament.
and that's the problem - there isn't going to be a time when spending £xbn repairing Parliament is acceptable to the general public...
I still think someone with vision could pitch moving parliament temporarily to different areas of country as an anti-elitist thing which saves money whilst repairs go on. Unless anyone seriously thinks we will let parliament fall down and not rebuild, this would save taxpayers billions vs working alongside politicians.
Move parliament to the most deprived area, rinse and repeat maybe we will see a lot more levelling up all of a sudden
On topic. Badenoch needs to do something unexpected. The Blair playbook is still the best. I remember early on him being asked what he thought about people making obscene amounts of money and he said he had no problem with David Beckham making a million.
Chasing the farmers and rich pensioners isn't the way to go for a Tory. Just too predictable. The best advice I was given was to Zig whenever everyone else Zagged. At the moment she's in lockstep with farage
The big missed opportunity in my opinion is that Badenoch's backstory is genuinely interesting. An immigrant who is one step away from being prime minister of a major country. Not the child of immigrants, but actual immigrant.
Problem is immigration is seen as so toxic even to Badenoch herself it seems, they don't dare to admit any of this of this, or try weave it into an Abraham Lincoln style log cabin narrative.
Spending your career demonising immigrants when you are one yourself could be problematic even for a Tory. I used to wonder how Braverman could talk about immigrants as if they were something she'd scraped off her shoe when there but for fortune they could be her parents or grandparents as it could be with many of us.
"actual immigrant."
Wasn't she born in London?
Yeah but she's not white, to racists like him that means she'll always be an immigrant even if born in this country.
Libel.
Apologies to the owners of the site. In case of any concerns I have absolutely no intention of following up. @BartholomewRoberts needs to be a lot more careful what he writes however.
I think people can dig up enough quotes from roger about all sorts to back up a lot of assertions
He's making a serious play for younger voters with all the wittering on about Churchill.
Do younger voters know/care who Churchill was? Especially if they haven't 'done' WWII in history at school!
They'll know who he was, almost certainly. Caring will depend on if a particular perception or Churchill becomes part of the intended tribal experience.
Like how people who continue to bang on about Thatcher, on left and right, with the kind of passion as if they had been there at the time. You don't seen it quite as much now. (not that people cannot care about political history, but the intensity was so overblown for a long time).
My Chemistry teacher mate told me that whenever he covered a history class, they were doing the second world war in one aspect or another, so the kids will know who Churchill is, although these days, following the rise of Indian nationalism, they may see Churchill as a war criminal for killing millions in the Bengal Famine. Churchill is also on the £5 note if anyone still uses cash.
The Thatcher thing is slightly different. One reason for banging on about Mrs T is to point out to Conservatives that they have departed from her one true path even while professing to venerate her.
It is a bit like banging on about Reagan to remind American Republicans that Trump's isolationism is far removed from Reagan's shining city upon a hill and defender of freedom and democracy throughout the world. (Although even under Reagan, it was more rhetoric than policy!)
You're quite optimistic.
Something being taught in school and kids actually knowing it are two completely different things!
Everyone is taught Pythagoras Theorem, but I wonder how many actually know it?
Can anyone who doesn't need it for work remember SOHCATOA. I remember the acronym (I think) and that it let me calculate angles but no idea how to apply it now.
'"Parliament could become the next “Notre Dame inferno”, a former Commons leader has warned, as it was confirmed proposals for a multibillion-pound restoration will not be published until the end of 2025.
Peter Hain, the Labour peer and former Commons leader who was a cabinet minister under Tony Blair, said the restoration of the Paris cathedral showed how fast work could be done when politicians acted decisively.”.
[...] The committee overseeing the project had said the decision should be put off until after the general election, with new cost estimates and timescales due this year.'
They’re damned if they do, and damned if they don’t at this point.
Just agree to move out to the QEII centre for a few years, past the next election.
The longer they leave it the more the price rises, and the project is inevitable.
The problem is the cost is going to be many times the cost of the winter fuel payment that was removed so there is zero chance of it being approved this Parliament.
and that's the problem - there isn't going to be a time when spending £xbn repairing Parliament is acceptable to the general public...
I still think someone with vision could pitch moving parliament temporarily to different areas of country as an anti-elitist thing which saves money whilst repairs go on. Unless anyone seriously thinks we will let parliament fall down and not rebuild, this would save taxpayers billions vs working alongside politicians.
Move parliament to the most deprived area, rinse and repeat maybe we will see a lot more levelling up all of a sudden
Genuinely would boost an area of country selected a lot, particularly if it took 5+ years to rebuild.
'"Parliament could become the next “Notre Dame inferno”, a former Commons leader has warned, as it was confirmed proposals for a multibillion-pound restoration will not be published until the end of 2025.
Peter Hain, the Labour peer and former Commons leader who was a cabinet minister under Tony Blair, said the restoration of the Paris cathedral showed how fast work could be done when politicians acted decisively.”.
[...] The committee overseeing the project had said the decision should be put off until after the general election, with new cost estimates and timescales due this year.'
They’re damned if they do, and damned if they don’t at this point.
Just agree to move out to the QEII centre for a few years, past the next election.
The longer they leave it the more the price rises, and the project is inevitable.
The problem is the cost is going to be many times the cost of the winter fuel payment that was removed so there is zero chance of it being approved this Parliament.
and that's the problem - there isn't going to be a time when spending £xbn repairing Parliament is acceptable to the general public...
I still think someone with vision could pitch moving parliament temporarily to different areas of country as an anti-elitist thing which saves money whilst repairs go on. Unless anyone seriously thinks we will let parliament fall down and not rebuild, this would save taxpayers billions vs working alongside politicians.
Move parliament to the most deprived area, rinse and repeat maybe we will see a lot more levelling up all of a sudden
Genuinely would boost an area of country selected a lot, particularly if it took 5+ years to rebuild.
I dont mean rebuild it there permanently, most areas have a building that can be repurposed for it...leave parliament there till its no longer the most deprived area then move it to the next most deprived area and keep repeating
He's making a serious play for younger voters with all the wittering on about Churchill.
Do younger voters know/care who Churchill was? Especially if they haven't 'done' WWII in history at school!
They'll know who he was, almost certainly. Caring will depend on if a particular perception or Churchill becomes part of the intended tribal experience.
Like how people who continue to bang on about Thatcher, on left and right, with the kind of passion as if they had been there at the time. You don't seen it quite as much now. (not that people cannot care about political history, but the intensity was so overblown for a long time).
My Chemistry teacher mate told me that whenever he covered a history class, they were doing the second world war in one aspect or another, so the kids will know who Churchill is, although these days, following the rise of Indian nationalism, they may see Churchill as a war criminal for killing millions in the Bengal Famine. Churchill is also on the £5 note if anyone still uses cash.
The Thatcher thing is slightly different. One reason for banging on about Mrs T is to point out to Conservatives that they have departed from her one true path even while professing to venerate her.
It is a bit like banging on about Reagan to remind American Republicans that Trump's isolationism is far removed from Reagan's shining city upon a hill and defender of freedom and democracy throughout the world. (Although even under Reagan, it was more rhetoric than policy!)
You're quite optimistic.
Something being taught in school and kids actually knowing it are two completely different things!
Everyone is taught Pythagoras Theorem, but I wonder how many actually know it?
Can anyone who doesn't need it for work remember SOHCATOA. I remember the acronym (I think) and that it let me calculate angles but no idea how to apply it now.
On topic. Badenoch needs to do something unexpected. The Blair playbook is still the best. I remember early on him being asked what he thought about people making obscene amounts of money and he said he had no problem with David Beckham making a million.
Chasing the farmers and rich pensioners isn't the way to go for a Tory. Just too predictable. The best advice I was given was to Zig whenever everyone else Zagged. At the moment she's in lockstep with farage
The big missed opportunity in my opinion is that Badenoch's backstory is genuinely interesting. An immigrant who is one step away from being prime minister of a major country. Not the child of immigrants, but actual immigrant.
Problem is immigration is seen as so toxic even to Badenoch herself it seems, they don't dare to admit any of this of this, or try weave it into an Abraham Lincoln style log cabin narrative.
Spending your career demonising immigrants when you are one yourself could be problematic even for a Tory. I used to wonder how Braverman could talk about immigrants as if they were something she'd scraped off her shoe when there but for fortune they could be her parents or grandparents as it could be with many of us.
"actual immigrant."
Wasn't she born in London?
Yeah but she's not white, to racists like him that means she'll always be an immigrant even if born in this country.
Libel.
Apologies to the owners of the site. In case of any concerns I have absolutely no intention of following up. @BartholomewRoberts needs to be a lot more careful what he writes however.
I wasn't speaking about you, and what I said was true.
There is a group of highly effective locals who go under the radar. They are the independent conservative (small c) who outperform the LD’s in terms of local representation. Very much ones to watch from a betting viewpoint
He's making a serious play for younger voters with all the wittering on about Churchill.
Do younger voters know/care who Churchill was? Especially if they haven't 'done' WWII in history at school!
They'll know who he was, almost certainly. Caring will depend on if a particular perception or Churchill becomes part of the intended tribal experience.
