Howdy, Stranger!

It looks like you're new here. Sign in or register to get started.

PB Predictions Competition 2025 – The Entries – politicalbetting.com

1234689

Comments

  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 44,615
    Phew. For a moment I thought I was going to have to agree with Musk. He told Trump that computers are not meant for voting. Then he said something (ahem) crazy...

    "Trump: "I did ask Elon because he knows more about computers than anybody I know. I said, what do you think of the voting system? He said, computers are not meant for voting. It's too many transactions taking place too quickly.""

    https://x.com/atrupar/status/1893012075129012246

    Too many transactions???
  • Phew. For a moment I thought I was going to have to agree with Musk. He told Trump that computers are not meant for voting. Then he said something (ahem) crazy...

    "Trump: "I did ask Elon because he knows more about computers than anybody I know. I said, what do you think of the voting system? He said, computers are not meant for voting. It's too many transactions taking place too quickly.""

    https://x.com/atrupar/status/1893012075129012246

    Too many transactions???

    To be fair, that could be Trump not quoting what was said correctly.

    Voting should not be done by computers, that is certainly correct.
  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 22,497

    Jonathan said:

    What the betting that Trump demands Starmer hand over the Falklands to his Argentinian pal?

    Milei isn't demanding them. His position is that the wishes of the people living there should be respected.
    My suggestion would be that once we get a decent Government, we jointly exploit the oil wealth that lies under the Falklands with Argentina. Given that to do that we will presumably need their help/assent in some form anyway. We should do that before someone else gets dollar signs and decides to stir up the Argentinians for another go.

    It would be good finally to put to bed the troubles of the past, and for Argentina to relinquish its claims fully. Even if we need to build them another group of islands and call it Las Malvinas.
    Joint development doesn't fly on the islands.
    The oil and gas near the Falklands would be extremely expensive to get to. Deep water and some of the worst weather in the world.

    There is a reason that very little has been done there.

    None of it is in Argentine territorial waters. It’s all in the Falklands economic zone or international waters.
    Nevertheless, they have an interest in the region, and as long as the sovereignty and way of life of the Falkland Islands is unaffected, I don't really see the issue with jointly exploiting these resources. I absolutely don't see that we can do this by ourselves without this raising its ugly head in Argentina again, and therefore attracting bigger sharks into the water to 'help' Argentina press its claim. Far better to do a joint project and avoid any issues from the start.
    The bigger issue is the supply base to support the operations. They can't get one in Argentina. Uruguay would be antagonising Argentina if they agreed. Brazil are not inclined to piss off Argentina (although I have been told that at non-Governmental parties are prepared to offer it).

    They have even looked at using a base in South Africa. Having been across those waters in a force 12, I wouldn't fancy that contract! (I have had two different house guests recently, both have been involved in the development of Falklands hydrocarbons; and a separate meeting with a third company too.
    Fuck Uruguay. What are they going to do about it?
    What's your beef with Uruguay?
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 52,958
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg5erp7zw2o

    Your regular reminder that some Minis were electrified 25 years ago for the stupid remake of the Italian job.

    The producers of the film invited the makers to take a look. They weren’t interested.

  • WinchyWinchy Posts: 130
    edited February 22
    I wonder whether the oligarchs in Ukraine agreed to pay US oligarchs in minerals for the rake-offs they were getting from the weapons money, but then Zelensky tried to welsh (with Trump perhaps demanding a higher price in payola than was going to the US under Biden), and that this, as well as influence from Moscow, explains how the gap opened up? (With the "joke" being on oligarchs in the EU and Britain.) Because for sure the ex-western elites would have been thinking in terms of benefits from "reconstruction" - that's obvious.

    Trump = the id of the ex-West?
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,834
    Minerals deal seemingly imminent. Not going down too well according to Ukraine Telegram reactions:


  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 74,156
    Pulpstar said:

    Minerals deal seemingly imminent. Not going down too well according to Ukraine Telegram reactions:


    Seems representative.

    ‘It’s blackmail’: Ukrainians react to Trump demand for $500bn share of minerals
    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/22/its-blackmail-ukrainians-react-to-trump-demand-for-500bn-share-of-minerals
  • LeonLeon Posts: 58,445
    Boxkick Boxkick Boxkick
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 58,488
    Pulpstar said:

    Minerals deal seemingly imminent. Not going down too well according to Ukraine Telegram reactions:


    While it is, undoubtedly, blackmail, it is (I suspect) a price well worth paying from Ukraine's point of view.
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 29,835

    Jonathan said:

    What the betting that Trump demands Starmer hand over the Falklands to his Argentinian pal?

    Milei isn't demanding them. His position is that the wishes of the people living there should be respected.
    My suggestion would be that once we get a decent Government, we jointly exploit the oil wealth that lies under the Falklands with Argentina. Given that to do that we will presumably need their help/assent in some form anyway. We should do that before someone else gets dollar signs and decides to stir up the Argentinians for another go.

    It would be good finally to put to bed the troubles of the past, and for Argentina to relinquish its claims fully. Even if we need to build them another group of islands and call it Las Malvinas.
    Joint development doesn't fly on the islands.
    The oil and gas near the Falklands would be extremely expensive to get to. Deep water and some of the worst weather in the world.

    There is a reason that very little has been done there.

