Greens at 6% on that poll, if they repeated that at the next general election it would be their highest ever voteshare at a general election.
6% of 2019 Labour voters now voting Green with Yougov, more than the 5% of 2019 Tory voters now voting Labour.
7% of 2019 Tory voters now voting Brexit Party.
Tactical voting and the SNP's antipathy to Johnson should see Kier over the line.
What a relief that'll be!
Yes, on that poll Starmer would become PM with SNP support but the Tories would almost certainly still have won a majority of seats in England. That would be the first time English voters have not got the party they voted for as the UK government since 1974
In reality the Greens would be unlikely to poll above 3% in a GE.
Nor the Brexit Party poll 4% but even if most of the Green vote went back to Labour the Tories would still likely have won a majority of seats in England
Cheering myself up by listening to Abba's 1981 album The Visitors.
Excellent choice. Although maybe not their most cheerful!
--AS.
I’m glad it’s not just me enjoys their later music.
Not quite sure why I prefer it to their earlier stuff - I think I just prefer the emotional depth and maturity. Yes, the earlier songs are brighter but I also sometimes feel they’re a bit superficial.
Cheering myself up by listening to Abba's 1981 album The Visitors.
"Soldiers" is the track I love - it takes me back to when many thought the Russians were going to invade Poland in early 1981 and what the response of the west would have been (if any).
Greens at 6% on that poll, if they repeated that at the next general election it would be their highest ever voteshare at a general election.
6% of 2019 Labour voters now voting Green with Yougov, more than the 5% of 2019 Tory voters now voting Labour.
7% of 2019 Tory voters now voting Brexit Party.
Tactical voting and the SNP's antipathy to Johnson should see Kier over the line.
What a relief that'll be!
Yes, on that poll Starmer would become PM with SNP support but the Tories would almost certainly still have won a majority of seats in England. That would be the first time English voters have not got the party they voted for as the UK government since 1974
In reality the Greens would be unlikely to poll above 3% in a GE.
Nor the Brexit Party poll 4% but even if most of the Green vote went back to Labour the Tories would still likely have won a majority of seats in England
Cheering myself up by listening to Abba's 1981 album The Visitors.
Excellent choice. Although maybe not their most cheerful!
--AS.
I’m glad it’s not just me enjoys their later music.
Not quite sure why I prefer it to their earlier stuff - I think I just prefer the emotional depth and maturity. Yes, the earlier songs are brighter but I also sometimes feel they’re a bit superficial.
Oh, definitely. Their background really was of superficial pop, but as their lives became more complex the melancholy -- which was already present, but suppressed -- found its voice. I'm still struck by the power of some of their music, 40 years on.
Congressman serving continuously from year of election, using UK GE periods Pre 1974: 1 1974-79: 1 1979-83: 4 1983-87:4 1987-92:9 1992-97:33 1997-01:16 2001-05:34 2005-10: 41 2010-15: 134 2015-17: 52 2017-19: 98 Post 2019: 3
So about double % of Congressman at least pre 1992 vs MPs pre 1992? But still not many either way. More frequent elections mean long stay in the House difficult?
55% of MPs been there just over 5 years but only 35% of Congressman?
I conclude this means...nothing. I'm not an amateur statistician, so don't trust my figures.
This is very quick looking at wiki page - looks like some people not served continuously from these dates, but get seniority if they were previously in Congress
Cheering myself up by listening to Abba's 1981 album The Visitors.
Excellent choice. Although maybe not their most cheerful!
--AS.
I’m glad it’s not just me enjoys their later music.
Not quite sure why I prefer it to their earlier stuff - I think I just prefer the emotional depth and maturity. Yes, the earlier songs are brighter but I also sometimes feel they’re a bit superficial.
Oh, definitely. Their background really was of superficial pop, but as their lives became more complex the melancholy -- which was already present, but suppressed -- found its voice. I'm still struck by the power of some of their music, 40 years on.
--AS
When All Is Said and Done is just a brilliant song.
Congressman serving continuously from year of election, using UK GE periods Pre 1974: 1 1974-79: 1 1979-83: 4 1983-87:4 1987-92:9 1992-97:33 1997-01:16 2001-05:34 2005-10: 41 2010-15: 134 2015-17: 52 2017-19: 98 Post 2019: 3
So about double % of Congressman at least pre 1992 vs MPs pre 1992? But still not many either way. More frequent elections mean long stay in the House difficult?
55% of MPs been there just over 5 years but only 35% of Congressman?
I conclude this means...nothing. I'm not an amateur statistician, so don't trust my figures.
