I dont know what the rest of the event was like, but that clip should terrify the Democrats. It's a different Trump this time around. In that clip he looks, sounds and acts like a President at the top of his game. No bombastic claims, no outrageous lies, just empathy and even kindness. Scary.
I dont know what the rest of the event was like, but that clip should terrify the Democrats. It's a different Trump this time around. In that clip he looks, sounds and acts like a President at the top of his game. No bombastic claims, no outrageous lies, just empathy and even kindness. Scary.
Their demand was unrealistic. At a time of housing shortages you can’t leave prime land like that unutilised
That's politics in a nutshell. There are several feasible things you can do and an impossible one which emotionally attractive to some and repellent to others and whatever you do it is your fault.
And sadly an increasing tendency to use the courts to try to get your way.
He's brilliant, right? I think we can all agree on that. He's blown Woke into little pieces, he's cancelled the Left and now he is going after all the waste and wankery. He is also inspiring the New Right in Europe. And he is the only leader prepared to listen to Palestinians and offer them a different future
What's not to love?
The one huge issue was always tariffs. That was his one mad plan which made no sense and was likely to crash the world economy. Turns out he didn't mean it, that was all bluster, and thank God
Otherwise 9/10. Best president ever
Totally gutting FBI, CIA, NSA and DoD. The US is flying blind. Trump will crash and burn.
He's brilliant, right? I think we can all agree on that. He's blown Woke into little pieces, he's cancelled the Left and now he is going after all the waste and wankery. He is also inspiring the New Right in Europe. And he is the only leader prepared to listen to Palestinians and offer them a different future
What's not to love?
The one huge issue was always tariffs. That was his one mad plan which made no sense and was likely to crash the world economy. Turns out he didn't mean it, that was all bluster, and thank God
Otherwise 9/10. Best president ever
My biggest worry about Trump was that he seemed much keener on Russia than Ukraine. But Sandpit (I think) reported the other day that Trump has actually been quietly pro-Ukraine, though I can't remember the details - and indeed, has been more useful than Biden.
Sandpit "reported" that Trump is better than Biden on something ... now that's an interesting use of language.
Musk is bring played by Trump - set up to fail with an impossible task, while acting as a lightning rod for public dissatisfaction, and all the while paying for the privilege. The falling out will be spectacular, and Musk will be the loser from it.
No one has any clue how this will play out, it's all entirely new
There are some eternal human truths though, Trump selling out anyone not related to him to deflect blame being one of them.
Maybe eventually, but for the time being I guess Trump thinks it's a winning team. And Musk wants to dismantle democracy, give even more wealth and power to billionaires, and seems quite sympathetic to white supremacists. So they have a lot in common.
Besides, one of the biggest potential blocks on Trump would be finding 4 out of the 53 Republican senators to vote against him. Surely there are more than 4 who would vote against him on a whole bunch of stuff if they dared. Trump needs Musk - who's going to fund the primary campaigns and lead the social media propaganda campaigns against rebel senators who step out of line?
We just need Musk to last long enough to usher Farage into power, as he has done with Trump. Job done
He's brilliant, right? I think we can all agree on that. He's blown Woke into little pieces, he's cancelled the Left and now he is going after all the waste and wankery. He is also inspiring the New Right in Europe. And he is the only leader prepared to listen to Palestinians and offer them a different future
What's not to love?
The one huge issue was always tariffs. That was his one mad plan which made no sense and was likely to crash the world economy. Turns out he didn't mean it, that was all bluster, and thank God
Otherwise 9/10. Best president ever
My biggest worry about Trump was that he seemed much keener on Russia than Ukraine. But Sandpit (I think) reported the other day that Trump has actually been quietly pro-Ukraine, though I can't remember the details - and indeed, has been more useful than Biden.
There’s quite a bit going on in the background, such as Trump’s administration not wanting to micromanage Ukraine’s use of American weapons. Key positions such as Rubio are more sympathetic to the Ukrainian viewpoint and the need to tame the angry bear.
I have a half-written header on Ukraine as it relates to American politics, which I really should finish. The tentative conclusion is that “Ukraine” has been shorthand for a disquiet with the domestic v international spending priorities seen under Biden’s administration, especially with regard to disaster relief. Also that military accounting makes little sense, the numbers talked about bear little resemblance to what’s actually delivered.
The British Museum doesn’t have a full catalogue of what’s in the basement. There is no plan to do so. No money for the many millions it would cost.
At the time the scandal hit, I pointed out that I’d personally taken part in a matter effort to catalogue the basement collections at smaller museum.
My suggestion was a rolling effort, over the years, using people who are already studying the various areas. If you are doing a PhD on Sumerian pottery, surely letting you lose the Sumerian pottery in the BM basement would be of interest?
This was ridiculed by some here as “inappropriate” for a National Collection. We must either have a Proper Project or… nothing.
A relative was working his way through some documents in various national collections. He is now thinking of writing a book - more data than a paper. He’s come up with a combination of photographing (iPhone) the (previously untouched) documents, then using various tools to turn the copperplate handwriting into text and build a database.
He’s just told me that he’s hiring a couple of people to roll this out across other collections - he’s busy and his time is money. So he figures it’s cheaper to do this.
It makes you wonder….
He could do with looking at the methods used by certain Youtubers, who do good research whilst maintaining a high rate of output.
Drach is one, who has discussed his methods, but not afaik the technical detail.
Here is one interview, where he talks about how he sifts and uses and compares sources - but still puts out 1-2 hours of video a week: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aS2PZOz4rsk
He's brilliant, right? I think we can all agree on that. He's blown Woke into little pieces, he's cancelled the Left and now he is going after all the waste and wankery. He is also inspiring the New Right in Europe. And he is the only leader prepared to listen to Palestinians and offer them a different future
What's not to love?
The one huge issue was always tariffs. That was his one mad plan which made no sense and was likely to crash the world economy. Turns out he didn't mean it, that was all bluster, and thank God
Otherwise 9/10. Best president ever
And how many out of 14 for these 14 early signs of fascism? I would only give him a cautious 10 or so. Good effort, must try harder.
He's brilliant, right? I think we can all agree on that. He's blown Woke into little pieces, he's cancelled the Left and now he is going after all the waste and wankery. He is also inspiring the New Right in Europe. And he is the only leader prepared to listen to Palestinians and offer them a different future
What's not to love?
The one huge issue was always tariffs. That was his one mad plan which made no sense and was likely to crash the world economy. Turns out he didn't mean it, that was all bluster, and thank God
Otherwise 9/10. Best president ever
My biggest worry about Trump was that he seemed much keener on Russia than Ukraine. But Sandpit (I think) reported the other day that Trump has actually been quietly pro-Ukraine, though I can't remember the details - and indeed, has been more useful than Biden.
Sandpit "reported" that Trump is better than Biden on something ... now that's an interesting use of language.
He's brilliant, right? I think we can all agree on that. He's blown Woke into little pieces, he's cancelled the Left and now he is going after all the waste and wankery. He is also inspiring the New Right in Europe. And he is the only leader prepared to listen to Palestinians and offer them a different future
What's not to love?
The one huge issue was always tariffs. That was his one mad plan which made no sense and was likely to crash the world economy. Turns out he didn't mean it, that was all bluster, and thank God
I had a skim through the underlying tables, and while it's true that Farage's positive scores are generally better than the others, overall he is a strong net negative, whereas Davey is slightly positive/neutral overall.
Where Farage is different to the others is that the 'don't knows' score much lower, which makes sense as he's been around for a long time and really only people who pay no attention at all to politics will have no view on him. The problem for Reform is that he is divisive; the people who like him love him and everybody else dislikes him with a passion. The Reform rampers need to consider this.
The other problem with Reform is that it's a one man show. If Farage steps aside, then who? At least the established parties have a selection of other generic politicians who will take over in due course. Who do Reform have, who is currently aged around 45 ready to step up in a few years' time?
Momentum is hard to maintain. Reform have to maintain it for the next 4 1/2 years, not an easy ask. They're only level.
They have all the opportunities at the moment, an unpopular government and an unpopular opposition. That won't last forever. In much the same way those that are saying LD and Green are holding up well. So they damn well should. If they can't now, they never will.
Reform and Farage are marmite and that will count against them when their opponents can coalesce around anti-reform in some constituencies. Farage's health would be a concern.