    None of it is in Argentine territorial waters. It’s all in the Falklands economic zone or international waters.
    Nevertheless, they have an interest in the region, and as long as the sovereignty and way of life of the Falkland Islands is unaffected, I don't really see the issue with jointly exploiting these resources. I absolutely don't see that we can do this by ourselves without this raising its ugly head in Argentina again, and therefore attracting bigger sharks into the water to 'help' Argentina press its claim. Far better to do a joint project and avoid any issues from the start.
    The bigger issue is the supply base to support the operations. They can't get one in Argentina. Uruguay would be antagonising Argentina if they agreed. Brazil are not inclined to piss off Argentina (although I have been told that at non-Governmental parties are prepared to offer it).

    They have even looked at using a base in South Africa. Having been across those waters in a force 12, I wouldn't fancy that contract! (I have had two different house guests recently, both have been involved in the development of Falklands hydrocarbons; and a separate meeting with a third company too.
    Fuck Uruguay. What are they going to do about it?
    What's your beef with Uruguay?
    I don't have a beef with Uruguay. Mark tells us that we could not build the supply base that we would need to support a joint UK-Argentinian oil project around the Falklands because Uruguay would antagonise Argentina if they agreed. I can't see how it would be any of their business or why we would care about their displeasure.
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 29,701
    edited February 22
    Leon said:

    Boxkick Boxkick Boxkick

    Watched 2 games today.
    Everton v Man United was the most one sided 2-2.
    This is a very one sided three point game.
    Edit. Now 10-10.
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 58,488

    Phew. For a moment I thought I was going to have to agree with Musk. He told Trump that computers are not meant for voting. Then he said something (ahem) crazy...

    "Trump: "I did ask Elon because he knows more about computers than anybody I know. I said, what do you think of the voting system? He said, computers are not meant for voting. It's too many transactions taking place too quickly.""

    https://x.com/atrupar/status/1893012075129012246

    Too many transactions???

    To be fair, that could be Trump not quoting what was said correctly.

    Voting should not be done by computers, that is certainly correct.
    I agree.

    That said, the problem the US has is that they will sometimes have upwards of 50 or 100 votes happening simultaneously for a single voter.

    And they want instant results, or it's fraudulent.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 53,598

    Phew. For a moment I thought I was going to have to agree with Musk. He told Trump that computers are not meant for voting. Then he said something (ahem) crazy...

    "Trump: "I did ask Elon because he knows more about computers than anybody I know. I said, what do you think of the voting system? He said, computers are not meant for voting. It's too many transactions taking place too quickly.""

    https://x.com/atrupar/status/1893012075129012246

    Too many transactions???

    To be fair, that could be Trump not quoting what was said correctly.

    Voting should not be done by computers, that is certainly correct.
    Why should the franchise not be extended to AIs?
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 61,890
    Scott_xP said:

    Rugby, eh?

    10 : 10
  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 22,497
    I note that my gag about beef from Uruguay failed dismally.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 61,890

    The perpetrator of the attack at the Holocaust memorial in Berlin yesterday was a 19-year-old asylum seeker from Syria who wanted to "kill Jews".

    https://www.spiegel.de/panorama/justiz/berlin-was-ueber-den-angriff-am-holocaustmahnmal-bekannt-ist-a-576e87b2-0e0b-421c-ac8a-653579983819

    Another one today. This time in France:

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c984enp4480o
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 61,890

    I note that my gag about beef from Uruguay failed dismally.

    Don't worry.

    Someone will be along shortly to ask, "is it vegan?", for the millionth time in a minute.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 52,958

    Jonathan said:

    What the betting that Trump demands Starmer hand over the Falklands to his Argentinian pal?

    Milei isn't demanding them. His position is that the wishes of the people living there should be respected.
    My suggestion would be that once we get a decent Government, we jointly exploit the oil wealth that lies under the Falklands with Argentina. Given that to do that we will presumably need their help/assent in some form anyway. We should do that before someone else gets dollar signs and decides to stir up the Argentinians for another go.

    It would be good finally to put to bed the troubles of the past, and for Argentina to relinquish its claims fully. Even if we need to build them another group of islands and call it Las Malvinas.
    Joint development doesn't fly on the islands.
    The oil and gas near the Falklands would be extremely expensive to get to. Deep water and some of the worst weather in the world.

    There is a reason that very little has been done there.

    None of it is in Argentine territorial waters. It’s all in the Falklands economic zone or international waters.
    Nevertheless, they have an interest in the region, and as long as the sovereignty and way of life of the Falkland Islands is unaffected, I don't really see the issue with jointly exploiting these resources. I absolutely don't see that we can do this by ourselves without this raising its ugly head in Argentina again, and therefore attracting bigger sharks into the water to 'help' Argentina press its claim. Far better to do a joint project and avoid any issues from the start.
    The bigger issue is the supply base to support the operations. They can't get one in Argentina. Uruguay would be antagonising Argentina if they agreed. Brazil are not inclined to piss off Argentina (although I have been told that at non-Governmental parties are prepared to offer it).

    They have even looked at using a base in South Africa. Having been across those waters in a force 12, I wouldn't fancy that contract! (I have had two different house guests recently, both have been involved in the development of Falklands hydrocarbons; and a separate meeting with a third company too.
    Fuck Uruguay. What are they going to do about it?
    What's your beef with Uruguay?
    I don't have a beef with Uruguay. Mark tells us that we could not build the supply base that we would need to support a joint UK-Argentinian oil project around the Falklands because Uruguay would antagonise Argentina if they agreed. I can't see how it would be any of their business or why we would care about their displeasure.
    He was talking about building a base on Uruguayan soil. The issue is that any South American country hosting a base for U.K. oil & gas exploration in the Falklands will piss off Argentina.

