I see I am mentioned four times on this thread, and I've not even commented
It's very flattering that you all obsess so much, but perhaps the PB Centrist Dorks need to get out a bit? Just a kindly thought
Low IQ Leon thinks it is wise to criticise the site editor.
You’ll never guess what happened next.
you're going to put up THAT Farage photo?
*freezes in horror*
Puts on black cap
"You have been found guilty of crime against PB. You shall be taken hence to a place of punishment. There to be immured in a cell with Piers Morgan and Piers Corbyn.
The entertainment is the worst song by Radiohead played on continuous loop 24/7 with no access to volume control, and a laptop that only allows you to read the comments on Con Home. And code in Python.
The only food is pizza with pineapple on it.
May the Lord have no mercy on your benighted soul."
Given the python part, I take it the keyboard has a dodgy spacebar
I see I am mentioned four times on this thread, and I've not even commented
It's very flattering that you all obsess so much, but perhaps the PB Centrist Dorks need to get out a bit? Just a kindly thought
Low IQ Leon thinks it is wise to criticise the site editor.
You’ll never guess what happened next.
you're going to put up THAT Farage photo?
*freezes in horror*
Puts on black cap
"You have been found guilty of crime against PB. You shall be taken hence to a place of punishment. There to be immured in a cell with Piers Morgan and Piers Corbyn.
The entertainment is the worst song by Radiohead played on continuous loop 24/7 with no access to volume control, and a laptop that only allows you to read the comments on Con Home. And code in Python.
The only food is pizza with pineapple on it.
May the Lord have no mercy on your benighted soul."
I see I am mentioned four times on this thread, and I've not even commented
It's very flattering that you all obsess so much, but perhaps the PB Centrist Dorks need to get out a bit? Just a kindly thought
It's like when you're constipated and haven't been able to expel your waste for a few days. You finally do one, you get rid of the stinking excrement, and you feel really good. Yet occasionally you remember getting rid of that shit with some fondness, as an act of cleansing. You don't like the effect it had on you, but getting rid of it was good. A cleansing. A purging. You are better off without it.
I mean, this is just fucking weird. Sorry, but it is
Heard Davey on the radio earlier saying Farage wants to relax our gun laws. Is that true? Can't see it being very popular.
Farage supported that when he was leader of UKIP . I don’t think he’s said anything about that since he’s been with Reform . It’s still a good line though and Farage did actually support that .
England have axed Ollie Pope as their vice-captain for the Ashes and replaced him with Harry Brook while picking all-rounder Will Jacks as the second spinner.
England’s selectors have named their squad for the Ashes, which begin on Nov 21 in Perth.
Ben Stokes, who captains the squad, and Mark Wood are both passed fit in a 16-man party which also includes Matthew Potts at the expense of Chris Woakes, who was not considered because of the shoulder he dislocated against India at the Oval last month.
Ben Stokes (Durham) captain, Jofra Archer (Sussex), Gus Atkinson (Surrey), Shoaib Bashir (Somerset), Jacob Bethell (Warwickshire), Harry Brook (Yorkshire) vice-captain, Brydon Carse (Durham), Zak Crawley (Kent), Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire), Will Jacks (Surrey), Ollie Pope (Surrey), Matthew Potts (Durham), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Jamie Smith (Surrey), Josh Tongue (Nottinghamshire), Mark Wood (Durham).
Matthew f##king Potts....No clue what they see in him. No Livingstone or Bairstow for the ODI or T20. Think that is definitely their international careers finished if you can bully the hell out of the elite competition that is the Hundred and still not get picked.
I see I am mentioned four times on this thread, and I've not even commented
It's very flattering that you all obsess so much, but perhaps the PB Centrist Dorks need to get out a bit? Just a kindly thought
Blame @glw for asking us all to think of someone dumb.
If you want to obsess about me even more, I am just off to the Groucho to drink with the MI6 dude
If you press your forlorn faces to the windows hard enough, you might even glimpse me. Clearly they won't let you in
I’m enjoying an early dinner in the countryside near Vicenza, washed down by the owner’s surprisingly drinkable red wine - even though it is made of Cabernet Volos, of which I have not heard. While the heavens are thundering and about to dump a shedload of rain upon us.
Heard Davey on the radio earlier saying Farage wants to relax our gun laws. Is that true? Can't see it being very popular.
Farage supported that when he was leader of UKIP . I don’t think he’s said anything about that since he’s been with Reform . It’s still a good line though and Farage did actually support that .
That's an excellent find from Davey - and a nice link in to the MAGA crowd. Contrive a gun control debate.
I see I am mentioned four times on this thread, and I've not even commented
It's very flattering that you all obsess so much, but perhaps the PB Centrist Dorks need to get out a bit? Just a kindly thought
It's like when you're constipated and haven't been able to expel your waste for a few days. You finally do one, you get rid of the stinking excrement, and you feel really good. Yet occasionally you remember getting rid of that shit with some fondness, as an act of cleansing. You don't like the effect it had on you, but getting rid of it was good. A cleansing. A purging. You are better off without it.
I mean, this is just fucking weird. Sorry, but it is
He’s trying to say that you’re a turd, but he just can’t push it out.
I see I am mentioned four times on this thread, and I've not even commented
It's very flattering that you all obsess so much, but perhaps the PB Centrist Dorks need to get out a bit? Just a kindly thought
It's like when you're constipated and haven't been able to expel your waste for a few days. You finally do one, you get rid of the stinking excrement, and you feel really good. Yet occasionally you remember getting rid of that shit with some fondness, as an act of cleansing. You don't like the effect it had on you, but getting rid of it was good. A cleansing. A purging. You are better off without it.
