Here follows the Green Party’s Six Step Plan to Abolish Landlords;
Introduce Rent Controls and Abolish Right to Buy. (HO401, HO503)
Abolish Section 21 Evictions and make all rental agreements secure long-term tenancies that can only be terminated by the tenant. (HO519)
Tax the Landlords - move towards a Land Value Tax levied on Owners, not Tenants. No Exceptions. Business Rates on AirBnBs/Short Lets. No Exceptions. Double taxation for empty properties. Put National Insurance on Private Rents. (HO401, EC780-2)
Remove finance for Landlords - end Buy to Let mortgages. (HO521)
Provide government backed finance to tenants. Give tenants First Right to Buy when Landlords sell, with their total rent paid discounted.
Provide finance to Councils. Councils should be given Second Right to Buy when Landlords sell, or property that hasn’t been insulated to EPC rating C or fails to meet the decent homes standard, or any property that is left empty for more than six months, with the total current tenancy discounted, tenants moved to a truly affordable Council tenancy. Government must change prudential borrowing requirements to allow Councils to buy back and build new housing on a massive scale. (2024 Manifesto Pg9).
Bloody hell £100 for a mouse. Surely it can't be that good. Or how can I signal to people that I am the kind of guy that rolls with a Logitech MX Master 4 Mouse. If I'm spending £100 on it I must somehow co-opt this fact it in support of my status.
MX Master mice are the absolute best for productivity and if you use a mouse for stupid number of hours per week. Nothing comes close. But you don't need the v4, the v2 or v3 are still way ahead of everything else and can regularly be bought for £30-50 on Amazon.
Here follows the Green Party’s Six Step Plan to Abolish Landlords;
Introduce Rent Controls and Abolish Right to Buy. (HO401, HO503)
Abolish Section 21 Evictions and make all rental agreements secure long-term tenancies that can only be terminated by the tenant. (HO519)
Tax the Landlords - move towards a Land Value Tax levied on Owners, not Tenants. No Exceptions. Business Rates on AirBnBs/Short Lets. No Exceptions. Double taxation for empty properties. Put National Insurance on Private Rents. (HO401, EC780-2)
Remove finance for Landlords - end Buy to Let mortgages. (HO521)
Provide government backed finance to tenants. Give tenants First Right to Buy when Landlords sell, with their total rent paid discounted.
Provide finance to Councils. Councils should be given Second Right to Buy when Landlords sell, or property that hasn’t been insulated to EPC rating C or fails to meet the decent homes standard, or any property that is left empty for more than six months, with the total current tenancy discounted, tenants moved to a truly affordable Council tenancy. Government must change prudential borrowing requirements to allow Councils to buy back and build new housing on a massive scale. (2024 Manifesto Pg9).
'buy back' housing? Is that that lunatic proposal of Lloyd Russell Moyle that councils should buy back all ex-council housing for the price they sold it rearing its head again?
Bloody hell £100 for a mouse. Surely it can't be that good. Or how can I signal to people that I am the kind of guy that rolls with a Logitech MX Master 4 Mouse. If I'm spending £100 on it I must somehow co-opt this fact it in support of my status.
MX Master mice are the absolute best for productivity and if you use a mouse for stupid number of hours per week. Nothing comes close. But you don't need the v4, the v2 or v3 are still way ahead of everything else and can regularly be bought for £30-50 on Amazon.
Here follows the Green Party’s Six Step Plan to Abolish Landlords;
Introduce Rent Controls and Abolish Right to Buy. (HO401, HO503)
Abolish Section 21 Evictions and make all rental agreements secure long-term tenancies that can only be terminated by the tenant. (HO519)
Tax the Landlords - move towards a Land Value Tax levied on Owners, not Tenants. No Exceptions. Business Rates on AirBnBs/Short Lets. No Exceptions. Double taxation for empty properties. Put National Insurance on Private Rents. (HO401, EC780-2)
Remove finance for Landlords - end Buy to Let mortgages. (HO521)
Provide government backed finance to tenants. Give tenants First Right to Buy when Landlords sell, with their total rent paid discounted.
Provide finance to Councils. Councils should be given Second Right to Buy when Landlords sell, or property that hasn’t been insulated to EPC rating C or fails to meet the decent homes standard, or any property that is left empty for more than six months, with the total current tenancy discounted, tenants moved to a truly affordable Council tenancy. Government must change prudential borrowing requirements to allow Councils to buy back and build new housing on a massive scale. (2024 Manifesto Pg9).
'buy back' housing? Is that that lunatic proposal of Lloyd Russell Moyle that councils should buy back all ex-council housing for the price they sold it rearing its head again?
The Green Party is a bag of tits.
And if you ask nicely, they will hypnotise you into thinking they are bigger.
Bloody hell £100 for a mouse. Surely it can't be that good. Or how can I signal to people that I am the kind of guy that rolls with a Logitech MX Master 4 Mouse. If I'm spending £100 on it I must somehow co-opt this fact it in support of my status.
MX Master mice are the absolute best for productivity and if you use a mouse for stupid number of hours per week. Nothing comes close. But you don't need the v4, the v2 or v3 are still way ahead of everything else and can regularly be bought for £30-50 on Amazon.
Good for those prone to repetitive strain injuries or carpal tunnel syndrome.
I have spent a billion hours on computers, since the year dot I had one, never had any RSI etc issues, but always used a "proper" mouse. No £9.99 nonsense.
Here follows the Green Party’s Six Step Plan to Abolish Landlords;
Introduce Rent Controls and Abolish Right to Buy. (HO401, HO503)
Abolish Section 21 Evictions and make all rental agreements secure long-term tenancies that can only be terminated by the tenant. (HO519)
Tax the Landlords - move towards a Land Value Tax levied on Owners, not Tenants. No Exceptions. Business Rates on AirBnBs/Short Lets. No Exceptions. Double taxation for empty properties. Put National Insurance on Private Rents. (HO401, EC780-2)
Remove finance for Landlords - end Buy to Let mortgages. (HO521)
Provide government backed finance to tenants. Give tenants First Right to Buy when Landlords sell, with their total rent paid discounted.
Provide finance to Councils. Councils should be given Second Right to Buy when Landlords sell, or property that hasn’t been insulated to EPC rating C or fails to meet the decent homes standard, or any property that is left empty for more than six months, with the total current tenancy discounted, tenants moved to a truly affordable Council tenancy. Government must change prudential borrowing requirements to allow Councils to buy back and build new housing on a massive scale. (2024 Manifesto Pg9).
Extending right to buy to the private sector. Very Thatcherite.
"total rent paid discounted."
So if you are a landlord and you rent the house to a family who don't move for years and years - say 20 - as they are bringing up kids and they are in local school etc etc and then finally you decide to sell then if they decide under 'first right to buy' to buy the house, you lose all the money you have been paid in rent for the last twenty years as a discount, knocking maybe £190K off the value of the house?
So you own an asset and make nothing for twenty years?
Eh?
It should be made very clear that this policy was voted through at lunchtime on final day of conference when half the delegates are already at the train station but even so...
If I have read the proposals correctly, I cannot evict people even if they've not paid their rent for years.
Serves you right for being a total capitalist bastard.
Basically, Rick has written down how he would like his relationship with Chertsey Bolawski to be in an ideal world.
Bloody hell £100 for a mouse. Surely it can't be that good. Or how can I signal to people that I am the kind of guy that rolls with a Logitech MX Master 4 Mouse. If I'm spending £100 on it I must somehow co-opt this fact it in support of my status.