Like how people who continue to bang on about Thatcher, on left and right, with the kind of passion as if they had been there at the time. You don't seen it quite as much now. (not that people cannot care about political history, but the intensity was so overblown for a long time).
My Chemistry teacher mate told me that whenever he covered a history class, they were doing the second world war in one aspect or another, so the kids will know who Churchill is, although these days, following the rise of Indian nationalism, they may see Churchill as a war criminal for killing millions in the Bengal Famine. Churchill is also on the £5 note if anyone still uses cash.
The Thatcher thing is slightly different. One reason for banging on about Mrs T is to point out to Conservatives that they have departed from her one true path even while professing to venerate her.
It is a bit like banging on about Reagan to remind American Republicans that Trump's isolationism is far removed from Reagan's shining city upon a hill and defender of freedom and democracy throughout the world. (Although even under Reagan, it was more rhetoric than policy!)
You're quite optimistic.
Something being taught in school and kids actually knowing it are two completely different things!
Everyone is taught Pythagoras Theorem, but I wonder how many actually know it?
Can anyone who doesn't need it for work remember SOHCATOA. I remember the acronym (I think) and that it let me calculate angles but no idea how to apply it now.
He's making a serious play for younger voters with all the wittering on about Churchill.
Do younger voters know/care who Churchill was? Especially if they haven't 'done' WWII in history at school!
They'll know who he was, almost certainly. Caring will depend on if a particular perception or Churchill becomes part of the intended tribal experience.
Like how people who continue to bang on about Thatcher, on left and right, with the kind of passion as if they had been there at the time. You don't seen it quite as much now. (not that people cannot care about political history, but the intensity was so overblown for a long time).
My Chemistry teacher mate told me that whenever he covered a history class, they were doing the second world war in one aspect or another, so the kids will know who Churchill is, although these days, following the rise of Indian nationalism, they may see Churchill as a war criminal for killing millions in the Bengal Famine. Churchill is also on the £5 note if anyone still uses cash.
The Thatcher thing is slightly different. One reason for banging on about Mrs T is to point out to Conservatives that they have departed from her one true path even while professing to venerate her.
It is a bit like banging on about Reagan to remind American Republicans that Trump's isolationism is far removed from Reagan's shining city upon a hill and defender of freedom and democracy throughout the world. (Although even under Reagan, it was more rhetoric than policy!)
You're quite optimistic.
Something being taught in school and kids actually knowing it are two completely different things!
Everyone is taught Pythagoras Theorem, but I wonder how many actually know it?
Can anyone who doesn't need it for work remember SOHCATOA. I remember the acronym (I think) and that it let me calculate angles but no idea how to apply it now.
I do, but then I sort of need it for work.
you wont do when they add diversity and decolonise science
On topic. Badenoch needs to do something unexpected. The Blair playbook is still the best. I remember early on him being asked what he thought about people making obscene amounts of money and he said he had no problem with David Beckham making a million.
Chasing the farmers and rich pensioners isn't the way to go for a Tory. Just too predictable. The best advice I was given was to Zig whenever everyone else Zagged. At the moment she's in lockstep with farage
The big missed opportunity in my opinion is that Badenoch's backstory is genuinely interesting. An immigrant who is one step away from being prime minister of a major country. Not the child of immigrants, but actual immigrant.
Problem is immigration is seen as so toxic even to Badenoch herself it seems, they don't dare to admit any of this of this, or try weave it into an Abraham Lincoln style log cabin narrative.
Spending your career demonising immigrants when you are one yourself could be problematic even for a Tory. I used to wonder how Braverman could talk about immigrants as if they were something she'd scraped off her shoe when there but for fortune they could be her parents or grandparents as it could be with many of us.
"actual immigrant."
Wasn't she born in London?
Errr?
You mean Londonstan, surely?
That's not part of the UK, it's been taken over by Muslims and Sharia law rules supreme.
On topic. Badenoch needs to do something unexpected. The Blair playbook is still the best. I remember early on him being asked what he thought about people making obscene amounts of money and he said he had no problem with David Beckham making a million.
Chasing the farmers and rich pensioners isn't the way to go for a Tory. Just too predictable. The best advice I was given was to Zig whenever everyone else Zagged. At the moment she's in lockstep with farage
The big missed opportunity in my opinion is that Badenoch's backstory is genuinely interesting. An immigrant who is one step away from being prime minister of a major country. Not the child of immigrants, but actual immigrant.
Problem is immigration is seen as so toxic even to Badenoch herself it seems, they don't dare to admit any of this of this, or try weave it into an Abraham Lincoln style log cabin narrative.
Spending your career demonising immigrants when you are one yourself could be problematic even for a Tory. I used to wonder how Braverman could talk about immigrants as if they were something she'd scraped off her shoe when there but for fortune they could be her parents or grandparents as it could be with many of us.
"actual immigrant."
Wasn't she born in London?
Yeah but she's not white, to racists like him that means she'll always be an immigrant even if born in this country.
Libel.
Apologies to the owners of the site. In case of any concerns I have absolutely no intention of following up. @BartholomewRoberts needs to be a lot more careful what he writes however.
I wasn't speaking about you, and what I said was true.
So do you think the current laws are wrong and someone who is born in a British hospital should automatically be British, as they were before the 1981 British Nationality Act?
He's making a serious play for younger voters with all the wittering on about Churchill.
Do younger voters know/care who Churchill was? Especially if they haven't 'done' WWII in history at school!
They'll know who he was, almost certainly. Caring will depend on if a particular perception or Churchill becomes part of the intended tribal experience.
Like how people who continue to bang on about Thatcher, on left and right, with the kind of passion as if they had been there at the time. You don't seen it quite as much now. (not that people cannot care about political history, but the intensity was so overblown for a long time).
My Chemistry teacher mate told me that whenever he covered a history class, they were doing the second world war in one aspect or another, so the kids will know who Churchill is, although these days, following the rise of Indian nationalism, they may see Churchill as a war criminal for killing millions in the Bengal Famine. Churchill is also on the £5 note if anyone still uses cash.
The Thatcher thing is slightly different. One reason for banging on about Mrs T is to point out to Conservatives that they have departed from her one true path even while professing to venerate her.
It is a bit like banging on about Reagan to remind American Republicans that Trump's isolationism is far removed from Reagan's shining city upon a hill and defender of freedom and democracy throughout the world. (Although even under Reagan, it was more rhetoric than policy!)
You're quite optimistic.
Something being taught in school and kids actually knowing it are two completely different things!
Everyone is taught Pythagoras Theorem, but I wonder how many actually know it?
Can anyone who doesn't need it for work remember SOHCATOA. I remember the acronym (I think) and that it let me calculate angles but no idea how to apply it now.
He's making a serious play for younger voters with all the wittering on about Churchill.
Do younger voters know/care who Churchill was? Especially if they haven't 'done' WWII in history at school!
They'll know who he was, almost certainly. Caring will depend on if a particular perception or Churchill becomes part of the intended tribal experience.
Like how people who continue to bang on about Thatcher, on left and right, with the kind of passion as if they had been there at the time. You don't seen it quite as much now. (not that people cannot care about political history, but the intensity was so overblown for a long time).
My Chemistry teacher mate told me that whenever he covered a history class, they were doing the second world war in one aspect or another, so the kids will know who Churchill is, although these days, following the rise of Indian nationalism, they may see Churchill as a war criminal for killing millions in the Bengal Famine. Churchill is also on the £5 note if anyone still uses cash.
The Thatcher thing is slightly different. One reason for banging on about Mrs T is to point out to Conservatives that they have departed from her one true path even while professing to venerate her.
It is a bit like banging on about Reagan to remind American Republicans that Trump's isolationism is far removed from Reagan's shining city upon a hill and defender of freedom and democracy throughout the world. (Although even under Reagan, it was more rhetoric than policy!)
You're quite optimistic.
Something being taught in school and kids actually knowing it are two completely different things!
Everyone is taught Pythagoras Theorem, but I wonder how many actually know it?
Can anyone who doesn't need it for work remember SOHCATOA. I remember the acronym (I think) and that it let me calculate angles but no idea how to apply it now.
The turning of the year should be a time for quiet contemplation and reflection, taking stock of our lives, and what we think they might have in store.
The turning of the year should be a time for quiet contemplation and reflection, taking stock of our lives, and what we think they might have in store.
But people would rather just get shit faced.
Thinking what might be in store for us is making me want to get shitfaced, in a quietly contemplative way of course.
Just finished work for the year, and I've walked 8,153,760 steps in 2024 (plus a few more when I forgot my phone)
Seriously impressive!
I haven't quite finished for the day (though I won't be doing a run in the dark in this wind...), but I am at 5,930,125 steps for the year, an average of 16,292 daily.
I've run a paltry 1,474 km, swum 176 km, and cycled 2,766 km.
To give an idea of how low that is, I ran every day in 2021, and clocked up 4,240 km and about 8.5 million steps. But I've been concentrating on sprint triathlons, shorter distances and more speed this year. And there's been a great deal going on in my life...
I've also eaten 306 bananas and 184 packs of blueberries.
Yes, I like metrics!
Completely off topic on the subject of steps @BlancheLivermore I need the front door replaced and was asked where I want the letterbox and I am considering just telling them not to bother with one as I never get any useful post anyway. What happens at this point?
