I read most of a JG Ballard book last year, "High Rise". Regretfully it was so bad I stopped just over half way through, couldn't care less about any of the characters or what happened to them
SPOILER
The rapist shoots the architect and then gets stabbed to death. It’s a socialist allegory of the failure of Thatcherism.
With Farage calling for nationalisation yesterday, it felt a bit like something being stabbed? Like a kind of
“I have heard about Thatcherism, but it’s not a theory I have ever ascribed to.”
High Rise was written before Thatcher became leader of the opposition let alone instigated Thatcherism.
JUST NOW: Rep Steven Horsford GRILLS Jamieson Greer on Donald Trump’s tariff reversal: “Is this market manipulation? If it’s not market manipulation, what is it? Who’s benefiting? What billionaire just got richer?”
"American greatness has produced a society whose members know not what to do with the freedom and abundance that earlier generations secured. We are now witnessing the squandering of this inheritance, and it is even more idiotic and vulgar a spectacle than anyone would expect."
I read most of a JG Ballard book last year, "High Rise". Regretfully it was so bad I stopped just over half way through, couldn't care less about any of the characters or what happened to them
"American greatness has produced a society whose members know not what to do with the freedom and abundance that earlier generations secured. We are now witnessing the squandering of this inheritance, and it is even more idiotic and vulgar a spectacle than anyone would expect."
I suspect there is much in this, but really, people only have themselves to blame if they're bored. Read a book. Join a choir. Go for a walk. Take up birdwatching. Go to church. Do community theatre. Join a political party. Join a walking group. There are so many things to do, people just need to get off their arse.
"American greatness has produced a society whose members know not what to do with the freedom and abundance that earlier generations secured. We are now witnessing the squandering of this inheritance, and it is even more idiotic and vulgar a spectacle than anyone would expect."
I suspect there is much in this, but really, people only have themselves to blame if they're bored. Read a book. Join a choir. Go for a walk. Take up birdwatching. Go to church. Do community theatre. Join a political party. Join a walking group. There are so many things to do, people just need to get off their arse.
Its not just that I think. Many modern jobs are wholly lacking in purpose many are "make work" that add no value at all. Working in a factory may be hard but you saw the end result of your labours at the end of the day.
"American greatness has produced a society whose members know not what to do with the freedom and abundance that earlier generations secured. We are now witnessing the squandering of this inheritance, and it is even more idiotic and vulgar a spectacle than anyone would expect."
I suspect there is much in this, but really, people only have themselves to blame if they're bored. Read a book. Join a choir. Go for a walk. Take up birdwatching. Go to church. Do community theatre. Join a political party. Join a walking group. There are so many things to do, people just need to get off their arse.
"American greatness has produced a society whose members know not what to do with the freedom and abundance that earlier generations secured. We are now witnessing the squandering of this inheritance, and it is even more idiotic and vulgar a spectacle than anyone would expect."
I suspect there is much in this, but really, people only have themselves to blame if they're bored. Read a book. Join a choir. Go for a walk. Take up birdwatching. Go to church. Do community theatre. Join a political party. Join a walking group. There are so many things to do, people just need to get off their arse.
Yes, voting for shambolic fascists seems an odd response to boredom.
So, as kinda predicted, Trump kinda reverses but pretends it’s a victory. The instability will kill the US economy more slowly, even if tariffs don’t kill it quickly.
Trump folds to the bond market and withdraws his "permanent" tariffs for 90 days. Well, its good news of a sort but we are still a long way from anywhere like sanity. And China might just be annoyed enough to keep going with this.
JUST NOW: Rep Steven Horsford GRILLS Jamieson Greer on Donald Trump’s tariff reversal: “Is this market manipulation? If it’s not market manipulation, what is it? Who’s benefiting? What billionaire just got richer?”
Yep, millions of ordinary folk around the world have taken a cut on their pension/investments as fund "sell" limits were triggered and some very rich people are a bit richer.
JUST NOW: Rep Steven Horsford GRILLS Jamieson Greer on Donald Trump’s tariff reversal: “Is this market manipulation? If it’s not market manipulation, what is it? Who’s benefiting? What billionaire just got richer?”
Hardly insider trading, saw it reposted on X earlier lol
I think it's clear insider trading. Trump was in possession of market sensitive news and communicated it to his friends.
A million years in Mordor at best.
Does he know what he is doing from one minute to the next? There's no plan here.
The plan is to dominate the news cycle, every day. The easy way to do that is to raise some tariff or lower another tariff. It seems likely he’s got plenty more days of doing that in him.
Trump folds to the bond market and withdraws his "permanent" tariffs for 90 days. Well, its good news of a sort but we are still a long way from anywhere like sanity. And China might just be annoyed enough to keep going with this.
What an arse this man is.
Why shouldn't China keep going? They still have big tariffs imposed on them, and they have seen that Trump folds under pressure.
"The slow death of the Royal Mail is a parable of the modern British state The British economy was most successful when it was run in the national interest.