MX Master mice are the absolute best for productivity and if you use a mouse for stupid number of hours per week. Nothing comes close. But you don't need the v4, the v2 or v3 are still way ahead of everything else and can regularly be bought for £30-50 on Amazon.
Good for those prone to repetitive strain injuries or carpal tunnel syndrome.
For me the Kensington Expert Mouse (despite the name, actually a trackball with a very large ball) works to help keep my RSI at bay. I can move the mouse pointer around with fingertip movements rather than having a death grip on a traditional mouse. It's also the best part of a hundred quid, but on the other hand it's lasted me over a decade so considered as an annual cost it's pretty low...
I suspect Badenoch has done enough in the past 24 hours to keep the Conservative leadership for now. The ECHR position isn't for me and the ludicrous diktat every PPC for the Party must publicly commit to it reminds me of how various candidates undermined John Major in 1997.
I'm also of the view if it had been a policy worth doing, why wasn't it doen under Johnson, Truss or Sunak? Why has it taken the worst defeat in their history for the Conservatives to "see the light" on the ECHR or is it something else?
It's to be hoped she moves off trying to make the Conservative Party the moderate wing of Reform. As others have opined, it'll be interesting to see what Stride says about economic policy.
I await her details on this subject which apparently follows a review by David Wolfson who is a barrister
What has become increasingly obvious the powers of the ECHR are seen as a problem, and not just with Farage declaration to leave, and now Badenoch's, but also Starmer is wanting changes
Some on the right have picked the ECHR as a bogeyman. They want to rekindle the Brexit debate and so have picked on something else with European in its name. The actual day-to-day impact of the ECHR on our lives is not great.
The ECHR is not responsible for unaffordable housing, for insecure employment, for all-powerful tech companies creating monopolies. The ECHR is not responsible for cancer or dementia or long COVID. The ECHR does not cause rape or assaults or mobile phone theft. The ECHR is not why it's difficult to see a GP or book a driving test.
Badenoch's announcement is clickbait as politics, not a serious attempt to make our lives better.
Your second paragraph is not the reason why leaving or amending the ECHR is such a hot topic
It relates entirely to our ability to stop the boats and illegal migration and it is clear even Starmer recognisies it and is reviewing parts of it
The status quo on the ECHR is not sustainable
Can you explain the mechanics of why we should join Russia and Belarus in a human rights hinterland?
To make sure Canada and Australia can outvote them?
Since when had Canada and Australia been in Europe. It isn't the Eurovision Song Contest.
What relevance is being in Europe?
We are humans. Australians are humans. Canadians are humans.
We should all have the same fundamental human rights. Or whatever our respective Parliaments democratically vote for.
Geography does bit change our humanity.
We could choose to be part of a European nation, in which case it might be relevant, but we are not.
I agree completely. You misunderstood my post. Someone argued in defence of leaving the ECHR that Australia and Canada weren't in it. Of course they aren't in it. It is a European organisation. It was a nonsense argument.
For goodness sake I'm not arguing elsewhere doesn't have human rights just that Australia isn't in Europe so naturally wouldn't be in the European organisation as someone tried to use as a nonsense justification.
Its not a nonsense argument, we are a democracy just like Australia and Canada.
So what if it is a European organisation? We have no obligation or duty to be in every European organisation. We aren't in the EU.
We can choose whether to be in an organisation or not. If it doesn't suit us, we can choose not to be in it. If we aren't in the ECHR then we will be in the same company as Australia and Canada as a western democracy with our own courts as ultimate courts, not in the same company as Belarus and Russia who aren't democracies.
I agree. I agree. I agree. We don't have to be in the European one. I never said we did.
You are completely missing the point that goes back umpteen posts ago and was simply a logic point.
I will try again (although I feel like banging my head against the wall):
a) Someone said something about Russia/Belarus not being in the ECHR (it doesn't matter what the details are)
b) Someone else said in response that neither are Canada or Australia as some counter argument (to whatever it was)
My point was (and it is my only point and nothing else) Canada and Australia CAN'T be members of the ECHR as it is a European only organisation and therefore this argument is logically flawed
That's it. Nothing else. Nothing about the pros and cons, nothing about human rights elsewhere, nothing about us being in it or not. Nothing about anything else at all. Just the logical flaw in saying 'neither are Canada or Australia in the ECHR'
Sigh.
You were right all along @kjh Canada and Australia are in on the continent of Europe what Russia and Belarus (for the most part are).
That doesn't fit the narrative of the poster who has been banging on about human rights in Canada and Australia all day.
Although Australia are in Eurovision, which might be the root of his confusion.
What continent we or they are on is irrelevant.
God!
Yes it is, but not when some twit a thousand posts ago tried to put Australia and Canada in Europe. Have you read the original post. That is all we are saying. Australia and Canada are not in the ECHR for probably a few reasons, but the overwhelming one is THEY ARE NOT IN EUROPE.
Someone tried to argue otherwise.
There is no more to it than this.
Nobody tried to put Australia and Canada in Europe, stop being a nitwit.
Nobody "ever tried to argue otherwise", that's a figment of your own fevered imagination.
The original post was saying "Can you explain the mechanics of why we should join Russia and Belarus in a human rights hinterland" to which it was responded, by multiple people, pointing out that Australia and Canada are democratic nations not in the ECHR.
Nobody claimed they're in Europe. Indeed when I responded, after as it happens others had, I specifically said "Can you explain why without reference to geography we should not have our own domestic court being the highest court rather than an international one, like in Australia, Canada and New Zealand."
Geography was explicitly excluded as immaterial, nobody claimed they're in Europe. And it was Mexicanpete who began this, not anyone else, by pretending authoritarian dictatorships Belarus and Russia are the only comparable countries as opposed to Australia and Canada who are, like we would be, democratic free countries.
Nobody ever tried to argue Australia or Canada are in Europe. Many did argue that geography is not relevant.
Bloody hell £100 for a mouse. Surely it can't be that good. Or how can I signal to people that I am the kind of guy that rolls with a Logitech MX Master 4 Mouse. If I'm spending £100 on it I must somehow co-opt this fact it in support of my status.
MX Master mice are the absolute best for productivity and if you use a mouse for stupid number of hours per week. Nothing comes close. But you don't need the v4, the v2 or v3 are still way ahead of everything else and can regularly be bought for £30-50 on Amazon.
Good for those prone to repetitive strain injuries or carpal tunnel syndrome.
For me the Kensington Expert Mouse (despite the name, actually a trackball with a very large ball) works to help keep my RSI at bay. I can move the mouse pointer around with fingertip movements rather than having a death grip on a traditional mouse. It's also the best part of a hundred quid, but on the other hand it's lasted me over a decade so considered as an annual cost it's pretty low...
Exactly.
I have been using one for the best part of 30 years. No carpal tunnel
Bloody hell £100 for a mouse. Surely it can't be that good. Or how can I signal to people that I am the kind of guy that rolls with a Logitech MX Master 4 Mouse. If I'm spending £100 on it I must somehow co-opt this fact it in support of my status.
MX Master mice are the absolute best for productivity and if you use a mouse for stupid number of hours per week. Nothing comes close. But you don't need the v4, the v2 or v3 are still way ahead of everything else and can regularly be bought for £30-50 on Amazon.
Good for those prone to repetitive strain injuries or carpal tunnel syndrome.
For me the Kensington Expert Mouse (despite the name, actually a trackball with a very large ball) works to help keep my RSI at bay. I can move the mouse pointer around with fingertip movements rather than having a death grip on a traditional mouse. It's also the best part of a hundred quid, but on the other hand it's lasted me over a decade so considered as an annual cost it's pretty low...