I'm not sure..
There's no legal requirement to have a letterbox. You'll make it easier for your postie if you have a recycling bin next to the front door with a 'Mail' sign on it
Please can it say 'Post'. I detest the word 'mail'.
On topic. Badenoch needs to do something unexpected. The Blair playbook is still the best. I remember early on him being asked what he thought about people making obscene amounts of money and he said he had no problem with David Beckham making a million.
Chasing the farmers and rich pensioners isn't the way to go for a Tory. Just too predictable. The best advice I was given was to Zig whenever everyone else Zagged. At the moment she's in lockstep with farage
The big missed opportunity in my opinion is that Badenoch's backstory is genuinely interesting. An immigrant who is one step away from being prime minister of a major country. Not the child of immigrants, but actual immigrant.
Problem is immigration is seen as so toxic even to Badenoch herself it seems, they don't dare to admit any of this of this, or try weave it into an Abraham Lincoln style log cabin narrative.
Spending your career demonising immigrants when you are one yourself could be problematic even for a Tory. I used to wonder how Braverman could talk about immigrants as if they were something she'd scraped off her shoe when there but for fortune they could be her parents or grandparents as it could be with many of us.
"actual immigrant."
Wasn't she born in London?
Errr?
You mean Londonstan, surely?
That's not part of the UK, it's been taken over by Muslims and Sharia law rules supreme.
He's making a serious play for younger voters with all the wittering on about Churchill.
Do younger voters know/care who Churchill was? Especially if they haven't 'done' WWII in history at school!
They'll know who he was, almost certainly. Caring will depend on if a particular perception or Churchill becomes part of the intended tribal experience.
Like how people who continue to bang on about Thatcher, on left and right, with the kind of passion as if they had been there at the time. You don't seen it quite as much now. (not that people cannot care about political history, but the intensity was so overblown for a long time).
My Chemistry teacher mate told me that whenever he covered a history class, they were doing the second world war in one aspect or another, so the kids will know who Churchill is, although these days, following the rise of Indian nationalism, they may see Churchill as a war criminal for killing millions in the Bengal Famine. Churchill is also on the £5 note if anyone still uses cash.
The Thatcher thing is slightly different. One reason for banging on about Mrs T is to point out to Conservatives that they have departed from her one true path even while professing to venerate her.
It is a bit like banging on about Reagan to remind American Republicans that Trump's isolationism is far removed from Reagan's shining city upon a hill and defender of freedom and democracy throughout the world. (Although even under Reagan, it was more rhetoric than policy!)
You're quite optimistic.
Something being taught in school and kids actually knowing it are two completely different things!
Everyone is taught Pythagoras Theorem, but I wonder how many actually know it?
Can anyone who doesn't need it for work remember SOHCATOA. I remember the acronym (I think) and that it let me calculate angles but no idea how to apply it now.
SOHCAHTOA
You missed an H
With Pythagoras
Sin² + Cos² = 1
Who doesn't use that every day?
Anyone who doesn’t use AC current…
Well, most of us use it, but we're resistant to understanding it.
He's making a serious play for younger voters with all the wittering on about Churchill.
Do younger voters know/care who Churchill was? Especially if they haven't 'done' WWII in history at school!
They'll know who he was, almost certainly. Caring will depend on if a particular perception or Churchill becomes part of the intended tribal experience.
Like how people who continue to bang on about Thatcher, on left and right, with the kind of passion as if they had been there at the time. You don't seen it quite as much now. (not that people cannot care about political history, but the intensity was so overblown for a long time).
My Chemistry teacher mate told me that whenever he covered a history class, they were doing the second world war in one aspect or another, so the kids will know who Churchill is, although these days, following the rise of Indian nationalism, they may see Churchill as a war criminal for killing millions in the Bengal Famine. Churchill is also on the £5 note if anyone still uses cash.
The Thatcher thing is slightly different. One reason for banging on about Mrs T is to point out to Conservatives that they have departed from her one true path even while professing to venerate her.
It is a bit like banging on about Reagan to remind American Republicans that Trump's isolationism is far removed from Reagan's shining city upon a hill and defender of freedom and democracy throughout the world. (Although even under Reagan, it was more rhetoric than policy!)
You're quite optimistic.
Something being taught in school and kids actually knowing it are two completely different things!
Everyone is taught Pythagoras Theorem, but I wonder how many actually know it?
Can anyone who doesn't need it for work remember SOHCATOA. I remember the acronym (I think) and that it let me calculate angles but no idea how to apply it now.
SOHCAHTOA
You missed an H
With Pythagoras
Sin² + Cos² = 1
Who doesn't use that every day?
Anyone who doesn’t use AC current…
Well, most of us use it, but we're resistant to understanding it.
He's making a serious play for younger voters with all the wittering on about Churchill.
Do younger voters know/care who Churchill was? Especially if they haven't 'done' WWII in history at school!
They'll know who he was, almost certainly. Caring will depend on if a particular perception or Churchill becomes part of the intended tribal experience.
Like how people who continue to bang on about Thatcher, on left and right, with the kind of passion as if they had been there at the time. You don't seen it quite as much now. (not that people cannot care about political history, but the intensity was so overblown for a long time).
My Chemistry teacher mate told me that whenever he covered a history class, they were doing the second world war in one aspect or another, so the kids will know who Churchill is, although these days, following the rise of Indian nationalism, they may see Churchill as a war criminal for killing millions in the Bengal Famine. Churchill is also on the £5 note if anyone still uses cash.
The Thatcher thing is slightly different. One reason for banging on about Mrs T is to point out to Conservatives that they have departed from her one true path even while professing to venerate her.
It is a bit like banging on about Reagan to remind American Republicans that Trump's isolationism is far removed from Reagan's shining city upon a hill and defender of freedom and democracy throughout the world. (Although even under Reagan, it was more rhetoric than policy!)
You're quite optimistic.
Something being taught in school and kids actually knowing it are two completely different things!
Everyone is taught Pythagoras Theorem, but I wonder how many actually know it?
Can anyone who doesn't need it for work remember SOHCATOA. I remember the acronym (I think) and that it let me calculate angles but no idea how to apply it now.
SOHCAHTOA
You missed an H
With Pythagoras
Sin² + Cos² = 1
Who doesn't use that every day?
Anyone who doesn’t use AC current…
Well, most of us use it, but we're resistant to understanding it.
Ohm My God!
Did you expect me to refuse, having been given ample opportunity?
The turning of the year should be a time for quiet contemplation and reflection, taking stock of our lives, and what we think they might have in store.
But people would rather just get shit faced.
On my Bouquet List for next year are:
Ashington Branch Bicester to Bletchley
Is there anything else expected to open imminently?
Just finished work for the year, and I've walked 8,153,760 steps in 2024 (plus a few more when I forgot my phone)
Seriously impressive!
I haven't quite finished for the day (though I won't be doing a run in the dark in this wind...), but I am at 5,930,125 steps for the year, an average of 16,292 daily.
I've run a paltry 1,474 km, swum 176 km, and cycled 2,766 km.
To give an idea of how low that is, I ran every day in 2021, and clocked up 4,240 km and about 8.5 million steps. But I've been concentrating on sprint triathlons, shorter distances and more speed this year. And there's been a great deal going on in my life...
I've also eaten 306 bananas and 184 packs of blueberries.
Yes, I like metrics!
Completely off topic on the subject of steps @BlancheLivermore I need the front door replaced and was asked where I want the letterbox and I am considering just telling them not to bother with one as I never get any useful post anyway. What happens at this point?
I'm not sure..
There's no legal requirement to have a letterbox. You'll make it easier for your postie if you have a recycling bin next to the front door with a 'Mail' sign on it
Please can it say 'Post'. I detest the word 'mail'.
The turning of the year should be a time for quiet contemplation and reflection, taking stock of our lives, and what we think they might have in store.
But people would rather just get shit faced.
Well, speaking for myself, I have done the contemplation and reflection stuff, especially since I have no desire to get blind drunk.
So I have decided to halt my PB interaction at 8192 posts as it is a nice round number.
He's making a serious play for younger voters with all the wittering on about Churchill.
Do younger voters know/care who Churchill was? Especially if they haven't 'done' WWII in history at school!
They'll know who he was, almost certainly. Caring will depend on if a particular perception or Churchill becomes part of the intended tribal experience.
Like how people who continue to bang on about Thatcher, on left and right, with the kind of passion as if they had been there at the time. You don't seen it quite as much now. (not that people cannot care about political history, but the intensity was so overblown for a long time).
My Chemistry teacher mate told me that whenever he covered a history class, they were doing the second world war in one aspect or another, so the kids will know who Churchill is, although these days, following the rise of Indian nationalism, they may see Churchill as a war criminal for killing millions in the Bengal Famine. Churchill is also on the £5 note if anyone still uses cash.
The Thatcher thing is slightly different. One reason for banging on about Mrs T is to point out to Conservatives that they have departed from her one true path even while professing to venerate her.
It is a bit like banging on about Reagan to remind American Republicans that Trump's isolationism is far removed from Reagan's shining city upon a hill and defender of freedom and democracy throughout the world. (Although even under Reagan, it was more rhetoric than policy!)