I mean, this is just fucking weird. Sorry, but it is
Was "Brexit is just like taking a shit" the first draft of "Brexit is just like having a baby"?
Meanwhile, research from Eurostat and the ONS in the Guardian:
I think calling it research is a stretch. Confidently predicting things for 75 years hence?
I think you have to make these projections for long-term planning purposes, but they tend to tell you more about the assumptions and parameters that were used to create the projection, then the projection themselves.
I see I am mentioned four times on this thread, and I've not even commented
It's very flattering that you all obsess so much, but perhaps the PB Centrist Dorks need to get out a bit? Just a kindly thought
It's like when you're constipated and haven't been able to expel your waste for a few days. You finally do one, you get rid of the stinking excrement, and you feel really good. Yet occasionally you remember getting rid of that shit with some fondness, as an act of cleansing. You don't like the effect it had on you, but getting rid of it was good. A cleansing. A purging. You are better off without it.
I mean, this is just fucking weird. Sorry, but it is
Much less weird than claiming your book inspired a neo-Nazi mass-murderer.
I mean, you'd have to be a really sick fucker to do that.
William Hague has written yet another article in the Times with which I totally disagree, this time on ID cards. Funny to think he was in favour of "saving the pound" in 2001 when I happened to be in favour of adopting the Euro.
Heard Davey on the radio earlier saying Farage wants to relax our gun laws. Is that true? Can't see it being very popular.
Farage supported that when he was leader of UKIP . I don’t think he’s said anything about that since he’s been with Reform . It’s still a good line though and Farage did actually support that .
That's an excellent find from Davey - and a nice link in to the MAGA crowd. Contrive a gun control debate.
Yes, clever thing to stir up. What would be ideal if elements of Reform started saying, 'Yes. Good idea. Everyone should have free access to firearms.' I wouldn't put it past them and it would be a bit of a headache for Nigel.
William Hague has written yet another article in the Times with which I totally disagree, this time on ID cards. Funny to think he was in favour of "saving the pound" in 2001 when I happened to be in favour of adopting the Euro.
You seem to be confusing Id cards as a concept with the implementation and the global database that seems to get attached to the concept.
And I've very much changed my view from 2005 - I can see the advantage of a card provided it's not required on demand. The database is actually there already it's just slightly hidden from view..
I see I am mentioned four times on this thread, and I've not even commented
It's very flattering that you all obsess so much, but perhaps the PB Centrist Dorks need to get out a bit? Just a kindly thought
Blame @glw for asking us all to think of someone dumb.
If you want to obsess about me even more, I am just off to the Groucho to drink with the MI6 dude
If you press your forlorn faces to the windows hard enough, you might even glimpse me. Clearly they won't let you in
I’m enjoying an early dinner in the countryside near Vicenza, washed down by the owner’s surprisingly drinkable red wine - even though it is made of Cabernet Volos, of which I have not heard. While the heavens are thundering and about to dump a shedload of rain upon us.
"The family has been moved between different hotels all over the UK since they arrived nine years ago. The Home Office initially rejected Kadir's case because of what it said was lack of proof. Two unsuccessful appeals followed. A third is currently under way."
And even after the third rejection, they will never be able to send them back to Iraq.
"The family has been moved between different hotels all over the UK since they arrived nine years ago. The Home Office initially rejected Kadir's case because of what it said was lack of proof. Two unsuccessful appeals followed. A third is currently under way."
And even after the third rejection, they will never be able to send them back to Iraq.
Read that earlier. NB the £600 taxi to a GP in the bullet points at the top is not quite accurate. From lower down the article:
"For instance, when migrants move between hotels, they sometimes keep the same NHS doctors - especially for GP referrals. Kadir says a knee problem meant he was told to take a 250-mile taxi ride to see the consultant who had treated him at his old address. He says the taxi driver told him the return journey cost £600."
This sounds more like the NHS being incapable of transferring referrals when people move house. Except we wouldn't get the taxi, of course.
ydoethur - Two thoughts on Mitch McConnell's decision: First, he probably thought, as I did, that the Loser was finished in politics. (I think most informed Americans had come to that conclusion, after January 6th.) And, Trump, by then, was out of office.
Second, he may not have been able to sway enough of his caucus to get a conviction. Remember, that requires a 2/3 majority. There were only 57 votes for conviction in the 2nd trial. (McConnell is good at counting votes in the Senate.)
"Nasa has said it hopes to send astronauts on a trip around the Moon as soon as February to prepare for landing there as early as 2027.... The Artemis II mission is the second launch of the Artemis programme, whose aim is to land astronauts and eventually establish a long-term presence on the lunar surface."
"Nasa has said it hopes to send astronauts on a trip around the Moon as soon as February to prepare for landing there as early as 2027.... The Artemis II mission is the second launch of the Artemis programme, whose aim is to land astronauts and eventually establish a long-term presence on the lunar surface."
Meanwhile, research from Eurostat and the ONS in the Guardian:
So long as the immigrants don’t then become citizens and add to the Ponzi scheme…
People being born, getting educated, going to work, having children of their own, and retiring is not a Ponzi scheme. It's how society works.
If a system can only function with a growing population then I think it's fair to describe it as a Ponzi scheme.
We might discover that this is true for capitalism in general.