I dont know what the rest of the event was like, but that clip should terrify the Democrats. It's a different Trump this time around. In that clip he looks, sounds and acts like a President at the top of his game. No bombastic claims, no outrageous lies, just empathy and even kindness. Scary.
Best. President. Ever
Trump is a lot better than RINO Reagan, who wanted to tax millionaires, defend the oppressed around the world, and welcome immigrants.
But not much different from cuddly frontman Reagan who distracted the masses while the hard men of the GOP got on with their business of ravishing and ravaging.
He's brilliant, right? I think we can all agree on that. He's blown Woke into little pieces, he's cancelled the Left and now he is going after all the waste and wankery. He is also inspiring the New Right in Europe. And he is the only leader prepared to listen to Palestinians and offer them a different future
What's not to love?
The one huge issue was always tariffs. That was his one mad plan which made no sense and was likely to crash the world economy. Turns out he didn't mean it, that was all bluster, and thank God
Otherwise 9/10. Best president ever
My biggest worry about Trump was that he seemed much keener on Russia than Ukraine. But Sandpit (I think) reported the other day that Trump has actually been quietly pro-Ukraine, though I can't remember the details - and indeed, has been more useful than Biden.
Sandpit "reported" that Trump is better than Biden on something ... now that's an interesting use of language.
He's brilliant, right? I think we can all agree on that. He's blown Woke into little pieces, he's cancelled the Left and now he is going after all the waste and wankery. He is also inspiring the New Right in Europe. And he is the only leader prepared to listen to Palestinians and offer them a different future
What's not to love?
The one huge issue was always tariffs. That was his one mad plan which made no sense and was likely to crash the world economy. Turns out he didn't mean it, that was all bluster, and thank God
Otherwise 9/10. Best president ever
And how many out of 14 for these 14 early signs of fascism? I would only give him a cautious 10 or so. Good effort, must try harder.
You're about to get a despairing editorial intervention from @StillWaters (or it might be @viewcode ) about the inappropriate use of checklists (not Chekists) .
Ben Wallace (former Def Sec) seems to have immediately posted that this is all fabricated.
Even if it isn't it deifies the purity of international law whilst ignoring that old adage that possession is nine tenths of the law.
We shouldn't be naive about the power politics that's played out through UN agencies and the ICJ and Mauritius should be told the islands will stay British forever, there will never be a deal, and we should up our naval presence there on top.
I do wonder what military and communication resources China has in Tibet...
We are living in an age of blood and steel, I'm afraid - just look at what Trump has been able to achieve in less than a month from shaking his stick around - and I see little benefit to Britain walking into that naked with a broken cricket bat.
What exactly has Trump achieved in his first 3 weeks?
Well, he's burnt down about 75 years of built up political capital in a fortnight.
He's wrecked the reputation of the USA as a stable, reliable, trustworthy country.
And he's running an action learning experiment in what can happen when the Rule of Law is removed from an advanced country.
...and his ratings went up. ☹️
US President's ratings usually go up when they take office.
His ratings are now on the slide. As I noted earlier today.
So the Russian army now appears to have run out of quad bikes and Ladas, and has resorted to a much older method of military transportation. Yes, they’re bringing donkeys to the war.
So who is going to be the party leader at the next election, who runs on doing a zero-based budget as they’re doing in the US?? I’m pretty sure the problem is not quite so bad in the UK, but there’s still going to be plenty of silly-looking line items in the international development and academic research budgets.
By "silly-looking line items in the international development", you mean USAID support for Ukraine, presumably?
I mean that I want the aid to Ukraine actually go to Ukraine, and not end up mostly funding the Washington swamp.
Except it's not. Unless you count US defence production as part of the swamp - but in that case, the term becomes even more meaningless.
Good news: my French energy tariff just fell by 16% thanks to cheaper wholesale electricity. Basically due to lower nuclear downtime.
We need to stop this annoying link in the UK between our electricity prices and wholesale gas prices. Those have been rising rapidly thanks to cold weather in Western Europe so he uh presto, up go our bills.
Been wondering about the LibDems for ages, because when I was involved with the old Liberal Party, back in the 70's and early 80's there were charismatic leaders.... Grimond, Thorpe ..... and to a lesser extent Steel, but we didn't get very far. And the LibDems had similar in Ashdown and Kennedy. One could, perhaps, compare Clegg with Steel, although I don't think Steel would have fallen for Cameron's tricks the way Clegg did. Davey's not, to my mind cast in the Grimond, Thorpe, Ashdown, Kennedy mould and I suggest that before too long he should step aside, if, and it's quite a big if, there's a potential 'big beast' in the new intake. I did wonder about Layla Moran, but doesn't look like she will.
It's the easiest win in the history of politics. Biden, Harris, Democrats, the left in general, have placed the ball on the line and he just had to tap in.
So who is going to be the party leader at the next election, who runs on doing a zero-based budget as they’re doing in the US?? I’m pretty sure the problem is not quite so bad in the UK, but there’s still going to be plenty of silly-looking line items in the international development and academic research budgets.
No politician in the US is running on a balanced budget platform.
The US budget deficit today is around $1.6 trillion.
Elon Musk has expressed optimism about cutting the budget deficit by $1trillion.
Has he explained how ? Because it's not going to be by cutting "waste", without a wholesale redefinition of the term.
One man's "waste" is another man's "essential funding"
The polls say that he's already losing approval, fast.
It's not up to Musk to change (eg) social security, or healthcare entitlements. Or indeed the defence budget. That's policy change, and will have to go through Congress. Imposing such things extra-legally is going to make a very big mess indeed.
Absent any of that, he's not going to save even a quarter of a trillion.
Musk's biggest coup so far is stopping the US sending a billion condoms to Gaza.
'"Oh no, I only wanted to stop us sending a billion condoms to Gaza, and now there’s this chaotic inferno of hate." "Oh well, never mind, at least the billion condoms aren't going to Gaza any more, are they?"
He's brilliant, right? I think we can all agree on that. He's blown Woke into little pieces, he's cancelled the Left and now he is going after all the waste and wankery. He is also inspiring the New Right in Europe. And he is the only leader prepared to listen to Palestinians and offer them a different future
What's not to love?
The one huge issue was always tariffs. That was his one mad plan which made no sense and was likely to crash the world economy. Turns out he didn't mean it, that was all bluster, and thank God
Otherwise 9/10. Best president ever
And how many out of 14 for these 14 early signs of fascism? I would only give him a cautious 10 or so. Good effort, must try harder.
You're about to get a despairing editorial intervention from @StillWaters (or it might be @viewcode ) about the inappropriate use of checklists (not Chekists) .
Good news: my French energy tariff just fell by 16% thanks to cheaper wholesale electricity. Basically due to lower nuclear downtime.
We need to stop this annoying link in the UK between our electricity prices and wholesale gas prices. Those have been rising rapidly thanks to cold weather in Western Europe so he uh presto, up go our bills.
Isn't that because gas is the most dispatchable means of electricity generation? So long as there are insufficient other means of generation, gas will be required, and so the electricity price will rise to the level required to pay for gas generation. It's just economics, isn't it (I could be wrong)?
He's brilliant, right? I think we can all agree on that. He's blown Woke into little pieces, he's cancelled the Left and now he is going after all the waste and wankery. He is also inspiring the New Right in Europe. And he is the only leader prepared to listen to Palestinians and offer them a different future
What's not to love?
The one huge issue was always tariffs. That was his one mad plan which made no sense and was likely to crash the world economy. Turns out he didn't mean it, that was all bluster, and thank God
Otherwise 9/10. Best president ever
My biggest worry about Trump was that he seemed much keener on Russia than Ukraine. But Sandpit (I think) reported the other day that Trump has actually been quietly pro-Ukraine, though I can't remember the details - and indeed, has been more useful than Biden.
Sandpit "reported" that Trump is better than Biden on something ... now that's an interesting use of language.
So who is going to be the party leader at the next election, who runs on doing a zero-based budget as they’re doing in the US?? I’m pretty sure the problem is not quite so bad in the UK, but there’s still going to be plenty of silly-looking line items in the international development and academic research budgets.
No politician in the US is running on a balanced budget platform.
The US budget deficit today is around $1.6 trillion.