This is very quick looking at wiki page - looks like some people not served continuously from these dates, but get seniority if they were previously in Congress)
And now time for the dickhead questions....I presume we will get ones about MP pay and bullying...
Why wasn't this vaccine programme started sooner?
It started as soon as possible.
There's plenty to criticise Boris Johnson and the government over Covid-19 but they've handled the vaccine angle absolutely brilliantly, actually world beating.
Congressman serving continuously from year of election, using UK GE periods Pre 1974: 1 1974-79: 1 1979-83: 4 1983-87:4 1987-92:9 1992-97:33 1997-01:16 2001-05:34 2005-10: 41 2010-15: 134 2015-17: 52 2017-19: 98 Post 2019: 3
So about double % of Congressman at least pre 1992 vs MPs pre 1992? But still not many either way. More frequent elections mean long stay in the House difficult?
55% of MPs been there just over 5 years but only 35% of Congressman?
I conclude this means...nothing. I'm not an amateur statistician, so don't trust my figures.
This is very quick looking at wiki page - looks like some people not served continuously from these dates, but get seniority if they were previously in Congress
Remember also that to progress in a political career here you need to stay in Parliament, while the House is usually only a stepping stone for ambitious politicians in the US - to the Senate, or a governorship.
Cheering myself up by listening to Abba's 1981 album The Visitors.
Excellent choice. Although maybe not their most cheerful!
--AS.
I’m glad it’s not just me enjoys their later music.
Not quite sure why I prefer it to their earlier stuff - I think I just prefer the emotional depth and maturity. Yes, the earlier songs are brighter but I also sometimes feel they’re a bit superficial.
Oh, definitely. Their background really was of superficial pop, but as their lives became more complex the melancholy -- which was already present, but suppressed -- found its voice. I'm still struck by the power of some of their music, 40 years on.
--AS
When All Is Said and Done is just a brilliant song.
The song that's playing in my head, since we've been talking about The Visitors, is Like An Angel Passing Through My Room. Such a simple song, with the constant ticking of a clock. I remember listening to it as a child and wondering what it would be like to be old and reminiscing about the past, rather than looking forward.
Now due to ill health I'm aging prematurely, fearing that my career is drawing to a close (all too soon), knowing that my best days are behind me. And yet the child me was only a few months ago, or so it seems.
I close my eyes and my twilight images go by All too soon like an angel passing through my room.
I would actually say not. Depends on your age. 18-25 it probably is. Before and after that I would say not.
It's very much in Hogmanay's no' like it used to be territory (which it isn't). The Edinburgh moneymaking jamboree was cancelled a while back and presumably any similar public gatherings are the same, which I guess mainly involves 18-25 year olds.
No doubt we'll still have Jackie Bird and Only An Excuse, worse luck.
The chap has been living in Scotland in the North of Scotland since September.
I presume he has nothing better to do than police social media for possible rule breakers?
When was the last time Blackford talked about Margaret Ferrier?
Back in October on Good Mornding Scotland, I think - and pretty strongly.
But he's harassing this poor innocent chap while not saying anything about Ferrier for a month?
Shameful.
Well, I haven't looked - but she hasn't been a SNP MP for a month, so not much more he could say after what he did say [edit].
AIUI, she has had the whip withdrawn but is still a member of the SNP. So her situation is analogous to Corbyn’s.
So there is still more that could and should be done. For bringing the party into disrepute, surely she should have been expelled?
Haven't looked at it in detail, but she isn't a member, in the sense that she is reported as 'suspended from the party' by eg tyhe Herald while, presumably, waiting on the police investigation? Which is fair enough. There is such a thing as due process.
Interesting that the SNP aren't using the powers Parliament now has to conceal its Members from public scrutiny when they get charged by the police. And I should hope [edit] not too.
No. She has only been suspended from the PSNP. Not from the party as a whole. Sturgeon claims she has no power to do that.
Sturgeon claims this because she, in fact, does not have the power to do so. Only the Disciplinary Committee can do so. And even then only after appeal.
The chap has been living in Scotland in the North of Scotland since September.
I presume he has nothing better to do than police social media for possible rule breakers?
When was the last time Blackford talked about Margaret Ferrier?
Back in October on Good Mornding Scotland, I think - and pretty strongly.
But he's harassing this poor innocent chap while not saying anything about Ferrier for a month?
Shameful.
Well, I haven't looked - but she hasn't been a SNP MP for a month, so not much more he could say after what he did say [edit].
AIUI, she has had the whip withdrawn but is still a member of the SNP. So her situation is analogous to Corbyn’s.
So there is still more that could and should be done. For bringing the party into disrepute, surely she should have been expelled?