We don't have a system that can only function with a growing population. (Even if we did, not every such system constitutes a Ponzi scheme, which is a specific sort of fraudulent financial scheme.)
But, hey, if you want to bring down capitalism, go for it.
To an extent we do: as the population grows older and the dependency ratio worsens the cost of paying for pensions + NHS + welfare is beyond the capabilities of the working age population.
The government could cut spending / voters could amend their expectations. But instead the government has chosen to import more people without factoring in the long term cost.
The UK is forecast to see the highest rate of inflation of the G7 advanced economies this year, according to an influential global policy group.
The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) raised its prediction for UK inflation - the rate at which prices rise - to 3.5% across 2025, citing higher food costs as a factor.
It increased its forecast slightly for UK growth this year to 1.4%, but the economy is still expected to slow next year.
"Nasa has said it hopes to send astronauts on a trip around the Moon as soon as February to prepare for landing there as early as 2027.... The Artemis II mission is the second launch of the Artemis programme, whose aim is to land astronauts and eventually establish a long-term presence on the lunar surface."
Cool! I hope it'll be a safe mission.
Well, it's first time out for the life support system. It's never flown in space before.
It's the first time out for this version of the heat shield. The spacecraft will be flying an adjusted trajectory to see if that mitigates the high and uneven erosion of the heat shield on the previous test flight.
The Home Office has been refused permission to challenge a High Court ruling that temporarily blocked an Eritrean migrant's deportation to France - dealing another blow to Labour's flailing 'one in, one out' scheme.
The Home Office has been refused permission to challenge a High Court ruling that temporarily blocked an Eritrean migrant's deportation to France - dealing another blow to Labour's flailing 'one in, one out' scheme.
William Hague has written yet another article in the Times with which I totally disagree, this time on ID cards. Funny to think he was in favour of "saving the pound" in 2001 when I happened to be in favour of adopting the Euro.
You seem to be confusing Id cards as a concept with the implementation and the global database that seems to get attached to the concept.
And I've very much changed my view from 2005 - I can see the advantage of a card provided it's not required on demand. The database is actually there already it's just slightly hidden from view..
The databases are somewhat fragmented, DVLA, HRMC, DWP, LAs, etc, all have information about you but don't routinely share it because their systems are not interoperable. The number one reason the UK government wants ID cards is to unify all those disparate systems into one, with all your information referenced against the number on your ID card. They'll cloak it as 'efficiency', 'anti-fraud', etc, but the root benefit, for them, is to have records of everything you do.
For ID cards not to be a privacy and human rights nightmare there would need to be iron-clad legal protections on who can access what data, and the UK just doesn't have any history of that. Quite the opposite.
"Nasa has said it hopes to send astronauts on a trip around the Moon as soon as February to prepare for landing there as early as 2027.... The Artemis II mission is the second launch of the Artemis programme, whose aim is to land astronauts and eventually establish a long-term presence on the lunar surface."
Cool! I hope it'll be a safe mission.
Well, it's first time out for the life support system. It's never flown in space before.
It's the first time out for this version of the heat shield. The spacecraft will be flying an adjusted trajectory to see if that mitigates the high and uneven erosion of the heat shield on the previous test flight.
There's a whole bunch of other firsts as well.
It'll still be safer than Starship will be for many years...
William Hague has written yet another article in the Times with which I totally disagree, this time on ID cards. Funny to think he was in favour of "saving the pound" in 2001 when I happened to be in favour of adopting the Euro.
You seem to be confusing Id cards as a concept with the implementation and the global database that seems to get attached to the concept.
And I've very much changed my view from 2005 - I can see the advantage of a card provided it's not required on demand. The database is actually there already it's just slightly hidden from view..
The databases are somewhat fragmented, DVLA, HRMC, DWP, LAs, etc, all have information about you but don't routinely share it because their systems are not interoperable. The number one reason the UK government wants ID cards is to unify all those disparate systems into one, with all your information referenced against the number on your ID card. They'll cloak it as 'efficiency', 'anti-fraud', etc, but the root benefit, for them, is to have records of everything you do.
For ID cards not to be a privacy and human rights nightmare there would need to be iron-clad legal protections on who can access what data, and the UK just doesn't have any history of that. Quite the opposite.
The TV Licencing behaviour is bad enough and that isn't even government.
William Hague has written yet another article in the Times with which I totally disagree, this time on ID cards. Funny to think he was in favour of "saving the pound" in 2001 when I happened to be in favour of adopting the Euro.
You seem to be confusing Id cards as a concept with the implementation and the global database that seems to get attached to the concept.
And I've very much changed my view from 2005 - I can see the advantage of a card provided it's not required on demand. The database is actually there already it's just slightly hidden from view..
The databases are somewhat fragmented, DVLA, HRMC, DWP, LAs, etc, all have information about you but don't routinely share it because their systems are not interoperable. The number one reason the UK government wants ID cards is to unify all those disparate systems into one, with all your information referenced against the number on your ID card. They'll cloak it as 'efficiency', 'anti-fraud', etc, but the root benefit, for them, is to have records of everything you do.
For ID cards not to be a privacy and human rights nightmare there would need to be iron-clad legal protections on who can access what data, and the UK just doesn't have any history of that. Quite the opposite.
It's quite simple. Add a clause to the bill. Anyone who advocates, attempts to implement or implements such a unified database will be subject to indefinite detention without trial or legal process.