Elon Musk has expressed optimism about cutting the budget deficit by $1trillion.
Has he explained how ? Because it's not going to be by cutting "waste", without a wholesale redefinition of the term.
One man's "waste" is another man's "essential funding"
The polls say that he's already losing approval, fast.
It's not up to Musk to change (eg) social security, or healthcare entitlements. Or indeed the defence budget. That's policy change, and will have to go through Congress. Imposing such things extra-legally is going to make a very big mess indeed.
Absent any of that, he's not going to save even a quarter of a trillion.
Musk's biggest coup so far is stopping the US sending a billion condoms to Gaza.
'"Oh no, I only wanted to stop us sending a billion condoms to Gaza, and now there’s this chaotic inferno of hate." "Oh well, never mind, at least the billion condoms aren't going to Gaza any more, are they?"
A billion?! There's only 2 million people in Gaza - that's 500 each. I don't know how long the expiry date is on condoms, but, what, 3 years? This implies the Gazans are having a lot more sex than the stereotype might have us imagine.
Yes. The point is there never were any condoms being supplied by the US to Gaza, and Musk is just incapable of reading a simple spreadsheet, let alone finding a trillion in savings.
So what happened? (I feel like I'm coming into this conversation halfway through). Were any condoms being supplied to Gaza and he misread the number? Were a billion something else being supplied to Gaza?
United States President Donald Trump has boasted that his administration had stopped $50m in “bomb-making condoms” from being sent to Gaza.
Trump provided no evidence for his claims – that condoms were being sent to Gaza or that Hamas is using contraceptives to make bombs – and left many wondering what the US president was talking about.
Could it be that Trump was referring to a different Gaza? After all, there are more than a dozen places in the world named Gaza, including two communities in the United States.
For the moment, why Trump made the claim and what evidence he has is unknown.
According to the HHS grants database, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation in Mozambique received more than $83m in funding since 2021 for reproductive health projects in two provinces: Inhambane and Gaza.
Obviously not all for condoms!!
Which probably includes the funding for medication which prevents newborns contracting AIDS from their mothers. Currently suspended.
Decent numbers for Ed Davey. In touch with ordinary people. Really !!!! I find that staggering.
Not really; his election pitch focused on social care and drew heavily on Davey's personal experiences, both having cared for his mother as a child, and caring for his disabled son now. I doubt those are problems that Sunak or Starmer have much experience of?
He's brilliant, right? I think we can all agree on that. He's blown Woke into little pieces, he's cancelled the Left and now he is going after all the waste and wankery. He is also inspiring the New Right in Europe. And he is the only leader prepared to listen to Palestinians and offer them a different future
What's not to love?
The one huge issue was always tariffs. That was his one mad plan which made no sense and was likely to crash the world economy. Turns out he didn't mean it, that was all bluster, and thank God
Otherwise 9/10. Best president ever
And how many out of 14 for these 14 early signs of fascism? I would only give him a cautious 10 or so. Good effort, must try harder.
You're about to get a despairing editorial intervention from @StillWaters (or it might be @viewcode ) about the inappropriate use of checklists (not Chekists) .
I dont know what the rest of the event was like, but that clip should terrify the Democrats. It's a different Trump this time around. In that clip he looks, sounds and acts like a President at the top of his game. No bombastic claims, no outrageous lies, just empathy and even kindness. Scary.
Whilst I am not sure the kindness of Trump is something one would want, that clip appears to have vanished from Twitter. Do we have another clip so that we may all bask in Trump's golden glory?
So the Russian army now appears to have run out of quad bikes and Ladas, and has resorted to a much older method of military transportation. Yes, they’re bringing donkeys to the war.
If the donkeys are now in the field, who will be overseeing the operations?
Oh the donkeys in the brass hats are still very much there. The ones that haven’t been ‘unalived’, anyway.
Most of them hide well away from the front lines these days though. They went through a phase of having them work from mobile command posts filled with radio and comms equipment, which stuck out like a sore thumb to Ukranian or American RF surveillance drones.
He's brilliant, right? I think we can all agree on that. He's blown Woke into little pieces, he's cancelled the Left and now he is going after all the waste and wankery. He is also inspiring the New Right in Europe. And he is the only leader prepared to listen to Palestinians and offer them a different future
What's not to love?
The one huge issue was always tariffs. That was his one mad plan which made no sense and was likely to crash the world economy. Turns out he didn't mean it, that was all bluster, and thank God
Otherwise 9/10. Best president ever
Disappointed with Trump 2. We were promised it would all be super-organized this time with a dark and ruthless agenda. Instead Trump just seems to be busking it with hapless minions in a constant 'rowing back' mode. All a bit of a circus.
The most powerful person in the world is intensely attracted to the abuse of power. Who knows exactly where it leads but it's unlikely to benefit anybody apart from himself, his family and his cronies. My sense of it, based on his first three weeks, is deeply negative.
To those more sanguine about him I would say wake up and wise up. A helpful technique for such people is to first imagine the worst you think it can be, then double that, times it by ten, and multiply again by itself. This gives an idea of the likely consequences if he goes the full four years.
Marks out of ten? No, not playing. I can't do it without going into negative numbers.
So who is going to be the party leader at the next election, who runs on doing a zero-based budget as they’re doing in the US?? I’m pretty sure the problem is not quite so bad in the UK, but there’s still going to be plenty of silly-looking line items in the international development and academic research budgets.
No politician in the US is running on a balanced budget platform.
The US budget deficit today is around $1.6 trillion.
Elon Musk has expressed optimism about cutting the budget deficit by $1trillion.
Has he explained how ? Because it's not going to be by cutting "waste", without a wholesale redefinition of the term.
One man's "waste" is another man's "essential funding"
The polls say that he's already losing approval, fast.
It's not up to Musk to change (eg) social security, or healthcare entitlements. Or indeed the defence budget. That's policy change, and will have to go through Congress. Imposing such things extra-legally is going to make a very big mess indeed.
Absent any of that, he's not going to save even a quarter of a trillion.
Musk's biggest coup so far is stopping the US sending a billion condoms to Gaza.
'"Oh no, I only wanted to stop us sending a billion condoms to Gaza, and now there’s this chaotic inferno of hate." "Oh well, never mind, at least the billion condoms aren't going to Gaza any more, are they?"
A billion?! There's only 2 million people in Gaza - that's 500 each. I don't know how long the expiry date is on condoms, but, what, 3 years? This implies the Gazans are having a lot more sex than the stereotype might have us imagine.
Yes. The point is there never were any condoms being supplied by the US to Gaza, and Musk is just incapable of reading a simple spreadsheet, let alone finding a trillion in savings.
So what happened? (I feel like I'm coming into this conversation halfway through). Were any condoms being supplied to Gaza and he misread the number? Were a billion something else being supplied to Gaza?
United States President Donald Trump has boasted that his administration had stopped $50m in “bomb-making condoms” from being sent to Gaza.
Trump provided no evidence for his claims – that condoms were being sent to Gaza or that Hamas is using contraceptives to make bombs – and left many wondering what the US president was talking about.
Could it be that Trump was referring to a different Gaza? After all, there are more than a dozen places in the world named Gaza, including two communities in the United States.
For the moment, why Trump made the claim and what evidence he has is unknown.
According to the HHS grants database, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation in Mozambique received more than $83m in funding since 2021 for reproductive health projects in two provinces: Inhambane and Gaza.
Obviously not all for condoms!!
Which probably includes the funding for medication which prevents newborns contracting AIDS from their mothers. Currently suspended.
You'd think Trump would know what condoms were normally used for!
He's brilliant, right? I think we can all agree on that. He's blown Woke into little pieces, he's cancelled the Left and now he is going after all the waste and wankery. He is also inspiring the New Right in Europe. And he is the only leader prepared to listen to Palestinians and offer them a different future
What's not to love?
The one huge issue was always tariffs. That was his one mad plan which made no sense and was likely to crash the world economy. Turns out he didn't mean it, that was all bluster, and thank God
Otherwise 9/10. Best president ever
My biggest worry about Trump was that he seemed much keener on Russia than Ukraine. But Sandpit (I think) reported the other day that Trump has actually been quietly pro-Ukraine, though I can't remember the details - and indeed, has been more useful than Biden.
