Question: how much do I charge for YouTube collaborations? Answer: errrrr, let’s consult the tinterweb. Several different formula sites all of which offer wildly different values for how much I should charge…
@Leon - you charge for your ass. How did you set your initial rate…?
Do you mean adverts or making videos with other youtubers?
So far I’ve been happy to promote stuff I actually want for getting it free and then commission on referral sales. The latter can be decent!
But I’m making progress now and have had a couple of “how much do you charge” approaches to hawk stuff I might not be that bothered about. Would be basically make a video to show off whatever it is, plus dropping into other vids where appropriate.
The classic mistake of small business owners is to quote too low. Quote high. Then, crucially, if they go quiet, follow up by email - they'll then tell you it was too much. Then you can offer a lower number.
The aim, of course, is to have enough approaches that you can say no to most of them - or most of them say no to your number - thereby maximising revenue whilst minimising brand dilution. Your viewers have a limited tolerance for adverts.
One month after President Trump was sworn in for a second term, Democratic despair and denial are giving way to an angry message from party activists and voters to their leaders.
Do something.
Across the country, anti-Trump protests and fiery town halls are flickering back to life. In polling, Democratic voters are venting disapproval at congressional Democrats. And in interviews this week with voters, activists and elected officials, many said Democrats were failing to curb Mr. Trump or offer a meaningful countermessage.
NY Times
There isn't much the Democrats can do, they don't control any branch of the Federal Government no matter how loud they shout.
All they can hope is Trump's tariffs lead to massive inflation and recession, Hispanic voters are infuriated by his deportatations, people can't get healthcare and start to get very ill and basically America goes down the plughole...by which point voters might consider them again
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.
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.
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?
Question: how much do I charge for YouTube collaborations? Answer: errrrr, let’s consult the tinterweb. Several different formula sites all of which offer wildly different values for how much I should charge…
@Leon - you charge for your ass. How did you set your initial rate…?
Do you mean adverts or making videos with other youtubers?
So far I’ve been happy to promote stuff I actually want for getting it free and then commission on referral sales. The latter can be decent!
But I’m making progress now and have had a couple of “how much do you charge” approaches to hawk stuff I might not be that bothered about. Would be basically make a video to show off whatever it is, plus dropping into other vids where appropriate.
Are you genuinely asking us how much you should charge to advertise products you don't believe in?
You may be too young to remember Bill Hicks, a comedian of some note in the 90's. I won't post the sketch because it's wildly offensive, but...well, it's not a good thing to advertise products you don't believe in.
Question: how much do I charge for YouTube collaborations? Answer: errrrr, let’s consult the tinterweb. Several different formula sites all of which offer wildly different values for how much I should charge…
@Leon - you charge for your ass. How did you set your initial rate…?
Do you mean adverts or making videos with other youtubers?
So far I’ve been happy to promote stuff I actually want for getting it free and then commission on referral sales. The latter can be decent!
But I’m making progress now and have had a couple of “how much do you charge” approaches to hawk stuff I might not be that bothered about. Would be basically make a video to show off whatever it is, plus dropping into other vids where appropriate.
Are you genuinely asking us how much you should charge to advertise products you don't believe in?
You may be too young to remember Bill Hicks, a comedian of some note in the 90's. I won't post the sketch because it's wildly offensive, but...well, it's not a good thing to advertise products you don't believe in.
That’s not what I’m asking. I’m a Hilton whore, I’m not about to start actually whoring myself out. Would still have absolute refusal on do I want to tout this product. Just trying to figure out how much dollah to ask for. And I’m not asking PB for a figure, just saying…
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.
Well maybe in fantasy lefty land, Starmer will be a great pm in the same way as genghis khan was seen as a pacifist who preached peace and love
I think Starmer will be remembered, post-power, in the same vein as Eden, Callaghan, Major, May and Sunak. And Carter, Hollande, Scholz. Decent enough person but couldn’t quite rise to the occasion.
Sorry decent person doesn't cut it he wanted to be a leader but he cannot lead Being a nice guy doesn't cut it else we would have elected Ed Davey
Given the events of the last month it is quite possible that within a year we shall have a government of national unity; and if I had the choice of the two to lead it right now I would go for Blair (for whom I never voted) and Cameron.
We won't have a government of national unity within a year because there is no national unity frankly.....there are people like most on here that are ok and thinking the status quo is just dandy....then there is people like me who rent and dont see our pay rising and about to start tearing things down frankly.... my pay rise this year 1%, my power bill up 10% my water up 10% my council tax up 5% rent up 12% food prices up by more than 1% story of the last quarter decade.......where are we going to find national unity when most politicians come from a class that never suffered that and most middle classes like here don't either?
Well unless you work for a nationalised industry or the state, earn minimum wage or live in state provided housing not a huge amount the government can do about that given the global rise in prices and cost of living since the Ukraine war and Covid and now with Trump's tariffs coming along too. Even council tax is the council's responsibility.
Though they could maybe do more to support our farmers to reduce food prices and 'drill baby drill' to increase energy supplies. Plenty of votes have been cast in protest for Corbyn and now for Farage, it doesn't mean they have the answers either
Farming is the most heavily subsidised industry going. If the same approach had been taken in other sectors, we'd still have a steelworks in Consett and shipyards on the Tyne.
Farming is less subsidised in the UK than the French, Germans and Americans subsidise their farmers and our government has clobbered family farms with inheritance tax now too.
We still do have steel works in Port Talbot and Scunthorpe, indeed Tata Steel Port Talbot received a £500 million government subsidy last year
I agree we need more shipyards too, not least due to our now tiny navy in an increasingly dangerous world
Interesting facts that don't disprove the point I made.
And slightly going off at a tangent, why does the government just throw money out in subsidies, rather than wanting a share of the asset for its investment? Same with CCS. £22 billion, and after 10 years the taxpayer owns nothing.
Very much they do, we need to subsidise our farmers more and indeed should subsidise core steel and shipyard industries too.
It is the production that comes out of it that delivers for the taxpayer, they don't need to be all nationalised
Why subsidise British farmers if farmers in other countries can produce the same food at lower cost?
CAPTOR mines. The modern, upgraded version. That’s why.
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.
Well maybe in fantasy lefty land, Starmer will be a great pm in the same way as genghis khan was seen as a pacifist who preached peace and love
I think Starmer will be remembered, post-power, in the same vein as Eden, Callaghan, Major, May and Sunak. And Carter, Hollande, Scholz. Decent enough person but couldn’t quite rise to the occasion.
Sorry decent person doesn't cut it he wanted to be a leader but he cannot lead Being a nice guy doesn't cut it else we would have elected Ed Davey
Given the events of the last month it is quite possible that within a year we shall have a government of national unity; and if I had the choice of the two to lead it right now I would go for Blair (for whom I never voted) and Cameron.
We won't have a government of national unity within a year because there is no national unity frankly.....there are people like most on here that are ok and thinking the status quo is just dandy....then there is people like me who rent and dont see our pay rising and about to start tearing things down frankly.... my pay rise this year 1%, my power bill up 10% my water up 10% my council tax up 5% rent up 12% food prices up by more than 1% story of the last quarter decade.......where are we going to find national unity when most politicians come from a class that never suffered that and most middle classes like here don't either?
Well unless you work for a nationalised industry or the state, earn minimum wage or live in state provided housing not a huge amount the government can do about that given the global rise in prices and cost of living since the Ukraine war and Covid and now with Trump's tariffs coming along too. Even council tax is the council's responsibility.
Though they could maybe do more to support our farmers to reduce food prices and 'drill baby drill' to increase energy supplies. Plenty of votes have been cast in protest for Corbyn and now for Farage, it doesn't mean they have the answers either
Really do fuck off,government policies have led to the bottom 50% being in this situation and frankly the tories and labour and all politicians can fuck right off. They govern for the interests of people like them and dont give a shit about the rest of us and they wont till we say enough and start dragging them out into to the street
Really? Go back 150-200 years there was no NHS, no minimum wage, no social housing, no unemployment benefits, no state pension etc. Your ancestors really were left to the mercy of the market then with at most a bit of poor relief or the workhouse and the odd alms house and church soup kitchen for support.
This government I would also remind you was elected, given you couldn't even be bothered to vote in that election why on earth should we care what your opinion is of it and the previous government it defeated anyway?
I think the NHS was a regrettable development.
Since it saved my life, I beg to differ.
Being our main source of medical care, and especially emergency medical care, it has saved millions of lives. If we had an updated version of the patchwork of friendly societies, private hospitals, charitable hospitals etc. etc. that preceded it, that would be the major saver of lives.
It would indeed be the major saver of lives... but I very much doubt it would have saved mine.
I cannot comment on the specifics of your case. But I will say that I believe in healthcare for all, with provision for those unable to pay. I just think the NHS itself isn't the way to do it.
Without the NHS I would not be able to comment on the specifics of my case.
For you it's theory; for me it's reality.
OK - if you want to make that experience public, I would certainly be interested. If you don't, that's fine too.
I broke my back as a teenager, in 1979 in a road traffic accident, and became a paraplegic.
Soon after my accident, the NHS moved me to Stoke Mandeville (from Sussex) and their rehabilitation support led me to lead a fulfilling life, employed in IT and finance - I have paid back in tax many times over the cost of my care but at the time there was no likelihood that I would.
What treatment would I have received without the NHS? My family could not have afforded the ambulance service, let alone the months of care and rehabilitation I received.
Friendly societies, private hospitals, charitable hospitals etc.? At best they'd have eased my decline and early demise.
Question: how much do I charge for YouTube collaborations? Answer: errrrr, let’s consult the tinterweb. Several different formula sites all of which offer wildly different values for how much I should charge…
@Leon - you charge for your ass. How did you set your initial rate…?
Do you mean adverts or making videos with other youtubers?
So far I’ve been happy to promote stuff I actually want for getting it free and then commission on referral sales. The latter can be decent!
But I’m making progress now and have had a couple of “how much do you charge” approaches to hawk stuff I might not be that bothered about. Would be basically make a video to show off whatever it is, plus dropping into other vids where appropriate.
Are you genuinely asking us how much you should charge to advertise products you don't believe in?
You may be too young to remember Bill Hicks, a comedian of some note in the 90's. I won't post the sketch because it's wildly offensive, but...well, it's not a good thing to advertise products you don't believe in.
That’s not what I’m asking. I’m a Hilton whore, I’m not about to start actually whoring myself out. Would still have absolute refusal on do I want to tout this product. Just trying to figure out how much dollah to ask for. And I’m not asking PB for a figure, just saying…
You did actually post: Question: how much do I charge for YouTube collaborations?.
Question: how much do I charge for YouTube collaborations? Answer: errrrr, let’s consult the tinterweb. Several different formula sites all of which offer wildly different values for how much I should charge…
@Leon - you charge for your ass. How did you set your initial rate…?
That’s a whole new career he’d kept quiet until now. How did you find out ?
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
Poorer diet I should think.
Poorer diet and fatness. But cancer levels in young people are minuscule anyway. So it’s a rise on a tiny baseline.
I had a micro skin cancer scare after a medical check up this week. Doctor looked worried and referred me. Turns out it’s a patch of dry skin.
I'm never sure whether the storage of energy as fat can really be described as a cause. I think it's more of a symptom of poor diet really.
Yes, with the exception of cardiac conditions where fatty build up in the arteries does it, for youngsters it would presumably be things other than the fat itself - blood sugar, weakened immune system, fewer antioxidants etc.
Do the arteries get conventional fat growth within them (though of course compromised arteries does correlate with being fat a lot)? I was under the impression arterial plaque was made up of mainly calcium.
Called plaque but made up of fats, cholesterol and proteins.
Just that arterial plaque isn't mainly calcium - though there is such a thing as calcification later on. Whereas dental tartar is mainly calcium salts. Just wondering if that was a helpful clarification. Evidently not.
No, it is not helpful, and you can take your opinion up with 'The Cleveland Clinic' as per Tim's link, which evidently you didn’t read, but says the following:
What is an atheroma made of? Atheromas are made of many substances that circulate in your blood. These include:
Blood cells. Calcium. Cholesterol and other fats. Inflammatory cells. Proteins. Calcium is a substance that hardens the atheroma. That’s why people with plaque buildup are known to have “hardening of the arteries.”
Not for the first time, your wish to make other people look foolish is sadly not matched by your actual knowledge on the subject.
Those "ingredients" are in alphabetical order, and that is a very simple-minded website ...
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.
Well maybe in fantasy lefty land, Starmer will be a great pm in the same way as genghis khan was seen as a pacifist who preached peace and love
I think Starmer will be remembered, post-power, in the same vein as Eden, Callaghan, Major, May and Sunak. And Carter, Hollande, Scholz. Decent enough person but couldn’t quite rise to the occasion.
Sorry decent person doesn't cut it he wanted to be a leader but he cannot lead Being a nice guy doesn't cut it else we would have elected Ed Davey
Given the events of the last month it is quite possible that within a year we shall have a government of national unity; and if I had the choice of the two to lead it right now I would go for Blair (for whom I never voted) and Cameron.
We won't have a government of national unity within a year because there is no national unity frankly.....there are people like most on here that are ok and thinking the status quo is just dandy....then there is people like me who rent and dont see our pay rising and about to start tearing things down frankly.... my pay rise this year 1%, my power bill up 10% my water up 10% my council tax up 5% rent up 12% food prices up by more than 1% story of the last quarter decade.......where are we going to find national unity when most politicians come from a class that never suffered that and most middle classes like here don't either?