Not sure what is funnier - the Trump capitulation or the PB MAGA people insisting it’s brilliant strategy.
We’re not even back at status quo ante. Trump has nuked the global economy but thinks he can reset us back to 10%, wage war with China and then expect the world to come crawling over in submission.
Remember: Trade imbalances are countries like Vietnam ripping off America The EU was created to screw over America Tariffs will restore the might of America.
But apparently now scrapping all of them bar 10% and China will MAGA
Even if that’s now it. All we get is a 10% hike in the price of practically everything in America. A huge hike in prices of things Americans like to buy at Chinese prices. And a global economy not willing to touch America with a pole because God alone knows what he will do next week. Tomorrow. Later today.
And Moonie thinks he’s won? Hadn’t realised she also was from the Common Clay of the New West
Hardly insider trading, saw it reposted on X earlier lol
I think it's clear insider trading. Trump was in possession of market sensitive news and communicated it to his friends.
A million years in Mordor at best.
Does he know what he is doing from one minute to the next? There's no plan here.
The plan is to dominate the news cycle, every day. The easy way to do that is to raise some tariff or lower another tariff. It seems likely he’s got plenty more days of doing that in him.
I fear you are right.
When the world gets bored of tariff news as just Donald being Donald, what will he do next to raise the excitement levels?
It’s a bloody shambles! You’ve lost your team billions of dollars! Your whole team are out of control, but as project manager, I hold you responsible. Donald, you’re fired!
Trump folds to the bond market and withdraws his "permanent" tariffs for 90 days. Well, its good news of a sort but we are still a long way from anywhere like sanity. And China might just be annoyed enough to keep going with this.
What an arse this man is.
Why shouldn't China keep going? They still have big tariffs imposed on them, and they have seen that Trump folds under pressure.
I think that they will. But will they sell more of their $750bn of US Treasuries? That's the next move if they are serious.
JUST NOW: Rep Steven Horsford GRILLS Jamieson Greer on Donald Trump’s tariff reversal: “Is this market manipulation? If it’s not market manipulation, what is it? Who’s benefiting? What billionaire just got richer?”
Markets bouncing up and down daily on the incoherent utterings of a single individual certainly presents "opportunities" for him and his cronies.
In the end the whole system starts to be discounted and so there is a price for this corruption that is paid by the US as a whole because all the crap gets priced in. That is already happening.
The bond market may recover a fair bit in the short term, but the US equity market? I doubt it.
Quite the moment: U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, who oversees the implementation of the tariffs, was testifying in front of the U.S. House Ways & Means committee when President Trump posted online about the 90-day pause on the global tariffs. By this point, Greer had defended the tariff strategy for 2+ hours and did not hint on an incoming massive pause.
Representative Steven Horsford, a Democrat from Nevada, was the first lawmaker to ask Greer about the pause announcement. “It looks like your boss just pulled out the rug from under you and paused the tariffs,” Horsford told Greer, “There is no strategy, you just found out three seconds ago, sitting here, we saw you.”
“WTF! Who is in charge?!” Horsford yelled at Greer. “The president of the United States is in charge,” Greer responded.
Horsford ask Greer if he knew this was going to happen. “We have been discussing all kinds of options,” Greer said, noting he does not disclose his discussions with the president.
Hardly insider trading, saw it reposted on X earlier lol
I think it's clear insider trading. Trump was in possession of market sensitive news and communicated it to his friends.
A million years in Mordor at best.
Does he know what he is doing from one minute to the next? There's no plan here.
The plan is to dominate the news cycle, every day. The easy way to do that is to raise some tariff or lower another tariff. It seems likely he’s got plenty more days of doing that in him.
Yep. That's pretty much it. Watch next for bombing Iran once this tariff thing has been squeezed dry. He'll be wanting to do some military stuff (get that "situation room" shot) and it won't be against Russia or China, it'll be against some Muslims who can't fight back. The Houthi action was a template. That, like everything, was personal whim and intended for headlines and tough guy posturing. It's going to be a long 19 months to those midterms.
Hardly insider trading, saw it reposted on X earlier lol
I think it's clear insider trading. Trump was in possession of market sensitive news and communicated it to his friends.
A million years in Mordor at best.
Does he know what he is doing from one minute to the next? There's no plan here.
The plan is to dominate the news cycle, every day. The easy way to do that is to raise some tariff or lower another tariff. It seems likely he’s got plenty more days of doing that in him.
I fear you are right.
When the world gets bored of tariff news as just Donald being Donald, what will he do next to raise the excitement levels?
Hardly insider trading, saw it reposted on X earlier lol
I think it's clear insider trading. Trump was in possession of market sensitive news and communicated it to his friends.
A million years in Mordor at best.
Does he know what he is doing from one minute to the next? There's no plan here.
The plan is to dominate the news cycle, every day. The easy way to do that is to raise some tariff or lower another tariff. It seems likely he’s got plenty more days of doing that in him.
