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politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » The Tories’ current odds-on status in Copeland doesn’t square

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  • Options
    surbitonsurbiton Posts: 13,549

    surbiton said:

    SeanT said:

    Curious how those fanatically opposed to free movement with the EU are wildly enthusiastic about free movement with the former white colonies of the British empire. I wonder why that might be.

    Because they speak our language, share our laws, share our culture, are subject to the same Queen, are most unlikely to blow us up or immediately start selling the Big Issue, and they have similar or higher standards of living so won't be a burden.

    There. Fixed that for you. Twat.
    Not that it matter, but I'm not sure that Australia, Canada or NZ are much more "White" than continental Europe in any event.
    New Zealand certainly isnt
    But the Brexiters dream of a "white" Commonwealth. They call it the "old" commonwealth. I am not sure why Sunil is amongst them.
    It's only in your head that all Brexiters are ghastly racists.

    It probably makes it simpler and easier for you to rationalise the self-righteousness of your politics.
    The correct explanation is this:

    All Brexiters are not racists. All racists are Brexiters.
  • Options
    AlastairMeeksAlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340
    Sean_F said:

    SeanT said:
    Written by a notorious europhile quisling. Really, we need to start burning these people at Smithfield*

    *metaphorically, moderators, metaphorically
    I think what REALLY worries some that voted Remain and who constantly equate all those that voted Leave with fascist idiots is that Brexit MIGHT actually work.

    Who are the idiots then? Who are the wrecking crew now?

    And it is a question to which i am not sure we have given any real coverage on here in terms of how it affects domestic politics.

    If Brexit is seen to be a failure the Cons will clearly suffer badly, Labour will probably suffer as well-in part because they are clearly split on the issue.

    The Libs will clearly be VERY big gainers-as will the SNP

    BUT what if BREXIT is perceived to be a success.

    Clearly the absolute level of success will be relevant-being slightly less shit than Europe will not be the same as Brexit being seen to be a clear success.

    The Libs clearly will have some serious thinking to do-as will the SNP

    But with Nuttall as leader Labour could have some seriously difficult times ahead-as someone said below- it is difficult to see how Hartlepool and Islington can be both represented by the same Labour party that was split over Brexit especially if Brexit turns out to be successful.

    If Brexit turns out well, some people who post here will be furious.

    It's not a possibility I spend much time contemplating. As tonight on here shows, the country is already degrading morally.
  • Options
    OmniumOmnium Posts: 9,796

    Jonathan said:

    Trump is the least popular populist ever.

    No, that's Corbyn.

    Yeah but he wouldn't go to collect the award because he didn't want to wear a tie.
  • Options
    FF43FF43 Posts: 15,758
    RobD said:

    SeanT said:

    Curious how those fanatically opposed to free movement with the EU are wildly enthusiastic about free movement with the former white colonies of the British empire. I wonder why that might be.

    Because they speak our language, share our laws, share our culture, are subject to the same Queen, are most unlikely to blow us up or immediately start selling the Big Issue, and they have similar or higher standards of living so won't be a burden.

    There. Fixed that for you. Twat.
    Touchy. I fear that your barely closeted racism and overt Islamophobia have made you terribly snowflaky.

    We're either full up or we're not, aren't we?

    Are people clamouring to move from Australia to the UK?
    I did read somewhere (admittedly pre commodity boom) that Australians had a higher propensity to overstay their visas than other nationalities. Maybe more Australian illegal immigrants than from any other country?
  • Options
    Sean_FSean_F Posts: 35,855

    Sean_F said:

    SeanT said:
    Written by a notorious europhile quisling. Really, we need to start burning these people at Smithfield*

    *metaphorically, moderators, metaphorically
    I think what REALLY worries some that voted Remain and who constantly equate all those that voted Leave with fascist idiots is that Brexit MIGHT actually work.

    Who are the idiots then? Who are the wrecking crew now?

    And it is a question to which i am not sure we have given any real coverage on here in terms of how it affects domestic politics.

    If Brexit is seen to be a failure the Cons will clearly suffer badly, Labour will probably suffer as well-in part because they are clearly split on the issue.

    The Libs will clearly be VERY big gainers-as will the SNP

    BUT what if BREXIT is perceived to be a success.

    Clearly the absolute level of success will be relevant-being slightly less shit than Europe will not be the same as Brexit being seen to be a clear success.

    The Libs clearly will have some serious thinking to do-as will the SNP

    But with Nuttall as leader Labour could have some seriously difficult times ahead-as someone said below- it is difficult to see how Hartlepool and Islington can be both represented by the same Labour party that was split over Brexit especially if Brexit turns out to be successful.

    If Brexit turns out well, some people who post here will be furious.
    It's not a possibility I spend much time contemplating. As tonight on here shows, the country is already degrading morally.

    In your imagination.
  • Options
    MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 44,504
    HYUFD said:

    HYUFD said:

    I agree with everyone on the previous thread who said that free movement between Britain and Australia is fanciful. The Aussies would bitterly dismiss it as an attempt at re-colonization and resist it tooth and nail. There was also talk of creating a kind of British Israel in the Australian desert. I think that would only be viable if you worked out a way of fencing the British settlers in.

    I expect most Aussies would be more than happy with free movement between London and Australia though!
    Weren't the Aussies asking for this as part of a trade deal with the UK in the weeks after Brexit?

    I know the queues and visa checks they face at the UK border are frustrating for them.
    Most likely it will be looser visa restrictions for businesses purposes
    Ignoring the comedy on this thread - almost certainly this is what is being talked about. Just as the proposed deal with the Indians - streamlined process for business/work visas. In the Indian case, the quid pro quo was them taking back illegal immigrants from India.
  • Options
    MTimTMTimT Posts: 7,034
    Tim_B said:

    surbiton said:

    Tim_B said:

    Fox News and CNN reporting that Theresa May will be here next week.

    Well, not 'here' exactly - I doubt I have enough bedrooms for the entire party. She'll be in DC.

    Usual desperation of a small ex-power. Proof of how "important" we are.
    If they were that desperate they would stay with me just to save money, although to be closer to DC TimT could put them up in a barn.
    Apparently, more than one wedding has occurred in our bank barn (before we moved in). No room in the main barn - that's taken by the horses and barn cats, but the footing in the indoor arena is quite comfy.
  • Options
    RobDRobD Posts: 58,985
    We may disagree on issues surrounding free movement, but I'm sure we can all agree that blockquotes suck.
  • Options
    PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 75,942
    edited January 2017
    Petrol prices were the main concern regarding Brexit at the stables today, amongst my remainer horse riding friends.
  • Options
    RobDRobD Posts: 58,985
    MTimT said:

    Tim_B said:

    surbiton said:

    Tim_B said:

    Fox News and CNN reporting that Theresa May will be here next week.

    Well, not 'here' exactly - I doubt I have enough bedrooms for the entire party. She'll be in DC.

    Usual desperation of a small ex-power. Proof of how "important" we are.
    If they were that desperate they would stay with me just to save money, although to be closer to DC TimT could put them up in a barn.
    Apparently, more than one wedding has occurred in our bank barn (before we moved in). No room in the main barn - that's taken by the horses and barn cats, but the footing in the indoor arena is quite comfy.
    The delegation can sleep in the hay in the barn :D
  • Options
    foxinsoxukfoxinsoxuk Posts: 23,548
    Pulpstar said:

    For the record, I think we should definitely have a freedom of movement deal with the Aussies and Kiwis. They are our brothers. Not sure they'd want it though.

    New Zealand has a pop density of 17.5/sq km. Heaven.
    It is a lovely country, but heavily urbanised. Downtown Auckland at night was pretty scary, and there are some major social problems (not least migration to Australia - NZ is consistently one of the leading sources of Australian immigration).

    I can recommend the excellent "Once Were Warriors" if anyone wants to see the underside of Auckland.

    https://youtu.be/I7_oQ__Svmo
  • Options
    Tim_BTim_B Posts: 7,669
    edited January 2017
    MTimT said:

    Tim_B said:

    surbiton said:

    Tim_B said:

    Fox News and CNN reporting that Theresa May will be here next week.

    Well, not 'here' exactly - I doubt I have enough bedrooms for the entire party. She'll be in DC.

    Usual desperation of a small ex-power. Proof of how "important" we are.
    If they were that desperate they would stay with me just to save money, although to be closer to DC TimT could put them up in a barn.
    Apparently, more than one wedding has occurred in our bank barn (before we moved in). No room in the main barn - that's taken by the horses and barn cats, but the footing in the indoor arena is quite comfy.
    Perfect - they could have their own dog and pony show :smile:

    It beats the alternative - "This way, Mr President. The Prime Minister is in the barn. Be careful because cat scratches can get infected."
  • Options

    For the record, I think we should definitely have a freedom of movement deal with the Aussies and Kiwis. They are our brothers. Not sure they'd want it though.

    Thinking about it further, I wouldn't want the Aussies here: all we'd get are endless whinges about how crap our weather is compared to that of their 'island paradise'. They all do it. No, give me Poles and Latvians any day - they are all our climatic brethren.
  • Options
    foxinsoxukfoxinsoxuk Posts: 23,548
    edited January 2017



    @SeanT said:

    Fuck off to Nazi Hungary then. How often do we need to say this. YOU'RE NOT WANTED.

    As ever, it is not the Remainers that are FURIOUS!!
  • Options
    OmniumOmnium Posts: 9,796
    SeanT said:

    Omnium said:

    Omnium said:

    Mr Meeks' posts this evening somehow remind me of the Monty Python 'arguments are next door' thing. Oddly though for once this wasn't the location of 'Abuse' :)

    I wasn't expecting the overt racism to surface quite so quickly on pb after Trump's inauguration. I thought we might get a few months' grace,
    Oh tosh - you were at least in part baiting.

    However there's nothing wrong in a good argument, and although you were baiting I do think that it's an interesting point about why we (or whatever group) might be more pro CanAusNZ than perhaps we might be towards SA, or Poland. Is there xenophobia or racism, both or neither. I don't personally think I'm racist, but I do give myself pause for thought sometimes.

    Everyone is racist. By the time they are a year old, babies show fear of faces that are the "wrong" shape or colour. Its a sensible evolved response to obvious genetic outsiders, who are less likely to deem your survival as important. This is true of all babies, black brown or white. So let's get over it. We're all born racist.

    The more interesting question is how you act on these instinctive impulses. That is the test for an adult.
    Yep - that's just the unfamiliar though. And of course any racism that you or I might have in us was almost certainly germinated by unfamiliarity.

    Peoples experiences in life can of course also be important - If I was a black Jamaican lady and I got treated badly by a group of white English people then I might form a certain mental bias. The more we mix though the less we might see identity as anything to do with colour or nation - the same black Jamaican lady at some point in the future might form a prejudice against the same English people, but that'd be based on them having purple hair maybe.
  • Options
    surbitonsurbiton Posts: 13,549

    For the record, I think we should definitely have a freedom of movement deal with the Aussies and Kiwis. They are our brothers. Not sure they'd want it though.

    Thinking about it further, I wouldn't want the Aussies here: all we'd get are endless whinges about how crap our weather is compared to that of their 'island paradise'. They all do it. No, give me Poles and Latvians any day - they are all our climatic brethren.
    I would support FoM with Aussies, Kiwis [ in every sense ], Poles, Latvians or for that matter from anywhere. Including Cornwall.
  • Options
    Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,444
    Sean_F said:

    SeanT said:

    Written by a notorious europhile quisling. Really, we need to start burning these people at Smithfield*

    *metaphorically, moderators, metaphorically
    I think what REALLY worries some that voted Remain and who constantly equate all those that voted Leave with fascist idiots is that Brexit MIGHT actually work.