Well unless you work for a nationalised industry or the state, earn minimum wage or live in state provided housing not a huge amount the government can do about that given the global rise in prices and cost of living since the Ukraine war and Covid and now with Trump's tariffs coming along too. Even council tax is the council's responsibility.
Though they could maybe do more to support our farmers to reduce food prices and 'drill baby drill' to increase energy supplies. Plenty of votes have been cast in protest for Corbyn and now for Farage, it doesn't mean they have the answers either
Really do fuck off,government policies have led to the bottom 50% being in this situation and frankly the tories and labour and all politicians can fuck right off. They govern for the interests of people like them and dont give a shit about the rest of us and they wont till we say enough and start dragging them out into to the street
Really? Go back 150-200 years there was no NHS, no minimum wage, no social housing, no unemployment benefits, no state pension etc. Your ancestors really were left to the mercy of the market then with at most a bit of poor relief or the workhouse and the odd alms house and church soup kitchen for support.
This government I would also remind you was elected, given you couldn't even be bothered to vote in that election why on earth should we care what your opinion is of it and the previous government it defeated anyway?
I think the NHS was a regrettable development.
Since it saved my life, I beg to differ.
Being our main source of medical care, and especially emergency medical care, it has saved millions of lives. If we had an updated version of the patchwork of friendly societies, private hospitals, charitable hospitals etc. etc. that preceded it, that would be the major saver of lives.
It would indeed be the major saver of lives... but I very much doubt it would have saved mine.
I cannot comment on the specifics of your case. But I will say that I believe in healthcare for all, with provision for those unable to pay. I just think the NHS itself isn't the way to do it.
Without the NHS I would not be able to comment on the specifics of my case.
For you it's theory; for me it's reality.
OK - if you want to make that experience public, I would certainly be interested. If you don't, that's fine too.
I broke my back as a teenager, in 1979 in a road traffic accident, and became a paraplegic.
Soon after my accident, the NHS moved me to Stoke Mandeville (from Sussex) and their rehabilitation support led me to lead a fulfilling life, employed in IT and finance - I have paid back in tax many times over the cost of my care but at the time there was no likelihood that I would.
What treatment would I have received without the NHS? My family could not have afforded the ambulance service, let alone the months of care and rehabilitation I received.
Friendly societies, private hospitals, charitable hospitals etc.? At best they'd have eased my decline and early demise.
For me it's personal.
Thing is I think you are both right. I think lucky guy is suggesting that the model of the NHS - a national organisation free at the point of use, paid out of general taxation etc might not be the optimum way to provide healthcare in the 21st century. Most other western nations have a different way of dealing with this, but they seem to do ok. The NhS is pretty good value for money and definitely not the best Healthcare provider. I don’t think the set up pre 1946 would have sustained. Back then we barely had antibiotics, virtually no cancer care, no joint replacement, no heart surgery. Generally it WAS about managing decline. So much has changed, we can do so much more, yet it all costs. Ultimately we probably need to move to some kind of insurance based system, with safety netting. And accept limitations on care.
Kylo Musk sends an email to every federal employee threatening to fire them
Let's ignore the fact that they were arguing in court last week that he doesn't work for the government and has no authority, and go with this instead...
New: The FDA late Friday started reversing termination notices for some employees that were laid off, informing workers to return to work after mass firings a week ago.
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.
Well maybe in fantasy lefty land, Starmer will be a great pm in the same way as genghis khan was seen as a pacifist who preached peace and love
I think Starmer will be remembered, post-power, in the same vein as Eden, Callaghan, Major, May and Sunak. And Carter, Hollande, Scholz. Decent enough person but couldn’t quite rise to the occasion.
Sorry decent person doesn't cut it he wanted to be a leader but he cannot lead Being a nice guy doesn't cut it else we would have elected Ed Davey
Given the events of the last month it is quite possible that within a year we shall have a government of national unity; and if I had the choice of the two to lead it right now I would go for Blair (for whom I never voted) and Cameron.
We won't have a government of national unity within a year because there is no national unity frankly.....there are people like most on here that are ok and thinking the status quo is just dandy....then there is people like me who rent and dont see our pay rising and about to start tearing things down frankly.... my pay rise this year 1%, my power bill up 10% my water up 10% my council tax up 5% rent up 12% food prices up by more than 1% story of the last quarter decade.......where are we going to find national unity when most politicians come from a class that never suffered that and most middle classes like here don't either?
Well unless you work for a nationalised industry or the state, earn minimum wage or live in state provided housing not a huge amount the government can do about that given the global rise in prices and cost of living since the Ukraine war and Covid and now with Trump's tariffs coming along too. Even council tax is the council's responsibility.
Though they could maybe do more to support our farmers to reduce food prices and 'drill baby drill' to increase energy supplies. Plenty of votes have been cast in protest for Corbyn and now for Farage, it doesn't mean they have the answers either
Really do fuck off,government policies have led to the bottom 50% being in this situation and frankly the tories and labour and all politicians can fuck right off. They govern for the interests of people like them and dont give a shit about the rest of us and they wont till we say enough and start dragging them out into to the street
Really? Go back 150-200 years there was no NHS, no minimum wage, no social housing, no unemployment benefits, no state pension etc. Your ancestors really were left to the mercy of the market then with at most a bit of poor relief or the workhouse and the odd alms house and church soup kitchen for support.
This government I would also remind you was elected, given you couldn't even be bothered to vote in that election why on earth should we care what your opinion is of it and the previous government it defeated anyway?
I think the NHS was a regrettable development.
Since it saved my life, I beg to differ.
Being our main source of medical care, and especially emergency medical care, it has saved millions of lives. If we had an updated version of the patchwork of friendly societies, private hospitals, charitable hospitals etc. etc. that preceded it, that would be the major saver of lives.
It would indeed be the major saver of lives... but I very much doubt it would have saved mine.
I cannot comment on the specifics of your case. But I will say that I believe in healthcare for all, with provision for those unable to pay. I just think the NHS itself isn't the way to do it.
Without the NHS I would not be able to comment on the specifics of my case.
For you it's theory; for me it's reality.
OK - if you want to make that experience public, I would certainly be interested. If you don't, that's fine too.
I broke my back as a teenager, in 1979 in a road traffic accident, and became a paraplegic.
Soon after my accident, the NHS moved me to Stoke Mandeville (from Sussex) and their rehabilitation support led me to lead a fulfilling life, employed in IT and finance - I have paid back in tax many times over the cost of my care but at the time there was no likelihood that I would.
What treatment would I have received without the NHS? My family could not have afforded the ambulance service, let alone the months of care and rehabilitation I received.
Friendly societies, private hospitals, charitable hospitals etc.? At best they'd have eased my decline and early demise.
For me it's personal.
I'm really glad that you received the treatment you needed. But we have no way of knowing how healthcare would have developed in the absence of a socialised system. It was already pretty good by contemporary standards before the NHS was founded. Ambulance services were provided, usually by local authorities, the red cross, or St Johns. Isn't the assumption that your Mum and Dad would have received a big bill just for getting you to a hospital part and parcel of this habit we have of assuming that the USA system is the only NHS alternative?
I broke my back as a teenager, in 1979 in a road traffic accident, and became a paraplegic.
Soon after my accident, the NHS moved me to Stoke Mandeville (from Sussex) and their rehabilitation support led me to lead a fulfilling life, employed in IT and finance - I have paid back in tax many times over the cost of my care but at the time there was no likelihood that I would.
What treatment would I have received without the NHS? My family could not have afforded the ambulance service, let alone the months of care and rehabilitation I received.
Friendly societies, private hospitals, charitable hospitals etc.? At best they'd have eased my decline and early demise.
For me it's personal.
Wow. All credit to you, including only describing it here when it related to the argument. That's rather awesome, quite beyond the NHS issue.
Question: how much do I charge for YouTube collaborations? Answer: errrrr, let’s consult the tinterweb. Several different formula sites all of which offer wildly different values for how much I should charge…
@Leon - you charge for your ass. How did you set your initial rate…?
Do you mean adverts or making videos with other youtubers?
So far I’ve been happy to promote stuff I actually want for getting it free and then commission on referral sales. The latter can be decent!
But I’m making progress now and have had a couple of “how much do you charge” approaches to hawk stuff I might not be that bothered about. Would be basically make a video to show off whatever it is, plus dropping into other vids where appropriate.
Are you genuinely asking us how much you should charge to advertise products you don't believe in?
You may be too young to remember Bill Hicks, a comedian of some note in the 90's. I won't post the sketch because it's wildly offensive, but...well, it's not a good thing to advertise products you don't believe in.
That’s not what I’m asking. I’m a Hilton whore, I’m not about to start actually whoring myself out. Would still have absolute refusal on do I want to tout this product. Just trying to figure out how much dollah to ask for. And I’m not asking PB for a figure, just saying…
You did actually post: Question: how much do I charge for YouTube collaborations?.
Question: how much do I charge for YouTube collaborations? Answer: errrrr, let’s consult the tinterweb. Several different formula sites all of which offer wildly different values for how much I should charge…
@Leon - you charge for your ass. How did you set your initial rate…?
That’s a whole new career he’d kept quiet until now. How did you find out ?
And does talking out of it the whole time make it more or less valuable?
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.
Well maybe in fantasy lefty land, Starmer will be a great pm in the same way as genghis khan was seen as a pacifist who preached peace and love
I think Starmer will be remembered, post-power, in the same vein as Eden, Callaghan, Major, May and Sunak. And Carter, Hollande, Scholz. Decent enough person but couldn’t quite rise to the occasion.
Sorry decent person doesn't cut it he wanted to be a leader but he cannot lead Being a nice guy doesn't cut it else we would have elected Ed Davey
Given the events of the last month it is quite possible that within a year we shall have a government of national unity; and if I had the choice of the two to lead it right now I would go for Blair (for whom I never voted) and Cameron.
We won't have a government of national unity within a year because there is no national unity frankly.....there are people like most on here that are ok and thinking the status quo is just dandy....then there is people like me who rent and dont see our pay rising and about to start tearing things down frankly.... my pay rise this year 1%, my power bill up 10% my water up 10% my council tax up 5% rent up 12% food prices up by more than 1% story of the last quarter decade.......where are we going to find national unity when most politicians come from a class that never suffered that and most middle classes like here don't either?
Well unless you work for a nationalised industry or the state, earn minimum wage or live in state provided housing not a huge amount the government can do about that given the global rise in prices and cost of living since the Ukraine war and Covid and now with Trump's tariffs coming along too. Even council tax is the council's responsibility.
Though they could maybe do more to support our farmers to reduce food prices and 'drill baby drill' to increase energy supplies. Plenty of votes have been cast in protest for Corbyn and now for Farage, it doesn't mean they have the answers either
Really do fuck off,government policies have led to the bottom 50% being in this situation and frankly the tories and labour and all politicians can fuck right off. They govern for the interests of people like them and dont give a shit about the rest of us and they wont till we say enough and start dragging them out into to the street
Really? Go back 150-200 years there was no NHS, no minimum wage, no social housing, no unemployment benefits, no state pension etc. Your ancestors really were left to the mercy of the market then with at most a bit of poor relief or the workhouse and the odd alms house and church soup kitchen for support.
This government I would also remind you was elected, given you couldn't even be bothered to vote in that election why on earth should we care what your opinion is of it and the previous government it defeated anyway?
I think the NHS was a regrettable development.
Since it saved my life, I beg to differ.
Being our main source of medical care, and especially emergency medical care, it has saved millions of lives. If we had an updated version of the patchwork of friendly societies, private hospitals, charitable hospitals etc. etc. that preceded it, that would be the major saver of lives.
It would indeed be the major saver of lives... but I very much doubt it would have saved mine.
I cannot comment on the specifics of your case. But I will say that I believe in healthcare for all, with provision for those unable to pay. I just think the NHS itself isn't the way to do it.
Without the NHS I would not be able to comment on the specifics of my case.
For you it's theory; for me it's reality.
OK - if you want to make that experience public, I would certainly be interested. If you don't, that's fine too.
I broke my back as a teenager, in 1979 in a road traffic accident, and became a paraplegic.
Soon after my accident, the NHS moved me to Stoke Mandeville (from Sussex) and their rehabilitation support led me to lead a fulfilling life, employed in IT and finance - I have paid back in tax many times over the cost of my care but at the time there was no likelihood that I would.
What treatment would I have received without the NHS? My family could not have afforded the ambulance service, let alone the months of care and rehabilitation I received.
Friendly societies, private hospitals, charitable hospitals etc.? At best they'd have eased my decline and early demise.
For me it's personal.
Thing is I think you are both right. I think lucky guy is suggesting that the model of the NHS - a national organisation free at the point of use, paid out of general taxation etc might not be the optimum way to provide healthcare in the 21st century. Most other western nations have a different way of dealing with this, but they seem to do ok. The NhS is pretty good value for money and definitely not the best Healthcare provider. I don’t think the set up pre 1946 would have sustained. Back then we barely had antibiotics, virtually no cancer care, no joint replacement, no heart surgery. Generally it WAS about managing decline. So much has changed, we can do so much more, yet it all costs. Ultimately we probably need to move to some kind of insurance based system, with safety netting. And accept limitations on care.
Or just wait 2-3 years and 'AI' will cure all disease and healthcare costs will go to zero.
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
Poorer diet I should think.
Poorer diet and fatness. But cancer levels in young people are minuscule anyway. So it’s a rise on a tiny baseline.
I had a micro skin cancer scare after a medical check up this week. Doctor looked worried and referred me. Turns out it’s a patch of dry skin.
I'm never sure whether the storage of energy as fat can really be described as a cause. I think it's more of a symptom of poor diet really.