Sandpit "reported" that Trump is better than Biden on something ... now that's an interesting use of language.
Mandy Rice-Davies applies.
As she so often does. If she truly was the first to say it she deserves a place in the very first rank of linguistic scholars and moral philosophers.
Been wondering about the LibDems for ages, because when I was involved with the old Liberal Party, back in the 70's and early 80's there were charismatic leaders.... Grimond, Thorpe ..... and to a lesser extent Steel, but we didn't get very far. And the LibDems had similar in Ashdown and Kennedy. One could, perhaps, compare Clegg with Steel, although I don't think Steel would have fallen for Cameron's tricks the way Clegg did. Davey's not, to my mind cast in the Grimond, Thorpe, Ashdown, Kennedy mould and I suggest that before too long he should step aside, if, and it's quite a big if, there's a potential 'big beast' in the new intake. I did wonder about Layla Moran, but doesn't look like she will.
I remember that David Penhaligon was really good before his untimely death in a road accident, but I can't remember any of his speeches or interviews and a quick look on the internet didn't come up with any which is surprising.
Been wondering about the LibDems for ages, because when I was involved with the old Liberal Party, back in the 70's and early 80's there were charismatic leaders.... Grimond, Thorpe ..... and to a lesser extent Steel, but we didn't get very far. And the LibDems had similar in Ashdown and Kennedy. One could, perhaps, compare Clegg with Steel, although I don't think Steel would have fallen for Cameron's tricks the way Clegg did. Davey's not, to my mind cast in the Grimond, Thorpe, Ashdown, Kennedy mould and I suggest that before too long he should step aside, if, and it's quite a big if, there's a potential 'big beast' in the new intake. I did wonder about Layla Moran, but doesn't look like she will.
I remember that David Penhaligon was really good before his untimely death in a road accident, but I can't remember any of his speeches or interviews and a quick look on the internet didn't come up with any which is surprising.
I also liked John Pardoe.
Because he died before the age when people were able to go round filming everything
Good news: my French energy tariff just fell by 16% thanks to cheaper wholesale electricity. Basically due to lower nuclear downtime.
We need to stop this annoying link in the UK between our electricity prices and wholesale gas prices. Those have been rising rapidly thanks to cold weather in Western Europe so he uh presto, up go our bills.
Isn't that because gas is the most dispatchable means of electricity generation? So long as there are insufficient other means of generation, gas will be required, and so the electricity price will rise to the level required to pay for gas generation. It's just economics, isn't it (I could be wrong)?
Not just economics, the link to gas prices comes from the last government so expect Kemi to lambast Starmer next PMQs.
Forcible deportation is evil, whoever is practicing it. What Putin is doing in Ukraine is evil, what we did to the Chagos Islanders was evil, and what Trump is planning to do to the Gazans is evil.
So who is going to be the party leader at the next election, who runs on doing a zero-based budget as they’re doing in the US?? I’m pretty sure the problem is not quite so bad in the UK, but there’s still going to be plenty of silly-looking line items in the international development and academic research budgets.
No politician in the US is running on a balanced budget platform.
The US budget deficit today is around $1.6 trillion.
Elon Musk has expressed optimism about cutting the budget deficit by $1trillion.
Has he explained how ? Because it's not going to be by cutting "waste", without a wholesale redefinition of the term.
One man's "waste" is another man's "essential funding"
The polls say that he's already losing approval, fast.
It's not up to Musk to change (eg) social security, or healthcare entitlements. Or indeed the defence budget. That's policy change, and will have to go through Congress. Imposing such things extra-legally is going to make a very big mess indeed.
Absent any of that, he's not going to save even a quarter of a trillion.
Musk's biggest coup so far is stopping the US sending a billion condoms to Gaza.
'"Oh no, I only wanted to stop us sending a billion condoms to Gaza, and now there’s this chaotic inferno of hate." "Oh well, never mind, at least the billion condoms aren't going to Gaza any more, are they?"
A billion?! There's only 2 million people in Gaza - that's 500 each. I don't know how long the expiry date is on condoms, but, what, 3 years? This implies the Gazans are having a lot more sex than the stereotype might have us imagine.
Yes. The point is there never were any condoms being supplied by the US to Gaza, and Musk is just incapable of reading a simple spreadsheet, let alone finding a trillion in savings.
So what happened? (I feel like I'm coming into this conversation halfway through). Were any condoms being supplied to Gaza and he misread the number? Were a billion something else being supplied to Gaza?
United States President Donald Trump has boasted that his administration had stopped $50m in “bomb-making condoms” from being sent to Gaza.
Trump provided no evidence for his claims – that condoms were being sent to Gaza or that Hamas is using contraceptives to make bombs – and left many wondering what the US president was talking about.
Could it be that Trump was referring to a different Gaza? After all, there are more than a dozen places in the world named Gaza, including two communities in the United States.
For the moment, why Trump made the claim and what evidence he has is unknown.
According to the HHS grants database, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation in Mozambique received more than $83m in funding since 2021 for reproductive health projects in two provinces: Inhambane and Gaza.
Obviously not all for condoms!!
Which probably includes the funding for medication which prevents newborns contracting AIDS from their mothers. Currently suspended.
You'd think Trump would know what condoms were normally used for!
Been wondering about the LibDems for ages, because when I was involved with the old Liberal Party, back in the 70's and early 80's there were charismatic leaders.... Grimond, Thorpe ..... and to a lesser extent Steel, but we didn't get very far. And the LibDems had similar in Ashdown and Kennedy. One could, perhaps, compare Clegg with Steel, although I don't think Steel would have fallen for Cameron's tricks the way Clegg did. Davey's not, to my mind cast in the Grimond, Thorpe, Ashdown, Kennedy mould and I suggest that before too long he should step aside, if, and it's quite a big if, there's a potential 'big beast' in the new intake. I did wonder about Layla Moran, but doesn't look like she will.
I remember that David Penhaligon was really good before his untimely death in a road accident, but I can't remember any of his speeches or interviews and a quick look on the internet didn't come up with any which is surprising.
I also liked John Pardoe.
Because he died before the age when people were able to go round filming everything
Yeah, but 1986, you would think there would still be some stuff around.
Good news: my French energy tariff just fell by 16% thanks to cheaper wholesale electricity. Basically due to lower nuclear downtime.
We need to stop this annoying link in the UK between our electricity prices and wholesale gas prices. Those have been rising rapidly thanks to cold weather in Western Europe so he uh presto, up go our bills.
Isn't that because gas is the most dispatchable means of electricity generation? So long as there are insufficient other means of generation, gas will be required, and so the electricity price will rise to the level required to pay for gas generation. It's just economics, isn't it (I could be wrong)?
Not just economics, the link to gas prices comes from the last government so expect Kemi to lambast Starmer next PMQs.
Serious Question:
What would actually be involved in breaking that link? How about existing contracts?
He's brilliant, right? I think we can all agree on that. He's blown Woke into little pieces, he's cancelled the Left and now he is going after all the waste and wankery. He is also inspiring the New Right in Europe. And he is the only leader prepared to listen to Palestinians and offer them a different future
What's not to love?
The one huge issue was always tariffs. That was his one mad plan which made no sense and was likely to crash the world economy. Turns out he didn't mean it, that was all bluster, and thank God
Otherwise 9/10. Best president ever
My biggest worry about Trump was that he seemed much keener on Russia than Ukraine. But Sandpit (I think) reported the other day that Trump has actually been quietly pro-Ukraine, though I can't remember the details - and indeed, has been more useful than Biden.
Sandpit "reported" that Trump is better than Biden on something ... now that's an interesting use of language.
Mandy Rice-Davies applies.
As she so often does. If she truly was the first to say it she deserves a place in the very first rank of linguistic scholars and moral philosophers.
Although the irony is, iirc, the guy she said it about was actually telling the truth.
He's brilliant, right? I think we can all agree on that. He's blown Woke into little pieces, he's cancelled the Left and now he is going after all the waste and wankery. He is also inspiring the New Right in Europe. And he is the only leader prepared to listen to Palestinians and offer them a different future
What's not to love?
The one huge issue was always tariffs. That was his one mad plan which made no sense and was likely to crash the world economy. Turns out he didn't mean it, that was all bluster, and thank God
Otherwise 9/10. Best president ever
My biggest worry about Trump was that he seemed much keener on Russia than Ukraine. But Sandpit (I think) reported the other day that Trump has actually been quietly pro-Ukraine, though I can't remember the details - and indeed, has been more useful than Biden.