    Who are the idiots then? Who are the wrecking crew now?

    And it is a question to which i am not sure we have given any real coverage on here in terms of how it affects domestic politics.

    If Brexit is seen to be a failure the Cons will clearly suffer badly, Labour will probably suffer as well-in part because they are clearly split on the issue.

    The Libs will clearly be VERY big gainers-as will the SNP

    BUT what if BREXIT is perceived to be a success.

    Clearly the absolute level of success will be relevant-being slightly less shit than Europe will not be the same as Brexit being seen to be a clear success.

    The Libs clearly will have some serious thinking to do-as will the SNP

    But with Nuttall as leader Labour could have some seriously difficult times ahead-as someone said below- it is difficult to see how Hartlepool and Islington can be both represented by the same Labour party that was split over Brexit especially if Brexit turns out to be successful.

    If Brexit turns out well, some people who post here will be furious.
    They won't admit it ever turned out well.
  • Options
    MTimTMTimT Posts: 7,034
    RobD said:

    MTimT said:

    Tim_B said:

    surbiton said:

    Tim_B said:

    Fox News and CNN reporting that Theresa May will be here next week.

    Well, not 'here' exactly - I doubt I have enough bedrooms for the entire party. She'll be in DC.

    Usual desperation of a small ex-power. Proof of how "important" we are.
    If they were that desperate they would stay with me just to save money, although to be closer to DC TimT could put them up in a barn.
    Apparently, more than one wedding has occurred in our bank barn (before we moved in). No room in the main barn - that's taken by the horses and barn cats, but the footing in the indoor arena is quite comfy.
    The delegation can sleep in the hay in the barn :D
    This time of the year, the bank barn is pretty full of hay, but if they want to climb about 6 bales high, there'll be room.
  • Options
    surbitonsurbiton Posts: 13,549

    Sean_F said:

    SeanT said:

    Written by a notorious europhile quisling. Really, we need to start burning these people at Smithfield*

    *metaphorically, moderators, metaphorically
    I think what REALLY worries some that voted Remain and who constantly equate all those that voted Leave with fascist idiots is that Brexit MIGHT actually work.

    Who are the idiots then? Who are the wrecking crew now?

    And it is a question to which i am not sure we have given any real coverage on here in terms of how it affects domestic politics.

    If Brexit is seen to be a failure the Cons will clearly suffer badly, Labour will probably suffer as well-in part because they are clearly split on the issue.

    The Libs will clearly be VERY big gainers-as will the SNP

    BUT what if BREXIT is perceived to be a success.

    Clearly the absolute level of success will be relevant-being slightly less shit than Europe will not be the same as Brexit being seen to be a clear success.

    The Libs clearly will have some serious thinking to do-as will the SNP

    But with Nuttall as leader Labour could have some seriously difficult times ahead-as someone said below- it is difficult to see how Hartlepool and Islington can be both represented by the same Labour party that was split over Brexit especially if Brexit turns out to be successful.

    If Brexit turns out well, some people who post here will be furious.
    They won't admit it ever turned out well.
    The opposite is also true! The pound's fall is entirely about Brexit and the inflation that is coming.

    It was interesting that the pound went up when May was speaking on Tuesday.

    It actually went up seconds after T May said that Parliament will have a vote on the final deal!
  • Options
    surbiton said:

    For the record, I think we should definitely have a freedom of movement deal with the Aussies and Kiwis. They are our brothers. Not sure they'd want it though.

    Thinking about it further, I wouldn't want the Aussies here: all we'd get are endless whinges about how crap our weather is compared to that of their 'island paradise'. They all do it. No, give me Poles and Latvians any day - they are all our climatic brethren.
    I would support FoM with Aussies, Kiwis [ in every sense ], Poles, Latvians or for that matter from anywhere. Including Cornwall.
    The Cornish would never agree free movement from Britain.
  • Options
    Tim_BTim_B Posts: 7,669
    MTimT said:

    RobD said:

    MTimT said:

    Tim_B said:

    surbiton said:

    Tim_B said:

    Fox News and CNN reporting that Theresa May will be here next week.

    Well, not 'here' exactly - I doubt I have enough bedrooms for the entire party. She'll be in DC.

    Usual desperation of a small ex-power. Proof of how "important" we are.
    If they were that desperate they would stay with me just to save money, although to be closer to DC TimT could put them up in a barn.
    Apparently, more than one wedding has occurred in our bank barn (before we moved in). No room in the main barn - that's taken by the horses and barn cats, but the footing in the indoor arena is quite comfy.
    The delegation can sleep in the hay in the barn :D
    This time of the year, the bank barn is pretty full of hay, but if they want to climb about 6 bales high, there'll be room.
    Corbyn would claim that May wants a bale out.....
  • Options
    MTimTMTimT Posts: 7,034
    Tim_B said:

    MTimT said:

    Tim_B said:

    surbiton said:

    Tim_B said:

    Fox News and CNN reporting that Theresa May will be here next week.

    Well, not 'here' exactly - I doubt I have enough bedrooms for the entire party. She'll be in DC.

    Usual desperation of a small ex-power. Proof of how "important" we are.
    If they were that desperate they would stay with me just to save money, although to be closer to DC TimT could put them up in a barn.
    Apparently, more than one wedding has occurred in our bank barn (before we moved in). No room in the main barn - that's taken by the horses and barn cats, but the footing in the indoor arena is quite comfy.
    Perfect - they could have their own dog and pony show :smile:

    It beats the alternative - "This way, Mr President. The Prime Minister is in the barn. Be careful because cat scratches can get infected."
    The image of Trump prancing and neighing as he Monty Python clip clops over some cavaletti poles is bizarrely springing to mind.
  • Options
    foxinsoxukfoxinsoxuk Posts: 23,548
    Omnium said:

    SeanT said:

    Omnium said:

    Omnium said:

    Mr Meeks' posts this evening somehow remind me of the Monty Python 'arguments are next door' thing. Oddly though for once this wasn't the location of 'Abuse' :)

    I wasn't expecting the overt racism to surface quite so quickly on pb after Trump's inauguration. I thought we might get a few months' grace,
    Oh tosh - you were at least in part baiting.

    However there's nothing wrong in a good argument, and although you were baiting I do think that it's an interesting point about why we (or whatever group) might be more pro CanAusNZ than perhaps we might be towards SA, or Poland. Is there xenophobia or racism, both or neither. I don't personally think I'm racist, but I do give myself pause for thought sometimes.

    Everyone is racist. By the time they are a year old, babies show fear of faces that are the "wrong" shape or colour. Its a sensible evolved response to obvious genetic outsiders, who are less likely to deem your survival as important. This is true of all babies, black brown or white. So let's get over it. We're all born racist.

    The more interesting question is how you act on these instinctive impulses. That is the test for an adult.
    Yep - that's just the unfamiliar though. And of course any racism that you or I might have in us was almost certainly germinated by unfamiliarity.

    Peoples experiences in life can of course also be important - If I was a black Jamaican lady and I got treated badly by a group of white English people then I might form a certain mental bias. The more we mix though the less we might see identity as anything to do with colour or nation - the same black Jamaican lady at some point in the future might form a prejudice against the same English people, but that'd be based on them having purple hair maybe.
    My experience of children is that they are extremely tolerant of differences, even gross ones like colour, paraplegia, cerebral palsy, cranio-facial disorders, etc. White children react to a black person with much the same reaction they show to a black as opposed to ginger cat, not really thinking it remarkeable.

    It is only at the age of 7-8 that children start to fear difference, and bullying begins. They have to learn it from grown ups.
  • Options
    surbitonsurbiton Posts: 13,549
    Pulpstar said:

    For the record, I think we should definitely have a freedom of movement deal with the Aussies and Kiwis. They are our brothers. Not sure they'd want it though.

    New Zealand has a pop density of 17.5/sq km. Heaven.
    "Remote rural areas with a density of less than 1 person per square kilometre account for about 14 percent of the rural population.[21]"

    You are sure ?

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_New_Zealand
  • Options
    surbitonsurbiton Posts: 13,549
    surbiton said:

    Pulpstar said:

    For the record, I think we should definitely have a freedom of movement deal with the Aussies and Kiwis. They are our brothers. Not sure they'd want it though.

    New Zealand has a pop density of 17.5/sq km. Heaven.
    "Remote rural areas with a density of less than 1 person per square kilometre account for about 14 percent of the rural population.[21]"

    You are sure ?

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_New_Zealand
  • Options
    RobDRobD Posts: 58,985
    Tim_B said:

    MTimT said:

    RobD said:

    MTimT said:

    Tim_B said:

    surbiton said:

    Tim_B said:

    Fox News and CNN reporting that Theresa May will be here next week.

    Well, not 'here' exactly - I doubt I have enough bedrooms for the entire party. She'll be in DC.

    Usual desperation of a small ex-power. Proof of how "important" we are.
    If they were that desperate they would stay with me just to save money, although to be closer to DC TimT could put them up in a barn.
    Apparently, more than one wedding has occurred in our bank barn (before we moved in). No room in the main barn - that's taken by the horses and barn cats, but the footing in the indoor arena is quite comfy.
    The delegation can sleep in the hay in the barn :D
    This time of the year, the bank barn is pretty full of hay, but if they want to climb about 6 bales high, there'll be room.
    Corbyn would claim that May wants a bale out.....
    Oh dear :D
  • Options
    RobDRobD Posts: 58,985
    surbiton said:

    Pulpstar said:

    For the record, I think we should definitely have a freedom of movement deal with the Aussies and Kiwis. They are our brothers. Not sure they'd want it though.

    New Zealand has a pop density of 17.5/sq km. Heaven.
    "Remote rural areas with a density of less than 1 person per square kilometre account for about 14 percent of the rural population.[21]"

    You are sure ?

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_New_Zealand
    It says at the top of the link, 17.5/sq km.
  • Options
    OmniumOmnium Posts: 9,796
    SeanT said:

    Pulpstar said:

    For the record, I think we should definitely have a freedom of movement deal with the Aussies and Kiwis. They are our brothers. Not sure they'd want it though.

    New Zealand has a pop density of 17.5/sq km. Heaven.
    It is a lovely country, but heavily urbanised. Downtown Auckland at night was pretty scary, and there are some major social problems (not least migration to Australia - NZ is consistently one of the leading sources of Australian immigration).

    I can recommend the excellent "Once Were Warriors" if anyone wants to see the underside of Auckland.

    https://youtu.be/I7_oQ__Svmo
    I've never been to NZ, would love to go. All I know is that the Kiwis of my acquaintance tend to be massive drunkards or hugely enterprising, or both. They also have an inferiority complex about Australia (which they admit).

    It's just too far away from anywhere else. If and when they invent hypersonic travel (not far away) then its prospects will be transformed and its time to go long long white cloud.

    And on that note, goodnight from Bangkok
    I bought a rather random book the other day (clearly when looking for yours)

    It's about Britain's space programme. Now obliviously that came to very little. However the book contains lots of (somewhat turgid, but interesting) stuff about all the work that was done. If you've ever been to RAF Cosford museum you'll see all sorts of fantastic British airplanes which worked mostly. The budgets were rather small, but there were many competing projects.