Sort of thing you need to hide in a cupboard before you bring a girl home. Look at it.
Bloody hell £100 for a mouse. Surely it can't be that good. Or how can I signal to people that I am the kind of guy that rolls with a Logitech MX Master 4 Mouse. If I'm spending £100 on it I must somehow co-opt this fact it in support of my status.
MX Master mice are the absolute best for productivity and if you use a mouse for stupid number of hours per week. Nothing comes close. But you don't need the v4, the v2 or v3 are still way ahead of everything else and can regularly be bought for £30-50 on Amazon.
Good for those prone to repetitive strain injuries or carpal tunnel syndrome.
For me the Kensington Expert Mouse (despite the name, actually a trackball with a very large ball) works to help keep my RSI at bay. I can move the mouse pointer around with fingertip movements rather than having a death grip on a traditional mouse. It's also the best part of a hundred quid, but on the other hand it's lasted me over a decade so considered as an annual cost it's pretty low...
Sort of thing you need to hide in a cupboard before you bring a girl home. Look at it.
It's really cool. You can swap the ball for a 8 ball from a pool table. How awesome is that !
Bloody hell £100 for a mouse. Surely it can't be that good. Or how can I signal to people that I am the kind of guy that rolls with a Logitech MX Master 4 Mouse. If I'm spending £100 on it I must somehow co-opt this fact it in support of my status.
MX Master mice are the absolute best for productivity and if you use a mouse for stupid number of hours per week. Nothing comes close. But you don't need the v4, the v2 or v3 are still way ahead of everything else and can regularly be bought for £30-50 on Amazon.
Good for those prone to repetitive strain injuries or carpal tunnel syndrome.
For me the Kensington Expert Mouse (despite the name, actually a trackball with a very large ball) works to help keep my RSI at bay. I can move the mouse pointer around with fingertip movements rather than having a death grip on a traditional mouse. It's also the best part of a hundred quid, but on the other hand it's lasted me over a decade so considered as an annual cost it's pretty low...
Sort of thing you need to hide in a cupboard before you bring a girl home. Look at it.
No I don’t want to choose my blend, roast, origin, style, size, heat level, terroir, gluten levels and milk fat content of my coffee
Especially when at the end it tastes like very fucking average coffee
I miss Naples
I've been drinking mine with crud in the bottom, Bosnian style. Very nice, poky but better for lingering over than an espresso which you should knock back standing and walk out (or have as a stiffener between rounds of beer). Even learnt to make it.
Yesterday I was in the Genocide museum in Mostar. Sickening and chilling, really well-chosen exhibits that bring it home. It's not very big, no matter, I couldn't stay any longer.
One guy had his throat cut by Chetniks in 1943 and thrown off the bridge at Višegrad. They didn't do a very good job,he swum to the bank and survived. Fifty years later they did it again, tied his hands and feet this time.
Another guy had his wife and 10 kids killed by Chetniks in WW2. He remarried after the war and had 5 more. In 1993 they killed four of them.
Did this evil really pass us by? Why were we fucking around for several years before doing anything?
Because, the first few years, the Diplomatic Approach was the de rigueur. Apparently all they needed was stern resolution from Serious Chaps and lots of talking.
During this period, Thatcher (out of power) argued for arming the non-Serb forces. Lord Turd said, sneerily, that this would just be “Levelling the killing field.”
When that failed, UN Interventionism was tried. So soldiers from around the world watched at atrocities, while wearing Blue Helmets. And doing nothing.
Finally the Americans got bored/annoyed by Sebranica . And armed all the anti-Serb forces. By kept them on a tight leash (air power, control of logistics), they were prevented from massacring the Serbs back.
The American brokered peace deal was fairly simple. “If any of you gets vaguely tempted about a rematch, we will fuck you up real bad.”
What a wonderful piece of weasel-speak is “levelling the killing field.”
I went on holiday to Dubrovnik in 2012. The owner of the apartment told us that his daughter was at Zagreb University when the fighting started. She and three other students were driving back to Dubrovnik, when their car was hit by a Serbian shell.
Indeed.
Lord Turd is a Turd, as a result of that, forevermore.
Lord Turd of Sebranica, to give him his full title.
Rubbish he did an excellent job in the Gulf War and was a reformist Home Secretary. There was no desire to get involved in the Yugoslavian civil war, certainly initially or even in some quarters by 1999 as shown by Alan Clark's comments in the House.
Had Lord Hurd to speak at university and he was excellent
Trump: "I said one year before to Pete Hegseth, I said, one year before -- where's Pete? In the book I wrote -- whatever the hell the title, I can't tell you -- but I can tell you there's a page in there devoted to the fact that I saw somebody named Osama bin Laden and I didn't like it."
Bloody laptop now updated to Win 11 at last after two failed downloads. Taken much of the afternoon and evening. Now I can depart. Night all.
Get a Macbook
MacBooks are extortionate. You can't buy one for less than £1000 - it goes up rapidly from there - and at the price the models are nice, but not that nice. With discounts you can buy decent enough Windows and Chromebook equivalents for literally half the price.
Bloody laptop now updated to Win 11 at last after two failed downloads. Taken much of the afternoon and evening. Now I can depart. Night all.
Get a Macbook
MacBooks are extortionate. You can't buy one for less than £1000 - it goes up rapidly from there - and at the price the models are nice, but not that nice. With discounts you can buy decent enough Windows and Chromebook equivalents for literally half the price.
My experience is pay twice as much for a Macbook - and they last four times as long. No hassles upgrading the operating system either.
Every Windows laptop I ever had turned to sludge after a few years.
Bloody laptop now updated to Win 11 at last after two failed downloads. Taken much of the afternoon and evening. Now I can depart. Night all.
Get a Macbook
MacBooks are extortionate. You can't buy one for less than £1000 - it goes up rapidly from there - and at the price the models are nice, but not that nice. With discounts you can buy decent enough Windows and Chromebook equivalents for literally half the price.
Used to be possible to buy one for about £800 but that was a number of years ago so I guess inflation makes it around the same.
Everybody just went bonkers coz some guy ran about ten yards
Think of it more as a violent form of chess. An awful lot goes down in those few seconds.
Nah. It’s just a crap sport
You've made it fairly clear that you don't understand it well enough to form anything more than a superficial judgment. But that is not uncharacteristic.
Everybody just went bonkers coz some guy ran about ten yards
Think of it more as a violent form of chess. An awful lot goes down in those few seconds.
Nah. It’s just a crap sport
You've made it fairly clear that you don't understand it well enough to form anything more than a superficial judgment. But that is not uncharacteristic.
Leon knows as much about American sport as he does US licensing laws
Everybody just went bonkers coz some guy ran about ten yards
Think of it more as a violent form of chess. An awful lot goes down in those few seconds.
Nah. It’s just a crap sport
You've made it fairly clear that you don't understand it well enough to form anything more than a superficial judgment. But that is not uncharacteristic.
I used to be into it when I was about 19. Because that’s who it’s aimed at. Late teenagers
It is the marvel comic universe of sports. It’s shit
Bloody laptop now updated to Win 11 at last after two failed downloads. Taken much of the afternoon and evening. Now I can depart. Night all.
Get a Macbook
MacBooks are extortionate. You can't buy one for less than £1000 - it goes up rapidly from there - and at the price the models are nice, but not that nice. With discounts you can buy decent enough Windows and Chromebook equivalents for literally half the price.
Used to be possible to buy one for about £800 but that was a number of years ago so I guess inflation makes it around the same.