Sandpit "reported" that Trump is better than Biden on something ... now that's an interesting use of language.
We are all citizen journalists now.
I wonder how long the increasingly ubiquitous and influential Social can retain its curled lip when referring to the *mainstream* media?
Been wondering about the LibDems for ages, because when I was involved with the old Liberal Party, back in the 70's and early 80's there were charismatic leaders.... Grimond, Thorpe ..... and to a lesser extent Steel, but we didn't get very far. And the LibDems had similar in Ashdown and Kennedy. One could, perhaps, compare Clegg with Steel, although I don't think Steel would have fallen for Cameron's tricks the way Clegg did. Davey's not, to my mind cast in the Grimond, Thorpe, Ashdown, Kennedy mould and I suggest that before too long he should step aside, if, and it's quite a big if, there's a potential 'big beast' in the new intake. I did wonder about Layla Moran, but doesn't look like she will.
I remember that David Penhaligon was really good before his untimely death in a road accident, but I can't remember any of his speeches or interviews and a quick look on the internet didn't come up with any which is surprising.
I also liked John Pardoe.
Yes, Penhaligon's death was a tragedy both for himself and for the Party. And, I suspect, for our country as a whole. He'd have been 81 this year.
Good news: my French energy tariff just fell by 16% thanks to cheaper wholesale electricity. Basically due to lower nuclear downtime.
We need to stop this annoying link in the UK between our electricity prices and wholesale gas prices. Those have been rising rapidly thanks to cold weather in Western Europe so he uh presto, up go our bills.
Isn't that because gas is the most dispatchable means of electricity generation? So long as there are insufficient other means of generation, gas will be required, and so the electricity price will rise to the level required to pay for gas generation. It's just economics, isn't it (I could be wrong)?
Not just economics, the link to gas prices comes from the last government so expect Kemi to lambast Starmer next PMQs.
But how could you not have a link to gas prices? Whenever gas is required to meet electricity generation demand, electricity generators have to pay whatever gas costs so, in a free market, the electricity price will rise accordingly.
Good news: my French energy tariff just fell by 16% thanks to cheaper wholesale electricity. Basically due to lower nuclear downtime.
We need to stop this annoying link in the UK between our electricity prices and wholesale gas prices. Those have been rising rapidly thanks to cold weather in Western Europe so he uh presto, up go our bills.
Isn't that because gas is the most dispatchable means of electricity generation? So long as there are insufficient other means of generation, gas will be required, and so the electricity price will rise to the level required to pay for gas generation. It's just economics, isn't it (I could be wrong)?
Not just economics, the link to gas prices comes from the last government so expect Kemi to lambast Starmer next PMQs.
Serious Question:
What would actually be involved in breaking that link? How about existing contracts?
Legislation to change the way in which the UK energy market is structured.
The current setup is daft for both producers and consumers. Regional energy pricing would provide an extremely strong incentive for the use of currently wasted wind energy, for example (which government currently pays for us not to use).
Good news: my French energy tariff just fell by 16% thanks to cheaper wholesale electricity. Basically due to lower nuclear downtime.
We need to stop this annoying link in the UK between our electricity prices and wholesale gas prices. Those have been rising rapidly thanks to cold weather in Western Europe so he uh presto, up go our bills.
Isn't that because gas is the most dispatchable means of electricity generation? So long as there are insufficient other means of generation, gas will be required, and so the electricity price will rise to the level required to pay for gas generation. It's just economics, isn't it (I could be wrong)?
Not just economics, the link to gas prices comes from the last government so expect Kemi to lambast Starmer next PMQs.
But how could you not have a link to gas prices? Whenever gas is required to meet electricity generation demand, electricity generators have to pay whatever gas costs so, in a free market, the electricity price will rise accordingly.
That's marginal pricing, applied to the entire market, though. It's not reflective of what it actually costs them, and the price signal is utterly useless for incentivising more efficient use of what can be generated.
Been wondering about the LibDems for ages, because when I was involved with the old Liberal Party, back in the 70's and early 80's there were charismatic leaders.... Grimond, Thorpe ..... and to a lesser extent Steel, but we didn't get very far. And the LibDems had similar in Ashdown and Kennedy. One could, perhaps, compare Clegg with Steel, although I don't think Steel would have fallen for Cameron's tricks the way Clegg did. Davey's not, to my mind cast in the Grimond, Thorpe, Ashdown, Kennedy mould and I suggest that before too long he should step aside, if, and it's quite a big if, there's a potential 'big beast' in the new intake. I did wonder about Layla Moran, but doesn't look like she will.
LibDems are just a big disappointment. Voted for them once when I thought they had promise. Wouldn't go near the nimby, hypocritical, two faced, fetishy, sandal wearing weirdos now.
I'm amazed that Layla Moran is let out in public. She'd scare the horses. Had a soft spot occasionally for Tim Farron. A self-deprecating Lib Dem, who'd have thought it.
There is only one option. Daisy Cooper. Seems reasonable enough. Isn't completely mad. Gives off vaguely competent vibes.
I'd be amazed if anyone can name any of the new intake. Utterly anonymous. Suspect most are still surprised that they are MPs and don't know what they are doing.
Likelihood of the Trump administration improving any of these ?
Americans who say they're dissatisfied with America's:
Efforts to deal with poverty: 80% Moral and ethical climate: 78% Quality of public education: 73% Size/influence of corporations: 72% Amount paid in federal taxes: 70% Availability of affordable healthcare: 69% Way income/wealth are redistributed: 69%
Yesterday saw the first flight of an American spy plane, RC-135 Rivet Joint, over the Black Sea since the start of the war. It took off from RAF Mildenhall.
Good news: my French energy tariff just fell by 16% thanks to cheaper wholesale electricity. Basically due to lower nuclear downtime.
We need to stop this annoying link in the UK between our electricity prices and wholesale gas prices. Those have been rising rapidly thanks to cold weather in Western Europe so he uh presto, up go our bills.
Isn't that because gas is the most dispatchable means of electricity generation? So long as there are insufficient other means of generation, gas will be required, and so the electricity price will rise to the level required to pay for gas generation. It's just economics, isn't it (I could be wrong)?
Not just economics, the link to gas prices comes from the last government so expect Kemi to lambast Starmer next PMQs.
But how could you not have a link to gas prices? Whenever gas is required to meet electricity generation demand, electricity generators have to pay whatever gas costs so, in a free market, the electricity price will rise accordingly.
They are already unlinked to an extent - when the cost of wholesale electricity is very high due to increased demand, the fixed contracts we have with renewable/nuclear generators save us lots of money (and vice versa). So while the rollout of renewables adds 3% to energy bills overall, during the Ukraine invasion they helped to keep costs down a bit. CfD contracts = energy security for consumers.
Over the long term, the only way to reduce the influence of gas on prices is to reduce the amount we use in total (regardless of intermittency). More renewables is one way, but I think we should do more to smooth demand over the course of 24 hours by incentivising use overnight.
Radical but I think we should push everyone onto some form of moderated tracker tariff.
Likelihood of the Trump administration improving any of these ?
Americans who say they're dissatisfied with America's:
Efforts to deal with poverty: 80% Moral and ethical climate: 78% Quality of public education: 73% Size/influence of corporations: 72% Amount paid in federal taxes: 70% Availability of affordable healthcare: 69% Way income/wealth are redistributed: 69%
It will have to find a trillion of so funding just to maintain the last Trump tax cut, which is due to expire this year.
Just going on what Trump aims to do I'm sure he will fail to improve any of those.
Poverty? Pretty sure Trump doesn't give a hoot about the poor. Morals and ethics? The worst President ever. Education? Busy screwing that up, the poor will do the worst. Corporate influence? In the driving seat. Federal taxes? Only the well off will see any cuts. Affordability of healthcare? Medicare, Medicaid, VA all being messed with. Wealth distribution? See the tax cuts, the poor and middle class get nothing.
Trump's entire purpose was to evade justice by getting re-elected and then pay back his wealthy supporters who enabled his victory. About 95% of the US population will get shafted one way or another.