    I saw the discussion earlier about our defence budget and the bang-for-the buck. It seems to me that we have very little defence capability now, and that we pay through the nose for it.

    I think it would be beneficial to return to the many mad-cap ideas approach - which hopefully produces one good one, rather than the totally-planned, totally-perfect, and turns out not-so-good way we do things now.

  • Options
    Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,444
    surbiton said:

    Sean_F said:

    SeanT said:

    Written by a notorious europhile quisling. Really, we need to start burning these people at Smithfield*

    *metaphorically, moderators, metaphorically
    I think what REALLY worries some that voted Remain and who constantly equate all those that voted Leave with fascist idiots is that Brexit MIGHT actually work.

    Who are the idiots then? Who are the wrecking crew now?

    And it is a question to which i am not sure we have given any real coverage on here in terms of how it affects domestic politics.

    If Brexit is seen to be a failure the Cons will clearly suffer badly, Labour will probably suffer as well-in part because they are clearly split on the issue.

    The Libs will clearly be VERY big gainers-as will the SNP

    BUT what if BREXIT is perceived to be a success.

    Clearly the absolute level of success will be relevant-being slightly less shit than Europe will not be the same as Brexit being seen to be a clear success.

    The Libs clearly will have some serious thinking to do-as will the SNP

    But with Nuttall as leader Labour could have some seriously difficult times ahead-as someone said below- it is difficult to see how Hartlepool and Islington can be both represented by the same Labour party that was split over Brexit especially if Brexit turns out to be successful.

    If Brexit turns out well, some people who post here will be furious.
    They won't admit it ever turned out well.
    The opposite is also true! The pound's fall is entirely about Brexit and the inflation that is coming.

    It was interesting that the pound went up when May was speaking on Tuesday.

    It actually went up seconds after T May said that Parliament will have a vote on the final deal!
    But, so far, the only negative we've experienced is a fall in the pound of 20%. And inflation may creep up to 2-3%.

    It's not exactly the end of the world, is it?
  • Options
    tlg86tlg86 Posts: 25,193
    Chelsea are 4/9 for the title. That looks value to me.
  • Options
    RobDRobD Posts: 58,985

    surbiton said:

    Sean_F said:

    SeanT said:

    Written by a notorious europhile quisling. Really, we need to start burning these people at Smithfield*

    *metaphorically, moderators, metaphorically
    I think what REALLY worries some that voted Remain and who constantly equate all those that voted Leave with fascist idiots is that Brexit MIGHT actually work.

    Who are the idiots then? Who are the wrecking crew now?

    And it is a question to which i am not sure we have given any real coverage on here in terms of how it affects domestic politics.

    If Brexit is seen to be a failure the Cons will clearly suffer badly, Labour will probably suffer as well-in part because they are clearly split on the issue.

    The Libs will clearly be VERY big gainers-as will the SNP

    BUT what if BREXIT is perceived to be a success.

    Clearly the absolute level of success will be relevant-being slightly less shit than Europe will not be the same as Brexit being seen to be a clear success.

    The Libs clearly will have some serious thinking to do-as will the SNP

    But with Nuttall as leader Labour could have some seriously difficult times ahead-as someone said below- it is difficult to see how Hartlepool and Islington can be both represented by the same Labour party that was split over Brexit especially if Brexit turns out to be successful.

    If Brexit turns out well, some people who post here will be furious.
    They won't admit it ever turned out well.
    The opposite is also true! The pound's fall is entirely about Brexit and the inflation that is coming.

    It was interesting that the pound went up when May was speaking on Tuesday.

    It actually went up seconds after T May said that Parliament will have a vote on the final deal!
    But, so far, the only negative we've experienced is a fall in the pound of 20%. And inflation may creep up to 2-3%.

    It's not exactly the end of the world, is it?
    The BoE may actually meet the inflation target for once!
  • Options
    surbitonsurbiton Posts: 13,549
    RobD said:

    surbiton said:

    Pulpstar said:

    For the record, I think we should definitely have a freedom of movement deal with the Aussies and Kiwis. They are our brothers. Not sure they'd want it though.

    New Zealand has a pop density of 17.5/sq km. Heaven.
    "Remote rural areas with a density of less than 1 person per square kilometre account for about 14 percent of the rural population.[21]"

    You are sure ?

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_New_Zealand
    It says at the top of the link, 17.5/sq km.
    That's for the whole country. Even 17.5 means ,say, 4-5 houses in a whole sq.kilometer. I would go bananas! Now I understand, why they are bananas.

    Do NZ rural people also live on milking subsidies like our lot do ?
  • Options
    foxinsoxukfoxinsoxuk Posts: 23,548
    tlg86 said:

    Chelsea are 4/9 for the title. That looks value to me.

    Particularly with no European distractions.
  • Options
    RobDRobD Posts: 58,985
    surbiton said:

    RobD said:

    surbiton said:

    Pulpstar said:

    For the record, I think we should definitely have a freedom of movement deal with the Aussies and Kiwis. They are our brothers. Not sure they'd want it though.

    New Zealand has a pop density of 17.5/sq km. Heaven.
    "Remote rural areas with a density of less than 1 person per square kilometre account for about 14 percent of the rural population.[21]"

    You are sure ?

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_New_Zealand
    It says at the top of the link, 17.5/sq km.
    That's for the whole country. Even 17.5 means ,say, 4-5 houses in a whole sq.kilometer. I would go bananas! Now I understand, why they are bananas.

    Do NZ rural people also live on milking subsidies like our lot do ?
    Apparently not

    https://www.google.com/amp/dailysignal.com/2016/09/22/what-happened-when-new-zealand-got-rid-of-government-subsidies-for-farmers/amp/?client=safari
  • Options
    HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 117,080
    edited January 2017
    surbiton said:

    SeanT said:

    Curious how those fanatically opposed to free movement with the EU are wildly enthusiastic about free movement with the former white colonies of the British empire. I wonder why that might be.

    Because they speak our language, share our laws, share our culture, are subject to the same Queen, are most unlikely to blow us up or immediately start selling the Big Issue, and they have similar or higher standards of living so won't be a burden.

    There. Fixed that for you. Twat.
    Not that it matter, but I'm not sure that Australia, Canada or NZ are much more "White" than continental Europe in any event.
    New Zealand certainly isnt
    But the Brexiters dream of a "white" Commonwealth. They call it the "old" commonwealth. I am not sure why Sunil is amongst them.

    Soon Australia will be a Rebuplic. Even a conservative PM is a republican. The opposition is almost all republican.
    Will it? The only referendum on the subject saw Australia voting for the monarchy by 55% to 45% and the present PM was leading the Republican movement and by the next election there is a chance the monarchist Tony Abbott will have toppled him in the way Turnbull toppled Abbott. William, Kate and Harry are also popular with younger Australians
  • Options
    Tim_BTim_B Posts: 7,669
    MTimT said:

    Tim_B said:

    MTimT said:

    Tim_B said:

    surbiton said:

    Tim_B said:

    Fox News and CNN reporting that Theresa May will be here next week.

    Well, not 'here' exactly - I doubt I have enough bedrooms for the entire party. She'll be in DC.

    Usual desperation of a small ex-power. Proof of how "important" we are.
    If they were that desperate they would stay with me just to save money, although to be closer to DC TimT could put them up in a barn.
    Apparently, more than one wedding has occurred in our bank barn (before we moved in). No room in the main barn - that's taken by the horses and barn cats, but the footing in the indoor arena is quite comfy.
    Perfect - they could have their own dog and pony show :smile:

    It beats the alternative - "This way, Mr President. The Prime Minister is in the barn. Be careful because cat scratches can get infected."
    The image of Trump prancing and neighing as he Monty Python clip clops over some cavaletti poles is bizarrely springing to mind.
    pantomime horses - nature's ultimate example of perfect evolution....

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqkvuVIIQso

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkLsdQhZsw0
  • Options
    John_MJohn_M Posts: 7,503
    edited January 2017
    surbiton said:

    RobD said:

    surbiton said:

    Pulpstar said:

    For the record, I think we should definitely have a freedom of movement deal with the Aussies and Kiwis. They are our brothers. Not sure they'd want it though.

    New Zealand has a pop density of 17.5/sq km. Heaven.
    "Remote rural areas with a density of less than 1 person per square kilometre account for about 14 percent of the rural population.[21]"

    You are sure ?

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_New_Zealand
    It says at the top of the link, 17.5/sq km.
    That's for the whole country. Even 17.5 means ,say, 4-5 houses in a whole sq.kilometer. I would go bananas! Now I understand, why they are bananas.

    Do NZ rural people also live on milking subsidies like our lot do ?
    The Kiwis eliminated nearly all farming subsidies (there was some transitional support to help farmers who wanted to exit the industry) in 1984. It's an interesting story:

    http://dailysignal.com/2016/09/22/what-happened-when-new-zealand-got-rid-of-government-subsidies-for-farmers/
  • Options
    Tim_BTim_B Posts: 7,669
    RobD said:

    Tim_B said:

    MTimT said:

    RobD said:

    MTimT said:

    Tim_B said:

    surbiton said:

    Tim_B said:

    Fox News and CNN reporting that Theresa May will be here next week.

    Well, not 'here' exactly - I doubt I have enough bedrooms for the entire party. She'll be in DC.

    Usual desperation of a small ex-power. Proof of how "important" we are.
    If they were that desperate they would stay with me just to save money, although to be closer to DC TimT could put them up in a barn.
    Apparently, more than one wedding has occurred in our bank barn (before we moved in). No room in the main barn - that's taken by the horses and barn cats, but the footing in the indoor arena is quite comfy.
    The delegation can sleep in the hay in the barn :D
    This time of the year, the bank barn is pretty full of hay, but if they want to climb about 6 bales high, there'll be room.
    Corbyn would claim that May wants a bale out.....
    Oh dear :D
    or it could be a straw man argument...... :D
  • Options
    foxinsoxukfoxinsoxuk Posts: 23,548
    edited January 2017
    surbiton said:

    RobD said:

    surbiton said:

    Pulpstar said:

    For the record, I think we should definitely have a freedom of movement deal with the Aussies and Kiwis. They are our brothers. Not sure they'd want it though.

    New Zealand has a pop density of 17.5/sq km. Heaven.
    "Remote rural areas with a density of less than 1 person per square kilometre account for about 14 percent of the rural population.[21]"

    You are sure ?

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_New_Zealand
    It says at the top of the link, 17.5/sq km.
    That's for the whole country. Even 17.5 means ,say, 4-5 houses in a whole sq.kilometer. I would go bananas! Now I understand, why they are bananas.

    Do NZ rural people also live on milking subsidies like our lot do ?
    No. NZ abolished farming subsidies some years ago.

    Small town and rural NZ has lots of social problems. Housing is so cheap there that poor people move there (as they do to the English seaside) and live off dole and drugs.
  • Options
    viewcodeviewcode Posts: 18,899
    Omnium said:

    Omnium said:

    Mr Meeks' posts this evening somehow remind me of the Monty Python 'arguments are next door' thing. Oddly though for once this wasn't the location of 'Abuse' :)

    I wasn't expecting the overt racism to surface quite so quickly on pb after Trump's inauguration. I thought we might get a few months' grace,
    Oh tosh - you were at least in part baiting.