Yes, with the exception of cardiac conditions where fatty build up in the arteries does it, for youngsters it would presumably be things other than the fat itself - blood sugar, weakened immune system, fewer antioxidants etc.
Do the arteries get conventional fat growth within them (though of course compromised arteries does correlate with being fat a lot)? I was under the impression arterial plaque was made up of mainly calcium.
Called plaque but made up of fats, cholesterol and proteins.
Just that arterial plaque isn't mainly calcium - though there is such a thing as calcification later on. Whereas dental tartar is mainly calcium salts. Just wondering if that was a helpful clarification. Evidently not.
No, it is not helpful, and you can take your opinion up with 'The Cleveland Clinic' as per Tim's link, which evidently you didn’t read, but says the following:
What is an atheroma made of? Atheromas are made of many substances that circulate in your blood. These include:
Blood cells. Calcium. Cholesterol and other fats. Inflammatory cells. Proteins. Calcium is a substance that hardens the atheroma. That’s why people with plaque buildup are known to have “hardening of the arteries.”
Not for the first time, your wish to make other people look foolish is sadly not matched by your actual knowledge on the subject.
Those "ingredients" are in alphabetical order, and that is a very simple-minded website ...
Also nowhere did it say 'mainly', just it was a constituent, whereas the initial claim was mainly.
Question: how much do I charge for YouTube collaborations? Answer: errrrr, let’s consult the tinterweb. Several different formula sites all of which offer wildly different values for how much I should charge…
@Leon - you charge for your ass. How did you set your initial rate…?
Do you mean adverts or making videos with other youtubers?
So far I’ve been happy to promote stuff I actually want for getting it free and then commission on referral sales. The latter can be decent!
But I’m making progress now and have had a couple of “how much do you charge” approaches to hawk stuff I might not be that bothered about. Would be basically make a video to show off whatever it is, plus dropping into other vids where appropriate.
Depends if you care about your own 'brand' vs a quick buck. I can think of a few UK youtube channels like "Candid Clara" who feature products & reviews, but make it clear if they've ever had a freebie.
rottenborough said: "Bernie is starting a resistance tour of town hall meeting I believe."
There are times when I wonder -- briefly -- whether some evil billionaire is using Senator Sanders to sabotage the Democratic Party by pushing it out of the center. (Pete Buttigieg seems to understand those costs, but many other Democrats do not.)
Including something not mentioned in that article: Solzhenitsyn lived in Vermont for years after his exile. As far as I can tell, Sanders, for all his interest in socialism and the old Soviet Union, never met the great author. Probably never even read Ivan Denisovich.)
rottenborough said: "Bernie is starting a resistance tour of town hall meeting I believe."
There are times when I wonder -- briefly -- whether some evil billionaire is using Senator Sanders to sabotage the Democratic Party by pushing it out of the center. (Pete Buttigieg seems to understand those costs, but many other Democrats do not.)
Including something not mentioned in that article: Solzhenitsyn lived in Vermont for years after his exile. As far as I can tell, Sanders, for all his interest in socialism and the old Soviet Union, never met the great author. Probably never even read Ivan Denisovich.)
Youtube keeps trying to get me to watch Bernie videos. Which I don't. Though it is a pleasant change from the usual "How to arm your compound" videos it suggests. I had no idea air fryer videos could get me so radicalised.
Why are we building AI systems when we haven't even solved basic problems like homelessness and unemployment?
Who is we?
Different people in a society can focus on more than one thing at a time, and I seriously doubt a problem like homelessness - which has been around at different levels forever - is being prevented from being solved because some techbros are getting investment funding to look into AI development.
Kylo Musk sends an email to every federal employee threatening to fire them
Let's ignore the fact that they were arguing in court last week that he doesn't work for the government and has no authority, and go with this instead...
New: The FDA late Friday started reversing termination notices for some employees that were laid off, informing workers to return to work after mass firings a week ago.
It'd be satisfying in a way if people did not come back, but of course that could have dire consequences and many would not be in a position to refuse employment without dire consequences for themselves.
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.
Well maybe in fantasy lefty land, Starmer will be a great pm in the same way as genghis khan was seen as a pacifist who preached peace and love
I think Starmer will be remembered, post-power, in the same vein as Eden, Callaghan, Major, May and Sunak. And Carter, Hollande, Scholz. Decent enough person but couldn’t quite rise to the occasion.
Sorry decent person doesn't cut it he wanted to be a leader but he cannot lead Being a nice guy doesn't cut it else we would have elected Ed Davey
Given the events of the last month it is quite possible that within a year we shall have a government of national unity; and if I had the choice of the two to lead it right now I would go for Blair (for whom I never voted) and Cameron.
We won't have a government of national unity within a year because there is no national unity frankly.....there are people like most on here that are ok and thinking the status quo is just dandy....then there is people like me who rent and dont see our pay rising and about to start tearing things down frankly.... my pay rise this year 1%, my power bill up 10% my water up 10% my council tax up 5% rent up 12% food prices up by more than 1% story of the last quarter decade.......where are we going to find national unity when most politicians come from a class that never suffered that and most middle classes like here don't either?
Well unless you work for a nationalised industry or the state, earn minimum wage or live in state provided housing not a huge amount the government can do about that given the global rise in prices and cost of living since the Ukraine war and Covid and now with Trump's tariffs coming along too. Even council tax is the council's responsibility.
Though they could maybe do more to support our farmers to reduce food prices and 'drill baby drill' to increase energy supplies. Plenty of votes have been cast in protest for Corbyn and now for Farage, it doesn't mean they have the answers either
Really do fuck off,government policies have led to the bottom 50% being in this situation and frankly the tories and labour and all politicians can fuck right off. They govern for the interests of people like them and dont give a shit about the rest of us and they wont till we say enough and start dragging them out into to the street
Really? Go back 150-200 years there was no NHS, no minimum wage, no social housing, no unemployment benefits, no state pension etc. Your ancestors really were left to the mercy of the market then with at most a bit of poor relief or the workhouse and the odd alms house and church soup kitchen for support.
This government I would also remind you was elected, given you couldn't even be bothered to vote in that election why on earth should we care what your opinion is of it and the previous government it defeated anyway?
I think the NHS was a regrettable development.
Since it saved my life, I beg to differ.
Being our main source of medical care, and especially emergency medical care, it has saved millions of lives. If we had an updated version of the patchwork of friendly societies, private hospitals, charitable hospitals etc. etc. that preceded it, that would be the major saver of lives.
It would indeed be the major saver of lives... but I very much doubt it would have saved mine.
I cannot comment on the specifics of your case. But I will say that I believe in healthcare for all, with provision for those unable to pay. I just think the NHS itself isn't the way to do it.
Without the NHS I would not be able to comment on the specifics of my case.
For you it's theory; for me it's reality.
OK - if you want to make that experience public, I would certainly be interested. If you don't, that's fine too.
I broke my back as a teenager, in 1979 in a road traffic accident, and became a paraplegic.
Soon after my accident, the NHS moved me to Stoke Mandeville (from Sussex) and their rehabilitation support led me to lead a fulfilling life, employed in IT and finance - I have paid back in tax many times over the cost of my care but at the time there was no likelihood that I would.
What treatment would I have received without the NHS? My family could not have afforded the ambulance service, let alone the months of care and rehabilitation I received.
Friendly societies, private hospitals, charitable hospitals etc.? At best they'd have eased my decline and early demise.
For me it's personal.
And yet France, Germany, Holland, Austria, etc., don't have the NHS and still manage to look after children who get into traffic accidents.
And better cancer survival rates, shorter waits for treatment, better emergency care etc. etc. etc.
The NHS provides pretty substandard care amongst OECD care at an about-average price.
So we definitely shouldn't idolise it or take it personally or treat it sentimentally when we're discussing health policy. It's a means to an end, and there are other means which may serve our countries better. Other kids who get into traffic accidents, and indeed all other patients, deserve nothing less.
Question: how much do I charge for YouTube collaborations? Answer: errrrr, let’s consult the tinterweb. Several different formula sites all of which offer wildly different values for how much I should charge…
@Leon - you charge for your ass. How did you set your initial rate…?
Do you mean adverts or making videos with other youtubers?
So far I’ve been happy to promote stuff I actually want for getting it free and then commission on referral sales. The latter can be decent!
But I’m making progress now and have had a couple of “how much do you charge” approaches to hawk stuff I might not be that bothered about. Would be basically make a video to show off whatever it is, plus dropping into other vids where appropriate.
Are you genuinely asking us how much you should charge to advertise products you don't believe in?
You may be too young to remember Bill Hicks, a comedian of some note in the 90's. I won't post the sketch because it's wildly offensive, but...well, it's not a good thing to advertise products you don't believe in.
That’s not what I’m asking. I’m a Hilton whore, I’m not about to start actually whoring myself out. Would still have absolute refusal on do I want to tout this product. Just trying to figure out how much dollah to ask for. And I’m not asking PB for a figure, just saying…
Just accept anything that isn't blatantly harmful/nonsense, and whose ad reads are tolerable without requiring too much phony enthusiasm to push. When the promotion is a little restrained I'm actually more likely to believe the youtuber might actually believe it, in addition to getting opaid to say it.
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.
Well maybe in fantasy lefty land, Starmer will be a great pm in the same way as genghis khan was seen as a pacifist who preached peace and love
I think Starmer will be remembered, post-power, in the same vein as Eden, Callaghan, Major, May and Sunak. And Carter, Hollande, Scholz. Decent enough person but couldn’t quite rise to the occasion.
Sorry decent person doesn't cut it he wanted to be a leader but he cannot lead Being a nice guy doesn't cut it else we would have elected Ed Davey
Given the events of the last month it is quite possible that within a year we shall have a government of national unity; and if I had the choice of the two to lead it right now I would go for Blair (for whom I never voted) and Cameron.
We won't have a government of national unity within a year because there is no national unity frankly.....there are people like most on here that are ok and thinking the status quo is just dandy....then there is people like me who rent and dont see our pay rising and about to start tearing things down frankly.... my pay rise this year 1%, my power bill up 10% my water up 10% my council tax up 5% rent up 12% food prices up by more than 1% story of the last quarter decade.......where are we going to find national unity when most politicians come from a class that never suffered that and most middle classes like here don't either?
Well unless you work for a nationalised industry or the state, earn minimum wage or live in state provided housing not a huge amount the government can do about that given the global rise in prices and cost of living since the Ukraine war and Covid and now with Trump's tariffs coming along too. Even council tax is the council's responsibility.
Though they could maybe do more to support our farmers to reduce food prices and 'drill baby drill' to increase energy supplies. Plenty of votes have been cast in protest for Corbyn and now for Farage, it doesn't mean they have the answers either
Really do fuck off,government policies have led to the bottom 50% being in this situation and frankly the tories and labour and all politicians can fuck right off. They govern for the interests of people like them and dont give a shit about the rest of us and they wont till we say enough and start dragging them out into to the street
Really? Go back 150-200 years there was no NHS, no minimum wage, no social housing, no unemployment benefits, no state pension etc. Your ancestors really were left to the mercy of the market then with at most a bit of poor relief or the workhouse and the odd alms house and church soup kitchen for support.
This government I would also remind you was elected, given you couldn't even be bothered to vote in that election why on earth should we care what your opinion is of it and the previous government it defeated anyway?
I think the NHS was a regrettable development.
Since it saved my life, I beg to differ.
Being our main source of medical care, and especially emergency medical care, it has saved millions of lives. If we had an updated version of the patchwork of friendly societies, private hospitals, charitable hospitals etc. etc. that preceded it, that would be the major saver of lives.
It would indeed be the major saver of lives... but I very much doubt it would have saved mine.
I cannot comment on the specifics of your case. But I will say that I believe in healthcare for all, with provision for those unable to pay. I just think the NHS itself isn't the way to do it.
Without the NHS I would not be able to comment on the specifics of my case.
For you it's theory; for me it's reality.
OK - if you want to make that experience public, I would certainly be interested. If you don't, that's fine too.
I broke my back as a teenager, in 1979 in a road traffic accident, and became a paraplegic.
Soon after my accident, the NHS moved me to Stoke Mandeville (from Sussex) and their rehabilitation support led me to lead a fulfilling life, employed in IT and finance - I have paid back in tax many times over the cost of my care but at the time there was no likelihood that I would.
What treatment would I have received without the NHS? My family could not have afforded the ambulance service, let alone the months of care and rehabilitation I received.
Friendly societies, private hospitals, charitable hospitals etc.? At best they'd have eased my decline and early demise.
For me it's personal.
And yet France, Germany, Holland, Austria, etc., don't have the NHS and still manage to look after children who get into traffic accidents.
And better cancer survival rates, shorter waits for treatment, better emergency care etc. etc. etc.
The NHS provides pretty substandard care amongst OECD care at an about-average price.
So we definitely shouldn't idolise it or take it personally or treat it sentimentally when we're discussing health policy. It's a means to an end, and there are other means which may serve our countries better. Other kids who get into traffic accidents, and indeed all other patients, deserve nothing less.
Absolutely. On an individual level sentamentality towards it is a fine thing, but in broader terms of assessing and setting what our policies and priorities should be, emotion can largely be taken out of it.
I don't have an instinctive desire to change anything from or to anything else in particular, but I feel like our politics reaches too quickly for the anecdote when it comes to the NHS, and as a society we're paranoid about it.
Will the last person out of US federal government please turn out the lights! 😂
Elon Musk @elonmusk · 2h Consistent with President @realDonaldTrump ’s instructions, all federal employees will shortly receive an email requesting to understand what they got done last week.