Been wondering about the LibDems for ages, because when I was involved with the old Liberal Party, back in the 70's and early 80's there were charismatic leaders.... Grimond, Thorpe ..... and to a lesser extent Steel, but we didn't get very far. And the LibDems had similar in Ashdown and Kennedy. One could, perhaps, compare Clegg with Steel, although I don't think Steel would have fallen for Cameron's tricks the way Clegg did. Davey's not, to my mind cast in the Grimond, Thorpe, Ashdown, Kennedy mould and I suggest that before too long he should step aside, if, and it's quite a big if, there's a potential 'big beast' in the new intake. I did wonder about Layla Moran, but doesn't look like she will.
LibDems are just a big disappointment. Voted for them once when I thought they had promise. Wouldn't go near the nimby, hypocritical, two faced, fetishy, sandal wearing weirdos now.
I'm amazed that Layla Moran is let out in public. She'd scare the horses. Had a soft spot occasionally for Tim Farron. A self-deprecating Lib Dem, who'd have thought it.
There is only one option. Daisy Cooper. Seems reasonable enough. Isn't completely mad. Gives off vaguely competent vibes.
I'd be amazed if anyone can name any of the new intake. Utterly anonymous. Suspect most are still surprised that they are MPs and don't know what they are doing.
To not be too harsh on the new intake - my local MP is a new Lib Dem and seems a nice bloke, certainly done well to gradually build local support until it became a flood in a traditional Tory area - there are only limited high profile media and political slots for a third party, and most will be taken up by the established high profile Lib Dems.
With Farage also taking a lot of oxygen too - much more so than the last time the Lib Dems had a serious parliamentary presence as an opposition - you're hardly going to get "the new MP for Formertory-on-the-Wold" making headlines unless it's bad ones.
Good news: my French energy tariff just fell by 16% thanks to cheaper wholesale electricity. Basically due to lower nuclear downtime.
We need to stop this annoying link in the UK between our electricity prices and wholesale gas prices. Those have been rising rapidly thanks to cold weather in Western Europe so he uh presto, up go our bills.
Isn't that because gas is the most dispatchable means of electricity generation? So long as there are insufficient other means of generation, gas will be required, and so the electricity price will rise to the level required to pay for gas generation. It's just economics, isn't it (I could be wrong)?
Not just economics, the link to gas prices comes from the last government so expect Kemi to lambast Starmer next PMQs.
But how could you not have a link to gas prices? Whenever gas is required to meet electricity generation demand, electricity generators have to pay whatever gas costs so, in a free market, the electricity price will rise accordingly.
They are already unlinked to an extent - when the cost of wholesale electricity is very high due to increased demand, the fixed contracts we have with renewable/nuclear generators save us lots of money (and vice versa). So while the rollout of renewables adds 3% to energy bills overall, during the Ukraine invasion they helped to keep costs down a bit. CfD contracts = energy security for consumers.
Over the long term, the only way to reduce the influence of gas on prices is to reduce the amount we use in total (regardless of intermittency). More renewables is one way, but I think we should do more to smooth demand over the course of 24 hours by incentivising use overnight.
Radical but I think we should push everyone onto some form of moderated tracker tariff.
There needs to be more investment in energy storage, so that there’s less exposure to spot prices in the first place.
You’re not going to be able to deal with a shock like the Ukraine war, but having enough gas to last a couple of weeks of calm and cloudy winter days is a good starting point.
Good news: my French energy tariff just fell by 16% thanks to cheaper wholesale electricity. Basically due to lower nuclear downtime.
We need to stop this annoying link in the UK between our electricity prices and wholesale gas prices. Those have been rising rapidly thanks to cold weather in Western Europe so he uh presto, up go our bills.
Isn't that because gas is the most dispatchable means of electricity generation? So long as there are insufficient other means of generation, gas will be required, and so the electricity price will rise to the level required to pay for gas generation. It's just economics, isn't it (I could be wrong)?
Not just economics, the link to gas prices comes from the last government so expect Kemi to lambast Starmer next PMQs.
But how could you not have a link to gas prices? Whenever gas is required to meet electricity generation demand, electricity generators have to pay whatever gas costs so, in a free market, the electricity price will rise accordingly.
They are already unlinked to an extent - when the cost of wholesale electricity is very high due to increased demand, the fixed contracts we have with renewable/nuclear generators save us lots of money (and vice versa). So while the rollout of renewables adds 3% to energy bills overall, during the Ukraine invasion they helped to keep costs down a bit. CfD contracts = energy security for consumers.
Over the long term, the only way to reduce the influence of gas on prices is to reduce the amount we use in total (regardless of intermittency). More renewables is one way, but I think we should do more to smooth demand over the course of 24 hours by incentivising use overnight.
Radical but I think we should push everyone onto some form of moderated tracker tariff.
I'd add that we'll also need to do more to manage demand over longer time periods (to help cover wind lulls) by incentivising flexibility on the part of heavy industrial consumers.
Good news: my French energy tariff just fell by 16% thanks to cheaper wholesale electricity. Basically due to lower nuclear downtime.
We need to stop this annoying link in the UK between our electricity prices and wholesale gas prices. Those have been rising rapidly thanks to cold weather in Western Europe so he uh presto, up go our bills.
Isn't that because gas is the most dispatchable means of electricity generation? So long as there are insufficient other means of generation, gas will be required, and so the electricity price will rise to the level required to pay for gas generation. It's just economics, isn't it (I could be wrong)?
Not just economics, the link to gas prices comes from the last government so expect Kemi to lambast Starmer next PMQs.
But how could you not have a link to gas prices? Whenever gas is required to meet electricity generation demand, electricity generators have to pay whatever gas costs so, in a free market, the electricity price will rise accordingly.
They are already unlinked to an extent - when the cost of wholesale electricity is very high due to increased demand, the fixed contracts we have with renewable/nuclear generators save us lots of money (and vice versa). So while the rollout of renewables adds 3% to energy bills overall, during the Ukraine invasion they helped to keep costs down a bit. CfD contracts = energy security for consumers.
Over the long term, the only way to reduce the influence of gas on prices is to reduce the amount we use in total (regardless of intermittency). More renewables is one way, but I think we should do more to smooth demand over the course of 24 hours by incentivising use overnight.
Radical but I think we should push everyone onto some form of moderated tracker tariff.
There needs to be more investment in energy storage, so that there’s less exposure to spot prices in the first place.
You’re not going to be able to deal with a shock like the Ukraine war, but having enough gas to last a couple of weeks of calm and cloudy winter days is a good starting point.
Let's split this into broadly two forms of intermittency:
1) Over 24 hours. We can cover this by installing loads of turbines and solar, and smoothing demand by charging car batteries (and running the washing machine) overnight. This is probably cheaper than energy storage, whether battery or pumped hydro.
2) Extended cold snaps with no wind. We'd require enormous battery capacity, most of which would never be used except for once or twice a year. We'd still require emergency gas generation in case that wasn't enough. Cheaper to use gas during those periods or import green(er) energy from Europe using interconnectors. Buiding up domestic gas storage would be sensible too.
Been wondering about the LibDems for ages, because when I was involved with the old Liberal Party, back in the 70's and early 80's there were charismatic leaders.... Grimond, Thorpe ..... and to a lesser extent Steel, but we didn't get very far. And the LibDems had similar in Ashdown and Kennedy. One could, perhaps, compare Clegg with Steel, although I don't think Steel would have fallen for Cameron's tricks the way Clegg did. Davey's not, to my mind cast in the Grimond, Thorpe, Ashdown, Kennedy mould and I suggest that before too long he should step aside, if, and it's quite a big if, there's a potential 'big beast' in the new intake. I did wonder about Layla Moran, but doesn't look like she will.
LibDems are just a big disappointment. Voted for them once when I thought they had promise. Wouldn't go near the nimby, hypocritical, two faced, fetishy, sandal wearing weirdos now.
I'm amazed that Layla Moran is let out in public. She'd scare the horses. Had a soft spot occasionally for Tim Farron. A self-deprecating Lib Dem, who'd have thought it.
There is only one option. Daisy Cooper. Seems reasonable enough. Isn't completely mad. Gives off vaguely competent vibes.
I'd be amazed if anyone can name any of the new intake. Utterly anonymous. Suspect most are still surprised that they are MPs and don't know what they are doing.