    Why should they?
  • Pagan2 said:

    maxh said:

    ...

    kle4 said:

    Eabhal said:

    Nazi salutes are getting normalised in the US now. I wonder if we'll get to a stage where not doing one sees you either primaried or losing your federal contract?

    It's like we're living in the flashbacks of a zombie film, where you see the first news reports of mysterious new disease.

    And then the feckers try to gaslight the world by saying that it wasn't a Nazi salute.
    A good slice of this board thinks posters are being hysterical when they point out that politicians who support the AfD, Putin, use Nazi language and make Nazi salutes might err, be a bit Nazi.
    It’s not a particularly helpful term - because it immediately makes people think about toothbrush-moustaches and German dictators.

    It’s the same with “fascist”. The left abused the terms for so long to try and demonise their moderate opponents that they no longer have the power to shock.



    Thank goodness we have the right’s measured use of commie, Trot and Stalinist as an example of restraint.
    For some reason Stalinist doesn't seem to be as common a derogatory label as the others in my experience. Is that because people associate Stalin and communism more strongly, or because Trotskyite groups were more prominent in the West among loony marxist groups?

    (I'm assuming here there are non-loony marxist groups, which is perhaps over generous, like assuming there were moderate BNP branches).
    I think anyone with half a brain is Marxist to some extent. Marx wrote widely and compellingly on many subjects, just as eg Hayek did.

    It's the political ideologies resulting from Marxist thought that are so damaging, not least the Communist manifesto, which understandably discredits Marx's other work.
    Anyone that is marxist definitely has half a brain
    "Those are my principles, and if you don't like them... well, I have others!"
  • boulayboulay Posts: 5,923

    Jonathan said:

    What the betting that Trump demands Starmer hand over the Falklands to his Argentinian pal?

    Milei isn't demanding them. His position is that the wishes of the people living there should be respected.
    My suggestion would be that once we get a decent Government, we jointly exploit the oil wealth that lies under the Falklands with Argentina. Given that to do that we will presumably need their help/assent in some form anyway. We should do that before someone else gets dollar signs and decides to stir up the Argentinians for another go.

    It would be good finally to put to bed the troubles of the past, and for Argentina to relinquish its claims fully. Even if we need to build them another group of islands and call it Las Malvinas.
    Joint development doesn't fly on the islands.
    The oil and gas near the Falklands would be extremely expensive to get to. Deep water and some of the worst weather in the world.

    There is a reason that very little has been done there.

    None of it is in Argentine territorial waters. It’s all in the Falklands economic zone or international waters.
    Nevertheless, they have an interest in the region, and as long as the sovereignty and way of life of the Falkland Islands is unaffected, I don't really see the issue with jointly exploiting these resources. I absolutely don't see that we can do this by ourselves without this raising its ugly head in Argentina again, and therefore attracting bigger sharks into the water to 'help' Argentina press its claim. Far better to do a joint project and avoid any issues from the start.
    The bigger issue is the supply base to support the operations. They can't get one in Argentina. Uruguay would be antagonising Argentina if they agreed. Brazil are not inclined to piss off Argentina (although I have been told that at non-Governmental parties are prepared to offer it).

    They have even looked at using a base in South Africa. Having been across those waters in a force 12, I wouldn't fancy that contract! (I have had two different house guests recently, both have been involved in the development of Falklands hydrocarbons; and a separate meeting with a third company too.
    Fuck Uruguay. What are they going to do about it?
    What's your beef with Uruguay?
    I don't have a beef with Uruguay. Mark tells us that we could not build the supply base that we would need to support a joint UK-Argentinian oil project around the Falklands because Uruguay would antagonise Argentina if they agreed. I can't see how it would be any of their business or why we would care about their displeasure.
    He was talking about building a base on Uruguayan soil. The issue is that any South American country hosting a base for U.K. oil & gas exploration in the Falklands will piss off Argentina.

    Why should they?
    Don’t Chile hate Argentina? Seem to recall Brazil do as well.
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 44,404

    I note that my gag about beef from Uruguay failed dismally.

    Don't worry.

    Someone will be along shortly to ask, "is it vegan?", for the millionth time in a minute.
    Aw, you got there before me.
  • I note that my gag about beef from Uruguay failed dismally.

    Shame. I think it's good enough to add to the PB catalogue.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 58,445
    Two mediocre teams, it’s just which is the least mediocre
  • carnforthcarnforth Posts: 5,243

    I note that my gag about beef from Uruguay failed dismally.

    Are your nerves fray(bentos)ed?
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 74,156
    rcs1000 said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Minerals deal seemingly imminent. Not going down too well according to Ukraine Telegram reactions:


    While it is, undoubtedly, blackmail, it is (I suspect) a price well worth paying from Ukraine's point of view.
    That depends entirely on what they get from the US in return.
    Given the current administration, I’d say you’re considerably overestimating the likely quid for their quo.

    This mix of arrogance and condescension suggests I’m right.