The Home Office crazies who advocate the unified database usually are the same lot advocating detention without trial. Lets try it out on them.
The Home Office has been refused permission to challenge a High Court ruling that temporarily blocked an Eritrean migrant's deportation to France - dealing another blow to Labour's flailing 'one in, one out' scheme.
Those two Sri Lankan batsmen, well mostly Kamindu, have at least managed to turn this match into a contest, rather than a walkover for the Pakistani bowlers.
Edit: well that was perfect f*****g timing wasn’t it?
"The family has been moved between different hotels all over the UK since they arrived nine years ago. The Home Office initially rejected Kadir's case because of what it said was lack of proof. Two unsuccessful appeals followed. A third is currently under way."
And even after the third rejection, they will never be able to send them back to Iraq.
While residents are issued with a bus pass for one return journey per week, for any other necessary travel - for example, a visit to the doctor - taxis are called.
Proof of an upcoming appointment needs to be shown at the reception desk, where a taxi is booked on an automated system. Public transport or walking is not presented as an option.
This can result in some unusually long journeys and others that are unusually short.
For instance, when migrants move between hotels, they sometimes keep the same NHS doctors - especially for GP referrals. Kadir says a knee problem meant he was told to take a 250-mile taxi ride to see the consultant who had treated him at his old address. He says the taxi driver told him the return journey cost £600.
I'm no Katie Hopkins fan* (indeed, one of my recurrent nightmares is being trapped in a lift with her). But we really shouldn't be arresting her for having vile opinions.
* Her line from the Apprentice about a fellow contestants best friends being "Pinot and Grigio" was pretty funny, mind.
William Hague has written yet another article in the Times with which I totally disagree, this time on ID cards. Funny to think he was in favour of "saving the pound" in 2001 when I happened to be in favour of adopting the Euro.
You seem to be confusing Id cards as a concept with the implementation and the global database that seems to get attached to the concept.
And I've very much changed my view from 2005 - I can see the advantage of a card provided it's not required on demand. The database is actually there already it's just slightly hidden from view..
The databases are somewhat fragmented, DVLA, HRMC, DWP, LAs, etc, all have information about you but don't routinely share it because their systems are not interoperable. The number one reason the UK government wants ID cards is to unify all those disparate systems into one, with all your information referenced against the number on your ID card. They'll cloak it as 'efficiency', 'anti-fraud', etc, but the root benefit, for them, is to have records of everything you do.
For ID cards not to be a privacy and human rights nightmare there would need to be iron-clad legal protections on who can access what data, and the UK just doesn't have any history of that. Quite the opposite.
Slight problem - they are doing all that already it's called GOV.UK One Login - note the complete lack of an ID card in the current use cases...
Meanwhile, research from Eurostat and the ONS in the Guardian:
So long as the immigrants don’t then become citizens and add to the Ponzi scheme…
People being born, getting educated, going to work, having children of their own, and retiring is not a Ponzi scheme. It's how society works.
If a system can only function with a growing population then I think it's fair to describe it as a Ponzi scheme.
We might discover that this is true for capitalism in general.
We don't have a system that can only function with a growing population. (Even if we did, not every such system constitutes a Ponzi scheme, which is a specific sort of fraudulent financial scheme.)
But, hey, if you want to bring down capitalism, go for it.
To an extent we do: as the population grows older and the dependency ratio worsens the cost of paying for pensions + NHS + welfare is beyond the capabilities of the working age population.
The government could cut spending / voters could amend their expectations. But instead the government has chosen to import more people without factoring in the long term cost.
That’s a reasonable description of a Ponzi scheme
Technically, it's only a Ponzi scheme if the life expectancy keeps growing, and therefore you need to keep importing ever growing numbers of people. Otherwise you're justy making up for a deficit of local births.
Labour must be doing better in England than Scotland and Wales for the first time ever.
SNP 30%. Lib dems fifth. Conference boost!
Their seat prediction still has no Reform seats though: SNP 42; Labour 6; Tories 6; LibDems 3. (although on their graph they have the Tories on 3 and Lib Dems 6 so not sure which one is acurate)
Is "Sell my family into indentured servitude to raise funds to back Donald Trump in markets 1) and 2)" (emphasis mine) satire or typo?
Fake news!
I have corrupted my typo.
Corrected…?!
Yes, it has been a long day.
Your bankers should stop doing bad stuff then
Tell me about.
In news that will break the irony meters of PBers, for the third time in a year I have to sit in judgment of a banker (sic) who said some very inappropriate in a work setting.
The Home Office has been refused permission to challenge a High Court ruling that temporarily blocked an Eritrean migrant's deportation to France - dealing another blow to Labour's flailing 'one in, one out' scheme.
LOL, at what point does the human rights lawyer Starmer start to understand just how caputered is the modern judiciary?
This is exaggeration. The judge granted 14 days for the bloke to put up a case. That was the ruling the government appealed; this is purely performative.
The judges have the thankless task of ensuring the government obeys its own laws and that causes, including inevitably unmeritorious ones, are not dealt with by Trumpian style edict.
The merits of a cause are dealt with not by government but by courts. It's called the separation of powers and marks one of the emerging differences between a fascist America and a non-fascist UK.
The UK is forecast to see the highest rate of inflation of the G7 advanced economies this year, according to an influential global policy group.
The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) raised its prediction for UK inflation - the rate at which prices rise - to 3.5% across 2025, citing higher food costs as a factor.
It increased its forecast slightly for UK growth this year to 1.4%, but the economy is still expected to slow next year.