You're quite optimistic.
Something being taught in school and kids actually knowing it are two completely different things!
Everyone is taught Pythagoras Theorem, but I wonder how many actually know it?
Can anyone who doesn't need it for work remember SOHCATOA. I remember the acronym (I think) and that it let me calculate angles but no idea how to apply it now.
SOHCAHTOA
You missed an H
With Pythagoras
Sin² + Cos² = 1
Who doesn't use that every day?
Anyone who doesn’t use AC current…
Well, most of us use it, but we're resistant to understanding it.
There's definitely some impedance to learning, although it is often complex and it is easy to end up lagging if you don't have the capacitance.
The turning of the year should be a time for quiet contemplation and reflection, taking stock of our lives, and what we think they might have in store.
But people would rather just get shit faced.
Well, speaking for myself, I have done the contemplation and reflection stuff, especially since I have no desire to get blind drunk.
So I have decided to halt my PB interaction at 8192 posts as it is a nice round number.
For various reasons my work in a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) involves lots of multiples of 2, so I applaud the choice of 8192 - doubling up from 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512, 1024, 2048, 4096). But please stay.
He's making a serious play for younger voters with all the wittering on about Churchill.
Do younger voters know/care who Churchill was? Especially if they haven't 'done' WWII in history at school!
They'll know who he was, almost certainly. Caring will depend on if a particular perception or Churchill becomes part of the intended tribal experience.
Like how people who continue to bang on about Thatcher, on left and right, with the kind of passion as if they had been there at the time. You don't seen it quite as much now. (not that people cannot care about political history, but the intensity was so overblown for a long time).
My Chemistry teacher mate told me that whenever he covered a history class, they were doing the second world war in one aspect or another, so the kids will know who Churchill is, although these days, following the rise of Indian nationalism, they may see Churchill as a war criminal for killing millions in the Bengal Famine. Churchill is also on the £5 note if anyone still uses cash.
The Thatcher thing is slightly different. One reason for banging on about Mrs T is to point out to Conservatives that they have departed from her one true path even while professing to venerate her.
It is a bit like banging on about Reagan to remind American Republicans that Trump's isolationism is far removed from Reagan's shining city upon a hill and defender of freedom and democracy throughout the world. (Although even under Reagan, it was more rhetoric than policy!)
You're quite optimistic.
Something being taught in school and kids actually knowing it are two completely different things!
Everyone is taught Pythagoras Theorem, but I wonder how many actually know it?
Can anyone who doesn't need it for work remember SOHCATOA. I remember the acronym (I think) and that it let me calculate angles but no idea how to apply it now.
SOHCAHTOA
You missed an H
With Pythagoras
Sin² + Cos² = 1
Who doesn't use that every day?
Anyone who doesn’t use AC current…
Well, most of us use it, but we're resistant to understanding it.
There's definitely some impedance to learning, although it is often complex and it is easy to end up lagging if you don't have the capacitance.
The turning of the year should be a time for quiet contemplation and reflection, taking stock of our lives, and what we think they might have in store.
But people would rather just get shit faced.
Well, speaking for myself, I have done the contemplation and reflection stuff, especially since I have no desire to get blind drunk.
So I have decided to halt my PB interaction at 8192 posts as it is a nice round number.
For various reasons my work in a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) involves lots of multiples of 2, so I applaud the choice of 8192 - doubling up from 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512, 1024, 2048, 4096). But please stay.
Definitely stay! At least until 16,384 which is my favourite.
He's making a serious play for younger voters with all the wittering on about Churchill.
Do younger voters know/care who Churchill was? Especially if they haven't 'done' WWII in history at school!
They'll know who he was, almost certainly. Caring will depend on if a particular perception or Churchill becomes part of the intended tribal experience.
Like how people who continue to bang on about Thatcher, on left and right, with the kind of passion as if they had been there at the time. You don't seen it quite as much now. (not that people cannot care about political history, but the intensity was so overblown for a long time).
My Chemistry teacher mate told me that whenever he covered a history class, they were doing the second world war in one aspect or another, so the kids will know who Churchill is, although these days, following the rise of Indian nationalism, they may see Churchill as a war criminal for killing millions in the Bengal Famine. Churchill is also on the £5 note if anyone still uses cash.
The Thatcher thing is slightly different. One reason for banging on about Mrs T is to point out to Conservatives that they have departed from her one true path even while professing to venerate her.
It is a bit like banging on about Reagan to remind American Republicans that Trump's isolationism is far removed from Reagan's shining city upon a hill and defender of freedom and democracy throughout the world. (Although even under Reagan, it was more rhetoric than policy!)
You're quite optimistic.
Something being taught in school and kids actually knowing it are two completely different things!
Everyone is taught Pythagoras Theorem, but I wonder how many actually know it?
That was the one about getting into a bath and seeing how much bubble-bath you could froth, right?
The turning of the year should be a time for quiet contemplation and reflection, taking stock of our lives, and what we think they might have in store.
But people would rather just get shit faced.
Well, speaking for myself, I have done the contemplation and reflection stuff, especially since I have no desire to get blind drunk.
So I have decided to halt my PB interaction at 8192 posts as it is a nice round number.
For various reasons my work in a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) involves lots of multiples of 2, so I applaud the choice of 8192 - doubling up from 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512, 1024, 2048, 4096). But please stay.
Definitely stay! At least until 16,384 which is my favourite.
1280 is mine. The number of bytes you had to add to the screen offset buffer on an Atari to scroll vertically by 8 pixels.
Closely followed by 54272 - the base address of the C64 sound chip (SID).
He's making a serious play for younger voters with all the wittering on about Churchill.
Do younger voters know/care who Churchill was? Especially if they haven't 'done' WWII in history at school!
They'll know who he was, almost certainly. Caring will depend on if a particular perception or Churchill becomes part of the intended tribal experience.
Like how people who continue to bang on about Thatcher, on left and right, with the kind of passion as if they had been there at the time. You don't seen it quite as much now. (not that people cannot care about political history, but the intensity was so overblown for a long time).
My Chemistry teacher mate told me that whenever he covered a history class, they were doing the second world war in one aspect or another, so the kids will know who Churchill is, although these days, following the rise of Indian nationalism, they may see Churchill as a war criminal for killing millions in the Bengal Famine. Churchill is also on the £5 note if anyone still uses cash.
The Thatcher thing is slightly different. One reason for banging on about Mrs T is to point out to Conservatives that they have departed from her one true path even while professing to venerate her.
It is a bit like banging on about Reagan to remind American Republicans that Trump's isolationism is far removed from Reagan's shining city upon a hill and defender of freedom and democracy throughout the world. (Although even under Reagan, it was more rhetoric than policy!)
You're quite optimistic.
Something being taught in school and kids actually knowing it are two completely different things!
Everyone is taught Pythagoras Theorem, but I wonder how many actually know it?
Can anyone who doesn't need it for work remember SOHCATOA. I remember the acronym (I think) and that it let me calculate angles but no idea how to apply it now.
Don't want to bust your bubble, but SOHCATOA isn't Pythagoras, and is missing a character.
Pythagoras is that for any right angled triangle, a² + b² = c² where a and b are the lengths of the short sides and c the long side (hypotenuse)
SOHCA[b]H[/b]TOA is the functions of Sin Cos and Tan in the context of the sides a right angled triangle: Sin = Opposite/Hypotenuse Cos = Adjacent/Hypotenuse Tan = Opposite/Adjacent
Is a rubbish way to learn it - far better the phrase "Tommy On A Ship Of His Caught All Herring"
I use trig functions all the time, hand coding ancient Heidenhain TNC 150 series CNC controls on the machining centres at work.
Just finished work for the year, and I've walked 8,153,760 steps in 2024 (plus a few more when I forgot my phone)
Seriously impressive!
I haven't quite finished for the day (though I won't be doing a run in the dark in this wind...), but I am at 5,930,125 steps for the year, an average of 16,292 daily.
I've run a paltry 1,474 km, swum 176 km, and cycled 2,766 km.
To give an idea of how low that is, I ran every day in 2021, and clocked up 4,240 km and about 8.5 million steps. But I've been concentrating on sprint triathlons, shorter distances and more speed this year. And there's been a great deal going on in my life...
I've also eaten 306 bananas and 184 packs of blueberries.
Yes, I like metrics!
Completely off topic on the subject of steps @BlancheLivermore I need the front door replaced and was asked where I want the letterbox and I am considering just telling them not to bother with one as I never get any useful post anyway. What happens at this point?
I'm not sure..
There's no legal requirement to have a letterbox. You'll make it easier for your postie if you have a recycling bin next to the front door with a 'Mail' sign on it
Please can it say 'Post'. I detest the word 'mail'.
The turning of the year should be a time for quiet contemplation and reflection, taking stock of our lives, and what we think they might have in store.
But people would rather just get shit faced.
Well, speaking for myself, I have done the contemplation and reflection stuff, especially since I have no desire to get blind drunk.
So I have decided to halt my PB interaction at 8192 posts as it is a nice round number.
For various reasons my work in a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) involves lots of multiples of 2, so I applaud the choice of 8192 - doubling up from 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512, 1024, 2048, 4096). But please stay.