    However there's nothing wrong in a good argument, and although you were baiting I do think that it's an interesting point about why we (or whatever group) might be more pro CanAusNZ than perhaps we might be towards SA, or Poland. Is there xenophobia or racism, both or neither. I don't personally think I'm racist, but I do give myself pause for thought sometimes.

    Ir's a non-trivial question. A few years ago I had to look at various countries and the "Old" and "New" Commonwealth distinction cropped up. I don't know when the term was invented but it was mentioned in the sixties/seventies during a time when migration into the UK from non-white parts of the Empire (Jamaica et al) was becoming noted. It was a way of politely (and in some cases impolitely) differentiating between white and non-white migration. Broadly speaking it was the old Dominions and so included apartheid South Africa.

    Fast-forward forty years. It's now trivariate and includes language, religion as well as colour: the whiter, more Anglophone and more Christian you are, the more likely you are to be included in the concept. Conversely, the blacker, less Anglophone and more Muslim you are, the less likely. South Africa (which is now seen as mostly black) tends not to be mentioned any more. The cutoff point is India, which is (mostly) non-white, Anglophone and Hindu. I'd be interested to see people's interpretations of Nigeria (non-white, Anglophone, Christian/Muslim mixed) and Jamaica (non-white, Anglophone, Christian), and Islamic Pakistan.

    The situation is rendered more complex by people's perceptions, which may not match the reality. But then again, when did it ever...
  • Options
    Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,444
    HYUFD said:

    surbiton said:

    SeanT said:

    Curious how those fanatically opposed to free movement with the EU are wildly enthusiastic about free movement with the former white colonies of the British empire. I wonder why that might be.

    Because they speak our language, share our laws, share our culture, are subject to the same Queen, are most unlikely to blow us up or immediately start selling the Big Issue, and they have similar or higher standards of living so won't be a burden.

    There. Fixed that for you. Twat.
    Not that it matter, but I'm not sure that Australia, Canada or NZ are much more "White" than continental Europe in any event.
    New Zealand certainly isnt
    But the Brexiters dream of a "white" Commonwealth. They call it the "old" commonwealth. I am not sure why Sunil is amongst them.

    Soon Australia will be a Rebuplic. Even a conservative PM is a republican. The opposition is almost all republican.
    Will it? The only referendum on the subject saw Australia voting for the monarchy by 55% to 45% and the present PM was leading the Republican movement and by the next election there is a chance the monarchist Tony Abbott will have toppled him in the way Turnbull toppled Abbott. William, Kate and Harry are also popular with younger Australians
    Charles will be like a Hydrogen bomb for the monarchy, worldwide.

    If we get to William and Kate relatively quickly, possibly not, but that could be 20 years.
  • Options
    OmniumOmnium Posts: 9,796

    Omnium said:

    SeanT said:

    Omnium said:

    Omnium said:

    Mr Meeks' posts this evening somehow remind me of the Monty Python 'arguments are next door' thing. Oddly though for once this wasn't the location of 'Abuse' :)

    I wasn't expecting the overt racism to surface quite so quickly on pb after Trump's inauguration. I thought we might get a few months' grace,
    Oh tosh - you were at least in part baiting.

    However there's nothing wrong in a good argument, and although you were baiting I do think that it's an interesting point about why we (or whatever group) might be more pro CanAusNZ than perhaps we might be towards SA, or Poland. Is there xenophobia or racism, both or neither. I don't personally think I'm racist, but I do give myself pause for thought sometimes.

    Everyone is racist. By the time they are a year old, babies show fear of faces that are the "wrong" shape or colour. Its a sensible evolved response to obvious genetic outsiders, who are less likely to deem your survival as important. This is true of all babies, black brown or white. So let's get over it. We're all born racist.

    The more interesting question is how you act on these instinctive impulses. That is the test for an adult.
    Yep - that's just the unfamiliar though. And of course any racism that you or I might have in us was almost certainly germinated by unfamiliarity.

    Peoples experiences in life can of course also be important - If I was a black Jamaican lady and I got treated badly by a group of white English people then I might form a certain mental bias. The more we mix though the less we might see identity as anything to do with colour or nation - the same black Jamaican lady at some point in the future might form a prejudice against the same English people, but that'd be based on them having purple hair maybe.
    My experience of children is that they are extremely tolerant of differences, even gross ones like colour, paraplegia, cerebral palsy, cranio-facial disorders, etc. White children react to a black person with much the same reaction they show to a black as opposed to ginger cat, not really thinking it remarkeable.

    It is only at the age of 7-8 that children start to fear difference, and bullying begins. They have to learn it from grown ups.
    You're probably just seeing a fear of bullying rather than a fear of difference. (If you're different then you might get bullied because of that so you fear difference)

    Bullying itself has to just be a survival thing. You make sure there's a very obvious target so that even if you become weak you're not the obvious target.
  • Options
    isamisam Posts: 40,952
    This thread takes me back to an old Newsnight.. Euracists!!!

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeUucJ_txKw


  • Options
    HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 117,080

    HYUFD said:

    surbiton said:

    SeanT said:

    Curious how those fanatically opposed to free movement with the EU are wildly enthusiastic about free movement with the former white colonies of the British empire. I wonder why that might be.

    Because they speak our language, share our laws, share our culture, are subject to the same Queen, are most unlikely to blow us up or immediately start selling the Big Issue, and they have similar or higher standards of living so won't be a burden.

    There. Fixed that for you. Twat.
    Not that it matter, but I'm not sure that Australia, Canada or NZ are much more "White" than continental Europe in any event.
    New Zealand certainly isnt
    But the Brexiters dream of a "white" Commonwealth. They call it the "old" commonwealth. I am not sure why Sunil is amongst them.

    Soon Australia will be a Rebuplic. Even a conservative PM is a republican. The opposition is almost all republican.
    Will it? The only referendum on the subject saw Australia voting for the monarchy by 55% to 45% and the present PM was leading the Republican movement and by the next election there is a chance the monarchist Tony Abbott will have toppled him in the way Turnbull toppled Abbott. William, Kate and Harry are also popular with younger Australians
    Charles will be like a Hydrogen bomb for the monarchy, worldwide.

    If we get to William and Kate relatively quickly, possibly not, but that could be 20 years.
    His ratings have improved since the Diana affair and he will likely only be monarch for a short time if he eventually gets it
  • Options
    surbiton said:

    SeanT said:

    Written by a notorious europhile quisling. Really, we need to start burning these people at Smithfield*

    *metaphorically, moderators, metaphorically
    I think what REALLY worries some that voted Remain and who constantly equate all those that voted Leave with fascist idiots is that Brexit MIGHT actually work.

    Who are the idiots then? Who are the wrecking crew now?

    And it is a question to which i am not sure we have given any real coverage on here in terms of how it affects domestic politics.

    If Brexit is seen to be a failure the Cons will clearly suffer badly, Labour will probably suffer as well-in part because they are clearly split on the issue.

    The Libs will clearly be VERY big gainers-as will the SNP

    BUT what if BREXIT is perceived to be a success.

    Clearly the absolute level of success will be relevant-being slightly less shit than Europe will not be the same as Brexit being seen to be a clear success.

    The Libs clearly will have some serious thinking to do-as will the SNP

    But with Nuttall as leader Labour could have some seriously difficult times ahead-as someone said below- it is difficult to see how Hartlepool and Islington can be both represented by the same Labour party that was split over Brexit especially if Brexit turns out to be successful.

    I am tired of hearing about the expected UKIP avalanche in the North. They are even doing badly in local by-elections. Let's see what they do in Stoke.

    If all these theories are anywhere near correct, UKIP should win Stoke. Frankly, the Liberals have a better chance !
    If you read what i said you will see i am trying to suggest what MIGHT happen in the future IF brexit is a success or failure-ie at least 2-3 years down the line and quite possibly a lot longer than that.

    I constantly refer to the future NOT the present. In the short term things will change constantly-which is why I think what happened in By election X or Y last week or last month is not the same value as an indicator of what might happen in future by-elections as might have been in the past.

  • Options
    JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 39,054
    Omnium said:

    I bought a rather random book the other day (clearly when looking for yours)

    It's about Britain's space programme. Now obliviously that came to very little. However the book contains lots of (somewhat turgid, but interesting) stuff about all the work that was done. If you've ever been to RAF Cosford museum you'll see all sorts of fantastic British airplanes which worked mostly. The budgets were rather small, but there were many competing projects.

    I saw the discussion earlier about our defence budget and the bang-for-the buck. It seems to me that we have very little defence capability now, and that we pay through the nose for it.

    I think it would be beneficial to return to the many mad-cap ideas approach - which hopefully produces one good one, rather than the totally-planned, totally-perfect, and turns out not-so-good way we do things now.

    The complexity and expense is not in making airframes; it is in making cohesive weapons systems. That is why the prototype F35 could be flying relatively cheaply, using lots of off-the-shelf kit. From what I've heard the TSR-2 was another example: they had the airframe working well, but the on-board systems were a mess (some were later used in the Tornado - citation needed).

    However, a basic flying combat plane is much more than something that flies. You need to integrate radar, comms, TDL/Link, weapons, refuelling systems, survivability, maintainability, and a 1001 other things. Oh, and power for the above.

    Unfortunately these systems are getting more numerous and complex. An acquaintance was involved in developing refuelling systems and the complexity of actually implementing them is massive - and that was one of the simpler systems on a larger plane.

    Prototypes are (relatively) easy. Fully functioning, reliable weapons systems are blooming difficult. If you try to develop them cheaper, you'll usually lose functionality, reliability, and/or safety. It's not all about waste in the system (though that's doubtless part of the story).
  • Options

    For the record, I think we should definitely have a freedom of movement deal with the Aussies and Kiwis. They are our brothers. Not sure they'd want it though.

    Sadly I think you are right !!

    NZ really is a fabulous country to visit-its like an all encompassing Geography field trip in one country.
  • Options
    foxinsoxukfoxinsoxuk Posts: 23,548

    Omnium said:

    I bought a rather random book the other day (clearly when looking for yours)

    It's about Britain's space programme. Now obliviously that came to very little. However the book contains lots of (somewhat turgid, but interesting) stuff about all the work that was done. If you've ever been to RAF Cosford museum you'll see all sorts of fantastic British airplanes which worked mostly. The budgets were rather small, but there were many competing projects.

    I saw the discussion earlier about our defence budget and the bang-for-the buck. It seems to me that we have very little defence capability now, and that we pay through the nose for it.

    I think it would be beneficial to return to the many mad-cap ideas approach - which hopefully produces one good one, rather than the totally-planned, totally-perfect, and turns out not-so-good way we do things now.

    The complexity and expense is not in making airframes; it is in making cohesive weapons systems. That is why the prototype F35 could be flying relatively cheaply, using lots of off-the-shelf kit. From what I've heard the TSR-2 was another example: they had the airframe working well, but the on-board systems were a mess (some were later used in the Tornado - citation needed).

    However, a basic flying combat plane is much more than something that flies. You need to integrate radar, comms, TDL/Link, weapons, refuelling systems, survivability, maintainability, and a 1001 other things. Oh, and power for the above.

    Unfortunately these systems are getting more numerous and complex. An acquaintance was involved in developing refuelling systems and the complexity of actually implementing them is massive - and that was one of the simpler systems on a larger plane.