I think you need to look on the bright side: that means that nominal GDP will grow almost 5%. That means the UK could run a budget deficit of (say) 4%, and still see debt-to-GDP fall.
"If the polling results were to be replicated at next year’s Holyrood elections, Curtice projected that the SNP would return 57 MSPs, the Greens 18, Reform UK 17, Labour 16, the Conservatives 13, and the LibDems 8.
Elsewhere, the polling found that Scots would back independence in a second referendum by 52% to 48%."
"Nasa has said it hopes to send astronauts on a trip around the Moon as soon as February to prepare for landing there as early as 2027.... The Artemis II mission is the second launch of the Artemis programme, whose aim is to land astronauts and eventually establish a long-term presence on the lunar surface."
"Nasa has said it hopes to send astronauts on a trip around the Moon as soon as February to prepare for landing there as early as 2027.... The Artemis II mission is the second launch of the Artemis programme, whose aim is to land astronauts and eventually establish a long-term presence on the lunar surface."
Cool! I hope it'll be a safe mission.
Do we call moon dwellers "moonies" or "lunatics"?
The moon belongs to America, and anxiously awaits the arrival of our astromen.
Meanwhile, research from Eurostat and the ONS in the Guardian:
So long as the immigrants don’t then become citizens and add to the Ponzi scheme…
People being born, getting educated, going to work, having children of their own, and retiring is not a Ponzi scheme. It's how society works.
If a system can only function with a growing population then I think it's fair to describe it as a Ponzi scheme.
We might discover that this is true for capitalism in general.
We don't have a system that can only function with a growing population. (Even if we did, not every such system constitutes a Ponzi scheme, which is a specific sort of fraudulent financial scheme.)
But, hey, if you want to bring down capitalism, go for it.
To an extent we do: as the population grows older and the dependency ratio worsens the cost of paying for pensions + NHS + welfare is beyond the capabilities of the working age population.
The government could cut spending / voters could amend their expectations. But instead the government has chosen to import more people without factoring in the long term cost.
That’s a reasonable description of a Ponzi scheme
Technically, it's only a Ponzi scheme if the life expectancy keeps growing, and therefore you need to keep importing ever growing numbers of people. Otherwise you're justy making up for a deficit of local births.
Although, within reason, most would agree that an increasing life expectancy is a good thing
Is "Sell my family into indentured servitude to raise funds to back Donald Trump in markets 1) and 2)" (emphasis mine) satire or typo?
Fake news!
I have corrupted my typo.
Corrected…?!
Yes, it has been a long day.
Your bankers should stop doing bad stuff then
Tell me about.
In news that will break the irony meters of PBers, for the third time in a year I have to sit in judgment of a banker (sic) who said some very inappropriate in a work setting.
Cut their bonus by 50%. It’s the only thing they understand
Meanwhile, research from Eurostat and the ONS in the Guardian:
So long as the immigrants don’t then become citizens and add to the Ponzi scheme…
People being born, getting educated, going to work, having children of their own, and retiring is not a Ponzi scheme. It's how society works.
If a system can only function with a growing population then I think it's fair to describe it as a Ponzi scheme.
We might discover that this is true for capitalism in general.
We don't have a system that can only function with a growing population. (Even if we did, not every such system constitutes a Ponzi scheme, which is a specific sort of fraudulent financial scheme.)
But, hey, if you want to bring down capitalism, go for it.
To an extent we do: as the population grows older and the dependency ratio worsens the cost of paying for pensions + NHS + welfare is beyond the capabilities of the working age population.
The government could cut spending / voters could amend their expectations. But instead the government has chosen to import more people without factoring in the long term cost.
That’s a reasonable description of a Ponzi scheme
Technically, it's only a Ponzi scheme if the life expectancy keeps growing, and therefore you need to keep importing ever growing numbers of people. Otherwise you're justy making up for a deficit of local births.
Although, within reason, most would agree that an increasing life expectancy is a good thing
I don't know about Big G, but I'm beginning to wonder!
Meanwhile, research from Eurostat and the ONS in the Guardian:
So long as the immigrants don’t then become citizens and add to the Ponzi scheme…
People being born, getting educated, going to work, having children of their own, and retiring is not a Ponzi scheme. It's how society works.
If a system can only function with a growing population then I think it's fair to describe it as a Ponzi scheme.
We might discover that this is true for capitalism in general.
We don't have a system that can only function with a growing population. (Even if we did, not every such system constitutes a Ponzi scheme, which is a specific sort of fraudulent financial scheme.)
But, hey, if you want to bring down capitalism, go for it.
To an extent we do: as the population grows older and the dependency ratio worsens the cost of paying for pensions + NHS + welfare is beyond the capabilities of the working age population.
The government could cut spending / voters could amend their expectations. But instead the government has chosen to import more people without factoring in the long term cost.
That’s a reasonable description of a Ponzi scheme
Technically, it's only a Ponzi scheme if the life expectancy keeps growing, and therefore you need to keep importing ever growing numbers of people. Otherwise you're justy making up for a deficit of local births.
Although, within reason, most would agree that an increasing life expectancy is a good thing
I don't know about Big G, but I'm beginning to wonder!
Meanwhile, research from Eurostat and the ONS in the Guardian:
So long as the immigrants don’t then become citizens and add to the Ponzi scheme…
People being born, getting educated, going to work, having children of their own, and retiring is not a Ponzi scheme. It's how society works.