I think what's changed is that you can buy some nice kit for not a lot of money from everyone apart from Apple.
Everybody just went bonkers coz some guy ran about ten yards
Think of it more as a violent form of chess. An awful lot goes down in those few seconds.
Nah. It’s just a crap sport
You've made it fairly clear that you don't understand it well enough to form anything more than a superficial judgment. But that is not uncharacteristic.
I used to be into it when I was about 19. Because that’s who it’s aimed at. Late teenagers
It is the marvel comic universe of sports. It’s shit
Everybody just went bonkers coz some guy ran about ten yards
Think of it more as a violent form of chess. An awful lot goes down in those few seconds.
Nah. It’s just a crap sport
You've made it fairly clear that you don't understand it well enough to form anything more than a superficial judgment. But that is not uncharacteristic.
I used to be into it when I was about 19. Because that’s who it’s aimed at. Late teenagers
It is the marvel comic universe of sports. It’s shit
Sure.
I live a life of intense and varied experiences. I learn to rank them, fast. You don’t
This would probably be an amazing treat for you. For me it isn’t. Onwards
Everybody just went bonkers coz some guy ran about ten yards
Think of it more as a violent form of chess. An awful lot goes down in those few seconds.
Nah. It’s just a crap sport
You've made it fairly clear that you don't understand it well enough to form anything more than a superficial judgment. But that is not uncharacteristic.
I used to be into it when I was about 19. Because that’s who it’s aimed at. Late teenagers
It is the marvel comic universe of sports. It’s shit
Weirdly there is the germ of a really good game there. I’d scrap the helmets and ensure safer tackling. I’d probably ditch the forward pass too. Then maybe a few more players on the pitch and no special teams for offence and defence - one team does both.
But then I realise it’s rugby.
More seriously I like a watch on a Sunday night, and even have a team, the Packers. But it’s just so slow. Needlessly slow.
To emphasize, the judge painstakingly examined all the protest happening in Portland before Trump activated the Guard. She noted that there hadn't been any violence at a protest since mid-July...
The Trump administration* has ignored the court order and is trying to go ahead with the illegal deployment of the military.
*I don't ascribe all that much policy to Trump himself these days, as he seems to be a malign but semi-senile figurehead, manipulated by those that surround him.
This is insanely risky. Upside - get some of the Conservatives voters back from Reform. Downside - lose some of those who have stuck with the Conservatives because they are supposed to be the sane option.
It's even riskier if you consider that there is a non-zero chance ICE morph into Trump's private army over the next few years.
To emphasize, the judge painstakingly examined all the protest happening in Portland before Trump activated the Guard. She noted that there hadn't been any violence at a protest since mid-July...
The Trump administration* has ignored the court order and is trying to go ahead with the illegal deployment of the military.
*I don't ascribe all that much policy to Trump himself these days, as he seems to be a malign but semi-senile figurehead, manipulated by those that surround him.
A senior White House official accusing a federal judge — appointed by his own boss — of “insurrection” for ruling on a case isn’t just reckless. It’s authoritarian propaganda, plain and simple.
Everybody just went bonkers coz some guy ran about ten yards
Think of it more as a violent form of chess. An awful lot goes down in those few seconds.
Nah. It’s just a crap sport
You've made it fairly clear that you don't understand it well enough to form anything more than a superficial judgment. But that is not uncharacteristic.
I used to be into it when I was about 19. Because that’s who it’s aimed at. Late teenagers
It is the marvel comic universe of sports. It’s shit
Sure.
I live a life of intense and varied experiences. I learn to rank them, fast. You don’t
This would probably be an amazing treat for you. For me it isn’t. Onwards
Actually going to a game ? Tried it a couple of times, and not really my thing. Much more interesting on television.
Everybody just went bonkers coz some guy ran about ten yards
Think of it more as a violent form of chess. An awful lot goes down in those few seconds.
Nah. It’s just a crap sport
You've made it fairly clear that you don't understand it well enough to form anything more than a superficial judgment. But that is not uncharacteristic.
I used to be into it when I was about 19. Because that’s who it’s aimed at. Late teenagers
It is the marvel comic universe of sports. It’s shit
There id a Michael McIntyre routine about the shop 'Argos', in which he has Argos saying "We've had a great idea - we think shops ought to be ike THIS" - and absolutely noone agrees and follows suit. I often think of it when I see what Americans think football should be like.
That said, it's possibly my second favourite form code of football, after rugby union but above rugby league, Australian rules, Gaelic and association.
I have no objection to the staccato nature of the game. Cricket is like that - a thing happens, a thing stops happening. Shortly, the process repeats itself. And cricket is fucking ace.
No I don’t want to choose my blend, roast, origin, style, size, heat level, terroir, gluten levels and milk fat content of my coffee
Especially when at the end it tastes like very fucking average coffee
I miss Naples
I've been drinking mine with crud in the bottom, Bosnian style. Very nice, poky but better for lingering over than an espresso which you should knock back standing and walk out (or have as a stiffener between rounds of beer). Even learnt to make it.
Yesterday I was in the Genocide museum in Mostar. Sickening and chilling, really well-chosen exhibits that bring it home. It's not very big, no matter, I couldn't stay any longer.
One guy had his throat cut by Chetniks in 1943 and thrown off the bridge at Višegrad. They didn't do a very good job,he swum to the bank and survived. Fifty years later they did it again, tied his hands and feet this time.
Another guy had his wife and 10 kids killed by Chetniks in WW2. He remarried after the war and had 5 more. In 1993 they killed four of them.
Did this evil really pass us by? Why were we fucking around for several years before doing anything?
Because, the first few years, the Diplomatic Approach was the de rigueur. Apparently all they needed was stern resolution from Serious Chaps and lots of talking.
During this period, Thatcher (out of power) argued for arming the non-Serb forces. Lord Turd said, sneerily, that this would just be “Levelling the killing field.”
When that failed, UN Interventionism was tried. So soldiers from around the world watched at atrocities, while wearing Blue Helmets. And doing nothing.
Finally the Americans got bored/annoyed by Sebranica . And armed all the anti-Serb forces. By kept them on a tight leash (air power, control of logistics), they were prevented from massacring the Serbs back.
The American brokered peace deal was fairly simple. “If any of you gets vaguely tempted about a rematch, we will fuck you up real bad.”
What a wonderful piece of weasel-speak is “levelling the killing field.”
I went on holiday to Dubrovnik in 2012. The owner of the apartment told us that his daughter was at Zagreb University when the fighting started. She and three other students were driving back to Dubrovnik, when their car was hit by a Serbian shell.
Indeed.
Lord Turd is a Turd, as a result of that, forevermore.
Lord Turd of Sebranica, to give him his full title.
Rubbish he did an excellent job in the Gulf War and was a reformist Home Secretary. There was no desire to get involved in the Yugoslavian civil war, certainly initially or even in some quarters by 1999 as shown by Alan Clark's comments in the House.
Had Lord Hurd to speak at university and he was excellent
He is very very stupid. In the way that only an intelligent man can be.
And it wasn't just "not getting involved". There was a careful and active blockade of the anti-Serb forces - the Serbs had most of the old Yugoslav Army and were supported, heavily by Russia. Who defied the sanctions.
The blockade was actively supported and worked for by The Turd.
Thatcher spoke in support of lifting the blockade.
Everybody just went bonkers coz some guy ran about ten yards
Think of it more as a violent form of chess. An awful lot goes down in those few seconds.
Nah. It’s just a crap sport
You've made it fairly clear that you don't understand it well enough to form anything more than a superficial judgment. But that is not uncharacteristic.