Failure to respond will be taken as a resignation.
We tend to look for method in the madness with these sorts of things, because it seems like such a strange way to go about the purported task - like, seriously, how would that even be an efficient or useful way of determining if employees were in fact doing anything effective? - and with such unrealistic timescales, that it's tempting to search for the 'real' plan or goal behind such a message.
Will the last person out of US federal government please turn out the lights! 😂
Elon Musk
@elonmusk · 2h Consistent with President @realDonaldTrump ’s instructions, all federal employees will shortly receive an email requesting to understand what they got done last week.
Failure to respond will be taken as a resignation.
Can't be legal.
Elon Musk has stated before, essentially, that he is an expert on the law because he's been involved in so many legal issues. But I would think even he wouldn't think such an action could be legal.
So despite my other comment bewaring of reading sense into what might be nonsense, I assume there has to be something to all this haste and what appears to be clear overstepping of even putative authority. Are there wider issues that they want to get up to the SC for a favourable ruling and this is the quickest way or something, even if the specific action does not matter?
Will the last person out of US federal government please turn out the lights! 😂
Elon Musk
@elonmusk · 2h Consistent with President @realDonaldTrump ’s instructions, all federal employees will shortly receive an email requesting to understand what they got done last week.
Failure to respond will be taken as a resignation.
Can't be legal.
In a way, it's quite charming how you think that might be relevant.
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.
Well maybe in fantasy lefty land, Starmer will be a great pm in the same way as genghis khan was seen as a pacifist who preached peace and love
I think Starmer will be remembered, post-power, in the same vein as Eden, Callaghan, Major, May and Sunak. And Carter, Hollande, Scholz. Decent enough person but couldn’t quite rise to the occasion.
Sorry decent person doesn't cut it he wanted to be a leader but he cannot lead Being a nice guy doesn't cut it else we would have elected Ed Davey
Given the events of the last month it is quite possible that within a year we shall have a government of national unity; and if I had the choice of the two to lead it right now I would go for Blair (for whom I never voted) and Cameron.
We won't have a government of national unity within a year because there is no national unity frankly.....there are people like most on here that are ok and thinking the status quo is just dandy....then there is people like me who rent and dont see our pay rising and about to start tearing things down frankly.... my pay rise this year 1%, my power bill up 10% my water up 10% my council tax up 5% rent up 12% food prices up by more than 1% story of the last quarter decade.......where are we going to find national unity when most politicians come from a class that never suffered that and most middle classes like here don't either?
Well unless you work for a nationalised industry or the state, earn minimum wage or live in state provided housing not a huge amount the government can do about that given the global rise in prices and cost of living since the Ukraine war and Covid and now with Trump's tariffs coming along too. Even council tax is the council's responsibility.
Though they could maybe do more to support our farmers to reduce food prices and 'drill baby drill' to increase energy supplies. Plenty of votes have been cast in protest for Corbyn and now for Farage, it doesn't mean they have the answers either
Really do fuck off,government policies have led to the bottom 50% being in this situation and frankly the tories and labour and all politicians can fuck right off. They govern for the interests of people like them and dont give a shit about the rest of us and they wont till we say enough and start dragging them out into to the street
Really? Go back 150-200 years there was no NHS, no minimum wage, no social housing, no unemployment benefits, no state pension etc. Your ancestors really were left to the mercy of the market then with at most a bit of poor relief or the workhouse and the odd alms house and church soup kitchen for support.
This government I would also remind you was elected, given you couldn't even be bothered to vote in that election why on earth should we care what your opinion is of it and the previous government it defeated anyway?
I think the NHS was a regrettable development.
Since it saved my life, I beg to differ.
Being our main source of medical care, and especially emergency medical care, it has saved millions of lives. If we had an updated version of the patchwork of friendly societies, private hospitals, charitable hospitals etc. etc. that preceded it, that would be the major saver of lives.
It would indeed be the major saver of lives... but I very much doubt it would have saved mine.
I cannot comment on the specifics of your case. But I will say that I believe in healthcare for all, with provision for those unable to pay. I just think the NHS itself isn't the way to do it.
Without the NHS I would not be able to comment on the specifics of my case.
For you it's theory; for me it's reality.
OK - if you want to make that experience public, I would certainly be interested. If you don't, that's fine too.
I broke my back as a teenager, in 1979 in a road traffic accident, and became a paraplegic.
Soon after my accident, the NHS moved me to Stoke Mandeville (from Sussex) and their rehabilitation support led me to lead a fulfilling life, employed in IT and finance - I have paid back in tax many times over the cost of my care but at the time there was no likelihood that I would.
What treatment would I have received without the NHS? My family could not have afforded the ambulance service, let alone the months of care and rehabilitation I received.
Friendly societies, private hospitals, charitable hospitals etc.? At best they'd have eased my decline and early demise.
For me it's personal.
And yet France, Germany, Holland, Austria, etc., don't have the NHS and still manage to look after children who get into traffic accidents.
And better cancer survival rates, shorter waits for treatment, better emergency care etc. etc. etc.
The NHS provides pretty substandard care amongst OECD care at an about-average price.
So we definitely shouldn't idolise it or take it personally or treat it sentimentally when we're discussing health policy. It's a means to an end, and there are other means which may serve our countries better. Other kids who get into traffic accidents, and indeed all other patients, deserve nothing less.
Absolutely. On an individual level sentamentality towards it is a fine thing, but in broader terms of assessing and setting what our policies and priorities should be, emotion can largely be taken out of it.
I don't have an instinctive desire to change anything from or to anything else in particular, but I feel like our politics reaches too quickly for the anecdote when it comes to the NHS, and as a society we're paranoid about it.
This is archetypal dialogue of the deaf stuff, isn’t it?
To many “the NHS” means free healthcare for all, as opposed to a private healthcare system. To others it means the specific structures of our current health service. To most Brits it is surely both.
As someone who’s used French healthcare I can say it’s generally very good, more efficient and effective than the UK, better outcomes, but a bit more bureaucratic and much more expensive.
Will the last person out of US federal government please turn out the lights! 😂
Elon Musk @elonmusk · 2h Consistent with President @realDonaldTrump ’s instructions, all federal employees will shortly receive an email requesting to understand what they got done last week.
Failure to respond will be taken as a resignation.
We tend to look for method in the madness with these sorts of things, because it seems like such a strange way to go about the purported task - like, seriously, how would that even be an efficient or useful way of determining if employees were in fact doing anything effective? - and with such unrealistic timescales, that it's tempting to search for the 'real' plan or goal behind such a message.
As on its face it's just silly.
Are you good at form filling, dissembling, evasion and eloquent fantasy? We love you, carry on. If not, no.
Will the last person out of US federal government please turn out the lights! 😂
Elon Musk @elonmusk · 2h Consistent with President @realDonaldTrump ’s instructions, all federal employees will shortly receive an email requesting to understand what they got done last week.
Failure to respond will be taken as a resignation.
We tend to look for method in the madness with these sorts of things, because it seems like such a strange way to go about the purported task - like, seriously, how would that even be an efficient or useful way of determining if employees were in fact doing anything effective? - and with such unrealistic timescales, that it's tempting to search for the 'real' plan or goal behind such a message.
As on its face it's just silly.
Musk is on a power trip. I think he’ll overheat and burn out soon.
Do we get our fags back if it turns out smoking causes lung cancer but suppresses other cancers?
Obesity is a significant cause of cancer AFAIK.
Highly processed food? Micro-plastics?
Cellphones? Wi-fi?
(I doubt it's either of these but those radio waves will have increased exponentially since the early 1990s. Truth is, we just don't know.)
We get dosed in far less radiation than was the case with early cellphones. Early phones transmitted at such high powers the brain and skull would heat up from energy absorption.
Will the last person out of US federal government please turn out the lights! 😂
Elon Musk
@elonmusk · 2h Consistent with President @realDonaldTrump ’s instructions, all federal employees will shortly receive an email requesting to understand what they got done last week.
Failure to respond will be taken as a resignation.
Can't be legal.
In a way, it's quite charming how you think that might be relevant.
It is relevant to what the next steps in this drama will be, even if as would be expected Trump, Musk, and the GOP don't particularly care, and want to push against any rule or law as hard as they can.
A act which is lawful but deplorable (to many) may lead to different responses (from opponents) or follow up actions (from Trump and co) than from something which is unlawful.
So, haha, good one, but the legality would matter, even if not as much as Democrats would prefer it to matter.
So my plane didn’t blow up, which is good, but the mysterious bond character in the seat in front who had seemed to be acting intriguingly oddly and looked straight out of central casting turned out to be disappointingly non-evil and banal. She was sending “just landed” texts after we landed flicking through instagram pics of her friends skiing.
Will the last person out of US federal government please turn out the lights! 😂
Elon Musk @elonmusk · 2h Consistent with President @realDonaldTrump ’s instructions, all federal employees will shortly receive an email requesting to understand what they got done last week.
Failure to respond will be taken as a resignation.
We tend to look for method in the madness with these sorts of things, because it seems like such a strange way to go about the purported task - like, seriously, how would that even be an efficient or useful way of determining if employees were in fact doing anything effective? - and with such unrealistic timescales, that it's tempting to search for the 'real' plan or goal behind such a message.
As on its face it's just silly.
Are you good at form filling, dissembling, evasion and eloquent fantasy? We love you, carry on. If not, no.
Consistent with President @realDonaldTrump’s instructions, all federal employees will shortly receive an email requesting to understand what they got done last week.
Failure to respond will be taken as a resignation.
I'm starting to feel slightly more optimistic.
The levels of overreach from AfD's american branch and its own pet teen nazis are going to cause a reaction.
America is better than this and the fight back will begin soon.
Let's hope so. But these guys know what they're doing and they've got lots of obedient followers who are well tooled-up. "Fight fight fight". This is the problem. Can they start a civil war? Probably yes.
I hadn't realised this before, but the first letters of "fight fight fight" spell 666.
Will the last person out of US federal government please turn out the lights! 😂
Elon Musk @elonmusk · 2h Consistent with President @realDonaldTrump ’s instructions, all federal employees will shortly receive an email requesting to understand what they got done last week.
Failure to respond will be taken as a resignation.
We tend to look for method in the madness with these sorts of things, because it seems like such a strange way to go about the purported task - like, seriously, how would that even be an efficient or useful way of determining if employees were in fact doing anything effective? - and with such unrealistic timescales, that it's tempting to search for the 'real' plan or goal behind such a message.
As on its face it's just silly.
Are you good at form filling, dissembling, evasion and eloquent fantasy? We love you, carry on. If not, no.
I would say they might like finding the best bullshitters amongst all federal employees but that's an area where they are already overflowing with talent.
I say go further - in each department set up a series of mental and physical contests in head to head matchups, with the loser to be fired. Repeat until there is one person left, and they can run the department (and, if necessary, start from scratch), as they are clearly the best person, and can absorb all the knowledge and skills of fired others.
Anyways. Recent events have confirmed what I was already thinking. My mind is made up. As of this time next week I shall be moving full time into a Buddhist community. Will continue to post.
Consistent with President @realDonaldTrump’s instructions, all federal employees will shortly receive an email requesting to understand what they got done last week.
Failure to respond will be taken as a resignation.
I'm starting to feel slightly more optimistic.
The levels of overreach from AfD's american branch and its own pet teen nazis are going to cause a reaction.
America is better than this and the fight back will begin soon.
Let's hope so. But these guys know what they're doing and they've got lots of obedient followers who are well tooled-up. "Fight fight fight". This is the problem. Can they start a civil war? Probably yes.
I hadn't realised this before, but the first letters of "fight fight fight" spell 666.
As an aside, there are plenty of countries where there is no functioning government.
None of them are models of success.
I think it was in 'Why Nations Fail' that they did a line about how far from the scary line being 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help', the actually scary line is 'There is no government and I'm here to kill you'.
A bit trite and dramatic perhaps, but I think the original line's overdramatising of the perils of government bureaucracy and power does need puncturing a bit sometimes, as some people seem to think it is literal.
Will the last person out of US federal government please turn out the lights! 😂
Elon Musk @elonmusk · 2h Consistent with President @realDonaldTrump ’s instructions, all federal employees will shortly receive an email requesting to understand what they got done last week.
Failure to respond will be taken as a resignation.
We tend to look for method in the madness with these sorts of things, because it seems like such a strange way to go about the purported task - like, seriously, how would that even be an efficient or useful way of determining if employees were in fact doing anything effective? - and with such unrealistic timescales, that it's tempting to search for the 'real' plan or goal behind such a message.
As on its face it's just silly.
Musk is on a power trip. I think he’ll overheat and burn out soon.
Depends on the Ketamin supply holding up (allegedly)?
Will the last person out of US federal government please turn out the lights! 😂
Elon Musk @elonmusk · 2h Consistent with President @realDonaldTrump ’s instructions, all federal employees will shortly receive an email requesting to understand what they got done last week.
Failure to respond will be taken as a resignation.
We tend to look for method in the madness with these sorts of things, because it seems like such a strange way to go about the purported task - like, seriously, how would that even be an efficient or useful way of determining if employees were in fact doing anything effective? - and with such unrealistic timescales, that it's tempting to search for the 'real' plan or goal behind such a message.
As on its face it's just silly.
Are you good at form filling, dissembling, evasion and eloquent fantasy? We love you, carry on. If not, no.
I would say they might like finding the best bullshitters amongst all federal employees but that's an area where they are already overflowing with talent.
I say go further - in each department set up a series of mental and physical contests in head to head matchups, with the loser to be fire. Repeat until there is one person left, and they can run the department (and, if necessary, start from scratch), as they are clearly the best person, and can absorb all the knowledge and skills of fired others.