If a system can only function with a growing population then I think it's fair to describe it as a Ponzi scheme.
We might discover that this is true for capitalism in general.
We don't have a system that can only function with a growing population. (Even if we did, not every such system constitutes a Ponzi scheme, which is a specific sort of fraudulent financial scheme.)
But, hey, if you want to bring down capitalism, go for it.
To an extent we do: as the population grows older and the dependency ratio worsens the cost of paying for pensions + NHS + welfare is beyond the capabilities of the working age population.
The government could cut spending / voters could amend their expectations. But instead the government has chosen to import more people without factoring in the long term cost.
That’s a reasonable description of a Ponzi scheme
Technically, it's only a Ponzi scheme if the life expectancy keeps growing, and therefore you need to keep importing ever growing numbers of people. Otherwise you're justy making up for a deficit of local births.
Although, within reason, most would agree that an increasing life expectancy is a good thing
I don't know about Big G, but I'm beginning to wonder!
Having just turned 60, I am wondering how I am going to amuse myself for another 30 years or so. But I'm sitting in a bar in Montenegro drinking Baltic porter and listening to rock music, so that's a start
"Nasa has said it hopes to send astronauts on a trip around the Moon as soon as February to prepare for landing there as early as 2027.... The Artemis II mission is the second launch of the Artemis programme, whose aim is to land astronauts and eventually establish a long-term presence on the lunar surface."
Cool! I hope it'll be a safe mission.
Well, it's first time out for the life support system. It's never flown in space before.
It's the first time out for this version of the heat shield. The spacecraft will be flying an adjusted trajectory to see if that mitigates the high and uneven erosion of the heat shield on the previous test flight.
There's a whole bunch of other firsts as well.
It'll still be safer than Starship will be for many years...
Meanwhile, research from Eurostat and the ONS in the Guardian:
So long as the immigrants don’t then become citizens and add to the Ponzi scheme…
People being born, getting educated, going to work, having children of their own, and retiring is not a Ponzi scheme. It's how society works.
If a system can only function with a growing population then I think it's fair to describe it as a Ponzi scheme.
We might discover that this is true for capitalism in general.
We don't have a system that can only function with a growing population. (Even if we did, not every such system constitutes a Ponzi scheme, which is a specific sort of fraudulent financial scheme.)
But, hey, if you want to bring down capitalism, go for it.
To an extent we do: as the population grows older and the dependency ratio worsens the cost of paying for pensions + NHS + welfare is beyond the capabilities of the working age population.
The government could cut spending / voters could amend their expectations. But instead the government has chosen to import more people without factoring in the long term cost.
That’s a reasonable description of a Ponzi scheme
Technically, it's only a Ponzi scheme if the life expectancy keeps growing, and therefore you need to keep importing ever growing numbers of people. Otherwise you're justy making up for a deficit of local births.
Although, within reason, most would agree that an increasing life expectancy is a good thing
I don't know about Big G, but I'm beginning to wonder!
Subject to a quality threshold, of course.
I’m sorry to hear that it is tough going for you
Age does not come alone but there are many of our peers no longer here who would willingly swop places
As I have said over the last few days, my mobility has deteriorated so much so that we are acquiring an adjustable purpose designed mobilty bed and am looking at a mobilty scooter, but notwithstanding, every day is precious, especially with my dear wife of 61 years, and we have so much to be grateful for
I would just say @OldKingCole has far more serious mobilty issues but he, like me, no doubt counts our blessings
Meanwhile, research from Eurostat and the ONS in the Guardian:
So long as the immigrants don’t then become citizens and add to the Ponzi scheme…
People being born, getting educated, going to work, having children of their own, and retiring is not a Ponzi scheme. It's how society works.
If a system can only function with a growing population then I think it's fair to describe it as a Ponzi scheme.
We might discover that this is true for capitalism in general.
We don't have a system that can only function with a growing population. (Even if we did, not every such system constitutes a Ponzi scheme, which is a specific sort of fraudulent financial scheme.)
But, hey, if you want to bring down capitalism, go for it.
To an extent we do: as the population grows older and the dependency ratio worsens the cost of paying for pensions + NHS + welfare is beyond the capabilities of the working age population.
The government could cut spending / voters could amend their expectations. But instead the government has chosen to import more people without factoring in the long term cost.
That’s a reasonable description of a Ponzi scheme
Technically, it's only a Ponzi scheme if the life expectancy keeps growing, and therefore you need to keep importing ever growing numbers of people. Otherwise you're justy making up for a deficit of local births.
Although, within reason, most would agree that an increasing life expectancy is a good thing
I don't know about Big G, but I'm beginning to wonder!
Subject to a quality threshold, of course.
I’m sorry to hear that it is tough going for you
It's not so much that it's tough going here, but it's the Great Big World outside. We think we'd rather not be involved in a nuclear or similar war.
Meanwhile, research from Eurostat and the ONS in the Guardian:
So long as the immigrants don’t then become citizens and add to the Ponzi scheme…
People being born, getting educated, going to work, having children of their own, and retiring is not a Ponzi scheme. It's how society works.
If a system can only function with a growing population then I think it's fair to describe it as a Ponzi scheme.
We might discover that this is true for capitalism in general.
We don't have a system that can only function with a growing population. (Even if we did, not every such system constitutes a Ponzi scheme, which is a specific sort of fraudulent financial scheme.)
But, hey, if you want to bring down capitalism, go for it.