I used to be into it when I was about 19. Because that’s who it’s aimed at. Late teenagers
It is the marvel comic universe of sports. It’s shit
Weirdly there is the germ of a really good game there. I’d scrap the helmets and ensure safer tackling. I’d probably ditch the forward pass too. Then maybe a few more players on the pitch and no special teams for offence and defence - one team does both.
But then I realise it’s rugby.
More seriously I like a watch on a Sunday night, and even have a team, the Packers. But it’s just so slow. Needlessly slow.
This is insanely risky. Upside - get some of the Conservatives voters back from Reform. Downside - lose some of those who have stuck with the Conservatives because they are supposed to be the sane option.
It's even riskier if you consider that there is a non-zero chance ICE morph into Trump's private army over the next few years.
Bloody laptop now updated to Win 11 at last after two failed downloads. Taken much of the afternoon and evening. Now I can depart. Night all.
Get a Macbook
MacBooks are extortionate. You can't buy one for less than £1000 - it goes up rapidly from there - and at the price the models are nice, but not that nice. With discounts you can buy decent enough Windows and Chromebook equivalents for literally half the price.
My experience is pay twice as much for a Macbook - and they last four times as long. No hassles upgrading the operating system either.
Every Windows laptop I ever had turned to sludge after a few years.
You have to pick the right one. One of my Dell laptops is 14 years old and still in daily use. It started off as a dual-core i3 with 2GB of RAM, a 500GB hard drive, 802.11n wifi and Windows 7. Now it has a quad core i7 (yay for socketed CPUs), 16GB RAM, a 1TB SSD, 802.11ac wifi and Windows 10.
Still works fine for most general tasks.
You're not getting that kind of longevity or upgrade path from any laptop Apple ever made.
I suspect Badenoch has done enough in the past 24 hours to keep the Conservative leadership for now. The ECHR position isn't for me and the ludicrous diktat every PPC for the Party must publicly commit to it reminds me of how various candidates undermined John Major in 1997.
I'm also of the view if it had been a policy worth doing, why wasn't it doen under Johnson, Truss or Sunak? Why has it taken the worst defeat in their history for the Conservatives to "see the light" on the ECHR or is it something else?
It's to be hoped she moves off trying to make the Conservative Party the moderate wing of Reform. As others have opined, it'll be interesting to see what Stride says about economic policy.
Think jury is still out on Kemi. She's certainly not an IDS-type dud - indeed, may even, just discernible?, have a dusting of something special. Or maybe not. But it's not impossible. What may prove impossible is turning things round in time, and riding out next May. We shall see. But it's not over til it's over, and having watched the speech I think she still has a fighting chance.
Everybody just went bonkers coz some guy ran about ten yards
Think of it more as a violent form of chess. An awful lot goes down in those few seconds.
Nah. It’s just a crap sport
You've made it fairly clear that you don't understand it well enough to form anything more than a superficial judgment. But that is not uncharacteristic.
I used to be into it when I was about 19. Because that’s who it’s aimed at. Late teenagers
It is the marvel comic universe of sports. It’s shit
Sure.
I live a life of intense and varied experiences. I learn to rank them, fast. You don’t
This would probably be an amazing treat for you. For me it isn’t. Onwards
Actually going to a game ? Tried it a couple of times, and not really my thing. Much more interesting on television.
The worst crowd violence I've ever witnessed was at my only American Football game.
Everybody just went bonkers coz some guy ran about ten yards
Think of it more as a violent form of chess. An awful lot goes down in those few seconds.
Nah. It’s just a crap sport
You've made it fairly clear that you don't understand it well enough to form anything more than a superficial judgment. But that is not uncharacteristic.
I used to be into it when I was about 19. Because that’s who it’s aimed at. Late teenagers
It is the marvel comic universe of sports. It’s shit
Sure.
I live a life of intense and varied experiences. I learn to rank them, fast. You don’t
This would probably be an amazing treat for you. For me it isn’t. Onwards
I think they go for the hotdogs and big cups of fizzy pop really.
This is insanely risky. Upside - get some of the Conservatives voters back from Reform. Downside - lose some of those who have stuck with the Conservatives because they are supposed to be the sane option.
It's even riskier if you consider that there is a non-zero chance ICE morph into Trump's private army over the next few years.
Yep. It's definitely non-zero and more like 80:20 to be honest.
Still, whoever takes over from Badenoch next summer can sort the policy out I suppose.
Everybody just went bonkers coz some guy ran about ten yards
Think of it more as a violent form of chess. An awful lot goes down in those few seconds.
Nah. It’s just a crap sport
You've made it fairly clear that you don't understand it well enough to form anything more than a superficial judgment. But that is not uncharacteristic.
I used to be into it when I was about 19. Because that’s who it’s aimed at. Late teenagers
It is the marvel comic universe of sports. It’s shit
Sure.
I live a life of intense and varied experiences. I learn to rank them, fast. You don’t
This would probably be an amazing treat for you. For me it isn’t. Onwards
I think they go for the hotdogs and big cups of fizzy pop really.
No that is the baseball....the game that makes Boycott era test cricket look exciting. Its takes even longer than NFL, f##k all happens for most of it, and unless you are in the expensive seats you don't see what the pitcher is doing.
I was lucky to be right behind home plate for Aroldis Chapman chucking them at 105mph, that was special, but he only throws 1-2 Innings at the end.
Basketball is weirdly boring. Its a game of small edges, the team patterns are drilled within an inch of their lives and it feels like you might as well skip unless the last minute.
To emphasize, the judge painstakingly examined all the protest happening in Portland before Trump activated the Guard. She noted that there hadn't been any violence at a protest since mid-July...
The Trump administration* has ignored the court order and is trying to go ahead with the illegal deployment of the military.
*I don't ascribe all that much policy to Trump himself these days, as he seems to be a malign but semi-senile figurehead, manipulated by those that surround him.
A senior White House official accusing a federal judge — appointed by his own boss — of “insurrection” for ruling on a case isn’t just reckless. It’s authoritarian propaganda, plain and simple.
I cannot think of anyone more dangerous to the American (and possibly the Western) way of life than Stephen Miller. Please follow every tweet and every word uttered by this genuinely evil menace.
"Dumping Badenoch would not reduce Farage’s lead over Tories, poll finds Kemi outscores Jenrick, Cleverly and Johnson in head-to-heads, but Reform leader still beats all four" (£)
No I don’t want to choose my blend, roast, origin, style, size, heat level, terroir, gluten levels and milk fat content of my coffee
Especially when at the end it tastes like very fucking average coffee
I miss Naples
I've been drinking mine with crud in the bottom, Bosnian style. Very nice, poky but better for lingering over than an espresso which you should knock back standing and walk out (or have as a stiffener between rounds of beer). Even learnt to make it.
Yesterday I was in the Genocide museum in Mostar. Sickening and chilling, really well-chosen exhibits that bring it home. It's not very big, no matter, I couldn't stay any longer.
One guy had his throat cut by Chetniks in 1943 and thrown off the bridge at Višegrad. They didn't do a very good job,he swum to the bank and survived. Fifty years later they did it again, tied his hands and feet this time.
Another guy had his wife and 10 kids killed by Chetniks in WW2. He remarried after the war and had 5 more. In 1993 they killed four of them.
Did this evil really pass us by? Why were we fucking around for several years before doing anything?
Because, the first few years, the Diplomatic Approach was the de rigueur. Apparently all they needed was stern resolution from Serious Chaps and lots of talking.