    Sununu urges Zelensky to ‘be careful’ not to anger Trump

    https://thehill.com/policy/international/5159120-chris-sununu-volodymyr-zelensky-donald-trump-russia-ukraine-war/
    …Sununu also gave credit to the Trump administration for seemingly sidelining the prospects of Ukraine joining the NATO military alliance — an idea that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth poured cold water on after being confirmed to lead the Pentagon.
    “Let’s just stop with that nonsense,” the New Hampshire Republican said Friday. “That’s just, that’s what kind of led to a lot of this. And so I do give them credit for trying to be a bit blunt about it, but yeah, it’s not about conservatives or Democrats or Republicans supporting this or that.”
    “This is an international stage. This is what’s best in America’s interest,” he added. “Of course, that has to be taken first, but also in the western hemisphere.”
    Trump has previously said that Putin wants to make a deal to end the war in Eastern Europe and criticized the way former President Biden and his administration handled the conflict.
    “But I’m telling you, Biden said the wrong things. Zelensky said the wrong things. They got attacked by somebody that’s much bigger and much stronger,” Trump said earlier this week in an interview with host Brian Kilmeade on Fox News Radio.
    The criticism comes as the White House presses Zelensky to accept an offer related to Ukraine’s rare minerals. If accepted, the U.S. would ensure Ukraine has security guarantees in return for negotiating an end to the war.
    Zelensky did not greenlight the agreement, but some Trump officials are confident that he will come on board. He has also indicated in the past that he is open to it.
    The ex-New Hampshire governor, who led the state from 2017 to 2025, stated that he always thought “democracy” was “on the line” in the Russia-Ukraine war.
    “The Ukrainian people stood up and pushed back and pushed back on Putin appropriately. And now there’s going to be some capitulation to get peace,” he said. “They all want peace. There’s no question on that.”
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 53,598
    https://x.com/vonderleyen/status/1893319236409319665

    Outrageous scenes in Sofia where our EU office has been vandalised.

    In Europe, we exercise the right to demonstrate in a peaceful way. Violence and vandalism are never the answer.
  • Jim_MillerJim_Miller Posts: 3,178
    SandyRentool - I missed it because I was trying to remember the line from "Animal Crackers: "Well, you go Uruguay and I'll go mine." That's terrible -- which is why I like it.
    https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0020640/quotes/?item=qt2768181

  • boulayboulay Posts: 5,923
    carnforth said:

    I note that my gag about beef from Uruguay failed dismally.

    Are your nerves fray(bentos)ed?
    He’s trying to bully beef us into liking his post.
  • AnneJGPAnneJGP Posts: 3,210
    Nigelb said:

    rcs1000 said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Minerals deal seemingly imminent. Not going down too well according to Ukraine Telegram reactions:


    While it is, undoubtedly, blackmail, it is (I suspect) a price well worth paying from Ukraine's point of view.
    That depends entirely on what they get from the US in return.
    Given the current administration, I’d say you’re considerably overestimating the likely quid for their quo.

    This mix of arrogance and condescension suggests I’m right.

    Sununu urges Zelensky to ‘be careful’ not to anger Trump

    https://thehill.com/policy/international/5159120-chris-sununu-volodymyr-zelensky-donald-trump-russia-ukraine-war/
    …Sununu also gave credit to the Trump administration for seemingly sidelining the prospects of Ukraine joining the NATO military alliance — an idea that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth poured cold water on after being confirmed to lead the Pentagon.
    “Let’s just stop with that nonsense,” the New Hampshire Republican said Friday. “That’s just, that’s what kind of led to a lot of this. And so I do give them credit for trying to be a bit blunt about it, but yeah, it’s not about conservatives or Democrats or Republicans supporting this or that.”
    “This is an international stage. This is what’s best in America’s interest,” he added. “Of course, that has to be taken first, but also in the western hemisphere.”
    Trump has previously said that Putin wants to make a deal to end the war in Eastern Europe and criticized the way former President Biden and his administration handled the conflict.
    “But I’m telling you, Biden said the wrong things. Zelensky said the wrong things. They got attacked by somebody that’s much bigger and much stronger,” Trump said earlier this week in an interview with host Brian Kilmeade on Fox News Radio.
    The criticism comes as the White House presses Zelensky to accept an offer related to Ukraine’s rare minerals. If accepted, the U.S. would ensure Ukraine has security guarantees in return for negotiating an end to the war.
    Zelensky did not greenlight the agreement, but some Trump officials are confident that he will come on board. He has also indicated in the past that he is open to it.
    The ex-New Hampshire governor, who led the state from 2017 to 2025, stated that he always thought “democracy” was “on the line” in the Russia-Ukraine war.
    “The Ukrainian people stood up and pushed back and pushed back on Putin appropriately. And now there’s going to be some capitulation to get peace,” he said. “They all want peace. There’s no question on that.”
    That line about ensuring security guarantees causes me some concern.

    Good evening, everybody.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 61,890
    Come on England.
  • boulayboulay Posts: 5,923

    SandyRentool - I missed it because I was trying to remember the line from "Animal Crackers: "Well, you go Uruguay and I'll go mine." That's terrible -- which is why I like it.
    https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0020640/quotes/?item=qt2768181

    What’s happened to SeaShantyIrish - wasn’t he a friend/aquaintance of yours? Haven’t seen him for a while? Unless of course he’s busy surveying mineral deposits for Trump Mining Co in Ukraine at the moment?
  • squareroot2squareroot2 Posts: 6,954
    Leon said:

    Two mediocre teams, it’s just which is the least mediocre

    Not so sure you are right there
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 61,890

    Leon said:

    Two mediocre teams, it’s just which is the least mediocre

    Not so sure you are right there
    He's not. The play has been good.
  • hundreds of doctors received wrong exam results in 'atrocious' and 'life-altering' error
    Some 222 doctors who thought they had passed a key exam they sat nearly 18 months ago have now been informed they failed. Another 61 who believed they had failed have now been told they passed in what has been called a "life-altering" and "catastrophic" error.