Haven't looked at it in detail, but she isn't a member, in the sense that she is reported as 'suspended from the party' by eg tyhe Herald while, presumably, waiting on the police investigation? Which is fair enough. There is such a thing as due process.
Interesting that the SNP aren't using the powers Parliament now has to conceal its Members from public scrutiny when they get charged by the police. And I should hope [edit] not too.
No. She has only been suspended from the PSNP. Not from the party as a whole. Sturgeon claims she has no power to do that.
Sturgeon claims this because she, in fact, does not have the power to do so. Only the Disciplinary Committee can do so. And even then only after appeal.
Never interrupt a PB Scotch expert in full flow.
Indeed no. You all add greatly to the gaiety of the site.
I am quite looking forward to wrapping up warm, like I seem to remember doing in the old days but don't anymore, and going to stand outside having a few drinks
This is a terrible idea in a year of terrible ideas.
Someone posted that yesterday, or a version of it rather, that said it should be $1500, and people said it was good (I think)
If I want to do my job, I will have to get this vaccine.
I get quite well paid for my job. I’m not totally clear why I should be given more money on top of that.
It might be an incentive for those in poorly paid roles to get it - but should we be bribing them to cajole them into doing something they’re reluctant to do, even on public health grounds? I can see ethical issue with that.
This is a terrible idea in a year of terrible ideas.
Someone posted that yesterday, or a version of it rather, that said it should be $1500, and people said it was good (I think)
If I want to do my job, I will have to get this vaccine.
I get quite well paid for my job. I’m not totally clear why I should be given more money on top of that.
It might be an incentive for those in poorly paid roles to get it - but should we be bribing them to cajole them into doing something they’re reluctant to do, even on public health grounds? I can see ethical issue with that.
Would make me think there was something a bit worrying about it if they paid people to have it
Cheering myself up by listening to Abba's 1981 album The Visitors.
Excellent choice. Although maybe not their most cheerful!
--AS.
I’m glad it’s not just me enjoys their later music.
Not quite sure why I prefer it to their earlier stuff - I think I just prefer the emotional depth and maturity. Yes, the earlier songs are brighter but I also sometimes feel they’re a bit superficial.
Oh, definitely. Their background really was of superficial pop, but as their lives became more complex the melancholy -- which was already present, but suppressed -- found its voice. I'm still struck by the power of some of their music, 40 years on.
--AS
When All Is Said and Done is just a brilliant song.
The song that's playing in my head, since we've been talking about The Visitors, is Like An Angel Passing Through My Room. Such a simple song, with the constant ticking of a clock. I remember listening to it as a child and wondering what it would be like to be old and reminiscing about the past, rather than looking forward.
Now due to ill health I'm aging prematurely, fearing that my career is drawing to a close (all too soon), knowing that my best days are behind me. And yet the child me was only a few months ago, or so it seems.
I close my eyes and my twilight images go by All too soon like an angel passing through my room.
--AS
Golly, hope it's just a passing mood (though I sympathise)...
Hmmm. I wonder if he isn’t making the same mistake as Obama and surrounding himself with too many older people. Harris, in her 60s, Blinken, 58, Mayorkas, 61, now Yellen, 74.
I hope he brings through some people in their late 40s/early 50s in other roles.
Hmmm. I wonder if he isn’t making the same mistake as Obama and surrounding himself with too many older people. Harris, in her 60s, Blinken, 58, Mayorkas, 61, now Yellen, 74.
I hope he brings through some people in their late 40s/early 50s in other roles.
It's also been noticed in France that he's picked several fluent French speakers.
Hmmm. I wonder if he isn’t making the same mistake as Obama and surrounding himself with too many older people. Harris, in her 60s, Blinken, 58, Mayorkas, 61, now Yellen, 74.
I hope he brings through some people in their late 40s/early 50s in other roles.
No room for Buttegieg? I suppose he lacks in the achievement department.
Hmmm. I wonder if he isn’t making the same mistake as Obama and surrounding himself with too many older people. Harris, in her 60s, Blinken, 58, Mayorkas, 61, now Yellen, 74.
I hope he brings through some people in their late 40s/early 50s in other roles.
Hmmm. I wonder if he isn’t making the same mistake as Obama and surrounding himself with too many older people. Harris, in her 60s, Blinken, 58, Mayorkas, 61, now Yellen, 74.
I hope he brings through some people in their late 40s/early 50s in other roles.
VP elect Harris is 56
So she is. My mistake. For some reason I thought she was 63.
What’s this rumour of Rishi giving everyone free sixty quid off magic money tree just for having had to work from home one day?
Just a rumour to wind up Ian Duncan Smith?