During this period, Thatcher (out of power) argued for arming the non-Serb forces. Lord Turd said, sneerily, that this would just be “Levelling the killing field.”
When that failed, UN Interventionism was tried. So soldiers from around the world watched at atrocities, while wearing Blue Helmets. And doing nothing.
Finally the Americans got bored/annoyed by Sebranica . And armed all the anti-Serb forces. By kept them on a tight leash (air power, control of logistics), they were prevented from massacring the Serbs back.
The American brokered peace deal was fairly simple. “If any of you gets vaguely tempted about a rematch, we will fuck you up real bad.”
What a wonderful piece of weasel-speak is “levelling the killing field.”
I went on holiday to Dubrovnik in 2012. The owner of the apartment told us that his daughter was at Zagreb University when the fighting started. She and three other students were driving back to Dubrovnik, when their car was hit by a Serbian shell.
Indeed.
Lord Turd is a Turd, as a result of that, forevermore.
Lord Turd of Sebranica, to give him his full title.
Rubbish he did an excellent job in the Gulf War and was a reformist Home Secretary. There was no desire to get involved in the Yugoslavian civil war, certainly initially or even in some quarters by 1999 as shown by Alan Clark's comments in the House.
Had Lord Hurd to speak at university and he was excellent
He is very very stupid. In the way that only an intelligent man can be.
And it wasn't just "not getting involved". There was a careful and active blockade of the anti-Serb forces - the Serbs had most of the old Yugoslav Army and were supported, heavily by Russia. Who defied the sanctions.
The blockade was actively supported and worked for by The Turd.
Thatcher spoke in support of lifting the blockade.
I dislike mendacity.
“Creating a level killing field” meant “enabling victims of aggression to defend themselves.” It’s why I dislike Peter Hitchens’ claim that he only wants “peace” in Ukraine, when what he means is “Russian victory.”
Unpleasant opinions, honestly expressed, are less annoying than gaslighting and bad faith arguments.
Everybody just went bonkers coz some guy ran about ten yards
Think of it more as a violent form of chess. An awful lot goes down in those few seconds.
Nah. It’s just a crap sport
You've made it fairly clear that you don't understand it well enough to form anything more than a superficial judgment. But that is not uncharacteristic.
I used to be into it when I was about 19. Because that’s who it’s aimed at. Late teenagers
It is the marvel comic universe of sports. It’s shit
Sure.
I live a life of intense and varied experiences. I learn to rank them, fast. You don’t
This would probably be an amazing treat for you. For me it isn’t. Onwards
I think they go for the hotdogs and big cups of fizzy pop really.
No that is the baseball....the game that makes Boycott era test cricket look exciting. Its takes even longer than NFL, f##k all happens for most of it, and unless you are in the expensive seats you don't see what the pitcher is doing.
I was lucky to be right behind home plate for Aroldis Chapman chucking them at 105mph, that was special, but he only throws 1-2 Innings at the end.
Surely not. A King Geoff innings felt like it took up a fortnight of one's life.
Everybody just went bonkers coz some guy ran about ten yards
Think of it more as a violent form of chess. An awful lot goes down in those few seconds.
Nah. It’s just a crap sport
You've made it fairly clear that you don't understand it well enough to form anything more than a superficial judgment. But that is not uncharacteristic.
I used to be into it when I was about 19. Because that’s who it’s aimed at. Late teenagers
It is the marvel comic universe of sports. It’s shit
Sure.
I live a life of intense and varied experiences. I learn to rank them, fast. You don’t
This would probably be an amazing treat for you. For me it isn’t. Onwards
I think they go for the hotdogs and big cups of fizzy pop really.
No that is the baseball....the game that makes Boycott era test cricket look exciting. Its takes even longer than NFL, f##k all happens for most of it, and unless you are in the expensive seats you don't see what the pitcher is doing.
I was lucky to be right behind home plate for Aroldis Chapman chucking them at 105mph, that was special, but he only throws 1-2 Innings at the end.
Surely not. A King Geoff innings felt like it took up a fortnight of one's life.
I once watched a no hitter and the crowd went wild...the other side had only 1 hit, a home run that just crept over the fence that was a splice that just stayed fair. I would have happily watched Sir Geoff bat at his slowest that day.
This is insanely risky. Upside - get some of the Conservatives voters back from Reform. Downside - lose some of those who have stuck with the Conservatives because they are supposed to be the sane option.
It's even riskier if you consider that there is a non-zero chance ICE morph into Trump's private army over the next few years.
It was bad enough that Farage thinks copying Trump is a good idea, but now that cancer has clearly spread to the Tories.
I can’t stand American football but this is an incredible stadium. Almost brand new. Sofi in Hollywood Park
It’s frigging enormous. Host for the opening ceremony of the next Olympics
What's the point of calling it "football" when you play with your hands?
Dumbass colonists!!
What's the point of calling it a sport when they spend 80% of the game milling around?
I went to a game once and was bored out of my skull. Maybe half an hour of doing something in three hours of gameplay. And half an hour getting in and to our seats at the start and about an hour leaving the backed up parking lot afterwards.
Overall American football makes even a nil-all draw after half an hour's extra time look like an afternoon well spent.
I suspect Badenoch has done enough in the past 24 hours to keep the Conservative leadership for now. The ECHR position isn't for me and the ludicrous diktat every PPC for the Party must publicly commit to it reminds me of how various candidates undermined John Major in 1997.
I'm also of the view if it had been a policy worth doing, why wasn't it doen under Johnson, Truss or Sunak? Why has it taken the worst defeat in their history for the Conservatives to "see the light" on the ECHR or is it something else?
It's to be hoped she moves off trying to make the Conservative Party the moderate wing of Reform. As others have opined, it'll be interesting to see what Stride says about economic policy.
Think jury is still out on Kemi. She's certainly not an IDS-type dud - indeed, may even, just discernible?, have a dusting of something special. Or maybe not. But it's not impossible. What may prove impossible is turning things round in time, and riding out next May. We shall see. But it's not over til it's over, and having watched the speech I think she still has a fighting chance.
It was a good speech.
I think Kemi is exactly what she she always has been as a minister, a leadership candidate, and a leader. Pretty impressive as a speaker, got a bit about her, makes the odd gaffe, is sometimes combative and talks a very combative game, but actually does a fair bit more path of least resistance stuff than she would publicly acknowledge. Bright and articulate but not a genius.
The question is whether that's enough in the circumstances. It might be enough with a bit of luck. Not to turn back the Nige tide, but to keep the Tories successful enough to form a decent chunk of his Government, and eventually effect a backward takeover of Reform. Kemi isn't silly. She knows the story of Canada as well as Farage does.
"Dumping Badenoch would not reduce Farage’s lead over Tories, poll finds Kemi outscores Jenrick, Cleverly and Johnson in head-to-heads, but Reform leader still beats all four" (£)
I think "best" is doing a lot of heavy lifting here. Probably "least worst" is more accurate.
That's why she'll be safe until the local elections next year - none of her potential opponents would be doing any better against Reform. IF, however, the elections are very bad, the pressure to remove her will likely be irresistible.
Cyclists injured record number of pedestrians last year, data reveals Collisions on pavements and at zebra crossings surged nearly 60 percent in five years ... Last year was the worst on record for casualties involving cyclists on pavements and at zebra crossings.
Police recorded 603 incidents where a pedestrian was injured in collision with a cyclist in 2024.
That’s up 19 percent from the 507 similar injuries in 2023.
Context, please - These stats are meaningless without comparable cycling miles or trips taken. The City of London for example saw a 50% increase in cycling from 2022-24.