    https://news.sky.com/story/calls-for-compensation-after-hundreds-of-doctors-received-wrong-exam-results-in-atrocious-and-life-altering-error-13313954

    Oops.
  • viewcodeviewcode Posts: 23,445
    boulay said:

    SandyRentool - I missed it because I was trying to remember the line from "Animal Crackers: "Well, you go Uruguay and I'll go mine." That's terrible -- which is why I like it.
    https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0020640/quotes/?item=qt2768181

    What’s happened to SeaShantyIrish - wasn’t he a friend/aquaintance of yours? Haven’t seen him for a while? Unless of course he’s busy surveying mineral deposits for Trump Mining Co in Ukraine at the moment?
    @SeaShantyIrish2's last post was in the early morning of Nov 6th 2024. I hope they're OK.

    https://vf.politicalbetting.com/discussion/comment/5020501#Comment_5020501
  • Taz said:

    England try. Was it grounded 🤔

    No it wasn't.
  • Payments watchdog could be abolished in PM's purge of regulators
    Ministers are considering whether to scrap the UK's Payment Systems Regulator and fold it into the City watchdog as part of efforts to remove red tape from the economy, Sky News can reveal.

    https://news.sky.com/story/payments-watchdog-could-be-abolished-in-pms-purge-of-regulators-13314470

    The Muskification of Starmer's Britain.
  • BattlebusBattlebus Posts: 393
    Have England forgotten how to run at the opposition?
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 61,890
    Sweet Jesu.
  • JonathanJonathan Posts: 21,964
    Yes!!!
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 61,890
    By the skin of our teeth, but I'll take it!
  • Give Finn Russell a knighthood.
  • I am very glad we have Sir Keir Starmer as PM now and not Nigel Farage. I do believe he will come to be viewed as one of the great PMs.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 58,445
    England did not deserve that
  • kjhkjh Posts: 12,217
    edited February 22
    Excellent game. Don't know what @leon was watching. Feel a bit sorry for Scotland. They looked like they could score easier from half way than 5m.
  • JonathanJonathan Posts: 21,964
    Yes!!!
    Leon said:

    England did not deserve that

    We showed grit and a bit of tactical savvy to kick 6 pts.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,834
    Always a bit of an iffy win when it's due to the other sides dreadful kicking.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 58,445
    kjh said:

    Excellent game. Don't know what @leon was watching. Feel a bit sorry for Scotland. They looked like they could score easier from half way than 5m.

    It was largely turgid. Look at the try count

    But undeniably exciting
  • JonathanJonathan Posts: 21,964
    I pity Americans, Russia etc for not having the 6 Nations in their life. They might be less screwed up if they did.
  • Firemen are too male and too white, say chiefs
    Report claims Britain’s fire service is ‘institutionally racist, misogynistic and homophobic’

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/02/22/uk-fire-service-council-report-racism-misogyny/ (£££)
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 36,666
    Another Nazi salute at CPAC. How long until Trump does one on live TV?
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 61,890
    Jonathan said:

    I pity Americans, Russia etc for not having the 6 Nations in their life. They might be less screwed up if they did.

    Quite so.

    Rugby Union should be the answer to questions of international geopolitics.
  • maxhmaxh Posts: 1,448

    Pagan2 said:

    maxh said:

    ...

    kle4 said:

    Eabhal said:

    Nazi salutes are getting normalised in the US now. I wonder if we'll get to a stage where not doing one sees you either primaried or losing your federal contract?

    It's like we're living in the flashbacks of a zombie film, where you see the first news reports of mysterious new disease.

    And then the feckers try to gaslight the world by saying that it wasn't a Nazi salute.
    A good slice of this board thinks posters are being hysterical when they point out that politicians who support the AfD, Putin, use Nazi language and make Nazi salutes might err, be a bit Nazi.
    It’s not a particularly helpful term - because it immediately makes people think about toothbrush-moustaches and German dictators.

    It’s the same with “fascist”. The left abused the terms for so long to try and demonise their moderate opponents that they no longer have the power to shock.



    Thank goodness we have the right’s measured use of commie, Trot and Stalinist as an example of restraint.
    For some reason Stalinist doesn't seem to be as common a derogatory label as the others in my experience. Is that because people associate Stalin and communism more strongly, or because Trotskyite groups were more prominent in the West among loony marxist groups?

    (I'm assuming here there are non-loony marxist groups, which is perhaps over generous, like assuming there were moderate BNP branches).
    I think anyone with half a brain is Marxist to some extent. Marx wrote widely and compellingly on many subjects, just as eg Hayek did.

    It's the political ideologies resulting from Marxist thought that are so damaging, not least the Communist manifesto, which understandably discredits Marx's other work.
    Anyone that is marxist definitely has half a brain
    Maxh the Marxist?
    Gah yes I see how my post reads. I would not describe myself as a Marxist any more than I would describe myself as a Hayekian. My point is simply that there are almost always nuggets of good thinking in any intellectual theory, and there are more in Marx's writings (particularly his sociology) than in many others. But because Marx was the father of such a destructive political ideology in communism, it obscures what is more interesting in his writings.
  • Anyhoo, I’m forever blowing bubbles.
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 58,488
    Nigelb said:

    rcs1000 said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Minerals deal seemingly imminent. Not going down too well according to Ukraine Telegram reactions:


    While it is, undoubtedly, blackmail, it is (I suspect) a price well worth paying from Ukraine's point of view.
    That depends entirely on what they get from the US in return.
    Given the current administration, I’d say you’re considerably overestimating the likely quid for their quo.