    Prototypes are (relatively) easy. Fully functioning, reliable weapons systems are blooming difficult. If you try to develop them cheaper, you'll usually lose functionality, reliability, and/or safety. It's not all about waste in the system (though that's doubtless part of the story).
    Though one does wonder what the point of the F35 is when a decades old design can out dogfight it:

    http://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/the-f-35-cant-beat-the-plane-its-replacing-in-a-dogfigh-1714712248
  • Options
    John_MJohn_M Posts: 7,503

    Omnium said:

    I bought a rather random book the other day (clearly when looking for yours)

    It's about Britain's space programme. Now obliviously that came to very little. However the book contains lots of (somewhat turgid, but interesting) stuff about all the work that was done. If you've ever been to RAF Cosford museum you'll see all sorts of fantastic British airplanes which worked mostly. The budgets were rather small, but there were many competing projects.

    I saw the discussion earlier about our defence budget and the bang-for-the buck. It seems to me that we have very little defence capability now, and that we pay through the nose for it.

    I think it would be beneficial to return to the many mad-cap ideas approach - which hopefully produces one good one, rather than the totally-planned, totally-perfect, and turns out not-so-good way we do things now.

    The complexity and expense is not in making airframes; it is in making cohesive weapons systems. That is why the prototype F35 could be flying relatively cheaply, using lots of off-the-shelf kit. From what I've heard the TSR-2 was another example: they had the airframe working well, but the on-board systems were a mess (some were later used in the Tornado - citation needed).

    However, a basic flying combat plane is much more than something that flies. You need to integrate radar, comms, TDL/Link, weapons, refuelling systems, survivability, maintainability, and a 1001 other things. Oh, and power for the above.

    Unfortunately these systems are getting more numerous and complex. An acquaintance was involved in developing refuelling systems and the complexity of actually implementing them is massive - and that was one of the simpler systems on a larger plane.

    Prototypes are (relatively) easy. Fully functioning, reliable weapons systems are blooming difficult. If you try to develop them cheaper, you'll usually lose functionality, reliability, and/or safety. It's not all about waste in the system (though that's doubtless part of the story).
    Though one does wonder what the point of the F35 is when a decades old design can out dogfight it:

    http://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/the-f-35-cant-beat-the-plane-its-replacing-in-a-dogfigh-1714712248
    Modern weapons platforms don't dogfight anything. They're designed to kill from BVR.
  • Options


    I did read somewhere (admittedly pre commodity boom) that Australians had a higher propensity to overstay their visas than other nationalities. Maybe more Australian illegal immigrants than from any other country?

    Or maybe The Aussie girls overstay for the British men :)
  • Options
    OmniumOmnium Posts: 9,796

    Omnium said:

    I bought a rather random book the other day (clearly when looking for yours)

    It's about Britain's space programme. Now obliviously that came to very little. However the book contains lots of (somewhat turgid, but interesting) stuff about all the work that was done. If you've ever been to RAF Cosford museum you'll see all sorts of fantastic British airplanes which worked mostly. The budgets were rather small, but there were many competing projects.

    I saw the discussion earlier about our defence budget and the bang-for-the buck. It seems to me that we have very little defence capability now, and that we pay through the nose for it.

    I think it would be beneficial to return to the many mad-cap ideas approach - which hopefully produces one good one, rather than the totally-planned, totally-perfect, and turns out not-so-good way we do things now.

    The complexity and expense is not in making airframes; it is in making cohesive weapons systems. That is why the prototype F35 could be flying relatively cheaply, using lots of off-the-shelf kit. From what I've heard the TSR-2 was another example: they had the airframe working well, but the on-board systems were a mess (some were later used in the Tornado - citation needed).

    However, a basic flying combat plane is much more than something that flies. You need to integrate radar, comms, TDL/Link, weapons, refuelling systems, survivability, maintainability, and a 1001 other things. Oh, and power for the above.

    Unfortunately these systems are getting more numerous and complex. An acquaintance was involved in developing refuelling systems and the complexity of actually implementing them is massive - and that was one of the simpler systems on a larger plane.

    Prototypes are (relatively) easy. Fully functioning, reliable weapons systems are blooming difficult. If you try to develop them cheaper, you'll usually lose functionality, reliability, and/or safety. It's not all about waste in the system (though that's doubtless part of the story).
    Good points. However it's undeniable that if you only have one possible builder you'll pay more than when he's in competition and generally you'll get a worse product.

    If we built an aircraft carrier every year we'd have a couple of manufacturers and we'd probably have 9 of them in service, and the overall costs would be much lower.
  • Options
    RobD said:

    We may disagree on issues surrounding free movement, but I'm sure we can all agree that blockquotes suck.

    Yes !
  • Options
    surbitonsurbiton Posts: 13,549

    Omnium said:

    I bought a rather random book the other day (clearly when looking for yours)

    It's about Britain's space programme. Now obliviously that came to very little. However the book contains lots of (somewhat turgid, but interesting) stuff about all the work that was done. If you've ever been to RAF Cosford museum you'll see all sorts of fantastic British airplanes which worked mostly. The budgets were rather small, but there were many competing projects.

    I saw the discussion earlier about our defence budget and the bang-for-the buck. It seems to me that we have very little defence capability now, and that we pay through the nose for it.

    I think it would be beneficial to return to the many mad-cap ideas approach - which hopefully produces one good one, rather than the totally-planned, totally-perfect, and turns out not-so-good way we do things now.

    The complexity and expense is not in making airframes; it is in making cohesive weapons systems. That is why the prototype F35 could be flying relatively cheaply, using lots of off-the-shelf kit. From what I've heard the TSR-2 was another example: they had the airframe working well, but the on-board systems were a mess (some were later used in the Tornado - citation needed).

    However, a basic flying combat plane is much more than something that flies. You need to integrate radar, comms, TDL/Link, weapons, refuelling systems, survivability, maintainability, and a 1001 other things. Oh, and power for the above.

    Unfortunately these systems are getting more numerous and complex. An acquaintance was involved in developing refuelling systems and the complexity of actually implementing them is massive - and that was one of the simpler systems on a larger plane.

    Prototypes are (relatively) easy. Fully functioning, reliable weapons systems are blooming difficult. If you try to develop them cheaper, you'll usually lose functionality, reliability, and/or safety. It's not all about waste in the system (though that's doubtless part of the story).
    Though one does wonder what the point of the F35 is when a decades old design can out dogfight it:

    http://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/the-f-35-cant-beat-the-plane-its-replacing-in-a-dogfigh-1714712248
    The Military Industrial complex will not like what you are saying.
  • Options
    Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,444



    I did read somewhere (admittedly pre commodity boom) that Australians had a higher propensity to overstay their visas than other nationalities. Maybe more Australian illegal immigrants than from any other country?

    Or maybe The Aussie girls overstay for the British men :)

    In my experience, I've found Aussie girls rather dull. Or, at least, without much depth to them.
  • Options

    For the record, I think we should definitely have a freedom of movement deal with the Aussies and Kiwis. They are our brothers. Not sure they'd want it though.

    Sadly I think you are right !!

    NZ really is a fabulous country to visit-its like an all encompassing Geography field trip in one country.

    Totally agree. My brother has lived there for 25 years and has built a great life. Here he is with his missus:
    https://youtu.be/1h27Wj-qzg0
  • Options
    Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,444
    HYUFD said:

    HYUFD said:

    surbiton said:

    SeanT said:

    Curious how those fanatically opposed to free movement with the EU are wildly enthusiastic about free movement with the former white colonies of the British empire. I wonder why that might be.

    Because they speak our language, share our laws, share our culture, are subject to the same Queen, are most unlikely to blow us up or immediately start selling the Big Issue, and they have similar or higher standards of living so won't be a burden.

    There. Fixed that for you. Twat.
    Not that it matter, but I'm not sure that Australia, Canada or NZ are much more "White" than continental Europe in any event.
    New Zealand certainly isnt
    But the Brexiters dream of a "white" Commonwealth. They call it the "old" commonwealth. I am not sure why Sunil is amongst them.

    Soon Australia will be a Rebuplic. Even a conservative PM is a republican. The opposition is almost all republican.
    Will it? The only referendum on the subject saw Australia voting for the monarchy by 55% to 45% and the present PM was leading the Republican movement and by the next election there is a chance the monarchist Tony Abbott will have toppled him in the way Turnbull toppled Abbott. William, Kate and Harry are also popular with younger Australians
    Charles will be like a Hydrogen bomb for the monarchy, worldwide.

    If we get to William and Kate relatively quickly, possibly not, but that could be 20 years.
    His ratings have improved since the Diana affair and he will likely only be monarch for a short time if he eventually gets it
    He needs to learn to shut his trap and keep his uninformed opinions to himself.
  • Options
    foxinsoxukfoxinsoxuk Posts: 23,548
    Omnium said:

    Omnium said:

    SeanT said:

    Omnium said:

    Omnium said:

    Mr Meeks' posts this evening somehow remind me of the Monty Python 'arguments are next door' thing. Oddly though for once this wasn't the location of 'Abuse' :)

    I wasn't expecting the overt racism to surface quite so quickly on pb after Trump's inauguration. I thought we might get a few months' grace,
    Oh tosh - you were at least in part baiting.

    However there's nothing wrong in a good argument, and although you were baiting I do think that it's an interesting point about why we (or whatever group) might be more pro CanAusNZ than perhaps we might be towards SA, or Poland. Is there xenophobia or racism, both or neither. I don't personally think I'm racist, but I do give myself pause for thought sometimes.

    Everyone is racist. By the time they are a year old, babies show fear of faces that are the "wrong" shape or colour. Its a sensible evolved response to obvious genetic outsiders, who are less likely to deem your survival as important. This is true of all babies, black brown or white. So let's get over it. We're all born racist.

    The more interesting question is how you act on these instinctive impulses. That is the test for an adult.
    Yep - that's just the unfamiliar though. And of course any racism that you or I might have in us was almost certainly germinated by unfamiliarity.

    Peoples experiences in life can of course also be important -
    My experience of children is that they are extremely tolerant of differences, even gross ones like colour, paraplegia, cerebral palsy, cranio-facial disorders, etc. White children react to a black person with much the same reaction they show to a black as opposed to ginger cat, not really thinking it remarkeable.

    It is only at the age of 7-8 that children start to fear difference, and bullying begins. They have to learn it from grown ups.
    You're probably just seeing a fear of bullying rather than a fear of difference. (If you're different then you might get bullied because of that so you fear difference)

    Bullying itself has to just be a survival thing. You make sure there's a very obvious target so that even if you become weak you're not the obvious target.
    Not really, young children do not have that sort of sophisticated thought. Bullying comes later., typically 7-8 years or so.
  • Options
    isamisam Posts: 40,952

    HYUFD said:

    HYUFD said:

    surbiton said:

    SeanT said:

    Curious how those fanatically opposed to free movement with the EU are wildly enthusiastic about free movement with the former white colonies of the British empire. I wonder why that might be.

    Because they speak our language, share our laws, share our culture, are subject to the same Queen, are most unlikely to blow us up or immediately start selling the Big Issue, and they have similar or higher standards of living so won't be a burden.

    There. Fixed that for you. Twat.
    Not that it matter, but I'm not sure that Australia, Canada or NZ are much more "White" than continental Europe in any event.
    New Zealand certainly isnt
    But the Brexiters dream of a "white" Commonwealth. They call it the "old" commonwealth. I am not sure why Sunil is amongst them.