I fear you are right.
When the world gets bored of tariff news as just Donald being Donald, what will he do next to raise the excitement levels?
Iran.
I’ve already pointed out the nuclear negotiations start imminently, we also had Bibi visiting Trump recently. It’s going to happen. Boom.
"The slow death of the Royal Mail is a parable of the modern British state The British economy was most successful when it was run in the national interest.
"The slow death of the Royal Mail is a parable of the modern British state The British economy was most successful when it was run in the national interest.
Given that the next elections are years away why are they running polls?
Do you also think we shouldn't have opinion polls in this country on the basis that we recently had a general election?
On the day the CDU and SPD shook hands on a grand coalition, BBC PM got very excited by this poll. If someone is happy to pay for the polling, they can fill their boots I suppose.
So in another words the poll is now CDU and SPD governing coalition 39%, AfD 25%
"The slow death of the Royal Mail is a parable of the modern British state The British economy was most successful when it was run in the national interest.
The Dow Jones is still 4.7% down over the last 6 months. That’s not as bad as it was, but it’s still a very bad statistic for the Republicans’ economic credibility. It will still mean fewer jobs.
JUST NOW: Rep Steven Horsford GRILLS Jamieson Greer on Donald Trump’s tariff reversal: “Is this market manipulation? If it’s not market manipulation, what is it? Who’s benefiting? What billionaire just got richer?”
Yep, millions of ordinary folk around the world have taken a cut on their pension/investments as fund "sell" limits were triggered and some very rich people are a bit richer.
What "sell" limits? Surely almost no one has placed stop-loss orders in their pension accounts? It makes absolutely no sense in a long term position.
Day 2 in Croatia. Trip to the Elaphiti Islands. Eating fresh fish and drinking a bottle of rather nice wine on a boat is almost unbearably agreeable. Not least because - my group being otherwise composed of children and teetotallers - I have the whole bottle to myself. Got talking to a middle aged woman holidaying alone whose outward positivity failed to mask an excrutiating bitterness towards her ex-husband, and an engaging Partick-Thistle supporting ex-lobster fisherman. Took this photo, which I rather liked, apart from the unknown chump on the right hand side. Who while rendering the photo unmarketable as a postcard, actually makes it much more interesting. What on earth is he doing?
The Dutch waterpolo team are staying at my hotel (to the great interest of the bitter divorcee). There are about 30 of them and they are all built like Captain Carrot Ironfounderson. They average about 6'4". They are playing a warmup game against Croatia before the world cup in Montenegro. There is also a team from Saudi Arabia and a smattering of individuals declaring them to be representing Thailand, Kosovo, Kazakhstan or Indonesia. Almost everyone who isn't Dutch looks pitiful and runty. Assuming they're playing the same sport, they're going to get absolutely battered.
"The slow death of the Royal Mail is a parable of the modern British state The British economy was most successful when it was run in the national interest.
Even Royal Mail has had to modernise and become more efficient since privatisation, its new owner also has the money to put into it
We have to decide whether we want something highly regulated that must get letters and parcels to everyone for the same price (in which case it’s a public service and nationalise it), or to create a meaningful player in the parcel market, in which case we’ve missed the boat .
Ergo, nationalise both it and the post office, reunify them and rationalise its estate with respect to other government sites in the community like job centres and town halls; whilst using it to guarantee banking services without over-regulating banks.
The Dow Jones is still 4.7% down over the last 6 months. That’s not as bad as it was, but it’s still a very bad statistic for the Republicans’ economic credibility. It will still mean fewer jobs.
Fewer jobs means less need for migrant labour. In an age of automation it’s madness to think that “creating jobs” should be the focus of politics.
"The slow death of the Royal Mail is a parable of the modern British state The British economy was most successful when it was run in the national interest.
Would the PB MAGA massiv care to comment?Trump won they said only a few hours ago. It was a brilliant win for his brilliant strategy they said.
Trump - I folded because the bond markets forced me.
It would have been brilliant if the fools and weaklings hadn't betrayed me.
Which does sound pretty familiar.
Have you just seen him on camera boasting about the stock market rally. Yeah Don crater the market by nearly 25% fold on tariffs get a 10% rally in one day and call it a win.
Just picked up a bottle of cheapo Aussie Shiraz from the dodgier of two corner shops near me. Only noticed when I got it home it's from 2017. God knows which sofa they found it down the back of.
On thread - I've always hedged my bets by allowing for the possibility that its 4D chess rather than crass imbecility. You should always allow for the possibility that your opponent is smarter than you think. At the very least, the gambit of ridiculously-aggressive-opening-offer-to-make-what-comes-next-seem-agreeable-by-comparison seems to be Trump's MO and should not be discounted. And I'm totally prepared to believe that this is some sort of kleptocracy. But it is looking more and more like government-by-whim-of-a-moron.
Still, I'm not yet discounting the possibility of some evil and unseen strategy behind it all.