    This mix of arrogance and condescension suggests I’m right.

    Sununu urges Zelensky to ‘be careful’ not to anger Trump

    https://thehill.com/policy/international/5159120-chris-sununu-volodymyr-zelensky-donald-trump-russia-ukraine-war/
    …Sununu also gave credit to the Trump administration for seemingly sidelining the prospects of Ukraine joining the NATO military alliance — an idea that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth poured cold water on after being confirmed to lead the Pentagon.
    “Let’s just stop with that nonsense,” the New Hampshire Republican said Friday. “That’s just, that’s what kind of led to a lot of this. And so I do give them credit for trying to be a bit blunt about it, but yeah, it’s not about conservatives or Democrats or Republicans supporting this or that.”
    “This is an international stage. This is what’s best in America’s interest,” he added. “Of course, that has to be taken first, but also in the western hemisphere.”
    Trump has previously said that Putin wants to make a deal to end the war in Eastern Europe and criticized the way former President Biden and his administration handled the conflict.
    “But I’m telling you, Biden said the wrong things. Zelensky said the wrong things. They got attacked by somebody that’s much bigger and much stronger,” Trump said earlier this week in an interview with host Brian Kilmeade on Fox News Radio.
    The criticism comes as the White House presses Zelensky to accept an offer related to Ukraine’s rare minerals. If accepted, the U.S. would ensure Ukraine has security guarantees in return for negotiating an end to the war.
    Zelensky did not greenlight the agreement, but some Trump officials are confident that he will come on board. He has also indicated in the past that he is open to it.
    The ex-New Hampshire governor, who led the state from 2017 to 2025, stated that he always thought “democracy” was “on the line” in the Russia-Ukraine war.
    “The Ukrainian people stood up and pushed back and pushed back on Putin appropriately. And now there’s going to be some capitulation to get peace,” he said. “They all want peace. There’s no question on that.”
    Sure, but I'm reminded of the parable of the Sultan's advisor who was sentenced to death, and promised to teach the dog to sing.

    Just getting the US out of Russia's orbit, in return for a promise of minerals that may or may not be valuable at some point in the future and which will no doubt be subject to the democratic decisions of future Ukrainian governments seems like a ugly trade, but probably one worth doing.
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 43,920

    I am very glad we have Sir Keir Starmer as PM now and not Nigel Farage. I do believe he will come to be viewed as one of the great PMs.

    It's looking that way, isn't it. The moment. The man.
  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 22,497
    Do the rugby union commentators still bang on about which schools the players attended, as if it is the most important thing in the world?
  • Jim_MillerJim_Miller Posts: 3,178
    boulay asked: "What’s happened to SeaShantyIrish"?
    Don't know, and am a little worried about him, too.

    (He lives in Seattle; I live in a Seattle suburb, across Lake Washington from the city. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Washington
    As far as I know, we have never met, except on line, here.)
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 29,701
    Pope in critical condition.
  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 22,497

    Anyhoo, I’m forever blowing bubbles.

    You are Michael Jackson and I claim my £5.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 61,890
    ITV Sport obviously cut to the wrong match for MoTM.

    Sounded like he was from Pretoria, which can't be true..
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 61,890
    dixiedean said:

    Pope in critical condition.

    How will that affect the Ashes?
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 43,920
    You can't have the moment without a man. And you can't become the man without a moment. History teaches us this if it teaches us anything. But does history teach us anything? I'm not sure it does. It's interesting but I rather doubt its teaching skills.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 64,239
    Scott_xP said:

    Another Nazi salute at CPAC. How long until Trump does one on live TV?

    Trouble is that it is getting all very confusing. Are they Nazis or are they Putinist/Dugin Russian Nationalists?

  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 53,598
    Scott_xP said:

    Another Nazi salute at CPAC. How long until Trump does one on live TV?

    "I had my annual presidential physical exam last week and they said, 'Sir, can you raise your right arm out to the front,' and they said that no president since Andrew Jackson has done it so perfectly."
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 43,920
    dixiedean said:

    Pope in critical condition.

    Yes, the latest update doesn't sound good.
  • kjhkjh Posts: 12,217
    rcs1000 said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Minerals deal seemingly imminent. Not going down too well according to Ukraine Telegram reactions:


    While it is, undoubtedly, blackmail, it is (I suspect) a price well worth paying from Ukraine's point of view.
    Is this really down to give us what we want and we will back you against Russia. If not we will back Russia? If so this is just mercenary and nobody would blame Ukraine if they subsequently reneged on any agreement. America would be hated throughout the world, by everyone. Is that what they want?
  • kinabalu said:

    dixiedean said:

    Pope in critical condition.

    Yes, the latest update doesn't sound good.
    I wonder if Trump will demand an American Pope.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 52,958

    Scott_xP said:

    Another Nazi salute at CPAC. How long until Trump does one on live TV?

    Trouble is that it is getting all very confusing. Are they Nazis or are they Putinist/Dugin Russian Nationalists?

    {plays with micrometer}

    Can’t detect a difference between those two.
  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 22,497
    dixiedean said:

    Pope in critical condition.

    Best get prepared for Pope Donald.
  • ... sharp rise in cancer cases among young people.

    Diagnoses of the disease among those aged between 25 and 29 have risen by one quarter in the UK since the early 1990s, increasing twice the rate of those over the age of 50.