Definitely stay! At least until 16,384 which is my favourite.
I have been on PB for well over 10 years and possibly 15 years, certainly back in the day when Plato and myself used to discuss shoes, cooking and, occasionally, cats!
It is time to move on and I do not want to face another 8192 posts and the last day of the year seems like an appropriate time.
Thank you to you all (even CR ) and a Happy New Year to everyone.
He's making a serious play for younger voters with all the wittering on about Churchill.
Do younger voters know/care who Churchill was? Especially if they haven't 'done' WWII in history at school!
They'll know who he was, almost certainly. Caring will depend on if a particular perception or Churchill becomes part of the intended tribal experience.
Like how people who continue to bang on about Thatcher, on left and right, with the kind of passion as if they had been there at the time. You don't seen it quite as much now. (not that people cannot care about political history, but the intensity was so overblown for a long time).
My Chemistry teacher mate told me that whenever he covered a history class, they were doing the second world war in one aspect or another, so the kids will know who Churchill is, although these days, following the rise of Indian nationalism, they may see Churchill as a war criminal for killing millions in the Bengal Famine. Churchill is also on the £5 note if anyone still uses cash.
The Thatcher thing is slightly different. One reason for banging on about Mrs T is to point out to Conservatives that they have departed from her one true path even while professing to venerate her.
It is a bit like banging on about Reagan to remind American Republicans that Trump's isolationism is far removed from Reagan's shining city upon a hill and defender of freedom and democracy throughout the world. (Although even under Reagan, it was more rhetoric than policy!)
You're quite optimistic.
Something being taught in school and kids actually knowing it are two completely different things!
Everyone is taught Pythagoras Theorem, but I wonder how many actually know it?
Can anyone who doesn't need it for work remember SOHCATOA. I remember the acronym (I think) and that it let me calculate angles but no idea how to apply it now.
SOHCAHTOA
You missed an H
With Pythagoras
Sin² + Cos² = 1
Who doesn't use that every day?
Anyone who doesn’t use AC current…
Well, most of us use it, but we're resistant to understanding it.
The turning of the year should be a time for quiet contemplation and reflection, taking stock of our lives, and what we think they might have in store.
But people would rather just get shit faced.
Well, speaking for myself, I have done the contemplation and reflection stuff, especially since I have no desire to get blind drunk.
So I have decided to halt my PB interaction at 8192 posts as it is a nice round number.
For various reasons my work in a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) involves lots of multiples of 2, so I applaud the choice of 8192 - doubling up from 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512, 1024, 2048, 4096). But please stay.
Definitely stay! At least until 16,384 which is my favourite.
I have been on PB for well over 10 years and possibly 15 years, certainly back in the day when Plato and myself used to discuss shoes, cooking and, occasionally, cats!
It is time to move on and I do not want to face another 8192 posts and the last day of the year seems like an appropriate time.
Thank you to you all (even CR ) and a Happy New Year to everyone.
If it encourages you to stay, I am always up for chat about shoes, cooking and, very often, cats!
He's making a serious play for younger voters with all the wittering on about Churchill.
Do younger voters know/care who Churchill was? Especially if they haven't 'done' WWII in history at school!
They'll know who he was, almost certainly. Caring will depend on if a particular perception or Churchill becomes part of the intended tribal experience.
Like how people who continue to bang on about Thatcher, on left and right, with the kind of passion as if they had been there at the time. You don't seen it quite as much now. (not that people cannot care about political history, but the intensity was so overblown for a long time).
My Chemistry teacher mate told me that whenever he covered a history class, they were doing the second world war in one aspect or another, so the kids will know who Churchill is, although these days, following the rise of Indian nationalism, they may see Churchill as a war criminal for killing millions in the Bengal Famine. Churchill is also on the £5 note if anyone still uses cash.
The Thatcher thing is slightly different. One reason for banging on about Mrs T is to point out to Conservatives that they have departed from her one true path even while professing to venerate her.
It is a bit like banging on about Reagan to remind American Republicans that Trump's isolationism is far removed from Reagan's shining city upon a hill and defender of freedom and democracy throughout the world. (Although even under Reagan, it was more rhetoric than policy!)
You're quite optimistic.
Something being taught in school and kids actually knowing it are two completely different things!
Everyone is taught Pythagoras Theorem, but I wonder how many actually know it?
Can anyone who doesn't need it for work remember SOHCATOA. I remember the acronym (I think) and that it let me calculate angles but no idea how to apply it now.
Don't want to bust your bubble, but SOHCATOA isn't Pythagoras, and is missing a character.
Pythagoras is that for any right angled triangle, a² + b² = c² where a and b are the lengths of the short sides and c the long side (hypotenuse)
SOHCA[b]H[/b]TOA is the functions of Sin Cos and Tan in the context of the sides a right angled triangle: Sin = Opposite/Hypotenuse Cos = Adjacent/Hypotenuse Tan = Opposite/Adjacent
Is a rubbish way to learn it - far better the phrase "Tommy On A Ship Of His Caught All Herring"
I use trig functions all the time, hand coding ancient Heidenhain TNC 150 series CNC controls on the machining centres at work.
The old Arab sat on his camal and howled (from a 1980’s grammar education).
Just finished work for the year, and I've walked 8,153,760 steps in 2024 (plus a few more when I forgot my phone)
c.22,000 per day.
Seriously impressive. I tried for a 10k average in 2023 and fell 300 short.
I hit my target, averaging 10,068 steps a day for 2024. I have managed to exceed 10,000 a day average every year since 2020. In some ways of course it is just a meaningless number but since, prior to 2020, I was averaging 3,000 steps a day, having increased my activity by 3x seems a good result. It has been accompanied by a 6 stone weight loss over that period. Hoping to lose another 3 stone going forward.
But 22,000 a day average is another level entirely.
The turning of the year should be a time for quiet contemplation and reflection, taking stock of our lives, and what we think they might have in store.
But people would rather just get shit faced.
Well, speaking for myself, I have done the contemplation and reflection stuff, especially since I have no desire to get blind drunk.
So I have decided to halt my PB interaction at 8192 posts as it is a nice round number.
For various reasons my work in a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) involves lots of multiples of 2, so I applaud the choice of 8192 - doubling up from 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512, 1024, 2048, 4096). But please stay.
Definitely stay! At least until 16,384 which is my favourite.
I will raise you to 32,768, come on Bev hang about
He's making a serious play for younger voters with all the wittering on about Churchill.
Do younger voters know/care who Churchill was? Especially if they haven't 'done' WWII in history at school!
They'll know who he was, almost certainly. Caring will depend on if a particular perception or Churchill becomes part of the intended tribal experience.
Like how people who continue to bang on about Thatcher, on left and right, with the kind of passion as if they had been there at the time. You don't seen it quite as much now. (not that people cannot care about political history, but the intensity was so overblown for a long time).
My Chemistry teacher mate told me that whenever he covered a history class, they were doing the second world war in one aspect or another, so the kids will know who Churchill is, although these days, following the rise of Indian nationalism, they may see Churchill as a war criminal for killing millions in the Bengal Famine. Churchill is also on the £5 note if anyone still uses cash.
The Thatcher thing is slightly different. One reason for banging on about Mrs T is to point out to Conservatives that they have departed from her one true path even while professing to venerate her.
It is a bit like banging on about Reagan to remind American Republicans that Trump's isolationism is far removed from Reagan's shining city upon a hill and defender of freedom and democracy throughout the world. (Although even under Reagan, it was more rhetoric than policy!)
You're quite optimistic.
Something being taught in school and kids actually knowing it are two completely different things!
Everyone is taught Pythagoras Theorem, but I wonder how many actually know it?
Can anyone who doesn't need it for work remember SOHCATOA. I remember the acronym (I think) and that it let me calculate angles but no idea how to apply it now.
Don't want to bust your bubble, but SOHCATOA isn't Pythagoras, and is missing a character.
Pythagoras is that for any right angled triangle, a² + b² = c² where a and b are the lengths of the short sides and c the long side (hypotenuse)
SOHCA[b]H[/b]TOA is the functions of Sin Cos and Tan in the context of the sides a right angled triangle: Sin = Opposite/Hypotenuse Cos = Adjacent/Hypotenuse Tan = Opposite/Adjacent
Is a rubbish way to learn it - far better the phrase "Tommy On A Ship Of His Caught All Herring"
I use trig functions all the time, hand coding ancient Heidenhain TNC 150 series CNC controls on the machining centres at work.
I hate the a² etc notation for it, which was not used when I was taught at school and seems mental to me that its the "formula" given to students nowadays.
a, b, c means nothing. Hypotenuse, opposite and adjacent mean something. Teaching instrumentally to use a, b and c seems to me an insane way that it is set up and I have no idea when that was introduced or who by (or if its always been done in the UK and it was me being overseas that meant I missed it).
Especially bonkers is the fact that a is the opposite, while the adjacent is b. Who thought up that crock of shite?
Just finished work for the year, and I've walked 8,153,760 steps in 2024 (plus a few more when I forgot my phone)
c.22,000 per day.
Seriously impressive. I tried for a 10k average in 2023 and fell 300 short.