Is this the working from home tax relief? I claimed that last month, as I had to buy a decent office chair to work at my desk for long periods. Worth it, even if it's just a little bit extra.
This is a terrible idea in a year of terrible ideas.
Someone posted that yesterday, or a version of it rather, that said it should be $1500, and people said it was good (I think)
If I want to do my job, I will have to get this vaccine.
I get quite well paid for my job. I’m not totally clear why I should be given more money on top of that.
It might be an incentive for those in poorly paid roles to get it - but should we be bribing them to cajole them into doing something they’re reluctant to do, even on public health grounds? I can see ethical issue with that.
Would make me think there was something a bit worrying about it if they paid people to have it
Wouldn't it need to be means-tested? Some people wouldn't get out of bed for £500.
And now time for the dickhead questions....I presume we will get ones about MP pay and bullying...
Why wasn't this vaccine programme started sooner?
It started as soon as possible.
There's plenty to criticise Boris Johnson and the government over Covid-19 but they've handled the vaccine angle absolutely brilliantly, actually world beating.
Although I absolutely do agree, can we sort of limit the praise on this one until such time as they are actually jabbing people, preferably in decent numbers? Lest we go and jinx it now, or anything like that.
Cheering myself up by listening to Abba's 1981 album The Visitors.
Excellent choice. Although maybe not their most cheerful!
--AS.
I’m glad it’s not just me enjoys their later music.
Not quite sure why I prefer it to their earlier stuff - I think I just prefer the emotional depth and maturity. Yes, the earlier songs are brighter but I also sometimes feel they’re a bit superficial.
Oh, definitely. Their background really was of superficial pop, but as their lives became more complex the melancholy -- which was already present, but suppressed -- found its voice. I'm still struck by the power of some of their music, 40 years on.
--AS
When All Is Said and Done is just a brilliant song.
The song that's playing in my head, since we've been talking about The Visitors, is Like An Angel Passing Through My Room. Such a simple song, with the constant ticking of a clock. I remember listening to it as a child and wondering what it would be like to be old and reminiscing about the past, rather than looking forward.
Now due to ill health I'm aging prematurely, fearing that my career is drawing to a close (all too soon), knowing that my best days are behind me. And yet the child me was only a few months ago, or so it seems.
I close my eyes and my twilight images go by All too soon like an angel passing through my room.
--AS
Know what you mean about the simplicity.
The lyrics for the following year’s The Day Before You Came are, read in isolation, utterly banal. Combined with the music they are somehow magical.
I've never really looked at the Senate seal carefully before. The fasces gives one pause for thought.
I particularly like the dunce cap at the top. Red dunce cap, no less
Tsk, does no one learn about Enlightenment-era republican symbology any more? Prior to Mussolini hijacking them, fasces symbolized republicanism, or maybe even more broadly civic virtue (they appear in some monarchical contexts e.g. in the insignia of the Spanish Guardia Civil). They do appear in several Latin American national emblems, including Cuba's, and in many other contexts in the US, such as behind the Speaker's podium in the House of Representatives.
The cap is the Phyrgian "cap of liberty", given in Roman times to emancipated slaves on their manumission, and later became adopted as a symbol of liberty during the American and French Revolutions.
Hello - referring to a thread yesterday, I am semi-interested in farming, particularly livestock, and I wondered if you had some reasons why American beef is superior to British? I'm not arguing that it isn't (never had American beef to my knowledge), just interested.
No idea really. Premium beef here is often marketed as "grass-fed". I had always assumed that cows only ate grass anyway, but perhaps not. I don't recall ever seeing that phrase in the UK, but I left nearly a decade ago now so my memory may be faulty.
In the US most cattle are fed on soya and grain. That makes the meat fattier and more unhealthy.
I agree with you about the very best US beef, though. The best steaks I've ever had have been fancy USDA-aged beef. In an upmarket steak restaurant, go for the longest-aged available.
Aberdeen Angus at Gleneagles
The Hereford steak at Heston's in Knightsbridge
Are two good British rivals for the Best Steak Ever
What’s this rumour of Rishi giving everyone free sixty quid off magic money tree just for having had to work from home one day?
Just a rumour to wind up Ian Duncan Smith?
Is this the working from home tax relief? I claimed that last month, as I had to buy a decent office chair to work at my desk for long periods. Worth it, even if it's just a little bit extra.
And now time for the dickhead questions....I presume we will get ones about MP pay and bullying...
Why wasn't this vaccine programme started sooner?
It started as soon as possible.
There's plenty to criticise Boris Johnson and the government over Covid-19 but they've handled the vaccine angle absolutely brilliantly, actually world beating.