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/02/22/jessica-brady-new-cancer-training-royal-college-gps/ (£££)

    Do we get our fags back if it turns out smoking causes lung cancer but suppresses other cancers?
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 61,890

    kinabalu said:

    dixiedean said:

    Pope in critical condition.

    Yes, the latest update doesn't sound good.
    I wonder if Trump will demand an American Pope.
    He doesn't get to pick for England.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 61,890
    kinabalu said:

    I am very glad we have Sir Keir Starmer as PM now and not Nigel Farage. I do believe he will come to be viewed as one of the great PMs.

    It's looking that way, isn't it. The moment. The man.
    What's so funny about you as a character is that you write and post comments like this entirely without irony.
  • boulayboulay Posts: 5,923

    kinabalu said:

    dixiedean said:

    Pope in critical condition.

    Yes, the latest update doesn't sound good.
    I wonder if Trump will demand an American Pope.
    Matt Gaetz is available.
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 43,920

    kinabalu said:

    dixiedean said:

    Pope in critical condition.

    Yes, the latest update doesn't sound good.
    I wonder if Trump will demand an American Pope.
    Yes, I'm sure he'll be looking for a "deal" there.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 61,890

    ... sharp rise in cancer cases among young people.

    Diagnoses of the disease among those aged between 25 and 29 have risen by one quarter in the UK since the early 1990s, increasing twice the rate of those over the age of 50.

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/02/22/jessica-brady-new-cancer-training-royal-college-gps/ (£££)

    Do we get our fags back if it turns out smoking causes lung cancer but suppresses other cancers?

    The only two good rules I follow: (1) exercise is good for you, so use your body and move about as much as you, and, (2) if you can't replicate it in your kitchen, don't eat it.
  • boulayboulay Posts: 5,923

    boulay asked: "What’s happened to SeaShantyIrish"?
    Don't know, and am a little worried about him, too.

    (He lives in Seattle; I live in a Seattle suburb, across Lake Washington from the city. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Washington
    As far as I know, we have never met, except on line, here.)

    Ah ok thanks, I had some false memory that he introduced you to PB - maybe it was someone else he introduced.
  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 22,497

    ... sharp rise in cancer cases among young people.

    Diagnoses of the disease among those aged between 25 and 29 have risen by one quarter in the UK since the early 1990s, increasing twice the rate of those over the age of 50.

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/02/22/jessica-brady-new-cancer-training-royal-college-gps/ (£££)

    Do we get our fags back if it turns out smoking causes lung cancer but suppresses other cancers?

    Avocado not so good for you after all.
  • JonathanJonathan Posts: 21,964

    kinabalu said:

    I am very glad we have Sir Keir Starmer as PM now and not Nigel Farage. I do believe he will come to be viewed as one of the great PMs.

    It's looking that way, isn't it. The moment. The man.
    What's so funny about you as a character is that you write and post comments like this entirely without irony.
    Regardless of party politics , it’s helpful right now we have a party in power with a decent majority for 4 years. A bit of stability in a world of chaos.
  • JonathanJonathan Posts: 21,964

    ... sharp rise in cancer cases among young people.

    Diagnoses of the disease among those aged between 25 and 29 have risen by one quarter in the UK since the early 1990s, increasing twice the rate of those over the age of 50.

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/02/22/jessica-brady-new-cancer-training-royal-college-gps/ (£££)

    Do we get our fags back if it turns out smoking causes lung cancer but suppresses other cancers?

    Avocado not so good for you after all.
    Phones? We had avocados in the 80s
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 29,835

    I note that my gag about beef from Uruguay failed dismally.

    I briefly (beefly) considered that it might be a pun but dismissed the idea.
  • StillWatersStillWaters Posts: 8,988
    Nigelb said:

    Foxy said:

    Fishing said:

    CatMan said:

    Sean_F said:

    Scott_xP said:

    Nigelb said:

    Scott_xP said:

    Trump is purging the military top brass to replace them with 'more compliant' individuals.

    I am curious about the motivation of any such individuals. I can see in the very short term career advancement, but in the next 5 or 10 years, unless the republic is overthrown and the insane clown and his posse remain in charge it's not going to end well for them

    How many of Hitler's top generals did well out of it...?

    Changing Joint Chiefs around the start of a presidential term isn’t, in itself, all that unusual.
    Which is not something you can say about the simultaneous dismissal of three Judge Advocates General.
    @maxkennerly.bsky.social‬

    Just look at these paragraphs from the AP story.

    Hegseth called Brown unqualified solely because he's Black. Then they fired him... and replaced him with a white guy so indisputably unqualified that he requires a Presidential waiver.

    This is what "merit" means to them.

    https://bsky.app/profile/maxkennerly.bsky.social/post/3liq7jc73ac2y
    Racism, sexism, homophobia will all become very apparent soon, sadly. The rights of anyone not white and straight will slowly be reduced - as has already become the case for women.

    That's what the illiberals want.
    The generals would not have been fired, had they been fervent admirers of Trump; expressed support for slavey; claimed that the 2020 election was stolen etc.
    Saying someone is a "DEI hire" is now an acceptable way of expressing racism
    No, it means you oppose racism - in this case reverse racism.
    That would be more believable if we weren’t seeing the Trump administration firing supposed “DEI hires” and then replacing them with complete incompetents, whose main qualifications are that they looked good on Fox News,
    As a matter of interest, has Trump appointed any minorities since his anti DEI campaign started?