I hit my target, averaging 10,068 steps a day for 2024. I have managed to exceed 10,000 a day average every year since 2020. In some ways of course it is just a meaningless number but since, prior to 2020, I was averaging 3,000 steps a day, having increased my activity by 3x seems a good result. It has been accompanied by a 6 stone weight loss over that period. Hoping to lose another 3 stone going forward.
But 22,000 a day average is another level entirely.
Wasn't the 10k steps a day thing a made up number to try and sell pedometers? Back when they were something a bit less sophisticated than they are now.
On topic. Badenoch needs to do something unexpected. The Blair playbook is still the best. I remember early on him being asked what he thought about people making obscene amounts of money and he said he had no problem with David Beckham making a million.
Chasing the farmers and rich pensioners isn't the way to go for a Tory. Just too predictable. The best advice I was given was to Zig whenever everyone else Zagged. At the moment she's in lockstep with farage
The big missed opportunity in my opinion is that Badenoch's backstory is genuinely interesting. An immigrant who is one step away from being prime minister of a major country. Not the child of immigrants, but actual immigrant.
Problem is immigration is seen as so toxic even to Badenoch herself it seems, they don't dare to admit any of this of this, or try weave it into an Abraham Lincoln style log cabin narrative.
Spending your career demonising immigrants when you are one yourself could be problematic even for a Tory. I used to wonder how Braverman could talk about immigrants as if they were something she'd scraped off her shoe when there but for fortune they could be her parents or grandparents as it could be with many of us.
"actual immigrant."
Wasn't she born in London?
Errr?
You mean Londonstan, surely?
That's not part of the UK, it's been taken over by Muslims and Sharia law rules supreme.
(I've met people who actually believe this.)
Melanie Phillips called it "Londonistan".
The origin of the phrase was French - their plod and sneaky types couldn’t understand why we let the Death To The West types do anything they wanted. The French got annoyed because they were aiding and abetting the same type of comedians in Paris.
I had some fun at UCL with the early versions - they began appearing in the 90s
They wanted to introduce indefinite detention without trial. While they were stopped from doing that, all the wanabee head choppers got swept up.
The phrase has been recycled by racists, taking about no go areas. Which is bollocks.
‘Specially from a US perspective. I mean, there are a few places where your probability of getting mugged is pretty high, but one of them is Leicester Square*. Actual risk, based on ethnicity? Nope.
*if you are ever in Leicester Square, check out the Cork & Bottle. Basement bar/resteraunt. The food is pretty good, the wine list is splendid. And they have cheese. Oh boy, do they have cheese. And no chance of being mugged.
He's making a serious play for younger voters with all the wittering on about Churchill.
Do younger voters know/care who Churchill was? Especially if they haven't 'done' WWII in history at school!
They'll know who he was, almost certainly. Caring will depend on if a particular perception or Churchill becomes part of the intended tribal experience.
Like how people who continue to bang on about Thatcher, on left and right, with the kind of passion as if they had been there at the time. You don't seen it quite as much now. (not that people cannot care about political history, but the intensity was so overblown for a long time).
My Chemistry teacher mate told me that whenever he covered a history class, they were doing the second world war in one aspect or another, so the kids will know who Churchill is, although these days, following the rise of Indian nationalism, they may see Churchill as a war criminal for killing millions in the Bengal Famine. Churchill is also on the £5 note if anyone still uses cash.
The Thatcher thing is slightly different. One reason for banging on about Mrs T is to point out to Conservatives that they have departed from her one true path even while professing to venerate her.
It is a bit like banging on about Reagan to remind American Republicans that Trump's isolationism is far removed from Reagan's shining city upon a hill and defender of freedom and democracy throughout the world. (Although even under Reagan, it was more rhetoric than policy!)
You're quite optimistic.
Something being taught in school and kids actually knowing it are two completely different things!
Everyone is taught Pythagoras Theorem, but I wonder how many actually know it?
Can anyone who doesn't need it for work remember SOHCATOA. I remember the acronym (I think) and that it let me calculate angles but no idea how to apply it now.
SOHCAHTOA
You missed an H
With Pythagoras
Sin² + Cos² = 1
Who doesn't use that every day?
Anyone who doesn’t use AC current…
Well, most of us use it, but we're resistant to understanding it.
There's definitely some impedance to learning, although it is often complex and it is easy to end up lagging if you don't have the capacitance.
Just finished work for the year, and I've walked 8,153,760 steps in 2024 (plus a few more when I forgot my phone)
c.22,000 per day.
Seriously impressive. I tried for a 10k average in 2023 and fell 300 short.
I hit my target, averaging 10,068 steps a day for 2024. I have managed to exceed 10,000 a day average every year since 2020. In some ways of course it is just a meaningless number but since, prior to 2020, I was averaging 3,000 steps a day, having increased my activity by 3x seems a good result. It has been accompanied by a 6 stone weight loss over that period. Hoping to lose another 3 stone going forward.
But 22,000 a day average is another level entirely.
I believe various health insurance firms now give a discount if you use a tracker...I sense a business opportunity pairing up insurance customers with posties willing to wear multiple trackers and naturally taking a cut
Just finished work for the year, and I've walked 8,153,760 steps in 2024 (plus a few more when I forgot my phone)
c.22,000 per day.
Seriously impressive. I tried for a 10k average in 2023 and fell 300 short.
I hit my target, averaging 10,068 steps a day for 2024. I have managed to exceed 10,000 a day average every year since 2020. In some ways of course it is just a meaningless number but since, prior to 2020, I was averaging 3,000 steps a day, having increased my activity by 3x seems a good result. It has been accompanied by a 6 stone weight loss over that period. Hoping to lose another 3 stone going forward.
But 22,000 a day average is another level entirely.
Wasn't the 10k steps a day thing a made up number to try and sell pedometers? Back when they were something a bit less sophisticated than they are now.
Moving more is surely not a bad thing, though.
I feel cheated when 50k on a bike scores nil...
Yep, as I said I do realise it is a meaningless number on one level. But it is a step change (if you will excuse the pun) from my previous existence and has now become an integral part of my life. As time allows my intent is to up it to 13K or 15K average a day as I see masive health benefits in myself when I do more. Just a matter of finding the time.
He's making a serious play for younger voters with all the wittering on about Churchill.
Do younger voters know/care who Churchill was? Especially if they haven't 'done' WWII in history at school!
They'll know who he was, almost certainly. Caring will depend on if a particular perception or Churchill becomes part of the intended tribal experience.
Like how people who continue to bang on about Thatcher, on left and right, with the kind of passion as if they had been there at the time. You don't seen it quite as much now. (not that people cannot care about political history, but the intensity was so overblown for a long time).
My Chemistry teacher mate told me that whenever he covered a history class, they were doing the second world war in one aspect or another, so the kids will know who Churchill is, although these days, following the rise of Indian nationalism, they may see Churchill as a war criminal for killing millions in the Bengal Famine. Churchill is also on the £5 note if anyone still uses cash.
The Thatcher thing is slightly different. One reason for banging on about Mrs T is to point out to Conservatives that they have departed from her one true path even while professing to venerate her.
It is a bit like banging on about Reagan to remind American Republicans that Trump's isolationism is far removed from Reagan's shining city upon a hill and defender of freedom and democracy throughout the world. (Although even under Reagan, it was more rhetoric than policy!)
You're quite optimistic.
Something being taught in school and kids actually knowing it are two completely different things!
Everyone is taught Pythagoras Theorem, but I wonder how many actually know it?
Can anyone who doesn't need it for work remember SOHCATOA. I remember the acronym (I think) and that it let me calculate angles but no idea how to apply it now.
Don't want to bust your bubble, but SOHCATOA isn't Pythagoras, and is missing a character.
Pythagoras is that for any right angled triangle, a² + b² = c² where a and b are the lengths of the short sides and c the long side (hypotenuse)
SOHCA[b]H[/b]TOA is the functions of Sin Cos and Tan in the context of the sides a right angled triangle: Sin = Opposite/Hypotenuse Cos = Adjacent/Hypotenuse Tan = Opposite/Adjacent
Is a rubbish way to learn it - far better the phrase "Tommy On A Ship Of His Caught All Herring"
I use trig functions all the time, hand coding ancient Heidenhain TNC 150 series CNC controls on the machining centres at work.
I hate the a² etc notation for it, which was not used when I was taught at school and seems mental to me that its the "formula" given to students nowadays.
a, b, c means nothing. Hypotenuse, opposite and adjacent mean something. Teaching instrumentally to use a, b and c seems to me an insane way that it is set up and I have no idea when that was introduced or who by (or if its always been done in the UK and it was me being overseas that meant I missed it).
Especially bonkers is the fact that a is the opposite, while the adjacent is b. Who thought up that crock of shite?
He's making a serious play for younger voters with all the wittering on about Churchill.
Do younger voters know/care who Churchill was? Especially if they haven't 'done' WWII in history at school!
They'll know who he was, almost certainly. Caring will depend on if a particular perception or Churchill becomes part of the intended tribal experience.
Like how people who continue to bang on about Thatcher, on left and right, with the kind of passion as if they had been there at the time. You don't seen it quite as much now. (not that people cannot care about political history, but the intensity was so overblown for a long time).