Seriously though, what is Trump's and Musk's hurry? I get hitting the ground running and probably also blindsiding opponents with your speed, but you'd think they have a deadline to meet within days.
Seriously though, what is Trump's and Musk's hurry? I get hitting the ground running and probably also blindsiding opponents with your speed, but you'd think they have a deadline to meet within days.
Shock and awe. Get in there and take control of any possible centres of resistance before anyone can get organised. If that's the plan I actually suspect they've moved too slowly for it to be really effective.
Seriously though, what is Trump's and Musk's hurry? I get hitting the ground running and probably also blindsiding opponents with your speed, but you'd think they have a deadline to meet within days.
Shock and awe. Get in there and take control of any possible centres of resistance before anyone can get organised. If that's the plan I actually suspect they've moved too slowly for it to be really effective.
Many could find themselves locked out of their workplaces on Tuesday morning.
Those who enjoy the hobby of magnet fishing may find they're everybody's friends, late Monday afternoon.
Where there's equipment, there's a sabotage opportunity.
YouTuber "Technology Connections" (real name Alec Watson) has done YouTube on why algorithmic social media (Facebook, X) is inferior to user-driven social media (Bluesky)
FFS! "(T)he Great Resegregation will leave wealthy white elites with a firmer grip on power and the working classes with fewer opportunities and a weakened social safety net. The only people left with more will be those who already had more than they needed to begin with."
Good article but he fails to ask the big question - what to do about it.
If there's about to be a huge lockout, hopefully people will get the hint. GENERAL STRIKE!
Having discovered the delight of Fried Youtiao with Kaya, I am ready to opine the best sporting action yesterday was the finish of the Saudi Cup between FOREVER YOUNG and ROMANTIC WARRIOR.
We don't have democracy when all we can vote for is A or very slightly different A....discuss
We do there is a huge difference from the Greens on the hard left to Reform on the nationalist right with Labour and the Liberals and Conservatives in between.
Just you are too lazy to bother to read manifestos and vote. 200 years ago you wouldn't have been allowed to vote anyway as you didn't own high enough value property to have a vote, the Chartists and suffragettes fought and sometimes died for the vote, all you do is whinge.
Bollocks I read manifesto's...tories labour are all versions of A....greens and reform are bat shit crazy
When A isn't going to work as its just more of how we got here its also batshit crazy.
So given 3 choices of batshit crazy you wonder why I don't bother and think our democracy is in dire need of reform and no I don't mean pr
Sorry but that's just lazy thinking.
Our parties are not all the same, they're not even the same as their versions of themselves from 5 or 10 years ago.
Our politics evolves over time, and you can vote for whoever you want to, if your preferred choice isn't winning then that's a case of needing to win over others to your thinking so they vote for you - not change democracy.
Do you think the policies coming out would be that much different whether it was tories or labour or even lib dems in government? Frankly the difference wouldn't be much in my view
Do I think there's differences between the policies depending upon which party is in government? Yes, of course!
Are there similarities in other policies regardless of which party is in government? Yes, of course.
Is that because they're appealing to voters who want similar things? Also, yes.
If you want a policy changing, convince the public to vote for it.
Question: how much do I charge for YouTube collaborations? Answer: errrrr, let’s consult the tinterweb. Several different formula sites all of which offer wildly different values for how much I should charge…
@Leon - you charge for your ass. How did you set your initial rate…?
Other YouTubers, free. Looking round this seems to be the culture, essentially everyone helps everyone else grow. The smaller channel has to offer something different to the larger one. Basically the Donaldson model where it all goes back to max content for max ad rev Product placements, obviously $$$ depending on views and subs. Raid shadow legends ?
Harry Sisson @harryjsisson · 18h HAHAHA! A Republican congressman in Wisconsin just got BOOED to his face as he tried to defend Trump and Elon Musk targeting crucial government programs. They should be booed everywhere they go.
"At about the same time as Musk was celebrating the work of his so-called "Department of Government Efficiency" at the event near Washington DC, Republican congressman Rich McCormick was holding a town hall forum for his constituents. Many in Roswell, Georgia, were angry about the impact of the Musk-inspired cuts and let the congressman know it. "Congress controls the budget, not the president," a woman said. "You are doing a disservice to set that down and not stand up for us." McCormick's response was drowned out by jeers."
Consistent with President @realDonaldTrump’s instructions, all federal employees will shortly receive an email requesting to understand what they got done last week.
Failure to respond will be taken as a resignation.
I'm starting to feel slightly more optimistic.
The levels of overreach from AfD's american branch and its own pet teen nazis are going to cause a reaction.
America is better than this and the fight back will begin soon.
Let's hope so. But these guys know what they're doing and they've got lots of obedient followers who are well tooled-up. "Fight fight fight". This is the problem. Can they start a civil war? Probably yes.
I hadn't realised this before, but the first letters of "fight fight fight" spell 666.
Here is the email that was sent:
Looks like spam to me.
Delete.
Yes, it really does look like one of those phishing test emails.
I can understand why people would support Mr Farage but not after the last week.
Most people do not follow politics and especially American politics in any detail. Heck, I'm on pb almost 24x7 and would be hard-pressed to tell you what's going on with Farage, Trump and Ukraine. I don't care and it doesn't matter. Reform is basically NOTA.
People who do care about big Nige would do better keeping an eye on his colleague and rival Rupert Lowe, who seems to be Elon's new favourite.
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.
Well maybe in fantasy lefty land, Starmer will be a great pm in the same way as genghis khan was seen as a pacifist who preached peace and love
I think Starmer will be remembered, post-power, in the same vein as Eden, Callaghan, Major, May and Sunak. And Carter, Hollande, Scholz. Decent enough person but couldn’t quite rise to the occasion.
Sorry decent person doesn't cut it he wanted to be a leader but he cannot lead Being a nice guy doesn't cut it else we would have elected Ed Davey
Given the events of the last month it is quite possible that within a year we shall have a government of national unity; and if I had the choice of the two to lead it right now I would go for Blair (for whom I never voted) and Cameron.
We won't have a government of national unity within a year because there is no national unity frankly.....there are people like most on here that are ok and thinking the status quo is just dandy....then there is people like me who rent and dont see our pay rising and about to start tearing things down frankly.... my pay rise this year 1%, my power bill up 10% my water up 10% my council tax up 5% rent up 12% food prices up by more than 1% story of the last quarter decade.......where are we going to find national unity when most politicians come from a class that never suffered that and most middle classes like here don't either?
Well unless you work for a nationalised industry or the state, earn minimum wage or live in state provided housing not a huge amount the government can do about that given the global rise in prices and cost of living since the Ukraine war and Covid and now with Trump's tariffs coming along too. Even council tax is the council's responsibility.
Though they could maybe do more to support our farmers to reduce food prices and 'drill baby drill' to increase energy supplies. Plenty of votes have been cast in protest for Corbyn and now for Farage, it doesn't mean they have the answers either
Really do fuck off,government policies have led to the bottom 50% being in this situation and frankly the tories and labour and all politicians can fuck right off. They govern for the interests of people like them and dont give a shit about the rest of us and they wont till we say enough and start dragging them out into to the street
Really? Go back 150-200 years there was no NHS, no minimum wage, no social housing, no unemployment benefits, no state pension etc. Your ancestors really were left to the mercy of the market then with at most a bit of poor relief or the workhouse and the odd alms house and church soup kitchen for support.
This government I would also remind you was elected, given you couldn't even be bothered to vote in that election why on earth should we care what your opinion is of it and the previous government it defeated anyway?
I think the NHS was a regrettable development.
Since it saved my life, I beg to differ.
Being our main source of medical care, and especially emergency medical care, it has saved millions of lives. If we had an updated version of the patchwork of friendly societies, private hospitals, charitable hospitals etc. etc. that preceded it, that would be the major saver of lives.
Tory Robert Jenrick forced to correct CV - after accusing Labour MPs of embellishing theirs ... In a biography on his website, Mr Jenrick claims to have been "the joint youngest Cabinet Minister since the Second World War, tied with Harold Wilson and William Hague" when he was made Housing Secretary in 2019.
Anyways. Recent events have confirmed what I was already thinking. My mind is made up. As of this time next week I shall be moving full time into a Buddhist community. Will continue to post.
Best wishes on your spiritual journey. Spiritual peace is a truly wonderful thing to seek.
We don't have democracy when all we can vote for is A or very slightly different A....discuss
The Greens and Reform UK, who stood in most seats, were both offering very different manifestos to Lab and Con. Ditto the Workers Party, who stood in 152 seats, and the TUSC, in 40.
Tory Robert Jenrick forced to correct CV - after accusing Labour MPs of embellishing theirs ... In a biography on his website, Mr Jenrick claims to have been "the joint youngest Cabinet Minister since the Second World War, tied with Harold Wilson and William Hague" when he was made Housing Secretary in 2019.
Hoist by his own petard. You'd expect him to have checked his own claims before attacking Labour figures.
Whilst I’m not a particular fan of his, a biography on his website isn’t a CV. He’s an idiot for not checking anything that went out about him as Reeves was.
Reeves would only have to resign if she had lied on her actual CV in order to gain from it by getting a new job or position.
rottenborough said: "Bernie is starting a resistance tour of town hall meeting I believe."
There are times when I wonder -- briefly -- whether some evil billionaire is using Senator Sanders to sabotage the Democratic Party by pushing it out of the center. (Pete Buttigieg seems to understand those costs, but many other Democrats do not.)
Including something not mentioned in that article: Solzhenitsyn lived in Vermont for years after his exile. As far as I can tell, Sanders, for all his interest in socialism and the old Soviet Union, never met the great author. Probably never even read Ivan Denisovich.)
So the only "dubious" thing is you don't think he met Solzhenitsyn? Maybe Solzhenitsyn is also dubious for never meeting Sanders?
I find the "argument" that politicians aren't allowed to argue for more equality, better financial security for those at the bottom etc until they have personally given most of their wealth away to be pretty silly.
The article says he earns a good salary as a senator, but had a big jump in income from writing bestselling books. So what?
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.
Well maybe in fantasy lefty land, Starmer will be a great pm in the same way as genghis khan was seen as a pacifist who preached peace and love
I think Starmer will be remembered, post-power, in the same vein as Eden, Callaghan, Major, May and Sunak. And Carter, Hollande, Scholz. Decent enough person but couldn’t quite rise to the occasion.
Sorry decent person doesn't cut it he wanted to be a leader but he cannot lead Being a nice guy doesn't cut it else we would have elected Ed Davey
Given the events of the last month it is quite possible that within a year we shall have a government of national unity; and if I had the choice of the two to lead it right now I would go for Blair (for whom I never voted) and Cameron.
We won't have a government of national unity within a year because there is no national unity frankly.....there are people like most on here that are ok and thinking the status quo is just dandy....then there is people like me who rent and dont see our pay rising and about to start tearing things down frankly.... my pay rise this year 1%, my power bill up 10% my water up 10% my council tax up 5% rent up 12% food prices up by more than 1% story of the last quarter decade.......where are we going to find national unity when most politicians come from a class that never suffered that and most middle classes like here don't either?
Well unless you work for a nationalised industry or the state, earn minimum wage or live in state provided housing not a huge amount the government can do about that given the global rise in prices and cost of living since the Ukraine war and Covid and now with Trump's tariffs coming along too. Even council tax is the council's responsibility.
Though they could maybe do more to support our farmers to reduce food prices and 'drill baby drill' to increase energy supplies. Plenty of votes have been cast in protest for Corbyn and now for Farage, it doesn't mean they have the answers either
Really do fuck off,government policies have led to the bottom 50% being in this situation and frankly the tories and labour and all politicians can fuck right off. They govern for the interests of people like them and dont give a shit about the rest of us and they wont till we say enough and start dragging them out into to the street
Really? Go back 150-200 years there was no NHS, no minimum wage, no social housing, no unemployment benefits, no state pension etc. Your ancestors really were left to the mercy of the market then with at most a bit of poor relief or the workhouse and the odd alms house and church soup kitchen for support.
This government I would also remind you was elected, given you couldn't even be bothered to vote in that election why on earth should we care what your opinion is of it and the previous government it defeated anyway?
I think the NHS was a regrettable development.
Since it saved my life, I beg to differ.
Being our main source of medical care, and especially emergency medical care, it has saved millions of lives. If we had an updated version of the patchwork of friendly societies, private hospitals, charitable hospitals etc. etc. that preceded it, that would be the major saver of lives.
It would indeed be the major saver of lives... but I very much doubt it would have saved mine.
I cannot comment on the specifics of your case. But I will say that I believe in healthcare for all, with provision for those unable to pay. I just think the NHS itself isn't the way to do it.
Without the NHS I would not be able to comment on the specifics of my case.
For you it's theory; for me it's reality.
OK - if you want to make that experience public, I would certainly be interested. If you don't, that's fine too.
I broke my back as a teenager, in 1979 in a road traffic accident, and became a paraplegic.
Soon after my accident, the NHS moved me to Stoke Mandeville (from Sussex) and their rehabilitation support led me to lead a fulfilling life, employed in IT and finance - I have paid back in tax many times over the cost of my care but at the time there was no likelihood that I would.
What treatment would I have received without the NHS? My family could not have afforded the ambulance service, let alone the months of care and rehabilitation I received.
Friendly societies, private hospitals, charitable hospitals etc.? At best they'd have eased my decline and early demise.
For me it's personal.
And yet France, Germany, Holland, Austria, etc., don't have the NHS and still manage to look after children who get into traffic accidents.