Although I absolutely do agree, can we sort of limit the praise on this one until such time as they are actually jabbing people, preferably in decent numbers? Lest we go and jinx it now, or anything like that.
Oh I know, as I've noted a few times before it is likely Dido Harding or someone like her will be in charge of the vaccine rollout and it'll be a disaster as they accidentally inject us with Covid-19.
Hmmm. I wonder if he isn’t making the same mistake as Obama and surrounding himself with too many older people. Harris, in her 60s, Blinken, 58, Mayorkas, 61, now Yellen, 74.
I hope he brings through some people in their late 40s/early 50s in other roles.
Less of the "older people" please. Everyone knows 58 is the new 21!
What’s this rumour of Rishi giving everyone free sixty quid off magic money tree just for having had to work from home one day?
Just a rumour to wind up Ian Duncan Smith?
Is this the working from home tax relief? I claimed that last month, as I had to buy a decent office chair to work at my desk for long periods. Worth it, even if it's just a little bit extra.
So it’s true. They will pay for some more bubbles.
I don’t know why people keep knocking this government.
It's only tax relief. Doesn't cover the cost of working from home - although people might be better off than if they were commuting for which you cannot claim.
I would pay good money to see a judge finally snap and jail some of these muppets for filing vexatious lawsuits and generally being stupid arseholes.
There are already over 2 million in their jails, and it seems around 74 million more that fall into your "stupid arseholes" category.
Even if most of those voters support the vexatious and meritless challenges, it's a bit of a leap to suggest all of them are as bad as those pushing nonsense legal claims, which I don't think was the intention. Not all Trump backers are Giuliani.
This is a terrible idea in a year of terrible ideas.
Why? A bit of helicopter money tied to a public good. Should encourage the youngsters who might be the least likely to take it. The quicker more people take it the quicker the economy gets back to normal.
Also there is nothing new about being able to claim expenses for working from home. They have increased the standard amount from £4 to £6 a week though. I'm guessing people's heating bills should be rocketing up.
The law is for everyone, not just nice people, but I am pretty relaxed if the law allows what the government has done (though the law on who is what nationality, even if they don't realise it, is pretty convoluted, as some Australian politicians learned a few years back).
Hmmm. I wonder if he isn’t making the same mistake as Obama and surrounding himself with too many older people. Harris, in her 60s, Blinken, 58, Mayorkas, 61, now Yellen, 74.
I hope he brings through some people in their late 40s/early 50s in other roles.
It's also been noticed in France that he's picked several fluent French speakers.
Awww, bless the French. Time was French was THE language of diplomacy, and high culture, spoken by anyone with a decent education, and used fluently as a lingua franca across the world. Also, of course, THE language of the EU (which is one reason the French were traditionally so keen on the EU - as a bulwark of French culture, especially language, then we joined and fucked it up)
Now they are pitiably grateful for some decent and temporary French speakers on the presidential team of a demented 98 year old US leader, even as China officially tweets in English.
There haven't been many reasons to feel triumphantly English in the last decades, but the absolute triumph of English is one of them. We won. And how.
Note sure you can get much more white and middle class can you? And they also did his parents for "funding terrorism" too for sending him money to boot.
I believe a few Leavers have also said similar things/condemned the decision to strip her of her nationality.
What's your point?
This tweeter virtue signals of Remainerism, and the same pathology is evident here.
Shamima Begum is a loathsome facilitator of terrorism, rape, sex slavery and murder - which she ADMITS - she says she still hates Britain and the West and her only regret is that ISIS didn't win.
Let her rot in hell. Or, rather, let her be tried and (probably) executed in the lands where she freely enabled murder: Syria or Iraq.
A lot of Nazis were recruited in their mid teens. It is a vulnerable age. But if they remained unrepentant Nazis into their 20s then they weren't shown much overt mercy. Same here
I believe a few Leavers have also said similar things/condemned the decision to strip her of her nationality.
What's your point?
This tweeter virtue signals of Remainerism, and the same pathology is evident here.
Shamima Begum is a loathsome facilitator of terrorism, rape, sex slavery and murder - which she ADMITS - she says she still hates Britain and the West and her only regret is that ISIS didn't win.
Let her rot in hell. Or, rather, let her be tried and (probably) executed in the lands where she freely enabled murder: Syria or Iraq.
A lot of Nazis were recruited in their mid teens. It is a vulnerable age. But if they remained unrepentant Nazis into their 20s then they weren't shown much overt mercy. Same here
Maybe the best thing would be to drone her
You should see what some Leavers tweet.
I remember some bellends on here, some chap called SeanT and MikeK, wanted to deport every Muslim in the UK to Madagascar after the Glasgow bin lorry 'terror attack'.