My Chemistry teacher mate told me that whenever he covered a history class, they were doing the second world war in one aspect or another, so the kids will know who Churchill is, although these days, following the rise of Indian nationalism, they may see Churchill as a war criminal for killing millions in the Bengal Famine. Churchill is also on the £5 note if anyone still uses cash.
The Thatcher thing is slightly different. One reason for banging on about Mrs T is to point out to Conservatives that they have departed from her one true path even while professing to venerate her.
It is a bit like banging on about Reagan to remind American Republicans that Trump's isolationism is far removed from Reagan's shining city upon a hill and defender of freedom and democracy throughout the world. (Although even under Reagan, it was more rhetoric than policy!)
You're quite optimistic.
Something being taught in school and kids actually knowing it are two completely different things!
Everyone is taught Pythagoras Theorem, but I wonder how many actually know it?
Can anyone who doesn't need it for work remember SOHCATOA. I remember the acronym (I think) and that it let me calculate angles but no idea how to apply it now.
Don't want to bust your bubble, but SOHCATOA isn't Pythagoras, and is missing a character.
Pythagoras is that for any right angled triangle, a² + b² = c² where a and b are the lengths of the short sides and c the long side (hypotenuse)
SOHCA[b]H[/b]TOA is the functions of Sin Cos and Tan in the context of the sides a right angled triangle: Sin = Opposite/Hypotenuse Cos = Adjacent/Hypotenuse Tan = Opposite/Adjacent
Is a rubbish way to learn it - far better the phrase "Tommy On A Ship Of His Caught All Herring"
I use trig functions all the time, hand coding ancient Heidenhain TNC 150 series CNC controls on the machining centres at work.
I hate the a² etc notation for it, which was not used when I was taught at school and seems mental to me that its the "formula" given to students nowadays.
a, b, c means nothing. Hypotenuse, opposite and adjacent mean something. Teaching instrumentally to use a, b and c seems to me an insane way that it is set up and I have no idea when that was introduced or who by (or if its always been done in the UK and it was me being overseas that meant I missed it).
Especially bonkers is the fact that a is the opposite, while the adjacent is b. Who thought up that crock of shite?
e^iπ= -1 is surely the best way to write it...
[Edit - superscript doesn't work, bah]
Quite right too. If a bit too complex for some of us.
Just finished work for the year, and I've walked 8,153,760 steps in 2024 (plus a few more when I forgot my phone)
c.22,000 per day.
Seriously impressive. I tried for a 10k average in 2023 and fell 300 short.
I hit my target, averaging 10,068 steps a day for 2024. I have managed to exceed 10,000 a day average every year since 2020. In some ways of course it is just a meaningless number but since, prior to 2020, I was averaging 3,000 steps a day, having increased my activity by 3x seems a good result. It has been accompanied by a 6 stone weight loss over that period. Hoping to lose another 3 stone going forward.
But 22,000 a day average is another level entirely.
Wasn't the 10k steps a day thing a made up number to try and sell pedometers? Back when they were something a bit less sophisticated than they are now.
Moving more is surely not a bad thing, though.
I feel cheated when 50k on a bike scores nil...
Yep, as I said I do realise it is a meaningless number on one level. But it is a step change (if you will excuse the pun) from my previous existence and has now become an integral part of my life. As time allows my intent is to up it to 13K or 15K average a day as I see masive health benefits in myself when I do more. Just a matter of finding the time.
Indeed.
I've recently called it a day on sitting behind a desk for a living (finishing in a few weeks) partially because being static is getting more harmful as I get older.
I'm on 16k today but only because I had time to go for a walk.
He's making a serious play for younger voters with all the wittering on about Churchill.
Do younger voters know/care who Churchill was? Especially if they haven't 'done' WWII in history at school!
They'll know who he was, almost certainly. Caring will depend on if a particular perception or Churchill becomes part of the intended tribal experience.
Like how people who continue to bang on about Thatcher, on left and right, with the kind of passion as if they had been there at the time. You don't seen it quite as much now. (not that people cannot care about political history, but the intensity was so overblown for a long time).
My Chemistry teacher mate told me that whenever he covered a history class, they were doing the second world war in one aspect or another, so the kids will know who Churchill is, although these days, following the rise of Indian nationalism, they may see Churchill as a war criminal for killing millions in the Bengal Famine. Churchill is also on the £5 note if anyone still uses cash.
The Thatcher thing is slightly different. One reason for banging on about Mrs T is to point out to Conservatives that they have departed from her one true path even while professing to venerate her.
It is a bit like banging on about Reagan to remind American Republicans that Trump's isolationism is far removed from Reagan's shining city upon a hill and defender of freedom and democracy throughout the world. (Although even under Reagan, it was more rhetoric than policy!)
You're quite optimistic.
Something being taught in school and kids actually knowing it are two completely different things!
Everyone is taught Pythagoras Theorem, but I wonder how many actually know it?
Can anyone who doesn't need it for work remember SOHCATOA. I remember the acronym (I think) and that it let me calculate angles but no idea how to apply it now.
Don't want to bust your bubble, but SOHCATOA isn't Pythagoras, and is missing a character.
Pythagoras is that for any right angled triangle, a² + b² = c² where a and b are the lengths of the short sides and c the long side (hypotenuse)
SOHCA[b]H[/b]TOA is the functions of Sin Cos and Tan in the context of the sides a right angled triangle: Sin = Opposite/Hypotenuse Cos = Adjacent/Hypotenuse Tan = Opposite/Adjacent
Is a rubbish way to learn it - far better the phrase "Tommy On A Ship Of His Caught All Herring"
I use trig functions all the time, hand coding ancient Heidenhain TNC 150 series CNC controls on the machining centres at work.
I hate the a² etc notation for it, which was not used when I was taught at school and seems mental to me that its the "formula" given to students nowadays.
a, b, c means nothing. Hypotenuse, opposite and adjacent mean something. Teaching instrumentally to use a, b and c seems to me an insane way that it is set up and I have no idea when that was introduced or who by (or if its always been done in the UK and it was me being overseas that meant I missed it).
Especially bonkers is the fact that a is the opposite, while the adjacent is b. Who thought up that crock of shite?
e^iπ= -1 is surely the best way to write it...
[Edit - superscript doesn't work, bah]
Quite right too. If a bit too complex for some of us.
He's making a serious play for younger voters with all the wittering on about Churchill.
Do younger voters know/care who Churchill was? Especially if they haven't 'done' WWII in history at school!
They'll know who he was, almost certainly. Caring will depend on if a particular perception or Churchill becomes part of the intended tribal experience.
Like how people who continue to bang on about Thatcher, on left and right, with the kind of passion as if they had been there at the time. You don't seen it quite as much now. (not that people cannot care about political history, but the intensity was so overblown for a long time).
My Chemistry teacher mate told me that whenever he covered a history class, they were doing the second world war in one aspect or another, so the kids will know who Churchill is, although these days, following the rise of Indian nationalism, they may see Churchill as a war criminal for killing millions in the Bengal Famine. Churchill is also on the £5 note if anyone still uses cash.
The Thatcher thing is slightly different. One reason for banging on about Mrs T is to point out to Conservatives that they have departed from her one true path even while professing to venerate her.
It is a bit like banging on about Reagan to remind American Republicans that Trump's isolationism is far removed from Reagan's shining city upon a hill and defender of freedom and democracy throughout the world. (Although even under Reagan, it was more rhetoric than policy!)
You're quite optimistic.
Something being taught in school and kids actually knowing it are two completely different things!
Everyone is taught Pythagoras Theorem, but I wonder how many actually know it?
Can anyone who doesn't need it for work remember SOHCATOA. I remember the acronym (I think) and that it let me calculate angles but no idea how to apply it now.
SOHCAHTOA
You missed an H
With Pythagoras
Sin² + Cos² = 1
Who doesn't use that every day?
I have only used Pythagoras' theorem once in anger. A work colleague was planning to install a shower cubicle in his downstairs WC and needed to check that the door, which swung inwards from the opposite corner, wouldn't hit the cubicle.
He's making a serious play for younger voters with all the wittering on about Churchill.
Do younger voters know/care who Churchill was? Especially if they haven't 'done' WWII in history at school!
They'll know who he was, almost certainly. Caring will depend on if a particular perception or Churchill becomes part of the intended tribal experience.
Like how people who continue to bang on about Thatcher, on left and right, with the kind of passion as if they had been there at the time. You don't seen it quite as much now. (not that people cannot care about political history, but the intensity was so overblown for a long time).
My Chemistry teacher mate told me that whenever he covered a history class, they were doing the second world war in one aspect or another, so the kids will know who Churchill is, although these days, following the rise of Indian nationalism, they may see Churchill as a war criminal for killing millions in the Bengal Famine. Churchill is also on the £5 note if anyone still uses cash.
The Thatcher thing is slightly different. One reason for banging on about Mrs T is to point out to Conservatives that they have departed from her one true path even while professing to venerate her.
It is a bit like banging on about Reagan to remind American Republicans that Trump's isolationism is far removed from Reagan's shining city upon a hill and defender of freedom and democracy throughout the world. (Although even under Reagan, it was more rhetoric than policy!)
You're quite optimistic.
Something being taught in school and kids actually knowing it are two completely different things!