And better cancer survival rates, shorter waits for treatment, better emergency care etc. etc. etc.
The NHS provides pretty substandard care amongst OECD care at an about-average price.
So we definitely shouldn't idolise it or take it personally or treat it sentimentally when we're discussing health policy. It's a means to an end, and there are other means which may serve our countries better. Other kids who get into traffic accidents, and indeed all other patients, deserve nothing less.
How Trump picks his team ... be one of the 'family' or a family friend.
Caine who will be in Chair of the Joint Chief of Staffs had a position with Thrive Capital - part of the Kushner family investments. Looking more like a kleptocracy every day.
Caine has also worked in the private sector. He is currently a partner at Ribbid Capital, a venture capital firm founded in Silicon Valley and a partner at Shield Capital, according to his LinkedIn. He is also on the board of Voyager Space, a space and defense firm and an advisor for Thrive Capital.
Tory Robert Jenrick forced to correct CV - after accusing Labour MPs of embellishing theirs ... In a biography on his website, Mr Jenrick claims to have been "the joint youngest Cabinet Minister since the Second World War, tied with Harold Wilson and William Hague" when he was made Housing Secretary in 2019.
Hoist by his own petard. You'd expect him to have checked his own claims before attacking Labour figures.
Whilst I’m not a particular fan of his, a biography on his website isn’t a CV. He’s an idiot for not checking anything that went out about him as Reeves was.
Reeves would only have to resign if she had lied on her actual CV in order to gain from it by getting a new job or position.
Jenrick is an idiot for not checking his own claims immediately before making attacks on others for theirs, and especially before calling for resignations.
ETA and this is the same sort of rushed preparation that leads Kemi into kamikaze attacks at PMQs. Jenrick is no panacea.
Will the last person out of US federal government please turn out the lights! 😂
Elon Musk @elonmusk · 2h Consistent with President @realDonaldTrump ’s instructions, all federal employees will shortly receive an email requesting to understand what they got done last week.
Failure to respond will be taken as a resignation.
We tend to look for method in the madness with these sorts of things, because it seems like such a strange way to go about the purported task - like, seriously, how would that even be an efficient or useful way of determining if employees were in fact doing anything effective? - and with such unrealistic timescales, that it's tempting to search for the 'real' plan or goal behind such a message.
As on its face it's just silly.
It appeals to those who have a simple view of the world and who believe in simplistic stories of the public sector being full of employees who are shirking doing any work. It is Poujadism.
Lost SGD 50 at the Marina Bay Casino this morning which, I am told, takes more money than the whole of Macau - not sure I believe that. The locals have to pay SGD 150 to go in but for the foreigners it’s free.
The roulette, mahjong and baccarat tables were doing good business on a Sunday morning.
The Chinese visitors were obviously making their contribution but I still prefer the Vegas casinos.
Are “they” all the same, political parties, I mean? To a point, yes, inasmuch as they individually and collectIvely believe they can provide the best governance for the citizens of the United Kingdom. The disagreement is always on means rather than ends.
The current economic malaise (it’s also social, cultural and arguably spiritual) stems from many causes but breaking out of it seems beyond all political thinking at this time. Yes, we can tinker round the edges but the fundamentals of an ageing population mitigate against the growth levels of past decades.
Longer term, I’m far more hopeful but in the short term we need to redefine some fundamentals especially but not exclusively the relationship between the State and the citizen.
How Trump picks his team ... be one of the 'family' or a family friend.
Caine who will be in Chair of the Joint Chief of Staffs had a position with Thrive Capital - part of the Kushner family investments. Looking more like a kleptocracy every day.
Caine has also worked in the private sector. He is currently a partner at Ribbid Capital, a venture capital firm founded in Silicon Valley and a partner at Shield Capital, according to his LinkedIn. He is also on the board of Voyager Space, a space and defense firm and an advisor for Thrive Capital.
Musk filled Tesla's board with family and friends. That way, you can pretend to have a board examining your actions, but instead just have close yes-men.
Bali scooter crash with lorry was 'like a horror movie'
A North Lanarkshire woman who nearly died in a freak accident in Bali has returned to the Indonesian island just seven months after the crash.
Charlene Morrissey, from Airdrie, was on her way to a camping trip in a remote area near Mount Agung in July when her scooter collided with an HGV.
The 34-year-old's arm got trapped inside the truck wheel and was "completely crushed".
It's quite a story, but I don't get "her scooter collided" or "freak accident".
She and/or the lorry driver chose to drive too close together, and she came of worse. Just what happens every day, everywhere - even here. There's been a meme for years about "self-driving motor vehicles", where collisions have nothing whatsoever to do with the driver.
That's a battle for accurate language still being fought.
My guess is the scooter was sitting or slipstreaming in the lorry's blind spot and got caught on the inside as it turned. Most of the 10 cyclists killed in London last year died in collisions with larger vehicles like buses or lorries rather than being hit by cars. There should perhaps be a public information campaign about how large vehicles turn. I've seen even car drivers caught out often enough.
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.
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.
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
Ye Gods it's on video.
A serious illness that was not his fault and was not insurable might help his perspective.
This sounds like Trump's writing off of soldiers wounded in action as "losers". It's poisonous.
Especially as Dr Oz hmself has been a snake-oil salesman.
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.
Well maybe in fantasy lefty land, Starmer will be a great pm in the same way as genghis khan was seen as a pacifist who preached peace and love
I think Starmer will be remembered, post-power, in the same vein as Eden, Callaghan, Major, May and Sunak. And Carter, Hollande, Scholz. Decent enough person but couldn’t quite rise to the occasion.
Sorry decent person doesn't cut it he wanted to be a leader but he cannot lead Being a nice guy doesn't cut it else we would have elected Ed Davey
Given the events of the last month it is quite possible that within a year we shall have a government of national unity; and if I had the choice of the two to lead it right now I would go for Blair (for whom I never voted) and Cameron.
We won't have a government of national unity within a year because there is no national unity frankly.....there are people like most on here that are ok and thinking the status quo is just dandy....then there is people like me who rent and dont see our pay rising and about to start tearing things down frankly.... my pay rise this year 1%, my power bill up 10% my water up 10% my council tax up 5% rent up 12% food prices up by more than 1% story of the last quarter decade.......where are we going to find national unity when most politicians come from a class that never suffered that and most middle classes like here don't either?
Well unless you work for a nationalised industry or the state, earn minimum wage or live in state provided housing not a huge amount the government can do about that given the global rise in prices and cost of living since the Ukraine war and Covid and now with Trump's tariffs coming along too. Even council tax is the council's responsibility.
Though they could maybe do more to support our farmers to reduce food prices and 'drill baby drill' to increase energy supplies. Plenty of votes have been cast in protest for Corbyn and now for Farage, it doesn't mean they have the answers either
Really do fuck off,government policies have led to the bottom 50% being in this situation and frankly the tories and labour and all politicians can fuck right off. They govern for the interests of people like them and dont give a shit about the rest of us and they wont till we say enough and start dragging them out into to the street
Really? Go back 150-200 years there was no NHS, no minimum wage, no social housing, no unemployment benefits, no state pension etc. Your ancestors really were left to the mercy of the market then with at most a bit of poor relief or the workhouse and the odd alms house and church soup kitchen for support.
This government I would also remind you was elected, given you couldn't even be bothered to vote in that election why on earth should we care what your opinion is of it and the previous government it defeated anyway?
I think the NHS was a regrettable development.
Since it saved my life, I beg to differ.
Being our main source of medical care, and especially emergency medical care, it has saved millions of lives. If we had an updated version of the patchwork of friendly societies, private hospitals, charitable hospitals etc. etc. that preceded it, that would be the major saver of lives.
It would indeed be the major saver of lives... but I very much doubt it would have saved mine.
I cannot comment on the specifics of your case. But I will say that I believe in healthcare for all, with provision for those unable to pay. I just think the NHS itself isn't the way to do it.
Without the NHS I would not be able to comment on the specifics of my case.
For you it's theory; for me it's reality.
OK - if you want to make that experience public, I would certainly be interested. If you don't, that's fine too.
I broke my back as a teenager, in 1979 in a road traffic accident, and became a paraplegic.
Soon after my accident, the NHS moved me to Stoke Mandeville (from Sussex) and their rehabilitation support led me to lead a fulfilling life, employed in IT and finance - I have paid back in tax many times over the cost of my care but at the time there was no likelihood that I would.
What treatment would I have received without the NHS? My family could not have afforded the ambulance service, let alone the months of care and rehabilitation I received.
Friendly societies, private hospitals, charitable hospitals etc.? At best they'd have eased my decline and early demise.
For me it's personal.
And yet France, Germany, Holland, Austria, etc., don't have the NHS and still manage to look after children who get into traffic accidents.
And better cancer survival rates, shorter waits for treatment, better emergency care etc. etc. etc.
The NHS provides pretty substandard care amongst OECD care at an about-average price.
So we definitely shouldn't idolise it or take it personally or treat it sentimentally when we're discussing health policy. It's a means to an end, and there are other means which may serve our countries better. Other kids who get into traffic accidents, and indeed all other patients, deserve nothing less.
I think the point is that the NHS isn't the best ranked health system in the world, and some other countries do better. I think it's a bit of a straw man as most people already know this.
But it's worth asking what specifically people would change. There are all kinds of differences and similarities between all these other countries as well as with the UK.
The one outlier is the US which spends a lot more money than everywhere else for generally worse outcomes.
Consistent with President @realDonaldTrump’s instructions, all federal employees will shortly receive an email requesting to understand what they got done last week.
Failure to respond will be taken as a resignation.
I'm starting to feel slightly more optimistic.
The levels of overreach from AfD's american branch and its own pet teen nazis are going to cause a reaction.
America is better than this and the fight back will begin soon.
Let's hope so. But these guys know what they're doing and they've got lots of obedient followers who are well tooled-up. "Fight fight fight". This is the problem. Can they start a civil war? Probably yes.
I hadn't realised this before, but the first letters of "fight fight fight" spell 666.
Here is the email that was sent:
How many of the 2 million people it was sent to will hit reply all?
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.
Well maybe in fantasy lefty land, Starmer will be a great pm in the same way as genghis khan was seen as a pacifist who preached peace and love
I think Starmer will be remembered, post-power, in the same vein as Eden, Callaghan, Major, May and Sunak. And Carter, Hollande, Scholz. Decent enough person but couldn’t quite rise to the occasion.
Sorry decent person doesn't cut it he wanted to be a leader but he cannot lead Being a nice guy doesn't cut it else we would have elected Ed Davey
Given the events of the last month it is quite possible that within a year we shall have a government of national unity; and if I had the choice of the two to lead it right now I would go for Blair (for whom I never voted) and Cameron.
We won't have a government of national unity within a year because there is no national unity frankly.....there are people like most on here that are ok and thinking the status quo is just dandy....then there is people like me who rent and dont see our pay rising and about to start tearing things down frankly.... my pay rise this year 1%, my power bill up 10% my water up 10% my council tax up 5% rent up 12% food prices up by more than 1% story of the last quarter decade.......where are we going to find national unity when most politicians come from a class that never suffered that and most middle classes like here don't either?
Well unless you work for a nationalised industry or the state, earn minimum wage or live in state provided housing not a huge amount the government can do about that given the global rise in prices and cost of living since the Ukraine war and Covid and now with Trump's tariffs coming along too. Even council tax is the council's responsibility.
Though they could maybe do more to support our farmers to reduce food prices and 'drill baby drill' to increase energy supplies. Plenty of votes have been cast in protest for Corbyn and now for Farage, it doesn't mean they have the answers either
Really do fuck off,government policies have led to the bottom 50% being in this situation and frankly the tories and labour and all politicians can fuck right off. They govern for the interests of people like them and dont give a shit about the rest of us and they wont till we say enough and start dragging them out into to the street
Really? Go back 150-200 years there was no NHS, no minimum wage, no social housing, no unemployment benefits, no state pension etc. Your ancestors really were left to the mercy of the market then with at most a bit of poor relief or the workhouse and the odd alms house and church soup kitchen for support.
This government I would also remind you was elected, given you couldn't even be bothered to vote in that election why on earth should we care what your opinion is of it and the previous government it defeated anyway?
I think the NHS was a regrettable development.
Since it saved my life, I beg to differ.
Being our main source of medical care, and especially emergency medical care, it has saved millions of lives. If we had an updated version of the patchwork of friendly societies, private hospitals, charitable hospitals etc. etc. that preceded it, that would be the major saver of lives.
It would indeed be the major saver of lives... but I very much doubt it would have saved mine.
I cannot comment on the specifics of your case. But I will say that I believe in healthcare for all, with provision for those unable to pay. I just think the NHS itself isn't the way to do it.
Without the NHS I would not be able to comment on the specifics of my case.
For you it's theory; for me it's reality.
OK - if you want to make that experience public, I would certainly be interested. If you don't, that's fine too.
I broke my back as a teenager, in 1979 in a road traffic accident, and became a paraplegic.
Soon after my accident, the NHS moved me to Stoke Mandeville (from Sussex) and their rehabilitation support led me to lead a fulfilling life, employed in IT and finance - I have paid back in tax many times over the cost of my care but at the time there was no likelihood that I would.
What treatment would I have received without the NHS? My family could not have afforded the ambulance service, let alone the months of care and rehabilitation I received.
Friendly societies, private hospitals, charitable hospitals etc.? At best they'd have eased my decline and early demise.
For me it's personal.
And yet France, Germany, Holland, Austria, etc., don't have the NHS and still manage to look after children who get into traffic accidents.