The text he quotes predicts that this will end up with the universal 10% tariff that he campaigned on.
So a magnificent game of 4D chess?
A 10% tariff - plus a massive bonfire of good will which will take decades to recover.
I'm hearing that..... the 10% tariffs DO apply to Canada and Mexico (they didn't previously) so that means Trump has reduced tariffs for MOST countries (not the UK, obviously); the EU position is unclear but tariffs have gone up for China, Mexico and Canada, the latter by 10%.
The Dow Jones is still 4.7% down over the last 6 months. That’s not as bad as it was, but it’s still a very bad statistic for the Republicans’ economic credibility. It will still mean fewer jobs.
Fewer jobs means less need for migrant labour. In an age of automation it’s madness to think that “creating jobs” should be the focus of politics.
Okay, you had us fooled for a long time, but you jumped the shark with that one. Well done for keeping the pretence going for so long, though. You got us good.
"American greatness has produced a society whose members know not what to do with the freedom and abundance that earlier generations secured. We are now witnessing the squandering of this inheritance, and it is even more idiotic and vulgar a spectacle than anyone would expect."
I suspect there is much in this, but really, people only have themselves to blame if they're bored. Read a book. Join a choir. Go for a walk. Take up birdwatching. Go to church. Do community theatre. Join a political party. Join a walking group. There are so many things to do, people just need to get off their arse.
Its not just that I think. Many modern jobs are wholly lacking in purpose many are "make work" that add no value at all. Working in a factory may be hard but you saw the end result of your labours at the end of the day.
I think there's a lot of romanticism about factory work. I've never done it but I'm sure that it can be just as soul-sapping as anything else.
"American greatness has produced a society whose members know not what to do with the freedom and abundance that earlier generations secured. We are now witnessing the squandering of this inheritance, and it is even more idiotic and vulgar a spectacle than anyone would expect."
I suspect there is much in this, but really, people only have themselves to blame if they're bored. Read a book. Join a choir. Go for a walk. Take up birdwatching. Go to church. Do community theatre. Join a political party. Join a walking group. There are so many things to do, people just need to get off their arse.
Its not just that I think. Many modern jobs are wholly lacking in purpose many are "make work" that add no value at all. Working in a factory may be hard but you saw the end result of your labours at the end of the day.
I think there's a lot of romanticism about factory work. I've never done it but I'm sure that it can be just as soul-sapping as anything else.
'It's like prison' is a phrase I've heard from people that did.
"American greatness has produced a society whose members know not what to do with the freedom and abundance that earlier generations secured. We are now witnessing the squandering of this inheritance, and it is even more idiotic and vulgar a spectacle than anyone would expect."
I suspect there is much in this, but really, people only have themselves to blame if they're bored. Read a book. Join a choir. Go for a walk. Take up birdwatching. Go to church. Do community theatre. Join a political party. Join a walking group. There are so many things to do, people just need to get off their arse.
Its not just that I think. Many modern jobs are wholly lacking in purpose many are "make work" that add no value at all. Working in a factory may be hard but you saw the end result of your labours at the end of the day.
I think there's a lot of romanticism about factory work. I've never done it but I'm sure that it can be just as soul-sapping as anything else.
Remember when we had all that fuss and excitement about some politicians and the odd cop putting a few quid on the date of the election? What we have just seen is a $1trillion dollar play with inside information available to the Tech bros that surround the Orange one. It almost makes us seem quaint, old fashioned, even child like.
No doubt the SEC is already on the case and charges will follow rapidly.
"American greatness has produced a society whose members know not what to do with the freedom and abundance that earlier generations secured. We are now witnessing the squandering of this inheritance, and it is even more idiotic and vulgar a spectacle than anyone would expect."
I suspect there is much in this, but really, people only have themselves to blame if they're bored. Read a book. Join a choir. Go for a walk. Take up birdwatching. Go to church. Do community theatre. Join a political party. Join a walking group. There are so many things to do, people just need to get off their arse.
Its not just that I think. Many modern jobs are wholly lacking in purpose many are "make work" that add no value at all. Working in a factory may be hard but you saw the end result of your labours at the end of the day.
I think there's a lot of romanticism about factory work. I've never done it but I'm sure that it can be just as soul-sapping as anything else.
I've worked in factories back in the 80s and 90s. They were just jobs that paid money. If you could hack it, the overtime was great but I once worked nine twelve hour night shifts in a row. Nowt romantic about that.
He's made the US look ridiculous and that's how it'll stay. The more sober countries will have as little to do with him as possible. Leaders queuing up to be first to kiss the ring is a thing of the past. The best he can hope for is an occasional sauna with Netanyahu
There aren't many positive things to say about Trump but I do like the way he will happily take those that defend him and prove them wrong without hesitation, revealing his supporters to be nothing but rubes.