Hmmm. I wonder if he isn’t making the same mistake as Obama and surrounding himself with too many older people. Harris, in her 60s, Blinken, 58, Mayorkas, 61, now Yellen, 74.
I hope he brings through some people in their late 40s/early 50s in other roles.
It's also been noticed in France that he's picked several fluent French speakers.
Awww, bless the French. Time was French was THE language of diplomacy, and high culture, spoken by anyone with a decent education, and used fluently as a lingua franca across the world. Also, of course, THE language of the EU (which is one reason the French were traditionally so keen on the EU - as a bulwark of French culture, especially language, then we joined and fucked it up)
Now they are pitiably grateful for some decent and temporary French speakers on the presidential team of a demented 98 year old US leader, even as China officially tweets in English.
There haven't been many reasons to feel triumphantly English in the last decades, but the absolute triumph of English is one of them. We won. And how.
I believe a few Leavers have also said similar things/condemned the decision to strip her of her nationality.
What's your point?
This tweeter virtue signals of Remainerism, and the same pathology is evident here.
Shamima Begum is a loathsome facilitator of terrorism, rape, sex slavery and murder - which she ADMITS - she says she still hates Britain and the West and her only regret is that ISIS didn't win.
Let her rot in hell. Or, rather, let her be tried and (probably) executed in the lands where she freely enabled murder: Syria or Iraq.
A lot of Nazis were recruited in their mid teens. It is a vulnerable age. But if they remained unrepentant Nazis into their 20s then they weren't shown much overt mercy. Same here
Maybe the best thing would be to drone her
You should see what some Leavers tweet.
I remember some bellends on here, some chap called SeanT and MikeK, wanted to deport every Muslim in the UK to Madagascar after the Glasgow bin lorry 'terror attack'.
Idiots. Well done you for banning them FOREVER. Awful people
Labour's chief whip has asked ex-party leader Jeremy Corbyn to "unequivocally" apologise for saying the scale of anti-Semitism in the party had been "overstated for political reasons".
Hmmm. I wonder if he isn’t making the same mistake as Obama and surrounding himself with too many older people. Harris, in her 60s, Blinken, 58, Mayorkas, 61, now Yellen, 74.
I hope he brings through some people in their late 40s/early 50s in other roles.
It's also been noticed in France that he's picked several fluent French speakers.
Awww, bless the French. Time was French was THE language of diplomacy, and high culture, spoken by anyone with a decent education, and used fluently as a lingua franca across the world. Also, of course, THE language of the EU (which is one reason the French were traditionally so keen on the EU - as a bulwark of French culture, especially language, then we joined and fucked it up)
Now they are pitiably grateful for some decent and temporary French speakers on the presidential team of a demented 98 year old US leader, even as China officially tweets in English.
There haven't been many reasons to feel triumphantly English in the last decades, but the absolute triumph of English is one of them. We won. And how.
Hmmm. I wonder if he isn’t making the same mistake as Obama and surrounding himself with too many older people. Harris, in her 60s, Blinken, 58, Mayorkas, 61, now Yellen, 74.
I hope he brings through some people in their late 40s/early 50s in other roles.
It's also been noticed in France that he's picked several fluent French speakers.
Awww, bless the French. Time was French was THE language of diplomacy, and high culture, spoken by anyone with a decent education, and used fluently as a lingua franca across the world. Also, of course, THE language of the EU (which is one reason the French were traditionally so keen on the EU - as a bulwark of French culture, especially language, then we joined and fucked it up)
Now they are pitiably grateful for some decent and temporary French speakers on the presidential team of a demented 98 year old US leader, even as China officially tweets in English.
There haven't been many reasons to feel triumphantly English in the last decades, but the absolute triumph of English is one of them. We won. And how.
Bizarre sources of national pride:
France - the French language UK - the NHS
any others ?
That's a totally brilliant question. Things which countries are proud of but.... why?
America: food - it's mostly terrible Scotland: friendly people - OMG no Spain: sociable Med warmth, no they are frosty (unlike Italians) England: good governance - well, here we are Germany: sausages :(oddly boring) Canada: Tim Hortons
Labour's chief whip has asked ex-party leader Jeremy Corbyn to "unequivocally" apologise for saying the scale of anti-Semitism in the party had been "overstated for political reasons".
I don't think he has a problem in apologising fot it. The problem is he won't mean it, and will contradict that apology later - he clearly believes it was overstated for political reasons, even as he knows he is not supposed to say so but could not resist when the EHRC report came out.
ATLANTA — The second recount of Georgia’s election results requested by the Trump campaign could begin as early as Tuesday, a state election official said.