I’m willing to bet a lot of the increase is due to the explosion of delivery riders on illegally modified e-bikes.
I can’t stand American football but this is an incredible stadium. Almost brand new. Sofi in Hollywood Park
It’s frigging enormous. Host for the opening ceremony of the next Olympics
What's the point of calling it "football" when you play with your hands?
Dumbass colonists!!
What's the point of calling it a sport when they spend 80% of the game milling around?
I went to a game once and was bored out of my skull. Maybe half an hour of doing something in three hours of gameplay. And half an hour getting in and to our seats at the start and about an hour leaving the backed up parking lot afterwards.
Overall American football makes even a nil-all draw after half an hour's extra time look like an afternoon well spent.
Sports funny. Sometimes it’s what you make it, sometimes it depends on what you bring with you. Many years ago I lived in Norwich, and was fairly regular at Carrow Road. I’ve also watched Swindon since I was 9. One weekend we had a stag do with attending a game as part of the whole shebang. The game was terrible. Turgid, rubbish football. Cannot remember the score. But one of our party sat there enraptured. Like the most exciting thing he had ever seen. He was incredulous when I and a friend described how bad it was.
Ice Hockey is the best US sport. Constant high paced action and loads of violence (although they have rather cut that down in recent years). NHL of 20-30 years ago was 1 part dynamic skating game, 1 part MMA fight, 1 part disco (whenever the refs have to stop the play to break up the fouls / fighting).
I suspect Badenoch has done enough in the past 24 hours to keep the Conservative leadership for now. The ECHR position isn't for me and the ludicrous diktat every PPC for the Party must publicly commit to it reminds me of how various candidates undermined John Major in 1997.
I'm also of the view if it had been a policy worth doing, why wasn't it doen under Johnson, Truss or Sunak? Why has it taken the worst defeat in their history for the Conservatives to "see the light" on the ECHR or is it something else?
It's to be hoped she moves off trying to make the Conservative Party the moderate wing of Reform. As others have opined, it'll be interesting to see what Stride says about economic policy.
Think jury is still out on Kemi. She's certainly not an IDS-type dud - indeed, may even, just discernible?, have a dusting of something special. Or maybe not. But it's not impossible. What may prove impossible is turning things round in time, and riding out next May. We shall see. But it's not over til it's over, and having watched the speech I think she still has a fighting chance.
It was a good speech.
I think Kemi is exactly what she she always has been as a minister, a leadership candidate, and a leader. Pretty impressive as a speaker, got a bit about her, makes the odd gaffe, is sometimes combative and talks a very combative game, but actually does a fair bit more path of least resistance stuff than she would publicly acknowledge. Bright and articulate but not a genius.
The question is whether that's enough in the circumstances. It might be enough with a bit of luck. Not to turn back the Nige tide, but to keep the Tories successful enough to form a decent chunk of his Government, and eventually effect a backward takeover of Reform. Kemi isn't silly. She knows the story of Canada as well as Farage does.
I think she’s just in the wrong place, at the wrong time.
I suspect Badenoch has done enough in the past 24 hours to keep the Conservative leadership for now. The ECHR position isn't for me and the ludicrous diktat every PPC for the Party must publicly commit to it reminds me of how various candidates undermined John Major in 1997.
I'm also of the view if it had been a policy worth doing, why wasn't it doen under Johnson, Truss or Sunak? Why has it taken the worst defeat in their history for the Conservatives to "see the light" on the ECHR or is it something else?
It's to be hoped she moves off trying to make the Conservative Party the moderate wing of Reform. As others have opined, it'll be interesting to see what Stride says about economic policy.
Think jury is still out on Kemi. She's certainly not an IDS-type dud - indeed, may even, just discernible?, have a dusting of something special. Or maybe not. But it's not impossible. What may prove impossible is turning things round in time, and riding out next May. We shall see. But it's not over til it's over, and having watched the speech I think she still has a fighting chance.
It was a good speech.
I think Kemi is exactly what she she always has been as a minister, a leadership candidate, and a leader. Pretty impressive as a speaker, got a bit about her, makes the odd gaffe, is sometimes combative and talks a very combative game, but actually does a fair bit more path of least resistance stuff than she would publicly acknowledge. Bright and articulate but not a genius.
The question is whether that's enough in the circumstances. It might be enough with a bit of luck. Not to turn back the Nige tide, but to keep the Tories successful enough to form a decent chunk of his Government, and eventually effect a backward takeover of Reform. Kemi isn't silly. She knows the story of Canada as well as Farage does.
I think she’s just in the wrong place, at the wrong time.
I am struggling to think of a right time for her to be leader. I think Sunak could be argued was wrong time, he was never a "leader" but in more boring economic conditions he would have done fine.
I suspect Badenoch has done enough in the past 24 hours to keep the Conservative leadership for now. The ECHR position isn't for me and the ludicrous diktat every PPC for the Party must publicly commit to it reminds me of how various candidates undermined John Major in 1997.
I'm also of the view if it had been a policy worth doing, why wasn't it doen under Johnson, Truss or Sunak? Why has it taken the worst defeat in their history for the Conservatives to "see the light" on the ECHR or is it something else?
It's to be hoped she moves off trying to make the Conservative Party the moderate wing of Reform. As others have opined, it'll be interesting to see what Stride says about economic policy.
Think jury is still out on Kemi. She's certainly not an IDS-type dud - indeed, may even, just discernible?, have a dusting of something special. Or maybe not. But it's not impossible. What may prove impossible is turning things round in time, and riding out next May. We shall see. But it's not over til it's over, and having watched the speech I think she still has a fighting chance.
It was a good speech.
I think Kemi is exactly what she she always has been as a minister, a leadership candidate, and a leader. Pretty impressive as a speaker, got a bit about her, makes the odd gaffe, is sometimes combative and talks a very combative game, but actually does a fair bit more path of least resistance stuff than she would publicly acknowledge. Bright and articulate but not a genius.
The question is whether that's enough in the circumstances. It might be enough with a bit of luck. Not to turn back the Nige tide, but to keep the Tories successful enough to form a decent chunk of his Government, and eventually effect a backward takeover of Reform. Kemi isn't silly. She knows the story of Canada as well as Farage does.
I think she’s just in the wrong place, at the wrong time.
That’s certainly what a lot of Reform voters think…
When was the last time we had a member of the Spontaneously Self Exploding* Community who didn't follow this path?
1) Loser 2) Criminal 3) Found God (exploding kind) in jail 4) Exploded
*Well, wanabee. The recent batch can't do chemistry and can't get hold of explosives. So they play Lets Pretend To Be A Suicide Bomber.
There is been a fair amount of evidence that the likes of ISIS recruiters were looking for exactly these kind of people and then fill them with stories that they can never undone their un-Islamic behaviour in this life without making the ultimate sacrifice.
I can't remember the exact story (I am sure somebody like TSE can correct me), but something like come judgement those who have behaved poorly will face seven gates of Hell and they tell these low life criminals they will face the worst of the punishments and they are particularly nasty tales.
Comments
Good for those prone to repetitive strain injuries or carpal tunnel syndrome.
"Host for the opening ceremony of the next Olympics"
It's going to be a nightmare next summer. The Trump Games...
Basically, Rick has written down how he would like his relationship with Chertsey Bolawski to be in an ideal world.
"Right kids!"
He'll probably insist on the records recording that he actually scored the winning goal in the final.
I suspect Badenoch has done enough in the past 24 hours to keep the Conservative leadership for now. The ECHR position isn't for me and the ludicrous diktat every PPC for the Party must publicly commit to it reminds me of how various candidates undermined John Major in 1997.