"American greatness has produced a society whose members know not what to do with the freedom and abundance that earlier generations secured. We are now witnessing the squandering of this inheritance, and it is even more idiotic and vulgar a spectacle than anyone would expect."
I suspect there is much in this, but really, people only have themselves to blame if they're bored. Read a book. Join a choir. Go for a walk. Take up birdwatching. Go to church. Do community theatre. Join a political party. Join a walking group. There are so many things to do, people just need to get off their arse.
Its not just that I think. Many modern jobs are wholly lacking in purpose many are "make work" that add no value at all. Working in a factory may be hard but you saw the end result of your labours at the end of the day.
I think there's a lot of romanticism about factory work. I've never done it but I'm sure that it can be just as soul-sapping as anything else.
Hm. Someone (Marx? Ruskin?) said that the problem with factory work was exactly that: that the worker wasremoved from the fruits of his labours. And from personal experience its certainly true that there's not much satisfaction in being a production line drone. I think Bogota's point works though if by 'factory work' you consider the sort of skilled labour which makes steel, or cars. There are some 'factory' jobs which allow the worker a sense ofpride and satisfaction in what he produces. By no means all, however.
Just picked up a bottle of cheapo Aussie Shiraz from the dodgier of two corner shops near me. Only noticed when I got it home it's from 2017. God knows which sofa they found it down the back of.
Hardly insider trading, saw it reposted on X earlier lol
I think it's clear insider trading. Trump was in possession of market sensitive news and communicated it to his friends.
A million years in Mordor at best.
Does he know what he is doing from one minute to the next? There's no plan here.
The plan is to dominate the news cycle, every day. The easy way to do that is to raise some tariff or lower another tariff. It seems likely he’s got plenty more days of doing that in him.
I fear you are right.
When the world gets bored of tariff news as just Donald being Donald, what will he do next to raise the excitement levels?
Iran.
I’ve already pointed out the nuclear negotiations start imminently, we also had Bibi visiting Trump recently. It’s going to happen. Boom.
Maybe invest the pension in companies that make bomb shelters
Will Hutton @williamnhutton · 1m The 90 day pause is good news - sanity in a sea of idiocy - but the lunatic framework remains in place, uncertainty is acute and the sword of Damocles hangs over the global economy. The rest of the world has 90 days to get an alternative trade order in place. Action now.
Remember when we had all that fuss and excitement about some politicians and the odd cop putting a few quid on the date of the election? What we have just seen is a $1trillion dollar play with inside information available to the Tech bros that surround the Orange one. It almost makes us seem quaint, old fashioned, even child like.
No doubt the SEC is already on the case and charges will follow rapidly.
Day 2 in Croatia. Trip to the Elaphiti Islands. Eating fresh fish and drinking a bottle of rather nice wine on a boat is almost unbearably agreeable. Not least because - my group being otherwise composed of children and teetotallers - I have the whole bottle to myself. Got talking to a middle aged woman holidaying alone whose outward positivity failed to mask an excrutiating bitterness towards her ex-husband, and an engaging Partick-Thistle supporting ex-lobster fisherman. Took this photo, which I rather liked, apart from the unknown chump on the right hand side. Who while rendering the photo unmarketable as a postcard, actually makes it much more interesting. What on earth is he doing?
The Dutch waterpolo team are staying at my hotel (to the great interest of the bitter divorcee). There are about 30 of them and they are all built like Captain Carrot Ironfounderson. They average about 6'4". They are playing a warmup game against Croatia before the world cup in Montenegro. There is also a team from Saudi Arabia and a smattering of individuals declaring them to be representing Thailand, Kosovo, Kazakhstan or Indonesia. Almost everyone who isn't Dutch looks pitiful and runty. Assuming they're playing the same sport, they're going to get absolutely battered.
The Kosovo team have just walked into the bar, which is largely populated by the Dutch squad (plus a herd of pensioners from Wexford, plus a gaggle of teenage girls on a school trip). The Kosovars look like a different species. None of them make 5'10", they look skinny and weedy and apologetic, and several sport the sort of crappy moustaches you might see an ambitious but misguided 14 year old boy from one of the rougher parts of town wear. The Dutch are huge and happy and strong and strapping. The Kosovars are going to get absolutely annihilated if they are part of the same tournament.
Hardly insider trading, saw it reposted on X earlier lol
I think it's clear insider trading. Trump was in possession of market sensitive news and communicated it to his friends.
A million years in Mordor at best.
Does he know what he is doing from one minute to the next? There's no plan here.
The plan is to dominate the news cycle, every day. The easy way to do that is to raise some tariff or lower another tariff. It seems likely he’s got plenty more days of doing that in him.
I fear you are right.
When the world gets bored of tariff news as just Donald being Donald, what will he do next to raise the excitement levels?
Iran.
I’ve already pointed out the nuclear negotiations start imminently, we also had Bibi visiting Trump recently. It’s going to happen. Boom.