Everyone is taught Pythagoras Theorem, but I wonder how many actually know it?
Can anyone who doesn't need it for work remember SOHCATOA. I remember the acronym (I think) and that it let me calculate angles but no idea how to apply it now.
Don't want to bust your bubble, but SOHCATOA isn't Pythagoras, and is missing a character.
Pythagoras is that for any right angled triangle, a² + b² = c² where a and b are the lengths of the short sides and c the long side (hypotenuse)
SOHCA[b]H[/b]TOA is the functions of Sin Cos and Tan in the context of the sides a right angled triangle: Sin = Opposite/Hypotenuse Cos = Adjacent/Hypotenuse Tan = Opposite/Adjacent
Is a rubbish way to learn it - far better the phrase "Tommy On A Ship Of His Caught All Herring"
I use trig functions all the time, hand coding ancient Heidenhain TNC 150 series CNC controls on the machining centres at work.
I hate the a² etc notation for it, which was not used when I was taught at school and seems mental to me that its the "formula" given to students nowadays.
a, b, c means nothing. Hypotenuse, opposite and adjacent mean something. Teaching instrumentally to use a, b and c seems to me an insane way that it is set up and I have no idea when that was introduced or who by (or if its always been done in the UK and it was me being overseas that meant I missed it).
Especially bonkers is the fact that a is the opposite, while the adjacent is b. Who thought up that crock of shite?
The turning of the year should be a time for quiet contemplation and reflection, taking stock of our lives, and what we think they might have in store.
But people would rather just get shit faced.
Well, speaking for myself, I have done the contemplation and reflection stuff, especially since I have no desire to get blind drunk.
So I have decided to halt my PB interaction at 8192 posts as it is a nice round number.
For various reasons my work in a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) involves lots of multiples of 2, so I applaud the choice of 8192 - doubling up from 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512, 1024, 2048, 4096). But please stay.
Definitely stay! At least until 16,384 which is my favourite.
I have been on PB for well over 10 years and possibly 15 years, certainly back in the day when Plato and myself used to discuss shoes, cooking and, occasionally, cats!
It is time to move on and I do not want to face another 8192 posts and the last day of the year seems like an appropriate time.
Thank you to you all (even CR ) and a Happy New Year to everyone.
The songs I've loved this year, with no particular order or claims of artistic merit, including the albums where I've loved them too:
Kid Kapichi - Get Down; Oliver Twist (both from There Goes The Neighbourhood) The Reytons - Seven in Search of Ten, 2006 (from Ballad of a Bystander) Hozier - Too Sweet Bambie Thug - Doomsday Blue Jade - Angel of my Dreams Vampire Weekend - Capricorn, Hope (from my album of the year, Only God Was Above Us) Beabadobee - Beaches Hank - DYLM (my song of the year, from Twist Grip EP) MJ Lenderman - On My Knees (from Manning Fireworks)
Comments
I've been disappointed so far
She seems to still be playing student politics. Starmer did the same when he first got the LOTO job; he ran off to John Lewis with a team to get photos of him pointing at wallpaper
I think that she's smart enough to learn the new rules for this job
But I won't be massively surprised if she fails as predicted by so many others
Problem is immigration is seen as so toxic even to Badenoch herself it seems, they don't dare to admit any of this of this, or try weave it into an Abraham Lincoln style log cabin narrative.
I make it at a VERY quick search:
Westminster: 200k people, £1bn budget.
Notts: 800k people, £1.75bn budget.
Westminster Band D Council Tax: £2000
Ashfield Band D Council Tax: £2400
One big item difference will be Mayoral Expenditure in London, who will do things covered by NCC - he will be in the revenue side but not the expenditure side.
I'm a Celebrity worked for Farage ...
(One of the more eyebrow raising things I saw recently was someone on a Reform feed calling Badenoch an "anchor baby".)
I thought that it was lovely
https://www.maudheathvineyard.co.uk/
Though "anchor baby" would suggest that it was a mechanism for her parents to migrate here. I don't think that was the case.
The Thatcher thing is slightly different. One reason for banging on about Mrs T is to point out to Conservatives that they have departed from her one true path even while professing to venerate her.
It is a bit like banging on about Reagan to remind American Republicans that Trump's isolationism is far removed from Reagan's shining city upon a hill and defender of freedom and democracy throughout the world. (Although even under Reagan, it was more rhetoric than policy!)
Wasn't she born in London?
https://x.com/flightradar24/status/1874139956538728946
Something being taught in school and kids actually knowing it are two completely different things!
Everyone is taught Pythagoras Theorem, but I wonder how many actually know it?
However, will be moving onto Port with cheese later and then the Talisker will come out as the year closes.
Here is a picture of a Neolithic grave I visited today in a sand dune area with loads more (photo restrictions on PB prevents more being shared). Anyway I always find it amazing there when I think that people made these graves in this area thousands of years ago looking out to the expanse of the west. Then I realise how little time our lives take up so I hope we all get as much out of life as we can - and what better way than living on PB!
Anyway, again, happy new year to all.
You mean Londonstan, surely?
That's not part of the UK, it's been taken over by Muslims and Sharia law rules supreme.
(I've met people who actually believe this.)
You missed an H
With Pythagoras
Sin² + Cos² = 1
Who doesn't use that every day?
But people would rather just get shit faced.
Can you spot the mistake amidst all the clutter?
Ashley Neal's thought provoker from this morning. About 1 minute:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOUw868WMPU
It's an adoption of Trump tactics.
Ashington Branch
Bicester to Bletchley
Is there anything else expected to open imminently?
So I have decided to halt my PB interaction at 8192 posts as it is a nice round number.
Happy new year 2025 🇺🇦
Closely followed by 54272 - the base address of the C64 sound chip (SID).
All these skills I have - wasted I tell you!
Pythagoras is that for any right angled triangle, a² + b² = c² where a and b are the lengths of the short sides and c the long side (hypotenuse)
SOHCA[b]H[/b]TOA is the functions of Sin Cos and Tan in the context of the sides a right angled triangle:
Sin = Opposite/Hypotenuse
Cos = Adjacent/Hypotenuse
Tan = Opposite/Adjacent
Is a rubbish way to learn it - far better the phrase "Tommy On A Ship Of His Caught All Herring"
I use trig functions all the time, hand coding ancient Heidenhain TNC 150 series CNC controls on the machining centres at work.
It is time to move on and I do not want to face another 8192 posts and the last day of the year seems like an appropriate time.
Thank you to you all (even CR
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLwEG3cdeRw
Kraftwerk - Ohm Sweet Ohm
But 22,000 a day average is another level entirely.
a, b, c means nothing. Hypotenuse, opposite and adjacent mean something. Teaching instrumentally to use a, b and c seems to me an insane way that it is set up and I have no idea when that was introduced or who by (or if its always been done in the UK and it was me being overseas that meant I missed it).
Especially bonkers is the fact that a is the opposite, while the adjacent is b. Who thought up that crock of shite?
Moving more is surely not a bad thing, though.
I feel cheated when 50k on a bike scores nil...
I had some fun at UCL with the early versions - they began appearing in the 90s
That changed after the London bombings. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7_July_2005_London_bombings The government (New Labour) went hard over from tolerance to er…. Something else.
They wanted to introduce indefinite detention without trial. While they were stopped from doing that, all the wanabee head choppers got swept up.
The phrase has been recycled by racists, taking about no go areas. Which is bollocks.
‘Specially from a US perspective. I mean, there are a few places where your probability of getting mugged is pretty high, but one of them is Leicester Square*. Actual risk, based on ethnicity? Nope.
*if you are ever in Leicester Square, check out the Cork & Bottle. Basement bar/resteraunt. The food is pretty good, the wine list is splendid. And they have cheese. Oh boy, do they have cheese. And no chance of being mugged.
[Edit - superscript doesn't work, bah]
2025 ten hours old here and going okay so far. The Auckland fireworks were spectacularly poor in comparison to Sydney.
Never mind - you’ll be joining us soon.
Happy New Year.
I've recently called it a day on sitting behind a desk for a living (finishing in a few weeks) partially because being static is getting more harmful as I get older.
I'm on 16k today but only because I had time to go for a walk.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6A2DF5D02CAD3CF8&si
James Booker - Resurrection if the Bayou Maharajah
This was recorded at a club in New Orleans
Booker never managed to record an album; nobody could ever manage him into it
He's one of the greatest pianists of all time, and he lost his eye because he couldn't pay for his drugs
A work colleague was planning to install a shower cubicle in his downstairs WC and needed to check that the door, which swung inwards from the opposite corner, wouldn't hit the cubicle.
And the world then makes sense
Kid Kapichi - Get Down; Oliver Twist (both from There Goes The Neighbourhood)
The Reytons - Seven in Search of Ten, 2006 (from Ballad of a Bystander)
Hozier - Too Sweet
Bambie Thug - Doomsday Blue
Jade - Angel of my Dreams
Vampire Weekend - Capricorn, Hope (from my album of the year, Only God Was Above Us)
Beabadobee - Beaches
Hank - DYLM (my song of the year, from Twist Grip EP)
MJ Lenderman - On My Knees (from Manning Fireworks)
Happy New Year, everyone.