Since it’s been clarified that someone in fact did speculate, by your own logic I assume you must be annoyed? A session on the running machine on the goose step setting will dissipate it I’m sure.
The Gaza Strip would be turned over to the United States by Israel at the conclusion of fighting. The Palestinians, people like Chuck Schumer, would have already been resettled in far safer and more beautiful communities, with new and modern homes, in the region. They would actually have a chance to be happy, safe, and free. The U.S., working with great development teams from all over the World, would slowly and carefully begin the construction of what would become one of the greatest and most spectacular developments of its kind on Earth. No soldiers by the U.S. would be needed! Stability for the region would reign!!!
The Gaza Strip would be turned over to the United States by Israel at the conclusion of fighting. The Palestinians, people like Chuck Schumer, would have already been resettled in far safer and more beautiful communities, with new and modern homes, in the region. They would actually have a chance to be happy, safe, and free. The U.S., working with great development teams from all over the World, would slowly and carefully begin the construction of what would become one of the greatest and most spectacular developments of its kind on Earth. No soldiers by the U.S. would be needed! Stability for the region would reign!!!
The Brooklyn Bridge is on sake for $750million. Which seat would you like at the auction?
The Gaza Strip would be turned over to the United States by Israel at the conclusion of fighting. The Palestinians, people like Chuck Schumer, would have already been resettled in far safer and more beautiful communities, with new and modern homes, in the region. They would actually have a chance to be happy, safe, and free. The U.S., working with great development teams from all over the World, would slowly and carefully begin the construction of what would become one of the greatest and most spectacular developments of its kind on Earth. No soldiers by the U.S. would be needed! Stability for the region would reign!!!
Gaza "turned over to the United States by Israel at the conclusion of fighting" gives Hamas a rather strong incentive to keep fighting, does it not?
No one gets much more than a quarter of voters under "shares our values"
I don't like the misleading way this polling is reported without showing don't knows eg 'An honest person' is in fact:
Starmer Yes 31% No 46% Don't know 23% Net -15% Badenoch Yes 21% No 37% Don't know 43% Net -16% Farage Yes 24% No 50% Don't know 26% Net -26% Davey Yes 37% No 22% Don't know 41% Net +15%
Badenoch's net 'honest person' is actually better than Farage's, and Davey's 37% is even more impressive given the numbers saying 'Don't know'
Which overall seems to cast the opinion of Badenoch as "probably just another politician until proven otherwise". Whether the irreconcilables like Jenrick and TSE will give her the time and space to have a chance to prove otherwise is a different question.
There you go again, I voted for Badenoch and have said she should be given time, the issue is will the party give her time?
Even TSE would make a better Tory leader than the Kembot!
I wouldn’t go that far.
She got into trouble for her interview where she denounced sandwich eaters, I would have got into even more trouble when I denounced people who put pineapple on pizza.
What about people who put pineapple on pizza and then use that as a sandwich filling?
Hawaiian Calzone ?
Sounds like an eruption waiting to happen
(Richard Attenborough voice)
We are here… at the edge of the Hawaiian Calzone… waiting for the moment of truth. You can see the lava bubbling quietly and smell the sulphur in the air… the person who added pineapple to the mix bears great responsibility for the inevitable devastation that will follow—-
No one gets much more than a quarter of voters under "shares our values"
I don't like the misleading way this polling is reported without showing don't knows eg 'An honest person' is in fact:
Starmer Yes 31% No 46% Don't know 23% Net -15% Badenoch Yes 21% No 37% Don't know 43% Net -16% Farage Yes 24% No 50% Don't know 26% Net -26% Davey Yes 37% No 22% Don't know 41% Net +15%
Badenoch's net 'honest person' is actually better than Farage's, and Davey's 37% is even more impressive given the numbers saying 'Don't know'
Which overall seems to cast the opinion of Badenoch as "probably just another politician until proven otherwise". Whether the irreconcilables like Jenrick and TSE will give her the time and space to have a chance to prove otherwise is a different question.
There you go again, I voted for Badenoch and have said she should be given time, the issue is will the party give her time?
Even TSE would make a better Tory leader than the Kembot!
I wouldn’t go that far.
She got into trouble for her interview where she denounced sandwich eaters, I would have got into even more trouble when I denounced people who put pineapple on pizza.
What about people who put pineapple on pizza and then use that as a sandwich filling?
Hawaiian Calzone ?
Sounds like an eruption waiting to happen
(Richard Attenborough voice)
We are here… at the edge of the Hawaiian Calzone… waiting for the moment of truth. You can see the lava bubbling quietly and smell the sulphur in the air… the person who added pineapple to the mix bears great responsibility for the inevitable devastation that will follow—-
David Attenborough.
It's OK. Everybody else hates me too. 😐
Not 'everybody'. 'a very high percentage of other people' perhaps.
The Gaza Strip would be turned over to the United States by Israel at the conclusion of fighting. The Palestinians, people like Chuck Schumer, would have already been resettled in far safer and more beautiful communities, with new and modern homes, in the region. They would actually have a chance to be happy, safe, and free. The U.S., working with great development teams from all over the World, would slowly and carefully begin the construction of what would become one of the greatest and most spectacular developments of its kind on Earth. No soldiers by the U.S. would be needed! Stability for the region would reign!!!
Where, in the 'region' is the site (or sites) for these ' far safer and more beautiful communities'? With 'new and modern homes'?
I believe the two likes Leon spuriously received for his post should removed by the embarrassed likers.
It’s a work of art, saying we shouldn’t speculate then going onto speculate, like Blair’s "A day like today is not a day for soundbites, we can leave those at home, but I feel the hand of history upon our shoulder with respect to this, I really do".
I believe the two likes Leon spuriously received for his post should removed by the embarrassed likers.
Fight fire with fire - my Swedish taxi driver told me the guy deliberately targeted that school because it was used by young immigrants to get Swedish qualifications.
The Gaza Strip would be turned over to the United States by Israel at the conclusion of fighting. The Palestinians, people like Chuck Schumer, would have already been resettled in far safer and more beautiful communities, with new and modern homes, in the region. They would actually have a chance to be happy, safe, and free. The U.S., working with great development teams from all over the World, would slowly and carefully begin the construction of what would become one of the greatest and most spectacular developments of its kind on Earth. No soldiers by the U.S. would be needed! Stability for the region would reign!!!
Ethnic cleansing will be delighted! It's got used to getting a kicking in the modern world but now it's all change. Rehabilitation beckons. There's even a glossy brochure.
The Gaza Strip would be turned over to the United States by Israel at the conclusion of fighting. The Palestinians, people like Chuck Schumer, would have already been resettled in far safer and more beautiful communities, with new and modern homes, in the region. They would actually have a chance to be happy, safe, and free. The U.S., working with great development teams from all over the World, would slowly and carefully begin the construction of what would become one of the greatest and most spectacular developments of its kind on Earth. No soldiers by the U.S. would be needed! Stability for the region would reign!!!
Where, in the 'region' is the site (or sites) for these ' far safer and more beautiful communities'? With 'new and modern homes'?
Comments
In that clip he looks, sounds and acts like a President at the top of his game. No bombastic claims, no outrageous lies, just empathy and even kindness.
Scary.
https://undercutters.podbean.com/e/f1-2025-predictions/
Intriguing season ahead. Ferrari deciding to completely redesign the car does throw the cat among the pigeons.
I have a half-written header on Ukraine as it relates to American politics, which I really should finish. The tentative conclusion is that “Ukraine” has been shorthand for a disquiet with the domestic v international spending priorities seen under Biden’s administration, especially with regard to disaster relief. Also that military accounting makes little sense, the numbers talked about bear little resemblance to what’s actually delivered.
(I didn't know this person was trans. Now I do)
Drach is one, who has discussed his methods, but not afaik the technical detail.
Here is one interview, where he talks about how he sifts and uses and compares sources - but still puts out 1-2 hours of video a week:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aS2PZOz4rsk
https://ratical.org/ratville/CAH/fasci14chars.html
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c805mjxe2y9o
They have all the opportunities at the moment, an unpopular government and an unpopular opposition. That won't last forever. In much the same way those that are saying LD and Green are holding up well. So they damn well should. If they can't now, they never will.