    Soon Australia will be a Rebuplic. Even a conservative PM is a republican. The opposition is almost all republican.
    Will it? The only referendum on the subject saw Australia voting for the monarchy by 55% to 45% and the present PM was leading the Republican movement and by the next election there is a chance the monarchist Tony Abbott will have toppled him in the way Turnbull toppled Abbott. William, Kate and Harry are also popular with younger Australians
    Charles will be like a Hydrogen bomb for the monarchy, worldwide.

    If we get to William and Kate relatively quickly, possibly not, but that could be 20 years.
    His ratings have improved since the Diana affair and he will likely only be monarch for a short time if he eventually gets it
    He needs to learn to shut his trap and keep his uninformed opinions to himself.
    That's what I would imagine any Australian girls reading this site would say to you!
  • Options
    surbitonsurbiton Posts: 13,549
    HYUFD said:

    HYUFD said:

    surbiton said:

    SeanT said:

    Curious how those fanatically opposed to free movement with the EU are wildly enthusiastic about free movement with the former white colonies of the British empire. I wonder why that might be.

    Because they speak our language, share our laws, share our culture, are subject to the same Queen, are most unlikely to blow us up or immediately start selling the Big Issue, and they have similar or higher standards of living so won't be a burden.

    There. Fixed that for you. Twat.
    Not that it matter, but I'm not sure that Australia, Canada or NZ are much more "White" than continental Europe in any event.
    New Zealand certainly isnt
    But the Brexiters dream of a "white" Commonwealth. They call it the "old" commonwealth. I am not sure why Sunil is amongst them.

    Soon Australia will be a Rebuplic. Even a conservative PM is a republican. The opposition is almost all republican.
    Will it? The only referendum on the subject saw Australia voting for the monarchy by 55% to 45% and the present PM was leading the Republican movement and by the next election there is a chance the monarchist Tony Abbott will have toppled him in the way Turnbull toppled Abbott. William, Kate and Harry are also popular with younger Australians
    Charles will be like a Hydrogen bomb for the monarchy, worldwide.

    If we get to William and Kate relatively quickly, possibly not, but that could be 20 years.
    His ratings have improved since the Diana affair and he will likely only be monarch for a short time if he eventually gets it
    Even though I am not a monarchist, I believe Charles will be a good king.
  • Options
    SandpitSandpit Posts: 49,919
    surbiton said:

    Omnium said:

    I bought a rather random book the other day (clearly when looking for yours)

    It's about Britain's space programme. Now obliviously that came to very little. However the book contains lots of (somewhat turgid, but interesting) stuff about all the work that was done. If you've ever been to RAF Cosford museum you'll see all sorts of fantastic British airplanes which worked mostly. The budgets were rather small, but there were many competing projects.

    I saw the discussion earlier about our defence budget and the bang-for-the buck. It seems to me that we have very little defence capability now, and that we pay through the nose for it.

    I think it would be beneficial to return to the many mad-cap ideas approach - which hopefully produces one good one, rather than the totally-planned, totally-perfect, and turns out not-so-good way we do things now.

    The complexity and expense is not in making airframes; it is in making cohesive weapons systems. That is why the prototype F35 could be flying relatively cheaply, using lots of off-the-shelf kit. From what I've heard the TSR-2 was another example: they had the airframe working well, but the on-board systems were a mess (some were later used in the Tornado - citation needed).

    However, a basic flying combat plane is much more than something that flies. You need to integrate radar, comms, TDL/Link, weapons, refuelling systems, survivability, maintainability, and a 1001 other things. Oh, and power for the above.

    Unfortunately these systems are getting more numerous and complex. An acquaintance was involved in developing refuelling systems and the complexity of actually implementing them is massive - and that was one of the simpler systems on a larger plane.

    Prototypes are (relatively) easy. Fully functioning, reliable weapons systems are blooming difficult. If you try to develop them cheaper, you'll usually lose functionality, reliability, and/or safety. It's not all about waste in the system (though that's doubtless part of the story).
    Though one does wonder what the point of the F35 is when a decades old design can out dogfight it:

    http://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/the-f-35-cant-beat-the-plane-its-replacing-in-a-dogfigh-1714712248
    The Military Industrial complex will not like what you are saying.
    They're not liking what Donald Trump's saying either! He's even complaining about the cost of his own new plane.
    http://www.military.com/daily-news/2016/12/06/trump-says-cancel-new-air-force-one-costs-out-control.html
  • Options
    Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    @SkyNewsBreak: A White House official has confirmed Prime Minister Theresa May will meet President Donald Trump this week

    Ummm

    @SkyNewsBreak: Update - Downing Street says it will not confirm if Prime Minister Theresa May will meet Donald Trump next week
  • Options
    MTimTMTimT Posts: 7,034

    For the record, I think we should definitely have a freedom of movement deal with the Aussies and Kiwis. They are our brothers. Not sure they'd want it though.

    Sadly I think you are right !!

    NZ really is a fabulous country to visit-its like an all encompassing Geography field trip in one country.

    Totally agree. My brother has lived there for 25 years and has built a great life. Here he is with his missus:
    https://youtu.be/1h27Wj-qzg0
    Great story
  • Options
    John_MJohn_M Posts: 7,503
    Sandpit said:

    surbiton said:

    Omnium said:

    I bought a rather random book the other day (clearly when looking for yours)

    It's about Britain's space programme. Now obliviously that came to very little. However the book contains lots of (somewhat turgid, but interesting) stuff about all the work that was done. If you've ever been to RAF Cosford museum you'll see all sorts of fantastic British airplanes which worked mostly. The budgets were rather small, but there were many competing projects.

    I saw the discussion earlier about our defence budget and the bang-for-the buck. It seems to me that we have very little defence capability now, and that we pay through the nose for it.

    I think it would be beneficial to return to the many mad-cap ideas approach - which hopefully produces one good one, rather than the totally-planned, totally-perfect, and turns out not-so-good way we do things now.

    The complexity and expense is not in making airframes; it is in making cohesive weapons systems. That is why the prototype F35 could be flying relatively cheaply, using lots of off-the-shelf kit. From what I've heard the TSR-2 was another example: they had the airframe working well, but the on-board systems were a mess (some were later used in the Tornado - citation needed).

    However, a basic flying combat plane is much more than something that flies. You need to integrate radar, comms, TDL/Link, weapons, refuelling systems, survivability, maintainability, and a 1001 other things. Oh, and power for the above.

    Unfortunately these systems are getting more numerous and complex. An acquaintance was involved in developing refuelling systems and the complexity of actually implementing them is massive - and that was one of the simpler systems on a larger plane.

    Prototypes are (relatively) easy. Fully functioning, reliable weapons systems are blooming difficult. If you try to develop them cheaper, you'll usually lose functionality, reliability, and/or safety. It's not all about waste in the system (though that's doubtless part of the story).
    Though one does wonder what the point of the F35 is when a decades old design can out dogfight it:

    http://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/the-f-35-cant-beat-the-plane-its-replacing-in-a-dogfigh-1714712248
    The Military Industrial complex will not like what you are saying.
    They're not liking what Donald Trump's saying either! He's even complaining about the cost of his own new plane.
    http://www.military.com/daily-news/2016/12/06/trump-says-cancel-new-air-force-one-costs-out-control.html
    He's also told LM to reduce the cost of the F-35 by 10%.
  • Options
    viewcode said:

    Omnium said:

    Omnium said:

    Mr Meeks' posts this evening somehow remind me of the Monty Python 'arguments are next door' thing. Oddly though for once this wasn't the location of 'Abuse' :)

    I wasn't expecting the overt racism to surface quite so quickly on pb after Trump's inauguration. I thought we might get a few months' grace,
    Oh tosh - you were at least in part baiting.

    However there's nothing wrong in a good argument, and although you were baiting I do think that it's an interesting point about why we (or whatever group) might be more pro CanAusNZ than perhaps we might be towards SA, or Poland. Is there xenophobia or racism, both or neither. I don't personally think I'm racist, but I do give myself pause for thought sometimes.

    Ir's a non-trivial question. A few years ago I had to look at various countries and the "Old" and "New" Commonwealth distinction cropped up. I don't know when the term was invented but it was mentioned in the sixties/seventies during a time when migration into the UK from non-white parts of the Empire (Jamaica et al) was becoming noted. It was a way of politely (and in some cases impolitely) differentiating between white and non-white migration. Broadly speaking it was the old Dominions and so included apartheid South Africa.

    Fast-forward forty years. It's now trivariate and includes language, religion as well as colour: the whiter, more Anglophone and more Christian you are, the more likely you are to be included in the concept. Conversely, the blacker, less Anglophone and more Muslim you are, the less likely. South Africa (which is now seen as mostly black) tends not to be mentioned any more. The cutoff point is India, which is (mostly) non-white, Anglophone and Hindu. I'd be interested to see people's interpretations of Nigeria (non-white, Anglophone, Christian/Muslim mixed) and Jamaica (non-white, Anglophone, Christian), and Islamic Pakistan.

    The situation is rendered more complex by people's perceptions, which may not match the reality. But then again, when did it ever...
    Jamaica and PNG are Commowealth Realms, so they are part of Sunil's Commonwealth Union.
  • Options
    MTimT said:

    For the record, I think we should definitely have a freedom of movement deal with the Aussies and Kiwis. They are our brothers. Not sure they'd want it though.

    Sadly I think you are right !!

    NZ really is a fabulous country to visit-its like an all encompassing Geography field trip in one country.

    Totally agree. My brother has lived there for 25 years and has built a great life. Here he is with his missus:
    https://youtu.be/1h27Wj-qzg0
    Great story

    Yep, I am very proud of him. He left school at 16 with no O levels, but has worked bloody hard to get what he has. Dodgy accent though!

  • Options



    I did read somewhere (admittedly pre commodity boom) that Australians had a higher propensity to overstay their visas than other nationalities. Maybe more Australian illegal immigrants than from any other country?

    Or maybe The Aussie girls overstay for the British men :)
    In my experience, I've found Aussie girls rather dull. Or, at least, without much depth to them.

    Depends how "deep" you want to go :)

    for the ones i have met I like their no-nonsense approach to life.
  • Options
    OmniumOmnium Posts: 9,796

    Omnium said:

    Omnium said:

    SeanT said:

    Omnium said:

    Omnium said:

    Mr Meeks' posts this evening somehow remind me of the Monty Python 'arguments are next door' thing. Oddly though for once this wasn't the location of 'Abuse' :)

    I wasn't expecting the overt racism to surface quite so quickly on pb after Trump's inauguration. I thought we might get a few months' grace,
    Oh tosh - you were at least in part baiting.

    However there's nothing wrong in a good argument, and although you were baiting I do think that it's an interesting point about why we (or whatever group) might be more pro CanAusNZ than perhaps we might be towards SA, or Poland. Is there xenophobia or racism, both or neither. I don't personally think I'm racist, but I do give myself pause for thought sometimes.

    Everyone is racist. By the time they are a year old, babies show fear of faces that are the "wrong" shape or colour. Its a sensible evolved response to obvious genetic outsiders, who are less likely to deem your survival as important. This is true of all babies, black brown or white. So let's get over it. We're all born racist.

    The more interesting question is how you act on these instinctive impulses. That is the test for an adult.
    Yep - that's just the unfamiliar though. And of course any racism that you or I might have in us was almost certainly germinated by unfamiliarity.