To an extent we do: as the population grows older and the dependency ratio worsens the cost of paying for pensions + NHS + welfare is beyond the capabilities of the working age population.
The government could cut spending / voters could amend their expectations. But instead the government has chosen to import more people without factoring in the long term cost.
That’s a reasonable description of a Ponzi scheme
Technically, it's only a Ponzi scheme if the life expectancy keeps growing, and therefore you need to keep importing ever growing numbers of people. Otherwise you're justy making up for a deficit of local births.
Although, within reason, most would agree that an increasing life expectancy is a good thing
I don't know about Big G, but I'm beginning to wonder!
Having just turned 60, I am wondering how I am going to amuse myself for another 30 years or so. But I'm sitting in a bar in Montenegro drinking Baltic porter and listening to rock music, so that's a start
For someone who is 81 the time flies by, and I always advise to follow your dreams as long as you can
Listening to Trump at the UN, setting aside all the criticisms of his views, the thing that really does my head in is his rudeness. He has no manners, no grace, no civility. I know this is nothing new, as Zelensky would testify. But it matters, because it contributes significantly to the coarsening of political debate, both in the US and here, and stokes division.
Call me old-fashioned, but our leaders should be setting a good example of manners, civility and polite debate and disagreement, and most manage it most of the time. Trump sets a horrific example, which to me is unforgivable in itself regardless of all the other stuff.
Listening to Trump at the UN, setting aside all the criticisms of his views, the thing that really does my head in is his rudeness. He has no manners, no grace, no civility. I know this is nothing new, as Zelensky would testify. But it matters, because it contributes significantly to the coarsening of political debate, both in the US and here, and stokes division.
Call me old-fashioned, but our leaders should be setting a good example of manners, civility and polite debate and disagreement, and most manage it most of the time. Trump sets a horrific example, which to me is unforgivable in itself regardless of all the other stuff.
He is the stereotypical New Yorker. Or more precisely of a certain type of person prevalent in New York. They make Harry Enfields "Loadddddds of Money" character look like James Blunt.
"Nasa has said it hopes to send astronauts on a trip around the Moon as soon as February to prepare for landing there as early as 2027.... The Artemis II mission is the second launch of the Artemis programme, whose aim is to land astronauts and eventually establish a long-term presence on the lunar surface."
Listening to Trump at the UN, setting aside all the criticisms of his views, the thing that really does my head in is his rudeness. He has no manners, no grace, no civility. I know this is nothing new, as Zelensky would testify. But it matters, because it contributes significantly to the coarsening of political debate, both in the US and here, and stokes division.
Call me old-fashioned, but our leaders should be setting a good example of manners, civility and polite debate and disagreement, and most manage it most of the time. Trump sets a horrific example, which to me is unforgivable in itself regardless of all the other stuff.
He is the stereotypical New Yorker.
You can take the man out of New York (and move him to Washington)…
Listening to Trump at the UN, setting aside all the criticisms of his views, the thing that really does my head in is his rudeness. He has no manners, no grace, no civility. I know this is nothing new, as Zelensky would testify. But it matters, because it contributes significantly to the coarsening of political debate, both in the US and here, and stokes division.
Call me old-fashioned, but our leaders should be setting a good example of manners, civility and polite debate and disagreement, and most manage it most of the time. Trump sets a horrific example, which to me is unforgivable in itself regardless of all the other stuff.
He is the stereotypical New Yorker.
You miss my point, entirely. The stereotypical New Yorker has neither the obligations nor the responsibilities of the POTUS.
Listening to Trump at the UN, setting aside all the criticisms of his views, the thing that really does my head in is his rudeness. He has no manners, no grace, no civility. I know this is nothing new, as Zelensky would testify. But it matters, because it contributes significantly to the coarsening of political debate, both in the US and here, and stokes division.
Call me old-fashioned, but our leaders should be setting a good example of manners, civility and polite debate and disagreement, and most manage it most of the time. Trump sets a horrific example, which to me is unforgivable in itself regardless of all the other stuff.
He is the stereotypical New Yorker.
You miss my point, entirely. The stereotypical New Yorker has neither the obligations nor the responsibilities of the POTUS.
I am not excusing it. I am saying that personna is rather common in the place he comes from.
Comments
PM: "I want to see an end to all violence."
Opposition: "How DARE you!"
In reality, all the mainstream parties agree on a fair amount. The arguments are often in the details.
If you press your forlorn faces to the windows hard enough, you might even glimpse me. Clearly they won't let you in
England’s selectors have named their squad for the Ashes, which begin on Nov 21 in Perth.
Ben Stokes, who captains the squad, and Mark Wood are both passed fit in a 16-man party which also includes Matthew Potts at the expense of Chris Woakes, who was not considered because of the shoulder he dislocated against India at the Oval last month.
Ben Stokes (Durham) captain, Jofra Archer (Sussex), Gus Atkinson (Surrey), Shoaib Bashir (Somerset), Jacob Bethell (Warwickshire), Harry Brook (Yorkshire) vice-captain, Brydon Carse (Durham), Zak Crawley (Kent), Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire), Will Jacks (Surrey), Ollie Pope (Surrey), Matthew Potts (Durham), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Jamie Smith (Surrey), Josh Tongue (Nottinghamshire), Mark Wood (Durham).
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/cricket/2025/09/23/england-ashes-squad-harry-brook-vice-captain-will-jacks/
Matthew f##king Potts....No clue what they see in him. No Livingstone or Bairstow for the ODI or T20. Think that is definitely their international careers finished if you can bully the hell out of the elite competition that is the Hundred and still not get picked.