Maybe invest the pension in companies that make bomb shelters
Appropriately enough for Tom Lehrer's birthday;
We will all go together when we go. All suffused with an incandescent glow. No one will have the endurance To collect on his insurance, Lloyd's of London will be loaded when they go.
I read most of a JG Ballard book last year, "High Rise". Regretfully it was so bad I stopped just over half way through, couldn't care less about any of the characters or what happened to them
SPOILER
The rapist shoots the architect and then gets stabbed to death. It’s a socialist allegory of the failure of Thatcherism.
With Farage calling for nationalisation yesterday, it felt a bit like something being stabbed? Like a kind of
“I have heard about Thatcherism, but it’s not a theory I have ever ascribed to.”
Is Farage doing a reverse JD Vance? I read his book last year and did finish it
Farage will clean up Labour constituency after Labour constituency, if retaining policy of zero immigration whilst tacking to the left and nationalisation on economics.
On thread - I've always hedged my bets by allowing for the possibility that its 4D chess rather than crass imbecility. You should always allow for the possibility that your opponent is smarter than you think. At the very least, the gambit of ridiculously-aggressive-opening-offer-to-make-what-comes-next-seem-agreeable-by-comparison seems to be Trump's MO and should not be discounted. And I'm totally prepared to believe that this is some sort of kleptocracy. But it is looking more and more like government-by-whim-of-a-moron.
Still, I'm not yet discounting the possibility of some evil and unseen strategy behind it all.
Ive said before Trump as a poker player is so bad he confuses you and you end up making bad moves yourself. And heres the moron boasting about the market.
"The slow death of the Royal Mail is a parable of the modern British state The British economy was most successful when it was run in the national interest.
Even Royal Mail has had to modernise and become more efficient since privatisation, its new owner also has the money to put into it
We have to decide whether we want something highly regulated that must get letters and parcels to everyone for the same price (in which case it’s a public service and nationalise it), or to create a meaningful player in the parcel market, in which case we’ve missed the boat .
Ergo, nationalise both it and the post office, reunify them and rationalise its estate with respect to other government sites in the community like job centres and town halls; whilst using it to guarantee banking services without over-regulating banks.
The former requires taxpayer funding to ensure the universal service if it were renationalised though Royal Mail still has the biggest market share in terms of parcel delivery in the UK even now and even Amazon often uses it for the final mile.
Just picked up a bottle of cheapo Aussie Shiraz from the dodgier of two corner shops near me. Only noticed when I got it home it's from 2017. God knows which sofa they found it down the back of.
Actually tastes pretty good.
I’m guessing it hadn’t been laid down and aged ?
Well, not deliberately. Mind you, I like those cheap old Riojas supermarkets sometimes have, so I'm predisposed to like cheap old red.
"The slow death of the Royal Mail is a parable of the modern British state The British economy was most successful when it was run in the national interest.
Even Royal Mail has had to modernise and become more efficient since privatisation, its new owner also has the money to put into it
We have to decide whether we want something highly regulated that must get letters and parcels to everyone for the same price (in which case it’s a public service and nationalise it), or to create a meaningful player in the parcel market, in which case we’ve missed the boat .
Ergo, nationalise both it and the post office, reunify them and rationalise its estate with respect to other government sites in the community like job centres and town halls; whilst using it to guarantee banking services without over-regulating banks.
The former requires taxpayer funding to ensure the universal service if it were renationalised though Royal Mail still has the biggest market share in terms of parcel delivery in the UK even now and even Amazon often uses it for the final mile.
I read most of a JG Ballard book last year, "High Rise". Regretfully it was so bad I stopped just over half way through, couldn't care less about any of the characters or what happened to them
SPOILER
The rapist shoots the architect and then gets stabbed to death. It’s a socialist allegory of the failure of Thatcherism.
With Farage calling for nationalisation yesterday, it felt a bit like something being stabbed? Like a kind of
“I have heard about Thatcherism, but it’s not a theory I have ever ascribed to.”
Is Farage doing a reverse JD Vance? I read his book last year and did finish it
Is a reverse JD Vance starting as a politician, becoming a financial speculator and winding up as a hillbilly in a broken home?
Just picked up a bottle of cheapo Aussie Shiraz from the dodgier of two corner shops near me. Only noticed when I got it home it's from 2017. God knows which sofa they found it down the back of.
Actually tastes pretty good.
Pleased to hear that your boycott of American booze is on track!
Javier Blas @JavierBlas · 2h The 90-day pause solves part of the problem for the commodity market. But the trade war isn't over -- not even nearly. The 10% "floor reciprocal" tariffs remain in place. And, crucially, all the ~100% tariffs China-US stay, which means Sino-American trade will stay paralyzed.
BREAKING: Senator Adam Schiff says he will be investigating if there was insider trading with the Trump announcement on pausing tariffs.
Not much of a secret when the president tweets to the entire world to "BUY" 3 hours before the announcement.
"I'm writing to the White House to demand who knew in advance that the president was gonna once again flip flop on tariffs? And are people cashing in?"