And better cancer survival rates, shorter waits for treatment, better emergency care etc. etc. etc.
The NHS provides pretty substandard care amongst OECD care at an about-average price.
So we definitely shouldn't idolise it or take it personally or treat it sentimentally when we're discussing health policy. It's a means to an end, and there are other means which may serve our countries better. Other kids who get into traffic accidents, and indeed all other patients, deserve nothing less.
I think the point is that the NHS isn't the best ranked health system in the world, and some other countries do better. I think it's a bit of a straw man as most people already know this.
But it's worth asking what specifically people would change. There are all kinds of differences and similarities between all these other countries as well as with the UK.
The one outlier is the US which spends a lot more money than everywhere else for generally worse outcomes.
Edit - the US also being the place most likely to bankrupt people with healthcare costs/where people don't get treatment because they can't afford it. Which is probably the thing people want to avoid when they say they want to protect the NHS.
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.
Well maybe in fantasy lefty land, Starmer will be a great pm in the same way as genghis khan was seen as a pacifist who preached peace and love
I think Starmer will be remembered, post-power, in the same vein as Eden, Callaghan, Major, May and Sunak. And Carter, Hollande, Scholz. Decent enough person but couldn’t quite rise to the occasion.
Sorry decent person doesn't cut it he wanted to be a leader but he cannot lead Being a nice guy doesn't cut it else we would have elected Ed Davey
Given the events of the last month it is quite possible that within a year we shall have a government of national unity; and if I had the choice of the two to lead it right now I would go for Blair (for whom I never voted) and Cameron.
We won't have a government of national unity within a year because there is no national unity frankly.....there are people like most on here that are ok and thinking the status quo is just dandy....then there is people like me who rent and dont see our pay rising and about to start tearing things down frankly.... my pay rise this year 1%, my power bill up 10% my water up 10% my council tax up 5% rent up 12% food prices up by more than 1% story of the last quarter decade.......where are we going to find national unity when most politicians come from a class that never suffered that and most middle classes like here don't either?
Well unless you work for a nationalised industry or the state, earn minimum wage or live in state provided housing not a huge amount the government can do about that given the global rise in prices and cost of living since the Ukraine war and Covid and now with Trump's tariffs coming along too. Even council tax is the council's responsibility.
Though they could maybe do more to support our farmers to reduce food prices and 'drill baby drill' to increase energy supplies. Plenty of votes have been cast in protest for Corbyn and now for Farage, it doesn't mean they have the answers either
Really do fuck off,government policies have led to the bottom 50% being in this situation and frankly the tories and labour and all politicians can fuck right off. They govern for the interests of people like them and dont give a shit about the rest of us and they wont till we say enough and start dragging them out into to the street
Really? Go back 150-200 years there was no NHS, no minimum wage, no social housing, no unemployment benefits, no state pension etc. Your ancestors really were left to the mercy of the market then with at most a bit of poor relief or the workhouse and the odd alms house and church soup kitchen for support.
This government I would also remind you was elected, given you couldn't even be bothered to vote in that election why on earth should we care what your opinion is of it and the previous government it defeated anyway?
I think the NHS was a regrettable development.
Since it saved my life, I beg to differ.
Being our main source of medical care, and especially emergency medical care, it has saved millions of lives. If we had an updated version of the patchwork of friendly societies, private hospitals, charitable hospitals etc. etc. that preceded it, that would be the major saver of lives.
It would indeed be the major saver of lives... but I very much doubt it would have saved mine.
I cannot comment on the specifics of your case. But I will say that I believe in healthcare for all, with provision for those unable to pay. I just think the NHS itself isn't the way to do it.
Without the NHS I would not be able to comment on the specifics of my case.
For you it's theory; for me it's reality.
OK - if you want to make that experience public, I would certainly be interested. If you don't, that's fine too.
I broke my back as a teenager, in 1979 in a road traffic accident, and became a paraplegic.
Soon after my accident, the NHS moved me to Stoke Mandeville (from Sussex) and their rehabilitation support led me to lead a fulfilling life, employed in IT and finance - I have paid back in tax many times over the cost of my care but at the time there was no likelihood that I would.
What treatment would I have received without the NHS? My family could not have afforded the ambulance service, let alone the months of care and rehabilitation I received.
Friendly societies, private hospitals, charitable hospitals etc.? At best they'd have eased my decline and early demise.
For me it's personal.
And yet France, Germany, Holland, Austria, etc., don't have the NHS and still manage to look after children who get into traffic accidents.
And better cancer survival rates, shorter waits for treatment, better emergency care etc. etc. etc.
The NHS provides pretty substandard care amongst OECD care at an about-average price.
So we definitely shouldn't idolise it or take it personally or treat it sentimentally when we're discussing health policy. It's a means to an end, and there are other means which may serve our countries better. Other kids who get into traffic accidents, and indeed all other patients, deserve nothing less.
I think the point is that the NHS isn't the best ranked health system in the world, and some other countries do better. I think it's a bit of a straw man as most people already know this.
But it's worth asking what specifically people would change. There are all kinds of differences and similarities between all these other countries as well as with the UK.
The one outlier is the US which spends a lot more money than everywhere else for generally worse outcomes.
Critics of the NHS often point to the French system. What’s notable about the French system is that it has substantially higher spending per capita than in the UK.
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.
Well maybe in fantasy lefty land, Starmer will be a great pm in the same way as genghis khan was seen as a pacifist who preached peace and love
I think Starmer will be remembered, post-power, in the same vein as Eden, Callaghan, Major, May and Sunak. And Carter, Hollande, Scholz. Decent enough person but couldn’t quite rise to the occasion.
Sorry decent person doesn't cut it he wanted to be a leader but he cannot lead Being a nice guy doesn't cut it else we would have elected Ed Davey
Given the events of the last month it is quite possible that within a year we shall have a government of national unity; and if I had the choice of the two to lead it right now I would go for Blair (for whom I never voted) and Cameron.
We won't have a government of national unity within a year because there is no national unity frankly.....there are people like most on here that are ok and thinking the status quo is just dandy....then there is people like me who rent and dont see our pay rising and about to start tearing things down frankly.... my pay rise this year 1%, my power bill up 10% my water up 10% my council tax up 5% rent up 12% food prices up by more than 1% story of the last quarter decade.......where are we going to find national unity when most politicians come from a class that never suffered that and most middle classes like here don't either?
Well unless you work for a nationalised industry or the state, earn minimum wage or live in state provided housing not a huge amount the government can do about that given the global rise in prices and cost of living since the Ukraine war and Covid and now with Trump's tariffs coming along too. Even council tax is the council's responsibility.
Though they could maybe do more to support our farmers to reduce food prices and 'drill baby drill' to increase energy supplies. Plenty of votes have been cast in protest for Corbyn and now for Farage, it doesn't mean they have the answers either
Really do fuck off,government policies have led to the bottom 50% being in this situation and frankly the tories and labour and all politicians can fuck right off. They govern for the interests of people like them and dont give a shit about the rest of us and they wont till we say enough and start dragging them out into to the street
Really? Go back 150-200 years there was no NHS, no minimum wage, no social housing, no unemployment benefits, no state pension etc. Your ancestors really were left to the mercy of the market then with at most a bit of poor relief or the workhouse and the odd alms house and church soup kitchen for support.
This government I would also remind you was elected, given you couldn't even be bothered to vote in that election why on earth should we care what your opinion is of it and the previous government it defeated anyway?
I think the NHS was a regrettable development.
Since it saved my life, I beg to differ.
Being our main source of medical care, and especially emergency medical care, it has saved millions of lives. If we had an updated version of the patchwork of friendly societies, private hospitals, charitable hospitals etc. etc. that preceded it, that would be the major saver of lives.
It would indeed be the major saver of lives... but I very much doubt it would have saved mine.
I cannot comment on the specifics of your case. But I will say that I believe in healthcare for all, with provision for those unable to pay. I just think the NHS itself isn't the way to do it.
Without the NHS I would not be able to comment on the specifics of my case.
For you it's theory; for me it's reality.
OK - if you want to make that experience public, I would certainly be interested. If you don't, that's fine too.
I broke my back as a teenager, in 1979 in a road traffic accident, and became a paraplegic.
Soon after my accident, the NHS moved me to Stoke Mandeville (from Sussex) and their rehabilitation support led me to lead a fulfilling life, employed in IT and finance - I have paid back in tax many times over the cost of my care but at the time there was no likelihood that I would.
What treatment would I have received without the NHS? My family could not have afforded the ambulance service, let alone the months of care and rehabilitation I received.
Friendly societies, private hospitals, charitable hospitals etc.? At best they'd have eased my decline and early demise.
For me it's personal.
And yet France, Germany, Holland, Austria, etc., don't have the NHS and still manage to look after children who get into traffic accidents.
And better cancer survival rates, shorter waits for treatment, better emergency care etc. etc. etc.
The NHS provides pretty substandard care amongst OECD care at an about-average price.
So we definitely shouldn't idolise it or take it personally or treat it sentimentally when we're discussing health policy. It's a means to an end, and there are other means which may serve our countries better. Other kids who get into traffic accidents, and indeed all other patients, deserve nothing less.
I think the point is that the NHS isn't the best ranked health system in the world, and some other countries do better. I think it's a bit of a straw man as most people already know this.
But it's worth asking what specifically people would change. There are all kinds of differences and similarities between all these other countries as well as with the UK.
The one outlier is the US which spends a lot more money than everywhere else for generally worse outcomes.
Edit - the US also being the place most likely to bankrupt people with healthcare costs/where people don't get treatment because they can't afford it. Which is probably the thing people want to avoid when they say they want to protect the NHS.
Just coming back to this my argument with Lucky was his suggestion that you could replace the NHS with "an updated version of the patchwork of friendly societies, private hospitals, charitable hospitals etc. etc."
I don't say the NHS couldn't be reformed or even replaced but I doubt the replacement would look very different, cost any less, or perform much better than the current system does.
(The US system would not be acceptable to the population at large imo.)
How Trump picks his team ... be one of the 'family' or a family friend.
Caine who will be in Chair of the Joint Chief of Staffs had a position with Thrive Capital - part of the Kushner family investments. Looking more like a kleptocracy every day.
Caine has also worked in the private sector. He is currently a partner at Ribbid Capital, a venture capital firm founded in Silicon Valley and a partner at Shield Capital, according to his LinkedIn. He is also on the board of Voyager Space, a space and defense firm and an advisor for Thrive Capital.
How Trump picks his team ... be one of the 'family' or a family friend.
Caine who will be in Chair of the Joint Chief of Staffs had a position with Thrive Capital - part of the Kushner family investments. Looking more like a kleptocracy every day.
Caine has also worked in the private sector. He is currently a partner at Ribbid Capital, a venture capital firm founded in Silicon Valley and a partner at Shield Capital, according to his LinkedIn. He is also on the board of Voyager Space, a space and defense firm and an advisor for Thrive Capital.
An interesting hypothetical if you’re wondering if Elon Musk is a genius or not is to compare his behaviour in any situation to what a complete moron would do in the same situation
How Trump picks his team ... be one of the 'family' or a family friend.
Caine who will be in Chair of the Joint Chief of Staffs had a position with Thrive Capital - part of the Kushner family investments. Looking more like a kleptocracy every day.
Caine has also worked in the private sector. He is currently a partner at Ribbid Capital, a venture capital firm founded in Silicon Valley and a partner at Shield Capital, according to his LinkedIn. He is also on the board of Voyager Space, a space and defense firm and an advisor for Thrive Capital.
Kleptocracy would be better than what the US has - which is a kakistocracy - "Government by the least suitable or competent citizens of a state".
A political system that relies on billions of advertising dollars requires access to billions such as those provided by the US taxpayer. At least in the UK there are limits.
Consistent with President @realDonaldTrump’s instructions, all federal employees will shortly receive an email requesting to understand what they got done last week.
Failure to respond will be taken as a resignation.
I'm starting to feel slightly more optimistic.
The levels of overreach from AfD's american branch and its own pet teen nazis are going to cause a reaction.
America is better than this and the fight back will begin soon.
Let's hope so. But these guys know what they're doing and they've got lots of obedient followers who are well tooled-up. "Fight fight fight". This is the problem. Can they start a civil war? Probably yes.
I hadn't realised this before, but the first letters of "fight fight fight" spell 666.
Here is the email that was sent:
How many of the 2 million people it was sent to will hit reply all?
Presumably they are all in bcc rather than cc. The latter is a cardinal error with mailing lists as then everyone has everyone else's email details.
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.
Well maybe in fantasy lefty land, Starmer will be a great pm in the same way as genghis khan was seen as a pacifist who preached peace and love
I think Starmer will be remembered, post-power, in the same vein as Eden, Callaghan, Major, May and Sunak. And Carter, Hollande, Scholz. Decent enough person but couldn’t quite rise to the occasion.
Sorry decent person doesn't cut it he wanted to be a leader but he cannot lead Being a nice guy doesn't cut it else we would have elected Ed Davey
Given the events of the last month it is quite possible that within a year we shall have a government of national unity; and if I had the choice of the two to lead it right now I would go for Blair (for whom I never voted) and Cameron.
We won't have a government of national unity within a year because there is no national unity frankly.....there are people like most on here that are ok and thinking the status quo is just dandy....then there is people like me who rent and dont see our pay rising and about to start tearing things down frankly.... my pay rise this year 1%, my power bill up 10% my water up 10% my council tax up 5% rent up 12% food prices up by more than 1% story of the last quarter decade.......where are we going to find national unity when most politicians come from a class that never suffered that and most middle classes like here don't either?