    Peoples experiences in life can of course also be important -
    My experience of children is that they are extremely tolerant of differences, even gross ones like colour, paraplegia, cerebral palsy, cranio-facial disorders, etc. White children react to a black person with much the same reaction they show to a black as opposed to ginger cat, not really thinking it remarkeable.

    It is only at the age of 7-8 that children start to fear difference, and bullying begins. They have to learn it from grown ups.
    You're probably just seeing a fear of bullying rather than a fear of difference. (If you're different then you might get bullied because of that so you fear difference)

    Bullying itself has to just be a survival thing. You make sure there's a very obvious target so that even if you become weak you're not the obvious target.
    Not really, young children do not have that sort of sophisticated thought. Bullying comes later., typically 7-8 years or so.
    Ok, so you're saying that at the point that children can form a useful part of society they start to discriminate in some way or other? That has to be learned behavior though doesn't it? And if so then we don't care as our data is meaningless.
  • Options

    For the record, I think we should definitely have a freedom of movement deal with the Aussies and Kiwis. They are our brothers. Not sure they'd want it though.

    Sadly I think you are right !!

    NZ really is a fabulous country to visit-its like an all encompassing Geography field trip in one country.

    Totally agree. My brother has lived there for 25 years and has built a great life. Here he is with his missus:
    https://youtu.be/1h27Wj-qzg0
    Good for him!

    My sister in law and her husband emigrated to NZ 12 years ago. They had never been before-i recommended Nelson as their initial base -they have never left and absolutely love the place.

    Possibly my most favourite town in the World :)
  • Options
    JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 39,054
    John_M said:


    He's also told LM to reduce the cost of the F-35 by 10%.

    The reply from LM's head was classic. Essentially it was: "We've listened, and we'll really try to reduce the cost (as we have been saying for the last ten years)."

    No guarantees. It was as meaningless as Trump's original words.
  • Options
    OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 32,027
    surbiton said:

    HYUFD said:

    HYUFD said:

    surbiton said:

    SeanT said:

    Curious how those fanatically opposed to free movement with the EU are wildly enthusiastic about free movement with the former white colonies of the British empire. I wonder why that might be.

    Because they speak our language, share our laws, share our culture, are subject to the same Queen, are most unlikely to blow us up or immediately start selling the Big Issue, and they have similar or higher standards of living so won't be a burden.

    There. Fixed that for you. Twat.
    Not that it matter, but I'm not sure that Australia, Canada or NZ are much more "White" than continental Europe in any event.
    New Zealand certainly isnt
    But the Brexiters dream of a "white" Commonwealth. They call it the "old" commonwealth. I am not sure why Sunil is amongst them.

    Soon Australia will be a Rebuplic. Even a conservative PM is a republican. The opposition is almost all republican.
    Will it? The only referendum on the subject saw Australia voting for the monarchy by 55% to 45% and the present PM was leading the Republican movement and by the next election there is a chance the monarchist Tony Abbott will have toppled him in the way Turnbull toppled Abbott. William, Kate and Harry are also popular with younger Australians
    Charles will be like a Hydrogen bomb for the monarchy, worldwide.

    If we get to William and Kate relatively quickly, possibly not, but that could be 20 years.
    His ratings have improved since the Diana affair and he will likely only be monarch for a short time if he eventually gets it
    Even though I am not a monarchist, I believe Charles will be a good king.
    No such thing!
  • Options
    foxinsoxukfoxinsoxuk Posts: 23,548
    edited January 2017
    Omnium said:

    Omnium said:

    Omnium said:

    SeanT said:

    Omnium said:

    Omnium said:

    Mr Meeks' posts this evening somehow remind me of the Monty Python 'arguments are next door' thing. Oddly though for once this wasn't the location of 'Abuse' :)

    I wasn't expecting the overt racism to surface quite so quickly on pb after Trump's inauguration. I thought we might get a few months' grace,
    Oh tosh - you were at least in part baiting.

    However there's nothing wrong in a good argument, and although you were baiting I do think that it's an interesting point about why we (or whatever group) might be more pro CanAusNZ than perhaps we might be towards SA, or Poland. Is there xenophobia or racism, both or neither. I don't personally think I'm racist, but I do give myself pause for thought sometimes.

    Everyone is racist. By the time they are a year old, babies show fear of faces that are the "wrong" shape or colour. Its a sensible evolved response to obvious genetic outsiders, who are less likely to deem your survival as important. This is true of all babies, black brown or white. So let's get over it. We're all born racist.

    The more interesting question is how you act on these instinctive impulses. That is the test for an adult.
    Yep - that's just the unfamiliar though. And of course any racism that you or I might have in us was almost certainly germinated by unfamiliarity.

    Peoples experiences in life can of course also be important -
    My experience of children is that they are extremely tolerant of

    It is only at the age of 7-8 that children start to fear difference, and bullying begins. They have to learn it from grown ups.
    You're probably just seeing a fear of bullying rather than a fear of difference. (If you're different then you might get bullied because of that so you fear difference)

    Bullying itself has to just be a survival thing. You make sure there's a very obvious target so that even if you become weak you're not the obvious target.
    Not really, young children do not have that sort of sophisticated thought. Bullying comes later., typically 7-8 years or so.
    Ok, so you're saying that at the point that children can form a useful part of society they start to discriminate in some way or other? That has to be learned behavior though doesn't it? And if so then we don't care as our data is meaningless.
    Partially!

    I believe it is learned behaviour, but would be more positive about humanity. What can be learned, does not have to be learned, and can be unlearned.
  • Options

    For the record, I think we should definitely have a freedom of movement deal with the Aussies and Kiwis. They are our brothers. Not sure they'd want it though.

    Sadly I think you are right !!

    NZ really is a fabulous country to visit-its like an all encompassing Geography field trip in one country.

    Totally agree. My brother has lived there for 25 years and has built a great life. Here he is with his missus:
    https://youtu.be/1h27Wj-qzg0
    Good for him!

    My sister in law and her husband emigrated to NZ 12 years ago. They had never been before-i recommended Nelson as their initial base -they have never left and absolutely love the place.

    Possibly my most favourite town in the World :)

    If they've ever rented paddle boards at the beach in Nelson it's been from my brother!

    Nelson is great. All the country round there is. I'd live there very happily.

  • Options
    DixieDixie Posts: 1,221
    I agree with Mike. The value bet might be on Tories coming 3rd in Copeland and 4th in Stoke. The latter is very likely as UKIP take from Tories and Libs from Labour. Tories really are only doing well because Corbyn is shite.
  • Options
    JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 39,054

    Though one does wonder what the point of the F35 is when a decades old design can out dogfight it:

    http://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/the-f-35-cant-beat-the-plane-its-replacing-in-a-dogfigh-1714712248

    Firstly, be very careful about such claims in the media. Performance reports of new planes are rarely publicised and so the specialist media have to go on vague leaks and informal chats.

    In one case, a pilot who trashed the performance of a new plane allegedly went on, a few months later, to work for a rival manufacturer!

    This report at least has a little meat on the bone; it is allegedly from a test pilot. However it is one man's view, and we don't know the data about the tests - apparently planes are often put into tests handicapped so certain systems are stressed.

    Basically, that report might be right, but we don't know. It could certainly have been written by Boeing's press department ...
  • Options
    HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 117,080
    Dixie said:

    I agree with Mike. The value bet might be on Tories coming 3rd in Copeland and 4th in Stoke. The latter is very likely as UKIP take from Tories and Libs from Labour. Tories really are only doing well because Corbyn is shite.

    More likely the Tories win Copeland and come second in Stoke
  • Options
    Dixie said:

    I agree with Mike. The value bet might be on Tories coming 3rd in Copeland and 4th in Stoke. The latter is very likely as UKIP take from Tories and Libs from Labour. Tories really are only doing well because Corbyn is shite.

    So May having a net positive approval rating more than six months after handover (when honeymoon is normally over) is what precisely?
  • Options
    rural_voterrural_voter Posts: 2,038
    John_M said:

    surbiton said:

    RobD said:

    surbiton said:

    Pulpstar said:

    For the record, I think we should definitely have a freedom of movement deal with the Aussies and Kiwis. They are our brothers. Not sure they'd want it though.

    New Zealand has a pop density of 17.5/sq km. Heaven.
    "Remote rural areas with a density of less than 1 person per square kilometre account for about 14 percent of the rural population.[21]"

    You are sure ?

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_New_Zealand
    It says at the top of the link, 17.5/sq km.
    That's for the whole country. Even 17.5 means ,say, 4-5 houses in a whole sq.kilometer. I would go bananas! Now I understand, why they are bananas.

    Do NZ rural people also live on milking subsidies like our lot do ?
    The Kiwis eliminated nearly all farming subsidies (there was some transitional support to help farmers who wanted to exit the industry) in 1984. It's an interesting story:

    http://dailysignal.com/2016/09/22/what-happened-when-new-zealand-got-rid-of-government-subsidies-for-farmers/
    Powys has 25 people per km2.
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powys

    So no need to emigrate if you want low density, only if you want super-low density.
  • Options
    foxinsoxukfoxinsoxuk Posts: 23,548

    For the record, I think we should definitely have a freedom of movement deal with the Aussies and Kiwis. They are our brothers. Not sure they'd want it though.

    Sadly I think you are right !!

    NZ really is a fabulous country to visit-its like an all encompassing Geography field trip in one country.

    Totally agree. My brother has lived there for 25 years and has built a great life. Here he is with his missus:
    https://youtu.be/1h27Wj-qzg0
    Good for him!

    My sister in law and her husband emigrated to NZ 12 years ago. They had never been before-i recommended Nelson as their initial base -they have never left and absolutely love the place.

    Possibly my most favourite town in the World :)

    If they've ever rented paddle boards at the beach in Nelson it's been from my brother!

    Nelson is great. All the country round there is. I'd live there very happily.

    Nelson has been voted by Kiwis as the best part of the country before. It has great climate and scenery.
  • Options
    John_MJohn_M Posts: 7,503

    John_M said:

    surbiton said:

    RobD said:

    surbiton said:

    Pulpstar said:

    For the record, I think we should definitely have a freedom of movement deal with the Aussies and Kiwis. They are our brothers. Not sure they'd want it though.

    New Zealand has a pop density of 17.5/sq km. Heaven.
    "Remote rural areas with a density of less than 1 person per square kilometre account for about 14 percent of the rural population.[21]"

    You are sure ?

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_New_Zealand
    It says at the top of the link, 17.5/sq km.
    That's for the whole country. Even 17.5 means ,say, 4-5 houses in a whole sq.kilometer. I would go bananas! Now I understand, why they are bananas.

    Do NZ rural people also live on milking subsidies like our lot do ?
    The Kiwis eliminated nearly all farming subsidies (there was some transitional support to help farmers who wanted to exit the industry) in 1984. It's an interesting story:

    http://dailysignal.com/2016/09/22/what-happened-when-new-zealand-got-rid-of-government-subsidies-for-farmers/
    Powys has 25 people per km2.
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powys

    So no need to emigrate if you want low density, only if you want super-low density.
    Monmouthshire is the sweet spot. 104 folk per km2, has Waitrose and you can actually get a plumber. No, don't move here, it's great the way it is :).
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    SandpitSandpit Posts: 49,919

    For the record, I think we should definitely have a freedom of movement deal with the Aussies and Kiwis. They are our brothers. Not sure they'd want it though.