"There is just all too much opportunity for people in the White House and the administration to be insider trading."
"American greatness has produced a society whose members know not what to do with the freedom and abundance that earlier generations secured. We are now witnessing the squandering of this inheritance, and it is even more idiotic and vulgar a spectacle than anyone would expect."
I suspect there is much in this, but really, people only have themselves to blame if they're bored. Read a book. Join a choir. Go for a walk. Take up birdwatching. Go to church. Do community theatre. Join a political party. Join a walking group. There are so many things to do, people just need to get off their arse.
Or, stay on your arse and set up a pb.com posting handle.
Remember when we had all that fuss and excitement about some politicians and the odd cop putting a few quid on the date of the election? What we have just seen is a $1trillion dollar play with inside information available to the Tech bros that surround the Orange one. It almost makes us seem quaint, old fashioned, even child like.
No doubt the SEC is already on the case and charges will follow rapidly.
The corrupt, contemptuous, lying and lawless nature of this fascistic USA regime is much more significant than its incompetence on tariffs. Tariffs has drowned out everything else for days. Covering up a range of authoritarian moves, and covering up too the abject fails on the proud promises on Ukraine/Russia etc.
Remember when we had all that fuss and excitement about some politicians and the odd cop putting a few quid on the date of the election? What we have just seen is a $1trillion dollar play with inside information available to the Tech bros that surround the Orange one. It almost makes us seem quaint, old fashioned, even child like.
No doubt the SEC is already on the case and charges will follow rapidly.
The corrupt, contemptuous, lying and lawless nature of this fascistic USA regime is much more significant than its incompetence on tariffs. Tariffs has drowned out everything else for days. Covering up a range of authoritarian moves, and covering up too the abject fails on the proud promises on Ukraine/Russia etc.
No the ukraine russia war is over. Trump assured us it would be sorted in 24 hours.
Comments
https://x.com/jimpethokoukis/status/1910036768768016528
After Germany and France, the Italians too seem to be giving him a really friendly reception, indeed are practically cheering him on.
JUST NOW: Rep Steven Horsford GRILLS Jamieson Greer on Donald Trump’s tariff reversal: “Is this market manipulation? If it’s not market manipulation, what is it? Who’s benefiting? What billionaire just got richer?”
https://x.com/MarcoFoster_/status/1910032580822303011
"The West is bored to death
Our nihilistic politics are a product of the crushing ennui and spiritual vacancy of modern life.
By Stuart Whatley"
https://www.newstatesman.com/ideas/2025/04/the-west-is-bored-to-death
Quote
"American greatness has produced a society whose members know not what to do with the freedom and abundance that earlier generations secured. We are now witnessing the squandering of this inheritance, and it is even more idiotic and vulgar a spectacle than anyone would expect."
trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKPghZ5cc_E
kermode and mayo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hY3LQAdfTY
fan review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSNdN4gToQE
wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-Rise_(film)
What an arse this man is.
@LisPower1
Fox News anchor: "The art of the deal is all over the Twittersphere right now as people say, maybe this is the way he planned it"
Fox Business Sr. correspondent: "I want to tell you Donald Trump outsmarted the world, but that's not really what happened here"
https://x.com/LisPower1/status/1910033143366582512
The British economy was most successful when it was run in the national interest.
By Jason Cowley"
https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2025/04/the-slow-death-of-the-royal-mail-is-a-parable-of-the-modern-british-state
We’re not even back at status quo ante. Trump has nuked the global economy but thinks he can reset us back to 10%, wage war with China and then expect the world to come crawling over in submission.
Remember:
Trade imbalances are countries like Vietnam ripping off America
The EU was created to screw over America
Tariffs will restore the might of America.
But apparently now scrapping all of them bar 10% and China will MAGA
Even if that’s now it. All we get is a 10% hike in the price of practically everything in America. A huge hike in prices of things Americans like to buy at Chinese prices. And a global economy not willing to touch America with a pole because God alone knows what he will do next week. Tomorrow. Later today.
And Moonie thinks he’s won? Hadn’t realised she also was from the Common Clay of the New West
When the world gets bored of tariff news as just Donald being Donald, what will he do next to raise the excitement levels?
The bond market may recover a fair bit in the short term, but the US equity market? I doubt it.
Quite the moment: U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, who oversees the implementation of the tariffs, was testifying in front of the U.S. House Ways & Means committee when President Trump posted online about the 90-day pause on the global tariffs. By this point, Greer had defended the tariff strategy for 2+ hours and did not hint on an incoming massive pause.
Representative Steven Horsford, a Democrat from Nevada, was the first lawmaker to ask Greer about the pause announcement. “It looks like your boss just pulled out the rug from under you and paused the tariffs,” Horsford told Greer, “There is no strategy, you just found out three seconds ago, sitting here, we saw you.”
“WTF! Who is in charge?!” Horsford yelled at Greer. “The president of the United States is in charge,” Greer responded.