I mean, you'd have to be a really sick fucker to do that.
https://www.thetimes.com/comment/columnists/article/arguments-against-digital-id-are-paper-thin-s3ls8zx25
And I've very much changed my view from 2005 - I can see the advantage of a card provided it's not required on demand. The database is actually there already it's just slightly hidden from view..
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwy8ee2w73jo
"The family has been moved between different hotels all over the UK since they arrived nine years ago. The Home Office initially rejected Kadir's case because of what it said was lack of proof. Two unsuccessful appeals followed. A third is currently under way."
And even after the third rejection, they will never be able to send them back to Iraq.
"For instance, when migrants move between hotels, they sometimes keep the same NHS doctors - especially for GP referrals. Kadir says a knee problem meant he was told to take a 250-mile taxi ride to see the consultant who had treated him at his old address. He says the taxi driver told him the return journey cost £600."
This sounds more like the NHS being incapable of transferring referrals when people move house. Except we wouldn't get the taxi, of course.
Second, he may not have been able to sway enough of his caucus to get a conviction. Remember, that requires a 2/3 majority. There were only 57 votes for conviction in the 2nd trial. (McConnell is good at counting votes in the Senate.)
https://x.com/StevenJonMiller/status/1970430552445428059
"Nasa has said it hopes to send astronauts on a trip around the Moon as soon as February to prepare for landing there as early as 2027.... The Artemis II mission is the second launch of the Artemis programme, whose aim is to land astronauts and eventually establish a long-term presence on the lunar surface."
The government could cut spending / voters could amend their expectations. But instead the government has chosen to import more people without factoring in the long term cost.
That’s a reasonable description of a Ponzi scheme
The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) raised its prediction for UK inflation - the rate at which prices rise - to 3.5% across 2025, citing higher food costs as a factor.
It increased its forecast slightly for UK growth this year to 1.4%, but the economy is still expected to slow next year.
BBC News - UK forecast to have highest inflation in G7 this year by OECD - BBC News
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2n4877j7lo
It's the first time out for this version of the heat shield. The spacecraft will be flying an adjusted trajectory to see if that mitigates the high and uneven erosion of the heat shield on the previous test flight.
There's a whole bunch of other firsts as well.
So that's how he does it.
For ID cards not to be a privacy and human rights nightmare there would need to be iron-clad legal protections on who can access what data, and the UK just doesn't have any history of that. Quite the opposite.
https://x.com/ishaantharoor/status/1970500411267391540
The Home Office crazies who advocate the unified database usually are the same lot advocating detention without trial. Lets try it out on them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgjvrSe7LLw (11 mins)
Edit: well that was perfect f*****g timing wasn’t it?
Proof of an upcoming appointment needs to be shown at the reception desk, where a taxi is booked on an automated system. Public transport or walking is not presented as an option.
This can result in some unusually long journeys and others that are unusually short.
For instance, when migrants move between hotels, they sometimes keep the same NHS doctors - especially for GP referrals. Kadir says a knee problem meant he was told to take a 250-mile taxi ride to see the consultant who had treated him at his old address. He says the taxi driver told him the return journey cost £600.
* Her line from the Apprentice about a fellow contestants best friends being "Pinot and Grigio" was pretty funny, mind.
Lab 30%
Ref 23%
Lab 15%
Con 10%
LD 9%
Grn 6%
Oth 5%
https://x.com/OwenWntr/status/1970522583327285604
Labour might be polling better in England than Scotland and Wales for the first time ever.
'Just watched poor Ed Davey speak.
He is obsessed with me. I am happy to pay for a psychiatrist'
Again I do not see Davey giving Farage all this airtime is a great idea
In news that will break the irony meters of PBers, for the third time in a year I have to sit in judgment of a banker (sic) who said some very inappropriate in a work setting.
The judges have the thankless task of ensuring the government obeys its own laws and that causes, including inevitably unmeritorious ones, are not dealt with by Trumpian style edict.
The merits of a cause are dealt with not by government but by courts. It's called the separation of powers and marks one of the emerging differences between a fascist America and a non-fascist UK.
"If the polling results were to be replicated at next year’s Holyrood elections, Curtice projected that the SNP would return 57 MSPs, the Greens 18, Reform UK 17, Labour 16, the Conservatives 13, and the LibDems 8.
Elsewhere, the polling found that Scots would back independence in a second referendum by 52% to 48%."
Aaron Rupar
@atrupar.com
ANA NAVARRO: November 20, I'm moderating the [Harris] book tour in Miami so if you haven't been deported yet, come see us
https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3lzjcqbiyda2v
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wPH4MEK4tk
I’m sorry to hear that it is tough going for you
‘Your countries are going to hell’: Trump attacks European leaders and United Nations in fiery general assembly speech
Guardian front page
As I have said over the last few days, my mobility has deteriorated so much so that we are acquiring an adjustable purpose designed mobilty bed and am looking at a mobilty scooter, but notwithstanding, every day is precious, especially with my dear wife of 61 years, and we have so much to be grateful for
I would just say @OldKingCole has far more serious mobilty issues but he, like me, no doubt counts our blessings
Call me old-fashioned, but our leaders should be setting a good example of manners, civility and polite debate and disagreement, and most manage it most of the time. Trump sets a horrific example, which to me is unforgivable in itself regardless of all the other stuff.