Reform and Farage are marmite and that will count against them when their opponents can coalesce around anti-reform in some constituencies. Farage's health would be a concern.
But not much different from cuddly frontman Reagan who distracted the masses while the hard men of the GOP got on with their business of ravishing and ravaging.
(See his wife Ivana's divorce deposition.)
As I noted earlier today.
When will you stop parroting MAGA propaganda ?
Are you one ?
Apparently a slightly darker shade than the 2024 car.
Also you can now pre-order Lewis’s hat, if you want to spend £40 on a baseball cap.
https://store.ferrari.com/en-ae/replica/replica-scuderia-ferrari/caps/puma-for-scuderia-ferrari-hp-2025-hamilton-baseball-cap-LA01Sf163.html
We need to stop this annoying link in the UK between our electricity prices and wholesale gas prices. Those have been rising rapidly thanks to cold weather in Western Europe so he uh presto, up go our bills.
Been wondering about the LibDems for ages, because when I was involved with the old Liberal Party, back in the 70's and early 80's there were charismatic leaders.... Grimond, Thorpe ..... and to a lesser extent Steel, but we didn't get very far. And the LibDems had similar in Ashdown and Kennedy. One could, perhaps, compare Clegg with Steel, although I don't think Steel would have fallen for Cameron's tricks the way Clegg did.
Davey's not, to my mind cast in the Grimond, Thorpe, Ashdown, Kennedy mould and I suggest that before too long he should step aside, if, and it's quite a big if, there's a potential 'big beast' in the new intake.
I did wonder about Layla Moran, but doesn't look like she will.
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/01/29/politics/gaza-condoms-fact-check/index.html
I expect william believed it.
Yes. Back once again with the renegade dancer, it's @viewcode with that article about how difficult it is to categorise political parties and how although checklists are popular they are not necessarily good or even adequate.
Currently suspended.
But about 10x as fast as the last set of Conservative administrations.
Most of them hide well away from the front lines these days though. They went through a phase of having them work from mobile command posts filled with radio and comms equipment, which stuck out like a sore thumb to Ukranian or American RF surveillance drones.
To those more sanguine about him I would say wake up and wise up. A helpful technique for such people is to first imagine the worst you think it can be, then double that, times it by ten, and multiply again by itself. This gives an idea of the likely consequences if he goes the full four years.
Marks out of ten? No, not playing. I can't do it without going into negative numbers.
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/feb/06/the-life-and-death-of-jen-bridges-chalkley-why-did-a-17-year-old-die-waiting-for-nhs-therapy
I also liked John Pardoe.
https://x.com/DarthPutinKGB/status/1887195544847851922
Not just economics, the link to gas prices comes from the last government so expect Kemi to lambast Starmer next PMQs.
What would actually be involved in breaking that link? How about existing contracts?
https://x.com/adamemedia/status/1887240710757490999?s=61&t=LYVEHh2mqFy1oUJAdCfe-Q
The current setup is daft for both producers and consumers.
Regional energy pricing would provide an extremely strong incentive for the use of currently wasted wind energy, for example (which government currently pays for us not to use).
It's not reflective of what it actually costs them, and the price signal is utterly useless for incentivising more efficient use of what can be generated.
I'm amazed that Layla Moran is let out in public. She'd scare the horses. Had a soft spot occasionally for Tim Farron. A self-deprecating Lib Dem, who'd have thought it.
There is only one option. Daisy Cooper. Seems reasonable enough. Isn't completely mad. Gives off vaguely competent vibes.
I'd be amazed if anyone can name any of the new intake. Utterly anonymous. Suspect most are still surprised that they are MPs and don't know what they are doing.
That must annoy you
OK I followed your link, and as it's X it is of course bollocks.
Here's the BBC article:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crm71dmkjjyo
The picture caption says
"Ismail Moradi told the BBC he fears there was a racial element to the shooting"
Can we just ban twitter from PB.com? it would reduce all the stupid misinformation that's posted here every day
Here's the same bollocks from that lying shit MacaesBruno
https://x.com/MacaesBruno/status/1887363904080138266/photo/1
Note how he has clipped the picture to omit the picture caption, and doesn't include any of the actual article.
Americans who say they're dissatisfied with America's:
Efforts to deal with poverty: 80%
Moral and ethical climate: 78%
Quality of public education: 73%
Size/influence of corporations: 72%
Amount paid in federal taxes: 70%
Availability of affordable healthcare: 69%
Way income/wealth are redistributed: 69%
- Gallup -
https://x.com/USA_Polling/status/1887225159217492355
It will have to find a trillion of so funding just to maintain the last Trump tax cut, which is due to expire this year.
Are they cheaper on a per MW basis than traditional large scale nuclear ?
The evidence from Nuscale suggests 'diseconomies of scale'.
The idea that they would be ready by 2032 is simply laughable.
Costs of producing nuclear power only ever seem to go up.
Costs of solar and wind just goes down.
Yesterday saw the first flight of an American spy plane, RC-135 Rivet Joint, over the Black Sea since the start of the war. It took off from RAF Mildenhall.
https://x.com/worldsource24/status/1887178472583315663
The Russians didn’t appear to respond to it at all, which is an indication of how worried they are about Ukrainian anti-aircraft systems in the area.
https://conservativehome.com/2025/02/06/will-the-last-tory-to-leave-please-turn-out-the-lights/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Thursday 6th February 2025&utm_content=Thursday 6th February 2025+CID_cf5c3226fcdae73aa56b41c5ffbbae3e&utm_source=Daily Email&utm_term=Will the last Tory to leave please turn out the lights
Over the long term, the only way to reduce the influence of gas on prices is to reduce the amount we use in total (regardless of intermittency). More renewables is one way, but I think we should do more to smooth demand over the course of 24 hours by incentivising use overnight.
Radical but I think we should push everyone onto some form of moderated tracker tariff.
We shouldn't speculate but what are the chances it was someone who'd been told to leave the country.
https://vf.politicalbetting.com/discussion/comment/5109561/#Comment_5109561
Poverty? Pretty sure Trump doesn't give a hoot about the poor.
Morals and ethics? The worst President ever.
Education? Busy screwing that up, the poor will do the worst.
Corporate influence? In the driving seat.
Federal taxes? Only the well off will see any cuts.
Affordability of healthcare? Medicare, Medicaid, VA all being messed with.
Wealth distribution? See the tax cuts, the poor and middle class get nothing.
Trump's entire purpose was to evade justice by getting re-elected and then pay back his wealthy supporters who enabled his victory. About 95% of the US population will get shafted one way or another.
With Farage also taking a lot of oxygen too - much more so than the last time the Lib Dems had a serious parliamentary presence as an opposition - you're hardly going to get "the new MP for Formertory-on-the-Wold" making headlines unless it's bad ones.
You’re not going to be able to deal with a shock like the Ukraine war, but having enough gas to last a couple of weeks of calm and cloudy winter days is a good starting point.
1) Over 24 hours. We can cover this by installing loads of turbines and solar, and smoothing demand by charging car batteries (and running the washing machine) overnight. This is probably cheaper than energy storage, whether battery or pumped hydro.
2) Extended cold snaps with no wind. We'd require enormous battery capacity, most of which would never be used except for once or twice a year. We'd still require emergency gas generation in case that wasn't enough. Cheaper to use gas during those periods or import green(er) energy from Europe using interconnectors. Buiding up domestic gas storage would be sensible too.
The Gaza Strip would be turned over to the United States by Israel at the conclusion of fighting. The Palestinians, people like Chuck Schumer, would have already been resettled in far safer and more beautiful communities, with new and modern homes, in the region. They would actually have a chance to be happy, safe, and free. The U.S., working with great development teams from all over the World, would slowly and carefully begin the construction of what would become one of the greatest and most spectacular developments of its kind on Earth. No soldiers by the U.S. would be needed! Stability for the region would reign!!!
No shit Sherlock!
It's OK. Everybody else hates me too. 😐
https://x.com/boulezian/status/1887459645935022344?s=61&t=LYVEHh2mqFy1oUJAdCfe-Q
I would love nuclear to be viable & I get the argument that if you mass produce SMR's that in theory the cost could reduce significantly.
Nuclear just seems a dead end for other than some base load at high, high prices.
If SMR's were the future, why isn't Musk or China whacking them out ?