    Sadly I think you are right !!

    NZ really is a fabulous country to visit-its like an all encompassing Geography field trip in one country.

    Totally agree. My brother has lived there for 25 years and has built a great life. Here he is with his missus:
    https://youtu.be/1h27Wj-qzg0
    Good for him!

    My sister in law and her husband emigrated to NZ 12 years ago. They had never been before-i recommended Nelson as their initial base -they have never left and absolutely love the place.

    Possibly my most favourite town in the World :)

    If they've ever rented paddle boards at the beach in Nelson it's been from my brother!

    Nelson is great. All the country round there is. I'd live there very happily.
    That video looks awesome, would love to go to NZ sometime. Friend of mine is a gliding instructor, for the last decade he's spent summers in the UK and 'winters' in NZ. And he gets paid to go flying almost every day. Lucky git!
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    For the record, I think we should definitely have a freedom of movement deal with the Aussies and Kiwis. They are our brothers. Not sure they'd want it though.

    Sadly I think you are right !!

    NZ really is a fabulous country to visit-its like an all encompassing Geography field trip in one country.

    Totally agree. My brother has lived there for 25 years and has built a great life. Here he is with his missus:
    https://youtu.be/1h27Wj-qzg0
    Good for him!

    My sister in law and her husband emigrated to NZ 12 years ago. They had never been before-i recommended Nelson as their initial base -they have never left and absolutely love the place.

    Possibly my most favourite town in the World :)

    If they've ever rented paddle boards at the beach in Nelson it's been from my brother!

    Nelson is great. All the country round there is. I'd live there very happily.

    They have !!

    Seen the film- the kids have a dodgy accent as well !
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    Tim_BTim_B Posts: 7,669
    Trump confirms that May will be here next week, and he wants the Churchill bust back in the Oval Office.
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    DixieDixie Posts: 1,221

    Dixie said:

    I agree with Mike. The value bet might be on Tories coming 3rd in Copeland and 4th in Stoke. The latter is very likely as UKIP take from Tories and Libs from Labour. Tories really are only doing well because Corbyn is shite.

    So May having a net positive approval rating more than six months after handover (when honeymoon is normally over) is what precisely?
    But look at Mike's figures in the article. Tories are doing as well/badly as any govt party in by-elections. That is, a swing to the opposition. May is doing wonderfully, the party isn't. It's quite normal. You can bet on the elections emotionally or rationally. History says Tories will do badly..but you never know! Personally I want UKIP or Tories to win them both. I just don't think they will. However, DYOR.
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    GallowgateGallowgate Posts: 19,081
    edited January 2017
    Northumberland has 63/km2 if you want to stay in England! Even less so the further north you go.
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    Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 49,362
    edited January 2017
    surbiton said:

    FF43 said:

    SeanT said:

    <>

    I think the aussies regard as something between a respected but faintly tragic grandparent and an amusing and oddly raffish older sibling. Either way, they feel the ties of blood, and I am sure the Brits return this.

    The question is, who would fight for us in a war, if we were truly imperiled?

    I'd put Australia first, alongside NZ, then Canada and America. Probably France. Maybe Italy and the Nordics. Germany probably not. Spain no. And the same in reverse. The Brits would fight for Australia before Germany, America before Spain.

    Interesting question. I think Germany probably, maybe the U.S.and France. Australia possibly if the U.S. were also involved. Canada, I'm not sure. It's a different world from 1939.
    Does Australia have an Aircraft carrier with planes on them ?
    They used to:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMAS_Sydney_(R17)
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Vengeance_(R71) (loan only)
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMAS_Melbourne_(R21)
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    Tim_B said:

    Trump confirms that May will be here next week, and he wants the Churchill bust back in the Oval Office.

    It was back in the Oval Office the moment he became President yesterday!
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    BromptonautBromptonaut Posts: 1,113
    Pulpstar said:

    New Zealand would be the one country I'd choose to have FoM with if I could pick anywhere.

    https://static2.stuff.co.nz/1375163964/260/8982260.jpg

    Look at that for a ground !

    If I was a New Zealander, no way would I chose to have FoM with Britain though.

    In my experience, having visited twice and worked on technical studies there, NZ is a very outward looking nation that would not see an advantage in entering any kind of governmental relationship with the UK.

    Tonight's PB Tory fantasy of a union of white Commonwealth nation states is really most amusing.
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    John_MJohn_M Posts: 7,503

    Northumberland has 63/km2 if you want to stay in England! Even less so the further north you go.

    Waitrose? Sorry to harp on about this, but it's my human right to shop at Waitrose.
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    GallowgateGallowgate Posts: 19,081
    John_M said:

    Northumberland has 63/km2 if you want to stay in England! Even less so the further north you go.

    Waitrose? Sorry to harp on about this, but it's my human right to shop at Waitrose.
    http://www.waitrose.com/bf_home/bf/482.html Here you go!
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    JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 39,054

    surbiton said:

    FF43 said:

    SeanT said:

    <>

    I think the aussies regard as something between a respected but faintly tragic grandparent and an amusing and oddly raffish older sibling. Either way, they feel the ties of blood, and I am sure the Brits return this.

    The question is, who would fight for us in a war, if we were truly imperiled?

    I'd put Australia first, alongside NZ, then Canada and America. Probably France. Maybe Italy and the Nordics. Germany probably not. Spain no. And the same in reverse. The Brits would fight for Australia before Germany, America before Spain.

    Interesting question. I think Germany probably, maybe the U.S.and France. Australia possibly if the U.S. were also involved. Canada, I'm not sure. It's a different world from 1939.
    Does Australia have an Aircraft carrier with planes on them ?
    They used to:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMAS_Sydney_(R17)
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Vengeance_(R71)
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMAS_Melbourne_(R21) (loan only)
    Sunil, as you like doing 'unusual' tracks, the following might be of interest:
    http://www.125group.org.uk/hst-charity-railtour-book-now/
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    OmniumOmnium Posts: 9,796

    Omnium said:

    Omnium said:

    Omnium said:

    SeanT said:

    Omnium said:

    Omnium said:

    Mr Meeks' posts this evening somehow remind me of the Monty Python 'arguments are next door' thing. Oddly though for once this wasn't the location of 'Abuse' :)

    I wasn't expecting the overt racism to surface quite so quickly on pb after Trump's inauguration. I thought we might get a few months' grace,

    Everyone is racist. By the time they are a year old, babies show fear of faces that are the "wrong" shape or colour. Its a sensible evolved response to obvious genetic outsiders, who are less likely to deem your survival as important. This is true of all babies, black brown or white. So let's get over it. We're all born racist.

    The more interesting question is how you act on these instinctive impulses. That is the test for an adult.
    Yep - that's just the unfamiliar though. And of course any racism that you or I might have in us was almost certainly germinated by unfamiliarity.

    Peoples experiences in life can of course also be important -
    My experience of children is that they are extremely tolerant of

    It is only at the age of 7-8 that children start to fear difference, and bullying begins. They have to learn it from grown ups.
    You're probably just seeing a fear of bullying rather than a fear of difference. (If you're different then you might get bullied because of that so you fear difference)

    Bullying itself has to just be a survival thing. You make sure there's a very obvious target so that even if you become weak you're not the obvious target.
    Not really, young children do not have that sort of sophisticated thought. Bullying comes later., typically 7-8 years or so.
    Ok, so you're saying that at the point that children can form a useful part of society they start to discriminate in some way or other? That has to be learned behavior though doesn't it? And if so then we don't care as our data is meaningless.
    Partially!

    I believe it is learned behaviour, but would be more positive about humanity. What can be learned, does not have to be learned, and can be unlearned.
    Sure. 'Learned' as a word is messing up your argument, but I get what you say.
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    BromptonautBromptonaut Posts: 1,113
    edited January 2017
    John_M said:

    Northumberland has 63/km2 if you want to stay in England! Even less so the further north you go.

    Waitrose? Sorry to harp on about this, but it's my human right to shop at Waitrose.
    There's a Waitrose in Ponteland.

    Edit - already pointed out!
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    GallowgateGallowgate Posts: 19,081

    John_M said:

    Northumberland has 63/km2 if you want to stay in England! Even less so the further north you go.

    Waitrose? Sorry to harp on about this, but it's my human right to shop at Waitrose.
    There's a Waitrose in Ponteland.
    And Hexham. :smile:
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    John_MJohn_M Posts: 7,503

    John_M said:

    Northumberland has 63/km2 if you want to stay in England! Even less so the further north you go.

    Waitrose? Sorry to harp on about this, but it's my human right to shop at Waitrose.
    http://www.waitrose.com/bf_home/bf/482.html Here you go!
    Nothing further North than Hexham. Truly, the borders are a foreign country.
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    Tim_BTim_B Posts: 7,669

    Tim_B said:

    Trump confirms that May will be here next week, and he wants the Churchill bust back in the Oval Office.

    It was back in the Oval Office the moment he became President yesterday!
    Yup. Sometimes it's difficult to parse what he's saying. It sounded as if he asked, but didn't have it yet. As they say, take him seriously, but not literally.

    http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/01/21/trump-returns-churchill-bust-to-oval-office.html
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    surbiton said:

    FF43 said:

    SeanT said:

    <>

    I think the aussies regard as something between a respected but faintly tragic grandparent and an amusing and oddly raffish older sibling. Either way, they feel the ties of blood, and I am sure the Brits return this.

    The question is, who would fight for us in a war, if we were truly imperiled?

    I'd put Australia first, alongside NZ, then Canada and America. Probably France. Maybe Italy and the Nordics. Germany probably not. Spain no. And the same in reverse. The Brits would fight for Australia before Germany, America before Spain.

    Interesting question. I think Germany probably, maybe the U.S.and France. Australia possibly if the U.S. were also involved. Canada, I'm not sure. It's a different world from 1939.
    Does Australia have an Aircraft carrier with planes on them ?
    They used to:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMAS_Sydney_(R17)
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Vengeance_(R71) (loan only)
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMAS_Melbourne_(R21)
    Sunil, as you like doing 'unusual' tracks, the following might be of interest:
    http://www.125group.org.uk/hst-charity-railtour-book-now/
    Thanks, sounds interesting.

    This website is the holy grail of unusual track :)

    http://www.psul4all.free-online.co.uk/2017.htm

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    rural_voterrural_voter Posts: 2,038
    John_M said:

    John_M said:

    Northumberland has 63/km2 if you want to stay in England! Even less so the further north you go.

    Waitrose? Sorry to harp on about this, but it's my human right to shop at Waitrose.
    http://www.waitrose.com/bf_home/bf/482.html Here you go!
    Nothing further North than Hexham. Truly, the borders are a foreign country.
    Or Herefordshire - about 80/km2 and one Waitrose.
    The Welsh borderlands do quite well.
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    SandpitSandpit Posts: 49,919
    edited January 2017

    John_M said:

    Northumberland has 63/km2 if you want to stay in England! Even less so the further north you go.

    Waitrose? Sorry to harp on about this, but it's my human right to shop at Waitrose.
    There's a Waitrose in Ponteland.
    And Hexham. :smile:
    And Dubai :)
    (No wine selection here though) :(
    http://www.waitrose.com/content/waitrose/en/bf_home/bf/1252.html
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    isamisam Posts: 40,952
    Another horrific case of bullying the mentally impaired

    https://twitter.com/dailymailuk/status/822903874398941184
This discussion has been closed.