Hmmm. I wonder if he isn’t making the same mistake as Obama and surrounding himself with too many older people. Harris, in her 60s, Blinken, 58, Mayorkas, 61, now Yellen, 74.
I hope he brings through some people in their late 40s/early 50s in other roles.
It's also been noticed in France that he's picked several fluent French speakers.
Awww, bless the French. Time was French was THE language of diplomacy, and high culture, spoken by anyone with a decent education, and used fluently as a lingua franca across the world. Also, of course, THE language of the EU (which is one reason the French were traditionally so keen on the EU - as a bulwark of French culture, especially language, then we joined and fucked it up)
Now they are pitiably grateful for some decent and temporary French speakers on the presidential team of a demented 98 year old US leader, even as China officially tweets in English.
There haven't been many reasons to feel triumphantly English in the last decades, but the absolute triumph of English is one of them. We won. And how.
Bizarre sources of national pride:
France - the French language UK - the NHS
any others ?
That's a totally brilliant question. Things which countries are proud of but.... why?
America: food - it's mostly terrible Scotland: friendly people - OMG no Spain: sociable Med warmth, no they are frosty (unlike Italians) England: good governance - well, here we are Germany: sausages :(oddly boring) Canada: Tim Hortons
Hmmm. I wonder if he isn’t making the same mistake as Obama and surrounding himself with too many older people. Harris, in her 60s, Blinken, 58, Mayorkas, 61, now Yellen, 74.
I hope he brings through some people in their late 40s/early 50s in other roles.
It's also been noticed in France that he's picked several fluent French speakers.
Awww, bless the French. Time was French was THE language of diplomacy, and high culture, spoken by anyone with a decent education, and used fluently as a lingua franca across the world. Also, of course, THE language of the EU (which is one reason the French were traditionally so keen on the EU - as a bulwark of French culture, especially language, then we joined and fucked it up)
Now they are pitiably grateful for some decent and temporary French speakers on the presidential team of a demented 98 year old US leader, even as China officially tweets in English.
There haven't been many reasons to feel triumphantly English in the last decades, but the absolute triumph of English is one of them. We won. And how.
Bizarre sources of national pride:
France - the French language UK - the NHS
any others ?
That's a totally brilliant question. Things which countries are proud of but.... why?
America: food - it's mostly terrible Scotland: friendly people - OMG no Spain: sociable Med warmth, no they are frosty (unlike Italians) England: good governance - well, here we are Germany: sausages :(oddly boring) Canada: Tim Hortons
This is a terrible idea in a year of terrible ideas.
Why? A bit of helicopter money tied to a public good. Should encourage the youngsters who might be the least likely to take it. The quicker more people take it the quicker the economy gets back to normal.
Why are they paying people £500 to take it? There must be something wrong with it etc etc...
Hmmm. I wonder if he isn’t making the same mistake as Obama and surrounding himself with too many older people. Harris, in her 60s, Blinken, 58, Mayorkas, 61, now Yellen, 74.
I hope he brings through some people in their late 40s/early 50s in other roles.
It's also been noticed in France that he's picked several fluent French speakers.
Awww, bless the French. Time was French was THE language of diplomacy, and high culture, spoken by anyone with a decent education, and used fluently as a lingua franca across the world. Also, of course, THE language of the EU (which is one reason the French were traditionally so keen on the EU - as a bulwark of French culture, especially language, then we joined and fucked it up)
Now they are pitiably grateful for some decent and temporary French speakers on the presidential team of a demented 98 year old US leader, even as China officially tweets in English.
There haven't been many reasons to feel triumphantly English in the last decades, but the absolute triumph of English is one of them. We won. And how.
Bizarre sources of national pride:
France - the French language UK - the NHS
any others ?
That's a totally brilliant question. Things which countries are proud of but.... why?
America: food - it's mostly terrible Scotland: friendly people - OMG no Spain: sociable Med warmth, no they are frosty (unlike Italians) England: good governance - well, here we are Germany: sausages :(oddly boring) Canada: Tim Hortons
Comments
Not quite sure why I prefer it to their earlier stuff - I think I just prefer the emotional depth and maturity. Yes, the earlier songs are brighter but I also sometimes feel they’re a bit superficial.
Just imagine the partying and pub visits next summer once we're all vaccinated.
https://twitter.com/SavantaComRes/status/1330951312314347520?s=20
--AS
1974: 1
1979: 2
1983: 8
1987: 3
1992: 17
1997: 37
2001: 24
2005: 57
2010: 138
2015: 141
2017: 61
2019: 154
Newbies the biggest group, surprisingly (to me).