    He’s nominated Mehmet Oz.
    Good pick…

    Dr. Oz: The uninsured “don’t have the right to health,” but should be given “a way
    of crawling back out of the abyss” with “15-
    minute physicals” provided by the
    government “in a festival like setting.”


    https://x.com/highbrow_nobrow/status/1892942735360880819

    What did Aldous Huxley call those?

  • carnforthcarnforth Posts: 5,243

    ... sharp rise in cancer cases among young people.

    Diagnoses of the disease among those aged between 25 and 29 have risen by one quarter in the UK since the early 1990s, increasing twice the rate of those over the age of 50.

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/02/22/jessica-brady-new-cancer-training-royal-college-gps/ (£££)

    Do we get our fags back if it turns out smoking causes lung cancer but suppresses other cancers?

    An odd one. Can it just be obesity?

    (Smoking helps with schizophrenia, apparently. Don't know of any others.)
  • Daveyboy1961Daveyboy1961 Posts: 4,166

    Firemen are too male and too white, say chiefs
    Report claims Britain’s fire service is ‘institutionally racist, misogynistic and homophobic’

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/02/22/uk-fire-service-council-report-racism-misogyny/ (£££)

    Men are too male?
  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 22,497
    I can just picture the cardinals sounding each other out ahead of a potential conclave:

    "So Cardinal, how would you strengthen the relationship between the Catholic Church and other Christian denominations?"

    "That would be an ecumenical matter."
  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 22,497
    Jonathan said:

    ... sharp rise in cancer cases among young people.

    Diagnoses of the disease among those aged between 25 and 29 have risen by one quarter in the UK since the early 1990s, increasing twice the rate of those over the age of 50.

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/02/22/jessica-brady-new-cancer-training-royal-college-gps/ (£££)

    Do we get our fags back if it turns out smoking causes lung cancer but suppresses other cancers?

    Avocado not so good for you after all.
    Phones? We had avocados in the 80s
    Not in Gateshead, we didn't!
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 43,920
    edited February 22

    kinabalu said:

    I am very glad we have Sir Keir Starmer as PM now and not Nigel Farage. I do believe he will come to be viewed as one of the great PMs.

    It's looking that way, isn't it. The moment. The man.
    What's so funny about you as a character is that you write and post comments like this entirely without irony.
    You're surely not denying this is a Moment. That's what you need to shine, so let's see if he does rather than assume that he won't. All patriots should get behind him with some positive energy.
  • CatManCatMan Posts: 3,127

    dixiedean said:

    Pope in critical condition.

    Best get prepared for Pope Donald.
    I'm sure Trump has no interest in Christianity whatsoever, but what denomination does he actually pretend to be?
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 58,488
    CatMan said:

    dixiedean said:

    Pope in critical condition.

    Best get prepared for Pope Donald.
    I'm sure Trump has no interest in Christianity whatsoever, but what denomination does he actually pretend to be?
    I think you've got this the wrong way around: God is a Trumpian.
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 29,701

    kinabalu said:

    dixiedean said:

    Pope in critical condition.

    Yes, the latest update doesn't sound good.
    I wonder if Trump will demand an American Pope.
    JD Vance?
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 29,835
    dixiedean said:

    Pope in critical condition.

    There is a conspiracy theory that Hollywood films are used to foreshadow the acts of the lizard people. I have no interest in the film 'The Conclave', but isn't that what happens when a Pope dies? Fair gives you the willies!

    I hope (and pray) that Pope Francis beats the odds and makes a strong recovery.
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 29,701

    Jonathan said:

    ... sharp rise in cancer cases among young people.

    Diagnoses of the disease among those aged between 25 and 29 have risen by one quarter in the UK since the early 1990s, increasing twice the rate of those over the age of 50.

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/02/22/jessica-brady-new-cancer-training-royal-college-gps/ (£££)

    Do we get our fags back if it turns out smoking causes lung cancer but suppresses other cancers?

    Avocado not so good for you after all.
    Phones? We had avocados in the 80s
    Not in Gateshead, we didn't!
    Still don't.
  • JonathanJonathan Posts: 21,964

    Jonathan said:

    ... sharp rise in cancer cases among young people.

    Diagnoses of the disease among those aged between 25 and 29 have risen by one quarter in the UK since the early 1990s, increasing twice the rate of those over the age of 50.

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/02/22/jessica-brady-new-cancer-training-royal-college-gps/ (£££)

    Do we get our fags back if it turns out smoking causes lung cancer but suppresses other cancers?

    Avocado not so good for you after all.
    Phones? We had avocados in the 80s
    Not in Gateshead, we didn't!
    In the 80s Gateshead was still in the 70s
  • Firemen are too male and too white, say chiefs
    Report claims Britain’s fire service is ‘institutionally racist, misogynistic and homophobic’

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/02/22/uk-fire-service-council-report-racism-misogyny/ (£££)

    Men are too male?
    90 per cent, apparently. From the link: Produced by an advisory group focused on improving diversity, equality and inclusion in the fire service, the report found that 9.3 per cent of firefighters were women

    Lol. They've changed it. Earlier it said “that 9.3 per cent of firemen were women”.
  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 22,497
    The man is 88. If it his time, let him go with dignity.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 61,890

    Firemen are too male and too white, say chiefs
    Report claims Britain’s fire service is ‘institutionally racist, misogynistic and homophobic’

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/02/22/uk-fire-service-council-report-racism-misogyny/ (£££)

    Men are too male?
    Noone pays any attention to this shit anymore.
Sign In or Register to comment.