Well unless you work for a nationalised industry or the state, earn minimum wage or live in state provided housing not a huge amount the government can do about that given the global rise in prices and cost of living since the Ukraine war and Covid and now with Trump's tariffs coming along too. Even council tax is the council's responsibility.
Though they could maybe do more to support our farmers to reduce food prices and 'drill baby drill' to increase energy supplies. Plenty of votes have been cast in protest for Corbyn and now for Farage, it doesn't mean they have the answers either
Really do fuck off,government policies have led to the bottom 50% being in this situation and frankly the tories and labour and all politicians can fuck right off. They govern for the interests of people like them and dont give a shit about the rest of us and they wont till we say enough and start dragging them out into to the street
Really? Go back 150-200 years there was no NHS, no minimum wage, no social housing, no unemployment benefits, no state pension etc. Your ancestors really were left to the mercy of the market then with at most a bit of poor relief or the workhouse and the odd alms house and church soup kitchen for support.
This government I would also remind you was elected, given you couldn't even be bothered to vote in that election why on earth should we care what your opinion is of it and the previous government it defeated anyway?
I think the NHS was a regrettable development.
Since it saved my life, I beg to differ.
Being our main source of medical care, and especially emergency medical care, it has saved millions of lives. If we had an updated version of the patchwork of friendly societies, private hospitals, charitable hospitals etc. etc. that preceded it, that would be the major saver of lives.
It would indeed be the major saver of lives... but I very much doubt it would have saved mine.
I cannot comment on the specifics of your case. But I will say that I believe in healthcare for all, with provision for those unable to pay. I just think the NHS itself isn't the way to do it.
Without the NHS I would not be able to comment on the specifics of my case.
For you it's theory; for me it's reality.
OK - if you want to make that experience public, I would certainly be interested. If you don't, that's fine too.
I broke my back as a teenager, in 1979 in a road traffic accident, and became a paraplegic.
Soon after my accident, the NHS moved me to Stoke Mandeville (from Sussex) and their rehabilitation support led me to lead a fulfilling life, employed in IT and finance - I have paid back in tax many times over the cost of my care but at the time there was no likelihood that I would.
What treatment would I have received without the NHS? My family could not have afforded the ambulance service, let alone the months of care and rehabilitation I received.
Friendly societies, private hospitals, charitable hospitals etc.? At best they'd have eased my decline and early demise.
For me it's personal.
And yet France, Germany, Holland, Austria, etc., don't have the NHS and still manage to look after children who get into traffic accidents.
And better cancer survival rates, shorter waits for treatment, better emergency care etc. etc. etc.
The NHS provides pretty substandard care amongst OECD care at an about-average price.
So we definitely shouldn't idolise it or take it personally or treat it sentimentally when we're discussing health policy. It's a means to an end, and there are other means which may serve our countries better. Other kids who get into traffic accidents, and indeed all other patients, deserve nothing less.
I think the point is that the NHS isn't the best ranked health system in the world, and some other countries do better. I think it's a bit of a straw man as most people already know this.
But it's worth asking what specifically people would change. There are all kinds of differences and similarities between all these other countries as well as with the UK.
The one outlier is the US which spends a lot more money than everywhere else for generally worse outcomes.
Critics of the NHS often point to the French system. What’s notable about the French system is that it has substantially higher spending per capita than in the UK.
Had lunch with an old friend last week - an avowedly centre-right soft Tory. He surprised me by saying it would be much better if we stopped trying to pretend we could have first-class public services on the cheap - he'd prefer it if we were taxed a bit more and had better services... like, e.g. France (his example).
Consistent with President @realDonaldTrump’s instructions, all federal employees will shortly receive an email requesting to understand what they got done last week.
Failure to respond will be taken as a resignation.
I'm starting to feel slightly more optimistic.
The levels of overreach from AfD's american branch and its own pet teen nazis are going to cause a reaction.
America is better than this and the fight back will begin soon.
Let's hope so. But these guys know what they're doing and they've got lots of obedient followers who are well tooled-up. "Fight fight fight". This is the problem. Can they start a civil war? Probably yes.
I hadn't realised this before, but the first letters of "fight fight fight" spell 666.
Here is the email that was sent:
How many of the 2 million people it was sent to will hit reply all?
Presumably they are all in bcc rather than cc. The latter is a cardinal error with mailing lists as then everyone has everyone else's email details.
I love how we still use the term 'carbon copy'. Although I suspect many younger folk have no idea that this is what cc stands for.
Comments
The aim, of course, is to have enough approaches that you can say no to most of them - or most of them say no to your number - thereby maximising revenue whilst minimising brand dilution. Your viewers have a limited tolerance for adverts.
All they can hope is Trump's tariffs lead to massive inflation and recession, Hispanic voters are infuriated by his deportatations, people can't get healthcare and start to get very ill and basically America goes down the plughole...by which point voters might consider them again
You may be too young to remember Bill Hicks, a comedian of some note in the 90's. I won't post the sketch because it's wildly offensive, but...well, it's not a good thing to advertise products you don't believe in.
Soon after my accident, the NHS moved me to Stoke Mandeville (from Sussex) and their rehabilitation support led me to lead a fulfilling life, employed in IT and finance - I have paid back in tax many times over the cost of my care but at the time there was no likelihood that I would.
What treatment would I have received without the NHS? My family could not have afforded the ambulance service, let alone the months of care and rehabilitation I received.
Friendly societies, private hospitals, charitable hospitals etc.? At best they'd have eased my decline and early demise.
For me it's personal.
How did you find out ?
I don’t think the set up pre 1946 would have sustained. Back then we barely had antibiotics, virtually no cancer care, no joint replacement, no heart surgery. Generally it WAS about managing decline. So much has changed, we can do so much more, yet it all costs.
Ultimately we probably need to move to some kind of insurance based system, with safety netting. And accept limitations on care.
Let's ignore the fact that they were arguing in court last week that he doesn't work for the government and has no authority, and go with this instead...
@nyahphengsitthy
New: The FDA late Friday started reversing termination notices for some employees that were laid off, informing workers to return to work after mass firings a week ago.
https://x.com/nyahphengsitthy/status/1893365303389639026
(I doubt it's either of these but those radio waves will have increased exponentially since the early 1990s. Truth is, we just don't know.)
Hm. Interesting. Has Mayor Pete got under the orange skin?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=485Em2JF34M
"Fat, no steak or cream pies, or hot fudge. Those were thought to be unhealthy. Precisely the opposite what we now know to be true."
Hurrah!...
There are times when I wonder -- briefly -- whether some evil billionaire is using Senator Sanders to sabotage the Democratic Party by pushing it out of the center. (Pete Buttigieg seems to understand those costs, but many other Democrats do not.)
(I would take Sanders more seriously if the millionaire gave up one of his three homes for a homeless shelter -- and if his past weren't so dubious in many ways: https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2019/05/24/bernie-sanders-millionaires-226982/
Including something not mentioned in that article: Solzhenitsyn lived in Vermont for years after his exile. As far as I can tell, Sanders, for all his interest in socialism and the old Soviet Union, never met the great author. Probably never even read Ivan Denisovich.)
Different people in a society can focus on more than one thing at a time, and I seriously doubt a problem like homelessness - which has been around at different levels forever - is being prevented from being solved because some techbros are getting investment funding to look into AI development.
And better cancer survival rates, shorter waits for treatment, better emergency care etc. etc. etc.
The NHS provides pretty substandard care amongst OECD care at an about-average price.
So we definitely shouldn't idolise it or take it personally or treat it sentimentally when we're discussing health policy. It's a means to an end, and there are other means which may serve our countries better. Other kids who get into traffic accidents, and indeed all other patients, deserve nothing less.
I don't have an instinctive desire to change anything from or to anything else in particular, but I feel like our politics reaches too quickly for the anecdote when it comes to the NHS, and as a society we're paranoid about it.
As on its face it's just silly.
So despite my other comment bewaring of reading sense into what might be nonsense, I assume there has to be something to all this haste and what appears to be clear overstepping of even putative authority. Are there wider issues that they want to get up to the SC for a favourable ruling and this is the quickest way or something, even if the specific action does not matter?
To many “the NHS” means free healthcare for all, as opposed to a private healthcare system. To others it means the specific structures of our current health service. To most Brits it is surely both.
As someone who’s used French healthcare I can say it’s generally very good, more efficient and effective than the UK, better outcomes, but a bit more bureaucratic and much more expensive.
We love you, carry on.
If not, no.
A act which is lawful but deplorable (to many) may lead to different responses (from opponents) or follow up actions (from Trump and co) than from something which is unlawful.
So, haha, good one, but the legality would matter, even if not as much as Democrats would prefer it to matter.
None of them are models of success.
Why am I down on that? I'd be perfect.
I hadn't realised this before, but the first letters of "fight fight fight" spell 666.
Here is the email that was sent:
I say go further - in each department set up a series of mental and physical contests in head to head matchups, with the loser to be fired. Repeat until there is one person left, and they can run the department (and, if necessary, start from scratch), as they are clearly the best person, and can absorb all the knowledge and skills of fired others.
There can be only one!
Recent events have confirmed what I was already thinking. My mind is made up.
As of this time next week I shall be moving full time into a Buddhist community.
Will continue to post.
Trump has ordered Muskoviç to be "more aggressive".
Keep going guys - eventually you will find where America snaps back.
Delete.
A bit trite and dramatic perhaps, but I think the original line's overdramatising of the perils of government bureaucracy and power does need puncturing a bit sometimes, as some people seem to think it is literal.
The federal government is now taking a long walk in the park.
Can basic services continue at the state level?
https://archive.is/Hxgjk
Those who enjoy the hobby of magnet fishing may find they're everybody's friends, late Monday afternoon.
Where there's equipment, there's a sabotage opportunity.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEJpZjg8GuA (38 mins)
Good article but he fails to ask the big question - what to do about it.
If there's about to be a huge lockout, hopefully people will get the hint. GENERAL STRIKE!
Having discovered the delight of Fried Youtiao with Kaya, I am ready to opine the best sporting action yesterday was the finish of the Saudi Cup between FOREVER YOUNG and ROMANTIC WARRIOR.
Are there similarities in other policies regardless of which party is in government? Yes, of course.
Is that because they're appealing to voters who want similar things? Also, yes.
If you want a policy changing, convince the public to vote for it.
Product placements, obviously $$$ depending on views and subs.
Raid shadow legends ?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cacerolazo
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1998–2002_Argentine_great_depression
The third day of the Darlington beer festival has been cancelled.
They've run out of beer.
Makes you proud to be British.
Beer blunder as Darlington CAMRA Beer Festival runs dry
https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/24956095.beer-blunder-darlington-camra-beer-festival-runs-dry/
People who do care about big Nige would do better keeping an eye on his colleague and rival Rupert Lowe, who seems to be Elon's new favourite.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Citadel_(novel)
...
In a biography on his website, Mr Jenrick claims to have been "the joint youngest Cabinet Minister since the Second World War, tied with Harold Wilson and William Hague" when he was made Housing Secretary in 2019.
But he was 37 at the time he was elevated to the cabinet, while Wilson and Hague were 31 and 34 respectively when reaching Cabinet minister status.
...
Mr Jenrick said on Twitter: "In the real world, if you lie about your CV you resign"
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/tory-robert-jenrick-forced-correct-34731218
Hoist by his own petard. You'd expect him to have checked his own claims before attacking Labour figures.
Reeves would only have to resign if she had lied on her actual CV in order to gain from it by getting a new job or position.
I find the "argument" that politicians aren't allowed to argue for more equality, better financial security for those at the bottom etc until they have personally given most of their wealth away to be pretty silly.
The article says he earns a good salary as a senator, but had a big jump in income from writing bestselling books. So what?
Caine who will be in Chair of the Joint Chief of Staffs had a position with Thrive Capital - part of the Kushner family investments. Looking more like a kleptocracy every day.
ETA and this is the same sort of rushed preparation that leads Kemi into kamikaze attacks at PMQs. Jenrick is no panacea.
Lost SGD 50 at the Marina Bay Casino this morning which, I am told, takes more money than the whole of Macau - not sure I believe that. The locals have to pay SGD 150 to go in but for the foreigners it’s free.
The roulette, mahjong and baccarat tables were doing good business on a Sunday morning.
The Chinese visitors were obviously making their contribution but I still prefer the Vegas casinos.
Are “they” all the same, political parties, I mean? To a point, yes, inasmuch as they individually and collectIvely believe they can provide the best governance for the citizens of the United Kingdom. The disagreement is always on means rather than ends.
The current economic malaise (it’s also social, cultural and arguably spiritual) stems from many causes but breaking out of it seems beyond all political thinking at this time. Yes, we can tinker round the edges but the fundamentals of an ageing population mitigate against the growth levels of past decades.
Longer term, I’m far more hopeful but in the short term we need to redefine some fundamentals especially but not exclusively the relationship between the State and the citizen.
A serious illness that was not his fault and was not insurable might help his perspective.
This sounds like Trump's writing off of soldiers wounded in action as "losers". It's poisonous.
Especially as Dr Oz hmself has been a snake-oil salesman.
But it's worth asking what specifically people would change. There are all kinds of differences and similarities between all these other countries as well as with the UK.
The one outlier is the US which spends a lot more money than everywhere else for generally worse outcomes.
I don't say the NHS couldn't be reformed or even replaced but I doubt the replacement would look very different, cost any less, or perform much better than the current system does.
(The US system would not be acceptable to the population at large imo.)
An interesting hypothetical if you’re wondering if Elon Musk is a genius or not is to compare his behaviour in any situation to what a complete moron would do in the same situation