I'm also of the view if it had been a policy worth doing, why wasn't it doen under Johnson, Truss or Sunak? Why has it taken the worst defeat in their history for the Conservatives to "see the light" on the ECHR or is it something else?
It's to be hoped she moves off trying to make the Conservative Party the moderate wing of Reform. As others have opined, it'll be interesting to see what Stride says about economic policy.
Nobody "ever tried to argue otherwise", that's a figment of your own fevered imagination.
The original post was saying "Can you explain the mechanics of why we should join Russia and Belarus in a human rights hinterland" to which it was responded, by multiple people, pointing out that Australia and Canada are democratic nations not in the ECHR.
Nobody claimed they're in Europe. Indeed when I responded, after as it happens others had, I specifically said "Can you explain why without reference to geography we should not have our own domestic court being the highest court rather than an international one, like in Australia, Canada and New Zealand."
Geography was explicitly excluded as immaterial, nobody claimed they're in Europe. And it was Mexicanpete who began this, not anyone else, by pretending authoritarian dictatorships Belarus and Russia are the only comparable countries as opposed to Australia and Canada who are, like we would be, democratic free countries.
Nobody ever tried to argue Australia or Canada are in Europe. Many did argue that geography is not relevant.
An awful lot goes down in those few seconds.
I have been using one for the best part of 30 years. No carpal tunnel
We’re suing Donald Trump.
His deployment of the California National Guard to Oregon isn’t about crime.
It’s about power.
He is using our military as political pawns to build up his own ego.
It’s appalling. It’s un-American.
And it must stop.
https://x.com/GavinNewsom/status/1974892483994939592
Had Lord Hurd to speak at university and he was excellent
@atrupar.com
Trump: "I said one year before to Pete Hegseth, I said, one year before -- where's Pete? In the book I wrote -- whatever the hell the title, I can't tell you -- but I can tell you there's a page in there devoted to the fact that I saw somebody named Osama bin Laden and I didn't like it."
Nick Cohen engages in the 'culture war.'
Every Windows laptop I ever had turned to sludge after a few years.
But that is not uncharacteristic.
It is the marvel comic universe of sports. It’s shit
@alexmassie
Rather unsporting of Rangers to sack Russell Martin before everyone else has had the chance to play against his team.
@financialtimes.com
Reform likely to raise Kent council tax after cost-cutting drive falters on.ft.com/4pTvJ62
This would probably be an amazing treat for you. For me it isn’t. Onwards
@KemiBadenoch
·
14h
My message is clear: if you’re here illegally, you will be detained and deported.
Our new Removals Force, modelled on US ICE, will deport 150,000 illegal migrants each year.
She wants us to model this?
https://x.com/PabloReports/status/1974882303211192750
But then I realise it’s rugby.
More seriously I like a watch on a Sunday night, and even have a team, the Packers. But it’s just so slow. Needlessly slow.
LOL.
"All our money goes on mandated social care"
"Oh, we didn't know that."
https://x.com/ReichlinMelnick/status/1974663550850511057
Stephen Miller has now declared this Trump-appointed judge an insurrectionist.
To emphasize, the judge painstakingly examined all the protest happening in Portland before Trump activated the Guard. She noted that there hadn't been any violence at a protest since mid-July...
The Trump administration* has ignored the court order and is trying to go ahead with the illegal deployment of the military.
*I don't ascribe all that much policy to Trump himself these days, as he seems to be a malign but semi-senile figurehead, manipulated by those that surround him.
Dumbass colonists!!
It's even riskier if you consider that there is a non-zero chance ICE morph into Trump's private army over the next few years.
A senior White House official accusing a federal judge — appointed by his own boss — of “insurrection” for ruling on a case isn’t just reckless. It’s authoritarian propaganda, plain and simple.
Stephen Miller should be fired.
https://x.com/GovPressOffice/status/1974680863716848078
Tried it a couple of times, and not really my thing.
Much more interesting on television.
That said, it's possibly my second favourite form code of football, after rugby union but above rugby league, Australian rules, Gaelic and association.
I have no objection to the staccato nature of the game. Cricket is like that - a thing happens, a thing stops happening. Shortly, the process repeats itself. And cricket is fucking ace.
And it wasn't just "not getting involved". There was a careful and active blockade of the anti-Serb forces - the Serbs had most of the old Yugoslav Army and were supported, heavily by Russia. Who defied the sanctions.
The blockade was actively supported and worked for by The Turd.
Thatcher spoke in support of lifting the blockade.
Still works fine for most general tasks.
You're not getting that kind of longevity or upgrade path from any laptop Apple ever made.
Still, whoever takes over from Badenoch next summer can sort the policy out I suppose.
I was lucky to be right behind home plate for Aroldis Chapman chucking them at 105mph, that was special, but he only throws 1-2 Innings at the end.
Basketball is weirdly boring. Its a game of small edges, the team patterns are drilled within an inch of their lives and it feels like you might as well skip unless the last minute.
"Dumping Badenoch would not reduce Farage’s lead over Tories, poll finds
Kemi outscores Jenrick, Cleverly and Johnson in head-to-heads, but Reform leader still beats all four" (£)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/10/05/badenoch-best-tory-to-challenge-farage-poll-finds
“Creating a level killing field” meant “enabling victims of aggression to defend themselves.” It’s why I dislike Peter Hitchens’ claim that he only wants “peace” in Ukraine, when what he means is “Russian victory.”
Unpleasant opinions, honestly expressed, are less annoying than gaslighting and bad faith arguments.
I went to a game once and was bored out of my skull. Maybe half an hour of doing something in three hours of gameplay. And half an hour getting in and to our seats at the start and about an hour leaving the backed up parking lot afterwards.
Overall American football makes even a nil-all draw after half an hour's extra time look like an afternoon well spent.
I think Kemi is exactly what she she always has been as a minister, a leadership candidate, and a leader. Pretty impressive as a speaker, got a bit about her, makes the odd gaffe, is sometimes combative and talks a very combative game, but actually does a fair bit more path of least resistance stuff than she would publicly acknowledge. Bright and articulate but not a genius.
The question is whether that's enough in the circumstances. It might be enough with a bit of luck. Not to turn back the Nige tide, but to keep the Tories successful enough to form a decent chunk of his Government, and eventually effect a backward takeover of Reform. Kemi isn't silly. She knows the story of Canada as well as Farage does.
That's why she'll be safe until the local elections next year - none of her potential opponents would be doing any better against Reform. IF, however, the elections are very bad, the pressure to remove her will likely be irresistible.
Manchester synagogue attacker was cannabis-smoking university dropout
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/10/05/manchester-synagogue-attacker-cannabis-smoking-drop-out/
Wild wild wild
I’m willing to bet a lot of the increase is due to the explosion of delivery riders on illegally modified e-bikes.
He had never been to live football before.
https://www.latimes.com/business/technology/story/2025-09-30/can-driverless-cars-get-tickets-what-happened-when-bay-area-police-pulled-over-a-waymo
1) Loser
2) Criminal
3) Found God (exploding kind) in jail
4) Exploded
*Well, wanabee. The recent batch can't do chemistry and can't get hold of explosives. So they play Lets Pretend To Be A Suicide Bomber.
Tories double down on Labour's shameful foreign aid cuts.
Who do I vote for next time? Christ.
I can't remember the exact story (I am sure somebody like TSE can correct me), but something like come judgement those who have behaved poorly will face seven gates of Hell and they tell these low life criminals they will face the worst of the punishments and they are particularly nasty tales.