Horsford ask Greer if he knew this was going to happen. “We have been discussing all kinds of options,” Greer said, noting he does not disclose his discussions with the president.
https://x.com/BoKnowsNews/status/1910034807377256667
https://x.com/wallstengine/status/1910047764945449298?s=61
He folded because the markets forced him to
https://x.com/rpsagainsttrump/status/1910051147630498065?s=46
Which makes him Liz Truss
"A deal is going to be made with China," he told reporters. "A deal is going to be made with every one of them."
It's hardly a reliable source.
Went well too.
https://www.reuters.com/markets/rates-bonds/us-treasury-10-year-note-auction-outcome-shows-strong-demand-2025-04-09/
Got talking to a middle aged woman holidaying alone whose outward positivity failed to mask an excrutiating bitterness towards her ex-husband, and an engaging Partick-Thistle supporting ex-lobster fisherman.
Took this photo, which I rather liked, apart from the unknown chump on the right hand side. Who while rendering the photo unmarketable as a postcard, actually makes it much more interesting. What on earth is he doing?
The Dutch waterpolo team are staying at my hotel (to the great interest of the bitter divorcee). There are about 30 of them and they are all built like Captain Carrot Ironfounderson. They average about 6'4". They are playing a warmup game against Croatia before the world cup in Montenegro.
There is also a team from Saudi Arabia and a smattering of individuals declaring them to be representing Thailand, Kosovo, Kazakhstan or Indonesia. Almost everyone who isn't Dutch looks pitiful and runty. Assuming they're playing the same sport, they're going to get absolutely battered.
Ergo, nationalise both it and the post office, reunify them and rationalise its estate with respect to other government sites in the community like job centres and town halls; whilst using it to guarantee banking services without over-regulating banks.
Trump - I folded because the bond markets forced me.
Which does sound pretty familiar.
Actually tastes pretty good.
And he said that the new Israeli ambassador would really bring home the bacon...
Still, I'm not yet discounting the possibility of some evil and unseen strategy behind it all.
Source: 2.14pm EST: https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/04/08/business/trump-tariffs-stock-market/heres-the-latest
No doubt the SEC is already on the case and charges will follow rapidly.
But the fact that the White House had to clarify means the shit show continues.
How can you do business with a country that swings from 10% to 99% tariffs in the space of a few hours then back again?
Takeaway from the Trump avail: he simply gets a massive buzz out of being able to make everybody jump up and down regardless of the actual outcome
https://x.com/GlennThrush/status/1910058086573789461
The Chinese didn't jump. What happens next is important
I think Bogota's point works though if by 'factory work' you consider the sort of skilled labour which makes steel, or cars. There are some 'factory' jobs which allow the worker a sense ofpride and satisfaction in what he produces. By no means all, however.
https://www.itv.com/news/2025-04-09/british-passports-to-get-more-expensive-from-thursday
Deal or no deal
In the UK we’ve seen this reel before
Brexit the movie, on steroids
https://x.com/AllieRenison/status/1910062633148887455
The shitshow continues
EDIT: or 25%...
@williamnhutton
·
1m
The 90 day pause is good news - sanity in a sea of idiocy - but the lunatic framework remains in place, uncertainty is acute and the sword of Damocles hangs over the global economy. The rest of the world has 90 days to get an alternative trade order in place. Action now.
https://x.com/williamnhutton/status/1910065101132210385
Kathryn Watson
@kathrynw5
Gretchen Whitmer is in the Oval Office with Trump right now, on camera. They've been talking military bases
https://x.com/kathrynw5/status/1910059817521102848
We will all go together when we go.
All suffused with an incandescent glow.
No one will have the endurance
To collect on his insurance,
Lloyd's of London will be loaded when they go.
https://x.com/ReallyAmerican1/status/1910055729106481481
The Post Office of curse remains nationalised
Trump backs down on tariffs = MAGA “this was his master plan all along. He is a genius!”
As to be expected.
Javier Blas
@JavierBlas
·
2h
The 90-day pause solves part of the problem for the commodity market. But the trade war isn't over -- not even nearly. The 10% "floor reciprocal" tariffs remain in place. And, crucially, all the ~100% tariffs China-US stay, which means Sino-American trade will stay paralyzed.
Not much of a secret when the president tweets to the entire world to "BUY" 3 hours before the announcement.
"I'm writing to the White House to demand who knew in advance that the president was gonna once again flip flop on tariffs? And are people cashing in?"
"There is just all too much opportunity for people in the White House and the administration to be insider trading."
https://x.com/CollinRugg/status/1910066821979623516
Come on in: the water's lovely.
Tariffs has drowned out everything else for days. Covering up a range of authoritarian moves, and covering up too the abject fails on the proud promises on Ukraine/Russia etc.
@atrupar.com
Trump is surprised when a reporter tells him that the EU today announced tariff increases on the US
https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3lmftovuuv22w