Congressman serving continuously from year of election, using UK GE periods
Pre 1974: 1
1974-79: 1
1979-83: 4
1983-87:4
1987-92:9
1992-97:33
1997-01:16
2001-05:34
2005-10: 41
2010-15: 134
2015-17: 52
2017-19: 98
Post 2019: 3
So about double % of Congressman at least pre 1992 vs MPs pre 1992? But still not many either way. More frequent elections mean long stay in the House difficult?
55% of MPs been there just over 5 years but only 35% of Congressman?
I conclude this means...nothing. I'm not an amateur statistician, so don't trust my figures.
This is very quick looking at wiki page - looks like some people not served continuously from these dates, but get seniority if they were previously in Congress
https://www.senate.gov/CRSpubs/b8f6293e-c235-40fd-b895-6474d0f8e809.pdf
https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-7483/
The average age of a US Senator was 61 in 2018, the average age of a member of the House of Lords was even older at 70 in 2019.
https://www.senate.gov/CRSpubs/b8f6293e-c235-40fd-b895-6474d0f8e809.pdf
https://www.parliament.uk/about/faqs/house-of-lords-faqs/lords-members/
There's plenty to criticise Boris Johnson and the government over Covid-19 but they've handled the vaccine angle absolutely brilliantly, actually world beating.
Now due to ill health I'm aging prematurely, fearing that my career is drawing to a close (all too soon), knowing that my best days are behind me. And yet the child me was only a few months ago, or so it seems.
I close my eyes
and my twilight images go by
All too soon
like an angel passing through my room.
--AS
No doubt we'll still have Jackie Bird and Only An Excuse, worse luck.
Thing is £50 or even £20 would probably work - and be worth it.
Not as much as my awesome punning of course.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/janet-yellen-is-bidens-pick-for-treasury-secretary-11606161637
I get quite well paid for my job. I’m not totally clear why I should be given more money on top of that.
It might be an incentive for those in poorly paid roles to get it - but should we be bribing them to cajole them into doing something they’re reluctant to do, even on public health grounds? I can see ethical issue with that.
I hope he brings through some people in their late 40s/early 50s in other roles.
Just a rumour to wind up Ian Duncan Smith?
Now listening to Graceland by Paul Simon (1986).
1 Hugh Goulbourne
2 Tracy Brabin
3 Susan Hinchcliffe
I voted for the candidate who mentioned CCS and hydrogen in their manifesto.
The lyrics for the following year’s The Day Before You Came are, read in isolation, utterly banal. Combined with the music they are somehow magical.
The Hereford steak at Heston's in Knightsbridge
Are two good British rivals for the Best Steak Ever
https://blog.moneysavingexpert.com/2020/04/martin-lewis--working-from-home-due-to-coronavirus--claim-p6-wk-/
So it’s true. They will pay for some more bubbles.
I don’t know why people keep knocking this government.
But that's standard with the US gerontocracy.
If you want to see another exhibit from that generation I'll offer you Rudy Giuliani.
https://twitter.com/Otto_English/status/1330958953434533890?s=20
Ooh, my back!
What's your point?
Though for political reasons probably won’t be applied.
Now they are pitiably grateful for some decent and temporary French speakers on the presidential team of a demented 98 year old US leader, even as China officially tweets in English.
There haven't been many reasons to feel triumphantly English in the last decades, but the absolute triumph of English is one of them. We won. And how.
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-49385376
Note sure you can get much more white and middle class can you? And they also did his parents for "funding terrorism" too for sending him money to boot.
Shamima Begum is a loathsome facilitator of terrorism, rape, sex slavery and murder - which she ADMITS - she says she still hates Britain and the West and her only regret is that ISIS didn't win.
Let her rot in hell. Or, rather, let her be tried and (probably) executed in the lands where she freely enabled murder: Syria or Iraq.
A lot of Nazis were recruited in their mid teens. It is a vulnerable age. But if they remained unrepentant Nazis into their 20s then they weren't shown much overt mercy. Same here
Maybe the best thing would be to drone her
Providing she isn’t dimmed by age, it’s a very good choice indeed.
And succinct.
When asked if she believes Trump has "a grasp of economic policy," Yellen said "No, I do not."
I remember some bellends on here, some chap called SeanT and MikeK, wanted to deport every Muslim in the UK to Madagascar after the Glasgow bin lorry 'terror attack'.
France - the French language
UK - the NHS
any others ?
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-55051850
America: food - it's mostly terrible
Scotland: friendly people - OMG no
Spain: sociable Med warmth, no they are frosty (unlike Italians)
England: good governance - well, here we are
Germany: sausages :(oddly boring)
Canada: Tim Hortons
NYTimes